Tag: 210701

The Art Roundup 21/07/01

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

NHAA artists in Manchester: The New Hampshire Art Association recently partnered with Creative Framing Solutions, located across from the Palace Theatre at 89 Hanover St. in Manchester, to provide an additional venue for members to exhibit and sell their work. During July, the space will feature works by textile artist Cheryl Miller and painter Marianne Stillwagon. Miller creates fabric collages using hand-dyed cottons, batiks and vintage fabrics stitched by machine. Her exhibit, “Nature Up Close,” focuses on colors and symbolism in nature and a combination of abstract and realistic elements, incorporating birds, insects and flowers that symbolize hope and resilience. Stillwagon’s exhibit displays her paintings of the landscapes, wildlife and changing seasons of New England, and of South Carolina, where she has a second studio. An opening reception will be held on Friday, July 9, from 4 to 8 p.m. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 320-5988 or visit nhartassociation.org.

• Open doors to history: The New Hampshire Historical Society (30 Park St., Concord) has reopened its exhibition galleries to the public, according to a press release. Exhibits currently on view include “Discovering New Hampshire,” “White Mountains in the Parlor: The Art of Bringing Nature Indoors,” “No Longer Denied: New Hampshire Women Win the Vote” and others about New Hampshire history. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7 for adults and is free for members, kids age 18 and under, full-time students and active military personnel and their families. Masks are required in the building. Visit nhhistory.org or call 228-6688.

The New Hampshire Historical Society. Courtesy photo.

• Art downtown: Peterborough has its fifth annual Art Walk on Saturday, July 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Rain date is Sunday, July 4). More than 50 local and regional artists will be set up throughout downtown and Depot Park/Depot Square, showing and selling their work, including handmade jewelry, pottery, watercolor, fabric, wood carving, oil painting and more. There will also be live music in Depot and Putnam parks. “The fun of being outdoors in such a natural setting, meeting talented artists, meandering through unique shops and enjoying lots of food choices … will be a wonderful way to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday,” event organizer Pelagia Vincent said in an email. Visit facebook.com/depotsquare for a map and list of activities.

• Seeking directors: Manchester-based theater company Cue Zero Theatre Co. announced in a press release that it is looking for “directors with passion projects” to produce four mainstage productions and a number of side projects in 2022. The mainstage productions are scheduled for March, April, June and October of next year. Selected directors will work with the company to staff, fundraise, promote and produce the shows; and will have full access to all of the company’s resources for the show, including, but not limited to, sets, costumes, props, lighting, sound equipment, social media, artist database and base-funding. Directors can hold rehearsals at the Granite State Arts Academy in Salem or their own rehearsal space. Cue Zero will also consider playwrights looking to produce an original work and will pair the playwright with a director if needed. If interested, email your resume and a short letter of introduction that includes a statement about the piece you’d like to pitch to [email protected]. Interviews are being conducted now and will remain open until all four directors have been selected.

Featured photo: “This Day”, a textile work by Cheryl Miller. Courtesy photo.

Art

Exhibits

• “FRESH PERSPECTIVES” Exhibit features works by New Hampshire artists Peter Milton, ​Varujan Boghosian, Robert Hughes and others. New Hampshire Antique Co-op (323 Elm St., Milford). On view in the Co-op’s Tower Gallery now through Aug. 31. Visit nhantiquecoop.com.

• “FASHION FORWARD: AFRICANA STYLE” Exhibit showcases Black fashion and explores connections between African American and African design aesthetics from past to present. The Seacoast African American Cultural Center (located inside the Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle St., Portsmouth). On view now through Sept. 1. Gallery hours are Monday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; visitors must reserve a 45-minute time slot in advance. Walk-in guests will be accommodated as space permits. Tickets cost $10 for the general public and $5 for Historical Society members and are available through eventbrite.com. Visit saacc-nh.org.

• “THE BODY IN ART: FROM THE SPIRITUAL TO THE SENSUAL” Exhibit provides a look at how artists through the ages have used the human body as a means of creative expression. On view now through Sept. 1. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “DON GORVETT: WORKING WATERFRONTS” Exhibit features more than 60 works by the contemporary Seacoast printmaker. The Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth). On view now through Sept. 12. Gallery hours are daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Admission is free for all on the first Friday of every month. Visit portsmouthhistory.org.

• “TWILIGHT OF AMERICAN IMPRESSIONISM” Exhibit showcases New England painters and masters of impressionism Alice Ruggles Sohier and Frederick A. Bosley. On view now through Sept. 12. Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth). Gallery hours are daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Admission is free for all on the first Friday of every month. Visit portsmouthhistory.org.

• “ROBERTO LUGO: TE TRAIGO MI LE LO LAI – I BRING YOU MY JOY” Philadelphia-based potter reimagines traditional forms and techniques with inspiration from urban graffiti and hip-hop culture, paying homage to his Puerto Rican heritage and exploring his cultural identity and its connection to family, place and legacy. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Sept. 26. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “CRITICAL CARTOGRAPHY” Exhibit features immersive large-scale drawings by Larissa Fassler that reflect the Berlin-based artist’s observations of downtown Manchester while she was an artist-in-residence at the Currier Museum in 2019. On view now through fall. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• GALLERY ART A new collection of art by more than 20 area artists on display now in-person and online. Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford). Call 672-2500 or visit creativeventuresfineart.com.

• “TOMIE DEPAOLA AT THE CURRIER” Exhibition celebrates the illustrator’s life and legacy through a collection of his original drawings. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

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

• “TENSION: PROCESS IN THE MAKING” The Surface Design Association’s (SDA) New Hampshire Group presents an exhibit featuring fiber art and textiles by New Hampshire artists. July 24 through Sept. 4. Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

• “SUMMER HAZE” Concord artist and gallery owner Jess Barnet hosts her first group art exhibit. Gallery located in the Patriot Investment building, 4 Park St., Suite 216, Concord. On view Aug. 6 through Sept. 3. Visit jessbarnett.com.

Fairs and markets

• CONCORD ARTS MARKET Outdoor artisan and fine art market. Every third Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Now through October. Rollins Park (33 Bow St., Concord). Visit concordartsmarket.net.

• ARTS ON THE GREEN Arts and crafts fair will feature painters, potters, artisan jewelers, stained glass makers, bead workers, photographers and metal crafters. Presented by The Center for the Arts Lake Sunapee Region. Sunapee Harbor. Sat., July 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit centerfortheartsnh.org.

• CRAFTSMEN’S FAIR Nine-day craft fair featuring work by hundreds of juried League of NH Craftsmen members. Sat., Aug. 7, through Sun., Aug. 15. Mount Sunapee Resort (1398 Route 103, Newbury). Visit nhcrafts.org.

• GREELEY PARK ART SHOW Annual outdoor juried art show hosted by Nashua Area Artists Association features a variety of artwork for sale. Sat., Aug. 21, and Sun., Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 100 Concord St., Nashua. Visit nashuaareaartistsassoc.org.

Tours

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

Workshops and classes

• GENERAL ART CLASSES In-person art classes for all levels and two-dimensional media. held with small groups of two to five students. Private classes are also available. Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Students are asked to wear masks in the gallery. Tuition costs $20 per group class and $28 per private class, with payment due at the beginning of the class. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com for availability.

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

Theater

Auditions

• HEATHERS THE MUSICAL Presented by Cue Zero Theatre Company. Auditions held Tues., July 27. Granite State Arts Academy, 19 Keewaydin Drive, Salem. Performers must be age 18+. Signups for a time slot in advance are required. Visit cztheatre.com.

Shows

• BETRAYAL The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Now through July 3, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $27 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

•​ PIPPIN The Seacoast Repertory Theatre PAPA Jr. presents. Virtual and in person at 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Now through July 18. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

• SLEUTH The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. June 30 through July 17, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, July 6, and Thursday, July 8, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., July 6, through Thurs., July 8, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). July 9 through Aug. 15, with shows daily at 7 p.m. More information is TBA. Visit prescottpark.org.

• PETER PAN The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., July 13, through Thurs., July 15, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• DANI GIRL The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. July 14 through July 31, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $29 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

•​ ‘TIL BETH DO US PART The Majestic Theatre presents. Virtual and in person at Majestic Studio Theatre, 880 Page St., Manchester. July 16 through July 25, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Visit majestictheatre.net or call 669-7469.

• WIZARD OF OZ The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., July 20, through Thurs., July 22, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

•​ CABARET The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. July 22 through Sept. 5. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

• THE LITTLE MERMAID The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., July 27, through Thurs., July 29, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• TELL ME ON A SUNDAY The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. July 28 through Aug. 14, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Aug. 3, and Thursday, Aug. 5, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• BEAUTY AND THE BEAST The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 3, through Thurs., Aug. 5, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• RAPUNZEL The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 10, through Thurs., Aug. 12, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• CINDERELLA The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 17, through Thurs., Aug. 19, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

•​ MAD HAUS The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Sun., Aug. 18, 8 p.m. Tickets cost $15. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.

•​ HOOLIGANS AND CONVICTS The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Aug. 18 through Sept. 4, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Aug. 24, and Thursday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• SLEEPING BEAUTY The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 24, through Thurs., Aug. 26, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

•​ IT HAD TO BE YOU The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Sept. 1 through Sept. 18, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 4 p.m., plus matinees on Saturdays, Sept. 11 and Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• TRUE TALES LIVE Monthly showcase of storytellers. Held virtually via Zoom. Last Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., September through December. Visit truetaleslivenh.org.

•​ GLORIOUS The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Sept. 22 through Oct. 9, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• HEATHERS THE MUSICAL Presented by Cue Zero Theatre Company. Oct. 22 through Oct. 24. Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway, Derry. Visit cztheatre.com.

• THAT GOLDEN GIRLS SHOW: A PUPPET PARODY at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Sat., Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35.

Quality of Life 21/07/01

Healthy state for kids

The 2021 Kids Count Data Book, released last week by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, ranks New Hampshire second in the United States for overall child well-being. According to a press release from New Futures, a nonprofit that aims to improve the health and wellness of New Hampshire residents, the national report uses data from four domains in each state: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community context. According to the report, New Hampshire ranks first in family and community context, third in overall health, fifth in education and sixth in economic well-being.

Score: +1

Comment: According to the release, New Hampshire moved from second to first in family and community context because the number of children living in single-parent families decreased from 30 percent in 2018 to 28 percent in 2019, and the number of children living in high-poverty areas dropped from 2 percent in 2018 to less than 1 percent in 2019.

Safe state for cats and dogs

For the first time, New Hampshire is a no-kill state, according to the annual pet lifesaving data recently released by Best Friends Animal Society, with no dogs or cats killed in state shelters in 2020. It’s the second state in the country (after Delaware) to reach no-kill status, the release said, with an aggregate shelter pet save rate of 92.62 percent, which factors in the approximately 10 percent of pets who enter shelters and have medical or behavioral issues that warrant humane euthansia. Of the 8,573 dogs and cats that entered New Hampshire shelters in 2020, all were saved, according to the release.

Comment: +1

Score: In 2019, only 76.47 percent of the state’s shelters were no-kill, according to the release.

American pride

The Fourth of July should be a big day in the Granite State — according to a new report from the personal-finance website WalletHub, New Hampshire is the fifth most patriotic state in the nation.

Data compiled included number of military enlistees and veterans, volunteer hours and share of adults who voted in the 2020 presidential election. According to the report, New Hampshire ranked first in civics education requirement, fourth in percentage of adults who voted in the presidential election and sixth in Peace Corps volunteers per capita.

Score: +1

Comment: New Hampshire follows Montana, Alaska, Maryland and Vermont in patriotism, according to the report.

Queen City scams

In the past couple of weeks, Manchester police have dealt with two significant scams. On June 17, they handled a report from an elderly woman who had received calls from a man who said her Social Security number had been used in a drug and money laundering crime in Texas and told her to send $25,000 to a UPS dropoff in Tampa so that they could make sure the money was kept safe, according to a press release. The woman sent the money to the address, but a Manchester detective told the store manager to hold on to the package, and it was ultimately returned to her. On June 22, Manchester police sent out an Amber Alert for a missing mother and her 4-year-old son, who were found safe in the city soon after the alert went out. Detectives believe the incident was a phone scam, where someone calls the victim and says a family member is in trouble, then demands money for the individual’s safe return, according to a press release.

Score: -2

Comment: Both of these scams ended as happily as they could have, but the police remind everyone to be wary of any suspicious calls or requests for money.

QOL score: 77
Net change: +1
QOL this week: 78

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

Baseball hits midyear

Believe it or not, baseball hits the midpoint this weekend. And with the local nine leading the AL East it’s been a year of pleasant surprises for Red Sox Nation. I did not see this coming, mainly because I didn’t think they had the pitching and still don’t. But as I said in an earlier column, I didn’t think they had enough in 2013 and was convinced of that right up until they won the World Series. So there is precedent for me being wrong from wire to wire. So this time, I’m just going to sit back and enjoy it.

However, they’re not the only story in baseball creating buzz throughout the game. So here are a few other stories, even in the National League, which I generally talk more about on my annual weekend trip to Long Island each July than I do with folks up here the rest of the entire season. But not this year.

San Francisco Giants: Their having the best record in baseball may be more surprising than the Sox. Here are four things about them of interest to Red Sox Nation. (1) Yaz’s grandson Mike Yastrzemski is the right fielder with 10 homers, 27 RBI, and is hitting .221. (2) Since I hadn’t heard his name in years, I assumed Johnny Cueto was dead. But he’s alive and still pitching at 35, where he’s 6-2 with 3.63 ERA. (3) Their two best starters are ex-Oriole meatballer Kevin Gausman and the Irish kid Anthony DeSclafani, who are 16-3 combined with ERA’s of 1.49 and 2.77 respectively. (4) Somehow they’re doing it with Sox alum Gabe Kapler as manager, who more than once forgot how many outs there were while managing in Philly.

NL West Race: That could portend a raucous race for playoff spots in the NL West involving the West Coast G-Men, defending champion Dodgers and upstart Padres led by the exciting Fernando Tatis. They could be even better in the second half if newcomer Blake Snell (3-3, 5.29) ever shakes off the frustration of being yanked by idiot manager Kevin Cash after six untouchable Game 7 innings to hand the Dodgers the World Series.

Jacob deGrom:While the numbers are incredible — 0.69 ERA, 122 K’s in 78 innings, which is 14.07 K’s per 9 innings compared to Nolan Ryan’s best ever 10.6 — how come he doesn’t win more games? He’s only won more than 11 twice with a high of 15 in 2017. Can his hitters be that bad? Can’t be as bad as the team behind Koufax in L.A., who took fly swatters to the plate. Or is he the poster boy for the stat geeks’ belief that wins are an irrelevant stat for starters?

Ticky Tack Baseballs: Once again baseball shoots itself in the head thanks to whiny pitchers like Garrett Richards and idiot managers like Joe Girardi causing a ruckus because they’re no longer allowed to use illegal substances to make baseballs spin better. Again, but slower this time: histrionics by crybabies over being prevented from doing something illegal. If that’s not so 2021 America, nothing is.

The F-Cat Trio: It’s not that folks didn’t know what was in store for the sons of three major leaguers when they played for the F-Cats a few years back. But by hitting .342 and leading the majors in homers (26) and RBI (66) the Blue Jays’ Vlad Guerrero Jr. is now the best young hitter in baseball. Not far behind are Manchester bros shortstop Bo Bichette (.281/14/50) and injury-plagued third baseman Cavan Biggio (.217/6/17). The year’s highlight was all going deep in the same game at Fenway in June.

Shohei Ohtani: While Vlad’s season has been great, Otahni’s is historic. After four years he’s finally healthy and playing as the first full-time hitter/pitcher since Babe Ruth. He was 3-1 with a 2.58 ERA after 11 starts to go with 25 jacks and 59 RBI. What’s not to like?

Why 12 Years Was Too Much For Mookie: For the answer, all you needed to do was be at Fenway Park for Dustin Pedroia Night on Friday. The night of course was well-earned by Pedey and congrats to him. But it was a reminder that after signing an eight-year deal he played the following games by year: 135, 93, 164, 105, 3, 6, 0, and they are still paying him in 2021. In the other dugout was Giancarlo Stanton, who played 41 games in 2018 and 19 early in a $30 million per, 12-year deal going to 2028. Lesson to be learned: Stuff happens, so the considerable risk is too great.

Mookie vs. Alex Verdugo Update: Games, Runs, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, Average and paycheck. Mook’s numbers are first. 66/72 , 47/47, 20/15 , 3/1 , 9/9, 28/32, .248/.276, $22.9 million/$560K.

The New York Yankees: After just suffering a second straight weekend sweep to the Red Sox and another disappointing season in progress, the natives are restless in the Apple. If these were the good old days, Aaron Boone would have been fired and rehired two or three times by now. But the weirdest of all is that while the Red Sox have fired three GM’s despite winning four World Series this century, Yankees GM Brian Cashman has somehow managed to keep his job after winning the WS just once in 20 years with that gigantic payroll. George Steinbrenner has to be rolling over in his grave.

Theo Epstein Curse: It was the only flaw in his resume, as from Carl Crawford to Jason Heyward almost no one Theolavished big money on ever lived up to expectations. Even when one worked, like with Ben Zobrist helping the Cubs finally win in 2016, there’s a dark twist. For poor Ben, it’s suing his own minister last week for allegedly having an affair with his wife! Can’t trust your own minister. Again, so 2021.

We’ll get to the Sox after the All-Star game.

Small town girls

Bedford author’s debut explores coming-of-age

For four years, Bedford resident Gigi Georges, who lives part of the year in Maine, followed the lives of five young women growing up in rural Maine. She shares their stories, providing an intimate look at the contemporary female rural experience, in her debut book, Downeast: Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America.

What is Downeast about?
It’s a work of narrative nonfiction that explores the lives of five young women … in Washington County [in Maine]. Maine is actually the most rural state in the nation — it’s incredibly isolated and challenged in terms of poverty and the hardships that often come with economic difficulties — and Washington County is one of the most rural and isolated parts of Maine. … I spent essentially four years reporting on this [community] and following these young women from their late high school years into their early college and work years.

What sparked the idea for this book?
I’m a city kid, originally from Brooklyn, New York. I spent most of my life in urban places. … until about 15 years ago, when my husband and I decided to move to northern New England, ultimately [settling in] Maine and New Hampshire. As we raised our daughter in significantly more rural places than either of us had ever lived, we began to see something different from what we had been hearing and continue to hear … about rural America. Much of today’s narrative about rural America in the media and the broader popular culture is one of hopelessness and despair … but I was seeing a more hopeful story of young people, particularly of young women. … I wanted to dig deep and understand that dichotomy between what we often hear and what we were seeing.

What was the process of your research and writing?
A good friend of mine … introduced me to the school superintendent and principal there, and they allowed me to sit in and have some informal discussions with the young people at the high school. … From there, I found these five young women, who I believed were broadly representative of life in this rural and isolated place. For four years, they allowed me to follow them. … I ended up spending countless hours with them. … I’d make the trip from Southwest Harbor, which is about an hour’s drive, or the five-hour trip from Bedford. … I started by simply interviewing them [and] recording the conversations. They allowed me into their homes; to go with them to their favorite places, out on the lobster boats, out to the blueberry farms; to speak to their family members, friends, teachers and mentors; and to really immerse myself in their community.

Have you done this kind of writing in the past?
No. I come from a background of politics and public policy … and working in urban education issues. I had done some writing … but all academic. … This was my first foray into journalistic reporting and narrative nonfiction writing. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but until I met these extraordinary young women and [saw] this community that is thriving in the face of so many challenges, I hadn’t had that moment where I knew that this was the book I was meant to write.

Is Covid part of this story?
Yes. The book takes the reader up to late last summer, during Covid. It was an interesting time to write about a rural place. … I think it made the findings of the book stronger. … I thought about urban areas … and how isolated they became… and how rural places that are geographically isolated were anything but [socially] isolated, because they have a tremendous sense of social capital and strength of community. I thought that, in the time of Covid, it was even more important to point that out.

What would you like readers to take away from Downeast?
It’s important to see beyond the stories of hopelessness and despair about rural America, and equally important to listen to the voices of contemporary young women, which, until this point, has been largely absent from the accounts we’ve had in recent years about rural America. These voices are worth listening to because, in many ways, they represent the future of places like Washington County.

What did you gain from the experience personally?
I gained a tremendous appreciation for the resilience, self-awareness and fierceness … of the young women in Washington County. … I’ve often reflected that if my young daughter, who is now 9, has half of the qualities that are seen and portrayed in these young women, I’ll be a happy mom.

Do you keep in touch with the women in the book?
I do. We text fairly regularly, and we even have a group text [chain] going with me and all five girls. I’ve learned to be a really good texter; they’re bringing me up to speed!

Is there anything else you’re interested in writing about?
I have been asked to and have thought about one day writing something about the young men. I think they have their own story to tell.

Featured author photo credit: Vanessa Lyn

Foraging Memories

The elderberries are in full bloom. For my family they hold special significance as they remind us of my father-in law, who passed away almost four years ago.

My father-in-law loved his wild edibles. Every year at about this time he would drive along the country roads of Pickaway County in Ohio where he lived, keeping an eye out for elderberry flowers at the edges of woods and farmers’ fields. He’d carefully take mental note of their location so he could return later in the summer to forage for their magical berries. I’ve heard how he’d make elderberry wine with the berries — or how they’d get baked into one of his wife’s delicious pies. He also had many “adventures” getting stuck in ditches and battling poison ivy and always had colorful stories to share about his quest for those berries.

My husband has continued the elderberry passion, planting them on our property and harvesting them for all things elderberry. He also enjoys spotting them while driving around Manchester and New Hampshire, and talks excitedly about how they evoke memories, brighten up the drives and landscapes, and provide nectar and pollen for our local honey bees — another one of his passions, best left for another day’s column.

Most years, he and our daughter cook up a batch of elderberry syrup that is especially nice on yogurt and vanilla ice-cream. He has not yet forayed into making elderberry wine, but I suspect that is coming. The cooked berries regularly go into people’s smoothies and many live in the freezer for winter treats, once again reminding us of summer’s warmth and of fond times with my father-in-law. (Do note the tart berries can be toxic and should be cooked before eating!)

One of my less-favored consequences of working with elderberries are the inevitable purple-stained fingers that linger for days — and yet they, too, evoke “tasty” memories and trigger anticipation of the next elderberry treat that will be heartily enjoyed. (“Tasty” is a food adjective commonly and enthusiastically used by my husband’s family.)

I realize these little things we take for granted, such as flowers on the side of the road that we may not even notice most days, spark important and meaningful memories. What are the items or events that do the same for you? I hope we can all take time to appreciate and savor the little things that help bring meaning and sweetness to our life today.

My family and I are grateful for the generous gift of memories (and yummy treats) that the elderberries provide us today and every year. I wish the same for you and yours.

News & Notes 21/07/01

Covid-19 updateAs of June 21As of June 28
Total cases statewide99,32999,455
Total current infections statewide196155
Total deaths statewide1,3671,371
New cases186 (June 15 to June 21)126 (June 22 to June 28)
Current infections: Hillsborough County5525
Current infections: Merrimack County1311
Current infections: Rockingham County3235
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

Covid-19 news

State health officials announced 19 new positive cases of Covid-19 in New Hampshire on June 28. The state averaged 21 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period (June 22 to June 28), a 10-percent decrease compared to the previous week.

As of June 28, just over 730,000 Granite Staters — roughly 53.9 percent of the state’s population — were fully vaccinated. State-run vaccination sites were set to close on June 30, but vaccine doses are still available at hundreds of locations statewide, including at many hospitals, pharmacies, outpatient offices and community health centers.

The United States Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit filed by the State of New Hampshire against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, according to a June 28 report from WMUR, over income taxes collected from roughly 80,000 Granite Staters working from home for Massachusetts companies during the pandemic.

“This decision will have lasting ramifications for thousands of Granite State residents,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement on June 28 following the ruling.

State budget passed

On June 25, Gov. Chris Sununu signed HB 1 and HB 2 into law and issued the following statement: “Historic tax cuts, property tax relief, and Paid Family Medical Leave delivered all in one sweeping action is a win for every citizen and family in this state.” House Speaker Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) applauded the actions, saying in a statement that the House passed a “historic budget that is balanced and fiscally responsible,” and that “Republicans delivered on tax cuts, reduced spending, education freedom, much needed mental health services and more without raising taxes or increasing spending.” NH House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R-Auburn) said in a statement that the budget includes more than $170 million in tax cuts and is “a major win for every single taxpayer in this state.” Democrats in the House disagreed. Rep. Mary Jane Wallner (D-Concord), ranking Democrat on the House Finance Committee, said in a statement that the budget does not meet the needs of constituents and that cuts to vital programs and services will hurt the state’s most vulnerable residents. House Democratic Leader Renny Cushing (D-Hampton) said in a statement that the budget “harms our state by cutting education funding, raising property taxes, and forcing right-wing ideology on the people of New Hampshire.”

New Hampshire’s kids

Several state departments have recently announced programs and services designed to promote the quality of life of children and families throughout the state.

Mental health at camp: Community mental health centers in New Hampshire will be offering services at camps throughout the state this summer. According to a press release, the Department of Education and the Community Behavioral Health Association are using Covid-19 response funds to provide mental health training to camp counselors and will be on site offering mental health services at many camps in the state as well. These services are part of the Department of Education’s Rekindling Curiosity: Every Kid Goes to Camp program, which offers camp tuition support in an effort to get more kids outside and participating in normal activities to counteract some of the negative effects of the pandemic, the release said. The 10 community mental health centers in the state will each designate staff members to be on site at camps on a weekly basis, and camp counselors ages 14 and older will receive training to address basic mental health issues as well as any mental health crises that may arise.

Stabilizing child care: The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services will use federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act to launch several new initiatives in the next few weeks, according to a press release, including stabilization grants to child care programs, workforce recruitment and retention efforts, and market rate increases for the NH Child Care Scholarship Program. All of the initiatives are designed to help residents who need access to child care return to work. According to the release, they include child care stabilization grants open to all licensed and enrolled license-exempt child care providers beginning July 12; child care scholarship increases for families enrolled in the NH Child Care Scholarship Program beginning July 12; child care workforce recruitment and retention efforts; a child care virtual job board; a pre-apprenticeship program to provide experience for people interested in a career in child care; and Open Your Home to Child Care, which will help people who are interested in becoming family child care providers and license-exempt home providers navigate the start-up process.

Charter school grants: The 2020-2021 federal charter school grant competition is now underway, with applications being accepted until 4 p.m. on July 22, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education. The grant funds will be used to start new public charter schools or to replicate and expand existing high-quality public charter schools and are being made available as part of the five-year, $46 million grant award the state received from the U.S. Department of Education in 2019. Over the next four years, the funds will aid in the creation of 20 new public charter schools and strengthen the existing charter school oversight infrastructure. According to the release, many of the state’s chartered public schools currently have long wait lists for student enrollment. Priority funds will be given to schools that target disadvantaged and at-risk student populations or that offer highly innovative models for advancing student achievement in a given field.

On Saturday, July 3, 13 New Hampshire communities will host readings of Frederick Douglass’ famous speech in which he asked, “What to the slave is your Fourth of July?” Hosted by the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, the readings will be held most locally in Concord, Hopkinton, Nashua, Manchester and Warner. For exact times and locations, visit blackheritagetrailnh.org or call 570-8469.

There’s a new splash pad and playground in Manchester. According to a press release, on June 25 the water features were turned on for the first time during an opening ceremony at Sheehan-Basquil Park Splash Pad and Playground, located at 297 Maple St.

A mosquito batch collected in Bow last week tested positive for Jamestown Canyon virus, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. It’s the first time JCV has been found in mosquitoes in New Hampshire, though there have been a few cases in humans, including in Bow in 2020. Testing mosquitoes for JCV has not been part of routine surveillance until this year, the release said.

The Nashua Board of Education announced on June 28 that Dr. Garth McKinney will continue to serve as Superintendent of Schools on an extended interim basis. The board sent a message to all district families and staff informing them that McKinney, who has served as interim superintendent since late January while former Superintendent Jahmal Mosley transitioned to a new job in Massachusetts, will continue in his role until June 30, 2022.

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