News – Page 105

Ghosts and glamor

A paranormal investigator with a twist

– Renee Merchant

Monique Toosoon of Goffstown is a paranormal investigator with a twist — she conducts her investigations in full drag. Monique talked about her interest in paranormal investigation, her YouTube series and her upcoming involvement with the New Hampshire Pagans Faire.

Tell us about what you do and what happens at your events.
I am the only ghost-hunting drag queen and I’m pretty sure I’m the only one in the whole world. … I’ve been an investigator for 20 years now and I also have been doing drag for about 20 years. Then, during Covid I decided, ‘Why the heck am I not doing these things together?’ So I started doing the combination of the two. … Drag is the highest form of energy, so it feeds every location we go to. … When I do a ghost-hunting tour, essentially I host the tour … and then we ghost-hunt as a group first … and we teach everyone how to use the tools. … and then we usually sleep in these locations and then … we wake up and discuss the night before, it’s kind of like an adult slumber party — with the addition of the ghosts. I think the biggest difference between doing it with a normal investigation crew and doing it with a drag queen is the entertainment value.

What interests you about paranormal investigation?
It’s always interested me to connect with the other side and hear the stories of the people who are trying to talk to us … and I’ve always had this interest in horror and from a young age I realized that … I have a tiny bit of a sensitivity to me. … Then as an adult … I started going to [haunted] locations and I realized that I could see things and experience things a little differently. … Since I was in my thirties I’ve tried to reconnect with this gift and grow it and use it more.

What inspired you to get into drag?
I grew up watching Elvira and I was really obsessed. I think Elvira is really the reason I became a drag queen. … It was really hard being a gay person in New Hampshire, to be honest. I grew up in … a very small town and I was bullied a lot. … I think when I started doing drag at 18, that’s when I really found my place. I made friends, I had people looking up to me and I think that’s really where the change came from. … I was finally no longer this person that was always getting beat up or made fun of and I was someone that people were accepting.

What inspired you to bring together drag and paranormal investigation?
I’ve been doing drag for like 20 years. … I used to be the hostess at the 313 [club] for probably like 15 years. I was there every single weekend hosting shows, and then when Covid came it just blasted all that away. All of us performers really lost our identities and we were only able to perform online. … so I was like, ‘You know what, why don’t we go ghost-hunting in drag? I don’t have to worry about Covid, I’m going into buildings [alone]’ … and then I did it and I was so insanely impressed by the results that now I won’t stop doing it.

Tell us about your YouTube series Check Out My Equipment.
I’m the ghost-hunting drag queen, but I’m also a nerd for electronics … so I’ve always been in love with the equipment side of paranormal investigation. … One thing I realized about equipment in the ghost-hunting field is it’s not very user-friendly. … So I was like, ‘I need to do an equipment series because I’ve got more personality than a lot of investigators out there.’

Tell us about what you’ll be doing at the New Hampshire Pagans Faire.
I will be doing a lecture and talking about my experiences in the paranormal field. I’m also going to be doing a live Check Out My Equipment class featuring a couple of my favorite pieces of equipment … and a live demonstration on how each piece works.

What’s next for you?
I’ll finally have a new standup special out this fall on Netflix. My plan is for it to be the first in a trilogy — three standard specials that also go together as a larger story. The show I’m touring with now will be part 2. … Then, in the spring, I’m hoping to do my first art show. That’ll be in L.A. It’ll be fine art — paintings — but they’ll all be jokes, like, each canvas is a one-liner without words.

More about Monique
See Monique at the New Hampshire Pagans Faire on Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Belknap County Fairgrounds (174 Mile Hill Road, Belmont). Visit facebook.com/NHPFAE for more info.
Monique will be featured on an episode of Dark Echoes on Amazon Prime later this year.
Find her on Instagram @moniquetoosoon and on YouTube @moniquetoosoon8472 and search “Monique Toosoon” on Facebook.

Featured photo: Monique Toosoon. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 23/09/21

Help for survivors

On the 29th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the allocation of nearly $193 million in grants to support services and justice responses for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. According to a press release, New Hampshire is set to receive $1,170,616 from this funding. This allocation is in conjunction with VAWA’s STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) Program, aiming for a unified response from law enforcement, legal professionals, victim services and community resources. U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young emphasized that this funding would bolster New Hampshire’s capacity to provide critical resources for survivors, and she underscored the importance of ongoing collaboration between law enforcement and community stakeholders. The DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), established in 1995, extends financial and technical support to communities, focusing on fostering policies and programs to confront domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Visit justice.gov/ovw.

Climate advocate

Climate and peace advocates gathered in Concord on Sept. 15 to bring attention to the connections between climate change, militarism and fossil fuel consumption, according to a press release. They asserted the importance of transitioning away from fossil fuels, pointing to recent extreme weather events in New Hampshire and rising global climate-induced migrations. The rally, organized by environmental and peace-focused entities including New Hampshire Peace Action, NH Sierra Club, 350 New Hampshire, NHUCC Peace with Justice Advocates, Granite State Organizing Project and Climate Action NH, was also a precursor to the March to End Fossil Fuels in New York on Sept. 17 and echoed the UN Climate Ambition Summit’s worldwide appeal to reduce fossil fuel reliance.

Trees for Manchester

U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, along with Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas, have unveiled a $2.5 million federal grant through the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program for Manchester and Lebanon, stemming from the Inflation Reduction Act. The grant prioritizes environmental conservation with a spotlight on tree planting and maintenance to address climate change and intense heat. Manchester, partnering with Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) and The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire (TNC), will benefit from $2.2 million toward its Urban Forest Equity Planning and Implementation project. This project emphasizes equitable tree planting, particularly in underserved neighborhoods, urban forest resilience, workforce expansion in urban forestry, community participation in forestry decisions, and methods to alleviate severe urban heat. Concurrently, Lebanon’s Green Streets Initiative will be granted $244,275.

PragerU

The New Hampshire State Board of Education’s recent endorsement of PragerU Kids’ “Cash Course Certificate” program in its “Learn Everywhere” initiative has stirred debate across the state. The program, designed to address the state’s financial literacy graduation requirements, is seen by supporters as an innovative way to offer students a flexible learning opportunity outside traditional classroom settings. In a press release, Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut champions the addition, emphasizing its potential in equipping students with essential financial management skills. However, critics, led by House Democratic Leader Matt Wilhelm, who submitted a letter of opposition to the State Board of Education on Sept. 12 regarding the PragerU contract, raise alarms over PragerU’s alleged right-wing political bias and caution that such affiliations could compromise the state’s educational neutrality and standards. This decision aligns New Hampshire with Florida, the only other state currently permitting PragerU’s operations within public education.

Tech conference

The NH Tech Alliance has revealed the agenda for the 2023 Innovation Summit, which is set to take place on Oct. 17 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, according to a press release. Attracting more than 200 industry professionals, the event will concentrate on “disruption and leading through change,” delving into topics like AI, startups and New Hampshire’s innovation challenges. Keynote speaker Kedar Gupta, a co-founder of GT Equipment and other enterprises, will share his entrepreneurial journey. Global AI experts including Valentine Goddard will discuss the transformation of businesses through AI. A series of panels will highlight the impact of AI on businesses and the challenges they face. The summit will spotlight startups, with discussions from New Hampshire entrepreneurs addressing the challenges and temptations of innovating within the state. The event will conclude with the annual Startup Showcase, spotlighting five early-stage startups. Tickets for the summit are available for purchase online. Visit nhtechalliance.org/innovation-summit.

Robie’s Country Store in Hooksett celebrated its grand reopening beside the Merrimack River and train tracks. The storied store, now operated by long-lost cousins of the original owner, has been leased to Robie Farm in Piermont, according to the Union Leader. The new management aims to feature their milk, cheese, meats and other local products.

The Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis, 465-7787, beaverbrook.org) hosts its annual Fall Festival and Art Show on Saturday, Sept. 23, and Sunday, Sept. 24. The event features photography, prints, paintings and mixed media inspired by New England’s natural settings and wildlife.

The Nashua Regional Planning Commission will hold a household hazardous waste collection on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Nashua City Park & Ride, 25 Crown St., according to a press release. The collection is open to residents of Nashua, Amherst, Brookline, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, Pelham and Windham. Businesses must pre-register. There’s a $15 fee per vehicle, covering up to 10 gallons of liquids or 20 pounds of solids. Payments in cash or check are accepted. The collection will not accept latex paint, electronics or medications. Visit nashuarpc.org/hhw.

This Week 23/09/14

Big Events September 14, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, Sept. 14
The Granite State Fair held at 72 Lafayette Road in Rochester will run today through Sunday, Sept. 17, and Thursday, Sept. 21, through Sunday, Sept. 24. The fair and midway open at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and noon Saturdays and Sundays. Find a ride list with height requirements at granitestatefair.com along with a schedule of events. One-day tickets cost $10 per person through Sept. 13, $12 per person Sept. 14 and beyond).

Friday, Sept. 15
The NH Highland Games & Festival celebrates Scottish music, sports and culture and runs today through Sunday, Sept. 17, at Loon Mountain Resort in Lincoln. A three-day adult pass costs $99 (children ages 6 to 14 cost $10; ages 5 and under get in free); single-day adult tickets cost $35 to $59 depending on the day. The event features several food and drink events as well as concerts, each of which has its own tickets. The festival will also feature music, a clan village, Scottish living history, classes in Scottish culture, kids’ programs, Scottish-themed vendors, and Scottish and fair food. See nhscot.org.

Saturday, Sept. 16
Pelham Old Home Day is today from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 3 Main St. in Pelham. The day will include music, fitness demonstrations, dance and martial arts demonstrations, food trucks, a pancake and sausage breakfast at the Church Fellowship Hall (7 to 9 a.m.), crafts and goods vendors, a white elephant yard sale, a 5K road race (10 a.m.), kids’ games, touch a truck, a cornhole tournament (check in at 11 a.m.; noon start), a grand parade (2:30 p.m.), Windham Community Band (3:15 p.m.), a penny sale raffle (4 p.m.) and more, according to pelhamoldhomeday.org.

Saturday, Sept. 16
Derryfest will run Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day features a vendor fair, performances and more. See derryfest.org. Saturday, Sept. 16
Hooksett Old Home Day is today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with fireworks scheduled after dusk. The day starts with a parade at 10 a.m. from Lambert Park to Donati Park (behind Town Hall, 35 Main St. in Hooksett). The day will feature live music, demonstrations, vendors, kids’ activities and more. See hooksettoldhomeday.org.

Save the Date! For Taylor!
Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour is coming to a big screen near you. A movie presentation of The Eras Tour will be in area theaters starting Friday, Oct. 13: Apple Cinemas (applecinemas.com) in Hooksett and Merrimack; O’neil Cinemas Brickyard Square in Epping (oneilcinemas.com); Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (chunkys.com) in Manchester, Nashua and Pelham; Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem (cinemark.com); the Regal Concord (regmovies.com) and Smitty’s in Tilton (smittyscinema.com) have tickets on sale for multiple screenings starting Oct. 13 with some offering screenings through Nov. 5.

Featured photo: Manchester City-Wide Arts Festival. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 23/09/14

Flu shot season

In a WalletHub report studying vaccination rates among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, New Hampshire was ranked as the 9th most vaccinated state. The report analyzed the states based on 16 key metrics, including the percentage of children who have been vaccinated, the portion of the population without health insurance and the adult flu vaccination rate. New Hampshire boasts the 9th highest influenza vaccination rate for children ages 6 months to 17 years; is 5th in HPV vaccination coverage for ages 13 to 17; and is 3rd in both flu vaccination among adults and tetanus vaccination coverage in adults. For the elderly population age 60 and over, it ranks 11th in zoster vaccination. Additionally, it’s 11th in the share of impoverished children aged 19 to 35 months receiving the combined seven-vaccine series and 15th in the percentage of its population without health insurance coverage.

QOL score: +1
Comment: Neighboring Massachusetts took the No. 1 spot, and Vermont No. 4.

Inspiring girls

Dozens of Girl Scouts from New Hampshire and Vermont, including troops based in Salem, Portsmouth, Whitefield and Rochester, participated in the 56th triennial National Girl Scout Convention at Walt Disney World Resort from July 20 to July 22, according to a press release. Organized by the Girl Scouts of the USA, the event offered attendees a variety of activities, the chance to network, and sessions with influential speakers from the STEM and entertainment sectors, including an interaction with a VP from Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

QOL score: +1
Comment: Among the notable attendees at the convention, actor and Nickelodeon star That Girl Lay Lay performed and held a surprise meet-and-greet, while Erika J. Kendrick, a mental fitness expert, and Aisha Bowe, a former NASA rocket scientist, delivered inspiring speeches.

The public beach at Crystal Lake has been temporarily closed to wading or swimming due to elevated levels of cyanobacteria identified in water samples taken on Sept. 7, according to a press release from the Manchester Health Department. The State’s Department of Environmental Services will conduct a re-sampling of the water on Thursday, Sept. 14, and the results from this re-sampling are anticipated to be available on the same day. An announcement will be made, and the beach will be reopened once the cyanobacteria levels are deemed safe. The public will be notified once the new results come in.

QOL score: -2
Comment: New Hampshire waters experienced a record number of cyanobacteria blooms this summer due to weather conditions, WMUR reported in August. Environmental officials indicated that a series of heavy rainfalls had enriched the waters with nutrients, promoting the growth of the bacteria, and that, following the rains, the sunny, warm weather allowed the bacteria to thrive.

QOL score: 89
Net change: -4
QOL this week: 85

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?
Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Featured photo: “Young Eagles” program gives kids airplane rides. Courtesy photo.

Mixed bag in Pats loss

The Big Story: If someone needed a working example for the term “beyond belief” they could use that all it took was two plays into the 2023 season for the Patriots to start getting the same kind of stupid penalties that killed them all through the 2022 season.

In this case it was Deatrich Wise lining up in the neutral zone (how does a seven-year veteran do that?) on the second play of 2023 to turn a second-and-20 situation into a free first down leading to an Eagles field goal on the season’s first drive.

That was followed by a pick-six from their under-the-microscope QB in their first offensive series and a lost fumble on their next offensive play leading to a 16-0 deficit with 2:56 still left in the first quarter. Oh, and, as usual, they wasted a timeout on that first Eagles drive as well. Grrrr!

However, that was the low point of the opener. As after that they settled down to turn it into a pretty good game.

Football 101: Which QB has the most career wins without winning a Super Bowl?

News Item – Beyond Belief Coach B Decision: Fourth and 4 with the Pats down 8 and 9:26 on the clock, Coach B goes for it from his own 22. They turn it over on downs with no points.

Take the FG, it’s a five-point game with plenty of time left to get the TD they still needed. But if they eventually got that TD (which they did), it’s also not a do-or-die two-point conversion to tie the game. It’s a two-point lead instead or maybe three points if they make a two-point conversion. It also stops Philly from making it a two-score game with the FG they eventually got to put the Pats down 11 (25-14) with 5:33. So when New England eventually scored it was 25-20 after missing the two-point try they were forced into taking to leave them still needing a TD. Thus they had to go for six on fourth down in the final minute instead of kicking a FG to tie it.

Bottom line: Passing on the FG that early in the game cost New England the game.

News Item – Who’s Hot: In the 317 at-bats since Sox rookie Triston Casas left April behind hitting .133, he has hit .297 with 21 homers and 61 RBI to raise the overall totals to 24–64–.263.

The Numbers:
6½ – over-under betting line set by Las Vegas odds makers for 2023 wins by the Patriots. They also gave them a 19.1 percent chance of making the playoffs.
9 – consecutive losses by the Bears to the Packers after Sunday’s 38-20 even with newbie Jordan Love at QB for GB.
13 – magic number to be eliminated from the playoffs with 19 games left as the Red Sox started the week.

… Of the Week
Sports Headline of the Week – Royce Lewis: A grand Beatlemania-like eight-day week for the Minnesota rookie could have been celebrated with the delightful headline “Royce Rolls Again!” after he hit his third grand slam in eight games.

Nitwit Protest Award: Goes for the sticky situation at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, where a protester wearing an “End Fossil Fuel” T-shirt delayed the Coco Gauff-Karolina Muchova semi-final match for 40 minutes by, among other things, gluing his feet to the cement floor to prevent his ejection from Arthur Ashe Stadium. Yes, that’s right, he glued his feet to the floor.

Gauff eventually beat Machova 6-4, 7-5.

Why Can’t We Get Guys Like That Award – Mookie Betts: In hitting .455 with 51 hits and 11 homers in August, Mookie joined the two greatest hitters who ever lived, Babe Ruth (1923 and 1924) and Lou Gehrig (1930), as the only players to have a .450–50–10 month in history. It also helped him reach a career high in homers with 38 and counting.

Random Thoughts:
Separated at Birth: Lions QB Jared Goff and Academy Award winning actor Ryan Gosling. Dead ringers.

Football 101 Answer: Dan Marino is the record holder for most career wins with 155 and no SB titles.

Final Thought – Tom Brady: With Bengals QB Joe Burrow just signing a salary cap-eating $275 million contract on the eve of TB-12’s return to Foxboro, it underscored perfectly the most under-appreciated aspect of why Tom Brady was so important to the Patriots dynasty evolving into became what it became.

It’s because he always took a below-market contract that no other top NFL player did for their team, which let the brass repeatedly fit more good players under the cap to make the Pats more talented and deeper. In the end, the great failure of both Coach B and Bob Kraft was in not appreciating/rewarding that sacrifice enough.

While all the wins were great, his demonstrated interest in t-e-a-m is what I admire most about the great Tom Brady.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Between the lines

Demetri Martin and his multimedia comedy show

Blending music and drawings with his signature one-liners and deadpan delivery, Demetri Martin takes the stage at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) on Saturday, Sept. 16. The comedian called in to talk about his current tour, called “The Joke Machine,” why he likes writing on typewriters, and what’s next on his growing list of creative pursuits.

What can audiences expect from your upcoming show?
I’m still mostly telling jokes, but trying to tell them in slightly different ways, with a little music and visual stuff. … There are drawings in the show, but with sort of a different twist on it. … There are a couple personal stories; I’ve been dabbling more in that but touring with jokes is still the most enjoyable, because with jokes it’s easier to switch things up from show to show and try new stuff.

When did you start drawing? How did that make its way into your comedy?
I liked drawing a lot when I was a kid. I remember, in grade school, I was considered one of the better kids at drawing. Then I just stopped until I started doing stand-up in my mid-20s. I carried a notebook around for writing jokes, and I found myself drawing again. Around 1999, I started trying out drawings on stage, at shows around New York City at what were called ‘alternative rooms’ where comics were trying more experimental stuff. … I’ve gotten better at drawing as an adult, and if I really try I can draw in what I think is a pretty respectable style. I don’t know how much that helps for jokes, though. You play music in your shows, though it’s not exactly ‘musical comedy.’

What does music contribute to your act?
As much as I wish I could write songs and sing, it’s not something I’ve figured out how to do. … I can play a couple instruments well enough — and it’s the same with drawing — where it’s not technically impressive, but it can serve a purpose in the flow of the show. I’m still just telling jokes or a story, but [music] can add a texture or shift the mood.

How do you turn a collection of one-liners into a cohesive set?
When I’m getting ready to do a new tour, I’ll do short sets around L.A., where I live, to see what works. … I have found that certain jokes don’t seem to work as well at the beginning of the show; I have to get the audience into a flow with me first. … On a good day, there’s a rhythm, and it’s sort of hypnotic, but when the crowd isn’t digging it, you can never really get it going. If I have set pieces that have endings, it helps. Like, the music and drawings have been very helpful for me in pacing out a show.

How do you craft a joke?
There’s the original way, where an idea arrives pretty nicely structured and seems like a joke. Other times — like leading up to a tour or when I’m on a deadline — it’s very intentional. I’ll write a page of jokes each morning, no matter how bad they are. I use old typewriters a lot because there’s no email or anything to distract me. I can physically see a piece of paper going through the typewriter, and when I get to the end of it, I say, ‘Cool. Got it,’ and then put it in a binder and let them pile up.

If a joke doesn’t land, how do you navigate that on stage?
If you’re telling a longer story, you can move past the parts where you thought people would laugh [but didn’t], and maybe they can’t even tell it was supposed to be a punchline. But when you’re a comic that tells jokes that are clearly jokes, there’s no hiding. … The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve learned to embrace whatever’s happening in real time and be a little less afraid. I’ve bombed so many times, but I’ve had lots of good shows, too, so no big deal.

Featured photo: Demetri Martin presents “The Joke Machine.” Courtesy image. Art by Demetri Martin.

Category: News