“A foot-tapping, lip-smacking good time” is promised at the annual Bluegrass BBQ, returning to White Park in Concord for its third year on Saturday, July 23. One of the chief fundraisers for the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness, the event will feature several barbecue options to choose from, along with a full lineup of local bluegrass artists performing throughout the day.
“We launched this event during Covid and it’s been very, very well received by the community,” said Greg Lessard, CCEH’s director of housing initiatives. “It’s been growing, too. We served 200 meals the first year and 550 the next year. … This year, we’re planning on 600.”
Scenes from the Bluegrass BBQ. Photos courtesy of Mulberry Creek Imagery.
The menu includes a total of five ordering packages for food. The “pitmaster special” is the most generous portion of barbecue and includes a meal of Texas-style brisket, pulled pork, smoked sausage, baked beans, coleslaw, pickled red onions and a pecan garlic barbecue sauce, along with a bun and a drink. There’s also a pulled pork sandwich meal with each of the same sides, or you can order the sandwich separately. A grilled hot dog meal with a bag of chips and a drink and a vegetarian meal featuring a hummus and tabouli wrap round out the food offerings.
Bill Wilcox of Wilcox & Barton, a local civil engineering company with a corporate office in Concord, is also a barbecuing enthusiast. He’ll be the chief pitmaster at the event, Lessard said.
“He’s a civil engineer, but he’s a chef as a hobby. … He has a custom-made smoker that was built down in Houston,” Lessard said. “He basically does all of the cooking, and then we’ve partnered with the Concord Food Co-op … [to do] all the prep work for the non-meat products.”
As during previous years, the event is tailgate-style — attendees are encouraged to place their barbecue orders online and then arrive at the park with chairs and picnic blankets to pick up their food and enjoy the music. A total of four bluegrass acts are each expected to play 90-minute sets. Paul Hubert will kick things off at 11 a.m., followed by Concord bluegrass and Americana group Bow Junction at 12:30 p.m., Whiskey Prison and 2 p.m. and soloist Hank Osborne at 3:30 p.m.
The Coalition has already raised more than $51,000 through 70 business sponsorships, and all food sale proceeds will go directly toward its programs. In the event of inclement weather, Lessard said, the barbecue will take place the following day, Sunday, July 24.
Live music schedule • Paul Hubert: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. • Bow Junction: 12:30 to 2 p.m. • Whiskey Prison: 2 to 3:30 p.m. • Hank Osborne: 3:30 to 5 p.m.
3rd annual Bluegrass BBQ When: Saturday, July 23, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (food service runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.); rain date is Sunday, July 24 Where: White Park, 1 White St., Concord Cost: Options include a pitmaster special ($40), a pulled pork sandwich meal ($25), a hot dog meal ($10) and a vegetarian hummus and tabouli wrap meal ($25); place your order in advance online for pickup at the event Visit: concordhomeless.org/bluegrass-bbq
Featured photo: Scenes from the Bluegrass BBQ. Photos courtesy of Mulberry Creek Imagery.
Spend time with animals at some of the farms and zoos in New Hampshire
By Katelyn Sahagian
ksahagian@hippopress.com
It’s hard to stay upset or stressed when an animal is nearby. That’s the feeling of J & F Farms manager Melissa Dolloff.
“A lot of times it’s just people who might have had a bad day and they stop by,” Dolloff said. “[They] get a breath of fresh air and pet some of the animals and it changes their mood.”
Across New Hampshire, different farms and animal centers are open for adults and children to interact with different animals. Farms and zoos across New Hampshire help people pet, feed and play with a variety of creatures.
Dolloff grew up on J & F Farms and is raising her kids to be the fifth generation of farmers in her family. She said that people need to become more educated about farm animals. She said it’s surprising how many adults don’t know a lot about farm animals.
“Lots of adults don’t even know the difference between a sheep and a goat or an alpaca and llama,” Dolloff said. “You’d be amazed how much people don’t know.”
At The Friendly Farm, farmhand Wyatt Davis said that interacting with animals is more than just fun; it’s a form of healing.
“The affection they show, it’s therapeutic almost,” Davis said. “I think, if you see a goat running around, you can’t help but smile at that.”
He also found that learning about animals has brought him to understand the food he eats. He said that having the connection with the animals helps him feel more grateful for the food on his plate.
“Being able to know where your food comes from and have that connection, in my eyes that’s the most important part,” Davis said.
Dolloff’s kids are older now and she is happy to see them bringing their friends around to spend time walking and taking care of the different animals.
“It’s important for people to get out and visit farms and animals,” Dolloff said. “People need to get the farm-fresh air and enjoy the love animals have to give.”
Farms, Zoos and Animal Activities
Here are a few of the area farms where you can visit with the animals. Know of one not mentioned here? Let us know at listings@hippopress.com.
Appleview Orchard 1266 Upper City Road, Pittsfield Hours: Wednesday and Thursday, 3 to 9 p.m., Friday through Sunday, 1 to 9 p.m. Price: Free to visit animals; farm tours are $7 for school-aged children, $8 for adults. Info: applevieworchard.com
Beans and Greens Farm 245 Intervale Road, Gilford Hours: Saturday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Price: Animals are free to visit; other activities are available. Info: beansandgreensfarm.com
Beech Hill Farm 107 Beech Hill Road, Hopkinton Hours: Daily noon to 8 p.m. Price: Animals are free to visit. Info: beechhillfarm.com
Carriage Shack Farm 5 Dan Hill Road, Londonderry Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Price: $8 adults, $6 children up to age 15, free for infants up to age 1, $6 seniors ages 65 and older, $6 active military and veterans Info: carriageshackfarm.com
Charmingfare Farm 774 High St., Candia Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Price: $22 for admission, children under a year are free, members and five guests are free. Info: visitthefarm.com
Educational Farm at Joppa Hill 174 Joppa Hill Road, Bedford Hours: Dawn to dusk Price: Free Info: theeducationalfarm.org
Friendly Farm 716 Main St., Dublin Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Price: $9.50 for adults, $8.50 for children up to age 12; groups of 15 or more are $6 each Info: friendlyfarm.com
Granite Oak Farm 227 Goffstown Back Road, Goffstown Hours: Weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Price: $25 for 30 minutes, $40 for 60 minutes of cow cuddling, for people 10 and older Info: graniteoakfarm.com
Heritage Farm 15 Parker Hill Road, Sanbornton Hours: Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Price: Free Info: heritagefarm.net
Hidden Hollow Farm 78 Depot Road, East Kingston Hours: Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Price: $20 per family Info: hiddenhollowfarmnh.weebly.com
J & F Farms 124 Chester Road, Derry Hours: Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Price: $5 per grain cup Info: jandffarmsnh.com
Live and Let Live Farm 20 Paradise Lane, Chichester Hours: Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m. Price: Free Visit: liveandletlivefarm.org
Paradise Farm 468 Center Road, Lyndeborough Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Price: Free Info: paradisefarmnh.com
Sunnycrest Farm 59 High Range Road, Londonderry Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Price: Free Info: sunnycrestfarmnh.com
Wildlife Encounters 270 Beauty Hill Road, Barrington Hours: By appointment Price: $275 for groups of 15 Info: weecocenter.com
A look at New Hampshire’s world of tattoo artistry
By Katelyn Sahagian and Jack Walsh
listings@admin
Live Free or Die Tattoo Expo Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown, 700 Elm St., Manchester When: Friday, July 22, 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, July 23, 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday, July 24, noon to 8 p.m. Cost: $15 for a single-day pass, $20 for a two-day pass, or $25 for a three-day pass Visit: livefreeordietattoo.com
On Friday, July 15, the air was buzzing with more than just the whir of tattoo machines at Tattoo Angus and Spider-Bite, Inc., a joint tattoo and body piercing shop in Manchester. Anticipation grew as artists and apprentices scurried across the main floor — those not currently getting inked or pierced looked through flash sheets and pointed out elegantly crafted adornments, occasionally stooping to pet one of the “shop dogs,” a black-and-white-colored pit bull named Bijou.
It’s nearly time for the long-awaited return of the Live Free or Die Tattoo Expo — the 14th annual event is a three-day affair packed with local vendors, contests and live music, returning to the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown from Friday, July 22, through Sunday, July 24.
The largest event of its kind in the Granite State, the expo originally started in 2007 but hasn’t been held since 2019. Organizer Jon Thomas, who is also the owner of Tattoo Angus and Spider-Bite, said he never imagined it would be as successful as it has become.
“An hour before the show, people started piling up and I saw this huge line out there, and that feeling was amazing,” Thomas said. “We had a sold-out show.”
The expo will be a little smaller this time around, Thomas said, but there will still be more than 100 booths set up. Sideshows by Doctor Finnigan’s Circus and burlesque performer Marlo Marquis are also planned, as well as the return of the ever popular pin-up pageant.
“For the tattoo contest and pin-up contests, we went back to the classics,” Thomas said, adding that some past themes have complicated things. “It takes [the models] a lot more work. They all do a decent job, but every time we do a classic pin-up, it goes back four times bigger.”
Artists can participate in different competitions, like Best Cover-up, Best Half-Sleeve and Best Portrait in either color or black and gray. Each of the expo’s three days will culminate with an artist being awarded the Best Tattoo of the Day.
Smaller tattoos like scripts and dates, as well as images chosen from flash sheets, will make up most of the walk-in tattooing opportunities at the expo. Thomas said that a few of the artists will be fully booked for the competitions. He added that even with the smaller number of booths there will be no shortage of artists willing to do some quick work.
Thomas is even hosting a party at Angel City Music Hall, a bar below his shop, with a complimentary limo service to take people from the expo to there and back. There will also be live music, including performances from Bar Hoppers and The Dilemma.
Tattoo by Sean Ambrose
Meet the artist Sean Ambrose, Arrows & Embers Tattoo 117 Manchester St., Suite 3, Concord, 988-6067, arrowsandemberstattoo.com Years of experience: 12 Appointments: arrowsandemberstattoo.com/contact Ambrose started his first apprenticeship at the age of 18. “I knew I was going to be a tattoo artist from an early age,” he said. “It was meant to be.” Having opened Arrows and Embers in 2010, Ambrose has gone on to win awards and accolades, continuing to do what he loves today. As for his style, it’s hard to pin down. “I work in any style that is beautiful,” he said. “I follow my instincts, draw from classical art sources, any piece of art has a recipe, like baking a cake, more so than being a magical experience.”
Tattoo by Jo-Jo Clark
Meet the artist Jo-Jo Clark, Scaredy Cat Ink Tattoo 181 Route 13, Brookline, 347-8980, scaredycatinktattoo.com Years of experience: 17 Appointments: scaredycatinktattoo.com (scroll down to the contact form) Originally from Maine, Clark has been tattooing since 2005, opening Scaredy Cat Ink in 2018. Working in a lot of different styles, she specializes in watercolor tattoos, preferring to do things the old-fashioned way. “I like to sit down with the client and do an in-person consultation,” she said. “I love the opportunity to sit down with them and design it for them in the studio. That way any changes can be made right there, instead of messaging back and forth.”
Tattoo by Sami “Moxi” Monoxelos
Meet the artist Sami “Moxi” Monoxelos, Scorpion Tattooing 10 Manchester Road, Derry, 434-4798, scorpiontattooing.com Years of experience: 4 1/2 Appointments: smoxietattoo@gmail.com (not currently accepting bookings) Monoxelos, who dresses up as her favorite characters from different fandoms and attends different conventions, specializes in doing fandom and anime tattoos. While she isn’t open for booking, her shop takes walk-ins and bookings with other artists.
A rapidly growing culture
Thomas organized the first Live Free or Die Tattoo Expo just one year after tattooing became legal in Manchester. In fact, he was a major part of getting that legislation passed in 2006.
“I tried to tell [the court] how safe shops would be, instead of people getting tattooed in basements,” he said. “I had Spider-Bite already. I showed them my aftercare sheets and other stuff. They finally broke down and gave it to me.”
A major part of tattooing is getting an apprenticeship. According to the Board of Body Art Practitioners, apprenticeships are required in New Hampshire for tattoo artists to become licensed. Apprenticeships must last at least a year, but most will extend for longer until the training artist is confident in their apprentice’s abilities.
Paul Teves of Blue Iris Tattoo in Merrimack has been practicing the art for more than 20 years in New Hampshire. Back then, Teves said, there was a huge social taboo hanging over the heads of artists and people covered with tattoos alike.
“When I first started, [tattoos were] really frowned upon,” Teves said. “I remember when older women would get up and sit on the other side of the bus from me. Now you can’t go [to] the hospital without seeing a nurse with a sleeve.”
Teves will be one of the featured artists at the expo. He said he is glad to see how the art form and its overall reception have evolved tremendously over the last few years.
Tattoo by Abe Hilerio
Meet the artist Abe Hilerio, Tat2abe 100 Main St., Nashua, 341-0145, tat2abe.com Years of experience: 23 Appointments: Made via phone To Hilerio, tattooing is more than just a profession — it’s his passion. He treats every day of work as a chance to better his skills and hone his craft, as well as making the best art he can for his clients. He specializes in black and gray realism tattoos, especially portraiture. Tat2abe, his shop, only accepts clients via appointment.
Abe Hilerio of Tat2abe, a private studio in Nashua, said tattooing has changed drastically since he began back in 1999. His career started in his home state of Massachusetts, where it was illegal for people without medical degrees to tattoo up until the year 2000.
“Back then tattooing wasn’t popular,” Hilerio said. “There were no reality shows, [and] it was more of an underground type of thing. It was still kind of cliché.”
Hilerio gained an apprenticeship by word of mouth — a friend boasted of his talents in illustration — as there was no social media for him to share his work.
Now, Hilerio said that tattooing has grown in acceptance, crediting the popularity of reality television shows. He said they have shaped the current industry and have shown the world the true diversity in art surrounding each tattoo artist and piece.
Hilerio spends hours studying and drawing his designs to perfection for each of his clients. He only takes on one client per day so that he can maintain complete focus.
“Everybody wants custom [tattoos], so we have to sit there and draw, and sometimes we have to figure out what it is the client wants us to do,” Hilerio said. “That takes a lot of time.”
Sami “Moxie” Monoxelos of Scorpion Tattooing in Derry said that in recent years tattoo culture has changed for the better. She started her career as an art student at Maine College of Art before transitioning to skin canvases.
“Almost any tattoo shop that I’ll go into, it doesn’t matter what walk of life, who you are, where you come from, [or] what you identify as, people are super accepting of it,” Monoxelos said.
Lloyd Goodwin of Magic Moon Tattoo in Nashua said that being personable is a huge part of the process nowadays, especially in having recurring clients.
“The business has changed a lot,” Goodwin said. “It used to be that somebody would come in, [and] they’d sit down, be quiet and get the tattoo.”
Originally taking up illustration in his early years, Goodwin worked in retail when he was told that he could make money in tattooing by an admirer of his art. Tattooing quickly became his passion, and he has been giving people permanent art for six years.
Tattoo by Paul Teves
Meet the artist Paul Teves, Blue Iris Tattoo 416 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 505-7701, blueiristattoo.com Years of experience: 23 Appointments: ptevesbookings@outlook.com Teves received his first tattoo at the age of 13 and has been in love with the artform ever since. He began his career as a self-taught tattooer in 1999. A few years later he completed his apprenticeship in Massachusetts under longtime artist Mulysa Mayhem, ultimately returning to New Hampshire to fulfill his dream of owning his own shop. Teves owns Blue Iris Tattoos, where he is also a principal artist. The shop is by appointment only.
Tattoo by Sarah Arnold
Meet the artist Sarah Arnold, Apothecary Tattoo 141 Route 101A, Unit M4, Amherst, 521-7491, apothecarytattoonh.com Years of experience: 8 Appointments: apothecarytattoonh.com/contact/ Arnold, who has been fascinated with art and drawing her whole life, said transitioning to tattooing in 2014 felt like a natural extension of that passion. She opened Apothecary Tattoo in 2020 as a joint tattoo shop and fine art gallery. She specializes in neo-traditional, illustrative, and cartoon tattoos. Apothecary Tattoo is open for walk-ins, as well as booked appointments for larger pieces.
Tattooing trends
While she favors creating unique fandom and anime pieces for her clients, Monoxelos said she has noticed over her four-and-a-half-year career that tattooing trends change frequently. Right now, she is seeing a spike in people requesting floral pieces.
“There’s so much that you can do with it, too. It flows naturally with the body, and it usually looks really good,” she said. She explained that any type of plant life, from forests to flowers, is considered a floral tattoo. “Black and gray floral, color floral, floral with a pet portrait, I’d say, [is] the going trend right now.”
Sarah Arnold, an artist at Apothecary Tattoos in Amherst, said that she’s seen a lot of tattoo trends come from social media.
“On TikTok, there was a girl [with] five butterflies going from her hand up her arm and the amount of people who wanted this tattoo was staggering,” Arnold said. “It was pretty, but I kept thinking, ‘Why do you all want the same thing?’”
Arnold said she has been obsessed with tattoos since she was 18, when she got her first piece done. She has been designing art and inking people since 2014, but said she has never before seen people embracing the art form like they are now.
“Everybody is getting tattoos now,” she said. “Everybody is going straight for hand, neck, face and that used to be the last thing you’d get done. You’d only do those spots when you ran out of space.”
Arnold said she won’t do faces, hands or necks for people unless they are already heavily covered. She said that a lot of young people don’t fully grasp the implications of what having tattoos in those spots could mean in the future.
A piece of advice Arnold has for people who are new to getting tattoos is for clients to not worry about offending artists if they don’t like the stencil. Arnold said that there’s no harm in turning away a drawing, because it’s the client’s body that will be permanently changed.
“Say something when you’re upset with the drawing. We have to look at it for a couple hours. You have to look at it for the rest of your life,” Arnold said. She added that offending an artist might be uncomfortable, but it outweighs the other option. “Their feelings will be fixed in an hour when they’ve forgotten you. You’d be stuck with a tattoo that you don’t want.”
Tattoo by Lloyd Goodwin
Meet the artist Lloyd Goodwin, Magic Moon Tattoo 38C E. Hollis St., Nashua, 320-9616, magicmoontattoo.com Years of experience: 7 Appointments: form.jotform.com/magicmoontattoo/tattoo Goodwin has been drawing and creating illustrations his whole life. While working in retail he was encouraged to take the plunge into tattooing, and he’s never looked back. Goodwin specializes in neo-traditional but is comfortable with all styles of tattooing. Magic Moon Tattoo does not take walk-in clients.
Tattoo by Dave McCormick
Meet the artist Dave McCormick, Tattoo Angus 179 Elm St., Unit C, Manchester, 935-9398, tattooangus.com Years of experience: 27 Appointments: fleshink@yahoo.com McCormick does a mix of styles but said he specializes in photorealism and more classic styles. His process for designing a tattoo with a client is simple: “They just have to put me on a path,” he said. McCormick had an interesting start to his tattooing career. ”My wife bought me a ‘tattoo starter kit,’ with our tax money that we desperately needed to pay bills that year, and she said, ‘Get good quick,’” he said. “27 years later I’m still doing it.”
When it comes to trends, Goodwin said that there are often waves. He said that a lot of what people consider hot tattoos is based on the art notable celebrities get done.
“Rihanna’s pharaoh bird came out and that really set the trend for sternum tattoos,” Goodwin said. “It’s all based on what people see in the media.”
Goodwin added that now, more people are doing research on who they want to use as an artist rather than walking into a shop and picking the first artist that they happen to speak with.
Birth flowers, mandalas, dates and memorial tattoos take up about 30 to 40 percent of Goodwin’s business. The other 60 to 70 percent, he said, is based on his own creativity — he works with clients to design art that fits their body and will accommodate their special requests.
“People are beginning to see [the value of] going to see a specific artist because of the quality of the work, in comparison to just going everywhere and getting a bunch of work,” Goodwin said. “When I first started in the industry, it was more or less flash tattoos that people were doing.”
Despite the growing demand for custom tattoos, Arnold said that there isn’t any hostility amongst artists that she’s noticed in New Hampshire. She said that she’ll often refer people who are looking to get mandalas done to artists she knows who will excel at the geometric style.
“I feel we’re super lucky to have so many great artists concentrated in such a small state,” Arnold said. She said that there is competition, but it pushes her and other artists to do the best they can. “I feel like the community between artists … [is] not negative and super competitive in a bad way. We’re all proud of the accomplishments of each other.”
Tattooing styles Source: Inked Magazine, inkedmag.com • American traditional: A popular style of tattoo with thick black outlines, a minimal but bold color palette, and iconic tattoo imagery like skulls, snakes, knives, swallows and anchors. • Black and gray: A style of tattooing that only utilizes black ink. The ink is diluted with water to get the gray tones for shading and highlighting. • Cosmetic tattoo: A type of tattoo that is used to enhance features, much like make up. Common types are microblading, which is done to fill out eyebrows, as well as permanent lip and eye liner. • Cover-up: A tattoo designed to hide an older tattoo in the new one. A good cover-up will completely hide the old tattoo through strategic linework and color. • Geometric: A style of tattooing that uses geometric shapes and linework with no shading. Mandalas are a popular form of geometric tattoo. • Illustrative: A style of tattooing that combines aspects of realism and American traditional. It uses bold outlines and realistic shading to depict illustration designs.
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
Academic improvements
The preliminary data generated by the New Hampshire Statewide Assessment System for 2022 has shown some improvement in New Hampshire students’ academic performance levels for the first time since the pandemic. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education, assessment scores, including ones that measure proficiency in English and math, dropped for students in grades 3 through 8 in 2021. This year, scores have improved among grades 3 through 7 and have remained the same for grade 8. “Assessment scores are inching upward and returning to near pre-pandemic levels, but it is clear that there is still work to be done to recover from the academic declines that resulted from Covid-19,” Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut said in the release. “New Hampshire has not fully regained ground, but these early signs of improvement are promising.”
Health commissioner steps down
New Hampshire’s Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette has announced her resignation, effective December 2022. Appointed to the position by Gov. Chris Sununu in January 2020, Shibinette has led the Department of Health and Human Services’ response to Covid-19 and regularly accompanied Gov. Sununu at televised press conferences to provide updates on the pandemic. “Covid-19 has been a challenging time for our state, our country, and for health care,” Shibinette said in a statement. “During this time, it has been a privilege serving as your commissioner. The last three years have been incredibly challenging yet equally rewarding.” Gov. Sununu said in a statement he “cannot thank her enough” for her service to New Hampshire over the course of the pandemic. “Throughout her tenure, Lori has played a key role in my administration as New Hampshire’s top health official,” he said. “From the early days of the pandemic to her leadership at New Hampshire Hospital, Lori has earned the respect and trust of New Hampshire’s citizens. I consider her a great friend and wish her all the best in whatever she decides to do next.”
Call for child care workers
A new marketing campaign has been launched by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central New Hampshire to address the state’s shortage of child care care workers. According to a press release, the campaign will utilize a series of eight public service announcements, which will run as television, digital and social media ads, to recruit applicants for various positions in child care facilities throughout the state via the New Hampshire Connections Child Care Job Board. “Family stability across New Hampshire depends on access to child care options that best fit their individual needs,” DHHS Associate Commissioner Christine Santaniello said in the release. “From home-based child care to larger centers, families need quality, fully-staffed child care providers that can meet New Hampshire’s demand.” The campaign is being funded by a portion of the state’s American Rescue Plan Act child care funds.
New crisis line
New Hampshire has implemented a new three-digit dialing, texting and chat code, 988, as a suicide prevention and crisis lifeline. The number will connect callers experiencing suicidal, mental health or substance misuse crises to a national network of more than 200 call centers via the established National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. “New Hampshire remains committed to providing streamlined access to mental health support services, and providing on demand assistance through 988 is another positive step in that direction,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement. According to a press release from DHHS, the 988 line will augment, not replace, New Hampshire’s Rapid Response system, implemented in January 2022 as part of the state’s 10-year Mental Health Plan, which provides 24/7 mental health crisis services and, when necessary, deploys mobile crisis response teams, to New Hampshire residents experiencing a crisis.
Training for women in government
The New Hampshire Women’s Foundation will run “Women Run!” a day-long nonpartisan training program designed to teach New Hampshire women skills and confidence needed to run for state or local political office, on Wednesday, July 27, in Manchester. Participants will learn about the past and current landscape of women’s representation in New Hampshire government and campaigning techniques. The percentage of women in public office in New Hampshire is 37 percent in town offices, 41 percent in city offices and 23 percent in mayorships, according to an email from the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation. Visit nhwomensfoundation.org/womenrun to learn more.
A new New Hampshire Historical Highway Marker has been installed in Carroll, just north of the intersection of Routes 3 and 302 in a tourist section of town known as Twin Mountain, commemorating the glacial boulder where Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, a Congregationalist clergyman, abolitionist, proponent of women’s suffrage and the brother of author Harriet Beecher Stowe, preached his sermons in the late 1800s. It is the 274th marker installed as part of the New Hampshire Historical Highway Marker program, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources, which oversees the program.
The Manchester Health Department reopened the public beach at Crystal Lake, located off Bodwell Road in southern Manchester, for swimming after closing it earlier this month due to elevated levels of E. Coli. Water samples will continue to be taken every Monday through Labor Day, with results announced every Tuesday at manchesternh.gov/departments/health/services/water-quality.
Elm Grove Companies will break ground on a new rental housing development, Depot & Main Apartments, at the end of this month at 41 Main St. in Salem, according to a press release. The more than $20 million project is a 74-unit Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and Workforce Housing community created to meet the need for affordable rental housing for New Hampshire’s low to moderate income families and workforce. A ceremony will be held at the ground-breaking on Tuesday, July 26, at 10 a.m.
Look up! You just may see a student-built airplane in the skies.
Such a sight is likely to become more common in years to come thanks to an innovative program pioneered by the Manchester School District.
The program involves students at the Manchester School of Technology, the district’s Career and Technical Education Center. (Years ago, it was known as the “vo-tech.”)
The school is well-known for its home-building program: Each year, teams of students build an actual house, complete with plumbing, wiring and so on. When it’s done, the house gets sold.
Three years ago, the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, working with educational consultant Tango Flight, approached the school with the idea of doing the same thing but with an airplane.
A student-built plane? What could go wrong?
Three years later, the first student-built airplane — an all-metal Van’s Aircraft RV-12iS two-seat light sport aircraft — is now undergoing final inspection before taking to the skies. Later, the completed airplane will be sold, with the proceeds (about $100,000) to be used to buy the hardware and components for the next airplane.
The net cost to taxpayers: $0.
How is that possible? The nonprofit Aviation Museum raised about $350,000 in program start-up costs from the local business community, with most of the funds coming through the sale of Community Development Finance Authority tax credits. The program will continue to be funded largely through the sale of finished aircraft.
Manchester was only the fourth school district in the nation to attempt a student plane-building project on the Tango Flight model, in which mentors from outside the school district (in this case, volunteers from the Aviation Museum) work with high school students to complete a complex kit-based airplane.
Today, more than two dozen districts around the country are embarking on student plane-building projects using the method pioneered in Manchester. And students are getting hands-on experience essential to building tomorrow’s workforce, in aerospace and many other fields.
Bottom line: The student plane-building project at the Manchester School of Technology is a great example of what can happen when an area’s nonprofit and business community collaborate with local public schools on innovative programs.
Or, to put it another way: when we work together, the sky’s the limit!
Jeff Rapsis is Associate Publisher of the Hippo, and also executive director of the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire.
Though he’s happy a live re-recording of his first two solo albums is doing well, Graham Nash often wishes that the music on 1971’s Songs For Beginners and 1974’s Wild Tales didn’t still resonate the way it did in the Watergate era. A vocal opponent of the previous administration — he has an upcoming record with a track called “Golden Idol” aimed at proponents of the “Big Lie” — Nash isn’t optimistic about the country he became a citizen of in 1979.
“I’m pleased that my music seems to have lasted a couple of decades, but at the same time it’s a pain in the ass that we have not learned from our history,” he said by phone recently. “I think what I’m seeing now, unfortunately, is the fall of the American Empire. I think that we are completely divided as a people, and a divided nation can’t last very long.”
Nash is a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, with his first band The Hollies, and with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Despite their acrimonious 2016 breakup, the supergroup reunited earlier this year to demand that Spotify remove their music in protest of Joe Rogan, who frequently hosts vaccine deniers and Covid-19 skeptics on his podcast.
In early July, CSNY was back on Spotify. The interview with Nash happened earlier, on June 24. At that time, he spoke of steps taken by the streaming service that hint at reasons for the group’s eventual reversal. “They have put genuine Covid-19 information on a million podcasts and that is a great step forward,” he said. “They’re now recognizing that people like Rogan and his guests were spreading misinformation and disinformation.”
Last November, Nash published a book of photographs called A Life In Focus. His passion for pictures dates back to the first one he took, of his mother, in 1953, and learning darkroom technique as a child from his father. The shot of his mom, in repose and unaware of her son’s camera, is among the collection’s best.
Pictures of icons like Joni Mitchell, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, even ’60s supermodel Twiggy, are equally candid. It’s the only way, asserts Nash. “Having had probably hundreds of thousands of photographs taken of me, I know … the face that you put on because you want to look cool,” he said. “I give that face sometimes when people are taking pictures of me [and] I don’t like that face. So my best portraits of people are taken when they have no idea that I’m there.”
Nash also has a skillful eye for street scenes, like a shot of a well-dressed woman staring into the window of an expensive jewelry store as a homeless man sleeps mere inches from her. “I use a camera to capture surreal moments that happen in front of me,” he said. “Which they seem to do a lot.”
That said, he believes social media trivializes the art. “There are [millions of] smartphones in this world and maybe only a hundred photographers,” he said, adding, “I don’t use my camera as my memory. I don’t want a picture of me in Mickey Mouse ears at Disneyland, I don’t take pictures that match my couch, or kittens with balls of wool. I don’t take landscapes — I’d rather remember the landscape.”
He loves gear — an IRIS 3047 printer he bought in 1989 for his company Nash Images is now in the Smithsonian — and he also enjoys playing with the process of photography. There’s a distinctive shot of fellow musician Dave Mason in the book that’s basically a smudged Polaroid, taken in his suite at New York’s Plaza Hotel in the mid-1970s. “In those days, if you had a ballpoint pen, a sharp instrument or something, you could move the emulsion around,” he explained. “As a matter of fact, Elton John just bought that picture.”
Politics are intertwined with both his music and photography. In the Wild Tales track “Prison Song,” Nash alludes to his father spending a year in high-security lockup for unknowingly buying a stolen camera from a co-worker to give him as a gift. It made Nash a lifetime foe of unjust authority, along with his ire at being spanked by his school principal for ditching class to buy Bill Haley concert tickets in 1958.
With him at the Haley performance was best mate Allan Clarke; the two would later start The Hollies. Years later, they’re working together again, on Clarke’s solo record. “I’m very pleased to be able to sing with Allan after all this time,” Nash said. “He had to leave the Hollies because he had throat trouble, but it may have been psychosomatic … his excuse to be able to leave. Because right now, he’s singing very well.”
Nash has no regrets about skipping school that day. The experience both confirmed, to quote his 2013 autobiography, that “justice was malleable and subjective … too much politics involved,” and launched him on a lifetime of music. “The truth is … I’ve lost houses, and I’ve lost relationships; I have not lost my ticket to that show. I have it in my wallet as we speak.”
An Evening with Graham Nash When: Wednesday, July 20, 8 p.m. Where: Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia Tickets: $50 to $100 at coloniallaconia.com
Featured photo: Graham Nash. Photo by Amy Grantham.
Great American Ribfest & Food Truck Festival returns
After the Rock’n Ribfest ended its 16-year run offering ribs, other barbecue favorites, craft beer and live music, new organizers continued the tradition in 2019 under a new name. Pandemic woes then shelved the event for two consecutive years, but the Great American Ribfest & Food Truck Festival — now a fundraiser for the Merrimack Rotary Club — is back.
The event is scheduled for Friday, July 15, through Sunday, July 17, at Anheuser-Busch Brewery in Merrimack, featuring a diverse mix of longtime “ribbers” and new food and beverage vendors.
It was traditionally held over Father’s Day weekend; a collective decision among Ribfest vendors and organizers was made to push this year’s event back a few weeks to the middle of July.
Scenes from the 2019 Great American Ribfest & Food Truck Festival. Photos by Gary Reynolds.
“When we had to take two years off due to Covid, we did lots and lots of introspection on what worked and what didn’t work … because we had plenty of time to figure those things out,” organizer Jeremy Garrett of the event management company J2L Events said. “The top suggestion was to move the date, and hopefully get out of the wetter spring weather. … Being the same weekend as [Laconia] Bike Week was also thought to impact attendance negatively.”
As in previous years, attendees can expect to find barbecue options from local and nationally renowned eateries. Some of this year’s participating vendors — like Armadillo’s BBQ and Austin’s Texas Lightning BBQ — are coming from as far away as Illinois and Texas, respectively. They’ll be offering half and whole racks of ribs, in addition to pulled pork sandwiches, burgers and an array of house-made sauces and rubs. A few local barbecue favorites — like Up In Your Grill, a food trailer based in Merrimack — also join in on the fun.
But there’s also lots more to discover at Ribfest beyond just barbecue — in fact, Garrett said that was a chief focus for organizers when the event changed hands three years ago.
“We’ve got some of the carnival-type foods, the french fries and the fried doughs … and we’ve also got a whole diverse selection of food trucks that are coming in,” he said. “All in all, it’s around 25 food and dessert vendors … so hopefully everyone can find something that they like.”
Donali Food Truck, for instance, is a newcomer to Ribfest. The Nashua-based food truck features lobster rolls and Italian sausage subs as its cornerstone offerings, cooked with fresh ingredients alongside additional menu items like barbecue chicken sandwiches and smash burgers.
This is also the debut event for Carla’s Coffee, which is in the process of rebranding from Jayrard’s Java Cafe. New owner Carla Reardon recently purchased the trailer from founder Jared Turgeon. Carla’s Coffee will be offering a variety of coffees and espresso-based drinks at Ribfest using Cafe Britt coffee from Costa Rica, in addition to some smoothies and lemonades.
Other trucks will include Friends 4 OBA, brought to you by the owners of OBA Noodle Bar in downtown Exeter — they’re known for their authentic Asian fusion street food options. The Seacoast Pretzel Co. truck will also be there with its fresh Bavarian-style soft pretzels, while Cheese Louise, based in Conway, will offer creative takes on gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.
A full schedule of live music is planned throughout all three days, with a total of 11 acts each performing roughly 90-minute sets. Garrett said music styles will run the gamut from hard rock and blues to indie, pop, country and reggae, and nearly all are songs original to the artist.
Attendees are welcome to bring folding lawn or camp chairs and blankets to the festival to enjoy the music. While there isn’t a children’s area in the traditional sense as in previous Ribfest events, a few participating local organizations are providing family-friendly activities of their own. The Daniel Webster BSA Council’s Mobile Base Camp, for instance, will feature an inflatable archery range, Spikeball, soccer darts and a backyard bass fishing activity. The Rugged Axe, a Manchester-based ax throwing venue, is also expected to bring its mobile trailer.
The 5-mile race that was normally held on Sunday during Ribfest weekend is also returning, and there will be face painting courtesy of Trading Faces and free demonstrations from Bedford Martial Arts Academy. A limited number of VIP tickets, sold on all three event days, grant attendees access inside Anheuser-Busch’s Biergarten with a greater variety of beverage options.
Participating food and beverage vendors • Armadillo’s BBQ (Illinois, find them on Facebook) • Austin’s Texas Lightning BBQ (Texas, austintexaslightning.com) • Butch’s Smack Your Lips BBQ (New Jersey, smackyourlipsbbq.com) • Canterbury Kettle Corn (Connecticut, find them on Facebook) • Carla’s Coffee (Nashua, carlascoffeenh.com) • Cheese Louise (Conway, eatcheeselouise.com) • Dandido Sauce (Manchester, dandidosauce.com) • Donali Food Truck (Nashua, donalifoodtruck.com) • Friends 4 OBA (Exeter, friends4oba.com) • Holly’s Kona Ice (Pelham, hollyskonaice.com) • Jeannette’s Concessions (Hudson, find them on Facebook) • Phily’s Good Eats (Candia, find them on Facebook) • Saucehound BBQ (Watertown, Mass., saucehoundbbq.com) • Seacoast Pretzel Co. (Rollinsford, seacoastpretzelcompany.com) • Sillie Puffs (Manchester, silliepuffs.com) • Simply Cannoli (Douglas, Mass., simplycannoli.com) • Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream (Nashua, find them on Facebook) • Thee Taco Dude (Sterling, Mass., theetacodude.com) • The Travelling Foodie (Nashua, jrmcateringllc.com) • Trolley Dogs (Framingham, Mass., find them on Facebook) • Up In Your Grill (Merrimack, upinyourgrill.com) • Wild Bill’s Soda (Waterford, N.Y., drinkwildbills.com)
Live music schedule Friday, July 15 • James McCarthy: 4:30 to 6 p.m. • Chris Fits Band and Ken Clark: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 16 • Gadabout: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. • Best Not Broken: noon to 1:30 p.m. • Ben Cote Band: 2 to 3:30 p.m. • Nick Drouin: 4 to 5:30 p.m. • The Gravel Project: 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 17 • Supernothing: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. • Lexi James: 1 to 2:30 p.m. • Feverslip: 3 to 4:30 p.m. • Southern Yankee: 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Great American Ribfest & Food Truck Festival When: Friday, July 15, 4:30 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, July 16, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, July 17, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Where: Anheuser-Busch Brewery, 221 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack Cost: Online tickets purchased in advance are $12 for adults, $10 for veterans and seniors over 60, and $5 for kids ages 6 to 12. At the gate, tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for veterans and seniors over 60, and $6 for kids ages 6 to 12. Kids ages 5 and under are free. VIP tickets are also available this year, for $27.50 in advance and $35 at the gate (if available) — that grants you access to the air-conditioned Biergarten lounge with an increased beverage variety. Visit: greatamericanribfest.com Event is rain or shine. No pets, weapons or outside food or beverages are allowed, except for one sealed bottle of water. Premier parking is available onsite at $20 per day. Parking is also available across the street at Elbit Systems (220 Daniel Webster Hwy.) for $10 per day. There will be no shuttle services this year.
Featured photo: Scenes from the 2019 Great American Ribfest & Food Truck Festival. Photos by Gary Reynolds.
Two to Lou raises money for collegiate football and music industry hopefuls
By Katelyn Sahagian
ksahagian@hipppopress.com
Live music for a good cause and to remember a good man; that’s the mission of Two to Lou, an all-day music festival in Sandown on Saturday, July 16.
The festival, which honors Louis “Lou” Festo, who died from liver cancer in 2012, is put on every year, rain or shine, by his fiancée, Karen Jortberg, and his former bandmates. Proceeds from the concert are given as scholarships to students from Newburyport High School and Timberlane Regional High School.
Festo was a professional musician, Jortberg said. He played in many cover and original bands across New Hampshire. The last band he played with, Perciphist, even cut an album. When he was diagnosed with cancer, Jortberg said, he continued playing music — his final show in 2012 was a fundraiser to help pay his medical bills.
“He got up and performed,” Jortberg said. “The place was packed because he knows so many people. He was an influence on so many.”
When the bills were paid, Jortberg said that she still had a lot of money left over from the first fundraiser that she didn’t know what to do with. Festo told her to take the money and go to Hawaii. Jortberg said she told him it wasn’t her money to spend.
“I said what should be done is we should make it into a scholarship for Newburyport High School, where he graduated from,” Jortberg said.
The festival has awarded more than $24,000 in scholarships since its creation in 2014, she added. Jortberg would soon expand the scholarship to Timberlane students after the first few years, saying that New Hampshire was just as much a part of Festo’s home as Newburyport was.
Students applying for the scholarship must either be pursuing a college degree in the music industry or planning on playing college-level football. This year, the two recipients from Timberlane will pursue a music degree and the two from Newburyport High will go on to play collegiate football.
The scholarships are usually given out in $1,000 increments to two graduating seniors from both high schools, but Jortberg admitted to giving smaller scholarship awards to applicants who didn’t fully meet the requirements. She said if they took the time to apply even without meeting all the qualifications, she felt that the students deserved something for their effort.
“Every little bit helps,” she said. “We know we’re doing the right thing. We get thank you notes from these kids; they are so appreciative.”
The show will be headlined by Whammer Jammer, a J. Geils Band tribute band from Massachusetts. All of the artists playing will be from northern Massachusetts or New Hampshire.
Recent scholarship recipient Galen Walton is coming back to Two to Lou to play the drums in his band, Whoever’s Around.
Jortberg said that there will be food trucks and beer and wine for sale. ReMax is going to be having tethered hot air balloon rides, and lawn games like cornhole will be set up.
Jortberg said that the festival is more than just a celebration of Festo’s life now. It’s a celebration of local musicians, new musicians, sports, and everything Festo had held dear. She said that encouraging people to play music professionally is one of the best ways to honor Festo’s life.
“Music is a big part of everyone’s life,” Jortberg said. “You always have to have music in the background. It helps along whatever mood you’re in.”
Two to Lou Music Festival When: Saturday, July 16, noon to 10 p.m., doors open at 11 a.m. Where: Sandlot Sports and Entertainment, 8 Sandlot Way, Sandown Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door; $12 for seniors between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Visit eventbrite.com/e/two-to-lou-music-festival-tickets-261402500917. More info: twotolou.com
Local bands playing: Baby Girl Aden Diamond Edge Quills Souled Out Showband Stumpy Joe Band deep Damaged Goods The Experiment The Moonlighters Hot Pasta Dave Amato Casey Clark Whoever’s Around featuring last year’s scholarship winner, Galen Walton Preciphist, Louis Festo’s last band Whammer Jammer Shot of Poison
Featured photo: Lou Festo’s band, Preciphist. Courtesy of Karen Jortberg.
Explore camping, hiking and puzzle-solving at New Hampshire’s outdoor gems
New Hampshire has 93 state parks offering recreation for outdoor-lovers (or just the outdoor curious) of all interests. And not all the action is up north — there are several parks in and close to the southern part of the state providing you a place to camp, hike and have other adventures out in the fresh air. Looking for something new to do this summer? Here are some ideas to help you get the most out of our state parks.
Camp it up
Get away at a local state park
By Matt Ingersoll
mingersoll@hippopress.com
You don’t need to go far to find a campsite within New Hampshire’s state park system — there are 23 campgrounds statewide with a total of 1,419 campsites, offering a wide variety of opportunities from tents and cabins to some RV sites with water, sewer and electric hookups.
New Hampshire has experienced a steadily large increase in outdoor recreational activity across the board, including camping in state parks and private campgrounds. According to Shawn Hamilton, deputy supervisor of state park operations, the 2021 calendar year saw a record-breaking number of campers — more than 135,000 — within the state park system. Two years earlier, in 2019, a total of 118,000 campers utilized the parks, also a record at the time.
“We have campers who have been coming to the state parks every summer for 50 to 60 years, and that’s not an exaggeration,” Hamilton said. “It’s almost like a badge of honor for them, something that they take pride in. … It’s such a nostalgic experience for people to go back every summer and experience what they have with their parents, and now they share it with their kids.”
Campgrounds within the New Hampshire state park system are operationally self-funded, and there are all kinds of ongoing projects to improve their quality and accessibility. Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, for instance, has 110 sites with recently renovated cabins, Hamilton said. Five dishwashing stations were also recently installed at Greenfield State Park’s campsites.
A majority of the state park campgrounds offer traditional tent camping or cabins, but there are three — Hampton Beach State Park, Franconia Notch State Park and Ellacoya State Park in Gilford — that have full-service RV parks with hookup sites.
“We just recently upgraded the amperage at Hampton Beach State Park to better accommodate some of the newer RVs that are coming on to the market,” Hamilton said. “We’re planning to do the same at Ellacoya in the near future.”
Other sites, like Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham, offer multiple activities to campers.
“You can go to the beach one day, rent some boats and go out on the water … but then at the same time, the next day you can go out on the hiking trails,” Hamilton said, “so I think that type of versatility in terms of what we offer is really what people respond to. … At most of the parks we offer playgrounds as well. We make a concerted effort to add and upgrade the playgrounds so that the kids are fully occupied and having fun for the whole day.”
While July and August are two busiest months of the year for camping in the state parks system, Hamilton said the season runs from April through October. Campsite reservations can be made on the state park’s website up to 11 months in advance of your arrival date.
“Some of the campgrounds offer a couple hundred sites just in and of themselves … so there’s a lot of opportunity within each park as well,” Hamilton said.
Where to camp at some of New Hampshire’s state parks
Here’s a list of southern- and central-area campgrounds and RV parks within New Hampshire’s state parks system. Campsite reservations can be made online 24 hours a day and up to 11 months in advance. Visit nhstateparks.org or call 1-877-nhparks (647-2757) to reserve your spot. Rates cover two adults and up to four children on the site (maximum number of adults per site is four, with a maximum of six people total). A fee of $6.50 applies for all reservations, with $10 per night for each additional adult and $5 per night for each additional child.
Bear Brook State Park 61 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, 485-9869 Cost: Ranges from $25 to $55 per night, depending on the site (no hookups) At more than 10,000 acres, this is the largest developed state park in New Hampshire. Campers have two options within the park — Beaver Pond Campground (600 Lower Road, Deerfield), as well as the cabins at Bear Hill Pond (15 Bear Hill Pond Road, Deerfield), featuring two sizes occupying up to four or six people. The cabins are furnished but do not have electricity. There is also an Adirondack-style lean-to shelter overlooking Smith Pond. Renters have access to two wide wooden bunks, a stone cook place and two outhouses inside.
Ellacoya RV State Park 266 Scenic Road, Gilford, 293-7821 Cost: $47 per rig per night (includes water, electric and sewer hookups) Located on the southwest shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, Ellacoya State Park features an RV campground with 37 available sites by reservation only. Each offers three-way hookups. All of the sites are open daily to reserve now through Columbus Day weekend (no tents or pets are allowed inside the RV park).
Greenfield State Park 52 Campground Road, Greenfield, 547-3497 Cost: $25 per night (no hookups) This 400-acre park features 256 campsites that are available by reservation only, including family group campsites with two Adirondack-style shelters. RVs are welcome in sites where they fit, but no hookups are available. Leashed pets are permitted in the campground but are prohibited in the park’s day-use and beach areas.
Hampton Beach RV State Park 160 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, 926-8990 Cost: $50 per rig per night (includes water, electric and sewer hookups) According to the New Hampshire state parks website, this is the only RV park directly on the coast, at the mouth of the Hampton River. The park is located south of the main part of Hampton Beach on Route 1A, at the Seabrook town line. There are 28 sites that are open for reservations now through Columbus Day weekend. Camping units must be able to hook up all three services (water, electric and sewer) and be self-contained — no pop-ups or tents are allowed.
Monadnock State Park 169 Poole Road, Jaffrey, 532-8862 Cost: $25 per night (no hookups) Gilson Pond Campground became the first new camping area in the New Hampshire state parks system in more than 40 years when it opened in July 2010. Located just down the road from the headquarters area of Monadnock State Park, Gilson Pond Campground has 35 sites that can accommodate tents and pop-ups, as well as five remote hike-to sites. There are several trails leaving the area that lead to the summit of Mount Monadnock.
Mount Sunapee State Park 86 Beach Access Road, Newbury, 763-5561 Cost: Ranges from $23 to $29 per night, depending on the site (no hookups) Mount Sunapee State Park has a campground with 11 sites that offer either lean-tos or tent platforms. The sites are wooded and are for tent camping. One campsite is non-reservable and available for walk-in campers.
Pawtuckaway State Park 7 Pawtuckaway Road, Nottingham, 895-3031 Cost: Ranges from $25 to $30 per night, depending on the site (no hookups); cabin reservations are $65 per night or $360 per week This state park’s campground includes nearly 200 wooded sites, providing many views of Pawtuckaway Lake. Each campsite has an open fire ring, a picnic table, flat areas for a tent, and a parking space. There are no hookups at any of the sites, but the bathhouses are equipped with running water, flush toilets and 24-hour-access coin-operated showers. There’s also a camp store where canoe and kayak rentals are available, as well as a public canoe and kayak launch. Pets are not allowed in the campground or beach area of the park.
Pillsbury State Park 100 Pillsbury State Park Road, Washington, 863-2860 Cost: $23 per night (no hookups) Pillsbury State Park’s campground is open for reservable stays now through Columbus Day weekend. Amenities include handicap-accessible pit toilets, a playground, a kayak and canoe rentals, firewood and a boat launch for non-motorized boats. Eleven of the 41 campsites are remote and accessible by foot or canoe only.
Parks and treks
Hike the day away in a local state park
By Katelyn Sahagian
ksahagian@hippopress.com
New Hampshire is home to a variety of state parks with trails carving through them, showing off the state’s beauty to new and experienced hikers alike.
“Science has proven that a lot of the healthy chemicals in our bodies rise when we are in green space, so just being [in nature] is really important for people,” said Jake King, a co-founder of Thrive Outdoors, a team-building and leadership organization based in Manchester.
State parks are popular places to take a hike, and many are home to everything from beginners’ nature walks to advanced mountain passes. King said that it’s important to differentiate the two.
Pleasant Mountain hike with Gear Up. Photo courtesy of Thrive Outdoors.
It’s important for people who are new to getting into nature and walking to do something on the easier side, like going up to New Hampshire Audubon’s McLane Center in Concord.
“There are nature walks, and they shouldn’t be considered hikes,” King said. “People who are going to start hiking are going into more remote areas and [taking] on more of a challenge.”
Hiking has always been a popular pastime in the Granite State, said Kimball Rexford, the creator of TrailsNH.com. But during the height of the pandemic, he said, it has exploded in popularity.
“Since Covid, like everything, all popular hikes are more than double than what they used to be, maybe even triple,” Rexford said. “It’s starting to come down and people are less nervous being around others, but during Covid, hiking was through the roof.”
Across the board, the most recommended trail on both the Hike NH and Girls Hike NH Facebook groups was Pawtuckaway State Park’s South Loop. Many group members suggested that people take the hike up to the fire tower for a beautiful view.
Rexford suggested a more challenging trail within Pawtuckaway State Park.
“I usually do the North Loop,” he said. “It has a long bony ridge, meaning it’s rocky. It’s a lot of bang for your buck.”
King’s favorite trail, the Cardigan Loop, is for hikers who feel comfortable with the activity, but the trail isn’t extremely challenging by any means.
“It’s got beautiful views and it’s not super remote,” he said. “People walk their dogs and run on the trail. It’s not [as] if you were to go up the [White Mountains] where you won’t see someone for days.”
While Rexford’s website is a good place to find what’s currently popular and trending for hiking, people who are members of hiking Facebook groups, like Hike NH, will help and offer suggestions for their favorite paths.
“Pawtuckaway is unbeatable for what it is,” commented Randall Schanck, a member of Hike NH, in response to the Hippo asking for state park hiking recommendations. “[It is] big enough to explore for a long day and [there is] so much to see if you know where to look. It might as well be Jurassic Park.”
Terra Anna Merry, a member of Girls Hike NH, also said that she enjoys hiking in Pawtuckaway, but added that there were beautiful hikes in Northwood Meadows State Park in Northwood, Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, and Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown.
Rexford said that the Granite State has a seemingly endless number of trails, peaks and loops for avid hikers to explore.
“There’s a lot of everything,” he said. “You could spend a lifetime hiking in New Hampshire and not do it all.”
Where to go hiking in New Hampshire’s state parks
The Hippo reached out to the local Facebook groups Hike NH and Girls Hike NH for suggestions from members on the best trails to hike within New Hampshire’s state parks. Here’s a list of what we received for responses. Visit nhstateparks.org for more details on each trail.
Bear Brook State Park 157 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, 485-9869 Trail: Catamount Loop Difficulty: Strenuous
Cardigan Mountain State Forest 658 Cardigan Mountain Road, Orange, 227-8745 Trail: Mount Cardigan Loop Difficulty: Moderate
Miller State Park 13 Miller Park Road, Peterborough, 924-3672 Trail: Wapack Trail Difficulty: Moderately strenuous
Monadnock State Park 169 Poole Road, Jaffrey, 532-8862 Trail: Wantastiquet-Monadnock trail Difficulty: Moderately strenuous
Northwood Meadows State Park 755 First New Hampshire Turnpike, Northwood Trail: NALMC Trail Difficulty: Moderate
Odiorne Point State Park 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye, 436-7406 Trail: Odiorne Point Trail Difficulty: Easy
Pawtuckaway State Park 7 Pawtuckaway Road, Nottingham, 895-3031 Trail: South Mountain Tower Trail Difficulty: Moderate
Rhododendron State Park 424 Rockwood Pond Road, Fitzwilliam, 532-8862 Trail: Wildflower Trail Difficulty: Easy
Wellington State Park 614 W. Shore Road, Bristol, 744-2197 Trail: Peninsula Nature Trail Difficulty: Easy
Winslow State Park 475 Kearsarge Mountain Road, Wilmot, 526-6168 Trail: Rollins Trail Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking difficulties source: National Park Service, nps.gov
Essential hiking gear Visit hikesafe.com for more details. • Pocket knife • Rain jacket and pants • Fire starter • First aid kit • Whistle • Headlamp or flashlight • Water and food • Warm clothing • Compass • Map
The non-hiker’s guide
State park fun for the hiking-averse
By Hannah Turtle
hturtle@hippopress.com
Maybe hiking isn’t your thing. Maybe you don’t look forward to a trudge among the flora and fauna amid the summer heat. Luckily, this does not exempt you from enjoying the many state parks in southern New Hampshire.
Outside of hiking, there are a plethora of activities available for park-goers, including educational and beautiful historic sites, boating activities and the exciting hunt for geocaches.
Historic sites
For those interested in learning some local history, or for museum-frequenters who want to get outside this summer, here are some great options:
Fort Constitution Historic Site 25 Wentworth Road, New Castle, 271-3556 Located on a peninsula on the northeast corner of New Castle island, the ruins of Fort Constitution provide a great picnic spot for those interested in American history. First used during the War of 1812, the Fort also served as a training site during the Civil War, and was updated in 1897 to be used during the Spanish-American War, as well as World Wars I and II. Returned to the state in 1961, it now sits as a historic landmark with gorgeous views of the water. Source: nhstateparks.org
Fort Stark State Historic Site 211 Wildrose Lane, New Castle, 271-3556 Historically known as Jerry’s Point, Fort Stark sits on the southeastern peninsula of New Castle Island. Built following the Spanish-American War, the fort helps preserve the history of the island as an important military operation used during World War II. Of note is the Ordnance Machine Shop Museum, which displays military artifacts as well as a detailed history of the fort. Source: nhstateparks.org
Robert Frost Farm Historic Site 122 Rockingham Road, Derry, 432-3091 See the farmhouse of the late renowned poet Robert Frost, where he lived with his family from 1900 to 1911. In addition to being the setting for some of Frost’s most acclaimed poems, the site offers a variety of activities for visitors, including poetry readings and a self-guided tour of the property. Source: nhstateparks.org
Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion 375 Little Harbor Road, Portsmouth, 436-2233 Home to New Hampshire’s first royal governor, Benning Wentworth, the Wentworth-Coolidge mansion is a feat of 18th-century architecture. With tours of the sprawling mansion available every day this summer (which include a spy closet), and a gorgeous waterside walking path, the site is a must-see for fans of local history. Additionally, the grounds are covered in purple lilacs, descendents of the first European stock imported by Wentworth. Source: nhstateparks.org
White Island Historic Site Rye, 271-3556 Visit New Hampshire’s only off-shore lighthouse on White Island for a whole day’s worth of historic sights. Originally built in 1820 and rebuilt in 1859, the lighthouse has seen many influential visitors and residents. Acclaimed poet Celia Thaxter was the daughter of the lighthouse’s keeper and wrote many of her works about that period. White Island itself is nestled in the Isles of Shoals, originally known as the Smith Islands (named after Jamestown settler Capt. John Smith). Source: lighthousefriends.com
Geocaching
Originating in 2000 in Oregon, geocaching has had a recent resurgence in popularity amid Covid. By downloading the free “Geocaching” app available for any smartphone, users can hunt for hundreds of hidden treasures called “caches” all over various area parks. The app gives mysterious clues as to the exact location of each cache, and turns any regular hike into an interactive scavenger hunt. It’s perfect for families with curious children, and for anyone who enjoys solving a mystery. When a cache is found, simply sign your name in the log book and leave it for the next person to find.
There are geocache locations hidden in every local state park, and the larger walking trails provide opportunities for finding upwards of 10 caches. For a geocaching challenge that doesn’t require the app download, we’ve hid our own geocache in one of New Hampshire’s state parks — test your mettle and see if you can solve the riddle and find our cache:
Whose cache this is I think I know His box is rather hidden, though He will not see me crossing here Beneath my feet the water flows.
My little phone seems sure it’s near I’ll wait until the coast is clear The gurgle of my much-loved brook Is all that I do long to hear.
I’ll give my weary legs a break For coming here was no mistake The only other sound’s the croak Of that which is my spot’s namesake
These woods are lovely dark and deep But I have promises to keep And caches to find before I sleep And caches to find before I sleep
Canoeing and kayaking
According to nhstateparks.org, canoe and kayak rentals at applicable state parks are $15 per hour, $30 for four hours, $50 for a full day, or $150 for a full week. Oars and life vests are provided. Boaters must have a driver’s license to rent within the state parks system.
Bear Brook State Park 61 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, 485-9874 Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11)
Clough State Park 455 Clough Park Road, Weare, 529-7112 Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11)
Ellacoya State Park 266 Scenic Road, Gilford, 293-7821 Admission cost: $5 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11); no rentals available but visitors can bring their own boats
Greenfield State Park 52 Campground Road, Greenfield, 547-3497 Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11)
Livermore Falls Recreational Area 86 Livermore Road, Holderness, 238-9284 Admission cost: $5 per car; no rentals available but visitors can bring their own boats
Odiorne Point State Park 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye, 436-7406 Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11); no rentals available but visitors can bring their own boats
Pawtuckaway State Park 7 Pawtuckaway Road, Nottingham, 895-3031 Admission cost: $5 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11)
Pillsbury State Park 100 Pillsbury State Park Road, Washington, 863-2860 Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11)
Silver Lake State Park 138 Silver Lake Road, Hollis, 465-2342 Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11); kayak rentals available only
Wentworth State Park 297 Governor Wentworth Hwy., Wolfeboro, 569-3699 Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11); no rentals available but visitors can bring their own boats
Featured photo: Camping at Pawtuckaway State Park in Allenstown in Nottingham. Photo courtesy of New Hampshire State Parks.
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
Support for kids
The One Trusted Adult program will be offered throughout New Hampshire through a contracted partnership with the New Hampshire Department of Education approved by Gov. Sununu and the Executive Council. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education, the program, which works to ensure that children have an accessible, trusted adult to provide support outside of the home, will be implemented at 125 New Hampshire schools over the next two years, serving students in grades 5 through 12. “When a student can name a trusted adult at school, we create our best chance for preventing bullying, mental health issues and substance abuse, all while promoting positive self-worth, engagement in community and availability for learning,” Brooklyn Raney, founder of One Trusted Adult, said in the release. The $794,555 contract will include online, on-demand professional development training for both educators and families.
Continued support
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has announced the launch of a new community-oriented program that will provide intensive transitional support for people being discharged from inpatient psychiatric hospitalization at no additional cost. According to a press release, the program, called Critical Time Intervention, is part of the state’s Ten-Year Mental Health Plan and is designed to help reduce the number of psychiatric hospital readmissions. In the nine months following a person’s discharge, CTI coaches will work directly with the person and their community to ensure they have stable and sustainable living arrangements and employment and access to mental health resources and support. “Providing concrete, one-on-one support for people as they transition from hospital to home offers them a sense of stability and independence, and could potentially prevent a readmission to the inpatient setting,” DHHS Commissioner Lori Shibinette said in the release.
Bills signed
Last week, Gov. Chris Sununu signed 14 bills into law, according to a press release from the governor’s office. Bills included HB 1280, a law that prohibits a parent’s decision regarding vaccinating their child to be considered as evidence in any parental rights proceedings; and SB 270, a law under which New Hampshire’s Department of Energy will work with the state’s utility companies to enroll low- to moderate-income families in a community solar energy program, the release said. “Inflation and rising energy prices hit our low-income families hardest, and this bill will help ensure that these New Hampshire families and communities can share in the benefits of clean energy,” Gov. Sununu said in a statement. Families enrolled in the program will receive a credit on their electricity bill. Gov. Sununu also signed HB91, a law that allows the families of first responders who die by suicide to receive line-of-duty death benefits.
Reimbursement for testing
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will award a FEMA Public Assistance grant in the amount of $4,080,860 to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse the state for the cost of providing Covid testing. As part of a contract with Clear ChoiceMD, New Hampshire provided 22,988 Covid tests at four Clear ChoiceMD walk-in urgent care locations in Nashua, Claremont, Manchester and Newington between October and December 2021. To date, FEMA has awarded New Hampshire more than $137 million in Public Assistance grants for pandemic-related expenses.
Testing RELIEF
A research team at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon will receive $6.6 million from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to study nonsurgical treatment options for urinary urgency incontinence. According to a press release, the study, called “Reduced-dose onabotulinumtoxinA for urgency Incontinence among Elder Females (RELIEF): A mixed methods randomized controlled trial,” will explore the treatment onabotulinumtoxinA, better known by the brand name Botox, which has shown some potential to be an effective treatment for urinary incontinence, particularly for older women, for whom there are few suitable urinary incontinence treatments available
The Loon Preservation Committee hosts its annual Loon Festival at The Loon Center in Moultonborough (183 Lees Mill Road) on Saturday, July 16. Now in its 43rd year, the festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature all kinds of loon-related fun, as well as wildlife displays and presentations, food, games, balloons, face painting and a dunk tank. See loon.org/event/annual-loon-festival.
Nearly two dozen items were stolen from the historic house in Franklin where statesman Daniel Webster was born in 1782. According to the Associated Press, the theft of items, most of which were replicas, is believed to have occurred sometime between July 3 and July 8.
The 2022 Loon Census will also take place on Saturday, July 16, from 8 to 9 a.m., inviting people to observe loons at lakes throughout the state to help the Loon Preservation Committee collect data about New Hampshire’s loons. To learn how you can participate in the census, visit loon.org/census.
U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig met with members of Moms Demand Action in Manchester on July 8 to discuss gun violence prevention efforts in New Hampshire, according to a press release from Sen. Shaheen’s office.
