The Holidays are a reminder of all that is important: Health and Happiness. Lorna Brunelle--- having fought for her health--understands the importance of making every day special.
Local Spotlight,
Lorna Brunelle
Lorna Brunelle has always used her voice as an instrument to entertain others. But recently she found it to be an instrumental device in her quest for empowerment.
In December of 2004, Lorna was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. There is a moment between hearing the diagnosis and delivering the news to your family that gives anyone—even the most unwavering woman--- pause. What do you do with that information? First, it is a matter of life or death. Second, for Lorna, it was a matter of a career.
Lorna Brunelle is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory. She is a singer, a pageant coach, an associate at Boston Casting, Inc., and the owner of The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts and The Alley Theatre in Middleboro. But when diagnosed with thyroid cancer--- the one thing that could take her health and her voice away--- she also became a fighter.
“I’ve been using my voice since the age of four to sing and entertain. But it wasn’t until I got cancer that I found the power in my voice,” she said in an interview with South Shore Woman.
The illness, however, was just the beginning of the battle. Lorna soon found out that she would need to stand up to the doctors….And, it all started with “The Bow Tie Bastard,” the surgeon who was to operate on Lorna. He did not make a great impression:
“Small in stature, with an English accent and a bow tie fixed tightly around his little neck…He never acknowledged my husband or my mother. I was, once again, put out. This time it was by the surgeon’s lack of manners. Everyone knows that cancer affects the entire family. I was taken aback when he didn’t say hello to mine.”
But that was just the start, Bow Tie Bastard paid little mind to Lorna’s questions and concerns that there could be vocal damage during the surgery.
Lorna--- after listening to her mother and husband lecture her that it was about his talent as a surgeon, not his bedside manner that mattered--- decided to trust her heart…and fired the bastard.
He was rude, uninformative, and aloof. As were many other nurses and caretakers that Lorna met along her cancer journey. But there was one man, Dr. Gregory Randolph, of Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary, who made all the difference. He treated Lorna as a human being first and a patient second.
Lorna writes about this experience, and much more, in her new book “Dirty Bombshell--- From Thyroid Cancer Back to Fabulous.” Many of the chapters are dedicated to the importance of the physician-patient relationship. “The book is there to say that you have options,” Lorna said. “You can get a second opinion. It is okay to shop around until you find someone who is a rock star in the operating room."
After the removal of her thyroid Lorna still had a long road ahead of her. Next, she had to swallow a radioactive pill. A pill that forced her into isolation for a week and to follow strict instructions, including: Flush the toilet three times after using it; Don’t stand within 6 feet of the elderly or children; Keep your clothes away from your spouse’s when doing laundry; Oh, and keep the paperwork with you when you travel--- as Homeland Security detectors might alert staff that you are carrying a bomb.
Indeed, the girl who was a bombshell in her 20s had swallowed a radioactive pill in her 30s. Suddenly, she was a “Dirty Bombshell.”
Although she will always be on medication to supplement her thyroid, Lorna is living life to the fullest these days. As if her work with actors and pageant contestants doesn’t keep her busy enough, she is also touring for book signings, and you can even catch her on the Style Network’s popular reality TV show “Wicked Fit,” with Katie Boyd.
Despite her active lifestyle, she has learned to stop and smell the roses. Her message to you: Slow down, tap in, take naps, or just enjoy an hour to yourself with a cup of coffee. In addition, she said, speak up.
“You have to find your voice,” Lorna said. “At the end of the day, there are few people fighting for us. We have to be our biggest and loudest advocate.”
-SSW-
Lorna (middle) flanked by "Wicked Fit" star Katie Boyd and Katie's mom
Editor’s Note: When I interviewed Lorna Brunelle something clicked for me. She is articulate, honest, and funny. Her story is not just about cancer, it is about finding strength. After speaking with her, then reading her book, I feel I learned a lot about myself. I know you will, too. Read “Dirty Bombshell-- From Thyroid Cancer Back to Fabulous,” to laugh, cry, reflect, and embrace life. xo!
Local Spotlight,
Making it in Massachusetts
Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray with Al Bunshaft, managing director of Dassault’s North American operations, and Dassault president and CEO Bernard Charlès at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the opening of a state-of-the-art facility in Waltham, MA (photo credit: Stephanie Neil)
Earlier this month, Dassault Systèmes, a maker of 3D design and simulation software used in manufacturing, energy, and business service industries, announced the opening of its new North American headquarters, based in Waltham.
Over the past year, the French company has been building an energy efficient 27-acre campus that is LEED Gold certified by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). It used recycled materials (left from the previous construction site), rooftop HVAC units that use chemical-free electrostatic water treatment instead of chlorine, and the ability to capture rainwater--- which is cleansed and reused for irrigation or drained into the lower basin of the Charles River.
Inside it is modern and open to encourage a collaborative environment where employees are treated to a gourmet café, fitness center (in which the treadmills are self-powered), and outdoor courtyard complete with Wi-Fi for when people want to work outside. In addition, when everyone moved in, each employee was handed a coffee mug and a reusable cup, as there are no disposable plates, silverware or cups on site. According to the company, the café offers fountain drinks only, which will save nearly 1 million paper cups per year.
HELPING THE LOCAL ECONOMY
The Waltham campus consolidates hundreds of Dassault employees who were previously working in Concord, Lowell, and Providence R.I. In addition, about 170 new jobs were added at the campus, and there are plans to expand through 2013. The new N.A. headquarters also serves as a customer briefing center, where companies can experience a virtual reality room that will take them through ancient cities or glacier explorations, for example.
The facility is more than just a building, noted Dassault president and CEO Bernard Charlès during a presentation to press and analysts. “There has a been a lot of attention to details and the way in which we live in order to free our minds to be innovators.”
Dassault created an environment that will hopefully attract the best minds coming out of the Massachusetts schools. It has worked hard over the past few years to form an alliance between its business, local government, and educational institutions.
The synergy, Lt. Governor Tim Murray said, will hopefully grow the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) pipeline in Massachusetts. “Getting more young people excited is critical if we are going to feed [the state’s] diverse growth,” Murray said.
One of the many coffee centers at the Dassault office encourages employee conversations.
Local Spotlight,
Katie Boyd is Wicked Cool
Katie Boyd, star of "Wicked FIt." (Photo Credit: Tracy Coyne)
When Tracy and I walked into the Miss Fit club, we really didn’t know what to expect. Lights? Camera? Action?
The owner of the gym, Katie Boyd, is also the star of the hit T.V. show “Wicked Fit,” so we wondered if the life of a reality star would include camera men documenting her every move. What we saw was not like anything we expected.
Katie’s sister, Linsey, invited us into the gym and told us to make ourselves comfortable until Katie could talk with us. We could see Katie--- she was sitting on the floor in the next room with a client, holding her hand--- and this is what we heard her say:
“This is the first step….I’m so proud of you…Your life is going to change…I love you.”
This woman was not Katie's typical pageant queen clientele, rather, she was an average person who needed help with not just her weight, but her self-esteem.
Later, we found out that that young woman had been victimized on Facebook, and suddenly, the interview we thought we were going to have about glitz, glamour, and the life of a celebrity, quickly turned into a grounded discussion about bullying.
“Let’s play a game,” Katie suggested while talking with us. “For one day, let’s not say anything negative about someone else, or ourselves.”
I was with her, nodding away, until I heard “or ourselves.” Damn. That’s every other sentence in my critical mind. But, she is right. We, as women, spend too much time sabotaging rather than supporting each other and ourselves.
“I am now hyper-aware of who I am. And I try not to talk bad about anyone,” Katie said.
"Taunton Tigress"
Katie grew up very popular. A pretty pageant girl, she could fit in with the jocks and the burnouts alike, she admits. She never once dealt with a negative remark--- until she landed on T.V. Her show, “Wicked Fit,” airs Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. on the Style network. On the show, she is tough, brash, and outspoken. But this Taunton girl never saw the public hostility coming.
“I’ve had a lot of backlash from the media,” she told South Shore Woman in an interview (click on the video below to see the interview).
Since the show aired, she’s been called “fat,” and a “transvestite,” among other things. It has been hurtful, but honestly, she said, it was the best thing that could have happened to her because it put her in a place where she could understand what it felt like to be bullied. Now she wants to help others.
Katie is not fat. She is healthy. And, as a trainer, she could be working out 8 hours a day---but, she’s busy with clients, so no-can-do. She loves her body and who she is. And, she wants women to remember it is okay to be yourself. In addition, people are too quick to judge, she points out. Her low voice, for example--- the reason why people refer to her as “a man in drag,”--- is the result of a car accident that severed her vocal chords. “I used to have a very feminine singing voice,” she said.
Life experiences. Circumstances. Shit happens. Just be yourself and embrace it...
As for Katie’s life on the T.V. screen, we had one last question: Is reality T.V. real???
She said: “Reality T.V. is about processing. It’s like having a shrink when you are doing the interviews at the end of the day.” But ultimately, Katie claimed, it is “situational.” There are many scenes---like the softball game she played with her fitness rivals down the street--- that she would never have orchestrated on her own.
And the rivalry between Katie’s BFFs Monique and Monica? (Well, that’s real.)
Will we see a season 2? We sure hope so! Katie finds out in January, so stay tuned.
Watch 'til the end to learn a little known fun fact about Katie.
For the Foodies,
The Backyard Burger Bar -- Is OPEN!
Watch out Wahlburgers, you have some competition.
The Backyard Burger Bar in Scituate is now open! And it is awesome.
Owner Joanie Wilson has spent months architecting and strategizing everything from the menu to the eclectic accessories. What she made is a vibrant, colorful, energized, fun and casual place to grab a burger, pizza, or salad—all with a splash of culinary sophistication.
No, this is not your typical burger joint. From stocky handcut fries dipped in truffle oil ketchup to the mushrooms and spinach wrapped in phyllo dough that melt in your mouth to the range of specialty burgers that cater to anyone’s taste—even a vegetarian, the food has a clever flair. And, the prices fit the budget.
Joanie Wilson, owner of Backyard Burger Bar, and her son, Jeff Perette, behind the bar
There are flat screens to watch a game while sipping a brew around the large bucolic bar.
And, perhaps that is the best part about this place (aside from the food, of course!)
The Burger Bar has atmosphere. It is a South Shore meets Florida Keys rustic fun-loving element. And, cocooned between it all shine snapshots of the owner’s life: The year each of her children were born adorn the back wall, as does her grandchildren’s names. In addition, so as not to forget who built this place, “Joanie’s Kitchen” is forever inscribed in the cement floor of the kitchen's entrance.
Indeed, Joanie Wilson’s signature is all over this spectacular establishment. She is a rare talent.
Come down and experience it for yourself. You will not be disappointed.
Backyard Burger Bar
17 New Driftway
Scituate, MA
(The old Raymond's Paint Building)
About Us,
Let SSW Promote Your Business!
SouthShoreWoman.com writes about the local people who follow their passion and build new economic opportunities in our communities. But, whether you have started a popular jewelry line, have an established retail store or restaurant, or offer a unique service, you will always need to reach new customers.
SSW, an online magazine, serves as the perfect venue for businesses that want to go a bit beyond their town borders. Let us help you get your message to the masses by being your vehicle into the larger world of social media.
Our affordable promotional packages give you an advertisement on SSW, plus a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. In addition to getting directly in front of our audience (there are over a thousand South Shore readers-- that we know of), your business will also be exposed to many of the 750 million Facebook users, 100 million Twitter users, and over 100 million LinkedIn members.
Let's put it this way: Print advertising is dead. Social media is the surest way to gain new customers in this Internet age. Yes, we know, you are running a business! You don't have time to tweet and post all day....
We want you to continue to grow and become social media savvy. Let us help!
We offer three packages that appeal to your needs and budget:
Packages: |
Premium |
Standard |
Basic |
*Advertisement |
Leaderboard graphic (728x90 pixels) OR video (**including link to your website) |
Sidebar 1 (300 pixels wide) graphic OR video (**including link to your website) |
Either the Sidebar 2 (120 pixels wide) or the Footer (728x90 pixels) graphic (**including link to your website) |
Sponsor e-mail |
A dedicated e-mail blast to SSW subscribers (about 1,000 members) |
A dedicated e-mail blast to SSW subscribers (about 1,000 members) |
N/A |
|
|
-Creation of a Twitter handle for your business-Multiple Tweets/day from your business handle and @SoShoWo-Community building through “follows” and “lists” |
Multiple Tweets/ week about your business from @SoShoWo |
One Tweet/week about your business from @SoShoWo |
|
|
-Creation of a FB page for your business-Multiple posts/day on your page and outreach to community to ‘Like’ your page-Multiple mentions and links to your fan page and website on SoShoWo FB page |
One mention/week about your business on the SSW FB page |
A couple of mentions/month of your business on the SSW FB page |
|
|
Weekly mention of your business within groups that target your customers |
Multiple mentions/month of your business within groups that target your customers |
One mention of your business within a group that targets your customers |
SSW story |
If SSW has already done a story on your business, we will update it (text or embed video) and put it on the SSW home page as well as link to it on Facebook and Twitter |
If SSW has already done a story on your business, we will link to the archived article on our Facebook page and Twitter, and write a short update to tell our audience what you are up to now |
If SSW has already done a story on your business, we will link to the archived article on our Facebook page and Twitter |
Reporting
PRICE |
At the end of the month you will receive a report on all SM activity and results$750/month |
At the end of the month you will receive a report on all SM activity and results$500/month |
At the end of the month you will receive a report on all SM activity and results$250/month |
**Don't have a website? We can build one for you. Contact us for more information.
*And, if you don't have an advertisement ready to go, we'd be happy to create one for you! (Monthly prices do not include $100 fee for ads created by SSW.)
For more information contact:
Tracy Coyne at dtcoyne@comcast.net (781) 413-6508
or,
Stephanie Neil at stephanieneil@comcast.net (781) 378-1652
Community,
The South Shore Giving Circle
Several months ago, SSW wrote an article called “Kristin’s Kitchen,” in which we described the first meeting of an informal group, the South Shore Giving Circle. Our mission: To make friends, network, and help people in need in our community. It was a simple concept: Pool your resources for the greater good--- oh, and have fun, too.
Each month we invited the director of a local charity to join us and tell us their story. This month, the South Shore Giving Circle (SSGC) has its own story to tell. We have listened, voted, and are now distributing about $4,000.00.
It was very difficult to decide where the money would go. Ultimately, it was a split vote: The South Shore Women's Resource Center and Crossroads for Kids will both be the beneficiaries of a SSGC check.
The South Shore Women’s Resource Center is a community-based domestic violence program that assists victims and their families. Services include crisis intervention, safety planning, assistance with shelter placement, support groups, therapy, and a 24-hour hotline.
Crossroads for Kids inspires at-risk youth to develop their innate potential to become members of the next generation of leaders. It is an immersive summer camp that takes inner city kids to the South Shore, providing them with weeks of support and opportunities which guide them toward academic success and responsible citizenship.
The SSGC is so happy to be able to support both of these groups. We look forward to doing it all over again next year.
For more information on how to get involved with SSGC or to tell us about your local charity, contact us at: southshorewoman@gmail.com
South Shore Giving Circle is a 501c3 non-profit organization.
Community,
The Giving Goose
Artists Bethany and Ben
When Bethany Sawyer was five years old, she unwittingly inspired her parents to encourage children to embrace the arts while simultaneously learning to give. Now, at age 6 1/2, she takes an active role in what has become The Giving Goose.
The Giving Goose is a familial organization with clothing and product lines that feature children’s artwork on T-shirts and sweatshirts. The organization gives 10% of its proceeds to charities chosen by the young artists. To be featured in the clothing and product line and choose a charity, children submit their artwork to be judged in a contest.
Nancy and Dan Sawyer, Bethany’s parents, own Image76, a company in West Wareham that provides graphic design, offset printing, digital printing, and more. The company’s sportswear department produces custom screen printing and embroidery on T-shirts, sweatshirts, and other garments. When Bethany first asked her parents to print her drawing of a butterfly on a T-shirt, the idea for The Giving Goose was born. Nancy and Dan used her request as an opportunity to teach their daughter to use her artistic talent with an entrepreneurial and charitable spirit.
You can view the existing designs on www.thegivinggoose.com. Non-profit organizations that have benefited thus far are Children’s Hospital, Boston; West Falmouth Preschool, a non-profit preschool with a mission to teach children in an artistic, cultural, scientific, and physical environment; the Epiphany School for middle school children of economically challenged families in Boston; Horizons for Homeless Children; and more.
Currently, the organization is accepting submissions of artwork from children through December 31, 2011 with the intention of printing three new images on garments by the end of January of 2012. A panel of judges, which includes Bethany, will choose ten drawings. The public will then have the privilege to vote for the final three on www.thegivinggoose.com or Face Book. The three young artists will then choose the charities that the organization will benefit.
Nancy says Bethany enjoys encouraging the artistry in her peers and seeing the smiles it elicits. Next, Nancy intends to bring Bethany to the non-profit organizations to which they donate so she can see the effect she and other children have on those less fortunate. Already, Bethany fills her personal bank, which is purple and has three slots. One slot says “spend”; the next says “save”; and the third says “share”. Of her own volition, Bethany changed the name of the third slot to “give”, and that is where she puts her money.
As the Giving Goose says, “Kids can make a difference.”
About Us,
SSW in the Air-CLICK HERE TO HEAR
Tracy Coyne and Stephanie Neil, co-founders of SouthShoreWoman.com, were recently guests on Teri Sica's talk show "Discovering Authenticity". The two talk about friendship, starting a business, and what SSW can do for you. Take a listen!
Here's the link: http://www.959watd.com/discoveringauthenticity/DiscoveringAuthenticityShow29.mp3
More WATD/SSW interviews:
11/20/2010: Jay Cole, owner of Riva restaurant recently sat down with Teri to talk about starting a business and being SSW's Male Muse. Tune in here: http://www.959watd.com/discoveringauthenticity/DiscoveringAuthenticityShow34.mp3
And, to read Jay's Male Muse columns, click here! http://southshorewoman.com/author/jay-cole
12/4/2010: Stephanie Neil talks with Teri about turning challenges into opportunities and the life lessons along the way. http://www.959watd.com/discoveringauthenticity/DiscoveringAuthenticityShow36.mp3
Members,
B2B
SSW Business Members
(Click on the company name to read their stories here on SSW, then visit their websites to learn more about these local companies.)
FOOD (Restaurant, Catering, and Personal Chef Services)
Beach Fire Restaurant, Hull
http://www.beachfirehull.com/
Riva Restaurant, Scituate
www.rivarestaurant.net
Jay Cole, Owner
The Fieldston Restaurant, Marshfield
http://www.thefieldston.com/
Jan Perrin, Owner
JennaCAKES
Jenna.perette@yahoo.com
Jenna Perette, Owner
Scarlet Oak Tavern, Hingham
www.scarletoaktavern.com
Jed and Josh Webber, Owners
Aoyama, Marshfield
781-837-6990
The Chef’s Table
http://www.thechefstableonline.com/index.html
Mark and Julie Ellis, Owners
Fruit Center Marketplace
http://www.fruitcentermarketplace.com/
Oro Restaurant, Scituate
www.ororestaurant.com
Jill and Robin King, Owners
Orta Restaurant, Pembroke
www.ortarestaurant.com
Jimmy Burke and Joanie Wilson, Owners
Beach Plum Baking Company
http://www.beachplumbaking.com
Jennifer Love, Owner
Barker Tavern, Scituate
www.barkertavern.com
Savor: A Personal Chef Service
www.savorathome.com
Meghan Haney, Personal Chef & Owner
Darlene Calcagno, Personal Chef & Owner
781-878-9700
Joanie Wilson, Owner
SPECIALTY SHOPS
Harborlight Toy Company
146 Front Street (Welch Company Bldg), Scituate
781-544-5487, website coming soon!
Jerry & Kelly Burke, Owners
Almar Building and Remodeling
Allison Quinn Guido, General Manager
781-826-2577
Hingham Sewing School
Alexis Kletjian
617-549-6755
APPAREL/ACCESSORIES
Sealore Designs
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sealoredesigns?page=1
Michelle Murphy, Owner
Roaring Stones
http://www.roaringstones.com/
Casey Kerr, Owner
SpitDudes
http://spitpermit.com/
Andy White, Owner
Crystals n Pearls
http://www.crystalsnpearls.com/
Carolyn Cattaneo, Owner
Boot Chic
www.bootchic.com
Kim O’Connor, Owner
Babushka Style
http://www.babushkastyle.com/
Rebecca Pimentel, Owner
Ring by Ring Designs
Bev Carlson, Jewelry Designer
FASHION/STYLE
Ready Set Style
Eva Gaiardelli, Owner/Fashion Stylist
eva@readysetstyle.com; 617-433-8295
Tracey Leahy, Owner
Charlotte & Company, Hairstylists & Makup Artists
Charlotte Phinney, Owner
Mary Kay
Shakira Perry, Independent Beauty Consultant
617-653-6796
FUN
East Coast Hui
http://www.eastcoasthui.com/Home.html
Bobby Fenton
HEALTH/FITNESS/SPA
Stacey Shipman, Feel Good Living
http://staceyshipman.com/
Stacey Shipman, Owner
A Healthy Balance
http://www.ahealthybalancenutrition.com/home.html
Nikki Tierney, Owner
Mariposa Body Massage and Therapy
http://www.mariposabody.com/
Cindy Doody, Owner
Healthy Options
http://www.healthyoptionscoaching.com/
Sheela Calhoun, Owner
Perpetual Motion
Jennifer McGilvray, owner
Dolce Med Spa & Boutique
www.DolceMed.com
Tracey Lively, President/Owner
781-792-0919
Spa-tique Day Spa
781-837-1850
South Shore Healing Center
Martha Tassinari, PT/CST
781-934-0100
ART/DESIGN
Cut River Gallery
www.cutrivergallery.com
Chris Lewis, Owner
Hawkmoon Studio
www.hawkmoonstudio.com
Michael Coyne, Owner
Everything Emily
www.everythingemily.com
Emily Loverin, Owner
Interiors by Daryce
http://www.interiorsbydaryce.com/home.html
Daryce Morris, Owner
SERVICES/Personal & Business
JKC Design
www.jkcdesign.com
Jada Coyne, Owner
Errands Etcetera
http://www.errandsetcetera.biz/
Stacy Mafera, Owner
South Shore Skin Center
www.southshoreskincenter.com
Fastteks
We travel to home or business for all computer services.
www.fastteks.com
Concierge Service
Gennie Litchfield Murphy & Chrissy Sladen McCormack, Owners
www.adminsanderrands.com