Ready to pick

Your guide to finding farm fresh apples and pumpkins

As Kris Mossey of McLeod Bros. Orchards in Milford was getting ready for the farm’s 75th season of pick-your-own apples, she was curious about what the turnout would be like. One week into its season, Mossey said, the orchard had its “busiest Labor Day ever,” and she couldn’t help but surmise it was due to more people staying close to home during the holiday weekend.

“We were pleasantly surprised,” she said. “I think everyone was just so happy to be able to get out with their families … [and] the blessing of pick-your-own apples is that we have plenty of space on the orchards for people to socially distance.”

September is prime apple and pumpkin picking season in New Hampshire, and even though some orchards and farms have had to do things a little differently, like eliminating samples and encouraging pickers to make reservations, there are still dozens of spots in the state to visit. Local apple and pumpkin growers talk about what the season has been like and what you should know when you come to the orchard.

Flavors of fall

According to Mossey, apple picking at McLeod Bros. Orchards began on Aug. 29 with Paula Reds, a mildly tart and juicy early season variety, before the McIntoshes and Cortlands, two of the most popular varieties, arrived about a week later. The McIntosh apple is known for its dark red color and very crisp flavor, making it a great apple for straight eating, while Cortlands have a firmness that makes them great for baking in pies and cakes. As the season moves through the end of September and into October, varieties like Galas, Mutsus, Jonagolds and Roxbury Russets usually become available.

A new feature to the orchard this year, Mossey said, is that pickers are encouraged to make reservations online if they plan to come in a group of six or more people. Simply visit the website and choose an allotted time slot at least 24 hours in advance. Masks are also required at the booth.

“It’s actually been very handy for us, because we know who is coming,” she said. “We’re also asking that just one person from each group comes up and gets their bag.”

In Merrimack, Currier Orchards opened for the season on Sept. 4. Joy Currier said about eight to 10 varieties are available throughout the season — they started with Honeycrisp, a very juicy and sweet variety, while others include Macoun, Gala, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious.

Samantha Fay of Sunnycrest Farm in Londonderry said the orchard is also currently picking Honeycrisp, Gala, McIntosh and Cortlands. During the week, pickers can purchase half-peck, peck or half-bushel-sized bags at the farmstand, while an outdoor booth is serviced on the weekends.

Fay said apples can last several weeks when refrigerated, or you can store them in a dry, cool area, though they will tend to soften up over time. If you’re going to be using them for baking at a later time, Fay said, they can be sliced and frozen.

Apple Hill Farm in Concord, which grows up to around 30 varieties of apples, according to co-owner Diane Souther, opened for apple picking on Sept. 5 with McIntoshes. Cortlands also became available last weekend and dozens more varieties will be ready come October.

Masks or face coverings are required when entering Apple Hill Farm’s store and interacting with staff, but once you purchase your bag and head out in the orchard, you’re allowed to take it off.

The farm also features around 20 different varieties of pumpkins in all sizes. Souther said the smaller, sweeter varieties — known as sugar pumpkins — do not tend to be as meaty or fibrous, and are thus better suited for baking and cooking.

Most pumpkins you’ll see at a farm or orchard that are labeled “field” or “carving” pumpkins are larger and work better if you’re making jack-o’-lanterns with them.

“Field pumpkins are the larger ones that are used for livestock feed … and then the sugar pumpkins are an edible pumpkin,” said Kitt Plummer of Hazelton Orchards in Chester, which opened for the season on Sept. 12 and offers all varieties of apples and pumpkins. “The field pumpkins are too stringy for [cooking]. Cows like them. People don’t.”

Rossview Farm in Concord, according to owner Don Ross, was scheduled to begin offering pumpkin picking out of its own patch this week. On Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors will be able to enter the pumpkin patch and collect pumpkins from exactly where they grew.

“We do cut it off the vine for people, but otherwise the pumpkins are not moved,” Ross said. “I usually stay open until Halloween. …We do have a wash station right next to the farm stand where we ask people to wash their hands before they go into the patch and touch the pumpkins.”

If you’re keeping a watchful eye on them, Ross said pumpkins can easily last several months.

“As soon as it gets compromised by something, like one night of good frost, it’s going to slowly start decaying,” he said, “so if you have it out on your doorstep and you know there is frost coming, you can throw a blanket over it or bring it inside.”

Apple cake
Courtesy of Kris Mossey of McLeod Bros. Orchards in Milford
1 cup oil
1½ cups sugar
3 eggs
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sliced apples
1 cup raisins
1 cup nuts
Mix oil, sugar, eggs, flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in a bowl, then add apples, raisins and nuts. Pour mixture into two greased 8-inch pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes.

A season in drought

With the entire state experiencing either moderate or severe drought conditions as of Sept. 11, according to data from the U.S. Drought Monitor, New Hampshire apple and pumpkin growers have been faced with challenges that threaten to stunt the growth of their harvest.

It was also a very hot summer — in some communities, record-breaking. The city of Concord experienced its warmest summer in 144 years of record keeping this year, according to the National Weather Service, with 24 days of 90 degree or higher temperatures.

Warm and dry months of August are usually to be expected, but the extreme heat combined with the abnormal drought conditions has caused problems for some growers.

“We’ve had to irrigate a lot more than ever, because it’s been so dry, so a lot of the apples are much smaller than they usually would be,” Fay said of Sunnycrest Farm. “Some of the apples have been falling off the trees a lot quicker, which has also been an issue for us.”

Ross said although he too has had to perform a lot more irrigation on his pumpkins, his crop this year is still relatively healthy.

“I’m incredibly fortunate to have a very large water supply on my farm,” he said. “The amount of gallons of fuel I’ve had to use, though, has been astronomical compared to normal years.”

Overnight low temperatures moving forward usually determine how late in the season apple picking can last — for McLeod Bros. Orchards, this is usually around Oct. 20, according to Mossey, though if it continues to be warm enough, it can go a little bit longer.

“It’s always different,” she said, “but it’s normally later than the middle of the month, but not right at the end … and then it also depends on if we get picked out.”

Diane’s pumpkin apple crisp
Courtesy of Diane Souther of Apple Hill Farm in Concord
Peel and slice three to four medium-sized tart apples (enough to make three cups worth).
Apple layer:
⅓ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
⅓ cup water (or sweet cider)
2 tablespoons butter

Stir the first five ingredients above and then add the two tablespoons of butter. Place on burner and bring to a slow boil, then add apples and cook and stir for four minutes. Turn off heat and let cool slightly while mixing up pumpkin mixture.

Pumpkin layer:
¾ cup pureed pumpkin (fresh or canned)
¾ cup heavy cream (or evaporated milk)
⅓ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon cloves
¼ teaspoon salt
Mix together above ingredients until smooth.
Crisp topping layer:
1 cup flour
1 cup dark brown sugar
½ to ¾ stick margarine or butter, slightly softened
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix above ingredients in a separate bowl until crumbly. In a 9-by-13 lightly sprayed pan, spread out the apple mixture from the saucepan. Pour the pumpkin layer over the top, then add the crisp topping. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately one hour, or until mixture is bubbly. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream on top.

Crockpot apple cider beef stew
Courtesy of Diane Souther of Apple Hill Farm in Concord
1½ to 2 pounds lean stew beef
2 slices of bacon
8 carrots, sliced thin
6 medium potatoes, sliced thin
2 apples, chopped (Cortland or Northern Spy varieties work well)
2 teaspoons salt
½ cup chopped onion
2 cups fresh apple cider

Cook the bacon slices in a saute pan, then remove and pat dry with a paper towel. Preserve bacon fat and saute the beef and chopped onion in it. Pat the beef dry and add to crockpot with remaining ingredients. Stir to mix, cover and cook on low for eight hours. Thicken juices with a flour and cold water mixture (about 1½ to 2 tablespoons of flour and 2 tablespoons of water).

Where to get farm fresh apples and pumpkins
Most of these southern New Hampshire farms will offer pick-your-own apples through the middle or the end of October, depending on weather conditions and availability. Some also offer a few varieties of field or sugar pumpkins, either pick-your-own or for sale at the farmstand. Do you know of a farm offering pick-your-own apples or pumpkins that isn’t on this list? Let us know at food@hippopress.com.

Apple Annie
66 Rowell Road E, Brentwood, 778-3127, appleannienh.org
What: Apples
Cost: $10 per half peck and $20 per peck
Days/times: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (by reservation only; visit the website)

Applecrest Farm Orchards
133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls, 926-3721, applecrest.com
What: Apples and pumpkins
Cost: Apples are $30 per peck and $40 per half bushel; pumpkins are sold by the pound
Days/times: Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Apple Hill Farm
580 Mountain Road, Concord, 224-8862, applehillfarmnh.com
What: Apples and pumpkins
Cost: Apples are $15 per peck and $25 per half bushel; pumpkins range from 59 cents to $2, depending on the size and variety
Days/times: Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Appleview Orchard
1266 Upper City Road, Pittsfield, 435-3553, applevieworchard.com
What: Apples
Cost: $1.50 per pound
Days/times: Daily, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Brookdale Fruit Farm
41 Broad St., Hollis, 465-2240, brookdalefruitfarm.com
What: Apples and pumpkins
Cost: Apples are $30 per half bushel or $1.50 per pound; pumpkins vary in cost depending on the size and the variety
Days/times: Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Carter Hill Orchard
73 Carter Hill Road, Concord, 225-2625, carterhillapples.com
What: Apples and pumpkins
Cost: Apples are $6 per half peck, $12 per peck and $24 per half bushel; pumpkins range from $4 to $10, depending on the size
Days/times: Daily, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Currier Orchards
9 Peaslee Road, Merrimack, 881-8864, find them on Facebook @currierorchards
What: Apples
Cost: $15 per 10-pound bag and $30 per 20-pound bag
Days/times: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

DeMeritt Hill Farm
20 Orchard Way, Lee, 868-2111, demeritthillfarm.com
What: Apples and pumpkins
Cost: Apples are $5 per quarter peck, $17 per peck and $30 per half bushel; pumpkins range from $5 to $15, depending on the size
Days/times: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Elwood Orchards
54 Elwood Road, Londonderry, 434-6017, elwoodorchards.com
What: Apples
Cost: $8 per half peck, $14 per peck and $24 per half bushel
Days/times: Daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Gould Hill Farm
656 Gould Hill Road, Contoocook, 746-3811, gouldhillfarm.com
What: Apples
Cost: $12 per half peck and $18 per peck
Days/times: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hackleboro Orchards
61 Orchard Road, Canterbury, 783-4248, hackleboroorchards.com
What: Apples
Cost: $6 per half-peck, $10 per peck and $20 per half-bushel
Days/times: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Hazelton Orchards
280 Derry Road, Chester, 493-4804, find them on Facebook @hazeltonorchardschesternh
Cost: Apples are $18 per peck and $28 per half-bushel. Pumpkins range from $3.50 to $8.50 apiece.
What: Apples and pumpkins
Days/times: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

J&F Farms
124 Chester Road, Derry, 437-0535, find them on Facebook @jffarms
What: Pumpkins
Cost: By the pound
Days/times: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Kimball Fruit Farm
Route 122, on the Hollis and Pepperell, Mass., border, 978-433-9751, kimballfruitfarm.com
What: Apples
Cost: $1.25 per pound
Days/times: Daily, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Lavoie’s Farm
172 Nartoff Road, Hollis, 882-0072, lavoiesfarm.com
What: Apples and pumpkins
Cost: Apples are $1.59 per pound; pumpkins are 59 cents per pound
Days/times: Daily, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Lull Farm
65 Broad St., Hollis, 465-7079, livefreeandfarm.com
What: Apples and pumpkins
Cost: Apples are $15 per peck and $30 per half bushel; pumpkins are sold by the pound
Days/times: Daily, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Mack’s Apples
230 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 432-3456, macksapples.com
What: Apples and pumpkins
Cost: Apples are $15 per peck, $25 per half bushel and $45 per bushel (may be subject to change); pumpkins are 50 cents per pound
Days/times: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

McLeod Bros. Orchards
735 N. River Road, Milford, 673-3544, mcleodorchards.com
What: Apples
Cost: $15 per peck and $26 per half-bushel
Days/times: Monday through Friday, 1 to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

McQuesten Farm
330 Charles Bancroft Highway, Litchfield, 424-9268, find them on Facebook @mcquesten.farm
What: Pumpkins (Pick-your-own pumpkins from the hayrides will likely begin the week of Sept. 26; masks will be required for all riders)
Cost: Ranges from 49 cents to $2 per pumpkin, depending on its size and variety
Days/times: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Meadow Ledge Farm
612 Route 129, Loudon, 798-5860, meadowledgefarm.com
What: Apples and pumpkins
Cost: Apples are $1.55 per pound; pumpkins are 59 cents per pound
Days/times: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Rossview Farm
85 District 5 Road, Concord, 228-4872, rossviewfarm.com
What: Pumpkins
Cost: Varies, depending on the size and the variety of the pumpkin (starts at 50 cents per pound)
Days/times: Thursday and Friday, noon to 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Scamman Farm
69 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham, 686-1258, scammanfarm.com
What: Pumpkins
Cost: Ranges from 60 cents to $1 per pound, depending on the size and the variety of the pumpkin
Days/times: Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sullivan Farm
70 Coburn Ave., Nashua, 595-4560, find them on Facebook
What: Apples
Cost: $1 per pound
Days/times: Daily, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Sunnycrest Farm
59 High Range Road, Londonderry, 432-7753, sunnycrestfarmnh.com
What: Apples and pumpkins
Cost: Apples are $8 per half peck, $15 per peck and $30 per half bushel; pumpkins vary in cost, depending on the size and variety
Days/times: Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Trombly Gardens
150 N. River Road, Milford, 673-0647, tromblygardens.net
What: Pumpkins
Cost: Costs are by weight, depending on the size and variety of the pumpkin
Days/times: Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Featured Photo: McLeod Bros. Orchards in Milford. Photo by Matt Ingersoll.

The Weekly Dish 20/09/17

News from the local food scene

Milford extends outdoor farmers market: The Milford Farmers Market has extended its outdoor season through Nov. 21, market manager Adrienne Colsia confirmed. The outdoor version of the market was originally scheduled to end Oct. 10, with the indoor market kicking off a few weeks later, but Colsia said the decision was made to extend the outdoor market to promote social distancing among vendors and shoppers. Whether there will be an indoor market in Milford this winter “is up in the air at the moment,” according to Colsia; if there is not, she said, then the outdoor market will likely open earlier in the season than normal next year. The outdoor market is held every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 300 Elm St. in Milford (across the street from the New Hampshire Antique Co-op). Visit milfordnhfarmersmarket.com.

The Packie reopens: After several months of being open for pickup and delivery only, local craft beer shop The Packie (581 Second St., Manchester) reopened to in-store shoppers on Sept. 11. In June, The Packie relocated from South Willow Street to a new larger space in the Second Street Shoppes plaza, allowing for more added space for inventory, owner Jon Pinches said. Masks and six-foot social distancing are required when in the shop, which is now open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Curbside pickup also continues to be available. Visit thepackienh.com.

Soup’s on: The Collins Brothers Chowder Co. (59 Temple St., Nashua), which offers homemade hot soups and chowders in addition to prepared meals, will reopen for the season on Sept. 23. The takeout-only eatery usually features several soups and chowders that are available daily, in addition to different specials that will run depending on the day. Homemade comfort meals to go like shepherd’s pie, chicken pot pie and American chop suey, in addition to sweet treats like brownies and cookies, have also been available. The restaurant will be open Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., through about the end of May. Find them on Facebook @collinsbrotherschowder or call 883-2347.

Store like a squirrel

How to prep your food for winter

Like a conscientious squirrel, I put away food for the winter in August and September. I freeze and dehydrate lots of vegetables and store some in my cool basement. Here are some tips on ways to save food for later.

I grew about a dozen kale plants this year. The workhorses are those that end in “bor” — winterbor, redbor, starbor and others. I get seeds from Johnny’s Selected Seeds of Maine to start my own indoors in the spring, or find them at my local garden center growing in six-packs. Most of the kale I grow is for winter use because it freezes so well. This week I put up eight-quart freezer bags of kale, and I still have more I may process later.

To freeze kale I wash it first and make sure it is free of (ugh) slugs and bugs. Then I either pull the leaves off the midrib or slice it off. I chop the kale into one- or two-inch squares prior to blanching in boiling water.

To blanch the kale I submerge it in boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds. This will kill the “aging” enzymes in kale, allowing me to keep it frozen and good to eat practically forever, if need be. Normally I eat all the kale within a year of freezing it, which is recommended. I could freeze kale without blanching it if I were planning on eating it all in three months or so. But blanching also allows me to pack more kale in each bag.

For the blanching of kale and other veggies, I use my big black tin pot that is sold for hot water bath canning — it is roughly 14 inches wide and 9 inches deep and will hold seven quart mason jars for canning tomatoes. I fill the canner half full and bring to a full, rolling boil.

I have a special blanching pot that fits inside it — a metal pot with big holes in the bottom and sides, and a handle for putting it inside my canning pot and taking it out. You can buy a canner at any hardware store, but the inserts are harder to find — a restaurant supply store should have them.

Then I drop in the kale; I do 15 leaves or so at a time. The water will just barely come to a re-boil in 60 seconds. Use a timer. If you use lots of water and not too many leaves, you can blanch for just 30 seconds.

Next you want to cool the kale quickly. Some people prepare an ice bath, but I just fill the kitchen sink with cold tap water. I lift the blanching pot and let the water drain back into the canner. Then, with the lid of the canner under the pot, I move from stove to sink and drop the kale into the cold water. I stir, then scoop it out with a colander or slotted spoon, and put it into my salad spinner. The brand I prefer is Zylis, which has a pull string, not a crank. Sometimes I squeeze the kale to get some of the water out before spinning it.

Lastly, I dump the damp kale out of the salad spinner and onto a clean dish towel on the countertop. I pat it and roll it in the towel to remove more moisture. I fill bags, squeeze out some air, and then suck out as much air as I can with a straw inserted into the bag when it is closed right up to the straw. Still sucking, I pull the straw and snap the zipper shut.

Other veggies I blanch include beans, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, kale, peaches, spinach and Swiss chard. But not all veggies need blanching. Things I don’t blanch include apples, berries, pears, peppers, leeks and tomatoes. And I bake or steam winter squash, then freeze it.

Summer squash for use as a side dish needs only 30 seconds of blanching, but squash for soup I don’t blanch at all. This week I put up 11 quarts of grated Romanesco zucchini for use in soups. Even big Romanescos are good, if you remove the seeds. I use the grater blade on my food processor to grate it — it would take forever by hand. One bag of grated zucchini with an equal amount of tomato (which I freeze whole), some onions or frozen leeks, vegetable bouillon and spices makes a great winter soup.

I grow a lot of leeks, in part because they freeze so well. I wash them, take off a layer or so of outer leaves, cut off the tops and quarter them lengthwise. I chop them, put them in freezer bags and suck out the air. They last forever in the freezer. I store lots of onions, but always run out before next year’s crop comes in. And onions don’t last forever, even in cool storage, so I use leeks in soups and stews when I run out of onions. I’ll put up a dozen quarts of leeks or more this year.

I haven’t harvested potatoes yet. I plant mine in June to avoid potato beetles. Didn’t have a single one this year! But it also means my potatoes are still growing now and are not ready to harvest. I have “stolen” a few by reaching under a plant and grabbing a few but not disrupting the others.

Potatoes store well in a spare fridge, or in a cement-block enclosure with a plywood lid in a cold space that stays in the 33- to 50-degree zone. Mice love them, so an old fridge really is best unless you are storing a lot of them. If I had to survive on what I grew, I’d grow a lot of potatoes and store them well.

So get to work. No point in growing a lot of produce and letting it go to waste. Of course, it’s fun to share with friends and the local food pantry.

Treasure hunt
Dear Donna,
This was mine when I was young and now I have no need for it. Can you tell me if it has value or should I pass it on to my niece?
Claire


Dear Claire,
Barbies have evolved drastically since the first one was created and signed by Ruth Handler in 1959. My thoughts are that any doll or case that made it through all these years of playing should have a value. That, however, is not always the case.
The first Barbie is still sought after. She can bring a very high value depending on condition. I think that other items such as outfits can be in demand as well. It all depends on how many of the items were made and their condition, and if the dolls are American-made.
Now let’s get to cases such as yours. They made so many and in different styles. Yours is a 1961 Ponytail Barbie carrying case and looks to be in fair (but faded) condition. I’m not sure how they could have ever made it through in excellent condition — who didn’t play with their Barbies every day?
Because so many were made, the value on the cases seems relatively low, in the range of $15 to $25, depending on condition and whether the drawer is still inside. If it were me I would pass it down and let your niece enjoy an old case for new dolls.
Donna Welch has spent more than 30 years in the antiques and collectibles field, appraising and instructing, and recently closed the physical location of From Out Of The Woods Antique Center (fromoutofthewoodsantiques.com) but is still doing some buying and selling. She is a member of The New Hampshire Antiques Dealer Association. If you have questions about an antique or collectible send a clear photo and information to Donna at footwdw@aol.com, or call her at 391-6550 or 624-8668.

Featured Photo: Blanching kale is worth the work. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

Playing the field

Shakespeare comes to the Fisher Cats Stadium

See Romeo and Juliet as you never have before during “Shakespeare in the (Ball)Park” on Sunday, Sept. 20, in Manchester. Cue Zero Theatre Co. will perform the bard’s classic tragedy at the Fisher Cats’ Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, with a baseball-themed twist.

Though the concept seems like one that would be created with Covid safety and social distancing in mind, artistic director Dan Pelletier said, Cue Zero had actually planned the event pre-Covid as part of its Guerilla Shakespeare Series, a series of staged readings of Shakespeare plays done in unconventional venues.

“‘Shakespeare in the Park’ is a regular theater staple all over, so I just thought ‘Shakespeare in the (Ball)Park’ would be something different and fun,” Pelletier said. “Then, when Covid hit, things were being canceled left and right, and we thought, ‘Can we still pull this off?’ and the Fisher Cats said, ‘If you still want to do it, we will.’”

Actors will perform in the middle of left field facing the Stonyfield Pavilion, where the audience will be seated in tiered swivel seats normally reserved at games for private groups.

“They’re the best seats in the house, basically,” said Tyler Murray, Fisher Cats broadcasting and media relations manager. “It’s a cool and unique place to see a play.”

“It’s kind of neat, because having the audience above the actors almost gives it that amphitheater feel, similar to how Shakespeare plays were traditionally performed at the Globe in England,” Pelletier added.

The Pavilion, which has a total of 165 seats, will be able to safely accommodate around 100 people for the play, Murray said. Ticket holders from the same household will be seated together, with at least six feet of distance between them and the rest of the audience. Masks will be required while moving around the venue but can be removed while seated.

“We’re expecting this to be a small event,” Murray said, adding that there are still a number of tickets available.

The play will keep the original Shakespearean text, but in a comedic tone that is more in line with a farce than with a tragedy, Pelletier said, and portrays the play’s “extreme and emotional” characters more as “tragic clowns.”

“When you really break down the plot of Romeo and Juliet, it’s kind of ridiculous,” he said. “A 16-year-old and 14-year-old meet on Monday, think they’re in love, and by the end of the week, an entire town has been torn apart because two teenagers thought each other were cute.”

Baseball iconography will be incorporated through the costumes and props. The play’s feuding families, for example — the Montagues and the Capulets — will be Boston Red Sox fans and New York Yankees fans, respectively, and will don fan apparel. Juliet’s suitor Paris will wear a New York Mets jersey; Prince Escalus, who seeks to keep the peace between the Montagues and the Capulets, will be dressed as a baseball umpire; and the Apothecary will be a ballpark vendor selling popcorn, peanuts and poison.

Wiffle ball and Nerf bats and baseball gloves will be used as rapiers and daggers.

“The stage combat style is a little bit Looney Tunes and a little bit Three Stooges,” Pelletier said. “We’re keeping everything as goofy and fun as possible.”

Since there will be no curtain, special lighting or set changes, stadium music and baseball sound effects “like what you would hear between innings at a baseball game or while a player is walking onto the field” will be used as a transition element between scenes, Pelletier said.

“I think people will have a really good time seeing how many different ways we can cram baseball things into this 400-year-old play,” he said.

Shakespeare in the (Ball)Park – Romeo and Juliet
Where: Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, 1 Line Drive, Manchester
When: Sunday, Sept. 20, 2 p.m.
Tickets: $10
More info: Visit cztheatre.com or nhfishercats.com, or call 606-4105.

Featured Photo: Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 20/09/17

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities

Musical comedy at the Palace: The Palace Theatre’s (80 Hanover St., Manchester) mainstage production of Nunsense is on stage now through Oct. 4. When a nun accidentally poisons and kills 52 of her sisters, she and the surviving sisters at the parish put on a variety show to raise funds for the burials. The musical features “tap and ballet dancing, audience participation and comic surprises at every corner,” according to the theater’s website. Showtimes are on Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays at noon and 5 p.m.; with an additional show on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $39 to $46 for adults and $25 for children. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

Outdoor violin concert: The Sunday Artists Series’ Concerts on the Green at Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury) continues with The Suzuki Strings on Sunday, Sept. 20, from 4 to 5 p.m. The Suzuki Strings is a group of about 25 violinists ages 4 through 17 from all over New Hampshire who have learned to play violin using the methodology of Japanese musician and music educator Shinichi Suzuki (1898 – 1998). The following concert will be The Wholly Rollers, a bluegrass band from Concord, on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 4 to 5 p.m. The concerts will be held on the lawn leading to and surrounding the Village’s Meeting House. Attendees should wear masks and follow the social distancing guidelines by sitting within the painted circles on the lawn. Seating is first come, first served. The concerts are free, with a suggested donation of $10. Call 783-9511 or visit shakers.org.

Portraits with social commentary: The Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord) presents an exhibition, “Life’s Work: Occupations & Identity,” in its Carriage House Gallery now through Sept. 28. It features portrait photography by Maundy Mitchell that explores the evolution of trades and societal views on identity and jobs. Gallery hours are Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call 225-3932 or visit kimballjenkins.com.

Pandemic poetry reading: The Center for the Book at the New Hampshire State Library presents a virtual reading event for COVID Spring: Granite State Pandemic Poems on Monday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The poetry anthology, edited by New Hampshire Poet Laureate Alexandria Peary and published by Hobblebush Books earlier this month, features original poems submitted by 54 New Hampshire writers. The poems “provide a thirty-day snapshot of what life was like in the Granite State in April of 2020” and explore topics like Covid-related “job loss, loneliness and love, masks, social distancing, surreal visitors, uncertainty, graduations deferred, grief, neighborly and less-than-neighborly acts, observing the beginning of the pandemic and making projections about the future, recalibrating or confirming what it means to be human, to be a resident of this region,” Peary said in the anthology’s introduction. Visit newhampshirepoetlaureate.blogspot.com for the Zoom link to the event, which will be posted on Friday, Sept. 18, and for updates on more upcoming readings TBA. The book is available to purchase at local bookstores, Hobblebush Books (hobblebush.com), Small Press Distribution (spdbooks.org) and Amazon, and the publisher will donate $2 from every copy sold to the New Hampshire Food Bank to support New Hampshire residents impacted by the pandemic.

Featured Photo: Portrait photography by Maundy Mitchell, featured in “Life’s Work: Occupations & Identity” at Kimball Jenkins. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 20/09/17

Capital Arts Fest is a go

The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen announced in a press release on Sept. 14 that it will move ahead with its third annual Capital Arts Fest, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27, on South Main Street in Concord. The event will feature more than 20 craftsmen, food, and live music coordinated by the Capitol Center for the Arts. It will be held outside the League’s headquarters, across from the Cap Center, with tents spaced out up and down the street to allow for social distancing.
Score: +1

Comment: “When we surveyed our members, our first and only real concern was their health and safety, but we were overwhelmed with people who are excited to show their work and be able to do something safely in person,” Miriam Carter, executive director of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, said in the release.

Fewer people unemployed

New Hampshire saw a 1.5-percent decline in its unemployment rate from July to August, according to a Sept. 15 press release from New Hampshire Employment Security. The unemployment rate for August was 6.5 percent, an increase of 3,030 workers in the state’s labor force for a total of 737,420. “Today’s labor report shows that our approach has paid off and New Hampshire remains on track to returning to the historic economic highs we enjoyed prior to the onset of Covid-19,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement following the release of the report.
Score: 0 (+1 for the positive decline, -1 for the still-high rate)

Comment: New Hampshire’s unemployment rate of 6.5 percent remains below the national average of 8.4 percent.

Granite Staters getting vaccinated

New Hampshire is the third most vaccinated state in the country in 2020, according to a new study from personal-finance website WalletHub. According to the study, the Granite State ranks third for share of adults with tetanus vaccination; ninth for share of teenagers aged 13-17 with up-to-date HPV vaccination; 10th for share of adults aged 60 and older with zoster vaccination; 11th for share of children 19-35 months old living in poverty with combined 7-vaccine series; and 13th for influenza vaccination rate in children aged 6 months to 17 years old. New Hampshire was also in the Top 15 for flu vaccination coverage rate among adults and share of civilian noninstitutionalized population without health insurance coverage.
Score: +1

Comment:According to WalletHub, 1 in 3 Americans have said they will choose not to get a Covid-19 vaccine once it is developed.

A new local celebrity

A legally owned 40-pound African serval cat named Spartacus, owned by a family in Merrimack, has gained quite a following. After the Merrimack Police Department posted Sept. 10 on its Facebook page that Spartacus had gone missing from its owners’ home, thousands of people left comments and shared the post. A follow-up post two days later announced that the cat had been found. “It was trapped near its home and is in good health,” the post read.
Score: +1

Comment: After several Facebook commenters said they want to know more about Spartacus, the cat’s owner, Dean King, posted that Spartacus is on Instagram @spartacustheserval.

QOL score: 55

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 58

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Can Celtics take the Heat?

In a normal year we preview big leaguewide NFL stories as the season starts moving into high gear in Week 2 September. But, since this year isn’t normal, we’ll push to next week, mentioning that Cam Newton had more rushing yards in his first Patriots game on Sunday than Tom Brady had in any entire season during 20 years in New England. Instead, with the NBA playoffs going on in September for the first time ever, we’re focused on the Eastern Conference Final matchup between the Celtics and the Miami Heat that got underway on Tuesday night.

How’s Boston Doing Without Kyrie?

Well, with much of the basketball media, including the clueless crew in New York, somehow still calling him a “superstar” after he did the same thing to the Nets he did to the Celtics, they’re going to the Eastern Conference Final for the third time in four years. The only time they didn’t go? The year Kyrie played and choked his way through Round II by shooting 30 percent as they got croaked in five by Milwaukee. As I said when he left for Brooklyn, addition by subtraction, and that’s clearly the case.

Udonis Haslem Effect: Miami must really like his effect in the locker room because the 40-year-old one-time starter hasn’t played as many as 30 games since 2015-16 and he’s still on the team. He’s also the last playing link to Matt Bonner; they were teammates when Florida went to the NCAA Finals in 2000.

Five Quick Thoughts on Miami:(1) They play great team D. (2) Bam Adebayo is a lot better than most people realize. He shot 52 percent, grabs 10 boards a game and is a solid defender. (3) Ditto for tragic Goran Dragic, a versatile and physical offensive player who averaged 19.8 vs. the Bucks. (4) They’re good and very consistent shooting threes. (5) Erik Spoelstra is an excellent coach and not in the whiney, what a tool, way Rob (good night) Nurse is.

New Hampshire Connection: The three-point bomber from New Castle, Duncan Robinson, is trying to become just the second New Hampshire native to win an NBA title. At the moment he’s seven or eight wins away from joining Bonner, who won two with San Antonio. But if the Celtics don’t take away his and Tyler Herro’s long-range shooting room, he’ll just be four shy come Sept. 30.

How’d They’d Get There? – Heat: They’re 8-1 in the playoffs and easily took out Milwaukee in five games. They did it by building a defensive wall that held 29.5 per game scoring Giannis Antetokounmpo to just 21 per and by being a whopping 63 better on threes. Part of that was due to holding Milwaukee to 32 percent behind the line to their 37 percent, but a bigger factor was taking 36 more long-range bombs.

How’d They Get There? – Celtics: Team defense and getting to the line. The Raptors were held to 32 percent on threes and 44 percent on twos when in the regular season it was 37 percent and 52 percent. Which is how they held their own despite Toronto taking 29 more shots, 20 of which were from downtown. But overall the C’s were just a +1 in points from the field. The difference was at the foul line, where they outscored Toronto 128-108 by taking it inside to get fouled (Tatum was a series best 43-54) and earning more opportunities by being better in transition.

The Key Players

Guys who need to be the game-to-game best player for their team to win.

Heat – Jimmy Butler: There are things I don’t like about him and I probably don’t give him as much credit as he deserves. But he’s a good fit in Miami because it demands maximum effort from everyone so his chirping about that is less irritating. He’s also their leading scorer and a strong defender who’ll give Kemba, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown trouble.

Celtics – Jayson Tatum:

There was a lot of gushing over him during the Raptor series, but there was a lot to not gush about too. The rebounding, defense and passing, especially on the move, have all improved, as has his versatility in scoring, so he’s on his way to becoming something. But he needs to knock off the stream of brain dead plays that kill half-court flow and lead to turnovers or forced shots. Plus stop whining after every call and non-call. It diverts attention from getting back on D or being in the moment while building a rep as a whiner. In short, time to grow up. Though I must continually remind myself he’s just 22. By contrast Larry Bird was 26 in his third NBA season. Next step to being the Top 10 player he can be is greater full-time focus and growing maturity.

X-Factors

Things the pundits don’t talk enough about that can have a big impact.

Heat – The Bench: The mid-year additions of grizzled Andre Iguodala and old friend Jae Crowder made them more physical defensively and lengthened their bench, which could be a key since we’re never sure what the Celtics bench will do.

Celtics – Marcus Smart: It’d be nice to get Gordon Hayward back, but it’s Marcus who makes big plays in so many different ways. He’s got no fear, which is why he’s the only inconsistent shooter I’m OK seeing take the last shot because he’s convinced he’ll make it even when he’s 1-25.

Five Things Boston Must Do To Win: (1) Do not drift on Miami’s three-point shooters. Especially Robinson and Herro, who they must make put it on the floor, because when they catch and shoot they’re deadly. (2) Solid man defense on everyone because double teams and rotations leave the weak side open, where Miami kills you. (3) Win the transition game. (4) Make threes. Miami will take more, so Boston needs to shoot a better percentage. (5) Tatum can’t drift mentally, because they need him in the moment the whole series.

Pink cars and drive-ins

Change of pace for annual breast cancer fundraiser

The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer movement in New Hampshire is taking a different approach to its fundraising efforts this fall. Instead of its usual community walks, Making Strides will host a series of six socially distanced events, including “Drive-in Experiences” in Nashua, Exeter, Concord/Bow and Manchester and “Rolling Pink Car Rallies” in Laconia and North Conway. Chelsea Paradore, senior manager of community development for the American Cancer Society Northeast Region, talked about what the events will look like, how people can get involved and why fundraising for cancer research is important now more than ever.

What will Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events in New Hampshire look like this year?

We have four drive-in experiences. At the largest one, which is in Concord and will be held in the evening, people can donate luminaries in honor or in memory of someone who has been affected by breast cancer or has lost their battle, and we’ll have those luminary bags lit up as people drive in. There will be a movie screen and a stage set up, so we’ll have a video ceremony; we’ll have survivor speakers; we’ll hear from a researcher; we’ll hear from some of our sponsors and different team leaders; and people will share their stories about how they’ve been affected by breast cancer. Then, after inspiring people, we want to kind of lighten things up and have a little fun, so we’ll have a live band that will play. We’re also asking people to deck out their cars in pink, so there will be prizes for the most spirited car, and we’ll have some other fun games going on throughout the evening. … Then, we have a couple car rallies, which are really more about spreading awareness. … People are asked to decorate their cars in pink and have signs on the outside. … So, it’s not going to be the three- to five-mile walk alongside survivors and caregivers that we would normally be doing, but I think we’ve figured out, this year more than ever, that this isn’t just about a walk; it’s about a movement.

How has Covid-19 impacted Making Strides/American Cancer Society?

It has severely impeded our fundraising activity this year. We’re expecting a minimum of a $200 million shortfall, just in 2020. Essentially, we have gone from a $700 million operating budget to $500 million operating budget, which we had to reduce between personnel and non-personnel expenses. We were sadly forced to eliminate approximately 1,000 staff positions nationwide. The remaining staff have had reduced salaries. Our CEO got a 25-percent reduction in salary. … That’s just the immediate impact; who knows what the next couple of years is going to look like? The scariest part is the impact on our mission. Our hallmark is research funding, and right now that’s in jeopardy. [Covid-19] is going to reduce our ability to fund cancer research by 50 percent in 2020, which is the lowest investment this century.

How does the fundraising work?

It’s actually super easy. When someone registers on our website they get a “fundraising dashboard,” and right from that fundraising dashboard they can email their friends and family, and they can start a Facebook fundraiser, which we know is wildly successful. We also have a fundraising app … which connects them right to their fundraising dashboard. They can take donations by credit card, Google Pay and Apple Pay, and they can take checks, which works just like mobile banking.

How do small community events like these help ACS carry out its mission?

Community events are volunteer-led, so we have a group of volunteer committees at each of these [event] locations in New Hampshire, and they pour their heart and soul into planning these events. Volunteer-led events allow us to save money internally on staffing, and therefore more money is going to the cause. … The awareness piece of it is even bigger, in my eyes. It’s really important to reach people in the community on a local level, to let them know what the American Cancer Society can do, should they ever need to call our number; and to make sure they are getting screened properly, talking to their doctors and taking control of their health.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
Drive-in Experiences
• Nashua South High School, 36 Riverside St., Nashua, Sunday, Oct. 4, 3 to 5 p.m.
• FieldHouse Sports, 12 Tallwood Drive, Bow, Friday, Oct. 16, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
• McDevitt Trucks, 220 Frontage Road, Manchester, Sunday, Oct. 18, 1:30 to 4 p.m.
• Lincoln Street Elementary School, 25 Lincoln St., Exeter, Sunday, Oct. 18, 1 to 4 p.m.
Rolling Pink Car Rallies
• Laconia Middle School, 150 McGrath St., Laconia, Sunday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m. arrival, 10:30 a.m. start
• Stonehurst Manor, 3351 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, Sunday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m. arrival, 10:30 a.m. start
Find registration information for all drive-in and car rally events on Facebook.

Featured photo: Chelsea Paradore. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 20/09/17

Covid-19 updateAs of September 7As of September 14
Total cases statewide7,4767,714
Total current infections statewide238291
Total deaths statewide433436
New cases201 (Sept. 1 to Sept. 7)238 (Sept. 8 to Sept. 14)
Current infections: Hillsborough County8493
Current infections: Merrimack County2022
Current infections: Rockingham County5594
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

Covid-19 news

On Sept. 4, Gov. Chris Sununu issued Exhibit Q to Emergency Order No. 29, which had been issued on April 9. Emergency Order No. 29 requires state agencies, boards and commissions to submit recommendations to Sununu if any regulatory deadlines should be adjusted in response to the state of emergency. Per Exhibit Q, all continuing education requirements for currently permitted New Hampshire septic system designers and installers who had been scheduled to renew their permits by Dec. 31 have been waived. Exhibit Q also extends certain renewal deadlines for those in the Department of Environmental Services’ Waste Management Division that hold tank operator certifications or hazardous waste coordinator certifications that have expired during the state of emergency.
On Sept. 9, Sununu issued Emergency Order No. 68, an order that expands unemployment compensation to Granite Staters. The order was issued to broaden eligibility for New Hampshire residents collecting unemployment to receive an additional $300 in federal benefits from the Lost Wages Assistance Program, an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Aug. 8. The next day, during a press conference, Sununu announced that $81 million was paid out to about 57,000 people in New Hampshire through the program.
During the same Sept. 10 press conference, state Department of Health & Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette provided an update on the phased reopening statuses of New Hampshire’s long-term care facilities. She explained that long-term care facilities that operate for two weeks successfully in Phase 2 will get to move to Phase 3 if their counties drop below or maintain below 10 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 residents. Phase 3 allows up to two visitors for each resident at the facility, as well as communal dining and group activities with physical distancing. While long-term care facilities in Belmont and Coos counties were able to remain at Phase 3 of reopening, those in Grafton County fell back from Phase 3 to Phase 2. Facilities in Sullivan County were able to transition to Phase 3 of reopening for the first time, Shibinette said.
Also on Sept. 10, Sununu announced a transfer of $7 million in federal CARES act funding to the New Hampshire Department of Education to support the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School, according to a press release. The public charter school provides online virtual instruction to elementary, middle and high school students in the state. The demand from the school has nearly tripled over the summer, according to the release, with nearly 6,000 students requesting enrollment in more than 18,000 courses.
Details of Sununu’s Emergency Orders, Executive Orders and other announcements can be found at governor.nh.gov.

School funding

The New Hampshire Commission to Study School Funding recently released a report that shows that New Hampshire’s current system for funding schools “may not be working for large segments of students and taxpayers,” according to a press release. The report was prepared by the American Institutes for Research and is meant to guide the commission as it creates a new school funding model. The commission and members of the Carsey School of Public Policy at UNH will examine the report as well as possibilities for more equitable school funding, according to the release, and the commission plans to release its final report later in the year.

Equity in voting

In a letter sent last week to Secretary of State William Gardner, the Manchester Mayor’s Multicultural Advisory Council has expressed concerns about access to voting in the general election. One issue, the letter said, is that immigrants are at risk of missing out on the voting process because materials that explain how to vote are only available in English. “Since expanded Covid-related absentee registration and voting is new and unusual, people who don’t speak English at an advanced level may have difficulty finding out how to exercise their right to vote,” the letter reads. It calls on the state to make the materials available in languages such as Nepali, Swahili, Spanish and French. The second issue is that ballot drop boxes outside of City Hall hours are not allowed. “If there were some drop-off boxes, perhaps at City Hall for a few days before the elections and at the polling places on Election Day, people could drop off their ballots without risk of contracting Covid-19 or having them get delayed or lost in the mail,” the council wrote. The letter invited Gardner to contact the council if he wanted to discuss the matters.

Aluminum tariff

In a letter sent to President Donald Trump on Sept. 8, Gov. Chris Sununu, along with Maine Gov. Janet Mills and Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, asked Trump to reverse the re-imposition of a 10-percent tariff on imports of non-alloyed unwrought aluminum from Canada, according to a press release. The letter said that the tariff will raise costs and reduce competitiveness for aluminum-consuming industries in New England, which would disrupt manufacturing and technical production supply chains. “Ultimately, artificially inflated costs will be passed on to consumers who are already struggling with the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the press release said.

Variance denied

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics’ Feb. 11, 2021, deadline for completing construction and installation of a regenerative thermal oxidizer at its Merrimack facility, meant to control the emission of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), will stand after the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services denied Saint-Gobain’s request for a one-year extension, citing a danger to public health. According to a press release, Saint-Gobain submitted a variance petition for the extension in June, requesting the extension due to delays caused by the pandemic as well as the Town of Merrimack’s appeal of an air permit that was issued by NHDES in February. The variance request was denied, according to the release, because of a state statute that says a variance cannot be granted to anyone who is causing air pollution that creates a danger to public health. “The current emission of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) and precursors continue to contribute to an exceedance of ambient groundwater quality standards,” the press release said. Saint-Gobain has 30 days from the time of the decision to appeal.

The White Mountains ranked fourth in USA Today’s top 2020 fall foliage destinations, according to a press release. The only other spot in New England to make the top 10 was Stowe, Vermont, which ranked sixth

Concord is hosting its annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day for Concord and Penacook residents on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Everett Arena. Hazardous waste includes cleaners, oil-based paint, pesticides, adhesives, polishes and fuels, according to a post on concordnh.gov. Proof of residency is required.

The Solinsky Center for Cancer at Elliot Hospital in Manchester, which opened in August, received a $100,000 donation last week from Brady Sullivan Properties. The news center offers “state-of-the-art cancer care and treatment,” according to a press release.

Register now to take part in a blood drive for the American Red Cross on Wednesday, Sept. 30, from noon to 5 p.m. at LaBelle Winery in Amherst. Blood donation time slots are available every 15 minutes and all donors will be tested for Covid-19 antibodies, according to a press release. To reserve a donation time, go to redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive.

Voting principles

Being first in the nation for the presidential primary, we in New Hampshire take our politics seriously. Our residents generally take the time to educate themselves before heading to the polls and make a considered, thoughtful vote. The pandemic has changed the way we live our lives and restricted our freedom in many ways. Fortunately, it didn’t slow our desire or ability to vote in the primary on Sept. 8. With more than 90,000 absentee ballots cast, Secretary of State Bill Gardner reported a record turnout with total ballots cast of over 300,000. If you voted in person, there were mask requirements, social distancing, hand sanitizer, and for those who refused to wear a mask, outside voting stations were available in many towns. The months of preparation for a smooth and successful primary election were on display.

In the “Live Free or Die” state we call home, our residents typically have strong convictions and principled views, making it sometimes nearly impossible to prepare for every circumstance during voting day. Just ask Exeter Town Moderator Paul Scafidi. After he informed a voter that she could not wear an anti-Trump T-shirt inside the polling place, the woman surprised everybody by simply taking the T-shirt off and voting topless. In Portsmouth two individuals took exception with being asked to wear a mask to vote, or alternatively to vote in the tented area outside. Both individuals refused to comply with either request, necessitating a call to the police. Ultimately they were allowed to vote inside without a mask, with one noting they “stood up for the courage of our convictions,” according to media reports.

There is an awful lot we don’t agree on these days — who to vote for, Covid-19, mask requirements, in-person or remote learning, and the list goes on. One thing our spirited residents do agree on is the importance of casting your ballot. Gov. Chris Sununu recently tweeted, “Make no mistake: the election will happen in New Hampshire on November 3rd. End of story. Our voting system in NH is secure, safe, and reliable. We have done it right 100% of the time for 100 years – this year will be no different.” Well said. May the Granite State tradition continue.

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!