Portsmouth Living Magazine August

Pet Corner
GET AWAY IN VERMONT
BY ROBERT LEVEY
SUMMER HEAT DEADLY
FOR KIDS, PETS IN VEHICLES
What can possibly be better than Portsmouth, NH,
right? You have the ocean, world-class restaurants,
numerous recreational opportunities that run the
gamut from on the water to nearby meandering trails. Did we
mention the incredible shopping?
Well, everyone needs to get away for the weekend—and
if you do, you would be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful
spot anywhere in the New England, much less the entire
country, than Stowe, Vermont. Located just three hours away
from Portsmouth, Stowe is Portsmouth, but nestled within
mountains as opposed to tucked alongside the water.
If you have a free weekend, you cannot go wrong in Stowe,
which features striking natural beauty, wildlife, surprisingly
diverse culinary options and great dining and lodging options.
In fact, one of the most beautiful places you will find anywhere
in the world is the Trapp Family Lodge. Perched on top of
a mountain, the nearly 360 degree views of the surrounding
mountains are enough to stop anyone in their proverbial
tracks.
This 2,500 acre property offers four seasons of fun outdoor
activities, which include everything from an extensive mountain
biking trail system in the summer to cross country ski
trails in the winter. These are not just any old trails, however,
but pristine pathways that take you deep into forests that provide
very little indication that humanity exists anywhere. It is
magical.
Magic also exists in the new von Trapp Brewery & Bierhall
Restaurant, conveniently situated on the cross-country ski and
mountain bike trails, which most likely makes it the best trailhead
in Vermont.
“The Bierhall is a great gathering spot for friends to enjoy ‘a
little of Austria, a lot of Vermont,’” says Sam von Trapp, who
noted the brewery incorporates the German Beer Purity Laws
of ‘Reinheitsgebot.’
For those who want to venture off the property, however,
there is no shortage of recreational opportunities—whether it
be kayaking, canoeing, hiking, or any number of other activities.
All you really need to do is head in any direction off Route
100 and you will either end up on a mountain or in a stream,
river or lake.
For those who enjoy a little culture on their adventures, the
village of Stowe, although small and quaint, is incredibly interesting
as a shopping destination. Yes, Stowe is a skiers paradise,
but not enough is says about what this place offers in the warm
months.
Located on Mountain Rd. in Stowe, Stowe Kitchen Bath and
Linens is one must stop for everyone—even locals—with its
7,000 square foot post and beam space filled to the brim with
goods for every room and taste. In addition to free interior
decorating services, they offer an incredible array of cooking
classes in a professional kitchen.
“Our newest chef is insanely good and a true baker,” says
Owner Kate Carpenter. “We are so excited.”
From kitchen items to bedding, furniture and everything
in-between, this place is classic Stowe.
“This town is a wonderful mixture of rural charm with sophisticated
style that you really can’t find anywhere else,” adds
Carpenter, who noted she especially loves the Stowe Recreation
Path.
“It runs right behind my shop,” she says. “I love to have
‘walking business meetings’ while on it...Stowe is just such
a beautiful place, and this path is nice and flat and gives you
great views of the surrounding valleys and mountains.”
Of course, no trip to Stowe is complete without a jaunt
through downtown Stowe with Stowe Mercantile another
must stop on your weekend itinerary. Located in the heart of
Stowe, this place pretty much carries a little bit of everything.
They also offer free samples of some of their products, including
fudge that is “out of this world” good.
Speaking of things that taste good, are you hungry yet?
Head upstairs to Cafe on Main for what locals know is a great
place for a sandwich and soup while ‘people-watching.’ After
lunch, go to the bookstore next door and feed your mind.
Want something fancy for dinner? Go to Plate across the
street for dinner, but you will definitely need a reservation.
This restaurant definitely has a Portsmouth vibe.
Ready for a weekend adventure yet?
“Come to Stowe,” says von Trapp. “There is really no place
like it—and I guarantee you will love it here.”
Do what the man says!
Every year throughout the summer
months, the headlines that make
every parent cringe find their way
into newspapers and web pages: “Child
dead after being left in car.”
WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY
On average, 37 children die each year
from heat-related causes after being
trapped inside vehicles. The parents in
these tragedies are from all walks of life
– the successful business man who forgot
he was on daycare drop-off duty, the
experienced nanny, the mom who drives
carpool, even daycare workers. The
average per year comes out to one child
dying in a hot car every nine days.
So far in 2018, there have been 17 child
deaths attributed to the heat of being left
in a car. With as many as 20 already this
year and the heat waves of August still
ahead, 2018 may be in line to repeat the
43 child deaths from being left in hot
cars in 2017.
WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE A CAR
IN THE HEAT
Even when the temperature outside
does not reach high levels, the interior of
a car can become deadly in a matter of
minutes.
According to research compiled by
Heatkills.org, within an hour the temperature
inside a vehicle can climb more
than 40 degrees than the temperature
BY JOSH COOK
outside. This means that on a 70-degree
day, interior temperatures of a vehicle
can easily be more than 100.
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention says that if the outside temperature
is between 80 and 100 degrees,
the temperature inside a car parked in
direct sunlight can quickly climb to
between 130 and 170 degrees.
A study also shows that leaving the
window cracked does little to prevent the
temperatures from reaching deadly levels
in a vehicle.
“In terms of heat-rise over time, it
makes very little difference whether a
car’s windows are closed or partially
open,” says a study by the American
Academy of Pediatrics. “In both cases,
a car’s interior temperature can rise approximately
40 degrees within one hour,
even when the exterior temperature is
only 72 degrees.”
Not only children are in danger.
People regularly leave animals unattended
in vehicles but often roll the window
down slightly for them. This will not
prevent the pet from succumbing to a
heat-related death; leaving the window
open does not keep the temperature at a
survivable level.
PREVENTION
There is a remedy is reminders. When
children are left in vehicles, it’s most
often because a parent, guardian, or
caregiver forgot the they were in the car.
A common reminder system recommended
by law enforcement is to use a
teddy bear. Placing a teddy bear in the
car seat and then relocating it to the passenger
seat when a child is in the car seat
will serve as a reminder to the driver.
Another possible solution is a Band-
Aid. Writing “Kid in Car” on a Band-
Aid and place it on one’s forehead before
leaving the house. In the event the
caregiver forgets they are on a drop-off
run and ‘autopilots’ to work, it will not
be long before a co-worker asks them
what happened to their head or even
reads the words on it. A brief embarrassment
is easier to heal than the impact of
losing a child.
However, forgetting a child in the car
is not the only children are left in cars in
the heat. Sometimes, children play in vehicles
and may become trapped in them.
A prevention for this is to keep vehicles
locked at all times.
The neighborhood may be safe enough
to leave the doors unlocked, but keeping
them locked can save the life of your own
children and those of your neighbors.
Pearl Street
Painting Company
Artisan Painting
Interior | Exterior
603.380.8627
pearlstreetpainting.com
8 PORTSMOUTH LIVING
AUGUST 2018 9