Recently I was at my local food coop and chatted with a friend about her gardens. She told me that she is having fabulous luck growing tomatoes, peppers and more in a bucket system she constructed. Her inspiration was a book by Vermont’s Ed Smith, who has written a number of great books, including The Vegetable Gardener’s Container Bible. And although I have used the Ed Smith system in the past, it’s good to see how another person uses it, so I visited her to see what she has done.
Susan Pillsbury has nine or 10 self-watering containers, each made from two 5-gallon buckets. Here is what she did: The bottom bucket is the water reservoir; the top bucket, which nestles inside it, holds soil mix. There is a 3- or 4-inch piece of PVC plumber’s pipe (3-inch diameter) that stands up in the bottom bucket and is full of holes she drilled in it.
The piece of pipe sits in the lower bucket and supports the upper bucket. She used a 2-inch hole saw to put a wide hole in the bottom of the upper bucket, right in the middle.
Holes in lower bucket allow watering from below and draining in times of heavy rains. Courtesy photo.
That short piece of pipe gets filled with soil mix, and because it is sitting in the water reservoir, the soil is constantly wet. Like a wet sponge, it wicks water into the soil in the upper bucket. The wicking action keeps the soil for the plant roots lightly moist. The problem with growing veggies in big pots or buckets is often that they dry out or get waterlogged.
Her lower buckets all have one-inch holes drilled just below the bottom of the upper bucket. If she gets a flood of rain, water passes through the upper bucket and out the lower bucket through those holes. This also allows her to fill the water reservoir from the bottom with a hose. Susan also drilled lots of quarter-inch holes in the bottom of the upper bucket for added drainage.
I asked Susan what kind of soil she used in the buckets. She bought potting mix and mixed it with her own homemade compost in a 50-50 mix. Because a 5-gallon bucket has plenty of soil for roots, and she uses a rich mixture, she does not add any fertilizer.
What does all this cost? Not much, really. Her biggest expense was the plastic buckets, which cost about $5 each, though they are often available free from building contractors. A big bag of potting soil might cost $10 to $12 and would be enough for three or four buckets, once mixed with homemade compost. Purchased compost would add to the cost, but most gardeners make their own. Plastic pipe is not expensive.
I noticed that Susan’s tomatoes were free of disease. Most tomatoes planted in the ground have at least some blight that blackens and kills lower leaves, eventually leaving a plant bare of leaves by September. The most common form of blight lives in the soil and splashes up onto leaves when it rains. But since her plants are in potting soil and cured compost, she has avoided the disease — at least so far. Not only that, her plants are in a fenced dog pen (to avoid deer) and no tomatoes have been grown in there in the past. Obviously blight could blow in and infect her plants, but so far, so good.
Next year Susan intends to grow corn in her self-watering containers. She will use six sets of buckets, each with one or more corn plants. Placed in close proximity, this should allow good pollination. From what she has read, she will need corn plants that are relatively small, given the amount of soil each will be planted in. I watched an online video of corn planted in 30-gallon totes with up to 11 plants in each tote. The ears were large and each plant produced more than one ear.
My Veg Trug grows peppers, herbs and flowers this year. Courtesy photo.
I called Ed Smith to see if he had any updates since writing The Vegetable Gardener’s Container Bible. He and his wife, Sylvia, still grow some vegetables in containers as well as in the ground. Ed turned 80 recently and likes using containers so he doesn’t have to bend quite so far.
Ed told me that he doesn’t bother with self-watering containers any more. He has several 2-foot by 3-foot containers he got from Gardener’s Supply as self-watering containers, but removed the baffle separating the water reservoir from the planting space, giving him deeper containers that he waters as needed from above. He is semi-retired and rarely travels, so that works for him. If you are at work five days a week, a self-watering container is probably a better idea for you.
I‘ve experimented with self-watering containers and ordinary containers. The best type I’ve used is called a “Veg Trug” and is sold by Gardener’s Supply. It is a tall V-shaped wooden bin 6 feet by 30 inches and 16 inches deep in the middle. I’ve grown tomatoes, peppers, herbs and flowers in it with good success — and no bending over. It’s made of cedar; mine is in its fifth summer of use and still going strong. I empty it each winter and put it inside, but reuse the potting soil, just adding a little compost and fertilizer each spring.
Even if you’re a city dweller with little space you can grow a few things on a deck or between the sidewalk and the street. Give it a try!
Featured photo:Tomatoes growing without blight using self-watering system with buckets. Courtesy photo.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• Stories from history: The Manchester Historic Association presents A Midsummer Night’s Cemetery Tour at Pine Grove Cemetery (765 Brown Ave., Manchester) on Thursday, Aug. 26, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The interactive nighttime cemetery tour will feature actors from The Majestic Theatre telling first-person accounts of notable figures in Manchester history, such as Frank Carpenter and Nehemiah Bean. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Tickets cost $20 for general admission and $10 for Manchester Historic Association members. Visit manchesterhistoric.org/events or call 622-7531.
• Calling women artists: Girls at Work, a Manchester-based nonprofit that empowers girls through woodworking and building, is seeking artists for its inaugural Women’s Artisan Fair scheduled for Oct. 15 and Oct. 16. Women artisans are invited to submit handcrafted fashion pieces, home goods, paintings and other visual arts for consideration, according to a press release. There is an online form to request more information about how to submit artwork. Visit girlswork.org or call 345-0392.
• Outdoor violin concert: The Suzuki Strings return to Canterbury Shaker Village(288 Shaker Road, Canterbury) on Sunday, Aug. 15, at 4 p.m. as part of the Village’s Music on the Meeting House Green outdoor summer concert series. The Suzuki Strings is a group of student violinists from all over New Hampshire who have learned to play violin using the methodology of Japanese musician and music educator Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998). There is a suggested donation of $10 per person. Call 783-9511 or visit shakers.org.
• Authors in Warner: In-person author events have returned to MainStreet BookEnds (16 E. Main St., Warner), the bookstore announced in a newsletter. Meet local author, teacher and thru-hiker Michael “Sy” Sisemore on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m. Sisemore will discuss his book In the Real World I Hike: Transformation of Purpose and Self in 5 Million Easy Steps, which features a collection of stories from long-distance Appalachian Trail thru-hikers about how hiking changed their lives. Other upcoming author appearances include New Hampshire middle-grade novelist Amy Makechnie on Saturday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m., and New Hampshire poet L.R. Berger on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 4 p.m. Call 456-2700 or visit mainstreetbookends.com.
• Last chance for these shows: Don’t miss thePrescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) summer theater production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, going on now through Aug. 15, with showtimes on Thursday and Sunday at 7 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. The show, presented by Wilcox, features a revue of songs and vignettes based on Charles Shulz’ beloved comic strip. General admission is a $5 donation at the gate, or reserved seating is available for $49 to $99. Visit prescottpark.org.
The Peterborough Players present Our Town. Courtesy photo.
The Peterborough Players (55 Hadley Road, Peterborough) continue their production of Our Town through Aug. 15, with showtimes Wednesday through Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Performances take place at the Players’ outdoor theater space, located off Phoenix Mill Lane in downtown Peterborough. The 1938 play by Thornton Wilder tells of love, life and death in the fictional small New Hampshire town of Grover’s Corners. According to the Players’ website, the company first produced the play in 1940 with consultation from Wilder himself. It has since become the Players’ most produced play to date. Tickets cost $47. Visit peterboroughplayers.org or call 924-7585.
Exhibits
SHEAFE WAREHOUSE EXHIBIT AND SALE Featuring works in a variety of media by nearly 40 artists with the New Hampshire Art Association. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, from noon to 7 p.m., now through Aug. 29. Prescott Park, 105-123 Marcy St., Portsmouth. Visit nhartsassociation.org or call 431-4230.
• NEW HAMPSHIRE ART ASSOCIATION EXHIBITS Featuring the work of painters Joe Flaherty of Portsmouth and Maryclare Heffernan of Candia during August. An opening reception will be held on Fri., Aug. 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Creative Framing Solutions, 89 Hanover St., Manchester. Visit nhartsassociation.org or call 320-5988.
• “FRESH PERSPECTIVES” Exhibit features works by New Hampshire artists Peter Milton, Varujan Boghosian, Robert Hughes and others. New Hampshire Antique Co-op (323 Elm St., Milford). On view in the Co-op’s Tower Gallery now through Aug. 31. Visit nhantiquecoop.com.
• “FASHION FORWARD: AFRICANA STYLE” Exhibit showcases Black fashion and explores connections between African American and African design aesthetics from past to present. The Seacoast African American Cultural Center (located inside the Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle St., Portsmouth). On view now through Sept. 1. Gallery hours are Monday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; visitors must reserve a 45-minute time slot in advance. Walk-in guests will be accommodated as space permits. Tickets cost $10 for the general public and $5 for Historical Society members and are available through eventbrite.com. Visit saacc-nh.org.
• “THE BODY IN ART: FROM THE SPIRITUAL TO THE SENSUAL” Exhibit provides a look at how artists through the ages have used the human body as a means of creative expression. On view now through Sept. 1. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• “DON GORVETT: WORKING WATERFRONTS” Exhibit features more than 60 works by the contemporary Seacoast printmaker. The Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth). On view now through Sept. 12. Gallery hours are daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Admission is free for all on the first Friday of every month. Visit portsmouthhistory.org.
• “TWILIGHT OF AMERICAN IMPRESSIONISM” Exhibit showcases New England painters and masters of impressionism Alice Ruggles Sohier and Frederick A. Bosley. On view now through Sept. 12. Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth). Gallery hours are daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Admission is free for all on the first Friday of every month. Visit portsmouthhistory.org.
• “CRITICAL CARTOGRAPHY” Exhibit features immersive large-scale drawings by Larissa Fassler that reflect the Berlin-based artist’s observations of downtown Manchester while she was an artist-in-residence at the Currier Museum in 2019. On view now through fall. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• 1,000 CRANES FOR NASHUA Featuring more than 1,000 origami paper cranes created by hundreds of Nashua-area kids, adults and families since April. On display now at The Atrium at St. Joseph Hospital, 172 Kinsley St., Nashua. Visit nashuasculpturesymposium.org.
• “TOMIE DEPAOLA AT THE CURRIER” Exhibition celebrates the illustrator’s life and legacy through a collection of his original drawings. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• “ROBERTO LUGO: TE TRAIGO MI LE LO LAI – I BRING YOU MY JOY” Philadelphia-based potter reimagines traditional forms and techniques with inspiration from urban graffiti and hip-hop culture, paying homage to his Puerto Rican heritage and exploring his cultural identity and its connection to family, place and legacy. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Sept. 26. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• GALLERY ART A new collection of art by more than 20 area artists on display now in-person and online. Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford). Call 672-2500 or visit creativeventuresfineart.com.
• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibit in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email tsink@concordnhchamber.com.
• “TENSION: PROCESS IN THE MAKING” The Surface Design Association’s (SDA) New Hampshire Group presents an exhibit featuring fiber art and textiles by New Hampshire artists. July 24 through Sept. 4. Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.
• “SUMMER HAZE” Concord artist and gallery owner Jess Barnet hosts her first group art exhibit. Gallery located in the Patriot Investment building, 4 Park St., Suite 216, Concord. On view Aug. 6 through Sept. 3. Visit jessbarnett.com.
Fairs and markets
• CONCORD ARTS MARKET Outdoor artisan and fine art market. Every third Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Now through October. Rollins Park (33 Bow St., Concord). Visit concordartsmarket.net.
• GREELEY PARK ART SHOW Annual outdoor juried art show hosted by Nashua Area Artists Association features a variety of artwork for sale. Sat., Aug. 21, and Sun., Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 100 Concord St., Nashua. Visit nashuaareaartistsassoc.org.
Tours
• NASHUA PUBLIC ART AUDIO TOUR Self-guided audio tours of the sculptures and murals in downtown Nashua, offered via the Distrx app, which uses Bluetooth iBeacon technology to automatically display photos and text and provides audio descriptions at each stop on the tour as tourists approach the works of art. Each tour has 10 to 15 stops. Free and accessible on Android and iOS on demand. Available in English and Spanish. Visit downtownnashua.org/nashua-art-tour.
Workshops and classes
• GENERAL ART CLASSES In-person art classes for all levels and two-dimensional media. held with small groups of two to five students. Private classes are also available. Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Students are asked to wear masks in the gallery. Tuition costs $20 per group class and $28 per private class, with payment due at the beginning of the class. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com for availability.
• DRAWING & PAINTING CLASSES Art House Studios, 66 Hanover St., Suite 202, Manchester. Classes include Drawing Fundamentals, Painting in Acrylic, Drawing: Observation to Abstraction, Exploring Mixed Media, and Figure Drawing. Class sizes are limited to six students. Visit arthousestudios.org.
Theater
Shows
TELL ME ON A SUNDAY The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Now through Aug. 14, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus a matinee on Thursday, Aug. 5, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• CABARET The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Now through Sept. 5. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.
• RAPUNZEL The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Wed., Aug. 11, through Thurs., Aug. 12, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• CINDERELLA The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 17, through Thurs., Aug. 19, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• MAD HAUS The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Sun., Aug. 18, 8 p.m. Tickets cost $15. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.
• HOOLIGANS AND CONVICTS The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Aug. 18 through Sept. 4, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Aug. 24, and Thursday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• SLEEPING BEAUTY The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 24, through Thurs., Aug. 26, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• IT HAD TO BE YOU The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Sept. 1 through Sept. 18, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 4 p.m., plus matinees on Saturdays, Sept. 11 and Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• TRUE TALES LIVE Monthly showcase of storytellers. Held virtually via Zoom. Last Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., September through December. Visit truetaleslivenh.org.
Concerts
• SUZUKI STRINGS Violin students perform. Canterbury Shaker Village(288 Shaker Road, Canterbury). Sun., Aug. 15, 4 p.m. Suggested donation $10 per person.
Summer Haze group art exhibition at Concord studio
Diverse pieces that capture the essence of steamy summer days will be on display during a group art exhibition at Jess Barnett Art Studio in Concord. The art is hanging now through Sept. 3, with an opening reception on Friday, Aug. 13, when the artists will be in the gallery to talk about their work.
The Summer Haze exhibition features pieces from five artists and is the first group exhibition Barnett has hosted since she opened her studio in November 2019.
“Covid kind of put a damper on [the studio opening],” Barnett said, “so this is really exciting to be able to have the group show.”
Earlier this year Barnett put out a call for entries to New England artists, asking for submissions that were based on the Summer Haze theme.
She ended up working with artists from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, plus one from New York, and between the five of them — Barnett included — there are about 10 to 12 pieces in the exhibition.
“It’s a good size for the gallery,” Barnett said. “It was pretty easy to fit everything in there and make [it] look good next to each other. It takes up one wall of the gallery, and then I have [my work] hanging on the other walls.”
Barnett’s pieces include a couple of new paintings that she hasn’t shown yet, including an abstract painting called “Lilac Season,” plus a couple of older pieces that go well with the theme, she said.
The exhibition is diverse, Barnett said, with paintings, drawings and glass art.
“I can’t really do installation art [because of space], so I wanted to have two-dimensional pieces and glass,” she said.
Karen Mehos, a glass artist from Boscawen, produces mainly stained glass and small glass works. She’s showing a glass bowl called “Small Town Sunset,” featuring a cityscape against a sunset background. It was made by melting glass in a kiln, using colored glass powders on a clear glass base, fusing them together into a flat disk in the 1,450-degree kiln, then softening them with heat again before using a ceramic mold to give it shape.
“It’s pretty innovative and cool how she did that, and she made it just for the show,” Barnett said.
Kathy Bouchard from Nashua has two acrylic paintings of kimonos in the show.
“It’s a cross between realistic and abstract,” Barnett said. “Her art is just really cool.”
The other two artists are Jason Michael Rielly of New York and Lorna Ritz of Massachusetts. Rielly’s art represents both the abstract and expressionism genres of artistic style, Barnett said. She said the work he put in the exhibition highlights these styles and communicates strong emotion, mood and vibrancy.
“They’re almost floral, but more abstract,” she said.
Ritz is a third-generation abstract expressionist-impressionist who paints landscapes.
“I paint the changing seasons as they occur, the light that emanates from seasonal color combinations that occur in landscape,” Ritz wrote about her work.
All of the work in the show is for sale, and for those who can’t make the reception and meet the artists, there will be labels with the artists’ information on the pieces for anyone who wants to learn more about them and their work.
For the reception, Barnett will be giving out a small gift bag with a piece of art to everyone who attends, and she encourages the general public to check it out.
“It’s a very laid back atmosphere. [We] aren’t snobby art people,” she said.
Barnett said she hopes to have more group exhibitions in the future, and she will invite artists of all levels, even those who are just dipping their toes into art, to participate.
“I just really feel that everyone, if they want to, should experiment with art,” she said. “Art can be a really good release for people to express emotion. … You don’t have to go to art school [to be an artist].”
Summer Haze group art exhibition
Where: Opening reception Friday, Aug. 13, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. When: Jess Barnett Art Studio, 4 Park St., Suite 216, Concord. The reception is free, and light refreshments will be served. RSVPs are encouraged on the gallery’s Facebook page but are not required. The exhibition will be hanging through Sept. 3.
Featured photo: The Summer Haze exhibition is on display now at Jess Barnett Art Studio. Courtesy photo.
The wait is finally over for comic book lovers as Free Comic Book Day returns on Saturday, Aug. 14, for the first time since 2019. The annual worldwide event, postponed from its traditional date on the first Saturday in May, invites comic book shops to hand out free comic books created specially for that day and host comic-related fun like cosplay contests, door prizes, special guests and more.
Each participating local shop is doing things a little differently, so whether you’re looking to just pop in, grab your free comic and go, or don your best cosplay and spend the day celebrating all things comics, New Hampshire has a FCBD experience for you.
Customers pick up their free comics at a previous Free Comic Book Day at Double Midnight Comics. Courtesy photo.
Diversity Gaming in Hooksett, a new comic book and gaming shop that opened a month before the pandemic, is keeping the focus on the comics for its first FCBD. Owner Erik Oparowske said he placed a large order of free comics to ensure that every customer who wants a free comic can get the one they want quickly and easily. He said he’s expecting the shop to “go through most, if not all” of the comics he ordered.
“We wanted to provide an option for people who may not have half an hour to stand in line,” Oparowske said. “For us, it’s about getting the comics into people’s hands.”
Merrymac Games and Comics in Merrimack will have five comic artists on site promoting and discussing their comic books with customers.
“It adds a little something extra to the event [beyond] the free comics,” manager Bob Shaw said, “and it allows people to meet artists without having to go to a comic convention, which is nice because conventions can be really crazy and crowded, and a lot of people aren’t comfortable enough to start going to them again.”
Famous for its FCBD costume contest that typically attracts more than 100 participants, Double Midnight Comics, which has shops in Manchester and Concord, has decided to hold off on the contest this year and “keep it low-key,” co-owner Chris Proulx said, with plans to resume its usual FCBD festivities in 2022.
“We’re encouraging people to come in, shop a bit and head home with their haul,” Proulx said. “It’s a bummer not having the big event for the second year in a row, but safety is our focus this year.”
New Hampshire’s largest FCBD celebration, the Rochester Free Comic Book Day Festival, will return full-scale, with local comic creators, a scavenger hunt, vendors, prizes, a costume contest and more at businesses and venues all over the city.
“We’re doing Free Comic Book Day just like we’ve always done it in the past, nothing different at all,” said Ralph DiBernardo, owner of Jetpack Comics in Rochester, which hosts the festival in partnership with the city. “Everybody is excited to have a semblance of normalcy to life again.”
Oparowske said he looks forward to including more FCBD activities, like the ones at Jetpack, at Diversity Gaming in the future.
“I love that Jetpack and Double Midnight and places like that have that big, carnival-like atmosphere,” he said. “I hope that, once we’ve been here longer and are more firm in the community, we can do something a little like that.”
There are 51 Free Comic Book Day titles this year: 12 “gold” titles, which are available at all participating shops, and 39 “silver” titles, of which certain ones are available at select shops. The selection typically includes a mix of independent, standalone stories; spin-offs of movies, television shows, video games and established comic book series; and samplings or previews of existing or upcoming titles.
Comic book fans can pick up not only this year’s FCBD comics but also ones from 2020, which were released and distributed by comic book shops in batches over the course of nine weeks as part of “Free Comic Book Summer,” a reworking of FCBD held in lieu of the one-day event that year. Since Free Comic Book Summer took place at the height of the pandemic, the 2020 titles went mostly under the radar, and many comic book shops still have stacks of them that they’re hoping to give away at this year’s FCBD.
“I tried doing a free comic book drive-up last year. I got 12 people,” Shaw said, “so I’m still choking on last year’s Free Comic Book Day stuff that never got distributed.”
“I guarantee there is stuff people missed out on [in 2020], so it will be new to them this year,” Proulx added. “Everyone will leave with a nice stack of comics … from both this year and past years.”
Rochester Free Comic Book Day Festival Cosplay Contest. Courtesy photos.
Though thankful to be able to host Free Comic Book Day in its traditional format again, some comic book shop owners and staff are concerned that the rescheduled August date will affect the turnout.
Shaw said this year’s event and the new date haven’t been advertised on a national level nearly as prominently as in years past.
“There hasn’t been the same kind of buzz about it that you usually hear,” he said. “I think there will be a lot of people saying, ‘Oh, I didn’t know [FCBD] was today.’”
“We’ve had tons of customers asking us when [FCBD] is going to be,” Oparowske added. “There’s been a lot of confusion.”
But, Shaw said, it’s not always easy to predict what the turnout will be — it could go either way — and despite all of the variables that may determine whether people come out or not, there is one thing the comic book shops will always have going for them on FCBD: “People love free stuff, and that’s never going to change,” he said. “You can count on that, no matter what.”
Comics vs. Covid
When Gov. Sununu called for non-essential businesses to shut down in March of last year, local comic book shops were prepared for the worst.
“We went into panic mode,” DiBernardo said of Jetpack Comics. “We thought we would be shutting down for the foreseeable future.”
Now, about a year and a half later, many shops are not only surviving, but thriving, thanks to their innovative sales strategies and dedicated customer base.
Shaw said that once Merrymac Games and Comics shifted their business online, their sales numbers weren’t much different from before the pandemic.
“Honestly, the only change for us was that we didn’t have customers in the store,” he said. “We were still fulfilling and shipping out orders every day.”
For Jetpack, DiBernardo said, the ability to offer curbside pickup was the shop’s saving grace. He went from fearing that he would have to let half of his staff go, he said, to having to pay his staff overtime to keep up with the large volume of online and curbside pickup orders.
“Curbside pickup changed everything for us,” he said. “It gave us a goal — something that we could do. Once we figured out how to do it and we hit our stride with it, it went great for us.”
The shutdown was especially tough on Diversity Gaming, which had opened just a month earlier and therefore didn’t qualify to receive the state or federal financial aid that was being offered to small businesses. Oparowske said he owes the shop’s survival to the community.
“Even though we were the little babies on the block, people had already really embraced us and were excited about our presence here during that first month,” he said.
The popularity of online sales during the pandemic has led many comic book shops to make it a permanent part of their business model.
“We found that it was a big boost for us, and it still is,” DiBernardo said. “We’re seeing the same amount of online sales now that we were seeing a year ago.”
While comic book shops may not be considered an essential business on paper, Proulx said, they are essential to many people on a personal level.
“People needed distractions from the pandemic,” he said, “and we were there for them with comics.”
Find a comic
Local comic book store staff shared comic book and graphic novel recommendations for all kinds of readers.
Best comic for someone who “isn’t a comic book person”
Ice Cream Man by W. Maxwell Prince and Martin Morazzo. A horror anthology series for fans of The Twilight Zone or Black Mirror. Recommended by Jill Stewart, comic book manager at Double Midnight Comics.
Star Wars: The High Republic by Cavan Scott A series of stories from the Star Wars universe for fans who want to get some background on where the upcoming movies might lead. Recommended by Erik Oparowske, owner of Diversity Gaming.
Stray Dogs by Tony Fleecs and Trish Forstner A dog wakes up in a strange house with no recollection of how she got there and a feeling that something terrible has happened. Recommended by Ralph DiBernardo, owner of Jetpack Comics.
Best comic for adult comic book nerds
Reckless by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips Crime noir set in 1980s Los Angeles. Recommended by Chris Proulx, co-owner of Double Midnight Comics.
Unsacred by Mirka Andolfo A risque take on heaven and hell. Recommended by Erik Oparowske, owner of Diversity Gaming.
King in Black by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman A new twist on old characters and the making of a new god for the Marvel Universe. Recommended by Ralph DiBernardo, owner of Jetpack Comics.
Crossover by Donny Cates, Geoff Shaw, Dee Cunniffe and John J. Hill The series sets fictional characters from different comic books in real-world modern-day Denver, Colorado. Recommended by Kyle Litchfield, staff at Jetpack Comics.
Best comic for teens who are too cool for superheroes
Radiant Black byKyle Higgins and Marcello Costa A superhero story for a new generation, this series offers a more realistic look at what would happen if teens really had superpowers. Recommended by Ralph DiBernardo, owner of Jetpack Comics.
Life is Strange by Emma Vieceli Based on the video game of the same name, this series follows a photography student who has the magical ability to rewind time. Recommended By Erik Oparowske, owner of Diversity Gaming.
BRZRKR by Matt Kindt, Keanu Reeves and Ron Garney Actor Keanu Reeves writes this story of the next movie that he wants to star in. Recommended by Ralph DiBernardo, owner of Jetpack Comics.
Best comic for young aspiring comic book creators
Strange Academyby Skottie Young, Humberto Ramos and Edgar Delgado Dr. Strange of the Marvel Universe establishes a new academy for the mystic arts to train the next generation of magic-users. Recommended by Kyle Litchfield, staff at Jetpack Comics.
Red Room byEd Piskor This cyberpunk tale for teens is about a subculture of criminals who livestream murders for entertainment. Recommended by Ralph DiBernardo, owner of Jetpack Comics.
Best comic for kids who don’t like reading
Dog Man by Dav Pilkey The protagonist in this kids graphic novel series is part man and part dog-police officer and -superhero. Recommended by Chris Proulx, co-owner of Double Midnight Comics.
Batman Fortnite Zero Point by Christos Gage, Donald Mustard and Reilly Brown A collaborative comic between DC and the popular video game Fortnite that rewards readers with exclusive content for the game. Recommended by Ralph DiBernardo, owner of Jetpack Comics.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Saladin Ahmed and Javier Garrón Miles Morales balances school, parents and life as a teen — who also happens to be Spider-Man. Recommended by Seth Deverell, staff at Diversity Gaming.
Best graphic novels
Days of Future Past by Chris Claremont A look at the X-Men dystopian future that formed the basis for the movies. Recommended By Erik Oparowske, owner of Diversity Gaming.
Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera. Children in the town of Archer’s Peak are mysteriously going missing, and the few that survive return with stories of terrifying monsters. Recommended by Ralph DiBernardo, owner of Jetpack Comics.
Participating Comic Book Shops
For more information about Free Comic Book Day, visit freecomicbookday.com.
• The Comic Store, 115 Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, 881-4855, facebook.com/thecomicstorenashua. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Collectibles Unlimited, 25 South St., Concord, 228-3712, collectiblesunlimited.biz. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Diversity Gaming, 1328 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 606-1176, diversitygaming.store. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Double Midnight Comics, 245 Maple St., Manchester, 669-9636; 67 S. Main St., Concord, 669-9636, dmcomics.com. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be sales and raffles.
• Escape Hatch Books, 27 Main St., Jaffrey, facebook.com/escapehatchbooks. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Jetpack Comics, 37 N. Main St., Rochester, 330-9636, jetpackcomics.com.The store partners with the City of Rochester to host the Rochester Free Comic Book Day Festival. Festivities including a scavenger hunt, cosplay competition, special guest comic book artists, vendors and more will take place at the store and at various locations throughout the city starting at 10 a.m.
• Khaotic Comics, 590 Central Ave., Dover, 834-9177, khaoticcomics.com. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The store will have special guest comic book artists, food and an appearance by Spider-Man.
• Merrymac Games and Comics, 550 DW Highway, Merrimack, 420-8161, merrymacgc.com. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Special guest comic book artists will be at the shop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Newbury Comics, 777 S. Willow St., Manchester, 624-2842; 310 D.W. Highway, Nashua, 888-0720; 436 S. Broadway, Salem, 890-1380, newburycomics.com. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Nex-Gen Comics, 122 Bridge St., Unit 3, Pelham, 751-8195, nexgencomics.wordpress.com. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Stairway to Heaven Comics, 109 Gosling Road, Newington, 319-6134, stairwaytoheavencomics.com. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special guest comic book creators will be at the shop.
The Nashua Silver Knights wrap up their regular season of home games at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St. in Nashua) tonight with a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. against the Brockton Rox. Tickets to games start at $8 for adults, $6 for kids. See nashuasilverknights.com.
Thursday, Aug. 12
The 64th annual New Hampshire Antiques Show runs today through Saturday, Aug. 14, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St.). Sixty-seven antiques dealers will exhibit their merchandise, according to nhada.org. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Admission costs $15 on Thursday and $10 on Friday and Saturday, and is free to anyone under 30. See nhada.org.
Thursday, Aug. 12
It’s a weekend of Old Home Days! Hudson’s Old Home Days at Hills House Field (211 Derry Road, Hudson) kicks off today with rides and carnival games, food vendors, live music, fireworks on Saturday, competitions (including pie eating and cornhole) and more. The event is open from 5 to 10 p.m. tonight and continues through Sunday, Aug. 15. See hudsonoldhomedays.com.
Epsom’sOld Home Weekend runs Friday, Aug. 13, through Sunday, Aug. 15, at Webster Park in Epsom. Friday’s events from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. include a cookout, live music from Fuzz Box, cornhole, s’mores and more. Saturday includes more kids events and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. See epsomnh.org.
Londonderry’s Old Home Days starts the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 18, and runs through Saturday, Aug. 21, and will feature town parades, games, local vendors and more. Find them on Facebook.
Friday, Aug. 13
Watch a story about space flight under the stars at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) tonight with a screening of Mercury 13 (TV-PG, 2018) at 8 p.m. This documentary from Netflix looks at the group of women who trained for space flight but didn’t become part of NASA’s astronaut program and didn’t go to space (until this year when Wally Funk, one of the Mercury 13, joined Jeff Bezos on the July 21 Blue Origins New Shepard flight, according to Wikipedia). The screening is free and snacks and drinks will be available for purchase, according to the website, which encouraged attendees to bring camping chairs and picnic blankets.
Saturday, Aug. 14
See the Currier Museum of Art’s (150 Ash St., Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) current exhibits including “Tomie dePaola at the Currier,” “Roberto Lugo: Te traigo mi le lo lai — I bring you my joy, ” “Critical Cartography: Larissa Fassler in Manchester” and “The Body in Art: From the Spiritual to the Sensual.” Today, admission is free to New Hampshire residents as part of the museum’s free second Saturdays. Museum hours today are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 14
Enjoy music in the gardens with Symphony NH at Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) today at 3 p.m. Americana Brass Quintet will perform, and the gardens will be open before the concert. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $5 for children under 12 at beaverbrook.org, which recommends bringing chairs, blankets and a picnic dinner.
Save the Date! Friday, Aug. 27
Comedian Juston McKinney begins a three-day run at the Bank of NH Stage (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Friday, Aug. 27, with a show at 8 p.m. McKinney will also perform Saturday, Aug. 28, at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $29.50.
Chess is a thing with kids now, thanks to The Queen’s Gambit, which is why The New Hampshire Department of Education is establishing a statewide initiative to bring chess to schools. “The game of chess has become incredibly popular with students as a result of the hit Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit,” Frank Edelblut, commissioner of education, said in a press release. “The research is clear that when we engage students with their areas of interest, the learning is deeper and richer.” The department is partnering with Chess in Schools and is calling the program Granite Gambit. It’s being funded with federal Title funds and will support training for teacher-driven chess initiatives that connect chess with core academic content, the release said.
Score: +1
Comment:According to the release, a gambit is defined as a device or action used as a calculated risk to gain an advantage. “Granite Gambit will give both our educators and students an advantage,” Edelblut said.
Bike safety celebration
Families can bring their bikes to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Friday, Aug. 13, to ride a few laps around the Nascar track as part of the annual Dale Jr. Foundation Safe Kids 301. The entirely free event is all about bike safety, with helmet checks, bike safety inspections and free helmets for kids who don’t have one. There will also be a touch-a-truck ambulance and a teddy bear clinic, plus snacks and water. All adults and children can access the track on their bikes from 4 to 7:30 p.m.
Score: +1
Comment: A family-friendly outdoor activity, and it’s free? What’s not to like?
All-natural podcast
Take wildlife adventures throughout the state via the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s podcast, On the Nature Trail. Lindsay Webb, a wildlife educator from Fish and Game, is hiking, biking and kayaking to bring listeners on a series of five-minute journeys in search of wildlife. So far she’s seen garter snakes, water scorpions, a saw-whet owl, bald eagles, horseshoe crabs and a bullfrog.
Score: +1
Comment: On the Nature Trail episodes are available on iHeart Radio, Spotify, CastBox and Apple Podcasts, or at nhfishgame.com/podcast.
Happy, healthy babies
New Hampshire is the fourth best state to have a baby, according to a new study from personal-finance website WalletHub, which compared data for cost, health care accessibility and baby-friendliness. New Hampshire ranked 2nd in four areas, with low rates for Hospital Cesarean-Delivery Charges, Hospital Conventional-Delivery Charges, Infant Mortality Rate and Rate of Low Birth-Weight. It ranked 4th for Pediatricians & Family Medicine Physicians per Capita and, as of Aug. 9, 9th for Positive Covid-19 Testing Rate in the Past Week.
Score: +1
Comment:All six New England states made the Top 15, with Massachusetts ranking No. 1 and Vermont coming in right after New Hampshire at No. 5.
QOL score: 82 Net change: +4 QOL this week: 86
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.
The Patriots are into Week 3 of training camp amid one breathless account after another about the so-called battle going at QB between Cam Newton and top draft pick Mac Jones. It’s so overdone it’s nuts, with the most ridiculous being hearing Big Jim Murray saying on Boston’s Sports Hub that it was “concerning that Jones hadn’t popped yet” and there was no buzz about him after his eighth practice as a Patriot.
After he had a very good practice the next day (phew), the angst then was over it being done with them back in shells, and, O-M-G, was that done to bolster his confidence? A day later he was just as good playing in pads, so two days after being “concerned” the conversation was now he’s been much better than Cam so far, so does that put Mac ahead in the lead to start on opening day?
Just utter nonsense. The first thing to know is that Big Jim is a 100 percent I told you so Tom Brady binky, and if he’s not hoping Mac fails, it won’t wreck his day, because it’ll make Coach B look bad to let him keep pumping Brady’s tires as the sole reason for the dynasty. A debate for another day, which will come here right before Brady returns on Oct. 3. As for the no buzz nonsense, there was no “buzz” around Brady his entire rookie year. After spending five years at Michigan and being a year older than Jones is right now he was fourth on the depth chart. The coaches may have known they had something in the young Brady during the 2001 pre-season, but the Brady “buzz” didn’t start until Drew Bledsoe got hurt and the 0-2 Patriots started winning with the new guy.
So block out the noise as pre-season gets underway on Thursday, Aug. 12, vs. the Washington Football Team and judge for yourself. And while you do that, here are a few of the biggest 2021 stories to keep an eye on.
The receivers: My top question going in is are the new guys any good? In particular, how real are Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne? Where the speedy Agholor’s only real solid year in five NFL seasons came last year. Myth or reality? Meanwhile the new slot guy has never caught more than 48 passes. Of course unheralded Wes Welker had only one season better than that before becoming an unstoppable force in Foxboro. As for the tight ends, after last year’s debacle, expectations are high. Hunter Henry (60) and Jonnu Smith (65) caught a combined 125 passes in 2020. If the offense is to rebound they need to get close to that again to give either QB big targets in the middle of the field, where the throws are shorter and quicker.
N’Keal Harry: Given the precarious position he’s in he could be gone by the time you see this. But even if he isn’t I would not advise him to unpack. Then again, while I’m not holding my breath, call me crazy but I have a feeling (based on nothing) that he finally gets it, which would give them another big body to throw at in the red zone.
Running back log jam: It’s crowded back there with presumed starting tailback Damian Harris and third down back James White the only locks for the five slots. That leaves Sony Michel, Brandon Bolden, JJ Taylor, fullback Jakob Johnson and fourth-round pick Rhamondre Stevenson fighting for the other three. Most think Michel is the odd man out. But, if they’re going to ground and pound in the age of the two-headed tailback, it doesn’t make sense dumping a guy who averaged 5.7 yards a carry last year when the lead back has missed a lot of time with injuries both years in New England. So if Taylor can return kicks or Stevenson reverses what’s going on at the moment, I say Bolden is the odd man out.
Quarterback battle: You can talk all you want about this, but Bill says he’s going with Cam on opening day and I don’t see any reason to think he won’t. Yes, 2020 wasn’t really good, but with a year plus in the system and a real training camp he’ll know the offense better and he’ll likely have a much more talented group of receivers to throw to as well. So he’ll be a lot better this year. How long that lasts, we’ll see, but I’m betting he’s the starter for the whole year.
Stephon Gilmore contract: People have made a big deal out of Gilmore being underpaid. But I don’t expect it to be an issue because he knows he’s playing for his next contract.
Local bubble boy Chase Winovich: It’s not going to make his new best pal Chris Sununu happyif the New Hampshire-loving edge rusher loses the battle of numbers and gets traded before opening day. Given their buddy-buddy TV spots, they’d be a 21st-century version of when Steve Lyons did a commercial in 1986 for Frank Yanco’s Queen City Toyota. Trouble was he got traded for Tom Seaver about a week after it began running so they had to airbrush out the Red Sox uniform, which had folks asking after that, who’s that guy on TV with Frank? But the good news is if he survives the new influx of edge rushers it will make it harder to block everyone, opening more avenues to get to the QB.
Return of you know who: The hype and noise all week will be insane. And for once that will be fun being part of. To kick it off, stand and give him a rousing ovation of appreciation for his role in the Pats dynasty with him under center. Then, when the first passing situation arrives, send the house up the middle to collapse the pocket to let him know he’s not in Kansas anymore.
Construction is now underway to make the trails at the Cedar Swamp Preserve in Manchester universally accessible. Mark Zankel, state director of The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire, which is overseeing the project, talked about the changes that are being made to the property.
Why did you choose the Cedar Swamp Preserve for this project?
We want people to be able to experience the joy of spending time in nature, and that’s not necessarily easy to do when you live in the most densely populated part of the state … so Manchester was an obvious choice … and the Cedar Swamp Preserve [was chosen] because it’s in such close proximity to downtown.
How did you determine what barriers needed to be addressed?
Manchester is the largest city … and the most diverse population in our state, so we realized we had work to do to understand what barriers people faced to access nature. We’ve spent the better part of the past year doing a number of listening sessions and engagement events with groups that haven’t always had a table with us … [like] NAACP of Greater Manchester, the Disability Rights Center in New Hampshire, a number of LGBTQ+ groups and AARP, to ask them what would make this place more welcoming and inclusive and accessible. … What we learned is that the barriers are not just physical; they can also be geographical, cultural and psychological.
How are you addressing those barriers to make the trail universally accessible?
We have well-defined guidance on how to build a trail that’s accessible to individuals with physical disabilities … in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. … We’re doing a crushed stone surface … with a topcoat of more finely packed crushed stone, which creates a surface that wheelchairs can go on without sinking too deep or getting stuck. … We’re widening the trail to allow [space] for two wheelchairs and for people who may have a support animal. Then, there’s the topography; the trail system … has rocks and roots and inclines at various degrees, so we’re working on winding the trail around that hilly topography so that [no part of the trail] is too steep. … We’ve gone from having only one or two benches to six benches … and are making them visible so that people can see how far it is to the next resting spot. … A lot of people in Manchester don’t have cars, so we’ve been working with the city to put a bus stop there to help break down that transportation barrier. … We’ve also translated out interpretive materials into Spanish … which is the second most spoken language in the Manchester area.
Where are you in the construction process right now?
We’ve done the trail plan … and initial expansion. Now, [the construction crew] is out there, literally going foot by foot with their heavy equipment, moving dirt and rocks and laying down the base of the trail. … We’re hoping and planning to open the trail by mid- to late October, with some kind of ribbon-cutting ceremony.
How do you find a balance between altering nature to make it more accessible and your greater mission of preserving it?
The Nature Conservancy has a lot of background and experience in managing conservation land in a way that allows for human uses and activities but is still compatible with conservation values … and [conscious of] the reasons why we’re protecting the property in the first place. … We’re charting a pathway [that requires] as little digging and moving things around as possible. … We’re also being really careful with the fill we’re bringing in to make sure that it doesn’t have the seeds of invasive species in it. … You can’t do this with no impact, but this is a small part of the overall cedar swamp system — 100 or so acres out of 640 acres — so there’s still a vast amount of property that doesn’t have any built infrastructure, where nature can really thrive. … We feel like it’s an acceptable level of impact for the benefit of getting people out there.
Will there be more of these?
I think there’s a strong interest in making conservation areas more accessible. … The New Hampshire conservation community has been thinking hard about this and trying to take action … so I think we will see more of these going forward. We’d love to do more, but we’re going to live into this one first. … These are big projects and not easy to do … so we really want to learn more about how the property gets used and how we can ensure that the people we’re building it for are able to use it.
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Covid-19 news
State health officials announced 96 new positive cases of Covid-19 on Aug. 9. The state averaged 168 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period, an increase of 62 percent compared to the week before. As of Aug. 9, all but three counties in the state were at substantial levels of community transmission.
Body cameras
Last week the Executive Council approved a $3.4 million contract to equip New Hampshire State Police with body cameras, according to a press release. The use of body cameras was one of the recommendations made by the New Hampshire Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community and Transparency, which was established through Executive Order by Gov. Chris Sununu in June 2020 and charged with developing recommendations for reforms deemed necessary to enhance transparency, accountability and community relations in law enforcement, the release said. “This effort provides yet another layer of transparency and accountability in our continued efforts to further bolster public trust in the incredible work done by New Hampshire’s law enforcement officers, who set the gold standard for the rest of the country,” Sununu said in a statement following the contract approval.
Juvenile justice
A new advisory group that will update and replace the State Advisory Group for Juvenile Justice has been formed, Gov. Chris Sununu announced last week. According to a press release, the New Hampshire Juvenile Justice Reform Commission will “assist the state in aligning New Hampshire’s juvenile justice system with advances in scientific understanding of adolescent development and youth offenders.” The group’s primary role is to advise the state on its use of federal juvenile justice grants and supporting compliance with federal juvenile justice requirements. The original advisory group had been in place for more than 20 years, created by Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, and the formation of this new group is an effort to bring in fresh perspectives and ideas, the release said. “The Department continues to transform the state’s juvenile justice system to be a more proactive one that identifies and addresses youths’ needs before at-risk youth become involved with the courts,” said Joe Ribsam, director of the Division for Children, Youth and Families. The advisory will include representatives from the juvenile justice system, including those working within the court system, organizations that work with children and youth, people working in education, youth mental and behavioral health providers, and those who have been or are currently involved with the juvenile justice system. Anyone who meets those requirements and is interested in serving on the commission should email a letter of interest and resume to apply.governor@nh.gov.
Housing Commission
Last week the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the creation of a city Housing Commission, following the recommendations made by the Mayor’s Affordable Housing Task Force. According to a press release, this commission will be responsible for following up on recommendations made by the Task Force and continuing its work by “recognizing, promoting, enhancing, encouraging, and developing a balanced and diverse supply of housing to meet the economic, social and physical needs of the City of Manchester and its residents.” It will work with city departments and boards to develop plans for the future while meeting the city’s current housing needs, Mayor Joyce Craig said in the release. The commission will be made up of five members and two alternates. Anyone interested should send a resume and statement of interest to mayor@manchesternh.gov.
Bias trainings
Last week, Manchester School District Superintendent Dr. John Goldhardt issued a statement in response to requests for public records regarding staff trainings that cover the topics of diversity and bias. “Manchester School District values community members’ desire to better understand our students’ education, which is why we are happy to share the professional development options our teachers and staff get to choose from,” Goldhardt wrote in the statement. A list of those trainings and their descriptors was included with the statement. Trainings on the list were: Safe Schools: Social & Behavioral > Cultural Competence & Racial Bias; Youth Equity Stewardship (YES!): Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Learning for Justice: What Is White Privilege, Really?; Better Lessons: Bias and Privilege: Self-Reflecting and Using our Power for Change; and City Year: Implicit racial bias and cultural competence, as well as a list of Amplify curriculum materials. Links to most of the trainings were included unless the material is no longer accessible. “It should be noted that all training shared in this list … was voluntary and in place prior to the June 25, 2021, enactment of the Right to Freedom from Discrimination in Public Workspaces and Education law,” Goldhardt wrote in the statement.
Mental health care
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that it will be requesting an amendment to the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Access Research and Demonstration Waiver from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. According to a press release, the goal of the proposed amendment is to add coverage for short-term inpatient and residential treatment services for beneficiaries with Serious Mental Illness and to allow Medicaid to pay for short-term stays in Institutions for Mental Disease for beneficiaries ages 21 to 64 with SMI. This would help reduce the use of ERs by Medicaid beneficiaries with SMI while they await mental health care in specialized settings, improve the availability of crisis stabilization services, and improve access to community-based services for Medicaid beneficiaries with SMI, the release said. Prior to submitting the amendment request, DHHS is seeking comment from the public until Tuesday, Aug. 31, at dhhs.nh.gov/sud-imd.
Evictions on hold
The New Hampshire Circuit Court, which just recently resumed eviction proceedings, has paused them again in six counties, in cases that are covered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s partial eviction moratorium. According to a press release, as of Aug. 4, Belknap, Cheshire, Grafton, Hillsborough, Rockingham and Strafford counties are covered by the moratorium, which was put in to place for counties that are considered to have substantial or high risk of transmission of Covid-19. All landlord-tenant cases arising out of those counties that were previously stayed by the moratorium — that is, where a tenant has provided a declaration in compliance with the CDC order to their landlord — will be stayed again,” the release said. All other courts will continue processing and holding hearings in all landlord-tenant cases.
Ann Scholz, who lives on Pleasant Lake in Deerfield and Northwood, has been awarded the 2021 John F. Morten Memorial Award for Exemplary Lake Stewardship. According to a press release from NH Lakes, Scholz was nominated by nine people and unanimously chosen by the NH Lakes selection committee, for the “countless hours she has volunteered over the past seven years preparing grant applications, meeting with town officials, and working with state agencies to implement projects to protect the lake from polluted runoff water.
The YMCA of Greater Nashua will use the $100,000 it was awarded from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fund outreach and education efforts to build vaccine confidence among city communities that haven’t been vaccinated for Covid-19 and have not consistently received annual flu vaccines. According to a press release, the YMCA will partner with Harbor Care, which hosts regular vaccine clinics at its High Street location, to have two part-time community health workers provide vaccine education at community events in Nashua over the next year. The funds will also be used to recruit and train 13 Vaccine Ambassadors who want to help spread the word about the importance of vaccinations.
The 38th annual Gail Singer Memorial Blood Drive will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 17, and Wednesday, Aug. 18, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at 700 Elm St. in Manchester. According to a press release, the Red Cross is experiencing an emergency need for donors, and this blood drive honors the memory of Gail Singer, who died in 1984 of leukemia.
It seems that many conversations and topics are so controversial these days that we find ourselves avoiding them. Sadly, the topic of the Covid-19 vaccine has turned out to be one of them. If, however, we are going to end the pandemic, we need to have the conversation.
Recently, somebody who is not vaccinated made the argument to me that because I am vaccinated, I should not care whether or not he/she gets vaccinated. Here is why I care. The pandemic will not end until we reach herd immunity, and we will not reach herd immunity until enough of the population receives the vaccine. To assume that we will reach herd immunity by allowing the disease to progress organically throughout the country and world is a foolish and dangerous proposition, one that has already cost more than 600,000 lives in the United States alone.
By refusing a vaccine, people are at high risk of becoming infected with Covid-19, becoming hospitalized, impacting the health care system, and continuing to increase the spread of Covid-19 in our community, our state, and in the United States. When the spread becomes significant enough, the health care system becomes overwhelmed, creating issues for those affected with Covid-19 and impacting people with other illnesses as well. Additionally, if you become infected, you will likely infect others with the virus, if not my grandchildren who are too young to receive the vaccine, then possibly somebody else’s young children or grandchildren, or immunocompromised family member.
Science has provided us with a vaccine that can end the pandemic. These vaccines are safe, highly effective, and readily available at no cost to residents in the United States. The number of myths and pieces of misinformation spreading about these vaccines is mind-boggling. Rather than rely on social media for medical information, can we all commit to finding factual information before making a decision? A good place to start is a conversation with your physician.
Getting vaccinated is an individual choice, but it’s a choice that has a significant impact on those around you. Educate yourself first. Then make your decision.
