Category: Featured Content

Chill fun

Winter Fest returns to downtown Concord

Coinciding with the Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament is the fourth annual Concord NH Winter Festival on Saturday, Jan. 29. There will be indoor and outdoor festivities for all ages, including shopping, food, entertainment, tours and more.

“There are not a lot of family-friendly events this time of year, and that is what makes this event special,” said Jessica Martin, Executive Director of Intown Concord, which organizes the Winter Festival in partnership with The Hotel Concord.

Ice carvers will demonstrate their craft and compete in a live ice carving competition during the Winter Festival. Courtesy photo.

The highlight of the event is the live ice carving competition featuring “New England’s best ice carvers,” Martin said. It’s free and open to the public on the Statehouse lawn from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ice carvers will also be there on Friday, Jan. 28, the day before the festival, doing live ice carving demonstrations from 3 to 9 p.m.

“This year we have seven carvers participating in the competition, which is the most we have had to-date,” Martin said, adding that the carvings will remain on display at the Statehouse for the week following the festival.

Main Street restaurants and retail shops will be open for a Winter Shopping Stroll; Red River Theatres will have a matinee screening of the animated family film Smallfoot (2018, PG) at 10 a.m. (tickets cost $5); and the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center will run games and interactive activities starting at 10:30 a.m.

Guided tours of the inside of the Statehouse will be offered, starting every 30 minutes from noon to 3:30 p.m. The tour lasts around 45 minutes and will include opportunities to see the Hall of Flags, which has more than 100 battle flags on display from the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War; the House of Representatives chamber and Senate chambers, which have national significance as the oldest continuously used legislative chambers in the U.S.; the Governor and Executive Council chambers and more.

“There are more than 200 portraits to view as you tour the building,” Martin said, “and it’s always fun to see the Visitor Center’s First in the Nation Primary display and Bicentennial dioramas.”

The Winter Festival Stage, which will be set up on South Main Street next to O Steaks and Seafood restaurant, will be a hotspot of activity, including an ice bar, complimentary hot cocoa, s’mores toasting and more. The stage will feature a variety of live entertainment, starting with a dance party with DJ Darren Roy at 11 a.m., followed by storyteller Ade Shields (11:30 to 11:45 a.m., and 1:35 to 1:50 p.m.), local singer-songwriter Jasmine Mann (11:50 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., and 1:15 to 1:30 p.m.), New England folk-rock band The Penniless Jacks (12:20 to 12:50 p.m., and 2:10 to 2:40 p.m.) and family-friendly drag performer ChiChi Marvel (1 to 1:10 p.m., and 1:55 to 2:05 p.m.)

A free shuttle service will be available, running between the Statehouse, the Hotel Concord, the Holiday Inn and the Black Ice Hockey Tournament at White Park throughout the day.

Martin said attendees should continue practicing Covid safety — masks are not required but are strongly encouraged for indoor activities — and should have no difficulty staying spread out.

“This outdoor festival will offer people the space they need to socially distance themselves,” she said.

Concord NH Winter Festival

Where: Main Street, Concord
When: Saturday, Jan. 29. Most activities will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ice carving demonstrations will take place on Friday, Jan. 28, from 3 to 9 p.m.
Cost: Admission is free. Certain activities may have a fee.
More info: Visit intownconcord.org or call 226-2150.

Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Black Ice Pond Hockey Association.

News & Notes 22/01/27

Covid-19 update As of Jan 14 As of Jan 24
Total cases statewide 235,898 265,140
Total current infections statewide 21,291 15,641
Total deaths statewide 2,079 2,145
New cases 12,299 (Jan. 11 to Jan. 14) 29,242 (Jan. 15 to Jan. 24)
Current infections: Hillsborough County 7,055 4,843
Current infections: Merrimack County 2,234 1,842
Current infections: Rockingham County 4,372 2,885
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

Covid-19 news

During the state’s weekly public health update on Jan. 19, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that, on average, there were 3,100 new infections of Covid-19 per day over the previous week, up from an average of 2,500 the week before. Just a day earlier, on Jan. 18, the number of overall cases of the virus in New Hampshire since the start of the pandemic officially surpassed a quarter of a million. According to Gov. Chris Sununu, the omicron variant is now by far the dominant Covid strain in the state, accounting for a high majority of new daily cases. “On the positive side, omicron … appears to have much less severe symptoms and it’s likely that there are many people out there who are asymptomatic or don’t even know that they have Covid,” Sununu said during the press conference. “[We want] to urge people … to really watch for symptoms. Be sure you’re taking them very seriously. … The booster is so critical and really makes all the difference in the world in terms of the severity of symptoms.”

New fixed vaccination sites with walk-in access opened in Stratham and Concord last week, with more on the way in Keene, Salem, Manchester and Nashua. “We’re trying to make sure we have good geographic access,” Sununu said. “In addition, we expect a teens fixed vaccination site to be online before the end of the month.” Go to covid19.nh.gov for the most up-to-date details.

Cancer concerns

Residents of Merrimack, Litchfield, Bedford and Londonderry are invited to attend a virtual public information meeting via Zoom on Thursday, Jan. 27, at 6:30 p.m., which will provide updates and answer questions on the status of cancer in the community. According to a press release from the state Department of Health and Human Services, the meeting’s agenda will include background on the protocol for responding to community concerns about cancer, the history of the response in Merrimack, the most recent data analysis and a discussion of the next steps in the investigation, before moving on to a question and answer session. Contact the DHHS Cancer program at 271-4959 or visit dhhs.nh.gov for more details.

New political poll

A recent Saint Anselm College poll found that 74 percent of New Hampshire registered voters believe the country is on the wrong track, versus only 16 percent who believe it is headed in the right direction. According to a press release, the college’s survey center at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics collected data from cell phone users on Jan. 11 and Jan. 12, each of whom were randomly drawn from a sample of registered voters. The poll also found that 62 percent of voters approve of the job Gov. Chris Sununu has done managing the Covid-19 pandemic, while only 40 percent approve of the job President Joe Biden has done. Full results can be viewed at anselm.edu/new-hampshire-institute-politics.

Energy and abortion bills

Last week, lawmakers addressed a couple of noteworthy bills in the House. According to a report from WMUR, the House voted unanimously to approve a bill to restore the state’s energy efficiency program, which proponents say would help homeowners save money, reduce costs for utilities, lower energy needs in the state and provide jobs to contractors, who would be needed to assess homes and help homeowners find more efficient energy options. The Public Utilities Commission gutted the program last year, according to the report, and energy efficiency contractors warned that a short-term effect will be hundreds of layoffs and difficulties for homeowners wanting to make energy- and money-saving improvements. An amended version of the bill has now cleared a Senate committee with full bipartisan support, the report said, and the hope is that the governor will have the bill on his desk by the end of February.

Another bill working its way through the House would amend the restrictive abortion laws put in place last year; the new bill would allow for exceptions to the 24-week abortion ban in cases of rape, incest or fatal fetal abnormality, according to WMUR. House Republicans overhauled the bill, replacing it with an amendment that would say ultrasounds are not mandatory before an abortion unless the fetus is within range of 24 weeks gestation, the report said

PFAS FAQ

The New Hampshire Insurance Department recently released a Frequently Asked Questions document with information on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) testing, according to a press release. PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals used to manufacture household and commercial products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water. For decades, they’ve been used in many consumer products, like nonstick cookware, stain-resistant furniture and carpets, microwave popcorn bags and other food packaging. According to the release, PFAS has impacted several areas of New Hampshire, including groundwater contamination at Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, and water and soil contamination and air emissions from local industrial facilities. Some studies of PFAS exposure in humans suggest that it may cause various adverse health effects. “The need for Granite Staters to access testing for PFAS chemicals is incredibly important,” state Deputy Insurance Commissioner D.J. Bettencourt said in a statement. “[We are] pleased to make this informational document available to help citizens better understand the role that their insurance coverage plays in testing.” The Frequently Asked Questions document can be viewed online in full at nh.gov/insurance, by clicking on “health insurance” under the “for consumers” tab.

Essay contest

New Hampshire Leadership PAC is sponsoring its second annual First in the Nation essay contest, available for all high school seniors in the state to enter. According to a press release, essays between 500 and 800 words must be submitted by April 8 — participants are asked to best articulate the benefits of New Hampshire conducting the first-in-the-nation presidential primary. Students can either mail their essays to Essay, PO Box 6052, Amherst, NH 03031 or email them in PDF format to [email protected]. Winners will be announced May 6. Cash scholarship prizes for the top three essay entries will be awarded during a presentation to be held in Concord on May 18. “The next generation of young leaders will be inheriting the first in the nation tradition, hopefully, and we want to inspire them to not only vote but to also be actively engaged in the process,” Republican National Committeeman Chris Ager said in a statement. For more details, visit chrisager.com/essay-contest.

The New Hampshire Food Bank in Concord was the recipient of $122,000 that was raised at the recent Distiller’s Showcase put on by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission. According to a press release, the eighth annual showcase, which is the signature event of Distiller’s Week, was the most successful one yet.

The Manchester VA Medical Center opened its new $14.5 million, 16,000-square-foot Urgent Care Center last week. According to a press release, the new center offers veterans increased safety and infection prevention, in part by relocating urgent care services to allow direct access from the outside and adding an exam room designed for women veterans, and a psychiatric holding room.

Students from Milford High School were named “We the People: The Citizen and Constitution” state champions earlier this month. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Bar Association, students from Hollis-Brookline and John Stark Regional high schools also participated in the final round of the annual event, which gives students the chance to show their knowledge of Constitutional Law principles through simulated congressional hearings where they “testify” before judges acting as members of Congress.

Students helping students

It’s a tough time to be in the world of education. Local school boards spend their time addressing parental concerns on critical race theory, mask and vaccine mandates, and in-person versus remote learning. Faculty, staff and administration offer another perspective on these topics. With all the background noise, the purpose of education easily gets overlooked, and many students are struggling in the current dynamic environment. Consider what it must be like for refugee students who have landed in this new world of learning.

Recently I spoke with Riyah Patel, founder of New American Scholars, a New Hampshire-based nonprofit that provides peer-to-peer tutoring and mentorship to refugee students. Riyah started this nonprofit last summer at the age of 15 because she herself had struggled with remote learning, finding it difficult to connect with her instructors and peers. If she was struggling, how difficult must it be for kids who have been forced from their countries and homes, landing here with scant resources?

Riyah reached out to local refugee organizations and inquired about interest in a summer tutoring program for this population. The response was overwhelming. Because she had only one tutor (herself), she limited her services to 10 students. She then connected with the Concord Public Library for space. With her parents’ help on transportation, she was up and running.

The students ranged in age from fifth grade to high school. She grouped the kids based on their skill levels and worked with them Monday through Friday over the course of the summer. Due to cultural and language barriers, combined with the online learning system, the kids felt behind and abandoned by the American school system, yet they were engaged in the tutoring process and wanted to learn and fill in the knowledge gaps. By summer’s end, all students had shown immense progress. Riyah’s vision is to expand and offer services statewide, possibly partnering with schools. Her goal is for this nonprofit to become self-sustaining and carry on for many years to come. The website is up and running (newamericanscholars.org), and she is seeking additional tutors for the coming summer.

Perhaps there is a lesson in this story for the American education system. Sometimes we must cut through the noise and get down to the business of educating students, all of them, creating learning opportunities that meet individual students where they are. There are many ways to do this, and one very passionate and motivated 15-year-old student is leading the way.

Rascal remembers

Ahead of biography, Felix Cavaliere performs

Felix Cavaliere’s voice powered hits like “Groovin’,” “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long” and “It’s A Beautiful Morning” into the cultural zeitgeist, landing his band The Rascals in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He’s still on the road, satisfying fans who never stopped craving the group’s signature brand of blue-eyed soul, even though they split after less than a decade together.

At the relentless urging of E Street Band guitarist and satellite radio impresario Steven Van Zandt, The Rascals reunited in 2012 for the multimedia show Once Upon A Dream. It ran on Broadway and toured North America the following year. As the group swung through press conferences in different cities, Cavaliere decided to start work on an autobiography.

“They would ask us questions individually, and everybody had a different answer,” he said by phone recently. “I said, ‘Wow, was I there or did I dream this?’ It’s kind of like when you tell a joke and somebody repeats it, it’s never the same. … I thought, I’ve gotta make sure, for my sanity if nothing else, that I write down my story.”

Memoir Of A Rascal arrives March 22. A big part of the book covers their time with Atlantic Records. The Young Rascals were one of the first rock groups signed by the legendary R&B label. They made the deal after turning down an offer from producer Phil Spector.

Their decision to go was driven by a desire for creative control.

“I knew that if we went with Phil, we wouldn’t sound like what we sounded like,” Cavaliere said. “We would sound like Phil … that big wall of sound. But Atlantic said, ‘Yeah, you guys can produce yourselves,’ and I was adamant about that.”

The unanticipated presence of Atlantic co-producer Arif Mardin, who decades later helmed Norah Jones’s chart-topping debut album, made a big difference, Cavaliere said.

“Then good fortune comes into the picture,” he said with a laugh. “You can’t really put into words the addition that was to our music. … It’s like The Beatles with George Martin. This gentleman not only became one of my dearest friends, but like wow, man, was he talented! He was phenomenal.”

Working at the home of artists like Ray Charles, Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin was “just a joy,” Cavaliere said. “First of all, my record collection at that time was three quarters Atlantic, and one quarter Motown. To be on that label was not only a treat, but that place was all about making good music. They made it so easy and comfortable for us, [and] for that I’ll always be grateful.”

Cavaliere spent most of the past year and half in Nashville, where he’s lived for several years, finishing his book and making an album called Then & Now, which pairs classic favorites with newly written tunes.

“Out of the two million songs that interest me, I chose five and re-recorded them. … I did Jackie Wilson’s ‘Higher and Higher’ and Ben E King’s ‘Spanish Harlem,’ and I wrote five new ones that were influenced by that,” he said.

In October he made a tentative return to the stage at a tribute concert for Lee Greenwood. Though it was an odd pairing for Cavaliere, whose liberal resume includes co-writing “People Got To Be Free” and working for Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign, the two go back to their early days as musicians.

“He’s an old friend, and he’s done well for himself,” he said. “We are on opposite poles of the universe, but that’s OK, he’s a good guy.”

The two initially connected when Cavaliere and future Rascals drummer Dino Danelli first played together at the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas, backing Sandu Scott, a forgotten singer bankrolled by her hotelier husband. Greenwood was with a group that approached him with an offer. Scott called her band Her Scotties, and for the duration of their brief run Cavaliere and Danelli wore traditional kilts on stage.

“Hey,” said Cavaliere, “everyone’s gotta work.”

An Evening With Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals

When: Friday, Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester
Tickets: $50.50 and $60.50 at palacetheatre.org

Featured photo: Felix Cavaliere. Courtesy photo.

Flavors of the islands

Caribbean Breeze now open in Nashua

A new restaurant in Nashua is a one-stop culinary destination for authentic Caribbean eats, featuring Haitian, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Jamaican and Dominican items all under the same roof.

Jamaican jerk chicken. Photo courtesy of Caribbean Breeze.

Caribbean Breeze, now open in the former Norton’s Classic Cafe space on the corner of Main and West Hollis streets, is owned and operated by Gerald Oriol, a seasoned executive chef with more than three decades of experience. Originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Oriol said he came up with the idea for Caribbean Breeze’s concept after noticing a lack of area establishments that offered a variety of menu items from more than one island nation or territory.

“This is a true Caribbean restaurant,” Oriol said. “You can order food from different countries in the Caribbean [and] you have more than one choice if you wanted to try different flavors.”

The eatery’s dinner menu breaks down each item by its origin and gives you the option to choose plated entrees or side dishes from there. For the most part, Oriol said, their differences have to do with traditional cooking styles, spices and seasoning bases, rather than the foods themselves. Griot, for instance, is a Haitian dish featuring pork shoulder marinated in a citrus spice, braised and then fried before it’s served with pikliz, a spicy pickled vegetable slaw. Pernil, on Caribbean Breeze’s Puerto Rican menu, is also pork shoulder, but is slow-cooked and served with arroz con gandules, or a combination of rice and pigeon peas.

Pineapple upside down cake. Photo courtesy of Caribbean Breeze.

Other options include Haitian-style red snapper; Jamaican oxtail, curry or jerk chicken; mofongo, a Puerto Rican dish featuring fried mashed plantains; pollo guisado, or Dominican stewed chicken; scratch-made pineapple upside-down cake as a dessert; and ropa vieja, the national dish of Cuba featuring shredded slow-cooked beef served with black beans and rice.

Because the space had an established loyal following for its breakfast when it was known as Norton’s, Oriol said, he decided to continue it. That menu includes many familiar items the former cafe was known for, from pancakes, French toast and Belgian waffles to egg sandwiches, omelets and more. A lunch menu, served six days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., similarly features many of the same burgers, sandwiches, wraps and salads.

Oriol hopes to add more Caribbean entrees to the menu as time goes on, while the bar in the back of the restaurant will also soon be serving various beers imported from each island. Eventually, he said, he’d like to begin branding Caribbean Breeze as a franchise with additional locations.

Caribbean Breeze

Where: 233 Main St., Nashua
Hours: Daily, 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 9 p.m. (2:30 to 9 p.m. for DoorDash or GrubHub)
Call 883-4340 or find them on DoorDash or GrubHub to place an order.

Featured photo: Haitian red snapper. Photo courtesy of Caribbean Breeze.

Wheels on the trail

Bike the Windham Rail Trail — yes, even in winter

By James LeBoeuf

[email protected]

James LeBoeuf is a local outdoor enthusiast, writer and musician. He grew up in the southern New Hampshire region and seeks out nature wherever he can find it. Below, he shares his appreciation for the Windham Rail Trail.

The Windham Rail Trail is a true local gem of southern New Hampshire.

Situated between Route 28, Route 111 and North Lowell Road in Windham, it offers a welcome respite from the rigors of the commerce of Route 28 as it travels up out of Massachusetts and into Salem. It is a haven for all outdoor activities that don’t require a motor, as no motorized vehicles are allowed. And one of its most popular uses is biking — which you can do even in the dead of winter.

Life of the trail

First, a little history. (I gathered my information from the Windham Rail Trail Alliance website, windhamrailtrail.org, and from nashuacitystation.org.)

The Windham Rail Trail started out like all of the other rail trails, as a railroad. From 1847 to 1849 a project was undertaken to build a rail line to facilitate movement of products between two then mill cities — Manchester, New Hampshire and Lawrence, Mass. This section was part of a new connection as there already existed a Salem portion and a Derry portion. The Windham section proved to be very costly as much land needed to be filled in to bring the surrounding lowlands up to grade and to also bore through the long granite ledges that stood in the way. This line operated until 1980, when it was abandoned and the rails were removed for scrap.

Here is where the story starts for us rail trailers. In 2003 the State of New Hampshire called for a citizens advisory committee to develop an off-road travel way along the Interstate 93 corridor. The initial idea was to develop a path that ran all the way to Concord that would encourage ways other than an automobile to head north. The Salem, Windham and Derry rail beds proved to be perfect for this. The decision was made to pave the trails to make them more usable and much easier to maintain. Together with the partially paved Salem trail and the Derry trail this forms the longest paved rail trail in the state.

Get biking

When I was growing up there were a few neighborhood daredevils I knew who even in the snow would take out their trusty bikes and slip and slide around. Usually it was a short-lived adventure as the cold and snow took over. Let’s face it, those skinny-wheeled 10-speeds of old were dry-weather machines.

Today there are all sorts of bikes made for all-season use: Think fat tire bikes. These sturdy bikes along with light and warm clothing keep the biking fun going even when the snows grace the trails. More than once I heard the familiar call of “ on your left!,” which is an alert that a cyclist is approaching faster than you are traveling and wants to pass, while I was cross-country skiing. The Windham Rail Trail is truly a four-season all-weather place.

There is more than one way to access the Windham Rail Trail but I find the best starting point to be off North Lowell Road in the Windham Depot section of Windham.

You can access this off both Route 111 and Route 28. The way off Route 111 on North Lowell Road winds along a wooded stretch passing equine farms and fields until it comes into the depot proper. As you round a curve you will see the Windham Junction gift shop. They serve a nice pre-ride breakfast or a post-ride lunch.

As you pass the store on your left old C16 comes into view. C16 is a restored caboose from the heyday of the railroad. Across the street is an ample parking lot. As you head out onto the trail proper look off to your right and down into the wood. You will see remnants of a mill stream cutting through the mire and granite. This stream passes under the trail and will feed the many marshes and ponds you will see. As you enter the trail, trees arch overhead and woods line both sides.

Nature & wildlife

The trail is overall flat with some slight grades, but none that would be considered a true hill. Proceeding down the trail the waters open on the left as serene marshes, at times right at trailside, at other times down below the grade. One of the most intriguing aspects of the trails are the granite “tunnels” the trail passes through. These are not truly tunnels as they have no roof but instead are steep granite walls that rise up right off both sides of the trail. These are vestiges of the rail line. The fact that they had to cut through so much granite to lay the rail bed down creates a treasure for us today. In winter intricate ice sculptures form from the waters that flow through holes in the stone. And keep your eyes open for the varied wildlife that can be found here. You can spot many varieties of waterfowl, hawks, fisher cats and deer. Early on the trail I did spot a beaver dam that created a small pond and a bit of a fast-water stream.

There are many side trails that veer off if you are inclined to explore. Most any day of the week during any season you can find a wide variety of people enjoying the peace of the woods and the fresh air, from parents with children taking a walk to folks walking dogs to well-suited cyclists on top-tier bikes.

With only two road crossings the trail is different from most. If you are seeking exercise either vigorous or moderate or just need to shake that cabin fever, the Windham Rail Trail can accommodate.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

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