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This is his time

Willie Nile on making the best music of his life

“The Benjamin Button of rock ’n’ roll” is what VH1 Storytellers creator Bill Flanagan once called Willie Nile. “Because my career has been ass backwards,” Nile said recently. It’s true; the Buffalo-born rocker made two great albums early and waited 10 years for his third. Since then, he’s released over a dozen more, including nine in the last 12 years.

Nile’s energy level is up to 11, and he’s so confident he can inspire a crowd with his high-energy rock that he offers a guarantee. “If you want to see a spark and some light in this darkness, come to a show,” he said. “If you’re not blown away and you don’t feel better walking out the door, you’ll get your money back … and I don’t mean you’ll just like it.”

Every night, Willie Nile leaves everything on the stage, exiting fully soaked in sweat, usually after more than one standing ovation. He’ll play great songs from the early days like “Vagabond Moon” along with rave-ups like “This Is Our Time,” a cut from 2013’s American Ride and “The Day The Earth Stood Still,” the title track from his last studio album.

“Nothing’s changed, except I think I’m singing better,” he said. “My voice has gotten just a little richer. Maybe I wouldn’t go that far; I’m a little Sam Cooke, but I mean, I’m having more fun. The set lists are never better than this, and it’s a ball. I’m still feeling it in every pore of my body, and I’m not the only one.”

If the measure of a person is the company they keep, Nile is a star. He got his first big break when the booker at Kenny’s Castaways convinced Robert Palmer, the New York Times’ premier critic in the 1970s, to arrive early for a show he was covering to catch Nile’s opening set. The rave review led to a record deal and a tour opening for The Who.

Bruce Springsteen invited Nile to open for him in front of 70,000 fans in New Jersey’s Giants Stadium, and in 2009 pulled him from the audience to sing Jackie Wilson’s song “Higher & Higher” at a show that turned out to be Clarence Clemons’ last with the E Street Band.

Nine years ago he stood between Springsteen and Pete Townshend to perform “Won’t Get Fooled Again” in a band that included Billy Idol and Who lead singer Roger Daltrey. Nile also played “Substitute” and “Kids Are Alright” at the show, a Grammy MusiCares tribute.

“I remember thinking, what’s wrong with this picture?” he recalled, and talked about working out how to play the Who classic backstage with the Boss, who also didn’t know the song. “For 15 minutes, like two high school kids … we learn ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again.’ You can’t make this stuff up; I’m living a dream.”

Nile, however, isn’t the least bit starstruck by the music legends who love him.

“I’m just too dumb to know any better, but fame was never what I cared about,” he said. “It was always about the songs … that’s gotten me through some really small keyholes into some unique places.”

The inverse of that is what led him to leave music in the wake of his first two critically lauded albums when the industry harshed his mellow, then return in 1991 with Places I Have Never Been. He just wasn’t feeling it anymore. He and his then-wife — he’s now married to Italian photographer Cristina Arrigoni — moved back to Buffalo and had four kids.

“I stayed there through the eighties,” he said. “I stopped playing, but I was always writing. That’s what I do. I’ll write till I drop. At this rate, I’ll be playing till I drop, but it’s like my dad says … he asks, ‘How you doing?’ and I’ll say, ‘I’m working really hard, I’m pretty beat.’ He goes, ‘Yeah, but you get to do what you love. You’re a lucky guy.’ And he’s right.”

Even in conversation, one can hear the raucous Nile’s rock ’n’ roll heart beat. When he’s up on stage blazing through his massive catalog or covering a gem like the Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane” — Lou Reed was another New Yorker Nile knew — it’s like attending a revival tent party in 4/4 time.

So don’t go to The Rex on Nov. 15 with any thoughts of getting a refund. Rather, expect many moments when Nile’s spirit lifts the crowd to its feet. “I’m a 76-year-old dude and having the time of my life and doing the best shows in my career,” he said. “I’m having a ball, still writing at the top of my game, and the songs are still coming.”

An Evening With Willie Nile
When: Friday, Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester
Tickets: $35 at palacetheatre.org

Featured photo: Willie Nile. Courtesy photo.

Thanksgiving to go

Where to get pies, sides and the gravy

By John Fladd
[email protected]

Here are some of the spots offering dessert, sides and sometimes even the whole turkey dinner to go. Know of a place not mentioned here? Let us know at [email protected].

• All Real Meal (87 Elm St., Manchester, 782-3014, allrealmeal.com) is taking orders on its website for Thanksgiving dinner that include turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans and cranberry with the option of an individual size, a meal to serve three to four people or a meal to serve six to eight people. Sides, gluten-free stuffing and desserts are also available. Visit the website to see which towns are eligible for free delivery.

• Angela’s Pasta and Cheese Shop (815 Chestnut St., Manchester, 625-9544, angelaspastaandcheese.com) is taking orders until Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 4 p.m. (prepay only). On the menu are traditional Thanksgiving dinner items, from turkey ( $39.95) to cranberry relish ($6.95), sweet pies ($18.95 to $33.95), pork pie, ($21.95), and a full selection of baked goods and desserts. Orders will be available for pickup on Wednesday, Nov. 22, between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pick up orders on Wednesday, Nov. 27, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Applecrest Farm Orchards (133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls, 926-3721, applecrest.com) is offering Thanksgiving food to take home for the holiday, including pies and crisps, cider and doughnuts, fresh baked goods, fresh turkeys and homemade sides. Turkeys are available for pickup anytime during farm stand hours Monday, Nov. 25, through Wednesday, Nov. 27, and Thursday, Nov. 28, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Order through the farm’s website.

• Apple Hill Farm (580 Mountain Road, Concord, 224-8862, applehillfarmnh.com) offers a variety of pies (apple, apple crumb, blueberry, blueberry crumb, cherry, cherry crumb, maple custard, strawberry rhubarb, strawberry rhubarb crumb, pumpkin, mince and pecan) and is taking orders until Monday, Nov. 25. Shaker-style squash rolls and Parker House rolls are also available for special orders. Call the stand to place your order. Pick up orders Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of Thanksgiving week until 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, will be the last day of Apple Hill’s 2024 season.

• Atlantic Grill (5 Pioneer Road, Rye, 433-3000, theatlanticgrill.com) is taking Thanksgiving dinner orders now through Saturday, Nov. 18, to be picked up on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Main courses feed six to eight people and are $199. Order online.

• The Bakeshop on Kelley Street (171 Kelley St., Manchester, 624-3500, thebakeshoponkelleystreet.com) offers a variety of baked goods such as homemade doughnuts, made-to-order cakes, cupcakes, pastry trays and specialty desserts. New for this year, there is a Black Forest Cherry Pie and a White Chocolate Cream Pie. Half pies are available, and also half and half (half one flavor, half another). The last day for ordering is Thursday, Nov. 21. Pickup hours are Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Wednesday, Nov. 27, between 8 a.m. and noon.

• Barrel and Baskit (377 Main St., Hopkinton, 746-1375, barrelandbaskit.com), the expanded location of Local Baskit meal kits, is offering a full catering menu of prepared sides, the popular Beautiful Brussels Sprouts meal kit side dishes, pies and dessert platters, antipasto and charcuterie platters as well as soups and prepared vegan butternut squash stuffed shells to complete Thanksgiving for all your guests. Preorder online by Friday, Nov. 22, or stop in to the store for wine, beer and additional grab-and-go items. Visit barrelandbaskit.com.

• Bearded Baking Company (819 Union St., Manchester, 647-7150, beardedbaking.com) is offering a full range of holiday baked goods for Thanksgiving, including: Lambeth and carrot cakes, apple or blueberry crumb, pecan, lemon meringue, and chocolate pies, festive breads and vegan cookies. Pick up orders between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, or Wednesday, Nov. 27.

• The Big Bad Food Truck (Hampton, bigbadnh.com) is offering a turkey dinner package enough to feed six to eight people that includes one turkey, a pint of gravy, one quart of baby carrots, a half pan of cornbread stuffing and half pan of mashed potatoes for $135. There is also a brisket dinner package that feeds six to eight people that includes 10 to 12 pounds of smoked Angus brisket, a half pan of mac & cheese, a half pan of whipped Yukon potatoes, a quart of sweet coleslaw and a pint of brown sugar and rum barbecue sauce, for $240. All orders can be picked up at 41 Ashworth Ave. in Hampton between 3 and 7 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving. You can choose your preferred date from the drop-down menu when you order online. Orders close on Nov. 21.

• The Black Forest Cafe and Bakery (212 State Rte 101, Amherst, 672-0500, theblackforestnh.com) has its Thanksgiving menu available on its baking website, and will offer its normal catering menu, as well as some specialty items. Orders will be accepted through Sunday, Nov. 24, and can be picked up through 12 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28.

• Brookdale Fruit Farm (41 Broad St., Hollis, 465-2240, brookdalefruitfarm.com) is taking orders for pies. Apple, apple crumb, blueberry and pumpkin pies are $21.49, and triple-berry pies are $24.99. Order by phone, and pick up orders by 3 p.m. on the date specified at the time of the order.

• Brookford Farm (250 West Road, Canterbury, 742-4084, brookfordfarm.com) will help you fill your table this Thanksgiving, with locally sourced products such as apple pies, apples, pears, rolls and stuffing from Orchard Hill Bread. There is plenty of winter squash, 100 percent grass-fed dairy and more. Stock your freezer during the Farm’s bulk beef sale: orders are being taken for 100 percent grass-fed half-cows.

• Brothers Butcher (8 Spit Brook Road, Nashua, 809-4180, or 142 Lowell Road, Hudson, 577-1130, brothers-butcher.com) is taking online orders for fresh turkey, fresh free-range turkey, sausage & herb stuffing, traditional bread stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes, butternut squash, turkey gravy, and apple, pumpkin and chocolate cream pies. Visit brothers-butcher.com/Thanksgiving.

• Buckley’s Bakery and Cafe (436 DW Highway, Merrimack, 262-5929, buckleysbakerycafe.com) and Buckley’s Market and Cafe (9 Market Place, Hollis, 465-5522) are taking orders now until Friday, Nov. 22, for cakes — caramel spice cake ($46), Boston cream pie ($42), chocolate mousse cake (GF) ($48), apple crisp cheesecake ($48) — and pies — apple, pumpkin, pecan, streusel-topped blueberry crisp, and chocolate cream ($22 each), and more. Visit the Buckley’s website for a full menu.

• Caroline’s Fine Food (132 Bedford Center Road, Bedford, 637-1615, carolinesfood.com) is taking orders now through Friday, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m. for turkey ballotine with herb stuffing that serves eight to 10 people ($100) and sides such as herb-roasted sweet potatoes ($43), sausage stuffing ($60) and carrot confit ($60) that each serve 10. Cranberry sauce can be ordered by the pint ($27) or the quart ($43) as can turkey gravy ($32 for a pint, $49 for a quart.) Pick up your order on Wednesday, Nov. 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Castleton Banquet and Conference Center (58 Enterprise Drive, Windham, 898-6300, castletonbcc.com) has two dinner packages available to go. The first dinner package serves 10 to 12 guests and includes a 16- to 20-pound turkey with Castleton’s bread stuffing, two quarts of homestyle mashed potatoes, butternut squash and turkey gravy, a pint of homemade cranberry relish, 12 dinner rolls and one 10-inch apple, pecan, pumpkin or blueberry pie and costs $289. The second package serves 10 to 12 guests and includes an 8- to 10-pound spiral glazed ham, two quarts of homestyle mashed potatoes and butternut squash, a quart of pineapple raisin sauce, 10 dinner rolls and the same choice of pies, for $210. All sides are also available separately, as are red and white wines. All orders must be placed by noon on Friday, Nov. 22, and pickups will be scheduled on Wednesday, Nov. 27, between 9 a.m. and noon.

• Chez Vachon (136 Kelley St., Manchester, 625-9660, chezvachon.com) is offering a variety of 9-inch pies for $14.99 including chocolate, banana, brownie, coconut, pistachio, lemon chiffon, Key lime, chocolate mousse, apple crisp, blueberry, cherry, lemon meringue, cranberry walnut, Canadian sugar pie, pumpkin, pumpkin deluxe and pumpkin mousse. Pork pie ($21) and salmon pie ($23) are available as well as cream cakes such as chocolate, cookies and crème, pistachio, strawberry, pumpkin, and apple spice each for $23.99. Please order at least 24 hours in advance. Pick up orders no later than Wednesday, Nov. 27, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

• The Coach Stop Restaurant & Tavern (176 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 437-2022, coachstopnh.com) is taking orders for takeout and delivery within a 5-mile radius on Thanksgiving Day with the last delivery and takeout being at 3:30 p.m. All entrees include turkey soup, apple cider, mashed potato, homemade bread stuffing, yams, cranberry sauce, butternut squash, baby pearl onions and green peas, hot rolls, sweet bread, homemade pie, and coffee. All entrees are $42.

• Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker, 428-3281, colbyhillinn.com) is offering a takeout service available on Wednesday, Nov. 27, from 4 to 7 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 28, until 1 p.m. Entrees include cider-brined turkey with herbed cornbread stuffing, cranberry chutney and giblet gravy, crispy porchetta (Tuscan roast pork loin), four-grain risotto with mushroom and parsnip ragout and cherry wood roasted salmon. All are served with whipped potatoes, roast sweet potatoes and fall vegetable succotash. Freshly baked pumpkin pie, sea salt caramel and pecan chocolate cake, apple crisp with vanilla gelato, sorbet duo or ricotta cheesecake are offered for dessert. The cost is $65 per person. Orders should be placed by Tuesday, Nov. 26.

• The Common Man (Lago, 1 Route 25, Meredith, 279-2253; Camp, 298 DW Highway, Meredith, 279-3003; Lakehouse, 281 DW Highway, Meredith, 279-5221; 60 Main St., Ashland, 968-7030; 10 Pollard Road, Lincoln, 745-3463; 88 Range Road, Windham, 898-0088; 1 Gulf St., Concord, 228-3463; 304 DW Highway, Merrimack, 429-3463; 21 Water St., Claremont, 542-6171; 231 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2764; 752 Route 104, New Hampton, 744-0120; 61 Laconia Road, Tilton, 286-2204; 2280 Brown Ave., Manchester, 623-5040; thecman.com) is taking orders until Friday, Nov. 22. On the menu is oven roasted turkey with house-made pan gravy, whole-berry cranberry sauce, signature stuffing, country mashed potatoes, maple roasted butternut squash, garlic green beans, dinner rolls and butter, sweet bread and a slice of pumpkin pie with cinnamon whipped cream. A meal for four is $119.95 plus tax and a meal for one is $30.95 plus tax. Other meal enhancements include glazed ham and macaroni and cheese. House baked pies can be bought individually and cost $16.95 for apple pie, $20.95 for pecan pie and $14.95 for pumpkin pie. Orders must be picked up on Wednesday, Nov. 27.

• Concord Food Co-op (24 S. Main St., 225-6840, concordfoodcoop.com) is selling fresh turkeys and complete meals to serve eight to 10 people with a 12- to 15-pound turkey, turkey gravy, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce, stuffing and apple roasted green beans starting at $279.99. Extra sides are also available. Brioche rolls are $9.99 a dozen. Individual meals with sides and rolls are $29.99. Call the Co-op to place your order. All orders must be placed no later than noon on Monday, Nov. 18. Prepared meals are available for pickup from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Credit cards are required for all orders. For a full refund, cancellations must be made by 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18.

• Place your order with Copper Kettle To Go (39 Main St., Wilton, 654-2631, copperkettletogo.com) for a small turkey dinner that serves two to four people, with mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, squash, gravy, cranberry sauce stuffing, pie and rolls for $75, or a large dinner that serves five to six people for $125. Kentucky Derby pie, blueberry cream cheese pie and pecan pie are $20, and coconut custard or pumpkin pies are $18. All orders must be picked up and paid for by Wednesday, Nov. 27, at 9 p.m.

• Cremeux French Patisserie (707 Milford Road, Merrimack, 320-4702, cremeuxfrenchpatisserie.com) has an ever-changing menu and currently on it are éclairs, lemon and honey tart, chocolate praliné, macaroons and more. Call for holiday deadlines.

• Crosby Bakery (51 E. Pearl St., Nashua, 882-1851, crosbybakerynh.com) is taking orders for pies and other Thanksgiving treats. The deadline for ordering is Saturday, Nov. 23, at 5 p.m. Pick up orders on Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Wednesday, Nov. 27. Visit the Bakery’s website.

• The Crust and Crumb Baking Co. (126 N. Main St., Concord, 219-0763, thecrustandcrumb.com) is offering bread; pies, such as pumpkin, apple streusel, vegan blueberry coconut crisp and maple cream; quiches (broccoli pepper jack, spinach tomato feta, bacon cheddar), and other desserts such as lemon-raspberry layer cake. Orders must be placed and paid in full by Friday, Nov. 22, for pickup on Nov. 26 or Nov. 27.

• Frederick’s Pastries (109 Route 101A, Amherst, 882-7725; 25 S. River Road, Bedford, 647-2253, pastry.net) is taking orders for an assortment of Thanksgiving treats such as a Thanksgiving cookie kit, apple tarts, autumn wreath cake, caramel apple cupcakes, caramel pecan cheesecake, maple pecan cheesecake and pumpkin caramel cheesecake cups, harvest pumpkins cake, linzer torte, pumpkin loaf, pumpkin whoopie pies, mini pies and a turnover tray with pumpkin, apple and raspberry turnovers.

• The Fresh Chef Press (775 Canal St., Manchester, 716-7197, freshchefmp.com) is offering various Thanksgiving sides: ancient grain pilaf ($2 a cup), eight bacon-wrapped asparagus ($8 per serving), six bacon-wrapped scallops ($15), butternut squash, spiced or savory ($2 a cup), a charcuterie board ($150), stuffing ($22), mac and cheese ($30), 10 Italian sausage stuffed mushrooms ($20) and 10 vegetable stuffed mushrooms ($15), cheesy scalloped potatoes ($4 a cup), mac & cheese ($30, serves eight) and much more. Order online.

• Giorgio’s Cocktails & Eatery (707 Milford Road, Merrimack, 883-7333; 524 Nashua St., Milford, 673-3939; 270 Granite St., Manchester, 232-3323, giorgios.com) is taking orders for a family meal with oven roasted turkey (12 ounces), Yukon mashed potatoes (8 ounces), cornbread stuffing (8 ounces), homemade gravy (8 ounces), orange ginger cranberry sauce (5 ounces), green bean and shiitake mushroom casserole (8 ounces), dinner rolls with cinnamon sage butter and a slice of homemade pumpkin pie for $29.99 per person. Orders must be placed by noon Sunday, Nov. 24. Pickup is between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27.

• Granite State Candy Shoppe (13 Warren St., Concord, 225-2591; 832 Elm St., Manchester, 218-3885, granitestatecandyshoppe.com) has various treats for the holiday such as 6-ounce milk fall leaves ($8.25), 8-ounce jelly bean autumn mix ($6.98), 8-ounce bourbon caramel ($6.98), fall dipped pretzel rod ($3.75), milk and white chocolate pumpkin ($9.98), 8-ounce pumpkin pie almonds ($8.98), white and milk chocolate turkeys in various sizes and much more.

• Greenleaf (54 Nashua St., Milford, 213-5447, greenleafmilford.com) is taking preorders now until Monday, Nov. 25, with pickups available Wednesday, Nov. 27, between 4 and 8 p.m. All orders are served cold and will include specific heating instructions. Please specify pickup time when placing your order. Roasted Turkey Dinner ($55 per person) includes turkey breast and thigh, brioche stuffing, roasted seasonal vegetables, roasted garlic and herb potatoes, cranberry sauce and gravy. Add-ons include Parker House dinner rolls (six for $8), molasses honey butter ($3), pumpkin cake with chai spice buttercream ($7) and chocolate swirl cheesecake ($6). Orders can be placed through Greenleaf’s website.

• Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant (233 DW Highway, 279-6212, hartsturkeyfarm.com) is taking orders for family and individual turkey dinners. The family meal comes with a whole roasted turkey, gravy, stuffing, whipped potatoes, butternut squash, green beans, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls and your choice of apple, pumpkin or chocolate cream pie. A small order ($195) feeds two to six, a medium ($290) feeds six to 10 and a large ($425) feeds 10 to 14. Individual dinners include roasted turkey with gravy, stuffing, whipped potatoes, butternut squash, cranberry sauce, a roll and butter. Pickup times for Whole Roasted Family Meals (curbside, hot and ready to eat) will be 10 to 11 a.m., 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., or 3 to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Whole Roasted Family Meals are also available for pickup Wednesday (curbside 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 4 to 6 p.m.). Family Meals are limited and available while they last.

• Harvey’s Bakery (376 Central Ave., Dover, 749-6029, harveysbakery.com) has dinner rolls available by the dozen and pies such as apple, pumpkin, chocolate cream, lemon meringue, mince cherry, coconut cream and many more. Orders must be placed by Saturday, Nov. 16.

• J and F Farms (108 Chester Road in Derry, 437-0535, jandffarmsnh.com) offers Thanksgiving turkeys along with eggs, beef, pork, veggies and New Hampshire maple syrup and honey. Call for details.

• Johnson Golden Harvest (412 W. River Road, Hooksett, 210-2031, johnsongoldenharvest.com) is taking orders for turkey, pies and rolls for Thanksgiving dinner. Call or order in person.

• Local Baskit (377 Main St., Hopkinton, 219-0882, localbaskit.com) offers weekly selections for meal kits, having previously included meals such as shrimp and scallop tostada with apple salsita, fettuccine with Brussels sprouts, cranberries and caramelized onion and Chinese braised daikon radish pork stew. Pickup and delivery options are available. Call for holiday deadlines.

• Call or stop by Meadow Ledge Farm (612 Route 219, Loudon, 789-5860, meadowledgefarm.com) to order apple, apple crumb, blueberry, triple berry, strawberry rhubarb, cherry cream, chocolate cream, banana cream, lemon meringue or lemon blueberry meringue pies and more available for pickup on Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Wednesday, Nov. 27.

• Moulton’s Kitchen and Market (10 Main St., Amherst, 673-2404, moultonsmarket.com) is taking preorders for a Thanksgiving dinner that feeds four to five people featuring carved roasted turkey breast for $29.99, herbed turkey gravy for $14.99, whipped mashed potatoes for $18.99, traditional bread stuffing for $17.99, spiced butternut squash for $16.99, fresh cranberry sauce for $9.99. Apple or pumpkin pie is $18.99 for a 9-inch pie and $8.99 for a 6-inch pie. Orders must be placed by noon on Saturday, Nov. 16, and picked up by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27.

• Mr. Mac’s Macaroni & Cheese (497 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 606-1760, mr-macs.com) is now offering a “Thanksgiving Mac” special, with roasted turkey, gravy, bechamel sauce, cheddar with traditional stuffing and drizzled cranberry sauce on top, as party and banquet trays.

• Place your order with New England Tap House Grille (1292 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 782-5137, taphousenh.com) by Thursday, Nov. 16, at 5 p.m. Available for order are French-Canadian meat pie, pumpkin pie, carrot cake, a cookie and brownie tray, apple pie and a dozen dinner rolls. Order by Thursday, Nov. 21. Pick up your order on Tuesday, Nov. 26, or Wednesday, Nov. 27, by 5 p.m.

• Piccola italia Ristorante (815 Elm St., Manchester, 606-5100, piccolarestaurant.com) will offer a Thanksgiving catering menu, featuring full and half-turkey dinners, and traditional side dishes. All orders must be placed before Saturday, Nov. 23. All orders must be picked up before 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27. Piccola Italia will be closed on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 28.

• Until Tuesday, Nov. 19, Presto Craft Kitchen (168 Amory St., Manchester, 606-1252, prestocraftkitchen.com) and its partner-in-crust, the Mount Washington Pie Co., will allow you to Pie It Forward. For every pie you buy, for an additional $7, you can buy a pie for a family in need. Double-crust pies include classic blueberry, berry blast (blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, and blackberry), strawberry-rhubarb, peach-raspberry, traditional apple, apple-cherry, cherry, and pumpkin. Single-crust pies include chocolate, banana, pistachio, coconut, cannoli, maple-pecan, and cookies and cream.

• Queen City Cupcakes (816 Elm St., Manchester, 624-4999, qccupcakes.com) is taking orders online or via phone by Saturday, Nov. 23. Cupcake flavors include Apple Cider Donut, Gingerbread Whoopie Pie, Pumpkin Maple, Hot Cocoa, Biscoff Cookie Butter, Cake Batter, German Chocolate, Salted Caramel Oreo, Chocolate Orange, Chocolate, and Vanilla Bean. Pickup is available on Wednesday, Nov. 27, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Red Arrow Diner (112 Loudon Road, Concord, 415-0444; 137 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 552-3091; 61 Lowell St., Manchester, 626-1118; 149 DW Highway, Nashua, 204-5088, redarrowdiner.com) is offering desserts such as chocolate and carrot cake, pumpkin and lemon meringue pie. All cakes are double-layer and $39.99 each. All pies are 10″ and between $20.99 and $23.50 each. All online orders require 48-hour notice.

• Thanksgiving dinner selections at The Red Blazer (72 Manchester St., Concord, 224-4101, theredblazer.com) include roasted turkey with gravy, baked ham, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, baked butternut squash, green bean casserole, apple chicken stuffing and turkey gravy. A variety of desserts are offered such as Yule logs, pies, cakes and cheesecakes, dessert platters, cupcakes and whoopie pies. Now offering pickup dates for Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Wednesday, Nov. 27.

• Rig A’ Tony’s Takeout & Catering (13 Rockingham Road, Windham, 685-8122; 38 West Broadway, Derry, 425-6116, rigatonysitalian.com) has a Thanksgiving dinner with an 18- to 20-pound turkey, family-size portions of stuffing, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, corn, cranberry sauce and gravy. Desserts include apple pie, blueberry, chocolate cream pie, Italian cookies, lemon meringue pie, pumpkin pie, pecan pie and pumpkin bread. Customers can choose to pick up their meals on Tuesday or Wednesday of Thanksgiving week.

• Roundabout Diner (580 Portsmouth Traffic Circle, Portsmouth, 431-1440, roundaboutdiner.com) is taking orders for Thanksgiving dinners to-go with slow roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, peas and pearl onions, cranberry relish, dinner rolls, homemade gravy, cinnamon apple sauce and your choice of pumpkin, apple, blueberry, pecan, banana cream, coconut cream, Key lime or chocolate cream pie. Meal 1 serves six to eight people for $199.99 and includes one pie. Meal 2 serves 10 to 12 for $279.99 and includes two pies. The sides can be bought a la carte as well as a half sheet of cornbread for $14, barbecue pulled pork for $12.95 a pound, roasted Brussels sprouts for $10.95 a quart and house brined turkey breast for $14.95 a pound. Orders can be picked up all day on Wednesday, Nov. 27, and Thursday, Nov. 28, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Slightly Crooked Pies (slightlycrookedpies.com) is taking Thanksgiving pie orders until Wednesday, Nov. 20. Thanksgiving orders will be available to pick up on Wednesday, Nov. 27, from the Joppa Hill Educational Farm, 174 Joppa Hill Road in Bedford, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Contact [email protected] if you need a different arrangement.

• Smoke Shack Cafe (226 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 404-2178, smokeshackcafe.com) is accepting orders until Monday, Nov. 25, by 7:30 p.m. Package No. 1 includes a whole turkey, two large sides of your choice, medium cranberry sauce, medium gravy and six pieces of cornbread for $149.99. Package No. 2 includes a whole turkey, six large sides of your choice, medium cranberry, large gravy and 12 pieces of cornbread for $223.99. Sides are butternut squash, corn saute, green beans, jalapeño and sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, cranberry sauce and gravy. Sides are available a la carte as well as bacon-wrapped stuffed turkey breasts and a whole smoked turkey. Order pickup is available on Wednesday, Nov. 27, between 2 and 6:30 p.m. and on Thanksgiving, from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

• The Sweet Spot (353 Riverdale Road, Weare, thesweetspotnh.com) is taking orders for Thanksgiving, offering 9-inch pies (apple or apple crumb $21, pumpkin $21, pecan $26, chocolate cream $25), 6- or 9-inch pumpkin cheesecakes with graham cracker or walnut crust ($30, $40), quiches ($21), pork pies ($26), and more. Orders must be picked up by Tuesday, Nov. 26, or Wednesday, Nov. 27, 7 a.m. and 2 p.m.

• Temple Street Diner (200 Temple St., Nashua, 521-7133) is taking individual or family Thanksgiving dinner and dessert orders for delivery or pickup. Delivery will be offered on Wednesday, Nov. 27, and Thursday, Nov. 28, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Call and pay ahead of time.

• Tuscan Market (Tuscan Village, 9 Via Toscana, Salem, 912-5467, tuscanbrands.com) is taking orders to be picked up on Wednesday, Nov. 27. A Thanksgiving dinner includes a whole carved roasted turkey, maple-roasted sweet potatoes, garlic green beans with lemon, mascarpone whipped potatoes, porcini mushroom ciabatta stuffing, an heirloom cranberry and marsala wine compote, fresh herb gravy, focaccia and ciabatta bread for $180. The Market’s regular catering menu is also available. Orders must be placed by Monday, Nov. 25.

• Van Otis Chocolates (341 Elm St., Manchester, 627-1661; 15 S. Main St., Wolfeboro, 515-1045, vanotis.com) has a variety of sweet treats for Thanksgiving such as a near 12-pound chocolate turkey ($275), apple orchard gummies ($6.50) and custom Swiss fudge boxes ($44).

Featured Photo: Courtesy photo.

Fundraising for the rest of us

The Junior Service League of Concord celebrates Festivus early

By Zachary Lewis
[email protected]

The 7th Annual Junior Service League of Concord Festivus: Backwoods Black Tie Edition takes place on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. at the Barn at Bull Meadow in Concord.

Ashley Miller is the President of the Junior Service League of Concord.

“We are a group of all-volunteer women. Most of us work full-time. Most of us are moms with careers. So we are a group of all-volunteer women who do this in our free time. We operate out of our homes, and we support women and children in crisis throughout the greater Concord area, and we do that via volunteer projects and fundraising,” Miller said.

One of those fundraising events is their Festivus event. “That’s one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. It’s held at the Barn at Bull Meadow…. It’s a huge silent auction. We’re sitting at, right now, over 80 silent auction items,“ she said.

Attendees will have a chance to win some enchanting items. “We’ve got a pair of Celtics tickets. We have plumbing services. We have tree removal services. We have a weekend away at an Airbnb up in Lincoln. We have our famous Junior Service League bucket of booze, which is exactly what it sounds like. We’ve got gift cards to local businesses. We’ve got gym memberships. Anything you can think of, we’ve got it,” Miller said.

Each Festivus is unique. “And this one is Backwoods Black Tie Edition. We always have a theme. So it’s denim on denim theme,” Miller said. Any type of denim combo or ensemble is welcomed. “We do have a prize for the most creative denim on denim outfit, so I don’t want to limit anyone.”

“I’ll give a speech about what we’re about, some of the things we fundraise for. You’ll hear from some of our grantees that we’ve granted to in the past about the work we’ve done with them. So it’s a really good time. But yes, there’s music, there’s dancing, there’s food, there’s drinks. We sell rum cakes,” she said.

These are no ordinary rum cakes. “We do make them. … They’re our famous JSL rum cake recipe, which has been around for a while,” Miller said. Those interested in the rum cakes must attend to receive them. “They’re great, and they’re great for the holidays. You can freeze them. Or if you’re like me, you can eat them over the weekend, because they’re that good.”

The music is a draw as well.

“We have live music. We have two performers. One is Ryan Williamson music and the other is the Eric Reingold Has Friends band and they both performed last year and were phenomenal.”

Even if all the rum cakes are gone, other options to eat exist.

“We have all of our food donated by local businesses and then there are beer, wine, and alcohol pours, again, all donated by our community partners.”

If you can make it, bring a buddy. “$30 for one ticket or two for $55. So grab a friend and save five bucks,” she said.

Those who can’t attend can still support the JSL and what they do.

“If you can’t make it to the event but you’re interested in supporting us, you can donate. We are on Venmo. We can take a card via our website. We have a donate button. If you’d like to join us out in the community, we do regular service projects, so feel free to reach out. We are happy to be involved and to get to know people and serve our community,” Miller said.

7th Annual Junior Service League of Concord Festivus: Backwoods Black Tie Edition
When: Thursday, Nov. 14, at 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: Barn at Bull Meadow, 63 Bog Road, Concord
Tickets: $30 or two for $55
jslconcord.org

Featured image: Courtesy photo.

Handmade treasures

Early holiday shopping at Form + Function Artisan Fair

By Michael Witthaus
[email protected]

For anyone shopping for a special gift and looking to bypass Amazon and big box stores, the upcoming Form + Function Artisan Fair at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth is the perfect choice. The sixth annual event will include an evening market for the first time, on Friday, Nov. 15, as well as an all-day affair on Saturday, Nov. 16.

The event brings together more than 20 artisans offering everything from pottery to jewelry, textile products such as scarves and winter caps, even cosmetics, handmade in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts. As the name implies, it’s usable art for sale, with care and craftsmanship that should impress most gift recipients.

Artisans include Donna Pioli, whose Claypio coffee cups, vases, colanders and bowls have unique glaze profiles and fanciful touches such as flowers that resemble melted ribbon candy. Amy Vander Els makes jewelry; her Lottie Necklace is a gold chain with a pale yellow serpentine turquoise stone dangling from it.

The clothing offered by Larkin & Larkin can be hippie-inspired — its proprietor began selling her art in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. For example, there’s a denim jacket with an embroidery of a melding sun and moon as the centerpiece, but another has a country vibe, with Dolly Parton’s photo sewn on it.

Items vary in cost, 3S Arts Marketing Manager Sara O’Neill said by phone recently.

“It’s curated specifically to have kind of breadth in both the type of craft that people work on and also in price points,” she said. “In the ceramics category, we’ll have something in the $40 range, and it could go all the way up to $300. That swath also applies through jewelry. We have some glass-blowing crafts happening, and there’s range between those.”

There’s something for everyone, even those not interested in another cup or necklace, like Holmes and Hudson’s skincare products. “We actually carry them in our shop year-round, but I’m assuming they’ll bring some special things that normally we don’t carry,” O’Neill said. “Natural body products like soap and toners and hand creams, all of that kind of stuff.”

O’Neill is a fan of Off Menu Pots, a company that’s based in Portsmouth’s Button Factory. “I spend all of my money there every year at their booth,” she said. “I really love their large platters, and they do some small cups…. They have really great colorways, like a very terracotta kind of a blushy blue, and they draw florals and skulls, so it’s a little bit sweet and salty.”

The event provides an easy path to supporting the arts, O’Neill said.

“It focuses on the maker space versus what you might traditionally think of as visual arts, which we reserve for our exhibits in the gallery and the yard sale where artists submit 2D works,” she said. “This is more handmade categories versus painting, charcoal, that type of thing.”

It’s underwritten by 3S Arts’ five lead sponsors — AC Hotel, Katzman Contemporary Projects, MacEdge and Raka, all in Portsmouth, and The Brook Casino in Seabrook. “This is the third year in a row where they’ve chosen 3S as a beneficiary of their charitable gaming,” O’Neill said of The Brook, “and Katzman is a wonderful supporter of the arts, they have their own gallery… AC, MacEdge, Raka — it’s a wonderful group.”

Their support is vital, particularly at this moment.

“In this past year, hearing all of these stories of the art museum at UNH and the Mona Gallery, which has transitioned into another art gallery, but as a nonprofit going under. It’s a critical time if you don’t want to see these arts organizations go away,” she said. “It’s a critical time for us, for sure.”

Finally, the fair is a great way to keep giving local, and give back to the community. “Shopping for your loved ones this holiday season overrides that Black Friday feeling,” O’Neill said. “You’re getting something much more wonderful and original shopping at Form + Function. It’s Small Business Saturday — we kind of fall into that category.”

Form + Function Artisan Fair
When: Friday, Nov. 15, 5 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 3S Artspace, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth,
More: Free admission, details at 3sarts.org

Featured image: Courtesy Photo.

Hoops Season

Get close to the action with local college basketball

By Zachary Lewis
[email protected]

Welcome to hoops season!

Basketball fans don’t have to drive far to find games nearly every weekend through the end of February. Local colleges offer women’s and men’s games to cheer at — often with admission that is either free or in line with movie ticket prices.

Southern New Hampshire University

Eric Coplin, the Director of Athletic Communication at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, spoke to the Hippo about Penmen Basketball at the school.

“So both teams play in the Northeast 10, which is part of NCAA Division II. The A-10 is usually kind of looked at as one of the stronger conferences in Division II. So we play in a really strong league. And I think anyone coming to watch is going to see a really strong brand of basketball,” Coplin said.

“I love this level. … I think it’s a legitimate student-athlete experience. They’re here to be students, but they’re also here to be high-level athletes,” he said.

There is a good possibility of reaching the playoffs. “If we have an NCAA tournament, it’s obviously not as highly publicized as the Division I NCAA tournament, but it’s the same thing. It’s a bunch of teams fighting for a national championship,” Coplin said.

One of the biggest games is against nearby Saint Anselm College.

“We play them twice a year. We play them at home and then play them at their place. That’s definitely our biggest rival in basketball for sure. So [we] definitely draw the biggest crowd, best atmosphere for that game, for sure,” he said.

In the age of Caitlin Clark, both men’s and women’s teams draw a crowd.

“I think our women’s basketball crowds have really improved over the last few years to kind of match the men. In some games I think they even outdraw our men. But I think that has a lot to do with how we’ve been super successful the last three years. The team hadn’t been to the NCAA tournament since 1990 and now they’ve made it three straight seasons. They were in the conference championship game two years ago, so I think a lot of that is just in the increased talent level. I think winning helps that,” Coplin said.

Kids’ teams can get involved too. “We have a lot of cool youth involvement, like Hooksett Youth Basketball League, always happy to work with the youth programs in the greater Manchester area for sure,” he said The Hooksett Youth Basketball League is part of the Hooksett Youth Athletic Association (HYAA).

“Admission is free for all of our regular season games,” he said. Championship rounds are a slightly different story. “Once we get into playoffs, the NEC 10 as a conference charges. And then if we were to host regionals, the NCAA charges.”

All of the home games are at the Stan Spirou Field House on campus. Many of the games are double-headers, with a women’s game followed by the men’s. “We have a concession stand that’s usually open … [with] hot dog, pretzel, drinks, candy, stuff like that,” he said.

“We’re hoping for a good year, another fun time, fun atmosphere with the crowd, getting into it. Like I said, the women have been to three straight NCAA tournaments. The men last year won the conference championship and the NCAA regional tournament. The men went to the Elite Eight last year for the first time since 2015,” Coplin said.

Saint Anselm College

Zach Elliot, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications for the Hawks at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, is looking forward to the school’s upcoming basketball season.

The Saint Anselm Hawks are in what he called “the highly competitive Northeast-10 Conference” within NCAA Division II.

“The men’s side is a historic program coming off a trip to the Conference Semifinals last year,” Elliot said. “They also won the Conference title two years ago and have won 10 NE10 Championships. They are returning an All-Conference Third Team selection from last year in Josh Morissette, an Exeter native who finished in the top 10 in the league in scoring with 17.9 points per game. He also made the 16th most three-pointers last year as just a sophomore.”

The team has a new head coach this year in Chris Santo, replacing Keith Dickson, who retired during the offseason after 39 years in charge, Elliot said. Santo is a former NE10 Player of the Year and served as an Assistant Coach for both Saint Anselm and the University of Vermont (NCAA Division I).

“The women’s side looks to improve this year after two straight first-round playoff exits,” Elliot said. “They return their top scorer from a season ago in Tatum Forbes, who put up 14.7 points per game as a sophomore. She finished in the top 20 in the NE10 in scoring, assists, rebounding and steals.”

Games to especially look forward to, Elliot said, will be the game on Wednesday, Nov. 20, against Saint Michael’s College from Colchester, Vermont, the defending champions for men’s, and the Wednesday, Feb. 19, game against in-city rival Southern New Hampshire University.

“Our basketball teams are always hosting youth programs to come and spend time at our games. The teams get a chance to play on the court at halftime or during an intermission. Our teams stay after the game to sign autographs and take photos as well,” Elliot said. “Our women’s team also volunteers at a local middle school and takes part in numerous activities with local youth.

And at the game, there are snacks. Elliot said the concession stand, located outside the gymnasium, offered items such as popcorn, candy, hot dogs and bottled beverages.

NHTI

Annie Mattarazzo, the new athletic director at NHTI in Concord, cannot wait for the upcoming season of Lynx basketball.

“Our conference is really competitive and our men’s program and women’s program have a history of great success. So I think every game is kind of fun. We play in the YSCC conference, which is within the USCAA,” she said.

The Yankee Small College Conference is within the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, which is composed of junior, community and small colleges, totalling 72 schools. Mattarazzo cited Great Bay Community College as a big match for the school “because we’re both in the state of New Hampshire.”

NHTI teams play inside the Dr. Goldie Crocker Wellness Center on a court named for a former coach, the Paul Hogan Basketball Court.

“It’s really energetic. It’s college basketball here, so it’s up-tempo, it’s fast,” she said. “We play teams from New York to Maine and kind of in the middle, Massachusetts, Connecticut. It’s just really a great atmosphere of up-tempo play locally in central New Hampshire.”

Mattarazzo hopes to preserve the old while ushering in the new. “I’m trying to maintain the traditions that are here and bring some new ideas to the table as well. So yeah, we’re definitely going to work to really continue those game initiatives. Some of my vision is to work with the parks and rec in town in Concord and have, you know, first responders nights with the local fire and EMT and have youth nights and invite teams to play or meet our team. Be able to provide that atmosphere for the Concord area. We do define ourselves as the Concord Community School. In such a prime location, there’s a lot of great connections here to build.”

“Our events are all free unless it gets to the tournament for our conference,” she said. The games be watched online too. “We do stream games, yep. And that would be found on our website under the specific team’s game schedule.”

Mattarazzo is no stranger to the Granite State or basketball. “I’ve been around New Hampshire my entire life. I grew up here. I was a college basketball coach pre my high school administration days on the women’s basketball side, so I’m a big fan of women’s games.”

She’s aware of Caitlin Clark’s impact on the sport. “Clark has been such an instrumental contributor to the growth of college basketball. She plays such a unique style of play and has such a unique mental toughness that it is a beautiful thing to watch. And I think it attracts so many different levels of players in the game of basketball. Her contributions of being a head-down, hard-nosed, competitive athlete really does continue to advance the game of basketball on both sides, men’s and women’s, as she really just plays. She’s not afraid, and I think that’s a great role model for youth in the game of basketball as well.”

The school is a good place to watch the game and to play it too, Mattarazzo said. “Here at NHTI I think we understand, we support the values of being a student-athlete and I think with that and the support in the community, our programs are really going to continue to be competitive and develop.”

Rivier University

Nick Perenick, Director of Athletic Communications, spoke about the upcoming Raiders basketball season at Rivier University in Nashua.

“We’re Division 3 and we’re in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference,” Perenick said. “So we have a couple of other New Hampshire teams in our conference as well as Massachusetts and all over New England really.”

The women’s team is in a good spot this year, he said. “We made it to the playoffs for, I believe, the third straight year last year. And our coach is actually an alum, Deanna Purcell from the class of 2015. She is the leading scorer in program history as well.”

“We currently have a fifth-year senior going after her record,” Perenick said. “She’s sitting just behind her record for all-time scoring. Her name’s Lyric Grumblatt. She was recently named by the New England Basketball Journal to the top 10 watch list for Division III basketball athletes for New England for this upcoming season. Between the coach and our player going after the record, it’s pretty cool.”

The men’s team has bright prospects.

“Two seasons ago we were really down. We finished with two wins and 23 losses. Then last year we had the biggest win turnaround from season to season. Last season we went 15 and 12 overall. We went from two wins to 15 wins. So plus 13 was, I believe, the largest in the country in terms of win differential from year to year,” he said. The Raiders finished seventh last year.

A couple games to especially look out for are on the horizon.

“I think for the men’s side it’s playing a conference opponent named Albertus Magnus College. They’re from Connecticut. They’ve won the conference the last few years or are fed right up at the top — if they’re not winning they’re in second, coming in second place losing the championship. They play at our place on Jan. 25 this year for the men’s side. So Albertus is one of the teams we kind of circle on the calendar as a team to get ready for as the season goes on,” Perenick said.

The women’s team has the same rival along with other teams. “I would say our biggest game in conference this year is actually an away game. I would also say Alberta is one of the top teams that we play at home this year. Most of our bigger games with real rivals are on the road. Those are Emmanuel and St. Joseph’s College of Maine, but I would say that Albertus is probably the toughest team we’ll play at home in conference this year.”

Certain game days have themes. “For the women, on Feb. 8 they’re going to host a game in dedication of National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Last year we invited a bunch of youth basketball teams and a bunch of youth girl athletes to campus for a game to celebrate that. It’s a day, the National Girls and Women in Sports Day, but we can’t celebrate it if we don’t have a game on that day so we honor that day on the weekend and we have a nice event with a bunch of youths from the area.” The men’s team will have a Youth Sports Day on Saturday, Jan. 11, against New England College.

Asked about the Caitlin Clark effect, he agrees she has had an undeniable impact in basketball. “Any time there’s a generational talent in any sport, there’s going to be more eyes on that sport. I think that Caitlin Clark has helped at a lot of different levels. I would say that for our women’s team and for the youth in the area, I think it’s a lot easier for us to have that National Girls and Women in Sports Day event with the headway that she’s made in the realm of women’s sports. But I would say that most of our fans and supporters are students or parents,” he said.

Concessions are available at some games, and a good number of the matches have teams play back to back. “We do a lot of double-headers with the men’s and women’s. In conference, almost every game is a double-header for men’s and women’s basketball.”

A multi-camera setup is used to capture all of the shots. “You can view our website and then under there you can scroll to the schedule pages and then find the video link,” he said. “You can watch all of our archived games for all sports that are broadcast. We have four cameras for the stream along with live commentary for all home games in the gym.”

New England College

Erica Ledy, the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at New England College in Henniker, is excited about the upcoming season for the Division III Pilgrims.

“I think we might be pretty good this year. We have, it looks like, a completely new team, so if you’re a spectator that came last year and is coming this year, you’re probably going to see a lot of new faces,” Ledy said.

“We’re going to play an up-tempo style of game so it’s like a fast-paced game, a lot of shots, pressing, like, pressuring the ball all the way up. So it should be more fun than a slower-paced game,” she said.

The team is in a whole new conference this year, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC).

“So we don’t really have a lot of rivals yet, because it’s new. But Colby Sawyer is in our conference and we used to be in a conference with them before and they’re close to us, so I would probably say Colby Sawyer and maybe Plymouth and Keene would be our rivals, maybe Rivier, because they’re all New Hampshire schools,” Ledy said.

The team has worked with Henneker Elementary School over the last few years. “They will come and we’ll put on a mini clinic and the girls will stay and then we have a game where they’ll come when we [are] warming up, they’ll come out and talk to the girls. If other schools wanted to we’d be glad to do it. We like when teams want to be part of it.”

How about the Caitlin Clark effect? “I think a lot more people that didn’t really pay attention to basketball pay attention to it more now. She’s a great player. She is a really good offensive player. Defensively, she’s not the greatest. … but I think a lot more people are watching women’s basketball, girls basketball because of it. I think a lot of people can relate to somebody shooting a three-pointer and making it. It’s fun to watch.”

A smaller venue enhances the immediacy of the sport. “Our gym is very small, holds about 300 people, and usually it’s pretty full. It’s loud, it’s a great atmosphere, it’s really fun. We played a lot of schools where the gym is a lot bigger but it seems like nobody’s there because it’s so big, so it’s pretty neat,” Ledy said. She also noted concessions are a draw. “Our volleyball team runs concession stands usually when we have double-headers, so when we play and the men play after us or the men play first and we play second, there will be concession stands.”

The ability to watch the game from everywhere is definitely beneficial for those far away. “You can click Watch and you can watch it on your computer or livestream it up onto your TV.” Both men’s and women’s games offer the same feature for home games.

Ledy hopes to see you in the stands. “It will be exciting this year and they’re just a really nice group of girls that play hard, so it would be fun to watch. And we’d love for people to come out and watch us.”

Amya Moss of New England College. Photo by Meaghan Marcus.

What is a Division? A Conference?

The NCAA has Division I, Division II and Division III basketball for both men’s and women’s teams. Each Division consists of around 64 teams; Men’s Division I is an exception with 68 teams currently.

A Conference is a selection of schools in a given Division.

“So every game that we play this year will be against a Division III school, but only 13 of those teams are in our Conference,” said Erica Ledy, the Head Women’s Basketball Coach for New England College.

New England College is in Division III’s Great Northeast Athletic Conference.

“We play 25 games and we have 13 Conference games,” Ledy said.

“So 12 of the games, they count toward your record, and if you make the NCAA tournament they will help you if you win. But to make the NCAA tournament you have to win your Conference games.”

Conference games are the main deciding factor to make the tournament. “Our Conference games are more important than the out-of-conference games. We won’t be playing Conference games until January and February,” she said.

The same process occurs throughout the country.

“So what happens is the NCAA all across the nation is made up of different Conferences. Every Conference gets an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. There are probably, I would say, somewhere close to 50 Conferences in Division III across the United States. So there’ll be 50 teams that automatically make the NCAA tournament. That’s the tournament at the end of the season,” she said. These 50 are the teams that win their Conference.

Every Division has its own tournament layout, but each one follows some sort of bracket structure.

There are other ways to make it into the tournament too.

”There will probably be like 14 at-large bids. The Conference games matter because it’s the NCAA tournament,” she said.

Winning the Conference is the more straightforward path to the glory of the NCAA tournament. —Zachary Lewis

News & Notes 24/11/14

Health insurance help

The NH Navigator Program offers free health insurance navigation services to New Hampshire residents looking to apply for and enroll in health insurance through the Federal Marketplace, Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), according to a press release from Foundation for Healthy Communities and New Hampshire Hospital Association. NH Navigator is an initiative of the Foundation for Healthy Communities, “ a nonprofit organization that builds healthier communities for all” according to the release. The NH Navigator offers help during the Open Enrollment period, which began Nov. 1 and ends Jan. 15. Access the NH Navigator at acanavigator.com/nh/home. “Navigators offer free assistance to people exploring health coverage options through healthcare.gov, from reviewing available plans to assisting with eligibility and enrollment forms, and post-enrollment services such as using their coverage to get care. Navigators can also assist people in helping enroll in or renew Medicaid CHIP coverage,” the release said. To request an in-person visit for assistance in identifying the right insurance option, consumers can email Adrian Jasion, director at NH Navigator, at [email protected].

NH tourism

The Executive Council unanimously confirmed Michelle Cruz as the new State Tourism Director for the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development, according to a press release.

“She will provide strategic direction for the Department and will also be responsible for guiding the development and implementation of the state’s domestic and international marketing and communication strategies, talent/workforce, and business recruitment platforms; oversight of the functions of the DTTD office; as well as working with industry leaders to advance and maximize the New Hampshire brand to a broad set of audiences,” the release said. She will officially begin her new position on Dec. 2. See visitnh.gov.

UNH, NASA & NOAA

NASA awarded the University of New Hampshire $24.3 million to build solar wind sensors to monitor space weather for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), according to a UNH press release from Oct. 29. The sensors will be part of a “high-priority alert system that will monitor space weather and solar wind — caused by explosions on the sun — for potential interruptions to key technology like satellite communications, electric power girls and GPS systems,” the release said.

“UNH will oversee the design, development, fabrication, integration, testing and evaluation of the sensors. The researchers will also support the launch, supply and maintain the instrument ground support equipment and support post-launch mission operations at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Maryland. UNH will work with subcontractor Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory where researchers there will focus on the electronics for the instruments. The project is expected to take nine years to complete,” the release said.

Funds for Mothers

The Executive Council voted in favor of $400,000 for a new effort in New Hampshire to provide direct care support to perinatal mothers and parenting women experiencing mental health challenges, according to a press release from Gov. Sununu’s office on Oct. 30.

“The one-time financial support, which makes use of ARPA funds, will assist in establishing a maternal hub in southern New Hampshire to provide a hybrid model of emergency and preventative support services. The hub will collaborate with existing Family Resource Centers and healthcare providers,” the release said. “New Hampshire was recently ranked the No. 1 state in the country for women and children by the United Health Foundation,” the release said. See dhhs.nh.gov.

Coats for Charity

The United Way of Greater Nashua is holding its Winter Coat Drive and collecting gently used winter coats as well as new coats and items like hats, gloves, scarves, and hand warmers to help people experiencing homelessness stay warm, according to a press release.

They also have an Amazon Wish List for other essential items like thermal underwear, duct tape and flashlights. People can drop off coats and donations at the United Way office, 20 Broad St. in Nashua, on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact United Way at [email protected] or 882-4011.

Diabetes month

YMCA Nashua (6 Henry Clay Drive in Merrimack) will hold a free seminar Thursday, Nov.14, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on managing blood sugar and preventing Type 2 diabetes, led by experts from St. Joseph Hospital. The seminar will focus on nutrition, physical activity and essential components of diabetes care, according to a press release. Participants will receive resources including a free blood glucose meter, a nutrition handbook and other educational materials, the release said. The workshop is free but registration is required. Visit nmymca.org or email the Director of Healthy Living, Erikur Holt, at [email protected]

Special Olympics New Hampshire Pick Your Prize Raffle (prizes for which include a Peloton, e-bikes, a hot tub and more) will select winners on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 4:30 p.m. in the Expo Center of the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel (700 Elm St. in Manchester). Winners do not need to be present to win and participants can purchase a ticket for $20. Visit sonh.org.

The American Independence Museum (AIM) in Exeter presents its final Beer of History of 2024, featuring beer brewed by UNH Brewing Science Laboratory, on Thursday, Nov. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. $25 ($20 for AIM members). Visit independencemuseum.org.

The Nash Casino, currently under construction at Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua and slated to open this winter, will hold career fairs Tuesday, Nov. 19, and Tuesday, Dec. 10, at Courtyard by Marriott, 2200 Southwood Drive in Nashua, according to a press release. See thenashcasino.com/careers.

Category: Featured Content

This is his time

Thanksgiving to go

Fundraising for the rest of us

Handmade treasures

Hoops Season

News & Notes 24/11/14

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