New Hampshire ranks 12th for the number of athletes who have participated in a Winter Olympics game on behalf of Team USA, according to a recent report from BeenVerified, a public information website. Four New Hampshire-born athletes are in Beijing right now, which did not change the ranking; prior to this year, 47 state-born athletes have participated in the Winter Olympics. Those athletes have earned 19 medals, making them 9th in the country for total medals, and 8th for gold with six medals, the report said. Top cities by birthplace are Easton (six medals); Hanover, Derry and Salem (three medals); and Concord (two medals).
Score: +1
Comment: The top Olympic sport in New Hampshire, according to the report? Alpine skiing.
Students speaking up, sparking change
Central High School has a new dress code, thanks to senior and Manchester School Board student rep Kellan Barbee, who rewrote the outdated code that had been in effect since the ’80s. According to a report from NHPR, the new code — the first policy in the district authored by a student — allows items that were formally prohibited, like spaghetti straps, tube tops, ripped jeans, do-rags, bonnets and hats, while wearing the hood of a hoodie, see-through clothing and attire displaying messages with profanity and hate speech are still prohibited. The update has been a long time coming, with students asking for it for years; Barbee wrote the new code with other students’ input. For example, he told NHPR, the district wanted to keep the hat ban, but after hearing about homeless peers who didn’t have access to hair products and showers, Barbee made it a priority to get rid of it.
Score: +1
Comment:“My goal is not to impose my own views on dress — on students, on staff, on the district. It is to bring student voices to the table,” Barbee told NHPR.
Because you can’t do this in Florida
Special Olympics New Hampshire is gearing up for its two biggest fundraisers, the Penguin Plunge and the Winni Dip, and for the second year, participants are being asked to take a DIY approach in light of Covid. According to a press release, the theme of this year’s events is “Survivor,” and participants will have “Survivor Packs” delivered to their home, school or office, with items packed into a pail that can be used for do-it-yourself plunging. Penguin Plunge Weekend is Feb. 12 and Feb. 13 and includes the Penguin Plunge, the High School Plunge, Prep School Plunge and the new Middle School Plunge. Winni Dip Weekend is March 12 and March 13 and includes the Law Enforcement Dip, The Winni Dip, High School Dip, Middle School Dip and the MEGA Dip. Participants can register online at sonh.org; all fundraising can be done online, and most participants can meet the fundraising minimums in less than 72 hours, according to the release.
Score: +1
Comment: SONH President and CEO Mary Conroy said that they were pleasantly surprised last year by the turnout and participants’ creativity. “We had everything last year from schools utilizing their local fire departments to help students plunge, to individuals plunging on their own in lots of fun and creative ways,” she said in the release.
Late for love
A Google Trends analysis that looked at searches for “last minute Valentine’s Day gift ideas” shows that New Hampshire ranks 10th in the U.S. for gift-buying procrastination. According to a report from wholesale trade printer 4over, waiting until the last minute seems to be a trend on the East Coast, with New Jersey coming in first and Maryland, Rhode Island, New York and Virginia round out the Top 5, while Connecticut and Massachusetts joined New Hampshire in the Top 10.
Score: -1
Comment: Valentine’s Day is Monday, Feb. 14 — just sayin’.
QOL score: 57
Net change: +2
QOL this week: 59
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
Covid-19 news
On Jan. 31, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration fully approved the Moderna vaccine against Covid-19 for people ages 18 and older, according to a press release. It becomes the second Covid vaccine to receive full authorization in the U.S. following the approval of the Pfizer vaccine back on Aug. 23 — both had previously only been approved under emergency authorization status. “While hundreds of millions of doses have been administered … we understand that for some individuals, FDA approval of this vaccine may instill additional confidence in making the decision to get vaccinated,” acting FDA commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a statement. The following day, Feb. 1, the FDA announced that a virtual advisory committee meeting will take place to discuss the possibility of emergency use authorization approval of the Pfizer vaccine for use in children ages 6 months to 4 years old. The meeting is scheduled for Feb. 15.
An initial round of 500,000 Covid test kits became available across all 67 New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet stores as of Feb. 4, according to a press release from Gov. Chris Sununu’s office. Kits are sold for $11.29 apiece while supplies last. According to the release, there is no age requirement to purchase a test kit, and anyone can buy as many as they would like. As the state purchases and acquires more test kits, the NHLC plans to restock shelves at each store.
State health officials announced 779 new positive Covid test results on Feb. 7. The state averaged 804 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period, a 40-percent decrease compared to the previous seven-day average. As of Feb. 7 there were 6,277 active cases, down from more than 10,000 on Jan. 31, and 206 active hospitalizations.
High-speed internet
Residents who can’t afford high-speed internet services may be eligible for discounts through the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, created to help ensure that people who struggle financially can stay connected to family members, friends, health care providers and work. According to a press release, applications are now being acceptedfor the program, and eligible recipients could get a discount of up to $30 per month for high-speed internet services, as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer or tablet purchased through a participating provider. “The pandemic has shown us that access to high-speed internet is not a luxury; it is a necessity,” Todd Fahey, State Director of AARP NH, said in the release. New Hampshire residents who have a household income of less than $25,760 for a single-family household or $43,540 for a couple, or who qualify for the Lifeline program or Medicaid or receive SNAP or WIC benefits, Federal Public Housing Assistance or Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefits may be eligible. This program modifies and extends the temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit program in effect last year as part of Covid-19 relief, the release said.
Housing Commission
Manchester’s Housing Commission nominees have been approved by Mayor Joyce Craig. According to a press release, the creation of a Housing Commission follows recommendations made by the Mayor’s Affordable Housing Task Force last year. “We’ve already begun to make significant progress on the Affordable Housing Taskforce recommendations, moving forward with changes to zoning ordinances, developments on City-owned land, adding additional resources to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and more,” Craig said in the release. “The inaugural members of Manchester’s Housing Commission are uniquely qualified to continue this work. They bring a range of perspectives and backgrounds from housing advocacy, to development, to housing and homelessness service providers.” The commission will be responsible for following up on the task force’s recommendations, the release said. Founding members of the commission are Jean Noel Mugabo, Zachery Palmer, Peter Capano, Jessica Margeson and Chris Wellington, along with alternate members Joseph Wichert and Kate Marquis.
Community grants
Manchester’s Planning and Community Development Department has launched a new Community Event and Activation Grant program, part of the American Rescue Plan Act recommendations approved by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen in 2021. According to a press release, the grant program provides up to $10,000 to support and increase the number of community-based projects and events to help the Queen City recover from the negative effects of the pandemic. Examples of eligible projects include public art installations, outdoor seating or bike racks and events such as concerts in the park, neighborhood block parties or sporting events, the release said, and applicants can apply for up to $10,000 per grant but are required to provide a 25 percent match for each request. The first round application is due March 31.
Police cameras
Grant funds are now available to local and county law enforcement agencies to purchase body-worn and dashboard cameras. According to a press release, the fund is a key recommendation of the Governor’s Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community and Transparency that encouraged all law enforcement agencies to acquire and use these cameras. Agencies can be reimbursed up to $50,000 for the purchase of body-worn or dashboard cameras, software maintenance for the cameras and maintenance and storage of data related to the cameras, the release said. “The safety of all law enforcement officers across the state is imperative,” New Hampshire Department of Safety Commissioner Robert Quinn said in the release. “These grant funds will help departments put important equipment in place to protect officers who put their lives at risk every day and enhance trust with the public they serve.”
Housing a priority
Stay Work Play’s biggest legislative focus area for the 2022 legislative session is housing affordability. According to a press release, half of the 18 bills that the organization — a nonpartisan advocacy program focused on public policy issues that affect whether young people will choose to live in the Granite State — have taken a position on this year are aimed at making the Granite State a more affordable place to live. Other focus areas include child care, outdoor recreation, and diversity, equity and inclusion. “Given the effect of public policy on the attraction and retention of young Granite Staters, having Stay Work Play’s voice in Concord is important,” Rep. Joe Alexander of Goffstown said in the release. Stay Work Play Executive Director Will Stewart will be involved in direct lobbying at the Statehouse, and the Stay Work Play Advocacy Network, with nearly 70 young people from across the state, will reach out to the legislators who represent them to speak on behalf of Stay Work Play’s policy positions, the release said.
The annual New England Pond Hockey Classic on Lake Winnipesaukee in Meredith was canceled last weekend due to a storm and unsafe ice conditions, according to the event website. More than 500 games were set to be played by more than 275 teams across 26 rinks Feb. 4 through Feb. 6, the website said.
Skaters in kilts took to the ice at White Park in Concord on Feb. 6 as New Hampshire Scot hosted the Great Kilt Skate, according to a report from WMUR. “It looks like there are probably 30 people here skating in tartans right now, and more keep coming through, so we’re happy with that, we’re excited,” NH Scot Executive Director Terry Wiltse told WMUR, noting that it was only one of two Great Kilt Skates in the U.S. this year — the other being in New York City.
On Feb. 4, students from Bow High School met virtually with students from Pedro Gomes High School in Cabo Verde. According to a press release, the meeting was hosted by members of the United States Embassy staff, as well as Gov. Chris Sununu and soldiers from New Hampshire’s National Guard, who traveled to the Republic of Cabo Verde for a signing ceremony to officially establish a State Partnership under the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program. Pedro Gomes High School has agreed to partner with Bow High School as part of the effort to forge a connection between citizens while strengthening military partnerships, the release said.
Looking for new ideas for hanging out with friends in the ever-changing world? Throw axes together, compete against each other at paintball or laser tag, maneuver through an escape room as a team or rent an igloo for wining and dining.
Also on the cover, voting is now open for Hippo’s Best of 2022 readers’ poll! Find out how to vote for your favorite people, places and things in New Hampshire on p. 33. And make plans now for your Valentine’s Day meals and sweets, p. 22.
Ax throwing is one of those sports that gets you hooked the first time you try it — at least that’s how it started for Tracey McCormick, owner and founder of RelAxe Throwing in Manchester.
“I actually went down to Texas on a family vacation, went ax throwing on a fluke and fell in love with it immediately,” she said. “I couldn’t believe how good it felt and how much fun it was at the same time. … I remember looking around the room at all the different types of people that were there. People were cheering each other on, even when they didn’t know each other.”
When McCormick returned to New Hampshire and realized there were no indoor ax throwing venues in the state at the time, she began working on a business plan to bring one here. Today, RelAxe Throwing holds four ax throwing leagues per year and has even had throwers represented at three world ax throwing championship competitions.
But you don’t have to be a professional thrower to give it a go. McCormick’s team of “ax-perts” is always on hand to teach you the basics if you’ve never tried it before.
“Ax throwing is not about strength or trying to throw hard. It’s about finesse and technique,” she said. “We work with people of all varying abilities … and so we can adapt some of the things that are needed for their safety in order for them to be successful as well.”
It’s a similar operation at The Rugged Axe, which opened on South Willow Street in the Queen City last June. Co-owner and longtime Goffstown resident Charles Keith dreamed about opening his own ax throwing business after trying it out while visiting his son in Pensacola, Florida.
“Anybody can throw an ax. We’ve had a 90-year-old man throw one and be able to get a bull’s-eye. The skillset is really just hand-eye coordination,” Keith said. “We teach everybody how to do both a two-handed throw and a one-handed throw. … The ax will typically rotate one and a quarter to one and a half times depending on how hard you throw it, and it’s top heavy, so the weight of the ax is actually what makes it rotate. You don’t have to use your wrists at all.”
There are lots of different ax throwing games you can play. In a typical standard game, you would get 10 throws and the player with the most points wins. Each ring on the target is worth a different number of points that increases the closer you get to the bull’s-eye. There are also other ways to score, Keith said, including smaller blue dots that are awarded a higher number of points if the player announces before throwing that they’re aiming for it.
Two of The Rugged Axe’s 18 lanes have a projector that superimposes a target onto the boards, allowing throwers to play other games like Tic-Tac-Toe or Duck Hunt. The venue is open weekly for private parties and for leagues you can sign up for, either individually or as a group.
“It’s such a wonderful activity that’s competitive and a great way to get your aggression out, especially in Covid times,” Keith said. “You can always tell when somebody hits the bull’s-eye, because there’s some yelling and screaming going on from that lane. It’s very satisfying.”
Where to go ax throwing Closed-toe shoes are required and a safety waiver must be filled out. For groups, booking in advance online is recommended; reserve your own lanes by telling them how many people are coming and how long you’ll be throwing for.
Axe Play 142 Lowell Road, Unit 19, Hudson, 809-9081, axe-play.com Hours: Monday through Thursday, 4 to 9 p.m.; Friday, 1 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. Cost: $25 per hour per person Axe Play, which opened in August 2020, features seven ax throwing lanes for a total of 14 targets. Ax throwers must be at least 18, with the exception of family hours on specific days and times, when the center is open to kids ages 10 and up.
Block Party Social 51 Zapora Drive, Hooksett, 621-5150, blockpartysocial.com Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to midnight Cost: $30 per hour per person (includes a $5 arcade game card) Formerly the Space Entertainment Center, Block Party Social features a newly renovated space that includes an eight-lane ax throwing lounge with multiple game formats to choose from using superimposed screens and a touch screen interface to keep track of players’ scores. Ax throwers must be at least 18.
RelAxe Throwing 157 Gay St., Manchester, 782-3061, relaxethrowing.com Hours: Monday and Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m.; Friday, 4 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) Cost: $25 per hour per person Since opening in June 2019 as an indoor ax throwing venue, RelAxe has added seasonal outdoor throwing, including through an expansion at Candia Springs Adventure Park in Candia, and has had throwers represented at three world ax throwing championship competitions. The minimum age to throw is 10, and all throwers under the age of 16 must have a throwing adult with them.
The Rugged Axe 377 S. Willow St., Manchester, 232-7846, theruggedaxe.com Hours: Wednesday and Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday, 4 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. (the center is reserved for leagues on Mondays and private events on Tuesdays) Cost: $25 per hour per person One of the newer spots to join the local ax throwing scene, The Rugged Axe opened in June 2021. It’s also the largest indoor ax throwing venue in the Granite State, with a total of 18 lanes. Ax throwers as young as 12 years old are welcome. A small menu of hot dogs, snacks, beer and wine is available at the center’s onsite “Lumberjack Shack.”
Enjoying a meal inside a warm heated igloo keeps outdoor dining alive in the winter and gives you and your own party space. Here’s a list of local eateries offering outdoor igloos by reservation. Due to high demand, some may require you to book them out several days, weeks or more in advance. Be sure to contact each restaurant directly via phone or email for the most up-to-date availability.
• 603 Brewery (42 Main St., Londonderry, 404-6123, 603brewery.com) features heated igloos on its patio that accommodate seating for up to eight people. Igloos are available to rent for two-hour time slots for a $50 rental fee per party. Time slots are released online one month at a time.
Averill House Vineyard in Brookline. Courtesy photo.
• Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road, Brookline, 244-3165, averillhousevineyard.com) offers a “vine to wine” igloo and gazebo experience package, available for two to eight people per party. The cost is $100 for the first two people and $50 for each additional person and includes four wine tastings and a charcuterie board inside one of the vineyard’s heated igloos for a one-hour-and-45-minute visit.
• Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford, 472-2001, bedfordvillageinn.com) offers luxury outdoor dining at its onsite igloo garden, accommodating up to six people per party and featuring heat and air filtration systems. Igloos can be reserved for up to two and a half hours, offering the BVI’s tavern and dining room menus, except on holidays, in addition to a special Simi wine and cocktail menu. The cost is $50 to reserve an igloo for lunch and $100 to reserve one for brunch or dinner (brunches are on Saturdays and Sundays only).
• Boston Billiard Club & Casino (55 Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, 943-5630, bostonbilliardclubcasino.com) has a few heated igloos on its patio that are available by reservation only. Igloos have a two-hour limit and can be reserved for parties of up to five.
• Downtown Cheers Grille & Bar (17 Depot St., No. 1, Concord, 228-0180, cheersnh.com) has four heated igloos on its patio that can be reserved for parties of four to eight people. Reservations are two hours per party and require a $50 deposit that’s applied to your bill.
• Tuscan Market (Tuscan Village, 9 Via Toscana, Salem, 912-5467, tuscanbrands.com) offers “al fresco igloo dining experience” packages that can accommodate two to six guests per party. The cost is a $150 spend minimum on weekdays and a $250 spend minimum on weekends.
Want a little healthy competition among your friend group? Paintball and laser tag give you the chance to fight in a fun way — or you can ramp up the mess factor with a private party in a paint splatter room.
Paintball
AG Paintball (158 Deering Center Road, Weare, 529-3524, agpaintball.com) opened in 1988 and today is one of the longest-running paintball parks in the Granite State. The park encompasses 30 acres with nine woodsball fields and one speedball field, and also offers an onsite pro shop with guns, masks and other accessories for sale. “[We have] many different themed paintball rooms that can pertain to any interests and likes,” said Rusty Glaze, Paintball Blogger at AG Paintball. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Their average paintball experience package when you come self-equipped is $30 per person. They also have rental packages starting at $40 per person. Private group parties can include 10 players or more to experience your own game of paintball with your group of friends.
OSG Paintball (1053 N. Barnstead Road, Center Barnstead, 1-800-707-7529, osgpaintball.com) is the largest paintball park in the state, with 44 acres and 12 playing fields. Every field is themed, including Star Wars, Pirate Cove, Empire Castle, Hamburger Hill and more, and games can also have themes of their own, like Westerns, Call of Duty, The Simpsons, Family Guy and The Goonies. The park is closed for the winter but is scheduled to reopen March 5. Private parties are available seven days a week with a reservation required. Packages include a private group of 10 or more people for a full day for $49.99 or a half day for $39.99, with full-impact and low-impact options available.
Paint splatter
Rage Cage NH (10 W. Hollis St., Nashua, 402-4197, ragecagenh.com) features a paint splatter room that’s open to all ages. Have a glow paint party with ultraviolet black lights, bubble and fog machines and whatever music you want for $30 per person for an hour, with up to eight people per party. A regular paint splatter party without the glow is $20 per person, with up to 20 people allowed (contact Rage Cage if you have more than 20 people). When you book a paint party online, you pay for just one person to reserve the room for the full hour. For a regular paint splatter party, every participant can pick out 10 colors of washable paint, a 12×12’’ canvas and safety goggles, and additional upgrades are available, like throwable paintballs ($5 to $20), more colors ($2 per color), larger canvases ($5 to $10) and stencils ($10) to make your art. Paint parties do not come with jumpsuits, but white hooded jumpsuits are available for $10 each. For glow parties, participants can pick out 14 colors of UV-reactive washable paint, a 12×12’’ canvas and safety goggles, along with any preferred upgrades. Rage Cage NH hours are noon to 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Laser tag
Block Party Social (51 Zapora Drive, Hooksett, 621-5150, blockpartysocial.com) is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m to 10 p.m and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight. The price for the laser tag arena is $22 per person for a 30-minute experience (this includes a $5 arcade game card).
Hilltop Fun Center (165 Route 108, Somersworth, 742-8068, hilltopfuncenter.com) is open Wednesday and Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m., Friday from 3 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Laser tag prices are $14 for a 30-minute session and $22 for two 30-minute sessions; each session includes three six-minute games. On Friday and Saturday, laser mania is $25 per person, with unlimited laser tag from 5 to 9 p.m. You can also rent out the entire arena for your own group for $300 for the first hour and $100 for additional hours.
Since New Hampshire’s first escape room, Granite State Escape, opened in 2015, escape rooms have been popular destinations in the state for group outings and private events like birthday parties, bachelor and bachelorette parties, school trips and corporate team-builders. Now, in pandemic times, escape rooms offer something even more valuable:
“I think that people are wanting to once again enjoy the company of others while participating in a fun, safe and interactive experience together,” said Pamela Provencher, owner of Granite State Escape in Manchester. “[Because] escape rooms allow groups to stay in their bubble, escape rooms [are a way] for some folks to begin to safely venture out again while also being … a fun night out for the more adventurous.”
Players do puzzles, solve riddles and crack codes by physically engaging with items in the room in a race against the clock to complete the room’s overall objective. A “gamemaster” explains the backstory, objective and rules to the players and monitors the room remotely during the game, maintaining audio communications with the players to ensure their safety and to provide hints, should they get stuck.
“Escape the Library,” an escape room at Escape Room Concord. Courtesy photo.
Escape rooms are unique in that they appeal to a wide range of people, Escape Room Concord owner Gregory Slossar said, making them a great outing for mixed groups.
“There are few activities out there that offer multi-generational entertainment,” he said. “Escape rooms are great for friends who want to do something fun before or after dinner, or families who are looking to do something with their children that makes everyone put down their phones for an hour, or a place where co-workers can come together as a team and bond on a personal level.”
Christopher McCarthy, who is the co-owner, operations manager and resident gamemaster at The Escape Room Experience in Laconia, said escape rooms are an opportunity for people to let go of whatever is on their mind and be transported to another world where their only focus is to complete the objective of the room.
“It gives you an active goal, with minimal distractions,” he said. “It’s an environment catered to challenging your brain while in a physical space designed to grab your attention and keep it there.”
McCarthy said he is especially excited about The Escape Room Experience’s new room, “Serial Killer Cabin,” which pays homage to classic 1980s slasher films.
“As the designer, I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished within the space,” he said. “I feel like, atmospherically, we knocked it out of the park.”
Policies for players vary per escape room. Some escape rooms accept walk-ins, but most require booking in advance. The number of players allowed typically ranges from couples to groups of up to 10 or 12 people, but certain rooms may have their own limit. Families and groups with children should check on the escape room’s age restrictions or recommendations before they go as some rooms may be frightening, atmospherically, or too challenging for young players.
Escape rooms have been taking various safety precautions to prevent the spread of Covid, such as allowing more time between groups to clean and sanitize the rooms and to ensure that the groups don’t run into each other in the lobby area; requiring their staff to be vaccinated; requiring or encouraging staff and players to wear masks; and installing air filter machines.
“We believe escape rooms truly are one of the safest things you can choose to participate in,” said Lara Barkley, creative director at Key to Escape in Nashua. “Not even the movie theater or bowling alley can keep you out of the same room with groups of people you don’t know.”
Play an escape room
• 102 Escape, 123 Nashua Road, Unit 34, Londonderry, 260-6198, 102escape.com • Break Free 603, 141 Route 101A, Amherst, 424-1758, breakfree603.com • Escape Room Concord, 240 Airport Road, Concord, 225-2271, escaperoomconcordnh.com • The Escape Room Experience, 555 Main St., Suite A, Laconia, 366-6296, theescaperoomexperience.live • Granite State Escape, 795 Elm St., Manchester, 935-7455, escapenh.com • Key To Escape, 3 Bud Way, Unit 21, Nashua, 809-4018, keytoescape.com • LOK’d! Room Escape, 1500 S Willow St., Manchester, 945-3113, lokdrocks.com • Monkey Mind Escape Rooms, 10 Vaughan Mall, Portsmouth, 498-8997, monkeymindescape.com • Portsmouth Escape Room, 95 Brewery Lane, No. 13, Portsmouth, 380-9160, portsmouthescaperoom.com
Featured photo: Photo courtesy of The Rugged Axe in Manchester.
Let Enter the Haggis kick off the weekend spirit early tonight at 8 p.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Admission costs $18 for general admission, $25 for a reserved balcony seating (plus fees). Listen to songs from the band’s newest album, The Archer’s Parade, at enterthehaggis.com.
Some the other shows on the schedule at the Capitol Center for the Arts and the Bank of NH Stage: Spamilton — An American Parody on Friday, Feb. 4, at 8 p.m. at the Cap Center; Mike Daws and Yasmin Williams at the Bank of NH Stage on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 8 p.m.; The Brothers Brothers at the Bank of NH Stage on Sunday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m., and, also at the Bank of NH Stage, Andrew North and the Rangers on Thursday, Feb. 10, at 8 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 3
Liven up your winter evening with a little poetry and music. Rob Azevedo will read from his book of poetry, Don’t Order the Calamari, and musicians Becca Myari and Todd Hearon will perform tonight at 6 p.m. at the Bookery Manchester (844 Elm St. in downtown Manchester; bookerymht.com). Admission is free but go online to register. Angie Sykeny talked to Azevedo when he released his first book of poetry, Turning on the Wasp; find that story in the May 6, 2021, issue of the Hippo (page 14). Click on “view more” under E-Editions to find older issues of the Hippo.
Friday, Feb. 4
Catch up with the University of New Hampshire team sending an experiment to the International Space Station tonight at 7 p.m. as part of the virtual Super Stellar Friday program at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827). Team Cooke NoMADS — Novel Methods of Antibiotic Discovery in Space — will explain their experiment and talk about their experiences working with NASA, according to the website, where you can register for this free virtual program.
The center is open for in-person visits, Fridays through Sundays with sessions from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Admission costs $11.50 for adults, $10.50 for students and seniors, $8.50 for children ages 3 to 12 and free for kids 2 and under. Planetarium tickets are an additional $5 per person. Reserve tickets for a session online in advance.
Friday, Feb. 4
Comedian Jim Colliton brings the laughs to the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased at the Palace website, where you can find a link to clips from Colliton’s DryBar sets.
Saturday, Feb. 5
Get some fresh produce and fresh baked goods and other must-haves for a yummy weekend at the Contoocook Farmers Market today from 9 a.m. to noon at Maple Street School (194 Maple St. in Contoocook).
Save the date! Galentine’s Day
Grab your besties and your vaccination card for a screening of Bridesmaids (R, 2011) on Sunday, Feb. 13, at 10 a.m. at Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St. in Concord; redrivertheatres.org, 224-4600). Tickets cost $12. The screening is a “snax and vax” screening, which means that the concession stand will be open and attendees are required to show proof of full vaccination.
Intown Concord sent out a notice last Saturday to inform people that almost all of the events at that day’s Winter Festival were canceled because of the snowstorm. “This is really disappointing for everyone involved [but] safety is our number one priority. Intown Concord will be working to reschedule as many elements from today’s festival as we can for the springtime,” Intown wrote in the notice.
Score: -2
Comment:The exceptions were the ice carvers and the ice bar – “the ice carvers are a hardy crew,” the notice read. The carvings were done on the Statehouse lawn, with the plan that they would remain on display for about a week.
Keeping college costs down
For the fourth year in a row, the University System of New Hampshire is freezing in-state tuition for the upcoming academic year. According to a press release, university system schools currently provide more aid to more students than at any other time in their history, and students are paying less on average to attend these public institutions than in-state students paid five years ago. The University of New Hampshire campuses in Durham and Manchester, Plymouth State University and Keene State College continue to offer the Granite Guarantee program, which makes college affordable for more than 1,800 New Hampshire residents by covering the full cost of in-state tuition for all who qualify.
Score: +1
Comment: Ninety-five percent of first-year students attending University System of New Hampshire schools currently receive some form of financial aid, the release said.
Supporting our health care heroes
For the second year, the NH Healthcare Heroes effort is recognizing outstanding professionals in the health care community, naming one hero for each of the state’s seven regions. According to a press release, the winners were nominated by colleagues, family, friends and patients and were chosen by a volunteer committee made up of health care professionals across the state. Locally, winners are Laura “Beth” Nagy, director of rehabilitation services at New Hampshire Hospital in Concord; Matt Bouchie, homeless outreach coordinator at the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester; and Stacy Dionne, clinical nurse manager at Lamprey Health Care in Raymond.
Score: +1
Comment:Winners are being honored during pinning ceremonies with their employers, and runners-up stories will be shared on social media at facebook.com/healthcareheroesnh, according to the release.
Giving girls a Sporting Chance
Girls Inc. of New Hampshire is collaborating with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care in support of healthy living and access to sports through its Sporting Chance Program, which provides opportunities to young girls to participate in physical activities and develop good habits that will benefit their physical and mental health. According to a press release, both the Nashua and Manchester Girls Inc. centers offer the program, with activities like basketball, yoga, soccer and racquet sports.
Score: +1
Comment: “Sporting Chance provides girls a safe and supportive environment to participate in competitive and recreational activities and sporting events and empowers girls to succeed,” Sharron McCarthy, CEO of Girls Inc. New Hampshire, said in the release.
QOL score: 56
Net change: +1
QOL this week: 57
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].
