News & Notes 20/07/23

Governor’s updates

Covid-19 updateAs of July 13As of July 20
Total cases statewide6,0686,249
Total current infections statewide621565
Total deaths statewide391398
New cases158 (July 7 to July 13)190 (July 14 to July 20)
Current infections: Hillsborough County354328
Current infections: Merrimack County3731
Current infections: Rockingham County134127
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

Governor’s updates
Gov. Chris Sununu made multiple announcements in the past week amid the state’s ongoing response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

On July 14, in a press conference, Sununu announced the creation of a new online portal through New Hampshire Employment Security, calling it a “centralized database for New Hampshire-based employers.” You can access it by visiting unemploymentbenefits.nh.gov and clicking on the “Covid-19 response recruitment” tab.

Also on July 14, Sununu announced the fall reopening plan for public schools across the state. The guidance documents were designed by the School Transition Reopening and Redesign Taskforce, providing districts with the flexibility to safely reopen, continue remote learning into the fall or adopt a hybrid model. The guidance includes multiple recommendations for professional development and staffing preparation, should a teacher or faculty member need to quarantine as a result of the virus. It also encourages school districts to actively communicate with students and faculty about social distancing and mask wearing. Sununu added that the guidance goes over transportation protocols and recommendations, such as encouraging assigned seating on school buses. Finally, the documents discuss what can be done if a school district elects to take the hybrid learning route, or a combination of in-person and remote learning and instruction. To view the full guidance recommendations, visit covidguidance.nh.gov and click on “K-12 Back-to-School Guidance.”

On July 15, Sununu issued Exhibit L 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 L, requests by employees of the New Hampshire Department of Administrative Services to use floating holidays have been waived through June 30, 2021.

In a July 16 press conference, Sununu announced that the state’s Business Finance Authority will oversee the New Hampshire General Assistance & Preservation Fund (NH GAP Fund), a new fund of $30 million for individuals and businesses that did not meet the eligibility requirements for the Main Street Relief Fund, the Non-Profit Emergency Relief Fund or the Self-Employed Livelihood Fund. The application period for the NH GAP Fund began on July 21 and runs through Aug. 4. Franchises and new businesses in the state are among the potential applicants of this fund. Visit goferr.nh.gov to access the application.

During the same press conference, Sununu said the state is giving a $19 million grant to the University System of New Hampshire for remote learning transition assistance, as well as a $6 million grant to the state’s Community College system for tuition support.

Details on all of Sununu’s orders and guidance documents can be found at governor.nh.gov.

Face coverings at school
The Manchester Board of School Committee voted Monday night to require face coverings when schools reopen, according to a press release from the Office of the Mayor. The board also voted in favor of modified classroom layouts with desks situated 6 feet apart. “By Aug. 10, Superintendent Goldhardt will present a reentry plan to help keep educators, staff, students and their families safe,” Mayor Joyce Craig said in the release. The board also pushed back the school start date by one week to Sept. 9, according to a report from WMUR.

House bill action
Gov. Chris Sununu was also busy signing and vetoing numerous bills in the past week, according to multiple press releases from the Office of the Governor. Here are a few of the highlights:

HB 1162 was signed into law. The legislation “enhances programs for at-risk children in New Hampshire and expands the Office of the Child Advocate” and allows unmarried couples to adopt, according to a press release from the House Majority Office. “This bill reaffirms our commitment and builds upon the progress we have made in reforming and enhancing the state’s child welfare system,” Sununu said in a statement. “While the Department of Justice has raised concerns regarding this bill as it pertains to the Office of the Child Advocate, I am confident that the Attorney General can work with the Office of the Child Advocate to ensure that the Office operates within appropriate legal limits and consistent with Constitutional requirements.”

HB 1240 and HB 705 were signed into law, both of which address sexual assault and related offenses, including in school settings. “We know that unfortunately, there are people out there who will use a power disparity to try and take advantage of others,” Sununu said in a statement. “This is something that even happens in schools. It is important that school be a place of trust and responsibility. If someone violates the trust and authority we place in them and takes advantage of a child, we are now able to act appropriately.”

HB 1280 was signed into law. “This bipartisan legislation lowers prescription drug costs for Granite Staters,” Sununu said in a statement. “Additionally, this legislation will inject transparency in drug pricing, allow New Hampshire to import low-cost prescription drugs from Canada, and puts a price cap on insulin to ensure no one will have to worry about being able to afford life-saving insulin. This bill now makes the cost of insulin in New Hampshire the lowest in the nation.”

HB 1645 was signed into law. It prohibits the use of chokeholds by law enforcement; prohibits private prisons in New Hampshire; requires police officers to report misconduct; further reforms bail reform; and provides funding to municipalities for psychological stability screening for candidates seeking certification as law enforcement officers.

HB 1266 was signed into law, making temporary modifications to the absentee voter registration, ballot application and voting processes in response to Covid-19.

HB 1166 was vetoed. The bill addressed federal unemployment funding under the CARES Act. According to a press release from the Office of the Governor, the bill contains provisions that violate federal law and would make New Hampshire ineligible for federal unemployment funding. “Our job is to open doors of opportunity in times of need, not cut off federal support when families are struggling,” Sununu said in his veto message.

SNAP online
Anyone who gets Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can now purchase and pay for groceries online, using EBT cards to purchase eligible food items through Amazon and Walmart, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. The pilot program is in response to the pandemic, allowing SNAP recipients to stay home and practice social distancing. The benefits cannot be used for service or delivery charges, according to the release.

New PSAs
District of New Hampshire U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray has announced the launch of public service announcements aimed at combating drug and gun crimes. According to a press release from the Department of Justice, the opioid crisis has led to an increase in gun use and guns being traded for drugs. In response, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has developed social media public service announcements to educate people about these illegal activities and their consequences. “Drug trafficking and violent crime jeopardize the safety and security of the citizens of New Hampshire,” Murray said in the release. “We are seeking to raise awareness about these crimes and to solicit the public’s assistance in helping us to make the Granite State safer. A fully informed public is a powerful deterrent against the harm caused by drug traffickers.”

North Conway has once again made the Top Ten Small Towns for Adventure list in the USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, according to a press release. This is the third year in a row that the town has made the list and is the only one that’s in New England. Access to Mount Washington and four-season recreation helped North Conway make the list, according to the release.

Deerfield resident Dwight Barnes will start a 1,000-mile walk on Aug. 17 to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of New England. Barnes, a retired McDonald’s owner and operator, plans to start in Boston and walk 20 to 25 miles a day as he makes his way across New England.

The Veterinary Emergency Center of Manchester has a brand new, 12,800-square-foot facility at 2743 Brown Ave., according to a press release. The center offers 24-hour emergency care and features full digital radiology, a laboratory and surgery and monitoring equipment.

Coppal House Farm in Lee will hold its annual Sunflower Festival from Saturday, July 25, through Sunday, Aug. 2, to coincide with the flowers’ bloom dates. The weekend will feature a craft fair, live music, food vendors, a wine garden and animal viewings, and there will be special events during the weekdays as well. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Find ticket information at nhsunflower.com.

Just keep running

Hovering hummingbirds, colorful salamanders, the occasional porcupine and more wildlife you might find in your neighborhood

12 Just keep running You don’t have to run every day, or far, or quickly, to reap the benefits of running. Find out how and why to get off the couch, why streaks are, in fact, awesome (should you choose to go that route), and why running a virtual race is a great way to alleviate the fear of the starting line.

Also on the cover, for its first live, in-person performance in months, Hatbox Theatre presents Copenhagen, p. 10. It’s blueberry and raspberry season; find out where to pick your own, p. 22. And Gurung’s Kitchen opens inside Bunny’s Superette, p. 23.

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Your backyard animal adventure

Hovering hummingbirds, colorful salamanders, the occasional porcupine and more neighborhood wildlife

Curious about the wildlife you’ve seen during your neighborhood hikes and backyard hangouts? Rebecca Suomala, a biologist for New Hampshire Audubon, and Lindsay Webb, wildlife educator for New Hampshire Fish and Game, shared fun facts about 22 birds, insects, mammals and reptiles you might see in the nature around you.

By Matt Ingersoll & Angie Sykeny

Birds

Blackpoll warbler
Most likely seen during the summer into early September, especially in spruce-fir forests
“Blackpoll,” Suomala said, refers to the black cap of this bird seen in males, similar to that of a chickadee or a goldfinch. Blackpoll warblers are characterized by their white breasts, black streaks and yellow feet. They also weigh less than half an ounce. Beginning in September, these birds make long-distance migrations, flying non-stop over the Atlantic Ocean for nearly 2,000 miles before reaching their wintering grounds in South America.

Northern cardinal
Most commonly seen at lower elevations
According to Suomala, the northern cardinal is the only species of cardinal you’ll find in North America. Over the past several decades the species has extended its range farther north, and it’s now found almost everywhere in the Granite State except in higher elevations. Males are bright red with a fat red bill, while females are a brownish color with red highlights and an orange-red bill. The northern cardinal is a year-round, non-migrating resident of New Hampshire.

Ruby-throated hummingbird
Most likely seen during the summer into early September
At around three to three-and-a-half inches long, the ruby-throated hummingbird, Suomala said, is the smallest bird that can be found in New Hampshire. It makes its home in the Northeast in the summer before migrating to Central America in the winter. Males have a bright red throat with feathers that are reflective in the sunlight. These birds feed on nectar from honeysuckle plants and cardinal flowers. According to Suomala, this hummingbird’s wings can flap up to 53 times per second and its heartbeat rests at 250 times per minute. A male can go into a dive at more than 60 miles per hour.

Insects

Green darner dragonfly
Most likely seen in your backyard if you live on or near a body of water
Green darners are among the largest dragonflies you’ll see in the Granite State, growing up to three inches long, about the size of a hummingbird, with a wingspan of another three inches, Suomala said. You’re most likely to see them around water — these dragonflies migrate to the north in the spring and south in the fall. Females will typically lay their eggs on vegetation in or near the water. In its nymph phase (or larva phase) it lives entirely underwater, feeding on insects, tadpoles and small fish, before the dragonfly emerges out of the water as an adult.

Luna moth
Not likely to see them often; your best chances are at night, or around big lights, in June or July, when the adults emerge from their cocoons
These bright green moths, according to Suomala, are commonly known as giant silk moths because of their size, which can be as large as seven inches with a wingspan of four-and-a-half inches. They used to be very common in New Hampshire, but their population has since declined. If you live in a city you’re less likely to see them, because the caterpillars feed on trees like white birches and hickories. Caterpillars will eat all summer before they spin a cocoon, where they spend the winter before emerging in June or July.

Monarch butterfly
Very likely to see them at the peak of summertime and into the early fall
Monarch butterflies are characterized by their large orange and black markings. According to Suomala, they spend their winters in Mexico, but the same butterflies don’t make it all the way back up north. In fact, it takes about three generations for them to return to New Hampshire in the summer. The caterpillars feed on milkweed and eventually make a chrysalis, which takes them about 8 to 15 days to hatch from.

Large mammals

Black bear
Common, with an increasing population throughout New Hampshire.
Black bears are omnivores, eating with the seasons whatever they can find. “They have a great memory and sense of smell, so keep your trash locked up tight and reduce other bear food sources such as pet food, bird seed, and keep your grill cleaned up and secured,” Webb said.

Bobcat
Sightings have been on the rise in recent years, especially in the southern part of the state
According to Webb, the bobcat gets its name from its “bobbed” tail, which is shorter than the tails on most domesticated cats. The average length of a bobcat tail is around six inches but can reach up to 10 inches. A mother bobcat may raise a litter of two to four kittens in the spring. Elusive and lovers of solitude, these nocturnal feline predators are always on the hunt for rabbits, squirrels, mice, chipmunks and birds, Webb said, adding that they can swim and have little hesitation going into the water in pursuit of their prey.

Moose
Reside throughout New Hampshire, but are most commonly seen in the northern part of the state
Moose are active all day but do most of their moving around in the early morning or late afternoon, when the temperatures are cooler. They’re also, according to Webb, “pretty good swimmers.” “They love to feed on wetland plants and will dive down under the water to get at aquatic vegetation,” she said.

White-tailed deer
Common throughout New Hampshire in a variety of habitats, such as fields, farms, neighborhoods and woodlands
Though white-tailed deer prefer to hide out in the woods, they often make an appearance along woodland edges of towns and cities and in many farming communities. “In the summer, you may be lucky to see a fawn curled up in some tall grass or in a hidden spot in the woods,” Webb said. “Don’t be alarmed; this young one is not abandoned. Fawns are left alone for long periods of time while their mother goes off to feed and lead predators away, but she will come back for her fawn.”

Reptiles and amphibians

Gray treefrog
Much more likely to be heard than seen
Despite their name, gray treefrogs have the ability to change their color to match their background, from black to almost white or even a greenish-gray. Suomala said you can identify them by their trilling call at night. They are year-round natives of New Hampshire, hibernating underground. In fact, about 40 percent of a gray treefrog’s body can freeze — it can survive freezing temperatures by producing its own glycerol that’s circulated through its bloodstream and vital organs.

Painted turtle
This is the most commonly found species of turtle in the state
You can find painted turtles statewide, anywhere there are ponds. They reach a maximum length of just over seven inches; according Suomala, their sexual maturity is determined by the length of their shell, not by how old they are. Males require a length of at least three inches before they can reproduce, whereas for females, the required length of their shell is about four inches. If you see a turtle moving away from a pond, don’t move it in the direction of the water; Suomala said this is because female turtles are moving toward an area with sand or loose soil to lay their eggs. Painted turtles are also year-round residents of the Granite State, hibernating below the mud in the bottom of ponds.

Red eft salamander
Most likely found in damp, rainy conditions
Also known as the red-spotted newt, this amphibian has two different stages, according to Suomala — a water stage where it is characterized by its olive-green color with red spots, and a land stage, where it’s a bright orange-red color. You’ll most likely see them on land if you’re walking on a trail just after it has rained, she said. The female will lay its eggs underwater. Once the salamander reaches the land stage, it spends the rest of its life that way, for about two to three years.

Small mammals

Beaver
Common throughout New Hampshire in ponds, lakes and other wetlands
“If you’re lucky to have a lake or pond in your backyard, beavers might be a common sight for you,” Webb said, adding that, if you see one beaver, a whole family, consisting of anywhere from three to eight beavers, probably isn’t too far away. They can be difficult to spot as their dark brown fur blends in well with dark water, but there is “no mistaking the ‘slap’ of their tail when they feel threatened,” Webb said. Beavers leave a lot of clear evidence of their presence, including chewed stumps along the edges of bodies of water; stick dams that hold back water, creating deeper ponds; and stick lodges that extend down into the water. They may also build their lodges on islands or along the shore.

Eastern chipmunk
Common throughout New Hampshire, in woodland edges and forests
Though similar to squirrels, chipmunks can be differentiated by their size — they are a bit smaller than squirrels — and by their coloring, which includes brown fur with black and white stripes that run down their backs. According to Webb, chipmunks also have extra skin in their cheeks, allowing them to expand their mouths to carry more food back to their burrows. They often build their burrows at the base of a tree or under a stone wall. In the winter they spend most of their time sleeping, waking up every few days to eat from their stockpile of food. In a good year, when food is abundant, chipmunks can produce up to two litters of pups. “If you see a lot of chipmunks this year, you can bet that food availability was really high the previous year,” Webb said.

Eastern cottontail
Common in southern New Hampshire, often seen nibbling on clover and grass in backyards and parks
Eastern cottontails have multiple litters a year. In New Hampshire, they can have up to four or five. The mother cottontail builds a small shallow nest in the grass, well-disguised, with dead fern leaves covering the hole. “She only visits [the nest] a few times a day, so if you find a nest of kits — baby cottontails — just leave them be,” Webb said. “They are not abandoned; their mother will be back soon.” A rarer species of cottontail, the New England cottontail, can also be seen within a smaller range, restricted to the southern part of the state.

Eastern gray squirrel
Common throughout most of New Hampshire in woods and neighborhoods with plenty of deciduous trees
While gray squirrels have, as their name implies, mostly gray fur, there can be some variations in color. “Melanistic gray squirrels are black in coloration and albinistic gray squirrels look white,” Webb said. “Sometimes, small localized populations of black squirrels show up and persist for a few years. Gray squirrels often bury more acorns and seeds than they can recover, facilitating seed dispersal and resulting in the growth of many new trees every year.

Fisher
Most likely found in forested areas
Fishers — or “fisher cats,” if you prefer — are not actually cats. According to Suomala, they’re part of the mustelid (or weasel) family, with brown fur, a long tail and a pointed nose. They have a reputation for emitting a loud, caterwauling scream. But in reality, Suomala said, this sound is more likely made by a fox, while fishers are generally silent, instead occasionally making low chuckling or hissing noises. They’re the only animal in the state that regularly targets porcupines.

North American porcupine
Most likely seen in forested areas, at night
One of nearly two dozen species of porcupines throughout the world, the North American porcupine is found throughout New Hampshire. According to NH Wildlife Journal, a publication from New Hampshire Fish & Game, porcupines are large rodents covered in around 30,000 sharp quills. These quills, Suomala said, are hollow hairs with barbed tips made of keratin. Some people believe porcupines have the ability to shoot or throw their quills. In reality, Suomala said, this is not the case, although they can raise their quills in self-defense. Porcupines are nocturnal animals that feed on woody vegetation. They do not hibernate in the winter.

Raccoon
Common throughout New Hampshire, in wetlands, woods, farmlands and neighborhoods
Raccoons often do their food hunting, with much success, in human-populated areas and claim their den sites under porches and sheds. In fact, raccoon populations tend to be higher in cities than in their natural woodland and forest habitats. “Raccoons have easily adapted to the presence of humans and will gladly check your trash can for scraps of food,” Webb said. “[If] you’re battling a raccoon family this summer, keep your trash locked up tight or store it in a secure building instead of outside.”

Red squirrel
Common throughout New Hampshire in forests with plenty of coniferous trees
“These chattery squirrels are quick to let you know when you are bothering them with their red bushy tails raised, announcing themselves with loud trills, chatters and chips,” Webb said. Surviving on food they stashed during the winter months, the squirrels often forget to dig up all of their hidden seeds and nuts each year, which then grow into trees.

Vole
Especially likely to be found if you have a garden in your backyard
Not to be confused with moles, voles are small rodents that are experiencing a population boom in New Hampshire right now, according to Suomala. They look similar to mice, except they have smaller eyes and smaller ears. Voles are a nuisance in backyard gardens and orchards, but are actually a key food source for large birds like hawks and owls, as well as foxes and coyotes, she said. There are two types — meadow voles, and pine voles, which are slightly smaller, lighter in color and have a shorter tail than meadow voles. One female vole can produce four to eight litters per year, Suomala said, with about five young per litter.

Signs of Life 20/07/16

All quotes are from The Friendly Persuasion, by Jessamyn West, born July 18, 1902.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22) Eliza always said Labe never put a foot out of bed until he heard her start to scrape the gravy skillet. Don’t eat gravy for breakfast.

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22) The town blazed under the July sun; it throbbed with the heat of the season — and the heat of fear and excitement and wonder and resolution. At first Josh thought it was as alive as he had seen it for an August fair or Fourth of July celebration. Outdoor dining is nice.

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22) This hour, this house, this season. All was as it should be. It was one of those contented peaks a woman reaches and clings to. Not a thing clamoring to be done, not so much as a piece of lint beneath the hired man’s bed to keep the mind from resting. … The sitting room was like a welcoming hand: chairs saying, Sit and rock; flower saying, Sniff and smell. Eliza sat and rocked. She rose and sniffed and savored. She did not see that anything could be bettered. Ahhhhhh.

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22) Jess pined for music, though it would be hard to say how he’d come by any such longing. Put your favorites on repeat.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21) No horse had ever looked so much like traveling and had traveled so much like standing still. Save a horse, ride a bicycle.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21) Jess leaped down into the cellar, took the box, turned it round and round. ‘An old-timer,’ he said. ‘A box of the kind they used to carry maps and deeds in, a place of safe-keeping for what was treasured.’ Is your smartphone charged?

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19) Eliza shut the door firmly behind her and heard no more. She sat again in the sitting room, she rocked … but she got no pleasure from it. Perfection was a hollow thing after all. It’s an illusion.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18) Old Lafe was not a man to hold a grudge and Eliza hadn’t burned his only hat. He was soon back, wearing, so far as Eliza could see, the egg container’s twin, ready to further instruct and edify. There’s always another hat.

Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20) It was an in-between time: afternoon bygone, night not yet come, neither summer, nor fall. You can make of it whatever you want!

Aries (March 21 – April 19) Eliza lifted her breakfast bell to ring, then let arm and soundless bell drop to her side. She felt a profound reluctance to disturb in any way the morning quiet. Avoid chaos.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20) But the day she rode through was more to Mattie than her destination. The roses smell nice.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20) Enoch was instantly equipped, for the most part, with feelings on every subject. Feelings can change.

Kiddie Pool 20/07/16

At the Audubon
The New Hampshire Audubon is offering an in-person event at the Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way in Auburn; nhaudubon.org, 668-2045) on Saturday, July 18, from 10 to 11 a.m. Learn to “Be a Nature Detective,” a program geared toward families and featuring outdoor exploration (families will have their own investigation area), according to an email from the Audubon. Masks will be required and the center (and restrooms) will remain closed, the email said. Advance registration is required. The cost is $30 per family.

At the drive-ins
Teens and up might want to check outFootloose (1984, PG but Common Sense Media pegs it at 13 and up). The movie will screen Friday, July 17, at 8:50 p.m. (or so, depending on when it gets dark) at Fieldhouse Sports Drive In (12 Tallwood Drive in Bow; fieldhousesports.com). Tickets can be purchased online for $20 per car (for up to four people, each additional person is $5).

On Monday, July 20, head to Portsmouth (the Pease campus of Wentworth-Douglass Hospital) for The Lost Summer Drive-In Movie Series, presented by the Prescott Park Arts Festival (which canceled its summer programming) and sponsored by Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Drive-in movie-experiences have been created in two locations — Pease on Monday nights and Blue Mermaid/Tributary Brewing in Kittery, Maine, on Friday and Saturday nights (on July 17 and July 18, the movie is The Princess Bride) — with programming scheduled to run through Sept. 5. See the movies and reserve a spot (suggested donations are $25 per car; pre-bagged popcorn is available for $6.24) at prescottpark.org/event/seacoastnh-drive-in-movies.

Or head to Hampton Beach on Monday, July 20, for a free screening of Toy Story 4 (G, 2019). “Movie Night Mondays at the Beach” are scheduled to run through Aug. 31; movies begin at dusk, about 8 p.m., according to hamptonbeach.org, where you can find a list of upcoming movies and an explanation of procedures. Admission is free.

Quality of Life 20/07/16

Finding fun at home
Reader Claire wrote in to praise several local efforts to make staying at home more bearable, specifically the “Courageous Community Conversations: Can We Talk about Race” Zoom program sponsored by the Goffstown Public Library, the Currier Museum of Art’s online ARTalk with Larissa Fassler on “Mapping Manchester” and the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire’s virtual tour of Italy on the Fourth of July. “It brought back a lot of memories of my trips to Rome and Pompeii,” Claire wrote.
Score: +1
Comment:“Online learning can be fun, and no tests,” Claire wrote.

New AmeriCorps members lending a hand
Sixteen founding members of the NH Covid Community Care Corps have been sworn in as AmeriCorps members and were scheduled to begin their eight-week term of service with nonprofits and city departments in Manchester and Nashua on Tuesday, according to a press release. In Manchester, four AmeriCorps members will work with the Parks & Recreation department to help develop in-person programming for small groups of youth, and 12 will serve in the Manchester Welfare Department, Health Department, the Mayor’s Office, and the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester. Four members will work in Nashua’s Department of Emergency Management and Public Health Department, and the Police Athletic League of Nashua, and one member will help with the Neighborhood Provisions program, a collaboration led by Dartmouth-Hitchcock that will coordinate delivery of food and groceries to community members at higher risk for Covid-19.
Score: +1
Comment: Goodwill Northern New England is accepting inquiries for full-time, year-round AmeriCorps service terms that will begin this fall. To express interest in becoming a member or being a host site, visit bit.ly/GoodwillAmeriCorps2020.

Watch your water
Despite recent bouts of rain, moderate drought conditions are expected to continue in the southern half of New Hampshire, prompting the New Hampshire Drought Management Team to meet last week to discuss the drought’s impact on the state. According to a press release, State Climatologist Mary Stampone said at the meeting that the drought will likely persist through at least the end of July, as recent precipitation won’t make up for the precipitation deficit for the year, or the anticipated high temperatures and below average precipitation expected over the coming month. Lake levels are below normal, rivers and streams around the state have been at or near historically low flows, and the majority of the state’s 31 monitoring wells are much lower than normal, according to the release. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is encouraging outdoor water use restrictions for community water systems.
Score: -2
Comment:New Hampshire’s last substantial drought was in 2016, according to the press release.

Return on investment
New Hampshire has the best taxpayer return on investment, according to a WalletHub study, which considered data from five categories — Education, Health, Safety, Economy, and Infrastructure & Pollution — and took into account how people are taxed in each state. New Hampshire ranked second for Total Taxes per Capita (population aged 18+), fourth for Safety, seventh for Health, 13th for Economy, 30th for Education and 36th for Infrastructure & Pollution.
Score: +1
Comment: Florida took the No. 2 spot for overall taxpayer return on investment, followed by South Dakota, while last place went to Hawaii, according to the study.

QOL score: 51
Net change: +1
QOL this week: 52
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].

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