Tag: 240222

Flavors of Girl Scout cookie season

Girls learn sales and leadership skills while selling Samoas and Thin Mints

Girl Scout cookie season is underway, combining tasty treats with the opportunity to support local youth initiatives. Ginger Kozlowski, communications and public relations manager for Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, and Sheila Morris, a troop leader in Concord, talked about this year’s sales, including how to buy cookies, the impact of New Hampshire’s Cookie Weekend, troop goals and ways to support without buying cookies.

What are the different ways people can purchase Girl Scout cookies across New Hampshire this season?

Kozlowski: It’s great to interact with a Girl Scout at her cookie booth. You will help her see that people support Girl Scouts and she will be happy to tell you all about the cookies and her goals. Booths are all over the place, but only until March 17. You can find a cookie booth near you by visiting girlscoutcookies.com and entering your zip code.

Tell us about the governor’s proclamation of Cookie Weekend and how you anticipate that impacting cookie sales.

Kozlowski: We are happy that Gov. Sununu proclaimed Feb. 16 through Feb. 18 Girl Scout Cookie Weekend in New Hampshire. We hope it will help us celebrate by supporting the Girl Scout Cookie program, which funds so much of our activities. Did you know that all the proceeds stay local?

Morris: Our troop has set a goal to sell 7,000 boxes of cookies so we can take one last big trip in 2025.

What are some of the goals or activities that local Girl Scouts are aiming to fund with the proceeds from this year’s cookie sales?

Kozlowski: Many Girl Scouts put their cookie proceeds toward summer camp, membership, community action projects, and fund cool experiences. On Facebook, Girl Scouts have posted goals like going to Space Camp and helping a women’s shelter food pantry. Many are looking forward to field trips.

Morris: We are known as the ‘travel troop.’ Our main focus has been travel and community service. We’re looking forward to kayaking and hiking in August in the Lakes Region and taking one last big trip in 2025. These trips have been amazing. They have given girls new adventures and bonding. Some of these girls might never travel without this troop. To see a girl overcome her anxiety to do something is priceless. To see them enjoy new experiences is delightful. The trips have also given them travel skills in budgeting, exploring places to go, getting around and safety. We also have tried to do a service project on our trips when it is possible. For example, we spent a day at a local school doing crafts and teaching them games and songs when we went to St. Lucia last spring. This is such a rewarding experience.

Can you explain the ‘Unbox the Future’ theme and how cookie sales help Girl Scouts achieve this vision?

Kozlowski: Unbox the Future simply refers to how you support the growth and future of girls by buying Girl Scout cookies. Girl Scouting is all about giving girls the opportunity to explore the world and follow their dreams in a supportive environment. Our mission is to create young women of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.

Morris: And I see that in all my Girl Scouts. I have seen them come out of their shell and become a confident leader. I have seen them mentor younger girls. I have seen them learn to discuss and decide as a group, while being respectful of different opinions. It’s amazing to see them tackle community issues or plan an overseas trip.

What are some key skills that Girl Scouts are learning through cookie sales?

Kozlowski: Oh, that’s easy. Girl Scouts is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world, so we have five specific skills we find essential to leadership, success and life in general: goal-setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

Morris: I have seen these girls flourish in all aspects when dealing with the public at booths and become more confident as the years have gone by. I have personally seen my Girl Scouts grow in all these areas. And isn’t that what every parent wants for their child?

For those looking to support local Girl Scouts but who may not want cookies themselves, what options do they have for contributing to the troops?

Kozlowski: The Council’s Gift of Caring program is perfect for this. Every Girl Scout has the ability to take donations at their cookie booth to put toward this program, which provides cookies to the military and hometown heroes. And if you don’t run across a cookie booth by March 17 when sales end, you can still donate at the council’s website at girlscoutsgwm.org.

Morris: If you do that at our cookie booth, you will also directly help our Girl Scouts.

Cookies!
Here are this year’s cookie flavors, according to girlscoutsgwm.org. Cookies cost $6 per box.

Adventurefuls — “brownie-inspired cookies topped with caramel flavored creme”
Do-Si-Dos — “oatmeal sandwich cookies with a peanut butter filling”
Girl Scout S’mores — “graham sandwich cookies with chocolatey and marshmallowy flavored filling”
Lemon-Ups — “crispy lemon cookies”
Samoas — “crisp cookies with caramel, coconut and chocolatey stripes”
Tagalongs — “crispy cookies layered with peanut butter and covered with a chocolatey coating”
Thin Mints — “chocolatey cookies made with natural oils of peppermint”
Toffee-Tastic — gluten-free buttery cookies with toffee bits
Trefoils — “shortbread cookies”

Featured photo: Photo courtesy of GSUSA.

The Weekly Dish 24/02/22

News from the local food scene

• Bourbon dinner: The Homestead’s Bristol location (1567 Summer St.; 744-2022, homesteadnh.com) will hold a Penelope Bourbon Dinner on Tuesday, March 5, at 6:30 p.m., with a sparkling wine reception at 6 p.m. The cost for a four-course pairing dinner is $90 per person. The dinner includes cheese & crackers and crudites with the sparkling wine, bourbon brown sugar smoked salmon latke with creme fraiche as the first course, crispy pork belly taco with a smoky bourbon mole for a second course, Bourbon Street glaze filet for the third course and vanilla bean panna cotta and bourbon caramel sauce with a grilled peach flambe for the fourth course, according to an email. Call for reservations.

• Cider flights: The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) will host an adults-only (21+) Cider Flights & Tasty Bites night featuring North Country Hard Cider on Saturday, March 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. Taste five of North Country’s hard ciders and enjoy eats from area restaurants, according to the website. Tickets cost $35 per person, $25 for designated drivers; a VIP admission ticket for $50 ($35 for a driver) includes a 6:30 p.m. entry and an extra cider pour (for the non-drivers). Purchase tickets online.

• New owner: According to a Concord Monitor article first published on Feb. 7, “a team including the owner of Tandy’s Top Shelf in Concord bought Hermanos Cocina Mexicana.” The new owners plan to keep Hermanos the same, according to a quote from Greg Tandy in the article. The story also reported that Vinnie’s Pizzaria is reopening soon.

• Trivia and beer: TailSpinner Brewery (57 Factory St., with an entrance at 40 Water St., in Nashua; ramblingtale.com) hosts trivia nights on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., with seating starting at 6 p.m., according to the Brewery’s Facebook page.

• Saucey: The Salem-NH-based Cucina Aurora, known for its infused oils, mixes and coffees among other items, has new jarred marinara sauces. The Magical Marinara comes in Roasted Garlic Pomodoro and Sweet Basil Pomodoro and costs $10.99 on the website. See cucinaaurora.com, where you can find a list of places that sell Cucina Aurora products.

On The Job – Deanna R. Hoying

Executive Director of Symphony New Hampshire

Deanna R. Hoying leads Symphony New Hampshire, the state’s oldest professional orchestra, known for its blend of classical and modern music and community engagement through music education.

Explain your job and what it entails. 

I am involved in all areas of running the organization. This includes interfacing with the public at concerts, working with our board of trustees, strategizing with marketing about our message and our reach, working with our collaborative partners around the state, all development areas … working with our musicians and working in partnership with our music director to create each season of concerts.

 How long have you had this job? 

I began this position in August 2021, but I have been with Symphony NH since April 2019.

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

I have been in music since I was 7. It began with piano lessons, then studying French horn. I have a music performance degree in French horn from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Then I attended Temple University in Philadelphia to do graduate work in music education. I have been in the world of arts administration since 1996. … I have been the director of education for three opera companies — Cincinnati, Arizona and Kentucky — and the director of education and community engagement for the Louisville Orchestra from 2014 to 2018 before moving to Manchester in 2018.

What kind of education or training did you need?

When I began work in arts administration in 1996, it was on-the-job training. I was originally hired at Cincinnati Opera because I had a background as a musician and music educator and could write curriculum. That honed my writing skills to create grant narratives for development departments.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire? 

Daytime at work is very relaxed. We are on a hybrid schedule with typically one day per week in the office. Concert attire is different with a more dressed-up vibe.

What is the most challenging thing about your work, and how do you deal with it?

There are a lot of puzzle pieces in putting together a season. Working with the music director to create concert programs, then finding venues to be able to perform, making sure our librarian/personnel manager has all the information needed to hire musicians, … I try to be very organized and methodical … I do take time for exercise and meditation; that helps me focus on the challenges at hand.

What do you wish other people knew about your job? 

Building partnerships and relationships takes time. Rebuilding an audience after Covid has taken time and effort, but we are finally seeing the results of the hard work.

— Angie Sykeny

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

It’s important that the community feels a sense of ownership in the organization — it’s their orchestra.

Five favorites
Favorite book: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Favorite movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Favorite music: Rush. Favorite songs: “Tom Sawyer,” “Subdivisions” and “Red Barchetta”
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite thing about NH: The sense of community

Featured photo: Deanna R. Hoying. Photo credit Sid Ceaser.

Kiddie Pool 24/02/22

Family fun for whenever

Vacation at the museum

School vacation runs Monday, Feb. 26, through Friday, March 1, for many New Hampshire schools and some museums have special hours and activities.

• Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; nhahs.org, 669-4820) will be open Tuesday, Feb. 27, through Thursday, Feb. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as well as its regular hours of Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m., according to a press release. The museum’s Elite Flight Simulator will be operating Tuesday, Feb. 27, and Thursday, Feb. 29, from 1 to 4 p.m.; it simulates the experience of flying a single engine plane and is open to kids ages 12 and up, the release said. For the 12 and unders, there will be a story time on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 10 a.m., the release said. Admission to the museum costs $10 for ages 13 and above, $5 for 65+, veterans/military and kids ages 6 to 12, and is free for ages 5 and under.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) has play sessions from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and a session from 9 a.m. to noon on Sundays. Additionally, Friday, March 1, is the “First Friday Play Date” when the museum is also open from 4:15 to 7 p.m. Buy admissions for a time slot online in advance; admission costs $12.50 for adults and children over 12 months, $10.50 for 65+.

The museum will receive visits from the “Tooth Fairy and Furry Friend” (the comfort dog Banks) on Friday, Feb. 23, at 10:30 a.m. and Thursday, Feb. 29, at 10:30 a.m. as part of Dental Health Month.

Friday, March 1, is also Science Friday, with special science-related activities at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

• The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $20 for adults, $15 for ages 65+, $15 for students and $5 for ages 13 to 17 (children under 13 get in for free).

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Dr. in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) is open daily through Sunday, March 3, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $12 for adults, $9 for ages 3 to 12, $11 for 65+, and isfree for ages 2 and under, with planetarium shows an additional $6 per person ages 3 and up. Current planetarium shows include 3-2-1 Liftoff, Totality!, The Great Spirit Bear Chase and the Hunt by the Bird People, Tonight’s Sky and CapCom Go! The Apollo Story. See the website for the show schedule.

• SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400) is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and, for vacation week, Monday, Feb. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for ages 3 and up. Exhibits include the Lego Millyard, “Sun, Earth, Universe,” Physics Fun, Cooking & Chemistry, Dinosaurs, BiologYou and Bubbles, The Ocean and You.

Treasure Hunt 24/02/22

Dear Donna,

What do you do with old paperback books? Is there value or are they to be put in recycling?

Thanks, Donna, for any help.

Cindy

Dear Cindy,

Antique books and even more modern books are in a field of their own. I might be able to give you some information. You might also want to try a used bookstore or do some online research on each book, the value of which will depend on the author, the specific title, whether it is signed by the author and other factors. Then remember as always condition matters. I would think this rule follows all books through the ages.

Your Western books look fun and interesting to read. Figure out how many editions there were of each book as well as those other factors to see if some could be worth trying to sell. If not, you could donate them to a library or used bookstore or recycle them. I prefer donation, so someone else could enjoy reading them.

Thanks, Cindy, for sharing, I hope you find a new home for your books — or maybe even a tiny treasure in the pile.

The Art Roundup 24/02/22

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

• “Voice of the city”: Positive Street Art (48 Bridge St., 3rd floor, in Nashua; positivestreetart.org) will host “Vicus Vox” open mic night on Friday, Feb. 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. The cost is $5 for spectators and participants — bring comedy, poetry, singing and more, according to a post on the organization’s Facebook page. All ages are welcome and the content must be all-ages-friendly, the post said. Sign up at tinyurl.com/4ckh3pzp.

• Spend your time at the Frank Lloyd Wright houses: The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org) is looking for volunteers to give tours of its two Frank Lloyd Wright houses, according to a recent newsletter. A training class for volunteers begins in March. Fill out an application at currier.org/volunteer.

• 19th-century magic: Andrew Pinard, performer and founder of the Hatbox Theatre, will inhabit 19th-century magician Jonathan Harrington at the Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St. in Portsmouth; playersring.org, 436-8123) for Jonathan Harrington — 19th Century Magician with performances Friday, Feb. 23, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 24, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 25, at 2:30 pm. Tickets cost $28, $25 for students and seniors.

Al Jaeger
Potter, ceramist and juried member of the League of NH Craftsmen Al Jaeger will give an art talk titled “A Life With Wood Fire” on Thursday, Feb. 22, at 4 p.m. the Alva de Mars Megan Chapel Art Center (Alumni Hall at Saint Anselm College in Manchester; anselm.edu/chapelart). Jaeger will discuss his life as an artist and his technique, according to a press release.

• Why Worry? In March: A screening of the 1923 silent comedy Why Worry? was rescheduled from Feb. 18 to Sunday, March 3, at 2 p.m. at Wilton Town Hall Theatre (40 Main St. in Wilton). The movie stars Harold Lloyd and will feature live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, according to a press release. Admission is free but a suggested $10 per person donation is accepted, the release said.

• Basket craft: The League of NH Craftsmen’s Nashua Gallery is offering a class making a round Cherokee-style storage basket on Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The class will be taught by Ruth Boland at Sanborn Mills Farm in Loudon; register at snbornmills.org. The fee is $250 plus a $60 materials fee, according to a press release.

• Save the date for fiddles: The New Hampshire Fiddle Ensemble announced a spring schedule for concerts in New Hampshire and Maine, according to a press release. Granite State concerts include Friday, May 3, at 6:30 p.m. at the Rochester Opera House (31 Wakefield St. in Rochester); Saturday, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. at Interlakes High School Auditorium (1 Laker Lane in Meredith); Saturday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m. at Exeter Town Hall (9 Front St.) and Sunday, May 19, at 2 p.m. at the Derryfield School (2108 River Road in Manchester). The ensemble features fiddles, guitars, banjos, mandolins, basses, harps, cellos and more, according to the release. See nhfiddleensemble.org for tickets.

• Maker market: Cottage Place at Squam Lake (1132 Route 3 in Holderness; cottageplaceonsquam.com) will hold a Squam Lake Vintage & Makers Market on Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Admission is $5. The market will feature vendors, live music, food and a mobile bar, according to an email.

• Film fest news: The Music Hall in Portsmouth officially takes over the New Hampshire Film Festival for its 22nd annual outing, according to a press release from Jan. 30. The four-day festival will run Oct. 17 through Oct. 20. The call for entries to the festival, for film and screenplay submissions, is open and can be made via nhfilmfestival.com, the release said

‘Stories of the Sea’
Theatre Kapow (tkapow.com) presents On the Exhale, a full-length drama that “offers a complex examination of America’s gun violence crisis,” at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Friday, Feb. 16, and Saturday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m., according to a press release. Carey Cahoon, Kapow co-founder and managing director, will play the sole character in the show. Tickets to the show cost $33.75 ($26.75 for seniors & students). The Sunday, Feb. 18, show will feature ASL Interpretation as well as a post-show conversation about the impact of gun violence on New Hampshire, according to Theatre Kapow’s website. The play will also run Friday, March 1, through Sunday, March 3, at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith. See tkapow.com for tickets to either show.

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!