The green’s a stage

Shakespeare al fresco returns to Saint Anselm College

For the past two summers, Theatre Kapow’s Shakespeare on the Green has leaned dark. A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2024 was filled with shadowy fairy magic. With last year’s Romeo & Juliet, the dusk forming over Saint Anselm College and the following sunset offered a celestial comment on the tragic love story.

With this year’s As You Like It, director Emma Cahoon is changing the weather, Shakespeare-wise.

“It’s a bit more contemplative,” she said by phone recently. “It’s a very considerate play … each of the characters, to me, feel less like caricatures and more like real people, which is something that I just love.”

As You Like It introduced Cahoon to Shakespeare, courtesy of an eighth-grade teacher with an innovative streak. Years later, living abroad in London, it was the first Shakespeare she saw performed live.

“It completely charmed me all over again,” she said. Making it this year’s Shakespeare on the Green production was an easy decision, partly due to its setting.

Much of the action unfolds in the Forest of Arden, where exiled characters shed their old identities and find clarity among the trees, making it perfect for an al fresco stage ringed by real ones.

“Shakespeare on the Green has some great elements for it,” Cahoon said. “It’s kind of ready-made for a play set in the forest.”

One thing is notably absent this time: the Manchester dance company that partnered with Kapow on both previous Green productions. Ballet Misha weaved choreography into Midsummer’s fairy realm and Romeo & Juliet’s doomed romance, but that collaboration isn’t part of this year’s show.

“This is really not a dance type production,” Cahoon explained.

Rather than treat the absence as a loss, she framed it as an opening. The language of As You Like It, uniquely dense with plot and character even by Shakespeare’s standards, rewards the kind of close attention that previous Green efforts didn’t demand. “We’re meeting the absence of Ballet Misha by really digging into the language, which is its own kind of fun.”

An expanded eight-actor cast is made up entirely of returning Kapow company members, many who appeared in the previous two Green shows — from Midsummer, Emma Weller, Molly Litt, Claire Soleil Gardner, Cecilia Lomanno and Samantha Griffin, with Courtney St. Gelais and Jay Doane carrying over from Romeo & Juliet as well.

St. Gelais, who played Oberon in Midsummer and Mercutio/Prince in R&J, takes on Oliver and Jacques this time; Doane, previously R&J’s Benvolio, plays Touchstone, Charles and Jacques de Boys. This continues the company’s gender-blind approach to casting classic texts with a fluid ensemble.

This allows performers to cross the gender lines Shakespeare wrote into characters like Rosalind, who spends most of the play disguised as a young man, Ganymede.

“I am super excited about the cast; it came together in what feels like kind of a miracle to me,” Cahoon said. “It’s a really, really strong group.”

Asked for an early favorite moment, Cahoon was quick to respond, even as rehearsals had just begun. At the play’s first read-through, St. Gelais took on Jacques’ famous “All the World’s a Stage” monologue, arguably the most recognizable speech in the play, and thrilled everyone in a way Cahoon had been hoping for.

“As soon as I picked As You Like It, I was like, I need to hear Court do [that] speech, and … it was the best reading of that monologue I’ve ever heard; it knocked us out of the water,” she said, already picturing how it will land outdoors, delivered beneath open sky with Alumni Hall as a backdrop. “I think it’s going to be beautiful to hear it in that space.”

The production serves as the opening of Theatre Kapow’s 19th season, built around the theme “Elemental.” Each show tied to a classical element, with As You Like It serving as the Earth effort. That’s apt for a play focused on characters getting back in touch with something more grounded than the court politics they’ve left behind — and it’s also being staged in the elements.

Shakespeare on the Green Series 2026: As You Like It
When: Thursday, Friday & Saturday, July 16 – 25, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Koonz Theatre, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester
Admission: $25, anselm.edu (children free, no ticket needed)

Featured photo: Cast of As You Like it. Courtesy photo.

Shop Very Local

Enjoy fresh flavors and community at area farmers markets

Change is a constant at farmers markets.

Whether it’s the seasonal change in the produce offerings — blueberries today, tomatoes in a month — or changes in the market itself, the markets are never quite the same.

Nashua’s farmers market has been growing and expanding over the past several years, said Elaina Bedio of the Downtown Nashua Association.

“For a long time the Farmers Market was managed by the City,” she said. “And then the Great American Downtown — which is what our group used to be known as — took it over. It was still over by the library, but this year we moved it to the new Riverwalk, so we’re excited about that. We’ve got lots of new vendors that people are excited about. And that has led to a lot of interest from people who want to be vendors next year. People seem to like the changes; we’re pretty excited about it.”

Bedio said the Nashua Farmers Market has about 30 vendors.

“They’re not all there every week, but some of them are seasonal vendors who are there every week. We make a priority of having farms — I would say the most represented groups would be the farms. And agricultural vendors — that would include people who are selling flowers and plants and things like that. And then we have craft beer vendors and craftspeople who are making things like jewelry and soap and fidgets and all sorts of things, art, photography. And then we have a significant number of bakeries as well.”

One of those bakeries is Crumbs on Cambridge. Amy Casella is the owner of the home-based bakery and sells her all-natural treats at three different area farmers markets: Nashua’s, Bedford’s and the Merrimack Valley Farmers Market in Milford. She said meeting her customers face to face is what she likes most about selling at market.

“I love talking to the people,” Casella said. “And every town has different types of people who come, different conversations. The flavors are different depending upon each town I go to and each market I go to.”

One of the main benefits of selling directly to customers, Casella said, is being able to answer their questions. Many food vendors have found a growing interest from customers who are curious about where their food comes from, said Amy Fecteau, who specializes in raising animals for meat at Cedartree Farm. She has found that in recent years customers have wanted to know more about where their food comes from, and that is especially true about the animals they eat.

“We raise pork, goat, chicken and lamb,” Fecteau said.

Her goat meat has gained a following, she said, but for many customers it’s been a new experience.

“I did some research [when I started my farm] and found out that there weren’t a lot of people producing meat goats and that a market was there,” she said “It took a while for me to find it. I’m still finding people that are like, ‘Oh my goodness, you have goat! I didn’t know.’ But now there are more people receptive to it and want to try it.”

“It’s a wonderful meat,” Fecteau said. “It’s very versatile. A lot of people probably think of like a curry, like goat curry, but you can do pretty much anything. I have the goat legs cut into steaks and you can cook it just like you would do a beef steak. And they’re very tender and very flavorful. And it’s grown in popularity.”

She said most of the questions she gets asked at farmers markets are about what life is like for the animals. “They live pretty good, stress-free lives,” she said.

Diane Souther of Apple Hill Farm, who sells at the Concord Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, agrees that teaching customers can be gratifying.

“If they have questions, we can answer them, and vice versa,” Souther said. “They can ask us what variety of tomatoes we have this week, and they know that they came fresh from the farm within a day or two, so that they’re the freshest possible.”

A farmers market gives Souther and her staff a chance to educate customers about the seasonality of their food, and when it is at its best, she said.

“You know, they’ll walk in now, in the middle of July, and go, ‘So where are the apples today?’ Well, it’s only July. They won’t be here till September. And then, you know, different varieties of apples as well. … And that’s part of the fun of coming to the farmers market, because you never know what you’re going to see that day that you’re there. Something that you might have got two weeks ago that was in season, like strawberries, are now done.”

That seasonality extends to what customers will find throughout a given market at different times over the season. Even though the public refers to these seasonal markets as “farmers markets,” there are times — especially early in the season — when fresh fruit and vegetables take a back seat to other locally produced foods and crafts.

“We always try to strike a balance of about 60 percent food-based vendors — that includes local farmers, fish mongers, and bakers who work with local ingredients — and about 40 percent other vendors — crafters and other people who provide services,” said Craig Cunningham of the Derry farmers market. That can even extend to businesses you might not expect.

“That includes Mr. Joe,” Cunningham said. “He’s a balloon artist from Silly Solutions. He can make a balloon version of any animal. I haven’t seen him stumped yet. He’s always swamped with kids.”

While many farmers markets are set up in parking lots, there is a lot of variety in where in a town they might be.

“We’re lucky,” Craig Cunningham said about the location of the Derry market, “in that Benson Lumber and Hardware on Broadway has a big grass lot in front of the store that they let us use, so we’re right there and easy to find.”

In Concord — at least during the summer — Capitol Street, a small side street next to the Statehouse, is blocked off for foot traffic during market hours. Selling at the market can be a very different experience than her everyday sales at her farm, said Diane Souther.

“We have a farm stand,” she said. “We also do pick-your-own at the farm. So with the farm, you can get the full farming experience. It’s quiet, it’s nice, you’re out in nature, you can sit down and watch the clouds blow over. When you go to the farmers market, it’s a different story, because it’s busy, it’s active. Last week we had the 250th celebration, so we had a cannon shooting off and muzzle loaders shooting off. We had a parade. The weekend before that, they had another event at the Statehouse. So it’s a little bit different. It’s noisy, but it’s great.”

Find your market

The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food has a list of New Hampshire farmers markets at agriculture.nh.gov (click on “Find NH Agriculture” under “Consumers,” where you can also find farm stands and CSAs), which lists markets (as reported by their managers) throughout the state.

Here are some area farmers markets, with information according to the markets’ own websites and social media.

Tuesdays

• The Bedford Farmers Market is located in the parking lot of Murphy’s Taproom, 393 Route 101 in Bedford, Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. through Oct. 13. This year’s vendors include Arbor Grove Scents (small-batch soy candles, goat milk soaps and clean skin care), Bee the Buzz (ecological planting and design services as well as organic program services ), Berkshire Gold (maple syrup), Cedartree Farm, Crumbs on Cambridge, Delicious Alternatives, DJ’s Pure Natural Honey, Familia Baking Co. (Latin bakery), Flour Garden Bakery, Fresh Start Farms, Galomine Farm Too, Granite State Flower Farm, Holy Moly Snacks, Jack’s Crackers, Jajabelles Coffee and Bakeshop, Junie Bee Designs (pottery, jewelry and wearables), Rich Bro Salmon, Lakonian Olive Oil, Ledge Top Farms, Live Free and Bark, Mind Body Snack, My Country Mushrooms, New England Wagyu, Pet Education Technologies, Pup’s Cider, Real Soap, Spiczka Farm, Stoykovich Designs, The Potting Shed and Woodman Artisan Bakery, according to bedfordnhfarmersmarket.org.

• The Tilton Farmers Market takes place Tuesdays from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. through Sept. 29 at the 321 Ballfield/Tilton Police Department at 45 Sanborn Road (Route 132) in Tilton, according to tiltonfarmersmarketnh.com, where you can find a list of each week’s vendors. July 14, for example, included vendors offering chicken, pork, eggs, baked goods, flowers, photography, seedlings, gluten-free baked goods and bread, chocolate-dipped sweets as well as cookies and cupcakes, pet treats, tarot readings and decks, vegetables, bread, maple syrup, nut-free baked goods, produce, plants, pickles, salsa, veggies, herbs, fruit, berries, honey, woodworking and Taylor’s Sizzle and Serve with burgers, tenders, hot dogs, fries and more, the website said.

Wednesdays

• The Derry Homegrown Farm & Artisan Market takes place Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. through Sept. 30 at 1 West Broadway, according to derryhomegrown.org. Find a list of the coming week’s vendors and musical performer on the market’s Facebook page. The 2026 vendors include Country Dreams (veggies and fruits), Food & Blooms Farm (cut flowers an plants), Forest Fed Farmstead (vegetables), Fresh Start Farms (veggies), Meta Microgreens, DJ’s Pure Natural Honey, New England Wagyu, New England Fish Mongers, Pepper & Row Co. (hot pepper products and seasonal harvests), Singing Pond Farm (produce, pottery), The Laurels Farm, 603 Perfect Blend (loose leaf tea), Debbie D’s (jams, jellies, pickles, relishes), Holy Moly Snacks (similar to beef jerky), Cucina Aurora (cooking products), Ken’s Corn (popcorn), KRM Chocolates, La’Peony Desserts (baked goods, French-inspired desserts), Lush Confections, Mimi Rae’s Gluten Free Bakery, Nomad Bakery (bread), The Stand “Shaken Not Stirred” (Lemonade), Sweet Dreams Confection (sourdough), Roy’s Empanadas, Kerry’s Katering, Wood Shack Juices of New England, 603 Candle, Burnham Woods (wood, fiber arts, houseplants), Sheila’s Essentials (goats milk soap, salves, balms, sprays), Royal Tallow (tallow items, soap trays), Live Free and Bark (dog chews), Yellow Shed Pottery, On a Roll Blankets, Full Sun Ceramics, Cathedral Ledge Distillery, Doire Distilling/Daydreaming Brewery/ Meadow Vineyards and Rockingham Brewery Co., the website said.

• The Canterbury Community Farmers Market runs Wednesdays from 4 to 6:30 p.m. through Sept. 30 next to the Elkins Public Library with special programing each week of the month: a kids’ activity the first Wednesday, NH Master Gardeners the second Wednesday, “Fruit & Jam SLAMS” the third Wednesday and “Fill Mary Ellen’s Basket” (a charitable giving program) on the fourth Wednesday of each month, according to canterburyfarmersmarket.com, where you can also find the lineup of live music (scheduled for July 22 is 2nd Time Around). Vendors for 2026 include Auntie B’s Greek Pastries, Big Trees Bread Co., Brookford Farm (cheeses, dairy, cured meats, eggs, veggies), Cathedral Ledge Distillery, Crock & Scythe Farm (greens, veggies, root crops, eggs, coffee), Fen Ridge Farm (wine-based jams and jellies), Fresh Start Farms (vegetables and flowers), Just Like Lydia’s (sweets and baked goods), Lakonian Olive Oil, North Family Farm (maple syrup and maple products, honey, cut flowers) Peace Ledge Baking Co. (baked goods, bagels, bialys), Roy’s Empanadas (empanadas and medialunas), Schrock Farm (lamb, yarn and wool, wool items), Someday Farm (animal fiber products, baked and preserved items, eggs, cheese), Sugar Bones Farm (maple syrup & products, ground beef), Terra Basics (culinary and medicinal herbs and edible flowers, seasoning blends, teas), The Blossom Shed (veggies, herbs, cut flowers), The Burstin’ Kernel (kettle corn), The Late Bird Baked Goods (gluten-free and organic, with some dairy-free options), Warner River Produce (greens, herbs, apples, fruit, tomatoes, honey, mushrooms, chicken and more), Zulip Farms (mushrooms, berries, jam, honey), Dragonfly West Design (seasoning blends, note cards, paper flower earrings), Miss Catherine’s Threads (wool yard and knitted items), Old Ways Traditions and Petals in the Pines (flowers, bird baths, planters, Swedish almond cakes, eggs, and more), the website said.

• Sandown Farmers Market takes place Wednesdays from 4 to 7 p.m. through Sept. 23 at Zorvino Vineyards, 226 Main St. in Sandown, according to sandown.us/1342/Sandown-Farmers-Market and the Sandown Recreation Commission’s Facebook page, where you can find updates about vendors coming to the upcoming market. For example Bookish Bliss (a mobile bookstore) and Scattergood Farmstand (baked goods and sourdough bread) were listed as attending in a July 7 post.

• The Manchester Farmers and Makers Market describes itself on its Facebook page as ”a vibrant, face-to-face community that fosters health, wealth, and a strong sense of belonging through providing high-quality, locally produced goods, engaging performances, & a network of tangible value trade.” Another post said the market features “live music, activities, hot food, and performances, too! We believe in freedom, free trade, and great, local food and products.” The market runs Wednesdays, 4 to 7, until September in Arms Park, according to the Facebook page, where you can find upcoming vendors and performers.

• The Lee Farmers’ and Artisans Market is located at Little River Park, 28 North River Road, Lee, and will run on upcoming Wednesdays (July 22, Aug. 12, Aug. 26, Sept. 9 and Sept. 23) from 3 to 6:30 p.m., according to facebook.com/LeeFarmersMarket. “Fresh fruits and veggies, baked goodies, handcrafted candles, jewelry, wooden kitchenware, plus live local music sponsored by the Rotary Club of Durham-Great Bay,” according to a post on the page.

Thursdays

• The Merrimack Valley Farmers Market runs Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m. through Nov. 5 in the parking lot of the St. John Neumann Parish Catholic Church at 708 Milford Road in Merrimack, according to merrimackvalleymarket.com and the market’s Facebook page, where you can find a map and parking information as well as information about upcoming markets. Vendors at the June 25 market, for example, included The Sunflower Bakery & Cafe, Rich Bro Salmon Co., On a Roll Handmade Chunky Knit Blankets, DJ’s Pure Natural Honey, Fresh Start Farms, MolaFoods, Crumbs on Cambridge, Pup’s Cider, Real Soap and Blackeyed Susan Sheep Dairy.

Fridays

• Fried Fridays Community Market held weekly at the Tractor Supply Co. at 307 Dover Road, Chichester, Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.-ish, according to a post on the Facebook page for Normans FoodTruck, which is one of the regular vendors at the event, based on their posts. See the page for upcoming vendors.

• The 2nd Annual Dunbarton Farmers Market will run at Stark Farm, 30 Stark Lane in Dunbarton, Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. through Aug. 28, according to starkfarmblueberries.com/farmers-market. See the farm’s Facebook page for updates. According to the farm’s website, vendors will include Bela Brook Farm (beef and chicken), Bizzy Bee Books, Blakeney’s Bread, Bunny Bee Cotton Candy, Clapp Family Farm (veggies, fruit, eggs), Clayton Soaps, Four Legged World, Generation Farm (salad greens), Jacqui’s Glassicles, Log Home Herbs and Crafts, Maeve + Enya LaMarque (crocheted items, bracelets), Matt Forrest Esenwine (children’s books), Niamh Stevin with a lemonade stand, Southern Charm Cheese, Nature’s Dreamscape (isopods and plants), Trusted Essential Services and Stark Farm itself, which offers blueberries, honey, jams, doughnuts, whoopie pies, maple syrup and Amish popcorn.

Saturdays

• The Concord Farmers Market runs Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon through Oct. 31, on Capitol Street next to the New Hampshire Statehouse in downtown Concord and “is one of the oldest markets in … New Hampshire. During the peak season we have 40+ vendors at the market,” according to concordfarmersmarket.com, where you can find a map of vendor spots as well as parking in the area. Vendors include Abbot Creamery (cheese), Auntie B’s Greek Pastry, Apple Hill Farm, Bardo Farm (dried meats), Blakeney’s Bakery, Blasdell Body Care, Birch Rise Farm (chicken, pork, turkeys, eggs), Bread Peddler, Celeste Oliva (oils, balsamic vinegars, spices), Chichester Country Store (doughnuts, baked goods), Clayton’s Way Farm (soaps), Coffin Cellars Winery, Concord Bee Co. (honey, bee products), Community Supported Cold Brew, Down Home with Dee (mushrooms), East Coast Sales (dog chews and bones), Fresh Start Farms, Garrison City Nut Co., Grand View Farm (cut flowers), Granite Ledge Coffee, Hickory Nut Farm (goat milk products), Hop N Hen Farm (vegetables, fruits, eggs, poultry), Kearsarge Gore Farm (vegetables, flowers, lamb, beef, pork), KYS Food For Dogs, Lindon Garlic Farm, Live Free and Bark, Meadowview Farm (lamb, chicken, beef, honey, maple, pickles, jellies & jams, eggs, fruit), Meta Micro Greens, Morrill Farm Dairy (beef, flours), Mt. Dearborn Farm (pork, chicken lamb, eggs, soaps and shampoo, alpaca yard and balls), New England Fish Mongers, NOK Vino, Potter Beef Farm, Potter’s Farm (maple, vegetables, berries), Prodigal Brewing, Rocky Ole Farm (vegetables, berries, farm crafts, eggs), Sun Fox Farm (sunflower oils, herbs, spices), Twisted Mallow Co., Savvy Sweets & Treats, Sayde & Georges (Middle Eastern dips), Southern Charm Farm (cheese), Swallow Ridge Farm (cheese), Sound Roots Farm (vegetables, mushrooms, flowers), Tamworth Distillery, TerraBasics (herbs and herbal items, seasonings, edible flowers), Tilton Hill Goat Farm, Wiggle Butt Bites (pet treats), Wild Berry Farm (maple syrup and products, fiber products), Woodman’s Bakery and Yakum Hill Farm (soy products), according to the website.

• The Contoocook Farmers Market is open in summer on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon through October at the Riverway Park Gazebo, 896 Main St. in Contoocook, according to facebook.com/ContoocookFarmersMarket, where you can find updates on vendors and events.

• The Warner Area Farmers Market is located at 5 E. Main St. in Warner and runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 3, according to facebook.com/warnerareafarmersmarket, where you can find updates on vendors and special events, such as Kid’s Day featuring a kids’ craft fair on Aug. 8, and musical performers. Vendors include KGF, Kate’s Wicked Bakes, Alyssa Kreilick, Liberty Bakes, Bella Wilson, Good Rhubarb Soap, Lesvia de King, Horner Hollows Homestead and Blaisdell Hill Farm, according to warnerfarmersmarket.org.

• The Milford NH Farmers Market takes place Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., through Oct. 31, at Blue Seal, 351 Elm St. in Milford, according to milfordnhfarmersmarket.com. Vendors include Fresh Start Farm, Hungry Bear Farm (vegetables, herbs, berries, salsa), Begin Family Farm, Ledge Top Farm (vegetables, fruits, eggs), Liberty Fish, G3 Bakery, Hulda’s Swedish Baked Goods, Les Bonnes Miches, Sunflower Bakery & Cafe, Berkshire Gold, Highland Apiaries, Lone Wolf Cheese, Maple Lane Farm (pies, nut brittles, cookies, whoopie pies, jams, pickles), Old Ivy Farm (cut flowers, preserves, pies), Mola Foods, Joyberry Farms (mushrooms and mushroom products), Lakonian Olive Oil, Miss Judy’s Salsa, Nonnies Bolognese, Lux Lifestyle (skin care products), Bubble Factory (goats milk soaps and lotions), Lavender FIelds, Kawa Roasters, Pup’s Cider, 603 Perfect Blends (loose leaf teas), Averill House Vineyard, Cooper & Sophie’s Kitchen (pet treats), Lissa Malloy Art, Everything Alpaca, Grammy’s Needles & Threats, TH Custom Woodwork, The Pearl Shop and Claudia’s Jewelry, the website said. See the market’s Facebook page for updates on vendors and musicians for a specific week.

• New Boston Farmers Market is open Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the Town Common in New Boston through Oct. 10, according to facebook.com/NewBostonFarmersMarket, which says that “All products are made/grown in NH by local farmers and artisans.” Vendors listed for the July 11 market included Charmed, Fresh Start Farms, Wildflour Breads & Bakes, Clearly Balance Days, Caleb’s Cookies, Sweet Pumpkins Farm, DJ’s Pure Natural Honey, 2 Good 2 Be Baked, Juniper & Joy Collective, The Cupcake Porium, Karen’s Touch, Meadowgate Farm, C. Paige Creations, La Brioche Gourmande, Little Dumpling House, Bunny Bee Cotton Candy, KC’s Enchanted and Joe English Grange No. 53, according to a post.

• Pelham NH Farmers Market is located at 3 Main St. in Pelham and runs Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. into October, according to facebook.com/PelhamNHFarmersMarket. Saturday, July 18, is the market’s blueberry festival: “Come enjoy farm fresh blueberries and other blueberry goodies from our vendors,” a post said. Other upcoming events include a Children’s Day Aug. 22 and Apple Pie Day on Oct. 3, according to posts. See the Facebook page for updates on vendors each week; the July 4 vendors included Darlene’s Dinners, Doherty Farm, Kahn Landscaping, CT Jitters, Black Sheed Craft Ice Cream, Breaking Bread, Sewing by Jessica, Motherland Olive Oil, Spring Pepper Design and Nassamat, the post said.

• The Market at the Weirs takes place in Weirs Community Park, 49 Lucerne Ave. in Laconia, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 3, according to themarketatweirs.com, where you can find the upcoming week’s vendor list. The Saturday, July 18, vendor list includes Arándano Farm (chicken, pork, eggs), Canterbury Soapworks, Gluten Free or Die Bakery, Goodies 4 Good (cupcakes and cookies, chocolate tipped treats, pet treats), Little Moose Crafts, Maggi’s Menu (sourdough, baked goods), Mel’s Sweet Treats (coffee, boba drinks, cupcakes), Papa’s Kitchen (hamburgers, hotdogs, tenders, fries and more), Still Seeking Farm (vegetables, bread, maple syrup, jam), Stockla’s Farm (produce, plants, maple products, pickles, salsa, baked goods), Warner River Produce and WildLore Studio (herbal products, jewelry, prints and photos), the website said.

• Blooms Market takes place at Deerfield Community Church, 15 Church St. in Deerfield, from 8 to 10:30 a.m. on upcoming Saturdays including July 25, Aug. 8, Aug. 22, Sept. 12, Sept. 26, Oct. 10 and Oct. 24, according to bloomsandbrewscafe.com/bloomsmarket. Vendors include Baked by Elizabeth, Batchelder Farm (beef, chicken, pork), Bee Thankful Farm (vegetables, fruits), Crook and Scythe (greens, vegetables, flowers, coffee), Dill Family Farm (maple syrup and maple products, eggs), Epoch Prints, K Taylor Co (cookies, brownies, lemonade), Kind Goat Soap, The Late Bird Baked Goods (gluten free), North Road Bread Box, Patten Hill Wild (honey, honey products, herbs), Stay Golden Tallow, Sunfox Farm and Sweet Escape Doughnuts and Bakery, the website said.

• The Candia Farmers Market runs on the third Saturday of each month through October from 9 a.m. to noon, at 55 High St. in Candia, according to candiafarmersmarket.org, where you can see the dates for upcoming fairs and special events planned. The July 18 fair is a July Farmers Market and Artisan Fair, the website said. According to the market’s Facebook page, the July market will be “our biggest market of the summer! With 60+ local vendors, you’ll discover everything from farm-fresh foods and handmade artisan goods to delicious prepared foods, local wine, beer, spirits, and so much more.” July attractions will include “living history with the Royal Irish Artillery, featuring historical reenactments and exciting cannon demonstrations”; the music and stories of Papa Joe, “Kids can plant and take home their own microgreens at our free Young Farmers Club, plus enjoy our monthly scavenger hunt and a visit with our animal guests (as long as they cooperate!),” and more, according to a post for the event.

• The Francestown Community Market is located at the Francestown Recreation Fields on Old Country Road in Francestown and is open every other Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to facebook.com/francestowncommunitymarket, where you can find updates on market dates. “Experience a convergence of artisanal vendors, our new REC sponsored food tent, and live music,” a post said about the market.

Sundays

• The Nashua Farmers Market runs Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. until Oct. 18 at the Nashua Riverwalk in Renaissance Park, according to downtownnashua.org/nashua-farmers-market. Find updates about each week’s vendors and musical performances on the Downtown Nashua Association Facebook page. Seasonal vendors include Bee Wild Flowers, Casa Arreyto, Crumbs on Cambridge, DJ’s Purnatural Honey, Donna Issa, Fresh Start Farms, Jajabelles Coffee & Bake Show, Nestxpressions, Real Soap, Realm of Media Possibilities, Spiczka Farm, Sunfox Farm and Wildpower Botanical, according to the website.

• Salem NH Summer Farmers Market is located next to The Field near Dick’s House of Sport at the Mall at Rockingham Park, 77 Rockingham Park Blvd. in Salem, and is open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to salemnhfarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for a newsletter to get updates on what vendors will be at the market each week. Year-round and summer market vendors include Abbott Hill Creamery (cheese), Farmer Dave’s (fruits, vegetables, flowers), New England Fish Mongers, Anderson Mini Maples, Fresh Start Farms, Orazio’s Family Dinners (frozen pot pies), Baked Bliss Cookies, Flying M Farm (poultry, rabbit, eggs), Root & Bloom Flower Farm, Big Rich’s Gourmet Hot Sauce & Marinade, Graze and Go NH, Roy’s Empanadas, Bookworms Bakery, Holy Moly Snacks, Sayde & Georges, Brookford Farm (veggies, meats, dairy, kraut and kimchi), September Farm (baked goods, including gluten free and dairy free), Cathedral Ledge Distillery, Hurd Farm (beef, turkey, chicken, pork), Slipper Soap Co., Coffin Cellars Winery, Coffee and Biscotti, Joyberry Farm (mushrooms), Sweets by Shannon (gluten-free), Cosmic Happiness (jewelry), Terra d’Amuri (Sicilian arancine and desserts), Cucina Aurora (olive oils), Kirasole Studio (jewelry, wearables, home decor), Tewksbury Honey, Curtis Fontaine and Ali Cafaro Ceramics, KRM Chocolates, The Good Llama Co. (soy candles), Live Free & Bark, The Lemon Babe (Lemonade), Earth Cut Pottery, Meatball King, The Prodigal Brewing Co., Meta Microgreens, Tummy Full (Indian food), F-Word Farm (vinegars), Middle Sister Candle Co., Twisted Mallow Co. and Woodman’s Artisan Bakery, according to the website.

This Week 26/07/16

Friday, July 17

Need baseball? The Nashua Silver Knights play the Worcester Bravehearts tonight at 6:03 p.m. at Holman Stadium in Nashua, according to nashuasilverknights.com. After the game, stay for the fireworks. Tomorrow, Saturday, July 18, they’ll face the Westfield Starfires, also at 6:03 p.m.

Friday, July 17

Disney’s Frozen will be presented Friday, July 17, through Sunday, July 19, by the Windham Actors Guild at Windham High School, according to windhamactorsguild.com where you can purchase tickets.

Saturday, July 18

The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, 27 Navigator Road in Londonderry, will hold its annual Classic Car Show today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to a press release. “Admission to the grounds for spectators is $10 per adult; children 12 and under free. Admission is cash only,” the release said. The day will also feature food trucks, and admission to the museum is included with admission to the car show, during the show, the release said. See aviationmuseumofnh.org.

Saturday, July 18

Stratham Summerfest 2026 will take place today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Stratham Hill Park and feature 4-H animal barns, exhibits and more; magic shows, live music, kids’ activities, helicopter exhibits weather permitting, a pie-eating contest and more, according to strathamnh.gov.

Saturday, July 18

Manchester Parks and Recreation will hold the first of four upcoming concerts on Saturdays at 10 a.m. at Livingston Park today with musician Miss Alli between Brigit’s Garden and the playground, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page. The concerts are free, the post said.

Saturday, July 18

The BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St. in Concord, will hold a “World Soccer Championship: Third Place Play-Off Viewing Party” today at 4 p.m. Tickets are free but must be obtained at ccanh.com. A “Finals Viewing Party” will take place tomorrow, Sunday, July 19, at 2 p.m.; see the website for tickets.

Saturday, July 18

Mel’s Funway Park, 454 Charles Bancroft Highway in Litchfield, will hold a Pig Roast and Lobster Bake today from 4 to 8 p.m., according to melsfunwaypark.com, where you can purchase tickets (tickets offer different food and activity packages). The event will feature music by DJ Rick, a pig roast, a lobster bake and hamburger and hot dog options, the website said.

Tuesday, July 21

The NH Fisher Cats return to Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester for six games against the Somerset Patriots starting tonight at 6:03 p.m. for a Tender Tuesdays game with a Manchester Chicken Tenders bobblehead available to the first 500 fans, according to milb.com/new-hampshire, where you can purchase tickets.

Save the Date! Thursday, Aug. 20
Chunky’s in Manchester has several specialty screening of 1985’sThe Goonies on its schedule, starting with a Family Treasure Hunt Movie Night on Thursday, Aug. 20, with a treasure hunt starting at 5:45 p.m. and the movie starting at 6:30 p.m., according to a theater email. The family event will also be held Saturday, Aug. 22, with the treasure hunt starting at 5:15 p.m. and the film at 6 p.m. A 21+ screening will take place Thursday, Aug. 20, with the treasure hunt starting at 7:30 p.m. and the screening starting at 8:15 p.m. as well as a menu of specialty Goonies-themed cocktails, the email said. See chunkys.com for tickets.

Featured image: Classic Car Show at the Aviation Museum of New Hamsphire. Courtesy photo.

Sox crushing it

The Big Story – Red Sox Rolling: Don’t look now, but having suddenly won 16 of their last 21 the Red Sox have old-timers thinking Morgan Magic of 1988!That’s because, after a mostly awful first half, the not too long ago moribund local nine will open the second half on a nine-game winning streak and just a half game out of the final playoff spot. Starting Friday, though, we’ll get to see if it’s for real or not.

Sports 101: In terms of doing it in the fewest games Shohei Ohtani became the seventh fastest to reach 300 homers. How many of the six who did it faster can you name?

News Item – World Cup Notes: How much extra inspiration did Belgium get from President Trump getting pathetic FIFA Chief Gianni Infantino to roll over and rescind Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension without doing it for any other red carders? Given the embarrassing way they showed USA the door in the Round of 8, it seemed like a lot.

News Item – Red Sox at the Break: Given recent trends, here are some things to like.

• Ceddanne Rafaela is hitting in the .280s after learning the strike zone better and is Jackie Bradley Jr. good in CF.

• Pitching With no Garrett Crochet and a bunch of young guys they closed at 16-5 when they astonishingly have given up just 2.47 runs and more than three runs just four times.

• The ‘Who Are They?’ BrigadeWith unfamiliar names like Cheng, Eaton, Seigler and Monasterio in the line-up, it reminds me of Butch Cassidy yelling “WHO ARE THOSE GUYS” at the posse he and Sundance couldn’t shake.

• The Acquisitions Hard to find fault with Sonny Gray (11-1, 2.54) and free agent Ranger Suarez (4-3, 3.15), who (somehow) made the All-Star team. Then there is that Willson Contreras (.285-20-61) has out-hit all the possible past and current first base targets — Raffy Devers (2.49 -19-52), Pete Alonso (.252-21-65) and Japanese import Munetaka Murakami (.232-20-42).

• Caleb Durbin vs. Alex Bregman: He started awful and still is only hitting .230. But that’s up from .150 in mid-June and is beating Bregman in all run-producing stats for less than $1 million to Bregman’s $40 million per salary.

The Numbers:

10 – consecutive years women at Wimbledon will have a new champion after defending champion Aryna Sabalenka went down to former Naomi Osaka.

12 – record-tying consecutive hits made by KC’s Tyler Tolbert in games vs. the Mets and Phillies.

20 – points scored by Ebuka Okorie in Summer League Game 1 for Detroit to give the Nashua native a solid start to his NBA career

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Up – Red Sox Turn Around: We’ll see, but it could mean the summer may not be ruined after all.

Thumbs Down – Gianni Infantino: For the slimy WBC chief rescinding that red card simply to appease political interests without doing it for anyone else. BOOOO!

Let Me Get This Straight – Adam Vinatieri: The legendary Patriot got into the Colts Hall of Fame last week before he got into the Patriot Hall of Fame.

Really? All he did here was (1) make the greatest NFL kick ever through a blizzard and later the game winner to kickstart the dynasty, (2) win two SBs with FGs as time expired, and (3) run down Herschel Walker from behind for the greatest special teams tackle by a kicker ever.

This year’s guy, Gronk, was lovable, great and deserving. But he came after V and has no franchise-altering plays to V’s four, so there’s no way he should’ve gone in before him.

Random Thoughts:

Yes the Pats got A.J. Brown, but they should not move on from deep threat Kayshon Boutte, who caught nine TD passes. What’s wrong with giving the most accurate deep thrower I’ve seen since Roman Gabriel in the ’60s two very good deep threats?

Sports 101 Answer: Ohtani reached 300 homers in his 1,121st game. The ones to do it quicker were Ralph Kiner, Ryan Howard, Juan Gonzalez, Alex Rodriguez, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Final Thoughts – Celtics Press Conference: If you read this space regularly you know I said last summer the Celtics needed to do what they did last week: rid themselves of one of their max contracts to avoid the punitive player acquisition troubles they caused.

Only problem with Celtics GM Brad Stevens saying they needed a shake-up after early exits from the playoffs the last two years is it’s not true.

Sorry, Brad, while the players are the ones who missed the shots, roster composition is not why they lost either time. It was because of the incompetent game coaching of the Grady Little of basketball, where Slo Joe Mazzulla sat on the bench like Nero as Rome burned and made no adjustments as they blew five 20-plus-point leads after the 3-balls stopped falling vs. New York and Philly.

And I’m not alone in knowing that.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Quality of Life 26/07/16

Buttons

As reported in a July 6 press release from the National Button Society (nationalbuttonsociety.org), “a new [television] series, Hot Buttons, is under production for PBS and will be filming at the National Button Society convention in Manchester, N.H., July 27 through Aug. 1.” The series “celebrates the artistry and history of old buttons with fashion enthusiasts and hosts, [who will] embark on a worldwide adventure to discover rare and unique buttons and meet the collectors and curators who are custodians of these tiny pieces of art.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to the National Button Society the group has members in 16 countries and every state.

It’s true; we are pretty damp

According to a recent analysis of Google Keyword data, of every 100,000 internet searches in New Hampshire more than 300 are related to mold and mold abatement, according to a study by Besroi Roofing and Siding. According to the study, New Hampshire ranks “2nd in the nation and leads every other state in the Northeast, despite being the 41st largest state by population.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: A key takeaway from the study, wrote its authors, is that “New Hampshire’s mold search rate of 312.90 per 100,000 is 1.37 times the national median of 228.66, confirming that mold is a materially elevated concern for residents relative to most of the country.” Virginia was the only state in the study more searchy about mold than New Hampshire. Googlers from Alaska asked the fewest mold-related questions.

More Granite Staters

According to a June 26 online report by WMUR, “A new report shows that New Hampshire has grown in population over the past five years, but that growth has not been spread evenly across the state.” An analysis by the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute reported that ”while New Hampshire’s population grew by about 36,590 people (2.7%) between 2020 and 2025, growth was not evenly distributed across municipalities.” Smaller communities in the southern part of the state saw noticeable growth, the analysis reported, and an influx of retirees to the Lakes Region and the White Mountains was another area of population growth. “At the same time, population growth among the state’s three largest cities, including Manchester, Nashua, and Concord, has remained relatively static over the past five years.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: “Between 2020 and 2025, Epping saw the fastest population increase among all of New Hampshire’s municipalities, adding about 820 residents (11.5%) over the five-year period,” the report read. Visit /nhfpi.org/blog.

QOL score last week: 49

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 50

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 26/07/16

Funds for Volunteer NH

Volunteer NH, “New Hampshire’s designated State Service Commission … a nonprofit dedicated to engaging communities to solve local challenges through volunteerism,” has received grants of nearly $3.2 million from AmeriCorps that “will expand where Volunteer NH has been providing statewide services for Granite Staters for over 25 Years,” according to a July 7 press release. “These grants allow organizations to recruit, train, and supervise AmeriCorps members who are providing services in NH to support education, environmental stewardship, and economic opportunity,” the release said. “These AmeriCorps members will serve with a variety of organizations — City Year New Hampshire, Lakes Region Conservation Corps, Manchester Excels and SCA-New Hampshire Conservation Corps. Additionally, funding will be given to Archways in the form of a planning grant focused on housing resource supports. Learn more about New Hampshire service opportunities: servelearnearn-nh.org,” the release said.

Open gardens

The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program will take place Saturday, July 18, at seven private gardens that vary in size and plantings in Hillsborough and Merrimack counties, according to a press release. Go to gardenconservancy.org for details about each garden and to register to visit that garden (find registration fees and times on the website). Participating gardens include Our Country Garden in Hudson, Fiona’s Secret Garden in Manchester, New Shire Gardens in Manchester, Gardens of Yvonne Casimir in Milford, The Big Little Garden in Nashua, Longview Gardens in Pelham and Pages and Petals in Hooksett, the press release said. There are gardens in other New Hampshire towns also holding an open garden on Saturday, see the website for details.

The Gardens, open

The Gardens at Queen City Center, described as the indoor sister location to The Gardens at Uncanoonuc Mountain in Goffstown, officially opened at 215 Canal St. in Manchesterwith a ribbon-cutting on July 7. “The event marked the launch of a new year-round weddings and private events venture,” the release said. See gardensatuncanoonuc.com.

ER open

Catholic Medical Center’s Nashua ER opened July 13, according to a press release. The freestanding emergency room at 338 Amherst St. in Nashua is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, “offering the same level of emergency care patients expect from a hospital-based emergency department,” the release said. “Community members are encouraged to seek care at Nashua ER for serious illnesses and injuries, including chest pain, stroke symptoms, breathing difficulties, severe abdominal pain, fractures, head injuries, and other medical emergencies,” the release said. See catholicmc.org.

Jerry!

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld will perform at the Capitol Center for the Arts on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m., according to a Capitol Center announcement last week. Tickets will go on sale Friday, July 17, at 10 a.m. See ccanh.com.

The city of Concord will hold its next group hike with Trail Ranger Carl on Saturday, July 18, at 10 a.m. at Jim Hill Riverwalk (see map 2 at concordnh.gov/trails). “A variety of birds, deer & an occasional otter are often seen along the route, which will begin at the kiosk at the end of Runnels Road & follow the river to Daisy Beach & beyond. There are a couple of different length routes depending upon the group. Plan for a couple of hours. … Questions? Please contact Kearsten O’Brien at kobrien@concordnh.gov,” according to a city newsletter.

Catch the 1926 silent film The Johnstown Flood, presented with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, Sunday, July 19, at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre, 40 Main St. in Wilton, according to a press release. The movie tells the story of the 1889 Pennsylvania flood, the release said. A $10 donation per person is suggested. Find the theater on Facebook for details.

“Quelle Horreur: Authors of Fear,” a program that “explores the world of horror through the voices of authors and artists connected to French-Canadian and Franco-American heritage,” will take place Thursday, July 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Dana Center Room 1D at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, according to facnh.com/beliveau-arts-series. The program is part of the Beliveau Arts Series from the Franco American Centre and will feature moderator J. Edwin Buja (author) in conversion with J-F. Deubeau (author), Tony Tremblay (author) and François Vaillancourt (illustrator), according to a press release.

The Craftworkers Guild will hold an indoor yard sale of craft supplies and equipment on Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oliver Kendall House, 5 Meetinghouse Road in Bedford (house at the bottom of the parking lot at the Bedford Public Library), according to an email from the guild. The sale will feature yarn, fabric, beads, jewelry supplies, papercraft, needlecraft, books, patterns and more, the email said.

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