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A Little Magazine
by and for the
Residents of Southport Number 7 December 2010
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Happy Holidays!
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Some Southporters took off for warmer climates as early as October, and by the time this edition of SVV reaches you, the migration of 'snowbirds' will be in full flight. According to Sue Aitken, about half of Southport's 800 residents eventually seek refuge from New England winters in places like Florida and Arizona. Thanks to the Internet, I've been able to prepare the December issue of SVV while visiting my son and daughter in Hawaii.
However, spending the winter holidays in a tropical climate, although very pleasant, never feels quite right to me. Suchcelebrations call for snow, not sand, fir trees, not palms. We should be ice skating or skiing, not snorkling. Santa is supposed to travel by reindeer team, not in an outrigger canoe, and flowery leis aren't appropriate with his fur-trimmed red costume.  Despite my misgivings, I'm going to force myself to grin and bear it. My brief sojourn in the sun will come to an end when I return to the Cape in mid-January--just in time for some of New England's nastiest weather. I know, poor planning. Wherever you are, I hope you have a safe, happy and healthy holiday season. David Kapp, Editor
ARCHIVE EDITION If your copy of SVV arrives without pictures or looking strange, please click on the URL below: |
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SOUTHPORT PROFILE Ellen Binda: Bitten by the Travel Bug an interview with Dick Fellenberg
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 | | Ellen Binda |
Ellen Binda found humor and adventure everywhere she traveled. Her mother told her, "Once bitten by the travel bug you'll never get over wanting to go places." Years after traveling extensively with her husband and family she grabbed an opportunity to go to India to visit her daughter, who was living there with her husband. She told me she "loved India," like many of the other places she had visited or lived earlier.
Ellen's parents, Ellen and James Donoghue, emigrated here from Ireland and raised their three sons and three daughters in Brooklyn, New York. Ellen was the youngest of the children. Asked what was most memorable from her early years, she said "World War II, of course. I was nine years old," reminding me that, at about the same age, my memory is similar.
Ellen attended a Catholic high school for girls in Brooklyn, where she played the violin and participated in basketball, which she "wasn't very good at." Asked what was most memorable about her high school years, she said it was the friendships she enjoyed then, which were rekindled not long ago at her 50th reunion. Afterward, she flew to London to meet a high school friend she hadn't seen for 50 years and has visited her several times since.
Ellen went to Saint John's University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration. She took time off from college for an American Youth Hostel cycling trip through the US and Canada. One particularly windy day, she had to resort to hitchhiking (normally forbidden) and left her purse behind in the car of people who had given her a ride for part of the journey. "My whole life was in that purse," she told me. A passing truck driver, noticing her distress, stopped to help. He chased the car, recovered the purse and returned it to Ellen, but she missed seeing Hoover Dam as a result of the incident.
Following graduation from Saint John's, Ellen held a couple jobs in New York City and took a
 | | In Korea, the Bindas mastered the art of eating with chop sticks. "Try eating eggs with sticks," Ellen jokes. |
Youth Hostel trip to Europe, where she visited four countries and found that she liked Italy best. Again, the primary mode of transportation was her bicycle.
Ellen's lust to travel began in earnest when she went to Korea for a job with the Agency for International Development. It was there she met George Binda, who was teaching English. "We were a perfect match," she said, "We both enjoyed music, movies and traveling." They had their first date at a Christmas Eve Mass and were married in Seoul not long after by an American bishop from Boston. They honeymooned in Japan. Ellen loved Korea; she and George traveled all over, eating at restaurants where only chopsticks were available. "Try eating eggs with sticks" she said. On one occasion, she met Bob Hope when he was there to entertain the troops: "Everyone regarded him as a genuinely warm person."
Ellen returned to the states to have their first child, a daughter they named Judy. Ellen and Judy joined George at his next teaching job--in Libya. At first, she lived in Tripoli while George taught at the University of Benghazi. She returned to the US to give birth to their son, John, and eventually the family lived together in Benghazi, near the ancient city of Cyrene. While in Libya, they were also able to vacation in Egypt. "Everyone had a house boy" she said, "and our's was 'Ali,' a huge man with only one eye, which took a little getting used to." In a macabre twist, Ellen told me, Ali's mother had put his eye out so he wouldn't have to go into the military. In one of her humorous asides Ellen said, "The people of Libya were not very literate," but their streets were "unlittered." One area was so lovely that it resembled a "Cecil B. DeMille setting."
 | | This sculpture is one of the many mementos Ellen and George brought back from their years in Nigeria. |
The Binda family then moved to Ibadan, Nigeria, where George worked for the Ford Foundation. This became Ellen's favorite of all the places they lived. During most of their time there they lived in a house with six servants, including 'Moses,' a gardener who used a scythe to cut the grass, narrowly missing his toes with each swing of his implement.
Nigerian women were active in all professional fields, and Ellen found volunteer work raising funds for a home for babies whose mothers had died in childbirth. The babies were taken in for 18 months to give them a good start in life before being returned to their families. She also worked with a career counseling group and headed up a fim society. "It was a wonderful place to live at that time (1965)," Ellen said. "The arts were flourishing and food was plentiful; Ibadan even had a excellent department store." One of the friends she made during this time has come to visit her several times in the US, and she would love to return to Nigeria for a visit.
After several years in Nigeria the Binda family moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where UNESCO employed George to train other teachers.
The UNESCO teachers and their Ethiopian counterparts walked to a nearby village and started to teach the children to read and count--with no books or other educational tools, using the sand to write on and small stones to count. This had to be negotiated with the village fathers, who agreed to build a school. In return, they got a well.
The Binda children went to a variety of schools, and it was while they were enrolled in a French boarding school that the then Emperor of Ethiopia, Haille Selassie, visited the school. But children can be hard to impress; when Ellen asked Judy about the Emperor's visit, she said, "He wasn't much, Mom. When he sat down, his feet didn't reach the floor." Before leaving Ethiopia, the Binda family went on safari in Kenya and Tanzania.
Following a final teaching assignment in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, following the war in Biafra, the Bindas returned home and bought a home in Falmouth, where Judy and John attended Falmouth High School and went on to UMass in Amherst. George went to Saudi Arabia, where he taught English to mechanics, his last stop before returning to the US permanently. He retired and took up the hobby of cooking, at which he had become quite good. He contacted ALS and died in 1997. Ellen took a job at the Marine Biological Institute and worked there for 14 years.
 | | A Coptic Trinity from Ethiopia |
Judy may have caught the travel bug from her parents. She was a teacher in Costa Rica, where she met her husband. She and her family have since lived in the Canary Islands, Korea, Greece, and India, and Ellen has visited them in most of those place. Her son John has also traveled extensively and now lives in Boston with his wife, a son and a daughter. Judy lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband and two sons.
As we wrapped up our discussions, I told Ellen that I was concerned about getting the right events in the right country since our conversation jumped around a lot. Ellen told me not to worry, "We're the only ones who will know the difference." Ellen is humorous and insightful about her experiences in foreign lands. She enjoys life at Southport, with her church and the library close by. With luck, she may someday take that return trip to Nigeria!
Art DeBonville took the photographs for this article, except for the picture of the man eating with chop sticks. |
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TRAVEL
An Autumn Journey to Washington's Pacific Coast
by David Kapp
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We had two free airline tickets to anywhere in the continental United States. Where to go? Our
choice: the Pacific coast of Washington State--a temperate climate, snow-covered mountains, water wherever you look, islands, and the beautiful, vibrant city of Seattle.
 | | If you can't find it at Seattle's Public Market, you probably don't need it. |
We began our two-week adventure in September by renting a condo in downtown Seattle for five nights to use as a base to explore the city and its environs without the need for a car. Since Seattle has a great system of free and/or inexpensive public transportation, we were good to go.
We planned to do things we had missed on earlier visits to the city. But first on our list was a repeat visit to the famous Public Market--my favorite place in Seattle. The market extends for blocks and offers just about everything you can imagine--food, fish, flowers, bakeries, restaurants, a brewery, crafts, music--and lots of happy people.
Seattle is sited on the very steep slopes of Elliot Bay on Puget Sound. What you see on the surface is just the latest chapter in its colorful history. From Pioneer Square, we took the Underground Seattle Tour, a 90-minute walk through buried 19th century urban spaces--banks, businesses, brothels, hotels, etc.--that flourished before new roads and buildings were built on top of them. It was a fascinating introduction to the city's wild and wooly past.
 | | Metropolitan Seattle has a poulation of 3,400,000. The home of Starbucks and Microsoft, it's a young, laid-back, friendly city, and the drivers are much better behaved than Boston's. |
Snow-covered Mount Rainier, at 14,411 feet, looms over the cities of Seattle and Tacoma. An active volcano that last erupted between 1820 and 1854, it's amazingly beautiful on a clear day and a little unsettling. You can't help thinking, "It's just a matter of time...." We booked a 10-hour bus trip up the mountain to Paradise at 5,400' and were lucky to have a sunny day. Our driver said that on a recent similar tour he couldn't see beyond the edge of the road. Not a comfortable thought on those winding roads! We saw a good bit of Rainier, but its peak remained shrouded in clouds. Waterfalls, canyons, and grand vistas more than made up for that.
 | | Dale Chihuly, a native of Tacoma and a graduate of the RI School of Design, is perhaps the best known creator of glass sculpture in the US. His unique work is displayed in Tacoma's Museum of Glass and in its Art Museum. |
The day we went to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma was one of area's famous rainy days--a good day for indoor adventures. The museum features the work of prominent artists who work with glass, most notably Dale Chihuly, and all of it was quite amazing. But the most enjoyable exhibit we saw was of children's drawings transformed into glass sculptures by the resident glass blowing team. Children's imaginations know no boundaries and can give Chihuly a run for his money any time.
The last item on our Seattle agenda was a two-hour cruise on Elliot Bay, through the Ballard Locks and into Lake Union on the eastern side of downtown. A beautiful sunny afternoon showed the city's impressive skyline to best effect and we saw an extraordinary variety of boats and ships along the way. The houseboats and floating houses in Lake Union provided a romantic touch (remember Sleepless in Seattle?) to the conclusion of our little cruise.
After Seattle, we rented a car and drove 90 miles north to Bellingham, where we had reserved a small chalet perched above a pretty lake as our base for the next four days. Bellingham is home to Western Washington University with its student population of 13,800. It's a lively town, filled with young people who appear to be committed to everything green and organic and outdoorsy. Its laid back ambiance reminded me of Cambridge, Massachusetts in the 1960s--health food stores, vegan restaurants, coffee shops, political handouts, even a head shop or two. We had one of the best meals of our vacation here--at the Boundary Bay Brewery and Bistro; I'd return to Bellingham just to eat and drink there again.
 | | Picture Lake, in Mount Baker National Park, deserves its name. The urge to get out your camera or paintbrush is irresitible. |
Our goal in this area was to visit Mount Baker National Park, about 35 miles to the east of Bellingham. The drive up the mountain is easy and exhilarating, and having our own wheels allowed us to stop any time we saw something of interest and to take short walks along the way. The road ends at Artist's Point (5,140'), and the name couldn't be more appropriate for this idyllic site: snow-covered peaks, tall evergreens and autumn vegetation were reflected in a small lake called (what else?) Picture Lake. The temptation to get out the camera or a paintbrush is irresistible. A variety of trails provide amazing views of Mount Baker (10,778'), deep valleys and glistening lakes. We walked for a while and enjoyed a quiet picnic lunch before heading downhill again.
From Bellingham we drove south along Chuckanut Drive, a beautiful road carved from the cliffs that line Puget Sound, with stunning vistas of the San Juan Islands. We left the mainland and crossed the dramatic Deception Pass Bridge onto Whidbey Island, our base for the next three days.
Except for the noisy Naval Air Station at Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island is a gentle, peaceful place, about half the size of Cape Cod. We were in the little town of Coupeville (population 4,000)--a place that Seattle residents escape to in the summer. In September, we had it mostly to ourselves. We spent our first day exploring the intriguing history of the island--its settlement, relations with indigenous peoples, role in WW II, etc., and taking a long walk on a bluff high above Puget Sound. We also found a small restaurant owned by a French chef who had fled Paris for the quiet charm of Coupeville. His bouillabaisse was the best I've ever eaten.
Early the next morning, we hustled north to Anacortes to board a ferry for an all-day exploration of the San Juan Islands. (There are 172 named San Juan Islands; most are unpopulated.) Washington State ferries are the watery component of the state highway system; they're big, comfortable, well appointed, reasonably priced and make the journey at least as pleasurable as arriving at your destination.
 | | The presence of the Lion's Mane jellyfish, 15"-18" across, could discourage you from getting into the water, even if it were warmer. |
There are no adequate words to describe the beauty of sailing off into the San Juan Islands on a sunny morning, but that over-used word, 'awesome,' comes to mind. Our first stop was at Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. We had our car with us so that we could explore the island and drove to a spot famous for whale sightings but the migration season was mostly over; no whales. The most dramatic animals we saw were immense Lion's Mane jellyfish--red, purple, blue creatures about 15"-18" across. Even if the water were warm enough to get into, I'd think twice before getting anywhere near those squishy creatures.
A couple hours later we boarded a ferry to Orcas Island where our goal was the 2,400' peak of Constitution Mountain. One can drive to the top of the mountain and then take a very short walk to a tower to enjoy the view. Coming up over the final ridge and glimpsing that view for the first time caused us to gasp--literally. Looking eastward, we saw snowcapped Mount Baker, golden and glowing in the late afternoon sun, with dozens of islands afloat in Puget Sound in the foreground. That panorama goes high on my list of the ten best views I've ever seen.
 | | The late afternoon view of Mount Baker and Puget Sound from the top of Mount Constitution on Orcas Island is spectacular. |
The following day we left Whibey Island and ferried to Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula. In the 19th century, Port Townsend aspired to become the 'New York' of the west coast. Fortunately that did not happen; nowadays, it's a wonderful small city (population 14,000) with lots of restaurants, galleries, and unique shops; great architecture; and friendly, creative people. We spent most of our day there before heading west to Sequim ('Skwim'), where we had booked a vacation cottage on the shore of the San Juan Strait.
From our cottage, we could view the Dungeness Spit, extending five miles out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and said to be the world's longest natural spit. The New Dungeness Lighthouse, built in 1857, is sited at the very tip of the spit and is available for overnight rental, but that's a long way to carry your baggage, especially over the rocky, driftwood-strewn beach, so we passed.
Our purpose in returning to this area was to revisit Hurricane Ridge. Many years ago we had taken this well known mountain walk in the late spring and were overwhelmed with the flower-filled beauty of the alpine meadows (and the sighting of a bear at a comfortably safe distance). We knew that the experience would not be the same in September, but the walk is wonderful in any season. From the top of the ridge, one can see Vancouver Island to the north, the Cascade Range to the east, and Olympic peaks to the south and west.
 | | Seen from Hurricane Ridge on the Olympic Peninsula, the peaks of the Olympic Mountains appear to go on forever. |
On our final day in Washington, we drove south along the east side of the Olympic Peninsula and then took a ferry to Seattle in the late afternoon. The sight of all those glassy skyscrapers gleaming in the sun inspired a lot of picture taking. A short drive south brought us to the SeaTac Airport where we caught the red-eye flight back home.
EPILOG
After the high drama of Washington's Pacific coast, I wondered if I would find Cape Cod's relatively low-key environment uninspiring. But I've been walking on South Cape Beach this fall, with its views of the Sound and marshes and ponds and bays, and am happy to discover that I find this world just as richly satisfying, in its own quiet way, as the eye-popping views from mountaintops in Washington. I feel fortunate to be able to experience both.
This article was edited by Karlyn Curran. |
Thoughts from Life's Adventures to Nowhere by Joe Marino
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It's that time of the year again. Thanksgiving has come and gone, and before you know it Christmas will be on the front burner, or maybe this year, for some, a hot plate in a shelter, or a single table in a small bistro that was kind enough to open for those with nowhere to go.
The charities are in full assault on the wallets of those who can still afford to be generous. I hope I don't sound like a humbug, but in these tough economic times it becomes hard to choose your favorite place to give. I know this because I, too, am involved in the collection of monies to fill several different coffers. I look into some people's eyes and see displeasure in the fact that I am asking for their help, but after an explanation of the cause and the work to provide relief from a situation that, by the grace of God, we have escaped from--well, let's just say that they give what they can.
I always have thoughts about my Christmases that were celebrated before the electronic age took us to an all out assault on our wallets. I know full well that I am of a distant dark age when simple pleasures were the norm. None of us knew that we were poor, or close to it. We made things for the tree that we went into the woods to get and we cherished the baubles that each year became more fragile to the touch. Food was no problem; we grew it all summer, canned it, and ate well through the worst that winter had to offer.
The following is, as best I can remember, a recollection from a Christmas of my youth. It came to me the other day when the television showed a huge hole in the Boston downtown area that used to be Filenes.
We were about seven or eight years old. I say we, because the Christmas trip to Boston included my two sisters. We didn't own a car, so the trains and trolley cars were how we traveled. There were Santa Clauses in every store and on every corner. You see, in those days, the bell ringers with the red pots were dressed as Santa. As a kid you didn't question why there were so many Santas, you were just glad to be there.
I remember the cold wind that always hit you in the face as you emerged from the subway onto the Boston streets. My mother took us to stand in line at Filenes so that we could get our requests into Santa, thus giving us hope that the great mystery of Christmas would hold us until we awoke on the morning of the 25th. My mother would then take us down into the bowels of Filenes, aptly called Filenes Basement. There, she would search out material for the future clothes that she would sew together and place neatly wrapped under the tree. She would buy skeins of yarn that she would magically turn into sweaters, hats, gloves, and mittens. These were always neatly wrapped and placed within the stockings that hung on the fireplace mantle. She also knitted them, and they had our names embroidered on each one.
The city has always held many memories for me throughout my life. A lot of what was is no more, but if you take a trip to the city of your youth, get that cold blast from the subway entrance, take a deep breath and try to tell where the wonderful smells of the different ethnic cooking are coming from, well, you might be like me. I still am owed a pony from Santa, and I still put the milk and cookies by the window light, and I still pray to my God for peace and good will toward man.
On the way home we would stop at the butter and egg store by the bus stop, and that night we would be very glad to go to bed and dream about the season about to unfold before us. We could hear the treadle on the old Singer sewing machine as my mother stitched away, or the faint beat of the knitting needles as she created miracles from a skein of yarn. All this was done as she made butter cookies, pies, puff pastries, and pastas for all to enjoy. I know now that there was truly a miracle taking place, not only in my religion, but also in our home. That little woman called Mum pulled it off every year with little money, but a lot of grit.
Here's wishing that you cook on a big burner, and here's hoping that you find the peace of the season that has always been there disguised as a tumultuous string of events that bring us each year very close to exhaustive levels.
For now, be well and may your God bless you and yours.
Happy Hanukkah, and Merry Christmas.
--Joe
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HEALTH
Adventures in Exercise & Diet
by Jonathan Leavitt
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At my annual medical checkup in July, my doctor informed me that the blood test indicated my glyco hgb a1c level had reached 7%, and he diagnosed my condition as adult onset diabetes.
Diabetes is one of the most common medical concerns for seniors, and since my diagnosis I have been surprised to learn how many Southport residents have this problem. Many control it with diet and exercise, some require pills, and others need insulin shots. One active resident told me that he had diabetes for 28 years before needing insulin. If my situation were to be similar, that would make me 103 before I reached that stage; perhaps I needn't be concerned.
So what should be done? My situation is borderline, according to my doctor, and there is a very good chance that my blood sugar level can be controlled with exercise and diet alone; that will certainly be my first option.
EXERCISE
The magic number is 150 minutes of brisk walking a week. That is the level of exercise, my doctor said, that has proved effective in a clinical trial. I have been attending Julianne Davignon's Total Body Strength & Stretch classes as often as I can, but while useful for body toning, those exercises are not as effective in regulating blood sugar as vigorous walking is. My doctor noted that walking not only lowers blood sugar but also helps you lose weight. There are many opportunities for exercise at Southport, including a newly formed, once-a-week walking club. So, where to walk, and what to wear while walking?
Where To Walk
- The (Almost) Great Circle Route This route follows Leisure Green Drive and Pine Hill Boulevard. Start anywhere on either road, keep walking and eventually (after about 1.7 miles) you will return to where you started. My favorite walk is a modification of this route. Leaving Par Three Court, I turn right on Leisure Green, left at Bonwood Drive, right at Longwood Road, left at Portside Drive, and then left at Pine Hill Boulevard, which I follow back to Par Three Court. I usually complete this route (1.3 miles) in about 26 minutes. If I want to take a longer walk, there are ten cul de sacs along the way.
- The Golf Cart Route A couple of steep hills make this route a bit more challenging than the great circle route, which is mostly flat. I have completed it in about 30 minutes. During golf season, finish your walk by 8:00 a.m. to avoid being run over by a golf cart.
- Village Center Ballroom This is a great place to walk when the weather precludes outdoor activity. Walk for a set time rather than being concerned about distance.
What To Wear
The first consideration is comfortable walking shoes/sneakers plus the proper socks. Two pairs of thin socks work best for me on the theory that they rub against each other when I walk and not against my feet. Others prefer a single pair of thick socks. The rest depends on the season. Shorts and a tee or golf shirt are fine in the summer. As the weather gets colder, layers of clothing such as sweat pants and shirts plus a warm overcoat may be needed. As Julianne likes to say, "Whatever works for you."
DIET
The magic words are carbohydrates and moderation. The carbohydrate information under the Nutrition Facts label on many foods includes sugar. For years, I've paid attention to the fat and salt content of the foods I eat; now I watch the carbs as well. A word of caution: foods labeled low fat sometimes have elevated carb levels when compared with their higher fat versions. Every time you eat anything with carbs, your blood sugar level can spike until the body absorbs the added sugar. That is why a few small meals are better than one large meal (if that is a practical alternative) when you are trying to regulate your blood sugar.
Here are a few quick and easy things to prepare and eat that work for me:
- Prepared foods such as frozen dinners and canned soups are convenient because their packaging includes Nutrition Facts. There is wide disparity among the fats, salt and carbs in the foods available to you.
- You will be surprised, when you read the labels, how much sugar is in so-called healthy drinks such as grapefruit and orange juice. I've discovered that the combination of diet soda and a vegetable juice drink (V8 low sodium or generic equivalent) offers a very low carb, good tasting equivalent. A lemon and/or lime soda can add extra flavor.
- Canned tuna packed in water contains very few carbs. Add a few carbs when you include celery and/or onions for taste. A salad dressing adds even more carbs, but the total combination is still low.
- A rice cake with cream cheese is one of my favorite quick snacks. Marble halvah does the trick when I need guilt free candy.
RESULTS
Since July, I have walked almost every day (over 180 minutes/week) and paid closer attention to what and when I eat. As a result I have lost weight, my blood pressure is down, and all indications are that my blood sugar level is under control as well. My doctor tells me that you are never really cured of diabetes, but with many great examples here at Southport to inspire me, I feel optimistic about my diabetic future. The key is to be aware of my health every day. As the saying goes, Just Do It!
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December Brown Bag Lunch
to feature
Artist/Author Kathryn Kleekamp | |
Sandwich resident Kathryn Kleekamp, author of the beautifully illustrated book, Cape Cod and the Islands: Where Beauty and History Meet, will be the featured speaker at the December 10th Brown Bag Lunch. This oversize book includes 50 of Kleekamp's paintings of landscapes and seascapes, as well as rare historic photographs. In her fascinating text, she tells the remarkable stories of courage and enterprise of those who settled the land and shaped its character. Traditional Cape and Island recipes are also included in the book, providing yet another link between the present and the past.
Kleekamp paints in a realistic style; her goal is to "capture a moment in time and have the viewer experience the essence of that place as he or she may relate to it." She is an artist member of the Cape Cod Art Association, and her original paintings are found in private collections throughout the United States and Europe. Her BBL talk will be complemented by a PowerPoint display of images from her book, which will be available for purchase. Sign up for this exciting event in the Information Room.
Illustration: Sandwich Village, oil on canvas by Kathryn Kleekamp
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Southport Community of Fellowship
a poem by Frank Julio
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Francis 'Frank' J. Julio, 94, a resident of Southport and the husband of Mary (Menik) Julio, died at Falmouth Hospital on November 9, 2010. Frank enjoyed writing poetry, and I had several of his poems in my file and planned to publish one in this issue of SVV. Unfortunately, he did not live to see it published here, but the poem speaks volumes about the kind of man he was and the way in which he will be remembered.
Southport Community of Fellowship
Life's experiences of the past,
Good and bad judgments are gone at last.
You have done your homework but that's not enough.
Your life affairs are never done
Until you have helped people overcome
Life's needs.
You have lost the art of living, Without compassion to help the needs of others. Stand up, be yourself, life demands some giving. Is being good, good enough when reaching out to others?
Feel good, feel fine, feel this way all the time; Keep Southport Fellowship on your mind. May you live your life with a vision so inclined That will produce dividends in other people's minds, That will help all mankind, If you are so inclined.
Remember: You will be measured by the deeds you have done And the joys you have won To help lighten the load of the one on the road, Who was lost in the shadow of the thread of life Whose face now features a smile.
The following comments are excerpted from the obituary at www.ccgfuneral home.com.
 | | Frank Julio |
Tall, dark and handsome, Frank Julio was an athletic and charismatic entrepreneur who flew planes, wrote poetry, and produced movies. He was every girl's dream man, but was magically in love with his beloved wife of 67 years.
Frank earned an MA degree at New York University and then joined the United States Army. During World War II he flew a bomber, nicknamed after his wife, for the 57th Bomb Wing. Returning home, he started and ran a real estate training school and had a radio and a TV show about real estate. He enjoyed playing football, tennis, golf, and swimming and was a passionate supporter of the World Wildlife Fund.
Frank will be remembered for his kindness, compassion, encouragement and humor he shared with all who crossed his path. Legions of people hold him in high esteem and thank him for the professional encouragement that led to their success. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Jeanne and Marilyn; two sisters; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. |
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An Inkeepers' Tale
Rick Farren interviews Joyce & Steve Roth
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Southporters Joyce and Steve Roth are an engaging and spirited couple, and it's apparent that as innkeepers this vibrant pair always would have had a full house. Steve, a former police officer, also owned his own security business. Joyce was an administrative assistant in the public school system in the New Jersey town where they used to live. They are the proud parents of Melissa, Sara and Amy, and the grandparents of Jessica, Ariana, Shamus and Ella.
After retiring from their jobs, and as periodic visitors to the Cape, Joyce and Steve caught the bug of owning an inn from Joyce's sister, who owns a B & B on Cape Cod. Joyce reasoned, "I enjoy people, love antiques and love to cook-so why not own an inn?"
They purchased the Augustus Snow House, a landmark mansion in Harwichport, in 1996. During the early 20th century many Cape Cod men made their fortunes as sea captains, but Augustus Snow's mother had already lost a son at sea and was adamant that her only surviving son not end up in a watery grave. Augustus acquiesced, became a banker instead and, in 1901, built his mansion as a testament to his success.
 | | The Augustus Snow House in the 1930s (?) |
Snow descendants owned the home until 1986 when it was sold to new owners who turned it into a B&B with a 60-seat restaurant. Ten years later the Roths purchased the B&B, retaining the historic integrity and beauty of the house. They made a business decision not to operate the restaurant on a daily basis. They did, however, use the kitchen to host private functions, anniversary parties and wedding receptions-including the wedding receptions for two of their daughters. And, of course, the massive commercial kitchen facilities were well equipped to accommodate the needs of a B&B.
Steve and Joyce named each guest room after one of their daughters or one of their mothers and decorated each in a distinctive fashion. Repeat guests would often request the room they had stayed in earlier, saying, "We come every spring and we'd like the Amy Room," or "We'd like to come for our winter vacation and stay in the beautiful "Melissa Room." Many guests associated their vacation with the name of the room they had stayed in. Others would say, "Last year we stayed in Sara's Room, but we'd appreciate another room just to experience a change."
The Roths were savvy enough to perceive the current day requirements of their 21st century guests. Each room was fitted out with modern conveniences: working fireplaces, cable TV, air conditioning, private baths, and some with a Jacuzzi. One guest told them when booking a room during March that her husband wouldn't stay there during NCAA's "March Madness" unless it had cable TV. As Joyce said, "It's tough being in the service business. If, however, that's your deal then you have to do what you can to accommodate your guests."
 | | The Augustus Snow House as a B&B in the 1990s |
Most Innkeepers keep one of their more opulent and spacious guest rooms for themselves. In Steve and Joyce's case, however, the mansion's carriage house served as their quarters. Occupying an income-producing guest room was not a sound financial decision; they also converted the third floor servants' quarters to a guest room.
Breakfast was the only meal served and, under Joyce's management, was a gourmet experience. She and Steve shared prep work the evening before and Joyce did all the cooking. The meal, served from 8:30 to 9:30, was a three-course culinary experience, beginning with a variety of home baked muffins, croissants, and special breads, followed by fruits of all kinds, and then special entrees: eggs in many delectable forms, breakfast pizzas and breakfast burritos. Joyce always opted for something more elaborate than the recipe called for. If possible she'd substitute heavy cream for milk to make a richer entrée. As Steve candidly admitted with a wry grin, "We never really served anything that was heart healthy, but our guests loved it."
Joyce was steadfast about returning guests not being "subjected" to repeat meals. To that end she and Steve kept a log of what meal was served on what day. If a guest was there for a week or even two, it was important that they not be served the same food twice. "It was challenging to say the least," Joyce admitted.
Did they have some unusual guests? You bet they did! For the most part, they agreed, their visitors were normal everyday people, but it was the 5% who weren't that made life interesting. One guest polished and buffed his shoes with an expensive bath towel, while one woman even dyed her hair while at the inn--both incidents creating stains that would never come out.
One morning, one of the cleaning staff came downstairs and said to Joyce, "I need you to come upstairs and see what I found in the closet." Fearing the worst, Joyce followed her and discovered a pillow and blankets as if someone had made a bed on the floor of the closet. When Joyce delicately confronted the husband later that day he said, "My wife slept there because she needs complete quiet when she's sleeping, and the closet was her only refuge." Joyce immediately sympathized and offered a number of alternatives, such as a 'white noise' machine, Styrofoam earplugs, etc. But the guest just shrugged off her suggestions and said, "It's no problem-she's very happy in the closet."
 | | Artist conception of an early 20th century party on the lawn of the Augustus Snow House |
Another guest brought his own firewood scraps, claiming that he had picked them up along the highway on his trip to the Cape. Steve (being a former police officer) was skeptical and ran outside to make sure the man hadn't taken part of the fence around their yard. He hadn't, but he was dissuaded from burning junk lumber in the fireplace and agreed to purchase a five-dollar bundle of good wood at the local supermarket.
Then there was the guest from Europe who left his treasured travel journal behind. Before mailing it back, Joyce sheepishly admitted she was curious about what he had to say about his stay at their inn. Peeking into the journal she saw that he noted his stay was delightful, everything was perfect, and the innkeepers were accommodating beyond belief. But one morning he wrote, "Instead of all that gourmet food I would've been very happy with just a piece of toast with marmalade."
The classic guest, however, was one who absolutely loved Joyce's specially prepared pineapple breakfast and had three helpings. Joyce, being a creative cook, had created the delicacy by soaking the pineapple delight overnight in imported rum. One other guest that morning had declined the pineapple treat due to her dislike of pineapple, and the man who had already had three helpings asked if he could have her serving as well. He raved about it, and it was only afterwards that Joyce and Steve discovered he was a member of AA. No wonder he loved the rum soaked delight!
Steve said the climate for advance reservations took a dramatic turn after 2000. Before that, people would book their summer vacations during February and March, and innkeepers could predict, within reason, what their summer financial picture would look like. "With the advent of Internet booking, people can check availability right up to the last minute and hope to strike a deal for empty rooms," he said. This made it increasingly difficult for innkeepers to forecast their short-term finances. The economic climate was also a stumbling block. Steve said, "As much as you'd like to keep up with escalating expenses, it's not feasible to raise room rates proportionately to keep pace."
They operated the inn for eight years and in 2004 made the decision to convert the rooms and the carriage house into condos. They sold all eight condo units and knew they wanted to stay on the Cape, but the question was where to settle. After visiting quite a number of condo complexes, only Southport met their expectations, and they moved here in 2008. Steve plays golf and both participate in bocce. They say that they couldn't be happier with their choice and that anyone would be hard pressed to find a community that offers so much, and is as welcoming and secure as Southport.
If you're hungry for a spectacular breakfast, go somewhere else; Joyce has permanently hung up her whisk and colander. However, if you're a do-it-yourself kind of person, you might want to try the quick and easy holiday recipe below. "It always earned rave reviews at the B&B," according to Joyce.
Cranberry Melt-In-Your- Mouth Cake
Ingredients
2 cups fresh cranberries
1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 eggs
1/2 pound butter, melted & cooled (2 sticks)
1 cup all purpose flour
Directions
Preheat oven to 325
Mix berries, 1/2 cup sugar and nuts and pour into greased 10 inch pie plate
Beat together the eggs and remaining 1 cup sugar.
Add the butter and flour, stirring to blend well.
Pour the batter over the cranberry mixture.
Bake at 325 for 50 to 60 minutes.
Serve plain or with whipped cream and/or vanilla ice cream. |
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Contributors to Southport Village Voices
December 2010
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 Karlyn Curran moved to Southport from New Jersey a little over seven years ago. She has a daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren in Falmouth and two sons, a daughter-in-law and another grandchild near Hanover, NH. After her husband passed away and she retired from her teaching career, she moved to New England to be closer to her children. She loves Southport and Cape Cod. Even more than that, she loves her family and being a "hands-on" grandma. She caught the travel bug from her husband and this has resulted in a chronic condition.
 Rick Farren was born in Boston and grew up on his family's farm in Westchester County, NY. His parents helped shape his love of writing and adventure. His father, a sportswriter and newspaper reporter, encouraged him to learn a new word every day and to write a story using the new words every week. His mother was a stunt pilot who taught her children never to be afraid to try something new and exciting. Rick's love of reading was influenced by A Child's Garden of Verses, westerns by Zane Gray, Grimm's Fairy Tales, Longfellow's poems, and stories of pirates on the high seas. Rick served in the US Air Force and retired from a career in banking and financial services. He and his wife Ann, a former nurse, raised four children in Brockton. They moved to Southport in 2009. Rick is an active member of the Monument Beach Sportsmen's Club, the Cape Cod Writer's Center, and the Falmouth Theater Guild. He enjoys writing stories for his and Ann's grandchildren, golfing, mystery writing and community theater.
 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.
David Kapp, with his wife Billie, moved from Connecticut to Southport in November 2009. David retired from a career as a university library administrator, after working in the libraries at Brandeis, Harvard and the University of Connecticut. He was a building consultant for the planning of a number of major university libraries and was, for many years, the editor of Connecticut Libraries. Billie enjoyed a career as an educator and social sciences consultant. Their son and daughter live in Hawaii, and they have one grandson.
 Joe Marino Born in Boston, raised in Milton--the adopted son of Joseph and Rose (Grasso) Marino. Had my first business at 22--Hell of a mechanic--lousy business man. Ten-year span of working for others, but always felt that I should try again. Second time met with success. Married for 47 years to Carmela--alias Carmen, or to her family MA! Proud father of four sons--a foster son and foster daughter, two girls, eleven and ten, that stayed with us a lot after their dad died. There were other kids that had bumps in their lives that stayed with us on occasion, one even graduated high school while with us. Have always loved sports--horses--the ocean--fishing. You name it I've tried it. Retirement is not one of my stronger adjustments--wish I had taken my wife's advice about seeking out adoption records sooner. Have been fortunate to find family members and add them to my life. Love my involvement in Kiwanis--allows me to do things for and with youth and this can be the secret to staying young in spirit
 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 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.
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