Billy Eichner plays a man who is perfectly happy by himself, absolutely doesn’t want a relationship but uncertainly navigates a possible romance with the very handsome Aaron in Bros, a sweet, genuinely laugh-out-loud funny rom-com co-written by Eichner.
I feel like I’ve seen a run of movies lately where I think “ha, funny” but don’t actually have the spontaneous reaction of laughing. That I actually out-loud laughed is one of the delights of this movie.
And Eichner, of course, gives his character Bobby the mix of clever dialogue and solid delivery that allows for plenty of comedy. Bobby is working to open a museum of LGBTQ+ history in New York City; he has a popular podcast, a solid group of friends and all the casual hookups he wants. He has no need for some conventional-style coupledom, he emphatically explains. But when he sees Aaron (Luke Macfarlane) at a club, he finds himself not just awkwardly flirting but interested enough to be hurt when Aaron seems to walk away from him. He is excited when he and Aaron go on a date but seems sort of pre-angry at the rejection that he thinks is coming from Aaron. Bobby keeps setting Aaron up to tell him that Bobby is not Aaron’s type, but Aaron, who is also wrestling with an unfulfilling career choice, is intrigued by and attracted to the confident Bobby.
This is not your standard Hollywood romance, Billy and Bobby (both Eichner and his character) argue, because gay relationships and the relationship dynamics are different from straight relationships. The movie works to examine that, while also, with a bit of a wink at the Hallmark movie conventions, hitting a lot of the classic romance beats. (Macfarlane has a baker’s dozen of Hallmark movie credits on his filmography, with names like The Mistletoe Promise and Sense, Sensibility and Snowmen.) We get real — or real enough — people navigating relatable emotional stuff with specifics to the community Eichner is portraying, which is always a solid recipe for creating an appealing story.
Even the slightly stilted moments — including some of Eichner’s performance, which at times reminded me of Jerry Seinfeld’s Seinfeld Jerry — work because the movie is able to root itself in believable characters who give some dimension to their rom-com-trope-ier elements. Guy Branum is a standout in the movie’s supporting cast but there are lots of note-perfect smaller roles and cameos, including the always excellent Bowen Yang.
And then surrounding all of that are just pleasurable moments of fun — from your Debra Messing cameos to your jabs at online culture. The office politics of Bobby’s museum, Aaron’s skill at dealing with what he calls weird rich people — it all makes for some highly enjoyable silliness.
Bros mixes just enough tartness and broad comedy, plus some moments of honest introspection, to balance the sweetness of its swoony romance. B+
Rated R for strong sexual content, language throughout and some drug use, according to the MPA on filmratings.com. Directed by Nicholas Stoller and written by Billy Eichner & Nicholas Stoller, Bros is an hour and 55 minutes long and distributed in theaters by Universal Studios.
Former contestants of the hit Fox cooking competition series MasterChef Junior hit the road last month for the “MasterChef Junior Live” tour, an interactive show packed with cooking demonstrations, unique challenges and audience participation throughout. Locally, MasterChef Junior Live will make a stop at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord on Thursday, Oct. 13.
Season 8 of MasterChef Junior premiered on Fox in March and concluded on June 23, but it was actually filmed back in 2019, prior to the pandemic. Each week young chefs between the ages of 8 and 13 from across the country perform in a number of challenges and present their own prepared dishes to celebrity judges Gordon Ramsay, Aarón Sánchez and Daphne Oz.
The Oct. 13 show in Concord will feature live appearances from Season 8 winner Liya Chu of Scarsdale, New York, who was just 10 years old at the time of the show’s filming, as well as runner-up Grayson Price and fan favorites Molly Leighninger and A’Dan Lisaula.
“The fun part of our show … is that we end up with about 10 people that we randomly choose from the audience that can come onstage and taste the actual food they cook,” tour manager Marti Ramirez said. “People get to be tasters and they judge the appetizer part, and then we have four people that are volunteers, also from the audience, that are sous chefs. … At the end, kids get to come up on stage and help decorate the dessert part of our show, which is cupcakes.”
Chu, now 14 years old, recently spoke with the Hippo via phone about her experience being on MasterChef Junior, as well as what attendees can expect ahead of the Concord show.
Can you tell us about your cooking background and interest in cooking at such a young age?
I started cooking around 5 years old. … My first dish was making dumplings, and it’s kind of a family tradition, since my mom learned how to make them from her mom, and her mom learned it from her mom. So it has kind of been passed down through many generations. … My parents own two restaurants, so I’ve kind of been involved in the restaurant life since I was young. … One restaurant is in Bronxville, New York, and it’s called Dumpling + Noodle, and then the other one is called Fantasy Cuisine and it’s in Hartsdale, New York.
What was the audition process like for getting on MasterChef Junior?
My friend was actually on Season 7, so that was when … I was like, ‘Oh wait, I could go on the show as well.’ … [The audition] started around, like, February [2019] or so, and then it was back and forth for two months of Zoom interviews. Sometimes they’d ask you to cut red peppers or onions or, like, cook an egg 20 different ways. … After those two months, many of us … wondered if we were even still in the audition, because they wouldn’t answer us for like two or three weeks. … Then, May 20 was when they confirmed and we flew all the way to L.A., but at that time it was still [in the] Top 50, and then they started to cut it down to the Top 16 and then the Top 10, the Top Five and then that whole process was another two months. … [The show’s airing] got delayed many times, so after a while, since it was three years, it kind of felt like it was a dream.
Do you remember which dishes you made while on the show? What was the most challenging dish that you prepared for the judges?
Yeah, I do remember a lot of the dishes, because they are all really important to me. Every dish I made was something that … represents my family, my background and what I’ve learned since I was young. … I think the hardest dish was either the sweet bread or the eel dish, or maybe the duck dish that I made last. … Duck is a pretty hard dish to cook, because you have to time it just right in order to get it medium rare. The eel was also hard because it was my first time cooking on the show, and I was really nervous that time.
What is Gordon Ramsay like in person?
Gordon is a very tall man. I mean, of course, we were all very tiny at that time. But he was really nice to us. Of course, he would get mad at us sometimes, but when he did, I think [it was] because he was only trying to teach us and trying to get us to push ourselves. … I was definitely nervous to see what he was like, but he was really nice. He wasn’t mean.
What was your personal favorite thing that you made on the show?
It was definitely my semi-finale dish, which were the dumplings. … When I was around 5 years old, my mom every weekend or every two weekends or so, she’d cook dumplings for my brother and me. … I remember I would run around the house and I would always try to peek around the corner and say, ‘Hey, Mom, can I help you out?’ But it would never work out well because [the dumplings] would always just flop over or they wouldn’t even close. … My mom would still teach me. She never said, ‘Oh, Liya, you’re too young,’ or anything. … She still always tries to help me improve.
Tell us about the MasterChef Junior Live tour. Will the challenges be happening in real time?
Yeah, so it’s kind of like being in the show, in a way, just actually seeing it front and center and being part of it. … We’re cooking on stage, and so yeah, it’s all happening in real time. We don’t know who’s winning, because it’s the audience who is doing the judging. It’s more about just having fun and letting the audience be able to experience it. … It’s definitely fun and family-friendly, and something that I would encourage everyone to come watch.
What’s next for you? Is cooking something you think you’d want to pursue as a career?
I’m very interested in art and being creative, and cooking is definitely a type of art form, for sure. … I don’t really know what I want to do yet, of course, I still have a lot of time to think of what I want to do. But yeah, definitely art and maybe even culinary will be part of my future.
MasterChef Junior Live When: Thursday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) Where: Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord Cost: Ranges from $23.25 to $58.25. Optional VIP add-ons are $75 and include a pre-show Q&A, meet-and-greet with photo opportunities and a signed poster. Visit: mastercheflivetour.com
Find the local roller derby or kickball team to root for, local boxing matches with crowd appeal and the high school and college teams to inspire your young athletes
The thrill of watching a live sporting event does not require a long drive and a big payout.
If you want that “Friday night lights” experience, you can check out a team at your local high school — Hippo sports writer Dave Long has some suggestions for football and men and women’s soccer games worth saving the date for. Or head to a local college to introduce your budding athlete to big-kid basketball, ice hockey and lacrosse games. And remind yourself that sports aren’t just for students by checking out amateur adult competition, from high energy roller derby bouts to an upcoming disc golf tournament.
Time to find your team and start cheering.
Cheer on the home team
Dave Long recommends high school games to delight sports fans & inspire the kids
One of the great things about the local high school sports season is that it gives those who love to sit outside and watch a game all sorts of options. You can watch a game in the daylight on a beautiful afternoon, or watch under the lights on a Friday night.
Ditto for kids at the beginning of their sports journey. Fall schedules give ample opportunities for them to watch and learn from the big kids — who likely seem like grown-up stars to them — while also giving them room to throw or kick a ball around while the game is going on or at halftime.
Here are some upcoming local games where high schoolers will be competing.
Football — Bishop Guertin at Londonderry, Friday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m. (Londonderry High School, LHS Stadium Field, 295 Mammoth Road in Londonderry)
It’s the defending D1 state champion Lancers taking on the perennially contending Cardinals on a Friday night in Londonderry. The competition for entertainment would have to be pretty good for football fans to pass on this one.
Girls Soccer — Portsmouth at Goffstown, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 4 p.m. (Goffstown High School, 27 Wallace Road in Goffstown, the field behind the school)
This offers a chance to see top-ranked-in-Division 1 Portsmouth in their last local game of 2022.
Boys Soccer — Memorial at Nashua North, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 4 p.m. (Nashua High School North, 8 Titan Way in Nashua)
Our second great boys’ match-up, where two of the top teams in Division 1 square off for the second straight week in Nashua.
Girls Soccer — Oyster River at Hollis-Brookline Saturday, Oct. 15, 11 a.m. (Hollis Brookline High School, 24 Cavalier Court in Hollis)
This must be the year for teams from the coast, as the visitors from Durham sit atop the D2 standings. This game features teams with only one loss between them as they entered October. While the drive out west is nice, out-of-towners may need the GPS to find the field once they get there.
Football — Bedford at Bishop Guertin Saturday, Oct. 15, 6 p.m. (Bishop Guertin High School plays its varsity football games at Stellos Stadium, 7 Stadium Drive in Nashua)
If the first three weeks of 2022 are any indication, this will be an offense-vs.-defense battle. Bedford takes Route 3 to Nashua after giving up just 29 points in its three games, while the Cardinals scored 128 in three wins, which included a 68-3 thumping of Goffstown.
Boys Soccer — Central at Nashua North, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 6 p.m. (Nashua High School North, 8 Titan Way in Nashua)
For the third week in a row we’re in Nashua, this time for Manchester Central’s clash with Nash North.
Boys Soccer — Bedford at Bishop Guertin, Thursday, Oct. 20, 6 p.m. (Bishop Guertin High School plays its varsity soccer games at Stellos Stadium, 7 Stadium Drive in Nashua)
Finally a game outside the Gate City, but it does include one team traveling from there. Given the high level of talent in D-1 it’s hard to say who’ll have the upper hand in the standings. But each team will be trying to cement its seeding for the playoffs ahead.
Girls Soccer — Bishop Guertin at Bedford, Friday, Oct. 21, 4 p.m. (Bedford High School, 47 Nashua Road in Bedford)Arivalry game where both teams are in the thick of the playoff race. Given that, it may not be the last time they see each other, so it could be a playoff preview.
Football — Central at Pinkerton, Friday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m. (at the Pinkerton Academy campus, 5 Pinkerton St. in Derry; the game is played at Memorial Field)
Are you a fan of uniforms? These teams have the two best in the state. At first glance the Astros make you think for a second you’re in Columbus, Ohio, watching RyanDay’s Buckeyes, while the silver and green of Central just look cool. Then there’s the familiar feeling that it seems like these teams have played each other a million times, many in big games, and this could be another.
Girls Soccer — Playoffs start the week of Thursday, Oct. 27, to Thursday, Nov. 3 at the site of the higher seed.
Boys Soccer— Playoffs start the week of Thursday, Oct. 27, to Thursday, Nov. 3 at the site of the higher seed. With Memorial, Nashua South and Concord looking strong entering November there will likely be action in the three major southern New Hampshire cities.
Football — Souhegan at John Stark, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2 p.m. (John Stark Regional High School, JSR Football Field, 618 North Stark Highway in Weare) This is a game for folks who like high-scoring football, as if the trend continues for the Sabers after scoring 60, 41 and 41 in their 3-0 start that’s what could be in store in each team’s regular season final.
Football—Playoffs in all divisions of football will be getting started Friday, Nov. 4, and end on Saturday, Nov. 12.
Thanksgiving Day football— Not quite the draw it once was, when 10,000 spectators would pack Gill Stadium for the unofficial Manchester city championship contest between the schools with the two best regular season records. But the tradition continues as there are festive mid-morning rivalry games played all over southern New Hampshire on the big day. All offer fun for returning alumni and regular team followers before they scatter to be on time to enjoy turkey and the fixings with family and friends.
Then it’s on to the winter sports season.
Be part of the crowd cheering for student athletes
New Hampshire’s colleges offer inspiration for the next generation of players
You don’t have to go to a college to be a fan of its teams.
“For the student athletes, they absolutely love playing in front of a larger crowd,” said Eric Coplin, director of athletics communications at Southern New Hampshire University. All regular season Penmen games on campus are free to attend, he said, and most of the teams participate in youth programs, such as camps, that help to connect the Penmen athletes to kids who play those sports in the community. The men’s soccer team, for example, has designated youth soccer nights at most home games — the Oct. 8 game is Manchester North soccer night (find the complete schedule at snhupenmen.com). The kids from those sports programs get to accompany the SNHU players onto the field, Coplin said. The little kids get to see where they could be in 10 or so years and the Penmen get to remember where they came from, he said.
“Our guys feed off that energy,” Coplin said.
Karen Pinkos, head women’s basketball coach for the SNHU Penmen, runs camps in the summer for girls in grades 2 through 9. Penmen players work at the camp, which gives them an opportunity to give back to the community and gives the girls strong confident women to look up to, she said.
When kids come to a women’s basketball game, “they’re going to see [the Penmen team] work hard … work hard in terms of teamwork, working together,” Pinkos said. And, especially for girls watching the women’s team, they get to see these young women being strong.
SNHU women’s basketball. Courtesy photo.
Many SNHU basketball games are played as double headers, with the men’s games following the women’s games. Pinkos said that over the years some in the crowd have started to come for both games. In the days before Covid, the games also often featured youth groups who would come and play the court at halftime or act as ball girls, which offered more opportunities for players and young fans to interact.
New Hampshire has two NCAA Division I schools — Dartmouth College in Hanover and the University of New Hampshire in Durham. Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester competes at the Division II level, and New England College in Henniker competes at the Division III level.
“It means everything for [student athletes] to represent the state and university and to have fans backing them,” said Mike Murphy, associate athletic director of marketing and communications for UNH. “It’s a real fun time to be out on a college campus and experience what UNH sports are all about.”
New sporting events such as esports (short for electronic sports) have cropped up in recent years for schools to battle each other in various multiplayer video games. Games between schools and tournaments are not usually held in person but can be streamed online via Twitch. To view esports schedules and stream games for SNHU, visit twitch.tv/snhuesports, and for NEC, visit twitch.tv/necesports.
Katelyn Sahagian, Amy Diaz and Matt Ingersoll contributed to this story.
Southern New Hampshire University
Regular season games for Penmen teams on campus are free to attend. See snhupenmen.com
Ice hockey The SNHU Penmen hold home games at the Ice Den Arena (600 Quality Drive, Hooksett). • Friday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Saint Anselm College • Friday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Post University • Saturday, Nov. 26, at 1:40 p.m. vs. Tufts University
Men’s basketball SNHU holds home games at the Stan Spirou Field House (2500 N. River Road, Manchester). • Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Bentley University • Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Adelphi University • Saturday, Dec. 31, at 3:30 p.m. vs. Assumption University
Women’s basketball SNHU holds home games at the Stan Spirou Field House (2500 N. River Road, Manchester). • Friday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m. vs. Saint Anselm College • Saturday, Nov. 12, at 6 p.m. vs. Dominican University of New York • Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Bentley University • Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Adelphi University • Friday, Dec. 9, 5:30 at p.m. vs. Post University • Sunday, Dec. 18, at 1 p.m. vs. Franklin Pierce University • Saturday, Dec. 31, at 1:30 p.m. vs. Assumption University
Women’s field hockey SNHU holds home games at the Dr. George J. Larkin Field (2500 N. River Road, Manchester). • Saturday, Oct. 15, at 4 p.m. vs. Mercy College • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. vs. University of New Haven • Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. vs. St. Michael’s College • Saturday, Nov. 5, at 4 p.m. vs. St. Thomas Aquinas College • Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m. vs. American International College
Men’s soccer SNHU holds home games at Penmen Stadium (Victory Lane, Hooksett) • Saturday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. vs. Bentley University • Saturday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. vs. Southern Connecticut State University • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. vs. Franklin Pierce University • Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. vs. American International College
Women’s soccer SNHU holds home games at Penmen Stadium (Victory Lane, Hooksett) • Saturday, Oct. 8, at 4 p.m. vs. The College of Saint Rose • Saturday, Oct. 15, at 4 p.m. vs. University of New Haven • Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m. vs. Saint Anselm College • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 4 p.m. vs. Pace University
Women’s volleyball SNHU holds home games at the Stan Spirou Field House (2500 N. River Road, Manchester). • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. vs. American International College • Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. vs. Saint Anselm College • Friday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. vs. Le Moyne College • Saturday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. vs. The College of St. Rose
Men’s and women’s lacrosse The season typically runs from February or early March through the end of April. See website for updates on the spring 2023 season.
Men’s baseball The season typically runs from February or early March through early June. See website for updates on the spring 2023 season.
Women’s softball The season typically runs from February or early March through early May. See website for updates on the spring 2023 season.
Saint Anselm College
Tickets for Saint Anselm Hawks sporting events are $10 each and available online or at the door. For more information, visit saintanselmhawks.com. Stay tuned for announcements regarding their basketball seasons for the year.
Men’s football Saint Anselm hosts its football games at Grappone Stadium (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). • Saturday, Nov. 5, at noon vs. Assumption University
Men’s ice hockey Saint Anselm hosts its hockey games at the Sullivan Arena (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). • Saturday, Oct. 29, at 4 p.m. vs. University of Southern Maine • Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. vs. Assumption University • Friday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. vs. Southern New Hampshire University
Men’s basketball Saint Anselm hosts its basketball games at the Stoutenburgh Gymnasium (73 College Road, Manchester). • Saturday, Nov. 19, at 3:30 p.m. vs. Bentley University • Sunday, Nov. 27, at 1 p.m. vs. Franklin Pierce University • Saturday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m. vs. Adelphi University • Saturday, Dec. 17, at 1 p.m. vs. Jefferson University • Monday, Dec. 19, at 3 p.m. vs. University of Bridgeport
Women’s basketball Saint Anselm hosts its basketball games at the Stoutenburgh Gymnasium (73 College Road, Manchester). • Friday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m. vs. Southern New Hampshire University • Sunday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m. vs. Dominican College • Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Bentley University • Saturday, Nov. 19, at 1:30 p.m. vs. Adelphi University • Friday, Dec. 2, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Le Moyne College • Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Franklin Pierce University • Sunday, Dec. 18, at noon vs. Daemen University
Women’s field hockey Saint Anselm hosts its field hockey games at Grappone Stadium (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). • Saturday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m. vs. Southern Connecticut State University • Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. vs. Southern New Hampshire University • Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. vs. Franklin Pierce University • Saturday, Nov. 5, at 5 p.m. vs. Molloy College • Monday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. vs. Assumption University • Friday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m. vs. Southern Connecticut State University
Women’s ice hockey Saint Anselm hosts its hockey games at the Sullivan Arena (100 St. Anselm Drive, Manchester). • Friday, Oct. 7, at 3 p.m. vs. Quinnipiac University • Friday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. vs. Sacred Heart University • Saturday, Oct. 15, at 3 p.m. vs. Sacred Heart University • Friday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. vs. Long Island University • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m. vs. Long Island University • Friday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. vs. Stonehill College • Saturday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. vs. Franklin Pierce University • Saturday, Nov. 26, at 4 p.m. vs. Dartmouth College • Saturday, Dec. 31, at 5 p.m. vs. Merrimack College
Men’s soccer Saint Anselm hosts its soccer games at Melucci Field (100 St. Anselm Drive, Manchester). • Saturday, Oct. 8, at noon vs. Adelphi University • Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 3:30 p.m. vs. Franklin Pierce University
Women’s soccer Saint Anselm hosts its soccer games at Melucci Field (100 St. Anselm Drive, Manchester). • Saturday, Oct. 8, at 3 p.m. vs. American International College • Saturday, Oct. 15, at noon vs. Adelphi University • Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 3 p.m. vs. Southern Connecticut State University
Men’s and women’s lacrosse The season typically runs from February or early March through the end of April. See website for updates on the spring 2023 season.
Rivier University
Tickets to Rivier Raiders events cost $3 for adults (free for children). See rivierathletics.com.
Men’s ice hockey Hockey games take place at the Conway Arena (5 Stadium Drive, Nashua). • Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. vs. SUNY Canton • Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7:10 p.m. vs. Southern New Hampshire University • Friday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. vs. SUNY Morrisville • Saturday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. vs. Framingham State University • Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 7:10 p.m. vs. Westfield State University
Women’s ice hockey Hockey games take place at the Conway Arena (5 Stadium Drive, Nashua). • Friday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. vs. Curry College • Saturday, Nov. 19, at 3:40 p.m. vs. Nichols College • Saturday, Nov. 26, at 6:20 p.m. vs. Assumption University
Men’s basketball Basketball games take place at the Muldoon Fitness Center (440 Main St., Nashua). • Thursday, Nov. 10, at 5 p.m. vs. Lesley University • Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. vs. Plymouth State University • Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. vs. UMass Boston • Saturday, Dec. 3, at 3 p.m. vs. Dean College • Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. vs. Norwich University
Women’s basketball Basketball games take place at the Muldoon Fitness Center (440 Main St., Nashua). • Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. vs. Nichols College • Thursday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. vs. Framingham State University • Saturday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m. vs. Dean College • Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 5 p.m. vs. Norwich University
Men’s soccer Soccer games take place at Joanne Merrill Field (420 S. Main St., Nashua). • Saturday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m. vs. Anna Maria College • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 3:30 p.m. vs. University of St. Joseph • Sunday, Oct. 23, at 1 p.m. vs. University of Maine at Presque Isle • Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Lasell University
Women’s soccer Soccer games take place at Joanne Merrill Field (420 S. Main St., Nashua). • Saturday, Oct. 8, at 3:30 p.m. vs. Albertus Magnus College • Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Emmanuel College • Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 5 p.m. vs. Lasell University
Men’s and women’s lacrosse The season typically runs from February or early March through the end of April or early May. See website for updates on the spring 2023 season.
New England College
Visit athletics.nec.edu for details on New England College Pilgrims teams.
Men’s ice hockey Hockey games take place inside the Lee Clement Arena (38 Grove St., Henniker). • Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. vs. Stonehill College • Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. vs. Skidmore College • Saturday, Nov. 12, at 4 p.m. vs. Castleton University • Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. vs. Anna Maria College • Saturday, Nov. 26, at 4:40 p.m. vs. UMass Dartmouth
Women’s ice hockey Hockey games take place inside the Lee Clement Arena (38 Grove St., Henniker). • Friday, Oct. 28, at 4 p.m. vs. Neumann University • Friday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m., vs. UMass Boston • Saturday, Nov. 19, at 3 p.m. vs. Worcester State University • Friday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. vs. University of Southern Maine • Saturday, Dec. 3, at 3 p.m. vs. Salem State University • Friday, Dec. 9, at 4 p.m. vs. Chatham University
Men’s basketball Basketball games take place inside the Bridges Gym (14 Grove St., Henniker). • Saturday, Nov. 12, at 4 p.m. vs. Lasell University • Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. vs. Clark University • Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. vs. Rivier University • Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Colby-Sawyer College
Women’s basketball Basketball games take place inside the Bridges Gym (14 Grove St., Henniker). • Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Husson University • Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 5 p.m. vs. NVU Johnson • Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Westfield State University • Thursday, Dec. 1, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Plymouth State University • Saturday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m. vs. Mount Holyoke College
Men’s rugby Rugby games take place at Laurie Cox Memorial Field (121 Western Ave., Henniker). • Saturday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m. vs. Nichols College • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. vs. Merrimack College • Saturday, Oct. 29, vs. Curry College; time TBA
Women’s field hockey Field hockey games take place at New England College’s Field House (64 Grove St., Henniker). • Saturday, Oct. 8, at noon vs. University of Maine Farmington • Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. vs. Nichols College • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 11 a.m. vs. Husson University • Saturday, Oct. 29, at 4 p.m. vs. Thomas College
Men’s wrestling • Friday, Dec. 2 (time TBA) and Saturday, Dec. 3, at 9 a.m., New Standard Corporation Invitational (location TBA)
Women’s rugby No more home games remain for the 2022 season. Check back on the website for updates.
Men’s and women’s lacrosse The season typically runs from February or early March through the end of April or early May. See website for updates on the spring 2023 season.
University of New Hampshire
Wildcats hockey home games take place at the Whittemore Center Arena (128 Main St., Durham), while football, soccer and lacrosse games all take place at Wildcat Stadium (155 Main St.). Basketball games take place inside the school’s Lundholm Gymnasium. Tickets vary in priceby sport. To reserve tickets for games, visit unh.edu.
Football • Saturday, Oct. 8, at 3:30 p.m. vs. Stony Brook University • Saturday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. vs. Elon University • Saturday, Nov. 12, at 1 p.m. vs. University of Rhode Island
Men’s hockey • Saturday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. vs. Boston College • Friday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. vs. Army at West Point • Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. vs. Harvard University • Friday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. vs. UMass Amherst • Friday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. vs. Boston University
Women’s hockey • Friday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m. vs. Boston University • Friday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. vs. Providence College • Saturday, Oct. 29, at 2 p.m. vs. College of the Holy Cross • Friday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. vs. Northeastern University • Friday, Nov. 11, at 5 p.m. vs. Merrimack College • Saturday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. vs. Boston College • Friday, Dec. 2, and Saturday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m. vs. UConn
Men’s basketball • Monday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Brandeis University • Sunday, Nov. 20, at 1 p.m. vs. Boston University • Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. vs. Sacred Heart University • Monday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. vs. St. Joseph’s College of Maine • Monday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. vs. College of the Holy Cross
Women’s basketball • Monday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m. vs. Colby-Sawyer College • Saturday, Nov. 19, at 1 p.m. vs. Northeastern University • Sunday, Nov. 27, at 1 p.m. vs. Boston University • Saturday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m. vs. Stonehill College • Monday, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m. vs. Wagner College
Play on
Amateur sports offer just as much fun as professional sports
With the advent of fall comes the beginning of several competitive sports seasons. Basketball, football and soccer games, as well as baseball playoffs, will consume fans’ attention. But while these most popular sports have plenty of spectators, there are other sports that are growing in New Hampshire. One of those sports is roller derby.
New Hampshire Roller Derby game play. Photo by Todd Grzywacz.
“[It] started out as the [World Wrestling Entertainment] of women’s contact sports,” said Lily Fritz, a member of the Concord-based Granite State Roller Derby, who has been playing the sport for 10 years. “It was an overly exaggerated production.”
Fritz got her start playing roller derby in California after watching a bout. She said that after the event, she got to talking to some of the players.
When Fritz said she wanted to start, one of the players brushed her off, implying that Fritz’s short stature and slight build would make her a bad player. It was those words, she said, that motivated her to be involved even more.
When Fritz started in 2012, roller derby was still a somewhat cliquey experience, she recalls. But today, she said, the sport is anything but; it’s more inclusive than it’s ever been. There are groups including transgender and nonbinary players as well as co-ed teams, men’s teams and youth teams.
“There’s no judgment,” Fritz said. “You come in [how] you are … and let everything go when you’re out on the track.”
Fritz, whose derby name is “Nor’Eastah,” started playing in Boston but later moved to the West Coast and kept at the sport. In California, she said, it’s hard to visit any town and not find at least one bout going on.
While roller derby is not that pervasive in New Hampshire, it has been around here for a couple decades, and it’s growing in popularity thanks to organizations like Granite State Roller Derby and the Manchester-based New Hampshire Roller Derby.
Jena McClary — known as “Pixie Bruiser” with the New Hampshire Roller Derby — met her husband through roller derby. McClary has been playing for 15 years.
“It’s not just a hobby anymore. It’s become a part of my life,” said McClary, adding that her husband and stepchildren also play, the family always heading out to practice or play in bouts. “Every weekend is something derby.”
McClary said that back in the 1970s and ’80s roller derby was more like professional wrestling as a sport. Often the action would be for show and there would be a predetermined winner. Now the sport has official rules, hits and scoring.
According to Fritz, the goal of a team is for their jammer to lap the blockers and jammer on the other team. Fritz is a jammer on her team and said that it’s common for her to get hit hard, but that’s one of her favorite parts of playing.
McClary advises people new to the sport to do some research. There’s a lot of action at a fast pace; she said it can get confusing for people who are new. Today’s roller derby is “based on the old roller derby of the ’70s when that was popular,” she said, “but they took basics from that and turned it into a real sport,”
“Watch some YouTube videos before you head out,” McClary said.
Fritz said a good way to learn the sport is to talk with players when teams go out for beers and pizza or burgers after a bout.
Another sport in its popularity infancy in New Hampshire is boxing. Julio Peña runs the only golden gloves boxing gym in the state, Thrive Boxing & Martial Arts Center, in Londonderry.
Peña said that he’s one of the few people running any type of boxing shows in the state. His first show, five years ago, was a struggle to get off the ground.
But since then Peña has hosted shows with amateur teens and adults as well as semi-professional matches. One of his students, Jaydell Pazmino, who won his weight class in the New England Golden Gloves competition in 2020, has decided to become a professional.
“Jaydell started his career and in his mind he wants to be a world champ. He came to me when he was 15, and he just turned 21 and has won pretty much everything in New England,” said Peña, adding that the matches are better between amateurs because they are passionate about the sport.
While boxers will throw punches to win rounds, there are strict rules in place to protect a fighter during a match. According to the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports, boxers will be penalized for intentionally or unintentionally injuring their opponents, and if a match is stopped after the fourth round, the boxer causing the foul will be declared the loser of the match.
Peña said that he wants people to realize that boxing isn’t just about fighting, throwing punches, and knocking heads together. He believes the sport teaches discipline, respect and confidence.
“Sometimes people look at boxing as some low type of sport where you’re just doing violence,” Peña said. “It’s way more than that. The more you know in boxing, the less you fight in the street. Your level of self-confidence goes up because you don’t have to prove anything anymore.”
Pick your team
Find a local team to cheer on at these area amateur sports. Know of a sport that welcomes a cheering crowd not mentioned here? Let us know at [email protected].
Basketball • New England Sports Center’s Men’s Basketball League Where: 7 A St., Derry When: Mondays and Wednesdays, 6 to 11 p.m. Visit: nesportscenter.com
Bowling • My Social Sports Co-Ed Bowling League Where: Yankee Lanes, 216 Maple St., Manchester When: Mondays; games typically start at either 7 or 8 p.m. Visit: mysocialsports.leagueapps.com
Boxing • Thrive Boxing & Martial Arts Center Where: 109 Hillside Ave, Unit J, Londonderry When: An amateur night match is coming up at the end of October. More information about it will be posted on the website closer to the event. Visit: thriveboxinggym.com
Cornhole • Manchester Sports and Social Club Cornhole League Where: Murphy’s Taproom, 494 Elm St., Manchester When: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with match start times from 6 to 9 p.m. Visit: manchesterssc.com
• My Social Sports Cornhole League Where: Chunky’s Cinema & Pub, 707 Huse Road, Manchester When: Tuesdays, starting at 6:30 p.m. Visit: mysocialsports.leagueapps.com
Football • New England Sports Center’s Men’s Flag Football League Where: 7 A St., Derry When: Sundays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visit: nesportscenter.com
Hockey • Power Play Hockey Southern New Hampshire Men’s League Where: Locations vary; see website for full schedule When: Games vary throughout the week, with the regular season running through December Visit: powerphockey.com • Power Play Hockey New Hampshire Women’s League Where: Locations vary; see website for full schedule When: The season ended in August. The 2023 season will start next May. Visit: powerphockey.com
Kickball • Manchester Sports and Social Club Kickball League Where: Brown & Mitchell Field, 229 W. Mitchell St., Manchester When: Wednesdays; games start at either 7 or 8 p.m. Visit: manchesterssc.com
• My Social Sports Co-Ed Kickball League Where: New Hampshire Sportsdome, 10A Tower Lane, Goffstown When: Tuesdays starting at 6 p.m. Visit: mysocialsports.leagueapps.com
Roller Derby • Granite State Roller Derby Where: Douglas N. Everett Arena, 15 Loudon Road, Concord When: Right now, the team is holding rookie training. The roller derby season starts in April. Visit: granitestaterollerderby.org • New Hampshire Roller Derby When: Contact the team through the form on the website. Right now, the team is not having any bouts. The roller derby season starts in the spring Visit: nhrollerderby.com
Soccer • New England Sports Center Co-Ed Soccer Where: 7 A St., Derry When: Thursdays, 6 to 11 p.m. Visit: nesportscenter.com
Softball • Manchester Sports and Social Club Softball League Where: New Hampshire Sportsdome, 10A Tower Lane, Goffstown When: Thursdays, game start times are between 7 and 8 p.m. Visit: manchesterssc.com • My Social Sports Co-Ed Softball League Where: West Junior Deb Field, 1 Electric St., Manchester When: Mondays; times TBA Visit: mysocialsports.leagueapps.com
Volleyball • Manchester Sports and Social Club Volleyball League Where: New Hampshire Sportsplex, 68 Technology Drive, Bedford When: Wednesdays; game start times are between 5:30 and 6 p.m. Visit: manchesterssc.com
The New Hampshire Department of Education recently released data revealing that $10.2 million has been distributed over the past two years to fund the formation of five new Board of Education-approved public charter schools in the state. According to NHPR, the funds come from a $46 million federal grant allocated for charter school startup costs, such as renovating buildings and recruiting staff and students, as part of an initiative to double the number of New Hampshire charter schools over five years. The newly approved schools include Heartwood Chartered Public School in Jefferson, Gathering Waters Charter School in Keene, Northeast Woodlands Charter School in Conway, Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies in Manchester and Lionheart Classical Academy, which opened in Peterborough this fall. Since 2020, four existing charter schools in New Hampshire closed their doors, the article said. The New Hampshire Department of Education expects to award another round of grants this month.
Lottery sales record
The New Hampshire Lottery broke its all-time sales record in the fiscal year 2022, generating more than $536.5 million in total sales, an increase of 3.3 percent, or $17.6 million, from the previous year, when it set a record high of $519 million. According to a press release, the New Hampshire Lottery also delivered a record high amount of $146.3 million to support education in the state in the last fiscal year. “We are pleased to break our sales and revenue records this year, as our success directly benefits schools statewide,” Charlie McIntyre, executive director of New Hampshire Lottery, said in the release. “Over the past year, as we worked to continuously engage current players and new audiences, we have launched countless new games, expanded and enhanced current offerings, introduced the state-of-the-art NH Lottery app, and have continued to build strong momentum with sports betting, all of which supports our ongoing efforts to maximize revenue for education.” New Hampshire Lottery sales have increased by nearly 60 percent, or nearly $200 million, over the past five years.
Underground Railroad site
The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire announced in a press release that the National Park Service has accepted Ona Judge Staines’ burial site in New Hampshire as part of its National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The site is one of 17 sites added to the Network from its 44th round of applications and joins more than 700 sites, facilities and programs across 13 states that represent that diverse experiences of freedom seekers who escaped slavery and the allies who helped them. Ona “Oney” Judge Staines was enslaved at the plantation of first U.S. president George Washington in Mount Vernon, Virginia and escaped to Philadelphia, where the free Black community assisted her in relocating to and starting a new life in New Hampshire as a free woman. Information on the location of the site is restricted from the public to protect its historical integrity. Visit blackheritagetrailnh.org.
Pop-up pantries
United Way of Greater Nashua’s Pop-Up Pantries will transition from 13 outdoor locations to five indoor locations during the colder months, starting on Oct. 31, according to a press release. The weekly pantries distribute food, provided by the Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter, around downtown Nashua to families experiencing food insecurity. The indoor pantries will be located at Arlington Street Community Center at 36 Arlington St. on Mondays; at Girls Inc. at 21 Burke St. on Tuesdays; at Harbor Care at 45 High St. on Wednesdays; at Nashua Community Music School at 2 Lock St. on Thursdays; and at Crossway Christian Church at 33 Pine St. on Fridays. All pantries distribute food on a first come, first served basis starting at 11 a.m. and ending when all food has been distributed, except for Wednesday, when the pantry starts at 2 p.m. Visit unitedwaynashua.org.
Skydiving educators
A group of New Hampshire educators joined Commissioner Frank Edelblut of the New Hampshire Department of Education for a skydiving excursion at the Lawrence Municipal Airport in North Andover, Mass., on Sept. 28. Each participant was paired with a soldier from the U.S. Army’s Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, for a tandem jump at 12,500 feet. The jumps serve as an exercise in teamwork, courage, discipline and training for the soldiers, according to a press release. “The U.S. Army provides students with a number of life-building opportunities, including numerous educational benefits like tuition assistance for postsecondary education, and leadership and career development opportunities, to name a few,” Edelblut said in the release. “It was an honor to be here today and skydive with some of our great soldiers who are committed to bettering their academic and career paths while serving as role models for our youth.”
CPR kits donated
The Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon recently received a donation of 500 infant CPR home training kits from the American Heart Association, funded by the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, and is distributing the kits to families of babies treated in the hospital’s intensive care nursery upon discharge. According to a press release, the kit contains tools to help new parents learn lifesaving infant CPR and infant choking relief skills in as little as 20 minutes, including a self-directed learning program that allows the user to practice the skills on a manikin while observing a video demonstration. “Learning CPR is one of the most important things all of us can do. You never know when a hero may be needed,” Lauren G. Gilstrap, MD, MPH, a cardiologist at the Heart & Vascular Center at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, said in the release. “These training kits will allow parents to feel confident and empowered to perform CPR successfully should an emergency occur with their child.”
The New Hampshire Transportation Council will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 9 a.m. at NHDOT, 7 Hazen Drive, Room 114, in Concord, to discuss the New Hampshire Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan recently approved by the Federal Highway Administration. The purpose of the meeting, according to a press release, is to explain the plan to the public, discuss public comments received during the plan’s development and answer questions from the public. The meeting will also be attendable via Zoom. Visit dot.nh.gov.
The Upper Room, a family resource center located at 36 Tsienneto Road in Derry, will host a three-part “Active Parenting for 0- to 5-year-olds” educational series for parents of young children. The series will run weekly on Wednesdays for three consecutive weeks, starting on Wednesday, Oct. 12, and sessions will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Participants will learn skills such as how to identify what a baby’s cry might mean, how to manage the “terrible twos” and more. Visit urteachers.org or call 427-8477, ext. 124.
UpReach Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Goffstown is looking for volunteers to assist in mounted programming, including Therapeutic Riding, Hippotherapy and Carriage Driving; unmounted (no riding) programs, which involve working with horses from the ground; and barn chores, such as mucking stalls, turnout, cleaning buckets, hay distribution, sweeping and more. Volunteer training sessions are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 29, from 9 a.m. to noon, and Tuesday, Nov. 1, from 1 to 4 p.m., with an additional training required for those working directly with horses offered on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 1 to 4 p.m., and Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 1 to 3 p.m. Volunteers must be at least 14 years of age, and horse experience is helpful, but not required. Visit upreachtec.org.
We were thrilled to learn last year that our daughter and her family living in Florida were relocating to New Hampshire. Our grandson would be nearby, and his parents too. Plans were made, houses were sold and bought, and the relocation process began. Imagine everyone’s shock when it was quickly discovered that there was no daycare available for our grandson in New Hampshire. No center within a reasonable geographical distance had availability, and in fact most had lengthy waitlists. The pause button was hit, and a Plan B evolved.
A recent article in NH Business Review, “In search of childcare solutions,” addresses the child care shortage. The article notes, “The reasons behind the waitlists are part of a vicious cycle. Workers are leaving childcare centers due to low pay. In turn, the centers are not able to take in as many children, because they lack staff and can’t meet the required teacher-child ratios. In an attempt to solve this, childcare centers raise their rates, so they can pay workers a higher wage and retain them. However, this results in some families having trouble affording childcare.” Lather, rinse, repeat.
In 2014, as part of my Leadership NH program, Steven Rowe, who at the time was President of Endowment for Health, gave a compelling presentation. He noted that the developing brain is like a sponge, and by age 3, 80 percent of the neural construction is complete. What happens in those first three years is critical in terms of early childhood development. He noted that investments in early childhood development yield, by far, the greatest returns. Yet as a society we invest the least at the time of greatest impact. NH Business Review confirms this in its recent article. It notes according to nhchilddata.org, the average annual pay of the state’s child care workers is $24,490 compared to the average annual income in New Hampshire of $59,270 (not even half).
This year the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services created the Child Care Strengthening Plan, funded through American Rescue Plan funds (see dhhs.nh.gov). Its goals include building a better child care system, helping more families afford quality child care over the next three years, and ensuring equal access to child care programs, services and activities. It’s a start in addressing a glaring problem for New Hampshire families. In addition to delivering on the details of this plan, we should also be planning for what’s beyond it. As we prepare to vote in November, this is a great topic to discuss with the candidates when they ask for your vote.
See movies and join the festival jury at Manhattan Short
See 10 movies and then vote for your favorite film and favorite actor at the Manhattan Short film festival, which will screen all over the world but locally at NHTI in Concord from Friday, Sept. 30, through Sunday, Oct. 2.
Admission costs $10.
The films range in subject matter from serious historical and political issues to short stories with a sense of humor that deliver almost punchline-like conclusions. The films come from around the world: Scotland, Spain, Australia, Finland, Lebanon, Czech Republic, Slovakia, U.S. and France.
Two movies use different styles of animation to examine a family’s history: In Freedom Swimmer sketch-like illustrations (often white on black or dark backgrounds) illustrate a conversation between a granddaughter, uncertain about her future in modern Hong Kong, and her grandfather, who fled China for Hong Kong in the 1950s. Love, Dad uses a style of animation that blends collage and stop-motion, with figures frequently appearing as the cut-out shape in a letter or as “animated” photos.
Another standout for me (I was able to see a screening of the films thanks to local festival organizers) is Don vs Lightning. We all have flaws, a neighbor tells Don. She has an extra toe; Don happens to frequently get struck with lightning. This Scottish movie rolls a lot of charm into his tale.
Fans of Cobra Kai will recognize Peyton List (she plays Tory on the Netflix show), who stars in the quirky violent comedy Save the Bees with Jackson Pace (whose credits include 9-1-1: Lone Star). Spanish film The Treatment is a perfect amuse bouche of cleverness ending in a fun punchline. Freefall highlights a grim moment from the book Swimming with Sharks by Joris Luyendijk, about finance bros in London (spoiler alert: the finance bros do not come off as good guys). Both Fetish and The Big Green basically use a woman’s internal monologue, with Fetish going for broad comedy and The Big Green something a little quieter and more reflective.
I’m not usually a fan of kid-in-peril short films (what happens to the kid? How do I prevent this from happening to my kid?!?) but The Blanket does a good job of giving us a little girl with her little-girl playfulness and her big-sister task to go get some milk for her family set against war in Finland in 1939. Luckily, you can calm down with Warsha, a slice of life of a man who works construction and has no space for himself in the apartment he shares with what appears to be like a dozen guys. He finds a somewhat terrifying but oddly peaceful spot to let himself relax and dream.
This year’s finalists range in length from 9 minutes (the delightfully pithy The Treatment) to just over 19 minutes, with most of them hitting the 10-to-15-minute range. I’ve seen shorts collections (think the Oscar documentary shorts in particular) with films that stretch beyond 30 minutes but the overall shorter runtimes of these films makes them an ideal experience for those who are new to short films screenings.
After the screenings, viewers will get to vote for their favorites, picking a best film and best actor. The winners, as picked by international audiences, will be announced at manhattanshort.com on Monday, Oct. 3.
Manhattan Short Where: NHTI, 31 College Drive in Concord When: Friday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m; Saturday, Oct. 1, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 2, at 2 p.m. Tickets: Admission costs $10. More info: manhattanshort.com
