Month: August 2023

Quality of Life 23/08/31

Kids in flight

The “Young Eagles” program, organized by EAA Chapter 106 from Lawrence, Massachusetts, recently provided 37 youngsters with a unique experience of flying in an airplane. According to a press release, the event was part of the annual PlaneFest! celebration held by the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport on Aug. 19. For many participants, this flight marked their first experience in a small aircraft. The program, which started in 1992, has been dedicated to offering children aged 8 to 17 their first free airplane ride, aiming to inspire them about the world of aviation.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The event coincided with the birth anniversary of aviation pioneer Orville Wright.

Money for animals

The New Hampshire Liquor Commission (NHLC) raised $60,000 for local animal rescue and therapeutic organizations through its inaugural “Allies for Animals” Scotch whisky raffle. According to a press release, the raffle prize included almost 35 rare Scotch whiskies valued at over $10,000. The beneficiaries of the raffle were The Animal Rescue League of NH, Friends of the Manchester Animal Shelter, and Back in The Saddle Equine Therapy Center, each receiving $20,000. NHLC has raised $3.6 million for various nonprofits over the last eight years.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Kathrine Lacey of Meredith won the raffle and received the whisky collection, mileage reimbursement, a two-night luxury hotel stay and a $200 dining gift card.

Help for moms-to-be

AmeriHealth Caritas New Hampshire, a managed care group serving local Medicaid recipients, recently hosted a Community Baby Shower at its Wellness & Opportunity Center in Manchester. According to a press release, the event attracted more than 50 expectant mothers, offering them access to essential tools and community support resources for healthier childbirth experiences. The gathering included activities, raffles and practical demonstrations like baby swaddling.

QOL score: +1

Comment: With an 8.8 percent preterm birth rate in Manchester and New Hampshire’s infant mortality rate at 4.3 per 1,000 live births, AmeriHealth aims to enhance care and health outcomes for mothers and babies, according to the release.

QOL score: 86
Net change: +3
QOL this week: 89

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?
Let us know at [email protected].

Featured photo: “Young Eagles” program gives kids airplane rides. Courtesy photo.

Betts big in Fenway return

The Big Story: It was the return of Mookie Betts at Fenway. He picked up right where he left off by going 7-15 with two doubles, a homer, four RBI and five runs scored.

Sports101: Name the two players who share the single-season record for hitting the most home runs in September.

Thumbs Up – Fenway Faithful: For the well-earned warm welcome back those on hand gave to Betts on Friday.

News Item – Pundits Drool Over Douglas and Boutte:It’s weird to have pundits drooling over a rookie wide receiver this late into Patriots camp. Let alone over two of them. But many still are over Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte. And some of the comments are over the top. Like Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal saying he sees flashes of Tyreek Hill in Douglas, while ESPN’s Ryan Clark says Boutee could be the “steal” of the entire draft if he re-finds the Top 10 level talent he took to LSU when they recruited him. But I’m a “believe it when I see it” type over hype from a pretty dismal camp overall. The most telling thing will be seeing what role each has in the game plan in Week 1 vs. Philly. That will tell you what the coaches think of them.

The Numbers:

2–wins needed by Cardinals hurler Adam Wainwright to reach 200 for his career as he enters September, which doesn’t seem too tough, except at 41 he’s 3-9 with an ERA of 8.67 so it’s likely now or never for him.

24–season-high number of hits for the Red Sox in Thursday’s 17-1 skunking of Houston when they had six doubles and three homers as the Astros used catcher Martín Maldonado to pitch the final two innings.

50–doublesDodgers slugger Freddie Freeman already has in 2023 after getting three more at Fenway last weekend to keep him on pace to be the first player to get 60 in a season since Famers Charlie Gehringer (60) and Ducky Medwick (64) last did it in 1936.

‘Of the Week’ Awards

Defensive Play of the Week – GarrettWhitlock: It goes to the heads-up play made by the Sox reliever, the kind of play pitchers never make — a running, sliding on his back catch of a foul ball 30 feet behind home plate after catcher Connor Wong became entangled with the batter at home plate. It kept Houston at bay in an eventual 7-5 win in 10 innings on Wednesday.

Lead-off Hitter of the Week – Alex Verdugo:For doing what no Red Sox player and only two others in history have done: leading off three straight games with homers, vs. Houston and L.A. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Random Thoughts:

Granted the offensive line play was just awful, but after a 30-of-51 for 253 yards pre-season, who still thinks Bailey Zappe should be the Pats’ starting QB?

I’m glad the lovable, Casey Stengel-led 1962 Mets will remain the most hapless team in baseball history. Oakland would have to finish 1-31 and even they’re not that bad.

Sports 101 Answer:The all-time one-season September home run champs are Babe Ruth and Albert Belle with 17. Ruth did it 1927 on his way to hitting a then record 60, while Belle did it as he closed out his spectacular 1995 season when he became the first player in history to have 50 doubles and 50 homers in the same season.

Final Thought: Two days ago was the 61st anniversary of the first pro game I ever went to. It was a thrilling day that started with the rarity of me spending half a day at my dad’s office in Manhattan, then it was a subway ride up to the Bronx and Yankee Stadium.

The first vivid memory was the vibrant color bursting out at us as we left the darkness of the tunnel to see the field. It was like when The Wizard of Oz goes from black and white to color as Dorothy opens the cabin door after landing in Oz and the color just jumps out at you.

My favorite guy, Mickey Mantle, had two hits and made a nice shoestring catch in center. The only downside was Cleveland won 3-2 after Terry Francona’s father, the original Tito, knocked in the winning runs with a two-run single during a game the box score reminds me only took 2:33 to play.

I also saw something that day I haven’t seen since. It was when Cleveland right-hander Gary Bell threw an overhand curveball to pinch hitter Yogi Berra that bounced a good 6 feet in front of the plate. I can still see how calm Yogi was patiently staying on the ball before ripping a line drive over the second baseman’s head into right for a single with a picture-perfect level swing after it bounced up belt-high right off the ground.

A glorious day.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

Remote care

Telemonitoring patients at home

Granite VNA, New Hampshire’s leading home health care provider, has launched a telemonitoring program for patients with chronic illnesses. Leveraging advanced tech tools, the program aims to empower patients to proactively monitor their vital signs. Suzanne Olszak, RN, who has more than 30 years of experience in home health care and manages the program, discussed its impact, benefits and future.

Can you provide an overview of your program and its significance in the context of home health care?

We operate a telemonitoring program at Granite VNA, having launched it almost a year ago in October. With my 30 years in home care and a decade in telemonitoring with other agencies, this new program encompasses 50 telemonitoring units. … We provide these patients with a tablet, scale, blood pressure cuff and pulse oximeter for home use. They’re trained to daily monitor and record their weight, blood pressure and oxygen levels. The tablets, equipped with Bluetooth, transmit this data directly to our telemonitoring nurse’s computer. This allows for immediate tracking, enabling us to detect any detrimental trends. … Typically, we monitor patients for approximately 60 days. … If any alarming trends emerge, we communicate with both the patient and their health care providers to proactively intervene and adjust their care plan, to prevent potential hospitalizations.

Who is this program specifically designed to serve and support?

Our focus is on high-risk patients with chronic diseases such as congestive heart failure (CHF), COPD, and high blood pressure, particularly those with medication changes or frequent rehospitalizations. … We solely cater to patients from Granite VNA who have been recommended for skilled nursing or physical therapy. This telemonitoring service complements the assistance provided by their home care nurses and therapists.

What is the primary purpose and intended outcome of this program for high-risk patients?

Our goal is twofold: reduce hospitalizations and empower patients to be more engaged and informed about their health. … The objective is to instill in these high-risk patients — CHF, hypertension, COPD patients — the significance of daily vitals monitoring. We educate them about diet and the critical aspects of their specific condition. Ultimately, we want patients to become autonomous in managing their health, particularly in identifying when they need medical attention. … Our hope is that with this knowledge and monitoring, patients can become more proactive and independent in managing their conditions.

How are the patients adapting to using this technology?

Many patients initially feel nervous about using the new technology, primarily because the majority of our users are elderly. However, they adapt surprisingly well. We provide hands-on guidance, having them practice while we’re present in their homes. The process is relatively simple for most — stepping on a scale or using a pulse oximeter. The biggest challenge tends to be the blood pressure cuff, as it requires positioning the arm correctly and tightening the loop, but we’ve designed it to be as user-friendly as possible.

Does this program help in freeing up time for the nurses?

Absolutely, it does. Instead of requiring multiple weekly visits for nurses to see a patient, the frequency can be reduced to once a week or even every other week. This is possible because a nurse constantly monitors the vitals, and this data is transferred to the patient’s matrix care chart, which is their home care record. … Additionally, patients appreciate this setup since they don’t have to always wait for a nurse to visit, yet they’re reassured that someone is monitoring their vitals throughout the program duration.

Do you plan to extend the program to other medical conditions or broaden its reach in any way?

The decision is primarily made on a case-by-case basis. If a nurse reaches out to me about a patient with a complex situation whom they believe would benefit from this technology, I’m fully on board with setting it up in their home.

Featured photo: UNH system libraries are located in Manchester, Durham, Keene and Plymouth. Courtesy graphic.

News & Notes 23/08/31

Peaches in 2024?

Severe winter freezes have decimated New Hampshire’s peach crop this year, prompting growers to innovate. According to a press release from the NH Fruit Growers Association, Alyson’s Orchard in Walpole, which faced a complete peach loss due to the cold snap in February, is now importing peaches from New Jersey to meet customer demand, noting the freshness and cost-effectiveness compared to California imports. While some growers like Alyson’s Orchard are focusing on immediate solutions, others, like Rich Leonard of Miller Farm in Durham, are rehabilitating their farms and preparing for next year’s crop. New Hampshire hosts 114 farms that cultivate peaches, covering approximately 83 acres. Residents can find local orchard offerings at nhfruitgrowers.org/find-an-orchard.

Max on the move

Max the Moose, a life-sized stuffed animal, has relocated to the New Hampshire Department of Education (NHED) offices in Concord for a temporary stay. Originally created by the Stuffed Animal House in 2000 to be showcased at the Eastern States Exposition, Max was meant to give visitors a sense of the real size of a moose. Over the years, he has traveled extensively throughout New Hampshire and even to New York City and Boston as a goodwill ambassador for the state. “Max has served as a fantastic ambassador for New Hampshire for more than 20 years, encouraging people of all ages to learn more about the state,” Sarah L. Stewart, DNCR commissioner, said in the release. “That’s why it’s so fitting that he’ll be spending some time at the Department of Education.” Those interested in seeing Max can arrange a photo-op by contacting the NHED at [email protected].

Lotto win

In Fiscal Year 2023, the New Hampshire Lottery achieved record sales of $603 million, marking a 12 percent increase from the previous year, according to a press release. This led to a historic contribution of $187 million to New Hampshire public education. Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots played significant roles in this surge, with sports betting via DraftKings also adding considerable momentum, accounting for over $883 million in wagers and contributing $35.6 million to the state’s education fund.

School breakfast

NH Hunger Solutions is collaborating with UNH Extension and the New England Dairy Council for the 2023 School Breakfast Challenge beginning on Sept. 5. Currently, New Hampshire ranks 47th in school breakfast participation among the 50 states. By joining the challenge, schools can help improve this ranking. The school showing the most improvement will receive the Elaine VanDyke School Breakfast Champion Award, with a press conference to announce the victory. Visit nhhungersolutions.org or email [email protected] to learn how to get your local school involved.

Donations

St. Mary’s Bank has distributed $20,000 among four nonprofit organizations, with each receiving $5,000. According to a press release, the beneficiaries are NHSPCA, CASA of New Hampshire, Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and New Hampshire Food Bank. The donations stem from the 603 Account initiative launched in September 2022, where St. Mary’s Bank donates $0.0603 to a chosen nonprofit category whenever account holders make a purchase with their debit card. The initiative is set to continue, emphasizing high-impact areas to enhance community welfare and environmental health.

Grant

Canterbury Shaker Village in New Hampshire has been awarded a $210,998 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to fund a three-year project for collections inventory and cataloging. According to a press release, this grant will facilitate the Village in inventorying, cataloging and preserving its Shaker-made and Shaker-used objects, estimated to be around 40,000 items. The project will enhance both physical and intellectual control over the collection, benefiting staff and researchers of Shaker history. Canterbury Shaker Village, established in 1792, is among the best-preserved Shaker Villages. The Village is also a part of the NH Heritage Museum Trail, a network connecting New Hampshire’s heritage institutions. Visit shakers.org.

On Wednesday, Aug. 23, the New Hampshire Department of Safety announced it had been informed about an aerial stunt involving a hot air balloon set to occur, weather permitting, that day around 5:30 p.m. over Laconia and Sanbornton. According to a press release, emergency services were briefed about the stunt to prepare for possible calls about the activity. Organizers later confirmed that the stunt had been postponed.

The Glen Lake Swim, “Viva Las Glennie,” was held in Goffstown on Aug. 13, according to a press release. Celebrating the 1960s, the event featured a special performance by Elvis tribute artist Mark Shelton, and swimmers participated in races. Winners included Michael Dowd, Brenna Dowd and Eric Nilsson. The event was livestreamed by Goffstown Television.

Rockingham Choral Society in Exeter will hold open rehearsals on Tuesdays, Sept. 5 and Sept. 12, at Exeter High School for new and returning choral singers. According to a press release, the Society offers membership to individuals age 16 and up and has more than 95 members. A placement audition is required for newcomers but demands no preparation. Dues for high school and college students are waived. Individuals can pre-register via the Society’s website or Facebook page.

Wonder, I wonder

The rain had been heavy through the night, but the morning dawned with brilliant sunshine, so I decided to have my morning meditation out on the porch. The breeze was light, just gently rustling the leaves, when a diamond caught my eye. Actually, it was a single leaf, wet from the rain, twinkling down at me from the tree opposite. It so arrested my attention that I marveled at the simplicity of its beauty and its mesmerizing effect on me. And then, I looked down to my meditation prompt, a poem titled “Presence,” by the Irish writer John O’Donohue. He’d written “Take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.” Clearly this little leaf was one of those quiet miracles, posing unwittingly as a diamond.

O’Donohue writes frequently about “wonder” and its power to take us out of ourselves and to lead us to frontiers of awareness. How rare such moments are in my own life, I realized with embarrassment. This experience of unexpected beauty stimulated so many related reactions. And then, from the other room, came the all-too-familiar sound from my smartphone that a text had arrived. It almost pulled me back into that world, but I resisted and stayed in my chair.

So much of the time, as O’Donohue notes, we run along the “rail tracks of purpose.” Routines and schedules, obligations, and responsibilities: These all cause us to be productive, no doubt, but perhaps they also keep us so directed that our sense of wonder — that capacity we see so much in young children — is frustrated.

So, then my meditation turned to the tension that exists between the openness to wonder and the distraction, the control imposed by the very technologies that purportedly make our lives better. Efficient? Yes. Richer? I doubt it. And now comes AI, with its great promises. No Luddite, I, but still I wonder, how wonder will survive. AI may be able eventually to replicate human reasoning, but I rather think the gift of wonder will always be uniquely our own.

Noah benShea wrote, “Eternity is any moment opened with patience.” Patience and wonder in tandem. Not a bad start to my day!

You can contact Steve Reno at [email protected].

Meet our raptors — 23/08/24

It’s a lovely time of year for bird watching — particularly for watching raptors, such as owls, hawks and falcons. Mya Blanchard talks to local experts about some of the birds of prey you may spot and what they look like. Photo at right is of a Peregrine falcon, photo by Al Hospers. Photo of bald eagles on the cover is by Joe Grande.

Also on the cover Mya Blanchard catches up with chef Keith Sarasin about his book Mastering Fermentation. John Fladd gives you an easy but impressive flourless chocolate cake. Michael Witthaus talks to Liam Spain about the NH Irish Festival.

View entire selection throughout the years here

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!