Category: Featured Content

Jeff LeDuc

Jeff LeDuc of Epping is the owner and founder of the Dawg Shed (find them on Facebook @dawgshed), a food stand he runs with family friend Shannon Knox that offers hot dogs, cold subs, salads, soups and other items made fresh daily, including chili dogs as specials on Fridays and Saturdays. LeDuc, who also owns a shed building and delivery company called JD’s Sheds and More, had been running a hot dog cart on the side at local venues for about three years. He started the Dawg Shed last December — you can find it next to Floral Expressions Boutique (252 Calef Hwy., Epping) every Tuesday through Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. and usually until the mid- to late afternoon, depending on the day.

What is your must-have kitchen item?

Definitely a knife. That’s the most important.

What would you have for your last meal?

Something Italian, probably chicken Parm.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

I have three that I visit very frequently that are all right here in town. Telly’s across the street, the Holy Grail Pub and then also DeBernardo’s.

What celebrity would you like to see visiting your food stand?

I’d love to see anyone from the [Boston] Bruins team from the ‘70s or ‘80s, [like] Bobby Orr, Terry O’Reilly or Brad Park. All of them are very supportive of the local hockey teams and are just great professional athletes.

What is your favorite thing on your menu?

A sauerkraut dog with spiced mustard.

What is the biggest food trend in New Hampshire right now?

I think the trend is what we’re offering, which is fresh foods like homemade soups and sandwiches made right in front of you. … I think more people now feel the need to support local businesses in their community.

What is your favorite thing to cook at home?

I love doing omelets in the morning, usually bacon and cheese. In the evening, there’s nothing better than a nice T-bone steak cooked on the grill.

Cranberry walnut chicken salad
From the kitchen of Jeff LeDuc and Shannon Knox of the Dawg Shed in Epping (combine the following ingredients)
Oven roasted chicken breast (quantity depending on preference)
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 to 3 cups mayonnaise
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons mixed Italian herbs

Featured photo: Jeff LeDuc of the Dawg Shed in Epping

Neighborhood pies

Elm House of Pizza opens in Manchester

Back in the 1970s, Elm House of Pizza was a downtown favorite among Manchester locals for its grinders, spaghetti dinners and dozens of pizza pie varieties. Decades later, a new Queen City eatery is channeling that nostalgic neighborhood vibe while offering its own spin on a traditional house of pizza.

The latest iteration of Elm House of Pizza, which opened March 15 in the old Theo’s restaurant, is the project of business partners Tim Baines of Mint Bistro and Bob Scribner of The Wild Rover Pub. Last summer the pair took over the 102 Elm St. space, which had most recently been Frida’s Tacos & Tequila but was Theo’s for more than 30 years before that.

Baines said the name was chosen as an homage to its 1970s predecessor — he recently shared a screenshot of its grand opening flyer from December 1973 on social media. The original Elm House of Pizza was a mile up the road at 866 Elm St. While there aren’t the same ingredients or recipes as from years past, what you will find in the new spot is what he calls a modern twist on a traditional house of pizza, featuring everything from house pies and appetizers to fresh seafood dinners, pastas, burgers and more.

“We were taking a look at what we thought might be missing in Manchester, and we really felt that the south end neighborhoods are underserved in the pizza category,” Baines said. “This is kind of an iconic space. Theo’s had a great run here … and we just thought it was a great location away from the hustle and bustle of Elm Street.”

Pizzas come in two sizes, with vegan cheese and gluten-free cauliflower crusts available as substitutes and individual slices likely offered every Monday through Friday until 5 p.m.

There’s a build-your-own option with dozens of toppings to choose from, in addition to several specialty pizzas — the House Pie, for instance, features tomato sauce, Italian sausage, ricotta cheese, a hot honey drizzle, and “cup-and-char” pepperoni, or smaller pepperoni pieces that form into cup shapes to trap the pizza’s natural juices.

“We’re definitely excited about how the House Pie is received. The flavors really come together in a magical way,” Baines said. “The cup-and-char pepperoni is different. … I think you’re starting to see it become more popular.”

But there’s also more to look forward to than the pizzas. Fresh haddock and scallops are served daily, as well as house entrees like spaghetti and meatballs, chicken or eggplant Parmesan, chicken and broccoli alfredo, marinated steak tip dinners or shrimp scampi. Gluten-free zucchini noodles can also be swapped for cavatappi on any of the pasta options.

Sandwiches are served with either hand cut fries, coleslaw, potato salad or a vegetable of the day, and include steak and cheese subs, meatball subs, lobster rolls and several types of burgers. The appetizers menu has unique options of its own, like house pepper jack cheese sticks with marinara sauce, loaded potato skins, bacon-wrapped scallops and garlic Parmesan cheese curds.

Most of the restaurant’s renovations took place in its bar area, which has been expanded. The drinks menu features an assortment of domestic and local craft beers, in addition to a few red and white wines and a selection of house mixed cocktails.

“Even though we’re not a sports bar, I certainly envision it being a great place to come watch a game, [or] maybe grabbing pizzas for the family and having a couple of beers while you’re waiting,” Baines said. “Most pizza places wouldn’t focus as much on the bar, but we want that to be a significant part of what we’re doing here.”

An outdoor patio at the rear of the restaurant seats about 40 people, and Baines said there are talks to extend the outdoor dining capacity in the parking lot during the summer. Online ordering and delivery are also expected in the coming weeks following the eatery’s initial opening week.

Elm House of Pizza
Where: 102 Elm St., Manchester
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
More info: Visit elmhop.com, find them on Facebook and Instagram, or call 232-5522 to place a takeout order

Feautred photo: Meat Lover’s Pizza. Courtesy of Elm House of Pizza.

Flavors of India

Destination India opens in Derry

Mango Lassi. Photo courtesy of Destination India.

A new eatery has brought Indian cuisine to downtown Derry, offering authentic meals from several regions across the country. Aptly named Destination India, the restaurant and bar held a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony on March 12 following a brief soft launch period.

Co-owner and chef Navanath “Navi” Avhad comes from Mumbai and has cooked Indian cuisine all over the United States. Connections with restaurant owners and friends eventually led Avhad to New England — he worked at Tulsi Indian Restaurant in Kittery, Maine, for a time before opening Destination India with three business partners: Ram Bodke, Megha Bodke and Pranav Ambekar.

Avhad, who currently lives in Manchester, said the four ultimately chose Derry both because of its large population and the lack of an authentic Indian restaurant downtown.

“I always drive on this road, and I see all the cuisines, like Italian, Mexican [and] Chinese,” he said, “but something was missing, and that was Indian.”

Avhad said the menu has some familiar dishes like vegetable samosas filled with potatoes, green peas and spices; chicken tikka masala, which is boneless chicken breast marinated in yogurt and spices and simmered in a tomato and cashew sauce; and multiple curries, with proteins like lamb, goat, chicken thighs or coconut shrimp. You’ll also find some lesser-known items, like chicken vindaloo, or chicken marinated in a vinegar mixture, cooked with potatoes in a hot gravy. According to Avhad, vindaloo is an especially popular dish in Goa, a state on the southwestern coast of India that was once colonized by Portugal. Many Goan dishes were in fact influenced by Portuguese cuisine due to the country’s centuries-long rule of the state — another option on the menu with Goan origins, he said, is shrimp balchao, or sauteed shrimp in a tangy, spicy sauce. It can be ordered as an appetizer or a main course.

Chicken Chettinad, or chicken cubed and cooked in fresh ground pepper, curry leaves, cilantro and spices, is also a traditional Southern Indian dish you’ll see on the menu. Other items are representative of northern Indian states, like paneer butter masala, or sauteed cheese that’s simmered in a tomato cashew cream curry sauce.

“We have the option of mild, medium and hot … for the spice level for our dishes, and people like that,” Avhad said. “We also have many vegetarian options for people.” One such dish is navratan korma, which literally translates to “nine-gem curry.” The different fruits, vegetables and nuts are the “gems” that make up the curry.

Some available items are cooked in a tandoor, a cylindrical clay oven that can reach temperatures of up to 900 degrees. In addition to tandoori chicken, shrimp and salmon, fresh flatbread called naan is baked fresh to order — you can get plain, butter or garlic naan, or a peshawari naan, which is filled with assorted nuts, coconut and dried fruits.

For desserts, Avhad makes his own kulfi, or Indian ice cream, in flavors like mango, pistachio and malai, a type of fresh cream. There’s also rice kheer (Indian rice pudding), gulab jamun (deep fried dumplings cooked in a cardamom syrup) and mango lassi, a smoothie-like blended drink of yogurt, water and spices.

Even though Destination India was open for takeout and delivery only during its initial soft launch, Avhad said his staff were busier than they ever could have expected — they even had to stop taking orders that first Saturday night to get caught up. The eatery is now open for full in-house dining, in addition to takeout and delivery through DoorDash, and is looking into adding more tables outside when steadier warm weather returns.

Garlic, butter and onion naan. Photo courtesy of Destination India.

Destination India Restaurant & Bar
Where: 14A E. Broadway, Derry
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
More info: Visit destinationindianh.com, find them on Facebook @destinationindianh or call 552-3469

Feautred photo: Navratan Korma (nine-gem curry.) Photo courtesy of Destination India.

Find your Book Love

How to rediscover classics,
find new titles that interest you and have more fun with reading

If it’s been years since you’ve picked up a book (no judgment!), the idea of reentering the vast and always-expanding world of literature can be overwhelming. But with genres that cover everything from werewolves to World War II and reading formats that accommodate all kinds of lifestyles, becoming a reader is easier than ever.

“Every child is an artist, but as they get older, most people stop drawing, stop coloring, and I think it can be the same way with reading,” said Michael Herrmann, owner of Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord. “Every child loves stories, but somewhere along the line, we lose that. The secret here is to get back in touch with that inner child and ask yourself, what kinds of stories do I want to hear now?”

Find a book

Caitlin Loving, head of circulation at Bedford Public Library, said one of the most common hang-ups people have about reading is simply not knowing what to read.

“There is such a wealth of options, which is nice, but it can also be really overwhelming and intimidating,” Loving said, “and if it’s been a while [since you’ve read], you may not know what you’d like.”

Books based on or related to your favorite films and TV series can be a great starting point, Loving said, as they allow you to dive deeper into a story or subject that you know you’re interested in.

“Even though you know what the book is about, there’s often a lot that gets left out [in the screen adaptation], so reading the book can really add to your enjoyment,” she said.

Another popular gateway to reading is nonfiction, said Emily Weiss, head of reference services at Bedford Public Library. You can explore a memoir or autobiography by a person who’s always fascinated you, or a self-help guide that addresses an area of your life that you want to improve, or a commentary on a social or political issue that you’re passionate about.

“If you have someone who is a reluctant reader but really likes sports, a nonfiction book about a sports team or a biography on an athlete will oftentimes draw them in,” Weiss said.

“When I read nonfiction, I can’t stop talking about what I’ve read to other people,” added Susan Harmon, information and technology librarian at Manchester City Library. “It’s a great way to learn more about something interesting or weird, or to become an expert on a subject or hobby of some kind.”

If reading a whole book feels like too much to start, try a book of poetry, short stories, a graphic novel or a novella instead.

“Warm up your reading muscles first … and start small,” said Rachel Stover, technical services assistant at Manchester City Library. “If you haven’t read anything in a while, something too long might get discouraging.”

There’s no shame in reading a young adult or children’s book either, said Sarah St. Martin, systems librarian for GMILCS, Inc., a nonprofit consortium of public and academic libraries in New Hampshire,

“Don’t limit yourself,” she said. “There are so many great children’s stories out there, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t read them.”

“It truly is a golden age for young adult literature,” Herrmann added. “These are books that have great stories and characters … and don’t involve a huge time commitment.”

Podcasts, YouTube channels and magazines often provide recommendations of new titles, especially within a particular genre or niche.

“A lot of YouTubers talk about books they’ve read that go along with what they talk about on their channel, so that can be a really good springboard,” Harmon said.

For more personalized recommendations, reach out to family, friends and co-workers who are readers and know what your interests are, or talk with the staff at your local library or bookstore, who can give you recommendations based on your interests, reading level and goals.

“The people who work in those places are in love with books,” Herrmann said. “They’ll help connect you with the kinds of stories that you’re looking for.”

To read or not to read

Inevitably, you will pick up some books that looked promising at first glance but fall short of your expectations. At that point, you’ll need to decide whether you want to cut your losses early on, read a little more in hopes that it redeems itself, or finish the book regardless.

A good rule of thumb is to read at least 50 pages of a book before making a judgment, Loving said; if it hasn’t appealed to you by then, it’s probably never going to, but if you want to be sure that you aren’t missing out, take a look at the reviews.

“Oftentimes a review will say, ‘It picks up in the second half,’ or ‘The ending is worth it,’ and that can be helpful for deciding if you want to keep going with it or not,” Loving said.

The reverse is also possible:

“You might start a book and be really into it, and then, halfway through, it changes and you aren’t into it anymore,” St. Martin said.

Whether you’re 20 pages in or 200 pages in, if you know that the book just isn’t for you, it’s OK to put it to rest and move on to a book you find more enjoyable.

“A lot of people feel like they have to stick with a book, even if it’s not really capturing their attention, or else they feel like a failure,” Loving said. “I say life is too short for that.”

“There are hundreds of thousands of books that you could be reading, so why read something that’s not speaking to you?” Weiss added.

Make the time

Many people think they don’t have time to read, St. Martin said, but one easy way to find time is to identify the minutes spent checking the news or social media between tasks and use those minutes to read instead.

“Even just that short amount of time is a good way to start,” she said.

If you’re out and about, Loving said, bring a book or download an ebook on your phone so that you can squeeze some reading in while you’re in line at the grocery store, in the waiting room at the doctor’s office or taking public transportation.

“If you’re really hooked on a book, you’ll see that no amount of time is too short,” she said. “You’ll be looking for every little moment to read because you won’t want to put it down.”

If you are able to set aside a more consistent time for reading each day, Harmon said, try to make it an “experience ” — something you look forward to — as opposed to an obligation. One way to do that is by finding a quiet reading space with comfortable seating and sufficient lighting. A cup of hot cocoa, coffee, tea or another hot drink is also a nice touch.

“Minimize distractions,” Harmon said. “Go to the bathroom, eat a snack, get a drink and get comfy.”

Listen up

If a sit-down reading time isn’t feasible, audiobooks may be the best option because they allow you to multitask.

“You can listen while doing boring chores, cooking, exercising, walking, driving,” Harmon said. “It makes the time pass faster … and you get some reading done.”

Audiobooks aren’t just convenient; they’re another way for readers to experience a story.

“Some books you might enjoy more on audiobook, some you might enjoy better reading — it depends,” St. Martin said. “If you’re reading a book and you’re not getting a good feel for it, listening to it on audiobook may make the imagery and characters and everything come alive for you.”

The narrator can make or break an audiobook, Harmon said, so try listening to a sample first, if possible. An over-dramatic or silly voicing of the characters; unfamiliar or odd word pronunciations; or insufficient pop filtering during the recording can be a dealbreaker, Harmon said, but a well-narrated audiobook can be magical.

“There are books I listened to as audiobooks that have become some of my favorite books, simply because the narrator added so much to it,” she said. “He can bring the characters to life in a way that my imagination wouldn’t have done.”

Discover the classics

Local librarians shared 30 classic books that are worth reading outside of English class.

Recommended by Emily Weiss, head of reference services; Caitlin Loving, head of circulation; and Patricia Kline-Millard, reference librarian, at Bedford Public Library:

• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

• Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

• A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

• War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy

• Moby Dick by Herman Melville

• Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

• Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

• White Fang by Jack London

• The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

• Dune by Frank Herbert

• Blackout by Connie Willis

Recommended by Susan Harmon, information and technology librarian, and Rachel Stover, technical services assistant, at Manchester City Library:

• Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

• The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

• Beowulf by Unknown

• The Forever King by Molly Cochran

• Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut

• Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

• The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

• Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein

• Epic of Gilgamesh, author unknown, or Sin-Leqi-Unninni

• Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

• The Giver by Lois Lowry

• The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Classics made easy

Caitlin Loving, head of circulation at Bedford Public Library, shared eight tips for enjoying classic books.

1. Simplify with an annotated edition. “They have detailed explanations of words, phrases, and period details that will enrich your understanding and reading experience,” Loving said. “For example, the annotated edition of Moby-Dick explains all of the obscure nineteenth-century whaling terms, which will definitely enhance your understanding of the story.”

2. Break it down. “Moby-Dick actually has short chapters, and it’s great to read it this way, and a lot of celebrated literature was serialized before it was collected in novel form,” Loving said.

3. Get academic. “You can take notes to keep characters straight and solidify your understanding, and you can look up words you don’t know,” Loving said. “If you’d like to get more formal about it, there are lectures available for free online.”

4. Read a nonfiction book about the book,such asOn Reading the Grapes of Wrath by Susan Shillinglaw, So We Read On: How The Great Gatsby Came to Be and Why It Endures by Maureen Corrigan, and Why Read Moby-Dick? by Nathaniel Philbrick. “These are often fairly short and can bring out aspects of the story you might have missed, or enhance your experience by diving deeper into it,” Loving said. “It’s almost like taking a class about the book or discussing it with a good friend.”

5. Listen to it on audiobook. “Hearing the story can provide greater comprehension,” Loving said, “and one advantage of classics is that there are often several different narrators to choose from so that you can select the voice that speaks to you.”

6. Try a graphic novel adaptation. “The visual aspect can add a lot to the experience,” Loving said. “While they are often abridged, it’s still a great way to read a classic, either to jog your memory, in addition to reading the full text, or just as a way to get to know more classics than you might have time for otherwise.”

7. Find a reading buddy. “You can gush about symbolism, commiserate over the extensive number of indistinguishable Russian surnames, and hold each other accountable for finishing books,” Loving said.

8. Don’t force it. “If you get 50 pages in … and you’re not into it, it’s okay to give up,” Loving said. “No one is grading you, and just because someone decided it belongs in the Western canon does not mean you are obligated to read it.”

New books for new bookworms

Susan Harmon, information and technology librarian at Manchester City Library, shared 10 approachable new releases that have been popular at the library.

• Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

“A deeply ruminative story on depression, addiction, grief, loss, science, religion, faith and love. Readers were drawn in by the engaging and lyrical writing, and the strong character development. You’ll definitely cry.”

• The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson

“A well-researched, funny and deeply fascinating exploration of the human body. The writing style is conversational without making you feel talked down to.”

• The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich

“This historical novel is … [an] authentic story of the Native American experience and fight for rights. Readers loved the engaging storytelling, vivid characters, fascinating historical elements and atmospheric tone.”

• The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson.

“A deeply compelling and immersive exploration of the day-to-day life of Churchill and his family during his first year as prime minister.”

• Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh

“An offbeat, comedic, and engaging collection of illustrated, biographical essays on topics ranging from childhood and very bad pets to grief, loneliness and powerlessness in modern life.”

• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

“Bennett has an incredible ability to weave together unforgettable characters, complex family drama, tragedy, romance, love and triumph. It’s a story of twin sisters who took two very different paths in life.”

• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

“This book is both fast-paced and deeply philosophical. The fantastic setting allows the author to engage playfully and profoundly with some heavy topics, but you won’t get bogged down.”

• The Guest List by Lucy Foley

“This murder mystery will keep you guessing until the end. There is suspense and action from page 1. Each small detail could be a clue, and each of the characters are as guilty as the rest.”

• The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

“This fantastic story explores a timeless theme: ‘Be careful what you wish for.’”

• The Last Traverse: Tragedy and Resilience in the Winter Whites by Ty Gagne

“An epic story of a daring rescue in the White Mountains [that] weaves the personal accounts of volunteer rescuers and survivors with fascinating weather and survival information. This well-researched page-turner will be hard to put down.”

Sarah St. Martin, systems librarian for GMILCS consortium of New Hampshire libraries, shared some other recently published titles that have appeal for newbie readers:

Celebrity memoirs

• The Answer Is … Reflections on My Life by Alex Trebek

• Is This Anything? by Jerry Seinfeld

• Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

From page to screen

• Battle of Brothers William and Harry— The Inside Story of a Family in Tumult by Robert Lacy and Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand (for fans of The Crown on Netflix)

• Return to Virgin River by Robyn Carr (Virgin River on Netflix)

• 28 Summersby Elin Hilderbrand (based on the film Same Time Next Year)

• Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline (sequel to Ready Player One book and film)

Help yourself

• Personality Isn’t Permanent: Break Free from Self-Limiting Beliefs and Rewrite Your Story by Benjamin Hardy

• The New Rules of Aging Well: A Simple Program for Immune Resilience, Strength, and Vitalityby Frank Lipman

• Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty

Major page-turners

• All the Devils are Here by Louise Penny

• The Boy from the Woods by Harlan Coben

• Masked Prey by John Sandford

• One by One by Ruth Ware

• Walk the Wire by David Baldacci

Reading reads

Still stumped on what to read? Find inspiration in these “books about books” recommended by Emily Weiss, head of reference services at Bedford Public Library.

• 1,001 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List by James Mustich

• The Books That Changed My Life: Reflections by 100 Authors, Actors, Musicians, and Other Remarkable People edited by Bethanne Patrick

• Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks. A Librarian’s Love Letters and Breakup Notes to the Books in Her Life by Annie Spence

• Howards End is on the Landing: A Year of Reading from Home by Susan Hill

• My Life with Bob: Flawed Heroine Keeps Book of Books, Plot Ensues by Pamela Paul

• Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading by Nina Sankovitch

• The Toni Morrison Book Club by Juda Bennett, Winifred Brown-Glaude, Cassandra Jackson, and Piper Kendrix Williams

• What to Read and Why by Francine Prose

News & Notes 21/03/18

Covid-19 updateAs of March 8As of March 15
Total cases statewide77,06078,813
Total current infections statewide2,0362,064
Total deaths statewide1,1841,199
New cases1,472 (March 2 to March 8)1,753 (March 9 to March 15)
Current infections: Hillsborough County581640
Current infections: Merrimack County163211
Current infections: Rockingham County470509
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

Covid-19 news

During the state’s weekly public health update on March 11, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that there continue to be about 200 to 250 new infections of Covid-19 on average per day in New Hampshire, numbers that have been “relatively stable over the last couple of weeks.” Hospitalizations and deaths from the virus, meanwhile, are still trending downward. “We’re seeing the number of people dying from Covid-19 in long-term care facilities continue to decrease, as we roll out vaccines to those settings, and as we have a higher proportion of our long-term care facility residents vaccinated,” Chan said.

Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, said later during the same March 11 press conference that 10 percent of the state’s population (about 132,000 people) have now been fully vaccinated. Phase 2A of the state’s vaccine administration plan, which includes K through 12 teachers, school staff and child care workers, began March 12. “Our regional public health networks have scheduled 39 regional clinics through the end of the month, with plans to vaccine 17,000 school, child care and youth camp staff,” Daly said. “Phase 2A people who are not invited to one of these regional clinics will be able to register to get vaccinated at a state- or hospital-run site beginning March 17 on vaccines.nh.gov.” She went on to say that registration for Phase 2B, which includes people between the ages of 50 and 64, will open on March 22.

Gov. Chris Sununu also announced that, effective immediately, restrictions and guidelines for several sectors in New Hampshire are being relaxed, including quarantining requirements for all out-of-state travel. “We still recommend folks to quarantine … but it is no longer a requirement going forward,” he said. “Likewise, residents from outside of New England no longer have to quarantine prior to arrival in New Hampshire. … This change applies only to domestic travel, not to international travel.” Capacity at retail stores has also returned to 100 percent, and barbershops and salons are now allowed to have walk-in customers without reservations. Restaurants and bars are also now allowed to resume karaoke, pool, darts and other games, as well as small live bands of three members or less.

Applications for the state’s emergency rental assistance program opened on March 15, according to a press release. The program, which was established through the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery, is providing financial aid to Granite Staters who have experienced difficulty paying their rent, utilities and heating costs due to the pandemic. To be eligible, at least one person per household must qualify for unemployment benefits, have had their income reduced or have had some other financial hardship due to the pandemic. The household must be at risk for homelessness, be paying more than 30 percent of its income for rent and utilities, or be in an unsafe or unhealthy environment. Payments are processed through the state’s five regional Community Action Partnership agencies. Visit capnh.com to submit an application.

Details of Sununu’s emergency and executive orders, as well as the state’s reopening guidance documents, can be found at governor.nh.gov.

Political climate

According to a March poll by the Saint Anselm College Survey Center at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, President Joe Biden’s job approval among registered New Hampshire voters has narrowed since February. In the February poll, 53 percent of respondents said they “approve” and 45 percent said “disapprove.” In March that narrowed to 50 percent and 49 percent, respectively. The poll also showed that Democrats hold a 48-40 percent advantage on the generic congressional ballot. New Hampshire’s senators’ job approval numbers have slipped in the last month: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s approval-disapproval margin is now 51-43 percent, down from 54-38 percent, and Sen. Maggie Hassan has gone down to 47-44 percent from February’s 49-40 percent. Meanwhile, Congressman Chris Pappas and Congresswoman Annie Kuster both saw slight improvements in their approval ratings. “While Democrats still enjoy a numerical advantage among voters, the independent nature of our state tends to be suspicious of a unified federal government, and this may be contributing to the relatively short duration of President Biden’s honeymoon period,” New Hampshire Institute of Politics Executive Director Neil Levesque said in a press release. The survey also looked at a hypothetical matchup between Hassan and Gov. Chris Sununu, with Sununu being the preferred candidate by a margin of 47 to 41 percent. Sununu’s job approval has fallen somewhat since the last poll but still sits at 67-31 percent, with approval from virtually every demographic group, but Hassan would benefit from her party’s strength, according to the press release. “This sets the stage for what may become one of the most closely watched races in the nation this cycle as Gov. Chris Sununu has signaled the possibility of challenging incumbent Sen. Maggie Hassan,” Levesque said in the release.

Access to CTE

The New Hampshire Department of Education has released a report called “Increasing Equitable Access to Career and Technical Education,” a comprehensive review of the state’s career and tech ed programs, as part of an ongoing effort to make those programs more accessible to students, according to a press release. The programs give students hands-on learning experience in high-demand employment fields and can be used to earn college credit, and the report outlines some of the current barriers that might be preventing students from taking advantage of CTE programs. For example, 71 percent of students enrolled in programs have a CTE center co-located in their high school, while 29 percent but must be provided transportation to participate. According to the press release, the report suggests ideas to help overcome this accessibility concern, including better coordination of scheduling and transportation, as well as calendars, between districts. “This research confirmed many of the important issues CTE leaders and other educators have been aware of for many years,” Eric Frauwirth, director of the Bureau of Career Development, said in the release. “Now we have a set of strategies to explore, and will continue to engage with stakeholders and local communities to determine the best options for the students and families they serve.”

Wildlife funding

The New Hampshire delegation announced last week that the Granite State will get more than $8.75 million through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support the state’s wildlife and sport fish restoration and vulnerable species conservation. According to the announcement from U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas, the funding will help state wildlife agencies pursue conservation projects and programs like hunting and fishing education, fish and wildlife management, scientific research, and habitat restoration and protection. “New Hampshire is home to some of the most beautiful land in the country, and we have a responsibility to protect it,” Kuster said in the release.

On March 15, work began on Route 13 at Exit 2 off Interstate 89 in Concord, part of a project that includes painting structural steel on six bridges on and above I-89 between Exit 2 and Exit 5 in Concord and Hopkinton. According to a press release, the work will be done during the day and evening, and once the Concord bridge is complete, painting on the next bridge will begin, with work progressing north until the final bridge in Hopkinton is completed. The project is expected to be completed in December, the release said.

The Manchester Police Department has announced that it has a new training program for all sworn officers, stemming from Gov. John Sununu’s recent executive order calling for law enforcement reforms. According to a press release, the 40-hour week of training includes topics like use of force, implicit bias, cultural responsiveness and ethics.

On March 12, crews removed sections of the three waterslides at Cascade Waterslide at Hampton Beach, according to a report from NHPR. The landmark has been there for more than 35 years, the report said, and there is no word on what might take its place.

Boston Billiard Club & Casino in Nashua announced in a press release that it is the exclusive spot in the region where people can play 21STUD, a new two-card blackjack game that was created and recently patented by New Hampshire-based game designer Brandon Zyxnfryx of ZFX Gaming, also in Nashua.

Leaders bring the weather

In their book Scaling Leadership, Robert Anderson and William Adams note that “Leaders bring the weather.” They further note that the tone, mood, presence, focus and behavior of the leader is the weather in any organization — a force of nature. And everyone who works there can feel it, see it, experience it and describe how it impacts them and those around them.

All leaders bring the weather — organizational leaders or elected government leaders. In New Hampshire, we have a lot of elected state leaders. There are 400 leaders in the House of Representatives, 24 leaders in the Senate, five leaders on the Executive Council, and then of course, our governor. I wonder if these 430 leaders realize that they bring the “weather” to the state by their statements, actions and behavior?

I am a bit of a political junkie, and I will read just about any publication and any article written covering state and federal issues. Needless to say, I am frequently left scratching my head. As an example, US News & World Report recently picked up this headline, “New Hampshire Lawmaker Apologies for Anti-LGBTQ Language,” a story about Manchester Rep. Dick Marston’s apology after referring to LGBTQ people as having “deviant sexuality” in a Zoom House committee hearing. As InDepthNH and other sources reported, earlier in that same meeting, Manchester Rep. Nicole Klein-Knight appeared to take a gummy from her bottle of medical cannabis (“prescribed medication for arthritis,” she later tweeted), apparently trying to make a point during a discussion of two bills, including one related to fines for the possession of marijuana and therapeutic cannabis. WMUR reported on the House’s use of a University of New Hampshire facility for its sessions last year. House Speaker Steve Shurtleff had to apologize to UNH leadership this past September after some members were drinking beer in the hall and failed to wear masks outside the facility, violating UNH and town ordinances. Did I mention the head-scratching?

Let’s be clear. We have many outstanding, hard-working leaders in Concord who are essentially volunteering their time to serve the citizens of New Hampshire, and they deserve our respect and gratitude. Unfortunately, that behavior is not what typically makes the news. Instead of providing the attention-getting headlines described above, wouldn’t it be better if there were more to report on in terms of bipartisan work being pushed out of the House and Senate? Wouldn’t that be a better weather report from our elected leadership?

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