This column was written by Betty Dean Holmes of Swampscott Donna Carmody took a group of Swampscott seniors on a museum trip. The weatherman described the day as bitterly cold, but it was good going underfoot and that is more important for seniors. We New Englanders have plenty of cold weather clothes. The group was off to Boston. We had lunch at the Chart House. Built in the 1760’s, it is the oldest building on Long Wharf, and was known as John Hancock’s Counting House.  My lunch choice was a fish and chips plate. Oh, my! Good fresh fish, and not only potato chips, but sweet potato chips and…

From Betty Holmes I first learned about Baffin Island and the Eskimos in my fourth grade geography class. My nephew traveled to Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada which is located on the south coast of Baffin Island, at the top of Frobisher Bay. It is not quite within the Arctic circle, but the climate is Arctic and no trees grow there.  My nephew was in Iqaluit in mid-April 2010.  He wrote me about his trip.  The city of Iqaluit, with a population of 6,699, is the coldest place Dan had  been. This was once an American strategic air force base called Frobisher AFB, on Baffin Island in Canada. During …

  The Westhovens took a vacation that will likely be forever etched in their storehouse of family memories.  Washington, D.C. is so close yet many of us never get there or, if we do, we try to cram everything into a single day. It's a wonderful East Coast location that stirs excitement for visitors with its powerful political presence, rich history and educational sites including national monuments and museums. Here is the Westhoven family's itinerary if any of you are thinking of visiting Washington, D.C., and looking for some suggested activities. Thank you, Emily.  We took Amtrak from …