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I chose Plymouth State University.
I’m from Vancouver. I wanted to come to the U.S. for university. And I wanted to play hockey. That was part of it, but not the only part of it. After graduating, I want to work in technology consulting. Over the past 3+ years, I’ve received amazing advice and networking help that will propel me forward.
I’m ready now. Let’s go! Ben | Plymouth State University | ‘22
WHAT WILL YOU CHOOSE?
WWW.USNH.EDU/YOURS
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We could all learn from a nurse Health care workers do not have an easy job. The hours are long. The time spent on their feet is endless. They are with patients through hardships, both physically and emotionally. Yet they show up to every shift ready to put the needs of others ahead of their own. Even two years into a global pandemic, health care workers are still just as committed to helping others. We at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care are especially thankful to those in New Hampshire doing their part to guide and empower our communities to live healthier lives, which is why it is an honor to help to recognize the 2022 Excellence in Nursing Awards recipients. Your tireless efforts do not go unnoticed. Thank you for demonstrating what true strength, compassion and dedication looks like. Thank you for all that you do.
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© 2022 McLean Communications, LLC New Hampshire Magazine® is published by McLean Communications, Inc., 150 Dow St., Manchester, NH 03101, (603) 624-1442. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any mistakes in advertisements or editorial. Statements/opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect or represent those of this publication or its officers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, McLean Communications, LLC.: New Hampshire Magazine disclaims all responsibility for omissions and errors. New Hampshire Magazine is published monthly, with the exception of February and April. USPS permit number 022-604. Periodical postage paid at Manchester 03103-9651. Postmaster send address changes to: New Hampshire Magazine, P.O. Box 37900, Boone, IA 50037-0900 PRINTED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
6 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
Contents 54
IMAGES BY: DON HIMSEL / P.T. SULLIVAN / KENDAL J. BUSH / JOHN W. HESSION / JENN BAKOS / DAVID MENDELSOHN / MATTHEW MEAD / BRAD FITZPATRICK
First Things
64
603 Navigator
June 2022
74
603 Informer
603 Living
8 Editor’s Note 10 Contributors Page 14 Feedback
Features 52 Transcript
Meet Steve Wiggins, owner of the Northwood Drive-in.
by David Mendelsohn
54 Summer Fun
Your favorite events are back! We’ve compiled a three-month calendar of the best things to do from around the state.
by Emily Heidt
64 Funny Guy
16 Inspiration Blooms
94 Health
Exploring the Town of Mason
Brain Games
by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers
by Karen A. Jamrog
38 Alexander and The Art Factory
Artist Alexander Augustus in Manchester
by Anders Morley art by Alexander Augustus
74 Excellence in Nursing
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIONS 33 Summer Fun Marketplace 50 Guide to Higher Education
by Matthew Mead
20 Our Town
by Brion O’Connor photography by P.T. Sullivan
profiles by Lynne Snierson photography by Kendal J. bush
A Sunny Sangria to Welcome the Start of Summer Months
photography by John W. Hession
Granite State stand-up comedian Juston McKinney is ready to make you laugh.
In partnership with the New Hampshire Nurses Association, we are proud to announce the winners of the fifth annual Excellence in Nursing Awards.
92 Perfect Punch
The Portsmouth Pocket Garden Tour
44 Blips
NH in the News
by Brion O’Connor
24 Food and Drink
The Thompson House Eatery
by Jess Saba photography by Jenn Bakos
30 Sips
Keeping it Old School
by Michael Hauptly-Pierce
46 Politics
96 Ayuh
Fishing for Stories
Born in the 603 (or Not?)
by James Pindell
by Rebecca Rule illustration by Brad Fitzpatrick
48 What Do You Know? The Kim Day Dam
by Marshall Hudson
Volume 36, Number 4 ISSN 1532-0219
ON THE COVER Summer is here, and so are the events you love, plus plenty of new things for you to discover. Our comprehensive, three-month calendar will keep you having fun all summer long. Illustration by John R. Goodwin nhmagazine.com | June 2022 7
EDITOR’S NOTE
The “Chatauqua” movement began just a few decades after the Civil War with a goal of bringing people from different walks of life together for fun and enrichment. Our Best of NH Party began two decades ago with similar goals.
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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Since 2003, NH Business Review has honored the best and brightest leaders in the state’s business community.
Submit your nomination by August 12 at nhbr.com/bea Sponsored by:
8 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
W
hen we threw our very first Best of NH Party back in 2002, it was a bit of a shot in the dark. We knew we’d have to go big, and fortunately the very big Verizon Wireless Arena had just opened up on Elm Street in Manchester, a few blocks from where we had just moved our headquarters (from Nashua) the year before (on Sept. 11, 2001, believe it or not). We’d never attempted anything quite as huge, and we had only a few months to pull it together, but restaurants and vendors signed on to feed and delight our guests. We booked Beatlejuice, a Fab Four sound-alike band, led by Brad Delp (of the band Boston fame) as our main act, but they were forced to cancel when Brad sent word that he was just too sick to perform — just days before the party. At that very last minute (thanks to intrepid talent agent Jim Roach), a plucky touring band named Recycled Percussion filled in for us. Still, the tempest of things to do kept everyone so busy that, when we finished the massive setup in the arena, we really didn’t know if anyone would actually come. Advance ticket sales had been light, but the doors finally opened and a line of happy partygoers began trickling down the stairs to the floor of the arena — and didn’t stop until the place was full. The Best of NH was born! Two years ago, during those darker days of the Covid plague, we took our party online but we still managed to honor our winners and to please fans with the help of our sponsors and expert hosting by Neal and Marga of WZID. Then, last year forced our hand. The party had already relocated from the arena (now named for SNHU) to the ballpark stadium in Manchester (named for Delta Dental), where it operated for several happy years. Although it made for an ideal outdoor setting, we doubted that crowds of people were sufficiently comfortable with the state of the pandemic
to engage in the close-quarters jostling for food and fun. Something a little more serene seemed like just the ticket and we could find no more serene and accommodating spot than Shaker Village in Canterbury for 2021. Just as form dictates function, the new location required us to rethink our idea of a way to celebrate the state. Could we tame the beast of an event that we had created? Could we actually aim for a smaller crowd and a more intimate and thoughtful party? There was only one way to find out and our 2021 party, under a tent among the white clapboard structures of the Shakers, turned out to be such a hit, we’re doing it again this year. It’s gratifying to see how people have embraced our efforts, but the move to Canterbury and the chance to take the show on the road to other such beloved locations around the state in future years is what really warms my heart. Despite all the emphasis we put on the entertainment, food and libation components of our Best of NH Party, the real mission is deeper and more timely. The Chatauquas of the 19th century were traveling shows of the “best” of America. They set up tents and brought speakers, acts and music to remote parts of a young country still torn by years of grievous conflict followed by an uncertain “Reconstruction.” Chatauquas and lyceums of that era helped to spread the word that the states of America were indeed united and full of talent and hope and excitement for the future. They reminded Americans who they were and what they might aspire to become. Our Best of NH Party has served a similar role over the years, but never was it more needed. And, somehow, on the green lawns under the vast skies of Canterbury Shaker Village, the message comes through more clearly. I hope to see all of you at our very own Granite State Chatauqua (also known as the Best of NH Party) at Shaker Village on June 18.
PHOTO BY LYNN CROW PHOTOGRAPHY
Our Granite Chatauqua
Contributors Before calling the Monadnock Region home, photographer Kendal J. Bush — who photographed the winners of the fifth annual Excellence in Nursing Awards — traveled the world as an editor and videographer for the National Geographic Channel and NBC. She combines years of experience as a photojournalist with her film school education to yield beautiful, creative portraits as well as corporate, wedding and event photography. See more of her work at kendaljbush.com.
for June 2022
Animal lover and freelance writer Lynne Snierson is New Hampshire Magazine’s regular “Seniority” contributor. She wrote the Excellence in Nursing Awards profiles.
Anders Morley, who wrote “Informer,” is also the author of “This Land of Snow: A Journey Across the North in Winter” about cross-country skiing through Canada.
Frequent contributor Brion O’Connor wrote the feature story “Funny Guy” about New Hampshire comedian Juston McKinney and this month’s “Blips.”
Humorist Rebecca Rule is our regular “Ayuh” contributor. She has written a number of books for both children and adults. See more at rebeccarule.com.
Jess Saba, who wrote “Food and Drink,” grew up between the White Mountains and the Seacoast. She uncovers stories of all types across the state.
Jenn Bakos, who took the photos for “Food and Drink,” is a Seacoast-based food, lifestyle and wedding photographer. See more at jennbakosphoto.com.
About | Behind the Scenes at New Hampshire Magazine Maybe it’s because we belong to the Yankee Publishing roster of publications — a company known for having deep roots in New Hampshire — but we take pride in the lengthy relationships we’ve forged with writers, artists and other contributors to our pages. One such talent is Peter Noonan, who has illustrated a number of features and special projects for us but is best known as the artist of our monthly “Politics” page, a job he’s held for more than two decades. That’s a lot of cartooning and Peter is no longer a spring chicken, but he seems to have a plan to extend his tenure by making it into a family affair. Noonan’s daughter Isla has been looking over his shoulder so long that she recently took on some duties handling the inking of his illustrations. That’s her at work (at left) on the “Politics” art for this issue in a photo provided by the proud papa. We look forward to a day when we might include her name among the bylines you see (some every month) in New Hampshire Magazine. And while recognizing longtime contributors, we should note that “Politics” has always been written by political journalist James Pindell, who also reports for the Boston Globe, New York Magazine, Politico and others. 10 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
PHOTO BY PETER NOONAN
Meet Our Youngest Contributor
...and the rest of the story...
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Kalled Gallery Wolfeboro, NH & Santa Fe, NM 603.569.3994 kalledjewelrystudio.com nhmagazine.com | June 2022 11
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Send letters to Editor Rick Broussard, New Hampshire Magazine, 150 Dow St., Manchester, NH 03101 or email him at editor@nhmagazine.com.
As a lifelong “summer person” and now yearround resident of Alstead, I was delighted to see your feature on our special town [“Our Town,” May 2022]. But one of the captions is incorrect. The quirky signs pictured on page 25 point the way not to “Orchard Hill Road” businesses — there is no such street — but to Old Settlers Road businesses. One of these is Orchard Hill Breadworks. Lucky me, I live at the bottom of this hill within walking distance of their fresh bread. —Miranda Spencer, Alstead Editor’s note: Thanks for the correction. Maybe we should just tell bread lovers to follow the scent of fresh-baked loaves.
A Lackluster Look at Laconia In looking over your last issue of New Hampshire Magazine, I was extremely disappointed in your coverage of Laconia [“Cities on the Rise,” May 2022].
While it is true that the Colonial Theater is a great improvement, it seems that your article did not mention Lakeport or Weirs Beach. Lakeport is going through enormous improvements and has been for the last few years, through a private investor spending millions with the city’s help. Lakeport has become a destination for live theatergoers, and a new mall is under construction. Lakeport is a big part of Laconia with golf plus its large marinas. Lakeport is also the home of Chaos & Kindness on Main Street, which operates The Cake. Weirs Beach which is also in Laconia. While it is famous for Bike Week, it is also famous for having the largest public beach on the big lake with plenty of parking and lifeguards plus the largest docking system on the lake — holding over 100 boats and scheduled to be enlarged soon. The city of Laconia has just spent millions on improving Lakeside Ave. Weirs Beach also has the longest boardwalk on the lake with outstanding views. Weirs Beach is also home to the Hobo Railroad (with dining), is home to the M/S Mt. Washington cruise ship, the Sophie C., the Doris E. and the brand new Spirit. Combined, these ships can hold hundreds of people. Weirs Beach is closer to Gunstock than Plymouth, mentioned in your article. It is also close to Gunstock Mountain and its longest zip line in the country. It is also close to the Bank of N.H. Pavilion holding 10,000 people. It is also close to the airport. It also is home to Funspot, claiming to be the largest arcade in the world. 14 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
One Lucky Dog After our May “Best Places” issue went out last month, we got a lot of reactions to our celebrity submissions featuring local legends like radio personality Greg Kretschmar and famous figures like Dan Brown, who pointed people to their own favorite spots for making the most of life in the Granite State. Reader Virginia Sanborn reached out to us to order some extra copies because of the appearance of a dear old friend. That’s him, above — the one with the pancakes. Lucky Jr., a black Labrador, was Sanborn’s service animal and a local celebrity in and around Laconia where he “worked” as mascot for Sanborn’s Auto Repair. Lucky Jr. was famous, appearing in ads for Sanborn’s, and three years ago he got married to Daisy, a yellow Lab, at a public ceremony in Rotary Park. Lucky Jr. passed to that Great Doghouse in the Sky last December, and his life was celebrated in a wake at Funspot featuring about 100 people, a number of other pets and two of Lucky Jr.’s own pups.
SPECIAL CONTENT (for subscribers only): You may have noticed that the cover mentions subscribers-only content. That would be our third issue of 603 Diversity Magazine, which subscribers will find included in the magazine after the Juston McKinney feature story. Our latest publication is dedicated to sharing the stories at the intersections of business and culture in New Hampshire’s diverse communities. If you’d like to learn more (or order a copy), visit 603diversity.com. Want to automatically receive 603 Diversity Magazine along with New Hampshire Magazine? Subscribe online at nhmagazine.com/ subscribe or call (877) 494-2036.
I could go on and on, but after reading your article I feel that I’m just wasting my time. I have always looked forward to your magazine arriving but now feel that you may not be doing your homework. I’m originally a Manchester kid that came up to this area over 30 years ago. I love it here. I own a small condo from which I can see Wolfeboro on a clear day across the lake and mountains from atop Brickyard Mountain. Weirs Beach is not just about Bike Week. It is about fun and relaxation.
Russ Poirier, RE/MAX Bayside, Meredith
Editor’s note: Thanks for providing lots of additional affirmation to our selection of Laconia (and its neighbor communities) as a “City on the Rise” in our May issue. While we can’t always hit all the high points, fortunately we have observant readers like you to fill in the gaps, and we will certainly revisit Laconia and the big lake in future issues. In fact, we have a story on the M/S Mt. Washington and other ships on the lake for our next issue.
Specialty Correction It has been a great honor to be listed in your “Top Docs” March/April 2022 Issue of New Hampshire Magazine. This year, as well as last year, I was listed under internal medicine. I am practicing 100% clinical endocrinology at St. Joseph Hospital Thyroid Center of NH with primary focus on the entire spectrum of thyroid conditions, including thyroid cancer as my main focus. As far as I understand, at this time, I am the only practicing endocrinologist in N.H. with E.C.N.U. (endocrine certification in neck ultrasound) from the America College of Endocrinology. I would like to ask for your assistance in clarifying this situation in order to be listed in Endocrinology section of New Hampshire Magazine. Mikhail Signalov, d.o., f.a.c.e., f.a.c.o.i., e.c.n.u. Editor’s note: We apologize for the error and have notified the Castle Connolly firm that conducts our annual survey. They have assured us they will correct your specialty for all their polling going forward.
PHOTO BY IAN RAYMOND
Summer Person Loves Alstead
illustration by brad fitzpatrick
Congrats! Melissa Eastman BSN, RN, CEN
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 150 Dow St., Manchester, NH 03101
CLINICAL RESOURCE NURSE
for your excellence in nursing.
You can also email them to newt@nhmagazine.com or fax them to (603) 624-1310.
concordhospital.org The May issue newts were spotted by Dolly Smith of Meredith, who will receive a doubllng of our usual $50 prize as a result of an error in the newt-placement machinery that left our March/April issue newtless.
Congratulations Amy Matthews DNP, MS, RN, CENP Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services at Cheshire Medical Center
NEED A GOOD REASON FOR SPOTTING THE NEWT?
The June 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
Thank you to the over 500 Cheshire nurses who go above and beyond every day with their flexibility, teamwork, and compassionate care.
To learn more about nursing at Cheshire Medical Center, visit cheshiremed.org/nursing nhmagazine.com | June 2022 15
603 Navigator
“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.” — Alfred Austin
16 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
Our Town 20 Food & Drink 24 Sips 30
Inspiration
Blooms The Portsmouth Garden Tour returns this June PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN W. HESSION
N
ow in its 33rd year, the Pocket Garden Tour, which is a fundraiser for the Unitarian Universalist South Church of Portsmouth, offers a chance to peek behind fences and walls to see some of the city’s most beautiful private gardens. Whether you’re an avid gardener or lack green thumbs, enjoy a pleasent afternoon or evening strolling through 11 private gardens in the Goodwin Park neighborhood, along with the gardens at the historic John Paul Jones House and Rundlet-May House. This year’s Pocket Garden Tour will be held from 5–8 p.m. on June 24 and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. on June 25. Tickets will be sold at various local retailers and online at portsmouthnhtickets.com. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of at at the John Paul Jones House. Parking and public restrooms can be found at the Foundry Place Garage. More information is available on Facebook at portsmouthpocketgardentour and at southchurch-uu.org. The gardens at Jeffrey Reaume and Rachel MarottaReaume’s home were a part of last year’s Portsmouth Pocket Garden Tour.
nhmagazine.com | June 2022 17
603 NAVIGATOR / POCKET GARDEN TOUR
The brick paved patio, with stacked-stone retaining walls, is an ideal spot for outdoor dining at the home of Barbara Renner, which was on last year’s garden tour.
At the Renner home, the garden takes full advantage of its calming water views overlooking South Mill Pond.
Also on last year’s tour were the gardens of Bob Vaccaro and Dan Rowling, whose lush planting of a variety of trees offers year-round interest.
18 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
This sculptural structure on the Vaccaro and Rowling property does double duty: as a support for climbing plants, such as clematis, roses and honeysuckle — and a clothesline for laundry.
Together we can take care of our communities. To all our healthcare heroes, thank you for all you do to keep us healthy and strong.
©2022 M&T Bank. Member FDIC.
We will bring you back to when life was simple. Since 1786 our quaint little red cottage has graced the hills of southern New Hampshire, seemingly untouched by time. The enchanting cottage was chosen by Elizabeth Orton Jones as the model for her illustrations in Little Red Riding Hood (Little Golden Books, 1948.) Today it is a mecca for gardeners, foodies, and anyone looking for inspiration and relaxation. Have a Pickity day! nhmagazine.com | June 2022 19
603 NAVIGATOR / OUR TOWN
The home of Samuel Wilson, aka Uncle Sam, in Mason
Exploring the Town of Mason Home of Uncle Sam and Little Red Riding Hood BY BARBARA RADCLIFFE ROGERS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY STILLMAN ROGERS
U
ncle Sam and Little Red Riding Hood may seem like unlikely neighbors, but they share the hometown of Mason. A historic marker identifies Uncle Sam’s House on Valley Road, and the wolf in the bed leaves no doubt that Pickity Place is Grandma’s House. Samuel Wilson lived in the little red cape farmhouse his father built, leaving Mason at the age of 23 to work in Troy, New York. There, he and his brother established a meat-packing firm, providing food for the army during the War of 1812. Wilson was a gregarious and popular man, called uncle by everyone who knew him. The army required that he stamp U.S. on each barrel of meat shipped to them and — so the story goes —
20 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
when a steamboat passenger asked what that meant, one of Wilson’s employees quipped that it meant Uncle Sam. The joke caught on, and Wilson enjoyed increasing notoriety, riding in Independence Day parades wearing a top hat. The first recruiting poster referring to Uncle Sam appeared as early as 1813, but the figure we know today stems from a costume worn (not by Wilson) in a parade in 1851, seen by a reporter who pictured it in a newspaper. In 1938, illustrator James Montgomery Flagg picked up on the recruiting theme in his famous “I Want You” posters. Uncle Sam’s house is a private home, but you can visit Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother’s house at Pickity Place on
Nutting Hill Road. Her story is less complicated: Artist Elizabeth Orton Jones was enchanted by the little red cottage, where she lived in the mid-1940s. She chose it as the setting for her illustrations of the children’s classic, published by Little Golden Books. When subsequent owners opened an herb farm there, they furnished the bedroom as she pictured it, complete with a wolf in Grandma’s bed. Jones, known locally as Twig, quickly became an integral part of life in Mason, where she collected and edited the material for a town history for the bicentennial in 1968. She was an enthusiastic supporter
The Meals of Thanks program, sponsored by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, began in 2020 with more than 900 meals prepared by New England’s Tap House Grille on National Nurses Day in May. Since then, thousands of meals have been distributed to places such as the New Hampshire Food Bank, the Manchester VA Medical Center and The Way Home at Christmas, Thanksgiving and Veterans Day. Last month, we returned to where we began, once again delivering meals to Manchester area hospitals in honor of National Nurses Day. Make sure to pick up the July issue of New Hampshire Magazine to see photos from this latest Meals of Thanks event. Thank you to all our valued sponsors who continue to support this special program. Sponsored by:
Supporters:
PHOTOS BY KENDAL J. BUSH
nhmagazine.com | June 2022 21
603 NAVIGATOR / OUR TOWN
Visitors to Pickity Place in Mason can stroll the grounds, explore the shop and greenhouse or enjoy a five-course lunch at the restaurant.
of Andy’s Summer Playhouse, the children’s theater in Wilton, and after her death, the Mason Public Library renamed the youth room as the Twig Room in her memory. There’s a lot more than Grandma’s house at Pickity Place, especially for garden and herb lovers. The 1786 house now includes a dining room, where five-course luncheons
are served, featuring fresh herbs and flowers from Pickity Place’s gardens. The June menu begins with fresh salsa and blue corn chips and a classic French onion soup, with entrée choice of blackberry barbecue braised beef short ribs or a stack of seasonal vegetables. The grand finale is brownie thins with pistachio gelato and June strawberries. Artistically
The not-so-subtle wolf waits for Red Riding Hood in her grandmother’s bed at Pickity Place.
22 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
plated dishes are garnished with fresh edible flowers. Visitors can stroll under arched arbors, along winding paths and through formal geometric beds of aromatic herbs to find inspiration for planning their own herb gardens, or just to enjoy the fragrances. One path leads to the Herboriste, filled with birdhouses, potted herbs, seeds and gifts for gardeners. More plants are in the greenhouse, and the shop adjacent to the cottage sells herbs in all forms from packets for cooking to herbal soaps and cosmetics, along with books on herbs and gardening. An herb farm fits well into Mason’s agricultural past and present. Settled by families who wrested precious farmland from the forests to grow their food, Mason has several active farms today. Barrett Hill Farm grows strawberries for PYO or sale from the farm at the junction of Routes 31 and 124. Hilltop Farm, on Valley Road, raises Dorset Horned Sheep, llamas and heritage breed pigs, selling pasture-raised meats Tuesday through Saturday afternoons at the farm store. Blue Y Farm, on Jackson Road, uses their own farmfresh eggs, herbs and fruit preserves in the baked goods available at the farm on Saturday mornings. Look for pecan sticky buns, scones, lemon squares, maple frosted doughnuts, pies, herb focaccia and sourdough breads.
Enjoy a stack of pancakes at Parker’s Maple Barn.
The Rustic Wolf Farm, on Brookline Road, specializes in microgreens and shoots, available at the roadside stand, along with eggs, seasonal vegetables, berries and apples. Mason’s best-known agricultural product is maple syrup, sold by the jug or lavished on breakfast pancakes at Parker’s Maple Barn on Brookline Road. Other local producers and growers gather at the Town Hall parking lot on Saturday mornings for the Mason Farmers’ Market, among them Tammie’s Wicked Jerky, with
smoked cheddar cheese along with an assortment of beef jerky varieties. There’s talk of reviving the annual Mason Strawberry Festival, an event so popular that it merited mention in the New York Times in 1982. Mason residents have been generous over the years in donating land for the preservation of forests and wildlife habitats. Although the town purchased the land of the 95-acre Mason Railroad Trail, two other parcels, totaling more than 1,000 acres between them, were donated by landowners. So was the 38acre Florence Roberts Forest on Valley Road, where local Boy Scouts and other volunteers have cleared walking trails. Alongside the Mason Railroad Trail, the old McDonald Quarry, which produced biotite granite from 1867 until 1908, was also donated by landowners. The nearly 7-mile rail trail crosses the entire town, connecting the Russell Abbott State Forest in the north to Townsend State Forest in the south, and is used for walking, cycling, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and horseback riding. Along with the quarry, other points of interest on the trail are a rock near the junction with Scripps Lane with the carved shapes of two tombstones and a cross. It is thought to
mark the site where two workers were killed while blasting for the rail line. Where Jackson Road crosses the trail, the only two-level crossing in Mason is bridged by a trestle that was constructed tall enough that loaded hay wagons could pass beneath the tracks. The unusual trestle is listed on the N.H. State Register of Historic Places, one of three such designations in Mason. The 1848 Town Hall is noted as a well-preserved example of the Greek Revival style. The even earlier District 5 Sunny Valley Schoolhouse was built in 1821 of brick at a time when schools were built of the far less expensive wood. The one-room school was used until 1914, and years later, Elizabeth Orton Jones used it as a studio. NH
Get There
Pickity Place / (603) 878-1151 / pickityplace.com Barrett Hill Farm / (603) 878-4022 barretthillfarm.com Hilltop Farm / (603) 878-0030 hilltopfarmnh.com Blue Y Farm / (603) 878-4199 / Facebook The Rustic Wolf Farm / (508) 259-7880 therusticwolffarm.com Parker’s Maple Barn / (603) 878-2308 parkersmaplebarn.com
INDUSTRY-LEADING
GRADUATE PROGRAMS Graduate School
right here in New Hampshire
nhmagazine.com | June 2022 23
603 NAVIGATOR / FOOD & DRINK
At the Thompson House Eatery in Jackson, Chef Jeff Fournier creates a daily menu based on what’s available from local farms and other sources.
24 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
The Thompson House Eatery A rural kitchen draws a crowd BY JESS SABA / PHOTOS BY JENN BAKOS
F
ive years ago, co-owners Chef Jeff Fournier and Kate Fournier were drawn up to Jackson by the dream of pairing their vision of a farm-sustained restaurant with the needs of their family. Jeff had been operating two restaurants in the Boston area, spending long hours in cramped kitchens. He was often away from the kids and Kate. The lifestyle had worn on everyone. Pair this with Jeff ’s concerns about relying on the industrial food system and his lack of access to the quality of ingredients he wanted to be working with, and you have two choice ingredients for a big change. When the historic Thompson House Eatery in Jackson went up for sale, the Fourniers saw their chance — take over the spacious kitchen, build a business that could sustain their creativity, energy and enthusiasm for hospitality long-term, and restore the family’s most precious resource — time together. They bought the business and restored the buildings, updated the kitchen and dining room, hired a farm manager for the property’s five-acre farm and added new greenhouses to expand to year-round produce offerings. Jeff now greets farmers as they arrive at the delivery door, coaches his team at the stoves, watches guests as they are served in the dining room and keeps track of his sons through a small hallway in the family’s home kitchen. Kate manages the operations of the restaurant, farm market and farm. “I can go for a walk in the woods, send the boys to school and be involved in the restaurant,” she says. While the location is farther than most diners might travel for a casual night out, the Thompson House Eatery has attracted a following of devoted guests. Each night locals, skiers, tourists and gastronomes venture through the Notch nhmagazine.com | June 2022 25
603 NAVIGATOR / FOOD & DRINK
The Icelandic cod dish the writer enjoyed.
26 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
and over winding back roads to eat and drink in a historic farmhouse in the rural town of Jackson. Thompson House pairs the charm of the working farm with a philosophy of modern hospitality that qualifies the operation under the highest standards in the food world: a chef nominated “Best in the Northeast” by the James Beard Foundation, sourcing standards reviewed and certified by Slow Food USA, and staff who gush when they speak about what working in the atmosphere developed by Kate and Jeff has done for their creativity, careers and quality of life. The reward for making the trip is something special. Eating here is a weekly ritual for some, an occasional treat for others. Area inns encourage their guests to book a reservation as soon as they check in for the best chance of securing a seat during their visit. Often, by the time dinner service begins at 5 p.m., every bar seat, high-top and dining room table in the house is booked. When I ate at Thompson House in March, I had the filet of Icelandic cod with curried butternut squash purée, sapa, cardamom pickled shallots and watercress with potato lattice. I was able to watch Jeff prepare the meal while I spoke with Kate. As we talked, our conversation was interrupted by Jeff, who called Kate over to his station. He needed to show his wife, friend and business partner the perfect flip. Jeff was preparing the potato lattice for the Icelandic cod. Kate said to me with a smile, “This happens a lot.” Sometimes Jeff wants to share his sense of awe at a beautifully grown vegetable; other times it’s a perfect cut of meat slapped onto his forearm so he might show her how proud he is of his evolving skills at the full-animal butcher block. Thompson House embodies the New Englander lifestyle. There’s always work to be done. There’s pride in the work. There’s warm hospitality and an understanding that each season brings new opportunities to grow. Rural restaurant operations demand an intrinsic motivation sustained over many years, and good rural restaurant operations demand consistency, value and the continued support and appreciation of their community. The kitchen creates a daily menu based on what local farm and sourcing partners can deliver. Ingredients that meet the Thompson House Eatery’s philosophy of “unique delicious products from small companies
Kate and Jeff Fournier, co-owners of the Thompson House Eatery nhmagazine.com | June 2022 27
603 NAVIGATOR / FOOD & DRINK
Stop by T.H.E. Farm Stand There’s more to the Thompson House Eatery than its excellent restaurant. If you’re in the area or heading out for a day trip, stop by their farmstand to find seasonal produce and items such as chili pickeled green tomatoes, quince paste, fresh pasta, condiments and much more. You can also find daily offerings of prepared foods, which come with reheating/cooking instructions. It’s open Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and you can find lists of updated offerings online at thethompsonhouseeatery.com/ the-farm/farmstand.
Diners will enjoy the rustic New England charm the historic building embodies.
Bar manager Trevor Sheehan recommends bookending your meal with cocktails.
28 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
with sustainable production practices” are included in the dishes. All ingredients are organic and non-GMO products grown within close proximity. Trevor Sheehan, bar manager, believes the way to enjoy the full Thompson House experience is to budget for a multicourse meal, bookend the meal with cocktails and indulge in a bottle of wine to enjoy while you eat. “We are going to continue to work toward an even more sustainable, local food system. And we’ll continue to raise the level of gastronomic interest in the region and create a draw for people to come to Jackson as a food destination,” says Jeff. Should you make the trip, you’ll be swept into a dinner that makes you forget the back roads, the frost heaves, the night driving — and will remember the meal more than the journey. This is a fine-dining experience, and the bill will reflect the quality of the ingredients and the craft of excellent service. Ask the server to help make selections from the list of daily offerings and additions, then order appetizers and entrées. Trevor recommends diners surrender to
the process. His recommendation: “Be open to what the restaurant is trying to do.”
Be prepared: Beyond the cost of your meal, taxes and tip, prepare to see a 7% administration fee added to every bill. Rising food costs, credit card processing fees, technology needs, overhead and wages have driven the Fourniers to keep this fee separate. This way, they can face the realities of operating an independent business in uncertain times, allowing the owners to maintain an $18-per-hour minimum wage in the kitchen and care for the beautiful and productive five-acre farm in the village of Jackson. If you plan to indulge in the full Thompson House dining experience, consider booking a hotel room or bringing a designated driver, especially if you sit past 7 p.m. Dinner seating can last two and a half hours with cocktails, appetizers, dinner, dessert and wine, so plan for a late night out. NH
Find It
The Thompson House Eatery 193 Main St., Jackson / (603) 383-9341 thethompsonhouseeatery.com
nhmagazine.com | June 2022 29
603 INFORMER / SIPS there was less carbonation than standard modern beers. People often think of English beer when they think of casks, and often think of warm beer when they think of cask beer, but it is usually served around 55 degrees, or cellar temperature. It takes a lot of extra work and knowledge to serve beer this way. This is where Andy comes in. Andy organized the first cask event in the state over five years ago, and it has grown enormously since then. A few years ago, he won a scholarship to travel to England to learn from a few real-deal cask masters. I was glad to be involved in this event. About an hour after I arrived, representatives from the breweries started showing up, and there were a lot of brewers and owners among them. I’d kind of been out of the brewery loop since last year, and it was nice to reconnect with some old friends. We got the once-over on basic cask operation, the serving protocols to make sure nobody got over served, and then the doors opened and 70 eager souls walked into Cask.On. The addition of a new dining room to the restaurant provided some extra elbow room for the patrons, and there was plenty of room to move around without feeling crowded. The event grew from 19 casks in its first year, then under the moniker 300 Pints, to 36 casks this year. Five years in a row there were two sessions of 60 patrons each (70 this year), and each year they sold out the event.
The annual Cask.On event at Cask & Vine in Derry has come and gone, but stop in soon to try traditional cask beer.
Keeping it Old School Experience traditional cask beer BY MICHAEL HAUPTLY-PIERCE
I
volunteered to help with the annual Cask.On festival almost a year ago, when I was still very actively involved in the New Hampshire beer scene. I almost forgot about it until I got a reminder on my calendar. I reached out to Andy Day, the organizer and owner of the venue Cask & Vine in Derry, to confirm that he still needed some help, and blocked off the day. I got to Cask & Vine around nine in the morning, and I think I was the first volunteer
30 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
to arrive. I talked shop with Andy briefly, then grabbed a broom and a dustpan, because the floors needed sweeping before folks showed up. For those of you unfamiliar with cask beer, it is a traditional, old-school approach to cellaring and serving ale. Prior to the Industrial Revolution and the availability of cylinders of carbon dioxide, all beer was cask drawn. This means the carbonation was developed in the cask by live yeast, and
Cask & Vine owners Andy Day and Alana Wentworth
Stay tuned for details on next year’s Cask.On festival. In the meantime, Cask & Vine is adding two cask ale engines.
This year, the lines moved swiftly, there was plenty of room to sit down with friends to compare notes and the quality of selections was the best I have ever seen there. Some breweries did traditional English ales, but some folks did twists on contemporary core brands or totally new recipes. As the event continued, I was able to chat with Andy about the future. “Now that I am on the board of the New Hampshire Brewers Association, I am thinking about how do
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we help this event exist within the organization,” says Andy. “Do we move it to a bigger venue, or do it over several days, like the NERAX Cask Fest in Boston?” When asked what the biggest challenges are in putting on a festival like this, Andy said it came down to three main things: cooperage, or the availability of empty casks; logistics in getting potentially explosive containers of beer from all over New England to one place in a limited time frame; and
education, teaching brewers how to package and cellar and serve cask ale. When I queried him about what has changed in the industry since his first cask event, Andy responded, “Awareness. The first few years, it was almost a sales pitch on my part. Now, folks know more about cask ale. Almost immediately 603 [Brewery & Beer Hall in Londonderry] and Throwback [Brewery in Portsmouth] and a few other influential brands were right on board.” This year’s festival was more than proof of concept, it was proof of demand in the market. Cask & Vine is retrofitting their back bar with two cask ale engines, and by summer they should have two cask ales available for your drinking pleasure any time you visit. I will warn you — there is a distillery/winery/brewery also operated by Andy right next door (Doire Distilling/ Daydreaming Brewing Co.), so give yourself some time. Until we meet again, at a bar or in my backyard, keep your glass full! NH
Get There
Cask & Vine, Doire Distilling and Daydreaming Brewing Co. / 11/2 East Broadway, Derry cask.life / (603) 965-3454
Saturday, June 18th | 10am-3pm Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 day of tour
603.668.5588
PalaceTheatre.org nhmagazine.com | June 2022 31
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603 Informer “Stories are the currency of power. I have collaborated with shamans, architects, engineers, bank robbers, doctors, musicians, politicians, dancers, miners, actors, fishermen, stem cell researchers, developers and others to build metaphorical worlds which critique our own.”
PHOTO BY DAVID MENDELSOHN
— Alexander Augustus
38 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
Blips 44 Politics 46 What Do You Know? 48
Alexander & the Art Factory Set in Manchester (New Hampshire) where the Oompa Loompas have waddles and feathers BY ANDERS MORLEY / ART BY ALEXANDER AUGUSTUS
T
he chance to give his creative energies three months of free rein was so appealing that he clicked impulsively on the posting for the artist’s residency and dashed off an enthusiastic inquiry. “This is great,” he thought. “Manchester — my grandmother worked in a textile mill there when she was young.” But more than the family connection, something about factory work itself charged his imagination. The way it relied on mechanical repetition to generate creative force echoed elements in his own work: seriality, cloning, reproduction. For years, Alexander Augustus had been pursuing his career abroad, mostly in South Korea and Germany. Then came 2020, and he was forced home, like a shuttle through the warp of a loom called fate, by the sinister weaver Covid-19. Maybe the residency would hand him back control of his destiny. It so happened that his ascent as a professional artist had begun with a show on joblessness, a threat that stalks all industrial towns. Could it be that Manchester, the factory city par excellence, would afford an
opportunity to revisit an issue that still resonated with him? It looked like things were coming full circle. Two months later, a reply came: “You do realize this residency is in the United States? We’re in New Hampshire, not England.” “I didn’t want them to think I was a complete dumb-arse,” he says, “so I was like, ‘Oh, yes, yes, of course.’” Although he had launched his inquiry from his hometown on the south coast of England, Augustus was not entirely unaware of New Hampshire. “I knew it was New England,” he says, “and that it was kind of Stephen King territory, with wood-sided houses that looked like something from a 1990s horror film. It gave me a very autumny, Halloweeny feel. And the reference to the U.K. in the name made a connection.” He decided to apply. The residency was sponsored by an entity called the Factory on Willow, the latest undertaking of Liz Hitchcock, owner of the Bookery, and her husband Jeremy, co-founder of the internet-infrastructure
company Dyn. Conceived as an affordable residential development for artists in downtown Manchester, the Factory opened last year in the building of the former Cohas Shoe Factory. Yet, while housing for creatives was the original goal, the Hitchcocks discovered that there wasn’t much difference between the cost of producing luxury and affordable housing. “It was impossible to reduce expenses as much as we’d hoped,” Liz Hitchcock says, “and it was from this fact that the artist-in-residence program was born.” Six residents each year would be provided with housing, travel assistance and a modest stipend in exchange for their creative energy, their time and the bequest of an artwork produced during their stay. Put crudely, the planners behind the Factory hoped that having a few fleshand-blood artists around would give the place a creative aura, and that this might subtly transform their more conventionally employed neighbors into something like what David Brooks once famously dubbed “bourgeois bohemians.” To that end,
Above: Some of the large-scale pen-and-ink illustrations that became the full-sized turkey sculptures, shown being installed by the artist on the opposite page. nhmagazine.com | June 2022 39
603 INFORMER / ALEXANDER AND THE ART FACTORY
“Alexander in Mimesis” is an extension of the art series of turkey sculptures created during Augustus’ stay at The Factory on Willow that combines audio/visual, writing, illustration, animation, performance and music.
the Factory is also home to a food truck patio, a vegan coffee cart, an amphitheater and other infrastructure calculated to attract a certain kind of tenant. When Hitchcock opened the Bookery four years ago, one of her aims was to create a hub for the literary arts in Manchester, and she describes the Factory in complementary terms, as a hub for the visual and culinary arts. At the same
time, she is frank in rating herself a business person first and a patron of the arts somewhere farther down the values scale. Candidate Alexander Augustus had made his first big splash at just 24 with a 2012 London exhibition titled “A Dangerous Figure: Young and Unemployed in the UK,” which drew on a stream of 10,000 participant-uploaded photographs
to create a feedback-regulated average face, a dynamic Everyman, representing youth unemployment in the United Kingdom. The show went viral, led to the banning of unpaid internships at Somerset House, its host venue, and was subsequently archived in the National Portrait Gallery. In the subtly shape-shifting figure of the face itself, viewers could actually see the tension between seriality and individuality playing out in real time. Other projects have included “TIME SPACE GHOST MONEY,” which streamed into Tate Modern, Britain’s premier contemporary-art gallery; “Anger,” an audio-visual composition that follows Queen Elizabeth II into a post-pandemic dystopia as an exercise in thinking critically about transhumanism, class, the British monarchy and suicide; and “Power from the Blazing Stone,” a hauntingly illustrated modern-day Vulcan myth that explores the connections between the inanimate minerals beneath the ground and the human life above it, doubles as a meditation on the role of the artist, and has since been adapted as a computer game. Before meeting with a selection committee comprising stakeholders in Manchester’s arts community, Augustus studied up on the Queen City, which he came to think of as Manchester Two, a simulation, right down to its red-brick buildings, of Manchester
“A Dangerous Figure: Young And Unemployed In The UK” was an online platform and touring exhibition that merged user-generated content, creating a morphing portrait of an “everyman” for the young unemployed. The project included installation art, an app with custom computer vision software and a graphic novel.
40 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
One, in England. He made a convincing case and won the position. “I started to develop a concept for what I wanted to do before coming,” he says, “but I still didn’t have any content.” In his research he learned that, decades after the decline of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, Manchester had again become a center of technological innovation, thanks to ventures like Dyn, DEKA and the biofabrication initiative ARMI. Some of these innovators had even occupied the brick shells of the former textile mills, like stem cells colonizing abandoned extracellular matrices. “What if instead of two Manchesters,” Augustus muses, “there were three — the English one representing the Industrial Revolution, the New Hampshire one representing a biological revolution and the third, a kind of Planet Manchester, representing a metaphysical revolution?” Augustus arrived exhausted on New Year’s Eve after a 30-hour journey and was met at the bus station by Mariana Beer, property manager for the Factory on Willow. “She was very sweet and took me straight to the supermarket,” he recalls. “But I was walking around in a daze, and suddenly she grabbed a packet of English muffins, stuffed it in my hands, and made me pose for a picture, the English guy holding a packet of English muffins, to send to her friends. I was like, ‘Why are you doing this to me?’” So-called English muffins are unknown in England. After some sleep, the new year stretched out before Augustus like a blank canvas. He took to walking in Valley Cemetery, not far from the Factory, where he would think about what he was going to leave behind. When he first arrived, the graveyard lay under deep snow. Everything looked smooth and fresh. But as winter wore on and the snow retreated, a grimmer reality of hypodermic needles and homelessness emerged. The trees looked like skeletons. On the tombstones were engraved shapes like wheels and cogs, reminding him of a lecture on the psychology of aesthetics from his student days, and he wondered whether these motifs were a subconscious expression of an industrial mindset. The granite monuments poking out of the barren ground seemed like peculiar recompense for the flesh put into it. He thought of a dinner he had one evening with stem-cell researchers from ARMI who had extracted a “ghost heart” from a pig and told him it was now regrowing as a human
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nhmagazine.com | June 2022 41
603 INFORMER / ALEXANDER AND THE ART FACTORY
“The Crowns Of Timespace,” film, sculpture, installation — welded steel, paint, performance, shadow installation, Seoul Culture Station 284, Seoul, Korea (2016): This film is one of several in the “Mother Shamans” series, which explores Korean Mu-dang, their stories and functions.
heart. One day he encountered a flock of wild turkeys. He felt drawn to the textural richness of their feathers and form. It might have interested him to know that these birds, like the tech companies sprung from the crude brick manufactories, or like the ghost heart, had something of the phoenix about them. By the dawn of the 20th century, the turkey was practically extinct in New England. Then, in the 1970s, a few dozen were trapped in New York and relocated eastward. The more than 40,000 turkeys that roam New Hampshire’s woods and city parks today are their descendants. Augustus eventually tossed his impressions together into a conceit he called “Mimesis,” fashioning a recursive sci-fi memoir of his first day in three alternative versions of Manchester, as he passes through three enigmatic “cycles.” The story eludes easy summary, but the turkeys, called by their genus name Meleagris, reappear in all three worlds, linking the unlinkable realities by some secret creative energy, which Augustus calls “mana,” borrowing a term for finite magical power from the world of video games (which took it from Polynesian religion). “I often think of artists as alchemists who are able to take relatively inexpensive materials and imbue something into them to give them value,” he says. “I wanted to create a kind of currency for this process, and mana seemed like the perfect name for it.” Mimesis, the Greek word for imitation, is 42 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
heavy on connotation, and for most of history, until Romantic expressionism rebelled against the monotony of the Industrial Revolution, it was the guiding principle of Western art. In Augustus’ imagining, however, Mimesis is a company whose business is creating and destroying artificial worlds in order to generate commercially viable mana. Artists, intellectuals and scientists are treated as hirelings, and Augustus’ various alter egos locate their mana in the defiant turkeys, which move in strange processions
and are forever urging him to “break the cycle.” Their mantra, naturally, is “Live free or die,” which, interpreted in this new key, becomes a tongue-in-cheek watchword for creative people in a post-industrial world, where a rigid mimesis has long since become the baseline of everyday life. If it cannot be escaped, it must be transcended by the free play of the mind. “What will you leave behind?” Augustus is repeatedly asked as he moves through his imagined iterations of Manchester. In the final version, the turkeys give him his answer: “We are Meleagris. We are your friend. Nothing is real but us. This is all a simulation. We have met you many times, in one form or another.” Back in reality, Augustus decided that he would set his rescuers free. That would be his gift to them, and to Manchester. Five flat steel sculptures, strutting turkeys with dark and knowing profiles, will haunt the city for years to come, a suitably Gothic touch for ordinary citizens, or a free source of mana for anyone who would break the cycle. Once installed this fall, they’ll join a series of steel birds the artist has left in other cities he has worked in. And, in the satisfied words of Liz Hitchcock, “How often does Manchester cap off a list that begins with London, Seoul and Berlin?” NH
Learn more
Alexander Augustus / alexanderaugustus.com The Factory on Willow / factoryonwillow.com
“Walking On The Sea” was an interactive art installation, sound installation, film and music performance at the Siheung Cultural foundation in Korea in 2016. “We transformed the fishing village of Siheung, South Korea, into a walk-in coloring book,” says Augustus. “Inside a large fishing warehouse we draped the walls with printed fabric and invited the community to come and color. We filled each giant fish tank with printed wooden boards which could be sat on and colored whilst socializing, creating a community artwork to celebrate the fishing community.”
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603 INFORMER / IN THE NEWS
Blips
Monitoring appearances of the 603 on the media radar since 2006
Celebrity Quote Queen Writer Lisa Rogak’s latest book celebrates Volodymyr Zelenskyy
L
ike many of us, writer Lisa Rogak of Canaan was captivated by the courage and charisma of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the face of the unprovoked Russian invasion of his country last February. But Rogak, unlike many of us, acted on her admiration for
the former comic-turned-politician. As a result, the 59-year-old author will be publishing a new quote book featuring the wit and wisdom of Zelenskyy this fall. “With Zelenskyy being such a hero, and being such a role model, if any of these books are going to sell, it’s going to be this one,” says Rogak. “The invasion was on February 24, and nobody knew what was going to happen. And this guy Zelenskyy was in the news, and he’s got a target on 44 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
his head, and he’s not leaving. Everyone was paying attention to him.” A month following Russia’s incursion, after absorbing news accounts, Rogak knew Zelenskyy was a great fit for her next project. On March 25, she reached out to her agent. “He groaned,” says Rogak, laughing. “I’m hard-wired to think of subjects for these quote books, even though those books are sort of out of fashion right now. These quote books are impulse buys, and people aren’t going into the stores.” Unlike the previous full-length biographies that Rogak has written on celebrities like authors Dan Brown, Stephen King and Shel Silverstein, comedian Jon Stewart and Jeopardy host Alex Trebek, a “quote book” is shorter, typically a trade paperback, that paints a picture of the subject using their own words. She’s done similar projects on Pope Francis, Hillary Clinton, Bill Gates, and Barrack and Michelle Obama. “They’re expensive to do,” she says. “The publisher has to drop everything to do them to get them out. My agent sold it to Pegasus, a small, independent publisher out of Manhattan, which is distributed by Simon & Schuster. That’s good.” Once Rogak got the green light, she had to find a Ukrainian/Russian translator to help her sift through reams of articles, speeches and videos featuring Zelenskyy. It was no easy task. “My agent is always saying, we have to get the stuff that nobody else can get,” says Rogak. “So, I needed to find a translator, and the problem with finding a translator right now is that they’re all very, very busy, due to the state of the war. They went from having no work, or very little
work, to being totally overwhelmed.” Rogak partnered with Daisy Gibbons, a translator based in London (“So we have to deal with the time difference,” she says), and the two set to work researching Zelenskyy, from his early years as a comedian to the present. “We found great, great quotes, with him talking about his family and his kids. He’s very, very funny. Of course, that doesn’t come out now, but his sense of humor and also his sensitivity to the human condition [are special]. He’s a rare human being,” she says. “Here’s a quote about his children: ‘I feel like I’m on the same wavelength with them. I speak their language. My son and I communicate in an ancient language of gestures and sounds. We stand on all fours in front of each other and growl. Children bring me back to the sandbox, where I feel comfortable,’” she says. “That’s from an interview with a Ukrainian women’s magazine in 2014. You see that quote, and you get a little glimpse of who this guy is.” Two weeks later, Rogak, with the help of Gibbons, had her manuscript finished. “This is my skill set. I can put on my blinders and block out the world,” says Rogak. “The Zelenskyy book was harder because I’m out of practice, and I don’t want work like that anymore.” Rogak’s work will be published this fall as a hardcover “gift book,” with roughly 300 extended quotes from Zelenskyy, organized by topics. It will be available through the usual outlets, including local bookstores and “the evil empire, Amazon,” she says, adding that she’ll be doing book-signings throughout the state. She’s currently working on a biography of four women with the Office of Strategic Services (which later became the CIA) during World War II. Are there any other projects on the horizon?
COURTESY IMAGE
BY BRION O’CONNOR
LISA ROGAK
“The invasion was on February 24, and nobody knew what was going to happen. And this guy Zelenskyy was in the news, and he’s got a target on his head, and he’s not leaving.” “No, not really,” says Rogak. “I come up with weird ideas, and I email my agent. I don’t want to say I’m retired, but I don’t have to work like I did. I’m very fortunate in that regard.” NH
LOCAL. GLOBAL. DEEPLY NEW HAMPSHIRE. News from New Hampshire and
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COURTESY PHOTOS
Bedford’s own most famous female comic Sarah Silverman is no stranger to “Blips,” but this is something a little different. Silverman’s hilarious and touching 2010 memoir “Bedwetter” (chronicling a bad habit she didn’t break until 16) was turned into a musical by New York’s Atlantic Theater Company that plays until June 26. It stars Zoe Glick, who played young Anna in the Broadway run of “Frozen,” as 10-year-old Silverman. UNH has a long history of agricultural research with cows under its belt, but a current study is gaining international interest — introducing types of seaweed to cattle diets to cut back on bovine belching (and other gas-related phenomena). Cattle-generated methane is a driver of climate change, and some seaweed has methane-inhibiting effects, but not all seaweed is created equal. The quest is underway at UNH to find a variety of seaweed or single-celled algae that can grow off our own country’s coast and not require introducing a new and potentially invasive species while seeking to slow global warming. nhmagazine.com | June 2022 45
603 INFORMER / POLITICS
Born in the 603 (or Not?)
In New Hampshire politics, recent-transplants-turned-candidates are the norm BY JAMES PINDELL / ILLUSTRATION BY PETER NOONAN
W
hen Karoline Leavitt tells voters that she should be the Republican nominee for the U.S. House seat in the state’s First District, she offers a statement that is both odd to hear and yet totally appropriate. She notes that she is actually from New Hampshire. In the Granite State lately, such a fact isn’t a given. The two other leading candidates in her contest are recent residents of the state. Gail Huff Brown moved to the state in 2014 when her husband, Scott Brown, ran for the U.S. Senate. Matt Mowers, the other candidate, only moved to the state ahead of his 2020 run for this same Congressional seat. Carpetbaggers, as recent-transplantsturned-candidates are often called, are not that unusual in politics, but in recent years, no place in the country has seen more credible carpetbagging candidates than New Hampshire. It was rarer back in the 1960s when Endicott Peabody served a term as Massachusetts governor, ran for the U.S. Senate there and then ran for U.S. Senate from New Hampshire. Chris Sununu is the first governor in decades to actually grow up in the state. Maggie 46 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
Hassan and John Lynch grew up in Massachusetts. Craig Benson was from New Jersey. Jeanne Shaheen grew up in Missouri. The current trend dates back to 2014, when Scott Brown switched his voter registration from Massachusetts to New Hampshire — a month or so later, he was a candidate. Sen. Bob Smith had moved to Florida a decade prior, but moved back to run against Brown. But it was Walt Havenstein, the Republican nominee for governor, who had to prove to the state’s Ballot Law Commission that he met the seven-year residency after moving from Maryland. While the evidence was pretty damning, the BLC rarely kicks candidates off the ballot. (Havenstein quickly moved out of the state after the election. So did Smith.) There have since been a number of candidates who seemingly became New Hampshire residents one minute and candidates the next. In 2016, it was Democrat Shawn O’Conner who made an unsuccessful primary challenge against Carol Shea-Porter after moving from New York City. In 2018, the most prominent mover was Democrat Maura Sullivan, who had a military background and deep political connections.
For a minute there, it looked like she was on track to defeat the deep-rooted Chris Pappas in a primary that also included Bernie Sanders’ son, Levi, who lived at least an hour from the nearest spot in the district. In 2020, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate was Corky Messmer, who had just moved from Colorado to run for Senate (and even initially set up his campaign account there) and Mowers, straight from Jersey, who eventually lost to Pappas. This year, not only are Mowers and Huff Brown running, but so is Vikram Mansharamani, a Republican for the Senate, who moved from Massachusetts during the pandemic. So, why is this happening in New Hampshire? First, it’s a swing state with lots of incumbent turnover and open seats. Second, winning a major job in the first-in-the-nation primary state puts you in direct contact with future presidents. Third, roughly two-thirds of the state’s residents are themselves from somewhere else. Fourth, it’s a beautiful, low-tax place to live next to a major metropolitan area. Many new candidates already had a vacation home here. The only question is, how much will this trend continue, and what does it mean for New Hampshire politics if it does? NH
603 INFORMER / WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
The Kim Day Dam
An excursion up Indian Stream in search of a legend STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARSHALL HUDSON
T
he dynamite had gotten wet and froze, so Boom Boom brought it inside and put it underneath the iron chunk stove, then stoked the fire. The men had been sent upriver to blow the drover’s dam at Kim Day’s homestead on the Indian Stream in Pittsburg. It was a cold, rainy day, and the men were also froze when they reached the remote subsistence farm. As with any good legend, there are conflicting variations of the story, but this version tells that there were no passable roads, so they bumped their way up the streambed in a buckboard drawn by mules. The muleskinner was a man called “Bacon” said to be the only man crazy enough to attempt to drive a team of mules up a rocky flowing stream. The powderman was a Canadian named Bosse, pronounced Boss-A. His nickname was “Boom Boom Bossy,” and some said he was the best dynamite man on the river. Others said he was suicidal. Two river drivers walked point with long
48 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
pick-poles feeling for deep holes to avoid. The men were working for the Connecticut Valley Lumber Company, and CVL was getting ready to start their annual spring log drive. Most of the time the men walking point were in water over their knees but below the mules’ bellies. Occasionally a deeper spot was unavoidable, and the mules would thrash and swim while the men pushed and shoved until the floating wagon wheels bumped river bottom again. Everything was miserable, wet and frozen when they finally reached Kim Day’s place. Kim Day was a legend himself. The rugged individualist was said to have a wildcat as a pet, and he preferred to live outside of society, fishing, hunting and trapping to feed his family. His small farm produced enough hay for his animals and potatoes for his children. To earn cash, he sometimes worked for the lumber companies during the log drives. Perhaps he engaged in a bit of smuggling across the nearby Canadian border. Kim Day was a son of old Dan
Top: An archived 1939 photo labeled “Kim Day Dam” found at a state office. Inset: A quarter section of a map of Indian Stream Reservoir, from 1941, indicates the former location of the Kim Day Dam.
Day, the subject of a little ditty sung in the logging camps of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Each verse of the song describes one of Dan Day’s many children. Kim Day’s verse is perhaps the most flattering, but the song cannot be sung in polite company. If the legend is to be believed, Dan Day’s children included a set of triplets, spawning a joke that in Dan’s home the Lord made three Days in one night. Warmed and dried by the woodstove,
In the streambed, a few cribbing logs remain with long iron spikes bent over in the downstream direction, which would have held the cribbing together.
tributaries for ice-out and highwater to float them to the mills. Blowing the Kim Day Dam would send a charge of water down Indian Stream into the Connecticut River and flush the logs along with the surge. Other dams would also be popped in a timed sequence to keep the logs flowing without grounding out, jamming up or wasting stored water and stranding logs high and dry. At Kim Day Dam, Boom Boom concluded he would tie several sticks of dynamite to several long poles, then push the poles out into the sluiceway. He’d touch off the fuses and run like a racehorse. If everything went as planned, logs, ice, boards, mud and rocks would go airborne, and a surge of water would shoot down the stream starting the log drive. But plans went awry. While the men were outside preparing to blow the dam, the forgotten dynamite inside beneath the chunk stove thawed. Then it went off. Legend says the house lifted off the ground, and the air filled with flying timbers and stove shrapnel. Is there any truth to this story, or is it merely a tall tale told for entertaining the gullible? I waded up Indian Stream one day in search of dam remnants to corroborate the legend. From Cable remnants found around the banks of the former reservoir refreshed with molasses cookies and hot coffee, Kim Day guided the men out to the dam they were to dynamite. The drover’s dam was positioned at a natural choke point between two ledge outcrops. The embankments were made of cribbing logs, crisscrossed, spiked in place and backfilled with rocks. The sluiceway was constructed of thick boards pounded vertically deep into the streambed, then backed up with earth and mud. The boards were erected with a downstream lean to encourage floating ice and logs to ride up and over the dam, avoiding jams. A strong cable ran from bank to bank supporting the backside of the leaning boards to keep them from buckling downstream. A winter’s harvest of sawlogs and pulpwood were waiting along the river and its
a dusty file labeled “Kim Day Dam” in the archives of a state office, I obtained a 1939 photo of a dam in ruins with its location spotted on an old USGS Quad sheet. After a long, wet trek, I found the dam site and also appreciation for the misery of Bacon and his mules a century earlier. There isn’t much left of the dam, and you wouldn’t find it if you weren’t searching for it. The natural choke point remains where the two ledge outcrops constrict the stream. Poking around on the banks here, I found cable remnants. In the streambed, a few cribbing logs remain with long iron spikes bent over in the downstream direction. The weathered remains of what were once the vertical boards of the sluiceway, now eroded off at the waterline, can be found by those with a sharp eye. Leaving the streambed and searching the nearby woods for indications of anything that might have been Kim Day’s exploding house, I discovered an old bottle in a depression that might have been a shallow cellar hole. Nearby rocks are stacked neatly in a linear formation where someone labored building something. Digging into the duff, I uncovered some metal bands that once held wooden barrels or buckets together. I’ve found the Kim Day Dam on what was once Kim Day’s farm, and I’ve found one of his farm buildings, perhaps the house of legend. Both the house and dam vanished suddenly many decades ago without leaving much evidence behind, but some hints remain. So perhaps this is a tall tale originating from a kernel of truth but exaggerated with each retelling ... or ... maybe Boom Boom and Bacon really did fill the air with flying house timbers. NH nhmagazine.com | June 2022 49
603 INFORMER / WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
GUIDE TO HIGHER EDUCATION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
A
ffordable, quality higher education is in reach. The Granite State is home to a number of excellent institutions that meet the needs of a broad range of students. Read on to learn about how to begin your academic journey.
New Hampshire’s Community Colleges Q A
With all the financial and social challenges facing the country right now, how do community colleges fit in?
Perfectly. Community colleges are embedded in every region of the state. Our programs are accessible, affordable and aligned with the needs of the state and with the unique needs of each region. We offer varied formats from short-term certificates and industry recognized credentials to degree programs that lead to meaningful careers and that can serve as pathways to bachelor’s degrees and beyond. Today’s college students represent an exceptional cross-section of the population — from high school students eager to get started on college-level learning to students of virtually any age who need to fit college into their lives rather than the other way around. The accessibility, affordability and relevance of our programs to their purposes is critical. Likewise, for employers who are committed to New Hampshire and who want to invest in the talent available in their communities to grow their businesses, to maintain competitive advantage, to adapt to changing technologies and circumstance, we are perfectly situated to partner in those efforts.
Q A
What strengths of the Community College System of NH (CCSNH) were revealed as a result of the pandemic?
Berlin
Rte. 16
Littleton
NEW H A M PS H I R E North Conway
Lebanon I-93 I-89 Claremont
Laconia
Concord Manchester
Rochester I-95 Portsmouth
Keene Rte. 101 Nashua
Resilience, empathy and commitment. Virtually no sector of higher education has been more challenged by the pandemic than community colleges. Nationwide, community college enrollments fell by about 15%, largely reflecting the complexities of our students’ lives. Despite those challenges, our students have persisted, with nearly 7,500 students completing their degrees and certificate programs at our colleges since the pandemic began. This includes more than 700 registered nurses added to the workforce, along with hundreds in other healthcare roles, and in an array of technical fields from advanced manufacturing and automotive technology to welding and everything in between. Their success speaks to their resilience. It also speaks to the empathy, creativity and commitment that our faculty and staff bring to their work. – Chancellor Mark Rubinstein
50 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
CCSNH.EDU
PIERCE@60:
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION CELEBRATING OUR PAST - LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Franklin Pierce University is ever-evolving. As we embark on our 60th anniversary, we reflect on our history with an eye toward the future, providing an education that is both relevant and enduring for our Ravens.
Pierce@60: Celebrating Our Past, Looking to the Future Join the Pierce@60 celebration! Learn more about our signature events and FRANKLINPIERCE.EDU/PIERCE60 sponsorship opportunities
at franklinpierce.edu/pierce60.
and Goodyear, Arizona, we meet students where they are, In October 2021, Franklin Pierce University kicked off enabling them to succeed academically and prepare for its yearlong celebration as it prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary this November. This celebration, Pierce@60, invites rewarding careers across a breadth of fields. While our geographic footprint is expansive, our physical the entire Franklin Pierce community, as well as the greater locations and academic programs share a common focus: Monadnock Region, to reflect on the University’s past as it franklinpierce.edu/pierce60 cultivating students’ success and helping them achieve their looks to its future. Franklin Pierce will be hosting a series of goals within a highly personalized learning environment. events that highlight new beginnings, partnerships and the achievements of its students. The University invites members of Whether they are residential undergraduates, online learners or participants in a full-time, on-ground allied health graduate the public to join them at their signature events throughout the program, Franklin Pierce students acquire the skills required year. There are also sponsorship opportunities for businesses for success in tomorrow’s workforce while cultivating the depth to partner with us as we look ahead to the next 60 years. Learn of knowledge embodied within a traditional liberal education. more at franklinpierce.edu/pierce60. To ensure our viability as a dynamic, relevant institution, we are increasing our visibility in the New England region through A STRONG FOUNDATION partnerships with corporate leaders and policymakers; deepenSince 1962, Franklin Pierce University has empowered ing our Arizona-based programs to strengthen our presence in thousands of undergraduate and graduate students to achieve that promising market; exploring credentialing programs and academic excellence and lead meaningful, successful lives. other offerings that enhance students’ opportunities; bolstering Drawing from our strong foundation in liberal education, we our reputation as a destination school for health programs; and offer majors and programs that develop essential, professional developing our innovative pathways to provide students with a skills; promote close connections between students, faculty clear direction to professional success. members and staff; and position our students to realize their potential through highly personalized, financially accessible A BOLD VISION FOR A 21ST-CENTURY EDUCATION academic offerings. We continue to explore new models and To remain successful within a highly competitive 21stprograms that build on our legacy of excellence and help century marketplace, Franklin Pierce must continue to students increase their knowledge, direct their passions and deliver an education that is both rigorous and relevant. We graduate as qualified, engaged leaders. will achieve this goal by making strategic investments in our campus, centers and cornerstone undergraduate programs; by EXPANDING OUR REACH continuing to develop and promote graduate and professional Franklin Pierce encompasses a far-reaching geographic and programs that align with the needs of prospective students virtual network. Regardless of whether programs are delivered and employers; and by strengthening our relationships with online or from our campus in Rindge, New Hampshire; our academic centers in Manchester, and Lebanon, New Hampshire partners, alumni and donors.
nhmagazine.com | June 2022 51
603 INFORMER / TRANSCRIPT
Screen Dreams PHOTO AND INTERVIEW BY DAVID MENDELSOHN
Time machines can be unreliable, especially those beaters that you spot on eBay. Try one that features dancing hot dogs, “Forbidden Planet,” kids in PJs on the playground and, perhaps, a stolen kiss — all fond memories from that perfect confluence of America’s love for the movies and their cars: the drive-in theater. Steve Wiggin and his wife, Julia, own the Northfield Drive-in, likely the oldest in the state. Established in 1948, it continues to serve up barrels of popcorn and nostalgia, transporting you through time, away from your couch and flat screen, to a movie experience like no other on a warm summer’s night. Sure, there can definitely be a resurgence of drive-ins. Coming out of Covid, folks are wanting to get out to do activities in a safe environment; drive-ins across the country have been considered a safe open-air venue to gather. More importantly, what we are witnessing is the multigenerational attendance. We often have grandparents, their children and the children’s children rendezvousing at the drive-in or all coming in the same vehicle. The grandparents and parents enjoy telling the stories of their summers at the movies, making out in the back row, eating their first fried dough and watching movies in their pajamas. The drive-in is literally in our backyard; it abuts our home and business property. My initial thought was that this will be our retirement — something fun to do during the summer months — and then we can concentrate on our other interests and volunteer work in the off season. The acquisition of the drive-in was a somewhat private sale. A realtor had it listed on the “Swap Shop” of the local radio station. Can you imagine that? Swap Shop!
Some things were, and still are, antiquated. We have been making improvements quite regularly, with the highest priority on Covid safety and protection for our staff and patrons. Northfield Drive-in is bisected by two states, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. [It’s in Winchester on our side.] To Julia and me, this is not unusual. Our house property is in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, as is the property that we own directly cross the street from our residence. And, yes, we pay taxes in both states. We have folks tell us all the time that our concession prices are very reasonable. Julia really likes the red beet and kale veggie burgers, sweet potato fries with chipotle seasoning and the seasoned mozzarella sticks with marinara. I love the cheeseburger (a big 6-ounce patty — that’s more than a quarter-pounder) and our extra large onion rings. An all-time guest favorite is the fried dough. If you do sneak food in, we expect you to take out your trash and not leave it with us. Nothing gets our dander up more than seeing a pile of pizza boxes or McDonald’s wrappers in our trash cans.
PHOTO BY FRANK FLANDERS
Save the Drive-ins! Write a Jingle! The survival of the Northfied Drive-in is an inspiring exception to the rule. There are fewer than 20 drive-in theaters still operating in New England (three of them are in New Hampshire) with many still shuttered to all but the local wildlife — like the Brentwood Drive-in, pictured at right, that operated in the early 1960s. But the Wiggins are intent on keeping their own piece of cinema history open. Their current idea to promote the joys of outdoor movie viewing sounds suitably retro. “Knowing that we can’t always be in the past, even with one of the oldest driveins, Julia and I have been talking about having a jingle contest,” says Steve Wiggin. “Our desire is that we can get some local talent to write and produce some new material for the preshow concession ads and intermission. If any of your readers have an interest in submitting a song and/or video, please feel free to reach out to us at admin@northfielddrivein.com.” And if you do submit a song, jingle, video or flash mob idea to Steve, please copy us at editor@nhmagazine.com so we can share it with our readers, too. nhmagazine.com | June 2022 53
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nhmagazine.com | June 2022 55
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JUNE FAIRS & FESTIVALS June 4
Chowder Festival > After a two-year hiatus, Seacoast restaurants will come together again to bring you their most mouthwatering chowder recipes to compete for the Best Chowder title and to take home the Golden Ladle. Music will be provided by WOKQ, and there will be country entertainment on the Wilcox Industries main stage all day. Prices vary. Beginning at 11:30 a.m., Prescott Park Arts Festival, Portsmouth (603) 436-2848; www.prescottpark.org June 4
June 23-25
Concord Market Days Festival > Celebrate summer in the capital with this annual free fest. Throughout the weekend, visitors can enjoy dozens of vendors and exhibitors, concerts in both Eagle and Bicentennial Squares and a beer tent smack dab in the middle of the festival. The weekend also coincides with the Capital City 10K, in case you like your street food served with a side of athleticism. Free. Main Street, Concord (603) 226-2150; intownconcord.org
June 16-18
PHOTO BY KENDAL J. BUSH
NH Maker Fest > This festival is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. From engineers and artists to scientists and chefs, the Maker & Food Fest is a venue for these makers to show off hobbies, experiments and projects, and for you to enjoy fantastic food. The team at the Children’s Museum call it the greatest show and tell on Earth — a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness. $5. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, 6 Washington St., Dover childrens-museum.org
June 18
Best of NH Party > If you’ll indulge us in a bit of events nepotism, we must say: This is one party you don’t want to miss. Join us for an elegant, tented party at one of our state’s most beautiful historic sites, to celebrate all the best the state has to offer — featuring great food, drink, art, culture, history, tours and great entertainment. Admission to the party also includes a complimentary tour of Shaker Village before the event. Tickets are $109. 5:30 to 8 p.m., Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Rd., Canterbury bestofnh.com
Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic > This extravaganza boasts 200 tons of imported sand transformed into sand sculptures that will put yours to shame. World-class master sculptors come together to create their own unique works of art and compete for the $15,000 grand prize. Their masterpieces will be illuminated at night for an unforgettable walk down the boardwalk. Hampton Beach, Hampton hamptonbeach.org
56 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
SPORTS & RECREATION
MISCELLANEOUS
ARTS & MUSIC
June 11-19
June 11
June 17-18
Laconia Motorcycle Week > You might know our local Bike Week best as a Lakes Region traffic headache, but if you’ve never stopped in for the festivities, this may be your year. The 99-year-old rally includes as much tasty food, rockin’ live tunes and interesting historical motorcycle programming as rough-and-tumble biker appeal. Prices and times vary with event, Weirs Beach (603) 366-2000; laconiamcweek.com June 25-26
Market Square Day > Grab your family and friends and join other festival-goers in celebrating downtown Portsmouth. Hundreds of people will walk through Portsmouth enjoying entertainment, products and food offered by local artists, crafters and merchants. Kick off the day by running (or walking) the 10K road race through the streets lined with festive booths and cheering crowds. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Market Square, Congress St., Portsmouth (603) 433-4398; proportsmouth.org
White Mountains Triathlon> Not only is this athletic event among the most scenic triathlons in the state, it’s also the only one with a whole festival built around it. Over two days, runner-biker-swimmers can participate in either the sprint, half-Iron Man or Olympic distance races, and they can hang around for a Saturday night mountaintop Sunset Social and a post-race BBQ on Sunday afternoon. Prices vary. Fri. 5 p.m., Sat. 5:30 a.m., Cannon Mountain Ski Area, 260 Tramway Dr., Franconia (603) 488-1186; millenniumrunning.com
Queen City Pride Festival > Celebrate Pride in the Queen City. There will be a variety of performers and vendors, and new this year is the Pride parade that will start at 10 a.m. on South Commercial Street and ending at Arms Park. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Arms Park, Manchester queencitypridenh.org June 25
Portsmouth Pocket Gardens > The charming city of Portsmouth is known for its “pocket gardens” that are tucked behind fences or hidden behind arbor vitae trees. This year, the tour will include 11 gardens in the Goddwin Park neighborhood, along with the gardens at the historic John Paul Jones House and Rundlet-May House. $20 in advance, $25 day of. Fri. 5 to 8 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 292 State St., Portsmouth (603) 380-4849; southchurch-uu.org (see story on page 16)
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United States Strongman Nationals > Watch the incredible feats of strength and national records set at 2022’s largest strongman event. The strongest amateur athletes from across the country will converge to compete in five grueling events to determine who will claim the title of National Champion. $14. 9 a.m., SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester (603) 644-5000; snhuarena.com
PRIDE June 18
June 24-25
June 25
Thomas Rhett > Pull out your cowboy boots and hat because this iconic country singer is coming to the Granite State for a weekend of “Slow Down Summer” fun. He will also be joined by Conner Smith and Parker McCollum. $32$433. 7:30 p.m., Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Ln., Gilford (603) 293-4700; banknhpavilion.com
White Mountains Pride > Head to North Conway for a day of celebration and camaraderie. Check out their website for more details. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., White Mountains Community Center Park, 78 Norcross Circle, North Conway whitemountainspride.com June 25
Nashua Pride Festival > Join members of the local LGBTQIA community once again after a long winter and a long health crisis to celebrate Nashua Pride at the Nashua Public Library parking lot and at a parade on Main Street. Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St., Nashua Facebook; nashuanh.gov June 26
Windham Pride Festival > Windham Citizens for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is hosting their second Pride festival that supports and brings together their local LGBTQ community. Join them for an afternoon of family-friendly celebration including music, food and fun activities for all ages. 12 to 4 p.m., Windham High School, 64 London Bridge Rd., Windham. Facebook
JUNETEENTH June 10-20
Juneteenth Celebration 2022 > The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire celebrates this collective endeavor and the Black artists creating the most compelling art of our time. Their programs will offer a provocative intersection of history, media, performance and ideas that deepen our understanding of our nation’s history and centers the Black experience. Prices, times and locations vary blackheritagetrailnh.org
COURTESY PHOTOS
June 4
NH Bacon & Beer Festival > The 6th annual festival is a fundraiser organized by High Hopes Foundation of New Hampshire. It’s one day of celebrating the grease and savory goodness of bacon alongside endless possibilities of flavors that have come to define well-crafted beer. It will also feature local restaurants and brewers to a capacity crowd that is all for a good cause. $35-$100. 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Anheuser-Busch Brewery, 221 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack nhbaconbeer.com nhmagazine.com | June 2022 57
JULY July 1-29
New Hampshire Music Festival > Classical music lovers, your season has arrived. Venues throughout Plymouth and Wolfeboro come alive to celebrate 70 years of this festival with the sounds of orchestras, choruses and professional soloists on instruments and voice. Highlights of the four-week fest include Polivnick’s “Carmina Burana” and “American Creations and a Tchaikovsky Masterpiece.” Dates, times and locations vary. Wolfeboro and Plymouth (603) 238-9007; nhmf.org July 7-10
Hillsboro Summerfest > From live music and a parade to a fairway full of carnival rides, this summer favorite (formerly the Balloon Festival) is packed with activities. This year, there will also be a beer tent, 5K road race, car and truck show, fireworks and much more. $10 a car. Times vary. Grimes Field, 29 Preston St., Hillsboro (603) 464-5858; hillsborosummerfest.com July 9
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Brew With a View > The 7th annual Brew With a View is just that — tasty craft beers enjoyed on the grounds of the beautiful Steele Hill Resorts. Should you want to turn it into a mini vacation, if you stay two or more nights, you will recieve a 10% discount on accomodations plus two VIP tickets. VIP Admission features exclusive tastings, swag and snacks. Steele Hill Resorts, 516 Steele Hill Rd., Sanbornton steelehillresorts.com/packages/brew-view-getaway; (800) 918-6118
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July 9
Keep NH Brewing Festival > For a beer fest that’s all New Hampshire, all the time, look no further than this annual fête. The event features more than 50 Granite State breweries and over 130 craft beers on tap, making it the largest collection of NH breweries found at any event in 2022. $20 for designated drivers, $50, $55 day of and $65 VIP. 12 to 4 p.m., Kiwanis Waterfront Park, 15 Loudon Rd., Concord granitestatebrewersassociation.org July 15
14th Annual Concert & Silent Auction > This benefit concert featuring 33⅓ live’s Killer Queen Experience and auction raises critical funding to support uninsured children, adolescents and adults with direct access to comprehensive emergency, clinical and medical services, case management, substance use treatment and community-based counseling support. $40-$55. 6 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry tupelomusichall.com New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event July 15-17
Ribfest & Food Truck Festival > This amazing festival will feature great food, music, kids’ activities and beer. While you enjoy pulled pork, other delicious barbecue and games, your kids can take part in bounce houses, obstacle courses and more. Proceeds from the event will support the Merrimack Rotary Club. The new organizers are hoping to attract about 20,000 visitors, so don’t forget to snag your ticket before they are gone. $5-$27.50. Times vary, Budweiser Brewery, 221 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack greatamericanribfest.com
July 16-17
32nd Annual Craft Fair at the Bay > Celebrate summer by attending this crafty event. The Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront will come alive with color, flavor and music. Over 75 artisans from around New England will display and sell their handmade arts and crafts. Delicious specialty foods will also be available to sample. Free. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Alton Bay Community House & Grounds, 24 Mt. Major Hwy., Alton Bay (603) 332-2616; castleberryfairs.com July 16
American Independence Festival > If you didn’t get all the patriotism out of your system on the Fourth of July, then try this later homage to America. Activities at this 31-year-old fest include battle reenactments, lawn games, live music and enough kids’ activities to keep the little ones entertained all day. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., American Independence Museum, 1 Governors Ln., Exeter (603) 772-2622; independencemuseum.org July 30
23rd Annual Chocolate Fest > Enjoy an evening of chocolate temptations in Town Square accompanied by a free outdoor concert as the sun sets. Pack a picnic or just bring a bottle of your favorite red or white libation and enjoy an indulgent evening in the square, on a blanket or with your toes in the sand. 6 to 9 p.m. Town Square, Waterville Valley waterville.com
July 17
Ambetter 301 > If you haven’t taken the plunge to attend a NASCAR race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, here is your chance. The NASCAR Cup Series will make its traditional mid-summer visit to “The Magic Mile” for a night of fun that you won’t want to miss. $10-$49+. 3 to 6 p.m., New Hampshire Motor Speedway, 1122 NH106, Loudon (603) 783-4931; nhms.com
COURTESY PHOTO
FAIRS & FESTIVALS
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classic vertical trail races in the U.S., this race is no joke. If you are feeling daring this summer, be sure to check this one out. $50. 7:30 a.m., Loon Mountain Resort, 60 Loon Mountain Rd., Lincoln loonmountainrace.com July 31
COURTESY IMAGES
Heroes and Homecomings: Norman Rockwell and World War II > America’s most beloved illustrator created dozens of images related to the second World War. What happens when an artist known for his use of humor tackles the serious subject of war? This program explores how Norman Rockwell’s work departs from earlier artistic interpretations of American conflicts and considers how and why he chose specific wartime themes to present to the millions of readers of the Saturday Evening Post. Free. 7:30 p.m., Holderness Historical Society Curry Place, US Rte. 3, Holderness (603) 968-7487; nhhumanities.org
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New England Hot Sauce Fest > This hot sauce festival is for hot sauce and non-hot sauce lovers alike. Partake in activities ranging from hot pepper and wing competitions to bouncy houses to sampling from over 25 hot sauce vendors and multiple craft vendors. There will be ’80s-themed music playing throughout the day, and your four-legged family members are welcome to join in on the fun too. Proceeds will support the Blue Ocean Society and Seacoast Science Center. $10-$15. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Smuttynose Brewing Company, 105 Towle Farm Rd., Hampton newenglandhotsaucefest.com
July 20
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July 30
13th Annual Sunrise Ascent on Mount Washington > Get your hiking shoes and cameras ready, this is an event that you won’t want to miss. Before sunrise, teams ascend the Mount Washington Auto Road to reach the 6,288-foot summit. Each team includes an adaptive athlete and “mules” who will help an athlete needing assistance or accompany an independent athlete as he or she climbs the 7.6 miles to the summit. This inspirational outing benefits the Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country. Donations accepted. 5 a.m., Auto Road, Gorham (603) 823-5232; adaptivesportspartners.org
MISCELLANEOUS
New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event July 30
Hebron Church Fair > This fair boasts that it’s the place to be for the last Saturday in July. Festivities include more than 100 craftspeople, pony rides, children’s games, white elephants, delicious foods, baked goods, plants and a silent auction. It’s held on the picturesque Hebron Common at the north end of Newfound Lake and will happen rain or shine. Free. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hebron Common, 16 Church Ln., Hebron (603) 744-5883; hebronchurchfair.org
SPORTS & RECREATION
PHOTO BY DON HIMSEL
July 8-9
The Prouty > If you enjoy outdoor recreation of just about any kind, then you’ll find something to suit your tastes at this annual mega-fundraiser for the Dartmouth Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center. Cyclists can opt for 20- to 100-mile rides or the 200-mile, two-day Prouty Ultimate; walkers can traverse anything from a 3K stroll through Hanover to a 10K walk in the woods; rowers can hit the Connecticut River for 5-20 miles; and golfers can enjoy a four-person scramble at the Hanover Country Club. Don’t like any of those? They also need volunteers. Prices, times and locations around Hanover vary theprouty.org July 10
Loon Mountain Race > This Granite State race is the race to end all races. It is 6.02 miles, 10.62 kilometers, has an elevation gain of 3,125 feet and an average slope of 14%. It has a reputation as one of the country’s toughest mountain races, in large part due to the kilometer ascent of North Peak known as Upper Walking Boss. “The Boss,” as it’s known, is around a kilometer of grassy slope with angles that exceed a 40% grade. Voted as one of the five
July 9, 16, 23 and 30
Nostalgia Nights at Story Land > Grownups, take a step back to simpler times as the Story Land gates open to invite you into the fully lit park where you can ride your favorite attractions, play games and explore this favorite park like the good ol’ days. There will be several specialty foods and cocktails to the Nostalgia Nights line up, and you are invited to sip on a variety of beers and wines while you snack on cotton candy and ice cream cones. Cinderella, Mother Goose, Tinkerbell and fellow fairytale friends will also be roaming the park throughout the evening, causing magical mayhem and stopping for photos. $39. 6 to 10 p.m., Story Land, 850 NH-16, Glen storylandnh.com nhmagazine.com | June 2022 59
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AUGUST FAIRS & FESTIVALS Journey to Jericho – ATV Jamboree > This festival is an ATV enthusiast’s dream come true. The event takes place at Jericho Mountain State Park, which has more than 80 miles of trails. There will be mud races, demo rides, obstacle courses, helicopter rides, poker run, kids’ fun zone, live music, delicious food and more. You won’t want to miss this summer weekend of fun. $15-$35. 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Jericho Mountain State Park, 298 Jericho Lake Rd., Berlin androscogginvalleychamber.com/ jericho-atv-festival August 5-7
JUMBO CIRCUS PEANUTS
July 7-28
Atlantic Grill Music by the Sea Concerts > This monthlong concert series brings some of New England’s hottest bands to the Seacoast on Thursday nights. Enjoy great tunes from bands like Jumbo Circus Peanuts or Joshua Tree and the seaside setting while supporting the Seacoast Science Center’s ocean education mission. Bring a blanket or chair, pack a picnic or purchase dinner and beverages. Concertgoers can also enjoy the center and its exhibits, free with concert admission. $15-$20. 6 to 8:30 p.m., 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye (603) 436-8043; seacoastsciencecenter.org
ARTS & MUSIC Saturdays July 9-August 20
Lynda Cohen Performing Arts Series > This special lineup features four free summer concerts on the idyllic grounds of AMC’s Highland Center. Originating from her love for music and the mountains, Lynda Cohen imagined a series where people from far and wide could come together nestled among the mountains of Crawford Notch to enjoy one of her lifelong passions, music. Concerts are free, but registration is required. You can bring your own dinner or purchase in advance by phone (first-come-first-served basis). 7-9 p.m. AMC Highland Center, Rte. 302, Bretton Woods amcmusic. eventbrite.com July 14-30
“Cabaret” > In a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920s draw to a close, a garish Master of Ceremonies welcomes the audience and assures them they will forget all their troubles at the Cabaret. With the Emcee’s bawdy songs as wry commentary, Cabaret explores the dark, heady and tumultuous life of Berlin’s natives and expatriates as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich. Musical numbers include “Willkommen,” “Cabaret,” “Don’t Tell Mama” and “Two Ladies.” $30-$35. Times vary, Jean’s Playhouse, 34 Papermill Dr., Lincoln (603) 745-2141; jeansplayhouse.com July 20 – August 7
“Mamma Mia!” > Join in the fun in the mega-hit Broadway show about a daughter’s dream, a mother’s secret and a trip down the aisle you will never forget. The show is packed with 22 ABBA hits, including “Dancing Queen,” “Super Trouper,” “Take 60 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
A Chance on Me” and “The Winner Takes It All” that will have you dancing in the aisles. This show is among the world’s most popular musicals, and you won’t want to miss it. $22-$47. Times vary, New London Barn Playhouse, 84 Main St., New London (603) 526-6710; nlbarn.org July 20-31
“The King and I” > This 1952 Tony Awardwinner for Best Musical, a classic by Rodgers and Hammerstein, is based on “Anna and the King of Siam,” a 1944 novel by Margaret Landon. Anna is a widowed British schoolteacher brought to Siam to tutor the King’s many children. When she arrives, though she enjoys an instant connection to the students, she struggles with cultural differences and with the headstrong King. Through her kindness and persistence, Anna eventually connects with the King, helping to fuel mutual feelings of social understanding and cultural acceptance and openness. $25-$36. Times vary, Interlakes Theatre, 1 Laker Ln., Meredith (603) 707-6035; interlakestheatre.com July 29
Billy Prine & The Prine Time Band > Billy Prine is a natural-born storyteller just like his late, great brother, John Prine. During these concerts celebrating John’s life in song, Billy will tell stories about or surrounding some of John’s most beloved songs before leading his band through his version of John’s timeless masterpieces. As an example, fans will get to hear the first time John played his classic song “Paradise” for their father as the family sat around the kitchen table. You won’t want to miss this. $39-$49. 7:30 p.m., The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center, 39 S. Main St., Plymouth (603) 536-2551; flyingmonkeynh.com
40th Annual Suncook Valley Rotary Hot Air Balloon Rally > There will be a carnival, tethered hot air balloon rides, helicopter rides, craft fair, food, drinks and so much more. Make sure to be there at 8 p.m. on Saturday to see the balloons light up the night sky with a fireworks show to follow. Free to attend. Times vary, Drake Field, Pittsfield suncookvalleyrotary.org/sitepage/hot-air-balloon-rally August 6-14
League of NH Craftmen’s Fair > Start clearing out the car — you’ll want plenty of trunk space for this. Artisans and crafters from around the state set up shop at this massive fest, which boasts the title of the oldest continuously running craft fair in the U.S. Come ready to shop or just ready to learn and admire, either in the learn-how-it’s-made workshops scattered throughout the week or in the exhibition building full of curated art shows. There’s also live music, chances to meet artisans one on one and other fun events held throughout the week. Mount Sunapee Resort, 1398 Rte. 103, Newbury nhcrafts.org August 13
Woods, Water and Wildlife Festival > This family-friendly celebration of the natural world features fun and educational outdoor activities like hayrides to the river, rescued wild animals, nature’s playground in the woods, fishing in the pond, kids’ crafts, a family discovery walk, demonstrations of traditional rural skills and more. $5-$10. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Branch Hill Farm, 307 Applebee Rd., Milton Mills mmrgnh.org August 13
Great New England BBQ and Food Truck Festival > This is a great family fun event that features a corn hole tournament, a kids’ zone with free bounce houses, face painting, slime making, artisans, music, food trucks, eating contests and more. $5-$10. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Indoor/Outdoor at Hampshire Dome, 50 Emerson Rd., Milford gnecraftartisanshows.com
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August 5-6
year’s festivities include live music, arts-and-crafts vendors, horse-and-wagon rides, and rumor has it there is even a moose-calling contest. There will also be a dog show, maple syrup tasting contest and the classic car show. Bring the whole family to this old-time fun event that showcases the many diverse talents and services in the North Country. $3-$5. Friday 3 to 8 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Downtown Main Street, Colebrook (603) 237-8939; mygonorth.com
SPORTS & RECREATION August 27
Allen Mello N.H. 10 Miler > Run 10 miles. Eat local pizza. Attend after-party. Repeat? This event takes runners on a near-half-marathon run around the perimeter of Massabesic Lake, then rewards them with pizza from Pittsfield-based Russian Crust and free post-race beer. The Millennium schedule includes a half-marathon in October and a full marathon in November, so this 10-mile run can be your warm-up run. $30-$80. 8 a.m., Massabesic Lake, 1 Londonderry Tpke., Manchester (603) 4881186; millenniumrunning.com
MISCELLANEOUS August 11-13
August 11-14
Gate City Brewfest > As summer starts winding down, head to Nashua for one last beer-fueled hurrah. An extensive beer fest, live music, a cornhole tournament and more are also on tap. The cornholers emerging victorious at the end of the day win a prize package including Red Sox tickets and a Boston hotel stay, so act fast to qualify your team at one of the few remaining preliminary matches. $15-$70. 1 to 5 p.m., Holman Stadium, 67 Amherst St., Nashua gatecitybrewfestnh.com
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August 20
The 65th Annual New Hampshire Antiques Show > Managed by a team of dedicated volunteers, the New Hampshire Antiques Show is considered “the best show of its kind in New England” (Maine Antique Digest). The 65 professional antiques dealers who exhibit at the show save merchandise throughout the year in order to ensure that the show maintains its longstanding reputation for “fresh-tothe-market” antiques. $10-$15. Times vary, DoubleTree by Hilton, 700 Elm St., Manchester. nhada.org
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Parade of Sails > This four-day, family-friendly favorite is sailing back into Portsmouth for the first time since 2019. It will feature three ships: the Kalmar Nyckel, the Lynx and the Spirit of Bermuda with Capt. Donald Peacock of Newmarket at the helm of the Lynx and his son, Capt. Alex Peacock, captain of the Spirit of Bermuda. You will have the chance to join boat tours and day sails when the maritime celebration gets underway. Times and prices vary. Portsmouth sailportsmouth.org
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August 20
Boot Scootin’ 5K & Brewfest > There’s a whole lineup of events, starting with the 5K race at 6:30 p.m. The brewfest event options at 6:45 p.m., with country music and a bonfire to follow. There will also be food vendors and food trucks offering items for purchase. Londonderry Athletic Field Complex, 17 Sargent Rd., Londonderry (603) 488-1186 millenniumrunning.com/boots August 26-27
Moose Festival > Head to Colebrook the weekend before Labor Day to celebrate all things moose. This
ROBERT RANDOLPH AND THE FAMILY BAND
August 19-21
White Mountain Boogie n’ Blues Festival > With two decades of festival sand and a bevy of national blues preservation awards under its belt, this boogiefest is not to be missed. This year’s lineup includes Veronica Lewis, Ana Popovic and so many more. To really dive into the festival experience, rent a campsite on the Boogie’s sprawling White Mountains grounds. $75-$100. Times vary, Sugar Shack Campground, Rte. 175, Thornton (603) 726-3867; whitemountainboogie.com nhmagazine.com | June 2022 61
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August 4-6
PHOTO BY PAUL RODGERS
SoulFest > Celebrating music, love and action, this annual festival is held amid the picturesque mountains and lakes surrounding Gilford. As New England’s largest Christian festival, SoulFest has become a summer staple for people to come and camp, shop and enjoy three days of speakers and music. This summer’s lineup includes performances by Crowder, Anne Wilson, For King & Country, Skillet and many more. Go for an evening of fun or stay the whole weekend and make an adventure out of it. Either way, it is sure to be a one-of-a-kind experience. Prices and times vary, Gunstock Mountain Resort, 719 Cherry Valley Rd., Gilford (978) 346-4577; thesoulfest.com
August 12
150th Anniversary Gala > This three-hour gala (hosted on the date the ship was launched) celebrates 150 years of fun and history aboard the beautiful M/S Mount Washington and includes multiple decks of entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, signature drinks, photo opportunities and special limited edition souvenirs. All passengers must be over the age of 21. $75, priority boarding is $80, which begins one hour prior to departure. Priority boarding passengers will have first choice of table assignments during the cruise. 7 to 10 p.m., Mount Washington Cruises, 211 Lakeside Ave., Weirs Beach (603) 366-5531; cruisenh.com August 13
Alton Bay Boat Show > Are you a fan of classic wooden boats? Does spending the morning looking at “woodies” and early fiberglass boats while meeting their owners sound like fun? This event’s for you. Any wooden or early fiberglass boat up to 1975 is welcome, and friends and family are welcome to stroll the town docks to see the wonderful restored boats. Free. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Alton Town Docks, 26-40 Mt. Major Hwy., Alton (603) 569-4554; nhbm.org 62 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
August 29
Civil War Soldiers’ Quilts > Quilts made for use by soldiers during the Civil War are very rare — only 20 are known to exist, and Pam Weeks has studied most of them in person. This illustrated lecture outlines the origins of the U.S. Sanitary Commission at the beginning of the Civil War and examines the roles women played on the homefront, and as nurses. The stories of 14 actual Civil War soldiers’ quilts will be highlighted in this program. Free. 7 p.m., Center Meeting House of Newbury, 945 NH Rte. 103, Newbury nhhumanities.org
August 20
9th Annual Cruise in to the Wright Antique Car, Hot Rod & Motorcycle Show > Put on your poodle skirts, grease up your duck’s tail hairdos, buckle up and cruise in to the Wright Museum for this annual event dedicated to unique varieties of cars and motorcycles. Only the first 100 cars will be allowed into the show this year, so get your car registered soon. $15. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Wright Museum of World War II, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro. wrightmuseum.org
June 4 – August 29
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Prescott Park Arts Festival > The state’s most sprawling summer arts festival returns in 2022 for yet another season of world-class entertainment for the whole family. A chili cookoff has the festival part covered, while an impressive music and theatre roster takes care of the arts. In addition to weekly movie nights and a theatrical production of “Footloose” on the main stage, big-name performers this year include Josh Ritter and The Dip with Lady Wray. To avoid fighting for a spot in the first-come-firstserved outdoor spaces, don’t forget to reserve a blanket or table in advance. Free (donation suggested). Dates, times vary, Prescott Park, 105 Marcy St., Portsmouth (603) 436-2848; www.prescottpark.org
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PHOTOS BY JOSH LENT & JENNIE BISHOP OF WHITEWAVE PHOTO
PHOTO BY DAVID J MURRAY
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ON-GOING SUMMER EVENTS
May through October
Vernon Family Farm Live Music Series > This favorite family farm is known as a one-stop shop for shopping local, but their outdoor music series is one for the books too. Every second Saturday of the month from May to October, the farm is open for live music from bands like High Range and Superfrog, and delicious local food from their very own farm-to-table restaurant, Vernon Kitchen. Grab your friends and family and head over for a night of community, rotisserie chicken and music at a space that nurtures the human desire to connect and love. Prices vary. 5 to 8 p.m., Vernon Family Farm, 301 Piscassic Rd., Newfields (603) 340-4321; vernonfamilyfarm.com New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this series
Want more? Find additional events at nhmagazine.com/calendar. Submit events eight weeks in advance to Emily Heidt at eheidt@nhmagazine.com or enter your event at nhmagazine.com/calendar. Not all events are guaranteed to be published either online or in print. Event submissions will be reviewed and, if deemed appropriate, approved by a New Hampshire Magazine editor. nhmagazine.com | June 2022 63
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COURTESY PHOTOS
T
he trouble with interviewing a bunch of stand-up comedians about a fellow funny guy is this: You never know when anyone is being serious. Take Dave Rattigan, talking about his good pal, Juston McKinney. “Juston doesn’t know this, but I’m the biological father of his second child,” quips Rattigan, who runs a comedy open-mic night at The Winner’s Circle in Salisbury, Massachusetts, where McKinney is a frequent accomplice. Likewise, Atkinson’s Steve Bjork, a Boston headliner who has known McKinney since the mid-1990s, weighs in: “I assume you are aware that he’s created a web page devoted to, and advocating for, abuse against shrubbery and low-lying vegetation. I don’t condone it.” Or Mike McDonald, asking: “You know why it’s Juston with an ‘o’? His father didn’t know how to spell.” In the next breath, McDonald adds: “Juston McKinney is the finest stand-up comedian in New England.” Likewise, Rattigan says McKinney “is a great guy. Most comedians are very nice, and some are professionally nice. He’s the former.” Those last two statements? You can take those to the bank. The 51-year-old McKinney, a native of Portsmouth and current Newmarket resident, is as popular with his fellow comedians as he is with audiences throughout the Northeast. He’s almost ubiquitous on the Granite State comedy circuit — check out his spots for the New Hampshire Lottery — as well as social media and streaming services. His Facebook page — Juston McKinney Comedy — is approaching 100,000 followers, and you can check out his stand-up specials, such as “Parentally Challenged” and “On Mid-Life Support” on Amazon Prime. His latest stand-up special, “On The Bright Side,” was just filmed at the Capitol Center for the Arts in late March. “I was going to shoot this special right before Covid started, so now I’ve got new material that I want to work in and also have some other stuff that I want to get down on this special,” he says. “Because once I’ve done a special, I move on from it. It’s a never-ending process of adding material and pushing other material out.”
Above: Juston McKinney’s second appearance doing Comics Come Home at the TD Garden, seen here with (from left) Denis Leary, Robert Kelly, Cam Neely and Jimmy Fallon Left: Being interviewed by the master during his first appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” At right: McKinney with his dad in the good seats at the Portsmouth Music Hall
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Which means McKinney’s audiences are constantly treated to new routines. “The thing that stands out the most about Juston is his work ethic. The man is always writing,” says Carolyn Riley, a New York City-based comedian from Newmarket, and a University of New Hampshire alum. “Even now, as a New York comic, I still don’t think I’ve met anyone who works harder. A lot of people talk about how hard they’re working. Juston will talk about how he isn’t working hard enough, while index cards full of jokes he just wrote are spilling out of his pockets,” she says.
“I was a stay-athome dad. My kids didn’t stay home; they went to daycare. But I stayed home.” –Juston McKinney
Home life during McKinney’s childhood wasn’t pretty, and he doesn’t sugarcoat any of it. He talks freely about losing his mother, who collapsed from a brain aneurysm while she was volunteering at McKinney’s elementary school when he was only 6. “When she was being loaded into the ambulance, I think she was worried about us kids,” he says. “That keeps me going. And it’s taking care of my family, obviously. That’s part of my drive.” His father struggled with alcoholism. The family moved across the Piscataqua River from Portsmouth to Kittery, Maine, where his mother’s sister, his aunt, and her two children joined McKinney’s father and three siblings. “At one point my grandfather lived with us, and we lived in a three-bedroom, onebath place. My dad ended up becoming a homeless alcoholic,” says McKinney. “I’m talking about my dad going to the bank, throwing a brick through the bank window in his underwear in broad daylight. This crazy drunk guy stuff,” he says. “Because of the way I grew up, we used humor all the time to deal with things. Me, my brothers, my cousins, we would use humor to deal with our situation. That’s where it came from. That’s what made me find the funny.” And the name? McKinney said he often
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closes his shows with a joke about the oddball spelling of Juston, if only to help people look up his performances online. “I came into this world as a typo,” he says. “I finally asked my dad, ‘Why did you spell my name with an ‘o,’ and he said, ‘You were born just on time. Get it? That’s funny, just on time.’ And I said, are you kidding me?” says McKinney, getting animated. “First of all, it could have been ‘just in’ time, and it would’ve been the same dumb joke. You got the joke wrong. Justin doesn’t have an ‘o.’ Alcoholic does.” The fact that McKinney can tell that joke at all speaks to the relationship he now has with his father. “He’s been sober now for 15 years, and my dad is my biggest fan. I’m super proud of my dad,” he says. “He’s got a whole wall with my
cut-outs. If you didn’t know he was my dad, you’d think he was obsessed. He spent time living in the pay toilet in a parking garage in Portsmouth. That’s where he was sleeping. We thought he was going to die in the streets. So the fact that he got sober has been an amazing story.” But those rough days were formative. Humor was a salve. “I remember always being able to say funny things that would make the teachers laugh, so I wouldn’t get in trouble. I wasn’t that class clown who is stomping on the milk cartons so it sprays everywhere. I wasn’t that guy,” says McKinney. “I just remember my dad watching the ‘Tonight Show’ with Johnny Carson,” he says. “I remember seeing the monologue, and having similar thoughts about the
COURTESY PHOTO
McKinney’s name is a bankable attraction in the world of comedy. That’s him at Portsmouth’s Music Hall (left) and at the TD Garden “Comics Come Home” show (above).
way jokes were done. That was how my mind worked.” But first came McKinney’s short-lived career as a deputy sheriff. Spurred by his family’s distrust of law enforcement, he looked into becoming a police officer. In high school, a guidance counselor suggested an overnight ride-along with a Kittery officer. That policeman — Dan Toulouse — had a significant impact on a teenage McKinney. “He was a professional. He was just everything that job was supposed to be. He was out there to protect, driving around when everyone else is sleeping. If someone had an emergency, he was going to be the one who would help someone, to save the day,” he says. “The moment I got out of the car that night, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” At 19, McKinney was a deputy sheriff on “rural patrol,” covering 14 communities and more than 500 square miles.
“There were only two of us, two cops for 14 towns,” he says. “I was defunded before that was ever a thing. My cruiser had 250,000 miles on it. I once had a prisoner and needed him to chip in for gas.” Logging long shifts and long miles gave McKinney plenty of time to work on his comic material. At 23, he worked up the nerve to attend an open mic night at Stitches near Fenway Park in Boston. “You get to do three minutes,” he says. “But I didn’t tell anyone, in case I bombed. And if I bombed, to be honest, I might not have gone back. But it went surprisingly well.” So well that McKinney returned, months later, with “about 30 or 40” friends and family in tow. And he flopped. “I wonder how much that then motivated me,” he says now. “I wasn’t going out like that. I’m not going to be 50 years old, with
people saying, “Hey, remember when you thought you can be a comedian?’ I’d be the butt of all the jokes. So that probably lit a fire under me.” By the time McKinney was 27, he worked his last shift as a deputy sheriff.
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McKinney bills himself as an “observational” comedian, with his life experiences consistently providing a rich comic vein to mine. When he was young, those moments often surrounded the usual topics, from dating to police work to, of course, his family. Today, McKinney is a married father of two sons. He and his wife, Jennifer, have been together for 27 years, and married since 2004. His two sons, Jack and Josh, are now 14 and 12. The three of them provide reams of nonstop material for someone with a keen comic ear. “With my kids, I’ll watch what they do, and what they say,” says McKinney. “I’ll be
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wrestling with my youngest and say, ‘Who’s the best dad in the world?’ And he’ll say, ‘Not you.’ So I’ll say, ‘Why would you say that?’ And he says, ‘Because my parents told me not to lie.’” Jennifer doesn’t escape unscathed. She works in human resources. “She’s HR. I wish she was H-VAC,” says McKinney. He calls HR “the absolute worst job for a comedian to be married to, because every joke I bounced off her, she says, ‘Ah, I don’t know if you should do that one. I don’t think you can say that. I wouldn’t go there, that’s a hot-button issue.’” Then, after a pause, “And she can’t even fix the furnace.”
Plus, he adds, “I have all kinds of jokes about how she’s working remote, from home. It’s not normal,” he says. “She’s home, I’m home. Even Tom Brady only made it 40 days before he went back to the Bucs.” Over the years, McKinney has drawn inspiration from a variety of artists, ranging from the manic Sam Kinison to the wideeyed, self-effacing Rodney Dangerfield, as well as George Carlin, Richard Pryor and Jerry Seinfeld. “I love the nuance of that [‘Seinfeld’] show, the observational humor,” he says. “In fact, Larry David’s show, ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ I had to stop watching after the first season because it was so good I didn’t want any of it to seep into my mind. When I retire I’m gonna binge watch that show.” That comment reveals a fascinating aspect of McKinney’s creative process — he no longer watches other stand-up comedians’ specials and hasn’t for decades. Essentially, he tries to avoid watching others to avoid picking up anything unintentionally. “For my writing, it just works best. If I’m not watching stand-up, I can’t accidentally be influenced by someone else’s material,” he says. “To know that when I’m writing a joke that I didn’t hear it from somewhere is just very freeing for my process.” While the majority of McKinney’s live material is written beforehand, the ability to ad lib is also critical, says the comedian. “I do a joke where I say, ‘I hit the lottery with my wife. Anybody else hit the lottery with their wife?’ and a lot of guys clap,” says McKinney. “So I go, well, it wasn’t one of the largest jackpots in history. It wasn’t like $2 billion. Maybe it wasn’t all the numbers and the Powerball. Actually, maybe it was more like a raffle ticket. I hit the raffle. “Then this one guy goes ‘Woo hoo!’ So I say, ‘You hit the raffle too? How long have you been married?’” he says. “He says, ‘We’re divorced now.’ So I say, ‘That’s the 50-50 raffle.’ That was my ad lib. Now I can use that as a joke. Sometimes the crowd will give you stuff.” Likewise, there are times when McKinney has to take chances. He has one somewhat racy joke about a road in Maine called Katie’s Crotch. Local officials were flustered that the street sign kept getting stolen, “probably by some immature guy, if I were to criminal profile, who probably has it in his man cave,” McKinney says.
“Instead of replacing the sign, I would change the street name to Kevin’s Crotch,” he says. “Not only will no one steal it, they won’t even want to say it. Can you imagine someone having an accident? Oh, where? I’d rather not say. I was rear-ended on Kevin’s Crotch.” Then, while preparing for his year-end special last year, McKinney was invited to do a small-audience show at a senior center in Durham. Despite his initial hesitancy, he decided to tell the joke. “They’ve lived long enough, they can handle it.” “And when I say, ‘rear-ended on Kevin’s Crotch,’ this 80-year-old woman shouts, ‘Been there, done that,’” says McKinney. “It was just the funniest thing. So that moment became part of the joke.” On stage, the long, lanky McKinney is a ball of energy, prowling and working the crowd. He looks like a mix of Bob Odenkirk
(“Better Call Saul”) and Jeff Foxworthy (“Blue Collar Comedy Tour”). In fact, he was tapped for “Blue Collar Comedy, The Next Generation.” But working live, locally, is where he thrives. “Along with Bob Marley, Juston McKinney is the best comedian in New Hampshire,” says Chuck Stergiou, former manager of The Rex in Manchester, without reservation. “The way he works the audience is just unbelievable.” Perhaps the best way to capture McKinney’s relationship with his audience is to delve into how empty he felt when he didn’t have one. Like performers everywhere, McKinney’s live performances canceled following the Covid outbreak in March 2020. “I felt a little lost and unfulfilled. We’re talking about the five months where everything shut down,” says McKinney.
“It happened in March, and I was scheduled to be at the Capitol Center. There were over a thousand tickets sold at the time. It was about a month away, a sold-out show, and Covid hits,” he says. “For five months, I couldn’t do anything. I felt a little depressed. I use stand-up a little bit like therapy. I know I have adult ADHD. I’ve got to get things out. If I’m not getting stuff out, I’m not in the best mood. So it was a crazy time.” McKinney kept writing jokes and did more virtual work to keep busy — and stay sane. When venues began to reopen, with limited seating, he still had reservations. “We were doing my year-in-review show — I called it ‘2020 Good Riddance’ — and it was at the Music Hall in Portsmouth, but we can only have 188 people. That was the max, 188 people spread out in a 900-seat room,” he says. “So, I tell the audience, you don’t
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If you could use a good laugh, there are a number of venues around the state that host top-notch comedians and comedy festivals. Plus, keep tabs on some of our favorite local comedians, such as Juston McKinney and Jimmy Dunn, so you don’t miss a show. Juston McKinney / justonmckinney.com Jimmy Dunn / jimmydunn.com PHOTO BY JUSTON MCKINNEY
JJR Entertainment / jjrentertainment.com Comedy On Purpose facebook.com/AlanaFoden The Music Hall / Portsmouth themusichall.org The Rex Theatre / Manchester palacetheatre.org/rex-theatre The Palace Theatre / Manchester palacetheatre.org Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom casinoballroom.com Headliners Comedy Club / Manchester headlinersnh.com Colonial Theatre / Laconia coloniallaconia.com Claremont Opera House / Claremont claremontoperahouse.info Lots Of Laughs Comedy Lounge / Nashua lotsoflaughscomedy.com The Hampton Beach Comedy Festival Hosted by Jimmy Dunn, this annual festival takes place in August. As of press time, details for this year’s event were still in the works, so make sure to check hamptonbeachcomedy.weebly.com for updates.
Comedian Jimmy Dunn shows the way to laughs at Hampton Beach.
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McKinney gestures gamely toward the Keno 603 board during one of his “Are You Game” N.H. Lottery spots.
understand. In a crowd of 900 people, you’re going to have about 188 people who aren’t great laughers. If you’re those 188 people, I’m screwed.” A full house is where McKinney is a man in full. “It’s energizing for sure,” he says of performing before a live audience. “It helps me when I get in front of the audience. I feed off that. It makes me be in the moment. It makes me be present. It makes me think on my feet. It’s all about the crowd.” What makes New England audiences particularly challenging, McKinney admits, is that the political winds can shift quickly between venues. “I feel like I can draw liberals on one side, and I can draw Republicans as well. I like to think I can draw a little bit of everybody,” he says. “I don’t push it too much one way or the other.” McKinney points to a show in Plymouth, at the Flying Monkey, where he did a Thanksgiving-themed joke about turkeys. “We got our Butterball turkey at Market Basket. They have a Biden Butterball. It costs 14 percent more and it identifies as a chicken. The joke kills, huge applause, hooting and hollering. It was clearly a Republican crowd,” he says. “Then I did a show at a coastal town — Biddeford, Maine, or Portsmouth — and it doesn’t get the same reaction,” he says. “So I make a joke about that, saying ‘Wow, that’s a risky joke to tell here.’ And they laugh at that. So that’s a constant
connection with the audience.” The key, says McKinney, is being committed to creating new material. “I knew that if I wanted to stay here, with my kids, I would have to be able to do a lot of work locally, so I would have to turn over stuff. Year over year I’m always adding a lot of new material, and will mix in some older jokes. So you won’t see the same show twice.” “If you go see a band, and they don’t play their greatest hits, they’re upset. They want their money back,” says McKinney. “If you’re comedian, and they’ve paid to see the same exact stuff twice, they want their money back. That’s the thing about being a stand-up.” So McKinney continues to push himself, observing and performing. Yet he always finds time to give back to his comic community. “In a conversation, Juston is never simply waiting for his turn to speak. He listens and cares,” says Bjork. “He’s got as much empathy as anyone I’ve ever met and will go out of his way to try and help. He’s very encouraging to newer comics, and is just a ton of fun to hang out with.” Want proof? Remember Rattigan’s crack about being the biological father of McKinney’s youngest? His good friend, apprised of the joke, doesn’t miss a beat. “That explains why he’s not the better looking one,” says McKinney with a smirk. Ba da boom. And the McKinney beat goes on. NH
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Excellence in NURSING T
oo often, nurses are the unsung heroes of the medical community. In fact, they are key members of any health care team, but their skills and contributions go unrecognized time and time again. As the pandemic wears on, perhaps the world at large is a bit more aware of the challenges nurses face, and the professionalism and compassion they demonstrate as they continue to provide the best possible care in such stressful, uncertain times. New Hampshire Magazine, in partnership with the New Hampshire Nurses Association, is proud to be a part of highlighting nurses’ important contributions and many talents with the fifth annual Excellence in Nursing Awards. This past winter, we accepted nominations for New Hampshire nurses in 13 vital specialties, from pediatrics and public health to leadership and education. The winners were selected by an independent committee of nursing leaders from adjoining states. Each nurse profiled in the following pages represents the very best in nursing — those who go above and beyond to comfort, heal and teach.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KENDAL J. BUSH / PROFILES BY LYNNE SNIERSON 74 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
Anna Ivy M. Park
BSN, RN, OCN, MED-SURG-BC Unit Nurse Manager Oncology Inpatient Unit and Hematology Cellular Therapy Unit
Front Line/Administrative Nursing Leader
Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon Anna Ivy Park has been a nurse for 14 years but only in a leadership role for the past five. The pandemic has made the last three of those especially demanding, because all patients in the unit where she is the nurse manager are immune compromised. “We were the only unit that did not accept Covid-positive patients,” she explains. “Throughout Covid, we’ve been protecting people and making sure that they don’t get transmission. Our staff has been overly protective of the patients and is being extra compassionate.” Though over-stressed and over-taxed, the nurses answer every bell. It fuels her fire to be a mentor to her fellow nurses. “I had a very good mentor. She showed me the value of going beyond patient care,” Park says. “Seeing young nurses grow, professionally develop and find their niche — or realize they have this talent that they didn’t know about — is rewarding. It’s seeing
the sparkle in their eye when they realize, ‘I’ve got this.’ Or ‘I’m a charge nurse now. I can precept somebody.’” Park is from the Philippines and knows that, as a person of color, the spotlight is on her. “I feel it helps others who’ve just arrived here from whichever country they come from. They can look at me and say, ‘If she got to do what she loves, it gives me the courage to pursue what I want.’ Here, we encourage professional development, so I just lead the way. That’s been such a good thing overall for my unit and for the institution as a whole,” she says. Sometimes the best prescription for her staff is an extra dose of encouragement. “I always tell them to know what your values are and know what your primary value as a nurse is. When the toughest of times come, go back to that. Find your river that flows and gives you the energy to go on,” she says.
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Amy Matthews
DNP, RN, CENP Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services
Senior Nursing Leader
Dartmouth Health’s Cheshire Medical Center, Keene Health care is a complex environment, never more so than during a multiyear pandemic response, and those on the top management team face unique challenges at every turn. “I think that empathetic leadership is crucial for anyone in nursing leadership today. Empathetic leaders understand and are sensitive to another person’s feelings, thoughts and actions. Empathy and compassion help nurse leaders create an environment of value, respect and well-being,” says Chief Nursing Officer Amy Matthews. In her role, she guides and supports nursing practice. Through interdisciplinary collaboration at the executive level, she endeavors to make sure that Cheshire Medical Center advances the health and wellness of those in the Monadnock Region. Though she has served in the profession for 35 years, she remains motivated by patients and the nurses who care for them despite the daily trials. “Patients have always inspired me, and they have given me a deeper appreciation of the full human experience. Now, and especially through the lens of an extremely challenging Covid surge, I am inspired by the nurses whom I serve. They have suffered heartache, fatigue, loss and distress but have never wavered in providing care for our community,” she says. “I’m immensely proud of Cheshire nurses and the entire staff for how they maintained skillful care, strength and compassion throughout this time.” Matthews wants to encourage others to follow her path into leadership roles. “While I was completing an MS in nursing education, our previous CNO approached me and noted that I had an interest in education. She indicated that although she believed that I was a fine educator, she really needed nurses in leadership roles. She went on to ask me to consider shifting my focus and moving back into leadership. I shifted, thoroughly enjoyed our time working together, and continue striving to be a better nurse leader. That is how many nurses enter or move through leadership roles — someone else sees their potential. If you are tapped on the shoulder, consider saying yes,” she says.
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Sandra J. McDonald
MSN, ACNP-BC, APRN, Lead Advanced Practice Provider, Neurocritical Care
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon
Sandy McDonald says that it was the “happiest of accidents” that brought her into her specialty. “Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, I was an ICU nurse. I traveled for a few years before I went back to grad school, and while I was working in the ICU at Physicians Regional Medical Center in Naples, Florida, we had two new physicians join the team. These two physicians specialized in neurocritical care, neuroendovascular surgery and neurointerventional radiology, bringing with them a new patient population with different diagnoses. I learned so much and loved the patients we were taking care of, and so, from then on, I continued my career within the neurocritical care world,” she explains. At Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, she is the lead advanced practice provider (APP) in the Neurocritical Care Unit, where critically ill patients with neurologic conditions are treated. She leads a team of nine APPs in providing comprehensive care for these patients in collaboration with physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists. She stresses the importance of empathy in her role, and never loses sight of the fact that each patient has a life outside the walls of the unit, and that life now may be drastically changed. “In NCCU, the expected length of stay is longer than in other inpatient units due to the types of diseases and illnesses we are caring for. That affords us the unique opportunity to really get to know our patients and their families quite well, and from that I have learned so very much,” she says. “They are allowing us into their lives during what can be one of the most difficult times they have experienced, and that is truly a privilege and an honor. For that reason, I continue to strive to be and do better, and isn’t that what excellence really is? The journey is not the destination.”
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Laurie B. Kofstad
BSN, MSN, RN, Nurse Transplant Coordinator
Ambulatory Care Nursing
Manchester VA Medical Center, Manchester When one of the veterans who has served our country needs an organ transplant, Laurie Kofstad is at their service. She oversees identifying, evaluating and coordinating their care. “Patients in need of a transplant are extremely ill, overwhelmed and feel they have no control over their disease,” says Kofstad. “Providing compassion without judgment through active listening allows the patient to feel comfortable sharing their worries. When a patient feels they are heard, they don’t feel alone. Knowing someone is there to support them is essential for the best possible outcome.” Kofstad celebrates each success, though one patient in particular stands out. “Recently, a transplant referral was received for an extremely ill veteran in need of a liver transplant. The evaluation process was difficult throughout with many unforeseen obstacles. Through perseverance, we were able to complete the evaluation. He was found eligible and was quickly listed. After several weeks, a match was found, and he received a new liver,” she says. “Once healed, this veteran returned home and is now living a full life. What joy it brought me to be part of his journey.” Kofstad began her career in 1995 at Home Health and Hospice Care in Merrimack after graduating with an associate’s degree in nursing from what was then Rivier College. Her colleagues in the profession both past and present have inspired her throughout her journey in the profession. “My nurse mentors, Susan and Kelly, both displayed a level of dedicated and compassionate nursing that I aspired to achieve. They encouraged me to continue my education and supported me as I completed my BSN and MSN. My VA nurse managers provided an opportunity to be part of the VA transplant program. The empowerment they provided allowed for full autonomy and is why I have been able provide care to our veterans at the highest level possible,” she says. “Being the transplant coordinator has become my greatest achievement in my nursing career.”
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Congratulations to our 2022 Excellence in Nursing Award winners Our people, our patients, our purpose Thank you to all of our nurses for delivering expert, compassionate care to each and every patient. We’re proud to have such an extraordinary team. More locations than any other healthcare provider in New Hampshire www.dartmouth-health.org
ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSE
FRONT LINE/ADMINISTRATIVE NURSING LEADER
Sandra McDonald, MSN, APRN Lead Critical Care APRN, Neurocritical Care Unit at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Ivy Park, BSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC Nurse Manager, Hematology Oncology Inpatient Unit at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
PEDIATRIC NURSING
Jennifer Orbeso, DNP, MAN, RN Intensive Care Nursery and Nursing Diversity and Inclusion Specialist at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
SENIOR NURSING LEADER Amy Matthews, DNP, MS, RN, CENP Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services at Cheshire Medical Center
PSYCHIATRIC AND MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Tina Favero, RN Clinical Nurse, Emergency Department at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Caitlin Kretschmar
BSN, RN, PCCN
Medical Surgical Nursing
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Dover It was a life-saving event that led Caitlin Kretschmar into nursing. “I wanted to own a bookstore most of my life, then in high school I had a brain aneurysm and later a stroke,” she explains. “I saw how wonderful my nurses were at Boston Children’s Hospital and quickly decided that I wanted to be just like the amazing nurses who saved my life. I then went to the University of New Hampshire’s nursing program and started at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital immediately after graduating in 2015. I have been there since.” She serves as a nurse/charge nurse on a telemetry/medical surgical unit but had to adjust to a critical change when it was quickly transitioned into a Covid unit in March 2020. She and her team immediately found themselves on the front lines in the battle. “Having just experienced one of the worst Covid surges we have ever seen back in December, I was asked to give a talk about what it was like on our floor, and how we were all struggling. I don’t enjoy speaking in front of people but knew that everyone needed to know what we were going through,” she says. Despite the rigorous demands of the job and tireless hours required, Krestchmar is like the nurses who inspired her to join their profession. “I think one of the most important character traits for someone in nursing is compassion and the ability to show empathy towards our patients,” she says.
Jacob Fox
RN, Nursing Supervisor
Hospice-Palliative Care & Gerentological Nursing Maplewood Nursing Home of Cheshire County, Westmoreland
“I feel an overwhelming sense of privilege while caring for a person who is in the last moments of their life,” says Jacob Fox, who oversees the nursing staff and tends to the needs of patients during the overnight shift in the long-term care unit. “Together, with those who I work with, we make every effort to promote comfort, peace and calmness. Often, this will include the family,” says Fox, who after 13 years spent in the manufacturing sector heard the call and enrolled in the LNA program at River Valley Community College in 2007. “It is during these times I will tell a funny or heartfelt story about the resident. I am known to have a straight-forward, no-nonsense approach. Families have told me how much they appreciate my candor. The true reward comes from the families’ expression of thanks for all that we do for their loved one.” His philosophy is to accentuate the positive. That sets the tone and creates the environment for patients and staff. Fox, who has been with Maplewood since 2008, is a graduate of Vermont Tech’s practical nurse program and earned his associate’s degree in the science of nursing in 2018. He’s grateful to the Maplewood nurses who have guided and supported him through the years. “They have watched me progress through my education and career, teaching and mentoring me along the way. These nurses, whether they’re a floor nurse, manager, shift supervisor or in administration, have each inspired me to be the best that I can be,” he says.
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Strong. Compassionate. Dedicated. With courage and unwavering commitment, nurses make the world a better place. We celebrate your tireless efforts in providing high-quality care every day. On behalf of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and our parent company, Point32Health, we thank you for going above and beyond for our communities. Learn more at HarvardPilgrim.org
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care includes Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England and HPHC Insurance Company.
Jennifer Miller
MSN, RN-BC
Ambulatory Clinical Nurse Educator Elliot Medical Group, Manchester
In the fourth grade, Jennifer Miller wrote a book report on Florence Nightengale and from that point her heart was set on this profession. After graduating from the University of Virginia’s School of Nursing, she served four years as a U.S. Air Force nurse, and in the 25 years since she’s lived in eight states and worked in a variety of settings that contributed to her knowledge and experience. “The incredible news is that my excitement to serve patients, families, new hires, students and my peers has never wavered, and I feel blessed every day to be a nurse,” she says. “My passion has always revolved around taking excellent care of patients and their families.” As the nurse educator for the primary and specialty care clinics, she creates content and presents the orientation courses for medical assistants, LPNs and RNs. Her goal is to ensure a smooth onboarding process for new hires, as well as the students who come to the offices for their clinical practicum experiences. For current staff, she encourages professional development opportunities and connects them with resources. Miller believes that one of the most important character traits for someone in her specialty is an attitude of humble inquiry. “Whenever a concern or question is raised, my first instinct is to discover the why behind the situation or behavior. I am passionate to connect with the clinical staff to further understand the process/procedure/workflow. The next step is to consult the current evidence-based practice recommendations, then work diligently to implement an improvement to the current state,” she says. “As an educator, I appreciate the powerful nature of my words. Each teaching moment, email, text or letter of recommendation can greatly impact the future of the clinical staff I have the privilege to educate. In keeping up with former students and peers, it has been wonderful to see careers flourish and dreams come true.”
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Jennifer Orbeso
Charge Nurse, DNP, MAN, RN NICU NICU and Nursing Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, Office of Nursing Support, Clinical Nurse NICU
Pediatric and School Nursing
Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon Jennifer Orbeso says the best advice she was ever given is dare to dream; it’s free to all. Her dreams have taken her to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, where she fulfills dual roles as a clinical nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit and as the nursing diversity and inclusion specialist in the office of nursing support. “As a diversity and inclusion specialist, I work in partnership with different stakeholders in the organization to ensure diversity and inclusion in our workforce. I take an active lead in improving the recruitment, engagement and retention needs of nurses coming from culturally diverse background and those who are internationally trained,” says Orbeso, who is fluent in four languages. In her role as a clinician, she takes care of premature neonates and other babies born with a medical condition requiring critical care, and that expands to taking care of the neonate’s family. She helps empower parents to take care of their babies so they can be prepared to take good care of them when they go home knowing that they have undergone a stressful and traumatic experience in their early parenthood journey caring for a NICU baby. “The most important trait a NICU nurse should have is the ability to observe in silence. The language of neonates is extremely different from the way adults communicate. A NICU nurse is known for disarming gentleness. We move things through gentleness,” she says. She was drawn to neonatology, which is a relatively new specialty under the broader discipline of pediatric medicine. “I am passionate to giving voice. In this case, I am giving voice to small human beings. It takes a brave heart to hear microvoices, including those who are prematurely born,” says Orbeso, who has been in practice for 18 years and says her personal philosophy is to do things to the best of her ability each time and every time. What advice does she have for someone new to her role? “Find meaning in the work that you do,” she offers. “Remember the reason why you first fell in love with your job.”
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Darlene Morse
MSN, RN, MEd, CIC Public Health Nurse Program Manager
Public Health Nursing
NH Division of Public Health Services, Bureau of Infectious Disease Control, Concord She may have retired recently from her job with the state, but Darlene Morse remains a lifelong learner. “Because of that, public health allows me to learn something new every day. You learn about infectious diseases when you are in school, but you don’t really learn all the nuances around investigation and how to manage those diseases until you have had to delve into the disease investigation. I have been fortunate to work with such incredibly smart colleagues such as Dr. Elizabeth Talbot, Dr. Jose Montero and Dr. Ben Chan. These providers have fostered a learning atmosphere in public health. It has also been wonderful to be able to consult on things like the administrative rules that govern the way infectious diseases are investigated before they go to the Legislature for approval,” she explains. Before retiring, Morse filled several roles. She managed and worked with seven nurses who investigate and make recommendations around reports of infectious disease. She was the State of New Hampshire tuberculosis (TB) nurse consultant, providing expert consultation to providers and nurses regarding TB case management. During the Covid-19 response, her role expanded to assisting in the investigation and contact tracing of cases. She says the nurses who work in her field need to be extremely nimble, as it is distinct from any other type of nursing, especially in disease investigation. Any suspect outbreak, cluster of illness, unusual occurrence of communicable disease, or other incident that may pose a threat to the public’s health must be reported within 24 hours of recognition. “These nurses are the emergency responders of public health,” she says. “The nurses may find themselves working on infectious disease reports that have come in, and then have an investigation blossom into a huge investigation that requires several nurses to participate. Public health nursing is so different from hospital or long-term care settings in that we deal with the report of the individual with an infectious disease and how they affect the group of people around them. That investigation may involve situations that may not end at the end of the workday.”
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April Henry
MSN, RNC-OB, CNL Director of the Family Center and Center of Reproductive Care and Maternal Fetal Medicine
Maternal-Child Health Nursing Exeter Hospital, Exeter
Though she’s been a maternal-child nurse for a quarter-century, each miracle of birth remains magical for April Henry. “That moment when a baby is born and goes to the parents. It is like time is frozen and you witness pure love. I am always awed and humbled to be a part in helping to make that experience happen,” says the director of Exeter Hospital’s Family Center and the Center of Reproductive Care and Maternal Fetal Medicine. In her dual roles, she oversees labor and delivery, post-partum, pediatrics and the nursery. She has spent 20 years at bedside and worked in underserved areas in Southern California, high-risk obstetrics in New Jersey and the community hospital in Exeter. “Maternal-child nurses have to be highly skilled and autonomous. You have to have the right amount of critical thinking skills, caring and empathy,” she says. “We are tasked and honored to be a part of the most monumental day in one’s life, and our patients trust us to guide them and their family safely through the process. Most patients never forget their labor and delivery nurse and see them as a lifeline at one of their most vulnerable times.” Henry derives her motivation to excel from her patients and from the team she leads. “I am so fortunate to lead a wonderful team of nurses that always rises to the occasion despite obstacles such as Covid. We keep the goal in mind — healthy babies, healthy moms, and we do our work. Babies are born despite the pandemic. We care for families and keep them safe,” she says.
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Melissa Eastman Resource Person, CEN, BSN
Emergency Nursing Concord Hospital, Concord
Melissa Eastman has been a nurse for 27 years, serving for the past 15 of them in Concord Hospital’s emergency department, where on every shift she is in situations that put her in the middle of a patient or family’s worst day. “Regardless of how challenging these last couple years have been with Covid, knowing that I do make a difference for patients and their loved ones keeps me returning with empathy and compassion,” she says. As the resource nurse, she is responsible for patient flow, resource allocation, and clinical mentoring and support for ER nurses. She manages the day-to-day operations in the ER while on shift, triaging ambulance traffic to make sure that patients entering the department are getting the appropriate care by matching clinical experience to patient assignments and acuity. As the ER resource nurse, she must be able to juggle multiple competing priorities. “Staying level-headed during surges of patients/acuity is vital. You have to be able to have multiple plans for the day and adjust on the fly as obstacles are presented,” says Eastman, who for seven years was the department’s nurse manager before returning to the bedside in 2020. “I am inspired to excellence in nursing to ensure that patients arriving to our department receive quality care, whether I am directly providing care or assisting the team in doing so. I strive to offer the very best to every patient that enters our department seeking care,” she says.
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Christina (Tina) Favero
Clinical Nurse Emergency Department
RN
Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon
Tina Favero was dining with a friend when she noticed a woman peering at her through the restaurant window. She recognized her as a former patient with a long history of mental illness, including multiple episodes of violence toward health care providers. “This woman nearly tore the door off the hinges as she entered the restaurant. Without violating HIPAA, I warned my friend that she might have to call 911 shortly, depending on what happened next. I stood up from my chair as the woman walked very quickly toward me. She was about six inches away from me and I braced myself, as I was fully anticipated she would take a swing,” she says. “Surprisingly, she embraced me in a bear hug and lifted me off the ground. I am a rather hefty woman, so this was no small feat. Through her tears she thanked me for believing in her, being honest with her about her care, and for saving her life. That was the day I realized I was doing precisely the type of nursing I was meant to do.” Favero is a psychiatric RN working in the DHMC emergency department with high-acuity psychiatric patients. She provides crisis intervention and stabilization for those with suicidal ideation, anxiety, depression, substance use disorders and a myriad of other mental health diagnoses and conditions. She is proud of the ability to utilize humor and therapeutic listening when working with patients to help them see that health care providers recognize them as individuals and not as their diagnoses. This facilitates trust and empowers patients to actively participate in their own care through self-efficacy and accountability. Before joining the DHMC staff in 2017, she was a charge nurse on a 15-bed, LGBTQIA+ adult inpatient psychiatric unit as well as a clinical nurse leader on a 10-bed inpatient psychiatric unit in Vermont. “Mental illness does not discriminate and can affect anyone at any time. I feel it is both an honor and a privilege to assist patients in their healing process. It is an amazing feeling to see former patients doing well in the community and know I played a small part in their recovery,” she says.
88 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
Exeter Hospital, Core Physicians and Rockingham Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice are proud to salute our nurses! Their compassion and commitment to excellence make a difference every day in the care of our patients.
Congratulations, April Henry, RN, clinical director of Exeter Hospital’s Family Center, for receiving the Excellence in Nursing Award for Maternal-Child Health Nursing!
exeterhospital.com l corephysicians.org l rockinghamvna.org l 603-580-6668 nhmagazine.com | June 2022 89
Monica Matulonis
Clinical Nurse Specialist
RN, ICU
Cardiovascular Nursing
Catholic Medical Center, Manchester
Monica Matulonis’ years of experience enable her to remain unruffled in a crisis. “To be a cardiac ICU nurse, an important trait to have is the ability to remain calm in emergencies,” says Matulonis. “I’ve learned to do this over time, and I find the key is to go over in my head all of the possible scenarios that could happen, and what I would do in that scenario. That way, I’m always ready for what may happen.” For the past eight years, Matulonis has been primarily caring for post-open heart surgery patients at Catholic Medical Center, and during the past three years, she’s been the specialist who gives training and practical experience to nurses new to their role in CMC’s nationally renowned unit. Though she’s an expert cardiac nurse, she had to take on a new role in 2020 during the height of the pandemic when she was tasked with being the charge nurse in the Covid intensive care unit. “I witnessed so much compassion and devotion from my co-workers those months. Through the exhaustion and discomfort of multiple layers of PPE, everyone came together and worked so hard for these patients and for each other. It was the most amazing evidence of teamwork that I had ever seen as a nurse. It reminded me of why I ended up in nursing — to become part of a team that does everything they can for their patients,” she says. Not only is she composed, she is compassionate. “What inspires me to be an excellent nurse is to utilize empathy with each and every patient. My goal is to treat every patient and family member like they are my family or close friend,” she says. NH
CONGRATULATIONS, TOP DOCS! Eight DMC providers have earned recognition from their peers as New Hampshire’s Top Doctors in family medicine for 2022. They proudly represent the highquality care DMC patients receive from all our providers. From left to right: JOHN DALEY, MD, Derry KATHARINE WETHERBEE, DO, Londonderry JAMES FITZGERALD, MD, Bedford & Goffstown LYDIA BENNETT, MD, Bedford & Goffstown ANNE BARRY, DO, Windham CRISTI EGENOLF, MD, Derry DOUGLAS DREFFER, MD, Derry ADAM ANDROLIA, DO, Derry & Bedford *Doctors were photographed individually and brought together through the magic of Photoshop. DMC recommends and follows strict masking protocols.
Always welcoming new patients. Online self-scheduling available!
WelcometoDMC.com 90 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
Our Nurses Set the Standard for Excellence Congratulations Jennifer Miller, MSN, RN-BC, Elliot Medical Group Clinical Nurse Educator, for being named a Nursing Excellence Award honoree.
Jennifer is one of hundreds of compassionate and expert Elliot nurses dedicated to caring for our patients and the community every day – a calling that was especially evident during the past year. We are grateful to Jennifer and all of her colleagues for their ongoing commitment to providing the highest-quality care throughout our health system.
ElliotHospital.org 1 Elliot Way, Manchester, NH
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603 Living “I drink sangria to make other people more interesting.” — Ernest Hemingway
92 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
Health 94 Ayuh 96
Relief Pitcher Sip on sangria to cool off this summer STORY AND PHOTOS BY MATTHEW MEAD
W
ith outdoor events, yard parties (and yard work), we’re finally working up a sweat while enjoying the advent of summer. To slake that hard-earned thirst, make a refreshing sangria by mixing locally grown fruits with New Hampshire-made wines and spirits. These fruit-laden elixirs set an enjoyable pace for the summer season. Start with wine — white, red or rosé — or mix a mocktail with fruit juice and leave the buzz for the bees. Search out farm stands for the freshest berries, melons and stone fruits. Visit distilleries and wineries as well as state liquor stores for local wines and spirits, and taste the essence of summer days in the Granite State. Note: See this story online for farm stand, winery and distillery suggestions. NH
SUMMER QUENCHER
Makes 1 Pitcher
Make sure all of your ingredients are at the peak of freshness and are well chilled. 1 large peach (cored, skin on, chopped into small pieces) 1 medium orange (rind on, sliced into small pieces, large seeds removed, plus more for garnish) 3-4 tablespoons organic brown sugar (or 3 tablespoons organic cane sugar)
1/3 cup brandy, chilled (plus more to taste) 750 ml bottle dry red wine,* chilled (or use white or rosé) 1/2 cup raspberries, blackberries or strawberries 1/2 cup chopped melon such as honeydew, cantaloupe or watermelon
3/4 cup orange juice (plus more to taste)
Ice for serving
Prepare all the fruit, place it in a pitcher and chill. In small pitcher, add the orange juice and sugar and mix to dissolve. Pour chilled wine and brandy over the fruit and add the orange juice mixture. Stir and refrigerate for two to four hours. Fill a serving glass with fresh fruit and ice. Pour sangria over ice and garnish with mint. *For mocktails, replace wine and brandy with fruit juice.
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603 LIVING / HEALTH
Brain Games For mental fitness, the best approach is to play games with others BY KAREN A. JAMROG / ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN R. GOODWIN
M
ost of us know that lifting weights builds strong muscles and cardiointensive activity helps maintain heart health. You might feel less sure about how to keep your brain sharp, however, and the specter of dementia looms large: Nearly one in every three seniors who dies each year in the U.S. has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Here in New Hampshire, home to one of the oldest populations in the country, 26,000 people aged 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. As dementia balloons to what some consider crisis-level proportions, so-called brain games have proliferated, promising to improve or at least maintain cognitive skills
94 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
such as memory, language and comprehension. Unfortunately, their effectiveness remains unproven, and their claims are sometimes misleading. Aleksandra C. Stark, M.D., a cognitive and behavioral neurologist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, notes that one popular game, for example, promises to help users improve memory when in fact users of the game have demonstrated only an increased aptitude for the game’s online test. The good news: Although there is no solid evidence for the effectiveness of brain games to prevent or delay dementia, games and other activities that stimulate the brain, such as reading, doing Sudoku or crossword puzzles, playing cards or playing an instrument, “are probably beneficial and are very
unlikely to be harmful,” says Margaret G. Woodward, M.D., a primary care physician at Core Physicians in Exeter. For mental fitness, the best approach is to play games that involve other people. “That’s even more important for some people in preventing decline or slowing decline when it does occur,” Stark says. “People who are more socially plugged-in tend to function better not only from an emotional standpoint but a cognitive standpoint as well.” Even idle chitchat fires up the brain more than we might expect. “There’s a lot more that goes into social cognition than we realize,” Stark says. When we engage with another person, we interpret their body language, comprehend the meaning of what the
Don’t be too hard on yourself
Perhaps you can recall a time when you wanted to pound the keys of your piano in frustration because you kept flubbing a Mozart passage, or you became similarly aggravated while engaged in some other skill that you couldn’t quite pull off. Perfectionists and over-achievers, you’re off the hook. If you’re thinking of tackling a mentally challenging hobby or activity in the hopes of working your brain and warding off dementia, it’s best not to demand too much of yourself. While there is some evidence that people who have a higher education, are bilingual or multilingual or play an instrument “may be able to compensate and cope with cognitive decline,” says Aleksandra C. Stark, M.D., a cognitive and behavioral neurologist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, “one caveat is that some people push themselves to learn new skills that might be stressful, in which case it’s certainly not helpful.” For more information on dementia, see the Alzheimer’s Association website alz.org. person says, and then formulate a response. “It really stimulates a large number of brain networks,” Stark says, “more than just being by ourselves and reading a book or doing a word-search puzzle or something like that.” Researchers continue to look at how and whether games might help prevent or delay dementia symptoms. One area of study, for example, is focused on a particular video game that improves memory and attention in kids with attention-deficit disorder. “Now people are trying to see if it can help with
people who have Alzheimer’s as well,” Stark says. “It looks promising.” While a surefire way to prevent or stop dementia remains elusive, “there are ways to hopefully delay the onset or maybe reduce the way that someone gets dementia if they have risk,” Stark says, starting with physical activity. There is no clear consensus around how much exercise is needed for cognitive health, but incorporating movement into daily life — even just a brisk walk for 30 minutes each day — “is probably the num-
ber-one thing we can do to delay or reduce the likelihood of dementia,” Stark says. Diet also plays a role because, among other things, it affects the vascular system; foods that are heart-healthy are often likely to also support brain function. The veggie-heavy and primarily plant-based Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet, which combines the Mediterranean and the DASH diet, “may reduce the likelihood of developing dementia and may slow decline once it has started,” Stark says. Similarly, chronic health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and a history of stroke also matter, Woodward says, as they can harm vascular and nerve health related to the brain as well as the heart. “An active lifestyle is really, really important” to bolster brain health, Woodward says, along with eating a healthful, balanced diet, mostly avoiding processed foods and sugars, minimizing alcohol intake, staying socially connected and incorporating cognitively stimulating activities. “All of those things are probably helpful for a number of [aspects of] health,” Woodward says. “Brain health is just one of them.” NH
Putting Family Favorites to the Test
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603 LIVING
Fishing for Stories
A
BOY AND HIS FATHER went fishing early one sunny morning. From shore, they cast their lines and let them drift in the water. After a while the boy lay back among the grasses, felt the sun on his face, and fell asleep. As he slept, a heavy fog rolled in. Startled awake by the scream of a seagull, the boy rubbed his eyes and looked around. “Daddy,” he said, “we ain’t here no more!” “Don’t worry, son,” the father said, “we ain’t far from here.” Of morning fog, we say, “It’ll burn off by noontime.” Usually it does. ON THE SUGAR RIVER in Newport, Nancy Pollard’s ancestors ran a sawmill. The mill is long gone, but the swimming hole remains. In a family story, a Pollard cousin who lived by the river called the police in a tizzy. Young people were in the river, she reported. Cooling off. In the nude. When an officer arrived to investigate, he took a look around the property and squinted in the direction of the river. “I don’t see anything,” he told the whistleblower. “Follow me,” she said, and led him through the house into a bedroom. She
pointed to a wooden chair. “Officer,” she said, “if you stand on that chair and look out that window, you’ll see what I mean.” Sometimes to get a good look, you need to stand on a wooden chair. With binoculars.
“Annie,” the nurse said, “do you ever go outside ... with no clothes on?” Annie’s bright eyes grew even brighter. “Oh, my dear,” she said, “those were the days!”
IN VERMONT — that upside-down, western state — a visiting nurse told a story of community outreach. “Part of my job,” she said, “is to figure out what kind of help people need.” Among her tools: an informal cognitive assessment. The nurse sat at the kitchen table having coffee with Annie — a nonagenarian with bright, white hair that draped her shoulders, and even brighter blue eyes. Did Annie mind if the nurse asked a few questions just to see how she was doing? Annie didn’t mind. The nurse asked Annie the day of the week, the year and who was president of the United States. Annie answered correctly and without hesitation. “Just a couple more questions,” the nurse said. “Do you ever get depressed?” “Sometimes,” Annie said. “Are you ever sad for no reason?” “No,” Annie said. “I get sad, but I always have a reason.”
MUCH AS I ENJOY Vermont’s green, rolling hills and Bernie Sanders’ mittens, as a lifelong New Hampshirite, I don’t think I could ever live there. It’s too far from the ocean. Imagine living all your life in South Dakota like Aunt Wini, who always wanted to see the ocean, but never got the chance — until her nephew joined the military and was stationed at Pease Air Force Base. “Come East, Aunt Wini,” he said. “I’ll pay for your ticket and show you the sea.” She flew to Newington and the nephew drove her to Rye Beach so she could see the ocean at long last. As they stood on the sand looking out at the water, he noticed that Aunt Wini looked a little down in the mouth. “What’s the matter?” he said. “Nothing,” she said, “I just thought it would be bigger.” NH
*Thanks to Nancy Pollard for her Sugar River story. It brightened my day. If you know a funny Yankee yarn, send it to me via ayuh@nhmagazine.com.
BY REBECCA RULE / ILLUSTRATION BY BRAD FITZPATRICK 96 New Hampshire Magazine | June 2022
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