Happy National Voter Registration Day! 🗳️ It’s a good day to check your voter registration status and make sure you’re ready for the next election.

And thanks to everyone who tackled last week’s crossword on women who made history! 

This week, we’re getting into the taste of fall: How well do you know your apple varieties? 🍎

Honeycrisp and Golden Delicious are my favorites. What about you? Hit reply and tell us your go-to.

Then put your apple knowledge to the test with our apple variety crossword and keep scrolling for some of the best places to go apple picking in New Hampshire this fall. 🍏

Here’s what’s inside today’s newsletter:

📰 What we’re reading, including: Why Planned Parenthood is jumping into New Hampshire’s Executive Council races

🍏 What we’re picking, including: 7 orchards in New Hampshire perfect for apple-picking, baked goods, and fall fun

📢 Question of the week: Where were you when the towers were struck on Sept. 11, 2001? Sound off!

🔠 Solve our crossword. The theme? Apple varieties

🗳️ Planned Parenthood is jumping into Executive Council races …

Planned Parenthood’s affiliated PAC has endorsed all five Democratic Executive Council candidates as the organization seeks to change the council’s Republican majority. Republicans on the council have repeatedly rejected state contracts with Planned Parenthood and other providers over concerns about abortion, even though the contracts were for services including cancer screenings, STD treatment, and contraception. New Hampshire Bulletin

⛪ Faith-based childcare programs are helping fill gaps …

Church-based and faith-oriented childcare programs are providing another option for New Hampshire families struggling to find care, but they face challenges of their own. One Rochester center recently closed after its church decided to repurpose the space, while a Londonderry program expanded from 27 to 62 children in about a year and a half. New Hampshire Bulletin

💰 Sununu Center workers are getting temporary raises …

The Executive Council approved a 5% temporary pay raise for staff at the Sununu Youth Services Center as the state tries to address severe staffing shortages. The one-year raises will cost about $1 million and come amid increased scrutiny of safety, staffing, and alleged abuse at the facility. New Hampshire Public Radio

Support local journalism today.

We’re so glad you’re here. Through Sept. 30, we’re raising funds to help the Granite Post keep bringing you the local stories that matter most to New Hampshire.

If you enjoy this newsletter and value the work we do, consider chipping in today. Any amount helps—and we’re grateful for every bit of support.

Thanks, as always, for reading and being part of the Granite Post community.

(Francesca Daly)

By Sam Cohen

🍎 Mack’s Apples, Londonderry: Pick-your-own apples, cider donuts, ice cream, a corn maze, and a farm market packed with local goods.

🍎 Carter Hill Orchard, Concord: Apple picking, homemade maple syrup and cider, plus baked goods—including gluten- and dairy-free treats.

🍎 Meadow Ledge Farm, Loudon: A classic apple-picking experience known for fresh cider donuts, pies, local produce, cheeses, maple products, and other farm goodies.

🍎 Washburn’s Windy Hill Farm, Greenville: Pick-your-own apples, a five-acre corn maze, hayrides, farm animals, cider donuts, pies, pumpkins, and donut sundaes.

🍎 Riverview Farm, Plainfield: More than 2,000 apple trees with 14 varieties, plus harvest dinners, wreath-making classes, and a haunted corn maze.

🍎 McKenzie’s Farm, Milton: Pick-your-own apples and a farm stand stocked with local meat, cheese, milk, honey, syrup, baked goods, and other fall treats.

🍎 Applecrest Farm Orchards, Hampton Falls: Pick-your-own apples, pumpkins, flowers, and more, plus a bakery, creamery, live music, corn maze, and fall festival.

For those who lived through Sept. 11, 2001, certain details of that day can feel impossible to forget, like where you were, who you were with, how you heard the news, and what happened in the hours that followed.

As we mark 25 years since the attacks, we want to hear your memories. So this week’s question is …

Where were you when the towers were struck on Sept. 11, 2001?

Think you’ve got what it takes to crack this crossword? Tell us how long it takes you to finish it by emailing us at info@granitepostnews.com! This week’s topic? Apple varieties.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Katy Savage with a story from Sam Cohen. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

Granite Post is free for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.