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Album Reviews 20/07/02

Limousine Beach, Stealin’ Wine + 2 (Tee Pee Records)

More than any other record company that sends me stuff, the Tee Pee imprint is the most like a box of chocolates, at least as far as the noisiness goes. They’ve released LPs from Warlocks, High on Fire and Brian Jonestown Massacre, to name a few, and that’s a pretty diverse spread if you think about it. As for this little three-songer (and I do mean little, clocking in at six minutes total), it’s something fresh, at least as far as its throwback nature. It’s three lead guitarists from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, trying to make the genre “sizzle rock” catch on. Thing is, this sound already caught on 45 or so years ago. Their spazzy but precise vibe recalls Sweet more than anything else (sidetrack: did anyone ever decide if that band was supposed to be called “The Sweet” or just “Sweet,” not that it matters anymore?), but I suppose you could always throw Manchester Orchestra into the discussion, mostly because the recording is comparatively low-rent. It’s Electric Light Orchestra-level fun for its entire shrimpy duration, anyway; I’d be interested in hearing more. A- — Eric W. Saeger

Permanent Collection, Nothing Good Is Normal (Strangeway Studios)

You’ve heard of musicians branching out to painting and film, but this is a new one for me, a guy who’s so thoroughly, well, human, that you can find a review of him as an apartment tenant from one of his past landlords in Oakland. This is only the second full-length in seven years from Jason Hendardy’s one-man Permanent Collection project, as he’s been tied down with running his Strangeway imprint (all the company’s records, mostly 7” EPs and cassettes, are out of print), doing video stuff, showing his bum on Impose magazine’s site, and generally being rad. This LP starts out with a doom-metal bliss figure made of pure fuzz, which had me expecting some sort of Sunn(O) trip, but then it suddenly became awesome, dousing me in unkempt Big Black drone-metal with a black-metal guitar sound and “In Bloom”-mode Kurt Cobain vocals with the reverb absolutely pegged. What I’ve just described is something too cool for human ears, and it’s that way through the whole set. If the songs weren’t so melodically repetitive, I’d be this thing’s most wild-eyed groupie. A- — Eric W. Saeger

Retro Playlist
Eric W. Saeger recommends a couple of albums worth a second look.

I opened a can of worms the other month when I accepted a certain PR person’s request to send me jazz material. Like all soldiers at the front lines of jazz publicity, she is absolutely overloaded with new albums of which she wants to raise the public’s awareness. Over the past few weeks, my snail-mailbox has been crammed with her stuff.

As I’ve said many times here, jazz players have a tough enough time as it is. Trying to get the attention of an American public that gains alarmingly little (if any) musical training in public schools is a tough nut to crack when your product — jazz music — is geared toward well-rounded palates. It doesn’t help that many jazz records are too cookie-cutter, of course, a handicap common to all musical genres but completely untenable in jazz. It’s always better to hear something that’s actually new, at least to me, like Jean Chaumont’s 2018 LP The Beauty of Differences, whose greatest power stems from the guitarist’s non-standard setup, specifically a close-miked Eastman hollow-body guitar armed with steel and nylon strings. The tunes themselves are nice too, chilly modern doodles that don’t strain themselves.

Last year I mentioned Subtone’s then-new album Moose Blues, another one worth revisiting for the piano lines of the seemingly everywhere Florian Hoefner alone. Even if you aren’t a fan of ’70s-era post-bop, you still have to hand it to them for the insane amount of touring the band puts in. That kind of thing really makes a crew appreciate their studio time, which is very evident here.

If you’re in a local band, now’s a great time to let me know about your EP, your single, whatever’s on your mind. Let me know how you’re holding yourself together without being able to play shows or jam with your homies. Send a recipe for keema matar. Email esaeger@cyberontix.com for fastest response.

PLAYLIST
A seriously abridged compendium of recent and future CD releases

• Oh great, the next general release date for albums is July 3, and at this writing I’m going to have to dig deep to find new records that’ll come out that day. Like basically at this point, it’s just Paul Weller (no, he didn’t play Robocop, that was Peter Weller), whom I know nothing about, and Willie Nelson, so who wants to hear about new albums made by rich people when there’s no work, and plus, coronavirus, can’t we all just move to communes and forget about mowing the lawn? But whatever, since no one but Willie and Not The Robocop Guy is releasing CDs, it’s the perfect time to fill this space with a retraction, for an error I made weeks back! Yes, the impossible did happen, and my friend Gary P. noticed it, because he actually reads these words instead of doing what you do, going right to Amy’s movie reviews and then the Sudoku, and then it’s time to wash the plague germs off your hands again, and then you forget that I might actually be worth reading because I have won two awards for writing snark grenades. What did I mess up? Well, the other week, I wrote in my expert-level, Pulitzer-worthy review of Suzi Quatro’s new album that she played Pinky Tuscadero on Happy Days, but I was wrong, and it bummed Gary out, because Suzi Quatro actually played Leather Tuscadero, not Pinky. So he texted me, all like “Dude!” and I was like, “This is how much I care about this career-destroying error: See that atom-sized dust-mite foot on your screen? No, next to the super-teeny spot of old Taco Bell slime, to the left.” It was wicked tense, but then we had a laugh about it.

• So, right, Willie Nelson has a new one coming out on the 3rd, called First Rose of Spring! I dunno, I don’t know anyone who buys Willie Nelson albums, do you? Usually people just Spotify his one-off duets with whoever, Johnny Cash or Death Grips, isn’t that right? No? Well, then, I will now see how much I can tolerate of this billion-year-old’s new song, the title track. Bet you anything it starts with slow acoustic guitar. Yup, it does, and sleepy dobro. He’s singing about a girl, and butterflies and flowers. There’s harmonica, and dobro, and Willie sounding a billion years old, and it just makes me think of the scene in Blazing Saddles when the guys are eating beans and passing gas. Aren’t fart scenes the funniest? I wonder if people would buy an album of Willie burping while playing harmonica and dobro. I bet they would.

• Jane, stop this crazy thing, let’s just wrap up this week with On Sunset, the new LP from Paul Weller! Oh for cripes sake, we already talked about this album the other week, so the release date was moved, and that’s why you couldn’t buy it on June 12. Only other new music to talk about is London punk band Dream Wife’s So When You Gonna, and its single “Sports,” a riot-grrrl type song that’s awesome and bratty, like you will love this band if you are a girl who enjoys randomly breaking stuff. — Eric W. Saeger

Local bands seeking album or EP reviews can message me on Twitter (@esaeger) or Facebook (eric.saeger.9).

The Weekly Dish 20/07/02

• Gate City Brewfest canceled: The eighth annual Gate City Brewfest, which had been scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15, at Holman Stadium in Nashua, has been canceled, the event’s committee announced on its website and social media channels. Those who purchased tickets will either receive a refund or have the option to donate a portion directly to the Nashua Police Athletic League, one of the festival’s fundraising beneficiaries. The next Gate City Brewfest will take place on a date to be determined in August 2021, according to the website.

• Smoked to perfection: The owners of the Merrimack-based Big Kahunas Catering have taken over the restaurant space next to Shooters Outpost (1158 Hooksett Road, Hooksett) that most recently housed the Copper Jacket Cafe, which closed last December. Known as Big Kahunas Smokehouse, it’s expected to open later in July, according to owner Amanda Spooner. The eatery will feature all kinds of smoked items, like seasoned barbecue ribs and lechon kawali (crispy pork belly). Local brews, wines and outdoor deck seating with music are all expected as well. Find them on Facebook @kahunassmokehouse, or visit nhkahuna.com or call 494-4975 for updates.

• Spirits of community: More than $100,000 was raised for the New Hampshire Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Hospitality Employee Relief Fund through a raffle organized by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission, according to a press release. The raffle featured six of the world’s rarest spirits, including decades-old bottles of Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve bourbon whiskey, Buffalo Trace O.F.C. bourbon and Sazerac Kentucky straight rye whiskey, as well as selections from Heaven Hill and Michter’s distilleries. Since it was created, the fund has raised about $280,000 for the state’s restaurant and hospitality workers.

• Garden lunches: Bedrock Gardens (19 High Road, Lee) has begun offering picnic box lunches to visitors, courtesy of caterer Mary Vezina of Mary V’s Unique Creations. According to Bedrock Gardens program manager Kate Bashline, lunches are pre-ordered and paid for in advance. The lunches feature a sandwich or wrap (each is named after a different garden on the property), along with a small bag of chips, fruit, a cookie and a drink of your choice. Sandwiches include the Tea House turkey wrap with lettuce, tomato, cranberry mayonnaise or cranberry cream cheese; the Spiral Garde ham sandwich with provolone cheese, mayonnaise or mustard on a wheat bulkie roll; and the Garish garden wrap with assorted chopped vegetables and a sweet vidalia onion vinaigrette dressing. Visit bedrockgardens.org/food or call 923-7856 to place an order.

Grilling with beer

Beer can be a marinade too

I love the complexity, texture and flavor that a rich, dark beer can bring to a big pot of slow-cooked, braised beef stew. And I love how a crisp, lighter brew adds another dimension of flavor to a big pot of chili. And what’s not to love about a pint of Guinness-flavored ice cream?

But what about marinating a steak in beer? That I wasn’t so sure about. But really, why not?

It’s summer and nobody wants to braise a big hunk of meat on the stovetop when it’s 90 degrees outside. But lots and lots of people do want to stand outside (probably with a beer in hand) as they man their respective grills — especially with the Fourth of July upon us.

First, marinating meat with beer isn’t a new concept, even if it wasn’t something I’d attempted previously. Beer adds flavor and it helps tenderize the meat as well, so all good things. But I struggled more with what kind of beer to use and what meat to use it with.

Based on my research and experimentation, there really aren’t any hard and fast rules. It really depends on what type of flavor you’re trying to impart to your meat.

A lighter beer like a Pilsner or lemony wheat beer would be a nice choice to marinate chicken breasts or maybe even fish filets, like salmon. But a pale ale or an IPA would also add some flavor and complexity to those same chicken breasts or some pork chops or pork tenderloin.

I tend to think darker beers like dry stouts or German dunkels work well when marinating steaks or even just mixed into a burger.

But really, it’s your call, and it’s honestly going to be kind of hard for you to mess it up so don’t stress.

Here’s just one recipe to consider — think of it as a baseline more than anything.

Featured Photo: Try using beer in your next marinade. Photo by Jeff Mucciarone.

Beer-marinated pork chops
12 ounces of beer
2 cloves of minced garlic
1/4 cup of minced onion or shallot
2 bone-in pork chops
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Place all ingredients in a zip-close bag and refrigerate for a few hours. Give the pork chops an hour or so to come up to room temperature. Pat the chops dry. Turn on your grill and when hot, toss on the pork chops. Cook them over medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until they develop a nice crust on each side. Take them off and let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes. If you have a significant amount of excess marinade, you could simmer it on the stovetop for 5 to 10 minutes and use it as a delicious sauce. Of note, I used a pale ale in this marinade but I think you could use just about anything. Enjoy.

What’s in My Fridge
Sluice Juice New England IPA by Bent Water Brewing Co. (Lynn, MA) This New England-style IPA has big citrus aroma — a breathtaking amount of citrus actually, mainly orange flavors. The beer itself is delicious, very smooth, mild bitterness. This is what you’re looking for when you choose a New England-style IPA. I had it straight out of the can at first and that was great, but I actually preferred it out of a glass as I felt like I picked up more of the aromas. Cheers!

Need to try
The Portsmouth Brewery is offering a Citrus Vanilla Sour that both scares me and intrigues me. This is “a light bodied beer with the addition of orange peel and vanilla beans … [and] a touch of caramel malt is balanced by the tart pithy-ness of the citrus,” according to the brewery. I’ve got to get my taste buds on that.

In the kitchen with Carly Feins

Carly Feins of Bedford is the owner of Carly’s Custom Cakes (carlyscustomcakes.com, find her on Facebook or Instagram), a homestead business offering custom desserts to order, including cakes, cookies, brownies, fruit bars and cupcakes. A baking and pastry arts/food service management graduate from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island, Feins has been baking since she was 11 years old. She fell in love with the craft after watching her aunt, Lisa Raffael (owner of Delicious Desserts in East Falmouth, Mass.), win on an episode of the Food Network Challenge. Feins, who has autism spectrum disorder, said she wanted to be a role model and an inspiration to others with similar diagnoses by starting her own independent business. In addition to accepting custom orders through her website for pickup or delivery within a 25-mile radius of southern New Hampshire, Feins participates in the Salem Farmers Market every Sunday, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Salem Marketplace (224 N. Broadway). As of last week, her fruit bars and cookies are also available for purchase at the Bearded Baking Co. (819 Union St., Manchester).

What is your must-have kitchen item?

I actually have two of them. My KitchenAid stand mixer and also my kitchen scale.

What would you have for your last meal?

I would get a Caesar salad at the Manchester Country Club without any Parmesan cheese. At home, I would have a homemade brownie ice cream sundae.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

I like Taipei & Tokyo in Bedford … and I also like to support Pizza Bella [in Bedford]. They provided pizza to Bedford High School when I went to school there, and I think they still do.

What celebrity would you like to see trying something that you’ve baked?

It’s a three-way tie between Food Network’s Duff Goldman, Sugar Monster Sweets [owner] Ashley Holt, and Jason Smith, also from Food Network.

What is your personal favorite thing to bake?

I can’t really decide, but basically any of the sugar cookies, cupcakes and whole cakes, because I like to put my own artistic spin on them. I’m an artist and desserts are my canvas.

What is the biggest food trend in New Hampshire right now?

I’ve been seeing a huge interest in no-contact deliveries and … smaller food operations relying on takeout and online ordering. I’ve also been seeing a lot more of a demand for meatless items.

What is your favorite thing to cook or bake at home?

I love cooking for my family. My favorite thing to do is chicken marsala with boiled rice. I also love to make chocolate cake with chocolate ganache.

1-2-3 sugar cookie dough
Courtesy of Carly Feins of Carly’s Custom Cakes in Bedford (who learned this recipe as a student at Johnson & Wales University)

2 pounds (or 4 cups) butter
1 pound (or 2 cups) granulated sugar
3 pounds (or just under 13 cups) pastry flour
170 grams whole eggs (or roughly three extra large eggs)

In a bowl, mix together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs in one at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl as you go with a stand mixer. When all the eggs are in, add the flour. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge overnight or for a minimum of three hours. When ready to bake, turn the oven on to 350 degrees. Knead dough on a flour-coated silicone mat and roll to about a quarter inch thick. Make sure the dough is still cold, as the temperature affects the cookie. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. You can augment with different flavors like lemon zest, or do chocolate by using cocoa powder.

Treasure Hunt 20/07/02

Dear Donna,
My name is Cathy and my daughter found this at an antique store in New Hampshire. She thought I would like it, as I work part time at Macy’s. I looked online and couldn’t find a bottle that looked like this one. It looks handmade, not mass produced, and it isn’t level when on a counter. I’m interested in how old it is and how much it may be worth.
Cathy from Hillsboro

Dear Cathy,
No matter what the value is of this bottle, the fact that you work there makes it fun to have. Macy’s is an interesting story to do research on. It’s been around since the middle to late 1800s.

Your bottle is a machine-made one that could have just been part of a bad run, so it’s a little misshapen. It could be tough to find the exact one because there were and are so many out there.

Having the paper label on is what still gives it charm today. Who doesn’t know Macy’s! And it’s also special to you because you work there now. The value is in the range of $30 for being a piece of advertising and in good condition. I hope this starts a collection for you.

Beautiful designs

Put some thought into creating a gorgeous garden

Let’s say you have recently purchased a house and want to create beautiful gardens. How should you begin? I recently visited Gordon and Mary Hayward, both garden designers, at their home in Westminster West, Vermont. Their gardens are as nice as any private gardens I have seen, and I wanted to understand their thought process.

The Haywards bought a 1790s farmhouse 36 years ago that needed a lot of work. The landscape was full of brush and abandoned cars. But they were undaunted. They explained that they wanted a house in a garden, not a house with gardens you walk by. They wanted to be surrounded by gorgeous flowers and trees, with sculpture and walkways. They wanted gardens all around them.

The first thing they did was establish the central axis of the gardens. They did this by tying a string to the front door plate and running it straight out to the trunk of a mature apple tree, thereby creating a focal point. All the main beds are either parallel or perpendicular to that string. I’d estimate that the pathway along the central axis extends from the house for a couple of hundred feet.

At the end of that central path is a magnificent old apple tree, surrounded by an 80-foot circle of lawn, because the drip line of the apple tree is circular. Flowers in curved beds surround the lawn. As Mary Hayward said, “Curves need to make sense.” Most of the paths and lines in their garden beds are straight, only occasionally curving or meandering to go around a fixed feature.

“Pay attention to views from the doors and windows because they’ll suggest garden placement,” said Gordon. Look at them, make sure what you see pleases you. Not only that, he said you gain confidence in your design if you pay attention to the house. There needs to be a relationship between the house and the garden spaces. “The garden is an extension of the house and the people in it,” he said.

What else should one consider? The north-south orientation is important, Gordon said. You can grow roses on the south side of a barn, for example, but not on the north side, as there is much less sun. Where is sunset? Most of us like to rest at the end of a day in the garden to watch the sun go down. You can design that — and maybe steal a view of distant hills owned by others. You may need a chainsaw to accomplish that.

Mary Hayward grew up near Hidcote Manor Garden, one of England’s finest old gardens, and visited often when growing up. Those visits shaped her view of how a garden should look: a series of connected rooms. Gordon Hayward grew up on an apple orchard, and so he wanted apple trees on his landscape as an adult. It makes sense to have elements of a garden that resonate with each person, based on personal history.

“Every decorative element in a garden should have a story, a reason,” Gordon said. “Don’t go buy a cute elephant. Consider what your grandmother or grandfather had.” In the long run, that will resonate with you better.

When Gordon designs a garden for someone, he always asks what their parents or grandparents had for gardens. Are there special plants that bring back memories of simpler times? So, for example, I have a piece of a peony my grandmother (who passed away in 1952) grew called “Festiva Maxima,” and I would hate to be without it. It’s my favorite flower.

Mary and Gordon spent time researching the farm they bought, learning about how it operated and where long-gone outbuildings were located. They have three old milk cans where the milking parlor once stood, and other features that remind them of the farm’s history. They unearthed granite fence posts and old bricks, and put them all to good use.

There is an old tobacco-drying shed in the gardens, and they used the proportions of that to determine the size of beds near it. The door of the shed is eight feet tall, so they used multiples or fractions of 8 for beds around it. The barn itself is 16 feet long — the same measure as the dirt road in front of the property, an old unit of measurement called a rod.

Gordon pointed out that for five months of the year there are no perennials visible in their garden. It is thus very important to have stone walls, trees, sculpture, pottery and outbuildings that are handsome and clearly visible from key windows of the house all year long. Designed properly, a garden can be as beautiful in winter as it is in summer. And since trees and shrubs take time to reach maturity, they are a logical early step when designing your garden.

I bought my house 50 years ago this August. It’s an old creamery, a butter factory built in 1888. It came with an acre of land, though I have since added more land. It had no perennials or shrubs, just a big native cherry tree, a few sugar maples and two huge elms, now long gone. Lawn surrounded the house.

If I were starting all over again, I would begin by designing a garden layout. To help me in that endeavor, I would study good gardens in glossy books and by visiting as many fine gardens as I could. I would take classes and go to arboretums to learn about trees and shrubs that might be used to improve the landscape. I would join a garden club and go on garden tours. And I would certainly want to read all of Gordon Hayward’s wonderful gardening books.

Henry is the author of four gardening books. He is now offering Zoom presentations to garden clubs and library groups. Email him at henry.homeyer@comcast.net for more information.

Featured Photo:Sculpture adds beauty and interest to a garden. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

The Art Roundup 20/07/02

• Handcrafted ornament: The League of NH Craftsmen has announced its 2020 annual holiday ornament, “Midnight Clear,” designed by Ken Kantro, who also created the inaugural ornament in 1988. The design is a scene inspired by the beauty of New Hampshire’s mountains in winter. Each pewter ornament is handcrafted, dated, numbered and signed by Kantro. You can purchase a gift-boxed ornament for $25 online or at a League craft shop (36 N. Main St., Concord; 530 W. River Road, Hooksett; 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith; 98 Main St., Nashua). Visit nhcrafts.org.

• Online watercolor and collage workshops: The New Hampshire Art Association has three upcoming online art workshops. On Thursday, July 9, from 10 a.m. to noon, learn to paint allium flowers with watercolor. Impressionist watercolor artist Dustan Knight will demonstrate splattering watercolor paint with an old toothbrush to create a variety of patterns and values with an air brush style. The cost is $55, and registration is required by Tuesday, July 7. On Sunday, July 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., create a visual “journey collage” with mixed media and handmade paper artist Angie Follensbee-Hall. The cost is $35, and registration is required by Thursday, July 9. Rejoin Knight on Thursday, July 16, from 10 a.m. to noon, to paint a New Hampshire sunset with watercolor and learn how to keep colors soft and blended. The cost is $55, and registration is required by Tuesday, July 14. Visit nhartassociation.org.

• Calling Black writers: New World Theatre, a New Hampshire-based theater company and playwright collective, has announced an open call to Black writersto submit “monologues that reflect their personal experience of living while Black,” according to a press release. Selected works will be published in an anthology titled 08:46. “Through the power of writing and theatre, we can do our part to amplify the stories of systemic racism and raise the level of awareness and understanding to effect meaningful change in the human heart,” the press release said. Profits from the sale of the publication will be split between the contributing writers and nonprofits committed to dismantling systemic racism, the release said. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 1, 2021. Visit newworldtheatre.org/08m46s.

• Movies are back: The Wilton Town Hall Theatre (40 Main St., Wilton, 654-3456, wiltontownhalltheatre.com) will reopen on Friday, July 3, with Irresistible (R, 2020) and Never Rarely Sometimes Always (PG-13, 2020), showing through Thursday, July 9. Regular showtimes will be different than they were pre-Covid, according to the movie theater’s Facebook page: nightly at 7 and 7:30 p.m.; plus Sunday matinees at 2 and 2:30 p.m.; and the Saturday Afternoon Classic at 2 p.m. Check the website for film updates. The Silent Sundays series featuring silent movies with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis will continue with The Three Musketeers (1921) on July 26.

• Cello on the lawn: Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury) presents a Concerts on the Green series every Sunday in July from 4 to 5 p.m. The series features Concord cellist Jan Fuller, who will perform works by Bach, Beethoven and Brahms, accompanied by the recorded music of pianist Chaeyoung Park. Fuller’s musical programs will also feature guest artists, including cellist Harel Gietheim on July 5, NH Poet Laureate Alexandria Peary on July 12 and NH Artist Laureate Amanda Whitworth on July 19. Attendees should wear masks and follow the social distancing guidelines by sitting within the painted circles on the lawn. Seating is first-come first-served. The concerts are free, with a suggested donation of $10. Call 783-9511 or visit shakers.org.

• In-person glass and pottery workshops: Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester) is now offering in-person one-day workshops, including stained glass every Saturday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for $45 per person; clay every Saturday at 3 p.m. for $45 per person; build-your-own succulent terrarium on Saturday, Aug. 1, at 6:30 p.m. for $35 per person; clay for families most Fridays at 12:15 p.m. and most Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. starting on July 11 for $30 per person; clay-sculpting for families every Saturday at noon and every Monday at 2:30 or 4 p.m. starting on July 11 for $20 per person; and pottery date nights every Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. for $30 per person. Register online in advance. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com.

• Jewish Film Fest goes virtual: In place of its traditional festival, the New Hampshire Jewish Film Festival will present a virtual summer film series featuring five international films that would have made their New Hampshire premieres. The films include Love in Suspenders, an Israeli comedy, on Thursday, July 9; My Name is Sara, a U.S. drama, on Thursday, July 23; Futures Past, a U.S. documentary, on Thursday, Aug. 6; Shooting Life, an Israeli drama, on Thursday, Aug. 20; and Paris Song, a Latvian historical drama, on Thursday, Aug. 27. My Name is Sara, Futures Past and Paris Song screenings will include a post-movie discussion with the filmmakers on the following Sunday at 7 p.m. All screenings are free, with a suggested donation of $18 to support the festival and future programming. Advance registration is required. Visit nhjewishfilmfestival.com/2020-virtual.

• Author series on Zoom: The Tory Hill Author Series, presented by the Warner Historical Society, will be held virtually over Zoom this year. The series features local and nationally known authors who read from and discuss their books and personal experiences. This year’s lineup includes graphic novelist Joel Christian Gill on Saturday, July 11; feminist historian Susan Ware on Saturday, July 25; nature and biology writer Bernd Heinrich on Saturday, Aug. 8; and storyteller Rebecca Rule and middle-grade and young adult novelist Adi Rule on Saturday, Aug. 22. All events begin at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased online. Visit toryhillauthorsseries.com.

Featured Photo: A detail of Allium flowers watercolor by Dustan Knight. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 20/07/02

2020, part 2
More businesses and organizations in New Hampshire are reopening and the state is coming out of shutdown mode. But we’re certainly not back to what life was like in January and who knows what “normal” is going to look like in the coming months. So, in this second half of 2020, QOL will restart the QOL meter, and restart at 50, as we do at the beginning of each year, recognizing that no 100-point meter can really gauge what it’s like to live in this unprecedented time (or accurately reflect all that has changed in the last few months).
QOL score: ?
Comment: There has been a lot of sadness over these past few months, a lot of frustration and a lot of fear. But there have been moments of optimism too. QOL will try to keep doing what QOL does best — pointing out the good stuff and the bad stuff that is part of life here in southern New Hampshire.

First in the nation!
New Hampshire is the most patriotic state in the country, according to a study from WalletHub, which used data of 13 “key indicators of patriotism” to compare the 50 states. Among other findings, New Hampshire ranked first in Civics Education Requirement, fourth in Percentage of Adults Who Voted in the 2016 Presidential Election, sixth in Peace Corps Volunteers Per Capita, and 10th in Veterans per 1,000 Civilian Adults.
QOL score: +1
Comment: Following New Hampshire on the list was Wyoming, then Idaho, Alaska and Maryland, while California, New York and New Jersey were listed as the three least patriotic states in the country, according to WalletHub’s data.

Prices at the pump
The average gas price in New Hampshire was $2.07 as of June 29, according to GasBuddy, which is 13.6 cents per gallon higher than a month ago but 52.4 cents lower per gallon than during this week last year. New Hampshire’s cheapest station was $1.83 per gallon, and the most expensive station was $2.29 per gallon. Though the prices have been rising gradually in recent weeks, they dropped slightly last week nationwide, likely due to a resurgence in Covid-19 cases, according to GasBuddy. “Motorists across the country will likely be influenced by what develops in those areas — improvement and a slowdown in Covid would cause gas prices to continue rising, while a continued resurgence in Covid-19 cases and a drop in gasoline demand will mean lower gas prices,” Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in the release.
QOL score: 0 (because while $2.07 is low, that under $2 was such a welcome silver lining)
Comment: This is setting the state up to potentially have the lowest gas prices on the Fourth of July holiday since 2004, according to GasBuddy.

Great state for kids
The annual Annie E. Casey Foundation report found that New Hampshire is the second best state in the country for children’s well-being. The Granite State ranked second in the family and community domain, which includes data like Children in Single-Parent Families (30 percent in 2018) and Children Living in Poverty (1 percent in 2018). New Hampshire ranked fifth in the education domain and sixth in both the health and economic well-being domains.
QOL Score: +1
Comment: Massachusetts is the best state for children’s well-being, according to the report, beating New Hampshire in the education (second) and health (first) domains.

QOL score: 50
Net change: +2
QOL this week: 52
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com

Fostering hope

New foster care program supports young adults

In April, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Division for Children, Youth and Families launched the Hope Program, which extends the age limit for foster care in the state from age 18 to age 21. DCYF Director Joseph Ribsam discussed the new legislation and the support it provides for youth in foster care as they transition into adulthood.

Why was the Hope Program created?

The idea is that young people who enter the foster care system who are not able to achieve permanency — meaning, they’re not able to return home and be reunified with their families, or are not able to be adopted into another family — need more support entering adulthood than they would typically get through their 18th birthday. [The program] allows them to continue to have the support of a foster family [which gets financial support through the program] to help them transition successfully to adulthood. … We had the broad support of the [New Hampshire] legislature and the governor in pushing this forward, and it was included in the budget that passed last year. It was really exciting to see everyone come together and be willing to support this type of expansion going forward to make sure that our young folks in foster care have all the advantages that they need to be successful going into adulthood.

How does it work?

It allows youth between the ages of 18 and 21 to stay with a foster family or have the support of a foster family through their time in college. It makes sure not only that they have their housing needs met, but also that they have social and emotional support from a primary caring adult maintained over time. … To qualify, they need to be engaged in some type of productive activity, [such as a] secondary education program or an equivalent such as a GED or HiSET program; an institution for post-secondary or vocational education for at least six hours per week per semester; an activity to promote employment or remove barriers to employment; or working [at least 80 hours a month]. Young people with medical or mental health challenges that impede their ability to maintain those types of activities can also be part of the program. … The program is voluntary, so when a youth turns 18 they can decide to be part of this or not. If they turn 18 and think they’re ready to be on their own and then, six months later, realize they still need extra help, they can come back at that point, too.

Prior to the new legislation, what were some of the biggest challenges facing foster care youth after they turned 18?

For most people, when they turn 18, their families don’t say, “Alright, you’re on your own now.” Their families are still there for them. Many young people in foster care haven’t had that kind of normalcy … The data shows that young folks leaving foster care are at a higher risk of homelessness, having substance [misuse] challenges and not graduating high school or being able to go to college. When you look at jurisdictions that have [allowed] kids [to stay] in foster care longer, you see trajectories moving in a different direction. More young folks successfully graduate high school or get into college and are more likely to avoid the traps of homelessness and things like that.

Have foster care families and youth expressed a need for this program?

Yes. This is something that they have been talking about and needing for quite a long time. … We’ve actually had a number of foster families who, even though they previously didn’t [receive funding] to continue supporting their foster kids after they turned 18, would still allow them to stay in their homes beyond their 18th birthday and try to support them into adulthood. … We also have a group of young adults — some who are still in foster care and others who are alumni of the foster care system — who are really engaged in trying to improve policy for other young folks in foster care. Some of them actually went to the legislative committee and testified on behalf of this idea, and I think that was really compelling and is what ultimately led to the [change in] legislation.

How is fostering a young adult over the age of 18 different than fostering a minor?

The dynamics change as they do in any household where somebody who is legally a minor becomes legally an adult. Young adults need to be taking some healthy risks and making some decisions on their own, but at the same time [foster families] need to maintain appropriate boundaries so that those young adults stay safe during that time. That transition period can be a challenge, but also really rewarding [for the foster family] when they are able to help that young adult succeed on their own.

What is the ideal outcome for young adults who participate in the Hope Program?

Ultimately, we want these young folks to be independent, productive adults who are able to care for themselves, care for their communities and be successful in doing whatever it is they choose to do with their lives. … For young folks who want to go to college, that’s great. For young folks who want to learn a trade, that’s great. For young folks who want to start working, that’s great. It’s about helping them find the path that’s right for them and making sure they have the support to follow it.

News & Notes 20/07/02

Covid-19 update	As of June 22	As of June 29
Total cases statewide	5,558	5,760
Total current infections statewide	929	958
Total deaths statewide	339	367
New cases	233 (June 16 to June 22)	212 (June 23 to June 30)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	586	586
Current infections: Merrimack County	66	65
Current infections: Rockingham County	185	194

Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

Governor’s updates
In the past week, Gov. Chris Sununu made multiple announcements in the state’s ongoing response to Covid-19.

In a June 23 press conference, Sununu announced that $5 million in CARES act funding will go toward youth-focused programs in the Granite State, while $6 million will be used for mental health and substance abuse-focused programs and $7 million will be used for veterans service organizations.

On June 25, in a press conference, Sununu announced that all hotels, inns and campgrounds in the state were able to operate at 100-percent capacity starting on June 29, though the 14-day self-quarantining rules for out-of-state visitors still apply. He also announced the establishment of the Self Employment Livelihood Fund, which will provide up to $50,000 in funding to self-employed businesses in New Hampshire. To qualify, a business must not be permanently closed or be in bankruptcy and must not be a nonprofit. Applications will be accepted from July 6 to July 17.

Also on June 25, Sununu issued Emergency Orders No. 54, No. 55 and No. 56. Emergency Order No. 54 gives refunds of road tolls to private school bus owners or school bus lines when their vehicles are being used to transport meals to students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Emergency Order No. 55 extends the funding of the Covid-19 Long Term Care Stabilization Program through July 31. The program had been established in April, providing temporary stabilization funding through Medicaid for frontline workers in the state. Stipends of $300 per week have been distributed to full-time qualifying frontline workers, and $150 per week to part-time workers. Emergency Order No. 56 authorizes municipalities in the state to enter into agreements with property taxpayers on an agreed schedule for the payment of property taxes.

On June 26, Sununu issued Executive Order 2020-14, extending the state of emergency in New Hampshire due to Covid-19 for another three weeks through at least July 17. It’s the fifth extension he has issued since originally declaring a state of emergency on March 13.

Also on June 26, Sununu issued Exhibit J to Emergency Order No. 29, which had been issued on April 9. Emergency Order No. 29 requires state agencies, boards and commissions to submit recommendations to Sununu if any regulatory deadlines should be adjusted in response to the state of emergency. Per Exhibit J, annual Department of Education fees, such as licensing, licensing renewals, new courses, new programs and transcript requests, have been waived for FY 2020-2021. Details of all Emergency and Executive Orders can be found at governor.nh.gov.

Race fans
Approximately 19,000 fans can attend the Aug. 2 Nascar Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, according to a June 25 story from WMUR. The rescheduled Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 will be the largest spectator event in New England since the Covid-19 pandemic started, WMUR reported. The speedway will be limited to 35 percent capacity, and social distancing requirements and safety protocols will be in place, based on an action plan that was approved by Gov. Sununu. Employees will have to wear face makes; fans will be encouraged to wear them, but not required. Other precautions include prohibiting fans from bringing standard-size coolers, and cash will not be accepted. “Being outdoors, having it being for a limited time, having a system where you can ensure the physical distancing for the vast majority of the event … gives us a lot of confidence” that the event will be safe, Sununu said, according to WMUR. There are about 7,000 tickets left; the credits that were given out for the approximately 12,000 tickets that had been purchased for the July 19 race date can be used Aug. 2.

Risk protection
On June 28, the New Hampshire Senate voted 14-10 in favor of HB 687, which establishes a procedure for issuing extreme risk protection orders to protect against persons who pose an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others. The bill will now go to Gov. Sununu’s desk.

“The NH Extreme Risk Protective Order bill is designed to put a speed bump in front of a person who has access to the most lethal means available to do themselves or others harm,” the bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Debra Altschiller (D-Stratham), said in a statement after the vote. “It creates a tool for the people closest to someone suffering to prevent tragedy and get them help.” The bill’s co-sponsor, Senate Judiciary Chair Martha Hennessey (D-Hanover), said in a statement following the vote that New Hampshire’s suicide rate has risen 48.3 percent between 1999 and 2016, according to a report from the CDC. “In people under the age of 24, it is the second leading cause of death — it is clear that we must take action to address this crisis,” Hennessey said. “This bill creates a pathway for concerned family members and law enforcement to request assistance from our courts in protecting someone who may be a danger to themselves and others.”

Assault bill
On June 29, the New Hampshire Senate voted to move forward with HB 1240, relative to the grounds for sexual assault and related offenses, according to a press release from the Governor’s Office. “Ensuring there is proper justice for victims of sexual assault is paramount, and this will close a critical loophole and protect students from sexual assault at the hands of those in a position of authority over the victim,” Gov. Sununu said in a statement. According to the release, HB 1240 “amends the definition of sexual contact in the criminal sexual assault statutes. The bill also expands the elements of the crime of felonious sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault to include sexual contact between school employees and students, and to include circumstances when the actor is in a position of authority over a victim who is between 13 and 18 years of age.”

Diversity training
The City of Manchester has received a $20,000 grant to implement a Diversity and Cultural Competency Program for representatives from all city departments, according to a June 28 press release. Mayor Joyce Craig announced the City of Manchester applied for the grant from the Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation. “Our city employees serve one of the most diverse communities in the state, and it is critical that all our staff is equipped with the tools to assist individuals of all backgrounds,” Craig said in the release. “This program will create a network of city employees able to design and deliver quality cultural competency programs for all city staff.” The Mayor’s Multicultural Advisory Council — formed this year after Craig announced its creation at her State of the City Address — suggested this competency training, which will be facilitated by New Hampshire Health and Equity Partnership and the Southern New Hampshire Area Health Education Center. “I am very excited to see that the Council is already making an impact and bringing the positive changes we need to see happening in our city,” Arnold Mikolo, chair of the Mayor’s Multicultural Advisory Council, said in the release.

Health kits
Health and Wellness Kits will be distributed to 25,000 families across New Hampshire, according to a press release, after the New Hampshire National Guard packs them up and delivers them to participating schools and pick-up sites in the coming days. The kits include dental supplies, Deterra pouches to safely dispose of prescription medications, and several flyers that promote well-being. The Choose Love At Home program is also free for parents this summer at jesselewischooselove.org. “While we are all working hard to protect the physical health of our children, social and emotional well-being remains of the utmost importance,” Gov. Sununu said in the release.

The public is invited to a free virtual tradeshow as the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce presents its 29th annual Business Showcase on Thursday, July 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. via Zoom. According to a press release from the Chamber, this event is for anyone who wants to connect with local businesses and community leaders, whether you’re looking for a job, need help from a professional to plan a wedding or renovate your home, or you could use advice for growing your business or investments. Visit.ConcordNHChamber.com/business-showcase.

The Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner opened July 1 and is offering self-guided tours and limited hours to practice social distancing guidelines, according to a press release. Temporary hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. and reservations are requested by calling 456-2600 or emailing deputydirector@indianmuseum.org. The Medicine Woods Trail and Arboretum are free and open to the public each day, according to the release.

Construction for the new 18,000-square-foot, three-story headquarters of Manchester-based Members First Credit Union will begin this month at the corner of Elm and Salmon streets, according to a press release. The building will include full-service banking, a two-lane drive-up and offices for the credit union’s executive management and back-office support teams.

Nashua is getting a new yoga studio: On Sunday, July 5, Vibe Yoga will open at 182 Main St. and will feature vinyasa-based yoga paired with “invigorating music,” according to a press release from owner Melissa Coppola. All of the classes will have “awesome playlists of all different types of music, with some classes specifically offering hip hop,” plus monthly classes with live musicians and DJs. Follow VibeYoga603 on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

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