Author: The Hippo Press

Slow down

Penalties for driving 100 miles per hour or more went up on Jan. 1 and could also result in higher insurance premium costs, according to a March 9 press release from the State of New Hampshire Insurance Department. A first offense for driving 100 miles per hour or greater has a minimum fine of $750 “plus penalty assessment and a mandatory 90-day license suspension,” the release said. “A subsequent offense carries a minimum $1,000 fine plus penalty assessment and a license suspension ranging from 90 days to one year,” the release said. The press release also warns that “a conviction involving extreme speed may result in higher premium costs or changes to underwriting carrier.” See the law, RSA 265:79, at gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXI/265/265-79.htm.

Good bugs

The Garden Club of Deerfield will hold a presentation on “Beneficial Insects: Good Bugs, Bad Bugs and the Truth About the Rest” on Saturday, March 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Deerfield Town Hall, according to an email from the club. The event is free to attend. See deerfieldgardenclub.com.

Old tech

The United Way of Greater Nashua is looking for old, working smartphones and laptops for its Tech Connect United digital access program, according to a Feb. 26 press release. The United Way is collecting unlocked Android or iPhone smartphones in working condition, preferably with a charger, and working laptops, Windows or Mac, that have a charger and are less than eight to 10 years old, the release said. Drop off items at United Way of Greater Nashua, 20 Broad St. in Nashua, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. See unitedwaynashua.org/digital-literacy for more about the United Way’s digital programs.

Historic sites

Eight properties across the state have been added to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic places, according to a Feb. 25 press release from the New Hampshire Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. The newly added locations are the Baptist Meeting House in Salisbury (built in 1794), United Methodist Church in Alexandria (built in 1819), the Brookline Community Church (1838), Riddle House in Manchester (circa 1844), the Deerfield Historical Society Museum (circa 1850), the South Weare Union Church (completed in 1876), Camp Kuwiyan on Lake Winnipesauke (buildings date from 1905 through 1930) and the Littleton Regional Hospital (main building constructed in 1906), the release said. Find the State Register of Historic Places as well as information on how to nominate a property at nhdhr.dncr.nh.gov.

“Mixing It Up,” an exhibit featuring art by Sandy Steen Bartholomew, Anne Boedecker, Joy Malcolm, Adele Sanborn, and Becky Sawyer, will open Saturday, March 21, and run through Saturday, April 25, at Two Villages Art Society, 846 Main Street in Contoocook, with an opening reception featuring the artists, refreshments and music by pianist Craig Fahey on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. See twovillagesart.org.

NH Roller Derby will hold a meet and greet for those interested in checking out the sport on Thursday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the Manchester Ballers Association, 3 Sundial Ave. in Manchester, according to nhrollerderby.com.

Tickets are on sale now for Spooky World’s Halfway to Halloween, slated for Saturday, May 2, starting at 7 p.m. at Mel’s Funway Park in Litchfield. The event features haunted houses, DJ and dancing, festival food, jousting competitions and more, according to an email about the event. See melsfunwaypark.com.

O’Neil in Epping

O’Neil Cinemas in Epping will close after the Sunday, March 15, screenings, according to a statement from the company at epping.oneilcinemas.com. “Changing industry conditions, rising operating costs, and the significant investment required to modernize the theater made it impossible for us to continue operating the Epping location at the level of experience our guests deserve,” the statement said in part. Passes and gift cards to O’Neil Cinemas can continue to be redeemed at the Epping cinema through March 15. and at the O’Neil Cinemas in Londonderry and Littleton, Mass., the statement said. Through March 15, screening tickets for the Epping O’Neil Cinemas will cost $5 (3D and DBox surcharges apply), according to a post on the Epping location’s Facebook post.

Text scam

The New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Motor Vehicles has learned of a new text message scam “in which recipients are asked to submit immediate payment to resolve an unpaid traffic fine. The text messages are fake and should be deleted immediately,” according to a March 7 DMV press release. The texts claim to be “‘automatic alert’ informing recipients they have ‘unresolved traffic violations.’ The scam further threatens prompt enforcement actions … if immediate payment is not made. The scam also provides a link for payment, which includes ‘dmv-nh’ in the URL, an effort to appear to be an official State of New Hampshire website,” the release said. The NH DMV does not send text messages regarding payments and the only texts that will come from the DMV are appointment reminders, the release said. Call 603-227-4000 to talk to the DMV Customer Service line with questions about DMV communication, the press release said.

Give blood, get A1C test

The Red Cross will provide free A1C testing for successful blood, platelet and plasma donations in March, according to a Feb. 25 press release from American Red Cross Northern New England Region. Donors through March 31 can also receive a $15 Amazon gift card, the release said. “New Red Cross data reveals 1 in 5 blood donors have elevated A1C levels — a sign that prediabetes and diabetes are prevalent among adults in generally good health. … Among donors with elevated A1C levels, 80% had readings indicating prediabetes — a condition that can often be reversed through lifestyle changes such as a balanced diet and regular exercise,” the release said. “The A1C test does not require fasting and provides an average blood sugar level over the past three months,” the release said.See RedCrossBlood.org/March for upcoming blood drives and to make a donation appointment.

New Hampshire-based cartoonist, musician and educator Marek Bennett will present his new book, The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby, Vol. 4: Summer 1864!, the fourth graphic novel of his series about real-life New Hampshire schoolteacher turned Union Army soldier Freeman Colby, at Gibson’s Bookstore, 45 S. Main St. in Concord, on Thursday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m., according to gibsonsbookstore.com. See marekbennett.com for more on Bennett’s work.

603 Brewery, 42 Main St. in Londonderry, will hold its Fire on Main event Saturday, March 14, from 3 to 9 p.m. featuring food trucks, a DJ, bonfires and more, according to 603brewery.com. See Hippo’s story about the event (originally slated for February before it was postponed due to weather) in the Feb. 5 issue of the Hippo at hippopress.com.

Four-time NBA Champion, nine-time All Star, Robert Parish, who played with the Boston Celtics from 1980 to 1994, will be at Balin Books, 375 Amherst St. in Nashua, on Thursday, March 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. with his new book The Chief, according to balinbooks.com.