The Hippo Press – Page 11

Quality of Life 26/02/19

Challenge accepted!

The Wildcats of Fall Mountain Regional High School faced the Purple Panthers of Nashua South last Thursday night, Feb. 12, kicking off the 44th season of the quiz show Granite State Challenge on New Hampshire PBS, in which 16 New Hampshire high school teams compete to answer questions across a range of topics, from math to ancient history. A new half-hour episode airs each week until the championship on May 21. Visit nhpbs.org/gsc to view episodes, take online quizzes, and see tournament rules and the season’s full schedule. The matchup airing Thursday, Feb. 19, at 8:30 p.m. will feature Bedford vs. Souhegan.

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to the GSC website, Merrimack High School took the 2025 title and holds the record for championship titles with five.

Nurses needed

As reported in the Feb. 13 issue of the New Hampshire Business Review, New Hampshire is deep into a nursing shortage. The article references “a New Hampshire Department of Employment Security estimate that, through 2026, there will be more than 900 annual openings for registered nurses and nearly 1,200 openings for nursing assistants…. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects that, by 2030, for a projected supply of 2,280 licensed practical nurses in New Hampshire, 3,640 will still be needed.”

QOL score: -2

Comment: NHBR cited a statement by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing that credited “rising stress levels, compounded by the pandemic, increased job dissatisfaction and burnout” for New Hampshire’s nursing shortage.

Hurry! Hard!

As reported by WMUR in a Feb. 15 online article, this year’s Winter Olympics has spurred a new interest in New Hampshire for the sport of curling. “…[L]ocal clubs in New Hampshire are seeing a surge in interest. Known for its precision and patience, the sport is drawing more curiosity than ever, with many people eager to try it themselves.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: Just after the Olympics, the USA National Championships will be held in North Carolina; see usacurling.org/watch-curling for links to the USA Curling YouTube channel and more information. Looking for local curling? See mvcurling.com for the Merrimack Vallley Curling Club based in Nashua.

QOL score: 50

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 50

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 26/02/19

Queen City to Music City

Southwest Airlines will offer nonstop flights from Manchester Boston Regional Airport to Nashville International Airport five days a week (Thursday through Monday) starting Oct. 1, according to an airport press release. A nonstop flight between MHT and BNA, Nashville’s airport, takes two hours and 40 minutes, according to southwest.com.

Play for the cause

The Majestic Theatre, 880 Page St. in Manchester, will hold a bingo night on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 6:30 p.m. to benefit the theater. The evening will feature a raffle, door prizes, refreshments and more, according to majestictheatre.net, where you can register in advance.

Manchester movie

The Millyard Museum, 200 Bedford St. in Manchester, will show “The Lost Films of Amoskeag” on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 11 a.m. The program includes a black and white film made in the late 1960s during redevelopment of the millyard and a 1978 half-hour program called The Amokseag Transcripts produced by WGBH-TV in Boston, according to manchesterhistoric.org. The event is included with regular admission to the museum; rsvp by calling 622-7531 or emailing history@manchesterhistoric.org, the website said.

Museum days

Some area museums will be open extra days for New Hampshire’s vacation week (Feb. 23-27 for many schools). The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, 27 Navigator Road in Londonderry, aviationmuseumofnh.org, will be open Monday, Feb. 23, and Tuesday, Feb. 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in addition to its regular hours Wednesdays through Sundays, with its Elite Flight Simulator operating Feb. 23, Feb. 25 and Feb. 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. for ages 13 and up and storytimes on Feb. 24 and Feb. 26 at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., according to a press release. SEE Science Center, 200 Bedford St. in Manchester, will be open Monday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in addition to its regular hours, according to see-sciencecenter.org. The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, 2 Institute Drive in Concord, is open daily, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sunday, March 1, according to starhop.com. The Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St. in Manchester, has a three-day workshop for ages 6 to 13+ running Wednesday, Feb. 25, through Friday, Feb. 27, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to currier.org, where you can find pricing and registration information. The museum’s regular hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Community Players of Concord will hold auditions for the May production of To Kill A Mockingbird on Sunday, March 1, and Monday, March 2, at 6 p.m. for youth and starting at 7 p.m. for adults at the Community Players Studio in Concord. See communityplayersofconcord.org for details.

Kids Coop Theatre will hold auditions for the May production of Newsies for ages 8 to 19 on Sunday, March 1, from 1 to 9 p.m. at KCT Studios in Salem. See kctnh.org for show and membership details and to sign up for a slot.

The Merrimack Parks & Recreation Winter Carnival at Wasserman Park in Merrimack will take place Saturday, Feb. 21, from noon to 3 p.m., and feature a cardboard box sledding contest, ice carving and more, according to merrimackparksandrec.org.

The Hudson Recreation Department will hold a comedy night featuring Corey Rodrigues with Dave Rattigan and Ian Rice on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 8:30 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.) at the Community Center, 12 Lions Ave. in Hudson, according to hudsonnh.gov/recreation, where you can purchase tickets.

A Cup of Delicious — 02/12/2026

on the cover

Yes, box of chocolates is standard, but maybe this Valentine’s Day you get your sweetheart a cup of chocolate. In this week’s issue, John Fladd looks at hot chocolate and its variations.

Also on the cover But first, vote! Vote now! Vote in Hippo’s Best of 2026 readers’ poll, where you can tell us where to get the best ice cream, cocktails and burgers — and rave about non-food faves. See hippopress.com for a link to the survey.

Michael Witthaus talks to The Community Players of Concord ahead of their production of Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson — Apt. 2B, a twist on classic Sherlock Holmes tales.

Read the e-edition

News & Notes 26/02/12

260212 Featured Content News

Safety summits NH Recycles is offering three in-person Solid Waste Safety Summits and one webinar about lithium-ion battery safety open ...

Quality of Life 26/02/12

260212 News Quality Of Life

Recycling less As reported in a Feb. 3 online article by the New Hampshire Bulletin, data from the New Hampshire ...

Super Sunday Disaster

260212 News Sports

The Big Story – Pats Lose Super Bowl: Sadly, the unexpected magic carpet ride of the 2025 Patriots season crash-landed ...

This Week 26/02/12

260212 Featured Content News This Week

Thursday, Feb. 12 The Alva de Mars Megan Chapel Art Center at Saint Anselm College in Manchester will hold an ...

A Cup of Delicious

take out cup of hot chocolate with crumb, sprinkle, and marshmallow toppings sitting beside tray of toppings set out for use

260212 Cover Stories Featured Content

The joy of hot chocolate According to Catarina Mahoney, co-owner of Brookford Farm, it’s important to drink hot chocolate in ...

Elle-ementary

two actresses on stage set of indoor space, one wearing collared shirt and old fashioned vest with steampunk goggles on her head, fists up as if ready to box. The other actress dressed in black modern leather coat and looking on with dubious expression

260212 Art & Theater Featured Content

Sherlock tale re-told in Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson — Apt. 2B The game is afoot, and the many tropes ...

Treasure Hunt 26/02/12

hand holding a medium sized plate with red ring around the edge and small shield painted in middle

260212 Family Fun Treasure Hunt

Donna, My father owned a restaurant years and years ago, and we found these plates from Syracuse China, 11 of ...

Kiddie Pool 26/02/12

260212 Family Fun Outdoors

Family fun for whenever Winter fun! • The Wilton NH Main Street Association will hold its Winter Fest on Saturday, ...

The Weekly Dish 26/02/12

260212 Food

• Weather delay: The Fire on Main event hosted by 603 Brewery (42 Main St, Londonderry, 404-6123, 603brewery.com) originally scheduled ...

Sleazy Vegan’s new digs

260212 Featured Content Food

The vegan eatery finds a new brick and mortar home in Concord K.S. LeBlanc is happy to put down roots ...

Candy contest

Pile of assorted chocolate and sugar heart shaped Valentine's Day candy

260212 Food

Valentine’s Day leftovers — sweet! Liz Ryan is a reference librarian and the adult programming coordinator at the Derry Public ...

Brown Butter Fruit Blondies

rectangular corner piece of baked dessert bar, chunks of fruit showing inside

260212 Food

8 Tablespoons (1 stick) butter, browned 3/4 cup (150 g) sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup (120 g) ...

Album Reviews 26/02/12

album covers for Amanda McCarthy, Looking For The Lightand Maria Schneider, American Crow

260212 Albums Pop

Amanda McCarthy, Looking For The Light (self-released) Surely you recognize this country-pop singer-songwriter’s name if you’ve followed New Hampshire music ...

Oscar documentaries

260212 Film Reviews Pop

Many of this year’s Oscar-nominated feature-length (four of the five nominees) and short-film documentaries (three of the five) are available ...

The Emergency, by George Packer

260212 Books Pop

(Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 401 pages) During the Covid-19 pandemic, George Packer often traveled between rural New York and New ...

The Music Roundup 26/02/12

260212 Music This Week

Wind & Fire, Kool & the Gang and Wild Cherry. There will be winery selections, a full bar with themed ...

Dinner & Django

woman with short gray hair, wearing red glasses, holding guitar, in outdoor city space

260212 Featured Content Nightlife

The Livery welcomes Christine Tassan et les Imposteures With an infectious blend of swing music and jazz created by guitar ...

Kiddie Pool 26/02/12

Family fun for whenever

Winter fun!

• The Wilton NH Main Street Association will hold its Winter Fest on Saturday, Feb. 14, with ice carving in Main Street Park from 1 to 4 p.m.; a campfire with s’mores and hot cocoa from noon to 4:30 p.m.; a winter market at Wilton Town Hall, and a chili cookoff potluck from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Wilton Community Center, all according to a post on the Association’s Facebook page.

• The Squam Lakes Association Winterfest will take place Saturday, Feb. 14, from noon to 3 p.m. at 534 Route 3 in Holderness, according to squamlakes.org. The day will include a chili cookoff, winter mini golf, sledding, ice skating, a campfire with hot cocoa and s’mores, a Squam Lakes Natural Science Center Discovery Table and more, according to the website.

• And speaking of the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 23 Science Center Road in Holderness, this weekend’s Wild Winter Walk takes place Sunday, Feb. 15, with 90-minute sessions at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.The walks are geared to ages 6 and up; see nhnature.org to register.

Valentine fun

• Bookery, 844 Elm St. in Manchester, will hold a Valentine’s Day themed storytime and craft for the book The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 11:30 a.m. Reserve a spot at bookerymht.com.

• Valentine’s Day — Saturday, Feb. 14 — is also Second Saturday at the Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St. in Manchester, when admission is free for New Hampshire residents. This Saturday, the Creative Studio artmaking activity will feature heart collages and runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to the Currier’s In Focus newsletter. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. See currier.org.

On the court

• It’s another weekend of SNHU Penmen basketball with the women’s team playing Adelphi University at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14, at Stan Spiro Field House at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester. The men’s team will take on Adelphi at 3:30 p.m. Both teams will take on Franklin Pierce University in games on Wednesday, Feb. 18 — women at 5:30 p.m. and men at 7:30 p.m. See snhupenmen.com.

This Week 26/02/12

Thursday, Feb. 12

The Alva de Mars Megan Chapel Art Center at Saint Anselm College in Manchester will hold an opening reception for its new exhibition “Still Waters, Deep Reflections: The Art of Evelin Bodfish Bourne” on Thursday, Feb. 12, 6 to 8 p.m. The show will be on display Feb. 13 through May 8. See anselm.edu and click on “The Arts.”

Friday, Feb. 13

The Majestic Theatre (880 Page St., Manchester, 669-7469, majestictheatre.net) presents Always a Bridesmaid, a comedy about the perils of keeping teenage promises — in this case for a group of friends to attend each other’s weddings, even 30 years later. Performances will be tonight at 7 p.m.; tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 14, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 through the Majestic’s website.

Saturday, Feb. 14

It’s Backyard Winter Bird Survey Weekend! Today and tomorrow observe and report species of birds you see in your backyard to the New Hampshire Audubon to help track winter bird popoulartions, according to nhaudubon.org, where you can find instructions on how to register and log your results.

Saturday, Feb. 14

Enjoy a Valentine’s Day Evening with Elvis (performer Robert Black) at Fulchino Vineyard (187 Pine Hill Road, Hollis, 438-5984, fulchinovineyard.com). Doors open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 6 p.m. A special menu will be available. Tickets are $29 through the Vineyard’s website.

Saturday, Feb. 14

The Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) presents Emo Night Brooklyn tonight at 8 p.m. This is an 18+ late-night DJ-based dance party featuring emo and pop-punk jams. Tickets start at $26 through the Center’s website.

Sunday, Feb. 15

The Aaron Tolson Institute of Dance presents Lily’s Pad today at 4 p.m. at the Dana Center for the Humanities (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, anselm.edu) featuring Lily Booker and her three-piece jazz band on her journey through rhythm and tap dance. Tickets are $34 through the Dana Center’s website.

Wednesday, Feb. 18

The Poetry Society of New Hampshire will host an Afternoon of Poetry at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord, 224-0562, gibsonsbookstore.com) today from 4:30 to 6 p.m., featuring poet Liane St. Laurent. An open mic will follow her reading. Visit psnh.org/events.

Save the Date! Saturday, Feb. 21
Musical Fusion act Black Violin will perform Saturday, Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m. at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com). For nearly two decades Black Violin has been merging string arrangements with modern beats and vocals. Their 2019 album release, Take the Stairs, earned a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, and the band recently received a Grammy nomination for the track “The Message” as Best Americana Performance, in collaboration with The Blind Boys of Alabama. Tickets start at $57 through the Center’s website.

Featured photo: Majestic Theatre presents the comedy Always a Bridesmaid. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 26/02/12

Recycling less

As reported in a Feb. 3 online article by the New Hampshire Bulletin, data from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services suggests that New Hampshire residents recycle less than had been previously thought. The calculations that Environmental Services had previously used to estimate how much material from transfer stations is recycled had to be adjusted to avoid double-counting. The most recently published data indicates that “about 16.7% of the material that municipal transfer stations reported handling in 2024 was ultimately diverted for recycling, according to the recalculated percentages,” the New Hampshire Bulletin story read. The story also said, “Since 2020, the proportion of municipal waste sent for recycling has dropped by about four percentage points, according to the department.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: To read the most recent statewide recycling data, search online for “2023-2024 NH Biennial Solid Waste Report.”

Measles vaccination rate is spotty

As reported by NHPR in a Feb. 2 online article, a recent study suggested that because of New Hampshire’s relatively low vaccination rate, it is at a higher risk of a future measles outbreak. “New England is faring better than the rest of the country when it comes to measles vaccinations,” the article read, “but a new study from Boston Children’s Hospital’s finds that New Hampshire’s vaccination rate is a little lower than the rest of the region.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: The NHPR story reported that: “According to the study, Merrimack County shows a vaccination rate of 65% for children 5 and under, where Hillsborough County is 74%.” Search online for, “Parental Factors Associated With Measles” to read the study.

Plows getting plowed into

On Feb. 7, according to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation in an early afternoon post on its Facebook page, “Today alone, four NHDOT plows have been hit while crews were working to keep roads safe. Our crews are out there for you, help us keep them safe.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: NHDOT warned, “If you’re out driving, please slow down for weather conditions, move over for stopped vehicles on the side of the road, give plow crews plenty of space, and leave extra distance between vehicles.” To view real-time traffic conditions, see NewEngland511.org.

QOL score last week: 53

Net change: -3

QOL this week: 50

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Author: The Hippo Press

Quality of Life 26/02/19

News & Notes 26/02/19

A Cup of Delicious — 02/12/2026

Kiddie Pool 26/02/12

This Week 26/02/12

Quality of Life 26/02/12

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