First magazine-Spring 2011

Spring 2011 volume 1, issue 1

Around Town In

New England Magazine

Tuscan Kitchen — in the kitchen with Executive Chef, Jim Rogers Searles Castle — where every bride is a princess Brookstone Golf Course — the beauty of public golfing on a new 9 hole, par 3 course What Women Really Talk About!

And local women in business, charity spotlight, wines and the best finds around town.

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Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 1

If you are under these lights you want your doctor to be a star.

Meet Dr. Shalini Reddy Minimally invasive thoracic surgeon at Anna Jaques Hospital Board Certified: American Board of Surgery

For more information on surgical services at Anna Jaques Hospital call 978-463-1090.

page 2 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

978-463-1090 • www.ajh. o r g

Around Town

Around Town In New England Southern New Hampshire Edition s

Tuscan Kitchen: page 8 Artisan Bred: At Tuscan Kitchen, Delight is in the Details With soaring ceilings, cozy fireplaces, and tantalizing cuisine made from the freshest ingredients, a feast for the senses awaits visitors to this stunning new Italian restaurant in Salem.

What Women Really Talk About: page 12 Beginnings: From Boston to Japan and Back Again New England native Paula Ricci has traveled across the world, relishing each new experience, but never forgetting what’s most important.

Women in Business: page 15 Kerrilyn Bono — Bella Viaggio Salons and Spas This salon owner and entrepreneur describes how she found her true calling by following her heart. Also featured: Lisa Desrochers of Shabby Chic — A Sweets Boutique, Kathryn Shipman of Breath of Sun — A Holistic Health & Fitness Center, and Diane Johnson and Lisa McDade of Century 21 North.

Discovered Around Town: page 22 Great Finds and Unique Products From gourmet cupcakes to golf caps, we share our recommendations for some of our favorite goods from local businesses throughout the area.

Par Excellence What began as a dream for a local real estate developer is now a dream-come-true for local golfers and their families at this picturesque golf course and event center set just off of Derry’s Route 111.

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Brookstone Golf: page 24

60 Miles in Any Direction: page 26 Charity Spotlight - Kevin Youkilis’ Hits for Kids For this issue, we travel one hour south to Boston to introduce to you the organization that the Red Sox favorite simply known as Youk holds dear to his heart.

The Castle on the Hill Brides- and grooms-to-be seeking a location for the perfect fairy tale wedding need look no further than this gracious historic Tudor castle, set on the grounds of a pristine 175-acre estate in Windham.

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Searles Castle: page 30

.com: page 37 Lee Vose — Party of Gold Learn about one local woman’s experiences working for a company that allows her to set her own hours and meet new friends while helping people benefit from their forgotten riches.

People Who Love What They Do: page 42 Living the Good Life Whether it’s their passion, a calling, or just a perfect fit, these locals tell us why their job gives them something to smile about every day.

Also in This Issue: Dale Rogers, Metal Sculptor – This local artist delights with sculptures from the playful to the abstract. Page 29 Meet Ann Lally of Salem Co-operative Bank – For this local bank president, it’s all about her customers – and the community. Page 38 Restaurant Review: The Lobster Tail – This charming nautical spot in Windham is a haven for seafood lovers year-round. Page 46 And more

Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 3

Around Town In New England Our Creative Team Founder Elizabeth Souza esouza@atnemagazine.com Advertising Sales sales@atnemagazine.com Production Design Samray Design samraydesign@comcast.net Jennifer Ricci, Designer jricci@atnemagazine.com Photographer Jess Gatley Kevin Youkilis’ Photos Monica Biswas Donna DeSimone Searles Castle’s Photos A Photographic Memory Daniel Doke Photography Gibbons Photography Editor Jill Prince Kimmins

Contributing Writers Alyson Aiello Kerrilyn Bono Michelle Xiarhos Curran Paula Doucette Kevin Doyle Ulrika G. Gerth Jill Oestreicher Gross Lisa Markowski Melanie Myers Paula Ricci Printer Cummings Printing, Hooksett, NH Contact Us: Around Town In New England Magazine is an interactive magazine. We want to hear what you have to say and what you would like to see. Please email us at info@atnemagazine.com for the followng: • Ad Placement/Specs/Pricing • Article Suggestions - to suggest a topic - to contribute a story - to suggest a restaurant for review • Comments/Feedback

Introducing Text Messaging Coupons* We are pleased to offer our readers special discounts from our featured advertisers with our convenient text messaging coupons. Highlighted throughout the magazine, these offers are available exclusively for Around Town In New England readers, and are easy to use and redeem.

To activate any of our text messaging coupons on your cell- or smartphone: Simply text the code listed in the offer to the number provided, and then present your phone with the code when making your purchase. No need to worry about printing, clipping or forgetting coupons! Each offer is valid for a one-time use only. These offers are also listed online at atnemagazine.com.

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This first issue is dedicated in loving memory of Matt Clancy and to the Clancy family.

You are in our thoughts.

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Text advertising to 28766 for 20% off ad rates for the summer issue of Around Town In New England Magazine. Offer expires 7/15/11. page 4 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

“If you do not know how to ask the right question, you discover nothing.”

Dr. W. Edwards Deming

I

often used to ask myself what my passion was. I knew it was in design and layout, but how could I make a living doing this? I became a freelance designer and it worked great, until one day someone asked me to partner in a magazine. I jumped on it, but the opportunity soon fell flat. My only options were to sink or swim. I knew if I did nothing I would get nothing. So I decided to dive right in and venture out on my own. Now, here I am, eight months later, thinking about design and layout as always. But this time it’s right along with business plans, sales, production, taxes, payroll, editorial, text messaging coupons, vendors, financing, accountants, book keepers, web pages, UPC codes, LLC contracts, attorneys, copyrights, interns… and that’s just for starters. What have I gotten myself into? I don’t know, but whatever it is – I am loving it.

As soon as I started doing the research for our debut issue, things started coming into focus. The American professor William Edwards Deming once said, “If you do not know how to ask the right question, you discover nothing.” So I started asking questions. Just like in design, I started with a blank slate, and gathered information as I went, increasing my

From the Publisher... knowledge until the vision of what I wanted to accomplish became reality.

While establishing a brand new magazine from the ground up was daunting, to say the least, when I started to work on the “Women in Business” articles, I found I wasn’t alone – that all my fears and concerns were also being experienced by others. In a way, I had many partners – my family, friends and co-workers are an amazing support group, and everyone I have met along the way has been encouraging and supportive. All of this positive energy has led to the creation of an engaging, interactive magazine with feature articles, special offers and coupons, event highlights, and community involvement – all working together. This magazine would not have happened if it weren’t for all of their support.

I’m really proud of this issue, and I will continue to bring you more enriching content in future issues, so if you have ideas about articles, people of interest or anything else you’d like to see in upcoming issues, please feel free to email me. Because with your thoughts, your ideas and your expertise about the communities we live in, we will grow

to be a better magazine – one that is truly interactive with the community.

So I hope you follow your passion, do the research, learn what you need to learn, put your heart and soul into it; your passion will come through and you will succeed. lizabeth Souza, Founder E esouza@atnemagazine.com

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William Edwards Deming (October 14, 1900 – December 20, 1993) was an American statistician, professor, author, lecturer, and consultant. He is perhaps best known for his work in Japan.

There, from 1950 onward, he taught top management how to improve design (and thus service), product quality, testing and sales (the last through global markets) through various methods, including the application of statistical methods.

Deming made a significant contribution to Japan's later reputation for innovative high-quality products and its economic power. He is regarded as having had more impact upon Japanese manufacturing and business than any other individual not of Japanese heritage. Despite being considered something of a hero in Japan, he was only just beginning to win widespread recognition in the U.S. at the time of his death.

Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 5

Around Town In New England Contributors Jill Prince Kimmins

Alyson Aiello

Michelle Xiarhos Curran

Editor

Writer

Writer

An advertising and feature writer whose work has appeared in retail and medical industry trade publications as well as fashion magazines such as Lucky, Jill began her writing career as a catalog copywriter for a national department store. A native of Massachusetts, she moved to Southern New Hampshire with her husband in 2005 and enjoys discovering all that this beautiful region has to offer. In her free time she can be found at home reading classic literature, watching The Tudors, and continuing her quest for the ultimate banana bread recipe.

Alyson Aiello, a freelance writer/editor and mom, makes her home in Newburyport, Mass., with her two children, Henry, 5, and Sadie, 1. When it comes to writing, Alyson loves to incorporate her creative writing background into her work and make stories come alive for her readers. In addition to writing, she enjoys cooking/baking, entertaining friends and re-discovering the magic of childhood with her children. Her favorite thing about living in New England is the spirit of the people. Admittedly, she also likes hitting up Newburyport's Bob Lobster on a warm summer afternoon.

Michelle Xiarhos Curran, a former reporter and editor now working as a freelance writer, lives in Newburyport with her husband and two sons. During her career, Michelle’s covered everything from murder trials to ghost hunts, and finds the best and most interesting stories come from the people and places around her. When not writing or rushing to karate, soccer or hockey practice, Michelle enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading and coming up with new ideas for organizing her chronically disorganized home. She also plans to write a novel – some day.

Kevin Doyle

Jess Gatley

Ulrika G. Gerth

Writer

Photographer

Writer

Kevin Doyle, an awardwinning journalist and professional editor/ writer of 37 years, is a Newburyport native now living in Amesbury. He was recently appointed Director of Content/Editor for www.TheBaseballPage. com, does freelance work for a number of publications and web sites and previously served as Managing Editor/Boston for White Digital Media, News Editor of The Amesbury News and Sports Editor of The Daily News of Newburyport. He has written on topics ranging from hometown youth sports and local politics to profiles of CEOs and Presidents of multinational corporations. He treasures time with his family and friends, is a passionate sports fan, hits the links when possible, prefers live theater to movies, favors The Beatles and The Boss, and invites you all to experience the vibrant restaurant scene in downtown Amesbury.

A native of Grafton, Massachusetts, who has also lived in seaside California, Jess has captured the lush hills of Ireland and the innate beauty of Guatemala in his photography.

While at the New England School of Photography, he studied photojournalism and fine art black-and-white photography and currently enjoys shooting sports and musicians – a perfect fit for his current role as the house photographer for Boston’s Hard Rock Café. Jess is glad to take pictures of just about anything, but no matter where the day takes him, “Any day turns out alright if I get the opportunity to use my camera,” the Boston resident says.

Ulrika G. Gerth, a freelance writer/editor, followed her big love to Newburyport, Mass., from her native Sweden eight years ago.

After many years of fulltime reporting, she now juggles questions from her inquisitive daughter, Amelie, 3.5, while trying to prevent Noelle, 10 months, from tearing into her newspaper clips. Writing brings her a childlike sense of excitement as does hiking, playing tennis and discovering what her husband made for dinner. She is looking forward to her first iced coffee of the summer at Sandy Point, a local gem at the southern most tip of Plum Island.

Jill Oestreicher Gross

Lisa Markowski

Jennifer Ricci

Writer

Writer

Designer

“Meeting new people from New Hampshire was great fun,” says reporter Jill Oestreicher Gross, who wrote about Searles Castle in Windham and Miss Rockingham County’s Katrina Ulaky for the inaugural issue of Around Town in New England Magazine. “Everyone was so friendly, spirited and passionate about their pursuits.” Jill, a native of New York City, graduated from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. She lives in Newburyport, Mass., with her family.

Her work has appeared in Newburyport Magazine, Boston Parents’ Paper, and various national publications. When she’s not working on an article, Jill enjoys reading, yoga and drinking tea.

Lisa Markowski first had her writing published at age six in her hometown newspaper in Connecticut.

She has been writing and editing professionally since 1995, mostly about travel, recreation (boating, skiing, and scuba diving), cars, and marketing.

Lisa is a baseball fanatic (Let’s go, Mets!) and she also enjoys beachcombing, word games, music, gardening, and taking action photos of her dog, Tupelo. She has lived in Newburyport for 12 years, and she shares her home office with two parrots, including a very verbal African grey who loves to shout “Thursday!”

Jennifer Ricci is about to complete her design degree at Massachusetts College of Art in Boston.

She has discovered that designing is her passion and working on the layout for Around Town In New England Magazine gives her the ability to create on a daily basis. Jennifer lives in Boston and loves the life that the city provides her. When she is not busy with her classes or trying to beat her magazine deadlines, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Remember when banking was all about

relationships?

At Salem Co-operative Bank it still is.

Ann R. Lally, President

Karen Dill, Branch Manager Assistant Vice President, Retail

Robert M. Murphy, Vice President Commercial Lending

Sarah H. Rastello, Vice President Retail/Business Development

Terry Muir, Commercial Business Development

Flexible, Simple,

Competitive.

Salem Co-operative Bank. The most trusted name in community banking. Experience what sets us apart.

Main office: 3 South Broadway | Salem, NH | (603) 893-3333 Methuen office: 284 Merrimack Street | Methuen, MA | (978) 682-1010 Visit us online at: www.salemcoop.com

Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 7

Artisan Bred:

by Alyson Aiello

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Joe Faro and Jim Rogers will tell you their latest dining endeavor, Tuscan Kitchen, all started with a dream – a shared dream – to recreate the true experience of traditional artisan Italian food, right in the pocket of the North Shore Massachusetts/Southern New Hampshire region – on Main Street in Salem, New Hampshire. And while the passion they’ve put into designing the menu and the restaurant is present in every detail, it’s best embodied in the bread. Everything you need to know about what you’ll experience at Tuscan Kitchen starts with the bread.

Executive Chef/Partner Jim Rogers

At Tuscan Kitchen, D

page 8 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

Homemade, triple-rise Ciabatta and Foccacia. So good, you will need to stop yourself to leave room in your stomach for the delights to follow. Your personal loaves are put into the wood-fired oven upon seating and then delivered to the table warm, light and perfectly textured.

You’ll find yourself stealing the top off the

Foccacia; and the Ciabatta is emboldened when dipped in Tuscan Kitchen’s mixture of first-press olive oil, sweet balsamic vinegar, Tuscan olives and savory marinated roasted tomato.

Not surprisingly, Faro inspects his daily bread, well, daily. When he talks about the process – between the importance of

, Delight is in the Details

letting the dough rise three times, the consistency of each loaf, the dome-deck oven, and the overall quality – his eyes light up and the corners of his mouth curve into a wide smile. “This whole process,” he says, “is an art.”

Entrepreneur Joe Faro and Executive Chef/Partner Jim Rogers consider every continued on next page

Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 9

“Joe and Jim consider their staff family,” Carey says. “They want them to love and appreciate the food, and to want to talk about it.” part of the restaurant an art – especially the food. Everything is made onsite using only the freshest ingredients. The two designed an expansive menu of madeto-order dishes that surprise with their simplicity, yet delight in layers of flavor.

Even the pasta is made fresh each day in the bakery. At the same time loaves of Ciabatta are being shaped, three-inch pillows of quattro formaggi ravioli and the popular lobster ravioli are being stuffed and sealed.

The lobster ravioli is generously filled with fresh Maine lobster meat and handdipped ricotta, served with cabreo lobster brodo, tear drop tomatoes and caramelized fennel. The ravioli ai quattro formaggi is light and decadent, served in brown butter and sprinkled with black truffle.

Just to the right of the bread and pasta bakery is the pastry kitchen. Master Pastry Chef Lesley Shahbazian has about five

desserts going at once – from rolling out dough for her fresh pear tart, to mixing crème brûlée and prepping gelato. The most popular dessert since the restaurant opened in November, is “by far the cannoli.” Shahbazian prepares the crisp shells and decadent filling, and then they are filled to order up in the main restaurant.

The bakery takes up almost the whole ground floor of the three-story, 17,000 square-foot restaurant, built from imported Italian limestone. But all the magic of Tuscan Kitchen truly comes together on the main floor where the open kitchen invites dinner guests, up to 200, to take in all the aromas and colors of the freshlyprepared dishes as they come out of the kitchen, as they sit in a comfortable, rustic fireside family room. At the chef’s bar, guests might even see their very own pasta as it comes out of the pasta maker before it is gingerly placed in boiling water.

page 10 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

The second floor is home to The Wine Bar, which seats up to 80 guests (see side bar for more details), as well as areas for special events and private dining. No matter where you find your seat, you will be in for the rich experience of fresh, artisan Italian dining.

In fact, very few things come from a can inside the Tuscan Kitchen, and if they do, they are imported from Italy, such as the olive oil. Faro and Rogers wanted to create a menu that brought back the rustic simplicity of real Italian food. Everything on the menu is made in house, from the Italian sausage to the rotisserie meats to the many slow-cooked sauces.

Private Dining/Special Events Manager Alexina Carey has worked with Faro and Rogers from the start and has found it easy to fall in love with the every part of Tuscan Kitchen. “Jim and Joe want you to feel like you’re dining at the kitchen table of a family in Italy,” she says.

“Jim and Joe want you to feel like you’re dining at the kitchen table of a family in Italy,” “Both Joe and Jim have traveled extensively throughout Italy studying its diverse culinary styles and regional wines. Together they observed firsthand the Italians’ respect and tradition for the preparation and presentation of their food,” Carey says.

On Sundays, the lunch crowd can enjoy a traditional family-style Italian feast from what’s called the Pranzo menu, served from noon until 4 pm. It features an Assaggi, such as the Salumi e Formaggio (grand tasting of cured meats and cheeses), followed by a Primi (pasta course), Secondi (main course), and Dolci (dessert), all for one fixed price. Nonna Carmela’s Sunday sauce, served in the Primi portion of the menu, is always the centerpiece of the meal. Nonna Carmela, Faro’s maternal grandmother from Sicily, originated the recipe, which today is complete with braised chicken, sausage and Tuscan Kitchen meatballs simmered for hours in San Marzano tomato sauce. On a busy Sunday, when Chef Sebastiao Pignaton ladles the sauce over plate after plate of hand-made pappardelle pasta and sprinkles it with fresh herbs, the hearty freshness is visible – even before the first bite.

The idea of being treated like family is also evident in the service at Tuscan Kitchen. There are more than 150 staff members who work together each day to create the TK experience. The wait staff trains for six weeks, studying and

sampling food and honing the skills it takes to provide each customer with a great experience. “Joe and Jim consider their staff family,” Carey says. “They want them to love and appreciate the food, and to want to talk about it.”

The staff itself works together, like family. For instance, every time a pizza came out of the wood-fired oven, three people gathered to complete the process.

One person drizzled olive oil on the outer edges of the crisp crust, another tossed on a helping of grated cheese and fresh herbs, and yet another cut the pizza into serving slices before it was served directly from the wood board upon which it was baked. The result?

Perfection. Just like Nonna Carmela would have wanted, just like Faro and Rogers intended.

And it all started with that first perfect loaf of bread.

Tuscan Kitchen is located at 67 Main Street in Salem, New Hampshire. Make reservations by calling (603) 952-4875 and view their menu and schedule of events online at

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www.tuscan-kitchen.com.

The Wine Bar The simple sophistication of the main restaurant at Tuscan Kitchen extends to its second floor sanctuary, The Wine Bar. TK Private Dining/Special Events Manager, Alexina Carey, says dinner guests can meet pre- or post-feast and enjoy a glass of wine from the Kitchen’s collection of more than 100 types of domestic and international wines all aging comfortably in the onsite temperature-controlled wine cellar that currently houses 3,000-plus bottles of Pinot Noir, Orvieto, Sauvignon Blanc, Dolcetto, and Chianti to name only a few. The knowledgeable Wine Bar staff has been trained to assist with suggestions on wine, food pairings – and even pronunciations.

Guests can also choose from a list of signature cocktails, like the traditional Peach Bellini made with Prosecco and fresh peach puree, or the sweetly indulgent Italian Wedding Cake cocktail, which is made with vanilla vodka, Amaretto, white crème de cacao and cranberry and pineapple juices.

Carey says The Wine Bar is becoming its own destination for casual wine drinkers, wine enthusiasts and anyone seeking a unique night-onthe-town experience in Salem.

“We are excited to offer wine tasting events that will feature wines from a selected region of Italy, along with food pairings from Chef Jim, and moodsetting jazz,” she says. These events give guests to The Wine Bar a chance to sip and savor the Italian experience just as they would in places like Piedmont, Tuscany, Abruzzi, Veneto, Umbria, Sicily, Campania and Trentino-Alto Adige and more.

Another new addition to The Wine Bar is a regular schedule of live musical performances happening Wednesday through Saturday nights starting at 7 p.m.

Think jazz, soul, and some favorite cover classics matched perfectly to the serene yet stylish setting of the bar.

“Where else can you go out for the evening and enjoy artisan food, relaxing, comfy leather chairs in front of a cozy fireplace, drink Italian wines and signature cocktails, and listen to music that complements the entire experience? It is not a bar, it is not a club, it is a more intimate, cozy, sophisticated space to be seen and enjoy the company of friends,” Carey says.

Check out the web site at www.tuscan-kitchen. com to view wine tasting events and the latest entertainment schedule.

Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 11

What Women Really Talk About

and it’s not always about shoes

Beginnings - From Boston to Japan and Back Again

W

What do women think about? How do we occupy our minds? Wondering what to have for dinner, how to pay the mortgage or how to prepare for tomorrow’s meeting.

Perhaps at times. But me, I spend a great deal of my time reflecting – reflecting on where I’ve been, where I am, and where I’m going. Whether it’s a life-changing decision taking me across the globe, a short visit to a foreign land or a quick move to a nearby town, it’s always on the top of my mind. Where will I go? Who will I meet? What will I learn? These are questions I ask myself on a daily basis, questions I seek answers to just as often.

Henry David Thoreau said, “Things don’t change, we change.” We have that power.

I have that power. Maybe you can understand, then, why I’ve moved 19 times over the past 20 some odd years. Or maybe you can’t. Some may find my choices difficult to comprehend. I’ve been called a nomad, a vagabond, a runner and even a drifter.

Ironically, I’m nothing of the sort. To me, each move brings a sense of cleansing, a freeing that only can come from sorting through the old, disposing of the unnecessary and making room for the precious memories yet to be gathered. How different am I really, from a python or a cobra that seasonally sheds its skin to allow for

by Paula Ricci

growth? To me, 19 moves don’t represent 19 times of packing, but rather 19 new communities to explore, 19 ways to rediscover myself – 19 new beginnings.

I think of the many places I’ve called home over the years, from my humble upbringing in Small Town,

something in common with the one it follows, something I can’t live without.

Regardless of what language is spoken or what custom I must learn, I always pack my true valuables – my heart, my soul, my mind, my memories.

“The secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings.” David Weinbaum Massachusetts to a simple, modest existence where tatami floors and rice paper doors sheltered me for 10 years.

I’ve lived in the mountains, on the coast, in small towns and large cities. I’ve embraced the fear of the unknown and found comfort in the familiar. Curiosity has led me to drink sake with sumo wrestlers, visit tombs of great warriors and let the Mongolian winds remind me who’s boss.

And although each new journey brings new surroundings, challenges and adventures, each home always has

page 12 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

My 19th move has brought me back to where I first began. And as I curl up in my new home, looking out at the snow-covered streets, I’m excited – excited about the community I get to explore, the friends I’ve yet to meet, and the lessons I most definitely will learn.

In other words: the next new beginning.

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Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 13

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Located in Newburyport, Massachusetts page 14 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

Women in Business

Bella Viaggio

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Kerrilyn Bono of

Kerrilyn Bono Owner, Bella Viaggio Salons & Spas

Salons & Spas

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Granite Oaks, Suite 101, 127 Rockingham Road Route 28, Windham, NH 03087

www.bellaviaggiowindham.com Hours of Operation: Monday 9-6 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9-9 Friday 9-6 Saturday 9-4 Closed Sundays and Holidays

603-898-9222 “Success means having the courage, the determination and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.” George Sheehan

Growing up with a father who worked for the American Embassies, I spent my childhood on the move. It was hard. When I was four, we moved to Arlington, Virginia.

Like it was yesterday, I can still remember sitting in the bathroom, mesmerized and intrigued as I watched my mother stand in front of the mirror and apply her make-up ever so perfectly and then remove painful looking curlers from her head. I observed her every move as she played with her long curls only to brush them all out. She used to pull her hair up and then take it back down, trying to find the look that made her feel beautiful.

While my mother was in cosmetology school I became her model and guinea pig.

She put those hard boar bristle curlers in my hair. Wow, did those hurt. Then came the spongy pink curlers. I wore them to bed with a hairnet wrapped around my head. It was hard to fall asleep, but the pain was worth the outcome.

My mother did not work as a hair stylist for long. We moved to nearby Woodbridge, where she went into nursing. My friends and I loved playing dress-up with her nursing continued on next page

Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 15

Women in Business Kerrilyn Bono — Bella Viaggio Salons & Spas continued

uniforms. We were like movie-star nurses, curling our hair and putting on that special nursing hat.

Next stop: Pennsylvania. My mother did not work right away, so she started making my clothes. Our house looked like a fabric store. As much as I hated wearing those Little House on the Prairie-looking outfits made out of Tweety Bird or Holly Hobbie fabrics, my mother looked truly content sewing. It is amazing how your outlook on life and personality in general can change when you follow your heart.

Once again my dad got transferred – this time to Germany. I was a miserable teenager, and at 17, I rebelled. I left home, married an army officer and moved back to the United States. I was not thinking of college or my future. I considered journalism. Then I wanted to be an attorney.

At 25, I had my son Quinlan. When he was only a couple of months old, my husband David, took an early retirement package and we moved to New Hampshire. It was a difficult transition for David, adjusting to civilian life after 18 years in the military. We divorced when Quinlan was two and I was faced with the fact that I needed to find a job. I worked at several different places, got remarried, and, finally, found a lucrative corporate position. I was now living the high life and loving every minute of it – or so I thought.

“But I knew one thing for sure: Failure was not an option.”

Kerrilyn Bono

page 16 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

Wom But as much as I loved the money, one morning I found myself looking into the bathroom mirror, remembering that look my mother had when I so intently watched her get ready for work. Something inside me clicked. The money was not really making me happy and the perfect hair and make-up was not making me feel better inside. I felt lost.

My heart was searching for my life’s journey.

I quit my corporate job and spent most of my time taking care of my dying mother-in-law.

With the loss of her and several other special people in my life, money was the least important thing. I helped everyone around me except for myself. My brain told me this feeling was never going to end; my heart urged me to find courage and strength, to have faith in God and ask him for direction.

That summer one of our friends told my husband about a small salon and spa for sale in Windham, NH. The next thing I knew, it was mine! But I had no clue how to run a business. I knew nothing about salons and spas. But I knew one thing for sure: Failure was not an option. I placed a quote by Vince Lombardi on my wall: “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.”

I decided to go to cosmetology school and get my license in hair, nails and skin.

With the help of my husband, Jon, and my sister, Danielle, we renovated the whole place and changed the salon’s name from Lasting Impressions to Bella Viaggio and reopened on November 1, 2004, exactly one year after the purchase date.

I must say, I was not a very good hair stylist right out of school. But I sure tried my best to make the small number of clients feel beautiful from the inside out, regardless of their size, shape, or God-given beauty.

It wasn’t about the money. It wasn’t about fame. It wasn’t about which salon was better than mine. It was that I was doing

omen in Business Women in Business

I live by this quote, “I can honestly say

that I was never affected by the question of

the success of an undertaking. If I felt it was

the right thing to do, I was for it regardless of the possible outcome.” Golda Meir something that felt right and good.

Making people feel so great about themselves that they cry happy tears, seeing beautiful transformations, and treating people like they are important and special – that is why I am in this business.

Finding my soul mate, finding myself and figuring out the chosen path for my life’s journey gives me an inexpressible feeling of completeness. Don’t be afraid of the unknown. Don’t be afraid of the path unseen. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Change is a good thing. You must remember that all women are made up of strength, courage, intuition and unconditional love.

We women are born with these traits for a

reason. Use them in positive ways, follow your heart and build your dreams one day at a time.

I live by this quote by Golda Meir, “I can honestly say that I was never affected by the question of the success of an undertaking. If I felt it was the right thing to do, I was for it regardless of the possible outcome.”

Without you, your family, and your friends’ business and support, Bella Viaggio would not be what it is today. So I thank each one of you from the bottom of my heart for helping me become a success.

Best wishes and God bless you all. —Kerrilyn Bono

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A Sweets Boutique ­— Lisa Desrochers’

By Ulrika G. Gerth Shabby Chic As a self-described cake connoisseur, Lisa Desrochers used to be on the hunt for that perfect heavenly treat. But it was not until she opened Shabby Chic, A Sweets Boutique in Windham that she got exactly what she was searching for.

“We buy the very best and freshest ingredients available,” Desrochers says. “We developed recipes over a nine-month period and everything just fell into place.”

Open for two and a half years, Shabby Chic has the feel of an Old World European pastry shop.

The more than 50 varieties of gourmet cupcakes, oversized and swirled with homemade fresh fruit purees, are topped with an Italian meringue butter cream and lavish confections – or a scoop of gelato from a menu of 16 flavors. “It’s a lot of fun,” Desrochers says. “This is just one big happy place.”

The shop, modeled after her daughter’s room, which Desrochers describes as the “coziest room in the whole house,” is fit for its name – a shabby-chic blend of whimsical decorations and French country.

It is worlds apart from her previous job at a national non-profit organization, but somehow she knew the future had something sweet in store.

“I thought, ‘I can do this,’” Desrochers recalls of making the decision to venture out on her own.

“I know what I want.”

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For more information, visit shabbychicwindham.com.

4 Cobbetts Pond Road, “Sweet 6” Windham, NH 03087 (603) 898-CHIC (2442)

Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 17

Women in Business Women in Business

Truly Uplifting

Kathryn Shipman — Breath of Sun Last year Kathryn Shipman left the corporate world behind and opened Breath of Sun, LLC, a holistic health & fitness community center, on South Lowell Road in Windham. Awed by the support she has received from other local businesses, she likes to say that she is still part of a company, only this time it is called the community. “I really do believe in ‘do what you love and the money will follow,’” Shipman says. “I’ve always found something to love about any job that I’ve ever had and with that, prosperity flows!”

The grand opening last October signified a new chapter for Shipman, who used to commute to Boston and her job as vice president of design services for Sigrid Olsen. She designed Breath of Sun to be an oasis where people are invited to “lighten up with kindness, fitness and friends.” Classes such as Jazzercise, specialized yoga,

By Ulrika G. Gerth

tai chi, and ballet-tone alongside a host of wellness services and seminars are offered in the sunny, two-story space, which also features a small cafe and mini retail shop.

Saturday nights mean wine tasting and swing dance. “I wanted something warm and unique, something way different than going to the gym,” she explains.

Shipman created Breath of Sun based on her love of exercise, wellness, creativity, hospitality and the phenomenon that women naturally heal in groups. For the future? She envisions a franchise or a wellness model that could be replicated in other communities.

“That’s big dreaming,” she adds.

/

or more information, visit www.breathofsun.com.

F 46 Lowell Road, Suite 3, Windham, NH 03087 603-216-1440

s

Breath of Sun’s 30 minute circuit room

“I really do believe in

‘do what you love and

the money will follow’”

s

Women in Business

By Ulrika G. Gerth

“...we’re in this business because we like to help people.” Lisa McDade

T

Team Work — Diane Johnson and Lisa McDade - Century 21 North The real estate market may have hit a rough patch, but Lisa McDade and Diane Johnson are busier than ever. Together they work at Century 21 North Shore in downtown Windham and the two realtors credit their business partnership for the success.

“By creating a partnership we can service clients on a fulltime basis,” Johnson says.

They met in the late 1990s when they were young moms working in the same real estate office. Their children have now reached high school and college, but their schedules are still packed. To meet the demands of clients who, especially in this market, need a lot of attention, they decided to team up five years ago. “Diane is a paralegal by trade and working with her is priceless,” McDade says. “She’s trained in all aspects of real estate, from the sales process through the final closing process.”

“She’s the technical and creative side, she’s the color,” Johnson says of McDade. “We both have good referral networks, it’s a good mix.”

They cover southern New Hampshire, including the Lakes Region and the Seacoast. It’s an area that like so many others has seen an increase in foreclosures and short sales. Closings are often muddled with legal issues, they explain, unlike those before the real estate crash. “Besides earning a living we’re in this business because we like to help people,” McDade says.

“If someone is in dire straits and we can save them from going to foreclosure, we’ll do anything in our power to help them. We love it.”

“It’s rewarding,” Johnson continues. “You meet first-time homebuyers and people in difficult situations. You work hard seven days a week, but you do have independence to schedule your own hours and do things with your family.”

That promise of a flexible schedule attracted them to the real estate business. McDade left her job as an office manager at Raytheon to embark on her new career whereas Johnson also stays busy as an independent paralegal. “I currently co-manage a timeshare closing company called Transferatimesharetitle.com, along with Ms. Jocelyn Lockwood,” she says. “I do closings, title research and I am also a NH notary. I really like the detailed part of real estate.”

The real estate portal, Multiple Listing Service (MLS), just recently acknowledged that some properties have a co-lister.

“I don’t think it’s that common to team up,” McDade says.

“Teaming up gives you even more flexibility.”

/

For more information contact • Diane Johnson at: diane@dsmj.com • Lisa McDade at: realtorlisamcdade@yahoo.com 25 Indian Rock Road #7, Windham, NH 03087 603-437-0010

Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 19

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page 20 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

In the Company of Friends:

Friends of Kevin

Local Group Gives ‘It’s Who You Know’ a Whole New Meaning

By Kevin Doyle

K

Kevin Willett had an epiphany.

“I woke up one day and realized I was supposed to change the world,” he says, with such conviction that you have no reason to doubt him.

A long-time advocate of giving back, Willett established The Friends of Kevin, a friendworking group that brings together businesses, non-profit organizations, and artists in the Massachusetts/ New Hampshire border communities of Lowell, Dracut, Chelmsford, Windham and Nashua. The group, which unites local residents in search of everything from new challenges and business contacts to community support and volunteer opportunities, is centered around the members channeling their resources to help one another. The Friends of Kevin hosts two events per month, one in Southern NH and one in the Merrimack Valley. The events typically run from 6 to 8 p.m.

“We started a couple of years ago,” Willett says. “We gained traction when we moved events to night and then really took off when all of my friends started inviting all of their friends. I think what makes this stand out is that it’s my primary focus at this point in my life. It’s what I do.”

He adds, “It was about ninety-five percent me at the start. Now I receive emails from people every day asking about the group, wanting to get involved.”

Willett begins each gathering with brief remarks. Then it’s time for attendees to cultivate relationships and discover how they might help others fulfill a need or solve a problem. At the end of the first hour, non-profit groups have the opportunity to highlight their organization

“I woke up one day and realized I was supposed to change the world” and its goals. Willett’s only advice?

“I tell people to talk to each other like they went to school together. Tell each other what you need or what you’re looking for,” he says.

Willett says a group of eight female lawyers who now meet regularly for lunch and an area contractor “who seems to get jobs every time he comes to one of our events” are examples of Friends of Kevin successes. Individuals laid off during the recession who never had to network at any time during their career also find the events helpful.

There’s a “Six degrees of Kevin Bacon” feel to this, only Willett says, “It’s more like two degrees. If you go to one of our events, or contact us, I can’t imagine we’re not going to be able to find what you need. We’re a small group; I know who everyone is and what they’re doing and can make referrals.”

Each Monday at 11 a.m., Willett hosts the Friends of Kevin radio show on Nashua’s WSMN-AM 1590. The show, which debuted in January, highlights three businesses or organizations represented in the group. First envisioned as a monthly concept, the Friends of Kevin program quickly earned a weekly time slot with guests booked through May. Friendworking events are open to everyone for a $10 fee while a full membership costs $150 per year. Willett has 125 clients and approximately 3,500 connections and followers on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. His goal is to reach 200 members, then “reflect and see where we want to go.”

/

To learn more, visit www.friendsofkevin. com, or email Kevin@friendsofkevin.com.

Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 21

Discovered Around Town: Great Finds & Unique Products

Our editors and contributors visited dozens of local stores, businesses, and restaurants while researching and developing stories for the articles in this issue. Here are some of their favorite items and experiences they encountered in their travels along the way.

On the Bright Side:

Handpainted ceramic dinnerware and accessories in warm, sunny citrus tones from Sigrid Olsen Art (www.sigridolsenart.com) will brighten up any home. This collection, available at Breath of Sun, also includes cards and paintings.

s

s

Breath of Sun: 603-216-1440 46 Lowell Road Suite 3 Windham, NH 03087 breathofsun.com

The CB:

This Chatterbox specialty is complete with two eggs, three pancakes or French toast, bacon, sausage links, and home fries.

Yogurt Parfait, S’il Vous Plait: Layers of fresh fruit, granola and yogurt combine in this healthy, delicious treat.

Chatterbox Cafe: 603-505-4581 4 Cobbetts Pond Road Windham, NH 03087 Robert Stemmler Nugent Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2007

s

Delectable Delights:

Red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting crowned with white chocolate-covered croquants.

Shabby Chic: 603-898-2442 4 Cobbetts Pond Road “Sweet” 6 Windham, NH 03087 shabbychicwindham.com

TEXT MESSAGING COUPON

Text cupcakes to 28766 for $3.00 off a dozen cupcakes. Offer expires 7/15/11.

page 22 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

Michael David (Phillips) Earthquake Syrah, 2005 Ferrari-Carano Trésor Cabernet Sauvignon Blend Sonoma County, 2005 Bella Vino: 603-893-8466 4 Cobbetts Pond Road Unit 8 Windham, NH 03087 bellavinonh.com

s

Three Well-Bred Reds:

s

Beaded Bliss:

Handmade necklaces, bracelets and anklets that can be designed to fit your unique style.

Sustainable Beauty: s

Experience the full line of beauty products from Davines, the Italian-based company renowned for its commitment to sustainable products and practices.

s

Bella Viaggio Salons & Spas: 603-898-9222 Granite Oaks, Suite 101, 127 Rockingham Road, Windham, NH 03087 bellaviaggiowindham.com

The Golfer’s Handy Cap:

$5.00 Off Brookstone Caps Regular price $12.00, now $7.00 Brookstone Golf Course: 603-894-7336 14 Route 111, Derry, NH 03038 brookstone-park.com

Warm, Delicious Bread, Right from the Kitchen:

Freshly-baked loaves of artisan bread, hot from the wood-fired oven, are a delight to guests dining at Tuscan Kitchen, and locals can also look forward to an on-site take-out bakery in the future.

s

Beadarita: 603-722-0722 215 South Broadway, Suite 293 Salem, NH 03079

Tuscan Kitchen: 603-952-4875 67 Main Street, Salem, NH 03079 tuscan-kitchen.com

Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 23

Par Excellence I

By Ulrika G. Gerth

Scenic Brookstone Golf & Driving Range gives beginners a chance to shine n the spring, before the trees turn green, Big Island Pond offers a glittery backdrop to golfers teeing up at Hole 2 at Brookstone Golf & Driving Range. Spread out on 27 pristine acres of land, the ninehole Par 3 course in Derry is designed to be one with nature, just as owner Harold J. Brooks of Brooks Properties envisioned.

The self-made millionaire and recreational golfer was fed up with wide open Par 3 courses and gave noted golf architect Howard Maurer an unusual directive: Not a single tree could be cut down. “How are we supposed to build a golf course then?”

Harold’s son, Eric Brooks, recalls Maurer saying. “And my dad said, ‘Well, we love trees and I want it to look like it’s been here forever.’”

In the end, a few trees did have to give way to create a public course that has earned several awards since its premiere in 2005 and recently made Golf Range Magazine’s list of the Top 100 Golf Ranges in America. For the golf novice, a Par 3 course is the ideal place to start, according to Brookstone Golf Pro Tony Zdunko. To the experienced golfer, the course provides a quick 1½ hour run to work the wedge clubs and perfect the short game. The longest hole, Hole 9, stretches

174 yards, a mere two thirds of the length that professional players may encounter for a Par 3. Zdunko, who competes on the New Hampshire PGA Tour and has shot three under par at Brookstone, teaches beginners to “play the game, not just swing the clubs.”

“One thing that distracts people from going to play golf is intimidation; they’re afraid of hitting it wrong or slowing people up,” he says. “I try to teach a very non-intimidating environment. We get out on the course as much as we can.” Like so many golfers, Zdunko developed a fever for the game early on. He caught the bug at age 10, caddying for his dad at a time when golf was hardly a kids’ sport. “Kids are still like second class citizens at some courses, but this course is truly geared toward families and kids,” he says.

“Parents can come here with their kids, hit some balls, play our adventure miniature golf course, grab an ice cream or pizza, and something good to eat at the restaurant.”

The course wraps around the Brookstone Grille, the centerpiece of Harold Brooks’ master plan for the property off Route 111 that he began acquiring in the late 1990s. Now named

Brookstone Park, it also features an event center, a 30-foot fountain, and a new addition at the entrance, a life-size bronze sculpture called the “Self Made Man” by acclaimed sculptor and artist Bobbie Carlyle. In a move that Brooks Properties CEO Eric Brooks says is typical of his father, Harold Brooks ordered 20 smaller versions of the sculpture for $3,000 a piece which will be awarded to outstanding New Hampshire residents starting this year. “My dad doesn’t do things small,” Eric says with a laugh. Harold Brooks now lives in Jupiter, Fla., but likes to jet his private plane to New Hampshire amid such varied undertakings as developing his own electric car. “I think he thought the Brooks family would retire up here and he’d collect the golf balls, but that’s too passive for him. He’s still building buildings and managing 1.5 million square feet of commercial property,” says Eric.

With just over two dozen acres to play with, Harold Brooks hired Howard Maurer of Howard Maurer Design Group, Inc., to create the nine-hole Par 3 course.

Maurer specializes in golf course design, a profession that he likens to creating a giant game board where a myriad of pieces - aesthetics, science, soil types,

Brookstone Golf Course

an incredible place to B page 24 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

“...this course is truly geared toward families and kids.” sports, psychological tricks - have to fit together. “Any time you do Par 3 holes it could get somewhat boring, so I wanted to have a variety of lengths, angles and features, water hazards, and quite a few elevation changes,” Maurer explains. “You need variety so it’s fun for a really good golfer and challenging, but not overly intimidating for a new golfer.”

Practice, Play or Learn Brookstone Golf & Driving Range offers private lessons and a range of instructional programs for all ages and skill levels such as the national Get Golf Ready, a five-lesson clinic that covers all the basics. Junior camps run in the spring and summer.

Zdunko is a fan of Hole 2, which features two distinct tee grounds. One forces the player to push over a hazard whereas the second offers a straight shot.

The biggest challenge comes at Hole 9 where the clubhouse sits right behind the green and a hazard makes life difficult on the opposite side. Jeff Rader, golf course superintendent, likes that last hole in particular. He knows the course like his own pocket, clocking 55 to 60 hours a week during the busy season. As soon as the snow melts and the frost loses its grip, Brookstone Golf & Driving Range will open for business. Last year, March 10 marked the record early season premiere.

After a winter of equipment maintenance, Rader and his crew of three will go to work at 5:30 a.m., mowing greens to 1/8

of an inch six days a week, changing cups and doing traps daily, before the first players arrive at 7 a.m.”I like to maintain greens that are fast but not too fast since we’ve got beginners,” Rader says. “Most people are not as concerned with the score as going out and having fun.”

Surprisingly, Eric Brooks has yet to try the course - or golf for that matter.

“I’ve thought about it but I’m always too busy,” he says, adding later with another laugh, “It’s an amenity for everyone besides the Brooks family. I think we built something really nice, the best in the area.”

/

Brookstone Golf & Driving Range 14 Route 111, Derry, NH 03038 (603) 894-7336 • (603) 89-GREEN www.brookstone-park.com

No equipment? That’s not a problem at Brookstone, says Golf Pro Tony Zdunko. New players can either rent clubs or purchase a starter set from the pro shop, starting at $299 for adults and $99 for kids.

At the 12-tee practice range and short game area, players can work on their irons, chipping, putting, and bunker play. Players can pay for each round or get an annual membership.

Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 25

60 miles in any direction CHARITY SPOTLIGHT:

Y

Kevin Youkilis’ Hits for Kids

To donate go to www.youkskids.org

Youk’s Kids is a charitable, non-profit organization founded by Boston Red Sox infielder Kevin Youkilis, dedicated to improving the lives of the children throughout Red Sox Nation and beyond.

Our mission is to create a community of support, increase awareness, and advocate for the health and well-being of children in need.

“Since the inception of Youk’s Kids in 2007, I have established a loyal following of individual and corporate supporters who have assisted me in raising over 1.4 million dollars to help over 1,000 children. Of all of my life’s accomplishments, I am most proud of everything Youk’s Kids has done to help children and serve the community.

This season as I make the move to third base, I am honored to introduce you to Youk’s Kids’ new program, Athletes for Heroes. This program will support the children of fallen or severely injured men and women of service as well as the children of everyday individuals who risk their lives to protect another. These courageous and dedicated people are the true heroes of our world and I look forward to empowering their children to determine their own future despite their personal loss.” — Kevin Youkilis

The Italian Home for Children Since the inception of Youk’s Kids, Kevin has had a special bond with the Italian Home for Children.

The Italian Home is a residential and day treatment facility for emotionally and behaviorally challenged children, many of whom are victims of abuse or neglect. After making one site visit to the Italian Home for Children in 2007, Kevin knew that he could help better the lives of the these students who lack the support of family.

“When Kevin visits the Italian Home, our children light up and feel special. He is an extraordinary person and we are immensely grateful to have him as our friend.”

— Melanie Lima, Director of Development, Italian Home for Children

Josh Cares It has always been a dream of Kevin’s to bring his charitable efforts back to his hometown of Cincinnati.

Fellows employed by Josh Cares serve as surrogates for the families who cannot be, for one reason or another, by their child’s side during their hospitalization following an injury or illness. These surrogates provide a familiar face to help fill the children’s lonely hours, to

“When Kevin visits the Italian Home, our children light up and feel special. He is an extraordinary person and we are immensely grateful to have him as our friend.” — Melanie Lima, Director of Development, Italian Home for Children page 26 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

Photos courtesy of Monica Biswas and Donna DeSimone

Athletes for Heroes

read them stories until they fall asleep, to play games with them, and to hold their hands during painful procedures. Kevin recalls being rushed to the Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati when his appendix burst and most vividly remembers the kind and caring people who helped him while he was at the hospital.

Because of this, Kevin knew that he wanted to help Josh Cares in their endeavor to provide surrogates to hospitalized children.

“Youk’s Kids has taken Josh Cares to a new level for which we are eternally grateful.” — Joy Blang, Executive Director, Josh Cares

/

Beginning in 2011, Kevin partnered with Ray Allen of the Celtics, Shawn Thornton from the Bruins, Wes Welker from the Patriots, and Taylor Twellman from the Revolution to support the children of these fallen or severely injured heroes with the Athletes for Heroes program. With the goals of increasing confidence, instilling pride and providing an opportunity to experience the camaraderie and companionship of being a member of a team, this new arm of Youk’s Kids will fund sports activities and provide academic support services for children who have lost a parent while in the line of duty or while saving the life of another.

“As an athlete, I am often deemed a hero when I hit a walk-off homerun but in truth the real heroes are those who unselfishly step up to make our lives safer or to guarantee our freedom. Sometimes, they end up sacrificing their lives for the betterment of others. It’s an honor for us to be able to help support their families in their time of need,” Kevin explains.

Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 27

Around Town In New England

In The Community

Enterprise Bank’s 2011

Celebration of Excellence

M

Most business owners expect to work long hours and make many sacrifices in order to see their companies and employees grow. Individuals who embrace work in non-profit agencies and charitable organizations very often place the mission before their own comfort. None of them do it for recognition or praise. They do it because of who they are. They are your neighbors, friends, business associates and family members. Their initiatives, creativity and sacrifices continue to strengthen the foundation upon which our local economies are built.

The Enterprise Bank Celebration of Excellence was officially launched in May of 2008 in order to create a forum where business and community leaders can be publicly honored and recognized for their entrepreneurial spirit, hard work, dedication, perseverance, and commitment to their organizations and communities.

The 2011 Celebration of Excellence will be held at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium on November 9. It is Enterprise Bank’s way of thanking those individuals who strive to build strong organizations that provide jobs and opportunities, as well as business,civic and community leaders who are giving back and making a real difference in the communities we share.

To get more information, and to find out how you can praise the efforts of your colleagues and friends by nominating them for one of several possible awards, please visit EBcoe.com and make your nominations today.

EBcoe.com page 28 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

events@lazarushouse.org

Everyone Deserves a Home “The process of watching one of our students lose her home was heart-wrenching,” recalled English as a Second Language instructor, Ann Shields. “For eight weeks she didn’t miss one day of school, even though she was sleeping on her living room floor so that she could rent out her two bedrooms to boarders. At the end, we literally walked her to the Lazarus House Emergency Shelter with her three young children.”

Through tears the young mother described her emotions during the time she lost her home. “Everything in my life was dark and closed down. Lazarus House was like a light to me, it was everything in my life; a new beginning.”

That was the spark that initiated this new type of fundraiser for Lazarus House Ministries, Inc. “It had been my wish to help develop an ongoing way to raise money for the ministry,” stated Shields. “My thought was that women are inclined to reach out to each other when they see a need; the words . . . poverty, hungry, and homeless are impactful! I envisioned a gift of jewelry, something small, and when I saw a tiny charm in the shape of a house, it seemed perfect because everyone deserves a home.

We offer the charm on a bracelet for $18, and the charm alone for $10. Any individual or group can get involved by selling these beautiful items directly and making a direct impact on the lives of our guests.”

Lazarus House Ministries, Inc., a spiritually based organization, provides a number of programs that include: a soup kitchen; food pantry; emergency, transitional and HIV/AIDS housing; advocacy; education; work preparation; and three thrift stores.

Lazarus House provides over 22,000 support services every month in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and surrounding communities in the Merrimack Valley.

If you are interested in selling the charms and bracelets at your organization or company contact Bridget Sheehy at events@lazarushouse.org or (978) 269-5206.

“It had been my wish to help

develop an ongoing way to raise money for the ministry,” — Ann Shields

In his element: Metal sculptor

Dale Rogers

www.DaleRogersStudio.com www.MetalMonkeyMania.com www.TheBigDogShow.com

F

For travelers coming to or from New Hampshire on Route 495, it’s not unusual to see a 16-foot dog on the side of the highway. The famous canine sculpture which stands sentinel in the grass near the southbound off-ramp at Exit 48 is just one of the creations of award-winning sculptor Dale Rogers.

Although the famous “Highway Dog” might resemble wood to a passerby, it is actually made from Cor-Ten steel, Rogers’ medium of choice, which is made to weather naturally to a rust-colored finish. He also uses stainless steel in many of his sculptures, which typically take six months from concept to completion.

The Haverhill native first discovered metalwork when welding equipment on the Spring Hill Farm, which his family has owned for over a century.

A graduate of New Hampshire College, now Southern New Hampshire University, Rogers found welding difficult at first, but he soon combined it with his love of art to create the incredible large-scale sculptures for which he is known and celebrated today. Among his many accolades, Rogers most recently received an award of distinction for his Pendulum sculpture at Florida’s Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival in March.

Whether stunningly abstract, like the dazzling G-Swirl that graces Newburyport’s Clipper City Rail Trail, or highly recognizable, such as his iconic American Dogs series, Rogers’ designs amaze and delight people throughout the country in permanent installations, as well as traveling exhibitions in areas including Portsmouth’s Peirce Island. A strong proponent of public art, he is glad to share his work in communities all over New England – where his high-impact sculptures get people talking, and excited about art.

While he is probably best known for his Dogs, 2011 is definitely the year of the monkey for Rogers, who is designing an exhibit of 100 four-and-a-half-foot-long monkeys for ArtPrize, an open art competition that begins in Grand Rapids, Michigan this September.

This time the subjects will be hanging from a pedestrian bridge, but like the famous dog, they will be certain to turn some heads.

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Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 29

The Castle on the Hill: Historic Tudor Estate Sets the Scene for Idyllic Weddings

Searles Castle at Windham

By Jill Oestreicher Gross

elegance and style all its own page 30 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

H

High on a hill in Windham, New Hampshire, an

almost 100-year-old historic castle sits, a special place for those celebrating special moments.

For one bride, Searles Castle was the

“magical” place she always envisioned for her wedding: romantic, elegant and personal. “It was

Who Was Edward Francis Searles?

Searles was born on July 4, 1841, in Methuen, Mass. He was a well-known interior designer and antiques collector who married the wealthy and much older Mary Frances Hopkins, widow of railroad tycoon Mark Hopkins. Her death in 1891 preceded Searles’ by more than three decades.

He died in 1920.

the only place I imagined getting married at,” says Erin Wolcik, 28, of Amesbury, MA. “It was exactly what I wanted.”

Wolcik planned her October 2010 wedding to her husband Robert during the preceding winter months, using photos of the 175-acre estate and a tour of the authentic Tudor castle to seal the deal for her important day. She describes her wedding

His interests as a youth included playing piano and organ. He became an interior decorator in 1875 for the prestigious design house Herter Brothers of New York. In 1881, he met Mary Hopkins, a Herter Brothers client, in San Francisco. She commissioned him to design the interior of her San Francisco home, and to work on her sprawling castle in Great Barrington, Mass., which was completed in 1888.

as “a fantasy in my head that I never expected to come to life, but it did.” Among the highlights – the personalized attention she received, the ease of planning for her big day, and the dramatic Bananas Foster Flambé dessert station. She says her guests called it “the wedding of the century.”

The outdoor wedding season at Searles Castle runs from April to November, when the grounds are transformed into the perfect backdrop for a wedding celebration and reception. Guests start the party inside the mansion and then move on to the courtyard, where a 4,000-square foot tent awaits.

The bride and groom can even arrive to the party by a horse-drawn carriage. “It’s a fairy tale of a place for a wedding,” says David Kolifrath, executive director for the castle’s events.

“It’s elegant. It’s absolutely gorgeous.”

The three-foot deep walls of Searles Castle, circa 1915, hold a rich history. Kolifrath, a history buff, pointed out the interior’s Windsor Castle doors, Napoleon’s fireplace, and the hand-carved woodwork and marble throughout the mansion.

He says the 20-room castle was built by architect Henry Vaughan for Edward F. Searles, an interior decorator and antique collector, for $1.25 million.

“We have the utmost respect for the building,” continued on next page

They married on November 8, 1887, in New York City. He was 47; she was 20 years older than him. She died four years later, leaving Searles an estate valued at more than $20 million, according to a history of the town of Methuen

by Dan Gagnon. Searles collaborated with noted architect Henry Vaughan on several projects including Searles Castle in Windham, NH, Methuen Memorial Music Hall, and Stillwater Manor in Salem, NH.

Searles Castle

was the “magical ” place Erin always envisioned for her

wedding: romantic, elegant and personal.

Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 31

Searles Castle Kolifrath says. “I just love this place.

It’s just so full of history.” According to Kolifrath, Searles lived in Methuen, MA, and only slept in the house five times. The castle’s ownership has changed several times since Searles owned it. The Sisters of Mercy, a Catholic organization of

“a fantasy in my head that I never

expected to come to life, but it did.”

Erin Wolcik, Amesbury, MA

women, acquired the castle in 1952.

At the end of 2001, the group entered into a partnership with Kolifrath, who became president of Searles Castle Event Management.

Wedding bookings started at the castle

Historical Timeline of Searles Castle, Windham, NH 1905-1915: Searles Castle built for Edward Searles by architect Henry Vaughan.

1920: Searles dies and wills the castle to his secretary, Arthur T. Walker.

1927: Walker dies and wills the castle to his brothers and sisters.

in early 2002, and Kolifrath says his

1930: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Andrew of Methuen, MA, buy the castle.

calendar was soon full. With only one

1952: The Sisters of Mercy, a group of nuns, acquire the castle. The castle is used

wedding planned per day, he says his team is able to give couples and their guests undivided attention. Scott Robb, the castle’s general manager and Kolifrath’s son-in-law, married his wife Allison there in 2004. “The bride and groom feel like they’re part of our family

as the group’s training center, retreat house and administrative offices.

1963: Castle College, a two-year junior college, holds classes at the castle for more than 25 years.

1991: After building repairs close the building for five years, the castle’s interior is refurbished through donations from area interior designers and benefactors.

Under the guidance of the Sisters of Mercy, the building becomes available to the public for social, cultural, spiritual, and business events.

2001: The Sisters of Mercy create a partnership with David and Linda Kolifrath

when they get here,” Kolifrath says. “We

of Salem, NH. Searles Castle Event Management is formed and wedding

take their day very seriously. They have

planning begins.

the utmost confidence in us.” A former Pelham, NH high school principal,

2002-present: Searles Castle in its new incarnation holds wedding receptions inside the building and outside in the courtyard.

Kolifrath earned his experience in the wedding industry as a former co-owner of Promises To Keep, a wedding space in Derry.

Much like their partners at Searles, the Sisters of Mercy, the Kolifrath family shares an affinity for serving others.

“I’m very much into charity work,” Kolifrath says. “We do a ton of charity projects,” including work for the Lazarus House and the Salem Boys and Girls Club, he says.

“I like to give back.”

/

Searles Castle, 21 Searles Road, Windham, NH www.searlescastlewindham.com • 603-898-6597

page 32 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

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Beyond Beauty:

By Jill Oestreicher Gross

Windham Native Sets Her Sights on the Miss New Hampshire Crown Katrina Ulaky isn’t your ordinary 20-year-old. The current Miss Rockingham County is a dedicated accounting student at Northeastern University, a hard-working volunteer mentor for inner city preschoolers in Boston, and a certified scuba

of an interview, an on-stage question, and competition in swimsuit, evening gown, and talent categories.

More than 12,000 women participate each year in local and state pageant events nationwide, culminating in the selection of 52 national finalists who vie for the Miss America title, according to event organizers. About $45 million in scholarships are disbursed by the Miss America organization for scholarships to young women in the US. The Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Program administers the state’s competition.

While Ulaky is relatively new to the pageant world, her mother, Lynne Ulaky, competed in several pageants

“I am so proud of the way she can conduct herself and relate to people even though she is only 20.” Lynne Ulaky

diver. In her free time, the multi-faceted young woman is also a master Etch-A-Sketch artist, and keeps several of the classic drawing toys at her desk.

The Windham, NH native won the Miss Rockingham County crown in November 2010, along with close to $4,300 in scholarship money, and will compete for the title of Miss New Hampshire in April. If she wins, she’ll go on to the Miss America pageant, set for January 2012. “I’m going to give it my all,” Ulaky says. “I’ve worked very hard. I’m very honored.” Ulaky compares her recent certification in scuba diving, after initially having a fear of open water, to setting high standards for herself personally, professionally and academically.“It’s shown me how much I can grow in a short amount of time,” she adds. Ulaky will show off her dancing skills, another passion of hers, at the Miss New Hampshire competition, which will take place April 28-30 at Pinkerton Academy’s Stockbridge Theater in Derry, NH. The pageant consists

“I’m going to give it my all,” Ulaky says.

“I’ve worked very hard. I’m very honored.” page 34 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

“Think globally; mentor locally,” is rooted in her experience working with children of all ages as a role model and mentor.

Ulaky’s issue,

as a young woman, and won first runner up for Miss Londonderry in 1979, wearing a gown her own mother made. She says it’s “wonderful to share with my daughter the experience of the pageant world that I had and be able to help her prepare for her next step.” The tight-knit community of county winners, 27 in all, includes Katrina Ulaky’s cousin, Adria Farr, this year’s Miss Londonderry.

“I have a lot of friends competing,” Ulaky says. “They’ve inspired me.”

With a family heritage connected to two of New Hampshire’s best known entertainment attractions, Canobie Lake Park and Victorian Park, both of Salem, Ulaky’s childhood and adolescent years were especially

memorable. Her father Wayne’s family bought the Canobie Lake Park amusement park in 1958, and her mother’s family owns the Victorian Park Family Entertainment Center & Ice Cream Shoppe. “It was a unique experience growing up,” Ulaky, who spent her summers playing and working at both places, recalls.

“We never had a boring day of summer.”

As part of her duties as Miss Rockingham, Ulaky attends community events such as local fundraisers, parades and parties.

She says she loves being a part of the community and has yet to turn down an invitation. “For me, it is a true pleasure to watch my daughter interact with people, young and old, at her appearances,” Lynne Ulaky says. “I am so proud of the way she can conduct herself and relate to people even though she is only 20.”

Every contestant must choose a platform for their scholarship. Ulaky’s issue, “Think globally; mentor locally,” is rooted in her experience working with children of all ages as a role model and mentor. She has volunteered countless hours at the Salem Boys and Girls Club in Salem, NH, at Raymond High School in Raymond, NH, and at Jumpstart in Roxbury, Mass.

While the state of New Hampshire has yet to produce a Miss America winner in its 90-year history, Katrina Ulaky sees a different future for the state. “Time to change that,” she says, with a hopeful sparkle in her eye.

To follow Ulaky in this year’s competition, visit her website and blog at www.missrockingham.weebly.com.

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Summer Bus Trip to Vermont Quilt Festival 2011 marks the 35th year of the Vermont Quilt Festival, held each summer in northern Vermont. This annual event is the largest quilt show in New England, and attracts visitors and quilt enthusiasts alike for a four-day festival of vibrant color and texture. Whether you are a lover of Vermont, history, textiles – or all three – the Vermont Quilt Festival has something for everyone.

Getting to northern Vermont from the southern New Hampshire area can be a tedious car ride, but two local quilters have joined forces to make the trip an enjoyable experience, by offering a bus trip to the festival.

Departing from Nashua, New Hampshire and Townsend,

Mass., the bus gives passengers the opportunity to ride to Vermont in air-conditioned comfort while relaxing and enjoying themselves. Passengers are invited to participate in contests, raffles and ‘Show and Tell’ activities during the ride to make the trip entertaining and fun.

Linda Pearl of The Patchwork Pearl of Nashua and Stacie Keefe of Sew Quilted of Townsend have teamed up to offer a bus to the Festival on Saturday, June 25. To make reservations, contact linda@thepatchworkpearl.com, or Stacie at sewquilted@msn.com. Tickets are $75, and cover your ticket, driver’s tip and admission to the festival.

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Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 35

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page 36 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

.com

www.partyofgold

W

By Michelle Xiarhos Curran

What a rush — Guests earn cash when they party with gold When Lee Vose gathered friends and family at her home for a party last year and ended the evening $800 richer, she knew she had struck gold.

For decades, gathered in the kitchens and living rooms of their friends, women have oohed and aahed and paid money for things that made food storage easier, meal cooking better and kept their skin taut and youthful. But until recently, never have they left a home shopping party with their pocketbooks a little fuller than when they arrived.

Companies like Massachusetts-based Party of Gold changed all that when they began offering parties to which guests could bring their old, unwanted gold and silver jewelry, have it weighed on site and receive a check for their wares on the spot.

“It really makes for a fun night for everybody,” says Vose about Party of Gold, a women-owned and run business started about three years ago by Lisa Rosenthal, a former mortgage broker. “It’s a party where there’s no spending allowed.

Everybody makes money.” Vose, a Newton, NH resident, loved the company so much, she now works as one of its 200 nationwide representatives, and services Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

A no-pressure alternative to selling sentimental items to a pawn shop or jeweler, Party of Gold allows women to gather in an informal setting, reminisce about old times and leave with cash in their pockets. Party hosts earn 10 percent of all of the gold that is purchased at their party, and 5 percent for silver.

“I’ve had people crying because they’re able to pay for their kids’ Christmas,” says Vose, who added that she’s written checks for thousands of dollars to some very surprised partygoers, who were astonished at what their items were worth.

“We are extremely competitive. Our prices are in line with all the top jewelers.”

With the price of gold continuing to rise and the economy still on the mend, gold parties are hugely popular among those looking to make a little bit of extra cash – which is nearly everybody. But it’s not always about the cash, says Vose, who has encouraged a hesitant seller or two to keep a valued treasure that was given to them by a loved one. “You want people to leave feeling great, and for some, that’s deciding to hold onto something that’s important to them,” she says.

Vose, a stay-at-home mom who hosts at least two parties a week and is currently booking up to five, says she’s been successful in her role as a Party of Gold rep because of her people skills. “I love going to people’s houses and meeting new people,” she says. And, what’s more, is that there is no sales pitch required.

In addition to private parties, Vose also helps organize and market fundraisers for nonprofits looking for a unique way to raise money.

For more information on Party of Gold, or to learn how you can host a party Lee Vose of Party of Gold or become a representative, visit partyofgold.com or contact Lee Vose at lee@partyofgold.com.

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An Open Door and a Smile:

I

Meet Salem Co-operative Bank’s Ann Lally

If you’re a customer at Salem Co-operative Bank in Salem, NH, you’re welcome to visit president Ann Lally in her office any time of day. “I sit in the corner office, and anyone coming into the bank has the opportunity to stop by and see me,” Lally says.

The ones with a sweet tooth usually leave with a lollipop in hand, courtesy of the well-stocked jar of Tootsie Pops on her desk.

Remembering her customers’ favorite treats is just one small aspect of the personal service Lally gives her customers. They’re not just clients, but friends, and they often visit her office to ask questions about banking, talk about the economy, chat about goings-on in Salem, or just to say hello. People ask, ‘When do you get any work done?’ and I say at the end of the day when the doors are closed. My first priority is meeting the needs of our customers.”

Those customers include local business owners whose enterprises have grown thanks to the bank’s relatively new small-business lending program. “We started the program about four years ago as an answer to business owners’ needs, and it’s made our relationships with customers stronger,” Lally explains.

Customer commitment doesn’t stop there. “As a full service bank, we offer a wide selection of products and services for personal and mortgage banking needs too. We are committed to making our customers’ banking experience convenient, easy, and secure while providing them with banking solutions for life,” she explains. “We take great pride in getting to know them personally and look for opportunities to lend a hand whenever we can.”

“People approach me and say that we helped out during a difficult time by listening to their needs,” she says. “It’s not unusual for us to have the children and grandchildren of our customers become customers as well. A family referral is the most satisfying. It’s the ultimate form of appreciation.”

Lally, a CPA, started her career as treasurer at the Salem Co-operative Bank 25 years ago. She became president in 1997, and during that time she’s also been a community advocate, a board member of the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce, and a stalwart supporter of many local causes.

Her drive to give 100 percent at her job and in the community comes from a sincere desire to make a difference in Salem. Lally has overseen, on behalf of the bank, the distribution of countless grants to local businesses and nonprofit organizations, including a recent donation of $300,000 to the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits. She knows the importance of a community bank’s role in the lives of business owners and residents, because she experiences the results every day.

Lally, who is actively involved with the Salem Boys & Girls Club, says she feels a natural calling to help young people.

“I’m the oldest of eight, so I’ve always considered myself the big sister,” she explains. She previously served as director and president of the club, and now she’s a huge supporter of its fundraising efforts. The latest fundraiser involved collecting items, including bountiful gift baskets, for the annual live and silent auction, an event with which Lally has long been active.

She beams when she speaks of the generosity of the donors, mostly Salem-area businesses. “People donate wine, dining and lodging gift certificates, even bark mulch,” she says. Among the biggest bid-generators are the autographed baseballs, some of

“I sit in the corner office, and anyone

coming into the bank has the opportunity page 38 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

to stop by and see me.”

which come directly from the Boston Red Sox; others are donated by Lally’s friend in the sports memorabilia business.

It’s obvious that Lally’s generous spirit extends to her employees: When it was time to prepare for the event, Salem Co-operative Bank employees jumped right in to help, collecting the donated items and assembling the gift baskets.

“I have a talented, committed staff. They know the importance of serving the community where they work,” she adds.

When the Boys & Girls Club needed to replace its aging facility around a decade ago, it’s no surprise that Ann Lally was heavily involved. Salem Co-operative Bank was the lead sponsor contributing $610,000 towards the construction project.

“It’s a cool building. It’s very modern,” she says of the club’s new home, which was completed in 2004. The tireless banker also helped secure grant money, through the bank, for the renovation of the Depot Train Station, a significant building in the town’s history.

And appreciation comes often to Lally, in many notable forms.

She was named Community Banker of the Year in 2004, and made the Southern New Hampshire University Alumni Hall of Fame a year later. In 2008, she received the William A. Brown Distinguished Businessperson of the Year award from the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce, an honor she describes as “very

humbling. I do these things because I have the passion to do them, and when [an award] happens, I get surprised.”

Her tireless involvement in her work and community causes means Lally is not home much, especially now that Salem Co-operative Bank has opened a branch in Methuen. “I thrive on this kind of commitment to the bank and the organizations I’m involved with. My husband understands and supports me,” she says. “He’s really good at keeping me from feeling guilty when I feel that tug.”

As dedicated as she is to preserving the past and ensuring a prosperous future for Salem, it’s the present that Lally relishes most. “I’m happy to get up and go to the bank every day. I am fortunate to have this opportunity, and I always serve with this in mind.” And the next time you come in for a visit, she just might have your favorite kind of Tootsie Pop waiting for you.

/

Salem Co-operative Bank is located at 3 South Broadway, Salem, NH and at 284 Merrimack Street, Methuen MA. For additional information about the bank, visit www.salemcoop.com.

Salem Co-operative Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and a Member of the FDIC. Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 39

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Our mission is to raise awareness and promote education about ovarian cancer. The Coalition is committed to improving the survival rate and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer.

Facts About Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a disease in which malignant or cancerous cells are found in the ovaries. An ovary is one of two small, almond-shaped organs located on each side of the uterus that store eggs or germ cells and produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.

• All women are at risk for ovarian cancer • 1 in 71 women will develop the disease in their lifetime • Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers • 21,880 women were diagnosed nationwide in 2010 • 13,850 estimated deaths from ovarian cancer nationwide in 2010 • Currently NO early detection test exists • The Pap smear does not detect ovarian cancer • If diagnosed and treated early, when the cancer is confined to the ovary, the 5-year survival rate is over 90% • Fewer than 20% of cases are diagnosed in the early stage • Early detection increases survival rates significantly, therefore education about the early symptoms is imperative

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect because symptoms can be vague and subtle, and are often misdiagnosed as benign illnesses.

Potential signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer:

Bloating | Pelvic or abdominal pain | Trouble eating or feeling full quickly | Feeling the need to urinate urgently or often

Other symptoms can include:

Fatigue | Upset stomach or heartburn | Back pain | Constipation Menstrual changes If symptoms persist for more than two weeks, women should see a gynecologist. NOCC urges women who suspect ovarian cancer to see a gynecologic oncologist.

Tests used to help detect ovarian cancer

Rectovaginal exam | CA 125 blood test | Transvaginal ultrasound

Source: American Cancer Society (2010)

September 25, 2011 at Mine Falls Park, Nashua, NH

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Online registration begins in June at www.nocc.kintera.org/nh

For more information please visit www.ovarian.org

Early detection increases survival rates significantly, therefore education about the early symptoms is imperative.

Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 41 Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page X

People Who Love W I Living the Good Life

It’s difficult enough these days to find a job, never mind one that generates genuine excitement on a Monday morning.

In a survey released in March, global management consulting company Accenture found that more than half of people are dissatisfied with their current careers. It’s tough to feel positive when the disgruntled coworker next to you intentionally sets his clock five minutes fast so he can claim he leaves at 5 p.m. each day. The flip side to this seemingly dismal news, of course, is that there are presumably 50 percent of people out there who are happy with their jobs.

Fortunately, I am one of them. For me, besides the love of those close to me and being in good health, loving what I do is like living the good life. There is no greater satisfaction than having the opportunity to do what you love. To be able to spend your days working at something that gives you meaning, something you are entirely passionate about, is a great way to live. Knowing at the end of the day that I have worked hard and produced something I am proud of is like the proverbial icing on the cake.

They say that the real measure of how happy someone is with their work is determined by a single question: Would you do

Michele Sasmor, MD plastic surgeon in private practice at Riversong Plastic Surgery and Timeless Faces, 21 Highland Avenue, Newburyport, MA “Interacting with patients is very important, and because I studied health education and have been a nurse, I feel comfortable listening and then offering options,” Sasmor says. “I will not do a procedure if it is not going to be helpful, so the patient and I often have useful discussions on what is the best way to proceed.

I believe in the art of the possible, and I am always looking for something better.”

it for free? But in reality, free doesn’t pay the bills or send your kids to college. Most of us have to work. We get up each day, sip our coffee, and figure out what lies ahead. Some of us are lucky enough to go to work in our comfy slippers, while others put on freshly dry cleaned clothes before tackling the outside world.

But most of us will interact with others, and loving what you do will make that interaction even more enjoyable, not to mention gainful.

If you love what you do, then the passion of your task almost takes on a mind of its own. You talk about what you do (maybe a little bit too much). You think about it often. And, if you’re like me, ideas are always floating around in your head. For me, each new project I take on produces a lot of questions and brings on a lot of fears and unknowns, but I wouldn’t change what I do for anything. I love what I do and it very seldom feels like a job.

So while 50 percent of people may not be quite satisfied with what they do, there are people out there who are doing more than just punching a time card. I have asked some of our contributors to recommend a passionate person who loves what they do, because if you love what you do, it always shows.

These are some of the results.

/

Sarah Ungaro Tuscan Kitchen Restaurant Salem www.tuscan-kitchen.com “Being a server offers a mother of three such flexibility and my earning potential is in my own hands. But, what I love specifically about my job at Tuscan Kitchen is that I am always confident my guests are enjoying high quality food that really does sell itself. When I present an entrée, I am delivering a work of art that is the result of a shared passion behind everything my colleagues and I do at Tuscan Kitchen. Also, it has been an amazing experience being part of the opening team; we have so much support and education to make sure we deliver a truly artisan experience for our guests.”

Around

page 42 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

e What They Do Elizabeth Souza, Founder Around Town In New England Magazine

Jaime Slade Chatterbox Cafe Windham “I love what I do because I have an outgoing and friendly personality. It’s exciting to work with different people and meet new people every day.”

Cindy Robinson Jazzercise of Hudson & Windham www.jazzercise.com

Now, 20 years later, I am an instructor of 15 years, owner of 2 facilities, one in Hudson and a new one in Windham. There isn’t a class that goes by that I don’t leave feeling better than when I walked into Jazzercise.

There is never a dull workout with our classes.

Jazzercise attracts women of many different lifestyles.

Class always feels like a girls night out...can you say that about your workout?

Julie Caruso Bella Viaggio Salons & Spas Windham www.bellaviaggiowindham.com

Photo by: Chris Williamson

Since the day I took my first class four months after my second child was born, I knew that I had found my place. Jazzercise IS an essential part of my life. It is my “me” time. My husband tells me to go to Jazzercise when he sees me stressing...even he knows how good I feel after a class.

Amy Spencer ERYT Master Yoga Instructor for Breath of Sun Windham www.breathofsun.com “I am very fortunate to be involved in a career that brings joy and health, as I eat, sleep, and breathe the work. To witness the ripples of understanding that Yoga radiates out to other areas of our lives, ultimately making us more effective human beings, parents, partners, friends, is truly a miracle. Watching my students learning to become healthier and happier and grow their personal Yoga practice is so rewarding and it feels like coming home more than “going to work”. visit: www.gracesimplyis.co

d Town

“I love working at Bella Viaggio because when people come into our salon it’s not just to get their hair cut or colored, it’s a chance for them to relax away from work or home or kids and just get pampered. It is something they look forward to, not just another errand to cross off their list. When they leave they look great and feel confident and that was something I was able to do for them — and I love it.”

Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 43

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page 44 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

Wine Pairing Tips

W

by Paula Doucette, Bella Vino Wines and Gourmet

ith the seemingly infinite number of

Here are some wine and food pairing ideas for Spring:

wines that are available today, finding the right option to enhance and complement your food can be challenging. However, there are a few basic guidelines – such as lighter-bodied foods go best with lighterstyle wines and heavier-bodied foods go best with fuller-flavored wines – to keep in mind when shopping or dining out.

When making your selection, try to pick a wine that balances the natural flavor

With Lamb, try a Pinot Noir from Oregon or California’s Russian River Valley. Or, for something a little different, try a Spanish Tempranillo.

With spring vegetables like asparagus, peas or lentils, a Grüner Veltliner from Austria would be a nice complement.

If you’re itching to put some juicy ribs or a rich piece of beef on the grill, break out some Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel.

attributes of the food. For example, acidic foods like pasta with tomato sauce pair well with wines that are high in acidity, like Chianti. Or try pairing a crisp, acidic Sauvignon Blanc with fish that has a zesty lemon sauce. Similarly, a rich, creamy dish would go well with a big, creamy Chardonnay. In finding that perfect food and wine match, you need to consider the flavor, texture and weight of both the food and the wine.

Bella Vino Specialty Wines and Gourmet 4 Cobbetts Pond Road, Unit 8 Windham, NH 03087 603.893.8466 www.bellavinonh.com

Use these and any other wine and food pairing tips as guidelines, but be sure to experiment for yourself. Because in the end, it’s all about what you enjoy.

Free wine tastings at Bella Vino every Thursday from 4:30 to 7:00.

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Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011 • page 45

Around Town In New England Restaurant Review

The Lobster Tail

F

4 Cobbetts Pond Rd # 2 Windham, NH 03087 (603) 890-5555 www.lobstertail.net

For many New Englanders, there’s nothing quite like the first seafood meal of the season, and that first taste of fresh lobster, fried clams or steamers we’ve been thinking about all winter. Fortunately, The Lobster Tail restaurant offers these succulent favorites year-round in their charming restaurant in the Cobbetts Pond Plaza, which we visited on a cool and blustery spring Sunday.

We started with a glass of the Starborough Sauvignon Blanc, which was light, dry, and slightly fruity. The cup of Traditional New England Clam Chowder was rich, creamy, and chock full of clams, sized just right for an appetizer. We needed two hands to eat the Jumbo Coconut Shrimp, given the size of each piece. Its mango dipping sauce set it off with just the right kick of heat.

When it came to the entrees, the restaurant’s namesake and signature dish was a perfect choice: six pieces of delicious steamed lobster tail, served skewerstyle with lemon and butter, alongside golden french fries. The scallops were the star of the lightly breaded Baked Seafood Combo, served with haddock in an au gratin dish on a plate of green beans and wild mushroom rice pilaf.

We finished off the meal with the crème brûlée cheesecake - a pleasant surprise since the online menu doesn’t list desserts - and found it to be light and delicately flavored - with tiny flecks of vanilla bean throughout.

While very busy, the friendly staff was upbeat, cheerful, and considerate, and we will definitely be back to try more items on their extensive menu - like the mouth-watering broiled swordfish kabobs we spotted at the next table. And best of all, we won’t have to wait til summer time.

Hours: Sun-Thu: 11 am - 8 pm Fri-Sat: 11 am - 9 pm

Some Of Around Town’s Favorites...

• H omemade Rockport Lump Crab Cakes Served with a roasted red pepper dipping sauce.

• L arge Sea Scallops wrapped in Smoked Bacon Rolled in breadcrumbs and served crisp.

• C ajun Popcorn Shrimp Served with a roasted red pepper dipping sauce.

• C olossal Gulf Shrimp Cocktail Served with homemade cocktail sauce and lemon.

• N arragansett Littlenecks on the Half Shell Served with homemade cocktail sauce and lemon.

• T raditional New England Clam Chowder

page 46 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

• H omemade Lobster Bisque Rich and creamy served in a bread bowl.

• L obster Salad With mixed greens, cucumber, red onion, tomato, and croutons.

• M ixed Grill, Swordfish, Scallops, and Shrimp • S wordfish Ka-bobs Marinated on skewers with peppers and onions.

• S teak Tip Dinner Marinated in Lobster Tail’s delicious marinade, grilled to perfection.

• J umbo Gulf Shrimp tossed over linguine with garlic and parmesan cheese.

And of course, you have to have the cheesecake!

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Around Town In New England Our Advertisers Advertisers...................................................................... Page • Anna Jaques Hospital..........................................................2 • Attune Coaching................................................................36 • Beabe Gallery — Photography...........................................36 • Beadarita...........................................................................22 • Bella Viaggio Salons & Spas..................... Inside Front Cover • Bella Vino Specialty Wines and Gourmet...........................45 • Breath of Sun....................................................................40 • Chatterbox Cafe................................................................22 • Connie Doto Realty Group.................................................13 • Denyne Designs.................................................................20 • Drinkwater Productions..............................Inside Back Cover • Fitness on Wheels..............................................................47 • Holy Family Hospital..........................................................33 • Infinite Fitness....................................................................20 • Kathy Pascal — Stella & Dot Jewelry.................................14 • Lee Vose — Party of Gold..................................................37 • Macaroni Kids....................................................................47 • NOCC — National Ovarian Cancer Coalition......................41 • Rt. 97 Automotive..............................................................40 • Salem Co-operative Bank....................................................7 • Samray Design..................................................................14 • Shabby Chic — A Sweets Boutique...................................22 • Jeffrey G. Sweeney Law Offices.........................................44 • The Building Collaborative..................................................44 • Tuscan Kitchen....................................................Back Cover Text Messaging Coupons................................................ Page Message and data rates may apply.

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page 48 • Around Town In New England Magazine • Spring 2011

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