The Art Roundup 22/07/28

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities

• Unwind with art: At this week’s Art After Work at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) catch live music from Halley Neal during the weekly event, which features free admission from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Also on Thursday, July 28, the exhibition tours are of the newly installed second floor east galleries (at 5:30 p.m.) and of the Arghavan Khosravi exhibit (6:30 p.m.), according to the website. In addition to live music and free admission, during Art After Work, the museum’s cafe offers happy hour drink specials and the full menu available for purchase, the website said. Next week, the jazz group Causeway Collective will play the Art After Work on Thursday, Aug. 4.

• Midsummer’s night theater: The Dana Center for the Humanities at Saint Anselm College (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester) will finish up its presentation of Shakespeare on the Green this weekend. Catch A Midsummer’s Night Dream on Thursday, July 28, and Saturday, July 30, at 7:30 p.m. Or (and?) see Romeo and Juliet on Friday, July 29, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 per person and can be purchased at tickets.anselm.edu.

• Reports from ‘Little America’: Author Ken Kalfus will discuss and sign his new novel, 2 A.M. In Little America, at the Toadstool Bookshop in Peterborough (12 Depot Square; toadbooks.com, 924-3543) on Saturday, July 30, at 2 p.m. The novel “imagines a future in which sweeping civil conflict has forced America’s young people to flee its borders” according to the Toadstool website, which describes the book as “brimming with mystery, suspense and Kalfus’s distinctive comic irony.”

Zoe Brooke’s art in Exeter
A new exhibit will run at the Seacoast Art Association (130 Water St., Exeter) from Aug. 3 through Aug. 28. Zoe Brooke, a self-taught artist whose work can be found in galleries across New England, presents an exhibition with a sense of urgency. Diagnosed last year with a rare genetic eye disease, Brooke will eventually lose her central and color vision. For now, she has set out to create as many works as possible. Her exhibit, called “Wellspring,” is available to be seen during regular gallery hours, Wednesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m. A public reception will be held to celebrate the collection on Friday, Aug. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. Visit seacoastartist.org.

• Book signing in Tilton: Poet and artist Jeff Mellin will sign copies of his new book, Player Piano (Dream 19),on Tuesday, Aug. 2, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Book Warehouse at Tanger Outlets (120 Laconia Road in Tilton; 286-7880). According to a press release, the book “features Mellin’s ‘hopeful dream-ballad’ illustrated with images he adapted and collages from a painting by pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Coley Burne-Jones and a 16th-century Book of Flower Studies, courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.”

• Under the sea: Tickets are on sale now for the Peacock Players’ production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr., which will run Friday, Aug. 5, through Sunday Aug. 7, and Friday, Aug. 12, through Sunday, Aug. 14, at the Court Street Theater (14 Court St. in Nashua). Shows on Fridays are at 7 p.m., Saturday shows are at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday shows are at 2 p.m. The show is “our first ever student produced title,” according to the Peacock Players website (peacockplayers.org), where you can buy tickets, which cost $15 to $18 (plus fees) for adults and $12 to $15 (plus fees) for kids. Or call the box office at 886-7000.

• Never too early for celebratory trees: The League of NH Craftsmen’s Meredith Fine Craft Gallery (279 Daniel Webster Hwy. in Meredith; meredith.nhcrafts.org/classes, 279-7920) will host a Wool Feather Tree Class with instructor Jean Reed on Sunday, Aug. 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Use wire stems and felted wool to make 18-inch trees and decorate with decorative berries, lighting and ornaments, according to a press release. The class costs $130 per student; call for advance registration (which is required).

Players premiere
The Peterborough Players (55 Hadley Road, Peterborough) introduce the U.S. premiere of Marcia Johnson’s Serving Elizabeth now through July 31. The play follows the story of a Kenyan restaurant owner who is vehemently anti-monarchy but is given the opportunity to cook for Princess Elizabeth in 1952. At the same time, it follows a Kenyan-Canadian film student in 2015 as she reckons with the history of colonialism. Single tickets for Serving Elizabeth are $47 and can be purchased at peterboroughplayers.org or by calling the box office at 924-7585.

• August art: The New Hampshire Boat Museum (399 Center St. in Wolfeboro; nhbm.org) will feature the works of local artist Jessica Kelly in August and hold a reception for the exhibit on Friday, Aug. 5. Kelly, a photographer and local kindergarten teacher, will present works with coastal scenes, nature, sunsets and more, according to a press release. The museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Admission costs $9 for adults, $7 for ages 14 to 21 and for 65+; kids 13 and under and active military and their family get in free.

• An evening with Gen. John Stark: The Manchester Historic Association (manchesterhistoric.org) will hold “An Early Glimpse of Manchester” walking tour of Stark Park on Thursday, Aug. 25, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The event, a collaboration with the Majestic Theatre, will feature an actor-led tour with Gen. John Stark and his wife Molly (along with contemporaries Samuel Blodget, Robert Rogers, Samantha Plantin and Elizabeth Stark) giving first-person accounts, according to the website. Registration costs $15 and is required in advance. Go to the website or call 622-7531.

• Save the date for animal knowledge: Author Susie Spikol, a naturalist at the Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock, will come to Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com, 224-0562) to “teach your kiddos how to find critters in their neighborhood” on Saturday, Sept. 24, at 11 a.m. with her book The Animal Adventurer’s Guide: How to Prowl for an Owl, Make Snail Slime, and Catch a Frog Bare-Handed, according to a press release. The book, which is slated for release Sept. 13, features “50 hands-on activities and adventures that bring you closer to wild animals than you’ve ever been,” the release said. Spikol will also bring supplies to do one of the crafts from the book.

Uncommon Art in Goffstown
The 14th Annual Uncommon Art on the Common outdoor art show will take place along Main Street in Goffstown on Saturday, Aug. 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Forty-two local artists will be featured, including Goffstown artist Ann Trainor Domingue. She will display original coastal-inspired artworks, notecards, prints and more. Uncommon Art is held rain or shine and is sponsored by the Goffstown Main Street Program and other local businesses. Visit goffstownmainstreet.org.

– Hannah Turtle

ART

Exhibits

• SUMMER MEMBERS SHOW Two Villages Art Society presents a mixed-media art show at the Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook) through July 30. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

• “ARGHAVAN KHOSRAVI” Artist’s surrealist paintings explore themes of exile, freedom and empowerment; center female protagonists; and allude to human rights issues, particularly those affecting women and immigrants. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through Sept. 5. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org for more information.

• “THE PEOPLE’S SCULPTOR: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JOHN ROGERS” Exhibit celebrates the art of American sculptor John Rogers, who came to Manchester in 1850, and explores the influence that Manchester had on Rogers’ life and work. Presented by the Manchester Historic Association. On view now through September. Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester). Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors age 62 and up and college students, $4 for youth ages 12 through 18, and is free for kids under age 12. Call 622-7531 or visit manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum.

• “WOOL: CONTEMPORARY FIBER ART EXHIBITION Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) through Sept. 2. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

• ROBIN CORNWELL The New Hampshire Boat Museum will feature local artist Robin Cornwell in the museum’s gallery (399 Center St. in Wolfeboro; nhbm.org) in July. Cornwell produces art quilts as well as bark paper paintings and woven placemats and rugs. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. To learn more about Cornwell, visit robincornwellembellishments.com.

• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibition in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email [email protected].

• “PIXELS, WOOD, CLAY” Two Villages Art Society presents an exhibition of work by artists Tony Gilmore, Rick Manganello and Caren Helm. The Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook). Aug. 12 through Sept. 9. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. There will be an opening reception on Sat., Aug. 13, from noon to 2 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

Fairs and markets

• CONCORD ARTS MARKET The juried outdoor artisan and fine art market runs one Saturday a month, June through October, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Market dates are July 30, Aug. 20, Sept. 17 and Oct. 15. Rollins Park, 33 Bow St., Concord. concordartsmarket.net. The first market will be held on Saturday, June 11. Visit concordartsmarket.net/summer-arts-market.html for more information.

• CRAFTSMEN’S FAIR The annual nine-day outdoor craft fair hosted by the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen features hundreds of craftspeople with vendor booths, plus special craft exhibitions, demonstrations, hands-on workshops and more. Sat., Aug. 6, through Sun., Aug. 14. Mount Sunapee Resort, 1398 Route 103, Newbury. Call 224-3375 or visit nhcrafts.org for more information.

• GREELEY PARK ART SHOW The annual outdoor juried art show hosted by Nashua Area Artists Association features a variety of artwork for sale. Greeley Park, 100 Concord St., Nashua. Sat., Aug. 20, and Sun., Aug. 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit nashuaarts.org/greeleyparkartshow.

Tours

• NASHUA PUBLIC ART AUDIO TOUR Self-guided audio tours of the sculptures and murals in downtown Nashua, offered via the Distrx app, which uses Bluetooth iBeacon technology to automatically display photos and text and provides audio descriptions at each stop on the tour as tourists approach the works of art. Each tour has 10 to 15 stops. Free and accessible on Android and iOS on demand. Available in English and Spanish. Visit downtownnashua.org/nashua-art-tour for more information.

Workshops and classes

• ART CLASSES Art classes for teens and adults, including Pottery, Stained Glass, Intermediate Watercolor and Clay Hand Building. Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester). Five-week sessions. Classes met for two hours a week. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com for the full schedule and cost details.

• DRAWING & PAINTING CLASSES Art House Studios, 66 Hanover St., Suite 202, Manchester. Classes include Drawing Fundamentals, Painting in Acrylic, Drawing: Observation to Abstraction, Exploring Mixed Media, and Figure Drawing. Class sizes are limited to six students. Visit arthousestudios.org or email [email protected] more information.

• GENERAL ART CLASSES Weekly art classes offered for both kids and adults of all skill levels and cover a variety of two-dimensional media, including drawing and painting with pastel, acrylic, watercolor and oils. Classes are held with small groups of three to eight to five students. Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Kids classes, open to ages 10 and up, are held on Thursdays and Fridays, from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. Adult classes are held on Thursdays, from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tuition is pay-as-you-go at $20 per student per class, due upon arrival. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com for availability.

THEATRE

Classes/workshops

• STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS Monthly workshop series hosted by True Tales Live storytelling showcase. First Tuesday (except November), from 7 to 8:30 p.m., virtual, via Zoom. Registration is required. Visit truetaleslivenh.org for more information.

Shows

•

• FOOTLOOSE Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth; prescottpark.org , 436-2848) presents this outdoor musical through Aug. 14, with showtimes on most Thursdays and Sundays at 7 p.m., and most Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with some matinee showtimes TBA. General admission costs $5, and reserved seating tickets cost $55 to $150.

• THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES, presented by the Peterborough Players at their new outdoor space, the Elsewhere Stage, on the grounds of the Players (55 Hadley St., Peterborough; peterboroughplayers.org), will run on Friday, July 29; Saturday, July 30; Saturday, Aug. 6; Wednesday, Aug. 10; Friday, Aug. 12, and Saturday, Aug. 13, all shows starting at 10:30 a.m. The show is performed by the Players Second Company, which features young professionals and is geared toward a younger audience. Tickets are $15 each for adults, $10 each for children, available online or at the door.

• PETER PAN presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) through Thursday, July 28, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, July 29, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

• MARY POPPINS JR.presented by Palace Youth Theatre summer camp at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) on Friday, July 29, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 30, at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for kids.

• LEGALLY BLONDE JR. musical presented by RB Productions Theater Company at the Capitol Center for the Arts Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors (plus fees).

• CINDERELLA presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Tuesday, Aug. 2, through Thursday, Aug. 4, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 5, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

• RETURN TO OZ presented by North Country Center for the Art’s IMPACT Program, a Touring Children’s Theatre Troupe, Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 10 a.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets are free but must be reserved online.

• JACK AND THE BEANSTALKpresented by Palace Youth Theatre summer camp at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) on Friday, Aug. 5, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for kids.

• BEAUTY & THE BEAST presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Tuesday, Aug. 9, through Thursday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 12, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

• JACK AND THE BEANSTALK presented by North Country Center for the Art’s IMPACT Program, a Touring Children’s Theatre Troupe, Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets are free but must be reserved online.

• NUNSENSE, the musical that has been updated with new jokes, will be presented by the Majestic Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester; majestictheatre.net, 669-7649) on Fridays, Aug. 12 and Aug. 19, at 7 p.m.; Saturdays, Aug. 13 and Aug. 20, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 to $20.

• SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Tuesday, Aug. 16, through Thursday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 19, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

• LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL JR.presented by Palace Youth Theatre summer camp at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) on Friday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 20, at 11 a.m., and Friday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for kids.

•THE GREAT ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC SHAKESPEARE COMPANY presented by Granite Playwrights at the Hatbox Theatre (inside the Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) from Aug. 19 through Aug. 28, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members.

• DISNEY’S FROZEN KIDS presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Tuesday, Aug. 23, through Thursday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

•​ LES MISERABLES presented by the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth; seacoastrep.org, 433-4472) teen company from Aug. 25 through Sept. 4, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for students and $30 for adults.

• CRUEL INTENTIONS: THE ’90s MUSICAL presented by the Actorsingers at the Janice B. Streeter Theatre (14 Court St., Nashua; actorsingers.org) Friday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 27, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 28, 2 p.m. TIckets cost $20 for adults, $18 for 62+ (plus fees).

• SHREK THE MUSICAL presented by the Riverbend Youth Company at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St., Milford; svbgc.org/amato-center) from Friday, Aug. 26, through Sunday, Aug. 28.

• TITANIC THE MUSICAL Presented by the Manchester Community Theatre Players. Manchester Community Theatre Players Theatre, located at the North End Montessori School (698 Beech St., Manchester; manchestercommunitytheatre.com, 327-6777). Showtimes on Fri., Oct. 14 and Oct. 21, and Sat., Oct. 15 and Oct. 22.

CLASSICAL

Open calls

• THE RHYTHM OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SHOW CHORUS Women’s a cappella chorus is looking for female singers in the region to join. The group, an affiliate of the North American singing organization Harmony, Inc., performs a wide variety of music, including Broadway musical songs, patriotic songs, pop, jazz and seasonal pieces, for community and veterans’ events and private functions. Rehearsals are held weekly on Thursdays from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. at the Marion Gerrish Community Center, 39 W. Broadway, Derry. Masks are required for singing, but both vaccinated and unvaccinated singers are welcome. Visit rnhchorus.org or email [email protected] for more information.

Bubble Boy, the musical

Road trip love story goes pop

By Hannah Turtle

[email protected]

Perhaps years ago, nobody would have expected that Jake Gyllenhaal’s most timely work would not be Brokeback Mountain, nor Nightcrawler, nor Donnie Darko, but instead Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio’s 2001 film Bubble Boy. The largely critically panned film (the movie has a 31 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes), part late-night comedy, part road trip flick, part heavy-handed social commentary on the constraints of being raised in a religious household, part surrealist fever dream, follows Gyllenhaal playing Jimmy Livingston, a boy born with no immune system, whose devoutly Christian mother forces him to live in an airtight plastic bubble throughout his adolescence.

Later, Bubble Boy was adapted into a musical by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio (whose body of work includes Despicable Me and Schmigadoon!) and received far more favorable reviews than the original film.

While largely allegorical at the time, the idea of a plastic bubble used to protect an immunocompromised boy from viral infection seems far less unrealistic to today’s audience.

The Hatbox Theatre is presenting Bubble Boy, the musical, in Concord from Aug. 5 through Aug. 14, produced by Dive In Productions.

“When I initially signed on to do the project, I don’t think I quite realized just how on-the-nose it really was,” said Jordan Formichelli, director of the production.

“I was drawn to the characters. They’re funny, they’re ridiculous, but ultimately, at the core of the show, it’s a love story. Yes, it’s about how far you’re willing to go for love, but it’s more so about what you’re willing to risk, and about stepping outside of your comfort zone to be with someone you care about,” Formichelli said.

For Formichelli, the bubble is something that’s relatable.

“We all have bubbles we’re trapped inside,” she said.

Formichelli hopes the audience will find something to laugh at — of which there are many options including a singing cult, a biker banned from the state of Nebraska, and of course, a boy in a giant plastic bubble. But most of all, she hopes the love story shines through.

“I think everyone will find something about the show to fall in love with,” she said.

Bubble Boy
Where: Hatbox Theatre, 270 Loudon Road, Concord
When: Friday, Aug. 5, through Sunday, Aug. 14, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $25 for adults; $22 for students, seniors and members; $19 for senior members
Visit: hatboxnh.com

Featured photo: Bubble Boy. Graphic courtesy of The Hatbox Theatre.

This Week 22/07/28

Big Events July 28, 2022 and beyond

Thursday, July 28

This year’s Weare Rally begins today and will run through Saturday, July 30, in the area behind Center Woods Elementary School (14 Center Road, Weare). The Weare Rally, which is the largest military vehicle event in New England, will feature vehicle displays, scenic rides, demonstrations, food and more. The Merrimack Valley Military Vehicle Collectors Club organizes the event. Admission is free. Visit mvmvc.org for more information.

Friday, July 29

Lakes Region Art Association is hosting a dance party celebration today to celebrate winning “Best in the Lakes Region – Art Gallery.” The party will run from 5 to 7 p.m. at their gallery in the Tanger Outlets, (120 Laconia Road, Suite 300, Tilton). There will be live music, line dancing lessons from 360 Line, a 50/50 raffle, and local artists to meet. The event is free to attend. Visit lraanh.org.

Friday, July 29

This is the last chance this season to see fireworks at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St., Nashua), after the Silver Knights take on the Pittsfield Suns. The game starts at 6 p.m. with the fireworks starting after. Tickets cost $10 for the game; fireworks are free to attend. Visit nashuasilverknights.com.

Saturday, July 30

The juried outdoor artisan and fine arts market, Concord Arts Market, is running today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rollins Park (33 Bow St.). Vendors sell everything from pottery to chainmail. The market runs one Saturday each monthfrom June through October. Visit concordartsmarket.net.

Sunday, July 31

Catch the Jim Dozet Duo Concert at the Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury; shakers.org, 783-9511) today from 4 to 5 p.m. as part of the Music on the Green series. Bring a picnic and a chair to enjoy the show, according to the website. The event is free; $20 donations are suggested. Find more live music this weekend in our Music This Week listing, which starts on page 38.

Sunday, July 31

Latinos En Vivo and First Gen Multimedia are hosting Latin Festival 2022 today starting at noon at La Parc de Notre Renaissance (23 Water St., Nashua). The festival will celebrate all walks of Latin life and will have programs set up to help educate others about the variety of Latin culture. The event is free to attend. More information can be found on the event’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/events/1018177678801039.

Save the Date! Sunday, Aug. 14
The 10th annual Kids-Try-Athlon will begin today at 8 a.m. Kids ages 4 through 10 will swim 25 yards, without a flotation device, bike 1 mile and run ½ mile, and kids ages 11 through 15 swim 50 yards, without a flotation device, bike 2 miles and run 1 mile. Registration is $40 per competitor and can be done online at friendsofaine.com/kids-try-athlon or in person on Saturday, Aug. 13, from 10 a.m. to noon, or the morning of the race, beginning at 6:30 a.m.

Featured photo. Courtesy of the Merrimack Valley Military Vehicle Collectors Club.

Quality of Life 22/07/28

Big bugs

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness has opened its featured 2022 exhibit, “Giant Insects,” made possible with a $5,000 sponsorship from Meredith Village Savings Bank. The exhibit, on view now through Sept. 30, features six larger-than-life animatronic insects along the Center’s live animal trail to teach visitors about the important role insects play in preserving the balance of nature. Access to the exhibit is included with regular admission to the Center. Visit nhnature.org/insects to learn more.

QOL score: +1

Comment: “Watch for the spray from the bombardier beetle!” and “Don’t forget to climb aboard the spicebush swallowtail caterpillar for a photo,” the Center said on its website. Other insect stars include the blue-eyed darner, the devil’s flower mantis, the grasshopper and the stag beetle.

Big-league pitcher

Former MLB pitcher Andrew Moore has been transferred from the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. According to a press release, Moore’s MLB career included playing in a dozen games, including 10 as a starter, with the Seattle Mariners in 2017 and 2019. Moore was signed to the minor-league deal with the Fisher Cats, a Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, on June 14 after spending the last two years playing for minor-league teams in the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers organizations. He is the third player with MLB experience to join the Fisher Cats.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The Fisher Cats’ next home game at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester) will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 7:05 p.m., against the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Visit nhfishercats.com for tickets.

Accessible playground

Dartmouth Health Children’s celebrated the opening of a new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant playground at Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with leadership, staff, dignitaries and supporters on Thursday, July 21. According to a press release, the playground was made possible through the 121 Club Initiative, a fundraising effort led by the Perry Family of Bedford, and a similar project is being planned for the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. “Play is not just fun; it is fundamental to healthy physical and mental development in children. It is literally how they learn and grow,” Keith J. Loud, MD, physician-in-chief at Dartmouth Health Children’s, said in the release, thanking all of the individuals and groups that contributed to creating “a playground that is safe, welcoming and designed for all children.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: The 121 Club Initiative is inspired by Elliot Perry, age 10, who was born four months early and given an 18 percent chance of survival. Perry was released from the Intensive Care Nursery at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center after 121 days. He now acts as a young ambassador for the hospital. “I’m thankful to our family, friends and 121 club supporters for joining us and giving back to the place that saved my life,” he said in the release.

QOL score: 83

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 86

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].

Time to sell, Mr. Henry

I don’t make U-turns very often. But I have made one in recent days and it’s a major-league about-face.

It concerns Red Sox owner John Henry, whom I’ve always defended amid all the whining that goes on around here. I defended him for two reasons.

First: All I heard in the first 30 years since I moved behind enemy lines was the whining about bad luck as the Sox World Series streak kept growing until it reached 86 years after the cruelest loss of all to the Yanks in 2003; that ended the next year in glorious fashion and was followed by titles in 2007, 2013 and 2018 to give them four in his first 16 years on the job, yet after a short abatement the whining started all over again. So with the knowledge that no other team has won as much as during his time on the job, I’ve always been willing to stand up for him and ask the question, what more do you ingrates want?

The second reason is obvious: John I. Taylor notwithstanding, he is the best owner in franchise history. It’s been a time when they have mostly spent big on payroll and made the wise decision to save/reinvest in their landmark ballpark, all while ending the curse and delivering some of the most exciting moments in franchise history. Not the least of which was climbing out of an 0-3 hole to finally beat the Yanks in 2004.

But, sadly, I’ve come to the conclusion It’s time for Henry to sell the Red Sox.

Here’s why, and I’ll start with the little things.

It Just Feels Old: There is no vitality in the ownership group. It’s a long way from when Henry pulled up at the Sports Hub to defend his team after listening to the endless negativity of Michael Felger and Tony Mazz while tooling around town in his car. Pretty unusual, but I liked the fight.

Not Dealing With the Media: I’m sure team president Sam Kennedy is a fine fellow. But since the owner deigns to speak to the nuisance media once a year he seems like a lap dog when he constantly is answering for the owner. I get it – the media can be obtrusive. But sorry, pal, it’s part of the job and I shouldn’t have to tell that to the guy who owns the Boston Globe. The Nation wants to hear from the boss.

It’s Become Just an Investment: Again I defended him when Fenway Sports Group bought the soccer team. But now there is an auto racing team and the Pittsburgh Penguins along with soccer, and the team seems like just part of the investment portfolio.

The Tampa Bay Way: I have pointed out many times that over the last few years Tampa Bay has won more than the Red Sox while spending millions less. But it wasn’t in support of how they conducted business. It was to show that it’s not what you spend, it’s how you spend it. Like wasting $170 million on Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez as an overreaction to fan discontent after a last-place finish in 2014. Or losing Jon Lester thanks to a ludicrous lowball offer and then having to spend $8 million per more the next year to bring in the soon to be hated David Price to replace him.

I’m Chaimed Out: I not only hate his stat geek, cookie-cutter, bargain basement vision of baseball, but I also find it insulting that one of the great franchises in sports history is copying the ways of one of the worst franchises in baseball history, one that barely draws 10,000 a game while the Sox had a 10-year sellout streak.

I thought he was going to come in to do what his Tampa Bay boss Andrew Friedman did when he landed in L.A.— clean up the payroll, build a farm system and then when he was done use their big market financial clout to fill out the line-up with big-time players like Mookie Betts and now NL home run leader Kyle Schwarber.

But that has not materialized, as it looks more like his place in Red Sox history will be as the 21st century’s answer to Harry Frazee by giving Raffy Devers and Xander Bogaerts insulting (idiotic) lowball contract offers on top of already dumping Betts.

Which brings me to the point of this diatribe. I was OK with not giving Betts what he wanted based on the risk of giving a 12-year contract. And I’m right about that.

But more deals like that have followed, and with Juan Soto (somehow) turning down a 15-year, $550 million deal last weekend it’s not likely going to go in the other direction. So if you don’t want to play that game it’s time to leave. Plus while the overall record is good, amid constant turnover at GM and manager there appears to be no real plan, which might be why they’ve finished last three times and missed the playoffs seven times since 2010.

Take The Money and Run: The team is now worth $3.9 billion, which is a 459 percent return on the $700 million you bought it for in 2002. For the mathematically challenged that’s $187 million appreciation per year or a $3.2 billion profit before whatever they made in annual profits.

So at the risk of understating the case: You have made your money. How much more do you need?

Bottom Line: While you technically own the team, Patriots owner Bob Kraft gets it right when he says teams are a public trust owned by fans who’ve been here longer than any owner ever was or will be.

So unless you still have the passion and energy to lead, along with the willingness to invest at today’s rate, take your $3.9 billion and ride into the sunset.

Yankees fans would never accept anything less. And neither should the fans who you are asking to pay the highest ticket prices in baseball while letting Chaim Bloom turn the Sox into baseball’s version of TJ Maxx.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

Teaming up

Community health workers assist police in Manchester

Last month, a new Public Health and Safety Team (PHAST), funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, was formed to serve the City of Manchester, combining the efforts of the Manchester Police and Manchester Public Health departments. The team consists of eight Community Health Workers who are trained in advocacy, conflict resolution and “violence interruption,” an evidence-based response technique for non-police and non-emergency matters to help reduce violent crime. PHAST supervisor Biram Saidybah shared more about how the team serves the city’s residents and allows the police department to focus on issues that require the services of law enforcement.

How and why was PHAST created?

The Manchester Police Department had been receiving a lot of calls … and many of those calls were [about] something that has nothing to do with what law enforcement [handles] … and usually nothing to do with violence. The city realized that maybe it could have another team of people respond to those calls, and that’s how the idea for a Public Health and Safety Team was conceived. … The intention is for us to partner with the police and to inherit those calls that are not law enforcement [issues] … freeing up maybe up to six or eight police officers to be able to concentrate on violence issues.

What qualifications do PHAST workers have?

They all have training to be a community health worker, and some have years of experience working as a community health worker. … Some of us have also lived the same experiences that the people we are serving are currently living, and we want them to also be able to achieve their dreams in America. … It’s also a multilingual and multicultural team. We felt that hiring people who can speak more than one language would be the best way to reach out to a wider community. … Everybody has a unique skill that the others don’t have, so the team has a combination of unique skills. … Anytime we receive a call, we’ll look at who is the best person [to respond to] that call, based on their character and skills here, so that we can address it in the best possible way. … Finally, everyone has a story about why they joined this team. Every one of us on this team is dedicated and loves this community, loves the job that we’re doing and loves to serve people.

What types of calls does PHAST respond to?

One type is what’s called wellness checks or condition checks. … If someone goes to an individual’s house, knocks at the door and nobody answers and they aren’t able to get in communication with that individual, typically they call the police to come check on that individual. … Then, there are people who are repeat callers, who will call the police department three, four, five times in a month. They may be people who have mental health challenges, people who are just lonely and need to talk to somebody, or people who are having issues, like they’re about to be evicted or they don’t know how to apply for health insurance, things like that. Many of those calls are also from seniors who are living by themselves and don’t have anyone there to help them with things in their day-to-day life, so anytime they’re confronted with something [they need help with], they call the police. … Another type of call is for what’s referred to as ‘hotspots,’ neighborhoods that the police receive a lot of calls from or that may have a lot of crime going on.

In addition to responding to those calls, what else does PHAST do?

Part of our partnership with the Police Department [involves] the Community Response Unit; if someone in the city overdoses, we will go with two police officers 72 hours after the overdose to do a condition check on the individual and to give them resources. … Another activity we’ve been engaged in is, whenever we go to a ward, we see if there’s something like a broken sidewalk or a broken electrical pole or a branch of a tree that’s fallen, things like that, and we take a picture of it using the SeeClickFix app, which then goes … to the department responsible for addressing that issue.

How is PHAST better-equipped than the police to handle certain issues?

The Community Response Unit is a good example. When we go to check on a person, we don’t normally allow police officers to do the talking. We’ll ask them to stand back, close enough to provide some security to us, but far enough to give some privacy to that individual, because many people are more interested in talking to us than to the police. … We also have the language skills to communicate with people … and sometimes it’s not just about language, but about culture. If I go to the house of an individual, and we look the same, and we speak the same language, and maybe we’re even from the same country originally, then that individual may be able to trust and open up and communicate with me better.

Featured photo: Biram Saidybah. Courtesy photo.

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