Green Star Rising at Redhook Brewery

PORTSMOUTH—
It almost sounds too good to be true: a young man returns to his native New England to apply what he’s learned in distant places, leading a major New Hampshire brewery into new territory.
But that’s exactly the story of Ryan Colwell, GM of the Cataqua Pub at the Redhook Brewery at Portsmouth’s Pease International Tradeport complex. Since joining the hallowed brewery company last September, which boasts facilities in three states, he has instituted major sustainability initiatives, including sourcing corn-based compostable cups throughout the restaurant, saving 8,000 watts of electricity by switching to high-efficiency lighting in the pub, reducing the facility’s waste stream through an aggressive recycling program, and contracting with a local biofuels company to recycle the grease from the fryer to be used as heating oil, or fuel for diesel vehicles. The bathrooms will also receive a sustainability makeover with the installation of low-flow toilets and energy-efficient hand dryers.
A Woodstock, Vermont native, Colwell cut his teeth in Hawaii, where he lived and worked on an organic farm, proving to be quick study in growing food. From there, Colwell moved to California where be began to apply his food interest and knowledge to the restaurant business. While there, he co-founded the Santa Cruz Restaurant Association, whose mission included eliminating the local restaurant industry’s use of Styrofoam, while increasing recycling. That association quickly gained positive notoriety, and eventually the town assumed control and extended the effort’s scope to water conservation, energy efficiency, and other facets of sustainability in restaurants. His experiences in Hawaii and California helped pave the way for some of the programs he’s now spearheading at Redhook in Portsmouth.
“When I started at Redhook, and noticed the composting program in place, I realized they were serious about sustainability,” said Colwell. “I knew I had to set the bar even higher.”
Considering that Redhook had already implemented numerous green improvements - such as reusing water, donating spent grains to farms for animal feed, and housing an onsite wastewater treatment facility - it’s not surprising that Colwell has been empowered to lead Redhook’s local sustainability committee, which contributes ideas for all of the company’s breweries to adopt, including its Widmer and Kona brands.
Colwell has leveraged his farm experience by initiating significant improvements to Redhook’s culinary experience. By sourcing more of the pub’s food from local suppliers he has integrated much healthier food into Redhook’s diverse menu.
“We used to get a lot of our food from Sysco, and a lot of that is just processed, bland-tasting, nutrient-free stuff,” explained Colwell. “Now, we get most of our food from Favorite Foods (New Hampshire’s only independently-owned food distributor) and Saunders Produce (a Somersworth, NH-based provider of high quality fruit and produce), and our food not only tastes much better, it’s much healthier. I want our cooks to make meals from scratch, instead of just heating things up.”
While Colwell could have remained out West, he disliked being thousands of miles away from his family. “My grandfather passed away last year, not long after I came back East, and it made me realize that I wanted to be closer to home and closer to my family,” recounted Colwell. “Plus, I’m a New Englander at heart.”
His decision to return to his New England roots has helped revitalize Redhook’s pub, and Colwell isn’t resting on his laurels: he wants to hold farmers markets at the brewery this summer to help promote buying local, and hopes to offer seasonal menus that offer pub customers the freshest, in-season produce and meats available from local suppliers.
Additionally, Redhook is a proud member of the Green Alliance, a union of almost 100 businesses across New Hampshire, Southern Maine and Northern Massachusetts that certifies operational sustainability and community involvement. Green Alliance memberships are also available to the public, and those members receive a 10% discount on food at the Cataqua Pub in addition to substantial discounts at 94 other local green businesses. Colwell says that Redhook’s GA affiliation is a sort of “icing on the cake” to the company’s overall commitment to sustainability.
“We are engaged in sustainability here because not only is it the right thing to do but also because we know that it’s good for business – it helps to set apart our restaurant and brewery in a very positive way, in what is a very crowded industry. All the Green Alliance members are impressed with what we’ve accomplished here, but I tell them we’re just getting started,” cracks Colwell with a smile.
For more information on Redhook go to www.redhook.com. To learn more about the Green Alliance visit www.greenalliance.biz.
This story was submitted by Scott Szycher.
Photo caption: Bartender Nick pours Redhook’s Seacoast-brewed libations. The brewery’s general manager, Ryan Colwell, has been industrious in expanding the company’s sustainable initiatives. (Courtesy photo)

Five-Mile Walk Honors 9/11 Airline Co-Pilot

DOVER—
Close to 200 Portsmouth Christian Academy students, alumni, faculty, friends, and staff gathered April 8 for the 9th Annual McGuinness Walk to honor Thomas McGuinness. McGuinness. McGuinness was a former Navy pilot and the co-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11, the first of the hijacked planes, which flew into the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. McGuinness was the father of PCA graduates Tommy and Jennifer McGuinness.
Each year, at the end of PCA’s Spiritual Emphasis Days, students take to the streets for a five-mile walk in memory of the fallen co-pilot. They obtain sponsors and walk through South Dover to help raise money for a scholarship created in McGuinness’ name. All proceeds from the walk go directly to a tuition assistance fund to benefit a student who demonstrates high personal and moral caliber, is of strong faith, and has a proven desire for high academic standards. To date, the annual walks have raised more than $20,000.
“Over the past few years, we’ve walked in rain, snow, and wind,” recalls Stephen Foley, PCA Upper School Principal. “We’ve walked in Portsmouth and Dover, but it has always been great to walk together as a community in memory of Tom. We walk not to recall his death, but to recall his life.” Each step the students take not only keeps his memory alive, but also gives the young people an opportunity to come together as a community to the benefit of another.
Photo caption: Approximately 200 Portsmouth Christian Academy students, alumni, family, friends, and staff took part in the 9th Annual McGuinness Walk on April 8. This walk commemorates Thomas McGuinness, who was the co-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11, the first of the hijacked planes, which flew into the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. McGuinness was the father of PCA graduates Tommy and Jennifer McGuinness. (Courtesy photo)

Opening Scenes: ‘Arthur’

By Chip Schrader
Movie Reviewer
“Arthur” begins with a close up of a man putting on Batman’s gloves followed by a scanning shot of liquor bottles. The montage continues with scenes of Russell Brand dressing as Batman and an impressive collection of bottled hard liquor. After blowing bubbles, Brand greets “cheers” and downs a strong drink before enter the Batmobile with a man dressed in green bikini briefs posing as Robin. A high-speed chase down New York City ensues, and comes to a hilarious and symbolic end with the Wall Street bull crashed on the hood. Brand answers the officer, “I have remained drunk since our last encounter.”
While these first scenes are well covered in the previews and commercial spots, there is plenty of fun left for the rest of the movie. Russell Brand reprises the role of Arthur with the expected manic and witty persona that makes him the cross-comedic offspring of Robin Williams and Monty Python. He delivers his lines clean as the cut of a scalpel, but brings an emotional depth that was lacking in Dudley Moore’s portrayal.
Brand’s personal struggle with addiction seems to allow him to bring a sense of tragedy to the role, and expands his range as an actor as he can be serious, heartbroken, and hilarious at the turn of a scene. He is well balanced by Helen Mirren’s role of Ms. Hobson, Arthur’s nanny. The man who never grew up is well matched by her wit and her maternal wisdom while his own mother keeps him at arm’s length.
Arthur’s love interest, Naomi, has an interesting story with her dream to write children’s stories and rise above poverty. The character is not far from the original version portrayed by Liza Minnelli, but sadly, she comes off as simple-minded and sappy, rather than as a real person. It makes for a nice contrast to Arthur, whereas his moral match, Susan, is played adequately by Jennifer Garner. Like Naomi, Susan doesn’t seem like a very challenging character, but amusing at the very least.
While the most important elements of the story from the original version are intact, along with one or two vital scenes, the majority of the film takes a different sequence and completely different scenes to update the story. The economic decline, Paris Hilton-like faux pas, and seventies and eighties film references bring a great deal of interest to the new version.
Bottom line: while “Arthur” is neither beautifully shot nor does it have strong supporting characters, Brand and Mirren are dynamite. If anything, “Arthur” is proof that Brand is ready to have top billing, and is capable of carrying a two-hour movie from beginning to end. He keeps the audience laughing and believing every scene. Even with Naomi being an oversweet character, their romance works. The humor is quick, thoughtful, and most importantly, funny. The elements of humanity and human struggle Brand brings to Arthur is sincere, but doesn’t bring the mood of the movie down. This human element was woefully missing from the original. 3.5 out of 5.
Photo caption: (Courtesy movie poster from “Arthur”)