All quotes are from The Tarantula in My Purse and 172 Other Wild Pets, by Jean Craighead George, born July 2, 1919.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22) But how were we going to manage the bath schedule? When we had the baby painted turtle in the tub for a couple of weeks before releasing him, it was simple enough to pick him up and put him in the sink while we showered. The ducklings would pop right out of the sink. If the ducklings have the tub, you can shower outside with the garden hose.
Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22) The scrappy little crow … clawed the air as if to tear us to pieces. I went to the refrigerator, took out a cold cheeseburger, and stuffed a bite in his mouth, pressing it with my finger to make sure he swallowed. He did, and instantly changed his tune. … At the end of the day we had a pet crow. Crows like cheeseburgers.
Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22) I saw another world through the eyes of my kestrel. It was a world of crickets, meadow flowers, cumulus clouds, thunderheads, and tree hollows. To get out of your own head, spend some time with nature.
Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)Virginia was also happy to see the mice go. She was smiling the day the cage went to the basement. With a thank-goodness-that’s-over sigh, she opened Twig’s windows wide and let the fresh air from the woods blow through the room. Then Craig came home with a baby skunk. Maybe bring back the mice?
Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21)The bullfrog arrived in a bucket with eleven other bullfrogs that Craig and his friends had caught for the high school science teacher. ‘We’re not going to dissect them,’ Craig told me. ‘The teacher’s planning some behavioral study.’ … Craig covered the bucket for the night. Around two in the morning I heard a pot lid clanking to the floor, and frogs croaking. The frogs have their own ideas.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21)‘I’m not going to play with that crow anymore,’ she said. ‘He takes all my toys.’ Who needs a greedy playmate?
Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19) The little raccoons could climb up trees, but they couldn’t climb down. … [Their mother] loped up the tree, grabbed one by the scruff of its neck, and dropped it to the ground with a thud. Then she dropped the other one, hurried down the tree, and stood over them while she scolded them with snarls. Baby raccoons are not known for planning ahead.
Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18) People see the world from an earthbound level. But ah, the bird. From the top of the roof, trees, and telephone poles, Crowbar got a bird’s-eye view of the world. He saw the entire neighborhood as well as what went on inside our house. From the trees he peered down at us through the windows. It’s a good time to recalibrate your perspective. And get a wheel alignment.
Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20) Weasels sleep as hard as they play. Play hard, sleep hard.
Aries (March 21 – April 19) The next day Twig and Luke came running to the sunporch, where I worked and kept my typewriter, library, plants, bugs, and other things pertinent to raising children and writing nature books. It’s a sunporch and an office!
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)‘Yammer [the owl] loves Road Runner,’ Twig said, and dashed to the TV…. A chord of music sounded, lights flashed, and all eyes — particularly Yammer’s — were riveted on that zany bird running on and off the screen. Enjoy a riveting performance.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20) My first pet was a baby turkey vulture, a carrion eater fit for witches and monsters…. He was a work of art. I loved him on sight. You never know who you’ll connect with.
2020, part 2 More businesses and organizations in New Hampshire are reopening and the state is coming out of shutdown mode. But we’re certainly not back to what life was like in January and who knows what “normal” is going to look like in the coming months. So, in this second half of 2020, QOL will restart the QOL meter, and restart at 50, as we do at the beginning of each year, recognizing that no 100-point meter can really gauge what it’s like to live in this unprecedented time (or accurately reflect all that has changed in the last few months). QOL score: ? Comment: There has been a lot of sadness over these past few months, a lot of frustration and a lot of fear. But there have been moments of optimism too. QOL will try to keep doing what QOL does best — pointing out the good stuff and the bad stuff that is part of life here in southern New Hampshire.
First in the nation! New Hampshire is the most patriotic state in the country, according to a study from WalletHub, which used data of 13 “key indicators of patriotism” to compare the 50 states. Among other findings, New Hampshire ranked first in Civics Education Requirement, fourth in Percentage of Adults Who Voted in the 2016 Presidential Election, sixth in Peace Corps Volunteers Per Capita, and 10th in Veterans per 1,000 Civilian Adults. QOL score: +1 Comment:Following New Hampshire on the list was Wyoming, then Idaho, Alaska and Maryland, while California, New York and New Jersey were listed as the three least patriotic states in the country, according to WalletHub’s data.
Prices at the pump The average gas price in New Hampshire was $2.07 as of June 29, according to GasBuddy, which is 13.6 cents per gallon higher than a month ago but 52.4 cents lower per gallon than during this week last year. New Hampshire’s cheapest station was $1.83 per gallon, and the most expensive station was $2.29 per gallon. Though the prices have been rising gradually in recent weeks, they dropped slightly last week nationwide, likely due to a resurgence in Covid-19 cases, according to GasBuddy. “Motorists across the country will likely be influenced by what develops in those areas — improvement and a slowdown in Covid would cause gas prices to continue rising, while a continued resurgence in Covid-19 cases and a drop in gasoline demand will mean lower gas prices,” Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in the release. QOL score: 0 (because while $2.07 is low, that under $2 was such a welcome silver lining) Comment: This is setting the state up to potentially have the lowest gas prices on the Fourth of July holiday since 2004, according to GasBuddy.
Great state for kids The annual Annie E. Casey Foundation report found that New Hampshire is the second best state in the country for children’s well-being. The Granite State ranked second in the family and community domain, which includes data like Children in Single-Parent Families (30 percent in 2018) and Children Living in Poverty (1 percent in 2018). New Hampshire ranked fifth in the education domain and sixth in both the health and economic well-being domains. QOL Score: +1 Comment: Massachusetts is the best state for children’s well-being, according to the report, beating New Hampshire in the education (second) and health (first) domains.
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]
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Governor’s updates In the past week, Gov. Chris Sununu made multiple announcements in the state’s ongoing response to Covid-19.
In a June 23 press conference, Sununu announced that $5 million in CARES act funding will go toward youth-focused programs in the Granite State, while $6 million will be used for mental health and substance abuse-focused programs and $7 million will be used for veterans service organizations.
On June 25, in a press conference, Sununu announced that all hotels, inns and campgrounds in the state were able to operate at 100-percent capacity starting on June 29, though the 14-day self-quarantining rules for out-of-state visitors still apply. He also announced the establishment of the Self Employment Livelihood Fund, which will provide up to $50,000 in funding to self-employed businesses in New Hampshire. To qualify, a business must not be permanently closed or be in bankruptcy and must not be a nonprofit. Applications will be accepted from July 6 to July 17.
Also on June 25, Sununu issued Emergency Orders No. 54, No. 55 and No. 56. Emergency Order No. 54 gives refunds of road tolls to private school bus owners or school bus lines when their vehicles are being used to transport meals to students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Emergency Order No. 55 extends the funding of the Covid-19 Long Term Care Stabilization Program through July 31. The program had been established in April, providing temporary stabilization funding through Medicaid for frontline workers in the state. Stipends of $300 per week have been distributed to full-time qualifying frontline workers, and $150 per week to part-time workers. Emergency Order No. 56 authorizes municipalities in the state to enter into agreements with property taxpayers on an agreed schedule for the payment of property taxes.
On June 26, Sununu issued Executive Order 2020-14, extending the state of emergency in New Hampshire due to Covid-19 for another three weeks through at least July 17. It’s the fifth extension he has issued since originally declaring a state of emergency on March 13.
Also on June 26, Sununu issued Exhibit J to Emergency Order No. 29, which had been issued on April 9. Emergency Order No. 29 requires state agencies, boards and commissions to submit recommendations to Sununu if any regulatory deadlines should be adjusted in response to the state of emergency. Per Exhibit J, annual Department of Education fees, such as licensing, licensing renewals, new courses, new programs and transcript requests, have been waived for FY 2020-2021. Details of all Emergency and Executive Orders can be found at governor.nh.gov.
Race fans Approximately 19,000 fans can attend the Aug. 2 Nascar Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, according to a June 25 story from WMUR. The rescheduled Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 will be the largest spectator event in New England since the Covid-19 pandemic started, WMUR reported. The speedway will be limited to 35 percent capacity, and social distancing requirements and safety protocols will be in place, based on an action plan that was approved by Gov. Sununu. Employees will have to wear face makes; fans will be encouraged to wear them, but not required. Other precautions include prohibiting fans from bringing standard-size coolers, and cash will not be accepted. “Being outdoors, having it being for a limited time, having a system where you can ensure the physical distancing for the vast majority of the event … gives us a lot of confidence” that the event will be safe, Sununu said, according to WMUR. There are about 7,000 tickets left; the credits that were given out for the approximately 12,000 tickets that had been purchased for the July 19 race date can be used Aug. 2.
Risk protection On June 28, the New Hampshire Senate voted 14-10 in favor of HB 687, which establishes a procedure for issuing extreme risk protection orders to protect against persons who pose an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others. The bill will now go to Gov. Sununu’s desk.
“The NH Extreme Risk Protective Order bill is designed to put a speed bump in front of a person who has access to the most lethal means available to do themselves or others harm,” the bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Debra Altschiller (D-Stratham), said in a statement after the vote. “It creates a tool for the people closest to someone suffering to prevent tragedy and get them help.” The bill’s co-sponsor, Senate Judiciary Chair Martha Hennessey (D-Hanover), said in a statement following the vote that New Hampshire’s suicide rate has risen 48.3 percent between 1999 and 2016, according to a report from the CDC. “In people under the age of 24, it is the second leading cause of death — it is clear that we must take action to address this crisis,” Hennessey said. “This bill creates a pathway for concerned family members and law enforcement to request assistance from our courts in protecting someone who may be a danger to themselves and others.”
Assault bill On June 29, the New Hampshire Senate voted to move forward with HB 1240, relative to the grounds for sexual assault and related offenses, according to a press release from the Governor’s Office. “Ensuring there is proper justice for victims of sexual assault is paramount, and this will close a critical loophole and protect students from sexual assault at the hands of those in a position of authority over the victim,” Gov. Sununu said in a statement. According to the release, HB 1240 “amends the definition of sexual contact in the criminal sexual assault statutes. The bill also expands the elements of the crime of felonious sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault to include sexual contact between school employees and students, and to include circumstances when the actor is in a position of authority over a victim who is between 13 and 18 years of age.”
Diversity training The City of Manchester has received a $20,000 grant to implement a Diversity and Cultural Competency Program for representatives from all city departments, according to a June 28 press release. Mayor Joyce Craig announced the City of Manchester applied for the grant from the Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation. “Our city employees serve one of the most diverse communities in the state, and it is critical that all our staff is equipped with the tools to assist individuals of all backgrounds,” Craig said in the release. “This program will create a network of city employees able to design and deliver quality cultural competency programs for all city staff.” The Mayor’s Multicultural Advisory Council — formed this year after Craig announced its creation at her State of the City Address — suggested this competency training, which will be facilitated by New Hampshire Health and Equity Partnership and the Southern New Hampshire Area Health Education Center. “I am very excited to see that the Council is already making an impact and bringing the positive changes we need to see happening in our city,” Arnold Mikolo, chair of the Mayor’s Multicultural Advisory Council, said in the release.
Health kits Health and Wellness Kits will be distributed to 25,000 families across New Hampshire, according to a press release, after the New Hampshire National Guard packs them up and delivers them to participating schools and pick-up sites in the coming days. The kits include dental supplies, Deterra pouches to safely dispose of prescription medications, and several flyers that promote well-being. The Choose Love At Home program is also free for parents this summer at jesselewischooselove.org. “While we are all working hard to protect the physical health of our children, social and emotional well-being remains of the utmost importance,” Gov. Sununu said in the release.
The public is invited to a free virtual tradeshow as the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce presents its 29th annual Business Showcase on Thursday, July 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. via Zoom. According to a press release from the Chamber, this event is for anyone who wants to connect with local businesses and community leaders, whether you’re looking for a job, need help from a professional to plan a wedding or renovate your home, or you could use advice for growing your business or investments. Visit.ConcordNHChamber.com/business-showcase.
The Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner opened July 1 and is offering self-guided tours and limited hours to practice social distancing guidelines, according to a press release. Temporary hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. and reservations are requested by calling 456-2600 or emailing [email protected]. The Medicine Woods Trail and Arboretum are free and open to the public each day, according to the release.
Construction for the new 18,000-square-foot, three-story headquarters of Manchester-based Members First Credit Union will begin this month at the corner of Elm and Salmon streets, according to a press release. The building will include full-service banking, a two-lane drive-up and offices for the credit union’s executive management and back-office support teams.
Nashua is getting a new yoga studio: On Sunday, July 5, Vibe Yoga will open at 182 Main St. and will feature vinyasa-based yoga paired with “invigorating music,” according to a press release from owner Melissa Coppola. All of the classes will have “awesome playlists of all different types of music, with some classes specifically offering hip hop,” plus monthly classes with live musicians and DJs. Follow VibeYoga603 on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
All quotes are from The Flame Trees of Thika, by Elspeth Huxley, born July 23, 1907.
Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22) The prospect of a party, even if it consisted only of one guest with nothing beyond a clean pair of socks in his saddle-bag, always gave Tilly’s eye a sparkle and her laugh a new contagious gaiety. Party time!
Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22) A simple grass hut could be built in a couple of days, but this needed organization…. You can’t just throw grass in a heap and expect a hut.
Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)‘… And when the coffee’s made a fortune for you, what will you do with it?’ ‘I don’t know what comes first,’ Tilly answered. ‘Robin wants a castle in Scotland, and I should like a safari across the Northern Frontier into Abyssinia and home by the Nile. And then I’d like to own a balloon, and to breed New Forest ponies, and to get to China on the trans-Siberian railway, and to have a model poultry farm, and buy a Daimler, and fish in Norway — oh, and lots of other things.’ Yeah, sure, just snap your fingers and it’s yours.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21)So that was why she was upset …. He did not know the reason, and went off thinking her careless and touchy. Avoid misunderstandings.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21)My reply caused the sort of laughter any child dislikes, because it has a ring of patronage; but Juma had made a meringue-crusted pudding with which I was able to console myself…. There is pudding for you.
Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19) I became friends with Sammy. To the Kikuyu he was stern and often arrogant, but to us he was always polite and dignified. Spread kindness to everyone.
Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18) I discovered gradually that a legend existed to fit every bird and beast … they were for women and old men to repeat to children in the smoky, firelit evenings.
Pay attention at story time.
Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20) ‘But what will I do for the dinner,’ she cried in deep distress, ‘when there’s no prime beef to be had in the country, and no decent turkeys either, and the fowls the size of starlings, and the mutton tough as old boots?’ Cereal. Or salad.
Aries (March 21 – April 19) In our circle of cool shade … we inhabited a different world from the sun-soaked Kikuyu ridges that stretched to meet a far, enormous sky…. It was as if we sat in a small, darkened auditorium gazing out at a stage which took in most of the world. All you need is one good tree.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20) An ant carrying a speck of food hurried across the dusty plain under Lettice’s eye. With a twig, she gently pushed it aside to change its direction, but each time it turned back to resume the course on which it was set. Ant beats twig.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20) … I was allowed to help scoop moist earth round the seedlings, and press it in with my fingers, which had all the delight of making mud pies with the added pleasure of utility…. Got mud? Make pie!
Cancer (June 21 – July 22) She disapproved of romantics, but of course was one herself, though she concealed it like a guilty secret. Self-acceptance is important.
A show for the littles The 2020 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series continues at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) with The Little Mermaid on Thursday, July 23, and Aladdin, Tuesday, July 28, through Thursday, July 30. The kid-friendly shows are at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and are about 45 minutes long. Tickets cost $10 and are only being sold over the phone.
A show for the bigs Catch The Goonies (PG, 1985) Friday, July 24, at 8:45-ish p.m. at Fieldhouse Sports drive-in (12 Tallwood Drive in Bow; fieldhousesports.com, 266-4646). Like many 1980s PG movies, this may feel more modern-day PG-13; Common Sense Media pegs it at 10+. Admission costs $25 per vehicle (for up to four people, $5 for each additional person).
No fall sports for UNH players and fans The University of New Hampshire Department of Athletics announced July 17 that its fall sports teams — cross-country, soccer, football, field hockey, and women’s volleyball — will not compete in intercollegiate athletics this year. “For months, we have worked … to establish safe protocols and practices that would protect our student-athletes, coaches, staff and the greater community,” UNH Director of Athletics Marty Scarano said in the announcement, which was posted on the UNH Athletics Department website. “As of the last few weeks it has become obvious that … the virus is not under control and continues to present a significant risk.” The announcement noted that all athletic scholarships and eligibility will be honored for this year. Score: -2 Comment:According to the announcement, the possibility of moving fall sports to the spring is being considered, and decisions regarding winter sports will take place in early fall.
Record-breaking spring turkey hunt New Hampshire hunters set a record during this year’s spring turkey hunt, harvesting 5,719 turkeys, which is 643 more turkeys than last year, according to a news release on the New Hampshire Fish & Game website. The youth hunt weekend also saw an increase, with a harvest of 500 turkeys (8.7 percent of the season’s total), compared to 424 last year. There were plenty of heavy birds this spring, with the largest weighing between 24 and 29 pounds. The top five towns for number of turkeys harvested were Weare (84), Concord (77), Gilmanton and Claremont (75 each), and Belmont (73), according to the news release. Score: +1 Comment:New Hampshire Fish and Game is asking the public to provide turkey brood observations through Aug. 31 for its annual turkey brood survey. Visit wildnh.com/surveys/turkeybrood.html to participate.
Backpack Drive is on The New Hampshire Department of Education announced in a press release that it is now accepting donations of new backpacks for its fifth annual Backpack Drive. Backpacks are needed for students of all ages and will be accepted through Aug. 19 at the Department of Education, 101 Pleasant St. in Concord. The backpacks will be distributed statewide to school nurses, law enforcement and PPE stations, which will make them available to students in need. “New Hampshire families sometimes struggle with the out-of-pocket expenses of sending their kids back to school, and this is one way people can lend a hand,” Diana Fenton, who first created the Backpack Drive for the department in 2016, said in the release. Last year, more than 600 backpacks were collected. Score: +1 Comment: QOL is welcoming all signs of normal “back to school” happenings this year.
We suck at driving New Hampshire ranks No. 5 in the nation when it comes to the number of at-fault car accidents, according to a study from Insurify, an auto insurance quotes comparison site that analyzed the driving records of 2 million car insurance applicants across the country. Their data found the following in New Hampshire: percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident, 15.71; percentage of drivers with a prior speeding violation, 12.78; percentage of drivers with a prior DUI, 2.13; and number of drivers with a prior reckless driving incident, 30 out of 10,000. “Based on New Hampshire’s high volume of reckless driving incidents … a possible determinant of this state’s accident rates could be a lack of common discretion on these less congested, open roads, leading to an abundance of carelessness and an increase in driving errors,” the report reads. Score: -1 Comment: At least we ranked higher than our neighbors, Massachusetts and Maine, which came in at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.
QOL score: 52 Net change: -1 QOL this week: 51 What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].
