New Hampshire

Fair use

LOCAL ARTIST DAY: Poet, Jane Kenyon

When the BHG Milestone Team is not helping our community with real estate transactions, we are trading books and sharing stories. This week, Marilyn sent me information about a local poet – and I am thrilled to share her with you!

Meet New Hampshire’s past poet laureate (January 1995-March 1999), Jane Kenyon. She published four volumes of poetry – From Room to Room (1978), The Boat of Quiet Hours (1986), Let Evening Come (1990), and Constance (1993). She was also a talented translator, publishing Twenty Poems of Anna Akmatova (1985).

Fair use; Photograph by Stephen Blos.

Although Kenyon was born in Michigan, she called New Hampshire home in 1975 when she and her husband, poet Donald Hall, moved to his ancestral home in Wilmot. The property has been rescued and is being lovingly restored and managed by At Eagle Pond, Inc..

The film, A Life Together, celebrates the creative couple.

To truly know Jane Kenyon, one must experience her simple but emotionally resonant poetry. In the film, In Her Shoes, the character, Maggie, played by Cameron Diaz, is learning to read. To practice, she reads several poems – including Kenyon’s “Let Evening Come.”

#bhgmilestoneteam #bhgmilestone #bestteamintown #bhg #realtor #janekenyon #poetlaureate #nhpoets

NH: THE STATE OF FIRSTS

Whether you're a New Hampshire newbie or a born granite starter, you may not be aware of the number of achievements New Hampshire has come in at #1. Take a look:

• First in the nation to hold a Presidential Primary election.

• First colony to declare independence from England. Live Free or Die!

• First colony to have its own state constitution.

• First private citizen to venture into space.

• First mountain-climbing train, Mount Washington’s Cog Railway.

• First free public library (Peterborough, 1833).

• First integrated baseball team (Nashua).

• First woman editor – Sarah Josepha Buell Hall, a writer and activist from Newport, edited Godey’s Lady’s Book (1830-1878) and Ladies’ Magazine. She wrote Mary Had a Little Lamb (1830), was responsible for making Thanksgiving a national holiday, and was a founder of Vassar College.

• New Hampshire also holds the title for the highest wind speed (over land, 231 miles per hour on Mount Washington in 1934).

If you find any other New Hampshire Firsts, let us know!

#bhgmilestoneteam #bhgmilestone #bestteamintown #bhg #realtor #newhampshireliving #newhampshire #newhampshirefirsts

Did you know?

Songs of New Hampshire

New Hampshire has 9 state songs: One Official – Old New Hampshire -and 8 honorary songs. So, let’s sing-along!

• New Hampshire, My New Hampshire with words by Julius Richelson and music by Walter P. Smith.
• New Hampshire Hills with words by Paul Scott Mowrer and music by Tom Powers.
• Autumn in New Hampshire with words and music by Leo Austin.
• New Hampshire’s Granite State with words and music by Anne B. Currier.
• Oh, New Hampshire (you’re my home) with words and music by Brownie McIntosh.
• The Old Man of the Mountain with words and music by Paul Belanger.
• The New Hampshire State March with words and music by Rene Richards.
• New Hampshire Naturally with words and music by Rick Shaw and Ron Shaw.
• Live Free or Die with words and music by Barry Palmer.

We can also add songs that have not been granted an honorary title, but that capture all that is New Hampshire in a modern way: 

• Okay, Alright with words and music by moe.
• Granite State of Mind with words and music by the Super Secret Project.
• White Mountain Fever by Jimmy Lehoux.
• New Hampshire by John Linnell.

And probably the most popular and known New Hampshire tribute: New Hampshire by Sonic Youth!

• Follow us on Facebook 
• Follow us on Instagram

Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash

Out & About in New Hampshire - Quirky New Hampshire

• The center of New Hampshire is almost entirely under water! And while New Hampshire has a mere 13 miles of coastline, its over 800 lakes and ponds and 19,000 miles of rivers and streams provide plenty of swimming and fishing spots!

• The state insect is the Ladybug since 1977.

• In Portsmouth in 1961, Betty and Barney Hill claimed to have been abducted by aliens.

• In 2005, Killington, Vermont proposed succession to become part of New Hampshire for the tax savings! (We can note that Killington is in the middle of Vermont, 25 miles east of New Hampshire...)

• New Hampshire has four nicknames: Mother of Rivers, White Mountain State, Switzerland of America, and The Granite State (the most popular).

Follow us on Facebook. Follow us on Instagram.

#Realtor, #TheMilestoneTeam, #TheBestTeamInTown, #shouldIsell, #realestateagent, #homesale, #NewHampshire, #newhampshirelife #nature #newhampshireoutdoors #visitnh #granitestate #livefreeordie

To Celebrate 2023 Women's History Month and International Women’s Day (March 8^th), The Milestone Team honors the following amazing Granite State natives. Here's a partial list of accomplished and influential New Hampshire women:

Christa McAuliffe:  NASA selected Concord native, Christa McAuliffe, was to be the first teacher in space! As you know, Christa was one of the victims of the Challenger tragedy. To honor her, in Concord we have The Christa McAuliffe Planetarium at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center.

Jeanne Shaheen: New Hampshire’s senior US Senator was the state’s first female senator – and New Hampshire’s first female governor! 

Valerie Cunningham: Civil rights activist Valerie Cunningham is a writer, researcher, teacher, and founder of the Black Heritage Trail in Portsmouth. She served as the NAACP secretary and marched in Boston with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

And...

Actors: Multi-talented, Mandy Moore & comic, Sarah Silverman

Authors and Journalists: Hanover resident, Jodi Picoult, NPR’s Heather King, and Miss New Hampshire 1994 Trish Regan

Artists: Missing Person’s Dale Bozzio 

Athletes: Paralympic Swimmer, Victoria Arien  & Olympic Medalist in Hockey, Kathryn King-Crowley 

The all-women Milestone Team supports the missions of International Women’s Day: empowering women and building workplaces where women thrive! 

• Follow us on Facebook. Follow us on Instagram.

• See more on our Community Calendar page!

• #Realtor, #TheMilestoneTeam, #TheBestTeamInTown, #InternationalWomensDay, #Women'sHistoryMonth

Photo Credit: Mount Washington Observatory

Saturday, February 4^th, New Hampshire’s Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast, set the bar for the coldest windchill every recorded: -108 degrees Fahrenheit. While the actual temperature was a balmy -47 degrees Fahrenheit, the 127 mph winds created the record-breaking frigid experience. Miles away in our own New London, Saturday’s temperature was a chilly 5 degrees Fahrenheit. (Which still may chill the bones of those who prefer warmer climates!) But like any person or place, we can’t label based on one moment or incident. From the end of May through mid-September, New London and its neighbors enjoy the gorgeous average temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit - and the humidity is only muggy or uncomfortable 5.6 days out of the year! Take that, Florida! Sure, in our part of the hemisphere, it gets chilly – but only January during the “deep winter” with temperatures averaging 11 degrees Fahrenheit.  Since it’s not humid, the colder months are never bitter, so jeans and a sweater keep even the most sensitive of us comfy! When you are ready to relocate to our paradise, contact The Milestone Team. We’d love to show you around – and take you to Mount Washington!

In the meanwhile, enjoy this video of that chilly Sunday morning atop the White Mountains of Our New Hampshire.

• Follow us on Facebook. Follow us on Instagram
• TAGS: #whitemountains#newhampshire #weather #winter #MountWashington, #Realtor, #TheMilestoneTeam, #TheBestTeamInTown

The following information was released November 9, 2010, by the Department of Environmental Services (DES), Concord, NH –

The NH Carbon Monoxide Work Group announced November, 2010, as the state’s first Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month, as proclaimed by Governor John Lynch.

Carbon monoxide is a serious public safety concern, and poses the greatest risk to people in their homes. Nationally, CO is one of the leading causes of accidental poisoning deaths, and accounts for more than 50,000 emergency department visits each year in the US.

Carbon monoxide poisoning becomes a greater risk as we enter the heating season as people spend more time indoors. Protect your home and family by following these simple do’s and dont's:

DO have your fuel-burning appliances – including oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas ranges and ovens, gas dryers, gas or kerosene space heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves – inspected by a trained professional, and make certain that flues and chimneys are connected, in good condition, and not blocked.

DO read and follow all of the instructions that accompany any fuel- burning device. If you cannot avoid using an unvented gas or kerosene space heater, carefully follow the cautions that come with the device. Use the proper fuel and keep doors to the rest of the house open. Crack a window to ensure enough air for ventilation and proper fuel-burning.

DO install at least one CO detector in the living areas of your home, preferably one on each floor.

DO know the symptoms of CO poisoning, which even at moderate levels, includes severe headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea or faintness.

If you experience symptoms that you think could be from CO poisoning: get fresh air immediately. Open doors and windows, turn off combustion appliances and leave the house. Call 9-1-1 or get to an emergency room immediately.

DON’T idle the car in a garage -- even if the garage door to the outside is open. Fumes can build up very quickly in the garage and living area of your home.

DON’T use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time, and DON’T ever use a charcoal grill indoors – even in a fireplace.

DON'T sleep in any room with an unvented gas or kerosene space heater.

DON’T use any gasoline-powered engines (mowers, weed trimmers, snow blowers, chain saws, small engines or generators) in enclosed spaces, including the garage.

DON’T ignore symptoms, particularly if more than one person is feeling them. You could lose consciousness and die if you do nothing.

For a comprehensive source of information on carbon monoxide safety tips, emergency generator usage, health risks, and more, please see www.nh.gov/co.

The New Hampshire Carbon Monoxide Work Group is an interagency task force dedicated to keeping the public informed of the many safety and health issues related to carbon monoxide. The group includes representatives from the state’s departments of Environmental Services, Health and Human Services, and Safety, the Poison Center, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the City of Concord, Concord Regional Health Care, and Powers Generator Service.

News from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services DES Encourages Homeowners to Conserve Water Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is reminding NH residents on the need to conserve water resources.  Although New Hampshire is not formally under a drought declaration at this time, the lower than average precipitation in April and May coupled with the current heat spell is reason enough to consider our water use and identify opportunities for conservation and water use efficiency. Although water conservation is something that needs to be practiced year-round, it can be especially important as a proactive measure during dryer than normal conditions. “One of the easiest steps a homeowner can take is to reduce the amount of water used outdoors” said Derek Bennett, Manager of the Water Use and Conservation program. “Discretionary uses, like lawn irrigation can account for the majority of a homes total use during the summer months.” Lawn irrigation often leads to restrictions as water systems confront increasing water demand in the face of limited supply. “Adhering to water use restrictions is important” said Bennett. “Water systems implement restrictions to avoid larger problems down the road, and full cooperation by the water system connections is needed to be successful.” Even without restrictions in place, reducing the amount of water used on landscapes makes sense, both environmentally and financially. Reducing lawn size, ensuring adequate topsoil, and choosing drought tolerant grass mixes are good first steps. If irrigation is needed to supplement rainfall, the typical lawn requires less than an inch of water per week (irrigation and rainfall combined). DES has prepared a series of guidance documents that assist homeowners with reducing water use both inside and outside of the home. Please visit: http://m1e.net/c?82384231-x/oG7sFTAlAGk%405492898-EKfpihNIDuck6 for a complete list of water efficiency fact sheets. This message brought to you by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03302.