Arts + Culture

Bold, Beautiful, and Reborn

Jessica Bellanti finds inner strength through hardship and a new beginning at her namesake salon Article by Susan Gallagher Taking the easy road has never been an option for Jessica Bellanti. The demon of adversity has dogged her at every turn of her life, hurling one obstacle after another in her path. But the relentless demon met its match in this fierce and tenacious beauty entrepreneur.  Today, Jessica Bellanti wears the sheen of an accomplished professional. This savvy salon owner...

Arts + Culture

Catering With Love

The Fifth Flavor's Nina Parrott finds love and joy through food Article by Kim Piela | Photography by Kevin Edge Seacoast caterer Nina Parrott’s love for cooking and entertaining began in her childhood in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “My mom knew how to throw a dinner party, so I learned from her. It really paved the way,” she recalls. After college, Parrott honed her craft at culinary school in San Francisco, but credits her real education to working in restaurants. Her love for catering...

Home + Design

Artistry & Ash

EAD Woodwork's Ed Szczepanik celebrates the vanishing art of traditional woodworking and extols the virtues of the highly valuable but rapidly disappearing ash tree Article by Susan Gallagher | Photography by Kevin Edge Ed Szczepanik is one of a dying breed. This gifted artisan is among an elite but dwindling brotherhood of true craftsmen. In a world of mass production and instant gratification, Szczepanik and his EAD Woodwork tradesmen lovingly craft furniture with precision, patience, and...

Life + Culture

Repairing Lives, Restoring Hope

Portsmouth Rotary mission trip to India provides no-cost surgeries with life-changing impact Article by Ann Kathryn Kelly | Photography by Don Chick On an early morning in September, Midge Nelson watched a room in an Indian hospital be filled with men, women, and children. They queued into two lines. Nelson, an account executive with USI Insurance Services and current president of the Rotary Club of Portsmouth, was behind a desk, paperwork spread before her. Fellow Rotarian Yvonne Legge, a...

Life + Culture

Caretaker of the Wild

Seacoast artist Alex de Steiguer captures her experience as caretaker of the Isles of Shoals Article by Rebecca Ingalls | Photography by Alex de Steiguer Stand at the sea’s edge on a clear day in Rye and you’ll catch a splendid view of the Isles of Shoals seven miles east. In the warm months, visitors gather to enjoy spiritual and artistic retreats, history, and wildlife. In the winter, however, the site is closed to the public because the weather we experience on the mainland is far more...

Food + Beverage

In the Kitchen with Misa

Turning Picky Eaters Into Mini Chefs—One Bite at a Time! Article by Tara Phillips | Photography by Kevin Edge Misa Pignataro, a certified health coach and culinary nutritionist, helps families build healthy eating habits through workshops, coaching, kids’ cooking classes, and a convenient audio course for busy parents. With a master’s in elementary education and a decade teaching first grade, she connects easily with kids, making food education fun. As a mom of two, she shares relatable...

Home + Design

Winter Herb Haven

Brighten your days and cuisine with an indoor herb garden Article by Tara Phillips Brighten up the dark days of January by adding a touch of green to your kitchen while keeping your meals fresh and flavorful. Growing an indoor herb garden is easy and ensures a steady supply of fresh herbs, regardless of your climate or gardening experience. No sunny windowsill? No problem—grow lights make it easy. Gardener’s Supply in Greenland offers these helpful tips and all the essentials to get you...

Fitness

Training for Life

Seacoast Strength & Conditioning brings expertise, accessibility, and community-mindedness to personal fitness Article by Rebecca Ingalls | Photography by Kevin Edge Josh Gould, owner of Seacoast Strength & Conditioning, has created something comfortably New England with a no-frills, meticulously organized, warehouse-style space that needs nothing more than the power of its community of motivated clients and dedicated trainers to fill it.   Describe your journey from Boston to the Seacoast. ...

Wellness

Revive, Recharge, and Rediscover at Canyon Ranch

Where tranquility meets tailored wellness programs to inspire balance and lifelong vitality Article by Tara Phillips “Set wide the window. Let me drink the day.” Edith Wharton’s words perfectly capture the soul-nourishing essence of a day spent at Canyon Ranch, a serene retreat nestled in the Berkshires town of Lenox, Massachusetts. Driving up the gravel path, glimpses of the Bellefontaine mansion evoke Wharton’s Gilded Age, setting the scene for a transformative escape. From the moment staff...

Travel

A Room of My Own

Rooms for Love Gives Kids a New Outlook on Life with Personalized Room Makeovers Article by Susan Gallagher | Photography by Greg West Photography On her 13th birthday, Karen Kulberg opened her bedroom door to reveal an enchanted world. Vibrant red and white striped wallpaper adorned the walls, while a crimson dormer boldly framed the window. An enormous, red grosgrain ribbon topped a red-and-white-skirted antique vanity, filling her with girlish delight. This colorful, cheery space was the...