I have to confess that I have never been a big fan of the name “puppy chow.” However, if you say you have a bowl of puppy chow, most people know what you are talking about. Plus, kids think it’s a fun name, so why not make the little ones smile?
For those who have never experienced it, the original puppy chow is a snack mix made with Chex or some other rectangular cereal as the base and has a chocolate and peanut butter coating. I have been making that version since before I had children of my own. It’s a fine snack that leans toward the sweet side and disappears quite quickly when set out to share.
While that version is fine, I thought it might be interesting to add a little more texture, saltiness and peanut butter flavor. I was able to make those three changes with only two ingredients. This sweet and salty version is made with pretzel squares as the base. Make sure you buy the salted version, as that provides the saltiness and a bit more texture. Then, instead of finishing the mix with powdered sugar alone, I added some peanut butter powder to the sugar. Voila! You have more peanut butter flavor and a teeny pinch more saltiness.
This recipe may not be an award-winning treat, but it is a perfect snack to serve while you’re hanging out in front of the TV, whether you’re binging a series, cheering on your favorite team or watching the newest movie release. Let the puppy chow snacking begin!
Michele Pesula Kuegler has been thinking about food her entire life. Since 2007, the New Hampshire native has been sharing these food thoughts and recipes at her blog, Think Tasty. Visit thinktasty.com to find more of her recipes.
Sweet & salty puppy chow Makes 3 cups
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter 2 1/2 cups pretzel squares* 1/2 cup powdered sugar 2 Tablespoons peanut butter powder, such as PB2
Combine chocolate chips and peanut butter in a small bowl. Microwave for 20 seconds; stir. Microwave in additional 20-second increments, stirring after each, until fully melted and combined. Pour pretzels into a large mixing bowl; top with chocolate mixture. Stir well. Combine powdered sugar and peanut butter powder in a gallon-sized resealable bag. Add chocolate-coated pretzels to gallon bag, seal, and shake to coat well. Spread pretzel mixture on a baking sheet to cool. You can refrigerate the tray to speed the setting process.
*I found square pretzels to be the best shape, as they can hold more of the coating. Feel free to use other pretzel shapes, if desired.
Photo: Sweet and salty puppy chaw. Photo by Michele Pesula Kuegler.
CELEBRATE YOUR FAVORITE GOURD AT LOCAL PUMPKIN FESTS PLUS WHERE TO PICK YOUR OWN
Flavors of fall
Milford Pumpkin Festival returns
by Matt Ingersoll
When longtime Milford resident Wade Campbell learned that the town’s annual pumpkin festival was at risk of not continuing in 2018, he and several volunteers, local organizations and community members set out to take it over. Three years later, Campbell is now director of the Granite Town Festivities Committee, carrying on the decades-long tradition of the Milford Pumpkin Festival in partnership with the Milford Rotary and Lions clubs.
The three-day event will return to the Milford Oval and surrounding areas from Friday, Oct. 8, to Sunday, Oct. 10, featuring local food vendors, beer and wine tastings, live music and family-friendly activities.
This will be the first in-person version of the Milford Pumpkin Festival in two years, although a scaled back virtual event mainly highlighting local musicians took place in 2020.
“I’m really excited. I’ve been looking forward to this ever since we ramped it back up,” Campbell said. “We did cancel the variety show and we have a few less vendors in the town hall, but overall there really isn’t much of a difference between this year and 2019.”
Friday evening’s opening festivities will include a pumpkin lighting ceremony at the Milford Town Hall, while on the Oval honorees for Milford’s Citizen of the Year will be announced.
At the nearby Community House Lawn, the Milford Rotary and Lions clubs are presenting two nights of beer, wine and spirit tastings on Friday and Saturday from more than two dozen local and regional vendors. Admission is available at the gate either night beginning at 5:30 p.m. — attendees are given a total of 10 tasting tickets, which are redeemable for a four-ounce sample of beer, a one-ounce sample of wine or a ½-ounce sample of liquor per vendor.
Pumpkin Fest Tasting
Beer, wine and spirits tastings
When: Friday, Oct. 8, and Saturday, Oct. 9, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Where: Milford Community House Lawn, 5 Union St., Milford Cost: $20 per person; includes 10 tasting tickets, each for a four-ounce sample of beer, a one-ounce sample of wine or a ½-ounce sample of liquor Visit: milfordpumpkinfestival.org/bws-tastings Free parking and shuttle bus services will be available at Milford Middle School (33 Osgood Road) on Friday and at Milford High School (100 West St.) throughout the weekend. Per federal regulations, face masks are required while riding the shuttle bus regardless of vaccination status.
This will be the first official festival participation for Concord’s Steadfast Spirits Distilling Co. since it opened in early 2020. Lori Lundergan, whose husband, CJ, is head distiller, said they will likely be pouring their fan-favorite Apple Pie moonshine-mixed cocktail — better known under the name Trouble’s Moonshine — in addition to some other flavors of their signature selections.
Averill House Vineyard of Brookline will be there with its barrel-aged True Blue blueberry wine and its Little Secret Nebbiolo wine, owner Bob Waite said. The winery will also be promoting a unique Halloween-themed twist for its igloo experiences, which are being transformed into “wine caves” with blacklights and decorative spider webs throughout the month of October.
The beer, wine and spirit tasting on the Community House Lawn, Milford Pumpkin Fest. Courtesy photo.
Of course, in keeping with the festival’s theme, you can expect pumpkin brews. The Loft Brewing Co. of Milford will offer its OMG pumpkin ale, while on Friday only, Martha’s Exchange of Nashua is expected to bring its PumpkinWeizen, in addition to other selections.
“We have a few vendors who couldn’t physically make it but are donating product, so there will be a couple of tables where we’ll have volunteers, Rotarians or Lions doing the pouring,” said Tim Finan, former Milford Rotary Club president and coordinator of the tastings.
Dozens of local vendors, from restaurants and food trucks to crafters and artisans, will be set up at multiple spots throughout the weekend. On Friday night Papa Joe’s Humble Kitchen of Milford will be serving burgers at the Community House Lawn. Then on Saturday, members of the Milford Rotary and Lions clubs will team up to offer burgers, homemade sausages and more.
Rotarian Janet Langdell added that The Memo Foundation, a Milford-based nonprofit, will be back to serve Frito Pie, featuring homemade chili and cheese served in a Fritos corn chip bag.
More than 20 bands and singers will hold performances across two stages throughout the weekend. The Flying Gravity Circus will be there on Saturday afternoon, while the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley’s competitive dance team will perform on Sunday morning.
Other featured activities during the festival will include pumpkin and face painting, a “haunted trail” at the nearby Emerson Park, a pumpkin weigh-in contest and a pumpkin catapult.
32nd annual Milford Pumpkin Festival
Official Milford Pumpkin Festival hours are Friday, Oct. 8, 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 9, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit milfordpumpkinfestival.org.
Friday, Oct. 8 • Live music performances: 5 to 9 p.m. on the Oval and Community House Lawn stages • Opening ceremonies and Town Hall pumpkin lighting: 6:30 p.m. • Haunted Trail: 6 to 9 p.m. at Emerson Park (6 Mont Vernon St.); tickets are $5 for adults and $1 for children under 10
Saturday, Oct. 9 • Milford history walking tour: 8 or 9:30 a.m.; begins at the Carey House (6 Union St.) and goes around the Oval and nearby sites • Live music performances: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the Oval and Community House Lawn stages • Scarecrow making, pumpkin painting and face painting: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the Community House Lawn ($15 per scarecrow, $5 per pumpkin painting, $1 per face painting cheek and $5 for full face painting) • Pumpkin catapult: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the lower parking lot of TD Bank (57 South St.); the cost is $3 for one pumpkin shot and $5 for two shots • Eye-Spy scavenger hunt: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Carey House (6 Union St.) • Pumpkin carving: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Oval • Great Pumpkin Weigh-In contest: Noon on the Oval • Flying Gravity Circus performance: 3 to 6 p.m. along Union Square, near the intersection of Union and Elm streets • Haunted Trail: 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Emerson Park (6 Mont Vernon St.); tickets are $5 for adults and $1 for children under 10
Sunday, Oct. 10 • Milford history walking tour: 8 or 9:30 a.m.; begins at the Carey House (6 Union St.) and goes around the Oval and nearby sites • Pumpkin catapult: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the lower parking lot of TD Bank (57 South St.); the cost is $3 for one pumpkin shot and $5 for two shots • Scarecrow making, pumpkin painting and face painting: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on the Community House Lawn ($15 per scarecrow, $5 per pumpkin painting, $1 per face painting cheek and $5 for full face painting) • Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley’s competitive dance team performance: 10 a.m. on the Community House Lawn stage • Live music performances: 10:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Oval and Community House Lawn stages • Rubber duck race: 1 p.m. on the Souhegan River; ducks can be purchased at the Milford Ambulance Association’s booth on Middle Street, starting Friday at 5 p.m. and ending on Sunday at noon ($5 per duck, or $20 for five ducks)
Boatload of fun
Enormous pumpkins the star of Goffstown’s annual event
by Angie Sykeny
Goffstown Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off and Regatta
Where: Downtown Goffstown and the Piscataquog River When: Saturday, Oct. 16, and Sunday, Oct. 17 Cost: Free admission More info: goffstownmainstreet.org/pumpkin-regatta
There are a lot of creative uses for pumpkins, but it’s hard to top Goffstown’s Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off and Regatta.
The two-day fall festival will return on Saturday, Oct. 16, and Sunday, Oct. 17, with all kinds of pumpkin-related fun in the downtown area and, of course, the regatta, where teams from local community groups, schools and businesses will race down the Piscataquog River in boats made from giant pumpkins.
Images from previous Goffstown Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off & Regattas. Courtesy photos.
It all started in 2000 when Jim Beauchemin, a member of the New Hampshire Giant Pumpkin Growers Association, was thinking about what to do with his giant pumpkins once the pumpkin weigh-offs were over. His idea was to use the pumpkins as boats and create a community event centered around a pumpkin boat race on the river. It was a hit, with around 500 people attending the inaugural regatta.
“It’s a tradition and a really special thing … not just for Goffstown but for New Hampshire and even for New England, especially now, being able to come together again when we haven’t been able to for so long,” said Tracey Hutton, executive director of Goffstown Main Street Program, which hosts the event.
Members of the New Hampshire Giant Pumpkin Growers Association will present their pumpkins at the weigh-off on Saturday and compete to be the grower with the heaviest pumpkin. Then, all of the pumpkins that are structurally sound enough to be used as boats — Hutton said she’s expecting around six this year — will be handed over to the regatta teams to be converted.
For a pumpkin to function as a boat, it must be carved out, then filled with sandbags to ensure that it’s balanced and won’t roll over when it’s in the water. Once that’s done, the teams will get to work painting and decorating their boats based on this year’s chosen theme, “Back to the Future.”
“We thought that was an appropriate theme after having to skip last year’s event because of the pandemic,” Hutton said. “It’s like, we’re ‘back to the future’ of the regatta; the regatta is back.”
The regatta itself will take place on Sunday. Each team designates a captain, who is usually in costume fitting the theme, to race their pumpkin boat. Spectators gather along the perimeter as the captains use kayak paddles to float down the river, about 100 yards, to the Goffstown bridge. The team with the first boat to make it under the bridge wins the race and receives a trophy. The team with the best pumpkin boat design will also be awarded, with a travelling trophy to keep until next year’s regatta.
Another highlight of the event, Hutton said, is the pumpkin drop on Sunday.
“We take one of the giant pumpkins and drop it from a crane,” she said. “It’s always exciting to see that big pumpkin go ‘kersplat’ and explode.”
New this year, the event will also feature a fireworks show on Saturday night.
“We’re really excited to be doing something that we’ve never done before,” Hutton said. “I think people will really enjoy that extra bit of festivity.”
Other festivities happening throughout the weekend will include a mini pumpkin race on the river, pumpkin carving demonstrations, a pie eating contest, a dog costume contest, yoga and fitness classes, a scarecrow contest, a 10k road race, activities for kids, street vendors and food concessions.
“There are so many different things going on,” Hutton said. “It’ll be a great time to get something good to eat, buy a few things and just relax and enjoy each other’s company.”
Schedule of events
Saturday, Oct. 16 • 10K Race check-in (behind the Village Trestle) – 7 a.m. • Giant pumpkins arrive on the Common – 9 a.m. • Vendors, demonstrations and activities – starting at 9 a.m. • Doggie costume contest – 10 a.m. • Pumpkin Weigh-off on the Common – 10:30 a.m. • Kids pumpkin dash (Mill Street) – 11 a.m. • Crowing of the Prince and Princess (on the Common) – noon • Giant pumpkin boat building begins (Mill Street) – 2:30 p.m. • Fireworks – dusk
Sunday, Oct. 17 • Giant pumpkin carving demonstration (on the Common) – 10 a.m. • Giant pumpkin drop (Citizens Bank Field) – noon • Pie eating contest – 1 p.m. • 50/50 mini pumpkin race (Piscataquog River) – 2 p.m. • Arrival of the Pumpkin Princess and Prince (parade on Mill and Main streets) – 2:45 p.m. • Pumpkin Regatta (Piscataquog River, Mill Street and Village Bridge) – 3 p.m.
Fields of orange
How pumpkin crops have fared this year
by Angie Sykeny
It’s been a challenging year for growing produce, and pumpkins were no exception.
Holly Kimball, a family owner of Beech Hill Farm in Hopkinton, said the farm had “some disappointments” with its pumpkin crop this year, particularly the gourds and mini pumpkins, due to the large amounts of rain and not enough sunny days.
“Gourds will usually grow pretty much anytime, anywhere, but the one thing they really don’t like is a lot of moisture,” she said, “so they didn’t do very well.”
Beech Hill’s pumpkin crop was at a disadvantage from the start. The rain was particularly heavy in early May, which is when the farm normally plants pumpkins, Kimball said. The ground was too soggy for the farmer to take the tractor out, so they had to hold off on planting the pumpkins until the end of the month.
“If you plant too early or too late by even one week, that can affect your crop,” she said.
Harvesting at the right time is also critical. Beech Hill had to pick their pumpkins prematurely this year, which “wasn’t ideal,” Kimball said, but, if they were to allow the pumpkins to grow for a few more weeks in order to reach full maturity, the farm would be risking a frost, which would wipe out the entire crop.
“It’s tricky, but it is what it is,” she said. “When you’re a farm in New Hampshire, you have to take your losses, because every year is different.”
In the past Beech Hill has invited visitors to pick their own pumpkins right from the patch, but this year, with growing the pumpkins being such a challenge, preservation is the priority, Kimball said, and the farm will be able to preserve more pumpkins if they handle the harvesting.
“If someone steps on a vine, you lose [all of the pumpkins] that are on that plant,” she said, “and if we leave them out in the field [for pick-your-own] there’s a greater chance of them getting frosted, or of animals getting to them, and we just can’t risk losing all those pumpkins.”
There was one upside to this year’s growing conditions. Unlike gourds, the regular orange pumpkins love water; the more rain they get, the bigger and plumper they grow. Kimball said she estimates this year’s pumpkins to be between 20 and 30 pounds, making them the heaviest pumpkins the farm has grown since she’s been there.
“They’re beautiful,” she said. “They’ve got thick, strong stems and nice ridges all the way around, and you can put your arms all the way around them; they’re a perfect armful.”
When you go to pick out your pumpkins, consider what you want to do with them.
As you can gather from their name, sugar pumpkins — the smaller orange ones that you can hold on one hand — have higher sugar content than other kinds of pumpkins.
“Those are the ones that you want to get for eating,” Kimball said. “You can roast them or cook with them or make a pie.”
If it’s the pumpkin seeds you’re after, go for the bigger orange pumpkins.
For decor, the best pumpkins are simply a matter of personal preference, Kimball said. Though the big orange pumpkins are the most popular choice for carving and using as jack-o’-lanterns, other kinds of pumpkins are just as suitable.
“People choose all sizes and shapes and for carving,” Kimball said. “Some people like tall, thin ones, some people like warty ones, and then, there’s the colored pumpkins, too, which are really trendy.”
Pick your own pumpkin
Head to the pumpkin patches at these farms to find your perfect pumpkin. Picking hours and pumpkin availability are subject to change, so call or check the farm’s social media for updates before you go.
• Applecrest Farm Orchard (133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls, 926-3721, applecrest.com) has PYO pumpkins, including field pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns for 75 cents per pound, sugar pumpkins for 95 cents per pound, and specialty heirloom gourds and pumpkins for $1.25 per pound. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather-dependent.
• Butternut Farm (195 Meaderboro Road, Farmington, 335-4705, butternutfarm.net) has PYO pumpkins for 60 cents per pound, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Mondays. An “All You Can Haul” pumpkin carrying challenge is tentatively planned for the weekend of either Oct. 16 or Oct. 23, TBD. The cost for the challenge will be $25 per person.
• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St., Candia, 483-5623, visitthefarm.com) has PYO pumpkins for 50 cents per pound, starting at $6, during its Pumpkin Festival, which runs from Saturday, Oct. 9, through Monday, Oct. 11. Admission costs $22, free for children age 23 months and under.
• DeMeritt Hill Farm (20 Orchard Way, Lee, 868-2111, demeritthillfarm.com) has PYO pumpkins, open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call for pricing.
• J&F Farms (124 Chester Road, Derry, 437-0535, jandffarmsnh.com)has PYO pumpkins until Oct. 31, open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call for pricing.
• Lavoie’s Farm (172 Nartoff Road, Hollis, 882-0072, lavoiesfarm.com) has PYO pumpkins through October, open daily from 8 a.m. wto 7 p.m. Call for pricing.
• Mack’s Apples (230 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 434-7619, macksapples.com) has PYO pumpkins through the end of October, open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call for pricing.
• Moulton Farm (18 Quarry Road, Meredith, 279-3915, moultonfarm.com) has PYO pumpkins through October, open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call for pricing.
• Scamman Farm (69 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham, 686-1258, scammanfarm.com) has PYO pumpkins for 60 cents per pound, fancies for $1 per pound, Jack B Littles for $1 each, and gourds for $1.50 per pound under 20 pounds or $1 per pound over 20 pounds, through Oct. 31, open weekdays from noon to 5 p.m., closed Tuesday, and open on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunnycrest Farm (59 High Range Road, Londonderry, 432-7753, sunnycrestfarmnh.com) has PYO pumpkins through Oct. 31, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather-dependent. Call for pricing.
• Trombly Gardens (150 N. River Road, Milford, 673-0647, tromblygardens.com) has PYO pumpkins as well as specialty pumpkins, gourds and mini pumpkins, open Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Celebrating Pumpkins
• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia; visitthefarm.com) holds the last weekend of its Pumpkin Festival this Columbus Day weekend on Saturday, Oct 9, through Monday, Oct. 11. Tickets cost $22 per person (for everyone ages 24 months old and older). Take a tractor train ride to the pumpkin patch to pick your own or get one at the farm stand. The event also includes horse-drawn wagon rides, live music (Lynda Nelson and Dan Morgan, described as having “notes from country, folk and bluegrass”), a cow milking contest, a take-home pumpkin art project (for $8 when purchased online), costumed characters, pony rides (also $8 when purchased online) and visits with the barnyard animals. Purchase tickets online for the specific day and time. • Applecrest Farm Orchards (133 Exeter Road in Hampton Falls; 926-3721, applecrest.com) will hold another Great Pumpkin Carve Sunday, Oct. 10, when a master carver will work with an 800-pound pumpkin. The day is part of live music (on Sunday, hear Unsung Heroes), pumpkin picking and more. • The Somersworth Festival Association’s Pumpkin Festival will take place Saturday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Somersworth Plaza on Main Street. A $10 bracelet gives kids access to multiple activities including pumpkin decorating and other pumpkin crafts, scarecrow making, hayrides, photos and more, according to a press release, which said the day will also feature a bouncy house and games. Kids in costume get a $1 discount. The event will also feature live entertainment, a food court and raffles.
Pumpkin cookies
This recipe for pumpkin cookies came from Michelle Moulin, who used to own Michelle’s Bakery in Manchester, and first ran in the Hippo years ago. Somewhere between a little pumpkin cake, a cookie and a mini-scone, this pumpkin treat gets much of its sweetness from its icing. Halved, the recipe makes a little more than three-dozen, teaspoon-sized cookies.
1 pound of butter (4 sticks), softened
2 cups of brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups pumpkin
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon cloves
For icing:
1½ cups confectioner’s sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup water
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Cream softened butter and sugar.
Add eggs and pumpkin and mix until blended.
Stir together dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves) and add slowly, with mixer set on low, until blended.
Scoop teaspoon-sized dough scoops and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until firm. Cool.
Mix together icing ingredients (confectioner’s sugar, cinnamon and water) until smooth.
Spoon onto cookies and let sit for glaze to harden.
The Milford Pumpkin Festival has all kinds of gourd-ertainment planned (see the story about the event on page 10) including live music. Tonight, catch Shawna Deeley, Kayla Helmig, Tony Patterson, Macy Rae, Nick Zumbo and Drewosity all on the Oval Stage starting at 5 p.m. followed by Murphy Clark Band at 7:15 p.m. On the Community House Lawn Stage, catch 13 Steps (5:30 p.m) and Up Chuck Kreek (7:30 p.m.). On Saturday, 14 acts are scheduled to play on two stages from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. including Swipe Left (5:30 p.m.) and Tumbletoads (7:30 p.m.) on the Community House Lawn Stage and Russell Hill (5:30 p.m.) and Ballou Brothers (7:30 p.m.) on the Oval Stage. On Sunday, the music runs from around 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both stages. Also on the schedule is Justin Cohn, slated to play Saturday at 10 a.m. on the Oval Stage. Justin was one of the artists featured in Michael Witthaus’s Sept. 30 story rounding up New Hampshire artists nominated for a New England Music Award. Cohn is nominated in the “Best in State” category (find the e-edition at hippopress.com; the story starts on page 32)
Saturday, Oct. 9
Oktoberfest celebrations continue this weekend with Bektash Shriners of New Hampshire’s Oktoberfest today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Bektash Shrine Center (189 Pembroke Road in Concord; bektashshriners.org). The event will feature bratwurst, pretzels and more; call 225-5372 to RSVP. Find more Oktoberfest fun in Matt Ingersoll’s story about the celebration of German beer and eats in the Sept. 23 issue of the Hippo (find the e-edition at hippopress.com; the story starts on page 18).
Saturday, Oct. 9
Work up an appetite for the brews and eats at the Oktoberfest 5K beginning and ending at the Backyard Brewery & Kitchen in Manchester today at 9 a.m. Onsite, same-day registration starts at 7:30 a.m. or register in advance at millenniumrunning.com/oktoberfest. The fees are $30 for racers age 21 and over; $20 for racers 20 and younger.
Saturday, Oct. 9
Symphony New Hampshire kicks off its 2021-2022 season with a concert tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St. in Nashua). See symphonynh.org for tickets and for safety rules. The evening will feature Frank Ticheli’s “Rest,” Mozart’s “Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds” and the concert chamber orchestra suite of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Roger Kalia will conduct.
Wednesday, Oct. 13
If the snap of fall weather and the return of the The Great British Baking Show has inspired you to hold your own Bread Week, check out the Decorative Focaccia Bread cooking class tonight at 6 p.m. at LaBelle Winery (14 Route 111 in Derry; labellewinery.com, 672-9898). The class costs $49.05; reserve a spot in advance online.
Save the Date! Oct. 15
Mamma Mia!, the joyful ABBA jukebox musical, will kick off a multi-week run at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) on Friday, Oct. 15, with opening night show at 7:30 p.m. The show will run Fridays (7:30 p.m.), Saturdays (2 and 7:30 p.m.) and Sundays (noon and 5 p.m., most weeks) through Sunday, Nov. 14, with Thursday shows on Oct. 28 and Nov. 11. Tickets run $25 to $46.
Featured photo: Symphony New Hampshire. Courtesy photo.
According to the Back to School Stress Index created by online learning platform Brainly, New Hampshire was the third most stressed out state when it came to going back to school this year, after Montana and Pennsylvania. The study was conducted between Sept. 18 and Sept. 25 and measured stress indicators on Google Trends relative to geographical location, with search queries related to the reopening of schools, Covid-19 prevention, school guidelines and homeschooling requirements.
Score: -1
Comment: To put a more positive spin on it, the number of Granite Staters’ school-related Google searches could just as easily mean that we like to be prepared and are invested in our kids’ health and education.
…and school event success
The first CelebratED MHT! was held Sept. 18 at Veterans Park to celebrate Manchester’s students, families and staff, with more than 30 city departments and local organizations coming together to offer free fun for the community. Free books, food and drinks, entertainment and family activities were part of the fun, but the point of the event was to recognize all the good that’s happening in the Queen City’s schools.
Score: +1
Comment:Organizers are starting to plan for next year’s event. Send an email to [email protected] if you’re interested in being part of the volunteer team.
A’s for two NH liberal arts colleges
The nonprofit American Council of Trustees and Alumni recently released its annual “What Will They Learn? 2021–22 report,” which gave A’s to two New Hampshire liberal arts colleges: Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts in Warner and Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack. According to a press release, 1,110 U.S. colleges and universities were graded on their core curriculum requirements, and only 24 received As. The survey examines course requirements in seven foundational subject areas: Composition, Literature, intermediate-level Foreign Language, U.S. Government or History, Economics, Mathematics and Natural Science. To earn an “A,” a school must require all students to study at least six of these subjects, the release said.
Score: +1
Comment: New Hampshire has some big, and big-name, colleges (Dartmouth, UNH, SNHU), but this report is a good reminder that there are smaller, less well-known academic gems here too.
Hundreds of fires
So far this year in New Hampshire 628 people have received assistance from the American Red Cross of Northern New England in the wake of 278 home fires, according to a press release. There is typically a spike in home fires in the winter months, the release said, so those numbers will likely go up.
Score: -1
Comment:To combat the anticipated increase in fires as the cold weather arrives, the state Department of Safety and the Red Cross are stepping up efforts this Fire Prevention Week (now through Oct. 9) to encourage people to test smoke alarms and make an escape plan.
QOL score: 80
Net change: 0
QOL this week: 80
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Covid-19 news
During a Sept. 29 press conference, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that New Hampshire had averaged between 400 and 500 new positive tests of Covid-19 per day over the previous few weeks, with the total number of infections now exceeding 120,000 since the beginning of the pandemic. “The test-positivity [rate] has been slowly declining the last several weeks,” Chan said. “Hospitalizations have also remained elevated … and, in fact, the majority of deaths that we are identifying and reporting out on a daily and weekly basis continue to be community-associated deaths.” Chan renewed state recommendations to seek vaccination against the virus, citing a recent CDC study highlighting the fact that unvaccinated people are five times more likely to be infected and 10 times more likely to be hospitalized. “People who have been naturally infected do have some protection … against recurrent infection,” he said, “but studies have shown that vaccination after natural infection provides higher levels of protection and likely longer duration of protection and immunity.” As of Oct. 4, there were 3,502 active infections of Covid-19 statewide and 141 current hospitalizations. All 10 counties remain at substantial levels of community transmission.
Vaccine protest
Gov. Chris Sununu postponed the Sept. 29 Executive Council meeting after anti-vaccine mandate protesters disrupted the meeting, which was being held at Saint Anselm College. “I will not put members of the Executive Council or state agencies in harm’s way,” Sununu said in a statement after the postponement. “State Police had to escort state employees to their cars after unacceptable, unruly behavior. This meeting is being postponed until our state employees can go before the Council in a safe and orderly manner. The items on today’s agenda will be brought up at a later date.” That afternoon, at the state’s Covid-19 briefing, Sununu said protestors had threatened state employees, and that the employees who needed to be escorted to their cars were career DHHS employees, WMUR reported. Sununu said the protesters’ claim that approving federal funds for state vaccination efforts would compromise New Hampshire’s sovereignty was “not true,” and that the protesters’ behavior was “incredibly disappointing” and “not what New Hampshire is about.” Republicans Ted Gatsas, Joseph Kenney and David Wheeler exited the room shortly after the protests began. According to WMUR, Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington said protesters were to be expected at the meeting due to the controversial nature of the topic, but were not expected to be a danger to the lives of state employees. “‘Saying to people, ‘I know where you live,’ I think that’s threatening and intimidating,” she said. “I was very surprised by that.”
Women’s march
Rallies were held across New Hampshire on Saturday as part of a nationwide Women’s March organized to protest recent laws restricting and banning abortion, including the ban on nearly all abortions in Texas and the ban on most abortions after 15 weeks in Mississipi, which is to be brought before the U.S. Supreme Court. According to NHPR, speakers at a rally held in Concord addressed issues affecting the Granite State, including a recent state law that will go into effect in January requiring people to get ultrasounds before an abortion and banning abortion after 24 weeks, and the Executive Council’s recent vote to stop funding some reproductive health clinics. Gov. Chris Sununu has stated that he wants to hold another vote for the latter, NHPR reported.
Indigenous Peoples Day
Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, located at 18 Highlawn Road in Warner, will recognize Indigenous People’s Day with a public panel to celebrate and honor Native American people, histories and cultures, according to a press release. The panel is set for Monday, Oct. 11, from 1 to 3 p.m. Topics of discussion will include the Abenaki Trails Projects, efforts made by Warner and other New Hampshire towns to support local Native voices, and the contemporary goals of local Indigineous People. The event is free. Visit indianmuseum.org.
NH Hospital
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Administrative Services and New Hampshire Hospital officials will discuss a proposal to build a secure 24-bed forensic hospital next to New Hampshire Hospital in Concord during a virtual public information session on Thursday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m. on Zoom. According to a press release, the new facility will be the first in the state appropriate for treating acute mental illness in forensic patients, including patients who are civilly committed for treatment, in a safe and secure environment. The session will also cover state leadership for the plan, the progress that has been made and a timeline for the project.
NAMIWalks NH
NAMIWalks NH, the state’s largest mental health awareness and suicide prevention event, will remain a virtual event this year, according to a press release. NAMIWalks NH Your Way – A United Day of Hope is planned for Saturday, Oct. 9, and invites people to participate independently through kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, skateboarding, knitting, playing, drawing, painting or any other activities they enjoy, and to share their activities on social media while raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. For more information and to register for the event, visit naminh.org.
The Doorway
The Doorway of Greater Manchester is now available to clients in the city 24 hours a day, seven days a week, replacing the Manchester Safe Station, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, individuals seeking recovery services after hours would have to go to the fire station, but now they can call 2-1-1 for immediate access to services, including screening and stabilization at The Doorway facility on Rogers Street or at an overnight respite facility. The Manchester Fire Department will continue to provide mobile, field-based recovery and substance misuse outreach services as needed, according to the press release.
Memorial Elementary School in Bedford and Grantham Village School in Grantham have been named 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools. According to a press release, the Blue Ribbon award recognizes schools for their high performance in academics. “These two innovative schools have managed to thrive throughout the pandemic, finding creative ways to not only achieve high academic results, but successfully engage with students and support their overall needs,” New Hampshire Department of Education commissioner Frank Edelblut said in the release.
Girls Inc. NH, based in Manchester and Nashua, has a new school bus thanks to a grant from Fidelity Investments. According to a press release, the bus will be used to transport girls to after-school programming and field trips and replaces a retired bus that needed repairs exceeding its value.
Homeowners searching for a contractor or handyman for home improvement projects can get free help from 411 Contractor Referral Network (411mycontractor.com) of Brookline. According to a press release, the company’s website provides information about companies that have been screened and have agreed to a code of ethics. The screening includes tracking licenses and insurance coverage, records checks and references from at least three local homeowners.
I’m genuinely afraid for the future of my/our country. We seem to have gotten to a point where it feels nearly impossible to talk to one another. There are some smart folks who are comparing the atmosphere in this country to just before the Civil War. Is it possible that, in our lifetime, maybe even within a generation or two, we will start to see the breakup of America? One of the primary areas of our inability to communicate is around the issue of race. This breaks my heart.
It’s not hard to understand how minorities can get upset at inequities, whether real or perceived. But, it’s also not hard to understand how whites can get upset when the term “racist” is often used, seemingly, at the drop of a hat.
I believe that most Americans are not racists and that the vast majority of our fellow citizens buy into the “all men are created equal” notion that our country is built on. That said, I also believe that, pardon the analogy, it’s not all black and white where you’re either a racist or you’re not. In my opinion, there is a lot of gray. In fact, I believe that the majority of us, regardless of our race, fall into that gray area.
While I believe that most would view my personal history as non-racist, only I know what is in my heart. I regularly try to measure my unconscious bias and admit that I have some. While I have never felt proud of being white, I continued to feel proud of my Italian heritage. Is that OK in your eyes? Or, is that somehow problematic? How do you measure your unconscious bias?
Too often, I have heard Democrats refer to Republicans as racists. I’m sure that there are Republicans who are racists, but I believe that most Republicans also fit into that gray area. To lump them together in this highly negative way is not only hurtful but ensures the furthering of our divisions and our inability to talk to one another. This is dangerous! We have to find a way to talk to one another in a manner that will ensure everyone stays at the discussion table. If we can’t, I fear for the future of our democracy.
I believe that the majority of us believe that America is the greatest country in the history of the world. Is it possible that we could blow this?
Fred Bramante is a past chairman and member of the New Hampshire State Board of Education. He speaks and consults on education redesign to regional, state and national organizations.
