Author: The Hippo Press

Jalapeños alert

According to an Aug. 8 press release, “Hannaford Supermarkets is recalling a limited number of deli and produce items after being alerted by Taylor Farms, the maker of some of Hannaford’s deli products, that their jalapeño supplier has initiated a recall due to the potential for salmonella contamination.” There are six products, including Beans Rice and Cheese Burrito, Classic Beef Burrito, Chicken Verde Burrito, Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Wrap, Diced Jalapeños, and Pico De Gallo Salsa. According to an Aug. 9 press release from Taylor Farms, “A grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, that supplies to Coast Citrus Distributors was identified as the potential source in this outbreak.” See hannford.com (“product recalls”) for details.

QOL score: -1

Comment: According to the Taylor Farms press release, “Salmonella [is] an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis.” Visit taylorfarms.com/recall.

More hungry children

According to an Aug. 10 press release from the New Hampshire Food Bank, food insecurity for New Hampshire’s children continues to rise. The Food Bank quoted a new report from Feeding America, described as the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. “Child food insecurity increased by 6% year-over-year, climbing from 36,160 children in the 2025 report to 38,430 this year,” the press release stated, adding, “the overall food insecurity rate has also grown, with the latest data showing 11.2% of all New Hampshire residents lack consistent access to adequate food, up from 10.7% in the previous report.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: According to the New Hampshire Food Bank, Coös County has the highest percentage of food-insecure children: 22.1 percent. Rockingham County has the lowest rate, at 11.6 percent, but that is still more than one in 10. Visit map.feedingamerica.org/county/2024/child/new-hampshire. See nhfoodbank.org for links to food resources and for donation information.

QOL score last week: 58

Net change: -2

QOL this week: 56

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

New Hampshire schools

A recent survey by financial website WalletHub.com rated New Hampshire’s school system as the fourth-best in the country. WalletHub’s report mentioned the state’s relatively high safety rating (15th in the country), our math scores (4th best), and our graduation rates (also ranked No. 4). Governor Ayotte’s office released a statement that read, in part, “New Hampshire is proud to have some of the best schools in the country, and this new ranking is a testament to our dedicated teachers, supportive parents, and hardworking students who helped make it possible…. New Hampshire will keep striving for #1 and prioritizing a best-in-class education for our kids.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: Massachusetts schools received the study’s highest rating, and New Mexico scored the lowest. Visit wallethub.com/edu.

BitCoin scam – DENIED!

As reported in a July 28 press release by the Manchester Police Department, three senior customers at the Varney Street Quick Stop in Manchester were saved from an expensive scam by store employees last month. “On three occasions in July,” the press release stated, “seniors entered the store with cash they intended to deposit into a cryptocurrency ATM. Employees recognized signs of a scam, warned the customers and contacted Manchester Police. Officers responded and confirmed that all three were being victimized.” The scams would have cost the victims more than $17,000.

QOL score: +1

Comment: “Before these incidents,” the press release read, “Manchester Police Fraud Detective Ray Lamy contacted the store owner to discuss scams targeting seniors. The owner educated his staff and promised to intervene when customers appeared to be at risk.”

Meteor showers are the best showers

Mid-August is one of the best times of the year to see shooting stars. That’s when the Earth passes through a cloud of space debris resulting in the Perseid Meteor Showers. As reported in an Aug. 2 online article by New Hampshire Public Radio, “as Earth plows into these tiny particles, they burn up in our atmosphere, producing bright streaks across the night sky.” Conditions for watching meteor showers should be especially good this year; the peak will coincide with a new moon. The darkness will give extra contrast to the trails the meteorites leave behind them.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The NHPR article advised stargazers to find a dark, open area away from artificial light in the hours just before dawn for the best viewing conditions. According to astronomy website earthsky.org, “the mornings of August 12 and 13 are probably your best bets [to see meteorites].”

Aren’t the mosquitoes bad enough on their own?

An Aug. 1 online article by WMUR reported that “Hampton and Derry are now the latest communities where mosquito batches have tested positive for Jamestown Canyon Virus. Positive batches have also been found in Exeter, Fremont, Kingston and Salem.” The virus can be spread to humans through mosquito bites. There have been no reported cases of human or animal infection in New Hampshire this year.

QOL score: -1

Comment: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, symptoms of Jamestown Canyon Virus “can include fever, headache, and fatigue, but disease can also be more severe. No vaccines or medicines are available to prevent or treat Jamestown Canyon virus disease.” Visit cdc.gov/jamestown-canyon.

QOL score last week: 56

Net change: +2

QOL this week: 58

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.