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A Little Magazine
by and for the
Residents of Southport
Number 3, August 2010
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We didn't plan it this way...
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 but it seems that Southport Village Voices has become a monthly publication--at least for the time being.
Once residents begin to drift away to warmer climes this fall and winter, we may have less content to share. But for the moment, thanks to tips and leads from many sources, we've got a lot of stories worth telling. Not to mention an enthusiastic and capable team of SVV writers who want to help tell those stories.
A couple new things in this issue Ernie Ruber suggested that it would be entertaining to chat with residents who have had "unusual jobs." He's gotten the ball rolling by interviewing Forrest Pirovano, who spent ten years driving a duckboat in Boston, and more years carting NASA satellites around the country.
A friend of Phil and Marie DeNardo told us that they were celebrating 60 years of marriage and suggested that it we might want to share their story. We do and we are. We'll be happy to note important events in the lives of other residents, as you let us know about them and as space permits.
Future issues;you can help I'd like to welcome new residents to Southport in the pages of SVV. If you are a new owner or have moved here since January 1, 2010, or if you know of someone who has, please let me know.
There are talented artists and crafters among us, and I'd like to publish a feature on them. If you would like to be included, or if you know of someone who should be included, please send me a note. Don't be shy!
Your comments on SVV and your suggestions for future issues are invaluable to the SVV team. Let me know what you want to see in SVV and we'll do our best to provide it.
David Kapp, Editor
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Southport Staff Profile
An Interview with Julianne Davignon
by Dick Cecilia
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Julianne Davignon joined the Southport staff in 2009 as Health and Wellness Coordinator.  |
The woman we know as Southport's Health and Wellness Coordinator, Julianne Davignon, is the daughter of Cecilia and Paul Sullivan, long-term residents of Southport. Paul describes Julianne as "someone who doesn't talk about herself a lot." She becomes animated when she talks about her daughters or about her brother. She is enthusiastic when she talks about Southport and Sue Aitken, her boss here. She praises her parents for always being there for her. But she's reserved when she talks about herself. With the help of the Sullivans and other Southporters, here's what I've been able to piece together.
Julianne was born and raised in Canton, Massachusetts and attended school there. She said she "did a lot" in high school and singles out her involvement with a Catholic youth group as important to her. As part of a student exchange program between Canton and Finglas, Ireland, she had a student from Ireland stay with her and then went to Finglas as part of the same program. Later, the Sullivans gave her a return trip to Ireland as a Christmas present. She was on the high school swim team and volunteered for the 25-lap event, something that no one else wanted to do. She didn't talk about her grades in high school, but her acceptance at Providence College tells us that they were very good.
Julianne majored in special and elementary education at Providence and was part of the Feinstein Community Service program, which involved classes in public and community service. Asked what else stands out, she mentions that she was a resident assistant during her junior and senior years. The Sullivans told me that she also went to Florida one summer to be part of a unique program where Dolphins are used to help autistic children. Cecilia told me she arranged this "completely on her own."
After graduation from college Julianne went to the west coast, where she had a fellowship to work towards a masters degree at Washington State University. She left the university for a position in what she describes as a "contained learning center," which focused on special needs students in grades four, five and six. She spent the next six years in that program, then came back east for a job as a "special needs team leader" with the Middleboro School.
Four-year-old daughter Lexi is "mercurial," says Julianne; two-year-old Lila is "mellow."  |
The birth of her two daughters, now two and four, became Julianne's focus. The Sullivans told me, "The girls are her whole life." She describes Lexi, the four-year-old, as "perceptive, intelligent and mercurial." As things often seem to work out in families, Lila is "more laid back, more mellow."
The Sullivans told me that one important reason for Julianne coming back east was her younger brother, Timmy, who lives in a group home in Yarmouthport. Julianne describes him as "a huge part of my life." His importance to her seems to have played a significant role in her emphasis on education and special needs in school and in her job choices. "He adores Lexi and Lila," she says. Timmy is not gifted with speech, but he "shows his love for the girls" in many other ways. Julianne once told her father, "There is no hate in Timmy's heart," and Paul passed the comment on to me.
Julianne joined the Southport staff over a year ago. She told me she didn't tell anyone the Sullivans were her parents; she wanted to get the job on her own. She chairs the Health and Wellness Committee, which was formed shortly after she came to Southport. "It's no longer just a sounding board," she tells me. The members are involved in planning and in ongoing activities. She organized the recent Health and Wellness Fair and is actively involved in planning upcoming events such as the Old Fashioned Picnic in August, the Triathlon in the fall, and periodic CPR sessions.
Julianne offers personal instruction on the use of Southport's fitness equipment. Here, she helps Janis Colvin use a machine to strengthen her quadriceps.  | Julianne leads the Total Body and Stretch program, which 50 or more Southporters attend regularly. Visiting with Mary Beth Roddy and Betsy Lord, participants in that program, they told me, "You know she cares, she is very sincere. She does a great job, she's very skilled; we couldn't have anyone better as a fitness coordinator."
As a participant in that same program, I can add that classes like this have never been conducted with more enthusiasm. What's unique about Julianne's approach is her explanation of each exercise, what it accomplishes, and alternate ways of gaining the same benefits for anyone who finds one approach difficult to do.
Julianne also leads the Great Balls of Fire program, which concentrates on the "core middle body muscles," she says. Tailor-made for people of our vintage with too many pounds around the middle!
Like many of us, Julianne no doubt has some personal concerns, but she always has a smile and hello, and a minute or two for anyone she runs into at the center. Her sincerity, her quiet enthusiasm, and her friendliness are qualities that stand out.
 Dick Fellenberg moved to Southport in 2003. He organized and runs the Bionics program, coordinates the Helpers program, and is a volunteer broadcaster for the Audible Local Ledger, a radio station for blind/visually impaired people. He has two daughters, four grandchildren and two great grand children. Contact him at fmashpee@aol.com.
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 TRAVEL
Alaska: Our Last Frontier
by Bob Neumann
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Traveling is one of my favorite activities. These are the highlights of my most recent trip to Alaska, from June 14 to 25, 2010.
Our small but exclusive Southport group consisted of six travelers: Nick and Dolly D'Alessandro, Judy and Phyllis Smith, Ann Blanchard and me. Following our long flight to Fairbanks, we checked into our hotel and went out to dinner. It was a typical Alaskan summer night and the sun was still shining well after 10 p.m. when we finally went to bed.
Our second day started with a morning cruise on a riverboat sternwheeler, which stopped at a replica of an Athabasca Indian village dating from the early 1900s. The Indians showed us how they have hunted, fished, and lived in Alaska for the last twelve thousand years.
Next, we saw a demonstration of Susan Butcher's sled dog team training regimen, which enabled her to win four Iditarod races before her death in 2005. The Iditarod, Alaska's premier sled dog race, covers more than 1200 miles from Anchorage to Nome. It was interesting to learn that Susan had lived in Cambridge before moving to Alaska.
Leaving Fairbanks, we drove to Denali National Park, stopping briefly to see the pipeline that
The Alaska pipeline carries crude 800 miles across the tundra from oil fields in Prudhoe Bay to Seward, where most of it is shipped to destinations in Russia and China.  | carries crude oil 800 miles across the tundra from the oil fields in Prudhoe Bay to Seward, where it is shipped to its final destination. In Denali we stayed at the rustic McKinley Village Lodge for two nights. The park lies in the middle of a remote, seven- million-acre wilderness.
The following morning our group took a Tundra Wilderness Tour, which was scheduled to cover 53 miles of the 92-mile park road toward Mount McKinley. Because the day was sunny and beautiful and the views of Mount McKinley were spectacular, the driver extended our trip to the Stony Hill Overlook at mile 63, where we were thrilled by the magnificent panorama. Our driver had told us that we might see moose, grizzly bears, wolves, caribou, Dall sheep, and golden eagles. We saw all of these species and, in addition, saw a hoary marmot and gyr falcons. The driver said it was highly unusual to see all of these in one trip and that we had "hit a grand slam"!
I took an optional Piper Cub Navaho flight to within five miles of Mount McKinley and saw unbelievable, awesome, up-close views of the mountain. Also known as Denali, (Athabaskan for "The High One") the mountain is 20,300 feet high--the highest peak in North America.
This was the highlight of my trip.  |
Day four found us on a long motor coach ride to Anchorage, Alaska's biggest city. Although it has a population of approximately 262,000 people, it still has a small town feel. The following morning we boarded a glass-domed train for a ride to Seward. Again, we saw spectacular views as we rolled down the Turnagain Arm through Moose Pass between the Pugatch and Kenai mountains. We saw snow-capped mountain peaks, glaciers, bears, and moose. In Seward we made a quick visit to the Alaska Seal Center, where injured sea mammals are rehabilitated before being returned to the ocean. In the early afternoon we boarded our ship, the Celebrity Millennium.
On our first day at sea we cruised along the Gulf of Alaska and sailed into Yakutak Bay to see the Hubbard Glacier. I saw it 15 years ago, and it clearly has receded. However, it's still huge and still calves off large slabs of ice. It was a magnificent sight, well worth seeing--and hearing-again.
In the evening we sailed to Juneau, the state capital and, with about 31,000 residents, Alaska's third largest city. I took a personal walking tour of downtown and
The view of Juneau, the state capital, from Mount Roberts. The third largest city in Alaska, Juneau has a population of 31,000 people--about the size of Falmouth--and is accessible only by sea or air.  | ate lunch at the infamous Red Dog Saloon--a throwback to frontier days, with sawdust on the floor, beer on tap, mounted animal head trophies, and other era memorabilia on the walls. No dance hall girls were in evidence! Later I took a tram ride up Mount Roberts to enjoy views of Juneau, the Gastineau Channel, and Douglas Island.
Meanwhile, the women in our group took a city tour that included Glacier Gardens, the Mendenhall Glacier, and a salmon hatchery. They reported that the gardens were lovely, featuring trees planted upside down with beautiful flowers arranged on the tops of their roots.
Skagway was our next port of call. Gold was discovered in the Canadian Klondike in 1897. This led to the construction of a narrow gauge railroad paralleling the hazardous White Pass trail to the summit of the mountain at 2,865 feet. From here prospectors began a 550-mile journey to the gold fields. We rode that railroad for 20 miles up to the summit. Cliff hanging turns, two tunnels, and numerous bridges made for stunning vistas of the canyon and surrounding mountains.
That evening we sailed to Icy Strait Point, a cruise ship destination owned and operated by the Tlingit Indians. My optional tour included a whale watch cruise and a guided land tour. Our Tlingit guide led us on a boardwalk trail to look for wildlife. We saw several bald eagles but no brown bears. She explained her culture and showed us how the Tlingits use many of the bushes, trees, and forest plants in their diet and for medicinal purposes. It was very interesting and enlightening. Then we went on a whale watch cruise. I saw several humpback whales breeching, diving and blowing out air. They were frolicking all around the boat and even the rainy weather couldn't spoil the fantastic show.
Six intrepid Southporters made the trip to Alaska. (l.to r.): Phyllis Smith, Ann Blanchard, Dolly & Nick D'Alessandro, Bob Neumann, Judy Smith  | Ketchikan, our final port of call, gets 156 inches of precipitation a year. Guess what we faced when we got there? The duck tour I took featured a state-of-the-art amphibious vehicle, but the tour was somewhat spoiled by the rain, wind, and fog.
We spent our last day cruising the beautiful Inside Passage south to Vancouver BC, our final destination. As we came into Vancouver, host of the 2010 Winter Olympics, the city's skyline showcased a modern, cosmopolitan city.
The Celebrity Millennium cruise went well. Food was good, not great, and nightly shows were very good. The ship had a huge casino, frequented by my fellow travelers and me. Overall the service was excellent. Traveling with my new Southport friends made this a fun and interesting trip. I would recommend it to everyone because Alaska truly is the last frontier in the United States.
Bob Neumann grew up in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and graduated from Clarkson University with a degree in electrical engineering. He spent three years in the US Army following World War II and during the Korean Conflict, then worked for New England Telephone (Verizon) and AT&T for 39 years. A widower, he has two married children, Allison in Sandwich and Kurt in Ashland, and two grandsons. He moved from Newton to Southport in 2009. Bob took the pictures for this article; Karlyn Curran transcribed his manuscript and edited his article.
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 TECHNOLOGY
Selecting Your Computer
by Jonathan Leavitt
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So! You've finally decided to join the world of personal computers. You can perform some of your computer tasks--email and searching the Internet, for example--on the computers in the Village Center, but there are other useful things you cannot do there. You may find it worth your while to get your own personal machine. In that case, the first decision you must make is what configuration?
Desktop or Portable? A desktop computer usually consists of a tower, monitor, keyboard, mouse and, optionally, a connected external storage unit for software backup. This is likely to be the best performance value and also the easiest to repair. For example, a new, plug-in desktop keyboard is under $15, whereas repairing a laptop keyboard can be over $200. Select this configuration if you plan to use your computer in only one location. Even if you get a desktop, you still might want to add a wireless router (Wi-Fi) to accommodate your children and grandchildren when they visit with their portable devices.
A portable computer can be anything from a laptop to a handheld. Unless you plan to walk around with it all day, the largest portable that you can carry comfortably should be the best value. Smaller units tend to cost more and perform less. You can plug your portable into the modem provided by your Internet service provider (usually Comcast or Verizon), but adding a wireless router will allow you to use your computer anywhere within your condo.
PC or MAC? More than 90% of the personal computers (PCs) in the world, although made by different manufacturers, come with the Microsoft Windows operating system already installed. Windows XP was released in 2001, Windows Vista in 2006, Windows 7 in 2009. Any PC bought today will come with Windows 7. You may see earlier versions in any "hand me ups" you receive from your children or grandchildren. A PC with an operating system older then Windows XP may be difficult to use with much of today's software.
MACs are made only by Apple Inc. and they have their own, unique operating system. Most (if not all) models are compatible with PCs. They are generally more expensive then PCs but, in the past, have been known to have better graphics and to be easier to use. With Windows 7, however, the performance gap is much smaller if not non-existent.
Try Before You Buy One way to learn about MACs is at an Apple retail store. The closest one to Mashpee is in Hingham. You can also learn about Apples at their online store, www.store.apple.com. A local option is Cape Mac Computers, with stores in Falmouth and Hyannis, and a new store in Mashpee Commons next to Pottery Barn. The Mashpee store is already open for business and a Grand Opening is scheduled for August 14. They are Apple specialists. Their website is www.capemac.com.
The Southport Village Center PCs use Windows XP, so you can get a feel for that operating system before you work with your "hand me up." The new Mashpee Public Library has many public PCs using Windows 7 Professional, which contains Windows 7 Home Premium plus additional features for small businesses.
Where To Buy Your Computer If you have decided to buy a MAC, a visit to an Apple or Cape Mac retail store could prove worth the trip. Talk to specialists there to help you decide which version you should buy. You may also want to check out a book such as Macs for Dummies before you spend your money. Once you know what you want to buy, you can purchase your computer at a local store or online.
If you are buying a PC, your purchase options are more numerous. The best retail selection on Cape Cod is at a Best Buy store; there is one in the Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis and another in Wareham. The Best Buy website also has good information, including customer ratings of the various models available. In Falmouth, WalMart and Staples offer a limited selection of PCs. Another option is Cape Computer located on Route 151 a short distance from Southport. They have provided custom built PC towers to a number of Southport residents. You can also purchase online from such companies as Dell, or even from a TV shopping show if you know exactly what you want.
Which Windows Version? There are seven versions of Windows 7. Most consumers will choose Windows 7 Home Premium; most businesses will want Windows 7 Professional. Some low cost "notebook" computers may come with Windows 7 Starter, so be sure you know which version you are getting when you buy.
A Good Reference Book Before or shortly after you purchase your PC, check out Windows 7 for Dummies. You may be able to borrow it from the Mashpee Library but better yet buy your own copy. It's a great personal reference, useful for as long as you operate your new computer. It also comes with an optional DVD that provides a good overview of the features with this system.
Still Have Questions? With a MAC, you can address questions directly to Apple, Inc., in addition to help from the retail store. Ask about technical support when you investigate the purchase of a MAC. Microsoft does not offer free help with Windows 7 unless you bought the software retail and installed it in a system yourself. You have to address your questions to the manufacturer of your computer. There are many Help screens scattered throughout Windows 7, but buying the Dummies book is still a good idea. Also note that the Mashpee Senior Center offers a computer clinic every Tuesday at 1:00 p.m.
More To Come I hope I have inspired you to investigate the computer world. In future articles I will concentrate on how this new world can improve the way you do almost everything you do in your life.
 Jonathan Leavitt grew up in Scarsdale, NY. He earned his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a master's degree in the same field from the University of Pennsylvania. He worked at Sprague Electric, Epsco, Di/An Controls, MIT Instrumentation/Draper Labs, and GTE, mostly as a development engineer. The highlight of his career was a logic design contribution to an experiment that was carried to the moon on Apollo 17. Married for 42 years to the late Arlene (Samiof), he has three married children and six grandchildren. He has been associated with Southport part-time since 2003, full time since 2008. Contact him at leavitt65@verizon.net. |
 FISHING
Some Favorite Local Ponds
by Bob Brooks
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Getting Started. It's my experience that you can fish at any time of the day; you don't have to get up early! I think cloudy days are better than sunny days and that fishing is especially good when it's supposed to rain or is starting to rain.
First, get a fishing license at the Mashpee Town Hall. Prices are as follows: Non-resident -- $37.50. Resident: age 15-64 -- $27.50, age 65-69 -- $16.50, age 70 and over - free. Minors 15-17 --$11.50. Children under 15 - free.
Then there's bait. Worms are always good. Here is some other stuff you can use.
The first item on the left is the snap swivel that you connect to the fishing line. The next item is the hook for the worm, and the third item is the bobber you connect to the line above the hook to suspend said worm in the water for the fish to eat. The fourth and fith items are lures used to catch fish without using worms--a gold spinner and a gold spoon.  |
Be sure to crush the barb on all of the hooks and for the lures with a pair of pliers. This will make it easier for you to take the hooks out of the fish's mouth-- and out of your clothing! You can buy cheap spinning rod combinations at the Falmouth WalMart. You can also buy worms there.
So now you are all set to fish. Where To Go? Here are three of my favorite ponds.
Fishermen at Coonamesset Pond | The beach on Coonamesset Pond is reached by driving west on Route 151 and turning left onto Ranch Road (look for the Cape Cod Country Club sign). At the end of the road (one block) turn right then park in the Falmouth Conservation Land parking lot on your left. Go through the gate onto the golf course, keeping to the extreme right. About 100 yards on, you will find the path to the beach on your right. The best fishing is to the left on the beach, along the pond's tree lined shore. You'll catch bass, bluegills and yellow perch.
Wing Pond is slightly harder to find. Take 151 west to Route 28, heading south towards Falmouth; exit at Thomas Landers Road. Turn right at the exit and right again, onto Route 28A. Look for a dirt road on your left one-half mile along 28A. The road is between mailbox 116 and a blue and white fire hydrant. Turn left onto the dirt road, cross the bike path and park down near the bog gate. You can start your fishing next to the pump house. There are bass, white perch and bluegills here.
The path leading down to Grews Pond | Grews Pond is in the center of Falmouth's Goodwill Park. To get there, drive west on Route 151 and turn left onto Sandwich Road at the traffic light. Continue to the traffic light at Brick Kiln Road; turn right onto Brick Kiln. Continue to the traffic light at Gifford Street; turn left onto Gifford. About a mile down the road, you will see the entrance to Goodwill Park on your right. Drive through the park and go either to the beach area or to the end of the drive, where you will find some steps leading down to the pond. Fish here for trout, bass and bluegills. Have a great time!
 Back in the later 40s, Bob Brooks was one of the original computer designers in the USA. He started at the University of Pennsylvania (EDVAC), worked on the Raytheon RAYDAC, and co-founded a computer company -- Computer Control Company. He retired early and went into social work and charitable work. His golf stinks, so he kills his time playing bocce and fishing. He once determined to fish two new Cape Cod ponds every week. He's fished a lot of them but with more than 900 ponds on the Cape, he never managed to fish all of them. If you want more fishing tips, contact him at goldenarmbrooks@yahoo.com. |
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FISHING
Deep Thoughts from Deep Pond
An essay by Red Quill
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Well, another year has gone by and I just wrote another entry in my in-my-head fishing journal, perhaps the final one for this year, I do think.
It's about time to clean and oil the reels and check the rods for any needed repairs, like checking those tip-tops, corks and guide wraps for wear and tear. These were my thoughts anyway as we slogged ashore from idyllic Deep Pond in Falmouth after another fun morning fishing in mid-October.
My buddy, Bob [Brooks], leaves his 12-foot aluminum jon boat in the water there, chained to a tree for our easy use. We are not spring chickens! He even leaves the electric motor attached, as well as the wooden oars, swivel seats and a 'sorta' anchor. He has been fairly lucky as all is still there, unvandalized and intact after a full season of on-site storage. All we have to do now is show up, carry down the two small motorcycle batteries, rig up, lower the motor and off we go.
This is really easy, fun, fishing. Why, we used to cart everything back and forth from house to pond, and pond to house, but we are getting a little long in the tooth for this routine. So Bob decided to give the 'who-cares-if-someone-steals-it' method a try. Bob figures the boat and motor are so old and decrepit--especially with the motor having only two forward speeds now--that nobody would even want the rapidly aging pile of aluminum flotsam, let alone risk stealing it. This is definitely not the QE3. So keep your fingers crossed...it has worked, at least so far.
The reason, or rather the theme, for this little essay, however, is 'fun fishing.' Not that many years ago both Bob and I would have been keenly aware of the technical aspects of the sport. We would have had the newest gear--boron, anyone?--the latest in leader and tippet materials, the high tech fly lines, and we would have, of course, talked about them. Dissected them in fact!
Now we just do this fishing for the fun of it...to air out our Medalists, 444's and Fenwicks. We meet around 9:30 or 10:00 pondside, have a 'cuppa,' clip up the batteries, and slowly hum out to the far-away edges of this little, 75-acre, kettle pond. So far we have not arc-welded anything to the boat. We sometimes even use spin rods and spoons or rubber worms. After all this is fishing for the fun of it, eh? Hey! We are not bad people here.
We cruise the edges of the pond casting, talking, pondering life in general. Sometimes we even manage to catch something--mostly pan fish and small bass. The pond is stocked with trout; however, we would never know it. Mosquitoes pester us in the spring, turtles stare at us in summer, hawks fly overhead in the fall, bugs get in our eyes in all seasons, but we continue to talk, cast and have fun.
"Let's try over there, over by the weeds, Howie."
"OK,with me Bob. Hey, wadda ya usin' now?"
"A spoon, an old daredevil. You know, a red and white one that's kinda chipped up."
"Well, I'm sticking with a woolybugger."
"Awwwwwright! Maybe I'll switch over later."
"OK, but remember, watch your backcast if you do."
Now, as you well know, the tug of a 14-inch small mouth bass is not all that heart stopping nor is the swirl of a yellow perch, but the thrill of the hunt is still here. The stories, the morning on the water, the jokes, the fish caught, the reminiscing, the lunch (but only after the second battery starts to get low) is all part of the trip.
We fish for two or three hours, sometimes even a little longer, then beach and chain up the tin skiff, snap the lock shut, unrig our tackle, cart the half charged batteries back to the car (Are they any lighter? Nah!), and then retire to the local diner for a delicious Rueben--with fries please--and coffee, light, with one Splenda.
And we always check the local weather to be sure there is no more coming home soaked, at least from the rain. With this system the weather is always good. Rain? We don't go! No hiking! No wading! No lugging! And every fish caught is 'catch and released.' We have memories of all this and they are all good. Basically, we have not made a job out of what should be a fun event. It's like signing a no-compete contract with your fishing buddies.
You should try it some time, it just might stir some ancient primeval memory of your youth...that being, fishing, just for the fun of it. What a concept, FUN!
Howie Straithie (aka Red Quill) started his fishing life 60 years ago in Cambridge, fishing for the Charles River Trinity--carp, eel, and hornpout. Beginning with a handline he gradually progressed to spin fishing and eventually to fly-fishing. He is now happily ensconced on the Cape and fishes strictly for the fun of it. No more technical "stuff", no more big trophys, no more amassing fish, just easy days astream practising "catch & release." Contact him at straithie@aol.com. |
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 UNUSUAL JOBS
Forrest Pirovano:
Driver for Tourists & Satellites
Interviewed by Ernest Ruber
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For the last ten years Forrest Pirovano has been a duckboat driver in Boston. A duckboat is a World War II amphibious landing vehicle renovated for sightseeing tours in harbor and river cities--as most everyone is now aware, since the recent, tragic sinking of a Philadelphia duckboat in the Delaware River. Forrest has now retired to continue his real career--art. Here, in his own words, is his story.
An old friend got me onto the job. It took three 'auditions' [to create my duckboat role as a Viking] and then I had to be trained [in Boston history] at 'DUCK U' as they called it. After getting six licenses, including a captain's license, I became a Boston tour guide and Duck driver.
It was a gas, a great time. I had all sorts of movie actors and actresses and politicians, including Ted Kennedy, and people from all over the world. I drove in the Red Sox Duck parade after both World Series wins. Had four players and Channel 4 producers, cameramen etc. We ran through a wall of noise for three hours. After a while you hoped for a break for your ears. We went up and down the Charles River also.
All the TV group, including two overlarge producers, made it hard to see the Sox players on my Duck. Finally, Jason Varitek and Doug Mirabelli got out on the hood of my vehicle. I just hoped there would be no need for a sudden stop! This was a high point in my Duck career, though driving Clint Eastwood ranked pretty high, too. In the Patriots great year I came up from Florida to drive in the parade for the undefeated team, but you know what happened in the Championship (they lost their only game of the year). So I came up for nothing."
But I have had weirder jobs. Previously, I had been a driver on a team that transported satellites from their manufacturer to where they were to be launched: Wallops Island, Cape Canaveral, and even by plane to Alaska, California and Japan. Our company later became part of FedEx.
We had a leading pole car to warn us if the next bridge was too low, next, my van, in which rode the NASA guy in charge of the project. Immediately behind me was the semi with its trailer, on which was a box 16 feet wide and 16 feet high. On its sides were variously colored lights. These selectively turned on as warnings under certain circumstances, and an appropriately colored van from the rear would come up to read data and solve the problem.
We did 65 to 70 mph, and my job was to keep any cars from breaking in and getting to the right of the trailer, so I had to cut them off at highway entrance ramps. Dicey! The satellite was delicately mounted and kept in a Helium/Hydrogen atmosphere with normal atmosphere excluded. Gas was pumped into the box from the front and drawn off at the rear. The next vehicle carried replacement canisters of gas and other materials. After this was another escort van and five vans full of NASA scientists and technicians.
One time we drove through a demonstration into the Wallops Island facility. Some years later I saw this demonstration on TV and it was about plutonium in the satellite! I had no idea. We carried ammunition, nuclear material, anything. Maybe it took five years off our lives. We carried material for John Glenn's second mission. The truck had a loran tracking system, the first of its kind, now in the Smithsonian.
Another time, roadwork forced us to pull off the highway and our license to travel expired, so we pulled into the lot of a new WalMart. The builder was furious and threatened to have us towed out. No explanations would satisfy him. We called NASA for help, and shortly a manager came out of the WalMart, beaming and bearing coffee and donuts and sandwiches and said we could stay there for 20 years if we wished. The NASA man had called the local newspaper and mentioned that WalMart was giving the NASA truck a hard time. That's how they solved the problem.
Now how about that?
Forrest Pirovano and his wife Shirley have lived at Southport since 2003. Before his driving career, Forrest worked in advertising from 1971 to 1987. He had his own retail advertising agency with 38 employees for about eight years before selling it to a competitor. These days, he mows the perfect fairways at the exclusive Woods Hole Golf Club ("the most demanding job of my life") and hoping to get back into his real career full time--painting. Ernest Ruber interviewed Forrest and transcribed the taped interview.
Have you had an unusual job? Or know someone who has? Let me know about it and we'll try to share his or her story in Southport Village Voices. davidkapp@comcast.net |
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CELEBRATIONS
Phil & Marie DeNardo
Observe Their 60th Wedding Anniversary
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Marie and Phil DeNardo celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on May 28, 2010.  |
Ask Phil DeNardo how long he and Marie have been married, and he will jokingly tell you, "Forever!" Although he is kidding, he isn't far off the mark. Phil and Marie met in the third grade and, on May 28, 2010, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
The DeNardos spent most of their lives in New Jersey and moved to Southport four years ago. Their daughter, Patricia, lives in Sandwich and when the seven-hour drive from Jersey got to be a burden, they realized they needed to be closer to her and their son, Steve, in Connecticut. Although they miss their friends and being close to New York City, they have made new friends here and love our community.
To honor their landmark anniversary, their children hosted a party for old friends and new. People came from New Jersey, North Carolina and Florida to celebrate with Phil and Marie. Their very first neighbors were present and even Marie's long time beautician made the trip! The couple was totally surprised and delighted to have so many friends and relatives gather to help them commemorate the occasion. They say the secret of a long and happy marriage is simple, never go to bed or leave the house mad or without a kiss.
The DeNardos enjoyed traveling in the past but now stick a little closer to home. They like day trips, visiting casinos, and the occasional return to New Jersey to see old friends and family. Dining out and playing cards, along with a little gardening are favorite activities. Phil devotes some time to playing golf, bocce and pool. Phil and Marie have a full and happy life in their home on North Ridge Road and hope to celebrate many more anniversaries together.
Joy Evans interviewed the DeNardos and wrote this article. Contact her at joybobe@aol.com.
We'd like to know about other Southport residents who are celebrating very special events in their lives. Send a note to davidkapp@comcast.net We'll include them as space allows.. |
 DINING
Two Asian Restaurants
A Review by the Southport Phantom
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If you haven't visited a Japanese hibachi-style restaurant, the experience of tabletop cooking can be exciting, especially if you take the grandchildren. Guests are seated on three sides of the cooking table, and there can be anywhere from five to 15 people at each station.
It may seem awkward to sit with strangers and wait for them to decide what they want to eat, but be patient. Enjoy the atmosphere as much as the food. Interact with your hibachi chef. Applaud him when he performs a fantastic trick with your food. Ask questions, watch the flames shoot up, and don't be flustered by little things. Enjoy the show!
The Kobi House Hibachi Japanese restaurant has two locations--one in Hyannis, in the strip mall across from Balise Ford; the other, called the Noble House Hibachi, is on Route 28 in West Harwich. We have dined at both. Each restaurant prepares and serves food in the same way and offers a good selection of wine and beer, both foreign and domestic. But the approach to the restaurant, the decor, and the friendliness of the staff made for a more pleasant evening at the Harwich location.
We ordered two entrees: a combination dish--half filet mignon and half shrimp, and a full filet mignon dish. Both came with white rice (brown rice was an option for $1.50 more), a small salad, a choice of two soups and vegetables. Both entrees were prepared in a more exciting way and were much better tasting at the Harwich location. We had a tasty dish of ginger ice cream for dessert. The cost is reasonable and, at the Harwich location, the filet mignon melted in your mouth. Well worth the ride on a summer evening.
Peking Palace dining room in Falmouth |
Our restaurant review in the May issue of SVV was critical of Asia, the restaurant serving Chinese and Japanese fare at Mashpee Commons. We are happy to report that we visited Peking Palace, their original restaurant on Main Street in Falmouth, and our desire for great Asian food was satisfied. It's disappointing that Asia, owned by the same people and close to us, is so different from Peking Palace.
In addition to a sushi bar, there is a full selection of Chinese and Japanese entrees at Peking Palace. I was tempted to order General Gao's Chicken, but after my
disappointment with chicken at Asia, I decided to try beef with peppers & onions served in a pepper sauce. I'm glad I did! The beef was extremely tender and the peppers and onions were the perfect complements.
"Beef with Peppers and Onions" -- tender beef with the perfect complement of veggies  |
"Happy Family" --"enough for three grandchildren"  |
Our second entrée was called "Happy Family." This combination of beef, chicken, shrimp, scallops and vegetables is blended and stir fried in a delicate brown sauce and served in an edible nest. This dish was also excellent, and the serving was much more than Mrs. Phantom could finish. Her assessment: "This dish could feed three grandchildren."
Watch out for the Mai Tais at Peking Palace. They serve them very strong! |
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Coming in the September issue of SVV...
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SOUTHPORT PROFILE An interview with one of our neighbors
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EXPLORATIONS Riding the 22-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail
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UNUSUAL JOBS A chat with a former boxer/boxing referee
TRAVEL A report on river boat trip from Michigan to Rhode Island
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TECHNOLOGY Using your computer to make life easier
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COMMENTARY Musings from our favorite local philosopher
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GOLF Straightforward advice on improving your game
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DINING OUT Recommendations on where to find a good meal
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