Author: Angie Sykeny

Angie Sykeny is a Hippo staff writer covering local arts, theater, music and pop culture. She can be reached at asykeny@hippopress.com.

Flavors of Girl Scout cookie season

Girls learn sales and leadership skills while selling Samoas and Thin Mints

Girl Scout cookie season is underway, combining tasty treats with the opportunity to support local youth initiatives. Ginger Kozlowski, communications and public relations manager for Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, and Sheila Morris, a troop leader in Concord, talked about this year’s sales, including how to buy cookies, the impact of New Hampshire’s Cookie Weekend, troop goals and ways to support without buying cookies.

What are the different ways people can purchase Girl Scout cookies across New Hampshire this season?

Kozlowski: It’s great to interact with a Girl Scout at her cookie booth. You will help her see that people support Girl Scouts and she will be happy to tell you all about the cookies and her goals. Booths are all over the place, but only until March 17. You can find a cookie booth near you by visiting girlscoutcookies.com and entering your zip code.

Tell us about the governor’s proclamation of Cookie Weekend and how you anticipate that impacting cookie sales.

Kozlowski: We are happy that Gov. Sununu proclaimed Feb. 16 through Feb. 18 Girl Scout Cookie Weekend in New Hampshire. We hope it will help us celebrate by supporting the Girl Scout Cookie program, which funds so much of our activities. Did you know that all the proceeds stay local?

Morris: Our troop has set a goal to sell 7,000 boxes of cookies so we can take one last big trip in 2025.

What are some of the goals or activities that local Girl Scouts are aiming to fund with the proceeds from this year’s cookie sales?

Kozlowski: Many Girl Scouts put their cookie proceeds toward summer camp, membership, community action projects, and fund cool experiences. On Facebook, Girl Scouts have posted goals like going to Space Camp and helping a women’s shelter food pantry. Many are looking forward to field trips.

Morris: We are known as the ‘travel troop.’ Our main focus has been travel and community service. We’re looking forward to kayaking and hiking in August in the Lakes Region and taking one last big trip in 2025. These trips have been amazing. They have given girls new adventures and bonding. Some of these girls might never travel without this troop. To see a girl overcome her anxiety to do something is priceless. To see them enjoy new experiences is delightful. The trips have also given them travel skills in budgeting, exploring places to go, getting around and safety. We also have tried to do a service project on our trips when it is possible. For example, we spent a day at a local school doing crafts and teaching them games and songs when we went to St. Lucia last spring. This is such a rewarding experience.

Can you explain the ‘Unbox the Future’ theme and how cookie sales help Girl Scouts achieve this vision?

Kozlowski: Unbox the Future simply refers to how you support the growth and future of girls by buying Girl Scout cookies. Girl Scouting is all about giving girls the opportunity to explore the world and follow their dreams in a supportive environment. Our mission is to create young women of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.

Morris: And I see that in all my Girl Scouts. I have seen them come out of their shell and become a confident leader. I have seen them mentor younger girls. I have seen them learn to discuss and decide as a group, while being respectful of different opinions. It’s amazing to see them tackle community issues or plan an overseas trip.

What are some key skills that Girl Scouts are learning through cookie sales?

Kozlowski: Oh, that’s easy. Girl Scouts is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world, so we have five specific skills we find essential to leadership, success and life in general: goal-setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

Morris: I have seen these girls flourish in all aspects when dealing with the public at booths and become more confident as the years have gone by. I have personally seen my Girl Scouts grow in all these areas. And isn’t that what every parent wants for their child?

For those looking to support local Girl Scouts but who may not want cookies themselves, what options do they have for contributing to the troops?

Kozlowski: The Council’s Gift of Caring program is perfect for this. Every Girl Scout has the ability to take donations at their cookie booth to put toward this program, which provides cookies to the military and hometown heroes. And if you don’t run across a cookie booth by March 17 when sales end, you can still donate at the council’s website at girlscoutsgwm.org.

Morris: If you do that at our cookie booth, you will also directly help our Girl Scouts.

Cookies!
Here are this year’s cookie flavors, according to girlscoutsgwm.org. Cookies cost $6 per box.

Adventurefuls — “brownie-inspired cookies topped with caramel flavored creme”
Do-Si-Dos — “oatmeal sandwich cookies with a peanut butter filling”
Girl Scout S’mores — “graham sandwich cookies with chocolatey and marshmallowy flavored filling”
Lemon-Ups — “crispy lemon cookies”
Samoas — “crisp cookies with caramel, coconut and chocolatey stripes”
Tagalongs — “crispy cookies layered with peanut butter and covered with a chocolatey coating”
Thin Mints — “chocolatey cookies made with natural oils of peppermint”
Toffee-Tastic — gluten-free buttery cookies with toffee bits
Trefoils — “shortbread cookies”

Featured photo: Photo courtesy of GSUSA.

Fresh from the snowy farm

Winter farmers markets offer a taste of sunnier seasons

Farmers markets aren’t just for the warmer months; some continue to operate through the winter, featuring a variety of vendors selling everything from fresh produce to artisanal crafts.

Via email, organizers and vendors discussed how these markets adapt to the colder season and what unique offerings they bring to the community.

Concord Farmers Market

Brenda White, with input from her fellow organizers for the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market, discussed how this season is going.

How has this year’s winter farmers market differed from previous years in terms of vendor participation and customer attendance?

This year, our fledgling market has grown in visibility through our social media advertising and new signs that are more visually appealing and draw the attention of passersby. We worked with a local Concord artist, RS Creative, who designed our fresh, new logo. Attendance is up from an average of 275 customers to roughly 425 customers. We have gained some wonderful vendors to add to a diverse offering. The produce and products that you can find range from fish, meats and eggs to fresh microgreens, root veggies, fresh baked treats and bread. We have vendors who make wonderful soaps, lotions, candles and dog treats. We even have a vendor with fresh cut winter flowers … and microbrews and wine. There is such a wide variety of local goodness.

What unique challenges does operating a farmers market in the winter present, and how have you and the vendors adapted to these conditions?

Finding a location that works for all patrons and gives us enough space to set up. We are grateful for the generosity that Stephen Duprey has gifted this market in its early years by giving us a location to have a market to provide easy access for customers to obtain amazing local products. 7 Eagle Square is a bright, beautiful open space with two levels of shopping. It is a great location for folks who are either choosing to walk around downtown or park close by for quick easy in and out.

Can you share some success stories or particularly popular initiatives from this year’s winter market?

Manus Basket: Every Saturday we have a basket set up to gather donations to support families in need of food. So we have partnered with The Boys & Girls Club of Central and Northern New Hampshire. How it works is that each market Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market purchases food from vendors at the market to place in the cooler or basket for the Boys & Girls Club. We have budgeted a certain amount a week to spend. In addition to that, customers and vendors purchase or donate items to add to the basket and cooler as well while they shop. This supports the vendors as well as helping our local community.

We were excited to host a sing-along with Santa in December this year. It was well-received and fun for the customers’ children and families. … As always, the Merrimack County Conservation District has continued to offer its Granite State Market Match and Veteran Value Bucks programs. Through the Granite State Market Match, SNAP/EBT recipients can double the amount they are spending on food items offered at the market. For example, if $20 is charged to a SNAP card, the recipient will receive $40 in vouchers to spend on food items. The Veteran Value Bucks program provides $20 to veterans and active service members once a month to shop for any items at the market. These programs allow more customers to visit our market, while also keeping more dollars local. It’s a win for everyone.

How important are winter farmers markets for the vendors’ businesses, and what role do they play in the local community during the colder months?

There are very few markets in the winter months, and it is not easy for vendors to get their products out to consumers on their own during the winter months without this farmers market community. The market provides a central location with easy access for the public to get all their needs in one location. We have a variety of meats including traditional beef, pork, lamb, chicken, fish and now a new vendor who provides ostrich. We have cheeses, yogurt, beer, soaps, bread, pastries, gluten-free pastries and bread, vegetables, syrup, honey, jams, eggs, beef chips, mushrooms, coffee, microgreens, dog food, popcorn, nuts, soft pretzels, rolls and flowers. These amazing vendors are local and love to support and help their communities and provide fresh locally grown/made products.

What measures have you implemented to encourage community engagement and ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for visitors during the winter season?

We are fortunate that we can use the Storr Street parking garage’s top level to park and use the ramp to bring products down to 7 Eagle Square easily for setup. Customers can use the garage’s top level as well during business hours of the market. The building has an elevator so that patrons can access both floors of the market easily if they prefer not to use the stairs. Walkways and the courtyard are maintained well to be sure that the area is free of ice and snow so customers have easy and safe access to the building. We also have local musicians who are scheduled by NH Music Collective to entertain at the market to add another family-friendly feel to the experience.

Looking forward, are there any new plans or ideas you’re excited to introduce to the winter farmers market in future seasons?

We hope to have a new permanent location in the future that will give us more space and make it even more convenient for customers to join us.

Joyberry Farms

Amy Joyce and Brad Ikenberry of Joyberry Farms, based in Mason, joyberryfarms.com. Find them at the winter Salem NH Farmers Market.

large mushrooms sitting on table in front of sign text Joyberry Farm - farm fresh mushrooms
Joyberry Farms. Courtesy photo.

Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?

We are the owners of Joyberry Farms, a small family-owned and -operated farm in Mason. We cultivate fresh mushrooms and create unique mushroom products. At the markets you can find a variety of fresh mushrooms each week, as well as a variety of dried products like mushroom coffee, teas, dried mushroom soups and risotto. We also make wellness mushroom powders.

How has this year’s market been for your business in terms of customer attendance and sales trends?

The sales in the winter tend to drop a little bit, due to attendance and weather. However, each year, as we grow, we also see a rise in our sales trends from repeat and new customers that love our products.

What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?

The cold weather definitely makes farming a lot harder, but it also gives us time to slow down and be more creative.

How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?

Mushrooms, like vegetables, grow differently in each season. We offer different ‘cold weather’ mushrooms in the winter than in the summer, but some varieties grow all year-round.

What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?

Although our summer season is packed with farmers markets, we do attend a few winter markets which helps keep our business running year-round.

What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?

Our fresh mushrooms remain our top seller; however, in the winter we get an influx of sales from our soups, risotto, coffee and teas.

Blakeney’s Bakery

Brenda White, Blakeney’s Bakery, based in Contoocook, blakeneysbakery.com. Find them at the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market.

Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?

Blakeney’s Bakery has a large variety of breads, scones, cookies, soft pretzels, whoopie pies, lemon bars and cookies.

How has this year’s market been for your business in terms of customer attendance and sales trends?

Each year has grown in customers and sales.

What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?

Weather can be a challenge, especially if it keeps customers from coming out.

How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?

Really don’t have to do much. We make seasonal products and create new flavors of bread sometimes just from customer suggestions. We don’t make as many products during the winter market as the customer base is significantly smaller due to summer guests and residents who leave for the winter.

What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?

Being able to provide a great product for our customers and to … work with other vendors to support them by pairing their products with ours when possible.

What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?

Our variety of bread flavors and scones. We strive to have savory, sweet and salty options to meet a variety of needs that our customers have.

HorseFeathers Ostrich Farm

Monte and Alison Cossette. HorseFeathers Ostrich Farm, based in Webster, horsefeathersostrichfarm.com. Find them every other Saturday (next date March 2) at the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market.

Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?

My husband and I started our ostrich farm several years ago. We’ve been growing our farm, breeding stock, and now are excited to be able to offer USDA ostrich meat for the first time both locally and through online sales. This is our first season participating in farmers market and we have been thrilled with this market.

What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?

Since we are offering a product that not as many people are familiar with, the amount of customers going through the market is very important for us. The more people we can show and teach about ostrich meat, the more sales and repeat customers we can have.

How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?

Currently we are bringing a small amount of meat and only a few types of meat cuts; we are hoping to be part of the summer market and have more offerings.

What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?

As a new business it is amazing to have people to talk to about our product. All organizers of the group have been amazingly helpful as we get started with our farmers markets and our business.

What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?

In our booth we have a display of ostrich egg shells with a fake ostrich head. That seems to really pique interest for people and get them over to the booth. The egg shells can be used for decorations and arts, but the display is a great starting point to bring people to the table and start talking about the meat.

Arándano Farm and Gluten Free or Die Bakery

Man standing behind table covered in checkered tablecloth, on which there are baked goods, 2 signs with names of farms attached to front of tablecloth
Arándano Farm and Gluten Free or Die Bakery. Courtesy photo.

Paul Gareau and Angela Letelier, Arándano Farm and Gluten Free or Die Bakery, Belmont, arandano.farm, gfordie.com. Find them at the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market.

Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?

It’s our first year as vendors in Concord; generally we attend other markets in Belknap County and we’ll be running three new markets in 2024. Our farm offers organic-fed chicken, grass-fed pork, eggs, vegetables and microgreens. The bakery offers celiac-safe gluten-free baked goods.

What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?

Our area mostly offers summer markets, so the winter market helps us sell our products throughout the winter.

How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?

Less emphasis on grilling, more on meal prep.

What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?

Income throughout winter months and expanded customer base.

What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?

Our main attraction is no-compromised gluten-free baked goods, and we have a following for our chicken and pork as well.

Pastry Dream

Ann and Roger Baril of Pastry Dream are based in Derry. Find them at the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market and the winter Salem NH Farmers Market.

Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?

We sell individually sized pastries called Dreams. Some call them small pies. Our flavor selection ranges from lemon curd and raspberry to chocolate/peanut butter to our brand new Key lime. We presently offer nine flavors — something for everyone.

How has this year’s market been for your business in terms of customer attendance and sales trends?

We have already seen an increase over last year.

What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?

A challenge we experience each year is New Year’s resolutions and the fact that everyone eats too much over the holiday season and cuts back for a time especially in January. Our opportunity is that farmers markets allow us the opportunity to present our products to those who may not have tasted them before.

How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?

For the winter season we offer a pecan pie Dream and a ginger/spice cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting along with all of our other items.

What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?

Feedback from customers is a huge benefit of being at the farmers markets. We have a lemon curd and a raspberry and many customers suggested that we put the two flavors together. We did, and the lemon/raspberry is one of our best sellers. We’ve also been asked to create a Key lime dream, which we are now offering and is a great success.

What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?

We offer samples, which give new customers the opportunity to taste our flavors before buying. This makes a big difference, because once you taste the filling flavors you have to have more.

KYS Food for Dogs

Sonia Javier Obinger of KYS Food for Dogs, based in Sandown. Find them at the Downtown Concord Farmers Market and the winter Salem NH Farmers Market.

Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?

I started preparing whole-food recipes because of my interest in providing the best nutrition for my three pugs and a Boston terrier. I began researching, taking classes and using my experience to develop whole-food recipes for them. There would even be times when my friends would come over and ask what was cooking because it smelled so good. I said it was my dog’s dinner. So fast forward 16-plus years of testing, making mistakes, re-testing and friends’ support, I started KYS Whole Food for Dogs. Our recipes are created in small batches, bone broth braised with organic ingredients sourced from local farms sold fresh/frozen in compostable packages at farmers markets, online and retail. Recipes offer seasonally harvested organic vegetables with pasture-raised chicken or grass-fed beef, organ meat, seaweed, hempseed or flaxseed, providing dogs with a nutritious, complete meal. KYS ingredients are sourced from local farms like Vernon Family in Newfields. They provide the chicken for Tilly’s Pastured Chicken recipe. The organic vegetables in this recipe are grown and harvested by Heron Pond in Hampton, Two Farmers Farm in Scarborough, Maine, and Brandmoore Farm in Rollinsford.

How has this year’s market been for your business in terms of customer attendance and sales trends?

This is my first season with Downtown Concord Farmers Market, so I am still working on brand awareness. With the Salem NH Farmers Market this is my third winter market and this market has grown, especially at its new location at LaBelle Winery.

What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?

I think the opportunities are that they are indoors, thus providing customers access to a great variety of vendors. I think the biggest challenge is New England weather, which this year has been relatively calm.

How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?

Since my recipes are based on harvest availability, root vegetables — carrots, winter squash, cranberries, for example — are used in the winter. Once the spring/summer season starts we have more greens, summer squash, blueberries, etc. So all year my customers have a diverse nutritional diet.

What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?

The benefits are that we still have access to our summer customers as well as meeting new ones. Plus it is warmer than being outside.

What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?

I think both Jake’s Grass fed Beef and Tilly’s Pastured Chicken recipes are equally popular. I have recently been testing with some of my customers’ liver truffles, which are another whole food product for those who want to provide a healthy treat for the dog.

Art and wellness

A talk with the new director of the NH State Council on the Arts

Adele Bauman, who recently transitioned from the New Hampshire Division of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to become the director of the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, shared insights into her career shift, her plans for utilizing the arts to bolster New Hampshire communities and her major goals for the Council, and offered some advice for aspiring artists in the state.

What made you switch from health and human services to the arts sector?

The arts became a part of my life in childhood. They remained a parallel passion throughout my adult life. I worked as a studio photographer and graphic designer prior to my joining NH DHHS. I had been with NH DHHS for almost 16 years when this opportunity arose at the NHSCA. I found myself leaping for the chance to transfer my state level government skillset to a state arts agency. I also had a previous focus on service to New Hampshire’s children and youth as a child protection service worker and then as an administrator at the Bureau for Children’s Behavioral Health. My time at the NHSCA offers me the ability to think about ways to support New Hampshire’s residents throughout their entire lifespan through the wellness the arts can bring to each of us.

How do you plan to use the arts to help New Hampshire communities?

The arts can provide wellness to our New Hampshire residents. Stronger individuals lead to stronger communities. Stronger communities lead to a stronger state. The arts can regenerate communities as well as provide opportunities for increased social connection, interface, collaboration and open-mindedness across populations regardless of race or socioeconomic status. Increased arts participation among New Hampshire students could enhance academic performance, increase their chances for success after high school and encourage them to become more dynamically engaged with their communities through participation with such things as voting and volunteerism. The arts are a major player for increasing economic drivers within communities. Increasing access and equity within the arts literally translates into health benefits for the community, which has a positive impact on the quality of life for all residents. This is true whether one is creating or viewing the arts.

What is one major goal you have for the Arts Council?

My major goal is to continue to support and strengthen both the mission and vision of the NHSCA. The State Arts Council provides a wide variety of services, competitive grants and technical assistance to nonprofit organizations, schools, health care facilities and to individual artists with the intent to support the arts to thrive in New Hampshire and increase accessibility to all New Hampshire residents in all ages and stages of their lives.

Are there any specific groups or sectors you’re looking forward to working with?

Not especially. I have been learning so much about New Hampshire in my first few months of work. Seeing New Hampshire through the lens of our many local artists and art organizations fills me with so much pride and hope for what lays ahead.

How has your personal interest in art influenced your approach to this role?

In the same way that I could never fully put my camera down, I cannot take the ‘social worker’ out of who I am. Educating myself about how the arts impact wellness for humans of all ages drives my work. My wish is for all individuals to welcome the arts into their lives. The benefits are there to support and offset some of the more challenging aspects of our daily lives.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring artists in New Hampshire?

We all need you to keep creating, whether we all know it yet or not. Your dedication and hard work makes us all stronger.

Featured photo: Adele Bauman. Courtesy photo.

Future Senator?

‘The key is to get involved,’ says Central High student

Can you describe your roles and activities at Central High School?

At Central High School, I have several roles. As class president, I like to listen to my classmates’ concerns, like the high cost of prom tickets, and work toward solutions. I’ve also brought in presidential election candidates to speak at Central, leveraging our position in New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary to encourage civic engagement among students. Besides this, I play three sports: golf, hockey and track, representing Central in each. I’m involved in the Safe Sports Student Ambassador Program, which teaches about safe sports practices and the importance of community service. I also lead the ‘Faceoff Friends Program’ in association with the Choose Love movement, teaching elementary students at our Boys and Girls Club about kindness, gratitude, and choosing love, with a hockey theme. … Additionally, I serve as the editor-in-chief of the ‘Little Green’ newspaper, the oldest public high school newspaper in New Hampshire.

What is the U.S. Senate Youth Program, and how were you selected to be a part of it?

The U.S. Senate Youth Program is a two-part initiative. The first part includes a scholarship, which is fantastic. The more exciting part for me is the opportunity it provides to visit Washington, D.C., and get an in-depth look at how our government functions. It’s a chance to interact with politicians we usually see on TV and really understand the workings of the government. … As for my selection, it began with my principal nominating me from my school. The process involved an initial application round where I submitted several essays along with a recommendation. After advancing from that round, I participated in an interview round with a select group of students from my state. Following our interviews, a council decided that myself and one other student from New Hampshire were the best fits for the program.

What inspired you to become involved in programs like the U.S. Senate Youth Program and other leadership activities?

I’m really passionate about helping others, and this passion started in my freshman year with Safe Sports, where I saw the importance of building up our community. As class president, I realized how much I could help just by listening to my peers and working with school administration to address their concerns and adapt our school to better serve its students. This experience sparked my interest in other programs like the Choose Love program, where I saw a chance to extend my reach and encourage more people. Hearing about the Youth Senate Program, I thought it would be interesting to see how government works, especially in today’s polarized environment. I wanted to understand how politicians interact and are treated, then bring back that knowledge to my community to help reduce polarization and work toward a more unified country.

What are your future goals or career aspirations?

I definitely want to go to college … Where college will take me is something I’ll have to see, but I am interested in going into political science. Maybe in a few years, I’ll find myself in Congress or in some role within politics. For me, politics is the way I feel I can best help people and reach as many as possible.

What advice would you give to other students who are interested in leadership or public service?

The key is to get involved. … The biggest thing is to engage in extracurriculars and clubs that build up our community, which is crucial for anyone wanting to be a leader. You can’t be a leader just by pointing out what needs to change; you need to be actively involved in these groups, making the change happen. So my best advice is to get involved in a variety of clubs, learn from these experiences, and then use what you’ve learned to advocate for positive change within your communities and beyond.

Show on pause

Andrew Pinard discusses the future of Hatbox Theatre

The transformation of Steeplegate Mall in Concord into a mixed-use development necessitates the relocation of several tenants, one of which is the Hatbox Theatre. Founded in 2016 by Andrew Pinard, Hatbox Theatre has been an active entity in the local arts community. The absence of a long-term lease now leads to the theater’s imminent closure, disrupting a season that was set to include 15 diverse productions. Pinard talked about the impact of this development on the theater, its future plans and the broader implications for the arts community in Concord. See hatboxnh.com for updates.

What exactly transpired with the closure of Hatbox Theatre?

The closure was abrupt. We knew there was a possibility of this happening when the previous owners evicted almost everyone without long-term leases nearly two years ago, but the actual timing was unexpected. The city has been pushing to get rid of the mall and replace it with housing, and they finally found a developer who bought the mall. This new developer plans to demolish the buildings and construct 625 market-rate apartments, along with a Costco and Whole Foods. Communication with the new owners was scarce, and we struggled to get information. We were assured at one point that we would have until May or June of 2024, but suddenly, in November, just before Thanksgiving, we were informed that we had to be out by the end of January. It was quite a shock.

What has been the community’s response?

There’s a lot of people who are very sad and very disappointed that we might close permanently if we can’t find another space to work in. Our audiences and the artists who have performed here are really supportive and enthusiastic about us finding a new space, and we’re grateful for them. I’ve had recommendations from dozens of people suggesting various spaces. The community’s reaction shows their deep investment in Hatbox and their concern for the future of local arts in our area. Unfortunately I haven’t been too optimistic about the elected, civic and business leaders in Concord. They acknowledge our work but haven’t fought very hard to keep us in the community. They never really made us feel like we were something special.

What immediate steps are you taking to manage this transition for Hatbox Theatre?

We’ve been evaluating a number of spaces for short-term and long-term use. We’re looking at Manchester, Epsom, Nashua, Bedford. We’ve looked at about 28 different locations so far and that includes both shared spaces and exclusive spaces. We’re looking at mid-March at the very earliest to launch programming in other nomadic locations. Our business model has always been that ticket sales cover the overhead of the space while allowing us to give 55 percent of the revenue to the production companies that are in the space. We are transitioning the organization to a not-for-profit to potentially expand our revenue beyond ticket sales, which could conceivably mean that we can purchase a location so that we’re not at the mercy of somebody kicking us out. That would also mean we could begin fundraising and things of that nature so that we can afford places like that.

How do you think this will affect Concord’s art scene?

It’s going to be a big loss for Concord, for the local artists and for the audience who regularly attend our shows. We’re in our ninth year now, and we’ve had over 36,000 people through our space since we opened in April 2016. We’ve hosted numerous world premieres and given a platform to local artists. Our venue was a place where smaller production companies and local artists could showcase their work. Many local artists got their start here, and without Hatbox there’s a fear that emerging talents might not find similar opportunities. The local arts scene will lose a unique venue that provided a space for experimental and avant-garde productions. Its closure could mean a more homogenized arts scene in the city. It’s not just about losing a physical space. It’s about losing a community hub for artists and audiences alike.

What are you looking for in a community to relocate to?

We want a community that really either wants us or needs us and really deeply wants to be involved. Ideally we’d find a community that has a space like a mill building or a fire station that they’re looking to repurpose to reinvest in their community. And we’re looking for a community that will support the community that has supported us.

Work the Vote

Manchester holds training for primary poll workers

If you’re interested in working or volunteering at the polls for the Jan. 23 presidential primary election, there’s still time to register for the final training session on Jan. 6. JoAnn Ferruolo, Assistant City Clerk for the City of Manchester, provided information on the various roles, training details and the impact you can make.

What are the main roles and tasks for workers or volunteers at the polling stations on primary day?

The City of Manchester is currently looking to fill three positions in most of our 12 polling places for the Jan. 23, 2024, presidential primary election. All positions require an in-person training session prior to the election to be eligible to work.

The Deputy Registrar is responsible for registering voters at the polling place; there are several forms to be completed by the voter and deputy registrar. This position can be filled by a registered voter in New Hampshire. The hours are 5:30 a.m. to approximately 8:30 p.m., and pay is $180 for the day.

The Ballot Inspector performs multiple duties as assigned by the moderator, including, but not limited to, checking in voters on a poll pad, handing out ballots to voters, marking the official paper checklist, assisting voters and greeting voters. They must live in the ward that they work in. … The hours are 5 a.m. to approximately 9:30 p.m., and pay is $180 for the day.

Both positions require reading small print in variable lighting conditions and having legible penmanship and attention to detail.

A volunteer performs duties assigned by the moderator, which include, but are not limited to, greeting voters, counting cast and uncast votes, hand-counting votes, and [tallying] write-in votes after the polls close. A volunteer position can be filled by a registered voter in New Hampshire.

The hours are 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and as a volunteer position, there is no compensation.

How does someone sign up to work or volunteer at the polls, and what does the preparation process involve?

Anyone interested should contact the City of Manchester, Office of the City Clerk, by email: cityclerk@manchesternh.gov. We will assign a position and provide training dates and times. If a position is compensated, the person must complete an I9 and W4 form.

Can you describe the training provided to new poll workers or volunteers?

In-person training is conducted at Manchester City Hall. The training sessions range from one to two hours depending on the position. We provide training materials and instructions that are established by New Hampshire election law statutes or the Secretary of State/City Clerk guidance. Each trainee must take an oath of office during the training session to work at the polls.

What measures are in place to ensure safety and fairness at the polling stations?

Each election official must take an oath of office swearing and affirming that they will perform their duties according to New Hampshire laws, city ordinances and policies and the rules and regulations of the State of New Hampshire. There is an enforced ‘no campaigning’ rule in every polling place.

If someone misses the deadline to work or volunteer for this primary, how can they get involved in future elections?

The City of Manchester is always looking for engaged residents offering their time to assist us on Election Day. Interested parties can reach us by email. We keep contact information on file to reach out to interested parties prior to every election until the positions are filled. Each election varies in the number of workers we would require. Staffing the polling place is dependent on the current political activity and historical turnout.

State of the state

A snapshot of New Hampshire’s economic climate

Mike Skelton, President and CEO of the Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire, analyzes the state’s economic climate for 2023. His comprehensive overview covers key topics such as inflation, housing and job market trends, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that have shaped New Hampshire’s business landscape. Skelton reflects on the year’s economic trajectory and provides projections for 2024, offering insights into the state’s economic health and future prospects.

How would you characterize the economic climate in New Hampshire for the year 2023?

I would say the economic climate in New Hampshire for 2023 was or is strong with some reservations and risk factors that inhibited the ability for some businesses to grow in the manner that they would like to or to make investments with full confidence. Those risk factors primarily were rising interest rates, inflation, consumer confidence and sentiment, as well as an overarching sense of potential risk with world events and whether predictions about some sort of recessionary environment were coming to fruition. The general conditions lasted through the bulk of 2023. However, as the year wore on, folks began to warm up to the fact that while those risk factors are present, economic conditions on the ground are reasonably strong. Unemployment remains low, job growth remains steady and demand remains high in most, if not all, sectors. Inflation was easing slowly, and the hopes of avoiding a recession and heading to the “soft landing,” which was the Federal Reserve Bank’s target with its rate adjustment strategy over the last year, became more and more plausible as a potential path forward.

What have been the key drivers of inflation in New Hampshire this past year, and how have they impacted local businesses?

The key drivers of inflation in New Hampshire are similar to those in any other place around the country. Depending on your perspective as a consumer or a business, you have too many dollars and too much demand chasing too few products or too little supply. As supply has increased — considering there were supply chain issues in the last few years, whether it was in vehicles or various consumer products, and those have moderated or corrected — inflation has followed that in terms of decreasing. And with the Fed’s adjustments to interest rates, that obviously has an effect on dampening demand. So the impact on businesses is potentially seen in lessening demand. However, the surprise for many folks was that demand has remained relatively high, whether you’re in the services business or in the products business. Demand has remained pretty steady. It may be starting to slow a little bit now from the earlier breakneck pace, but it’s still quite strong, and that’s evident in what you see in economic indicators, job numbers and GDP. Where the biggest impact was felt was really in interest rates and how that impacts businesses’ ability to borrow money and finance expansions or operations, or activities they’re looking to invest in for future growth. This is probably most felt in the construction industry and the housing sector. But we’re seeing some shifts now with the Fed signaling that they are done raising rates and that rate cuts are expected at some point in 2024. We’ve already started to see interest rates begin to decline, and that starts to build some momentum for 2024, in terms of businesses looking at better conditions for financing operations and financing expansions in the manner they would like to.

How did New Hampshire’s housing market evolve over 2023?

The housing market continues to be extremely challenging, and it’s something that is inhibiting our growth as an economy. We have workers and citizens who would like more housing options, who would like more affordable housing options, and we simply don’t have enough supply. That’s really the story of New Hampshire’s housing market. It’s similar to many other states around us and locations across the country: We have too much demand chasing too little supply, and we’re not building enough new units to satisfy that increasing demand. That, of course, has pushed average prices higher over the past several years, making it more difficult for new homeowners to enter the market, for homeowners who wish to upgrade or move into a larger housing unit to find that, and it makes it more difficult for older homeowners who look to downsize. We’re seeing those stressors across the housing market, and, of course, that also translates to our rental market, where rental vacancy rates continue to be below 1 percent, well far off of what we would like to see as a balanced housing market. So this continues to be a challenge. There’s a flip side of the issue where it is positive that people want to move here and want to live here. New Hampshire has a lot of desirable qualities, both in terms of job availability and quality of life, that attract people. That contributes to the demand in our housing market. But we can’t sustain having this level of demand without it coming at the cost of holding back economic growth. If we’re going to continue to grow as an economy — and for companies that wish to hire to find a qualified workforce — we need to create more housing opportunities here in 2024 and for the foreseeable future.

What changes have you observed in the New Hampshire job market? Are there any sectors that have shown significant growth or decline?

Overall, the job market is robust. New Hampshire continues to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, and I don’t necessarily see that changing dramatically in 2024. We’re going to continue to have an overall shortage of available workers compared to available jobs, and that underscores the need to create pathways for workers to move here, to work here, to open themselves up to opportunities here in New Hampshire. That cuts across multiple sectors, whether you’re looking at workers in the retail sector or manufacturing sector, or the need for more workers in high tech or engineering, or more positions that require advanced degrees or training. It’s really across the board, and I would expect New Hampshire to continue to be in fierce competition with surrounding states and other parts of the country, given the advent of remote work, to attract and retain workers here.

What were the major challenges and opportunities faced by New Hampshire businesses in 2023?

In this type of economy, where there [are] some overarching risk factors relating to changes in the interest rate environment, world events impacting the economy and consumer confidence, a challenge for businesses was navigating that uncertainty while continuing to invest in the future, without having necessarily a clearer picture of what the future might bring. Would there be a recession? Or would we navigate through that? Earlier this year at one point, national economists were forecasting, in some cases with 100 percent certainty, that there would be a recession in 2023. So, for many businesses, the challenge was bracing for a downturn in the economy that ultimately has not come, and we hope does not come, but through that, continuing to look toward the future and how they can grow. In terms of opportunities, this is a time where, for companies, depending on what their industry sector is, coming out of a challenging few years with the pandemic, with high pent-up demand across multiple sectors of the economy, this is an opportunity to grow and to discover new markets, new customers and new strategies for how to reach those customers. This was a year where if you were able to navigate the uncertainty, there were probably some pretty interesting and exciting business opportunities to discover that could position you for growth well into the future.

What potential impacts do you anticipate the upcoming elections having on New Hampshire’s business environment and economic policies?

At this point, because we’re in the primary season right now, it’s a little early to say what type of impact it might have. Generally speaking, I think the business community looks to the political realm, first and foremost, for stability. And if an election cycle is particularly highly partisan and not necessarily focused on important policy issues, that can serve as a distraction from some of the important business issues that business leaders and those interested in the future of the economy would like to discuss. So, hopefully, the election cycle will allow for and have a platform where voters will be able to dig into what are the business policies and plans of each candidate, whether it’s at the presidential level or congressional level, down to state officeholders, because those issues really matter and will have a material impact on the businesses in which they work as well as their individual quality of lives. … As is the case with most elections, economic issues, in the end, tend to bubble up to the top, and how voters perceive the health of the economy and the direction of the economy usually has a significant impact on their decision-making when they ultimately go to the polls.

Based on current trends, what are your projections or expectations for New Hampshire’s economy in 2024?

I’ll caveat this to say that I am not an economist, so this is not a traditional economic forecast, but from my perspective, as CEO of the BIA, I feel very bullish on New Hampshire’s economy heading into 2024 and believe we have significant opportunities for continued growth. … I think there is increasing optimism. There are certainly going to remain some economic challenges and risk factors, but the environment and conditions are improving or strengthening compared to where we were a year ago. … New Hampshire has a favorable business climate with a business-friendly regulatory system. We have a highly educated workforce, and we have a strong quality of life and community. We’re a state that is regularly rated as one of the best places to live and raise a family. We have all of these pillars of what makes the state a strong place to do business already here, and in relatively good condition and health. That allows us to compete really well against our neighbors here in New England, and with some other states. Where we need to continue to focus is really the cost of housing, the cost of energy, and attracting workers; those are the key challenges, and I think we are making progress on them, but it’s a question of how much progress can we make year in, year out to realize the growth potential that is here before us. In terms of 2024, if continuing in the current direction with a strong job market, a lower interest rate environment and an overall economy that’s headed toward a soft landing — avoiding a recession — I think you’re going to see a really strong year for New Hampshire economically, and businesses are going to have more confidence to move forward with hiring or expansion plans that they may have put off in 2023 that they were a little worried about. They wanted a clearer picture. … So I think that is an optimistic and also realistic view of where we could be headed. I think New Hampshire continues to be well-positioned compared to many other states in the region and also around the country.

Featured photo: Mike Skelton.

Future workers

Small business owners take their issue to D.C.

In response to the Basel III Endgame regulation, which could escalate capital costs for small businesses, Dina Akel, owner of Vieira Luxe, a bridal and special occasion wear shop in Nashua, joined more than 50 entrepreneurs in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14. Their mission: to articulate to lawmakers and Federal Reserve officials the significant impact this regulation could have on small businesses like hers.

How did the Basel III Endgame regulation discussions in Washington impact your business outlook?

I went to D.C. to advocate for small businesses that will be impacted by this proposal. It’s concerning that it will be even more difficult to access capital than it already is. It was my first time in D.C. ever, so I was super nervous, but I knew how important it was to be there. After the discussion we had with our senators and representatives, I felt my story was heard, and I was confident they were in our corner. I’m confident they’ll do everything they can to advocate for us.

What major challenges did you discuss in Washington regarding the high interest rate environment?

One of the discussions was actually my personal story about recently applying for business funding through grants and loans. I applied to various grants and was unsuccessful, so alternatively I applied to my long-standing banks, and was also unsuccessful. I was feeling a little defeated at that time. I finally asked one of my banks and a representative from SBDC if they had any other funding resources for me. They connected me with a nonprofit lender. The first time around, I got denied. The second time I was approved. When I spoke to them, they told me we could aim for the 5 to 8 percent interest rate mark, which is what I was expecting. Once I got the approval, though, they provided me with a loan in the two-digit mark. That was definitely more than I could afford. However, I was desperate since the business was growing so quickly and I lacked the resources to keep up with it, so I accepted the loan, and honestly, we can’t afford for the situation to get any worse.

What outcomes or responses did you receive from your meetings in Washington?

We received very positive responses from our members of Congress. They were all willing to help and push against this proposal, which was great.

How might the outcomes from Washington affect your future business plans?

I’m a little worried that if this proposal goes through our customers might actually experience more inflated prices. We may not be able to provide the same high-quality products our customers love, and we may not be able to keep up with the demand and, God forbid, shut down in the process. I’m already struggling to keep up with all of it. People need to remember that when you’re a small business owner, in your first few years you are literally everything in the business: the customer representative, the cashier, the accountant, the inventory manager, custodian, website builder, you name it. When that gets to be too much, we have to delegate and hire people to help us. The reality is you need money to make money.

What were your key takeaways from the interactions in Washington?

Small businesses are already considered risky to lend to. If this goes forward, and interest rates also go up, we’ll be seeing a lot of businesses closed down.

What follow-up actions or continued advocacy plans do you have post-Washington visit?

I’m part of the Nashua Chamber of Commerce, the Suffolk University alumni, the National Association for Catering and Events, and a few more groups. I’ll make sure I have an opportunity to speak with them all about this. That way they can speak up and share their stories. They can call members of Congress and let them know why it’s important. We can all come together as a community to advocate for all small businesses.

Featured photo: Dina Akel, right, joined by U.S. Representative Ann McLane Kuster and a group of New Hampshire small business owners outside the U.S. Capitol. Courtesy photo.

Welcome to ski season

What to expect on the slopes this winter

As the crisp winter air settles in and the first snowflakes begin to fall, winter sports fans eagerly anticipate the start of the ski season. We talked with Aly Coakley, marketing director of McIntyre Ski Area in Manchester where they kicked off the season on Dec. 9, to get an insider’s perspective on gearing up for the winter months.

How are you getting ready for the season?

We have all the snowmaking [processes] on, and our staff is out there at every cold window of opportunity making snow. We have top-to-bottom on the Queen’s Trail open, and our beginners’ area is also set. We have quite a bit of snow stacked up. We haven’t seen a ton of cold snow days, but at this point there’s plenty of snow out there for people to get out and enjoy.

What is your expectation for the length of this season?

We’re anticipating operating all the way until the end of March. That’s usually our goal. Last March we experienced a “miracle March” with so much snow. We’re hoping for the same this year, maybe with more frequent snowstorms throughout the season, so we can keep going through March.

What are the environmental considerations in your snowmaking process? Is that something you have to think about?

Yes, paying attention to the weather is really important because we don’t want to be making a lot of wet snow when it’s too warm, as it’s a waste of electricity and resources. We are very conscious of when and how we operate. Using better snowmaking equipment, like better snow guns and snow fans, allows for more effective operations. It’s really important to stay on top of the latest technology to ensure that our environmental impact is as limited as possible.

Do you notice a difference between man-made and natural snow?

One of the big differences with man-made snow is that it’s squeaky. The nice thing about natural snow is that it’s all caught in the trees, and it just looks beautiful. There’s nothing better than waking up to a powder day with a nicely groomed trail of man-made snow underneath and natural snow on top. That combination makes the perfect powder day.

Are there any special events or unique attractions planned for the upcoming season?

Yes, we have some really cool events coming up. One highlight is our Park Affair event, a women’s snowboarding competition that’s open to any skiers and riders who identify as she/her/they/them. The first prize is $5,000, which is a big deal. Park Affair is a great partner, and they’ll be here on Sunday, Jan. 14. We’ll have everyone from the youngest in our backpack program to really talented athletes who compete in larger competitions. In January, we also have our Gilman race, followed by several other exciting events with great prizes. Then, in March, we have our Little Max Jamboree, which is like a fun race where kids from our snow sports programs participate, dress up in costumes and compete for various prizes, like Best Costume. We also host our pond skim event, where people dress in Hawaiian outfits or any crazy costume they want and skim across a man-made pond we create at the end of the season. Last year we had a big balloon arch, which was wild. At the end of March we have the Vertical Challenge, a fun, free race. Participants who perform well can win tickets to go to Jay Peak for the finals. Alongside these, we have ongoing programs like our learn-to-ski and Tuesday night adult race league. Another popular program is our One Great Race, where for $68 you can ski, snowboard, snow tube, take lessons, and it includes rentals. This program starts in January and has become hugely popular.

How does McIntyre engage with the local community or collaborate with other ski areas?

We collaborate quite a bit with other ski areas. Through Ski New Hampshire, which is our collective, we work together to address any issues we’re facing as a group. In addition to that, we engage in a lot of reciprocal activities. We’re part of the Freedom Pass program, which is included with our junior or adult season passes. This offers 30 free days on the mountain at any of the Freedom Pass partner locations. We’ve also partnered with places like Pats Peak, Plattekill in New York, Ragged Mountain and Great Glen Trails. All these partners offer different ticket options to our passholders, which is a fantastic benefit for those skiing at McIntyre. If they’re going on a ski vacation up north, they can check out Great Glen Trails or visit Ragged Mountain. We all work together to ensure that skiers get great value from their investment in our passes.

Looking ahead, are there any new technologies or innovations you’re considering to enhance future ski seasons?

We’re always looking to enhance our facilities and have a wish list of upgrades and what’s actually feasible. We’re considering RFID options and new lift technologies. Upgrades in snowmaking and the system itself, beyond just the fans, are on our radar. We’re also focusing on expanding our programs in ways that are affordable for families but also cater to their varying needs. We’ve added a new rental fleet of snowboards from Burton and are looking to expand the snowboard line in our retail shop. Our seasonal lease program has grown with additional perks for those opting for seasonal rentals. We’re staying on top of what consumers and our guests are looking for, as well as what makes sense for McIntyre. In the lodge, one small but significant change is adding a water bottle refill station. As a mom with two kids, I find it hugely convenient to fill up water bottles right there. We’re doing these small things where we can, and then tackling bigger projects as they fit into our budget. The biggest future enhancement from my perspective would be implementing RFID technology, not just for smoothing operations but for our hill as well. This would reduce lines at the ticket counter and provide a more accurate count of guests going up and down the hill, among other benefits.

Snow making

President and general manager Ross Boisvert

Can you explain the technology and process involved in making man-made snow and its impact on activities like skiing, snowboarding and tubing?

Our system includes an air system and a fan gun system, which is water to our fan guns. These fan guns are state-of-the-art, pretty new within the last three to five years. They have onboard weather stations that measure temperature, barometric pressure, humidity and wet bulb temperature. This allows the guns to give us readings to operate them at their highest capacity. The colder and drier the air, the more snow we can make. For instance, last night, when [the temperature] was in the teens, we had much better productivity compared to the night before, which was evident just walking in from one morning to the next. Warmer temperatures and higher humidity decrease the productivity of snowmaking.

When we turned one of the guns on last night, which we had shut off during the day, we made more snow in an hour than we did all of the previous night. This morning we walked into about a 10-foot pile at the base, compared to a couple of inches the night before. So we had a very productive night versus a very expensive night with low productivity previously.

We run fan guns, which look like cannons. They have big fans that push out air and water molecules, with onboard compressors that provide compressed air to help make the snow. Essentially, there’s what’s called a nucleus that puts out a bead of water. As more water is added, those crystals bond with other water molecules, creating snow quickly. Man-made snow has more density than natural snow. If you compare a pile of natural snow and a pile of man-made snow under a burner, the natural snow would melt quicker due to its lower density. Natural snow is smoother and quieter to ski on, but if we didn’t have snowmaking abilities in this day and age, ski resorts really wouldn’t exist. We rely heavily on our snowmaking system and, more importantly, our snowmakers, our staff that’s out there at all hours of the night, making sure the guns are running efficiently. It’s always great to go and hug a snowmaker.

Winter forecast

Derek Schroeter, a meteorologist at the U.S. National Weather Service office in Gray, Maine, which covers weather predictions for northern New Hampshire, offered what insights he could into the winter 2023-2024 season, emphasizing, first, the uncertainty in long-term snowfall predictions.

“We cannot make any definitive predictions on snowfall,” he said.

The NWS is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA’s role is to provide weather forecasts up to a week in advance, Schroeter said, and while the Climate Prediction Center offers seasonal outlooks, it focuses mainly on temperature and precipitation trends rather than specific snowfall predictions. For the December to February period, “Northern New England is likely to experience above-normal temperatures, with equal chances for precipitation,” Schroeter said.

These forecasts are influenced by El Niño conditions in the Pacific, he said, typically leading to warmer temperatures in the northern U.S.

Despite the general trend, however, Schroeter recalls that past El Niño events have sometimes led to above-normal snowfall in New Hampshire.

“Statistically, the majority of El Niño events favor below-normal snowfall, but this does not rule out the possibility of this El Niño event leading to above-normal or near-normal snowfall,” he said.

Regarding the potential for repeat snow events, Schroeter noted the current absence of a favorable storm track, but remains optimistic.

“It’s too hard to pin down at this time range,” he said, “but typically, every winter, even in below-normal snowfall years, we tend to get into a favorable pattern for snowstorms that can lead to at least a short window of good skiing.”

WHERE TO SKI

Here are some of the New Hampshire spots to hit the slopes. Did we miss your favorite? Let us know at adiaz@hippopress.com.

Abenaki Ski Area
390 Pine Hill Road, Wolfeboro
Hours of operation: Regular: Wednesday through Friday 4 to 7 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Holiday/Vacation: Dec. 26 through Jan. 1: Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; New Year’s Eve: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; New Year’s Day: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; MLK Day and Presidents Day: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Pricing:
• Day passes: kiddie tow $5, resident $8, non-resident $16, resident (weekend, holiday, vacation) $10, non-resident (weekend, holiday, vacation) $20
• Season passes: youth $50/$100, senior (55+) $50/$100, adult $75/$150, family $250/$375 (resident/non-resident rates)
• Rentals available
More info: 569-5639, wolfeboronh.us/abenaki-ski-area

Attitash Mountain Resort
775 Route 302, Bartlett
Hours of operation: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing: Pricing and availability are date-specific; visit the resort website for the most up-to-date lift ticket pricing
More info: 223-7669, attitash.com

Bear Notch Ski Touring Center
Where: 1573 Route 302, Bartlett
Hours of operation: Open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing:
• Lift: adult $22/day, junior (age 16 & under) free with a paying adult; senior (age 65+) $20/day.
• Season passes: adult $195, senior $175
• Rentals: skis/snowshoes $23/day; skate skis $28/day
• Lessons: private instruction $50, group lessons adult $60 adult, child $40
More info: 374-2277, bearnotchskitouring.com

Black Mountain
Where: 373 Black Mountain Road, Jackson
Hours of operation:
• Monday, Thursday and Friday (non-holiday) 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holiday periods 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Holiday periods include Dec. 26 through Jan. 1; Jan. 13 through Jan. 15; Feb. 17 through Feb. 25
Pricing:
• Adult (18-64) weekend and holiday $91, weekday $71; Junior (6-17) weekend and holiday $65, weekday $55; senior (65+) weekend and holiday $60, weekday $60; tot (5 and under) free.
• Surface lift: $25
• After 2 p.m. ski free with purchase of full-price next-day ticket
• Locals ski on Sunday afternoon for $25 (with valid ID from specific counties)
• Group sales: Special rates available, contact for more information
More info: 383-4490, blackmt.com

Bretton Woods
Where: 99 Ski Area Road, Bretton Woods
Hours of operation:
Through Dec. 21, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; starting Dec. 22, Friday to Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing:
• Lift tickets: Early season (before Dec. 22): adults $91 to $109, teens $72 to $82, juniors $52 to $62, seniors $42 to $105; Regular season (after Dec. 22): adults $111 to $139, teens $72 to $92, juniors $52 to $72, seniors $42 to $124
• Season passes available for purchase with various options and benefits, including discounts at resort retail shops and unlimited use of certain lifts
More info: 278-3320, brettonwoods.com

Cannon Mountain
Where: 260 Tramway Drive, Franconia
Hours of operation: Depends on Mountain Report; see website
Pricing:
• Lift tickets: adult (18-64) $96 to $111, teen (13-17)/college $83 to $98, military $58 to $73
• Two-day lift tickets: adult $177 to $192, teen/college $151 to $166, military $101 to $116
• Season passes: Adult Cannon Pass starts at $591, prices vary with purchase date and age categories
More info: 823-8800, cannonmt.com

Crotched Mountain Ski Area
Where: 615 Francestown Road, Bennington
Hours of operation: Sunday to Monday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Pricing: Daily lift tickets: junior (7-17) weekday $70, weekend $84; adult (18-64) weekday $80, weekend $94; senior (65+ years) weekday $70, weekend $84
More Info: 588-3668 or visit crotchedmtn.com

Gunstock Mountain Resort
Where: 719 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford
Hours of operation: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekends 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing:
• Season passes: child (0-5) $49, junior (6-22) $599, adult (23-59) $899, senior (60-69) $599
• Daily lift tickets: junior weekday $63, weekend $75; adult weekday $87, weekend $99; senior weekday $63, weekend $75
More Info: 293-4341, gunstock.com

Loon Mountain Resort
Where: 60 Loon Mountain Road, Lincoln
Hours of operation: Non-holiday Monday through Friday lifts open at 9 a.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays lifts open at 8 a.m. Individual lift closure times vary. Check the Mountain Report for times.
Pricing:
• Season passes: child (0-5) $30, junior (6-18) $919, adult (19-64) $1,449, senior (65-79) $1,099
• Daily lift tickets: junior weekday $59, weekend $89; adult weekday $71, weekend $107; senior weekday $63, weekend $95
• Two-day pass: junior $102, adult $123, senior $108
More info: 745-8111 or loonmtn.com

McIntyre Ski Area
Where: 50 Chalet Way, Manchester
Hours of operation: full day 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; night 4 to 9 p.m.; half-day morning 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; half-day afternoon 1 to 6 p.m.
Pricing:
• Season passes: adult (18-64) $439; junior (4-17) $419; senior (65+) $35; toddler (age 3 & under) free with purchase of an adult season pass (special offer: buy two junior passes and get up to two adult season passes at $179 each)
• Special tickets $68 for 3:30-to-9 p.m. ticket (includes skiing, snowboarding, tubing, rentals) $58 for 5:30 p.m.+ until 9 p.m.
• Lesson tips are available from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.; après ski with live music, hot cocoa and cash bar.
More Info: 622-6159 or mcintyreskiarea.com

Mount Sunapee
Where: 1398 Route 103, Newbury
Hours of operation: weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; midweek 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing: Daily lift tickets for child (5-12) weekday $64, weekend $69; adult (13-64) weekday $95, weekend $103; senior (62+) weekday $76, weekend $82. Two-day pass for child $128, adult $190, senior $152
More info: 763-3500, mountsunapee.com

Pats Peak
Where: 686 Flanders Road, Henniker
Hours of operation:
Pats Peak plans to be open daily until 4 p.m. Night skiing starts on Dec. 26.
Pricing:
• Weekend/holiday lift tickets: adult (18-64) $95 (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.), $85 (12:30 p.m. to close), $72 (4 p.m. to close); junior (6-17) and senior (65+) $85, $75, $62 respectively; child (5 & under) $18
• Weekday, non-holiday lift tickets: adult (18-64) $76 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), prices range from $66 to $79 for other time slots; junior (6-17) and senior (65+) $62 to $69 depending on time slot and area; child (5 & under) free Monday through Thursday, $18 Friday
• Valley Area lift tickets (weekend/holiday and weekday, non-holiday) adult/junior/senior $62
• Bluster Area lift tickets (weekend/holiday and weekday, non-holiday) adult/junior/senior $39
• Beginner Area lift tickets: Friday/weekend/holiday $39 (adult/junior/senior), Monday through Thursday, non-holiday free
More info: 428-3245 or visit patspeak.com

Ragged Mountain Resort
Where: 620 Ragged Mountain Road, Danbury
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing:
• Lift tickets (window rates): adult (13-64) $99 to $119; junior (6-12) $72 to $89; senior (65-79) $72 to $89
• Half-day tickets (noon to 4 p.m.): adult (13-64) $59 to $69; junior (6-12) $49 to $59; senior (65-79) $45 to $55
• Advance rates also available
More info: 768-3600 or raggedmountainresort.com

Waterville Valley Resort
Where: 1 Ski Area Road, Waterville Valley
Hours of operation:
• Through Jan. 15: weekdays 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Jan. 15 to mid-March: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Mid-March to Closing Day: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pricing:
• Adult (18-64) lift tickets: full day $116, half day $106, two-day pack $204, three-day pack $288
• Teen (13-17)/college/military lift tickets: full day $106, half day $96, two-day pack $181, three-day pack $255
• Junior (6-12)/senior (65+) lift tickets: full day $96, half day $86, two-day pack $159, three-day pack $222
• Tyke (5 & under)/80+ lift tickets: full day, half day, two-day pack, three-day pack: free
More info: 800-468-2553, waterville.com
• Lesson tips are available from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.; après ski with live music, hot cocoa and cash bar.
More Info: 622-6159 or mcintyreskiarea.com

Mount Sunapee
Where: 1398 Route 103, Newbury
Hours of operation: weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; midweek 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing: Daily lift tickets for child (5-12) weekday $64, weekend $69; adult (13-64) weekday $95, weekend $103; senior (62+) weekday $76, weekend $82. Two-day pass for child $128, adult $190, senior $152
More info: 763-3500, mountsunapee.com

Pats Peak
Where: 686 Flanders Road, Henniker
Hours of operation:
Pats Peak plans to be open daily until 4 p.m. Night skiing starts on Dec. 26.
Pricing:
• Weekend/holiday lift tickets: adult (18-64) $95 (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.), $85 (12:30 p.m. to close), $72 (4 p.m. to close); junior (6-17) and senior (65+) $85, $75, $62 respectively; child (5 & under) $18
• Weekday, non-holiday lift tickets: adult (18-64) $76 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), prices range from $66 to $79 for other time slots; junior (6-17) and senior (65+) $62 to $69 depending on time slot and area; child (5 & under) free Monday through Thursday, $18 Friday
• Valley Area lift tickets (weekend/holiday and weekday, non-holiday) adult/junior/senior $62
• Bluster Area lift tickets (weekend/holiday and weekday, non-holiday) adult/junior/senior $39
• Beginner Area lift tickets: Friday/weekend/holiday $39 (adult/junior/senior), Monday through Thursday, non-holiday free
More info: 428-3245 or visit patspeak.com

Ragged Mountain Resort
Where: 620 Ragged Mountain Road, Danbury
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing:
• Lift tickets (window rates): adult (13-64) $99 to $119; junior (6-12) $72 to $89; senior (65-79) $72 to $89
• Half-day tickets (noon to 4 p.m.): adult (13-64) $59 to $69; junior (6-12) $49 to $59; senior (65-79) $45 to $55
• Advance rates also available
More info: 768-3600 or raggedmountainresort.com

Waterville Valley Resort
Where: 1 Ski Area Road, Waterville Valley
Hours of operation:
• Through Jan. 15: weekdays 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Jan. 15 to mid-March: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Mid-March to Closing Day: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pricing:
• Adult (18-64) lift tickets: full day $116, half day $106, two-day pack $204, three-day pack $288
• Teen (13-17)/college/military lift tickets: full day $106, half day $96, two-day pack $181, three-day pack $255
• Junior (6-12)/senior (65+) lift tickets: full day $96, half day $86, two-day pack $159, three-day pack $222
• Tyke (5 & under)/80+ lift tickets: full day, half day, two-day pack, three-day pack: free
More info: 800-468-2553, waterville.com

Featured Photo: Courtesy photo.

Handcrafted gifts

Where to find one-of-a-kind gifts

This holiday season, go for gifts that make an impact by choosing local artwork and handmade crafts.

Year-round venues provide a selection of handcrafted items, from decorative to functional, made by local artisans.

Handmade gift shops

• Currier Museum of Art gift shop (150 Ash St., Manchester, 669-6144, currier.org, open Wednesday and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Fine Craft Galleries (nhcrafts.org)

Concord (36 N. Main St., 228-8171, open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hooksett (530 W. River Road, 210-5181, open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Nashua (98 Main St., 595-8233, open Monday through Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Meredith (279 Daniel Webster Hwy., 279-7920, open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.)

• Locally Made

Salem (99 Rockingham Blvd., Salem, 890-7141, locallyhandmadesalemnh.com, open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

Merrimack (80 Premium Outlets Blvd., Merrimack, 377-7610, facebook.com/LHMerrimackNH, open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

Nashua (Pheasant Lane Mall, 310 Daniel Webster Hwy., Nashua, 598-9140, locallyhandmadesalemnh.com, open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Manchester Craft Market (Mall of New Hampshire, 1500 S. Willow St., Manchester, manchestercraftmarket.com, open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

• Spriggs Shoppe (Twiggs Gallery, 254 King St., Boscawen, 975-0015, twiggsgallery.wordpress.com, open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.).

Holiday art exhibits and markets

Seasonal markets and exhibits feature artworks and crafts tailored for holiday shoppers, highlighting local artistic talent.

• Twiggs Gallery’s (254 King St., Boscawen, 975-0015, twiggsgallery.wordpress.com) annual Sleighbell Studio holiday showcase is going on now through Dec. 16.

• The Craftworkers’ Guild hosts its annual Holiday Fair Shop at the historic Kendall House (3A Meetinghouse Road, Bedford). The fair runs through Wednesday, Dec. 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, along with an online shop and features a variety of items including seasonal decor, photography, fine art and prints, cards, gourmet treats, woodworking, fiber and fabric, stained and fused glass, mixed media and jewelry, all created by juried local artists and craftspeople. Visit thecraftworkersguild.org.

• The Two Villages Art Society (846 Main St., Contoocook) hosts its 2023 Winter Members Show and Sale through Dec. 23. The show features works from more than 30 member artists, including paintings, pottery, sculpture, jewelry and more. Gallery hours are Thursday to Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org.

• The “Small Works — Big Impact” holiday exhibit is up at Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St. in Milford) now through Dec. 31 and showcases work in various media from more than 30 area artists, with most pieces smaller than 12 inches in diameter, making them ideal for holiday gifts. The gallery’s hours are Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m., Thursday from noon to 6 p.m., Friday from noon to 4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit creativeventuresfineart.com or call 672-2500.

• The Seacoast Artist Association (130 Water St., Exeter) presents “Big Gifts Come in Small Packages” during December. Artists are challenged to create affordable work, with each piece priced at no more than $100 to make for perfect holiday gift buying. The gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Visit seacoastartist.org.

• Studio 550 Art Center Handmade Holiday Market (550 Elm St., Manchester, 232-5597, 550arts.com) is open Dec. 18 through Dec. 23, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m.; closed Wednesday and Sunday.

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