Nantucket Magazine Winter 2010

Nantucket Magazine

Winter 2010

Winter 2010

Nantucket Magazine

The Local Magazine Read Worldwide

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Holiday

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Chairman and Publisher

Bruce A. Percelay Creative Director

Nathan Coe Copy Editor

Robert Cocuzzo Art Director

Paulette Chevalier Contributors

Virginia F. Andrews Susan Bartkowiak Jason Briggs Rachael Connor Richard Cook Frances Ruley Karttunen Tom Kelly Bryce Pearson Photographers

Natalie Carlisle Brendan Dwyer Kris Kinsley Hancock Dr. Greg Hinson Katie Kaizer Vern Laux Gene Mahon Lanny McDowell Kit Noble Jeremiah Trimble Community Affairs Director

Jeanette Garneau Advertising Director

Fifi Greenberg Advertising Sales

Rebecca Becker Audrey Wagner Publishers N, LLC

Chairman: Bruce A. Percelay President: Thomas L. duPont Vice President: Lynda A. Levy Secretary: Franklin Levy

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Nantucket Times 17 North Beach Street Nantucket, MA 02554 508-228-1515

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duPont REGISTRY 3051 Tech Drive St. Petersburg, FL 33716 800-233-1731 TM

ŠCopyright 2009 Nantucket Times. Nantucket Times (N Magazine) is published seven times annually from April through December. Reproduction of any part of this publication is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Editorial submissions may be sent to Editor, Nantucket Times, 17 North Beach Street, Nantucket, MA 02554. We are not responsible for unsolicited editorial or graphic material. Office (508) 228-1515 or fax (508) 228-8012.

Artco Printing, Canton, MA.

From the Publisher It’s a Wonderful Island

Publisher — Bruce A. Percelay

There are still a few rare places in America where the look and feel of the holiday season has not been compromised over time.

Nantucket is one of them. Indeed, it’s a wonderful life on Nantucket which inspired our cover featuring a local take on Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed’s iconic shot from the legendary 1946 movie.

For the shoot, local real estate broker Chris Kling and Pearl hostess Arianne Berger played the role of George Bailey and Mary Hatch Bailey, while Lassiter, Thatcher and Willow Foregger served as models of his adoring children.

With the economy beginning to brighten, shoppers are returning which is well-timed for our annual shopping guide. Of course, the holidays are also about giving which is why we are featuring an article on the Community Foundation, an organization carefully allocating money across the community.

Also featured in this issue are two popular but polar opposite establishments on the island: The Box and The Club Car. The Box is not only Nantucket's favorite music venue, but has a colorful history to match. A relic of the Nantucket Railroad, Joe Panterno’s Club Car boasts an interesting past and some of the island’s finest food.

Speaking of an entirely different type of railroad, historian Frances Karttunen wrote a fascinating piece on Nantucket’s Underground Railroad, providing a window into the island’s lesser-known history.

In another historical piece, writer Robert Cocuzzo and photographer Natalie Carlisle chronicle the recent renovation of the Unitarian Meeting House.

Many outdoor activities thrive on the island during the winter. Jason Briggs writes a feature on bow hunting for deer, a sport requiring remarkable patience and planning. Tom "TK" Kelly sheds light on the ever popular sport of paddle tennis, offering a great outdoor option in these winter months. For those looking for a more leisurely activity, Virginia F. Andrews guides us through the wonderful world of bird watching on Nantucket.

Lastly, we highlight the Chamber of Commerce’s first “Mayor” of Nantucket, Fifi Greenberg. A bright and cheerful fixture on the island, Fifi brings the best out of this symbolic role.

This has been a wonderful year on Nantucket and we wish you all a wonderful holiday season.

Bruce A. Percelay

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A behind the scenes image of the production shoot for this month’s cover

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Holiday 2010

N’Side this issue 17 20 17

55 59

32 55 The Bow Hunter

Thinking Outside the “Box”

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Notch is the New Scotch The Renaissance of the Meeting House

65 Life is good

25 Finding Freedom on the Underground Railroad

70 The Community Foundation for Nantucket

28 Birding Nantucket

73 Heal Thyself

32 Nantucket’s Pasta Goddess

Cover

42 Destination Nantucket

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The Hottest Winter Sport

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N’Sider

news l tidbits l items of interest Jonathan Fromken

Picture This

Three budding artists have emerged as

first and third prizes of a bicycle donated

winners of the N Junior Art Contest held

by Island Bike Company and a boogie

this summer by N Magazine. The winners

board donated by Spyder Wright. Wyeth

were judged by their ability to capture the

Milne was the second prize winner, who

spirit of the island and their artistic talents.

received a $150 gift certificate to Cy’s

It was a tough decision from over 65

Restaurant. A picture perfect ending to

entries but the brother and sister pair,

a scenic summer.

Lauren Fromken

Jonathan and Lauren Fromken, won the

Developing News

Wyeth Milne

There are two major developments now

a long running drama to bring back the

underway that will undoubtedly improve

island’s favorite theater.

the lives of Nantucketers, both on-island and off.

Construction vehicles have also landed at the old Barnstable Airport in

Construction work has begun in the much anticipated premiere of the

Hyannis, which will be razed in favor Barnstable Airport Rendering

of a brand spanking new facility.

Dreamland Theater and it is hoped that

Anyone driving into the airport will

people will be watching movies and

notice the beginnings of a construction

eating popcorn by 2012. The much

site, which calls for the building of a

anticipated building will feature 310

35,000 square foot, $28.1 million dollar

seats and will be the final epilogue in

terminal facility, which is estimated to be completed by next fall.

Dreamland Site

Nantucket Wine Festival Raises its Glass to N Magazine The Nantucket Wine Festival has named N Magazine as the

the Wine Festival are a perfect blend and we look forward to our

official publication of the 2011 Nantucket Wine Festival.

most successful event to date this coming May.” Tickets for the

N Magazine will feature special events and

Wine Festival can be ordered after January 1st either online at

profiles relating to the Wine Festival in its May

www.nantucketwinefestival.com or by phone by calling

issue, which will be distributed at the Grand

508.228.1128. Cheers!

N

Tasting and all events throughout the weekend.

According to Wine Festival founder and presi

dent Denis Toner, “N Magazine’s audience and

New Book Details Matthews and Pratt’s Bill of Rights Saga T

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Lost Rights, written by David Howard and published by

copy of the Bill of Rights. To see an

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a fascinating account of the story

excerpt from the book go to our website

behind Bob Matthews and the late Wayne Pratt’s adventure

at www.nantucketmagazine.net

surrounding their purchasing and attempted reselling of a

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THINKING OUTSIDE THE Written by Robert Cocuzzo

Nantucket’s nightlife, particularly during the summer, leans more toward chardonnay than shots. There is refined elegance, casual elegance, and trendy elegance. And then there is the Box. It all began with chicken...fried chicken that is. In the 1940s, when owners of summer estates employed butlers, chauffeurs, and servants, a young black Kentucky native named Willie House came to the island in search of work. After some years serving as a chauffeur, House called upon his southern roots, and started selling Kentucky-style fried chicken from an abandoned hovel on the fringe of town. He aptly named the modest eatery the Chicken Box.

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Photography by Nathan Coe

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“You have everyone from dishwashers all the way up to Senators and financial bigwigs.”

While continuing to cook his increasingly popular poultry, House

Though noteworthy bidders such as Jimmy Buffet jockeyed for

brought Nantucket another rare delicacy: live music. Over the

the bar, Seaweed was intent on passing the Nantucket institution

summers, The Chicken Box blossomed into an acclaimed jazz

on to those who knew it best: his longtime employees John

and blues venue, famously featuring the great Muddy Waters.

Jordin, Rocky Fox, and Packy Norton. “We’ve all been door guys, cleaned bathrooms, been bar-backs, bartenders and managers,”

In the late 1970s, declining health compelled House to sell his

Jordin explains. Rather than changing the Box’s formula, the trio

beloved business to a charismatic islander named Robert Reed.

subscribes to the philosophy that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

After sinking three boats, Reed earned the humorous nickname “Cap’n Seaweed”, a moniker that stuck like a barnacle.

Indeed, the simple Box formula works. It is the perfect example of anti-chic on Nantucket and patrons can check their pretense

High-sea adventures throughout the Caribbean exposed Seaweed

at the door. “Everyone from dishwashers all the way up to

to reggae music, which he in turn introduced to a skeptical

Senators and financial bigwigs come on the same night and all

Nantucket audience. Soon, live reggae had islanders lined outside

enjoy the same thing,” indicates Packy Norton. Rocky likens it to

the doors. After over two decades at the helm of the Box,

the fictional bar from Star Wars: “every creature in the galaxy is

Seaweed relinquished his command to the present ownership.

there, it’s the melting pot of melting pots.”

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The Box is the great equalizer on Nantucket, unless you happen to be Jimmy Buffet who stops in for an occasional impromptu performance. The Box is also a virtual talent show of acts around the region ranging from local favorite Spooky Daly Pride to national sensation G. Love and Special Sauce.

But there is more to the Box than simply having fun; the owners have involved themselves in charitable causes around the island,

Packy, John and Rocky

quietly and without fanfare. Following the untimely passing of

Park and Recreation, Meals on Wheels, Big Brothers Big Sisters,

Chicken Box bartender Robert Harris, Rocky began volunteering

Saltmarsh Senior Center and several others benefit from a day

with the organization that served Harris during his illness, Meals

of hanging ten. “Mostly we try to take care of the elderly and the

on Wheels. He remembers, “[Harris] used to say ‘if you’re not

kids,” says Rocky of the Box’s target charities. While maintaining

giving, you’re taking’...it really resonated with me.” Eight years

its gritty charm, minor renovations to the Chicken Box enabled

later, Rocky continues to deliver food and good company to the

the three owners to open its doors to new segments of the

elderly and home-bound, and Meals on Wheels has since

Nantucket community. “We made the place a little more

become a primary beneficiary of Chicken Box events. Rocky also

palatable for people,” Jordin says.“We started having functions

serves on the board of S.T.A.R., a program providing sports and

there that were out of the normal realm of the Chicken Box.”

activities for children with disabilities.

Unimaginable in Seaweed’s days, the Box transforms into a theater where youth productions like Seaside Shakespeare perform.

In 2001, Jordin founded the Ozone Surf Classic in memory of fallen surfer and friend David Ozias. The event has become a

The Box’s brain trust is not content to rest on the work of their

Nantucket holiday of sorts, drawing hundreds of athletes and

predecessors. Using the Nantucket institution to serve the

spectators to the shores of Cisco Beach each July. With the help

community in whatever ways possible, John, Rocky and Packy

of other Nantucket sponsors, Jordin and the Chicken Box raise

continue to build upon the work of the previous owners and

monies for a slew of island charities. The Boys and Girls Club,

literally think outside the Box.

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The Renaissance of the

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Written by Robert Cocuzzo Photography by Natalie Carlisle

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High above the treetops and the widow’s walks, the Unitarian Meeting House rises up from Orange Street, and stands as a beacon to historic Nantucket. From its timber-framed roof down to its brick foundation, the edifice is a testament to the skilled craftsmanship of the islanders who built it in 1809.

Mounted on the Meeting House’s apex is the clock tower, its golden-domed belfry reaching for the sky. Rebuilt in 1831, it served as a watchtower to spot fires and shipwrecks. Sight of the tower’s white façade and gleaming dome has brought comfort to many a weary mariner returning from long trips at sea.

Entering through the vestibule, rows of original pews lead up to the pulpit where such famed orators as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Frederick Douglass once spoke. Opposite the ornate chancel is the choir loft that houses the Goodrich organ, its zinc pipes cased in rich mahogany.

In 1844, Swiss painter Carl Wendte adorned the sanctuary with a beautiful architectural mural. Employing a Baroque technique known as trompe l’oeil, Wendte rendered pillars, arches and domes with the walls.

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such precision that they seemed to pop off

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hough the Meeting House has magnificently withstood 201 years of Nantucket’s harsh coastal

conditions, signs of cosmetic deterioration have emerged in recent decades. Responding to these signs, and seeking to ensure the Meeting House’s continued survival, the South Church Preservation Fund launched an ambitious restoration campaign in 2008.

After laying new bricks to the foundation, repairing heavy timber trusses, and weatherproofing the roof, restorers began work on the Meeting House’s iconic tower. Looking up to the belfry from the ground, buckled shingles and

flaking paint gave the tower the appearance of rot and decay. Yet upon closer inspection restorers made a startling discovery. Not only were the shingles in excellent condition, but they dated back to the tower’s reconstruction in 1831!

Considering the original shingle’s historical value and proven durability, the restorers decided against replacing them.

“We thought, how many other buildings are there that someone can come see original 180-year-old shingles?” remembers

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preservation architect David Barham. “The red cedar shingle that we would replace it with probably has a thirty year

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service life…It wasn’t clear to us that [the original shingles] wouldn’t outlast what was commercially available.”

The decision to save the original shingles created two main difficulties. To start, the layers of paint coating each shingle needed to be removed delicately, so that the underlying white pine remained intact. “If it was just a

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Through painstaking work and a little bit of luck, restorers completed the project this past June.

With its shingles restored and repainted, the tower now appears as it did in 1831.

As winter descends on Nantucket, work has moved indoors for the restoration of Carl Wendte’s trompe l’oeil. Applying specially modern building we would have stripped the paint and done a heavy sanding,”

mixed solvents, painters will carefully strip

describes the project’s lead architect, Brian Pfeiffer. “But because the surface of

away the years of touch-ups hiding Wendte’s

the shingles is not absolutely smooth from the splitting, you don’t want to sand

1844 mural. “As it has been repainted again

it down flat or it would make the building look very different.”

and again the artists have diverged slightly each time from what was underneath,”

The second obstacle arose in replacing the 10% of shingles deemed irreparable.

describes Barham. “So we’re going to get

In the early 19th century, carpenters split old-growth white pine against the

back to something which is extraordinarily

grain in creating the tower’s shingles. Although no longer practiced today, the

close to the original appearance.”

outdated technique dramatically improves the wood’s durability by increasing its water resistance.

Tough enough to withstand the ocean’s punishment, white pine readily served as the lumber for masts on colonial ships. While widely-available to carpenters in

“…People say it’s a Nantucket icon, and the preservation has really been a Nantucket effort.”

— Reverend Jennifer Brooks

the early 1800s, old-growth white pine has since become rare.

“I have worked on other projects where we hired somebody to literally walk hundreds

The Meeting House’s restoration is made

of acres of forests looking for trees of particular age and thickness,” says David

possible by the South Church Preservation

Barham. “We [fortunately] did not have to do that here…the crew that we had

Fund, a non-profit organization founded in

hired had become collectors of old growth wood…and actually had stored in

1983. Although collaborating with the three

their yard trees that were suitable to harvest the shingles from.”

faith groups that congregate in the Meeting House, the South Church Preservation Fund raises monies strictly for Meeting House’s restoration and preservation, and not for religious donation. In the future, it hopes to establish a million dollar endowment dedicated to the continued maintenance of the historic building.

While the South Church Preservation Fund spearheads the project, Reverend Jennifer Brooks is quick to point out, “This restoration couldn’t have happened without the tremendous generosity of the Nantucket community, it donations… People say it’s a Nantucket icon, and the preservation has really been a Nantucket effort.”

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has really been an outpouring of generous

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MAUI

NANTUCKET

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Finding

Arthur Cooper ŠNHA archives

FREEDOM Written by Frances Ruley Karttunen

on Nantucket

People assert with confidence that Nantucket was a stop on the Underground Railroad, though most evidence is circumstantial. In the early 1700s, many Nantucket Quakers opposed slavery, and in the 1800s Nantucket became a safe haven for fugitive slaves. While most at the time were unwilling to say how the fugitives got to Nantucket, it was likely with assistance from the island’s Quaker community.

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In the years before the Civil War, the Underground Railroad

former slave is that of Arthur Cooper. In 1820, Cooper and his

delivered men, women, and children out of slavery. For

family fled to Nantucket, assumed to be beyond the reach of his former

refugees and conductors alike, the passage to freedom was

master. Two years later, however, an agent of the slave owner made

perilous, and the operation was highly secretive. Committing

the long journey to the island in search of Cooper and his free-born

anything to writing endangered the lives of the many involved

wife and children. Coming to their aid, Quakers and members of

with the Railroad. It is no wonder that now, more than a

Nantucket’s free black community stalled the agent and his deputy

century and a half later, little documentation can be found.

until the Coopers could be spirited away into hiding.

Prior to becoming a beacon of the abolitionist movement,

After Arthur Cooper’s wife Mary died, he married Lucinda Gordon,

Nantucket was a slave owning community like most of colonial

known to the neighborhood children as “Aunt Lucy.” Lucy Cooper

America in the 1700s. Nantucketers, including Quakers,

was taken from Africa around the time of the American Revolution.

owned slaves and often bequeathed them to heirs in their

After working as a field slave on a South Carolina rice plantation, she

wills. Slaves appeared in Nantucket probate inventories, list-

was sold to a man in Newport, Rhode Island. Much like her husband

“ ‘UNDER-GROUND RAILROAD.’ The fugitive slaves sometimes came there under the protection of the Quakers. ” Nantucket was one of the stations of the

ed alongside hogs, canvas sails, and

Arthur, Lucy found freedom on Nantucket

gingerbread. When Nantucket

after sailing away from slavery in Newport.

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Quaker Elihu Coleman published his

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point-by-point refutation of slavery

Another notable Nantucket resident who

in 1733, his arguments were not

began life as a slave was the Reverend James

immediately convincing to other

Crawford. For over forty years, Crawford

Quakers on the mainland, in

served as pastor of the Pleasant Street Baptist

England, nor even on Nantucket. In

Church which met in the African Meeting

1775, Quaker Benjamin Coffin

House. Not only had he escaped from his

wrote the island’s final deed of

master in Virginia, but with the help of

manumission. The rest of

Quakers in England and on Nantucket, he

Massachusetts followed some

raised funds to buy his sister-in-law and her

years later, as the legal end of

daughter out of slavery. They too made a home

slavery in the state came in 1783.

on the island.

In the 1800s, Nantucket became a

In 1826 John Mason published a notice in

refuge for runaway slaves, eventually

The Inquirer revealing that he was born into

forming a black neighborhood known

slavery in Maryland, but had been living on

as New Guinea. The best-known

Nantucket under an assumed name for the

story of Quakers protecting a

past eighteen months. Now, with thanks to Deborah Coffin Hussey Adams ©NHA archives

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“those gentlemen of this place” who had secured his freedom, Mason wished “the public to take notice, and hereafter to designate him by his real name.”

By the 1850s, most of the residents of Nantucket’s New Guinea neighborhood had been born free in Massachusetts. Of those from out-of-state, about half had been born free in New York, while the others were from slave-holding Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Louisiana, and the District of Columbia. Many of these people were illiterate, an identifying mark of having grown up a slave denied the right to learn to read and write. So how did all these former slaves ultimately find freedom on Nantucket?

Our most telling evidence is derived from the pages of a historic Nantucket memoir. In 1917 Deborah Coffin Hussey Adams put pen to paper to write her story. Born in 1848, Hussey grew up a Quaker child in a Nantucket household where the use of goods produced by slave labor was forbidden. She recalled, “We had to eat ‘freelabor sugar’ which the slaves didn’t make, and nasty stuff it was.” Her father, Christopher Hussey, was an active Quaker, and was a relative of the island’s staunch abolitionists Nathaniel and Elizabeth Barney.

Despite rising anti-slavery sentiment on the island, protecting runaway

Rev. James Crawford ©NHA archives

slaves was still a dangerous practice. When Debora was two years old, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was passed, federally mandating the return of all runaway slaves and harsh punishment to those who aided their escape. Looking back on those years, Deborah describes Nantucket’s social climate, and reveals a vital fact: Nantucket was one of the stations of the “under-ground railroad.”

The fugitive slaves sometimes came there under the protection of the Quakers. There was a negro colony called Guinea which we passed on our way to ‘Sconset. Pro-slavery feeling, too, ran high.

Cousin Eliza Barney and others were pelted with rotten eggs at an anti-slavery meeting.

Deborah waited nearly her entire adult life to disclose Nantucket’s well-kept secret. In 1917, with everyone who had been involved now deceased, she committed to paper that Nantucket was in fact part of the Underground Railroad. Her revelation adds yet another element to Nantucket’s rich history.

Frances Ruley Karttunen, recipient of a James Bradford Ames Fellowship in 2000-2001, has written about Nantucket’s people of color in The Other Islanders: People Who Pulled Nantucket’s Oars, published in 2005. More recently she has included stories about Nantucket Places and People, volumes 1, 2, and 4. All are available from local booksellers, and they can also be found for sale on-line.

The African Meeting House ©NHA archives

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them in Law and Disorder in Old Nantucket, and the series

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A Birder’s Paradise Written by Virginia F. Andrews

When winter rolls around each year, the island of summer fun is for the birds— literally. You might be wondering, don’t all birds go south for the winter? Well, for many birds, Nantucket is their south, their idea of the balmy Bahamas. To a bird fleeing the ice pack of the Hudson Bay or the Arctic, Nantucket’s open water is a paradise, bountiful in food and in company. Thirty-miles out in the Atlantic, the island is a unique habitat for bird watching.

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Crossing Nantucket Sound by ferry, flocks of sea ducks can be

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observed bobbing atop the waves. White-winged, Black, and Surf Scoters sometimes float near the boat, allowing an excellent view of their inky-black plumage. They are joined

by Common Loons and thousands of Common Eiders. As the Image Courtesy of Dr. Greg Hinson

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Long-tailed Duck Image Courtesy of Vern Laux

A trip to Low Beach offers an opportunity to test one’s birding skills on a readily unappreciated family of birds: the Laridae. Perhaps to a non-birder, nothing could seem more boring than a bunch of seagulls. Yet due to their varying plumage, gulls pose some of the most challenging identifications to seasoned birders. For instance, the common Herring Gull goes through four years worth of molts; their plumage begins as a chocolaty-brown, before finally hitting the familiar grey-and-white of adulthood.

Watching a feeding frenzy in the ocean, an untrained observer may assume that the gulls are all the same. A keen birder, ferry enters the harbor, Purple Sandpipers and Ruddy Turnstones gather along the rocks of the jetty.

however, can distinguish an Iceland from a Glaucous, or a Bonaparte’s from a Little Gull. A diving Northern Gannet,

Passing through town, a sharp eye might catch a glimpse of a small hawk known as a Sharpshin. Gliding just above the ground in search of small birds, the Sharp-shinned Hawk is

a Dovekie, or a Horned Lark scurrying through beach grass could be a bonus for a trip to the east end.

one of the many raptors that dominate Nantucket’s sky.

Joining the hunt in the winter months, Peregrine Falcons and Merlins snatch small birds and rodents in their powerful talons. On the prowl, Northern Harriers glide along the edges raptors during the day, they still have owls to worry about at night. The birder venturing out to the open plains at dusk might be lucky enough to spot a Short-eared Owl, or enjoy stalking a Long-eared Owl asleep in the pines.

Northern Shrike Image Courtesy of Jeremiah Trimble

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of the dunes. Even if a mouse is lucky enough to evade these

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Miacomet Pond offers a different view. Beyond the swaying reeds, gaggles of dabbling and diving ducks splash enthusiastically in the chilly water. Ringnecked, Redheads, and Ruddy Ducks paddle along as majestic Mute Swans gracefully patrol the pond. Also in attendance are Canvasbacks, Scaup, and Wigeon.

From the warmth of your car, you can watch these birds glide serenely along openings in the ice. Turn on some classical music, and the scene transforms into Mother Nature’s ballet.

As the sun begins to set, hasten to Madaket Beach with a few hors d’ouvres, binoculars, and your most wind-proof clothing. From early November to as late as March, the afternoon flight of Long-tailed Ducks makes for a mesmerizing aerial display at the west end.

Spending their nights on the shallow waters north of Muskeget and Tuckernuck, Long-tailed Ducks fly offshore to feed during the day. These ducks use their wings and webbed feet to swim below the surface and feed on small crustaceans. Amazingly, with their relatively high blood oxygen level, they can dive as deep as 200 feet to harvest their prey.

Snowy Owl Northern Gannet

Hooded Mergansers

Peregine Falcon

Since the 1980’s, the number of Long-tails wintering off Madaket Beach has increased to an estimated half a million, a tenth of the world population! On most days, from three in the afternoon past sunset, more and more ducks fly past, forming a continuous river of birds silhouetted by the sunset. As the sun sinks through the lavender horizon into a sea of molten silver, and with the ducks overhead yodeling their haunting, almost musical

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calls, it is truly an enchanting spectacle.

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Northern Harrier Images clockwise from top: Brendan Dwyer, Lanny McDowell, Jeremiah Trimble, Lanny McDowell & Vern Laux

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Pasta Written and Photographed by Nathan Coe

goddess

Liliana Dougan, Nantucket’s Pasta Goddess

Left to Right: Inez Hutton, Wendy Hudson & Mark Yelle

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Pasta is a pillar of the culinary kingdom. Whether it is

was onto something: “I didn’t think many people would

linguini covered in a rich clam sauce, cheese-filled ravioli

be interested at first, but there was a constant line of

served in a beurre blanc, or hand-cut spaghetti twirled in

people at my booth for all of the three tastings. I went

a savory marinara sauce, the appeal of pasta is almost

through over 100 pounds of pasta and 42 quarts of

universal. Unfortunately, nearly three million Americans find

sauces in six hours, it really was amazing!”

themselves unable to enjoy these delectable dishes because of an allergy to pasta’s most common ingredient, gluten.

“At the 2010 wine festival, I went through 100 pounds of

Recently, Liliana’s gluten-free cuisine was celebrated at a sumptuous fall feast in the home of star designer Carolyn Thayer. The meal started with appetizers that

Pasta

in six hours.”

gluten intolerants only dream of: pancetta crisps topped with goat cheese and roasted pears, toasted brioche adorned with foie gras and a date puree and a sundried tomato torta with goat and mascarpone cheeses, finished with a fresh basil pesto.

Entrées featured specialty pastas, choice meats, and locally grown vegetables. Guests of Carolyn were Tina Fiertz, Randy and Wendy Hudson, Mark and Eithne Yelle from Nantucket Catering Company, Inez Hutton of The Nantucket Butter Co, Kate Coe and Liliana’s husband Dwaine. All enjoyed four gluten-free courses ranging from pappardelle with shaved black truffles in a wild Liliana Dougan with husband Dwaine

Enter Liliana Dougan, Nantucket’s Pasta Goddess. Liliana

mushroom cream sauce to pan seared local bay scallops served with scallop ravioli.

is the local master in the creation of gourmet gluten-free pasta. Over the past year, under the brand name Pasta

Complimenting the delicious spread was Carolyn

Goddess, Liliana has developed an array of mouth-

Thayer’s elegant plum dining room. The setting was chic

watering Italian delights that make one wonder why

classical, perfect for a pre-Thanksgiving fellowship of

pasta needs gluten at all!

family and friends. With pewter and gold tableware, the scene was fit for a king, or in this case, a Pasta Goddess.

Before donning the cap of pasta chef, Liliana worked as production manager with Fidelity. Unfulfilled with her

Carolyn started her career in the world of interior design

corporate profession, she decided to follow her love for

with Holly McGowan and Coastal Design. After having

cooking. Inspiration for Pasta Goddess struck as she

children, Carolyn needed the ability to work from anywhere.

labored in the kitchen, worrying over what to do next.

This led her to creating a fully equipped mobile design

Looking down at her dough-covered hands, Liliana

studio. The unique operation allows her to efficiently

realized that she would make pasta for a living.

tailor to her client’s varying tastes. “ It’s great because I have acquired and continue to acquire the latest in

Excited, she rushed to her friend Wendy Hudson of Book

design ideas, fabrics and carpet samples which I travel

Works to share the idea, and see what she thought.

with directly to my appointments.” Much like Liliana,

Wendy’s husband Randy of Cisco Brewery has severe

Carolyn found an innovative way to pursue her passion.

Designer, Carolyn Thayer

Celiac, prompting her to suggest that Liliana make gluten-free pasta. And so the dough was cast.

As the dinner came to a close, each relished in the

34

Wheels began turning quickly for Liliana. At the 2010

the Pasta Goddess, never more will Celiac disease

Wine Festival Grand Tasting she was offered a table by

prevent diners from enjoying the simple pleasure of

her friend Denis Toner, allowing her to showcase her

a plate of pasta.

skills. From that first public offering, Liliana knew she

The Nantucket Butter Company

N magazine |

| N magazine

gluten-free possibilities enabled by Liliana. Thanks to

35

Pasta is a pillar of the culinary kingdom. Whether it is

was onto something: “I didn’t think many people would

linguini covered in a rich clam sauce, cheese-filled ravioli

be interested at first, but there was a constant line of

served in a beurre blanc, or hand-cut spaghetti twirled in

people at my booth for all of the three tastings. I went

a savory marinara sauce, the appeal of pasta is almost

through over 100 pounds of pasta and 42 quarts of

universal. Unfortunately, nearly three million Americans find

sauces in six hours, it really was amazing!”

themselves unable to enjoy these delectable dishes because of an allergy to pasta’s most common ingredient, gluten.

“At the 2010 wine festival, I went through 100 pounds of

Recently, Liliana’s gluten-free cuisine was celebrated at a sumptuous fall feast in the home of star designer Carolyn Thayer. The meal started with appetizers that

Pasta

in six hours.”

gluten intolerants only dream of: pancetta crisps topped with goat cheese and roasted pears, toasted brioche adorned with foie gras and a date puree and a sundried tomato torta with goat and mascarpone cheeses, finished with a fresh basil pesto.

Entrées featured specialty pastas, choice meats, and locally grown vegetables. Guests of Carolyn were Tina Fiertz, Randy and Wendy Hudson, Mark and Eithne Yelle from Nantucket Catering Company, Inez Hutton of The Nantucket Butter Co, Kate Coe and Liliana’s husband Dwaine. All enjoyed four gluten-free courses ranging from pappardelle with shaved black truffles in a wild Liliana Dougan with husband Dwaine

Enter Liliana Dougan, Nantucket’s Pasta Goddess. Liliana

mushroom cream sauce to pan seared local bay scallops served with scallop ravioli.

is the local master in the creation of gourmet gluten-free pasta. Over the past year, under the brand name Pasta

Complimenting the delicious spread was Carolyn

Goddess, Liliana has developed an array of mouth-

Thayer’s elegant plum dining room. The setting was chic

watering Italian delights that make one wonder why

classical, perfect for a pre-Thanksgiving fellowship of

pasta needs gluten at all!

family and friends. With pewter and gold tableware, the scene was fit for a king, or in this case, a Pasta Goddess.

Before donning the cap of pasta chef, Liliana worked as production manager with Fidelity. Unfulfilled with her

Carolyn started her career in the world of interior design

corporate profession, she decided to follow her love for

with Holly McGowan and Coastal Design. After having

cooking. Inspiration for Pasta Goddess struck as she

children, Carolyn needed the ability to work from anywhere.

labored in the kitchen, worrying over what to do next.

This led her to creating a fully equipped mobile design

Looking down at her dough-covered hands, Liliana

studio. The unique operation allows her to efficiently

realized that she would make pasta for a living.

tailor to her client’s varying tastes. “ It’s great because I have acquired and continue to acquire the latest in

Excited, she rushed to her friend Wendy Hudson of Book

design ideas, fabrics and carpet samples which I travel

Works to share the idea, and see what she thought.

with directly to my appointments.” Much like Liliana,

Wendy’s husband Randy of Cisco Brewery has severe

Carolyn found an innovative way to pursue her passion.

Designer, Carolyn Thayer

Celiac, prompting her to suggest that Liliana make gluten-free pasta. And so the dough was cast.

As the dinner came to a close, each relished in the

34

Wheels began turning quickly for Liliana. At the 2010

the Pasta Goddess, never more will Celiac disease

Wine Festival Grand Tasting she was offered a table by

prevent diners from enjoying the simple pleasure of

her friend Denis Toner, allowing her to showcase her

a plate of pasta.

skills. From that first public offering, Liliana knew she

The Nantucket Butter Company

N magazine |

| N magazine

gluten-free possibilities enabled by Liliana. Thanks to

35

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:09 AM Page 36

Carol & Paul-Erik Christensen — Great Point Circle Party Photo by Fifi

Al & Kathy Souza, James & Patrica Stewart — Great Point Circle Party Photo by Fifi

Bob Kennedy & Susan Warner — Great Point Circle Party Photo by Fifi

Clare & James Walker — Sustainable Nantucket Party at Moors End Farm

| N magazine

Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

36

Karen & Manny Golav — Sustainable Nantucket Party at Moors End Farm Photo by Fifi

Ana & Michael Ericksen — Sustainable Nantucket Party at Moors End Farm Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Tim Madden & Diane Pearl — Great Point Circle Party Photo by Fifi

Amy Kant, Ken Roman, Bill & Jackie Kupper — Great Point Circle Party Photo by Fifi

Jodi Hanson, Sam Waterston, Eileen Shields-West & Matt Dillon Refugees International Event Photo by Lisa Frey

—

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:09 AM Page 37

Chris & Kathleen Matthews — NCH Pops Party Photo by Fifi

Chip Cunningham, Elin Hilderbrand, Rosemary Barth — PAFA Cocktail Party Photo by Fifi

Don & Cricket Callahan

Katie Couric & daughter Emily with Chad Gifford

Robert & Julie Jensen Bryan — PAFA Cocktail Party Photo by Fifi

— NCH Pops Party Photo by Fifi

— NCH Pops Party Photo by Fifi

Laura & Bill Buck (hosts) — Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Cocktail Party Photo by Fifi

N magazine |

Georgeann & Roger Ballou — PAFA Cocktail Party Photo by Fifi

Chuck Gifford & Margaretta Andrews — NCH Pops Party Photo by Fifi

37

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:11 AM Page 38

NANTUCKET HOLIDAY

GIFT GUIDE

Unique gift ideas for the holidays, right here on Nantucket.

1. WHO DESERVES TO BE SPOILED? 1,000 Champagnes were blind tasted and Armand de Brignac was ranked number one. $299 - $599. EPERNAY 1 North Beach Street

2

508-228-2755

CAPE AIR AND NANTUCKET AIRLINE'S

2.

1

10-ticket commuter books are a great holiday gift. With total savings of $65 on HYA-ACK flights and $250 on BOS-ACK flights purchase at capeair.com or 866-CAPE-AIR 3. GORGEOUS 18K YELLOW GOLD OVAL CUT AQUAMARINE EARRINGS surrounded by 42 full cut diamonds. $14,100.

SHREVE, CRUMP & LOW, 0 Main Street. 508-228-6246 www.shrevecrumpandlow.com

3

4. CUSTOM FRAMED 1861 REPRODUCTION MAP OF NANTUCKET. $160.00. FRAME CENTER, located on the corner of Old South Road & Mary Ann Drive. 508-228-1550 www.Frame-Center.com

| N magazine

5. Put your holiday or summer photo in this HAND PAINTED PICTURE FRAME 4x6 can be personalized. $26.00.

JEANNE VAN ETTEN, 4 Fair Street. 508-332-9829 www.nantucketmermaid blogspot.com

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2

4

5

6. EVERY GIRL NEEDS PEARLS! The 18-20 black iridescent pearls on a leather lariat, $275,

by HEIDI WEDDENDORF is available at heidiweddendorf.com, 508-228-2592 and ERICA WILSON, 25 Main Street

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Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:13 AM Page 39

The greatest gifts come from small islands...

7. HANDMADE UNIQUE CLOCK with visible moving gears with a top quality nickel finish. Battery operated. $125.00.

FREEDMAN’S OF NANTUCKET 14 Centre Street 508-228-3291 8. Seasonal savings and a donation made to Nantucket charities with every holiday purchase at Letarte.

7

MEDALLION TUNIC $226.00,

LETARTE 5 South Water Street.

508-228-SWIM www.Letarteswimwear.com 9. GLOVES Keep your hands warm while you keep in touch! Texting fingers are tipped in eLink fabric compatible with iPad, iPhone and Blackberry touch screens. 7 colors. $35.

ZERO MAIN 0 Main Street 508-228-4401 10. NOT FOR NAVIGATION TOTE BAGS, pillows, and wine bags are perfect holiday gifts, exclusively on island at

8

MADAKET MARINE 20 N. Cambridge Street 508-228-1163 www.madaketmarine.com 11. STERLING ACK NECKLACE is 19” long, 2” wide, 1.25” high. $580.00. Exclusively by

JEWELRY FOR THE JOURNEY 508-553-9717

9

www.JewelryfortheJourney.com

8

11

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10

39

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:16 AM Page 40

2

1. NANTUCKET GLASS ORNAMENT Custom Made $15 available at

FLOWERS ON CHESTNUT 1 Chestnut Street 508-228-6007 www.flowesonchestnut.com

1

2. ELEGANT 10K GOLD OPEN TEARDROP EARRINGS sparkle with teal, black, champagne and white diamonds. $1,950.

POSH 4 South Water Street 508-228-6003 3. THE NOTCH SINGLE MALT WHISKEY A Notch Above...Brilliant.

5 Bartlett Farm Road 508-325-5929 www.ciscobrewers.com 4. You're sure to be a hit in one of a kind embroidered nantucket shorts! Bring in a pair of shorts or pants and we will personalize them; choose from thousands of images of island areas to favorite past times. BROOKE BOOTHE DESIGN & MONOGRAMMING, 2 Union Street 508-228-6006 BrookeBootheDesign.com

3

5. SIGNATURE WINES from

CURRENTVINTAGE.

5

| N magazine

4

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Suggested pairing: Your Christmas gift list! Russian River Valley Chardonnay & Pinot Noir, Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon, $18-24. 4 Easy Street, 508-228-5073 www.currentVintage.com 6. HANDMADE PURPLE CRAZY LACE AGATE, GRAPE QUARTZ, PERUVIAN OPAL AND STERLING SILVER NECKLACE. $350.00.

LITTLE MISS DRAMA, 12 OldSouth Wharf 917-704-2554 Showing Stroll Weekend at VANESSA NOEL.

6

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:20 AM Page 41

7. Island made handcrafted 10K GOLD RAINBOW MOONSTONE AND COIN PEARL EARNINGS are the fine jewelry work of

7

SCONSET FLAIR STUDIO AND BOUTIQUE. $85.00 508-257-6811 www.sconsetflair.com

8

8. SNUGGLY JAGUAR THROW with sheepskin fleece is machine washable. $69.99.

A variety of sizes and prints at GERONIMO’S, 119 Pleasant Street, 508-228-3731 and COLD NOSES, Straight Wharf Courtyard 508-228-5477 9. 18K GOLD PEAR SHAPED DIAMOND CUFF BRACELET with 151 round diamonds total 3.70ct, 102 pear shaped diamonds total

10

9

6.86ct. $27,000. PAGEO, 46 Main Street. 508-228-6899.

10. HY-LINE CRUISES GIFT CERTIFICATES are redeemable for all Hy-Line services.

Available online or at the ticket office on Straight Wharf, Nantucket. 508-228-3949 www.hylinecruises.com 11. ORGANIC BUTTERS by

NANTUCKET BUTTER COMPANY turn a holiday meal into a culinary experience.

Available at BARTLETT’S FARM, SAYLE’S SEAFOOD, NANTUCKET SEAFOOD or call 508-228-1776 www.nantucketbuttercompany.com 12. Perfect for outdoor activities, this MICRO FIBER RAIN RESISTANT PULLOVER with zip off sleeves is available exclusively at THE NOBBY CLOTHES SHOP, 17 Main Street, 508-228-1030.

Sizes S – XL $60, 2XL $66, 3XL $72.50

11

13. CLEMENTINE NATURAL GIFT SET, made with certified non-toxic and environmentally friendly products will bring out the artist in everyone. $47.99. CREATE, 8 Amelia Drive.

508-901-5186 www.Nantucket Create.com

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Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:21 AM Page 42

Written by Robert Cocuzzo Photography by Nathan Coe

A whistle pierces the midday quiet. “All aboard,” calls out the conductor.

“Next stop ‘Sconset!” With a reluctant sigh, the locomotive gyrates to life, and begins up Main Street. Soon it bears south out of town onto Atlantic Avenue. Chugging along the straight away down to Surfside, the train hits a modest speed, and the overgrown landscape quickens past its windows. At the coast, the tracks lead east along the shores

| N magazine

of the Atlantic, and sea breeze washes over the freight.

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Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:21 AM Page 43

The Club Car invokes such splendid nostalgia, harking to the days

wrapped figs, pan seared

when trains were a mainstay of Nantucket transportation. Indeed,

duck foie gras, and

the Club Car is a surviving passenger car of the railroad that once

Maryland crab cakes adorn

served the island. Whether feasting on shrimp scampi in the dining

the plates of diners just

room, or singing show tunes to live piano in the passenger car, the

beginning. Others move on

Club Car offers an unmatched Nantucket experience, transporting

to signature entrees such

you back to the island of old.

as roasted rack of Colorado lamb, walnut encrusted

Proprietor Joe Pantorno and Chef Tom Proch preside over the famed establishment on 1 Main Street. For 32 years, Pantorno has amassed generations of faithful diners, each returning to relish in the Club Car’s enduring mystique. “If you walked into the dining

swordfish, and veal sweet breads. The full potential of Proch’s food is brought out by selections from Pantorno’s thoughtful wine list, boasting such stunners as a 1970 Chateau Gruaud-Larose Bordeaux. No matter the occasion, a night at the Club Car becomes one to remember.

room on a Saturday night, I could probably introduce 95% of all the customers there,” Pantorno insists. “You can only do that in the

The Club Car embarked on this gourmet track back in 1977. After

restaurant business by being consistent.” This consistency has also

their successful collaboration at the Harbor House, Pantorno and his

come to define the Club Car’s delicious food. Chef Proch’s menu displays

partners Michael O’Mara and Chef Michael Shannon were asked to

culinary prowess, melding timeless staples with contemporary cuisine.

bring their talents to Main Street by owner Walter Beinecke. Along

Together, the two create a night out like no other.

with the Harbor House, the Club Car was one of Beinecke’s many properties. Seeing the island’s promise as an elite vacation destination,

With classically attired waiters gliding from table to table in the flickering candle light, the dining room speaks of simple elegance.

Plates of succulent steamed mussels, braised Belgium endive, and seared striped bass warm the air with hearty aromas. Prosciutto

Beinecke orchestrated a staggering overhaul of Nantucket, and as O’Mara describes, “was singlehandedly responsible for the direction the island took in the 1960’s, ‘70s and ‘80s.” Through the expertise of its three new owners, The Club Car came to embody the genteel Nantucket Beinecke envisioned.

N magazine |

Owner, Joe Pantorno

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Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:21 AM Page 44

Chef Michael Shannon’s renown on the island won the Club Car its early following. Shannon’s culinary education began in the dish pits of Paris after running away from his home in Ireland at the age of 14. Growing up in the kitchens of fine Parisian cuisine, Shannon garnered the skills of a Master Chef, eventually showcasing them in the United States in the 1960’s. After cooking throughout the northeast, Shannon came to Nantucket, and his reputation grew while working at the Mad Hatter and The Harbor House. When word of Shannon’s food moving to Main Street circulated through the island’s grapevine, the Club Car quickly gained a cliental. Shannon describes that early food as “more or less, Continental, a little French and a little Italian, a lot of fresh seafood.”

Chef Tom Proch

Midway through his tenure at the Club Car, Shannon gained an eager apprentice in Tom Proch. For fifteen years, Proch absorbed the finer points of Shannon’s mastery. So when Shannon retired in 2005, Proch swiftly put on the coat of Chef de Cuisine.

While bringing his own flair to the menu, Proch maintains many of the staples established by his predecessor. “Most of the main menu revolves around the dishes Michael created when we first got there,” says Pantorno. “We have a core menu that we never change which is about 50 % of the menu, and then we have

| N magazine

about 50 % of the menu that we

44

try to keep contemporary with some new dishes from the [Chef Proch’s] travels.”

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:23 AM Page 45

Complimenting the cuisine are the postdinner festivities. Strolling back in time in the adjoined passenger car, the Club Car’s tradition of live sing-along piano is celebrated nightly.

Sipping martinis and toasting to the good life, patrons join pianists Brian Busch and Anthony Healy in an assortment of modern hits and classic show tunes. The two carry on the work of gifted performer Scott Olson. “He was a true entertainer and world traveler,” Pantorno describes Olson. “He manned the helm at the piano for well over 20 years.” Since the restaurant’s inception, the Club Car’s endearing melodies have drawn crowds from all ends of the island.

The Club Car’s story serves as the epilogue of a much older Nantucket narrative. Overshadowed by the island’s celebrated whaling days, a period of Nantucket reinventing itself often goes forgotten.

At the turn of the 19th Century, the Nantucket Railroad delivered the island from a rough-neck fishing community to a gentrified vacation destination. The passenger car on Main Street is a relic of that formative past. Today, The Club Car memorializes Nantucket’s rich history by serving delicious food and old-fashioned fun.

“If you walked into the dining room on a Saturday night, I could probably introduce 95% of all the customers there.”

— Joe Pantorno

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:23 AM Page 46

Bonnie Levinson & Paola Gonfrade — NCF Gypsy Party Photo by Fifi

Robbie Putterman, Maria Roach, Jeanne Bennett, Jean Doyen de Montaillou, Kathy Bologna, Michael May — Nantucket Preservation Trust Block Party Photo by Fifi

| N magazine

Josette Blackmore, Stuart Freilich, James Blackmore, Phyllis Freilich — Medflight Fundraiser Photo by Fifi

46

Amy & Greg Hinson — Medflight Fundraiser Photo by Fifi

Priscilla, Bill & Daphne Walker — Medflight Fundraiser Photo by Fifi

Lydia Sussek & Chris Mortenson — Nantucket Preservation Trust Block Party Photo by Fifi

Barrett Carr, Ted Fontaine, Jenni Caiazza of Friendship Yacht Company — Photo by Fifi

Suzanne Wedel, Janet and Rick Sherlund — Medflight Fundraiser Photo by Fifi

Joe Scarborough, Lewis Black, Kevin Flynn, Andy Serwer, Chris Matthews — Nantucket Comedy Festival Photo by Fifi

Doug & Maureen Smith — Nantucket Comedy Festival Photo by Fifi

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:24 AM Page 47

N magazine | 47

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:24 AM Page 48

My name is David Edwards, and I am the President of Heron Financial Group, Wealth Advisors.

For nearly twenty years I’ve had the pleasure of working with people just like your family. Families who work hard. Families who play hard. Families who want the best for themselves and their children. Families who know that successful asset management is a full-time job.

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| N magazine

Let us enable your success!

48

FINANCIAL GROUP WEALTH ADVISORS

Call us today at 800 99–HERON or 800 994 –3766.

Offices in New York and Nantucket, serving families worldwide!

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:24 AM Page 49

Rob Giacchetti, Chris Quidley, Sandra Eubank, David Stern (hosts) — Quidley Gallery Party at GHYC Photo by Fifi

Julie and Cory Shepherd — Summer Groove Photo by Katie Kaizer

Eithne Yelle and Joan Allen — Summer Groove Photo by Katie Kaizer

David and Susan Hostetler — Summer Groove Photo by Katie Kaizer

Debbie and Bob DeCosta, Thea Kaizer, Chris and Anne Quick, Wendy Valliere, and Pete Kaizer — Summer Groove Photo by Katie Kaizer

Inez Hutton and son DW — Quidley Gallery Party at GHYC Photo by Fifi

Torane and Deshawn Burton — Summer Groove Photo by Katie Kaizer

Phyllis McInerney and Robin Harvey — Summer Groove Photo by Katie Kaizer

Luke Russert and friend — Summer Groove Photo by Katie Kaizer

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:24 AM Page 50

Liz Hunt O'Brien, Gay Held — Artists Association Auction & Gala

Mary Ellen Jay, Mitt & Ann Romney, Dr. Jeffrey Jay — Jeffery Jay Hosts Mitt Romney Reception Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Carly Jensen, Bobby Frazier — Artists Association Auction & Gala

Cecile Barron Jensen, Bruce Beni, Elizabeth Durand — Artists Association Auction & Gala

Christine Sanford, Elizabeth Congdon — Artists Association Auction & Gala

Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Philip Nardone, Scott Peltier, Wendy Rouillard, Ilya Kagan — Artists Association Auction & Gala Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Brooke Harty, Abby Visco, Phoebe Pohl, Carly Jensen, Emma Young — Artists Association Auction & Gala Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Gerry Scheide, Sheila Rogoff, Peggy Gifford — Artists Association Auction & Gala Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Paul Jensen and Cecil Barron Jensen (Executive Director) — Artists Association Croquet Tournament Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Amanda Morgan, Kristy Zajac — AA Croquet Tournament Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Wayne Davies-pro, Carrie & Luke Thornewill (winners) — Artists Association Croquet Tournament

Hannah Godvin, Brooke Harty — Artists Association Croquet Tournament

Howard Fraker, Susan Duane — AA Croquet Tournament

Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:27 AM Page 51

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:28 AM Page 52

t s e t t o H s ’ Wi n t e r

t r o p S elly om “TK” K Written by T

P

athan Coe Images by N

NIS N E T E ADDL

In the throes of winter, biting cold and stinging wind coerce many islanders into the warmth of the great indoors, where book-reading and movie-watching pass the quiet months.

Nantucket’s raw coastal weather discourages most outdoor activities.

On Macy Lane, a light shines out from the darkness of the off season. Every night under bright halogen bulbs, Nantucketers brave the elements, and compete in the island’s premiere winter sport: paddle tennis.

Combining the best aspects of tennis and squash, paddle tennis is a racquet sport that is ideally suited for winter weather. The courts resemble those used for tennis, only half the size.

Surrounding chicken wire fences function like the walls of a squash court, keeping the ball in play and making for longer volleys. Using short wooden paddles, players hit a spongy ball and

| N magazine

points are scored in the same way as with tennis, except players are allowed only one serve.

52

Every evening from 4:30 to 7:30, players of all ages and abilities compete on the four courts on Macy Lane. Players dress in layers to combat the cold. Throughout the match, sweatpants,

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:29 AM Page 53

sweaters, and jackets are shed until some players end up

If you really want to test yourself, go to battle with some of

in only shorts and t-shirts. Macy Street regulars call this

the club’s leading ladies. Their fierce play can make the

getting a “good sweat.” Amidst the sounds of shuffling

men’s games look like a walk on the beach. For over

sneakers and shuttering chicken wire, game time paddle

twenty years, the Paddle Tennis Club has welcomed

jargon fills the air: Chalk! Coming off hard! Plenty of time!

players of all ages and skill levels. Free clinics are offered

You got! Mine! Let it drop! Gone! Watch the crease! Let it

to beginners, and private lessons are available with club

go through! Throw it up!”No matter how inclement the

pro Marsh Chambers. Friday nights, the Club hosts

weather, the game goes on. When it snows, shovels are

“pizza-and-paddles” where players enjoy food, drinks, and

broken out and the court is cleared. When ice coats the

pick-up games. Throughout the winter, tournaments are

court, inlaid heaters melt it away. Like the US Postal

held for men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed

Service, “neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night” stops

doubles. Competition is not limited to advanced players,

these matches from taking place.

tournaments are held for all ages and skill levels. The lighthearted rivalries and the camaraderie keep players

Many regulars on Macy Lane earn nicknames over the

coming out into the cold, night after night.

course of the season. On any given night, “The Librarian,” “Ichabod,” “Christmas-cookies,” “The Officer,” and

If you are looking for some fun outside exercise this season,

“Stinkeye” could be in attendance, impressing spectators

and want to meet some energetic islanders, come on by

with their competitive play.

Macy Lane. Who knows, paddle tennis may even make you look forward to winter!

N magazine |

For anyone interested in joining the club, there is open house on Saturday, November 27th, from 9:00am—1:00pm For information contact 508 257 4488

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The Bow Hunters Written by Jason Briggs

Most consider Nantucket to be at its peak during the summer months; they envision the glorious sunsets, the ocean alive with fish and swimmers, and the frenetic buzz on Main Street. Bow hunters, however, yearn for opening day of bow season (October 18th) with the same excited anticipation of students counting down the days til summer vacation. Men such as Ed Conrad, Kevin Madden and Jeff Osmer long for the solitude of Nantucket in the late fall when they stalk deer in the predawn hours.

N magazine |

Photography by Nathaniel Clements (unless otherwise stated)

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Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:30 AM Page 56

“The birds start chirping, crows, sometimes a few hundred hovering overhead, squirrels and rabbits scurrying around, see pheasants flying out in the distance. And I have the best seat in the house. Nothing else in life compares.”

To reach the level of bow hunting prowess of these men, one must possess an encyclopedic knowledge of the island’s myriad paths, and a discipline to the sport that borders on obsessive.

“I probably spend 100 hours a year just practicing my shot on my deer mount in my backyard,” describes Osmer. “At least 150 hours a year searching for new spots to put up the stands and at least 200 hours a year in the woods just looking for deer paths and setting up and taking down the stands.”

Each spring, some six months before they can legally hunt deer, these men spend several days a week searching for new paths, and areas to set tree

“And I have

stands. Hunting platforms often sit some eighteen feet off the ground, and ten yards away from the paths. For up

the best seat in

to four hours, hunters will sit in a perch silently awaiting their prey to pass through.

According to Conrad, most hunters have between ten and twenty stands

the house.

Nothing else

spread around the island. They guard their secret locations fiercely. Some bow hunters are more likely to reveal their ATM pin code to a complete stranger than to tell a stand’s location to a close friend.

in life compares.”

— Ed Conrad

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:30 AM Page 57

“The woods were made for the hunters of

against the wall. Christ, some days there’d be

dreams,The brooks for the fishers of song;

thirty guns against the wall. After classes,

To the hunters who hunt for the gunless

we’d go pick up our guns and head home.”

game. The streams and the woods belong.”

Whether or not you are a proponent of hunting, The number of bow hunters on island has

bow hunting should be appreciated as part

declined quite sharply over the last half-

of the fabric of historic Nantucket. Today’s

century. Men like Osmer and Conrad are

bow-hunters keep that time-honored

the last link to Nantucket hunters from the

tradition alive.

As Conrad describes, “Our whole success, really our livelihood, depends on being discreet.

We really want to blend in and become a part of the forest. Best way to ruin that is to tell people where you are going because they will start showing up.”

Conrad loves the precision required of the sport and the fact that the preparation is imperative to one’s success. “To harvest a deer you’ve had to do everything right. You had to put in the practice all year to hone your shot. You have to wear the right camo, and be still as a post.” As for success rates, the hunters are less than forthcoming. “A good year we’ll get eight deer each whereas a novice might be lucky to get one,” estimates Osmer.

In these uncertain economic times, bow hunters take great pride in living off of the land. “The deer that I take every fall keeps me fed all through the spring,” says Osmer. “I eat the deer of course, but I also barter it with friends for scallops, lobster and fish. I would

Image by Dr. Greg Hinson

guess that I eat better than most… I eat deer probably 200 meals a year. ”A bow hunter’s

1950’s, a time when hunting was as integral

almost primal relationship with their prey

to island life as tourism is today, and

distinguishes them from other hunters and

was some 150-years ago. Conrad laments,

fisherman. Few are attracted to the savagery

“We are the last of a dying breed. All of

of the sport. Most are attracted to the chase

them old-timers are now gone. Now I am

and its requisite spoils, developing an intimate

the old-timer. Nine out of ten boys hunted

relationship with the land and its animals that

back then. It was just a way of life. We

many couldn’t fathom. As poet Samuel Walter

would hand our guns to the school secretary

Foss captures in “The Bloodless Sportsman”:

Doris Herrick and she’d just line them up

N magazine | 57

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:30 AM Page 58

Donald Dallaire, Roberta & Olivia Esposito — Autism Speaks Walk Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Vanessa Calantropo, Katrina Hancock — Autism Speaks Walk Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Rourke Barsanti, Sydney Fee and Beck Barsanti — Autism Speaks Walk Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Paul Callahan (CEO "Sail to Prevail") and “crew” — Autism Speaks Walk Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Bob & Suzanne Wright and three of their grandchildren Rick Sheehan, Rob Horyn — (Maisy, Matias, Morgan) — Autism Speaks Walk Photo by Kris Autism Speaks Walk Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock Kinsley Hancock

| N magazine

Matt Liddle, Sarah Monaco — Nantucket New School Reception at Straight Wharf Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

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Nina Liddle, Amanda Tosch, Kristen Weber, Rachel Hobart — Nantucket New School Reception at Straight Wharf

Gary and Grainne Winn — Nantucket New School Reception at Straight Wharf Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Ritch Leone, Anne Phaneuf — Autism Speaks Walk Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Stuart and Tina Fiertz, Duncan Reid — Nantucket New School Reception at Straight Wharf Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Sherry Chitester and daughter, Kayley — Autism Speaks Walk Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Alan Forster, Margaret Ruttenberg — Nantucket New School Reception at Straight Wharf Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Holly Visco, Laurie Richards — Nantucket New School Reception at Straight Wharf Photo by Kris Kinsley Hancock

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:31 AM Page 59

Written by Fifi Greenberg

Photography by Natalie Carlisle

I own a barrel of whiskey. It sits slowly aging on a scaffold three levels up and three rows back, #133 to be exact. In six-and-a-half years or more, it may become one of the best Scotch-like whiskies in the world. As only whiskies made in Scotland can be labeled Scotch, island distillers named this Nantucket-born whiskey Notch.

I took a trip out to my barrel’s birthplace, the Triple Eight Distillery at Cisco Brewery, and spoke with Randy Hudson and Jay Harman to learn a bit about the history of my barrel and its future.

N magazine | 59

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:31 AM Page 60

N: How much bottled Notch is out on the market right now?

N: How do you get your flavors?

888: We only sell it here, and the first bottling was a total of

888: A lot of it comes from the type of barley. We’ve been

about 120 cases in August 2008. So that’s the Notch that’s

using an old Cadillac species of barley or a variety of barley

selling now: 08/08/08!

called ‘Maris Otter.’ We get it from a company called William Crisp. They started in the states but their family was malsters

N: What does a bottle of Notch retail for?

in Scotland.

888: $888. That’s just for the original; we’ll never have any more of it.

N: They do say flavor is also all about the water used from different places. For instance distilleries located closer to the

N: What are the ingredients in Notch and how did it start?

coast produce whiskeys with a slight tangy salty flavor.

888: The ingredients are just malted barley, water and yeast.

888: Right, that’s also part of barrel aging too, the warehouses

That’s all you need for something really good. It’s just beer-

that are opened up to the salt air. I think that plays a factor.

making but a lot simpler because we’re not boiling things, we’re not adding hops.

N: So what do you use for your barrels?

888: All the barrels are white oak, American oak. It used to be

N: So I know you enlisted the expertise of a Scot to come over

whatever we could get our hands on; we got Jim Beam barrels,

and set this up.

and Wild Turkey which I really liked initially. So you’re getting

888: Actually a few: two guys from Scotland and one guy

residual flavor; that’s what you want. In the last few years

from England helped us. George McClements really is the

we’ve been getting Buffalo Trace spent barrels and that’s the

reason we’re in business at all. We would have been just

biggest distillery in the country. It’s gigantic.

shooting in the dark, but he clued us in. He got us started, helped us fine tune a little bit, gave us some great pointers,

| N magazine

and removed some of the mystery.

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Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:33 AM Page 61

N: And the Notch that you’re bottling now is an 8 year old?

N: What was the blend you made with him this summer?

888: Yes, there are some people that think that it’s not old

888: We took the barrels 009 through 025 and he sampled all

enough. I think that it just depends on the makeup of the

of them with us. About 9 of those will be part of the Cherry

whiskey, what kind of barrels it’s been in. The next bottling

Pickers Blend which he will stamp and sign. The rest we will

that we worked on with John Ramsey we had 24 or 25 barrels

marry together and put back into barrels to age longer. He’s

from 2002 to work with.

sourcing different casts to do the finishing, so it’s really cool.

N: So you made a blend with John Ramsey?

N: So what’s the future for Notch?

888: Yes, he was the master blender for Macallan until last

888: [The goal is] to just keep developing our brand, our

year when he retired. He was nominated as whiskey man of

Notch, and different levels of Notch. It will probably be more

the year. I saw him at the international whiskey festival, and

select barrels like last year for the Gold Notch. We’ll rebarrel

they handed him some crystal award. After, he came over and

some that are left over to make another grade that’s maybe

said ‘I heard you guys have an $888 bottle, I got to try it’ and

less expensive. It might end up being better than the stuff we

was like ‘wow that’s really good for 8 years old!’ So he came

initially bottled in the first place. It’s all a learning process.

over and we worked with him this past summer. He talked about different blends and that we need to have tiers or levels

N: And what can I expect from my barrel of Notch?

of Notch. He’s done stuff for Famous Grouse as well, but we’re

888: Well we just received the Liquid Gold Award in the 2011

the first distillery he’s ever worked for in the US.

Whiskey Bible by Jim Murray. We scored a 95.5, which is 2 points under the Best in the World. Pretty cool. So your ‘Glen

N magazine |

Fifi’ should win it all in 6 more years!

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A

MAYOR

FOR ALL

SEASONS

Pollsters and pundits take notice… there is a new politician in town.

On August 16th, Fifi was sworn into office before a gathering at the

After months of pounding the cobblestone trail, the Chamber of

Chamber of Commerce. Donning an official sash and top hat of

Commerce-sponsored mayoral election produced its first victor,

honorary mayor, Fifi rises above the traditional mud-slinging

Fifi Greenberg. Nantucket’s answer to Goldie Hawn, Fifi ran on the

politition. “I am like a Disney character,” she modestly submits.

platform of “Less flip-flops, more boots.” In a nail-biter of a race,

“I literally show up in my little outfit, pose for photos and have no

Fifi narrowly bested Mariellen Scannell, political powerhouse, seven

power whatsoever.” Fifi then reminds us that “Absolutely no power

year old Max Pearlman and ‘Sconset heavyweight Mark Donato.

absolutely never corrupts.”But with her office come responsibilities

Casting their votes for Fifi, Nantucketers confirmed “yes she can.”

with duties that would overwhelm a lesser person. Fifi describes, “I am required to be in attendance at the Christmas Stroll when

Karl Rove and James Carvell have nothing on Greenberg whose

Santa comes to town and the Daffodil Parade in April… I opened the

hard-hitting tactics included distributing fashionable buttons that

tent for the Chowder Fest … Park and Recreation asked me to judge

quickly began to appear on the lapels of Nantucket’s who’s who.

contests at the Nantucket Fair.” In a powerful speech at the

Her carefully choreographed outfits featuring her signature short

Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner, Fifi concluded “With all

skirts and cowboy boots, strategically played to both lovers of

the non-power vested in me, I now declare the buffet open!”

Image by Gene Mahon

Americana and fashonistas alike. “The next thing I knew I was in

But despite the honorary nature of Fifi’s role, her victory was seen

second place,” recalls Fifi, “so I sent out a few more emails and

as a victory for Nantucket. Phil Stambaugh, head of Cape Cod Five’s

gave out some more buttons and the rest is history.”

Nantucket office said, “Fifi is simply a delight and she has taken the role of mayor to a level that probably exceeded the Chambers

Fifi Greenberg has been a fixture on Nantucket since her family first began coming to the island in 1969 from the Main Line. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business at University of Pennsylvania,

expectations.” Stambaugh added, “On an island that has traditionally had women in leadership roles, it is perfect that Fifi was elected as our first honorary mayor.”

Fifi speaks fluent French, is a serious wine connoisseur, and is the If Nantucket ever prints money, Fifi’s smiling face will likely adorn

broad life experiences is most helpful in her new role, Greenberg

the first bill. In the meantime, she is happy to have helped

said “clearly, if I am giving a toast, it is helpful to know what varietal

Nantucket’s Chamber of Commerce raise over $18,000, and set

I am drinking which is a skill not all political figures possess.”

the standard for future honorary mayors of the island.

N magazine |

advertising director of N Magazine. When asked what part of her

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Life is good.

Interview by Susan Bartkowiak

These three simple words have transported the Jacob brothers from selling t-shirts from the back of their van to raising millions of dollars for children facing life-threatening challenges.

Bert Jacobs was always entrepreneurial. As a child he sold vegetable seeds door-to-door, and in high school, he started a house painting business that paid for his education. In 1989, after college, he and his brother John started selling t-shirts as a vehicle for their artwork. Recently Bert Jacobs spoke with N Magazine about their optimistic philosophy, and the journey it has led them on.

N magazine | 65

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:33 AM Page 66

N: Who were your customers that day?

BJ: Completely different people. We saw a Harley biker type, a skate kid, and a schoolteacher dressed in Burberry all drawn to the same universal message.

N: Your company is very philanthropic, but you guys do more than just give money. It’s more “fun-raising” than fundraising with the yearly festivals you have created since 2003. Can you tell us how they came about?

BJ: We started getting mail from people, on trails or the beach somewhere. But what surprised us was the mail from people who faced tremendous adversity in their lives. For those people Life is good resonates with them more than anybody.

They have a different level of appreciation for a backyard barbeque, sitting with their

N: What inspired you to choose the three words, Life is good and the simple figure of Jake?

BJ: We were afraid of the world of fine arts. Putting our art on t-shirts was financially accessible. We took 6-week road trips, and sold the shirts in college dorms back then. On one trip, we had a memorable conversation on how the media inundates us with negative information; it’s always the 6 o’clock violent murder report. So we challenged ourselves to come up with some kind of symbol or icon that celebrated life.

My brother drew the first “Jake”, a stick figure with a huge smile, and put it on the wall of our dive apartment outside Boston. A girlfriend of ours had written “this

| N magazine

guy has life figured out.” That lead to Life is good. Two days later we printed 48

66

t-shirts of Jake’s face with Life is good, and sold them in the streets in Cambridge.

Within 45 minutes we sold out, and we knew we were onto something!

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:34 AM Page 67

parents, or living another day. Our motivation is optimism, and the

N: How did you end up on Nantucket?

greatest inspiration for optimism is children. The cruelest thing in

BJ: That’s a funny story. You probably know Packy Norton. Packy

the world is life-threatening challenges for children. So while there

was friends with a friend of ours. He gave us a buzz, and asked us

are many great causes, we decided to focus on kids. The festivals

to create a logo for a bar they were buying on Nantucket called

are a way to celebrate the outdoors for a great cause.

The Chicken Box.

N: Did you ever anticipate this level of success, and if you could

So we all met, had a couple of beers, and we said “sure we’ll put

replicate it, what would your next venture be?

something together.” We designed the chicken with the peace sign.

BJ: We feel really lucky, and don’t take anything for granted. There

When it came time for the bill, we said “don’t worry about it. We had

are days when we pinch ourselves, but we always had big dreams

a good time, a lot of laughs.” They were really appreciative of that,

and our eye on trying to develop a concept that was a communication

and since Packy is a generous guy, he invited us over to the island.

device. We will branch Life is good into new product lines, and would like to create something that’s interactive. We think live entertainment is

Now we always pictured Nantucket as a bunch of rich people holding

instrumental in building community, so we will continue to grow there

hands in matching sweaters, but Packy picked us up in his old jeep at

as well. We would like to work with school systems nationwide, and

the ferry and took us to a remote beach. We spent the day playing

have an art competition where children draw what makes Life is

wiffle ball, throwing a Frisbee, and listening to a Red Sox game with a

good. A few years ago we wrote down our definition of branding, and

couple of cold beers. Later we went to the Chicken Box, listened to a

it was simple: know who you are and act like it. Be true to who you are.

fantastic live band, and it was up in the morning to the same beautiful beach with bikinis everywhere.

N: Where do you stay on the island?

BJ: I got a great house in Madequecham this summer. One of my buddies was diagnosed with lymphoma, and in between his treatments, he would come over to the island. He wouldn’t be able to get out of bed for three to four days, but on that fifth day he would get on his mountain bike. We would ride those dirt roads all the way to ‘Sconset, and paddle into the surf. He would tell you today that this island and that beach saved his life.

The quiet power of those three words, the figure of a childlike Jake enjoying the great outdoors, and the chance to help friends Bob Mathews at the helm of the Weatherly during the Opera and strangers through hard House times Cup still and

will always mean Life is good for Bert Jacobs.

N magazine | 67

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:35 AM Page 68

on Cape Cod have in terms of the love of the natural beauty and sense of the community. There is something wonderful and unique about the fact that many people who come to Nantucket have a sense of obligation to the community organizations. As a community bank, we love that.

N: You have been cited twice as among the 25 Women Bankers to Watch in the United States. What does that mean?

D: It’s a wonderful recognition of the importance of community banks and the important role that they play in the economy.

The award also brings attention to the inclusion of women in management and the benefits of diversity of management, since all the studies show that organizations with diversity in management perform better than those without it.

. . .

. . .

N: In a field that is so heavily weighted towards men, particularly in the CEO ranks, what is the advantage of being a woman?

Dorothy Savarese

D: Some studies have shown that what women bring to the

President and CEO Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank

table is an approach to management that helps move things along relative to the development of collaborative approaches to problem solving and perhaps in many cases a stronger focus on team building.

Interview by Bruce A. Percelay

N: Switching topics, real estate is probably the biggest industry

N: What was your path to President and CEO?

on the island. What is your view of where we are in the real

D: I was in economic development for about 15 years for

estate cycle?

several cities and then for a national consulting firm. Our

D: I think unfortunately one of the things that is providing a

focus was on job creation and we did a lot of that through

significant dampening effect is uncertainty. I’m hoping that

lending assistance to small businesses. When I became a

now that we are through the election, and if Bernanke and

mom, I decided to stop travelling and that’s when I moved

the Federal Market Committee makes some decisions about

over to commercial banking.

quantitative easing, there’ll be less uncertainty. I’m hoping that people will actually take advantage of low interest rates

N: Explain your connection to Nantucket, how often you are here?

to get into the purchase side.

D: Our journey to Nantucket has been an exciting one for us.

I’ve been flying over about every other week in an attempt to

N: The unemployment rate is at historic highs. If you were a

meet with people and better understand the community.

young woman getting out of college today who was interested in getting into the financial world, what would you advise?

N: How does Nantucket differ from your perch on Cape Cod?

D: I think there are many opportunities for them. Having a

D: It shares many of the same elements that the communities

finance degree obviously is advantageous, but the one thing I would suggest is that they don’t take a linear approach to

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:36 AM Page 69

their career, but instead try different things in an organization.

N: You are young but you’ve been around long enough to

Try things that are outside their own comfort zone, because

see economic ups and downs. A lot of people are saying

the more breadth of knowledge that they can develop, the

that what we are going through is unprecedented since the

more like that they are going to be able to find paths that

Great Depression, what is your prognosis for the next

are advantageous to them.

5-10 years for the US of A as an economy?

D: I have so much faith in our country, I think it’s

N: What do you do in your leisure?

stood us well through many years so I have confidence

D: Well, I do have to confess, people here will tell me I

that we will be able to manage our way through this

don’t have much leisure and so that if I told you I had a

and end up stronger than we’ve ever been before.

lot of it, I would not be telling you the truth. I do work a

Now I think to do that, we have to stop being so

lot, which is not a good thing, I love living on Cape Cod and

polarized and start focusing on our joint desires and

the islands, and so when I have time I walk the beaches with

outcomes. I think we will have modest growth because

“There is something wonderful and unique about the fact that many people who come to Nantucket, have a sense of obligation to community organizations.

As a community bank, we love that.” my dog. I travel around to see some of the beautiful sites we

of the introduction of so much debt into our economy

have here. I really love the natural environment in New

over the last 20 years and will have to deleverage.

England and I think we’re so blessed to have it.

However, I think if we focus on the strengths that we have and can apply our intellectual capital to alternative

N: Sometimes people say that difficult economic times present

energy and a variety of fields of science, we can

opportunities. What do you see the opportunities now for your

reinvigorate sectors of our economy. So, again, modest

bank given the financial crisis we’ve just gone through?

growth, a little bit of challenges, but all overcomeable if

D: Well, I think people have come to rediscover the value

we work together.

of a conservatively managed local bank, who has world class performance yet traditional New England values.

The last thing a person needs to worry about in managing their money is their money manager.

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:36 AM Page 70

Written by Richard Cook

REALITY CHECK Nantucket’s Community Foundation

Phil Stambaugh and Margaretta Andrews Portrait by Kit Noble

“So when there is a need, it doesn’t matter what realm it is in, if we can respond to it, we do so immediately.”

Image by Dan Driscoll

Upon this picturesque island, society’s many

“So when there is a need, it doesn’t matter what realm it is in, if we

woes can seem worlds away. Yet behind the

can respond to it, we do so immediately.”Such swift action was seen

celebrated history and enchanting beauty,

this past March when the Interfaith Council’s Rental Assistance

Nantucket contends with the same difficulties

Program ran out of money. The non-profit secures affordable

of any American community. Struggles of

housing for low income families, and assists in paying monthly rents

unemployment, hunger, and even homelessness can be found on

if necessary. In the wake of staggering unemployment in 2009, the

this island paradise.

program exhausted all its funds helping over forty families stay in their homes.

With our economy still on the mend, increasing numbers of Nantucket families depend on non-profit organizations to get by.

The Community Foundation quickly mounted a campaign to replenish

This growing need stretches thin many local non-profits, their

the Rental Assistance Fund. “We found a donor that was willing to

budgets desperate for additional funding. Since 2006, the Community

establish a matching grant for donations made through the

Foundation for Nantucket (CFNan) has championed these

Community Foundation,” describes CFNan trustee John Penrose.

non-profits, giving over $300,000 in grants.

“We ran a series of ads in the paper highlighting the need, and what

| N magazine

the Rental Assistance Program really does…it’s a very worthy program.”

70

“CFNan and its donors have supported causes that range from the

The Nantucket community rallied behind the cause, successfully

Emergency Food Pantry to the Theater Workshop to the Nantucket

ensuring that the program continues to provide this vital service to

Lifesaving Museum,” says CFNan Board President Phil Stambaugh.

those in need.

Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:36 AM Page 71

Expanding their efforts beyond financially supporting non-profits, the Community Foundation convenes community leaders and financial resources to address the island’s emerging challenges. Most recently, the Foundation launched an ambitious initiative to assess and improve the island’s health and human services. After forming a committee comprised of service providers, town representatives, and members of its board, the Foundation hired an independent consultant to help identify trends and needs of the community, and how they are addressed.

Over the coming months, the consultant will gather information from health and Image by Rob Benchley

human service providers on Nantucket, and from the community through questionnaires,

health and human services as effective and

individual interviews, and focus groups.

efficient as possible. As John Penrose

According to CFNan Executive Director

explains, “the goal is to help establish a

Margaretta Andrews, “The hope is that we

coordinated delivery system that fills service

get as much input from as many people on

gaps, reduces redundancies, and looks for

the island as we possibly can…every single

increased opportunities for providers to

one of us has a vested interest in this process.”

work together for the benefit of the people of Nantucket.”

The ultimate objective of the initiative is to create an action plan to make Nantucket’s

The initiative reflects the Community Foundation’s emerging role as a community leader, dedicated to ensuring the well-being of all Nantucketers. “If you ask people what is special about Nantucket, they’re going to mention the history, the natural beauty, the charm, and there are many organizations supporting these areas,” describes John Penrose. “The Foundation wants to be focused on helping the people of Nantucket because we believe ultimately it’s our people that make this community special.”

atmosphere. Stepping off the ferry, visitors may enjoy silencing cell phones, letting emails collect, and leaving the world behind. Unfortunately, many living on the island cannot enjoy such reprieve from

Without organizations like the Community Foundation raising awareness, the day-today needs of many islanders can be lost

life’s realities, which is why organizations like the Community Foundation were formed.

amidst Nantucket’s carefree vacation

N magazine |

Nantucket Theatre Workshop Image by Laurie Richards

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Stroll_N Times 11/16/10 10:36 AM Page 72

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Tune your radio to 91.1 fm every day to learn whats happening around the world, across the country and, of course, on Nantucket.

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HEAL THYSELF Interview by Rachael Connor

For over a decade, Dr. Margot Hartmann helped head Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s Emergency Department. If you received urgent care on Nantucket in the last 11 years, there is a good chance Dr. Hartmann was involved with your treatment.This past September, Dr. Hartmann was made president and chief executive officer of The Nantucket Cottage Hospital. Her appointment comes as the hospital struggles to rebound from significant financial losses in recent years. Trading surgeon scrubs for a CEO suit, Hartmann meets the hospital’s many challenges with the confidence and precision of physician.

N: How would you describe the transition from Emergency Room to board room?

MH: I have worked in the weeds (as I like

MH: I cannot say that I always wanted to be a CEO. I’ve always loved puzzle solving in

to say) with people here for the last 11

the interest of the patient. That’s really what this hospital is, a very complicated puzzle with

years, and I hope to be able to tell them

lots of different puzzle masters…You really have to be very good at playing that game,

the tough things that we may have to

and never keeping your eye off the ball that it’s about the patient. I am very aware

say from a place of trust. I think the way

that I do not bring a MBA background, or a finance background, but I came to believe

you get through a tough time is to not

that there were perhaps different CEOs for different organizations for different times

pretend that difficult things aren’t

in their lives. I think I am the right person for this job at this moment.

happening. We have to be very clear about our reality. But we also have to

N: How will your experiences in the ER help you in this new position?

know that we have a wonderful mission and a wonderful vision.

MH: One of the wonderful things about a hospital of this size is that you can wear lots of hats. My Emergency Room hat was one. Over the last ten years, I’ve been able to work in the hospital at virtually every level, and one of those roles always brought me in contact with pretty much everybody. It really gave me a picture of how everything has to come together for the team to flow right, and for the care to work.

N: As far as the building itself, are there any imperative needs?

MH: It’s an [old] building. The infrastructure is fundamentally sound, but extremely

N: What are some of the unique challenges the hospital faces as a health care provider on an island?

MH: It’s two things: it’s a remote hospital, and it’s a seasonal hospital. Each of those things has its own challenges, and together they have tremendous challenges. The

outdated and time-expired. We have a lot to do just to retrofit it and bring it up to standard both cosmetically, but also functionally so that the building supports the quality of the medicine that is practiced within it.

difficulty of being potentially cut-off from the mainland in terms of transferring a patient, that’s probably the first thing to acknowledge, always keeping a weather-eye out.

N: In what ways can the Nantucket community rally behind the hospital in N: Declining patient volume is one of the factors negatively impacting the Cottage Hospital’s finances. Is this due to patients receiving care off-island, or are less people seeking care in general?

MH: We sort of hit a perfect storm of financial crisis at the hospital. Certainly, reimbursements are lower, because the third-party payers are driving more and more difficult contracts, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the private insurers. Our numbers are down as most hospital’s numbers are down, for several reasons. People may be deferring care for economic reasons. They may have higher and higher deductibles in their insurance, and so they are choosing to triage themselves in a way that perhaps was not the case earlier.

these trying times?

MH: We are in a relationship with the community. We are here to serve the community, and we need the support of the community in every way. We need the community to let us know when we’ve not achieved the best experience for them. The community can help us fundraise, but also in participatory ways

N: The hospital’s board of trustees has said that one of the challenges you face

to help us survive and thrive, we will find

coming into this position is rallying the morale of the staff. In what ways will you go

a way for you to help us. Come and see

N magazine |

can help support the hospital. Anybody

about that?

me anytime.

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who has the willingness and the intention

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