Tag: 221208

The Weekly Dish 22/12/08

News from the local food scene

• Garden feasts: Longtime television chef Mary Ann Esposito will be at Tuscan Market (9 Via Toscana, Salem) on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to present her newest cookbook, Ciao Italia: Plant, Harvest, Cook! Released Nov. 15, it’s her 13th book, centered around the home vegetable garden with easy-to-follow planting advice and more than 100 Italian-inspired recipes. During the event, Esposito will be accompanied by Tuscan Brands wine director Joseph Comforti for a special wine tasting. Admission is free. Visit tuscanbrands.com or read more about Esposito’s newest book on page 28 of the Nov. 17 issue of the Hippo — visit issuu.com/hippopress to read and download the e-edition for free.

• Wine and cheese chats: The final Cheese & Corks tasting at Local Baskit (10 Ferry St., Suite 120A, Concord) is happening on Wednesday, Dec. 14, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Featuring Kristy Ammann of Dole & Bailey — formerly the owner of Butter’s Fine Food & Wine in Concord — and Ambra Kash of Crush Wine & Spirits, events in this bi-weekly series have included “wine and cheese chats to prepare you for holiday entertaining or cozy winter nights,” according to the event flier. The Dec. 14 event is expected to feature sparkling wines and creamy cheeses, and admission is free. Visit localbaskit.com.

• ’Tis the season: Depending on when you’re reading this, there may still be tickets available to the three-day Christmas festival being hosted at Fulchino Vineyard (187 Pine Hill Road, Hollis) from Friday, Dec. 9, through Sunday, Dec. 11. Each day features artisan food vendors and craftspeople, a fire pit, hot cider and doughnuts, and family photo opportunities with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Go to fulchinovineyard.com for the most up-to-date details on ticket availability. Tickets are $15 for adults ages 21 and over (all adult tickets will also include one free wine glass per adult and a complimentary wine tasting), $7.50 for attendees ages 12 to 20 and 1 cent for kids ages 12 and under, for counting purposes.

• Whiskey business: Join Steadfast Spirits Distilling Co. (134 Hall St., Unit H, Concord) for its second annual Sip & Shop event on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The distillery will be celebrating the return of its 86-proof peppermint moonshine,and will also be hosting a one-day community shopping event featuring local crafters and other small business owners offering their wares for sale. Admission is free. See the event page on Facebook @steadfastdistilling.

On The Job – Dan Auditore

Wood floor refinisher

Dan Auditore is a wood floor refinisher and owner of Renaissance Hardwood Floors, based in Manchester.

Explain your job and what it entails.

My job is to take a customer’s hardwood floor and make it look brand new again or give them an entirely different-looking wood floor, depending on what they want. I go in with my machinery, sand the floors down to bare wood, then sand twice more to make it smooth. After that I hand scrape the areas the machines can’t reach. I vacuum the floor and apply a coat of sealer or stain depending on the job, and then apply two or three coats of finish on top, again, depending on what the customer needs.

How long have you had this job?

I’ve been professionally refinishing hardwood floors since January 2007 in Boston and surrounding areas as a member of the Floor Coverers Union Local 2168, but started Renaissance Hardwood Floors back in June of this year.

What led you to this career field and your current job?

Destiny. My great-grandfather, grandfather, father, stepfather, three of my uncles and a cousin all have had or currently have a wood flooring company. Ever since childhood I was always helping out on the jobs and started working full-time in the summers doing it at age 13.

What kind of education or training did you need?

Onsite training. You learn this trade by getting your hands on the machinery, getting a feel for it all, learning what to look for and how to fix errors and by getting a sore back and sore knees. You could read it in a book, but to really know what you’re doing, it takes hands-on, lots of time doing it and lots of body ache.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

Typically I wear a short-sleeve shirt, and then shorts or jeans, depending on the time of year, with some light, comfortable sneakers since I’m on my feet all day and doing lots of walking. I definitely make sure to have my earplugs and a dust mask since it’s usually very noisy and gets dusty.

How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?

It seemed like when Covid was still fresh, work began to slow down a little bit. I think some people were uncomfortable with others coming into their homes unless it was completely necessary, and on occasion a homeowner would ask that I wear a mask. I was usually wearing one all day anyway due to the dust. As Covid became a part of everyday life, work seemed to pick back up.

What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?

To work smarter, not harder, and to actively practice self-care on my body.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

I wish people knew how involved refinishing a floor is, how physically taxing it is, how expensive materials and equipment are and that whether they want a small room refinished or a whole house, the same amount of equipment is required.

What was the first job you ever had?

The first job I ever had was sanding and refinishing with my family. My first real job on the books was as a kennel assistant at Handle With Care Veterinary Hospital in Derry.

What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?

To fix whatever errors I see in the floor before the finish starts going down. If you don’t, it becomes much more difficult and time-consuming to fix after. That, and to just do what I know how to do and don’t overthink it.

Five favorites

Favorite book: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Favorite movie: Dumb and Dumber
Favorite music: I’m big on electronic, but also enjoy classical and country.
Favorite food: Venezuelan, Italian and Chinese
Favorite thing about NH: Scenery. I’ve always loved forests, mountains and countryside.

Featured photo: Dan Auditore. Courtesy photo.

Holiday gifts for the gardener

Tools, books and other ideas for the grower in your life

By Henry Homeyer

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First on my list for holiday gifts for the gardener is this: a subscription to this newspaper. Our local papers need subscribers in order to deliver to you the news you want but cannot get online. Yes, local news, gardening tips that fit your climate, obituaries and more. If your loved ones do not have subscriptions, think about giving one.

Next, since most of us really need very little, think about a donation to a nonprofit in your loved one’s honor. One of my favorites is a nonprofit that for decades has nurtured orphan bear cubs, the Kilham Bear Center in Lyme, New Hampshire. The Center this year is nurturing and caring for more than 100 baby bears whose mothers have been killed by cars or hunters and who would otherwise not survive. The Center has more than 19 acres of fenced forest for the bears, and serves Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. You can donate to The Kilham Bear Center at PO Box 37, Lyme, NH 03768, or go online to kilhambearcenter.org. Online there are photos and videos of the bears. Visiting is not possible, as they want the bears to have as little contact with humans as possible because their goal is to return all to the wild where they avoid humans.

Other nonprofits I like include The Native Plant Trust, the Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy. As a supporter I get the Nature Conservancy magazine and I never cease to be amazed at all the good projects they initiate or support. And of course most states have nice nonprofits supporting public gardens and wildlife areas that need our support.

Along with new products I like, each year I have to mention a few old favorites. The CobraHead Weeder is a simple, well-made tool that virtually all gardeners love once they’ve tried it. Shaped like a curved steel finger, it will get under weeds or flowers to lift them from the earth. I use it for planting as well as weeding. It’s found at most garden centers or online at cobrahead.com for about $30. They now have a version for smaller hands and a long-handled weeder as well.

Books are a great present. I usually mention author Michael Dirr, my favorite expert on trees and shrubs. All his books are well-researched, complete and opinionated. My favorite is his classic, the Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses.

Another classic is Barbara Damrosch’s The Garden Primer. This book is a good reference on almost anything a gardener would wish to know. And at under $20 in paperback, it is great value for an 800-page book. More reliable than many of the online experts, I dare say.

Lastly, a pair of books that work well together. First, Doug Tallamy’s Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard. This explains in readable layman’s terms why what we select for our gardens impacts birds and pollinators.

A good companion to Tallamy’s books is Essential Native Trees and Shrubs for the Eastern United States by Tony Dove and Ginger Woolridge. This book supplies all you need to know for selecting the right trees and shrubs for your land to support wildlife.

But on to other needs of gardeners. Consider a small electric chainsaw. They are safer, quieter and easier to start and to use than gas-powered ones. I have a DeWalt DCCS620 chainsaw that has a 20-volt battery and a 12-inch bar and weighs just 9 pounds. It’s great for cutting up downed branches, removing small trees and more. Available locally at $250 or less.

For gardeners who start seeds indoors each spring, there is an alternative to all those flimsy plastic six-packs. You can buy a metal soil blocker that you can use to make small cubes of a soil mix for your seeds. Available from Johnny’s Seeds or Gardener’s Supply, about $40.

Another great product for starting seedlings is electric heat mats. These sit under flats of seeds planted indoors, providing heat that speeds up the germination process. They are available in two sizes — enough for one flat or a big one for four or more flats. Great for things that take a long time to germinate.

For stocking stuffers I like seed packets. Give your loved ones seeds of less common vegetables and flowers that they might not find at the plant nursery. Garden gloves are great gifts, we all use them in spring and fall, and some people use them all summer, too.

Lastly, my wife, Cindy, swears by a natural bug repellent made in New Hampshire, White Mountain Deet-Free Insect Repellent (whitemountaininsectrepellent.com). It doesn’t take much of this stuff to keep away black flies, she says. It comes in a 4-ounce bottle of all-natural ingredients (no fillers) for $15 plus shipping. Great stocking stuffer.

Use your imagination. There are so many nice things a gardener will appreciate, including your own time promised for weeding in the spring!

Featured photo: Consider a donation to a good nonprofit like the Kilham Bear Center. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

Treasure Hunt 22/12/08

We have inherited this fish. It belonged to my uncle, who had many stuffed fish. Are there local collectors for such items?

My husband and I thought we might like them in our home. They are not working for us.

Thank you for any information you can share with us.

Cathy

Dear Cathy,

Your taxidermy fish looks like a bass. And I would say yes to at least this one and probably all of your uncle’s fish. The condition of each one will determine the value.

When it comes to collecting anything related to fishing — fish, poles, reels, etc. — there is a strong collector’s market. Some taxidermy fish can bring into the four-digit range along with related items.

First thing I would do, Cathy, is bring them either to a sportsman’s store or antique shop. This is to determine the condition of each and identify them.

After getting as much information as possible, they should be able to come up with an approximate value for you. They might even be your buyer. Taking the time, Cathy, will be worth it. Your bass is in the range of $100 in good condition. Some could even be higher. I hope I helped and your inherited fish bring you a treasure.

Kiddie Pool 22/12/08

Family fun for the weekend

The big guy

• It’s a bird, it’s a plane … it’s Santa Claus in a helicopter: Santa Claus will helicopter in to the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org, 669-4820) on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 11 a.m. Plan to get to the museum by 10:45 a.m. to park and see the landing, according to a press release. Santa will talk to kids (who will receive goodie bags) until 1 p.m., when he will depart by fire truck, the release said. The museum will be open and free to visitors on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The museum’s holiday exhibit, “Holiday Festival of Toy Planes and Model Aircraft,” which features more than 2,000 aviation-related toys, games and other items, will also open on Dec. 10. The exhibit will feature a “12 Planes of Christmas” scavenger hunt, the release said. The museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission costs $10 for ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 6 to 12, and is free for ages 5 and under, seniors and veterans/active military.

Find more places where kids can talk to Santa and enjoy other holiday amusements in our Holiday Guide issue (Nov. 24); the e-edition is available at hippopress.com (toward the bottom of the homepage). This weekend you can also find the big guy at breakfast at the Milford Town Hall (1 Union Sq.) on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Breakfast will be pancakes and sausages. Price is $9 per person; children ages 2 and younger eat free. Visit milfordnh.recdesk.com and to reserve a spot.

Relax while they play

• Leave your kids with the child care staff at the YMCA of Greater Londonderry (206 Rockingham Road in Londonderry) for Kids Night at the Y on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 3 to 8 p.m. The event, open to kids ages 4 to 12, will feature holiday-themed crafts and games for the kids as well as a pizza dinner, according to the YMCA. The program costs $45 for one child and $40 for each additional sibling. Visit bit.ly/ygl-kids-nights to register in advance.

Nutcrackers

• Turning Pointe Center of Dance presents The Nutcracker on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St. in Concord). Tickets cost $20. Visit turningpointecenterofdance.com.

• Dance Visions Network presents The Nutcracker Suite Acts I & II on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 12:30 and 5 p.m. at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). Tickets cost $22 plus a $4 surcharge. Visit anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities.

Special screenings

• Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys. com) will screen The Polar Express (G, 2004) at all three locations Friday, Dec. 9, through Thursday, Dec. 15, with multiple daily screenings Friday through Sunday and one 5:30 p.m. screening Monday through Thursday. Kids get a golden ticket when entering the theater and there is a surprise during the hot chocolate scene, according to the website. On Friday, Dec. 9, the 4 p.m. screening is a sensory-friendly screening with house lights slightly brighter and the movie volume turned down, the website said.

Gift of adventures

This year, give kids the gift of activities, adventures and experiences.

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For the holidays, give a gift to kids that allows them to explore art, nature and science through museum passes, activity gift cards, movie tickets and more.

Michael Accomando, the owner of Mel’s Funway Park, said that even though Mel’s is closed until the spring, they are still selling gift cards and Fun Packs (which include admission for all activities at the park) for the upcoming season. To Accomando, giving activities to kids is important.

“I try to keep people as far away from sitting on their phones or screens,” Accomando said. “I want to see kids outside and having fun.”

Below are a list of some area venues that offer gift cards, passes and more for kids and families to enjoy.

• Altitude Trampoline Park (360 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, altitudemerrimack.com, 261-3673) Gift cards can be requested through the website. An average jump session starts at $20 and there are multiple session passes available for purchase at the park.

• Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, nhahs.org) Membership for the full year includes a 10 percent discount in the Museum gift shop, borrowing privileges from the Slusser Aviation Lending Library, an invitation to quarterly luncheon programs and all Aviation Museum of New Hampshire events, and a subscription to the quarterly newsletter The Aeronaut. Individual membership costs $35, with family membership costing $70. Memberships can be purchased online.

• Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover, childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) The museum is offering gift cards that are one playtime pass for $12.50 for an adult and one child. A yearlong membership costs $145 per family.

• Chunky’s (707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua, 880-8055; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, 635-7499; chunkys.com) The movie theater offers physical and printable gift cards ranging from $10 to $100 and an anytime movie pass for $8. There are also gift boxes starting at $22, such as the one that includes a $10 gift card, one prepaid admission and one prepaid popcorn coupon.

• Cowabungas (725 Huse Road, Manchester, cowabungas.com, 935-9659) The playground offers gift cards in any amount that can be purchased on its website.

• Crotched Mountain (615 Francestown Road, Bennington, crotchedmtn.com, 588-3668) Day lift passes start at $64 for youth ages 7 to 17.

• Fun City Trampoline Park (553 Mast Road, Goffstown, funcitygoffstown.com, 606-8807)Gift cards can be purchased at the park. Jump times start at $10 for toddlers ages 6 and younger or $16 for children ages older than 6. There is a VIP pass available online that includes two hours of fun, with a 60-minute jump time, laser tag and bumper cars. Pricing for children older than 6 is $30, $18 for toddlers.

• Granite Base Camp (300 Bloudin Road in Manchester; experiencebasecamp.org/pages/granite, 623-5962) offers annual family members (at $150 for four passes per weekend and $200 for six) or get a day pass for $20 per person. During Saturdays in winter, Granite Base Camp has ice skating, ice fishing, snow shoeing, indoor archery, STEM programs and more.

• Krazy Kids (60 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke, krazykids.com, 228-7529) Gift cards start at $25 and a two-hour play session costs $15 for a child and an additional $5 for an accompanying adult.

• McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Dr., Concord, starhop.com, 271-7827) The Center features different levels of memberships that can be purchased online. Base level membership includes free admission to exhibit halls, free admission to the monthly Super Stellar Fridays series, free admission to regular planetarium shows, free or reduced admission to science centers that are part of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) reciprocal program, free admission to partner museums and attractions, discounts on Discovery Center workshops and programs, and discounts at the Science Store. Membership for students ages 18 and under start at $30.

• McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Way, Manchester, mcintyreskiarea.com, 622-6159) They offer everything from day lifts to season passes available to purchase on the website. Prices range from $20 to $389. Gift cards are also available starting at $10.

• Mel’s Funway Park (454 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield, melsfunwaypark.com, 424-2292)Email [email protected] or call to purchase gift cards or a Funway fun pack. Packs start at $38 per person and include a go-kart ride, a round of mini golf, a laser tag session, a bumper boat ride, two admissions to the laser maze and five batting cage tokens.

• Muse Paintbar (42 Hanover St., Manchester, musepaintbar.com, 888-607-6873, musepaintbar.com) The studio is offering gift cards that can be purchased online. The starting price for a gift card is $25 and sessions start at $35.

• O’neil Cinemas (24 Calef Hwy., Epping, oneilcinemas.com, 679-3529) The movie theater offers gift cards from $5 to $100. Gift cards can be purchased online or in the cinema.

• Pats Peak (686 Flanders Road, Henniker, patspeak.com, 428-3245) Gift cards start at $20, and a lift pass for juniors costs $82.

• SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St., Manchester, see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400) Individual membership costs $30, membership for a family of four costs $120, for a family of up to eight is $150. Gift certificates can be purchased by calling the center’s phone number.

• Studio 550 (550 Elm St., Manchester, 550arts.com, 232-5597) The clay studio offers classes in drawing or clay work for students ages 9 and older during the school semesters and a pottery camp over summer vacation. Gift cards (made out of clay) are available and range from $10 to $300.

• Vertical Dreams (250 Commercial St., Manchester, verticaldreams.com, 625-6919) The rock climbing gym has gift cards starting at $25 that can be purchased online. A beginner lesson package costs $40 and a day pass costs $15 for children. Memberships for children start at one month for $45.

• XtremeCraze (4 Orchard View Dr., Unit 10, Londonderry, xtremecraze.us/londonderry, 404-6064) Pricing starts at $18.

Featured photo: The Aviation Museum of N.H.’s annual ‘Holiday Festival of Model Planes and Toy Aircraft.’ Courtesy photo.

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