Category: Featured Content

Voting principles

Being first in the nation for the presidential primary, we in New Hampshire take our politics seriously. Our residents generally take the time to educate themselves before heading to the polls and make a considered, thoughtful vote. The pandemic has changed the way we live our lives and restricted our freedom in many ways. Fortunately, it didn’t slow our desire or ability to vote in the primary on Sept. 8. With more than 90,000 absentee ballots cast, Secretary of State Bill Gardner reported a record turnout with total ballots cast of over 300,000. If you voted in person, there were mask requirements, social distancing, hand sanitizer, and for those who refused to wear a mask, outside voting stations were available in many towns. The months of preparation for a smooth and successful primary election were on display.

In the “Live Free or Die” state we call home, our residents typically have strong convictions and principled views, making it sometimes nearly impossible to prepare for every circumstance during voting day. Just ask Exeter Town Moderator Paul Scafidi. After he informed a voter that she could not wear an anti-Trump T-shirt inside the polling place, the woman surprised everybody by simply taking the T-shirt off and voting topless. In Portsmouth two individuals took exception with being asked to wear a mask to vote, or alternatively to vote in the tented area outside. Both individuals refused to comply with either request, necessitating a call to the police. Ultimately they were allowed to vote inside without a mask, with one noting they “stood up for the courage of our convictions,” according to media reports.

There is an awful lot we don’t agree on these days — who to vote for, Covid-19, mask requirements, in-person or remote learning, and the list goes on. One thing our spirited residents do agree on is the importance of casting your ballot. Gov. Chris Sununu recently tweeted, “Make no mistake: the election will happen in New Hampshire on November 3rd. End of story. Our voting system in NH is secure, safe, and reliable. We have done it right 100% of the time for 100 years – this year will be no different.” Well said. May the Granite State tradition continue.

Back in front

Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers return to NH

After months of livestreams, it felt good for Erin Harpe to finally see some real people from the stage of the Midway Café, a music club located a few blocks away from her Boston apartment. True, Harpe and her bass player/husband Jim Countryman stood behind sheets of plastic glass hung at face level — he called it “chicken wire for Covid-19” — but there was an actual crowd.

The late August set also played on her Facebook page.

“Even though the audience was small, it was really fun to play for them,” Harpe said recently by phone. “Even the people watching it streaming told me they enjoyed seeing them just hearing it.”

On Friday, Sept. 11, a four-piece version of her band Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers will perform an electric set at Zinger’s, as the Milford venue returns to live music and comedy. Joining Harpe and Countryman are drummer Shawn Meehan and harmonica player Jason Novak.

Inspired by artists like Memphis Minnie and Sippie Wallace, along with modern contemporaries Bonnie Raitt and Rory Block, Harpe and her mates serve up some of the region’s most authentic blues, singing and playing guitar. 2020 marks their tenth anniversary as a band. They began playing sit-down acoustic blues before ultimately plugging in.

They won a New England Music Award in 2019 for Blues Artist of the Year and are multiple Boston Music Award nominees, taking the blues trophy in 2012, and five-time Boston Blues Challenge champs.

Harpe just completed a new album, Meet Me In The Middle, her first all-acoustic effort in a dozen years. The LP was born out of a duo tour she and Countryman did in the U.K. last year. She explained that the material on it reflects a challenging period for the couple.

“It covers everything from loneliness to love, to getting along better,” Harpe said. “The last couple of years actually have been kind of tough for me and Jim. We’ve lost some family members and some fur baby family members, gone through different band members.”

There are a couple of gospel songs, including one she sang at a family funeral, along with “fun, upbeat stuff” like the rollicking “Women Be Wise,” with Harpe accompanying herself on kazoo. The record is slated for release in October.

Harpe grew up steeped in blues music; her father is also a performer, and the two have recorded together. But it wasn’t a given that child would follow parent. Harpe only began performing in earnest after college, when she moved to Boston at a friend’s behest and found a burgeoning open mic scene.

Meeting Countryman led to the formation of Lovewhip, a world music band quite different from what she grew up with. Harpe allows it was a rebellious act, though her dad “really doesn’t want to say that word out loud.” Harpe became a fan of African music while studying in Kenya.

“Lovewhip is just a rock dance band,” she said. “We’ve done everything from reggae and dancehall and Afropop to disco and funk and EDM.”

The group gained a quick following, including two famous fans who helped spotlight world music in the United States near the end of the 1970s: Chris Franz and Tina Weymouth, of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club.

“I grew up in the ’80s, I love the music and I love those guys,” Harpe said. “We actually wanted to meet them … and we ended up, well, not stalking them, but kind of trying to manifest a meeting. We ended up opening for them in Portland, Maine, and have become great friends.”

The Delta Swingers came about almost accidentally, when Lovewhip went to Austin to play a SXSW showcase in 2008. Harpe was approached by someone who’d heard her first album of solo acoustic blues recorded on a Minidisc player in 2000, and asked her to play an event called Not South By Southwest.

“It turned out that the blues was more popular than Lovewhip in Austin, Texas,” Harpe said. “We got up with this whole scene down there … country and bluegrass and rockabilly. They really embraced us. We got all this European radio play out of the couple performances we did there. After a couple of years of that, we said, ‘Let’s do a band around this.’”

Harpe looks forward to playing New Hampshire again, their first appearance in the state since Manchester’s Strange Brew a few weeks before the pandemic hit. Last fall they did one of the final shows at Riverwalk Café in nearby Nashua.

“We love Milford,” she said. “I think we have quite a few fans in the area, so hopefully we’ll see a lot of friends we haven’t seen in a while.”

Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers
When: Friday, Sept. 11, 8 p.m.
Where: Zinger’s, 29 Mont Vernon St., Milford
Tickets: $22 at growtix.com

In the kitchen with Beau Gamache

Beau Gamache of Manchester is the owner and founder of Ray Street Pizza (raystreetpizza.com, and on Facebook and Instagram @raystreetpizza), which offers a variety of fresh cooked pizzas available for private events. As Gamache explains, pizza-making started as a hobby back in 2011, when his now-wife Maddie returned home from studying abroad in Italy and raved about the traditional margherita pizza there. After several years of trial and error mastering the basics of making a good-quality pizza dough and sauce, Gamache started an Instagram account in 2017 that was then known as “ThePizzaGram” before renaming it Ray Street Pizza. He’s dabbled in all kinds of pizzas, including plain cheese but also sweet pepperoni with a honey drizzle, a white pizza with balsamic reduction and arugula, and a sausage ricotta pizza, and has dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan options. He’s also made his own spin on a dessert pizza, featuring a cannoli filling base, Bananas Foster, a Nutella drizzle and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Eventually, Gamache said, he’d like to open his own brick-and-mortar gourmet pizza restaurant.

What is your must-have kitchen item?

It would probably have to be a pizza peel. In my opinion, the best pizza is cooked directly on stone, or on the surface of whatever oven you’re using.

Would what you have for your last meal?

Either my own cheese pizza or some Indian food. I really like paneer masala.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

Republic [Cafe] and Campo [Enoteca in Manchester], a hundred percent. They’re called The Republic of Campo now, because they’re in the same building. The spicy whipped feta is really good. I also recently had the butternut squash ravioli there and it was one of the best dishes I’ve ever had.

What celebrity would you like to see trying one of your pizzas?

Anthony Bourdain, if he was still alive, or [Food Network host] Alton Brown.

What is your favorite pizza topping that you’ve made?

A nice crispy thick-cut pepperoni. … I like the crust super thin, but not too crunchy.

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

I feel like there has been a lot of fusion going on, which is awesome.

What is your favorite thing to make at home?

I love to make guacamole, with a little bit of lime juice, fresh minced garlic, salt and pepper

Basil and kale pesto
Courtesy of Beau Gamache of Ray Street Pizza (can be used for white pizzas, fresh bread, pasta or any antipasti dish)
2 cups chopped kale
3 cups fresh basis
½ cup raw cashews, walnuts or pine nuts
½ cup olive oil
3 cloves minced garlic
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
½ teaspoon sea salt
A few pinches of pepper
Pinch of crushed red pepper (optional)
Combine kale, basil, cashews, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt and vinegar in a food processor or immersion blender until smooth. Season with pepper and crushed red pepper to taste.

Tenet (PG-13)

Film Reviews by Amy Diaz

John David Washington is exactly the A-list blend of dramatic gravitas and action chops that he appeared to be in BlacKkKlansman and watching him is the best part of Tenet, Christopher Nolan’s two-and-a-half-hour movie that has been saddled with the job of Saving Movie Theaters.

Will it save movies? According to Variety on Sept. 6, Tenet made a little over $20 million during Labor Day weekend in the U.S. and was at a worldwide total of around $146 million (it opened internationally before it hit screens in the U.S.). When I saw the movie on Sept. 1, I was one of six people in the screening room (which is actually not terrible for a mid-week 6 p.m. movie, based on my experience). So … we’ll see?

About the movie itself: I’ll try not to spoil anything major, but I don’t promise anything, partly because I’m not entirely sure what would be a spoiler. The most basic description for this movie I’ve seen is something like “spy action with sci-fi elements.” To me, it falls in the “Christopher Nolan genre”: There’s a lot of deep bass “wahm wahm”-ing on the score, there’s a pervading sense of doom, there’s a fun Michael Caine scene.

Washington, whose character doesn’t have a name (I didn’t notice that while I was watching it but searching around afterward everything just calls him The Protagonist, which is how he refers to himself a few times), is a CIA-or-something agent whom we first meet while he’s on a mission in the Ukraine. The mission goes sideways but, after some torture and stuff, he is rescued and told he is now part of an even more secret mission, one he is given very little information about other than the word “tenet” and a little fingers-clasp-y gesture.

He partners with Neil (Robert Pattinson), a British intelligence operative, who helps him unravel the origins of some strange weapons he first saw in Ukraine. The movie becomes a series of heists: get into this impregnable place to meet this person, weasel into the orbit of this other person, steal this thing from this other impregnable place, etc, all leading up to a big battle.

The deeper we get into this movie the more I started to see its similarities to the Bill & Ted movies; there’s a fair amount of “because phone-booth time machine, just go with it” (though, strictly speaking, Tenet isn’t about time travel in the phone-booth sense). And I’m OK with that. I don’t need to see the math — one of the flaws of this movie is that it does a little too much trying to explain the math to us. Basically, the core idea of Tenet is based on a cool visual effect. It’s pretty cool the first time you see it and pretty cool throughout. If sliced down to its central elements, a pretty cool visual effect, a very compelling performance by its lead (Washington) and interesting chemistry in the core partnership (Washington and Pattinson, who does solid work here), Tenet has good bones.

But.

But the movie is at least 45 minutes longer than it needs to be. I get it — cool effect, look at all the ways we can use it. It gets exhausting after a while, especially in the final fight sequence, where I understood, in the macro sense, what was happening, but in the second-to-second sense it was frequently all a jumble of Stuff. I feel like we’re watching the same trick too many times and the more mechanics and repetition are piled on, the more the central performances and the urgency get lost.

Another “but”: I found myself annoyed by the handling of a character played by Elizabeth Debicki. I like Debicki (see also Widows) but there are a lot of irritating choices made with her. I don’t know that any of the Tenet characters act like recognizable humans but there are really only two female characters of any consequence and this one feels like she was written by an alien who has never met a woman.

The experience of watching Tenet was strange; I felt myself constantly alternating between thinking “ugh, enough, movie” and thinking “huh, cool.” The movie feels very self-aware, which I think is on purpose, but it is a little too impressed with its own cleverness. B-

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some suggestive references and brief strong language, according to the MPA on filmratings.com. Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, Tenet is two whole hours and then another 30 minutes on top of that and is distributed by Warner Bros. In theaters

Fall Guide

A look at how this fall is shaping up for arts and entertainment

Fall events are happening.

Though this year’s guide to arts and entertainment is smaller, theaters are presenting shows, galleries have exhibits, bands are performing and local food is being celebrated. (At least, that’s the way the schedule stands at the moment. As with everything these days, plans may change. Check with the venues about their safety protocols and scheduling processes.) In addition to live in-person events from now through Thanksgiving, we also take a look at a few from-home options to stay connected to your favorite arts organizations.

Need a reason to get excited about autumn? We collected a pile of fall fun.

Theater, inside and out

Local theater companies are taking a number of different approaches to their fall shows.

The Hatbox Theatre in Concord will carry on with indoor, in-person shows, including a mainstage production with a two-week run, but with strict safety measures.

“Hatbox is exceeding state guidelines by requiring mask use by all patrons and staff,” owner Andrew Pinard said. “Performers, when appropriate, will wear masks, but will also observe social distancing … [and] are encouraged to follow the same rules in rehearsal.”

The theater has sought out shows with a small cast and has suspended all musical performances until the spring of 2021, but “plans may change depending on the course of the pandemic,” Pinard said.

The Peacock Players have suspended all in-person mainstage productions until further notice but will still offer some smaller shows by its improv and musical theater troupes in Nashua’s Library Park.

“[We] will continue to engage our students, families and patrons through the remainder of the year … [through] live outdoor performances,” artistic director Keith Weirich said.

Theatre Kapow of Manchester will present its fall series, consisting of three one-person plays, as virtual performances.

“We love the energy of the in-person audience, but for this series, we will be engaging you [virtually],” said Carey Cahoon, an actor and director with the company. “Bring these three stories into your homes and find companionship in isolation.”

— Angie Sykeny

Performances

• The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith; winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org, call 279-0333) will present a season of three productions this fall, all of which will be performed at the Playhouse’s outdoor amphitheatre. The play Or, is going on now through Saturday, Sept. 12, with performances every day at 4 p.m. The Mountaintop will run from Sept. 16 through Sept. 26, with showtimes Wednesday through Sunday at 4 p.m. No Wake will run from Sept. 30 through Oct. 11, with showtimes Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus two additional shows on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 11, at 5 p.m. Tickets for all plays cost $29 to $39.

• The Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road, Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) will host a number of shows this fall, including a mainstage production of the A.R. Gurney play Love Letters from Sept. 11 through Sept. 27, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Performer Andrew Pinard will bring his show “Discovering Magic” to the stage on Wednesdays, Sept. 16, Oct. 14 and Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. Tiny Hands Productions presents its comedy show “Comedy Out of the ‘Box” on Thursdays, Sept. 24, Oct. 15 and Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Queen City Improv will perform on Thursdays, Sept. 17, Oct. 8 and Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for all shows cost $22 for adults and $19 for students and seniors.

• The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) will present a mainstage production of Nunsensefrom Sept. 11 through Oct. 4, with showtimes on Wednesdays, Sept. 16 and Sept. 30, Thursdays, Sept. 17 and Oct. 1, and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon and 5 p.m. Tickets cost $39 to $46 for adults and $25 for children. Then, the Palace kids will perform Beauty and the Beast Jr.,from Oct. 6 through Oct. 17, with showtimes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 7 p.m., and Saturday at noon. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for children. The musical The British Rock Experience will run Oct. 23 through Nov. 14, with showtimes on Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon and 5 p.m., with an additional show on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $39 to $46 for adults, $30 for seniors age 60 and up and veterans and $25 for children. Finally, the Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater will bring its traditional performance of The Nutcracker to the Palace stage on Thursday, Nov. 19, and Friday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 21, at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 22, at noon and 4:30 p.m. Tickets cost $39 to $46 for adults and $25 for children.

• The Majestic Theatre will present three shows at the Majestic Studio Theatre (880 Page St., Manchester; majestictheatre.net, 669-7469) this fall. Piano entertainers Keith Belanger and Robert Dionne perform in “Piano Men” on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m. Robert Dionne performs in the “Mix Tape” Piano Cabaret on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. The Rockin Daddios vocal group will perform on Saturday, Nov. 21, with shows at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 and must be purchased in advance.

From home: All three performances will also be offered virtually, livestreamed and recorded. Tickets for virtual shows cost $10 and must be purchased in advance.

• Cue Zero Theatre Co. (cztheatre.com) presents Shakespeare in the (Ball) Park, a reimagined baseball-themed version of Romeo and Juliet, at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester) on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $10.

• The Peacock Players (peacockplayers.org, 886-7000) will have two free outdoor shows in Library Park in Nashua. Technical Difficulties, the Players’ improv comedy troupe, will perform on Saturday, Oct. 24, and the Players’ musical theater troupes Spotlight and Center Stage will perform on Sunday, Oct. 25.

More stay-at-home theater

• The Manchester Community Theatre Players present a livestreamed performance of Blood on His Hands?, an original play by local playwrights Alan D. Kaplan and Tom Anastasi, Sept. 25 through Oct. 3, with performances on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. It’s free to watch. Visit manchestercommunitytheatre.com.

• Theatre Kapow will present a series of three livestreamed one-person plays this fall: Feast from Sept. 25 through Sept. 27, Natural Shocks from Oct. 23 through Oct. 25 and A Tempest Prayerfrom Nov. 20 through Nov. 22. Showtimes are on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit tkapow.com.

Artistic endeavors

Many local art galleries are open and ready to welcome visitors this fall.

“We are thrilled to be back in person after a few successful socially distant events,” said Kimball Jenkins executive director Julianne Gadoury, adding that there are currently four exhibitions being planned (and one there now) for the Concord estate’s galleries. The galleries are open to no more than 10 visitors at one time, and masks are required. Kimball Jenkins can continue to host in-person artist receptions safely outside on its upper lawn, Gadoury said, with distance between guests and refreshments served in individual portions.

Art 3 Gallery in Manchester just opened a new exhibit but is proceeding with caution; viewers are encouraged to explore the exhibit via a virtual tour on the gallery’s website, and if they prefer to see the exhibit in person they should call ahead so the gallery can ensure a safe number of visitors at all times. The current exhibit will stay up for around six weeks, gallery owner Joni Taube said, but plans for the rest of the fall are still up in the air.

“We have not decided what will go up next because of the pandemic,” Taube said. “One day at a time here.”

The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen has reopened its galleries at limited capacities across the state (including galleries in Concord, Hooksett, Nashua and Meredith).

“[They] are open and have full inventories of beautiful crafts by local artists,” said Sarah Nyhan, League communications and administrative director.

The League will continue extending its customer service to accommodate customers who aren’t ready to return to the galleries in person, Nyhan said. They can “shop” by phone or email and either pick up their items curbside or have their items shipped to their home.

— Angie Sykeny

Exhibitions

• Work by two New Hampshire Art Association artists is featured in “2020 Double Vision,” on view now through Sept. 17 in the lobby at 2 Pillsbury St. in Concord. Both artists create paintings inspired by scenes in New England and beyond. All artwork is for sale. Viewing hours are Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturday from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

From home: NHAA will present its 34th annual Lassonde Exhibit online as a virtual exhibit from Sept. 18 through Oct. 16. It will feature juried works by a number of artists following the theme “Travels Near and Far.”

• The League of NH Craftsmen headquarters (49 S. Main St., Concord; nhcrafts.org, 224-3375) has an exhibition, “Art, Craft & Design,” on view now through Sept. 27. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

From home: A virtual tour of the exhibit is offered on the League website.

• Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen; 975-0015, twiggsgallery.wordpress.com) has an exhibit, “Searching for Solace: Sacred Spaces/Sacred Places,” on view now through Sept. 27. It features paintings, sculpture, textiles and ceramics by 13 artists exploring the concept of personal sanctuary, with a focus on nature. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.

• The Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord; 225-3932, kimballjenkins.com) presents an exhibition, “Life’s Work: Occupations & Identity,” in its Carriage House Gallery now through Sept. 28, with an opening reception to take place on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 5 to 7 p.m., outside on the upper lawn. The exhibit features portrait photography by Maundy Mitchell that explores the evolution of trades and societal views on identity and jobs. Gallery hours are Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• The New Hampshire Antique Co-op (323 Elm St., Milford; 673-8499, nhantiquecoop.com) presents “Abstract Paintings & Tribal Masks” in its Tower Gallery now through Sept. 30. The exhibit and sale features modernist 20th- and 21st-century paintings juxtaposed alongside a collection of Oceanic and African hand-carved masks and figural carvings. Co-op hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday by appointment.

From home: NHAC’s first-ever virtual art exhibition and sale, “Summer Palettes: Impressionist & Modernist Works from the 19th century to Present,” is viewable online now through Sept. 30. It features more than 50 paintings by 19th- and 20th-century artists, as well as contemporary and local artists, that evoke the essence of summer.

• “Manchester’s Urban Ponds: Past, Present, and Future: A Celebration of the Manchester Urban Ponds Restoration Program’s 20th Anniversary” is on display now through Nov. 28 at the Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester; 622-7531, manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum) in the State Theater Gallery. The exhibit provides a look at the history of some of the ponds in Manchester. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors age 62 and up and college students, $4 for youth ages 12 through 18, and is free for kids under age 12.

• The Currier Museum of Art(150 Ash St., Manchester; 669-6144, currier.org) is now open with three special exhibitions. “Richard Haynes: Whispering Quilts” features a series of drawings inspired by traditional quilting patterns that tells the story of an enslaved family’s dangerous journey along the Underground Railroad from a southern plantation to freedom in Canada; “Photographs from the Civil Rights Movement” features photography from the Civil Rights protests in the 1950s and 1960s; and “Open World: Video Games & Contemporary Art” explores how contemporary artists have been influenced by the culture of video games, through paintings, sculpture, textiles, prints, drawings, animation, video games, video game modifications and game-based performances and interventions. Museum hours are Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Monday through Wednesday. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and free for children under age 13 and must be purchased in advance online.

• Art 3 Gallery (44 W. Brook St., Manchester; art3gallery.com, 668-6650) has a new exhibition called “Simple Pleasures” on display now. Viewing hours are Monday through Friday from 1 to 4:30 p.m., and by appointment.

From home: A virtual tour of the exhibit is offered on the gallery’s website.

Markets

• The Concord Arts Market is held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., now through Sept. 26, in Concord’s Bicentennial Square. The juried outdoor market features a variety of art and crafts by local artists and craftspeople. Additionally, the Concord Arts Market and Concord Handmade will host a Capital City Art Bazaar in Rollins Park on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit concordartsmarket.net.

• Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury; 783-9511, shakers.org.) will have its Artisan Market on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The market celebrates handcrafted arts with music, family activities and demonstrations. Tickets cost $12 for adults age 25 and over and are free for youth and adults under age 25. Guided village tours will also be given for $10.

• The Capital Arts Fest, hosted by the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27, outside on Main Street in Concord. The juried craft fair will feature League members and invited artisans from around New England, plus live music. Visit nhcrafts.org or call 224-3375.

Special events

• The 13th annual Nashua International Sculpture Symposium closing ceremony, at which the finished sculptures will be revealed, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 1 p.m. at the installation site, located at the west entrance of Mine Falls Park. Until then the public is also welcome to visit the sculptors while they work at the installation site daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit nashuasculpturesymposium.org.

From home: The closing ceremony will also be livestreamed at accessnashua.org/stream.php.

• The sculptures created during the 20th annual Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting Classic are still on display and illuminated for night viewing now through Sept. 13. Visit hamptonbeach.org/events/sand-sculpture-event.

More stay-at-home art

• City Arts Nashua’s annual ArtWalk has been reworked as a virtual event called ArtWeek. From Oct. 17 through Oct. 25 there will be virtual arts events and activities for kids and adults, music, artist demonstrations and talks and a screening of the 2020 Meri Goyette Arts Awards presentation. Visit cityartsnashua.org.

• Creative Ventures Gallery in Milford will present its annual holiday exhibit and sale, “Small Works – Big Impact,” virtually on its website from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31. It features small works of art in various media, priced affordably for gift buying. Visit creativeventuresfineart.com or call 672-2500.

Food fun served safely

This fall, many of the larger festivals have been canceled altogether, while others have been reimagined as limited-capacity, virtual or drive-thru-only events to promote social distancing.

Some event organizers have experienced success despite the restrictions. After canceling their traditional Greek food festival in May, volunteers and members of St. Philip Greek Orthodox Church in Nashua hosted a drive-thru-only event for two days in late June. The menu was limited and advanced online ordering was encouraged — but people still came.

“It was fantastic,” event volunteer Joyce Powell said. “It exceeded our expectations, and people seemed really thrilled to still be able to get their food while staying safe.”

A similar two-day event is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. While these were the original rescheduled dates from the May festival, Powell said the decision was made to transition that one into a drive-thru event as well.

The menu has expanded from the June event to now also include spit-roasted lamb and pastichio (Greek lasagna), two options that weren’t available from the first event, Powell said. Dinners are available for purchase, which include Greek-style rice and green beans with your order. The dessert options have been expanded to include koulourakia (Greek butter cookies) and galaktoboureko, an egg custard baked in layers of phyllo dough.

Advance ordering online is encouraged, Powell said, although call-aheads will be accepted on the day of the event.

“You can tell us what time frame you’re going to come pick up your order, so we can prepare the food accordingly,” she said.

A smaller event coming up this weekend, the Hollis Grape Festival is carrying on with its previously scheduled date of Sept. 13, according to organizer Al Fulchino of Fulchino Vineyard. The festival features Italian desserts like gelato for sale, plus live entertainment and photo opportunities in a grape-stomping barrel.

There will be no physical Distiller’s Showcase in November, but Mark Roy, spirits marketing specialist for the New Hampshire Liquor Commission, said virtual tastings and events are in the planning stages for New Hampshire Distiller’s Week.

In Laconia, Lakes Region Community Services is working on presenting an online version of its popular Lakes Region Uncorked event, also this November. The organization has partnered with Osteria Poggio restaurant in Center Harbor and will be offering a special menu of food and beer or wine pairings for participants to take home and enjoy.

— Matt Ingersoll

Food

• Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tours (221 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack) will hold two “Craft-Oberfest” virtual tastings on Thursday, Sept. 10, and on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m., featuring several breweries’ innovative takes on German Oktoberfest styles. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at budweisertours.com. Ticket holders will be provided with a Zoom link upon their purchase.

• Enjoy autumn afternoon tea with The Cozy Tea Cart on Sunday, Sept. 13, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Gatherings at The Colonel Shepard House (29 Mont Vernon St., Milford). The cost is $39.95 per person and reservations are required. Visit thecozyteacart.com.

• Stomp some grapes and enjoy some Italian treats at the fourth annual Hollis Grape Festival, happening on Sunday, Sept. 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. on the Hollis Town Common (Monument Square, Hollis). Admission is free, but signups online in advance of the event are requested, by visiting Fulchino Vineyard’s website at fulchino-vineyard-inc.square.site.

• The next Winemaker’s Kitchen Cooking With Wine series event at LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst) will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m., and will cover healthy meal planning. The cost is $25 per person. Other Winemaker’s Kitchen events are scheduled for Oct. 7, covering autumn pumpkin recipes, and for Oct. 21, covering cooking with beer. Visit labellewineryevents.com.

• St. Philip Greek Orthodox Church (500 W. Hollis St., Nashua) will host its next Greek food pop-up drive-thru event on Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. A follow-up to a similar event held at the church in June, this one will include lamb, pastichio (Greek lasagna), Greek meatballs, stuffed grape leaves, spanakopita and more, including a variety of desserts. Call-in orders are also accepted on either day of the event. Visit nashuagreekfestival.org or call 889-4000.

• Enjoy socially distanced cars and coffee at 603 Brewery (42 Main St., Londonderry) on Sunday, Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The car show will take place in the main parking lot alongside the brewery’s outdoor beer tent, with local coffee available and breakfast sandwiches cooked to order from Chef Keith Girard. At noon, the lunch menu will be available. Visit 603brewery.com.

• The Cozy Tea Cart will hold a harvest afternoon tea tasting on Sunday, Oct. 11, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Gatherings at The Colonel Shepard House (29 Mont Vernon St., Milford). The cost is $39.95 per person and reservations are required. Visit thecozyteacart.com.

• LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst) will host an intro to wine workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m., featuring senior wine associate and educator Marie King. Participants will learn several specific areas of wine knowledge, including how it’s made and how to taste it, then will taste five wine and food pairings. The cost is $45 per person. Visit labellewineryevents.com.

• Join LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst) for a Frank Sinatra tribute dinner on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 6:30 p.m. The event will feature a four-course plated dinner, a full bar with beer, wine and cocktails available for purchase, and a performance from Boston jazz singer Rich DiMare. Tickets start at $70 per person. Visit labellewineryevents.com.

• Lakes Region Uncorked will be reimagined as a virtual event this year, on Friday, Nov. 6. Lakes Region Community Services have partnered with Osteria Poggio restaurant in Center Harbor to create a food menu paired with six New Hampshire beer and wine selections, which will be packaged for groups to enjoy at home. During the 90-minute online live event, each featured beer and wine purveyor will introduce and present their product. Visit lrcs.org.

• Enjoy Thanksgiving afternoon tea with The Cozy Tea Cart on Sunday, Nov. 15, from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Gatherings at The Colonel Shepard House (29 Mont Vernon St., Milford). The cost is $39.95 per person and reservations are required. Visit thecozyteacart.com.

Classical sounds

Most classical music organizations in the state have postponed their performances until next year or canceled their seasons altogether. But some, like Symphony New Hampshire, are attempting to still hold in-person events this fall, with the understanding that any events they plan are far from a sure thing.

After announcing an ambitious revised schedule for its 2020-2021 season in June, Symphony New Hampshire has to rework its entire season again; last week, Nashua public schools made the decision that no outside organizations can use school-owned facilities, including the Keefe Center for the Arts, where most of Symphony New Hampshire’s upcoming concerts were going to take place.

“We’re not surprised,” executive director Marc Thayer said. “We’re already planning to present a season of smaller ensembles … in smaller venues in Nashua, Manchester and Concord, all within the CDC’s and the New Hampshire governor’s guidelines.”

The revised season, now titled “A Season of Giving Back to the Community,” will be focused on collaborations with other local arts organizations and artists; programs that benefit area nonprofits; and educational and community programs at area senior centers, hospice homes and retirement communities.

“We are excited about plans to feature our musicians in a variety of other venues,” Thayer said.

— Angie Sykeny

Concerts

•​ Symphony New Hampshire will perform a series of three outdoor concerts at the Beaver Brook Association’s Maple Hill Gardens (117 Ridge Road, Hollis): Americana Brass Quintet on Saturday, Sept. 12, and String Quartets on Saturday, Sept. 26 and Oct. 10. The gardens will open at 4 p.m., and the music will begin at 5 p.m. Tickets for each concert cost $15 per person, $25 per couple and $5 for children age 12 and under. Tickets for the whole series cost $35/$65/$15. Seats are limited. Purchase tickets online in advance at beaverbrook.org. Symphony New Hampshire will also present “America the Beautiful,” a free outdoor concert, on Friday, Oct. 2, at 6:30 p.m., outside in the Bandshell at Greeley Park (Concord Street, Nashua). The symphony’s brass and percussion players will perform the patriotic and popular music of Grieg, Copland, Gershwin and Joan Tower, including Gershwin’s “Summertime,” Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” and more. Nashua’s Mayor Jim Donchess will narrate Copland’s Lincoln Portrait. Visit symphonynh.org or call 595-9156.

•​ ​The First Music Concert Series presents “Pops for Pipes IX,” featuring organist Brink Bush, on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m. at The First Church (1 Concord St., Nashua). Visit first-music.org.

• The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra will perform Wild Symphony, the debut classical work by The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown, at The Music Hall Historic Theater (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth; themusichall.org, 436-2400) on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m. Ticket costs and sale dates are TBA.

Stay-at-home classical

•​ Piccola Opera will livestream New Hampshire Opera Idol 2020 on Saturday, Sept. 26. Singers will compete for cash awards and performance contracts. More details are TBA. Visit piccolaopera.net.

•​ The Nashua Chamber Orchestra has made recordings of its past concerts free and accessible to all online at nco-music.org/concert-recordings, and the Souhegan Valley Chorus has made the virtual concert it performed in the spring free and available to watch at souheganvalleychorus.org/directorschoice.

Listen live

Social distancing restrictions continue to impact the Granite State’s live music scene, but there are still plenty of opportunities to catch a concert this fall.

On Sept. 18, the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord will host Cash Unchained, a tribute to country legend Johnny Cash. It’s the only indoor concert currently on the center’s calendar and the first one to be held since early March, according to assistant executive director Joe Gleason, although an outdoor summer concert series has been held at Fletcher-Murphy Park in the interim. The venue will be filled at just 25 percent maximum capacity, or roughly 300 of its 1,300 seats.

Gleason said the decision was made to keep the show booked because it was relatively inexpensive and because the performer was still willing to come. But the reality, he added, is that the revenue brought in from a limited-capacity show just barely covers basic production costs. Finding enough talent willing to come play a show at a venue that’s nowhere near half full is another challenge altogether.

“Because of the restrictions, the numbers just don’t line up to make it worthwhile,” he said.

The Bank of New Hampshire Stage, meanwhile, has two upcoming comedy shows for its limited capacity of just 92 — Juston McKinney will perform on Sept. 12, while Robbie Printz, Rob Steen and Paul Landwehr will perform on Oct. 24. Boston jam band Neighbor had previously been scheduled for Sept. 26, but that show has since been moved outdoors.

“The plan is to start doing one show a week there, almost always on a Friday or Saturday, and then get back up to two shows a week soon after,” Gleason said.

In Derry, the Tupelo Music Hall’s Drive-In series has been wildly successful, hosting 81 consecutive outdoor concerts from May 16 through Aug. 28 before one had to be rescheduled due to rain. As colder weather begins to approach, Tupelo staff are continuing to assess how best to move forward.

“Assuming that we can find artists who want to tour this winter, we will then announce whether we will be having shows this winter or we will simply close for 4-6 months,” the venue’s Sept. 2 newsletter read. “We are trying to come up with a strategy that will result in something everyone is comfortable with.”

Two more outdoor concerts are scheduled at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester, as part of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats’ Socially Distanced Concert Series. On Sept. 11, the Fisher Cats will host a Beatles Tribute Night featuring The Weeklings, while Almost Queen, a tribute to the legendary group fronted by Freddie Mercury, will perform on Sept. 12. Both shows are presented by the Palace Theatre in collaboration with Intown Manchester and the city’s Parks and Recreation department.

“We have the stage set up … so that the video board serves as a great aesthetic to showcase the band itself on the big screen,” Fisher Cats general manager Jim Flavin said, “and then we have 10-by-10-foot field plots that are set up six feet apart. … Face masks are required for when you’re coming in and out of the stadium.”

— Matt Ingersoll

Concerts

• At the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord; 225-1111, ccanh.com) Cash Unchained, a tribute to country icon Johnny Cash, will perform on Friday, Sept. 18, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25. Neighbor will perform outside the center on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m., as part of the Capital Arts Fest. Admission is free.

• Saint Anselm College’s Dana Center for the Humanities (100 St. Anselm Drive, Manchester; 641-7700, tickets.anselm.edu) will present Grammy-nominated fiddler Mairead Nesbitt on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $40. On Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m., the Dana Center will present a virtual live streaming of Le Vent Du Lord. Tickets are $20. Then Saturday, Nov. 21, The Eagles Experience, a tribute to the Eagles, will perform two shows at 5 p.m. and at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40.

• Shows at Drive-In Live (Cheshire Fairground, 247 Monadnock Highway, Swanzey, drive-in-live.com) continue with alternative rockers Dinosaur Jr. on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. (rain date is Sept. 13). Don’t miss the Dark Desert Eagles on Friday, Sept. 18, at 8 p.m. (rain date is Sept. 20). Citizen Cope will perform on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 8 p.m. (rain date is Sept. 20). Chase Rice will perform on Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. Badfish, a tribute to ’90s ska punk group Sublime, will perform on Friday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m. (rain date will be either Oct. 11 or Oct. 12). Tickets start at $75 per vehicle for Badfish and Dark Desert Eagles; $99 per car for Citizen Cope, Chase Rice and Dinosaur Jr.

• At the Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center (39 S. Main St., Plymouth, 536-2551, flyingmonkeynh.com), guitarist Al Di Meola will take the stage on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m. (tickets start at $45). October has seven shows on the schedule including The Association on Friday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m.; Pink Talking Fish, a combination Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish tribute group, on Friday, Oct. 9, at 7:30 p.m.; Justin Hayward on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m.; the Crash Test Dummies on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m.; Damn the Torpedoes, a tribute to rock icons Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m.; Al Stewart on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m., and Classic Stones Live, a tribute to rock icons The Rolling Stones, on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m. November’s line-up includes The Wailin’ Jennys on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m., and Peter Noone, a.k.a. “Herman” from the English pop group Herman’s Hermits, on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket and Chris Barron of Spin Doctors will perform an intimate live set on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 7:30 p.m.

• Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach, 929-4100, casinoballroom.com) has two shows on the schedule. ‘90s rockers Collective Soul will perform with contemporaries Better Than Ezra and Tonic on Friday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $63. The Little River Band performs on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• The Music Hall (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, 436-2400, themusichall.org) has five performances on the schedule for September. The Sarah Blacker Trio performs on Saturday, Sept. 12, either at 6 p.m. or at 8:30 p.m. (shows are outside; rain date is Sept. 13). Tickets start at $60 per table of three. See Kat Edmonson on Thursday, Sept. 17, either at 6 p.m. or at 8 p.m. (shows are outside; rain date is Sept. 18). Tickets start at $65 per table of three. The Don Blakeslee Trio will perform on Saturday, Sept. 19, at both 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. (shows are outside; rain date is Sept. 20). Tickets start at $60 per table of three. See Massachusetts country duo Ayla Brown and Rob Bellamy on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m. and at 8 p.m (shows are outside). Tickets start at $60 per table of three. Tom Rush performs on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $55.

In October, shows include Chris Trapper on Friday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m.; rockers Ward Hayden & The Outliers on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 8 p.m.; The Mammals on Friday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m. and the Sons of Serendip on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m. Folk singer and guitarist Patty Larkin is scheduled to performon Saturday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30.

• There are two more shows left in the Social Distanced Concert Series at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester, 641-2005, nhfishercats.com). Beatles Night is Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., featuring the band The Weeklings, as part of their Socially Distanced Concert Series. Tickets start at $23 per person. On Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m., the series wraps up with a performance by the Queen tribute band Almost Queen. Tickets start at $23 per person.

• The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) will host Moondance: The Ultimate Van Morrison Tribute Concert Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $29 to $39.

• More of the Palace’s concerts are scheduled for the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org/rex-theatre). An All-Star Tribute to Tom Petty is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $19. Enjoy A Night with Elvis, a tribute to Elvis Presley featuring Mike Slater, on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m. See David Clark’s Songs in the Attic, a tribute to Billy Joel, on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29. See singer-songwriter Matt Nakoa on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Celebrate Halloween with Acoustic Grateful Dead Night, featuring local performer John Zevos, on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 7:30 p.m. And the Pat McGee Band will perform on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m.

• The Stone Church Music Club (5 Granite St., Newmarket, 659-7700, stonechurchrocks.com) frequently has shows scheduled for five nights a week but not all of them require tickets in advance. Some that do: The ChickenShack Bluegrass Band performs on Friday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m. (tickets cost $30 per table of four and $35 per table of six). Truffle and Born Naked will perform on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $60 per table of four and $75 per table of six (21+ attendees only). The Honey Bees Trio will take the stage on Friday, Sept. 18, at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $25. See Sans Souci, a tribute to Jerry Garcia, on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $50 per table of four or $60 per table of six. Roots rock group High Range performs on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $40 per table of four or $50 per table of six.

In October, Cormac McCarthy performs on Friday, Oct. 2, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $60 per table of four and $75 per table of six. Other shows this month include The Phosphorescent Rats on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m.; Club d’Elf on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m.; IdleWild: A Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band is on Friday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m.; The Kenny Brothers Band on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m., and Bearly Dead on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m.

• Tupelo Drive-In (Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelohall.com) will continue its offerings of parking-lot performances, at least into October. The Dueling Pianos of New Hampshire will perform on Friday, Sept. 11, at 5:30 p.m. The Adam Ezra Group has four upcoming shows: Saturday, Sept. 12, or Sunday, Sept. 13, at 1 p.m. or 5 p.m. each day. Acclaimed singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins will perform on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 2:30 p.m. and at 5:30 p.m. John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band will perform on Sunday, Sept. 20, at noon and at 3 p.m. The Machine will perform on Sunday, Sept. 27, at either 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. See instrumental guitarist Johnny A. on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 4 p.m. Neighbor performs two shows on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 1 p.m. and at 4 p.m. See Foreigners Journey on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m. or at 4 p.m. Will Evans of Barefoot Truth performs on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 4 p.m.

There are two more tribute bands on the schedule: Sweet Baby James, a tribute to James Taylor, will perform on Friday, Sept. 25, at 5 p.m. KICK: The INXS Experience will perform on Saturday, Sept. 26, at noon and at 3 p.m. Tickets to all shows cost $75 per vehicle.

• Zinger’s (29 Mont Vernon St., Milford, zingers.biz) will feature Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers on Friday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $22. Also scheduled this month: JB Aaron on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m.; tickets cost $22.

Featured Photo: Andrew Pinard presents “Discovering Magic” at the Hatbox Theatre in Concord. Courtesy photo.

Diploma + degree

Career Academy’s inaugural class gets underway

The New Hampshire Department of Education and the Community College System of New Hampshire have created a program that allows high school seniors to earn their diploma and work toward an associate’s degree or certificate simultaneously over the course of two years at no cost to the student. The first New Hampshire Career Academy class, consisting of 12 students in pursuit of degrees in criminal justice, finance and accounting, culinary arts, cyber security and other fields, will begin courses at community colleges around the state on Sept. 12. Nathaniel Greene, bureau administrator for the Bureau of Educational Opportunities and department liaison for the Career Academy, talked about the new educational opportunity.

How does Career Academy work?

It functions kind of like a dual enrollment program, except, rather than the student getting their high school diploma with some college credit, they’ll be enrolled in a full community college program. They’ll do an additional year [of high school] — they’ll be a fifth-year senior — and at the end of the program, they’ll come out with both a high school diploma and a certificate or associate’s degree from a community college.

How is this being funded?

We set it up through one of our charter schools, because the state makes payments to a charter school, as opposed to traditional public schools, which receive the bulk of their revenue from local property taxes, so we don’t have control over what they do with that money. By having a student enrolled in a charter school while taking courses at community college, the state can give the money that it would normally give to the charter school to the community college system instead, to cover the cost of tuition. It’s actually the same amount of money that the state would pay for a student to attend a charter school … so, in effect, there’s no cost to the student. … I think that’s the biggest benefit of this program, by far; it gives our low-income students across the state an opportunity to get their associate’s degree, which will open up more doors for them when they get out into the workforce.

What kind of student would be a good fit for this program?

It’s a great option for kids who have already figured out what they want to do and want to fast-track to that next step of getting a certificate or associate’s degree. … I think the kinds of kids who are going to be attracted to a program like this and going to be successful are kids who are interested in academics, self-motivated and responsible … and understand that this is going to be a challenge.

What will a student’s day look like?

They’ll be enrolled just like any other adult community college student. They’ll attend all of their courses at the community college … including the high school courses they need to get their diploma. … They’ll move through the [degree] program just like the other community college students do.

Would they be missing out on their high school experience?

We set up the program so that students can still take part in the normal things they would do as a senior in high school. If they want to attend their senior prom or participate in extracurricular activities at the school, they can do that. … They wouldn’t necessarily be graduating with their [senior] friends since they have to do that fifth year, but we have suggested that schools let that student participate in the ceremony and walk with their friends. They’ll just be given a blank diploma and will receive their real diploma after their fifth year.

What are some of the challenges students should be prepared for?

One of the things we stress to students and parents is that they’re entering an environment that is not the same as their high school environment. They’re entering the adult world. They’re going to be taking courses with adults, some [of whom] are in their 30s, 40s or 50s. … Things aren’t as structured, so there’s going to be more personal responsibility placed on the student. … There will be some guidance resources, but it’s not the same as the guidance counselor at their high school, and there won’t be access to the same kinds of social and emotional support and services that exist for students within a high school.

How does Career Academy set students up for success?

I think one of the biggest ways is the partnerships we’re creating with the businesses and industries that the students are going into. … We’re working with the [Health Care] Administrators Association for students coming out with nursing and medical degrees. We’re working with a couple different manufacturing companies for students getting degrees and certificates in mechanical engineering, engineering technology, advanced manufacturing and robotics. We’re reaching out to accounting associations for students who want to go into the financial field. … The intent is not only to get kids into the programs, but also to connect them with New Hampshire [employers] who want to hire them and keep them here in the state.

Featured Photo: Nathaniel Greene. Courtesy photo.

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