Your Letters From the March 2016 Issue

Send letters to Editor Rick Broussard, New Hampshire Magazine, 150 Dow St. Manchester, NH 03101 or e-mail him at editor@nhmagazine.com.

Newt Blues
Just a note regarding Spot the Newt and Hawk. I am sure many people have found them accurately. I, for one, had all correct in last month’s magazine. I am from NH, born and raised there. Now I just happen to be in Arizona.

How do you pick a winner? You need to explain this in your magazine. Just current NH residents or what? Once my current subscription runs out, I will not subscribed to it again. Your contest is unfair.

Pauline Mitchell
Mesa, Ariz.

Editor’s note: New Hampshire residency is not a requirement to win the Spot the Newt or Sight the Hawk contests. Each month all correct entries are gathered together and a winner is picked at random.

Living a Vegan Life
I was delighted to see your vegan restaurant reviews [Cuisine, January 2016]. We’re headed to Portsmouth tomorrow and look forward to eating vegan there. 

While the vegan lifestyle has been around for decades, it was mostly propelled by animal rights activists. Not anymore. There is a quiet revolution in our midst by those of us who have been convinced that meat and dairy cause countless health problems. Since going vegan two and a half years ago, I have dropped 20 pounds; my cholesterol is down 45 percent; my arthritis is gone; the pressure in my eye is now normal and I have no more gastrointestinal problems. I am 74, and look and feel much younger. Amazing! 

My husband and I were told about Dr. Colin Campbell’s research, as portrayed in his book, “The China Study.” After reading it, we took the plunge. We have discovered the most amazing foods along our path, although it was scary at first.

So why aren’t all the doctors and the government heading us in the vegan direction? Simple. Our government is a very strong supporter of both the meat and the dairy industries and the lobbyists aim to keep it that way. Our doctors were not trained in nutrition, although many are starting to learn that diseases of affluence can be reversed with a whole food, plant-based diet. 

A. Bell
Weare

Appreciating Talent
I especially appreciated the article about Gary Sredzienski [“Wild Swimming,” January 2016]. My mom was a resident at Villa Crest in Manchester for nearly 12 years and Gary frequently entertained there. I sat with my mom on several of these occasions. It’s nice to read more about this talented entertainer who shared his gifts to put a smile on the face of so many seniors.

Cathy Thorgerson
Goffstown

A Few Recommendations
The “Weekender” [February 2016] found her way to my home territory this month and she seemed to enjoy her time in Franconia. We frequently dine at the Horse and Hound but have never had occasion to take advantage of their accommodations. Most of her other adventures while up in the North are things we enjoy regularly; the flume is lovely all year round and as she discovered the views from Cannon’s peak are magnificent. If, or when, you have a reporter up in Franconia Notch again, then I would recommend a walk down the path to explore the Old Man viewing site. It is inspirational.

I was a tiny bit disappointed to note that Second Chance Animal Rescue wasn’t among the organizations outlined in the article on pet adoption and rescue [“Rescue Mission,” February 2016]. They are in Littleton and do an amazing job of relocating abandoned and unwanted cats. I recognize that the article was geared mostly toward dogs, but great work is also being done for other species of pets.

Loved the pastry article in the Cuisine section. Who wouldn’t? Also enjoyed Artisan on Lauran Sundin’s lace jewelry. Amazing and beautiful and apparently portable, which many crafts or hobbies are not.

All told, another great month for NH Magazine. Thanks so much — you make my winter afternoons much more pleasant.

Pam Dexter
Franconia

You Missed Us
I recently received my copy of New Hampshire Magazine and read the article about animal rescues in New Hampshire [“Rescue Mission,” February 2016]. I was quite unhappy to see that there was no mention of the Humane Society for Greater Nashua in this article.

Our organization has been serving the New England region since 1900. We are the second-largest animal adoption and rescue in the state — 2,500 to 3,000 animals come through our doors each year. The Humane Society is one of the only rescue organizations in the state that has a full-time veterinarian on staff. We provide low-cost spay and neutering, offer low-cost vaccination clinics, community-based rabies clinics, behavioral training and puppy social hours.  We also manage one of the oldest and most historical pet cemeteries in the country.

As a paid advertiser in your magazine, I found the research done by your writer to be poor and the omission of our organization unacceptable.

Douglas A. Barry, CAE
President and CEO
Humane Society for Greater Nashua

More Omissions
I haven’t even finished reading the February issue and I see two places where you totally left Concord out. The Bread and Chocolate Bakery [“Cuisine,” February 2016] is one of the best around and is a true bakery that has been in business forever (as compared to In a Pinch, which is not really a bakery). And why was Pope Memorial SPCA left off your rescue animal article  [“Rescue Mission,” February 2016]? I believe Mr. Pope has enabled other rescue shelters also.

Concord is our state capital; let’s support it! I read your magazine to learn more about our state, but I sometimes feel your writers don’t do their research.      

Linda Dunning
Hopkinton

Editor’s note: We’ve added all of the shelters mentioned in this month’s letters to the online version of the story at www.nhmagazine.com. See below for more information. As for fans of our capital, you may be interested in the March issue's “Retail,” which is a celebration of its Main Street’s makeover.

Bella, a recent rescue/release from the Humane Society of Greater Nashua

Your Pet Peeves

We had a feeling that writing about adorable pets looking for their “forever homes” might unleash (pun intended) a few emotions. Writer Lynne Snierson’s “Rescue Mission” was about the many non-profit animal shelters, farms and facilities, breed rescue groups and pet adoption agencies across the state.

Amid the praise for shining a light on such a worthy cause were a number of local shelters wondering why we didn’t list their names in our “Pet Adoption Directory.” The reality of print is that we cannot include every worthy organization in our pages — there were just too many to fit.

Our aim was to publish a list that had at least one major organization in each part of the state. However, we hear you. We have no such space constraints online. We’ve been adding shelters to the online list since the story went live. If you’d like to see your local organization or shelter listed, just e-mail ethoits@nhmagazine.com or mention it in the comments and we’ll consider it for inclusion.

As always, we look forward to your input.