Merrimack Valley Magazine

Merrimack River Recreation Survey

October 18, 2021 by Merrimack Valley Magazine

Do you use the Merrimack River for recreational activities like boating, fishing, jet-skiing, or simply walking alongside it? The Merrimack River Watershed Council (MRWC) wants to hear from you!

The MRWC is partnering with the Boston University school of public health is conducting a recreation survey aimed at those who live throughout the Merrimack River Watershed in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

As a community of anglers, swimmers, boaters, paddlers, and persons residing in the watershed, Boston University is interested in how local residents use the Merrimack River, in order to gauge the potential public health risks involved in your recreational activity of choice. Even if you do not participate in any direct on-water activity, your input is still valued. Those who complete the survey are entered in a raffle to win a $25 Market Basket gift card or a free guided paddling trip on the Merrimack River.

The results of the survey will be used to help further the efforts to pass legislation intended to protect and improve the quality of the Merrimack River, and increase potential avenues for recreation and enjoyment by all. Visit here to take the short survey.

And if you’re interested in learning more about the MRWC and their ongoing efforts, don’t miss our exclusive interview with MRWC Executive Director Matthew Thorne, which will be featured in the upcoming November-December issue of MVM.

Wellness Wednesday – 6/2/21

June 2, 2021 by Kristin Cole

One of the interesting things about health and wellness is that it involves not only what you do, but what you consume. And sometimes, some of the most surprising beverages can contribute to your overall wellness. Have you considered the hearty benefits of milk? Or what about chlorophyll and healthy soda? Let’s get into all of this, and more, with some of the latest study findings and news from around the web.

Whatcha Drinkin?

Growing up, I was always taught that calcium-rich milk was good for my bones, and thus it was the staple beverage at our family dinners. Interestingly, a recent study found that the benefits of milk extend beyond your skeleton; drinking milk can also decrease your chances of heart disease. An article that describes the study, found here, summarized the findings that “milk drinkers also have lower levels of cholesterol, which can cause blockages in the arteries and lead to a heart attack or stroke. Overall, those drinking milk each day slashed their risk of coronary heart disease by 14 percent. … [The] authors based their conclusions on health information from almost two million people in the United States and United Kingdom. Those with a mutation enabling them to consume large quantities of milk were less prone to cardiovascular illnesses.”

If you’re not a dairy-drinker for whatever reason, we’re not leaving you out of this one. There are plenty of benefits to drinking plant-based milk alternatives — these drinks “tend to have fewer calories, less fat (except for coconut-based milk), more water content (for better hydration), less protein (except soy). Some are fortified with other vitamins and nutrients.” Check out more on plant-based nutrients here.

Did You Say Chlorophyll?

When asked about chlorophyll, most of us would think of plants. Yes, chlorophyll is responsible for giving plants their green color, and it works with sunlight to help plants get their nutrients. However, chlorophyll also comes with numerous health benefits as well. According to Healthline, drinking liquid chlorophyll promotes skin healing, builds your blood, detoxifies your body, promotes weight loss and acts as a natural deodorant.

Healthy Soda

I’ve given up on soda, believing that syrup-filled sugary carbonation simply has no place in my body self-care routine (seriously, I’d encourage red wine over soda any day!) However, trendy new beverages, called “functional pop,” are putting a positive spin on soda. Some of these sodas benefit digestive health, while others promote muscle growth and exercise recovery and brain and immune system health. Check out more details on these healthy new beverages here.

For more on healthy beverages, check out our previous Wellness Wednesday detailing the benefits of coffee and tea. And when in doubt, always drink water: about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) for men and about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) for women everyday.

***

GOOD READS

Inspiration. Looking to start your day with a little motivation? Check out the story of Eddie Kaufholz, who, after spending most of his life on the couch, trained and ran not only a 5k, but a half marathon at 39 years old.

15-Minute Blast. Has the Eddie Kaufholz story encouraged you to add a little bit more movement into your day? Check out this quick, 15-minute cardio workout that’s perfect for when your body needs to move.

Inherited Kindness. A recent study, of which more can be read about here, found that bonobos, our “lesser-studied ape relatives,” are inclined to share their food, suggesting that we may have inherited our own tendencies towards kindness and generosity from these creatures.

Wellness Wednesday – 12/16/20

December 16, 2020 by Kristin Cole

WELLNESS AROUND THE WEB

We’ve got good news and bad news. The first vaccines have finally made their way to all 50 states this week. While it will take months for them to finally reach the general public —Massachusetts’ vaccines will not be available to the public until April — this provides hope for a sense of normalcy when the warm weather returns in 2021. However, the bad news is that warm weather is a mere fever dream right now, for a snowstorm is due to hit the Merrimack Valley tonight. While we hunker down in our houses, turn to this week’s Wellness Wednesday for ways to stay active and optimistic indoors, unique healthy eating and drinking tips (wine included) and stories that will brighten your snowy day.

Staying Active with your Smartphone

Many of us spent most of this year adjusting to remote work and our activity levels have subsequently suffered. As the cold weather, settles across the Merrimack Valley, it becomes even harder to find motivation to move throughout the day. Luckily, your smartphone is here to help. Apple announced the App Store Best of 2020 winners in early December, and Wakeout was crowned iPhone app of the year. Wakeout is the perfect app for busy people, as it offers quick workouts designed for a variety of places—from your bedroom to the office to an airplane. Looking for a brief break from computer work? Wakeout boasts a catalog of hundreds of active breaks and thousands of exclusive movements. A monthly subscription to Wakeout costs $4.99 while a yearly one is $34.99, and with each subscription one can add anywhere from five to ten people. For more information on Wakeout, read Brenda Stolyar’s review here.

Water & Wine

Over half of the body is made up of water, and research has consistently shown that we all need more of it. Beyond the obvious hydration purposes of water, a new study has found that drinking six glasses of water daily are not only more energetic, but more optimistic as well. Moreover, those who are more hydrated are less likely to wake up tired during the week, and therefore more successful at work. Plain water too bland for your liking? Make sure it’s cold. The study also found that more Americans preferred ice water over room temperature water. Or try my family’s favorite: sparkling water, which is just as hydrating as regular water and far less sugary than soda.

After you’ve had all that water, we encourage you to relax with glass of wine and a cheese platter. And you don’t have to feel guilty thanks to a study from Iowa State University, which found that the pairing of cheese and wine improves cognitive health as one gets older. Specifically, researchers concluded that cheese “provides the most protection against age-related cognitive issues” while a daily dose of alcohol, particularly red wine, contributes to healthy cognitive function. Cheers!

Animals as Relief

While physical distancing is a great way to help stop the spread of COVID-19, limited interactions can take a toll on your mental health, especially as the brisk weather moves in. If you can’t hug others, hug your pets closer. A recent study led by Dr. Janette Young of the University of South Australia found that touching pets “provided [participants with] comfort, relaxation, and familiarity.” The study notes the importance of physical touch, and how this is not only beneficial to humans, but to our pets as well. It doesn’t need to be a dog or a cat either, as the article notes that “participants mentioned birds, sheep, horses, and even reptiles as pets who reciprocate touch.”

Good Reads

As the snowstorm rages tonight, distract yourself with some good news and family bonding:

Hooray for polar bears! The U.S court of appeals rejected an offshore oil drilling project in the arctic. Environmental groups and conservationists consider this “a victory for Alaska’s imperiled polar bears that are threatened by oil and gas development…”

Stuck inside and sick of shoveling? Try making one — or two, or all — of these seven delicious dessert recipes from Tasty. Have the family help and make it a bonding experience!

By the Brook

September 20, 2020 by Lysa Pelletier

The days are shorter and the nights are cooler. Summer might be winding down, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to head indoors. Spending time in your yard is a great way to socialize safely, find time for quiet and reflection, or just listen to the sounds of nature. Of course, you can do this in any yard, but if you hire a great contractor, you can transform a humdrum lawn into a backyard oasis, where you’ll look forward to relaxing under open skies. If you’re like many people and now use your property as a remote office, the right design and execution can make a major difference as water features, stonework and architectural creativity allow you to escape the mundane, linear and predictable.

Left: Custom teak loveseat with Sunbrella fabric cushions, $952 – Goldenteak. Striped pillows, $88 each; Blue/white pillow, $52; Cordova poufs, $225 each; Silver/Aluminum tray, $50; Clay succulents, $10 to 18 each – Acorn Home & Design. Dash + Albert herringbone indoor/outdoor rug, available in a variety of sizes, $174 – $382; Dash & Albert bag, $88 – Helen Thomas Simply Smashing. Right: Custom teak chair with Sunbrella fabric cushions, $835; Custom teak end table, $192 – Goldenteak. Striped pillow, $88; Small Boston dish, $26; Boston mug, $16 – Acorn Home & Design. Fique + Clay round placemat, $24 – MAK & CO.

Small Boston dishes, $26 each; Large Boston dishes, $45 each; Tye dye napkin set, $25 – Acorn Home & Design. Wine glasses, $12 each; Stemless glasses, $9 each; Striped round placemats, $7 each; Mango wood cheese board, $34; Bella Cucina pizza set, $40; Bella Cucina Artichoke pesto, $39; Bella Cucina Artichoke pesto gift set, $30; Light gray stripe dish towels, $13 each – MAK & CO.

Thibaut Landmark pillows, $88 each – Acorn Home & Design. Custom teak coffee table, $534 – Goldenteak. French Mason Jar, $75 – MAK & CO.

Style Editor and Set Design Lysa Pelletier – Anchor Artists

Photography Kevin Harkins – Harkins Photography

Landscaping and Water Features:
Dana Landscaping & Water Gardens
Andover, Mass.
(978) 682-9267
DanaLandscaping.com

Accessories and Furnishings:
Acorn Home & Design
Andover, Mass.
(978) 273-9717
AcornDesignCenter.com

Goldenteak
Lawrence, Mass.
(978) 689-4041
GoldenTeak.com

Helen Thomas Simply Smashing
Andover, Mass.
(978) 475-7981
ShopHelenThomas.com

MAK & CO.
2 locations – Andover, Mass.
(978) 475-5511
MakAndCoAndover.com

Meet Me by the Water

July 18, 2016 by Wesley Gallagher Leave a Comment

Lakeside Living in the Merrimack Valley: There are many beautiful places in New England. You don’t have to go far to find gorgeous beaches or grand mountains. Maine and Vermont can be amazing in almost any season. But with all this beauty, it’s easy to overlook what’s available in the Merrimack Valley. One example: our area’s lakes, which can provide residents with all the perks of summertime and year-round living.

Paul and Dennis Webster Greene, owners of Webster Green Antiques & Interiors in Methuen, spent many years traveling on weekends to Ogunquit, Maine, with in-laws. The couple had always talked about building a house there, but when they went on a house call for their business to a home on Forest Lake in Methuen, they realized they could have everything they wanted in a vacation home without having to make the traffic-filled trek to Maine. Paul wasn’t interested in any of the home’s antiques, but he mentioned to the owner that he would pay a million dollars for the view. Before they knew it, Paul and Dennis owned a lake house just minutes from their full-time home.

The highlight of Shaw and Joel Rosen’s lake house was the ample outdoor space they enjoyed. Photo by Kevin Harkins.
The Rosens’ master bedroom is just one example of the stunning, sophisticated yet comfortable, style that characterized the house. Photo by Kevin Harkins.
Although the house had little yard space, Shaw created her own green space by planting several pots of flowers, ornamental grasses, an herb garden and rail-top flower boxes around the back deck and patio. Photo by Kevin Harkins.
Paul and Dennis Webster-Greene bought their lake house, built in the 1920s, fully furnished and complete with all of the knickknacks the house had accumulated over several decades. They are only the third owners of the home. Photo by Adrien Bisson.
The deck becomes a living space during the summer, where they grill and often entertain guests. Photo by Adrien Bisson.
Chuck Raffoni and Scott Meegan expanded the deck when they bought their lake house in 2001. “Our inspirations were our trips to Mexico,” says Raffoni. Photo by Adrien Bisson.
The underground deck carries on the Mexican-inspired theme of the upstairs deck, while also tying in the Moroccan feel of their finished basement. Photo by Adrien Bisson.

“You drive off Hampshire Road, and you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere,” Paul says. “I love just lying on the porch and hearing the rain hit the tin roof. We can zip back home at any time. I’m at the store every day, and yet when I close up, we just go there and it’s like we are on vacation, even if it’s only for the evening.”

Paul and Dennis have a pontoon boat and a canoe, and spend much of their time watching wildlife, from ducks and geese to deer and foxes. “On the hottest days,” Paul says, “you can drive down that dirt road and the temperature drops; you feel like you’re in the middle of Maine somewhere.”

Shaw and Joel Rosen bought a small house on Beaver Lake in Derry, N.H., in August 2012. The couple had considered selling their home in Haverhill and moving into a house on the lake, but instead decided to dip their toes into the water, so to speak, with a small vacation home. “When we bought it, it was almost perfect,” says Shaw, who works in residential real estate. “We didn’t do much to it except some painting and hardwood floors in the bedroom.”

The house was only 1,200 square feet, but it had just enough space to accommodate their two grown children when they visited, which was all the Rosens really needed in a vacation home. Most of their “lake living” took place outdoors, anyway. The back deck and patio looked onto the lake, where their kayaks and speedboat were docked. Sliding glass doors led directly from the kitchen, Shaw’s favorite place in the house, onto the back deck.

The Rosens loved lake living so much that they recently decided to move full time into a larger house on the same lake. Their children now live in the area, so the larger, year-round home is perfect for the family.

Chuck Raffoni and his husband, Scott Meegan, jumped right into lakeside living when they moved from Waltham to a home on Freeman Lake in North Chelmsford in 2001. “It wasn’t necessarily marketed as being on the lake,” Chuck remembers, “and when we saw it, we thought, ‘there’s water back there.’ ” They cleared the trees behind the home and ended up with a great lake view.

The appeal of lakeside living for Chuck and Scott lasts year-round. “It’s so peaceful, and it changes with the seasons,” Chuck says. “In the winter, there are people out there ice-skating and ice-fishing. In the summer, there are people sailing. The fall is a traditional New England theme with all the colors. In springtime, the lake is where you start to see nature coming back to life, the animals coming out, the buds popping.”

Chuck and Scott often swim off the dock behind their home, and they have a paddleboat and a canoe that they take out on the water. In the winter, they love to snowshoe on the ice. The neighborhood is quiet, with many full-time residents, and the road, which is functionally more of a walking trail, is a great place to take their goldendoodle, Dixie.

So if you’re thinking about buying a lake house, remember that you might not have to look far. Sometimes it’s great to pack up, hit the road, and travel several hours to a vacation spot. But for many, the convenience of vacationing close to home is priceless.