This Month's Features

Boston – Abigail Norman drew upon her lifetime of experience with community-based arts to boost growth for the Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts in Boston’s Jamaica Plain (JP) neighborhood, where she has served as director since 2007. There, over 1,500 students of all ages currently study arts and crafts. Additionally, over 2,000 children attend its classes through partnerships with Boston public schools, libraries, housing developments and community centers.

Mardi Gras World By Victor Block Quick quiz: Think jazz and blues played in music clubs and by street musicians outside. If you guess that describes...

Gloucester - Award-winning artist Melody Phaneuf, 63, seems to have found the perfect place to live. She came to Gloucester to paint during the summer of 1988, and ended up staying. She lives in a beautiful Queen Ann Victorian home near the outer harbor. Three years ago, she added a carriage house-like studio next door.

As a drummer, Natick resident Bert Syms has worked alongside Michael Jackson, Chaka Kahn, Smokey Robinson and other celebrity musicians and singers. He also played for many years in the band for the R&B group The Tavares Brothers, one of the most popular singing groups from the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Arlington - At age 86, Lillian Christmas is, as she says, “an artist, athlete and advocate.” She has run in numerous road races, including marathons in Boston and Montreal, even though she did not start serious training until she was in her late 40s. She is also an artist who tries to work at her craft every day if possible. And it is through those two passions that she helps others.

In April of 2013, a small group of like-minded folks started a Facebook page for people who love Ford Mustangs and want to hang out, go to car shows, or talk cars. From that page sprang the Mustangs of Massachusetts Car Club, boasting about 270 members throughout the state.

Region – As photography has evolved, so has the Assabet Valley Camera Club (AVCC), now in its 32nd year. Meetings take place the first and third Wednesdays of the month from September through June at the Hudson Senior Center, 29 Church St. AVCC currently has about 50 members of varied ages from 15 communities throughout the Metrowest area. Their photography experience ranges from beginners to professional.

One day, as I sat at a window, gazing toward the back yard – in other words, daydreaming – I suddenly saw: A great business opportunity! We often hear that “thoughts have energy.” We know about the power of positive thinking. We send happy thoughts to friends and family far away. Whenever we have a thought, it’s released into the atmosphere and goes about its work, we don’t understand exactly how.

The islands are two miles and a 45-minute ferry boat ride apart. From the air, one resembles a ball and the other a chubby baseball bat. They share their history and a common government.  Yet Nevis (pronounced Nee-vis) and St. Kitts each has its own distinct personality.  

Region - Most people have a cause that they are passionate about. Many participate in fundraising events to support that cause. Doug McAllister, 72, of Worcester has taken that passion to a whole new level. He is on the brink of reaching $1 million raised for the Greater New England Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.