New Hampshire Magazine October 2025

Uncommon to the Core

Preserving the roots of NH's apple legacy

A fresh picked Golden Russet

DREAM RETIREMENT

What’s Inside YOUR

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FIRST THINGS

4 Editor’s Note

4 Contributors

FEATURES

40 Uncommon to the Core

Preserving the roots of New Hampshire’s apple legacy.

By Elizabeth Sands, photos by Emily Heidt

50 Positively Paranormal

Exploring the unknown with the Paranormal Investigators of New England.

By Elisa Gonzales Verdi, photos by Jared Charney

58 Run NH

Hit your stride with cooler temps and scenic splendor.

By Ernesto Burden and Timm Huffman

NAVIGATE

8 The Big Picture

Catch a ride on the Cannon Mountain tram amidst the foliage before it pauses for a two-year restoration project.

Photo by Greg Keeler

10 Our Town

The small Merrimack Valley community of Bow offers peaceful living, even if the roads are busier these days.

By Jill Armstrong

16 Food and Drink

Put your hand-picked apples to good use in a variety of dishes.

By Amy Traverso

INFORM

22 Community

Admirers of Pittsburg’s most famous landmark — and its owner — share memories of a home that’s about ready to give up the ghost.

By Emily Reily

26 Q&A

Editor and writer Mel Allen collects some of his most memorable stories for “Here in New England.”

By Mike Cote

28 What Do You Know? On the Hunt

By Marshall Hudson

30 Spotlight

How Rick Broussard and John Hession brought Greek tragedy to New Hampshire.

By Jill Armstrong

CONNECT

70 Living

Project Upcycle is redefining sustainability and style in New Hampshire.

By Chloe Barcelou, photos by Jenn Bakos

92 Out and About Calendar of events

Compiled by Elisa Gonzales Verdi

94 Healthwise

Improve your game plan: partner with a health and wellness coach to reach your goals

By Krysten Godfrey Maddocks

96 Live Free Here Lies Fear

By Amanda Andrews

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIONS

34 Beer Beat

74 Pink Power

84 Five Star

ON THE COVER: A Golden Russet is one of the many prized uncommon apple varieties that you’ll find as you pick-your-own adventure through orchards around New Hampshire. Photo by Emily Heidt

October’s Promise

I GREW UP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, but it wasn’t until I returned after living nearly half my life elsewhere that I rode the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway for the first time.

What I remember about the experience was not just the spectacular views of Franconia Notch in full foliage bloom but meeting tourists who had traveled from as far away as Japan. I had newfound appreciation for my reclaimed Granite State. The Cannon tram, which began operation in 1938, was upgraded with two 80-passenger cable cars in 1980. Now it’s time for the third generation. Catch a ride by Oct. 26 before the tram shuts down for a couple of years to make way for a $27.2 million replacement project.

For a taste of those gorgeous White Mountain views, see our Navigator photo on page 8. It’s an image that epitomizes New Hampshire.

We didn’t plan it this way, but this issue features appearances from two other New Hampshire icons: Mel Allen and Rick Broussard.

Allen, whose 45-year tenure at Yankee magazine included nearly 20 years as editor, has just released “Here in New England,” a collection of his articles that includes material from even his pre-Yankee days, when he was a young freelancer writing 3,000-word features for the Maine Sunday Telegram (page 28).

Broussard, who served as editor of New Hampshire Magazine for 30 years, teamed up with filmmaker and photographer John Hession this year to finish a film project they’ve been working on for a decade. “Granite Orpheus” presents a contemporary retelling of the Greek tragedy (page 30).

Pumpkin spice not spoken here

I feel the same way about the onslaught of seasonal pumpkin spice products that I do about artificial intelligence. If I pretend it doesn’t exist, will it all just go away? No pumpkin spice was used in the making of our October issue.

But apples? How I do love them apples. My older brother, Steve, who has been abiding by healthy dietary guidelines in his elder years, has become enamored of Pink Ladies and buys them by the bagful at a Manchester produce market.

I had never heard of them, but compared to the apples in this month’s cover feature by Elizabeth Sands (with photos by Managing Editor Emily Heidt), Pink Ladies are superstars. New Hampshire orchards are nurturing a bevy of unknown heirloom varieties like Chisel Jersey, Hewes Virginia Crab and Shire Everlasting (page 40). For how to cook them apples, check out the recipes on page 16.

What would October be without the spooky houses? Assistant Editors Emily Reily and Elisa Gonzales Verdi present a double feature.

Reily talks with admirers — and the owner — of a dilapidated house in Pittsburg that has fascinated passersby for years for its perfect picture of desolation (page 22). Verdi takes you on a trip through a mill building more than a century old that some say is haunted by the ghosts of former workers (page 50).

Don’t forget your flashlight.

Managing Editor Emily Heidt went from behind the computer to behind the lens as she photographed this month’s heirloom apple feature (and cover).

Frequent contributor Jill Armstrong wrote this month’s Our Town about Bow and Spotlight about former editor Rick Broussard and photographer John Hession’s new film, “Granite Orpheus.”

Assistant Editor Elisa Gonzales Verdi wrote this month’s feature, “Positively Paranormal” about her investigations with PI-NE. (Rumor has it her laptop is still haunted from the experience.)

Elizabeth Sands is a seasoned artist and storyteller. She wrote this month’s feature about heirloom apples, “Uncommon to the Core.”

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this ‘n that

Send letters to Editor Mike Cote, New Hampshire Magazine, 250 Commercial St., Suite 4014, Manchester, NH 03101, or email him at editor@nhmagazine.com.

ERNESTO BURDEN could live without ever being called “a natural.” It’s a compliment that devalues accomplishment, the publisher of New Hampshire Magazine says.

“You’re good at this thing, whatever it is, because you’re a natural, not because you worked really damn hard for a really long time, not because you learned to accept being really bad at something before you were good at it because you loved doing it and had a passion for it.”

That’s how Burden set the stage for “How To Master Any Skill,” the talk he presented in Manchester last year as part of TEDxAmoskeagMillyard. While he enjoyed strong audience reaction that day, Burden had to wait nearly a year for the talk to be released on YouTube — where it generated 30,000 views after just three days in late August.

Get inspired and watch it at youtube.com/ watch?v=wysAcLUQBd0

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 Restaurants. 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 Jill Hare of Bow, NH. September issue newts were on pages 8, 11, 21 and 75.

Among the Treetops

Riding the Cannon Mountain tram is one of the best ways to experience the beauty of New Hampshire’s foliage season. The 80-passenger tramway rises 2,201 vertical feet to the peak of the mountain, offering spectacular views of Franconia Notch Parkway.

This month will be the last time to catch a ride before the 45-year-old tram ceases operation to make way for a replacement, a $27.2 million project expected to take two years. It’s open daily 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Oct. 26. (cannonmt.com)

PHOTO COURTESY OF GREG KEELER

Bowled Over by Bow

The small Merrimack Valley community offers peaceful living, even if the roads are busier these days

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JILL ARMSTRONG / ILLUSTRATION BY PETER NOONAN

In the winter, motorists passing the community center on Logging Hill Road in Bow spot families, bundled up in bulky jackets, colorful mittens and wool hats, whizzing down the dedicated town sledding hill.

This same scene transforms in summer months when weekly concerts attract upward of 200 community members — music lovers of all ages who post up in lawn chairs around the town’s iconic octagonal gazebo at the bottom of the field for an evening of family entertainment.

Community involvement, it seems, isn’t hard to come by in Bow.

According to longtime resident Gerry Carrier, this is the appeal of living in this bedroom community south of Concord. Carrier is a vital member of the Bow Rotary Club, one of the town’s many notable volunteer-based organizations, having served as the club’s president on two occasions.

“Many people who join Rotary want to

give back to the community,” said Carrier, who moved to town with his wife and two children in 1977. “They’ve been here for a while, their kids have grown up and they get support from organizations in the town. They want to stay here, and they want to give back a little bit.”

With a population nearing just 8,500, Bow is a small town in the Merrimack Valley, its landscape characterized by rolling hills, bubbling brooks, woodland trails and pastoral barns. Many residents travel to nearby Concord for shopping and other services, but value the peaceful living away from the hubbub in addition to the tightknit community feel.

An important gathering place, the Baker Free Library has played a central role in the town’s cultural life for more than a century.

“I always describe it as the kitchen,” said Kaitlyn Camidge during a tour of the library one bright summer day. Camidge has served as the library’s director since 2024. “Every-

body pops in because they need something. It’s where people end up, and they just end up standing around and talking and catching up.”

Aside from offering the usual print resources, digital media and library services, Baker Free hosts a variety of programming, from story time and summer reading programs for young children to craft clubs and board game nights for adults. According to the town’s annual report, the library hosted nearly 200 programs with more than 4,300 participants in 2024.

“You see kids when they’re first being introduced to the social world, and then we watch them grow up,” Camidge said as she pointed to an exhibit promoting works of art by local preschool-age children, bright watercolor scenes decorating the walls of a reading room. “And then we have our retired

communities. You see everybody, and I just think that’s beautiful.”

The Baker Free Library sits on South Street in the Bow Mills village area, not far from where I-93 and I-89 converge. Not long after the town was incorporated in 1727, settlers harnessed the power of the Merrimack and Turkey rivers and opened several mill sites in that location, hence the name Bow Mills. These sites have long since been replaced by modern conveniences — a gas station, a hotel and a popular Chinese food restaurant, Chen Yang Li — but the elegant, neoclassical design of the library stands as a relic of the town’s past.

“I really think the library is wonderful,” said Tom Ives, who takes his grandson to Baker Free every Wednesday for the craft program. “I always thought that if you can have a vibrant library and a place for people to congregate, it makes a big difference.” Tom, who belongs to both the Rotary Club and the Bow Men’s Club, served as a library trustee for 16 years.

Longtime residents of Bow, Tom and his older brother Bob Ives operate local businesses, New Hampshire Bindery and Bow Plumbing and Heating, respectively, both originally owned and operated by their late father, Wilfred. Their mother, Connie Ives, first moved to Bow in 1935 at the age of 3. From Connie’s current residence in Loudon, a welcoming log cabin off the main road,

the three share stories of their family’s ties to the town.

“We’re community-minded,” Bob said. “We support the SPCA, all the athletic teams in town. We open and close all the baseball fields for Bow and Concord for free. It’s a community thing to me.”

“We were brought up like that,” added Tom. “If you’re able to give back, you’re not obligated to do it, but you should do it. My dad used to do all kinds of little things.”

At one point, Wilfred purchased the oneroom school house in the historic town center. “He didn’t want to see it torn down so he bought it,” Connie said. “He wanted to keep it there because his mother went to school there.” (The school house is now owned by the town of Bow.)

The conversation naturally turns to memories of simpler times: Connie swimming in nearby brooks with her mother and sister, and Tom and Bob bombing down empty dirt

The Baker Free Library features works by local artists. This summer, the library exhibited scenes painted by 3- and 4-year-old community members.

Library Director Kaitlyn Camidge stands outside the Baker Free Library between the newly donated lion statues, which replaced original cast lions Leona and Leo. Leona is displayed at the town’s municipal building.

roads on single-speed bicycles with their friends.

“There were no cars!” said Bob. “They go by in the morning to work and they’d come back by at 5 in the evening.”

The construction of the highways changed all of that, and with the increase in commuter and tourist traffic alike, many GPS systems reroute motorists across backroads, including Bow Bog Road in Bow, where the Ives family grew up, making it more difficult for residents to move swiftly through town.

Similarly, the noise of daily traffic on route 3-A is hard to ignore from the home of David and Eva Lindquist. “This house was here before the road,” David explained. “I would say sometime when the vehicles came along, they wanted to straighten out the road, and they moved the road over here.”

Lindquist’s grandfather moved to Bow from Manchester in 1902 as a 2-year-old. The family owned a farm on Valley Road — where I-89 ends now — growing and harvesting strawberries. “He was known as the strawberry king,” David said.

When the highways were built in the mid-’50s, David’s family was forced to move, so they purchased their current residence in 1959. The white farmhouse they bought — built in 1783 — sat on a 100-acre lot, known as a King’s grant, a contract of sorts that transferred ownership from the Crown to private citizens. Today, 44 acres of the original lot remain, spanning both sides of 3A.

David has five siblings, two still living in close proximity. His sister’s house sits kitty-cornered to David’s, his brother lives across the street and his son lives down the road in a house they built when David got out of the service in 1977, all on the original 100 acres. His daughter also lives a few miles down the road.

David didn’t have to travel far from home

to find the love of his life, either. “We met in the sixth grade,” David shared when asked about his 57-year marriage to Eva.

“I usually just walked up myself when I came up to visit for the day,” Eva said. “My mother was strict, so I had to be home and have supper ready back in those days.”

David and Eva met back in the 1960s, the same decade that Merrimack Station, the coal-fired electric plant, was built. Moving to Bow was appealing at this time as Public Service, now known as Eversource, paid a significant percentage of the tax base. For this reason, housing developments inevitably popped up, and eventually the town was in need of a high school, which opened in 1997.

State Rep. Eleana Colby moved to Bow in 2003 for the school system, which has consistently ranked as one of the best public institutions in the state. “I did not have children at the time, but I knew it was a place that I wanted to raise them.”

“The other thing is, what is the feedback?” she continued. “Are people’s children treated as individuals? Are people’s children respected? Is there opportunity for them to grow? What kind of programs are available? I found that all here.”

Colby’s career serving her community began by coaching, volunteering for a variety

This farmhouse, the home of David and Eva Lindquist, was built in 1783.

Connie, Tom and Bob Ives pose for a family portrait at their mother’s current residence in Loudon. Tom and Bob remain residents of Bow.

of events, and serving on the PTO.

“You meet and you learn more about the needs of the community,” she said. “The more awareness you have, those needs get bigger, and so I eventually ran for board selectman.”

Colby said that the most rewarding experience during her time serving as selectman was assisting in the effort to erect flag poles at the gazebo, a way to permanently honor the military servicemen and women of the community.

“It’s something that can unify a community, no matter what is going on. We can all kind of be grounded and reminded. There are still those pieces that we can collectively get behind.”

Except for college and his time serving in the military, Eric Anderson has lived in Bow his entire life. In fact, he lives in the same house both his parents and grandparents lived in and his family history dates back five generations.

The current chair of the Bow Heritage Commission, Anderson knows better than most how much the town has changed. With

Top: State Rep. Eleana Colby stands in front of the Bow Municipal Building on Grandview Road.

Above: This one-room schoolhouse, built in 1894, is located in the Historic Bow Center, along with the 1847 Bow Town Hall and the 1832 Bow Baptist Church.

“It’s something that can unify a community, no matter what is going o n. We can all kind of be grounded and reminded.”

—ELEANA COLBY

old photographs recently uncovered, the commission is working to document these changes in a project titled, “Then and Now,” pairing photos of older locations with photos taken at those same locales today.

In one photo, a woman poses at the Noyes Ferry Crossing of the Merrimack River, located near the former intersection of River Road with Johnson Road. This crossing no longer exists. Another black-and-white photo depicts the Bow Brick Yard of the later 1800s and early 1900s, where today one will find a lot of parked cars owned by the Grappone Automotive Group. One captures the location of the Bow Volunteer Fire Department in 1945, the volunteers posing stoically, some sporting woolen flat caps of the era, on South Street where the highway overpass crosses today.

In the lower level of the town’s municipal building, Anderson points to photographs and artifacts on display, noting their significance and source. Two antique saws — one for ripping posts and beams and another for cutting trees — were recently donated by resident John Urdi. One of the original cast lions from the Baker Free Library, worn and crumbling, sits on a plinth. Anderson explains that they were recently replaced with new statues, another donation from the community.

Aside from his extensive knowledge of the town’s history, Anderson’s impressive resume speaks to his indispensable role in the community. He served as town selectman for 30 years, a library trustee for three terms, and state legislator for 14 years, among other roles.

“I’ll tell you my favorite thing,” he said. “It’s the opportunity to volunteer, to be involved. I’m not sure what I would do if I weren’t volunteering. Cutting grass, I guess.” NH

Apple of My Eye

Put your hand-picked apples to good use in a variety of dishes

RECIPES BY AMY TRAVERSO

Pumpkin, cinnamon, salted caramel — fall is full of flavor, but apple may be at the top of our list. Yankee Magazine Senior Food Editor Amy Traverso spent four years writing a love letter to apples, all culminating into her book, “The Apple Lover’s Cookbook.” While it may be over 20 years old, the recipes are still fresh off the tree, and Traverso even released an updated edition in 2020 with more recipes, information on the best ciders and even a list of the best apple festivals. Here are a few of our favorites from it to inspire you to go to the orchard and get you cookin’!

Cardamom-Apple Soufflé Pancakes

Makes 8 to 10 pancakes

Looking for an easy soufflé pancakes recipe? Perfumed with cardamom, these free-form soufflé pancakes are lofty and delicious with no meringue or ring molds required.

Ingredients

1⅓ cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1½ teaspoons ground cardamom

1½ teaspoons baking powder

¾ teaspoon table salt, divided

6 large eggs, separated, at room temperature

1 cup whole milk, at room temperature

Instructions

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

½ cup sweet apple cider, at room temperature

1 large tender-tart apple, such as McIntosh, peeled, cored, and finely diced

Vegetable oil spray for cooking

Butter and maple syrup, for serving

Preheat the oven to 350°. Set a flat griddle to medium-high heat.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cardamom, baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt. In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks, milk and vanilla until smooth. Add the cider and whisk to combine. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and whisk just until smooth. Do not overmix.

In a large bowl, using a standing or handheld mixer, beat the egg whites with the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt until they reach firm (but not dry) peaks (when you lift the whisk out of the eggs, the whites should form a peak that curls over only slightly). Gently fold half the egg whites into the batter until mostly evenly mixed. Repeat with the remaining whites until no streaks remain. Fold in the apple. Spray your griddle with vegetable oil spray. Spoon out about ⅓ cup batter onto the griddle at a time, leaving plenty of room between each pancake. For extra height, let the pancakes set for a minute, then spoon a few tablespoons of additional batter on top. Cook just until the bottom is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Spray the top of the pancakes with a bit of cooking vegetable oil spray, then flip. Cook until the bottom sets, 2 minutes more, then transfer to a baking sheet in a single layer and bake in the oven until the center sets, about 3 minutes. Repeat with the remaining batter. Serve warm, with butter and maple syrup.

Sausage, Apple and Squash Sheet-Pan Supper with Fragrant Herb Oil

In this easy one-pan supper, apples and squash provide the sweetness, cranberries the acidity, and herbs and sausages the rich and savory flavor.

The sheet-pan supper is the answer to every busy person’s daily struggle to get

Ingredients

⅓ cup olive oil

1–2 sprigs each fresh sage, thyme, and rosemary

2 medium (1½ pounds total) unpeeled Honeynut squash (or equivalent amount of peeled butternut squash)

1 large red onion, cut into ½-inch-thick wedges

1 large firm-tart apple, such as Granny Smith, cored and cut into ½-inch-thick wedges

½ cup fresh cranberries

1½ teaspoons kosher salt

¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

6 fresh (uncooked) sweet or hot Italian sausages (about 1½ pounds total)

a great dinner on the table with minimal effort. It’s a one-pan wonder with very limited prep work and plenty of walkaway time. In this dish, apples and squash provide sweetness, cranberries serve up some acidity, herbs and sausages

Instructions

4 to 6 servings

are richly savory. It’s fall on a plate.

Note: Sage, thyme and rosemary all work beautifully in this dish. You can use any combination of each, or just use a single herb.

Preheat the oven to 425° and set a rack to the middle position. Combine the oil and herbs in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook until the herbs have wilted and the oil is very fragrant, about 3 minutes. Remove herbs from oil and set aside.

Halve the squash lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, then cut crosswise into ½-inch-thick half-moons. In a large bowl, combine the squash with the onion, apple, cranberries and the herbs from the oil. Pour the oil, to taste, over the vegetables (you can use any leftover oil in a vinaigrette, or drizzled over potatoes). Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Gently stir everything together with a spatula, then turn out onto a rimmed baking sheet and spread into an even layer.

Prick the sausages several times with a sharp knife, then lay them over the vegetables. Roast, turning the sausages and stirring the vegetables halfway through, until the squash is tender and the sausages are browned and sizzling, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve hot.

PHOTO BY ADAM DETOUR, STYLING BY KENDRA ELIZABETH SMITH FOR YANKEE MAGAZINE

Apple & Mustard Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Tangy mustard, tart apples, sharp cheddar, and crusty bread work together to make these seriously delicious grilled and gooey cheese sandwiches.

Ingredients

1½ tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature

4 slices sourdough bread

2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard

⅓ large firm-tart apple (about 3 ounces; see “Apple notes,” below), unpeeled, cored, and sliced very thin

4 ounces sharp Cheddar, aged Gouda, Gruyère, or Havarti cheese, thinly sliced

Makes 2 sandwiches

You can make this sandwich with or without a panini press.

If you don’t have a panini press, try the technique below, and you’ll have a perfect

Instructions

crispy-melty grilled cheese sandwich without the grill marks. A number of different cheeses work equally well here, so feel free to experiment.

You’ll need one large skillet and one medium-size one, preferably cast-iron (the heavier the better). Set both skillets over medium heat and let them get hot.

Meanwhile, butter one side of each bread slice; then lay slices butter-side down on your cutting board. Spread equal portions of mustard on two slices; then divide apple slices into two portions and lay on top of mustard. Divide cheese slices and lay over apples. Top sandwiches with remaining bread slices, buttered side up.

Lay sandwiches in the large skillet. Cook until bottoms are browned, 3-4 minutes; then flip. Set the preheated medium-size skillet on top of sandwiches as a press. (If your skillet isn’t heavy, weigh it down with a water-filled kettle or a few large cans of tomatoes.) Cook until both sides are evenly browned, about 2 minutes more.

Apple notes: Use whatever variety you have on hand, but a firm-tart apple (such as Granny Smith) goes well with the mustard and cheese in the sandwich.

PHOTO

DAVID MUHMADI

Last Stand for Spooky House

Admirers of Pittsburg’s most famous landmark — and its owner — share memories of a home that’s about ready to give up the ghost

BY EMILY REILY

In Pittsburg, about 20 miles from where

U.S. Route 3 ends and Canada begins, a dilapidated home appears just over the horizon, set back from the road, and exposed.

Over the years, its front door has been boarded up with plywood, and many windows are broken or glassless. The center is heavily sagging, thanks to a dormer that now pierces the roof.

Thin wooden supports seem unable to shoulder the roof’s weight. It appears on the verge of collapse.

A yellow rope attempts to block off the property from unwanted visitors. Still, the lawn around the house seems to be maintained.

Over time, the house has earned several nicknames: “the creepy house,” “the spooky house,” and even “monster house.”

Despite its eerie appearance, it has a long history of admirers. Fans across New England often stop by this stately and solitary home to photograph it, gawk at it and romanticize about its glory days.

The home contains fond memories for Joe Maccini. He owns the dilapidated house.

His mother, Evangeline "Eve" (Merrill) Maccini, and other members of his family grew up there. Maccini, who lives in Woodsville some 90 miles away, spent time there as a kid.

“I can remember going up there with my folks. It was not nice up there,” says Maccini, referring to the North Country’s harsh winters.

There used to be a barn to the left of the

Chris Agurkis of Gilford was practicing astrophotography and decided to use this run-down home in Pittsburg as a backdrop to the night sky.

house but no other structures on the property, he says.

“ There were always people living in it when I was growing up. My grandfather rented it,” Maccini says.

As for the heavy sagging in the roof, Maccini says it’s likely due to those dormers.

“I've got pictures of that house before it had the dormer on it. When they put the dormer on, it put a lot of weight out on the front,” he says. “So that was the end of that. It was already a landmark. It just sat out there by itself, looked kind of ragged. People that grew up in that area have told me a lot about it.”

‘Monster House’

Jerry LoFaro of Henniker, an illustrator, photographer and author, found the house while researching his book, “Abandoned Vehicles of New Hampshire: Rust in Peace.”

“I was struck by its appearance, and it

reminded me of the house in the animated movie ‘Monster House,’ ” he says, though he hasn’t made the journey north to photograph it yet.

“As a photographer, I really enjoy chronicling things in decay, and that house is a great subject for sure. Aside from sagging dramatically, the unusual dormers over the gaping porch add creepiness because it looks like a face,” LoFaro says.

LoFaro is also an administrator for the “Forgotten New Hampshire” Facebook page. To mitigate the onslaught of photos from contributors proud to show off their discovery, he’ll space out posts to avoid spooky house burnout.

LoFaro also makes sure contributors follow posted “no trespassing signs.”

“We encourage people to be respectful of property, and just because a place appears abandoned doesn’t mean that it is,” LoFaro says.

Gilford photographer Chris Agurkis first documented the house in 2016, when he began practicing astrophotography – taking pictures of celestial objects in the night sky.

Agurkis used the backdrop of the Pittsburg house for practice. He illuminated its front using “light painting” – gathering as much available light as possible. In his photo, the home, set back on a hill, appears alive under a blanket of stars.

To Agurkis, the remote environment added to its allure.

“It was still exciting to shoot this house in the middle of the night, while hearing coyotes howling nearby,” Agurkis writes.

Agurkis is awestruck by the home’s resilience.

“It's hard to believe this image was taken nine years ago, and although the condition of the house continues to deteriorate, it remains standing today,” says Agurkis.

To fans like Lou and Allie Fish of Nashua, the house has a romantic allure that’s tinged with sadness.

Lou says Allie first brought him up to see the house because “it had a special place in (her family’s) hearts. Though none of us have ever stepped foot inside, we still love it almost like it was our own,” Fish writes.

Both history buffs, Lou and Allie look at the house through a fairy tale lens.

“We find old, abandoned houses to be very romantic. We envision the lives that once lived there, the memories that were

made, and the changes that the old houses must have undergone. And we can’t help but wonder what happened that someone walked out, locked the door behind them and never went back. What was that like?” says Fish.

Fish expects other admirers have the same questions.

“People have gotten to know the house for years — its lines, its character, its essence. What led the house to be abandoned? And then when you see something begin to deteriorate over time, you start to wonder how much longer you’ll be able to visit your ‘old friend.’ It’s become a landmark,” says Fish.

The couple often wonders what it was like when it was full of life.

“(Allie) envisions sitting out on the front porch at twilight overlooking the landscape –the lake, the untouched mountains and forests – the sounds of loons calling to each other from the nearby lakes, and the occasional moose or deer walking by. It must’ve been so peaceful to live there and call the old house home,” says Fish.

Fish says the home’s “creepy” label is unfair.

“We get really sad when we hear people refer to it this way. We both view it as part of Pittsburg’s history that is fading away. It makes us feel nostalgic for a time gone by that will never come again,” Fish says.

Haunted? ‘Hell no’

Maccini still enjoys visiting the property on the way to his cabin. He lets the grass grow out during the summer so that pollinators like birds and bees can do their job. Then he mows the grass every fall.

He says it was last inhabited about 15 years ago. Once he stopped renting the home, maintaining it became more difficult.

“When it was in good shape, I kept trying to fix it. They broke into it time after time and just destroyed the inside. They stole anything that was any good. It's in terrible shape,” he says.

He decided just to let the house go, but has trouble keeping trespassers out.

“I bought quite a lot of lumber over the years to put over the windows, and they just rip it right off. There’s hardly any windows left in the house. They broke them all,” he says.

Maccini is well aware of the home’s unsavory notoriety.

“You got no idea. I get calls; people want to buy it about once a month,” Maccini says.

When asked whether he thought the

PHOTO BY CHRIS AGURKIS

Time waits for no house

Fans know the former home isn’t going to last forever. Recent photos on Facebook have noted its steady decline.

Lou Fish recently commissioned their friend, Pittsburg artist Marti Eisele, to paint the house so they could have something to remember it by.

“We wanted a way to remember the house when it inevitably ceased to be. And we thought that the fact that the photo was at twilight sort of symbolized when we got to know it. She agreed, and now, the painting sits in our dining room so that we can be reminded of it,” Fish says.

These days, online conversations speculate as to whether it will make it through another brutal winter in the North Country. LoFaro also wonders if its days are numbered.

house was haunted, he replied, “hell no.”

“As far as a haunted house, that's what everybody says it is. You can't tell people anything different, because they’re not gonna believe you anyway,” Maccini says.

Maccini simply keeps the house because he recognizes its significance.

“They call it the creepy house. They call it the haunted house. There's a guy that grew up across the street down there on Merrill Road.

He says ‘We used to break into that about two, three times a summer.' ”

Though Maccini doesn’t have any plans to rebuild, he continues to post No Trespassing signs on the property.

“I keep the signs up because I don't want somebody to get hurt,” says Maccini.

He’s thankful that the Pittsburg Police Department and the Department of Fish and Game are keeping an eye out for intruders.

“How can it possibly survive another winter? With no visible effort apparent to restore the house, it’s only a matter of time before nature will prevail. All I know is that when it does, everyone will be posting about it,” LoFaro says.

LoFaro says buildings like this can help people wonder about what used to be.

“As with many dilapidated homes and buildings, it gives one pause to reflect on its history and who occupied it over the years, and even romanticize its existence. And like The Old Man of The Mountain, it’s a constant reminder that nothing will last forever,” LoFaro says. NH

PHOTO BY LOU FISH

/ PAINTING BY MARTI EISELE

Lou Fish of Nashua has photographed the house on Route 3 in Pittsburg often over the years, and recently posted a series of photos for the “Forgotten New Hampshire” Facebook page that shows the house’s steady deterioration.

Lou and Allie Fish of Nashua commissioned Pittsburg artist Marti Eisele to create this painting so they would a keepsake of the house once it finally falls.

Yankee Accents

Editor and writer Mel Allen collects some of his most memorable stories for “Here in New England”

BY MIKE COTE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNIE GRAVES

Mel Allen has spent nearly a halfcentury searching for stories in New England that otherwise might never be told — at least not in the way he commits to telling them. These are stories crafted from asking endless questions and listening quietly for the answers, often from people who are trying to convey the very essence of their lives.

“Here in New England” collects more than four dozen of these stories, culled primarily from Allen’s 45 years at Yankee, where he

served as editor for nearly 20 years until retiring in January 2025. We sat down with Allen at New Hampshire Magazine to talk about the book, which he arranged thematically in chapters like “The Ways We Love” and “Courage and Resilience.”

Anyone who appreciates great storytelling will witness the narrative sweep, the attention to detail and the quest to magnify the heart and soul of each person Allen encounters.

All of the stories in some way connect

people, the Peterborough resident says, sometimes by tragic circumstances.

“ The Day Kurt Newton Disappeared,” about a boy who vanished from a Maine campsite in 1975, comes from the “Hard to Forget” section.

“Everybody can relate to what it would be like to be searching for a 4-year-old child who’s missing,” Allen says.

He first met the boy’s parents while working on a story about the search for the Maine Sunday Telegram. He visited with them four years later for one he wrote for Yankee.

“The search for Kurt Newton united the entire state of Maine,” Allen recalls. “There were factories shut down. Most people did not know the family, but they came. They had to search for this kid.”

The Sunday Telegram story was published before Allen started working for Yankee. It was an apprenticeship that didn’t pay much, but it taught him how to hustle.

“When you’re a freelancer, you go after every possible story,” says Allen, who was paid $150 for a 3,000- to 4,000-word story — less once he deducted the $30 he spent on lodging, food and gas.

“But I was learning, and it gave me a portfolio so that when I came to Yankee to show my stuff, I had a pretty good portfolio,” he says.

Another Sunday Telegram story that appears in the collection is about a fellow writer named Stephen King, whom Allen met in 1976 when they lived a few miles from each other in Maine. Allen’s assignment in 1979 was to shadow the horror author upon his return to the high school where he taught English before “Carrie,” Salem’s Lot” and “The Stand” propelled him to bestseller fame.

Later that same year, when King published “The Dead Zone,” he included a character named “Mel Allen,” a reporter for the “Press Herald.”

“I doubt there’s anyone else who can say they not only helped Stephen King round up pigs, but who also became a character in one of his books,” Allen says.

TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH

With the opening paragraph of “Taking the Wheel,” a 2019 story about a young woman who takes over as captain of a tour boat for her ailing father, Allen reveals what drives his muse:

“Sometimes one person’s story can seem to contain the whole of human experience —

Mel Allen finds the Peterbrough Town Library the perfect spot for writing.

PHOTO BY ANNIE GRAVES

tragedy and triumph, despair and resilience, dreams dashed and dreams made real.”

It’s one of the stories Allen chooses to bring up during our talk, during which he launches into storytelling mode.

“I think everybody might be able to relate to Anna Milne, whose father was the captain of a tour boat in the Thimble Islands (in Connecticut) for many, many years. Everybody knew him from the time she was a little girl… She used to ride in the boat listening to her father. You know how they do those spiels in the tour boats? They’re funny, but informational.”

After Milne’s father was in a motorcycle accident and suffered brain damage, she pledged to take his place, learning how to navigate the waters from other local tour boat captains.

“She had these hopes … None of them had to do with running a tour boat, but she didn’t want to let her father’s life kind of just end that way,” Allen says. “All the other tour boat captains who were competitors took on his tours that summer, while she learned how to be a tour boat captain.”

It’s the kind of story where the happy ending is bittersweet. Something is lost; something is gained.

“This is the kind of stuff that I’ve been drawn to,” Allen says, with all the enthusiasm of a cub reporter new on the beat. “When you tell a story, you want to have a beginning, a middle and an end. You want to have surprises. You want to have people who have to overcome some incredible obstacles. This book is filled with those. I left out more, far more, from my 45 years than I have in this book.”

Allen still spends several hours a day hunkered down at the Peterborough Town Library, so it’s not surprising to learn he was meticulous in how he chose the stories that would make up “Here in New England.”

In early February, in Vancouver, British Columbia, he met his two sons, Dan, who lives in Hawaii, and Josh, who lives in Colorado, for a skiing trip. His sons grew up in New Hampshire and are expert skiers.

“I am not, and I didn’t even put my feet into ski boots. What I did is every day was walk to the ski lift to the gondola,” Allen says.

That’s where he would say goodbye to his sons for a while. It was time to gather stories for his book at a nearby library in the village.

“I had note cards I bought at Staples, like about 200 note cards. I wrote down the titles of all these stories. I brought with me a folder, probably 80 printouts from stories, and on the note cards I put titles,” Allen says. What stories would people really want to read now?

Allen started seeing themes emerge as a way to arrange the book, with the end result being a collection that could stand as more than just a random series of unrelated stories.

And if he sounds just a bit proud about the result, he’s worked a half-century to earn that right.

“These aren’t favorites. These are ones that I thought worked together, almost like if a chef was doing an incredible banquet. Every dish might not be his favorite dish, but they work together for the flavor.” NH

Allen enjoys a walk along the beach in Ogunquit, Maine, with Rudy, his dearly departed Jack Russell terrier.

Allen titled his 1982 tale about racing sled dogs “The Worst 30 Minutes of My Entire Life.”

On the Hunt Hawks and humans hunt together for treats

STORY & PHOTOS BY MARSHALL HUDSON

I’m on the eastern slope of Pack Monadnock Mountain in Temple, exploring the wooded areas of the Connolly Brothers Dairy Farm. Monadnock Falconry hosts “Hawk Walks” here, and I’m participating in one this morning. Monadnock Falconry is one of only three facilities in New England with a special education license that allows them to provide visitors with the opportunity to interact with the free flying birds being rehabilitated.

Aengus and I seem to have established a rapport and reached a mutual understanding even though we don’t speak a common language. We had an alpha-male stare-down moment when we first met and we silently evaluated each other, eyeball to eyeball.

Aengus has a strong hooked beak and some sizable, fearsome talons that command instant respect, but my first impression was that of a handsome bird, and not a scary one, as he stared at me unblinkingly with dark fierce eyes. To the extent I can read any wild bird’s thoughts or body language, Aengus demonstrated no signs of fear or anxiety. Perhaps he was able to sense that I posed no threat and had no apprehension about being his hunting partner.

Aengus is a 3-year-old male Harris’s hawk that weighs about 1½ pounds and stands 20 inches tall, with a tip-to-tip wingspan of about 40 inches. He is dark brown with copper reddish shoulder patches and white feathers on the underside of his tail. He is a

bird of prey and by instinct, an opportunist hunter.

I didn’t choose him; he chose me out of the eight or 10 other humans in today’s hawk walk event. Selecting me from the group suggests Aengus viewed me as a likely successful hunting partner. What I haven’t told him is that the meal we just mutually “captured” was actually scrap meat discreetly seeded into the leather gauntlet on my arm specifically for him to find.

Aengus’ parents were injured in the wild, so he is being taught to hunt by humans using techniques perfected in the practice of falconry. As I hawk-walk through the woods and field perimeters looking for prey, Aengus is flying majestically overhead, or perched nearby in a treetop, totally unrestrained. Aengus is free to soar and return to me or not, as he pleases. When he is in his hunting mode, he is all business; even when perched, his wings are half-open in anticipation of a sudden movement and the need to strike quickly.

I’m trying to flush out chipmunks, crickets, field mice or other rodents. Occasionally some

Marshall Hudson bonds with Aengus at Connolly Brothers Dairy Farm in Temple at a “Hawk Walk” hosted by Monadnock Falconry.

scrap meat covertly makes its way into my glove, and I raise my arm like a tree limb. Aengus decides whether to swoop down and take the offering, or whether to continue to hunt for something better. He is not a pet or tamed animal and has no emotional connection with me. My only emotional connection with him is the thrill of temporarily being a part of his world and getting a close-up glimpse of this wildlife in action.

Revenue raised from these Hawk Walks supports the rehabilitation work. Hawk Walks create an opportunity to educate the public about the raptors, their natural history and the role we play in conserving these species. Monadnock Falconry also provides educational outreach demonstrations to schools and organizations, bringing the birds to the public when the public can’t come to the birds.

Monadnock Falconry was founded by Henry Walters, who did not take the usual ornithology or wildlife biology approach into the raptor rehab profession. Walters studied Latin and Greek in high school and then majored in classics at Harvard. An undergraduate Latin course led him to Frederick the Great’s 13th-century treatise, De arte venandi cum avibus, or “Concerning the Art of Hunting with Birds.” After graduating, a traveling fellowship brought him to Ireland’s School of Falconry, where he apprenticed with European falconers. Upon returning to the U.S., Walters worked as a raptor biologist for NH Audubon and became licensed as a master falconer.

Walters’ love of ancient literature, combined with his Ireland falconry apprenticeship, is evident in the names given to some of the birds at this facility. “Aengus” is of Celtic origin and broadly means “one strength” or “exceptional vigor,” but in this case, was chosen from “The Song of Wandering Aengus,” by Irish poet William Butler Yeats. The poem is about a man catching fish, who lands a trout which turns into a fairy-like beautiful girl. The girl flees from the fisherman, and he spends the rest of his life chasing after her.

Aengus’s name may be uniquely suited for him, as he is the first Harris’s hawk of record

observed to catch and eat fish. Fish are not usually a diet staple for this species of hawk, but as an orphaned juvenile and opportunistic hunter, perhaps this atypical meal was irresistible to Aengus.

Harris’s hawks are not native to New Hampshire. Their natural territory are the desert areas of southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America and the dry regions of South America. Perhaps the reason they are not known for catching and eating fish is because their usual territory is arid lands.

Harris’s hawks are a social species, typically living together in small groups and hunting cooperatively in packs, unlike other raptors which often hunt solo. The social nature of Harris’s hawks has been attributed to their high intelligence. Their cooperative partnership hunting style allows smaller members of the group to participate, flushing out prey and chasing it toward the bigger, stronger members of the group for capture.

The rapport and mutual understanding Aengus and I reached this morning resulted in a successful hunting partnership for him. He is now satiated with a full belly and ready for some preening and a nap. But the rodents and crickets we flushed out did nothing for my half of the partnership, so now I’m going hunting with the other humans who were on the Hawk Walk.

We heard that the Connolly Brothers Dairy Farm makes the best homemade ice cream in the area, and we need to flush out the truth of that rumor. NH

Aengus, a 3-year-old male Harris’s hawk whose tip-to-tip wingspan is about 40 inches, is among the birds of prey being rehabiliated by Monadnock Falconry.

Henry Walters founded Monadnock Falconry after serving as an apprentice falconer in Ireland and working as a raptor biologist for NH Audubon.

Myth, Music & Magic in the Streets of Concord

How Rick Broussard and John Hession

brought Greek tragedy to New Hampshire

BY JILL ARMSTRONG / PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF RESURRECTION FILMS

After a long 10 years in the making, Resurrection Films’ “Granite Orpheus” will emerge from the depths of the creative underworld to the bright lights of the big screen for its official debut.

Produced and directed by journalist and former New Hampshire Magazine editor Rick Broussard and filmmaker John W. Hession, “Granite Orpheus” is a contemporary reimagining of the myth of Orpheus,

a talented musician, and his wife, Eurydice, star-crossed lovers.

In the classic Greek tragedy, Eurydice dies shortly after her marriage to Orpheus. Hell-bent on bringing her back from the Underworld, Orpheus succeeds in convincing Hades to let her return. But under one condition: He can’t look back until they both emerge from the darkness. In doubt, Orpheus turns around, and Eurydice is gone forever.

“ The Orpheus story is attractive because it’s the story of every person,” Hession said. “You can find something you love, then death rears its face, and you have to let it go. That’s no reason not to engage in the act of love. We hope the audience connects with that and gets a sense that life is still worth it in the face of death.”

Founders of Resurrection Films, a New Hampshire-based production company with a mission to revive the independent film industry in the Granite State, Broussard and Hession have long discussed making a film together. With a shared admiration for filmmaker Jean Cocteau, who directed the 1950 dream-like film “Orpheus,” they considered it only natural to remake a French classic.

“It’s a classic that marks eras, and marks genres,” Broussard said. “Occasionally, one dips back into the source material and maybe

Top right: Hades, right, surveys the situation at Penuche’s Ale House alongside faithful minions Steve White and Simon Harling (in hat).

Above: Orpheus (Bryan Halperin) embraces Eurydice (Gina Carballo) on the long elevator ride out of Hades in the concluding scenes of Granite Orpheus.

contextualizes it in a unique sense that’s about you.”

Inspired by another French remake of the tale, “Black Orpheus,” which takes place during Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, the pair made the creative decision to film on the streets of downtown Concord during the annual Market Days Festival.

“Market Days is our Carnaval,” said Broussard.

“Granite Orpheus” opens in a basement dive bar, a full crowd bopping to the sounds of local rock band Pat and the Hats. Viewers are quickly introduced to Orpheus, downtrodden by the loss of his first love in a tragic motorcycle accident. After singing a mournful song for the crowd, Orpheus is approached by Eurydice, who drags him out of his depressed state during their adventures around town.

Granite Orpheus filmmakers John Hession, left, and Rick Broussard on set for a shoot at Manchester’s The Factory on Willow.

The first touch between Eurydice (Gina Carballo) and Orpheus (Bryan Halperin) on stage leads to a romance and adventure spanning the worlds of the living and the dead.

Chloe Barcelou, as Hades’ seamstress, attempts to distract Orpheus from his underworld quest for eternal love.

Hades reunites with Eurydice as Orpheus stands alone and defeated in Concord’s Eagle Square.

Concordians will recognize iconic sites in the film: Penuche’s Ale House, Tom Devaney’s art studio and the Arnie’s ice cream booth, which has been a Market Days staple for decades.

“I was originally hoping that people would not be bored, not be confused, and that it would delight Concord,” Broussard said. “And I’m pretty sure it’s gonna delight Concord.”

The film stars local director and playwright Bryan Halperin (Orpheus), co-founder of Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative at the Colonial Theatre in Laconia and Gina Carballo (Eurydice), an actor and board member with Firelight Theatre Workshop, a professional company in Peterborough.

“ This was definitely a fly-by-the-seat-ofyour-pants kind of indie filmmaking,” said Halperin, who, despite his experience in theatrical directorial and acting roles, had never done anything on film before this project.

“There were no scripts to begin with. They looked for interesting places and things to do at Market Days, turned the cameras on us, and said go.”

An experimental passion project, Brous-

sard and Hession set out with a basic outline and intentions to film enough footage in a single weekend. Quickly, they recognized the need to recalibrate. Two days of filming turned into nine as scripts developed and more artistic talents were drawn to the project.

“Rick is really good at collecting people, musicians or magicians, artists,” Halperin said. “All these people from his world that he threw into various cameo roles. It was a fun way to work on an artistic project, even though very few of them had any acting experience.”

This proves true of Yarrow Farnsworth (Hades) who was typecast as a biker for the film. In Cocteau’s version, motorcycles appear at varying moments, signaling the presence of the Underworld on Earth. Wanting to preserve this theme in the film, Hession reached out to Farnsworth — a vital member of a Lebanon-based women’s motorcycle club — and asked if she and friends might be interested.

“It was serendipitous. We reached out and built a community,” Hession said.

“This is one of the things we were experi-

menting with,” Broussard added. “The idea, with very little in advance, art will produce its own materials for you to work with. At every point, there were these different blessings from the universe.”

Broussard recalls the major construction project occurring in 2015. Half of Main Street was demolished, an apparent symbol of the movie’s dual realms. “It was a transitional point between the epochs, and we filmed a story about Orpheus during it. If that doesn’t have magic, what does?”

After the original days of filming, life intervened — technical difficulties, family obligations, a global pandemic — and the project was postponed. It wasn’t until this year that Broussard and Hession were able to shoot the final scene, allowing their creative epoch to come to a close.

“Art is a force that will find a way to reveal itself,” the description reads on the film’s website, “as long as the Artist is willing to endure until the end.” NH

“Granite Orpheus” has been submitted to the NH Film Festival (Oct. 16-19) for consideration. Visit resurrectionfilms.org for updates and future screenings.

Beer Beat

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Preserving the roots of New Hampshire’s apple legacy

BY ELIZABETH SANDS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY HEIDT

Chuck Souther nurtures the growth of uncommon apple varieties, including the colossal Wolf River, at Apple Hill Farm in Concord.

’m driving the New Hampshire back roads on the kind of crisp, golden white-steepled day that makes outof-towners swoon and flock to this state’s wealth of autumn festivals. Through afternoon light at every turn, white picket fences run alongside fading green fields. Wooden signs hang from posts that announce apple farms.

It’s festival season, a signature time in the Granite State, where on any given weekend one can pick your own at over 228 apple orchards and visit a multitude of fall celebrations, including the grande dame in Dover, Apple Harvest Day, a celebration that attracts more than 60,000 apple lovers.

But I’m craving something out of the ordinary, apples like the wobbly green reds from my youth, pulled from a tree with crumpled stems and tart-filled imperfect goodness. As a Midwestern transplant, I know in New Hampshire, I’ll find the apple heirloom, the apple uncommon.

Branch Hill Farm

Officially, Jared Kane is executive director of the Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust (CSFCT), more commonly known as Branch Hill Farm: 4,200 acres of forest and fields nestled in Milton Mills. The farmhouse and barns sit among yellow and orange maples with a hand-painted sign announcing the harvest. This land embodies the vision of its founder Carl Siemon, who spent his summers baling hay on his grandparents’ 3-acre farm. Enthralled with the gentle beauty of the New Hampshire countryside, Siemon purchased the 1786 farmhouse for his six children and expanded his property holdings. In 1995, Siemon donated his acreage to protect the land and fulfill his wish “to keep New Hampshire New Hampshire.” Today, Branch Hill Farm promotes land conservation, education and stewardship. It's open to the public for walks, for paddling and for learning about the magic embedded in pine forests, clear

Jared Kane shares his extensive apple wisdom with writer Elizabeth Sands at Branch Hill Farm preservation orchards.

Imperfect dimples, golden hues and surprising taste sensations add character to the stories found in the heirloom varieties like this Chisel Jersey that are organically grown and treasured at Branch Hill.

streams and yes, apple orchards. And that’s where Jared Kane comes in. Unofficially, Kane is an apple historian and apple aficionado — otherwise known as an apple geek.

“It’s very simple for me,” Kane says. “If an apple tree is old and beautiful, I want to save it. They have stories to tell.” Spend time with Kane and it’s not possible to look at an apple in the same way. His apple journey began at the 10-acre home he and his wife purchased 12 years ago near Milton Mills. He was taken by the three old apple trees on his property, and dove into the history of apples. He learned about pruning, grafting and planting. “I was planting apple trees in every open spot, until my wife called and said, we’re done,” he says with a laugh.

Undeterred, Kane sought out Cynthia Wyatt, daughter of Carl Siemon and board chair at Branch Hill Farm. He asked if he might lease acreage from Branch Hill to grow more trees. Taken by Kane’s enthusiasm and depth of knowledge for all things apple, Wyatt offered Kane a staff position as executive director with the express task of planting a preservation orchard. Today, Branch Hill boasts a living museum and 4 acres of apple orchards with apple trees carefully chosen and nurtured by Kane. Their names read like a colonial monograph: Muscadet de Dieppe, Chisel Jersey, Bulmer’s Norman, Hewes Virginia Crab and Shire Everlasting (Milton Mills).

“Early farmers in New England brought over apple seeds from Europe, since apples were a huge part of their colonial economy,” Kane says. “The colonists didn’t trust the

Jared Kane picks a sweet Redfield straight from the tree and reveals the apple’s rosy heart.

water because of rampant dysentery and typhoid fever. Alcohol kills bacteria, so the colonists (including their children) started to drink fermented apple cider that they made in their cellars.”

Not everyone knew how to graft, the process of rooting a tested variety onto established root stock to clone the graft and produce a reliable and uniform breed. Without grafting, rogue apple trees proliferated, most of the fruit destined for the feed trough or fermentation bin.

Wildlings can still be found today. “Apple trees can grow to be 100 or even 200 years old. I even grafted 40 varieties on one tree! That’s what makes the process so exciting — you never know what you’re going to get,” Kane says. So-called seed sleuths throughout New England put up posters in villages in search of old trees and heirloom varieties. “The best time to look is in spring when the tree is flowering or in fall when there is fruit,” Kane says.

He splits open a tiny pinkish red apple and cradles it in his palm. “It’s amazing to think how this little fruit thrived here and still does, how it's easy to take it for granted and how each of these apples holds a lasting legacy.” There’s an unmistakable reverence for the heritage in these heirloom trees that once stood in family orchards across the state.

Tracing apples’ roots is helped by the apple itself with names that suggest a place or a grower. The Roxbury Russet was a favorite among colonials in Boston. Then there’s the Spitzenburg, the Wickson, the Bramley and the Pippin. Dimpled and bruised, these imperfect apples offered early New England a reliable and pleasing taste in ciders, pies and straight off the branch. Bite into a Golden Russet and experience the buttery pleasure of silken cream. Add a Bramley to an apple pie with a dash of cinnamon and step back in time to the warmth of a colonial hearth.

The old trees offer a connect-the-dots puzzle for apple detectives like Kane. “There’s an unidentified variety in Maine we are provisionally calling ‘Late Duchess’ after the Duchess of Oldenburg. We can trace a line of identical trees from Maine into New Hampshire and put together stories of how people lived just by where we find the trees and fruit,” Kane says. It’s an apple culture that Branch Hill keeps alive and well in its preservation orchards, while a handful of New Hampshire and regional growers maintain

Visitors and apple geeks will find a treasure trove of heirloom and uncommon apples at Apple Hill Farm, the life work of growers Chuck and Diane Souther.

Chuck Souther offers writer Sands a tasting tour among trees exploding with luscious heirloom and uncommon apples like Wicksons and Baldwins.

LooKin ’ to AP ple geek?

Read

Apples of Uncommon Character: 123 Heirlooms, Modern Classics, & Little-Known Varieties rowanjacobsen.com/books/ the-apple-bestiary by Rowan Jacobsen

Apples and the Art of Detection: Tracking Down, Identifying and Preserving Rare Apples outonalimbapples.com/store/book2 by John Bunker

Apples: Old and New Varieties amazon.com/Apples-Old-VarietiesHeirloom-Apple/dp/1986689360 by US Department of Agriculture

Visit Alyson’s Orchard • Walpole, NH alysonsorchard.com

Heirloom Apple Day • Scott Farm, Dummerston, VT scottfarmvermont.com/heirloomappleday

Fedco Seeds • Waterville, Maine fedcoseeds.com/trees

Learn

Tasting & Grafting Workshops • Branch Hill Farm, Milton Mills branchhillfarm.org/programs-events/#workshops

New Hampshire Fruit Growers Association • Londonderry, NH nhfruitgrowers.org

the legacy of heirloom and uncommon apple treasures.

Apple Hill Farm

Tucked into the edge of Concord with views of the Sunapee Mountains, Apple Hill Farm bursts from the hills. Orchards unfold down the hillside in a success story written over four decades by owners Chuck and Diane Souther. Since high school, the couple have worked this land, creating their own lifework, both an art of sorts and a business. There is a bustling shop, pick-your-own patches and wagon rides, but walk into the orchards and it’s clear that here, apples are the heart of everything.

“Diane and I met in seventh grade. We were the only two kids who wanted to be farmers,” says Chuck Souther, a no-nonsense fruit grower with the kind of rugged hands that reveal his devotion to Concord and its land. “At our core, we are local growers and serve the local market.” With apples, “locally grown” at Apple Hill Farm means years of innovation to find the very best varieties for the New Hampshire climate and soil. Here you will find Cortland, Red Delicious and McIntosh. But climb the hill (taking a pause on an oh-so-carefully-placed bench to savor the view) and discover the Southers’ commitment to growing uncommon apples. Meet the Wicksons. Sprouting in bunches from every branch of a forest-green-leaved tree, in the uppermost row of the orchards, is a dazzler. The tree bursts with apples that resemble burgundy ornaments. Souther urges sampling. Bite into the thin skin to savor the juice and a lip-smacking tartness. “Acidic,” he says, never overly wordy about his apples, though he notes that these are perfect for cider-making. How have these apple wonders been hiding in plain sight?

Souther offers a clue: “With industrialization came the rise of large-scale commercial farming. The public wanted unblemished fruit.” It was a trend based on conformity and ease, and more about how fruit looks rather than subtlety of taste and intriguing qualities. The onset of supermarkets led to brands that are now household names: McIntosh, Fuji, Gala, Golden, Red Delicious and Granny Smith. And though other trees grow better-known varieties, the farm is known for nurturing and preserving the uncommon.

“After the consolidation of grocery stores in the early ’90s, we started grafting trees to find

alternate varieties. Every day was a discover your new apple.”

The result? A crop of grower-friendly and disease-resistant apples that you won’t find at your local grocer. For the apple geek, that means exquisite taste and a historic jaunt down the rabbit hole to find the stories inside the seeds. A popular variety from Colonia Americano, the Baldwins are a New England jewel with a light, crisp flavor. “They’re one of the hardest apples for packing, especially when packed and shipped in barrels,” Souther says. “In 1935, a horrific drop in temperature killed the Baldwins. They literally exploded.”

Given ever-changing climate conditions, growers like the Southers face an unending challenge to produce fruit in a northern re-

gion with winter freezing and summer heat. Still, with the Southers’ know-how and a certain steadfast determination embedded in the fruit, an heirloom legacy of apples prospers at Apple Hill Farm. There are apples the size of grapefruits (Tolson Sweet); with names like white wine (Calville Blanc d’hiver and Pomme Gris); for pies and cooking (Bramley); with sandpaper finishes (Ashmead’s Kernel); with tastes like triple crème cheese (Hudson Golden Gem); and simply fun with delicious names (Hubbardston Nonesuch, Blue Pearmain, Wolf River, Ragged Kearsarge). Wander through the heirloom orchards at Apple Hill Farm and bag apples with crumpled leaves hanging from the stems, the kind eaten as kids when each bite might turn up a worm.

A little smaller than a volleyball, a bit bigger than a cherry, these are apples fragrant and earthy, something other than the usual, all of them grown right in New Hampshire. Like her husband, Diane Souther is a no-nonsense grower who is not a stranger to hands-in-soil hard work. The baskets of apples in the farm shop are a sensation not only for their novelty, but also as a reflection of these growers’ stalwart commitment. Having tended the land with care — against enormous climate odds — they preserve a NH apple culture with roots in the colonial past. Souther buzzes through the shop and is eventually found among rows of blossoms in the farm’s luscious pick-your-own perennial beds. With all the farm offers its customers

Apple preservationists like Jared Kane search for 100-year-old trees and discover New Hampshire’s apple legacy, a story that reflects award-winning cider and fruit grown on colonial farms.

after so many decades, Diane Souther doesn’t hesitate when asked to name her favorite part after so many years. “The apples,” she says, “It's always the apples.”

Poverty Lane Orchards and Farnum Hill Ciders

Steve Wood and wife, Louisa Spencer, are an institution in apple-growing. As owners of Poverty Lane Orchards and Farnum Hill Ciders in Lebanon, Steve and Louisa are fondly referred to in the industry as the “Godparents” of the United States Cider Industry. Today, the orchards produce an assortment of heirloom and uncommon apples that are the foundation of Farnum Hill’s nationally recognized apple cider production.

Above: Steve Wood at Poverty Lane Orchards and Farnum Hill Ciders is a legend among apple growers and cider makers nationwide.

Below: Pick-your-own or grab a bag of uncommon varieties at Poverty Lane Orchards in Lebanon.

The Unofficial Heirloom Apple Sampler

This fall, why not host an extra-ordinary apple tasting? Visit an heirloom apple grower and stock up on multiple varieties. Pay no attention to the exterior, which may be dimpled or a possess a hue other than apple red, but this is the fun! All of the extraordinaries pair well with an assortment of cheese and herbs, or to satisfy that sweet tooth, try chocolate and caramel.

Also known as “The Gray Apple,” what the Pomme Gris lacks in looks, it makes up in flavor. There’s not a lot of juice, which gives this little wonder a musky presence and a pear-like finish. We think it would pair nicely with a creamy Camembert, a soft brie, or even a subtle bleu cheese.

This is the big guy — think grapefruit-size. The taste is airy and light, like a vanilla macaron with a kick of citrus to finish. There’s a perplexing complexity to the Tolson, which we think would pair well with cinnamon ice cream. Sidenote: This is the Coco Chanel of apples.

Bite into a Bramley and zip back to Jolly Rancher candy days. The Bramley is refreshingly sour and oh-so-tart (think watermelon sour). The Bramley would pair nicely with a golden cheddar.

This buttery bean is nutty with a crispy wafer skin — a chocolatetasting, quintessential crowd-pleaser. Serve this show-stopper on a charcuterie board all by itself.

Pomme Gris

Tolson Sweet

Bramley

Golden Russet

Poverty Lane Orchards sits among rolling hills in the heart of the Connecticut River Valley, not far from the northern reaches of the Vermont border. Here you can grab a bag of Pippins, Spitzenburg, Calville blanc d’hiver or Wicksons, and the farm offers pick-your-own. But stepping onto the farm feels different from other pick-your-own adventures. Some orchards are lush with apple trees planted 60 years ago. It’s a landscape that gives a sense of something deeply rooted in its twisting, gray-barked trees, and in tractors, wooden shipping crates and metal storage tanks. In one of the outbuildings dedicated to cider production, there are temperature controls and gauges and Wood himself, a man who has thoroughly dedicated his life’s work to the land and apple trees. “I’ve never slowed down,” Wood says. “There are remarkable people involved in keeping these small farms afloat.”

His lifelong fascination with apples began at age 11 after his father, a family doctor, acquired a defunct dairy farm newly planted to apples. Eventually, he bought the orchards from his family. “In the ’70s and ’80s we grew McIntosh and Cortland and varieties that grow well in a cold climate. We hand-packed thin-skinned apples and shipped them out with other small and mid-size growers, like Chuck and Diane Souther,” he recalls.

Faced with large-scale production in the ’80s, Wood needed to pivot. He researched

"antique" apple varieties, and went abroad to learn about apples grown especially for "hard" cider. “We were doing grafting trials,” Wood says, “because these apples originated in different climates from New Hampshire's, so we had to find varieties that would grow brilliantly here.”

Recognizing that small New England apple growers could not compete with massive orchards that he says, “disappeared over the curvature of the earth,” Wood set out to find profitable fruit. “We found some excellent varieties that grow to perfection on our land,” he says. Eventually, he and Louisa replaced their acres of McIntosh and Cortland trees and planted obscure varieties prized in former times. They planted fields of what they dubbed “Uncommon Apples,” and trademarked the name. By the early ’90’s, Wood says, “Our colleagues thought we were out of our minds.”

By the late 90's, Wood and Spencer were growing the very best apples to make great fermented cider. They started Farnum Hill, and Wood spoke across the country to explain how to make “real cider” from vintage apples. “Early on, I went to a cider conference in Oregon, and there were 50 people,” says Wood. But they worked together with Chuck and Diane Souther and other New Hampshire apple growers to find a way for small farms to thrive.

Their success relied on an unflinching commitment to the land and the land’s bounty of specific apples adapted to growing

conditions in New Hampshire. “It’s all about the land, what the land gives and what it can produce. We needed the right apples to make great cider,” Wood says. “It’s like wine — you can make something out of seedless grapes, but it won’t taste great.” Farnum Hill grew with a reputation for artisanal cider made through the time-honored legacy of growing regional apples to satisfy a local need. Sound colonial? Says Wood, “We love it, and we are very serious about it.”

By 2017, Farnum Hill became the model for growing specialized strange tasting cider apples. Meanwhile, the larger U.S. cider industry took off, with 70% to 80% growth from 2017 to 2018. There were 800 cider makers large and small at the cider conference in Chicago. However, orchard ciders were making their mark. “We grow the best apples available to make the finest bottle of cider,” Wood says. Meanwhile on the fresh fruit side, the market for historically-prized varieties is growing. As for uncommon apples, there’s the sheer delight of sampling the apples themselves. For example, you can taste Thomas Jefferson's favorite apple, the Esopus Spitzenburg. “The market for specialty apples is small and privileged,” Wood says. “Most apple buyers settle for the familiar and don’t go out of their way to track down the uncommon varieties.”

A good cider apple is valued for high acid, high sugar and/or high tannin content. There are "bitter-sweets," "bitter-sharps" and everything in between. Wood swears by the Golden Russet, a switch-hitter that works well for eating, cooking and also ferments well into cider. On the fresh side, pair a creamy brie and a Golden Russet with a light Chardonnay, and your taste buds will never be the same. Apples are the center of everything, but there’s a deeper thread among the preservationists and the growers.

For them, it’s all about the land. It’s a way to honor and maintain the historic legacy of superb fruit in all its imperfect glory to serve community. Wood doesn’t hide his unwavering affection for the growers and their work nurturing apple culture. “It’s hard to know what will happen to these small farms with climate change,” Wood says. “We protect the land and respect what it has always given back. I maybe care more about these apples and the trees than humans.” NH

Abundant apples reflect New Hampshire growers’ legacy and their lifetime dedication to preserving the beauty and promise of the land.

Exploring the unknown with the Paranormal Investigators of New England

By #lisA GOnzAl#s V#rdi

phOtOgrAphy by JAred ChArn#y

Op#ning illustrAtiOn by jOhn r gOOdwin

As the sun sets on Saturday across New England, the New Hampshire Division of the Paranormal Investigators of New England (PI-NE) gear up for their next investigation. Armed with trunks of equipment, mediums and an insatiable curiosity, this group of dedicated volunteers embark on a weekly vigil to investigate the unknown.

Founded in 2004, PI-NE is an organization that specializes in all things paranormal all throughout New England. With teams located in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts, they’re able to assist with UFO sightings, cryptozoology, hauntings and any sort of unexplained activity.

With New England’s rich history and historic homes, it’s a haunted haven for

paranormal investigators. PI-NE doesn’t just investigate for the sake of investigating. They are sought out by home and business owners who have experienced something… out of the ordinary. As a volunteer organization, PI-NE investigates free of charge.

New Englanders reach out to PI-NE for help during a sensitive, and oftentimes vulnerable point in a person’s life, said PINE’s director, Betty Miller. Typically, PI-NE is called when homeowners feel like there’s no one else they can turn to who will believe them when they say they feel like they’re being haunted.

“(PI-NE) started when ghost hunting wasn’t cool,” Miller said. “It’s much easier to talk about now, because of the rise of (ghost hunting) TV shows. Those have awakened

people to feel more comfortable talking about the fact that there’s spirits around… television has helped people to realize that there are people out there who can help (bring) validation and figure out if there’s something going on in the home, or if it’s the pipes.”

Unlike the sensationalized ghost hunts on television or social media, PI-NE’s investigative methodology is purely data driven, the group says. They aren’t running down hallways “Scooby-Doo” style — in fact, they don’t run at all. Through the careful use of data collecting equipment, mediums and equal parts belief and skepticism, PI-NE says it’s able to confirm or deny the presence of the paranormal.

“Our instruments record in different

ways,” said Miller, “but they’re all looking for something that cannot be explained. That’s done by using an audio recorder, which may (record) other voices in a room. Our cameras can get an actual video of somebody in the room, when there’s nobody else there. Another way we (gather data) is by measuring the energy in the room, with a light up trigger that (can be touched) and EMF readings.”

When PI-NE is contacted to investigate a space, they set up an interview with the home or business owner at the location to get a sense of the space, figure out how many investigators will be needed for the investigation and conduct base EMF readings to determine where the hotspots are, if any. Then they talk to the owner of the space to

listen to their experiences.

“(People) are pretty emotional by the time we get to then,” Miller said. “We go through a list of questions to make sure we have everything covered, and to make sure this is something they truly want to do. We also assure them that we are a well-vetted team and make sure they’re comfortable.”

Because of the sensitive nature of an investigation, PI-NE promises to keep their investigated locations, and their findings, confidential. Only the home or business owner will receive a copy of PI-NE’s final report following the investigation and the investigators are sworn to secrecy — like ghost HIPPA.

Because PI-NE investigators and regional directors are volunteers, investigations are

typically held on weekends, but they don’t need to be at night.

“It doesn’t have to be dark for spirits to be present,” joked PI-NE’s New Hampshire assistant director, Deborah Dutcher.

Having grown up in Colebrook, Dutcher is no stranger to the world of the paranormal and unexplained. Her own experiences with the paranormal and otherworldly drew her to PI-NE two years ago, where she started as an investigator before becoming the assistant director for New Hampshire.

“I like being able to satisfy my own thirst for answers,” Dutcher said. “But I also love being able to help somebody who is afraid to be in their own home or business to understand that they don’t need to be.”

Every weekend, Dutcher and the New

At left: Melissa Roberge, Samantha Bravaco and Deborah Dutcher set up for an investigation

Above: Dutcher holds the Onvoy Ghost Box which displays words, numbers, yes/no and icons. It only scans the environment for spikes in EMF, temperature and touch, and does not have a word box.

The New Hampshire PI-NE team scouts out a possible location.

Hampshire team travel all over the Granite State, determined to bring peace of mind to whoever calls.

During a recent investigation, Dutcher and a small team of investigators, Samantha Bravoco and Melissa Roberge, found themselves in one of New Hampshire’s historic mills (the exact location not revealed per the owner’s request). There, they conducted an investigation following reports of phantom footsteps and doors slamming shut when no one is around.

“We tend to go in blind, with no details and then compare notes after,” Dutcher said during the team’s walkthrough of the building

While this investigation didn’t have a medium present (she was out of town), typically the investigators will split up during the walkthrough, and write down what they experience in the space. Then, they regroup and compare notes among themselves with the medium. Oftentimes, each investigator’s findings regarding hotspots are aligned with what the medium senses.

“There are four types of hauntings,” Dutcher said. “The first is a poltergeist, which

tends to be in the neighborhood of a pubescent child or an older woman. The second is intellectual, which is when the spirit interacts with something (like a door or ball). The third type is residual, which is like an imprint. It's when the energy recreates their life when it was physical — like an echo. The fourth is non-human or demonic, which we do not deal with.”

While walking through the halls of the restored mill building, Dutcher paused in one of the original, untouched stair cases. Standing on the landing between the third and fourth floors, she said that she had a feeling that this is where they should set up their equipment.

With their phones off as to not interrupt the EMF equipment, Dutcher, Bravoco and Roberge began to set up shop. While Dutcher set up the SLX camera, which captures energy and temperature, Bravoco and Roberge placed a desk bell and a light up cat ball at the top of the stairs.

Why the cat ball? Bravoco explained that when an energy is close to the ball, or touches it, the clear ball will light up. She

demonstrated just how close something would need to be to the ball for it to light up. If you simply wave your hand around the ball, or stomp next to it, the ball remains unlit. A gentle touch causes a flashing rainbow of colors to erupt from the toy.

The bell is easy, Roberge said. Everyone knows what a bell is and how to use it. It also doesn’t take the same amount of effort or energy to ring the bell as it does to light the cat toy.

“The first thing we do is say hello to the space,” said Dutcher, after everything had been placed. In a calm, friendly voices, the same way you might talk to a scared child, the PI-NE team introduced themselves one by one, and explained that they, and their equipment, were safe and only there to communicate. They also explained how each piece of equipment is used, and how the spirit can use it.

Then, Roberge asked if anyone was present. There is no one standing at the top of the stairs.

The bell dings.

The cat ball lights up.

A peek inside one of PI-NE's equipment boxes, which contains the cat balls, a spirit box and more.

The investigation begins.

Roberge establishes a quick yes or no guide — one ring for yes, two rings for no. She asks the unknown if they want to answer a few questions.

One ring responds for yes.

“Are you a man?,” Roberge asks.

Two rings respond no.

“Are you a woman?,” asks Roberge. Ring.

“Did you work in these mills?,” Roberge continues.

Silence responds, followed by a few scattered rings.

“Are you in school?,” Roberge tries again.

“Ring,” answers the bell.

“Maybe I’m not asking the right questions,” joked Roberge.

Ring. The team laughs — spirits have a sense of humor.

✶✶✶✶✶

Most investigations are an exercise in patience. The team will ask a question and then wait for a response, which sometimes never comes. Sometimes, they’ll experience something, and sometimes they won’t. It’s all part of the process because finding nothing

is just as important as finding something. They’ll never provoke a spirit — that kind of thing would be rude, and totally goes against their ethos.

“We aren’t provoking or looking for something to jump out at us every two seconds,” Roberge said. “We just get to experience this cool thing with cool people… the spirits are never here to entertain us, and we want to be decent human beings about it.”

Oftentimes, Dutcher added, spirits don’t realize they’ve died. They’re just living the routines of their lives as they would have lived them because that’s what they can do. The investigators aren’t in a position to tell that spirit they’ve passed on, or to tell them to leave, she said.

It was clear that being a paranormal investigator requires an incredible amount of empathy for both the living and the departed.

As they search for their next location to set up cameras and equipment, the investigators talk about investigations from years gone by. While setting up the spirit box, a device that scans radio frequencies so quickly that it never lands on one channel so spirits can use it to communicate, Dutcher and Roberge talk

about how once, two spirits had a conversation with themselves through the spirit box.

The team was using the Estes Method in two separate parts of a house, with four investigators. The method dictates that one person be blindfolded and hooked up to the spirit box using noise cancelling headphones. A second person stands far away, and asks questions to the spirit — the sensory deprived person will hear the response and will repeat what they heard. Following the session, the two investigators will see if what the one investigator heard over the spirit box matches the questions asked.

It took a while for the team to figure out why the answers were so mismatched, and more like a conversation. Once they figured it out, they had a good laugh.

In a different hallway on the mill’s third floor, with a clear view of a nearby river (water is a known conductor of energy of all kinds) Dutcher and Bravoco use the Estes Method to see what they might hear.

Sometimes, they’ll invite the spirit to touch their arm if they’re not interested in using the equipment.

“The equipment is great, but nothing beats your own senses, or just having a con-

The view through the SLX Camera while Bravaco listens to the spirit box.

versation,” said Roberge after her forearm felt cold in what was otherwise a very hot space.

“It’s validating to what we’re doing,” said Bravoco, after it was clear the Estes Method wasn’t working in that space.

✶✶✶✶✶

Next, the team moved into a different stairwell, pausing because Dutcher’s senses felt they should for a second time.

With the same SLX camera, cat ball and bell set up, the team began to ask some more questions. It was clear that the presence, or presences, preferred the bell, which rang

Haunted Spots

almost at random. Every few rings, the team would discuss if it was paranormal, or if there was a vent, breeze or strong draft that impacted the ringing. It’s the additional questioning as to why something is happening, rather than immediately assuming it’s paranormal, that makes PI-NE’s process so thorough. They want to be sure that there are no additional factors at play before they confirm a place has activity beyond the veil.

“Disproving is as important as proving,” added Roberge, “It’s all experimental, and we experiment as we go, as well.”

“You’d be surprised at how much we find

Boo! Here are some spots across New Hampshire said to have paranormal activity.

Omni Mt. Washington Hotel • Bretton Woods

Three Chimneys Inn • Durham

The Library Restaurant • Portsmouth

on our cameras after the investigation,” said Dutcher. Bravoco and Roberge fervently agreed — the cameras and audio recordings catch what they might miss, or were too quiet, in the moment. They comb through hours of video, frame by frame, to ensure that they didn’t miss a thing.

In the stairwell, Dutcher decides to use a different spirit box. Again, the team introduces themselves, and asks if anyone is there.

The bell rings again, the cat ball lights and voices are heard over the box.

Roberge asks if there is more than one spirit present.

Ring.

Roberge asks how many are present.

A faint “seven” is heard over the spirit box.

Dutcher asks if any of them can share their names.

“Matt” and “Ed” are heard clearly over the box.

✶✶✶✶✶

None of this is alarming to the team. For the most part, being able to communicate with someone who might not have been spoken to in who-knows-how-long is why they do what they do. They love being able to piece together someone’s story, and bring peace of mind to a homeowner. Frequently, their final reports reflect findings of people’s pets or loved ones, or someone who once lived in the space and isn’t quite ready to move just yet.

They also love hearing your stories and experiences with the paranormal.

“The people in our little team are so cool, normal, positive and fantastic,” said Bravoco, “And it's so cool to share stories with the people we meet.”

“Everything coalesces into something that’s so positive, and you just have to go with the flow,” said Roberge. To contact PI-NE, or for more information visit pi-ne.org. ✶✶✶✶✶

End note from Elisa: While the final report of their investigation remains confidential, through my research on the building, I learned that that particular mill once held career advancement classes for workers. Additionally, the name Ed came up twice in early reports on the building. NH

Upcoming PI-NE Event: Oct 30 at 1 p.m. at the Cashin Senior Center in Manchester.

The Omni Mt. Washington Hotel at sunset.

Dutcher scans a hallway with the SLX camera, while Roberge uses an EMF reader and Bravaco records.

Hit your stride with cooler temps and scenic splendor

INSIDE:

Losing the Road; Finding the Flow Ultrarunning Legend Karl Meltzer

Getting Started: Trail Running 101 Calendar of Upcoming Running Events

Above: At the end of September on Mount Chocorua, Mike Censullo took the Champney Falls Trail up that morning to catch the sunrise. It was a picture-perfect, fairly mild day, which allowed Censullo to still be wearing shorts and trail running attire.

PHOTO BY COREY MCMULLEN

LOSING THE ROAD; FINDING THE FLOW

I’m running and I’m not looking at my Garmin. That’s notable. That irresistible compulsion to think in terms of mile splits — what pace should I be running? — is gone. I have no idea. Trees flash past me. It’s not road or track fast, but I feel like I’m flying.

I’m on a narrow runnel of hard-packed, sandy dirt, gnarled here and there with knots of roots and fists of rock. Running beside me is a brook that winds, splashes and froths cheerfully into mirror-like pools that reflect overhanging tangles of branches. Then I’m climbing up onto a ridge, away from the water, slowing to leap up over stony stairsteps. Still not looking at my watch. Then plunging down again in wild abandon, letting gravity dictate the pace, arms out for balance. I whoop. When was the last time I whooped?

That’s the moment, I figure, I decided I wanted to be a trail runner.

I’ve been a road runner for more than 30 years, and a serious marathoner for about two decades. I’ve hiked all over New Hampshire, but the idea of actually running on trails always seemed like

a thing only certain special kinds of people did. Graceful, gifted people. People who don’t catch a toe and go headfirst every so often. If it’s possible for me to trip on a road or sidewalk (it is, and I do), wouldn’t I get killed running on real trails?

Turns out, no. I’ve found our brains work differently on trails. On the road, we tend to go deep, get lost internally. On the trail, our focus is extended outward, to the trail, the roots, the rocks, the reality of the place we’re moving through. It’s a lot easier to stay on your feet when you’re actually paying attention to where they’re landing.

After my last marathon season, I felt burned out. The endless math, the spreadsheets, the perfectly portioned gels, the drill sergeant in my head barking every split: 6:48, hit it or else acknowledge the march of time, your encroaching mortality. I wanted to escape that voice, to just run. Play. Stop for a sandwich once in a while.

The shift began when my sister invited me to run the Ghost Train Haunted Night 30-Mile Race coming up this October in Milford. It’s an evening into nighttime ultra on a rail trail. Not singletrack,

BY ERNESTO BURDEN

I celebrated my 55th birthday on an 8.5-mile trail run with my eldest son David.

but different enough to feel like fresh territory. Training for it, I found myself on dirt paths and singletrack trails, and for the first time in years, I stopped looking at my Garmin every two minutes. Pace doesn’t really mean anything when the terrain is so varied. I just ran. I started researching gear. I bought a vest that rode flat on my back and didn’t bounce, even with a map, headlamp and first aid kit in it. It came with two soft water bottles that tuck into pockets on the chest straps. I bought trail shoes and gaiters to keep the gravel out of the shoes.

On my 55th birthday my eldest son David and I celebrated by running from the northern terminus of the Wapack Trail in Greenfield, NH, over North Pack and along the ridge to Pack Monadnock and back. It was about 8.5 miles. We didn’t run the whole thing. Some of it was too steep for anything but scrambling, but there were some beautiful runnable stretches through ferny gullies and alongside long-forgotten stone walls, built in an older New England when the trees had been cut down for farming, before the forest had reclaimed the land.

Trail veterans may be amused to hear that it took until I was 55 to realize the woods seem to impart a kind of permission ... to run when you can, walk when you want, hike the climbs, scramble when needed. Just be out there.

The run I was describing at the outset happened later in the summer at Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown. By then, the whole thing had worked its way deep into my nerves, and I wanted more and more. I registered for a 50-mile trail race the next day. I’ve run that far before, but never with this mindset. Never with this sense of leaving the tyranny of the watch behind for something ... softer. Running, of course, is always effortful, always brings some discomfort; but the way the forest embraces you as the trail winds into it is gentle somehow. Full of comforting mystery. A threshold space, something primal. Something like home.

And that’s my testimony, from maybe the newest trail runner in the state. I’ve seen the light, and it’s filtering through the turning leaves and dappling a stretch of smooth singletrack in shade. NH

Editor’s note: For more on what’s possible at the far edge of the trail, see our profile of Karl Meltzer right here. →

Karl “Speedgoat” Meltzer, the winningest 100-mile runner in history, began his journey in Auburn, NH, before becoming an ultrarunning legend.

Becoming Speedgoat

HOW A NEW HAMPSHIRE KID BECAME AN ULTRARUNNING LEGEND

To most people, the idea of running 100 miles seems impossible. To Karl Meltzer, it's the foundation of his career and the basis for his personal mantra: “100 miles is not that far.”

This philosophy began in the Granite State, where the winningest 100-mile runner grew up before becoming a legend of ultrarunning, a sport defined by footraces longer than 26.2 miles.

From his start as a high school cross-country champion in Manchester to his nickname "Speedgoat," Meltzer's story is one of relentless passion and a unique ability to excel at what he calls "rocky junk."

Meltzer was born in Philadelphia, but his family moved to Auburn, New Hampshire, when he was 3. He loved the outdoors, a passion inherited from his father, Karl Sr. They were skiing down black diamonds together by the time Meltzer was 6 and doing multi-day bike trips by age 12. In the neighborhood where his parents still live, Meltzer would spend hours outside.

“He never watched much TV,” said Karl Sr. “He was always outside playing basketball, riding his bike.”

Karl Sr. described how he and another dad from the neighborhood would race 10Ks and marathons. As their kids got older, they would tag along on training runs. By middle school, Meltzer was tagging along and keeping up with his older friends during cross-country practices at Manchester High School Central.

At Manchester Memorial High School, he excelled at sports. In 1985, he won the New Hampshire Class L (now Division 1) cross-country state championship and also placed second in the New Hampshire junior golf championships. Meltzer recalls playing 45 holes of golf a day in the summer, mostly at Derryfield Country Club or the Candia Woods Golf Links.

“I rode my bike 8 miles there and back, all summer long,” he said. “I was just outdoors all day every day.”

Reflecting on that period, Karl Sr. said his son kept meticulous log books and records, habits

BY TIMM HUFFMAN

he said demonstrated the persistence, commitment and diligence that would be critical to his later success.

After high school, Meltzer spent a year at Plymouth State University but didn’t enjoy it.

“I hated to study… I didn’t know what I was doing there and bailed,” said Meltzer.

Throughout that winter, he would ski every weekend with a friend, bumming passes to get on the slopes. That friendship led to a pivotal decision to spend the next winter skiing at Big Sky, Utah.

“We skied 120 days that winter but when summer came, I stayed in Utah,” said Meltzer. “Those mountains were too cool.”

Meltzer began bartending for a living at a ski resort bar called the Keyhole, and spent his free time biking, running and skiing. It wasn’t long before running became his favorite thing to do.

Meltzer recalled a story from early in his western tenure when some friends invited him to go for a three-mile run up to a mountain lake that included 2,000 vertical feet of climbing.

“The snow had just melted off. I was in awe,” said Meltzer. “My bike was put in the garage and we went running all the time.”

He began competing in races again. Meltzer said he would squirrel away quarters in a Jose Cuervo bottle behind the bar all winter and have enough for two or three races each season.

One momentous race from that period was the Pikes Peak Marathon in Colorado. His iconic nickname, “Speedgoat,” was born on the drive home from the 1998 event, where he placed fourth. After a jackrabbit darted across the road, Meltzer blurted out to his friends, “What a speedgoat!” The name stuck.

Friends at the Key Hole told Meltzer about another race, the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run.

“I was winning shorter races but who the hell knew what I’d do for 100 miles,” said Meltzer.

The first time he attempted the challenging Wasatch Front 100, Meltzer had no idea what to eat, carrying just six rock-hard power bars for the first 40 miles. He was leading until mile 39, but

things unraveled, and the final 25 miles took him 12 hours; he crossed the finish line in 281/2 hours.

“I finished the damn thing. I had no quit in my head.”

The Wasatch became Meltzer’s focus but it would take several attempts before he found real success. That came during the 1998 race. With a good training build-up that included the fourth-place finish at Pikes Peak, he won Wasatch and set what was then a course record of 20 hours.

“I always like to excel at the difficult things. I want rocky junk. The Wasatch are steep, rocky, loose and difficult. I got very, very good at technical trails.”

That win at Wasatch, the first of six, was the start of his record-making career. He has since won 50 100-mile races, including multiple victories at prestigious races like Massanutten 100 (four wins) and Hardrock 100 (five wins).

“I was saying to myself, ‘how do I make a career out of this?’ No one made money at it back then; you were lucky if you got shoes out of it.”

He joined the Montrail Elite team, receiving gear and earning $500 a year, but a chance encounter with Red Bull ambassadors and a course record at the Hardrock 100 later that year launched his career. The resulting sponsorship and a feature in Sports Illustrated cemented his ability to make a living from the sport he loved.

Over the following decade, Meltzer set

records, landed sponsorships, started his own race (the Speedgoat 50K) and continued to elevate the profile of the sport. In 2006, he was named Ultrarunner of the Year.

Around 2010, Meltzer was approached by Nico Mermoud, the co-founder of a nascent shoe company called Hoka One One, to try one of a handful of early prototypes. Meltzer was sold after a lap around the block and became their first sponsored athlete. The relationship rocketed like the company’s success and Meltzer now has his own line of popular trail running shoes, the Hoka Speedgoat, which launched in 2015.

Meltzer also set out to establish a new speed record on the Appalachian Trail. He came up short in 2008 and 2014, sidelined by injuries and logistical challenges, but gave it one more go in 2016. After a year of preparation that included securing a Red Bull sponsorship and scouting every road crossing along the 2,189-mile-trail, Meltzer set out from the southern terminus at Springer Mountain, Georgia. Forty-five days, 22 hours and 38 minutes later, he finished atop Mt. Katahdin, Maine. Red Bull commemorated the since-bested record with the short film “Karl Meltzer: Made to Be Broken.”

Meltzer called the AT a pivotal point in his life, a time when he realized a day is not that long and life is short. It led to his mantra “100 miles is not that far.”

Today, Meltzer, 57, lives in Ridgeway, Colorado, a town in the rugged San Juan mountains. He runs a small coaching busi-

ness and also enjoys running 50 to 60 miles of “rocky junk” each week, training for the handful of 100-mile races he competes in each year.

In a sport where events are regularly measured in days, many athletes ascend to the top of the field for a few key victories before burning out and disappearing from the scene. Meltzer attributes his 40-plus years of

Meltzer’s endurance roots run deep. Growing up in Auburn, NH, he tagged along on runs with his father and older friends from the Central cross-country team, developing into a state champion at Manchester Memorial.

PHOTOS

competitive running to keeping his mileage at a reasonable level (reasonable is relative in a sport where most professional athletes put down double his mileage each week), focusing instead on efficiency, nutrition and minimizing downtime in races.

“You don’t have to be super-fast to do well at a 100. Efficiency is key,” said Meltzer, who fills some of his time as a

professional ultrarunning coach.

While he still podiums frequently in his races, Meltzer said he mostly runs for his headspace and enjoys the freedom, the fresh air, and the beauty it brings him.

“I get out there because I need to accomplish something every day. Even if I walk five miles, I’ve gotten something done,” he said.

Reflecting on his career, Meltzer said he

never would have imagined that following his dad around on skis or on runs would ever turn into a career. Instead of knowing what he wanted to do, he simply followed his passion.

“A lot of things have fallen in my lap and running was one of them,” Meltzer said. “I was lucky to find what worked for me and fortunate to find a way to make it work.” NH

Trail Running 101 By

Ernesto Burden

SHOES: If you’re going to spend time on the trails, swapping road running shoes for trail shoes is well worth the investment. Trail shoes have a beefier outsole with larger lugs for traction and stability. They protect your feet better and keep you steady. Imagine dirt bike tires versus road bike tires.

HYDR ATION: If you’re going to be out there for a while, it’s crucial to bring water. Running vests with water bottle holders, hydration packs with water bladders and tubes to sip from, waist packs with bottle holders or handheld bottles are all options. The vest I described above is the Salomon Adv Skin 12. The soft water bottles collapse as they empty and are easy to clean after. Its 12L capacity is flexible enough for long days and roomy enough for my dog Bodhi’s cleanup bags, kibble, and collapsible water bowl.

FUEL: If you’re coming from road running, all the typical gels and chews still work. But trail runners also tend to eat more “real food,” especially for longer, slower efforts. And in ultra races, learning to tolerate real food on the go becomes almost essential. Nobody can take in enough gels for a 20-hour race. Have a sandwich.

GAITERS: Trail running shoes come with hooks for gaiters, which go around your ankles and over the tops of your shoes. They keep the gravel, sand, and pebbles from sneaking in.

WATCH: Your road running watch will work for trails as well. Just try not to look at it so much. For really long days or multi-day adventures, most GPS watch companies make ultra versions with longer battery life or even solar power.

HOW YOU RUN: Pros recommend shortening your stride and keeping your eyes on the ground about 10 feet ahead of you. Don’t stare at your sneakers. Walk the steep, technical climbs. Nobody will make fun of you.

FIRST AID: Plan as you would for a hike. I tend to bring at least a minimal first aid kit on most runs where I’m an hour or more from the road and help.

NAVIGATION/SAFETY: For unfamiliar trails, bring a map and compass, download your route to your phone rather than relying on connectivity, and tell someone where you’re going before you start.

CLOTHING: Judge this the way you would hiking: If you’re going into the mountains, above the tree line, bring what you’d need to survive rapid weather changes or a night out.

LEAVE NO TRACE: Absolutely no dropping empty Gu packets or Clif Bar wrappers on the trail. Leave it like you found it. Not that I had to even mention that, right? NH

Calendar

OCTOBER 18, 19

Ghost Train Trail Races

Evening-to-night trail races on the Milford/Brookline rail trail. Mostly straight, flat and well-groomed trails with only one hill. Distances: 15 mi, 15 mi relay, 30 mi, 30 hr ultra. All profits go to the Conservation Commissions of Brookline and Milford and gets put back into the trails. ultrasignup.com/register. aspx?did=121780

OCTOBER 25

Randolph Ramble

The Randolph Ramble is a 10-kilometer-long, rugged, self-supported trail race through the Great North Woods in the mountain town of Randolph, New Hampshire, at the base of the Northern Presidentials. The race places an emphasis on self-sufficiency in the mountains: There are no aid stations and, due to the time of year, there is a mandatory gear list. randolphramble.com

NOVEMBER 1

MDS Run

Keene – 10k, 5k, 1 mile: For its 11th year the MDS Run is joining forces with the Flutie 5K for Autism. This fun, family-friendly event in the Monadnock Region aims to make a difference in the Monadnock Region disability community. All funds raised will benefit the unmet dental needs of adults with developmental disabilities. runsignup.com/Race/NH/ Keene/11thAnnualMDSRunWalkSmile

NOVEMBER 1

Dan Healy Memorial

Exeter – 5k: Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel R. Healy, US Navy SEAL, BUD/S Class 176, was born in 1968 in Exeter, and was killed in action in the Hindu Kush mountains of Kunar Province, Afghanistan in June 2005, during Operation Red Wings. SCPO Healy was lost when the MH-47 helicopter he was aboard on a rescue mission was shot down when going to the aid of a team of four SEALs on a reconnaissance mission in a battle with a larger force of the Taliban. SCPO Healy was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with Combat “V” for Valor, the Purple Heart and Afghanistan Campaign Medal. SCPO Healy’s other awards include Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal (3), and the National Defense Service Medal. runsignup.com/ Race/NH/Exeter/DanHealyMemorial5K

NOVEMBER 1

Blackout 5k / 10k Mountain Race

These adventurous, headlamp-mandatory races at Cranmore Resort in North Conway begin at sunset and run a mix of access roads and ski trails. whitemountainski.co/pages/blackout-5k-10kmountain-race

PHOTO BY COREY MCMILLEN

OCTOBER 12

Vulcan’s Fury Trail Races

Pawtuckaway State Park, Nottingham - 5 mile and 13.1 mile. This course is one of the most technical and scenic courses, in a location that was once brimming with fire…yes…’Pawtuck’ was once a volcanic site. The race’s namesake – the Roman God of Fire – would be proud of a course that will have you traversing a massive boulder field, tearing through dense forest, hammering down single-track switchbacks, jumping streams, crossing bridges and heading up a rocky slope appropriately named the Devil’s Staircase. The lava making up the park has long cooled, but your legs will be burning. six03endurance.com/vulcansfury

NOVEMBER 2

Hugs from Vets

Henniker – 10k: Trail race sponsored by Henniker Brewing Co. supports veterans. runreg.com/hugsfrom-vets-formerly-hugs-from-vets-3rdannual-trail10kish-race-to-support-veterans

NOVEMBER 8

Rescue Me 5k

Lincoln – 5k: Lakes Region Search and Rescue is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization formed in 2019 to assist New Hampshire Fish & Game with wilderness search and rescue missions in the Southern White Mountains and Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Postrace festivities will be held at the One Love Brewery for a complimentary Moat Mountain Brewery craft beer (21+) and raffle (tickets available for purchase on race day). runsignup.com/Race/NH/Lincoln/ResMe5K

NOVEMBER 9

Manchester City Marathon

Manchester - 26.2-mile, 13.1-mile, 5k run, 26.2-mile relay: This Boston Qualifier will give you a tour of NH’s largest city, just 45 minutes north of Boston. Starting in downtown Manchester, the course runs through the historic Millyard and the North End, and crosses over the Merrimack River to the Goffstown Rail Trail before returning downtown to finish. millenniumrunning. com/marathon

NOVEMBER 15

Girls on the Run 5K

Concord – 5k: Each Girls on the Run season comes to an end with a celebratory 5k. This closing event gives program participants of all abilities a tangible sense of accomplishment. Crossing the finish line instills confidence through completion and is a joyful moment program participants always remember! Everyone in the program receives a commemorative medal to celebrate this achievement. girlsontherunnh.org/5k

NOVEMBER 24

Turkey Trot

Hanover – 10k, 5k, kids run: The 10K race course is USATF-certified and co-sponsored by Stateline Sports. The 2024 10K race is also the final race in the Upper Valley Running Club Race Series. Races will begin and end on the Dartmouth Green. All Turkey Trot runners will be entered into a raffle for local prizes. Bring a food donation for the Upper Valley Haven and earn an extra raffle ticket! Runners dressed in their best turkey costume attire will earn another raffle ticket! hanovernh.org/728/Turkey-Trot-5K-10KRoad-Race

NOVEMBER 23

Novemberfest Race

Nashua – 4 mile: The Novemberfest Race is a festive 4-mile race through beautiful Mine Falls

Park in Nashua followed by a post-race party and raffle held at Martha's Exchange Restaurant & Brewery. All entrants are eligible for the Children's Home raffle where you are likely to win a prize. Purchase your first draft beer, and Martha's Exchange will donate the cash payment to the Nashua Children's Home. This event is hosted by the Gate City Striders with all the proceeds benefiting The Nashua Children’s Home. runsignup.com/Race/NH/Nashua/NovemberfestRace

NOVEMBER 27

Dover Turkey Trot

Dover – 5k: The Dover Turkey Trot is a Thanksgiving Day 5k race in Dover designed to be a fun event for runners, walkers, families and people of all ages and abilities. More than a decade, its mission has been to promote a healthy lifestyle and provide a sense of community while raising money for the Garrison School PTA. The race serves as the single largest fundraiser for the PTA annually and has been able to fund countless needs within Garrison Elementary School over the years. doverturkeytrot.com

NOVEMBER 27

Fisher Cats Thanksgiving Day 5k

Manchester – 5k: There is a common START/FINISH line at Center Field inside the Delta Dental Stadium. The 3.1-mile course heads out on the Stadium to Commercial St and incorporates a loop through

Manchester’s historic Millyard and returns to finish inside back at Center Field in the Stadium. There will also be a kids Lil’ Turkey Trot. millenniumrunning.com/ thanksgiving

NOVEMBER 27

Lake Sunapee Turkey Trot

Sunapee – 5k: Now in its 19th year, the Lake Sunapee Turkey Trot has become a wonderful family tradition for more than 800 racers. Grab your family and friends, throw on a costume (optional, but fun and highly encouraged), work off some calories, and make this great event a part of your Thanksgiving tradition. All proceeds go to the local Recreation Department. This year’s proceeds go toward improvements to Veterans Field on Route 11. sunapeeturkeytrot.com

DECEMBER

Santa Claus Shuffle

Manchester – 3 mile: Walk, jog or run and enjoy samples from Santa’s four major food groups at sweet stops along the route down Elm Street! A 3-mile out-and-back course that starts and finishes at Veteran’s Park in downtown Manchester. Millenniumrunning.com/santa

DECEMBER 6

Krampuslauf

In central European culture, Krampus is a monster that punishes misbehaving children during Christmas time. Central European countries have long celebrated this holiday with Krampuslauf (Krampus Run) where people dress up as Krampus and run through the

OCTOBER 26

20th Annual Seacoast Half Marathon

This race is fast, fun, and scenic — and all net proceeds support charitable causes. The Seacoast Half starts and ends at Portsmouth High School, guiding runners through the picturesque coastal towns of Rye and New Castle. Over 20 years, this volunteer-led event has raised nearly $2 million for Seacoast nonprofits. This year’s beneficiary is the Birchtree Center, whose autism programs include the state’s only year-round school exclusively for students with autism. seacoasthalfmarathon.com

streets of town. Race Mozey brings this tradition to New England with a twist: 9-hour, 10k and 5k race options at Dartmouth Skiway in Lyme NH. racemozey.com/krampuslauf

NOVEMBER 1

Hamsterwheel

New Boston - 30, 24, 12, 6 hour trail run, 30, 24, 12, 6 hour relay: This will be the 11th year for this 6/12/24/30 hour event, which starts near the Hillsborough County Fairground entrance. Runners will make their way outward on the New Boston Rail Trail along the Piscataquog River to the turnaround point at Lang's Station. https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=121247

DECEMBER 7

Jingle Bell Run

Concord, Northeast Delta Dental – 5k: Get ready to celebrate the 41st year of Jingle Bell Run, the original festive race for charity brought to you by the Arthritis Foundation. Wear your favorite holiday gear, and let's jingle all the way toward a cure! events.arthritis.org/ pages/10707?eventID=1875

DECEMBER

Yule Light Up The Night

Loudon – 2.1 mile: A run through the ‘Gift of Lights’ on the grounds of the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. millenniumrunning.com/lights

JANUARY 1

Millennium Mile Road Race

Londonderry – 1 mile: A point-to-point, downhill, 1-mile course for all ages and abilities starting on Mammoth Road in front of Londonderry High School. millenniumrunning.com/millenniummile/

JANUARY 1

New Year’s Peanut Butter Chip Chase

Temple – 5k, kids run: For nearly 50 years, this race/ walk has been a New Year's Day tradition in Temple. This race is sponsored by the Souhegan Lions, who use the proceeds to help people in the towns of Temple, New Ipswich, Greenville, and Mason with sight and hearing needs, scholarships, and other causes. runsignup.com/Race/NH/Temple/NewYearsDay PeanutButterChipChase5KWalkorRun

PHOTO BY SHIRLEY REED

COURTESY PHOTO

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Though our products are sold all over the world, North Hampton is our home. Our team remains small and close-knit, which allows us to provide a flawless shopping experience by personally handling orders and customer requests.

Fashioning the Future

Project Upcycle is redefining sustainability and style in New Hampshire

BY CHLOE BARCELOU / PHOTOS BY JENN BAKOS

The lights soften, and a hush falls over the crowd of fashionably dressed locals. The music fades as Gemma Soldati steps onto the stage as the boisterous emcee, wearing 2020’s winner Elias Matso’s unique design, to guide spectators through the evening of Project Upcycle 2024, nearly a decade in the running, selling out tickets every year and celebrating its All Stars challenge this month.

The show is held continuously at Portsmouth’s 3S Artspace, a creative hub that includes gallery and performance spaces, whose executive director and co-founder of Project Upcycle, Beth Falconer, has prided herself on dedication to nonprofits and

their role in sustaining healthy and creative communities.

Project Upcycle launched in 2018 when Jennifer Moore approached 3S Artspace with her idea inspired in part by the popular reality show Project Runway, only this time with a format that promotes the planet and its people.

Similar to its predecessor, Project Upcycle is a fierce competition between budding and established designers looking to take the next step in their careers by competing for a cash prize of $1,500, only instead of shopping at the famous Mood Fabrics in New York City, they’re challenged to upcycle materials that may normally find themselves in landfills.

Project Upcycle is a thrilling sustainable fashion design challenge where designers compete to create innovative looks for community role models. Winner Ashley Cushon’s model, Doug, is pictured above.

“Before we were even paired, Doug had already intrigued me. Our brief co nversation before model selection left an impression.”

Last year’s competition was materially sponsored by Savers, where the competitors have 20 minutes to shop, as well as donations of fabric from Marden’s, who found themselves with surplus. The contenders then have 24 hours to conceptualize their garments, as well as completely construct them, eventually presenting their creations to a judge and an audience.

Before declaring a winner, the designs are showcased on a runway, in front of a crowd

that overflows the 3S Artspace Performance Space, using community role models in place of fashion models — a move that Beth Falconer mentions “is another testament to the commitment of the idea that fashion is for everyone and everybody,” and then later facing scrutiny and inspection of their garments by the judges, some of whom are previous cycle winners.

Last year’s judges were Jay Calderin, the founder of Boston Fashion Week; Christian De Restrepo, a Columbian-born immigrant who is now an established designer in the Boston fashion scene; and Henry Hawk, a student at the Rhode Island School of Design who competed during his senior year and won.

Henry has since continued making garments with an upcycled twist, using primarily denim as his fabric of choice and comments on the process of upcycling as “a favorite creative challenge, taking something apart and rearranging, rethinking it is surprisingly

rewarding, and often leads to unpredictable outcomes. Each panel of cloth is an abstract puzzle, but when you arrange the puzzle it’s way more rewarding than the puzzle on your coffee table. You can wear this one!”

The upcycling aspect is what truly sets it apart from many design competitions and with sustainability at the forefront of what Jennifer Moore and 3S stand for. The event attracts business partnerships and community members in a shared celebration of creative risk-taking and sustainability, with many of the designers forming lasting relationships with their peers and gaining access to professionals. Project Upcycle is poised to keep growing in today’s climate of ever-growing proponents against fast fashion.

Moore says she began in the sustainable fashion world, first accidentally, and then on purpose. After writing on the topic of sustainability for many years through her blog Recovergirl, which is a wordplay on Covergirl

Ashley Cushon is the 2024 winner after an elite panel of judges evaluates her designs based on execution, creative reuse of materials and styling.

with the “re” added in front, to represent the ubiquitous phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle,” Moore was recruited by The Sound as a columnist to write on the topic of sustainable fashion. It would eventually prove so successful, the column became its own magazine, StyleQueue. Later, she initiated the Portsmouth Clothing Swap, which today draws in more than 1,000 people, saving countless garments from the landfill, and has become an official City of Portsmouth event. Her passion for sustainability eventually turned into a fun challenge she called “Project Black Friday,” when she joined together with her friend Kirsten Elfe, to rent Buoy gallery in Kittery, Maine, and devote a day to sewing. It was aptly named, as the only available day the gallery had to rent was Black Friday, which Jennifer said felt “fortuitous.” What started as a challenge between friends

grew by a handful more people the following year, was covered by a local paper, and later inspired the entirety of Project Upcycle, as an obvious up-leveling after the buzz around it just wouldn’t die down.

It’s no easy feat to win this competition, amid a sea of talented individuals who are scouted throughout New England, all vying for the same prize with the same level of

Sustainable Stops to Shop

determination. But Ashley Cushon was one of many deserving applicants, who proved her design to the judges (and the audience, winning the “audience choice” award) and became the winner of Project Upcycle 2024 with her unique take on a traditional Korean garment called a Hanbok. Cushon was deeply inspired by her assigned community role model Doug Ridley in what she says felt like “divine intervention.”

“Before we were even paired, Doug had already intrigued me. Our brief conversation before model selection left an impression — I recognized in him the delicate balance of standing out while feeling like an outsider, of minimizing oneself in spaces that passively suppress self-expression. I left that exchange hoping he’d be paired with a designer who would truly let him shine. And then our pairing was announced, and I lost it — in the best way!” says Cushon.

“Although Doug didn’t engage with many traditional Korean customs; he shared that food was his strongest tie to his heritage. That small but powerful detail sparked a vision: to cloak Doug in the beauty of his roots, reconnecting him with his culture through my creative lens — almost in a way that would feed his spirit.”

And that she did — her design not only felt inspired, but it was impeccably executed, and the judges agreed, crowning her winner of Project Upcycle 2024.

Elias Matso, a previous winner and contributor in many ways to Project Upcycle, who is now a fashion student of Polimoda, The Fashion School in Florence, Italy, said something profound about Moore. “She has led very selflessly and not for her own gain, but really to connect people and give people these experiences and opportunities. She makes this web of creative people on the Seacoast,” he says. “She does it in a very genuine, non-transactional way. Which is really rare.” NH

Build up your closet this fall and stop at these guilt-free, planet-friendly spots:

Lilise Designer Resale • 7 N Main St., Concord • liliseresale.com

Rise • 71 Main St., Meredith • shopriseboutique.com

The Drift Collective • 50 Daniel St., Portsmouth • thedriftcollective.com

Good Planet Apparel • 13 Jenkins Court, Durham • goodplanetapparel.com

M&C Clothing and Gifts • 135 NH-101A, Amherst • mcclothingandgifts.com

Project Upcycle founder Jennifer Moore (right) stands with her sister (and first supporter), Diane Coon.

“Bringing the best of New England to life has special meaning as the nation’s 250th birthday approaches. Join us this season as we celebrate what makes our region— America’s birthplace —truly special.”

—Brook Holmberg Publisher, Yankee

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Thrilling Revolutionary War reenactments in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts

Horseback riding through Vermont’s fall foliage

Cooking with James Beard Award–winning Mashpee Wampanoag chef Sherry Pocknett

Setting sail in Maine’s Great Schooner Race

Autumn adventures at New Hampshire’s historic Omni Mount Washington Hotel

Foraging with Connecticut vegan chef and cookbook author Chrissy Tracey

Biking along the beautiful New Hampshire seacoast

The art of the New England clambake at Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island

Learn more about our show and check local listings at WEEKENDSWITHYANKEE.COM

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POWER

SCREEN TIME

Early detection is the best defense for fighting breast cancer. New Hampshire health providers offer the latest screening technology and innovative treatment options.

It’s the appointment that could save your life. Regular screening for breast cancer is the most important step women can take to protect themselves from a disease that kills an average of 173 women in New Hampshire every year, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. The Granite State is also home to nearly 18,000

breast cancer survivors. “Most breast cancers (76 percent) are found in the early stages, when treatment is more likely to be successful,” according to a fact sheet at dhhs.nh/gov

On the following pages, read about New Hampshire and providers who offer state-of-the art screening technology and treatment.

AWARENESS, SCREENING, PREVENTION, ADVOCACY, SUPPORT

SELF-ADVOCACY

AND COMPASSIONATE CARE TOOK ON BREAST CANCER

Despite the normal mammogram she’d recently received,

Annette Parrish of Proctorsville, Vermont, was concerned in January when she felt a lump on her right breast while applying lotion.

About 10 years earlier, she had had a biopsy on a suspicious area, which turned out to be a harmless but particularly fibrous tissue. This new lump was noticeable and near the surface.

Parrish returned to the local cancer center where she had received her mammogram for a biopsy, but she wasn’t confident in the care. She was referred to Dartmouth Cancer Center in Lebanon in February.

Doctors found two tumors next to each other, and Parrish was diagnosed with invasive and in situ ductal carcinoma, which were estrogen- and progesterone-positive. Fortunately, she was negative for the more aggressive HER2-positive type of breast cancer.

“Everything just started happening: Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,” Parrish said.

“Once I got into the Dartmouth system, everything was clockwork.”

ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION

Parrish was not a stranger to pushing for necessary care. Her first husband had had cancer, and she spent lots of time helping to navigate his care.

Once referred to Dartmouth, Parrish felt like she had a care team of doctors who were her advocates. They guided her through a treatment plan and made sure all her questions were answered.

Dr. Richard Barth performed a lumpectomy on Parrish. Following the result of that and her risk factor measurement for recurrence, he determined she would only need radiation, not chemotherapy. Parrish saw

BY SARAH PEARSON

Dr. Jennifer Stapleford and Dr. Linda Vahdat for her follow-up treatments.

“Dr. Stapleford explained everything ahead of time; she was just amazing,” Parrish said. “She made drawings. She took her time, knowing that when you receive this diagnosis, you’re a little in shock and scared. And she made the process so much easier. All three of the doctors did.”

Stapleford says that when she’s speaking to a patient, she’s trying to explain the factual information about their diagnosis and treatment, while considering their unique circumstances and needs.

“One of my priorities as an oncologist is to ensure that we provide patient-centric care: care that is collaborative and attuned to patients’ individual circumstances and needs,” Stapleford said. “I really try to engage with patients to ensure that they and their family have all the information and resources they need to understand their diagnoses, make treatment decisions, and navigate their treatment.”

Annette Parrish, fourth from right, with her family

For anyone who might find themselves in a similar position, Parrish encourages patients to speak up about their needs.

“Just use your voice. Ask all the questions that you can, which I think I did, even though I was sort of still in shock,” she said.

SUPPORT THROUGH ALL PHASES

“I wasn’t prepared for when the treatment was over,” Parrish said. “I was, like, very emotionally overwhelmed.”

Parrish is now in the monitoring phase and still receiving support through her care coordinator.

“Justuseyourvoice. Askallthequestions thatyoucan,which IthinkIdid,even thoughIwassortof still in shock.”

— Annette Parrish

She will have regular telehealth check-ins with Stapleford, who is now providing care at Dartmouth Cancer Center in Manchester.

That move is part of Dartmouth Health’s plan to streamline cancer-care coordination. A patient can see their oncologists, have lab tests and receive the three primary cancer treatments: chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. Patients often receive a combination of therapies to treat their cancer and care coordination is key.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to be a part of this expansion of Dartmouth Cancer Center radiation oncology,” Stapleford said. “One of the highlights of the setup here is that everything is housed in one space, allowing patients easy and efficient access to all the services they may need.”

When faced with a health concern as serious as cancer, Parrish advocated for herself. She was able to get her cancer removed and treated, months before she would’ve been due for her next mammogram.

“I don’t think people could be in better hands anywhere than I was at Dartmouth,” she said.

Can I Lower My Risk of Breast Cancer Progressing or Coming Back?

If you have (or have had) breast cancer, you probably want to know if there are things you can do that might lower your risk of the cancer growing or coming back. Fortunately, breast cancer is one of the best studied types of cancer in this regard.

Staying as healthy as possible is more important than ever after breast cancer treatment. Controlling your weight, being physically active, and eating well may help you lower your risk of breast cancer coming back, as well as help protect you from other health problems.

Getting to a healthy weight

If you have had breast cancer, getting to and staying at a healthy weight might help lower your risk. A lot of research suggests that having excess body weight (overweight or obesity) raises the risk of breast cancer coming back. It has also been linked with a higher risk of getting lymphedema, as well as a higher risk of dying from breast cancer.

Even losing a few pounds may be helpful. Still, it’s important to discuss this with your doctor before trying to lose weight.

Being physically active

Among breast cancer survivors, studies have found a consistent link between physical activity and a lower risk of breast cancer coming back and of dying from breast cancer, as well as dying of any cause. Physical activity has also been linked to improvements in quality of life, physical functioning, and fewer fatigue symptoms.

It’s not clear exactly how much activity might be needed, but more seems to be better. More vigorous activity may also be more helpful than less vigorous activity. But further studies are needed to help clarify this.

Eating a healthy diet

Most research on possible links between diet and the risk of breast cancer coming back has looked at broad dietary patterns, rather than specific foods. In general, it’s not clear if eating any specific type of diet can help lower your risk of breast cancer coming back.

Studies have found that breast cancer survivors whose eating patterns include more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, chicken, and fish tend to live longer than those who eat more refined sugars, fats, red meats and processed meats. But it’s not clear if this is due to effects on breast cancer or possibly to other health benefits of eating a healthy diet.

Eating a healthy diet can also help lower your risk for some other common health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Dietary supplements

Women often want to know if there are any dietary or nutritional supplements they can take to help lower their risk. So far, no dietary supplements (including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products) have been shown to clearly help lower the risk of breast cancer progressing or coming back.Dietary supplements are not regulated like medicines in the United States – they do not have to be proven effective (or even safe) before being sold.

Alcohol

It’s clear that alcohol – even as little as a few drinks a week – increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. But whether alcohol affects the risk of breast cancer coming back is not as clear. Drinking alcohol can raise the levels of estrogen in the body, which in theory could increase the risk of breast cancer coming back. But there is no strong evidence from studies to support this.

The treatments are cutting-edge. The care is deeply human. The place is The Elliot.

Early breast cancer detection saves lives. At the Elliot Breast Health Center, patients find the most advanced diagnostics and imaging along with the comfort of knowing their team truly knows and cares for them.

Our patients have access to the full spectrum of advanced screening and diagnostic capabilities — from routine mammograms to breast MRI and genetic counseling. These tools help detect concerns at the earliest stages, when treatment is most effective, and guide more individualized care.

By understanding a person’s unique genetic risk and, in some cases, the biology of their tumor, our specialists can recommend treatments designed specifically for each individual.

If treatment is needed, patients can seamlessly transition to the Solinsky Center for Cancer Care at The Elliot. There, a multidisciplinary team of oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, nurses, and support staff collaborate to design highly personalized treatment plans.

Patients also benefit from access to innovative therapies, including participation in select clinical trials, and supported by a team that walks with them every step of the way.

At the Elliot, we don’t just treat the cancer — we care for the whole person. Our patients are never just cases; they are people. Because the most advanced care is, and always will be, the most human.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KENDAL J BUSH

If you’re a woman over 40, now is the time to start getting annual mammograms.

We have the team and technology you need to find and beat breast cancer. Schedule your mammogram today using the QR code below.

• Frisbie Memorial Hospital

• Parkland Medical Center

• Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Risks, facts and myths on breast cancer

Q&A WITH NICOLETTE L. MCDONNELL, APRN-WHNP

What are the factors you consider when assessing someone’s risk of breast cancer?

Factors to consider when assessing an individual’s risk of breast cancer include things we can control (lifestyle, exercise, smoking, alcohol use) and some not in our control. When assessing someone’s risk we generally take into account their family history of breast cancer, any prior biopsy yielding a high-risk lesion, breast density, a known genetic predisposition to breast cancer (such as a BRCA mutation), and personal reproductive risk factors.

What steps should people take if they are determined to be high risk?

If deemed to be high risk, patients will often be recommended to undergo enhanced screening. Enhanced screening generally refers to obtaining a breast MRI in addition to mammography once per year. The mammogram and MRI are typically spaced six months apart so that women do not go a full year without some type of imaging to evaluate their breast tissue. The idea behind this, of course, is that if a cancer develops, we will catch it hopefully at an earlier stage when prognosis tends to be better and treatments may not be quite as aggressive. If a patient cannot tolerate a breast MRI for any number of reasons, automated breast ultrasounds and contrast enhanced mammography are other high risk screening options.

What are some common misconceptions people have about breast cancer?

Myth 1: Certain antiperspirants/deodorants, underwire bras or keeping your cell phone close to your chest can cause breast cancer.

Truth: There is no data to support that these increase breast cancer risk.

Myth 2: Cancerous lumps in the breast cause pain.

Truth: While some larger lumps can cause pain simply by pushing on surrounding tissues, most breast cancers are actually painless. Pain is rarely a sign of breast cancer, but should still be evaluated, particularly if you have pain associated with a lump, nipple discharge, redness or signs of infection.

Myth 3: Breast cancer risk only comes from your mother’s side.

Truth: Both maternal and paternal family history affect risk, and it is very important to take into account breast cancers on the patient’s father’s side as well.

Myth 4: Breast cancer “skips a generation.”

Truth: Breast cancer does not skip a generation, and we take into account all close family members (first, second, and third degree relatives) when assessing risk.

Foundation Breast Surgery | Nashua, NH | 603-882-8375

snhhealth.org/locations/foundation-breast-surgery

Florals & Plants for Personal & Professional Occasions

FIVE STAR AWARD WINNERS 2025 NEW HAMPSHIRE

These days, it takes a village to manage your fi nancial world. Whether it is managing your assets with a wealth manager, or picking the right life insurance, fi nding the right team can be a daunting task. In fact, many consumers have a hard time fi guring out where to even begin.

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

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

FIVE STAR INVESTMENT

PROFESSIONAL

DETERMINATION OF AWARD WINNERS CRITERIA

The investment professional award goes to estate planning attorneys, insurance agents and select others in the financial industry. Eligibility Criteria – Required: 1. Credentialed with appropriate state or industry licensures. 2. Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years. 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review. 4. Accepting new clients. Evaluation Criteria – Considered: 5. One-year client retention rate. 6. Five-year client retention rate. 7. Number of client households served. 8. Recent personal production and performance (industry specific criteria). 9. Education and professional designations/industry and board certifications. 10. Pro Bono and community service work. This year, we honored 1 New Hampshire-area investment professional with the Five Star Investment Professional award.

Wealth Managers

Financial Planning

Christian A. Beliveau LPL Financial

Jeremy W. Benoit

Benoit Financial Planners Page 6

Duane Goodell

Optimum Wealth LLC

John F. Habig

Morgan Stanley Page 7

Jeffrey W. Keefe Whole Wealth Management, LLC Page 7

Sarah Kenda Financial Strategies Retirement Partners Page 3

Cynthia L. Kordys Centaurus Financial, Inc.

Richard Warren Lyons Morgan Stanley Page 7

Chris Moore

Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Liana Poodiack Birch Financial Group Page 4

Nichole Raftopoulos Nvest Financial, LLC Page 2

RESEARCH DISCLOSURES

In order to consider a broad population of high-quality wealth managers and investment professionals, award candidates are identified by one of three sources: firm nomination, peer nomination or prequalification based on industry standing. Self-nominations are not accepted. New Hampshire-area award candidates were identified using internal and external research data. Candidates do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final lists of Five Star Wealth Managers or Five Star Investment Professionals.

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

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

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

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

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

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER

DETERMINATION OF AWARD WINNERS CRITERIA

Award candidates who satisfied 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria were named 2025 Five Star Wealth Managers. Eligibility Criteria – Required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative. 2. Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years. 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review. 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal firm standards. 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation Criteria –Considered: 6. One-year client retention rate. 7. Five-year client retention rate. 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered. 9. Number of client households served. 10. Education and professional designations. 1,183 award candidates in the New Hampshire area were considered for the Five Star Wealth Manager award. 82 (approximately 7% of the award candidates) were named 2025 Five Star Wealth Managers.

Northeast Planning

Paul Stephen Stanley Granite Bay Wealth Management, LLC

Investments

Colby Athanas Morgan Stanley Page 6

Lou Athanas Jr. Morgan Stanley Page 6

Ethan Betts Baystate Financial

Al Gilbert Financial Strategies Retirement Partners Page 3

Wayne McCormick Steward Partners Investment Advisory

Michael Miller Wellesley Asset Management Page 5

Celeste M. Monaghan Monaghan Investment Resources LLC

Shawn Monty Financial Strategies Retirement Partners Page 3

This award was issued on 09/01/2025 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 12/25/2024 through 07/18/2025. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Hampshire-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 82 (7% of candidates) were named 2025 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics 9/1/23, 12/12/22 - 6/30/23; 2022: 979, 87, 9%, 9/1/22, 12/20/21 - 6/17/22; 2021: 943, 96, 10%, 9/1/21, 11/30/20 - 6/25/21; 2020: 928, 91, 10%, 9/1/20, 12/9/19 666, 158, 24%, 8/1/16, 2/6/16 - 7/19/16; 2015: 853, 166, 19%, 9/1/15, 2/6/15 - 7/19/15; 2014: 1,045, 189, 18%, 9/1/14, 2/6/14 - 7/19/14; 2013: 1,049, 204, 19%, Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, registered through FSP’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within

One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP assets.

Michael S. Riddell

Associates, Inc.

Nvest Financial, LLC

Nvest is an independent financial boutique working with people just like you: diverse, financially established individuals, families, business owners and nonprofit organizations who demand the highest quality of service and attention to detail in their financial matters.

Founded in 2003, Nvest’s mission is built around providing clients with a holistic financial planning and investment experience. A team-centric approach allows Nvest to be a true financial partner with its clients.

Above all else, Nvest’s core values guide the team’s day-to-day activities, resulting in an experience like no other.

registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.

Left to right: Emily Coughlin; Christopher Spaziani; Phoebe Coburn; Stacey DeBartolo; Justin Happ; Daphne Lafazan; George Raftopoulos; Nine-year winner Nichole Raftopoulos; Dinon Hughes; Mina Sullivan; Jack McGrath; Eileen Monahan; Victoria Chernin; Corbin Howe

Financial Strategies Retirement Partners

Jack

2012

Financial Guidance You Can Trust

Professionals • Holistic Financial Planning Approach

• Retirement Plan Consulting for Companies

We’re passionate about advancing financial wellness. Backed by decades of experience, our team is committed to helping both individuals and businesses achieve their financial goals through personalized planning and advice.

For individuals, we deliver thorough financial planning services designed to adapt with you. For businesses, we provide retirement plan guidance — including 401(k) and 403(b) solutions — oﬀer employee education, and act as co-fiduciaries for every plan we support. We’re grateful for the confidence our clients place in us. We’re also proud to recognize Shawn, Al and Sarah for earning the 2025 Five Star Wealth Manager award.

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

Left to right: Ted Mulligan, CFP®; Brian Lampron, AIF®; 2020 – 2025 winner Sarah Kenda, Partner, AIF®; Michele Estey; Crystal Rowe; Chris Conard, AIF®; Jess Jasiukowicz; Travis Labrie, AIF®; Valerie McClendon, AIF®; Forrest Butler, AIF®; Jamie Perkins; Dave Prendergast, CFP®; 2013 – 2025 winner Al Gilbert, Partner, AIF®;

– 2025 winner Shawn Monty, CEO & Managing Partner, AIF®; (Not pictured:

Ecklund; Dan Fraser; Jennifer Murray; Jay Roberto; Lena Robinson; Dotty Snook; Renee Talcott and Erica Warburton)

WEALTH MANAGERS

Liana Poodiack

CFP®, Co-Founder, Financial Advisor

Birch Financial Group

• Holistic planning that goes far beyond the portfolio, covering estate, tax, retirement and next-gen strategy

• Co-led by a mother-son CFP® team with 30-plus years of experience helping clients feel confident through major financial decisions, transitions and milestones

• Providing both long-term vision and real-time insight through collaborative, real-life approach: clear advice, zero jargon and no one-size-fits-all templates

Birch Financial Group was built on a simple but powerful belief: financial planning should feel personal, not transactional. Based in Keene, New Hampshire, this family-founded firm helps professionals, retirees and multigenerational families organize their wealth in a way that reflects their values—not just their balance sheet.

Co-founded by CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Liana Poodiack, Birch oﬀers a rare blend of warmth and technical depth. With over three decades of experience, Liana leads with heart, clarity and a gift for helping clients confidently navigate big decisions. Whether you’re planning for retirement, preserving a legacy or supporting the next generation, Liana and her team help create a clear path forward — and walk beside you every step of the way.

From complex tax strategies to relaxed conversations around the kitchen table, Birch is the kind of firm where clients feel seen, understood and supported for the long haul.

149 Emerald Street, Suite M2 • Keene, NH 03431 Phone: 603-338-3838 Client@BirchFinancialGroup.com www.birchfinancialgroup.com

Four-year winner Liana Poodiack, CFP®, Co-Founder, Financial Advisor

Wellesley Asset Management

Alternative

Strategies Designed to Turn Risk Into Opportunity

Hedged Strategies aim for

Risk-Managed Equity Exposure

Wellesley Asset Management is a nationally recognized investment advisory firm specializing in alternative strategies that aim to protect and grow client portfolios. With a disciplined, riskmanaged approach developed over more than three decades, we deliver institutional-quality solutions to high net worth individuals, financial advisors and institutions. Now headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, we combine deep expertise with personalized service to help clients navigate all market environments. We don’t chase trends — we prepare portfolios for when it matters most.

Left to right: Dennis Godin, Director of Operations; Jennifer Belloli, Head of Client Services; Michael Foley, Senior Vice President; Rebecca Bahlert, Associate Relationship Manager; Gabe Osario, Associate Relationship Manager; Dawn Baillie, Chief Compliance Officer; Five-year winner Joseph Buscaino, Executive Director Private Clients; Ina Dunphy, Vice President; Four-year winner Michael Miller, CEO and Principal; Meghan Sullivan, Client Services Manager; Nicholas Felici, Senior Bond Trader; Kelly Sardinas, Office Administrator; David Desrosiers, Vice President of Finance; Thomas LaHaise, Senior Vice President

The Athanas Group at Morgan Stanley

World-Class Resources

• Lou Athanas Jr., 2012 – 2025 Five Star Wealth Manager award winner

• Colby Athanas, 2024 – 2025 Five Star Wealth Manager award winner

• 46 years of combined wealth management experience

• Professional portfolio management services

• Individual retirement planning and retirement income solutions

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

One Harbour Place, Suite 125 • Portsmouth, NH 03801 Oﬃce: 603-422-8948

lou.athanas.jr@morganstanley.com louis.c.athanas@morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/athanas-group

Lou Athanas Jr., has 38 years of experience; Colby Athanas has 7 years of experience. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC oﬀers a wide array of brokerage and advisory services to its clients, each of which may create a diﬀerent type of

Please visit

at www.morganstanleyindividual.com or consult with your Financial Advisor to understand these diﬀerences. Morgan Stanley and its Financial Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals should seek advice based on their particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor. ©2025 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC 4673680 07/25.

Jeremy W. Benoit

Creating Financial Plans For Over 30 Years

Phone: 603-506-6233

jeremy@benoitfp.com www.benoitfp.com

At Benoit Financial Planners, we work with individuals and families who are interested in developing a plan to assist in achieving their financial goals, as well as employers interested in providing employer-sponsored retirement plans for their employees. The long-standing relationships we cultivate with clients are the foundation Benoit Financial Planners is built upon. With more than 90 years of combined financial services experience, our team strives to provide clients with exceptional service that is prompt, professional and friendly.

Our objective is to develop meaningful relationships built on integrity and proven long-term service. We hold the trust our clients place in us with the highest regard.

As independent advisors, our loyalties lie with our clients. We have no incentive to choose one company over another and believe the client should be in control of how best to use the resources available at Benoit Financial Planners. Our goal is to empower clients and facilitate a thorough working knowledge of their financial plans through ongoing education.

Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 1,183 New use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2024: 1,094, 87, 8%, 9/1/24, 12/12/23 - 7/9/24; 2023: 1,017, 89, 9%, - 7/1/20; 2019: 928, 85, 9%, 9/1/19, 11/19/18 - 7/10/19; 2018: 955, 74, 8%, 9/1/18, 12/26/17 - 7/17/18; 2017: 739, 89, 12%, 9/1/17, 12/27/16 - 7/6/17; 2016: 9/1/13, 2/6/13 - 7/19/13; 2012: 743, 170, 23%, 9/1/12, 2/6/12 - 7/19/12. registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.

Left to right: 2024 – 2025 winner Colby Athanas, Associate Vice President, Portfolio Manager, Financial Advisor; 2012 – 2025 winner Lou Athanas Jr., Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management Director, Financial Advisor

Left to right: Elizabeth Benoit; Elyse Wholey; David Carter; Michelle Huffman; Seven-year winner Jeremy W. Benoit, CRPC®, AIF®; Tara Barnett

The Habig Group at Morgan Stanley

One Harbour Place, Suite 125 Portsmouth NH 03801 Office: 603-422-8901

John.f.habig@morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/john.f.habig

Jeffrey W. Keefe

John is a Managing Director, Financial Advisor and Senior Portfolio Management Director at Morgan Stanley and has been with the firm or its predecessor firms for over 35 years.

He has been fortunate to have the opportunity to work with many high net worth clients. John’s goal is to understand your financial needs and then align those needs using the firm’s resources along with his professionalism, dedication, knowledge and experience. All of these things allow him to understand and assist you in developing and executing a strategy that is precisely your own and helps you achieve your goals.

Richard Warren Lyons

jkeefe@wholewealthmanagement.com www.wholewealthmanagement.com

CFP®, First Vice President, Financial Advisor 1 Harbour Place Portsmouth, NH 03801

•Fiduciary

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

Phone: 603-422-8909

richard.w.lyons@morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/richard.w.lyons

Invest With Confidence, Live With Freedom

•Asset Management •Cash Management

For more than 40 years, Richard has earned the reputation for providing highly customized advice, investment solutions and wealth management services to high net worth individuals, business owners, foundations and endowments. He listens carefully to his clients’ goals, values and concerns, and works tirelessly in an effort to make a difference in their lives by providing holistic wealth planning services with passion and integrity. Richard is a 2022, 2024 and 2025 Five Star Wealth Manager award winner. •Financial Planning •Estate Planning

Left to right: Kelly Curley, Portfolio Associate; 2020 – 2025 winner John F. Habig, Managing Director, Financial Advisor; Christopher Levin, CFP®*, FPS, Vice President, Portfolio Management Associate Director

Wealth Managers

Peter Willett Ankeny Wolf Pine Capital

Michael W. Beck LPL Financial

Charles Matthew Beynon Seacoast Financial Planning

Steven Laurent Bissonnette Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Frederick Ackley Boucher Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Elizabeth Ann Bowen Morgan Stanley

Nancy Catherine Burt Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Ryan Joseph Callaghan Harbor Group

Ryan F. Callahan Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

David Crespo PFS Investments, Inc.

Patrick Leland Curtin Curtin Financial Services

Nicholas Curtis Seacoast Financial Planning

Michael T. Dimos Baystate Financial

Gary Stephen Dionne Lamb, Petersen & Mann Advisory Group

Michael P. Doyle The Harbor Group, Inc.

Scott Lee Dudley LPL Financial

W. John Dulmage SAX Wealth Advisors, LLC

Eric Mcguire Ellis Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Colleen Eleanor Farley Robbins Farley

Timothy C. Fitzbag Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Eric Keith Folia Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Katie Lane Geery Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Travis Nathaniel Grieb Centeras Private Wealth

Daniel S. Grossman Financial Strategies Retirement Partners

Andrew Guyton Forge Financial

Joseph Henry Guyton The Guyton Group

Colin Dennis Hatchard Osaic FA, Inc.

Edward John Hickey Jr. Eagle Point Investment Advisors

Kevin Leland Kimball Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Stephen Michael Lamoureux Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

David Britt Lanzillo Robbins Farley

Brian Scott Lavoie Lavoie Wealth Management

Norman Stephen Long Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Kristen Ann Madden FL Putnam Investment Management

Brendan Michael Mann LPM Advisory Group

Gregory R. Mason Mason Financial Group

Terence G. McCormick Centegrity Wealth Advisors

David Harold McLaughlin Nutfield Financial Services, Ltd.

Seth Patrick McNally Morgan Stanley/The Elm Street Group

Andrea Anne Riley Arnesen Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Andrew M. Rocco Baystate Financial

Mary Vinodhini Smith Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Kevin Charles Soles KCS Advisors, LLC

Clifton Roy Spinney Wells Fargo Advisors

Joseph Suozzo Eagle Point Investment Advisors

Mary Gail Sycamore Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Robert John Walczak Commonwealth Financial Network

Joshua B. Wright Wells Fargo Advisors

Jack W. Yvars Osaic Wealth, Inc.

John G. Burk & Associates, CPAs, PC All award winners are listed in this publication.

Ileana Anne Ille Morgan Stanley

Susan MacMichael John FL Putnam Investment Management

Christopher John June SFM Sweeney Financial Management, LLC

Drew Dawson Kellner Lumbard & Kellner

Robert James Kennelly Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Douglas Elliott Kerr Investmark

Investment Professional

Karen Lascelle

Karen Anne O’Donoghue Beck Bode LLC

Joseph George Okeefe Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Catherine R. Paige Flight Financial Group

Robert Alan Paul LPL Financial

Lee Arthur Petersen LPM Advisory Group

Beth Anne Plentzas LPL Financial

Events Around the State

BEER EVENTS

OCTOBER 4

13th Annual Powderkeg Beer & Chili Festival

Beer, chili and a crisp fall Saturday — will that trio ever go out of style? At this 13-year-old festival, sample brews from over 50 breweries and cideries, and eat to your heart’s content from the dozen-plus chili competitors. Don’t forget to cast your vote — the winner at this contest is selected via the people’s choice. Prices vary. Noon to 4 p.m. Swasey Parkway, downtown Exeter. powderkegbeerfest.com. New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event!

OCTOBER 18

New Hampshire Brewfest

New Hampshire’s premier craft-brewing event is back! Unlike in prior years, this year’s event will be held at the legendary Smuttynose Brewery in Hampton. Whether you’re a die-hard beer lover or a casual enjoyer, this festival has something for everyone. Who doesn’t love souvenir sampler cups, beer samples, live music and entertainment? It is also a special fundraiser for the Prescott Park Arts Festival in partnership with Master Brewers Association of America. Cheers! Ticket prices vary, Noon to 4:30 p.m., Smuttynose Brewery, 105 Towle Farm Road, Hampton; nhbrewfest.com

OCTOBER 11-13

White Mountain Oktoberfest

Get a taste of the Bavarian Alps during the area’s largest celebration of German food, drink and culture, White Mountain Oktoberfest. This two-day festival perfectly coincides with fall foliage season, so you’ll enjoy beer and brats alongside stunning views of New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Admission is free for all. loonmtn.com

ONGOING IN OCTOBER

Castle in the Clouds Graveyard Walking Tour

Join us on a walk around the property to view the remnants of cemeteries from long ago! You’ll also view the accompanying cellar holes on this informative history walk, discussing the families that lived there and the funerary traditions from each time period. $15 per person, Mondays and Thursdays, 3 - 5 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Road, Moultonborough. castleintheclouds.org

OCTOBER 4

41st Annual Apple Harvest Day

You haven’t experienced fall in New Hampshire if you haven’t been to Dover’s storied Apple Harvest Day. This daylong celebration of all things autumnal features amazing food, entertainment for the whole family, 300+ vendors and so much more. It’s no wonder that this event draws nearly 60,000 annual visitors. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., downtown Dover; dovernh.org

OCTOBER 4-5

26th Annual Autumn Craft Festival on the Lake

More than 85 juried craftsmen and artisans from all over New England will display their American-made works in scenic Meredith. Free. Saturday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Mill Falls Marketplace, Route 3, Meredith. castleberryfairs.com

OCTOBER 10-12

78th Annual Warner Fall Foliage Festival

If you’re a lover of fall in New England, this is the event for you. The best part? It is all free. Come and celebrate the rural life and vibrant foliage at this family-friendly community festival. Three days of events include a lineup of open-air concerts, a 5K road race, a kids’ fun run and dance party, street performers, food, amusement rides and so much more. Free. All day. Downtown Warner. wfff.org

OCTOBER 11- 13

Monadnock Art Tour

The Monadnock Art Tour is the oldest and largest artist studio tour in New Hampshire. It occurs annually in October, with 81 participating artists and 65 inspiring studios in wonderful locations! This is a great chance to visit studios in Dublin, Hancock, Harrisville, Jaffrey, Marlborough, Peterborough and Sharon. monadnockart.org

OCTOBER 11-12

Lakes Region Parade of Homes Tour

This local home show and design tour is a beloved annual Lakes Region tradition. The self-guided tour features stunning, professionally designed new and renovated homes in Lakes Region communities. Attendees can also meet the talented builders while learning about the newest trends, products and techniques. For ticket information and times, visit lakesregionparadeofhomes.com

OCTOBER 12

9th Annual Mount Sunapee Duck Drop

Northcape Design Build is proud to be back for the 9th annual Duck Drop at Mount Sunapee Resort on Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with awards at 3 p.m. See you on the lift as we toss ducks, win prizes and raise money, all for wonderful charities. All proceeds will be donated to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Hampshire. Prices vary. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mount Sunapee. nhduckdrop.com

OCTOBER 12

Hay Day Fall Festival

A fun-filled day for all ages with old-fashioned games, music, children’s art projects, face painting and more. Explore nature trails, create a fairy house in the Fairy Village, and discover the estate’s exhibits and art installations. Step back in time and take a historic tour of the Main House and gardens or simply imagine a simpler bygone life while relaxing on the Veranda. Food available for purchase on-site. Members: free, Non-members: included with regular admission fee. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., John Hay Estate at The Fells, 456 Route 103A, Newbury. thefells.org

OCTOBER 18

Howl-o-ween 5K

AWOOOO! This dog-friendly 5K road race along the Manchester River Walk is perfect Halloween fun for the whole family, including your four-legged friends. At the race, you’ll love the beautiful scenery and foliage along the Merrimack River, along with incredible vendors, prizes, post-race refreshments and more! Not only does this event raise funds for animals in need, but it’s also a great opportunity for pets and their owners to be active together. Celebrate Halloween early by dressing up in your favorite costume. Plus, you can purchase a timed bib for your dog! All proceeds will benefit the Animal Rescue League of NH. This is their largest fundraising event of the year. Registration costs vary. 10 a.m., Delta Dental Stadium, 1 Line Drive, Manchester; rescueleague.org

OCTOBER 18-19

Goffstown Giant Pumpkin

Weigh-Off & Regatta

One-third giant pumpkin weigh-off, one-third fall festival and one-third pumpkin regatta? The Goffstown Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off and Regatta has it all! Start your weekend by seeing which local farmer grew the largest pumpkin of the festival. Then, watch as champions in hollowed-out, decorated giant pumpkins compete in the fierce Pumpkin Regatta. There, they paddle up the portion of the Piscataquog River that runs through downtown Goffstown in a race that you won’t want to miss! The weekend’s festivities will include pie-eating, art shows, artisan booths, a pet costume contest and more! Times vary. Main Street, Goffstown; goffstownmainstreet.org

OCTOBER 21

20th Annual Taste of New Hampshire

This fantastic food event is back for another year of good food and good fun! Graze your way through generous entrees and desserts from dozens of local restaurants and specialty shops, and sample some of the newest beverages on the market. You’ll also enjoy a silent auction on unique items and live music! It’s all for a great cause — proceeds support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Hampshire. $40, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, 2 Institute Drive, Concord; tasteofnh.com

OCTOBER 25

Laconia Pumpkin Festival

While the name of this beloved festival may have changed, the fall fun has not! Formerly known as the NH Pumpkin Festival, the rebranded Laconia Pumpkin Festival promises the perfect fall day. Enjoy the warm glow of thousands of carved pumpkins, while enjoying delicious local flavors and live entertainment in downtown Laconia. All day. Downtown Laconia. 603-5245046; laconiapumpkinfestival.com

Find additional events at nhmagazine.com/ calendar. Submit events eight weeks in advance to Elisa Gonzales Verdi (events@nhmagazine.com) or enter your own at nhmagazine.com/calendar. Not all events are guaranteed to be published either online or in the print calendar. Event submissions will be reviewed and, if deemed appropriate, approved by a New Hampshire Magazine editor.

Improve Your Game Plan

Partner with a health and wellness coach to reach your goals

BY KRYSTEN GODFREY MADDOCKS / PHOTO BY MIKOLETTE MOLLER

It’s much easier to skip the gym, put off quitting smoking or ignore your high cholesterol when no one’s watching. That’s why many people are turning to health coaches to get their wellness back on track.

A 2023 survey from Civic Science reports that 18% of respondents have already used a health and wellness coach to help achieve their personal goals, while another 18% plan to do so. Most said they were interested in improving their physical health and fitness or quality of sleep. Studies show that accountability does help people stick to their health goals. For example, a recent study reports that individuals who engaged in diabetes health coaching showed a statistically and clinically significant reduction of A1C. Health coaches are similar to personal trainers; however, while trainers design fit-

ness programs for clients looking to achieve weight loss or increase strength, National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaches (NBC-HWCs) “empower clients to develop and achieve self-determined, health and wellness goals.” Certified coaches help clients use their own insights, personal strengths, and resources to set goals, commit to action steps, and establish accountability in building an envisioned healthy lifestyle, according to the board.

However, not everyone who calls themselves a health coach has the same clinical background or behavioral approach. While some coaches may have nursing credentials or certifications in fitness or other healthrelated areas, there are no state or federal regulations governing who can call themself a health coach.

“If you’re looking for a health coach, choose someone who is nationally certified, uses evidence-based strategies, and takes the time to truly listen,” says Christine Sheldon, a certified exercise physiologist and National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach working in the Elliot Fitness Services department.

Sheldon, who also has a background in pulmonary rehabilitation and dialysis education, creates personalized exercise programs for patients who’ve been referred to her by Elliot health care providers. New clients often struggle with consistency and putting themselves first, Sheldon says, and one-onone coaching can help them take manageable steps and build confidence along the way.

“What I like best about coaching clients is seeing their progress — both physically and

“What I like best about coaching clients is seeing their progress — both physically and personally.”

—CHRISTINE SHELDON

personally,” she says. “With health coaching, I find it especially rewarding to help people discover their ‘why’ and overcome barriers. Health coaching is so effective because it bridges the gap between medical recommendations and real life,” she says.

Later this year, The Elliot plans to expand its health coaching services to Elliot employees and community members.

Recognize the Value of Health Coaching

Elevance Health, more commonly known as Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, offers individual health coaching to its members, including programs that focus on weight management, healthier eating, stress management, and tobacco cessation. Most of Anthem’s health coaches are registered nurses, and all must complete regular continuing clinical education to stay abreast of the latest research developments and care guidelines, according to Anthem spokesperson Jim Turner.

“Our customers complete surveys about the value and success of their health coaching, and we use survey results to inform our program and improve it,” he says.

Case managers at Anthem connected to patients’ health care providers may reach out to members, or members can seek out health coaches on their own — either in person or virtually. Some participating New Hampshire employers invite health coaches to the workplace to help answer questions and connect employees to providers and other health care resources.

Companies with employees that report high engagement in Anthem’s wellness program, including health coaching, report 21% higher productivity, 37% lower absenteeism, and 65% lower employee turnover, according to Turner.

Lori Hubbard, RN, BSN, has worked as a health coach for Anthem for the past eight years after spending several years in nursing.

She moved to health coaching to help Anthem members learn more about preventative care and disease management. In her role, she visits participating New Hampshire companies and helps answer employees’ questions and connect them to the resources they need.

“I see a lot of people who have diabetes who wonder, ‘Am I eating right? How do I get my blood sugars under control?’ ” she says. “So I help people with goal-setting and coming up with some of those key components and reduction of risk factors.”

Over the last couple of years, Hubbard says more and more members are asking questions about managing their mental health. While she is not a mental health clinician, she is able to talk to them about what mental health support could look like for them and what goals they could work toward.

“Many times, I’ll offer to call a provider with them and initiate that process, because a lot of times, that’s the barrier — just picking up the phone and doing it,” she says.

One of the great benefits of health coaching is that no matter what a member’s goal may be, Hubbard says she will find a way to check in with them. She helps them refocus their goals and stay on track. If asked, she will also review lab reports and helps members better understand what their numbers mean and how they can make changes to improve them.

“It’s hard if you have someone who’s trying to make improvements to their cholesterol (numbers) and then they don’t get a call back, and they’re thinking everything is okay, but their number is too high. They wonder if they’re doing the right things,” she says.

Members often don’t recognize the small changes they make are cumulative and can move them closer toward their goals. For example, while it’s recommended that people get 150 minutes of aerobic exercise a week, even making just a 10-minute walk can be a positive step for a member looking to increase their exercise, Hubbard says.

Coaches are also trained to recognize whether their clients are ready to move on to more challenging goals, and they seek to understand you — not judge you.

“The right coach offers support, accountability, and a personalized approach that aligns with your unique goals,” Sheldon says. “It (health coaching) combines expert guidance with the understanding that the patient is the expert of their own life.” NH

Here Lies Fear

BY AMANDA ANDREWS

You knew the neighborhoods that gave out the full-size candy bars. You fought with your mother over wearing a winter coat under your favorite costume. Your pillowcase weighed more than you did. Such was Halloween in New England for most of us lucky enough to run screaming through the streets for an annual trick or treat.

I’m a millennial whose Halloween season started in September, devouring movies such as “Casper,” “The Addams Family,” “Hocus Pocus,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,”

and those I shouldn’t have at a young age, like “Halloween,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” and “The Thing.” Costumes, more often than not, were handmade by my mother, who preferred the more jovial side to Halloween — the well-planned costumes, pumpkin carving and decorating the front stoop.

But like most everything, Halloween held a duality that stirred within me a childlike wonder to the light and dark sides to all things — in this case, the scarier side to Halloween.

That’s where my father came into play.

My parents — both from Lowell, Mass. — started dating in their teens. And in pure Scott Andrews fashion, he brought my mother, Cheryl, to a cemetery on their first date. That was after going to see the classic werewolf movie “The Howling” at the drive-in.

On another date night, my parents went to Victorian Park in Salem, N.H. — a mini-golf/ haunted house attraction that closed in the mid-2000s — where, at the end of the night, my mother was forced to balance on her high heels in a porta-potty as costumed ghouls rocked it from side to side chanting her name in low tones. My dad’s doing, of course.

Such beginnings gave me a taste for the macabre.

Growing up, I joined my brother, cousins and friends for the annual stroll down neighborhoods, ringing door bells for the promise of chocolate-y goodness. (Pretzel bags and apples were subsequently discarded. Nutrition had no authority on October 31.)

Even though my older cousin, Mark, traumatized a younger me while wearing a werewolf mask, he soon received the business end of my fairy princess wand — a victory I still pride myself on — and the scary side to Halloween was defeated.

I like to imagine that my father prepped me at a young age to deal with all types of monsters and ghosts. Maybe it was the way he got haunted house actors to break character and indulge him in mundane conversations, or perhaps it was how proud I was that the scary vampire with the evil laugh jumping out of a plywood coffin at my fellow karate mates was someone I knew.

Now in my 30s, I look back at my Halloween memories with fondness. Between the lighthearted Halloween indulgences from my mother and the more twisted tales from my father, I found a home in the dual nature of Halloween. Now, I’m passing such memories to my nieces and nephew as they grow and experience their own Halloween escapades — my inner child runs alongside them from door to door.

Halloween could never be scary when the smile behind the vampire teeth is my dad’s, or when the laugh emanating from within the wolf’s mouth sounds like my older cousin. Terror is temporary; exchanging chocolate bars from skeleton hands to witchy claws is timeless. NH

My parents, Scott and Cheryl, ready for a costume party circa 1983.

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