Category: News

This Week 23/06/22

Big Events June 22, 2023 and beyond

Friday, June 23

Tonight is Cue Zero Theatre Co.’s opening night of Be More Chillat the Derry Opera House (29 West Broadway). The show is a sci-fi coming-of-age story about listening to the voices in your head. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Additional performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 25. Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased at cztheatre.com.

Saturday, June 24

Visit The Big Little Garden (11 Brackenwood Drive, Nashua) for the garden conservatory’s Open Days and Plant Sale event today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The garden will be open for people to take walking tours, and the plant sale will have a variety of local plants for people to choose from. Proceeds from the plant sale will go to Kitty Angels, a no-kill cat rescue, shelter and adoption agency, and to Merrimack Community Hospice House. Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at thebiglittlegarden.com.

Saturday, June 24

Join in the fun at Nashua’s Pride Festival on Saturday, June 24, at 2 p.m. The main location for the festival will be in the parking lot of the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St.). The festival begins with a parade starting at the Elm Street School (117 Elm St.) and traveling down Main Street. For more information about this event, visit nashuanh.gov.

Saturday, June 24

Celebrate man’s best friend at the Second Annual Good Dogs Fest today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Northwoods Brewing Co. (1334 First NH Turnpike, Northwood). The festival will have more than 30 artists selling their wares, as well as live music and other entertainment. At 2 p.m., there will be a Pet Gala Costume Walk, and all leashed dogs are invited to participate. Mary’s Dogs, a local rescue and adoption agency, will be on site with dogs looking for a forever home. For more information, visit northwoodsbrewingcompany.com.

Sunday, June 25

Attend the ARTalk at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) today at 2 p.m. The talk will be with photographer Gary Samson, a former Artist Laureate of New Hampshire, and will focus on the exhibition “Seeing is Not Believing: Ambiguity in Photography.” This is the final week for this exhibit. Registration for the program costs $15 and can be done at currier.org.

Tuesday, June 27

The Shana Stack Band is performing at the Angela Robinson Bandstand in Henniker today at 6:30 p.m. The six-piece country band has won several awards, including Country Band of the Year and the Fans Choice Award by the Independent Country Music Association. For more information about this event, visit henniker.org.

Save the Date! Friday, July 14
It’s the first day of NASCAR Weekend at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1122 Route 106, Loudon). The weekend will be packed with high-octane entertainment, including the annual “Magic Mile” Crayon 301 on Sunday, July 16, at 2:30 p.m. The ticket gates open at 11 a.m. on all three days. Adult tickets cost $59, kids ages 12 and younger are $10. Visit nhms.com for more information or to purchase tickets.

Quality of Life 23/06/22

We’re No. 1!

New Hampshire has been ranked first in the nation for childhood well-being according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT Data Book. According to a press release from Gov. Chris Sununu’s office, the state has also maintained its position among the top five states across all key indicators for economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors. “To be ranked the No. 1 state in America for child well-being should be a major point of pride for all Granite Staters,” Sununu said in the release.

QOL Score: +1

Comment: According to Sununu’s release, the recently passed state budget includes further measures to support families and child care providers, including a $15 million workforce fund, enrollment-based payment to child care providers, and expanded eligibility for the Child Care Scholarship program.

We’re No. 3!

According to a study conducted by Wallethub, Nashua has been ranked as the third best-run city in America, while Manchester secured the 13th spot. Wallethub assessed 149 of the largest cities in the United States based on operating efficiency and effectiveness of local leadership. The study considered 36 key performance indicators grouped into six service categories, including financial stability, education, health, safety, economy, and infrastructure and pollution. Nashua excelled in all metrics, achieving the top position for safety.

QOL Score: +1

Comments: Manchester also showcased its strength in infrastructure and pollution, ranking 22nd for that category.

Math champions

The Math Team at NHTI – Concord’s Community College achieved great success in the 2022-2023 Student Mathematics League season, organized by the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC), securing first place among New England member schools, first in the Northeast region, and ranking 15th nationwide. According to a press release, the season comprised two rounds of competition, with a maximum team score of 200 points per round and a maximum individual score of 40 points per round. In the first round, the team finished second in the Northeast region, led by top scorer Ryan Coyne with 15 points, alongside competitors Ben Eid, Erin Snook and Farhaan Siddiqui. In the second round, the team achieved an impressive score of 101.5 points, securing first place in the Northeast. High scorers in the second round were Anshul Rastogi and Garima Rastogi, both earning 32.5 points, with Ben Eid, Erin Snook and Ryan Coyne also participating. The outstanding combined performance throughout both rounds earned NHTI’s Math Team the top position on the leaderboard and the esteemed Lois A. Martin trophy. Ryan Coyne additionally received a $100 prize for being the highest-performing NHTI participant in the two competition exams.

QOL Score: +1

Comments: NHTI offers a comprehensive mathematics associate degree program, and for details on the program and the Math Team interested individuals can contact Dan Shagena at dshagena@ccsnh.edu.

QOL score: 77

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 80

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Sox yank NY around Fenway

The Big Story – Sox Sweep Yanks: Not sure if the Red Sox salvaged their season over the weekend. But sweeping the Yankees to make it five wins in their last six tries against them tamped down local yapping about where they’re headed with the 2023 midway point on the horizon.

However, with the trade deadline five weeks away, the mini-surge actually makes it more confusing for the brass to determine whether they should be buyers or sellers when it arrives, as despite starting the week 37-35, they remain in last place with several bodies to climb over just to make the play-in game.

Sports 101: Who holds the NFL’s record for the highest career yards per catch average?

News Item – Did Pats Strike Out on Rodgers?

Count me as one who doesn’t buy WFAN’S Craig Carton’s claim the Patriots made a run at Aaron Rodgers before he was traded to the Jets.

Why? Three reasons.

(1) Because if Bill Belichick didn’t want to pay a guy who actually delivered in the playoffs almost every year $25 million per in Tom Brady, why would he pay $40 million to a guy who never does?

(2) The WFAN host is on his way to join Fox, so having that alleged scoop gives him juice, and having done a stretch in the pen for (wait for it) a ticket scam fraud to pay off debts from his gambling addiction, the track record shows he’s not above lying for his benefit.

(3) With New Yorkers now thinking they finally have an edge over Bill Belichick and company after mostly being defeated by New England in the 22 years since Coach B left them at the altar moments before becoming HC of the NYJ’s, it’s an attempt at one-upmanship from Jetland.

Nice try, Craig.

News Item – Owner Of Champions: Boston may have owned the first two decades of the 21st century in sports. But it seems Stan Kroenke has the lead for the 2020s as each of the three franchises he owns, L.A. Rams, Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets, has won league championships in the NFL, NHL and now NBA in less than 18 months.

News Item – Morant Gets 25-Game Suspension: While it’s not hard to see why, since he technically did nothing illegal it’s interesting the Players Association hasn’t picked a fight over the suspension ofnitwit Memphis point guard Ja Morant for “reckless and irresponsible behavior” after he was seen brandishing a handgun in a video for a second time since February.

The Numbers

6 – Yankees batters in Sunday’s line-up batting under .235.

15 – years still young’n Erik Spoelstra has been head coach of the Miami Heat to place fourth behind Gregg Popovich (27), Jerry Sloan (23) and Red Auerbach (16) for continuous years coaching the same NBA franchise.

16 – wins against just five losses for Nathan Eovaldi (9-3) and Michael Wacha (7-2) who the too cheap Sox brass let walk for the reasonable new contracts they got from Texas and San Diego respectively.

17.9 – awful three-point shooting percentage by the Nuggets as they still somehow managed to close out Miami 94-85 in Game 5 to win the NBA title four games to one.

Random Thoughts:

If you ain’t been paying attention, after going error-less in April, Rafael Devers has made eight in the six weeks since the calendar hit May 1.

That the A-list receiver-needy Pats let DeAndre Hopkins leave last week’s visit to Foxborough without a contract offer says to me they aren’t sold on him for injury, fit or past relationship issues with OC Bill O’Brien reasons.

Thumbs Up – Wyndham Clark: For the 293rd-ranked-in-2022 golfer’s one-shot win over Rory McIlroy for the U.S. Open crown.

Sports 101 Answer: The NFL career leader in yards per catch at 22.5 yards is ’60s New York Giant Homer Jones, who died last week at 83.

A Little History – Homer Jones: As hard as it is to believe now, when he was doing his thing in the ’60s his Giants were still New England’s favorite NFL team. So Homer’s passing hit some old bucks a little differently than many in these parts.

He’s more memorable than most from the era for being one of the new wave speed merchants to hit the NFL then when his intimidating 9.3 speed led to that 22.5 per average that’s still the league’s best 50 years after he retired.

The second reason is more familiar today, as he invented the spike after a TD, which usually came after an electric long-distance hook-up with Fran Tarkenton that was so familiar in those times.

Final Thought – Prediction: If a season-ending reckoning happens with the Red Sox, Alex Cora will take the fall for the mess. Not those really responsible: Chaim Bloom, lapdog team president Sam Kennedy, doofus Tom Werner and most of all absentee (from reality) owner John Henry, who gave Cora the broken down jalopy he’s driving.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Find landmarks, win prizes

NH Historical Society holds scavenger hunt

Discover New Hampshire’s hidden treasures, stories and landmarks during the New Hampshire Historical Society’s 603 History Hunt. Elizabeth Dubrulle, Director of Education and Public Programs, talked about the inspiration, challenges and prizes of this unique statewide scavenger hunt, which begins on July 1.

What inspired the 603 History Hunt?

When we were brainstorming ideas for our 200th anniversary, we planned an extra-special year across the board. We wanted to do a lot of things focused on our regular audience and our members, but we also wanted to do something more broad, for the general public and people who don’t normally visit us or come to our programs. We came up with this idea. We thought it would be a fun, lighthearted way to get people out and about in the summer to explore and appreciate New Hampshire … and to find out great things about New Hampshire that they probably didn’t know before.

What are some of the challenges that participants can expect to do during the hunt?

There are tons of different kinds of challenges. Most are pretty accessible to everyone, but we made a few of them pretty hard to [cater to] the whole range of experience people [have] with New Hampshire. There’ll be things like visiting the longest candy counter in the world … and visiting historic markers, statues and interesting tourist attractions … like the original engine on the cog railroad. There’s finding grave sites for famous people, like the author Willa Cather and Franklin Pierce. There’s visiting things like the Walldog murals in Keene and other kinds of hidden gems, like the Mercy Train in Manchester.

What experiences are you aiming for participants to have through these challenges?

We’re trying to get people to recognize how extraordinary New Hampshire is, and to just get a look at the world around them. … New Hampshire has had a really outsized impact on American history. A lot of famous people have come here or were born here. Things have been invented here. There have been a lot of firsts here. … We’re all so busy and doing so many things so many times. Sometimes we forget that we live in this great state with all these wonderful things to see.

How does the scoring system work?

It’s all run through a free app called Scavify. You download the app onto your phone and join the 603 History Hunt. On July 1, the challenges will be uploaded. As you complete each challenge, you either upload a photo or scan a QR code, whatever the challenge requires, and get points. The app automatically keeps track of your points. You can check the leaderboard at any time and see how you’re doing compared to other people. Each person plays as an individual; there’s no team function, but we encourage people to play as a family and go out and do it together. Everybody can have their own account, or you can have one account for your whole family.

What are the prizes?

We have some participation prizes, like if you complete five challenges you get a 603 History Hunt mug. If you complete 25 challenges, you get a 603 History Hunt baseball hat. Those can be picked up here at the New Hampshire Historical Society. We’re also having a free ice cream social on Aug. 5 for all the participants where people can pick up their participation prizes. There are also five competitive prizes. We’re still [confirming] some of the prizes … but the ones we have locked in are two passports for the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail, which gets you free admission into more than 20 museums around the state; … two tickets for the cog railroad; … and two tickets for Canobie Lake Park. We thought we’d keep in the spirit of things and give prizes that get people out and doing things. All of the competitive prizes also come with a free one-year membership for the New Hampshire Historical Society, which gets you free admission to the museum, archives and library, discounted admission to our workshops and special tours and free admission to all of our Saturday programs … which are lectures and collection highlight talks and stuff like that.

Featured photo: Caleb Smith. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 23/06/22

Moose Plate Day

Gov. Chris Sununu and the Executive Council celebrated the 25th anniversary of New Hampshire’s Conservation and Heritage Number Plate program by proclaiming June 14 as “Moose Plate Day.” According to a press release, the Moose Plate program has raised over $30 million through plate sales, providing crucial support for conservation, heritage and preservation initiatives across the state. All funds generated from Moose Plate sales are directly allocated to designated programs in five state agencies. To learn more about the program, visit mooseplate.com.

Lobster industry

The United States Court of Appeals recently ruled in favor of New England’s lobster industry, determining that the federal government had gone too far in imposing restrictive regulations, according to a press release. Gov. Chris Sununu expressed his satisfaction and support for the industry’s victory, stating, “I’m thrilled that the D.C. Circuit Court ruled in favor of New England’s lobstermen after New Hampshire supported their lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service. We were not going to sit and watch as the federal government choked the lobster industry to death with draconian and arbitrary regulation. New Hampshire backs its fishermen, and today’s victory helps keep them in business.”

Charitable funds

New Hampshire Group (NHG), the owner of four charitable gambling facilities in New Hampshire, has surpassed $3 million in charitable donations to 164 local nonprofit organizations in the first five months of 2023, according to a press release. The facilities operated by NHG, including Filotimo Casino & DraftKings Sportsbooks in Manchester and Dover, Wonder Casino in Keene, and Lebanon Poker Room & Casino, have played a pivotal role in generating these donations, the release said. NHG is owned and operated by Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E).

Help for Vets

Harbor Care’s Veterans FIRST program will host the second annual Summit to End Veteran Homelessness on June 28 at The Simon Center at New England College in Henniker. With a nearly 30 percent increase in veteran homelessness this year, the summit aims to bring together local, state and federal stakeholders to assess the current state of veteran homelessness, discuss available resources, address barriers to success, and explore efforts to combat veteran suicide. Participants include organizations like Easterseals Veterans Inc., Manchester VA, NH Housing Finance Authority, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Harbor Care, the largest nonprofit service provider for veterans in New Hampshire, seeks to replicate its success in ending veteran homelessness in greater Nashua statewide through their Veterans FIRST program.

Health data

Dartmouth Health, based in Lebanon, has launched a new initiative aimed at improving the collection of patient demographic and health-related information. According to a press release, the project, titled “We Ask Because We Care,” is part of Dartmouth Health’s commitment to providing the best possible care to its patients. In the first phase of the nine-month project, patients are being asked about their preferred language for discussing health care at the time of their appointment check-in. Patients also have the option to update this information through the myDH online patient portal. Interpreter services will be provided at no cost for patients who prefer discussing their health care in a language other than English. As the project progresses, additional questions and options regarding patient information, such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, will be incorporated, the release said. Patients are not obligated to share this information but doing so enables Dartmouth Health to better understand their needs and offer services and programs to their communities.

Air traffic staff

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen has introduced legislation aimed at addressing air traffic controller staffing issues and increasing transparency in the hiring process. According to a press release, the legislation would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to collaborate with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) to establish staffing targets for air traffic controllers. These targets would be included in the annual Controller Workforce Plan, providing transparency and helping the FAA respond to workforce needs at airports across the country. The FAA has warned of potential delays this summer due to staffing shortages, and Sen. Shaheen’s bill aims to address this issue by improving hiring and training processes and providing accurate information to Congress about staffing needs.

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation has begun nighttime road work on Route 125 from Pinkham Road in Lee to Century Pines Road in Barrington. Road work will take place from approximately 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Friday, until around Friday, Aug. 18, weather permitting. Alternating one-way traffic will be implemented. This project is part of a larger pavement resurfacing initiative on two sections of Route 125 in Lee, Barrington and Plaistow, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 29.

A group of individuals, described as neo-Nazi extremists, targeted attendees of a community story hour at Teatotaller Cafe in Concord on June 18, displaying hateful behavior while wearing masks to intimidate and threaten marginalized groups, according to a press release. Sen. Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton), Assistant Democratic Leader, expressed her firm stance in a press release: “Let me be clear — hate and white supremacy has no place here in New Hampshire,” Whitley stated.

The NH Liquor Commission hosted a grand opening ceremony on Tuesday, June 20, for the newly constructed NH Liquor & Wine Outlet in Derry. The 8,000-square-foot outlet, at 19 Manchester Road, offers a selection of over 2,600 wines and spirits. This outlet is part of NHLC’s efforts to revamp and expand its network, with over 40 locations renovated, relocated or constructed since 2012, according to a press release.

This Week 23/06/15

Big Events June 15, 2023 and beyond

Saturday, June 17

The Flashy Flock Community Art Project is starting today at Twiggs Gallery (251 King St., Boscawen) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The project pays homage to the farming roots of Boscawen. There will be a horse-drawn plow demonstration as well as wooden chicken cutouts for residents to take and display on their yards.Food and take-home crafts will be available for purchase. Visit twiggsgallery.org for more information.

Saturday, June 17

Today is the Manchester Pride Festival from 1 to 7 p.m. at Veterans Park (723 Elm St.). There will be different forms of entertainment, including a drag queen storytime, food, more than 50 vendors, and an art extravaganza by Queerlective. Once the day’s events finish up, there will be an after party at Jewel Music Collective (61 Canal St.). Tickets to the after party cost $25 for general admission, $45 for VIP. For more information, see the “Granite State Pride” story in our June 8 issue online or visit manchestertrue.org.

Saturday, June 17

See the Aquamarines, the only artistic swimming team in New Hampshire, for their 53rd annual water show, titled “Synchro through the Ages,” at 1 p.m. today at The Boys & Girls Club of Nashua (1 Positive Place). The team is made up of athletes from 6 to 18 years old; they will demonstrate how artistic swimming has changed through the decades. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students, free for children 4 and younger or for members of BGCN. For more information, visit bgcn.com.

Sunday, June 18

The Fully Loaded Comedy Festival is tonight at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford) at 7 p.m. The show will have comedic superstars including Bert Kreischer, Tiffany Haddish, Jim Norton, Big Jay Oakerson, Dan Soder and Tammy Pescatelli. Tickets start at $38 and can be purchased at banknhpavilion.com.

Tuesday, June 20

See the classic rockabilly band Dancing Madly Backwards tonight at 6:30 p.m. as part of the Henniker Concert Series at the Community Park. The band, formed in Rochester, is known for playing music from alternative to modern to rhythm and blues. For more information about the concert, visit henniker.org.

Tuesday, June 20

Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord) is welcoming Tom Raffio to speak about his new book, Stories from the Starting Line, today at 6:30 p.m. Raffio’s book explores stories of New Hampshire runners and why they run. Raffio interviewed everyone from stroller pushers to veterans with 100 races under their belts. For more information visit gibsonsbookstore.com.

Save the Date! Saturday, June 24
The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester) will host Trinity, a band that covers Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, at 7:30 p.m. The five-man group covers classics of the golden age of rock music. Tickets cost $29 and can be purchased at palacetheatre.org.

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