Kiddie Pool 25/01/09

Family fun for whenever

Museum fun

It’s the Second Saturday at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org) when admission is free for New Hampshire residents. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Current exhibits include “The Legend of the Poinsettia: Paintings from Tomie DePaola’s Holiday Classic,” “Jean-Michel Basquiat and Ouattara Watts: A Distant Conversation,” “Dan Dailey: Impressions of the Human Spirit” and “Olga De Amaral: Everything Is Construction and Color.”

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) will present “Ocean Adventures” performance with the Portsmouth Symphony Principal Winds on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m. The performance is part of admission for the 1 to 4 p.m. playtime, which costs $14.50 for everyone over 12 months (children under 12 months get in for free; admission for 65+ costs $12.50). Go online to reserve tickets.

Storytime

Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com) will host a storytime with authors David Preece and Jim Webber with their two Mr. Higgins picture books on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 11 a.m. Mr. Higgins, a black Scottish terrier the authors adopted in 2014, is the star of two books: A Home for Mr. Higgins and Mr. Higgins Takes A Stand, according to the website.

S’mores and sparks

Joppa Hill Educational Farm (174 Joppa Hill in Bedford; theeducationalfarm.org) will hold a Burning of the Greens on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. The Bedford Fire Department will be on hand for the bonfire, where you can dispose of your Christmas tree, according to the website. Drop off trees (undecorated) by 10 a.m. on Saturday at the farm’s parking lot “between the silo and the dumpster,” the website said. The farm will sell hot cocoa and s’mores from 5 to 7 p.m. and the farmstand will be open for its final day until Easter, the website said. No registration is required.

On the ice

The SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, snhuarena. com)will present Disney on Ice Presents Mickey’s Search Party with seven shows Thursday, Jan. 9, through Sunday, Jan. 12. Tickets start at $15.

Looking for some hockey? See two hometown teams face off when the Saint Anselm Hawks men’s ice hockey team takes on the Southern New Hampshire University Penmen at Sullivan Arena (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester), on both Friday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 11, at 4 p.m. The Hawks women’s ice hockey team takes the ice on Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m., both games versus Sacred Heart University. See saintanselmhawks.com.

The Rivier University Raiders men’s ice hockey team will play at Conway Arena (5 Stadium Drive, Nashua) on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 6:40 p.m. versus Westfield State University. See rivierathletics.com.

On the court

Saint Anselm College Hawks basketball teams will hit the court on Saturday, Jan. 11, against Pace University with the women’s team playing at 1:30 p.m. and the men’s team playing at 2:30 p.m. All Saint Anselm home games are played at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium on campus and admission costs $10 (see saintanselmhawks.com).

Rivier University Raiders basketball teams will hit the court on Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Muldoon Center in Nashua when they take on the New England College Pilgrims. The men’s team plays at noon and the women’s team plays at 2 p.m. See rivierathletics.com.

At NHTI, the men’s basketball team will play on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 1 p.m., with the Lynx taking on Massbay Community College. See nhtiathletics.com.

Save the date

Reserve a spot now for Bedford Winterfest, hosted by The Bedford Mom. Day 1, Saturday, Jan. 25, will take place on the sledding hill behind Ann DeNicola Memorial Playground and feature sledding, activities for kids, face painting and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; see thebedfordmom.com. Admission is free but reservations are required.Day 2 will take place at Joppa Hill Educational Farm (174 Joppa Hill in Bedford; theeducationalfarm.org) on Sunday, Jan. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free but reservations are required. Activities will include sledding, crafters, farm animals, s’mores, hot cocoa, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts and more, according to the website.

This Week 25/01/09

Thursday, Jan. 9

The New Boston Historical Society (2 Central Sq., New Boston, 487-2526, newbostonhistoricalsociety.com) will host a lecture by Mary Adams of the New Hampshire Historical Society called “Redcoats & Rebels: New Hampshire and the American Revolution” tonight at 7 p.m. in the Community Church, 2 Meetinghouse Hill Road, New Boston. This event is sponsored by the NH Humanities Council.

Friday, Jan. 10

The Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) will host a Night of Comedy tonight, starting at 8 p.m. The comedians will include Paul Nardizzi, Kyle Crawford (pictured) and Jolanda Logan. Tickets are $22 through the Tupelo website.

Friday, Jan. 10

Jewel Music Venue (61 Canal St., Manchester, 819-9336, jewelmusicvenue.com) will host Boston Flowmies presents: Bass Blizzard, a night of local talent, flow arts, craft vendors, raffles and more, tonight from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. All flow props and levels of experience welcome. Tickets are $15 through eventbrite.com.

Saturday, Jan. 11

The “Library of Things” at the Derry Public Library (64 E. Broadway, Derry, 432-6140, derrypl.org) has a loom and library trustee Monica Cataldo will give a demonstration on how to use it today from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Ms. Cataldo has demonstrated loom technique many times, even at the League of NH Craftsmen fair. Watch the demonstration and try it out for yourself. All are welcome at this free demonstration.

Tuesday, Jan. 14

Join Positive Street Art (48 Bridge St., Nashua, 589-9003, positivestreetart.org) for its monthly free Art Social this evening from 6 to 8 p.m. Attendees can bring their art projects and supplies to work on in a supportive environment. Tables and seating will be provided, and there will be snacks and drinks for purchase. The space is wheelchair-accessible with ramps and an elevator.

Wednesday, Jan. 15

The audience at Dancing with the Stars: Live! will have the opportunity to experience the excitement, athleticism and artistry they see in the TV show’s famed ballroom live, up-close and personal at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester) tonight at 7:30 p.m. The tour delivers a night of electrifying dance performances from world-renowned dancers who topped the leaderboard, including Emma Slater, Alan Bersten, Brandon Armstrong, Britt Stewart, Daniella Karagach, Gleb Savchenko, Pasha Pashkov and Rylee Arnold. Tickets start at $54.50 through ticketmaster.com.

Save the Date! Wednesday, Jan. 22
Legendary comedian Sarah Silverman returns to the stage at the Chubb Theatre (Chubb Theatre at CCA, 44 S. Main St, Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) Wednesday, Jan.22, at 8 p.m. The show, “Postmortem” focuses on the deaths of her father and stepmother two weeks apart from each other in 2023. Tickets start at $63.75 through the Capitol Center website.

Featured photo: Kyle Crawford.

Quality of Life 25/01/09

An eggs-treme shortage

As reported on Dec. 30 by Manchester Ink Link, New Hampshire’s inventory of fresh eggs has been hit hard by bird flu. “Avian flu, officially H5N1 bird flu, continues to cause issues for supermarket chains, bakeries and restaurants,” the story read, noting that area Hannaford supermarkets have been adversely affected, as well as many other wholesalers and retailers. “

QOL score: -1

Comment: “Prices are up 20 to 22 cents for Extra Large [eggs], up 24 cents for Large, and unchanged for Medium,” the USDA wrote in a Dec. 30 press release. Visit mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/viewReport/1427.

Is the bird flu going to last for-heiffer?

In a Jan. 1 online article, New Hampshire Public Radio reported that the state will join a federal program to test dairy herds for aggressive strains of avian influenza. While the only instances of bird flu that have been detected in New Hampshire were in wild birds about a year ago, other states have reported infections in dairy cattle. “Concern about Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is spreading,” NHPR reported. “At least 875 dairy cattle herds in 16 states have tested positive…”

QOL score: -1

Comment: On its website, the United States Department of Agriculture has stated that the dairy testing is part of a coordinated strategy to “facilitate comprehensive H5N1 surveillance of the nation’s milk supply and dairy herds. The strategy is designed to increase our understanding of the virus’ spread …, decrease the risk of transmission to other livestock …, and protect farm workers, to help lower their risk of exposure.” Visit aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-livestock.

Electrical service was gone with the wind

WMUR reported in a Jan. 3 online story, “As winds gusted above 40-45 mph, thousands of New Hampshire customers lost power.” More than 10,000 customers were left without electricity, as high winds picked up Thursday afternoon, Jan. 2.

QOL score: -1

Comment: “The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for all of New Hampshire,” the article read; that lasted until 9 p.m.

A stronger community through flowers

Fortin Gage Flowers in Nashua announced in a Jan. 6 press release that it has launched a new initiative called “Flowers for Good” to “support local nonprofits through unique floral arrangements.” Each month the Nashua florist will design a unique flower arrangement for a particular area organization, the announcement said. “Proceeds from the sale of these exclusive arrangements will directly benefit the featured nonprofit, fostering community engagement, connection and support.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: Sales of January’s arrangement will go to support Bridges: Domestic & Sexual Violence Support. “The exclusive arrangement for January, titled ‘Flowers for Change,’ features a harmonious blend of purple hydrangea and purple veronica in a white vase, symbolizing purity, hope, and courage,” Fortin Gage wrote in its announcement, “reflecting the resilience of those affected by domestic and sexual violence.”

QOL score: 53

Net change: -2

QOL this week: 51

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at [email protected].

Building a Village

The co-founder of Wellness Village NH on takes on the new year

Nancy Doherty is the co-founder of Wellness Village NH (660 Mast Road, Manchester, wellnessvillagenh.com, 935-9556) along with her two daughters, Allison Morgan and Morgan Doherty. Nancy is also a Reiki Master and is the founder of Be Self-Centered, which is her reiki practice. Wellness Village offers a myriad of services such as therapeutic massage, reiki, chiropractic care, doula services, education, countless workshops, support groups and a variety of therapies.

Why do you think people start to think about their health and wellness in January?

Well, we’re trained to by this point, right? It’s the new year, new leaf; there’s all this terminology around it. It’s a time to think, we have some space to think, honestly, some space to maybe create.

What sorts of services do you all offer?

We have a full gamut of services. We have classes and workshops and we have Reiki, massage, we have biomagnetism, we have doula services, we have classes that include nutrition. A doula is a person who is there to support the birthing person, so the doula services include a birth doula, postpartum doula, who will be there after the baby comes and helping the family make the transition with the new little one. Other services are the education aspect, so newborn care, lactation classes, birth classes, that kind of support.

How important is nutrition to someone’s health and wellness?

It’s right up there but what we consume in our bodies is the core of it all, so nutrition, what we’re consuming as far as hydration, sleep … those are all foundational. Our bodies can’t operate without correct fuel but there’s a lot of ways to approach that. There’s not one way to support health in that way.

If someone is looking to become healthier, what are some simple tips that they can follow to start on that path?

I think from my perspective, it’s about following their own intuition. If they’re feeling pulled to move their body, then they’re going to want to start their exploration there. If they’re feeling pulled to clean up the way their stomach is feeling, how their gut is feeling, that would be the place to start. Try to find ways to sample those opportunities. If you want to get into nutrition, find a workshop. That is a low-risk way to explore what those people are talking about and see if it resonates.

How important is sleep to overall health and wellness?

It’s really important. It’s super important. I’m not sure that we can even overstate how important it is. But you know, that all being said, I think we all know that and it’s just really hard to get that right. There’s a lot of reasons for it.

Are there any workshops coming up in January that you’d like to talk about?

In January, for instance, we have a reiki share at the end of the month, which is a super opportunity to experience reiki if you haven’t had a chance to do that… .

Do you want to talk about the different support groups?

Getting together with people going through the same things that you’re going through at the same time is really important. Right now we’re running prenatal support groups. Prenatal and postpartum support groups. Those are people coming together at a really specific time in life and they’re there to support each other. It’s amazing. We have hopes and plans for other supporters coming down the line. … We do have some nutrition coming up and other workshops. …

Are there any other services here that you’d like to mention or talk about that I haven’t asked you?

We are also a milk depot. So we accept breast milk donations here once a donor has been screened through Mother’s Milk Bank Northeast. We’re really proud of that. It literally saves the lives of newborns, premature newborns. It’s a really important, beautiful gift that these women are giving.

Holistic Prep for Birth (one-day class)
When: Saturday, Jan. 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Wellness Village NH, 660 Mast Road, Manchester
More: wellnessvillagenh.com, 935-9556

Zachary Lewis

Featured image: Left to right: Morgan Doherty, Allison Morgan, and Nancy Doherty.

News & Notes 25/01/09

New governor

Governor-elect Kelly Ayotte will get to drop the “-elect” on Thursday, Jan. 9, when she takes the oath of office at the Statehouse. On Jan. 6 she announced more of her staff members, building on her announcements in November that Christopher Connelly will serve as Chief of Staff and John Corbett will serve as Senior Advisor to the Governor. Additional hires include these:

  • Myles Matteson, who previously served as senior assistant attorney general and chief of the Criminal Justice Bureau at the New Hampshire Department of Justice, will be Legal Counsel.
  • Paul Dean, previously chief of police at the University of New Hampshire police department, will be Director of Citizen Services.
  • James Gerry, budget director for Gov. Sununu, will be Director of Policy and Finance.
  • Caroline Hakes, deputy campaign manager for Ayotte’s campaign, will be director of Communications.
  • Morgan Hughes, previously an associate attorney at Orr & Reno, will be Director of Appointments and Liaison to the Executive Council.
  • Consuelo Carver, a retired FBI agent and retired lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, will be the director of scheduling.
  • John Callaghan, field director on Ayotte’s campaign, will be policy and legislative assistant.
  • Alex Holderith, most recently a special assistant to Gov. Sununu, will be assistant director of policy and finance.
  • Donna Schoenfeld, a staff assistant in Sununu’s office, will be a staff assistant.
  • Virginia Drye, previously director of circulation for the Claremont Eagle Times, will be citizen services assistant.
  • Tyler Flanigan will be community engagement coordinator.

See gencourt.state.nh.us/house on Jan. 9 at 11:30 a.m. for a livestream of the proceedings.

U.S. Attorney resigns

Jane E. Young, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire, announced her forthcoming resignation on Friday, Jan. 17, in a press release on Jan. 2. Young was nominated for the position in January 2022 by President Biden and has been in the position since May 2022. “Over the past two and a half years, law enforcement in the Granite State prioritized investigating those who illegally possessed firearms, made threats to government officials and schools, exploited our most vulnerable citizens, as well as defrauded pandemic-relief and other federal programs. I am particularly proud of the education we provided community members and the private sector on emerging frauds and scams, the expansion of the United States Attorney’s Office to include two additional prosecutors focused on civil rights and violent crimes, and the restitution orders obtained to make fraud victims whole,” Young said in the statement.

Conservation training

The University of New Hampshire Extension, New Hampshire Fish & Game and New Hampshire Division of Forest and Lands is accepting applications now through March 1 for its NH Coverts Project, according to a press release. “Started in 1995, the NH Coverts Project has trained over 500 volunteers in promoting wildlife conservation and forest stewardship throughout the state,” the release said. “In exchange for the training, participants commit to volunteer for at least 40 hours during the coming year and motivate others to become stewards of the state’s wildlife and forest resources. … Some lead field walks or organize volunteer workdays, while others serve on town boards or manage their own property for wildlife habitat.” There is a $50 registration fee and the training workshop is May 14 through May 17, the release said. See extension.unh.edu/blog/2025/01/application-period-opens-2025-nh-coverts-project-training.

Blood drive

The American Red Cross is looking for blood donors and offering a chance to win a trip to Super Bowl LIX. Donors who give through Sunday, Jan. 26, will be entered in a giveaway for a trip that includes tickets to the game, pre-game activities, round-trip airfare, three-night hotel accommodations and a gift card for expenses, according to a press release. See redcrossblood.org/SuperBowl for details. Upcoming local blood donation spots include:

  • NH Audubon McLane Center in Concord on Thursday, Jan. 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua on Thursday, Jan. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Goodale’s Bike Shop in Nashua on Friday, Jan. 10, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Boys and Girls Club of Greater Concord on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m
  • St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua on Monday, Jan. 13, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  • Bektash Shriners in Concord on Monday, Jan. 13, from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m.
  • St. John Neumann Church in Merrimack on Tuesday, Jan. 14, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  • Great North Aleworks in Manchester on Tuesday, Jan. 14, from noon to 4:30 p.m.
  • White Birch Banquet Hall in Hudson on Tuesday, Jan. 14, from noon to 4:30 p.m.
  • LaBelle Winery in Amherst on Wednesday, Jan. 15, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The Ice Castles in North Woodstock is slated to open Friday, Jan. 10, at 3 p.m. with attractions including the Mystic Light Walk, the Polar Pub ice bar, the tubing hill and more, according to a press release. See icecastles.com.

Registration is open for the 23rd annual Rock’N Race, which will take place Wednesday, May 7, at 6 p.m. at the Statehouse in downtown Concord to raise funds for HOPE Resource Center at Concord Hospital Payson Center for Cancer Care, according to a press release. Earlybird registration, through March 1, costs $35 for adults and $15 for youth and the first 2,700 registrants will receive a T-shirt, according to a press release. See rocknrace.org.

Ed Brouder, Manchester Historic Association trustee and past president, will present an illustrated talk about The Ledge, a swimming attraction in a granite quarry near Derryfield Park that was created when granite was pulled from the quarry in the 1870s and 1880s for the city’s mill foundations and street curbing, according to manchesterhistoric.org. The talk will take place Saturday, Jan. 18, at 11 a.m. at the Millyard Museum in Manchester and is included with admission to the museum. RSVP by calling 622-7531 or emailing [email protected].

The NH Wolves Hurling Club will hold a Winter Gala Celebration on Saturday, Jan. 18, to “honor the achieves of the past season and to kick off the new year” according to the nhwolveshurling.com (where you can find details of the Wolves Indoor Hurling and Gaelic Football series, which starts Tuesday, Jan. 28, in Goffstown). The gala will take place at American Legion Post 98 (43 Baboosic Lake Road in Merrimack). Tickets start at $30 per person (plus fees). The evening will feature food by The Peddler’s Daughter, an award ceremony, live music and more.

25 Reasons to get Excited about January 2025 — 01/02/2025

10 There are plenty of reasons to get excited about January — no, really! In this week’s is­sue, we look at 25 (-ish) reasons to get excited about the first month of 2025 (the “-ish” is because we actually pack a lot of events into many of those 25 items). Looking for reasons to get out — into the city, into the cold or into a new adventure — now that we’ve left the holidays behind? Here are at least 25 ideas for what to do.

ALSO ON THE COVER Relax with some tea and sandwiches at Honey Cup Cafe and Tearoom (page 20). Pizzastock offers music, pizza and healing (page 26). This week’s art section looks at three new shows: at See Saw Art, New Hampshire Antiques Co-op and 3S Artspace (it starts on page 14).

Read the e-edition

A graphic the shape of the state of New Hampshire, filled in with the New Hampshire flag made up of the crest of New Hampshire on a blue field.
Ice safety New Hampshire Fish and Game Department officials urge outdoor enthusiasts to exercise caution when enjoying winter activities near ...
headshot of man with very short hair and short beard wearing collared shirt and blazer
Meet the new GM of the city’s team Taylor Fisher is the new General Manager of the New Hampshire Fisher ...
Photo of assorted sports equipment for football, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball, and basketball
The Big Story – A look ahead to 2025: It’s our annual set of predictions for sports, 2025 edition. Sports ...
A graphic the shape of the state of New Hampshire, filled in with the New Hampshire flag made up of the crest of New Hampshire on a blue field.
Votes for the Sand-man The New Hampshire Department of Transportation has narrowed down the options for names for its snow ...
graphic for Dancing with the Stars live 2025 showing a disco ball on purple sparkly background, words centered
Friday, Jan. 3 Strange Brew Tavern (88 Mar­ket St., Manchester, 666-4292, strangebrewtavern.net) will host a special comedy event tonight from ...
black basketball player dribbling ball on court during a game
Just because the holiday season is over doesn’t mean the fun is done. There are plenty of reasons to get ...
A modern artwork of a blue beetle car
See Saw Art features a two-artist exhibition Compiled by Zachary [email protected] From Saturday, Jan. 11, through Sunday, Jan. 26, a ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • Baroque Beatles: The Concord Community Music School hosts Bach’s Lunch: ...
A dull brown wall and floor covered in shadowy splotches of bright and chaotic colors.
Installation at 3S changes hour by hour The art of Christina Watka relies on space and time, which is why ...
A series of landscape paintings along a staircase wall.
Paintings capture the glow at NH Antique Co-Op By Zachary Lewis [email protected] New Hampshire Antique Co-op will be presenting its ...
A pile of deep blue bullseye glass
Dear Donna, Any help with what to do with these or where they came from? I picked them up this ...
Family fun for whenever Skates of all kinds • Remix Skate Center (725 Huse Road, Manchester, 912-7661) has a Little ...
Barry Poitras
Martial Arts Instructor Sensei Barry Poitras teaches at Granite State Kendo Club (52 E. Derry Road, East Derry). Kendo and ...
Red round icon that reads Weekly Dish
By John Fladd [email protected] • Cooking compeition:Tickets for this year’s Steel Chef competition are on sale. Hosted by restaurateur and ...
Bartender Jessica True using a cocktail shaker.
Cocktail making is an exercise in physics A cocktail shaker is a surprisingly sophisticated piece of equipment. According to Griffin ...
Mara Witt smiling at the camera as she stirs some tea.
Honey Cup Cafe & Tearoom offers tea and a moment of calm By John Fladd [email protected] If you ask Mara ...
Lin-Theth smiling at the camera with her hands crossed.
Chef at Street (76 N. Main St., Concord, 333-2125, streetfood360.com) “I started in the industry as a student. I went ...
A cucumber flavored drink in a small glass sitting on a countertop
By John Fladd One of the dangers of recipes for meatless, sugar-free or zero-proof recipes is the frequent assurance that ...
Two music album covers, one dark blue depicting a sword-wielding warrior and the other tan and brown with a dark splotch in the middle.
Bear McCreary/Sparks & Shadows, God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla (video game soundtrack) (Sony Records) One thing that’s been hard for ...
A book cover with a bright blue sky and a striking orange building.
The Magnificent Ruins by Nayantara Roy (Algonquin Books, 448 pages) When I start reading a book that I know I’m ...
A young band wearing mismatched shorts and dress shirts with ties.
Pizzastock benefit showcase at Tupelo By Michael Witthaus [email protected] orst nightmare of any parent and harness it toward helping others ...
By Michael Witthaus [email protected] • Happy hour: It’s easy to imagine the Foo Fighters turning “Timeless,” a new song from ...

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!