AGP Executive Report

Historic Preservation: Sen. Maggie Hassan visited Canterbury Shaker Village to discuss federal support for preserving its buildings, collections and 200-plus years of history. She is also backing a study of a possible National Heritage Area designation. Outdoors: New Hampshire Fish and Game’s “On the Nature Trail” podcast has reached 100 episodes, sharing short journeys through the state’s wildlife and wild places. Halloween: Lee’s Haunted Overload is among the nation’s top haunted attractions, praised for its giant monsters and elaborate sets. Fall Traditions: Keene’s Pumpkin Festival celebrated the season despite wintry temperatures, while the Laconia Pumpkin Festival looked ahead to sunny fall weather. Winter Ahead: A White Mountains ski destination is expanding as New Hampshire resorts prepare for the season. Voting: The Supreme Court has upheld New Hampshire’s ban on using student IDs to register or obtain a ballot in the Nov. 3 midterms.

Voting and Students: The U.S. Supreme Court has reinstated New Hampshire’s ban on using student IDs to help verify a voter’s identity in the Nov. 3 election, reversing a lower-court ruling less than two weeks before Election Day. Schools and Childcare: A new report warns New Hampshire schools could face 1,114 teacher openings a year through 2034 as retirements rise and the educator pipeline shrinks. In a childcare forum, Cinde Warmington focused on lowering costs for families, while Kelly Ayotte submitted written answers. Arts and Books: Pennsylvania publisher Sunbury Press has launched Champlain Press, a new imprint for New England writers that is accepting submissions. Fall Around New Hampshire: Keene’s Pumpkin Festival went ahead despite wintry temperatures, while Halloween events and a ski-area expansion in the White Mountains add to the season’s local offerings.

School Funding: Gov. Kelly Ayotte and Democrat Cinde Warmington clashed in a debate over education funding, affordability and property taxes. Warmington called for more state support for schools but did not specify how she would raise the estimated $500 million a year; Ayotte backed a proposed school tax cap. Ballot Rules: New Hampshire’s attorney general warned that school officials cannot use public resources to campaign on the tax-cap question. The U.S. Supreme Court also restored the state’s ban on student IDs as voter identification for the Nov. 3 election. Campus News: Keene State College has put 14 academic programs on hold, while U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander says federal TRIO funding in New Hampshire has been restored. Arts & Outdoors: A White Mountains ski destination is expanding, and fall brings a busy slate of pumpkin festivals, Halloween events and winter-festival planning. At the Library: Gilford Public Library hosts a Wednesday talk on the dark web, led by a retired state forensic investigator; the Friends of Keene Public Library’s book sale returns this weekend.

Fall Weekend: Sunny weather is in the forecast for Laconia Pumpkin Festival, which runs Friday and Saturday with food, craft vendors and family attractions. Organizers hope to match last year’s 20,000 visitors. Arts & Entertainment: Stockbridge Theatre in Derry has announced a 2026–27 season spanning music, dance, comedy and family shows, including a new series spotlighting New Hampshire artists. Tickets start at $5. Creative New Hampshire: The Route 3 Art Trail returns Nov. 7, with more than 20 stops between Concord and Franklin. Visitors can meet artists, watch demonstrations and explore local galleries and businesses. Community & Kids: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central and Northern New Hampshire raised $503,700 at their annual Champions for Kids breakfast, supporting safe spaces and positive role models for children. Nature Watch: New Hampshire has approved nearly $25,000 in federal funding to target spotted lanternflies first detected in Salem this August. The invasive insects can threaten farms, forests, nurseries and vineyards.

Historic Preservation: Three Portsmouth waterfront buildings used by arts nonprofits made New Hampshire’s 2026 Seven to Save list. The designation offers preservation resources, but no repair funding; climate risks add urgency. Local Heritage: A federal historic-building tax credit supported about 800 jobs and contributed $36 million to New Hampshire’s economy in 2025, according to the National Park Service. Community Culture: Eddie Bogosian is working to revive EBA’s, the longtime Hanover restaurant his mother opened in the late 1970s. Fall Traditions: Keene’s Pumpkin Festival drew families despite chilly, gusty weather, with a costume parade, performances and towering displays. Outdoor Safety: Fish and Game urges hikers and hunters to wear blaze orange as fall hunting seasons get underway.

Health Access: New Hampshire could see 23,000 to 29,000 adults lose Medicaid coverage by 2028 under new work-reporting rules, a state policy institute estimates. Many enrollees already work; advocates warn missed notices and paperwork could cost them coverage. Local Food: Farmers at a Francestown forum described the financial hurdles to keeping locally grown food available year-round, and called for more support to make farming sustainable. Faith & Community: New Hampshire congregations are making prayer flags bearing the names of people who died in immigration detention or were killed by immigration agents, in a project called “Refusing to Forget.” Libraries & Culture: Rockingham Free Public Library and other regional libraries are hosting a free Bellows Falls screening of The Librarians, a documentary about book bans, followed by a community discussion. Public Education: Former members of the state’s school-funding commission have asked the New Hampshire Supreme Court to protect students’ education rights and allow more state aid to reach communities with the greatest needs.

Libraries & Free Expression: New Hampshire and Vermont libraries are hosting a free Thursday screening of the Emmy-winning documentary The Librarians at Bellows Falls Opera House, followed by a community discussion about book bans and the freedom to read. Education: Former members of New Hampshire’s school-funding commission are urging the state Supreme Court to uphold students’ constitutional right to a quality education and direct more aid to communities that need it. Community Remembrance: New Hampshire faith groups are making memorial flags for people who died in ICE custody or were killed by immigration agents, honoring the dead and their communities. Health Coverage: A New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute report warns that stricter Medicaid verification rules could put coverage at risk for as many as 29,000 residents; state officials dispute the estimate.

Local Wellness: Manchester yoga teacher Tony Tenaglier’s new book, In a Rush to Go Nowhere: Finding Savasana, looks beyond poses to yoga’s role in everyday life, drawing on traditional philosophy and neuroscience. Granite State Winter: New Hampshire’s festival season is taking shape, with LaBelle Winery’s LightsFest in Derry set for Nov. 20 and more events planned through winter. Indigenous Culture: Dartmouth students shared Native and Indigenous culture at the college’s eighth annual fashion show. Lake Winnipesaukee: Meredith officials will discuss efforts to keep Camp Menotomy operating as a camp, preserving 95 forested acres and nearly a mile of shorefront.

Native Culture: Dartmouth students celebrated Indigenous identity at the Hood Museum’s eighth annual fashion show, featuring handmade regalia, traditional dance and a student community that one senior called central to her college experience. Forest Research: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen says she’s more hopeful about the Bartlett Experimental Forest’s future after federal officials discussed funding repairs to its bunkhouse and bathrooms and reaffirmed the value of its research. Fall Foliage: New Hampshire’s vivid red leaves get their color differently from yellow and orange ones: trees produce a new pigment as days shorten and temperatures cool. Local History: Gilmanton’s H.H. Holmes connection runs deep—the future serial killer was born there, attended the local academy and briefly taught at a schoolhouse before leaving town.

Housing Costs: More than a third of New Hampshire residents ages 18 to 34 live with their parents, as rents climb; the state’s median rent is $2,100. Schools: Nashua is weighing school consolidation as enrollment falls and buildings age, with a public hearing set for Oct. 28 and a board vote expected Nov. 16. Data Centers: Both gubernatorial candidates support a pause on new projects, citing energy costs and environmental concerns, though they differ on timing. Music: DJs Eris Drew and Octo Octa released their debut album as Alchemical Sisters, shaped by long winter sessions in the New Hampshire woods. Arts & Outdoors: The New Hampshire Film Festival opened in Portsmouth, while Squam Lakes Natural Science Center approaches 2 million trail visitors during its 60th anniversary season.

Local Heritage: Manchester families with a Canadian ancestor may qualify for Canadian citizenship under recent law changes. The American-Canadian Genealogical Society can help trace family records, including mill and city birth records. Arts & Culture: The New Hampshire Film Festival opened in Portsmouth, while Plymouth State’s mysteriously returning pumpkins are back at Rounds Hall. Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is also nearing 2 million trail visitors during its 60th anniversary season. Education: UNH enrollment rose nearly 5%, with new students receiving record financial aid; a proposed free community-college tuition plan still needs legislative funding. North Country Sports: Five former local high school athletes are listed for college competition this week, including field hockey and football players.

Arts & Film: Alicia Silverstone discussed Clueless ahead of a rare local screening Sunday, while the New Hampshire Film Festival began in Portsmouth. Community Culture: NHPR’s Hop Sessions will expand to monthly first-Friday performances, and a new public piano is bringing music to Meredith’s Main Street. Amherst has a new pinball destination, Tilted Orbit. Outdoors & Discovery: Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is nearing two million trail visitors during its 60th anniversary season and will host New Hampshire Day on Nov. 1. Education: UNH enrollment rose nearly 5%, with new students receiving record financial aid; a free community college tuition plan has been announced but still needs legislative funding.

Film & Culture: Alicia Silverstone brings Clueless to Portsmouth’s Music Hall on Sunday for a rare live screening and audience Q&A at the New Hampshire Film Festival. She also confirmed the planned reboot series starts filming in January. Outdoor Life: Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is nearing two million trail visitors during its 60th anniversary season, a milestone for one of the region’s favorite nature destinations. Housing: Three Monadnock renters describe the strain of finding a stable home as New Hampshire’s median single-family price reaches $575,000; about 85% of households can’t afford that price, according to the report. Campus Tradition: Plymouth State’s mysterious pumpkins are back atop Rounds Hall, continuing an October tradition that began in 1975. Community: A capacity crowd at the Champions for Kids Breakfast raised more than $500,000 to support local youth and working families.

Weekend Arts: The New Hampshire Film Festival gets underway in Portsmouth, and a guide rounds up eight events around the state for Oct. 16–18. Local Traditions: Plymouth State’s mysterious pumpkins are back atop Rounds Hall, continuing a campus tradition that began in 1975. Community Culture: Meredith has a new public piano on Main Street, while Nashua’s Multicultural Festival offered a diverse lineup of attractions. Outdoors: Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is nearing 2 million trail visitors during its 60th anniversary season. Places to Play: Amherst’s Tilted Orbit brings pinball to town, adding a new stop for arcade fans.

Lakes Region Youth: A capacity crowd at the Champions for Kids Breakfast helped raise more than $500,000 for local young people and working families. Fall Traditions: Plymouth State’s mystery pumpkins have appeared atop Rounds Hall each October since 1975, keeping a campus tradition alive for more than 50 years. Nature & Learning: Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is nearing two million trail visitors in its 60th-anniversary season, with the milestone expected before the trail closes Nov. 1. Arts & Community: The New Hampshire Film Festival is underway in Portsmouth, while the Belknap Mill Society seeks board members to help guide the historic Lakes Region landmark’s next chapter. Weekend Plans: Keene’s Pumpkin Festival, Etna’s Apple Cider Festival and Dover’s Harvest Fair are among the events happening across the state Oct. 16–18. Meet the Candidates: Wolfeboro and Tuftonboro Democrats host a free local candidate forum Sunday, Oct. 18, at Tuftonboro Public Library.

Film & Culture: The New Hampshire Film Festival opened in Portsmouth with 113 films running through Oct. 18, including Man in the Wave, a local documentary about a New Hampshire engineer who became a surf photographer while living with multiple sclerosis. Local Arts: Meredith has a new public piano on Main Street, bringing music into the heart of town. Food & Community: Nashua’s Multicultural Festival celebrates the city’s diversity with a wide-ranging menu of attractions, while new restaurant openings are adding fresh flavor across the state. Fall Traditions: Pumpkin boats, movie stars and Vikings are among the draws at New Hampshire events this season; Halloween plans are also taking shape statewide. Outdoor Life: A new report explores how climate change is affecting New England’s fall foliage, as leaf season draws visitors outdoors. Heritage: Dartmouth students marked Indigenous Peoples Day, even as New Hampshire continues to observe Columbus Day.