Health + Wellness

Electric Revolution

The versatile e-bike is opening roads to endless possibilities Article by Susan Gallagher It was an “aha” moment for Steve Gerhartz—that eye-opening maiden voyage on an electric bike (e-bike). He immediately understood what e-bike aficionados were raving about. “You don’t have to go 50 yards on one of these to know how great they are,” he says. Owner of Seacoast E-Bikes in Newington since 2020, this savvy entrepreneur seeks to spread the word about the myriad lifestyle benefits of this...

Finance + Legal Services

Wealth Management, With A Twist

Wealth advisor Art Meconi brought whimsy to his practice, turning balloon animals into business leads Article by Ann Kathryn Kelly | Photography by Allie Burke Photography It’s not every day a balloon dog helps pave the way to a retirement plan. Yet, that’s exactly what happened in a local mall when wealth advisor Art Meconi set up a table. As he twisted balloon dogs, ducks, and swords and handed them out to delighted children, he also handed his business card to parents and grandparents.  He...

Arts + Culture

Go For It

Co-founder Russ Grazier sings the praises of music-making in a community that meets students where they are Article by Rebecca Ingalls | Photography by David J. Murray ClearEyePhoto.com The ancient Greeks had a special word that captured the serendipity of “right place, right time”: kairos . For Russ and Katie Grazier, the right place was Portsmouth, and the right time was 2002 when the City of Portsmouth’s cultural plan put a spotlight on arts education in its call for an independent...

Life + Culture

Dear Aspen & Scarlet

A Letter to my Daughters Article by Ian Kaner Dear Aspen & Scarlet Do you remember how you used to shout, “IT’S A BUDGET BLINDS VAN!” from your booster seats whenever you spotted one around town? It’s a memory that brings me so much pleasure—the two of you perched up front next to me in my work van, your eyes wide seeing out the windshield, your voices echoing with pure excitement. When I bought that van, I was thinking purely logistically. I had just become a Budget Blinds franchise owner...

Local Services

Riding the Grain

Reviving wooden craftsmanship in the New England surf community Article by Hannah Kanfer | Photography by Nick LaVecchia Tucked just two blocks from the ocean on the southern coast of Maine sits a small, unassuming surf shop, Grain Surfboards, that’s anything but ordinary. The Beginnings  Before there was Grain, founder Mike LaVecchia moved to Vermont in the mid-’80s and immediately took to snowboarding. A few years later, he worked for the industry leader Burton Snowboards.  It was there...

Arts + Culture

Capturing the Chi

Artist Bruce Iverson brings nature to life with the ancient technique of Asian brush painting Article by Susan Gallagher | Photography by Kevin Edge What first pulls your eyes to the painting is the dragonfly, hovering over the delicate petals of the lotus, its translucent wings beating airily. Gazing at this ethereal image, you can almost sense the flow of life in motion—the humming of the insect's wings, the anticipation of its sweet landing, and the lotus whispering, "Come closer,"—words...

Life + Culture

Leading Through Listening

Seacoast business leaders built confidence, compassion, and their companies with help from mentors Article by Ann Kathryn Kelly | Photography by Kevin Edge It’s May, the month that celebrates women—often, mothers—in our lives who made an impact on us. Six Seacoast business leaders share who tops their lists, with some fathers in this roundup getting the shout-out!  The biggest commonality? They all cite the importance of fully listening—a critical social skill that helps them seek to...

Health + Wellness

One Size Does Not Fit All

How two nurse practitioners are taking a tailored approach to hormones and wellness Article by Hannah Kanfer | Photography by Kevin Edge Hormones can be an intimidating topic, but you’re not alone. According to Northwell Health, 80% of women will experience a hormone imbalance at some point in their lives. One way to address this is through Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). We sat down with Jessica Clough, APRN, CRNA, and Anna Goodkin, APRN, CRNA, of The Vital Elements to...

Local Services

The Hands that Feed

The women of Plates for Change fight to end childhood hunger in our community Article by Susan Gallagher | Photography by Kevin Edge When Liz Levey-Pruyn handed the check to the elderly couple who operated Footprints Food Pantry, they burst into tears. Standing among the sparsely stocked shelves and a broken-down freezer, they glimpsed a bright ray of hope for the first time in months. This torrent of gratitude would be the first of many to come in Levey-Pruyn’s philanthropic work with Plates...

Life + Culture

Where We Walk Now

Historian, community leader, and Executive Director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, JerriAnne Boggis brings Black history into public consciousness and inspires community connection Article by Rebecca Ingalls “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” — Zora Neale Hurston JerriAnne Boggis is a storyteller. But do not imagine her sitting in a comfy chair by the fire, reading a hard-backed book to encircling children. Imagine her creating a fire all its own...