Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
Fentanyl legislation
Sen. Maggie Hassan has helped to introduce a new bipartisan bill created to combat the fentanyl epidemic. According to a press release from the Senator’s office, “Bruce’s Law,” led by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, will support federal prevention and education efforts surrounding fentanyl, authorizing new community-based coalition enhancement grants to educate young people about the dangers of fentanyl, and giving drug-free communities coalitions access to additional funds to bolster their efforts to end deadly fentanyl use. “I am proud to cosponsor bipartisan legislation like Bruce’s Law to continue addressing the substance misuse crisis and pushing for necessary resources,” Sen. Hassan said in the release. The law is named afterRobert “Bruce” Snodgrass, who died of a fentanyl overdose in 2021 at the age of 22. “Bruce’s story echoes that of many Granite Staters whose families and communities continue to be devastated by fentanyl and the substance misuse crisis,” Hassan said. “This is an issue that should be approached from all angles to prevent more lives lost, which is why we provide educational grants in this bipartisan bill to increase awareness of the dangers of fentanyl.”
A boost for child care
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services will issue an additional $6 million to child care providers who qualified to receive American Rescue Plan Stabilization funds in the fall of 2021. According to a press release from DHHS, 486 child care programs are set to receive a sum, based on their licensed capacity, which could amount to up to $165 per child. Programs are encouraged to use the funds for staffing and occupancy costs, and about 75 percent of them have indicated that they plan to do so, the release said. New Hampshire has distributed more than $100 million in aid to child care providers throughout the state since the spring of 2020.
Better internet access
New Hampshire has been announced as the first state in the country to receive approval for a broadband expansion plan utilizing funds from the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund. According to a press release from the office of Gov. Chris Sununu, the $50 million plan will improve access to reliable broadband in unserved and underserved parts of the state. New Hampshire had dedicated $13 million in short-term CARES Act Funds to broadband expansion in 2020, which benefited more than 4,500 households throughout the state, “well before the federal government even created a program to do so themselves,” Gov. Sununu said in a statement on June 7, when the news was announced. “Today’s announcement is another step forward as New Hampshire continues to serve as a leader in expanding broadband services.” New Hampshire’s Statewide Broadband Build Program will select local internet service providers for the expanded areas, working with broadband networks that are owned, operated by or affiliated with local governments, nonprofits and cooperatives as much as possible. It is expected to serve around 15,000 rural and remote residences and businesses, which represents approximately half of the locations that are currently in need of access to high-speed internet, the release said.
Covid vaccines for children
The first batch of Covid vaccinations approved for infants and young children could arrive in New Hampshire as soon as June 20, the New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services announced in an official health alert. Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines will be available to children ages 6 months through 4 years, and Moderna vaccines will be available to children ages 6 months through 5 years. NHPR reported that the state is expected to receive 12,200 doses in the first order, split evenly between Pfizer and Moderna, which will be distributed to local hospitals, health centers, doctor’s offices and other health care providers, while pharmacy chains that administer the vaccine will be issued doses directly from the federal government. The children’s vaccinations come 18 months after the first adults in the state became eligible for vaccination in December 2020.
A new traffic pattern is being implemented on Route 101 in Bedford as part of the red-listed bridge replacement at Pulpit Brook, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation announced. Daytime paving work was scheduled to take place Tuesday, June 14, through Thursday, June 16, weather permitting, to create a temporary traffic diversion. The diversion will require one-way alternating traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will remain in use until the Fall.
Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig will join Queen City Pride on Friday, June 17, at noon, at Manchester City Hall (1 City Hall Plaza) for the Pride Flag Raising, according to the Mayor’s public schedule.
The Toadstool Bookshop in Peterborough will present a tribute to local educator Tim Clark on Saturday, June 18, at 11 a.m. Clark died shortly before the publication of his book Beginning Educator: Navigating A Second Career In Teaching, which features a collection of twice-monthly columns he had been writing for the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript. Clark’s wife, May Clark, and Jason Lambert, both of whom are also teachers, will read selected columns and remember Tim Clark’s life. Call 924-3543 or visit toadbooks.com.
It’s a season of road races! Whether you are new to running (or walking) or are working on a streak, there are 5Ks (as well as a few 10Ks) where you can work on your form throughout the summer. Need to get some new sneakers before you hit the road? We ask some local shoe experts for advice on how to pick the running shoe that can get you going.
Also on the cover, hiking columnist Dan Szczesny finds the historic Jacob Chase Horse Block during a trip to Chester with his daughter, p. 17; John Fladd celebrates the early spring greens with a bright green gin-based cocktail, p. 28, and Matt Ingersoll talks to the owners of the Nest Family Cafe in Londonderry about their new family-friendly hang out spot, p. 24.
Broderick discusses mental health book, webinar series John Broderick, senior director of public affairs at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health and former Chief ...
We have found the Jacob Chase Horse Block — a large, low rock in front of Chester’s Town Hall — but my daughter is having none of it.
This is a real puzzler to her. I brought her out here to learn about a towering figure in greater Chester history, and maybe get a little hike in. She and I have been working on a field guide to famous or historic memorial stones around New Hampshire, and the Chase Block, to my eyes, fit the bill.
Born in Newbury, Mass., on Christmas Day 1727, Jacob Chase moved to Chester in 1751 and built the Chase Home at the junction of what are now Manchester and Candia roads. The horse block dates from that move and is even inscribed with the date, 1752. A few years later, Chase served in the Battle of Bennington and ran an important saw mill. His son, Stephen, made the first survey map of Chester, and his grandson, Benjamin, wrote the first book on the town.
Heady stuff for a historian nerd like me. But to my daughter?
“Daddy,” she says, hopping down off the rock, “how would you even tie a horse to this thing.”
“You didn’t, Little Bean,” I explain. “It’s a block, like a step in front of someone’s house. The carriage would ride up, and people would step down onto the block.”
“Like a stool,” she says.
“Well — ”
She’s giving me a look I’m well familiar with. It’s time to move on.
Fortunately, Chester comes to the rescue.
Just east up Route 102 in front of Chester Academy we make a pit stop at the Little Free Store. A variation of the Little Free Library idea, Chester’s Little Free Store is a small structure filled with notebooks, pens, toothpaste, soap and a whole host of other items for community use. Little Bean takes a pencil and notebook.
And then we’re off to our true destination, Wason Pond Conservation and Recreation Area. Not every New Hampshire outdoors recreation area needs to be steeped in history to be an idyllic natural draw, and the pond and nearby covered bridge certainly fit the bill.
In January 2003, the Town used conservation funds to purchase the 105 acres of land surrounding the small pond and set about creating a mixed-use recreation area. A conservation easement protects the property from development and is overseen by a Recreation Commission.
Nearly 20 years later, the area is a small testament to what can be accomplished with some long-range vision and some hard work: ball fields, a playground, trails around the pond, and the centerpiece of the area, a 2011 handmade timber covered bridge designed and built by the community with direction from the Timber Framers Guild.
Little Bean heads straight for the bridge, its soft brown colors gleaming in the afternoon sun, only a short walk of 100 feet or so from the parking lot. The structure is based on an 1850s-style covered bridge model that was popular back then, and even features a center cross-beam sign that reads “Chester, NH 2011.” Dozens of volunteers over the course of several months prepared for the bridge raising, but most of the bridge was raised over the course of one weekend.
There’s a trail that skirts the pond and there are plenty of interesting rocks and shoreline to explore. A few dragonflies are flitting about. Despite the pond and bridge’s proximity to the state road, squint just right and the area feels more off the beaten path.
“Daddy, look!”
She’s found a memorial stone, a low-to-the-ground granite slab about 10 feet from the bridge that reads, “This bridge was built in 2011 by volunteers from the town and Timber Framers Guild.”
“This is our stone,” she declares. “Isn’t it pretty?”
What’s old can be new. Tradition can exist where cars fly by on modern roads. A simple hike around a tiny pond can capture, like a memory photograph, a way that things were and are at the same time. And a little girl can crawl atop a brand-new rock, declare the granite to be special, and so it becomes.
The Jacob Chase Horse Block and Wasson Pond Covered Bridge If You Go: The Jacob Chase Horse Block is located on the grounds of Stevens Memorial Hall, home of the Chester Historical Society at 1 Chester St. The block is directly in front of the hall, right at the corner of Routes 121 and 102. Parking can be found next to the hall.
Wason Pond Conservation and Recreation Area is located at 603 Raymond Road (Route 102). From the Jacob Chase Block head east on Route 102 for about 3 miles and then turn left into the parking area for the Wason Pond Community Center. The bridge and trails lead off from there.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• Author talk and book signing: The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire hosts Francis Gary Powers Jr. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre (40 Main St. Wilton) on Thursday, June 16, at 7 p.m., for a presentation on the legacy of his father, as discussed in his 2019 book, Spy Pilot: Francis Gary Powers, the U-2 Incident, and a Controversial Cold War Legacy. According to a press release sent by the museum, the event will begin and end with short screenings of “vintage Cold War-era Civil Defense films,” followed by a one-hour presentation by Powers detailing his research into the famous failed espionage mission his father was involved in. Such failure resulted in President Dwight Eisenhower being forced to publicly admit the CIA’s years-long secret spy missions over the Soviet Union. After the presentation, Powers will host a signing of his book, which details his search for truth following his father’s death in 1977 and “how his research clarified his father’s place in a pivotal Cold War episode.” Tickets for the event cost $10 per person, general admission. The event is free for members of the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling Leah Dearborn at 669-4877, online via Eventbrite at tinyurl.com/mv8atjth, or at the door.
Studio 54 at the Currier Bust out your bell bottoms and platform heels, as the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St.in Manchester; currier.org) is hosting a Studio 54-inspired event to celebrate its current Andy Warhol Screentests exhibit on Friday, June 17, from 7 to 11 p.m. at the museum. The event will offer guests the chance to throw it back (to the era of disco) on the dance floor, lounge around and enjoy cocktails, nibble on hors d’oeuvres, take in the exhibit and even create their own screen tests in a photo booth. Dress code is dress to impress, ’70s nightclub-inspired; those who are deemed best dressed by the museum will be awarded prizes. Other prizes being offered by the museum include one ticket holder winning a year’s membership to the museum with a curated gift basket and five other ticket holders winning a year’s membership. This event is being held in collaboration with Queen City Pride as part of their annual Pride Week. Tickets to the event cost $50 per person, which includes the price of hors d’oeuvres. Attendees must be 21 or older to enter.
• Shakespeare live: Cue Zero Theatre Company presents Macbeth, running from Friday, June 17, to Sunday, June 19, at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry) with showings at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. A livestream option is also available for those who wish to view from their homes, accessible online via CZTheatre.com. Director Dan Pelletier noted his desire to reimagine the classic play from a “female-driven interpretation,” and in a press release sent by Cue Zero Theatre Company he said, “It can be argued that all of the important action of the play is motivated by the ambitions and desires of Lady Macbeth. … I’ve always had a deep fascination with the paranormal and have been dying to do a piece where the direction can embrace that. This piece provides the perfect opportunity, as we accentuate the dark arts of the witches and reimagine Lady Macbeth as a practitioner of witchcraft herself.” Tickets are available online via cztheatre.com/index.php/tickets or at the door, $15 per person, general admission. Student discounts are available (high school and college), at a rate of $22 for two tickets when you pay with cash at the door and present two valid student IDs.
• Larger-than-life portraits: 3S Artspace presents Hall of Portraits from the History of Machines, running in the gallery (319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth) from June 3 through July 31. The gallery is free to the public and is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Sue Johnson, the artist behind the work being featured, intended the exhibit to be a “re-imagination of the historical portrait gallery,” according to a press release. Featuring nine works, sizing up at 109.25 inches tall (about 9 feet!), each work depicts an “imagined” woman through a satirized perspective of domesticity. This exhibit will be the first time all nine of Johnson’s works will have been displayed alongside one another. Each work is digitally compiled by Johnson, who prints the work onto canvas, which is then “surrounded by a hand-made color field with painted textures derived from assorted brands of disposable paper towels and coffee filters, window screening, machine-made lace, embroidery fragments, window cleaning squeegees, and DIY wood graining tools.” Johnson took inspiration for the exhibit from her decades-long work with historic media and materials produced for women, in combination with studying domesticity in the 20th century, and from her own perception of her mother’s life. “In all of them [the hybrid women] I recognize my mother and myself, and the persistent ways in which the boundaries of the female domain have been and continue to be defined,” she said.
Art-filled summer A public opening reception to kick off a summer of art-packed events will be held by the Kimball Jenkins School of Art (266 N. Main St., Concord) on Friday, June 10, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event will celebrate the opening of the Carolyn Jenkins and Jill C. Wilson galleries’ Summer 2022 Master Artists exhibit with live music, light refreshments, and the opportunity to converse with some of the featured artists. The galleries will display works from local artists such as Richard Haynes, Dustin Knight, Patricia Schappler, Marcus Greene and Patrick McCay. The gallery will be the focus of the school’s arts education summer programs offered. Such events include “a seven-week mural and creative placemaking internship program for teens, and eight-week summer camp.” According to a press release sent by the school, “The youth in both programs will have the opportunity to work with and learn from the master artists in workshops and presentations throughout the summer.” The exhibition will run throughout the entirety of the summer, from June 8 through Aug. 19. More information regarding gallery hours and event specifics can be found at kimballjenkins.com.
ART
Exhibits
• “APPEAL OF THE REAL: 19TH CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD” exhibition features photographs taken throughout the Mediterranean to record the ruins of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through June 12. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org for more information.
• “NATURE AT NIGHT: PAINTINGS BY OWEN KRZYZANIAK GEARY” Two Villages Art Society (846 Main St., Contoocook). On display now through June 18. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372 for more information.
• “ARGHAVAN KHOSRAVI” Artist’s surrealist paintings explore themes of exile, freedom and empowerment; center female protagonists; and allude to human rights issues, particularly those affecting women and immigrants. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through Sept. 5. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org for more information.
THEATRE
Classes/workshops
• STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS Monthly workshop series hosted by True Tales Live storytelling showcase. First Tuesday (except November), from 7 to 8:30 p.m., virtual, via Zoom. Registration is required. Visit truetaleslivenh.org for more information.
Shows
• LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) presents the musical through June 26, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon. Tickets cost $25 to $46. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.
• A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Seven Stages Shakespeare Company performs. Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). June 10 through June 19, with showtimes Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 p.m., and an additional show on Sat., June 11, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $22 for seniors age 65 and up and students. Masks and proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test are required. Visit playersring.org or call 436-8123.
• SEUSSICAL JR. The Palace Teen Apprentice Company presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Wed., June 15, and Thurs., June 16, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 to $15. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.
• PRIVATE LIVES The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents. June 15 through June 25, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Thurs., June 16, and Tues., June 21, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $23 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• ANYTHING GOES The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents. June 16 through July 23, 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 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $52. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.
• MACBETH: A NECROMANTIC EXPERIENCE Cue Zero Theatre Co. presents. Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry). Fri., June 17, and Sat., June 18, at 7:30 p.m., and Sun., June 19, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15. Visit cztheatre.com.
• THE BALD SOPRANO Produced by the Community Players of Concord. The Hatbox Theatre (located inside the Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Fri., June 17 through Sun., June 26. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com or call 715-2315 for more information.
• FOOTLOOSE Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). June 24 through Aug. 14, with showtimes on most Thursdays and Sundays at 7 p.m., and most Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with some matinee showtimes TBA. General admission costs $5, and reserved seating tickets cost $55 to $150. Visit prescottpark.org or call 436-2848.
• MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord). Sun., June 26, with showtimes at 2 and 5:30 p.m. Tickets cost $44. Visit ccanh.com or call 225-1111.
• THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) [REVISED] The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents. June 29 through July 9, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Thurs., June 30, and Tues., July 5, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $29 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
CLASSICAL
Events
• “IMAGES OF AMERICA THROUGH MUSIC AND ART” The Strafford Wind Symphony presents. Sat., June 18, 7 p.m. Rochester Opera House (31 Wakefield St., Rochester). Visit rochesteroperahouse.com or call 335-1992.
Open calls
• THE RHYTHM OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SHOW CHORUS Women’s a cappella chorus is looking for female singers in the region to join. The group, an affiliate of the North American singing organization Harmony, Inc., performs a wide variety of music, including Broadway musical songs, patriotic songs, pop, jazz and seasonal pieces, for community and veterans’ events and private functions. Rehearsals are held weekly on Thursdays from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. at the Marion Gerrish Community Center, 39 W. Broadway, Derry. Masks are required for singing, but both vaccinated and unvaccinated singers are welcome. Visit rnhchorus.org or email info@rnhchorus.org for more information.
Fiber is an up-and-coming medium in the broader art world, according to Laura Morrison, a fiber artist and the director of Twiggs Gallery at Cornerstone Design in Boscawen. Despite the heat, the gallery has chosen wool as the fiber theme for its summer exhibit, “Wool: A Contemporary Fiber Art Exhibition.” The exhibit opened June 4 and is due to run until Sept. 2.
“When you talk about fiber art, most people who aren’t more familiar with it immediately think [of] quilts, and it’s really so much more than that,” Morrison said.
The exhibit showcases the versatility of wool as a medium for art. Where it was originally associated with flat pieces such as wall hangings, it is now starting to become widely used for sculpture and other forms.
“The artists I chose for this exhibition are working with fiber in completely different ways … from traditional tapestry to non-traditional sculpture, contemporary sculpture, mixed media, rug hooking, all sorts of different ways,” Morrison said. “I wanted to show off the breadth and depth of the fiber art world.”
In “Beyond Reach,” Emily Manning-Mingle speaks about care, reuse and resourcefulness by incorporating worn and discarded materials into her work. Photo courtesy of Twiggs gallery.
According to the gallery’s press release, techniques such as “felting, knitting, crochet, hand-dying, embroidery, beading, and sewing embellish many of the pieces,” in addition to some pieces even incorporating “repurposed garments.” Wool, for Morrison, is also a theme that encapsulates Twiggs’ involvement with the local community. In collaboration with the town of Boscawen’s Old Home Day Committee, the gallery is hosting “Flashy Flock,” which is, “a community art project celebrating Boscawen’s sheep farming roots,” the release said. The project involves 30 blank wooden sheep cut-outs, which community members can pick up to decorate and personalize. The sheep will then be displayed in front of homes and businesses on Aug. 20, in a “Flashy Flock Mob.” The gallery’s theme drew on this project and the versatility of wool.
“We thought it’d just be fun to play off of the sheep and do a wool show,” Morrison said. “The common thread is that there is wool in at least part of the piece. It doesn’t have to be the whole piece.”
Morrison also noted Twiggs Gallery’s dedication to displaying the work of local artists and creators. As is typical with the gallery, all featured artists in the exhibit are from the New England area, and a majority are from the Granite State.
In addition to the exhibit, Twiggs has several events scheduled for the summer that follow the gallery’s themes of wool, fiber and community, including a family-friendly paper flower “make and take” on Saturday, June 11, from 1 to 3 p.m., and “Arts Fest” on Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Morrison described Arts Fest as “a mini art fair,” noting that about seven local artists will have tents with their work available for purchase. Artist Lisa Almeida will also be doing a tapestry demonstration in the gallery from 1 to 3 p.m. Rug hooking and wool spinning demonstrations will also be at the fair, as well as other fiber art demonstrations occurring in the gallery throughout the summer.
For Morrison, who identifies as a fiber artist herself, wool is a unique and dynamic art material that connects with people in several ways.
“People connect with it very closely because we are so used to wearing fiber and wool, especially being an insulating fiber, it is something that keeps you warm, something that protects you,” she said. “It’s just a really interesting fiber that fiber artists tend to gravitate toward because it has such a wide range of uses.”
Morrison encouraged people to come into the gallery and experience the exhibit for themselves, “I think they’ll be very surprised by how versatile the medium is,” she said.
Wool, as a displayed art form, is also very accessible to those who enjoy experiencing the world through touch, especially children. For individuals who visit the Twiggs Gallery with the desire to have such an experience, Morrison said, “If they [the public] can touch a sculpture in here, I will have a little note saying yes, you can touch.”
Twiggs Gallery at Cornerstone Design is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com for more information.
Wool: A Contemporary Fiber Art Exhibition Where: Twiggs Gallery at Cornerstone Design, 254 King St., Boscawen Events: • “Pretty Paper Flowers” Free, Drop-in Make and Take, Saturday, June 11, from 1 to 3 p.m. • “Arts Fest: Art Fair and Summer Fun,” Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit: twiggsgallery.wordpress.com
Featured photo: “Helena” by Lisa Almeida is based on an image by Aris Messinis/AFP taken in Ukraine on the day Russia invaded. Photo courtesy of Twiggs gallery.
Summer is full of 5Ks and other opportunities to get off the treadmill and take your run outside. Find some races that fit your schedule and skill level. But first, thinking about new sneakers?
Find your sneakers
If you’re looking to lace up this summer, here are some helpful things to keep in mind before you visit your local athletic shoe store.
Fit for comfort
Foot comfort is something that John Mortimer of Millennium Running in Bedford emphasizes to his customers. Many people who decide to buy running shoes, he said, whether for casual wear or professional competitions, have the tendency to pick a size that fits and make a purchase based solely upon looks, oftentimes leading to physical injury.
“Like any athletic endeavor that you want to be successful at … the first step is often having the right equipment,” Mortimer said.
Mortimer has been a runner since he was in middle school and has owned Millennium Running for the past 10 years. Millennium produces running events throughout the Granite State such as the Cigna/Elliot Corporate 5K Road Race and the Citizens Shamrock Shuffle.
Over at Joe King’s Shoe Shop in downtown Concord, assistant manager Rachel Halverson said it’s important for running shoe buyers to understand the risks associated with simply picking a pair up off the shelf without taking the proper measurements down.
“Making sure you have the correct size is very important, especially because sizing from one style can change from each sneaker, even in the same brand,” Halverson said. “We want at least a thumb’s width in the front, because our foot does move imperceptibly back and forth in the shoe when we are very active.”
Black and blue toenails, as well as hammer toes, a condition in which the toe is abnormally bent at the middle joint, can be possible down the line if a sneaker is not fitted appropriately. For example, Halverson said that prospective runners should look to take the time to pick out their sneakers based on the length, width and other conditions and characteristics of their feet.
Easy steps
There is such a thing as a perfect sneaker, and there are several effective ways to evaluate a legitimate fit. “Fitology” is the term Mortimer uses to describe his process in properly fitting customers within his specialized store.
The first step of this process is a simple consultation which helps in seeing where a customer may be in their fitness journey. When consulting with customers, it’s also crucial in understanding what they hope to achieve when purchasing their new sneakers.
Next, Mortimer said, is the static digital analysis, which is a three-dimensional scan of the foot measuring the arch height, foot length, foot girth and determining if the customer is a runner who puts weight on heels or toes. The last step in the fitting process is a video analysis of a customer running on a treadmill to study how the feet look while in motion.
“We want our runners and walkers to be successful, [just like] if you are going to drive a racecar, you need good tires, [and] if you are going to play baseball, you need a bat and a glove,” Mortimer said.
After completing these steps, Millennium Running store associates will bring out a few sneakers in the category the customer’s foot belongs to.
Local shoe stores • Alec’s Shoes (1617 Southwood Drive, Nashua, 882-6811, alecs-shoes.com) • Fleet Feet Sports (4 Coliseum Ave., Nashua, 598-1500, fleetfeet.com) • Joe King’s Shoe Shop (45 N. Main St., Concord, 225-6012, joekings.com) • Millennium Running (138 Bedford Center Road, Bedford, 472-7867, millenniumrunning.com) • Runner’s Alley (669 Elm St., Manchester, 606-6949; 142 N. Main St., Concord, 715-5854; 104 Congress St., Portsmouth, 430-1212; runnersalley.com)
B.J. Bottomley is the owner of Fleet Feet Sports in Nashua. Bottomley takes pride in also having a 3-D fit ID machine, which shows the true characteristics of clients’ feet up close. Once measurements are taken, it becomes easy to find a shoe for those looking for one that is stable, has a snug fit, or even a trail shoe perfect for cross-country running, Bottomley said. He suggests runners of all levels use non-cotton moisture-wicking socks to help your feet breathe and avoid the onslaught of constant blisters.
Additionally, Bottomley said there is a window between 300 and 500 miles for when someone should change sneakers, depending on the mileage and terrain of their runs.
— Jack Walsh
5Ks And Other Races
Once you get those new sneakers, take them out in public at one of the many 5K runs and run/walks scheduled this summer. Know of a race not mentioned here? Let us know at news@hippopress.com. Many races have virtual participation options. Often races also charge additional fees for registration close to or on race day. See the individual event pages for details.
Millennium Running races
These races are run by Millennium Running. See millenniumrunning.com (where the following information is from). For most races, unless otherwise stated, register online by noon on the day before the event or at the race site from 90 minutes before the race to 15 minutes before the race (though some races do sell out), according to the website. Some of these races also have virtual options.
• The Windham Rail Trail Flat N Fast 5K takes place Saturday, June 11, at 8:30 a.m. on the paved rail trail starting at the Roulston Road entrance. Registration costs $25 per person, $100 for a family of up to five members, $20 for 65+. See windhamrailtrail.org.
• The Over the River and Through the Woods 5K & Fitness Walk takes place Saturday, June 11, at 9 a.m. at Northeast Delta Dental in Concord. The race is part of the Capital Area Race Series (see runcarsnh.com). Registration costs $20 per person (for in person or virtual).
• The Brewery Chase Relay will take place on Saturday, June 18, with start times from 7:30 to 11 a.m. The 26.2-mile, six-leg race will begin and end at the Backyard Brewery in Manchester and travel through Derry and Londonderry, hitting six breweries along the way. The cost in advance is $55 per person on the relay team (which can be split between two to six people). Register online through Friday, June 17, at noon or register on site on race day (if there is availability) from 6 to 7:15 a.m. for an extra fee.
• For the Veterans Count Pack & Boots 5K Road Race and 1 Mile Survival Run on Monday, July 4, in Portsmouth participants of the survival run will need to provide a pack of about 10 percent of their body weight. You can run either or both. The survival run starts at 8 a.m., the 5K run/walk at 8:30 a.m. and a kids’ fun run at 9:30 a.m. Registration for adults costs $30 for either event or $45 for both. (The kids’ fun run is free.) Register online by Friday, July 1, at noon.
• The Ribfest 5-Miler takes place on Sunday, July 17, at 9 a.m. as part of the Great American RibFest at the Anheuser-Busch complex in Merrimack. The event also features a 100-yard Stoneyfield Lil’ Piglet Race at 8:15 a.m. Races get early admission to the ribfest as part of their registration, which costs $40 for adults, $35 for 20 and under and $10 for kids age 8 and under in the Piglet race.
• The Canterbury Woodchuck Classic 5K, another in the Capital Area Race Series, takes place Saturday, July 30, at 9 a.m. at Canterbury Elementary School. Registration costs $20; $1 for a kids 2K fun run. See runcarsnh.com/canterbury-woodchuck-5k.
• The Cigna/Elliot Corporate 5K Road Race takes place in downtown Manchester on Elm Street (and surrounding streets) on Thursday, Aug. 11, at 6:20 p.m. The cost is $25 per person and you can register as an individual or as part of a corporate team.
• The 5K Race to the Ledges on Saturday, Aug. 13, at 9 a.m. features a course behind Concord Hospital that is part trail and part road, according to genesishcc.com/gl5k. Registration costs $20 (kids 6 and under are free). Participants will get “brunch to go” boxes, the website said.
• The Veterans Count Wolfeboro Pirates Cove 5K Run & Walk is on Saturday, Aug. 13, in Wolfeboro and 2021’s race featured two courses, one for more competitive runners and one for participants looking for something a little more relaxed. The race starts at 9 a.m. and registration costs $25 for 13+ and $25 for kids 12 and under.
• The Bedford Rotary Trails to Ales takes place on the cross-country ski trails at Legacy Park in Bedford on Thursday, Aug. 18, at 6 p.m. according to rotarytrails2ales.com. Runners and walkers can pick a 5K or 2K course and there will be burgers and drinks (including craft beer and wine for 21+) and cornhhole. Registration costs $30 for 21+ and $15 for ages 13 to 20 (kids 12 and under can run for free). Register online by Sunday, Aug. 7, for a discounted registration fee.
• The Loudon Lions Club will hold its Angels 5K Road Race & Fitness Walk at Merrimack Valley High School in Penacook on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 8 a.m. Registration costs $25. The race is part of the Capital Area Race Series.
• The Boot Scootin’ Boogie 5K & Brewfest will take place Saturday, Aug. 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Londonderry Athletic Field Complex (98 Sargent Road in Londonderry). Registration costs $35 for 21+ (and includes entry to the Brewfest), $25 for ages 12 to 20 and $10 for ages 11 and under.
• The NH 10-Miler, which you can run individually or as part of a two-person relay, will take place Saturday, Aug. 27, 8:30 a.m. Registration costs $40 per person.
• The Veterans Count Nashua 5K Fun Run & Walk takes place Sunday, Sept. 11, at 9 a.m. (register online by noon on Friday, Sept. 9). Registration costs $30 for ages 13 and up.
2021 Brewery Chase Relay. Photo courtesy of Millennium Running.
• The Seafood Fest 5K, part of the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival that runs Sept. 9 through Sept. 11 (see seafoodfestivalnh.com), will take place on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 9 a.m., preceded by Yoga on the Beach at 8 a.m. and a Lil’ Lobster Fun Run (100-yard kids’ run) at 8:30 a.m. Registration for adults costs $25 until Aug. 25 and includes Seafood Festival admission ($30 afterward; $35 on race day); youth (ages 12 to 20) cost $20 until Aug. 25 and kids (ages 11 and under) cost $10 until Aug. 25.
• The Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day race begins on Elm Street and ends at the Wild Rover in downtown Manchester on Sunday, Sept. 18, starting at 10:15 a.m. There are 5K and 10K options. Register online by Saturday, Sept. 17; registration for adults costs $35 for the 10K and $30 for the 5K. For kids, registration is $25 for ages 12 to 20 and $10 for 11 and under. The event is part of a larger Celtic Festival, featuring food and music. The first 500 registrants will get a free kilt.
Total Image Running races
See totalimagerunning.com for more on these races.
• The Lite Up the NiteRun/Walk for Mental Health 5K will step off at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, at McIntyre Ski Area in Manchester. For registration costs on the day and more, see mhcgm.org.
• Bring your dog to Bagels and Biscuits 5K on Sunday, June 12, at 9 a.m. in Derryfield Park in Manchester. The event supports Animal Rescue League of NH and Temple Adath Yeshurun and costs $25 for 20+ (until June 10) and $20 for 19 and under. See runsignup.com/Race/NH/Manchester/BagelsandBiscuits5K.
• The Christmas in July 5K starts at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 10, at the Stumble Inn (20 Rockingham Road in Londonderry). Enjoy a post-race party with costume contest and entertainment. Registration in advance costs $30 for adults, $25 for youth. The race benefits Catholic Charities of New Hampshire. See totalimagerunning.com/christmas5k.
• The LaBelle Winery Wine Run will take place Wednesday, Aug. 10, at 6 p.m. at the winery’s Derry location. Runners 21+ get a glass of LaBelle wine after the run. Registration in advance costs $35 for adults, $30 for youth. The race benefits the Moore Center.
• The Manchester Fire Cross-Country 5K takes place Saturday, Sept. 10, at 5 p.m. The cost is $30 until the day before the event ($20 for kids). The event is dog-friendly. See runsignup.com/Race/NH/Manchester/ManchesterFireCrossCountry5K.
• Hunger is the Pitts 5K BBQ, Bash & Bonfire will take place Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m. at Auburn Pitts (167 Rockingham Road in AUburn). The cost in advance is $30 for adults, $25 for youth. The post-race party will feature barbecue eats available for purchase.
• The Hillsboro Fire Fighters Association Five Alarm 5K will take place Sunday, Sept. 18, at 10 a.m. at Rear Grimes Field in Hillsborough. Registration for adults is $25 in advance ($30 on the day of the race); youth registration costs $20 in advance, $25 on the day.
More races
• The Amherst Lions Club will hold its 1st Annual 5K Race and Family Fun Day on Saturday, June 11, with the race starting at 10 a.m. Registration costs $25 through Thursday, June 9, online and $30 on site (until 30 minutes before the race). There will be food, entertainment and games post-race from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. See e-clubhouse.org/sites/amherstnh.
• Plaistow Old Home Day will hold a 5K run/walk on Saturday, June 18, at 9 a.m. Registration costs $20 in advance ($16 with no shirt) and $25 on the day. See running4free.com and search for Plaistow.
• Marina’s Miles, a 5K that begins at Oyster River High School in Durham, will take place Saturday, June 18, at 9 a.m. Registration costs $25 in advance or $30 in cash on race day. See marinasmiles.org.
• Go running with Dad at the Father’s Day 5K on Sunday, June 19, at 9 a.m. at the Margaritas in Dover. Registration costs $25. See goodwinch.org/events/fathers-day-5k.
• The Smuttynose Will Run for Beer 5K is slated for Sunday, June 19, at 9:30 a.m. at Smuttynose Brewing in Hampton. After the flat race, runners (who are 21+) get complimentary beers. The post-race celebration will also include food and live music. See smuttynose5k.com.
• The Downtown Gym in Laconia will hold its summer event in its Pay It Forward 5Kseries on Saturday, June 25, at 9 a.m. The run/walk will begin at The Downtown Gym (171 Fair St. in Laconia). Registration costs $25. See downtowngymlaconia.com.
• The Eddie Chambers 5K Run/Walk, in memory of Manchester student Eddie Chambers to benefit Mental Illness Awareness and Suicide Prevention, will take places Saturday, June 25, at 10 a.m. on the campus of Southern New Hampshire University. Online registration costs $25. See miasp.org/News/2022-eddie-chambers-5k-runwalk.
• The Milford Recreation Department will host the Star Spangled 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, July 2, at 9:30 a.m. starting in Keyes Park Register by June 14 for $20; same-day registration costs $25 ($10 for ages 12 and under). Kids 12 and under can also run in a 1K race for free. Strollers and dogs on leashes welcome, according to milfordnh.recdesk.com.
• The Greater Derry Track Club of Southern New Hampshire will host the Run for Freedom 5K & 10K on Monday, July 4, at 7:30 a.m. to support Liberty House in Manchester. The courses, maps of which are available at gdtc.org/run/index.php/run-for-freedom, wind through residential roads in Derry, the website said. Registration costs $30 for the 5K and $35 for the 10K.
• Hillsboro Summerfest will host a 5K Road Race on Friday, July 8, at 6:30 p.m. along the Contoocook River in Hillsborough. Registration costs $20 before June 18 (afterward, same-day registration costs $25 from 5 to 6:15 p.m.). See hillsborosummerfest.com/activity/5k-road-race.
• The Bill Luti 5 Miler, part of the Capital Area Race Series, starts Saturday, July 16, at 8 a.m. at Memorial Field (70 S. Fruit St. in Concord). There will also be kids’ fun runs starting at 9:15 a.m. Register online by Thursday, July 14, at 9 a.m. for $20; see gsrs.com/luti for information on late registration.
• Dancers Dash 5K Run/Walk is slated for Saturday, July 16, at 8 a.m. beginning and ending at Campbell High School in Litchfield. Registration costs $30; see dancersatheart5678.org/events/dancers-dash-2022.
• The Cathy Cray 5K will be Saturday, July 16, at 9 a.m. at the Congregational Church in Amherst, according to runsignup.com/Race/Info/NH/Amherst/TheCathyCray5k. Registration costs $25 and proceeds support The White Ribbon Project, a lung cancer awareness organization (see thewhiteribbonproject.org).
• The Live Free or Die 5000 is a 5K described as “suitable for runners and walkers of all skill levels” according to the registration page, which can be found at livefreeordie5000.squarespace.com. The race takes place on Saturday, July 16, at 9 a.m. in Atkinson (the registration page also features a map of the race route). Registration in advance costs $30.
• The Chester 300th Anniversary Committee is holding a Tricentennial 5K Race on Saturday, July 23, at 9 a.m. on the conservation trails at Wason Pond in Chester. Registration costs $25. The day will also feature a Fireman’s Muster. See chesternh300.org/5k.htm
• The Get Your Rear in Gear 5K run or 1.5-mile walk to raise money for colon cancer will be held Saturday, Sept. 10, at 9 a.m. at Gould Hill Farm in Contoocook. A kids’ run for 10 and under takes place at 8:45 a.m. Registration costs $28 for adults in advance and $15 for youth ages 12 and under (kids’ run runners cost $12 per person). See donate.coloncancercoalition.org/newhampshire.
• The Jack Sharkey 5K Knockout the Hills Highnote takes place Saturday, Sept. 10, at 10 a.m. at 173 Prescott Road in Epping. Registration costs $20 in advance, $25 on the day. See running4free.com/RaceDetails.aspx?raceid=457.
• The Hooksett Kiwanis Club will hold its 11th annual 5K Trail Race on Saturday, Sept. 17. Last year’s race included a kids’ fun run and goodie bags. See hooksettkiwanis.org/kiwanis-5k.
• The 6th Annual Greenfield Fire Department Road Race takes place Saturday, Sept. 17, at 9 a.m. at Oak Park in Greenfield. The event will include a 10K, a 5K, a half marathon and a race for kids; registration costs vary by event. Find information on the fire department’s Facebook page.
• Saturday, Sept. 17, is Old Home Day in Pelham. A 5K run and walk will take place at 10 a.m. See pelhamoldhomeday.org for information on Old Home Day.
• The Pant for Paws 5K to raise money for Darbster Rescue is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 18, at 10 a.m. at Rollins Park in Concord. The event is family- and pet-friendly. Registration costs $30. See darbsterfoundation.com/events/ or runsignup.com/Race/Info/NH/Chichester/PantforPaws.
Clubs, ongoing events & more
• The Millennium Happy Hour Hustle takes place many Thursdays at 6 p.m. with courses near downtown Manchester through Sept. 29. The cost is $25 per race; advance registration required. See millenniumrunning.com/happyhour.
• The Millennium Running club costs $75 for annual membership and is open to all levels of fitness, according to millenniumrunning.com. Upcoming events include the Pub Run at the Fisher Cats game on Thursday, June 23.
• The Women Run NH is an event held by the Bedford girls cross-country program that will feature workshops for all ages and abilities on Saturday, Aug. 20, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Bedford High School. Admission will be available for individuals as well as teams of all ages. See womenrunnh.org.
Recommended running spots
We asked local experts to recommend a few of their favorite spots for a run.
Goffstown Rail Trail Recommended by John Mortimer, owner of Millennium Running in Bedford Where: Goffstown Length: 7.5 miles Difficulty level: Easy Trail info: The Goffstown Rail Trail is a 7.5-mile point-to-point trail that begins in Goffstown Village and ends at the Manchester city line. The trail is suitable for walking and running, and has relatively flat terrain.
Les Clark Nature Trailhead Recommended by Gabe Ouellette of Joe King’s Shoe Shop in Concord Where: Concord Length: 1.5 miles Difficulty level: Easy Trail info: Located on Portsmouth Street near the headquarters of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, the Les Clark Nature Trailhead is a mostly flat route that’s perfect for beginner trail runners.
Piscataquog Trail Recommended by John Mortimer, owner of Millennium Running in Bedford Where: Manchester Length: 2.1 miles Difficulty level: Easy Trail info: Located on Manchester’s West Side, this 10-foot-wide paved recreational trail crosses the Piscataquog River and connects runners and walkers from the Queen City to Goffstown.
Rockingham Rail Trail Recommended by John Mortimer, owner of Millennium Running in Bedford Where: Multiple towns from Manchester points east Length: 25 miles Difficulty level: Moderate Trail info: This multi-use trail begins at Page Street in Manchester and ends at Ash Swamp Road in Newfields.
Mine Falls Park Recommended by B.J. Bottomley, owner of Fleet Feet Sports in Nashua Where: Nashua Length: 9.7 miles Difficulty level: Easy Trail info: Mine Falls Park is a roughly 300-acre park located in Nashua with 9.7 miles of trail options for runners to choose from. It’s directly beside the Nashua River and is known for the forest-like trees overlooking the park. There are sports fields, fishing spots, and trails full of wildlife. “It’s far and away the best spot in Nashua,” Bottomley said.
