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People today can spend nearly half their lives over the age of 50. That’s a lot of living. So, it helps to have a wise friend and fierce defender like AARP in your corner and in your community so your money, health and happiness live as long as you do.
AARP offers tools, resources and local expertise to help you achieve your goals and stay connected.
Find us at aarp.org/ma.
If it seems fraud doesn’t stop, you’re right. Every day scammers find new and convincing ways to get unsuspecting people’s money. There’s data to prove it. Last year was yet another historic year for fraud. For the first time ever, the Federal Trade Commission reported theft through fraud topped $10 billion in 2023. The total is 14% higher than what was reported in 2022. It’s five times greater than reported losses in 2019.
More money, $4.6 billion, was stolen through investment scams than any other type of fraud. Many of the investment scams were tied to cryptocurrency where consumers reported $1.4 billion stolen. The most frequently reported scams were impostor scams, where the criminal pretends to be a person, company or government agency that you trust. The average victim of an impostor scam had $800 stolen from them. The most popular method for criminals to reach their victims in 2023 was email, surpassing text messages and phone calls which led in previous years.
While all these numbers are eye opening, the sad reality is that we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg because the vast majority of fraud goes unreported.
That’s why AARP is here to act as a wise friend and fierce defender. AARP arms people with tools to combat con artists and fraudsters. Knowledge is power when combatting scam artists. If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.
The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free resource for all. We equip consumers with up-to-date knowledge to spot and avoid scams and connect those targeted by scams with our fraud helpline specialists, who provide support and guidance on what to do next. We also advocate at the federal, state, and local levels to enact policy changes that protect consumers and enforce laws.
One great resource from AARP Fraud Watch Network is the Scam-Tracking Map. From your home to anywhere in the United States, AARP can pinpoint the latest scams. On a map, if you choose a location, AARP will show you what fraudsters are up to in your area. The AARP Fraud Watch Network Scam-Tracking Map shows scams reported in your area in real time. Report your scam to warn your neighbors and see what else has been reported near you.
If you’ve been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone. Our trained fraud specialists provide support and guidance on what to do next and how to avoid scams in the future. The AARP fraud helpline, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone.
Here in Massachusetts, we are always on guard against fraud. AARP Volunteers are always keeping an eye on new scams. We hold Fraud Talk Tuesdays once a month. On the second Tuesday of every month, we take just 30 minutes online to share important information about the latest scams plaguing the Bay State.
AARP Massachusetts volunteers also offer free presentations for community groups across the state on topics such as how to guard against fraud and identity theft. These presentations can be in person or virtual.
These programs are run by volunteers. So, we are always looking for people like you to help. The AARP Fraud Watch Network needs people to help teach, give support, and help spread awareness.
You can find AARP resources online at aarp.org/mafraud. If you’re interested in helping us or would like us to provide a presentation to your group, send us an email at ma@aarp.org.
HUDSON – For 40 years, Hudson resident Joe Kolb has worked as a certified orientation and mobility specialist at the Carroll Center for the Blind, a Newton-based nonprofit organization that was founded by Father Thomas Carroll in 1936 as the Catholic Guild for All the Blind.
On Dec. 1, Gov. Maura Healey honored Kolb for his four decades of work.
Massachusetts State House Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator Carl Richardson, who is also a client, presented him with the governor’s citation at the State House. The U.S. flag was also flown over the state Capitol in Kolb’s honor.
According to Chief Program Officer at the Carroll Center Dina Rosenbaum, Kolb’s service at the Carroll Center had “reached a remarkable milestone” and in 2018 was honored with the Bill McMahon employee of distinction award from the center.
“Joe is known as an exceptionally kind and patient instructor to the clients he serves on a regular basis,” said Rosenbaum.
As a certified orientation and mo-
bility specialist, he teaches safe and effective travel skills to blind and visually-impaired people of all ages.
“Joe and other orientation and mobility specialists teach these skills to clients of all ages on the Carroll Center campus, in the community and in clients’ homes, schools and workplaces,” said Rosenbaum.
Kolb began his career at the Carroll Center in 1983. He first joined the center as an orientation and mobility intern following his training, which he completed at Boston College.
She said, “He first worked as an instructor in our campus-based training program and then moved to working mostly with clients out in the community, ensuring they could travel safe-
ADA Coordinator Carl Richardson and Joe Kolb, who works at the Carroll Center for the Blind, walk near the State House.
(Photo/Courtesy of Greg Turner of the Ball Consulting Group, LLC.)
ly within their homes, schools and workplaces.”
Specialists like Kolb are “key to fulfilling the Carroll Center’s mission of providing rehabilitation and education services to all ages and all stages of vision loss,” she noted.
Rosenbaum said Kolb has been recognized by consumer groups for “his tireless efforts to help persons with vision loss travel as independently as they are able.”
She added, “Clients ask to work with him.”
Rosenbaum said there are few facilities like the Carroll Center that enable people with vision loss to “lead independent and fulfilling lives.”
The center is considered a leader
in vision rehabilitation and education services, and it has a dedicated team of vision professionals who run life-changing programs.
And even though the Carroll Center is based in Newton, it helps individuals from across the country and around the world. It has served 2,100 clients from 19 states and three countries last year and has partnered with 108 local school districts to assist 480 children and teenagers at their schools, encompassing 75% of the student population who deal with vision loss in the Commonwealth.
Rosenbaum said the Carroll Center is trying to make a greater impact with its Generations fundraising campaign, which has the goal of raising $18 million over five years to expand service capacity, recruit and keep talented staff as well as upgrade the campus.
She said vision loss can bring about the inability to do everyday activities that allow for an independent life like being able to go to work or school. Places like the Carroll Center help guide people to independence and confidence to have fulfilling lives through programs that teach Braille and help build self-confidence and readiness for employment, she said.
“He is owed so much by our community”By JiM ash contriButing Writer
MARLBOROUGH – There was no fanfare last month when the Prospector East Saloon on Lincoln Street in Marlborough marked a milestone 50th anniversary.
That is just the way owner, Bob Kays, wanted it since he is not one to celebrate his own accomplishments.
Kays’ involvement in service to the city has been so extensive that it is impossible to put together a complete list of all the charity events and functions that were orchestrated in some major way by him. Examples include the Evening of Giving, the Mayor’s Charity Ball, the Chowderfest, the Heritage Festival, the Relay for Life and the Day for Veterans.
Beyond major annual events, it has been estimated that he has organized somewhere between 50 to 100 one-time fundraisers for people in need.
Speaking about Kays, former
Mayor Arthur Vigeant said, “Any substantial fundraiser that has been held in the city, Bob has had his hands in. He has been there at every turn for ev-
Stefanie Ferrecchia and Bob Kays have been together for 20 years.
(Photo/Jim Ash)
ery fundraiser as far back as I can remember.”
The former general manager of Embassy Suites, Richard Tomanek, describes Kays as his longest and deepest friend.
“Bob has done an amazing job of pulling people into the giving world of the community,” said Tomanek. “It’s never about Bob. It’s always about giving to someone else or something else for a greater cause.”
‘He is always doing something for other people’
While Kays has made his mark as Marlborough’s foremost philanthropist, it is a safe bet that many who know him may not be aware of the fullness of the life he has lived.
He has twice traveled on extended trips, east to Europe and Asia, all the way to India and Kathmandu, Nepal.
During one of those trips, he actually hitchhiked from Barcelona, Spain, to Istanbul, Turkey, a distance of about 3,000 miles.
Kays was a highly skilled basketball player in his younger years. In his adult years, he served in the United States Army (1958-1961) and later earned a reputation as an outstanding skier and an elite racquetball player. Plus, he had a role as an extra in a James Bond movie.
He was born in Portland, Oregon, but grew up in both Los Angeles and Pomona, California. His travels within the United States included time spent in popular ski areas, including Lake Tahoe on the border of California and Nevada, Sun Valley, Idaho, and the Loon Mountain area of New Hampshire.
His arrival in Marlborough came in 1974 when he purchased The Vault at 520 Lincoln St., which he renamed The Prospector East Saloon.
His first big role in Marlborough came when he helped organize the Mayor’s Charity Ball in 1982. He has been the key contributor in almost every mayor’s ball since then.
Next came the Evening of Giving. Kays teamed up with Roland Simoneau, who wanted to establish a large-scale event to raise funds in support of homeless people.
Simoneau, Kays and other volunteers hoped to attract a crowd of about 400 people, and were overwhelmed when 750 people showed up.
A key person in the success of that night was Dennis Kennedy, founder of Kennedy’s Restaurant in Marlborough.
“Dennis was just an amazing guy,” said Kays. “God rest his soul. Dennis was my rock behind all that I did. He helped me tremendously to be
who I am.”
In addition to fundraisers, Kays has come to the aid of many local families who have lost a loved one by handling all of the food arrangements for post-funeral gatherings at no cost to the families. An actual count is not known, but it has been estimated that Kays has served at least several dozen families in this way.
While Kays has been the ringleader for countless big events, he is quick to credit the generosity of hotels, restaurants and other businesses that chipped in their services for free.
“When they saw me coming, they put their hands in their pockets,” said Kays. “They got used to me.”
Kays did not set out to become Marlborough’s king of benefit fundraisers. He just evolved into that role.
“I don’t know why I do the things I do,” he said. “When I do think about it, I do try to pinpoint it, but I really can’t. When someone comes to me and needs help, I can’t say no.”
Then there is another area of service Kays has offered that falls well below the radar. Tomanek recalled a particular busy day at the hotel when Kays showed up and washed dishes all morning long. Tomanek had not even asked him for help and Kays expected nothing in return.
“It was the same for anybody else
if Bob knew a helping hand was needed,” said Tomanek. “Over a ten-year period, I guess he would do that type of thing maybe 50 times. He is always doing something for other people.”
As if all of his charitable endeavors and spontaneous service activities were not enough, Kays was the key man in the resurgence of semi-professional football locally when he be-
came involved with the Marlborough Shamrocks back in the 1970s.
For the past two decades, Kays has had a woman by his side who has had a huge impact on his life. Back in 2004, a mutual friend suggested he connect with Stefanie Ferrecchia, owner of Dora Naves and Associates Realtors. They have been together ever since.
“The last 20 years Stefanie changed my life for the better; that’s for sure,” said Kays, who credits Ferrecchia for being a calming influence in his life. Not only that, he added, “She supports everything I do.”
That feeling has been mutual. Ferrecchia said, “Bob is always pushing me forward and lifting me up. He has supported me in every way. I would not be the person I am today if I had not met him.”
Most notably, Kays was “all in” when it came to helping Ferrecchia with her children. “He jumped in with both feet and was up for every adventure,” said Ferrecchia. “He was one hundred percent involved in my children’s lives.”
Kays’ family also includes two adult daughters and a grandson. Danielle Kays and her son, Aya, live in upstate New York. Marci Kays lives in Los Angeles.
Now at age 85, Kays may be slowing down just a little bit, but those who know him believe he will keep giving for as long as he keeps breathing. He does not know any other way.
“He is owed so much by our community,” reflected Vigeant.
Understanding that Kays’ contributions won’t last forever, he said, “I do not know if we are ever going to be able to fill that gap.”
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Perhaps no other symbol is more recognizable or beloved by Bostonians than the Citgo sign situated on the roof of a sixstory building in Kenmore Square.
(Photo/Wikimedia Commons)
By colin MccanDless contriButing WriterBOSTON – Perhaps no other symbol is more recognizable or beloved by Bostonians than the Citgo sign situated on the roof of the six-story building at 660 Beacon St. in Kenmore Square. The massive sign, made of lights that flash a big red triangle, can be seen on TV during Red Sox games because of its proximity to Fenway Park.
A long history
Although it almost appears to abut the stadium, the hulking structure, measuring 60 feet by 60 feet and attached to a steel truss standing approximately 90 feet tall, is actually located an estimated 1,200 feet from the iconic ballpark’s home plate. It is so popular it has been dubbed the “North Star” of Red Sox nation and nicknamed “See it go,” a reference to home runs swatted over the Green Monster in left field during Red Sox games where it looms as a familiar backdrop. Runners of the Boston Marathon know it well because it serves as a welcoming beacon signaling that they are in the home stretch and the finish line draws near.
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Other commercial signs throughout the city have come and gone over the years with little fanfare, but the Citgo sign has endured the elements and attempts at removal.
Despite its association today, the sign didn’t always feature a Citgo logo. In its original iteration, established in 1940, it was emblazoned with a green and white Cities Service logo (the forerunner to Citgo) located on the roof of the oil company’s regional headquarters at the same Beacon Street address. It wasn’t until 1965 following a rebranding that it was converted into the cherished Citgo sign people know today. Arthur King, a native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, led the design team that created the Citgo sign concept while working with a New York advertising firm called Lippincott & Marguiles. The new sign was constructed that same year over Kenmore Square.
Who turned out the lights?
Bostonians are accustomed to seeing those blinking lights on the Citgo sign, but there was a brief time span when they were shut off, amid the oil crisis of the late seventies and
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early eighties. The company was asked to turn off the sign beginning on Sept. 4, 1979, at the request of the state energy office as a symbolic gesture of efforts to conserve energy.
Citgo once had plans to remove the sign back in 1982 due to its high maintenance costs, but Bostonians balked at the move and urged that the sign remain and be relit. A group of local residents even petitioned the Boston Landmarks Commission to preserve it as a Boston Landmark. The commission rejected the petition, but their protests were eventually heard as Citgo agreed to keep and maintain the sign for another three years, which flashed once again on Aug. 10, 1983. The joyful occasion marking its return from four years of darkness even involved a relighting ceremony attended by a crowd of enthusiastic supporters. Furthermore, those three years turned into decades as Citgo continued the sign upkeep.
The switch to energy-efficient lighting
While no mortal man can belt a baseball far enough (at least not yet) to hit the Citgo sign, it did sustain fire damage in 2008 that cost $5,000 to repair. It’s also survived hurricanes and other severe weather events. Once comprised of five miles of neon tubing lit by 250 high-voltage transformers,
in 2005 the sign underwent renovation to replace the 5,878 glass tubes with LED lights to make it more energy efficient. It entailed the use of 218,000 LED lights to illuminate the sign, resulting in an annual energy savings of over $18,000 for Citgo. The lights went out again briefly in July 2010 when the original LEDs were swapped out for more weather-resistant replacements, but everything was illuminated once again on Sept. 17, fittingly during the seventh inning stretch of a Red Sox game.
More than just a community staple and cultural emblem, the Citgo sign has also earned artistic and aesthetic praise. In 2016, Boston’s NPR affiliate WBUR ranked it number 10 on its list of 50 Best Public Works of Art in Greater Boston. Boston Globe architecture critic Robert Campbell once called it “the crown jewel of the Boston skyline.”
And Bostonians who enjoy the nostalgia of seeing the sign when they visit the ballpark or stroll through this part of the city can rest easy know-
Although it almost appears to abut the stadium … it is actually located an estimated 1,200 feet from the iconic ballpark’s home plate. It is so popular it has been dubbed the “North Star” … and nicknamed “See it go,” a reference to home runs swatted over the Green Monster in left field.
ing that it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. The Boston Preservation Alliance launched a petition in 2016 seeking landmark status, which it approved two years later. However, the landmark status was vetoed by former Mayor Marty Walsh in 2018 after a 30year deal was reached among Walsh, real estate firm Related Beal which now owns the building atop which it sits, Boston University, which previously owned the building, and Citgo, to keep the Citgo sign in Kenmore Square.
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WAYLAND – It’s an unlikely union between a Holocaust survivor and the daughter of a Nazi soldier. But Werner and Martha Salinger, 79 years after V-E Day took place on May 8, 1945, have written the ultimate love story that has prevailed for almost 70 years.
Fleeing Germany
Werner was born in Berlin in 1932, the year before Hitler came into power. He was a young boy of only six years old when his family fled Germany. He has vivid memories of glass shattered all over the street from local Jewish businesses that had been vandalized. He can also recall the smell of smoke that came from a burning synagogue nearby. He personally witnessed the horrible night known as Kristallnacht, or the Night of the Broken Glass, a pogrom carried out against Germany’s Jews by the Nazis.
“My parents and I left Berlin shortly afterwards” said Salinger. “First staying for a short time in London and then we ultimately traveled to New York and stepped onto U.S. soil on February 12, 1939.”
As a young boy who did not speak English, life was challenging for Werner. Then his mother contracted tuberculosis and died. Werner was sent to
“The rabbis were asking me how I could possibly consider doing this to my family,” says Werner Salinger, when he announced his intention to marry Martha in Germany.
live with relatives in New Jersey where he was one of eight children in the house. He started to learn the English language and began to thrive.
“Down the street I became friends with a man named Albert Einstein,” Salinger explained. “The physicist was very kind to me. He would play his violin and walk me through his beautiful garden.”
Several years later, Werner moved to Maryland to live, once again, with his father, who had gotten remarried to a German woman. He graduated high school and enlisted in the United States Air Force, eager to repay the country that he now calls home.
A fateful decision
This decision played a major role in the trajectory of his life. Werner was deployed to Germany and stationed in the small town of Hof on the Saale River. There, because of his fluency in German, he interviewed former prisoners of war to obtain information about the Soviet Union. Martha was working there as a statistician. Their paths would cross at a dance held at the Castle Theresienstein, where many soldiers and local women went on Saturday nights.
“I wasn’t looking for a serious relationship,” Salinger noted. “I was simply looking for a pretty young German woman to see Europe with. I saw
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A chance meeting at a Saturday night dance held in a German castle turned into a love story that has endured for nearly 70 years. (Photos/ Submitted)
Martha and felt an instant connection. Because I spoke fluent German, we could converse easily. She had walked almost two miles in high heels in winter to get to this dance.”
“I had a car and offered to drive her home. She was reluctant and said that she would only go if her friend could come as well,” said Salinger.
That evening was the beginning of a lifetime commitment and partnership. Werner and Martha spent a lot of time together and fell deeply in love. Even when he disclosed the fact that he was Jewish, she did not seem to care, nor did her parents. They were extremely liberal.
Her father fought in the German army during World War II. He had been drafted and served a couple of years with the occupation forces in France prior to being sent to the Russian front. He joined the party to simply keep his job. He did not support Hitler.
“My position always was, you know that she was twelve years old when the war ended so how could she have possibly had anything to do with the Nazi times,” said Salinger.
A challenging situation
They knew their situation would be challenging and not without some angst. Religious counselors were sent by the U.S. military. They tried to talk Werner out of this union.
“The rabbis were asking me how I could possibly consider doing this to my family,” Salinger explained. “From my perspective, that’s exactly
what we should be doing. I thought this to be a good thing. We’ll help them find closure for what happened in Nazi Germany.”
Werner and Martha were married at City Hall with her father as their witness. They soon found out they were expecting a baby and hoped his family would warm up to the fact that this would be their grandchild and Martha would be their daughter-in-law. It did take a while, but his family grew to love Martha immensely.
Today, Werner and Martha celebrate their beautiful family with four adult children, six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren with one more on the way.
Public speaker and author
Werner continues to be invited to speak publicly about the Holocaust. He was recently invited to speak in Marblehead as well as an annual event on May 5 with the Concord/Carlyle Human Rights Council.
He is the author of several books, including “Close to the Wind,” an autobiography, “Counterclockwise,” “Tugboats and Tow Lines” and “Toward a More Equal World.”
Salinger attributes his successful marriage, against all odds, to be the result of love, mutual respect, even if your opinions differ, and the willingness to do the work.
Werner and Martha Salinger, after nearly seventy years as husband and wife, feel truly blessed.
1. How did you make the decision to move your mom to the Willows? (Erin)
Mom had started to have a couple of health and mobility issues that grounded her... we knew that driving was going to be tricky so, while she was in respite, we began looking.
2. Was location key to your selection of the Willows? (Erin) Yes, we love New England. Mom said to me, “Erin, where are we going to go to make our memories? We have always loved the Boston area... she said to me, “Let’s go home so we can spend this chapter doing the things we both love”
3. Were you surprised to learn about all the choices you would face? (Erin)
There’s no handbook for how to help a parent with this transition. We wanted to find a place that would help her handle all of the changes that come with aging. Whatever the next phase is, the goal is to age in place for as long as you can in the quality and the surroundings you love .
4. What makes you feel at home at the Willows? (Ginger)
It’s so clean here. This place has character. It’s not all new and chrome. This is my kind of place. I’ve met a lot of nice people. It fits us and we fit it... and the staff is so accommodating and so quick to respond.
5. What lesson did you learn about selecting a senior living facility? (Ginger)
Had I been thinking about it, maybe I would’ve looked into it in my 60’s, not that I was ready for it at all, but for me to do the work to come to a place like the Willows. To say ‘all right,’ what am I looking at when I’m 80? Start looking at these places, just start to prepare. It’s important to know what your options are.
Your best life starts here. Because here, you’re family.
senior living
NEWPORT, R.I. – Sweeping, ornate lawns cut by graceful driveways leading to architecturally impressive porticos attached to massive mansions. Welcome to storied Newport, Rhode Island. But this coastal city is more than just a former summer playground for the rich and famous. Newport is filled with culture, great restaurants, and on-the-water enjoyment.
For the day or stay
The perfect place for a day trip or getaway stay, Newport offers a variety of adventures that will satisfy a myriad of vacation styles. There is a wide variety of accommodations for many budgets, from hotels and inns to short-term rental apartments.
If you are looking for a completely different type of getaway, consider an overnight stay in a lighthouse. Rose Island Lighthouse is on an 18-acre island where overnight guests are surrounded by a peaceful shoreline paradise. During the day, visitors are welcome on the island, but once the last boat departs, the island sunset is
all yours. It is a unique and remarkable experience.
Things to do
Touring the “summer cottages” that line Bellevue Avenue is a must.
Many of the Gilded Age mansions are open for visits: The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Chateau-sur-Mar, Rosecliff, Chepstow and Kingscote,
along with several other buildings are waiting to dazzle your imagination. The opulence of the mansions and the lives of their owners is awe inspiring. The mansion audio guided tours allow you to visit and explore each room at your own pace.
The scenic coastline along the panoramic Cliff Walk offers stunning vistas while traversing the 3.5-mile
Within the building amenities include:
• A Theater-like media center
• Handicap-accessible lounges on every floor
• Library equipped with two computers and free internet access
• Physical fitness center
• Game room with billiard table
• Community room with bingo board and large screen TV
The Rose Island Lighthouse in Newport, R.I. is a unique place to stay for the adventurous traveler.
length. Dramatic cliffs thickly covered with fragrant beach roses provide a wonderful spot for quiet reflection. Keep in mind that the path between Narragansett Avenue and Webster Street is closed indefinitely for repair creating a slight detour.
A sunset sail is the perfect way to end a day of sightseeing. Watching the sun go down while sailing the har-
• Contemporary styled 1 & 2 bedroom apartments
• New kitchens with built-in microwaves and granite-like countertops
• Small pets welcome
• Heat and Hot water included
• Bus route / ample parking
• Beautiful landscaped grounds with gazebo
Now accepting applications for
and are permanently disabled.
The Trinity Church Cemetery is one of the stops on the nighttime Newport ghost tour.
The White Horse Tavern in Newport has been serving guests since 1673 and is recognized as the “oldest operating restaurant in the U.S.”
bor is a gorgeous sight to behold. The setting sun paints the Newport sky a myriad of yellows and oranges, and you are transcended into a scene of perfect beauty.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is a fascinating place for tennis players and observers alike. You can enter the grounds to view the grass courts without a museum admission fee; just pop in to take a peek. Book play time on the beautifully-manicured outdoor courts as a guest and imagine serving up a crushing ball as the stadium roars at your perfect shot.
If you have a penchant for the supernatural, a ghost tour is an interesting way to explore Newport by night. Ghosts of Newport will introduce you to a myriad of historic specters as you meander through Washington Square, past Trinity Church Cemetery, and the historic colonial district. Filled with pirates, star-crossed lovers, and dramatic events, the tour evokes colorful residents and brings their tragic history to life.
Military history buffs will enjoy a guided tour of Fort Adams State Park. Explore office quarters, panoramic vistas from the overlook, and underground tunnels as your guide imparts stories of military culture, engineering, and U.S. defense history.
Venture out for a walk along
Thames Street and explore the waterfront. Here you will encounter antique shops, art galleries, souvenir shops, and more. Stop for an ice cream at Kilwins. It will satisfy your sweet tooth and refresh your spirit for more exploration.
There is no shortage of exceptional dining options in Newport. The iconic White Horse Tavern has been serving guests since 1673 and is recognized as the “oldest operating restaurant in the U.S.”
The Black Pearl on Bannister’s Wharf is famous for delicious seafood fare. During the summer, you can enjoy your dinner al fresco on the patio adjacent to one of the boat docks.
The understated luxury of social club dining is perfected in the Dining Room at the Vanderbilt. Inspired dishes delivered in elevated pub-style cuisine transports you to a Gilded Age private soiree.
Newport is a vibrant city with a long list of wonderful seasonal events and a wealth of places to experience. Whether you are looking for the latest happenings, where to dine, or what to see, you can find a complete and upto-the-minute list at Discover Newport (https://www.discovernewport. org/).
So many things are causing fear. Globally – world conflict, politics, and inflation. Personally — cash flow needs, mortgage payments, credit cards, medical bills, deferred home repairs, and future unexpected expenses.
Financial pressure and uncertainty may not only lead to higher anxiety but also being forced to sell one’s home. A reverse mortgage may be your solution to reducing financial stress and being able to afford your home.
What is a reverse mortgage?
For homeowners with at least one person being at least 62 years old with sufficient equity, a reverse mortgage is a government guaranteed loan that allows you to receive cash when needed or desired.
Primary Benefits of a Reverse Mortgage Are:
• No monthly mortgage payments are required
• Note — you are responsible to pay your homeowners insurance, real estate taxes, and meet loan guidelines.
• You may receive a lump sum amount of cash, a monthly check, and/or have a line of credit that grows as you get older
• Easier qualification than conventional loans
• No minimum credit score required
• May be used to pay off current mortgage and other debts
• Money received is tax free
• You continue to own and control your home
There is no cost to learn
There is so much misinformation about reverse mortgages. I have helped hundreds of homeowners learn the pros & cons and, when appropriate, secure the funds they need to live financially secure, and I will do my best to help you too!
A great place to start is get your free “How to Use Your Home to Stay at Home” 36-page book. This is the official reverse mortgage consumer booklet approved by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and published by the National Council on Aging. To receive your free copy, please call me at (781) 724-6221 or email me at av@powhse.com
I am also available to evaluate your specific situation, answer your questions, and calculate how much money is available to you.
Alain Valles was the first designated Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional in New England. He obtained a Master of Science from the M.I.T. Center for Real Estate, an MBA from the Wharton School, and graduated summa cum laude from UMass Amherst. He is the senior reverse mortgage loan officer MLO#7946 at Powerhouse Funding Corp. NMLS #1740551. He can arrange but does not make loans. Alain can be reached directly at (781) 7246221 or by email at av@powhse.com
REGION – Memorial Day is May 27.
For many people, it’s just a day off to have a barbeque or make a major purchase because of all the holiday sales.
For Gregg Brasso, however, it’s another day to give not to get, and to offer respect and support to those who have given so much yet often received so little in return. And he uses a radio show to accomplish that.
Gold Star family
Though he never had the honor to serve himself, Brasso was raised by an aunt who was a Gold Star widow from World War II.
“She taught me about the sacrifices made by both the veterans and their families,” Brasso explained gratefully. He noted how his aunt shared with him the dark statistics having to do with the high rate of suicides among veterans (20 to 30 a day, on average) and other challenges those who live on face every day.
“For many of them,” Brasso maintained, “the war never ends.”
Seeing the pain that his aunt suffered since losing her beloved hus-
accepting Applications for 62 years of age and older and those that are under 62 years of age and are permanently
band, Brasso pledged to do all he could to help other veterans and their families.
“She kept his photos and commendations on her bureau until the day she died,” he recalled, noting how his uncle was commended by President Kennedy and now has a square in Cambridge dedicated to his memory.
“Memorial Day was sacred in her house,” he said.
Though he was born too late to be drafted, Brasso never forgot the sense of gratitude and honor his aunt had imbued in him and always looked to do what he could for veterans.
While working in the technology field, he looked to hire and support veterans and was a pioneer in the development of the global positioning system (GPS) that has saved so many soldiers’ lives.
A fan of talk radio, Brasso figured that a radio show could be a good way to share the stories of veterans and get them the attention they deserved.
“I listened to talk radio for years,” he explained, “and tried to incorporate a little bit of the many hosts I listened to while adding my own spin.”
So far, we have done over 500 live shows and just try to tell the stories of our guests and what they mean for the veteran community.
Unfortunately, Brasso’s early efforts were met with challenges.
“It was obvious that no media outlets wanted to tell the good stories about veterans and the benefits they have earned,” he said frustratedly when asked about the early days of the show.
Fortunately, Brasso eventually found Ed Perry, a veteran who was in charge of a local station—WATD in Marshfield (https://959watd.com). Despite his lack of experience, Perry gave him a slot for the new show.
Over a decade later, Brasso’s program—Veteran Voice Network—is still broadcasting weekly, sharing the stories of veterans and connecting them with people who—like Brasso—want to honor and help them as they deserve to be.
From how to navigate the Veterans Administration to where to find other veterans who run their own businesses, Brasso’s show and website (http://veteransvoicenetwork.org) offer actionable advice. They also provide a sense of community to many veterans who may feel isolated and alone.
“None of us had any significant radio experience,” Brasso admitted, noting how his current colleagues were attracted to participate in his show because of their veteran experiences. “So far, we have done over 500 live shows and just try to tell the stories of our guests and what they mean for the veteran community.”
As he hoped, the community overlooked his lack of broadcasting experience and focused on his passion and desire to be of support. In addition to an international platoon of devoted fans, the show has received recognition from the Veterans Administration, the Mass Department of Veterans Affairs, the Fall River Vietnam Wall Committee, and the Mass Coalition for Suicide Prevention, among others.
“Veterans Voice is one of the oldest shows of its type on radio due to our down-to-earth lan-
Gregg Brasso
guage and a history of excellent guests,” Brasso observed.
In an effort to add actions to his words, Brasso soon began hosting events and bringing the veteran community together IRL (“in real life”). Among his most popular events is a weekly food drive-through that is hosted in the WATD parking lot where veterans and their families can pick up additional groceries. Also very anticipated are a special veterans event on the USS Massachusetts, and the annual Veterans Voice Music Festival. The festival will be held this year on July 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Quincy. It will feature live music, food, helpful advice for veterans and their supporters and a military flyover to honor Brasso and his veteran friends.
“We started this event to draw veterans to learn about benefits and programs that are available,” Brasso explained. “The first year we drew 65 tables of vendors and about 500 veterans. Last year we drew 125 vendors and almost 1,500 veterans and family members!”
Ever eager to expand his reach and his support, Brasso has partnered with “The Wall That Heals” and will be offering shuttles from the festival to a rare display of the Mobile Vietnam Veterans Wall and all it means.
“We expect to draw 2,000 veterans and families and 150 tables of veterans programs,” he predicted proudly.
In addition to helping veterans, Brasso has extended his reach by partnering with the Michael J Fox Foundation, National Parkinson Foundation, St. Elizabeth Hospital, and 110 Fitness, which host a special boxing class for people dealing with Parkinson’s.
“This country owes a huge debt of gratitude to all veterans, their families, and Gold Star families,” Brasso insisted. “They bring a sense of honor, commitment, persistence, dependability, and loyalty…and we have brought awareness to them.”
I am different, not less.
~Temple GrandinBy Marianne Delorey, Ph.D.
Temple Grandin should be a household name. While she is truly well known in cattle ranching and autism circles, her impact has been felt in so many other spheres. And every time I learn more about her way of moving the world, I become even more impressed. I recently learned that when she was younger, she built herself a “hug machine” after watching cattle go into a similar chute that squeezed them to comfort them. The deep pressure helped her and has been used to comfort many people across the autism spectrum since then.
I am a hugger. I grew up in a large family where it was normalized to hug and kiss. I remember being an adolescent and having trouble with eye contact, but I’ve never hesitated to hug someone. I don’t even mind the awkward shoulda-been-a-handshakebut-turned-into-a-hug. I laugh and accept the hug. I can’t imagine life without this physical contact. I often think about physical touch when I think about my residents. We all make basic assumptions of others — they have similar motivations and like similar things. I assume they enjoy a quick hug or a simple touch, especially if they are hurting or having a bad day. Many have explicitly said they want me to come scratch their backs or hold their hands. I don’t mind. It is such a simple gesture for me and if it brings them comfort or warmth, all the better. It has always been my assumption that touch (especially for older adults) is wanted and needed.
But over and over again, I am reminded that not everyone is like me. A few months ago, I was at our neighbor’s house and impulsively hugged my neighbor’s son. He asked me not to do that. I told him I was sorry and I wouldn’t do that again. I love that the younger generation is learning about consent from such an early age and I especially love that he felt comfortable enough to tell me that he did not want me to hug him. Now, I am human, and I don’t enjoy being corrected, so yeah, he also made me uncomfortable with that request, but that feeling is mine to bear. I will not make that his burden by saying, “I’m only trying to show you I care” or worse, “But don’t you love me?”
Whether or not we agree, there are lots of reasons people may not want to be touched. And while we probably can’t or shouldn’t ask people what their reasoning is, my hope is that the pandemic normalized non-hugging as a respectable choice.
When my boys were adolescents, I made them both watch a Youtube video about consent. The video likens physical touch to having a cup of tea. If you offer someone a cup of tea and they refuse, you accept that answer and move on. Taking this a step further, there is no need to ask someone why they don’t want tea. The answer is no. Asking why is irrelevant.
And so the problem with touch isn’t touch, it is consent. In a box, like the one created by Grandin, you create your own consent since the box is self-operated. Interestingly, Grandin in her later years has changed. In an interview with Time in 2010, she said, “I’m into hugging people now.” And I am glad for her. But even if that is true, she probably still likes to be asked.
“If I were to remain silent, I’d be guilty of complicity.” – Albert Einstein
M
ay is Personal History Awareness Month. You might ask, “Who decided that?” I find no definitive answer. But somebody thought it was a good idea, and other somebodies picked up on it and put it on the internet, and here we are. It’s a good idea to encourage us to write our own personal histories. If we do, we won’t be a mystery to future generations as so many of our ancestors are to us.
I think of this as I peruse a collection of family photos. I know who all these people are. I grew up with them. Someday, I promise, I will get around to labeling each photo in faithful left-to-rights. But I never quite get to it. So at some future time, a descendant will gaze at one of these photos and say, “I wonder who that was.” I know this will happen because it’s what I do as I survey even older photos, taken before I was born. Whoever collected these, most likely my grandmother, knew who all those people were and proba-
bly promised that someday she would label them so that descendants like me could identify those people. She was just as much a procrastinator as I am. I inherited it from her.
So, for instance, there’s a photo titled “Jenks Family Reunion,” no date, no identifications. Eleven young adults stand, smiling, in two rows in front of somebody’s front-door arbor, on a summer day. I recognize the young versions of my grandmother and her two sisters; another woman looks vaguely familiar, the other seven are mysteries. I want to say, “Grandma, why didn’t you label the photos?” She would reply, from wherever she is, “Why don’t you label yours?”
Not that it’s critical to know who these people are. But I like to think that some future observer will see my photo and say, “That’s my great-aunt Janice. She was my grandmother’s sister,” instead, of “Who the heck is that?”
We Americans often don’t pay much attention to who our ancestors were or where they came from. It’s who you are now that counts. Still, our ancestors are part of who we are, whether we know them or not. They anchor us in time and place. They give our lives historical context.
I often watch the popular PBS program “Finding Your Roots” with historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr. His teams of researchers search historical records of all
kinds to uncover ancestral histories of famous people. The records nearly always take them across one ocean or another because we’re nearly all descended from immigrants, many who came here on purpose, many who came enslaved. It’s important for us to know that.
Back in the 1980s, my mother and her sister, who are both gone now, wrote stories from their childhood to share with children and grandchildren. Their booklet included their experiences, photos, and some geneaology.
When my husband realized he was losing his memory to Alzheimer’s, he wrote the story of his life before his memories could disappear. He also included photos.
Both of these treasured documents are on paper, the one medium of information storage that does not become obsolete, for future generations to cherish and enjoy.
During my writing career, I’ve learned from interviewing many people that most people think that their personal stories aren’t very interesting. I’ve also learned that everybody has an interesting story. The older you are, the more story you have. Future generations will enjoy reading your story. But they’ll know your story only if you write it down.
Maybe I will write my own story. Someday. Contact jlindsay@tidewater.net
By laura hayes contriButing Writer
NORTHBOROUGH – The red paint of the 1923 Maxim fire engine glistened in the afternoon sunlight as it stood in front of the Northborough fire station.
“It’s more than just a truck. It’s more than just steel on wheels,” said Shay Bailey.
Members of the Northborough Firefighters Association are celebrating the engine’s 100th anniversary.
“There’s a lot of pride in this truck,” said Paul Fiske.
Inside the hood ornament bears the name Maxim Motor Companies, which was headquartered in Middleborough, and from which the town purchased it in 1922.
According to David Hunt, at that time, the Northborough Fire Department was all-volunteer. The engine, which cost $8,000, was custom made by Maxim.
“We were a very big Maxim fire department, but this is the first and the best pump that they had at the time when they went to gasoline-powered equipment,” said Hunt.
The engine was one of the first motorized trucks in Northborough. One of the first major fires that the truck responded to was at Northborough Hotel. It also responded to the fire at the First Parish Church Unitarian Universalist, which made the cover of Life magazine in 1949.
“We’ve taken care of it, and that piece of equipment has taken care of us, but [also] taken us to our final resting place,” said Bailey. “… It means a lot.”
After the town retired the engine, the Northborough Firefighters Association purchased it in 1966.
“We’ve been maintaining it, keeping it running,” said Fiske.
The association used to take the engine to parades and local fire musters.
As Fiske described it, about 30 years ago, the engine began to get “tired.” The association members took the truck apart down to its frame and engine.
When asked what it took to take it apart, Bailey said, “Stupid kids who didn’t know any better.”
According to Bailey, the group went to the association and asked if they could take the engine apart.
“Not knowing what we’re doing, we just started to take screws out and taking out piece by piece,” he said.
Bailey took pictures of the different parts along the way, which the others said helped when it came time to put the engine back together.
Bailey brought the parts to a stripper, who stripped off the paint.
Chief David Parenti said one of the things he loves about the fire service is the tradition. While some departments may have a similar engine that they acquired from another department, Northborough’s is original.
“This crew has done an amazing
job taking care of it and keeping it running,” Parenti said.
Members are working on reincarnating the Northborough Firefighters Association. Any past members are encouraged to join by reaching out to the Northborough Fire Department.
It’s participated in parades, weddings, and it has transported firefighters on their last rides. For Fiske, it transported his father, Ronald, who served as the deputy chief of the Northborough Fire Department, to his final resting place.
The association worked to sand it down and remove the dings before taking it to an autobody shop. At the shop, piece by piece the engine was separately repainted. After the association members put the truck back together, the truck received its final coat.
It wasn’t a full-time endeavor, and the work took several years as the members worked on it after work or on the weekends.
“That’s our baby,” said Fiske.
The association plans to keep the engine alive for another 100 years. Fire
BOSTON – Durgin-Park’s classic Yankee fare was as satisfying as a grandmother’s hug. Established as a food hall in 1742 by Peter Faneuil, the restaurant located inside was purchased by John G. Chandler, John Durgin and Eldridge Park in 1827 where food was served to fishermen, merchants, and other businessmen. After the deaths of Durgin and Park in 1877, Chandler renamed the eatery Durgin-Park in honor of his partners.
Classic dishes and sassy service
Besides its proud history of being in operation for 192 years, DurginPark’s menu also boasted dishes that withstood the test of time. Meals like slow-cooked Yankee pot roast, a 32-ounce cut of tender prime rib, and baked Indian pudding, which cannot be found in many places these days. In an atmosphere of clattering dishes and boisterous conversation, it was the kind of place where everything was made from scratch and the food was so good, they even published a
cookbook. It was where generations of families went to share a meal. When Durgin-Park permanently closed its doors on a cold winter’s day in 2019, people came out in droves to take a seat at one of those long, red-checkered tablecloth communal tables one last time.
Even service provided by the waitstaff, who were encouraged to adopt a little of the restaurant’s earlier history of “surly attitude and backtalk,” was something to look forward to. As the story goes, the landmark restaurant tended to hire a lot of older women who did not necessarily need the income but wanted something to do and found working at Durgin-Park to be very social. At the time, many of the customers who came in were men getting off of long shifts who would tend to be rude to them. It got to the point where the waitresses would serve them a little sass right back. Another memorable moment in time may be the blizzard of 1978 when a skeleton crew was snowed in but happily served people for three days.
Speaking about the hordes of people who lined up to dine prior to closing for good, longtime server Gina Schertzer told Forbes magazine, “This is how it was in the ‘70s. At one point in the ‘70s, every single seat was taken by businessmen and produce men who would come in for two-hour lunches,” she recalled. “We still have a few, but most have passed. All of the people who really care about DurginPark have surfaced,” including the daughter of Schertzer’s former manager. The woman brought a little bit of her dad’s ashes with her to the restaurant because, she said, “he has to be here.”
The Durgin-Park restaurant at Boston’s Faneuil Hall marketplace served Yankee comfort food with a side of sassy attitude for nearly 200 years.
Michael Weinstein, CEO of Durgin-Park’s parent company Ark Restaurants, cited the restaurant’s inability to turn a profit as the reason for its shutdown, Schertzer told the website Eater however she had not noticed a significant downturn in her tips.
Popularity waned
However, the restaurant’s popularity did start to wane as more new and modern eateries began to crop up nearby. Eventually, the time came for staff to begin preparations for auctioning off cherished bits of history like old newspaper and magazine clippings from the wall.
The James Beard Foundation awarded Durgin-Park an America’s Classics Award in 1998—the first year the award was introduced. Thanks to its longevity of attracting tourists and repeat customers who placed orders for favorites like fried Ipswich clams, baked scrod and New England corned beef with cabbage, Durgin-Park is clearly one of those “gone but not forgotten” Boston restaurant icons.
REGION – Streaming a song or two can be done quickly and easily. But for some hardcore music fans, nothing beats spending time at a record store combing through bins filled with albums. Reading jacket covers and lyrics, admiring artwork, learning the names of the musicians and producers were all part of an album’s important representation. Vinyl lately has been making somewhat of a comeback, both for used albums and new releases.
However, there was nothing like the experience of a record store during its heyday, which included scoring tickets for concerts, artist appearances, and in-store concerts. One business that met the needs of Massachusetts music lovers was Strawberries Records & Tapes (later Strawberries Music & Video), founded in 1972.
Top music store in New England
At its peak in the 1980s, Strawberries was one of the top ten music store chains in the country, and the leader in the New England market. Top recording artists like Blondie and Bruce Springsteen made in-store appearances to sign autographs and meet fans. With 81 stores of the record chain spread throughout the region, the one formerly located at 10 Front Street in Worcester was perhaps one of the most visited and beloved. The upstairs resembled a typical retail record store while the downstairs was sort of like a nightclub operating during daytime hours but also housed an assortment of cassettes and older recordings that had been deleted from record companies’ sales catalogues.
The disenfranchised were particularly drawn to a table offering an eclectic selection of indie punk rock albums. Whenever a customer chose a cassette tape, they dropped it onto a
Morris Levy, the controversial owner of the Strawberries music store chain, in his New York City office at Roulette Records in 1969. (Photo/Wikimedia Commons/Richard Carlin)
conveyor belt which carried the tape to a cashier.
Reviewers from the Worcester Telegram stopped by the store often to double check correct spellings of band member names as well as the proper names for songs. Due to the number of big-name performers at E. M. Loew’s (now the Palladium) and the Centrum, the Worcester Strawberries hosted quite a few in-store promotions with recording artists signing albums for excited fans. This included notable artists like Kiss and Poison.
Former employees reminisce
Craig Davis, a former employee, wrote in the Facebook group Veterans of Strawberries Records and Tapes, “I worked seasonal one year at the store in Westborough, on Route 9 next to where BJs used to be. Remember the tapes that they played in store with music and announcements? To this day when I hear ‘Cherub Rock’ by Smashing Pumpkins it makes me think of those days.”
Dana Lemoine also shared her memories on Facebook. “I was working at the Providence, RI store one day, helping with inventory, and this scraggly looking man walked in. I went up to him in his slightly grimy blue windbreaker, baggy tan pants
and three-stripe K-Mart Special-looking sneakers and explained we were closed for inventory,” she recalled. “One of the managers welcomed him into the store, then spun on his heels and told me it was Morris Levy. True story! Will never forget it. He looked like a bum! How was I to know!? Ha!”
Controversial owner Morris Levy, who owned the Strawberries chain, was also a record executive with reputed ties to New York City mob figures. He was widely known for allegedly swindling artists out of their royalties at his New York
City label Roulette Records by hiding profits or falsely claiming writing credits. Levy’s 1986 arrest at the Boston Ritz Carlton Hotel was televised nationally.
Once one of the most sought-after part-time jobs by local teenagers, Strawberries Records and Tapes closed its doors in 2006. The controversial Morris Levy died in 1990 of cancer at age 62. At the time of his death, he was facing a $250,000 fine and 10 years in prison for a May 1988 conviction on two federal counts of conspiring to extort $1.25 million from a Pennsylvania record wholesaler.
REGION – The story of Boston rocker turned convicted criminal Myles Connor joins the ranks of notorious figures who have become the subject of documentary films. “Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw: The Ballad of Myles Connor” recently premiered at the Regent Theater in Arlington, on Saint Patrick’s Day. The film examines the backstory of the 81-yearold Connor, who once performed with legends like the Beach Boys and Roy Orbison. As the leader of a rock band called Myles and the Wild Ones, his concerts featured theatrics such as riding a motorcycle onto the stage and emerging from a closed casket, singing lyrics from Bobby Lewis’ 1961 hit single “Tossin’ and Turnin’.”
Early passion for art
The Milton native also had a passion for East Asian art and in 1963, he stole artifacts from the Forbes House Museum. In 1965, Connor broke out of jail in Maine, using a phony pistol
made from soap and blackened with boot polish. The next year, he started his four-year sentence in Walpole for shooting a police officer. Connor claims that while in prison, the warden tasked him with providing the entertainment.
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He formed a band with fellow inmates and his longtime manager, Al Dotoli, brought in performers like doo-wop group Sha Na Na.
the museum with Donati in the 1970s, making a list of valuable pieces to target. Connor suggested to The Patriot Ledger newspaper that the stolen Rembrandt and Vermeer artworks were probably shipped overseas. “Perhaps every billionaire has art in the basement. What better bragging rights than this?” he added.
The documentary, which had been in the works since 2009, features over 30 interviews with musicians, producers, friends of Connor, FBI agents, and other law enforcement officers, intertwined with rare video and audio recordings, archival images, and reenactments. Film producer Bruce Macomber told Boston radio station WBUR, “I initially wanted to portray him as a Robin Hood character, but the story got a little more complex. Myles has his proponents and his enemies.”
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The film recreates one prison concert where Dotoli smuggled in two strippers disguised as roadies. In another scene where senior citizens visit the prisoners for a cookout and concert, one little old lady is seen dancing with an inmate whose identity is completely oblivious to her. It was Albert DeSalvo, the suspected Boston Strangler.
In 1980, Connor was indicted for the brutal 1975 murders of two 18-yearold women, Karen Spinney and Susan Webster, and sentenced to life in prison the following year. However, a judge ordered a new trial due to procedural errors, and what transpired next is described by Connor as a miracle. He was acquitted after Jimmy McGettrick, owner of the Beachcomber nightclub in Quincy, and members of Sha Na Na testified that Connor was on stage performing on the night of the murders.
Macomber has acknowledged that Connor is a polarizing figure and on the film festival circuit there were reviews and complaints of glamorizing an unsavory figure. “We got blistered critically. They said something like ‘a ludicrous fanzine of a horrible man,’” he explained on WBUR. He also received complaints from relatives of murder victims Karen Spinney and Susan Webster.
The film ends with Dotoli offering his theory about who committed the Gardner heist. These days, the elderly Connor spends his time buying and selling Japanese swords, a longtime interest. As for the two men he says committed the Gardner Museum theft, Donati’s tortured body was discovered in 1991 inside the trunk of a car and Houghton died of a heart attack the following year.
The mastermind behind several museum heists, Connor is perhaps most notably known for his association with the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist despite being in prison at the time. The 1990 crime is the biggest art heist in modern history. Connor has stated publicly that his friends Bobby Donati and David Houghton were responsible for the theft and that he did case
By sharon oliver
contriButing Writer
LUNENBURG – It may not have grown into a theme park empire like Disney or branched into 27 parks across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico like Six Flags, but Lunenburg’s Whalom Park did have its fair share of family-friendly attractions and fans. In 1982, Boston’s own new wave band, The Cars, filmed their music video for the song “Touch and Go” at Whalom Park. There were also two versions of a catchy jingle for the park’s TV commercial, which promised “a whale of a time.”
Evolution over more than a century
Established in 1893 by the Fitchburg & Leominster Street Railway, Whalom Park was designed to be an English-style park of gardens and walking paths. By the time of its last day of operations in 2000, the park had earned the status of being the nation’s 13th oldest amusement park.
During its 107 years of operation, Whalom had morphed from a replica of an English garden into a fun-filled getaway for families and friends. Whalom Park was also initially built to be a trolley park, providing access by streetcar for nearby city residents and tourists. The goal of the streetcar company was to provide a destination that would encourage people to ride the trolley on weekends. Inspired by European amusement parks like Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark, Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York is probably the bestknown trolley park in the U.S. To date, there are only 13 of the original 1,500 trolley parks still operating in the U.S. The growing expansion of travel by automobile in the early 20th century and the Great Depression spelled the end for many U.S. trolley parks.
Whalom Park in Lunenburg was established in 1893 by the Fitchburg & Leominster Street Railway to provide a destination that would encourage people to ride the trolley on weekends.
own space for age-appropriate rides and a small theater featuring puppet shows.
Visitors recall childhood trips
“I really would love to bring all those fabulous fun exciting family memories of Whalom Park to life again,” said Ruby Chavis in the comments section of a blog post about Whalom on WorldAbandoned.com. “We would visit every chance we could. I am one of 10 children, and my five cousins lived with us. We’d go from Worcester for a nice ride. My dad used to save match books and stamps from gas stations to make it affordable.”
“My experience with Whalom Park goes way back to the ‘40s,” added Bonnie Jean Cousineau. “The merry-go-round, the Whip and the little fire trucks were favorites, and I would have loved to go on the roller coaster but I was too small. We lived in Holyoke but visited Lancaster often because my grandparents lived there and would take me to Whalom every summer.”
“Whalom is one of my fondest memories of growing up in Gardner, just down the road from the park,” John Rosinski recalled. “I would beg and cry until my Dad would take me there, usually filling up the ’57 Chevy station wagon with neighborhood kids and seemingly enjoying it along with us.”
The old wooden roller coaster Flyer Comet was one of Whalom’s bestknown rides but who could also forget the Looper, Octopus, Paratrooper, Sea Dragon, Satellite Jets or Barnaby, the Walking Talking Puppet who gave shows to guests around the park? The Whalom Park Center Stage outdoor theater was another popular attraction, and featured stars like Mickey Rooney, Shelley Winters, Harry Morgan and The Howdy Doody Show with Buffalo Bob Smith. Visitors could satisfy their empty tummies at the Whalom Park Café after a day’s exertion at Mini Golf Land or the waterpark. Kiddieland offered younger children their
On July 14, 2023, Boston’s local CBS News announced a return of the Whalom Park experience that included a small pop-up amusement park at Doyle Field in Leominster in partnership with Manuel Amusements. Furthermore, New Whalom Cooperative is dedicated to preserving the history of the park
with a traveling museum “and returning Whalom-inspired entertainment to North Central Mass.”
The organization has an online store, curates memorabilia for its museum, collects photos and videos from Whalom Park fans and has a mailing list for people to join. The organization believes a return of the park could have a significant impact on the local area, particularly economically. So stay tuned to see if other developments will be in the works.
