Portsmouth, NH November 2025

A Wonderful Chapter

Two and a half years ago, I embarked on a daring adventure to launch a publication that would become a cornerstone of the community, one designed to share fun, uplifting, and engaging stories about the businesses and people on the Seacoast. It’s hard to believe that this is the 24th issue of Portsmouth City Lifestyle!

When I stepped into the role of publisher, I was filled with excitement—offset, truthfully, with a little nervousness—about the journey ahead. What I found was more than I ever could have imagined. I learned what a welcoming, generous community I’m a part of. With two years under my belt, I’m reflecting on how thankful I am for the opportunity to form relationships, tell stories, and share meaningful moments with this vibrant community. So I’m particularly pleased to present this issue on the theme “Thankful.”

This issue highlights people and places that nourish and strengthen those around them—from a firefighter and paramedic who extends herself on behalf of the community, to volunteers who enrich the lives of young people, to an organization that expands opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Plus we offer a suggestion for you to nourish and strengthen yourself in these hectic times. We hope that these stories will inspire you to look around and notice the many people and organizations worthy of your appreciation.

This 24th issue is also my last as publisher, and my business partner Tara’s last as managing editor. It’s time for us to turn the page. As I look back on where we started and where we are now, I recognize how many of you helped make this a wonderful experience for us.

A heartfelt thank you to our advertising partners. From the start, they believed in the vision of celebrating local life, and together we created a publication that not only highlights businesses, but also reflects the heart of Portsmouth and the greater Seacoast.

Likewise, our gratitude goes out to our writers and photographers, whose curiosity, talent, and collaborative spirit bring stories to life on these pages.

And to our readers, thank you for giving this publication a chance and paying attention! It’s so gratifying to hear that our stories matter to you.

The December issue will introduce you to the new publisher of Portsmouth City Lifestyle. The magazine will be in good hands. Tara and I look forward to joining you as enthusiastic readers.

With warm wishes,

November 2025

PUBLISHER

Anne Moodey | anne.moodey@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Tara Phillips | tara.phillips@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Judith Rubenstein | judith.rubenstein@citylifestyle.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Kevin Edge

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Sarah Coleman | clementsarahann@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Susan Gallagher, Rebecca Ingalls, Ann Kathryn Kelly, Peggy Newland

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Peggy Newland, Mary Ellen McNamara, Darren Setlow Photography

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Josh Govero

LAYOUT DESIGNER Amanda Schilling

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas

MOODEY, PUBLISHER

Proverbs 3:5-6

city scene

1: Beverly Cannon and Larry and Janet Larose celebrate Maxxology's first Fall into Winter Fashion Show event. 2: Danielle Kimball, Donovan Phanor, and Jocelyn Kearney attend Fall into Winter Fashion Show by Maxxology. 3: Bill and Bennett Camarda, owners of Limitless Fitness, along with Lynn Camarda and friend, were among the hosts of Portsmouth’s first PorchFest. 4: Tina Sawtelle, president and CEO of the Music Hall and New Hampshire Film Festival. 5: Dawn Sullivan, Donna Sovie, and Nadine First, powerhouse mavens of the Women’s Business League, enjoy the league’s Summer Soiree. 6: Micah Huffman, A1C, and Will Emerling, A1C, of the 157th Air Refueling Wing at Thunder over NH. 7: Mallory Parkington (far right) and some of her creative team from Mallory Portraits enjoy some bonding time “throwing” at The Wheel House.

“WE JUST SHOW UP”

First responder

Kayla Reno finds deep fulfillment in building community

The courageous individuals who occupy the “front line” believe in collective safety, for which they will risk their own. This month, as we express gratitude, we shine a light on Seacoast citizen Kayla Reno, firefighter and paramedic. We celebrate not only her courage, but also the grit of her journey and the community building that inspires her work.

For Reno, the call to become a first responder came at the young age of 14. The Rollinsford fire chief stopped in at the bank where her mother worked and described the “Explorer Post” program, which offers children the opportunity to go on calls and get a real sense of the day-to-day work of being a firefighter. When Reno heard about it, she jumped in.

While a ninth grader in Somersworth, Reno learned about the two-year fire service program at Dover High School through the Career Technical Center. Still too young to join, she continued her education with the Rollinsford Fire Department (RFD), and then took Firefighter 1 and EMT Basic courses in her junior and senior years. Based out of Liberty North End fire station, the fire service program offered continued exposure to an environment that captivated her. When she graduated from high school in 2014, Reno was officially a member of the RFD.

But the question hovered: What next? “I had learned that to be successful, you have to go to college. I didn’t want to go to college to be a firefighter,” she recalls, “because I already had the certs. But I loved the medicine part, so I considered nursing.” Reno enrolled at the University of Southern Maine, where she spent a year studying nursing and playing Division III softball.

That summer, however, another branch of her path opened. Using her EMT certification, she got a job as a technician in the Wentworth-Douglass Emergency Department. “I loved it,” she says, “But I hated the idea of being trapped in a hospital for 12 hours while knowing the freedom of being a firefighter.” She took the next year off from school, continued working at the hospital, and took an overnight job at a nursing home. In her off hours, she took Advanced EMT and Firefighter 2. She was hired by York Ambulance out of South Berwick and by Newington Fire Department. At age 20, she found herself working three jobs and earnestly building her skills, which were growing more advanced by the year.

Having decided not to return to nursing, Reno saw before her the next challenge: The Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT). This rigorous agility feat, which aims to simulate on-scene activity, requires individuals to demonstrate their strength in events like stair climbing, hose dragging, ladder raising, forced entry, and search and rescue. She first took the test at age 19, repeated it several times over four years, and finally passed.

The CPAT credential, as well as her others, afforded Reno the qualifications to seek career positions, a competitive process requiring the grit she had cultivated along the way. When Newington opened a full-time position, she applied and got it. With her sights set on the Dover Fire Department, she applied three times and was finally hired in 2020. Dover continues to be her home station.

Despite the excitement that continues to fuel Reno’s passion, she is careful to qualify that her calling is not entirely wrapped up in the adrenaline rush. “Yes, we are firefighters,” she says, “but it’s more than just helping people at their worst time on their worst day. When families have losses, we can support them so they can attempt to rebuild.” Last year she helped a victim of a fire, a woman who had known Reno’s grandmother. “In the fire there were sentimental items, lots of photographs. I pulled these things

off the wall before they got destroyed, put them in a tote, and gave them to her. She reached out to me after and told me my grandmother would be so proud. That was a meaningful moment.”

Reno’s commitment to her community goes beyond emergency response. She also takes pride in her work as a board member of the Dover Firefighters Charitable Association (DFCA), a 501c3 that engages in fundraising to support those in need. The DFCA funds a toy bank, an effort that holds special significance for Reno. “We were recipients of a toy bank,” she says. “so it’s special to be able to be on the other side of that now.” DFCA also works with Operation Warm, which provides winter coats for children in the community who are enduring poverty. Going above and beyond, Reno and other first responders provide invaluable support to their community, and inspire others.

When she goes to a call, it thrills Reno to see the face of a child light up when they see the fire truck—she gets it. Her team has been celebrated for their brave, generous actions. But amid outpourings of appreciation, she embraces humility. “We don’t like to recognize ourselves. I expect to do what needs to be done. I don’t like awards ceremonies. We just show up.”

Launched in 2024, Collaborate & Listen is the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth’s podcast which celebrates the stories of our members.

Seasons 1 and 2 are live now. Past guests have included:

Tom Bath

Monte Bohanan

Heidi Carrington Heath

Michael Cinquino

Julie Cutting

Jennifer Desrosiers

Paul Gilson

Krystal Hicks

Amanda Kidd-Kestler

Sarah Lachance

Cheryl Lesser

Lionel Loveless

Regina Piantedosi

John Randolph

Courtney Ritchings

Darin Roark

Tina Sawtelle

Maya Shrinivasan

Anne Weidman

Season 3 Dropping Now:

Keith Bamford

Elizabeth Chilton

Cariann Daley

Chris Dwyer

Kaley Gagne

Michelle Lemay

Beth Moreau

Ben Wheeler

TURNING OBSTACLES INTO OPPORTUNITIES

Northeast Passage empowers individuals with disability to realize possibility

ARTICLE BY ANN KATHRYN KELLY

PHOTOGRAPHY

For Luke, a 19-year-old sophomore nursing student at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), the chance to play lacrosse as a student athlete in a national tournament is a dream come true. What made that experience even more significant is that Luke was born with spina bifida, a condition where the spinal cord does not completely close during fetal development.

“We help people find joy, confidence, friendships, and a passion for living, regardless of abilities.”

Yet, as a UNH student athlete playing in a national wheelchair lacrosse tournament, Luke and his teammates—all with disabilities—don’t focus on what they cannot achieve. Instead, they see what’s possible, in large part due to their involvement with Northeast Passage (NEP).

NEP began as a not-for-profit organization and merged with UNH 25 years ago, after a previous decade of collaboration with the school’s Recreation Management and Policy department. Today, NEP operates under UNH’s College of Health and Human Services and fundraises through the UNH Foundation.

NEP’s Business Operations Manager Keely Ames says Luke has been playing sled hockey through NEP since he was eight years old. In addition to sled hockey and wheelchair lacrosse, Luke also water skis and plays court sports. “One of the reasons Luke chose UNH’s nursing program is that he can continue his involvement with NEP that has been such a big part of his life, from childhood,” comments Ames.

Executive Director Jill Gravink—who founded NEP in 1990—adds: “Luke approaches everything in life with the mind and discipline of an athlete. NEP enables him to focus on possibilities and express this fully.”

Gravink points out that there are currently eight student athletes from around the country who chose to attend UNH not only for academic reasons but also for the opportunity to take advantage of NEP’s adaptive competitive sports program. NEP applies decades of expertise in adaptive sports and recreational therapy, facilitating everything from the organization of competitive sports teams to arranging trips to beaches, bike trails, and the wilderness for community members living with disabling conditions.

Across New England, NEP partners with hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, schools, summer camps, community recreation departments and more to help people find wholelife health and balance, fulfillment, and community

CONTINUED >

engagement. NEP currently employs 16 nationally-certified and New Hampshire-licensed recreational therapists who, along with management and support staff, oversee three core programs: Adaptive Sports & Recreation, Recreational Therapy, and Teaching & Research.

The Adaptive Sports & Recreation program offers recreational sports throughout the year, from hiking, cycling, golf, and court and water sports, to ice skating and even archery. NEP’s organized competitive sports teams participate in wheelchair rugby, power soccer, and wheelchair lacrosse, as well as sled hockey. Gravink explains: “Our Adaptive Sports Program supports both UNH students and community members.” Teams practice weekly through the fall and winter and compete at local, regional, and national levels.

NEP’s second area of focus is its Recreational Therapy program, working with New England communities and schools to ensure equal opportunity access. Recreational therapists meet individually with clients of all ages in their homes or with students in schools to improve physical, social, and emotional skill building.

NEP’s Teaching & Research program, meanwhile, offers clinical and therapeutic courses and internships to students enrolled in healthcare-related college or post-graduate studies. Licensed specialists work alongside interns, serve as guest lecturers at universities, and apply their skills and knowledge to research focused on disability healthcare and community engagement.

Caz, age 26,  discovered NEP through Facebook. Diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Caz has experienced limited mobility from childhood— though that has not stopped them from enjoying a variety of adaptive water sports through NEP. Caz describes adaptive water skiing as “the coolest and most exhilarating experience” of their life.

“Our mission is to open minds, as well as physical possibilities, and it’s so rewarding when we see how our approach, programming, and equipment are changing people’s lives.”

Ames says Caz used a wheelchair for the first time as an adult through NEP’s adaptive equipment rental program. “It was a lightbulb moment for Caz,” Ames continues, “as they realized they were able to do much more in the wheelchair than they imagined was possible.”

Gravink agrees. “People often see a wheelchair as limiting, when in fact it’s a key to independence. Our mission is to open minds, as well as physical possibilities, and it’s so rewarding when we see how our approach, programming, and equipment are changing people’s lives.”

Since its founding 35 years ago, NEP has earned local and national awards, including being named the American Therapeutic Recreation Association’s Organization of the Year in 1997, and winning the Outstanding Achievement

Award from the New Hampshire Governor’s Council on Physical Activity and Health in 2015. More recently, NEP was recognized by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee with the Team USA Collegiate Impact Award at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing, China.

“We’ve helped participants as young as five all the way through to young-at-heart seniors in their 90s find joy, confidence, friendships, and a passion for living, regardless of abilities,” Ames says. Gravink adds: “And we love every second of it.”

Learn more about NEP’s life-changing purpose and programming at their website.

NORTHEAST PASSAGE

121 Technology Drive, Suite 161 | Durham northeastpassage.org

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A SEASIDE ESCAPE AWAITS IN CAPE

REST BEFORE THE RUSH OF THE HOLIDAYS AND FIND YOUR INNER CALM

ARTICLE BY PEGGY NEWLAND

Sometimes you just have to disconnect to reconnect, and if you give yourself some calm before the storm of holidays, you’ll be ready for the frenzy of family gatherings, neighborhood parties, and not enough wrapping paper. A quick jaunt up the coast to Inn by the Sea, in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, is the ideal reset before the onset of before the onset of the holidays.

Set like a jewel on Crescent Beach, this oasis of empty beaches and windswept island views over to Kettle Cove is just my ticket for taking a breath. Or two.

In my nautically inspired suite offering a soaking tub, gas-burning fireplace, equipped kitchen, and deck with views of marshlands and tidal inlets, I could zen out inside. But I don’t. Instead, I head outside to the inn’s private boardwalk and take a stroll over the dunes to a wildlife sanctuary. On Kettle Pond, I spot two egrets and watch their stillness, their calm, before continuing my meander over to the marshes of Jordan Point. Sandpipers flit over the low tideline so I follow their footprints to and from the surf.

After an hour’s walk and with sunshine warming the empty beach, I think, why not? I’ve brought a towel, I’m wearing a swimsuit, so in I go for a cold-weather swim—just like I do at Wallis Sands most months of the year. In the distance, a seal head pops up, as if in surprise at someone swimming this late in the season. Back in the room, the soaking tub steams the chill away.

That night, I dine at the inn’s restaurant, Sea Glass. The chef, Ramiz Jasic—who was born in Bosnia and grew up in Connecticut—believes that “food should always tell a story.” The menu shows this approach. Locally sourced and inspired

“A HOLIDAY FOR YOURSELF BEFORE THE JOYS OF FAMILY TOGETHERNESS.”

by nature, each plate is presented like a gift.

I start with grilled peach and burrata with heirloom tomatoes and then jump into a farmer’s salad with the most amazing Atlantic Sea Farms seaweed vinaigrette. The brownbread Parker rolls with blueberry butter melt in my mouth. Next I enjoy scallops enveloped in asparagus puree, with cured bacon. Dessert is a must: fresh blueberry cobbler a la mode. I take a hot toddy back to my deck, and the stars sit heavy in the dark night sky.

Hearing ocean waves and the buzz of remaining cicadas, and feeling the breeze

as I snuggle under a quilt on an Adirondack rocker, I take this in as a moment of perfect place. I breathe in the salty air.

The next morning, I rise with the sun, and head again to the beach. The pines are draped in mist as the sky blooms pink and purple. I find a driftwood log near the dunes and sit in the hush for long moments before heading back to the inn. A yoga class is just beginning on the lawn. I join in, namaste-ing the last of fall, and awaiting the joys of winter: turkey in the oven, pies cooling on a counter, the door wide open to friends and family sharing a table.

There’s gratitude for gatherings, but also space for stillness, for calm. With thankfulness, I’ve opened a window to the sea and let the restful breezes inside.

INN BY THE SEA

40 Bowery Beach Road | Cape Elizabeth, Maine innbythesea.com

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H O P E

with YOU

The holidays have a way of calling us back to what matters most—faith, family, compassion, and the quiet but powerful act of giving. As lights go up and calendars fill, there are still many who sit in silence, carrying burdens too heavy to bear alone. But what if this season, you could be the spark that changes everything for someone else?

The founders of City Lifestyle, through their private foundation, are once again launching its annual Christmas Giving Campaign—a heartfelt effort to seek out and support individuals and families who have quietly fallen through the cracks. The mission is simple: to bring light, dignity, and hope to those who need it most.

Since its beginning just four years ago, this initiative has grown from a humble idea into a life-changing movement. Last Christmas alone, more than 200 families across the country received unexpected support—financial relief, but also something even more powerful.

“We don’t just send checks,” says Steven Schowengerdt, CEO and founder of City Lifestyle. “We send a message: You are seen. You are loved. And you are not forgotten.”

Together with City Lifestyle President Matthew Perry, Steven has helped shape this into a tradition that goes far beyond charity. “This is about community,” Matthew adds. “We believe we’ve been blessed, so now we get to be a blessing.”

Every story begins with a nomination. Often, it’s a neighbor, coworker, friend, or teacher—someone who’s been quietly carrying too much for too long. One past recipient, after receiving unexpected support during a time of deep personal struggle, wrote:

SCAN TO NOMINATE

“We send a message: You are seen. You are loved. And you are not forgotten.”

“Beyond the very practical solution of receiving funds to fix my car, this thing you guys worked together to do is bigger than that. I carry the Christmas card you sent in my purse. When things get really hard, I pull it out and remember what it felt like to be seen. That card represents hope— that change for the better is possible. I’m not sure how many people get to carry hope around in their purse. But I do.”

Another wrote in after her husband was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer and unable to work:

“This support has blessed our family not only financially, but emotionally and spiritually as we trust God to meet our needs throughout this difficult time. Thank you to our anonymous friend and to your foundation. What a joy and gift to be part of God’s family!”

Each year brings countless stories like these—real lives touched by simple acts of kindness. Some use the funds to pay overdue bills, others to afford groceries, medication, or repairs. But no matter the circumstance, the impact is the same: hope is restored.

This season, you have the opportunity to be part of that. The campaign is now open to nominations—completely confidential and prayerfully considered. Whether it’s someone battling illness, facing unemployment, or just in need of a helping hand, you can bring them a moment of grace that will ripple far beyond Christmas morning.

“Knowing my mom was chosen filled my heart with indescribable joy,” said another past recipient. “Your generosity doesn’t just brighten her life; it inspires hope and faith in all of us. It enables her to stay in her home and get back on her feet.”

Nominations are open from November 1st to December 5th, 2025. To submit someone you know, simply scan the QR code or visit @CityLifestyle on Instagram, where you’ll find the nomination form in the bio.

This holiday season, let’s give more than gifts. Let’s give each other the gift of being seen. Because sometimes, the smallest gesture becomes someone’s greatest miracle.

To nominate someone in need, visit: KingdomBuildingFoundation.org or scan the QR code.

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PHOTOGRAPHY

My “Big” Best Friend

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE TRANSFORMS LIVES, ONE DEDICATED MENTOR AT A TIME

ARTICLE BY SUSAN GALLAGHER PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARY ELLEN MCNAMARA

The only memories 18-year-old Lana has of her mother live in dog-eared photographs and time-faded stories from those who knew her. Just three years old when she lost her mom, Lana grew up as an only child raised by her father. By the time she was nine, her mother’s absence was an aching void that nothing could fill.

Hoping to ease his young daughter’s loneliness, Lana’s dad signed her up with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of New Hampshire, the local affiliate of BBBS of America, the largest and most experienced youthmentoring network in the United States. After a careful and extensive matching process, the organization found the little girl her perfect Big Sister in Portsmouth’s Mary Ellen McNamara.

The mother of five children, McNamara always had a profound love for kids. After working for BBBS for seven years as a match support coordinator, she yearned to be a Big Sister. When her children went off to college, the time was right to pursue her dream. After mentoring a few girls short-term, she found magic in her match with Lana.

On the day of their first meeting in April of 2017, McNamara came face to face with a shy, apprehensive, and “adorable” nine-year-old Lana. Her heart immediately went out to this child with frightened eyes. Shy herself as a child, McNamara easily related to the girl’s timidity and resolved to bring her out of her shell. “It was a wonderful match, right from the start,” McNamara says.

The matching process that so perfectly pairs “Bigs” and “Littles” is unique to BBBS, perfected over the 120 years since the organization’s inception in 1904. Specially trained match advisors conduct in-depth interviews with the child, the family, and the potential Big. They pair the mentor and mentee based on common interests and their personalities. “We are essentially putting two strangers together,” explains BBBS of New Hampshire CEO Stacy Kramer. “The two personalities must match.”

For McNamara and Lana, the instant connection they experienced on their first meeting only grew stronger with time. Their first outing to Strawbery Banke Museum’s baby animal exhibit built a foundation for challenges like surfing lessons and rock climbing. The more the Big Sister introduced the timid child to new activities and people, the more the young girl’s confidence blossomed.

A BBBS staff person sets up occasional activities that bring the Big and Little together with other program participants, creating a community called “The Village.” McNamara and Lana took part in many of these outings, but McNamara planned most of their adventures herself, usually every two weeks. Surprisingly, some of the best times were the simplest, like walking along a river or on the beach. The perceptive mentor understood the importance of listening, allowing Lana to vent about school or whatever was on her mind. She soon realized that the activity itself wasn’t what mattered—her Little just loved their time spent together.

Watching the animated movie “Wild Robot” was a surprising catalyst for Lana to open her heart to her Big Sister. The touching storyline of a robot who becomes the adoptive mother of an orphaned goose resonated with the motherless girl and brought both her and her mentor to tears. Knowing that her Little can cry and laugh with her means the world to her Big.

McNamara knows she can’t replace Lana’s mother, but she found special poignancy in sharing holiday activities like baking Christmas cookies and Easter cakes—sentimental traditions the girl would have established with her mother. As a mom herself, McNamara knows the power of memories created in these seemingly ordinary moments.

This past June, after eight years with her Big Sister, a brave, self-confident 17-year-old Lana graduated from high school, aging out of the BBBS program.

“BBBS is like a kiss in a child’s pocket reminding them they have someone in their corner to make their life a little easier.”

But before reaching this milestone, she and McNamara had one more vital excursion: shopping for a prom dress. McNamara was thrilled to be a part of this rite of passage for her longtime mentee.

The day was pure enchantment. While exploring the trove of gowns and accessories at the mall,  a beautiful royal blue dress called out to them. It was sheer kismet— the gown was Lana’s favorite color, and it fit her like the proverbial glove. The radiant smile on the teen’s face was her mentor’s greatest reward.

While McNamara and Lana are no longer an official Big and Little, they have stayed in touch, even taking a two-day trip to New York City. McNamara states

unequivocally that they will be connected forever. “We are friends for life,” she says.

Mentoring Lana has enriched McNamara’s own life and garnered her the exalted title of Big Sister of the Year for 2025. Her rewarding experience inspired her husband, Tim, along with two of their adult sons, to become Big Brothers.

When McNamara’s kids were little, she would put a Hershey’s Kiss in their pocket when they faced a challenging day. About Big Brothers Big Sisters, she says, “BBBS is like a kiss in a child’s pocket reminding them they have someone in their corner to make their life a little easier.”

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

2026 will mark BBBS of New Hampshire’s 60th year serving Granite State children ages six to 18, or through high school graduation. This Seacoast-based nonprofit is a paying affiliate of the national BBBS network, and their fundraising is local and grassroots. The November Thankful Giving campaign runs through November and December, when participating businesses will match any donation. All proceeds support the mission of empowering kids through life-changing mentorships. For more information, go to www.bbbsnh.org .

November is Long Term Care Month

LOVE YOUR HOME AGAIN

sheri@reinan @reinandcod

Our goal is to help you fall in love with your home all over again, transforming it into a sanctuary that embodies your personal style, your values, your memories. Let's work together to create spaces that are as meaningful as they are beautiful.

The season of cozy nights, warm meals, and family gatherings is here! As you prepare for Thanksgiving, don’t forget to give your home some love, too. Before the first big chill, make sure your heating system is ready to keep everyone warm around the table. Seal up any drafts for a more comfortable (and energy-efficient) holiday season. Clear out your gutters to avoid icy surprises later, and if you have a generator, test it now so you’re never left in the dark during a storm. A little prep now means more time to relax and enjoy the season’s simple joys.