• Food and brews for a cause: Join The Common Man Roadside Millyard (451 Commercial St., Manchester) for its inaugural Do Good Beer Dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 7, to raise money for the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester. The festivities will kick off at 6 p.m., featuring appetizers, brewmaster tastings, a toy drive and a silent auction, followed by a five-course meal to be served at 7 p.m. Each course — including a charcuterie board, bacon jam scallops, butternut squash bisque, beer-braised pot roast and a special dessert pairing — will be paired with a beer selection from Manchester’s Great North Aleworks. The cost is $125 per person (21+ only) and reservations are required. Visit thecman.com or find the Eventbrite page for the dinner to purchase tickets.
• Greek eats to go: Get your orders in now for the annual baked lamb dinner from St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Greek Church (1160 Bridge St., Manchester) on Sunday, Dec. 11, at noon. Ordering by Wednesday, Dec. 7, is requested, while supplies last — dinners are $20 per person and include lamb, rice, beans and salads. Visit stnicholas-man-nh.org or email Barb George at bitos1254@yahoo.com to place your order. In Concord meanwhile, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (68 N. State St.) is taking orders for its next boxed Greek dinner to go, a drive-thru takeout event, on Sunday, Dec. 11, from noon to 1 p.m. Now through Wednesday, Dec. 7, orders are being accepted for boxed meals featuring dinners of Greek vegetable medley with tiropita (cheese pita) for $20 per person. The event is drive-thru and takeout only — email ordermygreekfood@gmail.com or call 953-3051 to place your order. Visit holytrinitynh.org.
• Cooking with wine: The Winemaker’s Kitchen cooking with wine series continues at LaBelle Winery with holiday recipes classes, to be held at its Amherst location (345 Route 101) on Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 6 to 7 p.m. each day. Attendees will get to enjoy holiday dinner samples and discover recipes with wine paired or prepared with each item. Recipes will include candied kielbasa, deviled eggs with Seyval Blanc egg filling, red wine caramelized onion dip for vegetables and chips, and baked brie with a red wine fruit compote. General admission is $35 per person, plus tax. Visit labellewinery.com.
• Tea time: Enjoy holiday afternoon tea with The Cozy Tea Cart of Brookline, to be held at the Gatherings at the Colonel Shepard House (29 Mont Vernon St., Milford) on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. In addition to seasonal teas, there will be assortments of festive tea breads, sandwiches and pastries to be served. The cost is $39.95 per person and reservations are required. Visit thecozyteacart.com or call 249-9111.
• NHLC taps new wine sales specialist: The New Hampshire Liquor Commission recently named Justin Gunter its new wine marketing and sales specialist, according to a press release. Gunter oversees all aspects of wine sales, including purchasing and promotions, across the 67 New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet locations statewide. He takes over for Lisa Gosselin, who had been in the position for six years and was with the Commission for more than two decades before her retirement. According to the release, Gunter joined the NHLC team in 2014 as a part-time sales clerk at the Stratham outlet, eventually moving up the ranks to retail store supervisor and later regional stores supervisor, leading to sales increases exceeding $100,000 annually in multiple markets.
Sarah Smith is a licensed mental health counselor and board-certified music therapist at C.R.E.A.T.E., the Center for Expressive Arts, Therapy and Education, in Manchester.
Explain your job and what it entails.
I primarily work with children. That’s my specialization. They have a variety of diagnoses. A lot of the clients I work with have experienced some sort of trauma. There’s also anxiety, depression and ADHD. We use music as therapy as part of the healing process. We do a lot of music-making, some improvisation, either making up a song or playing together on a variety of instruments. We listen to familiar music or sing familiar songs and engage in lyric analysis to help with emotional expressions.
How long have you had this job?
I started working at C.R.E.A.T.E. in 2017 as a music therapist while also earning my hours for my mental health licensure.
What led you to this career field and your current job?
I’ve had my own experiences with mental health issues. As I was going through my own healing process, I was using music often as a way to heal, and I was also in therapy for myself. I made a connection between the two. I was aware that counseling was really helpful, and I also knew that music was a really big part of my healing process.
What kind of education or training did you need?
My bachelor’s degree is in music performance and private teaching. For several years after, before I went to get my master’s degree, I was a violinist. I was performing throughout New Hampshire with a variety of symphonies. I did play with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra; that’s probably the coolest thing I’ve done. I was also teaching at a performing arts school in Bedford. Then, in 2014, I decided to get my master’s degree in mental health counseling, with a specialization in music therapy.
What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?
Business casual. I try to wear clothing that is easy to move around in since I am with kids a lot of the day.
How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?
It was very interesting being a counselor during the pandemic, because everybody was scared and going through this collective anxiety together. I was also having a lot of the same experiences that my clients were. … It was figuring out ways to be creative and maintain connections online, and also trying to come up with new ways of using music therapy online, using programs like GarageBand to still be able to create music with clients.
What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?
I went into this career solely with the idea of wanting to help people. I didn’t really know how fulfilling it would be to actually work with people and to hear their stories and to just be there with somebody as they’re going through a really difficult time.
What do you wish other people knew about your job?
First of all, that music therapy is definitely an evidence-based practice. It’s a real thing. It exists. It’s just such an impactful way of providing therapy to people.
What was the first job you ever had?
I was a cashier at a clothing store next to Toys R Us.
What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?
It’s something that comes up often in this line of work: Always trust the process.
Five favorites Favorite book:The Help by Kathryn Stockett Favorite movie: I’m not much of a movie person. Favorite music: I’m mostly drawn toward ’70s rock. That’s what I grew up with. Favorite food: I love Chinese food. Favorite thing about NH: Definitely the seasons, and fall in particular. Nothing beats fall in New England.
• Toadstool Bookshop (Somerset Plaza, 375 Amherst St. in Nashua; 673-1734, toadbooks.com) will hold a party to celebrate the release of Dav Pilkey’s newest Cat Kid Comic Club book (which hit shelves on Nov. 29), Cat Kid Comic Club: Collaborations, on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 1 to 4 p.m. The afternoon will feature games, puzzles, goodies, raffles and more, according to the website.
• Matt Forrest Esenwine will present a storytime featuring his new book Don’t Ask a Dinosaur at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord, 224-0562, gibsonsbookstore.com) on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 10 a.m.
Meet the big guy
In the Nov. 24 issue on page 20, we listed events where kids can get in a visit with the big guy. Find the e-edition at hippopress.com (toward the bottom of the home page). Here are a few of the opportunities to see Santa Claus this weekend.
• Have Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at the First Parish Congregational Church (United Church of Christ, 47 E. Derry Road in Derry; fpc-ucc.org). See the website for details about how to RSVP. TIckets at the door cost $10 for adults, $5 for 3 to 8 and free for ages 2 and under, the website said. Kids can take photos with Santa, enjoy games and crafts and more, the website said.
• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia; visitthefarm.com) will kick off its Santa’s Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 3, and Sunday, Dec. 4. The event also runs Friday, Dec. 9, through Sunday, Dec. 11; Friday, Dec. 16, through Sunday, Dec. 18; Wednesday, Dec. 21, through Saturday, Dec. 24. Pick a time when you buy tickets for either a four-person or 10-person sleigh ride. The event also includes a stop at the North Pole, Mrs. Claus’ Bakery, a visit to the barnyard, an opportunity to shop for Christmas trees, a campfire, and a special mailbox for letters to Santa.
• The Millyard Museum’s (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; manchesterhistoric.org) will holt its holiday open house on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will feature games, cookies, children’s crafts, a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and more.
• Greeley Park (100 Concord St., Nashua) is hosting Santa in the Park on Saturday, Dec. 3, from noon to 2 p.m. Come take a photo with Santa. See Nashua Parks and Recreation Department’s Facebook page.
• Londonderry Access Center TV (281 Mammoth Road) is hosting Santa live on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. Kids can come visit with Santa live on air (first come, first serve). See lactv.com.
• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) is hosting its annual Jingle Bell Extravaganza on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and from 3 to 4:30 p.m. (also on Sunday, Dec. 11). Meet Santa, do holiday crafts, do a science experiment and get a special treat — and pajamas are encouraged.The event is included with the cost of admission, $15 for members, $20 for non-members; children under 1 year old are free. Reserve a spot online.
Holiday celebrations
• O’neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square (24 Calef Hwy. in Epping; 679-3529, oneilcinemas.com) will screen The Polar Express (G, 2004) Friday, Dec. 2, through Thursday, Dec. 8, with multiple screenings each day including one D-BOX screening (usually at 4:30 p.m.). Tickets, which are on sale now, cost $7 and include a bell while supplies last.
• Enjoy Mr. Aaron’s holiday party at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord) on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 11 a.m. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. and tickets cost $13. Visit ccanh.com to purchase tickets.
• Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester) is hosting its annual American Girl Doll Christmas tea party on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Bring your American Girl Doll for a tour followed by refreshments and crafts. Tickets cost $15 per person and can be purchased at manchesterhistoric.org.
Living in New England is a joy, but we gardeners do have some challenges: cold winter winds, deer, rocky soil and more. As we get ready for winter, one of the biggest challenges for many of us is the deer. They are hungry and relentless. In my part of the world, there was a crop failure for acorns this year, a staple for hungry deer. The deer don’t care that you spent $275 on a nice tree. If they want to browse it, they will, unless you take steps now to protect it.
The most expensive but most sure method to prevent deer from damaging your plants is to fence your entire property with 8-foot-tall deer fence. That will keep them from your flowers — tulips are a favorite — as well as vegetables, shrubs and trees. It’s what most arboretums do. You don’t need to have a metal fence — though metal posts are best — as plastic mesh deer fencing is readily available.
Alternatively, you can protect plants that have suffered damage in the past, or, if new, are known as “deer candy.” Yew is an evergreen favorite of deer. I recently wrapped a pair of yews with burlap for a client whose plants had suffered deer damage in the past. The plants stand 7 feet tall or so, and are about as wide. I used a 6-foot-wide roll of 10-ounce burlap to wrap the shrubs and four 8-foot-tall stakes for each plant. I left the top open to avoid breakage due to heavy snows. The burlap came from burlapsupply.com.
Various repellent sprays may deter the deer, too. But if they wear off before you re-apply, the deer will let you know. Rain and warmer weather can affect how long they last.
Hardware cloth will keep rodents from chewing the bark and killing this young cherry tree. Photo by Henry Homeyer.
Voles and other rodents can be a problem, too. Years when we have deep snow are the worst because owls and hawks are less able to eat the rodents that may eat the bark and girdle a tree. Wire mesh known as hardware cloth is great for keeping away rodents, but now plastic spiral wraps are available and easier to install. Young fruit trees are the most vulnerable, so do protect yours until they are 5 years old or so. Protection should go up 18 to 24 inches of the trunk.
What about those evergreen rhododendrons that have their leaves shrivel up? When the ground freezes, the roots can’t take up water to replace water used in photosynthesis on sunny days or water that just evaporates from the broad leaves. There is a product called Wilt-Pruf that works as an anti-transpirant for up to four months in winter. It is available in ready-to-use form or as a concentrate.
According to its literature, Wilt-Pruf “contains a film-forming polymer which offers high density, good efficacy, and even coverage across foliage.” Talking with a local arborist, I was advised to spray both top and bottom of leaves or needles, and to do so late in the fall. He also said it may also make foliage less attractive to deer. Shriveled leaves do recover, come spring.
If you planted new trees this year, think about mulching with bark mulch now if you haven’t done so. Trees do much of their root growth now, after leaf drop and before the ground freezes deeply. Trees have stored carbohydrates for use by roots even though they are no longer producing them.
By now I have about an inch of frozen soil on the surface, but roots are deeper than that — most are within a foot of the surface. So you can still put down 2 inches of mulch over the roots to slow the freezing of the soil.
Although traditionally farmers pruned their apple trees in late winter or early spring, I have always assumed that the reason for this is that they had time on their hands then. But if you want to do some pruning now, after the garden has gone to bed, feel free!
Begin pruning by removing any dead branches. This is a bit trickier now than when leaves are on the tree. Just look for cracked or damaged branches. Dead branches have bark that is a bit different than the rest: dry, flakey, lifeless. Rub small branches with a thumbnail. If you see green beneath the outer layer, the branch is alive. If there is no green, the branch is dead.
The goal of pruning is to allow every leaf to get sunshine. If the density of branches is too great, inner leaves will not do their job. Leaves have two major jobs: to feed sugars to their roots and to help produce flowers, fruit and seeds. If you prune back too much, a tree will respond by growing lots of new shoots, usually those vertical water sprouts. Don’t take off more than 20 percent of the tree in any one season.
Look for rubbing branches, branches growing toward the center of the tree or branches that parallel others closely. Those are all good candidates for removal. And any time a fruit tree is getting too tall, reduce the height. Finally, pruning should make your tree or shrub beautiful to look at — especially in winter.
Featured photo: Burlap will protect these yews from deer all winter. Photo by Henry Homeyer.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• Joy of the season: The Nashua Choral Society will present their annual holiday concert “Rejoice! ’Tis the Season!” on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (216 E. Dunstable Road in Nashua). The event will feature Handel’s Messiah, a Christmas carol sing-along and more performed by the chorus with accompaniment by a pianist and small chamber orchestra, according to a press release. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for students (free for children) and are available at the door and online at EventBrite, among other places. See the Nashua Choral Society’s Facebook page or email info@nashuachoralsociety.org.
Russian Ballet Academy performance The Epping Community Theater will host the Russian Ballet Academy’s Winter Showcase featuring excerpts from The Nutcracker and other famous ballets as well as original pieces at the Epping Playhouse (38 C Ladd’s Lane in Epping; eppingtheater.org) on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. and tickets will only be sold at the door; tickets cost $12 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under (cash only), according to a press release.
• For makers: The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) has a Community Makers’ Series of workshops on Thursdays in December during Art After Work (5 to 8 p.m. every week). The workshops include “Felted Treasures” and “Bookmaking” on Dec. 1; “Embroidered Hoops” and “Bookmaking” on Dec. 8, and “Bookmaking” on Dec. 15 (each Bookmaking class has a different focus). Register for the workshops (which vary in price) on the website.
A little a cappella The Souhegan Valley Chorus will perform their holiday concert “Sharing Christmas Joy” with special guests, the a cappella group REHarmonix, on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 10 Union St. in Milford. Tickets can be purchased at the door and cost $18 for adults and $15 for students and seniors and are free for ages 12 and under, according to a press release.
• Art shopping: Among the many craft fairs and arts markets and open houses this weekend, head to the Bates Building (846 Main St. in Contoocook) for an artists’ reception of the Two Villages Art Society’s “Winter 2022 Members Art Show” on Saturday, Dec. 3, from noon to 2 p.m. The show features works of more than 30 artist members including oil and watercolor paintings, ceramics, prints, photos, jewelry, woodworking, glasswork, felted animals, wearable art and more, according to a press release. The gallery is open Thursdays through Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. and the show runs through Saturday, Dec. 24. This weekend the show will be open extended hours for Hopkinton’s “Starry, Starry Weekend,” which runs Friday, Dec. 2, through Sunday, Dec. 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Suddenly Silver Bells The New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus kicks off its holiday concert series, “Suddenly Silver Bells,” with shows this weekend. On Saturday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m., catch the performance at Christ the King Lutheran Church (3 Lutheran Drive, Nashua). Then on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m., the chorus will be at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (22 Fox Run Road, Newington). The chorus also has two performances next weekend. Tickets cost $20 for adults; admission is free for children ages 12 and under. Visit nhgmc.com.
Craft fairs
It’s a big weekend for craft fairs. If you know of one coming up, let me know at adiaz@hippopress.com.
• Starry Starry Weekend takes place in Contoocook Village from Friday, Dec. 2, through Sunday, Dec. 4, starting at 10 a.m. each day. In addition to an artisan craft fair, local shops and artists will have pop-ups around town. Visit contoocookchamber.com.
• Winter Giftopolis by the Concord Arts Market is one of the many shopportunities at Intown Concord’s Midnight Merriment on Friday, Dec. 2. Giftopolis will run from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Atrium at 7 Eagle Square. See concordartsmarket.net
• The Pine Hill Holiday Fair at High Mowing School (77 Pine Hill Drive, Wilton) features an artisan market for adultson Friday, Dec. 2, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and family festivities on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. See pinehill.orgn.
• The First Baptist Church of Nashua (121 Manchester St. in Nashua; fbcnashua.org) will hold an Olde-Fashioned Christmas Fair on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be handmade crafts as well as food and other activities.
• The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Milford (20 Elm St. in Milford; uucm.org) will hold a holiday fair on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring handcrafted items (such as jewelry, ornaments, handmade cards, gnomes, knitted items, pet items and more), a bake shop, a boutique of gently used items and a cafe serving breakfast and lunch, according to an email.
• Arlington Street United Methodist Church (63 Arlington St., Nashua; asumc.org, 882-4663) holds its Holly Town Fair Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring vendors with handmade items, crafts, candies, baked goods and a cookie walk and to-go lunches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• The Amherst Lions Club holds its Craft Fair Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Amherst Middle School (14 Cross Road) featuring more than 80 juried craftsmen, a shopping bag (while supplies last), a food bar, raffle, a scratch ticket tree and more, according to e-clubhouse.org/sites/amherstnh.
• The Somersworth Festival Association will host a Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Somersworth High School (11 Memorial Drive in Somersworth) featuring wood crafts, pottery items, wreaths, paintings, metal work, mugs, tote bags, gnomes, wind chimes, kids’ items, jewelry, knitted and crocheted items and more as well as food and raffles, according to a press release. See nhfestivals.org.
• The Gilford High School Craft Fair (88 Alvah Wilson Road in Gilford) will run Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the event’s Facebook page.
• The Holiday Food & Arts Market focus this Saturday, Dec. 3, at the YMCA Allard Center of Goffstown (116 Goffstown Back Road) is “All Creatures Great & Small” with animal lovers accessories, items for cats and dogs and baked goods for people and pets, according to a post on the YMCA’s Facebook page. The fair runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• The Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester (669 Union St. in Manchester; uumanchester.org) will hold its annual holiday faire on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the church’s fellowship hall.
• You can also catch the Concord Arts Market this weekend with its annual Holiday Arts Market on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kimball Jenkins School of Art (266 N. Main St. in Concord). See concordartsmarket.net.
• The Picker Artists Holiday Shopping Day at the Picker Artists building (3 Pine St. in Nashua) on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with handmade gifts, live music, snacks and more, according to pickerartists.com.
• The Grinnell School PTA will hold a Holiday Craft Fair at Grinnell Elementary School (6 Grinnell Road in Derry) on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring more than 30 vendors as well as raffles, baked goods and more, according to a PTA facebook post.
• The 7th Annual Nashua Holiday Fair at Broad Street Elementary School (380 Broad St. in Nashua) will run Saturday, Dec. 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the school and feature more than 40 crafters and vendors as well as Santa and the Grinch on site taking photos, according to a New England Vendor Events Facebook post.
• The 33rd annual Christmas in Strafford, an event featuring 24 locations and pieces from more than 50 artists and craftspeople, runs Saturday, Dec. 3, and Sunday, Dec. 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days; see the map at christmasinstrafford.com.
• The Nashua Holiday Craft & Vendor Festival Fair will be held Sunday, Dec. 4, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Eagles Wing Function Hall at 10 Spruce St. in Nashua. The fair will feature more than 40 crafters and vendors, sweets and treats, raffles and more, according to the Bazaar Craft Fairs Facebook post.
Also check out the story in this issue about the Made in NE Expo (page 25) and see last week’s big Holiday Guide for a listing of multi-week fairs and art exhibits filled with gift-ready items. See hippopress.com for the e-edition of the Nov. 24 issue.
Concord Chorale honors founder of Concord Community Music School with scholarship
By Katelyn Sahagian
ksahagian@hippopress.com
The first Peggy Senter Scholarship at the Concord Community Music School is going to seventh-grade singer Raegan Wolfe, who has been a part of choirs at the music school for seven years and is going to be a member of the Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE) National Conference Choir.
When Peggy Senter, the founder of the Concord Community Music School, retired in the summer of 2021, the Concord Chorale wanted to do something to honor her legacy, said Chorale president Elibet Chase. The group landed on the idea of a scholarship to the Concord Community Music School.
“It’s great to support an upcoming singer who is taking lessons at the school and to grow the young singing population,” Chase said. “We really want to find ways to make younger singers aware and consider choral music.”
Chase said that it was important to the chorale to show support to the school because of how the music school had helped the chorale over the years. In addition to holding practices and shows for the chorale, the school lent the chorale equipment to rehearse with while the pandemic was raging.
Chase added that Senter always came to the chorale’s performances and took a special interest in all music being performed in the area.
“Peggy Senter came to all of our concerts, never missed one,” said Chase, adding that the community music school has always been there for the chorale. “It’s really just a great relationship of support.”
Kathy Lundahl, the dean of students and educators at the music school, said the arts community in Concord is very close knit. Since Concord Community Music School was started, Lundahl said, its mission has been to provide musical education to people of all abilities and from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
When Lundahl heard that the chorale wanted to offer a scholarship to vocalists, she was extremely excited.
“I think it’s really heartwarming,” Lundahl said. “The school has had a lot to do with quietly building an important musical community in Concord. This [scholarship] is a perfect example of keeping that going and moving forward.”
The major requirement for the scholarship from the chorale was that it goes to a vocal student who seemed likely to continue learning and performing at the school. Chase said that beyond that, the chorale wanted the school to choose the students.
Lundahl said that the school looked at need as well as students who were excelling in the vocal field. A team of teachers and accompanists was brought together to discuss who would be the best applicant.
Chase said that the group made the right choice in Raegan based on her love of music and also her dedication to performing, as well as her patience with younger singers.
“She’s just a really cool student,” Chase said. “Not only is she really enthusiastic about her own singing and what it means in her life … she’s also always been nurturing of younger kids. One instructor gave an example of how she worked and performed with a student to keep her from being nervous.”
Raegan said that she doesn’t believe that she wants to be a professional musician when she grows up, but instead thinks she might want to study music in college to become a choir teacher. She added that some of the most important people in her life have been her choir and voice teachers.
“I think it would be fun to sing and teach,” Raegan said. “I just really like being around younger kids…. It’s so interesting to hear how voices change and how they have so much fun and energy.”
Raegan is extremely thankful to be the first recipient chosen for this scholarship. She said she wanted to “thank everyone at the school and everyone who has helped me … encouraged me and given me confidence.”
Featured photo: Raegan Wolfe. Photo courtesy of Elibet Chase.
How upcycled pieces and secondhand finds give clothes and jewelry their next fashion moment
Out with the old, in with the “new”
Upcycling used clothing into fresh fashion
By Matt Ingersoll
mingersoll@hippopress.com
Margaret Kasper of Milford was upcycling clothes before that was even a common term.
“My grandmother was a quilter, and I used to watch her save every scrap of fabric that she would use to make her quilts and then reuse it in new quilts. And I think that kind of stuck with me,” said Kasper, who has owned Mountain Girl Clothing since 2008. “I started to do the same thing when I got into sewing. I would save all the discarded pieces of fabric and use them on a new piece further down the line. … I think ‘upcycling’ is a pretty new term, and now it’s pretty trendy, but I think people have been doing it forever and probably not even realizing they’re doing it.”
A Milford native, Kasper studied fashion and textile design at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston. Launching Mountain Girl Clothing with her grandmother’s hand-me-down sewing machine, she began exploring the world of gently used and discarded textiles. Today, she operates in her own studio space in downtown Milford with the help of two assistants.
Margaret Kasper of Mountain Girl Clothing, based in Milford. Courtesy photo.
“There are literally tons and tons of post-consumer waste textiles and discarded clothing that you can find at thrift stores and secondhand stores and things like that,” Kasper said, “and so that’s what I really started to dive into, was looking at what I could use around me that’s not going to cost an arm and a leg. Then I would start to take it apart, transform it and make new pieces of clothing. … People just responded to it really well. Going into thrift stores is kind of like Christmas for me, because you never know what you’re going to find.”
Kasper admitted that when she’s on the hunt for “new” pieces of old clothing she can use at thrift stores, she doesn’t always have the most immediate idea of what she is going to do with it.
“I’ll be attracted to the feel or the print of the fabric,” she said, adding that Mountain Girl Clothing primarily specializes in women’s shirts, jackets, sweaters, hoodies and similar articles.
In addition to shopping at secondhand and thrift stores, Kasper has worked with a family in India for the past few years, whom she became connected with through the e-commerce website Etsy.
“They’ve been sending me their discarded textiles from India, and so I’ve been able to kind of expand what I use for materials and bring that over here to use in my pieces,” she said.
With the help of her two studio assistants, Kasper can produce about 40 to 50 new pieces every week — on average, she said, that’s anywhere from a half hour to up to two hours per piece. Once it’s ready to go, she’ll often have a model come in and wear it, or she’ll model it herself, and they’ll take pictures and create a listing for the item on the website. On Thursdays, Kasper also usually presents a shop launch on social media for her regular customers.
New to the world of upcycling, Sofia Farah launched The Tenth String Co. roughly eight months ago in her basement studio in Nashua. In fact, Farah actually just learned how to use a sewing machine in 2020, when she made masks during the early months of the pandemic.
Farah’s first upcycled project was a denim jacket, but it was one she had made just for herself.
“I posted it on my Instagram after it was done, then I went about my day and I get back on Instagram and get a ton of [messages], which doesn’t ever happen,” she said. “People were obsessed with the denim jacket and they all wanted to buy it. So then I was like, ‘What if I start doing this,’ and so I went to the thrift store that week and just found a bunch of random things.”
Upcycling started as a part-time hustle for Farah, until eventually she quit her job to wholly focus on keeping up with her orders. She is also now one of about 30 vendors that are participating in the inaugural Holiday Shoppes at Tuscan Village in Salem — find her there every Thursday through Sunday through Dec. 31, and daily during the week of Christmas.
Sofia Farah of The Tenth String Co., based in Nashua. Courtesy photo.
“One of my more popular items is the shirt and flannel combo,” Farah said. “Basically I take the torso of a shirt that might have some graphics on it, and I sew flannel arms to it, and it kind of makes this super-relaxed boxy-type fit article of clothing. … It’s the comfiest thing ever. You don’t have to button up the flannel, which is awesome. You just throw it on.”
Like Kasper, Farah finds herself often going to thrift and secondhand stores, as well as a lot of estate sales. She has even developed relationships with some local vintage clothing dealers.
In Salem, Ianna True owns and operates Fits the Vibe, a modern secondhand store that also carries some vintage and upcycled items. The business originally opened in Windham in October 2020 before moving to a larger space in Salem the following year.
True, who taught herself how to sew, also likes to create articles of clothing from graphic T-shirts and flannel sleeves, and she’ll sometimes dabble in upcycling sweatpants and sweatshirts.
Even some items like bed sheets and shower curtains can be upcycled into clothing. Meredith artist Cassandra “Sanni” Reale of Monarch Press Collections has filled such orders since founding her business in early 2021. She also likes to implement block printing into her work.
“That’s what makes me stand out a little bit more than just doing certain sewing alterations, is I’ll add that printing aspect in there, and a lot of it is some of my own designs,” Reale said. “Some of the bigger projects that I’ve done have been … flipping quilts into jackets, and also printing designs on the backs of jackets, or on pants or whatever.”
Kasper believes her customers are drawn to her pieces for several reasons. There’s the environmental benefit of reducing the amount of wasteful materials, for instance, in addition to the excitement among her buyers for being able to wear something wholly different and unique.
“I’ve always loved that you can find a T-shirt at a thrift shop and it’s sad and it doesn’t have a home, and then you add something to it or cut it a certain way and it looks like a completely new piece of clothing. And you didn’t have to go to a big department store to find it,” she said. “Another cool thing about the upcycling process is that it makes these pieces of clothing truly one of a kind. It’s something you can’t find anywhere else and can’t really be replicated.”
Where to find locally upcycled clothing
Here are a few local companies that work to breathe new life into yesterday’s clothes.
Fits the Vibe 287 Lawrence Road, Salem, 818-0598, fitsthevibe.com, and on Facebook and Instagram @fitsthevibe A modern secondhand store that also carries vintage and upcycled items, Fits the Vibe originally opened in Windham in October 2020 before moving to a larger space in Salem the following September. Owner Ianna True works with dozens of small businesses to source their products in the store, which include everything from jewelry to upcycled clothes.
Monarch Press Collections Meredith, monarchpresscollections.com, and on Facebook @monarch.press and Instagram @monarchpresscollections Specializing in upcycled clothing, eco-friendly stamp making, block printing and more, all with a focus on sustainability, Monarch Press Collections was launched by Meredith artist and University of New Hampshire grad Cassandra “Sanni” Reale in early 2021. Her work is available for sale online, and she’ll also be selling her work at Wayfarer Marketplace (626 Main St., Laconia) on Friday, Dec. 16, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Mountain Girl Clothing Milford, mountaingirlclothing.com, and on Facebook and Instagram @mountaingirlclothing Milford native Margaret Kasper has owned and operated Mountain Girl Clothing since 2008, specializing primarily in women’s shirts, jackets, sweaters, hoodies and similar articles. While her downtown Milford studio space isn’t open to the public, Kasper usually presents a weekly shop launch on social media for her regular customers, and she ships her products worldwide.
The Tenth String Co. Nashua, thetenthstringco.com, and on Facebook and Instagram @thetenthstringco New to the world of upcycling, Sofia Farah of The Tenth String Co. works out of her basement studio in Nashua. Find her at the inaugural Holiday Shoppes at Tuscan Village (9 Via Toscana, Salem) every Thursday through Sunday through Dec. 31 (except Sunday, Dec. 25) — hours are Thursday and Friday, 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. From Sunday, Dec. 18, through Friday, Dec. 23, the Holiday Shoppes will also be open daily, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and they’ll be open Saturday, Dec. 24, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thrill of the hunt
Secondhand clothes shopping offers exciting finds
By Angie Sykeny
asykeny@hippopress.com
Shopping secondhand can be a budget-friendly way to grow your wardrobe, but saving money isn’t the only good reason to stop in a local consignment boutique.
“To me, the thrill of the hunt itself is just as exciting as the bargain or the item,” said Elyssa Alfieri, owner of Lilise Designer Resale in Concord. “You’re gaining access to a unique selection of items … with the opportunity to shop many stores, regions, time periods and aesthetics, all in one place, and there is so much room for experimentation to find your truest self.”
At LDR, you’ll find women’s and men’s secondhand clothing, shoes, accessories and jewelry, including items from everyday brands like Madewell as well as high-end brands like Chanel, Gucci and Burberry.
Chic Boutique Consignments. Courtesy photo.
“We work hard at curating our selection … and assess each and every item for condition, age, style, fabrication, authenticity and value,” Alfieri said. “We focus on … items from the highest-end brands possible, but we also can’t ignore the ‘it factor’ — when an item is good, it’s good.”
For customers, she said, that carefully curated selection provides a shopping experience that is “all needles, no haystack.”
“We cater to those who feel underserved by what traditional retail models offer,” Alfieri said. “We are for the people who can’t find trends early enough, for people who don’t have time to scour the thrift store racks. … You won’t have to search long to find things you’ll get excited about.”
Chic Boutique Consignments in Bedford also carries secondhand clothing, shoes and accessories for women, plus a small selection for men and children, in high-end brands such as Louis Vuitton, Lululemon, Patagonia and Prada.
“Each consignment store has their own niche with matching clientele and best-selling brands. … We know what our clientele is looking to purchase for their own closets,” owner Ashley Lyons said. “This is always ever-changing, so keeping up with the most current trends and hot brands is something we take great pride in.”
Consignment stores often carry unique and hard-to-find items “that aren’t going to be found walking around a mall,” Lyons said, such as luxury handbags that are out of stock or discontinued from the designer.
You may also find items manufactured years ago in older styles that are making a comeback.
“Many trends right now are vintage-inspired,” Alfieri said, “so finding the original is a great alternative to spending a lot on designer pieces that sometimes don’t live up to the real thing anyway.”
What sets consignment boutiques apart from “thrift stores,” Lyons said, is the quality of the items.
“Many people come in confusing a consignment store for a thrift store, but rest assured we are much different,” she said. “Our inventory is in pristine condition. … Most first-time customers are astonished to hear our items have been previously loved.”
Secondhand shopping tips • Know what you’re looking for. “I tell customers to keep a note in their phone with a list of items they’re looking for so they have something to reference when they’re getting caught up in the moment,” Alfieri said. • Inspect for quality. “Make sure everything works,” Alfieri said. “Check the fabric, zippers, buttons. If you’re thrifting a pair of shoes that look like they were never used, bend the soles to make sure they haven’t dried out.” • Consider the care required. “Will you need to take special care when washing, wearing or storing this item? Sometimes it’s totally worth it to have an item like that, but only if you know you’ll get what you want out of owning it,” Alfieri said. • Beware of fakes. “When buying a designer handbag, or any piece for that matter, make sure it is from a trusted reseller that only sells authentic pieces,” Lyons said. “We have seen such an influx of fraudulent designer items, so be sure to only buy from a trusted source.” • Try things on. “Be adventurous and use the opportunity of shopping in person to try on many different styles,” Alfieri said. “It’ll be fun, and you might discover a new version of yourself in the process.”
Glam-cycling
Many ways to reuse and update jewelry
By Katelyn Sahagian
ksahagian@hippopress.com
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but diamonds and a lot of other precious gems and fine jewelry can be extremely expensive. That’s why some stores across southern New Hampshire are reselling old jewelry or turning other objects into beautiful, affordable pieces.
At Atwood Jewelers in Salem, manager Eileen Gormley said more than 95 percent of the business is with estate jewelry, a fancy way of saying preowned jewelry. The shop will polish the jewelry, sometimes will rehouse and fix the bands, and in some cases will completely customize a new piece.
“Mostly, it’s sentimental for people. I would say our clients are mostly the older generation,” said Gormley. She added that the younger generation of clients is looking for a way to continue having sustainability, and that Atwood offers a lot of that.
A collection of vintage and re-set jewelry from Atwood Jewelers. Courtesy photo.
Another feature at Atwood is that people can often take family heirlooms and repurpose them. Some single earrings sold to the store will become pendants for necklaces or ‘show-stopping’ rings, Gormley said. Sometimes customers will request that the stones in the jewelry be taken out and repurposed into new designs.
“We fix people’s things up and bring them back to life,” Gormley said.
Gormley said that over the 24 years she’s been at Atwood, there have always been professional jewelers working in the store and designers, like her coworker Jio Winchell. Gormley estimated that a third of all the business done at Atwood is repurposing stones into custom jewelry.
Customizing jewelry isn’t only something for precious gemstones. Anything can be jewelry if there is enough time and creative energy put into it. Margi Lord, a contractor turned estate planner, sells costume jewelry at Antiques on Elm in Manchester.
“My jewelry making started years ago when I was working in a hardware store and I said, ‘I don’t have on any earrings,’” Lord said. She said she saw some lock washers and realized with some quick ingenuity she could make a pair of fun earrings.
Ever since then, she said, she’s seen the possibilities for different things to become fashion statements. She is most proud of a cufflink that she sanded the post down on to turn into a pendant.
Lord said that it’s important to her to make her jewelry reasonably priced. At her station at Antiques on Elm, she prices all her jewelry, even a statement piece made from an elephant belt-buckle and Ralph Lauren scarf, at $10 or less.
Lord said she likes to see young people who want to remake the jewelry into something else, or little girls who buy the jewelry she sells so they can play dress-up.
“To me, [sustainability] is really important,” Lord said. “There’s so many things that can be recycled and reused.”
Jennifer Stewart, owner of Firefly Wood Designs in Gilford, makes necklaces out of old skateboard decks. Courtesy photo.
“The colorful plywood decks are just asking to be upcycled!” Stewart said via email. “I also like finding interesting patterns in the scuffed up graphics of the boards too — they’ve made some of my favorite pendants.”
Kim Stewart, who does jewelry design for Firefly Wood Designs, an Etsy store based in Gilford that she and her sister Jennifer run, takes sustainability a step further by turning old skateboards into jewelry.
She makes pendant necklaces and earrings from colorful skateboard decks, an idea that she got from the love she and her husband had for skateboarding while they were in college. Stewart said it’s important for her to do something sustainable and while she knows this isn’t a huge thing, every little bit helps.
“It’s not much, but I know even small changes like upcycling things here and there can really make a big impact on the health of the environment,” Stewart said.
Featured photo: Margaret Kasper of Mountain Girl Clothing, based in Milford. Courtesy photo.
The American Independence Museum will host a Holiday Tavern Open House at Folsom Tavern (164 Water St. in Exeter; independencemuseum.org) today from 4 to 8 p.m. The event is free and will feature light refreshments, make-and-take crafts and a silent auction, according to a press release.
Friday, Dec. 2
Head to downtown Concord to shop and celebrate the season today at Midnight Merriment from 5 p.m. to midnight. Find Santa at City Plaza from 5 to 8 p.m. (that’s also the site of Nazzy’s Holiday Dance Party); starting at 5 p.m. at Eagle Square you’ll find free hot cocoa while supplies last, and at 7 Eagle Square the Concord Arts Market will hold Giftopolis, according to the schedule at intownconcord.org. The event includes live music, a gingerbread house showdown and of course shopping at downtown shops that extend their hours for the night.
Friday, Dec. 2
Gerald Dickens, the great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens, brings his one-man performance of A Christmas Carol to the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester) on Friday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. See anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities. Dickens will also do two shows in Nashua on Saturday, Dec. 3. The first, Mr. Dickens is Coming, will be at the Nashua Senior Center (70 Temple St.) at 12:30 p.m. The second, A Christmas Carol, will be at Nashua Community College (505 Amherst St.) at 7:30 p.m. Visit fortingage.com/dickens2022 for ticket information.
Friday, Dec. 2
Deo Mwano Consultancy will present “ Improvisation: Trust the Process,” an original show with dancers and musicians improvising together that fuses soul, funk, 80s hip-hop and Afro-beat music samples with live instrumentation, today at 7 p.m. at Kimball Jenkins (266 N Main St. in Concord), according to a press release. There will be a post-performance Q&A and Middle Eastern foods, the release said. Tickets cost $40 and are available at eventbrite.com/e/improvisation-trust-the-process-tickets-463648554307 or at the door.
Saturday, Dec. 3
Warner celebrates today during Warner Hometown Holidays. See the Festival of Trees in the town hall (where Santa and Mrs. Claus will appear for photos at 1:30 p.m.), live performances and music, a Polar Express-themed day at the NH Telephone museum, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and more. See mainstreetbookends.com/event/warner-hometown-holidays for a full schedule of events.
Saturday, Dec. 3
The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) will hold Caroling at the Currier today at noon with the Manchester Choral Society performing in the Historic Court, able to be heard throughout the museum, according to the website. Hours on Saturday are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $10 for students, $5 for ages 13 to 17 and free for 12 and under.
Saturday, Dec. 3
Manchester’s Holiday Parade will head down Elm Street (from the Amoskeag Bridge to Granite Street) starting at 4 p.m. Kick off the festivities at 3 p.m. by watching runners in Santa costumes tackle the 3-mile BASC Santa Claus Shuffle, which features stops to snack on Santa’s favorite food groups (see millenniumrunning.com if you’re interested in hitting the road yourself). See the story about the parade on page 19 in last week’s (Nov. 24) issue of the Hippo (find the e-edition at hippopress.com). On page 18 in that issue, you’ll find a listing of other towns’ tree-lightings, parades and other holiday celebrations.
Save the Date! Saturday, Dec. 31 Send off 2022 with a performance by the Adam Ezra Group on New Year’s Eve at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; 437-2100, tupelomusichall.com). Come for a multi-course dinner at 5:30 p.m. (ticket to the dinner includes the show) or buy a ticket for the show only at 9 p.m.
Featured photo. Manchester Holiday Parade. Courtesy photo.
The New Hampshire Federal Credit Union’s Santa for Seniors holiday donation drive is now underway, according to a press release. Members of the public are invited to participate by donating a gift card in any denomination or by creating a homemade holiday card as a way to deliver hope and holiday cheer to seniors in the local community. Santa himself will deliver the cards to eight senior facilities in the state in mid-December.
QOL score: +1
Comment: Donations will be accepted at NHFCU’s Concord and Lee locations through Dec. 14.
Online scam
Fraudulent websites posing as legitimate New Hampshire small businesses are on the rise, warns Attorney General John M. Formella. According to a press release, the scammers have been advertising products for sale online at deeply discounted prices and requesting that consumers contact the company’s sales department to make a purchase. The “sales department” then insists that the consumer pay for the products using a bank wire transfer. Some scammers have even set up email addresses matching their fraudulent company’s name and website in order to “verify” the company through independent organizations used to establish marketplace trust, such as the Better Businesses Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce and Show Me Local.
QOL score: -1
Comment: Attorney General Formella urges consumers to be vigilant by asking probing questions about deeply discounted products, insisting to speak to the seller over the phone, confirming the seller’s contact information, asking for and contacting references that can verify the legitimacy of the seller, and, finally, checking with local law enforcement or the Attorney General’s Office to see if any complaints have been filed against the seller.
Helping caregivers help kids
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover has curated a Play-Based Learning Kit — a 40-pound jumbo box filled with quality materials for children ages 5 and under — and is distributing the kits to 83 child care providers, libraries and family resource centers throughout the state serving more than 9,000 children, according to a press release. Each kit comes with monthly activity guides for educators on ways to use the materials to engage children. “When we saw the child care crisis growing, we began reaching out to childcare providers … about ways we could use our expertise to help,” Jane Bard, CMNH president, said in the release. “Once we realized the need was so great and so widespread around the state, the challenge was how to best serve all of these audiences. The solution was to give all of these audiences different tools and ways to participate in a variety of activities over the course of the year.”
QOL score: +1
Comment:Additionally, the museum has launched three new weekly play-based learning drop-in programs and is collaborating with the University of New Hampshire’s Department of Human Development and Family Studies to host two free play-based learning open house events as well as four online workshops open to all early childhood educators.
QOL score: 86
Net change: +1
QOL this week: 87
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.
