Author: The Hippo Press

More turkeys, or just more people noticing turkeys?

The New Hampshire Fish & Game Department recently released the results of its 2020 Winter Flock Survey, which showed that there were 2,309 reported flocks totaling 40,476 turkeys statewide. According to a news release on the department’s website, this was a significant increase over the 486 flocks totaling 9,833 turkeys reported in 2019. In 2018 there were 1,372 flock observations totaling 20,224 turkeys. “The increase in observations during the 2020 winter survey may be attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic,” New Hampshire Fish and Game Turkey Biologist Allison Keating said in the news release. “With many people spending more time at home last winter there was an increase in backyard bird feeding as well as bird watching, which may have contributed to the uptick in reports.”

Score: +1 (because yay for being closer to nature!)

Comment: New Hampshire Fish & Game is asking the public to participate in the 2021 Winter Turkey Flock Survey at wildnh.com/surveys/turkey.html. The survey started Jan. 1 and runs through March 31.

Good and not-so-good pre-Covid health stats

The United Health Foundation’s 2020 annual report, which examines 74 measures of health in each state, says that New Hampshire has improved its availability of mental health services, but it has also seen more premature deaths in recent years. According to a press release, America’s Health Rankings, which was created in partnership with the American Public Health Association, highlights some of each state’s health strengths and weaknesses, pre-Covid. In New Hampshire, two of the strengths that were highlighted were an increase in the number of active mental health providers, which went up 21 percent since 2016, and an increase in the percentage of residents who get enough exercise, which went from 21.4 percent of adults to 26.4 percent between 2017 and 2019. Some of the state’s challenges, according to the release, are income inequality (the disparity between the highest and lowest income-earners has increased 10 percent since 2007), and premature death (recorded as deaths before the age of 75), which increased 22 percent between 2012 and 2018.

Score: 0

Comment: Other positive highlights for New Hampshire include a low teen birth rate and a low prevalence of household food insecurity, while other challenges include a high percentage of housing with lead risk and a low percentage of fluoridated water, according to the report.

Saving New Hampshire’s history

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, which supports the protection and revitalization of historic buildings and places, recently announced some of its stats from 2020 to highlight the work it has done throughout the year. According to a press release, the Preservation Alliance presented more than 30 public programs via Zoom, worked on more than 120 projects in more than 100 communities in the state and spent hundreds of hours coaching property owners and civic leaders by phone. Its Seven to Save program has “an impressive” 50-percent success rate, and it invested grant funding in more than 50 community landmarks. The barn tax incentive, which the Alliance helped develop to save old barns, is now used in 100 communities, where tax relief is provided to owners of historic agricultural structures.

Score: +1

Comment: It’s hard to look back on 2020 and see the positives, so QOL applauds the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance for recognizing that even during a challenging year lots of good people still made lots of good things happen for the long-term betterment of the Granite State.

QOL score: 50

Net change: +2

QOL this week: 52

With the new year, the QOL Index resets to 50.

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

More turkeys, or just more people noticing turkeys?

The New Hampshire Fish & Game Department recently released the results of its 2020 Winter Flock Survey, which showed that there were 2,309 reported flocks totaling 40,476 turkeys statewide. According to a news release on the department’s website, this was a significant increase over the 486 flocks totaling 9,833 turkeys reported in 2019. In 2018 there were 1,372 flock observations totaling 20,224 turkeys. “The increase in observations during the 2020 winter survey may be attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic,” New Hampshire Fish and Game Turkey Biologist Allison Keating said in the news release. “With many people spending more time at home last winter there was an increase in backyard bird feeding as well as bird watching, which may have contributed to the uptick in reports.”

Score: +1 (because yay for being closer to nature!)

Comment: New Hampshire Fish & Game is asking the public to participate in the 2021 Winter Turkey Flock Survey at wildnh.com/surveys/turkey.html. The survey started Jan. 1 and runs through March 31.

Good and not-so-good pre-Covid health stats

The United Health Foundation’s 2020 annual report, which examines 74 measures of health in each state, says that New Hampshire has improved its availability of mental health services, but it has also seen more premature deaths in recent years. According to a press release, America’s Health Rankings, which was created in partnership with the American Public Health Association, highlights some of each state’s health strengths and weaknesses, pre-Covid. In New Hampshire, two of the strengths that were highlighted were an increase in the number of active mental health providers, which went up 21 percent since 2016, and an increase in the percentage of residents who get enough exercise, which went from 21.4 percent of adults to 26.4 percent between 2017 and 2019. Some of the state’s challenges, according to the release, are income inequality (the disparity between the highest and lowest income-earners has increased 10 percent since 2007), and premature death (recorded as deaths before the age of 75), which increased 22 percent between 2012 and 2018.

Score: 0

Comment: Other positive highlights for New Hampshire include a low teen birth rate and a low prevalence of household food insecurity, while other challenges include a high percentage of housing with lead risk and a low percentage of fluoridated water, according to the report.

Saving New Hampshire’s history

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, which supports the protection and revitalization of historic buildings and places, recently announced some of its stats from 2020 to highlight the work it has done throughout the year. According to a press release, the Preservation Alliance presented more than 30 public programs via Zoom, worked on more than 120 projects in more than 100 communities in the state and spent hundreds of hours coaching property owners and civic leaders by phone. Its Seven to Save program has “an impressive” 50-percent success rate, and it invested grant funding in more than 50 community landmarks. The barn tax incentive, which the Alliance helped develop to save old barns, is now used in 100 communities, where tax relief is provided to owners of historic agricultural structures.

Score: +1

Comment: It’s hard to look back on 2020 and see the positives, so QOL applauds the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance for recognizing that even during a challenging year lots of good people still made lots of good things happen for the long-term betterment of the Granite State.

QOL score: 50

Net change: +2

QOL this week: 52

With the new year, the QOL Index resets to 50.

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Tons of toys

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 DOJ-CPB@doj.nh.gov. 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 news@hippopress.com.