Tag: 201008

A sense of belongings

Artists reflect on their possessions in new exhibit

The newest exhibit at Twiggs Gallery in Boscawen, “Possessed,” explores just that: the things we possess, and the things that possess us.

Six artists tell stories of their own relationships with possessions — both physical and conceptual — through calligraphy, painting, photography, fiber art and mixed media.

“We all have possessions, and it’s interesting to look around and think about what’s important to us and what isn’t,” said gallery owner Adele Sanborn, who is also one of the featured artists. “It turned out to be a fun idea for a show.”

As a calligrapher, Sanborn said she is “possessed by words” and decided to make words the focus of her work in the exhibit. The calligraphy pieces feature single words, like “persistence” and “tomorrow,” that are meant to provoke a unique response from each viewer.

“The words I chose can be positive or negative, depending on who you are and how you’re looking at it,” she said. “I love that whole idea of ambiguity, of yin and yang.”

Graphic designer Donna Catanzaro of South Sutton gives meaning to her “collections of useless, dusty objects” through digital art and collage.

“Penguins, the Virgin Mary and religious statues, the lighthouses and other various knickknacks … provided a bit of joy at one point, but now they just remind me of how cluttered my life is,” Catanzaro said in her artist statement. “I decided to give them a purpose, a place, a landscape they can live in, shrines to pray to.”

Using stencils and acrylic spray paint, Elaine Caikauskas of Manchester made images representing sentimental items from her past, like one of her favorite childhood books, her niece’s bathtub toys and a cat toy that has been enjoyed by nine of her cats over the course of 30 years.

“I focused on discovering the connections between my past and present, revealed, sometimes unexpectedly, by the creative process,” Caikauskas said in her artist statement. “I wanted to blur the physical qualities of the objects to explore a deeper psychological truth.”

“That connection between past and present seems to be a thread that runs through many of the artists’ work for this exhibit,” Sanborn added.

Fiber artist Suzanne Pretty of Farmington created works inspired by possessions passed down to her by her grandmother, such as china, linens, tools, furniture, postcards and more, which furnished her first apartment and now fill her house.

“The more I looked at the items I found, I realized how attached I was to them.” Pretty said. “Some items are very special and hold special meanings, reminding us of the people who owned them.”

Artist Susan Huppi of Penacook said her work looks at items she owns that “tell stories of different time periods and personalities,” particularly of painting with her father when she was a child. One painting depicts a copper urn that holds her father’s paint brushes and a childhood bureau mirror that reflects one of his paintings.

“Objects can be a memory prompt to get us to recall family stories and hopefully pass some form of these stories on to the next generation,” Huppi said, adding that she is a third-generation artist in her family and “the legacy continues” as her niece is also an artist.

Gail Smuda of Concord, who does fiber art and sculptural art books, also focused on items with connections to the people and pets in her life: a sled that belonged to her mother, a dish from a children’s dish set that belonged to her great aunt, and her cat Abbey, whom she said “is a reminder of all the cats we have owned over many decades.”

“For me, objects always translate to people,” she said. “The stories behind the objects, whether it be the memory of an elderly relative or who I was with when the object was obtained, is very important to me.”

Sanborn said the exhibit is deeply personal for the artists and can be personal for the viewer too.

“I think when people wonder why the artists chose [the possessions] that they did for their art, they start to become curious about their own selves,” she said. “What does the word ‘possessed’ mean for them?”

“Possessed”
Where: Twiggs Gallery, 254 King St., Boscawen
When: Now through Nov. 1. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.
More info: 975-0015, twiggsgallery.wordpress.com
Visitors are asked to wear masks.

Featured photo: “Persistance” by Adele Sanborn. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 20/10/08

Spotted lanternfly spotted

Spotted lanternflies (SLF) have been detected at a New Hampshire nursery, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food. The department and nursery personnel found the invasive insect on Sept. 3 and subsequently killed several adult SLF. They also identified SLF eggs on red maple trees that had come from Pennsylvania. The SLF typically feeds on the tree of heaven, which is prohibited for sale in the state, but it will feed on more than 70 kinds of plants. The insect is considered a risk to a variety of agricultural, ornamental and hardwood crops, according to the release.

Score: -1

Comment: There is currently no evidence of an established SLF population in the state, the release said, and public awareness and the ability to identify the insect can help keep it that way. Visit nhbugs.org/spotted-lanternfly to learn more.

Ending chronic homelessness

Harbor Care, which provides housing, health care and support to community members who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, recently announced a new goal: to end chronic homelessness in Nashua by the end of 2020. According to a press release, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently provided Harbor Care with 26 new housing vouchers. As of Sept. 22 there were 21 chronically homeless people in Nashua, meaning that Harbor Care can now house every person who meets the definition of chronically homeless (people who have been homeless for more than one year or have experienced homelessness at least four times in three years).

Score: +1

Comment: Harbor Care has also launched a fundraiser called Dignity of Home to make sure that supports are available to people after they move into their new homes. So far the campaign has raised more than $125,000 of its $200,000 goal, according to the release, and the Ending Homelessness Committee, a group of concerned citizens, recently offered to match the next $5,000 in donations.

Check your smoke detectors

The state saw its second deadliest three-month period in the past 10 years for unintentional fatal fires from March to May, according to a press release. This year there have been eight fatalities in seven home fires — and in each fire, there were no working smoke alarms, the release said. This week (Oct. 4 through Oct. 10) is National Fire Prevention Week, and State Fire Marshal Paul J. Parisi said in the release that “smoke alarms are the biggest factor when it comes to giving people time to get out alive.”

Score: -1

Comment: In New Hampshire, it is the law to have smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Contact your local fire department, as many in New Hampshire have free smoke alarm programs, according to the release.

Take a road trip

With foliage at its peak in southern New Hampshire, now is a great time to take a scenic drive. You can travel pretty much anywhere and find beautiful scenery, or you can set out on a more purposeful drive: the Robert Frost/Old Stagecoach Byway, which travels through Auburn, Chester, Derry, Hampstead and Atkinson. A group of people representing the five communities recently created a brochure and website for the route, which includes numerous points of interest.

Score: +1

Comment: Visit frost-stagecoach-byway.org to find a map as well as the history of the byway.

QOL score: 57

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 57

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

Covid back on center stage

Not that it hasn’t been the biggest worldwide story for seven months, but the coronavirus reared its head in a big way again last week with the announcement that the president and first lady had tested positive, followed a day later by news that Patriots QB Cam Newton had become the biggest sports name infected with the virus, throwing a major curveball at the Patriots in the year after Brady.

The latter forced the NFL to push back the Patriots’ meeting with KC to a few hours after I’m writing this on Monday, after previously postponing Sunday’s game between Tennessee and Pittsburgh due to positive tests among several folks in the Titans organization. That gave the NFL its first dose of what MLB faced playing outside a bubble, when those playing inside one had virtually no issues — both the NBA and NHL playoffs progressed to a conclusion. So with all local teams from the last three leagues now done, let’s catch up on some of strange or otherwise occurrences the global plague has wrought on sports.

The Best And Silliest Dust-Up – L.A. vs. Houston: If I were Joe Kelly’s defense attorney in his suspension hearing for buzzing one over Alex Bregman’s head, I’d point out the control-challenged hurler once by missed the target he was aiming for against his house to throw a pitch through the window of his own bedroom. So how can anyone be sure he was trying to instigate something with the Astros? Especially when he was with Boston, not L.A., when they got cheated out of a World Series win. But if I were the DA, I’d say, being the knucklehead locals know old Joe to be, he likely misremembered he was a Dodger in 2017 and the pitch just got away when he was actually trying to drill Bregman in the ribs.

Biggest Knucklehead – Lou Williams: Said he was going home on emergency leave from the NBA bubble only to show up in a social media post at a well-known Atlanta strip club. Won in a tight race with Indians hurlers Zach Plesac and Mike Clevinger, who first lied about breaking protocol and then put the entire team at risk the next day in meetings before being caught in their lie. It got Clevinger bounced to San Diego, er, L.A., er no, it actually was SD and Plesac dropped off the roster as punishment.

Grinding On Award – tie, Marlins and Cards: While the expanded playoff format made it easier to get it, you’ve got to give the two teams that got hit by far with the most positive tests among players credit for grinding to make the postseason. The Cards at one point had played just five games when most others had played 20. That they survived 15 pitching-taxing doubleheaders is amazing.

Worst Loss – Orioles to Marlins: In Miami’s first game back after missing a week due to a slew of positive tests through the organization, the O’s still somehow managed to lose 4-0 despite the M’s having 17 new players after the same number went onto the DL/quarantine list.

Old Belief Reaffirmed – Home Court Helps: As good a job as the NBA did with the bubble plan, the loss of home court advantage was a series-altering factor in the playoffs. Most obvious was how the rhythm of a series changes from top seeds starting with two at home, then going on the road for two. That generally helps build drama as it goes along, which was missing with the game after game neutral site bubble-created format. Not a criticism, because it wasn’t anyone’s fault, but since it is one of the best things about the playoffs, it was definitely missed.

Biggest Unnoticed Historical Developments – Lakers Two Games Away: A major source of pride among Celtics fans has always been they’ve won more NBA titles than any other franchise. Well, the Lakers are likely to match their 17 titles, maybe by Friday. And by having 33 Finals appearances to Boston’s 20, it wrests the title of greatest NBA franchise away as well. It’s a product of winning just once since the end of the Bird era. Which for the mathematically challenged is, gulp, 34 years since his last title as L.A. won seven more times.

Newest Rule Likely to Stay – Extra Innings: Can’t believe I’m saying this, but I liked putting a guy to start each inning from the 10th on, and not just because it prevented endless games. It changed strategy by forcing managers to be aggressive rather than trying to outlast the other guy. So the real lesson for action-challenged baseball is to come up with more stuff like that.

Biggest Local Disappointment – Bruins: With the best record in the league at the shutdown they seemed poised to go to the Finals again and maybe win this time. But nope, they were out before the Celtics thanks in part to being deserted a couple of games in by their goaltender.

Least Disappointing Local Team – Red Sox: It was their worst team since 1963, but after Mookie Betts and David Price got traded, and Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez lost to Tommy John and a scary Covid-related heart issue, did anyone have any expectations for what they might do beyond how bad they were going to be? Beyond J.D. Martinez hitting .213 how can anyone say no?

Non-Corona Victim of Last Week – San Diego, er, L.A. Chargers: That would be for getting run over by the five TD passing day by you know who on Sunday in his first great game since 2018.

Be aware

How to help in the fight against domestic violence

How to help in the fight against domestic violence

Bruce Miner is a volunteer for Bridges, a Nashua-based chapter of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. With October being National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Miner talked about why raising awareness is so important and how people can join the fight against domestic violence in New Hampshire.

What does domestic violence look like?
[The abuser] is usually an intimate partner — a lover, a dating partner or an ex — who wants to have power and control over the victim. The forms of domestic violence are many. Obviously, there’s physical and sexual abuse, but there’s also economic control, stalking, intimidation and threats, the use of isolation, psychological pressure, possessiveness, the abuse of pets and even the destruction of household items.

How prevalent is domestic violence in New Hampshire?
It’s definitely a problem. Just to give you an idea, in New Hampshire, there are 13 [domestic violence centers], and they handle about 15,000 calls a year, and 9,000 of those calls are directly related to a domestic violence situation.

What is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month about?
It’s … [about] trying to open people’s eyes and bring awareness and attention to the pervasiveness and severity of domestic violence, and then have action taken as a result of the awareness. … It’s also about getting the message out there [to victims]. States do fatality review studies and have found that, in both New Hampshire and across the country, of the women killed [by their abusers], only four percent had availed services provided by domestic violence centers. That’s why it’s so huge that we make sure they know that these centers and services exist, and that they’re totally free and confidential.

What happens when someone calls the Helpline?
First, we ascertain that the person is safe and can talk safely. Then, we ask if there are any injuries, if they need to go to the hospital or if they need emergency services. If they’re in a safe spot and there are no injuries, we’ll have a conversation about what’s going on and discuss and explore what they would like to do.

Has the pandemic made it more difficult for crisis centers to help victims, or for victims to seek help?
It’s been a huge issue. Police departments have had significant increases in domestic violence calls. Women have been more reluctant to leave the house or go to the hospital for fear of catching the virus or bringing it back home to their kids. … We’ve had to cancel fundraisers. We’ve had to postpone training for new advocates. Support groups have had to be done remotely. The impact has been horrible.

What are the effects of domestic violence on the victim?
There are traumatic effects. They have a sense of helplessness, fear, lack of control and despair. Depression is a big issue. It also tends to bring on physical ailments. If a victim has children, the ability to parent becomes significantly compromised as well.

What are the effects of domestic violence on a community at large?
Money is a big one. … I’m talking about medical costs; hospitalization costs; lost wages from time out of work, since it’s difficult for a person being abused to concentrate on work, and they may not show up to work at all; and the cost of the legal system and prosecution. Homelessness is another one. Studies indicate 67 percent of women who are homeless have been victims of domestic violence.

Does domestic violence affect men?
There are situations where the woman is the abuser and the man is the victim, or there’s a man abusing a man or a woman abusing a woman, but it’s a small fraction. Nationally, in 85 percent of domestic violence situations, a woman is the victim and a man is the abuser. In New Hampshire, it’s closer to 95 percent. But we [crisis centers] treat everyone the same and provide services to anyone in a domestic violence situation.

How can [people] help?
New Hampshire chapters can always use additional volunteers to work the support lines. They’ll have to go through very intensive and comprehensive training that allows them to handle those calls, but I can say that, from my own experience, it’s tough to put into words the gratification you get when you can take someone’s tears and despair and turn them into hope and a plan going forward. … Additionally, we have shelters in all 13 chapters, and those shelters can always use household items. They could also use people to work in the shelters.

New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
Crisis centers are located in Concord, Manchester, Nashua, Durham, Portsmouth, Laconia, Berlin, Littleton, Conway, Plymouth, Lebanon, Claremont and Keene.
24-hour Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-866-644-3574; 24-hour Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-277-5570. Visit nhcadsv.org.

Featured photo: Bruce Miner. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 20/10/08

Covid-19 updateAs of September 28As of October 4
Total cases statewide8,2088,645
Total current infections statewide339492
Total deaths statewide439443
New cases256 (Sept. 22 to Sept. 28)437 (Sept. 29 to Oct. 4)
Current infections: Hillsborough County130250
Current infections: Merrimack County3643
Current infections: Rockingham County7191
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

Covid-19 news

On Sept. 30, Gov. Chris Sununu issued Emergency Order No. 70, an order extending Emergency Order No. 52, which had been issued on June 15. Emergency Order No. 52 is an order regarding public health guidance for business operations and advising Granite Staters they are safer at home. Emergency Order No. 70 extends that advisory through Nov. 15.

During an Oct. 1 press conference, Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, reported that, after a slight increase in positive test results of Covid-19 in the Granite State over the last month, new case counts “have plateaued” at around 35 to 40 per day on average. “More recently, some of the infections that have been reported to us each day have been associated with institutional settings, such as long-term care facilities and schools,” she said.

During the same press conference, Sununu announced that $2 million in federal CARES Act funding will benefit student-enrichment programs in New Hampshire, including those offered at institutions like the local branches of the YMCA and the Boys & Girls Clubs.

On Oct. 2, the Governor’s Economic Reopening Task Force released guidance documents for the Granite State’s skiing industry this winter, according to a press release. Some of these guidelines include mask requirements in lodges and rental facilities, and when in line for and riding lifts; the strong discouragement of strangers riding lifts together; social distancing protocols; and admission limits to indoor and outdoor facilities.

For information on all other announcements, including Emergency Orders and Executive Orders, visit governor.nh.gov.

2019 drug overdoses

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has released its report summarizing 2019’s drug overdose deaths. According to the report, there were 415 drug overdose deaths last year, 383 of which were determined to be accidental and 25 of which were suicides. The manner of death could not be determined in the remaining seven cases, which typically means that it is not clear whether the death was an accidental or intentional overdose. A combination of fentanyl and other drugs (excluding heroin) accounted for the highest number of overdose deaths (220), followed by just fentanyl (119). The number of drug overdose deaths in the state reached a high in 2017, with 490, with a slight decrease in 2018 (471) and a more significant decrease in 2019. However, preliminary data has shown a slight increase in drug overdose deaths in 2020 so far, according to the release. “Although the substantial decrease in the number of drug overdose deaths in 2019 is encouraging, it remains to be seen if this downward trend will continue in 2020,” the report reads.

Drought continues

When the New Hampshire Drought Management Team met on Oct. 1, State Climatologist Mary Stampone said the latest drought conditions and forecasts indicate that drought will likely persist across southeastern New Hampshire through the fall, according to a press release. The “well-below average” precipitation in September caused drought conditions to deteriorate, Stampone said, and recent rainfall and the upcoming forecast will not make up for the precipitation deficit. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services reported that some lake levels are lower than they have been in decades, but although water supply reservoirs are low, they have enough water to meet demands right now. For groundwater, most of the 31 monitoring wells across the state are much lower than normal, with all water levels having dropped between August and September. According to the release, homeowners whose wells are running low should expect to wait more than six weeks to get a new well drilled. In the meantime, all homeowners are advised to space out water use, avoid outdoor watering, and buy water for drinking and if necessary for dishwashing and flushing toilets.

Free college classes

New Hampshire students can earn college credits through a new partnership with Modern States, which will offer free online courses and will pay for 1,000 College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests, according to a press release from the Department of Education. CLEPs are accepted for credit at 2,900 colleges and universities nationwide, including the University System of New Hampshire and New Hampshire Community College System. “Through remote instruction, New Hampshire students have gained experience with self-directed online learning, which is exactly what Modern States offers. Dual and concurrent enrollment programs give students a chance to earn high school and college credit simultaneously so that when they step onto a college campus, they are already well on their way to a degree and a bright future,” said Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut. There are 32 classes to choose from, and they are taught by professors from universities like Tufts, MIT and Rutgers. The content prepares students to pass the course’s CLEP exam, which must be taken at one of six locations across the state.

Art for veterans

The Currier Museum of Art will be able to make some of its programs more accessible to veterans thanks to CARES Act Funding, it announced in a press release. The $717,500 will go toward expanding the museum’s art therapy program for veterans and their families, enhancing the remote art therapy programs that were launched over the summer, and renovating the art therapy space in order to allow for social distancing and digital engagement. All programs for veterans, active duty service members and their families are free of charge, according to the release.

Candy & a pumpkin

Reserve a spot now for your local Lowe’s drive-through curbside trick-or-treating, happening from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, and Thursday, Oct. 29. Families are invited to drive to Lowe’s for free candy and a small pumpkin. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Reservations open on Oct. 10 at lowes.com/DIY.

Betsy Janeway of Webster has received the Goodhue-Elkins Award for her contributions in the areas of bird study and conservation for the past 40 years, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Audubon, which presented the award at its 106th annual meeting on Sept. 19.

An adult from Epsom has tested positive for Jamestown Canyon virus, and the risk level for Epsom will be increased to high, according to an Oct. 2 press release from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. This is the fourth case of Jamestown Canyon virus in the state this year.

New England Metal Recycling in Madbury will pay a civil penalty of $2.7 million to the state for improper disposal of hazardous waste, according to a press release from the Office of the Attorney General. As part of the settlement with the state, NEMR must also remediate and properly dispose of all of the remaining hazardous material by Oct. 30, 2021, according to the release.

A new Manchester Small Business Resiliency Grant Program has been launched to help small businesses recover from the impacts of the pandemic, according to a press release from Mayor Joyce Craig. Funds are available through the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant Program, and businesses can receive up to $5,000 to go toward eligible expenses incurred since March 13. Visit manchesternh.gov to apply.

Full ballot view

My submission this month was submitted past deadline, an uncharacteristic practice for me. There is just so much going on and it’s hard to find the space to pull it all into words. The grand jury result regarding Breonna Taylor’s murder and the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg are weighing heavily on my mind.

Both of these situations can be addressed through voting, but they certainly hold very different spaces on the ballot. One is determined through our higher offices, those of the president and senators, and the other through local elections.

We often spend so much time focusing on the high offices, a space where our realm of control is not as acute, and overlook equally critical roles in our own backyards such as county attorney and sheriff. I am guilty of this as well, as I can tell you far more about Joe Biden or Donald Trump than I ever could about my county and town officials.

Daniel Cameron, the Attorney General in Kentucky, was elected to office, not governor-appointed like here in New Hampshire. His office determined what charges to pursue in the Breonna Taylor case. They held her fate and there are many across the country, myself included, who feel like he was the lead in denying her the justice she deserved.

This is not to say that we shouldn’t pay close attention to our presidential election or United States Senate races. The vacancy on the Supreme Court has made many of us acutely aware of how much these roles matter in terms of our individual and collective rights, but I believe they’re often prioritized over the races that we have the most input and control over.

As November inches ever closer, take a look at your municipality’s sample ballot. How many names do you recognize? If there are several who are unfamiliar to you, take a few hours to research the candidates and determine whether they fit the ideals you have for your town, county, state and nation.

The next time my piece is published, we will have, in theory, determined who will be sitting in the Oval Office for the next four years. We will also have selected a governor, state Representatives, a state Senator, executive councilors, sheriffs, county commissioners, and many, many more officials.

I hope you’ll join me in making a little extra effort, to move beyond party and politics, and ensure we are fulfilling our obligations as “the people.” We are, after all, the ones with the most power in the United States.

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