Also on today’s menu:
Bungee Fitness, Anyone?
A Joke That Was Not Funny
In the 1960s, a few people began climbing the cliffs of Rattlesnake Mountain in Rumney. Since that time, Rattlesnake’s reputation has grown as a place offering among the best climbs in the Northeastern United States, and hundreds of people drive to Rumney every weekend. Rattlesnake now is one of New Hampshire’s most popular natural attractions.
As Wayne King writes, the cliffs are just 40 minutes north of Concord and only a two-hour drive from Boston, and they accommodate climbers of all abilities. He notes that Lee Hansche, one of the authors of a digital guidebook called Gunks Apps — Rumney, has climbed all over the world, and he sits on the board of the Rumney Climbers Association.
The association formed after the landowner, expressing concerns about liability, posted the land against trespassers. Working with the National Forest, other climbers, and environmentalists, the RCA purchased the land, adding it to National Forest holdings and providing parking to accommodate the climbers.
In addition to offering views of the winding Baker River below, Rattlesnake Mountain is the home of the threatened Peregrine Falcon, which was on the endangered species list until 1999.
Bungee Fitness, Anyone?
For those who want exercise without the risks of rock-climbing, Mallory Murphy’s Lakes Region Alternative Fitness, located in the Village at Paugus Bay in Laconia, offers pole, aerial, chair, and bungee fitness, yoga, burlesque, self-defense, and Zumba.
“The goal of alternative fitness is to unwind and have fun while you are working out,” Murphy said. Most classes take place under a black light and feature music to create a “joyful atmosphere” and decrease anxiety about how participants look. Although Murphy’s fitness space centers on female empowerment, classes are open to anyone, providing a sense of community and confidence.
Instructors will modify the exercises to accommodate those seeking more or less difficulty. Murphy said she has athletes in their seventies who come to classes — especially the bungee fitness classes — and anyone 10 or over is invited to sign up.
A Joke That Was Not Funny
When Kathleen Cavalaro, a candidate for state representative, posted a TikTok video as a joke in May, she did not expect a legal backlash, but she got one.
The Attorney General’s Office investigated a complaint about the May 23 video and concluded that it is protected speech and does not constitute criminal solicitation to wrongfully vote, but asked Cavalaro to remove the video post from her Tiktok account.
In the video which appears to be directed at Massachusetts residents, Cavalaro said, “You can actually vote for me. Just get on one of those buses that comes in from Massachusetts and go to Ward 2 in Rochester and vote for me.” She posted a comment that same day, saying, “For legal reasons and bc Repubs are not funny, this is a joke. I am making fun of Republicans.”
In asking that she delete the video, the Attorney General’s Office cited “a risk that the video post could result in voter confusion — or lead to a criminal act if a Massachusetts resident votes in New Hampshire.”
Café Chatter
We have many immediate issues facing us. Food is rising by the day, heating oil/propane, which has doubled, then fuel/gasoline/diesel which has more than doubled since Biden took the Presidency, which is hitting everyone who needs a vehicle and in rural NH you need a vehicle.
Everything I mentioned is unquestionably higher than a year ago, which means we all have less money to SAVE or spend. If I am right in the next year or so, jobs that we can’t get workers for today will start to vanish. Less money and higher fuel and food means businesses have less to build or sell and they will start to fail. This will lead to unemployment, less money to spend and even foreclosures. I think you are starting to see a vicious cycle starting to take shape if this is not fixed now. I don’t mean patch it but fix it, open the pipelines and stop giving our oil to China, NH first, USA first, NOT CHINA (if you haven’t heard Biden started this a few days ago).
Many of you may already know I am running for State Representative for Grafton County District 18 which covers ten towns (visit my website to see more about me and the list of towns). My concern is this, can the people make it through this winter! I still have HOPE for NH. I will work with whomever to help the people survive this winter.
I need to hear from you on what your needs are and what you think government can do to help. We don’t need more government or government doing everything for us. However, in a time of need we may need government to step up and free up strongholds it has on us to help relieve the pain. We know money does not grow on trees and nothing in life is free (not even college). I believe the last thing you or I want is increased property taxes. We may be managing now, but it is going to change. I know many of you have already started to change the way you do things to make the money last.
The primary is September 13th and then the general election is November 8th. I’m willing to do what I can to represent you but without your vote that will never happen, so first, you got to vote, second, I need that vote, third, we need many other like-minded conservative caring people to get elected, so spread the word.
— John Sellers, Bristol
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I am having technical problems in posting to Substack with my iPad, and won’t have access to my desktop computer for a few days, so there may be a lapse in the weekday postings until next week. I hope to resolve the problem, but my apologies in advance if the News Café goes dark for a few days.
— Tom
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