The biggest of the Blue
Transcription
The biggest of the Blue
WINTER 2015 / $5.00 THE GOVERNOR FIRST LADY AT HOME IN AND SWAMPSCOTT BLUE PRINT WHAT’S OUR MASTER PLAN? LEAGUES OF THEIR OWN SHS CLASS OF ‘95 SWAMPSCOTT Dick Jauron The biggest of the Blue SHRIBMAN IS SWAMPSCOTT’S PULITZER PRIZE PERMIT #151 SAUGUS, MA PAID PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE Vinnin Liquors.pdf 1 11/13/15 4:15 PM VINNIN LIQUORS is the NORTH SHORE’S PREMIER LIQUOR STORE. Our family-owned business has been operating in 01907 for more than 45 years. Our vast selection includes everyday, premium, and collectible liquors from around the globe, along with an extensive wine collection from the world’s top regions. VINNIN LIQUORS will cater to ALL YOUR PARTY NEEDS. C M Y CM MY CY CMY SHOP US ONLINE FOR IN-STORE PICKUP, DELIVERY, OR SHIPPING. K FREE DELIVERY OF ALCOHOL to Swampscott, Marblehead, Lynn, Nahant, and Salem with a purchase over $150. Minimal fee of $10 for purchases between $50-$149 VISIT US 371 Paradise Rd., Swampscott 781-598-4110 • vinninliquors.com FOLLOW US /vinninliquors WINTER 2015 @vinninliquors 01907 | 1 From the Publisher Seen through Blue eyes A publication of Essex Media Group Publisher Ted Grant CEO Beth Bresnahan Vice President, Finance William J. Kraft Editor Paul K. Halloran Jr. Directors Edward L. Cahill John M. Gilberg Edward M. Grant Gordon R. Hall Monica Connell Healey J. Patrick Norton Michael H. Shanahan Contributing Writers Meaghan Casey Michele Durgin Rich Fahey Sandi Goldfarb Stacey Marcus Photographers Mark Garfinkel Paula Muller Owen O’Rourke Advertising Ernie Carpenter Joyce Leavitt Phil Ouellette Design and Production Tim McDonough Peter Sofronas Mark Sutherland ESSEX MEDIA GROUP, INC. 85 Exchange St., Suite 218 Lynn, MA 01901 Subscriptions: 781-593-7700 ext. 1253 INSIDE THIS EDITION Swampscott blueprint .............................. 6 Leagues of their own .............................. 12 Faces around town ................................. 16 Swampscott’s Pulitzer Prize ................... 18 ‘Tis the season ....................................... 20 Reaching the masses ............................. 22 Biggest of the Blue ................................. 24 Senior role in developing Vinnin Square. 28 5 things you didn’t know ........................ 30 Who was Vinnin? .................................... 31 Swampscott’s Sentinel ........................... 32 A taste of Swampscott ........................... 34 Sew talented........................................... 36 Harmony in Swampscott ........................ 38 Stay fit this winter ................................... 42 Tips from a wine guru ............................. 44 Holiday gift ideas .................................... 46 Hair apparent .......................................... 48 2 | 01907 I grew up in Lynn and went to St. Mary’s, so I never got the whole Dick Jauron thing. Now I do. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know the guy somewhat over the past couple of years, and would best describe him as dignified and understated. Mutual friends who have known him since his Swampscott High days talk about him in almost reverential terms. But I still didn’t truly get it — until a few weeks ago, when I went to Blocksidge Field for the 01907 cover shoot. Then I saw him through the eyes of a Swampscott kid who grew up idolizing Dick Jauron. Mark Garfinkel is an extraordinarily gifted photographer whom I’ve known for maybe 30 years. If I remember correctly, when I was sports editor at The (Lynn) Item, I gave Garf his first job out of Salem State. He was such a good guy, it almost seemed phony — until it became apparent it was genuine. Anyway, Garf hustled and did phenomenal work as a freelancer for The Item, and went on to the Boston Herald, where he truly came into his own as a photographer. From 1993-2014, he won 19 Boston Press Photographers Association first-place awards. In 1991 he won first place and in 2001 second place in the National Press Photographers Association; and in 1995 first place in the International Association of Firefighters awards. Plus, he grew up in Swampscott, so who better to shoot for 01907? The day of the shoot, we met at Blocksidge, and from the outset something was a little off. Garf, ever the cool professional (I watched him shoot Governor and Lauren Baker for the first 01907 cover, and he couldn’t have been more at ease; and he has shot the Pope -- the Pope -- twice), was on edge. Fidgety. Couldn’t stop talking, apologizing to both of us for even the tiniest request or instruction. And it struck me: Garf was meeting his boyhood idol for the first time and he was in awe. He spoke of meeting Dick’s father, Bob (himself a renowned coach); of playing football at Swampscott High for the legendary Stan Bondelevitch, Dick’s coach; of Swampscott games and players past. At the end of the shoot, Garf asked if Dick — with an apology, of course — would mind posing for a photo with him. (Garf handed me his phone to click the shot and I never felt more pressure to get something right.) Garf beamed. Then came the clincher. Dick walked over to a bag and some equipment Garf had left on the field, picked it up, and handed it to Garf. As we walked off the field, Garf whispered to me, “Did you see that? He actually picked up my stuff and handed it to me.” Yes, I saw it. And it was at that moment, I finally got the whole Dick Jauron thing. Dick Jauron. First-team All-America at Yale. Eight years in the NFL as a player and 28 as a coach (including 9 as a head coach — 5 with Chicago, 4 with Buffalo). Arguably the greatest football player this area has ever seen. Inarguably among the finest gentlemen. Read Paul Halloran’s story beginning on Page 24 for a closer look at Dick Jauron and see for yourself. Ted Grant Cover photo by Mark Garfinkel WINTER 2015 WINTER 2015 01907 | 3 photo by Jared Charney 4 | 01907 WINTER 2015 breathtaking views and our award winning menu on the Northshore. Dine in our elegant Anthony's Pier 4 Café, or in our casual Tavern. Wonderful views overlooking the beach, the bay, and views of the boston skyline from our dining room or our fabulous outdoor deck. Enjoy our award winning menu of lobster, steaks, and the freshest new england seafood. Delivering a truly one-of-a-kind dining experience. For reservations: Anthony's Pier 4 Cafe & Hawthorne By The Sea Tavern 153 Humphrey Street, Swampscott, Massachusetts 01907, 781.595.5735 To see the full menus and online reservations go to pier4.com/hawthorne WELCOME WINTER 2015 Swampscott 01907 | 5 I f done correctly, a master plan is a bold statement of a vision of what a community is, and what it could be. It is also a statement of a community’s values and priorities. If not done correctly, well, it makes an excellent paperweight on a shelf in the back room of the town clerk’s office. During the time that it takes to develop, refine and finalize the plan, it is a living document, subject to both the whims and wishes of citizens and the push and pull of the political process. The Town of Swampscott is near the end of the path to Swampscott 2025: The Master Plan. Town officials and residents believe it will produce a blueprint to point the town in the right direction. 6 | 01907 At a public forum on Dec. 1, residents were to decide on the final priorities to be included in the plan before it was expected to go before selectmen later in December, before seeking the approval of the Planning Board in January 2016. It is the first comprehensive master plan the town has attempted since 1971, the so-called “Now or Never” plan. In 1983, the town adopted a more narrowly focused Open Space and Recreation Master Plan. The planning process began when Town Meeting approved spending $125,000 in 2014 to develop a plan, and selectmen used the funds to hire the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) as a consultant in January 2015. WINTER 2015 Matthew Smith, MAPC’s project coordinator, said the town has benefitted from the agency’s experience and understanding when it comes to communities such as Swampscott. “We help the community get to the heart of the matter with strategic, achievable planning,” he said. “We can show the community how smaller steps can lead to bigger steps.” As an example, he cited making improvements to the infrastructure of the Humphrey Street business district, which could lead to more restaurants opening in the area, which in turn would feed into the town’s share of the meals tax, as well as boosting property tax revenue. Town Planner Peter Kane said he believes the current buy-in from all stakeholders in the process will ensure its success. “The process is a true self-examination of the current state of the town,” Kane said. “Where does the community want to go?” Kane said the data collected by the MAPC as part of the process has been equally important, a comprehensive snapshot of the town. “They spent a lot of time listening and surveying the community on what it wanted,” he said. “They synthesized what that meant, what the community was saying, and are translating it into very specific recommendations.” Continued on next page SWAMPSCOTT BLUEPRINT WHAT’S OUR MASTER PLAN? By Rich Fahey www.aerialphoto123.com WINTER 2015 01907 | 7 Continued from previous page Kane said the MAPC’s experience and expertise have also helped with the focus of the plan. “They can provide a reality check and remind us that a 10-story hotel on the waterfront might not be realistic,” he said. “When it comes to resources, they know what grants might be available and how to access them.” The process has included community input at every step. The first was an anonymous survey of residents, followed by a series of public forums: • On May 21, a visioning forum was held at Swampscott High, and the resulting mission statement presented a vision for Swampscott in 2025. • More than 70 residents came to Swampscott High June 18 for public forum 2 on housing, history and economic development. • Public forum 3 on July 21 at the Swampscott Senior Center focused on transportation, public facilities and services and open space. • On Oct.15, more than 30 residents came to the senior center to provide input for the Swampscott Housing Production Plan (HPP), a planning process separate from, but running parallel with, the master plan. 8 | 01907 On Dec. 1, the fourth public forum at Swampscott High was to decide on the final priorities the plan would include. Some of the items that residents have already suggested be included in the final plan: • roadways that are safe for pedestrians, with raised crosswalks and other pedestrian safety measures built into the design; • improved access to MBTA commuter rail services in town with better parking, bike facilities, and pedestrian access, as well as enhanced bus service to the station and Salem; • bike lanes and a paved rail trail — with benches and other amenities; • finding a way to put town-owned properties (e.g. old schools) back on the tax rolls; • preserving town history, called “critical” to its future by some residents; • making residents better informed and more involved in decision-making around facilities and services; • improving existing facilities and amenities; and • creating more open space and recreational opportunities. WINTER 2015 At the center of the action has been the Master Plan Committee, an 18-member board that includes representatives from town boards and commissions, town employees from several departments, as well as members of the public at large. Because of their composition, master-plan committees can be a series of competing agendas, with members jockeying for position to use limited resources to advocate for their own particular issue. While town roadways are made safer and more accommodating for pedestrians and cyclists – as many residents have already suggested — can the needed traffic flow for economic development still be maintained? “We were lacking synergy between departments,” Ippolito said. “No common goals were being articulated.” The approval of the Humphrey Street Overlay District bylaw by voters in May has given the town the chance to get it right as part of the master-plan process. Ippolito said the Planning Board would like to see a mixed-usage downtown with highquality retailers and restaurants. The master-plan process has also given the town the chance to examine what’s been happening in recent years and whether it’s been in the long-term interest of residents. “Everyone has to understand that everything plays together and we’re all in this together,” said Angela Ippolito, chairperson of both the Planning Board and the Master Plan Committee. “There’s been a lot of tearing down of existing structures and rebuilding,” Ippolito said. “Is that what we really need?” “This committee is an amazing, energetic, bright group and they’ve invested a lot of energy and determination, and there’s a great will behind this to get it right.” The MAPC’s Smith said the amount of involvement in the process has been heartening and encouraging, because a strong master plan is a “weaving together of priorities” and reaching a level of consensus, and that requires having many people involved. Ippolito said she believes this newest plan won’t meet the fate of the 1971 plan: “I would agree that to some extent the 1971 plan just sat on the shelf.” She said the impetus for creating a new master plan came because of a spate of development in town in recent years, with projects that weren’t part of any long-range vision or planning. “The more people involved the better,” he said. “Debate creates solution. I don’t want to see the same faces at each meeting. I like seeing different faces at each meeting.” ■ Photo by Mark Garfinkel WINTER 2015 01907 | 9 MASTER PLAN — FINANCIAL IMPACT Swampscott residents know the story all too well. Despite paying high property taxes, the yearly budget is always tight, and balancing the budget leaves little money for new initiatives, expansion of services, or capital projects. Otherwise, the budget gap would reach $630,000 by 2020, $1.06 million by 2025, and $1.785 million by 2030. A total of $12,650,000 of revenue from new growth will be required over the next 15 years. That’s the good news. Going forward, there’s a strong possibility things will get even worse, if you believe the figures and projections put together by two town residents as part of the process for finalizing Swampscott 2025: The Master Plan. “Even if we could keep the annual increase in our fire, police, education, and insurance costs below 2.5 percent, we still face the realities of our unfunded pension liabilities and retiree health care benefits,” said McClung. “These required payments will add $7 million to our costs over at least the next 15 years. We also face the need to reinvest in our municipal infrastructure (roads, drainage, schools).” Selectman Peter Spellios, who won a seat on the board in April, said he can’t find anyone who thinks the town has too many services or too many teachers, and he believes the only solution is to grow the revenues. Spellios and former Finance Committee Chairman Michael McClung, now a member of the Article 6 Committee looking into regionalizing services to reduce the cost of town government, have completed an extensive analysis of the town’s financial condition over the past 15 years. Using the data they have gathered, they have made what they say are informed projections about what the town’s budget will look like for the next 15 years. Because revenue sources such as property taxes are limited by Proposition 2½ and other revenue sources such as state aid are out of the town’s control, they have come to the conclusion that the town should seek to increase the amount it gets each year from new growth. Spellios made a presentation to the Master Plan Committee on Nov. 16 after providing a preview of his projections to other town officials as well as Angela Ippolito, chairperson of the Planning Board and the Master Plan Committee, and Matthew Smith, the coordinator of the master-plan process for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). “We have to make sure that the master plan reflects the economic reality that new growth is needed,” Spellios told the committee. He also presented graphs reflecting research he and McClung did on the town’s financial condition. Spellios and McClung aren’t the only ones who are hopeful that Swampscott 2025: The Master Plan will include financial projections going forward, and a plan to meet revenue needs. Ippolito had already signaled her willingness to include a financial component in the final document and described the committee as “very supportive” of his presentation. “We’d like to weave into the plan a realistic structure of revenue projections and an implementation strategy for meeting our needs,” she said. According to the figures researched and put together by Spellios and McClung, the town has averaged $335,000 in revenue from new growth each year from 2003-13. Because 91 percent of budget expenses continue to increase at a rate higher than 2.5 percent per year, Spellios and McClung concluded that the town will suffer from a growing structural deficit unless the amount of new growth increases by 11 percent year over year for the next 15 years. 10 | 01907 Only 12.6 percent of the town’s total revenues are not subject to the constraints of Proposition 2½, and thus allowed to grow at more than 2.5 percent. Spellios said planned, predictable and controlled growth is the best way for the town to be able to raise the revenues needed implement the final recommendations of the master plan. “The Master Plan Committee is on the right path by promoting enhanced amenities and an improved quality of life — which will make Swampscott more desirable and raise property values — but a more specific controlled growth plan is needed to address our structural financial deficiency.” McClung is hopeful the Article 6 Committee he chairs will be able to find cost savings, but that won’t eliminate the problem. “Even if the Article 6 committee’s work were able to result in a sweeping 10-percent reduction in police, fire, DPW, and other non-education items, we would still only be a fraction of the way to solving our problems,” said McClung. “This is why Peter’s work to address the revenue side of the ledger — and to do it in the context of a comprehensive, coordinated master plan — is so important.” The devil, of course, is in the details. Any plan for growth has to be politically palatable, and not seen as a threat to the town’s quality of life or housing values. Spellios said he hoped that agreement on the financial numbers would allow the debate to move forward on growth. “The numbers are the numbers and they can set you free when it comes to finding a solution,” he said. “The numbers shouldn’t be controversial.” Spellios said much of the new growth in recent years cannot be sustained. “It’s not accidental but it’s unplanned,” he said. “I wouldn’t be comfortable going forward with one-off projects.” McClung said appropriate, controlled growth corridors can protect and enhance “what we like about the town” and be consistent with neighborhoods’ infrastructure. Growth, both say, is the solution. Let the debate begin on how best to get there. By Rich Fahey WINTER 2015 WINTER 2015 01907 | 11 LEAGUES OF THEIR OWN By Paul Halloran They are linked by their year of graduation from Swampscott High School and the fact that they have fashioned successful careers in sports. But the tie that binds Todd Kline, Todd McShay, David Portnoy and Peter Woodfork the tightest is a hyper-competitive streak that manifested itself in virtually everything they did growing up together. Clockwise, from top left: Todd Kline, Todd McShay, Peter Woodfork and David Portnoy. Photos: 1995 SHS Yearbook. 12 | 01907 WINTER 2015 “Probably too hyper of a level when you look back at it,” said Woodfork. “We would compete over batting practice,” McShay added. “We competed relentlessly with each other.” They are among a tight group of classmates who have all turned out pretty well. Jason Calichman is vice principal of Swampscott Middle School and varsity baseball coach; Matt O’Neil is the owner and head chef at the Blue Ox in Lynn, considered one of the finest restaurants in the area; Brendan Nolan is director of operations for ESPN.com’s college basketball recruiting division; Traeger DiPietro is an accomplished artist on Martha’s Vineyard. Kline, McShay, Portnoy and Woodfork — who played on a state championship baseball team as sophomores — have established themselves as major players in the world of professional sports, albeit one of them in a somewhat nontraditional manner. Todd Kline Senior VP & Chief Commercial Officer Miami Dolphins Kline said there was a time he thought he would join the family business — Lynn Ladder. “It wasn’t until I went off to college that my eyes were opened. I was always attracted to business. When I learned about sports business, I was completely intoxicated by it,” he said. After graduating from the University of Maryland in 1999, Kline worked in marketing for the NFL Players Association for five years. He moved on to a senior VP position at AEG, which owns sports teams and venues worldwide. After seven years with AEG, Kline joined the Dolphins last March. Kline is responsible for all sponsor revenue, including corporate partnerships. There is naturally a lot of competition for corporate dollars, which means Kline feels right at home. NFL scout Gary Horton, who started the War Room, an independent scouting bureau that effectively served as a cross-checker for NFL teams that subscribed to the service. “Swampscott had a huge impact on me,” he said. “I got lucky to grow up with a great group of guys. We only had 140 kids in the class but we competed like we were at a big school. It was a special place at a special time. We played Wiffle ball at Clarke Park and kept stats. We wouldn’t have it any other way.” “I was working 15 hours a day and I was broke,” said McShay, who moved to New York when Horton relocated the business from Arizona. “I was living on his couch and making $1,000 a month. My parents weren’t thrilled.” Kline joked that he was McShay’s first player evaluation: “He told me I was a role player in recreational sports.” Kline said baseball coach Frank DeFelice left a lasting impact on him and his teammates. “He was not easy to play for, but he set us up to deal with authority figures and discipline our whole lives.” He and his wife, Megan, live in Miami. Todd McShay College Football and NFL Draft Analyst ESPN There are blessings in disguise, then there is the injury McShay suffered as a back-up quarterback at the University of Richmond in 1996. “I had a heart-to-heart talk with Coach (Jim) Reid and he told me the staff needed extra help and asked if I wanted to be an undergraduate assistant coach,” McShay said. “I realized that was my best chance to stay involved with the program.” McShay started watching film — and he hasn’t stopped. His work at Richmond led to an internship with The business — which was renamed Scouts, Inc. — drew the interest of ESPN, which signed a five-year contract to receive the information exclusively. One year into the deal, ESPN bought the business and McShay has been with the Worldwide Leader since 2006. McShay has been front and center for the explosion in popularity of the NFL Draft. He starts his film work in May, one month after the draft and 11 months before the next one. He is a major presence on the air, serving as a sidekick — and sometimes antagonist — to Mel Kiper. McShay added sideline analyst on college football broadcasts to his responsibilities last year, working with Sean McDonough and Chris Spielman. McShay said growing up in Swampscott prepared him for future success. “Because it was a small town, we always had a little chip on our shoulder,” said McShay, who was the starting quarterback in football and a pitcher/first baseman in baseball (he volunteers the fact that he suffered the only loss in what would have been an undefeated season in 1993). “Outsiders looking in may have thought we were spoiled kids with a lot of money, but that wasn’t the case at all. Every free moment we had we were competing in something. Continued on next page WINTER 2015 01907 | 13 Continued from page 13 That helped shape us, for better or for worse.” anti-Barstool rhetoric has quieted considerably. McShay and his wife, Lauren (Sullivan) — to whom he was introduced by Portnoy — live in Boston with their 14-month old son, Tate. They are expecting a second child in January. “We’re so mainstream now,” he said. “We’ve become not nearly as risqué as what’s out there. We almost blend in.” David Portnoy Founder and El Presidente Barstool Sports In 2011, Portnoy was paid a visit by the State Police, who strongly suggested he take down the naked picture of Tom Brady’s toddler son he had posted on his website. “They said they would make sure my life is very difficult if I didn’t take it down. I acquiesced. It was a headache I didn’t want to deal with,” he said. Fast forward four years and there is Portnoy staging a sit-in at NFL headquarters in New York to protest the league’s shoddy treatment of the same Tom Brady in the Deflategate affair. He and three of his fellow “Stoolies” were arrested by the NYPD and spent the night in jail. That’s Portnoy — a man of principle and a man of the people, at least the millions of people who visit his website every month. Yes, millions. Portnoy said there are eight million unique visits every month to barstoolsports.com, which has been described as a satirical sports and men’s lifestyle blog. Others aren’t so kind, calling it a virtual frat house and claiming it exploits women in an attempt to appeal to its primary demographic: college-age males. Portnoy said problems arise when people take the site seriously. “It would be like walking into a comedy club and taking the jokes literally,” said Portnoy, who claims the 14 | 01907 That’s something Portnoy has rarely been accused of. Anyone who knew him growing up is not in the least surprised he has become a polarizing figure who basically makes his living being a wiseass. “We were coaching the Powder Puff football game when we were seniors and we went out for the pre-game meeting with the referees,” Kline recalled. “They asked if we had any questions and Dave said, ‘Is there any limit as to how many points we can score?’ ” After graduating from Michigan in 1999, Portnoy was making a decent living in technology market research sales. “It wasn’t horrible,” he said, “but I always wanted to try my own thing.” He tried unsuccessfully to find something in the marketing side of gambling, but offshore casinos told him if he could produce a printed publication focusing on gambling and fantasy football, they would advertise. That led to the creation of Barstool Sports, which started as a 4-page newspaper but quickly morphed into an online powerhouse, which Portnoy said has been valued at about $15 million. Portnoy and his wife, Renee, live in Boston. Peter Woodfork Senior VP Baseball Operations Major League Baseball Woodfork was by far the best athlete (football, basketball, baseball) in the Class of 1995 and considered by many one of the best in Swampscott High history. He played baseball at Harvard and has been involved with Major League Baseball his entire professional career. After working three years in the labor relations department in the commissioner’s office, Woodfork was assistant GM of the Red Sox from 2003–05 — yes, you can give him a little credit for breaking the 86-year jinx — and Arizona Diamondbacks from 2006–10. He returned to MLB in 2011 and reports directly to Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre. Woodfork is in charge of major league and minor league operations, and he oversees the 76 major league umpires. “You have to be a little lucky to get there and you stay there by grinding it out,” Woodfork said. “It’s a lifestyle choice.” Woodfork said the competitive nature of his formative years has served him well. “The standard was set when we were growing up. Swampscott is driven by sports, but not just sports. The academics were tough, too. We had a lot of people helping us to be successful.” Woodfork called DeFelice “as hard-nosed and old-school as there is. He had a great impact on me.” The late Andy Holmes was Woodfork’s first coach — with the Swampscott Little League Indians — and Woodfork said he was “as competitive as anyone I ever played under.” He called his parents, Nelson and Ann, “the most impactful people in my life, and I probably don’t say that enough. It’s not easy to be successful and they gave me all the tools necessary.” Woodfork and his wife, Rebecca, live in Connecticut with their daughters Makena (4) and Everly (1). ■ WINTER 2015 Below and right: Woodfork, McShay at ESPN McShay with Mel Kiper Jr. at ESPN Below: Woodfork at bat Below: McShay, Portnoy and Woodfork Left to right: Portnoy arrested in New York City outside NFL headquarters; Kline; and McShay WINTER 2015 01907 | 15 FACES AROUND TOWN On Sept. 28, 2015, Swampscott came out to celebrate the launch of 01907: The Magazine. Massachusetts First Lady Lauren Baker, the event’s featured guest, as well as her husband — Gov. Charlie Baker — graced the cover of the inaugural edition. More than 100 attended the launch party at Anthony’s Hawthorne-By-The-Sea Tavern and Pier 4 Cafe in Swampscott, where they enjoyed Lauren a spectacular Baker view of the ocean and sunset. Left to right: Pat Lausier, Tom and Lynn Moulton and Bob Green Nancy and Jim Hughes Photos: Paula Muller Left to right: Rich Doucette, Danielle Strauss, and Matt Strauss. EMG Chairman Mike Shanahan talks about the magazine. From left: Dick Coppinger, Thor Jourgensen, and Attorney Jim Smith Launch at Hawthorne by the Sea From left: Amy O’Connor, Una Dennehy and Laurie Nash From left: Gordon Hall, Matthew Leahy and Colton Eaton 16 | 01907 WINTER 2015 Do you want to own the Swampscott market? Advertise in Contact: Joyce Leavitt 781-593-7700 ext. 1217 [email protected] WINTER 2015 01907 | 17 By Paul Halloran He is one of the foremost political columnists in the country, the executive editor of a major newspaper and a Pulitzer Prize winner. He graduated summa cum laude from Dartmouth, studied at Cambridge in England and lectured at Notre Dame. And David Shribman is ever mindful of where the foundation for his expansive knowledge base was laid. “In that period, Swampscott High was one of the preeminent high schools in the Commonwealth,” said Shribman, a three-time class president and member of the Class of 1972. “The teaching was superb. The care of the teachers was evident to all. “There were veteran teachers with a lifelong commitment to secondary education, and it showed every day. They provided all of us with a remarkable background in literature and math and science and history. I was marked deeply by the experience.” So deeply, Shribman immediately lists two teachers who had an especially profound impact on him: Sanders Stephens and Charlie Kimball, his U.S. History teachers in 10th and 11th grade. Swampscott’s Pulitzer prize As a high school senior Shribman was sent to New Hampshire to cover the presidential Democratic primary, in which Ed Muskie of Maine defeated the eventual nominee, George McGovern. “I got to meet Ed Muskie and George McGovern, and I knew McGovern until the year of his death (2012),” said Shribman, for whom the experience solidified his career goals. “I was a kid who knew what he wanted to do even as a child,” said Shribman, who grew up in Swampscott with his parents, Norma and Richard, and younger siblings Jeff, Peter and Cindy (Liptrot). “The very first book I bought with my own money was The Making of the President by Theodore White at the Shaw Junior High book sale. I wanted to cover the president and, in fact, I’ve covered five or six.” After graduating from Dartmouth in 1976, Shribman traveled to England to study African and European history. He considered becoming a history professor, but the pull of journalism was too strong, and he landed a job at the Buffalo Evening News. It was in Buffalo that he met his wife, Cindy Skrzycki, to whom he has been married 35 years. She teaches in the English department at the University of Pittsburgh after a long career as a columnist at the Washington Post. They have two adult daughters, Elizabeth, general manager of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in San Francisco, and Natalie, a first-year rabbinical student in Israel. DAVID SHRIBMAN “In a career in journalism that has spanned almost 50 years, I draw upon those lessons every day. Being steeped in American history is a great advantage for a political reporter,” Shribman said. As a teenager, Shribman fell in love — with the newspaper business — and he consummated the relationship while he was still in high school, landing a job as a summer fill-in at the Salem News. “I had the opportunity to find a career even as a high school student. That’s a great advantage in life,” he said. 18 | 01907 When Skrzycki went to graduate school at American University, the Buffalo News assigned Shribman to its Washington, D.C. bureau. He stayed in the nation’s capital for a quarter-century, working for the Washington Star, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Boston Globe. Shribman volunteers the fact that he was fired as Washington bureau chief by the Times, and hired by the Wall Street Journal two weeks later. He was Washington bureau chief for the Globe when he won the Pulitzer for his coverage of Washington and the national scene. He left the Globe in 2003 to become executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Shribman is perhaps best known for his “National Perspective” column, which appears in newspapers nationwide. How many? “I have no idea,” he said, though he is keenly aware of a more important statistic. “I’ve written that column without missing one WINTER 2015 in 23 years, even with open-heart surgery” in 2006. Asked how covering national politics has changed over the last 40 years, Shribman points to an obvious difference. “When I started it was a great advantage to know where every pay phone was in New Hampshire,” he said. “Today that’s not such a prized attribute.” It did come in handy in 1987, when Shribman was in Hanover, N.H. as Gary Hart’s presidential campaign imploded. “After that press conference, I was the only reporter who knew there was a pay phone in the basement of the Hopkins Center (at Dartmouth),” he said. Harvey J. Michaels would have been proud. Michaels was chair of the social studies department when Shribman was a student at Swampscott High. Shribman considered him a mentor for more than four decades. “I talked to him at least once a week until he died earlier this year,” Shribman said. ■ David Shribman and his wife, Cindy Skrzycki, with President George H.W. Bush Photo courtesy of David Shribman WINTER 2015 01907 | 19 ´Tis the Season With winter’s cold, gray days and long frosty nights, it’s no wonder we come together around glowing candles, twinkling lights and tables laden with festive meals to help lift our spirits. We asked several Swampscott residents to tell us about their holiday traditions, the lasting rituals that make the season bright. By Sandi Goldfarb For Anita Clark, there really is no place like home for the holidays. The warm and welcoming household the interior designer shares with her husband, Bill, and their three dogs — Henry, Duke and Sophie — is where friends and loved ones enjoy lively Christmas and New Year’s gatherings. Food is clearly the star of the Clarks’ annual soirees. Christmas dinner showcases Italian favorites such as ravioli and stuffed artichokes, while the New Year’s menu features crab cakes with a Dijon mustard sauce, spinach soufflé, a grilled beef tenderloin flavored with ground coffee and lemon chiffon pie, all made from scratch by Bill. Long before fall becomes winter, friends begin checking in with the Clarks to confirm that cherished holiday plans are in place. “People look forward to our parties and call to make sure that we’ll be celebrating. They say, ‘You’re having the party, right?‘ But it’s really not a question. They’re just making sure the party is on.” *** For Sara Lee Callahan and her family, holiday traditions are rooted in the past. Some customs go back to her childhood home in Chelsea. Others were created with her husband, Michael, — when their children Larissa, 25, and Ben, 22, were very young. For many years, the Callahans transported their winter celebrations to Smuggler’s Notch Resort in Vermont where they skied, decorated their condo, lit Chanukah candles and watched colorful fireworks rain over the mountains. “It was a peaceful, beautiful place,” said Sara Lee. “Smugglers Notch meant family time. I don’t think that presents have ever been the most important part of the holidays for us.” As college and burgeoning careers took Larissa and Ben far from their Swampscott home, the Callahans were determined to come together at least once during the eight days of Chanukah. And though many parents lament the role that smart phones and laptops play in their children’s lives, Sara Lee appreciates the way that technology has helped keep her family close, especially during the holidays. “Sometimes we’re all at home, other times we rely on Skype,” said Sara Lee. “We would be lost as a family if we didn’t have this connection.” *** Eddie Knopf has a lot in common with the legendary cookbook author and restaurant critic, Craig Claiborne, who believed that “…cooking done with care is an act of love.” For longer than the couple can remember, Eddie has created a sumptuous Valentine’s Day meal for his wife, Diane. His romantic menu features Steak Diane, a classic dish traditionally made with tender cuts of beef sliced or pounded very thin, shallots and Cognac. Eddie chose this elegant entrée — which in restaurants is often flambéed at tableside for dramatic effect — to honor his wife of more than 25 years. But no holiday meal is complete without dessert. So each year, Eddie bakes and decorates a decadent chocolate cake, the finale of a special evening for two. “Every February Eddie pulls the heart-shaped pan out of retirement, just for me,” said Diane. “This kind of tradition is a wonderful gift to pass on to our daughter, Elyse, and her new husband, Sam.” ■ The Clarks’ home is prepared for their annual Christmas and New Year’s soirees. Photo: Anita Clark Eddie Knopf and his heart-shaped cake pan that he uses once a year Photo: Owen O’Rourke 20 | 01907 WINTER 2015 WINTER 2015 01907 | 21 By Paul Halloran F ather Robert Reed, the most recognizable face on the foremost Catholic television network in the country, credits Boston’s favorite TV cowboy with instilling in him a love for the media. “I always loved TV,” said Father Reed, president of the CatholicTV Network. “I was on ‘Boomtown’ with Rex Trailer twice when I was a kid. I went into WBZ and I was totally taken by TV. I fell in love with the media.” That may have been his first love, but it was not his greatest. Father Reed was only 7 and a student at the former St. John’s elementary school in Swampscott when his father, Bill, was tragically killed in a car accident. Among those who came to the aid of Reed, his mother, Jeanne, and four siblings was Father Richard Little of St. John the Evangelist parish. “What he did for my family when my father died was very inspiring,” said Father Reed, who grew up on Walnut Road. “That put the idea (of one day becoming a priest) in my head. “I was very involved at St. John’s. I always considered the school and the church my second home.” Above: Students participate in “WOW: The CatholicTV Challenge,” a game show with host Father Robert Reed. Photos: CatholicTV Network 22 | 01907 WINTER 2015 Father Reed continued a family tradition and attended St. John’s Prep. It was as a high school student that he decided to give the priesthood a chance. He went on to study at St. John’s Seminary and the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He was ordained and celebrated his first Mass at St. John the Evangelist on July 6, 1985. Almost three decades after graduating from The Prep, Father Reed has become a Catholic media star, celebrating Mass, leading the Rosary, and hosting a game show and a talk show on CatholicTV. “The network is a virtual parish,” he said. “It’s a parish of the airways. It serves to connect people to the Church.” You might call his career in media a delayed vocation, as Father Reed spent 20 years as a parish priest before getting called in to see Cardinal O’Malley one Sunday afternoon in 2005. “He asked me to direct the TV station,” Father Reed recalled. “I said, ‘Great.’ I had worked at the station periodically, so it was like coming home. I’ve been there ever since.” Father Reed oversaw a rebranding of the network in 2006 from Boston Catholic Television to the CatholicTV Network. When he took over, there were 500,000 cable TV subscribers; there are now 14.3 million. He is one of 31 full-time employees. “We made the decision to rebrand and expand into other markets,” he said. “It’s not something that can exist in every diocese.” WINTER 2015 What began on Jan. 1, 1955 when Cardinal Cushing celebrated the first TV Mass in the archdiocese of Boston from a studio near Kenmore Square has evolved into a multimedia success story, with the faithful accessing programming on TV, radio and the Internet. “I don’t see us competing with any other Catholic media enterprise,” Father Reed said. “We’re competing with broadcast and cable networks. We have a message to present and we want to do it as professionally as any cable or broadcast network.” Father Reed is clearly the face of the network, from celebrating Mass to co-hosting “This is the Day,” a talk show, and “WOW: The Catholic TV Challenge,” a game show. He still finds time to help out at parishes in Newton and Plymouth. His primary job remains, however, what Cardinal O’Malley asked him to do almost 10 years ago: direct the TV network. “I always felt the Church should be doing more with TV and the Internet,” he said. “Not much has changed. The only change is we’re doing it better.” Madam Had’em Boutique Consignment Marblehead 7 Pleasant St. 781-639-7798 Manchester by the Sea 7 Summer St. 978-526-7798 While Father Reed lives at Corpus Christi parish in West Newton, he has a niece living in Swampscott and he returns occasionally and enjoys walking along Fisherman’s Beach. “I love Swampscott,” he said. ■ Visit us at Madam Had’em this holiday season! We will be open daily providing fabulously priced designer clothing, complimentary styling, and impeccable gift advice! 01907 | 23 24 | 01907 WINTER 2015 Cover Story Dick Jauron Biggest of the Blue By Paul Halloran K acy Jauron recalls visiting Dick and Joann Lynch and seeing a photo in their living room. The picture was taken at a basketball game at the old Boston Garden. Three players are airborne, one just a bit higher than the others. No. 34 in white. “Who’s that?” she asked Dick Lynch. “That’s your father, scoring the winning basket in the Tech Tourney,” Lynch replied. “My dad had never told me about that,” Kacy Jauron said, and doesn’t that perfectly capture the man who is Dick Jauron. Let’s start with the obvious: Dick Jauron, Class of 1969, is the greatest athlete ever to play at Swampscott High School. And that’s saying something, considering there were two other players on his high school football team who also made it to the NFL (Bill Adams and Tom Toner). Swampscott is a town steeped in sports tradition. There have been many great players over the years – even when employing the literal meaning of the adjective as opposed to how haphazardly it is thrown around these days. We’re talking GREAT. And Dick Jauron was the greatest. Just ask Lynch. Or Frank DeFelice. Or Andy Rose. Or anyone. “He made me look very good,” said Dick Lynch, who was the offensive coordinator in football and head basketball coach — and thus the beneficiary of Jauron’s tip-in of his own missed shot with four seconds left in the 1968 Class B Tech Tourney championship game. “Whenever the game was close, you put the ball in his hands. He was a tremendous clutch player.” “He was the greatest player to play here,” said DeFelice, the line coach in football and JV basketball and head baseball coach. “He could block, he could tackle, he could run over you, he could run around you and he could catch the ball. He was way ahead of everybody physically and mentally. And he was a great teammate.” Photo by Mark Garfinkel The Boston Globe tabbed him as one of the top 10 Massachusetts high school players ever. Continued on next page WINTER 2015 01907 | 25 If you want statistics, try these: 3,284 yards rushing in three years at Swampscott High and 246 total points his junior and senior years when the Big Blue were undefeated. DeFelice, who led the baseball team for 35 years, amassed 465 wins and coached several future pros, said Jauron is the best baseball player ever in Swampscott. Basketball was arguably his third-best sport and we’ve covered his exploits on the court. At Yale, Jauron was a three-time All-Ivy League selection and first-team All-American in 1972 as a senior. He rushed for 2,947 yards in three years, becoming the first Yale back ever to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in a season. He was the starting shortstop on the baseball team and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973. Drafted by a professional team in his second sport. Any questions? When the Detroit Lions took Jauron in the fourth round of the 1973 NFL draft, he was bright enough to realize that football presented the best opportunity for him to play at the highest level, and he would know fairly quickly if it were going to work out that way. “I knew I could go to (training) camp and I would know in one practice if I had a realistic chance to make it,” he said. “If I couldn’t, then maybe I would give baseball a try.” “I watched my dad (Bob) coach. He was the best coach I’ve ever seen,” Jauron said. “I thought it was a very honorable profession. He could coach anything. I admired that and I knew I would coach some day.” Jauron spent 28 seasons years in the NFL: 19 as an assistant and nine as a head coach. He was the 2001 NFL Coach of the Year with the Chicago Bears. The Chicago Bears. A successor to George Halas, who founded pro football. Though he played and coached at the very highest level, that does not tell half of the Dick Jauron story. His is a story about the All-American boy who became the All-American man, and even that is an insufficient description of Richard Manuel Jauron. “I always thought he could have been arrogant because he could back it up,” said Andy Rose, a high school teammate and close friend since Jauron moved from Lynn to Swampscott in the ninth grade. “You look at players today and see how they are. Dick is what you would hope everyone would be in that respect.” “He is a great father, great husband and great citizen,” DeFelice said. He went to that first practice and “I knew I had a chance,” he recalled. When two safeties were injured, Jauron was moved to defense. That was the start of a career that spanned eight seasons – five with Detroit and three with Cincinnati — including a Pro Bowl selection in 1974. He had 25 career interceptions. After retiring in 1981, Jauron co-owned a few fitness centers in Ohio and Kentucky. In 1985, Buffalo Bills secondary coach Dick Moseley had a heart attack and defensive coordinator Hank Bullough, who had coached Jauron with the Bengals, offered Jauron the job. He did so at the suggestion of Dick Lebeau, the secondary coach in Cincinnati in Jauron’s last year as a player. “I always felt like I wanted to coach; it was a question of when and where. That was an opportunity to get my foot in the door at the NFL level,” said Jauron, who had the benefit of growing up with the best football coach around living in the same house. Dick Jauron (34) tips in the winning basket to give the Swampscott High basketball team the Class B championship in the 1968 Tech Tourney at Boston Garden. Photo courtesy of Dick Lynch 26 | 01907 WINTER 2015 Dick Jauron, center, in blue hat, is surrounded by family and friends who travelled to Connecticut Nov. 21 to see him honored at the Harvard-Yale game. Photo courtesy of Kacy Jauron There is no better testament to that than the sheer grace and dignity with which Jauron has handled significant tragedy in his life. His brother, Wayne, died suddenly in 1989 at the age of 44. In 2014, he lost his 28-year-old daughter, Amy. The reason Jauron has been absent from NFL sidelines the last two years is that he has been caring for his wife, Gail, who is ill. Jauron politely declines to talk about any of that. “That’s the type of person he is,” said Kacy, who moved to Swampscott a year ago. “I don’t think anybody in his life who knows him well is shocked at what he has done. It is exactly what you would expect him to do. He is an amazing husband and partner.” Moving to town has been an enlightening experience for Kacy, who at age 30 continues to hear stories about her father for the first time. “I’m still hearing about incredible accomplishments I would have never known about,” she said. “He would never tell me.” Of course he wouldn’t. On Nov. 21, a bus filled with 40 of Jauron’s friends and family traveled from Swampscott to New Haven, Conn., to see him honored during the Harvard-Yale game, in recognition of his Dec. 8 induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. That honor reflects his designation as a hall-of-fame player, which is not even close to his status as a hall-of-fame person. ■ WINDOWS THAT PROTECT THE INSIDE FROM THE OUTSIDE. Andersen® 400 Series windows with Stormwatch® protection stand up to Mother Nature at her most irritable. Whether you’re replacing, remodeling or building a new home, you’ll have 24/7 protection whether you’re there or not. And unlike many coastal windows, they don’t need to be washed or waxed to keep the warranty valid.* Why choose anything else? *Visit andersenwindows.com/warranty for details. Performance values vary by product. Visit andersenwindows.com for performance ratings. See your local code official for building code requirements in your area. “ENERGY STAR” is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are trademarks of Andersen Corporation. ©2014 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved. MOYNIHAN LUMBER BEVERLY 82 River St. 978-927-0032 WINTER 2015 W W W.MOYN IHAN LUMB ER . COM NORTH READING PLASTOW, NH 164 Chestnut St. 978-664-3310 12 Old Rd. 603-382-1535 01907 | 27 A senior role in developing Vinnin Square By Rich Fahey Y ou are a lifelong Swampscott resident, but caring for the home you’ve always lived in has become a physical burden that you can no longer handle. Or, perhaps you or your loved one is at the very beginning of memory loss, early dementia or Alzheimer’s that can place you at risk if you stay at home. Sometime in early 2017, seniors in town will have a new option. LCB Senior Living is building The Residence at Vinnin Square at 224 Salem St., a $17 million assisted-living complex with 84 units on 76,000 square feet. The units will be a mix of studio, onebedroom and two-bedroom apartments and will be taxed at the residential rate. The town has one assisted-living center already, the Bertram House of Swampscott on Humphrey Street. The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) gave final approval in June 2015 for the new complex, and Ted Doyle, a spokesman for LCB Senior Living, said the company closed the deal for the property in late October from former owners Harold J. Keating Jr. and Eileen M. Keating. The company broke ground in November with a 14-month timeline to completion. The independent-living units will offer meals, full baths, light housekeeping, and a kitchenette to prepare light meals. The facility will also include a variety of common areas: living rooms, a library, computer room, cafe, and a dining area, and will offer entertainment and recreational opportunities to residents. Landscaping plans include walking paths for residents, sitting areas, and gardens. “It has been a 100-percent collaborative positive process with the town,” said Doyle. “The town had reasonable concerns and asked the questions we expected to be asked.” The building will be primarily accessed from Salem Street, but a service entrance will have access via Sunbeam Lane, the road that connects Salem Street to Marshalls. The developer also committed to making improvements to the Sunbeam Lane access to the property, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and abutters of the road. Doyle said security and the fact that staff will be on 28 | 01907 the premises 24 hours a day in case of an emergency are two appealing features. The traffic impact will be limited due to the likely makeup of the residents; although all people age 55 and over are eligible, most will be much older, Doyle said. “The typical resident is likely to be 85 and may no longer be driving,” he said, adding that residents are grateful to be freed of tasks such as snow shoveling and home maintenance. Assisted living facilities are not skilled nursing communities, and no medical procedures take place in them. Doyle said certain medical specialists will come on-site, but more typically people will continue to see their regular doctors at their offices, with a community shuttle available to bring residents to appointments. The ZBA, after a series of public hearings, decided on June 17 to grant the necessary Use Special Permit and Site Plan Special Permit after a favorable Planning Board recommendation, which called the development “well thought-out and planned.” Both boards conditioned their approval on the developer being willing to contribute $10,000 towards a traffic study of the Greater Vinnin Square area before a building permit is issued. Opposition to the project was limited and centered on traffic concerns and its location in an already busy location. Attorney Ken Shutzer opposed the plan over traffic issues and asked for a peer review and that a Development Impact Statement be required and prepared, but the ZBA believed that the elements that would have been included in the statement had been adequately addressed by LCB Senior Living during its presentation. “An assisted living facility at that property is a great use of it,” said Town Planner Peter Kane. “It’s in a perfect location where the residents of that building will have great views of the (Tedesco) golf course while also having easy access to the Vinnin Square shopping area, including the grocery stores and the new Walgreens that will be built next door at 505 Paradise Road.” Kane said it also fills a need by allowing long-time residents to stay in town instead of moving. Doyle said the facility will offer a full range of cultural WINTER 2015 and educational programs while also offering residents transportation to shows and museums. He estimated the facility will create 75 full- and part-time jobs with about $1.8 million in annual salaries. LCB Senior Living developed and manages 11 similar facilities in every New England state but Maine. The firm’s other Massachusetts facilities are in Ipswich, Watertown, Dedham and Wayland. The part of the facility that deals with memory loss is called the Reflections Memory Care neighborhood, and Doyle said LCB has developed programs and care in conjunction with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. “Obviously there’s more care and the units themselves are slightly different,” he said. “We don’t include kitchenettes because of the safety factor.” Doyle has said he expects most of those to move into the new complex to be Swampscott residents, and that the company intends to live up to the standards expected by the town. “We design each community based on local architecture and the quality of the community,” he said. “A town like Swampscott is used to a certain standard of refinement and beauty, which we have tried to emulate.” ■ Photo courtesy of LCB Senior Living “It’s in a perfect location where the residents of that building will have great views of the (Tedesco) golf course while also having easy access to the Vinnin Square shopping area...” ~Town Planner Peter Kane WINTER 2015 01907 | 29 Photo: Paula Muller By Stacey Marcus 30 | 01907 WINTER 2015 Who was Vinnin? We all know Vinnin Square as the bustling nexus of restaurants, shops and businesses, but can you identify for whom Vinnin Square was named? After quizzing many longtime residents and historians, I was given a tip by Louie Gallo that our friends in Salem may know the answer. Thanks to Betty Covino in the Veterans Office for connecting me with Kim Emerling, who provided documentation that Vinnin Square was in existence as far back as the 1700s. It appears that Vinnin Square may have been named after a Thomas Vinning/ Vinnen/Vinnin Jr., born in Salem on Jan. 17, 1747. He served in the Revolutionary War defending Marblehead under the command of Captain Edward Pettyplace. A source of reference was the book Massachusetts Soldiers of the Revolutionary War. -Stacey Marcus WINTER 2015 01907 | 31 SWAMPSCOTT’S SENTINEL That’s Anthony Amore By Stacey Marcus It makes perfect sense that a gentleman with the last name of Amore would be a purveyor of many passions. In the event that you are unfamiliar with his myriad talents and titles, allow us to introduce you to Anthony Amore by way of five fast facts: • An expert in security matters, Amore is the head of security and chief investigator at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. • He is a former staffer with the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA). • He was a special agent with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). • A co-author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller, Stealing Rembrandts, Amore recently released a new book, The Art of the Con, that tells the stories of some of the most notorious fakes, frauds and forgeries in the art world. • He has been a resident of Swampscott since 2003. Amore began his career in immigration as a special agent for the FAA at Logan International Airport after graduating from University of Rhode Island and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He left his work with the government to branch out on his own shortly before 9/11 and was asked to come back by the FAA to handle unique assignments, one of which was federalizing security baggage screenings at Logan. “We went from having no employees to having 1,200 direct reports the next day,” said Amore. The successful overhaul created a system whereby more than 1.5 million bags were checked per month. So how did Amore go from his post as a federal investigator to being at the helm of security for one of Boston’s most beloved art museums? He was intrigued when he learned of the opening at the Gardner Museum and originally applied with the intention of not taking it, but ultimately transitioned his obsession with checking baggage to a passion for protecting art and filling empty frames. He is proud of the fact that during his 10-year tenure at the Gardner Museum there have been no incidences and remains committed to protecting Mrs. Gardner’s beloved collection of more than 2,500 objects of art, and recovering the 13 masterpieces stolen in the infamous 1990 heist, including works by Degas and Rembrandt, valued at more than $500 million. “It’s like looking for 13 needles in 13 haystacks, but every day the haystacks get smaller and we get closer to recovering the paintings,” Amore said. His knack for investigative work and foray into the art world coupled with a talent for storytelling and writing led him into writing about art crimes. Photos courtesy of Anthony Amore 32 | 01907 WINTER 2015 “Every year tens of millions of dollars in illicit art changes hands around the globe. This mysterious and high-stakes business of art fraud is a centuries-old practice, and its lure is irresistible, both to the con artists who profit from it, and the unsuspecting patrons who fall prey to fakes and forgeries in their overwhelming desire to possess a slice of greatness,” according to a release promoting the book. “The book idea came to me over lunch,” said Amore, who feels there are many lessons learned through studying stolen art. “Art theft and forgery are not what you see in the movies. I am struck by how many art frauds have emerged in recent years. It seems like success is measured not in how good the artist is, but in how good the forger is.” Something that is true and genuine is the way Amore feels about his daughters, Gabriela and Alessandra, and his affinity for Swampscott. He and his former wife, Elsa, moved to Swampscott in 2003 from East Boston, where they had been living to be near his job at the airport. The couple chose Swampscott because of its great reputation for education and its close proximity to the water. “I love a community where you can really get involved in things. I also love the beach, parks and Vinnin Square. It’s a checkerboard of choices of restaurants,” said Amore, who lists Lincoln Landing as one of his favorite spots. He is also impressed with the plethora of extracurricular activities in the public schools. “Gabriela was in the band for four years and Alessandra is active in theater,” he said. “Swampscott is a very safe community. I am very impressed with the police chief (Ronald Madigan). I read the police log and never have any concerns.” ■ WINTER 2015 01907 | 33 A TASTE OF SWAMPSCOTT Two plates, two prices A rich comfort food for the winter months, risotto is a classic Italian rice dish cooked in a broth to a creamy consistency. We sampled two versions, both featuring seafood, at different price points. What: Shrimp Risotto The dish featured sautéed shrimp with garlic, herbs and a hint of hot pepper, simmered in a savory broth with Arborio rice. It was tossed with fresh asparagus, tomatoes and roasted artichokes. Where: Bertucci’s, 450 Paradise Road Price: $16.99 What: Risotto Di Mare Shrimp, scallops and lobster meat were a decadent treat over risotto, mixed in a garlic white sauce. Where: Paradiso Ristorante, 15 Railroad Ave. Price: $25 Compiled by Meaghan Casey 34 | 01907 WINTER 2015 WINTER 2015 01907 | 35 Above: Hosts Tim Gunn and Hannah Davis welcome the Project Runway Junior contestants, including Swampscott’s Jesse Hansen (center in bright blue). Below: Tim Gunn served as a mentor to Jesse during the show. 36 | 01907 WINTER 2015 Sew talented P R O J E C T R U N WAY J U N I O R By Meaghan Casey Most aspiring fashion designers only dream of their first runway show. Swampscott resident Jesse Hansen, 17, has already checked that off the list. Hansen is one of 12 young fashionistas competing on the inaugural season of Lifetime TV’s Project Runway Junior, which premiered on Nov. 12. As an offshoot of the popular Project Runway series, Project Runway Junior features designers ages 13–17 taking on an array of fashion challenges. They are mentored by Emmy Award winner Tim Gunn, who co-hosts alongside supermodel Hannah Davis. Kelly Osbourne, designer Christian Siriano, and executive fashion editor at Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine Aya Kanai, serve as judges. Hansen has been a fan of Project Runway since he began watching 10 seasons ago, but never expected he would have the opportunity to compete while in high school. He was still 16 during production. “I’ve always been inspired by the contestants making dresses in one day,” he said. “I never thought I could do it, but sometimes the best work comes out of that pressure. You always need to believe in yourself and go with your gut.” It was a thrill for Hansen to live in New York City during filming in July and meet the other talented designers, but he said the highlight was having everyday interaction with fashion industry icons. “Meeting Tim Gunn was incredible,” said Hansen. “That really made all of our dreams come true.” Born in Cambodia, Hansen was adopted when he was 7 months old. His fathers, Tim Hansen and Jonathan Zand raised him in Swampscott, along with younger brother Ben. “Growing up here was fantastic,” said Hansen. “I loved it, especially being right by the beach.” Hansen, a student at Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, said he became interested in fashion design at a young age, especially after watching his father doing photo shoots. Zand worked as a fashion stylist for companies such as Talbots and J.Jill. Hansen started out drawing and sketching and then moved on to sewing. For five years, he took sewing lessons at a quilt shop in Beverly. When he was 12, he designed and stitched a ball gown made entirely out of sailboat flags for the storefront window of a boutique in Rockport, Maine. “The moment that dress sold was the moment I started taking fashion as a business seriously,” Hansen said. Influenced by the style of Alexander McQueen, Hansen designs polished, ready-to-wear with a modern and avant-garde twist and likes to use unconventional items in his garments. Over the years, he has fulfilled many requests for prom gowns or special gifts. As a junior at Walnut Hill School, he is studying visual arts and is in his third semester of apparel design studies. In his first semester, he created a headdress out of crushed Coca-Cola cans and gray jersey material, bringing together techniques he had learned in design and sculpture classes into a single project. “I definitely used techniques I’ve learned in school on the show,” Hansen said. Project Runway Junior airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on Lifetime. The winner will receive a scholarship to the prestigious Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in California, a complete home sewing and crafting studio provided by Brother, a feature in Seventeen magazine and a $25,000 cash prize, to help launch his or her line. ■ WINTER 2015 “Meeting Tim Gunn was incredible,” said Hansen. “That really made all of our dreams come true.” Photos by Barbara Nitke 01907 | 37 Harmony in Swampscott North Shore Philarmonic Orchestra By Meaghan Casey As the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra approaches its 70th year, its mission remains the same: to provide access to quality classical music to communities on Boston’s North Shore. “Accessibility in the 1940s meant geographically,” said Bob Marra, who serves as the president of the NSPO Board of Directors. “Today, we still want the venue to be easy to get to, but it’s more about affordability. Families or seniors can come and enjoy a symphonic show at a reasonable price, and in an approachable setting. A child can talk to a violinist or flutist before or after a concert and get a sense of what it’s all about.” Marra is not a musician, but his involvement with the NSPO has been lifelong. His father, Robert, was a violinist and founding member of the orchestra in 1946. Initially named the Lynn Philharmonic Orchestra, the group assumed the name North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra in the fall of 1947. The NSPO grew and prospered in its first 25 years under Music Director Rolland Tapley, a first violinist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Tapley established a tradition of Sunday afternoon concerts frequently featuring soloists of international renown. After his Music. “When I work with a community orchestra, I try to strike the right chord between discipline as a professional and enjoyment of the process. We’ve built a nice relationship of trusting one another, and I think that’s allowed us to extract the best qualities and make some powerful music over the years. I enjoy sharing that with the community.” Above: Music Director Robert Lehmann conducts the orchestra. Top right: Vernon Fritch on the bass (standing) retirement in 1973, his Boston Symphony deskmate Max Hobart was appointed music director and challenged the orchestra with monumental works such as Verdi’s Requiem, Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Since 1996, Music Director Robert Lehmann has continued the tradition of grand classical performances and community involvement for which the North Shore Philharmonic has become known. “Growing up, my grandparents and father were amateur musicians and that’s how I came into music,” said Lehmann associate professor of music and director of string studies and orchestral activities at the University of Southern Maine School of 38 | 01907 Lehmann has collaborated with local arts groups such as the Paul Madore Chorale and introduced audiences to talented soloists, among them violinists Yuri Mazurkevich and Peter Zazofsky, flutist Renee Krimsier and oboist Neil Boyer. Other soloists throughout the years have included violinist Joseph Silverstein and guest conductors including Arthur Fiedler and Harry Ellis Dickson. The NSPO comprises approximately 65 musicians, mostly volunteers, and includes students, freelance musicians and retirees whose talents and love for the classical repertoire are unmatched. “The musicians have other professions but do what they do out of love,” said Marra. “They have a wonderful avenue to showcase their skill.” Swampscott resident Mark Wolinski describes the orchestra as “one of the best-kept secrets in town.” “Swampscott has always been a sports town, but I think there’s an art presence that’s growing,” he said. Wolinski joined the NSPO 35 years ago, while he was a music student at the Berklee College of Music. He has served on the NSPO Board of Directors for the past eight years. Wolinski, who spent time working in audio production and at Berklee, also plays in jazz and rock bands and performs children’s music. “As a musician, I enjoy every opportunity to play,” Wolinski said. WINTER 2015 The orchestra is staffed by an all volunteer administrative staff which oversees all non-musical aspects of every performance. Marra, a Revere resident, has served as board president since 1992. “I have a personal attachment to the orchestra that emanates from my father, but I also just love classical music as a listener,” said Marra. The NSPO typically hosts three major concerts each year — in the winter, spring and fall — and has rehearsed and performed at Swampscott High School since the new school opened in 2008. The orchestra welcomed singers from the Swampscott High School Chorus in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony for its opening concert at the school. “It’s been fantastic as a home base,” said Wolinski. “The stage is huge, there’s plenty of parking and over 800 seats.” “We’re blessed to be at Swampscott High School,” said Marra. “The facility itself really feels like a concert hall, and beyond that, we’ve had students who have gotten involved playing with us.” “Arts and music education in this country has taken a hit and anything we can do to excite young musicians is absolutely in our mission,” said Lehmann. The orchestra has also performed at local events such as the 350th commemoration of the Salem Witch Trials, the Bicentennial celebration of the birth of George Peabody and the 100th anniversary of Revere Beach. In addition, it holds special holiday concerts each year, such as the Robert A. Marra Memorial Sounds of Christmas Concert at St. Anthony’s in Revere, which collects donated food for needy families. The last performance this season will be on Dec. 13 at St. Richard’s in Danvers. On Feb. 21, the NSPO will stage its winter concert at Swampscott High at 3 p.m. with a performance of Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait.” Media personality and Swampscott resident Kim Carrigan will serve as narrator. The spring concert is scheduled for April 10. ■ Below: Violinist Ashley Offret; Photos courtesy of Robert Marra Carrigan and Bacik, LLC Attorneys at Law Lisa A. Carrigan, Esquire James J. Bacik, Esquire Concentrating in: Estate Planning • Wills • Trusts Elder Law • Long-Term Care Planning Medicaid • Health Care Proxies Powers of Attorney • Family Law Divorce • Paternity • Custody Child Support • Visitation Alimony • Alimony Modification 15 Johnson St. • Lynn 781-596-0494 WINTER 2015 01907 | 39 ADVERTISERS INDEX Accurate Graphics........................41 Avico Masonry ..............................41 Baby Face Skin Care ....................43 BaneCare......................................43 Benevento Insurance....................43 Carrigan & Bacik, LLC ..................39 eAsi Self Storage ..........................35 Falcon Financial/Matt Sachar.......21 Fast Frame ...................................39 FirstLight Home Care ...................35 Flower House ...............................21 Hawthorne by the Sea ....................5 Hughes Insurance ........................31 Infinity Boutique ...........................41 John J. 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Inside BC Wedding packages include: exquisite space, catering, table rentals and more provided by Bruce Silverlieb, The Party Specialist Salem Five ....................................19 Shore Village.................................33 Spinale and Co. ............................35 Stacey’s Home Decor...................41 Step By Step ..................................4 Swampscott Refrigeration ............11 Vinnin Liquors .................................1 40 | 01907 As a hub of arts and culture, the Lynn Museum/LynnArts offer a unique setting for any type of gathering: 25 Exchange St. Lynn, MA For more information please contact: [email protected] 781-581-6200 WINTER 2015 AC C UR AT E GRAPHICS INC BEST WAY TO DRIVE YOUR BUSINESS Vehicle Signage 781-593-1630 ACCURATEGRAPHICS.US.COM 26 ALLEY STREET LYNN, MA 01903 Vehicle Wraps Banners Fleet Graphics Signs More WINTER 2015 01907 | 41 •–• BUILD A SUPPORT NETWORK Find a friend, a group, or hire a trainer who will commit to joining you for workouts and hold you accountable for showing up. KP: The number one motivator to get into the gym, no matter what the weather is outside, is to connect with people that will help to push you and to reach your goals. A classroom environment, like our Monday morning boot camp, really builds camaraderie. Clients don’t want to let the others participating down by not showing up — there is a real fear of missing out on the fun. NM: We call it “exercise FOMO.” From left: Paradise Gym’s Allison DiLisio, Nancy Moran, and Kelly Piperidis provide tips on staying motivated this winter. Photo: Paula Muller Stay fit Winterize your workout motivation By Beth Bresnahan Oh the weather outside is frightful. And if you are like most people, it is difficult to motivate yourself to get outside, let alone get outside to work out during the winter months. Let’s face it, when the temperature falls below freezing, who isn’t tempted to hit the snooze button instead of hitting the gym? We spoke with Nancy Moran, owner of Paradise Gym & Fitness, along with the gym’s manager Kelly Piperidis and front desk/sales manager Allison DiLisio, to get their tips for maintaining your workout motivation this winter. •–• SET GOALS Establish goals or a target to work toward, but also make sure they are realistic. NM: Working out with a partner is key. Allison and I have been working out together for six years and we are accountable to each other. When one of us thinks we can’t complete a particular exercise, we push each other to reach new levels. AD: Buddying up with Nancy has not only motivated me to come work out, but also helped me to get over fears of things that I thought I couldn’t accomplish. If I watch her finish a set, I can see that it’s possible that I can do it, too. The partnership has led to us stepping out of our comfort zones and to try new things. A great story of support happened here last winter. We had a client who was training for the Boston Marathon. Because of the weather, she couldn’t get in long runs outside. She would call ahead to let us know when she was coming in to do 20 miles on a treadmill. We (staff) and other clients would run in intervals on the machines beside her. We all worked together to keep her motivated on those days. KP: Also, try to stay engaged with your workout friends through social media. This is especially important on those days that you can’t make it in to the gym. Share challenges and workouts with your network so you stay motivated together. •–• FIND YOUR GROOVE Schedules and preferences vary. Find a time that works best for you and stick to it. NM: It is important to set goals to work toward that are actually attainable. If your goal is to lose 10 pounds in two weeks, you’re surely setting yourself up for failure. Instead, pace yourself in working toward that goal. You will be increasing your chances of success and lessening the likelihood of getting discouraged and quitting. NM: The best time to hit the gym is really subjective to the individual and what type of person they are. Not everyone is a morning person. Other people like to relax at night. No matter what time you go, just remember how good it is going to make you feel when you’re done. KP: I suggest training for an event. Signing up for a spring race, like a 5k or more. It is a great way to stay on focused and on course all winter long. KP: I make my workout my “morning cup of coffee” — it gets my day started right. But for others, a lunchtime or after-work gym visit works best. If that’s the case, my biggest piece of advice is: Don’t stop at home in between. Have your bag packed and be gym-ready to avoid losing momentum. AD: We take pride in getting to know our clientele, understanding their goals, and monitoring their progress. When we see a client walk by the front desk and can see they’re making strides, we make a point to let them know that their hard work is paying off. It’s not only a motivator to continue working hard, but it’s also a compliment that they’ve earned. 42 | 01907 AD: Some people feel that their work schedule or family life is to hectic to fit in a workout. I like to remind them that it’s important to do something for themselves. Getting to the gym for “me time” can help to ease distractions, de-stress and re-energize. WINTER 2015 •–• MIX IT UP Don’t always repeat the same workout. Try new things to avoid boredom or getting stuck in a rut. NM: The gym can be a great boredom buster in the winter. It gets you off the couch. But, it’s easy to lose the motivation to keep coming back if your workout is repetitive. Don’t do the same thing all of the time. Step out of your comfort zone by trying new classes or lifting weights. KP: Your workout has to be fun — as do the people you work out with and the environment you work out in. Otherwise, there is little motivation to continue. •–• FINAL WORDS OF ADVICE Don’t stop. Working out has positive effects on your life. NM: A friend shared a saying with me a while ago that I love to tell people because it’s the ultimate motivator: “You’ll never regret a workout, but you will regret not working out.” KP: Many people will put their workouts on hold during the holidays with the goal of starting again on January 1. If you put it off until the New Year, then you will be starting from behind. You can cheat, but don’t go overboard. To really see results, you must make consistent lifestyle choices. AD: Don’t be afraid to try new things. And don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself too. Not everyone is an expert when they start a new class or exercise. Pace yourself. Everyone must start somewhere. •––––––––––––––––• Paradise Gym & Fitness 21 Elm Place Swampscott, MA 01907 781-586-9666 paradisegym.com •––––––––––––––––• WINTER 2015 01907 | 43 Heard It Through The Grapevine: Tips from a wine guru Vinnin Liquors Manager Neal Zagarella VINNIN LIQUORS 371 Paradise Road Swampscott, MA 781-598-4110 vinninliquors.com By Sandi Goldfarb For the uninitiated, selecting a bottle of wine to accompany a holiday meal or as a special gift can be daunting. Some mistakenly assume the more expensive, the better. Others are easily swayed by a beautifully designed label. Then there’s the fear factor. Just the thought of perusing a wine list under the watchful eye of a stuffy sommelier is enough to turn burgeoning enthusiasts into teetotalers. Almost. Forget the hefty price tags, the ceremonial swirling of glasses and sniffing of corks. Local expert Neal Zagarella, manager at Vinnin Liquors, wants you stop and smell the rosé. Zagarella, who has spent more than 25 years gently guiding customers, says when it comes to wine there are really no rights or wrongs. The North Shore native points out that developing a palate — a real sense of your personal preferences — can lead to greater enjoyment. And while the old rule that calls for reds with meat, whites with poultry and fish, has merit, Zagarella believes people should drink the style or variety of wine that tastes best to them. “If you like red wine, drink red wine! Just remember, wine should complement, not overpower food,” he says. For “newbies,” Zagarella suggests experimenting with lighter styles. “With reds, first try a pinot noir, then move on to bolder flavors like red zinfandel or cabernet.” The wine afficionado encourages those who prefer whites to sample “softer, fruitier wines like rieslings or moscatos.” From there, Zagarella recommends that would-be oenophiles give Pinot Grigio a try. The more adventurous, he says, can graduate to a sauvignon blanc or buttery chardonnay. At this time of year, with the holidays in full swing, wines with a hint of effervescence can add pizazz to any celebration. “People used to reserve champagne for special occasions. Not anymore,” says Zagarella, who is also a fan of prosecco from Italy and cava from Spain, which are less expensive, but no less pleasurable alternatives to the pricier bubbly. 44 | 01907 These days, there are countless resources available for those seeking insights on wine, from mobile apps to magazines and websites. Zagarella is a fan of The Wine Advocate and The Wine Spectator as well as his shop’s site, www.vinninliquors.com, which provides information, tips and trends. According to Zagarella, a smart phone can be a wine lover’s best friend. “When you find a wine you like, take a picture of the label. Then talk to someone who can help.” By sharing that image and the information it conveys, your waiter or local merchant can help you select wines with similar qualities and characteristics. But, says Zagarella, despite the abundance of information, there’s no substitute for taking a sip or two. When it comes to entertaining, Zagarella offers a bit of sage advice. “When you invite people over, serve the best bottle first. After a glass or two, your senses are dulled. That first glass really does taste much better than the last.” ■ WINTER 2015 Serving New England since 1946 Locally owned and operated. MORE THAN JUST AUTO GLASS Auto Glass Plexiglass Shower Doors Skylight Replacement Mirrors Insulated Glass Units Back-Painted Glass Storefronts Glass Tabletops 10% OFF any glass or mirror purchase with coupon. Not valid with other offers. Limited time only Visit: newangleglass.com Call: 800-642-7373 WINTER 2015 01907 | 45 Italian genuine leather handbag by Arcadia, $104, available at Marshalls, 1005 Paradise Road Brioni men’s tie, $59.99 (originally $215), available at Marshalls, 1005 Paradise Road Chavez for Charity glass and crystal bracelets in cobalt blue, $12 or 3 for $30 at The Paper Store, 435 Paradise Road Blue Christmas There’s something magical about the color blue during the holiday season, and even more so in a town known for its Big Blue. These gift ideas, shown in all shades, would make even Elvis smile. Compiled by Meaghan Casey Vintage Inspired toy plane, $16.99, available at Home Goods, 450 Paradise Road Blue seaglass earrings designed by Sonja Grondstra, $72, available at Kats, 212 Humphrey St. Pursecase smartphone case in periwinkle, as seen on Shark Tank, $35, available at Infinity Boutique. 427 Paradise Road Vera Bradley satchel in classic navy, $128.95, with accordion wallet in classic navy, $58.95, available at The Paper Store, 435 Paradise Road Blue ceramic pottery, $15, available at Kats, 212 Humphrey St. Vogue clutch, $55, available at Infinity Boutique, 427 Paradise Road Wine, beer, gift certificates and gift baskets by Sea Glass Wine & Beer, 130 Humphrey St. Wine baskets begin at $25. Intraceuticals rejuvenate course, $175, cleansing gel, $39, daily serum, $149 available at LuxeBeautiQue, 410 Humphrey St. 46 | 01907 WINTER 2015 Seaglass bracelet, designed by Sonja Grondstra, $240, available at Kats, 212 Humphrey St. Periwinkle by Barlow starfish earrings, $9.95, and bracelet, $14.95, The Paper Store, 435 Paradise Road Long sleeve t-shirt in white or navy, child $12 adult $15, with 5” circular magnet, $5, available at: fortheloveofswampscott.org Nauti and Nice These nautical-inspired gifts are too nice to pass up. Compiled by Meaghan Casey Whale bottle opener from the Mariposa High Seas collection, $32, available at The Paper Store, 435 Paradise Road Block initials by Cynthia Rowley, $5.99, at Marshalls, 1005 Paradise Road Anchor and pearl hand-stamped necklace by the Vintage Pearl, $38, available at The Paper Store, 435 Paradise Road A-Z Initial Charms by Rembrandt, $26, Kenneth Jon Jewelers, 425 Paradise Road Block initials by Cynthia Rowley, $9.99, at Home Goods, 450 Paradise Road Initially Inspired Whether it’s jewelry or home accent pieces, there’s something extra special and personal about giving someone a gift with his or her initial. Candle votive with initials, $4.99, at Marshalls, 1005 Paradise Road WINTER 2015 Compiled by Meaghan Casey Spartina monogram locket necklace, $39, at The Paper Store, 435 Paradise Road 01907 | 47 HAIR APPARENT SPINALES MIX BUSINESS & MARRIAGE Photos: Paula Muller By Michele Durgin When Dan and Lisa Spinale met in the early ’70’s neither imagined that close to 40 years later they would be a happily married couple, the proud parents of two wonderful daughters, Marissa and Dominique, and four grandchildren, and the dedicated owners of a popular hair design studio in Swampscott. They are indeed all of those things – and more. Dan begins recounting the journey. “I was working as a stylist at a salon in Boston and Lisa was an assistant buyer for Filene’s,” he said. “We hit it off right away and before we knew it we were married. Soon after, I was working at a salon in Malden and Lisa and I were starting a family.” After a few years and the birth of two daughters, Dan encouraged Lisa to enroll in hairdressing school, which she did part-time in the evenings. “She has such great fashion and style sense and is business-savvy. I knew she would be a terrific hair stylist,” he said. Now, close to 40 years later, Dan and Lisa are the proud proprietors of a salon that bears their name, Spinale and Company, on Humphrey Street. According to Lisa everything seemed to come together at the right time and in the right way. “We teamed up and would alternate days working so that one of us was always home for our girls,” she said. “We would work 10-hour days and 50-hour weeks, and in this industry you have to constantly reinvent yourself and keep up with the times. There is so much competition out there. “We began with the old fashioned mom-and-pop philosophy in the way that we treated our clients and employees. We still hold on to that philosophy today because it has worked.” Spinale and Company is 10 years old and one of the most successful hair salons in the area. It is a full-service salon that includes a team 48 | 01907 of six hair stylists, two assistants, and a manicurist, who are all “rock stars,” according to Dan. Dan said haircutting and styling have long been his passion and he has been in the business long enough to know that there are a couple of rules that need to be followed in order to stay in the business. He is adamant about Rule No. 1: “There is no ego here. That is why some salons have a high turnover rate of stylists. We are a team first and we are all here for each other.” Dan also believes that providing opportunities for continued education is important and is the essence of Rule No. 2 when it comes to staying current and marketable through education he leads by example. “We bring educators to the salon for workshops, each of us attends professional development/hair design classes on a regular basis and we all fly to New York City every year to attend the International Hair Show.” One of the stylists asked if she could add a comment to our discussion. Without hesitation, Dan and Lisa answered “yes” in unison. “My name is Angela and I want to tell you that it all works here because everyone on staff really loves each other and that’s huge. We all get along and care about clients and staff alike. We are all here for each other and that doesn’t happen everywhere.” “It’s true. We are like a family here, both staff and clients,” Dan said. “I’ve had clients since Day One and loyalty is key. We love the community so much that we settled here and brought our kids up in this town. Both of our daughters are proud Swampscott High graduates.” Lisa echoed those sentiments. “Yes, we do care very much about each other here. It’s an awesome small community and we are happy to be accommodating to our neighbors. We will make home visits if necessary, and even go to hospitals and rehab centers or nursing homes. We especially love to work with brides and their wedding parties on the big day.” ■ WINTER 2015
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