READERS RESPOND

Peace Keeping

JESSICA BATTILANA

For her story on tomatoes [“The Jewels of Summer,” p. 44], this San Francisco–based cookbook author returned to a favorite farm from her New England childhood with her own two boys, ages 4 and 7, in tow. “If the highlight for me was getting to eat (lots of!) sun-warmed tomatoes straight off the vine,” she reports, “the highlight for them was getting a ride around the farm on an ATV.”

MARK FLEMING

Being turned loose on “Maine’s Magical Islands” 82] was a “dream assignment” for Yankee ’s former staff photographer—but wrangling ferries was another story. “I spent a lot of early mornings holding my spot in line at the Rockland terminal,” says Fleming, now Down East ’s director of photography. “Once I even slept in my car to make sure I’d be on the early boat—gotta be on the island for the best light!”

WINKY LEWIS

Freelance photographer Lewis contributed to our cover story [“Maine’s Magical Islands,” p. 82] with images from Peaks Island and Isle au Haut. And while the former is just a quick ferry ride from her Portland home, she especially enjoyed shooting the more remote Isle au Haut: “I’ve been documenting my kids on this special island for years, as we’re lucky enough to spend time there every summer.”

ROWAN JACOBSEN

Profiling a world-acclaimed Vermont brewer [“Shaun Hill and the Price of Perfection,” p. 106] not only provided Jacobsen the chance to sample beer that made his heart “flutter,” but also gave this native Vermonter and award-winning food writer new favorite lake for swimming and paddling, in preserve near Hill Farmstead Brewery that includes land from Shaun Hill’s family.

COREY HENDRICKSON

In addition to photographing stories for the pages of Yankee —including “Shaun Hill and the Price of Perfection” [p. 106]—Hendrickson has worked as a director of photography on Weekends with Yankee and also has published photos in Vanity Fair, Forbes, Popular Mechanics, and Food & Wine, among others. Born in Massachusetts, Hendrickson now lives in Vermont with his wife, two kids, and dog.

RICK MASSIMO

The author of I Got a Song: A History of the Newport Folk Festival, Massimo still vividly recalls a 2009 interview with festival founder George Wein [“Folk Heroes,” p. 14]. It left Massimo, a veteran Providence Journal writer, with the conviction that society needs both people who devote their lives to making change and, like Wein, “people who stand up in quiet ways in the everyday world as well.”

Ian Aldrich’s very excellent article about the ATV economy in northern New Hampshire [“Northern Exposure,” March/April] was worth the entire price of my subscription.

My husband and I once owned a condo at the foot of Mount Washington. It provided true escape from the stressful lives we led in Boston. Then the bikers moved in. On weekends, the road sounded like the runway at Logan Airport. Tranquil enjoyment of the beautiful woods and mountains ended; wildlife raced away in terror.

The wilderness should belong to everyone, and everyone’s rights are to be respected. This is not what is happening in northern New Hampshire. The greed of the Gorham deciders and business operators doesn’t take into account the people who don’t spend tourist dollars there anymore because they can’t stand the noise. I hope these people realize they may be killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

Susan K. O’Brien Sharon, New Hampshire

Moving Pictures

Thank you for introducing me to the world of Kosti Ruohomaa [“Bringing Kosti Home,” March/April 2019]. Kosti’s photographs on your website and in the magazine are wonderful. I’ve requested a library copy of his Night Train at Wiscasset Station , and when I visit the area this year, I’ll check to see if there is another exhibit of Kosti’s photos.

Maria Leveton Hamden, Connecticut

Friends & Family Plan

As I read the latest issue of Yankee , my mind wandered through all the years of reading about our New England— all the stories, recipes, poems, and best places to eat and view the fall scenery. And I realized that I’ve had a subscription since 1971.

Saltwater Souvenir

Driving home from summer’s beach

A colored taffy slips from reach…

A touching treasure from afar,

To find when autumn cleans the car. —D.A.W.

Actually, though, I’ve never been a subscriber. When I came back from Vietnam, I received Yankee as a Christmas present from a little old lady friend who knew I loved to read it. She continued to give me that same gift every year until she passed away in 1985. Then my mom took up the mantle, until she passed away in 1997.

Now what? Would I actually have to buy my own Yankee ? No. My dad took over the duty of continuing my free subscription, before passing the torch on to my wife in 2000.

To this day, 48 years later, I have yet to buy a single issue of my favorite magazine.

Norman VanCor Spofford, New Hampshire