Author: Angie Sykeny

Angie Sykeny is a Hippo staff writer covering local arts, theater, music and pop culture. She can be reached at [email protected].

The Art Roundup 20/10/22

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

Rachael Longo stars in Theatre Kapow’s virtual production of Natural Shocks. Photo by Matthew Lomanno.

• ArtWeek continues: City Arts Nashua’s ArtWalk Weekend has been reimagined as ArtWeek, with virtual programming on social media and local television going on now through Sunday, Oct. 25. It features around 30 Nashua-area artists and performers through a series of spotlights on social media and video segments, professionally filmed in partnership with Access Nashua Community Television, in which artists give tours of their studios, show their artistic processes and provide an in-depth look at some of their works of art. The videos are being broadcasted on Access Nashua (TV channel 96, see accessnashua.org for programming times) and City Arts Nashua’s YouTube channel. “You can learn about the artists and see the work they’re creating [and hear about] how the pandemic has impacted them and how you can support them,” City Arts Nashua project manager Wendy Fisher told the Hippo earlier this month. “It’s just like meeting them in person, except instead of walking through downtown Nashua you tune in [virtually].” Videos and photos submitted by young artists and performers showcasing their talents and pandemic-era creations are also being featured. There is a scavenger hunt with clues posted on social media where kids can find art kits hidden around Nashua, then watch a YouTube video with instructions and inspiration for projects they can do with the art kits. On Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25, Access Nashua will air the presentation of the Meri Goyette Arts Awards, which was recorded over the summer. The awards recognize three non-artist community members who have made outstanding contributions to the arts. Visit cityartsnashua.org.

• Virtual plays: Manchester-based theater company Theatre Kapow presents Natural Shocks, the second production in a series of three virtual one-person plays, Oct. 23 through Oct. 25, with livestream showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 4 p.m. The play by Lauren Gunderson is based on the famous “To be or not to be” monologue from Shakespeare’s Hamlet and follows a woman alone in her basement riding out a tornado as she reflects on other threats in her life. Rachael Longo performs, and Wanda Strukus directs. The virtual series is part of Theatre Kapow’s 13th season, titled “We Can Get Through This,” and explores themes like isolation, resilience, courage and conviction. The third and final play, A Tempest Prayer by Peter Josephson, will run Nov. 20 through Nov. 22 and is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest for today’s times. The plays are being shot in a small studio space in Manchester and are full theater productions with sets, costumes, props, lighting design and sound effects. “It’s still theater, not film,” Theatre Kapow artistic director Matt Cahoon told the Hippo in September. “If people were here watching [in the studio], it would look like a regular live theater performance.” Tickets cost $10 per streaming device. Ticket holders will be sent the link to watch the show. Visit tkapow.com.

• Music and poetry: The Poetry Society of New Hampshire has three virtual events coming up. Poet, essayist and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib will do a reading on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. New England musicians Wendy Keith, Tara Greenblatt and Libby Kirkpatrick will present a night of music and discussion about writing lyrics on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. Poet Jennifer Militello will give a talk, “Language as Immediacy Instrument and Mystery Machine: Images/Metaphor/Music,” on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. Events will be held over Zoom. Visit poetrysocietynh.wordpress.com or email [email protected].

• Supporting youth arts: The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester has established a new fund to support art education for young people, according to the museum website. The Tomie dePaola Art Education Fund honors the late New Hampshire children’s author and illustrator, who died in March at the age of 85. Tomie dePaola wrote and illustrated more than 270 children’s books during his 50-plus-year career, including the popular Strega Nona series, and nearly 25 million copies of his books have been sold worldwide. The museum featured his illustrations in a special exhibition in 2018. “Art is an important avenue of discovery and growth, as Tomie himself found,” the website said. “Tomie had a great affinity for bringing art to children of all backgrounds, a mission shared by the Currier Museum Art Center.” You can make a donation to the fund at currier.org.

Exhibits

• “POSSESSED” Six artists explore the ideas of possessions and obsessions through their personal relationships with things, both physical and conceptual. Twiggs Gallery, 254 King St., Boscawen. On view now through Nov. 1. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Call 975-0015 or visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

• “MANCHESTER’S URBAN PONDS: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE: A CELEBRATION OF THE MANCHESTER URBAN PONDS RESTORATION PROGRAM’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY Through its cleanup efforts, the Manchester Urban Ponds Restoration Program has helped restore the city’s ponds to their historic uses. The exhibit provides a look at the history of some of those ponds, including Crystal Lake, Dorrs Pond, Maxwell Pond, Nutts Pond, Pine Island Pond and Stevens Pond. State Theater Gallery at Millyard Museum, 200 Bedford St., Manchester. On view through Nov. 28. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors age 62 and up and college students, $4 for youth ages 12 through 18 and is free for kids under age 12. Call 622-7531 or visit manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum.

• “PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT” Exhibit features photography from the Civil Rights protests in the 1950s and 1960s. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. On view now. Museum hours are Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Monday through Wednesday. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and free for children under age 13. Reserve in advance online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “OPEN WORLD: VIDEO GAMES & CONTEMPORARY ART” Exhibit explores how contemporary artists have been influenced by the culture of video games, through paintings, sculpture, textiles, prints, drawings, animation, video games, video game modifications and game-based performances and interventions. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. On view now. Museum hours are Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Monday through Wednesday. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and free for children under age 13. Reserve in advance online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “SMALL WORKS – BIG IMPACT” Creative Ventures Gallery’s annual holiday exhibit featuring small works of art in various media, priced affordably for gift buying. Virtual. Nov. 1 through Dec. 31. Visit creativeventuresfineart.com or call 672-2500.

Tours
• NASHUA PUBLIC ART AUDIO TOUR Self-guided audio tours of the sculptures and murals in downtown Nashua, offered via the Distrx app, which uses Bluetooth iBeacon technology to automatically display photos and text and provides audio descriptions at each stop on the tour as tourists approach the works of art. Each tour has 10 to 15 stops. Free and accessible on Android and iOS on demand. Available in English and Spanish. Visit downtownnashua.org/nashua-art-tour.

Theater

Shows
• NUNSENSE The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Oct. 25 through Nov. 8, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $30 to $48. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• NATURAL SHOCKS Theatre KAPOW presents. Virtual, live stream. Oct. 23 through Oct. 25, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit tkapow.com.

• THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY The Players’ Ring Theatre presents. 105 Marcy St., Portsmouth. Oct. 23 through Nov. 1, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $18 to $24. Visit playersring.org.

• THE BRITISH ROCK EXPERIENCE The Palace Theatre presents. 80 Hanover St., Manchester. Oct. 23 through Nov. 14, with showtimes on Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon and 5 p.m., with an additional show on Wed., Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $39 to $46 for adults, $30 for seniors age 60 and up and veterans and $25 for children. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

Classical
• “POPS FOR PIPES IX” Presented by the First Music Concert Series, featuring organist Brink Bush. The First Church, 1 Concord St., Nashua. Sun., Nov. 8, 3 p.m. Visit first-music.org.

Books

Discussions
• LANGUAGE AS IMMEDIACY INSTRUMENT AND MYSTERY MACHINE: IMAGES/METAPHOR/MUSIC A discussion with poet Jennifer Militello. Virtual, via Zoom. Tues., Oct. 27, 7 p.m. Visit poetrysocietynh.wordpress.com.

Poetry

• HANIF ABDURRAQIB Poet, essayist and critic reads. Virtual, via Zoom. Fri., Oct. 23, 7 p.m. Visit poetrysocietynh.wordpress.com.

• A NIGHT OF MUSIC AND LYRICS DISCUSSION Featuring New England musicians Wendy Keith, Tara Greenblatt and Libby Kirkpatrick. Virtual, via Zoom. Sat., Oct. 24, 7 p.m. Visit poetrysocietynh.wordpress.com.

The darker side of NH

Windham author Renee Mallett (reneemallett.com) has penned a number of books and articles on New England’s folklore, legends, ghosts and hauntings. She talks about her newest book, Wicked New Hampshire, where she explores some of the Granite State’s darkest history.

How did you start writing about odd history and paranormal encounters?

It all kind of happened accidentally. I was writing a travel article about the bed and breakfast where the Lizzie Borden murders happened. It’s been turned into this lovely little inn, and it’s supposedly haunted. … When I went to go write the article … there was this sort of psychic who … walked me through the house, and it was just so interesting and fascinating. … So, after I wrote this sort of quirky travel article about it, the publisher actually contacted me and said, ‘Do you think you could write a whole book of ghost stories?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, absolutely.’ And they said, ‘What city do you want to focus on?’ and I said ‘Manchester.’ I have no idea why I said that. It just sort of came out. So my first book was Manchester ghosts. It was popular, and it was so much fun to write, so I just sort of kept on writing them.

Have you always been interested in the paranormal?

I’ve always been interested in history and folklore, and that’s sort of the fun thing about these ghost stories. A lot of times they share parts of history that you wouldn’t normally learn about. Usually the things that make it into the history books are about generals and wealthy landowners, but a lot of these ghost stories actually tell about the day-to-day life of everyday people.

What kinds of stories are in Wicked New Hampshire?

I’ve spent so long researching and writing about the paranormal side of New Hampshire, and all the time I would find these really amazing stories and scandalous bits of history … so I wanted to collect all of those things in one kind of quirky and fun book about the darker side of New Hampshire history. We have a lot of characters and quirky people in our past. We have scandalous authors. … We have H. H. Holmes, who is known as American’s first serial killer, and a lot of people have no idea that he was born and bred here in New Hampshire. … We have witches, like Goody Cole. … I tried to pick a variety of stories. I didn’t want to focus on just one kind of wickedness or one point in history.

So, do you believe in ghosts?

I am a skeptic. … I’ve had experiences that people who are hardcore believers look at and say, ‘Yeah, you saw a ghost.’ I’m not ready to say that yet. I think I’m still waiting to see that one thing that makes me go, ‘Yes, that’s definitely a ghost.’ But with each book, I’m a little bit less of a skeptic. I’ve seen some weird stuff that I can’t explain. I’ve talked to so many people at these places who do not know each other but have had similar [paranormal] experiences. … Another big thing is ‘orbs’ in photos. A lot of times, if you take photos at a place where there is supposed to be a ghost, you get these fuzzy little dots in the photos. People who are big believers say that’s the manifestation of the ghost, and people who are skeptics say, ‘Well, that’s just dust on your camera lens.’ I will say that, going to a lot of places that are supposed to be very haunted, I get a ton of orbs in my photos, and I’m a pretty good photographer. I mean, my photos have been shown in art galleries. I don’t get those orbs in any of my other photos.

Why are these stories worth telling?

For me, the stories are really about the people. We think of these people who lived so long ago as being completely different from us, but at the end of the day, people today are not that different from people hundreds of years ago. A lot of the stories are about people who made poor choices in spouses or people who drank too much and it affected their jobs. People are people no matter what the time period or the situation.

Who are your readers?

I do a lot of book signings and talks in a year, and I’m continually amazed at how these stories seem to appeal to different people in all different ways. I’ve had everyone from middle schoolers up to little old ladies ask me to sign their books. … I think it’s the local history that appeals to them, because at first they think, ‘Oh, New Hampshire — we’re just like everywhere else; it’s not that interesting here,’ but then they’re like, ‘Oh, no, wait. Look at these wacky people who have been here and all these things that have happened.’

What are you working on now?

I’m actually writing two books right now. … I’m writing one book that’s about abandoned towns throughout New England, and that’s been another fun kind of road trip book. … I’m also writing my first true crime book; the Peyton Place novel was actually based on a crime that happened here in New Hampshire, so I’m writing about that.

Featured photo: Wicked New Hampshire

The Art Roundup 20/10/15

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

“Pandemic Posies” by Kevin Kintner

• Floral art: Local artist Kevin Kintner has a pop-up exhibit of floral-themed paintings he has done during the pandemic, on view now through at least the end of October, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 814 Elm St. in Manchester. “The world had become full of anxiety and fear, and my first instinct was to paint those stressed-out emotions on canvas,” Kintner said in an email, “but it turned out what I needed to paint was escape. I wanted bright color and energetic light and joyous movement and something alive.” Call 682-0797.

• Authors online: The Toadstool Bookshops present a virtual author event with Julia Munemo on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 2 p.m. Munemo will discuss her new book The Book Keeper: A Memoir of Race, Love, and Legacy. The memoir is “equal parts love story, investigation, and racial reckoning” and recounts how Munemo “unravels and interrogates her whiteness, a shocking secret, and her family’s history,” according to a press release. The event is free and will be held over Zoom. Visit toadbooks.com/event/bookkeeper or call 352-8815.

Merrimack Public Library presents a virtual author event over Zoom with sports journalist Marty Gitlin on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m. Gitlin, who has covered baseball for nearly two decades, will discuss his new book The Ultimate Boston Red Sox Time Machine Book, a history of the baseball team’s greatest and most fascinating players, events and moments. He will tell stories, show photos and game highlights, share trivia and answer questions. Registration is required. Visit merrimacklibrary.org or call 424-5021.

The Pembroke Historical Society and the Pembroke Town Library present a virtual author visit with Maine author Leslie Lambert Rounds on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. Lambert Rounds will discuss her book I Have Struck Mrs. Cochran with a Stake: Sleepwalking, Insanity, and the Trial of Abraham Prescott, which comes out on Oct. 20. The book looks at the 1833 Pembroke murder of Sally Cochran and the trial of Abraham Prescott. The event will be held on the platform WebEx Meetings. Registration is required. Visit pembroke-nh.com/library or call 485-7851.

• Live theater: Don’t miss the final performances of The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) youth theater’s Beauty and the Beast Jr.on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 17, at noon. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for children. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents the musical comedy Nunsense from Thursday, Oct. 15, through Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 8. When a nun accidentally poisons and kills 52 of her sisters, she and the surviving sisters at the parish put on a variety show to raise funds for the burials. Showtimes are on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $30 to $48. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• Virtual travels: The 34th annual Omer T. Lassonde juried exhibition, presented virtually by the New Hampshire Art Association, is on view now through Friday, Oct. 16. It features works by NHAA members and non-members in a variety of media following this year’s theme, “Travels Near and Far.” The exhibit honors Omer T. Lassonde, who helped found NHAA in 1940 to exhibit the work of contemporary artists throughout the state. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

Exhibits

• “MOSTLY ANIMALS – SOME PEOPLE” Featuring work by New Hampshire Art Association artist Jef Steingrebe. NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, 136 State St., Portsmouth. On view now through Nov. 1. Gallery hours are Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., but are subject to change. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• “POSSESSED” Six artists explore the ideas of possessions and obsessions through their personal relationships with things, both physical and conceptual. Twiggs Gallery, 254 King St., Boscawen. On view now through Nov. 1. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Call 975-0015 or visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

• “MANCHESTER’S URBAN PONDS: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE: A CELEBRATION OF THE MANCHESTER URBAN PONDS RESTORATION PROGRAM’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY State Theater Gallery at Millyard Museum, 200 Bedford St., Manchester. On view now through Nov. 28. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission $8 for adults, $6 for ages 62 and up and college students, $4 for 12 through 18 and free for kids under 12. Call 622-7531 or visit manchesterhistoric.org.

What’s going on(line)

ArtWalk and Writers’ Conference to be held virtually

Interviewing Tiffany Joslin of the YMCA of Greater Nashua, one of the 7th Annual Meri Goyette Arts Awards recipients, for ArtWeek Nashua 2020. Photo by Wendy Fisher.

While many of the fall’s large annual arts events have been canceled, some, like Nashua ArtWalk Weekend and the 603: Writers’ Conference, are still happening virtually.

ArtWalk Weekend has been reimagined as ArtWeek, with virtual programming on social media and local television from Saturday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 25.

“We could have easily put this off until next year, but we wanted to make this happen,” said Wendy Fisher, project manager for City Arts Nashua, which hosts the event. “Art in any form is really healing for people, and I think bringing art to folks virtually right now during this crazy time and forming a community around the arts is filling a void.”

The schedule for ArtWeek is still in the works, but Fisher said it will feature around 30 Nashua-area artists and performers through a series of video segments and social media posts. In the videos, which have been professionally filmed in partnership with Access Nashua Community Television, artists give tours of their studios, show their artistic processes and give an in-depth look at some of their works of art. The videos will be broadcast on Access Nashua (TV channel 96) and City Arts Nashua’s YouTube channel. Other artists will have spotlights on City Arts Nashua’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages and website.

“You can learn about the artists and see the work they’re creating [and hear about] how the pandemic has impacted them and how you can support them,” Fisher said. “It’s just like meeting them in person, except instead of walking through downtown Nashua you tune in [virtually].”

ArtWeek will also include elements of the “KidsWalk,” which debuted at last year’s event.

Videos and photos submitted by young artists and performers showcasing their talents and pandemic-era creations will be featured; and, with contributions from the YMCA of Greater Nashua, there will be a scavenger hunt with clues posted on social media where kids can find art kits hidden around Nashua. Kids can then watch a YouTube video with instructions and inspiration for projects they can do with the art kit.

“The KidsWalk was so popular last year,” Fisher said. “We’re so excited to bring back more things for kids.”

Finally, ArtWeek will also air the presentation of the Meri Goyette Arts Awards, which was recorded over the summer. The awards recognize three non-artist community members who have made outstanding contributions to the arts.

The New Hampshire Writers’ Project’s 603: Writers’ Conference, known this year as 603: Writers’ “Sit and Click” Virtual Conference, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 17. Normally held in Manchester in the spring, the conference will feature most of its traditional activities, including panels, classes and a keynote speaker, virtually over Zoom.

“It’s all brand new territory that we’re trying to pioneer, just like everybody else,” said Beth D’Ovidio, marketing director for the Writers’ Project, “but I think most people have become fairly well-versed and confident and comfortable with Zoom by now.”

The conference kicks off with a presentation by keynote speaker Brunonia Barry, New York Times- and international bestselling author of The Lace Reader, The Map of True Places and The Fifth Petal.

Then there will be two sessions with a total of 14 different classes offered, plus one panel, taught by published authors and industry professionals and covering a variety of topics related to the theme “Choosing Your Path to Publishing.” Topics will include the mechanics of powerful prose, protagonists and antagonists, researching a historical novel, strategies for developing a story, dealing with plot holes, beating procrastination, creative approaches to telling personal stories, revising, sci-fi and fantasy world-building, submitting a manuscript for publication, working with an editor, creating a video trailer for a book, selling self-published books through Amazon ads and planning a book tour.

All classes will be held live as well as recorded, and participants will have access to the recorded classes for 90 days after the conference.

“You’ll be able to access every single workshop that is presented that day, which we’re really excited about, because we haven’t been able to offer that in the past,” D’Ovidio said. “I think that’s going to really increase the value of the experience and is a really cool selling point this year.”

Virtual arts
ArtWeek Nashua
When: Saturday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 25. Schedule of programs TBA.
Where: Content will be broadcast on Access Nashua (TV channel 96) and City Arts Nashua’s YouTube channel and posted on City Arts Nashua’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages and website.
Cost: Free
More info: cityartsnashua.org

603: Writers’ “Sit and Click” Virtual Conference
When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Where: Content will be broadcast live over Zoom.
Cost: $125 for NHWP members, $145 for non-members, $100 for teachers and $50 for students. Registration required by Friday, Oct. 16, at 3 p.m. Includes recorded content accessible for 90 days.
More info: nhwritersproject.org

Featured photo: Interviewing Gail Moriarty of Colibri Designs. Photo by Wendy Fisher.

Drought management

Why the drought will continue, and how to save water

According to the United States Drought Monitor’s most recent data on New Hampshire (released Oct. 6), 21.99 percent of the state is experiencing extreme drought and 73.07 percent of the state is experiencing severe drought. Stacey Herbold, manager of the Water Conservation and Water Use Registration and Reporting programs at New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and a member of the Drought Management Team, talked about how the drought has affected the state and what residents can do to conserve water.

What impact does a drought have on New Hampshire residents?

We see agricultural operations having to work really hard to keep their crops going. … [Residents with wells] may see their well supply running low or going dry, and they may notice that their water has some sediment in it. … [Residents using community water] have restrictions put on their water use, mostly for outdoor watering … and that can range from a total ban on all outdoor watering, to watering on only certain days of the week, to no lawn watering and only hand watering of gardens. … Right now we have 165 community water systems with water restrictions in place.

What caused the drought? Is it due only to environmental factors, or are people also partially responsible?

It’s the increased water use during the summer, coupled with [environmental factors]. … Spring is one of the most important times of the year for recharging groundwater. … We had a really low snowpack in early spring and below-average rain in the spring, so that started us off in a deficit as we went into the summer. In the summer, we continued not to get enough rain to make up for it … and when temperatures rise, a lot of water ends up going to evaporation. … Water use also increases during the summer months because of outdoor watering. … A lot of people turn on their irrigation system and leave it running even when watering isn’t necessarily needed.

What kinds of water systems are used in New Hampshire, and what does a drought do to them?

Approximately half of the state is on their own private residence with well water, while the other half is on some kind of community water system. Community water systems usually have a diverse set of water sources. They may have wells in various areas, surface water sources and backup [sources], so they’re a bit more resilient when it comes to a drought. … Residential well owners tend to have either dug wells or bedrock wells. Dug wells are shallower wells that are in unconsolidated material above the bedrock. During a drought, they’re the first to run low on water, but they’re also the first to recharge when it rains. Bedrock wells are drilled down into the bedrock and receive water from various small fractures, and it takes longer for them to be impacted by low groundwater levels, but they take much longer to recharge. … It could take weeks to months.

How can people conserve water during a drought?

During the summer months, a reduction in lawn watering is the main thing, and not washing down driveways, power washing houses or washing cars with the hose constantly going. … As we move into the colder weather, people really need to focus on how to conserve water indoors. Do full loads of laundry and full loads in the dishwasher. Take shorter showers. Don’t run water while doing other things. Turn off the faucet while you’re brushing your teeth. When you’re doing dishes, fill up a basin rather than letting the water run. One simple thing that people don’t think about is that you don’t always need to have your faucet on full blast. If you’re just rinsing vegetables off, you could turn it on halfway. … Residential well owners need to space out how they use water throughout the day and throughout the week. You shouldn’t be showering, running the dishwasher and doing laundry all at once.

Should people be buying their drinking water?

Not necessarily. The percentage of the amount of water we use for drinking is so small, it doesn’t really make a difference. But if you have a well and you’re starting to see sediment in your water you may want to consider buying bottled water just to prevent yourself from drinking anything like that.

When is the current drought expected to end?

Different outlets are predicting that the drought will improve over the next month but not necessarily go away. We could enter the winter while still in a drought. Then, our next chance for a really good groundwater replenishment won’t come until next spring.

Is water conservation important even when there isn’t a drought?

Yes. It should be practiced every day. Water is not an infinite resource, and it takes all of us to make sure we have the water supply we need … One of the basic things homeowners should be doing is replacing their outdated water fixtures. … [Older] toilets and washing machines are some of the biggest water wasters. … This can also save you money on your utility bills, and [newer appliances] can save a lot of energy, which could save you money on your electric bills.

Featured photo: Stacey Herbold

The Art Roundup 20/10/08

• Crafts online: The Craftworkers’ Guild’s first-ever Virtual Harvest Fair is going on now through Oct. 12. The Guild has suspended its in-person events in Bedford until further notice and is inviting people to shop online. The virtual fair features work by more than 30 artisans and craftspeople, including seasonal decor, photography, fine art and prints, cards, gourmet treats, woodworking, fiber and fabric, sewn and knitted specialties, stained and fused glass art, mixed media and jewelry. “As the oldest craft-related organization in New Hampshire, it has been a challenge to take our historic shop online for the first time,” Carol Davis, president of the Craftworkers’ Guild, said in a press release. “We are excited to be able to share our new virtual shop with our friends and fans.” Items purchased at the virtual shop will be available for curbside pickup in Bedford daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for the duration of the event. Visit craftworkersguild.org.

• Music in the gardens: Symphony New Hampshire will perform an outdoor concert featuring its String Quartets on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Beaver Brook Association’s Maple Hill Gardens (117 Ridge Road, Hollis). The gardens will open at 4 p.m., and the music will begin at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $15 per person, $25 per couple and $5 for children age 12 and under. Seats are limited. Purchase tickets online in advance at beaverbrook.org.

Crafts for sale at the Craftworkers’ Guild Virtual Harvest Fair. Courtesy photo.

• Call for artist members: The New Hampshire Art Association’s fall jurying for new members will take place on Sunday, Oct. 25, and Monday, Oct. 26. The oldest statewide artist association in the state, NHAA provides many opportunities for New England artists to exhibit and sell their artwork throughout the year. Prospective members will drop off four original works of art in the same medium that “reflect the artist’s voice and are representative of their body of work,” according to the NHAA website. A jury of established NHAA artist members with backgrounds in a variety of media will review and judge the work. The jury looks for “maturity of artistic concept, mastery of the medium, composition, consistency of artistic concept and presentation,” the website said. Fill out an application, available on the website, and mail it, along with $25 for the application fee, to New Hampshire Art Association, 136 State St., Portsmouth, NH 03801, by Thursday, Oct. 22. Instructions for the drop-off will be emailed to you. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• Pandemic poetry reading: Gibson’s Bookstore presents a virtual reading event for COVID Spring: Granite State Pandemic Poems on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. on Zoom, featuring 12 of the book’s poets. The poetry anthology, edited by New Hampshire Poet Laureate Alexandria Peary and published by Hobblebush Books, features original poems submitted by 54 New Hampshire writers. The poems “provide a thirty-day snapshot of what life was like in the Granite State in April of 2020” and explore topics like Covid-related “job loss, loneliness and love, masks, social distancing, surreal visitors, uncertainty, graduations deferred, grief, neighborly and less-than-neighborly acts, observing the beginning of the pandemic and making projections about the future, recalibrating or confirming what it means to be human, to be a resident of this region,” Peary said in the anthology’s introduction. Visit newhampshirepoetlaureate.blogspot.com to register and receive an email with the link to the Zoom event. The book can be purchased at Gibson’s and other local bookstores, Hobblebush Books (hobblebush.com), Small Press Distribution (spdbooks.org) and Amazon, and the publisher will donate $2 from every copy sold to the New Hampshire Food Bank to support New Hampshire residents impacted by the pandemic.

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