Author: The Hippo Press

TB patient

According to a press release from March 7, the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services and the Manchester Health Department identified a person with tuberculosis who was at the Families in Transition Adult Shelter and the 1269 Cafe in Manchester while infectious. “Anyone who visited these facilities from October 1, 2024, through January 31, 2025, could have been in contact with the individual and testing is available to find out if they were exposed to the bacteria that causes TB,” the release said. “People who believe they may have been exposed can also contact their primary care provider to request TB testing. Anyone without a primary care provider can call 211 to establish care.” On average, 12 people are diagnosed with TB in the state each year, the release said. Call DHHS at 271-4496 or visit dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/disease-prevention/infectious-disease-control/tuberculosis-tb.

Scam restitution

Homeland Security Investigations with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire are seeking to identify victims of a gift card fraud scheme for victim restitution purposes, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release. “In December 2023, Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Concord, New Hampshire Police Department (CPD) began investigating a sophisticated gift card fraud scheme that is perpetuated by criminal organizations in China. This network has established a base of operations in New Hampshire due to the State’s tax-free retail environment and is responsible for millions of dollars in consumer losses,” the release said. The filing period for victims is open until June 30. “Potential fraud victims who had gift card funds stolen or used without authorization between October 1, 2023, and January 11, 2024 … are asked to provide the gift card number(s) and receipt or proof of purchase to [email protected]. Please also include the victim’s name and contact phone number,” the release said.

Baby shower

United Way of Greater Manchester is asking for donations for its annual Community Baby Shower on Wednesday, April 23, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the United Way of Greater Nashua office, according to a press release. The United Way is accepting new and gently used baby items including strollers, high chairs, carriers/backpacks, pack & plays, cribs (mattresses not accepted), diapering items, feeding supplies, clothes and more, the release said. Donations can be dropped off at 20 Broad St. in Nashua between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays by April 18, the release said. The United Way also has a donation registry: tinyurl.com/2025BBSHWR. Email [email protected] or see unitedwaynashua.org.

“Moving Parts,” an exhibit of kinetic energy in art, will open at Mosaic Art Collective (66 Hanover St. in Manchester; mosaicartcollective.com) on Saturday, March 15, with a reception from 4 to 8 p.m., according to Mosaic’s Facebook page. See Saw Art, a gallery space within Mosaic, will also open an exhibit on March 15: “Here & There” featuring artwork by Heather Morgan, Eleanor Croteau-LaBranche, Samantha Johnson and Mark Abercrombie, which will also have a reception from 4 to 8 p.m. The exhibit will be on display March 14 through March 30; see seesaw.gallery.

The Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13 in Brookline; andresinstitute.org) will hold its annual Spring Iron Melt on Saturday, May 10. Purchase a mold now for $45 to carve at home and return to the Andres Welcome Center for the pour. See andresinstitute.org.

The March Science Cafe at Soel Sistas Cafe (30 Temple St. in Nashua) will meet on Tuesday, March 18, at 6 p.m. to discuss “Mindful Insights: Unraveling the Science of Meditation.” Attendance is free.

The Nashua Public Library Friends Annual Book and Media Sale runs Friday, March 14, through Sunday, March 16. Friends members (you can join at the door) get Friday access; the general public can attend Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Most items are 25 cents to $2. See nashualibrary.org.

Town meeting

The N.H. Secretary of State’s office has a “New Hampshire Town Meeting Voter’s Guide” on its website, sos.nh.gov, which explains the basics of town meeting and town elections including what to bring to the polls to register to vote on site on Election Day, which is Tuesday, March 11, for many area towns. The site also explains updates to voter registration requirements which no longer allow applicants to complete affidavits to prove qualifications to vote; to register, applicants must bring proof of identity, citizenship and residence, the website said.

Exploring the trades

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance is accepting applications through March 14 for the second week of its Career Exploration program, which runs during April school vacation, Monday, April 28, through Friday, May 2, for ages 16 to 21, according to an Alliance newsletter about the program. The program has locations in central New Hampshire (including Canterbury, Andover and Warner) and the Seacoast, the newsletter said. The program offers applicants exposure to historic preservation activities including traditional construction techniques, wood window restoration and more with mentors who are focused on these specific trades, the newsletter said. See nhpreservation.org/internship-program.

Poetry finals

High schoolers competing in the statewide 2025 Poetry Out Loud program will attend the finals at Representatives Hall at the Statehouse in Concord on Friday, March 14. The 11 participants, who have each memorized a poem for recitation, will compete for a spot at the national championships in Washington, D.C., in May, according to a press release. The competition begins at 5 p.m. and is open to the public and livestreamed on the N.H. State Council on the Arts’ Facebook page, the release said. See nharts.dncr.nh.gov/programs/poetry-out-loud. The finalists include Deepsun Adhikari of The Derryfield School in Manchester; Summer Brackett of Coe-Brown Northwood Academy, Susanna Hill of Nashua High School South and D’Aleczandria Johnson of Hopkinton High School, the release said.

Nature on Zoom

The NH Audubon will present “Butterflying New Hampshire’s Woodlands” via Zoom on Wednesday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m. with Levi Burford, Errol Count Circle Coordinator, to discuss the species of butterflies that live in the state’s woodlands. The NH Audubon will also host a nature book club the second Thursday of each month starting in March with The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer for the session on Thursday, March 13, at 6 p.m. Both events are free but require registration at nhaudubon.org.

Friday, March 7, is the final day to buy tickets for the Red River Theatres Oscar After Party Trivia Night Fundraiser, which will take place Friday, March 14, 5:30 p.m., at Pembroke Pines Country Club in Pembroke. Tickets cost $125 per person for the evening of food, music, movie trivia and more. See redrivertheatres.org.

Goffstown Public Library will present The Human Library on Sunday, March 9, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. The event features people who serve as “Books” to discuss their experiences with adversity due to race, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, culture, profession and/or lifestyle, according to a library press release. See humanlibrary.org for more about the concept, which was “conceived in 2000 by a Danish youth organization,” the release said. The event concludes the library’s 2025 Community Conversation Series, the release said; see goffstownlibrary.com/communityconversations.

Save the date: According to nhmapleproducers.com, New Hampshire Maple Weekend, when sugar houses open their doors to the public for tours, samples and more, is slated for Saturday, March 15, and Sunday, March 16. Peterson Sugar House in Londonderry, for example, will be open those days from noon to 4 p.m. with samples of ice cream with maple drizzle and more, according to a press release. See the NH Maple Producers website for other participating sugarhouses.

The Milford Garden Club will have a program on “Automatic Plant Watering Systems” with Richard B. Kahn of Kahn Landscaping on Monday, March 10, at 10:30 a.m. at First Congregational Church Parish House, 10 Union St. in Milford.