Run-on Sentences with Excessive Use of Punctuation!?;:.
CHUCK GreGory - Publisher
Therearesomethingsthatage with grace and dignity,get better as time goes by.Cheese and casks of winecome to mind, whiskey, ofcourse. Some things don’t agewell:thecouchinthecellarmancave,thecanoehangingin the garage, the wickerfurniture in the back yardyou never really used andleftoutallwinterfortwentyyears. Some thingssmellmoldy,like your old Uncle Ernie,the relative you don’t letyourkidsvisitanymore. Then there are the pureaspects in life that maturegracefully, seem to getsweeterwith thepassageoftime,becomemorerealistic,ifyouwill. Such a concept, thing,reality (fill-in-the-nomenclature) is the MsSeniorSweetheartPageantofAmerica, Inc/International.It is celebrating its 35thAnniversarythisyear. Thepageantismorethanashow.Itisaworkofartthatdepicts the nature, beauty,determination and personalvalues of women over theage of 58-years-old. It is not a Picasso. Thereisnoguessworkhereas towhatthesubjectmatteris.ItisaThomasKinkadelightedartworkthatilluminatesthestage with the contestant’sbeams of pride on it. Ithas Star Trek-style rays of tears and hope in the eyesand hearts of husbands,boyfriends, children,siblings, nieces, nephews,grandchildren and, yes, great-grandchildren, watching asthe lady who changed theirdiapers 70-years-ago, who isnowchangingtheirmindsabout what growing older
The Aging Process Personifiedreallymeans. Contestants come fromaroundtheworld,theUnitedKingdom, the colonies,virtually every island youcan name that we’re notfighting with, just about everystateintheunion.Thecurrent Queen hails fromtheBritishCaymanIslands.HernameisCelinaDilbert. This year there is acontestant who hails fromKorea in the line-up. She callsPhiladelphiaherhome,now.MoonChangwillsoonbe living at the HamptonInn in Westport starting onOctober 17th. That’s whenthecontestants,theirguests,most of the five former Queens,andotherVIPshaulinto town for their 11-day visittotheSouthcoast. The are 12 contestantsthis year, which is a verycomfortable level. It makesforatightershow. For the first time there will be mother/daughter entries.Mary Lee Pompeii and herdaughter,DianeBombardierare both vying for the titleofQueen.Theywillperformseparately. Both ladies hailfromAttleboro,MA. The opening pressconference will be held atFall River’s GovernmentCenter,withMayorFlanaganashost.Lunchwillbeservedintheatrium. HERE IS A SPECIALNOTE: MAYOR WILLFLANAGANPURCHASEDALL THE PAGEANTTICKETSANDISGIVINGTHEM AWAY. Tickets areavailable at all BankFivelocations, all senior citizencenters and from ChuckGregory or Len Kaplan,if you can catch up withthem. I would suppose thepageantplanningcommitteemembers will also havesuppliesonthem. Itshouldalsobenotedthatthepageanthasalwayshelda special place in MayorFlanagan’s heart, his aunt,the late Rita Caouette, wasa former Queen and servedroyallyduringhertenure. LenKaplanandImetwiththe mayor on his couch inthe front office on the 6th floor of Government Center. Iofferedtheticketproposal,Len said “Yep, that’s theoffer” and “Will” jumpedon it, noting, “I’d be happytodothat.” We all shook hands, took(stole) some candies fromthedishonthedeskandtheworldmovedon. The planning committee
thisyearconsistsofDorothySoczek, Andrea Barron,Carolyn Burton, HeatherSalva, Barbara Parente,Yvette Mancini, CharlieNoversa,MorellaFredricks,AnnetteGamache,ShannonDallaire, Wayne Lima andBruceRex. The pageant headquartersis, as usual, the HamptonInn,Westport,Ma. The extensive rehearsalswill take place around theareaincludingatWhite’sofWestport and other venues.The ladies and the troupewillperformthroughouttheSouthcoast at care homesandspecialevents. The judgeschairperson isAttorney Rene Brown, theushers and special eventschairmanisChuckGregory.The onstage ushers willbe City Councilors DanRego, Michael Miozza,Ray Mitchell and councilcandidatePaulDaSilva. The judges names arerevealed the day of thepageant. DidImentionLenKaplan?There are several icons inFallRiver that pop into themind, notably, the RollingRock, the city hall overthe highway, Dave’s News,Coney Island hot dogs, andLowPriceLennyKaplan. Last year at the pageantMayor Flanagan and theCity Council authorized“LenKaplanDay.”BecauseKaplanisinretail,everythingon the proclamation was10% Off. Len went toGovernment Center havingnoideawhathadbeensetupinhishonor.Hecried. He is tough to ignore.
LenKaplan,asusual,onthephone
Photo byBruce Rex
When he says “Hello” tosomeone at the main postoffice, people at the other three city post offices turn around to see who isspeaking. Heisalittleloud,butthatgoesfarbeyondverbalization.Hisheartistheloudestpartof his persona. There isn’ta person who needed helpwith personal matters, abuck or two for coffee, aride, anambulance, a smileor a hand shake that LenKaplaneverturneddown. Besides family mattersandbusiness, thepageantishis entire life. He has toldsenile folks and year-old-toddlerstowatchthetrailer“PrettyOld”notingitsaboutthe Ms Senior SweetheartPageant. He always asks,“Doyouhaveacomputer?”Iconstantlyremindhimthatheistheonlypersononthe
planetwithoutacomputer. Ohwell.Bethatasitmay,the general knowledge ishe can’t sing a note wortha damn. That could notbe further from the truth.When he is serious he cansingwiththebestofthem. AttheendofthispageantI will demand that he sing“My Way,” his own way.Thebandknowsthesong. There will not be a dryeyeinthehouse,norshouldthere be. The first line of thesongis“Nowtheendisnear”........ Talkaboutheartbreaking!Sniff.
The souThcoAsT Tribune
The souThcoAsT TRIBUNE21 YeArs of communiTY news bY communiTY PeoPle • covering The good sTuff on The souThcoAsT for Two decAdes
ms senior sweeTheArT PAgeAnT, 2013
Below:QueenRitaAnnBat-tram with L-R: City Coun-
cilor-Elect Paul DaSilva and CityCouncilorsDanRego,RayMitchellandMichael
Miozza
JudgesChairAttorneyReneBrownandUsherChair,Vice
President,ChuckGregory.
riTA Ann bATTrAm fighTs odds - wins PAgeAnT
The pageant season starts when the first lady getsherhairdone.ThisyearthatwouldbeQueenCarolTuohywholetherfuturelayinthehandsofUrbanMedeirosofUrbanElements.
L-R: Len Kaplan,
MartyTuohy,QueenCarolTuohyand
stylistUrbanMedeiros.
The 2013 Ms Senior Sweetheart Pageant and her Court: Center Queen Rita AnnBattram; L-R: 4th Runner-up, Diana Bombardier; 2nd Runner-up, Ida White; Queen Battram; Sally Ann Vick, 1st runner-up; Ruth Berkel, 3rd Runner-up. MsBombardieralsotookhometheFlamingGlowAward(MsCongeniality),aswellasan award for being part of the pageant’s first mother (Mary Lee Pompeii) and daughter entries.
heY, Kid, cAn YA PlAY iT bAcKwArds? OneofthehitsoftheshowwaswhenNoahSalvagotupandfollowedLen
Kaplan around as his shadow. The 15-yeart-old Westport High student wowed
Mayor WillFlanagan sponsoredalltheticketsalesforthe 2013 Ms SeniorSweetheart Pageant;Joining him are thepageantjudges.Front:State RepresentativeCarole Fiola, MayorFlanagan, ElaineLima, Judge’s ChairAttorneyReneBrown;rear:SomersetSchoolC o m m i t t e e m a nJamison Souza,Fall River SchoolCommittee ViceChairman MarkCosta;CaraSolomon,AlexStylosandBernadetteDriscoll.Notshown:TitaTanquay,Auditor.
thecrowdashesangwith
Len,thensangsolo,then
matchedduelingKazooswiththelegendarysenior
icon.Theyevenplayedthemusic
backwards.Duh!
The crowdwentnuts.Astarisborn.
(last name - Arc.)
left:Noah“Arc”SalvaandLen
Kaplan
MayorWillFlanagangetsacquaintedwithplanning
committeememberMorellaFrederick.
Southcoast TribuneNews FR, MA - An overwhelming crowd tookpart in the 35th edition ofthe Ms Senior Sweetheart
Pageant of America, Inc/International in the RobertNagle Auditorium at B. M.C. Durfee High School onOctober27th.
Rita Ann Battram,from Michigan and, now,Washington State, is thisyear’s jubilant winner. Sheexclaimed wildly after
realizing that she was chosen, “This is a miracle for me.”RitaAnnisblindinoneeyeandhasseriousvisionproblemsintheother,legallyblind. Her Court consists of 1st Runner-up; Sally Ann Vick, 2nd Runner-up; Ida White; 3rd Runner-up; Ruth Berkel; and 4th Runner-up, Diana Bombardier. DianaalsowontheFlamingGlowaward(MsCongeniality);MaryLeePompeiiandDianaBombardierwerecitedasthefirst mother/Daughter combo and Moon Boo Chang was acknowledgedforherKoreanancestry. On-stage personalities included Len Kaplan, Master of Ceremonies,ChuckGregory,HeatherSalva,YvetteManciniand Barbara Parente, Noah Salva, Dorothy Soczek, ReneBrown, Cheri Ann Schear, Steve Aguiar (BankFive), andMayorWillFlanagan. The ushers were CityCouncilors Daniel Rego,Michael Miozza & RayMitchell, and (now) CityCouncilor-Elect Paul DaSilva. The Judges are picturedleft. Music and sound wereprovidedbyMichaelKalisz,Kathy Morris was thePageant Director, while thelivebandwasTheNotables,withBrianBigelowsittinginon drums, joined with BillGuillmetteonsynthesizer. The stage designer wasAnnetteGamacheaidedbyJohnCosta, Wayne Lima, AndreaBarron, Carolyn Burton,Shannon Dallaire, AndreaBarron,BruceRex&CharlieNoversa.Alsoassistingoverthe top were trolley drivers:JasonDesmarais,BillSutton&KevinPires.
Plans are in motion for theMs Senior Sweetheart Pageant’s
36thAnniversary.The Planning Committee will meet right after the New Year and will then set the
dates for 2014.Len Kaplan has already inquired about
availability at the Hampton Inn, the band and discussed programming and
publicity with Chuck Gregory and Heather Salva (and a great opening
procession). Wow!!!Get Ready! Here we go again!
TribunePhotos
Right: Hanging out on aNantucket beach are: L-R: Marty Tuohy, SharonMaloney,CarolTuohy,IdaWhite(rear),DianeKeaton,Constance Gabriel,Charlotte Ambrose andPhyllis Chickett. TheSenior Sweethearts hada great time with MsKeaton,an internationallyacclaimedactress.
Left:Withthechampagneofbottledcheersandimitation
chocolateKrackleare:HeatherSalva,WalterMattesen,
YvetteMancini,LenKaplanandBeverlyKaplanoutontheporchonDarling
StreetinNantucket.
Right:ThecrewgettingontheplaneatNewBedfordMunicipal
AirporttogotoNantucket
PhotosonthesepagesweretakenbyChuckGregoryandHeatherSalva,withAndreaBarronandConstance
Gabriel,contributors.
Annette Gamache, Chuck Gregory and Heather Salva goofing around.
At a fish shop: Josh Alexander, Trish Govoni; Rear: Walter Matteson, Connie Gabriel,
Charlottle Ambrose, Ida White, Carol Tuohy and Sharon Maloney.
ACK
Letter To The EditorThe Southcoast TribuneDear Chuck Gregory, As you know, The Ms. SeniorSweetheart Pageant of America, Inc/International hosted its 35th annualpageantthispastOctoberintheRobertJ.NagleAudiotiumatB.M.C.DurfeeHigh School.Twelve contestants,ages 58-87, wowed a packed auditoriumwiththeirtalentandcharm,whilecompetingforthetitleofQueen,2013. Congratulations to our new 2013-2014 Queen, Rita Ann Battram, from WashingtonState!
HeatherSalva
This year’s pageant was anothergreat success. I would like to thankall those responsible for making thishappen beginning with our generoussponsors:ourmajorsponsorBankFive;andKaramFinancialGroup,Borden&Remington, St. Anne’s CreditUnionandBayCoastBank. Thank you to the following for ourdinners and luncheons: Mayor WillFlanagan, the Greater Fall RiverChamber of Commerce and Industry, Stop & Shop, the Marine Museum,DimanRegionalVocationalTechnicalHighSchool,White’sofWestport,CrystalSprings,LandmarkAssistedLiving, theCatholicMemorialHomeandWhaler’sCoveinDartmouth. Thank you to the following media outlets who provided coverage bothduringthepageantandthroughouttheyear:TheSouthcoastTribune,WSAR,Wayne&Faust,HeraldNews,TheFallRiverSpiritandFREDTV. To all the merchants who provided special gifts to fill a beautiful bag for eachcontestant:thankyouforyourcontinuedsupport.Thankyoutoallthejudges and escorts, Mallard Printing, Fall River Graphics, The HamptonInn,Drewbie’sandUrbanMedeirosforhairandmakeup.ThankyouKenPacheco,DirectorofCommunityMaintenanceforprovidingtransportation,anddriversJasonDesmarais,WilliamSuttonandKevinPires. Thanks goes out to MikeKaliszforthegreatsounds,Bill Guillmette and theNotableswithBrianBigelowon drums for band music,Wayne Miranda for the on-stage musical interludes,Durfee High School foruse of their facility, KathyMorris for choreographingthe stage productionand Mayor Flanagan forpurchasingalloftheticketsso everyone could come tothe showfreeofcharge forourBIG35thanniversary! We thank you all andanyone else we may havemissedand look forward toseeingeveryonenextyear!
TrulyYours,LenKaplan,President
HeatherSalva,
Low Price Lenny Kaplan
ByChuckGregory The Ms Senior Sweetheart Pageant of America, Inc/International,foundedinFallRiver,hasbeenoneofthefeatureddocumentariesatCalifornia’sSantaBarbaraInternationalFilmFestivalandhasapparentlywallopedviewersandthepress. The 87-minute entry took the first-place Documentary Award The87MinuteentrytooktheFirstPlaceDocumentaryAward,amostprestigiousaccomplishmentifthereeverwasone. Theladiesandmenwhoattendedtheredcarpeteventhadleftaftertheirweeklongstayatthefestivalsotheawardwaspresentedto Walter Matteson, the Director. The Executive Producers ofthe film were SarahJessicaParker,JoeBerlingerandAlisonBenson. Asitturnsout,bynoslightofhand,thecrowdfavoritewas“LowPrice” Lenny Kaplan, although the ladies are all spectacular intheirworkandportrayal. Thedocumentary,whichwas shot across theUnitedStates isprimarilyinvolvedincontestant’ssoul,FallRiverandsurroundingcommunities, spotlights all aspects of this wonderful endeavorwhich began as a fundraiser for the Fall River Lions Club in1978.Sincethen,founderMr.Kaplanhasnurturedtheevent(andotherpageants)for33years.Thepageanthasbroughthundredsofcontestantsfromaroundtheworldtothiscommunityannuallyfor11-days a year of fun, serious competition and carmaraderie.
Mr. Michael Rechtshaffen adds, this“littlecommunityfundraiserhasblossomedinto something totally unexpected andquite special - just like those later-in-life contestants in the film that tells their inspiringstory.” From The Santa Barbara Independentnewspaper, Matteson says, “It’s a slick,smart, and eye-opening production, sure to warm theheartsofyoungandoldwhileteachingwhatrealbeautyisallabout” And, “These are out-going women who are very comfortable within their ownskin.However,formanyofthemthishasnotalwaysbeenthecase.” Also, “the ladies were all cooperative,“Itwouldhavebeenimpossibletocapturewhat we did (in the film) without their trust.”
Sr Sweetheart Pageant Documentary #1“Pretty Old,” a 4-Star Feelgood Film, Is Smash @ CA Film Fest
Ladies Great! Kaplan Singled Out As One-Of-A-Kind
Andthentherethereisthismemorablemomentinpageanthistory
TribunePhoto
Top: Front: Barbara Parente; Rear: Charlotte Ambrose, ChuckGregory, Annette Gamache, Walter Mattesson and 2012 QueenDorothySoczek.Above: Phyliss Chickett, Dorothy Soczek, Barbara Parente, YvetteMancini, Len Kaplan, Charlotte Ambrose and Carol Tuohy; Rear:SharonMaloney,2011QueenConstanceGabrielandIdaWhite.
Based around the activities of four past contestants, MichaelRechtshaffenof theHollywoodReporternewspaper says, “theengagingdocumentary,PrettyOld is pretty terrific.” And, “The film struck a chord at its Santa Barbara International FilmFestivalpremiereanddeservesgreaterexposurebeyondthefestcircuit.” Thedocumentaryexaminestheirtrials,tribulations,aspirations,failuresandsuccesses.Aswithallcontestantseachpersonisanindividualthrivingforabrightfuture. The film highlights Michigan native TamaraSwihart(whohaswrittenfortheTribune,)IdaWhite,fromtheVirginIslands,PhyllisChickettfromMinnesotaandthelateFrancisChristian.
ThesummationofLowPriceLennybyMattesonisthis,“Simplyalargerthanlifecharacterwhocommandsanaudiencebigorsmallandwillabsolutelymakeyousmile.Heisalsoveryemotionalandjustthinkingofafondmemoryorfriendwillbringtearstohiseyes.HeisoneofthemostinterestingpeopleIhaveevermet.Atrulyinspiringperson,burstingattheseamswithlifeandenergy.” ThevideographersincludedMr.MattesenandTrishGovoni,withMattesenandJoshAlexanderasscreenwriters. All in all, this is one of Greater Fall River’s finest moments. Thecompletereviewhasbeenpostedat:www.hollywoodreporter.com/prettyold. The documentary will now be featured in other major film fests, including Seattle and New York City,aswellasthealreadyplannedonBostonFilmFest.
There is the serious side to the Ms Senior Sweetheart Pageant which includes, above, L-R: Chuck Gregory,VicePresidentofMarketingandSpecialProjects;KathyMorris,theStageandShowDirector;andLenKaplan,FounderandPresidentofthePageant’scorporation.Heretheyarediscussingmatterswith8thBristolDistrictStateRepresentativePaulSchmidbackstage.ThenthereistheMen’sNightcelebration. In order to protect their identities we will not name these people from the Pageant’sWitnessProtectionProgram.
HULA NIGHT? OMG!
YoucanGooglethetrailerat<PrettyOldTrailer>,then
hitTRAILERandvoila!
This story has had more than 56,000 hits.
And, In Conclusion....
The souThcoAsT TribuneFounded In 1993 as
Chuck Gregory Group, LTD. Charles F. Gregory, PublisherDirect: 508-493-2883 (no fax)www.Southcoasttribune.com
18 Purchase St. Fall River, MA 02720P. O. Box 2004, Fall River, MA 02722e-Mail: [email protected]
The United Way Media of the YearColleen Murray Hackett, Vice President
Thomas Quinn, Clerk
Above: Marty Tuohy, the 2nd best looking person in a dress at the
pageant’s Men’s Night Out. Who is first? Everybody else!
QueenConstanceGabrielandLenKaplan,PresidentandFounderofthePageant.
On Nantucket Island even the trash barrels have character.
Walter Matteson went to Nantucket and caught an
imaginary fish thi-i-i-is big.
Len Kaplan on stage at a pageant final.
The TRIBUNEsouThcoAsT
21 Years of Community News By People From The Community • Pageant Stuff, 2013. For information about joining the pageant, financing, sponsorships, volunteer work or any subject
concerning this International Senior event Call Mr. Kaplan at 508-675-0249 and you will be directed to the correct person to discuss matters with you.
Failing to do that, please call Chuck Gregory at 508-493-2883 for assistance.
For MoreNantucket Film Festival Photos
Visit Senior Queen
‘Constance Gabriel’ onFacebook
ACKDiane Keaton & Connie Gabriel
Bruce RexPageant Committee member and Photographer
AfewyearsagoourentouragewenttoHeritageStateParkandvisitedtheBattleshipMassachusettsatbattleshipCoveinFallRiver,TheBigMamie”.ToursareagreataddedattractiontoatriptotheMsSeniorSweetheartPageant.Youneverknowwhat’scomingupnext.NewportPlayhouse,anyone?Duckboats?
Charlie Noversa, Transportation,
Music Mixer and Planning Committee
