Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
Covid-19 news
During a Jan. 26 press conference, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that, while the test positivity rate of Covid-19 in New Hampshire dropped slightly from 22 percent to 17 percent over the previous week, hospitalization and death rates in the state remain high. “In the last week, we reported 59 new Covid-19 related deaths, averaging more than eight new deaths identified each day,” he said. As of Jan. 31 there were 10,436 active cases and 303 hospitalizations, and all 10 counties are still reporting substantial community transmission.
Gov. Chris Sununu also announced during the press conference the Executive Council’s approval earlier that day to sell 1 million at-home rapid tests across the state’s Liquor & Wine Outlet stores. “We will put them on the shelves and sell them … approximately in the $13 range,” Sununu said, adding that tests should be available at the stores “within the next two weeks.”
On Jan. 31, the New Hampshire Insurance Department released a Frequently Asked Questions sheet regarding the national mandate that private insurers will have to cover the cost of eight at-home coronavirus tests per person per month. According to a press release, those with private individual health insurance coverage or covered by an employer-sponsored health plan who purchase Covid-19 diagnostic tests that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can get them covered by insurance, without a health care provider’s order or clinical assessment and without cost-sharing requirements such as deductibles, co-payments or prior authorization. The costs may be covered up front by their health plan or reimbursed after a claim is submitted. The Frequently Asked Questions document can be found at nh.gov.
Meanwhile, more state-run fixed vaccination sites continue to open for walk-ins, including in Belmont, Lincoln and Manchester as of this week. Go to covid19.nh.gov and click on the “vaccination fixed sites” button to view a complete list — no appointments are required.
U.S. attorney nomination
Last week Attorney General John M. Formella issued a statement after President Biden nominated Deputy Attorney General Jane E. Young to serve as the United States attorney for the District of New Hampshire. “We at the Department of Justice greet today’s news with mixed emotions. For almost thirty years, Jane has served this Office and the State of New Hampshire with distinction as an incredible prosecutor and public servant. She is one of a kind and irreplaceable,” Formella wrote. “That said, Jane is more than worthy of this recognition and honor, and … the District of New Hampshire will be well served with Jane Young as United States Attorney.”
Sununu in D.C.
Last weekend Gov. Chris Sununu attended the 2022 National Governors Association Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C., where he planned to meet with Canada’s Ambassador to the United States. According to a press release, he also attended NGA meetings with United States Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Infrastructure Coordinator for the White House Mitch Landrieu. The governors were scheduled to have dinner with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden and attend a Governors meeting at the White House.
Reducing classroom stress
New Hampshire educators will soon have new resources to reduce stress and dysregulation in the classroom. According to a press release, the Executive Council recently approved an $815,400 contract between the state Department of Education and The Regulated Classroom, a Peterborough-based company that provides tools for educators to help de-escalate adverse and confrontational issues in the classroom and refocus students on academics. The program includes a somatosensory toolkit and four kinds of classroom practices to regulate stress for teachers and students, the release said, and about 2,500 toolkits will be made available to New Hampshire educators. “This new collaboration is aimed to support teachers who may be experiencing disruptions in their school environments, who today are struggling with dysregulated students that have had inconsistent and disrupted instructional schedules going on two years, as well as the high stress level among the teachers themselves,” Frank Edelblut, New Hampshire state education commissioner, said in the release.
The Manchester Fire Department was dispatched to 1 City Hall Plaza on Jan. 29 when a sprinkler pipe burst above the ceiling in a second-floor office. According to a press release, firefighters tried to salvage items by consolidating and covering them with tarps and removing some electronics from the area. Offices on all three levels below the sprinkler pipe sustained significant water damage, the release said.
A first edition novel published in 1859 by Harriet E. Wilson — the first Black woman to publish a novel in English — returned to New Hampshire recently, celebrated in part with a reading of selections from the book at First Congregational Church in Milford on Jan. 22. According to a press release, the book was hand delivered from California by a woman who had found it in a safe when settling her husband’s estate. Wilson was free when she published the novel, but she had been an indentured servant in Milford.
Greater Nashua Mental Health recently received a $60,000 grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, allowing it to expand capacity and offer mental health services to people of all ages, as well as substance use disorder services to ages 12 and older, and primary health care services to clients 16 and up. According to a press release, new clients can walk into the 440 Amherst St. facility Tuesday through Thursday from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and be seen the same day.
Take advantage of the frigid temps and lace up your skates or take in a game of outdoor hockey. This weekend you can head to the annual Black Ice Hockey Tournament in Concord, where there will be all kinds of games to watch, plus public skating. And several local communities maintain skating ponds for your enjoyment all winter long.
Also on the cover, we have 26 cool ideas for your big day, p. 20. And it’s time for the 2022 Best of readers’ poll! Vote for your favorite people, places and things in New Hampshire starting Feb. 1. See details on p. 17.
For this year’s annual wedding guide, we’re giving you 26 cool ideas to make your big day the best day! Doughnut walls, bold bouquets, Insta-worthy photo ops — there’s something for every couple’s tastes this wedding season.
The wedding dress
Practical accents
One of the newest trends that Helen Dionne of A Day to Remember Bridal Boutique has seen in their newest dresses is detachable sleeves made of sheer lace. “We’ve just got them in over the past couple weeks,” Dionne said. “It’s a good option for people who like the look of sleeves but don’t want to wear them the whole time.” They can be worn for a fancier look during the ceremony, for example, and then removed for comfort when the bride hits the dance floor later on. Another practical addition to dresses over the past few years has been the addition of pockets, Dione said, with brides appreciating the space to stash their phone and other small items.
A wedding gown with detachable sleeves; photo courtesy of A Day to Remember Bridal Boutique.
Sparkles and slits
For a different look from the waist down, some of the newest gowns have slits. “That has been really well-received by customers,” Dionne said. Another option is a sparkly tulle underlay, “so it’s not-in-your face bling but it’s just enough sparkle,” Dionne said.
A touch of color
Dionne said that most wedding dresses aren’t available in pure white anymore. “If you want an all-white gown, it’s going to be ivory,” she said. “More often than not these gowns are ordered with some kind of color, [like a] champagne underlay with an ivory overlay with ivory lace. Adding champagne and pink champagne elements is an option, and some dresses come in darker shades like sand. Dionne said white doesn’t look good on most people because it’s harsh, and the ivories today are light enough that most people would think that they are the traditional white. And for the brides who really want to stand out, they can go for a bigger splash of color. “We had a gal who [bought] a pink — like, really pink — wedding dress,” Dionne said.
Have it your way
A lot of dress features are customizable, so if you love a dress that doesn’t have that sparkly underlay, you might be able to add it, or a dress that has a slit might be available without it. Scoop necklines are coming back, Dionne said, but right now many dresses still have the deep plunging V neckline that has been popular for the past few years. While scoop necklines start to work their way back into fashion, “some designers will offer the dress in two ways [and] charge for a raised neckline,” Dionne said. Designers are also offering two train lengths, with shorter trains being popular lately for the simpler kinds of weddings that have become more prevalent in the past couple years but cathedral length still being a draw for brides who really want to make a statement.
Flowers & decor
Big colors
Wedding planner Samantha Sheehy of The Perfect Match Weddings based in Manchester said that when it comes to floral decorations, muted greens are starting to take a backseat to bolder options. “In the past couple years, greenery has been super popular [but] the trend is kind of starting to shift back to big blooms, big color,” she said. That goes for the bouquets as well. “I think people are moving away from the very rounded ball-looking bouquets [in favor of] cascading bouquets with lots of color,” she said.
Sustainable everything
It is possible to have fancy decor while cutting down on waste — something that Sheehy said has been a bigger priority for many of today’s brides and grooms. “I’ve seen a lot of people go toward silk or wooden flowers,” Sheehy said. They’re being used for table arrangements, pieces for the arbor and up and down pews or aisles.” Some brides who want a bouquet with real flowers are repurposing them, preserving them by having them framed or turned into things like coasters or ring dishes, Sheehy said. Renting decor rather than buying it and throwing it away is another option, she said.
Upscale lighting
One fairly simple way to elevate any wedding, but especially a more informal backyard or barn wedding, is to add lighting. Sheehy said she’s been seeing lighting vendors providing more upscale lighting installations, including fairy lights and bistro lights.
Photo ops
Arrive in style
Antique car. Photo by Courtney Reynolds Photography + Double H Photo.
Antique cars and vans have replaced limos for some couples, allowing for a more casual arrival and better photo ops, Sheehy said. “People really don’t do limos anymore,” Sheehy said. “They’re either driving themselves or renting [antique vehicles].” She’s also seen couples renting school buses to use for guest transportation from the hotel to the wedding venue.
The big reveal
Having “first looks” with the wedding party is another trend that brides have been adding to the big day to get some good photos. “A lot of brides like to do a reveal to their wedding party or family members if they aren’t doing a first look with their future spouse — meaning seeing each other before the ceremony,” Sheehy said.
Sendoffs
One of the latest trends is making the “sendoff” for the bride and groom extra special with things like sparklers, confetti and goodbye tunnels. “They are a lot of fun,” Sheehy said. “Younger couples want to incorporate some things they can share on social media.” She’s seen couples do “mock sendoffs” so they can get the best photos while their photographer is still there and then go back to the party, rather than waiting until the end and risking not having good photos and missing any guests who might not stay for the whole celebration.
The big day
Scaling back
“Covid impacted guest lists, changing what the [traditional wedding] looks like,” Sheehy said. “A lot of couples are scaling back to smaller events.” She said that even last summer, when Covid numbers were lower and more weddings were able to happen, people were still enjoying the feel of a more intimate event. Suddenly it was OK for couples not to invite estranged relatives or friends of friends or anyone on their parents’ guest wish lists.
Tossing traditions
What’s a wedding without the chicken dance? A perfectly good one, according to all the couples who are passing on some of the most traditional parts of a wedding. “The bouquet toss, the garter toss, the dance [with a parent] — there’s no reason to force it,” Sheehy said. Families don’t have to sit on one side of the aisle or the other, and wedding favors are not required: “They just get thrown away,” Sheehy said. “They’re the most commonly left behind item at weddings.” And yes, you can have the chicken dance if you want it, but a lot of couples are prioritizing what they want over what is expected. “They’re making sure the music played is reflective of the genres they like and the artists they like,” Sheehy said, whether that means working up a playlist with a DJ before the big day or bringing in live music.
Making it last
Though many wedding ceremonies are getting smaller, some couples are spreading out their nuptial celebrations over a whole weekend. According to Sheehy, this might include a welcome dinner or welcome drinks with a small guest count the night before the event. Then there’s the wedding day itself, and that could be followed by a sendoff brunch the next day. “It’s another opportunity to get [to spend] time with people,” she said.
— Meghan Siegler
Venues
Barn
If you want the beauty of a natural setting without sacrificing the amenities of an indoor space, a barn venue could fit the bill for your wedding.
Timber Hill Farm. Photo by True Presence Photography.
“Many [barn venues] come with gorgeous colonial farm backdrops … [and may] include a farm stay for the bridal party,” said Isaac Howe, general manager at Timber Hill Farm in Gilford.
Though barns are a popular venue for weddings with a rustic aesthetic, their simplicity makes them versatile enough to accommodate a variety of styles.
“Rustic, boho chic, modern, vintage or glam —none of it feels out of place in a barn,” said Eric Stephens, co-owner of The Barn at Bull Meadow in Concord.
If you’re looking for a formal venue, don’t rule out a barn; with the right lighting, drapery and decor, a barn can be as casual or as formal as you want.
“Most barns would likely cater to a more casual couple,” said The Barn at Bull Meadow co-owner Jenn Stephens. “However, some barns certainly have the potential to be transformed into elegant venues, with a little designer touch or a couple with a lot of ambition.”
Brewery
Couples who have a shared interest in beer or brewing and are open to nontraditional wedding venues could consider getting married at a local brewery that is available for private events.
“Breweries, at their heart, are manufacturing facilities,” said Jenni Share, co-founder and CEO of To Share Brewing Co. in Manchester. “Every brewery is different, but most taprooms will have a casual vibe … [in] a relaxed, industrial atmosphere with lots of stainless steel tanks and great beer.”
Many breweries offer add-on services for weddings held at their facilities and work with couples to customize their experience.
“A couple can get married on the steps of the brewhouse, have cocktail hour in the beer garden, and [have] the reception in the taproom with free pinball and shuffleboard,” Share said, adding that the brewery can also assist couples in creating a unique one-off wedding brew. “The day will really stand out for the couple and their guests.”
Mountaintop
A mountaintop venue may appeal to nature-lovers and couples seeking a quiet, remote location far from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives.
“Being outside [in] the peace and serenity of nature while celebrating such a special day allows the couple [and] guests to really take a breath and … enjoy the moment fully,” said Heidi Glavin, assistant general manager at Purity Spring Resort in Madison. “[It] offers [them] time to just slow down … and enjoy everything around them without noise or the confines of a building.”
Some couples choose a mountaintop venue because they share a passion for skiing, or because skiing played a part in their love story.
“They want to celebrate that piece of their relationship,” Glavin said, “riding the chairlift to the top of the mountain, where they walk down the aisle and join together in marriage.”
The biggest selling point for getting married on a mountain is the “incredible views of surrounding mountains, lakes and valleys,” Glavin said, and couples may want to consider the scenery of the changing season when setting the date for their wedding. It comes as no surprise, she said, that mountaintop weddings are often held in the fall.
“The spectacular New Hampshire foliage is a huge draw,” Glavin said. “The colors and air during the fall foliage [here] are unlike anywhere else.”
Restaurant
For a budget-friendly indoor venue, consider a local restaurant with a function room. Restaurants that host weddings are typically equipped to oversee multiple aspects of a wedding, which could include the food, bar, furniture and room setup, decor, dishware and table setup, cake and cake-cutting, dance floor and DJ or live music.
“A restaurant comes with many advantages over other wedding venues,” said Mike Kirouac, owner of XO Bistro in Manchester. “First and foremost is the flexibility. … We’ve seen very relaxed and casual weddings to formal weddings. … You can rent the room for the whole day or half [a day], or you can have just the reception here. The options are really endless.”
Tamra Burke, function manager at The Red Blazer in Concord, said that if food is one of your top priorities, a restaurant could be the perfect venue for you.
“Folks that book a restaurant for their wedding reception typically think of the food first [and] what they want to serve their guests,” Burke said. “They book their favorite restaurant; we hear that a lot.”
Historic sites and landmarks
New Hampshire is home to all kinds of historic sites and landmarks that can serve as unique wedding venues.
“Because of the range of styles at historic venues, [couples] can find something that fits their personalities and their vision for the day,” said Susanna Crampton, public relations officer for Historic New England.
Rae Easter, marketing and development coordinator at Canterbury Shaker Village, said there is a variety of reasons that couples choose to get married at historic venues: they have a love and respect for history and culture; the site holds personal significance or nostalgia for them; or they believe in the mission of the venue’s affiliated nonprofit or organization.
“A historic space … that aligns with [the couples’] values [can] make the day even more special,” Easter said. “By having your wedding at that historic or landmark venue, you’re supporting [its] organization through that connection.”
The biggest appeal of historic venues, Easter said, is that they promise couples a wedding that is truly one of a kind.
“They provide an atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else,” she said. “They can make your event feel like a destination wedding, even if you’re getting married in your own hometown.”
Oceanside
At Seacoast venues like the Seacoast Science Center, couples can say their “I do”s by the ocean while still enjoying all the amenities of a traditional wedding.
“The Center allows for the best parts of an oceanside wedding,” Seacoast Science Center event coordinator Hollie Dutton said. “[It has] an amazing outside tent for eating and dancing, plus comfortable places inside to gather and have quiet conversations while viewing ocean life.”
Oceanside weddings offer a unique sensory experience and stunning views, Dutton said, which change every hour with the coming and going of the tides and the colors of the sky.
“The couples and their guests hear the sounds of waves and watch the sailboats go by,” she said, “or see Isles of Shoals off in the distance during their ceremony and wedding photos on the rocks with the ocean waves behind.”
— Angie Sykeny
Food
Food trucks
Hiring a food truck as your primary wedding caterer isn’t just a casual alternative to a traditional dinner — it’s also a great way to get fresh hot food served directly out the window to your plate.
Windham chef Adam Wactowski of the Walking Gourmet food truck has had so much business lately with private events, including weddings, that he hasn’t been open to the public nearly as often as before. He said the overall ability to create personalized menus from a food truck is among the biggest draws for couples looking to serve something a little different for their guests.
“I have a few menus that I have in place that people can choose, so I have a taco menu, a burger menu and a barbecue menu, and then a steak and chicken menu if they’d want to go with more of a plated dinner,” Wactowski said. “For weddings, a lot of people seem to like the tacos.”
Doug Loranger of Ranger’s BBQ, based in Nashua, said he has noticed a significant increase in wedding inquiries over the last couple of years, particularly since the start of the pandemic.
“We have gone outside the barbecue realm in some cases,” he said. “I think one of the reasons why people like to go with a food truck is because there’s usually so much variety.”
Doughnut walls
A doughnut wall is exactly what it sounds like — a wall filled with doughnuts of all colors and flavors hanging from pegs. Not all doughnut walls are created equal, said Stacy Lamountain of City Moose Catering in Nashua, but they’re always a hit around a reception’s dessert table.
Doughnut wall. Photo courtesy of City Moose Catering.
“It’s one of those things that has become such an exciting experience for people,” she said. “You have this big board you put on a table and people are watching you putting out the doughnuts and getting excited about each flavor that comes out. … Then, you literally have to hold the guests back from attacking it before the bride and groom can see it or before the photographer can take a picture of it. Everyone wants to get a picture of the doughnut wall first.”
City Moose’s doughnut wall is custom-made from walnut wood by Lamountain’s sister, with pegs that are long enough to fit up to four doughnuts on each.
“You put them up there, they are displayed beautifully and then the guests can help themselves at their leisure to take them right off and enjoy,” she said. “We’ve even done a doughnut wall that had heat lamps on each side for apple cider doughnuts, so you get them all nice and warm.”
Macaroni and cheese bars
If you want to serve a buffet at your wedding reception that’s a little untraditional, a macaroni and cheese bar can offer countless flavor variations. Amanda Storace of Moments to Remember, based in New Boston, has macaroni and cheese bars planned at five weddings this year alone, and has worked with businesses like The Common Man and Mac-n-Choose (formerly the Mr. Mac’s locations in Tyngsboro and Westford, Mass.) to coordinate different serving options.
“People want to put a new spin on something other than a plated meal, and a mac and cheese bar is an easy way to do that,” Storace said. “I did a wedding last year that had a mac and cheese bar. The guests got little martini glasses, and they got a mac and cheese base and a bunch of stuff they could add to it, so things like bacon, chicken, barbecue sauce [and] pulled pork.”
Grazing tables and charcuterie boards
A custom grazing table is already all about putting together an edible work of art. So if you’re building one for your wedding, there are all kinds of ways to make it even more creative.
“Rather than have it be just a flat table full of cheese and crackers, we like to give our grazing tables height and dimension,” Lamountain said. “We have them on three tiers and so they look all elegant and elevated. … Our grazing tables are customizable too, so you can have your cheese, your crackers, your fruits, your vegetables and any other fun stuff that you want.”
One of City Moose’s most popular grazing table items, Lamountain added, is not a food you’re typically likely to find on a cheese board with fruits, vegetables and crackers.
“When you think of weddings, you don’t think of chips and dip,” she said, “but I can’t even tell you how many gallons and bucketloads of our house fried chips that we make every single wedding season. We put them right there with your cheese and crackers and they come with a traditional onion dip. We make that the same way you do at home for any family gathering. … Usually people also have those at their cocktail hour for appetizers.”
Breakfast for dinner
There’s no rule that says breakfast should only be served the morning after the reception — in fact, Lamountain said City Moose has catered several breakfast or brunch-themed weddings.
“Breakfast … lends itself much better to a buffet rather than a plated-style meal,” she said. “You can do all the things that we all love for breakfast, so a buffet full of scrambled eggs, thick cut bacon, homefries, [and] maybe some apple-stuffed French toast. … We’ve also done chicken and waffles too, so that’s something for people who want to have that option to feel like a little more of a full lunch or dinner than just breakfast. It’s very untraditional for a wedding menu meal, but a super crowd-pleaser.”
Cookie molds
From cupcakes and cake pops to cannolis or whoopie pies, there are all kinds of ways to get creative beyond the traditional wedding desserts. Liz George of Newmarket is the owner of Golden Swan Sweets — in addition to creating wedding and smaller celebration cakes, about four years ago George started working with ceramic cookie molds in various designs, which were originally created by Lucy Natkiel of Brown Bag Designs in Hill.
George has collected dozens of cookie molds, including around 15 heart or flower molds that make great additions to a dessert table at a wedding or bridal shower. Each one starts out as a plain butter cookie that is individually hand-pressed, baked and painted with a luster dust, or a decorating powder usually mixed with alcohol or an extract, turning it into a work of art.
“Most of the molds are very large, creating cookies that are about 6 inches tall,” George said. “I do have smaller ‘cut-apart’ cookie molds as well.”
Ordering and information on her cookie molds is available at her website, goldenswansweets.com, or through her Facebook page @goldenswansweets.
Bartenders for hire
On the Rocks Bartending. Courtesy photo.
If you want help creating a signature cocktail for your big day or a custom beverage menu for your wedding guests, a professional bartending service can help with all that and more.
Amanda Thomas is a seasoned bartender and the owner of On the Rocks Bartending and Event Services, a mobile bar business based in Nashua. While it doesn’t hold a liquor license to sell, On the Rocks is fully insured and certified and works with clients to help them stay within their drink budget, even lending a hand in writing their shopping lists.
“They provide the liquor and we provide the service, basically,” Thomas said. “So that saves the couple a huge amount of money, because they can buy whatever they want, [and] they can return the liquor within 30 days if it’s unopened and unused, and get their money back.”
In addition to working with couples on creating special cocktails for the occasion, some of Thomas’s services include a draft system that can tap up to four kegs of beer or spiked seltzer without any refrigeration, a feature that especially comes in handy for ceremonies in the middle of fields or in open areas. She also recently introduced a 1985 vintage Kingston horse trailer that has been converted into a mobile bar for use at weddings.
“I would say that more than 50 percent of the weddings in New Hampshire are either at a barn or outdoors in a backyard, and so the horse trailer just fits in perfectly with that aesthetic that people are looking for,” she said. “It’s booked for probably at least 30 weddings this year already.”
— Matt Ingersoll
Featured photo: A sparkler sendoff. Photo by Meghan Kannan Photography.
The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire will present a screening of the documentary Simba: King of the Beasts (1928) tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Wilton Town Hall Theatre (40 Main St. in Wilton; wiltontownhalltheatre.com). Admission costs $10 per person and supports the museum, according to a press release. The silent film will be accompanied by live music by Jeff Rapsis. The film is part of a presentation — “Martin and Osa Johnson: Adventure’s First Couple,” which will also include a lecture, the release said.
Friday, Jan. 28
Also opening tonight: Mary & Me, a one-woman show about a girl in 1980s Ireland, at the Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315). Tonight’s show is at 7:30 p.m. The show will run Fridays (7:30 p.m.), Saturdays (7:30 p.m.) and Sundays (2 p.m.) through Sunday, Feb. 13. Tickets cost $22 for adults. Angie also spoke with Emily Karelitz, the show’s star, in last week’s issue; find that conversation on page 11.
Friday, Jan. 28
Heat up winter with The Full Monty, the musical based on the 1997 film, which begins a four-week run at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) tonight with a show at 7:30 p.m. The show runs Fridays through Sundays, with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays and noon on Sundays, as well as Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $39 and $46 (plus fees, for adults). Angie Sykeny talked to Carl Rajotte, the director of the show, in last week’s (Jan. 20) issue of the Hippo; find that conversation on page 10.
Saturday, Jan. 29
Catch the Metropolitan Opera’s HD Live broadcast of Rigolettotoday at 12:55 p.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets cost $26 for adults (plus fees) and doors open at 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 29
Attend a virtual event with Isabel Allende to promote her new book Violeta via Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; 224-0562, gibsonsbookstore.com). The Zoom event starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $28 plus a $3.33 for a bundle that includes a copy of the book (for pickup at Gibson’s; for an additional cost, you can have the book shipped to you).
Wednesday, Feb. 2
Inject a little art into your midday. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; 669-6144, currier.org) has restarted its Wednesday “Art Conversations from Home” sessions at 1 p.m. via Zoom. Each week a different work is discussed during the 30-minute program (which is geared toward adults). Admission is free but register online in advance. This week the focus will be Franz Lenk’s “The Old Weir (Altes Wehr).”
Save the date! Friday, Feb. 11
Is the music of Bruce Springsteen your love language? Check out “Bruce in the USA,” a tribute to the music of the Boss, on Friday, Feb. 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester; 641-7000, anselm.edu/dana-events).
Featured photo. The Full Monty. Photo courtesy of the Palace Theatre.
Summer 2021 in New Hampshire saw 4.4 million visitors, who spent more than $2.1 billion, which broke the previous record in Summer 2019 with a 21-percent increase in visitors and a 5-percent increase in spending for the season. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development, fiscal year 2021 as a whole had a record number of visitors at 12.8 million, with spending over $5.5 billion, equaling $322.6 million in state tax revenue. “Our tourism team here at BEA kept a marketing presence in key states throughout the pandemic, so while other states retreated, we were poised to come out of the gate fast … and that worked,” Taylor Caswell, commissioner of New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs, said in the release.
Score: +1
Comment: The total fiscal year 2021 returns on investment generated $197 in visitor spending for each $1 invested in marketing efforts, and $12.08 in tax revenue for each $1 invested, according to the release.
Souped-up recycling
Manchester has made another step in its commitment to invest in environment-friendly practices, recently becoming the second city in the nation to use ocean-bound recycled plastic in their recycling carts. According to a press release, the OceanCore carts are 100-percent recyclable and will replace broken or new carts for residents across the city. Ten percent of their post-consumer recycled materials are made up of recycled plastics found in and near waterbodies.
Score: +1
Comment: Other environmentally-friendly steps that the city has taken include the recent sale of $46.5 million in green bonds to help finance its program to remove combined sewer overflows into the Merrimack River for cleaner water; the construction of a solar array on the former landfill; and the addition of energy-efficient buses to the Manchester Transit Authority fleet, according to the release.
More personal finance classes, please
A recent study of personal finance curriculum and graduation requirements of all 79 public high schools in New Hampshire showed that many schools still do not require students to pass a class in personal finance to graduate. According to a press release, the study done by NH Jump$tart Coalition — an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that helps prepare youth for successful financial decision-making — was completed in late 2021 and found that 68 percent of New Hampshire public high schools clearly offer a personal finance course as an elective, in addition to meeting the state requirement for economics; 13 percent clearly require a standalone course in personal finance for graduation; and 6 percent require economics only.
Score: -1
Comment:There’s still plenty of room for improvement, but we’re getting there: According to the release, in 2013, only three public high schools met the state minimum requirement in economics and required students to pass a half-credit class in personal finance to graduate, while in 2021, 10 schools met those criteria (locally, those schools are Bedford, Belmont, Bow and Pelham high schools).
Lighting up the community
Granite VNA and Central NH VNA & Hospice raised more than $65,000 during its annual Lights, Life and Memories campaign to support hospice care. According to a press release, the community added to the more than 1,800 names in the online Honor Roll, and more than 600 names were inscribed on porcelain doves to remember loved ones who have died. And in December, 150 businesses throughout the Concord area were illuminated by Lights, Life and Memories purple candles to honor the lives of those who have passed.
Score: +1
Comment: The Community Memorial Service, with music, readings, reflection and remembrance, can be seen at granitevna.org/lights.
QOL score: 54
Net change: +2
QOL this week: 56
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
During the state’s weekly public health update on Jan. 19, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that, on average, there were 3,100 new infections of Covid-19 per day over the previous week, up from an average of 2,500 the week before. Just a day earlier, on Jan. 18, the number of overall cases of the virus in New Hampshire since the start of the pandemic officially surpassed a quarter of a million. According to Gov. Chris Sununu, the omicron variant is now by far the dominant Covid strain in the state, accounting for a high majority of new daily cases. “On the positive side, omicron … appears to have much less severe symptoms and it’s likely that there are many people out there who are asymptomatic or don’t even know that they have Covid,” Sununu said during the press conference. “[We want] to urge people … to really watch for symptoms. Be sure you’re taking them very seriously. … The booster is so critical and really makes all the difference in the world in terms of the severity of symptoms.”
New fixed vaccination sites with walk-in access opened in Stratham and Concord last week, with more on the way in Keene, Salem, Manchester and Nashua. “We’re trying to make sure we have good geographic access,” Sununu said. “In addition, we expect a teens fixed vaccination site to be online before the end of the month.” Go to covid19.nh.gov for the most up-to-date details.
Cancer concerns
Residents of Merrimack, Litchfield, Bedford and Londonderry are invited to attend a virtual public information meeting via Zoom on Thursday, Jan. 27, at 6:30 p.m., which will provide updates and answer questions on the status of cancer in the community. According to a press release from the state Department of Health and Human Services, the meeting’s agenda will include background on the protocol for responding to community concerns about cancer, the history of the response in Merrimack, the most recent data analysis and a discussion of the next steps in the investigation, before moving on to a question and answer session. Contact the DHHS Cancer program at 271-4959 or visit dhhs.nh.gov for more details.
New political poll
A recent Saint Anselm College poll found that 74 percent of New Hampshire registered voters believe the country is on the wrong track, versus only 16 percent who believe it is headed in the right direction. According to a press release, the college’s survey center at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics collected data from cell phone users on Jan. 11 and Jan. 12, each of whom were randomly drawn from a sample of registered voters. The poll also found that 62 percent of voters approve of the job Gov. Chris Sununu has done managing the Covid-19 pandemic, while only 40 percent approve of the job President Joe Biden has done. Full results can be viewed at anselm.edu/new-hampshire-institute-politics.
Energy and abortion bills
Last week, lawmakers addressed a couple of noteworthy bills in the House. According to a report from WMUR, the House voted unanimously to approve a bill to restore the state’s energy efficiency program, which proponents say would help homeowners save money, reduce costs for utilities, lower energy needs in the state and provide jobs to contractors, who would be needed to assess homes and help homeowners find more efficient energy options. The Public Utilities Commission gutted the program last year, according to the report, and energy efficiency contractors warned that a short-term effect will be hundreds of layoffs and difficulties for homeowners wanting to make energy- and money-saving improvements. An amended version of the bill has now cleared a Senate committee with full bipartisan support, the report said, and the hope is that the governor will have the bill on his desk by the end of February.
Another bill working its way through the House would amend the restrictive abortion laws put in place last year; the new bill would allow for exceptions to the 24-week abortion ban in cases of rape, incest or fatal fetal abnormality, according to WMUR. House Republicans overhauled the bill, replacing it with an amendment that would say ultrasounds are not mandatory before an abortion unless the fetus is within range of 24 weeks gestation, the report said
PFAS FAQ
The New Hampshire Insurance Department recently released a Frequently Asked Questions document with information on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) testing, according to a press release. PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals used to manufacture household and commercial products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water. For decades, they’ve been used in many consumer products, like nonstick cookware, stain-resistant furniture and carpets, microwave popcorn bags and other food packaging. According to the release, PFAS has impacted several areas of New Hampshire, including groundwater contamination at Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, and water and soil contamination and air emissions from local industrial facilities. Some studies of PFAS exposure in humans suggest that it may cause various adverse health effects. “The need for Granite Staters to access testing for PFAS chemicals is incredibly important,” state Deputy Insurance Commissioner D.J. Bettencourt said in a statement. “[We are] pleased to make this informational document available to help citizens better understand the role that their insurance coverage plays in testing.” The Frequently Asked Questions document can be viewed online in full at nh.gov/insurance, by clicking on “health insurance” under the “for consumers” tab.
Essay contest
New Hampshire Leadership PAC is sponsoring its second annual First in the Nation essay contest, available for all high school seniors in the state to enter. According to a press release, essays between 500 and 800 words must be submitted by April 8 — participants are asked to best articulate the benefits of New Hampshire conducting the first-in-the-nation presidential primary. Students can either mail their essays to Essay, PO Box 6052, Amherst, NH 03031 or email them in PDF format to [email protected]. Winners will be announced May 6. Cash scholarship prizes for the top three essay entries will be awarded during a presentation to be held in Concord on May 18. “The next generation of young leaders will be inheriting the first in the nation tradition, hopefully, and we want to inspire them to not only vote but to also be actively engaged in the process,” Republican National Committeeman Chris Ager said in a statement. For more details, visit chrisager.com/essay-contest.
The New Hampshire Food Bank in Concord was the recipient of $122,000 that was raised at the recent Distiller’s Showcase put on by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission. According to a press release, the eighth annual showcase, which is the signature event of Distiller’s Week, was the most successful one yet.
The Manchester VA Medical Center opened its new $14.5 million, 16,000-square-foot Urgent Care Center last week. According to a press release, the new center offers veterans increased safety and infection prevention, in part by relocating urgent care services to allow direct access from the outside and adding an exam room designed for women veterans, and a psychiatric holding room.
Students from Milford High School were named “We the People: The Citizen and Constitution” state champions earlier this month. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Bar Association, students from Hollis-Brookline and John Stark Regional high schools also participated in the final round of the annual event, which gives students the chance to show their knowledge of Constitutional Law principles through simulated congressional hearings where they “testify” before judges acting as members of Congress.
