New Hampshire’s dairy farms play a big part in the making of this cool summer treat. Find out how your favorite local ice cream is made.
Also on the cover, Henniker illustrator, painter and digital artist turns his attention to capturing musicians and abandoned cars on camera, p. 10. Try a fragrant cocktail, p. 28. And local musician Alli Beaudry hosts a musical showcase at the Rex, p. 36.
Shaker Village welcomes resident artists Every summer, Canterbury Shaker Village offers an artist-in-residence program where artists spend two weeks living ...
Covid-19 updateAs of July 12As of July 19Total cases statewide99,77099,966Total current infections statewide197224Total deaths statewide1,3751,382New cases215 (July 3 to July ...
Michael J. Chambers Auctioneer Michael J. Chambers of Chambers Auction Service in Atkinson is a professional auctioneer specializing in automobile, ...
Kayley Bowen of Bedford is the owner of O’Regan Breads ([email protected], visit facebook.com/oreganbreads or follow on Instagram @backtothegrindstone), a homestead ...
It’s berry season in New Hampshire, which means it’s time to get some fruit and start baking! Growing up with wild blueberries in my backyard, this fruit was always part of my summer. Blueberry muffins, pancakes and crisps were made regularly this time of year.
You might notice that I didn’t mention blueberry pies. There may have been one or two, but I am not a fan of pie. Call me odd, but I find pie crust to be boring. I would much rather enjoy my blueberries in a different format.
After years of making blueberry crisp, I decided to see if I could transform that recipe from a “serve it in a bowl” dessert to something that might need only a plate or napkin. Thus, I have this recipe for blueberry crisp bars.
These bars have that same sweet and crumbly topping of oats and brown sugar for the base as well. That means you’re getting two layers of oat-y goodness filled with sweet and jammy blueberries.
Two important notes on the ingredients for this recipe. The blueberries need to be fresh. If you use frozen, there will be extra liquid, which will make the bars soggy. Although the blueberries need to be fresh, the lemon juice can come out of the bottle. You need a little tartness but not a ton of flavor, so you can skip buying and juicing lemons.
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.
Blueberry crisp bars Makes 16
2½ cups fresh blueberries ⅓ cup granulated sugar 2 Tablespoons cornstarch ½ Tablespoon lemon juice 1 cup all-purpose flour ⅔ cup light brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 10 Tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed 1¼ cups old-fashioned oats
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper, and coat with nonstick spray. Set aside. Place the blueberries in a medium bowl. Sprinkle the sugar and cornstarch over the blueberries; toss to coat. Add lemon juice and stir to combine; set aside. Combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add the cubed butter to the flour mixture. Use a pastry blender, two forks, or your fingers, and cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles small peas. Add oatmeal to the flour mixture, and stir well to combine. Press approximately 1¾ cups of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the blueberry mixture on top of the crust. Sprinkle remaining crust mixture evenly on top of the blueberries and press lightly. Bake for 45 minutes uncovered. Cover with foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until a knife in the center shows only blueberry juice and no raw dough. Remove from the oven and cool on a baking rack..
Preliminary numbers show that violent crime in Manchester is down 25 percent from April of this year to the end of June. The city usually sees about a 9-percent increase in violent crime heading into the summer months, according to a press release, and the Manchester Police Department is attributing this success in part to the CompStat360 initiative, which promotes collaboration with community members and other city stakeholders to solve community problems, as well as strong collaboration with local, county, state and federal law enforcement and prosecutors. One of the top priorities has been violent crime prevention and reduction, the release said.
Score: +1
Comment: The data also shows that gun crime in Manchester has dropped 40 percent compared to 2020 and is down 20 percent when compared to the five-year average, the release said.
Tuition freeze at community colleges
The Community College System of New Hampshire will once again freeze tuition at $215 per credit, or $6,450 per year, in tuition costs for a full-time course load. According to a press release, the rate has been the same for four years, and New Hampshire’s community colleges continue to be the most affordable college options for residents. In addition, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges are offering one free, three-credit course in the fall semester to any member of a New Hampshire high school class of ’21.
Score: +1
Comment:Annual full-time tuition at New Hampshire’s seven community colleges costs only $150 more than it did a decade ago when the tuition rate was $210 per credit for the 2011 school year, according to the release.
Hiring challenges mean less amusement
Without enough employees to staff its regular hours, Canobie Lake Park in Salem will now be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and will close early a few days a week, according to a report from WMUR. Park officials told WMUR that while about half of the staff returns each year, new applicants are down 75 percent. The new hours of the park are Wednesday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m. until 7 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Score: -1
Comment: At least you can still get nauseatingly dizzy on the Turkish Twist five days a week.
Keeping lakes clean
The Lake Host courtesy boat inspection program is celebrating its 20th anniversary as once again its hundreds of lake hosts posted at 100 of the busiest boat ramps in the state are teaching boaters how to clean their boats to prevent the spread of invasive species. According to a press release from NH LAKES, over the past 19 years the Lake Host program has slowed the rate of spread of invasive plants, including milfoil, from lake to lake. The primary way invasive species spread is on boats that have not been thoroughly cleaned, drained and dried between voyages in different bodies of water.
Score: +1
Comment:Approximately 90 of the state’s water bodies contain infestations of invasive species that can clog boat motors and propellers, according to the release, and once they are firmly established they are nearly impossible to get rid of.
QOL score: 80 Net change: +2 QOL this week: 82
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
Rentals needed
Results of the recently released 2021 New Hampshire Residential Rental Cost Survey Report shows that it’s a tough market for renters right now, with low inventory, lower vacancy rates and higher rents. According to the report summary, owners and managers of more than 24,560 unsubsidized rental housing units in the state (15 percent of all units) took part in the survey, which shows that this year’s statewide median gross rent of $1,498 (including utilities) for two-bedroom units is up 6 percent over last year, and the 0.9 percent vacancy rate for all units is lower than last year. According to the report, a vacancy rate of 5 percent is considered a balanced market for tenants and landlords, and comparatively, both the U.S. and Northeast vacancy rates are at 6.8 percent. Meanwhile, there is also a limited supply of homes for sale, making it more difficult for renters to become homeowners, the report said. New Hampshire Housing has committed financing for more than 1,000 rental units over the past year, and those will be available in 12 to 18 months. Still, “To sustain New Hampshire’s economy, additional housing is needed to support our workforce, as well as those who cannot work because of age or disability,” the report summary said. “It is estimated that about 20,000 more housing units are needed to meet current demand and stabilize the market.”
Residential treatment
Children in need of behavioral health residential treatment will soon have more options. On July 14, the New Hampshire Executive Council and Gov. Chris Sununu approved contracts with nine organizations that will provide behavioral health services in residential treatment settings to children and young adults “whose behavioral health needs cannot be met safely in the community without intensive supports,” according to a press release. The contracts will expand clinical services by ensuring that each provider delivers services through a trauma model and developing programming that targets special treatment needs. They will also establish relationships with community providers to determine when residential treatment is appropriate. More contracts with remaining residential treatment providers are expected to be submitted for consideration in the coming weeks. “Residential treatment services vitally help children and young adults with severe emotional disturbances,” Erica Ungarelli, director of the Department of Health and Human Services Bureau for Children’s Behavioral Health, said in the release. “Children and youth have unique mental and behavioral health needs, and a comprehensive system of care is being established to ensure these needs are met. The expansion of residential treatment for children and youth is a critical step in the establishment of the system of care.” Joe Ribsam, director of the Division for Children, Youth and Families, said in the release that children too often end up involved with DCYF if their severe mental health needs aren’t being addressed, and that making residential treatment services more widely available and accessible, along with the recently expanded mobile crisis and wraparound support for families, will keep more kids out of the state’s child protection and juvenile justice systems.
Summer stipend
The New Hampshire Department of Employment Security opened applications for the Summer Stipend Program on Monday, July 19, according to a press release from the Governor’s Office. The program was announced in May following the state’s decision to end federal pandemic unemployment benefits. Individuals who were receiving unemployment benefits the week of May 15 and found and maintained employment on or after May 18 at 20 or more hours a week for at least eight weeks, earning less than $25 an hour, are eligible for a stipend. The stipend amounts are $500 for individuals who worked under 37.5 hours per week for eight weeks and $1,000 for individuals who worked 37.5 hours or more per week for eight weeks. The stipends are first come first served until the $10 million fund runs out. The first wave of potentially eligible people is calculated to be more than 1,700, according to the release.
Filing for mayor
Manchester City Mayor Joyce Craig officially filed for re-election for a third term on Monday, July 19, according to a press release. “I’m running for Mayor in 2021 to ensure our city fully recovers from this pandemic, builds upon our progress and comes out of this stronger than before,” Craig said in the release. “We have a tremendous opportunity in the next two years to continue to tackle issues facing our community,” Craig added. “I’ll continue working to help residents lead better lives with stronger schools, safer neighborhoods, good jobs and a growing economy.”
Victoria Sullivan, former New Hampshire State Representative and Assistant Majority Leader who served two terms on the House Education Committee, has also filed paperwork to officially become a candidate for Mayor of Manchester. “I am running to ‘Make Manchester Shine Again’ — to drastically improve the quality of life and livability of our city now and for future generations,” Sullivan said in a statement. The Manchester mayoral election will take place in November.
And Republican Richard Girard planned to officially file his candidacy for Manchester mayor on Wednesday, July 21, according to a press release.
Homelessness bill
New Hampshire U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen joined two California senators to introduce a bill that would increase federal resources to battle homelessness, authorizing $1 billion in grants to local governments each year for the next five years. According to a press release, the Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act would condition federal funds on a grant recipient’s ability to provide not only housing, but also comprehensive supportive services like mental health care, substance abuse treatment and job training. It also requires a 25 percent match for services and housing from non-federal funds, and it requires grantees to report on measures of success, including whether individuals remain housed. “To stem the homelessness crisis that worsened during the pandemic, we need a comprehensive approach that makes families whole again. We must take into account how poverty, mental illness and substance misuse exacerbate cycles of housing insecurity,” Shaheen said in the release.
After spending more than two weeks assisting at the site of the Surfside condominium complex collapse in Florida, Concord Fire Chief Sean Brown has returned home and will be spending some time with his family before returning to work, according to a July 17 report from WMUR. Brown worked in the wreckage of the Champlain Towers South building, which collapsed on June 24 and killed at least 97 people, the report said.
After the recent announcement of a charter school expansion grant from the state, Founders Academy in Manchester has decided to amend its charter to include fifth grade. According to a press release, the school opened in 2014 serving 100 students in grades 6 through 8; for the 2020-2021 school year, 350 students were enrolled in grades 6 through 12.
Last week, the Nashua Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a request to equip police officers with body cameras. According to a report from WMUR, the $1.8 million, six-year contract will provide all 179 officers and 31 patrol cars with cameras with features that include activation with holster draws, opening cruiser doors and turning on lights and sirens.
You’ve seen New Hampshire’s forests, mountains and seacoast, but have you seen them from above? Get a new view with a relaxing flight in a hot air balloon, an adrenaline-filled zipline tour or a gentle but exhilarating parasail ride along the coast.
Also on the cover, discover the best mid-summer flowers to make your garden pop, p. 16. Find out where to go for pick-your-own blueberries, p. 22. And try lighter brews for more relaxing days, p. 26.
Covid-19 updateAs of July 2As of July 12Total cases statewide99,55599,770Total current infections statewide181197Total deaths statewide1,3721,375New cases100 (June 29 to July ...
Assorted Orchids, Assorted Orchids (Whale Watch Records) Debut album from Boston-based folkie T. McWilliams, whose target audience is the weird-beard ...
The world’s biggest bottle of soap will make an appearance in Manchester on Saturday, July 17, part of a multi-city tour to raise awareness of the importance of hand hygiene. According to a press release, clean beauty company Soapbox will donate personal care products to communities in need during the tour. The 21-foot tall, 8.5-foot diameter, 2,500-pound metal and fiberglass bottle will be on view at Hannaford at 201 John E. Devine Dr. between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Score: +1
Comment: During the stop in Manchester, Soapbox will be donating pallets of soap to Families in Transition and hygiene kits to Webster House.
Fifty years of service
The Merrimack Rotary Club has been providing support to the community for 50 years now and celebrated its achievements earlier this month. According to a press release, even the pandemic didn’t stop the Rotary from giving back and holding its weekly meetings — 58 total, via Zoom. It donated to a whole host of organizations and projects, including thousands of masks to Meals on Wheels, the Town of Merrimack and the Merrimack School District. It also provided support to the Wasserman Park Function Hall Sound Tile Project, the Watson Park Pavilion Staining Project and the Adopt-A-Roadside Clean-Up Project, among many other local contributions, the release said.
Score: +1
Comment:“Rotarians are proud to give of their time to benefit others in the community and such service was recognized this year with the … Presidential Citation from Rotary International in honor of all our club has achieved,” R. Brian Snow, Rotary Club of Merrimack President 2020/2021, said in the release.
Illegal fireworks
Illegal use of fireworks is on the rise, according to a press release from the Manchester Fire Department. After receiving numerous complaints from residents over the holiday weekend, both the Manchester Police and Fire departments issued a statement saying they expect fireworks usage to continue as the summer goes on and as such will be conducting enforcement efforts on various weekend nights throughout the season. According to the release, the joint effort is meant to be a proactive approach to remind people of the city ordinance that strictly prohibits the sale, possession or use of fireworks within the Manchester city limits.
Score: -1 for all the noise
Comment: A fire inspector and police officer will ride together from 8 p.m. to midnight on certain weekend nights to monitor fireworks usage, from now through August, the release said.
Big energy bills
New Hampshire is the 10th most energy-expensive state in the country, according to a report released last week by personal finance website WalletHub, which compared average monthly energy bills that accounted for multiple residential energy types: electricity, natural gas, motor fuel and home heating oil. The average monthly energy bill in the Granite State is $355. It ranked fourth most expensive for the price of natural gas and sixth most expensive for the price of electricity.
Score: -1
Comment: The most energy-expensive state, with an average monthly bill of $411, is Connecticut, and the least is District of Columbia, with a $217 average monthly energy bill.
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].
