Author: The Hippo Press

Banned list

Last week, the Russian government announced the addition of New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella to its expanding list of 500 Americans permanently banned from entering the country. Formella issued a statement, saying, “Given the atrocities we are seeing the Kremlin carry out, being blacklisted by Russia is a badge of honor. I am proud to vigorously enforce New Hampshire law and will continue to do so despite attempts like this to try and intimidate America’s public officials. This ‘action’ will have no impact on me, my office, or our work.” Formella wasn’t the only Granite Stater targeted by the ban. Late-night talk show host and New Hampshire native Seth Meyers also found himself on the list, as reported by WMUR. Meyers, sharing the article on Twitter, humorously commented, “Local kid makes good?” According to the article, the ban, which Russian officials attributed to U.S. sanctions, adds to the existing list that already includes the New Hampshire congressional delegation and former senator Kelly Ayotte.

Bill postponed

New Hampshire’s proposed “parental bill of rights,” which would have mandated educators to disclose to parents whether their children are using a different gender identity or name, was not passed, New Hampshire News Connection reported. Those against the bill emphasized the importance of maintaining safe and supportive environments in schools, particularly for transgender youth, while supporters of the bill argued that it aimed to enhance transparency and communication between teachers and parents. The final vote to “indefinitely postpone” the bill prevents its reintroduction in this session. Similar “parental bill of rights’’ measures have been introduced in 24 states this year, according to the article.

Grants

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance and The 1772 Foundation have awarded grants totaling $125,000 to 16 non-profit organizations in the state. According to a press release, the grants, ranging in amounts from $4,250 to $10,000, are awarded to help the organizations preserve historic buildings and support community landmarks. Recipients include museums, historical societies, and affordable housing organizations. Projects range from roof replacements to foundation repairs. The grants will ensure the preservation of buildings dating from 1774 to 1912. The selection committee considered factors such as resource significance, community visibility and local support. The grants leverage additional funding and emphasize incremental improvements.

One Goffstown

Goffstown Public Library announces the launch of a new public education series, “One Goffstown,” aimed at fostering a more inclusive and accepting community following the distribution of neo-Nazi propaganda in local neighborhoods in March. The program consists of a series of discussions for teens and adults, designed to encourage open communication and unity among residents. Five online sessions will be held on Thursday evenings throughout June, July, and August, the first being on June 8, titled, “What are Hate Crimes and Hate Speech?” Topics to follow will include implicit bias, bullying, being an ally and having difficult conversations. The program will culminate in a special in-person event called the “Human Library” on Sunday, Aug. 13. Registration is required for the online sessions. Visit goffstownlibrary.com/one-goffstown for more information and to register. To show support and unity, participants are also encouraged to share One Goffstown on social media using the hashtag #OneGoffstown.

Mental health series

Dartmouth Health’s year-long monthly webinar series about mental health, “Heads Up: A Year-Long Mental Health Awareness Journey,” concludes with the publication of its latest webinar, titled “Heads Up, A Year-Long Mental Health Awareness Journey: Looking Back and Looking Forward.” According to a press release, panelists in this segment include John Broderick Jr., senior director of external affairs for Dartmouth Health and former Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court; Brendan McQuaid, president and publisher of the New Hampshire Union Leader; Howard Altschiller, executive editor of Seacoast Media Group; and William C. Torrey, M.D., chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Dartmouth Health; with Audra Burns, Dartmouth Health’s senior media relations manager, moderating. Together, they reflect on the series’ highlights and share their insights gained throughout the year. The series explored various themes such as youth mental health, the impact of social media on teenagers, mental health stigma in youth sports, the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system, guidance for parents and caregivers, challenges faced by older adults in isolation and grief, workplace mental health, the correlation between substance use disorder and co-occurring mental illnesses, state and federal mental health policies, and the mental health of veterans and active military personnel. To access the “Heads Up” series and mental health resources, visit dartmouth-health.org/mental-health.

The Putts For Pups Golf Classic will be held at Stonebridge Country Club in Goffstown on Monday, June 26, to benefit Second Chance Ranch Rescue, a nonprofit organization based in New Boston that rehabilitates and finds homes for lost, forgotten and misunderstood dogs. Registration, which includes 18 holes of golf, lunch and the chance to participate in raffles and contests, costs $125 for an individual or $450 for a foursome, according to a press release. Visit secondchanceranchrescue.com.

The Merrimack Rotary Club will host an Electronics Recycling Fundraiser on Saturday, June 3, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Merrimack Town Hall. According to a press release, participants can easily recycle their unused business or household electronics by driving up, paying the recycling fee and dropping off the items without having to leave their cars. Fees range from $5 to $50 depending on the type of electronics. Certain items, such as hazardous waste and unlisted materials, will not be accepted. Funds raised will support scholarships and community projects. Visit merrimackrotary.org.

The Nashua Regional Planning Commission will hold a Household Hazardous Waste Collection on Thursday, June 1, 3 to 7 p.m., at the Nashua City Park & Ride (25 Crown St.) for residents of Amherst, Brookline, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, Nashua, Pelham and Windham, according to a press release. Accepted waste includes paints, solvents, polyurethane, antifreeze, gasoline, pesticides, household cleaners, light bulbs and more. There is a fee of $15 per vehicle (cash or check), with extra charges for waste exceeding 10 gallons or 20 pounds. Contact nashuarpc.org/hhw or 417-6570.

‘Rebel’ marker

The New Hampshire Historical Highway Marker for Elizabeth Gurley Flynn installed in Concord by the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources has been removed after receiving opposition from New Hampshire Executive Councilors Joseph Kenney and David Wheeler, WMUR reported. The marker, which was located at the corner of Court and Montgomery streets in downtown Concord, recognized Flynn, who was, according to a press release from the Division, “a well-known labor, women’s rights and civil liberties activist.” Identifying Flynn as “The Rebel Girl,” the marker highlighted Flynn’s involvement in the labor movement and her imprisonment after joining the Communist Party. The executive councilors argued that the marker promoted “communist propaganda” because of Flynn’s political associations. The controversy prompted Gov. Chris Sununu to call for a review of the historical marker process. “All policies and guidelines were followed in removing this controversial marker,” a statement released by Gov. Sununu’s office reads. “Through their public statements, the City of Concord made clear they were not advocating to keep the marker up. In their communications with the state, it was learned that the marker was located on state property, not city property as previously believed, and therefore the marker was removed this morning.”

Recall recalled

A recall that was issued on May 5 for “Spice” Packaged Salad Greens grown by lēf Farms in Loudon has been canceled. According to a press release, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services confirmed, after a two-day inspection of the farm’s facility and products, that the concerns regarding a potential contamination of Escherichia coli O157 bacteria in a specific lot of the “Spice” green were the result of a laboratory error, and that the products are safe for consumption. “I wish to apologize to lēf Farms, their customers and the public for this unfortunate event,” Division of Public Health Services Director Tricia Tilley said in the release. “lēf Farms’ quick and decisive actions put the health of their customers first. Their products are safe for consumers. We appreciate that lēf Farms has been a willing partner in this process. While this situation is unprecedented, our dedicated staff will embrace all corrective actions to ensure it will not occur again.”

Lock in

Ninety-six New Hampshire law enforcement agencies are participating in the “Join the NH Clique” campaign now through June 4 as part of a nationwide effort to enforce seat belt usage for drivers and passengers. According to a press release, New Hampshire law requires that individuals under the age of 18 be secured with a seat belt or child safety seat, and drivers are held responsible for ensuring proper seat belt usage for minors in their vehicle. Data released by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has revealed that seat belt usage in New Hampshire currently ranks the lowest among all states. From 2020 to 2022, approximately half of all victims in fatal vehicle crashes on New Hampshire roads were not wearing seat belts and were ejected from their vehicles. In 2022, 55 fatalities in vehicle crashes on New Hampshire roads involved individuals not wearing seat belts. In 2021, 51 unbelted individuals lost their lives, while 2020 saw 41 fatalities of unbelted individuals. “We encourage drivers and their passengers to buckle up every trip, every time — no matter what,” Capt. Chris Vetter, Commander of Highway Safety in New Hampshire, said in the release. “Unfortunately, the decision not to do so continues to have deadly consequences throughout our state. Through this campaign, we hope to ultimately save lives.”

Post grad plans

The New Hampshire Department of Education has partnered with the College Guidance Network (CGN) to offer support services to help students, families and school counselors navigate the often complex path to post-secondary education opportunities. According to a press release, the initiative empowers school counselors to provide better support to their college-bound students, assisting them in confidently navigating the college admissions process and making responsible decisions. Students and educators at high schools across the state will have unlimited access to CGN School, an online platform available to families in all participating New Hampshire public and non-public schools, as well as home education families. “New Hampshire is an excellent state to build a statewide model for enabling families to better manage this process,” Jon Carson, founder of CGN, said in the release. “Our mix of on-demand video featuring acclaimed college admissions and career exploration experts, a wide range of content toolkits, live programming and our flagship feature, Roadmap to College, will give New Hampshire schools an important new tool to support counselors, students and their parents.”

New board members

The Manchester Historic Association, which operates the Millyard Museum and Research Center and offers public and school programs, lectures and tours aimed at preserving and sharing the history of Manchester, welcomes four new board members, according to a press release: Ami D’Amelio, CEO & President of Just Flow Events & Marketing, has over 25 years of sales and marketing experience; Michael Duffy is a longtime member and volunteer of MHA and currently serves as director and secretary with the NH Preservation Alliance; Patricia Meyers has served on multiple nonprofit boards, including the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, and has received recognition for her contributions to historic preservation; and Peter Richard, General Manager of XMA Corporation, has a business administration background and involvement in various organizations such as the Manchester Area Human Resources Association and NH Tech Alliance.

The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire in Londonderry (27 Navigator Road) will host an open house on Monday, May 22, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for adult community members who are interested in volunteering as mentors for the museum’s high school aircraft-building program. According to a press release, volunteers collaborate with high school students on site at Manchester School of Technology and Alvirne High School in Hudson to assemble a two-seat RV-12iS light sport aircraft. If you plan to attend the open house, call 669-4877 and leave a message with your name, or send an email to ldearborn@nhahs.org. Visit aviationmuseumofnh.org.

St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua has won this year’s Nashua Gate City Light award. According to a press release, the award, presented by Mayor Donchess and the City of Nashua’s Mayor’s Volunteer Recognition Committee, recognizes an organization and its volunteers for “giving their time in the spirit of community, caring, and making significant contributions to the people of Nashua.”

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting to share information regarding proposed improvements to the crossing of Main Street over Beaver Brook in Pelham. The meeting will be held Wednesday, May 31, at 6:30 p.m. at Sherburne Hall in Pelham (6 Village Green). According to a press release, the project aims to address flooding and to correct structural deficiencies to remove the two bridges from the NHDOT Red List. Call 271-3921 or visit nh.gov/dot/projects to learn more.