Merrimack Valley Magazine

Art! Culture! Feasts! Festivals!

July 10, 2021 by Digital Manager

Your Summer Guide to the Merrimack Valley

Expect a surge of people exploring the Valley, eager to enjoy summer and recover from the stresses of life during the pandemic, but be prepared for last-minute changes. Always call or visit the webpages of the following organizations to make sure you have the most up-to-date information.

It would be impossible to put together a complete list of all the great things happening in the Merrimack Valley during the warm months — a number of local event organizers were still developing plans for the 2021 summer season at the time of publication. The best way to keep track of everything noteworthy going on in the Merrimack Valley is to follow Merrimack Valley Magazine on social media, click here and subscribe to our free, weekly art and entertainment newsletter, Eight Great Things To Do This Weekend.

ART, MUSIC, CULTURE

Learning to Look: The Addison at 90
Addison Gallery of American Art, Andover
Through Dec. 31
Addison.Andover.Edu
Filling the Addison’s first floor galleries, “Learning to Look: The Addison at 90” features celebrated favorites, lesser-known gems, and new acquisitions that bring to life the Addison’s storied history and ongoing commitment to groundbreaking artists. With an installation that allows objects to speak across time and media, this exhibition includes masterworks by artists such as Winslow Homer, Thomas Eakins, Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, Donald Judd, Agnes Martin, McArthur Binion, Carrie Mae Weems and Jaune Quick-to-See Smith.

Lowell Summer Music Series
Boarding House Park, Lowell
Through mid-Sept.
LowellSummerMusic.org
Nationally known artists such as Tower of Power, Richard Thompson, Rhiannon Giddens, Ani DiFranco and Los Lobos perform at Lowell National Historical Park’s Boarding House Park throughout the summer.

New Hampshire Music Festival
Various locations, N.H.
Through July 31
NHMF.org
Enjoy a collection of concerts focused on the Granite State’s cultural richness and diversity. Chamber music and family concerts abound both indoors and out. Patrons will again have the chance to enjoy the festival’s “From the Heart” livestream performances from their own homes or attend these chamber concerts in person.

Newburyport Chamber Garden Concert and Lecture Series
Various locations
Through Aug. 15
NewburyportChamberMusic.org
A series of intimate chamber music concerts, lectures, open rehearsals and family programs in and around the city of Newburyport.

Prescott Park Arts Festival
Prescott Park, Portsmouth, N.H.
Through mid-Sept.
PrescottPark.org
Visitors can enjoy food, music, films, children’s entertainment and theater at Prescott Park, which overlooks the scenic Piscataqua River in downtown Portsmouth.

Old Crow Medicine Show
Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Hampton, N.H.
July 9
CasinoBallroom.com
Known for their high-energy, punk-tinged take on bluegrass and folk, OCMS is much more than “Wagon Wheel” — their catchy song made famous by Darius Rucker and in pre-pandemic karaoke bars across the nation. If this show sells out, and it probably will, head over to the Casino Ballroom website to see what else lies ahead this summer: Buddy Guy, Aaron Lewis, George Thorogood, Joss Stone, and more are on the calendar.

Buster Keaton Films With Live Music
The Rex Theatre, Manchester, N.H.
July 15
PalaceTheatre.org/Rex-Theatre
Relive the golden age of silent film at the Rex. “Sherlock Jr.” and “Our Hospitality” star one of the greatest Hollywood comic actors of all time, Buster Keaton. Live music is provided by Jeff Rapsis, a New Hampshire-based musician and composer who specializes in creating live music for silent film screenings. Over the past 15 years, he has accompanied more than 1,000 screenings in New England, around the nation, and in Europe.

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes
Blue Ocean Music Hall, Salisbury
July 30-31
BlueOceanHall.com
The Jukes have more than 30 albums on their resume, thousands of acclaimed live performances across the globe and a vibrant legacy of classic songs that have become “hits” to their large and dedicated fan base. Last year, the Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes released the acclaimed “SOULTIME!,” their first new studio recording of all original material in five years. The record celebrates the transformative power of ’70s soul music and represents a return to — as Southside sings — “just letting the music take us away.”

Nicole Keller
Methuen Memorial Music Hall
Aug. 4
Methuen, Mass.
Streamed live on MMMH’s YouTube channel, the show features works by Sowerby, Price, Hampton, Shearing and Wilson, performed by Nicole Keller. Keller is a solo and chamber music recitalist, adjudicator and clinician on the organ and harpsichord. She specializes in eclectic programs suited to instrument and audience with a desire to expand the listener’s horizons, pairing familiar sounds and genres with less familiar ones. She has concertized in the United States and abroad in venues such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, Notre Dame in Paris and The Kazakh National University for the Arts in Kazakhstan.

Godspell
Firehouse Center for the Arts, Newburyport
Aug. 13-29
Firehouse.org
The Firehouse presents “Godspell,” live at Smolak Farms, in which a small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of games and storytelling techniques. An eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville is employed as the story of Jesus’ life dances across the stage. Dissolving hauntingly into the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, Jesus’ messages of kindness, tolerance and love come vibrantly to life.

Maudslay Arts Center Summer Concert Series
Maudslay State Park, Newburyport
Aug. 8-29
MaudslayArtsCenter.org
Whether you’re sitting under the stars on a moonlit evening or lounging on a blanket on a Sunday afternoon, the Maudslay Arts Center Summer Concert Series provides the perfect setting for your entertainment pleasure. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner and their own chairs. Performers this year include New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Amanda Carr and Donna Byrne.

Theater in the Open
Maudslay State Park, Newburyport
Date TBD
TheaterInTheOpen.org
Due to ongoing efforts to current pandemic guidelines, Theater in the Open is reimagining its 2021 season to allow for smaller groups to gather to see live performances. They will open this season slightly later than usual, but as of press time, opening day yet to be announced. Visit their website for more info.

FEASTS & FESTIVALS

Summer Fun 2021
Nashua, N.H.
Through Sept. 10
NashuaNH.gov
Enjoy outdoor concerts, fireworks, live theater, children’s entertainment and the annual Fairy Tale Festival.

Yankee Homecoming
Downtown Newburyport
July 30 – Aug. 8
YankeeHomecoming.com
Since 1958, this old-fashioned festival has offered a chance to reminisce about times past. At the time of publication, organizers were still unsure what this year’s celebration will be like. Past year’s activities included a brewfest, fireworks, art exhibitions and more.

Haverhill Restaurant Week
Haverhill, Mass.
Aug. 20-26
HaverhillsRestaurantWeek.com
The Greater Haverhill Chamber hosts its annual Haverhill Restaurant Week. Past participants have included Barking Dog Ale House, Peddler’s Daughter, The Hidden Pig and many more. To find the latest information on this year’s event, visit their webpage or follow the Destination Downtown Haverhill page on Facebook.

Feast of the Three Saints
Common Street, Lawrence
Sept. 4-6
ThreeSaintsInc.org
Don’t miss this lively Italian street festival in honor of Sts. Alfio, Filadelfo and Cirino. Events include free concerts, a torchlight parade and a procession of the saints.

The Bread & Roses Heritage Festival
Campagnone Common, Lawrence
Sept. 6
BreadAndRosesHeritage.org
While plans for this festival are still in the works, if it happens in 2021, this free, family-friendly event will feature live music, dance performances, drama and poetry. The Bread & Roses festival presents an opportunity to learn about the 1912 Bread and Roses Strike and to celebrate Lawrence’s diversity.

Dementia – An Overview

March 2, 2019 by Cindy Cantrell Leave a Comment

For an individual diagnosed with dementia or experiencing a severe decline in mental abilities that interferes with daily life, a daunting list of immediate questions, concerns and challenges emerges. Is living at home safe? What about work? Is medication effective? How quickly will symptoms progress? What services can help the person adjust and cope with the condition, especially given the complexity of each issue?

Many patients, their families and caregivers in the Merrimack Valley turn for guidance to the Alzheimer’s Association, whose Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter is headquartered in Waltham with regional offices in Springfield, Worcester, Raynham and Bedford, N.H. The Association’s mission, according to its website, is “To eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.” Note that Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are not synonymous. Dementia is not a disease but a group of symptoms associated with memory loss and cognitive impairment. According to AZT.org, “Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia.”

In addition to offering an abundance of free resources, including a 24/7 helpline, the nonprofit organization is spearheading landmark legislation and research. The timing of these advancements is critical, according to Susan Antkowiak, vice president of programs and services for the Alzheimer’s Association’s Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter.

“Dementia is the most serious health care epidemic of the 21st century, and the most expensive,” she says. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 5.7 million Americans are living with dementia, including more than 130,000 Massachusetts residents. The associated costs borne by the country exceed $277 billion annually, with a projected increase to $1.1 trillion by 2050.

“If left uninterrupted,” Antkowiak says, “dementia has the potential to devastate our health care system and economy while destroying millions of lives. It can’t get any more dire than that.”

To combat such a scenario, the Alzheimer’s Association advocated for the an Alzheimer’s and related dementias law in Massachusetts, with local support from state Sen. Bruce Tarr and former state Sen. Barbara L’Italien. The Mass Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Act (H.4116) created a state plan to ensure coordinated government resources for an estimated 15 percent increase in Alzheimer’s cases by 2025. It was signed into law on August 9.

The new legislation also creates an advisory council and addresses issues in health care settings. At least 50 percent of Americans with the illness are not diagnosed, and of those who are, less than half are told of their diagnosis according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Antkowiak, who serves on the Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Acute Care Advisory Committee, says these gaps rob individuals with dementia and their families of a window of empowerment during which they can employ symptom management strategies and discuss longer term planning options while living safe and more satisfying lives.

The law makes Massachusetts the first state in the country to require dementia-specific continuing education training for physicians, physician assistants, registered nurses and nurse practitioners as a condition of licensure and renewals. It further allows health care providers to share the diagnosis with a patient’s family (within existing state and federal privacy guidelines) to ensure that help is available in planning and managing the devastating impact of the disease.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Massachusetts has the sixth-highest rate of hospital readmissions for patients with dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease. To improve the cost effectiveness and quality of care, hospitals are now required to develop and implement an operational plan for specialized training of clinical and nonclinical staff.

As a result of recommendations from the Elder Protection Services Special Commission Report, training standards are additionally mandated to assist caseworkers in protecting elders with dementias from neglect or financial, physical and emotional abuse.

Another potential game changer is the increase in federal funding for research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. In what Antkowiak calls “an incredible success story in terms of the power of bipartisanship and advocacy,” annual funding has soared over the past five years from $562 million in 2014 to $2.3 billion.

In 2018, preliminary results from the federally funded SPRINT MIND Study showed significant reductions in the risk of mild cognitive impairment — often a precursor to dementia — by lowering systolic blood pressure.

Still underway is the Alzheimer’s Association’s U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (U.S. POINTER), a two-year clinical trial launched last year to evaluate whether older adults can reduce the risk of cognitive decline through lifestyle interventions such as exercise, nutrition, cognitive and social stimulation and management of clinical conditions.

“For the first time, we are testing preventative measures in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease through lifestyle intervention,” Antkowiak says. “This is vitally important in dispelling the misconception that memory loss is a normal part of aging, because it is not. Believing otherwise causes us to miss opportunities to understand, prevent and ultimately cure this horrific disease while supporting those with dementia in living their most vibrant life possible.”

The Alzheimer’s Association offers a free, 24/7 helpline at (800)272-3900. For more information about educational conferences, coping strategies, support groups, meetups and other support services, visit ALZ.org/manh.

A Guide to 2018 Area Summer Camps

March 13, 2018 by Doug Sparks Leave a Comment

Sponsored

Brooks School Summer Programs

Established in 1971, Brooks School Summer Programs has earned the reputation as New England’s leader in summer programs. The historic 251-acre campus on the shores of Lake Cochichewick in North Andover bustles with young campers, academically focused students, aspiring leaders, young robotic engineers and computer programmers. More than just a summer camp, Brooks is the flexible option offering day camp, summer school, STEM opportunities, computer-based camps, and teen leadership development. In addition to extended day services, convenient transportation throughout the Merrimack Valley and North Shore makes Brooks the perfect option to accommodate working parents and busy schedules. Summer programs operate from June 25 through August 17, 2018, with various session start and end dates. Whether you choose to spend one or all eight weeks, children ages 4–18 create memories and partake in life-changing experiences. Be part of this 47-year tradition. Your summer begins at Brooks.

North Andover, Mass. l (978) 725-6253 l Summer.BrooksSchool.org

Camp Evergreen

Founded by the Loscutoff family in 1964, Camp Evergreen has rustic country charm to spare. In addition to being surrounded by nearly 3,000 acres of beautiful state forest, the 53-year-old Andover community linchpin rests where an old farm once was — and its buildings are still in use by the camp today. If your kids have some trouble “unplugging,” this is the place for them: with ponds, marshes and woods to explore on all sides, they won’t have time to think about cell phones or video games. Of course, they’ll also get to enjoy a whole host of traditional camp activities including arts and crafts, drama, woodshop, horseback riding, boating … and more sports than you can shake a stick at! Plus, daily Red Cross swimming lessons from trained water safety instructors ensure your little ones are right at home in the camp’s two huge pools. Perhaps best of all, you can rest assured knowing that the camp’s 1:5 staff-to-camper ratio is among the best in the region.

Andover, Mass. l (978) 475-2502 l CampEvergreen.com

Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s Young Company

MRT’s Young Company is a professional theatre training program for high school students interested in all aspects of performing arts and new play development as a career. Nationally recognized playwrights, actors, and directors will work closely with students to develop their own voice in their scripts and learn about performing improv, musical theatre, and modern approaches to acting and auditioning. Young Company is designed to prepare students for college theatre programs and careers in the field. Students of all experience levels welcome! Summer program: For students entering grades 9–12, July 16 – August 3, Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.

Lowell, Mass. l (978) 654-7567 l MRT.org/YoungCompany

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Barbecue Buying Guide

June 26, 2017 by Doug Sparks Leave a Comment

As Part 1 of our series on authentic barbecue, we present a short buying guide to grills, smokers and meat thermometers.

HOW TO BEGIN

The optimal devices to cook barbecue are smokers fueled with hardwood, charcoal grills modified for indirect heating, and smoker/grill hybrids. Gas grills might be easier to operate, but they don’t produce the same level of quality.

Jeffrey Souther, a retail specialist at Yankee Fireplace Grill & Patio in Middleton, has entered barbecue contests as far away as Arkansas. He owns and uses a Big Green Egg, a kamado-style grill. Kamados are inspired by Japanese clay stoves, and the design is thousands of years old. Talk about traditional.

BGEs are sold in multiple sizes, including the massive XXL, a 424-pound grill that looks more appropriate for space travel than Kansas City burnt ends. The company website claims it can cook up to 16 whole chickens at a time. Once you have your skills down, it will give you enough room to barbecue a suckling pig.

The BGEs aren’t sold online. To buy one, you’ll have to find an authorized dealer such as Yankee Fireplace.

I asked Souther what accessory he recommends most for new buyers looking to make authentic barbecue, and he suggests the convEGGtor, a ceramic plate that fits inside the BGE and turns direct heat into indirect heat. It also prevents flare-ups and allows for precise temperature control.

Souther offers a few tricks, including soaking applewood chips in apple juice the night before cooking. The chips are added to the lump charcoal used in the Big Green Egg and impart tanginess.

For Souther, the Big Green Egg has considerable advantages. The ceramic egg holds heat and moisture well. It lets users cook large cuts of meat for 10 to 12 hours at stable, ideal temperatures of 225 to 230 F.

Kamado-style grills are pricey. The smallest BGE, one suitable for camping trips, sells for $598. There are less expensive options. Yankee Fireplace also sells the Weber Smokey Mountain. It uses a water pan and the most popular model costs $299. As with the BGE, it is available in multiple sizes. It doesn’t give you the same amount of temperature control and it won’t incite the same level of awe among guests, but it will allow you to produce restaurant-quality barbecue.

For the beginner, Souther recommends starting with a pork butt. “Pork is a forgiving meat,” he says. “Learning to barbecue requires a lot of practice and patience. Better start with that than an expensive brisket.” His method of preparation is simple. He doesn’t brine the meat and he applies his rub 30 minutes before cooking. He inserts a digital thermometer about 90 minutes before he suspects the meat will be done.

A thermometer is an indispensable tool, and this is an area where recent technological innovation serves the backyard chef well. Bluetooth devices such as the ThermoWorks BlueTherm probe let users track the temperature on a smartphone. ThermoWorks also makes an instant-read digital thermometer called the Thermapen that is widely used in barbecue competitions for its speed, durability and accuracy.

Yankee Fireplace Grill & Patio
Middleton, Mass.
(978) 774-1621
YankeeFireplace.com

Part 2 – Recommended Reading
Part 3 – Diverse Diets and Food Preferences