Author: The Hippo Press

Kids are alright

New Hampshire received top ranking for child well-being in the 2025 Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kids Count Data Book, according to a release from the Department of Health and Human Services. The report looks at indicators in “four domains — economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors” and the state ranked among the top five states in those areas, the fourth year in a row it has done so, the release said. See the whole book at aecf.org/interactive/databook.

Falcon update

The three peregrine falcons hatched earlier this spring at Brady Sullivan Tower in downtown Manchester (you can view them in three different livestreams via nhaudubon.org/education/birds-and-birding/peregrine-cam) are now working on flight. According to the daily log, which you can find a link to in the livestream, Una, the first hatched, fledged on June 10. Learn more about the falcons at a meet and greet and supply- and fund-raiser for Wings of the Dawn Rescue & Rehab on Saturday, June 21, at 10 a.m. at the Brady Sullivan Tower, according to the daily log. The rain date is Sunday, June 22. See the log for a wish list of supplies.

Nature week

The New Hampshire Audubon Nature Challenge kicks off Sunday, June 22, and will run through Saturday, June 28, when participants can help to “document the birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, amphibians, flowers, trees, mosses, mushrooms, and everything that either stops at our sanctuaries or calls [the NH Audubon’s wildlife sanctuaries] home!” according to nhaudubon.org. Sign up online.

City Lights

The 2025 recipients of the Gate City Light Awards were celebrated at the Nashua Board of Aldermen meeting on June 10, according to a press release from the Nashua Mayor’s Volunteer Recognition Committee. The awards “recognize local nonprofit organizations whose volunteer-powered efforts make a meaningful impact on the Greater Nashua community,” the release said. This year’s winner is the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, with the Runner-up award presented to the Nashua Senior Activity Center and the Unsung Hero Award going to The PLUS Company, the release said. See nashuanh.gov/541/Gate-City-Light-Award.

Help for vets

Mr. Mac’s Macaroni and Cheese restaurant of Manchester donated $3,000 to Harbor Care, a nonprofit providing services to homeless veterans, according to a Mr. Mac’s press release. The donation on June 11 was the result of a fundraiser in May where $1 of every Classic All-American Mac dish sold was collected for Harbor Car, the release said. See harborcarenh.org and mr-macs.com.

Catch NH Roller Derby at JFK Memorial Coliseum (303 Beech St. in Manchester) on Saturday, June 21, at 4 p.m. when the NH Roller Derby All-Stars take on Hartford Area Roller Derby followed by an open scrimmage for 18+ at 6 p.m. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.; tickets are sold at the door: $15 for adults, $5 for veterans and NHRD vets, kids 12 and under get in for free. See nhrollerderby.com.

The Barley House, 132 N. Main St. in Concord, thebarleyhouse.com, is holding its annual Burgerfest through Saturday, June 21, with a special menu of burgers like the Chimichurri Roja Butter Burger and the Elote Bison burger, according to a menu on the restaurant’s website. The Barley House will donate $1 per burger sold to Dartmouth Health Children’s, with sponsors for each burger also donating $1 per burger and New Hampshire Distributors donating $1 per beer, the email said.

Juneteenth New England, hosted by Black Womxn In New Hampshire Collective, is described by organizers as a free community celebration “honoring Black American culture, history and joy” and will take place Saturday, June 21, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Crossway Christian Church, 33 Pine St. in Nashua, according to givebutter.com/juneteenthne. The event is free and will feature food, music and more.

Tickets for the Oct. 25 NH PoutineFest at Anheuser-Busch Biergarten in Merrimack will go on sale Saturday, June 28, at 10 a.m. Tickets have quickly sold out in years past, according to an event email. See nhpoutinefest.com.

Hurricane season

The Atlantic hurricane season started June 1 and runs through Nov. 30, and the Red Cross is urging people to be prepared for the season predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to see 13 to 19 named storms, according to a Red Cross press release from its Northern New England Region office in Manchester. The release says even people living inland are at risk for wind, thunderstorms, flooding and power outages. The Red Cross Emergency app, which is free, offers weather alerts, open shelter locations and advice in English and Spanish, the release said. Find more on the app at redcross.org.

Forest lands

The Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire acquired a 99-acre parcel of the Robert Rix Family Forest in Deerfield on May 14, an addition to the 4.5 acres donated last year and a 70.5-acre parcel across the street donated in 2022, according to a SELT press release. The Robert Rix Family Forest, consisting of the three parcels, is owned and managed by SELT in honor of Robert Rix Sr., father of Robert and Brill Rix, who donated the land, the release said. See seltnh.org for a look at SELT’s lands and trails as well as more on the organization.

NH Humanities

Tickets are on sale now for the New Hampshire Humanities 2005 Annual Celebration for the Humanities on Thursday, Oct. 9, featuring keynote speaker Akhil Reed Amar, an author and constitutional scholar, in conversation to Laura Knoy, according to an email from NH Humanities. “The Remaking of the American Constitution” is the subject of the talk, the email said. The evening begins at 7 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m., at the Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St. in Concord. Tickets cost $44 general admission, $166 for a VIP ticket; add $40 for a copy of Amar’s 2025 book Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution 1840-1920,according to ccanh.com, where you can purchase tickets.

Design contest

The New Hampshire Secretary of State David M. Scanlan announced the launch of a contest to “find an original heirloom marriage certificate design,” according to a press release from the Secretary of State’s office. “The winning design, which should combine the joy of marriage with the beauty of New Hampshire, will be the official heirloom marriage certificate issued by the state. The contest is being executed by State Registrar and Vital Records Director Kristin Martino. Ms. Martino drew inspiration for the contest from an 1886 decorative marriage certificate she found while searching for antiques,” the release said. The contest is open through Sept. 5 to New Hampshire residents 18+ and designs “must be [non-religious] with a focus on New Hampshire and cannot be inappropriate or offensive,” the release said. See sos.nh.gov.

Members of either the McAuliffe Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord, starhop.com) or the North East Motorsports Museum (922 Route 106N in Loudon; nemsmuseum.com) can enjoy free admission to the other museum during June, according to a press release from North East Motorsports Museum, which is open Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the summer, the Discovery Center is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Pierce Manse, 14 Horseshoe Pond Lane in Concord, piercemanse.org, the onetime home of President Franklin Pierce and his family, will host Ed Brouder to discuss his book Manchester’s Airport: Flying Through Time on Wednesday, June 18, at 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The New Hampshire Jewish Film Festival Movie Club will present the 2024 documentary Sabbath Queen on Sunday, June 22, at 3 p.m. at Chunky’s Cinema Pub, 707 Huse Road in Manchester. Tickets cost $10; see jewishnh.org/community-calendar/movie-club-sabbath-queen.

Science Cafe NH will feature a panel discussing “The Impacts of Technology on Child Development” on Tuesday, June 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Soel Sistas, 30 Temple St. in Nashua, according to an email. The event is free. See facebook.com/sciencecafenh.