Know Your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes

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All YMCA SOUTHCOAST branches are now enrolling for classes to begin in March. With millions of Americans at risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, YMCA SOUTHCOAST urges our community to learn their risk and take action to prevent the disease. Currently, diabetes affects nearly 29 million people and another 86 million Americans have prediabetes, yet only about 9 million are aware of it.

Prediabetes is a condition in which individuals have blood glucose (sugar) levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. People with prediabetes are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Here, along the south coast, the diabetes mortality rates are the highest in the state.

The Y knows that the best way to reduce new cases of type 2 diabetes is to prevent them and awareness is the first step to prevention. With only 10 percent of the 86 million Americans aware of their condition, YMCA SOUTHCOAST understands that it will take everyone working together to increase this number. YMCA SOUTHCOAST is joining Ys across the country, and other national organizations committed to addressing the diabetes epidemic, in an effort to help one million more Americans learn their risk for type 2 diabetes. Several factors including family history, age, weight, and physical activity level can contribute to your risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Learn your risk by taking the diabetes risk test at ymca.net/diabetes.

“Chances are each of us has a friend or family member with diabetes, but it’s even more likely that we know someone with prediabetes who doesn’t even know he or she is at risk,” said Dara Midwood, YMCA Diabetes Prevention Coordinator. YMCA SOUTHCOAST also encourages our family and friends to determine their chances of developing the disease. “Studies show that people with prediabetes can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes by making simple lifestyle changes that include eating healthier and increasing physical activity. Change is necessary if we stay on the same path. It is estimated that fifty-two percent of all adults will have diabetes by 2020.”

For those at risk for diabetes, the next step is to make the necessary changes to help prevent the disease. Programs like the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program can help. Facilitated by a trained Lifestyle Coach, the yearlong program provides a supportive environment where participants work together in a small group to learn about behavior changes that can improve overall health. The goal of the program is to help adults at risk for diabetes reduce their body weight by 5 to 7 percent and increase their physical activity to 150 minutes per week. Studies have shown that programs like the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program can prevent or delay new cases of type 2 diabetes in adults by 58% and by as much as 71% in those over age 60.

All participants presently enrolled in the program at the Gleason Family YMCA have improved their health showing a 5% average weight loss and lower glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels.

March program enrolling now. To learn more about YMCA SOUTHCOAST’s Diabetes Prevention Program, please contact Dara Midwood at 508.996.9622 ext. 141 or dmidwood@ymcasouthcoast.org.

Gateway Youth Hockey

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Squirts: On Saturday, the Squirts faced off with the Coastal Stars and skated away with a hard fought 5-4 win. Scoring for the Gladiators were Tommy Clavell (3), Ben Hebbel (1), and Thomas Carrico. Nate Wilson played net and stopped 21 of 25 shots for the win. On Sunday afternoon, the Gladiators suffered their first loss of the season against the Walpole Express. The Gladiators, down 5-1 in the third period, fought hard, but in the end lost 5-4. In net, Wilson was a rock, stopping 23 of 28 shots including several key stops on breakaways late in the game. On offense, Brayden Hathon scored twice, with Hebbel and Brayden Cannon each adding one goal.

Pee Wees: Gateway Gladiators Pee Wees faced Duxbury on Saturday. The first period was a back-and-forth affair with shot after shot; however, it was a goalies’ game with each facing multiple shots but keeping the score 0-0. The second period was a different story as Gateway heated up the ice. Matthew Paling put Gateway on the board unassisted followed by a goal from Nathan Ribeiro assisted from Ty Rebeiro, and then Rebeiro adding to the score sheet with an assist by Ribeiro. In the third period, Duxbury added some pressure and held Gateway from scoring until near the end of the game when Joe Urnek made the final goal of the game assisted by Paling, ending with a 4-0 Gateway win.

On Sunday, Gateway took to the ice against the Coastal Stars, taking home a 6-2 win. Late in the first period, Rebeiro was able to get Gateway its first goal assisted by Ribeiro. In the second frame, Rebeior put away another assisted by Lucas DeMoranville and later Rebeiro completed his hat trick unassisted. Sean Pollock was right where he needed to be for the team during the game, making numerous plays to keep the Stars out of Gateway’s zone. Brady Kidney skated hard in getting the puck to the net and Jacob Hebbel, playing a defensive game, made sure the Stars were limited in their puck possession. At the tail end of the second period, Thomas Leger added a nice goal from the blue line assisted by Urnek. In the third period, Leger scored his second goal of the game assisted by Pollock, and Ribeiro made a tricky shot assisted by DeMoranville. Ryker King made great saves in net.

Selectmen Mull $1.2 Million Annex Option

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The Rochester Board of Selectmen have taken under advisement a $1.2 million town hall annex project proposed by the Town Hall Annex Study Committee on February 6 as a more palatable option to both selectmen and tax payers.

But don’t expect to hear a whole lot of discussion over the next few months, as the selectmen have already decided that the matter will not appear on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant this year, and annex committee member Arnold Johnson has stated that the annex committee will likely not meet for some time to come as the selectmen consider the option.

Annex committee Chairman Richard Cutler said, after the Special Town Meeting when voters turned down an article for $20,000 to fund an onus project manager, he approached the Finance Committee to ascertain what amount the committee would support for a new construction.

“We went back and forth, and the Finance Committee basically said they could support … $1.2 million and it would have no impact on the tax base in Rochester,” Cutler said.

That amount, said Cutler, would allow for a town annex slightly larger than the one the Town currently rents over at the Women’s Club, with an additional conference room, at $400 per square foot.

Having said that, the committee will not be able to provide anything concrete in terms of figures until Town Meeting approves the funding for the onus project manager.

The $1.2 million includes all hard and soft costs, as was reiterated throughout the evening as residents and selectmen alike asked questions about possible hidden costs.

Finance Committee Chairman Christian Stoltenberg said retirement of debt in the upcoming years would allow for a $1.2 million town hall annex at no additional cost to taxpayers, even with interest on the loan, with an increase in the tax base over the next few years, and the ensuing retirement of prior debt. This included taking into account the $30,000 the town currently pays for rent at the Women’s Club as part of the cost.

Stoltenberg suggested the selectmen have ample time to consider the option and recommended they withhold adding the option to the Annual Town Meeting, saying that the lease the town currently holds with the Women’s Club does not expire until 2019.

“We’re not in any pressure or any kind of a dire concern,” said Stoltenberg. “We have options…. Whether you want to bring it forward this year, or do you want to wait, because we have some time.”

Selectman Richard Nunes pointed out that 2019 is not far away.

“We start tomorrow, we’d be finished in 2019,” Nunes said. “We could put it back on the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting … it’ll take two years to build it out.” He continued, “So if we wait a year or we wait two years, then we’ll be in the position again of having to re-negotiate a lease again.”

Nunes advocated for moving forward with the option sooner, rather than later.

Johnson agreed, saying taking the option under advisement was his preference.

“I think in another year … the Town will have a better revenue projection,” said Johnson. There are a few commercial properties coming online this year and next year, he added, “And that’ll help with our tax base…and we’ll have a better indication of where the federal government is going.”

Johnson said the Town could likely re-negotiate a one-year lease in 2019 if needed.

A few residents asked questions about specific number amounts and costs, to which Stoltenberg offered his best explanation, although in this preliminary process, no fixed numbers were available.

Johnson objected to the Finance Committee and annex committee being interrogated too harshly at this point during a regular public meeting as opposed to a public hearing on the matter, but Board of Selectmen Chairman Naida Parker allowed the residents to ask questions, even though mostly they could not be answered as of yet.

One resident asked about the cost of renting versus the cost of building, which of course would be somewhat higher, but Nunes offered this in response:

“Paying rent isn’t gonna solve our problems.” Nunes continued, “That’s money just going out the window. We can kick this can down the road … and continue to pay rent and we may have to re-negotiate another lease, possibly at a higher rate, but rent isn’t the answer.”

Selectman Brad Morse motioned to take the matter under advisement and to omit it from the Annual Town Meeting Warrant, which was seconded and voted upon unanimously.

The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for February 13 at 6:30 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

By Jean Perry

 

Robert E. Furtado

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Robert E. Furtado, 88, of Mattapoisett died February 12, 2017 at Sippican Health Care Center surrounded by his family.

He was the husband of the late Joanne (Chittenden) Furtado.

The youngest of four children, he was born in New Bedford, the son of the late Charles P. and Mary (Mendonza) Furtado, he was raised in Fairhaven and lived in Acushnet before moving to Mattapoisett.

Bob was in sales for most of his life. His winning personality and deep product knowledge made for a successful career. Bob retired in 1990 from Hertz Car Sales in Rhode Island as General Manager.
He lived a long and interesting life. While in school, Bob worked for his father at Rose’s Market in Fairhaven. As a very young man he worked on the Nobska Steamship Ferry, traveling from Woods Hole to Nantucket. His job was to polish all the brass on the ship. He joked that he got many compliments on that shiny brass. Later, Bob shipped out on a Merchant Marine vessel, traveling to the east coast of South America and throughout the Caribbean. He served in the U.S. Army.

Bob and Joann loved to travel and made many trips to Naples, FL and traveled throughout New England extensively. He was, for many years, on the Board of Directors for Descendants of Whaling Masters. Bob traced the genealogy for membership applicants.

He was proud of his Portuguese heritage. He traveled to the Azores, to the island of St. Michael, where the Furtado family lived before immigrating to the U.S. in previous generations.

His kind and friendly nature, his generosity, his love for everyone he met, are the attributes that will be lovingly remembered by all.

Survivors include his six children, Nancy-Lee (Furtado) Duerr and her husband Robert of Salem, MA, Richard Furtado of Key Largo, FL, Robert A. Furtado and his wife Debbie of New Bedford, Amy (Furtado) Harrington and her husband Peter of Bridgewater, Kenneth Furtado of Middleboro and Jonathan Furtado and his wife Mia of Fairhaven; 2 step-children, Janice (Chittenden) Haggan and her husband Wally of Pembroke and Alan Chittenden of Plymouth; a sister, Vernice Grgurich of Crosby, MN; his former wife and friend, Amy (Morang) Macomber of Fairhaven; 14 dearly loved grandchildren; several great-grandchildren whom he adored; and several nieces, nephews, friends and extended family who were all close to his heart.
He was the brother of the late Eleanor Brown and Carl Furtado and was the grandfather of the late Alyssa Paris Furtado.

His Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday at 10 AM in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. Burial will follow in St. Anthony’s Cemetery. Visiting hours Tuesday from 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in his name to Coastline Elderly Services, 1646 Purchase St. New Bedford, MA 02740, whose staff provided loving care for our Dad for an extended period of time. For directions and on-line guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Academic Achievements

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Benjamin DeMello of Rochester received Dean’s List honors at the University of Maine for fall 2016, completing 12 or more credit hours in the semester and earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

The following Framingham State University students were named to the Dean’s List or the President’s list for the fall 2016 semester:

– Trevor Oldham of Mattapoisett was placed on the President’s List.

– Erika Boulay of Rochester was placed on the Dean’s List.

– Hannah Nyman of Rochester was placed on the Dean’s List.

To be selected for the Dean’s List, a student must earn a Quality Point Average (Q.P.A.) of 3.25 or higher. To be selected for the President’s list, a student must have been named to the Dean’s List for three consecutive semesters.

The following students have been named to the Dean’s List at the University of New Hampshire for the fall 2016 semester:

– Jessica Lowe of Marion earned Highest Honors.

– Connor MacLean of Marion earned Honors.

– Kyle Wasylow of Rochester earned Highest Honors.

Sewing 101 at the Mattapoisett Library

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Have you inherited a sewing machine and want to use it but don’t know where to start? Have you always wanted to learn how to sew? Do you want to brush up on your sewing skills to mend or make a garment or household item? Come to the Mattapoisett Free Public Library on Saturday, March 18 from 12:30 – 2:30 pm to learn the basics of using a sewing machine with Barbara Gaspar and Mary Chaplain. The Library will supply the fabric and machines and you will leave with a finished pillow! The number of participants is limited, so be sure to sign up by calling the library at 508-758-4171, signing up at the circulation desk, or emailing rsmith@sailsinc.org. The library is located at 7 Barstow Street and is handicapped accessible.

ETL’s Monthly Lego Club

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The Elizabeth Taber Library’s Monthly Lego Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Don’t miss it on Tuesday, February 28 at 3:00 pm for children ages 8 and up. Come have some fun and challenge yourself. Registration is required. To register, please call the library at 508-748-1252 or email Mrs. Grey at rgrey@sailsinc.org. We also welcome any donations of clean, gently used Lego pieces and Lego boards.

Funds Available for Tri-Town Sports

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The Brad Barrows Youth Athletic Scholarship Fund has had another successful year. There are funds available for the local athletic youth of the Tri-Town area. This includes Mattapoisett, Marion, and Rochester.

The funds are to be used for several causes, such as scholarships, participation fees, and other ways to help the athletic teams.

To apply for funding, have your Representative or Organization contact the Recreational Department in your town. They will in turn contact this Committee. This will be based on individual needs as recommended by the Rec Department. It will be first come, first serve. There is a limited amount of funds available. Upon acceptance, disbursement will be made out to the appropriate organizations for the individual.

Contacts numbers for the Tri-Town Recreation Departments are:

– Mattapoisett, 508-748-4100 ext. 227, Greta Fox

– Marion, 774-217-8355, Jody Dickerson

– Rochester, 508-763-2378, cell 774-201-1577, David Hughes

 

We Called It Food

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Long before we knew that just about everything we were eating contained chemicals, we ate in blissful ignorance.

I am sorry, my son.

When you were growing up a scrawny, sickly little boy, all I wanted you to do was eat something. Your frequent, nearly monthly, bouts with ear infections, sore throats, head colds, stomach bugs, and everything else that was making its way around the classroom, made feeding you difficult.

I gave you flat ginger ale and cola to soothe your tummy, popsicles for your throat, and can upon can of chicken noodle soup. You did thrive, in spite of food products loaded with sugar and salt. For that, I am grateful.

As time went by, I struggled to find things you would eat, as you had always been very fussy about food. Your grandmother would make you anything you wanted while I was working, which set up the cycle of preparing only what you would accept – fluffer-nutter sandwiches, for instance.

Frosted Flakes for breakfast, bologna on white bread for lunch, hot dogs for supper. A breakfast variation might have been bacon and eggs, but usually you only got that when you stayed with your grandparents because bacon was expensive. Nitrates were our friends, right?

When I hit on something you’d eat – like deli roast beef warmed in canned gravy over instant potatoes – we’d have that weekly. Pizza, of course, featured high on the list when cash was available. There was always a bottle of cheap soda in the fridge alongside the gallon of whole milk.

There were those early mornings when I quietly returned home after servicing a newspaper route bearing Danish pastries dripping with icing or a bag of chocolate donut holes. You’d wash those down as our dog Zeb waited patiently for his taste.

Poor Zeb. We killed him with kindness by way of M&Ms and Oreos. Remember when I caught Zeb stealthily pulling an entire danish off the kitchen table? We laugh about it, still calling his front teeth “Danish grabbers.”

Bags of cheap fried fish sandwiches or hamburgers were a weekly treat enjoyed in the yellow VW bug I dragged to the west coast and back again. Remember how the heater in that thing would burn our ankles while the rest of our body shivered? You had to use the ice scraper on the inside of the windshield while I drove down the road. I still miss that car.

You survived a childhood filled to overflowing with food that contained the newest food-grade chemicals, engineered to extend the product’s shelf life versus human life. Oh yeah, and no seatbelts, either.

There came a turning point, however. Popular science finally brought to light that we were eating poisons. Unfortunately, the damage had been done – bad eating habits are hard to break.

In my own defense, I had tried to integrate vegetables and yogurt into your diet. You turned your nose up. And you could always get a meal of artificial flavors from your grandmother. She was the queen of modern food preparation. If it came out of a can or plastic wrapper, a meal at her table was possible.

She had learned how to prepare wholesome foods from scratch. After all, her mother had been born in the late 1800s, had actually seen food grown or butchered, had soaked beans overnight for a week’s worth of offering from the bean pot, made cranberry sauce from raw whole berries, and knew how to keep a stove at the right temperature for baking bread – a wood burning oven at that.

Alas, your grandmother shunned all that bother and became a modern woman in the 1950s. She relied on Campbell’s soup, Betty Crocker, and Swanson frozen TV dinners. I’d have to learn to cook on my own, but not until I, too, used convenience over vitamin value.

I’m truly sorry, son.

Recently, you learned that you needed to lose a few pounds. In reporting this to me via text, you wrote, “Heading home to finish off all the foods I now have to give up LOL!” You included an emoji of a hamburger. No more potato bread for you, my son. Time to realize you are what you eat, especially after the age of 40.

As Americans across the nation hit the grocery aisles gathering ‘food’ for the big game on Sunday, I imagine that cheese, chips, chicken wings, and chocolate chip cookies filled shopping carts to overflowing.

Now that I’m a food snob, or should I say, more discretionary in my choice of foods, I’ll be making kale chips. You can wash those down with sparkling water flavored with lemon slices, my son, as you mourn those Hostess cupcakes. LOL!

By Marilou Newell

 

Modified Plan Requires Public Hearing

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Windswept Village, planned for 81 County Road in Mattapoisett by businessman Todd Rodrigues, was discussed during the February 6 meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board.

Board members Gail Carlson and Karen Field, along with acting Chairman Nathan Ketchell and Administrative Assistant Mary Crain, reviewed the modified plan and a letter submitted by Rodrigues.

In the documents, Rodrigues stated that due to code requirements and other unforeseen utility needs for one of the buildings he plans to construct, the first floor would need to increase by 1,241 square feet or approximately 17 percent larger than the original drawings.

Rodrigues asked the board to consider the change as a modest departure from the original plan, but the board members were uncertain.

Crain thought they might accept the modification without another public hearing of the project, or, if they wished, request that Rodrigues meet with them in the public hearing format.

After some discussion on the merits of the request, the board voted to set another public meeting to fully vet the change that several members felt was not specific enough in the documents provided.

In other business, the board quickly dispatched several Form A Approval Not Required applications, clearing the way for new lots to be sculpted from existing parcels.

Coming before the board with those requests were: David Sylvia and Ellen Horrocks, 31 Park Street; Paul Wildnauer and Jill Jarvis, 100 Acushnet Road; and Steven and Delia Caton, Brandt Island Road.

Each newly-created lot was deemed legally acceptable, meeting setback and frontage requirements of current zoning bylaws.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is set for March 6 at 7:00 pm in the town hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell