Ageless players become the boys of summer at seacoast baseball league
PLUS:
The great Taco Tour returns
Lilac's glorious short season
Farmers Markets: keepin’ it fresh
Finding a home at Taylor means more than access to a stunning new cottage or apartment – it means receiving the keys to present and future peace of mind.
Taylor Community is located in the beautiful Lakes Region of New Hampshire with campus locations in both Laconia and Wolfeboro. Whether you prefer an active lifestyle lled with tness classes and an extensive lineup of social and recreational opportunities, or would rather enjoy a ne dining experience with friends after a day spent by the lake... Taylor is the place for you!
CASA of NH would like to thank and celebrate the generous sponsors who made our annual gala, CASA Cares, possible this year. Thanks to your generosity, we can continue to provide caring and compassionate best-interests advocacy to children who have experienced abuse and neglect.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire provides a voice for children and youth who have experienced abuse and neglect by empowering a statewide network of trained volunteers to advocate on their behalf so they can thrive in safe, permanent homes. Learn more at www.casannh.org.
Find out in a special section inside the OCTOBER ISSUE.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR RESEARCH PROCESS, GO TO: fivestarprofessional.com/public/research
27 years in business
150 total employees
crew vehicles 7,000+ hotel rooms booked and paid for annually
When you only operate at one airport, it’s easy to stay focused and to drive more business to where it counts: home.
At Port City Air, we’re not a national chain… we’re not a franchise. We don’t operate at other airports in other states. We are a privately owned, local company with more than a quarter century of investment and proven results at Pease Tradeport.
We drive business to one location – Pease Tradeport. All of our focus and all of our business means more economic impact to the place we call home – New Hampshire’s Seacoast. The more aviation customers we bring through New Hampshire, the bigger and better the economic
150,000 square feet of hangar space
15 total refueling trucks
impact for our region. We provide a full suite of vital aeronautic services to our customers. That includes mechanical, logistical and hospitality support to civilian, commercial and military aircraft from the United States and 9 allied countries. We do this with a team of more than 150 dedicated employees. We do it each and every day. We do it reliably. We do it consistently. We do it well.
Our job is to play a consistent and vital role at Pease, to keep the airplanes running on time and with the highest level of safety, service, and logistical support. When you want to ensure the highest economic input to the region we call home, it’s good to know the home team has been doing just that and will keep doing it. That’s our promise. Let’s keep growing together.
10 Editor’s Note
12 Contributors
56 Unique Best Places
New Hampshire is anything but conventional, which is why we’re highlighting the unexpected twists of our state. From bogs to birds, to rage rooms, comedy clubs, food spots, cocktails and mocktails and more, we’re challenging you to get outside and explore New Hampshire, with all the delightfully surprising twists and turns it has to offer.
By Elisa Gonzales Verdi, Emily Reily and Emily Heidt68 Baseball’s Never-Never Land
Ageless players become the boys of summer in this Portsmouth baseball league.
By Brion O’Connor, Photography
by Mark Bolton
76 Farm Fresh
Locally grown, nutritious food is as close as your nearest market.
By Kara McGrath
Special Advertising Section
52 Best Places Marketplace
18 Sunrise Reflections
Experience the sounds of the season at Chapman’s Landing
Photo by Harry Lichtman Photography
20 One Restaurant, One Gas Station, No Traffic Lights
Fremont stays under the radar, just like residents like it
By Jason Schreiber
26 Taco Tour Manchester Showcases Creative Cuisine
The annual festival pushes the taco’s form to extraordinary heights
By Caleb Jagoda
30 It’s Time for Tacos
Answer the questions to find out your new favorite NH taco spot
By Elisa Gonzales Verdi
34 No Magic Needed for a Great Mother’s Day
Moms want to be appreciated and pampered (and maybe left alone)
By Emily Reily
38 Blips
Chipped Paint, Paper Curtains and Worn-out Floors
By Casey McDermott
40 What Do You Know?
Driving the Deuce
By Marshall Hudson
42 In Their Own Words
New Hampshire ballerina Ashley
Kaichen debuts on world stage
By Emily Reily
46 Made In NH
The legacy of wooden baseball bats
By Brion O’Connor
84 Lilac Time
The sweet fragrance of the state’s flower is a short season to savor
By Matthew Mead
88 Health
The Echoes of Memory Lane
By Krysten Godfrey Maddocks
92 Connections
The Unstoppable David George
By Lynne Snierson
94 Calendar
By Elisa Gonzales Verdi
By Rebecca Rule ON
96 Live Free
The Compassionate Yankee
EVEN AT 85, my mom still surprises me. She and my stepfather live in Florida, but they’re still pining for spring to arrive. Last year, for the first time in her life, my mom became a baseball fan. Sorry, Red Sox Nation, she could care less about Boston. But ask her about the batting order for the Tampa Bay Rays, and she’ll start dishing about her favorite players.
This from a woman whose only previous experience watching baseball was a half-century ago when she joined other moms to work at the snack bar while my older brother, Steve, and I played in West Side Little League in Manchester. (My “minor league” career — I was one of those two innings and out bench-warmers — included a season playing for St. Mary’s Bank.)
My mom would relish the spirit of baseball captured in this month’s cover story by writer Brion O’Connor and photographer Mark Bolton about the Coastal New England Baseball League. The story (page 68) was inspired by Paul Milone, our sales and events manager, who plays in the amateur league. Paul also wrote a sidebar about his lifelong love for the game. What moms want
My mom raised three sons and a daughter by herself, so those times she volunteered at the Little League canteen still resonate with me all these years later. Back then, she didn’t get much time to herself — among the favorite “gifts” moms would like to receive for Mother’s Day, as Assistant Editor Emily Reily notes in her essay (page 34).
Might we also suggest freshly cut lilacs or a new bush to plant?
“In New Hampshire, these woody shrubs bloom for about a two-week period with richly hued flowers in shades of deep purple to light lavender,” Matthew Mead writes in his “Living” feature (page 84).
Oh, the best places you’ll go!
This year’s Best Places feature (page 56) — written by Reily, fellow Assistant Editor Elisa Gonzales Verdi and Managing Editor Emily Heidt — makes me pine for great summer days gone by.
In honor of my mom’s 85th birthday, her brothers and sisters and many of their children gathered at an Italian restaurant in Venice, Florida. Although we were 1,400 miles away from the Granite State, family vacation spots in New Hampshire loomed large in the stories we shared that night.
During the eight years before my mom remarried, we didn’t have a car, so we relied on visiting aunts and uncles to pack us into their station wagons for visits to the lakes, mountains and beaches. Our favorite destinations included Greenfield State Park, which my mom loved for its grassy fields — perfect for a game of wiffle ball with the cousins.
We also made trips to Newfound Lake, Lake Sunapee, Hampton Beach State Park and Pawtuckaway State Park in Raymond (back when the lake included a giant boulder you could dive from.)
When they visited from Wisconsin, my Uncle Roland and Aunt Catherine and their four children always made White Lake State Park in Tamworth one of their destinations. We loved how we could hike all the way around the 125-acre glacial lake, which features a 2-mile loop trail. It’s a great place to picnic, though one year, there were so many bees we couldn’t close a jam jar without trapping one inside. (But no one got stung.)
Crunch time
The best place to be in New Hampshire on May 2 happens to be my hometown. That’s when the Greater Manchester Chamber hosts “the world’s largest taco tour.” To gear up for the downtown party, former Assistant Editor Caleb Jagoda chronicles his culinary adventure from last year’s Taco Tour Manchester (page 26), and Gonzales Verdi helps you size up your particular brand of tortilla-ness with her Taco Quiz (page 30).
And that’s how we take a few big bites out of May. Enjoy.
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This year’s celebration returns to Flag Hill for an evening of sampling great food and drink, live music and fun from across the state. The event will be an elegant tent and garden party at one of NH’s most beautiful local treasures.
In April, New Hampshire was in the path of a solar eclipse for the first time since 1959. Northern New Hampshire was in the path of totality, where the skies were expected to go dark for the duration of the eclipse (a whopping three minutes and 15 seconds), while the rest of the state saw over 95% of the sun covered. Given the astronomical nature of this event, we decided to hold a reader photo contest. We challenged Granite State photographers and our more photographically inclined readers to send us their best shot of the eclipse for a chance for their photo to appear in print. Keep an eye out for the winning photographs in our upcoming June issue.
You will still find our hilltop hideaway at the end of the winding dirt road. Lighten your spirit as you step out of your world and into ours.
Welcome to Pickity Place.
Call us for dining reservations. Have a Pickity Day!
Spot four newts like the one here hidden on ads in this issue, tell us where you found them and you might win a great gift from a local artisan or company.
To enter our drawing for Spot the Newt, visit spotthenewt.com and fill out the online form.
Or, send answers plus your name and mailing address to:
Spot the Newt c/o New Hampshire Magazine 250 Commercial St., Suite 4014 Manchester, NH 03101
You can also email them to newt@nhmagazine.com or fax them to (603) 624-1310.
Last month’s “Spot the Newt” winner is Jacqueline O. Cottle of Antrim. March / April issue newts were on pages 6, 19, 25 and 91.
The May 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
Premiering on Public Television Stations Nationwide This Spring
FUNDED BY:
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Tucked along the line between Newfields and Stratham, Chapman’s Landing is a natural area next to the NH-108 bridge over the Squamscott River that is perfect for scenic spring scenes. The salt marsh is also known for its kayaking and birding opportunities, and is home to Nelson’s sparrows, Virginia rails and the occasional osprey nest. This spot is ideal to soak in the beauty of the season.
Fremont stays under the radar, just the way residents like it
STORY AND PHOTOS BY JASON SCHREIBER / ILLUSTRATION BY PETER NOONANInside the old one-room schoolhouse that now serves as the Fremont Historical Museum sits a yellowed black and white postcard printed in 1910 offering a futuristic look at the town of Fremont. The postcard shows a view of Main Street with a hand-drawn streetcar, a subway bound for New York and other innovative modes of transportation, but most notable is the blimp-like aircraft seen floating high above the town.
With just under 5,000 residents, it’s easy to see why there are no streetcars or subways in the year 2024. This town has managed to preserve its pastoral character and still has only one restaurant, one gas station and no traffic lights.
But as it turns out, that postcard vision of the future really wasn’t that far-fetched, as Fremont became the unlikely home to a high-tech research and development center that now tests large broadband blimps, known as aerostats, that hover over the town and are visible for miles. They are the work of Altaeros Energies, a Massachusetts
company developing aerostats to be used as aerial broadband towers that can be sent to rural and remote parts of the world to provide clear wireless signals.
These modern-day blimps are part of a new chapter in the history of a small town that has remained largely under the radar, despite its many historic markers scattered throughout town that tell the story of a community shaped by a barrel factory and brickyard workers, a lumbermen’s riot over valuable pine trees, a strong sense of patriotism and a world-class racing event that continues to bring tens of thousands of snowmobile enthusiasts to a local farm every October.
“If you want to come to a little town in southeastern New Hampshire that has a lot of character, incredible history and interesting people, this is the town to check out. Is it going to wow you with fancy architecture? No. It’s just a nice, humble, old-fashioned community that has taken pride in itself,” said Matthew Thomas, the town’s 67-yearold historian who began digging into
Fremont’s past for an eighth-grade school project when he was a young teen and never stopped.
Situated just south of Route 101 – the state’s busiest east-west freeway – and a mile west of Route 125, Fremont is like a doughnut hole surrounded by major highways and commercial development.
Once known as Poplin when it was first incorporated in 1764, this mill town’s name was changed to Fremont in 1854 as a way to honor Gen. John C. Fremont, who was the first candidate of the Republican Party in the presidential election of 1856 and who served as the first territorial governor of Arizona from 1878 to 1883.
While it has a rich history, when outsiders are asked about Fremont these days, the first thought that often comes to mind for many is Fremont Pizzeria. It’s the only restaurant in town, but it’s been around long enough to have built up a loyal customer base with regulars
who come from as far away as New London, N.H., and Burlington, Mass.
The pizzeria first opened in 1987 in a renovated barn attached to an old nursing home, but five years later it moved to its current spot on Main Street. “The people in town are great and very supportive, but there are people who still don’t know where Fremont is,” owner Nick Kakouris said.
And that’s just fine with some residents who would prefer to keep their small bedroom community a secret, including Thomas, though he’s spent his life trying to put Fremont on the historical map. He wasn’t happy when the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association’s Grass Drags and Watercross races, which came to town in the 1980s, was marketed as an event in Epping – a bigger neighboring town that’s more widely known. The race takes place at Brookvale Pines Farm on Martin Road, and while a portion of the farm sits in Epping, the races have always been held over the line in Fremont.
The popular three-day powersports event is hosted by the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association on Columbus Day weekend and attracts more than 45,000 snowmobile enthusiasts from across the Northeast and Canada. It’s the largest event that’s ever been held in town and is considered the kickoff to the winter season, featuring world-class snowmobilers racing on grass and across a large pond on the farm.
It’s an event that wouldn’t be possible
without the support of farm owners Scott and Brenda Barthelemy. It was Brenda’s father, the late Phil Peterson, who first allowed the event to be held there when he operated the farm. Peterson was always generous with the property, and the Barthelemys have continued the tradition by allowing generations of residents and out-of-towners to enjoy the farm land for recreation.
“It’s being preserved for everybody. Our fences don’t mean ‘stay out.’ They just keep the cows in,” she said. “We love to see people fishing and enjoying the outdoors. When you drive down Martin Road, we’d
like to think that the world hasn’t changed all that much.”
In recent years, the farm has also become the new home for the New Hampshire Renaissance Faire, which is held over two weekends in May and draws thousands of people from across New England.
This is the same farm that made headlines in 1986 when Peterson was kind enough to allow someone to store dozens of circus animals in a wooded area on the property, unaware that authorities were searching for some of them after they were reported stolen. Police were stunned to find a wild menagerie that included an elephant, tigers, a leopard, a lioness, camel, monkeys, donkeys, exotic birds and others.
The case of the hidden circus animals is just one of the many pieces of the past that Thomas has documented in books on a town with many firsts. They include the first Civil War riot in New England on July 4, 1861, the first Mast Tree Riot in 1734, and the first New Hampshire resident to have a heart transplant.
Thomas has ensured that the historical museum has plenty of news clippings from the highly publicized B-52 bomber crash in Spruce Swamp in 1959, which was the only bomber plane crash in U.S. history in which no crew members died; stories about Fremont’s 1960s all-female band, The Shaggs, which Frank Zappa once called “better than the Beatles” and over the years has developed a cult following; and the devastating fires that hit the Spaulding & Frost Cooperage.
Thanks to Thomas’ decades of research,
Fremont now has six state historical markers and is tied with the city of Dover. The only communities with more are the city of Portsmouth, which has seven markers, and the capital city, Concord, which has the most with 14, one of which is retired. In addition to the state markers, the town has created many of its own local historical signs that hang on buildings to identify other town landmarks.
“Who knew about the B-52 bomber crash? Who knew about these riots? These
are pieces of history that happened in one little community that should not be lost to history. I’m very big on putting up markers in hopes that future generations will hopefully remember seeing them and will remember, because I don’t expect to live forever,” Thomas said.
Built in 1874, the Spaulding & Frost Cooperage was the oldest operating white pine barrel-making factory in the country, but suffered fires in 1921 and again in 1973. During its operation, the factory produced
what is believed to be two of the largest barrels ever made in the U.S. — one built in 1976 that was 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide and another made in 1998 that measured 17 feet high and 10 feet wide. The cooperage ceased operations in 1999, but its legacy lives on.
Craig Jewett is the owner of Jewett Construction Co. Inc., who moved the headquarters of his growing $100-million company to the former cooperage property in 2020. His father was a former co-owner of the cooperage before it burned in 1973.
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When the younger Jewett decided to buy the property and relocate his business, it was like a homecoming of sorts. And while Fremont has a small business community, Jewett said the town was inviting and he’s glad he came here.
“It’s just a quintessential, bucolic New England town, and we’re happy to be there. It’s one of the better business decisions I’ve made in my life,” Jewett said. “It’s only 4 miles off of 101 and that’s our access to the world. We’ve had tremendous growth, and I think that has a lot to do with it.”
Heidi Carlson is in her 30th year as Fremont’s town administrator. She considered a new job only a couple of times over the years, but decided that she has more work to do here. A leader in town government who sticks around for three decades is rare these days.
“I’ve spent more than half of my life here. It’s a community very similar to where I grew up. I still consider it to be very grassroots democracy here. People are interested, and they’re engaged. They’re paying attention and everybody has an interest,” she said. “For the most part, virtually every town official that I’ve ever worked with on a board or a committee was on that board for the good of the town, not because they needed something or had an agenda. I think that’s huge.”
Like others, Thomas has always approached his work in a similar way as he continues to document current events that will one day become a part of Fremont’s history. With that 1910 postcard sitting nearby, he is already working on the page about the blimp business by Altaeros, which plans to develop new aerostats here for the foreseeable future.
“Finding the ideal spot for our R & D Center in Fremont was extremely lucky. While the location is great, the people and local businesses are what really makes this town one of a kind,” said Elise Gianattasio Niman, marketing and public relations manager at Altaeros. “The community in Fremont and the surrounding area has been so welcoming to our team, and we are so happy to be here. We love Fremont.” NH
Jason Schreiber is a former newspaper journalist whose career spanned nearly 30 years and was spent entirely in New Hampshire. He is a lifelong Fremont resident with a large extended family that remains deeply rooted in the town. Like Schreiber, many of his relatives grew up in Fremont and never left, choosing to raise their families there as well.
We are proud to congratulate our doctors who have earned recognition from their peers as New Hampshire’s Top Doctors in Family Medicine. These doctors represent all of the excellent DMC providers who continually provide high-quality, patient-centered care.
Jay Bryan Bannister, MD (Bedford)
Cristi Egenolf, MD (Derry)
Douglas Phelan, DO (Windham)
James Fitzgerald, MD (Bedford & Goffstown)
John Daley, MD (Derry)
John Wheeler, DO (Derry)
Katharine Wetherbee, DO (Londonderry)
Anne Barry, DO (Windham)
Adam Androlia, DO (Bedford & Derry)
Douglas Dreffer, MD (Concord)
Not pictured, Jennifer Badger, DO (Derry), who earned a 2024 Top Doc Rising Star award.
The beloved annual festival pushes the taco’s form to extraordinary heights
BY CALEB JAGODA / PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX KUMPHNew Hampshire isn’t known for its tacos. And why would it be? According to population estimates from the U.S. Census, the Granite State is 92.6% white, and only 4.6% Hispanic or Latino. Why, then, does our Queen City claim to host “the world’s largest taco tour”?
Maybe because tacos are now as ubiquitous in the U.S. as pizza and, like that import from Italy, have traveled far and wide from their humble roots in Mexico.
Taco Tour Manchester began in 2011 under the name “Hippo de Mayo Taco Challenge,” as a business promotion via alt-weekly newspaper The Hippo. A handful of local restaurants served tacos pop-up style on Elm Street — nothing crazy, just a fun event encouraging folks to visit downtown. In only a few short years, though, things would heat up. By 2018, the event was gaining a reputation as Manchester’s most boisterous annual happening, with the city shutting down its main strip to traffic and tens of thousands of attendees showing up.
In 2020, the pandemic put taco festivities on hold, and then the Greater Manchester Chamber brought them back in 2022 under the new name, “Taco Tour Manchester.” It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, though; 25,000 attendees combined with a quickly-thrown-together plan produced hours-long lines and prematurely sold-out vendors.
All of this brings us to the 2023 Taco Tour: With one dry run under their belt, the chamber had an entire year to carefully plan, plot and scheme the perfect taco tundra. Would they bring taco glory back to New Hampshire?
Tacos gone wild
While it’s now coined a taco tour, calling it a taco challenge may be more fitting. The 2023 Manchester Taco Tour saw 98 vendors in attendance; given our state’s demographics, it’s not exactly a plausible feat to host 98 authentic Mexican joints, all based in New Hampshire, slinging handmade tacos.
Instead, all of these Granite State restaurants donned their thinking caps and got to experimenting in test kitchens. The result?
Dessert tacos, falafel tacos, sushi tacos, chicken parmesan and Caesar salad tacos (combined, in one taco!), alligator tacos — these were just a few of the options served at the 2023 Manchester Taco Tour.
The tour’s official director, Cole Riel, compares attending the event to visiting Disney Land: To ensure maximum efficiency, one must spread a map, plan a route and go in with surefire objectives. Otherwise, a sea of possibilities (and a near-literal sea of attendees) might wash you far, far away from any semblance of taco satisfaction. That wasn’t a risk I was willing to take.
I arrived early on Manchester’s Elm Street, about an hour before the tour’s 4 p.m. start time. My crew and I — photographer Alex Kumph, accompanied by his younger brother, good-time-guy Colby — watched vendors set up in the eerily-deserted downtown, heavy rainclouds blooming overhead. We ducked into The Pint Publik House on Elm Street to grab a brew and plan our route.
As luck would have it, a visiting Dos Equis rep had visited the bar and left an open tab of $200 (talk about a good omen). Greasing the wheels with a few amber
ales, we concocted our gameplan. I can’t speak for the other fellas, but one enduring thought swirled in my mind as I picked my must-hit spots: What is the taco capable of? Who’s willing to push that form to its absolute limit? I was certain there’d be a few great authentic Mexican tacos — but we’re in New Hampshire, after all, not SoCal. I wanted to bear witness to the possibilities of the taco’s form.
Like all good plans, ours fell to the wayside once the heat of action took over. We did stick to our tenets, though, and even developed an on-the-fly tactic to hit side streets for less-busy lines and underrated gems. It was something of a blur — bodies covered in fabric taco gear whizzing by, an amalgam of scents reaching up into your nostrils, split-second decisions deciding your taco fate.
At one point a firefighter, hoisting a makeshift cardboard sign, persuaded us to trek off the beaten path to the station for smoked pork and purple cabbage tacos. In the next breath, we were downing black raspberry tequila shots from a street vendor. Much to do, much to consume, go-go-go.
This ended up being a serious exercise in gluttony. But here’s the thing: It doesn’t have to be. You can dip down to Elm, have
a couple tacos, spend less than $10 (most vendors sell their tacos for $3 a piece), and go on your merry way.
When all was said and done, I had consumed nine tacos, several beers, a couple of tequila shots, and a whole lotta energy from the buzzing crowd.
With the event being a Cinco de Mayo celebration, the day had a palpable energy to it; folks were excited just to soak in the spring warmth and spend time outside.
The rain held off, and nobody seemed frustrated waiting their turn for tacos. Even the longest lines breezed by in 15 minutes. Having an entire year to plan the Taco Tour clearly paid off for the chamber.
There’s still one burning question left: What’s the best taco at the Manchester Taco Tour?
How do you compare Kisaki Japanese Cuisine’s sushi taco — featuring spicy crab lettuce and a tempura seaweed shell — with Bearded Baking Co.’s Mexican hot chocolate dessert taco?
The best taco I sampled was One Happy Clam’s grilled shrimp taco, with crunchy slaw and garlic avocado sauce, followed by Traveling Foodie’s Southern-style pulled pork taco, topped with mac n’ cheese, slaw, sour cream and barbecue sauce.
Repeat champion Firefly American Bistro & Bar won the official “Best Taco” designation, though, decided by a popularity contest voting poll, with their Chewbacca chicken and cheese taco.
My biggest regret is missing out on bluAqua Restrobar’s alligator and andouille sausage taco, which won the “Most Creative Taco” award. But there’s always next time, and isn’t that what’s beautiful about all of this? We get to come together, year after year, to celebrate the multitudes of Manchester cuisine — a severely underrated food city, probably the most diverse in the Granite State — and throw everything together into one Elm Streetsized taco, to be enjoyed a tortilla-handful at a time.
Go to Taco Tour Manchester. Rejoice in the very form and many possibilities of the taco. NH
Taco Tour Manchester is Thursday, May 2, from 4 to 8 p.m. in downtown Manchester. Visit tacotourmanchester.com for more information.
Since 2003, NH Business Review’s Business Excellence Awards have honored the best and the brightest leaders in the state’s business community. Submit your nomination by June 14 at nhbr.com/bea
Answer these five questions to find out your favorite NH taco spot
BY ELISA GONZALES VERDIWe have tacos on the mind. The pillowy, soft tortilla, the sizzling meat and melted cheese that explodes with flavor bite after bite. Our mouths are watering just thinking about it!
Thanks to Taco Tour Manchester — the largest taco tour in the world — we’ve learned that the simple taco is a place for creativity to shine. Much like an artist’s blank canvas, the taco, to the creative chef, is an endless opportunity for mouth-watering possibilities.
Are you ready to take the plunge and explore the delicious tacos New Hampshire has to offer? Take our taco quiz to find out which Granite State taco spot matches your vibe.
You get a last-minute phone call from a friend saying they have an extra ticket to a concert for a band you’ve never heard of … tonight! You:
A) Say thanks, but you’re already in bed. Plus, you don’t know the band!
B) You look at the clock, realize it’s late and then say you’ll go! You don’t know the band, but you’re going to stream their top hits while you’re getting ready, that way you don’t seem TOTALLY clueless at the show.
C) You’re not huge on last-minute, spur-of-the-moment plans, so you say no for now. But you queue up some of the band’s songs and tell your friend that you would love to catch their next show in a few months!
D) Say “Yes, of course,” get ready and head out! You don’t know the band, and you’ve decided that you want to hear all their songs for the first time in person. You’ll be on your feet for the whole concert, dancing and jamming your heart out — whether you know the words to the songs or not!
You’re sitting next to a stranger on the plane, and you can tell that they’re going to want to talk to you the entire flight. What do you do?
A) You put your headphones in during boarding, so you don’t have to worry about chatting. You’re looking to rest and relax as much as you can during your flight.
B) You chat with your row-mate a little bit during boarding and takeoff, but after a while, you find a movie to watch. You’ll catch up with them again at the baggage carousel.
C) You’re not huge on talking to strangers, and you were planning to spend this flight napping. But you can’t pass up on listening to a good story — you can’t wait to tell your friends about this stranger’s drama when you land.
D) This is perfect because you were planning on getting to know the person sitting next to you, anyways! By the end of the flight, the
two of you have practically become best friends. You live for these brief moments of connection, which is why you make friends wherever you go.
You’re in the mood for a cocktail. What’s your go-to drink?
A) The house margarita. It’s a classic, and it reminds you of your 21st birthday. A classic drink and nostalgia? What could be better than that?
B) You order whatever flight they have that day. You’re trying to try new things, and why would you commit to just one drink when you can sample a few and see what you like? Worst-case scenario is you find a new favorite!
C) You’ll order a familiar favorite, like a martini or a rum and coke, but you’ll ask the bartender to do something unexpected. You live for the classics, but you want to spice things up a little.
D) The menu has a mystery drink that changes daily? You’re 100% ordering that! You love surprises, and trying new things.
What’s your favorite way to listen to music?
A) You have your favorite albums on repeat. You didn’t spend all that time curating the perfect CD and vinyl collection for nothing.
B) You’re always tuned into your favorite independent radio station! You love the mix of familiar favorites, while discovering new tunes.
C) You primarily stream your music, and you’re always making playlists for your every mood. You make sure that you mix in songs you’ve had on repeat with songs that you’ve just discovered to keep things fresh.
D) You don’t like defining yourself with one genre, so when you stream music, your primary goal is to keep the algorithm on its toes. You’ll listen to anything, and you bounce around between listening to the radio, streaming, and home-burned CDs.
What do you look forward to most in the summer?
A) Unwinding at the beach with a good book. Just you, the waves and some peace and quiet.
B) You’re looking forward to the trips you’re planning with your friends and family. Your itinerary is full of new places to check out!
C) You’re looking forward to having the quintessential New England summer. You can’t wait for sunset beach walks and the smell of lilacs mixed with ocean air.
D) You can’t wait to tackle the summer bucket list you’ve been working on since last August. This summer is going to be the best summer yet!
If you answered….
You’re Consuelo’s Taqueria! You love foods that feel like a warm hug, where you can taste the generations of love that went into each dish. You know what you like, and you love finding places that feel homey and warm! That’s why you need to check out Consuelo’s Taqueria. The Manchester restaurant’s relaxed environment and delicious staples will fill your stomach and soothe your soul. With a menu that ranges from carne asada, to alambre, to carnitas, Consuelo’s Taqueria serves up delicious tacos with warm flavors that will put your mind at ease.
Consuelo’s Taqueria / 36 Amherst St., Manchester consuelostaqueria.com / 603-622-1134
Mostly B’s:
You’re My Cielo Taqueria!
Your life philosophy is to try everything, but you can’t help but fall back on your familiar favorites. You want variety, but you want to know you’ll like it, first. My Cielo Taqueria in Epping has a full menu of delicious tacos for you to try, but if you aren’t sure where to start, their taco flight is right up your alley.
With your choice of three, six or 12 tacos, you can sample every taco your heart desires. You can fill your plate with some familiar favorites, like the Tacos Americanos or the chicken tacos, and add some variety with the Al Pastor tacos, calamari tacos and cochinita tacos. With a dozen tacos to explore, My Cielo Taqueria will send your tastebuds on an exciting adventure every time you go.
My Cielo Taqueria / 23 Fresh River Road, Epping epping.ordermycielotacos.com / 603-734-4476
You’re Los Reyes Street Tacos and More! You love the classics, but you’re always looking for ways to spice things up! You love unexpected flavors that perfectly liven up something you’ve had dozens of times. Los Reyes in Derry dishes up Mexican street-style food, with twists that you’ll be sure to love. Their street tacos are classic and delicious, but their Birria Tacos and Quesabirria truly shine. For Chino’s Birria Tacos and their Quesabirria, Los Reyes uses a recipe that’s stood the test of time, and has been in the Reyes family for generations. You’ll love how these savory tacos explode with flavor in every bite.
Los Reyes Street Tacos and More / 127 Rockingham Road, Derry / losreyesstreettacos.com / 603-845-8327
You’re Taco Tour Manchester!
With you, your friends know to expect the unexpected. You live for excitement, and for diving into new experiences headfirst. You never know what you’ll find at the Taco Tour, which is why this is the perfect taco spot for an adventurer like you.
From Asian-fusion tacos from Bubba’s Noodle Bar, to vegan tacos made with jackfruit from the Sleazy Vegan Food Truck, to whatever taco-themed ice cream Ben & Jerry’s cooks up this year, Taco Tour Manchester dishes up variety and creativity on a tortilla every year.
Taco Tour Manchester / tacotourmanchester.com
Erin Maltais, Concord Hospital Laconia/Franklin
Crystal Geoffroy, Manchester VA Medical Center
Melanie D’Agata, North Country Home Health & Hospice Agency
Jennifer Osborne, Cheshire Medical Center
Emily Kordas, Concord Hospital Laconia
Mona Lavalliere, Manchester VA Medical Center
Ian Kirit, Dartmouth Health
Sharon Breidt, Keene State College
Kimberly Bernard, City of Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services
Carol Long,
Hospital
Moms want to be appreciated and pampered (and maybe left alone for a little bit)BY EMILY REILY
Moms don’t often ask for much, but on Mother’s Day, we’re a tad particular. And why shouldn’t we be? It’s our only “official” day off the entire year.
This is a 24-hour, 365 days a year job, with its own unique challenges that are tailor-fit for mom. (By the way, anyone can be a mom: dads; parents in nontraditional households and same-sex marriages; families in mixed-generation homes, etc.)
Here’s a small sample of the job description: Moms are unquestionably there for you, even if you mess up. Moms impart wisdom, make you a sorely needed bowl of soup without asking, and remind you that it’s OK. Moms are supposed to have all the answers. Moms pay attention to us even when we think they’re not — they’re superhuman like that. They never allow themselves a day off, even when they’re sick, yet they wouldn’t trade the role for anything else.
Mother’s Day celebrates overcoming these challenges. It’s for brunches and bouquets, and creating homemade cards with heartfelt messages.
It’s a day to thank mom for all the hard work. But this year, what about thinking outside the Hallmark box?
As a mom myself, I like to have time alone that day to do whatever I feel like doing, whether that’s browsing a bookstore or planting some flowers, visiting a tea house, getting sushi with a friend or sleeping in. But what do other moms want on that special Sunday?
I searched Reddit recently for some mom-anonymous perspectives, and their unfiltered responses are telling.
One mom wrote, “I feel invisible most of the time.”
Another asked for “acknowledgment. That’s all. A phone call or a visit. Just a chat over a cup or glass of wine.”
Still others asked, “To be left the bleep alone,” while more requests hint at a lack of human decency: “A whole day to be a person and not a mom,” wrote one frustrated caregiver.
“Do her job for her, for one day,” said another.
There’s a pattern here. Moms feel underappreciated, even ignored.
One mom said she asks to have her car detailed every year, yet never receives the gift.
These sentiments aren’t just found on anonymous social media sites – they’re evident in everyday conversations between caregivers while their kids are jumping around out back during a playdate.
Many moms face an ongoing battle for equity regarding household and family duties. Several shared that they felt like they were carrying the “mental load” for the family, and there’s some truth to that. Moms are also always preparing for any impending family disaster or event — planning birthdays, scheduling playdates, making sure there’s TP in the house …. rinse, repeat. When they can’t keep up with it all, the mental pressure and fatigue sets in.
At least one mom on Reddit wanted to “make no decisions on where/what to
eat” for Mother’s Day, a time often associated with brunch, a classic outing for that day. But it’s easy to forget that except for the no cooking / no cleaning part, when the entire family goes out to eat, the regular rules still apply – getting the kids dressed, keeping them on schedule, making sure the “mom bag” of diapers, wipes and supplies is ready to go, and plenty more.
“Organize child care so you can have a date night. Plan a family outing,” suggested one mom, offering a not-so-subtle reminder that organizing family events has been in mom’s Rolodex for generations.
Regardless, you know your mom best, so really think about her needs and what she might want. Don’t just assume flowers and a card is a safe fallback. Surprise her with something fun or something she wouldn’t
think you’d remember. It could make all the difference.
First, one of the easiest ways to let her know she’s appreciated is by simply saying “thank you” — no need to break the bank with a pricey gift.
Offer to make breakfast or dinner, or both, or pick up the daily chores. One day “away” from the regular routine is thank you enough.
Moms love their own personal space and crave free time alone, but they really do want to spend time with the family as well. Watching the tube or binging a favorite sitcom doesn’t always “count.” Moms want quality family time, because that’s where special moments can be made. This means putting down the phone and video games to play Scrabble or Exploding Kittens around
the kitchen table, throwing the ball around outside, or hanging out at a local park with no agenda.
Maybe your mom wants a homemade, thoughtful gift. Some years, I get a lovely card from my daughter, but it’s the crafty presents that I treasure most. One year, she made me chimes from a circle of wood and various keys that she had colored. I have one very simple picture that she drew of us hugging, and it’s one of my favorites.
Well in advance, listen to moms to find out how they want to spend their Mother’s Day. Better yet — just ask them. They are probably bursting to tell you.
Our sidebar contains more out-of-thebox ideas, including in-home spa package delivery, unique social events, tips for thrifty shoppers and more. NH
Does your mom love grabbing a good bargain? Look no further than New Hampshire’s wide variety of antique and thrift shops, some of which benefit a good cause. Does she like to be pampered on the special day? A spa day might fit the bill. Or would she rather be surrounded in roses? It can be done at a formal rose garden right off the ocean. A gift card to any of the below shops and experiences will be sure to put a smile on mom’s face.
Baskets New Hampshire can deliver custom items in endless categories. Add a bottle of wine, some bath products in a galvanized bucket or a picnic basket, and your gift is complete. What has your mom been talking about lately? basketsnewhampshire.com
Paint your piece of the sky during a DIY class at Art Escape in Laconia. Choose from a variety of pottery, paint on canvas, or explore their new blacklight splatter room. Art Escape offers classes and walk-in hours. artescapenh.com
Finally get that family portrait that mom has been asking for at Birch Blaze Portrait Studio. birchblaze.com
Through June 30, Averill House Vineyard in Brookline hosts “Bottle Your Own Experience Sundays.” Experience wine-making with your besties during this two-hour event. You’ll get to make your own wine, then craft and bottle it to your liking. Enjoy charcuterie treats, and enter the tasting room to try several different wines. averillhousevineyard.com
Garrison Hotel & Suites, Dover and Durham > It’s upscale, it’s quiet and it has a pool. What more do you need? thegarrisonhotel.com
Wentworth By the Sea, New Castle
> This spot has several fabulous spa services. Before your appointment, take a dip in the spacious heated hot tub, then choose from a manicure, pedicure, a variety of massages, whatever you fancy. You’ll feel like you’re a thousand miles away. opalcollection.com/ wentworth
Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa, Whitefield > Give mom the best life can offer with this magical getaway in Whitefield. mountainviewgrand.com
True REST Float Spa, Keene > Immerse yourself in one of the sensory deprivation water “eggs” filled with Epsom salts during a 60-minute therapy session, then take in the oxygen bar. Float your troubles away. truerest.com/locations/keene
Fleuresh Restorative Spa, Manchester > Fleuresh is perfect for staycations, babymoons, and, of course, Mother’s Day. In addition, there are hydrafacial and other skincare services, scalp treatments, holistic facials, meditation and massage, body treatments and day packages. Try their “Sensory Massage Journey” to see where it takes you. fleuresh.com
Fuller Gardens, North Hampton > Fuller Gardens, a public botanical and estate garden just off Route 1A, boasts about 1,700 rose bushes with 125 varieties in all shapes and shades. By Mother’s Day, the gardens should be in full, transcendent bloom. This working formal estate garden also features a dahlia display garden and a Japanese garden.
Fuller Gardens officially opens Mother’s Day weekend. Pick something from their Mother’s Day Weekend plant sale, May 10-12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. fullergardens.org
Extra points: Instead of a bouquet that fades in a week, why not buy a shrub or rosebush in their favorite color and plant it so that it returns every year? Or maybe mom has a bare spot in her garden for a few perennials and annuals. She’ll appreciate the effort.
Just The Thing, Dover > This little shop is always surprising. From framed vintage artwork to art deco, Just The Thing has a quaint but cute and eclectic style, offering gifts and antiques from local sellers. Visit the store for seasonal items, jewelry and furniture. Facebook
Children’s Orchard, Newington > This consignment shop is stuffed full with bargains for moms – baby and kids clothes in all ages, toys, books, shoes, playpens, bikes and whatever else is on trend in kids’ attire. Find cool gently used outfits, some at deep discounts. Facebook Outfitters Thrift Store, Manchester and Concord > All sale proceeds benefit the Families in Transition program. Facebook
Derry mom keeps home life real on TikTok
BY CASEY McDERMOTT
Stephanie Murphy has had a long relationship with social media. She joined Facebook during her freshman year of college in 2005 — when the fledgling website was still limited to students. In 2017, she started using Facebook to sell clothes. In 2020, she opened a storefront for her business, Blue Violet Boutique, in her hometown of Derry — and that same year, she started turning to TikTok as another promotional tool.
“I grew my account in those two years from 0 to 42,000 followers,” she said. “And people loved seeing, like, behind the scenes
stuff, as well as what it was like being a small-business owner and how to order products.”
Last year, Murphy decided to take a break from her business — and almost left TikTok. Instead, she decided to turn the camera on her own life. But instead of serving up a carefully curated portrait of her suburban life, the kind of envy-inducing highlight reel that was already plentiful across social media, she decided to offer a less glamorous view inside her home: unorganized closets, unkempt junk drawers and all. And that’s when things really started taking off.
“For a while, when you scrolled on TikTok, you would see these gorgeous manicured houses, um, and everything was perfect and in place. And it made normal people question their life,” she says. “Like, is this how everyone else lives except me? Am I the only one that can’t keep up with their house? Am I the only one who is having trouble making ends meet and can’t even afford my own mortgage — never mind a million-dollar house?”
One such video was picked up by “Good Morning America,” and some racked up more than a million views. Since then,
Murphy has continued to grow her presence on TikTok to more than 140,000 followers.
“I am very open and honest about the fact that I’m just an average, everyday mom,” Murphy says. “There is nothing special about me. I am not an influencer that lives in a mansion. I show the behind-the-scenes of my house that is a disaster. It’s not always clean; it’s not always organized. But that’s how everyone lives.”
She’s also come to rely on TikTok as a steady side hustle, bringing in extra cash from the platform for popular videos or in exchange for promoting other products. She says she treats it like a serious job, and it’s allowed her family to pay down all of their debt, but she’s not banking on it as a primary source of income.
“Ever since I started making money on TikTok, I said it does not matter how much money I make as a content creator, I will never quit my full-time job, because social media in general is unreliable. It’s unpredictable,” she says.
As TikTok draws increased scrutiny from regulators over privacy and security concerns, Murphy says she knows the site’s future is far from certain. And if it were to go away, she acknowledges she’d be sad — but it wouldn’t dramatically disrupt her family’s lifestyle, or their ability to put food on the table. For now, she says, she’s just “riding the wave and enjoying it while it lasts.” NH
As we bounce down the road in his 1943 GMC U.S. Army truck, Steve Keith peppers me with tips about how to drive it.
“It has a five-speed manual transmission, but the gears are not synchromeshed so you have to double clutch every time you shift,” he says. “Start out in second gear. First is really low. You only use it when you are stuck in the mud or hauling a
heavy load. Fifth gear is an overdrive.”
It’s nothing like driving a car or an SUV. And it nearly has a mind of its own.
“You have to be careful on corners because there are eight wheels in the back tracking straight ahead and only two in the front providing steering, so the truck has a natural tendency to plow straight ahead on slippery curves, even though you are turning the wheel,” he instructs me.
We stop for fuel and draw curious looks from the other customers, which really isn’t surprising. You don’t often see a WWII deuce and a half with a 50-caliber machine gun mounted above the passenger’s head at a gas station.
The gun is a replica weapon manufactured for training purposes and cannot be fired, but it adds restoration authenticity to the truck. Because these trucks were rated to haul 2 1⁄2 tons, soldiers nicknamed them “deuce and a half,” sometimes shortened to just “deuce.” Every soldier who ever rode on the wooden bench in the canvas-covered back of a deuce likely remembers the experience; they weren’t built for comfort.
We are on our way to the private garage owned by Steve and his wife, Jeanne, which they affectionately refer to as the “Pembroke Ordnance Depot” or POD. While some people collect spoons, coins or stamps, Steve and Jeanne collect WWII historic military vehicles or “HMVs.”
At the POD, I count a few more deuces, some restored, and some “ladies in waiting” needing to be worked on. These include a radio truck, bomb truck and a deuce-mounted crane. There are also Army trailers, water buffaloes, and an airborne bulldozer that was transported aboard cargo planes.
Army uniforms, mess kits, mobile kitchen cooking ranges, training bombs, radios, jerry cans and other items fill the garage along with spare parts and the tools needed to keep these HMVs running. Perhaps the most attention-grabbing item is a 1942 Ford Army jeep, which Jeanne drives in parades or exhibits at events.
Steve and Jeanne are WWII historians and reenactors as well as collectors of HMVs. Their vehicles are used for displays, parades, Memorial Day services, reenactments, and other occasions, such as centennial birthdays for WWII veterans. They do presentations at museums, historical societies and schools. Their trucks have also been leased to movie production companies making WWII films. Annually, they exhibit at the Statehouse in Concord to honor the service men and women who perished on Dec. 7, 1941 during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
When I ask Steve and Jeanne why they chose this hobby, Steve answers that he is trying to preserve history and keep it alive. He enjoys engaging with young people and fostering interest in WWII history or
military vehicles. He also enjoys conversation and camaraderie with veterans or other military collectors, and he willingly shares his knowledge with them. Steve is equally well-versed in automotive mechanics, WWII history and Pearl Harbor trivia.
Jeanne has a deep family connection to WWII. Her grandmother was a Red Cross volunteer during the war, and her mother was a riveter at a Grumman aircraft factory. Jeanne’s father was a WWII Army veteran assigned to the First Motion Picture Unit where he served under Capt. Ronald Reagan, a Hollywood actor who would go on to become president of the United States. The mission of the Motion Picture Unit was to develop realistic training films that were then used by pilots preparing to take the atomic bomb to Japan.
When WWII ended, there was a surplus of these Army trucks, and the government offered them to cities and towns at little or no cost. Towns converted the deuces into fire trucks and used them for off-road firefighting. Steve bought the 1943 deuce
we are driving today at auction in 1980 from the Deerfield Fire Department for $525, and drove it home. Steve removed the water tank, found an original cargo body in France, married the two together and repainted the truck olive drab. I ask why the bumper is labeled, “1A 291E,” and Steve tells me that “the 1st Army 291st Combat
Engineers were the best” and he wanted to honor them for their highly decorated service at the Battle of the Bulge and the Bridge at Remagen in Germany.
It takes a lot of dedicated labor to keep these 80-year-old trucks roadworthy, and I’ve volunteered to help out, so today I’m swapping a wheel off an old generator trailer with a flat tire. With an air impact wrench, I’m able to free the lug nuts, which haven’t been off in decades, but the steel rim is rusted stuck to the axel hub and won’t come off no matter how much I pry or thump on it. Steve heats it with a torch, and it finally releases, allowing me to remove and replace the heavy wheel with another salvaged from a trailer destined to be stripped for parts.
The HMVs are on the road often, so safety and reliability are paramount. Although the vehicles look original, the 1943 deuce we are driving today originally had a 270-cubic-inch straight-six engine. Steve replaced it with a 1956 GMC 302-cubic-inch straight-six which increased the horsepower from 94 to 160. This extra horsepower is useful when driving the hilly roads of New Hampshire, especially when towing a trailer or hauling Jeanne’s Jeep in the cargo bed.
“You still have to boot it when there’s a hill up ahead and get up some momentum or you’ll be downshifting and crawling up the hill in granny gear, and that irritates everyone behind you,” Steve tells me.
With a top speed of about 40 or 45 mph, the interstate highways are avoided, and we drive the back roads waving at curious onlookers, anticipating hills, trying not to frustrate the drivers tailgating us, and double clutching whenever we downshift. NH
In their own words ... as New Hampshire ballet dancer Ashley Kaichen debuts on the world stage
BY EMILY REILY / PHOTOGRAPHY BY LK STUDIOAfter years of practice, Ashley Kaichen, 16, a pre-professional ballet dancer with the Russian Ballet Academy in Newmarket, is one step closer to following her dreams.
In February, during the European Ballet Grand Prix in Vienna, the New Hampshire native performed three solo programs, including classical ballet variations from “La Bayadere” and “Flames of Paris.” After spending less than 10 minutes on stage, Ashley, a student at Coe-Brown Northwood Academy, walked away with more than applause and a feeling of great accomplishment. She landed in seventh place in the classical category and 12th in contemporary, and was awarded a twoweek internship to the Margot Fonteyn Academy of Ballet and the Fine Arts in Arizona.
Ashley explained what it takes to be a pre-professional ballet dancer, her longterm goals, and what it’s like to be a highschool student by day and an aspiring principal dancer at night.
New Hampshire Magazine: Congrats on your performances! You must be so excited.
Ashley Kaichen: I was on a cloud. I was like, “That’s what I had worked for all year, was to be recognized in Europe with people who are from all over the world.” And also, while I was there, I was awarded an internship. I was grateful to be recognized and given that honor and opportunity.
NHM: When did you decide to be a ballet dancer?
AK: When I was, I think, about 6 years old. I saw the movie “First Position,” about a ballet competition (the Youth America Grand Prix). I saw one girl; she was doing a variation that had a lot of turns in it. And I thought, “I want to be able to spin like that.”
NHM: What did you perform?
AK: So, I performed three solos. My first one was from “Flames of Paris.” And then my second one was the “First Shade” variation from “La Bayadere.” And then my last one was a contemporary solo that I performed en pointe.
NHM: What does ‘en pointe’ mean?
AK: I use pointe shoes instead of soft ballet slippers. Contemporary competitions are usually done in those softer shoes rather than pointe shoes.
NHM: How difficult is it to stand in those shoes?
AK: It takes a lot of training and a lot of practice, but it gets easier as you get more advanced. It takes years to develop the muscles that you need to dance en pointe.
NHM: What part did you play in “La Bayadere”?
AK: I was a shade, which is similar to a ghost or a spiritual thing.
NHM: What is “Flames of Paris” about?
AK: It’s about the French Revolution. My character was the woman who started it. And it takes place after they’ve won, so it’s very triumphant and victorious.
NHM: Do you wear your hair all up in a bun?
AK: Yes, a very tight bun — lots of gel and hairspray. I think I use about half a tube of gel, and an entire can of hairspray. If you have any whispies or flyaways on stage, it really shows because of the lights.
NHM: What’s your strength as a dancer?
AK: I’m pretty much a turner. I love turning. It’s like spinning.
NHM: What do you love about turning?
AK: Sometimes you just go up for like, two pirouettes … this actually happened at the
I try to do homework in little bits and pieces every now and then — a lot of late nights trying to do homework after I get home from dance.
— Ashley Kaichen
competition. I was supposed to do two pirouettes. I was on my center, and I felt strong, and I ended up going around four times. It’s a really fun feeling when you’re just like, “Oh, I’m going around again. I have this.” I’m like, “I’m strong enough for this.” It’s like a little surprise.
NHM: What were some highlights of your routines?
AK: For “Flames of Paris,” for me, it was being able to play the character. That’s one of my favorite parts of dance, being able to play the character, and really feeling who my character was and how to portray that on stage. I thought that was really fun to explore.
NHM: Who is a ballet dancer you admire?
AK: My favorite ballet dancer of all time is Marianela Núñez. She’s Argentinian, and she’s a principal dancer at the Royal Ballet in England.
NHM: Is there a need to be perfect in ballet?
AK: Well, you’re never really perfect. That’s the wonderful thing about ballet. Because you can always do better. It’s always some-
thing that you’re trying to reach. You’re trying to reach perfection, but your feet will never be pointed enough.
NHM: Does that get frustrating?
AK: Not really, because it’s just something to keep working on. It’s not something that you’re expected to perfect; it’s something that you’re expected to work for. The joy is the process of getting closer and closer, but never actually reaching it.
NHM: How much do you practice each day?
AK: It’s different for me every day. I’m in my studio 30 hours a week. And I’m dancing 20 hours of those because I also help with teaching. I try to do homework in little bits and pieces every now and then — a lot of late nights trying to do homework after I get home from dance.
NHM: What is your daily schedule like?
AK: I have school in the morning, and then I usually get home around 3 p.m. Some days I have to leave literally as soon as I get home — I just grab my grab my dance bag and leave, because I have to teach at 3:30 p.m. Sometimes I am at the studio until 9, pretty much every night except for
Thursday. And then I usually get home at like 9:30 p.m. And I’m up ’til 12 or 1 a.m. doing homework.
NHM: Who do you teach?
AK: I teach a few groups, and I also teach private lessons in different ages. My youngest class, they’re 2 to 4 years old. My youngest student is 2, and my oldest is 14.
NHM: What can you teach them when they’re just 2?
AK: It’s mostly getting them used to being in a ballet studio — it’s motor development. So, we teach them like, “Now we touch our toes. And this is how you turn your feet to the side.” And also listening, and being able to follow directions and make your body do what your teacher is asking, because that can be hard.
NHM: What are your future goals?
AK: I would like to hopefully one day be a principal dancer, which is the highest level at a company. It takes many, many years, but that’s the ultimate goal. Some of my top companies would be the Royal Ballet in England or the Dutch National Ballet in the Netherlands. NH
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Providing after-school and summer programs at two Girls’ Centers located in Manchester & Nashua. Dinner Club feeds over 100 girls daily.
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Scan for program information, volunteer opportunities, or to donate. www.girlsincnewhampshire.org· info@girlsincnewhampshire.org
Red Sox legend Ted Williams is and will always be “The Splendid Splinter.” But, if you look at baseball in its totality, the nickname “Splendid Splinter” could easily be applied to the game’s most treasured instrument — the wooden bat.
“There’s a romanticism that surrounds baseball, and especially with wood bats,” says Patrick Harvey, sales director for WH Bagshaw. “Wooden baseball bats represent the timeless tradition of the game.”
Situated in a 130-year-old, 100,000square-foot mill building alongside the Nashua River, the Walter Bat Company is doing its part to keep the legacy of the wooden bat alive. The bat company is a subsidiary of WH Bagshaw, a CNC (computer numerical control) manufacturing firm owned by Adria and Aaron Bagshaw of Amherst.
In 1870, Aaron Bagshaw’s great-greatgrandfather, Walter Henry Bagshaw, launched his pin company in Lowell, Massachusetts. The distinctive “Walter” logo of the bat company is Walter Bagshaw’s actual signature from his 1878 naturalization papers.
“We’ve been (in Nashua) since 1949,” Adria Bagshaw says. “So we’re celebrating 75 years in this location.”
Walter Bat is a fairly new addition to the Bagshaw family of companies, the result of two serendipitous moments. The first was WH Bagshaw’s acquisition of Minnesota Ice Picks. The Bagshaws were fabricating the blades for the picks, while a Maine company produced the handles. When the previous owner offered to sell,
the Bagshaws brought the entire operation in-house. Minnesota Ice Picks now produces three styles of wooden-handled ice picks and an ice chipper.
“It provided some different work for our employees, something identifiable for them instead of explaining that we make components that go into assemblies for airplanes and medical devices,” Adria says. “Having something that was direct-to-consumer felt good. And it was a very similar manufacturing flow.”
The second instance of good fortune came when Aaron and the couple’s son, Kyan, a promising baseball prospect, visited his pitching coach, Ariel Ramos, in Manchester several years ago.
“Ariel had this bat business in his garage,” Aaron says. “He had a lathe set up and a little painting booth, a label section, engraving, the whole thing. And he just wanted to get out of that. He wanted to focus on coaching.
“We had a conversation,” he says. “We have a lot of space here in our mill here in Nashua, and it just seemed like a very unique opportunity for us to do something completely different.”
The couple moved quickly to acquire the bat business. Perhaps too quickly. While the wooden handles for Minnesota Ice Picks are limited in size and shape, the permutations of a baseball bat can number “in the thousands,” Adria says. That meant a much more complicated undertaking.
“(Ramos) had orders that needed to be fulfilled for that spring,” Adria says. “So, we had to build the plane mid-flight. Had we really stopped and researched, I don’t know if we would have done it.
“We thought, like the ice picks, we’ll just stock a bunch of bats and sell them,” she says. “We’re great at marketing. We didn’t realize the variation, that there are different types of wood and different grades of wood. Then there are different models, different weights, different lengths.”
The Bagshaws settled on a name — Walter Bat Company, after Walter H. Bagshaw — and a logo. But creating bats from raw billets, or dowels, was another matter.
“Before I made my first bat, I pretty much thought a wood bat is just a piece of wood. Oh, how I was wrong,” says Harvey,
who also previously served as the company’s operations manager. “There are various aspects to craft the highest quality wood bat. It starts with the quality of the billet. The straighter the grain throughout the length of the bat, the stronger the bat. We use hand-split billets, which ensures our bats have the straightest grain, increasing durability.”
Sourcing quality wood within the correct weight range is essential, but challenging.
“Since wood is a natural material, it’s far less predictable in its makeup than metal or aluminum,” says Greg Sopper, Walter
Bat Company’s coordinator. “Although we know we need to cut a billet that weighs a certain amount to make a bat that comes out to be a certain weight for a certain model, it’s no way an exact science.
“Aside from their length and diameter, the billets are not uniform in any sense,” says Sopper. “Even within a single billet, there can be parts of it that are denser than others, which can ultimately impact the final weight of a bat.”
Precision lathe work is critical. “A seasoned hitter can actually feel the difference in the handle of a certain model that’s (a
fraction) too thick or thin,” says Harvey. “Therefore, we constantly measure the diameter dimensions at various spots along the bat during the sanding process to maintain strict tolerances.”
Just like baseball players come in all shapes and sizes, so do their bats. According to Harvey, Walter Bat has “11 main adult models and two main youth models that we offer on our website. These are the crowd pleasers.” Adult models range in length from 31 to 34 inches, including half-inch increments, while youth models range from 26 to 31 inches (no half sizes.)
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Customers can also tailor their twig to their own specifications.
“I’ve made over 300 custom, one-off designs,” Harvey says. “Some are unique cuts designed solely for specific high-level athletes. And some are designs I made for customers, where I took the handle and knob from one model and married it to the barrel of a different model, creating a new Frankenstein model.”
Walter Bats are made from maple, yellow birch or ash. All have different characteristics.
“Maple is the most dense, hard and stiff,” Harvey says. “Ash is the softest, so it’s very ‘whippy,’ which sends the ball when struck correctly. And birch lies in the middle, closer to maple in density but a little softer so it has a bit of flex to it. A customer can choose which species of wood based on their preference.”
The “customer” is another challenge. Walter Bat competes in a world full of aluminum and composite alternatives. Those bats rarely break, and offer more pop.
Though most professional leagues still require wood bats, the licensing demands of Major League Baseball were too onerous for a startup company.
“We knew that MLB wasn’t an option
out of the gates,” Aaron says. “We, as owners, said, ‘We’re not chasing that.’
“We’ve had some very good niche successes,” he says. “It really comes down to word of mouth. It comes down to creating a quality product. If you don’t do that, you’re out of the game. Then, it’s about getting it in the hands of players. Orlando Cabrera, a 2004 Red Sox world champion, was here a couple of months ago and bought nine bats for one of his players back in Colombia.”
The Bagshaws are open to doing business with Major League Baseball and its minor-league affiliates “if it happens organically,” says Aaron, but they have enough markets to keep the project viable. Harvey reports robust growth over the past three years, including international sales. Those markets include players in high school, college, collegiate summer leagues and “futures” leagues (for those who hope to play professionally), says Aaron. There are also a number of adult leagues opting for wooden bats (see page 68).
Plus, even for players in leagues with aluminum and composite bats, the wooden bat offers a superior training tool, Harvey says.
“Wood bats provide better tactile feedback when striking the ball, which is particularly important for developing proper hitting technique and power,” he says. “Wood bats also tend to have a different balance and weight distribution compared to metal or composite bats, which can affect swing mechanics and preferences. Some players find that wood bats offer a better feel and control during the swing.”
Today, the company’s production area occupies 1,800 square feet of the building’s first floor, with a rack for the billets, a CNC lathe for cutting the billets into bats, two hand-sanding lathes, and a finishing area where bats are painted, stained, or clear-coated, labeled and laser-engraved.
Public interest in their bats, and their facility, spurred the Bagshaws to open the Walter Bat Training Center. The 20,000-square-foot gym, managed by the Bagshaws’ daughter, Maya, is set on the building’s second floor, and features three 70-foot pitching/batting tunnels, a full weight room, a large plyometrics area and a retail pro shop.
“It’s just wild,” Adria says. “You walk through an active machine shop, go
upstairs and open the door, and it’s like you’re teleported. You’re just in a totally different space.
“There’s really nothing like it in the area,” she says. “We want to make sure that everyone in the area can tap into it. It’s great seeing kids that are 8, 9, 10, up to 12 years old, watching these high school and college kids, learning from them and seeing the hard work paying off.”
The community aspect of the bat company and training center, says Aaron, speaks to WH Bagshaw’s “core values.” Those include courage, family, perseverance, accountability and industriousness, he says.
“We really wanted to be community focused,” Aaron says. “That’s a big part of what we’re putting out there, bringing kids in, giving them opportunities, showing them what it’s like to be involved in a business, and giving them the opportunity to be part of the community.”
The Bagshaws also diversify their Walter Bat offerings with items such as clothing, caps, wood-handled bottle openers, and baseball-themed candles produced by Sea Love Candles of Maine, including scents like “Sticky Stuff” (an ode to pine tar) and the lavender-and-grass “Baseball Mom.”
The Walter Bat Experience is a two-hour individualized visit that includes a facility tour, a customized bat fitting with a coach that includes a batting cage session, a company T-shirt or cap, and the chance to witness the production of the participant’s own Walter Bat.
The experience, says Sopper, is “a microcosm of how much we love having direct and deeply meaningful interactions with our customers, rather than just supplying them with our products and services and sending them on their way.”
“I love the hand-crafted aspect of making wooden bats,” he says. “There have been a multitude of instances where we have even designed a new model specifically for a player based on the feel and balance. We take pride in our craftsmanship.”
Which, says Harvey, reflects the fact that there is something undeniably special about a wooden baseball bat.
“I’ve asked countless players which they remember most, their first metal bat or their first wooden bat,” he says. “Almost all of them say their wooden bat.” NH
For information on the Walter Bat Company, visit walterbats.com.
WE’VE GOT IT ALL IN NEW HAMPSHIRE – from picturesque small towns and bustling cities to the gorgeous White Mountains and ocean beaches. The following advertisers are doing their part to make our state the best place to live, offering valuable services, destination dining, entertainment, shopping and more. While you’re out exploring the state this summer, make sure to add these places to your list.
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What’s not to love about New Hampshire? From the rolling hillsides to the glorious mountaintops to the dense forests and powerful ocean, we Granite Staters know that New Hampshire truly has it all. This year for “Best Places,” we’re going off the beaten path and focusing on the unique places and activities that our state has to offer.
New Hampshire is anything but conventional, which is why we’re highlighting the unexpected twists of our state. From bogs to birds, to rage rooms, comedy clubs, cocktails and mocktails and more, we’re challenging you to get outside and explore New Hampshire, with all the delightfully surprising twists and turns it has to offer.
BY EMILY REILY, ELISA GONZALES VERDI & EMILY HEIDTRage rooms, or rage cages, may sound extreme, but are not as thunder dome as you might think. Rage rooms and ax-throwing venues offer a safe space to vent anger, frustration, sadness, joy — whatever emotion you’re hoping to process, there’s a place in New Hampshire that fits your needs. Each one is unique, created by people who were searching for their own escape channels themselves. Throw an ax, shatter a dish or splatter some paint — and you don’t have to clean up the mess later. The options to create and/or destroy are at your fingertips.
The Rage Cage in Nashua is a safe place to lay your emotions out on the table. There are three rage rooms, a paint splatter “experience” and a mobile paint party room. According to owner Tedd Cherry, smashing things releases endorphins, which in turn lessens pain. Cherry says it’s a euphoric feeling similar to how you feel after exercise – a great way to combat depression and anxiety. Sounds like the perfect remedy for the 21st century. ragecagenh.com
Family-owned and founded by Charles Keith and Melinda Asprey, The Rugged Axe and The Break Room offer unique smash-andsplatter experiences. They’re both popular places to release your rage and stay safe in the process.
With Keith at the helm, learn from ax-throwing coaches at The Rugged Axe in Manchester. Possibly the largest of its kind in the state, this cutting-edge establishment has party rooms with projection targets, 18 lanes, games, and more than 30 beer, wine and nonalcoholic canned drink options.
Recreate your own version of “Office Space” at The Break Room in Manchester, which is owned by Melinda. Several spaces invite you to release your frustrations by smashing electronic things, like that old computer with the perpetual beach ball of death. Choose from 10-, 20-, and 30minute “break” sessions in office-styled rooms. thebreakroomnh.com
Vent Activity Rooms was created in 2021 to help people safely express grief, joy, stress, hurt and self-discovery, says founder and owner, Danielle Wieler. Wieler founded Vent out of a personal need, having felt isolated and shamed by society for their personal expression, and thought others might need that outlet too. Work through a longstanding issue, maybe shed some tears, and then break it all down and start fresh! Vent offers two activities: Smash and Splatter. Smash is a self-confidence-building and stress-relieving activity that helps channel rage by breaking glass and ceramic items. Screaming is encouraged. Splatter fosters self-exploration by throwing paint against walls, canvases and floors. There’s also a birthday party option where kids can splatter paint without fear that the house will be ruined. ventwithus.com
Bird watching can be done anywhere in New Hampshire — along a nature trail, at the beach, on the mountains or in your own backyard. May is peak migration for birds here — a great time to try out this peaceful hobby. Even though the leaves are popping, birds are flocking back to the state to set up shop. Grab some binoculars and keep your eyes and ears open. Learning a few bird calls can greatly increase the chances you’ll see the little (and not-so-little) guys, too.
A pine barren is just that – a pine forest that has survived in a challenging place. These rare barrens have dry, acidic soil that occurs in sandy deposits left by glaciers, but plenty of vegetation still lives here. Pine woods and scrub oak cohabitate with blueberry bushes and ferns in this unique ecosystem. A broad diverse swath of birds can be found here, including nocturnal whippoorwills, Eastern towhees and nighthawks.
Bicknell’s thrush
The Bicknell’s Thrush is rare and elusive in New Hampshire, only found in high elevations in New England forests, as well as New York and Canada. Its status is listed as vulnerable, so it can be tough to find, especially if you’re not a mountain hiker. Instead, take the tram up Cannon Mountain to find this special bird, or get up early for Mount Washington’s Bicknell’s Thrush tours, which take place early in the morning on the toll road. Special tours in June offer the chance to get your sneak peek. mt-washington.com
This spot north of the notches has forests and wetlands, plus views of the presidential range, and plenty of migrating birds. Hike in about a mile to find them. Recent eBird sightings (ebird.org) at Pondicherry have included downy woodpecker, pine siskin, red-breasted nuthatch, ruffed grouse, pileated woodpecker and dozens more. nhaudubon.org
Susan N. McLane Center, Concord
Massabesic Center, Auburn
Newfound Center, Hebron
Odiorne Point State Park, Rye
Great Bay Natural Wildlife Refuge, Newington
These days fewer and fewer people remember paying less than 5 bucks, much less 10 cents, for a Saturday matinee on a rainy day. Nothing beats the comforting feel of coming in to a warm, inviting theater and buying some fresh, hot popcorn, sitting down anonymously and letting the outside world fall away while you watch an action movie, rom-com or a special viewing of “Casablanca.” Small-town theaters offer a cinematic escape for the fraction of the price. Here’s a few.
Imagine it’s 1916. The Nugget Theater in Hanover has opened to the public. You just paid 10 cents to watch the silent film “The Alien,” starring George Beban, a movie about a kidnapping, an accidental death, and a mysterious “sign of the rose.” Beban, a renowned director, writer and producer of the vaudeville age, was so popular that in 1921 he was lauded with a parade in Los Angeles. Fewer than 15 years after “The Alien,” the “talkies” arrived, and ticket prices soared to 35 cents. The Nugget’s timeline is full of treasured anecdotes that document the age of movies, one that’s constantly evolving. These days the Nugget Theater hosts newer movies, like “Dune Part 2” and “Kung Fu Panda 4.”
Soak up that old-time movie feel at this historic theater. nugget-theaters.com
Red River Theaters opened in 2007 with help from the community and a $1.8 million capital campaign. With just three screens, Red River Theatres packs a punch, and each theater offers something unique. Some seating can be removed to make way for workshops, receptions and art-related events. In 2013 it converted its 35 mm projectors with 2010 Christie Projectors with Dolby Digital Surround Sound. There’s also an upscale concessions stand, ADA-seating options, and plenty of parking. redrivertheatres.org
Built in 1919 as a movie and vaudeville theater, the Strand was converted into a performing arts center in 2015. The Strand is one of 28 Strand Theaters built across the nation; Dover’s is one of just 11 still in use as a performing arts venue. Its 1,152-square-foot multipurpose floor can be filled with tables or used as a dance floor, and 190 movie theater seats remain. It still has some original metalwork, and a 20-foot-by-30-foot movie screen. Visit the Strand, get some really good popcorn in an oldfashioned movie theater lobby just steps from the sidewalk, and enjoy the show. thestranddover.com
Built in the 1920s as a silent movie theater, and formerly called “the New Plymouth Theater,” the Flying Monkey was known for featuring silent films on a grand stage. It later fell into disarray, but in 2010 the Common Man’s Alex Ray helped turn the building into a stellar venue. Today it hosts live events and film, standup comedy, children’s programming and community theater. See world-class musical acts here. Past performances have included the Blind Boys of Alabama, Jim Messina and Patty Griffin, and local acts like Recycled Percussion. During “Taco Tuesdays,” catch up with classic films as “Reservoir Dogs” and “The Big Lebowski” grace the stage. flyingmonkeynh.com
The Boston comedy scene may be more well-known, but the Granite State comedy scene deserves its time in the limelight. With dozens of venues across the state, New Hampshire has plenty of options for venues to visit when you’re in the mood to laugh until you cry.
Stranger than Fiction is New Hampshire’s premier improv comedy group. Touring across the Granite State, Stranger than Fiction is a must-see group. Their talented performers are able to think on their feet faster than you can possibly imagine, and they’ll be sure to leave you howling with laughter. Improv may not usually be your thing, but it will be after you see this sensational troupe tell joke after joke without ever missing a beat. stfimprov.com
The Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in Hampton is the most iconic place in New Hampshire for comedy. When I was a kid, I’d ride my bike down the beach at night, and I’d sit on the back steps and listen to Buddy Hackett and George Carlin and Jay Leno. Years later, I was able to perform there myself, and it was humbling. The first time — when I opened for 38 Special — was anything but special. They hated me! But I was able to “hold on loosely” and do my 20 minutes. Many years later, when I performed on a Boston All-Star Comedy show, it was magical. Now, after being in the business for so long, many of the best comedians in the world have become good friends. And when my friends like Lewis Black or Emo Phillips or Brian Regan come through the Ballroom, I still ride my bike down the beach to see the show. Who knows? Maybe someday, I’ll perform there again. I’d love another crack at those 38 Special fans!
— Jimmy DunnFor the past 30 years, Headliners has been making New Hampshire Laugh. As NH’s longest running Comedy Club, Headliners knows comedy. With rotating weekly lineups that feature some of New England’s top comics, you never know what you’re going to get … but you know you’re going to laugh. headlinersnh.com
On Fridays and Saturdays, the BLEND.603 gallery in downtown Portsmouth transforms into BLEND.Comedy. The comedy club is new to the Granite State, but week after week you can hear the laughter coming from the intimate venue all the way down the street. They’re always putting together a hilarious lineup of talented stand-up comedians, from local up-and-comers to West Coast headliners. blend603.com
McCues Comedy Club, Portsmouth
McCues Comedy Club is truly for everyone. Comedy enthusiasts and those who are just looking to find something new to do on a weekend are sure to love McCues. Their rotating weekend lineups will keep you coming back week after week, and their hilarious stand-ups will have you on the floor with laughter. mccuescomedyclub.com
The sun is (finally) shining, and there’s a warm breeze in the air … that means it’s time to bring on the fruity flavors. Who doesn’t love sitting down to a delicious fruity cocktail or mocktail on a beautiful warm day? New Hampshire’s bartenders are always mixing up delicious drinks that are tropical and fun, but here are some specific bars to check out if you’re in the mood for fun and frilly cocktails and mocktails that shine like the summer sun.
The Green Elephant in Portsmouth is no stranger to cooking up something creative and delicious. The vegetarian Thai fusion restaurant is known for their creativity and for bringing the flavors of Asia with a vegetarian twist home to New Hampshire, and it’s no surprise that this creativity extends all the way through their mocktail menu. Their cocktail menu is refreshingly inspired, and their mocktails truly shine. With delicious flavors that are as creative as their cuisine, the Green Elephant’s cocktail and mocktail options will leave you feeling thirsty for more. greenelephantnh.com
If you’re looking to unwind by a roaring fireplace, seated in a leather chair with a martini in hand, look no further than the Library Lounge at the Wild Rose Restaurant at Stonehurst Manor. Whether you enjoy a traditional martini or not, the Lounge’s “Taste of Tradition” martinis are delicious enough that they may just make you a martini fan. Fruity, sour, refreshing — you name it, the Library Lounge has a martini that will suit your tastes. Don’t drink? Not a problem — the Library Lounge has delicious nonalcoholic options, like their manor mocktail and nonalcoholic wines. thewildroserestaurant.com/library-lounge
The Hearth Community has only been open for a little under a year, but in that short amount of time, they’ve made a major splash in the Seacoast. Their mission to be a “market built for the local community, from the local community” is being met through community partnerships, delicious food and a welcoming environment for locals to meet and hang out. They describe their Elixir Bar as a “collection of familiar, reimagined and functional libations that elevate the mind and body.” Their MotherNature-inspired cocktail menu features drinks with delicious fruity flavors and earthy tones, while incorporating zesty spirits. Hearth Community’s “Potions” menu, and their nonalcoholic cocktail menu, are full of delicious mocktails made with wellness in mind. Drinks mixed with green matcha tea, aquafaba, fresh hibiscus tea and more are sure to leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. hearthmarketportsmouth.com
Keene’s Machina Kitchen and ArtBar is an inspirited farm-to-table restaurant and craft cocktail bar that transforms your meal into a work of art. The restaurant/craft cocktail bar/art gallery is innovative and eclectic, and their weekly rotating menu ensures a new and exciting experience every time you visit. Their fun and flirty cocktail menu takes the classic cocktails that you love and gives them an unexpected twist that will take your tastebuds to new heights sip after sip. Their always available spirit-free menu uses alcohol-free spirits, teas and juices that blend together to create signature mocktails, without sacrificing that cocktail flavor. They even have a selection of nonalcoholic hazy IPAs, for those who want the IPA flavor and taste with none of the alcohol. machinaarts.org
Who says kids get to have all the fun? Not us! Let loose and have fun with the whole family at these spots across the Granite State where volume isn’t a problem.
Stratham Hill Park, Stratham
There are endless activities at Stratham Hill Park in Stratham. With hiking trails, mountain-biking trails, the fire tower, baseball fields and a playground, there’s something for everyone, no matter your age. Stratham Hill Park is always abuzz with activity — from cross-country and mountain-biking races, to movie nights in the park, to food trucks and more. You never know what you’ll find during a day at the park. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the number of options this park has to offer, you can always run around in circles in their lush fields, or just lay down at the top of the hill and watch the clouds roll by.
Canobie Lake Park, Salem
“AHHHHhhhhHHHHHHH,” is what you’ll say spending a day at Canobie Lake Park. With more than 85 attractions, including hair-raising roller coasters, thrill rides, water rides and live music, Canobie Lake Park is the place to visit if you’re looking to have a scream-worthy day with an adrenaline rush. For 120 years, Canobie Lake Park has been a hotspot for a full-day of exciting family fun that will have your kids fast asleep for the entire car ride home. canobie.com
Gunstock Adventure Park, Gilford
While Gunstock’s become known as a go-to wintertime skiing and snowboarding mecca, don’t sleep on its warm-weather offerings. Gunstock Adventure Park features miles of dog-friendly hiking and biking trails, ziplining, scenic lift rides, aerial treetop adventures, a mountain coaster and even a campground to spend the night after a full day of summer fun. Head over to Gilford to enjoy the wonders of summer in the scenic mountains. gunstock.com
Yogi Bear approved, these spots across the Granite State are perfect for a picnic. You’ll be sure to enjoy all of the beautiful scenery while snacking on a packed meal. Just remember to carry in and carry out!
This 1.6-mile round-trip trail loop is the perfect place to enjoy a peaceful stroll through scenic woods. Open year-round, this hike is family-friendly and ideal for enjoying a scenic picnic lunch at the gorgeous Rainbow Falls. The falls are about halfway along the trail, and the trail is part of the Walter-Newton Conservation Area. Enjoy pausing at one of the trailside benches and watching the rushing water pour over a granite face while refueling with a packed snack or lunch. nhfamilyhikes.com
If you’re looking to picnic following a fun day outdoors, make sure to check out White Lake State Park. Located in Tamworth, the park is set alongside the shores of White Lake, a glacial body of water in the heart of the Lakes Region. With a gorgeous lakeside picnic area, White Lake State Park is the perfect spot to enjoy a full day in the sun.
Make sure to mark your calendars for Tarbin Gardens’ opening day in June. This tranquil 5-acre English garden is the perfect spot for a picnic surrounded by lush, gorgeous greenery and beautiful flowers. Tarbin Gardens features gorgeous greenhouses, ponds and animals, and will leave you feeling refreshed and inspired. This escape into nature is perfect for a peaceful picnic outing, surrounded by breathtaking scenery. tarbingardens.com
Whether you want to find some shorts for summer, are interested in shopping more sustainably or you’re trying to explore your personal style, thrifting is the perfect opportunity to find quality pieces that you’ll reach for years. We enlisted New Hampshire Magazine’s fashion editor, Chloe Barcelou, to divulge one of her own most-guarded secrets: Her list of the thrift spots that fuel her own fashion needs and that supply her with the couture, shoes, accessories and bargain-basement sales items that she relies on to compose her fashion features.
LISTEN Thrift Store & Donation Center, Lebanon and Canaan
Each store features a variety of men’s and women’s clothing, kids clothing and toys, linens, shoes and more. listencs.org
M&C Clothing & Gifts, Amherst
This shop is a community for people to reduce, repurpose, reuse, recycle and rethink. Shop online or in-store for a range of items that fit any closet. mcclothingandgifts.com
Lucky Dog Thrift Shop, Nashua
A bargain hunter’s paradise, this store offers a variety of high-quality secondhand goods. Not only that, but it is the fundraising headquarters for the nonprofit, Tails To Freedom Inc., where 100 percent of their profits benefit animals and the earth. luckydogthriftshop.com
Lilise Designer Resale, Concord Shop local and save money while you make an impact. Skip the mall and keep the brands and styles you love (and even get some personal styling if you’d like). liliseresale.com
Second Generation Thrift Shop, Greenland
Shopping here is not only fun (with many hidden gems), but it is a great way to give back to the community. 100% of proceeds support New Generation’s mission of breaking the cycle of homelessness for local mothers and children. newgennh.org
Let’s face it: New Hampshire is known for its abundance of hiking opportunities (4,000-footer club, anyone?), but not everyone is able or ready to take a full day to scale mountains and rocks in the process. Here is a list of hikes that won’t even make you break a sweat, and are family-friendly, too. We’re thinking “pack a pair of sneakers and head right out after work” kind of hikes or walk — the state is yours!
Head out on this 2.8-mile loop trail and soak in the expansive views of the Gulf of Maine, including four lighthouses; the Isles of Shoals; and the mouth of the Piscataqua River. The trail takes under an hour to complete and is also a popular birding area (leave your dog at home!). nhstateparks.org
Explore this 2.2-mile loop trail loop, which takes about 45 minutes to complete. It is a popular area for hiking and running, so you may encounter other people while romping around — including dogs. (Bring a little bucket for wild blueberry picking, too).
merrimackoutdoors.org
This regional nature center has a network of more than 35 miles of trails that are open to anyone, 365 days a year, from dawn to dusk. The forest, marsh and pond landscapes are perfect if you want to do a light walk or hike, or even take it up a notch with a bike ride. Hand-curated trail maps (accessibility included) make it easy to plan your adventure. beaverbrook.org
As if visiting a more than 100-year-old castle wasn’t enough, this spot has 28 miles of trails meticulously maintained by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust. Take a leisurely hike along the cascading waterfalls, ending at the largest waterfall on the property, or drop a bead or two of sweat and opt for a more experienced hike with views of the Ossipee Mountains. castleintheclouds.org
This group conserves and stewards land for the benefit of all Granite Staters, including tens of thousands of acres in Rockingham and Strafford counties. Check out one of the 11 trail maps and guides on their website to plot your next afternoon in nature. seltnh.org
A New Hampshire classic and Granite Stater favorite and tradition, this 1.3 mile out-andback trail takes about 30 minutes to complete and includes many rocks, ledges, cascading falls and pools in the brook. Bring a picnic lunch and even your dog for a fun summer afternoon. northconwaynh.com
This wide trail has a minor elevation change and a few rocks and roots to navigate, but nothing that will work up too much of a sweat. It is 3.9 miles long and takes about one hour and 17 minutes to complete, or longer if you stop for birding opportunities along the way. alltrails.com
Known as one of New England’s finest early 20th-century summer estates, The John Hay Estate at The Fells has 83.5 acres of beauty to meander, including the 22-room Colonial Revival home (perfect for a pre- or post-hike stop), renowned gardens and woodland trails. The Carriage Road Trail is an easy half-mile trail that will take you through the forest for a historic jaunt along the property. thefells.org
Do you like long, gnarly trail runs over rocks and roots and up and down mountains, or easy-rolling sun-dappled backroads through farm country, or maybe fast pavement in a crowd-thronged downtown?
There are so many great races, and so many personal preferences and elements of chance that make up any runner’s “best” race or run, that it would be folly to pick the three “best” for the whole state of New Hampshire. Rather I’ll just say, here are three of the best New Hampshire races I’ve run in our great state over the years.
Reach the Beach
Sept. 13 -14, 2024
For the sheer terrain covered and sights seen, Reach the Beach is hard to beat. The race is a relay from Attitash Mountain to Hampton Beach. You can run it on a 12- or six-person team rotating through the lineup and running either three or six of the legs. I’ve done both several times and love the six-person “ultra” experience. Less downtime, more running. You run all afternoon, all night by headlamp, and into the morning as dawn breaks over the Seacoast. Way back when, I was on a male masters’ ultra-team that won the division that year, and it remains a high point in my running memory. runragnar.com/event-detail/road/reachthebeach
Elliot Northeast Delta Dental Corporate 5K
Aug. 8, 2024
Want to get shoulder-to-shoulder with 5,000-plus runners and walkers, and throngs of spectators, for a fast 5K in August in the heart of New Hampshire’s largest city? The Elliot Northeast Delta Dental Corporate 5K, hosted by Millennium Running, is a speedy course despite the crowds – or maybe because of them. Runners come from all over for this one, and corporate teams compete to raise funds for the Solinsky Center for Cancer Care at the Elliot. Last year our own Yankee Publishing, Inc., fielded a large team and can attest to how much fun it is. The times laid down here also attest to the runability of the course, including a sub-14-minute finish in 2003. While I’ve never run anywhere near that fast, I also set my personal 5K personal best here. millenniumrunning.com/corporate5k
Clarence DeMar Marathon
Sept. 29, 2024
This marathon is named in honor of Clarence DeMar, a Keene resident who was an Olympic marathoner and seven-time winner of the Boston Marathon, a record that remains unbroken to this day. His last win was at age 41, also making him the oldest winner ever. That may be why this was the race I picked when I returned to marathoning in my 50s after a six-year hiatus. I ran it in 2021 and was blown away by both how runnable it is (it’s fast!) and the natural beauty of the course, which begins in Gilsum and winds down through sun-dappled, tree-lined back roads, out and back on the stunning Sury Mountain Dam, where you get a stunning view of the lake, and down into Keene to finish at Keene State College. Historic, rich in scenic beauty and runnable to boot? No wonder this is one of the state’s most iconic races. clarencedemar.com
— Ernesto BurdenMeadows, trails and woodlands are often the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of a nature “sanctuary,“ but visiting a bog can bring that same peace and tranquility. Bogs, slow-growing areas left by receding glaciers and preserved over time, are more mysterious than you might think. They’re extremely serene places to observe nature, usually from narrow trails made of wooden planks (bogs’ delicate chemistry requires humans to keep off them.) You may see birds; pitcher plants and sundews; super-old trees; and various wildlife, mosses and shrubs. They’re precious snapshots of a world that is often overlooked. Unplug from daily life and discover your new favorite sanctuary.
“Ponemah” is an Ojibwe word for “land of the hereafter,” and is referenced in Longfellow’s poem “The Song of Hiawatha.” A natural jewel, Ponemah Bog has 0.75 miles of trails and 72 acres, plenty of room to roam. nhaudubon.org
Along 40 acres on Packer’s Falls Road in Durham, Spruce Hole Bog is a hidden gem on the Seacoast. It contains a 2½-acre kettle hole (similar to a sphagnum heath bog) which the National Park Service deemed a National Natural Landmark in 1972. Surprisingly, Spruce Hole Bog only contains trees like white pine, hemlock and birch. Go mountain biking, hiking and birdwatching here. nps.gov
Hurlbert Swamp, with its mature, northern white cedar and fragrant balsam fir, is estimated to be about 10,000 years old. This isolated boreal swamp holds rare wildflowers, orchids and more trees like tamarack and red and black spruce — a sure sign that the area is full of biodiversity. You’ll also see a variety of land features, like a peat bog, an alder-wooded fen and grassy areas. nature.org
This is a kettle hole bog, where chunks of glaciers were buried about 18,000 years ago and then melted, leaving deep depressions in the ground. The bog has 21 trails and three loop trails, all graded “easy.” Stroll the boardwalks, some of which gently hover above a thick mat of vegetation, while reading signs describing what’s in front of you. nhfamilyhikes.com
Quincy Bog offers special nature walks and educational programs for adults and kids. Despite their slow-growing nature, bogs like this contain a wealth of flowers, trees, plants, mosses, ferns, birds, fungi, shrubs, dragonflies and other wildlife. Quincy Bog is also home to an active beaver colony — catch them in action if you can. quincybog.org
Allegra Boverman is a longtime photographer in New Hampshire. She loves seeing art in unexpected places and believes art of all kinds should and must be part of everyday life and our experiences. Seeing local art like this “in the wild” or in unexpected places that are not museums or galleries, such as medical facilities, on a rail trail, in a recovery center, a kitchen and bathroom showroom, or in an offbeat spot behind a building or under a roadway, inspire and delight her and inform her work whenever possible.
“I am happy to recommend these nontraditional places to see art and photography around New Hampshire. I hope you discover some during your travels!”
Groups like the Nashua Area Artist Association, the Hollis Arts Society, Greater Derry Arts Council, and the Photographers Forum Camera Club contribute to public exhibits such as at St. Joseph Hospital, “a setting that definitely could use art as a way of calming and inspiring people and bringing art into the medical environment, which is beneficial to everyone.”
Southern NH Medical Center also has rotating art shows. NAAA members hang their work in eclectic spots like the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua, St. Joseph Hospital, a chiropractor’s office, at Ripano Stoneworks, and Courtyard by Marriott Nashua.
The Derry Rail Trail has poetry painted on the pavement, and their jersey barriers are whimsically styled. Kimball Jenkins, in a grand old Victorian home, has wonderful gallery spaces in the school and carriage house. The Nashua Center for the Arts has a street-level gallery with rotating exhibits.
One of the largest spaces with unexpected art besides a museum is at the Hope Recovery Center in Manchester. There is artwork on every surface, in every hallway and room. They hold open-mic events and concerts in this festive, colorful space. People of all skill levels make art there for many reasons and that makes it inspiring and special. It’s very much like a mini museum. NH
Rays pitcher Steve Miller takes on the Diamondbacks at Leary Field in Portsmouth.
Under cloudless skies, with the bases loaded and no outs, the Pirates of the Coastal New England Baseball League are nursing a slim lead over the Rays.
Pirates pitcher Chuck White kicks and delivers. Rays captain Curt Gebo tags a liner that clips off the glove of the Pirates centerfielder, and Rays baserunners start scrambling.
By the time Carlos Dominguez rounds third base, he’s hobbling. When Dominguez gets to home plate, Pirates catcher Adam Johnson is waiting, ball in hand. There is no collision, no attempt to slide. Instead, there is simply a gentlemanly surrender. Both players smile.
A pop-up and a fly-out later, the Rays leave two men stranded, and the threat ends with minimal damage.
On this bright Sunday morning in September, Portsmouth’s Leary Field is humming with the sights and sounds of baseball. Umpires command the field — “Ball!” “Strike!” “Safe!” “Out!” — while spectators holler from the grandstand. Teammates and opponents exchange lively chatter and genuine laughter.
Players jog to and from their positions, resplendent in their uniforms, the yellow-clad Pirates versus the sky-blue Rays,
BY BRION O'CONNOR /followed by the burgundy Diamondbacks against the navy-blue Mariners in the nightcap.
These are not the “boys of summer,” as sportswriter Roger Kahn dubbed the Brooklyn Dodgers. With few exceptions, everyone is at least 30 years old. Many are considerably older, and some are well into their second half-century.
Many carry a few extra pounds around their midsections. Most have a hitch in their throwing motion, in their swing, or in their giddyup. None allow those tweaks to prevent them from stepping into the batter’s box, or taking their spot in the field.
These Peter Pan disciples are competing in the Coastal New England Baseball League, a wood-bat band of baseball diehards spread across six teams who gather to play the game they cherish every Sunday, from April to October.
“Being able to compete is really important. You can’t get that rush just anyplace,” says Dover’s John Cogan, 61, one of the league’s founders.
“That being said, it’s the relationships, the friends I make, that I really embrace," he says. "There are almost 100 players, and each one has a story. Some of my best friends are ballplayers. I love these guys.”
And Cogan loves a game that defines success as failing seven times out of 10.
“Ted Williams said hitting a round ball
BY MARK BOLTONwith a round bat is the most difficult skill in sports. He ain’t lying,” Cogan says. “It’s a brotherhood. We choose this game because it’s hard. Put on the uniform and step inside the lines, and you’ve joined us. We respect that.”
The Pirates and Rays continue to trade runs. The game features crisp hits and the occasional fielding gem.
Pirates centerfielder Grafton White (Chuck White’s nephew) atones for his earlier near-miss with a diving catch that’s worthy of an ESPN SportsCenter highlight. A Rays player steals second base after the ball arrives on several bounces. In fairness to the hitters, the umpires employ a generous strike zone. No one complains.
After a pair of infield hits put two Pirates on base, Sean O’Malley lofts the next Rays’ offering deep toward the fence. Though the Rays outfielder is able to corral the fly ball, his relay sets off a comical round of throwing errors, and the Pirates plate another run.
The draw of the CNEBL reflects the game’s allure. League president Matt “Mel” Allen, 60, from Portsmouth, says the national pastime is “a very cerebral game, full of many nuances. You’re a team, but so much depends on individuals performing their roles.”
The game “also has an air of unpredictability,” he says, where any team can get the best of another depending on how the ball bounces.
Richard Newman of Epping, a league founder, says he loves “everything” about baseball.
“The feel of making solid contact with a fastball, or tracking a fly ball deep to the outfield and making a difficult catch,” says Newman, 53. “I also love how, on any given day, any of the players may step up and do something special.”
There’s a moment in “Baseball: A Film by Ken Burns,” when narrator John Chancellor talks about the game’s enduring appeal: “Everything had changed, and nothing much had changed.” That speaks to the timeless quality of baseball, a game virtually unaltered in the more than 160 years since being introduced as “town ball.” And it may explain why baseball is one of those rare activities that can set its hooks deep.
For 37-year-old John Edwards of Nottingham, the league is a slice of hardball heaven.
“We know that once this game grabs ahold of you, it absolutely never lets go,” says Edwards in a video promoting his baseballthemed Behind the Plate restaurant in Portsmouth, which opened in late 2023.
“Baseball is unlike any other sport,” says Edwards, the Pirates’ captain. “Obviously, there’s the game and the 9 innings and the current roster. But baseball also allows us to talk about the past, and the heritage, and everything that the sport originated from.”
Nothing embodies that sentiment more than the league’s embrace of the time-honored wooden bat. Rather than the “ping” of a baseball coming off an aluminum bat, CNEBL games are defined by the “crack” of rawhide meeting wood.
Wooden bats, says Brian Yurick, a 44-year-old IT specialist from Maine, are “more authentic.”
Sure, wood bats also produce the occasional sting in the palms that can forever haunt former Little Leaguers. And some, like Eric Schlapak, another league founder, wouldn’t mind seeing the CNEBL adopt aluminum and composite bats.
“A wood bat almost defeats the purpose, because it’s not like we’re sluggers anymore,” he says.
But others say the wood-bat rule serves two purposes: It honors the game’s traditions while safeguarding players. “Growing up, and in college and the adult leagues, none ever employed a wooden bat,” says Allen, whose nickname is borrowed from Hall of Fame announcer Mel Allen. “I enjoy it, since it’s what the big leagues use. And it does help protect the fielders, as we have some younger guys who can rip the ball.”
Edwards was working at Stoneface Brewery in Newington when a CNEBL player came in, inquiring about potential sponsorship.
“As soon as he mentioned that the Coastal League was a wooden-bat league, I totally stopped listening to everything else he said, and wanted to figure out how I could get involved,” he says.
As the Pirates-Rays match stretches into the later innings, three female Pirates fans cheer on their men while wishing they would pick up the pace. “This game is taking forever,” says one. “There’s still two more innings.”
Another notices that the Pirates’ Chris Ricker is wearing cleats that match his yellow jersey.
“And they’re the perfect shade of yellow,” she says, giggling.
Despite a gutsy performance by Chuck White, the sexagenarian eventually runs out of gas, and gets the hook. The younger Rays pull ahead with a couple of runs in the eighth inning to secure an 11-9 win.
The Coastal League came into being in 2009, after a group including Cogan, Newman, Schlapak, Michael Sullivan, Tony Bargardo, Craig Annis, and Ben Ruggles broke away from a league they previously competed in, believing they could offer a better alternative.
“The driving force in getting the league off the ground was Ben Ruggles,” Schlapak says. “He passed away in December 2019. But he had experience in running leagues (Ruggles managed the Phillips Andover hockey rink), which the rest of us lacked. There’s no way the Coastal League would be around if it wasn’t for Ben and John Cogan.”
Starting with four teams, the league now has six. A key difference, from the start, was preventing managers, or teams, from stacking the proverbial deck.
“Our best rule is that we are a league of players, not teams,” Cogan says. “We redraft every year, so there are no dynasties. It breaks down barriers between players, and is the number one reason for our success.”
A major flaw of the prior league was that players stayed with the same teams, says Schlapak, “and the coach could add any players he wanted in the off-season via recruiting. The commissioner, who was also a manager, would get the best players on his team and never relinquish them.”
“The CNEBL has an honest draft, where players are universally rated by coaches and teams are restocked each year, with the goal of parity,” he says. “No one likes mercy rules or perennial champs. If you recruit someone, it’s for the league’s best interest, not a team’s best interest.”
The draft also fosters a deep sense of camaraderie, because players who are opponents one season may well be teammates the next year. “Over the six years I've played in the league, I’ve gotten to play with probably 90 percent of the players as a teammate,”
Edwards says. “That’s created relationships.” Allen calls the draft the league’s “secret sauce.”
“Draft day is a big deal because you don’t know who will take you, and who you’ll be playing with,” says Allen. “But it’s exciting, and fulfills the idea of forming new relationships as teammates and competing against friends.
“Every season, hope truly springs eternal, since each year’s teams are different,” he says. “For some of the younger guys, this is a new concept, and it takes a season or two to understand how special it is.”
Diamondbacks pitcher Eddie Brown, who lives in Madbury but grew up in Portsmouth, understands. “To me, in a world where I feel like I don’t belong, baseball is the one place I always feel like I belong,” he says.
“The CNEBL is more than just a league of players. It’s a league of gentlemen, a league of brothers,” says Brown. “It’s a place to go where you can feel like a kid again, even though your body might say differently at times.”
The second game of the playoff doubleheader between the regular season champion Mariners (13-5) and the thirdplace Diamondbacks (11-8) starts as a pitching duel between Mariner fireballer Jesse Jay and the Diamondbacks’ Brown.
Brown spends so much time chatting up the Mariners that the umpire has to remind him to get back to the mound and pitch.
“I love this league and all of the players in it,” says Brown, 50. “This league helped me get through the death of my mother and when my fiancée left me and my daughter.”
Unlike Jay, one of the league’s hardthrowing young guns, Brown is crafty, not known for overpowering hitters.
“I consider myself a competitive person, but win or lose, this league is always a win. There is no lose,” he says. “Whenever someone gets a hit off me – and believe me, it happens a lot – I usually look over
and tell them ‘nice rip,’ because that's my brother.”
Today, the CNEBL comprises players ranging from their early 20s to early 70s. The league is advertised as 29 and older, but special exemptions are allowed for children of current players (players younger than 29 aren’t allowed to pitch). For example, the Mariners’ Matt Gladu plays with his son, Alex.
Schlapak came out of a decade-long retirement in 2021 to play with his son, also named Alex. “He was 21 and a junior baseball player at Massachusetts Maritime Academy,” says Schlapak, a teacher in the Dover school system. “I came back so I could always say that we played a season together.”
“And my daughter played a game that summer with us too,” he says. “She was a good softball player at Wheaton College. She had a great hit that game. It was one of my favorite sporting experiences, playing on the same field as my kids.”
Brothers also get special consideration,
and can play together if they prefer. The Pirates featured two sets of brothers, including Adam and Brian Johnson. Chuck White not only gets to keep living the dream playing with his brother Terry, but also with his nephew, Terry’s son, Grafton.
“My brother and I won a championship together in 2011,” says Michael Sullivan of Dover, another league founder. “It was our first time being champs together since the 1981 Kingston Astros. That’s quite a drought to break.”
But, as Cogan suggests, all these players are brothers. And coming together every Sunday can produce moments of magic.
“I go back to 2020, the year of COVID,” Edwards says. “In the middle of the summer, we’re all sitting out there, playing in masks, and trying to figure out what was going on in the world.
“It was a pretty incredible moment, to be surrounded by friends. And no matter what the opinions were about what was happening, it was just nice for all of us to still be able to put our arms around each other,” he
Throughout the spring, summer and part of fall, Sundays are like Christmas mornings for me: Game day!
For those who have a family and busy lives, baseball is an escape. We all partake in our weekend morning routines, and then it is off to the ballpark to play in the Coastal New England Baseball League.
I have been playing baseball since I was 5 years old. At an age where children can’t sit still for two minutes, there is video proof of me in the “set” position for the entire game, waiting for the ball to be hit to me. When a fellow teammate made a mental error, I could be seen walking over to rationally discuss said error with the player or coach. I was truly lost in the game.
This summer will be my 14th season in the Portsmouth-based league. I was 30 when I discovered this baseball league for “has-beens” who are more than a decade out of their high school and college days of baseball. I dropped the numerous softball leagues I had been playing in and devoted myself to straight-up baseball.
I was growing tired of slow-pitch softball where guys twice my size would hit the cover off the ball or hit home runs like it was easy. Our league has live pitching that oftentimes tops 80 miles per hour. Nothing is a “gimme.” You have to earn every hit and every home run.
My primary position is shortstop. Although I don’t move as well as I did back in high school and college, I rely on the fundamentals of the game and usually make the plays. I often wake up the next morning, sore and achy as if I’ve just participated in a strong-man competition.
There is nothing like playing a nine-inning game on a hot summer day (severe humidity, withstanding), and then going home to shower and relax in front of the air conditioner.
More than half of the players have been in the league for as long as I have, but the superstar players of yesteryear are now finding themselves in the middle of the pack. Talent has been increasing as newer, younger blood are signing up to play.
My “summer family” has created some of the best days, moments and friendships of my life.
Paul Milone is sales and events coordinator for the New Hampshire Group of Yankee Publishing, the parent company of New Hampshire Magazine.
says. “In a world that was kind of gnarly and nasty, it was nice to have that.”
Sullivan says the CNEBL has always puts a premium on sportsmanship.
“The only awards we hand out are the ‘Coasties’ for being a someone who just ‘gets it,’ ” says Sullivan, 50. “One of our original players was, without a doubt, the absolute epitome of what a great teammate is. Sweetest guy in the world, really good ballplayer – Dickie Bauer. He sadly passed away a few years back, and we renamed them the Dickie Bauer Coastie Awards in his honor.”
The game between the Mariners and the Diamondbacks quickly becomes a slugfest. One Mariner sneaks away to share a mid-game pizza with his wife and children. A Portsmouth patrolman stops by to check out the action. There is animated chirping, but it all appears to be in jest.
“In most cases, competition does matter, but in a fun way,” says umpire David Bartsch, of Farmington. “This is what makes me want to continue umpiring. I also want to have fun, but know that I have a job to do.
“Most players treat us with respect,” says Bartsch, 66. “I do my best, am respectful to them, and appreciate them being respectful to me for doing a tough job.”
Umpire Dan Schwarz, at 68, relishes the chance to participate.
“I really enjoy doing this league. Everybody is cool most of the time, and when they aren’t so cool, they calm down pretty quickly,” says Schwarz, of Portsmouth. “It’s fun to be able to play. It’s less fun to umpire, but that’s what I can do. It allows me to stay in touch with the game.”
While the Mariners get the better of the D’backs this day, 15-9, the Diamondbacks have the last laugh two weeks later. After squeezing past the Rays in the double elimination match, 2-1, the Diamondbacks staged a furious comeback to overtake the Mariners in the winner-take-all title game, claiming a dramatic 8-7 victory.
“The victory and the sportsmanship from the Mariners were just another chapter of the beauty of the league,” says Diamondback Paul Milone, 43, of East Hampstead.
“ We all, collectively, held our heads high. Two solid teams duking it out in the
field and hugging and shaking hands after the game is over is what this league is truly all about.”
The league’s next most important rule is that the games must be played. Since family and work commitments can prevent players from making games, teams can recruit substitutes or players “off the street” to fill rosters, Cogan says. Every player who shows up gets a spot in the batting order, and must play at least two innings in the field.
Again, the emphasis is on playing, not winning. The CNEBL website catalogs statistics and standings, which still matter. But lacing up their cleats, grabbing their bat and glove, and getting after it trumps everything else. That speaks to everyone’s inner child.
“You may be moving slower, but when you rip a base hit and drive in a run or make a nice play in the field, it gives you energy,” says Allen, who returned to competitive baseball in 2019 after a 22-year hiatus. “It also can be humbling in many ways, too. For me, personally, I can still rake, but I can’t run. So, many balls that would be doubles for younger guys are singles for me. We call those ‘dingles.’ ”
Elder statesmen often grudgingly accommodate their declining skills. “Older guys like me, I’m not playing shortstop, and I’m not playing centerfield,” Schlapak says. “There’s a lot of first basemen in this league.”
Baseball’s thoughtful nature might reward wily veterans, but any “older” athlete involved in physical activity also risks getting hurt. Most CNEBL players have dealt with an assortment of aches and pains. Some have suffered major injuries.
“One season, I dislocated my shoulder catching a fly ball, requiring surgery. And another season I broke my tibial plateau jumping over the catcher,” says 56-year-old Craig Annis of Hampton Falls, a league founder. “I scored, we won, and I had surgery.”
Allen has dealt with hamstring issues and spine surgery (he still hit a lofty .392 last season). Edwards once snapped his left elbow sliding into second base, but returned to the lineup nine weeks later. Cogan plays despite meniscus surgery in 2014, a right hip replacement in 2016, and a left knee replacement in 2020.
“I don’t run as well as I used to,” he says.
Cogan is thankful for being able to run
at all. In 2018, while driving home after a league game with two other players, he went into cardiac arrest.
“Kevin Mitchell and Steve McManus performed CPR and saved my life,” Cogan says. “Players have taken CPR classes because of it. We have a defibrillator at one of the fields because of it. That has value.”
The wisdom of age also helps keep the game in perspective. “We all have to work on Monday,” Edwards, “so we try to respect it among each other as much as we can.”
Still, the fact that baseball is a game doesn’t diminish its importance.
“Although I know I can’t play this game forever, I love the fact that at 50 I can still play, and play at a decent level,” Brown says. “I promised my mother I’d play until I couldn’t play anymore, and I plan on
doing just that in the Coastal League. It keeps me young.
“My dream was to play Major League Baseball for the Red Sox. That didn’t happen,” he says, laughing. “This is the next best thing.”
And it helps take the sting out of the 9-to-5 grind. Yurick, the IT specialist from Maine, favors baseball diamonds to computer screens:
“Even my worst day of playing baseball is better than my best day of work.” NH
For league details, leaguelineup.com/welcome. asp?url=coastalnebl. Writer Brion O’Connor’s hardball highlight came in 1998, when he stepped into the batter’s box at Fenway Park to take a few swings facing the Green Monster. He used a wooden bat.
Locally grown, nutritious food is as close as your nearest farmers market.
Gather up your reusable totes: Farmers market season is officially upon us. As New Hampshire hits its peak produce harvest months, so too do these open-air markets that have been mainstays on the East Coast since the first one popped up in Pennsylvania in 1730. According to the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture directory, there are 26 farmers markets throughout the Granite State. Here are three that are worth checking out.
By Kara McGrath
Seacoast Eat Local
2024 Season Starts: May 2 in Exeter
2024 Season Ends: Oct. 31 in Exeter
Day/Time/Location:
Mondays, 2:30 – 6 p.m., at 66 Main St., Downtown Mini Park in Durham (dog-friendly)
Wednesdays, 2:30 – 6 p.m., at 140 Portland Ave., Jenny Thompson Pool Lot in Dover (dog-friendly)
Thursdays, 2:30 – 6 p.m., at Swasey Parkway in Exeter
Saturdays, 8 a.m. – noon, at 1 Junkins Ave., City Hall Lot in Portsmouth
Seacoast Eat Local, the 501(c)3 nonprofit behind four farmers markets on New Hampshire’s coast, was founded in 2005, when a group of Seacoast-area farmers and consumers launched an “eat local challenge.”
The goal? Only eat foods produced within 100 miles.
Though the grassroots organization has expanded far beyond a simple challenge, the core mission remains the same. “Our key goal is to connect local producers with consumers,” says Morgan Morani, commu-
nity engagement programs manager for the group, which manages both winter and summer markets, and also publishes Seacoast Harvest, a free resource for finding locally-grown food.
“In order to be a vendor at our markets — any type of vendor, including crafters — you need to be local," Morani says.
Local, in this case, means Rockingham and Strafford counties in New Hampshire, plus York County in Maine. Farmers must be located in one of those regions, and local food producers must use majority
local ingredients in their final products, with some exceptions. “It’s hard to source citrus locally (in New Hampshire),” Morani says.
The group hosted its first winter farmers market in 2007, then got involved with the region’s summer markets primarily as a resource for facilitating the acceptance of SNAP and EBT incentives for low-income individuals who wanted to shop. In 2022, the markets in Durham, Dover, Exeter and Portsmouth were looking for new leadership — so Seacoast Eat Local stepped in.
With Seacoast markets in Portsmouth, Exeter, Dover and Durham, Seacoast Eat Local has something for everyone wherever they want to go. The community-oriented markets are made up of a variety of different vendors who sell fruit, seafood, meat, flowers, maple syrup, hot prepared food and more.
Having four markets in the region means you can shop for local products most days of the week: In the summer, Durham is open Mondays, Dover on Wednesdays, Exeter on Thursdays and Portsmouth on Saturdays. Each offers a slightly different vibe, both in size and vendor selection. According to Morani, Durham and Dover are the smallest, with eight to 15 vendors on average. “(They’re) more like your average grocery shop,” she says. “You’ve got your fruits, veggies and meats.” These two are also dog-friendly,
unlike the busier markets which are limited, pooch-wise, by their location’s restrictions.
With 30 to 50 vendors on average, Portsmouth’s market has historically been the largest, although “Exeter is giving it a run for its money,” Morani says. The latter is the group’s busiest weekday market, and offers the most prepared food options. At the Saturday market in Portsmouth, Morani says there are more specialty products and crafters.
“We really try and focus on keeping a balanced market and not necessarily allowing a lot of (vendors) in the same category to attend,” Morani says. If a vendor who applies isn’t a fit for any of the Seacoast Eat Local spots, she can help them connect with other markets across the state. “Because I worked for the food bank and ran the incentive program for the state, I have a lot of contacts across the state,” Morani says.
Dover has been the group’s most challenging market, but Morani is optimistic about 2024, since the market has moved to the recently-renovated Jenny Thompson Outdoor Pool parking lot. In addition to being close to the pool and a skate park, “it’s on a busier intersection, so it should get a lot of foot traffic based on people driving by.”
The group tries to have local musicians perform at every market, along with other special events — ranging from educational programs to fundraisers like the Halloween pumpkin smash — throughout the season. There are activities for kids too, like coloring and crafting booths.
Charitable initiatives remain at the core of Seacoast Eat Local. During September, the Portsmouth, Exeter, and Dover markets participate in the Vouchers for Veterans program, which gives any New Hampshire or Maine resident with a valid military or veteran ID $20 to spend at the market. Throughout the season, all of the markets accept SNAP and EBT.
In addition, Seacoast Eat Local has a matching program to help make those credits go further. If a shopper uses their EBT card to get, say, $10 in farmers market tokens, Seacoast Eat Local will give them the same dollar amount in fruit and vegetable coupons. “There’s no limit. They could do a dollar; they could do $500,” Morani says. “We match them dollar for dollar.” →
Gorham Farmers Market
2024 Season Starts: June 6
2024 Season Ends: Sept. 26
Day/Time/Location: Thursdays, 3 – 6 p.m., at Gorham Common, 66 Main St.
Dog-Friendly: Technically no, but “I don’t discourage it”
Jeff Stewart’s primary policy for the Gorham Farmers Market is simple: “Within reason, anything goes.” Stewart is director of the town’s Parks and Recreation department, which took over running the farmers market in 2019, when the event averaged about 10 to 15 vendors per week. Stewart says he has flexibility to let the vendors do their own thing because “it’s just basically me making decisions. I can make decisions on the fly instead of saying, ‘Oh, I’ve got to go back
to the committee to see how that’s going to work.’” Stewart recalls one vendor who asked if she could bring her baby goats, something other markets hadn’t allowed. But he said, “If that brings people to your tent, absolutely. I’m here to help you guys make money.”
Under Stewart’s leadership, the market has grown to an average of 40 vendors every week — comparatively huge, especially for a mid-week event. “The other two big markets up here are Lancaster and Littleton, and they
already had Saturday and Sunday,” Stewart says of why the Gorham market has stuck to its Thursday schedule. “I don’t like stepping on toes.”
Unlike other markets that try to stick to local vendors, Gorham doesn’t have restrictions on who can set up shop. Vendors can come from anywhere, but they must have grown or crafted the product they’re selling, Stewart says, noting that they’re not really seeking people selling “designs they made on a Cricket and threw on a T-shirt.
Nothing wrong with that, but to me that’s not really what the farmer’s market should be.” (Don’t worry, Cricket crafters, the town also has a separate vendor fair where “anybody can sell anything.”) Instead, you’ll find the expected farmers, along with people who sell everything from soaps to baked goods to CBD products to prepared food. The market also hosts live music on the second and fourth Thursdays every month it’s open.
About 15 miles from Mount Washington,
Gorham is a prime location for tourists. “Tens of thousands of people roll through (the town) every day during the summer,” Stewart says. “I sit there every Thursday and see people from all over the place.”
The market provides a further draw to stay and shop in the city. Stewart says it’s a good networking opportunity for vendors too, as they often continue to get orders from outof-town customers even after the market has ended for the season. “Everybody’s just happy that the market is there.” →
Barnstead Farmers Market
2024 Season Starts: June 1
2024 Season Ends: Sept. 28
Day/Time/Location: Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., at 1 Parade Circle, the Village Green Dog-Friendly: Yes
Four of the Barnstead Farmers Market’s five board members are vendors, including Liz Dionne. Dionne and her fiancé own Shamrock Hill Home Gardens, a micro farm in Barnstead, and have been selling their wares at the market since it started in 2016. Having majority vendors running the market helps keep decision-making streamlined. “When discussing a new project or concern, it’s nice to get feedback from the vendors that are on the board,” Dionne says. “We all work together very well.”
Currently, Barnstead is a mid-sized market, with 20 to 30 vendors on average each week. “We have an unwritten rule that we want more food vendors, like farmers, and fewer crafters,” Dionne says before noting that there’s a good mix of products for sale. The board tries to prioritize vendors from Barnstead, but people from surrounding areas are welcome too. “We have a lot of neighboring farms that participate, and we love it,” Dionne says. “It adds a bigger variety for customers.”
On top of noticing what’s selling best,
almost immediately. Now, they have a dozen bread machines and make a wide variety of flavors, like cinnamon raisin (the best-seller), double cheese with onion and cheddar beer.
In 2023, the market moved to The Barnstead Parade, a village green that Dionne estimates is about the size of three football fields, though the market only takes up the space of one. The new location, which offers much more space and plenty of parking, is getting lots of positive feedback. As Dionne puts it: “The vibe is just so much nicer. We’re not on busy Route 28. It’s a huge village green. There’s a beautiful bandstand. There are a couple of picnic tables in the center. We have a lot of people bring their dogs. It’s just a calmer place (with) beautiful oak trees and maple trees around the edges.”
In addition to moving, the market welcomed food trucks into the fold last year. “That really brought in a lot of customers because these food trucks have a following,” Dionne says. “People will travel to go to their favorite food truck.” The plan is to have food trucks again for the 2024 season.
There’s also live music from local musicians every week. “We try to pick musicians who will provide music that’s suitable for the farmers market,” Dionne says, which means a lot of folk with some occasional country music as well.
Now that the market is in the Barnstead Parade, it coincides nicely with Old Home Day in August. In 2023, “the place was packed,” Dionne recalls. The Farmers Market and Old Home Day committees worked together to provide a day of entertainment for visitors — raffles, children’s games and award ceremonies.
BELKNAP
Gilmanton Community Farmers Market gilmantonfarmersmarket.com
CARROLL
Tamworth Farmers Market tamworthfarmersmarket.org
CHESHIRE
Farmers Market of Keene keenefarmersmarket.com
C OOS
Lancaster Farmers Market lancasterfarmersmarket.org
HILLSBOROUGH
Nashua Farmers Market Facebook
GRAFTON
Canaan Farmers Market Facebook
MERRIMACK
Canterbury Community Farmers Market canterburyfarmersmarket.com
ROCKINGHAM
Dionne says, “We’ve gotten a lot of feedback in the last few years on what people want…and it’s definitely lots of produce and meats and breads and pastries.”
Dionne and her fiancé have pivoted to help meet those demands: While they started by selling seedlings, a lot of people came up to their booth asking if anyone was selling bread. “We thought to ourselves, there is a need for bread,” Dionne recalls. The couple already had a bread machine at home, so the following Saturday, they made a loaf to bring to the market; it sold
“We have a lot of loyal, repeat customers, and they know what they want. They show up and they go to the vendors they want to get their things from.” Dionne says she also sees plenty of new faces each week. Though they’ve moved off Route 28, there’s still a sign pointing visitors to the market. “We’re just trying to be local. We don’t want to get too big. We want everyone to be comfortable and just have a nice time when they’re at the market.”
“We love it when people want to stop by, even if they don’t buy anything,” Dionne says. “Just stop by and walk around.” NH
Candia Farmers Market candiafarmersmarket.org
S TRAFFORD
Seacoast Eat Local seacoasteatlocal.org
SULLIV AN
Newport Farmers Market newportfarmersmarketnh.com
Looking for more fresh and local meat, locally-grown produce and baked goods? Check our website for dates, times and locations for farmers markets across the state: nhmagazine.com/nhmarkets
Hardy but fleeting, the captivating and sweet fragrance of New Hampshire's state flower is a short season to savor
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW MEADBig billowy blossoms in a plethora of purple tinge the air with a unique fragrance that represents early summer. To experience the lilac, you must pay attention to the season and be ready to savor the sights and smells at the very end of May. In New Hampshire, these woody shrubs bloom for about a two-week period with richly hued flowers in shades of deep purple to light lavender. Many bloom varieties come in double blossoms as well and in species in which the flowers are all white or purple tipped in white.
Lilacs are part of the fabric of our state. Settlers brought them from Europe to the earliest settlements as a fond reminder of home. You can see the oldest lilac bushes in New Hampshire at the historic Governor Wentworth house in Portsmouth during its lilac festival at the end of May.
Because the season is so short, we've created a few special ways to engage the lilac theme and experience its color and style at your home.
← ARRANGE IT
To make an arrangement, cut blossoms early in the morning before the heat of the day. Smash woody stems with a hammer and plunge directly into cold water. Use only glass, pottery or plastic vessels, as metal containers cause blossoms to weep. If you do use a metal vessel, line it first with plastic to protect the life of the flowers.
Apotheca Flowers
Fresh seasonal cut flowers
24c Main St., Goffstown / apothecaflowershoppe.com
Color-infuse a cake or garnish cupcakes. Add a few drops of purple food coloring to your favorite cake batter to create colorful cake layers that pay homage to the season. You can also use fresh-cut blossoms to trim and garnish themed cupcakes for a seasonal gathering. Guests will marvel at the cake color upon cutting.
Piece of Cake
Food coloring and cake-decorating supplies
767 Islington St., Portsmouth / pieceocakepartynh.com
Collect shades of lilac in color or pattern from a flea market or antiques shops. We found lilac-shaded glass bottles, tabletop dishware and a mix of vintage linens and fabrics to use for wrapping bouquets or setting the table. Comb antiques shops for lilac memorabilia to add color to your home.
101A Antique & Collectible Center
A mix of vintage collectibles
141 NH Route 101A, Amherst / 101aantiques.com
Try your hand at painting a picture. Set up a still life and put brush to canvas to create your own long-lasting painting of your favorite bouquet. Join a local art studio to learn the necessary brush strokes and enjoy lilacs all year long.
Drawing & Painting Studio
174 Main St., Second Floor, No. 8, Nashua Phone calls only please: 603-233-9565
Local nurseries stock dozens of lilac varieties for purchase. Check out a garden center in your area for trees. Lilacs prefer moist, well-drained alkaline soil and full sun for the most abundant blooms.
Black Forest Nursery
A diverse mix of lilac trees in many varieties
209 King St., Boscawen / blackforestnursery.com
Occasionally, we lose our keys, forget an acquaintance’s name, or miscalculate restaurant tips. While we might attribute some of these blunders to stress or aging, paying attention to them is essential — especially if it limits our ability to complete tasks we once found easy.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 5.8 million people in the United States live with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. By 2060, that number is expected to grow to an estimated 14 million people.
Not everyone experiencing mild cognitive impairment will get diagnosed with dementia (an umbrella term for the loss of cognitive functioning) or Alzheimer’s disease. Still, we shouldn’t accept it as a natural part of aging, according to Dr. Dax Volle, a geriatric psychiatrist with Dartmouth Health.
“It’s been a pretty long-held belief that older people become senile, but losing the ability to function and do the things that are important to you — that’s not a normal part of aging,” he says.
Volle saw his aunt experience cognitive changes in her early to mid-60s after she retired from teaching. Her inability to receive an accurate diagnosis before her death led him to pursue geriatric psychiatry.
Dementia refers to a loss of cognitive functioning — including deficiencies in thinking, remembering and reasoning — to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. While Alzheimer’s disease is the most commonly diagnosed form of dementia, there are others, including frontotemporal, vascular and Lewy Body dementia. Each of these dementia subtypes presents differently. For example, someone with frontotemporal dementia might remember things correctly but have trouble with executive functioning and social interaction, Volle says.
Some of the early signs of dementia don’t necessarily present as absentmindedness. The disease also affects a person’s language ability, personality and mood. In the beginning stages of cognitive impairment, loved ones might not recognize subtle signs, according to Dr. Alexandra Filippakis, a neurologist with Wentworth Health Partners Coastal Neurology Services.
However, changes in behavior usually signal someone could be struggling. People
experiencing mild cognitive impairment often avoid undertaking tasks that involve calculations, she says.
“I’ll often ask, ‘Who does the finances or balances the checkbook?’ Often it will be the spouse who does that, not the patient,” she says. “When I ask why they no longer do those tasks, I might hear, ‘He took over five years ago because I bounced a couple of checks or forgot to pay the bills.’ As objective diagnosticians, these are the little details we pay attention to give us some hints,” Filippakis says.
Other signs a loved one might be struggling with impairment include falling prey to costly phone or computer scams.
“I had a patient come in last week that said, ‘I’m not an unintelligent person, but I got scammed on the phone, and I’m filing for bankruptcy now,” she says.
It can be challenging for families to evaluate a loved one’s memory decline objectively. Getting a proper evaluation and diagnosis is an important next step.
If you’re concerned about your own memory loss or think a loved one might be experiencing cognitive impairment, you should first make an appointment with a primary care provider, who can rule out other health concerns or medicines that might be causing confusion.
• From there, patients are often referred to a geriatrician, a provider who specializes in caring for older adults. They could also be referred to a psychiatrist, cognitive neurologist or geriatric psychiatrist.
• Certain neuropsychological screenings, such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment for Dementia (MoCA), can help doctors assess patients’ performance in particular cognitive domains, such as naming, attention span, language and spatial relationships.
• Blood tests can screen patients’ electrolyte, hormone, and vitamin levels — which all impact cognition.
• Imaging tests, such as MRIs or CAT scans, can look at the structure of the brain and indicate whether a patient experienced a stroke, a brain bleed or a tumor. They can also show certain types of brain shrinkage or atrophy.
The testing process takes time, but it helps doctors give patients and families a clearer
diagnosis, which can help them pursue specific courses of treatment, Volle says.
“There are a lot of question marks when it comes to dementia and what to expect when, and how to plan for the future,” he says. “A good diagnosis can really shape the trajectory of somebody’s health care experience.”
It’s critical to evaluate memory concerns because there’s a chance symptoms might not be permanent. When Filippakis examines patients, she sometimes discovers they have undiagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or thyroid diseases. Even untreated depression can masquerade as memory loss or dementia.
“It’s been a pretty long-held belief that older people become senile, but losing the ability to function and do the things that are important to you — that’s not a normal part of aging.”
— Dr. Dax Volle
“Seeing the right doctor can help families get closer to answering the big question, ‘Is this going to get worse over time?’” she says.
Getting your loved one to agree to attend appointments, take cognitive tests and undergo diagnostic imaging can all prove to be challenging, especially if they don’t think anything is wrong.
Even though you may not want to rock the boat, ignoring symptoms or assuming there’s nothing you can do might keep family and friends from treatments or care that can help them live a better life.
“Denial does run quite deep with patients and within families. Many people attribute symptoms to something else — she’s absent-minded or getting older,” Filippakis says. It can be difficult to tell someone that it’s something more than that.
The correct diagnosis can help patients access treatments that boost their memory
and thinking. A class of medications called cholinesterase inhibitors can help improve symptoms for people with Alzheimer’s disease. They don’t stop or fix damage to the brain, but can help people function a little better for a little longer, Volle says.
In the brains of people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, a protein called amyloid builds up into
plaques that damage brain cells. Emerging treatments, including immunotherapy drugs such as donanemab, can help the body’s immune system remove these plaques from the brain, reversing the disease. While promising and exciting, Volle says it’s still not a cure for the disease.
“The actual clinical trials show that after being on the trial for 18 months, those who received the medication were doing about 30% better on cognitive testing compared to the people who were not getting medication during the trial,” he says.
In March 2024, the Food and Drug Administration delayed the approval of donanemab. However, the FDA accelerated the approval of two other similar monoclonal antibody treatments, aducanumab and lecanemab, following promising trial results. Lecanamab is the currently approved and available monoclonal antibody treatment.
Dr. Filippakis says that it’s still unknown whether reducing amyloid directly results in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. A protein called tau, or the interplay between these two proteins, might be a better target. The benefits shown in clinical trials has been modest and uncovered risks such as brain swelling or bleeding in patients.
Also, many people are not candidates for these therapies. If people show microhemorrhages on brain MRIs, take blood-thinning medications, are homozygous for the ApoE4 gene, or are too far along in the disease course, they won’t be eligible, she says.
“A big problem is that the new anti-amyloid therapies are being overhyped in the media, and patients are asking for them often, only to be disappointed by the data when discussed,” Filippakis says.
While you can’t necessarily prevent dementia, there are things you can do to reduce your likelihood of getting it. Regular hearing and eye exams can help you get hearing aids or eyeglass prescriptions you need. The symptoms of sight and hearing loss can be similar to some of the early signs of dementia.
It’s crucial to stay physically, cognitively and socially active and manage your blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. Quitting smoking, reducing alcohol use, and eating a Mediterranean-style diet all help your body — and brain — stay healthier longer.
“Lifestyle changes are the biggest factor in
reducing the risk of who’s going to go on to develop memory loss and dementia later in life,” Volle says.
Many believe that they are doomed to inherit Alzheimer’s disease if their parents or grandparents had it. There are genetic susceptibilities, but it doesn’t mean that every generation will be affected, particularly if family members were diagnosed in their 80s, Filippakis says.
“Denial does run quite deep with patients and within families. Many people attribute symptoms to some thing else — she’s absent-minded or getting older.”
— Dr. Alexandra Filippakis
“Your risk is more than someone whose family didn’t have it,” she says. “It’s just something to be aware of so you can try to control the risk factors you’re able to.”
In addition to working with their health care providers, families can get support from organizations as they pursue dementia diagnosis, treatment and caregiving assistance.
Visit the New Hampshire/ Massachusetts chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org/manh to access resources, including a 24-hour helpline.
Get connected to local services by visiting ServiceLink, an aging and disability resources center run by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
Anyone can tap into support groups, classes, and free materials by visiting the Aging Resource Center at Dartmouth Health. NH
NH boxing and wrestling commissioner and business owner brings the fight to many rings
BY LYNNE SNIERSON / PHOTOS BY WANDERING WILDFLOWERS PHOTOGRAPHY
It’s often said that up until age 40 life is only a dress rehearsal. Now, newly minted New Hampshire state boxing and wrestling commissioner, former MMA fighter and promoter, lumberjack, published author and business owner David George is starring in front of the footlights.
“Everything up until now has been prac-
tice. Now, I’m recreating my entire life,” says George, who turned 40 in September and lives in Hampstead with his wife, Danielle, and daughters Ava, 14, Kiana, 12, and Savannah, 3. “It’s game on.”
Six months ago, he retired from the tree industry, where he had spent 23 years as a climber and lumberjack while founding and
owning the successful Free Bird Tree Service company. Through the years, he was also a major player on the combat sports scene.
“I started training in martial arts when I was 19, and then I saw my first (MMA) show ever in New Hampshire. I thought it was amazing,” George says. “I’m an adrenaline junkie, so I had to try this. I love being an athlete, and conditioning and pushing myself. My first fight was in Revere, Massachusetts, at the old Wonderland Dog Track.”
He was 22 and won in two minutes of the first round.
“It was exhilarating. The energy was incredible. I wanted more. I needed more,” George says. “My second fight was in Derry and went the full three rounds to a decision, and I won again. When you’re a warrior and you put in everything you have inside of you and you win, that’s the reward.”
His third bout in 2007 included much more drama. During his training camp, not only did his fight scheduled at Wonderland fall through, but the entire card was scratched because the promoter was going under. He requested a sit-down with him. By meeting’s end, George had bought his company, Combat Zone Mixed Martial Arts (CZMMA). He was 24.
“I became the promoter of an event I competed in, which is really messed up. They have rules against that, but the sport was still unsanctioned in Massachusetts, so there were no rules that night,” he says. “It was a learning experience to the fullest. I got my first loss as a competitor and my first real experience of how much of a disaster promoting my first show was. It was live and learn to the max.”
He rebranded and rebuilt CZMMA by taking on the role of matchmaker and promoting popular fight cards at the old Rockingham Park in Salem. When he sold the business to the Kattar Brothers, Calvin and Jamison, in 2013, it was the most successful and longest running MMA promotion in New England.
It was also a full-circle moment. Calvin
Writing and Illustrating Books is a Family Business for the Georges “Story by: Pops. Written and Illustrated by Ava D. & Kiana.” That’s on the cover of the children’s book titled “Work or Play, Make the Best of Your Day,” which is the creation of the George family of Hampstead.
“I created Incredible Publishing in 2018 because I always wanted to write children’s picture books,” David George says. “For a while I struggled with what to do about the illustrations and considered hiring someone. A family member suggested my children should do it. That’s when the light bulb went off.”
He turned the family dining room into an art studio, gave young daughters Ava and Kiana a set of oil pastels, and told them to have fun. They did, the book was published, and two more young artists — cousin Aliya and neighbor Juliette — joined future projects “Penny and the Pig; a Fun Way to Talk About Currency” and “Fun Never Stops.” Once sister Savannah came along, by the age of 2, she was involved in the next book, “Keep it Simple.”
“The greatest part was working with the children and finding what we could draw that a child could draw and would go with the words. That was the fun part of it,” George says. “What is amazing through working with the children through the years is to see their thinking, skills, and talent improve since we did the first book. That is very rewarding.”
“Keep it Simple” is entirely in black and white.
“I had to figure out a way to do the illustrations with a 2-year-old. Savannah did it all. Ava and Kiana did all the penmanship,” George says. “This book, done by three daughters and a father, is the most magical book I’ve ever put together.”
Kattar rose to UFC superstardom fighting for George at The Rock, and as of press time, he was the #8 ranked featherweight in the world.
Earlier this year, there was a significant turnover on the five-member New Hampshire Boxing and Wrestling Commission. Bobby Stephen, 83, who is legendary in the fight world and in the Granite State, retired
in February after 50 years (many of which as commission chair), and Art Nolin, 90, resigned in March after 30 years of service. Calvin Kattar recommended George fill an open spot.
“I took a leap of faith, wrote a resume and sent it in. It’s an honor to be nominated by Gov. Sununu and confirmed by the Executive Council,” George says. “Moreover, it’s
a way for me to explore the political arena and get my foot in the door. It’s opening my awareness and allowing me to learn more.
I come from the combat sports world, and it’s been a big part of my life, but for me this appointment is a lot larger than sitting cageside at an event.”
Nolin says, “David is a class act. He is a perfect gentleman and a wonderful person. He knows the MMA inside and out. He’s an excellent addition to the commission. They couldn’t have gotten anyone finer.”
Or busier. George is also the owner of Incredible Publishing and has authored four books — three for children, which are a collaboration with his daughters and illustrated by them— and he is finishing a fifth.
Along his journey, he was recruited by CBS-TV for a role in the cast of “Survivor.” He learned the true meaning of the word when he had to turn down the invitation at age 28 because he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Despite surgery and chemotherapy, it later metastasized into his spine and came back again before he defeated the disease the third time around.
“I could have been a reality TV star. It’s ironic that I had the opportunity to be a cast member on “Survivor” and I put time and energy into trying for that, and instead I became focused on trying to be a survivor in my real life,” he says.
“That changed my direction and my perspective. I became devoted to selfreflection and to spending quality time with my wife and children. I developed a passion for writing, and these books I wrote with my daughters enrich my relationship with them and strengthen our connection.”
He’s also part-owner of the e-commerce premium watch company NOTU and is taking on an executive role with the established New Hampshire-based CBD company Primary Jane. He is also pursuing a model, TV and film career in the New England market and has an established portfolio and website (DavidGeorgeModels.com).
“It’s not easy to shift your life at 40. You have to be unstoppable,” he says. “It’s about being great, expecting more than others think is practical or possible. My dad taught me to never feel scared or stuck, and to see life as a great adventure. That’s how I live my life. I’m living the most crazy, wonderful, exciting, full life, and I believe it’s only going to get better.” NH
May 11-12, 18-19
New Hampshire Renaissance Faire > Noble knights and fair maidens alike will find something to enjoy in this longstanding Granite State fête. Spread across two weekends and a massive fairground venue, this Best of NH award-winning event includes everything from an archery range and knight, pirate and gypsy encampments to a zoo animal area said to contain real dragons. $15-$20. Brookvale Pines Farm, 154 Martin Road, Fremont. (603) 679-2415; nhrenfaire.com
May 2
Taco Tour Manchester > The world’s largest taco tour returns to Manchester to take Elm Street by the taco. With more than 60 restaurants serving tacos for $3 each, a concert in Veteran’s Memorial Park and Elm Street completely closed to traffic, the taco will reign supreme once again in the Queen City. Attendees can vote for their favorite taco; the winning restaurant will receive the Golden Taco Trophy and $1,000 to donate to the charity of their choice. 4 to 8 p.m., downtown Manchester. tacotourmanchester.com
May 3-4
41st Annual NH Farm, Forest & Garden Expo > This family-friendly event features engaging exhibitors, agriculture experts, educational workshops and demonstrations to homeowners, hobbyfarmers and industry members. including barnyard animals, agricultural demonstrations, children’s programs and activities, livestock and horticultural competitions and more. Demonstrations include working sawmills and heavy equipment. To celebrate 41 years, the beloved event will be held at the Deerfield Fairgrounds. Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Deerfield Fairgrounds, 32 Stage Road, Deerfield. (603) 851-8624; nhfarmandforestexpo.org
May 4
22nd Annual Benefit by the Sea > Support the good work being done to break the cycle of homelessness on the Seacoast by Cross Roads House while enjoying a wonderful evening with likeminded individuals. Learn more about the collective impact we can all make for the hundreds of individuals and families who need shelter. This event will take place at Wentworth by the Sea, where attendees can enjoy a cocktail hour, formal dinner, live music and a dessert lounge. There will also be an opportunity to make a pledge of support for Cross Roads House. This gala is a vital part of securing the funds needed to continue providing shelter and life-changing services for the homeless in the Granite State. Dress is black-tie optional. 6 p.m., Wentworth by the Sea, 588 Wentworth Road, New Castle. (603) 436-2218; crossroadshouse.org
May 4-5
The Northeast Sea Glass Expo > Experience a weekend filled with artistry as talented creators showcase their unique seaglass creations and coastal-inspired masterpieces. $5, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Seacoast United Indoor Arena, 311 Winnacunnet Road, Hampton. portsmouthnh.com
May 5
Camienne Financial Cinco de Miles 5K > The first 1,500 runners to register will receive a free quarter-zip pullover. After you finish the race, take a break to enjoy chips and salsa and redeem your cervesa and margarita tickets. $10-$35. 9:15 a.m., Bedford High School, 47 Nashua Road, Bedford. millenniumrunning.com
May 6
NHBCA 40th Annual Arts Awards Gala > Save the date for the 40th annual gala event, where attendees join together in celebrating art and community. The New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts educates, motivates and recognizes business support of and participation in the arts. They also advocate for the value of the arts in economic, social and community development, and facilitate people and projects that enhance engagement in the arts. DoubleTree by Hilton, 700 Elm St., Manchester. New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event. nhbca.com
May 8
Rock ’N Race > Join more than 5,000 runners, walkers and volunteers participating in the largest charity race north of Boston. All funds raised at this event support Concord Hospital Payson Center for Cancer Care to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families. You can help by sponsoring a participant, volunteering, underwriting a service or making a donation. $25. 6 p.m., Concord State House, 107 North Main St., Concord. (603) 227-7162; giveto.concordhospital.org
May 11
Amherst Garden Club Annual Plant Sale > At the Amherst Garden Club’s flagship event each year, the organization sells more than 2,000 potted perennials, dug by hand from gardens in and around Amherst. Vendors will peddle veggies, herbs, hanging pots, houseplants, garden ornaments, container pots and more. Kids can pot a flowering plant for their special moms, along with delicious home-baked items to eat or for gifting. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wilkins School, 80 Boston Post Road, Amherst. amherstgardenclub.org
May 11
Colonial Garden Club of Hollis Annual Plant Sale > More than 2,000 plants, trees, shrubs, and Mother’s Day baskets will be for sale. The sale provides the club’s operating budget and funds many worthwhile projects in Hollis. The Garden Club is proud to contribute to local scholarships, the Beaver Brook Association and the Hollis Social Library, as well as civic-improvement projects and seasonal town plantings. 9 a.m. to noon, the field next to the Lawrence Barn, 28 Depot Road, Hollis. hollisgardenclub.org
May 11-12
NH Sheep and Wool Festival > Currently in its 46th year, the festival features programming for both producers of sheep and wool and for those of us who are just fans. Don’t miss the long list of workshops and demos on woolen clothesmaking, or, for a good laugh, the human-and-sheep-partnered costume contest. $10. Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Deerfield Fairgrounds, 32 Stage Road, Deerfield. nhswga.com
May 15
Bedrock Gardens 2024 Seasons Opens >
This emerging public garden integrates unusual botanical specimens and unique sculpture into an inspiring landscape journey. This 37-acre site is transitioning from a historic farm and private garden to a public oasis of art, horticulture and inspiration. Visit a garden The Boston Globe described as “one of the most beautiful and intriguing landscapes in New Hampshire.” Bring your family and friends outdoors, order a box lunch or bring a picnic. $15. High Road, Lee. (603) 659-2993; bedrockgardens.org
May 18
Exeter Arts & Music Festival > There’s no shortage of Seacoast-area festivals on the calendar this summer, but you can get a head start on the season with this fest. There’s plenty of family programming, but this party is especially impressive with attractions like a rock-climbing wall, an ecovillage, and sets from hip local musicians to supplement the standard arts festival fare. Swasey Parkway, Exeter. (603) 512-8396; teamexeter.com
May 16-19
The Thing in the Spring > The Thing in The Spring is a legendary annual music and arts festival that brings the outside world in and connect myriad undergrounds in accessible ways. Originally in Peterborough, The Thing now calls Keene’s Nova Arts home. This year’s headlining acts include Earth, The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis, Buck Meek, Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog and more. $25-$100. Thursday, 4:30 to 10:30 p.m., Friday, 2:30 to 9:25 p.m., Saturday 3 to 9 p.m., Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Nova Arts, 48 Emerald St., Keene. novaarts.org
May 18-19
Lakes Region Spring Craft Fair > More than 90 exhibitors will display their handsome soy candles, wrought iron creations, macramé chairs and swings, cedar furniture, pottery and more. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tanger Outlets, 120 Laconia Road, Tilton. (603) 387-1510; joycescraftshows.com
May 19
Romeo and Juliet > This iconic love story has not been performed by a New Hampshire ballet company for more than 40 years. Choreographers Lissa Curtis and Matt Tucker, along with stage combat choreographer Derek Nelson, bring this famed story to life at Safe Haven Ballet using the legendary score from Sergei Prokofiev. With its exquisite ballet and unique storytelling, Safe Haven Ballet will draw you into one of the greatest romances of all time. $40.75-$50.75. 4:30 p.m., The Chubb Theatre at the Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord. (603) 225-1111; ccanh.org
May 25-26
Memorial Day Weekend Craft Fair > More than 120 exhibitors will display their fine jewelry, pottery, gourmet foods, quilts and more. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Schouler Park, 1 Norcross Circle, Route 16, North Conway. (603) 387-1510; joycescraftshows.com
May 29
Memorial Day Weekend Fireworks Show at Hampton Beach > Bring a blanket and the whole family to kick off summer with this incredible fireworks display. 9:30 p.m., Hampton Beach, 115 Ocean Blvd., Hampton. (603) 926-8717; hamptonbeach.org
May 26
Wildquack Duck Race & Music Festival >
This annual event features a community, family, fun-filled day in the park. This free gathering features food, duck races, kids activities, traveling train rides, an incredible silent auction, live music from local favorites, and wares by local artisans on display and for purchase. The day’s events start at 8 a.m. and the first duck race goes off at 1:45 p.m. 18 Main St., Jackson. (978) 580-0905; visitwhitemountains.com
Find additional events at nhmagazine.com/ calendar. Submit events eight weeks in advance to Elisa Gonzales Verdi (egonzalesverdi@nhmagazine. com) or enter your own at nhmagazine.com/calendar. Not all events are guaranteed to be published either online or in the print calendar. Event submissions will be reviewed and, if deemed appropriate, approved by a New Hampshire Magazine editor.
Yankees* have a reputation for being hard nuts to crack: cool, remote, unfriendly, blunt, even lacking in compassion.
Hogwash.
Hardcore Yankees may not fawn, gush, hug or chit-chat. They may not exude warmth. Some of us don’t smile. Ever. (No need of it.) But Yankees can be just as mushy as anybody else. Inside.
Famously, Mark Twain (or maybe Will Rogers) regaled a North Country audience with his most hilarious stories only to be met with stone-faced silence. Afterward, as he slunk from the hall, he overheard two audience members discussing his performance:
“Wa’n’t he some funny?” one said. “Ayuh,” said the other. “T’was all I could do to hold back laughing.”
Yankees can be hard to read, but we still feel the feels.
When Warren burned the beans, his buddy Bob said, “Don’t worry about it. I like ‘em that way.”
Next time Warren served beans, they were burned again. Across the table, Bob
spotted a bowl of beans that looked not-soblack as those on his plate.
“Warren,” he said, “what’s them beans over there?”
“Them’s my beans,” Warren said. “I took ‘em out of the pot before I burnt yours.”
We care for each other. Best we know how. If that’s not compassion, I don’t know what is.
Ed was born in Ashuelot just two weeks before the Hurricane of ’38. When the river rose and threatened the house, Mother held infant Ed, Father held Mother, and the little family waded through fast-moving water to the neighbors’ house up on the hill. The two maiden ladies who lived there welcomed them with open arms. The wind blew so hard in the night, they worried the center chimney might blow over, so they tucked Ed into a wicker doll carriage and pushed the carriage under the grand piano.
The chimney didn’t blow over. But for as long as they lived, whenever one of those maiden ladies spotted Ed around town, she’d say (with a twinkle), “Ed, have you slept in my doll carriage lately?”
In another tale of neighborly care, steep
granite steps led up to the double doors of town hall where town meeting was in session. When Joe arrived late, all the seats were taken, so he stood at the back and leaned against the double doors, arms crossed tight. Unfortunately, someone arrived even later, opened the doors quick, and Joe tumbled backward down the steps.
Up front, the moderator banged his gavel: “I will entertain a motion to recess for five minutes to see if Joe is still alive.”
So moved, seconded, and passed on a voice vote. Joe was still alive.
Meanwhile, back in the North Country, a game warden pulled up to the pumps at a filling station very early one morning. This was back when filling stations sold only one thing: gas. A local pulled up on the other side of the pump. The warden and the local stood a pump’s width apart silently filling their vehicles.
Finally, the warden said wistfully to nobody in particular, “I wonder where a fella could get a good cup of coffee around here this time of day.”
“Well sir,” said the local, “I guess you’ll just have to come home with me.” NH
* To be a Yankee, you don’t have to be born here, have a particular ethnicity, or suffer decades of New Hampshire winters. Yankee is an attitude. For example: four transplants are collecting roadside litter in Walpole. A stranger pulls up and calls out, “Do you know how to get to Peterborough?” “Yup,” say the transplants as one. That’s Yankee attitude.
BY REBECCA RULE / ILLUSTRATION BY PETER NOONAN
Ranked the #1 hospital in New Hampshire.
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center has once again been ranked the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report. We take great pride in this achievement, though no award can compete with the honor we feel in delivering exceptional care to our communities every day. Thank you.
The best, where it matters most.
To learn more about our high-performing procedures and conditions, visit go.d-h.org/best-hospital
