S eptember /O ctober 2021 · Volume 17 · Number 5
Family values
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Good times
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Helping hands By Michael J. DeCicco
Theater’s pandemic pivot By Michael J. DeCicco Seven tips for a stress-free party By Stacie Charbonneau Hess Hidden oeuvres By Ron Fortier
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S eptember /O ctOber 2021 · VOlume 17 · Number 5
Family values
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Theater’s pandemic pivot “Pivot” is the stage direction in every South Coast area theater venue’s script this year as they all turn to different ways to stay active in these pandemic-dampened times. Michael J. DeCicco
“Pivoting is the word of the year,” Wendy Hall of New Bedford’s Festival Theatre said with a laugh. “We are pivoting every day.” In fact the theater group, which has been known for producing summer musicals on the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center stage, 684 Purchase Street, New Bedford, since 1990, has pivoted very successfully this year. When the theater group presented its first pre-recorded streaming show, “To Broadway, With Love! A Virtual Theatrical Event!” in April, the cabaret-like production was the group’s first production
6
since November 2019. “And it was very well received,” Hall noted. Following that, the group presented its first live and streamed production performed on the Zeiterion stage itself since pandemic restrictions began, a one-person show “Professional Broadway Lady Miss Evita-Loca” in June, which was equally well received. In October, Festival Theatre is planning to live stream from the Zeiterion stage a two-person Broadway play. Hall won’t reveal the title of that production just yet. But by then, Covid restrictions will probably relax enough to
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make their productions even easier to present. As an example right now, rehearsals, especially of singing performances, must be on Zoom. She’s hoping the guidelines soon will allow for live rehearsals and, in myriad other ways, make the quality of the performances the theater group presents even better. (For more information go to nbfestivaltheatre.org.) In similar fashion, the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center itself has adjusted what it offers with its own online content throughout 2021, including both educational opportunities for all ages and virtual performances. “If we’ve learned anything
this year, it’s how to be nimble,” Zeiterion executive director Rosemary Gill said, “how to be adaptive.” But as of June 1, an audience has been allowed again inside the theater, though at a very reduced capacity, up to 100 people. The first such Zeiterion offering was the start of a weekly “Cinema New Bedford” film series sponsored by the New Bedford Film Society. In classic 2021 style, however, the series was presented in hybrid fashion: people were able to attend the viewing at the theater or live-stream it at home. Gill is proud to note the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center’s virtual offerings since the pandemic began have all been very successful, even though, admittedly, attendance has been uneven. “Sometimes we didn’t see
the participation,” she said. “But generally everyone who participated has enjoyed that participation. That’s why
the air because the group can’t use the Steeple House theater grounds like it did last year due to the construction
“If we’ve learned anything this year, it’s how to be nimble, how to be adaptive” we’ve considered what we’ve done this year a great success.” For more information, go to zeiterion.org.
Preparing the set Up the street from the Zeiterion sits the future home of Your Theatre, Inc., New Bedford’s premier local community theater group since 1946. Since the Covid-19 shutdowns struck the South Coast in March 2020, Your Theatre has pivoted in the warm weather months to small-scale productions outside of the First Baptist Church, 159 William Street, which is being reconstructed into its new home, the Steeple House Theater. Online the theater has aired short plays, mainly by local playwrights, a weekly video clip trivia game hosted by a rotating roster of theater members, and this past March an online presentation of its annual Winter Jazz Fest. Its 2021 live theater season started in June with “Plays in the Garden” followed in early August by ”More Plays in the Garden” both under the tent at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum, 396 County Street, New Bedford In September, Your Theatre’s Artistic Director Lawrence Houbre said, the theatre will start its 75th season back at the venue the group has used for the past 16 years, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 136 Rivet Street. But the theater group’s long-range plans are up in
this year. “The playhouse construction is picking up,” Houbre explained. “There’ll be fencing up and equipment on the grounds. They’re saying no to using that space.” Add to this the complication of ever-changing Covid guidelines, he said. It’s hard for the group to plan when it must factor in the costs for royalty rights and other production costs versus whether, especially under Covid restrictions, the performance will attract enough of an audience. “We’re not exactly sure people will show and that our audience and staff will be safe and comfortable under Covid conditions,” he admitted. The new playhouse exterior might not be ready for occupancy until the end of 2021. But then, Houbre said, “Your Theatre” will need time to turn the interior into a venue with the right stage and stage lighting and rehearsal, dressing and storage space. The theater group is also hoping to build a second, smaller stage downstairs. That’s why Houbre predicts an actual celebration of its 75th anniversary will be between March and May of 2022. But he says he thinks it’ll be worth the wait. Go to yourtheatre.org for more information. M ichael J. D e C icco has worked as a writer for over 30 years. He is also the author of two award-winning young adult novels, Kaurlin’s Disciples and The Kid Mobster. He lives with his wife Cynthia in New Bedford.
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GOOD TIMES
Don’t forget to dance:
7 Tips
for a stress-free party
“I just try to love and serve everyone, and bring everyone water, and lend an ear.” –Anne Lamott
Stacie Charbonneau Hess
I love being a host. Maybe it’s the control freak in me, but I enjoy decorating a space, inviting people over, and sharing a glass of wine. My guests almost always linger, which tells me they are comfortable, well-fed, and I have served them enough water. Being a good host is about anticipating a guest’s needs, preparing ahead of time, and then relaxing and enjoying the company of friends and family. Ideally, the details are worked out ahead of time so that you, as the host, can enjoy yourself along with your guests.
This summer, my cousins and I are planning a party to commemorate three momentous occasions: a 40th anniversary, a 50th birthday, and a 13th birthday. We expect somewhere between 118 and 140 people – not as formal as a wedding but obviously not a typical backyard party. We’ve been doing a bit of research these past few weeks so I’m sharing with you some local resources in case you’re ready to plan that long-awaited postCovid bash, too.
1
Get a portapotty My mom
texted me one day: “You should get a portapotty. That’s a lot of flushing” – to which I balked. But then I thought about it. Moms are smart. A relative of ours is in a wheelchair – it is difficult for her to get in our tiny guest bathroom. In the end, I
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rented an accessible portapotty for $275. The portapotty will serve as a second bathroom to alleviate extra water usage. It will also allow people to stay outside and spend more time with friends and less time looking for the bathroom. I used Clean Portable Restrooms in Bridgewater, at cleanportablerestrooms.com.
2
Get a special cake The occa-
sions I mentioned above definitely warrant some special recognition. I called “Twisted Treats and Savories” in Dartmouth. My friend Sonya used to run an eco-conscious catering business way before it was in vogue. Now she makes breathtakingly gorgeous and fun cakes that are not only incredible sculptures/ works of art, but they are made from organic ingredients in eco-friendly
S ep tember /O c tober 2021
packaging. Twisted Treats and Savories can be reached at (508) 294-7087, and can also be found on Facebook.
3
H ave something fun for
4
Consider a tent to define
your guests to do An outdoor party in August demanded some sort of water-play, cool-down feature. I was torn between a dunk tank, a water slide, or a Slip ‘n Slide, and the rental company had all three! In the end, I went with the Slip ‘n Slide. Delivery, set up, and take down is less than $350 from Busy Bees Jumpers rental in Whitman – they are renting me some tables and chairs, too. You can see more at busybeejumpers.com. the space (and shield you from weather). Though it doesn’t typically rain on August afternoons, I wanted the
I love the food truck idea for a party because it gets guests up and walking around, and taking responsibility for their own hunger, rather than waiting passively to be served
musicians and DJ to stay cool and section off some area of the yard for dancing, which I consider the most important aspect of a fabulous party. A 16’ x 16’ tent from Chase Canopy was the answer: Delivery, set up and take down was about $800. Chase Canopy is in Mattapoisett, and can be found at chasecanopy. com.
5
Don’t cook every-
thing yourself If you love to cook, I commend you. I am a baker myself. While I don’t mind cooking a quick meal for my close family, the thought of cooking for 100+ people seemed impossible if I wanted to enjoy my own party. To keep things fun and low key, my cousins and I booked the “Oxcart” which is Oxford Creamery’s portable food truck. I love the food truck idea for a party because it gets guests up and walking around, and taking responsibility for their own hunger, rather than waiting passively to be served or standing in a serpentine line for the buffet. You can book it yourself by going to oxfordcreamery.com.
6
Involve your
friends and family The control freak in me puts on the brakes and says, “No way!” but the host in me, who is doing this for the right reasons, welcomes input from
others, as well as help with logistics and planning. Like planning any event, hearing different opinions and putting energy together for a common goal is the way to go. The results are always better if more people have a stake in the outcome.
7
Finally: Don’t
forget to have fun People relax when they see the host enjoying herself. Stuff is gonna come up: before, during, and after the party. You’ll be the one people come to for questions: just point the way to the keg, the food, the bathroom. You got this! No matter what happens, in the end the guests will remember the good time they had catching up with old friends and making new ones. You made that happen. Now, go sit down and enjoy the party and the people you’ve gathered together. Don’t forget to dance. People will remember that most of all. As Anne Lamott said, “These are the words I want on my gravestone: that I was a helper, and that I danced.”
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S tacie C harbonneau H ess is a mother, a graduate student, and a freelance writer based in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where she lives with her husband, three children, and too many pets to mention!
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PRIME LIVING
F F U T S B y J ay C l arkin
W
e all have it, don’t we? Call it what you will: personalty, junk, books, furniture, coffee cups, photographs, clothing unworn for years or outgrown, memorabilia, souvenirs, letters, etc. Take a walk around your abode and do a quick catalog of what you have amassed and continue to retain in your life. Is your list long or short? I figured out that in my lifetime, I have had mailing addresses at 22 different locations encompassing 12 different cities and towns in six different states over 76 years. I’m uncertain that all these moves were the result of nomadic instincts, boredom, marital incompetence, or being run out of places by popular demand. In any event, I’ve had more than my share of chances to accumulate an esoteric pile of “stuff.” I could never be classified as a convert to minimalism, but I am increasingly willing and even eager to at least begin to shed “stuff.” I’d like to think that it is not an affectation and that I am really inspired by
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the theologian Jacques Maritain, who commented, “How much there is in this world I do not want.” It was probably a foregone conclusion that the guy would be an anti-materialist since he’d taken a lifetime vow of poverty. Being a theologian, he probably was referring to having no interest in fame and adulation. I’d be happy to forego those things too and would be totally content with not being either infamous or generally detested. So, it would seem that I am a minimalist, if only in terms of my aspirations. Two years ago, prior to my most recent change of address, I began the threefold process of junking things, saving
S ep tember /O c tober 2021
things, and setting aside items I hoped my children would accept, appreciate, and preserve. I surprised myself by throwing out my High School, College, and Law School diplomas. The last two, expensively framed, hung on my office wall for decades, assuring clients that I was, in fact, a real lawyer. Going forward now, I’ll be unable to prove my former professional status. On the bright side I figure I’ll be less likely to have to hear any more of those abominable lawyer jokes. I could not part with my Foreign Service Commission signed by LBJ and Dean Rusk in 1966 and appointing me to the “Diplomatic Service of the United States” because they both reposed “great trust” in my “ability, prudence, and integrity.” I kept this because I found their confidence in me misplaced a bit but still delightful and to counter the opinion of many who know me that I am not very diplomatic, but rather blunt. So that stayed out of the growing junk pile. Next, I kept my Military Officer’s Commission even though it’s pretty obvious in retrospect that this was no big deal. The government would make anyone a 2nd Lieutenant during the Vietnam War as they kept losing them. I gave some of the Vietnam stuff to my sons: a Montagnard knife, the fin of a Russian 122mm rocket that missed me (thank you, God) but made Swiss Cheese of the Jeep next to me. Next, I’ll divest myself of the framed photo of
I am increasingly willing and even eager to at least begin to shed “stuff” me and my friend in Cambodia. He was a Commandant (Major) who was later executed by the Khmer Rouge. I gave one of my kids a brass salute cannon that was last fired by my Great-Grandfather and namesake for the benefit and delight of his eight children sometime in the 1890s. I’ll keep the photo plaque of my Barrington High Hall of Fame football team, not because it’s proof of my athletic prowess on the gridiron, but rather because it is the only the athletic award I ever received. I’ve told the kids that it should be placed in the
family equivalent of the When asked her favorite partSmithsonian of the Book Fair,and treasured forever. Baker-Smith replies, “The fifteen minutes the chilIf hoarding is a mortal sin, I am dren get to pick out books before the opening consigned to the fires of hades for eternity whistle.” (The official start of the Book Fair begins because of my lifetime accumulation of at 11 a.m. but children are allowed into the book books. These tomes pose a real problem. tent at 10:45 for exclusive browsing time.) In some cases I feel that they are my best “it’s wonderful watch children being fascinated friends – loyal,toentertaining, enlightening by books,” continues “going down and inspiring. I’mBaker-Smith, really loathe to desert the rabbit of a story,of andpoetry, sitting down on the my little hole collections of Irish
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S ou th C oast P r ime T imes The S ep tember c tober South Coast/O Insider / July2021 2015
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grass to read in an age where everyone is looking at screens.” After so many decades, it is understandable thatIf many stories surroundis the Westport Friends hoarding a mortal Book Fair. it is rumored that, in the early years, one sin, I am consigned to the book-browser discovered a first edition of Moby Dick which he bought for fifty-cents. The next year fires of hades for eternity he sheepishly returned to make a donation to the because of them myhelifetime Westport Friends telling sold the book for “a lot of money.” accumulation of books The Book Fair is also full of traditions, including the honorary “Blowing of the Whistle” to signal the official opening of the book sale. “it is a great to be chosen,” says Greg history and honor literature, the biographies Marsello, citing this as his favorite part the Fair. and the novels that I fell in love of with in Gretchen Baker-Smith, the annual night-bea For lifetime. Those law books I have not yet disposed“Chopping of, will soon the road fore-book-sale of thehit Tabbouleh” is one or thefondest dumpster. I also of her traditions. Theinherited tabbouleh, some a type of wonderful sets of old books from my Lebanese salad, is sold to the public in a flatbread lawyer-uncle who was aday collector. I asked wrap every year on opening (along with other one of the family if there was any interest light luncheon items, beverages and snacks). in“itthem was asked, “What color takes aand small army of people to chop theare salad they?” Given the fact of e-readers, every year,” says Baker-Smith. “But peoplethere’s have little enthusiasm among the young for come to expect it.” over the years, many customers even leather-bound volumes other than have expressed their relief to Baker-Smith, saying for decoration in built-in bookcases. “i was so afraid [the tabbouleh] wouldn’t be here.” This, I suppose, is progress and as such, my favorite partshould of the Annual Bookto is“Probably something old men not seek Fair,” says Deanna Chase, “is Saturday evening after enjoin or abash. the huge, long day” (volunteers arrive about 7 a.m. There’s the issue of the old (2001) to help set up) “when we finally have time to just Porsche 911 convertible that sits in my sit under the tent and reflect back on the day, relaxgarage. My willingness to have this driven ing withbyfriends.” away a family member is predicated upon my accelerating belief that I look The Fifty-Fourth Westport Friends’ Book Fair offiridiculous it. (I 911 in cially opens atdriving 11 a.m. on Julydid 11,have rain orashine. The the past, but then I was age-appropriate sale will continue through Sunday, July 19 and will for the thing.) More and more I think that be open from “dawn to dusk.” my operation of the car, top down a The six-for-a-dollar paperback books mayon be purglorious summer day, is the third of a chased starting at 10 a.m. on the opening day trio and of ridiculous social gaffes by old men. the children’s book section opens exclusively for The first being guys with their gray hair in kids at 10:45 a.m. Book prices range from one dolponytails and the second, those wearing lar to five dollars a book, with the average cost bebaseball caps backwards. All three are ing $1.50. Light lunch, snacks, and beverages probably silent cries for help, love, or will be sold on the opening day of the sale. attention. Here’s the catch: the 911’s a six if you haven’t experienced celebration speed. It has ayetthird pedal,this called a clutch, of books and community, you need to. and is thus inoperable by any of Bring my issue. your family to the Westport Friends Book Fair and start your own summer tradition. you won’t be disappointed. Continued on next page
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In fact, the Times just reported that only 22% of American drivers can drive a stick. I have three sets of golf clubs hanging around. They’re really good clubs, but those should go if only to preclude me from continuing to embarrass myself. Young people have little time for golf. Nevertheless, I am inclined to go through the motions, present them to grandchildren, and express my very fervent hope that they be able to operate them better than I. Unfortunately, I cannot include any of the thousands of golf balls I have purchased over the years, as most are long MIA.
If I’m successful in proceeding with my dive into minimalism, there will be little in my estate other than a lifetime of scribblings, unpublished with but a few exceptions. These poems, essays, stories, and, of late, rants, should probably accompany me into the crematorium as a sort of kindling. Sorry, this is getting maudlin. As I think about it, death may be the subliminal motivation for ridding oneself of “stuff” as one approaches the abyss. In this regard, I find my Mass attendance has improved over the years. An atheist British writer described the sight of old
I told my partner that I should buy one good suit to wear to funerals and to eventually be buried in. This flagrant elder abuser informed me that I’d only need a jacket as they don’t put pants on corpses.
As for clothing, there are two problems: size and style. In my prior life I was expected to wear a uniform consisting of a two-button jacket with matching trousers. We used to call this combination a “suit.” In fact, the very word has become a pejorative – a slur flung at stodgy, bourgeois males who give others orders. I gave a slew of them to the veterans center but have since concluded that very few Fall River vets have any real need of these staid fashion sets. Those that I retained will not fit any of my issue because of their waist size and will be of little interest as they are so rarely worn anymore. Off to the dump with them! I told my partner that I should buy one good suit to wear to funerals and to eventually be buried in. This flagrant elder abuser informed me that I’d only need a jacket as they don’t put pants on corpses. This was an entirely unnecessary comment. Nevertheless, she did pique my curiosity and my research confirmed her claim. The next day, I told her that pants were still required when I attended the funerals of others, so there!
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people praying in a London RC church at midday as those “who were cramming for finals.” In fact, getting rid of stuff may be Christ-like. A recent Gospel was the story of Jesus sending the apostles out into the world and admonishing them to take neither food nor even a spare pair of underwear with them. So there’s a Christian exhortation to “travel light” and not get too hung up on “stuff.” Buddhists, too, would urge this. I’ve seen their saffron-robed monks wandering the streets with empty rice bowls, relying solely on the charity of strangers for food. If that be the case, my intent is to continue to both cram and to divest myself of “stuff.” The cold, eternal fact is that, in the end, you can’t take it with you, wherever you’re headed. Or better still, as I heard from an old Irish priest quoting his long-time undertaker friend, “Pat, in all my days, I’ve never seen an armored car following a hearse.”
J ay C l arkin is a retired attorney, Vietnam veteran, father to three, and grandfather to five. He lives in Swansea.
PRIME LIVING
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he Fall River native (BMC Durfee Grad) and business major from Saint Anselm College, started his businesses because he knows how daunting it can be to plan for an uncertain future. “I wanted to offer a product and service that I was proud to stand by,” he says. “No matter what your situation is or your goals are, my teams and I will lay things out in a straightforward, easy-to-understand way, with your concerns, obstacles, and goals as our first priority” The young entrepreneur sat down to discuss where he’s been, where he’s going, and what he’s learned along the way.
Who are you? Well, I’m a husband and a father before I’m a business owner. My proudest accomplishment is my family: my beautiful wife, Lucy, and two children, Charlotte (4) and Elliott (16 months). They are my everything. If Covid could have a silver lining, it was that the world slowed down and I was able to step back from my busy schedule and appreciate the little things with my young family. But that focus on family informs my professional life as well. Whether we’re discussing insurance or financial planning, the bottom-line concern for many of my clients is the wellbeing of their family. I couldn’t be more sympathetic to that, and I strongly believe that a true connection with my clients guarantees an unparalleled experience.
How did your businesses get started? I spent years working for national companies, and while it was a great way to learn how the corporate side worked, I didn’t like everything I saw. Cookie cutter insurance products, and especially investment portfolios, weren’t helping anyone but the companies’ bottom lines. So I took all that experience I had accrued and decided to add that secret ingredient you can only get from a small business: always putting the client’s unique
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needs first. The results speak for themselves. We’ve been hugely successful and are building two of the fastest growing companies in the region.
What exactly do you offer? On the insurance end, there really isn’t anything we don’t cover. Personal insurance, commercial insurance, life insurance, you name it. We’ve spent years cultivating relationships with multiple companies to make sure that our clients can get the coverage they want for the best price. We take every opportunity we can to provide extra value. At Southcoast Financial Group, we believe in what I call the “Three C’s”: Comfort, Confidence, and Control. First, you have to be comfortable with whom you do business – there needs to be a mutual respect. We are there to uncover and solve your problems, but we see a lot of financial firms don’t like asking the hard questions because it’s uncomfortable. We ask those questions, because if we don’t, we are not doing our job. Confidence comes from having a plan that you understand. It doesn’t matter how many times we need to stop and re-explain things – we will and we do. As for control, we want the client to always feel as though (and for us to constantly remember) that their money is their money, not ours. Unfortunately, many planners lose sight of that fact. We’re here to help solve your problems and lead you to make good informed decisions but this is your hard-earned money. You control it. In both businesses, the underlying value I instill in all my employees is that continued business has to be earned. More than anything else, I look to grow both my teams and client base with honest, trustworthy, hard working people. For my teams, skills can be taught, but values and morals cannot be. Beyond that, we believe everyone’s financial situation is unique
and it deserves a unique plan. Whether that’s insurance, financial planning, or a mix of both, we want to work with our clients on an individual level to find out what’s best for them. When you actually take the time to dig in and ask the hard questions and genuinely care about people, they can feel that and they’ll open up more. That’s when the real obstacles and concerns can be addressed, and that’s the key in both companies.
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Anything else we should know? Besides my wife and children, there are two people to whom I owe my continued success, and I’d be remiss to not mention them here: my mother and my business mentor. I grew up admiring my mother’s work ethic. I saw how much she sacrificed day in and day out to put my brother and I in the position we’re in. She is the hardest worker I’ve ever met and led by example. Also, my mentor has played a huge role in my life, both professionally and personally. When I first met him over a decade ago I was a young kid who didn’t have a clue. He saw something in me that even I didn’t know was there. He showed me how to take that work ethic I had inherited from my mom and turn it into success. He has shown me how to live life on my own terms and really how to find that balance of family/work a lot of people struggle with. It’s his belief in me that took me to the next level. It’s been a long journey to get to where we are today, but I wouldn’t change a thing, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. I’m sure our clients would all agree. We are very excited to continue to grow and empower more and more people.
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PRIME SEASON
Helping hands Sometimes an elderly person doesn’t need a nursing home – just someone to help with getting groceries or to go to a medical appointment. Michael J. DeCicco
Those are the unique and specialized services the Coastal Neighbors Network provides to residents of Dartmouth and Westport. The goal, Executive Director Andy Pollock explained, is to help people in the aging community (ages 50 and up) stay at home. The network consists of volunteers who provide services that range from small tasks around the house to transportation to social connections, visits, and special events. Launched in 2017, the network is now up to 120 “members” and a total of 80 local volunteers serving them. This service staff ranges in age from their 50s to their 90s and are fully vetted and CORI-checked to make sure they are all trustworthy and each member being assisted is safe. Members are charged a small fee, which
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Pollock said helps pay for insurance and administration. But people under a prescribed income level only pay $165 a year. The cost for any other individual is $660 for the year, but no additional costs
“What’s far more rewarding is the relationships that develop. These are interesting people to know – fascinating, wonderful people.”
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are charged for any services after that. “It’s quite affordable considering the amount of services you get,” Pollock said. He offers anecdotes galore on how well the service works. One 80-year-old Westport woman has a Network volunteer close to her age simply spend quality time with her once a week. One fellow with a serious disability gets help weeding his garden. The UMass Dartmouth Nursing Program students visit Network members for medical checkups. Sometimes it’s their first time putting their training into in-home practice, Pollock said. “It works out well,” he said. The remarkable side-benefit of Coastal Neighbors Network’s services, according to Pollock, is that the volunteers and the members who are being served bond with each other. “Some volunteers say the member gets to feel like their grandparent,” he said.
Social networking Stuart Brown agrees. He too likes the connection his volunteer work creates between him and the members. The 63-year-old retiree started as a
volunteer at the Coastal Neighbors Network two years ago. Three months ago, he became chair of the Volunteer Committee. He recalls that on one recent morning he helped an elderly Dartmouth woman he’s known for two years with simple chores around her house. In other parts of that week, he transported a woman to her kidney dialysis treatments in Dartmouth on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, then three hours later took her home. Brown said one of the most unusual requests he’s received would have to be the time there was a large ugly rock on a member’s property. Brown fulfilled that man’s request to cover the rock’s ugliness by painting the house’s address number on it.
“Our primary purpose is to help them in their home” “Our primary purpose is to help them in their home,” he said. “From painting a rock to medical appointments and everything in between.” He’s very clear about the reasons he does it: “To give back, and because I love what the network does.” He added, however, “What’s far more rewarding is the relationships that develop. These are interesting people to know – fascinating, wonderful people.” There’s something else he enjoys about working for the network. “I get back more than I give,” he said. “It’s absolutely very fulfilling. The work we do, it’s very powerful.” The Coastal Neighbors Network is part of a nationwide network with similar goals, “The Village To Village Network.” The village movement started in Massachusetts 20 years ago with a group in Beacon Hill forming the first prototype. A local woman, Kate Fentress, founded the Dartmouth-Westport area network group after seeing how much it might be needed here, Pollock said. The local board formed in 2015; the network itself in 2017. “This is part of a larger network,” Brown said. “To be able to expand it further is something we will keep working on, and it’s important work to do.” For more informations visit coastalneighborsnetwork.org
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Thanksgiving is the quintessential New Artists struggle during their lifetime to survive England tradition, and is an opportunity Handcrafted Jewelry financially, to gaintorecognition, and role to leave a recognize the important farms and by Emily Hirsch & Artisan Gallery farmers play in our community. Learn how meaningful and long-lived legacy.
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When an artist dies, 401-619-5639 • EmilyHirsch@hotmail.com they leave behind not facebook.com/athaliaofnewport
Ron Fortier
only personal and real property, but also the November 2020 | The South Coastremainder Insider of their body of work that can span decades. Generally, it is left up to the artist’s family to preserve their work and legacy after their death. Depending on the success of the deceased artist during their lifetime,
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“People like me have been acquiring artist estates and selling them for a long time” - Richard Connor
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their artwork and pretty much anything associated with their art practice – letters, papers, documents, and more – can have
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Gnarly Vines Farm (gnarlyvinesfarm.com) varying value. Sometimes an artist’s body has found its place in the South Coast on of work is not recognized until their page 12. Photo by Meredith Brower. death, partially since their death was the event that finally created the interest they were seeing throughout their lives and careers. The myths of an artist’s work greatly increasing after their passing persists as does the myth of their solitary struggle in their garrets. But what about the struggles of their survivors? How do they go about assessing the worth of their dearly departed artist’s estate? The most important part of the estate is the work itself – large quantities of it.
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An artist who enjoyed the freedom of financial independence because of a successful career may leave their heirs instructions on how to manage their estate. But what of those who do not? I spoke to several experts in this area
ested in are less abundant and limited to my friends who focus on this era.”
E ye of the beholder
“If it’s good, you can do better than thrift shops and local auctions” - Michael Rose about how to deal with the physical volume of the work, the artist’s legacy, their relevance, and how to properly preserve their life, their work, and their memory for future generations. I asked Dr. Richard Connor, a prolific collector in the region who also represents several mid-twentieth century artists’ estates, including that of Joseph Alexander, about a surge of artwork from estates as the result of the passing of the artists of the Greatest Generation. His response was, “The one thing I think you may be unaware of is that people like me have been acquiring artist estates and selling them for a long time.” He continued, “I have several friends that have been doing it for decades... in fact they are now complaining that it’s kind of hard to find them.” It seems that anything and mostly everything from the 1950s and 60s, from furnishing, to toys, fashion, and especially artwork, is quite in demand. Interestingly, due to the demand, “the mid-century estates they are mostly inter-
Michael Rose, an art historian, gallerist, appraiser, and advisor who is based in Rhode Island, offers an array of services to clients throughout New England and beyond. He prefers to inform and support both new and experienced art enthusiasts. Rose believes that if you have aging family members who are practicing artists, the best time to deal with their eventual estate is “to start the conversation and begin actively planning.” Most of the families that contact him for his advice and appraisal tend to be those who planned for the eventuality. He does get several inquiries a year from those seeking advice on unplanned estates. In his estimation, due to the population density of the Northeast and the proliferation of practicing artists in the South Coast, the market is oversaturated. Living artists are producing more work than they can sell. “There are collectors who specialize in various aspects of the art market.” Rose says that due diligence is required such as referring to art market reports and contacting a respected authority. “Visit auction houses and galleries and do your homework,” says Rose. And if you’re considering donating work to an institution such as a local museum, “the work must be appraised by a paid certified appraiser in order to get the tax deduction for the donation.” Rose recommends education through The Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report and there are many more. He also mentioned that mid-century scarcity may also be the result of work not hitting the market because it’s in storage or forgotten. “It depends on the quality of the work. While it may be true that you can’t make them famous, if it’s good, you can do better than thrift shops and local auctions.” “I want to emphasize that the reality lies between a sad ending and the sometimesover-inflated expectations of people who think their deceased relative might be an undiscovered Van Gogh” says Dr. Connor.
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Ron Fortier is an international artist who emigrated to the Silver Coast of mainland Portugal where he lived, painted, and exhibited.
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PRIME SEASON
Our playground Every so often, I get my grandson, Mikey, as energetic a six-anda-half-year-old as you’ll ever see, for a full day or so – 24 hours which are as rewarding as they Paul K andarian are exhausting. Much of that last part stems from not just chasing him around while he does his Energizer Bunny thing, but from being jolted awake when we sleep together by a thrashing pair of tiny but accurate feet and knees drilling me in the back. Best rude awakenings ever, though. That boy can do no wrong. Nor is what he says wrong, spoken with an earnest innocence that only children possess. It’s an innate, unabashed, instinctual honesty that allows them the joy of unfiltered expression. In other words, they ain’t us (adults) who have to say the right thing when most of the time we’d rather not. So when we were together recently, we were leaving a playground and when I was backing up, I saw – and avoided – a large stump. Then I turned to make sure he was buckled in, forgot about the stump, put it in drive and drifted right into the stump with a resounding thump. You might think we drove over a cliff. Mikey screamed bloody murder and told me after he settled down, “I thought my heart was gonna explode, Grandpa!” It wasn’t that bad, really. I mean, did the airbags deploy? No. He overreacted and overacted and where this kid gets his penchant for drama is beyond me (cue the eye roll here). But then he said, with that unvarnished earnest innocence, “Grandpa, you’re really not the expert driver you seem to think you are.” I was taken aback and thought about pulling the “You wanna walk home,
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Mikey?” in jest, but I didn’t. And besides, when the kid’s right, the kid’s right. I should’ve remembered that stupid stump was there. Another thing we did, and always do, was walk some nearby conservation land, our “nature hikes,” as my little man calls them, him asking a million questions about various vegetation, me having maybe one or two answers. But he’s happy when I take photos of plants and flowers and use an app on my phone to identify them.
He may have inherited my dramatic inclinations, but his dancing skill is something he definitely did not get from me He is thrilled to see the names pop up and won’t remember them any more than I will, most likely, but I’m instilling a love of nature in him the way my father did with me – minus the app, which really would’ve come in handy, because boy, could my old man just make stuff up about anything, up to an including how these long looping vines we used to see in the woods were called “Hang Me Downs,” ferocious forest creatures famous for scooping up little boys and taking them to the treetops, never to be seen again. Thanks, Dad. It’s a wonder I still walk in the woods.
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Mikey is not shy about anything, saying anything, doing anything, as most kids his age happily aren’t. We stopped by a restaurant to pick up takeout, and in the waiting area the music was blaring and he just went full out dance mode, caring not one bit if anyone watched, he just boogied to the music to looks, most amused, some aghast, from nearby adults. “I love to dance, Grandpa, what can I say?” he said on our way out. And for the record, x. Kid’s got some moves, I tell ya, unlike his Grandpa with the two left feet. But mostly, it’s his incredible creative mind I love the most – the things he comes up with. On our way to finding a playground on our day together, he was asking over and over when we were going to get there, the way all kids do out of their blessed lack of time awareness. That comes as we mature, when we have places we need to be, when our lives become a schedule and not a blank slate to carve our day into. So as he asked for the millionth time when are we getting to the playground, I laughed and said “Mikey, you’re six and a half, whatever we do, wherever we are, it’s a playground, right?” He mulled that for a second and said, “Grandpa, my life is a playground.” I could not agree more, Mikey my boy. So is mine. Especially when we’re in ours together.
Paul K andarian is a lifelong area resident and, since 1982, has been a profession writer, columnist, and contributor in national magazines, websites, and other publications.
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