New Hampshire Magazine January-February 2023

The Meals of Thanks program, sponsored by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, began with more than 900 meals prepared by New England’s Tap House Grille on National Nurses Day in May, and continued in November with two more deliveries. On Veterans Day, the Tap House served lunch outside the Manchester VA Medical Center, and just before Thanksgiving, the Common Man Family of Restaurants provided more than 700 meals to the New Hampshire Food Bank and an additional 40 meals to The Way Home. We would like to thank our sponsors and our advertisers for their support of Hampshire Magazine, our community and this mission. Together we are Granite State strong.

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603

Museums: Big, Small and Weird The unexpected wonders of museums in the Granite State

By Caleb Jagoda

Our Town

visit to historic Nelson By Barbara Radcliffe Rogers

What’s Cookin’ Part III of our Great Food

series By Rony Camille, Crystal Ward Kent and Susan Laughlin

First

40 Transcript Meet Yasamin Safarzadeh: performer, visual artist, organizer and activist.

By David Mendelsohn & Rick Broussard 52 In Praise of Small Ski Slopes Make tracks to the Granite State’s smaller, lesser-known ski areas.

By Brion O’Connor 62 Great Ideas for Winter Fun Not a skier? These skis-off options will get you right.

By Brion O’Connor 66 From These Prodigious Hills How New Hampshire’s open spaces helped one of its own feel free as a Black man.

By Ben Bacote, Photography by Joe Klementovich 74 Billy B. Van, The Sunshine Man Can messages of optimism from the Depression-era book “Snap Out of It!” help steer today’s Americans toward a cheerier outlook for tomorrow?

By Anders Morley

callentriesfor

Now is the time for designers to submit their favorite residential projects for the 2023 New Hampshire Home Design Awards.

Whether you’ve designed or built a spectacular kitchen, a beautiful bath, a unique outdoor space or a fabulous home, we want to see your most impressive work from the past year.

NEW YEAR, NEW CATEGORIES!

Check our website for details

Reeling in the Years

When I was just getting oriented to the study of the state, a wise journalist friend advised me, “If you want to understand New Hampshire, you have to understand Portsmouth.” He then recommended that I read a book titled, “They Came to Fish: A Brief Look at Portsmouth’s 350 years of History” by journalist Ray Brighton. To this day it’s advertised as “the only history of Portsmouth, N.H.”

I did buy a copy that I still have, and I read a few of the 800 dense pages, but eventually I decided to try to understand the state by just driving around and talking to people. Ironically, the region of the state that still most fascinates and eludes my understanding remains Portsmouth. It seems like the shape-shifter among our more serene towns and cities, never allowing itself to be pinned down.

Robinson (who is a freelance contributor to New Hampshire Magazine, see page 28), for a summary and he provided the following:

2O23

For a complete list of award categories, judging criteria and the submission process, visit nhhomemagazine.com/ design-awards

Sponsored by:

There will be plenty of opportunities for everyone to try to “understand Portsmouth” in the coming months, as our Seacoast celebrates its own origin story rooted in the date 1623. And while my copy of “They Came to Fish” remains largely unread on my bookshelf, the title alone has been a reminder of something fundamental about the way the Granite State has distinguished itself and why our relations with the surrounding New England states are often frosty or combative. The implication is clear. While other state’s may have been all about escaping persecution or creating an American utopia, for settlers in the Granite State it was all about business.

I never really questioned this logic, but it seemed like a good time, 30 years after my employment as a kind of overseer to the state and 400 years after it’s birth, to have someone check on this presumption. To that end, I sought out one of my favorite local historians, J. Dennis Robinson. He’s author of more than a dozen history books and 3,000 published articles on history-related themes. He’s also one of dozens of people creating content and events for the upcoming year-long historic revelry being billed as Portsmouth400. I asked

New Hampshire was not founded for religious freedom, but then again, neither was Massachusetts. Both were largely driven by capitalism and real estate. But as Massachusetts began branding itself as “the Spirit of America” (see their license plates), N.H. branded itself as founded for fishing, lumbering, shipbuilding. (Our original state seal included a fish, a quiver of arrows and a tree.) From about 1640 to 1740, Massachusetts tried to assimilate N.H. the way it had dominated Maine. Seacoast (Piscataqua) settlers resisted and eventually New Hampshire became a sort of royal “buffer zone” between Puritan Massachusetts Bay and the Puritan “Territory of Maine.” I guess you could say New Hampshire settlers wanted to “live free” in the sense that they didn’t want to pay taxes to Massachusetts’ Puritans or the King, for that matter, or to anyone. Whether they were willing to die for the privilege, I’m not so sure. The result was a compromise. Instead of a state income tax, we decided to lure money out of visiting tourists via liquor stores, speeding tickets, condo rentals, ski passes and room and meals taxes. That way we got revenge on the Puritans who taxed us and tried to take over the land that we stole from the indigenous people. Of course, half the population of N.H. seems to be ex-Mass outcasts like myself.

Such plain-spoken, nearly cynical selfevaluation may be all you need to prepare for our quatercentenary. Those who want more insight could tackle “They Came to Fish” or simply keep an eye on these pages as we’ll be featuring events planned for the celebrations and more of Robinson’s (and others’) writings on the topic in the coming months.

PHOTO BY LYNN CROW PHOTOGRAPHY

This coming March, I’ll have worked as editor of this magazine (or a precursor of it) for 30 years. So, 2023 will be an auspicious year for me, but even more so for the state celebrated in these pages: New Hampshire is turning 400.

Who says kids should have all the fun? At The Baldwin — an all-new Life Plan Community (CCRC) — we say this is your time. Make a splash in the pool. Dance, stretch, lift, and box in the fitness center. Learn for the love of it. Take to the nearby trails, then top off your day at the local brewery. Define life on your terms and do whatever you choose — whether that’s everything or nothing at all.

The Baldwin is approaching sold-out status with opening planned for fall 2023. Call 603.404.6080 or visit TheBaldwinNH.org today!

The Baldwin Welcome Center

1E Commons Drive, No. 24 | Londonderry, NH 03053 603.404.6080 | TheBaldwinNH.org

Scan to see the latest construction update video or go to TheBaldwinNH.org/ Construction_Update.

Contributors

Rony Camille is the son of Haitian immigrants and a freelance journalist based in Nashua who regularly covers food and culture for our sister publication, 603 Diversity.

Crystal Ward Kent is a longtime journalist and Seacoast food writer. Her award-winning Kent Creative agency has been providing creative services in writing, design and marketing for more than 20 years.

Frequent contributor Brion O’Connor wrote this month’s feature “In Praise of Small Hills” about the Granite State’s smaller, lesser-known ski areas.

the state with fork and pen in hand for 15 years as our food editor and now serves as a freelance photographer and, for the past two years, has acted as a scout for the James Beard Awards.

Susan

Joe Klementovich shot this month’s feature story, “From These Prodigious Hills” and is the visual chronicler of our “The Explorers” adventure series.

Ben Bacote penned our feature story “From These Prodigious Hills.” He teaches humanities and is an activist working for social justice.

About | Behind the Scenes at New Hampshire Magazine

I’m 23 years old. I wear a fair amount of corduroy. I usually eat oatmeal for breakfast, topped with crunchy granola, freshcut strawberries, a dash of brown sugar and a little maple syrup (you’re welcome). I graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2021 with an English and journalism degree.

Meet the New Kid on the Staff

My name’s Caleb. I’m the new assistant editor at New Hampshire Magazine, which is a good, fun thing. Here are some rapid-fire facts about me, for the sake of transparency, so the good folks of New Hampshire can get to know the new young gun working on the state mag.

Jack Kenny

I love words; specifically, the way they can be wielded, boiled, stewed and Frankensteined in so many endlessly innovative ways to capture the human experience. I grew up in southeast Massachusetts. I’m currently reading “House of Hunger” by Rhodesian author Dambudzo Marechera (it’s refreshingly original in its style, heartbreaking in its honesty and incisively prescient in its political analysis). My favorite musician is billy woods. I run an arts and culture magazine with my friends, called Neon Snooze, that’s part literary journal, part feature journalism, part art-and-photography showcase and part distillation of the things we find funny and fascinating. And finally, I’m truly excited to become a part of the Granite State’s definitive publication.

Cheers.

This Month’s Informer deparment was written by Seacoast author J Dennis Robinson, an expert in New Hampshire history and culture.

Laughlin traveled

Casey McDermott who writes our monthly Blips column is a senior news editor at NHPR, where she previously served as a reporter, editor and digital producer.

Our Cuisine Crew: Our continuing series on new and exciting dining experiences in the Granite State was produced by our in-the-know crew of food writers:

Anders Morley, who wrote this month’s feature story “Billy B. Van, The Sunshine Man,” is a freelance writer and translator from New Hampshire.

603 Diversity Details

I very much appreciate and enjoy the 603 Diversity issues included in NH Magazine. I am hopeful New Hampshire will continue to become more diverse and inclusive, and am inspired by the stories of entrepreneurs, candidates and other people and organizations making a positive difference and contribution in our community.

However, I’m surprised to see extensive coverage given to one person, twice in the past year. Lily Tang Williams was featured again in the December issue, regarding her candidacy for Congress. While she perceives her third-place finish being a result of a language barrier and fundraising, perhaps she should consider her connection to the Free State Project the reason for her loss.

In neither case of NH Magazine/603 Diversity coverage of Lily Tang Williams was this connection mentioned, and I find this a large journalistic omission. On the opening page for the article (page 10), it states “The common thread for those who seek elected office is a genuine love for public service and our democratic system of government.”

The Free State Project, as evident in Grafton, Croydon and Gunstock ski area, is anything but a love for our democratic system or government.

In the future, I hope NH Magazine will not omit significant relevant aspects of the persons featured.

— Barbara Schult, Goffstown

Editor’s note: Thanks for the note. Due to an editorial oversight last issue, we omitted a blurb here on the Feedback page, alerting subscribers to the presence of 603 Diversity as a bonus magazine (our subscribers get a number of such perks that don’t appear in newsstand editions). This led some readers to share their dismay seeing New Hampshire Magazine devote so much space to the subject of diversity. The letter below was not sent specifically for publication, so we’re omitting the writer’s name, but it summarizes the concerns:

I am very disappointed to see that your wonderful magazine has decided to fall into the woke madness that focuses on race. People are people! Period! Half of your magazine is on race now. I want no part of it. I do not focus on anyone based on their race. I will not be renewing my subscription.

We’re proud of the creative success of 603 Diversity, but its mission, stated in its pages — to share the stories of people of color,

Editor’s Note: Fresh from his Vegas vacation, friend and creative contributor to NH Magazine Ilya Mirman sent us some photos from Aerosmith’s “The Deuces are Wild” show and the following note: For a lifelong Aerosmith fan, it’s still a thrill to see the band. Catching them September 17 during their Vegas residency was no less exciting than seeing them live for the first time on August 31, 1986, at Sullivan Stadium. The veteran rockers sound great and put on an amazing show. And seeing them right from the pit, being inches away from the action, is particularly satisfying to this concert photographer. Aerosmith was the first rock band I fell in love with, and their shows have been some of my most memorable and rewarding assignments. The band’s success is a testament to both their talent and their grit — in their sixth decade together, and arguably America’s most successful rock band. Needless to say, the set list is fantastic, covering their hits and classics, with a few deep cuts and covers thrown in. (More photos at ilyamirman.com)

immigrants, first-generation Americans and others who feel overlooked or ignored in the public conversation here in the Granite State — seems worthwhile to us. Though the state and the world are swiftly changing before our eyes, New Hampshire Magazine’s editorial mission to bring all the best of life in our cities and towns to our readers each month is unchanged and remains our guidestar.

Revolting Developments

Darn it, I couldn’t get past pg. 4 [December Editor’s Note] in this month’s magazine. Yes, there are people that still pay attention to the written word; I’ll read your editorials and 603 Living on the back pages before being immersed in beautiful glossy photos of single malt scotch. Hmmm.

I’ve been immersed in history forever as the chair of the Portsmouth Historic District Commission, member of the Portsmouth Demolition Board, volunteer at the John Paul Jones House and member of the distribution crew of the New Hampshire

Gazette. Four years ago, I was amongst those who led the charge against a development of 164 apartments on former railroad land in Portsmouth behind Ricci Lumber. Besides overuse of land on a busy intersection, my main concern was the demolition of an intact locomotive turntable and ruins of the round house which burnt in the 1930s. I urged restoration into a park, but alas the land on the North Mill Pond was too valuable, so large buildings were planned there. Luckily, for now, the project has been held up in court, primarily because of intrusions into the wetlands buffer.

Reading your article has given me a jolt to continue on, as for the last few years there has been other things on my plate. We have a three-minute public discourse at the beginning of city council meetings. I’m respectfully asking for your permission to quote a couple of your paragraphs, giving you and the magazine full disclosure.

Thanks for your time, and keep at it.

— Jonathan Wyckoff, Portsmouth

PHOTO BY ILYA MIRMAN

What Happens in Vegas ... Appears in NH Magazine!

Spot four newts like the one here hidden on ads in this issue, tell us where you found them and you might win a great gift from a local artisan or company.

To enter our drawing for Spot the Newt, visit spotthenewt.com and fill out the online form. Or, send answers plus your name and mailing address to: Spot the Newt c/o New Hampshire Magazine 250 Commercial St., Suite 4014, Manchester, NH 03101

You can also email them to newt@nhmagazine.com or fax them to (603) 624-1310.

The December “Spot the Newt” winner is Susan Wells of Amherst.

December issue newts were on pages 13, 23, 27 and 87

The prize is a gift certificate for $50 to use online at nhmade.com or at the New Hampshire Made Store, 28 Deer St., Portsmouth. New Hampshire Made is our state’s official promoter of products and services created here in the Granite State, and the online store and downtown shop are packed with delightful gifts and specialty foods made with Granite State pride. nhmade.com

603 Navigator

“Museums should be places where you raise questions, not just show stuff.”

— William Thorsell, journalist

On Exhibit

Action figures, Picasso and the many unexpected wonders of museums in the Granite State

BY CALEB JAGODA

Museum of Dumb Guy Stuff

Walking into the basement level of 114 Mechanic Street in Portsmouth is something like entering a 10-yearold boy’s bedroom in 1960s Middle America — if that boy had nearly unlimited resources and an encyclopedic knowledge of history and handiwork. Action figures of every kind litter the walls in an overflowing array of dioramas, cowboys and war heroes fight miniature battles in custom-fit outfits, and a vast train set displays teems of tiny townspeople going about 1959 railroad life.

“I tell people, it’s just a couple of old guys reliving their childhood,” says Rod Hildebrand, one of two driving forces behind the self-coined Museum of Dumb Guy Stuff.

“My wife asked me, ‘What exactly are you doing?’” says Clayton Emery. “And I go, ‘Well, it’s gonna be where the old guys go to get out from under their wives’ feet for a few hours.’”

Emery is the spark and owner behind the sardonically titled Museum of Dumb Guy Stuff. He and his wife live in the top two floors of the Portsmouth near-waterfront house, which he meticulously renovated over a five-year stretch in the mid-2010s. Emery, turning 70 next December, is quippy and terse, with the tree-trunk forearms of a lifelong handyman. Hard of hearing, he speaks slowly and rarely, although one gets the sense he’s never been a big talker. This is where Hildebrand comes in, finishing Emery’s thoughts and waxing poetic on Emery’s sarcastic one-liners. The two are a yin-and-yang best-friend combo, embracing the joys of their past and hoping to inspire a current generation of kids to play, analog-style.

It all started about a decade ago when Emery and Hildebrand met at a local dog park. After Emery invited Hildebrand over to show him the workshop, the two developed a workflow that

← Two custom-made action figures of varying eras and geographic locations hanging together at a miniature saloon.

PHOTO BY MAXWELL SCHOENFELD

they’d keep for about five years: Emery would work on renovating his house, while Hildebrand created the vast train-set display and welcomed visitors, of which they’d get many. First was a blogger from Atlas Obscura, followed by a flood of local news outlets, followed by those who caught wind of the tucked-away curiosity.

After Emery finished fixing up his house, the two began working side-by-side almost daily, constructing, well, anything they felt like. They’ve done monsters and aliens; battles and historically accurate set pieces; a “CSI Portsmouth” crime scene for the local library; and a massive colonial display for The Fort at No. 4 in Charlestown.

And everything they’ve created is either displayed in Emery’s basement or donated someplace. Not that they make a big deal out of that — the two constantly downplay the dedication and craftsmanship that’s gone into converting a basement workshop into a whimsical galaxy of intricate wonder (hence the museum’s name). But they do admit there’s a bit of magic in what they do. They consider it a museum, after all, and that implies a certain spectacle. “We bring things back to life,” Hildebrand says.

“I’ve always said, if we can get one kid interested in working with his hands opposed to playing video games, I would feel successful. We just want people to enjoy it.”

Museum of Dumb Guy Stuff

114 Mechanic St., Portsmouth Open daily 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

One of many meticulously arranged action-figure dioramas featured in the Museum of Dumb Guy Stuff, this display presents a creature-feature mash-up blending Frankenstein and Dracula. Hildebrand says he originally planned it to be black and white to imitate the original films.

Rod Hildebrand, left, and Clayton Emery, right, co-founders of the Museum of Dumb Guy Stuff in Portsmouth.

PHOTOS BY MAXWELL SCHOENFELD

Currier Museum of Art

Injecting life into the past is something Alan Chong can relate to. As director of the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester for the last six years, Chong has aspired to weave the past, present and future together into a road map of understanding the human condition.

“I think that artists have always taught us a new way of looking — even in the Renaissance and the ancient world as well as today. Entering into an artist’s mind, they help you see things in a new way. I think that’s very important; I think that’s what a museum can do.”

Part of Chong’s mission is to make the Currier an integral part of the community while diffusing any haughty connotations that come with being an art museum. Along with free admission into the museum one Saturday a month and every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. (and featuring live music in the Winter Garden Café as part of their “Art After Work” program), Chong has launched a handful of art therapy initiatives.

“The Art of Hope” aims to help families with children suffering from opioid addiction, meeting on Monday evenings when the museum is closed to the public. “Art for Vets” features a “Veteran Creative Cohort” that regularly gathers to “connect socially

through art-viewing, creative art explorations and guided conversations,” and also offers free admission to veterans, active-duty military and their families. All this is part of Chong’s larger objective for people to slow down and empathize through art.

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“We’re a traditional museum, but a little bit different,” Chong says. “We realized that

we can’t just be a stuffy, stone building and lock our doors. The art is fun, but it has to connect with people. We want everyone to learn.”

Starting as a small-town museum, the Currier opened in 1929 with an endowment left by former New Hampshire governor Moody Currier, along with the Ash Street

Alexandria Smith’s “Memoirs of a Ghost Girlhood: A Black Girl’s Window,” on exhibit through spring 2023. Shown here is a detail of the mixed media on-wood assemblage, titled, “The grounded makes the spirited away.”

The Currier Museum’s “Art After Work” program includes free exhibition tours and gallery admission to the museum, live music in the Winter Garden Café, happy hour drink specials and a full menu available for purchase every Thursday night.

plot of land. The museum began to collect art with the endowment, and over the course of the last 94 years, Chong says it’s evolved into a medium-sized regional museum featuring both contemporary art and world masterpieces. There’s Monet and Picasso upstairs, and diversified collections from a cultural melting pot downstairs — ranging from a 1630 painting by a female artist (the earliest piece in their gallery made by a woman) to an entire lobby-like room transformed by artist Alexandria Smith called “Memoirs of a Ghost Girlhood: A Black Girl’s Window.”

“I think one of the things we’re trying to do is give people something new to see each time they come,” Chong says. “We have exhibitions, but we also try to mix up the collection, just have something fun to see. I mean, that’s really our goal at the moment … We want people to look at paintings, look at sculpture, talk about it and use it as a way into their feelings and emotions.”

Chong’s view isn’t all that different from what Emery and Hildebrand are doing, if you think about it: Dipping into their passions, hoping to connect with whoever walks through that museum door.

Currier Museum of Art 150 Ash St., Manchester • (603) 669-6144 currier.org

Open Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m

The Millyard Museum & SEE Science Center

Ever wonder about the abundance of mill buildings dotting Manchester’s Merrimack River? So has the Manchester Historic Association, who opened the Millyard Museum as a way of exploring the mill building’s storied past. Featuring a permanent exhibit, “Woven in Time: 11,000 Years at Amoskeag Falls,” and a number of rotating exhibitions, the Millyard Museum ventures into the nitty-gritty of one of the city’s hallmarks. And right next door, the SEE Science Center offers kid-friendly interactive exhibits showing how gravity, biology, electricity and other unseen forces make life possible — not to mention their LEGO Millyard Project, the largest permanent LEGO installation at mini-figure scale in the world (3 million lego bricks), as recognized by Guinness World Records. Grab a coffee and sandwich at nearby Waterworks Café to hydropower your body mill.

The Millyard Museum

200 Bedford St., Manchester • (603) 622-7531 manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum

Open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SEE Science Center

200 Bedford St., Manchester • (603) 669-0400 see-sciencecenter.org

Open Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Alan Chong, director of the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester

Looking for other museums to explore this winter? Whether you’re looking for historical hotbeds, curious curios or cultural anomalies, here are some of the Granite State’s best stops to appease your thirst for knowledge.

America’s Stonehenge

Everybody knows about England’s Stonehenge, but what about America’s? It just so happens there’s some mysterious rock formations in the Granite State, rumored to be over 4,000 years old and of dubious origins. Bundle up and see them for yourself in Salem, and if you’re feeling extra adventurous, traipse along a snowshoeing trail in the 105 acres of mysterious land.

Pile on a plate of pasta at nearby Ralphie’s Café Italiano after pondering one of life’s great enigmas.

105 Haverhill Rd., Salem (603) 893-8300 • stonehengeusa.com

Open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

American Classic Arcade Museum

Penny arcades may be a 20th-century relic, but they’re still alive and well at the American Classic Arcade Museum in Laconia. Head on over to Weirs Beach to learn about the evolution of video games, spanning from pre-electricity to the digitization of violence. And don’t just learn about coin-operated arcade games, try them out for yourself at Funspot, the largest arcade in the world according to the Guinness World Records, which is connected to the ACAM.

If you work up an appetite gaming, get some grub at the Looney Bin Bar and Grille across the street.

579 Endicott St. N., Laconia • (603) 393-7903 • classicarcademuseum.org

Open Monday through Friday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Some notable New Hampshire museums currently closed for the winter season …

Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum

18 Highlawn Rd., Warner • (603) 456-2600 indianmuseum.org Opens May 1

New Hampshire Telephone Museum

1 Depot St., Warner • (603) 456-2234 nhtelephonemuseum.org

Opens May 1 • Open Saturdays in March and April

Woodman Museum

182 Central Ave., Dover • (603) 742-1038 woodmanmuseum.org

Opens April 1

Hood Museum of Art

Opened in 1985, the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College features an incredibly diverse selection of art, with over 65,000 pieces in its care. Check out six Assyrian stone reliefs from the palace of Ashurnasirpal II (from about 900 BCE), the National Historic Landmark fresco by José Clemente Orozco titled “The Epic of American Civilization” and a whole lot more. Grab a slice, a beer and other pub grub at Molly’s Restaurant & Bar, only a five-minute walk away.

6 E. Wheelock St., Hanover • (603) 646-2808 • hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu

Open Wednesday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Touring Nelson

Soak up the history of this storied town

BY BARBARA RADCLIFFE ROGERS / PHOTOGRAPHY BY STILLMAN ROGERS

How did a New Hampshire town come to be named for a British Naval war hero at the same time that the U.S. was engaged in war with Britain? This show of Yankee cussedness was born of dual frustrations.

In 1751, the land was granted to a group of proprietors who were responsible for finding enough settlers to form a town. One of them was Thomas Packer, for whom the town was named Packersfield. He never lived here — but his son, Thomas, eventually did, and was not popular because of his high-handed dealings and failure to deed 500 acres as town land, as required by the original naming right.

So in 1778, the town petitioned to have its name changed to Sullivan, after the New Hampshire general. The petition wasn’t granted, even though the current town of Sullivan wasn’t formed until nine years later. In 1783, they petitioned to change the name to Groton, but it was already taken. In 1814, they tried for Troy, and while the town of Troy had not been officially granted the name, it was evidently spoken for already.

In June of 1814, Packersfield finally got its long-desired name change, this time choosing Nelson. Which brings us back to honoring a British war hero while the country was engaged in war with England. Several factors may have been at play.

The choice of Lord Nelson was quite possibly inspired by an American branch of the Hardy family who were early settlers here. Captain Thomas Hardy was Admiral Nelson’s aid and flag captain, and it was likely that his relatives suggested the name. Its significance struck a chord with locals frustrated at the war and U.S. policies.

Jefferson’s Embargo Act, designed to protect American industry by prohibiting trade with England and Canada, was hated by New England farmers whose livelihood depended heavily on trade. There was significant pro-British opinion, some of it boiling to the point of leaving the Union. Naming the town after Admiral Lord Nelson may have had a “take this!” motive.

Not only did the town have a different name in its early days, it had a different center. The original settlement, with a

meeting house, schoolhouse, training field and cemetery, was on a hill not far from the current center. A stone in today’s Nelson Cemetery notes this, and below, among the oldest grave markers, is a tall fieldstone monument with a lengthy inscription honoring Packersfield men who fought in the Revolution.

Mills were an early priority as settlers cleared and farmed the land, and the first gristmill was built around 1771, at the outlet of Silver Lake. Two other mills followed here, and a tannery opened with a bark mill in 1803 to process bark for tannin.

We found the remains of one of these old mills above Bailey Brook Falls, off the Old Stoddard Road. Part of the dam is still there, with remnants of the sluice and piers that held the shaft of a water wheel. Originally a sawmill, it later produced wooden tool handles.

The first real manufacturing began in 1814, with the building of the Nelson Cotton and Woolen Company factory at the outflow of Granite Lake, soon adding a boarding house for workers (which is still standing and now a private home). This was the beginning of a lakeside community known as Nelson Factory, but mill owner Avan Munson wanted a classier title and renamed the post office in 1849, coining it Munsonville

Munsonville Village on Granite Lake

Munson sold the factory to the Colony of Keene, who later turned it into a chair factory that produced as many as 30,000 porch chairs annually.

Unhappy with the doctrines of Nelson’s Congregational Church, some of the Baptist residents of Munsonville opted to form their own and, in 1819, built a brick church overlooking the lake. It later became a community center and then a Methodist Church that’s now known as the Chapelby-the-Lake

Meanwhile, by the late 1830s, the village center was migrating down the hill to surround the wide common we see today. The new village was laid out in 1839, and construction of the new Congregational Church began in 1841. The old meeting house was torn down and parts of it were used to construct a new town hall in 1846, completing the ensemble surrounding the common.

Today Nelson has no post office, but on the common opposite the church is a long bank of mailboxes. Facing the common from the opposite hillside is the original Olivia Rodham Memorial Library,

Nelson Congregational Church

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named for the botanist and scholar who made Nelson a center for writers and artists.

The 1924 library building was replaced by a larger one in 1997, and the original building was restored and used for meetings, lectures, programs and art exhibits, a fitting tribute to the founder of what became known as the Pennsylvania Settlement

This group began as visitors of Olivia Rodham’s house — fellow scholars and accomplished artists who shared her interests. They eventually moved to Nelson permanently — or at least seasonally — to pursue their work in rural quietude; many

were former colleagues at Swarthmore and most were from Pennsylvania, hence the name. This was in the early 20th century, a time when such colonies of artists and writers were forming in other rural areas, including Cornish and Dublin.

Descendants of the original Pennsylvania “colonists” still live in Nelson, and over the years the town has continued to draw writers, artists and other creatives. World War II correspondent and author Lael Wertenbaker lived here after leaving Time; poet May Sarton lived in a house facing the common, and like Olivia Rodham,

is buried in the Nelson Cemetery.

The most published writers are longtime natives of Nelson — namely members of the Tolman family. Newt Tolman’s “North of Monadnock” and “Our Loons are Always Laughing” are classics of New England humor and small-town life.

In addition to their writing, the Tolmans were a musical family; Newt’s first wife, Beth, co-authored the definitive guide to country dancing. Her co-author was fellow Nelson resident Ralph Page, a well-known square dance-caller and authority on American folk dancing. Page’s musical tradition is alive and well in Nelson, where country dance enthusiasts gather for the Nelson Monday Night Contra Dances, sponsored by the Monadnock Folklore Society.

Metal sculptures by Nelson artist Wendy Klemperer are shown in galleries across the country, and she recently received the Keene Sentinel’s Ruth and James Ewing Arts Award in 3D visual arts. Her sculpture in the schoolyard of the Nelson Elementary School depicts a group of playful otters cavorting on large rocks, an artistic nod to the real otters that children occasionally observe in the pond across the street. NH

Find It

Monadnock Folklore Society

(802) 354-0008 • monadnockfolk.org

Wendy Klemperer (347) 223-8876 • wendyklemperer.com

A row of mailboxes on the Common serves as an unofficial Post Office.

Three otters, by sculptor Wendy Klemperer, frolic at Nelson Elementary School near Munsonville.

PART 3 OF OUR GREAT FOOD DESTINATIONS SERIES:

What’s Cookin’

Discovering and celebrating what’s new and exciting on New Hampshire’s cuisine scene

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KENDAL J. BUSH

In Part 3 of our Great Food Destinations series, and to help you discover what’s new around our great state, we’ve once again asked our favorite food writers on the cuisine beat to recommend some new restaurants, or new offerings from old favorites, that are designed to both satisfy your appetite for dinner and inspire your appetite

for adventure on the road to fine (and fun) local dining. As our winter season is in full swing, we hearty Granite Staters look forward to comfort in food and friends.

We asked our food reviewers to share their next great dining experience. Each of our reviewers’ dining destinations can be a starting point for your own quest. We’ll

continue featuring the best new restaurants around the state in upcoming issues. And, we will also continue to compile our guide to what’s new and exciting in the online version of New Hampshire Magazine at nhmagazine.com.

Come along and discover with them their latest restaurants picks. →

Stephen Lavoie (left) with cinnamon-sugar grilled pineapple, Rick Hunt (middle) with pork ribs and Juan Hernandez (right) with bacon-wrapped filet mignon.

The Little Grille at The Depot

Abuilding that once led travelers to and from Littleton via railway has since been repurposed to transport taste buds (and eyes) to exotic lands of flavor and color. The previous Grafton County railroad station now blends Brazilian barbecue and local American fare with a modern art exhibit lining its walls.

Owners Scott and Camila Rutherford have been operating The Little Grille at The Depot on Cottage Street in Littleton since 2011, turning it into a reliable hangout for locals and vacationers alike.

The Little Grille is rooted firmly in the remnants of an old Boston and Maine train station, but features fantastic art covering its interior walls that can only be described as a “real trip” — in the vernacular of the 1960s. Local artist and author Rick Hunt took to elevating the historic train depot’s look into a modern psychedelic art experience that, like their food, is worth absorbing at leisure but also fun just sampling. Hunt’s art (featuring lots of local personalities if you know where to look) has recently expanded to cover the exterior walls as well, inviting drivers to stop for a closer look.

“It is out of this world,” Scott Rutherford says. “It’s a mixture of how he [Rick] sees music and life as a whole ... it’s almost outer planetary — it’s amazing.”

Hunt — who has collaborated with

Review

actress (and ex-wife of a certain legendary rock star) Angie Bowie on a number of book projects — also serves as a dining host, taking the lead on weekends during the restaurant’s Brazilian-style barbecue offerings.

“We could not have done as well without Rick,” Scott says. “He’s so good to people — he makes it so interesting.”

Scott explains that Brazilian barbecue meats are cooked over a wood fire on a skewer. “Just salt and flame. The fireplace works as an oven tenderizing the meats, and woodfire adds the taste,” he says. He notes

that tapioca cheese fries are suprisingly one of their more popular items (“It’s not something you can get anywhere”). He adds that sourcing local food from area farms and produce stands such as Big Papa’s in Littleton is “the life source” of their business.

“We’re not food-from-a-bag restaurant,” Scott says.

Stop for food. Enjoy the art show. Be sure to try the grilled pineapple. It will melt in your mouth. →

The Little Grille at The Depot 62 Cottage St., Littleton thelittlegrille.com / (603) 444-0395

GREAT FOOD DESTINATION: NORTH OF CONCORD

by Rony Camille

Hallway murals by artist and restaurant employee Rick Hunt.

Rick Hunt cutting the infamous Picanha, a Brazilian favorite because of its tenderness and bacon-like fat cap.

GREAT

FOOD DESTINATION: THE SEACOAST

Stages: The Kitchen & The Living Room

When award-winning chef Evan Hennessey opened Stages: The Kitchen at 1 Washington Street in Dover in 2012, it was considered a radical concept. A handful of guests dined in his custom kitchen while he cooked a multi-course meal practically at their elbows. The cuisine showcased a range of unique concepts (think steamed custard of leeks and spinach, scallops, black garlic and caraway), and as he cooked, Hennessey shared the story of each dish.

Stages was an immediate hit, and Hennessey has kept pushing the envelope. In June of 2021, he created The Living Room, a cozy, couch-filled space filled with his personal cookbooks, board games and an easy-going ambience. Guests order custom cocktails, mocktails or wine and choose from an extensive small plates menu.

Whereas The Kitchen requires reservations, The Living Room invites you to drop in unannounced for a quick refreshment or to linger. “The Living Room was the next piece of the puzzle,” says Hennessey. “We wanted to expand that intimate experience and invite people into our home, as it were.”

Enhancing the experience is Bernadette James, Stages’ new sommelier, who creates a medley of interesting cocktails and nine to 10 mocktails with intricate, layered flavors.

The Kitchen also enlisted chef de cuisine Joseph Ganley to join the team and expand their culinary offerings. “We serve 10 to 11

courses, starting with our ‘Walk Through the Forest’ tray, featuring small tastes of a diverse array of treats,” explains Hennessey. “We serve this and our first savory course in The Living Room, as you would at home, then adjourn to The Kitchen for the rest of the meal. We take guests on an incredible cooking journey, but always end with our classic: my daughter’s handshaved chocolate cookies, which we serve with frothed lavender milk. We encourage dipping!”

Review

compete in Trivial Pursuit, Scattergories, Scrabble, Pictionary and more, with the chance to win a gift card to The Kitchen. Hennessey’s next surprise is opening a private dining room, adjacent to his current venues, so guests can enjoy their own personal eating adventures. →

Stages

1 Washington St., Dover stages-dining.com / (603) 842-4077

by Crystal Ward Kent

The Living Room also offers game nights the first Thursday of every month. Guests

Chef Evan Hennessey creates a black walnut and miso ice cream with caviar, candied celery leaves and a sauce of creme fraiche and toasted coffee beans.

The Living Room’s lounge area for cocktails and apps.

Kitchen-side dinner seating at The Kitchen.

Rambling House Food & Gathering

Rambling House Food & Gathering started from just a nugget of an idea about 10 years ago. The Gleeson girls, Erin and Kerry, had just graduated from college and, after spending much time abroad, just wanted to live anywhere but Nashua. Dad Denis said, “If you don’t like it here, make it the place you want it to be.”

Wheels starting spinning and, after a few iterations of ideas, the sisters focused on a restaurant — a place for community. In times past, in their own Irish heritage, the concept of a place to gather was called a rambling house — a local home with doors open to all who wished to share stories, food and drink. Turns out their own grandfather, Maurice Gleeson, took part in this tradition in County Kerry. They had found the name for their enterprise and a mission for the entire family.

The venture mainly includes Denis Gleeson, their dad, Uncle Dave Gleeson, Denis’ brother and the Gleeson siblings. They found the Factory Street location to be a farfrom-perfect but workable space. Hands on,

they made it the inviting place that exists today. Uncle Dave’s brewery, Talespinner, sits on the lower level with a small tasting room and an entrance in the back on Water Street. The main door to the restaurant faces Factory Street. The narrow façade makes it look like a small European storefront operation, but once inside the wedge-shaped building expands into a bar and dining room lined with floor-to-ceiling glass displaying the Nashua River below and the skyline beyond.

Upstairs is the kitchen and passageway to a marvelous deck with great views. And if that wasn’t enough, the Gleesons expect to open a fourth-level deck by next spring.

All along, Rambling House has aimed to be as sustainable and local as possible. The family also runs a small farm where they procure grass-fed beef from Belted Galloways, lamb and fresh eggs. Kelly says they plan to grow their own produce in the near future.

Chef Jeremy Guyotte was brought in early to run the kitchen. His previous experience in Gloucester gives him boatloads

Lemon pepper wings with a house-brewed beer.

GREAT FOOD DESTINATION: GREATER NASHUA

Review by Susan Laughlin

Fish and chips served barside.

of fresh seafood training and informs his nose-to-tail butcher philosophy.

Besides the regular menu, their “Butcher Board” supplies an array of other offerings, including steak cuts from their own Claddagh Hill Farm beef that change daily.

Fall menu items also include the ground lamb kebobs, and favorites coming back from last winter’s menu range from the shepherd’s pie with lamb to a Dunk’s mushroom bisque. At the bar, find 12 rotating taps offering Talespinner brews, four of which are IPAs. The cocktail list is also memorable, each a nicely balanced and creative combination of spirits and flavors to reflect the season. “We want to put real quality into everything we serve,” Kelly says.

Desserts are homey in style, such as a chocolate bourbon bread pudding you can top off with homemade ice cream. Sister Erin has developed a passion for making this frozen concoction; she develops an array of interesting flavors each week including bourbon vanilla and cannoli, a fan favorite.

Late this past summer, they added a Sunday brunch and also hosted the first of many events to be scheduled. Thinking about

it, events do foster a sense of community among participants, so cheers to that.

Now 10 years later, Kelly is no longer that wide-eyed college grad. She’s married, has a family and loves living in Nashua. “We are

not done with what Rambling House will be,” she says. Stay tuned. NH

Rambling House Food & Gathering 57 Factory St., Nashua ramblingtale.com / (603) 318-3220

Left to right, sisters Erin and Kerry Gleeson.

603 Informer

“I have too great a soul to die like a criminal. ... I do not wish to shed a drop of blood, but ‘I must fight the course.’ Tis all that’s left to me.” – John Wilkes Booth

Did John Really Love Lucy?

New Hampshire’s Lucy Lambert Hale gets a valentine from John Wilkes Booth

BY J. DENNIS ROBINSON DIGITAL COLLAGE BY JOHN R. GOODWIN

The Everly Brothers were right: Love hurts, especially when your fiancée turns out to be the most hated man in the nation. Lucy Lambert Hale of Dover, New Hampshire, according to legend, was secretly engaged to actor John Wilkes Booth when he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865. Lucy was staying with her family at the National Hotel in Washington, D.C., where Booth also lodged.

At 26, Booth was among the most recognizable figures in America during the Civil War. Handsome and athletic, especially dazzling during swordfights and action scenes, he was considered a third-rate actor when compared to his elder brother, Edwin Booth. Lucy Hale, then 24 and better known as “Bessie,” is often depicted as a beauty, although John Ford, proprietor of Ford’s Theatre, described her simply as “stout.” She was, without doubt, the belle of Washington society. Lucy was also the daughter of an abolitionist senator from New Hampshire. Booth was a notorious playboy and a pro-slavery sympathizer for the Confederate cause. What could possibly go wrong?

A graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and Bowdoin College, John Parker Hale, Lucy’s dad, spoke out against slavery, opposed the Mexican-American War and fought against the practice of flogging in the Navy. By 1865, wrapping up a 22-year career as a congressman and senator, he was about to become the U.S. ambassador to Spain. It has been suggested that Sen. Hale asked President Lincoln for the post in order to place the Atlantic Ocean between his starstruck daughter and a troublesome actor.

The romance reportedly began when Booth sent an anonymous and creepy Valentine’s Day letter to “My Dear Miss Hale.” It read, in part: “You resemble in a most remarkable degree a lady, very dear to me, now dead, and your close resemblance to her surprised me the first time I saw you.”

Lucy innocently used her father’s influence to get Booth an invitation to Lincoln’s second inauguration on the steps of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Booth and five of his conspirators are visible in photographs of the March 4, 1865 inauguration. They stood within “striking distance” of the president, Booth later boasted. He returned the favor by taking Lucy to a performance at Ford’s Theatre where, days later, he shot Lincoln in the head with a bullet from a small derringer. Today, Ford’s Theatre is a national museum where Booth’s derringer and a portrait of Lucy are on display.

According to some researchers, the couple met up at the hotel on April 14, the morning of the assassination, roughly the time her father was meeting

with President Lincoln at the White House. Sen. Hale was working out the details of his trip to Spain with his wife and two daughters.

Whether J.P. Hale knew of his daughter’s engagement is unclear. And it is unlikely Lucy was aware of her fiancé’s murderous plan. For months, Booth and his conspirators had been planning to kidnap Lincoln, not to kill him. But a failed attempt and the ending of the Civil War just days earlier — plus Lincoln’s plan to give African Americans the vote — pushed Booth to take desperate action.

“We hated to kill,” Booth wrote in a pocket diary while hiding after the murder. Of Lincoln, he added, “Our country owed all her troubles to him, and God simply made me the instrument of his punishment.”

On that fateful Good Friday, after meeting Lucy, Booth learned that Lincoln and his wife, Mary, were planning to attend a performance at Ford’s that night. He hastily convened his conspirators to revise their plans.

According to a bystander, Booth (wearing his spurs for a quick getaway by horse) calmly dined with Lucy and her mother at the National Hotel at 6:30 p.m. Checking his watch before 8 p.m., he stood to leave. Booth took Lucy’s hand and recited a line from Shakespeare: “Nymph, in thy orisons [prayers] be all my sins remembered.” Two hours later, he was the greatest villain in American history.

How intimate Lucy Hale had been with John Wilkes Booth is best left to tabloids and novels. They may have exchanged rings and poems. It has been suggested that Lucy shared a room with Booth not long before the assassination. That unlikely scenario has even been dramatized in a made-for-TV movie.

More likely, Lucy was swept away by Booth’s practiced charm and celebrity. She was no stranger to courtly love and was considered flirtatious by Victorian standards. According to Albert Richmond “Boo” Morcom, a history buff, collector and Olympic pole vaulter, Lucy had attracted other famous admirers. Robert Todd Lincoln, the president’s son, enjoyed her company, although he later denied ever meeting Lucy. Years earlier, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., a future Supreme Court Justice, wrote to Lucy. Holmes asked whether she had scented her letter with a perfume called “Kiss Me Quick,” and if so, did she intend he should do so?

The Booth Valentine anecdote, now widely repeated, came from the late Morcom, who published excerpts from a few of Lucy’s love letters (American Heritage Magazine, 1970). Best known for his Olympic feats,

Following the murder of Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre, John Wilkes Booth escaped out of a backstage door to a waiting getaway horse and headed for Maryland. Booth and a co-conspirator survived a fierce 12-day manhunt before he was cornered and shot in a Virginia tobacco barn. Lucy Hale’s photograph was among the items discovered in his pockets.

Morcom graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1947. He claimed to have found the letters in an antique shop. Morcom owned the valentine he attributed to John Wilkes Booth, although it is signed “A Stranger.”

Was Booth truly in love with Lucy Hale as he told friends and family members? Or was the actor “playing” the young New Hampshire woman, much as he manipulated his less-than-clever co-conspirators? Booth was wealthy, although he spent much of his fortune smuggling weapons and supplies to the Confederacy. He was popular, although often mocked in the press for his mediocre performances. Charming, cunning, duplicitous and vengeful, he seemed to wield a “magnetic” influence over certain people.

John Wilkes’ sister, Asia, and his brother, Junius, were aware of his infatuation with a senator’s daughter. Junius, also an actor, had seen his brother kissing a ring each time he mentioned Lucy’s name. Writing about her brother years later, Asia Booth Clarke recalled him struggling to write a valentine poem a week before the assassination. His affection for Lucy appeared genuine to friends and family.

Booth also admitted the engagement to his doting mother. She wrote back to warn him that “a child with a new toy only craves possession of it.” His mother added, “You are looking and saying soft things to one that don’t love you half as well as your old mother does.” On learning that “Bessie” was soon leaving for Spain with her family, Booth had agreed to wait one year and then marry, whether Lucy’s father approved or not.

Almost everyone with a connection to John Wilkes Booth was interrogated in the weeks following the assassination. Scores of people were arrested and detained, including Junius, who spent two months in prison. But there is no record that Lucy Hale or her mother were questioned, even though they may have been with Booth just before the murder that stunned the nation. John Parker Hale likely used his considerable clout to keep investigators at bay. Sen. Hale also posted notices in the media denying that any relationship had existed between the assassin and his daughter.

Only scraps of paper and remembered conversation remain to document the brief star-crossed romance. Lucy did contact Edwin Booth, the renowned Shakespearean actor. “I have had a heartbroken letter,” Edwin wrote to his sister, Asia, “from the poor little

girl to whom he (John Wilkes) had promised so much happiness.”

Scholar Nora Titone has argued that John Wilkes was driven to violence against Lincoln, in part, to upstage his better-known, more-sophisticated older brother. Their bitter rivalry began as children. Edwin was chosen to tour with their renowned father, actor Junius Brutus Booth. John, four years younger, stayed on their Maryland farm with his mother and sisters. Junius Brutus, for the record, was also a notorious alcoholic who suffered from bouts of mental illness. Edwin was effectively his father’s caretaker.

During the Civil War, John Wilkes toured the struggling South while Edwin dominated the North, even building his own theater. By murdering Lincoln in a theater during a play — then leaping dramatically to the stage shouting “Sic semper tyrannis” (Latin for “Thus always to tyrants”) — John Wilkes nearly put an end to Edwin’s reputation and career. Ironically, after publicly expressing his grief and shame in public, Edwin Booth went on to become the most revered actor of his era.

We get a hint of Lucy’s reaction from an article in The New York Herald. Without mentioning her by name, a reporter wrote that Booth’s fiancée, like the rest of the country, was “plunged into profound grief.” Lucy, however, was pining for the assassin, not the president. “But with womanly fidelity, she is slow to believe him guilty of this appalling crime,” the Herald noted. After Lincoln’s death — and again, this is hearsay — she vowed to be loyal even to the gallows. Ella Turner, another of Booth’s lovers, attempted, unsuccessfully, to commit suicide using a bottle of chloroform.

John Wilkes Booth, who had expected to become a hero of the defeated South, was shocked to find himself hunted and despised. Unlike four other conspirators, he never made it to the gallows. He was shot while hiding in a Virginia tobacco barn after a 12-day manhunt. His body was sewn into a horse blanket and taken by tugboat in the dead of night to the ironclad ship Montauk at Washington. Not even the sailors on duty knew that Booth’s corpse had been smuggled aboard.

Among the effects found on the assassin’s body was a photograph of Lucy Hale. However, his pocket diary included pictures of four other women, all actresses. Lucy’s photograph was not identified until 1891.

According to historian Gene Smith, three

people arrived by tugboat the next morning and boarded the Montauk. Two were naval officers. One was a woman in a veil. An account in an unpublished manuscript reports that, when the blanket was unwrapped, Lucy Hale threw herself across the body, sobbing. Was it Lucy? Did it happen? The tale of the starcrossed lovers is rich with legend, but poorly documented.

Either way, Lucy quickly accompanied her parents to Spain. She returned four years later to their Dover, New Hampshire, home, today a museum. She nursed her father until his death in 1873. Two years later, Lucy married another former sweetheart and a widower, William E. Chandler, in a very private ceremony.

It was Abraham Lincoln, curiously, who had appointed Chandler to government. The couple shuttled between Washington, D.C., and Concord, where Chandler was a lawyer, newspaper publisher, U.S. Senator and Secretary of the Navy. A naval destroyer was named in his honor.

Lucy Hale Chandler was 43 when she gave birth to her only child, John P. Hale Chandler. She lived a respectable life as the wife of a politician and was active in civic causes. The couple raised funds to erect a monument to Lucy’s father that stands in front of the New Hampshire State House today. Her family home is now part of the extraordinary Woodman Museum campus in Dover. Among its collections is a saddle, once owned by Abraham Lincoln. Lucy died in 1915 and her husband followed two years later. If the couple ever spoke of John Wilkes Booth, no record of that conversation survives. NH

J. Dennis Robinson is a popular lecturer and the author of countless feature articles and over a dozen books about New England and beyond. His hardcover history of Portsmouth’s landmark Music Hall and his new mystery novel “Point of Graves” can be found online, in bookstores and at JDennisRobinson.com.

Woodman Museum

The Woodman, founded in 1916, is a traditional early-20th-century style natural science, history and art museum with exhibits for all ages. The museum’s collection includes hundreds of colonial artifacts; comprehensive mineral, shell and fossil gallery; mounted animal specimens; fine art and furniture; an extensive collection of militaria; local history objects; and much more. Opens in April.

182 Central Ave., Dover • (603) 742-1038 woodmanmuseum.org

Blips

Monitoring appearances of the 603 on the media radar since 2006

Amtrak Adventures

Ben “Gitty” Baker publishes a book celebrating the joys of train travel

BY CASEY McDERMOTT

On a train ride to visit family a few years ago, Ben “Gitty” Baker struck up conversation with a stranger in the café car who shared enthralling tales of traveling the country by railroad. Baker, already a rail enthusiast, was instantly inspired.

“I was like, ‘I want to do that someday — I want to go all the way around the country

by train,’” Baker says. “So I started planning it in 2019. And then something happened.”

With COVID-19 abruptly halting any travel plans, Baker decided to focus on his business, C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply in Rochester, which — as a purveyor of do-it-yourself musical instrument kits — found itself coincidentally poised for success during the pandemic.

As the world became safer and Baker racked up travel reward points on his credit card, he finally stepped aboard the Amtrak in Dover, departing on the trek of a lifetime. Traveling through Chicago, New Orleans, Seattle and plenty of places in between — including, perhaps most meaningfully, his hometown in Ohio — the journey became so rewarding that he decided to author a book on the experience: “The Ramblin’ Railfan: A Trip Around America by Train.”

“Growing up, I had seen trains going by until I moved away from home, and those tracks ran down the middle of my life,” Baker says. “And to roll over them and look out the windows at the sights and the scenes that I knew so well, shrouded in the mists of nostalgia and memory, that meant a lot.”

Baker describes his book as “part photo journal and part anthem to the joys of travel by rail,” an antidote to the hurried experience of air travel.

“In a lot of ways modern travel is becom-

PHOTOS: GLENN WATT / COURTESY

Baker’s book can by purchased on his cigar box crafter supply website: cbgitty.com

When Ben “Gitty” Baker isn’t riding the rails, you’ll find him making one-of-a-kind cigar box guitars and producing musical crafting kits for inspired musicians.

ing this soulless thing,” Baker says. “Whereas travel used to be adventure — it used to be

Baker worries that travelers are overlooking the fun of an escapade when they board a commercial cross-country flight, forgetting all the magic that lay below. Of course there’s always the option to drive — but then you’d miss unwinding in a sleeper car, shooting the breeze with a fascinating stranger and witnessing bountiful landscapes that roads simply can’t access.

“In some of those mountain passes,” Baker says, “there are only rails.”

Baker hopes to eventually ride all of Amtrak’s long-distance routes. He’s about halfway through that goal — and trying to enjoy the journey in between.

If you’re still clinging to the holiday spirit, tune into “Santa Camp” on HBO Max. The Daily Beast calls it a “must watch.” “(The film) tells the story of three unconventional Clauses: one Black, one trans and one born with spina bifida,” the website writes. “Together, they beautifully challenge the status quo.”

Ansanm, the Milford destination offering Haitian comfort food dreamt up by Chef Chris Viaud of Greenleaf, got a shout out from Boston Magazine for those craving tropical flavors this winter. “The golden-brown pork shoulder and the curry chickpea stew are loaded with enough seasonings to warm you up from a long afternoon of clomping around in the snow,” Boston writes. NH

Boston

Governor Sunshine

As we enter 2023, only one major question remains relating to New Hampshire politics.

No, it’s not who might explore a run for the U.S. Senate. (The state doesn’t have a Senate seat up in 2024.)

No, it’s not who will run for either U.S. House seat. (Both are held by Democrats who typically have the wind at their backs during the upcoming presidential election year.)

It’s not even who will run in the New Hampshire presidential primary.

The one question is this: What will Governor Chris Sununu do next?

Answer that question and suddenly there are a lot of answers — and a lot more questions — that begin flowing. Everyone is essentially just waiting for Sununu.

What is this all about? Well, in November Sununu was easily elected to a fourth term, matching John Lynch for the most terms in modern history. Sununu remains among the most popular governors in the nation; if he chose to run for a fifth term, there wouldn’t be much stopping his success.

However, his travel schedule suggests he might have grander ambitions than Concord.

No New Hampshire governor — in decades, mind you — has traveled so much. He has been a keynote speaker at the California Republican Party’s convention, at a Mitch McConnell event in Kentucky, at Republican gatherings in Florida and Colorado and also appeared at a Las Vegas forum with others explicitly looking at a run for president.

Wait — is Sununu going to run for president? Well, he hasn’t ruled it out yet, and 2023 could be the year we find out.

Then again, Sununu could simultaneously run for president and governor at the same time. He wouldn’t be the first to lose the presidential nomination and seek reelection later. He could also simply leave politics and make money in the private sector.

Many in New Hampshire politics are trying to game out his options for their own sake. Sununu not running would open up the governor’s office for a robust campaign. That, in turn, could have a domino effect, opening up Congressional and State Senate seats (with incumbents choosing to run for governor instead).

Of course, if a presidential campaign is something that Sununu wants to try, it

would have a monumental impact on the New Hampshire primary. Other candidates might just decide to skip New Hampshire and concede it to Sununu. If that happened, the state’s famed presidential primary might be irrelevant in a way not experienced before.

Logically speaking, it’s not obvious what Sununu should do.

He already passed on running for the U.S. Senate against Democrat Maggie Hassan after months of flirting with the idea. He was adamant in saying he wouldn’t go to Washington for any position. He was thinking maybe more cabinet level.

His own father did that. While serving as governor, John H. Sununu endorsed then-Vice President George H.W. Bush and later moved to Washington to be Bush’s presidential chief of staff. Incidentally, that was the last time that Chris Sununu lived in Washington.

To be fair, it’s unclear whether Sununu even knows what he wants to do next. A year is a long time in politics, but it will be a year where the people of our state keep a close eye on him for clues — about his future, and their own. NH

BY JAMES PINDELL / ILLUSTRATION BY PETER NOONAN

While others have to play it cool or get burned, Sununu is sitting pretty

We are committed to delivering the highest-quality heart and vascular care to our community with respect, integrity, commitment and compassion.

Keeping the Time

A mechanical marvel, hidden from view, marks the time and chronicles events through the ages

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARSHALL HUDSON

War broke out in 1861 at Fort Sumter,” is scrawled across the wall in soapstone, written by an unknown timekeeper more than 150 ago. A different wall reads, “September 6, 1901, President McKinley kilt on this date.” Other memorable events, dates and names are written graffiti-like on the interior walls of this tiny building located inside the clock tower, inside the steeple, on top of the Congregational Church of Amherst. To gain access to this hidden building, I travel a series of switchback stairs that become steeper, narrower and ricketier with each turn. Referring to the steps as “stairs” is a bit misleading — the stairs gradually evolve into ladders. In places, steps are missing and my heart skips a beat as I feel across the gap for the next rung. Other than the beam from the flashlight in my teeth, it is dark as a tomb.

Upon reaching the tiny building, we open the narrow door and grope for the pull-chain light switch. After replacing lightbulbs we emerge from the darkness and I observe that the building is smaller than a shed, bigger than a doghouse and just large enough to shelter the gear mechanisms that work the steeple clock. Whoever constructed this tiny building centuries ago took pride in their work and labored to build something destined to last for a long time. Hand-chiseled mortise and tenon

beams make up the bones of the structure and froe-split wooden shingles cover the roof, even though the roof is inside the steeple and never sees rain. A tier over my head is the belfry, which is open to the weather, so this building-within-a-building creates a secondary barrier double-protecting the 1818 clock mechanism against the elements, leaking roofs, pigeons and bats.

The mechanism gears not only turn the 5-foot-long clock hands, but they also operate a strike hammer that sounds the

hour on the great bell, overhead. This entire mechanism is powered only by gravity. Two granite blocks — weighing 400 and 600 pounds — are suspended on ropes and pulleys and attached to the clock gears. One weight powers the clock, the other drives the striking hammer and both need to be re-wound periodically. A system of gears, cranks, pulleys and a hidden cavity within the walls of the church allow one man to reel up the granite blocks and start them descending again. Gravity tugs on the weights and the gears release them, tick by tick, advancing the clock.

A porthole in the face of the clock — just large enough for my head — allows me to look outside and see the time displayed by the giant hands. Adjustments, such as for daylight savings time, can be made by turning cranks back inside the tiny building.

Continuing up the rickety stair-ladder

Inside the protective building, inside the clocktower, inside the steeple, Hudson turns the crank that winds the rope and lifts the weights to power the clock.

Written on a hidden interior wall of the Congregational Church bell tower in Amherst is the message, “War broke out in 1861 at Fort Sumter.”

to the next level, we emerge through a submarine hatch door onto the floor of the belfry. This area is exposed to the elements and a cold biting wind is whipping through, suggesting we not dilly-dally with our task. The view from this wide-open tower is spectacular, but not for the faint of heart. I’m told this steeple is the tallest in New Hampshire, 105 feet from the bottom granite step to the top of the weathervane rooster. Peering over the edge I can see our truck a long way down below. It still contains necessary items that we couldn’t carry on our first trip.

Navigating the steps back down becomes easier with the lights on and the doors open, but climbing back up with buckets of tools and supplies is a bear. Not wanting to make multiple trips, we overload and carry everything we anticipate needing and a lot of just-in-case items as well.

The lantern portion of the steeple is held up by eight white oak, octagonal-sawed timbers, which are continually exposed to wet and dry weather. That makes these timbers candidates for rot, so I’m assisting with inspections and preventative maintenance on these columns. Seams or cracks

which opened are caulked and shields are installed to keep the weather off the timbers, while still allowing them to breathe. The timekeeper joins us, oiling the clock and greasing the axle of the bell.

Because of the church’s dominating size and prominent location overlooking the town common, you might think that it has stood at this spot forever, but that assumption would be incorrect. Originally constructed as a meetinghouse by the town of Amherst in 1771-1774, the meetinghouse was sold in 1832 to the church, but the town retained ownership of the bell, clock, belfry, tower and steeple — even though it is physically attached to the church building. In 1836, approval was given to the church to move the building, including the town-owned portion. The entire structure was moved across the street and rotated 180 degrees to where it sits today. Incredibly, the clock never stopped ticking.

An excerpt from the August 26, 1836, Farmers’ Cabinet reads,

“The old Congregational meeting-house in this town was moved in the last week from its former site to another, some rods distant, and turned round so as to face one end southerly to the common. The work, when commenced, was thought by some to be nearly impossible to be effected with safety to the building — but has been accomplished by Capt. Nathan Call, of Concord, with screws and tackle, with apparent ease and entire safety, so much so as that the high towering steeple, which has so long pointed us upward as the way to heaven, has not deviated in its line of altitude — and the clock has not ceased its monitions that time is hastening on and should be constantly improved.”

This same clock that did not stop during the move of 1836 still measures the passing of time today.

Not only has the clock been keeping time for over 200 years, but the tiny building protecting it has become an impromptu keeper of time with notations of dates and important events. Looking around one last time, I discover another soapstone note scrawled on the wall informing me the Civil War has ended. “War ceased fire 1865,” it reads. I close the door, extinguish the light and travel in darkness back down the rickety stairs, knowing that I’ve touched history in a unique time capsule. NH

It’s 105 feet from the granite steps to the top of the weathervane. The steeple is made up of tiers: clock tower, bell tower, lantern, steeple, weathercock.

Making repairs to the exposed bell tower in the bitter cold, the writer is able to take in the view.

Marshall Hudson sticks his head through the porthole of the clock and quips, “If I don’t pull my head back in by 10:45, it could get messy.”

Winter Warmerၳ

Fireside Manhattan

Ingredients:

2 parts Maker’s Mark® 46 Bourbon Whisky

1 part mulled wine*

2 dashes bitters

Garnish:

Orange peel studded with whole cloves

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with orange peel studded with fresh cloves.

*Mulled wine: Combine 2 cups apple cider, 375 ml red wine, 1 cinnamon stick and 2 cloves in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Let cool before mixing.

Sloely Count to Six

Ingredients:

2 parts Roku® Japanese Gin

1 part sloe gin

1 part grapefruit juice

Garnish: Grapefruit peel

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add Roku, sloe gin, and grapefruit juice. Gently shake. Strain into chilled coupe glass. Garnish with twist of fresh grapefruit peel.

Jim Beam Kiss Me Cocktail

Ingredients:

1 part Jim Beam® Black Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

½ part DeKuyper® Strawberry Patch Schnapps Liqueur

1 part passion fruit Sparkling wine

Garnish: Lemon peel

Shake all but sparkling wine with ice and strain into a chilled glass. Top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a lemon peel.

Dark Rye Old Pal

Ingredients:

1½ parts Basil Hayden® Dark Rye Whiskey

1 part dry vermouth

1 part Campari

Garnish: Lemon peel

Combine the Basil Hayden, vermouth, and Campari in a mixing glass. Fill the glass with a handful of ice and stir. Strain into coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon peel.

Jim Beam Hot Cider

Ingredients:

1¼ parts Jim Beam® Original Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Hot apple cider

1 dash allspice

Garnish: Cinnamon stick and a slice of lemon

Add Jim Beam Original Bourbon to a glass mug. Fill with hot apple cider and the dash of allspice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a lemon slice.

Hornitos Tequila Sangria

Ingredients:

1 bottle of dry red wine

¾ cup Hornitos® Plata Tequila

¼ cup triple sec

½ cup orange juice

1 cup pomegranate juice

2 tablespoons simple syrup (or more, if desired)

1 lemon, cut into thin wheels

1 orange, cut into thin wheels

1 apple, cored and cut into small pieces

Garnish:

Sanding sugar and orange, apple and lime slices, quartered

Mix all ingredients together in a large container with a lid and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before serving. Serve over ice in a wine glass and garnish with fresh slices of oranges, lemons, or apples.

Secret Agent

PHOTO BY DAVID MENDELSOHN / INTERVIEW BY RICK BROUSSARD

You might say that Yasamin Safarzadeh is hidden in plain sight, though evidence of her presence is proliferating as she works alongside the state’s immigrants, homeless youth and otherwise “unseen” populations. While illuminating artists and causes she respects, she’s content to remain in the shadows. But beneath that obscure surface, Yaz (as she is known by friends and colleagues) is a blazing star in her own right: a performer, visual artist, organizer and activist. Her current day gig is program director at the historic Kimball Jenkins Estate in Concord — where this photo was taken, in the attic, elevated but private and offering views of the Capitol City, past, present and future.

Persians have a huge history [her family is from Iran]. It’s much more secular and artful than the new regime acting out the hate present in that country today. Hundreds of young people killed and exiled ... I guess that’s why a lot of us are here.

My aunt lives there with her sons. Everything is expensive, corrupt and surveilled. Sometimes we can’t speak freely. But, she is active on Instagram — we talk on there.

It hurts to sit in New Hampshire and see my mother and sister protesting in Los Angeles and Dallas, but I love them for it. It’s lonely here, you know.

I think I have found a way to be an artist that is effective in alleviating some of the pains our communities suffer by creating spaces and accessibilities to the arts.

Through the years of living here I have built a faith and trust in my work from the community, and due to this, people let me in their spaces to facilitate moments of expression.

I love watching all this go down and researching why we do what we do as a human species, why we are so fearful and hateful. Then I love to act on that observation; empathy and research. It is a privilege to render observation into action.

Initially, I was without a car. I sold it to move here. I walked three miles a day at least, everywhere, for two years.

Spite drives me. And love. I have an insane capacity to love, but I also need to be alive and do the work in order to outlive and overturn the bad actors in our region.

I speak about isolation a lot, but I like being an outlier. I like to be alone, though I thrive in public settings and operate from a vast network of place-makers and creatives.

It’s important to find your people, even if it is online; I can attend meetups on Zoom conducted by scholars all over the world from my computer. I can cry with them, and they know why I cry.

I keep meeting happy people who know such burdens, but they do not live like that weight owns them; they live to give what they’ve got to others. This is why I keep moving and why I smile, because I can see the change we are making together. I believe in us and I believe in our potential for good.

I never fit in, I still don’t, and I like it that way. I like being on the outside, studying, writing, engaging, dropping in to act as a touchstone, then moving out again.

Portrait of the Artist

Yasamin Safarzadeh describes her art as “mixed media, concept and civic,” noting, “I celebrate all materials and enjoy exploring themes, theories and histories involved therein.” She mentors young artists who sometimes struggle with English and operates a writing incubator for teens with Manchester InkLink. She says she identifies with others who, like her, are “trying to move through the pain and isolation.” Still, when asked about her inspirations, she cites visions of grandeur. “There are beautiful things in this world,” she says. “I see the bounty of the Alaskan wilderness. I see Anza Borrego, a land cultivated by the Yaqui People. I see Black Rock in Nevada. I remember faintly the mosques of gold, teal and lapis in Iran.” Many of her diverse strands come together at Kimball Jenkins. “I am curating a show next April called ‘All My Friends Are in This Show.’ It’s going to be amazing and wild. Also, I am pioneering a residency program at Waypoint’s youth shelter, just me as an artist, and I’m excited to see how that pans out.” More at surethingyaz.com.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL GUIDE

YOUR GUIDE TO FINDING THE BEST EDUCATION FOR YOUR CHILD

So, you’re considering an independent school for your child. Good call.

Now more than ever it’s essential that students be prepared for change, equipped for lifelong learning and eager to embrace the challenges of life. They need a sense of independence that is guided by the experience of mentors and guarded by a great institution of learning.

Ask parents why they chose an independent school for their children and the list of reasons is long: great teachers, smaller classes, more personal attention, a welcoming atmosphere, and the chance to explore new opportunities both in and out of the classroom.

Independent schools are where many of our best academic professionals can be found, and, after all, how successful or well prepared could any of us be without the right teachers and advisors to show us the proverbial path? These men and women are there not simply to teach the correct answers but to impart the ability to ask the right questions. Talented educators and academic professionals provide the tools we need — parents and children alike — to make wise choices for ourselves.

Independent Schools 101

Before you can find the right place for your child, it’s important to understand what an independent school is. Though types and styles of schools are varied, the basic principle applies to each: “They are a particular kind of nonprofit private school, distinguished by having a free-standing board of trustees that is solely responsible for the school and by being independently funded, primarily by tuition.”

This is the definition supplied by the Association of Independent Schools in New England, a helpful resource for prospective students and their families.

With more than 2,000 independent private schools throughout the country, which range from pre-K through high school, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by choice. Within the New England Association of Schools alone, there are a number of options, from small elementary schools to large boarding schools. So how to find the right one?

Before you begin your research, you and your family should create two lists: First, write down the particular school features you want for your child, and then outline your child or children’s specific needs and interests. From there, you can request a copy of a school’s mission statement — all schools affiliated with the Association of Independent Schools in New England have such a statement, which can help you narrow your search.

When starting the search for an independent school, it can be hard to know what to ask. The following list is a place to start, and can help you identify important questions you’ll need to answer before choosing a school.

PROGRAM OF THE SCHOOL

■ Does the school’s program suit your child’s academic needs?

■ Does the academic program have the breadth and depth to challenge the range of students admitted?

■ How are the most able students challenged?

■ What is unique about the academic program?

■ If this is a denominational school, how is that reflected in the program?

■ What does the school offer in cocurricular areas such as athletics, dramatics and community activities?

■ Does the overall program of the school include learning experiences of residential life (when applicable)?

■ Are there programs for exceptional children? learning-disabled children? those with physical or emotional handicaps?

STUDENTS

■ What kind of students does the school seek?

■ Is a student profile available, including racial and ethnic characteristics, percentage of students receiving financial aid and geographical distribution (especially for residential schools)?

■ If the school has a denominational affiliation, what percentage of students are from that denomination? What other denominations are represented?

■ Are there examples of students participating in school-sponsored volunteer community projects?

■ Where do students go following graduation or completion of the program? How does the school stay in touch with them?

PARENTS

■ What degree of involvement is expected of parents in school activities and other supporting roles? Involvement with sports? Academic support? Advising? Participation in clubs or functions?

QUALITY OF LIFE

■ Is the atmosphere that of a “tight ship” or is it informal?

■ If this is a residential school, then what is residential life like?

■ Are students required to participate in some form of organized athletics? dramatic projections? other schoolwide activities?

■ What is the student attrition rate? What are the reasons?

■ What is the school’s policy on substance abuse? alcohol use? smoking?

■ What types of infractions are considered serious, and what disciplinary procedures are used?

■ How do the personal and educational guidance and advisory systems work?

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

■ What is the typical class size, particularly in English, foreign languages, mathematics and science?

■ What is the individual teacher load, including numbers of students as well as preparation and other duties?

■ In what professional organizations do individual faculty members participate?

PHYSICAL PLANT

■ Is the physical plant — including classrooms, library, laboratories and physical education facilities — adequate for and compatible with the mission of the school?

■ Is the plant well maintained, and does it show signs of people caring about the physical environment? (Include dorms and individual rooms if this is a residential school.)

■ Is the food service area clean, and are certificates of appropriate health and sanitary inspections displayed?

FINANCIAL BASE

■ What is the annual tuition?

■ What percentage of the per-student operating cost of the school does the tuition meet?

■ If tuition doesn’t meet all costs, how is the balance made up?

■ What is the school’s tuition refund policy?

■ Is there a tuition insurance plan?

■ What is the amount and purpose of the endowment?

■ Does the school have an annual giving program?

■ In the operating budget, what are the percentages and categories of expenses? (This may indicate some school priorities.)

■ For what purposes are annual funds requested and expended?

GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

■ Is the school separately incorporated, not for profit, proprietary, a member of a school system such as a diocesan system or affiliated with a parish or parishes?

■ Who establishes policy for the school?

■ Who is the chief administrative officer of the school? What is his or her background and experience? How long has she or he been at this school?

■ With what education-oriented associations is the school affiliated?

■ By whom is the school accredited?

BUILDING YOUR FUTURE

With millions in campus renovations happening alongside an innovative academic program, it’s an exciting time to be a Ram! We’re building something special at Tilton so our students can build what’s important to them through new opportunities in and out of the classroom.

Powerful Programming. From stage to studio, workshop to weight room, there’s a place for everyone at Tilton.

Dedicated College Counseling. Personal attention means students identify and win acceptance at colleges that

Top Sports. With over 20 competitive teams, we work to win in every single season.

A Unique Approach. Here at Tilton, students are encouraged to choose the path that is most engaging and exciting for them.

Home Sweet Home. Personal connections are at the heart of everything we do. Here, you’ll get a team of people that will guide and support you every step of the way.

Rolling Admission and No Tuition Increases. We have rolling admission, which means we accept new applicants throughout the entire academic year. When a family enrolls at Tilton, their tuition rate stays the same throughout their time on the Hill.

Welcome to Cardinal Country!

Bishop Guertin High School is a welcoming community founded in the mission of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. At BG, students are challenged to excel in both the classroom and in the many extracurricular activities we offer. The faculty and staff forge strong bonds so that students always feel they are known, valued and treasured.

Nashua, NH (603) 889-4107 www.bghs.org

Igniting Potential

Learning Skills Academy offers a comprehensive, co-educational school experience, grades three to 12, providing tutorials in the basic skills of literacy and mathematics, while facilitating higher order thinking skills through our theme-based content area instruction. We provide pragmatic language instruction within a meaningful social context. Adventure-based learning — designed to improve communication, increase a sense of community and build leadership qualities for success — is an integral part of our program.

LSA is approved to grant diplomas upon completion.

Rye, NH (603) 964-4903

www.learningskillsacademy.org

Curious• Creative • Connected

We educate our students to seek truth and fulfill their highest potential, to impart meaningful purpose to their lives, and to contribute courageously to the positive development of the world. Our mission inspires everything we do here at High Mowing. Each lesson, each activity, each tradition speaks to where the student is in their development, nurturing integrity, resourcefulness, and resilience as they grow from young children to young adults

• Bus routes available – east, west, south

• Over $3 million in financial aid each year

• Co-ed day (pre-K to grade 12) and boarding (grades 9-12)

Visit us! highmowing.org/visit

Wilton, NH

(603) 654-2464 www.highmowing.org

Academy of Notre Dame - Tyngsboro

We are full STEAM ahead

• 50% of graduates pursue degrees in STEAM in college

Small classes

• Rigorous academics

• Unlimited AP classes

• 2023 A+ high school by niche.com, among the top 2.5% of schools in America!

Take a tour or shadow for a day and see if the academy is right for you www.ndatyngsboro.org/admissions

Tyngsboro, MA

(978) 649-7611 ext 351 www.ndatyngsboro.org

Fostering the Absorbent Mind

Newport Montessori School is now accepting 2022-2023 enrollment applications for the following grade levels and classrooms: junior classroom (sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students), upper elementary (third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students), lower elementary (first- and secondgrade students) and primary classrooms (pre-kindergarten and kindergarten). The Newport Montessori School is located at 96 Pine St., Newport, New Hampshire. For more information about NMS or to request an enrollment packet, please call us.

Newport, NH (603) 863-2243 www.newportmontessori.org

Educating Infants Through Grade Nine

Shaker Road School (SRS) is a family focused community dedicated to developing the whole child. Combining an academically rigorous curriculum with specialized programs to foster self-worth and respect for others, we prepare each child to contribute positively to a rapidly changing world. SRS resides on a 63-acre campus and offers an extensive athletics program, fine and performing arts instruction, and diverse travel opportunies. Concord, NH 03301

• (603) 224-0161 • shakerroadschool.org

The Best Private School in New Hampshire Is Right Here in Nashua

World Academy is a progressive, NEASC- and NAEYCaccredited, independent school for students from infant through grade eight. Our cutting-edge, 55,000-squarefoot campus is located on six beautiful acres and serves nearly 500 families with a team of more than 75 highly credentialed teachers. Our mission is to prepare our students for personal success in the rapidly changing global future through a transformative 21st-century education, a whole-child focus and family engagement.

Nashua, NH • (603) 888-1982 www.worldacademynh.com

Full-time tuition from: $225/week. Before & after school care included.

North End Montessori School is located in a 24,000-square-foot newly renovated building in the heart of the historic North End of Manchester across the street from the Currier Museum of Art.

Our facility offers amenities such as a large outdoor playground, indoor gymnasium, theater stage and lighting, and a commercial culinary kitchen.

We offer a strong academic curriculum that emphasizes independence, freedom within limits, responsibility for the environment and a deep compassion for the individual.

698 Beech St., Manchester, NH 03104

Academy of Notre Dame - Tyngsboro n Day Pre-K to 12 Co-ed 180 Middlesex Rd., Tyngsboro, MA 01879 ndatyngsboro.org • (978) 649-7611

The Beech Hill School Day 5-8 Co-ed 20 Beech Hill Rd., Hopkinton, NH 03229 thebeechhillschool.org • (603) 715-5129

Bishop Guertin High School m Day 9-12 Co-ed 194 Lund Rd., Nashua, NH 03060 bghs.org • (603) 889-4107;

Brewster Academy Boarding 9-12 Co-ed 80 Academy Dr., Wolfeboro, NH 03894 brewsteracademy.org • (603) 569-1600

Cardigan Mountain School Boarding/Day 6-9 Male 62 Alumni Dr., Canaan, NH 03741 cardigan.org • (603) 523-4321

Crossroads Academy Day K-8 Co-ed 95 Dartmouth College Hwy., Lyme, NH 03768 crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111

The Derryfield School Day 6-12 Co-ed 2108 River Rd., Manchester, NH 03104 derryfield.org • (603) 669-4524

Dublin School Boarding/Day 9-12 Co-ed 18 Lehmann Way, Dublin, NH 03444 dublinschool.org • (603) 563-8584

Hampshire Country School Boarding 3-12 Male 28 Patey Circle, Rindge, NH 03461 hampshirecountryschool.org • (603) 899-3325

Heronfield Academy Day 6-8 Co-ed 356 Exeter Rd., Exeter, NH 03844 heronfield.org • (603) 772-1336

High Mowing School n

Boarding/Day 9-12 Co-ed Pine Hill Campus Day Pre-K-8 Co-ed 222 Isaac Frye Hwy., Wilton, NH 03086 highmowing.org • (603) 654-2391

Holderness School Boarding 9-12 Co-ed 33 Chapel Ln., Holderness, NH 03245 holderness.org • (603) 536-1257

Kimball Union Academy Boarding 9-Post Graduate Co-ed 7 Campus Center Dr., Plainfield, NH 03770 kua.org • (603) 469-2000

Learning Skills Academy m Day 3-12 Co-ed 1247 Washington Rd. #3, Rye, NH 03870 learningskillsacademy.org • (603) 964-4903

New Hampton School Boarding 9-Post Graduate Co-ed 70 Main St., New Hampton, NH 03256 newhampton.org • (603) 677-3400

Newport Montessori School o Day 1-8 Co-ed 96 Pine St., Newport, NH 03773 newportmontessori.org • (603) 863-2243

North End Montessori School p Day K-4 Co-ed 698 Beech St., Manchester, NH 03104 nor thendmontessori.com • (603) 621-9011

The Oliverian School Boarding 9-12 Co-ed 28 Becket Dr., Haverhill, NH 03780 oliverianschool.org • (888) 922-5565

Phillips Exeter Academy

Boarding/Day 9-Post Graduate Co-ed 20 Main St., Exeter, NH 03833 exeter.edu • (603) 772-4311

Pinkerton Academy Day 9-12 Co-ed 5 Pinkerton St., Derry, NH 03038 pinkertonacademy.org • (603) 437-5200

Proctor Academy Boarding/Day 9-12 Co-ed 204 Main St., Andover, NH 03216 proctornet.com • (603) 735-6000

Shaker Road School o Day 1-9 Co-ed 131 Shaker Rd., Concord, NH 03301 shakerroadschool.org • (603) 224-0161

Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies k Day 9-12 Co-ed 1066 Front St. #300, Manchester, NH 03102 sparkacademynh.org • (603) 945-9151

St. Paul’s School

Boarding 9-12 Co-ed 325 Pleasant St., Concord, NH 03301 sps.edu • (603) 229-4600

Tilton School l

Boarding 9-Post Graduate Co-ed 30 School St., Tilton, NH 03276 tiltonschool.org • (603) 286-4342

Waterville Valley Academy Boarding 6-12 Co-ed PO Box 186, Waterville Valley, NH 03215 wvbbts.org • (603) 236-4811

The White Mountain School

Boarding/Day 9-Post Graduate Co-ed 371 West Farm Rd., Bethlehem, NH 03574 whitemountain.org • (603) 444-0513

Wolfeboro Camp School Summer 6-12 Co-ed 93 Camp School Rd., Wolfeboro, NH 03894 wolfeboro.org • (603) 569-3451 Boarding/Day 6 weeks-8 Co-ed

World Academy p Day K-8 Co-ed 138 Spit Brook Rd., Nashua, NH 03062 worldacademynh.com • (603) 888-1982

List consists of members of the Independent School Association of Northern New England

oral & max ill ofacial su rgery

C h o o s i n g t h e r i g h t o r a l s u r g e o n t o r e mo v e w i s d o m t e e t h e n s u r e s th e h i g h e s t q u a l i t y o f c a r e A t N H O M S , w e u t i l i z e a d v a n c e d t e c h n o l o g y t o i d e n t i f y t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e w i s d o m t e e t h , t o o t h n e r v e s , a n d o t h e r t o o t h r o o t s t o e n s u r e s u c c e s s C a l l o r v i s i t o u r w e b s i t e t o d a y f o r a c o n s u l t a t i o n

IN PRAISE OF

MAKE TRACKS TO THE GRANITE STATE’S SMALLER, LESSER-KNOWN SKI AREAS

This story is not about Alpine ski resorts. No, no, no, that would be too easy, too broad. This is about ski areas. Small ski areas, to be precise. Ski gems, if you will.

Today’s mega-resorts have amenities galore and the financial wherewithal to install high-speed lifts and pump tons of man-made snow to ensure a superlative experience. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. But they can’t always pull at our heartstrings the way small ski areas can. So when the mercury dips and nostalgia rules my winter compass, I often find myself heading toward smaller, lesser-known hills. Why? I want my girls to have memories like the ones I cherish (minus the lace-up leather ski boots and bear-trap bindings). What these smaller areas lack in bells and whistles they more than make up for in character. Do they take some liberty with the slope ratings? Sure. But you’re almost

BY BRION O’CONNOR

PHOTO COURTESY GUNSTOCK MOUNTAIN RESORT

Uncrowded and pristine, the county-owned Gunstock Mountain in Gilford offers fabulous views that include Lake Winnipesaukee and, on a clear day, stretch all the way north to Mount Washington.

guaranteed to find genuine customer service, supportive ski school programs, shorter lift lines and a few extra bucks in your pocket at the end of the day. That generally adds up to more smiles per ski outing.

“In many instances, the smaller, independently owned ski areas have been able to retain a bit more of how many of us remember skiing from our youth,” says Thomas Prindle, director of marketing for King Pine/Purity Spring Resort in East Madison. “That’s not to say that small ski areas haven’t made substantial investments in snowmaking, grooming, lift infrastructure improvements and maintenance to keep up with modern operations. But there are some aspects to the nature of a small ski area that feels a bit more authentic.”

Likewise, Kris Blomback, general manager of Pats Peak in Henniker, was raised in a skiing family. “We went to a lot of ski areas when I was growing up,” he says. “I remember my parents always had an affinity for the smaller areas, as they’d say ‘all the roads, or trails, lead to Rome, meaning the base lodge.’ They could let the kids cut loose, and perhaps have an adult beverage or two at the end of the day, and not worry about us getting lost.”

“The world is all about hustle and bustle — with most small ski areas, time slows down,” says Blomback. “You generally have less people, less commercialism.”

Admittedly, selecting just a handful of ski hills seems unfair, but the reality is that

there are fewer and fewer to choose from these days. Places like Bretton Woods in the shadow of the famed Mount Washington Hotel, Mount Sunapee in Newbury and Cranmore Mountain in North Conway are worthy of consideration, but were a smidge too big (in my humble estimation) to be included.

We’ve also lost several small areas in the past few years, such as The Balsams in Dixville Notch (though former Sunday River resort impresario Les Otten plans to reopen and expand this northern jewel at some future date). Tenney Mountain, on the outskirts of Plymouth, is scheduled to resume operations this winter, but that particular hill has had more lives than a snowcat over the past 40 years, so I would recommend playing the “wait and see” card before purchasing any season passes.

Still, don’t assume that all small ski areas are the same, simply because they’re similar in size.

“While all the ski areas in the region certainly compete with each other, they all have their unique identity. Skiing is not a commodity, it’s an experience,” says Blomback. “You go to Best Buy or Walmart and you can compare the pricing on TV sets and things make sense. You can’t do that with a ski area. Whether it’s the staff, the lodges or snow, things are always changing and different.”

So, consider the following a “starter list.” Explore all of New Hampshire’s small ski gems. You won’t be disappointed.

Black Mountain ❆ Jackson

Tucked away up a steep pitch outside the quintessential New England village of Jackson is one of the Granite State’s best-kept secrets: Black Mountain.

To ski this slope is to immerse yourself in New Hampshire’s skiing heritage. Black is the state’s oldest ski hill, having first opened in 1935. Its surroundings — primarily rolling farmland — appear to be pilfered straight from Mr. Peabody’s WABAC (“way back”) Machine.

“We haven’t sold out to corporate conglomerates,” says John Fichera, Black’s general manager. “There’s no need for multiple high-speed lifts — just classic New England skiing; the way it used to be and the way it was meant to be.”

“We’re like ‘Cheers,’” he says, referring to the popular TV sitcom from the 1980s and early ’90s. “When you ski here, everybody knows your name. Comfortable, responsive

Riding the lift to the 2,066foot summit of Crotched Mountain in Bennington

PHOTO COURTESY BLACK MOUNTAIN

PHOTO COURTESY CROTCHED MOUNTAIN

and just plain fun. No stress, no lines and no crazy skiers, just good, old-fashioned winter recreation.”

The hill’s design is a nostalgic tour de force. Instead of wide-open corduroy carpets, Black offers serpentine trails over 143 acres of terrain. If you take the Summit chair, you better be able to handle your boards, as there’s no escape route from the top. Instead, you’ll uncover a treeskiing delight, with Carter Notch and Lostbo glades.

Lower on the hill, from the East Bowl triple, intermediates and beginners have a treasure trove of trails to choose from. (Galloping Goose is a favorite blue, while my girls love Sugarbush and Black Beauty.) Black’s southern exposure means chilly mornings but relatively balmy afternoons.

“We’re unique in that we have maintained the original ski area designs of narrow trails with twists and turns,” says Fichera. “Even

acres, Black Mountain

Black Mountain Stats

Vertical: 1,100 feet

Base elevation: 1,300 feet

Top elevation: 2,400 feet Acreage: 143 Snowmaking: 95% Lifts: 5

Website: blackmt.com

Trails: 45 Night skiing: No Terrain: Beginner: 34% Intermediate: 32% Advanced: 34%

on our busiest days when we are at capacity, the lift lines are maybe five minutes long.

“You can ski all the way down and enjoy the peace and solitude of what skiing is all about. You can even find a trail that allows you to ski alone.”

True, conditions at Black are somewhat weather dependent, and it does takes a little more effort to reach compared to other local areas, such as Cranmore and Attitash. The effort, though, is well worth the experience. An added bonus is the revitalized Inn at Whitney’s Farm, located next door.

With more than 140 inches of natural snowfall annually and snowmaking on 120 of 143 skiable

in Jackson offers conditions that rival bigger resorts without the crowds.

The Whitney Slope and J-Bar at Black Mountain, circa 1970s.

King Pine at Purity Spring Resort, a few miles east of the outlet malls in Conway, is a snow-covered oasis of family adventure. If members of your ski clan have varying skiing and snowboarding abilities, they’ll appreciate King Pine’s 17 trails spread over 48 acres, ranging from the gentle Pokey Pine and the Slow Pokey to the double-diamond Pine Brule and Pitch Pine.

“We have a tradition here, where many have learned to ski or snowboard,” says Prindle. “In fact, it’s often been the case that we see successive generations of families who will claim King Pine as where they learned to ski.

“We recognize that as children grow older the family may gravitate to ‘bigger’ mountains or resorts, but when those children get to be of an age when they begin having children, we know they’ll be back at King Pine to pass on the tradition of winter fun.”

One visit will convince you. The lodge — we’ll call it “rustic” to be kind — is typically a beehive of happy commotion. Three

triple-chair lifts keep the skiers moving up and down the hill, but don’t be surprised to find an afternoon migration away from the resort’s western runs, as the sun starts throwing long shadows early here. Shredders will love the air-inducing elements in the Twisted Pine Terrain Park along the hill’s eastern rim. Before you point the boards downhill, take a moment to take in King Pine’s stunning views to the north, overlooking Purity Lake (which provides ample water for the hill’s highly efficient snowmaking system).

Once you’ve had your fill of the hill, the resort offers a slew of activities to keep everyone moving, including dedicated snowshoe and cross-country ski trails along the lake, the Pine Meadows Tubing Park (with its own tow) and the cozy Tohko Dome skating rink across the street from the ski area. You may need a trailer just to bring all the required gear.

“Both Purity Spring Resort and King Pine Ski Area combined are unique in that ‘small’ does not necessarily equate to being ‘limited,’” says Prindle. “With the variety

PHOTO

of slopeside, lakeside and mountainside lodging options at Purity Spring Resort, and the ability to do more than just skiing and snowboarding at King Pine, whether it’s snowtubing, ice-skating, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, there is a greater opportunity to enjoy a winter weekend or week-long stay.”

Two of the resort’s most popular events — the cardboard box derby and the King Pine Splash Pond contest — are typically scheduled for late March. Whether you’ve enjoyed earlier stays or are visiting King Pine for the first time, you don’t want to miss these signature events.

King Pine Stats

Vertical drop: 350 feet

Base elevation: 500 feet

Top elevation: 850 feet

Acreage: 50

Snowmaking: 100% (10 trails, 2 lifts)

Lifts: 5 Trails: 17

Website: kingpine.com

Terrain parks: 1 Night skiing: Yes Tubing: Yes

Terrain: Beginner: 50% Intermediate: 30% Advanced: 20%

King Pine/Purity Spring Resort ❆ East Madison

Need a little variety during your skiing escape? Check out the Pine Meadows Tubing Park at King Pine in East Madison.

Known for its family programs, King Pine in East Madison offers ski and snowboard lessons for winter enthusiasts of all ages.

PHOTOS COURTESY KING PINE

One of the special treats of King Pine Ski Area is the outstanding views of Purity Lake to the east.

Convenience, thy name is Pats Peak. A quick drive up I-89 to Route 9, and you’ll see the snow-covered trails to your left (I admit to getting a little adrenaline boost every time I spy the trails from the road if I’m heading further north). But Pats Peak’s “secret sauce,” according to General Manager Kris Blomback, is “service and quality.”

“We may not be the biggest area in the region, but in almost every aspect we punch well above our weight,” says Blomback. “And we think we beat others in snow quality, lodge space, cleanliness of buildings, ski school lessons and, most importantly, our staff. We keep the sport affordable and offer tons of ways to save money and still get out on the slopes.”

What you won’t see at Pats Peak are crowds, or lift lines. Drop off your gear at the free bag check, and hit the slopes. Quickly. With plenty of terrain to choose

from — 11 lifts servicing 28 trails and seven glades, not to mention three terrain parks — and plenty of ski school options for every ability level, Pats Peak keeps giving even after your legs give out.

“Pats is super easy to get to, a great location near the population centers of Southern New Hampshire, we make fantastic snow, always run all of our lifts, and our lodges are impeccably clean, serve great food and an après ski scene that can’t be beat,” says Blomback. “What’s not to like?”

There’s even 90% night skiing, which means the hill stays open to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (allowing you to revive those quads for a second session), and 9 p.m. most weekdays. The Sled Pub is a great spot for an après ski bite or brew — just go easy if you’re planning to drive back home. Celebrating 60 years of revelry all 2023, Pats Peak is one of New England’s true community hills.

Pats Peak Stats

Vertical: 770 feet

Base elevation: 690 feet

Top elevation: 1,460 feet

Acreage: 103

Snowmaking: 100%

Night skiing: Yes

Lifts: 11

Website: patspeak.com

Trails: 28 (and 9 glade areas)

Terrain parks: 3

Terrain:

Beginner: 50%

Intermediate: 21% Advanced: 29%

Pats Peak ❆ Henniker

Pats Peak in Henniker offers neat-as-a-pin lodges, excellent food and a vibrant après ski scene, which means the fun doesn’t end even after the lifts stop running.

Here comes the sugar rush at Pats Peak. PHOTOS

Ragged Mountain ❆ Danbury

Some of my earliest, and fondest, memories of strapping on the boards have their origins at this rustic area. Started as a cooperative by a group of friends in the early 1960s, Ragged Mountain is synonymous with old-time New England skiing. Leave any pretensions in the parking lot — Ragged draws a core following of locals, and they’re quick to sniff out any folks putting on airs.

“My favorite part of Ragged is that you feel at home here. Both the staff and the resort are accommodating with a friendly vibe,” says Erik Barnes, Ragged Mountain’s general manager. “Nothing is over the top to make you feel out of place. There’s no confusion on where to go or who to talk with. We’re all happy that the guests have come to experience Ragged and what it has to offer.”

What you’ll discover here is a warm, inviting atmosphere as genuine as a Yankee farmer. There’s also some wonderful ski

terrain, explaining why Ragged was dubbed “The Alta of the East” after the legendary no-frills Utah resort. Two brothers — Al and Walter Endriunas — revived Ragged in the mid-1980s when they bought the rundown area. With plenty of undeveloped terrain and an ample water supply for snowmaking, they began expanding.

Today, Ragged has 55 trails, with 95% snowmaking coverage. Add a solid grooming crew (which has mastered the art of knowing when to leave well enough alone), and Ragged offers a superb day on the slopes.

“You can typically get eight laps in by noon time, grab lunch and head back out,” says Barnes. “Or grab eight in the afternoon and grab a drink at the end of the day. But 1,250 feet of vertical each run can tucker you out pretty quick, especially if we had a snowstorm and you’re in the trees.

“The other part is all of the terrain comes

Ragged Mountain Stats

Vertical: 1,250 feet

Base elevation: 1,036 ft.

Top elevation: 2,286 feet

Acreage: 250

Snowmaking: 95%

Lifts: 5

Trails: 57 (including glades)

Terrain parks: 3 (plus beginner slide park)

Night skiing: No Terrain: Beginner: 30%

Intermediate: 40% Advanced: 30%

Website: raggedmountainresort.com

back to the base area. Which is fantastic for families to turn their kids loose to ski or ride and not get lost by winding up at a different base area.”

Ragged doesn’t have night skiing, but it’s a small price to pay for authenticity. With more than 220 acres (including glade terrain) and non-existent lift lines, you’ll get your fill before sundown. For the really hardy skier, skip the lift lines altogether with a $10 uphill ticket.

With a vertical drop of 1,250 feet and 250 acres of skiable terrain, Ragged Mountain in Danbury has earned its nickname, “Alta of the East.”

Gunstock Mountain Resort ❆ Gilford

At this county-owned area in central New Hampshire, just minutes north of Concord, you’ll find spectacular views of Lake Winnipesaukee (especially from the Flintlock trail) stretching all the way north on a clear day to Mount Washington.

“Gunstock is just a great hill that’s close to a larger population base,” says Tom Day, the resort’s general manager. “We still have some narrow, winding New England-type trails, not the wide, crowded highway trails.

“It’s also the home mountain to all of Belknap County, which has four or five generations of families that skied here together.”

That lineage is important, exemplifying Gunstock’s rich ski history, beginning with New England’s oldest ski club (now known as the Gunstock Ski Club, the Winnipesaukee Ski Club was first established in 1917).

The Belknap Mountain Recreation Area, as Gunstock was originally named, was birthed during the Great Depression, when widespread unemployment prompted President Franklin D. Roosevelt to create the Works Progress Administration to fund state and local projects. The federal government matched every local dollar raised with six dollars, and Gunstock opened in 1936 with

a lodge, a chairlift, four rope tows and four miles of terrain.

A year later, Gunstock unveiled the Northeast’s first chairlift (one which I had the distinct pleasure of falling off of in the late 1960s). In the past three years, thanks to a leadership team spearheaded by Day and former Gunstock commissioner Gary Kiedaisch (who revitalized Stowe in Vermont), Gunstock is enjoying a renaissance of sorts (following an unsavory power struggle this past summer, which saw Day and his top staff resign temporarily).

The toughest decision you’ll have at Gunstock, as you look out over the hill’s 227 acres and 48 trails, is what to ski first. Don’t be shy about asking a lift attendant or any other Gunstock employee for suggestions. With an employee return rate of more than 80%, Gunstock staff members are obviously familiar with the mountain, and are more than happy to share their know-how. That’s an enormous benefit for visitors, especially those dropping by for the first time. (Pro tip: Gunstock’s only detachable lift, Panorama, and the trails that run from it, are the first on the hill to draw a crowd.)

Still, if you crave the old-school vibe at Gunstock, go soon. The resort’s Master Plan, which narrowly avoided getting derailed

during last summer’s contretemps, calls for adding four more acres of terrain, replacing the Tiger and Ramrod lifts with a detachable quad, and possibly replacing the Panorama Pub with a new mountaintop restaurant. Future plans include an Eastside Expansion, with more than 70 acres of new terrain (11 trails) and a new detachable lift, enough to accommodate another 1,000 skiers and snowboarders daily. The Alpine Ridge Expansion proposes another 11 trails (generally more advanced terrain) over 37 acres. The hope, of course, is that Gunstock can grow without sacrificing its charm. That’s not an easy task.

For a change of pace (and incline), Gunstock also has 30 groomed Nordic trails (22 kilometers) that are multi-use for crosscountry skiers, fat bikers and skijoring.

Gunstock Mountain Stats

Vertical: 1,340 feet

Base elevation: 927 feet

Top elevation: 2,267 feet

Acreage: 227

Trails: 49 (including 5 glade areas)

Terrain parks: Yes (22 acres)

Snowmaking: 90%

Night skiing: Yes

Lifts: 7

Tubing: Yes

Terrain: Beginner: 15% Intermediate: 52% Advanced: 33% Website: gunstock.com

Few ski areas, large or small, can match the range of activities at Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford. Bring along the family hound, and try your hand at skijoring on the resort’s Nordic trails.

PHOTO COURTESY GUNSTOCK MOUNTAIN RESORT

Crotched Mountain ❆ Bennington

Admittedly, I had reservations about including this fun little hill in southern New Hampshire, since it’s now part of Vail’s assortment of resorts (which also includes Sunapee, Wildcat and Attitash). By extension, Crotched should have access to the deep pockets that other small areas don’t have. However, Vail has proven to be a somewhat schizophrenic owner (judging from the protests from Wildcat and Attitash patrons last winter), so I’ll let Crotched Mountain stand on its own merits.

Like many small areas without great access to urban centers, Crotched has gone through its ups and downs over the decades, with a convoluted history that helps explain its significant starts and stops. The original ski hill, which opened in 1964, was actually located around the corner, on the northeast side of the hill in Francestown. The current site, on the mountain’s north face, was unveiled in 1970, first as Onset and subsequently renamed Bobcat. The two areas combined in 1980 and ran under the Crotched Mountain banner until closing up shop in 1989.

The Midwest-based Peak Resorts rescued

the mountain from the New England Lost Ski Area Project scrap heap in 2002. The company pumped roughly $9 million into the hill, including construction of a new lodge, reconfiguring the trail system and improving snowmaking, grooming and trail lighting capabilities. Crotched re-opened the following year, and has slowly re-established itself in the southern portion of the Granite State. When Vail purchased Wildcat and Attitash, Crotched was included in the sale.

“Crotched is always evolving and the resort team takes pride in having the resort’s amazing snow, impeccable grooming, open and spacious facilities and highly regarded lesson programs,” says general manager Sue Donnelly. “Crotched has that local charm with a big mountain feel once you take a few runs. It truly is a hidden gem.”

Here’s what awaits skiers and snowboarders today: A detachable high-speed chairlift takes visitors from the base to the true summit in under four minutes. The hill now boasts a total of just about 1,000 vertical feet spread over 100 acres of terrain. There are a total of 25 trails, four glade areas and three terrain parks, with a breakdown of 28%

Crotched Mountain Stats

Vertical: 1,016 feet

Base elevation: 1,050 ft.

Top elevation: 2,066 feet Acreage: 100 Snowmaking: 100% Night skiing: Yes Lifts: 5

Website: crotchedmtn.com

Trails: 25 (80 acres of glades) Terrain parks: 2

Terrain: Beginner: 28% Intermediate: 40% Advanced: 32%

beginner, 40% intermediate and 32% expert (though even the “black diamond” trails are on the tame side).

The trails, in broad terms, are all fairly user friendly. That’s a credit to Crotched’s snowmaking system, which does a respectable job blanketing every trail and park. Add a solid grooming fleet, and Crotched cultivates a solid base early and keeps it through the season.

“Another thing to highlight is our premier night skiing option with 100% of our trails illuminated,” says Donnelly. “We also have specially designed racing and freestyle teams offering world-class training from dedicated coaches.” NH

Two terrain parks complement the 100 acres of groomed terrain and 80 acres of glades at Crotched Mountain in Bennington.

GREAT IDEAS FOR WINTER FUN

While it might sound sacrilegious to some Granite State winter enthusiasts, man does not live by skiing alone. Same for every woman and child. Because although skiing and New Hampshire is a match made in heaven for many, it’s not the “be all, end all” for everyone. Even most skiers and snowboarders understand that.

Take me, for example. I’m a New Hampshire boy through and through. I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing after Thanksgiving than hitting the slopes, carving big ol’ turns on fresh-groomed corduroy, or maybe sneaking into the glades after a good powder dump. But I’m also a husband and a father, and suffice to say, not everyone in my clan shares my single-minded obsession. Do they love to ski? You bet. Do they want to mix it up a bit? Absolutely.

So, to keep the peace, my wife and I rely on another time-honored adage: “Variety is the spice of life.” We make a concerted effort to enjoy all the activities that the winter in New Hampshire offers. That mindset can be a life-saver (or at least a trip-saver), given the vagaries of the weather.

We only have one rule: EVERYONE NEEDS TO GET OUTSIDE.

BY BRION O’CONNOR

Snowshoeing ↑

With modern, properly fitted gear, snowshoeing can feel as natural as walking. That makes this sub-freezing pastime one of the oldest, and one of the most popular, winter activities for fans of the great outdoors. It also means you can do it almost anywhere there’s a well-maintained trail. Sample state parcels ranging from Monadnock State Park in Jaffrey to Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, or federal lands in the White Mountain National Forest. For something more predictable, visit groomed tracts like the Nordic Center at Waterville Valley, Bear Notch Ski Touring Center in Bartlett, Eastman Cross Country Center in Grantham, Bretton Woods by the Mount Washington Hotel, the Dartmouth Cross Country Ski Center in Hanover, Great Glen Trails in Pinkham Notch and Gunstock Cross Country and Snowshoe Center in Gilford (all of which offer rentals). Prefer something more structured like a tour or workshop? Check out the offerings of the Appalachian Mountain Club, which runs programs out of the Highland Center on Route 302 in Crawford Notch, and the Joe Dodge Lodge in Pinkham Notch or Outdoor Escapes New Hampshire in Freedom.

BEST BETS:

Appalachian Mountain Club various locations

Outdoor Escapes New Hampshire in Freedom

King Pine at Purity Spring Resort in Madison Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring & Snowshoe in Intervale

Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford

Waterville Valley Resort in Waterville Valley

Pats Peak Ski Resort in Henniker

Jackson Ski Touring Foundation in Jackson Dexter’s Inn in Sunapee

Great Glen Trails in Pinkham Notch

Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center in Laconia

Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods

Windblown Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing in New Ipswich

Loon Mountain Adventure Center in Lincoln

Beaver Brook Association in Hollis

Granite Gorge Ski Area in Keene

Dartmouth Cross Country Ski Center in Hanover

Snowmobiling in the Mount Sunapee area

Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel, Mount Washington Resort

King Pine at Purity Springs Resort

Dog Sledding ↓

This ancient pastime combines all the excitement of snowmobiling, without the throttle-twisting horsepower or fumes and cacophony created by internal combustion. Generally speaking, sled dogs are unusually good natured, which the kids love. But these dogs don’t want to sit still for long. And the unmitigated joy they exude when “working,” running along snow-covered trails and through open fields, is absolutely infectious. “It’s just an amazing feeling of cruising down the trail, and it’s only you and the dogs,” said Lily Stewart, a dog-sled racer who attended the University of New Hampshire. “At first, it’s a little nerve-wracking, because it is just you and the dogs, but then you get into this zone where nothing else really exists.”

BEST BET: Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel in Jefferson • dogslednh.com

Snowmobiling ←

Admittedly, I’m a fan of activities powered by nature. I prefer sailboats to power boats, windsurfers to jet skis, mountain bikes to motorcycles. That’s just the way I’m wired (plus the fact that I’m not mechanically inclined in the least). I was reluctant to try snowmobiling. Then a friend brought a couple of sleds along during a “boys weekend” ski outing. As soon as I hit the gas, I was hooked. These machines are remarkably agile and responsive. And fast. The New Hampshire Snowmobile Association maintains roughly 7,000 miles of dedicated trail throughout the state, so the variety is quite impressive. There’s also plenty of variety for tours and rentals, such as Dalton Mountain Motorsports or Jericho Outdoors in Berlin, Northeast Snowmobile or White Mt ATV Rental in Gorham, DirtVentures ATV Rentals or Out Back Kayak in Lincoln, or Bear Rock Adventures or Trailside Rentals in Pittsburg.

BEST BET: New Hampshire Snowmobile Association in Tilton • nhsa.com

Zip Lining ↑

One of the coolest, and potentially coldest, winter activities in the north country, zip lining is about as close as most of us will ever come to actually flying. At Bretton Woods, a three-hour canopy tour offers a unique perspective on the wilds of the White Mountains. The thrilling treetop experience features a series of nine zip lines and glorious, sweeping views of Mount Washington and the Presidential Range. The longest zip is roughly 830 feet, and more than 165 feet off the forest floor. Not to be outdone, Alpine Adventures to the south offers three zip line options year-round, including the original Tree Top Canopy Tour, the SkyRider and the Super SkyRider Zipline (with zip lines longer than 1,600 feet, and speeds of up to 60 miles an hour).

BEST BETS:

Bretton Woods Canopy Tour in Bretton Woods brettonwoods.com

Alpine Adventures in Lincoln and Woodstock alpinezipline.com

Bretton Woods Canopy Tour

Snow Tubing ←

Whether you’re 7 or 70, whether you’re riding solo or racing your best buddies, speeding down a track on an inner tube will instantly connect you with your inner child. Seriously, what could possibly be better? You don’t need any particular skill or special equipment — just warm clothing, a tube, a long patch of snow and gravity. The big tubes are as comfortable as an overstuffed Barcalounger, and the tracks are buffed super smooth to keep any drag to a minimum. Many areas offer surface lifts to shuttle you back to the top of the hill, and night lights allow you, and friends and family, to extend your day.

BEST BETS:

Cranmore Mountain Resort in North Conway • cranmore.com

Pats Peak Ski Area in Henniker • patspeak.com

Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford • gunstock.com McIntyre Ski Area in Manchester • mcintyreskiarea.com

Ice Climbing →

Traditional rock climbing routes in New Hampshire are popular in part because they’re predictable. Ice flows, conversely, promise an ever-changing canvas on which climbers can test their skills. New Hampshire boasts a number of spectacular locations, including Frankenstein Cliff and Mount Willard in Crawford Notch, Champney Falls off the Kancamagus Highway and Huntington Ravine on Mount Washington, where climbers can set their ice axes and crampons. The biggest caveat is that ice climbing can be a high-consequence activity, so working with a guide is the best option for beginners to intermediates. “We’re able to take people of all abilities climbing both on rock and ice,” said Bradley White, co-owner of International Mountain Climbing School. “The steeper the ice, the more upper body fitness is required, but everybody can climb something and be challenged.”

BEST BETS:

International Mountain Climbing School in North Conway • ime-usa.com

Mooney Mountain Guides in Concord mooneymountainguides.com

Eastern Mountain Sports in North Conway emsoutdoors.com

Cog Railway ←

On the opposite side of The Rockpile, the legendary Cog Railway chugs halfway up the mountain’s western flank (winter rides do not go to the summit). The world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway is not an exhilarating ride, per se, given the slow, steep approach. But the stunning views and sublime sense of history are unparalleled. And kids will love the chance to stand in the coach and lean out way over their toes, thanks to the sheer incline (with grades exceeding 35%), much like a ski jumper in mid-flight. The small museum at the Marshfield Base Station is also worth a visit, with fascinating displays such as the Devil’s Shingles slideboard (which early daredevils used to race down at breakneck speeds) and Old Peppersass, the first locomotive to climb The Rockpile on July 3, 1869.

BEST BET:

The Cog Railway in Bretton Woods • thecog.com

Eastern Mountain Sports

The Cog Railway

Cranmore Mountain Resort has been rated one of the best tubing parks in the country.

Mount Washington SnowCoach ↑

The 7.6-mile Mount Washington Auto Road, first opened in 1861 and winding 4,200 feet to the summit of the Northeast’s tallest peak at 6,288 feet, has a moth-to-the-light pull for visitors. Mount Washington is often tagged with the reputation of “the word’s worst weather,” thanks to the subarctic conditions and the 231-mile-an-hour wind gusts recorded in April 1934. Those winds have scrubbed the granite dome above treeline, giving the landmark its affectionate nickname, “The Rockpile.” But being above treeline also provides remarkable views. (Imagine looking down on Wildcat Ski Area!) Be sure to bring your camera or smartphone. Advanced reservations for the 1½-hour tours are highly recommended. The Mount Washington Observatory also offers longer snowcat day trips and overnight “EduTrips” with a dedicated trip leader and a tour of the weather station.

BEST BETS:

Great Glen Trails in Gorham • greatglentrails.com/snowcoach

Mount Washington Observatory in North Conway mountwashington.org/experience-the-weather/summit-adventures/overnights

Fat Tire Biking ↑

These bikes, with their low-pressure balloon-like tires, are an absolute hoot in the snow. They’ll even roll confidently over ice, provided your tires are equipped with studs. For newcomers, the best options are machined-groomed cross-country ski routes, like you’ll find at Great Glen Trails and Outdoor Center in Pinkham Notch (unfortunately, no riding is allowed either up or down the Mount Washington Auto Road except for the Ski, Shoe & Fatbike to the Clouds event held in March) or the Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring Center in Intervale. However, these bikes are incredibly adaptable, and don’t require manicured terrain, making a host of trails fair game. Many shops offer rentals and maps of local trail networks. And the New England Mountain Bike Association has several local chapters in New Hampshire that can also provide local information and rides.

BEST BETS:

Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center in Pinkham Notch • greatglentrails.com

Highland Mountain Bike Park in Northfield • highlandmountain.com

Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring Center in Intervale • mwvskitouring.org

Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford • gunstock.com

Sleigh Rides ↑

There was a time when I thought that a horsedrawn sleigh ride through the snow, snuggled beside my sweetheart, was the epitome of romance. Actually, I still do! But once I saw how much our young daughters relished these outings, I was convinced it was one of the ultimate family winter activities. These rides are a blast day or night, but I’m especially partial to going out after sundown, under a constellation of stars.

BEST BETS:

Omni Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods omnihotels.com

Merrill Farm Inn in North Conway • merrillfarminn.com

Purity Spring Resort in Madison • purityspring.com

Nestlenook Farm in Jackson • nestlenookfarmsleighrides.com

Aprés Ski (and Snow Fun )

Winter sports and activities encourage us to embrace the cold and snow. So what could be better than sharing those experiences with a host of other folks at the end of the day? It’s difficult to find a better sense of camaraderie than an aprés ski get-together with friends and family.

BEST BETS:

Babe’s Blue Ox Lounge at Loon Mountain loonmtn.com/dining/babes-blue-ox-lounge Buckets, Schwendi Hutte and T-Bars waterville.com/dining-shopping

Cannonball Pub at Cannon Mountain cannonmt.com/amenities/food-drink

The Cave at Bretton Woods • omnihotels.com/hotels/brettonwoods-mount-washington/dining/the-cave

Delaney’s Hole in the Wall in North Conway • delaneys.com

Onset Pub at Crotched Mountain crotchedmtn.com/explore-the-resort/during-your-stay/dining

Paul Bunyan Room at Loon Mountain loonmtn.com/dining/bunyan-room

Ptarmigans Pub at Attitash attitash.com/explore-the-resort/during-your-stay/dining.aspx

Red Parka Steakhouse & Pub in Glen • redparkapub.com

Sled Pub at Pats Peak patspeak.com/the-mountain/sled-pub.aspx

Stone Hearth Bar at Ragged Mountain raggedmountainresort.com/the-stone-hearth-bar

Wildcat Pub at Wildcat Mountain skiwildcat.com/explore-the-resort/during-your-stay/dining Woodstock Inn Brewery • woodstockinnbrewery.com

Mount Washington SnowCoach

Gunstock Mountain Resort

“Let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire ...”

— Dr. Martin Luther King

Above: Ben Bacote enjoys the evening autumn light where he and his family like to cool off on hot summer days.

from these Prodigious Hills

WHERE I AM FROM, a story like mine is rare and generally represented by class, race and wealth that I do not have. This is not a story of where I was from, or about what I don’t have, but a chronicle instead of what I do have, and a story about where I am now.

This is a story of success, a story that takes place outdoors, and ultimately, this is a story about how New Hampshire’s open spaces helped lead me to feel free as a Black man.

BY BEN BACOTE | PHOTOS BY JOE KLEMENTOVICH

Iam from the central foothills of North Carolina where the farmland undulates gently and produces animals that outnumber the people. It is mostly chicken and pig country. There, one hides how close their relationship to the outdoors may be. I peacocked (dressed brightly) to hide my tan. Others wouldn’t be so lucky to effectively hide; or would be so lucky as to be proud. It depended upon the space you held onto and on what type of land. Shining on industrial lands, the sun would brand exposed wrists, necks, heads and the workers’ hands, marking the labored time and accumulated grime. On recreational lands, the suntans revealed where bikini lines and goggle tans spanned — vacation badges honoring time leisurely spent. I lived on a farm, the son of a son of a sharecropping son from an almost interminable line of farmhands. I moved to New Hampshire with my family when I was 10 or 11. I look up to the hills from whence my health comes; if you’re lucky enough to be in the mountains, you’re lucky enough.

Like me, maybe you’ve also lived with those two phrases running free in your head. Because my life, here in New Hampshire, has felt like being the ball between two paddles on a rigged pinball machine with these phrases buffeting what I decide and framing what I choose. Be grateful, keep looking up; be grateful, keep looking up; be grateful, keep looking up — it has become my mantra. I admit, it is a lot to carry sometimes — with a positive attitude, despite it all. Within the long stretches of lonely quiet mixed with anxious chaos and the ever-present sorrow, there’s — wham! — that damn paddle: “I look up to the hills . . . if you’re lucky enough. . .” There’s only two ways to escape this looping mental track for me: submission or futile resistance.

So, I go outside, and I look up to find some damn hills.

New Hampshire has long been known to attract people of all stripes. Its outdoors are resplendent in fall and intoxicating in spring; they can also offer alternating moments of pure ecstasy and terrifying sublimity during the winter. These emotions — of ecstasy and

sublimity — can be simultaneously present here in the outdoors. Yet, to me, the summers of New Hampshire are the closest I’ll ever get to heaven. You see, it was heaven that brought me here. Well, at least the idea of it.

It was a late summer day when we finally arrived from North Carolina. I will never forget what the air felt like as I elbowed my brothers to be the first to step onto our driveway and gawk up at our house: white with black windows, a split-level ranch, perched on top of the sloping hillside, across the street from the lake. “It feels like the perfect temperature,” I said with all my young earnestness. I began to feel part of the continuing New Hampshire saga, another family of transplants arriving full of ambition and dreams.

Almost 30 years later, my family remains here. This place gets in your bones. It makes other places seem foreign. It's like the air is charged with restless ions that make relaxing seem improbable. I live 25 minutes from the mountains, and an hour and a half from the coast. I live surrounded by lakes, hedged by three rivers and bordered by national forests. Bears, moose, deer, rabbits, foxes, moles, voles, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, coyotes, raccoons, porcupines, skunks and whole hosts of birds share the woods with my family. On early warm summer nights, you can find my daughter and me hunting with a single flashlight for frogs and toads to name, ID and classify. She’s only eight but already has a naturalist’s eye.

I teach high school kids humanities but have always been an outdoor enthusiast. I learned to paddle lakes here and master the “j” stroke. I found my haunts during hikes. The Pemigewasset’s wilderness trails are like love-lines across my palms and have become maps to pockets of joy. And, by God, there’s a shortness of joy these days.

It was May when I started planning this article — and now October’s vista has replaced the neon, vermillion and other shades of green, making my scene toned with an impressionist’s flair, something like Manet’s. Stately stanchions of evergreens still represent the greenery; but now, the hillsides flicker like flames colored with the yellows, the oranges, the pinks and fiery reds, all according to Nature’s diverse plan.

There was a time when going outside like this to mark the seasons — or even staying inside while the seasons passed by my window — was vital for me, essential for my safety. There was a time when I was taught to be afraid of having any relationship with

Late fall harvesting in the garden, Ben and his partner, Elizabeth, fill up baskets of carrots and tomatillos.

Ben and Elizabeth out for a peaceful paddle exploring the islands and shoreline of Squam Lake

the outside. I hid my tan skin and wished my time spent in the sun would only make it lighter. It wasn’t that long ago when I was sternly told to stay inside — “if I knew what was good.” In some places today, this sentiment remains true, especially for Black boys, Black men, Black people, like me.

I’ve grown up and moved away from those places, but that world still follows me, clinging to the forgotten caverns of my brain like some repressed mantra. There is a pervasive attitude that I carry because I knew it was true, then, and I know it’s sometimes still true, today: There are places outside unsafe for anyone Black, like me.

Most of my childhood development happened or was noted by steps I took outside. I was the oldest boy in a family of six; my younger siblings shadowed me and, for a time, my older sister dogged my every step. But it wasn’t just because of my siblings that I felt a bond outside.

At school, at work, out on the town, I noticed that eyes watched — and they recorded. I couldn’t find escape in the streets, but time got easily lost in the woods. I never lost my footing in the fields, my fleet feet fleecing time, turning moments into eternities. But that rupture of the temporal, when time and space, in dual constant flow, rippled and spiked, and a neuron was coded creating a record, creating memories to be ticked backward and forward, backward and forward, in times of reflection like these, and then back again.

It's silent around me now but for the breeze; and even the breeze seems to blow gentle, warm, knowing I’m alone.

I’m outside, and the angle of the sunlight grants me knowledge of the time, while the pen’s shadow leads my hand left to right. The sun still throws warm punches through dappling leaves, a punch that weakens daily as winter approaches. I’m excited for winter; it's a mixture of elation and dread — part childhood wonder, part learned adult angst. As for now, today, only an airplane’s contrail mars an otherwise perfect blue-bird day. Aster’s lavender and pale purple catch my eye, complementing goldenrod yellows. Changing raspberry bramble leaves color the ground.

It is as if each color, each splendor of nature’s complex quilt, cries to the shadow of the pen in my hand, insistent for its song to be sung. What is here in this open space that can be synthesized from my head to my hand? Can I truly capture it? Grasp its phonemes and command its language, trust that its essence can be delivered from my pen? I

feel it calling me, sometimes, in quiet, to try and relate its plan. Whatever sickness that started this obsession must have happened to me when I was young.

My first official job was at Ragged Mountain. I was 15 teaching snowboarding lessons to mostly full-grown men. The skiing legend Dan Egan hired me. He would later hire me again, and it seemed like déjà vu to be teaching snowboarding for him four years later, this time at Tenney Mountain. For 19 winters since, I have been riding at Waterville Valley, more recently including my partner and three children. What started as perhaps novelty — a Black kid strapping his lead foot in — became, in time, a family tradition. It was here, in New Hampshire, that I was the snake’s head slithering down the slopes, leading mostly other races of men. Only later was it to become my career. Today I mainly work with other races of

youth to draw their understanding of the humanities to intertwine with their passions. I work with teenage winter athletes, and together, we get to live, learn and play in outdoor spaces, mastering some of the pathways to understanding ourselves and our sport, in harmony.

I remember that first time I saw someone who looked like me outside, simply outside, succeeding in a recreational space. I found it odd that, like me, he seemed to harness joy in the outdoors even as others found it peculiar. I was watching snowboarding on TV. It was in the basement of the home I shared with my parents in the ’90s, with black windows and white siding, across the street from Lake Sunapee. The rider was Black, like me. In competition he landed a double backflip. It might seem insignificant, but I believe seeing yourself reflected in success stories is absolutely crucial.

Ben Bacote with his gear ready for another winter of snowboarding

Restoring our Personal and Communal Connections to Nature: Mardi Fuller

To better illustrate this point, I went and found a familiar face, Mardi Fuller, to help me. As an essential configuration of New Hampshire’s values and diverse society, the stories — and outdoor experiences — of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) must be told. Stories like mine and stories like Mardi Fuller’s are threads that coil into our state’s tapestry; they strengthen the connective tissue that grounds our diverse experiences and ex-

pectations of the natural world and, in turn, help preserve New Hampshire’s outdoors. Without different voices telling their stories, the tendency to do the same traditional “thing” will always be what is — and will be perpetually rewarded, both materially and financially. I sought out Fuller to tell part of her New Hampshire story, not only because it is linked to mine but because it corresponds with all stories told of the outdoors. The joy Fuller finds in nature coalesces with my joy and yours, here, to share in and enjoy.

Like me, Mardi Fuller was also a trans-

plant to New Hampshire. Her parents immigrated to New York from Jamaica and there, outside New York City, she had her little patch of green. Both her parents, having left their natural and comfortable “outside” in Jamaica, with livestock and crops that felt familiar to them, knew what they wanted for themselves — and for Fuller — here: a little patch of green. It wasn’t until backpacking through the Green Mountains of Vermont during her college years that hiking in New Hampshire inspired her.

Fuller has long been intimate with the “formal categorification of outdoor activities,

Mardi Fuller looks back toward her hiking partners along the trail to the summit of Mount Osceola.

the branding and the selling,” as she says, adding, “Walking in the woods got turned into hiking and backpacking.” And when a grizzled AMC caretaker in Vermont advised her to check out the White Mountains, the idea stuck.

“I think they were referring to the amount of terrain that we have above tree line,” Fuller says, “and the relatively high peaks — at least East Coast-high — and peaks of prominence compared to the number in Vermont. I don’t really believe in comparing beauty that way, but I knew it was a place I wanted to see.” That planted seed was tended carefully until germinating during an overnight on Mount Liberty in October of 2004. Just below the summit, and in sight of the Presidential Range, the idea rooted firmly; Fuller knew she would be back to New Hampshire’s White Mountains, and would need to experience them during the starkness of winter. Still, now, that feeling keeps her coming back.

Walking in the wild winter backcountry is not traditionally where Black people find enjoyment. I had to ask her: Why winter?

“I’ve always loved winter,” Fuller says. “Snow is my favorite weather. And I think there’s some residual nostalgia of childhood and getting to have a snow day to play, sled, Fuller

and friends get close to finishing off another 4,000-foot peak in the winter at Mount Osceola.

On her second-to-last 4,000-footer, Fuller and friends head from Thunderstorm Junction to the summit of Mount Adams.

make snow people, drink hot chocolate, hang out with the neighbors — all of it. I remember when someone put the idea in my head about winter hikes. I loved the challenge of being in the backcountry far away from roads and cities, having that experience of myself as nature.”

“I am a very busy person,” she continues. “A multitasker; I have a lot of relationships and I’m always on my phone. I have trouble slowing down, and I really need the rhythm of walking and the simplicity of being away from devices and modernity to feel my feelings and know myself. I have a hard time even focusing to do my work. Just being in the woods and moving in a rhythmic way helps me slow my mind down, simplify and rest.”

The direct delights in observing the intricacies of nature are an essential part of her creative process. “I feel really inspired by natural processes that I observe,” Fuller says. “I love colors and flowers and mushrooms — these expressions of nature that feel improbable — like alpine flowers, cryptobiotic

soil, rime ice. They help spark my creativity in ways that sitting at my computer cannot. I can’t always identify how it happens, but when I’m outside I feel like I can let go and be at peace, which allows the creative space.”

Fuller is bold — bolder than me. She completed all 48 of the 4,000-foot peaks here in New Hampshire during the winter. But rather than her physical accomplishments, it’s how she calls out the white supremacy baked into outdoor recreation that makes her truly bold. Specifically, the way the outdoors have been “mediated for Black people, and for all people of color, furthering white supremacy ideologies,” she says.

To her point, unconventional joy can be found in learning the names of ordinary things. In tropical environments, her father can name the common plants, explaining their uses and where they’re found.

“I don’t know the names of many of the plants here,” Fuller says. “I’m still learning so much. We’re cut off from this land because of how the country treated Indigenous people. We lost or erased an abundance of

knowledge and injured the land egregiously. We toxified the land in so many ways that something as simple as my lack of knowledge of the vegetation is not a priority to the education system. That connection is broken, and I’m trying to personally and communally restore it.

“I grieve for the disjointedness the Black community experiences in our connection to nature. I hope, in the future, we can self-determine what our culture and expression look like in outdoor recreation, rather than having to be approved by white gatekeepers.”

It’s not always easy, but I hope my tale, and my adventures in the outdoors, are messages of warm winds: a love story told to tend and mend this space we all share whenever we tackle a winter adventure, or observe raspberry brambles on a mercurial fall day — or simply step outside, hoping to clear our heads. Meanwhile, I look up to the hills from whence my health comes; and if you’re lucky enough to be in the mountains, you’re lucky enough. NH

Fuller hiking one of the many frosty miles she experienced while exploring the White Mountains

“I can’t always identify how it happens, but when I’m outside I feel like I can let go and be at peace, which allows the creative space.”

— Mardi Fuller

BY ANDERS MORLEY | IMAGES COURTESY NEWPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Can messages of optimism from the Depression-era book “Snap Out of It!” help steer today’s Americans toward a cheerier outlook for tomorrow?

Thus concludes a peppy little book, published in the depths of the Great Depression, called “Snap Out of It!” Its author had seen the sun rise and set on his own aspirations several times by then, but by all accounts he always followed his own advice.

Much of what we know about Billy B. Van’s personal history comes from “Snap Out of It!” which presents the trajectory of his life as a moral fable. Its aim is to motivate readers, for by then Van, who had once been a legendary figure on the vaudeville circuit, had embarked on his latest of many careers, this time as a motivational speaker.

The book begins with a jaunty race across three centuries of U.S. history that illustrates how the country has gone through periods of boom and bust since even before its founding. In a not-verysubtle jab at F.D.R.’s New Deal policies, Van maintains that periods of bust have always been endured with the grit, hard work and optimism of individuals — with no thanks to shortcuts proposed by irresponsible politicians. He claims to see these traits embodied in the thrifty, resourceful and conservative temperament of his New Hampshire neighbors.

In Van’s view, a spell of political and economic depression had led to a collective psychological depression mostly because Americans were conformists when it came to rhetoric: People often complained about problems not because they were personally affected by them, but because they heard others complaining about them and joined the dismal chorus. Such depressions, Van was convinced, would take less of a toll if everyone kept a cheery outlook, stayed busy and learned to deal with a little bit of adversity. →

‘‘

Boys and girls, if you would find the philosopher’s stone, the sure cure for depression, I say each morning stand facing the sun so that the shadows will be behind you, then keep moving so fast that they never catch up.’’

Billy B. Van’s popular on-stage character “Patsy” (seen here) made that name into a synonym for “fall guy.”

WILLIAM WEBSTER VANDEGRIFT was born in 1870 and spent his earliest years in eastern Pennsylvania. His stepfather took him out of school when he was nine and sent him to work as an errand boy for a Philadelphia lawyer. This kindly but demanding employer recognized a gift for humor in the boy, and, lest he become “a senseless clown,” assigned him four books to read over and over again until he understood them. They were serious books, two or three paragraphs of which would exhaust the powers of concentration in most educated adults today: Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species,” Thomas Paine’s “The Age of Reason,” Ernst Haeckel’s “The Riddle of the Universe” and the Bible. Meanwhile Van got his first glimpse of the acting profession while running messages to a theater impresario among his employer’s clients. Fascinated, he began to imitate what he saw and was soon honing his own material. Before long, he and his boss were spending their lunch breaks swapping bits of original comedy for history lessons. Van’s humor received a suffusion of moral seriousness it would never lose.

Around the same time, the still pre-teen William Vandegrift auditioned for his first stage play with a children’s theater company and won a part in Gilbert and Sullivan’s “H.M.S. Pinafore,” earning a salary of $3 a week, twice what the lawyer

Van inspired people everywhere with his humor and home-spun wisdom, and even inspired one of his artistic guests to create this caricature, which Van then signed to add a seal of approval.

Billy B. Van relaxes on his porch in this image borrowed from the Newport Historical Society’s remarkable collection illustrating Van’s many colorful careers.

was paying him. The producer gave him the stage name Willie Van, which he soon altered to Billy B. Van. When the company’s lead actor took sick, Billy initially filled in for him but came to replace him permanently. As a lead actor, he was paid $5 every Saturday night at a time when the average manufacturing employee in the United States commanded just $1.34 for a day’s work.

Once on his own, Van made the theater his life, working his way up from property boy through minstrel shows (often performing, regrettably, in blackface) and refining his peculiar talent for comic monologue, burlesque and vaudeville acts and even the circus, until finally, at 20, he had steady employment with a stock company based in Washington, D.C. By the time he was in his 30s he had reached Broadway, where he continued to appear in productions every couple of years for a quarter century. He had made a name for himself and, apparently, quite a lot of money.

Van’s association with New Hampshire began in 1897 when he was hit with what he called his “first great depression.” While on tour and passing through Boston, he

And now just a word about burlesque — and humor in general. Is there any clearer, finer expression than satire — and who can tell where the line between burlesque and satire are drawn. From the sublime to the ridiculous — a little too fine and the thread snaps and you are in burlesque.

—

From the notes of Billy B. Van

experienced a flare-up of a chronic case of tuberculosis after playing shows in a damp theater. His company left him in the care of a hotelkeeper and his wife, with whom he spent 15 weeks being nursed back to health. The hotelkeeper happened to own a chain of hotels in New Hampshire and, having taken a special liking to the young actor, invited him to a property he owned in the little village of Georges Mills on Lake Sunapee, thinking it would be a better — and less expensive — locale for him to continue his recovery. Van was smitten with the place, so when the hotelkeeper offered to sell him an option he had on a large parcel of land nearby, he seized the opportunity. This first purchase would lead to others, and in the years to come, Van cobbled together a sizable estate.

He returned to touring with the theater for half the year but spent the other half in Georges Mills, where he kept a model

farm and built a second semi-secret career as an expert on scientific dairy farming, with special attention to speeding up butter production. Under his birth name William Webster Vandegrift, he squeezed in lectures at agricultural colleges around the country between his many theatrical commitments. All the while, his fame and influence in the acting world continued to grow.

Cinema at the time was new, and it was not clear what niche it would fill in the showbusiness ecosystem. Billy B. Van had no intention of giving up on the stage, nor was he one to walk past an avenue opening up before him. It appears he saw motion pictures as both a threat and an opportunity for stage actors, and by setting up his own movie-production company in 1915, he hoped to ensure it would be the latter. His plan was to produce short-reel comic films starring prominent vaudeville actors. These films would then be played in vaudeville

houses around the country as teasers in anticipation of the in-person arrival of the featured actors themselves. Van is known to have produced parts of five films in Georges Mills in the year or so that his Equity Motion Picture Company made its home on the shores of Lake Sunapee. In spite of his naturally expressive features and antic flair for physical comedy evident in the few scraps of surviving silent-film footage he features in, Van was ultimately a man of the stage whose reliance on language to convey his humor meant that he was a less-than-perfect fit for the then-mute medium of film.

Both before and after his short-lived foray

into film production, Van frequently had his friends from the wild world of drama up to Georges Mills. Among those who put in appearances were a few names still well-known today, including Harold Lloyd, Fatty Arbuckle and Ethel Barrymore. These were flamboyant big-city personalities who lived fast, made lots of noise and embodied anything but the conservative and thrifty values of the New Hampshire neighbors Van would later celebrate in “Snap Out of It!”

But, as one local reporter put it in his 1904 coverage of a two-day birthday bash held by

... The rarest burlesque or satire is that which borders the possible, the sublime, but which just oversteps the dividing line. To get that you must have a true sense of values. Ever watch a master comedian at work? Ever study the writing of the master humorist? What do you find? ...

—

From the notes of Billy B. Van

Van was a multi-tasking media mogul for a spell. He married one of above-mentioned Beaumont Sisters, Rose, in Georges Mills. They were married for about 15 years and their break-up may be why he moved to Newport.

Billy B. Van’s Ten Commandments for Show Business

Perhaps as a response to working with vaudeville producers such as B. F. Keith, Billy B. Van came up with his own list of “Ten Commandments” for show business. The following list was found among the pages of Mr. Van’s personal writing. (Donated to the Newport Historical Society by Van’s grandson, Peter Harding, of California.)

1. Thou shalt be original.

2. Thou shalt not cop thy neighbor’s act, or portion thereof.

3. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s gift of silence in the dressing room, but thou shall take example therefrom.

4. Thou shalt honor thy author and producer, that thy days shall be long in the play that givest unto thee thy daily hunk of bread.

5. Thou shalt not snub thy small-time brother. The ways of the profession are strange. Yea, verily he may be thy star next season.

6. Thou shalt not retire to bed when the cock crows, nor arise at thy dinner hour. Thou would’st be in danger of slumbering into oblivion the gray matter the Lord hath bestowed upon thee.

7. Thou shalt not belittle the intelligence of thy public, yea though they smile not at thy fun making. For verily there may be within thee an ancient pun. Thou shalt slay it before it becometh a thorn in thy side. Thou must give unto the world a new-born gag.

8. Thou must not dwell on the shortcoming of thy manager. Thou must remember there is reason in his madness. Yea, verily, he hath money in the game.

9. Thou shalt not underestimate thy own value. He who draweth a full house is worthy of hishire. He who runneth the show business knoweth this and is governed thereby.

10. Thou shalt not be a spendthrift while thou workest, for thy summers are long and warm and thy earning years are short. Thou must conserve, therefore, thy income that thy latter days may be peaceful and bounteous. This only wilt thou be an example to thy fellow artist. Thou hast taken thy work seriously, and hast been rewarded.

When “Sunshine” Returned to Newport

Way back in July of 2017, the Newport Historical Society hosted a special day to recognize the contributions of Billy B. Van and share treasures from their collection of his memorabilia. Van was portrayed for the evening by Newport’s Dean Stetson, who arrived by vintage pick-up truck to a gathering at Dexter’s Mills to “hawk” some of his products and cheer up the crowd. The event also featured a screening of Van’s “long-lost and newly restored” 1919 film “Where Are Your Husbands?” and strolling music provided by barbershop quartet The Sunshine Serenaders.

Van and fellow actress Rose Beaumont that culminated in the surprise wedding of the pair, the crowd of hundreds from near and far “formed a collection of wits, talent and beauty seldom seen in these parts.” In anticipation of the party, Van had decorated the barn-turned-dance-hall with cheery signs of his own making, featuring messages such as, “Check your troubles by the door,” and “Life is short, be happy.” When the celebration was over, the signs were auctioned off and taken home to adorn the cottages and houses of people all over town.

Showy egos were not always welcome in Georges Mills, however — not even benevolent ones like Van’s. At the height of his popularity, he had a large dance pavilion built in town and named it Van Harbor Casino. He also managed to have a sign — reading “Van Harbor, NH” — placed on the steamship dock, where visitors got their first impression of Georges Mills. For a time he even lobbied to have the name of the village officially changed to Van Harbor by taking out full-page ads in the local paper, where he slurred those opposed to his case as narrow-minded pessimists. In the end, his rowdy company and un-Yankee-like sense of entitlement led to the waning of his popularity in the tiny lakeside community.

“Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” Van liked to say. “That’s why Saturday night comes just before Sunday.” In 1921, which we might call the end of his Saturday night, Van lost his Georges Mills property after a divorce (possibly his third) and a downturn in his fortunes on the stage that had less to do with a decline in his appeal than with the economic fallout of the first World War. But he had no intention of leaving his beloved New Hampshire, his happy place; he purchased property in Newport, which would remain his homebase until he died in 1950.

In Newport, with a new wife and three kids on the way, he continued to look after his dairy herd, and it was there that he turned to the production of soap, an idea he had been working on for many years. Curiously enough, soap was a commodity whose association with the acting profession went back to the days when medicine shows

relied on burlesque theatricals to sell their products. According to Van, making soap scented with pine was an idea that had never occurred to anyone before. He first thought of it out of gratitude for all the good that the pine-scented air of sunny New Hampshire had worked on him during his 1897 visit as a convalescent. The impulse to monetize the idea, however, came when he saw a once-famous New York actress who had grown old and fallen on hard times. He realized that his streak in the theater might not last forever.

Like later, more famous prophets of positive thinking such as Dale Carnegie and Norman Vincent Peale, Billy B. Van saw salesmen as the paragons of the kind of industriousness he liked to champion. “The boys with the sample cases are the last line of defense for optimism in this country,” he wrote. He also liked to say that when life gave you lemons, you should take it one step beyond simply making lemonade: “We have accepted every lemon they have handed us, and we’re using them to open up a lemonade stand.”

Motivated by a combination of curiosity, native energy, the need for a long-term contingency plan should his acting career not hold out and an irrepressible entrepreneurial streak, Van embarked on a whole series of later-in-life careers in addition to the soap business, including radio broadcasting, motivational speaking and boosting

the State of New Hampshire in whatever way he could. He got along better with his business-minded Newport neighbors than he had with the country folk and cottagers in Georges Mills, and dedicated himself to boosting the local economy as a whole — not just his own ventures. He became a fixture at town meetings, to which it is said people would attend just for the entertainment value of hearing him speak. In 1942, he was named honorary “Mayor of Newport,” a title he held for the rest of his life.

In Newport, things really did go well for Van. He dubbed it the “Sunshine Town,” a nickname that has stuck for almost a hundred years now, and liked to tell people that the sun shone on both sides of the street in the town.

“IN NEW ENGLAND,” Van quipped, “where poverty is still respectable and it is even fashionable to be poor, the so-called Depression has had a tough time trying to make the front page.” While the days of shabby gentility are mostly gone, in some parts of New England we still do pride ourselves on our ability to play down adversity. Our current global depression — for the moment, anyway — is mostly civic in nature, not yet economic, and moreover often seems like its most dire symptoms show up in places far away from New Hampshire.

What if there’s something to the idea that we make hard times harder for everyone by

indulging our instinct to fall into a collective despair, even when our own lives are pretty good? In “Snap Out of It!” we are told the story of an old man who looks up at Mount Washington and says, “See that snow? We won’t have any good weather till that snow is off the mountain; and that snow won’t go off the mountain until we have some good weather.” See the state of the world — it’s not hard to imagine Billy B. Van saying — with its uncertainty, its political polarization, its

— From the notes of Billy B. Van

inflation, its red-hot rhetoric, its violence and the never-ending pandemic? No one’s mood is going to improve until the state of the world takes a turn for the better; and the state of the world will never take a turn for the better until everyone’s mood improves. So how do we snap out of it? Well, someone has to take the first step, so why not us? Maybe those of us who have the privilege of living in a quiet, peaceful and prosperous corner of the world, a part of the world where neighbors still know each other and get along, and where we are surrounded by natural beauty — maybe we should take it upon ourselves to disengage from all the doomsaying that goes on nowadays.

So, smile a little more than you might feel like smiling. Breathe in the pine-scented air that brought Billy B. Van through his “first great depression.” Make New Hampshire the place of gratitude and good cheer he believed it was, and maybe, just maybe, we can break the vicious cycle that leads from despair to trouble and back to despair again. NH

... You discover that they have been leading you on through the mazes of the plausible until you suddenly find yourself in the sparkle of the ridiculous. And you don’t know just when you got there.

From left to right, grouped around a table in a scene from the 1922 silent comedy “The Beauty Shop,” are the actors James J. Corbett, Louise Fazenda, Billy B. Van and Montagu Love.

603 Living

yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” – Lucille Ball

“Love

Valentine’s Brunch

A recipe to kick off the day that they’ll love

RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMSHIKA ALBERINI

Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us: Flowers will be purchased, chocolates will be eaten and quality time will be spent with that special someone. And what better way to manifest your love for that someone than making them brunch in a heat of passion and Gordon-Ramsay-esque fervor? Tie up your apron, slip on your oven mitt and fire up the stove — it’s time to make love in the kitchen. Emshika Alberini, chef and owner of Chang Thai Café in Littleton, shares this recipe for her Thai-style French toast and iced coffee — a quick and easy classic to satisfy those romantic brunch cravings. Just don’t forget the rose petals.

Left: Thai French Toast. Above: Thai Iced Coffee

Thai French Toast

Ingredients:

4 slices of white or whole grain bread

4 pieces of sausage link, peeled off the skin

3 eggs lightly beaten

½ cup of butter

1 tablespoon sugar

1 thinly chopped red pepper

2-3 thinly sliced green onions

2-3 cilantro leaves

Directions: Lightly coat bread with lightly-beaten egg-and-sugar mix. Lay out sausage on the battered bread. Heat butter in large skillet over low-medium heat. Place bread sausage-side-down and cook until golden brown. Flip over and repeat. Rest on a paper towel, trim edges and cut each slice into four pieces.

Sprinkle green onions, red pepper and cilantro onto the toast. Serve with Thai-style iced coffee. Makes two servings.

Thai-Style Iced Coffee

Ingredients:

2 cups dark-roasted coffee

2 glasses of ice

2 tablespoons condensed milk

1 tablespoon evaporated milk

Directions: Pour coffee in glass with ice, leaving about two inches of room for milk. Mix condensed milk and evaporated milk together. Pour mixture over coffee. Serve with Thai French toast. Makes two servings.

Sweets, Surprises and Souvenirs

From gift baskets and flowers to dinners you don’t have to cook, there are plenty of ways to spoil your valentine while supporting Granite State businesses. Here are a few of our favorite spots to treat that special someone right.

Chocolate

Granite State Candy Shoppe 13 Warren St., Concord • (603) 225-2591 granitestatecandyshoppe.com

Enna Chocolate

152 Front St., Exeter • (603) 580-5132 ennachocolate.com

Dancing Lion Chocolate

917 Elm St., Manchester • (603) 625-4043 dancinglion.us

Meals and To-Go Dinners

The Common Man

Multiple locations • thecman.com

Presto Kitchen

168 Amory St., Manchester • (603) 606-1252 prestocraftkitchen.com

The Old Salt & Lamie’s Restaurant and Inn 490 Lafayette Rd., Hampton • (603) 926-8322 oldsaltnh.com

Flowers

Inkwell Flowers

98 Main St., Newmarket • (603) 686-8142 inkwellflowers.com

Cherry Blossom Floral Design

240 Union St., Littleton • (603) 444-1015 cherryblossomfloral.com

Lebanon Garden of Eden

57 Mechanic St., Lebanon • (603) 448-6000 gardenofedenfloral.com

Wines

Flag Hill Distillery and Winery

297 North River Rd., Lee • (603) 659-2949 flaghill.com

LaBelle Winery

345 Rte. 101, Amherst • 14 NH-111, Derry (603) 672-9898 • labellewinery.com

Zorvino Vineyards

226 Main St., Sandown • (603) 887-8463 zorvino.com

Gift Baskets and Boxes

Polly’s Pancake Parlor

672 Sugar Hill Rd., Sugar Hill • (603) 823-5575 pollyspancakeparlor.com

Popzup Popcorn

1 Washington St., Dover • (978) 502-1737 popzup.com

Donut Love

112 Lafayette Rd., North Hampton • (603) 379-9151 donutlove.com

LOOKING MORE CHOICES?

Check out our comprehensive list of Valentine’s Day recommendations at nhmagazine.com/valentines-day-sweetssurprises-and-souvenirs

ASK THE

As New Hampshire residents approach retirement age in record numbers, one of the most important decisions they have to make is where and how they want to live, and whether to stay in their own homes or to transition to a retirement community. We reached out to some retirement community experts to learn more about what they have to offer and to help soon-to-be retirees ask the right questions as they enter this stage of their life journey.

Judy Franseen VICE PRESIDENT SALES AND MARKETING SILVERSTONE LIVING SILVERSTONELIVING.ORG

Barbara Fay DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING AS LIFE GOES ON ASLIFEGOESONELDERCARE.COM

Maria Byrne DIRECTOR OF SALES THE BALDWIN THEBALDWINNH.ORG

Cathleen Toomey

RiverWoods

QWhen should people consider downsizing or moving into a 55-plus community or a retirement community ?

AMost people think of downsizing to a condominium, or to an over 55 community as a first step. While downsizing is good, and enables you to free yourself from home maintenance, I personally think moving to a CCRC is a much smarter move. You can live independently in a vibrant community with fewer chores and the added benefit of having your future long-term care settled.

QWhat are some of the most important things they should look at?

AOne of the most important aspects is the level of insurance (if any) offered by a retirement community. A not-for-profit community like RiverWoods is an insurance product. As a resident of our communities, if health needs ever change, enhanced levels of care like Assisted Living, Memory Support and Nursing Care are provided within the community at a cost well below market rate.

I n addition, RiverWoods is considered prepaying for future medical expenses, so a portion of the entrance fee and monthly service fees are tax deductible making it a smart financial decision.

QGiven the high demand for homes in the real estate market, has there ever been a better time for someone to make this move financially?

AThe real estate market is still hot in New Hampshire with low inventory across the state. The “off-season” can be a beneficial time to sell your home. This time of year, buyers are serious, and sellers can add closing stipulations about timing and costs. All these reasons can work to your advantage when moving to a CCRC.

AAt RiverWoods, our residents often comment they wish they’d made the move sooner because l ife really is better in community. In addition to the services and amenities offered at every level, residents benefit from increased social opportunities. Research shows the importance of developing and keeping good relationships. With locations in Exeter, Manchester and Durham, there are a variety of options to choose from, and has the strong financial backing of the RiverWoods Group; the largest family of not-for-profit CCRCs in New Hampshire.

— Cathleen Toomey, vice president of marketing, The RiverWoods Group

QHow does living in a retirement community enhance a resident’s quality of life?

Summit by Morrison

QWhen should people consider downsizing and moving into either a s 55-plus community or a retirement community?

AThis process is best started in the years leading up to a move when you have time to think through the process without the pressure of an imminent transition. Downsizing can be a big process but is very doable when tackled in smaller steps or with the help of a professional or a trusted friend or family member. If the goal is to retire to an Independent Living community, you will want to make this move while you are still physically active and healthy.

QGiven the high demand for homes in the real estate market, has there ever been a better time for someone to make the transition?

ANow is an excellent time to consider moving to a senior living community. The housing market is doing very well. You will want to have your new home picked out and ready to go should your house move quickly.

QWhat are some of the key things that separate your retirement community from others here in NH?

AThe Morrison Communities is located in the heart of N.H.’s beautiful White Mountains. It’s an excellent choice for those that enjoy the feel of rural living, but with easy access to shopping, dining, and cultural opportunities. Our two-campus community provides an array of services, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, rehab, skilled nursing, and long-term care to meet your needs as they change. We also just implemented four-day work weeks for our excellent, caring staff which will help provide them with an improved work-life balance. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, our staff is well known for high-quality care and compassion, creating a familylike environment that is noted by residents and family members alike.

— Shannon Lynch, Executive Director, The Morrison Communities

THEBALDWINNH.ORG

QWhen should people consider downsizing and moving to a community like The Baldwin?

AWhat we most often hear from new residents at our sister community is, “I wish I had done this sooner.” Once a person moves in, they discover how much easier life is without the chores and hassles of taking care of a house. And they discover just how wonderful it is to have time to do things they really enjoy. They find endless opportunities to engage in new and interesting activities — as well as friends to make it even more fun. That’s why it’s important to move in while you’re young and healthy enough to take advantage of everything the community offers. Plus, there’s a built-in support network that provides priceless peace of mind. I do advise, though, that if someone is considering a community like The Baldwin, it’s important to plan ahead because this lifestyle is in high demand and wait lists can be long.

Q What are some of the key things that separate The Baldwin from other Life Plan Communities or CCRCs in New Hampshire?

AThere are so many things! When we designed The Baldwin, we set out to do things differently — to change the experience of senior living in New Hamp-

shire. So, The Baldwin is all about freedom and flexibility. It starts with contract options that empower people to choose what works best for their needs and goals. And, importantly, it includes a flexible system of on-site health care. Residents of The Baldwin will have priority access to a full continuum of healthcare services on our campus, but they’ll never be shuttled through a predetermined sequence of care levels as is so often the case in traditional continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). We’ll always work with the resident in determining what care is needed and when.

Q Does

the culture of a community matter?

AAbsolutely! A nd, as an all-new community, the first residents of The Baldwin will play a large part in developing its culture. At our sister community, we’ve always maintained that residents are in charge of how they live. They have representation through resident committees that share comments and ideas with management, and staff are trained to look for a way to say “yes” whenever possible. It’s a responsive, positive environment that we look forward to bringing to The Baldwin.

The best way to learn about The Baldwin is to attend an event. Scan the QR code or go to TheBaldwinNH.org/Events.

— Maria Byrne, Director of Sales, The Baldwin

As Life Goes On

ASLIFEGOESONELDERCARE.COM

QWhen looking for an assisted living or memory care community for my loved one should I focus on the large Corporate Communities or smaller “boutique style” family-owned community?

AAt As Life Goes On, LLC, we are dedicated to providing value conscious, comfortable assisted living that you can trust in small home settings. We want to help our residents simply live better by providing assistance in a loving and caring environment, and treat your loved ones like our own. The Duymazlar family has been involved in the care and real estate business for two generations. Our father, Dr. Mehmet Duymazlar, immigrated to the U.S. as an anesthesiologist, and our mother, Joan Duymazlar, is a registered nurse. The Duymazlar’s grew up in an immigrant multi-generational home caring for their grandparents while their grandparents helped care for the youngest of the family a truly family-centered care network. Experiencing three generations under one roof all providing care for one another enriched the Duymazlar’s lives and contributed to their desire to do better for our elders and their families

Silverstone Living

QWhat is a Continuing Care at Home program?

AAt Home By Hunt is a retirement option, affiliated with Silverstone Living, for active 62+ NH residents who want to have a long-term care plan in place for their future healthcare needs. At Home By Hunt provides the assurance and peace of mind knowing that you have guaranteed lifetime access to a wide range of care should your health needs ever change, and it ensures predictable costs with personalized coordination of that care. If you have recently started to look at retirement options for yourself, you will want to learn more about this option that can make aging in place a safe solution.

QIs there a way to have high quality healthcare services, while protecting my assets?

AAt Home By Hunt limits your exposure to the financial risks and high-costs associated with health-related support services or long-term care. Predictable fees, protection from inflation, and no waiting on reimbursements helps ensure you are

AAt As Life Goes On we have a thorough welcoming ‘move in’ process that involves the family of our incoming residents. We ask for each familys’ input answering a questionnaire surrounding the potential residents likes, dislikes, meal preferences, daily habits and much more. This will help us in pairing our new residents with other folks that they may enjoy dining and socializing with. Our entire process revolves around supporting each resident at every stage of moving to a new home, treating them like our own family while our home becomes their home.

—

Barbara

Fay, Director of Sales and Marketing, As Life Goes On, LLC

protecting your assets. Healthcare is expensive! With At Home By Hunt you are making a smart investment today to help pay and manage your care tomorrow at a fraction of the cost. Your Life Plan Coordinator will help arrange and facilitate both medical and non-medical services so that you can age comfortably and successfully in the home you love.

AYes! At Home By Hunt is specifically designed to meet your goals of aging successfully in place. By joining the At Home By Hunt program while you are independent and healthy, your Life Plan Coordinator gets to know you, and your personal wishes for future care as you age at home. As your health changes, they will provide the support that you need and will put services in place, when necessary, all while assisting you with navigating through the complex medical system.

— Judy A. Franseen, Vice President Sales & Marketing , Silverstone Living

QIs it possible to age successfully in the home that I love if my medical needs change?

SILVERSTONELIVING.ORG

QHow does your community welcome a new resident?

question is going to be different for every individual; this is our residents’ home, and we strive to make each person’s experience exactly what they want it to be.

ATaylor Community is the only premiere nonprofit Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)/Lifeplan Community in the beautiful Lakes Region of New Hampshire, with locations in both Laconia and Wolfeboro. Establishing a plan for your future safety and care is essential, and coming to a community like Taylor ensures that you will have access to the very best care available, when and if you need that support in the future.

Taylor is also resident-centered, which means that our residents have a voice in their experience here. Residents not only have a strong presence on our Board of Trustees, but we have an active Resident Association with multiple committees to address myriad aspects of resident life. Our residents are engaged when it comes to planning for new and evolving amenities, services, and programming.  What is really most important to know about Taylor is that the answer to that

AWe are seeing a younger, more active population exploring retirement living options. These folks are generally looking for robust resident life programs, enhanced dining options and strong fitness and wellness opportunities. With our resident-centered approach and commitment to service excellence, we are continually adapting and shifting to meet those needs across all campuses.

Taylor has long been operating as a robust, full-service CCRC on our Laconia campus, and in recent years, we have completed construction of several beautiful new high-end homes, as well as an outdoor recreation pavilion on that campus.

We are now in the process of building a full-service program on our Wolfeboro campuses. Our newly opened Recreation and Aquatics Center features an indoor three lane lap pool, a fully equipped fitness center, space for exercise classes and more. We also have a new Pub & Bistro with expanded dinner options and our new library, both on our Sugar Hill Campus. We also recently purchased property on Lake Winnipesaukee, just across the street from our Back Bay campus, providing residents with direct and convenient waterfront access.

Most recently, we began construction on The Residence at Back Bay, which will be opening this fall with beautifully appointed apartments for Assisted Living, Memory Care and Nursing, as well as bright, sunny living areas and serene outdoor gardens. With the opening of this state-of- the-art facility, all of our residents will soon have the security and peace of mind of knowing that the full continuum of care will be available in their home community, whether that community is Laconia or Wolfeboro.

QWhat is the most important thing to know about your community?

QWhat trends are you seeing with seniors looking for retirement living, and how are you adapting to meet their expectations?

EVENTS FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY

Editor’sChoice

Through January and February

Ice Castles > Since 2011, travelers from all over the globe have flocked to Ice Castles’ locations to walk through the interactive glistening majesties. The castles feature icecarved tunnels, fountains, slides, frozen thrones and towers that reach astonishing heights. LED lights frozen inside 25-million pounds of ice twinkle to music, adding a magical ambiance to the already awe-inspiring structures. Times and pricing vary. 24 Clark Farm Rd., North Woodstock. icecastles.com

All Things Winter

January 1 – January 15

LaBelle Lights > Take an awe-inspiring stroll through LaBelle Derry’s spectacular outdoor light show comprised of winter-themed lighting displays coordinated with music that will bring a smile to your face and joy to your heart. Approximately 15 light features will comprise LaBelle Lights, including meteor lights, a spritzer tunnel, large gift boxes, light tunnels and carpet lights. In past years, LaBelle Lights has hosted community-inspired Fire and Ice and Valentine’s Day special features in January and February; this year their Holiday Lights display ends on January 15. The lights and music change with special feature events to make every visit unique. Make an evening of it by dining in Americus Restaurant or enjoy light fare at LaBelle Market, located just steps from LaBelle Lights. Times and pricing vary. LaBelle Winery, 14 Rte. 111, Derry. (603) 672-9898; labellewinery.com

Through January

Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month > January is Learn to Ski and Snowboard month, where mountains and Nordic centers from around the state offer deals on lessons, tickets and rentals for beginners. Now is the time to finally find out if skiing or riding is for you. Visit skinh.com/learn for more information or to find participating locations.

Through Winter

Ice Skating > Enjoy the age-old sport of ice skating at the three-acre Victorian Skating Park at Nestlenook Farm. Skate along Emerald Lake, and then warm up next to a roaring fire with a cup of hot chocolate in the enclosed warming center. This is the largest and most breathtaking outdoor skate park in the Mount Washington Valley. Don’t miss it. $7-$15. Monday through Friday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nestlenook Farm, 66 Dinsmore Rd., Glen. (603) 383-7101; nestlenookfarmsleighrides.com

January 27-29

Winter Fest > Winter Fest is back for a fifth year and held in conjunction with a longstanding winter favorite: the Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament. Take advantage of the free shuttle service ferrying people between the hockey tournament in White Park to the festival activities in downtown Concord. Big attractions include an ice-carving competition and demonstrations, plus four themed ice bars with a luge on the patio at O Steaks and Seafood. There will also be games and activities for kids and families, such as warm-up stations with hot cocoa and s’mores, cornhole and more. Time and pricing vary. Downtown Concord. intownconcord.com

February 3-5

Mount Washington Valley Ice Fest > Going on its 29th year, the Valley Ice Fest is dedicated to the love of climbing. Ever since its genesis in 1993, the Valley Ice Fest has been bringing together climbers of all abilities to share in the reverence of the rock — or, in this case, the ice. Avid rock and ice climbers, and those just starting out in the sport, come together to collaborate, learn from one another, share skill sets and forge friendships. This year’s event features clinics that range from “Ice Climbing 101” to a one-day ice rescue clinic to a “Climbing on Thin Ice” clinic, and progress to more nuanced courses such as a two-day learning to lead clinic, an alpine-style climb and much more. All clinics (unless otherwise noted) meet at 8 a.m. at Ledge Brewing Company. Times and pricing vary. Ledge Brewing Company, 15 Town Hall Rd., Intervale. (603) 3567064; mwv-icefest.com

February 4

Beveridge Ice Fest > Get your long johns, furry hats and winter gear ready because Ice Fest is back. Beveridge Ice Fest brings together 35 of the Granite State’s finest craft breweries to pour a selection of tasty brews on the ice of Lake Winnipesaukee. Tickets into the fest include unlimited beer samples. Ticket pricing TBD. 12 to 3 p.m., Lake Winnipesaukee. beerfests.com/events/beveridge-ice-fest

February 26

Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring Chocolate Festival > North Conway inns and eateries will open their doors and offer up chocolate goodies. Patrons are welcome to drive or take the complimentary festival shuttle, but the real fun comes from making your own transportation. The fest is a fundraiser for the Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring & Snowshoe Foundation, so tour stops are conveniently located along 45 km of cross-country paths. Strap on your snowshoes or skis and enjoy this delectable event known as “The Sweetest Day on the Trails.” Festival passes include dozens of different chocolate treats prepared by area businesses and local bakers along with a tasting of Tuckerman’s

PHOTO COURTESY ICE CASTLES NH

beer. $45. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., North Conway. (603) 356-9920; mwvskitouring.org

February 10-13

Dartmouth Winter Carnival > Dating back to 1911, this annual fête celebrates Dartmouth’s impressive winter sports history and the beauty of the Upper Valley in the snow. Organizations around campus host events during the carnival, so make the rounds to enjoy an ice-sculpting contest, concerts and quirky traditions like a human dogsled race on the green. Times and pricing vary. Dartmouth College, Hanover. (603) 646-3399; students.dartmouth.edu

Through January and February

SnowCoach Tours > SnowCoach drivers take patrons to the Mount Washington treeline to witness incredible scenes. SnowCoach vehicles use four tracks (opposed to wheels) to attack the snowy elevation and provide unforgettable views. Warm dress recommended. Times and pricing vary. Great Glen Trails, 1 Mount Washington Auto Rd., Gorham. (603) 466-3988; greatglentrails.com

Miscellaneous

January 1-7

Recycled Percussion > Legendary New England drumming group Recycled Percussion is back. They’ve made appearances on “America’s Got Talent,” performing in Las Vegas, opening the 2017 Super Bowl and hosting their TV show “Chaos & Kindness.” Don’t miss this Manchester show packed with surprises and crowd favorites in a turbocharged performance. $35-$45. Times vary. The Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester. (603) 668-5588; palacetheatre.org

Through February 12

State of the Art 2020: Locate > This special exhibition at the Currier explores how different people see themselves in our society. Definitions of family, ethnicity and community are increasingly fluid and changeable. These shifts, and the unveiling of suppressed cultural histories, have made it challenging for some to develop a sense of belonging. The artists shown here explore how relationships, families, neighborhood and even hidden forces shape us as individuals. Admission $5 to $15. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. (603) 669-6144; currier.org

February 12

“Super Sunday 4 Miler” > You might be an icicle by the end of this event, but it’s worth it. This fourmile race makes its way through Bedford and starts and ends at the 1750 Taphouse. When you cross the finish line, enjoy a refreshing beer and thaw yourself out in the warming area. $30 to $35. 9:30 a.m., 1750 Taphouse, 170 NH-101, Bedford. milleniumrunning.com

Find additional events at nhmagazine.com/ calendar. Submit events eight weeks in advance to Caleb Jagoda at cjagoda@nhmagazine.com or enter your own at nhmagazine.com/calendar. Not all events are guaranteed to be published either online or in the print calendar. Event submissions will be reviewed and, if deemed appropriate, approved by a New Hampshire Magazine editor.

Learn more at villagemedical.com. Or, book an appointment by calling 603-600-8261.

Saturday, March 11, 2023 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Join CASA of NH at New England’s Tap House Grille for a 10-hour barstool challenge. Build your team and go head-to-head in friendly competition with other teams and enjoy great beer and food, lively entertainment and fun for a good cause! All proceeds will go toward the recruitment and training of CASA volunteer advocates.

Primary care that’s right for you. Right in the

Be a barstool warrior!

A ‘Magic’ Pill That Cures Obesity?

New drugs offer hope to many battling the bulge

BY KRYSTEN GODFREY MADDOCKS / ILLUSTRATION BY GLORIA DIIANNI

What Are GLP-1s and Why Do They Work?

For years, we’ve heard that the key to shedding pounds boils down to eating less and moving more. Yet, 42% of adults in our country are considered obese, meaning they have a body mass index (or BMI) of 30 or more. Obesity can lead to other diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.

By treating obesity as a disease itself, doctors say patients have a better chance of avoiding more serious complications later on. There are many reasons why a person may have obesity and difficulty losing weight, Dr. Finn says. Stress, genetics, medications, sleep disturbances and diet all play a role. In other words, patients may need to change more than their lifestyle to get dramatic results.

“It’s a complex disease,” Dr. Finn says. “Fat cells increase in size and become inflammatory. That starts affecting hormonal communication between fat cells and the brain, and fat cells and other organs. This can cause the brain to become resistant to one of the hormones produced by fat cells, called leptin, a hormone that helps regulate appetite and weight.”

Some Hollywood stars have admitted they can’t credit their weight loss to low-carbohydrate diets, personal trainers or surgical procedures. Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter magnate Elon Musk publicly attributed his recent slimdown to Wegovy, one of a few glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration to control obesity. At the same time, New Hampshire doctors who practice obesity medicine say these medications are helping their own patients declare victory over the battle of the bulge.

GLP-1s were originally created to treat Type 2 diabetes, but have also been shown to help patients shed pounds. In fact, studies have shown that patients taking Wegovy for weight loss could expect to lose up to 15% of their body fat. (For someone starting out

at 250 pounds, that amounts to a 37-pound weight loss.) While it may sound like an easy way to lose weight, doctors say these drugs aren’t easy to get, aren’t always covered by insurance, and are only approved for obese or overweight patients with a comorbidity, or for patients with Type 2 diabetes. Then there’s the sticker shock: Without commercial insurance coverage, Wegovy can cost patients more than $1,300 a month. (At this time, Medicare does not cover GLP1 drugs for weight loss only.) But, for those who meet the criteria, GLP-1s can change lives, says Dr. Sarah Finn, medical director of Dartmouth Health Regional Weight and Wellness Center.

“Many say that for the first time in their whole lives they aren’t feeling hungry or obsessed with food — and they’re feeling full,” Finn says. “It’s a game-changer for them.”

Prescribing drugs to treat obesity isn’t a new practice, but GLP-1s work differently than their predecessors. They work on your gut and your brain to suppress appetite and make you feel fuller faster. They slow gastric emptying. And because these drugs help people better control their hunger, they’re also more likely to control their calorie intake, according to Dr. Amulya T. Siram, medical director of obesity medicine at the Center of Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Despite their efficacy, GLP-1 medications alone aren’t the only ticket to weight loss success.

“Obesity medications only work when combined with diet and activity efforts,” Dr. Siram says. “We expect patients to lose 5% to 15% of their weight. However, if they stop taking medication, weight regain is common. These medications are approved for long-term treatment of obesity.”

Not all GLP-1 medications are made

exactly the same, which is why some work better than others, depending on the person. They come in different formulations and dosages and are sold under several different brand names. All require a doctor’s prescription. Some are only approved for Type 2 diabetes, but not for weight loss.

To date, GLP-1s approved for weight loss include Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide). Wegovy is injected weekly and Saxenda is injected daily. Medications approved for Type 2 diabetes, but also prescribed “off-label” for weight loss, include Ozempic (semaglutide), Trulicity (dulaglutide) and the daily pill Rybelsus (semaglutide). Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is the latest drug to hit the market, and is a combination of GLP-1 and glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) agonists. A recent Eli Lilly and Company clinical trial reports that patients taking Mounjaro achieved between a 16% and 22% weight loss in 72 weeks. The FDA has fast-tracked Mounjaro for approval as a weight loss drug, with doctors hopeful that the approval could come as early as spring 2023.

Dr. Ellie Chuang, an endocrinologist

who practices obesity medicine at Southern New Hampshire Weight Management in Nashua, says she’s seen her patients achieve great success on more than one of these GLP-1 medications.

“My patients have done really well, particularly when we bring in the lifestyle part,” Dr. Chuang says. “I have one lady on Trulicity who lost 30% of her body weight in a little over a year. In fact, I’ve seen multiple patients reach 30%.”

What’s the catch?

Despite their impressive results, GLP-1s may not be right for everyone. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain, to name a few. According to Dr. Siram, more serious side effects — such as pancreatitis, gall bladder problems and acute kidney injuries — are also risks. People with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type II shouldn’t take GLP-1s. You also shouldn’t take them if you’re pregnant or trying to conceive.

Some health care providers still aren’t familiar with or comfortable prescribing GLP-1s for weight loss. Dr. Finn strongly

suggests that patients seek treatment at a center experienced in treating obesity as a disease. These centers will not only help you find the right medication, but can monitor your progress and help you make important lifestyle changes along the way. Many times, GLP-1s are used prior to bariatric surgery to obtain pre-op weight loss, and also after bariatric surgery if there is weight regain, says Dr. Chuang.

“We aren’t talking about a short-term solution,” Dr. Chuang says. “It’s usually a long-term treatment just like taking medication for diabetes or high blood pressure.”

GLP-1s aren’t a cure-all, nor do they supplant making lifestyle changes or even bariatric surgery in some cases, but they do give patients hope for a healthier future.

“Anti-obesity medicines have gotten a bad rap with individualized patient response, and produced 5% to 10% weight loss,” Dr. Chuang says. “Now we’re in a different stage of science and have a new generation of effective medicines. But because of societal bias against this disease, patients aren’t getting the treatments they need. In the next 10 years, there’ll be even better treatment choices, and that’s really exciting.” NH

To Ski or Not to Ski

The beginnings of a family tradition

Like most New Hampshire kids, I skied. Have mountains, will ski. My aunt and uncle, who loved skiing, paid for equipment, tickets and lessons. The boots were huge and clunky with stiff metal buckles. I wore Auntie’s hand-me-down stirrup pants, puffy parka and rabbit-fur hat with pom-pom ties without protest. I mastered the intricacies of the rope tow and T-bar, and even figured out how to exit the chairlift without incident and push myself upright using my poles after a fall. From the basic snowplow, I advanced to the stem christie, a technique that allowed me to traverse the slope — slowly and in terror — rather than bomb straight down like my little brat brother and his daredevil friends.

For two or three excruciating seasons, I tried to enjoy skiing — I really did — but my favorite part was hiding out in the lodge, reading and drinking cocoa. For a school assignment, I wrote about my adventures — in cursive, on white lined paper. Two i’s in a row looked weird, so my essay, entitled Sking, began: I went sking at Ragged Mountain. It was wicked cold. My feet froze. I fell a bunch. Sking is not all it’s cracked up to be. And so on, for two pages.

My teacher circled every sking in red; there were many — the paper bled.

Which reminds me of a family story ... Back when horses were more common than cars and roads rolled rather than plowed, Bob wrangled an invitation to a card party at a remote farmhouse on a backcountry hill. He admired Lillian, the daughter of the house, and hoped to impress her and her Yankee relatives. He snowshoed in and behaved admirably. So far so good. After the party, Lillian’s brother, Lawrence, asked Bob to join him in a night-ski to the village. Other guests had descended earlier by sleigh and Lawrence needed to fetch back the rig and horses. Bob, of course, accepted the challenge.

“Only problem,” Lawrence said, “we got just the one set of skis.”

As the family watched from the porch, Lawrence lit his pipe, strapped his honking big feet to the 8-foot wooden slats and told Bob to step on behind him and hold on tight.

What luck! The skis fit perfectly into a pair of ruts — about two feet apart — iced into the snow by the comings and goings of the sleighs and sledges. “We won’t even

have to steer!” Lawrence said. “We’ll ride these ruts the whole way.”

The slope was gradual, the moon bright, the night air exhilarating. The smoke from Lawrence’s pipe wafted. At about the halfway point, they started picking up speed, but having negotiated a tricky curve with grace, the two young men felt confident — even cocky.

Until they got to the real steep part.

Bob — peering over Lawrence’s shoulder — spotted something in the distance that alarmed him. A dark mound appeared to fill one of the ruts. Lawrence also spotted the large, frozen horse flap and said, teeth clenched on the stem of his pipe, “Bob, we are going to have to lift our left feet.”

They lifted their left feet.

And fell. Spectacularly. Ass over teakettle. The skis kept going. Bob and Lawrence landed in a heap. The pipe went flying and was lost.

But no bones broke. Bob proved to be a good sport and earned the family’s respect.

The following spring, Lawrence’s mother found the pipe while picking wild strawberries. Shortly thereafter, Bob and Lillian married. They had four children and nine grandchildren, including me. A skier! Crosscountry, that is. The flatter the better. NH

BY REBECCA RULE / ILLUSTRATION BY BRAD FITZPATRICK

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