Faces + Places
Keeping Things Rolling at Funtastics
By Jennifer H. McInerney – Photography by Jack Foley Patti Miller, the founder of Funtastics in North Scituate Village, remembers vividly (and fondly) the very first child who signed up for her gymnastics program in 1987-a 3-year-old girl named Siobhan. Fast-forward 33 years: Siobhan Karlberg now sits behind the Funtastics reception desk reminiscing with Miller about … Read more
Stay Golden
A Scituate entrepreneur’s stylish lifestyle brand is an ode to New England. Story and Photography by Kate Rogan Scituate resident Robbin Mangano is a natural storyteller. Whether bringing a client’s story to life via her public relations and social media marketing company, Wave Collective, or documenting her life on the South Shore to her more … Read more
Where the Heart Is
“Becoming Home” celebrates five generations of a Scituate family under one roof. Written by Jennifer H. McInerney Photography by Jack Foley Author Kirsten Hunt Kowalski, a self-proclaimed “Navy brat,” moved 10 times during her childhood before her family finally settled in Scituate. As Kowalski details in her debut novel of historical fiction “Becoming Home,” the … Read more
Great Expectations for Cohasset Harbor
Cohasset Hospitality Partners is aiming to breathe new life into the town’s waterfront district by restoring the glory to several seaside restaurants and enhancing harbor access for tourists and locals alike. Written by Moira McCarthy Like any classic beauty, Cohasset has great bones. Its quaint downtown lends itself to browsing through shops, sipping lattes at … Read more
The Enduring Legacy of Polly Thayer Starr
An acclaimed artist and ‘quiet philanthropist’ helped preserve the natural beauty of a bucolic Hingham hilltop. Written by Jennifer H. McInerney |Photography by Jack Foley Throughout her 101 years of life, Hingham artist Polly Thayer Starr reveled in the natural beauty of her family’s homestead on Turkey Hill and the adjacent Weir River Farm. During … Read more
Chasing the Tides
Ursula Balmer’s work ethic and salty ways help her lead the farm crew at Island Creek Oysters in Duxbury. Written by Lannan O’Brien Photography by Julia Cumes If there’s an early tide, Ursula Balmer might have to wake up at 3 a.m. to make her 40-minute commute to work—but you’ll never hear her complain. Her … Read more
Right on Target
Hanover’s Crazy Axes offers a fun form of stress release. By Matthew TormeyPhotography by Jack Foley The South Shore’s sharpest new entertainment destination is Crazy Axes Ax Throwing in Hanover. The family-run business was open for less than six months before the coronavirus shutdowns began but has already proven to be a South Shore favorite. … Read more
Race to the Top
We chatted with Randolph native Femita Ayanbeku about her journey to become the fastest female amputee in the United States. Written by Maria Allen Photography by Derrick Zellmann From tragedy to triumph, Femita Ayanbeku’s life story is a testament to the power of positivity and hard work. At 11 years old, Ayanbeku and her sister … Read more
The Descendants
Genealogy buffs discover family ties to Mayflower passengers. Written by Dave Kindy | Photography by Derrick Zellmann Are you a Pilgrim? A descendant, that is. Odds are you might be. An estimated 35 million people worldwide can claim that their ancestors sailed aboard the Mayflower in 1620. Many Americans are able to trace their … Read more
Another Crossing
Artisans from both sides of the Atlantic come together to create works inspired by the Mayflower voyage. Written by Lisa Cavanaugh Michelle Erickson Ceramist Michelle Erickson is a scholar and celebrated ceramist whose work involves deep research into historical techniques. This interest was sparked early on by her exposure to Native American, Asian, British, and … Read more
Hometown Heroes
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused hardship for people around the world, including here on the South Shore, but it is heartwarming to know that there are individuals and organizations working tirelessly to help our community rise and thrive during this difficult time. We recently teamed up with the South Shore Chamber of Commerce to recognize … Read more
Telling the Native Story
Kerri Helme helps preserve Wampanoag culture at Plimoth Plantation and beyond. By Lannan M. O’Brien Portrait photography by Julia Cumes Many people have heard the story of the English colonists’ journey to Plymouth in 1620 and their first interactions with the Wampanoag people. But too often, the portrayal of native history barely scratches the surface. … Read more
Ode to a Raindrop
“Areas of Fog” (Etruscan Press, 2017) is a collection of short essays by South Shore writer Will Dowd that reflects upon the beauty of New England weather. Dowd earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston College, a master’s degree from MIT and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from New York University. “Areas of Fog” is … Read more
Ocean of Opportunity
Two local women aim to resurrect Scituate’s mossing industry By Judy Enright Photography by Jack Foley Most people look out at the ocean and see only the surface of the water. That was not the case for Kathleen McEachern of Scituate and Susie Gillis of Marshfield—they saw an opportunity to resurrect a local industry. The … Read more