sandwich newcomers & neighbors newsletter
TRANSCRIPT
May 2021
Sandwich Newcomers & Neighbors Newsletter
President’s Message
Another month and another chance to wish you all a happy spring, as we all get
out even more, whether for walks, gardening, sports activities, or dining. The
question that we’re all asking is “do we still need to wear a mask outdoors? What
if we’re vaccinated?” Well, those questions were answered just as we were going
to press. Per the Governor, “starting April 30, masks are no longer required outdoors as long
as the person maintains social distancing.” Capacity limits are also expanding making plan-
ning our outdoor events easier. The only caution I have for us is the social distancing aspect
of unmasking. We are a very social group and when we get together it is so easy to forget the
distance. Not assured that we are 100% immunized, social distancing will be required for eve-
ryone’s protection. Our annual meeting, typically held in June, is not confirmed due to possi-
ble food restrictions at Holly Ridge. It looks as though they can support our numbers, but
we’ll wait to see how they handle the new regulations. More to come.
Changing the subject, the enticing real estate market prompted me to downsize to a condo
earlier than I anticipated. My first realization was the lack of condos in Sandwich. After many
open house visits, my search led me back over the bridge to Pinehills in Plymouth, where I
was successful. After a discussion with the Board, they all agreed that I should stay on in my
current role and I was very happy for their support. This community of neighbors and friends
is very special to me and I thank all of you who reached out to wish me well and even help
pack! When you read this newsletter, I’ll have been in my new home for one day. I’m looking
forward to hosting a SNN activity soon. Meanwhile, I still plan on being fully engaged (only 10
minutes from the bridge)!
See you soon, Jean
.
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Member Profile—Paul Coteus Saying You are a Physicist Tends to be a Conversation Stopper
Paul Coteus changed his life’s course after taking his first electrical engineering class. “I found that I
hated the subject matter.” Paul explored biology and chemistry before finding satisfaction in phys-
ics. A career at IBM included multiple patents to solve problems. Yet the biggest challenge he had
was solving what to do with all the extra time retirement granted.
Paul along with Carol, the genuine girl next door, retired to Cape Cod to be near
their son and grandson and live in a community where they could walk down
the street and know their neighbors. They share a life where Carol solves the
problems of the heart and Paul solves the rest.
Yet true to his practical science self, a problem emerged based on science: How
to take carbon out of the atmosphere. Landing on the Cape he looked for
courses in climate change at the Academy of Lifelong Learning. Finding none,
he decided to enlist others by developing and teaching the course. Today, he
works with a group of 60 or so professionals to identify and solve THE problem.
He has voted with his feet by changing his personal carbon footprint. As he quotes Bill Gates, “The
right thing to do.” Carol and Paul downsized living quarters, chose a plug in Prius, changed his elec-
trical source to hydropower, completed a MASS Save audit and became primarily a vegetarian.
His Sandwich life meets his need to reduce his carbon footprint. “Sandwich is a charming town with
neighbors out and about and ability to walk to coffee shops.” Paul and Carol made more changes to
lower their carbon footprint. Their life is accented with vegetable gardening at the Sandwich Com-
munity Garden, buying most everything used, walking or biking as much as possible, and choosing
to eat foods in season. And when that is not enough, buying carbon offsets.
What would the nine year old Paul tell the adult Paul: “Keep doing what you’re doing and leave the
planet better than you found it.”
What the adult Paul would tell the nine year old Paul: Get an eye exam.” (As he was nearly blind un-
til he did at age 14).
Another one of his quests is to find a golf partner, one who does not expect perfect play.
Submitted by: Jeannie Dodson-Edgars
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April 2021 in Review
Mixers and Shakers—Newcomers Get Together On a nice Saturday evening, nine SNN Mixers and Shakers zoomed in to make and taste two rum cocktails together, Oak Bluff's Breeze and Puppy Love Punch. T hey were both a sign of summer to come mixing Black Dog Rum with different juices. There were individ-ual favorites and creativity abound-ed with the ingredients but Kit and Mike bested everyone by dressing up their drinks with flamingos!
Kit & Mike Sullivan
Walking Group
Are we sure this is a
walking group?
Hiking Group
Color-coordinated trio
hiking in Ryder Woods
Conservation and Lowell
Holly Reservation 4.7.21.
4.14.21 Julia Blakely,
Barbara Gaughan, Lor-
raine Jablecki, Diane Ad-
elstein on Town Neck
See page 11
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April in Review
Book Club Review April’s book club selection was This Tender Land by author William Kent Krueger. This beautifully- written coming of age novel is set in rural Minnesota in 1932. The narrator is Odie O’ Bannion, and he tells the tale of his escape with three other orphans from the horrific Lincoln Indian Training School many summers ago. When these four children steal a canoe and journey on the Gilead and Mississippi Rivers to find a new home, they become family for life. The colorful and contradictory characters they meet along the way alter their beliefs, and ultimately affect the trajectories of their lives. This atmospheric adventure story reminiscent of Huckleberry Finn seemed to be enjoyed by all of the members who participated in the discussion.
Submitted by: Marsha Beaudoin
Men’s Get Together
We met again at Houlihan’s back
yard at lunch time on April 21st.
From the left: George Z, Mike S, Bob S (with
Jack) , David D, Ron M, Paul C, Ed H, Prentice
A, Dean C.
Horticultural discussion led to Paul Coteus
looking for red spiders.
Falmouth Green Historical Walk
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Upcoming May Member Activities
Walking Tour of Sandwich - Wednesday, May 26 at 2:00 pm
Join us for a walking tour of Sandwich with Bill Daley on National Senior
Health and Fitness Day!!!
Are you curious about the homes in Sandwich village and who once lived in them?
Do you want to know the history of our unique town, the oldest town on Cape Cod?
If so, please join local historian, SNN’s own Bill Daley, for a delightful walk through the
village to learn more about where you live. He will explain how it started and how it
evolved while you get to see one of the best and most well-preserved collections of
1600, 1700 and 1800 buildings anywhere.
It is an easy walk that will last about 90 minutes. The tour will begin immediately at 2:00 pm on
Wednesday, May 26th ( Rain Date: Thursday, May 27th ).
The tour group size is limited to 16 people.
Meet at the Glass Museum and we will proceed to Shawme Pond. Donations to benefit the Sand-
wich Historic Commission may be made prior to the beginning of the walk.
To join us, please contact Kit Sullivan at [email protected] no later than Wednesday, May 19.
Biking Dust off your bike and pump up your tires and polish your helmet, we will be taking the 2021 maiden journey on the Cape Cod Canal bike path Tues-day, May 4.
Meet at the Freezer Rd. parking lot at 10:00. Choose your pace and distance and then be back at 11:30 for lunch at the Chew. If you would like to join the group, please email me, [email protected].
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Upcoming May and Ongoing Member Activities
Wine Social—Saturday, May 22nd Our first Wine Social of 2021 will be at Catherine and Tom Morrison's home! The social begins at 5 pm...even though we are immunized many of us will want to be outside in their lovely backyard at 2 Bay-berry Lane. In case of rain, the Wine Social will be
held on Sunday, May 23. Please let Catherine and Tom know if you are planning to attend by contacting them at [email protected]
Don't forget to bring an appetizer or dessert and your own libation. Looking forward to seeing every-one!!
Spring brings the sound of PICKLEBALLS!! Rosi and I hope that some of you have signed up for les-sons and/or are taking advantage of the courts. We are playing on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4-5pm. There are many empty courts at this time of the year. Take advantage of that and come out. As summer approaches, court time will be harder to get. Contact the Sandwich Recreation Dept. and open an account so you can sign up for court times. The list of all our interested players was sent out via email. If there is someone who didn't get it or wants IN, con-tact us (Annie 774-810-0255) or (Rosi 203-313-6538). Please get in touch with players; set up some games or just practice. There are many websites that give basic information on rules for beginners. And there will be someone on that list that will be willing to bounce some balls with you. Have fun and again, let us know if you have any questions.
The Women’s Daytime Book Club - Tuesday, May 11, 1:00 The May book is In the Midst of Win-ter by Isabelle Allende, a sweeping nov-el that journeys from present-day Brooklyn to Guatemala in the recent past, to 1970’s Chile and Brazil. Sharon Hunt is the hostess and we are hoping for good weather and an out-door meeting. Plan to BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair). Please let Sharon know if you will be participating at [email protected].
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Upcoming Member Activities
“Beachcombers” is simply our name for Wednesday gatherings at the
beach beginning in June. It is our thought that..... • We are fortunate to live near ocean beaches. • The beach with friends is a nice way to end the day. • Enjoy conversation, a beverage of choice with a beach chair, a walk or may-be a game of Corn Hole as the only agenda. It sound like “Cheers” (where everyone knows your name), but it will be SNN Beachcombers at Sandy Neck at 5:00 PM on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the
month beginning in June. See you there.
You do not need to sign up for this activity and parking is free after 5:00 PM. - Nancy Spalding
Men’s Get Together
We are close to moving back our original format of an 8:00 breakfast
meeting at the Marshland Too on Cotuit Rd. The outdoor meetings were a
move to block the spread of COVID. With most
of Newcomers already immunized, an indoor breakfast gather-
ing should be safe if all are immunized.
We plan to survey the guys on the mailing list regarding un-
immunized attenders.
April 2021
8
Around Town
Caring for the Cape
Food to plant now: Last newsletter we suggested to delay planting “cool
weather” crops: peas, lettuce, kale, broccoli, parsley, and the like, until mid-
April. Hopefully, you did that! Though I am sorry to say that last year’s over-
wintered kale has doubled in size, and my newly- planted lettuce plants
along with other ‘boughten plants seem happy, those I started from seed
have yet to poke their heads up. It has been cool, so maybe I was too early
again! Potatoes will go into the ground as soon as I see abundant dandelions.
Alternative Lawns/Stone Mulch: Some of you may have noticed that the Cape has had a spat of
“red flag” fire alerts, the last one issued on March 15th. Although we have had no serious fires
since the Plymouth of 1957, and nothing of note on the Cape since the
Bourne fire of 1923, there are over 100,000 acres of protected open
space in Barnstable County, much of which is flammable. One of these
years it would not be at all surprising to see a big wildfire somewhere
on the Cape.
One condition that can assist the combustion of wood siding is the
presence of large quantities of mulch up against our homes. So, what to do? Rather than pile
more chipped mulch on top of the old, consider switching to stone pebbles or other decorative
rock. It’s inflammable, does not decay, can be quite attractive and it’s what I intend to do.
Submitted by: Paul Coteus
Health News
I tried several ways to get news releases from Fauci and selected
two, but added another good COVID one. The top Google search was
a simple ask (Fauci news). The responses included explanations of
breakthrough infections with different COVID mutants and a new
platelet problem in reproductive women for example. The second
link is all official news from NIAID and the third is general govern-
ment COVID news.
1. Google: ‘Fauci news’
2. https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/newsroom - (COVID and other infectious disease in-
fo)
3. Google: ‘Is there a government COVID update today?’ (Gives federal and state info)
Submitted by: Lee Burns
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May 2021 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
2 3 4 Biking
Group 10 am
5 Walking
Group 10am
6 7 8
9 Happy
Mother’s
Day
10 11 Book
Club 1pm
12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 Sandwich
Walking Tour
Sign-up Deadline
20 21 22 Wine
Social 5pm
23 24 25 26 Sandwich
Walking Tour
2pm
27 28 29
30 31
Memorial Day
Note: Pickleball meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 4-5pm
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ACTIVITIES The Women’s Daytime Book Club meets 2nd Tuesday of each month at 1:00PM. New members are welcome. Coordinator is Patty Williams, ([email protected])
Biking: Riding the pathways and the rail trails of the Cape, lunch at a local favorite. Patty Williams, Coordinator, ([email protected])
Men’s Poker Group meets first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7:00 PM . Coordi-nators are Paul Pronovost ([email protected]) and Henry Jablecki ([email protected])
Girl’s Night Out: Ladies go to early movie, and then supper at local restaurant. Contact Kitty Ott, ([email protected])
Special Events (maybe with lunch or dinner): Contact Kit Sullivan/Rosi Hol-combe ([email protected]/[email protected] ) with any of your ideas.
Kayak Caucus: Sliding Quietly through the Cape’s bays, ponds, marshes and riv-ers. All levels of Kayaking welcome. Please email Coordinator Ed Houlihan at ([email protected]) to confirm you want to be included on the Kayak Caucus list. Please include your email address and the phone number where you can be reached on the day of the scheduled kayak trips.
Walking Group: Walking Group: Get outdoors and walk the trails of Sandwich and neighboring towns. All levels of walkers welcome! We meet on Wednesday at 10 am a few times per month, weather permitting. Emails are sent out to inform members of the loca-tion of the next hike. Coordinator: Candice Murphy, contact Candice at [email protected]
Hiking Group: A new group is taking form for those looking for a hike - (typically 4 miles at a moderate pace) and some challenges (hills, uneven terrain) along the way. Barbara Gaughan has taken some members on trial hikes and she’d like to hear from those interested in joining in. Contact Barbara at: [email protected].
Pickle Ball: The Pickleball group started in the Fall of 2020 and play on Sandwich's six new courts. The group will start up again in the Spring, or as soon as the weather gets warm enough for hearty members and interested NEW members (both men and women welcome) . Annie Ad-ler coordinates along with co-coordinator, Rosi Holcombe, member get-together and matches, along with lessons on occasion at the Oak Crest Cove Park courts. Email Annie to join in on the fun at [email protected].
Guy’s Get Together: Guys meet for coffee-breakfast and discussion of issues, large and small. 2nd and 4th Wednesday every month at the Marshland Too and outdoors during the pandemic.. Coordi-
Annie Adler
Barbara Gaughan
Candice Murphy
Ed Houlihan
Kit Sullivan
Rosi Holcombe
Henry Jablecki
Patty Williams
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Board of Directors—Contact Info
President, Jean Dorcus - [email protected]
Vice President, Lee Burns - [email protected]
Secretary, Jeannie Dodson-Edgars - [email protected]
Treasurer, Annie Adler - [email protected]
Membership, Marsha Beaudoin - [email protected]
Newsletter, Ed Collupy - [email protected]
Publicity, Lesley Zicko - [email protected]
Special Events, Rosi Holcombe & Kit Sullivan - [email protected] & [email protected]
Wine Socials, Candice Murphy - [email protected]
Photos Credits
Thanks to Ed Collupy, Paul Coteus, Jean Dorcus, Barbara Gaughan, Ed Houlihan,
and Candice & Ron Murphy for their photography in this month’s newsletter.
You too can be a contributor to our Monthly Newsletter! Send along pictures of group activities to [email protected] and help make a SNN event come alive.
Send your entry to [email protected] by the 20th of each month.
A friendly reminder:
The Sandwich Newcomers and Neighbors dues for fiscal year July 2021- June 2022 are due by July
1st. They are 25$ per person. Please mail your check to Marsha Beaudoin, 2 Briar Patch Circle ,
East Sandwich MA 02537. Thank you!