“We’re always ready for the call … through surf and storm and howling gale…,” wrote the Coast Guard captain who, in 1922, penned the service’s official anthem, “Semper Paratus,” meaning Always Ready. These words ring true in Newburyport and Gloucester, where Coast Guard crews stand by 24-hours a day to respond to distress calls, lead search-and-rescue efforts, and enforce federal laws. The local “small boat stations” help ensure the safety of pleasure craft and fishing vessels...

Let's Dance

NOTE: opening photo is of the Marblehead School of Ballet by PortraitsofLight.com. Through dance, the human body is capable of conveying a limitless range of emotions and experiences with the power to transform both dancer and audience. Dance embodies our shared humanity, connecting us to a wellspring of creativity and expression. The toddler rocking back-and-forth on unsteady legs, the prima ballerina performing feats of physical and artistic prowess, the elderly couple moving slowly across the floor...

Tapping Local Flavor

Brewer taps the thirst for localness By Marlene Switzer An ever broadening world economy could be partly responsible for Americans’ growing desire to eat what literally has nearby roots. There’s the promise of freshness and quality control but also the allure of consuming something unique to one’s neighborhood. That pursuit of creative, healthy ingredients is being credited for seeding the popularity of craft beer brewers. “We’ve got a whole local movement of craft brewers in the country,”...