Dartmouth Health said in a statement on Feb. 24 that a local doctor has received threats of violence and false accusations of racism due to a misidentification of a man in a video clip that went viral on TikTok. In the video, a man uses a racial slur against a woman of color, the statement said. Andrew R. Spector, a Dartmouth Health clinician, was falsely accused of being the man in the video, the statement said. Spector “is being erroneously connected with a video on the TikTok platform involving hateful conduct by an individual who may have the same or a similar name. Dr. Spector is not the individual in the video, nor does he or his family have any connection to the person being filmed whatsoever,” according to Spector’s Dartmouth profile page. “Dartmouth Health stands united in defending Spector’s reputation and shedding light on the very real dangers of spreading misinformation, and we express our concern for the woman and any trauma she may have experienced as a result of the incident,” according to the Feb. 24 statement.
“My family and I are receiving threatening messages as a result of me being falsely identified as the man in the video. While I can appreciate that people rallied to support the woman who was targeted with vile, deeply hateful words and actions, the repercussions of spreading false accusations have been devastating to deal with, both personally and professionally,” Spector said in the statement.
“Dartmouth Health calls upon social media platforms, such as TikTok, and users alike to exercise greater responsibility in curbing the spread of misinformation,” the statement said.
Moose Plate grants
The New Hampshire. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources has opened the grant round for projects that “support the restoration, preservation and/or conservation of publicly owned items significant to New Hampshire’s cultural heritage,” according to a press release. The Department’s State Council on the Arts, Division of Historical Resources and State Library oversee three Moose Plate grant programs, which applicants can apply to (only one program in a given year) in a process that starts with a letter of intent that includes a brief description of the project and confirmation that the resource is publicly owned, the release said. Letters must be submitted by May 3. See dncr.nh.gov/about-us/moose-plate-program. For more on the Moose Plate program, including how to purchase a Moose Plate (the New Hampshire license plate featuring a moose), see mooseplate.com.
Invasive plants
The Milford Garden Club will have a program on “Understanding Invasive Plants” with Donna Lussier, UNH Cooperative Extension Master Gardener, on Monday, March 11, at 10:30 a.m. at First Congregational Church Parish House (10 Union St. in Milford). Learn about what differentiates an invasive species from a native species and the concerns surrounding these plants as well as practical control strategies, according to a press release. See milfordnhgardenclub.org.
Butterfly data
New Hampshire Audubon is partnering with New Hampshire Fish and Game to collect data on butterflies in the Concord region and beyond and they are hosting a six-part series of webinars offering butterfly ID trainings in March and April, according to the NH Audubon newsletter. The sessions are Wednesdays, March 6, through April 10, at 6:30 p.m. and will feature butterfly experts from across the state, the newsletter said. Learn about future field days in New Hampshire, including the July Butterfly Count, when your identification knowledge and results will help collect data about the overall population, according to nhaudubon.org, where you can register for the sessions.
Attn: poets
The John Hay Poetry Writing Contest, founded by poet Dianalee Velie of Newbury, is accepting unpublished poems on the theme “The Beauty of New Hampshire,” according to a press release from the Center for the Arts. Send two copies of one original poem (with one copy including the name, address, telephone number and email address and the other copy including no identifying information) to Dianalee Velie, PO Box 290, Newbury, NH, 03255, by Thursday, March 14. There will be prizes awarded for first, second and third place in the adult category and one prize each for high school, middle school and elementary school, the release said. Winners will be invited to read their poems at a Center for the Arts First Friday event celebrating poetry on Friday, April 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Newbury Library, the release said. See centerfortheartsnh.org/family-fest.
PILLAR Gallery & Projects in Concord is currently showcasing its third exhibition, “Excavations,” through March 22. The show “presents themes of geological time and forms…. Artists include Jonathan Mess, Julie Hamel, Shino Takeda, Debra Claffey, Cody Tamaian, Anne Kinne, Victoria Elbroch and Al Jaeger,” according to a press release. The gallery is open Sunday, Tuesdays and Fridays 3 to 7 p.m.; see pillargalleryprojects.com.
Robot Dreams, the hard-to-find nominee for Best Animated Feature at this year’s Academy Awards, will get a rare pre-Oscar screening on Wednesday, March 6, at 6:45 p.m. at Red River Theatres in Concord. According to IMDb, the movie is slated for theatrical release in May. See redrivertheatres.org.
Musician, educator and cartoonist Marek Bennett, will present “Rally Round the Flag: The American Civil War Through Folksong” on Thursday, Feb. 29, at 7 p.m. at the Pembroke Public Library (313 Pembroke St.), according to a press release. He will also conduct an all-ages Comics Workshop at 5 p.m.; his works include the graphic novel series The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby, the release said. The event is free and open to the public.
The New Hampshire Boat Museum in Wolfeboro will host a NH Marine Patrol Boat Certificate Class on Saturday, March 9, and Sunday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., for ages 16 and older and covering topics including boat navigation, boat safety equipment, invasive aquatic species and laws and rules, according to a press release, which also said anyone on New Hampshire waters age 16 or older operating a motorboat with more than 25 horsepower must have a valid boating education certificate. The cost is $40. See nhbm.org/boatcertificate.
Stockbridge Theatre in Derry will present 360 ALLSTARS, an Australian “urban circus complete with dancing, beat boxing, acrobatics, BMX biking and more,” on Sunday, March 10, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $30 to $35; see stockbridgetheatre.showare.com.
Life keeps handing Anne Marie Scheffler one-woman shows. In her early 30s she did Not Getting It, a sendup of the dating scene. With marriage and kids came Suddenly Mommy! Scheffler’s recent divorce produced MILF Life Crisis, which arrives at Bank of NH Stage in Concord on Feb. 24.
In the new show, Scheffler and several of her alter egos explore re-entering a social fray made even more baffling by dating apps and age. Ultimately, though, it’s a celebration of the new freedom her new life offers. Flipping the acronym to (M)others are (I)ncredible, (L)ovely and (F)antastic, a derogatory fetish term is recast as a way to see female 40-something singlehood through a hopeful lens.
“We’re gonna make it fun and sexy, we’re gonna put on our leopard print,” Scheffler said in a recent phone interview. “You guys, just don’t worry about yourself, because we’ve got it covered.” It’s a powerful response to the idea that ending a marriage at a certain age is a death sentence.
“It could be the end of the world, but what if we decide it’s not?” Scheffler continued. “What if we decide we’re like George Clooney, and we only get better with age? This is the best time to be single because your kids are out … when you’re dating and you don’t have some part of your brain that’s like, ‘must procreate, must procreate’ — that’s really freeing.”
She’s egged on by fictional friend Kendra, whose airy attitude toward relationships aligns with Sam Malone from the ’80s sitcom Cheers; “let’s just go to bed, we don’t need a relationship” is her credo. Other characters in her journey from marriage to divorce to dating are friends offering sympathy and encouragement. Even her ex-husband appears, with his identity shrouded — apparently, he knew what marrying a comedian might portend.
“In our divorce agreement,” Scheffler said, “it’s literally in the legal document that I’m not allowed to use his real name.”
While MILF Life Crisis isn’t a show that Scheffler wanted or expected to make, she has a natural talent for mining laughs from her adversity.
“We can either be oppressed and sad, or laugh at it, shine the light in the dark corners and point out the silliness,” she said. “One of my strengths is I don’t put other people down; my comedy is very self-reflective, making fun of myself. What am I doing in my life that’s ridiculous? There’s a strength to making fun of what you’re supposed to take seriously.”
Scheffler always knew she would be a performer, but originally had her sights on being a serious actress. However, fate intervened.
“I went to theater school thinking I was going to be the next Meryl Streep, thinking, ‘I cry all the time, I’m sure I’ll be dramatic,’” she said. “I ended up being told, or it was very clear to the world, that I was good at comedy.”
She trained and toured with Second City and studied at the now-defunct Theater Resource Center. She also learned the mask-based style of clown technique created by Richard Pochinko, and studied with Phillippe Gaulier, who also taught Sacha Baron Cohen; Gaulier told her she was bound for great things.
“I thought that was probably a good sign,” Scheffler said. “With Second City, improv, the ability to write my own material and the Pochinko clowning, life is the best when I’m laughing.”
It’s led to a steady stream of success, despite the curveballs.
“I thought Suddenly Mommy! was going to be the thing that got me my TV series and put me on the map, but sadly, I got divorced; then my manager was like, everybody wants to know what your next show is,” she said, adding that she has a follow-up in the works called MILF & Cookies. “Who knew that I was going to be the poster child for divorce? I didn’t want that particularly… you wake up in your early 40s and you’re like, ‘I’m supposed to be married forever; now I have to start dating again?’”
MILF Life Crisis When: Saturday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m. Where: Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord Tickets: $43.75 at ccanh.com
Featured photo: Anne Marie Scheffler. Courtesy photo.
A paramedic briefly dies, which somehow kickstarts her ability to see into the future, in Madame Web, one of those Sony Marvel joints.
As you may have heard, Constance Webb (Kerry Bishé) was researching spiders in the Amazon in 1973 when she gave birth to a daughter and then immediately died.
Years later (2003), Cassie Webb (Dakota Johnson) is an EMT in Queens. She is a loner who doesn’t know how to deal with people in general and maybe men and children specifically. When her EMT partner Ben (Adam Scott) tells her he’s met someone, there’s maybe an undercurrent that there was something between them once? Between Ben, excuse me, BEN and Cassie? What’s BEN’s new girlfriend’s name? We don’t learn that, nor do we learn the name of BEN’s brother (Richard) and sister-in-law’s (Mary) soon-to-be-born child, one who would make BEN an UNCLE who lives in QUEENS. The movie nudge-nudge-wink-winks at this whole storyline so hard and says BEN so many times you think the Spidey of it all is going to matter but it doesn’t.
Anyway, it is BEN who pulls Cassie from the water when she accidentally falls into the river while making a rescue. He resuscitates her and strongly suggests she see a doctor but she doesn’t take this suggestion until after she experiences some very strong premonitions. Premonitions that include seeing a friend killed in a car crash moments before it happens for real.
There’s nothing medically wrong with her — maybe it’s a combination of a response to the trauma of dying and the grief over her friend? She boards the train to head to his funeral and finds herself in a train car with Julia Cornwall (Sydney Sweeney), Anya Corazon (Isabela Merced) and Mattie Franklin (Celeste O’Connor), three teen girls who don’t know each other and just randomly happen to be on that train.
To Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim), these three girls aren’t just random passengers but members of the superpower-having trio that will one day murder him. You see, he was also “in the Amazon with my mom” and secretly a bad guy looking for the same spider with powerful healing properties that Constance was. Yada yada (the movie glosses over the how and why here) and now he has super strength and can walk on walls, not unlike Las Arañas, a Peruvian-Amazon-based group of vigilantes who found and attempted to save Constance after Ezekiel shot her and helped bring baby Cassie into the world.
Anyway, Ezekiel shows up at the train, ready to kill the teens before they can become superpowered women. But Cassie sees his attack from a few angles before it happens, enough that she is able to get the girls off the train. They understandably have questions: who is this crazy lady, why is she dragging them off the train, who is that guy in a head-to-toe latex suit, and why can he crawl upside down along the ceiling?
Cassie also has questions, like why she can see the future and why she is suddenly the one to help these girls. Maybe it has to do with learning to take this RESPONSIBILITY, which could give her access to a GREAT POWER she’s had all along.
Madame Web isn’t a terrible concept on its face. I don’t have any background with this character but who she is and who she becomes by the end of the movie is fine story material to work with — even if she feels like a variant on other Marvel and DC characters. But the movie is goopy, goopy like children’s play slime, goopyness that has somehow been taped together into the shape of a movie, and is just not good — not smart, not fun, not even “ha that’s something” the way parts of the Venom movies can be. I recently attempted making a dessert that was clearly going sideways about halfway through the baking process. “I don’t know, maybe more sugar here? Maybe some jam there?” The result wasn’t inedible but it was definitely not what I intended. And thus with Madame Web, a movie that needed different ingredients (or ingredients in different amounts) and a different method.
Dakota Johnson is OK — not great but nearly adequate and I think with better dialogue she could have bumped it up to good. Johnson’s style of emotionally closed off roboticism kind of works with who her character is. The three teen girls are also fine, though the movie could have used more of them and I think would have been better if it had let their characters develop beyond the basics of their exposition and let their relationship with each other develop as well.
Rahim as Ezekiel didn’t work for me at all — he is a flat, uninteresting villain whose whole persona and motivation feels extremely underwritten.
Unlike the “there are things here to work with” story and characters, the visual effects and overall look of this movie are quite bad. There is not an action scene, a chase or a fight that doesn’t look cheap and unfinished, like we’re seeing the storyboard sketch of what should be happening instead of a finished product. I found myself wondering how this movie would be different if it had kept its effects practical instead of computer-generated and confined itself to Queens-ish locales.
Madame Web does give the appearance of being a self-contained thing — there is no post-credits sequence here, even though all of us in the theater stayed waiting for one. But I wish the movie had really gone for broke with how it told its story and not left ends flapping like it was hoping for a sequel. C-
Rated PG-13 for violence/action and language, according to the MPA on filmratings.com. Directed by S.J. Clarkson with a screenplay by Matt Sazama & Burk Sharpless and Claire Parker & S.J. Clarkson, Madame Web is an hour and 57 minutes long and distributed in theaters by Columbia Pictures.
The Zone of Interest (PG-13)
A husband, a wife and their five children enjoy an idyllic-seeming life in a house with a large garden, situated by a scenic forest and also jammed up next to the horrors of Auschwitz, in The Zone of Interest, a fascinating movie rightly nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.
We first see Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), Nazi SS officer and Auschwitz concentration camp commandant, and his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller, turning in one of two great Best Picture performances for this year — the other is in Anatomy of a Fall, for which she also has an acting nod) and their kids swimming in a river and generally enjoying the outdoors. They return to their house and we see Höss checking doors and turning off lights as his family goes to bed, but the walls in the garden on the side of his house have barbed wire on top and behind them we can hear gunshots, screams and barking dogs.
This hellishness is all around them all the time, literally in the air that they breathe, as we constantly see smoke from crematoriums filling the sky. When Höss arrives home, he takes his boots off outside and one of the prisoners working at his house washes them, letting us briefly see the blood running off them. Neither Höss nor Hedwig seems blind to the vast human misery or compartmentalizing it away from their daily thoughts. (Being more efficient with murder is literally Höss’ job.) They are perfectly fine with what’s happening — proud of themselves, even, for building such a life.
Hedwig seems pretty happy to swan around this house with a pool and a well-tended garden, full of what she seems to think of as domestic help — if not people held captive at the camps then people from the countryside who seem to have little say in their presence there or what they do. Hedwig knows full well about the constant murder surrounding her and seems mostly just delighted with its perks. She happily receives a bag of silky lingerie that she and the women who work in her house pick through as well as an elegant fur coat brought just for her, complete with its rightful owner’s lipstick still in a pocket. She brags about being called the queen of Auschwitz, and when her mother comes to visit they have an indifferent chat about a Jewish woman her mother once knew who might be held there. The mother had tried but failed to buy the woman’s curtains when they were auctioned off after her family was deported; losing the curtains clearly troubles her more than what might have happened to the woman. Meanwhile, Hedwig’s oldest son plays with teeth and gold fillings as casually as his younger brother plays with toy soldiers.
It’s not particularly original to say that the monstrousness of everything we see is underlined by how banal the day-to-day lives of these family members are — Höss’ meetings with other SS officers, the department politics that have him sent to another camp for a while, the marital politics that have Hedwig demanding to stay at Auschwitz so their children can continue having this “good life.” The skill of the movie is that it never lets us forget what we’re experiencing — nearly every scene has smoke, distant screams, gunshots, prisoners, ashes — but it doesn’t need to dramatize it in some big way. The bare facts and tiny details of what’s happening are horrible enough without any embellishment and the Höss family’s “shrug, but of course” attitude really drives home how easily they don’t just accept but embrace every atrocious thing happening around them.
There is one moment when the movie pulls back and suggests that Rudolf Höss is fully aware of how enormous the evil he is a part of is. But that stretch, rather brilliantly, sets itself against matter-of-fact domestic work — women in the present day at the Auschwitz museum diligently clean the glass behind which sit massive piles of shoes and luggage representing the million-plus people murdered there. The scene feels as much like a warning for how easily such a horror can be put behind glass as it is an indictment of the people who committed these crimes.
The Zone of Interest isn’t fun movie times, obviously, but it isn’t homework either. It’s a fascinating character study that smartly sets the ordinary against the horrific. A
Rated PG-13 for thematic material, some suggestive material and smoking, according to the MPA at filmratings.com. Directed by Jonathan Glazer with a screenplay by Glazer (based loosely on the book by Martin Amis),The Zone of Interest is an hour and 45 minutes long and distributed in theaters by A24. It is slated to be released on VOD on Feb. 20.
Girls learn sales and leadership skills while selling Samoas and Thin Mints
Girl Scout cookie season is underway, combining tasty treats with the opportunity to support local youth initiatives. Ginger Kozlowski, communications and public relations manager for Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, and Sheila Morris, a troop leader in Concord, talked about this year’s sales, including how to buy cookies, the impact of New Hampshire’s Cookie Weekend, troop goals and ways to support without buying cookies.
What are the different ways people can purchase Girl Scout cookies across New Hampshire this season?
Kozlowski: It’s great to interact with a Girl Scout at her cookie booth. You will help her see that people support Girl Scouts and she will be happy to tell you all about the cookies and her goals. Booths are all over the place, but only until March 17. You can find a cookie booth near you by visiting girlscoutcookies.com and entering your zip code.
Tell us about the governor’s proclamation of Cookie Weekend and how you anticipate that impacting cookie sales.
Kozlowski: We are happy that Gov. Sununu proclaimed Feb. 16 through Feb. 18 Girl Scout Cookie Weekend in New Hampshire. We hope it will help us celebrate by supporting the Girl Scout Cookie program, which funds so much of our activities. Did you know that all the proceeds stay local?
Morris: Our troop has set a goal to sell 7,000 boxes of cookies so we can take one last big trip in 2025.
What are some of the goals or activities that local Girl Scouts are aiming to fund with the proceeds from this year’s cookie sales?
Kozlowski: Many Girl Scouts put their cookie proceeds toward summer camp, membership, community action projects, and fund cool experiences. On Facebook, Girl Scouts have posted goals like going to Space Camp and helping a women’s shelter food pantry. Many are looking forward to field trips.
Morris: We are known as the ‘travel troop.’ Our main focus has been travel and community service. We’re looking forward to kayaking and hiking in August in the Lakes Region and taking one last big trip in 2025. These trips have been amazing. They have given girls new adventures and bonding. Some of these girls might never travel without this troop. To see a girl overcome her anxiety to do something is priceless. To see them enjoy new experiences is delightful. The trips have also given them travel skills in budgeting, exploring places to go, getting around and safety. We also have tried to do a service project on our trips when it is possible. For example, we spent a day at a local school doing crafts and teaching them games and songs when we went to St. Lucia last spring. This is such a rewarding experience.
Can you explain the ‘Unbox the Future’ theme and how cookie sales help Girl Scouts achieve this vision?
Kozlowski: Unbox the Future simply refers to how you support the growth and future of girls by buying Girl Scout cookies. Girl Scouting is all about giving girls the opportunity to explore the world and follow their dreams in a supportive environment. Our mission is to create young women of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.
Morris: And I see that in all my Girl Scouts. I have seen them come out of their shell and become a confident leader. I have seen them mentor younger girls. I have seen them learn to discuss and decide as a group, while being respectful of different opinions. It’s amazing to see them tackle community issues or plan an overseas trip.
What are some key skills that Girl Scouts are learning through cookie sales?
Kozlowski: Oh, that’s easy. Girl Scouts is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world, so we have five specific skills we find essential to leadership, success and life in general: goal-setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics.
Morris: I have seen these girls flourish in all aspects when dealing with the public at booths and become more confident as the years have gone by. I have personally seen my Girl Scouts grow in all these areas. And isn’t that what every parent wants for their child?
For those looking to support local Girl Scouts but who may not want cookies themselves, what options do they have for contributing to the troops?
Kozlowski: The Council’s Gift of Caring program is perfect for this. Every Girl Scout has the ability to take donations at their cookie booth to put toward this program, which provides cookies to the military and hometown heroes. And if you don’t run across a cookie booth by March 17 when sales end, you can still donate at the council’s website at girlscoutsgwm.org.
Morris: If you do that at our cookie booth, you will also directly help our Girl Scouts.
Cookies! Here are this year’s cookie flavors, according to girlscoutsgwm.org. Cookies cost $6 per box.
Adventurefuls — “brownie-inspired cookies topped with caramel flavored creme” Do-Si-Dos — “oatmeal sandwich cookies with a peanut butter filling” Girl Scout S’mores — “graham sandwich cookies with chocolatey and marshmallowy flavored filling” Lemon-Ups — “crispy lemon cookies” Samoas — “crisp cookies with caramel, coconut and chocolatey stripes” Tagalongs — “crispy cookies layered with peanut butter and covered with a chocolatey coating” Thin Mints — “chocolatey cookies made with natural oils of peppermint” Toffee-Tastic — gluten-free buttery cookies with toffee bits Trefoils — “shortbread cookies”
Among the most well-regarded of Gustav Mahler’s nine symphonies is his second. Commonly called the Resurrection Symphony, it’s a daunting work. For Mark Latham, conductor and musical director of The Phil — the New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra — scale is a big reason he’s drawn to it.
“It’s not very often done because it’s just so large and it’s a challenge to get all the forces in place,” Latham said by phone recently. “But I think it’s actually the dream of probably all conductors — the challenge of this incredible masterpiece.”
Latham promised an “immersive” experience when The Phil performs Mahler’s Second Symphony in C Minor at two afternoon shows, on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25.
“There are gigantic forces involved,” he said. “A huge orchestra, gigantic percussion, an off-stage band, a chorus of about 80 or 90, and two soloists. I think the audience can’t help but get immersed.”
The upcoming performance will feature two guest solo vocalists. Alto Hannah Murray is a Plymouth State University faculty member, and soprano Dr. Evangelia Leontis is from Keene State University. As the combined choirs from both schools are also performing, “it seemed appropriate and sensible to use their own faculty,” Latham said. “I have worked with both of them; they both have fabulous voices.”
The Keene State Concert Choir, directed by Dr. Sandra Howard, is non-auditioned and open to all students regardless of major. Plymouth State’s includes both students and community members in its non-auditioned University Chorale. Conversely, the Chamber Singers are an auditioned ensemble that tours nationally and internationally. Both are directed by Harmony Markey.
Despite its name, the Resurrection Symphony isn’t a Christian work; most biographers say the Jewish born composer was agnostic, though it does explore life, death, and death’s transcendence. Mahler, who was born in the mid-19th century and had siblings who died in infancy, was captivated by the topic of death.
“One of the games that he and his brothers and sisters would play would be to reenact funeral marches — a natural thing as kids, right?” Latham said, adding that Mahler wrote a piece called Polka and Funeral March before he was 10. “Even from a very young age, he was concerned with dying … how we can better live through understanding what death means, and what happens after death.”
Finishing the symphony was difficult for Mahler, who got stuck on choosing a text for the choral section in the final movement (stirringly recreated in the Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro). Before that, he’d shared the first section with renowned conductor Hans von Bülow, who didn’t like it; he covered his ears. “This sent Mahler into a big funk,” Latham said. “He didn’t compose for quite a while after that.”
When Bülow died, though, a reading of Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock’s poem “Die Auferstehung (The Resurrection)” at his funeral finally gave Mahler clarity. “That was the a-ha moment for him,” Latham said. “He raced back and began finishing the final movement.”
For Latham, the Resurrection Symphony “is an incredible journey … an exploration of the big themes of our lives.” He offered his thoughts on its five stages.
“The first movement is as long as a Beethoven symphony; its original name is Funeral Rites, and in a way, it’s the funeral of the hero that he presented in his first symphony,” he said. “Then it just goes from there, there’s a lovely, gentle, what’s called a Ländler, a German dance, in the second movement, then Saint Anthony and the Fish in the third movement,” which includes a song from a set of Mahler poems.
“Philosophically, it’s expressing in a way what seems to be the senselessness of human existence,” Latham said. “Saint Anthony goes to preach and the church in Padua is empty; then he goes and preaches to the fishes. They’re swimming about, and don’t pay much attention either. The actual song is hilarious.”
The fourth movement, Primordial Light, “is really pure and angelic,” and includes Murray’s alto solo. An apocalyptic vision commences the first half of the fifth movement, “followed by looking at what resurrection might mean — even if you’re not Christian, in fact. It’s just a gigantic voice, and you get swept up. Before you know it, it’s almost over. It’s fantastic.”
Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony When: Saturday, Feb. 24, and Sunday, Feb. 25, 2 p.m. Location: Seifert Performing Arts Center, 44 Geremonty Dr., Salem Tickets: $5 to $35 at nhpo.booktix.com
Winter farmers markets offer a taste of sunnier seasons
Farmers markets aren’t just for the warmer months; some continue to operate through the winter, featuring a variety of vendors selling everything from fresh produce to artisanal crafts.
Via email, organizers and vendors discussed how these markets adapt to the colder season and what unique offerings they bring to the community.
Concord Farmers Market
Brenda White, with input from her fellow organizers for the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market, discussed how this season is going.
How has this year’s winter farmers market differed from previous years in terms of vendor participation and customer attendance?
This year, our fledgling market has grown in visibility through our social media advertising and new signs that are more visually appealing and draw the attention of passersby. We worked with a local Concord artist, RS Creative, who designed our fresh, new logo. Attendance is up from an average of 275 customers to roughly 425 customers. We have gained some wonderful vendors to add to a diverse offering. The produce and products that you can find range from fish, meats and eggs to fresh microgreens, root veggies, fresh baked treats and bread. We have vendors who make wonderful soaps, lotions, candles and dog treats. We even have a vendor with fresh cut winter flowers … and microbrews and wine. There is such a wide variety of local goodness.
What unique challenges does operating a farmers market in the winter present, and how have you and the vendors adapted to these conditions?
Finding a location that works for all patrons and gives us enough space to set up. We are grateful for the generosity that Stephen Duprey has gifted this market in its early years by giving us a location to have a market to provide easy access for customers to obtain amazing local products. 7 Eagle Square is a bright, beautiful open space with two levels of shopping. It is a great location for folks who are either choosing to walk around downtown or park close by for quick easy in and out.
Can you share some success stories or particularly popular initiatives from this year’s winter market?
Manus Basket: Every Saturday we have a basket set up to gather donations to support families in need of food. So we have partnered with The Boys & Girls Club of Central and Northern New Hampshire. How it works is that each market Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market purchases food from vendors at the market to place in the cooler or basket for the Boys & Girls Club. We have budgeted a certain amount a week to spend. In addition to that, customers and vendors purchase or donate items to add to the basket and cooler as well while they shop. This supports the vendors as well as helping our local community.
We were excited to host a sing-along with Santa in December this year. It was well-received and fun for the customers’ children and families. … As always, the Merrimack County Conservation District has continued to offer its Granite State Market Match and Veteran Value Bucks programs. Through the Granite State Market Match, SNAP/EBT recipients can double the amount they are spending on food items offered at the market. For example, if $20 is charged to a SNAP card, the recipient will receive $40 in vouchers to spend on food items. The Veteran Value Bucks program provides $20 to veterans and active service members once a month to shop for any items at the market. These programs allow more customers to visit our market, while also keeping more dollars local. It’s a win for everyone.
How important are winter farmers markets for the vendors’ businesses, and what role do they play in the local community during the colder months?
There are very few markets in the winter months, and it is not easy for vendors to get their products out to consumers on their own during the winter months without this farmers market community. The market provides a central location with easy access for the public to get all their needs in one location. We have a variety of meats including traditional beef, pork, lamb, chicken, fish and now a new vendor who provides ostrich. We have cheeses, yogurt, beer, soaps, bread, pastries, gluten-free pastries and bread, vegetables, syrup, honey, jams, eggs, beef chips, mushrooms, coffee, microgreens, dog food, popcorn, nuts, soft pretzels, rolls and flowers. These amazing vendors are local and love to support and help their communities and provide fresh locally grown/made products.
What measures have you implemented to encourage community engagement and ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for visitors during the winter season?
We are fortunate that we can use the Storr Street parking garage’s top level to park and use the ramp to bring products down to 7 Eagle Square easily for setup. Customers can use the garage’s top level as well during business hours of the market. The building has an elevator so that patrons can access both floors of the market easily if they prefer not to use the stairs. Walkways and the courtyard are maintained well to be sure that the area is free of ice and snow so customers have easy and safe access to the building. We also have local musicians who are scheduled by NH Music Collective to entertain at the market to add another family-friendly feel to the experience.
Looking forward, are there any new plans or ideas you’re excited to introduce to the winter farmers market in future seasons?
We hope to have a new permanent location in the future that will give us more space and make it even more convenient for customers to join us.
Joyberry Farms
Amy Joyce and Brad Ikenberry of Joyberry Farms, based in Mason, joyberryfarms.com. Find them at the winter Salem NH Farmers Market.
Joyberry Farms. Courtesy photo.
Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?
We are the owners of Joyberry Farms, a small family-owned and -operated farm in Mason. We cultivate fresh mushrooms and create unique mushroom products. At the markets you can find a variety of fresh mushrooms each week, as well as a variety of dried products like mushroom coffee, teas, dried mushroom soups and risotto. We also make wellness mushroom powders.
How has this year’s market been for your business in terms of customer attendance and sales trends?
The sales in the winter tend to drop a little bit, due to attendance and weather. However, each year, as we grow, we also see a rise in our sales trends from repeat and new customers that love our products.
What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?
The cold weather definitely makes farming a lot harder, but it also gives us time to slow down and be more creative.
How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?
Mushrooms, like vegetables, grow differently in each season. We offer different ‘cold weather’ mushrooms in the winter than in the summer, but some varieties grow all year-round.
What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?
Although our summer season is packed with farmers markets, we do attend a few winter markets which helps keep our business running year-round.
What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?
Our fresh mushrooms remain our top seller; however, in the winter we get an influx of sales from our soups, risotto, coffee and teas.
Blakeney’s Bakery
Brenda White, Blakeney’s Bakery, based in Contoocook, blakeneysbakery.com. Find them at the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market.
Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?
Blakeney’s Bakery has a large variety of breads, scones, cookies, soft pretzels, whoopie pies, lemon bars and cookies.
How has this year’s market been for your business in terms of customer attendance and sales trends?
Each year has grown in customers and sales.
What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?
Weather can be a challenge, especially if it keeps customers from coming out.
How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?
Really don’t have to do much. We make seasonal products and create new flavors of bread sometimes just from customer suggestions. We don’t make as many products during the winter market as the customer base is significantly smaller due to summer guests and residents who leave for the winter.
What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?
Being able to provide a great product for our customers and to … work with other vendors to support them by pairing their products with ours when possible.
What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?
Our variety of bread flavors and scones. We strive to have savory, sweet and salty options to meet a variety of needs that our customers have.
HorseFeathers Ostrich Farm
Monte and Alison Cossette. HorseFeathers Ostrich Farm, based in Webster, horsefeathersostrichfarm.com. Find them every other Saturday (next date March 2) at the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market.
Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?
My husband and I started our ostrich farm several years ago. We’ve been growing our farm, breeding stock, and now are excited to be able to offer USDA ostrich meat for the first time both locally and through online sales. This is our first season participating in farmers market and we have been thrilled with this market.
What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?
Since we are offering a product that not as many people are familiar with, the amount of customers going through the market is very important for us. The more people we can show and teach about ostrich meat, the more sales and repeat customers we can have.
How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?
Currently we are bringing a small amount of meat and only a few types of meat cuts; we are hoping to be part of the summer market and have more offerings.
What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?
As a new business it is amazing to have people to talk to about our product. All organizers of the group have been amazingly helpful as we get started with our farmers markets and our business.
What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?
In our booth we have a display of ostrich egg shells with a fake ostrich head. That seems to really pique interest for people and get them over to the booth. The egg shells can be used for decorations and arts, but the display is a great starting point to bring people to the table and start talking about the meat.
Arándano Farm and Gluten Free or Die Bakery
Arándano Farm and Gluten Free or Die Bakery. Courtesy photo.
Paul Gareau and Angela Letelier, Arándano Farm and Gluten Free or Die Bakery, Belmont, arandano.farm, gfordie.com. Find them at the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market.
Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?
It’s our first year as vendors in Concord; generally we attend other markets in Belknap County and we’ll be running three new markets in 2024. Our farm offers organic-fed chicken, grass-fed pork, eggs, vegetables and microgreens. The bakery offers celiac-safe gluten-free baked goods.
What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?
Our area mostly offers summer markets, so the winter market helps us sell our products throughout the winter.
How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?
Less emphasis on grilling, more on meal prep.
What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?
Income throughout winter months and expanded customer base.
What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?
Our main attraction is no-compromised gluten-free baked goods, and we have a following for our chicken and pork as well.
Pastry Dream
Ann and Roger Baril of Pastry Dream are based in Derry. Find them at the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market and the winter Salem NH Farmers Market.
Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?
We sell individually sized pastries called Dreams. Some call them small pies. Our flavor selection ranges from lemon curd and raspberry to chocolate/peanut butter to our brand new Key lime. We presently offer nine flavors — something for everyone.
How has this year’s market been for your business in terms of customer attendance and sales trends?
We have already seen an increase over last year.
What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?
A challenge we experience each year is New Year’s resolutions and the fact that everyone eats too much over the holiday season and cuts back for a time especially in January. Our opportunity is that farmers markets allow us the opportunity to present our products to those who may not have tasted them before.
How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?
For the winter season we offer a pecan pie Dream and a ginger/spice cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting along with all of our other items.
What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?
Feedback from customers is a huge benefit of being at the farmers markets. We have a lemon curd and a raspberry and many customers suggested that we put the two flavors together. We did, and the lemon/raspberry is one of our best sellers. We’ve also been asked to create a Key lime dream, which we are now offering and is a great success.
What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?
We offer samples, which give new customers the opportunity to taste our flavors before buying. This makes a big difference, because once you taste the filling flavors you have to have more.
KYS Food for Dogs
Sonia Javier Obinger of KYS Food for Dogs, based in Sandown. Find them at the Downtown Concord Farmers Market and the winter Salem NH Farmers Market.
Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?
I started preparing whole-food recipes because of my interest in providing the best nutrition for my three pugs and a Boston terrier. I began researching, taking classes and using my experience to develop whole-food recipes for them. There would even be times when my friends would come over and ask what was cooking because it smelled so good. I said it was my dog’s dinner. So fast forward 16-plus years of testing, making mistakes, re-testing and friends’ support, I started KYS Whole Food for Dogs. Our recipes are created in small batches, bone broth braised with organic ingredients sourced from local farms sold fresh/frozen in compostable packages at farmers markets, online and retail. Recipes offer seasonally harvested organic vegetables with pasture-raised chicken or grass-fed beef, organ meat, seaweed, hempseed or flaxseed, providing dogs with a nutritious, complete meal. KYS ingredients are sourced from local farms like Vernon Family in Newfields. They provide the chicken for Tilly’s Pastured Chicken recipe. The organic vegetables in this recipe are grown and harvested by Heron Pond in Hampton, Two Farmers Farm in Scarborough, Maine, and Brandmoore Farm in Rollinsford.
How has this year’s market been for your business in terms of customer attendance and sales trends?
This is my first season with Downtown Concord Farmers Market, so I am still working on brand awareness. With the Salem NH Farmers Market this is my third winter market and this market has grown, especially at its new location at LaBelle Winery.
What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?
I think the opportunities are that they are indoors, thus providing customers access to a great variety of vendors. I think the biggest challenge is New England weather, which this year has been relatively calm.
How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?
Since my recipes are based on harvest availability, root vegetables — carrots, winter squash, cranberries, for example — are used in the winter. Once the spring/summer season starts we have more greens, summer squash, blueberries, etc. So all year my customers have a diverse nutritional diet.
What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?
The benefits are that we still have access to our summer customers as well as meeting new ones. Plus it is warmer than being outside.
What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?
I think both Jake’s Grass fed Beef and Tilly’s Pastured Chicken recipes are equally popular. I have recently been testing with some of my customers’ liver truffles, which are another whole food product for those who want to provide a healthy treat for the dog.
