What’s Inside YOUR
Finding a home at Taylor means more than access to a stunning new cottage or apartment – it means receiving the keys to present and future peace of mind.
Taylor Community is located in the beautiful Lakes Region of New Hampshire with campus locations in Laconia, Wolfeboro, and Meredith. Whether you prefer an active lifestyle lled with tness classes and an extensive lineup of social and recreational opportunities, or would rather enjoy a ne dining experience with friends after a day spent by the lake... Taylor is the place for you!
Meals of Thanks is New Hampshire Magazine’s annual initiative honoring the incredible nurses and first responders who care for our communities every day.
In partnership with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care/Point 32 Health, Amoskeag Beverages, and New England’s Tap House Grille, the program provides fresh, locally sourced and prepared meals to those on the front lines, delivering more than 1,600 meals across the Granite State last year alone.
Funded in part by participating advertisers, this effort is a simple but meaningful way for the community to come together and say “thank you” to those who give so much, ensuring they feel appreciated, supported, and recognized for the vital work they do.
Together, we are Granite Strong!
Sponsored by:
CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND MEMBERS, BIG AND SMALL.
Principal Sponsor:
IN THIS ISSUE
46 Summer of Fun
Your favorite events are back! We've compiled a three-month calendar of the best things to do around the state this summer.
By Elisa Gonzales Verdi
58
In the Granite State, a revolution was born in the deep woods.
By Justin Shatwell
68 Excellence in Nursing
In partnership with the New Hampshire Nurses Association, we're proud to announce the winners of the ninth annual Excellence in Nursing Awards.
Photography by Jared Charney
PHOTO BY JOHN W. HESSION
Twenty acres of sunflowers await you at Sunfox Farm’s 7th annual Sunflower Bloom Festival. Discover more in our feature story, Summer Fun for Everyone.
INFORM
The Shoals Marine Lab turns 60 this summer. By Elisa Gonzales Verdi
In her new book, Victoria Arlen reveals her mental health struggles and how she learned to heal.
By Emily Heidt
CONNECT
Community gardens cultivate food and sense of belonging — connecting people to the land. By Kara McGrath
90
Champion lacrosse player and coach Dana Boyle has found success as a sportscaster.
By Lynne Snierson
94 Healthwise
The Missing Link in HRT? By Krysten Godfrey Maddocks
96 Live Free
Dad's Basic W’s of Car Repair: Safety First By Emily Reily
A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR
The heart of health care
We see the heart of health care in every nurse, technician and frontline professional. The work is demanding. The pace is relentless. The emotional weight is real. Yet day after day, they show up with steady hands, clear minds and compassion that never wavers.
At Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, we are deeply grateful for the health care workers across New Hampshire who help our communities live healthier lives every day. That’s why we’re honored to sponsor the 2026 Meals of Thanks program. Your resilience, empathy and commitment inspire us. Thank you for everything you give.
Kathryn Skouteris Vice President, Individual & Small Group Markets
President/Publisher Ernesto Burden 603-624-1442 x5117 ernestob@yankeepub.com
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© 2026 Yankee Publishing, Inc.
New Hampshire Magazine® is published by Yankee Publishing, Inc., 250 Commercial Street, Suite 4014, 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, Yankee Publishing, Inc.: New Hampshire Magazine disclaims all responsibility for omissions and errors. New Hampshire Magazine is published monthly, with the exception of February and April.
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PRINTED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
THURSDAY, JUNE 25 AT FLAG HILL DISTILLERY &
Talkin’ Bout a Revolution
NOTHING SCREAMS “INDEPENDENCE” like a bunch of musketwielding Patriots engaged in a bloody battle for freedom.
That image illustrates a story about the 250th anniversary of the founding of New Hampshire and the United States (page 58), but we featured the painting inside this issue rather than on the cover.
We also considered using a portrait of Gen. John Stark. With all due respect to New Hampshire’s Revolutionary War hero, “Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils” seemed a bit too heavy to kick off the summer season.
The cover we chose, an engraving that underscores the Granite State’s agricultural heritage, is rather tranquil. This is the idyllic countryside where European settlers created new traditions in a new world. Something worth fighting for.
Hoopla for our nation’s 250th birthday seems rather muted. Maybe that’s because while our democracy remains intact, it seems a bit wobbly right now. I recall a much greater sense of joy, pride and hope around the American Bicentennial. That may be fueled by nostalgia: I experienced it as a 12-year-old whose school visited the Freedom Train when it came to town in 1975.
The steam-powered locomotive featured 12 display cars hauling Americana artifacts, including George Washington's copy of the Constitution, Martin Luther King's pulpit and a rock from the moon. We explored the exhibit to the sound of Elton John’s “Philadelphia Freedom.”
And there’s nothing this time around that has captured our culture like the “Bicentennial Minute.” CBS produced the prime-time series for two years from July 4, 1974, through Dec. 31, 1976. Each mini-episode featured a historical fact or person connected to the birth of our nation, including one narrated by President Gerald Ford.
Our tribute to the 250th features a chronicle of early New Hampshire by Justin Shatwell, a selection of “Revolutionary Reads” about books written by New Hampshire authors and a short history of Gen. John Stark.
I should know more about Gen. Stark, but what I remember most about him is letting my high school friend DJ drive my older brother’s car after we met some girls at Happy Wheels roller rink in Manchester. I rode shotgun as DJ tried to impress the girls by doing doughnuts in a city park — named, of course, for our local hero and home to his final resting place.
While I’m forever grateful for the sacrifice of our founding fathers, they haunt me in a reoccurring dream. I’m delivering the Union Leader on the west side of Manchester, and at the end of my route, I have several newspapers left, and I have no idea whose houses I skipped.
The streets of my route included three named for the New Hampshire signers of the Declaration of Independence: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple and Matthew Thornton. Let freedom ring.
Public historian and computer programmer Justin Shatwell has been exploring New England's history and culture for 20 years. He wrote this month's feature story "Celebrating 250 Years of Independence."
Kara McGrath is a Keene-based writer who’s been reporting on many topics for over a decade. She wrote this month’s Connect section about community gardens around the state.
Assistant editor Elisa Gonzales Verdi compiled this month's "Summer Fun" calendar and Informer section about adventure on Appledore Island.
Photographer Jared Charney's work has appeared in numerous national and regional publications. He photographed this month's "Excellence in Nursing" winners.
Photo by Karen Bachelder
A Promise from the Yankee Publishing NH Group and its Brands
To our readers, listeners and advertisers,
As our industry increasingly wrestles with the best uses of artificial intelligence, we wanted to share how we’re approaching this new era. Human creativity and curiosity, reporting, writing and photography have always been the foundation of our brand and its publications and always will be. Our work is by humans, for humans, and it will remain that way as we continue to tell the stories of the Granite State. While generative AI tools may have highly specific-use cases to help make some of our work more efficient and accessible, they are not, and will never be, a replacement for human ingenuity and artistry.
Generative AI doesn’t create the stories you read in our print products, on our websites and on our podcasts.
Just as important: The strategies and creative services our brand provides to advertisers and other partners are always created by humans.
When you engage with any of our publications, know that you are experiencing the best of what we have to offer. And the “we” is important. All the names you see on our masthead? Those are the people who make our brand what it is, 24/7, 365 days a year, and all of whom have been with the team from four to more than 20 years. We eat, sleep, and breathe all things New Hampshire and are proud and honored to do so.
Thank you for helping us tell the stories of New Hampshire for 25 years. Here’s to the next 25 and beyond.
Live Free and Read Confidently.
Sincerely,
The staff of Yankee Publishing NH Group
Building Confidence on Two Wheels
Little Bellas take to the trails, nurturing strong young women
BY BRION O’CONNOR / PHOTOS BY WILL FREIHOFER
Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” — Author H.G. Wells
H. G. Wells’ well-worn quote might well be apocryphal, but even if true, he’s missing a significant slice of the population. Namely, kids. For the Little Bellas mountain-bike program, the focus is even more precise — young girls.
And those young girls give Meg Petroski, program leader for the Upper Valley NH chapter of Little Bellas in Lebanon, hope for the future.
“I believe deeply in programs that support women, especially from an impressionable young age,” says Petroski. “Little Bellas is unique in that it gets girls outside and focuses on fun over technical ability or competition.
“I’ve seen socially uncomfortable girls blossom as they find commonality with others in the group,” she says. “I’ve yet to see another program that can cater to such a wide variety of personalities, learning styles, backgrounds, and build a common, safe ground to learn and grow together.”
The brainstorm of Sabra Connell and several friends, Little Bellas launched in 2007, with 12 girls, in Williston, Vermont. The program formally became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
in 2014, and has grown steadily since.
Connell’s concept is elegant: Offer a noncompetitive program that introduces young girls, ages 7 to 17, to mountain biking in a supportive, safe environment, using the mountain bike as the vehicle to cultivate self-assurance and resourcefulness while promoting healthy body awareness.
Little Bellas mentors “model strong bonds and build camaraderie for girls on bikes. Besides biking skills, we teach positivity, resilience and confidence,” states the organization’s website.
Now 40, and the mother of a daughter, Connell says she focused on girls because boys often dominate co-ed situations.
According to the Little Bellas 2025 Impact Report, only 28 percent of girls ages 3 to 17 rode a bike last year, compared to 41 percent of boys in the same age group. Connell wanted girls to have their own space to flourish.
Further, between the years of 2017 and 2023, the percentage of 5th grade girls who spent six or more hours daily on social media rose from 9 percent to 46 percent. The statistic is alarming, since increased social media time correlates with lower confidence levels, states the ROX (Ruling Our Experience) Institute for Research and Training.
That’s a key reason why Petroski became a mentor.
“The girls are freer in the woods on two wheels,” Petroski says. “Their thoughts are less filtered, their questions more honest, their reactions more authentic. It’s also an easy place to ditch screens (cell phones, computers, etc.) and focus on connecting with the people and world around you.”
Sara Cavin, another program leader with the Upper Valley chapter, agreed, saying mountain biking “can be tough but also very rewarding.”
“Little Bellas gives girls a chance to support each other in a judgement-free space,” Cavin says. “The program really seems to strike the right balance for meeting each girl wherever they happen to be and helps them grow from there.
Upper Valley Little Bellas participant Tess Palm of Norwich, Vermont,, flashes a peace sign before a summer session in Lebanon, NH.
Top: Lauren Staggs of Norwich, Vermont, gets rolling during a summer session in Lebanon, NH. Bottom: Upper Valley Little Bellas pro ambassadors, from left, Julia Kern, Katharine Ogden, Sophie Caldwell, Laura Jorgensen (mentor), Sarah True, and Ida Sargent chat with their young charges during a chapter session in Lebanon, NH.
“Every little achievement that these girls make on mountain bikes represents so much more than just a little bit more skill or experience,” she says. “At the ages of Little Bellas, bike skills only build. They can’t be taken away or lost. Gaining confidence on a mountain bike and gaining confidence with your whole self just go together really seamlessly.”
The model has succeeded brilliantly. Little Bellas has hosted close to 15,000 riders to date (with many former participants returning as mentors). In 2025, Little Bellas held 92 programs across 24 states.
The multi-week sessions are divided into different groups to accommodate different ages and ability levels, and cost roughly $200. However, inability to pay is never a deterrent, and financial assistance is available. The program also offers bikes and helmets for participants who need them. The idea, says Connell, is to remove any barriers to access at a time when cycling among children and teenagers is declining.
Though mountain biking can be intimidating to newcomers, Connell emphasizes that mentors are trained to make the experience welcoming.
“I can think of a number of minivans that I’ve sat in, and coaxed kids out of the car,” she says. “It's just fear of unknown. They don't know what’s coming. They don’t know if they'll have an advocate. You literally have to get in the car and build trust. And that is totally fine. That's where it begins.” NH
The Upper Valley NH chapter Little Bellas sessions run from early July through August. For details, visit littlebellas.org.
Spot FOUR newts like the one here, hidden on ads in this issue, tell us where you found them and you might win a gift certificate for $50 to use at The Common Man Restau rants. Each month’s gift card will be different, which adds to the overall Newt fun. Let the hunt begin!
To enter our drawing for Spot the Newt, visit spotthenewt.com and fill out the online form. Or, send answers plus your name, email address and mailing address to: Spot the Newt c/o New Hampshire Magazine 250 Commercial St., Suite 4014 Manchester, NH 03101
You can also email them to newt@nhmagazine.com.
Last month’s “Spot the Newt” winner is Geraldine Haley of Nashua. May issue newts were on pages 3, 7, 29 and 43.
Up and Coming Newmarket weaves rich history, modern vibrancy, as it reaches tricentennial in 2027
STORY & PHOTOS BY RICK FABRIZIO / ILLUSTRATION BY PETER & ISLA NOONAN
Newmarket has been called “up and coming” in recent years, but longtime residents say this town of nearly 10,000 people has always been a special place.
Newmarket packs a lot into just 14 square miles. There is a food market and butcher shop, a hardware store, a brewery, scores of local restaurants, coffee shops, churches, a health care clinic, dental and eye care practices, barber shops and hair salons, the venerable Stone Church Music Club, the historic Rockingham Ballroom, a 9-hole golf course and even a bowling alley.
Tucked along Great Bay’s western shore, Newmarket’s rich history dates to settlement in 1638 and incorporation in 1727. Early settlers were largely English who were soon joined by French Canadians, then Polish, Italians, and later Laotians and Cambodians in the late 20th century.
Seacoast musician Jon Nolan grew up just over the town line in Durham but thought of Newmarket as his hometown before moving here in 1998. He purchased a home with his wife, Laura, and they raised three children in town.
“A lot of people talk about great places to raise a family. Newmarket is one of those places,” Nolan said. “We have raised our children with friends and acquaintances, and we have a sense of who is helping us raise our children. It takes a village in that sense.”
Nolan praised the town’s diversity.
“It’s always been a place where the saltwater meets the fresh. The river meets the bay where different tides come together,” he said. “There are people who have been here for hundreds of years and younger UNH students and young professionals looking for a place to live. At the center
has always been an ever more diverse group of people at the heart of the town.”
Resident Suki Casanave helped organize the annual Heritage Festival, which ran from about 1998 to 2015. The festival grew out of a thesis project by the late Michael Provost, a beloved town historian. It was sponsored by the nonprofit Newmarket Main Street Corporation. Casanave, a corporation member, said the Seacoast’s “favorite international block party” brought people together to celebrate Newmarket’s diverse roots as a mill town.
“The town continues to evolve,” she said, “thanks to volunteers old and new who recognize Newmarket’s special character and are committed to nurturing the same sense of community the Heritage Festival celebrated for so many years.”
The Newmarket Historical Society, with its 1841 Stone School Museum, has shared the town’s history since 1966. The museum’s eclectic local artifacts represent the town’s changing eras, and its president, John Carmichael, said programming melds the past and present.
Among the many offerings is a walking tour of Newmarket’s historical sites, education programs and the recently published
book, “Newmarket Stories,” a collection of memories “As told by 35 Townsfolk.” The Santa Pub Crawl, with attendees strolling through downtown in holiday garb, is one of the Society’s biggest fundraisers with 140 attendees in 2025. This year’s Crawl is Saturday, Dec. 12.
Kris Carmichael, John’s wife, highlighted the Riverside Cemetery Reveal, which brings local history to life with monologues performed by volunteers over the graves of residents. “Many of those featured have never had their names mentioned. That’s local history,” Kris said.
The Stone Church stands atop Zion Hill adjacent the Stone School Museum. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it has hosted rising superstars such as Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt and Phish. It’s a cherished ground for countless Seacoast bands including Jon Nolan’s band Say Zuzu. Current owners Jack O’Sullivan and Stephan Francescone are extending its legacy as the oldest continuously operated music venue in New England.
The pair’s numerous improvements include an expanded outdoor patio that will host the new Summer Patio Series with free shows on Thursday and Friday from June to September before the main shows start
Realtors Jen Russell and Kate Foss, of Foss & Russell Group at BHHS Verani, stand on the bridge near the Macallen Dam. Both have lived in Newmarket for 26 years and together have sold 346 homes in town totaling over $126 million.
Musician and resident Jon Nolan, seen along Main Street in downtown Newmarket, praises the town’s sense of community.
inside. The series is part of the owners’ goal to see the Stone Church help cultivate a new generation of musicians. O’Sullivan, a Newmarket resident since 2000 and his college days, understands the venue’s importance.
“Society is high when enriched with art,” he said. “It’s a duty in general to own the Stone Church.”
Newmarket’s granite block and stone mills have defined the town since 1823, when the Newmarket Manufacturing Company built its first factory along the Lamprey River.
Harnessing the river’s hydro power, the mills churned out textiles for over 100 years, at their peak employing 700 people. The local textile industry would fade, though, and the factories were abandoned in the 1930s.
The town soon saw a resurgence as shoe companies saw an opportunity to employ Newmarket’s industrious residents. While that era would also end, the town was left with a cherished legacy. The iconic Timberland boot was launched here in 1973. The “Timbs” are memorialized with a monument, part of the Newmarket Main Street Corporation’s Historic Plaque Project, that includes markers on 20 downtown buildings, with more to come.
The sturdy mills of granite have stood the
Jack O’Sullivan and Stephan Francescone, co-owners of the Stone Church Music Club, enjoy the patio outside the venue, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Newmarket Town Manager Steve Fournier stands in front of the downtown mural that is part of the community’s continued work to accentuate the town’s history of arts and culture.
John Carmichael, president of the Newmarket Historical Society, steps outside the 1841 Stone School Museum. The Society has collected and shared the town’s history since 1966.
test of time for over 200 years. Redeveloped by Chinburg Properties beginning with the Bryant Rock buildings in the early 2000s, they have given the town a new life with townhouses, condos, apartments, restaurants, commercial businesses and community spaces. The Chinburgs chose the mills for their headquarters, which includes 160 employees.
Jen Chinburg, executive vice president of corporate development & brand, said the company, led by her husband, owner and CEO Eric Chinburg, recognized the town had a vision that they could facilitate and enhance.
“The natural beauty on the Lamprey River and the quaint New England downtown existed, but it would take quite a few years for all the pieces of the puzzle to come together and become what it is today,” Jen said.
The stone mills include 112 loft, one- and two-bedroom apartments that spurred the opening of new restaurants and shops. Jen said the “live, work, play” model was critical.
“We were committed to the idea of the connection to the downtown and also that residents could spend a whole day without getting into their cars, from yoga, to coffee to restaurants, to kayaking on the Lamprey River, and especially the Newberry Farms
Dave Legault, a member of the Newmarket Main Street Corporation, stands near the monument noting the birthplace of Timberland’s iconic boot. The “Timbs” monument is part of the corporation’s Historic Plaque Project that includes markers on 20 downtown buildings with more to come.
Jen and Eric Chinburg stand atop one of the mills in downtown Newmarket that was redeveloped by Chinburg Properties into a mixed-use site of townhouses, condos, apartments, restaurants, commercial businesses and community spaces.
Market, to be able to have all their needs met without having to get in their car and drive to other places.”
Outdoor recreation abounds with kayaking and boating upriver from the Macallen Dam and downriver to Great Bay. Fishing holes dot the town for both warm and winter months. There are hiking trails throughout as well as the Rockingham Recreational Trail where people can walk, mountain bike and snowmobile when the snow flies. Town Manager Steve Fournier says everywhere in town is within a quarter-mile of a trail, kayak launch or park.
Realtors Jen Russell and Kate Foss, of the Foss & Russell Group at BHHS Verani, have both lived in Newmarket for 26 years.
“There are people who have been here for hundreds of years and younger UNH students and young professionals looking for a place to live.”
— JON NOLAN
They say: “It’s not just where we work — it’s where we live, raise our families and stay deeply connected to the community.” The duo has sold 346 homes in Newmarket totaling over $126 million.
“One of the things we say all the time is that most of our clients who move to Newmarket never leave,” they said. “There’s something special about this town. The community is warm, welcoming and genuinely supportive and people feel that the moment they arrive.”
Fournier says investing in housing and infrastructure is essential to continued vibrancy.
“Our success depends on offering homes that people can afford,” he said. “Without attracting new residents, we risk stagnation. It’s also vital to ensure our roads and utilities can support those homes. It is important not only to support economic development, but to ensure that such growth preserves the character of Newmarket.” NH
meet
1 Lake Winnipesaukee Drive
Durham, NH
Magical Sky
“This pasture is across the street from our home in Henniker, and it belongs to a farm on our road. My family gets a front row seat to the beautiful sky each day. This particular sky was a summer thunderstorm rolling through after dinner, with the sun gifting us a rainbow at its conclusion.”
PHOTO BY LAURIE LAPORTE
New England Classics
Put your summer staples to good use in a variety of dishes
RECIPES BY
AMY TRAVERSO
Clam chowder, beans, cider doughnuts — all the perfect New England, and New Hampshire, summer flavors that celebrate our state and the season. Yankee Magazine Senior Food Editor Amy Traverso and the Yankee Magazine team created the following recipes to reflect the historic nature of the region in taste and tradition. Check out newengland.com for more classics from appetizers to dessert to dip your spoons and spatulas into!
New England Clam Chowder
Makes 8 to 10 servings
Homemade clam chowder is one of those recipes that every New Englander with a stove and even a mild interest in cooking should master. Fortunately, it’s one of the easiest dishes to make.
Ingredients
3 strips thick-cut bacon
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large onion, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 rib celery, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 bay leaves
2 medium-size white potatoes, peeled and cut into ¼-inch cubes
Instructions
½ cup all-purpose flour
4 cups bottled clam juice, divided
1 pound chopped fresh clam meat, with juices
Kosher salt to taste
3 cups light cream
1 teaspoon white pepper
Set a 4- to 6-quart pot over medium-low heat. Add the bacon and cook, turning occasionally, until crisp, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the bacon, leaving the fat in the pot, and crumble into small pieces; set aside.
Add the butter, onion, celery, thyme and bay leaves to the pot. Cook, stirring often, until onions are tender and translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Return the bacon to the pot and stir. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, while you prepare the potatoes.
In a 2- to 3-quart pot on high heat, boil the diced potatoes in salted water until tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Turning back to the onion/bacon mixture, increase the heat to medium-low.
Add the flour gradually, stirring continuously, until a thick paste forms. Stir and cook 5 minutes.
Increase the heat to medium and slowly add the bottled clam juice, 1 cup at a time, incorporating it into the mixture before adding more.
Increase the heat to medium-high and add the potatoes and clam meat with its juices. Keep stirring 5 minutes, until the clams are tender.
Add the cream slowly; then stir in the white pepper.
Discard the bay leaves before serving. Serve hot.
Cider Doughnut Muffins Makes 12
muffins
These fantastic cider doughnut muffins pack all the flavor of apple cider doughnuts without the fuss and the frying. Yum!
Muffin Ingredients
2 cups sweet apple cider
½ cup unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pan
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
1¼ teaspoons ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon table salt
Topping Ingredients
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
4 tablespoons salted butter, melted
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375° and set a rack to the middle position. Lightly grease a standard 12-cup muffin pan and set aside.
Put the apple cider in a large saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer until the liquid is reduced to 1 cup. Set aside to cool.
Using a standing or handheld mixer, cream the butter with the sugar in a large bowl at medium speed until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, blending well after each. Add the vanilla extract and blend.
In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the flour, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add a third of this mixture to the butter mixture and beat just to combine. Add half the reduced cider and beat to combine. Repeat with another third of the flour mixture, then the rest of the cider, then the remaining flour mixture. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups and transfer to the oven. Bake until tops are firm and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 17 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool 10 minutes.
Instructions
Now, prepare the topping: In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon. As soon as the muffins are cool enough to handle, brush their tops and sides with butter, then roll in the cinnamon sugar to coat. Serve warm or at room temperature.
PHOTO BY CARL TREMBLAY / STYLING BY CATRINE KELTY
Boston Style Baked Beans Makes 8 servings
Ingredients
1 pound (2 cups) dried navy beans
½ pound salt pork or bacon, chopped, divided
⅓ cup granulated sugar
⅔ cup dark molasses
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
1 teaspoon table salt
Instructions
Soak beans overnight in cold water. When you’re ready to cook, place beans in a heavy saucepan; fill with water to cover by about a half inch. Boil 25-30 minutes, until just tender; don’t overcook. (Pick up a bean between thumb and forefinger and pinch; the outer shell should slip off.) Drain and rinse, reserving the liquid.
Preheat oven to 400°. Place half the salt pork in the bottom of a large ovenproof pot. Add beans, sugar, molasses, dry mustard, white pepper, salt and reserved liquid. Top with remaining salt pork. Cover and bake 4 to 4½ hours. Stir occasionally and add more water as needed. Let beans rest 30 minutes before serving.
New England Boiled Dinner Makes 8 servings
Ingredients
4 pounds corned beef
15 peppercorns
8 whole garlic cloves
1 bay leaf
1 head cabbage, cut into 8 wedge-shaped pieces
Instructions
8 small beets
2 turnips, cut into pieces
16 small new potatoes, peeled
16 baby carrots
8 small white onions
Cover beef with water and simmer 10 minutes, covered, in a large kettle. Skim off and discard the residue that forms on top of water. Add peppercorns, cloves and bay leaf. Cover and simmer 3 hours or until meat is tender.
Put beets in separate pan with a little water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 30 minutes.
Add turnips, potatoes, carrots and onions to kettle with meat. Simmer, covered, 15 minutes longer.
Add cabbage and cook, covered, 15 minutes more.
Remove meat, cut into serving pieces and place on platter surrounded with well-drained vegetables.
Serve with Irish soda bread.
Summer Sipperၳ
Peach Daiquiri
Ingredients:
1 part DeKuyper® Peachtree Schnapps Liqueur
1 part Cruzan® Aged Light Rum
½ part simple syrup
Juice of 1 lime
Lime wheel, for garnish
Combine all ingredients into an ice-filled shaker and shake until well chilled. Strain into a cocktail glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wheel. Add peach slices or a fresh mint sprig.
Old Fashioned
Ingredients:
2 parts Knob Creek® Bourbon Whiskey ¼ parts Rich Demerara simple syrup (2:1)
3 dashes Angostura® bitters Orange peel, for garnish
Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Stir 10-15 seconds until well chilled. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice. Express oils of orange peel and place in drink for garnish.
Everblooming Fizz
Ingredients:
2 parts Haku® Japanese Vodka
½ part elderflower liqueur
½ part agave nectar
½ part lime juice
Fresh cilantro and cucumbers
Splash of premium soda water
Fresh cilantro and cucumber for garnish
In a cocktail shaker, muddle 3 thin slices of fresh cucumber and 2 sprigs of cilantro. Add all ingredients besides soda water, shake and strain into an ice-filled glass. Top with soda water and stir gently. Garnish with a sprig of cilantro wrapped with a thin slice of fresh cucumber.
COCKTAIL RECIPES
Pineapple Smash Kentucky Sunrise
Ingredients:
2 parts Basil Hayden® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
½ part simple syrup
2 dashes Angostura® bitters
2 pineapple cubes
3 lemon wedges
2 mint sprigs
Mint sprigs, for garnish
Add pineapple, lemon wedges and one sprig of mint in a cocktail shaker and muddle. Add all remaining ingredients and ice to the cocktail shaker. Shake and double strain into a rocks glass with one large ice cube and garnish with mint.
Ingredients:
1 part Jim Beam® White Bourbon
½ part grenadine
3 parts orange juice
Sliced oranges, for garnish
Build in order over ice in a highball glass. Float the grenadine. Garnish with the orange slices.
Feeling Spicy
Ingredients:
2 parts Hornitos® Plata
½ part agave syrup
¾ part pineapple juice
1 part fresh squeezed lime juice
2-3 jalapeno slices
Pineapple fronds and lime wedge, for garnish; chili salt, for rim
Place jalapeno and agave syrup in a cocktail shaker and gently muddle. Add the rest of the ingredients with ice, shake, and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with pineapple fronds, lime wedge, and chili salt rim.
FUN
New Hampshire’s attractions, beaches, wineries, galleries and more are ready to welcome you for an epic season of warm-weather excitement. The following advertisers are a great resource for starting your summer plans.
You will still find our hilltop hideaway at the end of the winding dirt road. Lighten your spirit as you step out of your world and into ours.
Welcome to Pickity Place. Have a Pickity Day!
ASK THE
Experts
We reached out to two of our local higher education institutions to learn how New Hampshire schools are making higher education more accessible, more affordable and allowing residents to pursue new opportunities ... and their dreams. Affordable, quality higher education is within reach.
The Granite State is home to a number of excellent institutions that meet the needs of a broad range of students. Read on to learn about how to begin (or continue) your academic journey.
St. Joseph School of Nursing |
Q What are the benefits of having the School of Nursing on campus at the hospital?
A Having the St. Joseph School of Nursing located directly on the hospital campus offers significant benefits for both the organization and the community it serves. Most importantly, it allows us to build a strong, sustainable pipeline for well-prepared nurses. Students receive hands-on clinical training in our environment, become familiar with our culture, workflows, and expectations, and are therefore more likely to transition into permanent roles after graduation.
This close connection also creates valuable opportunities for our current staff. By integrating academic and clinical education, we can better support professional growth, continuing education, and career advancement, which in turn improves staff engagement and retention. Collaboration between academic faculty and our clinical education team ensures alignment in training and keeps evidence-based practice at the forefront of patient care.
In recent years, we have expanded our School of
Nursing to include programs such as Licensed Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy, Medical Assistant, and most recently, a Paramedic Program. These additions strengthen our ability to develop a well-rounded, interdisciplinary workforce. We continue to evaluate the needs of our community for additional programs to support the evolving healthcare demands of our region.
St. Joseph Hospital and St. Joseph School of Nursing work hand-in-hand to educate and prepare future healthcare professionals right here on our campus. The St. Joseph School of Nursing is located at 5 Woodward Avenue in Nashua, and more information can be found at www.sjson.edu.
– Michelle J. Proulx MSN, BSN, RN NEA-BC, CNML Vice President Patient Care Services/ Chief Nursing Officer
St. Joseph Hospital
New Hampshire’s Community Colleges
Q What should students and parents be thinking about beyond rankings and tuition when evaluating post-secondary options?
A It sounds simple, but is too o en overlooked: What will work best for you? e term “selective” used to refer to the institutions, but now it could as easily refer to students and families who can be selective in deciding what’s right for them. What will position you for success? How long do you want it to take? Are you willing to go into debt?
Q What bene ts do New Hampshire’s community colleges o er students?
A Small classes. e exibility to go at your own pace. Programs aligned with needs and opportunities in the job market. A high-quality education at an a ordable cost. Faculty who will know you and care about you. Whenever we speak to graduates, they mention faculty members by name who took the time to understand their goals and help them to be successful.
Q What advice would you give to adults considering returning to school or pursuing additional credentials later in life?
A It’s never too late to reinvent yourself. We see returning students of all ages pivoting from careers that no longer serve them well, into elds that inspire them every day. New Hampshire’s community colleges o er more than 200 programs, from degrees and certi cates to short-term workforce training. ere is a program to meet nearly every interest. Ask yourself — why wouldn’t I start something more ful lling and valuable for my future?
Experience for yourself all that our colleges have to offer, with a variety of programs to explore at seven colleges and 10 locations all across the state. From accounting to welding, biotech to visual arts, there’s a program to meet every interest. Cho ose C ommun ity.com
CHOOSE COMMUNITY
Where innovation meets impact
Celebrating nurses every day.
chhs.unh.edu/nursing
Appledore Adventure
The Shoals Marine Lab turns 60 this summer
BY ELISA GONZALES VERDI / PHOTOS COURTESY SHOALS MARINE LAB
Asmall chain of islands dots the horizon as you stand on the Rye coast looking out onto the vast sea. From the shore, you wouldn’t be able to tell that there’s much going on out there. But get a little closer and you’ll see that the Isles of Shoals come alive every summer.
One island, Appledore, is home to two iconic landmarks — the Celia Thaxter Garden and the Shoals Marine Laboratory, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The Marine Lab is jointly run by the University of New Hampshire and Cornell University.
Every year, undergraduate students from both schools and community members have the opportunity to live and learn on the island while participating in summer programs. Between students, artists and garden enthusiasts, the island is a hub of activity and acts as an annual homing beacon for creatives and scientists alike. There’s just something
about the island that keeps people coming back year after year.
“It’s the community,” said Shoals Marine Lab Executive Director Sara Morris, a Cornell alum who has come to Appledore every summer since 1990. “There’s a specialness to the island, and a wildness.”
Typically, the island is home to about 80 people at any given time, between program participants, staff and volunteers. Meals are a community event, where everyone on the island gathers to enjoy delicious fresh food and each other’s company in the dining hall.
On Mondays, when new people arrive to Appledore, everyone already on the island forms a fire line to unload their luggage from the boat. The process is repeated on Wednesday, when another boat arrives with food. The isolation of being on Appledore, even if it’s only for a week, creates a closeknit community among islanders.
A group of students aboard the R/V John M Kingsbury, one of the Shoals Marine Laboratory’s boats, in 2014.
An aerial view of the Shoals Marine Laboratory on Appledore Island highlights the lab’s sustainability efforts, which include solar panels and a wind turbine in this view.
“We really understand that we are there and part of this community that relies on one another,” Morris said. “Even in this digital age, people will sit and watch the sunset. That sense of community rebuilds every summer and essentially every week throughout the summer. Even now, 60 years later, that is part of the specialness of the island.”
That “specialness” is felt by anyone who’s spent time on Appledore.
“You can do the best teaching (here),” said Professor Jessica Bolker, who has taught at the lab every summer for the last 18 years. “It’s individual and interactive, and the students get hands-on, real experience learning how to do their own science, which sets them up for success.”
Most of the Marine Lab’s programs are geared toward UNH and Cornell undergrads and incoming freshmen, like Bolker’s Marine Immersion class. As the summer winds down, public programming begins with art programs like the popular Seascapes and Landscapes class, photography classes, Celia Thaxter Garden tours, high school overnight trips and more.
“The SML is a marvelous environment,” said Bill Paarlberg, one of last summer’s Artists in Residence who taught the Seascapes and Landscapes class.
He agreed that there was something special about the island, and for him it’s the diversity of the community and the minds the island brings together.
“At lunch, you’re surrounded by people,” Paarlberg said. “There are random Ph.D.s, and you get to talk about the oatmeal or the news of the day. (There are) brilliant minds, and it’s incredibly stimulating.”
While there is no specific anniversary event planned for this summer (there was a Marine Lab “alumni” reunion held in the fall where everyone who has participated in any program was invited to Appledore to celebrate), the lab will be rolling out two new programs that celebrate all they have to offer.
The first is the Sustainability Tour, a walking tour of the island’s remarkable sustainable practices.
“We work entirely on solar,” Morris said. “And we’re able to balance production of water with usage of electricity.”
Last year, the lab’s generators, which are run using solar power with diesel as a backup, only used 170 gallons of diesel for the entire four-month season, compared to the
In the 1800s, Appledore Island was a major tourist destination.
An early group of students from 1969 exploring the tide pool and its ecosystems.
Human chains are a way of life to help carry everything on and off Appledore Island including food and supplies.
The garden of writer and poet Celia Thaxter is bursting with color from bright blooming poppies, Thaxter’s favorite.
This cottage on Appledore Island is where writer Celia Thaxter would hold salons, which attracted and inspired many well-known artists, musicians and writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Nathaniel Hawthorne and impressionist painter Childe Hassam.
Clockwise from top left:
pre-solar days in 2007, where the generators ran the island on 9,361 gallons of diesel.
They’ve even been able to reduce the amount of water the bathrooms need, from about 1½ gallons to 6 ounces.
“Our hope (with the walking tour) is that people take some of what we talk about back to the mainland,” Morris said. “We’ve seen that our very explicit discussion of conservation of water … is something that many of our students take back to their own personal lives, and see how individual actions can have collective results.”
Morris is particularly excited about the second new program, the Taste of Appledore. In this two-day program, participants will learn about the island’s sustainability efforts, tour the Celia Thaxter Garden, learn about the migration research at the lab, go fishing with Cornell faculty (and fillet what they catch), stargaze with John Gianforte, the director of the UNH Observatory, enjoy meals prepared by chefs Sam Hayward (who got his start by cooking on Appledore) and Black Trumpet owner Evan Mallett, and much more. The program is essentially a charcuterie board of the marine lab.
Going into this milestone year, Morris really wants to give the community the opportunity to experience the magic of the island.
“The best part of the year is being able to share the island with people who have never seen it before,” Morris said. “There’s so much excitement. I literally started a countdown timer when we moved out last September for when we move back this year. It’s absolutely infectious and wonderful.” NH
For more information on the Shoals Marine Lab, visit shoalsmarinelaboratory.org
Marine science students learn about hagfish.
Steel Chef Challenge brings the heat Restaurant pros showcase skills in Food Bank fundraiser
OnMonday, March 16, 2026, the New Hampshire Food Bank held its 10th annual Steel Chef Challenge at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown featuring celebrity chef, Robert Irvine, and WMUR’s Erin Fehlau as hosts.
Attendees enjoyed a seated dinner curated by Irvine and his team as four local chefs — Brian MacKenzie (The Refinery), Amanda Velazquez (Harper’s Eden Catering), Brooke Audley (BankNH Pavillion) and Jonathan Vazquez (Otis Restaurant) — competed live. With just 20 minutes on the clock and surprise ingredients, these chefs put their experience and skills to the ultimate test. In the end, Vazquez was named the next winner of the Steel Chef Challenge.
However, the excitement didn’t stop there. In honor of the event’s 10th anniversary, Vazquez went on to compete in a second round against former Steel Chef competitors Chris Viaud (The Lake Estate), Lee Frank (Otis and Lee Franks) and Jen Hillard (Tuckaway Tavern). Ultimately, Frank took home the Master Steel Chef Challenge title. He was the Steel Chef Challenge Winner in 2018.
The Steel Chef Challenge is the New Hampshire Food Bank’s signature fundraising event and to date, has raised more than $1 million dollars to provide food and resources to individuals and families across the Granite State who are experiencing hunger.
A special thanks to Irvine and his team; the chef competitors; judges Sean MacDonald, Bobby Marcotte and Antonio Wormley;
our volunteers; in-kind donors and the following sponsors for their generosity:
• Founding Sponsor, Comcast
• Presenting Sponsor, Service Credit Union
• Media Sponsor, WMUR
• Print Media Sponsor, New Hampshire Magazine
• VIP Sponsor, Café Services
• Restaurant Efficiency Sponsor, Univex
• Sous Chef & Stage Pantry Sponsor, Hannaford
• Sous Chef Sponsor, The Common Man
• Venue Sponsor, The DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown
• Appetizer Sponsor, Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast
• Restaurant Equipment & Supply Sponsor, Pitco
• Photo Booth Sponsor, Elliot Health System
• Libation Sponsor – Beer, New Hampshire Distributors
• Libation Sponsor – Wine, Martignetti Companies
• Red Carpet Sponsor, 92.5 The River
• Red Carpet Sponsor, Constellation
• Red Carpet Sponsor, Turnstone Corporation
• Red Carpet Sponsor, MegaFood
• Transportation Sponsor, Grace Limousine and Shuttle
• Print Sponsor, Speedy Printing
Beginning Again
In her new book, Victoria Arlen reveals her mental health struggles and how she learned to heal
BY EMILY HEIDT
Victoria Arlen is many things: an accomplished TV host/reporter, motivational speaker, gold-medalist swimmer, CEO, philanthropist and co-founder of Stratham-based Victoria’s Victory Foundation with her mom, a born and raised Granite Stater and now a second-time author.
Since we spoke with her last in 2020, she’s
become a host for ESPN and just released “The View is Worth It: Unlocking the Beauty in Life’s Peaks and Valleys,” a book about the hidden chapter of her story that came after the “successful survivor” and ultimate comeback season of her life.
This time, the battle was invisible, and she hopes that readers would be seen in their
own hills and the valleys — both deeply matter and have miracles in them all their own.
[Content warning: suicidal ideation]
New Hampshire Magazine: It’s been a few years since we’ve spoken last. Tell us a bit about this new book and give us three words to describe the season that inspired it and three words to describe the season you’re in now?
Victoria Arlen: The season I was in? Gosh, it’s hard to explain, but I’d say lost, chaotic and distant. But now? Free, peaceful and grateful. NHM: You describe something happening in a moment of darkness that was the catalyst that changed the trajectory of your life. What was it?
VA: I had a complete breakdown in 2021 where I tried to take my life. I had reached a breaking point and thought the only way out was that. I couldn’t take the debilitating anxiety and depression that was all consuming while also trying to maintain appearing “OK” to everyone else. I remember texting my mom about how being in a vegetative state was easier than the space I was existing in. I spent so much time and energy trying to do more and be more to prove that I was OK, which was the very thing that sunk me down to “rock-bottomville.” I didn’t recognize that living in a constant anxious state with depression that was so heavy was not normal and there could be healing on the other side.
“That was a major breakthrough moment for me, and I truly can look back and see that although it was a tough climb to get to a peaceful and joyful space, the view is totally worth it.”
NHM: How did that moment of connection with your mom shine a light out of the valley?
VA: My mom ended up picking up the phone unexpectedly, and it changed everything. The call that I thought was going to be my last became the one that saved me. By finally speaking out about my struggles, it allowed me to start a path and a plan towards healing. I was able to admit that I was not OK and realized that it is OK to not be OK, which allowed me space to ask for and start getting help. Sometimes you need to break down on your path for there to be a breakthrough. That was a major breakthrough moment for me, and I truly can look back and see that although it was a tough climb to get to a peaceful and joyful space, the view is totally worth it. Sometimes it’s our darkest night that leads us to our brightest sunrise.
NHM: Presence is powerful. How did presence impact your healing and what did it look like?
VA: It’s something I try to focus on daily. I thought presence wasn’t an attainable thing for me. I used to think of presence as a paralyzing feeling and something I had to avoid. I never realized I could actually enjoy being in the moment and have it be peaceful and not chaotic. Presence allowed me to acknowledge what I was feeling/had been through and how it was impacting me. But then allowing me to be able to face it, embrace it, defy it and conquer it.
NHM: “Face it, embrace it, defy it, conquer it” have been four major anchors in your life throughout your journey. What role did they play in the silent battle you were facing? Maybe the same or a little different?
VA: They are a bit different this time around as this battle was tougher than anything else I had been through. I was able to use that same set of anchors to help me on this journey. I had to face what I was dealing with and what I had been through that had gotten me here. Then I had to embrace it, which meant feeling all the uncomfortable feelings and emotions, which then allowed me to defy it and actually move forward with strength and tools. This all culminated in me being able to conquer the mental mountains that seemed impossible to overcome. By actually living and feeling, I was able to see and experience joy, peace and presence. THAT is living. I can operate in a way that is no longer driven by panic, or this need to prove. I can enjoy my time at Lake Winni with my family, or the very cool places my work brings me. For so long I always felt like I could not just let go and be, and that was not living but surviving. I never imagined that this was even impossible, and I often want to go back to the younger versions of me and remind her “there is another way.”
NHM: What tools did you learn how to use (or reused)?
VA: I have several, and they were the inspiration behind this book because I wrote what I needed during some of my toughest times. Some of my favorite tools are pretty simple, like having a yellow highlighter (or bright sparkly nails) to help with anxiety, or being able to acknowledge and think about what I’m thinking about and knowing that I have
the ability to change the channel. The key is being able to remember that you can have tools and do not have to just suffer and hope it gets better one day.
NHM: What was New Hampshire’s role in that season of healing and now?
VA: It always has and always will be my home, my special place and the place where my favorite people are. New Hampshire, specifically the Lakes Region, became my escape and place to reconnect and heal. I started to see the view again and be able to find a balance within my work life and home life when I was surrounded by my people. Balance was never a thing before; it was constant go, go, go. But now I prioritize my time in New Hampshire, that’s where Tors (what the people closest to me call me) is the happiest. It’s where I’m able to separate “Victoria Arlen” and Tors and actually have a work/life balance. There is nothing better than waking up at the lake and being with my favorite humans, swimming, fishing, boating and enjoying the view. As soon as I pass my favorite rest stop on 93 (everyone that knows me knows it’s my favorite place to stop), I start to get giddy to go home. While I may live in many other places other than New Hampshire, the Granite State will always be home and a major place of healing and happiness. NH
Arlen’s second book launched on May 5 and can be found on Amazon and christianbook.com, and at Target, Books-a-Million and Barnes & Noble. (Keep an eye out for it at your local independent bookstore as well!)
Summer Fun for Everyone
WHITE MOUNTAINS TRIATHLON
COPPAL HOUSE FARM SUNFLOWER FESTIVAL
WHITE MOUNTAIN BOOGIE N’ BLUES FESTIVAL
WOKQ CHOWDER FESTIVAL SUMMER KICK OFF
CHESHIRE FAIR
SUNCOOK VALLEY HOT AIR BALLOON RALLY
LEAGUE OF NH CRAFTMEN'S FAIR
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE FESTIVAL
fairs & festivals
JUNE 13
49th Annual Market Square Day
Created by nonprofit Pro Portsmouth to celebrate the renovation and beautification of downtown Portsmouth and, in particular, Market Square, the festival has grown in size along with Portsmouth’s popularity. About 60,000 people will walk through downtown Portsmouth enjoying entertainment,
products and food offered by artists, crafters and merchants – many from the Seacoast area. Two performance stages feature local and regional musicians. The day kicks off with a 10K Road Race. Free. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., downtown Portsmouth. 603-433-4398; proportsmouth.org
JUNE 18—20
HAMPTON BEACH MASTER SAND SCULPTING CLASSIC
This extravaganza boasts 200 tons of imported sand that are transformed into magnificent sand sculptures. World-class master sculptors come together to create their own unique designs and compete for the grand prize. Their masterpieces will be illuminated at night for an unforgettable walk down the boardwalk. Free. Hampton Beach, Hampton. hamptonbeach.org
JUNE
25—27
Concord Market Days Festival
Celebrate summer in the Capitol City with this annual free fest. Throughout the weekend, visitors can enjoy more than 150 vendors and exhibitors, concerts in both Eagle and Bicentennial Squares and a beer tent smack-dab in the middle of the festival. The weekend also coincides with the Capital City 10K, in case you like your street food served with a side of athleticism. Free. Main Street, Concord. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 603-226-2150; marketdaysfestival.com
JULY 9—12
Hillsboro Summer Festival
From live music and a parade to a fairway full of carnival rides, this legendary festival is packed with activities, including a beer tent, 5K road race, skillet toss, tractor pull, fireworks and more. For a free spectacle, stick around till dusk on Saturday night. Free. Times vary. Grimes Field, 29 Preston St., Hillsboro. 603-464-0377; hillsborosummerfest.com
JULY 30—AUGUST 2
Cheshire Fair
This traditional agricultural fair, with its recently done midway, will feature entertainment, crafts, vendors, rides, animals and plenty of live music. This year’s theme is “Happy 250th Birthday, America.” Prices and times vary, 247 Monadnock Highway, Swanzey. 603-357-4740; cheshirefair.org
JUNE 25
THE BEST OF NEW HAMPSHIRE PARTY
The Best of NH Party 2026 returns to Flag Hill Distillery & Winery. The elegant tent and garden party celebrates the best the state has to offer at one of NH’s most beautiful local treasures. Join us for an evening that’s all to honor the 2026 Best of NH winners and to support our nonprofit beneficiary: the New Hampshire Food Bank. Thursday, 6-8 p.m., Flag Hill Distillery and Winery, 297 North River Road, Lee. nhmagazine.com/best-of-nh
JULY 31—AUGUST 1
ATV Weekend
With over 1,000 miles of interconnected trails, ATV-friendly towns, great locally owned businesses, tasty restaurants and evening entertainment, you won’t want to miss the most action-packed weekend of the summer season. Experience all your favorite festivities, such as trail riding and the Downtown Block Party with special surprises including the addition of WingZilla & the Luau ATV Poker Run. Whether you’re an avid ATV’er or just simply enjoy visiting the region, Jericho ATV Weekend offers something for everyone. Locations and times vary. Berlin. androscogginvalleychamber.com
JULY 31—AUGUST 2
Suncook Valley Hot Air Balloon Rally
This event, put on by the Suncook Valley Rotary, has something fun for everyone, including a carnival, tethered hot air balloon rides, helicopter rides, cow chip bingo, craft fair, food, drinks and so more. Free. Times vary, Drake Field, 17 Fayette St., Pittsfield. pittsfieldnh.gov
AUGUST 8
Woods, Water and Wildlife Festival
This day-long celebration of the great outdoors is a chance for families to have fun, explore and learn about the natural world together. Take a hayride to the river, observe and learn about NH wildlife, take a discovery walk, watch demonstrations of traditional skills, try your hand at fishing, do crafts with your kids, enjoy food trucks and more. Prices vary. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Branch Hill Farm, 307 Applebee Road, Milton Mills. 603-473-2020; mmrgnh.org
AUGUST 21—23
The 76th Annual Cornish Fair
Since 1950, the Cornish Fair remains a traditional, family-friendly, educational, agricultural fair offering fruits and vegetable exhibits, horse and oxen pulling, 4-H, crafts, children’s activities, live entertainment, vendors, amusement rides and
more. The Cornish Fair is also home to the largest dairy show in all of New Hampshire, and remains committed to the education and sustainability of the agriculture industry. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Red, White and Blue.” Prices and times vary. The fair is cash only. 294 Town House Road, Cornish. 603-675-5426; cornishfair.org
AUGUST 28—29
North Country Moose Festival
The weekend before Labor Day means it’s time for the North Country Moose Festival. This year’s festivities will include a moose-calling contest, parade, live music, artisan and craft vendors, and family favorites such as a dog show, and maple syrup tasting contest — not to mention the classic car show. You can even soak your feet in the Mohawk River. Don’t forget to head down the road to Dixville Notch State Park, where you might spot a moose of your own. On Saturday, head over the border to Canaan, Vermont for a down-home country fair. Free, times vary. Colebrook, chamberofthenorthcountry.com
sports & recreation
ALL SUMMER
Gunstock Run the Mountain Series
Each week features a 5k trail run at Gunstock Mountain Resort, with courses inspired by the familiar ski-trail rating system. This progression is intentional and welcoming. Whether you’re new to trail running, returning after time away, or a seasoned mountain runner, Run the Mountain is about progress, not perfection. Runners earn points throughout the summer toward a season-long series champion, but the real reward is building confidence, strength and connection over time. Come for one race or commit to the full journey. Start easy. Build strong. Run the Mountain. Race times and dates vary; gunstock.com
JUNE 6
Winnipesaukee Volleyball Classic
Hosted by the AKWA Marina Yacht Club, this competitive sand classic combines the fun of beach volleyball with making a difference in the lives of young children with special needs. Logan's Giving Fund for Autism at CMF kids. The Autism Fund supports families by directly paying their child’s service provider for services and treatment they would otherwise not be able to afford. The event offers a bouncy castle for kids and all the amenities of the beautiful waterfront at AKWA Marina. Prices vary. 9 a.m. until completion. AKWA Marina Yacht Club, 95 Centenary Ave., Laconia. 603-669-0821; akwamarina.com
JUNE 6
Fun in the Sun Color Run
Open to children, adults, families and teams, the event is hosted by the Nashua Silver Knights and benefits the Lil’ Iguana’s Children’s Safety Foundation. Participants run or walk a 1-mile or 5K course around Nashua North High School. Following the race, participants and their families can enjoy a “Finish Line Luau” with live music, entertainment, food and beverage samples and activities provided by area businesses and vendors. Registration fees vary.
9 a.m. to noon, 8 Titan Way, Nashua. 603-881-9805; liliguanausa.org
JULY 12
LOON MOUNTAIN RACE
This Granite State race is the race to end all races. It is 6.03 miles, 10.62 kilometers, has an elevation gain of 3,125 feet, an average slope of 14 percent, and a $20,000 purse prize presented by Darn Tough Socks. It has a reputation as one of the country’s toughest mountain races in large part due to the ascent of North Peak, known as Upper Walking Boss. “The Boss,” as it’s colloquially termed, is around a kilometer of grassy slope with angles that exceed a 40 percent grade. Named the “Most Competitive Hillclimb” by Runner's World Magazine, this race is no joke. If you are feeling daring this summer, be sure to check this one out, but make sure you register in advance — there’s no race day registration. $50 to $70. 7:30 a.m., Loon Mountain Resort, 60 Loon Mountain Road, Lincoln. loonmtn.com
JUNE 27
White Mountains Triathlon
Not only is this athletic event among the most scenic triathlons in the state, it’s also the only one with a whole festival built around it. Over two days, runner-biker-swimmers can participate in either the sprint, half-Iron Man or Olympic distance races, and they can hang around for a Saturday post-race barbecue followed by a mountaintop sunset social. Registration required. Early packet pick-up and registrations begins Friday at 4:30 p.m. and continues Saturday at 5:30 a.m., with the first race kicking off at 7 a.m. Cannon Mountain Ski Area, 260 Tramway Drive, Franconia. 603-488-1186; millenniumrunning.com
JULY 10-11
The Prouty
If you enjoy outdoor recreation of just about any kind, then you’ll find something to suit your tastes at this annual mega-fundraiser for the Dartmouth Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center. Cyclists can opt for 20- to 100-mile rides on the road or the 200-mile, two-day Prouty Ultimate; walkers can traverse anything from a 3k stroll through Hanover to an 11k walk in the woods; rowers can hit the Connecticut River for 5 to 15 miles, and cyclers can mountain bike and race on the updated hybrid gravel bike trail. Don’t like any of those? They also need volunteers. Prices, times and locations around Hanover vary. 603-646-5500; theprouty.org
AUGUST 15
Boot Scootin‘
Boogie 5k and Brewfest
Following the 5k that starts on Sargent Road and ends at the Londonderry Athletic Fields, participants and their friends and families can enjoy a brewfest with over 15 participating breweries. At the brewfest, you’ll unwind with a bonfire, and enjoy live music and delicious food until the night ends. Please bring cash, as credit cards may not be accepted by all vendors. Registration required. 6:30 p.m., 98 Sargent Road, Londonderry; millenniumrunning.com
AUGUST 23
AutoFair NH 10 Miler
Run 10 miles. Attend after-party. Repeat? This event takes runners on a near-half-marathon run around the perimeter of Massabesic Lake, then rewards them with a free post-race beer. Registration required. 8 a.m., New Boston, 603-488-1186; millenniumrunning.com
NH 250 th Celebrations
JULY 11
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE FESTIVAL
Didn’t get all the patriotism out of your system on the Fourth? Try this homage to America. Activities at this 36-year-old fest include battle reenactments, lawn games, live music and enough kids‘ activities to keep the little ones entertained all day. Free. All day. American Independence Center, 1 Governors Lane, Exeter. 603-772-2622; aicnh.org
SUMMER LONG STORIES THAT SHAPED THE NATION
At Strawbery Banke, America’s 250th anniversary is an opportunity to look beyond 1776 and explore the stories that followed. Across more than 350 years of history in Portsmouth’s Puddle Dock neighborhood, independence reshaped daily life, welcomed new Americans, and transformed communities over generations. Feature events, dates and times vary; ticket prices vary. 17 Hancock St., Portsmouth; strawberybanke.org
JUNE 27
RED, WHITE & BLUE IN MOTION: EXETER’S AMERICA 250 KICKOFF
Come to Recreation Park for an exciting afternoon including a Black Hawk landing, Touch-A-Truck, patriotic giveaways, a flag ceremony and more! Exeter; exeternh.gov
music & arts
AUGUST
14—16
WHITE MOUNTAIN BOOGIE N’ BLUES FESTIVAL
The blues festival is held in the heart of the White Mountains and the boogie stage is in a natural amphitheater located on a 72 acre pasture in the Pemigewasset River Valley. With two decades of festival sand and a bevy of national blues preservation awards under its belt, this boogiefest is not to be missed. This year’s lineup includes Grammy Award winner Ruthie Foster, Albert Cummings, Will Wilde, Dawn Tyler Watson, The Sauce Boss and so many more. To dive into the festival experience, rent a campsite on the Boogie’s sprawling White Mountains grounds. Prices and times vary, Sugar Shack Campground, 210 NH Route 175, North Thornton. 603-726-3867; whitemountainboogie.com
SUMMER LONG
Prescott Park Arts Festival
Spend your summer on the lawn at Prescott Park, enjoying movies in the park, concerts, musicals and more. Each summer boasts a lineup that you won’t want to miss. Prescott Park, 105 Marcy St., Portsmouth. 603-436-2848; prescottpark.org
SUMMER LONG
Great Waters
With two venues in scenic locations, Great Waters brings world-class shows and music to the heart of the Lakes Region. This summer’s lineup will have you singing and dancing all summer long. Tickets vary, locations vary. greatwaters.org
THURSDAYS, JULY 2—30
Atlantic Grill Music by the Sea Concerts
This summer concert series brings some of New England’s hottest bands to the Seacoast on Thursday nights. Enjoy great tunes and the seaside setting while supporting the Seacoast Science Center and their ocean education mission. Bring a blanket or chair, pack a picnic or purchase freshly grilled dinner and chilled beverages on-site. Concertgoers can also enjoy the Center and its exhibits, free with concert admission. Ticket prices vary. 5-8:30 p.m., 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye. 603-436-8043; seacoastsciencecenter.org
JULY 7—9
Hampton Beach Country Music Fest
Get ready for a boot-scootin’ good time at the annual Hampton Beach Country Music Fest. For three days, this event promises good times filled with live music, line dancing, and the best country vibes around. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or a first-timer, you can kick up your heels and join the daily free line dance sessions with Nashville Line Dance. The festival features a stellar lineup of local talent, showcasing some of the most talented country bands who’ll have you tapping your boots to every beat. And the highlight of the week? A free performance by nationally-touring country artist Niko Moon. hamptonbeach.org
JUNE 19—21
NORTHLANDS MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL
Located in the heart of New Hampshire’s beautiful Monadnock region, Northlands is a independently-owned, family-friendly music & art festival in Swanzey. The festival has earned a reputation for good vibes, cozy camping and top-notch amenities, with three days of music, art installations, local food and beverage vendors, artisan crafts, and more. Prices and times vary. Cheshire Fairgrounds, 247 Monadnock Hwy., Swanzey. northlandslive.com
AUGUST 1—9
LEAGUE OF NH CRAFTSMEN’S FAIR
The Annual Craftsmen’s Fair began in 1933 and runs for nine days each year, featuring the juried work of hundreds of members with sales booths, interactive demonstrations and curated exhibitions attracting more than 20,000 visitors annually. Presented by the League of NH Craftsmen, this is one craft fair that you won’t want to miss. Mount Sunapee Resort, 1398 NH Route 103, Newbury. nhcrafts.org
FRIDAYS, JULY 8—AUGUST 21
Cochecho Arts Festival
The summer-long festival showcases regionally recognized acts as well as top local Seacoast entertainers. All Cochecho Arts Festival events are free to attend and open to the public. Free. Henry Law Park, 1 Washington St., Dover. 603-742-2218; dovernh.org
JULY 7—30
New Hampshire Music Festival
Calling all lovers of classical music. Venues throughout Plymouth and Wolfeboro come alive to celebrate 74 festival years with the sounds of orchestras, choruses and professional soloists on instruments and voice. The fest will feature a roster of artists from across the United States in chamber music concerts on Tuesday nights, classic orchestral concerts on Thursday nights and several free Music in the Mountains community concerts throughout the month. Times and locations vary. Plymouth. 603-238-9007; nhmf.org
AUGUST 22—23
Fine Arts and Crafts Festival
This summer tradition brings together a collection of fine artists and skilled craftspeople from across the region, showcasing a variety of handmade works, including handcrafted jewelry, original paintings, distinctive pottery, and one-of-a-kind art pieces. Enjoy live music from talented local musicians throughout the weekend. Meredith; meredithareachamber.com
flower fests & Tours
EARLY/MID JULY
Rhododendron
State Park
Explore Rhododendron State Park this summer, where these big beautiful blooms are the center of attention. The 16-acre grove of rhododendrons is the largest in northern New England, and if you’ve never seen that many in bloom at one time, you’re in for a treat. A 0.6 mile-long universally accessible trail encircles the grove allowing visitors to observe, close up, the fragrant clusters of pink blossoms as they burst into bloom in mid-July. There’s also a nearby wildflower trail with flowers that bloom throughout the season. 424 Rockwood Pond Road, Fitzwilliam; nhstateparks.org
JUNE 19—20
Portsmouth Pocket Garden Tour
The self-guided walking tour features private gardens and educational opportunities. This year’s tour returns to the historic South End neighborhood and features 10 private gardens and the Goodwin Garden at Strawbery Banke Museum. Along the route you will find musicians, artists, and refreshments. Friday and Saturday. Times vary. South Church, 292 State St., Portsmouth; southchurch-uu.org
LATE MAY/ EARLY JUNE FIELDS OF LUPINE FESTIVAL
Each June, fields in the White Mountains turn purple, pink, white, and blue with blossoming lupine flowers. Paying homage to the annual blossoming of this captivating wildflower, the Fields of Lupine Festival is a time-honored regional event. The brilliant spikes of the lupine flower carpet local fields and pastures in a rolling sea of vibrant purples, pinks, blues and whites. The long-lasting blossoms attract equally dazzling butterflies and create a breathtaking floral display against the majestic backdrop of the Franconia, Presidential, and Kinsman Mountain ranges. Every visitor is guaranteed abundant photo and recreational opportunities in the Northeasts most spectacular mountain region. Easton, Franconia, Sugar Hill. visitnh.gov
JULY 25—26
Second Annual Five Senses Tour at Tiffany Gardens
Use your five senses while exploring private gardens hidden in a Londonderry neighborhood. Included with your $20 donation is a self-guided tour, cold refreshments and small bites. Organizers will have vendors, raffle baskets, an artist painting in the gardens, and musical entertainment hidden throughout the gardens. All proceeds benefit free programming for older adults in the area. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 15 King John Drive, Londonderry; comcaregivers.com/garden-tour
JULY 25—AUGUST 2
Sunflower Festival
Coppal House Farm turns into a sea of sunflowers every July during the New Hampshire Sunflower Festival. The farm offers a unique variety of sunflowers that can produce sunflower oil. Unlike ornamental blooms, these sunflowers only bloom for about 10 days, so the window to witness this stunning sight is short. Coppal House Farm also partners with local nonprofits to help support their local community. 118 North River Road, Route 155, Lee. nhsunflower.com
AUGUST 8—16
Sunfox Farm Sunflower
Bloom Festival
Twenty acres of sunflowers awaits you at Sunfox Farm’s 7th annual Sunflower Bloom Festival. The event takes place at their 57-acre farm in the heart of Concord. Walk through the fields and experience the beauty and vibrancy of sunflowers towering over you, stretching nearly as far as the eye can see. In addition to the beautiful blooms, during festival weekends enjoy local musicians, a variety of vendors showcasing unique offerings, and food trucks. Concord. sunfoxfarm.org
AUGUST 8—16
Sunflower Soiree
Experience the wonder of sunflowers in full bloom at Brookford Farm. The whole family will love picking their own sunflowers, seeing farm animals up close and so much more. brookfordfarm.com
children's events
JUNE 6
NH MAKER FEST
The 14th annual New Hampshire Maker Fest is an all-ages celebration of creativity and innovation taking place in and around the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in downtown Dover. From engineers to artists, to scientists, to chefs, the NH Maker Fest is a day for these “makers” to show hobbies, experiments, projects, and for all of us to discover something new. Please note: Because the museum needs to make room for the makers, some of the museum exhibits won’t be accessible as usual. This is not a normal day of play at the museum, which is why you can’t reserve tickets for normal play sessions. Suggested donation of $5 per person. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, 6 Washington St., Dover. childrens-museum.org
WEDNESDAY MORNINGS JULY 18—AUGUST 12
COCHECHO VALLEY ARTS FESTIVAL
CHILDREN’S SHOWS
This summer festival showcases regionally recognized acts, as well as top local Seacoast entertainers. Each week, the Children’s Series features different engaging performances, such as juggling, dancing, acting and more. Free. Henry Law Park, 1 Washington St., Dover. 603-742-2218; dovernh.org
AUGUST 9
FAIRY FESTIVAL
This celebration of Fairy Houses connects children to the natural world and includes crafts, readings of fairy tales, face painting, a whimsical Tea Party in the Pavilion, and, of course, building fairy habitats in the Fairy Village. Children are invited to dress in their finest fairy or gnome attire. An ice cream truck will be on-site. There will also be a special performance by local dancers from Dance Arts Academy. $5 to $20, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., John Hay Estate at The Fells, 456 Route 103A, Newbury; thefell.org
AUGUST 17—21
THE 18TH ANNUAL HAMPTON BEACH CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL
The Hampton Beach Children’s Festival will delight the young (and young at heart) with magic shows, storytelling, a costume parade and more! Free, times vary. Hampton Beach State Park, NH Route 1-A, Hampton. hamptonbeach.org
NH MAKER FEST
food & drink fests
JUNE 6
Annual WOKQ Chowder Festival & Summer Social
Featuring restaurants from throughout the Seacoast, this staple of summer is a delicious chowder competition for the ages. Held in the heart of downtown Portsmouth, the festival offers music, merch and other family-friendly activities for friends young and old, as well as a host of other delicious treats, including handmade ice cream sandwiches, fresh-pressed lemonade, oysters and more. Prices vary. 11:30 a.m.- until the chowder runs out, Prescott Park, 105 Marcy St., Portsmouth. 603-436-2848; prescottpark.org
JUNE 6
NH
Bacon & Beer Festival
A fundraiser for High Hopes Foundation of New Hampshire — an organization dedicated to providing life-enhancing experiences and medical equipment to New Hampshire's terminally and chronically ill children — this 10th annual event celebrates the savory grease of good ol’ bacon and the endless flavor possibilities of craft beer. Featuring local restaurants pulling up with their finest pork products, live music and libations from over 60 breweries, the Bacon & Beer Festival is a foodie’s dream. $40 to $140. 1:30-5 p.m., Arms Park, 10 Arms St., Manchester. nhbaconbeer.com
JULY 25 & AUGUST 1—2
GREAT NEW ENGLAND BBQ & FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL
This family fun event features a cornhole tournament, a kids’ zone (with free bounce houses), a whoopie pie eating contest, face-painting, artisans, music, food trucks, caricature drawings and more. $5. Times and locations vary; gnefoodtruckfest.com
JULY 25
27th Annual Chocolate Fest
Watch the sunset across Corcoran Pond and enjoy an evening of chocolate temptations in Town Square along with a free outdoor concert and lawn games. Almost every type of chocolate dessert you can think of will be offered, with special vendors including the Mobile New England Dairy Bar. Pack a picnic or just bring a bottle of your favorite libation and enjoy an indulgent evening in the square. Relax on Town Square’s Adirondack chairs, lounge back on a blanket, or enjoy your chocolate treats with your toes in the sand! 5:308:30 p.m. Town Square, 33 Village Road, Waterville Valley. waterville.com
AUGUST 1
New England Hot Sauce Fest
Spicy Shark presents a New England destination and celebration for hot sauce lovers. Featuring hot sauce samples from over 20 craft companies, music, food trucks, food challenges (including a hot pepper eating contest and a hot wing contest), craft vendors, libations, bouncy houses and more. Proceeds support the Blue Ocean Society and Seacoast Science Center. Ticket prices vary. Strawbery Banke Museum, 14 Hancock St., Portsmouth. newenglandhotsaucefest.com. New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event.
AUGUST 22
12th Annual Gate City Brewfest
As summer starts winding down, head to Nashua for one last beer-fueled hurrah. An extensive beer list, live music, a cornhole tournament and more are on tap. $15-$70. 1-5 p.m., Holman Stadium, 67 Amherst St., Nashua. gatecitybrewfestnh.com. New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event.
pride events
JUNE 20
PORTSMOUTH PRIDE FESTIVAL & MARKETPLACE
Celebrate Pride with Seacoast Outright on the grounds of Puddle Dock at Strawbery Banke. The festival will feature 100+ vendors, music, food trucks, local artisans and more! Free. Noon to 5 p.m., Strawbery Banke Museum, Library, 14 Hancock St., Portsmouth. strawberybanke.org
JUNE 27
MANCHESTER PRIDE PARADE AND FESTIVAL
Celebrate pride in the Queen City. The festival will feature art, youth-focused activities, queer performers and many local community vendors. Free. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown Manchester and Veteran’s Memorial Park, Manchester. manchestertrue.org
JUNE 6
Windham Pride Festival
This year marks the fifth annual pride festival organized by Windham’s Citizens for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The family-friendly event is free and offers activities for all ages, as well as live entertainment and food trucks. Noon to 4 p.m., Windham High School, Windham. Facebook
JUNE 20
Nashua Pride Festival
Join members of the local LGBTQIA community to celebrate Nashua Pride. The festival and parade is a free celebration of diversity, acceptance, music and fun focused on promoting equality and inclusion of all people. Free. 2 to 7 p.m., Holman Stadium, 67 Amherst St., Nashua. downtownnashua.org
JUNE 27
Pride Fest
North Country Pride was created to ensure that our beautiful region is welcoming to ALL. The rural towns and communities of northern
New Hampshire and Vermont not only support diversity, they embrace it - holding true to our state motto of “Live free or die”! This celebration will kick off with a parade down Littleton’s Main Street, followed by a day celebrating with music, food, and vendors at the Riverfront Commons. Free, Littleton; northcountrypridenh.org
JUNE 27
White Mountains Pride
Head to North Conway for a full day of activities including food trucks, music and other celebrations. Check out their website for more details. Free. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. White Mountains Community Center Park, 78 Norcross Circle, North Conway. whitemountainspride.com NH
BATTLE OF BENNINGTON, BY DON TROIANI, COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU
250 Celebrating
YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE
In the Granite State, a revolution was born in the deep woods
While other colonies raged against taxes on tea and paper, what drove New Hampshire towards rebellion was the crown’s levy on trees. White pines, in particular. Straight and thick, no tree in the British empire made a better mast, and any trunk measuring more than a foot in width was considered property of the king and reserved for the Royal Navy. By the time of the Revolution, New Hampshire had spread far from the coast. The small towns in the interior were rugged, close-knit and increasingly skeptical of their role as subjects of an absent king. Jeremy Belknap, a historian from this period, lauded rural New Hampshire as “a nursery for stern heroism; producing men of firmness and valor.”
By Justin Shatwell, with additional reporting by the New Hampshire Magazine team
This painting by Don Troiani depicts the Battle of Bennington in which John Stark led New England militias to victory against a force of German mercenaries, loyalists and Native Americans. In the summer of 1777, a British army marched south from Canada, threatening New York and New England. New Hampshire placed Stark in command of the state’s militia and he caught up with the enemy on Aug. 16. His men surrounded the enemy, attacked from every direction and mortally wounded the German commander. When the battle seemed over, German reinforcements arrived and almost took the field, but the Vermont Militia got there just in time, ensuring an American victory.
British colonial authorities of the time labeled the same men as “obstinate and notorious,” or at least that was the term they applied to a group of loggers from Weare who had been caught illegally harvesting white pines in 1773.
On April 13, Sheriff John Whiting rode into Weare seeking to send a message by arresting Ebenezer Mudgett, the ringleader of the loggers. But Mudgett and 19 of his friends had their own message to send. They burst into the sheriff’s room at Quimby’s Inn bearing switches, whipped Whiting and his deputy bloody, and then chased the pair out of town.
A sympathetic local judge lightly fined the perpetrators for what came to be known as the Pine Tree Riot, and the matter was
dropped. The king never reclaimed his trees.
At the same time, rebellion was brewing along the coast as well. Portsmouth was the seat of British power in New Hampshire, and many merchants reliant on trade with England stayed loyal to the crown. Still, by the 1770s, the balance of power was shifting toward the Patriots.
This became clear on Dec. 13, 1774 when Paul Revere rode into town bearing news that the British intended to reinforce Fort William and Mary, a small fortification on New Castle island that commanded the mouth of the Piscataqua River. John Sullivan and John Langdon sent out the call for Patriots willing to put a stop to the scheme.
By the morning, they’d rallied around 500 volunteers and the mob descended upon the
Above and right: Each July, the American Independence Festival in Exeter celebrates the arrival of the Declaration of Independence in New Hampshire, two weeks after its signing. Interpreters and reenactors include colonial militia, artisans and historic figures.
Pine Tree Riot Foreshadowed Fight for Independence
On April 14, 1772, a year and a half before the tea hit the water in Boston, the Pine Tree Riot took place in Weare, NH. The event is considered one of the first Colonial acts of rebellion against the Crown, and served, in part, as inspiration for the Boston Tea Party.
Britain’s Royal Navy had a problem — England lacked trees large enough to become masts for its ships, so, in the early 1720s, the Crown claimed all of the tall white pines in northern New England, marking them with the King’s Broad Arrow (three slashes in the shape of an arrow). Eventually, the law expanded to forbidding settlers from cutting down trees more than one foot in diameter. For decades, the edict was mostly ignored. In 1766, Gov. John Wentworth decided it was time to crack down, and sent his deputy surveyor John Sherburn to search sawmills in New Hampshire.
He found six offending mills in Goffstown and Weare. The
fort. Opposing them was Capt. John Cochran and five British soldiers. “Great numbers assembled every side of the fort and in an instant the signal was given for storming. Whereupon I ordered the men to fire,” Cochran later wrote.
The first British volley struck no one. They had no time for a second. The Patriots swarmed the ramparts and disarmed the soldiers. They then ransacked the fort, tearing down the British flag and making off with barrels of gunpowder.
Though Langdon’s report identified many of his attackers, none faced any consequenc-
Goffstown mill owners paid a fine. The Weare owners refused.
Ebenezer Mudgett, the leader of the Weare mill owners, was arrested by Sheriff Benjamin Whiting and Deputy John Quigley on April 13, 1772. Mudgett said he’d pay up in the morning, and they let him go. Then Mudgett spent the night with the townspeople planning what would become known as the Pine Tree Riot.
At dawn, Mudgett burst into Whiting’s room at the Pine Tree Tavern, saying he’d brought the money, and by money, he meant 20 other men who beat Whiting. Quigley suffered the same fate, and both men were run out of town.
Eight participants were later identified and put on trial for rioting, disturbing the peace and assault. The judges, who were clearly sympathetic to the rioters, handed down a relatively light punishment, ordering them to pay 20 shillings and court costs.
es. “No jail would hold them long and no jury would find them guilty,” wrote Royal Gov. John Wentworth, acknowledging how tenuous his hold on New Hampshire had become.
In August of 1775, Wentworth and the remaining British troops cut their losses and evacuated Portsmouth for the relative safety of Boston. Almost a year before the Declaration of Independence and just months into the Revolution, New Hampshire found itself effectively free without ever having fired a shot on its own soil. Through scrapping, brawling, disobedience and protest, the
Granite State made itself too unruly for the British to hold onto.
Redcoats never again stepped foot in New Hampshire, but the war was far from over. Bearing the stolen powder from Fort William and Mary, New Hampshire soldiers marched south to fight at Bunker Hill and the Siege of Boston. Many joined Washington’s Continental Army and continued fighting across the colonies and into Canada. Others returned home and formed militias to defend New England.
Continued on page 67
The Story of John Stark: An American Hero
You may know him from his famous quote, “Live Free or Die,” but John Stark’s renown goes deeper than our state’s motto.
Stark was a farmer, timber business owner, New Hampshire militia leader and major general in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Deeply respected by his men, he played critical roles in the Battles of Bunker Hill, Trenton and Princeton, with his victory at the Battle of Bennington being one of the turning points of the War.
Before he grew to being one of New Hampshire’s most notable figures, he lived a quiet life born and raised in the Granite State.
Stark was born in Londonderry in 1728 and grew up in Derryfield, now Manchester, and lived there for his whole life with his wife, Elizabeth “Molly” Page and 11 children. His eldest son Maj. Caleb Stark and son Lt. Archibald Stark both served in the military.
As a testament to Stark's courage
and strength, on April 28, 1752, at the age of 24, while on a hunting and trapping trip along the Baker River, he was captured by Abenaki warriors and brought back to Canada but not before warning his brother William to paddle away in his canoe, though neighbor David Stinson was killed. While a prisoner of the Abenaki, he and his fellow prisoner Amos Eastman were made to run a gauntlet of warriors armed with sticks. Stark grabbed the stick from the first warrior's hands and proceeded to attack him, taking the rest of the warriors by surprise. The chief was so impressed by this heroic act that Stark was adopted into the tribe, where he spent the winter.
The following spring a government agent sent from the Province of Massachusetts Bay to work on the exchange of prisoners paid his ransom of 103 Spanish dollars and 60 Spanish dollars for Amos Eastman. Stark and Eastman then returned to New Hampshire safely.
Like George Washington, he had a limited formal education, but he led by
deeds, not words. His early military experience serving in Rodgers’ Rangers, an elite British unit, in the French and Indian war gave him the experience he would need in later battles, and he quickly rose to the rank of captain before returning to New Hampshire to start his timber business.
While he was home, the Revolution broke out and Stark returned to military service in command of the state’s militia. He bravely led 800 men who repelled two rounds of British attack at the Battle of Bunker Hill and provided cover for the retreating colonial forces. Even though the British took the hill, they suffered twice the casualties as the Americans.
Stark marched his regiment over 200 miles to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, in December 1776 where they joined the Continental Army for the Battles of Trenton and Princeton. He and his men ambushed sleeping Hessian mercenaries at the Battle of Trenton, helping secure a major win and setting up a subsequent victory in Princeton.
Not long after, Stark teamed up with Col. Seth Warner at the Battle of Bennington to execute an attack on British forces seeking to supply themselves through confiscating the town’s provisions. Stark and Warner’s success ended the British ambition of separating New England from the rest of the colonies, and the victory was the first in a chain of successes leading to the British surrender at Saratoga and French entry into the War to aid America.
“Live Free or Die” is the shortened version we all live by, yes, but let us not forget as Stark advised Bennington veterans,”Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.”
NH 250th Facts & Figures
1st Independent Government:
New Hampshire was the first colony to adopt its own state constitution, formally establishing an independent government six months before the Declaration of Independence.
1788
9th State to Ratify: New Hampshire’s ratification of the U.S. Constitution was the final vote needed to officially establish the government of the United States.
1833
1st Free Public Library:
The town of Peterborough established the nation’s first tax-supported free public library, pioneering the accessibility of knowledge and community resources.
1st in Nation Primary:
The state holds the earliest presidential primary election every cycle, cementing New Hampshire’s vital role in the national political landscape.
3
signers of the Declaration of the Independence, Josiah Bartlett, Matthew Thornton and William Whipple were from New Hampshire.
100
barrels of gunpowder were taken from Fort William and Mary and distributed to towns throughout the Seacoast.
12,000+
Granite Staters served in the Continental Army, fighting for Independence and the NH way of life.
Explore Where History Happened
New Hampshire was the first colony to adopt its own constitution on Jan. 5, 1776, making the state a leader in the fight for American independence. Check out the places that bring the Revolution to life this summer.
Gundalow Company
Portsmouth • gundalow.org
Strawbery Banke
Portsmouth •strawberybanke.org
Black Heritage Trail of NH Portsmouth • blackheritagetrailnh.org
Fort Constitution Historic Site
New Castle • nhstateparks.org/find-parkstrails/fort-constitution-historic-site
American Independence Center
Exeter • aicnh.org
Woodman Museum
Dover • woodmanmuseum.org
The Fort at No. 4
Charleston • fortat4.org
NH Historical Society
Concord • nhhistory.org
NH State Veterans Cemetery
Boscawen • nhsvc.com
All information above and the left taken and adapted from visitnh.gov
Revolutionary Reads
Books by NH authors celebrate the founding of New Hampshire and the United States
New Hampshire and Independence: Rediscovered Writings from the Sons of the American Revolution edited by William Edmund Fahey (The History Press)
It should surprise no one from the Granite State that New Hampshire was one of the first colonies to control its own militia and seize gunpowder from British control. In this collection, William Fahey, president of Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack, NH, gathers six essays from the archives and records of the Sons of the American Revolution that underscore New Hampshire’s important role in the American War of Independence.
Two chapters are devoted to what Fahey considers “New Hampshire’s immediate and arguably greatest achievement: providing the indefatigable backbone to the Siege of Boston and the Battle of Bunker Hill.”
Captain John Manley: Patriot, Privateer, and America’s Forgotten First Hero by Kenneth M. Sheldon (Harmon House)
Kenneth Sheldon, known for writing humorous tales about New Hampshire as Fred Marple, wrote this biography of Captain John Manley in part to dig into his own ancestry.
“I had heard the family stories about being descended from Captain John Manley, a hero of the American Revolution, but I wasn't sure if they were true or simply family legends, as is often the case with such things,” writes Sheldon, whose middle name is Manley.
Sheldon spent decades researching naval records, diaries, newspaper accounts and archives, aiming to find out why a man acclaimed as a hero in 1776 is buried in an unmarked grave. Along the way he verified that he is indeed Manley’s fifth-greatgrandson. (Scheduled for October publication.)
1623:
Pilgrims, Pipe Dreams, Politics & the Founding of New Hampshire by J. Dennis Robinson (Harbortown Press)
“This project started almost 50 years ago when I bumped into a 1623 note in the journal of Pilgrim leader Edward Winslow,” writes Seacoast historian J. Dennis Robinson, who published this book in 2023 in time to commemorate when New Hampshire was first settled by Europeans.
“A ‘Scotchman’ named David Thompson, Winslow wrote, had recently set up a fishing and trading outpost at what would later become the tiny seacoast of New Hampshire.
The Mayflower survivors were starving and sent military leader Miles Standish to find food. Thompson delivered a shallop full of live-saving codfish to the Separatists, after which the Plymouth Colony offered prayers of thanksgiving.
“The idea that the first European settler at what would become New Hampshire ‘saved’ the Pilgrims intrigued me. Why hadn't I heard of this guy and his wife, Amias, and their son, John, who had settled at what is now Odiorne State Park in the town of Rye?”
The Battle of Bennington
In the spring of 1777 a British Army under Gen. John Burgoyne started down the Hudson River from Canada. As Burgoyne marched south, patriot militia began to gather in Vermont and New Hampshire. John Stark, a veteran soldier, was given command of the 1,500-man New Hampshire Brigade. Hearing that Burgoyne was planning a raid into Vermont, Stark marched his men to Bennington. There they were joined by militia regiments from Vermont and western Massachusetts.
On Aug. 11, Burgoyne sent out a mixed force of some 800 Canadians, Loyalists, Native Americans, British and Hessian (German) mercenaries on a foraging expedition. This mostly-German force was harassed by small bands of militia, and its Hessian commander sent for reinforcements; he stopped to await them a few miles from Bennington. With the enemy force position on and around a large hill, Gen. Stark decided to use his 2,000 militiamen to surround them. "Yonder are the Redcoats," Stark is supposed to have said. "We will defeat them or Molly Stark will sleep a widow tonight."
Small bands of militiamen, pretending to be loyal Tories, worked their way behind enemy positions. When firing began, these men turned on the Hessians and Tories around them. Those not killed fled into the woods, pursued by the militiamen. Other Americans surged up the hill to the Hessian breastworks, and for two hours the battle raged. Hessian commander was mortally wounded when, ammunition exhausted, he and his Dragoons attempted to hack their way off the hill with their swords.
When the battle was at its height reinforcements arrived from Burgoyne. Luckily, the Vermont militia came up or about the same time to reinforce Stark, and again the fighting raged. American victory was assured when the militiamen drove off the Hessian reinforcements.
The proud traditions of the militia who fought so well at Bennington are today carried on by units of New Hampshire and Vermont Army National Guard.
Continental Army regulars from the First NH Regiment fire their muskets in front of the historic Folsom Tavern at the American Independence Festival.
Continued from page 62
In 1777, these men were called on to protect Vermont from the army of Gen. John Burgoyne. In just six days, Brig. Gen. John Stark raised nearly 1,500 men from across the state, a figure representing roughly one-tenth of New Hampshire’s adult male population. The hastily assembled army met the British at the Battle of Bennington and dealt them a stinging strategic defeat.
In Portsmouth, New Hampshire’s now liberated trees were crafted into one of the first ships of the U.S. Navy. The construction of the USS Raleigh, a 32-gun frigate, is still depicted on New Hampshire’s flag. The standard born by the Raleigh when it first took sail was far simpler, though. The words “An Appeal To Heaven,” a reference to the right to revolution, were printed across the top. Below them was a single, defiant pine tree.
As the country celebrates its 250th anniversary, those wanting to connect with Revolutionary history have many sites they could visit. A simple memorial in Weare marks the site of the Pine Tree Riot. The John Paul Jones House in Portsmouth tells the story of the USS Raleigh, and, in New Castle, you can tour the site of Fort William and Mary (now known as Fort Constitution).
But it might be best to travel to Exeter. While no battle was fought here, it was home to perhaps the most revolutionary act of the war. On Jan. 5, 1776, a delegation of representatives ratified a new state constitution here. New Hampshire was the first former colony to take the step of scrapping their royal charter and crafting a new government by, for, and of the people.
This is one of the stories celebrated at the American Independence Center in Exeter. “Independence is a bigger story than just how it started,” says Joe Pace, executive director of the center. The exhibits examine how freedoms in the country have evolved over time and encourage visitors to imagine what role they could play in carrying the democratic experiment forward.
With town meetings and the largest legislative body of any state, there are countless ways to take your place in our never-ending revolution. “The story isn’t over,” Pace says, “and you’re a part of it.” NH
Excellence in NURSING
Nurses are too often the unsung heroes of medicine. They are key members of any health care team, but their skills and contributions often go unrecognized. The challenges nurses face as they strive to provide the best possible care possible prove that they truly are the heartbeat of health care.
New Hampshire Magazine, in partnership with the New Hampshire Nurses Association, is proud to celebrate the important contributions by nurses with the ninth annual Excellence in Nursing Awards. We are grateful to the many volunteers from the New Hampshire Nurses Association for sharing their expertise in scoring the nominations, and in particular, the members of the Commission on Nursing Practice who developed the evidence-based rubrics for more than a dozen specialties, from pediatrics and public health to leadership and education.
Each nurse profiled in the following pages represents the very best in nursing — those who go above and beyond to comfort, heal and teach.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JARED CHARNEY / PROFILES BY NH MAGAZINE STAFF
Shannon Fitzgerald
MSN, BS, RN, CV-BC, CCRP, ACSM-CEP, EIM-III, RN
Ambulatory Care Nursing • VA Manchester Healthcare System
Throughout Shannon Fitzgerald’s career, her heart has always been tied to cardiac rehabilitation.
“I saw a gap in cardiac rehab services for veterans and began working to bring a program to Manchester,” she recalls. “I launched Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation in 2024, and then helped to introduce its sister program, Home-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation in 2025, which both help patients recover from cardiac and pulmonary conditions through lifestyle interventions.”
From her youth as an athlete, Fitzgerald is often guided by having a beginner’s mindset and believing there is always room for improvement. Seeing the real-world impact in her patients as they grow and heal through their programs is a gift to witness.
“Watching a patient go from feeling weak, fearful and uncertain to thriving and reaching their goals is an incredible experience every time,” she says.
“Whether it’s a police officer returning to duty after a heart attack, an 80-year-old hockey player getting back on the ice after open heart surgery, or a grandparent regaining the strength to hold and play with their grandchildren again, it is an honor to be part of their journey.”
Nicholas Kastanek BSN
Emergency and Critical Care Nursing
Cardiac Cath Lab RN • Southern NH Medical Center
Effective communication is behind all the work that Nicholas Kastanek does.
“In the cath lab, every second matters, and the team must move as one,” he says. “Clear, calm and precise communication is what keeps patients safe during high-stakes procedures.”
He supports both patients and clinical teams through high acuity cardiac procedures, and ensures clinical excellence and compassionate care during some of the most critical moments in a patient’s life. Being able to see people in the southern New Hampshire area recover, thrive and return to their lives motivates him to be the best nurse and educator he can be.
“One particular moment that I think of often was seeing a patient who had come in with a STEMI — someone I recognized from the community who delivers for a local restaurant — return to work after his heart attack,” he recalls.
“Watching him walk through the hospital for follow-up care and then back out to his normal life reminded me exactly why this work matters. Those full-circle moments are incredibly rewarding.”
Paula B. Seaman MSN,
MPA, DA, RN, CENP
Senior Nurse Leader (Small) • Chief Nursing Officer
Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital
Paula Seaman, a third-generation nurse, began her career as a candy striper, where her mom worked.
“I was able to observe so many things that made me proud to be her daughter, and as I entered the nursing profession myself, I came to recognize how influential she became in defining what it means to be a nurse and my own nursing practice,” says Seaman, who has worked within the Dartmouth Health system for nearly 20 years.
The current chief nursing officer for Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in Lebanon also has worked at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. She is responsible for nursing practice at Alice Peck Day and leads the hospital’s development and implementation of the nursing strategic plan. She also collaborates with the other chief nursing officers across the Dartmouth Health system.
Seaman considers empathy, humility and passion for the profession the most important character traits for nurses. She also wants to make sure nurses are getting the care they need.
“My own passion has evolved to really focus on the mental health of nurses, both for individuals and for our profession, and to think and invest differently in addressing this critical need for our nursing workforce,” Seaman says.
Melissa Brough
MSN, RN, NE-BC Nurse Innovator/Entrepreneur • Nurse Recruiter VA Manchester Healthcare System
As a nurse recruiter, Melissa Brough works to build and sustain a skilled nursing workforce that is dedicated to caring for our nation’s veterans. Before joining the VA, Brough spent over a decade working in nursing education — her career choices have always been guided by her desire to serve others.
“I’ve always sought the role where I could have the greatest impact on patient care, and recruitment felt like a natural extension of that purpose,” Brough says. “In this position, I help ensure veterans receive exceptional care by bringing compassionate, highly skilled nurses into the VA.”
Brough comes from a family of veterans, and has seen firsthand the importance of compassionate, reliable care. Her father, a Vietnam Army veteran, required complex care after a terminal diagnosis. Brough enrolled him in services at the Manchester VA Medical Center and experienced the organization as a caregiver. Before her father died, he encouraged her to apply for the open nurse recruiting role. That personal connection continues to fuel her dedication to this work.
“The compassion and professionalism he received left a lasting impression and deepened my appreciation for the VA’s mission,” Brough says. “I’m inspired by the dedication of our leadership, our nurses and the health care professionals who care for our veterans every day. Their commitment to exceptional, patient-centered care motivates me to connect the VA with candidates who share that same mission-driven spirit.”
Erin Ryan BSN, RN
Christina Martin MSN, APRN, FNP-BC Advanced Practice Nursing • Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Provider • Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Christina Martin has always been driven by her passion to further address those with underserved health needs — from working with Doctors Without Borders to helping develop a pediatric multidrug- resistant TB program in Tajikistan to specializing in hematology/ transplant medicine at Norris Cotton Cancer center.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, she felt a call to return to her roots in infection disease and help co-launch the Post-Acute COVID Syndrome (long COVID) at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.
“My role is blending specialized clinical management with patient advocacy to address the multifaceted nature of Post-Acute COVID Syndrome,” she says. “I provide supportive care for a variety of complex symptoms. In a novel field with no known specific treatments or guidelines, I must rely on humility, honesty, patience, listening and validating my patients’ experiences.”
With long COVID being as much of a social crisis as it is a medical one, Martin also incorporates psychosocial support and education into her care. “As one of only a handful of providers treating long COVID in all of northern New England, I know that my patients living with long COVID are grateful to have found our clinic,” she notes.
“Although we still don’t have all the answers as to what long COVID is or how to treat it, I reassure them that I remain committed to journeying with them as we all learn more about long COVID into the future.”
RN • Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital
Compassion and empathy drive Erin Ryan as she serves her patients and works with her interdisciplinary team to provide high-quality care. “Being on the medical-surgical unit also requires adaptability,” she notes. “There are a lot of changes that occur within one shift, so it’s important to be able to pivot quickly.”
After watching her grandmother go through the dementia unit, Ryan found herself drawn to the geriatric population and delirium prevention once she saw the difference it could make when a nurse puts their personal passions into what they do. She loves bringing joy to her patients, and they give her joy that carries her through long workdays.
“We were able to get a chocolate brownie with chocolate ice cream for a patient’s birthday one shift, which was saved for his dinner mealtime and was put in the freezer,” she recalls.
“While sitting with this patient during dinner/dessert time, I attempted to assist in cutting the brownie, which was frozen, which then led the chocolate ice cream to go flying once the brownie cut, the ice cream landed all over the patient’s glasses and gown, which then led to an outburst of laughing. After a full gown change and clean up, we were still laughing.”
Carla Jean Smith
DHSc, MSN, RN, CNE
Public Health Nursing • Associate Professor of Nursing • Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
As associate professor of nursing at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Carla Jean Smith teaches advanced medical-surgical nursing, nursing leadership and nursing informatics.
“My role encompasses teaching, scholarship and service,” says Smith, who began her nursing career at age 19 as a certified nursing assistant at McKerley Healthcare in Bedford.
“This was really my introduction to patient care, and I returned to school to earn my LPN diploma.”
Smith’s career has included working at Portsmouth Regional Hospital as a registered nurse and as a school nurse in the town of Fremont, where she also volunteered as a deputy health officer.
In 2016, she transitioned to nursing education at St. Joseph School of Nursing and in 2019 joined the faculty of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She also returned to school to earn a Doctorate in Health Sciences with a focus on Global Health.
As a volunteer with the Global Smiles Foundation, Smith has traveled to Peru, Ecuador and El Salvador.
“During one mission, I cared for a young child undergoing cleft repair surgery. Like many families we serve, they had traveled a long distance and had limited access to specialized care.”
Picture Yourself at Elliot Health System
Elliot Health System is hiring nurses and clinical professionals who are eager to make an impact for our patients and communities – at our flagship location, Elliot Hospital in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Join a team delivering exceptional healthcare in advanced, purpose-driven environments. You could work in our new, state-of-the-art Cardiovascular Operating Room – one of the largest specialized cardiac surgical suites in New England – or our Adult Step-Down Unit, where patients take the critical next steps on their path to recovery and wellness.
At Elliot, you are more than a role – you are a trusted and supported professional whose clinical expertise and contributions are valued and help change lives for the better every day.
Ready to grow, lead, and truly make a difference? Find your next career at ElliotHospital.org/Careers.
Alison Patten RN-BSN
Rachel Ortiz BSN, RN, PMH-BC, RTR, CPC Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing• Outpatient Psychiatry
Triage Nurse • Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Rachel Ortiz’s nursing career began 16 years ago as a registrar in the Franklin Regional Hospital emergency room, while she was starting her clinical education as a radiologic technologist at New London Hospital.
Today, she works at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center as an outpatient psychiatry triage nurse, where she triages patient calls and messages for outpatient psychiatry including clinics for children, adolescents, geriatrics, autism and mood disorders.
“I kept finding myself drawn to work with psychiatric patients, and that motivated me to go back to school for nursing,” Ortiz says. “I first worked as an inpatient psychiatric nurse, and then I joined the incredible team at DHMC outpatient psychiatry, which has been the most rewarding part of my career.”
As a psychiatric nurse, Ortiz has found that feeling safe is one of the most important needs of her patients, and that dependability vitally important.
“Patients need to be able to depend on you to meet their needs consistently, treat them fairly and equitably, and regulate your own emotions so you can maintain consistent healthy boundaries,” Ortiz says.
Maternal-Child Nursing • RN • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Alison Patten graduated from Colby-Sawyer College in 1987, among a nursing class of seven. As an EMT for the National Ski Patrol, Patten assumed that’s the direction her career was taking.
Patten applied for jobs in either pediatrics or emergency, but at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Memorial Hospital, she worked in the Intensive Care Nursery.
“Jump ahead 38 years, one new hospital and hundreds of babies, I am still caring for our most fragile population and their families,” Patten says.
Patten is a support system for families going through the worst times in their lives.
“I feel one of the most important things that I try to do is take one of the most difficult times in a family’s life and make that time just a little bit better, whether that means offering them a glass of water, a kind word or just an ear,” Patten says.
Patten has created lifelong connections with her patients.
“I have laughed with my families. I have cried with my families. I have gone to their homes after discharge to help care for their babies as their visiting nurse,” Patten says. “Now when I see babies of babies I’ve cared for, I’d like to think I could trade a rocking chair in for a beach chair.”
GRANITE STATE NURSING EXCELLENCE
How We Work
CoreMedical Group connects exceptional clinicians with high-performing healthcare organizations.
From travel nursing and travel allied to permanent placement, we provide fast, seamless onboarding and a clinician-first approach that elevates care at every level.
Michelle Proulx MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CNML
Senior Nurse Leader (Large) • Vice President of Patient Care Services, Chief Nursing Officer • St. Joseph Hospital
Michelle Proulx’s mother encouraged her to become a nurse and has supported her throughout her career, inspiring Proulx to become a mentor to other nurses.
Proulx began her nursing journey as a volunteer candy striper at a local community hospital, which sparked her interest in patient care. While in college, she returned as a student nurse intern during the summer and later transitioned into a patient care technician and nursing assistant.
“I remained in that position throughout my education, and after earning my RN/BSN, I was fortunate to begin my nursing career on the same unit where my nursing journey first began,” Proulx says.
As vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer for St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua, Proulx oversees inpatient care services and nursing practice.
“My team and the patients we care for inspire me every day to strive for excellence in my nursing practice,” she says. “Seeing the dedication and compassion of those around me motivates me to give my best.”
Proulx has had many mentors through her career who have helped her grow as a leader. She aims to do the same for her team.
“I pride myself on supporting and encouraging nurses to reach their career goals, through further education, advanced degrees and certifications,” she says.
Paul J. Reczek RN
Sarah Johnston MSN, RN, CENP, CCRN
Gerontology Nursing • Associate Vice President of Inpatient Clinical Operations • Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital
Anurse for the past 27 years, Sarah Johnston began as an LNA, like her mother did.
Now, as associate vice president of inpatient clinical operations at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, Johnston oversees about 90 people across the hospital’s med/surg, short-stay, care management and cardiopulmonary teams.
Johnston’s interest in geriatric care blossomed at the hospital, with its strong geriatric team, an assisted-living facility and an independent facility on campus.
The medical community’s understanding of geriatric care has evolved through research and technology, she says.
“We’re allowing folks to live longer and, in some cases, healthier lives,” Johnston adds.
It’s essential to be dedicated and be a good listener, to better identify a patients’ needs.
“You really need a champion, somebody who has a passion for it, who can really get behind it,” Johnston says.
Johnston, a critical care registered nurse, loves finding ways to help people feel better.
“I love the complexity of trying to help people through things, put the puzzle pieces together — essentially, what could make somebody feel better? What’s going wrong?” Johnston says.
Front Line / Administrative Nursing (Small)
Nurse Manager, Community Based Outpatient Clinics
Acting Nurse Manager Primary Care
VA Manchester Healthcare System
As nurse manager for four community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) within the VA Manchester Healthcare System, Paul Reczek also collaborates with interdisciplinary leadership to provide quality care for veterans.
Reczek calls his work “one of the most meaningful aspects of my career.”
An RN for nearly 17 years, Reczek has spent 11 years with VA Manchester and seven as a CBOC nurse manager. He has also brought his skills to a long-term-care rehab unit, a med-surg department, and the wound care center at Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport, Mass.
Reczek fondly recalls his time in Canada as nurse manager in a kosher long-term care facility.
“These experiences shaped my leadership style and reinforced the importance of adaptability and cultural awareness,” Reczek says.
Reczek is inspired to reach excellence in nursing by his father, and paternal and maternal grandfathers, who all served in the military.
“They were men of integrity, mentoring strength, and compassion. Honoring their legacy through my work at the VA motivates me to strive for excellence every day.” Reczek says.
Amanda Brissette RN, BSN
Front Line/Administrative Nursing (Large)
Clinical Nurse Supervisor
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Amanda Brissette comes from an entire family who has dedicated time toward helping others.
Her career began in 2010 at Dartmouth Hitchcock through a medical assistant internship, but she soon wanted to learn more.
She started nursing school at night and during weekends, while working as a medical assistant. By 2014, she graduated from Rivier University with an ASN and became a registered nurse in GI/Hepatology.
After her director encouraged her to advance her career even further, Brissette became a clinical nurse supervisor in 2020. She’s currently the clinical nurse supervisor for all offsite specialty clinics at Dartmouth Hitchcock’s Manchester/Bedford division.
Brissette continues her education and is pursuing her MSN at UNH.
Brissette has learned a lot, including that she and her team can handle almost anything. Last year, she and other department members handled flooding severe enough that several departments had to be relocated, including patients and equipment. A similar flood a month later didn’t dampen their spirits or can-do attitude.
“I really do have to commend my staff for all of their perseverance, flexibility and keeping the department up and running as if it were just another day,” Brissette says.
Rebecca L. Socci MSN, RN NPD-BC, MEDSURG-BC, WCC
Joan Loftus DNP, RN
Academic Nurse Educator/Researcher • Director and Chair of Nursing, Associate Professor of Nursing • Colby-Sawyer College
While reflecting on her nursing career, Joan Loftus believes that the most essential characteristic to nursing is the ability to listen.
“Listening is an essential character trait of nursing leaders and faculty, guiding trust, collaboration and thoughtful decision making,” says Loftus, who is now director and chair of nursing at Colby-Sawyer College where she oversees the undergraduate and graduate nursing programs.
“By listening carefully to students and colleagues, I can build trust, support meaningful learning, and make decisions grounded in real experiences and needs,” she says. “In many ways, listening is at the heart of nursing as it is how we show empathy, respect and genuine care for the whole person.”
As a nurse for over 40 years, her practice has included all areas of critical care nursing, followed by many years as a geriatric nurse practitioner. She now focuses on the education of future nurses and is inspired by the relationship she has with her students and mentor.
“My mentor continues to show me what integrity, generosity and commitment to the profession truly look like,” she says. “I’m also very fortunate to work with an exceptional team of colleagues. All of this reminds me that excellence in nursing grows from relationships, continuous learning and a genuine desire to serve others.”
Professional Nurse Educator • Director of Clinical Education, AHA Training Center Coordinator • New London Hospital
Rebecca Socci discovered her passion for clinical education while she was working at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center while completing her MSN in Education and teaching as a clinical instructor at Colby-Sawyer College, in conjunction with her full-time nursing role.
In 2022, she started working at New London Hospital as the Inpatient Services Clinical Nurse Educator, and in July 2024, she became director of clinical Education.
In her current role, Socci says that patience is one of the most important elements.
“As an educator and professional development specialist, we meet adult learners through all walks of life in our work. Each person needs something slightly different in order to be successful, and it takes a great deal of patience to sometimes figure out what it is that they need,” Socci says.
In health care, Socci believes that everything comes back to the needs of her patients, which inspires her to reach for excellence.
“In my role, I believe that by providing the staff with the tools and knowledge to be successful, competent and efficient in their positions providing front line care to our patients, then in turn our patients will have better outcomes,” Socci says.
At Access Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics’s Auburn Surgery Center, our experienced OR, PACU, PAT nurses and CRNAs are dedicated to comfort, safety, and outstanding patient experiences, from pre-op through recovery.
Carley Westenfeld MSN, RN, CCRN Team • Unit Nurse Manager • Neuro ICU, Neuro Special Care Unit, Interim Neuroscience ENT/EMU
Carley Westenfeld currently serves as the unit nurse manager for the Neuro Critical Care Unit and Neuro Special Care Unit, as well as the interim manager for the Neuroscience ENT/EMU Unit at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.
Westenfeld grew up in Springfield, Vt., which gave her a strong sense of community and connection to the patients and families her team serves. Since beginning her nursing career about 15 years ago, she has spent most of her time in the Surgical Trauma ICU.
“I was fortunate to be surrounded by leaders who recognized my potential and encouraged me to pursue a leadership role, which I formally stepped into in 2018,” Westenfeld says.
In the fall of 2023, Westenfeld was promoted to unit nurse
Unit • Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
manager for the Neuro ICU and Neuro Special Care Unit.
“Over the past three years in this role, I have had the privilege of experiencing many moments that inspire a deep sense of pride and fulfillment,” says Westenfeld, who is being recognized with her neuro unit nurse colleagues Ellen McGraw, Sandy Thomas-Mathurin, Stephanie Moore and Shawna Malynowski with the “Team” award.
“Among the most meaningful was our unit receiving the AACN Beacon Award for Excellence in 2025. This distinguished award recognizes units that achieve outstanding patient outcomes, foster a healthy work environment, and consistently apply evidence-based nursing practices — standards our team exemplifies each day.”
From left: Ellen McGraw, Sandy Thomas-Mathurin, Carley Westenfeld, Stephanie Moore and Shawna Malynowski.
DISCOVER THE
The secret is out
In every season, the Sugar River Region offers something unforgettable. Come for a visit, and you’ll see why we love to call it home.
A member at Sycamore Gardens in Concord carries a bucket of plants as she leaves for the day.
Growing Together
Community gardens cultivate
food and sense
of belonging, while connecting people to the land
BY KARA MCGRATH
When the mayor of Detroit kickstarted the first official community gardens in the United States in the 1890s, the idea that one might need to go out of their way to touch grass every day would have seemed absurd.
Organizers formed those early communal plots — the “victory gardens” that sprouted in vacant city lots and saw booms in popularity each time there was a World War — with the goal of supporting a population struggling with economic recessions.
In 2026, New Hampshire’s community garden scene is quite robust, particularly in larger cities where people are less likely to own land where they could raise plants. Exactly how each one works varies (for instance, some are free to join, others charge a small fee; some provide plants or seeds and others provide gardening education), but the general idea is that community members who sign up will get their own little plot to care for throughout the growing season.
These organizations have the primary goal of increasing access to fresh food. “Our mission is all about connecting folks to the land, their food and each other,” says Melissa Grella, founder and executive director at Taproot, which runs the Lancaster Community Garden.
In addition to the plots that members can rent out each summer to grow their own crops, Taproot dedicates six beds to growing food for the organization’s food pantry. Grow Nashua has a community garden, and runs the Little Free Farm Stand, which the group fills with extra produce donated by local gardeners and farms.
Even if you do have the space to grow at home, community gardens can be a valuable resource for anyone whose green thumb is looking a bit dull. Grella keeps a plot at the Lancaster garden specifically to be used as an education bed, and brings in outside farmers to teach workshops. The Sycamore Community Garden in Concord is currently working
with the USCA Farm Service Agency to teach members about cover cropping every fall, Ruth Heath, the board president, says.
On top of all the fresh fruits and veggies, there’s arguably an even bigger focus on growing community. For starters, finding a buddy is crucial to success when the garden isn’t right in your backyard. “If you miss a week of watering, your plants are dead, and that’s pretty much the end of your season,” Justin Monroe, a co-founder of Grow Nashua, says. Buddies can chip in when the other person is on vacation or has to pick up extra shifts at work.
While these gardens are open to all, both Grow Nashua’s community garden and Sycamore Community Garden were started to support new-to-America families, particularly refugees and immigrants who’ve recently landed in the Granite State.
“(My wife and I) were like, ‘Oh, I wonder what I would do if I was stuck in another country, and I had to work two jobs and I lived in the inner city and I couldn’t grow the vegetables that I wanted to grow for my family recipes?’” Monroe recalls. He started asking people he’d meet while volunteering
if they’d be interested in a free place to grow some food. “People kept saying yes,” Monroe says.
The low barrier to entry (Grow Nashua’s gardens are free; Sycamore and Lancaster both charge $20 to reserve a plot) means these plots can become third spaces for people from many parts of the local community. “One of our secondary missions is to provide a cross-cultural experience so there’s more cross-cultural understanding,” Heath says. “It’s nice to get (other members of the community) sprinkled in there with the refugee and immigrant population.” She says that for the past three years, they’ve been successfully integrating interested gardeners onto the board so they can be involved in the group’s policy- and decision-making.
Monroe seconds this sentiment. “The garden is really just a tool to connect with families,” he says. “Once families are connected with us, (we ask) ‘How can we better care for this family? What else can we do that would help them? How can we get their voice heard?’” Monroe says.
Grow Nashua uses Palabras Consulting, a local translation company, to ensure their documentation is in a language families can understand. The organization passes out fliers for other programs — like childcare or fuel assistance — that their members might need. And Monroe says bringing in members across the income spectrum helps open doors for new Americans who might otherwise have had a harder getting through.
“If your circle and your network only is working at low-income jobs, then that is
There are 37 plots at Lancaster Community Garden, which is in its 15th growing year.
often the circle that you’ll end up stuck in,” he says. “Grow Nashua provides a foundation for the gardens and we provide the seeds, but then all that happens beyond that is up to the people that are gardening.”
The desire for more third spaces (particularly ones that involve the aforementioned grass-touching) is only growing in our increasingly isolated, online age. If a community garden sounds appealing, all three mentioned in this story have volunteering opportunities that range from tending the gardens to doing fundraising and running educational programs.
“One of our secondary missions is to provide a cross-cultural experience so there’s more cross-cultural understanding.”
— RUTH HEATH
Don’t live nearby? You may be able to start one in your own community. Grella found the space for the Lancaster gardens simply by wandering around town. When she’d see a plot that looked like a good spot for a garden, “I would go into the town clerk’s office and ask the tax collector, ‘Who owns this property?’” Then, she’d reach out and ask if they might be interested in donating the space.
If you’re going this route, the most important thing to keep in mind is access, both to the garden (“You don’t want it to be on the outskirts (of town) where everybody has to get in their car” to get there, Grella says, as most of her members bike or walk), and to water. When the Sycamore gardens first opened, members had to carry buckets from a nearby pond “through a poison ivy patch over a pallet bridge,” Heath says. Now, they have a solar-powered well pump that puts everyone in the 2-acre garden within 50 feet of a water source.
In keeping with the community-building theme, the people running these gardens are typically happy to help others get started.
“Our logo is designed so that the city name can come off and another one can go on,” Monroe says. “People can just call me or email me, and I’ll help them.” NH
Community Gardens Near You
Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition • Monadnock Region • mfcommunitycoalition.org
Keene Community Garden Connections • Keene • antioch.edu
Ken Kasarian Community Garden Moultonborough • Facebook
Hanover Community Gardens • Hanover • hanovergardens.org
Sterns-Davis Community Garden • Amherst • Facebook
Dover Community Garden • Dover • dovercommunitygarden.wordpress.com
Tasker Hill Community Garden • Conway • grassrootsfund.org
Hampton Victory Garden • Hampton • hamptonnh.gov/393/The-Victory-Garden
Garden plots are maintained with the help of members and local volunteers.
Members gather outside one of Grow Nashua’s community growing spaces.
Field and Screen
Champion lacrosse player and coach Dana Boyle has found success as a sportscaster
BY LYNNE SNIERSON
After the banners are tattered, the trophies are tarnished, the awards are dust-covered and the spotlight fades, character is what lasts.
Character is the essence of ESPN and ACC Network sportscaster Dana Boyle.
“She is the kind of kid you would want your child to be like,” Howard Sobolov, the retired Londonderry High School athletic director, said about Boyle, who was an outstanding scholar-athlete there, a leader among her peers and is enshrined in the school’s Hall of Fame.
Boyle, a three-time U.S. Lacrosse All-American in 2008-2010, led the Lancers to their first of three New Hampshire state Division 1 championships and was the captain when the girls’ team won two more, including back-to-back titles in 2009 and in the 2010 perfect 19-0 season.
Her prowess on the field and proficiency in the classroom earned her a full scholarship to the University of Virginia, which is renowned for rigorous academics and superior athletics while competing in the intensely competitive Division 1 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
“She’s going to tell you how she feels and what she’s thinking even if it bothers you so we’re all going to get better. She’s going to share what’s on her mind,” says Julie Myers, who was the head coach of the national champion Virginia Cavaliers women’s lacrosse team for 28 years.
Boyle, 34, is recognized as a relentlessly hard worker driven to excel. While pursuing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and making the All-ACC Women’s Lacrosse Team and All-ACC Academic Team, she held down a position in the UVA Athletics Department. She also coached a girls’ team to the Virginia high school state championship and was named the Central Virginia Coach of the Year.
“I loved coaching them so much. That is one of my most cherished memories and al-
ways will be. I had no time. I was 24, 25, 26, 27 and made a lot of sacrifices, especially on the social side,” she says. “I was spending my weekends on a high school lacrosse field.”
Simultaneously she was positioning herself for a high-profile, successful sports broadcasting career.
“One day I was sitting at my desk in the athletics department, and I got a call from a guy in video services who asked if I would be interested in calling any lacrosse games,” she says. “I already had that full-time job, but I said yes because that’s what I do, even though I didn’t know how to do it then.”
At the outset it wasn’t glamorous, and it wasn’t lucrative.
“I would be working my full-time job, which is a seven-days-a-week job and not a 40-hour-per-week job. I’d work 9 to 5 in the department and then work a basketball game at night, then get up very early in the morning on a Saturday to drive from Charlottesville (Virginia) to Chapel Hill (North Carolina) 3½ hours one-way to call a lacrosse game for $100.” She was spending more money than she was making.
“You end up losing money after paying out of pocket for gas and food, printing out your own rosters and other expenses,” she says. “Then I’d drive the 3½ hours back and work a baseball game on Sunday for my real job, and then on Monday get up and do it all over again the next week.”
But when the opportunity came, Boyle was ready to take it.
“I showed up, but I was really terrible when I started. I just kept pushing through,” she says. “This was before the ACC Network launched with ESPN, so I did five or six games that year. The next year they launched, and Amy Rosenfeld (formerly with ESPN) just happened to be listening, and she recommended me. That’s how I got started.”
Boyle joined ESPN in 2020 as an analyst and sideline reporter for collegiate and professional lacrosse. In 2024, she was also named the sideline reporter for Primetime Football on the ACC Network and her star keeps rising.
Her Virginia Cavaliers coach is among her biggest fans.
“She’s crushing it. I’m so proud of her,” Myers says. “Every time I see her on TV, I think that’s my Dana. My 18-year-old who came here from New Hampshire so green and with so much to learn, and she’s just putting it all out there. She’s doing a great job.”
Boyle’s colleagues at the network wholeheartedly agree.
“Her openness to help people is at the core of who she is. That translates to the broadcast world because the people who encounter her
Boyle gets the game story straight from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill head football coach Bill Belichick.
Family Foundation
Dana Boyle credits her family for guiding her toward success. So does her high school athletic director.
“Dana comes from a great family,” says retired Londonderry High School athletic director Howard Sobolov.
There will be no argument from her.
“My parents are such an important part of this journey,” she says admiringly of Angela and Mike Boyle. “Now that I’m older, I’m even more appreciative of the sacrifices they made for me. I never was told no when I said I wanted to do something. They said ‘yes, we’ll figure it out.’ My dad was a pilot in the military, so he traveled a lot and much of the time it was on my mom to get me to and from practice.”
Her father was deployed to Kuwait when she was in high school and to Afghanistan when she was college, which put a lot of strain on her mother, Boyle says. “It was really difficult. My mom held down the fort. She kept business as usual. She is a rock star. I’m very appreciative.”
The Boyles have every reason to be proud of their daughter and all she keeps accomplishing.
“To this day they send me pictures when I’m on TV like they’ve never seen me on screen before,” she says with a laugh.
whether they are the players, the coaches, or her colleagues feel comfortable around her because she is such a wonderful person,” says Paul Carcaterra, who has been with ESPN since 2010 as a lacrosse and college football game analyst and sideline reporter.
Boyle also has a knack for the profession, Carcaterra says.
“Dana is really finding her groove and her real voice as a sideline reporter. She understands the value of storytelling,” he says. “With that comes a little less analysis in terms of the breakdown of Xs and Os, but from the human perspective she really understands how to support the broadcast team and how to support the overall production.”
Boyle is thankful to everyone who is an integral part of her journey, which is why she generously answers every text, DM and email she gets from aspiring sportscasters.
“I try to be a role model for people coming up in the business. I try to help because I had people help me and I think it’s important to pay it forward,” she says. “We’re all trying to get to where we want to be. I really believe we all have to help each other.” NH
Driven by Sports
Dana Boyle was a little girl when the sports bug bit.
“It’s hard to articulate when, perhaps when I was in sixth grade,” says Boyle, who was enamored with University of Tennessee Women’s Basketball, specifically head coach Pat Summitt.
“Our neighbor was from Tennessee, and they were big fans,” she says.
The late Pat Summitt is recognized as one of the greatest and toughest basketball coaches of either gender. The Hall of Famer guided Tennessee to eight national championships.
“I loved how Pat Summitt was such an advocate for women and how fiery she was. It lit me up inside,” Boyle says. “It showed me there was a path forward and that you can play a college sport, you can be educated, you can be beautiful and you can express yourself.”
For birthdays, Boyle would ask for trips and tickets to see the team play in person, especially when future Duke University Head Coach Kara Lawson and newly inducted Basketball Hall of Famer Candace Parker wore Tennessee Orange and future WNBA All-Star Diana Taurisi was on the court for UConn.
“I got to witness some of the most incredible female athletes, and I didn’t even know it them. My dad would take me to
the games in Connecticut and in Knoxville, Tennessee, and I got to take in the whole experience. I would sit in the stands and not even watch the game.”
Boyle says that she didn’t attend college at Tennessee because, in her words, she wasn’t good enough at basketball. But she had fallen in love with lacrosse and was so accomplished on the field and in the classroom that coaching legend Julie Myers offered a full scholarship to the University of Virginia, where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and made the All-ACC Women’s Lacrosse Team and the All-ACC Academic Team.
“The University of Virginia changed my whole life as well,” she says. “I landed in the perfect place, and I am so grateful for that,” she says. “Had I not gone to school there and played lacrosse, I would not have met the people I did and be in the position I am in now. It continues to open doors for me in ways that I never thought possible.”
Myers had even more of a profound effect on her than Summitt did.
“Now that I’m older, I can see that Julie has one of the greatest moral compasses that I’ve ever witnessed. She always did the right thing. She taught me that. That’s one of the best things that I’ve taken away from my experience playing for her. I’m so grateful.”
Boyle, a former All-ACC lacrosse player, interviews key players on the newly-crowned national champion University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill women’s lacrosse team.
The Missing Link in HRT?
Local providers tout the benefits of testosterone for women
BY KRYSTEN GODFREY MADDOCKS / PHOTO BY PIXEL-SHOT
Women experiencing perimenopause and menopause symptoms, like fatigue and hot flashes, often leave doctors’ offices with more questions than answers. Doctors may prescribe medications to treat low estrogen or progesterone, but these prescriptions may only partially address what women feel.
In November 2025, the Food and Drug Administration removed the “black box” safety warnings from estrogen-based hormone therapy. Previously, the warning stated that estrogen therapies carried risks of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and dementia. Later reviews found these risks were overstated, especially for women under 60. After the removal of the warning, interest in hormone replacement therapy skyrocketed, and some drug manufacturers struggle to meet the demand for estrogen products.
The FDA currently approves two types of hormone therapy for women approaching menopause, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecolo-
gists. Women can take estrogen only, or a “combined hormone therapy” that includes estrogen and progesterone.
However, no FDA-approved formulation of testosterone has been approved for women in the United States, prompting local health care providers to help fill that gap in treatment.
Salem Med Spa Offers Testosterone Treatment as part of HRT
“Women need testosterone,” says Jessica St. Jean, MSN, FNP-C, a board-certified family nurse practitioner and the founder of JSJ Aesthetics & Wellness. “We need it just as much as a man. We have three times more testosterone in our bodies than we have estrogen, and it’s a very important sex hormone for women.”
St. Jean established her aesthetics business in 2014, which also includes locations in Methuen and Medford, Mass., after a decade of caring for post-thoracic surgery patients at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. At JSJ Aes-
thetics, she offers a wide range of advanced cosmetic and wellness services, including Botox, microneedling and peptide therapy. She decided to include hormone replacement therapy services after learning more about its benefits in her health care training.
“Women walk in, and they say, ‘I have brain fog. I walk into the room, and I can’t remember what I’m there for. I’ve got joint pain. I’m a little more irritable. I have anxiety I didn’t notice before. I no longer have a libido like I used to. I’m gaining weight around my mid-section,’ ” St. Jean says. “Or they say, ‘My primary care provider says I’m depressed and want to give me a depression medication.’ Once I hear those signs and symptoms, I start diving into the consult.”
In your 30s, you’ll lose testosterone. In your 40s, progesterone. In your 50s, estrogen, St. Jean says. Even without lab work, she says women in their 50s could likely benefit from testosterone, progesterone and potentially estrogen, depending on where they are in their menopause journey.
Patients complete lab work before starting medication, but their symptoms matter just as much as their lab results. Because St. Jean does not accept medical insurance, she prescribes bioidentical hormones rather than the synthetic hormones that insurance typically covers.
There are many nontangible benefits of estrogen and progesterone, which patients may not feel as immediately as testosterone, St. Jean says. She offers patients options after carefully reviewing their blood work and calculating dosage based on their hormone levels. Patients with a history of clotting disorders or positive estrogen receptor cancer should not take estrogen, St. Jean says.
“But I can still give you testosterone, and I’m telling you, it makes you feel so much better,” she says.
Women who opt to try testosterone therapy get pellets inserted into their back fat every three to four months, and the drug is absorbed in their bodies over time. St. Jean measures their blood levels every five weeks. Often, bioidentical estrogen pellets can be inserted at the same time, although progesterone is given as an oral supplement taken at nighttime, she says.
Testosterone therapy is not without risk. Common side effects include developing acne or facial hair. However, the 2025 study, “Testosterone: Strong Enough for a Man, but Made for a Woman,” published by the European Society of Medicine, dispels the myth that testosterone causes aggression or heart problems.
Many women report feeling better soon after receiving testosterone treatment, St. Jean says, which is why she’s passionate about including it as part of hormone replacement therapy treatment. She tells patients not to be surprised if their primary care provider or gynecologist isn’t on board with their treatment.
“It’s not their fault,” she says. “They don’t have the education and they’re still being told it’s not okay.”
Urogynecologist, Nurse Practitioner Open Practice to Address Midlife Health
Two traditional health care providers opened their own practice in April to better meet the needs of women suffering from perimenopause or menopause symptoms, and are quickly filling up their schedules.
Dr. Veronica Triaca and Trisha Brooks, APRN, launched Restore Women’s Well-
ness in Concord to provide comprehensive, individualized care focused on midlife health, hormonal transitions and sexual health.
Both women bring decades of experience in urogynecology and women’s health, and recognized a need for more patient education and treatment than traditional health care offers. They treat insomnia, hot flashes, and lack of libido, and support a wide range of hormone imbalances and sexual health disorders.
“Historically, there hasn’t been a lot of places for women to go get the treatment they need or feel heard,” Brooks says. “We wanted the autonomy to branch out and see patients in our own time.”
Like JSJ Aesthetics, Restore Women’s Wellness includes testosterone as part of its overall hormone replacement therapy approach.
“If you were to ask for estrogen, most people won’t offer you testosterone,” Triaca says. “The reality is that there’s some synergy to that. We know that it does more than just address libido. It helps with muscle mass loss, which we drastically lose when we hit our perimenopausal and menopausal phase of life.”
A dip in women’s testosterone levels may also be attributed to the “brain fog” that women often describe, but Triaca says that the benefits of testosterone therapy for women are still not “100% written.”
“International guidelines from the International Menopause Society include testosterone,” she says. “From a global standpoint, it’s more accepted as part of the conversation. The biggest change is going to happen when it becomes a non-controlled substance, which can be a barrier to treatment.”
Before prescribing any medication, Triaca and Brooks spend up to an hour with women to carefully listen to patients, screen them and explain the benefits of HRT and the differences between a mist, a gel, a patch, or a pellet. They also answer questions and offer options in a supportive space.
“HRT, wellness, and feeling good are all fabulous goals, but when you look at the science, (what HRT provides) is longevity. And to me, for no other reason, that’s a reason to go on hormone replacement,” Triaca says.
“You might feel better and have better sex, but you’re also going to live longer, and not break a hip. We’ve placed patients on statins because we know that’s a way to prevent bad cardiovascular outcomes. But we should be doing the same thing with HRT.” NH
Dad’s Rules of the Road Kept Us Safe
BY EMILY REILY / ILLUSTRATION BY PETER & ISLA NOONAN
Lawn supplies, the latest Brookstone gadget or a classic “#1 Dad” mug. They’re all great gifts for Father’s Day.
But Dad might just want one thing: a simple “thank you” for preparing us for life in a troubled and rapidly changing world.
Dads’ sage advice has been carefully curated from a lifetime of successes and mistakes, worlds of experience and loss, and plenty of common sense, and dads want to pass it on.
For this first Father’s Day without my dad, his advice is highest in my mind.
Wayne Reily, whom we called “Grandfather” (once my daughter was born) or simply “W,” was a 6-foot-1-inch, soft-spoken man of limited words; a quiet, dependable, no-nonsense member of the family.
W’s advice didn’t revolve so much around saving money or getting a good job, but how to stay safe. That was his wheelhouse.
In the ’70s and ’80s, he took my sister and me around the block in his red Chevy Vega. We sat in his lap trying to steer as he operated the pedals, creeping slowly from our house in Peabody, Mass., on Granite Street, up May Street, past Syd’s Pond, then down Granite Street’s steep hill. When it seemed like we might steer straight into the pond,
he would grab the wheel and, with hands streaked and dirty from automotive grease and WD-40, gently steer us back onto the straight and narrow.
After the Navy, he worked as a car repairman and detailer. While at Burnett’s Garage in Wenham, Mass., he treated my sister and me to quick rides in souped-up MG convertibles on sunny, leafy back streets or on Route 128’s dragway. For a 5-year-old, this felt like breaking every rule in the book. I had no idea what these MGs were about, but if my dad approved of them, then I did, too.
This was a different time: no Ubers, cell phones, on-board computers or GPS in sight. These cars had push-button coils to light a cigarette, and AC was a luxury.
We thought his automotive advice was gold. Cars had hidden, free “safety” features he identified by using catchphrases. “Heat is free, kids” meant as long as you have vents, you have heat. For an overtaxed engine, just crank the heat. You’ll be sweating bullets, but at least the car (probably) won’t break down.
The practice of running the car for 20 minutes on frigid mornings? That’s for delicate cars. W’s rules clearly state you can just get in, turn on the car and go – it will heat up just fine, and you’ll get there quicker.
Car maintenance was simple, and his advice was as DIY as you can get.
This is before cars could alert you to low levels of nearly any fluid it holds, so we always carried extras of 10W-30 oil, windshield wiper fluid, antifreeze and jugs of water. You don’t need store-bought windshield washer fluid; just fill up the reservoir with water — or drink it if you’re thirsty.
W’s general idea was that if you ever found yourself in the desert with no wiper fluid, in a blizzard with a flat, or if your oil has magically dried up – you could still get back to safety. Self-reliance was big.
Car maintenance was simple, and his advice was as DIY as you can get.
Lessons included how to safely lift and release the hood and how to check the oil level using a ratty old T-shirt, your keen eyeballs and a steady hand.
We also learned how to change a tire. It wasn’t enough to wait for someone else to do the job.
Always check oil levels; without oil, engines will “seize up,” and then you’re out one car and a lot of money. If it’s low, add more — but nothing fancy. Cars don’t need more than the basic 10W-30.
It was all over the top, but we took it to heart. And I think we secretly felt we had true insider knowledge, when most girls weren’t educated on changing tires but on how much Aqua-Net to use.
I carried these safety snippets with me once I got my first car, a used blue Ford Escort station wagon with some rusty holes in the floor. My dependable college transportation was loaded down with books, clothes and far too many decorative things. But I always made room for scrapers, shovels, tools, extra gloves, cash for tolls (no EZ-Pass to be found), maps, food and water.
Those were the first times I was really away from home and on my own. Whenever I was on the road, miles from the nearest gas station, his advice was a comfort.
My daughter, now 15, is eager to get on the road. I’ve already taught her the “Basic W’s” of car maintenance, but I’ll surely repeat the advice relentlessly, just like my dad did. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Safe travels, W. Hope your next car gets great mileage and has an even better radio. NH
