South Coast Prime Times – March/April 2015

S o u t h

C o a s t

Prime timeS M a r c h /A pr i l 2 015 • Volum e 11 • Num ber 2

Eyeing spring

PLANTING

happiness

What’s new

IN NEWPORT

Everything on

ASSISTED LIVING

Staying

YOUNG

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CONTENTS 10

IN EVERY ISSUE

4

From the publisher

26 Extra! Extra!

Local news and views

By Elizabeth Morse Read

PRIME LIVING

6 8

Think spring

By Michael J. Vieira

8

Preserving the past

By Joyce Rowley

20 New meaning

to spring cleaning

By Elizabeth Morse Read

PRIME SEASON

14 Live with assisted living

By Jay Pateakos

24 Tech to hear better

By Dan Logan

32 Make aging an adventure

By Paul Kandarian

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GOOD TIMES

10 The new Newport

By Brian K. Lowney

12 S o u t h

12 The deal with two wheels

By Derek Vital

ON THE COVER: Time to say your final goodbyes to winter!

The Lloyd Center for the Environment in Dartmouth is hosting its Spring Equinox Owl Prowl on Friday, March 20th, where you’ll see adorable creatures like the one featured on our cover this month. For more information, call 508-990-0505 ex. 23, or visit www.lloydcenter.org.

Photo by: JoAnn Cornell.

M a r c h /A pr i l 2 015 • Volum e 11 • Num ber 2

Eyeing spring

PLANTING

happiness

What’s new

IN NEWPORT

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C o a s t

Prime timeS

Everything on

ASSISTED LIVING

Staying

YOUNG

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FROM THE PUBLISHER March/April 2015 ■ Vol. 11 ■ No. 2 PUBLISHED BY

Coastal Communications Corp.

PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

WE DID IT AGAIN! The snows are melting and the days are getting longer as we leave another dreary winter behind. Well, almost – the flowers never bloom as quickly as you want them to. As we wait for spring to get into full swing, there’s still a lot to do and to look forward to here in the South Coast.

Ljiljana Vasiljevic EDITOR

Sebastian Clarkin ONLINE EDITOR

Paul Letendre CONTRIBUTORS

Paul Kandarian, Dan Logan, Brian J. Lowney, Elizabeth Morse Read, Jay Pateakos, Joyce Rowley, Michael J. Vieira and Derek Vital South Coast Prime Times is published bi-monthly.

Copyright ©2015 Coastal Communications Corp.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, by any means, without written permission from the Publisher. All information contained herein is believed to be reliable. Coastal Communications Corp. does not assume any financial responsibility for typographical errors in advertisements, but will reprint that portion of an advertisement in which the typographical error occurs.

NEXT ISSUE

On page 6, Michael Vieira writes about overcoming Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) with flowers and foresight.

Joyce Rowley gets a glimpse into the botanical near-future of New Bedford on page 8 with her trip to the Buttonwood Park Greenhouse. There, the plants there are preserved and grown in warmth and safety. It’s a nice little taste of what we have coming.

With no snow to plow, it’s a good opportunity to get out of the house and try some new restaurants. Brian Lowney makes some Newport recommendations on page 10.

Derek Vital knows that the best way to take in the beauty of the spring is from two wheels. His insights come on page 14.

It can’t all be fun and games, though. Elizabeth Morse Read knows that spring cleaning can be a chore, but it’s also an opportunity to make a positive impact on our community. Read her article on page 20 to get educated on the best ways to give.

Things are heating up in the region and we couldn’t be any more excited! Be sure to stick with us month after month to keep up with what’s going on in the South Coast.

April 15, 2015

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PRIME LIVING

THINK

spring

MICHAEL J. VIEIRA

When the Christmas and other holiday decorations come down, the house can seem dark and gloomy. Outside, plants are dead and streets are dirty. The oncesparkling water is frozen and gray. Combined with the cold weather and short days, it’s no wonder that people are cranky and depressed. Now, it’s really the “Bah Humbug!” season of the year.

There’s actually a name for it: “Seasonal Affective Disorder” or SAD. Although the name strikes me as a little too cute (or maybe I have the disorder and am just grouchy,) it’s real. According to an article by the Mayo Clinic Staff: “Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year.

If you’re like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your

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E ACH DAY, FOR A FEW WEEKS, OTHER PLANT AND SEED COMPANIES SEND THEIR CATALOGS energy and making you feel moody.”

They continue to explain that it’s not just the “winter blues” if you feel depressed most of the day almost every day, feel hopeless, can’t sleep, feel sluggish, or consider suicide. Explore MayoClinic.org for more information.

If it gets really bad, see a doctor who may prescribe medication or psychotherapy, but in many cases “light therapy” seems

M ARCH /A PR IL 2015

to help. You can buy light bulbs that mimic natural outdoor light and appear to cause a change in the brain chemicals linked to mood.

Or, not to diminish the disorder, you can go outside when it’s sunny and soak up some cool rays. I know that helps me.

Oh yeah, and lift the shades and let the sun in!

PLANT A DREAM For me, the first sign of spring seems to arrive with the Christmas bills. Planted among the invoices and sales flyers is a flash of color.

A seed catalog. Suddenly, hope springs.

On the cover of the Burpee catalog, the grass is green and the sun is blue. But wait, the box is filled with vegetables… that’s a harvest. I’m not ready for that yet.

Michigan Bulb offers me a Dark Dragon Rose. And a discount. That’s better.

Burgess mixes blackberries with thornless climbing roses and other delights.

Much better.

Each day, for a few weeks, other plant and seed companies send their catalogs.

Some consider it junk mail and I’m all for less paper, electronic billing, and other online notifications, but this is different.

Just stop and imagine the smell of the flowers – and maybe even the peppers.

Sometimes, you need a little paper to give you hope.

For a little while, the darkness is gone

traditional rows to raised beds for free on their website.

The Almanac site also has an extensive list of garden seed catalogs and mail-order sources for plants and products. From rare seeds to perennials and from bulbs to trees, you can explore the inventory of online and print resources.

So look out the window and imagine.

DREAMS CAN COME TRUE Take out a piece of paper and a pencil (if you still have one of those), or get an App if you have an iPad or tablet. Mother Earth News has one, and so does Better Homes and Gardens.

Sure, they’ll all try to sell you subscriptions or other things, and many advertisers lurk like weeds among the free garden sites, but ignore them – or pluck them with the “delete” key.

No matter how you look at it, now’s the time to see what can be – not what is.

Does that shrub or tree need pruning?

Does that corner need some color? This garden is awesome in the spring, but

FOR A LITTLE WHILE, THE DARKNESS IS GONE AND EVERYTHING IS FLOWERING, GROWING AND PICTURE-PERFECT and everything is flowering, growing, and picture-perfect. Territorial Seed Company features a literal palette of vegetables. Although the sketch of peppers, carrots and more on the artist’s slab was appealing, the first page offered something magical: a “Ketchup ‘n’ Fries” plant.

Above ground, grow tomatoes and below, potatoes.

That’s the stuff of dreams.

PLOT AND PLAN To turn the dreams into reality, ignore the blowing winds and chilling air outside. Look beyond the frost-covered, hard soil into the future.

Will you just let nature take its course?

Green things will grow between the cracks of concrete and weeds and wild plants will move into your backyard.

Who am I to judge?

As a city kid, I still appreciate a dandelion and really like the white, snowflakelike quality of Queen Anne’s lace. Wild roses and violets are cool too.

But you can take nature into your own hands. The Old Farmer’s Almanac (www.

Almanac.com/content/garden-plans) provides a variety of garden plans from

Are you worried about long term care for you or your parents?

needs to come alive in the summer or fall.

What do I do?

If you’re trying to eat healthier, but don’t want to spend the money for “organic” foods. Grow your own.

Raised beds or containers? Hanging plants or hang it up and just let nature take over the part of the yard you’ve been trying to transform.

Whether a small project or a major transformation, a few potted plants or a way to provide fruits and vegetables for your family, now’s the time to dream.

And the best thing is that whether you just read and research – or if you rototill and reap a harvest – before you know it, it will be warmer and you can head back outside. Once you’re there, you can catch some rays, trim some shrubs, and plant some seeds.

Or maybe not. In the end, it’s not so much about the harvest, but the dreams.

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PRIME LIVING

PRESERVING THE PAST:

BUTTONWOOD PARK GREENHOUSE

BY JOYCE ROWLEY

Gardening shears left behind by a long-ago gardener. A 90-year-old steel wheel whose cogs still open the long panels of glass outward to release summer’s heat. A bricked-in coal chute in a room that now houses a state-of-the-art energy efficient gas furnace.

These relics from a bygone era found at the historic Buttonwood greenhouse in New Bedford remind us of a time when the city’s residents came to Buttonwood Park to picnic on the great lawns, swim in Buttonwood pond, walk along the canal, or visit a small deer park in the southwest corner that later grew into a full-fledged zoo.

Built in 1921 and designed by the architectural firm of Brown and Poole, the Buttonwood Park potting house is the

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third-oldest building remaining in Buttonwood Park.

The park itself is even older, laid out in the 1890’s by Charles Eliot of the Bostonbased Olmsted, Olmsted, and Eliot landscape design firm. In 2000, the entire 110-acre west side neighborhood including the 97-acre Buttonwood Park became listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

After years of disuse, the city’s Department of Public Infrastructure (DPI) began

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renovations on the historic greenhouse in 2013. With the work now completed, it houses most of the city’s downtown plantings overwinter.

“It’s like downtown New Bedford is still growing and thriving in here,” said DPI Deputy Commissioner Zeb Arruda as he walked down the center aisle of the greenhouse.

“Here’s Union Street,” he quipped, surrounded by a jungle of hanging dipladenias and four-foot-tall dracaenas that came from the city’s planters last fall.

Arruda estimates that the city has spent between $35,000 to $40,000 in renovations to the heating and electrical systems, water lines and hot water heater.

DPI provided all of the labor, a source of pride for Arruda, and also for the city.

“We have a very talented group of people

A LWAYS SUMMER On a cold winter day, the benches are lined with next spring’s annuals that will be just the right size for planters come May. There’s also the start of the east garden that is laid out in the same design

formal rows of blue salvia, echinacea, and vinca.

Arruda has fond memories of the greenhouse and gardens. “It’s where I had my wedding pictures taken twenty years ago,” he said. As the greenhouse, gardens, and fountain fell into disuse, the wedding parties stopped coming. Now that it’s being restored, people have come back.

Tours of the Buttonwood potting house and greenhouse are available by calling the New Bedford Department of Infrastructure at 508-979-1550.

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“For a small investment, we save years of headaches,” said Arruda.

Changing the heating system from oil to gas was a larger investment but will also provide savings far into the future. In November, a gas line was brought from a connection at the zoo through the park to the greenhouse. Like switching from coal to oil, converting to gas heat shows the city’s commitment to preserving its past.

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Some of the repairs were long overdue but were a matter of fixing the right problem. In January, DPI installed ice breaks on the potting house roof adjacent to the greenhouse glass-paned roof. Prior to this, when melting snow and ice fell, breaking glass panes on the greenhouse roof below, they would just replace the broken glass panes.

as it was in the 1920s.

It takes DPI’s Head Gardener Ed Reis and his crew about a month to lay out all of the plantings. They are responsible for all of the park and city cemetery plantings, working from their headquarters at Pinegrove Cemetery on Ashley Boulevard where the city maintains two more greenhouses.

On this day Reis was painting the rafters in the potting house, the brick portion of the building, returning the wooden trim to dark green and the ceiling white.

“Most of what we plant comes in small plugs,” said Reis. “We also do cuttings from plants in the summer before the cold hits them.”

By March, Reis starts putting up 10,000 plugs in trays for planting.

That means having soil mixed and ready for the new plants. If he seems nonchalant about the volume of plants or the ability to ensure successful results, it’s because he has 19 years of experience gardening with the city to rely on.

And the gardens around Buttonwood Park, downtown New Bedford, and throughout the city are a testament to the work of Reis and his staff: Craig Maguire and Ariel Perez.

Everyone pitches in to make it a success.

Days himself cut the lower branches from the Norwegian fir trees lining the concourse, the wide brick-lined pathway through the park. Now people can see the garden and are enticed to stroll along the

FITNESS FUN & FRIENDS

working for the city,” Arruda said. And it is equally clear that they take pride in their work.

The 110-foot long greenhouse, last rebuilt at the original location in 1976, was “a nightmare,” says William Days, DPI foreman.

“Nothing worked. The pipes were dilapidated. Every [gardening] bench had to have slats replaced and resealed.”

J OYCE ROWLEY is a freelance writer and regular contributor to “The South Coast Insider” and “South Coast Prime Times”.

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GOOD TIMES

The new Newport BRIAN J. LOWNEY

Travelers to Newport shouldn’t miss the City by the Sea’s eclectic Lower Broadway neighborhood, a bustling area filled with interesting shops, art galleries, and small, delightful restaurants where guests can enjoy a memorable meal without breaking the bank.

Once run-down and filled with boarded-up buildings, this funky, friendly neighborhood is undergoing an impressive Renaissance, thanks to the foresight of several hardworking and committed entrepreneurs, dedicated employees, and many professionals who have chosen to live and work in the revitalized area. What was once just a part of the journey to downtown is now the destination.

At The Tavern on Broadway, husband and wife owners Jim Blumel and Jill Terita have created a cozy eatery where guests are treated like family. Chef Tim Sousa, a lifelong resident of Aquidneck Island and a graduate of Johnson and Wale’s famed culinary arts program, has created an appealing menu with daily specialties that features fresh produce sourced from area farms, seafood from local waters, and

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choice beef raised in the region.

“The menu is casual, American comfort food,” Terita says. “There is something for everyone.”

If you go: The Tavern on Broadway 16 Broadway • 401-619-5675 www.tavernonbroadway.com Hours: 11 a.m.-1 a.m. seven days per week The restaurateur describes the year-anda-half old dining spot as a “gastropub,” and notes that the bar serves a vast selection of craft beers, wines, cocktails, and specialty drinks.

Blumel says the menu is “reflective of local ingredients” and offers fare that local

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diners enjoy.

Sousa, who has worked in some of Newport’s most impressive kitchens, observes that many regular guests visit The Tavern on Broadway to savor the daily specials, which like regular menu items, also reflect his creativity and passion for cooking.

“I like to cook what’s readily available and in season,” Sousa emphasizes, adding that oftentimes, when he finally gets to sleep after a long yet rewarding day in the kitchen, he doesn’t have a clue about the following day’s specials.

Many times, the specials menu is created after Sousa meets with local purveyors early in the morning to see what’s available. He then consults his vast recipe collection before deciding what items to place on the chalkboard.

The talented chef adds that specials may include Block Island swordfish, locally grown poultry and other ingredients that reflect the restaurant’s “farm/sea to table” goal to always offer fresh, wholesome food at affordable prices.

Popular appetizers include spicy mussels served with capicola in a garlic white wine broth with bread for dipping, and Korean chicken spring rolls accompanied by an

Chef Sousa offers the following recipe:

Elegant Poached Pears Ingredients: 1 gallon red wine 2 cups brown sugar 1 tbsp black peppercorns (whole) 3 bay leaves 1 tbsp nutmeg 10 pears, peeled and cored Directions: Combine wine, sugar, peppercorns, bay leaves, and nutmeg, and bring to a simmer. Gently place pears in liquid and cook on very low for about one hour until pears are tender, then remove from heat and let cool in liquid. After having cooled, remove pears from liquid

THE TAVERN ON BROADWAY CHEF TIM SOUSA

Asian dipping sauce.

The sandwich board includes a flavorful chipotle turkey wrap with bacon, lettuce and tomato, and for seafood lovers, a native lobster salad sandwich made with lemon-dill mayonnaise and served on a buttered brioche roll.

Other favorites on the all-day menu include several popular pizzas, including a fig and goat cheese pizza and the classic Margherita, featuring tomatoes, basil, and handmade mozzarella.

For folks with a heartier appetite, Sousa offers palate-pleasing entrees such as native lobster mac n’ cheese, grilled Atlantic salmon, broccoli rabe with pasta and sausage (handmade by Sousa,) and

braised boneless short ribs served with mashed Yukon Gold potatoes and Brussels sprouts.

Sousa emphasizes that many menu offerings are gluten-free, and when he’s informed that a guest has dietary concerns, he comes out of the kitchen to speak to the individual to determine how he can best serve them and prepare a meal that they will enjoy.

On Sundays, The Tavern offers guests an opportunity to enjoy a relaxing, casual brunch, featuring several “Bennies” (Eggs Benedict,) egg dishes, pancakes and French toast, sandwiches and salads.

In addition, the restaurant offers special events, such as wine or beer dinners, featuring menu and product talks, and monthly cooking classes offered by Sousa that include a demonstration, recipes, and sampling.

According to Blumel, the restaurant

and save liquid to be reused another time. Serve pears with a generous scoop of French vanilla ice cream. also provides quality entertainment, highlighting popular cover bands, reggae performers, and other talented local musicians. More information can be obtained from the restaurant’s web site.

Blumel adds that it’s important to greet customers and offer a dining experience that will make guests want to return time and time again.

“You’re going to meet the owners and the chef,” he says, adding that guests particularly enjoy meeting Sousa and chatting about the restaurant’s innovative menu.

“People know him and come to eat his food,” says Blumel.

BRIAN LOWNEY is a freelance writer based in Swansea. He is the author of the new book “Unconditional Love: Pet Tales to Warm the Heart”, which is available in local bookstores.

VISITORS TO LOWER BROADWAY WILL ALSO ENJOY: Salvation Café 140 Broadway • 401-847-2620 One of Sousa’s favorite local dining sports, he describes the fare as “creative and delicious” and served in a casual dining setting.

Corner Café 110 Broadway • 401-846-0606 A hip, Euro-style cafe where standard American fare is influenced by Irish, Portuguese and West Coast flavors.

Boru Noodle Bar 6 Broadway • 401-846-4200 A Japanese-style noodle restaurant where ramen bowls meet local ingredients with a lot of creativity.

The Fifth Element 111 Broadway• 401-619-2663 Seasonal, fresh food with flavors that evoke satisfying feelings of home cooking, but done by the hand of a pro.

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GOOD TIMES

The deal with two wheels

I hate running.

Sure, it’s great exercise once you get past the DEREK throbbing pain in VITAL your knees and heart pounding so hard it feels like its going to jump out of your chest.

Maybe it was because running was considered a punishment in my younger days.

You mess up during sports - take a lap.

When I “ran” track in high school I would often turn down a side road and wait for the rest of the group to complete the one mile jog down the road and back. My friends and I would seamlessly integrate ourselves back into the crowd triumphantly, completing our significantly shorter trek.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE But I do understand that exercise is a key component of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. One exercise I happen enjoy is bicycle riding. You can cover longer distances and there is less wear and tear on the body. There are some stunning landscapes along the South Coast which you can take in from your ten-speed.

Whether you are an avid cyclist or you are returning to the sport after a long layoff, Mark DeStefano has something for

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everyone at Pedego Electric Bikes RI. The Bristol, R.I. based business specializes in selling and renting Pedego Electric Bikes.

Long-popular in Europe, electric bikes are starting to catch on in the States. Pedego electric bikes look just like regular bicycles. You can pedal them to get around, and when you get to a rather steep hill switch the throttle to utilize the electric power. This will allow you to effortlessly glide up the incline and continue on your ride.

It’s great for the person that used to ride and can’t ride anymore,” said DeStefano.

popular with people in their 60’s and 70’s.

Perhaps their spouse is very active and they aren’t due to physical limitations.

This will allow them to enjoy an activity together.

“I sell a lot to couples,” said DeStefano.

The electric bikes are allowed on bike paths and can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. You can travel somewhere between 20 and 40 miles before you need to recharge the battery. The cost to purchase a new electric bike is somewhere between $2,000 and $3,000, but you can rent one for $55 per day and take it out on a test drive.

IT’S FOR GENERALLY ACTIVE PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO GOLF OR TRAVEL “Maybe you have knee problems, respiratory problems, or some other reason that makes riding a bike difficult. This allows you to keep up with your friends.”

DeStefano said the bikes have been

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“People who were very serious cyclists are not in the market for them,” said DeStefano. “It’s for generally active people who love to golf or travel. They are retired or semi-retired.”

DeStefano said that unlike racing bikes where you are hunched over for a majority of your ride, the electric bikes are very comfortable. You are sitting straight up and there is no strain on your back or knees. They are also very easy to pedal.

While most of DeStefano’s customers are baby boomers, he said some younger people have also purchased the bicycles.

“A kid who can’t get his drivers’ license, this is how he gets around, gets to work,” said DeStefano, who used to sell boats for a living before entering the electric bicycle business a year ago.

DeStefano also rents conventional bikes for about half the price of the electric ones. Pedego Electric Bikes RI is located at

Cape Cod. Currently, paths in Fall River run along city streets. There are plans to add a trail along the Quequechan River and another which would run from Battleship Cove along the rail line to South Tiverton.

There have also been discussions about having a route that runs from Fall River to Westport and on to New Bedford along the bio reserve.

ENJOY NATURE The Fall River group will often partner up with another another riding club from the region on their journeys. Pearson said that while most of his regular riders are 40 years of age and older, all are welcome to participate.

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MILES OF BIKE PATHS So you purchased a new electric bike, or perhaps you prefer a conventional ride. Where do you go to use it? There are hundreds of miles of bike paths along the South Coast and Rhode Island. If you are looking for a friendly group to share your new hobby with, look no further than the Fall River Bike Committee.

Chairman Brian Pearson said about 10 to 12 riders, sometimes even more than 20, will gather on a weekend day and head to some location in the region. They have been known to make the 10-mile trek to Westport, participate in a yoga class, hop on their bikes again, and head back to Fall River. Other times, they may stop at a museum or grab a bite to eat along their excursion.

“It’s a different perspective than driving,” said Pearson, noting that there is a social component to their group along with the obvious health benefits. “Sometimes we will stop and take pictures.”

Pearson said that currently there are various routes all the way from Providence to Provincetown. The South Coast Bikeway is a component of the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development’s Southeastern Massachusetts Bicycle Plan. The bikeway, once realized, will be a 50-mile continuous system of bike paths or multi-use paths and bike lanes that will connect Rhode Island to

“We get a lot of Baby Boomers,” said Pearson. “They are trying to stay healthy and get out and enjoy nature. They love getting out and getting exercise.”

Riding clubs have become popular in the region. The Narragansett Bay Wheelmen boast 70 regular members. There is also strong contingent in the Blackstone River Valley, which runs from Pawtucket to Woonsocket.

“Usage is incredible,” said Pearson.

“They are talking about widening the routes.”

Pearson noted that his group makes sure that all the rules of the road are obeyed during their outings. Safety comes first, which also includes wearing a helmet.

“We want to make people aware of the safety aspect,” said Pearson. “They need to obey the rules of the road. We want to make sure they are doing their job.”

Pearson is amazed at some of the stories he has heard from the friends he has met while on one of his excursions. Some of the more serious riders have completed centuries, which involves riding 100 miles.

“There are some fascinating people you meet in bicycling,” said Pearson.

For more information about the Fall River Bike Committee, contact Pearson at btrekman@comcast.net or visit the Fall River Bike Committee Facebook page.

D EREK V ITAL has been a writer and editor for various publications over the last 15 years. A lifelong resident of the South Coast, he lives in Dartmouth and has one son.

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PRIME SEASON

How to live with assisted living JAY PATEAKOS

There’s a part of us that thinks our parents will live forever. My parents had lived in an in-law’s apartment with my sister and her family for many years. I will always be indebted to my sister for that.

They were well taken care of and both lived very long, happy lives. But when my father began to be a struggle, it was a difficult decision to make to put him somewhere other than his home. I’m sure that for most families it’s the same way.

But keeping up with aging parents is a lot of work and it raises some important questions: when will it be time to seek help? How will you know? How can these facilities provide services that you or your family cannot? Is moving them out of their homes the best move and why or

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why not?

FIRST STEPS Jill H. Garvey, Director of Admissions and Marketing for the Fall River-based The Home for Aged People of Fall River that includes The Adams House, Freeman Borden TCU, and Bay View (for independent living), noted that the perfect candidate for an Independent Living Community is generally a person over 55 who is interested in simplifying their lifestyle. ILC’s provide an opportunity for an independent, worry-free way of life where there’s no need to be concerned about

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cooking, cleaning, or home maintenance.

“The promise of a simpler, safe, lessstressed lifestyle is what draws people 55 and up to an Independent Living Community. We provide the opportunity to actually enjoy the best of your life – delicious meals, engaging activities, 24-hour security and emergency call systems are a sampling of the amenities a quality ILC will offer their residents,” said Garvey.

“We embrace the idea that it’s important to avoid isolation as we age. Establishing a strong sense of community is key. At Bay View, we foster a robust sense of community and actively encourage socialization through interesting and diverse activities such as Happy Hour, community dining, trips to entertaining venues, and more.”

Garvey said that while it’s always best to plan ahead, living in an Independent Living Community before the need arises,

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sometimes the move can be a bit “crisisdriven.”

“In some cases, a family may come to realize that a parent is not thriving living alone at home. Perhaps Mom and Dad can no longer assume the responsibility of maintaining their home,” Garvey said.

“Socialization, a wonderful meal plan, and a solid safety system can ease everybody’s mind.”

WHAT’S NEXT? Andrea Greenwood-Syron, Co-Director of Somerset’s Clifton Healthcare Campus, said that she feels assisted living is one of the more exciting options for seniors to consider as they age. She noted that people enter assisted living communities for a variety of reasons. Each resident has unique and individual circumstances that

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will guide them in making their choices.

“Some individuals enter assisted living communities being very independent.

They truly require little to no assistance from staff. Often they come to us because they are living in large oversized homes that are expensive to heat and maintain, require a great deal of energy to keep up with housekeeping and cleaning, and many times people are tired of eating all their meals alone with no conversation or companionship,” Greenwood-Syron said. “For these independent folks, assisted living is perfect. They may have their own car, private apartment, furnished housekeeping services, their meals are prepared and they can remain private or socialize as much or as little as they choose. Not to mention all the available activities which they can choose to participate in if they wish. All the headaches of owning your own home, maintaining your property and even cleaning your car off when it snows are gone which allow people to enjoy living.”

Greenwood-Syron said there are also individuals and couples that seek out assisted living for the additional caregiving help. She said that as individuals age, sometimes they require more assistance with the activities of daily living such as bathing, grooming, dressing, etc.

“Just having a little assistance can keep seniors independent and allow them to maintain a very active lifestyle. Choos-

ing assisted living also helps lesson guilt feelings for both the senior and the adult child. Often, more and more care is needed from family members in order to keep their aging parents in their own home,” Greenwood-Syron said. “Older adults don’t want to burden their family and friends.

Caregivers become tired and exhausted trying to keep their loved ones at home. As the person ages they might not drive as much, begin to feel isolated, not eat as well, fearful there is no one around at night and possibly forget to take their necessary medications.”

GreenwoodSyron said the biggest difficulty most residents face during this transition is downsizing, namely moving from a house to an apartment-sized living area but at Clifton Assisted Living Community, there are a large variety of apartmentsized options available including studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom choices that meet individual’s needs.

“Once the movein occurs, things usually progress smoothly,” Greenwood-Syron said.

‘Just having a little assistance can keep seniors independent and allow them to maintain a very active lifestyle’

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‘It is important to advocate for your loved one and try to find the best possible match for them based on their needs’

LONG-TERM

CARE Long-term care (LTC) is a whole other ball of wax, usually triggered when the senior is no longer able to live alone or do things they used to do on their own.

Eva Fey, Admission Coordinator of Dartmouth-based Brandon Woods, said that patients who require LTC are in need of 24/7 care, someone who is no longer

safe to leave at home alone for any period of time.

“Families generally try to avoid longterm placement, but when the care for a loved one starts affecting their own health or their work schedule or they are not receiving enough at home, it may be time to look into placement. A lot of services can be provided in the home to avoid placement at least for some period of time,” said Fey. “The nurses, CNA’s, etc. that are in the home and providing this care may have a good indication of when they feel that home care is no longer enough and placement may be needed.

Putting a loved one in a facility ensures they are getting the care they need whenever they need it. A lot of the time, the patient’s primary care physician will also make a referral after seeing the patient for a yearly visit or check-up and realizing they may need more care.”

Fey said that most of the difficulties regarding LTC placement are financial.

Insurances that cover LTC placement include: MassHealth, Senior Whole Health, LTC insurance policies, and private pay. Unfortunately, at this time Medicare and Managed Care (Blue Cross, Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim, etc.) only pay for “skilled care” after a hospitalization, but contacting a MassHealth consultant prior to admission can help start the process.

“They will be able to advise you on finances and spending-down of assets if applicable. Also it is important to tour facilities. Generally, families are looking for LTC placement when it is needed at that moment – it is important to advocate for your loved one and try to find the best possible match for them based on their needs. After all, it will be their home,” said Fey. “Finally, a health care proxy is an important document that should be done ideally before placement is needed. The health care proxy is designated by the loved one – they name someone that they would want to make medical decisions on their behalf if something were to happen to render them incapacitated.”

Fey added that a lot of the time when LTC placement is needed, the loved one may be confused or have dementia and the proxy is a document that needs to be done when the patient is alert and ori-

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CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE ented and able to make that decision.

Bringing someone to long term care it is a three-step process: Completing an assessment of the patient wherever they call home – with a loved one, alone in an apartment or home, Assisted Living Facility, etc.

Getting primary care physician authorization, and getting insurance authorization (or collecting a 30-day check if coming in private pay.)

Moving in. The facility can work with the patient and family to get their loved one into the facility in a period of time that works for everyone, Fey noted.

Fey said that although no one really wants to place a loved one in a facility, a lot of times families come to her after their loved ones have been placed and express their content with the situation.

“Although it is a hard transition that affects each family differently, once a loved one who truly does need LTC placement has been placed, the family has a lot less worry because they know their loved one is in a safe environment around the clock,” Fey said. “It is also great for the loved one that they are in a social environment and getting the care that they really do need. Social workers are assigned to each case to ensure that both the patient and their families adjust to the new living situation.”

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‘The first thing the family should do in the process is educate themselves‘

THE LAW

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themselves about how and by whom the parents will be cared for if the parents can’t care for themselves.

“They need to know the options for home care, assisted living care, and nursing home care, what these options cost, and discuss how to pay for care. There are so many myths and misconceptions about long-term care options and payments,” said Beneski. “A good elder law attorney can help explain to the family what will happen if certain types of care is needed, what types of benefits the parents may qualify for, and help to lay out a plan so that when or if the time comes to place a parent into a nursing home, the family is not impoverished and the parent gets good care.”

As far as legal documents are concerned, Beneski said a Durable Power of Attorney and a Massachusetts Health Care Proxy are the two most important documents to make sure the parent signs. These documents allow the person chosen by the parent to make legal and financial decisions and health care decisions for the parent if the parent can’t do that for himself.

“Without these documents, the family will have to go to court to obtain the ability to do these things for the parent through the guardianship and conservatorship process, which is very public and very expensive,” said Beneski. “Beyond the Health Care Proxy and Durable Power of Attorney, certain types of trusts may be useful to protect the family home or provide for a special beneficiary. Every family is different – that is why every family needs to find out for themselves and their family situation what will happen if a parent needs care. Some planning needs to be done at least five years in advance of any MassHealth application, so the time to prepare is when everyone is healthy.”

When it comes to Assisted Living, Beneski said it’s a wonderful option for a senior who cannot live at home alone but does not currently need nursing home care.

She said Assisted Livings Facilities are not

Michelle D. Beneski, Esq., partner in the New Bedford law firm of Surprenant & Beneski, P.C., certainly knows a thing or two about the pitfalls of senior living and the decisions to be made before and after that next step is taken for seniors and their families. A couple of years ago.

Beneski wrote a chapter in a book on preparing for getting older called “Protect your Family: don’t write a blank check to the nursing home.”

Beneski said the first thing the family should do in the process is educate M ARCH /A PR IL 2015

as strictly regulated as nursing homes.

“A resident should know what types of care he or she can get at the assisted living and what types of care the facility cannot supply. Assisted Living is usually paid for privately through savings; long-term care insurance and/or veteran’s benefits. A contract is signed at the time the resident moves in,” Beneski noted. “The contract should be reviewed carefully so that the resident understands what happens if they decide to move out, have to move to a nursing home, or pass away. What fees are due to the facility and how much notice of a change does the resident need to give the facility.”

Beneski said one of the greatest pitfall families make is listening to myths and rumors and thinking that the talk applies to them. She said each situation is different and what happened to your neighbor is probably not going to happen to you.

“This problem can be avoided by seeing a good elder law attorney and finding out what will happen to you or your parents if long-term care is needed. Another pitfall is waiting too long to plan. If you wait too long, the parent may lose the ability to sign documents or may not be well enough to get through a five year look-back period,” Beneski said. “Finally, not getting your estate plan reviewed every three to five years is a big mistake.

Your family will change, your wealth will change; the laws will change. If your estate plan is not reviewed every three to five years, you are likely to find out that it will not work the way you want it to when you need it.”

So yes, a lot of advice to heed in the process but the overall sentiment from everyone above is to think ahead and plan – something that would not only be in your best interest but in the best interest of your loved one too. They’ve taken care of us for decades and planned well right along, and now it’s our turn to return that favor and make those last years what they need to be: golden and stress-free.

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PRIME LIVING

Give new meaning to SPRING CLEANING ELIZ ABETH MORSE READ

One of the hardest parts of spring cleaning is figuring out what to do with all the leftover clutter – all the “stuff” you found in the closets, garage, and drawers. Items that you just don’t need or use (or fit into) anymore, but that you’d hate to just mindlessly toss into the trash or a donation bin.

Sure, you could spend all your free time selling your stuff on eBay, holding a yard sale, or hauling it all off to a consignment shop or a flea market, but wouldn’t it be better to give them to someone who really needs them? Before you throw away something that’s still useful (which is the very definition of waste,) find simple ways to give it to people who do need

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it – they won’t care whether it’s trendy or brand-new.

CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME Somewhere along the line, it just got to be too much hassle to donate anything.

Tax deduction questions, schlepping to a drop-off site, no-show “pick-ups.” You see those clothing donation bins in every

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parking lot – for Goodwill, Planet Aid, and other very legitimate charitable organizations. But make sure local or special needs are met before you do a drive-thru dumpster donation, okay? Donate creatively.

Start your where-to-donate search locally – your town’s churches, schools, library, and grassroots groups can tell you who needs what, whether it’s for a fund-raiser, a thrift shop or immediate distribution. In other words, ask your neighbors, friends and family before you take out a classified ad or go online or do a dumpster run.

INTELLIGENT GIVING Most people really want their springcleaning donations to make someone happy, whether locally or far away. Your

“junk” can make an impact on someone’s life, so choose where you donate it carefully.

You don’t want your special donation to be squandered, ripped off or wasted, so check out that charity organization before you decide whether to donate something. Go to CharityNavigator.org or GuideStar.org to research and read reviews about 8,000 charity organizations’ financial stability, accountability, and transparency. They are the watchdog groups for philanthropic organizations – it’s like checking out a company’s BBB rating or “Angie’s List” or Consumer Reports. Donate wisely.

PAYING IT FORWARD Maybe there’s a particular “cause” or group you hold near and dear to your heart. Cancer patients. Literacy. Abandoned animals. Military families. Environmental issues. But you can’t always write out a check to show your support for the many worthy philanthropic organizations.

You don’t have to donate money to have an impact. Some of your give-away items can directly target the cause or group you’re interested in. That too-tight business suit can help someone make a good impression at a job interview. Those DVDs and CDs can brighten the day of wounded warriors. Do a little research online on “where to donate X” and you’ll be able to match up your no-longer-needed item with people near and far who do need them.

CLEANING OUT YOUR CLOSETS Many organizations openly appeal for everyday clothing and shoes year-round, but don’t just stuff everything into a bag!

Certain items should be set aside and donated specifically – “special occasion” clothing like wedding gowns, business outfits, sports uniforms, shoes, prom dresses.

Dress for Success (www.DressForSuccess.org) and Career Gear (www.CareerGear.org) provide professional attire to help people get a step up onto the ladder to success. In addition to men’s and women’s business suits, they need accessories such as belts, shoes, briefcases, watches, overcoats, formal shirts, and ties.

Give some little girl a special dress for a prom, quinceanera, or formal event – go to DonateMyDress.org; give a military

bride a wedding gown – go to BridesAcrossAmerica or DonateMyWeddingDress.org.

“Adaptive” clothing for the disabled can help wounded military members and the handicapped around the world. Check out the Disabled American Veterans’ website DAV.org or SewMuchComfort.org.

Children traumatized by natural disasters, homelessness or turmoil can be comforted with gently-used stuffed

YOU DON’T HAVE TO DONATE MONEY TO HAVE AN IMPACT animals, children’s books, and baby blankets. Check out ProjectNightNight.org or StuffedAnimalsForEmergencies.org.

Project Smile (ProjectSmile.org) specifically distributes these items directly to emergency responders to help them calm a frightened or injured child.

WHAT TO DO WITH BIG STUFF Common sense would obviously mean you won’t be donating your second refrigerator to some tropical country – so big stuff like old cars, appliances, AC units, and table-saws are best donated locally (if you want to find a charitable organization that will pick up your donation for free at your home, go to DonationTown. org.) Vocational schools are always inter-

E VEN THE SMALL UNUSED STUFF IN YOUR JUNK DRAWERS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ested in using real machines for students to work on. Working appliances are greatly appreciated by many local nonprofit organizations and social services agencies. Organizations like Car-Donation.org and CarsForVeterans.org help out wounded veterans, and will pick up your

old car at your home.

Gently-used furniture and household goods can help out someone local whose house just burned down or a family who’s been living in a shelter. My Brother’s Keeper (www.MyBrothersKeeper.org), based in Dartmouth and Easton, offers free pickup. Contact the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, Goodwill, Volunteers of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Catholic Charities, or St. Vincent de Paul center nearest you. Many will provide free pickup, and sign a tax donation letter.

EMPTYING OUT YOUR JUNK DRAWERS Too often, people just upend their cluttered drawers into the trash without really examining what they’re throwing away.

Such a waste! Think of how much good those restaurant gift certificates, expired coupons, or half-used gift cards could do for someone else!

Many charity networks and non-profit organizations would gladly distribute those gifts cards to those in need or to raise funds for your favorite cause, and provide info on how to get a tax deduction for your donation! Check out WorksOfLife.org or the Make-A-Wish Foundation (www.wish.org).

Local food pantries and family shelters can always use current manufacturers’ coupons. But even expired coupons can help out a military family overseas (go to CouponsToTroops.com, PayItForwardWithCoupons.com).

And wouldn’t you feel better knowing that your unused frequent-flyer miles could help a sick child or medical professional get to where they need to go? Almost all commercial airlines participate in the Mercy Medical Airlift program – go to DonateFrequentFlyerMiles.org. The Make-A-Wish Foundation (www.wish. org) provides round-trip transportation for sick children.

Even the small unused stuff in your junk drawers can make a difference.

Cause USA (www.Cause-USA.org) and Forgotten Soldiers Outreach (www.ForgottenSoldiers.org) provide really basic household supplies to military personnel and their families – travel-sized toiletries, batteries, felt markers, flea collars, envelopes, playing cards, socks.

Even your old prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and store-bought read-

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CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE ing glasses could transform someone else’s life. Locally, contact a Lions Club member (www.LionsClubs.org) to find out where to donate them. Many big-box eyeglass franchises like LensCrafters participate in global eyeglass donation programs. And then there are organizations like New Eyes for the Needy (www.

NewEyesForTheNeedy.org.)

Owning a used bicycle in an impoverished country means that someone can get themselves to a school or a job – donate any working bicycle and accessories to BikesForTheWorld.org or Bicycles-ForHumanity.org. Football gear, baseball

UNPLUG THE UNUSED

ELECTRONIC STUFF If you want to give away an old (but still-working) computer, iPad, peripherals, smart phone, software, printer, video game system or anything else electronic, there’s a long list of people who really need it. You can help the disabled through the National Cristina Foundation (www.Cristina.org), or you can help schools, libraries, and universities in developing countries through WorldComputerExchange.org.

Your old cell phones can be refurbished to help victims of domestic violence.

Verizon stores will accept used phones and accessories in any condition, no matter the wireless service provider, through its “HopeLine from Verizon” program, and then donates them to women’s shelters.

If you’ve got a stack of old DVDs, let someone else enjoy them – KidFlicks. org can use them to create movie libraries for children’s hospitals and pediatric wards; DVDs4Vets.org gives donated DVDs (and used DVD players) to VA hospitals.

WHAT TO DO WITH THE WEIRD STUFF For those of us who’ve “inherited” leave-behinds over the years, here’s your big chance to purge your living space of someone else’s bicycle helmet, crutches, six pairs of soccer cleats, exercise equipment, etc. Always contact local groups first when you decide to donate them, but remember that people beyond your neighborhood could use them, too.

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“WASTE NOT, WANT NOT” When you do your spring cleaning this year, examine every item in every closet, drawer, cabinet and storage space. Do you really use it? Need it? Want it? If you answer “no,” then it’s time to give it away.

If you want to find a reputable charitable organization that would make good use of your donated item, go to CharityNavigator.org or GuideStar.org.

If you want to find a charitable organization that will pick up your donation for free at your home, go to DonationTown.org.

equipment, sports uniforms, ice skates, and running shoes are needed by disadvantaged kids in the US and throughout the world. Go to SportsGift.org or PeacePassers.org or Soles4Souls.org.

Medical supplies and equipment like crutches, walkers, prosthetics, and wheelchairs are desperately needed in clinics and hospitals around the world – check out ProjectCure.org or DonateMedical. org.

And then there’s all the “oddball” spring cleaning leftovers like the yoga mat, bird feeder, lava lamp, dog bed, fishing rod, chess set, and souvenir wedding spoons

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from Wales. Go straight to FreeCycle.org.

Trust me – there is someone in the area who will gladly come and take away your weird stuff at your convenience.

Sometimes your spring cleaning “junk” is toxic and should never go into your everyday trash or recycling bin (or get flushed down your toilet.) They all need to be disposed of carefully – dead batteries, a half can of exterior paint, OTC and prescription medicines, e-waste, garden chemicals – find out where to recycle them responsibly. Call your town hall or go to websites like RecyclingCenters.org or Earth911.com

T URN YOUR TRASH INTO

TREASURE The many charitable organizations mentioned in this article are just a tiny glimpse at the world of who-needsyour-stuff. Most provide easy instructions on where to drop off donations or arrange to have them picked up or how to ship them, and how to get a tax deduction.

For example, Operation Give (www.OperationGive. org) operates worldwide near US military bases to help local children in war zones, and they offer free FedEx shipping to their warehouses.

No matter where or what you choose to donate, remember that people on the receiving end can’t use your garbage. Do not “donate” anything that’s broken, unusable, or dirty – if you wouldn’t be able to sell it “as is,” then don’t try to give it away “as is.”

Intelligent giving – pay it forward. Your spring cleaning leftovers are valuable.

E LIZABETH M ORSE R EAD is an award-winning writer, editor and artist who grew up on the South Coast. After 20 years of working in New York City and traveling the world, she came back home with her children and lives in Fairhaven.

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Freedom from doubt

BY MICHELLE D. BENESKI

I recently read an article about the top ten fears of many seniors based upon a recent survey conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care network. The top ten fears according to this survey are: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Loss of independence.

Declining health.

Running out of money.

Not being able to live at home.

Death of a spouse or other family member.

6. Inability to manage their own activities of daily living.

7. Not being able to drive.

8. Isolation or loneliness.

9. Strangers caring for them.

10. Fear of falling or hurting themselves.

It immediately struck me how well elder law planning can provide muchneeded peace of mind to many seniors by addressing these concerns directly, educating the senior and family about what could happen if something does go wrong and how the potential problems could be handled to minimize the negative impacts. Many seniors and their families ignore potential problems that are likely to result in the seniors’ worst fears occurring. These fears are ignored because many seniors incorrectly assume that “what will be will be.” When things go wrong, knowledge and the right guidance can be the difference between whether the senior’s worst fears are realized or whether the problem’s negative consequences are minimized and things go a as smoothly as possible. If you have any of the fears listed above then you need to work with an elder law attorney to create a plan that gives yourself the peace of mind you deserve by knowing you have done all you can to minimize the risk of your fears coming true.

At Surprenant & Beneski, P.C. we can assist you with elder care planning to give you the peace of mind you need during your senior years. Please call our office at 508-994-5200 to schedule a consultation.

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PRIME SEASON

Listen up-grade:

TECH TO HELP YOU HEAR BETTER DAN L OGAN

The overarching approach in my columns is to take a look at technology that might help us efficiently sidestep problems associated with getting older. A lot of aging issues are primarily the result of the wearing down of the body’s functional capabilities over many years. If we can’t prevent the decline, at least we can get by comfortably with a little help not only from our friends, but also from various high-tech devices.

Our hearing is one of those bodily systems that gets worse with age, but it seems to get overlooked unless someone has a serious problem. Every year or two in K-12 we had hearing tests in school. Since then, I don’t recall having had a hearing test. I’m sure I don’t hear as well as I once did, but that’s about as precise as I can get.

The hearing test for many adults is the degree to which we antagonize either our-

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selves or the people around us with our hearing tics. Are you getting annoyed that every verbal exchange you have requires you to emit a “WHADIDYOUSAY?” The repetition really takes the punch out of a conversation for everyone involved. Get thee to a doctor.

If you’re beginning to suspect your hearing is now an issue, your primary care physician should be able to aim you in the right direction for a visit to an audi-

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ologist, otolaryngologist or a hearing aid specialist.

HUH? “Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is the loss of hearing that gradually occurs in most of us as we grow older,” according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), which is part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ National Institutes of Health.

According to the NIDCD, about a third of the people in the United States between 65 and 74 years of age have hearing loss, and almost half of those 75 and older have hearing problems.

Besides age-related hearing loss there’s noise-induced hearing loss. I’m sure any hearing loss I’m suffering is primarily rock ‘n’ roll induced. I got my first portable radio at age eight and don’t think I ever turned the music off ‘til I was 33. I recall seeing the Doors play in Providence in the late 60s in the most awesome demonstration of loud that I’ve ever experienced. I listened to Led Zeppelin with the volume cranked to 11 – and now I’m beginning to undergo my own communication breakdown as a result.

But age and endless sessions of loud rock ‘n’ roll aren’t the only culprits. Your noise-induced hearing loss may have been instigated by aggressive lawnmowers, close proximity race cars or heavy equipment, or a deafening workplace. But

helps isolate the person from friends and family – hearing loss can be a big issue in more critical situations. Think about being able to hear approaching vehicles on the street or a smoke alarm in the home.

Hearing loss can interfere with a patient getting important information from a doctor.

Ongoing use of a hearing aid may depend on one’s finding a device that meets his or her requirements for price, convenience, effectiveness, and unobtrusiveness.

LOUD AND CLEAR!

There are a variety of types of hearing aids, each with its own pros and cons.

Behind-the-ear models put the electronics behind the ear, connected to an earmold in the ear. These work well mainly for more modest hearing loss, but they don’t block the ear canal and make life easier for people who produce a lot of ear wax.

In-the-ear hearing aids fit OR THOSE WHO STRONGLY RESIST inside the outer ear and are used USING HEARING AIDS EVEN IF THEY for moderate to severe hearing NEED THEM THERE ARE DEVICES THAT loss.

Canal aids fit CAN HELP IN SPECIFIC SITUATIONS in the ear canal.

They’re used for other factors can contribute to gradual or more severe hearing loss and are customsudden hearing loss such as high blood fitted to the user’s ear canals. They’re pressure, diabetes, infections, head injumostly well-hidden, but because they’re ries, or medications. small they’re harder to adjust and remove.

Most hearing aids aren’t plug-and-play, WHAT’S THAT? meaning the user has to spend some time So, is digital technology providing any learning to use them properly. Hearing new solutions for those of us with modest aid providers often offer a trial period to moderate hearing problems? during which the user can get comfortThe most commonly-used device is able with using and maintaining the some form of hearing aid, which elecdevice. tronically boosts sound volume.

For those who strongly resist using hearFor a variety of reasons, people resist using aids even if they need them, there are ing hearing aids. They’re perceived as bedevices that can help in specific situaing obtrusive, suggesting that you have a tions. weakness or are getting old. They’re often The FDA regulates hearing aids as mediseen as expensive, awkward to use, and cal devices, but there’s a category called are easy to misplace. Users complain that Personal Sound Amplification Products the sound quality can be pretty lame. that aren’t technically hearing aids.

All this adds up to limited use for the Note that if used improperly, these most basic devices. To underscore that devices can further damage your hearing, hearing gets short shrift in adulthood, and the experts recommend getting a prothe NIDCD notes that only 16 percent fessional evaluation of your hearing probof adults 20-69 that a hearing aid would lems before self-diagnosing your problem help have used them, and that rises to and investing in any hearing device. only 30 percent for adults 70 and over.

Sound amplifiers are fairly inexpensive, Yet, beyond the difficulty of carrying meaning that they cost as little as $10, but on normal communication – which

F

,

you usually get what you pay for. Cheap sound amplifiers often will pump up the low, bass frequencies but be ineffective in boosting the frequencies where normal speech usually takes place.

To get an idea of what is available aside from hearing aids you can look online at sites such as www.HearMore.com and www.HearingIsBelieving.com that sell all kinds of devices to help people with hearing loss. Sound amplifiers, amplified telephones and smoke detectors, loud alarm clocks, vibrating watches, and speech-to-text converters are only a few of the possibilities.

Hearing aids are being integrated with smartphones via Bluetooth technology.

If you’re a person who is deeply involved with his or her smartphone, here’s one more way to make it work for you. You can take your calls through your smart hearing aid. Phone apps such as Audibel’s A3i can be used to control volume, reduce noise and adjust other settings.

Other developing technologies include solar power for hearing aids that reduces the need for dealing with batteries.

If your hearing loss isn’t too limiting, developing a strategy for using other techniques can be a convenient way to go. For example, mild hearing loss can be somewhat offset simply by paying closer attention. If you’re in a situation where people are likely to be addressing comments to you, keep a greater part of your mind attuned to that possibility. I know that if I’m way out in Dan-land, it eventually dawns on me that I’m asking to have things repeated, and I focus a bit more. If you’re used to being alone a lot, a situation that may be increasingly true as you get older, you can get out of the habit of being tuned in to conversation.

Developing your lip reading skills can also help if you have mild hearing loss.

It’s surprisingly easy to match people’s lip movements to whatever sounds you’re hearing to better understand what’s being said.

As we usually find with the technology I write about, there’s rarely a perfect high-tech solution. But if hearing loss is beginning to affect your daily life, it’s time to find a strategy that suits you, and it will probably include current electronic technology.

DAN L OGAN is a freelance writer and photographer from Fairhaven, MA. E-mail him at dlogan@thegrid.net.

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E XTRA! E XTRA!

IN BRIEF… ELIZ ABETH MORSE READ

Winter’s almost over! It’s time for spring cleaning and planning your gardens. Get ready to party on Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day, and make sure to have plenty of family activities planned for school vacation weeks!

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS…

Good news, bad news. Massachusetts’ income tax rate is going down, but local property taxes are not. Electricity costs are shooting up, but the price of fuel oil and gasoline keeps falling.

Woohoo! Head for the week-long 27th Annual Newport Winter Festival through February 22! 150 events, food, family

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fun and festivities. Learn more at www. newportwinterfestival.com or call 401-253-0246.

Fall River’s embattled mayor Will Flanagan was soundly defeated by Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter in Fall River’s first-ever recall election.

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Uh oh… the agreements between Cape Wind and both NSTAR and National Grid for power produced by the proposed Nantucket Sound wind farm have fallen apart. Stay tuned…

The US Olympic Committee has chosen Boston to compete against Rome, Johannesburg and Istanbul to host the 2024 summer games – many events would take place outside of the city limits, possibly in the South Coast (hopefully South Coast Rail will be operational by then.)

UMass Dartmouth has been named one of the 50 most affordable public colleges in the country for out-of-state students, according to the website www.AffordableColleges.com.

Get ready for spring! Visit the 2015 Rhode Island Spring Flower and Garden Show February 19-22 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. For details, visit www.flowershow.com or call 401-2530246.

SOUTH COAST BIZZ BUZZ…

Amazon has suddenly put the brakes on building the proposed distribution center in the SouthCoast Life Sciences and Technology Park straddling Fall River and Freetown. Hopefully, talks will resume before March.

The state will invest about one million dollars in upgrades at the State Pier in New Bedford for the installation of refrigeration units, which would allow for increased traffic in perishable imported foods, starting in the summer.

The state’s Department of Energy Resources will pay the town of Somerset $531,000 to offset lost tax revenues from the Montaup power plant closure five years ago.

J.C. Penney will shut down its stores in Taunton and Providence by April.

Blue Wave Capital is moving ahead with plans to build a 1-megawatt solar array project in Fairhaven, starting in April.

The $3.5 million 2,000-foot expansion of the Veterans Administration Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in downtown New Bedford has finally opened.

The VA Clinic serves the city’s 3,000 veterans, as well as other South Coast veterans between Providence and Cape Cod. Taunton’s Morton Hospital is building a new state-of-the-art emergency room that will open in the summer.

Fall River has received a $265,000 state grant to help fund the overhaul of basketball courts in all the city’s public parks.

It’ll be an uphill battle for CVS to build anything in Marion, no matter how many times they adjust their proposal. Stay tuned…

City of New Bedford officials unveiled plans for a major overhaul of the very scary “Octopus” intersection that links the Fairhaven Bridge traffic, Rt. 6 & Rt. 18 in the waterfront/downtown area.

(Maybe residents will finally be able to cross the streets safely?)

The state will pay up to $10 million to renovate Father Travassos Park in Fall River and to create a pedestrian/bicycle path along the Quequechan River.

“THAT’S A BUMMER, DUDE…”

After 25 years on the air, WBSM radio talk-show host Pete Braley was abruptly fired just weeks before Christmas.

Pending state approval, NSTAR Gas rates for consumers could jump by 12% or more by 2016.

SOUTH COAST NEWSMAKERS…

The Standard-Times 2014 South Coast Man and Woman of the Year are former Gov. Deval Patrick and Pia Durkin, Superintendent of the New Bedford schools.

Dartmouth High School’s football coach Rick White was chosen as the New England Patriots’ High School Coach of the Year, after he led the DHS football team to Division 3 victory at Gillette Stadium, their first state championship in 30 years. The Standard-Times 2014 South Coast Youth of the Year are the Dartmouth High School football team, Division 3 Super Bowl Champs.

Amy Hartley-Matteson and Allen Days were chosen as The Standard-Times 2014 Fairhaven Man and Woman of the Year.

All the volunteers on the Dartmouth 350th Committee were chosen as The Standard-Times 2014 Dartmouth Men and Women of the Year.

The Standard-Times 2014 Acushnet Men and Women of the Year are all the dedicated volunteers who worked so hard over the years to move the Russell Memorial Library to its new (and much larger) location at the former Marie Howard Middle School.

The indie movie “Whiplash” was one of eight Oscar-nominated films for Best Picture. Actor Nate Lang of New Bedford, son of former mayor Scott Lang, performs in the movie.

Marianne Olen, a music teacher at Dartmouth’s Quinn School, was named The Standard-Times 2014 South Coast Teacher of the Year.

UMass Dartmouth Law Professor Margaret Drew has been named a Bellow

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CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE scholar by the Association of American Law Schools for her advocacy work with HIV/AIDS patients.

James Russell and Corinn Williams were chosen as The Standard-Times 2014 New Bedford Man and Woman of the Year.

Manuel Rosenfield and the late Ruth Bates were named The Standard-Times 2014 Mattapoisett Man and Woman of the Year.

Bob and Judy Gregory were named The Standard-Times 2014 Freetown Man and Woman of the Year.

Don Bissonnette and Janet Tracey are The Standard-Times 2014 Lakeville Man and Woman of the Year.

Bill and Tinker Saltonstall were chosen as The Standard-Times 2014 Marion Man and Woman of the Year.

Kate Raffile, a special education teacher at the Sippican School in Marion, will spend six months in New Zealand, thanks to a Fulbright Program award.

Rayford Kruger and Helen Bradbury are The Standard-Times 2014 Wareham Man and Woman of the Year.

Warren Messier and Lucy Tabit were chosen as The Standard-Times 2014 Westport Man and Woman of the Year.

Pam and Oren Robinson are The Standard-Times 2014 Rochester Man and Woman of the Year.

WHEN THE KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL…

There’s always something to see or do at the Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro. Call 774-203-1840 or go to www.capronparkzoo.com.

Check out the Children’s Museum in Easton! For info, call 508-230-3789 or visit www.childrensmuseumineaston.org.

Head for the Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford when the kids are home!

There’s something for all ages – try “Toddler Tales” every Thursday morning, free with admission. Stories, snacks and activities. For details, call 508-991-6178 or visit www.bpzoo.org.

When kids K-4 are on school vacations

(February 16-20 and April 20-24), send them to Camp Sequoia at Blithewold Gardens in Bristol! And mark your calendars – “Daffodil Days” start April 1. Go to www.blithewold.org or call 401-253-2707.

Check out what’s going on at the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River. For more info, go to www.cmgfr.org or call 508-672-0033.

The Marion Natural History Museum will be offering family-friendly presentations, such as “Bugworks!” on February 27, and “Beyond the White Shark: Sharks of New England” on March 6. For more info, go to www.marionmuseum.org or call 508-758-9089.

There’s loads of special activities during February school vacation week at the Providence Children’s Museum! For a full schedule of events, call 401-273-5437 or visit www.childrenmuseum.org.

Experience pre-Industrial Age life at the Coggeshall Farm Museum in Bristol, rated the “Best Living-History” farm in Rhode Island by Yankee Magazine. To learn more, visit www.coggeshallfarm.org or call 401-253-9062.

Take the family to Winter Wonder Days through February 28 at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence – halfprice admission! For details, go to www. rwpzoo.org or call 401-785-3510.

Enjoy FREE family fun and entertainment at AHA! Night in New Bedford.

The March 12 theme is “Hand to Hand.”

The April 9 theme is “Sustainable South Coast.” Go to www.ahanewbedford.org or call 508-996-8253.

DAY-TRIPPIN’…

Show up hungry for the Spring Restaurant Week in Newport, March 20-29. For complete info, visit www.discovernewportrestaurantweek.com.

Warm up in Wareham at the Onset Chili and Chowder Contest on February 21 at the Dudley Brown VFW, a fund-raiser for the Onset “Summer of Love Music Series.” For info, email onsetchilichowder@gmail.com.

If you’re 50 or older, check out the trips sponsored by the New Bedford

Senior Travel Program – there’s the trip to Washington DC May 15-19. For details, call 508-991-6171. The Fairhaven Senior Center will host a 7-day trip to Savannah, Jekyl Island and Beaufort April 19-25.

Call 508-979-4029. The Acushnet Senior Center will head for the Turning Stone Resort & Casino March 24-26. Call 508998-0280.

SCHOOL DAZE…

The new two-year associate degree program in nautical sciences has begun at the Northeast Maritime Institute in Fairhaven. The NMI is now the newest degree-granting college in Massachusetts, and the first private maritime college in the US. Global Education Team teachers and students from the Wareham Public Schools are hoping to raise enough money to attend a Global Student Summit in Sweden in April 2016. Any and all contributions to support their dream can be sent to their scholarship account at www.gofundme.com/k8xtok.

Tabor Academy in Marion is building a sustainable, energy-efficient dormitory.

Cape Cod Five Savings Bank has awarded educational mini-grants to several South Coast schools and educators.

Mattapoisett’s Center School received funding for field trips; teachers at Wareham High School, Wareham Middle School and West Wareham Academy also received awards that will provide unique learning opportunities for students.

The Old Rochester Regional Schools district was awarded a $60,000 state grant to increase technology offerings.

The Gateway Tavern in Wareham recently donated $9,000 to the Wareham High school library, which brings their generous donations to the school since 2009 to almost $37,000.

UMass Dartmouth has been named one of the 50 most affordable public colleges in the country for out-of-state students, according to the website www.AffordableColleges.com. Also, UMD’s new 5-year capital plan includes the expansion of several on-campus facilities.

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GONG SOUND BATH AT SANDYWOODS

DOCTOR JOHN & THE NITE TRIPPERS AT THE N ARROWS

HILARY H AWKE & DUBL H ANDI AT TEH WAMSUTTA CLUB

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC… The Sandywoods Center for the Arts in Tiverton will present The Jammin’ Divas on March 6, Gong Sound Bath March 21 – and more. For a complete schedule, go to www.sandywoodsmusic.com or call 401-241-7349.

The Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River has a fabulous line-up – there’s Doctor John & the Nite Trippers February 24, Royal Southern Brotherhood March 5, Jorma Kaukkonen March 12, Imagination Movers March 28, Pat Travers Band April 11 – and much, much more! For a complete schedule, visit www.narrowscenter.com or call 508-324-1926.

If you’re a fan of Americana and roots music, check out the monthly Salon Concerts at the Wamsutta Club in New Bedford. Hilary Hawke & Dubl Handi will perform on March 7. For details, go to www.wamsuttaconcerts.com.

CLASSICAL ACTS…

present The Boston Trio on March 21.

For more info, call 508-636-0698 or visit www.concertsatthepoint.org.

Rhode Island International Film Festival on February 22 at the VETS. For details, visit www.rifilmfest.org.

Don’t miss the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra’s performance at the Zeiterion of “Mesmerizing Masterpieces” April 11.

Go to www.zeiterion.org, www.nbsymphony.org, or call 508-999-6276.

Turn off the TV and go see a play! New Bedford’s Your Theatre will perform “Other Desert Cities” March 19-22, 2629, and “The Obraz” April 9-12. For more info, go to www.yourtheatre.org or call 508-993-0772.

The New Bedford Art Museum/Artworks! will host a “Bach Explored” recital on April 8. For details, call 617-466-9042 or visit www.paulcienniwa.com/itinerary.

Festival Ballet Providence will perform the two-part “Juxtapose” March 13-14 at The VETS in Providence. For info, call 401-421-ARTS or visit www.thevetsri.org or www.festivalballetprovidence.org.

The Baeverstam/Finehouse Duo will perform on March 21, and the Zefira Trio on April 25 in the “Arts in the Village” series at Goff Memorial Hall in Rehoboth.

Call 508-252-3031 or visit www.carpentermuseum.org.

Rhode Island College hosts a full schedule of performing arts events – there’s Tango Buenos Aires February 17 and The Muir String Quartet April 6. For a complete schedule, visit www.ric.edu/pfa or call 401-456-8144.

ON SCREEN AND STAGE…

Listen to the Rhode Island Philharmonic’s performance of Mozart’s “Elivira Madigan” February 21 at The VETS in Providence. Call 401-248-7000 or visit www.ri-philharmonic.org.

Watch indie children’s films and documentaries at various venues in Providence at The Providence Children’s Film Festival through February 22. For complete details, go to www.providencechildrensfilmfestival.org.

Concerts at the Point in Westport will

Celebrate the Academy Awards at the

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Don’t miss the musical “Oh Freedom Over Me” at URI’s Providence Campus February 21-22. Free! For details, go to www.uri.edu/prov/arts or call 401-2775206.

Head for the Providence Performing Arts Center for “I Love Lucy! Live on Stage” February 24 through March 1, Diana Krall March 4, Blue Man Group March 6-8, Jay Leno Live! March 21 – and much more! Call 401-421-2787 or go to www.ppacri.org.

Fall River’s Little Theatre will present “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940”

will permanently preserve 410 adjoining shoreline acres in Fairhaven and Mattapoisett.

The Winter Farmers Market will be held on the second Saturday of each month at the Old Rochester Regional Junior High gymnasium in Mattapoisett.

“My Brother’s Keeper” of Easton and Dartmouth is looking for volunteers and gently-used residential furniture for families in need. Free pick-up. Call 774-3054577 or visit www.MyBrothersKeeper.org.

The Carver Winter Farmers’ Market will be open on the first Sunday of the month at The Frosty Dog. More info, call 508-944-3194.

LORI MCKENNA AT COMMON FENCE MUSIC

Head for Common Fence Music in Portsmouth for some down-home entertainment. There’s Lori McKenna February 28, Foghorn Stringband March 21. Plan ahead for Common Fence Music’s “Roots Caboose,” starting April 18! Call 401683-5085 or visit www.commonfencemusic.org.

March 19-22. For details, visit www. littletheatre.net or call 508-675-1852.

Treat your family to a performance at Trinity Rep in Providence! “Middletown” will be performed through February 22, “The Glass Menagerie” February 26 March 29, and “A Flea in Her Ear” March 26 - April 26. Call 401-351-4243 or visit www.trinityrep.com.

Enjoy a performance of “Lie, Cheat, and Genuflect” February 19 - March 15 at the Newport Playhouse. Go to www.newportplayhouse.com or call 401-848-7529.

Head for 2nd Story Theatre in Warren!

“Seminar” will be performed through February 22, “4000 Miles” February 27 – March 29, and “The Ladies Man” March 13 – April 12. For details, call 401-2474200 or go to www.2ndstorytheatre.com.

A SIGHT TO BEHOLD…

Get ready for Spring! Visit the 2015 Rhode Island Spring Flower and Garden

SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY & THE A SBURY JUKES AT THE ZEITERION

It’s all happenin’ at the Z! Head for the Zeiterion in New Bedford for the Pink Floyd Experience February 19, “In the Heat of the Night” February 28, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes March 6, Kathy Griffin March 11, St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Sojourn March 13, Doo Wop 11 on March 28 – and much more! Go to www.zeiterion.org or call 508-999-6276.

Show February 19-22 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. For details, visit www.flowershow.com or call 401-2530246.

Mark your calendars – “Daffodil Days” start April 1 at Blithewold Gardens in Bristol. Go to www.blithewold.org or call 401-253-2707.

Stroll through the Illuminated Gardens of Ballard Park in Newport February 20-22. For more info, visit www. ballardpark.org.

Calling all brides-to-be! Head for the Newport Bridal Show at Rosecliff and Oceancliff on February 22. For more info, call 401-841-0200 or go to www. newportbridalshow.net.

CLIMATE CHANGERS…

The Buzzards Bay Coalition and the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation completed the Nasketucket Bay Land Conservation Project, which

TACT (Taunton Area Community Table), a non-profit “meal center” in the former St. John’s parish hall, offers dinners nightly, as well as “family café nights” once a week.

The indoor winter farmers market at Plymouth Plantation will be open on the second Thursday of each month. For more info, visit www.plymouthfarmersmarket.org.

ON A QUIET AFTERNOON…

Check out the ship models at the Fall River Marine Museum in Battleship Cove.

For more info, call 508-674-3533 or visit www.marinemuseumfr.org.

Check out the free exhibit of Depression-era WPA paintings at Fall River’s Cherry & Webb Gallery, sponsored by the Greater Fall River Art Association. For more information, go to www.greaterfallriverartassoc.org.

Meet your friends on Saturdays at the Oxford Book Haven and Café at the Church of the Good Shepherd in North Fairhaven. Fresh soups and desserts, used books on sale, board games, WiFi. To learn more, visit www.goodshepherdfairhaven.com or call 508-992-2281.

If you’re a boat-lover, don’t miss the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol, home to the America’s Cup Hall of Fame.

Learn more at www.herreshoff.org.

FOOTNOTES…

Two random women in Fall River bought scratch tickets at two different stores in Somerset, and both won one million dollars prizes on the same day.

What are the chances of that!

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PRIME SEASON

Make aging an adventure I’m bombing down the luge run at Le Massif de Charlevoix in BaieSaint-Paul, a ski mountain about an hour or so outside Quebec City.

There are stunning PAUL K ANDARIAN views to be had, the majestic St. Lawrence River chief among them, a sprawling waterway that looks as frozen as I feel in the sub-zero weather.

The luge track here is a beauty, some 4.5 miles long, twisting and curling through snow-covered trees, the plastic runners on my sled slicing fluidly over the hard pack as it propels me at speeds that can reach 30 mph or so.

Lean left, turn right. That’s the mantra the guides teach our group of 30 or so before we take off. It seems counter intuitive, but hey, it works as we find out on a slight practice slope before taking off into the windy cold Canadian landscape.

I approach my first turn, a mean-looking 45 degree right-hand hook. At the corner are high nets, there to capture those unable to negotiate the turn and keep them out of those snow-covered trees.

That won’t be me. I listened to our guides. My brain says “lean left to turn right.” My body doesn’t get it. I do the opposite and at a speed of what feels like 100 mph but is likely around 20 mph, I crash headlong into the netting.

I pluck my sled from the netting after digging myself out of a snow bank, covered head to foot. And smiling.

Uninjured, I continue on, feeling none the worse for wear. At 61.

And that’s the thing. As we get older, there is absolutely no need to put away childish things like luging. Why? Because childish is good, childish is fun, childish keeps you young at heart.

32

S OU TH C OAST P R IME T IMES

■

When my parents were my age, they were thinking about retirement. To me, that’s a four-letter word. And when they vacationed, they were relaxing rather than being risky – never taking chances, not seeking out adventure.

We, the Baby Boomers, are a different breed when we travel. Need evidence?

Google “Adventure travel for seniors” and be prepared to stick around awhile: It netted me 1.2 million responses. A sampling: ElderTreks, the world’s first adventure travel company designed just for people 50 and over, with off-the-beaten path, small-group adventures by land and sea

Childish is good, childish is fun, childish keeps you young at heart in more than 100 countries, hiking, expeditions by icebreakers to the Arctic and Antarctica, cultural journeys, you name it. Check it out at ElderTreks.com.

Row Adventures has active rafting, fishing and canoeing trips for us, requiring only “moderate physical conditioning and a spirit of adventure,” according to the site. They have trips that canoe the Lewis and Clark Trail, and more. Visit RowAdventures.com for more info.

Walking is a great adventure and easy exercise and at “Walking the World,” an adventure-travel site for the 50-plus crowd. They say, “you’ll be walking through small villages, meeting the local people and sampling some of the world’s finest food and drink.” Start your trip at WalkingTheWorld.com.

Catering the female travelers is

M ARCH /A PR IL 2015

JourneyWoman, with resources and articles for woman travelers, including a section for the “adventurous woman over 50,” which can be found at JourneyWoman.com.

Giving to others is a more fulfilling adventure, and at Over50andOverseas, they have it covered. It’s a site for seniors wanting to volunteer overseas to make a difference. It is hosted by an active member of the Peace Corps since 1991. Check it out at Over50AndOverseas.com.

The list goes on and on, leaving little excuse for not doing something fun.

In recent years, I’ve hiked a brutally steep trail in a steamy jaguar preserve in Brazil. I’ve done canopy tour zip lining at Bretton Woods in New Hampshire in the dead of winter. I’ve kayaked mangroves in Florida, parasailed in Aruba, popped a thumb ligament skiing in Utah, smoked a joint in an Amsterdam bar, and tripped the light fantastic at Barbados dive bars.

Never once did I feel old. Always, I felt younger.

At Le Massif de Charlevoix, there’s a part to walk up a steep hill to get to the final leg. I take my time, going slow and easy, carrying my sled.

A young man behind me says kindly, “Uh, I can carry your sled for you if you like.”

Crashing headlong into a net in a sled going a seeming 100 mph? That doesn’t make me feel old. Getting asked that question? It could, but doesn’t.

Instead I decline, smiling and thinking, “I hope you’re doing this stuff at my age, sonny boy. I really, really do.”

PAUL KANDARIAN is a lifelong area resident and has been a professional writer since 1982, as columnist, contributor in national magazines, websites and other publications.

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