2024 – Page 82

This Week 24/05/23

Thursday, May 23

The Nashua Public Library will conduct an Adult Field Trip to Mine Falls Gatehouse and Hydroelectric Dam at Mine Falls Park in Nashua today from 10 to 11 a.m. Participants will learn how the hydroelectric dam supplies clean, renewable energy to Nashua, and might see migrating river herring using the fish elevator. Deb Chisholm, Sustainability Manager for the City of Nashua, and Paula Lochhead, Vice Chair of the Mine Falls Advisory Committee, will lead this program. Participants should meet at the Mine Falls Gatehouse. There is limited parking at the dam and gatehouse, so parking and walking in at the Mine Falls Gatehouse Entrance across from the David W. Deane Skateboard Park on Stadium Drive is recommended.

Thursday, May 23

Catch the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on the big screen at Chunky’s in Manchester (chunkys.com). Reserve a seat for tonight’s Celtics game at 8 p.m. with a $5 food voucher. “Chunky’s will be showing all games as long as they continue on during the 2024 NBA Playoffs,” according to the website.

Friday, May 24

Senior performing troupe Silver Stars will perform a cabaret-style show at The Rex Theatre (823 Amherst St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) today at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 25, at 2 p.m. They will share stories and memories paired with songs. The Silver Stars are a 55+ performance group based at The Palace Theatres. Tickets start at $12.

Saturday, May 24

The New Hampshire Arms Collectors will hold their annual Gun Show at Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord, 228-2784, concordnh.gov/496/Everett-Arena) today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Admission is $10; children 12 and under are free, with an adult.

Friday, May 24

The Nashua Silver Knights will play their season opener at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St., Nashua, 718-8883, nashuasilverknights.com) tonight at 6 p.m. against the Vermont Lake Monsters, featuring a fireworks show. Tickets start at $12.

Saturday, May 25

The Massachusetts Area Blaster Club will hold its May 2024 Nerf Battle Event at Greeley Park (100 Concord St., Nashua, 589-3370) today from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit the Club’s facebook page.

Monday, May 27

The Memorial Day Parade in Concord will begin today at 9 a.m. at the Christ the King Church parking lot on Thorndike Street and eventually head to the City Plaza where there will be a brief ceremony, according to concordnh.gov where you can find the full route of the parade.

Save the Date! Sunday, June 2
The Palace Theatres’ Kitchen Tour (Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) will return for its 17th year on June 2. The event, a self-guided tour, will this year feature beautiful kitchens in Bedford, Goffstown and Hooksett. On the day of the tour, registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at Granite State Cabinetry (384 Route 101, Bedford, 472-4080, gscabinetry.com). Tickets are $55 if purchased in advance or $65 on the day of the event.

Quality of Life 24/05/23

New Hampshire is a good place for military retirees

According to a recent study by WalletHub (Wallethub.com), an online financial services company, New Hampshire is one of the top 10 states for military retirees. The study used data to study 28 key metrics, WalletHub reported on its website, “ranging from veterans per capita to the number of VA health facilities to job opportunities for veterans.” The study, which ranked New Hampshire ninth overall, placed the state 10th in terms of veterans per capita and fifth in the percentage of veteran-owned businesses.

QOL score: +1

Comments: According to the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security, in 2023 there were 88,297 veterans in New Hampshire, 7.7 percent of the population age 18 and over.

Merrimack High School outsmarts the competition

Merrimack High School defeated Plymouth Regional High in the 2024 Granite State Challenge championship game. The academic quiz competition, which airs on New Hampshire Public Television, pits teams of high school students against each other. In this year’s season championship, which aired on March 16, Merrimack had a final score of 540 to Plymouth’s 240. According to Granite State Challenge’s website (nhpbs.org/gsc), this was a high-stakes showdown. “Both teams were three-time GSC champions going into the final game,” the website reported. “Merrimack took the title in 2020, 2021, and 2023.”

QOL score: +1

Comments: According to Granite State Challenge, this was also the seventh time in the final game for both teams.

Overdose deaths down

New Hampshire saw a decrease in overdose deaths last year. As reported in an online story by Manchester Ink Link on May 16, both the New Hampshire State Medical Examiner (doj.nh.gov/medical-examiner) and the National Centers for Disease Control (cdc.gov) reported last Wednesday that fewer people in New Hampshire died from drug overdoses in 2023 than in 2022. According to the Ink Link article, the state medical examiner reported an 11.7-percent decrease, from 487 deaths in 2022 to 230 in 2023.

QOL score: +2

Comments: The CDC reports that the largest share of overdose deaths continues to be from opioids.

Last week’s QOL score: 65

Net change: +4

QOL this week: 69

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at [email protected].

The week that was

The Big Story – Celtics Start Round 3: So much for our first real New York–Boston playoff series since 1984. Instead the gallant Knicks fell to the Indiana Pacers after they took the last two games to earn their ticket to Boston for the Eastern Conference Finals.

They’ve met seven times in the playoffs before, with the C’s winning the last four meetings, including the last time in 2019. But this is the first time it’s been outside of Round 1.

Game 1 happened on Tuesday, with Game 2 coming tonight (Thursday) in Boston.

Sports 101: Who was the first person ever to hit a homer off the first pitch thrown on opening day?

News Item – Sox Falling: The Sox surprised almost everyone with a solid April. But, helped by a boatload of injuries, reality has set in as they’ve gone 6-11 in their first 17 games in May, which had them starting the week in fourth place, 9.5 games behind Baltimore.

News Item – The Party’s Over For The Bruins: For the second straight year the Bruins’ season was ended by the Florida Panthers. This time in six games, after the B’s coughed up one-goal third leads in Games 4 and 6. Now come the second-guessing and the finger-pointing, along with all eyes on Jim Montgomery to see if he’ll be the latest coaching scapegoat.

The Numbers:

.354 – unexpected batting average for Sox catcher Connor Wong, who no one thought would be the last player standing among the three guys they got back for Mookie Betts.

21 – record-setting under par score carded on Sunday by Xander Schauffele to win the PGA Championship and his first major title.

… Of the Week Awards

Who’s Hot – Raphael Devers: The team may not be, but he is. When the Sox downed the Cardinals 11-4 on Sunday in St. Louis he went deep for the fifth time in five games.

Jailbird of the Week – Scott Scheffler: It’s not everyday that a guy goes from a jail cell to the top of the leaderboard of a major. But that’s what the defending Masters champ did after allegedly assaulting a police officer at a traffic incident on his way into Round 2 of the PGA. After getting his mugshot and fingerprints, he was back on the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, to shoot 65 and grab a piece of the lead during his round.

Random Thoughts:

Imagine how good Luka Doncic would be if he ever got within area codes of actually being in primo shape.

It ain’t like the old days when you look at the Patriots schedule and the toughest decision faced was if you’d give them 12 or 13 wins. Unless the 12 or 13 you’re figuring on is losses for the upcoming season as could be the case as the just released 2024 schedule suggests.

A Little History – 1984 Knicks–Celtics: Believe it or not the last good seven-game series between New York and Boston was 40 years ago. Even with having the great Bernard King at his absolute peak, no one gave NY much hope in the Conference semi-final because he didn’t have much help. Except after going down 0-2 New York won all three games at MSG, including the 106-104 barn burner Game 6, to give most in these parts a scare. But Larry Bird was in the first of his three straight MVP seasons, and he delivered one of the signature games of his Boston career: a 39-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist triple double that sparked the C’s as they cruised to a 121-104 Game 7 win to move on to face Milwaukee — who they ran out in five games.

Sports 101 Answer: It happened in 1986 when Sox lead-off hitter Dwight Evans hit the season’s first into the left field stands at Tiger Stadium off Hall of Famer Jack Morris.

Final Thought – Celtics vs. Pacers: Don’t expect an easy series, because Indiana’s not afraid of them. They split their last four games, including eliminating Boston from the (who cares) in-season tournament.

They have difficulty with Tyrese Haliburton and he looked ready in his solid 26-point Game 7 effort vs New York.

Indy, not Boston, led the NBA in scoring, and has the same bombs-away from deep center in Myles Turner the C’s have in Kristaps Porzingis. So they can go toe to toe on offense.

Aaron Nesmith may be a bull in a china shop who fouls on every play, but he’s the kind of physical defender that gives Jayson Tatum trouble where if he’s not aggressive against that from the jump he can disappear into one of his infuriating and hurtful to the team passive starts.

They have a better bench coach in Rick Carlisle, who won January’s 133-131 victory by saving his challenges until the final minute to overturn two calls that decided the game, rather than Joe Mazzulla regularly using his to challenge on meaningless calls early in games.

Prediction: Celtics in a scary seven games over Indy.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

A year of service

A talk with the reigning Miss New Hampshire

Miss New Hampshire 2024, Emily Spencer, talks about what the role entails and the work that she does for the community. Find out more at missnh.org.

Can you explain how Miss New Hampshire is a year-round program of style, service, scholarship and success?

Absolutely. Every woman who competes for the title of Miss New Hampshire starts off with competing for a local title. … This past year I was Miss Winnipesaukee. I won that title in August and then throughout the year you are doing different community service events in that community of which you are representing. Through there you connect with different nonprofit organizations. As Miss New Hampshire, you attend all sorts of community service events throughout the year as well as talking on the radio, involving your own service initiative into your year and performing at different events around the state. For me, I’m a dancer, so I’ll go and dance at events as well as local competitions that start at the beginning of June.

What are the main issues you want to focus on as Miss New Hampshire?

My service initiative is about working with students and athletes with disabilities. This past year I created a nonprofit called Miss Inspiration which awards scholarship funds to young women with disabilities through an adaptive pageant. So my service initiative is truly integrating students and athletes with disabilities with their mainstream peers through one-to-one friendships, developing life skills, confidence, and just attending events together.

What made you want to become Miss New Hampshire?

I started in the organization eight years ago competing in the teen program for two years and this is my fourth time going for Miss New Hampshire. I at first was really engaged and intrigued by the performance opportunity on stage because I’ve been dancing my whole life, but I also really liked the community service aspects. Right when I joined I fell in love with the program and truly idolized the women older than me who were competing, so I knew this was something that I wanted to involve myself in for the rest of my life. The more I competed the more I was like, ‘I’ve got to be Miss New Hampshire, what an amazing opportunity.’ They say your son is more likely to play in the Super Bowl than your daughter walk on the Miss America stage. Just to have that higher platform to get community outreach and meet so many people throughout the year was a goal I was ready to accomplish and excited to accomplish. I’m truly honored to be Miss New Hampshire this year and to say yes to as many opportunities that I can.

How much money has the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Foundation raised for students?

This year we were able to award $73,000 total at the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Competition…. All the funds raised and awarded to the women involved … goes right toward our education, so to pay for whether you’re actively enrolled in college or your loans.

Are there any misconceptions about the program you’d like to address or talk about?

One that we kind of already addressed was that people think that you prepare for one competition out of the year but it’s really a year-round service job. I think there’s a big misconception that it’s truly only about … looks, but really the organization has women doctors and women in the army and truly [is] just making a big change in the community. It’s all about intelligence and service, talent, and promoting all those aspects, as well as beauty, into the organization.

Are there any events coming up that you are excited to be a part of?

We have some Memorial Day parades coming up. The Best Buddy Walk in Exeter happening June 22. There are some Special Olympics events that I’m involving myself with at the beginning of June and there’s a Make-A-Wish rafting event in Meredith that’s happening in July. … Also, our local season starts at the beginning of June, so that’s pretty exciting…. Girls who want to compete next year for Miss New Hampshire … they start competing at the local level, so those 26 locals start happening for next year’s Miss New Hampshire competition beginning in June.

— Zachary Lewis

Featured image: Emily Spencer. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 24/05/23

And I would walk 0.68 miles

According to a press release, the City of Manchester has updated its plans to build 0.68 miles of newly paved rail trail running northerly along the abandoned rail bed from where the South Manchester Rail Trail terminates at Queen City Avenue and this will be named the Central Manchester Rail Trail. The trail will offer easier access for pedestrians and bicyclists from Elm Street and Willow Street, with a raised bed and a more gradual slope from the streets components of the federally funded RAISE Manchester: Connecting Communities transportation infrastructure improvement project, according to the press release.

The Central Manchester Rail Trail will also serve as a central intersection of some of New Hampshire’s longest rail trails, such as the southern half of the Granite State Rail Trail, the east-west Rockingham Recreational Trail and Piscataquog Rail Trail, with construction projects to extend some of these trails already underway, according to the same release.

In a statement, RAISE Manchester Project Manager Kristen Clarke, PE, PTOE, traffic engineer for the Manchester Department of Public Works, said that “the Central Manchester Rail Trail along with other components of the RAISE Manchester project align with the city’s commitment to foster multi-modal transportation options and pedestrian-friendly connectivity, particularly for the neighborhoods where residents have the fewest vehicles and transportation options. This project not only creates a vital link between disconnected areas of the city, it also contributes to the broader network of rail trails across New Hampshire, offering residents and visitors alike an opportunity to explore our beautiful state while promoting active lifestyles.”

The Central Manchester Rail Trail project also involves the cleanup of an abandoned section of rail, and improves traffic flow at five traffic signals on Elm Street, according to the same release. For more information, visit raisemanchester.org.

$1M for Center

According to a press release, the Executive Council voted to approve $1 million in funding to assist in the building of the Mark Stebbins Community Center in Manchester, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. In a statement, Gov. Chris Sununu said that “by breaking down silos and bringing nonprofits together under one roof, the Mark Stebbins Community Center carries on the philanthropic legacy of Mark Stebbins and represents the very best of New Hampshire. I applaud the nonprofit partners making this innovative vision a reality to better serve Manchester’s West Side. It’s all about the kids!”

The Mark Stebbins Community Center will be a multiservice nonprofit center that will bring critical services to children and families in the West Side of Manchester, which is home to 25 percent of the city’s population and will bring a myriad of nonprofit services into one location to serve the community, according to the same release.

The Center will work to provide affordable, walkable child care, after-school care, access to affordable health care, food access, community meeting space, and additional support and include the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester, Amoskeag Health, Waypoint, Easterseals NH, Mental Health Care of Greater Manchester, Granite YMCA, Manchester Housing & Redevelopment Authority, Southern NH Services, Granite United Way and Catholic Charities of New Hampshire, according to the same release.

Mark Stebbins, a Manchester native, served as Chairman and CEO of PROCON, a New Hampshire-based design and construction firm, and was devoted to giving back to the Manchester community through his philanthropic work, according to the same release. The approved funds are for construction, which is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2025, the release said.

New Currier director

A recent press releaseannounced the appointment of Dr. Jordana Pomeroy as The Currier Museum’s new Director and CEO. She will officially begin her new role at the Currier on Sept. 1.

Pomeroy brings more than 30 years of museum experience to the Currier and has been committed to making art museums exciting destinations, with accessible art and education programs, according to the same release.Most recently, Pomeroy served as the Director of the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University in Miami, where she prioritized engagement across the city, including with hospitals and schools, the release said.

Pomeroy was also the Chief Curator at the National Museum of Women in the Arts for many years, where she focused on gender equity in arts and museums and her exhibitions and publications received critical acclaim for their groundbreaking approaches to scholarship and exhibition themes, according to the same release.

Paradise Point Nature Center in Hebron (290 North Shore Road) will open for the season on Friday, May 24, at 9 a.m. Visitors can rent a boat, check out exhibits, or hike the trail on opening day, according to the Center’s website. On Tuesday, May 28, from 10 a.m. to noon, NH Audubon will host a guided paddle (choose canoe, kayak, or paddleboard) along the Newfound Lake Water Trail, free but with a fee for boat rental. Visit nhaudubon.org.

Tesla has broken ground on a new service center and dealership in Londonderry, according to a story on WMUR.com; the 50,000-square-foot facility will be the first Tesla service center in New Hampshire and will include eight charging stations, the story said.

Nashua Public Library (2 Court St.) will hold a showing of the recent Jason Statham movie The Beekeepers on Tuesday, May 28, at 1 p.m. The film is about his involvement with a clandestine organization, and not the fuzzy critters that make honey.