The Hippo Press – Page 140 (2024)

Hovering hummingbirds, colorful salamanders, the occasional porcupine and more wildlife you might find in your neighborhood

12 Just keep running You don’t have to run every day, or far, or quickly, to reap the benefits of running. Find out how and why to get off the couch, why streaks are, in fact, awesome (should you choose to go that route), and why running a virtual race is a great way to alleviate the fear of the starting line.

Also on the cover, for its first live, in-person performance in months, Hatbox Theatre presents Copenhagen, p. 10. It’s blueberry and raspberry season; find out where to pick your own, p. 22. And Gurung’s Kitchen opens inside Bunny’s Superette, p. 23.

Hovering hummingbirds, colorful salamanders, the occasional porcupine and more neighborhood wildlife

Curious about the wildlife you’ve seen during your neighborhood hikes and backyard hangouts? Rebecca Suomala, a biologist for New Hampshire Audubon, and Lindsay Webb, wildlife educator for New Hampshire Fish and Game, shared fun facts about 22 birds, insects, mammals and reptiles you might see in the nature around you.

By Matt Ingersoll & Angie Sykeny

Birds

Blackpoll warbler
Most likely seen during the summer into early September, especially in spruce-fir forests
“Blackpoll,” Suomala said, refers to the black cap of this bird seen in males, similar to that of a chickadee or a goldfinch. Blackpoll warblers are characterized by their white breasts, black streaks and yellow feet. They also weigh less than half an ounce. Beginning in September, these birds make long-distance migrations, flying non-stop over the Atlantic Ocean for nearly 2,000 miles before reaching their wintering grounds in South America.

Northern cardinal
Most commonly seen at lower elevations
According to Suomala, the northern cardinal is the only species of cardinal you’ll find in North America. Over the past several decades the species has extended its range farther north, and it’s now found almost everywhere in the Granite State except in higher elevations. Males are bright red with a fat red bill, while females are a brownish color with red highlights and an orange-red bill. The northern cardinal is a year-round, non-migrating resident of New Hampshire.

Ruby-throated hummingbird
Most likely seen during the summer into early September
At around three to three-and-a-half inches long, the ruby-throated hummingbird, Suomala said, is the smallest bird that can be found in New Hampshire. It makes its home in the Northeast in the summer before migrating to Central America in the winter. Males have a bright red throat with feathers that are reflective in the sunlight. These birds feed on nectar from honeysuckle plants and cardinal flowers. According to Suomala, this hummingbird’s wings can flap up to 53 times per second and its heartbeat rests at 250 times per minute. A male can go into a dive at more than 60 miles per hour.

Insects

Green darner dragonfly
Most likely seen in your backyard if you live on or near a body of water
Green darners are among the largest dragonflies you’ll see in the Granite State, growing up to three inches long, about the size of a hummingbird, with a wingspan of another three inches, Suomala said. You’re most likely to see them around water — these dragonflies migrate to the north in the spring and south in the fall. Females will typically lay their eggs on vegetation in or near the water. In its nymph phase (or larva phase) it lives entirely underwater, feeding on insects, tadpoles and small fish, before the dragonfly emerges out of the water as an adult.

Luna moth
Not likely to see them often; your best chances are at night, or around big lights, in June or July, when the adults emerge from their cocoons
These bright green moths, according to Suomala, are commonly known as giant silk moths because of their size, which can be as large as seven inches with a wingspan of four-and-a-half inches. They used to be very common in New Hampshire, but their population has since declined. If you live in a city you’re less likely to see them, because the caterpillars feed on trees like white birches and hickories. Caterpillars will eat all summer before they spin a cocoon, where they spend the winter before emerging in June or July.

Monarch butterfly
Very likely to see them at the peak of summertime and into the early fall
Monarch butterflies are characterized by their large orange and black markings. According to Suomala, they spend their winters in Mexico, but the same butterflies don’t make it all the way back up north. In fact, it takes about three generations for them to return to New Hampshire in the summer. The caterpillars feed on milkweed and eventually make a chrysalis, which takes them about 8 to 15 days to hatch from.

Large mammals

Black bear
Common, with an increasing population throughout New Hampshire.
Black bears are omnivores, eating with the seasons whatever they can find. “They have a great memory and sense of smell, so keep your trash locked up tight and reduce other bear food sources such as pet food, bird seed, and keep your grill cleaned up and secured,” Webb said.

Bobcat
Sightings have been on the rise in recent years, especially in the southern part of the state
According to Webb, the bobcat gets its name from its “bobbed” tail, which is shorter than the tails on most domesticated cats. The average length of a bobcat tail is around six inches but can reach up to 10 inches. A mother bobcat may raise a litter of two to four kittens in the spring. Elusive and lovers of solitude, these nocturnal feline predators are always on the hunt for rabbits, squirrels, mice, chipmunks and birds, Webb said, adding that they can swim and have little hesitation going into the water in pursuit of their prey.

Moose
Reside throughout New Hampshire, but are most commonly seen in the northern part of the state
Moose are active all day but do most of their moving around in the early morning or late afternoon, when the temperatures are cooler. They’re also, according to Webb, “pretty good swimmers.” “They love to feed on wetland plants and will dive down under the water to get at aquatic vegetation,” she said.

White-tailed deer
Common throughout New Hampshire in a variety of habitats, such as fields, farms, neighborhoods and woodlands
Though white-tailed deer prefer to hide out in the woods, they often make an appearance along woodland edges of towns and cities and in many farming communities. “In the summer, you may be lucky to see a fawn curled up in some tall grass or in a hidden spot in the woods,” Webb said. “Don’t be alarmed; this young one is not abandoned. Fawns are left alone for long periods of time while their mother goes off to feed and lead predators away, but she will come back for her fawn.”

Reptiles and amphibians

Gray treefrog
Much more likely to be heard than seen
Despite their name, gray treefrogs have the ability to change their color to match their background, from black to almost white or even a greenish-gray. Suomala said you can identify them by their trilling call at night. They are year-round natives of New Hampshire, hibernating underground. In fact, about 40 percent of a gray treefrog’s body can freeze — it can survive freezing temperatures by producing its own glycerol that’s circulated through its bloodstream and vital organs.

Painted turtle
This is the most commonly found species of turtle in the state
You can find painted turtles statewide, anywhere there are ponds. They reach a maximum length of just over seven inches; according Suomala, their sexual maturity is determined by the length of their shell, not by how old they are. Males require a length of at least three inches before they can reproduce, whereas for females, the required length of their shell is about four inches. If you see a turtle moving away from a pond, don’t move it in the direction of the water; Suomala said this is because female turtles are moving toward an area with sand or loose soil to lay their eggs. Painted turtles are also year-round residents of the Granite State, hibernating below the mud in the bottom of ponds.

Red eft salamander
Most likely found in damp, rainy conditions
Also known as the red-spotted newt, this amphibian has two different stages, according to Suomala — a water stage where it is characterized by its olive-green color with red spots, and a land stage, where it’s a bright orange-red color. You’ll most likely see them on land if you’re walking on a trail just after it has rained, she said. The female will lay its eggs underwater. Once the salamander reaches the land stage, it spends the rest of its life that way, for about two to three years.

Small mammals

Beaver
Common throughout New Hampshire in ponds, lakes and other wetlands
“If you’re lucky to have a lake or pond in your backyard, beavers might be a common sight for you,” Webb said, adding that, if you see one beaver, a whole family, consisting of anywhere from three to eight beavers, probably isn’t too far away. They can be difficult to spot as their dark brown fur blends in well with dark water, but there is “no mistaking the ‘slap’ of their tail when they feel threatened,” Webb said. Beavers leave a lot of clear evidence of their presence, including chewed stumps along the edges of bodies of water; stick dams that hold back water, creating deeper ponds; and stick lodges that extend down into the water. They may also build their lodges on islands or along the shore.

Eastern chipmunk
Common throughout New Hampshire, in woodland edges and forests
Though similar to squirrels, chipmunks can be differentiated by their size — they are a bit smaller than squirrels — and by their coloring, which includes brown fur with black and white stripes that run down their backs. According to Webb, chipmunks also have extra skin in their cheeks, allowing them to expand their mouths to carry more food back to their burrows. They often build their burrows at the base of a tree or under a stone wall. In the winter they spend most of their time sleeping, waking up every few days to eat from their stockpile of food. In a good year, when food is abundant, chipmunks can produce up to two litters of pups. “If you see a lot of chipmunks this year, you can bet that food availability was really high the previous year,” Webb said.

Eastern cottontail
Common in southern New Hampshire, often seen nibbling on clover and grass in backyards and parks
Eastern cottontails have multiple litters a year. In New Hampshire, they can have up to four or five. The mother cottontail builds a small shallow nest in the grass, well-disguised, with dead fern leaves covering the hole. “She only visits [the nest] a few times a day, so if you find a nest of kits — baby cottontails — just leave them be,” Webb said. “They are not abandoned; their mother will be back soon.” A rarer species of cottontail, the New England cottontail, can also be seen within a smaller range, restricted to the southern part of the state.

Eastern gray squirrel
Common throughout most of New Hampshire in woods and neighborhoods with plenty of deciduous trees
While gray squirrels have, as their name implies, mostly gray fur, there can be some variations in color. “Melanistic gray squirrels are black in coloration and albinistic gray squirrels look white,” Webb said. “Sometimes, small localized populations of black squirrels show up and persist for a few years. Gray squirrels often bury more acorns and seeds than they can recover, facilitating seed dispersal and resulting in the growth of many new trees every year.

Fisher
Most likely found in forested areas
Fishers — or “fisher cats,” if you prefer — are not actually cats. According to Suomala, they’re part of the mustelid (or weasel) family, with brown fur, a long tail and a pointed nose. They have a reputation for emitting a loud, caterwauling scream. But in reality, Suomala said, this sound is more likely made by a fox, while fishers are generally silent, instead occasionally making low chuckling or hissing noises. They’re the only animal in the state that regularly targets porcupines.

North American porcupine
Most likely seen in forested areas, at night
One of nearly two dozen species of porcupines throughout the world, the North American porcupine is found throughout New Hampshire. According to NH Wildlife Journal, a publication from New Hampshire Fish & Game, porcupines are large rodents covered in around 30,000 sharp quills. These quills, Suomala said, are hollow hairs with barbed tips made of keratin. Some people believe porcupines have the ability to shoot or throw their quills. In reality, Suomala said, this is not the case, although they can raise their quills in self-defense. Porcupines are nocturnal animals that feed on woody vegetation. They do not hibernate in the winter.

Raccoon
Common throughout New Hampshire, in wetlands, woods, farmlands and neighborhoods
Raccoons often do their food hunting, with much success, in human-populated areas and claim their den sites under porches and sheds. In fact, raccoon populations tend to be higher in cities than in their natural woodland and forest habitats. “Raccoons have easily adapted to the presence of humans and will gladly check your trash can for scraps of food,” Webb said. “[If] you’re battling a raccoon family this summer, keep your trash locked up tight or store it in a secure building instead of outside.”

Red squirrel
Common throughout New Hampshire in forests with plenty of coniferous trees
“These chattery squirrels are quick to let you know when you are bothering them with their red bushy tails raised, announcing themselves with loud trills, chatters and chips,” Webb said. Surviving on food they stashed during the winter months, the squirrels often forget to dig up all of their hidden seeds and nuts each year, which then grow into trees.

Vole
Especially likely to be found if you have a garden in your backyard
Not to be confused with moles, voles are small rodents that are experiencing a population boom in New Hampshire right now, according to Suomala. They look similar to mice, except they have smaller eyes and smaller ears. Voles are a nuisance in backyard gardens and orchards, but are actually a key food source for large birds like hawks and owls, as well as foxes and coyotes, she said. There are two types — meadow voles, and pine voles, which are slightly smaller, lighter in color and have a shorter tail than meadow voles. One female vole can produce four to eight litters per year, Suomala said, with about five young per litter.

All quotes are from The Friendly Persuasion, by Jessamyn West, born July 18, 1902.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22) Eliza always said Labe never put a foot out of bed until he heard her start to scrape the gravy skillet. Don’t eat gravy for breakfast.

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22) The town blazed under the July sun; it throbbed with the heat of the season — and the heat of fear and excitement and wonder and resolution. At first Josh thought it was as alive as he had seen it for an August fair or Fourth of July celebration. Outdoor dining is nice.

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22) This hour, this house, this season. All was as it should be. It was one of those contented peaks a woman reaches and clings to. Not a thing clamoring to be done, not so much as a piece of lint beneath the hired man’s bed to keep the mind from resting. … The sitting room was like a welcoming hand: chairs saying, Sit and rock; flower saying, Sniff and smell. Eliza sat and rocked. She rose and sniffed and savored. She did not see that anything could be bettered. Ahhhhhh.

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22) Jess pined for music, though it would be hard to say how he’d come by any such longing. Put your favorites on repeat.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21) No horse had ever looked so much like traveling and had traveled so much like standing still. Save a horse, ride a bicycle.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21) Jess leaped down into the cellar, took the box, turned it round and round. ‘An old-timer,’ he said. ‘A box of the kind they used to carry maps and deeds in, a place of safe-keeping for what was treasured.’ Is your smartphone charged?

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19) Eliza shut the door firmly behind her and heard no more. She sat again in the sitting room, she rocked … but she got no pleasure from it. Perfection was a hollow thing after all. It’s an illusion.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18) Old Lafe was not a man to hold a grudge and Eliza hadn’t burned his only hat. He was soon back, wearing, so far as Eliza could see, the egg container’s twin, ready to further instruct and edify. There’s always another hat.

Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20) It was an in-between time: afternoon bygone, night not yet come, neither summer, nor fall. You can make of it whatever you want!

Aries (March 21 – April 19) Eliza lifted her breakfast bell to ring, then let arm and soundless bell drop to her side. She felt a profound reluctance to disturb in any way the morning quiet. Avoid chaos.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20) But the day she rode through was more to Mattie than her destination. The roses smell nice.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20) Enoch was instantly equipped, for the most part, with feelings on every subject. Feelings can change.

At the Audubon
The New Hampshire Audubon is offering an in-person event at the Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way in Auburn; nhaudubon.org, 668-2045) on Saturday, July 18, from 10 to 11 a.m. Learn to “Be a Nature Detective,” a program geared toward families and featuring outdoor exploration (families will have their own investigation area), according to an email from the Audubon. Masks will be required and the center (and restrooms) will remain closed, the email said. Advance registration is required. The cost is $30 per family.

At the drive-ins
Teens and up might want to check outFootloose (1984, PG but Common Sense Media pegs it at 13 and up). The movie will screen Friday, July 17, at 8:50 p.m. (or so, depending on when it gets dark) at Fieldhouse Sports Drive In (12 Tallwood Drive in Bow; fieldhousesports.com). Tickets can be purchased online for $20 per car (for up to four people, each additional person is $5).

On Monday, July 20, head to Portsmouth (the Pease campus of Wentworth-Douglass Hospital) for The Lost Summer Drive-In Movie Series, presented by the Prescott Park Arts Festival (which canceled its summer programming) and sponsored by Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Drive-in movie-experiences have been created in two locations — Pease on Monday nights and Blue Mermaid/Tributary Brewing in Kittery, Maine, on Friday and Saturday nights (on July 17 and July 18, the movie is The Princess Bride) — with programming scheduled to run through Sept. 5. See the movies and reserve a spot (suggested donations are $25 per car; pre-bagged popcorn is available for $6.24) at prescottpark.org/event/seacoastnh-drive-in-movies.

Or head to Hampton Beach on Monday, July 20, for a free screening of Toy Story 4 (G, 2019). “Movie Night Mondays at the Beach” are scheduled to run through Aug. 31; movies begin at dusk, about 8 p.m., according to hamptonbeach.org, where you can find a list of upcoming movies and an explanation of procedures. Admission is free.

Finding fun at home
Reader Claire wrote in to praise several local efforts to make staying at home more bearable, specifically the “Courageous Community Conversations: Can We Talk about Race” Zoom program sponsored by the Goffstown Public Library, the Currier Museum of Art’s online ARTalk with Larissa Fassler on “Mapping Manchester” and the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire’s virtual tour of Italy on the Fourth of July. “It brought back a lot of memories of my trips to Rome and Pompeii,” Claire wrote.
Score: +1
Comment:“Online learning can be fun, and no tests,” Claire wrote.

New AmeriCorps members lending a hand
Sixteen founding members of the NH Covid Community Care Corps have been sworn in as AmeriCorps members and were scheduled to begin their eight-week term of service with nonprofits and city departments in Manchester and Nashua on Tuesday, according to a press release. In Manchester, four AmeriCorps members will work with the Parks & Recreation department to help develop in-person programming for small groups of youth, and 12 will serve in the Manchester Welfare Department, Health Department, the Mayor’s Office, and the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester. Four members will work in Nashua’s Department of Emergency Management and Public Health Department, and the Police Athletic League of Nashua, and one member will help with the Neighborhood Provisions program, a collaboration led by Dartmouth-Hitchco*ck that will coordinate delivery of food and groceries to community members at higher risk for Covid-19.
Score: +1
Comment: Goodwill Northern New England is accepting inquiries for full-time, year-round AmeriCorps service terms that will begin this fall. To express interest in becoming a member or being a host site, visit bit.ly/GoodwillAmeriCorps2020.

Watch your water
Despite recent bouts of rain, moderate drought conditions are expected to continue in the southern half of New Hampshire, prompting the New Hampshire Drought Management Team to meet last week to discuss the drought’s impact on the state. According to a press release, State Climatologist Mary Stampone said at the meeting that the drought will likely persist through at least the end of July, as recent precipitation won’t make up for the precipitation deficit for the year, or the anticipated high temperatures and below average precipitation expected over the coming month. Lake levels are below normal, rivers and streams around the state have been at or near historically low flows, and the majority of the state’s 31 monitoring wells are much lower than normal, according to the release. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is encouraging outdoor water use restrictions for community water systems.
Score: -2
Comment:New Hampshire’s last substantial drought was in 2016, according to the press release.

Return on investment
New Hampshire has the best taxpayer return on investment, according to a WalletHub study, which considered data from five categories — Education, Health, Safety, Economy, and Infrastructure & Pollution — and took into account how people are taxed in each state. New Hampshire ranked second for Total Taxes per Capita (population aged 18+), fourth for Safety, seventh for Health, 13th for Economy, 30th for Education and 36th for Infrastructure & Pollution.
Score: +1
Comment: Florida took the No. 2 spot for overall taxpayer return on investment, followed by South Dakota, while last place went to Hawaii, according to the study.

QOL score: 51
Net change: +1
QOL this week: 52
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Governor’s updates
In a July 7 press conference, Gov. Chris Sununu shared the latest unemployment numbers in the Granite State, which reflect a consistent downward trend since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. About 4,800 unemployment claims were filed in New Hampshire for the week ending June 27, according to Sununu — an 11 percent decline in new claims over the previous week and a nearly 90 percent decline from its highest peak during the pandemic.

On July 8, the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery announced more awardees for the Healthcare System Relief Fund, according to a press release, including nearly $11 million in CARES act funding for long-term care facilities in the state and about $6 million for other health care facilities.

The application period of the New Hampshire Self Employed Livelihood Fund will end on July 17. Self-employed businesses that qualify can access applications online at goferr.nh.gov.

Bill decisions
On July 10, Gov. Chris Sununu took action on a handful of bills, according to multiple press releases from the Office of the Governor.

Sununu signed HB 1129, which contains a portion of the Senate Democrats’ Granite Promise Plan addressing municipal, school district and village district budgets during the state of emergency, into law. Among other things, the bill allows for optional town meeting procedures during the state of emergency declared in response to Covid-19.

Sununu vetoed HB 712, a bipartisan bill that would have created a mandatory family and medical leave insurance program funded by a 0.5 percent tax on wages. “Whether one chooses to characterize it as a ‘premium on wages’ or a ‘payroll deduction,’ the reality remains that if it looks like an income tax, functions like an income tax, and takes more money out of the paychecks of hard working taxpayers like an income tax, then it is an income tax,” Sununu said in a press release.

Sununu also vetoed HB 1247, relative to mortgage defaults and nonpayment of rent during the Covid-19 state of emergency. The moratorium on evictions that was ordered in March expired July 1; this bill would have extended the moratorium. Sununu wrote in his veto message that in phasing out the moratorium, the eviction notice requirement has expanded from seven days to 30 days for new evictions initiated for nonpayment of rent that came due during the moratorium. He also noted that the $35 million in CARES Act funds used to create the New Hampshire Housing Relief Program will help people avoid losing their housing by offering assistance for past due rent and other housing-related expenses like utilities, and assistance to maintain or secure more permanent housing. “We must remember that property owners have also struggled throughout the Covid-19 pandemic,” Sununu wrote. “Small property owners who rent 10 units or fewer account for 90 percent of rental units in New Hampshire. They too have financial obligations that must be met, including mortgages, taxes and utilities. Denying property owners the opportunity to pay their bills is a recipe for them removing these rental units from the market … and further exacerbating the shortage of rental units that already exists across New Hampshire.”

Sununu vetoed HB 1672, relative to absentee voting, as well. According to his veto message, Sununu’s administration supports HB 1266, which makes temporary modifications to the absentee voter registration, absentee ballot application, and absentee voting processes that are specifically in response to Covid-19. He is expected to sign that bill this week.

Sununu will also take action on HB 1166, a portion of the Senate Democrats’ Granite Promise Plan addressing worker safety and unemployment insurance.

Jury trials
The New Hampshire Superior Court will conduct a walk-through for a pilot jury in late July with the first pilot trial planned for mid-August, according to a press release. Jury trials had been postponed since the start of the pandemic; since then, a committee has met weekly to create guidelines that will allow for jury trials to resume while making sure that jurors, witnesses, attorneys, judges and court staff follow stringent health precautions. Although the New Hampshire Judicial Branch stayed open during the Emergency Order, the Superior Court put nearly 1,000 jury trials on hold. “With a thorough plan for sanitation and careful enforcement of mask wearing, social distancing and symptom screening, we think we have the necessary template for beginning in-person jury trials,” Chief Justice of the Superior Court Tina Nadeau said in the release. “The committee, with the input from defense attorneys and prosecutors, determined that virtual criminal jury trials are not feasible at this time because they raise a host of constitutional concerns.”

Catholic schools
All Catholic schools in the state will reopen in the fall with classroom-based instruction, according to a press release from David A. Thibault, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Manchester. “Since March, many parents have struggled to balance their own telecommuting with assisting in the education of their children at home,” said Thibault. “Teachers have missed the one-on-one interaction with their students, and students have missed their teachers and friends. Everyone involved rose to the challenge but we recognize that remote learning is not ideal.” The diocese has worked with each school to ensure that the reopenings will be safe and is prepared to adjust plans if the Covid-19 situation changes. The Catholic Schools Office also announced a new Transfer Incentive program for any students in grades 1 through 8 who are transferring from a non-Catholic school; they will get $1,000 of tuition for the first year and $500 off the second year. Students in grades 9 through 12 transferring from a non-Catholic school will get $2,000 off tuition in the first year and $1,000 off in the second year, according to the release.

All quotes are from One Man’s Meat, by E.B. White, born July 11, 1899.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22) My goal is no longer a three-hundred-egg hen but to find peace through conversion of my table scraps into humus. It’s good to have goals.

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22) I have just got hold of a book called Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening by Ehrenfried Pfeiffer, which bids fair to shape my mystical course from now on. … The hero of the book is the common earthworm. You’ve got some good reading in store.

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22) The possession of a dog today is a different thing from the possession of a dog at the turn of the century, when one’s dog was fed on mashed potato and brown gravy and lived in a doghouse with an arched portal. Today a dog is fed on scraped beef and Vitamin B1 and lives in bed with you. It’s time to update the update.

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22) As for me, although I am motorized to a degree, I enjoy living among pedestrians who have an instinctive and habitual realization that there is more to a journey than the mere fact of arrival. So much more.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21) I had expected to see more of the Fair than usual this year, because I had some sheep entered, and had to be around to tend them. But I found that I saw less, rather than more, because of being there in a responsible capacity instead of carefree. Work is work.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21) The farm as a way of life has been subordinated to the farm as a device for making money. Somewhere … in the process of introducing vitamins and electric time-switches into his henhouse the farmer has missed the point of the egg…. The chicken knows.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19) Anything can happen at a county agricultural fair. … To the fair come the man and his cow, the boy and his girl, the wife and her green tomato pickle, each anticipating victory and the excitement of being separated from his money by familiar devices. Your green tomato pickle is on the road to victory.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18) The lake had never been what you would call a wild lake. Even the tamest lake has a wild side.

Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20) This month … I am going to get a cow. Perhaps I should put it the other way round — a cow is going to get me. It should be mutual.

Aries (March 21 – April 19) This morning made preparations for building a boat — the first boat I ever prepared to build. Bought ten cents’ worth of wicking and borrowed some caulking tools, and prepared myself further by asking a man how to build a boat and he told me. Now ask another one and compare.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20) The sum of ninety cents seems a lot to spend for anything, no matter what. But when I get up into gustier amounts, among sums like fifty dollars, or a hundred and thirty-two dollars, or three hundred and seven dollars, they all sound pretty much alike. “Out of your league” is a big category but so is your league.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20) Some people can look at the notation 5/23/29 and it means something to them, calls up some sort of image. I can’t do that. I can see lust in a pig’s eye, but I can’t see a day in a number. There’s a whole day in a pig’s eye.

Cars and food trucks
The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org, 669-4820) will hold its annual Classic Car Show outdoors on its grounds on Saturday, July 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event, which welcomes vehicles of all makes and eras, including odd or unusual vehicles, will include a raffle, a yard sale and several food trucks, according to a press release (which also noted that while the museum remains closed, portable toilets will be available). Admission costs $5 per adult; children 12 and under are free; admission is cash only, the release said. The museum’s reopening is scheduled for Saturday, July 18.

In-person science
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Dr. in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) reopened last week and will be open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., in July and August, according to the website. Admission costs $11.50 for adults, $10.50 for students and seniors, $8.50 for children ages 3 to 12 and free for children up to age 2, plus an additional $5 per person for planetarium shows, the website said. Visitors over the age of 2 are required to wear masks and sanitizing wipes will be provided to wipe down exhibits before use, according to the website, which runs down the list of other protocols.

SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400) has scheduled a few “members only” weekends in early August. On the first two Saturdays and Sundays (Aug. 1 and Aug. 2, and Aug. 8 and Aug. 9), the museum will offer admission by pre-reservation to members between the hours of 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. (between 1 and 2 p.m., the staff will do a deep cleaning of the museum), according to the website. Guests will be asked to stay six feet apart, a temperature check will be done at the door and everybody above the age of 2 will be required to wear masks, the website said. Memberships start at $100 and include a year of free admission for everybody in a household, the website said. See the website for details about the member weekends and the in-person summer camps, which start July 27.

Family movies
Catch Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (PG-13, 2019) at the Merrimack Parks & Recreation’s Movies in the Park series at Wasserman Park (116 Naticook Road in Merrimack) on Friday, July 10, at 8:30 p.m. A movie that ties up the nine-movie saga of the Skywalker family, Rise of Skywalker is two hours and 22 minutes long. The screening is free, open to residents and non-residents and weather-dependent. See merrimackparksandrec.org or call 882-1046.

For more family films, check out some of the offerings at area theaters, which are screening older films mixed in with some of the 2020 releases that have made it to theaters. For the younger moviegoers, check out Trolls World Tour (PG, released in April), which is screening at Chunky’s in Manchester, Nashua and Pelham, andDespicable Me(PG, 2010) screening at both Chunky’s and the Milford Drive-In, where it is paired with Shrek(PG, 2001). For older moviegoers, check out the double feature of Ghostbusters (PG, 1984 — so like a 1980s PG, be warned) and Jumanji: The Next Level (PG-13, 2019). The 1984 Ghostbusters is also screening at Chunky’s, as is The Goonies(PG, 1985) andJaws (PG, 1975). 2016’s The Jungle Book (PG) is also screening at Chunky’s. See milforddrivein.com and chunkys.com for details. These film line-ups are through July 9 and may change on July 10.

Bummer about baseball
The Fisher Cats announced last week that Minor League Baseball has officially canceled the 2020 season. According to a message on the team’s website, Fisher Cats season ticket holders, mini-plan holders and fans who booked groups, suites and other hospitality nights for the 2020 season will receive a 125-percent credit on their deposit to be used toward the 2021 season, and single-game tickets can be used at any Fisher Cats home game in 2021. “We’ve remained optimistic throughout this process and done everything we can to prepare for the 2020 season, so [this] news is difficult to hear,” Fisher Cats President Mike Ramshaw said in the release. “But fan safety is our top priority, and we’ve already begun hosting safe, socially distanced events to make Delta Dental Stadium available to our community this summer.”
Score: -2
Comment: This will be the first time in 17 years that the Fisher Cats won’t play ball in New Hampshire, according to the message. In that time, the team has won three Eastern League Championships and sent 125 players to the majors.

Volunteers for the win
Civic involvement and engaging youth volunteers were a couple of the topics covered in the three-day 2020 Governor’s Conference on Volunteerism, held recently via Zoom, according to a press release. The keynote address, “​The Power of Giving Power Away: Finding Fit to Maximize Volunteer and Organization Impact​,” was given by Bryan Bessette, president and director of the Freedom Café in Durham, which is a nonprofit that works to end human trafficking.
Score: +1
Comment: It’s never too late to start volunteering. “[Covid-19] has made people kind of reevaluate a little bit where they’re going on their path in life, and that’s what Volunteer NH is all about,” Gov. Chris Sununu said at the conference. “That’s what these service organizations are all about — finding something that can be a new path for you to find your service, whatever it might be.”

Dry conditions mean higher risk of wildfires
The risk of wildfires due to abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions throughout the state has prompted the New Hampshire Forest Protection Bureau and the New Hampshire Fire Marshal’s Office to ask that residents and visitors use extra caution when having campfires, cooking outdoors or using fireworks. According to a press release, 90 percent of wildfires in New Hampshire are caused by human factors, and the state experiences 200 wildfires on average each year. “A single ember from a campfire or an errant spark from fireworks landing on dried grass, leaves or other combustible items can ignite and become a wildfire that results in property damage, personal injury or even loss of life,” the press release reads.
Score: -1
Comment: Fire permits are required for all open outdoor burning, which includes debris fires, campfires and bonfires; seasonal permits are available to individuals or businesses that have recurring fires, such as home fire pits and campgrounds. Permits are available at nhfirepermit.com.

Local food at your fingertips
Wondering where to get fresh dairy, produce and specialty foods in Merrimack County? A town-by-town food guide, created by the Merrimack County Conservation District, lists farms in the area as well as local farmers markets, according to a press release. This is the 10th year the district has created this guide, which also features short articles about local farms. The purpose of the guide, according to the release, is to let residents and visitors know about the agricultural diversity in Merrimack County and how to find a variety of products.
Score: +1
Comment:You can download a copy at merrimackccd.org, or request a physical copy by calling 223-6020 or emailing info@merrimackccd.org.

Governor’s updates

Governor’s updates
On June 30, Gov. Chris Sununu issued Emergency Orders No. 57 and No. 58 amid the state’s ongoing response to Covid-19. Emergency Order No. 57 gives temporary emergency wage enhancements of $3 per hour to park management and roadside laborer employees of the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources whose duties include restroom cleaning and trash disposal functions at facilities within Hampton Beach State Park. The order is applicable for any qualifying time worked from June 19 through Oct. 23.

Emergency Order No. 58 is an order terminating Emergency Order No. 3, which was issued on March 17, prohibiting all providers of electric, gas, water, telephone, cable and other utility services in New Hampshire from disconnecting or discontinuing service for non-payment during the Covid-19 pandemic. Under Emergency Order No. 58, Emergency Order No. 3 will terminate on July 15.

On July 6, the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR), in conjunction with the state Department of Revenue Administration and New Hampshire Employment Security, announced the opening of the New Hampshire Self Employed Livelihood Fund (SELF) application period. Sununu had announced the establishment of the fund in a June 25 press conference. The New Hampshire SELF program builds on the success of the Main Street Relief Fund. To qualify, a business must not be permanently closed or be in bankruptcy and must not be a nonprofit, a franchise or a national chain. Applications can be accessed online at gopher.nh.gov and will be accepted through July 17.

Also on July 6, Sununu issued a statement in response to President Trump’s upcoming rally in Portsmouth on July 11, saying that it is “imperative” that all attendees wear masks. “I am pleased to see the campaign will be handing out face masks and hand sanitizer to all attendees, as has been true at all public gatherings … where social distancing is hard to maintain,” he said.

Details of all Emergency Orders and other announcements can be found at governor.nh.gov.

All the bills
The New Hampshire House of Representatives sent several bills to the governor’s desk when it met June 30 for the last day of the 2020 session. Here are some of the highlights, according to multiple press releases from the House and the Senate:

• HB 1166, HB 1129, HB 1246, and HB 1247 — pieces of the Granite Promise Plan — include provisions for workers’ protections; annual meeting and budget provisions for municipalities, school districts and village districts; enhancements for child care scholarships and long-term care facilities, and modest protections for renters and homeowners now that the moratoriums on evictions for nonpayment of rent and foreclosures expired July 1.

• HB 1240 includes protections for victims of sexual assault by those in a position of authority in the education system, and authorizes temporary marriage officiant licenses and apportions a portion of the license fee to domestic violence prevention.

• HB 1162 is an omnibus bill encompassing several pieces of legislation aimed at increasing equity and safeguards for Granite State children and families. “This legislation … allows for unmarried couples to adopt children … and provides legal security for all children brought into the world through assisted reproduction,” chair of the House Children and Family Law committee Rep. Pat Long (D-Manchester) said in a statement. “This legislation also establishes and improves oversight of children’s services, including the office of the child advocate, and clarifies statute providing for insurance coverage during children’s early intervention services.”

• HB 731 would increase the state’s minimum wage gradually to $12 by January 2023.

• HB 1582 is an omnibus bill relative to veterans’ protections. “In this legislation we assist our veterans to start businesses, find jobs and apprenticeships matching their skill set, obtain physical and mental health services, prevent suicide, achieve license and certification reciprocation, access educational opportunities for themselves and their families, and we continue the fight to end veteran homelessness,” Sen. Jon Morgan (D-Brentwood) said in a statement.

• HB 1111 would expand broadband access across the state.

• HB 1558 is comprehensive education legislation. “The comprehensive education bill passed today is very important to our schools and the children they serve. Assuring that students have access to special education and behavioral health resources and that schools have the resources to offer needed programs will be especially important as education moves back into the classroom,” Rep. Mel Myler (D-Hopkinton), chair of the House Education Committee, said in a statement.

• Comprehensive election law bills HB 1266 and HB 1672 — “Including concern for Covid-19 as a specific reason to request an absentee ballot will provide clarity to voters in the upcoming fall election, and the provision to permanently expand absentee balloting will assure equal access to elections moving forward. I urge the governor to sign this crucial legislation,” Rep. David E. Cote (D-Nashua), chair of the House Election Law Committee, said in a statement. House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) released the following statement in response to the House voting to concur with HB 1672: “The Attorney General and Secretary of State have already issued guidance allowing absentee balloting in the primary and general election for those who have concerns voting in person due to Covid-19 ensuring all New Hampshire citizens are able to vote in the 2020 elections. Spending CARES Act funds for brand new programs, such as online voter registration, is unacceptable and puts our state’s reputation of having clean and fair elections at risk.”

• HB 578, HB 1246, HB 1520, HB 1623 and HB 1639 address health care needs in the wake of the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

• HB 1280 is an omnibus bill that increases prescription drug affordability and improves access to affordable health care for Granite Staters.

• HB 1494 covers a variety of workers’ protections including health and safety standards and a state death benefit.

• HB 1623 is omnibus legislation that seeks to ensure coverage and reimbursem*nt for health care services provided through telemedicine on the same basis as services provided in office visits.

• HB 1639 addresses long-term public health crises. “Long running public health emergencies such as New Hampshire’s opioid crisis may very well be exacerbated by the economic and social impacts of Covid-19,” Sen. Tom Sherman (D-Rye) said in a statement. “This legislation takes steps to give the state the necessary funding and tools to gain a clearer picture of what works, and how we can expand treatment and recovery options.”

No indoor vaping
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has modified the definition of “smoking” in the Indoor Smoking Act to include the use of e-cigarettes and devices. Under the new law, according to a press release from DHHS, smoking is defined as “having a lit cigarette, pipe, or any device designed to produce the effect of smoking, including devices … that may include, but are not limited to, hookahs, e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes, e-hookahs, and vape pens.” The Indoor Smoking Act says all tobacco products are prohibited in enclosed workplaces and enclosed places accessible to the public, including restaurants, bars and vape shops.