Ew, ticks
In a May 1 press release Gov. Kelly Ayotte declared May Lyme Disease Awareness Month in New Hampshire. Deer tick nymphs, which can carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, are most active from May to July, the release said. The press release offered recommendations from the state Department of Health and Human Services to lower one’s risk of tick bites, including wearing light-colored clothing when outdoors, and washing and drying clothing immediately after being outdoors. Information about tickborne diseases is available atdhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/disease-prevention/infectious-disease-control/tickborne-diseases.
QOL score: -1
Comment: An online report from Harvard Health Publishing on April 29 noted, “Ticks are now thriving in a wider geographic range, and appearing earlier and sticking around later in the … spring and fall.”
Those Chromebooks are not free, kids
In a May 11 online article, WMUR reported on a recent TikTok trend has challenged students to sabotage Chromebooks, such as the ones used in many school districts, the article said. Parents in some NH towns received alerts from their school districts about this latest bit of dangerous and expensive TikTok-ery. WMUR quoted New Hampshire Fire Marshal Sean Toomey: “Any sort of lithium-ion battery fire is going to release [fumes]; it’s extremely dangerous. And it releases toxic gases…”
QOL score: -2
Comment: The WMUR article reported a statement by “School officials [saying that] any student caught participating in the challenge will be required to pay for a replacement.” Fire Marshal Toomey was quoted as saying that “in some cases, the behavior could lead to criminal charges.”
Speaking of electricity
In a May 6, online article, WMUR reported that electricity provider Eversource has informed the Public Utilities Commission that it will raise electric rates for New Hampshire customers beginning in August. As reported by WMUR, “Eversource is requesting a 6.75% increase, along with a separate adjustment that it said would help offset the cost of recent storms.”
QOL score: -1
Comment: “If all the changes are approved, the average customer could be paying nearly $19 more per month to Eversource than they were a year ago,” the article reported. “The hearings on the rates will continue until mid-June. The approved rates will go into effect on Aug. 1.”
Nashua Tooth Fairies
As reported by WMUR in a May 6 online article, a pair of Tooth Fairies are “offering in-school dental care from pre-K through high school. Each week, the nonprofit organization sets up a dental office inside a different school building, returning to the rotation after visiting all of them.” The Traveling Tooth Fairies’ certified public health dental hygienists Myra Nikitas and Mary Duquette “provide cleanings, screenings, fluoride treatments, sealants, and even fix cavities with no drill fillings,” WMUR reported. Treatment is carried out under the supervision of a dentist and is performed regardless of whether a student is covered by insurance.
QOL score: +1
Comment: The Traveling Tooth Fairies program is supported by sponsors including Northeast Delta Dental and the Nashua Lions Club. It is a nonprofit organization. Visit travelingtoothfairies.com.
QOL score last week: 64
Net change: -3
QOL this week: 61
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