Storytellers, Essayists, Interviewers, Poets, Etc.  

 

Southport Village Voices welcomes writers. A monthly commitment is not necessary; an occasional contribution is appreciated. We're looking for residents who would enjoy doing an interview or a restaurant review, writing about a travel adventure, telling a story or writing an essay, poem or memoir. Let your imagination be your guide. If you want to contribute but prefer not to write, let me know and I'll arrange for someone to talk with you and do the writing.

David Kapp,editor

 

 

Stephen Del Gizzo and Glen Dombrow have been together for 31 years, which is not surprising since they have a lot in common. Both are from New England; Stephen from Providence, Rhode Island, and Glen, from Newington, Connecticut. They both grew up in middle class families with three children, each with an older brother and a younger sister. They were raised in the same religion and their mothers are still living. Stephen's mother is 91years old; Glen did not reveal his mother's age, though he stated she was younger than Stephen's mother, a wise choice, just in case his mother reads this interview. 

Glen Dombrow & Stephen Delgizzo

 When you start interviewing them in earnest, you soon realize that their similarities end with their family backgrounds. Stephen is of average height and gregarious. He is naturally curious about people and because of his easy-going and engaging disposition he is soon conversing with you as if he has known you his entire life. At first you are unaware that he has drawn you into a conversation about one of your favorite subjects. You pause and wonder to yourself, how did he know? After a while you realize Stephen's interests are so broad that he is capable of having a stimulating conversation about almost anything.

So you ask him what interests him the most, and he responds, convincingly, everything. Remember I mentioned his curiosity about people? Well that curiosity extends to arts, crafts, music, games, books, movies, cooking, just about anything you can name. Skiing? Sure. He has skied, not competitively, but for fun! Singing? Sure. Not professionally, but for fun! In fact in the short time he has lived in Mashpee, he has joined the Southport Sound and the Mashpee Singing Seniors, singing at events both at Southport and also in the community. 

Needlepoint? Sure. Stephen has done needlepoint in the past and has been thinking about expanding his horizons by checking out the Southport Quilting Club. For Fun! Mahjong? Why not, never played it but is taking lessons. For Fun! Cooking? Yes, creative cooking especially with an Italian theme. Electrical and plumbing handyman activities? Absolutely, but only in their own home and again for fun! Decorating? Yes and their house on PGA Lane reflects their sophisticated tastes. Picking out the paint combinations and the new flooring materials was, of course, fun! There is a theme to Stephen's interests; he enjoys a variety of activities for the fun of it. And yes, if the singing groups lend their talents to entertain nursing home residents and attendees at fund raisers, so much the better.

Stephen's enthusiasm for life and his innate curiosity is contagious. These qualities probably explain why he knows more Southport residents than people who have lived here for ten years do. These qualities also influenced his professional career, which began as a visual merchandiser for Peerless, a men's and women's clothing store. After working 20 years in visual merchandising, Stephen decided it was time for a change. His innate curiosity about people led him to pursue a career in cosmetology. Once he acquired the requisite credentials to establish himself as a talented cosmetologist, an international hair-care company hired him as an instructor and sent him to teach budding cosmetologists throughout New England, New York,New Jersey and Pennsylvania. All this experience brought him to establish his own business in cosmetics and make-up, a company called MakingFaces, LLC. Why not? It was fun!

Stephen and Glen bought a condominium in Provincetown. They lived there part time for five years and full time for about nearly as long. In 2009 they decided to marry and had their wedding in Provincetown. Living in Provincetown afforded Stephen yet another career opportunity, working for the Council on Aging as a program coordinator. 

Dali

 Stephen and Glen do, of course, have some shared interests, one of which is dogs. They had a standard poodle named Dali (after Salvador Dali) for 15 years. She was their pride and joy, and one of the reasons they moved to Provincetown was to afford her the freedom of running on the beach. Unfortunately, Dali passed away two weeks after moving to Southport. Though they miss her companionship, her absence enables them to do something they've wanted to do together for a long time -- travel. No plans yet, but they will be forthcoming, especially after Glen retires full time from his job as a senior underwriting consultant. 

Now, Glen is as different in personality from Stephen as day is from night. He is tall and slim and more reserved. Friendly, but reticent, and does not possess Stephen's overwhelming desire to connect and discover. Glen is a self-described home-body and enjoys brain twisters, crossword puzzles, manipulating numbers, and reading. He is relaxed and easy-going, but his interests are more defined. Glen enjoys biking, walking, playing board games, music, and appreciating the here and now.

Glen also has a special interest in helping people in the community. With his background in insurance, it was a logical step to become a certified counselor with Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone (SHINE). Glen is hoping to develop a counseling program for Southport residents sometime in the future. In addition to assisting seniors navigate the sometimes confusing maze of Medicare, Glen and Stephen helped found the Friends of Maushope, a nonprofit fund-raising organization located in Provincetown designed to enhance the lives of residents at Maushope. Both Glen and Stephen continue to be on the organization's board of governors. 

So why was Southport fortunate enough to have Stephen and Glen call it home? Location, Location, Location! Though they enjoyed Provincetown, they felt it was a bit removed from "civilization", aka, the bridges. Moving to the Upper Cape enables them to have easier access to cultural amenities while still living near the Cape beaches and scenery.  Stephen and Glen find Southport welcoming and are glad they moved here. Welcome to the neighborhood!

 

 

Our four kids were frolicking happily in the motel pool. My wife was waiting anxiously in our room, managing somehow to contain her nerves and silently praying that I would find a solution.

I was completely distraught, beyond panic.

Almost everything was ready. The James Bond-like aluminum suitcase containing the portable kidney machine was open and unfolded. The IV post with the saline bottle hanging from it was plugged into the base. The blood lines were set up. Electricity was powering the entry and exit blood pumps. I had set up the five-gallon collapsible plastic bag, had unscrewed the shower head and connected the water purifier canister. Its chemical contents were creating the pure distilled water necessary for the mix with the concentrated dialysate fluid. Everything was almost ready.

Except for the missing plug to the plastic dialysate bag.  

When I couldn't find the plug about an hour earlier, I removed all the medical supplies from the vinyl bag resting on the station wagon roof. After driving for four days, from New Rochelle, the first new car of our married years no longer looked new and shiny. I searched each nook and cranny. Twice! 

No plug. 

We had targeted Oklahoma City as our first on-the-road dialysis stop because the university hospital there had a dialysis department. In spite of a year of planning, 'belt and suspenders' was an appropriate precaution. There were no clinics in the early days of kidney dialysis; we naively believed that if a glitch occurred we could get help at the hospital. Not so. The renal docs had read about our prototype portable machine and were greatly interested in seeing it.

But they could offer no help. 

I phoned the engineer on Long Island who, along with a renal doctor in Brooklyn, had invented and built the two prototype machines then in existence. Johnson and Johnson was rumored to be interested in buying and manufacturing his invention. It was a leading edge breakthrough and we were early adopters. He had trained us in its use.

But he had no solution for a missing part.

Home dialysis had been my late wife's lifeline for about eight years. We knew almost all there was to know about the equipment and its operation and were approved for its use. It was the only solution for those who could afford it until the Medicare Act was expanded to pay for it in 1972. Until then, it was buy it or turn off the lights. 

There was no insurance of any kind for home dialysis back in the day.

We had planned our trip for more than a year, ever since we had been invited to a family wedding to take place in California. It was fly or drive and we thought we would never again have the opportunity to see the country and also show it to our children; so drive it was to be. Much more expensive than flying, even in those days. Now it was a case of flying my wife home for in-hospital dialysis and driving the children back to New Rochelle. 

All our hopes down the drain.

I was persistent. I grabbed a nondescript box not previously noticed and opened it. It was filled with bits and pieces of spare parts and extra rubberized tubing that I had cobbled together for possible use and boxed just before setting out. 

Maybe I could do something with this mess.

Scratching about, I noticed a plastic screw cap and tried it on the plastic dialysate bag. It fit and screwed tight. I went to my overnight kit and found my diminutive folding pocket knife. Everyone had one. It had a screwdriver, a toothpick, a pair of "Don Alverso's" spring-action scissors, and a 1.5" pointed knife with a remarkably sharp blade. 

I knew this knife would come in handy.

When we returned home about three weeks later, I immediately went to our master bathroom, which had been fitted out as our 'laboratory.' Our home dialysis machine was there -- with the original plug hanging from the IV post. We now had three plugs: my jury-rigged one, the one mailed to California, and the original. When we needed one plug, we had none; now we had three. 

Isn't that always the way!

 

 

Ann Marie Pavlovitch, backed up by the voices of The Southport Sound, concluded the annual Hanukkah celebration with "Light One Candle." Photo: Paul Butters

To kick off the New Year,

I thought it would be helpful for new residents

to hear about the Southport experienceof some longtime residents.
 

Eda and Marty Stepper

18 Mainsail Circle; moved here in 1999

Mainsail Circle was the first new street constructed after Southport's first bankruptcy. It was meant to be the "show" street for potential buyers. Much landscaping was put into its original design.
 

Originally From  Eda, West Hartford, CT; Marty, Newton, MA
 

Previous Residences  Needham, MA; Manchester and Willington, CT
 

Why Southport?  When we decided to retire on Cape Cod, we discovered the Falmouth Jewish Congregation and wanted to be nearby. Southport was perfect; it fit our active lifestyle better than anything else around. The Village Center was just being finished; we had to wear hard hats to walk through it.
 

Like Best about Southport  Marty -- very caring community that makes it very special. Do as much or as little as you want to. As you age and your interests change, still plenty to do here. Eda -- meeting new people, staying involved and active. You can find me playing Mah Jong.
 

Concerns  Volunteerism is very important at Southport. Important to continue this as we grow. Can be a tendency to hire people instead and this can cause us to lose control of the community as we know it.
 

Advice to New Residents  Get involved. You will be welcomed.

 

Tony Petruzzi

2 Chippers Lane; moved here in 2002

 

Originally From  Everett, MA
 

Previous Residences  Stoneham and Popponesset, MA
 

Why Southport  At age 85 moved here to be rid of home maintenance. No more lawns to mow and snow to shovel.
 

Like Best about Southport  People and the amenities. I lost my wife in 2003 but because of the caring community my life is always filled. I'm a very active card player.
  

 

Concerns  Residents need to have more input. I feel things often don't get acted upon when they are brought up.
 

Advice to New Residents  Don't be shy. Everyone is made to feel welcome here. Get involved and volunteer. No matter how long you have lived here, everyone is equally important.

 

Bobby and Arthur Wagman

18 Rolling Green Lane; moved here in 2002

Rolling Green Lane was one of the original streets in Southport.
 

Originally From  Bobby, Brookline, MA;

Arthur, Dorchester, MA
 

Previous Residences  South Natick, MA
 

Why Southport  We had a summer home at Nantasket Beach but were looking for more of a lifestyle than just a vacation home. Heard about it from friends, came down and looked and bought our condo in one day.
 

Like Best about Southport  We always feel like we are on vacation here. We enjoy the people, the amenities and the sense of community.
 

Concerns  We should have recycling, more renewable energy, such as solar at the Village Center. As the community grows, better communication is needed between the community and Board of Governors.
 

Advice to New Residents  This is a great place to live. Check the Information Room for events. Read the monthly newsletter. The weekly men's and women's coffees are wonderful places to meet people.
 

If you would like to do a snapshot introduction/interview with Andy Jablon

or know someone who should be interviewed, please send Andy a note at

andy@wvpboston.com.
 

 

 

After spending a few days in Seattle last August, Rick and I embarked on our amazing Alaska adventure by flying to Anchorage. We enjoyed a day exploring the city and were impressed by the flower gardens throughout the city, especially with the oversized blooms common to this climate due to long daylight hours. The next day we boarded the McKinley Explorer for an eight-hour deluxe train trip to Denali. And deluxe it was! Traveling at a moderate 30 miles per hour allowed us to appreciate the dramatic scenery through a glass domed ceiling while being wined and dined and regaled with stories of Alaskan natives old and new.

This is the view of Denali that draws visitors to Denali National Park.

On arrival at Denali and checking into our chalet by the Tanana River, we explored the area and prepared for the following day's Tundra Wilderness tour. Although heavy cloud cover obscured the peak of Mount McKinley (not an unusual experience for most visitors), we did see seven black bears, three moose, many caribou, a couple of  ptarmigan, a beautiful rainbow and stunning vistas both above and below the timberline. 

Denali National Park is a top priority for travelers to Alaska. We walked the moderate Horseshoe Trail inside the park and went white water rafting on the twisting and turbulent Tanana  River. A 90-minute experience of a lifetime! 

Rick managed to video some of our exciting white water experience with a waterproof camera  -- and without falling in! That's us on the far left.

After an overnight in unimpressive Fairbanks, a gateway to other Northwest cities, we boarded a plane for a two-day visit to Dawson City and Whitehorse in the Yukon. With its unpaved streets (and runway!) and wooden sidewalks, Dawson is a throwback to the days of the Yukon Gold Rush; there are historical reminders everywhere of the gold frenzy in the early 1900s. This is an authentic old-style western town complete with Gertie's Music Hall, where we watched a live song and dance revue while imbibing with the local "townies." Great fun!

Jan did not "make her fortune" panning for gold, but she had fun trying.

Our tours of working goldmines turned out to be one of the highlights of our adventure. At Gold Dredge 8, we saw what large scale mining looked like. The next day at Gold Bottom Mine, a plaicer mine being worked by a third generation Alaskan family, we panned for gold after an informative look at historical mining practices as compared with modern mining technology. People still come to this area to work hard and try to "make their fortunes."

When in "these here parts of the west," a must do is the three+ hour ride on the White Pass and Yukon Rail train through the mountains near the famous Chilkoot Pass. This was the treacherous route taken by the gold rushers, many of whom never made it to their fortune. The scenery from the train was spectacular, and the old photos we saw of the ill-prepared would-be miners were fascinating.

On to Skagway and another highlight of our trip. After a 30-mile fast boat trip down the fjord leading out of Skagway harbor and past the city of Haines, the bald eagle capital of the world, we walked through a rain forest to embark on a canoe trip across the bay to the Davidson Glacier. We disembarked at its base and walked and slid, took photos of one another and enjoyed the experience. Although we were to see a larger, calving glacier at Tracy Arm on our cruise south to Vancouver, the close up encounter with the Davidson Glacier was a unique experience. 

As our canoe approached the Davidson Glacier, the size and extraordinary beauty  of this river of snow and ice was mind boggling.

The last five days of our adventure were on board the cruise ship Zaandam, where we relaxed and reflected on one of the best trips we have ever taken.

A quick note about the people of Alaska and the Yukon -- friendly, helpful, at times delightful, they are so proud and happy to be living and raising families right where they are, despite what we might consider a life with fewer creature comforts than most Americans or Canadians. There are many more specifics than can be included here, so if you see us around and have a question, ask and we're sure to have an opinion.

Bob Mendes began his career as an advertising copywriter at Doyle Dane Bernbach in New York before becoming senior vice president of marketing for a west coast department store chain. He left that position to start Pacific Sports, a sports and general marketing agency. There he developed "The Reading Team," a children's literacy program sponsored by the National Football League and the American Library Association, which used NFL players as literacy role models. Bob is the author of "A Twentieth Century Odyssey, the Bob Mathias Story." After retiring, he served as executive director of the Glendora, CA Chamber of Commerce. When grandson Adam was born, Bob and Bette moved to Cape Cod, where they recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Neither retires well. He's had a number of part-time jobs, has written two more books, and volunteers. Bette serves on committees at Southport and at the Falmouth Jewish Congregation. Their son Steve is a pediatrician and lives in Marion with his wife Sarah and their children, and a second son, Jeff, practices law in Indianapolis.

Odin Tidemand moved to Southport in November 2011 from Silver Spring, Maryland. He enjoys writing, genealogy, cooking, theater, classical and folk music and being close to his daughter Julie, who lives in Brockton. Before moving to the Cape, he was a real property appraiser in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Odin was married for 37 years to Nancy, who passed away five years ago. He enjoys the relaxed lifestyle of Southport, his canine kaffee klatch, and the incredible natural beauty of Cape Cod.