Goodbye, 2020! We take a look back at how the pandemic affected the arts, food and music scenes in New Hampshire, and we (attempt to) look ahead at what we can (maybe, possibly) expect in the early part of 2021 and beyond.
Also on the cover, find in-person fun for the whole family, p. 14, or make your own beef stew with beer, p. 21. And flex your mind with all kinds of puzzles, starting on p. 31.
Covid-19 updateAs of December 21As of December 28Total cases statewide37,38841,670Total current infections statewide6,6885,508Total deaths statewide656715New cases5,513 (Dec. 15 to Dec ...
Hundreds of kids in Manchester and Nashua got to open presents this Christmas thanks to two very successful holiday programs. The Tower of Toys in Manchester saw its biggest number of donations and recipients in its nine-year history, ultimately providing two gifts each to approximately 1,500 children, according to a press release. And the Front Door Agency in Nashua distributed gifts to nearly 500 children through its annual holiday program, which pairs families in need with “adopters,” according to a press release. This year more than 215 families were given almost $100,000 worth of toys, clothing and groceries.
Score: +2
Comment:Both organizations noted that despite the widespread financial hardships caused by the pandemic, local communities really stepped up to help those in need.
Well-deserved thank yous
Frontline health care workers at St. Joseph Hospital and Southern New Hampshire Health got a big thank-you last week, in the form of gift cards to local eateries. The United Way of Greater Nashua presented each facility with 350 gift cards that were purchased with $7,000 worth of donations from the community, according to a press release.
Score: +1
Comment: The fundraiser was ultimately a gift to small local businesses too, as the gift cards were purchased from 15 small local eateries, including Main Street Gyro, Mr. Macs and SubZero Ice Cream, according to the release.
Vaccine scams
New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald issued a warning last week urging residents to be aware of potential scams related to the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine. According to a press release, there is concern that high demand for the vaccine may create an opportunity for scammers to try to take money or personal information by saying they can provide fast access to the vaccine. Though it’s not widely available right now as doses are first being provided to health care and front line workers, the vaccine will be available to everyone at no cost regardless of insurance status, and you will never be asked for payment in any form to reserve a vaccine or for confidential personal information, including your Social Security number or bank or credit card information.
Score: -1
Comment: If you receive a call or email from anyone offering quick access to the Covid-19 vaccine in exchange for money or personal information, call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-888-468-4454 or email [email protected]. You can also call 2-1-1 for information about the vaccine and its availability.
Pandemic struggles
A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which offers support for at-risk children, was recently released, identifying pandemic pain points — indicators that show families struggling with economic stability, food security, health insurance access and mental health — in all 50 states. According to a press release, Kids, Families and Covid-19: Pandemic Pain Points and the Urgent Need to Respond highlights how households with children are coping in the midst of the pandemic. In New Hampshire 15 percent of adults over the age of 18 living with children reported feeling down, depressed, or hopeless in the previous week, while 12 percent of New Hampshire families reported having slight or no confidence in paying rent or mortgage, and 10 percent reported they sometimes or often do not have enough food to eat, according to the release.
Score: -1
Comment:The report, which can be downloaded at aecf.org, also offers state-specific information about child well-being prior to the pandemic, federal and state support of families and children during the pandemic and strategies to help meet the needs of kids and families now and after the pandemic.
QOL score at the end of 2019: 93
QOL score at the end of 2020: 76
Change in QOL from 2019 to 2020: -17
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 a Dec. 22 press conference, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that New Hampshire had seen an average of 750 to 800 new infections of Covid-19 per day over the last week, numbers that were slightly down from the week before. While the test positivity rate has remained stable, at 9.1 percent as of Dec. 22, the number of hospitalizations has been up, he said. Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, also provided an update on vaccine distributions in the state. Over the previous weekend the Moderna vaccine received emergency use authorization and it is now approved for people ages 18 and older. “We received 24,200 doses of Moderna vaccine … here in New Hampshire,” Daly said during the Dec. 22 press conference. “About half … will be distributed to our hospitals … and about half are going to be used to launch our state-run fixed vaccination sites, as well as our mobile teams.” According to a press release from the Governor’s Office, 13 sites across the state — most locally in Concord, Hooksett, Londonderry and Nashua — were set to open Dec. 29 to vaccinate first responders and high-risk ambulatory care providers. It’s part of Phase 1A of the state’s vaccination plan, which includes approximately 110,000 people and is expected to be completed by mid-January. Over the next few weeks, Daly said, state health officials expect to receive approximately 9,000 doses each of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, with the exact number subject to change by the week. On Dec. 23, Gov. Chris Sununu issued Emergency Order No. 77, an order amending Emergency Order No. 37, which had been issued back on April 28 to temporarily halt the hiring of all full-time and part-time employees of the state’s executive branch for positions that are already vacant or will become vacant during the state of emergency, with a few exceptions, including employees in roles related to combating the pandemic and those working in child protective services. Emergency Order No. 77 adds that all full-time and part-time employee positions may be posted for internal and external applicants, provided they certify in writing that projected federal funds used to pay for the position can support it through the end of State Fiscal Year 2023, or however long the contract period lasts.
Drive-in House session
On Dec. 28, acting New Hampshire House of Representatives Speaker Sherman Packard sent a letter with details of the upcoming Jan. 6 House session to state representatives. According to a press release, the event will be conducted as a drive-in, with all representatives and staff staying in their own vehicles, spread apart across the largest parking lot on the UNH campus in Durham. The New Hampshire Supreme Court has said remote sessions are constitutional, but the House has not yet adopted a rule that allows it to meet remotely, which means it is obligated to meet in person, according to the letter. “Additionally … the anticipated cost in establishing a secure voting mechanism would be in excess of $300,000,” the letter reads. “In the absence of a rule which permits remote participation, such an expense cannot be justified at the present time, nor is it possible to resolve the significant logistical requirements of a remote session given the short timeframe and the unique challenges of the 400-member House.” On Dec. 29, Democratic House members held a press conference in response to the announcement of a drive-in legislative session, and Deputy Democratic Leader Representative David Cote released a statement saying that “This is the New Hampshire Republican Party saying that they are unable to do what the government has required individuals and businesses to do since the pandemic began … by working remotely to protect public health,” and that the plan does not account for Representatives who can’t drive or sit in their car for hours.
Supreme Court case
New Hampshire has filed a reply brief in the United States Supreme Court in response to Massachusetts’ position that the court should not hear New Hampshire’s case against Massachusetts for taxing New Hampshire residents who work remotely for Massachusetts companies, according to a press release from the Office of the Governor. “Massachusetts’ current position is a far cry from our country’s rallying call of ‘no taxation without representation,’ — which they seem to have forgotten originated in their state,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement. The reply brief argues that Massachusetts is downplaying the seriousness of New Hampshire’s claim in that it contends that the Tax Rule does not impede any tax policy New Hampshire desires to implement, that the Tax Rule maintains the status quo because Massachusetts continues to impose an income tax on nonresidents solely for Massachusetts-sourced income, and that the Tax Rule addresses a temporary problem, according to the release.
Members of the Buntin Rumford Webster Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution gathered at the Old Fort Cemetery in East Concord on Dec. 19 to lay wreaths as part of the annual National Wreaths Across America Day, according to a press release.
It’s time to order from the 2021 State Forest Nursery seedling catalog, which is now available at nh.gov/nhnursery. According to a press release, the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands is expecting an increased demand this year and encourages anyone who wants to plant trees or shrubs in the spring to place orders now. All seedlings are grown onsite at the nursery, located on 16 acres of land in Boscawen.
The 27 men and women from Manchester who died as a result of experiencing homelessness in the past year were remembered during a virtual vigil held by Catholic Medical Center’s Health Care for the Homeless during Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day on Dec. 21, according to a press release.
A new primary care practice has opened in Nashua that will focus on “unhurried and patient-focused health care” for all ages and will help alleviate southern New Hampshire’s shortage of primary care providers, according to a press release. The Altrix Primary Care staff is made up of board-certified nurse practitioners who will offer a full range of primary care services.
A look at the history of this decadent seasonal dessert, plus tips for making them yourself and a few local shops where you can buy a professionally baked version of the holiday treat.
Also on the cover, Nashua students exhibit their “Brave New World” art outdoors, p. 12. Laugh your way out of 2020 with New Year’s Eve comedy, p. 32. And when all else fails, do puzzles! We have plenty, starting on p. 34.
Covid-19 updateAs of December 14As of December 21Total cases statewide31,87537,388Total current infections statewide6,7526,688Total deaths statewide604656New cases6,059 (Dec. 8 to Dec ...
The Concord Coalition to End Homelessness announced last week that it has purchased the First Congregational Church of Concord at 177 N. Main St. with CARES Act funding, and it has temporarily moved its Winter Shelter and Resource Center to the larger space. According to a message on the nonprofit’s website, this will allow the shelter to go back to being able to safely accommodate up to 40 people in the Emergency Winter Shelter and about 50 people at a time at the daytime Resource Center — the same numbers as before the pandemic. In Manchester, the Board of Aldermen has approved the use of the old police department building at 351 Chestnut St. as a temporary homeless shelter for the winter, according to a report from WMUR. The City is leasing two floors, which will be able to house 50 people, the report said. And in Nashua, the city’s Soup Kitchen and Shelter will open its new emergency shelter on Spring Street about six months earlier than the anticipated Summer 2021 completion date, according to a story in the Union Leader. The renovation project was fast-tracked because of the pandemic and the need for more space due to social distancing protocols.
Score: +1
Comment: With all three cities finding ways to create more emergency shelter space, it’s a positive step toward ensuring that all New Hampshire residents have a warm place to stay this winter.
Honoring Christa McAuliffe
A commemorative coin in honor of Christa McAuliffe that supports STEM education was unveiled last week. According to a press release, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan led the effort to create the coin to honor McAuliffe, the Concord teacher who died aboard the space shuttle Challenger in 1986. Proceeds will support science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. “Christa was driven by a passion for teaching and scientific discovery, and this … coin will help continue her legacy,” Hassan said in the release.
Score: +1
Comment: In the release, Shaheen and Hassan thanked local inventor and engineer Dean Kamen for the efforts he contributed to making the coin a reality, and for all the work he does to help engage young people in the STEM fields.
So much snow, so little parking
After the state saw more than two feet of snow in many areas during last Thursday’s storm, clearing roads and parking lots seemed to take significantly longer than usual. Some schools that were holding in-person classes were closed both Thursday and Friday to allow for extra time for clean-up. And on Sunday, three days after the storm ended, downtown Concord still had little to no on-street parking.
Score: -1
Comment:While road crews were likely overwhelmed with the sheer amount of snow and did the best they could, local shop owners may have been a bit dismayed too — the lack of parking along Main Street in Concord, at least, certainly made it frustrating for QOL to do some last-minute Christmas shopping.
Bike repairs on the go
There’s a new way for the public to make minor repairs to their bikes in Manchester — a Fixit bike repair station in Bronstein Park, funded through a grant from the Granite State Wheelers, opened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 18. According to a press release, Queen City Bicycle Collective worked with the City of Manchester Parks and Recreation Division to implement the Fixit station, which includes basic tools and an air pump that will help bicyclists make small repairs on the go. It’s the first one in Manchester, and the QC Bike Collective plans to have more stations installed at various locations in the city.
Score: +1
Comment: QC Bike Collective’s goal is to make biking safer and more convenient for people in Manchester, according to the release.
QOL score: 73
Net change: +2
QOL this week: 75
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 Dec. 15, the first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine were administered in New Hampshire to front-line health care workers, according to a press release. The state received 12,675 doses of the vaccine in the first shipment, according to the release, with more expected to continue to arrive on a weekly basis. The state is also expected to receive more than 24,000 doses of Moderna’s vaccine this week, according to a Dec. 19 report from WMUR, and the doses will be received in batches throughout the week. Vaccinations from both Pfizer and Moderna will be distributed to long-term care facilities this week, according to the report.
Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, reported during a Dec. 17 press conference that the state has averaged around 800 to 900 new cases of Covid-19 per day from the previous week. The day before, on Dec. 16, state health officials reported 21 deaths due to the virus, the highest single-day number of deaths in New Hampshire since the beginning of the pandemic.
Later during the same press conference, Gov. Chris Sununu provided an update on the final allotments of federal CARES act funding, which the state is required to spend in full by Dec. 31. An additional $7 million will be allocated directly to hospitals in the state, specifically those that have been hardest hit by the pandemic. “We know that a lot of hospitals have had to give up certain elective procedures, elective surgeries … to make sure that the beds are there,” Sununu said. “That $7 million, combined with additional over $70 million that the federal government is also allocating … creates a lot of economic opportunity for hospitals and doctors that have really been hard hit by this.” Sununu also said an additional $4 million will be allocated to the state’s university system to offset some unanticipated testing capacity costs, as well as $12 million allocated to nonprofit organizations. “We’ve spent it down almost to the penny, frankly,” he said of the federal funds. “The team at GOFERR did a great job of making sure that we had emergency funds available all the way to the end of the year.”
Speaker nomination
Last week, the House Republican Caucus voted to nominate Acting House Speaker Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) as its nominee for Speaker of the House, to succeed the late Speaker Richard “Dick” Hinch, according to a press release. The nomination will be decided on Jan. 6. “Losing Speaker Hinch has been difficult for all of us, and this is not my first choice of how I wanted this session to go,” Packard said in a statement following the vote. “However, we must continue our work, we must continue his work, and I promise that I will continue to further Dick’s vision of how he would have run the House.”
Money for vets
The City of Manchester is encouraging veterans who have needs that are directly related to Covid-19 to reach out to Easterseals, which still has CARES Act funds remaining for military veterans. All funds must be spent by the end of December, according to a press release, and veterans who need assistance because of Covid-19, including help with mortgage and rental arrearages, car repairs, back car payments, utilities, food, gas, childcare arrangements, heating costs and more, can contact Easterseals at 315-4354 or [email protected].
Low unemployment
Last week’s release of the November unemployment rates by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that New Hampshire ranked as the fifth lowest state in the nation, with an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent, according to a press release. “Balancing public health and economic success has been a priority of my administration from the onset of this pandemic,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in the release. “This latest economic news affirms that New Hampshire has taken the right approach and that our economy will come back stronger than ever as we near the end of this pandemic.”
Housing stability plan
The state’s new Council on Housing Stability finalized its initial report and action plan and sent it to Gov. Chris Sununu on Dec. 11, according to a press release. Sununu said in a statement that the council has created “an excellent foundation” for the state to begin updating its homelessness plan. He instructed state agencies to move forward with all recommendations that can be taken immediately through executive action, which includes applying for a federal waiver to support services that assist individuals and families in obtaining housing by May 1.
Changes at SNHU
Southern New Hampshire University announced last week new plans for its campus-based programs that it says will be more flexible, accessible and affordable — including a more than 50-percent reduction from its current tuition rate. According to a press release, SNHU will launch new and updated campus academic programs next fall, with greater emphasis on experiential and project-based learning. It will also move from merit-based to need-based financial aid awards, and a tiered tuition rate of just $15,000 or $10,000 per year. Starting in the fall of 2021, there will be more than 50 on-campus programs available. The $15,000 programs will feature face-to-face instruction, with flexibility to explore electives, internships, project-based courses, service learning, study abroad, and other experiential learning elements. The $10,000 programs will include at least 36 credits earned through required experiential learning components such as studio work, lab work, project-based courses, internships or certifications, and the remaining credits will be delivered in a mix of face-to-face classroom settings and online formats. There will be less time in traditional classroom settings, and faculty will be engaging with students in new ways, including as project leads, internship advisors and coaches. These programs are open to new, first-year students and rising sophomores. “This effort is the culmination of years of hard work to fundamentally reimagine a broken model that too often leaves students behind,” President and CEO Paul LeBlanc said in the release. “When we set out to radically reduce the cost of place-based higher education, we knew that it would require a holistic approach, and we are proud of the work our teams have done tirelessly during the pandemic to rethink the cost and delivery of our campus model to put higher education within reach for more learners.” SNHU is also aiming to increase campus enrollment from 3,000 students to 4,500 students by 2025, according to the release.
The First Congregational Church in Manchester is leaving its lights on from dusk to dawn, now through Sunday, Dec. 27, to showcase the recent renovation of its stained glass windows. According to a press release, the windows of the 1880 church are the culmination of a year-long restoration project, and the public is welcome to drive by and see them lit up. The church is located on the corner of Hanover and Union streets.
Rivier University in Nashua has been ranked as a top 100 school for nursing in the nation and as the top private nursing school in New Hampshire, according to a press release. The rankings come from the Nursing School Almanac, which evaluated more than 3,000 U.S. nursing schools.
Work has begun on a new 6,900-square-foot testing and engineering range at the Sig Sauer Academy in Epping. According to a press release from North Branch Construction, construction of the pre-engineered steel building is expected to be completed in late spring.
