Quality of Life 22/01/13

This one’s for the teachers

Area 23 in Concord is making snow days even better for teachers and school staff. According to Area 23’s Facebook page, if Concord cancels school in January or February, teachers and staff get drinks and food at half price from 4 to 6 p.m. that day. The eatery, located on North State Street, offers craft beer, cider and pub eats.

Score: +1

Comment: Area 23 gets an A+ for this snow day special!

Success at the slopes

The holiday week was a success for the state’s ski areas, according to a press release from Ski New Hampshire, with most resorts reporting that business was up for the period compared to last year. Pats Peak in Henniker, for example, had significant increases in admissions and revenue; general manager Kris Blomback said in the release that business was “absolutely booming.” At McIntyre Ski Area, there was an increase in the number of visitors who had never been skiing or riding but decided to give it a try, marketing director Aly Moore said in the release. Moore also reported that many guests chose to spend time outside on the patio around the fire pits, and at Pats Peak relatively mild weather had guests stay outside the lodge for eating and breaks.

Score: +1

Comment: With the Martin Luther King Jr. long weekend coming up, “snowmaking efforts will resume in full force to refresh snow conditions and expand terrain,” the release said

It’s beginning to look a lot like winter

The weather has been brutal lately, with unexpected icing Jan. 5 leading to cars off the roads all over the state during the morning commute, followed by a snow day for some on Jan. 7 and more winter weather that made for tough driving Jan. 9. QOL got caught off guard by snow squalls in the Hooksett and Concord area Jan. 10, and the following day, wind chill advisories were in effect, getting as low as 25 below zero, according to a press release.

Score: -1

Comment: Yes, QOL knows this is New Hampshire, but with Covid putting so many events and activities in jeopardy again, it would be nice if we didn’t have to worry every day about weather canceling plans.

Family-friendly Granite State

New Hampshire is the sixth-best state to raise a family, according to WalletHub’s new report of 2022’s Best & Worst States to Raise a Family. According to a press release, the personal finance website compared family-friendliness data for all 50 states, using information like median annual family income and housing affordability. The Granite State is No. 1 in two areas: It has the lowest percentage of families in poverty and the lowest unemployment rate. It also has the second lowest infant mortality rate and second fewest violent crimes per capita.

Score: +1

Comment: New Hampshire was above average in other areas too; according to the report, it ranked 17th for child-care costs, median annual family income and percentage of residents ages 12 and up who are fully vaccinated, and it ranked 19th for its separation and divorce rate.

QOL score: 50

Net change: +2

QOL this week: 52

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].

News & Notes 22/01/13

Covid-19 update As of Jan 3 As of Jan 10
Total cases statewide 203,749 223,599
Total current infections statewide 8,785 17,208
Total deaths statewide 1,973 2,027
New cases 9,279 (Dec. 28 to Jan. 3) 19,850 (Jan. 4 to Jan. 10)
Current infections: Hillsborough County 2,953 5,599
Current infections: Merrimack County 863 1,791
Current infections: Rockingham County 1,863 3,562
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

Covid-19 news

During the state’s weekly public health update on Jan. 6, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that New Hampshire averaged about 1,500 new infections of Covid-19 per day over the previous week. Just two days prior, the total number of deaths attributed to the virus crossed the 2,000 mark. “In the last week, we have been averaging about nine to 10 new people dying from Covid-19 each day in our state,” Chan said, adding that the majority of the deaths have been occurring in the community rather than in long-term care facilities.

Chan also announced new updated isolation and quarantine guidance, which includes recommendations adapted from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. The guidance breaks down details of recommended action for anyone who may have been exposed to Covid, either in the community or from another person in their shared household. According to Chan, the guidance applies to the general public, including workplaces and K-through-12 schools. It does not apply to health care settings, correctional institutions or homeless shelters. Go to covid19.nh.gov to view the guidance documents.

Gov. Chris Sununu also announced during the press conference that the state will be deploying an additional 100 members of its National Guard — about 30 of them will be deployed to long-term care facilities, while the other 70 will be helping out at local hospitals. Sununu had previously announced the deployment of 70 National Guard members back on Dec. 8.

On Jan. 7, Sununu visited Elliot Hospital in Manchester to welcome a team of active-duty service members from the federal Department of Defense. According to a press release, the team is composed of medics, nurses, administrative support and a physician and is expected to remain at Elliot Hospital until the beginning of February.

Open enrollment

New Hampshire Navigator, a nonprofit that offers assistance for accessing health coverage, is reminding people that Saturday, Jan. 15, is the deadline for residents to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace. According to a press release, anyone who misses the open enrollment period may not be able to get coverage until 2023. It is available to anyone who is not eligible for Medicare, Medicaid or employer-based insurance. The American Rescue Plan has made it easier for New Hampshire residents to get affordable coverage, the release said, and the number of consumers getting coverage for $10 or less per month after tax credits has nearly doubled. “Most people will be able to qualify for substantially lower costs this year if they get their insurance on the Marketplace,” said Jeremy Smith, program director for New Hampshire Navigator. “We are really urging people to look at the new plans and prices that are being released this year. In a lot of cases, the plans are more affordable than we have ever seen.” Anyone who needs help learning about their options or signing up can reach New Hampshire Navigator at 931-3858 or acanavigator.com.

Activists arrested

Four activists were arrested by Bow police on Jan. 8 after they entered the property of Merrimack Generating Station, the last coal-fired power plant in New England, around 4 p.m., while it was operating, and remained there for more than six hours. According to a press release, two of the activists locked themselves to the base of the inactive smokestack while the other two scaled the smokestack and dropped a banner that read, “Shut It Down.” They called on the owners of the plant to file a delist bid at an upcoming auction, the outcome of which will determine which power plants will be granted ratepayer funding to be on standby for New England’s electric grid. The owners did not agree to the demands, and the activists were arrested around 10:30 p.m., then released around midnight, with a court date to follow. No Coal, No Gas, a campaign launched in 2019 to end the burning of fossil fuels in New England, has claimed responsibility for organizing the activism. “We are determined to do what must be done to prevent this plant from running, even if that means we have to shut it down ourselves,” campaign coordinator Leif Taranta said in a public statement. “By our actions today, we sent a clear message that we are going to do everything we can to shut this coal plant down and pave the way for a better, more just future.”

Eviction extension

A proposal up for consideration at the Statehouse this year would, if passed, require New Hampshire landlords who are planning to repair, renovate or sell their properties, to give their current tenants more time to find new places to live before evicting them, NHPR reported. The New Hampshire law as it is currently written does not clearly regulate such evictions, leading many landlords to file the evictions under the catchall category of “other good cause,” giving tenants 30 days to vacate. The proposed bill would create new, more specific categories for eviction filings, with regulations for how landlords can proceed with those evictions. In the case of evictions related to non-emergency repairs, renovations or selling of the property, the length of time tenants are given to vacate would be increased from 30 to 90 days.

Teacher negotiations

The Nashua Board of Education Negotiating Team and the Nashua Teachers Union were unable to reach an agreement regarding the Union’s request for salary increases for its teachers, the former group reported. The contract proposed by the BoE Negotiating Team offered to increase each teacher’s salary by more than $3,300, with a minimum salary increase of $8,400 for top step teachers, effective immediately; increase compensation for school nurses; and adjust how starting pays are calculated according to prior work experience; while requesting that the NTU fully cover the NTU president’s salary, health insurance and other compensations without financial assistance from the Nashua School District, of which the NTU president is not an employee. According to the BoE Negotiating Team, the NTU did not agree to the terms, and the BoE Negotiating Team stated its intention to continue pursuing a successfully negotiated contract.

Student ID cards

On Jan. 11, Gov. Chris Sununu sent a letter to the Education Committee in support of Senate Bill 234, which would require schools that issue student identification cards to include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or their own mental health support helpline on the cards. According to the letter, the requirement would also apply to institutions of higher learning within the state but will not require grades six through 12 public schools to issue student identification cards if they do not already do so.

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness will soon run mainly on solar power; according to a press release, a 139kW solar photovoltaic array is being built in two phases, and when it’s complete it will generate enough power to offset nearly all the Science Center’s electric needs. The solar array could save about $26,000 in electricity costs annually and more than 250,000 pounds of CO2 emissions, the release said.

Atticus, a 10-year-old certified pet therapy dog, spent time with staff and patients at Concord Hospital – Laconia last week. The visit was to introduce the Laconia branch to Concord Hospital’s Pets Uplift People program, according to a press release.

The Plains Cemetery in Kingston, established circa 1725, has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. According to a press release, Josiah Bartlett (1729-1795), the first constitutional governor of New Hampshire and second signer of the Declaration of Independence, is buried there. The cemetery’s most elaborate pedestal monument belongs to Major Edward S. Sanborn, a Kingston native who funded the Sanborn Seminary and donated to several local churches and public improvements in the 1880s — and who earned his fortune as the proprietor of several prostitution houses in Boston.

A winter hike – 01/06/22

Taking to the trails this season poses a few unique challenges compared to spring, summer and fall hiking, but it can be done safely (and comfortably!).

Also on the cover, check out a new exhibit featuring quilts created by Hollis artist Ellen Fisher at the Nashua Public Library, p. 14. Osaka Japanese Restaurant opens in Manchester, p. 27. And April Cushman plays live in Concord, p. 34.

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A winter hike

How to stay safe and warm while exploring NH’s winter wonderland

By Dan Szczesny

At just over 2,300 feet, Belknap Mountain in Gilford is a hill compared to its cousins up north in the White Mountains. But every mountain in New Hampshire presents hikers with unique challenges, especially in the winter.

Add a little hiker into the mix — in this case 2-year-old Oren Driscoll — and tiny Belknap Mountain can suddenly seem as large as Mount Everest.

Young Oren had just finished exploring the active Fire Tower at the summit and he and his mom, Epsom writer and veteran hiker Allison Driscoll, were relaxing with lunch near the base of the tower. Like many of the fire towers in New Hampshire, the open grating and steep stairs can be tricky to even the most weathered explorer.

Not to Oren, though, according to the older Driscoll.

“He’s not a daredevil kind of hiker,” Driscoll said. “So he was pretty proud of himself.”

A few minutes later, a much older kid showed up at the summit but was too afraid to go up the tower. This was a big moment for Oren, and for his mom.

“It was interesting to watch a 2-year-old make that climb when a 10-year-old couldn’t,” Driscoll said. “That was a little bit of an a-ha moment for me, when we started to think that we were on the right track.”

Driscoll is the administrator of the popular Trail to Summit website (trailtosummit.com), a resource for trip reports, recipes, gear reviews and stories about inspirational female hikers. But even for a long-time experienced hiker like Driscoll, the hiking world changed when kids entered the equation. Add the treacheries of winter into the hike planning, and everyone suddenly becomes a beginner.

“It becomes about different expectations,” Driscoll said.

Writer and adventure hiker Allison Driscoll poses with her two children, 9-month-old Lyra and 2-year-old Oren, during a 2021 winter hike in Northwood Meadows State Park. Courtesy photo.

With the fall shoulder season firmly in the rear-view mirror and a pandemic still making normal winter indoor activities a challenge, more and more new hikers and families are looking to the enormous number of parks, mountains and trails in New Hampshire to get outside. But winter hiking requires a bit more patience, planning and, in some cases, skill.

“When you’re new to the hiking world, especially in the winter, people don’t know the difference between mountains and not mountains,” said Mike Cherim, owner of Redline Guiding (redlineguiding.com). “Your first step is to know what you’re doing so you can maximize your winter hiking experience.”

Cherim’s company, located in Intervale, specializes in matching hiking guides and routes with hikers, whether that be experienced pros looking to climb technical routes up icy mountains or a family of beginners learning how to snowshoe for the first time.

“There’s an expression we use,” Cherim said. “Mountains spare most fools.”

The key word there, of course, is “most.”

I set out to discover the process of turning a brand-new hiker (or a new family of hikers) into a confident and safe New Hampshire winter explorer. It all comes down to the acronym GPS: gear, preparation and selection.

Having the proper gear

Winter hiking, whether on a big exposed mountain or a close-to-home rail trail, is about two things: staying warm and regulating your body temperature. That goes for hikers of all ages, even kids. So the first step is to learn about layering.

“Winter hiking generates an enormous amount of body heat,” said Bartlett-based gear guru Philip Werner. “When perspiration dries, it’s transformed into vapor and pulls the heat out of your body.”

Layering allows you to regulate your perspiration and body temperature by literally taking off and putting on different layers of clothing throughout your hike. The key is regulation, Werner said.

The hiking expert and adventure writer is the owner of Section Hiker (sectionhiker.com), a hiking company that focuses on gear, ultralight backpacking and White Mountain treks.

“It’s counter-intuitive, but when you’re perspiring, take off your outer clothes,” he said. “You’ll actually be warmer.”

The best way to regulate your body temperature through layering is to practice off-hike first — maybe try out your layers in your backyard shoveling snow, for example. There are some general rules of thumb: base layer, fleece layer and heavy layer. The heavy layer (ski jacket, down etc.) is best for standing still, above tree line, or in heavy winds or a storm. For below the waist, a base layer and either fleece or shell pants or ski pants to mostly be enough. Again, in general, you don’t remove pants layers like you would torso layers.

Once you’ve got your layering strategy down, then it’s time to think about your feet.

“In general, if it’s your first time in winter, you’re going to want some sort of traction,” said Ken MacGray, a hiking writer and editor of the AMC Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide. “Yaktrax might be good for the driveway, but you’ll want to think about microspikes or even crampons — something with beefier teeth — if you’re climbing.”

As the writer of New Hampshire’s 52 With a View: A Hiker’s Guide, MacGray has plenty of experience walking families through the lower mountains that are part of that list.

“Southern New Hampshire has its share of really difficult trails,” he said. “For winter hiking, if the cold bothers you, you just won’t want to be doing this.”

Finding ways to not just deal with but thrive in the cold is an important first step to enjoying winter hiking. In the case of new or first-time families, a layering strategy may even take a back seat to straight up keeping tightly bundled.

“My daughter is strapped onto my back,” said Allison Driscoll, referring to her other child, nearly 2-year-old Lyra. “She’s stationary when we’re out there so we need to make sure she’s very insulated.”

Some other gear tips suggested by the experts include figuring out exactly what type of winter activity you or your family want to experience. Gear for a winter hike is different from gear for a cross-country ski, or for snowshoeing. Even the terrain you’ll be hiking on can lead to different gear decisions. And that leads to the next step of GPS: preparation.

Being properly prepared

Preparation is Mike Cherim’s business. Literally.

For the past five years Cherim and the dozen active guides on his roster have been not only guiding but training and teaching as well.

Redline Guiding owner Mike Cherim checks the security of the knot on a climber’s harness during a photoshoot at the top of Jockey Cap, a granite outcrop in the Saco River Valley in Fryeburg, Maine. Photo courtesy Corey McMullen of Corey David Photography and the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“We’re willing to take anybody and teach them the ropes and get them to where they want to be,” Cherim said. “A guide can bring so much to the table, not just facts, but putting things into perspective, giving some history, that sort of thing.”

Cherim was 4 years old when he hiked Mount Washington for the first time with his hiking-loving parents, and the hiking bug has been with him ever since.

But even if you’re not preparing for a huge, technical climb, or are not ready for a guide yet, a little bit of advance research into your routes and abilities can go a long way.

All the experts we talked to for this story recommended any beginning winter hiker take a walk through the many outdoor gear stores in the area (think acronyms, EMS, REI, IME) and talk to the store clerks, many of whom have winter hiking experience.

Werner suggested getting some practice with new, expensive gear by renting it first.

“Go to a place that rents gear and has groomed winter trails,” he said. “That’s a good way to experience snow for the first time. Or how about tubing or sledding as a first encounter ― there’s lots of overlap with hiking there.”

One particular group of first-time hikers ― kids ― may be challenging to hike with, Driscoll said. She hiked a lot, even when pregnant, but with her kids some of that preparation is mental.

“Being outdoors is so important for brain development and regulating emotions for kids,” she said. “Preparation sometimes consists of adapting to a new mindset.”

Finally, for a large swath of potential first-time hikers in southern New Hampshire, a great first snow hike could be on a rail trail (nhrtc.org). The state has close to 400 miles of rail trails to offer hikers, said Paula Bedard of the New Hampshire Rail Trails Coalition.

The nonprofit organization is designed to support and promote the dozens of rail trail organizations, friends groups and user groups throughout the state.

“What we’re trying to do is provide a forum where all groups can get together to share success stories and strategies,” she said.

With about 50 different rail trails throughout the state, the coalition plays a big role in the final key to hiking: selection.

Selecting the proper hike

Rail trails are virtually everywhere in New Hampshire. Most have easy access and parking and are generally flat and well-graded. Several, like the Goffstown, Derry and Piscataquog rail trails, offer miles of wide open scenic trail use right in the backyard of some of the most populated sections of the state.

“Every time I pull into my street, I can see people using the trail,” said Paula Bedard, who lives in Goffstown. “There’s been a huge uptick in usage [since the pandemic began] and it’s just continuing to grow. People are discovering rail trails they would not have otherwise.”

MacGray agreed that finding local trails nearby is a great first step toward tackling the higher hills. Rail trails aren’t included in the Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide, but plenty of smaller options are.

“There’s huge advantages to winter hiking,” he said. “No bugs, no moisture in the air, so better views and rocks covered up to make climbing easier.”

How to plan that first hike? For a first-timer in good shape, on a flat surface — say a rail trail — in normal winter conditions (not a blizzard), pick a trail that is 2 to 4 miles out and back. If you’re going up a mountain loop, or above tree line, stick to 1 to 3 miles. As for temperatures, for a first-timer with the right gear there’s really no limit; 0 is the same as 30. More importantly, you want to look at wind chill, storms, etc. It can be 20 degrees but the wind chill can make it feel like -20. That’s the important factor.

Family-friendly state parks in the southern part of the state to select for your first winter hike include Bear Brook, Pawtuckaway and Pisgah, MacGray said.

“There’s plenty of challenging, remote trails there for sure,” he said. “But many trails there are old roads so they are wide and generally not steep.”

Werner added one more reason to select winter hiking ― the wild life.

“There’s animal tracks, songbirds are out and there’s plenty of apps you can download and then just hold up to help you identify,” he said.

Driscoll agreed and recalled the first time on a winter hike that her son was visited by a gray jay, a large songbird that has a habit of feeding right out of hikers’ hands.

As for selecting new hikes, Driscoll said she and her son are now pursuing the state fire tower list, a collection of short hikes to active lookouts around the state.

“Lists add incentive for kids,” she said. “We just want to make sure it’s fun.”

Get outside and hike!

We asked the experts to recommend some fast, easy and family-friendly hikes in southern New Hampshire. They came up with a diverse and sometimes off-the-beaten-path list. Remember, even on a flat, easy trail, winter hiking can present challenges. Make sure you bring the proper gear for the weather and mind leave-no-trace etiquette on all trails and parks.

Paula Bedard

nhrtc.org

Goffstown Rail Trail, Goffstown: This 5.5-mile quiet, flat former rail bed runs through Pinardville, Grasmere and Goffstown Village. Voted one of the top 10 rail trails in New Hampshire by the Rails to Trails Conservancy, the trail’s hardpack surface is perfect for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing in the winter. The trail’s southern end connects up with Manchester Piscataquog Rail Trail and will take you right into the city.

Features: The Goffstown Rail Trail primarily follows the Piscataquog River and features excellent views of Glen and Namaske lakes. The trail is also a popular geocache area, with several caches hidden along its route. The trail is maintained by the Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail, so signage and kiosks can be found all along the way.

If you go: The trail more or less follows Mast Road and South Mast Road for most of the route, and dedicated parking for the trail can be found at a couple spots along the way, including off Danis Park Road and Moose Club Park Road. If coming from Manchester, you can also park down by West Side Arena off Electric Street at the Piscatoquog Boat Ramp, and cross the bridge to the southern start of the trail.

Allison Driscoll

trailstosummit.com

Marjory Swope Park trails, Concord: Marjory Swope Park is a fairly new hidden gem in east Concord, entrusted to the city in 2012 by John Swope, who named it after his wife. The primary trail is the Blue Loop, a 1.4-mile trail that circles the park. The Yellow Trail bisects the Blue Loop and goes up and over the top of Jerry Hill.

Features: The park features the remains of an old fire tower at the height of land in the park on Jerry Hill. The primary feature of the park, however, is Gilfillan Rock (featured in the “NH Rocks That Rock” field guide), a large rock ledge inscribed with dozens of names of hikers and students of nearby St. Paul’s School dating back 125 years.

If you go: Primary access to the Blue Loop and a small parking area can be found on Long Pond Road just north of Route 202.

Mike Cherim

redlineguiding.com

Mount Kearsarge, Wilmot from the north, Warner from the south: One of the jewels of the state park system, Mount Kearsarge can be reached from either Rollins State Park to the south or Winslow State Park to the north. This nearly 3,000-foot mountain may be located south of the White Mountains, but its bare summit and trail mileage can make it as difficult a hike as some of its northern cousins. It all depends on the weather.

Features: The main feature that makes Mount Kearsarge such a popular destination is its bare summit and tremendous 360-degree views from the top. There’s also an active fire tower up there. But the state parks at the southern and northern base of the mountain are lovely destinations in and of themselves for beginning winter adventurers looking to try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing for the first time.

If you go: From the north, Winslow State Park can be reached at 475 Kearsarge Mountain Road, Wilmot. Rollins State Park can be reached at 1066 Kearsarge Mountain Road, Warner. In both cases, during the winter, a road walk is required to reach the main park areas, but those are great places to break out the snowshoes and skis. We recommend checking ahead and keeping an eye on the weather.

Ken MacGray

kenmacgray.org

Nottingcook Forest, Bow: Nottingcook Forest is a large forest easement held by Bow Open Space that offers a series of criss-crossing and unique trails through the streams and runoffs surrounding Great Meadow Pond. In general the trails here are easy and perfect for winter outings.

Features: In addition to terrific views from the summit of Great Hill, the forest area features a number of interesting destinations, including Buffalo Rock, Six Acre Swamp, Duckbill Ledge and Steer Brook Gorge. Any of those destinations is no more than a 1- to 2-mile round-trip hike.

If you go: There are three primary trailhead/parking areas for Nottingcook Forest: South Bow Road, Crescent Drive and Woodhill Hooksett Road across from Hornbeam Swamp. Check the forest map beforehand to see which entrance gets you closest to the feature you’d like to visit.

In this recent photo from a hike up Mount Moriah, hiking writer and gear expert Philip Werner wears a fleece hat and pullover zip, double layered insulated gloves, softshell pants, high gaiters and a nylon windshirt. Courtesy photo.

Philip Werner

sectionhiker.com

Hedgehog Mountain, Albany: This small mountain (2,532 feet) is nonetheless a challenging winter hike. Once you’re comfortable with your winter gear and are ready to tackle a more significant hike, try the only mountain on our list in the White Mountains. This nearly 5-mile loop will test you!

Features: Hedgehog commands better views than many much higher mountains, including a stupendous view of nearby Mount Passaconaway. From the mountain’s east ledges you’ll find some of the best views of the Sandwich Range Wilderness to be had. Remember, this is not a flat hike. But it’s a great way to put all your winter training on flat trails to good use.

If you go: The trailhead and parking area are on Kancamagus Highway. The parking area is on the south side of the road, 21 miles east of Interstate 93 at Exit 32 in Lincoln and 14.2 miles west of Route 16 in Conway. It is signed for Downes Brook, UNH and Mt. Potash trails.

Featured photo: Hiking writer and gear expert Philip Werner stops for a break near Mount Garfield during a recent winter hike. Among his gear choices for this hike are softshell pants, single layer insulated gloves, a thin wool base layer shirt, high gaiters. Photo courtesy of LaBelle Winery.

This Week 22/01/06

Big Events January 6, 2022 and beyond

Friday, Jan. 7

Winter is for the birds — which birds? Find out today (and every Friday through Feb. 4) at the Birding Walk at the New Hampshire Audubon’s Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way in Auburn; 668-2045, nhaudubon.org) at 8 a.m. Admission costs $10 (per Friday); registration is required. All ages and skill levels of birders are welcome, according to the website.

Saturday, Jan. 8

Get some eats for your weekend at the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market today from 9 a.m. to noon at 7 Eagle Square in downtown Concord. Find the list of vendors (selling cheese, wine, baked goods, bacon, produce and more) at dcwfm.squarespace.com.

Saturday, Jan. 8

Drumming group Recycled Percussion finishes up a run of shows at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) today with shows at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $35 and $45.

Saturday, Jan. 8

See the Rockin Daddios, a Lakes Region-based vocal group, performing a night of doo-wop tonight at 7 p.m. at the Majestic Studio Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester; majestictheatre.net, 669-7469). Tickets are available by phone or online and cost $20.

Saturday, Jan. 8

Heat up this cold weekend night with Dance New England at Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) tonight at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.). General admission tickets cost $15 (plus fees). The evening will feature DaBomz Xclusive “spinning the best of the best music classics, new jams, and everything in between,” according to the website. Check out DaBomz Xclusive’s mixes at dbxdj.com.

Wednesday, Jan. 12

Put a little magic in your week with “Discovering Magic with Andrew Pinard” tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315). Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for seniors and students.

Save the date! Jan. 16, 2022

Branch out with your bread skills — the Derry-based Nomad Bakery will hold a “Winter Challah Braid-a-thon” online class on Sunday, Jan. 16, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Admission costs $50 and gets you a link to the session (with opportunities to ask questions) plus recipes and instructions to prepare dough for this class (and for a February class about sourdough challah), according to nomadbakery.com/baking-classes (where you can register for the class).

Featured photo. Loaf of braided challah. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 22/01/06

Upgrades for local libraries

Forty-two New Hampshire public libraries will get funding through an Institute for Museum and Library Services’ “Grants to States” program, part of the American Rescue Act Plan of 2021. According to a press release, the grants, which total $825,442, will be facilitated by the New Hampshire State Library and align with its 2017-2022 five-year plan, addressing three goals: expanding access to libraries and information services for patrons of all abilities; improving equity of access to library services by offering professional support for librarians and staff; and increasing innovative services and programming to meet the changing needs for library services. Numerous local libraries will receive grants, including the libraries in Concord, Derry, Goffstown, Hooksett, Londonderry Manchester, Nashua and Windham. Projects had to start after Jan. 2 and be completed by Sept. 30.

Score: +1

Comment: Examples of funded projects include upgrading technology, digitizing historical documents and oral histories and purchasing bicycles to deliver materials to patrons who can’t come to the library, the release said.

Gubernatorial brags

A recent press release from the Office of Gov. Chris Sununu was full of brags about New Hampshire rankings. The state ranks highest in personal freedom, economic opportunity and safety in the country, the release said, pointing to recently released data, like data from the U.S. Census Bureau that shows New Hampshire was the fastest growing state in the Northeast in 2021, with a population growth of 0.8 percent, and a U.S. News & World Report that puts the Granite State first for public safety. Other data rankings include: sixth best in the Tax Foundation’s Business Tax Climate Index, first for overall freedom in the Cato Institute’s Freedom in the 50 States” report, first for economic freedom according to a report from the Fraser Institute, and lowest poverty rate according to a report from Forbes.

Score: +1

Comment: The press release did not ask if New Hampshire had been working out lately, because New Hampshire looks great.

Making veterans’ wishes come true

Residents of the Manchester VA Community Learning Center were in quarantine and confined to their rooms due to Covid during the holidays, meaning they couldn’t visit with family. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Daughters of the American Revolution — who represent the Veterans Administration Voluntary Services — the VA center asked each of the residents for their Christmas wishes, then compiled a list for the DAR, which sponsored the wishes. In return, the DAR received a “wonderful gift” on Christmas Day, in the form of a message from the VA center: “When you make a veteran cry, it’s either a very bad day or a really emotional thing. The thoughtfulness of the gifts that were provided this year was truly breathtaking. I had five veterans tear up. They truly had one of the best days I have seen, in a really long time. Your organization’s kindness was beyond measure.”

Score: +1

Comment: The message also noted that “for just one day [these veterans] were young and they were showered with gifts and love.”

This feels familiar …

As 2022 begins, events are being canceled like it’s 2020. This week, Taste of Bedford, which was scheduled for Jan. 11, was canceled “due to the rapidly escalating cases of both Covid-19 and flu during this post-holiday period,” according to an email sent by organizers the morning of Jan. 4. NHSCOT’s Hogmanay, which had been planned for Jan. 2 was canceled, and an artist’s reception for a new art display at Nashua Public Library has been postponed indefinitely (though the exhibit is still scheduled to open for viewing this Saturday, Jan. 8 — check out the story on page 14!).

Score: -3 (one for each fun time delayed)

Comment: Come on, 2022, cancellations are so two years ago. Do your own thing!

QOL score for the start of 2022: 50

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 50

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].

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