New Hampshire Magazine October 2021

N E W H A M P S H I R E M AG A Z I N E

RACERS, START YOUR LEMONS COÖS COUNTY BIKE TOUR Adrenaline meets absurdity during a two-day race

OCTOBE R 2021 THE ART OF BEER

THE ART, CRAFT & LOVE OF

MONADNOCK BREWERIES

BEER

OUR SPECIAL ISSUE REVE ALS:

V Monadnock Region Brews V The Beauty of the Beer Label V Nonbeers That Truly Don't Suck & Much, Much More!

CROSS-NH BIKING TOUR

Live Free.

PUMPKIN PROJECTS

October 2021

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Experiencing the spirit of adventure on two wheels

magazine

R

Gini Kernozicky at one of the state's original breweries, Elm City Brewing in Keene

PLUS:

Graveyard Tours for Foliage Season Pumpkin Fun for Fall Décor

Building Communities — Together.

We value relationships and friendships, communities and customers, paying it forward and giving it back.

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© 2021 McLean Communications, LLC New Hampshire Magazine® is published by McLean Communications, Inc., 150 Dow St., Manchester, NH 03101, (603) 624-1442. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any mistakes in advertisements or editorial. Statements/opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect or represent those of this publication or its officers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, McLean Communications, LLC.: New Hampshire Magazine disclaims all responsibility for omissions and errors. New Hampshire Magazine is published monthly, with the exception of February and April. USPS permit number 022-604. Periodical postage paid at Manchester 03103-9651. Postmaster send address changes to: New Hampshire Magazine, P.O. Box 37900, Boone, IA 50037-0900 PRINTED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

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nhmagazine.com | October 2021

Contents 44

52

First Things

26 New Hampshire Now

by Anders Morley

30 Blips

NH in the News

by Casey McDermott

Features

32 What Do You Know?

Airborne at Sunrise

IMAGES TOP FROM LEFT: PHILLIP RENTON, JARED CHARNEY, JOE KLEMENTOVICH, KRISTEN SMITH, KENDAL J. BUSH, MATTHEW MEAD

38 Transcript

by David Mendelsohn

44 Crafted Inside and Out

Discover local breweries creating works of art that delight both the palate and the eyes.

by Nicole Handel photos by Joe Klementovich

52 Racers, Start Your Lemons

Absurdity meets adrenaline in a ridiculous (and ridiculously fun) race where teams hope to be the last car still driving.

by Brion O’Connor photos by Jared Charney

story and photos by Marshall Hudson

603 Navigator 10 Lessons from Cemeteries

by Clarissa Moll

14 Our Town

Berlin: The City That Trees Built

603 Living

by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers

70 Fall Pumpkin Décor Ideas

18 Sips

produced by Matthew Mead

Local Drinks

by Michael Hauptly-Pierce

82 Seniority Fall Hikes

20 Food & Drink

by Lynne Snierson

Monadnock Breweries

story and photos by Kendal J. Bush

84 Local Dish

Butternut Squash Risotto With Apple Sage Chutney

62 Coös County Traverse

The Explorers undertake a twoday, 40-mile mountain biking adventure across New Hampshire.

by Jay Atkinson photos by Joe Klementovich

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIONS 37 Beer Beat 74 Pink Power Breast Cancer Awareness 85 Five Star Wealth Managers

62

603 Informer

4 Editor’s Note 6 Contributors Page 8 Feedback

Be Witched: Meet Renée “Runa” Borkum.

October 2021

recipe by Chef Adam Parker

91 Calendar 34 You Should Have Been There The 20th Annual Best of NH Party

photos by Kendal J. Bush

36 Politics

A Tale of Two States

by James Pindell

ON THE COVER Bartender Gini Kernozicky at Elm City Brewing in Keene. Learn more about Elm City and other Monadnock Region breweries on page 20. Photo by Kendal J. Bush

What to Do This Month

edited by Emily Heidt

94 Health

Pregnancy Loss

by Karen A. Jamrog

96 Ayuh

A Granite State Welcome

by Bill Burke

Volume 35, Number 8 ISSN 1532-0219

nhmagazine.com | October 2021 3

EDITOR’S NOTE

A decade or so ago, I built a stage in my backyard. My kids were all performers of some sort and we had a couple of annual musical parties each year. Plus, I guess I had a lot more time on my hands back then.

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nhmagazine.com | October 2021

T

hese days, the stage (really just an numbers dwindled to where the Village became a convalescent home for the last 8΄ x 16΄ deck with a roof) is where remaining “eldresses” (one was still alive the dog and I sit to take the evening there when I worked at the school). air and keep an eye on the squirrels and Like me, with my sturdy backyard crows. The kids are grown and gone, but stage, the staff of Canterbury Shaker Village now the grandkids are accumulating so I’ve has been looking at their marvelous acres begun viewing the edifice with new eyes. of history and enterprise with new eyes, I built it pretty well, with the help of my adding concerts and picnics and renewing son and some of his strong, young friends their outreach to neighbors in surrounding to set the pressure-treated uprights in holes towns as well as to their global network of that reach beneath the frost line and then students and lovers of Shakerism. Fortusquare them up to support the pitched roof. nately the Shakers handcrafted and adapted It’s probably good for another 50 years if the things to last the tests of time, but imagine next owner of the property doesn’t just root the present-day upkeep on the thousands it out and start caring for the lawn instead. of square feet of clapboard and wooden But, before that distant day, I have a feeling shingles and you might feel some sympathy the stage will rediscover its purpose for the for the groundskeepers and restorationists next generation of Broussardlings. of Shaker Village. You might even want to This thought has taken on a special kick in a little support in your annual giving profundity in the wake of the successful, new (visit shakers.org). and improved Best of NH Party we held at Our Best of NH Party is always the Shaker Village in Canterbury in late August coming together of so many talents, gifts and (see some photos on page 34 and 35). efforts by so many different people that it takes My first real job in New Hampshire was on a life of its own and everyone feels a part working at an independent school in the of it. And this year the party was also blessed woods named Horizon’s Edge, just a quarter by the work of the many hands that had built of a mile up the road from Shaker Village. the Village, maintained it and finally preserved The students and staff were welcome to its treasure — all so yet another generation explore the extensive grounds and ponds of could gaze in wonder at the beauty of what the Village as an open-air classroom and the the Shakers considered “simplicity.” lessons of the Shakers themselves were a part We invited Shaker Village Education of the Horizon’s Edge curriculum. The school Consultant Donna Scarlett to offer the blessing had been founded by Quakers (from whom over the dinner at our party and to that end the Shakers had emerged as a millennialist she sang three short Shaker songs. The last one should be familiar to most: the Shaker’s splinter), so it was a natural fit. famous anthem “Tis a Gift to Be Simple.”

Class lessons were built around the The song’s beats seem timed to a resting heart pratical genius of the Canterbury Shakers: rate and the verses spin like a newel post on a their graceful crafts, entrepreneurial imagination and progressive worldview (including treadle-powered lathe right up to the last line: “When true simplicity is gained; To bow equality of the sexes in all spheres of life). In and to bend we shan’t be ashamed; To turn, spite of (or perhaps because of) the group’s turn will be our delight; Till by turning, turning voluntary celibacy and separation of the we come ’round right.” sexes, the joy of work and the sheer bliss And to that prayer for our dinner — and of life were built into Shaker Village like a our world — may we all offer a hopeful “Amen.” template. They relished their food, simplified their tasks with inventions, wrote and performed hundreds of songs, wore bright colors and danced ecstatically until their

PHOTO BY LYNN CROW PHOTOGRAPHY

Turning, turning ...

2O22

call for entries

NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS 2021 HOME OF THE YEAR WINNER: Shoreland Overlook by Murdough Design

Now is the time for designers to submit their favorite residential projects for the 2022 New Hampshire Home Design Awards.

Whether you’ve designed or built a spectacular kitchen, a beautiful bath, a unique outdoor space or a fabulous home, we want to see your most impressive work. For 2022, your best projects can be submitted in 12 design categories.

2021 KITCHEN DESIGN/NEW CONSTRUCTION WINNER: Peaceful Beach Retreat by PKsurroundings

2021 SMALL HOME DESIGN WINNER: Mighty Views by TMS Architects

Make sure your project gets the recognition it deserves —

PHOTOS COURTESY: CHUCK CHOI, ROB KAROSIS, JOHN W. HESSION

New Hampshire Home will celebrate an array of design excellence at the Design Awards gala at LaBelle Winery in Derry on January 19, 2022.

2021 INTERIOR DESIGN WINNER: Meredith Getaway by Bonin Architects & Associates

Mark your calendar and stay tuned for details. For a complete list of award descriptions, judging criteria and the submission process, visit nhhomemagazine.com/design-awards.

Sponsors of the 2022 New HampsHire Home Design Awards:

2O22

FOR SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION contact Jessica Schooley (603) 345-2752 or jschooley@mcleancommunications.com.

Contributors Before calling the Monadnock Region home, photographer Kendal J. Bush — who wrote and photographed “Food & Drink” and took the photos of the Best of NH Party — traveled the world as an editor and videographer for the National Geographic Channel and NBC. She combines years of experience as a photojournalist with her film school education to yield beautiful, creative portraits as well as corporate, wedding and event photography. See more of her work at kendaljbush.com.

for October 2021

Joe Klementovich, whose work spans from Mt. Washington to the Everglades, took the photos for “Crafted Inside and Out” and “Coös County Traverse.”

Nicole Handel, who wrote “Crafted Inside and Out,” loves the outdoors, dogs and a good scone.

Learn more about her adventures on Instagram at @nicolehandel.

Freelance writer and journalist Brion O’Connor wrote “Racers, Start Your Lemons.” His work has appeared in many national magazines and newspapers.

Author Jay Atkinson is one half of our “Explorers” team (the other half is photographer Joe Klementovich). He wrote “Coös County Traverse.”

Stylist, author, photographer and lifestyle editor Matthew Mead produced this month’s “Living” on unique ways to decorate with pumpkins.

Jared Charney’s work has appeared in many prestigious publications. He took photos for “Racers, Start Your Lemons.” See more at jaredcharney.com.

About | Behind the Scenes at New Hampshire Magazine time you have this issue in hand, Picturing 603 Diversity Bya newthemagazine titled 603 Diversity

should be at the printer — or maybe even in your mailbox. It’s the latest publication from McLean Communications, and one in which we’re taking some special pride, not so much for ourselves as for the talented crew of writers, photographers, artists and change-makers who are staffing it. The need for a magazine devoted to our state’s diverse communities has been evident for some time.

And although we’ve made efforts toward greater inclusion in our own pages here at New Hampshire Magazine, we knew that the only way for 603 Diversity to truly represent those communities was to have their own members writing and illustrating it. You’ll meet some of those contributors in that first issue, but we can introduce one right here. Photographer Robert Ortiz began his photography career at 15, and has since traveled the world, even spending time in the Amazon jungle of Peru producing a documentary on its native people and cultures. He’s been capturing images of New Hampshire restaurants, minority-owned businesses and the hip-hop street art of Nashua in recent weeks, and he and the rest of the team are excited to present their own points of views on the subject of 603 Diversity.

Robert Ortiz Visit 603diversity.com for more information.

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nhmagazine.com | October 2021

Check this out!

The New Hampshire Magazine store just went live! Pay a visit to store.nhmagazine.com to find great pieces made by New Hampshire artisans as well as some fun items that celebrate the Granite State.

nhmagazine.com | October 2021 7

Send letters to Editor Rick Broussard, New Hampshire Magazine, 150 Dow St. Manchester, NH 03101 or email him at editor@nhmagazine.com.

Feedback

nhmagazine.com, facebook.com/NHMagazine & @nhmagazine

Taking Liberties?

T H E A RT OF THE

VO I C E

TC: “The bigger question is, OB, how have you not been on the cover of New Hampshire Magazine yet?”

OB: “I don’t know the answer to that. I’m sure there’s a marketability question on that, TC, and I don’t think I fit that bill, necessarily. But we’ll look into it. I don’t know — should I be offended?”

Calling All UFO Sighters

Just reading my New Hampshire Magazine and really enjoyed the UFO articles and your invitation for readers to submit their own UFO sightings [“Editor’s Note” and “Informer,” September 2021].

Here is my encounter in Bow, New Hampshire (best I can recall — early fall 1985): I passed under a low-flying triangular UFO at night heading north on Route 3-A. It had just come from the left almost grazing the treetops. I could see large white lights under it. The road was dark and winding and the Merrimack River was on my right. It was in a section just before the big I-89 North intersection where all the auto dealerships are.

The UFO was so low and appeared so suddenly that I actually ducked my head down instinctively as it passed over my car. I could see it on my right hovering over the river.

My logical mind still thought it was a large plane heading towards the airport, but it didnt make any sense that a large jet would be that low. Then I realized it also had no sound at all.

OJECTS PUMPKIN PR

nhmagazine.com | October 2021

we have known

IKING TOUR CROSS-NH B

Editor’s note: We stand corrected. Since the story with that error was written by the editor himself, he hereby apologies to all our readers and to the peoples of Colombia and any and all Columbias.

Great announcers

ES K BREWERI

– Barb Kimber, NH

t Red Sox broadcaster

MONADNOC

Your August 2021 issue contains the article “Coffee Culture” about La Mulita Coffee Bar and Roastery [“Food & Drink,” August 2021]. Though very informative, I am a bit unsure about where exactly Max Pruna hails from. The article states that Mr. Pruna was born in the city of Medellin. Now, here is where I’m not sure what country Medellin is in — is it Colombia, or Columbia? According to the article, Mr. Pruna’s country of origin is Columbia. And the coffee he sells is Columbian. Something seems amiss here. I checked online to find out what country Medellin is located in, and found out it is Colombia.

And, coincidentally, the full-page photo accompanying the article shows a coffee bag standing that says, “Product of Colombia.”

Hmm. Just drawing your attention to the Columbia/Colombia error. Now that I’m done busting on you, I absolutely enjoy your magazine.

I read every article. It’s a shame the state I live in doesn’t have a magazine similar to New Hampshire Magazine though; if it did, I would still be subscribing to your magazine.

good to NESN’s newes

BEER THE ART OF

Hail, Colombia

Change sounded

02 1 O CTO B E R 2

Editor’s note: Thanks for the insights and information, Nolan.

When New Hampshire Magazine notables are about to make their NESN debut on a new episode of “Charlie Moore Outdoors,” everyone gathers around the TV ... and the Red Sox are only in the fourth inning, thanks to a rain delay.

Such is the life of budding (in our case) and veteran (in Charlie’s case) TV personalities when your schedule is built around the unpredictable and incompatible whims of Mother Nature and Major League Baseball.

A SWING AND A HIT ME RY BERRY GOOD TO BASEBALL BEEN BER NH Magazine Publisher Ernesto Burden and Editor Rick Broussard were Charlie’s guests magazine on the episode “Everybody Wins,” which first aired just a few weeks ago (August 29 to be precise) — after the rain delay. Luckily, there were Play-by-play multiple opportunities to see it later, but during with NESN's newest announcer the Sox game, NESN’s Tom Caron ribbed Granite Dave O'Brien R Stater/play-by-play man Dave O’Brien about never having his own spotlight in New Hampshire Magazine. Here’s a replay: M AG A Z I N E

– Nolan Pelletier, interim chair LPNH, Plaistow

Nothing ever seems to go as planned — especially on TV – by Bill Burke

HIRE NEW HAMPS

In regards to “Just Winging It” [“Politics,” September 2021], you have misrepresented Libertarian Party NH’s stance and involvement with the Free State. Our current leadership is very supportive of the FSP, which was misrepresented in your article. As a matter of fact, all members of our Executive Committee are Free Staters besides myself.

Although I would like to see Libertarians winning elections, I am also happy seeing liberty happening through any means possible. In regards to our party being a mess, if you are referring to Jilletta’s coup, that has been handled. If you would like further clarification, I would be more than happy to answer any questions.

In Liberty,

8

emails, snail mail, facebook, tweets

ld Does the Whole Wor ng Stretch?

Need a 7th Inni rting g and health-impa A look at the unifyin ne to sing Sweet Caroli power of standing

I continued on into Concord. I couldn’t get the incident out of my head.

A few months later, my ex (still living in my house) was talking about possibly seeing a UFO pass by their skylight in the bedroom.

It sounded like the same night I saw it, and the trajectory of the UFO when I saw it would have been coming exactly from where my house was located in Bow. I have not been able to find any other reference to this sighting.

I have another interesting UFO story that happened to a cousin of mine (a Keene Sentinel journalist at the time) on his way to Hillsborough back in 1960s. I will email it as soon as I can put it down on paper.

FYI: My son is NH Top Dentist Dr. Chris Binder, owner of Generations Dental. I am a retired New Hampshire R.N. case manager and rehab specialist.

– Mary Knee, of Bow

Editor’s note: Great story, Mary. I’d love to hear about your cousin’s sighting and still welcome all first-person UFO reports from our readers.

illustration by brad fitzpatrick

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

To enter our drawing for Spot the Newt, visit spotthenewt.com and fill out the online form. Or, send answers plus your name and mailing address to:

Spot the Newt c/o New Hampshire Magazine 150 Dow St., Manchester, NH 03101 You can also email them to newt@nhmagazine.com or fax them to (603) 624-1310.

The September “Spot the Newt” winner is Les Kus of Plaistow.

September issue newts were on pages 9, 13, 82 and 87.

NEED A GOOD REASON FOR SPOTTING THE NEWT? The October Spot the Newt prize will help you to spice things up this fall with an inspired selection of herbs and spices from local companies Harvest Thyme Herbs, Naked Hot Sauces, Coco’s Coffee and Camp Mix. It’s a $50 value from the NH Made retail store, located at 28 Deer St., Portsmouth. New Hampshire Made is our state’s official promoter of all the good things made right here in the Granite State.

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nhmagazine.com | October 2021 9

603 Navigator

“Let’s talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs; Make dust our paper and with rainy eyes Write sorrow on the bosom of the earth, Let’s choose executors and talk of wills” — William Shakespeare

Nestled under nut trees, Old Hill Graveyard tells the story of Londonderry’s earliest days.

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nhmagazine.com | October 2021

PHOTO BY KRISTEN SMITH

Our Town 14 Sips 18 Food & Drink 20

Unlikely Teachers

In a time of pandemic, New Hampshire’s cemeteries remind us there’s more to life than death

BY CLARISSA MOLL

T

ipped off by my brother-in-law, an avid hiker of the Whites, I’m on the hunt today in the Ossipee Range. The country road that winds through Tamworth passes a sign for the Barnstormers Theatre and, later, the White Pines Recreation Area.

But I urge my car on as the forest thickens.

Unlike the crowds of leaf peepers who will inundate the area in a few short weeks, I’m not here on vacation. I’m looking for a cemetery.

Two years ago, I buried my husband in another range of mountains, the Pacific Northwest’s mighty Cascades, after his death in a hiking accident. Covid-19 travel restrictions have confounded attempts to regularly visit his grave, so I’m here in Tamworth today by proxy — to find another cemetery like his, framed by mountains and far from the madding crowd. After enduring stifling sorrow and pandemic news for too long, I’m searching for fresh air and quiet, a place to remember and repair, to grieve and be grounded.

Oriented by a single GPS point, I know the spot before my car’s navigation signals I’m there. The trees begin to thin, and I slowly pull to the side of the road. Killing the engine, I search the tree line for what my brother-in-law assured me I’d find. And there she is — beautiful Mount Chocorua, framed by red oaks and sugar maples and a stand of white pines. Fowlers Mill, a quiet country cemetery rests in her shadow.

It might be hard to imagine a cemetery being an attractive destination during a pandemic, but as I walk the mossy rows of Fowlers Mill, I can’t help but think this might actually be the perfect location to find clarity in the midst of media buzz and hope when life feels dark.

With bare Chocorua standing backdrop, one can reckon with life’s fragility and honor sacrifice here at the final resting place of James Wiggin, Civil War hospital steward — a healthcare worker in his own day. Here, beside the little graves of twin sisters Mercy and Ellen Folsom, we can ground ourselves in the truth of what really matters. In this season when death fills headlines and the evening news, New Hampshire’s cemeteries offer space for remembrance and rebirth.

Meeting Family Inspired by my trip to Tamworth, I find that I crave a cemetery’s wise and measured teaching. So, I set off again, this time just a short drive south through the Lakes Region to the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen.

Established in 1997, this expansive, tranquil cemetery honors resident and nonresident veterans alike with a stately resting place recognizing their service. I don’t know anyone buried here at the cemetery, but after a few hours spent here on a Saturday afternoon, I feel as though I do.

I’m surprised to find my eyes cloud with tears as I crouch in the grass between the rows of marble stones. They’re so polite and uniform, like a thousand soldiers standing at salute. But these are more than a faceless platoon. There’s Steven, son and brother who was “kind in spirit,” and Norman, the loving husband and father. There’s Paul, “Ruth’s true love and best friend,” and Jean, the faithful wife and loving grandmother.

I look across the verdant field bounded by trees with leaves about to turn, and I can almost imagine a vibrant family reunion like those hosted in cemeteries across America after the Civil War, children tossing balls

nhmagazine.com | October 2021 11

PHOTOS COURTESY WIKICOMMONS

603 NAVIGATOR / LESSONS FROM THE GRAVE

The African Burying Ground is the oldest and largest known excavated burial ground in North America for both free and enslaved Africans.

back and forth, women chatting together as they decorate graves. My eyes drift back to the rows of stones, and I realize those who rest here are not strangers. We are kin.

As I meet beloved family members through the words their loved ones have chosen so carefully, these quiet, etched voices remind me that we are bound to one another. Here in this restful place, far from my own husband’s grave, I may still commune with family. After a long season of national division and unrest, the cemetery speaks of the ties that bind us. It calls us to a higher love for one another, one that honors our differences and celebrates the strength we find in unity of purpose.

Apples and Immigrants Tucked back behind an aging apple orchard in my childhood hometown of Londonderry sits one of the oldest cemeteries in the state, 12

nhmagazine.com | October 2021

Old Hill Graveyard, and its sister cemetery, Pillsbury. The elder dates to 1733, while the newer Pillsbury is still expanding. Together they rest on a gentle rise above the orchards I passed each day on the way to school, rows of trees where the warm sweetness of apples hung in the air on crisp fall days.

Nestled under nut trees, Old Hill Cemetery tells the story of Londonderry’s earliest days. Scots-Irish immigrants are buried here, forever home now in their adopted country. These first settlers to southern New Hampshire fled political and religious persecution and carved out new lives in Londonderry’s rocky soil. William Dickey came with his wife and three children to settle nearby Todd’s Brook. Presbyterian minister Angus McAllister arrived longing for freedom to practice his faith in peace.

Once the home of Woodmont Orchards, this little stretch of Londonderry is now

designated Apple Way, a New Hampshire Scenic and Cultural Byway. In the fall, families come from all around to U-pick at the four remaining orchards in town. They reap their harvest, then gather around warm cider and donuts, a choreography of the immigrant experience centuries before them.

Scottish and Irish immigrants brought apples with them to Londonderry when they came, a source of nourishment and a taste of the home they’d loved and left. These settlers rest now at Old Hill, surrounded by the trees they prized, reminding us that what each brings to this country makes us all richer. I look out over the stubby gravestones, worn black with age and weather, and see the trees heavy with fruit. From its perch above the orchards, Old Hill quietly urges us to renew our commitment to peaceful discourse, to understanding, to welcoming those different from ourselves.

Finding Hope Beneath the Street From Londonderry, I point my feet toward the seacoast, and I find this commitment tested as I walk down Portsmouth’s cobbled streets in search of the African American Burying Ground. Wedged in a little nook between Court and State streets, the burial ground speaks words I need to hear as summer turns to fall. I need reminding at this hallowed spot that processing loss means sitting with grief, that death always precedes rebirth. That listening is the first step to opening my hands and heart to the gifts others bring.

When coffins were unearthed from the street in 2013, their appearance began a public reckoning with our small state’s role in injustice and oppression. Over 200 unmarked graves rest below in this space now designated as a memorial park for enslaved Africans and African Americans who came and worked in the New World.

I’m not sure what to do when I first arrive at this cemetery. It is so unlike the others I have visited. But grief can bind us to one another, across cultures and experiences, even across the years. At the entrance to the memorial park, I stand

close to the statue of the African man who watches and mourns. I know he’s just made of bronze, but something in me wants to reach out and hold his hand. I’ve known bitter loss myself, and, while it cannot compare to generational grief and trauma, grief is not exclusive. It touches us all. My heart breaks for all he has lost.

I search his eyes and walk quietly along the brick-marked course and read the signs.

In my own grief, I’ve known that listening and presence are the greatest gifts. Platitudes and pat answers fall flat. So, here I am. To listen. To grieve. To honor a loss not my own, and yet also my own. I’m here to find a better way, through national tensions and illness, through racial and political discord that threatens to unravel the beauty of what these cemeteries say we are and can become.

If we will listen and grieve, these quiet cemeteries will teach us, will lead us to a better way.

A brisk wind blows and I pull my jacket a little closer. In this season of unrest and uncertainty, cemeteries are some of the most encouraging spaces that I know. Hope can be found in the most unlikely of places, even beneath your feet. NH

Graveyards to Visit Cemeteries may not be the cheeriest spots, but they tend to be located on scenic rises surrounded by trees. And since the dearly departed don’t get to enjoy the view (at least so far as we know), why let it go to waste during our most colorful season of the year?

Here’s some additional sites to enjoy autumn’s splendor framed by the state’s most interesting tombstones.

Old Street Road Cemetery Peterborough

Smallpox Cemetery & The Old Burying Ground Jaffrey

Pine Grove Cemetery Manchester

“Blood Cemetery” Hollis

Gilson Road Cemetery Nashua

Woodland Cemetery Keene

Old North Cemetery Concord

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Just email, call or visit us today at: CoinBuy@LittletonCoin.com (877) 857–7850 LittletonCoin.com/CoinsToSell nhmagazine.com | October 2021 13

603 NAVIGATOR / OUR TOWN

Log drive boom piers in the Androscoggin River are the only reminders of the log drives, when thousands of huge tree trunks ran downriver.

Berlin: The City That Trees Built North Country history and heritage preserved

BY BARBARA RADCLIFFE ROGERS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY STILLMAN ROGERS

L

ong before Europeans explored the Upper Androscoggin River, Eastern Abenaki used it as a highway, camping in what is now Berlin to mine an important resource. At the crest of Mount Jasper, which rises sharply behind the center of Berlin, the Abenaki discovered rhyolite, a fine-grained igneous rock that could be flaked into hard, sharp points for arrows and spears.

A series of shallow pits along bands of rhyolite atop Mount Jasper are among the very few documented Native American mining sites in the Eastern United States.

Stone tools and finished projectile points discovered near the mine and at campsites along the Androscoggin are displayed at the Berlin Public Library on Main Street. These are labeled, and a brochure offers more details about the artifacts and the mine.

Land for the town of Maynesborough was granted by Colonial governor John

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Wentworth, but the claims were never taken up. It wasn’t until 1823 that settlers came to establish farms, reincorporating it as Berlin in 1829.

Set alongside a river amid miles of virgin forest, logging and wood industries were more productive than farming. The falls of the Androscoggin provided power for mills, and the raw material was all around them. In 1851, the railroad arrived, connecting Berlin to markets, and soon thereafter H. Winslow & Company built a large sawmill at the falls.

In 1868, William Wentworth Brown and Lewis T. Brown bought the mill and its timber and water rights, changing the name to the Berlin Mills Company. The arrival of the Boston and Maine Railroad opened even more markets, and by the early 20th century, several pulp and paper mills were active in Berlin.

The Berlin Mills, the biggest and the

major employer, changed its name to the Brown Company because of anti-German sentiment during World War I. Brown Company survived the Depression and World War II, although barely, and changed hands repeatedly before the last owner, Fraser Papers, closed the mills entirely in 2006, displacing 250 employees.

At its height, the Brown Company owned more than three million acres of Quebec woodlands and more throughout the East, employing more than 9,000 men to operate the mills and cut the timber that supplied them. During the winter, men at logging camps deep in the woods cut timber that was floated down the river on the spring runoff. Today, only the boom piers that stand out as tiny islands along the river’s center are reminders of the log drives, when thousands

The St. Kieran Community Center for the Arts is a visual and performing arts center and cultural hub.

of huge tree trunks tossed and tumbled on its roiling surface.

The 1853 Brown House, which was the company’s nerve center, overlooks the river on Main Street, now housing the Androscoggin Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Across the street, paintings created by Plymouth State University students decorate the windows of the company’s former research and development building.

Mills and their logging operations are responsible for Berlin’s unique and diverse population mix. The industry needed labor, and workers came from as far as Russia, Italy, Germany and Scandinavia, each forming a little community of people who shared the same language and customs. The majority came from neighboring Quebec; more than half the city’s population was French-speaking, and at the turn of the 21st century, two-thirds of the population claimed French heritage.

Berlin’s churches tell the story of these immigrant populations. In the center of the city, you can’t miss the towering brick St. Anne’s Church, built by FrenchCanadians in 1901, replacing an earlier one. The exuberant interior is a surprise,

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603 NAVIGATOR / OUR TOWN

Left: An Olympic jacket worn at the 1932 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid by N.H. ski great Alf Halvorson. Right: A horse and ladder fire wagon at Brown Company Barns

with its Italian Baroque style and decoration.

St. Kieran’s, the Irish church, was completed in 1895. The story goes that the Irish who lived nearby had been attending the previous St. Anne’s, but were clearly unwelcome, so they decided to build a bigger church than the French — who in turn built the current St. Anne’s six years later.

In 2000, all four of the Roman Catholic parishes combined at St. Anne’s. St. Kieran’s is now preserved as home to the St. Kieran Community Center for the Arts, a visual and performing arts center and cultural hub for the region. St. Anne’s is on the National Register of Historic Places and St. Kieran’s is listed on the N.H. State Register of Historic Places.

You have to look a little harder to find the golden, onion-shaped domes of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church glittering in the sunlight. High on steep Petrograd Street, it was founded in 1915 by Berlin’s large Russian community and is one of the last Russian Orthodox churches with a charter granted

by Tsar Nicholas II before the fall of the Russian Empire. The church houses two reliquary icons.

The Northern Forest Heritage Park in Berlin used to have a cultural festival that celebrated some of the ethnic groups. Sadly, this historical center has now closed, and its collections of artifacts were given to the Berlin & Coös County Historical Society’s Moffett House Museum and Genealogy Center.

The museum is in the 14-room Victorian home and office of Dr. Irving Moffett, who practiced medicine from 1932 to 1993. His downstairs clinic rooms are filled with the 16

nhmagazine.com | October 2021

most innovative equipment of the time. Some of it is quite surprising, such as a 1930s device for photographing inside a stomach.

Raymond Daigle’s tour of the museum was filled with interesting anecdotes and history. He pointed out, for example, a 1924 prescription for a tonic with instructions to be taken daily; the label is on a fifth of whiskey, available only by doctor’s orders during Prohibition.

Moffett’s home is packed with memorabilia from Berlin’s history, one of the most complete and well-labeled local historical museums we’ve seen in our years of exploring the state. From White Mountain souvenirs and World War II ration books to uniforms from every conflict since the Spanish American War, the museum provides fascinating glimpses into life in a North Country town for the past century.

A poignant reminder of Berlin’s economic fortunes is a sheet of pulp paper turned out on the last day of the mill’s operation, April 23, 2006, signed by the last employees.

Upstairs is the most complete genealogical research center north of Manchester.

A display featuring Berlin native Alf Halvorson, Olympic coach and founder of the U.S. Eastern Amateur Ski Association, reminds us of another major group that made up Berlin’s international mix — Scandinavians. In 1872, they founded the North American Ski Club, later renamed the Nansen Ski Club. America’s oldest ski club, it still exists today.

Halvorson’s most lasting memorial, however, is north of town, at the Milan/Berlin town line. Under Halvorson’s leadership, in

1935, the Nansen Ski Club built the 171-foothigh Nansen Ski Jump, for half a century the largest in North America. Recently restored and readied for competitions, it’s on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Historical Society owns the restored Brown Company Barns, the last remains of the company’s logging operations. W.R. Brown, son of the company’s co-founder, raised Arabian horses, which he stabled in one of the barns; the other was used for periodic rests for the draft horses that moved timber in the logging camps.

Today, the barns house larger items that don’t fit in the Moffett House: logging equipment, carriages, fire-fighting wagons, and displays of historic photographs showing the camps and log drives.

You can find Daigle at the barns most mornings from 7 to 11, where he oversees a perpetual barn sale of contributed items the museum can’t use. Why is he there at 7 a.m.?

“I tell people I’m there to let the horses out,” he laughs, “but maybe I am letting out their spirits.” NH

Learn more Berlin Public Library

(603) 752-5210 / berlinnh.gov/library

St. Kieran Community Center for the Arts (603) 752-1028 / stkieranarts.org

Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church (603) 752-2254 / hrocberlin.org

Moffett House Museum and Genealogy Center

(603) 752-4590 / berlinnhhistoricalsociety.org

BROADWAY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

REOPENS AT THE PALACE

SEPT. 10 - 26, 2021

603.668.5588

OCT. 15 - NOV. 14, 2021

PalaceTheatre.org

nhmagazine.com | October 2021 17

603 NAVIGATOR / FOOD & DRINK

Sips

Local beverage news and reviews by Michael Hauptly-Pierce, co-founder of Lithermans Limited Brewery

Nonbeers With a Beat A tasting session paired with musical inspiration combines to let the good times roll

F

or the sake of transparency and full disclosure: I don’t buy many alcoholic beverages. As the co-owner of a brewery, beverages sort of “materialize” on occasion. Even when I try to pay for drinks out, I am often refused the ability to do so. Waaah! Poor me. My point is, that when I decide that my drinking is going to take a certain vector, it requires actual action on my part. So, to ameliorate my necessity for effort, I reached out to Jon Pinches of The Packie in Manchester, and asked him to supply me with four not-beer yet New Hampshire-made potent potables.

He did not let me down.

What I failed to inform him, or my editor (sorry), was that I was going to pull

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a Kramer and multitask a band rehearsal with a tasting session for New Hampshire Magazine, so my partner in musical arms Mark Vadnais and I paired four New Hampshire-fermented beverages with songs we cover. We hope you like the mix!

603 Brewery took several years to perfect their seltzer recipe, and it shows. Although I have sampled a dozen or so entrants in this category, it is not a drink I naturally migrate toward, and so my love of their tangerine seltzer is even more compelling as a result.

The fruit is right up front with no apparent sweetness. The mouthfeel is very light and totally appropriate for the style. My friend Dan has once again outdone himself with this absolutely repeatable (I already bought

more, shhhh) refreshing beverage. We paired this with the song “Rodeo Clowns” from G Love and Jack Johnson — it comes in slow and mellow but can also take you to the end of the party when the lights go out.

Tip the cup!

North Country Hard Cider produces some of the best cider in this part of the country, and we paired this beverage with an original tune called “Bean Hollow.” Bean Hollow is a beach just far enough from Santa Cruz, California, to be quiet, just subtle enough to be awe-inspiring, and just quiet enough to be deafening. I misspent almost a year of college there, and their Original Press cider reminds me of the simple complexity of youth. It is apple through and through, but there are subtleties of vanilla, pear and straw running around the strip of sand between the hills and the sea. As it warms, the complexity intensifies with grass and lemon notes.

Auspicious Brew provided Party Hard

PHOTO BY MICHAEL HAUPTLY-PIERCE

From left: Original Press by North Country Hard Cider, tangerine hard seltzer by 603 Brewery, Party Hard

by Auspicious Brew and Rogue Flywheel

by Ancient Fire Mead & Cider

Ancient Fire’s rockstar meadmeister Jason Phelps has done it once again with Rogue Flywheel, their pineapple and chili session mead. Although this category is new to many folks, session meads (under 7-ish percent) are playing very well in the beer world. The pineapple is the first thing to greet you in this lightly carbonated delight, and the hot pepper plays a quiet second fiddle, as (in my opinion) it should. This is not a hot beverage, nor is it just for heat-seekers — it is, like most of what Ancient Fire puts out, an exercise in balance and equilibrium. It somehow struck me with a sad note, however, despite its deliciousness, and we paired it with

“No Rain” by Blind Melon. I was lucky enough to see them a few weeks before Shannon Hoon passed, and he would have approved.

Until we meet again, at a bar or in my backyard, keep your glass full! NH

Learn more Ancient Fire Mead & Cider Manchester / ancientfirewines.com

603 Brewery & Beer Hall Londonderry / 603brewery.com

Auspicious Brew

Dover / auspiciousbrew.com

North Country Hard Cider

Rollinsford / northcountryhardcider.com

TOP RIGHT PHOTO BY JENN BAKOS; COURTESY PHOTOS

hard kombucha with cactus and beet. For those of you who are nonkombuchainators, kombucha is, at its simplest, tea fermented with a motley crew of microbes called a scobe. Traditionally, it was 0.5% alcohol or less, just encouraging enough fermentation to create beneficial compounds. Lately, however, folks have been turning it up to 11 and creating kombucha with a kick. Like this one. Earthy and dry, with a multipronged tang of acetic (vinegar) and lactic (sours the beer) acids, it was unlike anything I had ever had, and I wish I had bought a second bottle. The melange reminded me of “A Passage to Bangkok” by Rush, which we can in no way whatsoever cover.

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603 NAVIGATOR / FOOD & DRINK

Friends enjoying the afternoon at Modestman Brewing in Keene

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Go West for Brews October — just as the foliage peaks — is an ideal month to visit the breweries of the Monadnock Region STORY AND PHOTOS BY KENDAL J. BUSH

I

t is a great time to be a beer lover in New Hampshire. With more than 84 breweries across the state, it isn’t hard to find a nearby spot to enjoy a locally crafted brew. Relatively early on, the Seacoast and the I-93 corridor gained reputations as beer centers, but as an appreciation for local beer continued to grow, others ventured into farther-flung places. Like the Monadnock Region, which has quietly grown into an exciting brewery-rich area.

Cheshire County is now home to a

number of breweries, and although most are recent additions to the landscape, Debra Rivest paved the way 26 years ago when she opened Elm City Brewing Company, Keene’s first brewery since Prohibition.

While Elm City is known for craft beers, the food keeps a loyal following of customers who come back for the fresh ingredients and locally sourced meals, which (not coincidentally) pair nicely with their selection of beers and craft cocktails.

Bartender Gini Kernozicky started at

Bartender Gini Kernozicky started working at Elm City Brewing Company in Keene the day it opened in 1995. nhmagazine.com | October 2021 21

603 NAVIGATOR / FOOD & DRINK

Top: The Munchie Madness Craft Beer Festival, held in collaboration with Brewed Events, took place at Branch and Blade Brewing Company in Keene. At left (from left to right) are Phil Skerry, Sean Stampfl from Two Villains Brewing in Nyack, New York, and Trevor Bonnette, Branch and Blade co-owner.

Along with the beer, festival attendees enjoyed music by DJ Philly2illy.

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More Monadnock Breweries Brewers of Nye Hill Farm Roxbury / nyehillbrewers.com

Frogg Brewing

Marlborough / froggbrewing.com

Granite Roots Brewing Troy / graniterootsbrewing.com

Monadnock Brewing

Langdon / monadnockbrewing.com

Post & Beam Brewing

Peterborough / postandbeambrewery.com

Extend your tour of the region with other great breweries like the Brewers of Nye Hill Farm in Roxbury.

Elm City on opening day, December 10, 1995, and credits the brewery’s continued popularity with the pride they serve up alongside the food and drink.

Then there are, at least from Elm City’s point of view, all the newcomers.

Located at the southwest tip of Cheshire County in Winchester, The Outlaw Brewing Company provides expansive outdoor seating for folks who flock to the brewery from all over New England. The onsite Airbnb also provides an opportunity for out-of-town visitors to really soak in some of New Hampshire’s beautiful views and brews. Once one of the tiniest breweries in the state, Outlaw now boasts 15,000

square feet of outdoor space complete with tented seating, outdoor yard games, live music and backyard BBQ. With all the feels of a sultry summer soirée, Outlaw maintains a focus on creating top-notch beers. Although the American Blonde is Outlaw’s flagship beer, the Cranky Yankee dry hopped IPA is a customer favorite.

If you’re looking for a slightly more hipster vibe, take a short trip from the southwest corner of the state up to Swanzey, where art meets beer at the West LA Beer Co. Located just west of the Lower Ashuelot River, here you’ll find a comfortable and understated indoor taproom that’s a small-scale gallery of

nhmagazine.com | October 2021 23

603 NAVIGATOR / FOOD & DRINK exceptional beer art paired with an inviting outdoor escape featuring wall-size murals. (See more about the collaboration of art and beer in the feature story “Crafted Inside and Out” on page 44.)

Despite its New England location, West LA owners Dave Smith, Ryan Gale and Eric Johnson exude a laidback California vibe focused on quality brews and exceptional art. The iconic Monster Crush can is a hot commodity, says Smith: “Every time we brew it, we sell out immediately.”

Just north of West LA, the modern minimalist Modestman Brewing on Main Street in Keene offers a cool, sleek indoor space coupled with an inviting outdoor courtyard. The former bank-turnedbrewery is open seven days a week and is a popular downtown destination for locals and travelers.

On the day we visited, Pat deVeers from Manchester was celebrating his birthday with friends who made their way to Modestman after enjoying a full afternoon at the Munchie Madness Craft Beer Festival at nearby Branch and Blade Brewing.

Held in collaboration with Brewed Events, the festival, which drew about 800 visitors, was the first of what promises to be an annual summer event.

DJ Philly2illy kept folks moving and

Ash Sheehan, owner of Modestman Brewing in Keene

Rick Horton, owner of The Outlaw Brewing Company in Winchester

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grooving in the unpresumptuous outdoor venue adjacent to B&B’s industrial vibe brewery. The tented areas, coupled with ample picnic tables, provided space for 42 beer vendors who gathered to share their love of beer with festival attendees.

With more than 120 different beers on tap, beer enthusiasts were able to sample brews from around the country. Next year’s festival is planned for August 27, 2022.

No matter what type of beer you prefer or where you like to enjoy it, the craft beer industry is thriving in the Live Free or Die state. If you pour it, they will come! NH

Get There Branch and Blade Brewing 17 Bradco St., Keene / babbrewing.com

Elm City Brewing Company

222 West St., Keene / elmcitybrewing.com

Modestman Brewing

100 Main St., Keene / modestmanbrewing.com

The Outlaw Brewing Company 215 Scotland Rd., Winchester theoutlawbrewingcompany.com

West LA Beer Co. Dave Smith, co-owner of West LA Beer Co. in West Swanzey

647 West Swanzey Rd. (Route 10), Swanzey westlabeercompany.com

nhmagazine.com | October 2021 25

603 Informer “The question is not what you look at but what you see.” — Henry David Thoreau

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Blips 30 What Do You Know? 32 Best of the Best Of 34 Politics 36

New Hampshire Now A diversity of images documents a time like never before

BY ANDERS MORLEY

H

enry Thoreau once rhapsodized in his journal about a “New Hampshire everlasting and unfallen.” He praised a land where it was forever morning — a wild place, or at least a pastoral one.

We all know this supposedly timeless New Hampshire from calendars and postcards — rolling hills dusted with snow or radiating autumn color, a steeple, a barn, a waterfall perhaps. To some of us in the 21st century, such images still represent a real place. To others they are more like a window on a past so remote it seems imaginary.

Photography, at least the art of candid documentary photography, has never been about the everlasting. The idea is to snatch an instant from the flux of space and eternity and then hold it up to be looked at. If it is a good photograph, viewers will say, “Yes, that’s the way it was.” The matter of persistent value is for posterity to decide.

There is therefore something admirably plainspoken, almost daring, about an exhibition of photographs called “New Hampshire Now,” which can only become New Hampshire Then the moment it goes up.

This kind of clear-eyed, unpretentious gaze is precisely what former New Hampshire Artist Laureate Gary Samson was aiming for when he launched the project, which was initially styled “New Hampshire 2020,” even though the images in it were to be captured over a 30-month period between spring of 2018 and fall of 2020.

Was the name changed because the titular year, which felt everlasting, turned out to be such a weighty one, like 1789 or 1917, and threatened to steal the show? In his eloquent introduction to the exhibition’s companion volume, Howard Mansfield goes so far as to liken 2020 to the pivotal year zero, neither BC (before Covid) nor AC (after Covid), but instead an inflection point.

Left: A participant attends the Black Lives Matter March in Portsmouth on June 4, 2020. Photo by Mark Bolton Above: Volunteers help out at a homeless food line. Photo by Gary Samson

Looking back on a year of Zoom meetings, stay-at-home orders, and social distancing, Mansfield writes that “New Hampshire Now has returned us to each other’s presence.” It reminds us that we are here, now.

This is the gamble of the New Hampshire Historical Society, the project’s major supporter, in giving free rein to a loose collection of artists, all members of the New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists, whose work will appear in the exhibition: that their honest attempt to take visual note of the presence of others, to give a complex and multifaceted impression of what New Hampshire actually looked like during a very recent 30-month period, will somehow transcend this fairly basic mission and perhaps become the stuff of history.

The project was directly inspired by the Depression-era photography campaign promoted by the Farm Security Administration, whose images Samson first saw as an adolescent. Already emblematic by then, they afforded him a window on life a generation earlier. “My mother, who grew up during the Depression, often talked about people suffering,” Samson explains, “but until I saw the photographs, I didn’t fully realize just how much people suffered and struggled through those years. Those photographs gave me that visual information, that reference, that made me understand the potential for photography to shape and record our lives.” Yet according to Walker Evans, one of the best known of the FSA photographers, he and his colleagues had no intention of creating documents for the historical record when they spread out across the country with their cameras in the 1930s. They just did their job, and because they did it well, people said, “Yes, that’s the way it was.”

The alliance with the Historical Society, not to mention Samson’s own long-standing

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603 INFORMER / NEW HAMPSHIRE NOW interest in photography as an instrument for communicating across time, makes “New Hampshire Now” a little more self-consciously historiographical than the FSA photography program. Some 3,000-4,000 of the images captured are already destined for the Historical Society’s archives in Concord. Of these, 500 will be on display in various combinations at seven regional exhibitions around the state, which open on October 1. A flagship exhibition in Concord will represent the state as a whole.

Notable contributions come from acclaimed ski cinematographer Fletcher Manley, who ranged all over the North Country and White Mountains in search of images; Ian Raymond and Mark Bolton, who were wildly prolific and varied in their quests to capture the many faces of New Hampshire; Becky Field, who focused on the immigrant experience in the state; and street photographer Anthony Attardo, who during the

2020 lockdowns shot exclusively at night.

A companion book containing the finest photographs from the exhibition will be released simultaneously and made available for purchase at the exhibition venues as well as in independent bookstores throughout the state. Bill Dunlap, president of the New Hampshire Historical Society (and the man Samson credits with making all this possible), was adamant about the book being a 100% New Hampshire-made affair. And so “New Hampshire Now” — a hefty volume containing some 250 photographs shot by 46 Granite State photographers, selected and edited by Samson and fellow NHSPA members Michael Sterling, Dan Gingras, Bev Conway and Effie Malley — has been designed and published by Peter E. Randall Publisher of Portsmouth and printed by Puritan Press of Hollis on paper manufactured

by Monadnock Paper Mills in Bennington.

But what does it actually mean to set out

A Buddhist gives a blessing for a new home in Barrington. Photo by Becky Field

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to create a collection of photographs that might someday become a historical statement by documenting New Hampshire now, as opposed to a New Hampshire of yore or some imagined “New Hampshire everlasting”? It’s impossible to say for sure, and only time will tell if the photographers succeed, but Gary Samson has a few ideas.

“In the future, New Hampshire may not have the importance that it has now during the presidential primary races,” he says.

“Also, the northern part of the state has a very different lifestyle than the cities in southern part of the state, and capturing some of those differences in photographs will be important to share with future generations.” Samson is also wary of dealing in stereotypes, of seeking the lazy way out with little more than pretty landscapes, a concern shared by Bill Dunlap. To this end, they have encouraged the NHSPA photographers to make visible the reality of diversity in our state by taking pictures of urban New Hampshire, of non-white New Hampshire, of gay and lesbian New Hampshire, and of New Hampshire people who are suffering. All of this is us.

Of course, we still see the last of twilight twinkling on Portsmouth and its harbor on a summer evening, as a tour boat rides over the swirling tidewater and the Coast Guard’s stately Barque Eagle stands sentinel on the Maine side. We see, also, a group of summer-camp boys playing tail tag, dashing along a dirt road through oak and white-pine woods, a cool lake peeking through the branches. We see cold gray portraits of homeless people, pleading with carboard signs and weary looks for compassion. We see familiar images from the campaign trail — political grins fit for a dentist’s brochure blazing out over crowds of red, white and blue. We see lobster boats and barbershops, contra dances and fireworks. We see gatherings and empty spaces, symmetry and asymmetry, sunshine and snowfall. We see a 3-year-old girl holding a battery-powered candle aloft at a Black Lives Matter vigil — an aspiring Lady Liberty with bright, questioning eyes.

What stands out most of all, though — what makes it clearer than anything else that we are looking at New Hampshire precisely now — are the masks. It’s the masks, more than the fashions, the car models, or the signs in the background, that will make these images instantly recognizable to future generations. Gore

ABOUT THE BOOK

Representative Wendy Thomas of Merrimack takes a knee during the singing of the national anthem at the start of the N.H. House session at the Whittemore Center in Durham on June 11, 2020. Photo by Mark Bolton

Vidal once remarked that we spend our lives putting on and taking off masks. How satisfied he would have been to see his metaphor become literal last year! Oscar Wilde, in an equally enigmatic vein, quipped that we learn more from masks than faces. But it’s Voltaire the philosopher who makes us understand the truth at the bottom of this:

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABANTHAM CREATIVE

“Mortals are equal; their masks differ.” And it’s Whitman the poet who makes us feel that truth: “I see behind each mask that wonder a kindred soul.”

The photographers of New Hampshire now — with their images of a single human race behind a thousand kinds of masks — are trying to make us see. NH

The New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists and the New Hampshire Historical Society joined forces to undertake a three-year project to photographically record daily life in the state. The resulting book, featuring more than 250 photographs from 46 photographers covering the seven regions of the Granite State, is available from the project website (below) and from independent booksellers statewide. The body of work created not only illustrates the book, but will also be featured in exhibitions around the state this month and archived at the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord. Gary Samson, an award-winning photographer and seventh New Hampshire artist laureate, served as project director for “New Hampshire Now.” For more information, visit newhampshirenow.org

APOTHECAFLOWERS.COM

(603) 497-4940

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603 INFORMER / IN THE NEWS

Blips

Monitoring appearances of the 603 on the media radar since 2006

An 11-Year-Old’s Wheely Awesome Idea A young entrepreneur’s letter leads to collaboration with Annalee Dolls

BY CASEY McDERMOTT

COURTESY PHOTOS

Hannah Upperman wasn’t expecting a reply when she left a letter at the counter of an Annalee store earlier this year. The letter contained an idea for a new kind of doll from the iconic Meredith-based collectible manufacturer.

But Upperman had learned better than to get her hopes up, after all. She’s written letters like this one to another popular dollmaker before — with ideas for new characters or accessories — but never heard back.

Soon enough, though, the 11-year-old from New Hampton received more than just an acknowledgment from Annalee: She got an invitation to collaborate with the company to bring her new doll idea to life, and to help launch a new contest designed to give other kids a chance to pitch their own ideas to the company.

“I was super-excited,” says Upperman.

“I never actually thought it would happen.

I thought they would think of it as just a cute idea and save it for later.”

While Upperman has long loved Annalee dolls, she noticed there weren’t any that represented people with disabilities — so she sketched out her own idea for “Wheely Awesome Mouse,” a girl mouse who uses a wheelchair. She says she was also inspired by a girl who used a wheelchair during a visit to her fifth-grade grade classroom during a fun unit on gardening at the school’s greenhouse.

Hannah Upperman

“It was so much fun getting to know her,” Upperman recalls.

She now hopes the new doll helps kids with disabilities feel more represented and supported. And if you think Upperman’s been thrilled with the whole experience, her parents have been equally thrilled — and proud.

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“It’s kind of a parenting win,” says Craig Upperman. “You always hope that the things you’re trying to do and the values you’re trying to instill are going to come out in your kids.”

Annalee says it plans to debut the new doll in 2022. The first round of winners in the Annalee Kids Design Contest were

PHOTO COURTESY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL

selected this summer; a 13-year-old’s pitch to honor her child life specialist, who accompanies her at the hospital during ongoing medical treatments, will also debut as a new Annalee doll in 2022.

As for Upperman? She’s got big plans from here: She’s juggling a full plate as an aspiring toy designer, an avid bracelet maker and a budding nature photographer, and she’s eager to keep channeling her creative energy to inspire others.

“This project has meant a lot to me,” she says. “It’s shown what I can do, as a girl, but it can also show what many others can do.” NH

PHOTO COURTESY BARRINGTON BLAZE

Three cheers for a pair of youth teams that represented New Hampshire on the national stage — er, field? — this summer. The Manchester North/ Hooksett Little League All Stars made it through several rounds of competition at the Little League World Series in August. And earlier this summer, the Barrington Blaze softball team also put on a strong showing at the Babe Ruth World Series.

NHH_nhmagazine ad_Oct 2021.indd 1

8/17/2021 2:53:02 PM

File this under “News That’s Not Surprising to Anyone Who’s Been Browsing Zillow Lately,” but in case you missed it: New Hampshire showed up in two of the top 10 spots on Realtor.com’s recent roundup of the Hottest Zip Codes in America.

Manchester’s 03101 neighborhood came in fourth place, with houses listed for a median of five days on the market. Concord’s 03301 neighborhood also ranked in eighth place, with houses on the market for a slightly more realistic — but still eye-popping — median of nine days. nhmagazine.com | October 2021 31

603 INFORMER / WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

Airborne at Sunrise

A floating adventure with A&A Balloon Rides STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARSHALL HUDSON

Z

ero-dark-thirty and I’m up and headed south on Interstate 93.

Despite the early hour, traffic is busy and reckless drivers are flying past me and tailgating shamelessly even though I’m doing the speed limit. I’ve survived a couple of harrowing close calls by the time I pull into Salem for today’s adventure. It’s 5 a.m. and dark in the parking lot when I meet pilot Andre Boucher and the ground crew from A&A Balloon Rides. Our plan is to be airborne at dawn for a sunrise balloon flight.

After a head count and safety briefing, passengers and crew pile into a van towing a trailer stuffed with balloon and head to the launch field. At the site, the crew starts unpacking while passengers stand around wondering if it’s too late to back out. Eager to be doing something,

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I jump in when the ground crew asks for some volunteer muscle to assist with setup.

We unfold the balloon and position a fan to blow air into it. We unload a wicker gondola basket, mount a burner on top of it, and hook up a propane fuel tank.

Andre test-fires the burners and shoots a fire-breathing-dragon-flame up into the air. The balloon is attached to the gondola and nervous passengers, still trying to look unconcerned, climb into the gondola.

Andre opens the valve and flames shoot up, sending hot air into the balloon. The ground crew waves goodbye, releases the tether lines, and get smaller and smaller as we break the bond with gravity. With the first crimson light of dawn creeping over the horizon, we pop out above the treetops.

The mood in the gondola is holding-yourbreath-quiet but exuberant. The views

Hot-air balloons reflect in the morning light on the Arlington Mill Reservoir in Salem.

are exhilarating as we look down upon woods, ponds, streets, rooftops, backyard swimming pools and mountains off in the distance. Drifting over Arlington Mill Reservoir, the balloon in front of us does a “splash and dash,” gently touching down on the surface of the water before powering up and floating over the treetops.

The pilot can control the altitude of the balloon by adding or eliminating heat from the burner. The warmer the air in the balloon the higher we rise, and cooling off brings us back down again. We yo-yo along at heights varying between 500 and 2,000 feet above the ground. A joke is told about a passenger who was asked, “How was your balloon ride?” and he answers, “It had its ups and downs.”

The pilot can’t control the speed at which we travel, that is determined by how fast the wind is blowing. If wind speeds are anticipated to be above 5 mph or if there is a chance of rain, fog or snow, the balloon doesn’t launch.

The wind also chooses the direction in which we travel. The pilot has the ability to rotate the balloon such that it always faces the direction we are going but has little ability to steer our course. Sometimes wind at a higher elevation will be blowing in a different direction than wind at a lower elevation and that gives the pilot some ability to steer by raising or lowering the balloon into the wind direction of his choosing. Ultimately, the wind and whim of Mother Nature determine where we are going and how fast we will get there.

The mystery of where our landing will be is part of the allure of ballooning and the only guarantee is that we will come down somewhere.

Our ground crew in a chase vehicle is tasked with following us without knowing exactly where we are or where we are going. They are also limited to road travel and must circle around lakes and wooded hills that we just float over. Tracking is done through electronic GPS devices and the ground crew arrives just as we land on a surprised lady’s front lawn. A balloonist tradition requires that the lady be presented with a bottle of champagne by our pilot.

Meanwhile, the ground crew removes the balloon from her lawn.

Hot-air balloons were invented in France in 1782 by the Montgolfier brothers. The brothers worked in a paper manufacturing plant and were inspired

Marshall Hudson in the gondola, preparing to lift off.

Andre Boucher inflates the balloon with hot air from the burner.

one day while watching the sparks, smoke and burning paper rise in the warm air created by their fire. They made a small bag out of silk and lit a fire beneath the opening, causing it to rise. A year later, the first occupied hot-air balloon took place on September 19, 1783, but not knowing if there was oxygen enough for humans to breath at the heights the balloon would soar to, the passengers that day were a sheep, a duck and a rooster.

All of them survived when the balloon came down 15 minutes later. The first human flight came about two months later when the Montgolfier brothers launched a balloon from the center of Paris and flew for 20 minutes above the city.

Eighteenth-century French farmers who knew nothing of the newly invented hot-air balloons were understandably spooked when they first saw a colossal, flaming, smoking object filled with people or barnyard animals floating across the sky and crash landing in their fields. The farmers assumed the balloons might be mythical creatures, aliens or invading armies, and on occasion attacked the balloon with pitchforks, scythes or axes.

Passengers carrying champagne to drink during the flight offered the attacking farmers a bottle as a gesture of goodwill, demonstrating that they weren’t

fire-breathing dragons, just friendly aristocrats arriving from the Champagne region. The farmers happily accepted the champagne as payment for landing in their field and a tradition was born.

Today, it is also a tradition to offer champagne to the passengers after a hot-air balloon ride, and to raise a glass proposing a toast citing the Balloonist’s Prayer: “The winds have welcomed you with softness. The sun has blessed you with its warm hands. You have flown so high and so well that God has joined you in laughter and set you gently back into the loving arms of Mother Earth.”

With my flight concluded, the balloon stowed, the prayer said, and the champagne sampled, I ponder the questions asked about balloon rides. Did you have the fear-of-heights sensation? No more than looking out the window during an airline flight. What about motion sickness?

There was no turbulence and no rocking motion. We drifted along smoothly and I felt no motion sickness. Is it dangerous and was it scary? I’m thinking it was less dangerous and scary than my ride down the Interstate to get here this morning was. NH

Learn more A&A Balloon Rides

(603) 432-6911 | balloonridesnh.com

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603 INFORMER / OUT & ABOUT

Best of NH Party Thanks, we couldn’t have done it without you!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KENDAL J. BUSH

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hey say it takes a village to raise a child, and while we can’t say for sure whether that adage is true or not, we know for certain it takes a village to throw a party — both a literal one (our Best of NH Party venue for August 21, Canterbury Shaker Village) and a figurative one, which is filled with volunteers, sponsors, Best of NH winners, readers and supporters of New Hampshire Magazine.

First of all, a huge thank-you to the volunteers from our nonprofit partner The New Hampshire Food Bank, all of whom worked tirelessly alongside us.

We’d also like to thank our sponsors, the ones who made the whole thing possible. They are presenting sponsor Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Canterbury Shaker Village, Jim Beam Orange, Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Simi Winery, New Hampshire Travel and Tourism, The Orchid’s Eye at Woodman’s Florist, Tappan Chairs, 92.5 the River, 95.7 WZID and our grand-prize sponsor River Walk at Loon Mountain.

For many more photos and a complete list of party contributors and volunteers, visit bestofnh.com.

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1 Guests enjoy appetizers from Best of NH winner New England’s Tap House Grille. 2 The gorgeous setting at Canterbury Shaker Village 3 Event sponsor Jim Beam Orange and Best of NH winner Granite State Candy Shoppe provided some of the gifts given to guests. 4 From left: Joni Sue MacGarvey, Mary Golding and Pamela Robinson of Best of NH winner Junction 71 5 THAT! Event Company provided party décor and event design.

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PHOTO BY KAREN BACHELDER

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1 Ashley Cooper serves samples from event sponsor Tito’s Handmade Vodka. 2 New Hampshire Magazine Editor Rick Broussard and McLean Communications Publisher and Vice President Ernesto Burden bookend Angela Moore and Charlie Moore of “Charlie Moore Outdoors” 3 Guests enjoy dinner catered by Julie DeStefano and entertainment by Rebecca Rule and Fred Marple. 4 Musicians Eugene Durkee, Neil Kenny and Chris Murphy 5 Fred Marple and Rebecca Rule request a show of hands during their “humor summit” 6 Best of NH winners Fee & The Evolutionists put a hip-hop bow on the show. 7 Members of the New Hampshire Magazine/McLean Communications staff from left: Karen Bachelder, Morgen Connor, Jessica Schooley, Emily Samatis, Erica Thoits, Jodie Hall, Ernesto Burden, Rick Broussard, John Goodwin, Kimberly Lencki, Jenna Pelech and (in front) Josh Auger nhmagazine.com | October 2021 35

603 INFORMER / POLITICS

A Tale of Two States The census reveals a growing divide

BY JAMES PINDELL / ILLUSTRATION BY PETER NOONAN

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he U.S. Constitution mandates that a census shall be conducted every decade to determine how many people live in the country and where. This helps basic government functions like determining how many members of Congress a state gets, along with how much money each should proportionally receive.

But the data uncovered also tells a lot about the sociological makeup of the country, even when zoomed down to a zip code.

There wasn’t a lot of headline news out of the New Hampshire portion of the census.

The state grew but at lower rates than usual and well below the national average. The state appeared more diverse than before, but a lot of that was attributed to the different way questions were asked this time around. For example, more people could pick different mixed-race categories.

The census picture of New Hampshire 2020 reveals that we are at a tipping point for a series of trend lines that have been going on for a while. I’d argue that New Hampshire is even less cohesive than it has been in memory.

In fact, it seems like two states, split geographically and by age.

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The two states: the Boston suburbs and something we’ll call Retirement Land.

Consider this: 74% of the population lives somewhere in the oddly shaped box drawn between Concord and Rochester in the north down to the Massachusetts border. This is all roughly an hour’s commute to Boston (depending on Boston traffic, of course).

The state economy is increasingly connected to what is happening in the Hub, as is leisure and even news. The Boston Globe, where I work, is now the most subscribed-to newspaper in the Granite State. This southward focus for residents also matters in terms of the character and identity or the state.

The same sort of thing is happening nationally as people move toward cities and away from rural areas. Indeed, the three counties in New Hampshire that lost population were Coös in the north, Sullivan in the west, and Cheshire Country, where Keene is located. The fastest-growing county was Rockingham, right along the Massachusetts border.

At the same time, New Hampshire is increasingly becoming older and wealthier, filling up with people nearing or entering

retirement. These residents care more about quality of life, being near good hospitals and having low taxes than they do about schools.

“Community,” then, has a totally different definition to this group: Think more idyllic farmers markets and less Little League baseball.

These new residents of Retirement Land are the sole reason why New Hampshire had any gains at all in population, according to demographers. So, while commuter-friendly regions are gravitating to the Hub, retirees are increasingly having a bigger say in the definition of the other parts of the state and its politics.

New Hampshire is hardly alone in developing a split identity. Maine is increasingly divided between north and south, and very rich and very poor. Nevada and Illinois are dominated by one city and then a vast surrounding otherland. Texas, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania all have different lifestyles and attitudes in different pockets of the states.

So it’s natural that New Hampshire is changing, even if it is splitting apart. But it does raise questions about what kind of state New Hampshire is becoming. Or should we just say, states. NH

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603 INFORMER / TRANSCRIPT

Be Wıtched Photo and interview by David Mendelsohn “Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” It’s seldom that you get to meet a practicing witch — a full priestess, in fact. Well, come shake the enchanted hand of Renée Borkum. Or Runa. Either is fine. She loves the color black and is hardly afraid of snakes. She knows about spells and can whip up some pretty potent potions. Wool of bat and tongue of dog. Eye of newt and toe of frog.

Thirsting to learn some secrets from the other side? Contact Runa. Just be careful with your bottled water. “Look what you’ve done! I’m melting, melting !” Smiling ...

I was born with my abilities. As with anything, the more you use them, the stronger they become. Many of us have some level of abilities that can be enhanced with practice.

At age 3, I noticed that I had different abilities. I could hear others’ thoughts, sense others’ feelings and see the dead.

For a while, I could move objects. Over time, I started to understand what was happening, and with practice I got my talents under control ... to refine and direct them.

I was raised Irish Catholic, so there was no discussing witches, witchcraft or psychic abilities in my family. This made life tough to understand as my siblings all have some sort of ability as well.

Wicca is a legal religion. In 1986, Wicca was recognized as an official religion in the United States through the court case Dettmer v. Landon.

Potions are not spells. Any herbal tonic or tea can be called a potion. Potions are a combination of herbs and liquids, which become medicinal preparations, etc.

Witches and their magic are not really black or white, but more like dark and light. Witches live by a law that says whatever you put out comes back to you. There are consequences for any action.

We do, however, view “black magic” as anything against one’s free will.

Being a witch is not gender specific. A male can easily be a witch as well. “Witch” means “of the earth” and “warlock” means “betrayer of witches.”

A core belief of Wicca is the acceptance and practice of magic: the art of causing change in conformance with will.

Wiccans also believe that everything has a spirit.

Most covens meet in secret, and these are not public events. Witches will get together for moon circles and the eight holidays called the Wheel of the Year. There are also new moons and full moons, which we observe as well.

This spirituality enables us to connect to nature and its energies, allowing us to be aware of all aspects of life, and respect the existence of every being.

Wicca is the religion and witchcraft is the practice .

It is very difficult to find eye of newt these days. When I can find them, I always stock up.

Witchcraft in History: A Long Spell of Suffering

Witches have lived on the fringes of public acceptability since Biblical times. The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in Colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. More than 200 people were accused. Thirty were found guilty, 19 of whom were executed by hanging (14 women and five men). The hysteria began to lose steam when the governor of the colony, upon hearing that his own wife was accused of witchcraft, ordered an end to the trials, but too late to save those unfortunates (and even two dogs) that were executed for the crime of witchcraft in Salem.

Credits: Big thanks to Erika Cook for the introduction, Doug Cummings for his fearless photo assistance, and Michael Borkum, Runa’s husband, for the added help and for lighting himself on fire.

Note: Runa can be reached directly at runahp@outlook.com.

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Enjoying a Tuckerman Brewing Company 50 Cent Day IPA with label art by Hanna Lucy on the Saco River

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ost people who have been to or live in the Mount Washington Valley are no stranger to the way the mountains, rivers, forests and fields of this area seem to bring people together, over common interests and pursuits. Ingrained in the culture of the valley is a curiosity for the outdoors that translates into a curiosity for all of that which supports, complements and enhances the outdoors. It is not uncom-

mon for locals to spend a day traversing the entire Presidential Range on foot, to rise before the sun to shuffle up Mt. Washington on skis, or to watch day turn to night from the top of Cathedral Ledge, and apart from tired legs and stronger lungs, the thing that most often follows these epic adventures is a cold (local) beer.

Enter Tuckerman Brewing Company, founded by Kirsten Neves and Nik Stanciu. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, you’re likely familiar with the Conway brewery. This is because Tuckerman has positioned itself at the center of the outdoor

recreation scene — and also the beer scene — in New Hampshire and throughout the Northeast. They’ve hosted guest speakers in the industry, supported and sponsored various races and events in the community, and been a general friend to the outdoors since their start in 1998.

Ski the Whites — a ski, running and bike shop owned by Andrew Drummond — is the force behind outdoor events such as the Last Skier Standing (a last-person-standingstyle ski racing event), Friday Night Vert (a weekly mountain run series hosted by Black Mountain in Jackson), and the NoCo

BY NICOLE HANDEL / PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOE KLEMENTOVICH nhmagazine.com | October 2021 45

Jeremy Fitchett, production manager and brewer at Tuckerman Brewing Company, pours a sample of Night Mission Stout, their first go at canning with nitro.

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More Art & Beer: Rek’-lis Brewing Company Rek’-lis Brewing Company was born from a love of community and the outdoors.

The mountain biking, hiking and running trails surrounding the brewery in Bethlehem inspire both the beers at Rek-lis and the people making and serving them.

“From the start, our staff has been full of talented artists with well-established creative styles backed by unforgiving passion. As a brewery that was built around locals, it felt right to equally inject it with the creative styles of those artists. Our walls are always endowed with great works of art from local artists, and the majority of our can art has been built around original artwork,” says Phillip Renton, resident photographer and marketer at Rek’-lis Brewing Company

PHOTOS BY PHILLIP RENTON

Virtual Race (a virtual mountain bike event). All are community events that bring athletes and enthusiasts of all ability levels together — outside.

Beyond their love and support for the outdoors, the folks at Tuckerman Brewing and Ski the Whites have another major thing in common, which transcends their pursuits in the mountains: unrelenting curiosity.

It was this same curiosity that led Pier Pennoyer, a valley local and fellow seeker of outdoor pursuits, to begin roasting coffee to sell at Ski the Whites. And it was also that unrelenting curiosity that inspired Pier and Andrew to sit down with Tuckerman Brewing’s production manager and brewer, Jeremy Fitchett, to brainstorm ways they could incorporate Ski the Whites coffee beans into a Tuckerman Brewing beer.

The consensus among those who participated in creating the resulting beer is that it was fun. The team played with various methods of using Pennoyer’s coffee beans, different beer styles to pair with them, and a process that could only be described as curious. They landed on Night Mission, a 6.3% nitro coffee stout — a first for Tuckerman in that they had never experimented with a nitro brew before (there were, maybe, some exploding beer cans involved in the process). This beer, like all of Tuckerman’s beers, is local through and through, from start to finish. The brewery grows its own hops on-premise, and sources its barley from Shady Elm Farm, located down the street in Conway. Whatever isn’t grown or sourced in New Hampshire is done so just over the border in Maine. Tuckerman’s brand manager, Liz Cancelliere, says of their process, “We have so many resources right here in front of us — why would we outsource?”

The theme of “local” is in everything that Tuckerman Brewing does, and everything that they are. Cancelliere notes, “Our brand is so tied to this valley; we want to support the people who make up our community.”

The brewery and tasting room have, give or take, around 12 employees that all live, and recreate, in the Valley. In the warmer months, Tuckerman hosts local musicians to play on their outdoor stage. But musicians aren’t the only local artists that Tuckerman helps to spotlight and create work for.

Night Mission is part of Tuckerman’s

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For their IPAs Humble Hopper and Pretentious Hopper, Rek’-lis commissioned New Hampshire native Kirsten Carruth for the label art. Carruth is a painter, teacher and illustrator who has worked commercially, painting murals, signs and logos for restaurants including Lago in Meredith, Walters Basin in Holderness, the Airport Diner in Manchester and many others, along with large-scale murals at the Bethlehem Public Library and the Dickey Center at Dartmouth College in Hanover. The unique and classical style of her art work, combined with her creative way of turning words into illustrations led her to be the first featured artist to design a Rek’-lis can.

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Jeremy Fitchett keeps an eye on the canning process and tweaks the equipment during the canning process.

Liz Cancelliere in the process of taking artwork and making it into a proper label for the Night Mission collaboration

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Limited Release Artist Series. The exclusive beers in this line are collaborations with local or locally invested artists who design the artwork for the can labels (which are, unsurprisingly, locally screen-printed). A quick browse through the series’ several artists shows that, overwhelmingly, craft beer and the outdoors seem to have a harmonious relationship, and art has its place within that relationship too.

Emma Yardley, the artist behind the label for Tuckerman’s ALTitude (7.6% sticke alt) is an avid skier, climber and traveler; Hannah Marshall, who drew up the label for Tucker-

More Art & Beer: Northwoods Brewing Company Beer, art and the outdoors are behind everything done by the folks at Northwoods Brewing Company in Northwood. Since 2018, when the brewery first opened, Sarah Fenerty has been the artist behind the can’s labels. Fenerty is also the daughter of the brewery’s founders, and pours her and her family’s love for northern New Hampshire (including wildflowers, fly fishing and local wildlife) into each design she creates.

“I think that beer and art make for an incredibly natural pairing because they are both storytelling in physical forms. There is so much that goes into the process of creating each. Each beer is a mini epic within its own right — the journey of its lifespan from initial idea to final product is always so fascinating to me,” says Fenerty. And on the topic of bringing community into the picture? “I think the coolest part of it all is that we put our beer and art out into the world with our known stories and then it becomes this shared story and each person who picks up a can further adds to it.”

man’s Dawn Patrol IPA (7.1% New England IPA) is a longtime White Mountains climber; and Night Mission, following suit, features artwork by Kat Maus, a well-known illustrator of outdoor scenery and dreamy landscapes of the Northeast.

Maus was approached for this label after creating a piece depicting Boott Spur, a popular ski line on Mt. Washington, which Drummond sells at Ski the Whites to benefit the Mt. Washington Avalanche Center.

Maus says that her inspiration for the Night Mission label came from the colors she used in her Boott Spur piece, paired with

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HF ENERTY

PHOTOS BY KENDAL J. BUSH

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Sarah Fenerty is responsible for the vivid and nature-inspired artwork that wraps all the cans at Northwoods Brewing Company.

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More Art & Beer: Lithermans Limited Brewery Concord-based Lithermans Limited takes the art of beer can design to a higher octave by incorporating musical notes alongside the flavor notes of their innovative roster of brews. And they don’t dumb down the references for their own fans. Their immensely popular Misguided Angel NEIPA is a tip of the hat to Canadian rapper Mad Child, who calls himself (among other things) “the misguided Angel” and “the angry smurf.” “Mad Child has been in the hip-hop scene since it started to coalesce, and Misguided Angel was one of the first ‘New England-style’ IPAs to be brewed in New Hampshire,” says co-founder and label czar Michael Hauptly-Pierce, who (full disclosure) often writes the “Sips” department for New Hampshire Magazine.

“NEIPAs are different from West Coast or old-school IPAs in three ways,” says HauptlyPierce. “Number one, the focus is on aromatics and not bitterness. Number two, the mouthfeel is soft, like a big stout, as opposed to crisp, like a lager and, lastly, haziness is a must, brah, to at least some degree.” And that’s all music to the eyes, ears and tastebuds of Lithermans fans.

(Inset) Pier Pennoyer, roaster at Ski the Whites coffee, fills a bag of roasted coffee beans for delivery.

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PHOTO BY STEVE LEE

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Michael Hauptly-Pierce gives credit where credit is due: “As with our entire visual identity since we were brewing in Doc’s [partner Steve Bradbury’s] driveway a decade ago, Steve Lee of Steve Lee Designs in Concord designed this artwork and created this label.”

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Pennoyer fills up the hopper of the roaster with beans at the start of the roasting process.

Drummond’s striking photos of Tuckerman Ravine under a night ski.

In other words, Night Mission is a beer that Tuckerman brews; it’s brewed in collaboration with Pier Pennoyer’s coffee beans from Ski the Whites, the beer is then canned, onsite at Tuckerman, and wrapped in a locally printed label designed by Maus, whose work can be found, among other places, at Ski the Whites. What’s shared by all of these individuals and their various mediums, apart from the many intertwined pieces of their lives, are the same forces behind this partnership, and most of their partnerships.

Curiosity. Experimentation.

Passion. Playfulness. Energy.

These concepts come naturally to the team at Tuckerman, to the people of Ski the Whites, and to Kat. These are the same concepts behind playing with flavors and ingredients until the perfect pairing arises, or waking up before the sun to ski fresh lines, or blending colors in the pursuit of beauty. “There’s something unique here for sure; there’s this common desire when you find people with similar interests, who are fortunate enough to have businesses and then rally around an idea ... all of these stars

kind of align,” says Pennoyer. “We’re always just looking to get up, get out and go. We’re all just firing on all cylinders.”

Pennoyer talks about how when Fitchett and Stanciu, of Tuckerman, came to Ski the Whites to pick up the final batch of coffee for Night Mission, they had just finished up a lap on “the Sherb” (the John Sherburne Ski Trail). Pennoyer and the Ski the Whites team had been there earlier that morning as well, and it’s no surprise that Maus once created an art print depicting scenes from this trail too. Maybe, out of all of the things connecting Tuckerman Brewing

Company, Ski the Whites, Maus, and the many other brewers, businesses, outdoor enthusiasts and artists in New Hampshire, that anecdote serves as the perfect illustration of this connection. NH

Want more beer?

Of course you do! Make sure to visit nhmagazine.com/beer for a comprehensive map and directory of breweries and hard cider makers around the Granite State. And make sure to read all about Monadnock breweries on page 20.

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Team Floodstang, who placed 68th out of 100, lasted for about 9 hours and 15 minutes, completing 305 laps. For reference, the winning team in laps — the Scooby Doobies — completed 517 in just over 14 hours and 24 minutes.

ADRENALINE MEETS ABSURDITY DURING A TWO-DAY RACE awn breaks cold and shrouded in fog at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon on a midOctober Sunday, as folks slowly emerge from their campers. The scene is eerily reminiscent of the classic horror flick “Dawn of the Dead,” which only seems apropos for the Halloween Hooptiefest, the Granite State’s stop in the nationwide “24 Hours of Lemons” race series. By the 9 a.m. start time, the thick mist burns off, and a spectacular autumn day greets close to 100 race cars and teams of drivers assembled for Day Two of the weekend event.

The rising sun seems fitting as well, given that these cars and trucks are enjoying a resurrection of sorts. None of the vehicles careening around the dozen turns of the 1.6-mile road course are in their prime.

Far from it. By rule, none should have cost more than $500. Most have been modified drastically post-purchase, with safety gear and souped-up engines and burly suspension systems installed. Many sport crazy paint schemes and festive ornaments, including giant skulls and skeletons and ghosts and ghouls. It looks strangely like a demolition derby, but with drivers intentionally trying to avoid one another at speeds exceeding 100 miles an hour.

Meanwhile, the central garage on the speedway’s infield is a beehive of activity, with cars and drivers and mechanics and support staff all buzzing about. A pink sedan, labeled the Snouty Audi, rolls by, followed by a bright red race car sporting large fins and a tail.

“The Swedish Fish — we love those guys,” says racer Matt Farides, who flew in from California for the event. “Everybody’s got their own persona.”

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The Stinken Schinken team — the Judges’ Choice winners — stayed in the race for just over 14 hours and 25 minutes, completing 346 laps.

Based loosely on France’s famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Lemons is, at its core, an everyman’s endurance event — the winner isn’t the first across the line but the team that accumulates the most laps in a confined period of time. In the original Le Mans race, teams plow through the night, going 24 hours straight.

Several 24 Hours of Lemons events follow this format, but many have to abide by local ordinances that prohibit nighttime racing.

That’s the case at the Halloween Hooptiefest, which divides the race over two days, with a total of roughly 16 hours of track time.

No one, though, is feeling shortchanged.

In fact, the overnight break allows for some hijinks that are as much a part of the event’s attraction as time behind the wheel.

“We’ve had raves right here in this garage, with smoke machines and flashing lights and a huge sound system” says Farides, sporting a silver wig, magenta vest, glitter sunglasses and yellow tiger-print pants.

“You find people who are here to have a good time instead of to be competitive.”

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Surprisingly for the uninitiated, longtime participants say the pit-area lunacy is actually toned down during this 2020 edition, as Covid-19 pandemic precautions put a damper on some of the more “extreme” activities.

“But we still have our hot tub,” says racer Christian Ward from Las Vegas, showing off his squad’s inflatable liquid oasis.

The race predictably features the highpitched whine of high-performance engines — “It’s a sensory assault,” says Ward — filling the bowl of the speedway, and the dynamics on the track are intriguing. The Hooptiefest is a delightfully weird mix of NASCAR, Burt Reynolds’s “Cannonball Run,” and the campy Roger Corman/David Carradine project “Death Race 2000,” with a healthy dose of Hanna-Barbera’s classic cartoon “Wacky Races,” and the campy British new wave film “24 Hour Party People” thrown in for good measure.

Essentially, the 24 Hours of Lemons brings together a ridiculously eclectic (and eccentric) mix of vehicles and drivers, from

seasoned veterans to first-timers. Competitors come from every corner, white collar and blue collar, the wealthy and those of more modest means. The result is an environment similar to racing through downtown Nashua during rush hour, at full throttle.

“All you need is a driver’s license,” says Amanda Tully of Long Island, the 40-yearold owner of a 1994 BMW 325i and the Mome Rath racing team (named after flower-like creatures from “Alice in Wonderland”) that narrowly missed defending its 2019 Hooptiefest title, finishing second to the Scoobie Doobies. “That’s it — a driver’s license.”

Asked if racing was an addiction, Tully, who has been competing in the series since 2014, chuckles: “It might be a mental disorder. We’re primarily having fun, hanging out with our friends, and then we do some racing,” she says. “We laugh constantly.”

A sampling of team names — Our Mid Life Crisis, Boston Whiners, Wrecktum, B.A.R.F. Motorsports, Missing Lug Nuts,

DRVOLKS Racing may not get extra points for Oktoberfest style, but they did complete 284 laps in a little over 11 hours and 53 minutes, placing 73rd.

The League of Legitimate Nigerian Businessmen, Skeleton Crew, Fools With Tools, Old Guys With Angry Wives, the Three Mulleteers, Blue Balls of Fire, and We Audi Be Faster — reveals the event’s tongue-incheek and often irreverent vibe.

“I’m convinced there are a lot of people here who, if they didn’t have this, would be running an underground criminal enterprise,” quips Ward, with just enough of a gleam in his eye to give you second thoughts. “We get people from all walks of life, but the common thread is that these are all problem-solvers.”

Farides, a wiry 39-year-old electrical engineer driving for Tully’s Mome Rath team, has participated in 50 of these Lemons races. The real attraction, he says, is the common denominator that almost everyone mentions — the race engenders a rare and special sense of camaraderie.

“This has become a nationwide family for me,” Farides says. “We’re just a bunch of car nerds building stupid sh*t.”

Ward, an Air Force officer who flew in

These aren’t exactly luxury cars with plush seats and air conditioning — and drivers are behind the wheel for hours. nhmagazine.com | October 2021 55

Though the event is intentionally a bit absurd, racing is still serious business, and drivers need to wear safety gear.

to race with the New Jersey-based 3 Pedal Mafia and goes by the nickname “Mental” (“Mental ward, get it?”), readily agrees.

“It’s very competitive out there,” says Ward, pointing to the track. “But in here, in the garage, it’s family. If someone has the same car, and they need something, we’ll help them out. The idea is, let’s get them out on the track and have some fun.”

Nodding toward Tully, Ward chirps: “Last year, we gave her a spare engine so she could beat us.”

“Thank you,” replies Tully demurely.

However, it’s still racing, which results is some garage-bay gamesmanship. John Delaney, a 42-year-old from Long Island with Hit ’Em With the Hind, admits he’ll tell rivals if he has the necessary parts for a fix, but will make them wait to allow his team’s 1998 Ford Ranger truck to catch up in the standings.

“You don’t want to be in the garage,” says Delaney with a conspiratorial shrug of his shoulders, acknowledging that the 24 Hours of Lemons is a race of attrition.

That’s exactly why everyone is willing to lend a hand. Everyone wants to see these race rigs on the course, not in the paddock.

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“Lemons karma is real,” says Farides.

As Farides spoke those words, another electrical engineer — 41-year-old Brian Hirth from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and a member of All Rhodes Racing who was admittedly nursing a hangover, strolls past and asks: “How you doing, man?”

“If I was doing any better, you’d have to put me down,” replies Farides with a wicked grin, as a beat-up Subaru idles past, the driver giving everyone a middlefinger salute.

An absurd variety of vehicles crowds the track, resembling a Halloween bag stuffed with candy. Almost every make produced during the past 30 years is represented, from high-end models like BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Audi, Lexus, Volvo and Saab to Mitsubishi minivans, pick-up trucks, Subarus, Hondas, Mazdas, Toyotas, Nissans and Datsuns, Mini Coopers, VW Golfs, Chevys, Fords, Dodges and Buicks. There are well-known muscle cars like Corvettes and Camaros, and tepid commuters transformed into race rigs. There are even luxury land yachts, like a stealth black Crown Victoria, a Cadillac, and a gleaming white 1978 Chrysler Cordoba with a dashboard

reportedly autographed by pitchman Ricardo Montalbán of “fine Corinthian leather” fame.

“Well, it’s signed, and the signature says Ricardo Montalbán,” says owner Jim Sayre of Philadelphia, laughing. “But I haven’t had it verified,” he adds.

“I grew up with cars of this vintage. This is what all the cool guys drove,” he says of his prized Cordoba, which he bought in 2019, 30 years after it was involved in an unsuccessful armed robbery and sold off at police auction. “I know this car.”

The 53-year-old Sayre is at one end of the Lemons racer spectrum, a neophyte competing in his first event. Even through his Cordoba and its big-block eight-cylinder power plant broke down on Sunday, ending Sayre’s initial foray into 24-hour racing prematurely he’s in a good mood as he loads the Chrysler onto a trailer.

“I beat on this thing for six hours yesterday. I didn’t think we’d get 50 laps, and we did 145,” Sayre says with an ear-to-ear grin.

“I passed BMWs and Corvettes, and I didn’t touch a car. I was so pumped. I’m sad we have to take it home early, but we’ll be back.”

Watching the lightning-quick pack of

“This is just about the most legal fun you can have these days. If you like adrenaline, this is the place to get it.”

— Steven Serabian

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By rule, cars can cost no more than $500. It takes some mechanical magic to keep them on the track.

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vehicles zigzag around the course — averaging roughly 70 miles an hour — it’s difficult to imagine Sayre and his wide-body Cordoba making it through 145 laps without trading paint. Experienced racers acknowledge that the most difficult aspect of the race is the jarring discrepancy between each vehicle’s horsepower and handling, and each driver’s ability to manage those traits.

“Being out there with 100 cars is impossible to describe,” says David “Woody” Huntington, a race veteran from Hancock, who was coerced out of retirement to compete for the Overengineer’d Racing squad. “The speed differential between the cars is amazing, and there’s a huge gap in driver ability.

Working through traffic and racing clean is the challenge. That’s what makes it so fun.

You can pass 20 cars a lap.”

Because each vehicle has a team of rotating drivers, allowing nonstop racing and more and more laps, there’s an element of unpredictability regarding how each vehicle will behave. It often depends on who is behind the wheel. In other words, drivers need to expect the unexpected.

“A lot of these cars have multiple personality disorders,” says Tully.

That’s another part of the unique charm of the 24 Hours of Lemons. Almost anyone can strap on a helmet, slip into the cockpit, and punch the gas. “This is about car buffs who want to give it a go,” says Andy Dunkinson, a 52-year-old from Manchester, England, now living in Texas, and a member of the Massachusetts-based Flying Scotsmen.

“We have one guy from Scotland, one guy from England, and two imposters from the States,” says Dunkinson in his thick accent.

“Our captain said he wanted people with small brains and big wallets.”

That captain, Kevin Bolen, a 47-year-old from Acton, Massachusetts, had participated in several “track days” at established race venues, and the Skip Barber Racing School. Once he learned about 24 Hours of Lemons, though, he knew he found his holy grail — a racing outlet that didn’t come with an enormous price tag. Before long, he bought himself a 1999 Mercedes C280 for short money, and gathered a team.

It’s the perfect escape,” says Bolen. “When you’re out there, racing, all you can think about is the racing. You’re not thinking nhmagazine.com | October 2021 59

Above: Paul Wooding Right: The team Old Guys With Angry Wives car sports a few clever “Breaking Bad” puns. They came in 93rd with 93 laps in about 8 hours and 7 minutes.

about family stress, or work stress.”

Flying Scotsmen teammate Steven Serabian, a 62-year-old rookie from Stowe, Massachusetts, chimes in, saying he only has two rules: “One, I promise my wife that I’ll come back in one piece. And two, don’t be the guy who ends the race for the rest of the team.”

Plus, he says, “This is just about the most legal fun you can have these days.

If you like adrenaline, this is the place to get it.”

That addresses the second major draw of the 24 Hours of Lemons. It’s a pure, white-knuckle rush.

“This series really blends theatrics with racing,” says Sayre. “It’s fast and scary as hell.”

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as a lark in 2006, when Lamm and other colleagues in the car trade publication business were putting on “much more expensive events,” he says.

At the time, Lamm jokingly suggested that the group should offer a race where the cost of the cars was limited to $500. Others signed on, and the inaugural event was an instant hit. The series has grown “organically” over the past 14 years to more than 20 events held annually, coast to coast, he says.

“Every car fan has fantasized about car racing,” says Lamm. “People are delighted to race without dealing with the aggro, bullying, Type A jerk who prevented them from trying racing before.

“We’ve created a competitive event for noncompetitive people,” he says. “In a normal competitive series with 100 cars, you have one happy person who wins, and 99 unhappy people. What’s the point?”

To keep things light, Lamm and his crew routinely serve up slices of humble pie.

Racers must adhere to a strict safety rules, and organizers can pull any vehicle off the track at their discretion. Overly aggressive riders must cool their heels in the pits and wait out a few laps, the equivalent of sending a misbehaving child to sit in the corner on a “naughty stool.” One pretzel-ladened Audi, caught speeding through the paddocks, was forced to follow behind an ATV around the garage area as the driver was publicly shamed.

“The guys who run this do an amazing job, safety-wise,” says Serabian.

Time in the pits is a serious disadvantage because the fastest car doesn’t always win.

These vehicles need to keep rolling to compile the most laps. Time spent in the garage translates to laps lost, but breakdowns in cars this inexpensive, and pushed this

Team BONE HEADS really leans into their name. They clocked in at 14 hours and 25 minutes (and change) with a total of 450 laps completed, placing 23rd.

hard, are commonplace. A good mechanic, before and during the race, is essential, as is the smooth transition of drivers. Everything emphasizes the team element.

“It’s more of a chess match,” says Ward.

The added component of time — events will run between 14 and 24 hours, depending on whether a particular track allows overnight racing — can also wear down competitors. Huntington is 72, but looks 20 years younger, and that fitness pays off.

“Race car driving takes a lot of endurance, and a lot of stamina,” he says. “To drive at your limit for three hours takes a lot.”

And if 100 cars and drivers jamming the course wasn’t sketchy enough, these races are held rain or shine. The first day of Halloween Hooptiefest started in a downpour, turning the track into a king-size Slip ’N Slide before the clouds eventually parted.

“The rain makes things even more interesting,” says Huntington. “You really have to tiptoe though the field.”

And it doesn’t hurt that he actually likes the rain, he says. “Living in New Hampshire my whole life, you learn to drive in all conditions. Here, you just have to deal with it while driving as fast as you can go.”

By capping the initial cost of the race cars, the series levels the playing field, breaking down another long-standing barrier to the sport. Dunkinson says the Lemons series affords him a chance to get behind the wheel while “only” spending roughly $1,000 for the weekend (not including his airfare from Texas).

“Most people can support that,” he says. “I’ve always loved cars and car racing, and this is as close as you can get at a reasonable price.”

Due to travel expenses, most competi-

tors at the Halloween Hooptiefest focus on the series’ four Northeast events — Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire. Jeff Wakeman, a 48-yearold administrator for Stockton University in New Jersey and a team leader of 3 Pedal Mafia, says he plans to keep racing “until my doctor tells me I can’t do it.”

“The people I see on race weekend are some of my best friends, even though I only see them a few times a year,” says Wakeman after his final laps of the day in his 1989 Honda Civic Hatchback, nicknamed The Gorilla Car. “And this track is fantastic.

Just top-notch.” NH

Find it

For details on the race series, visit 24hoursoflemons.com.

nhmagazine.com | October 2021 61

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¨ County Coos Traverse

"THE EXPLORERS" TACKLE A ROUGH PATH ACROSS THE TOP OF THE STATE

O N A R AW, B R I N Y O C T O B E R D AY, we were 16 miles into our two-day, 40-mile mountain bike ride across the northern part of the state. Stringing together fire roads, snowmobile trails and grassy deer paths, the six of us were negotiating the eastern portion of the Second College Grant, making our way from the Maine border to the Connecticut River and Vermont.

Despite some hilly terrain and the damp gray chill, our hearts were light as Chris Pierce, Joe Klementovich, Bridget Freudenberger, Mike Zizza, and his 22-year-old daughter, Anna, and I followed the contour of the Swift Diamond River.

After we crossed a bridge over the river, the map on Joe’s phone indicated that we should angle westward on what was marked as an old snowmobile trail. But soon our riding was hindered by piles of slash and bracken left behind by loggers, along with clusters of thigh-high weeds.

Adding to our difficulties, the trail was made indistinct by overlapping corridors of open ground trailing into the woodland.

What had been a pleasant trek despite the weather turned into a slog. Not far along, we discovered that the path contained muddy sloughs marked with the imprint of fresh moose tracks. The mud sucked at my tires and fouled the gears, and the thorny piles of deadwood began appearing more frequently, blocking the trail.

Our progress slowed to approximately two miles an hour. With his fat tires and nearly a thousand miles of riding this year, Piercey was having pretty good luck, tricky-trotting along the edge of the swampy areas and rolling over the piles of deadwood.

But Mike and I were forced to dismount every few minutes, hauling our bikes over the obstacles and muddying our feet to the shins. It was like trying to water ski in the Okefenokee swamp, so we plodded along, wary of the fading daylight and glancing up at the dim gray sky.

OUR TRIP had a promising start beneath a sign on Route 16 welcoming us to Maine.

We biked past a tiny cemetery, along the dirt road and around the gate that marked the entrance to the 27,000-acre Second College Grant, ceded to Dartmouth College by the state Legislature in 1809.

Piercey and I had biked the first miles of

Anna and Mike Zizza climb the last hill to camp in the late afternoon sun.

By Jay Atkinson / Photography by Joe Klementovich nhmagazine.com | October 2021 63

this same route two years earlier, fly fishing with his son, Will, and Joe Klementovich.

Now Piercey and I rode ahead, turning onto a familiar single-track marked by a sign for “Sam’s Lookoff.” At the end of the trail was a picnic table on a patch of high ground overlooking the river. As Mike and Anna marveled at the view, Piercey sorted through a bag of trail mix on the pine needle-scattered table, separating out the almonds because of an allergy.

Recognizing that our adventures had crossed over one another, I said, “I never thought I’d get back here, and it’s (expletive) awesome.”

Piercey glanced up, nodding his head.

There were so many cool places to see, we rarely visited spots like this more than once.

But this little glen perched above the Dead Norman Boucher Diamond was somehow very dear to me, and I was grateful our wanderings had led us back here.

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Five miles on, we stopped for lunch on a grassy embankment that bordered the road.

Lounging among the ferns, my companions and I dug energy bars, fruit, and other snacks from our hydration packs.

Chomping on an apple, I reached into my backpack, pulling out my notebook and pencil.

“You want us to keep up the witty banter?” Joe asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “You might eventually say something funny.”

The embankment overlooked the road, and beyond, rising above the timbered valley was a long, steep ridge painted with roseate splotches and myriad shades of gold and yellow, interspersed with the dark spikes of up-jutting fir trees and occasional splashes of brilliant orange.

“Look, Mike,” I said, nudging him with my foot. “It’s foliage by Cezanne.”

Anna Zizza is an easygoing, athletic

brunette, recently graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Environmental Geography. Seated in the grass nearby, Anna noted that she’s a “weekday vegan,” in contrast to me, a year-round vegan.

When I asked why she’s partially vegan, Anna grinned. “If I come home drunk, I’m not making myself a salad,” she said.

HAVING TRAVELED over a mile on that muddy snowmobile trail, Mike and I trudged along in silence. A rugged, solidly built fellow, Mike is in the gym every weekday morning by 4:45 a.m. But he’d fractured his right ankle playing rugby back in July, and was barely out of the walking boot.

At irregular intervals, we’d reach a stretch of ground solid enough to climb back into the saddle, churning the pedals for 40 yards or so before getting mired in the slop to our wheel hubs. Then we’d haul ourselves off the bikes and resume walking.

Shuffling along, it occurred to me that the bond Mike and Piercey and I had forged over years of playing rugby together — a particular sort of trust in each other’s skills and endurance — had taken the edge off what had turned into a real chore. A profound ache ran from my throat down to my stomach, as if my stored energy and resolve were being ground into sharp little bits by a lathe. This was also the only terrain we’d encountered that was ugly to look at — the heaps of old tree limbs piled up like dinosaur bones, the soupy bogs, and the churned-up mud.

Piercey was a hundred yards ahead, grinding along. But he’d stop every so often, waving his arms, and offering a loud “Zizzzzzaaaaa! You got it, buddy!” or “Way to go, Anna!”

I’ve been off the grid in poor conditions in the company of acquaintances and fair-weather friends. But with Mike and

Left: At the end of a long day of pedaling, the Bear Rock campsite is a perfect spot to rest and recover.

Top: Bridget Freudenberger takes a break midway through the first day out.

Above: A truckload of mountain bikes arrives at the tentsite, which provides beautiful views overlooking Dixville Notch and the northern mountains. nhmagazine.com | October 2021 65

Piercey there was no snippiness, or indifference to the others in the party. We just forged ahead, making silent offers of water or snacks when we got bogged down.

Nearly two hours after entering this grim section of the forest, we hit a dry stretch on a gravel road, allowing Mike and Anna and I to ride at a steady pace. Energized by this new country, and 20 miles into our trek, Mike and I began comparing past outings, trying to decide which one was the most difficult.

Mike offered up the sub-zero pond hockey game in North Conway. “Pretty tough day,” he said.

“What about the Imp Trail death march?”

I asked.

We had a large group on that January day, heading up to the Imp Profile just north of Mt. Washington on Route 16. The minus 8-degree weather and rapid elevation gain led to a few tears being shed by some of the participants.

“Challenging,” said Mike, looking sideways at me. “But there’s no turning back today.”

Regrouping atop a hill decorated with flaming maple trees, Mike and Anna discovered they were out of water. I sidled over on my bike, extending the hose from my pack, and they each took a drink. I had a quart or so left but was out of food, with several miles still ahead of us.

Suddenly, Mike remembered he had some energy gel cubes zipped into a pocket on his sleeve. He and Piercey took out some blueberry gels and a pack of raspberry cubes.

Mike tossed one to me and I popped it in my mouth.

Above: Mired in mud but not swamped Right: Anna Zizza navigates the mud and water to stay a bit drier and cleaner.

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“Amazing,” I said, shaking my head.

“This is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten,” said Piercey, and I laughed in recognition of that fact.

“Better than pate de fois gras at the Ritz with Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald,” I said.

At the junction of two dirt roads, Joe’s digital map went flooey and we took a wrong turn, descended a hill, climbed back up, and returned to where we’d started 15 minutes earlier. Our first day would eventually result in a 2,669-foot elevation gain, and we weren’t done yet.

Joe’s map reappeared on his phone and we pedaled onward, mounting a hill on a narrow lane that knifed between two halves of a spruce forest. Straddling her bike, Bridget drew our attention to a Canada Jay perched on a branch about 40 feet off the ground.

The Canada Jay, or perisoereus canadensis, is a sleek, striking bird, grayish white with black head markings. Native to Canada and partial to coniferous forests, its nickname is the “camp robber,” since it often approaches humans to beg or steal food.

Bridget reached into her pocket for some trail mix, extending her hand skyward.

Smiling serenely, the lanky triathlete coaxed the Canada Jay off its perch. It hovered in the air inches away from Bridget’s outstretched hand, pecking at the trail mix.

Mike shook his head. “The bird whisperer,” he said.

Having reached height of land after six hours of biking, our company enjoyed the dirt roads and light downhills that ensued.

But soon we reached a trio of long, gradual hills that seesawed up the ridgeline toward our destination, Bear Rock Campground in Colebrook.

While Joe, Piercey and Bridget forged ahead, Mike and I dismounted partway up the final incline. Anna was so tired, Mike pushed her bike and his own, gripping one with each hand.

Mike tipped his head toward Anna, who was walking behind us with a glum look on her face.

I glanced back. “She’s tough.”

Bear Rock Campground occupies 100 acres perched on the ridge overlooking Dixville Notch. We were the only party booked for the weekend.

When I remounted my bike and rode across the sloping lawn that marked the center of the grounds, it was approaching dusk. At the edge of the clearing, the adjacent valley began as corrugated folds of dark firs, golden maples, and splotches of yellow

and burnt orange, interspersed with patches of cultivated land. Across the valley, patches of fog hung down in ghostly beards, dropping in tendrils hundreds of yards long that nearly touched the ground and then were swept away by the wind.

A large, square, white tent straight out of Ernest Hemingway’s “Green Hills of Africa” sat on a wooden platform in the middle of the clearing. I could make out Piercey and the others, moving in silhouette between the fire pit and the vehicles we’d left there earlier in the day.

Beside the tent was some kind of canvas phone booth, and I parted the flap as I went by. Inside was a large masonry bucket lined with a blue plastic bag and crowned with a toilet seat.

I exchanged brief greetings with the others, and disappeared into the tent. Later, I’d find out that we’d covered nearly 30 miles. Each of us was in motion for roughly four hours, for a total time of just under seven hours.

Hemingway’s old tent contained a small woodstove and a legless double bed that filled two-thirds of the space. I spread my sleeping bag over half the bed and crawled beneath it, too tired get inside. My left quad and hamstring were cramping so badly it felt like they were trying to jump off the bone. Even though the temperature inside the tent was 40 degrees, I was sweating through my Merino pullover, my heart was banging against my ribs, and I was breathing through my mouth like I’d just completed an Olympic steeplechase.

Shortly thereafter, I got the chills and my teeth started chattering. The tent flap opened and Piercey stuck his head in.

“You all right, buddy?’ he asked.

“Man, I’m in a bad way.”

“OK,” Piercey said. “Get up.”

Throwing off the sleeping bag, I stood up and my left leg nearly gave out. Quickly, I changed into a set of dry clothes, zipped on a down vest, and pulled on a woolen ski hat.

Outside, the campfire threw a ring of light over the surrounding terrain, and I saw Mike driving his SUV over the grass, right up to the edge of the tent platform. Anna was in the backseat, and Mike motioned for me to sit up front. I climbed into the warm, heated cab and he handed me four ibuprofen.

“C’mon,” Mike said. “We’re going into town.”

Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at the Parson Street Restaurant in Colebrook. Originally the parsonage for an Episcopal church, the property was later converted into a private residence. Now it’s a cozy 40-seat restaurant situated on the main floor, featuring modern nhmagazine.com | October 2021 67

Top: Though this scene is typical of fall foliage in northern New Hampshire, it's still a wonder every time.

Above: Chris Pierce and Bridget Freudenberger enjoy some rest and recovery around the campfire.

American cuisine with French and Italian influences. Joined by Bridget’s affable husband, Phil, our party occupied a long table adjacent to the bar in one of the main rooms.

Sitting amidst the warm, friendly clatter of the restaurant, I felt human again, downing glasses of water and objecting to several of Piercey’s questionable pronouncements.

The chef prepared a vegan risotto for me, and there was a platter of roasted Brussels sprouts that disappeared after I ate a few and pronounced them delicious.

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“I feel like you picked me up at assisted living for a quiet dinner out,” I said to Mike.

Piercey, Joe and I occupied the far end of the table, sitting in a golden oblong of light and acting like a trio of unruly schoolboys.

A raucous family dinner unfolded, where Piercey and I took turns holding court to the delight of some diners and the consternation of the rest. But the food was top-notch, and there in the parson’s former living room the vibe was homey and familiar.

Back at the campground, a rising moon changed the passing clouds into an array of

Spanish galleons, Jules Verne-era spaceships, and gigantic seabirds traveling across a black velvet sky. Hours after Mike and I had begun rating our most difficult adventures, Piercey joined the debate.

“That pond hockey game was brutal,” Piercey said. “If you stopped playing, you were suffering.”

Just before 10 o’clock I said goodnight, and sometime after that Piercey came in and tried to start a fire in the stove. He wasn’t having much luck and from inside my down bag, I made a suggestion and rolled over.

Piercey went back out and returned with a flat piece of wood containing several burning coals from the fire pit.

Piercey shoveled the coals into the stove and soon had a blaze going that warmed the tent. Outside, a steady wind roiled the canvas and spatters of rain freckled the roof.

“Good call,” Piercey said.

Around 2 a.m., I woke up to an overheated, stuffy tent. Piercey was in his boxers, headed outside for some air. “It’s freakin’ hot in here,” he said.

The morning broke clear and cold.

Bridget was heating up vegan chili on a little stove, and had brought along some large muffins from a local bakery called Mostly Muffins. I was headed around the side of the tent to get my bike helmet from Piercey’s truck. Just then, Piercey emerged from the

canvas phone booth carrying a blue plastic bag knotted at the top.

“With this, I can really measure what I’ve done!” he said, handing me the bag.

I looked down at the weighty blue bag. “I doubt this is what Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary did after they summited Everest,” I said.

That morning, a bluebird sky arched over the variegated carpet of fantastic glowing trees that filled Dixville Notch. Setting out after breakfast, we cycled along the quiet lanes on the outskirts of Colebrook, going past family orchards hemmed in by tall white fences. At the intersection of three country roads with apple trees on all sides, Piercey reached up and picked one, rubbed it against his chest, and bit into it.

“Hmm. Good,” he said, picking another one and tossing it to me.

The fruit was small and hard and sweet.

As I flipped the core into the tall grass and began pedaling, I realized that yesterday’s ride was a little iron for the soul, an investment of sorts, with today being the payoff.

After passing an immaculate log home tucked into a grove of trees, we climbed a long hill, and at the top a high crowned dirt road went steeply down through a forest of blazing maples.

Piercey rode over the crest of the hill, rocketing downslope with a loud whoop.

Angled forward, my head low and chest nearly touching the handlebars, I followed after him, rapidly picking up speed, the air whistling through the apertures in my helmet.

Later, Piercey would say that his watch recorded a top speed of 36 mph. He was about 200 yards ahead of me, buzzing downward like an arrow.

Light and relaxed, I stayed in the middle of the road, aware of the fact that if I ran over a stick or small rock, I’d soon be traveling by ambulance. Half a mile into my descent, the trees blurring on both sides, I hit a shallow dimple where the runoff had worn a groove across the road. My front fork twitched ever so slightly — I held my breath, pushing my weight back like a jockey, and the frame of the bike wobbled for an instant and then ran true.

“Yeeee-owww!” I yelled, and Piercey hollered back.

From there, Bridget led us onto a twisting double track that ran downhill through a dense forest like a bobsled run. The center of the trail contained a wash of good-size rocks, and as the course undulated, you had to stay on the high side of the embankment, occasionally risking a cut over the middle and up the opposite bank.

Mike was just ahead of me, riding the upper rim of the left embankment, then

Top: Chris Pierce, Mike Zizza, Bridget Freudenberger and Jay Atkinson head out from camp on the second day. Above: Mike Zizza pedaling along the rail trail as the group gets closer to Vermont.

he shot to the right and the trail doglegged into the forest, his image flickering like an old newsreel as the light held him briefly between the trees.

A half hour later, we pedaled along a paved stretch and crossed a steel bridge over the Connecticut River. On the far side, Route 102 passed through the tiny village of Lemington, Vermont, pop. 104.

We stopped beneath a little green sign on the edge of the road. “Welcome to Vermont,” said Mike, winking at me. NH

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603 Living “It was an evil spirit possessed you. I pray God it is satisfied now, and you find peace.” — Ichabod Crane

TEACHER’S PET Crafting your pumpkin showpiece can be as easy as clapping erasers at recess. Spray a pumpkin with two coats of chalkboard paint and let dry. Draw your design with white or colored chalk.

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Seniority Local Dish Calendar Health Ayuh

82 84 91 94 96

Out of the Pumpkin Patch Looking beyond the familiar jack-o’-lantern

PRODUCED BY MATTHEW MEAD

W

hen you think of Halloween, you may think of costumes, candy and Charlie Brown, but it’s also the time of year when you get to dress up a pumpkin or two. Pumpkin decorating is one of the many highlights of this spooky holiday, but don’t worry if your carving skills aren’t something to brag about. There are still plenty of no-carve options (like even being able to reuse some of the pesky fall leaves around your yard) that are fun and festive. Here is a wide range of pumpkin decorating ideas for Halloween crafters of all levels and for everyone in your family to enjoy. Grab your scissors, markers, paint, scrapbook paper and glue, and give your pumpkin an entirely new look.

SLEEPY HOLLOW Don’t lose your head over carving.

A permanent marker and top hat is all you need for a theatrical nod to the headless horseman.

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603 LIVING / OUT OF THE PUMPKIN PATCH PRESSING MATTER Nothing pairs better with a pumpkin than fall leaves. Gather favorite shapes and colors and press for several days in a book to dry.

Use decoupage medium and a brush to attach the leaves in a desired pattern. This multiseasonal design makes an attractive centerpiece from Halloween to Thanksgiving.

ABSTRACT MINIMALISM Channel your inner Jackson Pollock with two shades of washi tape wrapped around a pumpkin.

The tape has a waxy self-adhesive that sticks easily, but it can also be removed if you suddenly crave pie. Find seasonal colors at the local craft store.

GIVE A HOOT Capture an iconic Halloween owl with this paper craft project. Use scrapbooking paper in different shades and textures to create the face, body and wings. Attach them to the façade of the pumpkin with common pins. Easily remove and save your artwork to reuse from year to year.

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FLOWER POWER Bring out the botanist with a pumpkin turned Mumkin. Pierce holes in the skin of the pumpkin with an ice pick, then insert your choice of freshly cut chrysanthemum blossoms in each hole. Mist daily and replace blossoms as they fade.

GRYFFINDOR GHOUL Even Harry Potter might conjure up this ghoulish pumpkin.

Hollow out the gourd and carve a square. Print a scary photo on vellum paper and use common pins to affix it over the opening. For best effect, light with a battery-operated candle that flickers. NH nhmagazine.com | October 2021 73

PROMOTION

PINK

POWER BREAST HEALTH AWARENESS KNOWLEDGE IS POWER Arm yourself with facts

Meet the New Hampshire professionals on the front lines of the fight against breast cancer, and get tips and advice to keep yourself informed and healthy.

B

reast cancer. Those are scary words to contemplate, and it’s tempting to pretend that it can never happen to you. Many put off or avoid preventative care, but the out-of-sight, out-of-mind mentality is not the answer. Fortunately, Granite Staters are lucky to have access to a number of providers who offer state-of-the art screening technology. And, should you ever find yourself

battling this disease, New Hampshire is home to several hospitals where you can find the very best treatment.

Read on to learn about the high level of care available in New Hampshire, or take heart and inspiration from a survivor’s story. Plus, find helpful information to questions you may have — or even learn about some that you didn’t know you should ask.

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PROMOTION

NO PANDEMIC PAUSE FOR CONCORD BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR Treatment, Relief Efforts Continue Through Unexpected Challenges

Above: Laura Peterson Right: Members of the Making Strides team Saving Second Base: Laura Peterson, her daughter Megan Aslanian, Laura Colby Witt, Melissa Scott, Amy Bartlett and Michael Walchak.

W

hen Laura Peterson was called back in for a second mammogram after a routine visit in February of 2020, she didn’t think much of it.

When she was scheduled for an ultrasound following that appointment, it didn’t seem too unusual. But when she was sent from there to consult with a surgeon, she knew something was not right.

“That’s when I knew something was happening,” says Peterson, a medical receptionist from Concord.

On Valentine’s Day last year, Laura Peterson was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. The following months put her on a journey that many women have experienced: follow-up visits, procedures, treatment, and a litany of unexpected challenges.

Rather than let it get the best of her, however, Peterson opted to get moving — looking to family members for strength, and mobilizing a team in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, an annual event/walk to raise money for breast cancer awareness.

But first, she had to get healthy.

“When I was diagnosed, it was a shock, but on the flip side, it was stage 1, so they caught it early,” Peterson says. “The whole time I was going through my treatment, I was thinking of my dad, who was battling a very aggressive prostate cancer, and everything he had gone through in his battle. It made me stronger.”

The first appointment following the diagnosis arrived, and with it, the anticipated nerves that tend to accompany the beginning of treatment.

“The first appointment, they say, is the hardest — and it absolutely was,” Peterson says. “I went in there and I don’t remember a lot of the conversation. I was focused on the scans and how they looked when they came back. On that first appointment they can’t give you the answer you want. I was told things were looking good, but that there would be changes and that they’d have a better idea by the next appointment.

“You want to hear, ‘everything looks great, you’re good to go.’ But you don’t hear those words.”

Nearly a month after being diagnosed, Peterson underwent a partial mastectomy. Then COVID-19 arrived in New Hampshire, throwing additional and completely unforeseen obstacles onto an already difficult path. Pandemic-related restrictions and procedures made previously

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PROMOTION

Above: Laura Peterson and her daughter Megan Aslanian Left: Laura Peterson and her daughter Allison Palagi

routine arrangements impossible — just when Peterson was most inneed. Luckily, she found herself in the hands of a team ready to get creative in the face of the unknown.

“As a team and as a facility, the Breast Care Center at Concord Hospital was phenomenal,” she says. “All of my questions were answered and they were always ahead of the game. For instance, when I was first scheduled for surgery, the receptionist there helped me with the Family Medical Leave Act, which protected my job and insurance. These were things I never thought of because I was so overwhelmed after being diagnosed with cancer.

You automatically think of the bad things and not the positive, but they planned everything step by step.

“I had a follow-up visit with Dr. Sharon Gunsher after surgery, but by then COVID had hit. Zoom wasn’t even being used at that point. She real-

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ized she had an iPhone, and I had one, so we conducted that follow-up visit on FaceTime.”

Her team formulated a plan, which began with an aggressive course of 21 radiation treatments, five days a week, over a 4-5-week period starting in late May. Peterson’s support network then kicked-in: her daughters — a 29-year-old who lives in Rhode Island, and a 17-year-old — along with a few friends, who helped by bringing groceries to her home during a time when the immune compromised couldn’t leave home.

As the pandemic and her own recovery continued, Peterson found herself out of work and relying on COBRA insurance, which cost her $600 per month.

“It was astronomical, but I needed that insurance,” she says. “It was difficult all summer long.”

Immediately following her mastectomy, Peterson organized her Making Strides team. Last year, she was the top individual fundraiser, raising more than $5,000. This year will be the second time her team, Saving Second Base, will participate.

“I really just started hitting the ground running with the fundraising,” she says. “I utilized Facebook all the time, private messaged people and kept at it through the end of last summer.”

A self-described private person, Peterson opted to keep her own diagnosis out of the conversation as she went about organizing.

“I only disclosed by diagnosis when I messaged someone privately,” she says. “I kept my story private. I just kept watching the [fundraising] numbers go up and busted my butt. With COVID, I think we did very well, raising $5,000.”

She then began an ongoing series of races, fundraising events and challenges that provided the 51-year-old with both a distraction and a way of remaining active, though it would prove to be difficult.

“Luckily I didn’t go through chemo, but radiation can still kick your ass,” Peterson says. “I was so used to being active. There were days I wanted to go out and walk, but I was lucky if I could walk 100 feet.”

She became involved in an app called Yes.Fit, a digital fitness experience with virtual races and medals. Her first virtual race was a 42.3mile challenge.

“Every day I’d log the miles,” she says. “It got me through my treatment and through COVID. I couldn’t wait to watch the numbers go down and be one step closer to my medal. Now I have nine medals, which have varied from 26 miles to a 102-mile race. Every day I’d push myself a little farther, walking, getting stronger.”

Thankfully, Peterson’s prognosis is very good. Recent visits have shown improvement, though the official “all clear” has yet to be sounded.

“I have one more scan in December, but I don’t have the clean bill of health yet because your breasts and skin change from the radiation,” she says. “I have that one last scan in December and then I’ll go back to yearly scans.”

Through her journey — the diagnosis, treatment, dealing with the pandemic and its related complications, fundraising and healing, Peterson has learned to remain focused on staying positive.

Her message: “Stay in the moment. Don’t overthink things. We, as individuals, as human beings, tend to do that and assume the worst. You can’t do that. Treatments have come so far. I look at my dad — he was stage 4, aggressive small cell cancer. We were told he wasn’t going to make it to my daughter’s wedding that fall [2019.] He just kept overcoming those hurdles. Be persistent, stay positive, and utilize your support group.

Remember, it could always be worse.”

Marina I. Feldman, MD Breast Radiologist & Director of Breast Imaging at the Elliot Breast Health Center

It’s Time.

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Confidence is doing everything possible to live your healthiest

– including talking to your doctor about scheduling mammograms after age 40.

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QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT BREAST CANCER

Medical director of the Comprehensive Breast Program, Mary D. Chamberlin, M.D., right, and licensed clinical psychologist Courtney J. Stevens, Ph.D., left, are among researchers at Dartmouth’s and Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Norris Cotton Cancer Center who are conducting the clinical research needed to bring new therapies and health recovery programs to people undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Q

: “How do exercise and weight loss

impact breast cancer recovery and the chance of recurrence?”

Treatment for breast cancer can be exhausting. Survivors often experience medication side effects, fatigue, depression and anxiety that lead to less physical activity, weight gain and reduced muscle mass. Studies show a higher risk of cancer recurrence and even death for some women who are overweight at diagnosis or who gain weight after diagnosis.

The good news? These effects can be limited and improved by structured exercise and weight loss recovery programs. As part of an academic medical center, we at Dartmouth’s and Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Norris

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Cotton Cancer Center (NCCC) believe clinical research is the gold standard for cancer care. Participation in clinical trials is critical to provide data for insurance coverage of interventions such as weight loss and exercise programs as a standard part of cancer treatment. NCCC has 20 to 30 actively enrolling breast cancer treatment and recovery clinical trials to learn what works best for our patients to reach their goals.

For example, in the Breast Cancer and Weight Loss (BWEL) trial, researchers are studying the role of weight loss in recovery and disease recurrence for overweight women with early breast cancer. Participants receive a structured health education intervention and supervised weight loss program with trained coaches for two years after completion of chemotherapy or radiation.

PROMOTION

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There is strong evidence that exercise improves health-related outcomes among survivors of breast cancer. Studies show that for every 15 minutes of exercise per week, breast cancer mortality drops by 2.5%. But sometimes, exercise can feel harder than chemotherapy. Some women have negative feelings about their ability to exercise, especially after breast cancer treatment. Being older and having a higher body mass index (BMI) increases the likelihood that exercise feels unpleasant.

The PHIT trial, funded by a career development award from the National Cancer Institute, is a new series of exercise intervention development studies that aims to address how a person feels (their affective response) during exercise. An exercise prescription called AFFECT-Rx has been shown to reduce feelings of displeasure during exercise and increase participation in exercise over time among the general population, but has not yet been tested among people who have undergone breast cancer treatment. The PHIT trial will engage this special population to help refine and optimize AFFECT-Rx, which instructs participants to adjust their pace of exercise until they feel “fairly good” or better while exercising.

The primary goal of the PHIT trial is to see if AFFECT-Rx promotes clinically meaningful increases in exercise.

Q: “What else is new in breast cancer clinical research in New Hampshire?”

CATCH-UP, which stands for “Creating Access to Targeted Cancer Therapy for Underserved Populations” is an exciting new initiative by the National Cancer Institute. This program is designed to bring earlyphase trials to minority and underserved populations. NCCC is one of eight cancer centers in the U.S. chosen to participate, with our focus on

increasing clinical trial awareness and participation for rural patients who make up almost half of the area served by NCCC here in northern New England. Two new advanced breast cancer trials under CATCH-UP bring cutting-edge drug therapies to those who need it the most: One is for breast cancer that has spread to bone. It combines standard chemotherapy with a new low-radiation agent. This study will learn about whether adding Radium-223 dicholoride to the usual chemotherapy will lower the chance of breast cancer growing.

The other looks at a sub-type of breast cancer called triple negative (no estrogen, progesterone or HER2 receptor proteins) that has spread beyond the breast or lymph nodes and is treatable but no longer curable.

Researchers hope to learn if an individualized vaccine is better or worse for preventing breast cancer from growing or spreading than the standard chemotherapy approach.

For hormone receptor-positive breast cancers, the time that passes between a tumor biopsy and surgery presents a perfect window of opportunity to actively treat some tumors with estrogen-blocking therapy.

NAOMI is a Dartmouth-initiated trial designed to study breast cancer’s response to hormone therapy while women wait for their surgery. The goal is to learn more about why some cancers come back many years later and possibly prevent this from happening.

Cancer is a shock. Long-term side effects from treatment can be profound. Sometimes being part of the science can not only help with recovery but also unlock new discoveries.

To learn more about clinical trials or find out if you are eligible to join a study, talk with your cancer doctor, contact our Research Nurses at Cancer.Research.Nurse@hitchcock.org, or explore our website: cancer.dartmouth.edu/patients-families/learn-about-clinical-trials.

Mary D. Chamberlin, M.D., is a medical oncologist, medical director of the Comprehensive Breast Program and member of the Cancer Biology and Therapeutics Research Program at NCCC. Her research focuses on hormone therapies, exercise and rehabilitation interventions for earlystage disease and vaccine trials for advanced disease.

Courtney J. Stevens, Ph.D., principal investigator of the PHIT trial, is a licensed clinical psychologist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and investigator member of NCCC’s Population Sciences Research Program. Her research focuses heavily on the science of behavior change regarding the uptake and maintenance of cancer-prevention behaviors.

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603 LIVING / SENIORITY

Get Out and Enjoy Plan a fall hike (or walk)

BY LYNNE SNIERSON / ILLUSTRATION BY GLORIA DILLANIN

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he hundreds of hiking paths and trails crisscrossing this state are magnificent year-round. Nevertheless, with autumn’s cool, crisp air and the explosion of varied and vibrant color on display only during fall foliage season, October is the best month to lace up your boots, get outside, and get in touch with nature.

“Nothing can change your outlook like taking a walk outside,” says Rich Westhoff, an advocate for the New Hampshire Rail Trails Coalition, which promotes the development, maintenance and active use of trails constructed on New Hampshire’s abandoned railroad corridor.

Even better, neuroscientists and gerontologists agree that a brisk walk is the optimal way for seniors to reboot their brain and stay healthy.

“The rail trails are a good way to get

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started,” says Westhoff. And he would know.

Over the past 18 months, Westhoff and his wife bicycled all 52 rail trails (give or take a few based on how they’re counted), which covers more than 300 miles.

One of the bonuses of these trails is that none has an elevation grade of more than 4%, which makes sense given that the old trains couldn’t climb steep hills. This makes them ideal for seniors, anyone less athletically gifted, or those with disabilities.

On the coalition’s website (nhrtc.org), there’s a link to the Rail Trail Challenge, which breaks the trails out by region and describes each in detail, and lists the degree of difficulty.

“There are the ones we call the ‘Easy Peasy,’” says Dave Topham, president protem and treasurer of the NHRTC. “They’re the ones where nothing is overly

strenuous, and there is a good surface with paved or hardpack. Some of the others are not for newcomers, but all of us seniors can enjoy ‘Easy Peasy’ [trails].”

This category includes the rail trails in the state’s southern tier in Nashua, Salem, Windham and Londonderry, and they are ideal for a stroll, walking the dog and bicycling. For the more adventurous and athletic, established hiking trails in the North Country can be more challenging, but your effort will be rewarded with some of the most spectacular vistas anywhere in New England — or the country, for that matter.

“We published a book called ‘The Old Codger’s Guide to Hiking and Climbing in the White Mountains,’ which is designed for the older generation,” says Mike Dickerman, the renowned historian, hiking enthusiast, former co-editor of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s “White Mountain Guide,” author of 14 books on the subject, and the owner of Bondcliff Books publishing house in Littleton.

Dickerman says that there is an abundance of opportunities for hiking the White Mountains — it’s all a matter of what your comfort level is.

“You don’t have to be walking across the exposed elements of the Presidential Range to enjoy the mountains. There are plenty of places in the valleys,” he says. “Waterfall hikes are a lot easier to get to. You can’t beat one,” he adds.

Dickerman also highly recommends that enthusiasts explore the Notches.

Crawford Notch is replete with roadside waterfalls and relatively easy hikes, from either a half-mile to a mile-and-a-half, and the Franconia Notch area has some hill climbs that are short, but steep. In Pinkham Notch, you can hike up to the Elephant’s Head, which is a rock formation overlooking the Gateway to the Notches.

“It’s got a little bit of climbing to it, but it’s a neat little hike. You’ll get a spectacular view for the amount of effort you put into it,” says Dickerman.

For an easier trek, he suggests starting at the AMC’s Highland Center and hiking to Ammonoosuc Lake in a one-mile loop. If desired, it can be extended a half-mile to the Red Bench Trail leading you out to an actual bench in the middle of nowhere, overlooking the railroad tracks that go through Crawford Notch. It provides a gorgeous view of the Presidential Range.

Take a Hike Safety Checklist

There is no place more beautiful than New Hampshire in the fall, when the fantastic foliage gets you close to Mother Nature’s annual art show. Get outside for an unforgettable and enjoyable experience, but be sure to follow these 12 safety tips.

6. Use sunscreen, even on a cloudy day.

1. Practice the buddy system and hike with another person.

7. Apply insect repellent.

2. Tell a responsible person at home where 8. Never touch or feed the wildlife. you’re going and your planned return time. 9. Carry a fully charged cell phone.

3. Wear proper footwear with good traction.

10. In areas with spotty cell service, make sure 4. Wear protective clothing that is weather- to have a GPS enabled tracking device. appropriate.

11. Don’t walk off trail.

5. Bring plenty of water and stay hydrated.

12. Pack a fully stocked first aid kit.

Rail trails, while less taxing, can be just as beautiful.

“There is the Presidential Rail Trail in the northern part of the state,” says Topham, referencing the 18-mile-long trip from Jefferson to Gorham. “You’d be surprised — it’s actually pretty flat. It’s well maintained and very nice. That links up two trails and some road and another dirt road across the state on the north side of the Presidential range. It’s a little more challenging, but it is so worth it.”

Like everything else in life, timing is everything. “One of the key things to recognize is that, just like the rest of New

Hampshire, the rail trails really light up from north to south as you go through the fall season,” says Westhoff. “Rail trails are these corridors through the trees. If you find where the foliage is peaking, you’ll find the colors are especially good on those trails at that time.”

The state’s rail trail system, which Topham says is used by more walkers and bikers than any other in the country, is inclusive.

Those who are disabled are invited to enjoy the hard-packed or paved trails with any ADA (Americans Disability Act)-compliant limited mobility device.

The welcome mat is also out for everyone at Crotched Mountain, with its 1,200-plus acres of protected forest, open fields and wetlands.

The Crotched Mountain trails are the longest accessible trail system in a mountainside environment in the United States, and include the Gregg and Dutton Brook Trails.

They are distinctly different, though they combine unique hardpack pathways, boardwalks, moderate grades, switchbacks and rest stops to create a natural, yet accessible, hiking experience for people of all abilities.

The Dutton Brook is a woodland trail full of diverse animal habitats, and the boardwalks and observation decks present the chance to learn more about our native plant and animal life. The Gregg Trail, with grades of no more than 8%, is .8-mile trek to the top of the Knoll, where there is an observation deck offering panoramic views of Grand Monadnock and the Contoocook River Valley.

“The fall is the best time to get out and hike,” says Dickerman.

Topham agrees. “You can see a lot more detail and beauty when you’re walking at the speed of three miles per hour.” NH

Your binge-worthy options just got interesting.

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603 LIVING / LOCAL DISH

Butternut Squash Risotto With Apple Sage Chutney Makes 4 or 5 servings Apple Sage Chutney 4 peeled and diced Fuji apples, rough chop 1 cup red onion, diced fine 2 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar 1/4 cup honey 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper or more or less to taste Salt and pepper to taste Roast chopped apples in a 375-degree oven for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Tip: Roast with the squash using the method in the risotto recipe.* Sauté the onion in butter until soft, add roasted apples, vinegar and honey and stir and let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the minced sage and red pepper flakes. Add salt and pepper to taste. This can be served hot or at room temperature. Any extra can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Butternut Squash Risotto

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY SUSAN LAUGHLIN RECIPE BY ADAM PARKER

T

he taste of fall is upon us. Say goodbye to sweet corn and give a warm embrace to a variety of apples and squash stacking high at local fruit stands and farmers markets.

Chef Adam Parker, formerly director of restaurants at Fratello’s Italian Grille and the Homestead, has gone on to run his own cozy family-run operation. His vision for the newly opened The Utopian features a tapas-style “farmhouse artisan” menu. Dishes are served on disposable plates lined with craft paper and are easily shared. The menu will change with the seasons, but expect to find items like meatballs, a charcuterie plate, baked brie and hummus, all which can be enjoyed with local craft beers, wine or even a martini.

Parker explains the offerings are “different from what you might expect.” His kitchen is small but only limited to his imagination. With his love of Italian food and Italy, an Italian influence would not be surprising.

Parker also has a line of hot sauces now available in 50 stores across New Hampshire and Vermont. Flavors include Hunka Hunka Burning Maple and Hot Frog Slime.

Learn more at nhhotsauce.com.

The Utopian MC Square, 135 Route 101A, Amherst (603) 315-9197 / theutopiannh.com

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nhmagazine.com | October 2021

1 small butternut squash, peeled and sliced into ½-inch cubes 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced 11/2 cups Arborio rice 1/2 cup white wine (Chef Adam suggests Conundrum white.)

4 cups (32 ounces) chicken or vegetable broth, heated 1 cup water 1 cup fresh spinach 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced 1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste Freshly ground black pepper, to taste Fresh or fried sage leaves for garnish** *To roast the squash: Place the oven rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for the butternut squash. (For the chutney recipe, add apples as well, keeping them separate.) Toss the apples and squash with olive oil and bake squash for 20 minutes and apples 15 to 20 minutes.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large 10-12-inch straight-sided skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion, stirring occasionally, until softened and turning translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook until the garlic is fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add rice and stir for 1 to 2 minutes until grains are coated in oil and onion.

Add wine and stir constantly on medium heat until wine is absorbed.

Add hot broth or hot water 1 cup at a time, stirring after each addition until liquid is absorbed, about 20 to 25 minutes. The risotto should be creamy, adding more liquid, if necessary. Stir in roasted squash and spinach until heated through. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Remove from heat and stir in pieces of butter and Parmesan cheese and serve on warm plates to keep the risotto loose. (Too much cheese can make it gummy.)

Add the apple chutney as a garnish. Top with fresh or fried sage. **To fry the sage: Sauté 6 to 8 fresh whole sage leaves with olive oil until crisp. Crumble or leave whole to use as a garnish on the risotto.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

2021 NEW HAMPSHIRE

FIVE STAR AWARD WINNERS These days, it takes a village to manage your financial world. Whether it is managing your assets with a wealth manager, navigating the ever-changing tax landscape, sorting out your estate and succession planning or picking the right life insurance, finding the right team can be a daunting task. In fact, many consumers have a hard time figuring out where to even begin.

RESEARCH DISCLOSURES

Sometimes, a few simple questions can put you off on the right path. Asking a professional what makes working with them a unique experience can help you understand how they work and if their style meshes with your own.

• Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets.

This is a great place to start! Five Star Professional uses its own proprietary research methodology to name outstanding professionals, then works with publications such as New Hampshire Magazine to spread the word about award winners. Each award candidate undergoes a thorough research process (detailed here) before being considered for the final list of award winners. For the complete list of winners, go to www.fivestarprofessional.com.

In order to consider a broad population of high-quality wealth managers, award candidates are identified by one of three sources: firm nomination, peer nomination or prequalification based on industry standing.

Self-nominations are not accepted. New Hampshire-area award candidates were identified using internal and external research data. Candidates do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final lists of Five Star Wealth Managers.

• The Five Star award is not indicative of a professional’s future performance.

• The inclusion of a professional on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the professional by Five Star Professional or New Hampshire Magazine.

• Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any professional is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected professionals will be awarded this accomplishment

by Five Star Professional in the future.

• Five Star Professional is not an advisory firm and the content of this article should not be considered financial advice. For more information on the Five Star Wealth Manager award program, research and selection criteria, go to fivestarprofessional.com/research.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER

DETERMINATION OF AWARD WINNERS CRITERIA Award candidates who satisfied 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers. Eligibility Criteria – Required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative. 2. Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years. 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review. 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal firm standards. 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation Criteria – Considered: 6. One-year client retention rate. 7. Five-year client retention rate. 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered. 9. Number of client households served. 10. Education and professional designations. 943 award candidates in the New Hampshire area were considered for the Five Star Wealth Manager award. 96 (approximately 10% of the award candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers.

FIVE STAR INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL DETERMINATION OF AWARD WINNERS CRITERIA

The investment professional award goes to estate planning attorneys, insurance agents and select others in the financial industry. Eligibility Criteria – Required: 1. Credentialed with appropriate state or industry licensures.

2. Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years.

3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review. 4. Accepting new clients. Evaluation Criteria – Considered: 5. One-year client retention rate. 6. Five-year client retention rate. 7. Number of client households served. 8. Recent personal production and performance (industry specific criteria). 9. Education and professional designations/industry and board certifications. 10. Pro Bono and community service work. This year, we honored 1 New Hampshire-area investment professionals with the Five Star Investment Professional award.

All award winners are listed in this publication.

Wealth Managers

Susan Weidner Cooke · Baystate Financial

Financial Planning

W. John Dulmage · Financial Pathways

Irina Andreasen · Andreasen Financial, LLC Page 5 Ethan C. Betts · Baystate Financial Page 5 James S. Brophy · Brophy Wealth Management, LLC Page 4 Stephen A. Brophy · Brophy Wealth Management, LLC Page 4 Gregory S. Caulfield · Morgan Stanley Page 5

Duane E. Goodell · Optimum Wealth Daniel Scott Grossman · Financial Strategies Retirement Partners Jeffrey W. Keefe · Whole Wealth Management Page 6

Nichole D. Raftopoulos · Nvest Financial Group Page 3 Michael Scott Riddell · LPL Financial Mary Gail Sycamore · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Luke Trotochaud · Brophy Wealth Management, LLC Page 4

Cynthia Louise Kordys · Centaurus Financial

Investments

David Lanzillo · Robbins Farley

Lou Athanas Jr. · Morgan Stanley Page 4

Deborah A. Nitzschke · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Al Gilbert · FSRP Page 2 Daniel Grossman · FSRP Page 2 Curtis W. Hermann · Wells Fargo Advisors Page 5 Sarah Kenda · FSRP Page 2 Kevin L. Kimball · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Shawn Monty · FSRP Page 2

Christian Allen Beliveau · LPL Financial Continued on FS-6

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WEALTH MANAGERS

Financial Strategies Retirement Partners

10

YEAR WINNER

Left to right: 2012 – 2021 winner Shawn Monty, Managing Partner, AIF®; Dave Prendergast; Forrest Butler, AIF®; 2020 – 2021 winner Sarah Kenda, Partner, AIF®; Ted Mulligan, CFP®; Crystal Marquis; Jim Monahan, CFP®; Renee Talcott; 2013 – 2021 winner Al Gilbert, Partner, AIF®; Jamie Perkins; 2021 winner Daniel Grossman, Partner, AIF®; Michele Estey (Not pictured: Travis Labrie, Kim Hamel, Erica Warburton, Brian Curran and Cris Landry)

Financial Planning for Businesses and Individuals • Experienced team of professionals • Retirement plan solutions for businesses

• Comprehensive financial planning strategies

Our passion is promoting financial wellness.

With decades of experience working with both businesses and individuals, the FSRP team members are committed to delivering solutions to meet clients’ specific goals and objectives.

When working with individuals, we provide comprehensive financial planning services. For businesses, our firm provides 401(k) and 403(b) advice and employee education. We act as co-fiduciaries on each retirement plan we serve. Our team appreciates the trust our clients have placed in us. We are pleased Shawn, Al, Sarah and Daniel have received the 2021 Five Star Wealth Manager award and are honored to share it with you.

We are proud of our affiliation with Commonwealth Financial Network, the nation’s largest privately held Registered Investment Adviser and independent broker/dealer.

3 Executive Park Drive, Suite 205 • Bedford, NH 03110 Office: 603-627-1463 • Fax: 603-627-0663 info@fsrp.net • www.fsrp.net

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark, and the CFP® certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Financial Strategies Retirement Partners (FSRP) is a Registered Investment Adviser. Fixed insurance and financial planning services offered by FSRP are separate and unrelated to Commonwealth.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by Five Star Professional, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Award does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets.

The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to fivestarprofessional.com.

943 New Hampshire-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 96 (10% of candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers. 2020: 928 considered, 91 winners; 2019: 928 considered, 85 winners; 2018: 955 considered, 74 winners; 2017: 739 considered, 89 winners; 2016: 666 considered, 158 winners; 2015: 853 considered, 166 winners; 2014: 1,045 considered, 189 winners; 2013: 1,049 considered, 204 winners; 2012: 743 considered, 170 winners.

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WEALTH MANAGERS

Nichole D. Raftopoulos President, CFP®, CDFA™, AIF®, MPAS®

5

YEAR WINNER

Left to right: Mina Sullivan, Client Administrator; Justin Happ, Research Analyst; Daphne Lafazan, Associate Financial Consultant; Five-year winner Nichole Raftopoulos, President; Ashley White, Client Administrator; Joseph Alger, Research Analyst

Helping You and Your Family Build Financial Confidence, One Relationship at a Time Nvest is an independent financial boutique working with people just like you: diverse, financially established individuals, families and business owners who demand the highest quality of service and attention to detail in their personal financial matters. Nvest doesn’t take earning your business lightly.

Founded in 2003 by Nichole Raftopoulos, Nvest is the kind of financial planning firm she would recommend to her friends and family — and one she would personally use.

The firm’s mission is built around providing clients a holistic financial planning and investment process, practicing a true team-centric approach with every relationship.

Above all else, Nvest’s core values guide the team’s day-to-day activities, resulting in an experience unlike any other.

2017 – 2021 winner Nichole D. Raftopoulos Pease Tradeport Two International Drive, Suite 110 • Portsmouth, NH 03801 Phone: 207-985-8585 • Toll-free: 888-683-7834 info@nvestfinancial.com • www.nvestfinancial.com

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S. which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Financial Planning offered through Nvest Financial Group, LLC, a ME, NH & MA-Licensed Investment Adviser, are separate and unrelated to Commonwealth. Fixed insurance products and services offered through CES Insurance Agency.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by Five Star Professional, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Award does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets.

The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to fivestarprofessional.com.

943 New Hampshire-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 96 (10% of candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers. 2020: 928 considered, 91 winners; 2019: 928 considered, 85 winners; 2018: 955 considered, 74 winners; 2017: 739 considered, 89 winners; 2016: 666 considered, 158 winners; 2015: 853 considered, 166 winners; 2014: 1,045 considered, 189 winners; 2013: 1,049 considered, 204 winners; 2012: 743 considered, 170 winners.

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 3

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WEALTH MANAGERS

The Athanas Group at Morgan Stanley World-Class Resources • Lou Athanas Jr.: 2012 – 2021 Five Star Wealth Manager • 35 years of wealth management experience • Professional portfolio management services

10

• Individual retirement planning and retirement income solutions

YEAR WINNER

Left to right: Colby Athanas, Financial Advisor; 2012 – 2021 winner Lou Athanas Jr., First Vice President, Portfolio Management Director, Financial Advisor; Molly Muscari, Registered Client Service Associate

One Harbour Place, Suite 125 • Portsmouth, NH 03801 • Office: 603-422-8948 lou.athanas.jr@morganstanley.com • louis.c.athanas@morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/athanas-group

If you value the experience of a seasoned advisory team with access to the resources of Morgan Stanley and have a minimum of $500,000 of investable assets, please call for a confidential, no-obligation consultation to discuss strategies to help preserve and grow your capital.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers a wide array of brokerage and advisory services to its clients, each of which may create a different type of relationship with different obligations to you. Please visit us at http://www.morganstanleyindividual.com or consult with your Financial Advisor to understand these differences. ©2021 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC 3659748 07/21.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

Brophy Wealth Management, LLC Wealth Doesn’t Come with Instructions • Retirement planning • Investment management • Estate, charitable and legacy planning • Business needs

6

“Wealth does not come with instructions …”

YEAR WINNER

Left to right: Brian Grodman, CFP®, CRPC®, CFS™, ChFC®, CLU®, Senior Wealth Manager; Edward O’Grady, CFP®, Wealth Manager; 2020 – 2021 James S. Brophy, CFP®, CRPC®, CLU®, Wealth Manager; 2020 – 2021 Luke Trotochaud, CFP®, CRPC®, Wealth Manager; 2016 – 2021 Stephen A. Brophy, CFP®, CPA, ChFC®, PFS, MSFP, Senior Wealth Manager

Not only do these words ring true with many of our clients, but they are also the driving force behind our firm’s philosophy and commitment. With every interaction, Brophy Wealth Management, LLC seeks to provide clients with the knowledge and guidance to help them manage both their financial life and the emotions tied to wealth-related decisions.

We believe the trust of a financial advisor is earned not only through the performance of investments but also through the connection that occurs when we truly understand our clients’ goals, hopes, fears, insecurities and beliefs.

40 S River Road, Suite 15 • Bedford, NH 03110 • Phone: 603-668-2303 bwm@brophywealth.com • www.brophywealth.com

Brophy Wealth Management, LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor.

Certain representatives of Brophy Wealth Management, LLC are also Registered Representatives offering securities through APW Capital, Inc., Member FINRA/ SIPC.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by Five Star Professional, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Award does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets.

The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to fivestarprofessional.com.

943 New Hampshire-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 96 (10% of candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers. 2020: 928 considered, 91 winners; 2019: 928 considered, 85 winners; 2018: 955 considered, 74 winners; 2017: 739 considered, 89 winners; 2016: 666 considered, 158 winners; 2015: 853 considered, 166 winners; 2014: 1,045 considered, 189 winners; 2013: 1,049 considered, 204 winners; 2012: 743 considered, 170 winners.

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WEALTH MANAGERS Gregory S. Caulfield

Irina Andreasen

Financial Advisor, NMLS 2045716

Founder, MBA, LUTCF®

14 Country Club Road Gilford, NH 03249 Phone: 603-528-1390 gregory.s.caulfield@morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/ gregory.s.caulfield

2

Proud of the Long-Term Relationships I Have With My Clients

YEAR WINNER

• Financial advisor • First vice president • Senior portfolio manager

• Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM (CRPC®) • Financial planning specialist

For more than 30 years, I have been providing financial guidance that encompasses both sides of clients’ balance sheets and many aspects of their financial lives. I help clients invest wisely during their working years in an effort to create lasting income during retirement and review strategies for legacy planning. With my decades of experience, I have worked with clients through different market conditions, helping them achieve their goals and live the life they envisioned in retirement. I am a 2020 – 2021 Five Star Wealth Manager.

1 Liberty Lane E, Suite 106 Hampton, NH 03842 Phone: 603-758-1619 irina.andreasen@lpl.com www.andreasenfinancial.com

2

YEAR WINNER

Andreasen Financial, LLC is a fiduciary, fee-only asset management and financial advisory firm. What that means to you is that your financial success is our first and only consideration.

When it comes to personal finance, only one thing matters — your living standard. We specialize in creating and managing customized financial strategies that help you take the uncertainty out of pursuing your financial goals. We work with individual and business investors who appreciate transparent, volatility resistant, lower-cost portfolios that work to meet their specific objectives. Irina is a 2020 and 2021 Five Star Wealth Manager.

Morgan Stanley and its Financial Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals should seek advice based on their particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor. [CRC 3687610 07/21].

Investment Advisor Representatives offer investment advice through Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC, DBA Andreasen Financial, a registered investment advisor. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC, DBA Andreasen Financial, is a separate business not affiliated with LPL Financial. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. The LPL Financial Registered Representative associated with this ad may only discuss and/or transact securities business with residents of the following states: FL, MA, ME, NC, NH, NY, OH, and WA.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

Ethan C. Betts

Curtis W. Hermann

CLTC®, LUTCF®

First Vice President — Investments, CFP®, ADPA®, CSRIC™

900 Elm Street, Suite 700 Manchester, NH 03101 Phone: 603-625-6500 curtis.w.hermann@wfadvisors.com www.curtiswhermann.com

149 Water Street Exeter, NH 03833 Phone: 603-394-7880 ext. 6212 ebetts@baystatefinancial.com www.ethanbetts.com Guidance. Insight. Results.

• • • •

Your Financial Security Is Our First Priority

Resources of a large firm with the personal attention of a small practice Comprehensive and coordinated service, not just products Integrity, trust, professionalism and competency Team of specialists

Our team at Baystate Financial has substantial experience working with clients from across the financial spectrum. We think it’s important to understand our clients and for our clients to understand us. We look at your entire financial position, including your needs and what you want to achieve in life, before helping you plan how to get there. Then we guide you through a simple step-by-step process to create a financial plan just for you.

9

YEAR WINNER

Integrating Your Values, Vision and Wealth

• Sustainability and ESG investment strategies • 2012 – 2015 and 2017 – 2021 Five Star Wealth Manager Throughout his 20-year financial advising career, Curtis has been resolute in his belief that he is more than an advisor — he is a steward of his clients’ financial lives. Mindful stewardship is about helping clients prepare for both the financial and emotional aspects of their financial life. Blending financial strategies, investment management and wealth coaching, Curtis helps clients implement personally tailored solutions.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standard Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and the CFP® mark (with plaque design) in the U.S.

Investment and Insurance Products: NOT FDIC Insured / NO Bank Guarantee / MAY Lose Value

Registered Representative of and securities offered through MML Investors Services, LLC. Member SIPC (www.sipc.org) CRN202406-256188.

Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.[CAR-0821-00221].

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by Five Star Professional, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Award does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets.

The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to fivestarprofessional.com.

943 New Hampshire-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 96 (10% of candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers. 2020: 928 considered, 91 winners; 2019: 928 considered, 85 winners; 2018: 955 considered, 74 winners; 2017: 739 considered, 89 winners; 2016: 666 considered, 158 winners; 2015: 853 considered, 166 winners; 2014: 1,045 considered, 189 winners; 2013: 1,049 considered, 204 winners; 2012: 743 considered, 170 winners.

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WEALTH MANAGERS Jeffrey W. Keefe

Senior Financial Advisor, AIF®, Founding Principal

200 Marcy Street Portsmouth, NH 03801 Office: 603-766-8705 jkeefe@wholewealthmanagement.com www.wholewealthmanagement.com

9

Experience Financial Well-being

YEAR WINNER

• • • •

Fiduciary standard Comprehensive financial planning Investment management Tax efficient retirement income planning

At Whole Wealth Management, our only allegiance is to our clients and their financial well-being. As an independent financial advisor, we operate free of any corporate sales pressure or incentives. You can feel confident knowing that our advice is aligned with your best interest and tailored to meet your objectives in the most optimal way.

Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, member FINRA/ SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Advisory services offered through Whole Wealth Management, LLC are separate and unrelated to Commonwealth Financial Network.

“Wealth managers not only offer advice, but they also guide you through the process of managing your money and investing it for you.”

— Five Star award winner

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

Continued from FS-1

Wealth Managers

Scott L. Dudley · LPL Financial

Matthew R. Junkin · Baystate Financial

Steven W. Aiken · NH Trust

Eric M. Ellis · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Drew Dawson Kellner · Lumbard & Kellner

Colleen E. Farley · Robbins Farley

Robert James Kennelly · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Robert Anthony Bonfiglio · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Timothy C. Fitzbag · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Douglas Elliott Kerr · Investmark Advisory Group

Frederick Ackley Boucher · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Eric K. Folia · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Stephen Michael Lamoureux · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Elizabeth Ann Bowen · Morgan Stanley

Michael R. Fortier · Wells Fargo Advisors

Nancy Catherine Burt · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Joseph Christopher Gallant · Voya Financial Advisors

Andrew Peter Lane · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Ryan Joseph Callaghan · Harbor Group

Charles M. Beynon · Seacoast Financial Planning

Terence G. Mccormick · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC David Harold McLaughlin · Cetera Advisor Networks Seth Patrick McNally · Morgan Stanley Christopher Michalman · Integrated Wealth Concepts Scott A. Minichiello · Merrill Lynch

Robert Robbins · Robbins Farley Kimberley McKenna Robinson · Mascoma Wealth Management Andrew Marvin Rocco · Baystate Financial Michael Lewis Shearin · Morgan Stanley Joyce Maria Skaperdas · Granite Investment Advisors

Celeste M. Monaghan · Zelek & Associates

Mary V. Smith · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Jason Daniel Lawrence · LPL Financial

James M. O’Donoghue · Compass Rose Private Investment Management

Thomas Edward Space · Advisors Financial Planning Group

Thomas G. Goodwin · FL Putnam Investment Management

Norman S. Long · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Karen A. O’Donoghue · Compass Rose Private Investment Management

Wendell B. Stewart · Executive Financial Services

Torrey L. Greene · Lincoln Financial Securities

Stephen John Lozan · Oppenheimer & Co.

Patrick L. Curtin · Curtin Financial Services

John Ashmore Lumbard · Lumbard & Kellner

Joseph George Okeefe · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Dennis J. Tsakiris · Flight Financial Group

Travis N. Grieb · Centeras Private Wealth

Nicolas T. Curtis · Seacoast Financial Planning

Joseph Henry Guyton · The Guyton Group

Rae Michael MacWilliam · MacWilliam Financial Group

Edward S. Cotton · Edward Cotton Financial Services

James Raymond Dearden · Baystate Financial Richard John DeMarco Jr. · UBS

John Franklin Habig · Morgan Stanley Jon P. Harrison · Northeast Planning Associates

James T. Dimos · Advisory Resource Group

Edward John Hickey Jr. · Eagle Point Investment Advisors

Michael T. Dimos · Baystate Financial

Jared T. Hoole · Lakeside Financial Planning

Gary S. Dionne · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Michael Smoot Humphries · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Kristen Ann Madden · FL Putnam Investment Management Gregory Robert Mason · Mason Financial Group Jean Marie Mathieu · Legacy Financial Solutions Stephen Norman Mathieu · Legacy Financial Solutions

Cole R. Parlin · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Gary William Pelletier · Northeast Planning Associates Beth Anne Plentzas · Northeast Planning Associates

Gregory Michael Vallee · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Robert Lawrence Wofchuck · Ledgewood Wealth Advisors

Investment Professional Candice M. O’Neil · Hudkins and O’Neil PLLC

Erik M. Potts · Summit Wealth Group Ashley Lynn Reiter · Grove Street Fiduciary Andrea Anne Riley Arnesen · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by Five Star Professional, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Award does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets.

The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to fivestarprofessional.com.

943 New Hampshire-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 96 (10% of candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers. 2020: 928 considered, 91 winners; 2019: 928 considered, 85 winners; 2018: 955 considered, 74 winners; 2017: 739 considered, 89 winners; 2016: 666 considered, 158 winners; 2015: 853 considered, 166 winners; 2014: 1,045 considered, 189 winners; 2013: 1,049 considered, 204 winners; 2012: 743 considered, 170 winners. This year, we honored 1 New Hampshire-area investment professionals with the Five Star Investment Professional award.

F S - 6 — LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM

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Festivals & Fall Fun

Ed ito r’ s

October 2

Powder Keg Beer & Chili Festival > One of our favorite events is back this year, but be aware that it will look a little different than past festivals. This year’s event won’t include the chili contest, but it will still be one to remember, filled with great craft beer. At this 9-year-old festival, sample brews from more than 20 breweries and cideries during one of two two-hour sessions. $10-$35. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Swasey Parkway, Exeter. powderkegbeerfest.com New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event.

October 2

Apple Harvest Day > Pumpkins aren’t the only produce to show a bit of love to this month. Dover’s fall fest focuses on the season’s sweeter favorite, with a 300-strong crafter fair, live entertainment and plenty of eats, apple-themed and otherwise. Enjoy signature events like an apple pie contest and a 5K. Free. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., downtown Dover. (603) 742-2218; dovernh.org October 8-10

Milford Pumpkin Festival > Highlights of this annual festival and local favorite include a giant pumpkin weigh-in contest, a scarecrow-making tent and a midway full of carnival rides. Free. Times vary, Milford Oval, 1 Union Sq., Milford. (603) 249-0676; milfordpumpkinfestival.org October 8-10

73rd Annual Warner Fall Foliage Festival > Three days of events include a lineup of open-air concerts, street performers, food, amusement rides and more.

Free. Times vary, Main Street, Warner. wfff.org October 9

Somersworth Pumpkin Festival > For autumn fun without the chaos of the state’s largest festivals, try this low-key alternative. The festival’s smaller profile doesn’t mean they skimp on activities. Everything from hayrides and pumpkin putt-putt to a pumpkin pie-baking contest are on the schedule. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Somersworth Plaza, 2 Somersworth Plaza, Somersworth. (603) 692-5869; nhfestivals.org October 9

New Hampshire Brewfest > Held at Cisco Brewers in Portsmouth, this festival includes 5-ounce souvenir sampler cups, beer samples, live music and entertainment. It is also a special fundraiser for the Prescott Park Arts Festival in partnership with Master Brewers Association of Americas and WHEB’s “The Morning Buzz.” $20-$65, 12 p.m., Cisco Brewery, 35 Corporate Dr., Portsmouth. prescottpark.org

October 31

PHOTO BY KENDAL J. BUSH

Portsmouth Halloween Parade > Start practicing your monster mash because a great annual Halloween event is back. The Port City’s cult-favorite event turns 27 this year, and the costumes (and camaraderie) promise to be bigger and better than ever. Everyone is invited to dress up and meet at Peirce Island for this celebration of community and creativity. Free. 7 p.m., Peirce Island, Portsmouth portsmouthnhhalloweenparade.org; (603) 647-6439

October 16-17

New England & Jackson Invitational Pumpkin Carving Competition > The town of Jackson has always gone all out with their fall festivities — a monthlong Pumpkin People challenge, a two-week All Things Pumpkin fest — but this event is the one you can’t miss. More than a dozen teams will bring their gourd-carving prowess to this contest, so come ready to watch the artists’ two days of carving and to peep

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Miscellaneous

Ed ito r’ s

the finished products at the end of the weekend. Free.

Times vary, Jackson Village Park, Route 16A, Jackson.

(603) 383-9356; jacksonnh.com

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October 3

Colby Hill Inn Farm-to-Table Dinner & Fundraiser Celebrate 50 years of NOFA-NH and organic farming, gardening, and food in the Granite State with a delicious, local and organic-centered farm-to-table dinner. Attendees will mingle with old friends, meet new people, and share memories of NOFA through the years while enjoying a three-course meal at Colby Hill Inn during the height of the fall harvest and foliage season. $100. 4-8 p.m., Colby Hill Inn, 33 The Oaks, Henniker. nofanh.org October 9

October 9-11

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Lakes Region Parade of Homes > Stop gazing at your dream house from the highway and pay it an upclose-and-personal visit. On this self-guided tour, you

October 16

RiverFire > Celebrating the river that was once the lifeblood of Berlin, RiverFire lights the Androscoggin with bonfires that seem to float on its surface. The fires are atop the boom piers that line the river’s center, remnants of the great spring log drives that once filled the fast-flowing river with tossing timber to feed Berlin’s pulp mills. The best vantage point is the bridge, lined with glowing jack-o-lanterns. RiverFire is the climax of a day of family activities at Union Heritage Park, where there are hayrides, a bouncy house, a costume parade, live music and food. Free. Main St., Berlin. (603) 752-6060; androscogginvalleychamber.com/riverfire-festival can stop into any of the featured Lakes Region Builders and Remodelers Association homes to admire their craftsmanship, on-trend design and enviable interiors.

A navigation app for the tour means you won’t waste precious gas money getting lost between houses, and you’ll need the savings: You might just leave this event with a newfound resolve to remodel that guest bedroom. $20. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, Locations around the Lakes Region vary. (603) 387-1817; lakesregionparadeofhomes.com New Hampshire Magazine’s sister publication New Hampshire Home is a proud sponsor of this event.

October 9

October 9-10

White Mountain Oktoberfest > With festivities including pumpkin-painting, water-balloon-launching and a steincarry and keg-roll relay — plus, of course, plenty of beer and brats — this Granite State German fest may be the granddaddy of them all. It’s the perfect opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones during the weekend’s full lineup of activities and entertainment. Free. Loon Mountain Resort, 60 Loon Mountain Rd., Lincoln.

(800) 229-5666; loonmtn.com 92

nhmagazine.com | October 2021

NAMIWalks Your Way New Hampshire > NAMIWalks will be a virtually virtual experience, united with NAMIWalks across the country. NAMIWalks Your Way means, instead of putting one foot in front of the other, you get to put one feat in front of the other: You get to use your creativity, with the main rule that you help continue to advance toward their goal by leaps and bounds. Plan a craft with your kids, create a safe and socially distanced walk in your neighborhood, or do a 5K on the treadmill or stationary bike. Virtual. namiwalks.org October 14

New Hampshire Humanities Annual Celebration of the Humanities > The past year has shown us the value of human connection and the critical knowledge gained through the humanities — in our world and in our neighborhoods. Help New Hampshire Humanities continue to offer hundreds of programs that ignite conversation and open minds and hearts by inviting people to think, learn and connect with one another.

You can attend in person or virtually. In-person tickets are $75, virtual tickets are $50. 5 p.m. The Dana Center at Saint Anselm College, 100 St Anselm Dr., Manchester.

nhhumanities.org New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event.

October 14-24

“Veronica’s Room” > This chilling mystery thriller by the author of “Rosemary’s Baby” explores the thin line between fantasy and reality, madness and murder.

Students Susan and Larry find themselves as guests enticed to the Brabissant mansion by its dissolute caretakers the lonely Mackeys. Struck by Susan’s strong resemblance to Veronica Brabissant, long- dead daughter of the family for whom they work, the older couple gradually induce her to impersonate Veronica briefly to solace the only living Brabissant, her addled sister who believes Veronica alive. Once dressed in Veronica’s clothes, Susan finds herself locked in the role and locked in Veronica’s room. Or is she Veronica, in 1935, pretending to be an imaginary Susan? Prices and times vary, M&D at Eastern Slope Inn Playhouse, 2760 White Mountain Hwy., North Conway. (603) 733-5275; mdplayhouse.com October 21

Howie Mandel > Howie Mandel has remained a constant force in show business for more than 30 years. Mandel currently serves as executive producer and host of the game show “Deal or No Deal,” which returned with exciting, brand-new episodes in December 2018 on CNBC. Mandel has served as a judge for a decade on NBC’s hit summer talent competition series, “America’s Got Talent,” which premieres its 14th season in May. Mandel’s versatile career has encompassed virtually all aspects of the entertainment spectrum, including television, film and stage, and he continues to perform as many as 200 stand-up comedy shows each year throughout the U.S. and Canada. $64.50$74.50. 7:30 p.m., The Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester. (603) 668-5588; palacetheatre.org

COURTESY PHOTOS

Mount Sunapee Duck Drop > This new event is a part of the weekend fall festival and pig roast. Rubber ducks will be dropped from the chairlift, aimed at targets on Mount Sunapee. The afternoon is full of fun and prizes, including a chance to win $1 million.

Proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Hampshire. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; awards presented at 4:30 p.m. Mount Sunapee Resort, 1398 New Hampshire Rte. 103, Newbury. nhduckdrop.com New Hampshire Magazine’s sister publication New Hampshire Home is a proud sponsor of this event.

October 24

Glenn Miller Orchestra > The world-famous, 18-member ensemble will be playing many of the original Miller arrangements both from the civilian band and the AAFB libraries. Additionally, it will also be playing some more modern selections arranged and performed in the Miller style and sound. $40. 12 and 5:30 p.m., The Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry.

(603) 437-5100; tupelomusichall.com

Halloween October 8-31

Haunted Overload > This Granite State Halloween classic is back for another year of scares and haunts.

Winner of “The Great Halloween Fright Fight of 2014” on ABC, this frightful walk is one of the most creative and unique attractions in the world. Experience oneof-a-kind props, set designs, a real headless horseman, hundreds of lighted pumpkins, and monsters looming over the crowd, some as tall as 42 feet. The attention to detail is apparent if you do the nighttime haunt, and even if you walk through during the day with no actors.

Stop by and see what all the talk is about, and enter if you dare. $8-$28. Times vary, DeMeritt Hill Farm, Rte. 155, Lee. hauntedoverload.com October 16-17, 23-24 and 30-31

Children’s Trick-or-Treat > Charmingfare Farm’s trick-or-treat is perfect for little ghouls and boils who don’t want to be scared, but still want the excitement of wearing their favorite costumes for a Halloween adventure. $22. Times vary, Charmingfare Farm, 774 High St., Candia. (603) 483-5623; visitthefarm.com

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October 16-31

Railroad’s Pumpkin Patch > All aboard the “Pumpkin Patch Express.” Passengers are invited to get off the train and participate in pumpkin patch activities. Each child will be able to pick out his or her own pumpkin and enjoy games like the corn cob toss. Barrel car rides are included and costumes are encouraged. Prices and times vary., Conway Scenic Railroad, 38 Norcross Circle, North Conway. (603) 356-5251; conwayscenic.com October 16

The Runaway Pumpkin > This race offers views of the beautiful Lake Opechee. This annual event raises funds for the WOW Trail and Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction. Don’t miss this one. $10-$30.

9 a.m. to 8:45 p.m., Smith Track at Opechee Park, 879 North Main St., Laconia. (603) 630-4468; wowtrail.org/runawaypumpkin October 23

Halloween Town > Madison is turning itself into a Halloween town that has the vibes of the 1998 classic “Halloweentown.” Two hundred volunteers are coming together for the 12th annual event with the desire to offer kids the opportunity to enjoy walking around a “neighborhood” and visit houses trick-or-treat-style.

There will also be a kid carnival, petting farm, food court, hot-air balloon rides, entertainment and the incredible “trick-or-treat trail.” Free. 3-8 p.m., Camp Tohkomeupog, 2151 East Madison Rd., Madison. halloweentownnh.thelaurafoundation.org

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Find additional events at nhmagazine.com/ calendar. Submit events eight weeks in advance to Emily Heidt at eheidt@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. nhmagazine.com | October 2021 93

603 LIVING / HEALTH to occur 30% or more of the time.

Even though pregnancy loss is common, many people are completely taken by surprise when it happens to them. “It’s more common than people understand,” says Deborah Browne, M.D., an ob/gyn at Core Obstetrics & Gynecology in Exeter. Of course, it’s not something you want to think about, but “people frequently never envision that they could possibly have a loss,” she says.

Yet when women who experience pregnancy loss talk about it with friends and family, they often learn that women close to them — even their mothers and sisters — have also had lost pregnancies, says Isabel Brewster, C.N.M., a certified nurse midwife at Catholic Medical Center. “They are often shocked at how many people in their lives had pregnancy loss and they didn’t know about it,” she says.

The taboo about conversations about pregnancy loss, along with what is often only meager or tentative support from loved ones and acquaintances for grieving parents, can intensify trauma. Often, the expectant parents need to grieve as anyone would who has lost a child, Browne says, but many people outside of the expectant couple might have been unaware of the pregnancy, or they were aware but don’t know what to say in consolation so they “don’t say anything at all,” or they

What — and what not — to say to someone who experiences pregnancy loss

Ending Silence Stigma adds to the pain of pregnancy loss

BY KAREN A. JAMROG / ILLUSTRATION BY MADELINE McMAHON

P

regnancy can be a time of unbounded joy and hope, filled with dreams and expectations (and, yes, trepidation) about the future. When pregnancy abruptly ends in a miscarriage, or spontaneous loss of the fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy, it can spark a range of emotions, from tremendous grief to guilt, shame, and, for women, insecurity about their body. Stigma and a lack of support

94

nhmagazine.com | October 2021

Many well-intentioned people struggle with what to say — or they say the wrong things — to someone who is grieving a lost pregnancy. Telling the bereaved that “it’s for the best,” or “it’s God’s plan,” for example, is not helpful, says Deborah Browne, M.D., an ob/gyn at Core Obstetrics & Gynecology

often compound the emotional devastation of pregnancy loss.

Most often, pregnancy loss is caused by genetic abnormalities in the fetus, not by something the woman did or didn’t do.

The majority of pregnancy losses occur within the first three months of pregnancy and affect 10 to 20% of confirmed pregnancies. Including unconfirmed pregnancies, pregnancy loss is estimated

in Exeter.

However, while it’s OK to feel like you don’t know what to say, instead of remaining silent or avoiding the topic, offer your support. Check in with the person in the weeks and months following the loss. Let them know, Browne says, “‘If you need someone to talk to, I’m here for you.’”

Support after pregnancy loss The New Hampshire chapter of the TEARS Foundation (thetearsfoundation.org/ newhampshire) offers support groups and remembrance days for bereaved families, and this fall will unveil an “Angel of Hope” monument in Abbie Griffin Park in Merrimack where families can go to remember and honor babies lost due to miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death. It’s a meaningful service, Browne says, because “frequently, there’s no gravesite; there’s no place for these families to go … and remember their lost child.” think the loss “doesn’t seem to be that big a deal, so they say they’re sorry and then they forget about it,” Browne adds.

“To the rest of the world, it may not be so apparent why it’s so devastating,” Browne explains. “It wasn’t tangible; it wasn’t a baby that they held. It wasn’t a child that they saw.” Even family members don’t always appreciate the magnitude of the loss.

“Everyone expects [the bereaved couple] to go right back to work, to pick up the pieces and just move on,” Browne says. But for the people who experienced the loss, the grief might stretch on for a year or even longer.

They might have a remembrance on the

day that they would have delivered, Browne says, “while everyone else by that time has forgotten or never knew when the due date was.”

Certainly, the heartache for those who experience pregnancy loss can be profound. For many, as soon as they receive confirmation of a pregnancy, “it’s a baby,” Browne says. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a minute old or 28 weeks or later ... particularly when they start to daydream about what it’s like to have a baby and what that means and what their future’s going to look like.” Most often, she says, “that starts right away, so the loss, whether it’s six weeks or

eight weeks or 10 weeks, is devastating.”

Indeed, “it’s not just a loss of a pregnancy but a real loss of expectations and hopes and an imagined future,” Brewster says, “and I think people feel the loss of that really deeply as well as a loss of assurance or confidence in their body ... so you have a shifting relationship with your own body as well as with this imagined future.”

Fortunately, especially among healthcare providers, awareness seems to be growing that more support is needed for those who experience pregnancy loss. Many medical practitioners today teach coping skills and assure women that they shouldn’t blame themselves for the loss. At some New Hampshire hospitals, staff members send cards to bereaved couples at intervals throughout the year following the loss, Browne says, to remind the couples that help is available and “to let them know that ‘we didn’t forget about you.’” It’s important, she says, because pregnancy loss “is definitely more of a life-altering event than I think it’s given credit for.” NH

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nhmagazine.com | October 2021 95

603 LIVING

A Granite State Welcome We’re glad you’re here. We just might not tell you.

A

ccording to the number crunchers down at Atlas Van Lines, New Hampshire was the state with the fourth highest number of people moving into it last year. Apparently, they have a statistics department that tracks that kind of thing.

So, by way of greeting our newest neighbors, I say ... not a lot. We’re a welcoming sort, if sometimes a little less than loquacious. We’re not as gruff as Maine but not necessarily as huggy as Vermont. We can be helpful though, so here are a few tips to help you acclimate to your new home state.

First, don’t buy into stereotypes. While you should have your state-issued pickup truck and banjo by now, you can put them away. They’re just props to keep people from Massachusetts distracted. Also, I only know one guy with a cow.

Our form of governing can seem a little quirky. Our 400 state representatives are actually of us, which is great/terrifying.

The guy shouting gibberish at traffic is also the guy who cosplays as Mr. Smith Goes to Concord.

Oh, also, you’re probably going to be expected to hike. You don’t have to though.

They can’t make you.

Eventually, after we’ve gotten to know you a little, we will open up a little.

We’re not mute, just circumspect. Our state’s most famous orators are Daniel Webster (statesman) and Mike from Laconia (idiot).

You should probably know that there are phrases unique to New Hampshire that can be very colloquial. Practice these terms and idioms, and when winter comes, put on some shorts, go outside and try them out on your neighbors.

“What news of the Prussians?”

This is a way of saying, “Hey, friend, what’s new?” We all say it, all the time.

Actually, no. I made that up. I just think it’d be awesome if we did.

“Up country” According to anyone from

elsewhere, pretty much anything north of Nashua. It’s been scientifically agreed upon, however, that up country is actually Barrington. There will be no further questions.

“Down cellar” It’s not a basement, it’s a

cellar. It’s where we keep Grammy’s ceramic bean crock. And Grammy. In the crock.

“Tonic” This has faded from use for the most part, but there’s still a tonic aisle at Demoulas.

“Demoulas” What old people call Market Basket. Also, it’s where they keep the tonic.

“Beater” The car you drove when you were a bagger at Demoulas.

“Wicked” “Wicked” is a universal modifier that can be used in conjunction with almost anything to indicate veryness: wicked muggy, wicked good, wicked gassy (too much tonic).

Our friends on the wrong side of Salem may attempt to lay claim to this one, but they’d be wicked wrong. My wife’s college nickname at UNH was “Wicked Aim.” She’s a New Hampshire native, ergo, we get “wicked.” Proposal: We let Massachusetts keep “Dunks” to maintain the fragile peace along the border. No one calls it that anyway. It’d be wicked skeezy if they object.

Memorize these terms and before long you’ll be recognized as one of us. Or, you could just say nothing. NH

BY BILL BURKE / ILLUSTRATION BY BRAD FITZPATRICK 96

nhmagazine.com | October 2021

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