Park for pups

Manchester Dog Park seeks more members

Samantha McKeon, the Vice President of Development of The Manchester Dog Park Association, a nonprofit organization that relies on the financial support of its members and donors to build and maintain off-leash dog parks in Manchester, spoke about the city’s only park, at 344 Second St. in Manchester, for its furriest residents. Find them on Facebook @ManchesterDogParkAssociation or email them at [email protected].

Can you give a brief history of the Manchester Dog Park?

I’m a newer board member but the dog park was originally established by a small group of individuals in the city of Manchester. There was no public dog park so they started a nonprofit organization to raise funding and to work with the city to lease the land to create a dog park. The Association has been running it ever since. The land that the dog park is on was originally the blacksmith on Bass Island. Unfortunately, there was a fire there and the land, over time, got overrun by debris and trash. It really wasn’t visually appealing, so the city worked with the Association so that we could build the dog park there.

If I wanted to go to the dog park, what would I need to do?

In order to go to the dog park you do have to be a member. We have the applications to become a member on our Facebook page but we also have a link to our email where you can request an application…. Once that application has been completed, it’s just basic information about you and your dog. We also confirm that your dog is all up to date and registered in order to become a member, and then you’ll receive an email with a PIN for the padlock on the gate and then you use that PIN to enter the park. You’re supposed to go between dawn and dusk.

Will the dog park stay members supported?

I know that a lot of the community has been going to regular meetings to try to get the city to build a public dog park. I don’t know when that is going to happen, to be honest, but there is definitely a community push for it. We as an association are just trying to maintain this until that exists. The more sponsorships and memberships we receive the less we can have that membership fee be. Right now the $5 a month is to cover basic maintenance like insurance, poo poo bags, new sand, maintain the ramps, we’re building a water catchment system, so that’s what that $5 goes to….

What can a new member expect if they show up to the dog park?

Right now we have a small community of members but lots of tennis balls. My girl loves her tennis balls so I always make sure there’s a large volume of tennis balls available, Chuckit sticks, toys, A-frame, tunnel, catwalk, dog house. Right now I personally buy gallons of water to keep in our shelter for dog use, but we just ordered the supplies and are working to construct a water catchment system that will replace the water jugs…. The shelter is a little shed… where dogs and members can sit in there to get out of the sun. It’s like a little shaded area with benches and chairs…. We do have regulations against rope toys or bringing in human food into the dog park because it can lead to aggression behaviors, so that is against our rules.

Why is it important to have a dog park in the city?

I think it’s really imperative for dogs to have a place to play and socialize. Dogs are really social animals and they have a lot of energy and we’re in a really urban area where it’s hard to find a place for dogs to run and play and get that energy out, which is really important for their development. … For me, I have a German Shepherd. She has a lot of energy, so I have to take her to the dog park during my lunch breaks, daily, and I don’t have enough time during my lunch break to drive to Hooksett or Hudson, so it’s a perfect opportunity for me to have that time with my girl, let her run around, get her energy out, her zoomies, so that I can continue on with an undistracted workday.

What are some steps people can take to help out the dog park?

We do accept donations. We do have a sponsorship program for businesses in which businesses can give us a donation and we’ll hang a sign in our dog park to advertise the business. …You can email our nonprofit … [email protected]. —Zachary Lewis

—Zachary Lewis

Featured image: Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 24/06/20

Money for nonprofits

According to a press release, more than $3.28 million was raised for a record-breaking 649 participating New Hampshire nonprofits through NH Gives, an online giving event created by the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, which involved around 13,500 people contributing to the drive between 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12.

NH Gives is an annual event that has raised more than $18 million for nearly 1,200 New Hampshire nonprofits since it was created in 2016, according to a press release.

In a statement, Kathleen Reardon, CEO of the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, said, “A record number of nonprofits participated in this year’s event, and we’re grateful for the outpouring of support they experienced.”

NHGives.org remained open for donations until midnight on Friday, June 14, and the giving total wound up to be more than $3.5 million, with more than 14,700 donors.

Granite Staters contributed more than $1.3 million in matching funds for individual organizations to help spur donations this year.

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, which has been a lead sponsor of NH Gives since 2016, contributed $40,000 in prizes to the organizations that garnered the highest number of unique online donors over the 24 hours. Our Place Housing Solutions for Adults with Developmental Disabilities, based in Dover, raised the most funds in the 24-hour period, with more than $51,852 in donations, the press release said, and The Cornucopia Project in Peterborough, which provides hands-on nutrition education to children in partnership with elementary schools, attracted the most individual donors, with 360 people contributing to support its mission. Visit NHGIVES.org.

Excellent nursing

Concord Hospital announced that Erin Maltais, RN, BSN, received the Excellence in Nursing Award in Emergency Nursing by the New Hampshire Nurses Association. The award was given at the Excellence in Nursing Awards reception on May 22 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord.

Nominees were selected by an independent panel of nursing leaders from Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts, according to the press release.

“This is such a wonderful honor for Erin,” said Director of Nurse Operations Melissa Golightly, Concord Hospital – Laconia and Franklin. “I am honored to work alongside Erin, and we are truly fortunate to have her on our team, providing exceptional care to the patients in our community.”

Maltais is a staff nurse and clinical lead in the emergency department at Concord Hospital – Laconia who began her career at the hospital in 2006 as a licensed nursing assistant in the geriatric psychiatric unit and later transitioned to the telemetry unit, where she served for nearly a decade, then spent a brief time in the intensive care unit. Her passion for emergency medicine eventually led her to the emergency department, where she humorously refers to herself as a “lifer,” the press release said.

In a statement, Maltais said, “it is an honor to receive this award, and I am deeply humbled. As I reflect on my career, I remember why I chose nursing as my profession. It’s the compassion, the care, and the difference we make in people’s lives every day that drives me.”

Moose hunt permits

According to a press release, the winners and alternates of the 2024 New Hampshire Moose Hunt Lottery will be published on the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s website at wildnh.com/hunting/moose.html by noon on Friday, June 21, on the Department’s Facebook page.

The large increase in web traffic on lottery day often causes downloading delays, according to the same release.

A total of 33 moose hunting permits will be issued through the lottery in 2024, and as in previous years, winners will be selected through a computerized and random drawing, according to the release. New Hampshire’s 2024 moose hunt runs from Saturday, Oct. 19, to Sunday, Oct. 27. Visit huntnh.com/hunting/moose.html.

Summer bike ride

As they do every summer Wednesday, Queen City Bike Collective (qcbike.org) hosts a community trail ride from the start of the Rockingham Recreation Trail at 271 Mammoth Road in Manchester at 5:45 p.m. The ride is 10 to 15 miles of rail trail, fire roads, biking trails and dirt roads, according to the website, which said any hybrid or mountain bike will work. The ride is open to all abilities, with an option to grab food and drinks near the end. See the website or contact Elyza at [email protected] for details about the ride.

Every two weeks the Collective also hosts a longer group ride ranging from 15 to 50 miles, with stops at local coffee shops according to the website. The next ride is slated for Sunday, July 7, starting at 10 a.m

Get ready for this year’s New Hampshire Senior Games! The first local event, a candlepin bowling tournament, is happening at Boutwell’s Bowling Center in Concord (152 N. State St.) on Friday, June 21, at 1 p.m. More events are scheduled to take place in July and August, covering disc golf, archery, basketball, swimming, racquetball, table tennis, badminton, pickleball and more. See nhseniorgames.org.

The Brown Bag Book Club at Manchester City Library (405 Pine St.) will be discussing The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann on Tuesday, June 25, at 12:15 p.m. The book describes a group of shipwrecked British sailors in the late 1700s returning to England with tales of heroism and survival until a month later another group of men from the same ship returns claiming the first group were murderous mutineers. Call 624-6550, ext. 7620, or visit manchester.lib.nh.us.

Breeze Airways celebrated its inaugural flight from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport on May 14. The airline will offer non-stop flights to Charleston, S.C., and Orlando, Florida, with Tampa International Airport and Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers in the fall, according to a post on MHT’s Facebook page.

Kids’ Guide to Summer — 6/20/2024

Woo-hoo, school’s out! So how are you going to fill those days until the kids head back to class? We present our annual Kids’ Guide to Summer, with a look at fairs, concerts, theater, sports, library happenings and more goings-on to entertain kids this summer.

Also on the cover Concord holds its annual downtown celebration Market Days this Thursday, June 20, through Saturday, June 22, featuring kid fun as well as live music, food, brews and more (page 22). Hollis celebrates one of the sweetest parts of June with its annual Strawberry Festival on Saturday (page 28). And get live music tonight, whichever night you’re reading this, at an area restaurant or brewery — see the Music This Week listings on page 37.

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Lager love — 6/13/2024

It’s lager season! This week’s cover story takes a look at this popular beer variety and local breweries that make them.

Also on the cover, Zach Umperovitch talks about his Rube Goldberg machines ahead of a stint at the SEE Science Center (page 6). It’s a big weekend for concerts including Collective Soul and Hootie and the Blowfish at BankNH Pavilion (see page 31) and the Northfields Festival in Swanzey (page 32) and many more shows (find Concert listings on page 28). It’s another delicious weekend for fans of traditional Greek food festival fare (see page 22).

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High flying

Northlands Festival returns

Goose has played Northlands in Swanzey before. The Connecticut-based progressive jam band did a drive-in show during the pandemic and returned a year later to perform for people in pods. In 2023 they appeared at the Northlands Festival as Orebolo, an acoustic trio. It’s an event the full band will headline this year.

For its third edition, the Northlands lineup is packed. Over two days, Goose and Greensky Bluegrass will play a pair of sets, on a bill rounded out by Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Andy Frasco & the UN, Eric Krasno & Friends, Mihali, Sierra Hull, Dopapod, Spafford, Big Something, Tauk, Super Sonic Shorties, Cool Cool Cool and Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad. An undercard of 20 more acts includes special guests Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman and Nikki Glaspie.

In a phone interview from a tour stop in Denver, Goose keyboard player and guitarist Peter Anspach talked about looking forward to catching up with their friends from the circuit at the bucolic gathering.

“I’m really excited to see the Pigeons guys. They were such a big part in us learning how to tour,” he said, noting that the two bands were on the road just before Covid hit.

“We’re so grateful to share musical history…. I can’t wait to see them and some other of the bands. Spafford’s going to be there; those guys are awesome. We went on tour with them, too. It’s going to be cool to see old friends — I always love that about festivals.”

Their current tour is the first with new drummer Cotter Ellis. Though a few Redditors lost it when founding member Ben Atkind departed in December and his replacement was announced, reviews since have been uniformly positive.

On The Chateau Sessions, a live album recorded in March, Ellis played with ferocity, rhythmically synched with bassist Trevor Weekz.

“I’m super, super stoked on how they’re locking in together and have been since the beginning,” Anspach said. “When we first started playing with Cotter, it was like, whoa, all right! Trevor has totally been unlocked, we feel.”

The band took the comments section madness that greeted Ellis’s arrival in stride. It reminded him of “Skinny,” a song on the new Billie Eilish album. “The internet is hungry for the meanest kind of funny and somebody’s gotta feed it,” she sang. Anspach observed, “There’s always got to be something going out to appease the masses who want to talk crap.”

If that kind of attention is the cost of success, Anspach is still grateful that Goose has flown this high — and that its rise is continuing.

“I was always looking for a lifetime original project where we could really explore what it means to be a band,” he said. “Be silly and fun but also serious and address topics in our lives that are important in our writing and share them with people…. It’s really a dream come true [and] I’m so grateful to everybody who supports us out there, makes it all happen.”

The new chapter with Ellis has the band re-visiting old material and finding new contours; artistically, it’s exciting.

“We’re feeling good. Energy is high, and there’s a lot of camaraderie happening right now,” he said. “We had a great off day in Hayes, Kansas, which is kind of like the dead middle of the state of Kansas. We all went to Applebee’s, and it was pretty funny. There was a bar in the center, and we took up every chair around the entire bar … the entire band and crew.”

Savoring the memory of that moment in middle America as his emergent band continues to conquer the country, Anspach is in a buoyant mood.

“I feel like I don’t know what’s going to happen, and that’s a really good feeling,” he said. “We’ll see what’s next as we dive deeper into the music with Cotter. It’s feeling special; I hope people are as excited as I am.”

Northlands Festival
When: Friday, June 14, and Saturday, June 15, 11 a.m.
Where: Cheshire Fairgrounds, 247 Monadnock Hwy., Swanzey
Tickets: Starting at $109 for one day, $199 for two days, with camping, parking and special children’s pricing available.

Featured photo: Goose. Courtesy photo.

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