South Coast Prime Times - September/October 2023

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published by Coastal Communications Corp.

publisher a Nd editor-iN-Chief Ljiljana Vasiljevic

editor

Sebastian Clarkin

sales M a N ager Mari Burns (508) 916-0374

CoN tributors Stacie Charbonneau Hess, Paul Kandarian, Sean McCarthy, Elizabeth Morse Read

l ayout & desigN

Janelle Medeiros

South Coast Prime Times is published bi-monthly.

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PRIME SEASON

Explore the free public art and programs presented by the Massachusetts Design Art and Technology Institute (DATMA) entitled “Shelter 2023” in New Bedford: “Threshold” at Custom House Square; “Our Woven Story” at the intersection of Union St. and Rt. 18; and the “Community Tides” mural on Fish Island. And don’t miss the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra’s Pop-Up Performance in Custom House Square on September 14 (DATMA.org)

ENJOY AN awesome autumn!

THE BLISTERINGLY HOT DAYS OF SUMMER ARE ALMOST OVER! THE KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL, THE TOURISTS HAVE GONE HOME – TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND ENJOY THE COOLER TEMPS, THE OKTOBERFESTS, THE BUMPER-CROPS AT THE FARMERS MARKETS, THE HARVEST FAIRS, SEAFOOD FESTIVALS, AND DANCING IN THE STREETS – AND THE RETURN OF INDOOR MUSIC, THEATRE, AND CULTURAL EVENTS AS THE DAYS GROW SHORTER!

FAMILY FUN!

Don’t miss “Riverside Beats,” a free outdoor community dance party with New Moon DJs at Riverside Park in New Bedford on September 3 (newbedfordcreative.org)!

See what life was like during the Revolutionary War! Visit the Fairhaven Village Militia’s Military Encampment at Fort Phoenix September 30 to October 1 (fairhaventours.com)!

Head for Onset Bay for the Harvest Moon Festival on September 23 –fireworks, flea market, food trucks, live music, antique/classic car show (onsetbay.org)!

Take the family to Soule Homestead in Middleborough for the Harvest Fair on September 9 – hayrides, local artisans and crafters, food, and music (soulehomestead.org)!

Enjoy free family fun and entertainment on AHA! Nights in New Bedford! The September 14 theme is “NB Cultures.” The October 12 theme is “Art in Tune” (ahanewbedford.org).

Don’t miss the 18th Annual Arts & Music Festival on September 30 in Lakeville – arts & crafts, kids’ activities, music, food trucks, and more (lakevilleartscouncilma.org/festival)!

Spend some family time at the Fairhaven Kids Festival on October 14 – loads of activities, free food, arts and crafts (fairhaventours.com)!

When it’s raining outside, take the little ones to the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River (cmgfr.org)!

food, driNk, a Nd shoppiNg!

Aw shucks! Plan ahead for the 9th Annual Ocean State Oyster Festival

at River Walk Park in Providence on October 7 (oysterfestri.com).

Head for Newport on October 6-9 for the Columbus Day Sidewalk Sale at Bowen’s Wharf and on October 14-15 for the 32nd Annual Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival (bowenswharf.com)!

Go on a Vineyard Voyage with the Providence Riverboat Company (providenceriverboat.com).

Head for the Huttleston Marketplace on Saturdays through September 30 on the lawn of Fairhaven High School to browse through arts & crafts, antiques, vintage collectibles, farm produce and local foods (fairhaventours.com)!

Make a trip to Somerset on Saturdays through October and stroll through the South Coast Open Air Market to purchase all things local, handmade, and fresh (southcoastopenairmarket.com)!

elizabeth Morse r ead

Sign up for a Newport Foodie Stroll on Wednesdays-Saturdays through October 14, a walking food tour through the restaurants of Lower Thames Street in Newport (visitrhodeisland.com)!

Head for the Mayflower Beer Garden at the Pinehills in Plymouth every Sunday and on select Mondays through October 9 – live music, food trucks, beer and pop-up shops on the village green (mayflowerbrewing.com)!

Taste your way through the historic district with New Bedford Food Tours on a three-hour guided walking tour to sample local foods at five signature restaurants, a two-hour “Art and Brunch” tour of the city, or a three-hour “A Taste of Portugal” tour in Fall River (nbfoodtours.com)!

f estivals, fairs a Nd festas!

Head for Trinity Beer Garden at Kennedy Plaza in downtown Providence on September 23 for the RI Vegtoberfest – a 21+ vegan beer and food event and marketplace presented by RI VegFest (goprovidence.com)!

Mark your calendars for the annual Our Lady of the Angels Portuguese Festa on Labor Day weekend – September 2-4 – at

Taste your way through the historic district with New Bedford Food Tours on a threehour guided walking tour to sample local foods at five signature restaurants, a twohour “Art and Brunch” tour of the city, or a three-hour “A Taste of Portugal” tour in Fall River (nbfoodtours.com)!

the feast grounds in north Fairhaven (fairhaventours.com)!

Celebrate the season at the South Coast Harvest Festival September 29 to October 1 at the Westport Fairgrounds! Garden talks/demos, tractor parade, autumn foods, live music, pumpkin carving, kids’ “corn”-er, scarecrows (southcoastharvestfestival.com)!

Spend the day at Fairhaven’s legendary Manjiro Festival on October 7 – explores the town’s ties with its sister-city in Japan, enjoy Japanese food, music, Taiko drumming, martial arts, calligraphy, tea ceremony, free bus tour, and more (fairhaventours.com, WhitfieldManjiro.org)!

Celebrate harvest time at the Norman Bird Sanctuary’s 49th Annual Harvest Fair September 30 to October 1 in Middletown! Old-fashioned family fun, food trucks, games, competitions, live music (normanbirdsanctuary.org)!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! King Richard’s Faire in Carver returns on weekends September 2 to October 22 (kingrichardsfaire. net).

Show up hungry for the 18th Annual Blount Fine Foods New Bedford Seaport

Chowderfest September 30 on Pier 3 in New Bedford (onesouthcoast.com)!

Mark your calendars for the Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival on September 22-24 at Rosecliff (newportmansions.org).

Don’t miss the New Bedford Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival on September 16 at Fort Taber. Family fun, lawn games, and music (foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com)!

Head for the 13th Annual Rhode Island Seafood Festival at India Point Park in Providence on September 16-17, rain or shine (riseafoodfest.com)!

Don’t miss the 21+ event “First Taste of Fall” on September 23 at the Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford – food trucks, local breweries, and wineries (bpzoo.org).

Don’t miss the annual Acushnet Apple-Peach Festival on the weekend after Labor Day (facebook.com/fans-ofthe-acushnet-applepeach-festival)!

Head for Frerich’s Farm in Warren for the Mum & Scarecrow Festival Septem-

Above, head for Onset Bay for the Harvest Moon Festival on September 23 – fireworks, flea market, food trucks, live music, antique/classic car show (onsetbay.org)!

ber 9 and the Thrive Outside: Mud Run September 17 (frerichsfarm.com).

speCial eveNts, exhibits, a Nd leC tures

On September 19-20, head for Round the Bend Farm in South Dartmouth for the free event “Autumn Joy: A Garden Club of America Flower Show” hosted by the Little Compton Garden Club (littlecomptongardenclub.org ) and the Garden Club of Buzzards Bay (gardenclubbuzzardsbay.org). Enjoy gorgeous floral arrangements, plant and flower specimens, nature photography and conservation initiatives supportive of sustainable agriculture (roundthebendfarm.org)!

There’s always something going on at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown! Don’t miss the Mushroom Hunting Lecture on September 14 or the Mushroom Hunting Guided Walk on September 16 (normanbirdsanctuary. org)!

Head for Blithewold Mansion and Gardens in Bristol for workshops in fruit and vegetable canning September 2, pickling September 9, Sparkling Wines

September 25, White Wine Tasting

October 5, Red Wine Tasting October 12,

and Bumble Bees & Pollinators October 14 (blithewold.org)!

Go on the Providence Preservation Society’s Architectural River Tour on September 25, cruising the Providence waterways (ppsri.org/events)!

Learn about the free virtual classes in meditation, laughter yoga, tai chi, yoga and smoking-cessation hypnosis, offered by New Bedford Wellness Initiative (facebook.com/NewBedfordWellnessInitiative).

Go on a special walking tour of New Bedford’s Abolition Row on September 27, sponsored by the Rotch-Jones-Duff Museum and the New Bedford Preservation Society (rjdmuseum.org).

Check out the free Pilgrim Hall Museum Speaker Series this year in Plymouth – compelling speakers on a range of history-related topics (pilgrimhall.org).

Enjoy free walking tours on AHA! Nights in New Bedford through September, led by the New Bedford Preservation Society – “Walkways: Exploring the People and Places of Historical New Bedford” (nbpreservationsociety.org). Be amazed by WaterFire in Providence on September 2, 9, and 30 (waterfire. org)!

Quench your thirst for learning at the free monthly New Bedford Science Café lectures and discussions at The Last

Round Bar & Grille . Don’t miss “Climate Change in New Bedford: Exploring Probable Futures” on September 12 (nbsciencecafe.com)!

Explore the free public art and programs presented by the Massachusetts Design Art and Technology Institute (DATMA) entitled “Shelter 2023” in New Bedford: “Threshold” at Custom House Square; “Our Woven Story” at the intersection of Union St. and Rt. 18; and the “Community Tides” mural on Fish Island. And don’t miss the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra’s Pop-Up Performance in Custom House Square on September 14 (DATMA.org).

Need a bigger boat? Plan ahead for the Newport International Boat Show September 14-17 at the Newport Yachting Center (newportboatshow.com).

Listen to the free lecture “Sea Monsters from Classical Times to the Age of Exploration” on September 14 at the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center (fishingheritagecenter.org)!

Visit the special art exhibit “A Singularly Marine & Fabulous Produce: The Cultures of Seaweed” at New Bedford’s Whaling Museum through December 3 (whalingmuseum.org).

a ll the World’s a stage Head for the Providence Performing Arts Center to enjoy performances of

Do you hate seeing trash along Rhode Island’s shorelines? Join Save The Bay in the fight against litter as a cleanup leader! Save the Bay will be holding Beach Captain trainings that will teach reliable, responsible volunteers the safety and data collection protocols needed to lead an International Coastal Cleanup in Rhode Island this fall. Last year, more than 2,000 International Coastal Cleanup volunteers collected 22,645 pounds of trash from Rhode Island shorelines! Training are held live via Zoom. Sign up and learn more at volunteer.savebay.org/internationalcoastal-cleanup.

“Funny Girl” September 9-16, “Mrs. Doubtfire” October 17-22, or “The Book of Mormon” October 31 (ppacri.org)!

Don’t miss “Puffs” at Fall River’s Little Theatre on October 12-22 (littletheatre. net)!

Head for the Priscilla Beach Theatre in Plymouth, the oldest barn theatre still in operation in America! There’s “Always… Patsy Cline” September 8-16, “Camelot” October 6-10 (pbtheatre.org).

Don’t miss “22/16: The Remix of a Global Experiment” during September and October performed by The Wilbury Group in Providence (thewilburygroup. org).

Enjoy dinner with your drama at the Newport Playhouse! Don’t miss “Ghost of a Chance” September 13 to October 29 (newportplayhouse.com)!

Enjoy the new season of Your Theatre in New Bedford at its new home, the Steeple Playhouse! “Murder on the Orient Express” will be performed in September through October (yourtheatre.org).

Enjoy a performance of “The Good John Proctor” September 7-15, 28 through November 12, and “Becky Nurse of Salem” September 21 through November 10 at Trinity Rep in Providence (trinityrep.com).

the RI Bluegrass Festival September 23-24 (frerichsfarm.com).

Enjoy a “Concert in the Garden: Broadway in New Bedford” on September 17 at the Rotch-Jones-Duff Mansion in New Bedford (rjdmuseum.org)!

Don’t miss the 28th annual Westport Rock, Rhythm & Blues Festival September 8-10 at the Holy Ghost Grounds in Westport, a fundraiser to benefit A Wish Come True (awish.org).

Bring a lawn chair and enjoy Music in the Garden in the pocket-park behind the Shakespeare’s Head Building in Providence – don’t miss the Phil Sanborn Jazz Trio on September 13 (ppsri.org/events)!

Bring a picnic or enjoy the food trucks when you head for Soule Homestead in Middleborough for the Summer Concert on September 23 at the outdoor pavilion (soulehomestead.org)!

Enjoy wine tastings and live jazz on Saturdays at Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth (greenvale.com).

Bring your picnic basket to Running Brook Vineyard in Dartmouth for free live music every Saturday and Sunday year-round (runningbrookwine.com)!

Head for Blithewold Mansion and Gardens in Bristol for the Music at Sunset Concerts Series through September 6 (blithewold.org)!

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

Enjoy free walking tours on AHA! Nights in New Bedford through September, led by the New Bedford Preservation Society – “Walkways: Exploring the People and Places of Historical New Bedford” (nbpreservationsociety.org).

MusiC oN the laWNs Head for Frerich’s Farm in Warren for

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

south Coast souNds: the zeiterioN goes oN the road!

Starting in September, the 100-year old Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in New Bedford will undergo an historic restoration and renovation., and will be closed for 12-18 months until completion. But during that time, the great performances the Z is known for will still be scheduled at other venues and stages throughout the South Coast, including performances by the Z’s resident companies, the New Bedford Festival Theatre and the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra . So head for Madeira Field in New Bedford on September 8 to hear Get the Led Out or on September 30 for Legally Blynd (zeiterion.org)!

Find out who’s on stage at the District Center for the Arts in Taunton! (thedistrictcenterforarts.com).

Find out who’s playing at The Rooftop at Kilburn Mill in New Bedford’s south end (kilburnmill.com)!

Check out who’s on stage at the Spire Center for the Performing Arts of Greater Plymouth! spirecenter.org).

Head for The Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River for great music! (narrowscenter.com).

Don’t miss New Bedford’s free “Summer Sounds” concerts! Dance in the streets, mingle and enjoy the block-party atmosphere on every other Friday night through September 15, alternating between Purchase Street and lower Union Street (destinationnewbedford. org)!

Check out what’s happening at the Providence Performing Arts Center! (ppacri.org)!

Head for Pilgrim Memorial Hall in Plymouth (memorialhall.com).

ClassiCal aC ts

Don’t miss Festival Ballet Providence’s performance of “Death and the Maiden” October 13-15 at the Woodman Center in Providence (festivalballetprovidence. org)!

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra will present Jeremy Denk Plays Mozart October 13-14 at The VETS, Tower of Power and the RI Philharmonic Orchestra October 28 (riphil.org).

Listen to the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra perform its new season premiere “Three Worlds” at the Bronspiegel Auditorium at New Bedford High School on October 14 (nbsymphony. org).

Buy your tickets early to hear violinist Karen Gomyo perform at The VETS in Providence on September 23 (riphil.org)!

Enjoy beautiful music in New Bedford’s historic district on September 23 with Sonata Saturday, a partnership of the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra and The Drawing Room – head for the NBWNHP Visitor Center for two free afternoon performances of classical and popular music (nbsymphony.org)!

Listen to the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra’s Opening Night concert “Wanting More” on September 30 at Plymouth Memorial Hall (plymouthphil.org)!

Head for Blithewold Mansion and Gardens in Bristol for “Songs of Love and War,” featuring the Encore Opera Company, on September 7 (blithewold.org)!

eNjoy the great outdoors

Bike for clean water! Join in the 17th Annual Buzzards Bay Watershed Ride on October 1, from Little Compton to Woods Hole through the scenic landscapes of the South Coast (savebuzzardsbay.org/discover/events)!

Take a stroll through the urban greenspace of the Allen G. Haskell Public Gardens in New Bedford (thetrustees.org).

Explore the waterways of Providence in a single or tandem kayak (providencekayak.com).

Register now for the Newport Marathon October 8 (newportmarathon.com) or the Pell Bridge Run/Walk on October 15 (pellbridgerun.com).

Get Healthy! “Walk With a Doc” on Saturdays at Buttonwood Park Zoo, part of the New Bedford Wellness Initiative (nbewell.com)!

Check out what’s happening at the Lloyd Center for the Environment in Dartmouth – don’t miss the Women’s Canoe Trip on September 29. The trails are free and open to the public every day from dawn to dusk (lloydcenter.org).

Pack a picnic and stroll through the whimsical Green Animals Topiary Gardens in Portsmouth (newportmansions.org)!

“Discover Buzzards Bay” offers an online portal with information about 100+ public places to walk, bird-watch, kayak/canoe, fish, snowshoe or crosscountry ski (savebuzzardsbay.org/ discover). You can find other outdoor recreation spots along the South Coast at thetrustees.org, exploreri.org, massaudubon.org, riwalks.org, asri.org, riparks. com, or stateparks.com/rhode_island.

Enjoy Yoga in the Garden on Saturdays through September at the Rotch-Jones-

Need a bigger boat? Plan ahead for the Newport International Boat Show September 14-17 at the Newport Yachting Center (newportboatshow.com).

Have some slightly-spooky fun at New Bedford’s Buttonwood Park’s “Boo at the Zoo” in October (bpzoo.org)!

Duff Mansion in New Bedford! Sign up online – free to YMCA members (rjdmuseum.org)!

Sign up early for the 2023 Wine Run at Westport Rivers Vineyard and Winery on September 6 – run along the river through the vineyards, followed by dinner, wine and music (info@rhoderaces.us).

a ll thiNgs halloW eeN

Plan ahead for the fabulous “Jack-oLantern Spectacular” at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence (rwpzoo.org)!

Go on a lantern-led guided ghost tour of Providence’s historic East Side (providenceghosttour.com)!

Find a haunted house, hay ride, corn maze, scary event, or spooky place near you at (mahauntedhouses.com)!

Head for the Narrows Center in Fall River on October 28 for the live multimedia Hallowe’en event “Nosferatu Live” (narrowscenter.com, nosferatuLIVE.com )!

Go on a lantern-led haunted history tour with “Ghosts of Newport” (ghostsofnewport.com).

Woohoo! Explore the eight-acre Corn Maze at Escobar’s Highland Farm in Portsmouth (escobarshighlandfarm. com)!

Visit the most famous haunted house on the South Coast – take a tour of the Lizzie Borden B&B Museum in Fall River (or spend the night, if you dare!).

Or go on a bundled tour of Salem, Boston and the Lizzie Borden House (lizzie-borden.com). To view photo -

graphs and historical artifacts of the infamous double murder, visit the Fall River Historical Society’s Lizzie Borden exhibit (lizzieborden.org)!

Go on a Haunted Boat Tour through the waterways of Providence (providencriverboat.com)!

Have some slightly-spooky fun at New Bedford’s Buttonwood Park’s “Boo at the Zoo” in October (bpzoo.org)!

Let the whole family enjoy the Annual Hallowe’en on Main Street in Plymouth on October 31 (seeplymouth.com).

Take a tour of the Fortress of Nightmares at Fort Adams State Park in Newport (fortressofnightmares.org)!

Don’t miss the annual Hallowe’en Parade at Benoit Square in Fairhaven on October 29 (fairhaventours.com)!

Scare yourself silly at Fall River’s Factory of Terror (mahauntedhouse. com, factoryofterror.com)!

Buy your tickets early for one of the best haunted houses in New England! Head for Fear Town in Seekonk (fear-town. com).

Take the littlest kids for a not-so-scary Halloween haunted hay ride, corn maze and make-your-own Scary Sundaes at Simcock Farm in Swansea (simcockfarm.com)!

elizabeth Morse read is an awardwinning 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.

YOUR NEW HOME Envision

Care Free Homes is celebrating 45 years of business. Family owned and operated since 1978, they have earned a reputation for quality craftsmanship, professional product warranties, and reliable customer service. They specialize in roofing, siding, windows, doors, sunrooms, additions, and new home construction.

SBC CEDAR SHINGLES

SBC Cedar Shingles look gorgeous on this Portsmouth home. Care Free Homes offers a variety of shingle style siding options including natural wood from SBC, fiber cement shingles from James Hardie, or vinyl shingle style siding from CertainTeed.

TIMBERTECH AZEK DECKING

TimberTech AZEK Decking is ideal for coastal homes. This capped polymer decking resists rot, insects, and fading. Homeowners can customize their rails to maximize views with cable rails or make entertaining a breeze with drink rails. Care Free Homes is the area’s only Platinum TimberTech AZEK Contractor.

THREE-SEASON SUNROOM

A three-season sunroom provides an abundance of natural light and living space to this Mattapoisett home. Whether it’s used as a den, reading room, home office, or yoga studio, sunrooms are the ideal way to create a peaceful oasis in your home. This project features TimberTech AZEK Decking, ProVia storm panels, and a GAF Timberline HDZ roof. Care Free Homes also builds climate-controlled, year-round sunrooms.

WOLF PORTRAIT™ HIGH-DENSITY CELLULAR ™ SIDING

Homeowners exploring low maintenance siding options love Wolf Portrait™ High-Density Cellular™ siding. Featured on a New Bedford, MA home, this innovative product replicates the beautiful shadow lines and texture of painted wood clapboard siding.

GAF TIMBERLINE HDZ ROOF

Care Free Homes crews installed a GAF Timberline HDZ Roof for the Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity project in Westport. As a GAF Master Elite Roofing Contractor, Care Free Homes offers a factory-registered, 50 year, nonprorated, transferable roof warranty with every GAF Lifetime Roofing System. Care Free Homes and the Pickup family are dedicated to improving their community and the lives of others.

HARVEY CLASSIC WINDOWS

Harvey Classic Windows add curb appeal to this Fairhaven colonial. Care Free Homes is one of the few Harvey Elite Window dealers in the area. This means Care Free customers are eligible for energy package upgrades and product warranties not offered by ordinary contractors. They are also an Andersen Certified Window and Door Contractor.

Healing hubs

Some

The greater Fall River and greater New Bedford areas offer Community Health Centers that provide all visitors with thorough and extensive care and resources from top-of-the-line professionals. Children, adults, families, mothers, and seniors are provided with assistance for their health and wellbeing in a variety of areas, depending on the site. No one is turned away at a Community Health Center.

Located at 387 Quarry St. in Fall River, the HealthFirst Family Care Center has served its community for more than 50 years. The state-of-the-art facility provides care in areas such as medical, dental, addiction treatment, behavioral health, sexual and reproductive health, and women’s health. Additional on-site services include physical therapy, a pharmacy, lab services, chronic disease management, and nutritional counseling.

“We don’t turn anyone away, whether it’s a lack of insurance or inability to pay,” says Jenny Mello Reis, Director of Marketing and Development at HealthFirst. “We greet anyone in need with open arms and accept most types of insurance.

“HealthFirst has always been a resource

for people struggling through difficult times, whether they’re unemployed, a single parent, or a recent immigrant.”

Community Health Centers provide patients with the same high level of care that they would receive in a hospital or from any medical professional.

“There is nothing to exclude you from receiving the highest quality of care,” Mello Reis says. “HealthFirst prides itself on its high quality of care. Our medical staff has been specially trained in Family Medicine to handle a wide variety of health needs. Our Dental staff has been educated at some of the most prestigious dental schools around the country. We have served three generations of families with adult and pediatric primary care and dental services to the underserved and uninsured residents of the greater Fall River area.

“We’re a one-stop shop for your health needs. We’re at the center of a larger solution to the healthcare crisis that is facing our nation: affordable healthcare.”

HealthFirst prides itself on providing for the diverse community that they serve. They are able to assist with people from the community who are Portuguese, Hispanic, Cambodian, African-American, or Brazilian-Portuguese. Their staff members reflect the various cultures they serve, ensuring easy access for all patients regardless of language, income, or cultural barriers.

They boast of themselves as “The Heart of the Community.”

HealthFirst of Fall River can be reached at (508) 679-8111.

Stronger together

Located at 874 Purchase St. in downtown New Bedford, the New Bedford Health Center has been serving their community for more than 40 years. Their site offers adult medicine, geriatric medicine, pediatric care, women’s health, infectious disease care, dental, urgent care, and services for women, infants, and children.

The Health Center states that they offer “Exceptional Care for All.” They serve people from 41 different communities in the region, with a primary concentration on patients from New Bedford. The Health Center makes it a priority to offer services that go beyond medical care to include social determining factors that affect people’s wellbeing.

“Our mission is twofold,” says Cheryl Bartlett, President and CEO of the New Bedford Health Center. “We want to provide the best patient care that we can to improve their health, but we also want to engage with the community and partner with them.

“The majority of someone’s health comes from the conditions in their life – safe and affordable housing, nutritious food to eat, a job to help support you and your family, transportation, child care, and

of those people live and work in the South Coast.

There are people who believe that everyone should have access to quality healthcare, regardless of income, insurance, or the ability to pay

infrastructure. The two biggest correlates to good health are level of education and level of income, so as a result the poorer population is less healthy. People need education about nutrition and exercise as well as vaccinations to prevent disease or minimize illness. We need a better environment such as air quality, and we need good infrastructure such as better sidewalks and lighting. When you have good public health people aren’t as sick.

“We need to make the healthy choice the easy choice.”

Bartlett explains that the American health industry needs to spend more resources on health prevention rather than after-the-fact treatment.

“Ninety-six percent of the money in this industry is spent on sick care – we’re not improving people’s health,” she says. “Chronic diseases are continually rising in this country and people aren’t getting better. We need to get upstream in our prevention. We spend more money than any other country for health care and we’re 47th in our health status. We spend a lot on technology and not enough on primary basic care. Maybe giving people good food is better than giving them medicine, and maybe someday we won’t need medicine.”

Bartlett says that the Health Center is reaching out to the low-income residents that they serve.

“We have Case Managers and Care Managers who navigate the community to help coordinate the multiple support systems for people’s health,” she says. “We’ve been hiring a growing workforce of community health workers that come from the cultural neighborhoods and communities of the people we serve. Poor people are at risk – it’s difficult to meet your needs when you’re trying to work to take care of your family. And so to get people healthy we have to make sure they’re getting these issues addressed.”

The Health Center has a staff of 300 and half of them speak one or more additional languages, including Portuguese and Spanish. They are able to assist people from the Mayan and Guatemalan communities.

“Culture and language should not be a barrier to getting better health,” Bartlett says. “We’re accessible to all; we can help anyone who walks through our doors. You’re going to receive the quality care that you would receive from any hospital or medical professional. We’re equally qualified from an educational and skill level, but in their compassion and heart capacity they excel beyond most places. People work here because it’s part of their vocation, not their career.”

The New Bedford Health Center provides Adult Medicine for people 18 and older, including routine physicals, primary care, and sick visits, in addition to treating situations such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, allergies, and arthritis. They also do cancer screenings and help with neurological disorders.

For people over 60, the Center offers treatment that includes help with applying for community and home assistance.

Pediatric Care for infants, children, and adolescents is available with a wide variety of services that includes nutritional counseling, physicals for school and camp, adolescent gynecological and reproductive health needs, and consultations for insurance benefits.

There are services available in Women’s Health for females 17 and older, including in-office gynecological care, as well as breast cancer screenings, contraceptive management, and OB/GYN care.

Adolescent services include confidential reproductive health care to teens between 13 and 17, such as routine gynecological care, birth control, STD testing and treatment, pregnancy and HIV testing, and counseling.

The dental health offerings are for families and people of all ages, including preventative care, restorative care, emergency care, extractions, dentures, and whitening.

Infectious disease care includes HIV intervention, testing, and treatment, as well as STD testing and treatment.

The New Bedford Health Center can be reached at (508) 992-6553.

seaN MCCarthy has been a freelance journalist for 35 years. He lives in New Bedford.

FALL INTO SAVINGS EVENT

STORE HOURS

TUES 10-3, WED 12-8, THURS & FRI 12-5, SAT 10-4

“HealthFirst has always been a resource for people struggling through difficult times, whether they’re unemployed, a single parent, or a recent immigrant.

– Jenny Mello Reis

BETTER KNOW A

COA

Since the mid1970s, Councils On Aging in Massachusetts have been responding to the needs and interests of seniors with a vast array of benefits, services, and activities.

There is a COA in every town and city in the state and they are prepared to provide for seniors in every facet of their life – physical, social, medical, and financial. Whether you want to enjoy a day trip, participate in activities, receive nutritional support, be provided with transportation, or just spend time in a friendly and welcoming setting, COAs are a one-stop shop for those who want to embrace their golden years in some of the best ways possible.

For anyone over 50, a local COA is only a phone call away.

“We want seniors to stay healthy, stay

While there is a COA in every town, seniors can choose to visit any location, regardless of where they live. For example, someone who lives in Wareham can take a dance class in Fairhaven on Monday, take a day trip out of New Bedford on Tuesday, and play cards in Acushnet on a Wednesday.

active, and stay in their homes for as long as they can,” says Heather SylviaChew, Executive Director of the Acushnet COA. “Most people who haven’t experienced the COA and our

Senior Centers have the misconception that we’re the step before the nursing home, and we’re far from that. We’re an activity hub for the over-50 crowd.

“If you have an interest, we’ll keep you busy. There’s really no reason for people to stay home and isolated.”

While there is a COA in every town, seniors can choose to visit any location, regardless of where they live. For example, someone who lives in Wareham can take a dance class in Fairhaven on Monday, take a day trip out of New Bedford on Tuesday, and play cards in Acushnet on a Wednesday. By calling any COA in the area, you can get access to the schedule of events at any of the regional locations. Newsletters that include schedules can be mailed, emailed, or read to the client over the phone, whatever the client prefers.

“We strongly encourage people to share services, attend different programs that interest them – whatever is

Getting older shouldn’t be something to fear. In fact, it can be something to enjoy.

going to keep people from isolating at home, that’s our goal,” Sylvia-Chew says.

The Acushnet COA can be reached at (508) 998-0280, and they can provide you with access to any of the COAs in the region.

Most of the COAs offer at least one Senior Center in their town that is open Mondays through Fridays. Among their offerings are a wide range of classes and group activities, including day trips throughout the region. Clients can partake in Zumba dancing or chair yoga, cribbage and card games such as poker. There are occasional night and weekend programs such as barbeques and guest speakers, depending on the season.

Recent day trips have included a voyage to Foxwoods and a tour of Rhode Island lighthouses that included a lunch outing. Clients are involved in the monthly planning of the events calendar.

“Our atmosphere is upbeat and bubbly. We’re energetic,” Sylvia-Chew says. “We know our people – we’re a family here. We share stories, we know about grandbabies and other life events.”

Inspiring independence

COAs are non-profits with no membership fees. Most of the programming is free, while there may be a small fee for the day trips in order to cover expenses.

Transportation is also provided to seniors. In addition to having access to any of the programming and events going on in the region, clients can get rides to do weekly grocery shopping, go to medical appointments, do personal errands such as haircuts or pedicures, and visit friends in the area.

Other areas of assistance with COAs include help with acquiring food stamps, fuel assistance, and health insurance.

“We can sit down with a person and help them understand how to choose

the health insurance that’s correct for them,” Sylvia-Chew says.

A vital feature of local COAs is the “Are You Ok?” service. Every weekday morning, receptionists from most COAs call seniors who live at home to check to see how they are doing. An average call is five to 10 minutes and provides an update on the person. The COAs inherited this program from the Bristol County Sheriff’s Department this July.

“For some of our seniors, that call may be the only outside contact they have that day,” Sylvia-Chew says.

Another feature of COAs is the daily delivery of Meals On Wheels. Facilitated by Coastline Elderly, on weekdays seniors over 60 can receive a hot meal delivered to their home.

According to Sylvia-Chew, in the month of June the Acushnet COA had 373 people visit the location. She says that the average client visits three days a week.

Nineteen percent of all visitors to COAs are 84 or older.

“We want people to come and we want them to stay,” Sylvia-Chew says. “No one wants to go somewhere where they don’t know the people and the routine, so if you need to bring an adult child or friend who many not be 50, that’s fine. Whatever you need to be comfortable in your first couple of times coming in, we’re going to encourage that.”

Sylvia-Chew says that COAs are particularly important as society emerges from COVID-19.

“We were home for two years because we had to be, and now is the time to come back out, reconnect with friends, make new friends, and stay busy and stay healthy,” she says. “Our goal is to meet people where they’re at and encourage them to come in. Just come in and try it once and it can totally turn around any misconceptions you have.”

seaN MCCarthy has been a freelance journalist for 35 years. He lives in New Bedford.

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COAs are non-profits with no membership fees. Most of the programming is free, while there may be a small fee for the day trips in order to cover expenses.

s taCie CharboNNeau hess

Researcher Dan Buettner discovered that in communities such as Okinawa in Japan (longest living women) and Nicoya, Costa Rica (residents live to 90 years old at twice the rate of the U.S.), long, healthy lives were not accidental, but rather built-in to the lived environment. Buettner set out to discover the secret of these communities.

Not surprisingly, diet is a factor. He determined what we all already know: a plant-based diet is best. Rather than focusing on diet and physical fitness, what sets Blue Zone communities apart are the ways in which they value community, connection, and pleasurable stress-management activity, all interwoven into

Aging well with the Blue Zone

Connection and community are essential ingredients – just as important as vegetables and exercise – to a healthy, long life. The Blue Zone should inspire us all to try one new thing, meet one new friend, and just perhaps, make an unexpected, delightful connection.

daily life instead of crammed into 60 minutes of a Pilates class or a Zoom therapy session.

In a second book (which has now developed into free materials available online), Buettner actually defined nine principles of healthy living that all Blue Zones share. He calls these the Power9®, and they are:

1. Making movement a natural part of your day

2. Knowing your sense of purpose

3. Prioritizing stress relief

4. Eating until you’re about 80% full

5. Eating a largely plantbased diet

6. Drinking alcohol in moderation

7. Connecting with your community

8. Putting family (whether biological or chosen) first

9. Choosing social circles

that support healthy behaviors

These tenets are not intimidating – they seem entirely doable, and most of us probably aspire to live this way in our daily life. For people of retirement age, some principles of the Power9® are easy. For example, the first principle is easier when you don’t have a two-hour commute. What about knowing one’s purpose, or connecting with community? Without the structure of a job or career, numbers two and seven might be trickier. How does having a purpose and connecting with community contribute to a healthier, longer life? Perhaps that is too complicated a question to answer in this article, but it seems to me that the Blue

In 2010, the National Geographic Society published a study about the world’s Blue Zones: communities in which citizens live longer, healthier lives than in the rest of the world.

Zoners share community and connection which increase joy and a sense of well-being no matter what age we are or where we live.

With the idea of community and connection in mind, I set out to find resources for active seniors – who have more time to devote to family, friends and charity – right here on the South Coast. What I found was astonishing!

Each town I looked at –Wareham, Marion, Mattapoisett, Fairhaven, New Bedford, Westport, Tiverton, and Dartmouth – advertised a Council on Aging or similar organization, replete with activities and educational offerings. Some websites were more updated than others, and some COAs appear more organized. Nearly every one of them had a print newsletter or online calendar. What struck me was that right here, in nearly every one of our South Coast towns, people were working to establish and enliven this very community and connection that the Blue Zone deems essential to healthy, long lives. Here is a quick sample of what I found:

The Mattapoisett COA had an impressive lecture coming up on September 6 called “Social Realism of the America’s 1930.” This presentation explores the power of art to express political discontent, and to speak up in the face of oppression. On September 29, the COA offers a “Foliage Turkey Train Tour” to New Hampshire with a train ride, turkey dinner, and transportation to the train. The calendar reveals ongoing art classes, games, and fitness opportunities, all in town.

Mattapoisett’s neighbor to the east, the Marion Council on Aging, publishes a calendar with ongoing activities such as a fall Watercolor Class, Tai Chi, Memory Café, Meditation, and even Mah Jong. Moving west, the

Fairhaven Recreation Center is the spot to visit for walking groups, movie nights, legal help, and fitness classes.

Not surprisingly, because of the size of New Bedford, senior residents there have a wide array of choices! In addi tion to the typical offerings I found at all the other COAs, New Bedford is home to the “Senior Travel Program” which sounds like a lot of fun. On October 18, the program is going to see “Splish Splash – The Music of Bobby Darin” and on November 15, the “Dancing Dream Abba Tribute Band” live in concert. How fun would it be to share a stress-free, musical adventure with your friends and family?

The Dartmouth COA has a Facebook which wins the award for being the most cur rent. Among the offerings listed are osteo-exercise, painting, Zoomba, knittings, French classes, and pet therapy. Westport’s Council on Aging had a robust schedule that seemed to promote good times and physical activity.

The Tiverton Senior Center, like several listed here, hosts a book group in addition to rec reational opportunities and congregate meals. The mission statement reads that any one 50 or over is invited to join the Tiverton Senior Center’s events and activities. Fifty?! No time like the present to begin to create your community, I guess.

Connection and community are essential ingredients – just as important as vegetables and exercise – to a healthy, long life. The Blue Zone should inspire us all to try one new thing, meet one new friend, and just perhaps, make an unexpected, delightful connection.

staCie CharboNNeau

hess is a writer and our contributor. She lives in Mattapoisett with her family.

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sea N MCCarthy

While in her early 30s, this mother of two young children suffered a near-death accident while riding a horse. Her recovery would include an introduction to holistic medical approaches that would inspire her to reach out to others, perpetuating the success she had experienced in her own life.

Today, Doroch helps others in a variety of ways. As a board-certified holistic practitioner and holistic life coach, she uses her education to benefit people dealing with a variety of situations. And as the owner and CEO of Professional Care Match, she spearheads a company that incorporates holistic approaches as it specializes in assisted care for the elderly and end-of-life patients.

“When I had my accident, I went on an eye-opening healing journey to treat my posttraumatic stress and anxiety, I became a student of holistic practices,” Doroch says. “I needed to do something to help people and I knew there were ways to manage our conditions other than medicines. I knew first hand that holistic treatments like yoga and meditation work.”

Among Doroch’s multiple certifications and education background in ayurvedic practices, she is also a certified dementia practitioner, a reiki master, a life transitions coach, and a hypnotist.

“I have the tools to enhance a patient’s physical and emotional well-being, enlivening the nourishing connection between mind, body, and spirit, bringing balance and

healing into your life,” she says. Dorch offers an array of programs based on her ayurvedic studies, including weight loss, stress management, chronic pain management, overcoming PTSD, meditation, and caregiver stress.

“These are long-term solutions to revitalizing our lives, providing balance, self-care, and personal growth,” Doroch says. “It’s based on a 5,000-year old healing system of medicine.”

But Doroch has another medical identity – she is the owner of Professional Care Match, a company that helps people in need of end-of-life care.

Doroch was inspired to start Professional Care Match in part due to her experiences with her grandfather. She is a certified end-of-life coach, also known as a doula.

“When I was eight years old my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It was really challenging for our family because there wasn’t a lot of education and understanding at that time,” she says. “People were put into an

institution and heavily medicated. Behaviors weren’t managed in a way that was humane.

“Today there are wonderful, positive ways to manage the disease process and the challenges that people with dementia have. It’s really about diving deep into who they were and having a lot of respect for them – utilizing the knowledge of what they did for their career, what their cultural beliefs were, and their daily routine. With our company we look at the whole person and develop a plan that soothes them and brings them into positive places.”

seaN MCCarthy has been a freelance journalist for 35 years. He lives in New Bedford.

“These are longterm solutions to revitalizing our lives, providing balance, self-care, and personal growth. It’s based on a 5,000-year old healing system of medicine.”

PRIME SEASON

Put on ice

I’m hitting 70 soon. These are the times that try men’s souls. Not to mention their shoulders, knees, backs, and patience.

Here’s the thing: my body has had a good run – a great run and in fact – and is still in mid-stride of a very active life, just a wee bit slower, more stooped, less reliable. The biggest part of that? For 50 years, a solid half century, I played ice hockey as a goalie, one of the most demanding positions in all of sports.

You put on 40 or so pounds of gear, stumble out as gracefully as possible onto the ice and willingly stand in front of guys shooting the puck, not at NHL speed of 100mph or more, but at a still-painful 50, 60, or 70, I’d guess. Hard enough to make a goalie go down in a heap when it smashes into the wrong place (yes, like there).

Now I didn’t play for a solid 50 years, there were gaps in there when work and family got in the way, a few years here and there. But mostly, I was in the game. For the last 25 years, it was once a week steadily, sometimes more, up in Hingham. And at 6:30 in the morning, no less, meaning I was up before five in all kinds of weather every Friday to schlepp through snow and rain and ice and the sheer drudgery of sleepy driving.

But when I was in my 20s and 30s, I’d be on the ice three, four, five or more times a week. So doing the math, over 50 years that’s a metric ton of hockey.

The last few years have been especially challenging, when arthritis has reared its ugly inflammatory head in body parts mentioned above. Before 65, things really didn’t hurt. The second I hit that magic mark, I swear my body threw in the towel of any remaining youth and said, “We’re

done, old man. You better damn well listen.”

Which, I proudly say, I stupidly did not. December 2021, I got my first cortisone shot in my right knee, which was locking up like a bank vault, and it went great –pain was gone until summer 2022 when for no reason except old(er) age, it would feel like someone was pounding a hot nail into it. So I got another in July. It took forever to kick in but when it did, it felt better. Not great, but better.

But both knees continued to hurt, sometimes enough to make me call out of hockey. Which, as a goalie, tends to piss people off because there are only two of us and our absence leaves nothing to shoot at but an empty net for guys paying good money to play (I should also say here goalies never pay for ice time, the conventional wisdom being if they’re dumb enough to play the position, don’t make ‘em pay. I endorse that heartily).

So one day in late January of this year, I texted the guy who runs the hockey hour in Hingham and said I couldn’t make it that week. And this happened, after some testy texts back and forth: Him: “Maybe you should think about retiring.”

Me: (after thinking about it for a split second) “F-it, I quit.”

And that was my retirement speech right there. Pretty pithy, eh? Yeah, I love economy of words.

Then guess what? Within two weeks of quitting, my knees quit hurting and haven’t bothered me one bit since, which I say rapping my knuckles on my giant wooden ex-goalie head.

Then guess what, part two? My shoulders went into full arthritic arrest, which should be a medical term if it isn’t already, unable to lift my arms above 45 degrees, cringing and cussing trying to reach for anything higher than that, finding it impossible to side sleep (my lifelong

position) without waking up every hour to flip over, and when I did, the nighttime peace shattered by the firecracker popping of bone on bone in both shoulders.

If I were a horse, the saying goes, they’d shoot me.

Boston has the best docs on Earth, and the three I talked to were uniform in their assessment: you gotta get these things replaced. Which frankly I didn’t know was a thing until this happened. The last guy I went to is at the Brigham telling me, when I asked on the grand scale of bad shoulders he’s seen where mine ranked, smiled wryly and said “Gotta say, they are Hall of Fame bad.”

I’d like to thank voting members of the Hall for this honor!

So I’ve had, in the past couple months, a cortisone shot in each shoulder, which, if not providing miraculous results, have at least cut the constant pain in half, which feels like a complete victory. But it’s really a stay of execution; I’m gonna schedule replacement surgery of the left shoulder and six months or more later, do the other. I’ll do that starting this November or December, figuring why waste summer and fall in a sling when I can do it in the cold, bleak months of winter when it’s dark and gross and miserable and a perfect time to be in a bad mood!

People ask, “Don’t you miss hockey?” and honestly I do – but not lately. I miss it the way I was even five years ago, certainly the way I was 50 years ago.

If I could save time in a bottle, to quote the late great Jim Croce, the first thing that I’d like to do?

Maybe think twice about playing goal for so long. Then again, maybe not..

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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