Category: News

This Week 24/12/19

Thursday, Dec. 19

There will be a 21+ Ugly Sweater Party and screening of 1989’s classic holiday movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation tonight at Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888, chunkys.com) beginning at 8 p.m. Wear your ugliest sweater and you could win a Chunky’s Gift Bucket for Two. Tickets are $5.99 at the door or through Chunky’s website.

Thursday, Dec. 19

Legendary rock band Quiet Riot will take to the stage at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) at 8 p.m. with special guest All Sinners. Tickets start at $50.

Friday, Dec. 20

The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight, a band of 14 classical musicians, breathing beautifully dark energy into rock and metal tracks, will perform at the Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) tonight at 8 p.m. Bathed in candlelight, skeletal players with rhinestone masks will switch between haunting melodies and powerful walls of sound. Tickets start at $63.75.

Friday, Dec. 20

The rodeo is coming to the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com). PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) premier event, Unleash the Beast, will take place tonight and tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 21, at 7:30 p.m. This is your chance to witness world-class athletes going head-to-head with powerful bucking bulls. Two-day tickets start at $73 through ticketmaster.com. Visit pbr.com/tours/unleash-the-beast.

Friday, Dec. 20

Vibe Yoga and Aerial Moon (182 Main St., Nashua, 759 8432, vibeyoga603.com) will host a Winter Solstice Celebration and Journey, tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. Mark the rebirth of the sun during this two-hour winter solstice celebration and Shamanic Journey led by Jeanelle Boyer. Register through the Vibe website. The cost is $35.

Saturday, Dec. 21

Celebrate the holiday season with Canadian Brass tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com). Tickets start at $39.

Saturday, Dec. 21

Get ready to embrace the holiday spirit with an unforgettable evening of music, dance and festive cheer as Christmas with the Celts takes the stage at the Stockbridge Theatre (22-98 Bypass 28, Derry, 437-5210, pinkertonacademy.org/stockbridge-theatre) tonight at 7p.m. Tickets start at $35.

Saturday, Dec. 21

There will be a Christmas Contra Dance with Dudley Laufman & Friends at the Citywide Community Center (14 Canterbury Road, Concord, 225-8690, concordnh.gov/1364/Community-Center) tonight from 7 to 10 p.m. Beginners, singles and families are welcome. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for ages 15 to 20, and children under 15 can dance for free. Visit concordnhcontra.wordpress.com.

Save the Date! Saturday, Dec. 28
Don’t miss your chance to see what fans love about the Harlem Globetrotters: the dunks, alley-oops, looooong shots, magic, history and more. See Globetrotter stars and their renowned rivals, the Washington Generals, at SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com). There will be shows at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets start at $35.

Featured photo: Ugly Sweater Party at Chunky’s.

Quality of Life 24/12/19

Green light in the sky

As reported by WMUR in a Dec.10 online article, a comet will be visible in night skies in January, after an absence of 50,000 years. Discovered two years ago, the comet, whimsically named C/2022E3 (ZTF), “will make its closest approach to the sun on Jan. 12, according to NASA,” the story reported. This loop around the sun represents the near edge of an orbit that normally takes the comet through the extreme far edges of the solar system. “The icy celestial object,” WMUR reported, “which has steadily brightened as it approaches the sun, will subsequently make its closest pass of Earth between Feb. 1 and Feb. 2, around 26 million miles away, according to EarthSky — as the comet nears Earth, observers will be able to spot it near the bright star Polaris, also called the North Star, and it should be visible earlier in the evening.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: While keen-eyed observers might be able to see the comet unaided at the end of January, most sky-watchers will need the help of binoculars or a telescope.

A rude shock for Rochester dogs

According to a Dec.11 online story by WMUR, Rochester City officials are investigating a number of complaints from pet owners that their dogs have been shocked while peeing against city light poles. WMUR quoted dog owner William McKay: “I walked him over to a pole, he lifted his leg up, and then he just screamed real loud, jumped up in the air and ran away.” According to the report, this has been traumatic for pet owners as well. “My dog started walking,” the story quoted Rochester resident Ryan Naples, “and he lifted his leg to pee, and all of a sudden, it was the most excruciating noise I’ve ever heard in my life. For about 30 seconds, he was just screaming and panting, laying on the ground, freaking out.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: As reported by WMUR, “The city said it’s looking into what’s causing the shocks. It has cut power at all the reported sites as the investigation continues.”

The odds may be in your favor

A recent study by VegasInsider.com compared payouts in lotteries across the country and found that “New Hampshire had the best overall chance of winning any sort of prize, with a 1-in-10 chance of winning something,” according to a Dec.12 press release. The study used the official websites and odds chances of state lotteries. “The results showed that the games specific to New Hampshire, Kentucky, Iowa, and New Mexico have the most likely odds of winning the big prize of 1:10,000,” the press release read.

QOL score: +1

Comment: New Hampshire’s relatively small population might be responsible. According to the press release, “bigger populated states with bigger state lottery jackpots were the least likely to succeed for the top money. New York had the worst chances, with a whopping 1-in-45,047,474, followed by Texas and Florida, which had chances of [one in] over 20 million.”

Last week’s QOL score: 72

Net change:+1

QOL this week: 73

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at [email protected].

Bye-bye to Belichick

The Big Story – Coach B Heads to Chapel Hill: Well, I was wrong — Bill Belichick was serious about coaching in college. And it was such big news here that it blew the Red Sox trade for the top-of-the-rotation pitcher (Garrett Crochet) they desperately needed off the front page.

BB moves to college as the leader in Super Bowls won with six. The move likely finishes his quest to pass Don Shula as the NFL’s winningest coach in history. But it accomplishes two important things. (1) It ensures he will coach in 2025. (2) It gives him complete control to run the program and pick his own groceries as he did for 20 years here. Not exactly the ending to the legendary career I hoped for, but it apparently is what he wanted.

Sports 101: Name the seven players who have won the Cy Young Award in both leagues.

News Item – Sox Get Top-of-the-Rotation Starter: After losing out on free agent lefty Max Fried when he signed with the Yankees for giant money, the Sox pulled the trigger on the long-rumored deal for White Sox lefty Garrett Crochet. To do it they (sorta) went the Brad Stevens route of proven production over future promise by sending four minor-leaguers west, including highly touted catcher Kyle Teel.

I say sorta because Crochet comes with red flags. Only deranged stat geeks can proclaim a guy who was six games under .500 (6-12) and never pitched more than four innings in any start after July 1 “among the AL’s best pitchers last year” as Boston Globe beat writer Julian McWilliams did Sunday. But at 25 the stuff was good enough to strike out 208 in a career-best 146 innings. So they rolled the dice on that and the much cheaper annual price tag over the red flags.

News Item – Alumni News Yikes Department: First there was one-time walking Patriots disaster Jonnu Smith killing them with Miami. Today it’s last year’s couldn’t make a big kick if his life depended on it Chad Ryland. He was three for three on FG tries for Phoenix in Sunday’s dismal 30-16 loss. He also has three-game winning walk-off FG’s to his credit already.

The Numbers

16 – million-dollar increase to North Carolina’s NIL recruiting money from last year’s $4 million to the $20 million it’ll be with Belichick as HC of UNC.

1 – billion with a B that the Dodgers now owe in deferred payments to players after signing Blake Snell.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Up – Nico Collins: “It was definitely worth it ’cause it was caught by a kid” – Texan wide receiver in response to being fined $5,000 by the NFL for throwing a ball underhand to that kid after he caught it for a TD.

In Case You Missed It – Teddy Bridgewater:The one-time first-round NFL pick’s Miami Northwestern won the Class 3A championship in his first year as a high school coach with an epic playoff round run where they outscored their five opponents 262-12.

Random Thoughts:

A Little History – Team Support: Before the geeks whine that Crochet got no support from the horrible White Sox: Steve Carlton won 27 games for the Phillies when they won 59 in 1972.

Sports 101 Answer: The seven NL and AL Cy Young winners are Gaylord Perry, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, Roy Halladay, Max Scherzer and Blake Snell.

Final Thought – Should Jerod Mayo Return? The real issue for a change is not improvement, it’s is he the right fit for the circumstances? And since the Pats’ biggest priority is maximizing the development of their prime asset, Drake Maye, the answer is no.

We’ve learned two things in recent years about the Coach-QB relationship: (1) the right QB is more important than the coach, no matter who he is; (2) Matt Patricia and Mac Jones clearly showed that the wrong coach overseeing a young QB can kill his development. How is Mayo’s background any different from Patricia’s? Answer: in this crucial area, not much.

Instead they need an imaginative offensive mind guiding Maye. Like Detroit OC Ben Johnson, who leads the NFL’s highest-scoring club and, outside of KC, its most creative attack. He also helped Jared Goff evolve into an MVP-caliber player after the 2016 first overall pick floundered in L.A. before being dumped for Matthew Stafford. And look what draft bust turned MVP candidate Sam Darnold has done under ex-Patriot QB Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota.

If Mayo were taking over the defense-dominant 1985 Bears I’d probably stick with him. But that’s not what the Pats are. It’s an offensive league now and Maye is key to their revival.

So Bob Kraft, admit your mistake and then go get someone like Johnson, O’Connell or a young Andy Reid. Because that’s what’s needed going forward.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

News & Notes 24/12/19

18+ only

According to a press release, The New Hampshire Lottery and the National Council on Problem Gambling collaborated for a Gift Responsibly Campaign to remind the public that holiday-themed scratch tickets and other lottery games are not appropriate for children under the age of 18.

In a statement, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Lottery Charlie McIntyre said, “we want to share a critical reminder for gift givers that all lottery games, including holiday-themed games, are only for those 18 years of age and older. While lottery games and scratch tickets are great gifts, they should not be gifted to minors. There are many risks to gifting underage people lottery tickets and it is critically important the New Hampshire Lottery and the National Council on Problem Gambling work together to keep lottery games in the appropriate hands.”

According to the same release, the New Hampshire Lottery restricts underage lottery play by including a printed reminder on each product showing all players must be 18 to play, and New Hampshire Lottery retailers are trained to verify lottery game customers’ ages with a photo ID prior to finalizing a sale.

Funding for families

According to a press release, Concord Hospital Health System (CHHS) has received more than $353,000 in grants and donations to enhance maternity, prenatal and postnatal ob/gyn patient care across central New Hampshire, and these gifts contribute to a $2.8 million campaign supporting major renovations at The Family Place at Concord Hospital, innovative pilot programs and critical resources for families.

In a statement, Melissa Devine, the director of women and children’s value stream at The Family Place at Concord Hospital, said that “a unique aspect of The Family Place at Concord Hospital is patients remain in the same room through every stage of labor, delivery, and recovery. The upgrades will enhance that unique experience, ensuring families thrive in a safe and inviting environment during their stay.”

Some specifics of the funding include The Family Place Renovations: $250,000 from an anonymous donor, $40,000 from The Abbie F. Mosely Charitable Trust, Citizens Bank, N.A., Trustee, $17,445 from The Jessie Gould Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and $2,500 from Bruce Dyke, according to the release.

In a statement, Mario Rosario, practice manager, said, “we established a Maternity Comfort Closet at Concord Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology in Laconia to support parents. It provides newborn clothing and other essentials to help families prepare for their baby’s arrival and address the need for basic necessities in a meaningful way.”

Lorax tax

According to a press release, the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration (NHDRA) is increasing education efforts for landowners, municipalities and loggers to help them understand and follow New Hampshire’s laws and regulations regarding logging and timber harvesting.

The NHDRA recently developed and introduced a guide on New Hampshire’s Timber Tax, which is accessible on the NHDRA website and provides an overview of the tax and how it is assessed, while also providing links and directions to forms, resources and additional information, according to the release.

New Hampshire’s forest products industry generates more than $1.6 billion annually in direct economic impact and sustains more than 7,000 jobs according to the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension’s most recent Forest Products Industries’ Economic Contribution report, and with more than 80 percent of the Granite State covered by trees, the total economic output from our forests from direct, indirect and induced economic impact and from forest-based recreation exceeds $2.5 billion, according to the press release.

Logging occurs year-round but winter is traditionally when loggers are most active, and forestry is New Hampshire’s oldest land-based industry, dating back to the 1600s.

New Hampshire legislators enacted a Timber Tax in 1949 “for the purpose of encouraging conservation of the forest resources of the state”and each municipality is responsible for assessing the Timber Tax on the landowner of the property from which the lumber is harvested, according to the release.

The Timber Tax is set at 10 percent of the “stumpage value” — the value of wood, measured per thousand board feet of saw logs or tons of pulpwood — at the time of cutting, according to the same release.

One penalty known as “doomage” provides that the municipality may assess two times what the tax would have been if the report of wood cut had been filed accurately and on time, according to the release.

DRA has several resources for landowners, municipalities and loggers on its website, revenue.nh.gov/taxes-glance/timber-tax, such as details on how the Timber Tax is assessed, necessary forms, a series of Frequently Asked Questions, and links to partner organizations, including the New Hampshire Timber Owners Association and the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, according to the release.

Those interested can also call 230-5950 or email [email protected] for assistance.

“Coming Home” is an art exhibit at the Community Art Gallery in the Feed Loft at the Canterbury Country Store (3 Center Road, Canterbury) where artists explore the meaning of home. It’s free to view. Visit canterburycountrystore.com or call 783-9933.

Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord (225-1111, ccanh.com) will be hosting The Heather Pierson Trio as they play a Charlie Brown Jazz Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 2 and 7 p.m. at the BNH stage.

Lucy’s Voice, a mystery novel by J. Dennis Robinson, will have its launch at the Woodman Museum (182 Central Ave., Dover) on Friday, Dec. 20, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. with remarks from the author as well as book signing in the Museum’s Thom Hindle Gallery. Call 742-1038 or visit jdennisrobinson.com.

Quality of Life 24/12/19

Baffling the beavers

As reported in a Dec. 5 article by Nashua Ink Link (nashua.inklink.news) the City of Nashua is deploying technology in its ongoing battle of wits against beavers. In an effort to reduce beaver-related flooding, the article said, “after deliberation … a pond leveler was installed at Mine Falls Park, near the entrance on Spine Road. Pond levelers are pipes that run underneath beaver dams that create a permanent leak to keep ponds at a controlled, safe level.” The pipes are fitted with baffles to prevent beavers from feeling the flow of water and kicking off a new spate of dam-building. Popularly referred to as “beaver deceivers,” pond levelers have been used successfully in several beaver ponds in southern New Hampshire.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Sustainability manager Deb Chisolm said in the article, “We really have no local data to indicate whether [pond levelers] work or don’t work. We’re just trying to test it out; we thought that the Spine Road area would be a good location.”

Protecting against holiday scams

According to a recent study, Granite Staters were scammed out of more than $27 million online in 2023. In a Dec.3 press release, the Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov) warned consumers to protect themselves online this holiday season. “Taxpayers can be duped into unwittingly handing over their confidential tax and financial information,” the press release read. “Would-be victims could also get tricked into disclosing their addresses, Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers or passwords, which can lead to tax-related identity theft and fraud.” The IRS recommends shopping at online sites with web addresses that begin with the letters “https:” (The “s” stands for secure communications.) Also look for a padlock icon in the browser window. Make sure that your security and anti-virus software is up-to-date, and use strong, unique passwords for online accounts.

QOL score: -1

Comment: Better news is that New Hampshire ranked 47th in the United States in online scam victimhood. View the study at socialcatfish.com/scamfish/state-of-online-scams-2024.

Wrong way

As reported by WMUR in a Dec.2 online article, the number of New Hampshire drivers involved in driving in the wrong direction is increasing. “New Hampshire State Police said there have been 248 reported cases of wrong-way drivers and 17 related crashes on state roads this year,” the article reported. Although the number of accidents has decreased slightly — there were 26 last year — the overall number of wrong-way driving incidents has increased significantly. WMUR quoted Lt. Christopher Storm with New Hampshire State Police, who said that alcohol is a common denominator in most wrong-way crashes. “Number one, impairment,” he said. “Number two is people’s inattention or medical situations. And the third is our drivers that may not understand the language.”

QOL score: -2

Comment: According to WMUR’s article, the State plans to form a commission to study this problem.

Last week’s QOL score: 74

Net change: -2

QOL this week: 72

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at [email protected].

This Week 24/12/12

Thursday, Dec. 12

The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org) will stay open for Art After Work tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy live music from the band Cozy Throne, check out the galleries, take part in an art activity and more. Admission is free. The Winter Garden Cafe will be open — find the menu online.

Saturday, Dec.14

The New Hampshire Audubon Society (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, 224-9909, nhaudubon.org) will begin its annual Christmas Bird Count as early as today in some areas. Each count takes place in a designated “count circle” on a specific day. See the website for details.

Saturday, Dec. 14

Cheer on the brave souls “Freezin’ for a Reason” during the 8th Annual Pantry Plunge today at noon at Gallien’s Town Beach in Derry. The event raises money for the FBC Food Pantry. Find information on plunging yourself at pantryplunge.org.

Saturday, Dec. 14

The Christmas in Amherst Village House Tour will take place today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sponsored by the Congregational Church of Amherst, this tour has become a favorite tradition. Ready for the holidays with traditional and unique decorating ideas, every home is unique in size and style and each will be a surprise.Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 on the day of the event. Visit ccamherst.org/cav for ticket-purchasing locations.

Saturday, Dec. 14

Join the world-famous Boston Pops led by conductor Keith Lockhart for their iconic holiday performance tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com). This yearly concert is legendary for its high-energy, deeply emotional immersion in traditional holiday music. Tickets start at $33 through ticketmaster.com.

Saturday, Dec. 14

Mike Girard’s Big Swingin’ Thing will play at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $39.

Sunday, Dec. 15

The Wizards of Winter will play the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) this afternoon at 3 p.m. Tickets start at $45.

Sunday, Dec. 15

The Yule Light Up the Night road race will take place at 4:30 p.m. at the New Hampshire Speedway in Loudon. Run the 2.1-mile course through the “Gift of Lights” display. Registration costs $25 for adults (12+) in advance, $30 on the day; $15 for youth (4 to 11) in advance, $20 on the day, $10 for kids (3 and younger), and $20 for virtual runners. See millenniumrunning.com to register.

Save the Date! Saturday, Dec. 28
NHSCOT will hold its Hogmanay Celebration — a Scottish-style celebration of the new year — on Saturday, Dec. 28, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Pembroke Pines Country Club in Pembroke. Tickets cost $40 for adults and kids age 6 and up (ages 5 and under get in for free). This family-friendly event will feature indoor and outdoor activities including live music from Rebel Collective, a performance by Pipes and Drums of NHSCOT, s’mores, a Highland Fling, street curling, a parade and more. See nhscot.org.

Featured photo: Hogmanay Celebration.

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