In case you missed it, yesterday I shared a complete fall guide with this email list—covering just about everything you can think of: festivals, fairs, foliage spots, corn mazes, hayrides, and more. Take a look, and don’t forget to tell a friend to sign up for the newsletter!

If, like me, you’re wondering how the drought might affect fall foliage, experts aren’t certain, but Ali Kosiba, who studies the effects of climate change on trees and forest ecology at the University of Vermont Extension, told VTDigger that instead of peaking in early October, colors could come sooner—possibly right now.

Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:

💵 2 New Hampshire billionaires make Forbes’ list of richest people in America

🍁 Readers sound off on where they’re NOT leaf peeping 

Free to read. Fun to share. Local to the core. Subscribe here.

We asked readers this week where they are NOT going leaf peeping, to avoid the crowds. Here’s what they said…

“On the shoulder of I-93 South of the Notch.” — @gprusnica on Instagram

“As someone who grew up in one of the Instagram traps of the White Mountains, I’m going to go with that. I loved growing up in Sugar Hill, but wow, it’s too much.” — @heyuppervalley on Instagram

“Aisle 3 of Market Basket, Tilton location.” — @jackiehasonart on Instagram

“Mt. Willard!” — @paullamarre on Instagram

“I mean, we’re basically not going to get any foliage here in the Lake Sunapee region because of the drought, sooo…” — @ealachan on Instagram 

See all the responses here.

More to say? Reply to this email and let me know!

As we all know six states make up New England—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Here’s a little history:

The first permanent settlement here was Plymouth Colony in 1620, when the Pilgrims landed in what’s now Massachusetts. Massachusetts Bay Colony followed in 1630.

New Hampshire began as a collection of fishing and trading posts along the coast before being granted as a separate province in the mid-1600s.

Vermont’s story is quirkier—it wasn’t originally part of New England as a British colony. It started as a disputed area between New Hampshire and New York, then declared itself an independent republic in 1777.

Maine was originally part of Massachusetts until 1820, when it split off as its own state under the Missouri Compromise.

Rhode Island is basically New England’s rebel child. It was founded in the 1630s by Roger Williams, a minister who got kicked out of Massachusetts Bay for his religious and political views. He believed in total freedom of religion and separation of church and state—radical ideas back then. He set up a settlement at Providence. A few years later, Anne Hutchinson and others established Portsmouth and Newport.

Connecticut grew out of Puritans from Massachusetts Bay moving west for farmland and more autonomy in the 1630s. It’s known for the Fundamental Orders of 1639, which many historians consider the first written constitution in the Western world.

There are debates about whether these states actually mesh well together. So, this week’s question is…

What New England state should we drop and why?

(Giorgio Trovato/Unsplash)

By USA Today via Reuters Connect 

Forbes found that the 400 wealthiest people in the U.S. are worth a combined $6.6 trillion after getting $1.2 trillion richer since 2024.

Here are the two wealthiest billionaires in New Hampshire this year, according to Forbes:

💵 Rick Cohen & family

At age 73, the owner and executive chairman of C&S Wholesale Grocers has a net worth of $22.1 billion, Forbes said. Cohen’s company is the nation’s largest grocery wholesaler, bringing in about $34 billion in annual revenue. He ranks as the 45th richest person in the U.S. Last year, Cohen’s net worth was $10.4 billion.

💵 Alexander Karp

The 57-year-old cofounder and CEO of Palantir Technologies has a net worth of $14.3 billion, according to Forbes. The data mining firm received early backing from CIA investment arm In-Q-Tel. Karp ranks as the 74th richest person in the United States. In 2024, Karp’s net worth was $3.6 billion.

The media is under attack.

This week, former President Donald Trump launched a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and Penguin Random House—a clear strike at journalism that holds power to account. 

The Granite Post stays free because readers like you believe in independent reporting. But right now we need your help. We’re trying to raise $1,800 by Sept. 30 to keep this work going.

If you value a free press, chip in today—every dollar matters.

Do you want to support Granite Post’s mission while showcasing your products or services to an engaged audience of 60,000+ subscribers?

Email advertise@couriernewsroom.com for more information.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Katy Savage with stories from USA Today via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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

Send us your feedback and news tips to info@granitepostnews.com.