As New Hampshire marked the fourth anniversary of legalizing same-sex marriage today, Former Republican Congressman Charlie Bass joined a group calling for national marriage equality.

As a congressman in 1996, Charlie Bass voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal benefits to same-sex couples.

But in late 2012, just before leaving office after losing his bid for re-election, he changed his position, supporting a bill to repeal the law.

We don’t often hear about seafood in our beer but it’s actually not new. Oyster stout was the traditional seafood beer in the 18th century when regular stouts were accompanied by oysters in local taverns and pubs. Later, oysters were incorporated into the brewing process which was first documented in the 1930s. That’s what we call “oyster stout” today. It fell out of fashion for a few decades but as craft beers become increasingly popular in New England, several brands are coming out with their own take. Harpoon did an oyster stout a few years ago and, last year, Dogfish Head made a very bitter chocolate lobster beer.

Lots of people climb Mount Washington. But a North Country non-profit group is wants help to go beyond a normal ascent.

They need people for the Sunrise Ascent to help push and pull two children and three adults with disabilities to the top.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen reports.

Sandy Olney is the head of Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country and she cherishes her volunteers but she calls them mules.

As this school year comes to a close, teachers are preparing for next fall, when a massive transition will begin. Starting next year, schools are expected to align their teaching to the Common Core State Standards. Those standards are a set of learning goals for public school students that have been adopted in 45 states and the District of Colombia. Released in 2010, they lay out what students should know when they finish each grade.

This episode of State of the Re:Union visits our neighbors across the Connecticut. Best of Public Radio airs Sundays at 3 p.m.

Serenity Place is a substance abuse recovery center in Manchester, offering detox programs and education to those struggling to overcome addiction. For Stephanie, Serenity Place provided a solid foundation for her recovery from drug and alcohol problems.

The historic Moffat-Ladd House in Portsmouth is celebrating its 250th anniversary on Saturday. 

There will be costumed skits, weaving demonstrations, and an heirloom plant sale at the mansion, which was built in 1763 by merchant and timber trader, John Moffat.  The house was built for his son Samuel, whose bad business decisions led him to flee to the Caribbean just five years after the house was built. It then went to his wife’s family.  

Museum director Barbara Ward says the mansion’s windows and clapboarding is undergoing restoration:

Farmers markets in Concord, Dover, Hanover and elsewhere in the state are kicking off the season this week.

Some markets opened in May, others won’t open until July but Gail McWilliam Jellie at the state’s Department of Agriculture says many are getting under way this weekend:

I’m gonna guess that you’ll find at least 15 or 20 markets open as of this weekend.

And, McWilliam Jellie says, more markets will follow suit over the following weeks.  She adds that when markets open depends on the availability of the venue and the farmers:

New Hampshire Fish and Game is out angling for future fishermen.  With annual fishing licenses at $35 for state residents and $53 for nonresidents, Mark Beauchesne at the department says some people want to try it before they buy it.

But, he says, once they get their line in the water…

You know if somebody gets hooked, then they’re hooked for life.

Say the phrase Girl Scout meeting, and you may think Merit badges, social service projects – cookies, perhaps?

Well, for a few girls in the Granite State, a scout meeting is one of the few times they get to see their mothers.  The Goffstown womens’ prison is home to the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program.