231019 – Page 4

Find your Halloween fun!

Parties, spooky attractions and more for Halloween fans of all ages

Enter, if you dare

New Hampshire’s favorite haunted attractions

Halloween is just over a week away and what better way to get into the spooky spirit than visiting a haunted house? New Hampshire is home to many haunted trails, woods and houses, such as The Dark Woods in Milford, open now through Sunday, Oct. 29, and the award-winning Fright Kingdom in Nashua, now open until Saturday, Nov. 4, for its 19th year.

The Dark Woods at Trombly Gardens in Milford, an offshoot of The Dark Crop haunted corn maze in Hollis, is back for its fourth season.

“It’s got a little bit of everything out here in the woods,” said Willard, The Dark Woods’s hospitality manager. “It’s creepy, it’s really dark, it’s got some jump scares, but most of all it’s got a collection of really unique characters [who] interact with the guests and make jokes. We’ve been [told] we’re just as funny as we are creepy and that’s what sets us apart.”

In addition to the regular walk-through show there is a trauma-free tour with music and theatrical lighting. New for this year is The Darker Woods, an even darker version with only a flashlight provided and the chance of being touched by the trained actors. You can also stop by the farm stand for apple crisp, kettle corn and other treats.

“We like to call ourselves a boutique haunt and in our world what that means is basically we aren’t looking to put through tens of thousands of people,” Willard said. “We have a very specific amount, we tend to sell out on our tickets and we try to give everybody a unique experience.”

A bit to the south is the accredited Fright Kingdom in Nashua.

“Fright Kingdom is like nothing else,” said Tim Dunne, who created Fright Kingdom along with his wife. “[It] is one of the most detailed haunted attractions on the eastern seaboard.”

Set in a 150,000-square-foot building, Fright Kingdom comprises five indoor haunted attractions, this year including Apocalypse Z, Bloodmare Manor, Psycho Circus in 3D, Grim and The Abandoned, with animatronics, more than 100 actors, and pop and theatrical scares coming from high and low.

“Every year we make changes and add all kinds of new effects, we change scares [and] we add animatronics,” he said. “We’ve had more animatronics operating at our facilities than pretty much all the haunted attractions in New Hampshire combined.”

General admission tickets grant you access to all five attractions as well as concessions, T-shirt sales and the chance to get your picture taken with some of the monsters. On Friday, Nov. 3, and Saturday, Nov. 4, is Fright Kingdom In the Dark, which you must sign a waiver to attend. Guests will be given a single light source to navigate through the houses and also face the chance of being touched by the actors. For the younger crowd is Hardly Haunted on Sunday, Oct. 22, a children’s Halloween party and haunted house tour with face painting, dancing, crafts, games, a costume parade and trick-or-treating.

“The way we decide what we’re going to add every year is from customer input,” Dunne said. “We pull from every customer that comes out. We have an area where they can write in their favorite parts. They give us all types of feedback … and we take all that data on an annual basis and decide what we’re going to do for the next season.”

The seasoned haunted house has accumulated many accolades and impressive credits over the years, including being rated the scariest haunted house in New Hampshire by WMUR, and this year will be featured in TransWorld and NetherWorld Haunted House’s Legendary Haunt Tour, a prestigious opportunity for those in the haunted house business, according to Dunne.

Dunne and the Fright Kingdom team were involved in the Adam Sandler movie Hubie Halloween, renting animatronics and props to the production team, with Dunne working as a consultant and some of the Fright Kingdom actors being hired for the film.

“Our goal is to try to scare every single person that goes through Fright Kingdom,” Dunne said. “My hope for this year is every customer that leaves Fright Kingdom feels like they just found their new favorite haunted house.”

Haunted attractions

Fright Kingdom
Where: 12 Simon St., Nashua
General admission
When: Friday, Oct. 20, through Tuesday, Oct. 31
Friday and Saturday, 7 to 10:30 p.m; Sunday, 7 to 10 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 31, 7 to 10 p.m.
Hardly Haunted
Sunday, Oct. 22, 1 to 4 p.m.
In the Dark
Friday, Nov. 3, and Saturday, Nov. 4, 7 to 10 p.m.
Cost: General admission and In the Dark tickets are $35, Hardly Haunted tickets are $10

The Dark Woods
Where: Trombly Gardens, 150 N. River Road, Milford
Scary Walk-Through Show
Fridays, Oct. 20 and Oct. 27, and Saturdays, Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, gate opens at 7 p.m., last ticket sold at 10 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 29, gate opens at 6:30 p.m., last ticket sold at 9:30 p.m.
Trauma-Free Tours
Sundays, Oct. 15 and Oct. 22, 6 to 8 p.m. $13
The Darker Woods
When: Thursday, Oct. 19, 7 to 9 p.m.
Cost: Tickets are $26 for the walk-through tour and trauma free tour, $25 for The Darker Woods

Nightmare New England Presents Spooky World
Where: 454 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield
When: Thursdays, Oct. 19 and Oct. 26, 7 to 9:45 p.m.; Fridays, Oct. 20 and Oct. 27, 7 to 11:15 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 3, 7 to 10:15 p.m.; Saturdays, Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, 6 to 11:15 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 4, 6 to 10:15 p.m.; Sundays, Oct. 22 and Oct. 29, 6 to 10:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 31, 7 to 10:15 p.m.
Cost: Tickets range from $48.51 to $85.53; both general admission and VIP admission tickets are offered.

Haunted Overload
Where: DeMeritt Hill Farm, 20 Orchard Way, Lee
When: Thursday, Oct. 19, through Tuesday, Oct. 31
Main event
Fridays, Oct. 20 and Oct. 27, 7 to 9 p.m.; Saturdays, Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, 6:45 to 9 p.m.; Sundays, Oct. 22 and Oct. 29, 6:30 to 8 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 26, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Friday Night Lite
Thursday, Oct. 19, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Black Out Night
Tuesday, Oct. 31, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Cost: Tickets are $35 for main event, $21.50 for Friday Night Lite, $25 for Black Out Night, $12 for Day Walk

The Salisbury Woods Haunted Barn and Trail
Where: 19 Franklin Road, Salisbury
When: Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 20 through Oct. 28, 7 to 10 p.m.
Cost: Tickets are $15

Screeemfest at Canobie Lake Park
Where: 85 N Policy St., Salem
When: Fridays, Oct. 20 and Oct. 27, 5 to 11 p.m.; Saturdays, Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, 3 to 11 p.m.; Sundays, Oct. 22 and Oct. 29, 1 to 9 p.m.
Cost: General admission tickets range from $40 to $64; those under 48 inches tall and 60 years or older are $36

Featured Photo: The Dark Woods at Trombly Gardens. Courtesy photo.

This Week 23/10/19

Big Events October 19, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, Oct. 19
Hear the band Decatur Creek and catch a curator tour at 6 p.m. of the exhibit “Distant Conversations: Ella Walker and Betty Woodman” (which closes Sunday, Oct. 22) tonight at Art After Work at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) from 5 to 8 p.m. when admission is free.

Thursday, Oct. 19
Catch the original stage play by Ellen Cunis and Toby Tarnow (who also directs) The Big White House on Main Street starting today at Amato Center for the Performing Arts’ (56 Mont Vernon St. in Milford, amatocenter.org/riverbend-youth-company). Set in Woburn, Mass., the play tells the story of an Italian family in the early 20th century; see hippopress.com to find the e-edition of the Oct. 12 issue of the Hippo, where our story about the production is on page 18. The show will run through Sunday, Oct. 22, with times at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost $15, $12 for seniors, students.

Friday, Oct. 20
Give the kids an hour of theater at tonight’s production of Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr. presented by the Community Players of Concord Children’s Theatre Project at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St. in Concord; theaudi.org). Tickets to this shortened musical adaptation cost $15 at communityplayersofconcord.org and at the door. The show is tonight at 7 p.m. and tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 20
Also opening tonight is the Peacock Players’ production of James and the Giant Peach, with performances tonight at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 21, at 2 & 7 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m. (as well as those times next weekend) at the Janice B. Street Theatre (14 Court St. in Nashua). Tickets cost $15 to $18 for adults; see peacockplayers.org.

Saturday, Oct. 21
Symphony NH will bring new arrangements of Bollywood favorites to its concert “Symphony Masala,” which will also feature singer Anuradha “Juju” Palakurthi tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St. in Nashua; nashuacenterforthearts.com). Tickets cost $25 to $65 (with discounts for seniors and students). See symphonynh.org.

Saturday, Oct. 21
Get dressed up for tonight’s screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (R, 1975) at 10 p.m. at Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St. in Concord; redrivertheatres.org, 224-4600), one of four screenings Red River will hold this Halloween season (the other Rocky Horrors are Friday, Oct. 20; Friday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Oct. 28, all at 10 p.m.). The theater will provide the props for this 18+ event. Tickets cost $25. Find more screenings in the Film section, which starts on page 34.

Wednesday, Oct. 25
Catch 1923’s silent film The Hunchback of Notre Dame starring Lon Chaney and presented with live music by Jeff Rapsis tonight at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). Tickets cost $10.

Save the Date! Friday, Oct. 27
See Le Vent du Nord — billed as “hopping Francophone folk” — on Friday, Oct. 27, at 7:30 p.m. at the Dana Center for the Humanities at Saint Anselm College (100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester; tickets.anselm.edu). Tickets cost $45.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 23/10/19

Peanut butter & cereal

Merrimack County Savings Bank (The Merrimack) has launched a peanut butter and cereal drive to take place throughout October in partnership with #NHBanksGiveBack, organized by the NH Bankers Association. According to a press release, this initiative aims to combat child hunger by collecting essential items for local food pantries, including peanut butter and cereal, which are often requested to provide nutritious meals for children facing food insecurity. Donations collected during the drive will benefit various pantries in the region, supporting the local community in providing essential food items for those in need. The bank encourages individuals to drop off peanut butter and cereal donations at any of its eight locations in Bow, Concord, Contoocook, Hooksett, Windham and Nashua.

QOL score: +1
Comment: In New Hampshire, 1 in 12 children struggles with food insecurity, the release said.

Mac to give back

Mr. Mac’s Macaroni and Cheese in Manchester has kicked off its 7th annual “Mac Gives Back” fundraising event, according to a press release. Throughout October, Mr. Mac’s will donate $1 for each Take & Bake order of their macaroni and cheese dishes. The initiative aims to support the Boys & Girls Club and MPAL in Manchester. Founded by siblings Patrick Cain and Valerie Anderson, Mr. Mac’s places a strong emphasis on family and community, seeking to contribute to their local community through this initiative.

QOL score: +1
Comment: You can place Take and Bake orders at their Manchester location, over the phone, or online for pick-up at their drive-thru window.

Biking for funds

Lombardo Homes conducted a study on decorating for Halloween and found that New Hampshire ranks third in the nation for its decorative enthusiasm. The study also found that the crow is the state’s favorite Halloween adornment. Conducted in August 2023, the study is based on an analysis of 7,330 Halloween-related Google search terms and purchasing behaviors; data sourced from search volumes per capita over the last year; and a survey in the same month that involved 1,209 Americans discussing their Halloween decoration habits.
QOL score: +1
Comment: This year’s event saw a 16 percent increase in riders compared to the previous year.

Arts brings in the dough

Arts Alive has revealed that the nonprofit arts and culture sector in the Monadnock Region generated $25 million in economic activity in 2022, according to the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study conducted by Americans for the Arts. This economic activity included $18.2 million in spending by nonprofit arts organizations and $6.8 million in event-related spending by audiences. It supported 521 jobs, provided $20.6 million in personal income and generated $5.3 million in government revenue.

QOL score: +1
Comment: The study highlights the significant economic and social impacts of the arts and culture industry in the region, with spending by arts and culture audiences benefiting local merchants.

QOL score: 88
Net change: +4
QOL this week: 92

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

Pats go broke in Vegas

The Big Story – Pats Fall to 1-5: The struggles continued for the Patriots on Sunday with a 21-17 loss in Las Vegas made worse by coming at the hands of an alumni club including Josh McDaniels, a now-ticked-off-at-Bill Adam Butler, Jakobi Meyers (who scored their only TD), Jimmy Garoppolo and, after he got hurt, (gulp) Brian Hoyer, who was solid QB-ing off the bench.

With Buffalo and high-flying Miami dead ahead it’s now or never over the next two weeks, where we’ll know if it’ll just be an ongoing struggle for the rest of 2023 or a (surreal) go for Caleb Williams’ tank-a-thon.

Sports 101: Who’s played the most MLB games without ever playing in a postseason game? Hint: He’s a Hall of Famer.

News Item – Bruce Bochy a Difference-Maker: In his first year as manager the Rangers go from 73 wins to 90. Then in the playoffs he/they were bad news for the AL East as they swept 98-win Tampa Bay in the wild card round and then rolled the 101-win Orioles in the ALDS.

News Item – Japanese Important on Red Sox Radar: They’ve gone there before with Daisuke Matsuzaka. That is, going all in to sign a hyped Japanese pitcher for big money. The next one is Yoshinobu Yamamoto, whose career numbers — 70-29 and a 1.82 ERA along with winning three straight Japanese pitching triple crowns — are impressive. With a few exceptions, the numbers have rarely stood up for Japan imports like Dice-K. But, given their desperation for starting pitching and the need to give its highly irritated fan base red meat, it seems certain they’ll be in the hunt for their next big guy.

News Item – Baseball’s Playoffs March On: It’s the battle of Texas between the Astros and Rangers in the ALCS, notable for the fact that this is Houston’s seventh consecutive time in the ALCS. And in the NLCS it’s the second straight year deposed Red Sox GM Dave Dombrowski has his Phillies face off with Atlanta while the Sox are on vacation.

The Numbers:
11 – tackles recorded by my new favorite player, David Long Jr., to lead Miami in Sunday’s 42-21 win over Carolina.

12.1 – yards per carry average by Dolphins rookie runner De’Von Achane, the highest in history by anyone through four games of a season. Overall 460 yards on 36 carries, including 157 on 11 vs. the Giants two Sundays ago before injuring a knee, which will sideline him for a month.

457 – astonishing rushing yards and five TD’s on 27 carries in a ho-hum day at the office for Souhegan HS’s JJ Bright as they ran over Hanover High 41-22 earlier this month.

… Of the Week Awards
Question: With him stuck on 299 for three weeks people are wondering if Bill Belichick will ever get his 300th career regular-season win.

Triplets: In the Celtics’ 112-101 pre-season win over Philly, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingas and Derrick White each played 17 minutes and each scored 11 points.

Double Play: Game 2 of the Philly-Atlanta NLCS ended with an 8-6-5-3 double dip. After a great leaping warning-track catch, Michael Harris wheeled and over threw to second base, but third baseman Austin Riley, backing up second base, got it and whipped it to Matt Olson at first base to nail Bryce Harper, who was way past second base after thinking the ball would drop.

Random Thoughts:
With the arrest of former safety Sergio Brown for the alleged murder of his mother, that’s two guys from the 2011 Patriots arrested for murder, Aaron Hernandez being the other one of course.

The hardest thing to wrap my head around about the demise of the Patriots is how boring they are to watch.

Must say I love seeing the Dodgers lose in the playoffs. Mostly because I hate the fraidy-cat, by the book, robotic way Dave Roberts manages. It’s a big reason they get knocked out early almost every year.

Sports 101 Answer: The great Chicago Cub Ernie Banks holds the record for most games without playing in the postseason at 2,520.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

A learning environment

NH’s Teacher of the Year talks about her class

Elizabeth Duclos, who teaches third grade at Pembroke Hill School in Pembroke, has been named New Hampshire’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Chosen from a pool of more than 300 nominees, Duclos now advances to compete for the National Teacher of the Year award.

Explain your teaching philosophy and the kind of classroom environment you aim to create.
Children are often in a space where they don’t feel comfortable taking risks or trying new things due to fear of failure or shame. When this happens, children don’t feel open to doing things. The whole basis of what I do is wrapped around children feeling cared for and safe. That’s something that I’ve heard from many parents over the years as a teacher — that I care for their children, making connections with them, learning who they are, and knowing what they like and don’t like. We spend a lot of time cultivating a community in the classroom that allows children to find connections with each other and with me, and that truly is the backbone of what I do.

How do you ensure your students feel safe to take risks and learn from their mistakes?
We talk a lot in my classroom about productive struggle; things might not feel easy, but it’s OK to try. If we don’t make mistakes, we aren’t going to learn. We focus a lot on what we call “growing;” really, what we’re doing is editing. … We try first, look at it, and then we make an edit. And there’s nothing wrong with not using the same strategy as other people. We talk about how we can grow from each other, and that there’s many ways to solve a problem. We want to find new ways to grow our brains and see things in different ways. That’s how we make progress. They know at this point that if they stumble or struggle, we’re going to go over it all together, and then they’re going to be able to make an edit. That’s really important for children to understand — that we can fix mistakes — and that allows them to feel safe and take risks.

What does a typical day in your classroom look like, and what makes it special for your students?
I try to make our classroom feel light and fun. We give ourselves permission to laugh and sing and dance. Every day we have a morning group time … when we play a game and do a ‘share.’ This sharing could be as simple as ‘What’s your favorite food?’ and it helps students connect with each other. Students are constantly encouraged to work in groups … so they can learn how to share their thoughts and ideas and agree and disagree respectfully.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve encountered throughout your career, and how have you dealt with those?
Helping students who struggle to be self-motivated or to find enjoyment with school. I really work to make it a joyful environment, but some students really do struggle, so finding ways to make school joyful for them can be a challenge. There are my own struggles, too, so I’m always seeking out professional development opportunities, working with my colleagues and making sure that I’m growing. It’s an ever-changing process.

How do you plan to leverage your recent award to support educators and students in your state? What core message would you like to convey?
My platform is literacy, and choice in literacy, helping educators build abundant classroom libraries. Children deserve to have access to many different kinds of literature and texts at their fingertips. My whole classroom is full of books, and they’re books that children want to read. I’m hoping to be offering monthly webinars for teachers starting in January on how to make these libraries happen. I also hope just to continue to promote literacy across the state throughout the year.

What advice would you give to other educators?
That you are enough. … We as teachers put a lot of pressure on ourselves to do everything perfectly, but I’ve learned over the years that perfect is not always best. I can try to be perfect and it’s never going to feel like enough. But as long as you’re doing what’s best for students, you’re doing enough. I would also remind them to enjoy it. Teaching does come with challenges, but ultimately it’s a very fun profession. — Angie Sykeny

Featured photo: Elizabeth Duclos. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 23/10/19

Plan for aging

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has received federal approval for the State Plan on Aging, according to a press release. Coordinated through the DHHS Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services, this four-year plan aims to establish a comprehensive statewide system of long-term services and supports with a focus on person-centered care. With the aging population expected to grow, the plan aligns with the core foundation programs of the Older Americans Act, aiming to enhance access to community-based supports and services, promote person-centered care, reduce the risk of abuse and neglect, combat loneliness and isolation and advance age-friendly communities. The plan will be effective now through Sept. 30, 2027.

Engagement center

The City of Manchester has announced the opening of the Engagement Center at 39 Beech St. as part of the city’s efforts to address homelessness. According to a press release, the center offers various essential services, including bathrooms, showers, storage, charging stations, peer support, housing navigation, mental health and substance use programs, employment resources and health care, aiming to reduce barriers for adults experiencing homelessness. It will also provide winter emergency warming if needed. The Center is seeking donations of essential items to support individuals experiencing homelessness. They need items like clothing, hygiene products, toiletries and more. Donations can be dropped off at the Center seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mental health funds

U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, along with Reps. Annie Kuster and Congressman Chris Pappas, have jointly announced nearly $2 million in federal awards to expand access to mental health care for young people in New Hampshire. According to a press release, the funding will support the training of pediatricians in mental health care and the growth of the mental health workforce, particularly in rural communities. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services will receive $850,000 through a Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Award, while the University System of New Hampshire will receive $1,054,728 through the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program. The officials emphasize the importance of addressing the worsening mental health of young individuals, particularly in the wake of the Covid pandemic, and highlight their commitment to providing essential mental health resources for New Hampshire’s youth.

In addition to addressing mental health care for young people, the delegation has secured federal funding totaling nearly $1 million to enhance maternal health care in the North Country region, according to a press release.

Studio space

WORK Lakes Region, a coworking and event studio at 51 Elm St. in Lakeport, Laconia, is set to open this month. According to a press release, the space offers various membership options, including full- and part-time memberships, private offices for one to three people, hot/flex desks, dedicated desks and multiple meeting and event spaces for groups of three to 100. Members will have access to amenities such as unlimited internet, mail solutions, Google My Business – Official Address allocations and community connection events. The facility will also provide programming for leadership, business and personal development led by business coach and brand strategist Jodie Gallant and her team at JMG Business Strategies. Membership enrollment and space reservations are now open on their website, WORKLakesRegion.com.

Robotics for kids

The New Hampshire Department of Education is awarding grants totaling $713,601 to 77 schools in the state to support robotics programs for students. According to a press release, these grants range from $2,000 to $14,850 per school and are intended to establish new robotics programs or expand existing ones. The funding will cover the purchase of robotics kits, parts, and tools, as well as registration and competition fees, transportation costs, team shirts and coach stipends. Some schools will also use the grants to launch drone programs. These initiatives aim to promote STEM education, encourage student participation in competitive events, and develop life and work-related skills while making learning fun. Supported programs include CoderZ, VEX Robotics, FIRST Robotics, and drone content, fostering interest in STEM careers among students.

Music school head

Bianca Garcia has been named Executive Director of the Manchester Community Music School. According to a press release, Garcia studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and the New England Conservatory and has performed worldwide, collaborating with renowned musicians and premiering new compositions. She has also been deeply involved in music education initiatives, working to establish classical music legacies in various countries. She brings a unique blend of musical expertise and community engagement to her role as Executive Director, aiming to enhance the school’s impact in New Hampshire and beyond, the release said.

The 18th annual CHaD HERO event, held Oct. 15 in Hanover, saw a record-breaking turnout of 3,100 participants, sponsors and donors. According to a press release, this community event raised over $700,000 in funding for essential child and family support services at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (CHaD) and in the Dartmouth Health Children’s system. Over the years, CHaD HERO has raised nearly $10 million for pediatric care and research.

The City of Manchester Fire Department announced the grand opening of Station 9, at 575 Calef Road. According to a press release, this new firehouse features a specially designed decontamination area for gear cleaning before entering the living quarters. The station also incorporates memorabilia from the former Station 9 into its design.

The DRIPBaR, an IV vitamin therapy franchise, has opened its first New Hampshire location, in Portsmouth. According to a press release, it will offer IV vitamin therapy options and services like red light therapy and Halo Salt Therapy. The franchise, which has rapidly expanded across the United States, provides IV treatments under the guidance of medical professionals, the release said.

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