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On The Job – Andy Vachon

Maintenance Supervisor

Andy Vachon is the Maintenance Supervisor for the Parks division of the Manchester Parks and Recreation Department. Anyone interested in maintaining the landscape of the Queen City with Andy, or other Department of Public Work careers, should check out manchesternh.gov/Departments/Human-Resources/Employment.

Explain your job and what it entails.

I am the Parks Maintenance Supervisor. I oversee the maintenance crews for the Parks. … So the Recreation [Department] has a supervisor that oversees the recreation portion of it. Cemetery has a supervisor that oversees the cemetery portion, and I oversee park maintenance. We have 16 employees. Of those 16 employees, we also have a dedicated tree crew. So the City of Manchester Parks Division is responsible for maintaining a safe right of way for any trees or limbs that were to happen to fall into the road … 13 of them work for us mowing fields, preparing athletic fields for game plays, mowing, trimming parks, passive parks, active parks. We oversee pickleball courts, tennis courts. Playgrounds, we have 55 play structures across 36 parks that we inspect and maintain….

How long have you had this job?

I’ve been in my current position now for six years. I’ve been with the city for 23 years.

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

I graduated college in ’97. I have a business administration degree with a concentration on golf management. So I was a golf professional at Derryfield Country Club for three years. Derryfield is owned by the City of Manchester. … I worked at McIntyre Ski Area in the winter. They were looking for a manager for the ski area and that’s where I started in 2001. I was the general manager for McIntyre Ski Area for 10 years. .

What kind of education or training did you need?

Fortunately, with golf, I took agronomy courses in college, learning about how to grow grass, how to mow grass and how to maintain equipment. That definitely helped me, as well as my management skills, being able to manage employees, being customer service oriented as well.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

There is a lot of mowing, so hearing protection, safety glasses, pants when you’re running power equipment, chaps, helmets when you’re running chainsaws. Our staff gets short-sleeved T-shirts with the city logo on it to identify them. Ours are green for parks. I wear a golf shirt with the city logo on it. We try to brand ourselves so people know who we are and what we do.

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

Well, for us, it’s all about the users and the constituents in the park. If we make a safe, clean environment for people to be outside and recreate, that’s what makes us happy. Being outside and getting fresh air for people and doing it in a safe and clean environment is something that we strive for. — Zachary Lewis

Five favorites
Favorite book: One Base at a Time by David R. Mellor. It’s a great, great book.
Favorite movie: Caddyshack
Favorite music: The Grateful Dead and Phish
Favorite food: Backroom chicken tenders, man.
Favorite thing about NH: Every season is different. Winter, spring, summer and fall.

Featured photo: Andy Vachon. Courtesy photo.

Planting in October

How many gardeners does it take to plant a garlic bulb?

For some of us, planting time is long past — but not for me. I am always busy in the fall, planting everything I can. It is almost time to plant garlic, which is my easiest crop of all. And I’ll soon be planting spring bulbs, both in the ground and in pots for forcing.

Garlic is by far my least labor-intensive vegetable crop. I start by weeding out one of my wide mounded beds and loosening the soil well. I use my CobraHead Weeder to loosen the soil and to make shallow furrows 8 to 12 inches apart. I sprinkle some granular organic fertilizer in the furrow, and run my hand tool through the soil again to work in the fertilizer.

Each garlic bulb has four to eight cloves, which need to be separated for planting. Plant them 3 to 4 inches apart and about 3 inches deep. Cover and press down the soil over them, watering if the soil is dry. Lastly mulch with a thick layer of straw or mulch hay. I use 8 to 12 inches of loose straw, which gets packed down to 4 inches by the winter snows. Garlic will grow up through the mulch, but most weeds will not.

I also plant a lot of spring-blooming bulb flowers in pots for early blossoms indoors and as gifts to friends. I mix used planting mix from summer pots with good compost and plant daffodils and tulips in planters and my window box. You can pack the bulbs close together in pots, and they need only a couple of inches of soil mix above and below them. Store them in a cool, dark place — 35 to 50 degrees is best. But even a cold garage will work if they can establish roots early and then snooze a little if the soil freezes.

Daffodils take about 12 weeks of dormancy before they should be brought into the warmth of the house, but tulips do better with 16 weeks. Little things like crocus can be forced in 8 to 10 weeks. Be sure to label them with the date planted and variety. Water lightly once a month. My favorites are Tête-à-Tête daffodils — small early daffodils in bright yellow. I pack four bulbs into a 4-inch pot and share them in February and March when friends need a pick-me-up.

This is also the time to plant bulbs outdoors for spring. Most bulbs like a sunny location with well-drained soil, but you can also plant bulbs under deciduous trees if they get enough sun filtered through them, or before they leaf out. If you have a site with good sun but moist soil, there are a few bulbs that will work. “Thalia” is a white blossomed, late-blooming daffodil that does well even in fairly wet soil.

Camassia is a bulb plant that prefers damp soil. It produces blue to purple flowers on tall stems — up to 3 feet tall with hundreds of small blossoms. A good sandy loam is best, but it will do fine in any sunny soil that stays moist during the bloom season. It is not of interest to deer, and will keep coming back for years if happy where you plant it.

Tulips, on the other hand, are delicious to deer as flowers, and to rodents as bulbs. To foil the deer I plant 100 tulips in my vegetable garden most years and surround and cover the bed with chicken wire. I grow them as annuals, pulling the bulbs after they bloom.

Over the years I have planted hundreds, nay, thousands of daffodil bulbs. Most survive and thrive — nothing eats them. I have a patch of daffies from bulbs I dug up at my boyhood home in the early 1970s — some 50 years ago. To keep them producing well it’s good to top-dress the soil with “bulb booster” or a good slow-release organic fertilizer either now or in the spring.

To plant 25 daffodils I dig a hole about 6 inches deep, a couple of feet long and about 18 inches across. I loosen up the soil in the bottom with my CobraHead Weeder, a single-tine cultivator. I sprinkle a cup or so of organic fertilizer in the bottom and work it in, working in a bucket of compost too. Then I plant the bulbs, pointy end up. I tend to plant them 3 or 4 inches apart. If it is sandy or full of clay, I mix the soil I use to refill the hole with a 50-50 mix of good compost and soil.

So take a sunny afternoon and go plant bulbs — either outdoors, or in pots for forcing. It’ll be something to look forward to all winter.

Featured photo: Seeds and roots of dock, a big weed. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

Treasure Hunt 24/10/24

Dear Donna,

Is this pink glass old? We found it in my mom’s cabinet while cleaning out. I don’t remember ever seeing or using it while growing up. It’s in good clean shape with quite a few pieces to the set as you can see in the photos. Thank you, Donna, for your assistance.

Deborah

Dear Deborah,

What you have found is a later version of what we call Depression glass. Yours was not from the 1930s or ’40s. It was a later version produced by the Arcoroc Co.

Even though it was produced later and is a less expensive version of Depression glass, today it has a collectible market. Condition is important in all older glassware, so no scratching, chips or cracks.

Deborah, thank you for all the photos. It helps in determining values. I would say your pink swirl dishes would be in the $150 range to a collector as long as the condition is good and clean.

Thanks for sharing with us. I hope your set finds a new place in your home.

Kiddie Pool 24/10/24

Family fun for whenever

Spooky Season

Find lots of haunted happenings in the Halloween guide in the Oct. 17 issue of the Hippo. Go to hippopress.com to find the issue in the digital library; the stories start on page 10. Here are some of the highlights:

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St., Candia) will offer its Children’s Trick-or-Treat Experience on Saturday, Oct. 26, and Sunday, Oct. 27, with start times available on the hour between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. In addition to trick-or-treating, families can meet a friendly witch, see wildlife exhibits and barnyard animals, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, decorate pumpkins, ride a pony and watch a juggling show. Tickets cost $29 per person — admission is free for children under age 2 — and must be purchased online in advance. Visit visitthefarm.com.

• The New Hampshire Audubon’s McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Comcord, nhaudubon.org, 224-9909) will hold its annual Enchanted Forest on Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26. Follow a trail in the forest illuminated by jack-o’-lanterns, watch skits, hear stories by the campfire and more, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets for $15 per person. Reservations are required.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire hosts its Not-So-Spooky Spectacular on Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26, with sessions each day from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes. The event will feature interactive science experiments, crafting in the STEAM Lab and a pumpkin scavenger hunt. The afternoon session includes a concert and dance party with kids’ musician Mr. Aaron at 2 p.m. Admission costs $12.50 for adults and children over age 1; $10.50 for 65+. Register in advance online.

• Join kids’ musician Laurie Berkner for a Halloween show at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord) on Saturday, Oct. 26, with performances at 11 a.m.and 3 p.m. Laurie will blend her hits with Halloween tunes. Attendees are encouraged to wear dancing shoes and bring a stuffed animal. Tickets start at $31.75 on the CCA website.

• Family Fright Fest will be haunting the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive, Concord) on Sunday, Oct. 27, from 10:30 to 4 p.m. Participants can engage in hands-on activities, endure “Seven Minutes of Terror” ahead of the Tonight’s Sky planetarium shows at noon and 2 p.m., and even go on a code-cracking scavenger hunt, according to their website. Participants are encouraged to dress up in their favorite Halloween costume. Regular admission costs apply, but general admission tickets are buy one, get one free when you come in costume and the discount is only applicable for tickets purchased at the front desk, according to the website. “Hands-On Spooky Science Demonstrations” will occur throughout the day as well as activities for the whole family like pumpkin constellation painting, the bat paper airplane target challenge and more, according to the website. Visit starhop.com.

Into the woods

Fun, food and a little spookiness at The Witch of Weston Tower

By Zachary Lewis
[email protected]

From Friday, Oct. 25, to Sunday, Oct. 27, Granite Staters will witness the Witch of Weston Tower at McIntyre Ski Area in all her spooky glory. Aly Coakley, Marketing Director for McIntyre Ski Area, was excited to talk about it.

“Our Witch of Weston Tower event is designed more to be spooky, not scary,” Coakley said. “Basically, it starts with a chairlift ride up to the top of McIntyre ski area and then you get on a tractor ride and that has a whole witches story,”

The haunted tractor ride is filled with not-too-creepy companions as attendees journey to the Witch’s Tower. “You’ll have a bunch of different characters in the woods, kind of spooky but not too scary, and then you get up to Weston Tower, where you’ll see the witch there and she’s greeting you with her own magical tales of what the witch is all about.”

Weston Tower is in costume for the event too. “That’s all decorated. It’s super cute and you’re welcome to go all the way up to the top of the tower. You can see the fall foliage, which is beautiful right now. There’s an attendant up there telling a little bit about the tower, some of its history.”

How did Weston Tower obtain such spookiness along with a witch?

“Next to Weston Tower there’s this quarry that was filled in by the city way back, years ago, but people used to go over to it and jump in and sometimes never appear back on the surface. One of those people was Hector Boisvert, who happens to be a relative of Ross Boisvert, the owner of McIntyre Ski Area. No one ever saw [Hector] again after he jumped into the quarry. So we weave the Witch’s story with what happened to Hector,” she said.

The festivities continue once visitors escape the Witch. “Once you’re down, we have some games right there, but then you can take the tractor ride back. There’s another little spooky story that’s told as they’re going back on the tractor ride and then the guests usually can take the chairlift back down or hike down, whichever they prefer.”

The spookiness lasts for three days but Saturday is the main event.

“Saturday is definitely our bigger day for the Witch of Weston Tower. Everything is happening from noon on. We have things like a paint night going on at 2 o’clock where people can sign up in advance and they do this nightmare painting. From 12 to 4 we have face painting and public pumpkin painting which is included with the Witch of Weston Tower ticket.”

Smaller participants will get the opportunity to vote on best scarecrow. “We’re finishing up dropping off some scarecrow kits to the schools that decided to participate. And then we’ll have all the scarecrows lined up around the ski area and people can vote on whose scarecrow is the best,” Coakley said.

Highland Mountain Bike Park will bring a wooden pump track and some bikes for kids, and even larger vehicles will be there filled with treats. There will be a costume contest with various prizes for kids from 603 Diesel.

Plenty of food trucks will be on location with different cuisine choices. “Creative Kones, Waterville Valley’s Next Level Food Truck is joining us again. This is their, I believe, third year joining us, which is really cool to have that partnership. We have Pat’s Apples,” Coakley said. Fair staples will be on hand too. “We’re also just offering popcorn and cotton candy.”

All this fun leads to the nighttime festivities. “Buzz Brews & Boos, our Halloween party, is happening Saturday as well,” Coakley said. “Typically we sell out.” McIntyre teamed with Rock 101’s Greg and the Morning Buzz, for the shindig.“There’s a costume contest, it’s just a fun night. Everybody’s dressed up in some pretty outrageous Halloween costumes. And they just have a good time. And it’s definitely Halloween-themed,” Coakley said.

The Witch of Weston Tower will still be haunting as the weekend draws to a close. “Sunday is a quieter day. We just kind of take it down a notch for those that just want to kind of enjoy Halloween season without some of the other stuff. Proceeds go to the Manchester Historical Association, so it’s all for a good cause.”

The Witch of Weston Tower
When: Friday, Oct. 25, 4 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 26, noon to 6 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 27, noon to 6 p.m.
Where: McIntyre Ski Area, 50 Chalet Way, Manchester
Tickets: $5 to $22 (ticketscandy.com). Proceeds to benefit the Manchester Historic Association.
Info: 622-6159, mcintyreskiarea.com

Schedule of events
Saturday, Oct. 26
noon – chairlift rides begin, and Weston Tower access opens
noon to 2 p.m. – hiking/walking to Weston Tower (no tractor rides during Manchester XC meet)
1 p.m. – Kids’ Costume Contest (age categories: 5 & under, 6-12, 13+)
2 to 6 p.m. – tractor rides to Weston Tower and back to chairlift
2 p.m. – Paint Nite: “Nightmare” (advance registration required)
noon to 4 p.m. – face painting & pumpkin painting (included with ticket); Highland Mountain Bike Park Pump Track; 603 Diesel Touch-A-Truck/Trunk-or-Treat
5:30 p.m. – last chairlift to Weston Tower
7 to 10 p.m. – Buzz Brews & Boos Halloween Party (21+) at The Hill Bar & Grille; tickets $40

Featured image: The Witch of Weston Tower. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 24/10/24

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

• Dracula comes alive: PUSH Physical Theatre, described as displaying “intense athleticism, gravity-defying acrobatics, and soulful artistry,” will bring its adaptation of Dracula to Stockbridge Theatre (5 Pinkerton St., Derry, pinkertonacademy.org/stockbridge-theatre) on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 to $35. “PUSH Physical Theatre’s adaptation of Bram Stoker’s 1897 horror novel Dracula is like nothing audiences have ever seen. By combining PUSH’s speechless artistry with traditional dialogue-driven theater, the collaborators have created a ground-breaking, thrilling, and unforgettable ride into the warped world of one of literature’s most famous villains,” according to a press release. Get a look at the show at pushtheatre.org.

• All about the kids: Disney’s Descendants is presented by Epping Community Theater (38 Ladds Lane, Epping, eppingtheater.org) on Friday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 26, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 27, at 2 p.m. “Based on the popular Disney Channel Original Movies, Disney’s Descendants: The Musical is a new musical jam-packed with comedy, adventure, Disney characters, and hit songs from the films!” according to the website. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and $15 for ages 12 and under.

• 10 years of theater: [title of show], presented by Cue Zero Theatre on Friday, Oct. 25, through Sunday, Oct. 27, at Arts Academy of New Hampshire in Salem, is a metamusical about artists creating musical theater, and its production marks a celebration of 10 years of Cue Zero, according to a press release. The play is “a love letter to the musical theater — a uniquely American art form — and to the joy of collaboration,” according to cztheatre.com. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets cost $15 (plus fees) and are available at cztheatre.com or at the door.

—Zachary Lewis

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