Contributors

Sonya Vartabedian Editor-in-Chief
Sonya has more than 20 years of experience as an editor and reporter and has lived in Newburyport and Amesbury for the past 15 years. Her hope as editor of Newburyport Magazine is to celebrate the unique qualities of the Newburys, including its storied history, diverse culture and landmarks, and to spotlight the people who are fortunate to live, work and play here. Contact Sonya with your thoughts and story ideas for the magazine at svartabedian@newburyportmagazine.com.
A letter from the editor
Bryan Eaton Photo Editor
Though Newburyport has a wonderful public library, it's really nice the city also retains the Emma Andrews Branch Library in the south end of town. While it doesn't have all the amenities of the main library, it really makes up for that with its charm and coziness. And though I had been there once or twice before, it was fun to shoot the branch library for this issue of Newburyport Magazine and, while I was there, see several people come and go, taking a couple of books along with them. Thanks to the ladies who volunteer there, it really is a hidden treasure. Bryan is the photo chief of The Daily News of Newburyport. Contact Bryan Eaton with your thoughts and ideas for the magazine at beaton@newburyportmagazine.com.
Sabrina Cardin Writer
Ever since I was a young child, reading and writing have been a big part of who I am. That's why I enjoyed writing about the Emma Andrews Branch Library in Newburyport for this issue of Newburyport Magazine. While I was attending the University of New Hampshire, Dimond Library was one of my favorite spots to get lost in for hours. Nothing compares to the feeling of reading a good book in a warm spot, preferably the beach. Contact Sabrina Cardin with your thoughts and ideas for the magazine at scardin@newburyportmagazine.com.
Will Courtney Writer
I inherited my love of the Newburyport dining scene from my father, Bill. Over the last 30 years, he's developed a special affection for the city's landmark eateries like Michael's Harborside, the continuing transformation of which I profile in this issue. Will is the city editor of The Daily News of Newburyport, and lives in Amesbury with his wife, Amy, and chocolate Lab, Cooper. Contact Will Courtney with your thoughts and ideas for the magazine at wcourtney@newburyportmagazine.com.
Katie Curley Writer
When I went to meet local interior designer Alan Collachicco for this issue, I thought it would be a quick interview on his tips for finding antiques locally. But I got more than I bargained for. He treated me to a tour of his historic Newbury home, a list of experts in the field and even gave me a lesson on how to tell a good antique from a phony. Now, I'm ready to seek out some treasures of my own buried in local antique markets. Katie also highlights spring fashion in the pages of this issue. Contact Katie with your thoughts and story ideas for the magazine at kcurley@newburyportmagazine.com.
Katie Farrell Writer
Writing about Newburyport's coffee scene was a great assignment. A big fan of the caffeinated beverage, I began exploring all of Newburyport's coffee shops after arriving at The Daily News as a reporter in 2005. So, having an excuse to drink coffee for an article was perfect for me. Katie lives in Stoneham and is looking forward to her May wedding. Contact Katie with your thoughts and story ideas on the magazine at kfarrell@newburyportmagazine.com.
Lynne Hendricks Writer
My bookshelves at home are peppered with motivational books by authors whose ideas have consoled, uplifted and redirected when I've needed it most. So, spending the afternoon with Michael Gerrish and Cheryl Richardson, two thoroughly down-to-earth motivational authors/philosophers, was a personal joy as much as it was an inspiring interview. Seeing through their eyes all that Newburyport offers to nourish the soul has inspired me to take better care of mind and body, and check out some of their local haunts, too. Lynne recently returned from Florida to her hometown of Newburyport with her husband and three boys. Contact Lynne with your thoughts and story ideas about the magazine at 978-462-6666 or editor@newburyportmagazine.com.
Liz King Writer
Reading is one of my favorite hobbies, and I had no problem familiarizing myself with the authors who will be featured at the 2009 Newburyport Literary Festival, which I preview in this issue. A lifelong resident of Amesbury, Liz is still swimming in books after recently obtaining a degree in writing, literature and publishing from Emerson College in Boston. She can frequently be found perusing the bookshop racks in the basement of Amesbury Public Library. Contact Liz King with your thoughts and ideas for the magazine at lking@newburyportmagazine.com.
Ben Laing Photographer
I was asked to shoot a fashion spread for this issue of the magazine. The key to the shoot and also the biggest challenge was to convey a spring "feel" while shooting in February when the ground was blanketed with snow. Thankfully, the models and their fashions helped to provide the right look, and the locations we chose lent themselves to an atmosphere that depicted spring in winter. Ben is a Newburyport native and photographer at The Daily News. Contact Ben with your thoughts and ideas about the magazine at blaing@newburyportmagazine.com.
Victor Tine Writer
As the senior member of The Daily News staff, I've come to appreciate the area's rich sense of its history, so writing about the three centuries of the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm in Newbury was fascinating. And as someone who's married to an avid gardener, I've come to appreciate the planning and hard work involved in nurturing these colorful plots of land, so getting people to talk about their gardens was a pleasure. It was also gratifying to learn about the dedicated volunteers who make the formal garden at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport bloom, particularly since, as a reporter, I covered the events that led to Maudslay being purchased by the state for conservation in the 1980s. Contact Victor with your thoughts and story ideas for the magazine at vtine@newburyportmagazine.com.
Jim Vaiknoras Photographer
Being a big coffee drinker, I really enjoyed working on this issue of Newburyport Magazine. Having worked as a photographer at The Daily News for the past 20 years, I'm still astonished by how lucky I am to be in an office that's within a short walk of so many fine places to grab a coffee. You can regularly find me either getting a cup to go or sitting for a while with a newspaper, a book or a friend and taking a little vacation from my day. Thank you, baristas of Newburyport, for my daily (sometimes hourly) caffeine fix. Contact Jim with your thoughts and ideas for the magazine at jvaiknoras@newburyportmagazine.com.