Policy & Pints Pop Up Series: Monadnock Region – 1/8/26

January 08, 2026 | 5:30 pm - 7:30pm

Venue : Branch & Blade Brewing 17 Bradco St. Keene, NH 03431

Stay Work Play is going on tour with our standout program Policy & Pints! This statewide event series gathers young people in each region of New Hampshire to talk about the issues shaping their daily lives, the communities they call home, and what’s driving them to stay—or leave—the Granite State. All of it happens with neighbors in good conversation, at local haunts over your favorite beverage. Expect lively and engaging facilitated discussions, focused on evaluating your ideas, exploring solutions to issues affecting your quality of life in New Hampshire, and avenues to plug in and push for progress, all while building a collective sense of community. With the shared goal of voicing barriers and boons as well as ideas to address them, we promote respectful and collaborative dialogue throughout the series. Your participation continues even after the event! The outcomes from each stop on the series will serve to inform Stay Work Play’s advocacy efforts in the legislative session, educating our lawmakers on what young people are really up against and creating a network of supported and amplified YP voices from each region of the state. We invite you to join us, in community, to address and discuss your ideas, hopes, and solutions. Bonus: Be among the first to hear the biggest takeaways from our 2025 Quality of Life survey to learn what other young people are saying about life in the Granite State! When: Thursday, January 8th, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Location: Branch & Blade Brewing, 17 Bradco St, Keene, NH 03431 About Branch & Blade: The story of Branch and Blade doesn't start at a bar or a brewery, but rather on a rugby pitch. Trevor had just graduated college and wanted to stay involved with the sport, so he stuck around his Alma Mater and coached rugby. Jesse, a transfer student, was one of Trevor's first players. As any sport will do, rugby created a bond of friendship between Jesse and Trevor that lasts to this day. In 2017, Jesse decided to move to Keene, NH, a short drive from Trevor's hometown of Hinsdale. As friends and roommates, they found themselves constantly bonding over their shared love for beer. Not the beer your parents drink, though - they were fascinated with the newest beer from the newest breweries; sampling sometimes too many to figure out which styles they liked best. Fast forward almost a year and the opportunity to open a brewery almost fell into their lap. Founded in January 2018, Branch and Blade was created by two dudes with a serious passion for the highest quality beer. Growing up in New England spoiled them with some of the most creative beers and breweries in the world. They wanted to give back to the world of craft beer by starting their own brewery that would continually offer new and innovative beers.

Register More Info

Policy & Pints Pop Up Series: Upper Valley Region – 1/13/26

January 13, 2026 | 5:30 pm - 7:30pm

Venue : Hoptimystic Brewing 59 Main St. Enfield, NH 03748

Stay Work Play is going on tour with our standout program Policy & Pints! This statewide event series gathers young people in each region of New Hampshire to talk about the issues shaping their daily lives, the communities they call home, and what’s driving them to stay—or leave—the Granite State. All of it happens with neighbors in good conversation, at local haunts over your favorite beverage. Expect lively and engaging facilitated discussions, focused on evaluating your ideas, exploring solutions to issues affecting your quality of life in New Hampshire, and avenues to plug in and push for progress, all while building a collective sense of community. With the shared goal of voicing barriers and boons as well as ideas to address them, we promote respectful and collaborative dialogue throughout the series. Your participation continues even after the event! The outcomes from each stop on the series will serve to inform Stay Work Play’s advocacy efforts in the legislative session, educating our lawmakers on what young people are really up against and creating a network of supported and amplified YP voices from each region of the state. We invite you to join us, in community, to address and discuss your ideas, hopes, and solutions. Bonus: Be among the first to hear the biggest takeaways from our 2025 Quality of Life survey to learn what other young people are saying about life in the Granite State! When: Tuesday, January 13th, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Location: Hoptimystic Brewing (Enfield), 59 Main St., Enfield, NH 03748 About Hoptimystic: Hoptimystic Brewing was started in 2020 by Mike Boucher and Bill Waddell with a mission to provide great craft beer to the residents of Springfield NH.  Although their business was successful they decided to close their doors in November of 2022. Dan and Kelly Thomas purchased the business in July of 2023 opening tasting rooms in Sunapee and later Enfield, with the ultimate intention of bringing a location to their hometown of Bow NH.  Bill Waddell has stayed on as our Lead Brewer to ensure the quality and consistency of our beer remains.  Hoptimystic purchased 516 South St in Bow where they are currently working through construction logistics for a 2400 square foot tasting room and wood fired pizza restaurant.

Register More Info

Trends in Housing Permitting and Innovative Zoning – 1/22/26

January 22, 2026 | 12:00 pm - 1:00pm

Venue :Virtual

Join Ken Gallager, OPD Principal Planner, and Bart McDonough, Director of Planning and Community Development for the Town of Newmarket for:

• An overview of OPD’s New Hampshire’s Housing Supply: Current Estimates and Trends – 2025 Update, a report on residential building permit activity throughout the state in 2024
• A presentation on how Newmarket, one of the state’s newest Housing Champion communities, is using innovative form-based zoning which regulates the character and design of buildings to increase housing opportunities and streamline development review.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from Microsoft Teams; check your spam folder if you do not receive the confirmation. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the OPD YouTube Channel. This course is eligible for AICP Certification Maintenance (CM) credit. Certified planners who complete the course may claim CM credits in accordance with APA/AICP guidelines. Be sure to log your credits in your CM log upon completion. For more information, contact planning@livefree.nh.gov.

Register More Info