Billy B. Van, The Sunshine Man

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

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

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

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

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

LOOKING MORE CHOICES?

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

Calendar

EVENTS FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY

Editor’s Choice

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 ice- carved 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

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 turbo- charged 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.

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

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

Be a barstool warrior!

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.

Register at casanh.org/ontap

Please use this one if using the logo smaller than 3 inches

A ‘Magic’ Pill That Cures Obesity?

New drugs offer hope to many battling the bulge

BY KRYSTEN GODFREY MADDOCKS / ILLUSTRATION BY GLORIA DIIANNI

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.”

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.”

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

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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 honk- ing 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! Cross- country, that is. The flatter the better. NH