FPA December 2023

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Vol. 50 | No. 12 | December 2023

Visit the Newport mansions decorated for Christmas

Knitting together community Lisa Lazdowsky, owner of Elissa’s Creative Warehouse in Needham, had made her passion for knitting into both a career and a way of giving back to the community.

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Fighting fraud in the holiday shopping season

By Mike Festa, State Director AARP Massachusetts

W

e may be in the holiday season, but for fraudsters it’s no time to take a holiday. In fact, many seem to step up their game during this time of year. So, AARP is here to help with the AARP Fraud Watch Network.

Between the phishing emails and texts pretending to be government officials or online retailers needing your personal information and robocalls warning of money owed, it can be exhausting according to an AARP Fraud Watch NetMike Festa work report released last year during the holidays.

The report, “Preparing for the Holidays? So Are Criminals,” finds that three-quarters of U.S. consumers have experienced or been targeted by at least one form of fraud that can be tied to the holidays, including requests from (often fake) charities, online shopping scams and fraudulent communications about shipping problems.

• 27% have had a package stolen from outside their doors.

• 39% received a donation request in the past year that seemed fraudulent.

• 35% have experienced fraud when trying to buy a product through an online ad.

During the holiday season you tend to get more emails and texts for legitimate holiday shopping deals.

But, you may get just as many that are scams. And these criminals are so

good at what they do, it can be hard to tell the difference.

There are some ways to help you stay safe this holiday season (and all year round). Be sure to stick to wellknown websites when shopping and be careful of “too-good-to-be-true prices.” Use credit, not debit cards.

You’ll be liable for fewer charges if the card is compromised by a scammer.

Also, if you’re in the giving spirit, make sure your holiday donation is going to a real charity. Visit charitynavigator. org to find information on a charity before you donate.

When it comes to fraud, vigilance is our number one weapon. You have the power to protect yourself.

Of course, there’s fraud all year round. So, every month AARP Massachusetts holds Fraud Talk Tuesday. On the second Tuesday of each month, we have a live webinar that dives into one aspect of fraud. From romance scams to grandparent scams, we break them down. You’ll learn how to proactively spot scams, get guidance from our fraud specialists if you’ve been targeted, and feel more secure knowing that we advocate at the federal state, and local levels to protect consumers and enforce the law. You can find more information and some of the topics we’ll break down in 2024 on our website, aarp.org/ma.

We’re always looking for help to get the word out about scams and ways to prevent fraud. Maybe you’d like to help. From online presentations to in-person talks in your community, AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteers teach, give support, and help spread awareness. It can be an invigorating and rewarding experience. Send us an email, ma@aarp.org if you’re interested. Remember if you can spot a scam, or help others spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

Mike Festa is the State Director for AARP Massachusetts. For more articles visit www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.

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Gov. Healey travels to Northborough Senior Center to highlight tax cuts Governor Maura Healy speaks about recent tax cuts at the Northborough Senior Center.

By Laura Hayes Contributing Writer NORTHBOROUGH – Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll joined Northborough officials at the Northborough Senior Center Oct. 10 to celebrate recent tax cuts.

The $1 billion package, which was signed by Healey Oct. 4, includes an increase to the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit to double it from $1,200 to $2,400, an expanded child and family tax credit and an increase in the threshold of the estate tax.

“When I ran for office, I committed to keeping our seniors in Massachusetts by making this state more affordable, and this tax credit is a necessary step towards achieving this goal,” said Healey. “These tax cuts will bring much needed relief to the seniors throughout the state and will support them as they continue to thrive here.”

The package also includes an increase to the senior property tax volunteer program from $1,500 to $2,000.

“As many here know, the Northborough Select Board has taken substantial action in recent months to help seniors,” Select Board Chair

PHOTO/LAURA HAYES

When I ran for office, I committed to keeping our seniors in Massachusetts by making this state more affordable, and this tax credit is a necessary step towards achieving this goal.

Gov. Maura Healey Mitch Cohen said Oct. 10.

Earlier this year, the Select Board and Finance Director/Town Accoun-

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by Town Meeting. During the board’s Sept. 18 meeting, Cohen recalled that the board asked what else could be done to help seniors.

Little said the efforts dated back to the COVID-19 pandemic when staff began examining tax relief benefits for seniors in Northborough. The Senior Center and the Assessors Office put a lot of effort in coming up with a list of options to offer additional relief, he said.

The Select Board voted to increase the benefit limit of the Senior Tax Work-Off Program to $1,500, set an annual aggregate benefit limit of $40,000 and remove the income limits.

According to Little, there are between 10 to 12 people who participate in the program every year with a majority of their work being performed at the Senior Center. In a memo to the board, Little said that more seniors may be interested in the program if the income limits were removed.

“I look forward to the board considering and hopefully approving this increase [to the tax work-off program limit] before the end of the year,” said Cohen Oct. 10. “Thank you very much, Gov. Healey, for giving us these important local options in reducing taxes for our most vulnerable citizens.”

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Knitting together community Lisa Lazdowsky has owned her Needham knitting store for over 30 years.

By Matt Robinson Contributing Writer NEEDHAM – As we get older and seek deeper purpose in our lives, if we are lucky, we can use our work to serve and support others as well.

Lisa Lazdowsky is one such person.

She has not only been able to help others discover and fulfill their own creative passions. She has also helped craft and create ways by which she and others can use what they make to support people in need as well.

“I just love what I do,” the owner of Elissa’s Creative Warehouse (with the appropriate website, www.weloveyarn.com) said. “I love helping people achieve their goals through their projects.”

In the family As the granddaughter of an experienced knitter and yarn shop owner, Lazdowsky was literally surrounded by hand-crafted woolens and hand-crafting people since her earliest days.

“My grandmother, Ida Leavitt, owned a yarn shop [in Dorchester] for over 40 years,” Lazdowsky recalled. “I loved her shop. I used to go in and feel these amazing sensations in my hands and fingers. I still feel them today.”

Through her hands and fingers, the love of yarn got into Lazdowsky’s soul and the desire to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps became a life

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Supporting the community Lazdowsky hosts, teaches, and supplies area students who knit and craft items to donate to and raise funds for the homeless. She also collects knitted items for veterans, children, cancer survivors and other groups in need, and even for animals, including

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She also organizes knitting circles that make hundreds of items a month for new immigrants and refugees. “As fast as the items come in,” Lazdowsky proudly observed, “we send them out!” Another one of her projects involved working with Connect-Africa to employ people in a village in Uganda to knit samples for another one of her businesses, which designed and sold knitted/crocheted/felted doll kits.

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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + The love of yarn got into Lisa Lazdowsky’s soul as a child through her grandmother, who owned a yarn store in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood for over 40 years.

passion.

“I always wanted a yarn shop,” she mused, “and I guess I always knew I would have one.” Though her grandmother first tried to teach her crochet, Lazdowsky noted that it was not until she put the hook down and picked the needles up that her path was truly set.

“I can still hear my mother’s voice,” Lazdowsky reminisced. “’Look how nicely she holds the needles,’ she said. It’s like my world began!”

Lazdowsky’s creative proclivities soon dominated most of her life.

“I was always crafting something,” she explained. “My mother would [advise me to] read a book and I’d say something like, ‘I just need to finish this row!’”

In the small pockets of time when she was not knitting, Lazdowsky would take whatever came to hand to make other creative things. “I used to take the wrappers from the chocolate candies and make people with popsicle sticks and anything I could find,” she says, mentioning toilet paper rolls as another favorite craft material.

When it came time for Lazdowsky to find employment, the choice was obvious. “I always worked in yarn shops or in retail,” she maintained. “It just worked for me!”

Ownership opportunity Speaking of working for, it was the owner of the store where Lazdowsky worked for many years who eventually sold her the location in Needham that she currently runs.

“Sylvia Miller had been in business for about 24 years,” Lazdowsky explained. “I worked for her for a couple of years then she sold me her shop.”

Over 30 years later, Lazdowsky is still buying from, selling to, and working with her grandmother’s suppliers and friends (and their descendants) and creating crafts and community, both at her shop and in homes and venues all over the area.

“I’m teaching a class with Needham Adult Education,” she said of her frequent project partner. “I also teach a Thursday night class where people can knit or crochet…and offer private lessons here after three p.m.”

And while members of the socalled “gig economy” might not be able to see their way to three years in the same place, let alone 30, Lazdowsky says she loves coming to her shop every single day. “Every day I go to work, it feels like play,” she attested, “so I’m not really working.”

This sense of play has attracted younger knitters to host their birthday parties at Lisa’s store and has even encouraged some to knit items that they donate to people in need (just as she has since her earliest days at the shop).

“Sometimes I set up lessons for people who [are] unable to go outside and I go to their homes to help them with their projects,” she smiled.

Another form of giving Speaking of giving more, though she cut her hours somewhat during the height of the Covid pandemic, Lazdowksy knew that people would be home looking for things to do to feel productive and calm. She not only made sure to be available for her customers but spent some of her time developing new skills that could benefit them as well, including becoming certified as an advanced practitioner of Eden Energy Medicine.

“This works great,” Lazdowsky observed, “because I can help people to balance their energies and clear out blockages that may impact their knitting and crochet skills [and to learn] techniques that enhance their whole life.”

It is said that the gift without the giver is bare. Especially during this season of giving, we might all be wise to take some cues from Lazdowsky and try to craft paths in our own lives that allow and encourage us to use what we love to show love for others.

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After more 50 years, Grendel’s Den in Cambridge is still going strong

By Matt Robinson Contributing Writer

monster and more of a quirky outsider who was just looking for a nice meal.”

CAMBRIDGE - Though many of its legendary haunts are gone, Harvard Square still has enough historical hangouts from its storied past for older people and still feels hip for the current generation. Especially given its literary inspiration, perhaps the most storied of these is Grendel’s Den.

Podcast celebrates 50th anniversary The venue and the family behind it have served so many “quirky outsiders” and lived through so much of Harvard history and they are constantly evolving to stay on top of changing tastes.

It seems fitting that they marked their 50th anniversary by hosting a popular podcast called “A People’s History of Food and Drink: Five by Ten in the Den” (https://apeopleshistoryoffoodanddrink.libsyn.com/2021).

As the name suggests, each of the five episodes gives a sense of what it was like to live (and eat) in the Square in the 70s, 80s, 90s, etc., and also offers recipes and reminiscences from people who had meaningful relationships with Grendel’s. The restaurant is also a favorite of actor and director Ben Affleck, who shot scenes from his 2010 movie “The Town” there.

“Usually we would have just thrown a great party,” Kuelzer reasoned when asked why the podcast became the main means of marking the milestone, “but the pandemic made us get creative.”

European roots Founded in 1971 by Herb and Sue Kuelzer, Grendel’s is now managed by their daughter Kari Kuelzer, who sees her edified eatery as a mirror of the times in the Square.

“My folks were running a cluster of other restaurants in Harvard Square during the 1960s with several partners,” Kuelzer recalled, citing such past favorites as The Idler, The Blue Parrot, The Ha’penny Pub and Ferdinand’s Restaurant. “When the Pi Eta Club building became available, they fell in love!”

Since her father hailed from Germany, he and his wife had travelled extensively in Europe, and they were fans of the tradition of the gasthaus.

“These are full-service restaurants

Grendel’s Den, founded in 1971, is modeled after the everyday European restaurants that its founders enjoyed during their many trips there.

that serve the general population with freshly-made food at a price and in a setting that is suitable for everyday visitors from all walks of life,” Kuelzer explained.

Since their latest location was in the basement of a castle-looking building, Mrs. Kuelzer (who was an English major) was reminded of the English 101

classic “Beowulf.”

“In that story,” the literary-minded mother’s daughter reported, “the creature Grendel lives in a den below King Hrothgar’s mead hall.” And while the storybook monster eats many of the guests in the hall, Kuelzer suggested that, in her family’s version of the story, “Grendel…was less of a marauding

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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + Supreme Court case and other challenges While the story of Grendel’s is storied indeed, one of the greatest chapters came in 1982, when a local church tried to block the venue’s liquor license.

After asking some neighbors at Harvard Law School for support, the Kuelzers took the case all the way to the Supreme Court (Larkin v. Grendel’s Den, Inc.) and as far as the outcome―let’s just say the beer list is great!

In addition to cranky neighbors and challenging zoning rules, Grendel’s has also survived renovations and even a pandemic, and come back stronger every time. In addition to opening an online store (https://shop.grendelsden.com) where fans and supporters can still pick up Grendel’s swag and other treats, Kuelzer has recently opened a second location that is also named for a Beowulf character―The Sea Hag. “After business returned to normal in 2022,” she recalled, “I decided that I needed to keep up the momentum and do something more, [so]…when I found this new location, it felt like a natural fit for the type of restaurant that I know I can do best, which is essentially the same vision that my parents had.”

Kari Kuelzer, daughter of Grendel’s Den founders Herb and Sue Kuelzer, is now managing the Cambridge restaurant that has been part of Harvard Square for more than half a century.

Traditions old and new While the new place offers many of the flavors and feel that have made Grendel’s such a long-lasting legend, Kuelzer is also working on offering live performances and a package she calls “Adult Swim” that involves TV, fries, and beer.

“I’d like it to be like one of those mid-century West Village coffee house joints that might have a

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folk act playing in the corner or poetry reading or magic show,” she mused. “Stuff that is too offbeat for a major venue.”

No matter which venue you visit, Grendel’s and the Sea Hag still offer that classic Cambridge feel, thanks to a regular clientele of chatty students, diligent professors, first daters, and locals galore. Perhaps more importantly, no matter when you drop by, even if there is a line out the door, there is always a seat ready. Even if it is one in the nearby park where you can sit and chat with other fans while you wait to enjoy.

“Our food is still a great value,” Kuelzer attested, “made fresh from scratch from high-quality ingredients, and drawn from cuisines the world over.”

Among the most popular (and enduring) items on the menu have been such international standouts as Grendel’s famed hummus bi tahini and spinach pie ―both of which have been made exactly the same way for 52 years and have satisfied and sustained thousands of students and others throughout that time.

“At the Sea Hag,” Kuelzer noted, “we have resurrected a spice blend known as Zig spice that was the signature seasoning for beef skewers on the original Grendel’s Den menu.” Such a sense of tradition is what has sustained Grendel’s in a neighborhood that has changed (and, many might argue, lost) a great deal.

“Grendel’s is guaranteed to be exactly the same as the last time you went there for another 10 years at least,” she pledged, citing that “Grendelly” vibe that you can enjoy nowhere else. www.grendelsden.com www.seahag02138.com

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Unsolicited letters to the editor become the property of this newspaper and can be reprinted in part or in whole unless otherwise stated. Fifty Plus Advocate columnists writing under a byline are expressing their personal opinions and not necessarily those of the newspaper.

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Iconic Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars sneaker got its start in Malden Basketball player turned salesman Chuck Taylor, left, is the namesake for the iconic Converse sneaker.

By Colin McCandless Contributing Writer MALDEN - Before Nike told everyone to “Just Do It” or anyone listened to Run-D.M.C.’s lyrics to “My Adidas,” Converse (now a subsidiary of Nike) had already been a forerunner in the sneaker game. Founded by Marquis Mills Converse in 1908 in Malden, the Converse Rubber Shoe Company made canvas shoes with rubber soles called “Non-Skids” which were designed for basketball players.

From basketball player to salesman In 1921, American semi-professional basketball player Charles “Chuck” Taylor joined the company as a salesman. After sharing his ideas for improving the shoe’s flexibility, prevention of blisters and ankle support, the company restyled the shoe and added a circular patch with the distinctive AllStar logo along with Taylor’s name as a stamp of his endorsement. The newly designed, first celebrity-endorsed,

PHOTO/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

athletic footwear became known as Chuck Taylor All Stars (also referred to as “Converse,” “Chuck Taylors,” “Chucks,” “All Stars” and “Cons”).

Taylor traveled the country promoting the Converse All Star basketball shoes in local sporting goods stores and conducted local basketball

clinics. Additionally, he attended college tournaments to support the teams and care for the shoes by being on hand to make any necessary repairs such

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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + as stitching. Taylor also coached the Wright Field Air-Tecs basketball team during the 1944-45 season and served as a physical fitness instructor for the U.S. military before returning to his job as a traveling salesman for Converse.

Olympic, NBA and pop culture fame Converse All Stars were the official shoe of the Olympics from 1936 to 1968 and sometime during the 1960s, Converse cornered 70 to 80 percent of the basketball shoe market. Most professional basketball players wore Chuck Taylors for nearly half a century. However, the shoe’s popularity saw a decrease in the 1970s as more competing brands, many with arch support, were placed on store shelves.

Tree Rollins was believed to have been the last player to regularly wear canvas Converse All Stars in the NBA during the 1979–1980 season. However, Michael Ray Richardson and Mickey Johnson briefly wore leather All Stars with the New Jersey Nets after 1982.

Being the pop culture icon that it is, it was inevitable that high-top and low-top Chuck Taylors would enjoy a comeback, thanks to its affordability and array of designs and color choices. Inspired by famed artist Andy Warhol, Converse released a collection of

DECEMBER 2023 + fiftyplus advocate • 9

Converse All Stars were the official shoe of the Olympics from 1936 to 1968 … during the 1960s, Converse cornered 70 to 80 percent of the basketball shoe market.

For nearly a century, the Chuck Taylor All Stars sneaker by Converse has been a favorite of basketball players, artists and musicians, and everyday fashionistas.

Chuck Taylors in 2015. In collaboration with the Andy Warhol Foundation, Warhol’s artistic creations were transferred onto the classic sneakers and featured images such as newspaper clippings and his Campbell’s Soup portrait. Converse also released t-shirt designs to accompany the shoes. In 2017, Chuck Taylor low top sneakers were the second-best-selling sneakers in the U.S.

The choice of stars For decades, artists and musicians like Sid Vicious, the Beach Boys and Hunter S. Thompson walked the earth with Chuck Taylors on their feet. Converse also released other special editions of Chuck Taylor AllStars, including AC/DC, Dr. Seuss, DC Comics, Super Mario, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, The Ramones, The Clash, Grateful Dead and The Who.

The shoe was the preferred choice among those affiliated with the 1990s grunge scene.

Although film star James Dean popularized the shoes for fellow outcasts and rebels, he was not the only actor to wear them in their movies. Elvis Presley in “Change of Habit” (1969), cast members in “Animal House” (1978), Michael J. Fox in “Back to the Future” (1985) and Mike Myers and Dana Carvey in “Wayne’s World” (1992) are just some.

The man who inspired it all, Charles “Chuck” Taylor, retired from the company in 1968 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969. He died that same year of a heart attack, just one day shy of his 68th birthday.

The game of basketball is a far cry from the days of playing with a soccer ball and two peach baskets, but Converse’s popular Chuck Taylors are apparently here to stay.

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How the Parker Brothers of Medford monopolized the game industry

By Sharon Oliver Contributing Writer MEDFORD – One of the country’s most iconic board game companies started with a game created by a teenager in his family’s home in this small city north of Boston.

Early days Founded in 1883 by George Swinnerton Parker in Medford, Parker Brothers (originally named the George S. Parker & Company) toy and game manufacturer published more than 1,800 games and built a board game empire for the Parker family. Two brothers would later join the company: Charles, in 1888 and older brother Edward in 1898. The company remained a family-owned and operated business until 1968 when General Mills purchased it.

George created his first game, “Banking,” in 1883 at age 16. The brothers enjoyed playing “Banking”

Brothers George, Charles, and Edward Parker founded their famous game company in the city of Medford.

so much that George had 500 copies printed up and sold to Boston area retailers. The finance game consisted of 160 cards where players borrow money from the bank and try to generate wealth by guessing their failure

PHOTO/MARCY LEIGH

or success.

Ironically, the Parker brothers’ father, a sea captain, lost most of his money in the panic of 1873, which stemmed from an ailing economy and

resulted in failed banks and business closures. The family patriarch died when George was 10, forcing him, his widowed mother and two brothers to move to Medford, where they lived

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HOME SWEET HOME I love my home.

I love my independence.

PHOTO/ KENT LANDERHOLM

with an aunt and uncle in an 18-room house. One of those rooms had shelves filled with board games, something that was relatively new for Puritans.

Liberal Puritans only tolerated one early board game called “The Mansion of Happiness: An Instructive Moral and Entertainment Amusement,” which was first released in the U.S. in 1843. Parker Brothers would later buy the rights to the game and republish it in 1894.

“Monopoly” becomes a runaway hit “Banking” was followed up by two other games: “Famous Men” and “Baker’s Dozen,” a board game designed by one of George’s teachers.

In 1885, he published four more card games: “The Dickens Game,” “Ivanhoe,” “Speculation,” and “Great Battlefields.” George designed most of the games and wrote all the rules for several years and many of the games were based upon important events of the day and designed to educate and entertain. For example, “War in Cuba” was about the impending Spanish-American War and “Klondike” was based on the Klondike Gold Rush.

Parker Brothers later published classics like “Clue,” “Trivial Pursuit” and of course their biggest money-maker, “Monopoly.” Incidentally, the “Clue” murder mystery game was based on the house in Peterborough, New Hampshire that George Parker and his wife Grace owned.

After realizing he was good at

selling and developing games, George hired his first employee and rented a store in Salem for $12.50 a month in 1887. As the game industry grew, the company grew profitably and was a mainstay employer in Salem. In 1906, Parker Brothers published the game “Rock” which became the bestselling game in the nation. Parker Brothers released “Monopoly” during the Great Depression, which was a time when so many companies went out of business. Nevertheless, the company put all their resources behind marketing it.

Originally rejected in 1934, they published it the next year and the game was so successful the company had trouble keeping up with demand and was saved from becoming another casualty of the Great Depression.

Acquisition and consolidation In 1985, General Mills merged the company with their subsidiary Kenner who was eventually acquired by Tonka in 1987. Tonka, including Parker Brothers, was purchased in 1991 for approximately $516 million by Hasbro, which also owned the Milton Bradley Company. Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers later turned into two separate brands of Hasbro before being retired in 2009 under the Hasbro brand and the Parker Brothers facility in Salem closed.

George Parker, whose teenage creations launched a wildly successful business and some of the most popular board games ever, died in 1953 at age 86.

I love my reverse mortgage.

Home Sweet Home “I love my home. I’m getting older. I want to be financially independent and prepared. I’m anxious about my options. I don’t want to be sold.”

These are the most common responses when discussing reverse mortgages. In fact, few people are eager to move from where they live. Studies have shown that 90 percent of adults over the age of 65 would prefer to stay in their current homes as they age.

In recent years there has been a powerful trend across the U.S. called “aging in place.” Aging in place is “the ability to live in one’s own home safely, have access to money for current and future needs, and maintain a good quality of life for the rest of your life”.

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12 • fiftyplus advocate + DECEMBER 2023 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com

Carlisle man was a part of the Boy Scouts for more than 60 years

By Nance Ebert Contributing Writer CARLISLE - In his 70 plus years of life, Larry Bearfield has worn many hats.

While his chosen career was in advertising, he spent over 60 years associated with the Boy Scouts and only recently retired from his work with the organization. He and his wife Robin also owned Fern’s Country Store in Carlisle for 15 years and passed the torch in May 2018.

Scouting at its peak When Bearfield was growing up in the Nonantum section of Newton in the 1950s and 1960s, scouting was hugely popular. The troops were large, and everyone seemed to get involved in one way or another. As a kid, Larry held youth leadership positions. He has been involved in scouting for about 62 years in total.

Because Nonantum was a closely-knit community, families helped one another out and volunteerism was encouraged, said Bearfield. He explained that adults set a wonderful example of

what it means to grow up in an environment where giving back was done routinely.

“I made my way through Eagle Scout and stayed involved throughout my teenage years with what was then referred to as the Exploring Program,” said Bearfield, “which was a co-ed career program. I loved that.”

“From there I became a professional in the Scouts as an Exploring Director, which is a paid position,” he explained.

“I served in Newton, Wellesley and Weston. We had about 29 programs going on with incredible success,” said Bearfield.

That job entailed going around to corporations, businesses and other entities and forming special interest groups.

Honeywell and Newton-Wellesley Hospital sponsored several Explorer Posts.

These included topics and career paths like computers and physical therapy.

Bearfield left that position in the mid-1970s to pursue his chosen career in advertising, which he stayed with for a number of years while remaining active in the program and scouting including a short stint as a ranger.

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guidance and allow them the freedom to make good decisions within the rules. They are very capable,” said Bearfield.

He went to Boy Scout conventions in Washington, D.C. to elect national officers. A couple of the scouts he knew even got elected to national president and got to go to the White House, a very exciting experience for them.

Larry Bearfield of Carlisle was associated with the Boy Scouts for a total of 62 years.

A formative event “When I was a teenager, I was involved in an event that was dubbed ‘Nobstock.’” Bearfield recalled. “It was held in the field of the Nobscot Boy Scout Reservation in Sudbury and Framingham known as Ellis Land. A group of us actually ran an outdoor concert.”

“We had adult advisors, security, bands, food, t-shirts for sale and more,” he said. “There was national press and the National Guard brought in our stage on a flatbed truck. Our advisors let us take the lead. While we were surrounded by adults who guided us, they trusted us to make good decisions. This experience truly had a profound effect on my youth. It was amazing,” said Bearfield.

People came from all over New England to attend this event. National Explorer Magazine even came to cover it.

“This event truly left a mark on me.

While it was a somewhat controlled chaos, I believe that you can give kids

A long legacy Years later, Bearfield served as a scout master at a summer camp and continued to implement all that he learned. He really enjoyed working with the kids and motivating them to be the best versions of themselves.

The Nobscot Boy Scout Reservation, where Bearfield has done much of his volunteer work for the scouts, consists of 450 acres of land that include trails, cabins, shelters, beautiful mountain views and more. On any given weekend, there are up to a few hundred scouts camping, hiking, building trails, repairing roadways and doing other tasks.

“Scouting has been a constant in my life. I get personal satisfaction and have always believed in the scouting program. I think scouts rise to the call where the needs are and I have made many lifelong friendships,” said Bearfield.

Bearfield has earned many titles and awards that include Eagle Scout, Silver Beaver Distinguished Volunteer Award, Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award, Class of 1968, Vigil Honor Member, National Outstanding Eagle Award and more.

“Perhaps the most significant is the little brass pin on my left pocket of my scouting uniform which was presented to me by a young scout for mentoring him on his path to Eagle Scout,” said Bearfield.

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10 things I have learned about managing care for someone else

By Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. I have recently become a caregiver for a family member with serious, chronic conditions. In a short amount of time, I have gained a newfound respect for those who provide care. Here is what I have learned about managing that care.

1. The commute stinks – Doctors, especially specialists, tend to have offices near or in major medical centers.

This may mean you are heading to Worcester, Cambridge, or Boston instead of getting care in your hometown. For many Massachusetts residents, this may mean a two-hour commute in addition to the time at the doctor’s office.

2. Your paid time off disappears – If you are lucky enough to have paid time off, most of your sick and vacation days go to medical

You care so much you feel as though you will bleed to death with the pain of it.

– J.K. Rowling “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” appointments. Please be smart enough not to get sick yourself.

And forget about taking a vacation or even just a day off. Good thing you won’t need time to recuperate from all the stress.

3. You are pulled in too many directions – Work suffers because you are taking care of your loved one.

Your loved one suffers because you must take a work phone call while you are caring for them.

You are constantly juggling, and it seems you cannot catch up.

4. You can’t keep your schedule straight – Was today the appointment or did that one get cancelled? What about that appointment card that went through the laundry, was that important?

Was your family member going to be able to make that appointment on their own? Do they need someone to drive them? Can they really handle that without help?

5. There is always another appoint-

ment – Even if the pain is in one part of your loved one’s body, the chances are good that their condition needs regular appointments with other specialists, too. Pain in your knee? Great, go see an ophthalmologist. No, seriously, there are conditions that could affect your knees and your eyes, best make sure your loved one’s condition is not having an adverse effect on other systems.

6. Fast food becomes your friend – With so many appointments so far away from home, you end up relying on quick meals instead of home-cooked nutrition. Fast food is especially appealing on days when, because of medical tests or procedures, you can’t eat for hours.

7. You need to document everything – We have two people keeping notes at each appointment and still we wonder when we are supposed to call or check in. Did she

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say 6 weeks or if the pain is still there in 6 weeks?

8. Make friends at the lab – Bloodwork and scans, bloodwork and scans, rinse, and repeat. I get it; they need to see how quickly things are changing, but it is exhausting to keep going to the lab and have more and more tests done.

9. Remember your loved one is uncomfortable – When they snap at you, and they will, remember that they are in pain. They are also tired of needing so much.

They don’t want to be an inconvenience. They are sick of being sick.

10. Everything is connected – Not only is your knee bone connected to your leg bone, but your health is connected to your nutrition, your organization, your time off.

Your loved one depends on you so take care of yourself too.

Being a caregiver is hard. I thought I knew how hard it was, but I had a lot to learn. I wish I knew a magic way to make it better. All I can promise is that you are not alone.

Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of Colony Retirement Homes. She can be reached at 508-755-0444 or mdelorey@colonyretirement.com and www.colonyretirementhomes.com.

WOMEN’S MOVEMENTS Answers on page 11

14 • fiftyplus advocate + DECEMBER 2023 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com

viewpoint

Peace. Love. Ukulele.

By Janice Lindsay Contributing Writer

I

f more people played the ukulele, this old world might be a more peaceful place.

When I decided to learn the ukulele a few years ago, I didn’t know that I was joining an international phenomenon. I just wanted an instrument that would be easy to learn and portable. But if I were traveling, I could find a group of friendly ukulele players in every state, every Canadian province, and at least 20 other countries. And they would welcome me in. Uke players are like that.

The ukulele looks like a miniature guitar. It has four strings. In an hour or so, you can learn the basics and strum along to simple songs. You don’t have

to be a maestro to make pretty good music and enjoy yourself, especially if you team up with other ukers.

The ukulele is associated with Hawaii, but it wasn’t invented there. It’s based on a couple of similar instruments taken to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants around 1880. Hawaiians fell in love with the music. Local Portuguese cabinet makers adapted the designs and made the little instrument for Hawaiians. Hawaiians brought it to the continental United States in the early twentieth century.

Americans fell in love with it. In the 1920s, the cool kids played the ukulele. As Americans traveled around the world in war and in peace, they took the ukulele with them.

People who don’t play the ukulele might laugh at it. They don’t consider it a Serious Instrument. That is because they haven’t heard it played beautifully.

Also, people of a certain maturity tend to associate it with entertainer Tiny Tim and his 1960s song, sung in falsetto, about tip toeing through the

tulips, with ukulele accompaniment.

Tiny Tim did not kill the uke’s popularity, but he sent it into a long coma, from which it has been reviving during the last twenty-five years or so.

I do not play beautifully. I don’t mind admitting that. We ukulele players don’t take ourselves too seriously.

We don’t suffer much for our art. You can’t suffer when you’re having so much fun.

The ukulele is a social instrument.

It begs to be played with other ukuleles.

When I learned that a new ukulele group was forming in my town, I signed up right away. We meet every week. We have a couple of hundred songs in our repertoire, we’ve performed at a few local places, we learn from each other. When we make music together, we forget our cares and our differences. Making uke music has helped several of us through tough times, including me.

Lest you think that only unknowns appreciate the power of the ukulele, consider this: Some famous musicians got their musical starts

playing the ukulele, including Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Jimi Hendrix, Peter Frampton, Neil Young, and Noel Paul Stookey who was the Paul in Peter, Paul, and Mary. Among the Beatles, John Lennon’s first instrument was a ukulele. George Harrison was a huge ukulele fan.

Other people spotted playing the ukulele include entertainers Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, and Bette Middler; former British prime minister Tony Blair; financier Warren Buffet; astronaut Neil Armstrong; and even Taylor Swift. The love spreads.

Ukuleles are friendly, inexpensive, and unpretentious.

So, if you want to contribute to world peace, or even just your own peace, buy a ukulele. Learn to play. If you don’t find a teacher in your town, you’ll find plenty on the internet.

Then find a welcoming group to play with. Or start one.

As one of our group’s favorite songs says, “When we play our ukuleles, can’t help but smile.”

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Portsmouth, New Hampshire is a charming waterfront destination

By Sandi Barrett Contributing Writer

Places to visit A short walk from downtown Portsmouth is the Puddle Dock neighborhood, home to the Strawbery Banke Museum. Experience this living history museum dedicated to preserving artifacts and buildings dating back to the region’s Indigenous Abenaki people to present-day life. Costumed role players set the tone when you enter their homes and businesses, reenacting the life and times of colonial New Englanders. Enjoy the beautiful gardens, historical homes, and busy workshops as you stroll through the active neighborhood.

On the waterfront side of Strawbery Banke Museum is Prescott Park with ten acres of pretty landscaped gardens, artistic sculptures, and inviting benches. It is a lovely spot for an afternoon stroll.

A must do when visiting Portsmouth is a sunset cruise through Portsmouth Harbor and along the Piscataqua River. It’s the perfect way to see the vibrant sunset and twilight lights of Portsmouth. Book passage on Portsmouth Harbor Cruises and enjoy over an hour of on-thewater scenery. Its dock is on the waterfront near all the restaurants and pubs, so you only have a short walk for a fabulous after-cruise dinner.

Hikers and wanderers will enjoy the 1.5-mile Little Harbor Loop Trail that winds around the Went-

PHOTO/SANDI BARRETT

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - New Hampshire’s mighty port city is filled with charming local shops, historic homes, delicious eateries, and beautiful sunsets. At only about an hour’s drive from the Boston area, it’s a wonderful spot for a quick coastal getaway stay.

Tug boats are an emblematic sight in Portsmouth’s busy working waterfront.

worth-Coolidge Mansion. Guests can tour the period 40-room waterfront mansion that was home to New Hampshire’s first governor, Benning Wentworth.

Military history buffs of all ages will enjoy a self-guided tour of the USS Albacore submarine. The U.S. Navy tested top-secret features with the USS Albacore that led to modern-day submarine improvements. Enjoy crew member stories, peer from the periscope, and more during this unique marine vessel visit.

Portsmouth is a shopping paradise. Market Square is filled with unique shops; jewelry, boutiques, independent bookstores, galleries, and foodie-focused stores offer something for everyone. Window shopping and popping in and out of storefronts is a popular way to spend an afternoon. Portsmouth is also a short drive from Freeport, Maine, home to L.L. Bean’s flagship store. You will find independent and outlet shops lining the streets of Freeport.

Where to dine Portsmouth’s restaurants offer diners a wide array of menu choices. From rooftops to waterfront, fine dining to pub eats, you will easily find a restaurant that fulfills your

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Where to stay There are lots of great hotels clustered around the downtown Portsmouth area. It is a mostly flat, walkable city. Valet your car and add some steps to your daily count.

The Residence Inn Portsmouth Downtown/Waterfront is a lovely hotel. It straddles the waterfront and all the downtown shopping and dining. Another popular choice is the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel with rooms offering views of the harbor. The Hilton Garden Inn Portsmouth Downtown is in the middle of all the action. Whatever your budget, you will find a room perfect for your visit.

If you are looking for a close-by city that has dining, history, and fun things to do, consider Portsmouth, New Hampshire for your next getaway.

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The Rooftop At The Envio, located on the top of the AC Hotel, offers fine dining in a casually elegant setting.

With one of the prettiest panoramic views of Portsmouth, it is the perfect spot for a delicious dinner. The Envio Shrimp Cocktail will become the benchmark for all future shrimp cocktail appetizers―it’s so good you might not want to share. Reservations are strongly recommended.

If you are in the mood for a more casual pub meal, the Thirsty Moose Taphouse should be your destination. With wall-to-wall televisions, this sports bar offers delicious pub grub and dozens of regional beers on tap.

Finding something you love on the extensive menu is easy―narrowing it down to one dish is a difficult task.

The prime rib sliders with horseradish sour cream come three to a plate, tasty and perfect for sharing while you sip a draft.

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16 • fiftyplus advocate + DECEMBER 2023 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com

Thoreau’s retreat at Walden Pond in Concord continues to attract throngs of admirers

By Colin McCandless Contributing Writer CONCORD - Author and naturalist Henry David Thoreau intentionally lived alone in a modest cabin in the woods at Walden Pond from July 1845 until September 1847. This immersive back-to-nature experience would inspire his seminal environmental work “Walden,” published in 1854.

More than 175 years later, visitors still flock to see Walden Pond at the state park that bears its name to enjoy its recreational activities and/or learn more about the life of the celebrated transcendentalist writer and philosopher.

Numerous visitors from near and far Walden Pond State Reservation, most of which is located either in or just outside Concord, welcomes approximately half a million annual visitors, some of whom make the trek from other states or countries. Through its association with Thoreau, the National Historic Landmark is widely regarded

A statue of Thoreau and a replica of the single-room cabin that he built during his stay at Walden Pond is situated near the visitors center.

as the birthplace of the modern conservation movement.

Established as public property in 1922, today the Walden Pond State

Reservation offers ample recreational opportunities including a public swimming beach, hiking trails, boating, fishing and birding. There are easy hikes

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with gradual elevation changes, the most popular of which is a roughly twomile loop circling the pond. The pond itself is stocked for fishing twice a year, usually some species of trout. While the park doesn’t rent boats, they do provide a boat launch for people who bring their own canoes, kayaks or boats with electric-powered motors (gas-powered motors are prohibited).

“The big draw of this place is, sort of the natural beauty of Walden itself,” said Lisa Little, forest and park supervisor with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. “And through Thoreau’s eyes, many people have been able to experience that in his book ‘Walden.’ But really embracing those themes of the ever-changing seasons of being kind of in this simple mindset – sort of a removal from the hustle and bustle of everyday life – I think that’s what a lot of people kind of seek out when they come here.”

Of course that comes with a caveat.

If you’re seeking solitude, you’ll want to avoid the peak season and schedule your Walden Pond outing during winter or other off-season times, noted Little.

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The site of Thoreau’s original cabin is located in the woods at the far end of Walden Pond.

The bulk of visits occur between July and October.

Besides the recreational offerings, the park also contains a replica of Thoreau’s single-room cabin. His original cabin was moved a couple of times before ultimately falling into disrepair. The last known use of the house’s roof was as a hog pen, according to Little.

Visitors center attractions The Walden Pond Visitors Center, built in 2016 to welcome people into the property and share the legacy of Thoreau and the history of Walden, features exhibits on his life and his time spent at Walden Pond. There are also displays about the natural history of the pond as well as a 20-minute eponymous film about Walden produced by renowned documentarian Ken Burns.

Eagles’ founding member Don Henley, who appears in the film, founded Walden Woods Project, a nonprofit dedicated to the legacy of Thoreau and the preservation of Walden Woods.

The organization helps fund some of the park’s programs and has protected property adjacent to Walden Pond from development.

Thoreau would approve of the visitors center’s green architecture, a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold certified building.

PHOTOS/COURTESY OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION

It’s a sleek and modern structure but it almost fades into the surrounding landscape, becoming like a part of the scenery, said Little.

Additionally, there are solar panels in the parking lot, and the park produces more energy than it consumes. EV charging stations are available onsite as well. “We’re really committed to diminishing the fossil fuel aspect, moving forward with all these things,” asserted Little.

Commenting on Thoreau’s enduring appeal and why his Walden Pond experience still resonates with people in the 21st century, Little noted that while

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Thoreau may have stayed here in the 1840s and witnessed the onset of the Industrial Revolution, the work has a timelessness to it.

“And I think that we still today grapple with this sort of ‘what is our place in this world in terms of technological advances and how we relate to nature,’” mused Little. “And those are just really essential questions that I think everybody at some point in time reflects on. And so, his writings were really seeking that out and trying to find these answers and trying to see, ‘Where do I belong? Where do I fit in?’”

“And also offering some ideas behind that in terms of our connection with nature—that we are a part of these places,” Little continued. “And kind of walking the ground where he trod these spots, I think is really inspirational for a lot of people.”

Corinne Smith of the Thoreau Society, a scholarly organization founded in 1941 to help promote the life, work and legacy of Thoreau, maintained that a lot of the topics Thoreau wrote about, including nature, the environment, the role of government—remain relevant today. “He’s still read, he’s still taught in school. You still see his quotes everywhere,” said Smith, who manages the Thoreau Society-run bookstore in the visitors center.

While not everyone comes to Walden Pond because of Thoreau— many people are there just to swim— he’s still a major draw. His nonconformist viewpoints, written in the first person, can also appeal to younger people trying to find themselves. Thoreau’s message of “you don’t have to be like everyone else,” can be a powerful one.

“We meet people every day for whom this is a bucket-list pilgrimage,” related Smith, who has authored two books on Thoreau. “It’s a spiritual place for some people.”

Additionally, along with John Muir, Thoreau is often cited as one of the precursors of environmentalism and conservation, and his detailed observations of the natural world made during his time at Walden even provided a data set that has been informing contemporary issues such as climate change,

conveyed Little. “Definitely folks come here, whether they’re literary fanatics or connect with that idea of conservation, people want to come here and see where Thoreau was,” she stated.

Originator of the tiny house movement Thoreau is also generally credited with being the original proponent of the tiny house movement. By promoting living simply, connecting with nature and prioritizing necessities over wants, his experiment was a formative example of minimalism—shedding our obsession with big spaces and material possessions. He built his oneroom, 150-square-foot sparsely-furnished cabin in Walden using materials that cost $28, roughly a month’s salary for Thoreau, who worked as a surveyor and did other odd jobs.

Thoreau used a lot of recycled materials, including pieces of wood gleaned from a shanty he bought from an Irish railroad worker. By utilizing repurposed materials, he incorporated environmentalist principles. “Walden,” which reflected on his time at Walden Pond, praised the virtues of a strippeddown, elementary existence and extolled the merits of self-sufficiency and independence.

Smith stated that, ironically enough, Thoreau’s association with the tiny house movement was “just kind of accidental.” He sought to escape the noise of his parents’ house and his friend and fellow transcendentalist essayist and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson owned land next to Walden Pond. “That was just a writing retreat for him. He didn’t see himself as a model,” she explained.

However, she adds that in “Walden” he also famously said, “simplify the problem of life, distinguish the necessary and the real.”

Regardless of Thoreau’s intent, his experience and the philosophy that inspired it appeals to champions of the modern tiny house movement who are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and use less resources. Tiny House Talk, a blog advocating the benefits of tiny house living, calls Thoreau “an inspiring role model for those of us seeking to simplify our lives.”

Quips Little of Thoreau’s cabin, “I mean I can’t think of a more famous tiny house.” She remarked that Thoreau’s friend Channing called it “the ink stand in the woods.”

“So he came here to write,” said Little, “and certainly it became this experiment in simplicity that everybody is aware that he lived.”

If you’re planning a visit to Walden Pond, particularly during the warmer months, Little cautioned to check ahead because they have a limited capacity and can only allow a thousand people in the park at a time. Visit mass. gov and see the DCR advisory dashboard for updated park alerts on capacity and closures.

18 • fiftyplus advocate + DECEMBER 2023 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com

Visit the Newport mansions decorated for the Christmas season The Breakers Morning Room is a study in shine and reflection.

By Sandi Barrett Contributing Writer NEWPORT, R.I. - Gaze in wonder at the twinkle and glitter of the Newport mansions decked out for Christmas.

Silver, gold, red, and green herald the season in Rhode Island’s wealthiest Gilded Age mansions.

Surround yourself with the magic of the Newport mansions during the holiday season. See The Breakers, Marble House and The Elms in all their festive finery―a beloved Newport tradition. In neighboring Bristol, the Blithewold mansion is also dressed up for the season and ready to greet visitors.

The Breakers As you approach Corneilus Vanderbilt’s mansion, The Breakers, the exterior decorations impart an expectation of enchantment. As Newport’s most prestigious Gilded Age chateau, The Breakers is not to be missed.

The Great Hall, with soaring ceilings is richly decorated; the perfect setting for their annual 15-foot poinsettia tree. Decked out in all her glory, The Breakers’ mantels, walls, and free surfaces are filled with swags,

PHOTO/COURTESY OF NEWPORT MANSIONS

wreaths, and colorful arrangements.

The Morning Room is a study in shine and reflection. The original platinum panels play a role in creating a bright and festive feel. In the Dining Room, gleaming gold leaf, Baccarat

crystal chandeliers, and glittery decorations enhance the room’s architectural beauty. Not to be missed is Mr. Vanderbilt’s bedroom. It offers a peek into the luxurious lifestyle of the rich and famous.

Meandering through paths on the mansion’s 13-acre property is the seasonal lighting display, Sparkling Lights at The Breakers. The festive colored lights illuminate enchanting characters and charming tableaus.

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DECEMBER 2023 + fiftyplus advocate • 19

The spectacular holiday displays will light up your holiday spirit.

event. Blithewold was the sprawling estate of Augustus and Bessie Van Winkle. With the lawn stretching down to Narragansett Bay, the 33-acre grounds are perfect for a winter eve’s walk.

Stroll about the grounds and enjoy the illuminating experience. Enjoy holiday music, toast s’mores with friends, sip your favorite winter libation, and savor the holiday experience.

The mansion is also decked out with its finest holiday decor. Each room is artfully draped in glittery silver and gold set off by vibrant reds and rich greens.

The Elms The Elms, another popular summer retreat, was the home of Edward Julius and Herminie Berwind. Known for their elaborate parties, it makes you ponder what stories these walls would tell if they could talk.

The solarium, with its beautiful fountain and ornate statues, is the perfect setting for elaborate decorations. Copious amounts of rich evergreens envelop you as you step into the room. It is a picture-perfect holiday moment.

The Elms offer a Servant Life’s

PHOTO/COURTESY OF NEWPORT MANSIONS

Marble House The aptly named Marble House is a showcase of gleaming marble covering every surface in the grand foyer.

Brother to Cornelius, Marble House was the summer home of William K. and Alva Vanderbilt.

The massive scale of decorations required to take the foyer from cold marble to warm and inviting requires masterful skill. The entry shimmers with Christmas cheer. As you ascend the stunning marble staircase, allow the grandness of this beautiful mansion to sweep you away to a happy holiday interlude.

The Marble House foyer welcomes visitors with an ornate Christmas tree and numerous poinsettias.

tour, a peek into the “downstairs” servant’s work in these Gilded Age mansions. The number of staff required to manage the massive homes is mind boggling. Downton Abbey fans will love this tour.

Blithewold Mansion Blithewold Mansion in nearby Bristol is also beautifully decorated for the Christmas season. Its extensive gardens are lit with fun and festive lighting for the mansion’s Sparkle

If you go Holidays at the Newport Mansions (https://www.newportmansions. org/events/holidays-at-the-newport-mansions/) is a wonderful time to visit. Holidays at the Newport Mansions runs from November 18, 2023 – January 1, 2024. Visitors can purchase regular tickets to tour the mansions. A special timed ticket is required to tour the Sparkling Lights at the Breakers and includes the mansion visit.

Blithewold Mansion’s season Sparkle event (https://www.blithewold.org/event/sparkle/) begins November 24, 2023, and runs through December 31, 2023. You can also purchase a mansion tour.

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20 • fiftyplus advocate + DECEMBER 2023 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com

Papa Gino’s started as a by-the-slice pizzeria in East Boston

By Sharon Oliver Contributing Writer

only location in Maine at the Auburn Mall, reducing the chain to 97 locations. As of 2023, there are 79 Papa Gino’s locations throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

BOSTON - Michael Valerio emigrated from Italy at age five to East Boston during the 1930s. We may never know if he ever envisioned his tiny pizza-by-the-slice business morphing into an iconic franchise. Papa Gino’s is for many people raised in New England a place they have many memories of eating at when they were kids, or perhaps even working at one as a teenager.

Early days In 1961, Valerio and his wife Helen worked long hours, refusing to go into debt and eventually began expanding their operation to multiple locations, mostly in downtown Boston. Valerio funded the first restaurant using his military service earnings that his mother saved for him while he served overseas during the Korean War. They later changed its name from Piece O’ Pizza to Papa Gino’s in honor of his brother.

Due to the limited amount of seating, they initially focused on window takeout orders of grilled sandwiches and thin crust pizza at their Bennington Street location. By 1975, Papa Gino’s successfully opened units in malls and shopping centers.

Valerio opened restaurants in Brockton, Canton, Dorchester, East Cambridge, Revere Beach, and Roxbury for his devoted customers. Eventually, the couple built over 300 privately held restaurants and employed over 7,000 employees in New England, upstate New York, and Florida. By the time Michael and Helen Valerio sold the chain in 1991, after the economy

Pasta is another popular dish at Papa Gino’s, especially during its all-you-can eat specials, a bargain some people find hard to resist.

soured and went into a recession in 1990, the couple had owned 220 Papa Gino’s restaurants across New England.

Multiple sales in later years Sold to a group of investors in 1991, the Papa Gino’s chain was saddled with heavy debt and reduced to 180 units in early 1996. In 1997, Papa Gino’s was bought by D’Angelo Sandwich Shops, another popular Massachusetts based fast-food outlet. Months later, executives of a holding company known as Papa Gino’s Holdings Corporation (now PGHC) bought out the company.

In 2018, the chain filed for bankruptcy and several Papa Gino’s locations closed abruptly, including their

Knack for promotion Two distinguishing features of the restaurant chain are its charity work and commitment to keeping customers informed. Things like upcoming contests to win free pizzas, swag offers and honoring National Pizza Month, which is celebrated every October. Customers also have the opportunity to nominate someone to win a free pizza party delivery, participate in fundraising, and give donations in support of cancer care research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund.

Many New Englanders still favor Papa Gino’s pizza for its rustic crust and savory sauce and have fond childhood memories of first entering the premises with its red and white checkered tables. And what about those special days like “All you can eat pizza Tuesdays,” “All you can eat spaghetti Wednesdays,” and “3-minute lunches”? Some also remember going behind the counter as a child to make a pizza for their birthday.

On June 14, 2022, it was revealed that Papa Gino’s would be opening a new restaurant for the first time since it emerged from bankruptcy. Papa Gino’s founder Michael Valerio maintained his passion for cooking well after retirement. He died at his home in 2020 at the age of 89, survived by his wife Helen, three children and two grandsons.

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