The Hippo Press – Page 38

On The Job – Maggie Verrette

Spin instructor

Maggie Verrette owns her own indoor cycling business called VibeCo Cycle (458-7652 info@vibecocycle.com, vibecocycle.com) in Salem where she also works as a spin instructor.

Explain your job and what it entails.

I am the owner of VibeCo. I am also an instructor there, and I manage the entire studio, and I basically wear a bunch of different hats. I dabble in a lot of different aspects of running the business, as well as instructing and leading. I started VibeCo on my own, and it’s the only one, not a franchise.

How long have you had this job?

We opened in 2021, so we just celebrated two years.

What led you to this career field?

I was an athlete growing up, so I’ve always been super into fitness, team aspects and leading. When I graduated from college, I started instructing at a small studio, and I wanted to find a way to make it a bigger part of my life and make it my career path. When there was an opportunity to start my own business and open my own studio, I thought it was a perfect way to pursue that.

What kind of education or training did you need?

I went to Ithaca College and was a business major with a concentration in management, and I was also on the gymnastics team. I studied business for four years, and that was very helpful to what I ended up doing.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

Since it’s physical activity, I’m usually just in leggings and a sports top.

What is the most challenging thing about your work, and how do you deal with it?

I’d say one of the most challenging things is finding the perfect people to work for you, and since I’m so involved in the business and it’s so important to me as a small business owner, it can be difficult to find people who are as committed and dedicated to helping. I have been very lucky with the people that I do have, but it’s always hard to find more people to add to this team.

What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your career?

I wish I had known how much I was going to love it. I was super nervous to go for it, so if I had known that it was going to be as fun and successful as it is, then maybe I would’ve been more eager when it started.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

I wish other people knew that I put everything into it 24/7, so I am always doing work for the business and for my team and making sure people are happy all the time and that everything runs smoothly.

What was the first job you ever had?

The first real job I ever had was teaching spin classes, but I taught gymnastic classes in high school once a week.

What is the best piece of work-related advice you have ever received?

To always make sure that your customers were happy and everything else would follow through after that. —Maya Puma

Five favorites

Favorite book: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
Favorite movie: The Wolf of Wall Street
Favorite music: Hip-hop
Favorite food: Macaroni and cheese
Favorite thing about NH: Being so close to the beach and the city at the same time

Featured photo: Maggie Verrette. Courtesy photo.

Kiddie Pool 23/08/03

Family fun for the weekend

Make it a museum day

• The SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400) is open daily through Labor Day — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission costs $12 for ages 3 and up.

• Check out the new Science Playground at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827). The playground can be accessed from inside the Discovery Center through October from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is included in admission to the center, which cost $12 for adults, $9 for ages 3 to 12 and $11 for ages 13 through college and for seniors, according the the website. Planetarium shows cost an additional $6 per person. The center is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sept. 3.

• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; nhahs.org, 669-4820) is open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission costs $10 for ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 6 to 12 and ages 65 and up, and $30 for a family, according to the website.

Save the date for the museum’s PlaneFest on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day’s activities are held outdoors and are free to families, with a focus on elementary and middle school-age kids, according to a press release.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) continues its Wacky Art Wednesdays, Learning Garden Fun on Thursdays and Science Fridays with programming at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays with sessions from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission costs $12.50 ($10.50 for seniors).

And, save the date: The museum will hold its Teddy Bear Clinic from 9 to 11 a.m., with teddy bear snacks from 11 to 11:30 a.m. The event, which is sponsored by Portsmouth Regional Hospital, features a check-up for a teddy bear or other stuffie kids bring with them, and ends with the “patient” getting a certificate of wellness, according to a press release. The clinic is part of morning admission to the museum.

Also in August, the Children’s Museum will hold a Kick Off to Kindergarten on Sunday, Aug. 13, from 1 to 3 p.m. The event is free for kids entering kindergarten and their families; register by Monday, Aug. 7, according to the website. The event will include a craft, a scavenger hunt, Biscuit the Dog reading Biscuit Goes to School and more, the website said.

The Art Roundup 23/08/03

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

• Saturday of art: Goffstown Main Street’s 15th Annual Uncommon Art on the Common runs this Saturday, Aug. 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with works of more than 45 area artists and artisans displayed in booths along Main Street, according to a press release. Meet the artists — painters, illustrators, photographers, woodworkers, jewelry artisans, metal workers, authors, crafters, potters and more — and purchase their works. The day will also feature the Uncommon Bling project, when visitors can collect beads and handcrafted items from participating booths to create a necklace (the necklace is available at the Goffstown Main Street booth), the release said. A raffle will feature items donated by local artists and businesses, and a craft tent for kids will offer an activity to make, the release said. Goffstown High School will have a tent featuring work by high school students. See goffstownuncommonarts.org.

• Opening weekend: Cue Zero Theatre Company’s (cztheatre.com) Join/Empathy, a project from the Cue Zero Laboratory Series, hits the stage on Friday, Aug. 4, and Saturday, Aug. 5, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 6, at 2 p.m. at the Arts Academy of New Hampshire (19 Keewaydin Drive, No. 4, in Salem). Tickets cost $15 per person. Join explores how and why people fall into cults, according to a press release. Empathy was created by a small group of performers looking at what “empathy” means in daily life and is set in a restaurant, the release said.

And catch the first presentation of the Nashua Theatre Guild’s I Hate Shakespeare at Temple Beth Abraham (4 Raymond St. in Nashua) on Sunday, Aug. 6, at 2 p.m. (a second show is Sunday, Aug. 13, at 2 p.m.). The play, by Steph DeFerie, will include the classic stories of Hamlet, Macbeth and more with “talking cows, zombies and other characters [who] will give you a fast-paced intro to the riotous charm of the man himself,” according to an email from the Guild. Tickets to these performances (which will be held outdoors under a tent) cost $5 for adults and children 6 and older (children 5 and under get in free). Cash-only concessions will be available (no outside food or drink), the release said. See nashuatheatreguild.org.

Windham Community Bands
Enjoy some music and get some ice cream at the Windham Community Bands’ ice cream social on Thursday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m. at Searles School Chapel in Windham. Bring your own chairs and picnic blankets and enjoy ice cream at intermission, according to a press release, which listed the Windham Concert Band’s musical plans as including parts of Phantom of the Opera, the theme from Spider-Man, highlights from The Little Mermaid, music from Neil Diamond and more.

On Sunday, Aug. 27, at 1:30 p.m. the Windham Concert Band will perform at LaBelle Winery in Derry (14 Route 111, Derry). The afternoon will include free appetizers and a cash bar; tickets cost $20 per person, according to the press release. Call 425-3284 or email info@windhamcommunitybands.org.

• Show for those in the know: Catch Namaslay: A New Puppet Musical by Playdoh (Zah Kolo) and performances by The Lowliest One and Birdorgan on Tuesday, Aug. 8, at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.), according to an email from the show’s organizer. The shows take place in a private Manchester residence and are “suitable for adults and teens who are into social justice and DIY,” the email said. There is a requested donation of $15. Contact deixhrist@gmail for the address. See playdohpuppetproductions.com, thelowliestone.com and birdorgan.bandcamp.com to learn more about the acts.

• Theater kids: The Palace Youth Theatre will hold auditions for the fall 2023 semester of Palace Teen Company and the Palace Teen Apprentice Company on Wednesday, Aug. 30, at 5 p.m. (arrive 15 to 30 minutes early to fill out paperwork), according to a press release. The companies are for performers ages 12 to 18 who want a more intensive theater experience and not all who audition will be accepted, the release said. Bring a headshot and resume; prepare 16 to 32 bars of a song of your choice, and wear or bring clothes you can move in when taught a dance combination, the release said. Auditions will be held at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester). Sign up by emailing the name and age of the student to MeganQuinn@PalaceTheatre.org.

This Week 23/08/03

Big Events August 3, 2023 and beyond

Saturday, Aug. 5

The annual celebration of fine craft that is the League of NH Craftsmen Fair starts today and runs through Sunday, Aug. 13, at Mount Sunapee in Newbury. The fair is open daily, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 200 craftsmen take part in the event, many offering demonstrations of their work, according to nhcrafts.org, the League’s website, where you can purchase tickets (general admission tickets cost $18, or $28 for a two-day pass). The fair also features music daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This weekend catch Decatur Creek (playing Americana, folk and bluegrass) on Saturday and Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki (pictured) with Matt Jensen playing Celtic fiddle and guitar on Sunday, the website said. The fair features a food vendor area, special daily events and workshops and a Fair Craft Clues’ Scavenger Hunt for kids as well as a Kids Create tent, according to a press release (children under 12 get in free).

Saturday, Aug. 5

The Merrimack Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale today from 8 a.m. to noon at St. James Church (646 Daniel Webster Hwy. in Merrimack). The sale will feature perennials, houseplants, a silent auction, a kids’ table, fresh cut flowers and a free pack of wildflower seeds.

Saturday, Aug. 5

Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire will unveil a mark today at 1 p.m. at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway in Derry) to celebrate William Hobdy, a ragtime musician and the first known Black business owner in Derry, according to the organization’s newsletter. The day will include a pop-up museum and activities exploring Hobdy’s era with music, games and history, the newsletter said. The afternoon will culminate with a walk to the Derry Rail Trail to unveil the new marker at 1:45 p.m. and participants can have some ice cream, according to blackheritagetrailnh.org/derry-historic-marker-unveiling.

Saturday, Aug. 5

NH Roller Derby holds its season closer tonight, starting at 5 p.m. at JFK Coliseum (303 Beech St. in Manchester). Doors open at 4:30 p.m. The first bout is the NH All-Stars vs. Fog City. At 7 p.m. there will be an all-gender mixed scrimmage, according to nhrollerderby.com. Tickets cost $12 at the door (veterans and kids under 12 get in free).

Saturday, Aug. 5

Catch comedian Mark Scalia tonight at 8:30 p.m. at Headliner’s Comedy Club at the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Manchester. Tickets cost $20; see headlinersnh.com. Find more shows in our Comedy This Week listings on page 36.

Save the Date! Friday, Aug. 25, & Saturday, Aug. 26
The New Hampshire Irish Festival will run Friday, Aug. 25, and Saturday, Aug. 26, with shows at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester) and the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester) as well as outside, according to palacetheatre.org. Shows take place at the Palace at 7 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday and at the Rex at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 25 and 5 p.m. on Aug. 26. Tickets cost $49 (for each location and day). Seamus Kennedy, Reverie Road and The Spain Brothers are slated to play the Rex; Ronan Tynan, Screaming Orphans (pictured) and Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones are scheduled to play the Palace. The outdoor lineup: on Aug. 25 Speed the Plough at 5 p.m., Pat Kelleher at 6:15 p.m. and Marty Quirk at 7:30 p.m.; on Aug. 26 Pat Kelleher at noon, Christine Morrison’s Academy of Celtic Dance at 2 p.m., Matt and Shannon Heaton at 3:15 p.m. and Boston’s Erin Og at 4:30 p.m., according to the website.

Featured photo: Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki. Photo by Mark Meyers.

Quality of Life 23/08/03

Weird weather

The National Weather Service (NWS) has confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down in Dublin, New Hampshire, on July 27 during a Tornado Warning. In a press release, the Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management emphasized the importance of preparedness as severe weather events are becoming more prevalent. HSEM provides preparedness resources for residents and visitors, available online at readynh.gov.

QOL score: -1

Comment: This is the first tornado confirmed in the state for 2023, whereas two tornadoes occurred in 2022.

Help for families

United Ways across New Hampshire received a donation of $175,000 from Eversource Energy. The funding will support United Way’s efforts to address pressing issues faced by local families and individuals, particularly in areas related to health, education and financial stability, and will directly benefit thousands of individuals who rely on United Way’s services.

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to a press release, the contribution was part of a larger $2.6 million donation made by Eversource employees and the Eversource Foundation to United Way organizations in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Getting gold, helping kids

Acadia Gelineau, an 18-year-old Girl Scout from Nashua, has achieved the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award for her program called “Mighty Minds,” according to a press release. With a focus on helping children cope with stress and anxiety, Gelineau created a patch program that teaches students from kindergarten through 12th grade about anxiety and its effects. The program includes age-appropriate steps to develop positive coping strategies, such as breathing exercises and creating coping tool boxes filled with sensory tools like fidget toys. Gelineau’s program, along with the children’s book she wrote, will soon be available online for Girl Scouts across the country.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Gelineau said her own journey through Girl Scouts has been personally transformative, helping her overcome shyness and develop leadership and communication skills.

QOL score: 81

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 82

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 23/08/03

Bill signing

Gov. Chris Sununu signed a number of bills into law on July 28, according to a press release, including SB 215, which aims to address the national shortage of nurses by allowing fully qualified individuals to join the workforce and contribute their nursing skills across various settings; SB 268, which allows for pre-hospital treatment and transportation for supporting K9 members of law enforcement, search and rescue and military operations, ensuring that the animals receive the necessary resources for their health and safety while serving and protecting the communities; SB 161, which aims to provide clean energy benefits to low-income families who have been particularly impacted by inflation and high energy costs, to facilitate a fair and equitable energy transition for all residents; and HB 249, which establishes regulatory standards for the pet insurance industry and allows restaurant owners to keep their companion dogs on the premises. Gov. Sununu vetoed one bill, according to the release; SB 42 would have allowed interest-free loans to be provided to individuals who received benefits they were not eligible for due to manipulating the system. In response to the veto, New Hampshire Employment Security Commissioner George Copadis and Deputy Commissioner Richard Lavers expressed appreciation for the governor’s decision, stating that it is crucial to discourage such behavior and uphold honesty and integrity in the program.

Help for kids

Granite VNA is reintroducing the “Helping Heal with Others” (H2O) program, providing support for grieving children ages 6 to 18 and their families. According to a press release, the monthly program offers coping skills and peer support, aiding children in experiencing and processing grief. Led by agency staff and volunteers, the sessions incorporate age-appropriate creative activities, pet therapy and stress management techniques to encourage healing. Concurrently, the program offers supportive sessions for accompanying parents and caregivers. A drop-in information session will take place on Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Boys & Girls Club of Central NH in Concord. From Sept. 9, 2023, to June 8, 2024, H2O will run on the second Saturday of each month. The program is offered at no charge, and participants will receive lunch during each session. To register, call 224-4093, ext. 82822, or visit granitevna.org.

Consumer help

The New Hampshire Insurance Department’s Consumer Services Unit has released its statistics for Fiscal Year 2023, revealing a record-breaking recovery of approximately $6 million for New Hampshire consumers. Throughout the year, the unit processed 1,078 consumer complaint investigations, 4,086 assistance requests and 88 applications for external health review, according to a press release. The unit’s mission is centered around educating, navigating and investigating to assist residents with insurance-related issues. Consumers can contact the Consumer Services unit for assistance and guidance on insurance matters by calling 271‐2261 or by email at consumerservices@ins.nh.gov.

Dental assistants

Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) is addressing the community’s dental health concerns by partnering with the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center (HACTC) to offer scholarships for their new dental assisting program. According to a press release, the program is an online certificate program that provides hands-on work experience as dental assistant trainees with participating dental offices and aims to increase the local dental workforce and improve access to dental care. Students interested in the program can contact Aron Tomlinson at tomlinsona@hartfordschools.net or calling 802-359-4752.

Firefighter grants

The New Hampshire delegation, including Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, along with Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas, has announced more tha $700,000 in Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program funding for fire departments in rural New Hampshire towns, including Errol, New Hampton, Surry and Warren. According to a press release, the grants will be used to enhance the safety and training of firefighters and to purchase necessary equipment, such as a tanker vehicle, firefighter turnout gear, vehicle extrication equipment and firefighter breathing apparatus.

Certification

Joshua Mann, Chief of Operations, Radio Communications Maintenance for the New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Emergency Services and Communications, has achieved the Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) designation, a prestigious initiative aimed at elevating professionalism and recognizing excellence in the public safety communications industry. According to a press release, the program, established in 2016, consists of two 12-week online courses and a 10-day capstone seminar at APCO headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida, focused on equipping participants with essential skills to lead organizations in the complex and ever-changing environment of public safety agencies

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire (NOFA-NH) has announced the return of the Collaborative Regional Alliances for Farmer Training (CRAFT) of Farming for its fifth season. According to a press release, the program features on-farm workshops in summer and early fall, aimed at building farming skills and fostering community among local growers, aspiring farmers and consumers. The 2023 CRAFT season starts at Callie’s Creamery, an organic micro-dairy in Peterborough, on Thursday, Aug. 3, from 4 to 6 p.m. The workshop, focused on intensive rotational grazing and grassland management, is open to all, with free admission for farmers, farm workers and NOFA members, and a sliding scale fee of $5 to $15 for other attendees. Register at nofanh.org/craft.

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) will begin work on a bridge replacement project on Route 107 in Deerfield at Freese’s Pond on Aug. 7. According to a press release, the work will require a full closure of the section for 30 days, with detours for southbound and northbound traffic. This is part of a larger $975,000 effort to replace the bridge, which is expected to be completed by Nov. 3, 2023.

The Upper Room in Derry is providing backpacks filled with school supplies for the new academic year. According to a press release, families enrolled in Upper Room programs can register to receive backpacks in late August. The organization is seeking donations of backpacks, folders, notebooks, pencils, pens, erasers, highlighters, index cards and loose-leaf paper. Around 75 to 100 children will benefit from the annual backpack distribution day. Donations can be dropped off at The Upper Room’s front desk on Tsienneto Road until Aug. 21.

Shop Fresh — 07/27/23

In this week’s cover story, we check in with area farmers markets. In the greater Concord/Manchester/Nashua area, you can find a market most days of the week to get your fresh tomatoes or your tasty baked goods.

Also on the cover Speaking of tasty items at the farmers markets, Donut O’clock (page 25) is selling out of its treats when it goes to the Nashua market. Michael Witthaus looks at an effort to get indie bands on area stages (page 31). And Tuesday, Aug. 1, is National Night Out and several area towns and cities are holding family-fun events where the police and the community can meet and greet (and in some cases, there’s a dunk tank).

News & Notes 23/07/27

2024 governor’s race New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has decided not to seek re-election in 2024, WMUR reported. In a ...

Van chef

Local author talks about big flavors in small spaces Delve into the world of practical cooking with M. Allyson Szabo, ...

Pats camp open for business

Photo of assorted sports equipment for football, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball, and basketball

The Big Story: Amid unending talk about Bill Belichick’s job security, the Patriots got back to work on Wednesday in ...

Quality of Life 23/07/27

Plastic habit According to a study by personal-finance website WalletHub, New Hampshire ranks 4th among the states with the highest ...

This Week 23/07/27

man standing in circle of musical instruments, holding saxophone in one hand

Big Events July 27, 2023 and beyond Thursday, July 27 The New Hampshire Fisher Cats celebrate that classic Manchester food ...

Shop fresh

close up of pile of radishes on market table, receding into background out of focus, 2 out of focus people at end of table

Checking in with farmers markets By Delaney Beaudoin food@hippopress.com There are few traditions upheld in the modern day that truly ...

Erasing stigma

standing woman talking to people lined up in chairs in art gallery, small and medium sized paintings in ornate gold frames along the walls

Currier Museum of Art opens the conversation on substance use disorder with Art of Hope By Mya Blanchardmblanchard@hippopress.com In January ...

The Art Roundup 23/07/27

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • So you will listen to every word they have to ...

How to reduce your time weeding

the roots attached to stalks, lying beside the upper flowering part of a dock plant, on grass

Your plants can be your partners The recent rains have kept many gardeners from getting outdoors to weed, and weeds ...

Treasure Hunt 23/07/27

wooden cork shaped piece beside dowel with handle at one end, metal piece at the other

Dear Donna, Found something I can’t figure out. Any clues on what this tool could be? Thanks for any input ...

Kiddie Pool 23/07/27

Family fun for the weekend Art! • The Vernon Family Farm (301 Piscassic Road in Newfields, vernonfamilyfarm.com) will hold a ...

National Night Out

National Night Out, the annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnership (according to natw.org), takes place Tuesday, Aug. 1, this ...

On The Job – Michelle McCartney

selfie of woman with long hair and large eyes, smiling

Social media manager Michelle McCartney of Concord does freelance social media management for a variety of clients as well as ...

The Weekly Dish 23/07/27

News from the local food scene • New England Hot Sauce Fest: Enjoy hot sauce samples, beer, music, food trucks ...

A casual alternative

restaurant outdoor patio with wooden bar under awning, tables under large umbrellas, enclosed by fence, trees beyond

The Patio at the Mile Away now open in Milford A Milford institution for more than 50 years, the Mile ...

It’s Donut O’clock

Doughnut makers find their crowd in Nashua By Mya Blanchardmblanchard@hippopress.com Their first time at the Nashua farmers market, Donut O’clock ...

In the kitchen with Sherrie Paltrineri

Originally from East Aurora, New York, outside Buffalo, Sherrie Paltrineri went to school at Babson College in Massachusetts. Paltrineri always ...

Creamy Cucumber and Pea Salad

small, round dish containing cut up cucumber with peas, covered in creamy sauce

We have reached the end of July, which is one of my favorite times of summer because of the local ...

Album Reviews 23/07/27

EbE404, Dark Ice Days (Give/Take Records) It’s not that I’ve been avoiding the goth/industrial promo albums that have been coming ...

The Last Ranger, by Peter Heller

The Last Ranger, by Peter Heller (Knopf, 304 pages) Yellowstone National Park is having a moment. An hour, really. The ...

Barbie (PG-13)

The blond, permanently tip-toed Stereotypical Barbie visits the decidedly un-pink human Real World of Los Angeles in Barbie, another win ...

The Music Roundup 23/07/27

Local music news & events • Vocal versatility: A free al fresco performance from Sharon Jones will include selections ranging ...

With a little help

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Bands, booking and community building For many musicians, having space in life to create and stages to play on is ...

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In the kitchen with Sherrie Paltrineri

Originally from East Aurora, New York, outside Buffalo, Sherrie Paltrineri went to school at Babson College in Massachusetts. Paltrineri always loved to cook and bake, and leaned into these hobbies while she was out of work due to the pandemic, selling homemade cocoa bombs at craft fairs. With her business, Sweet and Sassy, Paltrineri now makes and sells a variety of s’mores and marshmallow flavors and is a vendor at farmers markets in various towns such as Bedford and Greenfield.

What is your must-have kitchen item?

I am a collector of kitchen gadgets, much to my husband’s chagrin, but I think my one item I would be lost without is my deep fryer. Being from Buffalo, I am a wing snob. I know it’s completely unhealthy, but there are just some items that can’t be baked.

What would you have for your last meal?

A true Buffalo fish fry. For some reason, those Buffalonians know their way around a fryer. There was a restaurant in our town that was run by a German couple and they had the best fish fry around. We would order it with real German potato salad, french fries with malt vinegar on the side and pitchers of Iroquois Dark beer. That would be my ideal last meal.

What is your favorite local eatery?

I really like to stay home and cook, but when my husband and I have a date night we head to the Dublin Tap Room in Jaffrey. It’s right down the street from us, and they have Monday night wing specials. Their Buffalo wings are good … but the garlic Parmesan is to die for. They also do burger specials on Wednesdays, and prime rib dinners on some Friday nights. They have a huge tap menu and in the summer you can sit outside on the patio that overlooks the Shattuck golf course.

Name a celebrity you would like to see eating in your restaurant?

Two come to mind. Rob Lowe would be one, not that I would have anything to offer him [because] I don’t think he is a sweets kind of guy, but I have had a crush on him since the ’80s and I would love to meet him in person. The other celebrity would be Judge Judy. This would be someone I could sit down and really talk to while she indulged in some desserts. I just love her no-nonsense approach to life.

What is your favorite thing on your menu?

It’s hard to say, as I feel like every time I make a new treat, I think “this is my favorite,” but push come to shove, our Almond Joy s’mores bar is probably my go-to treat.

What is the biggest food trend in New Hampshire right now?

Limited-time-only offers have been around for a long time, but we are seeing more of [it to] make people think they will miss it if they wait another day. … I am also fascinated by Crumbl’s menu strategy of releasing only six cookies each week. You don’t know what they will be until Sunday night, they are only available that week and you never know when, or if, they will be back.

What is your favorite thing to cook at home?

My favorite thing to cook would be any meal where my whole family can be together. It could be sandwiches or a full Thanksgiving meal, but just cooking to bring us all together at the same table would make me happy.

–Mya Blanchard

Key Lime Marshmallows
From the kitchen of Sweet and Sassy

½ cup Key lime juice
3 packages unflavored gelatin
2 cups sugar
½ cup water
½ cup corn syrup
½ teaspoon salt
green food color (optional)

In a standing mixer mixing bowl, pour lime juice and sprinkle the 3 packages of unflavored gelatin on top.
In a heavy sauce pan, add sugar, water, corn syrup and salt, stir, and bring to a boil.
Let sugar mixture boil until a candy thermometer reads 240°.
Once sugar mixture reaches 240°, mix the gelatin bloom and then begin to slowly pour the hot sugar mixture into it while whipping it on low.
Turn mixer to high and continue whipping for 7 to 8 minutes, or until mixture triples in size and begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Add a few drops of food color.
Immediately pour mixture into a well greased 9×13” pan. For thicker marshmallows, use an 8×8” pan.
Let set for 4 hours minimum, or overnight.

Featured photo: Sherrie Paltrineri. Courtesy photo.

It’s Donut O’clock

Doughnut makers find their crowd in Nashua

By Mya Blanchard
mblanchard@hippopress.com

Their first time at the Nashua farmers market, Donut O’clock sold out in just 40 minutes.

“I don’t know how that happened because it was our very first day in Nashua,” said Anna Khachatryan, who owns the business with her husband. “We had this rush of people [and] everything was gone by 10:40 a.m. It was just the best experience.”

Donut O’clock, which operates out of a commercial kitchen in Derry, attends the Nashua farmers market at 6 Hartshorn Ave. every other week, returning on Aug. 6.

According to Khachatryan, what has now become Donut O’clock started not as a business venture but as an experiment.

“We were trying doughnut places here and there and … every time we would try a new place, one of the components wouldn’t be satisfactory,” she said. “We really couldn’t find the ideal doughnut.”

Being a pastry chef, her husband Davit Hovhannisyan decided to create the ideal doughnut himself. He started developing the recipe during the beginning of 2022. After months of research and experimentation, he finally perfected the recipe for the brioche-style dough.

“It takes a lot of time to ferment and he would use a special technique so at the end the doughnuts would come out really, really fluffy,” said Khachatryan. “Then he would experiment with the glazes and the flavors. His goal was to develop a dessert that is not too high in calories, but at the same time is really elevated. … It was a journey.”

The two began bringing the doughnuts along to gatherings for friends, who declared the doughnuts the best they had ever tasted.

“Instead of taking it just as a compliment, he thought that maybe it [was] worth turning it into a full production,” Khachatryan said.

By September 2022, Donut O’clock was officially in business. With 15 varieties on their website menu, like maple apricot, apple caramel, mango and strawberry cheesecake and tiramisu, each doughnut is hand-rolled, according to Khachatryan. The creams are made from scratch every day with quality ingredients; they craft their own purees, jellies and glazes from fresh fruit.

“It is a labor of love. It is really, really demanding,” Khachatryan said. “The techniques are really artisan. They’re handmade, whereas if you go to a typical doughnut shop you will have machinery involved.”

Originally from Armenia, Khachatryan and Hovhannisyan moved to Boston and then to New Hampshire about five years ago. Both with musical backgrounds, Hovhannisyan being a classical pianist and Khachatryan being the director Virtuoso Kids Music Academy in Nashua, they wanted to incorporate musicality and artistry into their doughnuts.

“He’s so close to art and so close to the kitchen, so he just tried to make artistic doughnuts,” Khachatryan said. “It’s just like music and art; there’s a lot of components like different textures and different flavors.”

Khachatryan has noticed more and more local businesses bringing handmade products to the market, which is something she is glad to be a part of.

“The markets have been great so far. We just love people’s feedback, it’s been overwhelmingly [positive],” she said. “We are adjusting the numbers and bringing more and more but since they are handmade there’s a production capacity; we can’t just make a thousand. Not yet.”

Donut O’clock
Where: Find Donut O’clock at the Nashua farmers market in the Nashua Public Library parking lot, 6 Hartshorn Ave.
When: Sundays, Aug. 6, Aug. 20, Sept. 3, Sept. 17, Oct. 1, Oct. 15, Oct. 29, Nov. 12 and Nov. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Visit: donutoclock.net

Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Donut O’clock.

The Weekly Dish 23/07/27

News from the local food scene

• New England Hot Sauce Fest: Enjoy hot sauce samples, beer, music, food trucks and more at the second annual New England Hot Sauce Fest on Saturday, July 29, at the field behind Smuttynose Brewery in Hampton (105 Towle Road). Visit newenglandhotsaucefest.com. See the story in last week’s Hippo; go to hippopress.com to find the e-edition (the story is on page 24).

• Exotic summer Dinner with Chef Emshika Alberini: The Westbrook Inn in Derry (49 S Main St., Derry) hosts an Exotic Summer Dinner prepared by award-winning chef Emshika Alberini on Monday, July 31, at 6 p.m. On the menu is moo namtok, a pork salad with herbs and red onions, rangoon dip with crispy wontons, massamun short ribs and Thai ice cream with pandan panna cotta for dessert. Tickets are $75 plus taxes and processing fees and can be purchased via Eventbrite.

• Sky Meadow’s Blues BBQ: Sky Meadow Country Club (6 Mountain Laurels Drive, Nashua) hosts a public barbecue event at the pool on Sunday, July 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. Visit skymeadow.com to register.

• Charcuterie board workshop: Get your tickets for the charcuterie board workshop at Vine Thirty Two wine and graze bar in Bedford (25 S. River Road) on Monday, July 31, from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. Theresa from 603 Charcuterie, a Manchester-based company, will walk you through the process while you cut, arrange and sample local cheeses and salami. Included is $15 worth of wine, cheese and salami samplings during the class and a locally made wooden serving board to keep, Tickets can be purchased at 603charcuterie.com.

• A Grand Tasting of Sparkling Wines: WineNot Boutique in Nashua (25 Main St.) hosts A Grand Tasting of Sparkling Wines on Thursday, Aug. 3, from 4 to 7:45 p.m. Relax and enjoy 15 sparkling wines served along with gourmet cheeses, fruit and an appetizer. Four special guests will also be featured. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased via Eventbrite.

• Bourbon, Wine & Nine: Don’t miss Bourbon, Wine & Nine at Stonebridge Country Club (161 Gorham Pond Road, Goffstown) on Friday, Aug. 4. Sample wines, bourbons and food from Drumlins Restaurant. Live music will also be featured, as well as a nine-hole scramble tournament and a putting contest. There will also be chances to raise funds for The Liberty House Charity for Veterans and win prizes. Golf registration starts at 2 p.m. and tee-off is at 3 p.m. The tasting tent opens at 5 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $60 and can be purchased via Eventbrite.

Author: The Hippo Press

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