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
After driving these local roads over and over again, some things that you might otherwise notice begun to blur into the background. I remember taking the school bus to Triton Regional High School in Byfield and seeing the sign for Adelynrood Retreat & Conference Center but never knowing what the place was. I don’t think I had ever been to Parker River National Wildlife Refuge until I started working at The Daily News of Newburyport. But being a photographer for both the newspaper and Newburyport Magazine has afforded me the chance to learn more about those places and many others that exist in the area I’ve lived in for years. 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.
Jill Oestreicher Goss
Writing this issue’s story on local buildings and their past gave me the special opportunity to step inside the homes and offices of people in the Newburys. I had always wondered what the view from the old clam shack in Joppa was like, or what the Mechanic 2 on Water Street was all about. I finally got the chance to take a peek inside. Being a homeowner takes a lot of hard work, but preserving the character of a home is even harder. Kudos to the owners we profiled in this issue, and thank you for sharing your spaces with us.
Jill, a native of New York City, graduated from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism and moved to Newburyport with her family in 2005.
Lynne Hendricks
One of my greatest pastimes is to sift through old letters, documents, photographs and newspaper archives to recall a long-forgotten story that was once important. Writing about The Governor’s Academy in Byfield was such a thrill for that reason. I discovered the little red schoolhouse built at the behest of Lt. Gov. William Dummer in the 1700s laid the foundation for a proud educational standard that perhaps set the bar for public and private schools and colleges across the country. Even though we may not have children attending there or have attended there ourselves, it was interesting to learn that with the school’s beginnings so connected with the Colonial history of our region, its legacy belongs in part to all who hail from the Newburys. Contact Lynne with your thoughts and story ideas about the magazine at 978-462-6666 or editor@newburyportmagazine.com.
Dyke Hendrickson
Dyke’s first visit to The Park Lunch in Newburyport was in 1985. His photo is not on any wall, which boasts athletes from the local level through the pros, but he has not given up hope. A Newburyport journalist, Dyke was a writer and editor for newspapers throughout Maine. He has also published two books on the history of Franco-Americans in New England and Maine.
Katie Farrell Lovett
While I’ve always admired Mariposa tableware, I never realized the local connection behind it, so I really enjoyed sitting down and talking to Michael Updike, the Newbury designer behind many of the pieces, for this issue of Newburyport Magazine. He’s an interesting person to interview, and I learned a lot about his late father, Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Updike, and Mariposa giftware. Contact Katie with your thoughts and story ideas on the magazine at kfarrell@newburyportmagazine.com.
Amy Mclaughlin
Autumn on the East Coast means two very exciting things ... beautiful foliage and New York Fashion Week, from which I just returned after discovering plenty of fantastic finds. I had the pleasure of working with my assistant, Sarah Nearis, on the fashion piece for this fall’s issue of the magazine. She was my muse and the model featured in the fall spread. We are a fantastic team, and I am so lucky to have her. Amy is a lifestyle designer with her own firm (www.amymclaughlinlifestyles.com) who specializes in wardrobe styling, fashion show and event production and home decor design. She resides in Newburyport with her boyfriend, Michael, and their dog, Emily.
Dave Rogers
Since I’ve been a sports fanatic all my life, it was a genuine pleasure sitting down with one of the athletes I vividly remember watching on television. Getting the opportunity to share a meal with Max Lane is one of the things that makes being a journalist so much fun. It’s also one of the reasons I’ve been in the newspaper business since 1998, first writing obituaries and then becoming a reporter.Contact Dave Rogers with your thoughts and ideas for the magazine at drogers@newburyportmagazine.com.
Ben Laing
Fall is my favorite season, especially here in Newburyport. The cooler temperatures, changing leaves and fewer tourists make it a great time to get out and enjoy the area. We are blessed with plenty of places to explore, and as a photographer, it doesn’t get much better than that. Contact Ben with your thoughts and ideas about the magazine at blaing@newburyportmagazine.com.
Victor Tine
My first visit to Newbury’s Lower Green Schoolhouse was three years ago, shortly after the town received a grant to do some rehab and repair work on the 130-year-old building. I was struck by the 19th century authenticity of the appearance of the place and hope more people will get to see it. I’ve also been passing by the Spanish-American War monument in Newburyport for many years but never really looked closely at it until it was liberated from its shroud of shrubbery by the city as part of the redesign of Brown Square. Contact Victor with your thoughts and story ideas for the magazine at vtine@newburyportmagazine.com.
Jim Vaiknoras
This issue of Newburyport Magazine presented a pleasant contrast between the surprising and the familiar. The Park Lunch is a place I’ve enjoyed many a meal (and occasional cold beverage), a place I watched the Patriots win three Super Bowls and lose one, and a place I’ve seen countless ball games and news events unfold on the TVs behind the bar. Balanced against that familiarity, I also had a chance to see the creativity and passion put into transforming some fascinating and unusual buildings in the Newburys into beautiful and functional homes and offices. Contact Jim with your thoughts and ideas for the magazine at jvaiknoras@newburyportmagazine.com.