Category: News

The week that was

The Big Story: Four months into the 2022 season the Red Sox are f-i-n-a-l-l-y the big story in town. They’ve won 15 of 22 in July to climb to within 2.5 games back of Toronto for the final wild card spot to start the week, something that seemed quite unlikely even a month ago.

Better yet, the schedule is in their favor as they have three with those Blue Jays this weekend followed by 10 straight with bottom-dwelling KC, Detroit and Washington.

So if they held their own vs. the three, with wild card competitor Seattle earlier in the week, they’ll have a chance to pass both current WC place-holders Toronto and Houston this week.

All of which makes for an exciting time for baseball in these parts over the next month at least.

Sports 101: The Red Sox have had 15 different guys pitch for them who have won the Cy Young Award. Four did it for them while the other 11 did it elsewhere. How many can you name?

News Item – AL Pennant Race Update: With Baltimore and Tampa Bay on top, the Yanks in last place and the Sox a game ahead of them, the AL East seems like Bizarro World. But with a 1.5-game lead on the faltering D-Rays, the Orioles are the surprise of baseball, while even with their struggles TB still looks like a lock for the first wild card. That leaves a free-for-all for the last two wild card slots between current leaders Houston and Toronto followed by the Sox, Yanks, Mariners and, after smartly committing to not trading Shohei Ohtani, the Angels bunched a few games back.

News Item – Patriots With Most On The Line: With pre-season camp underway, one interesting story line is guys who have a lot on the line. Here are the top three: Mac Jones – No surprise. He needs to show the brass he’s the guy to build the team’s future around. Bill O’Brien – After last year’s offensive disaster, he’s back in the mix to be a head coach this winter if Mac gets back to where he appeared headed as a rookie and the offense becomes reliable. Bill Belichick – He’s 19 wins behind Don Shula to become the all-time winningest coach in history. So he needs at least 10 wins to be in position to do it in 2024.

Random Thoughts

What does it say about Bruce Bochy that after the three-time world champion came out of retirement to manage Texas, they’re on pace to win 94 games after losing 94 in 2022 with mostly the same players?

Got to think dumping a considerable chunk of Max Scherzer’s (probable) $57 million contract for 2024 via his weekend trade to Texas signals the Mets will be all in on the Ohtani free agent sweepstakes this winter.

… Of the Week Awards

Player: Speaking of Ohtani, he’s not going into free agency quietly. He did something last week only five others in history have: pitched a shutout on the same day he hit two home runs. The shutout was a one-hit, 6-0 Game 1 win over Detroit, and the bombs came when the Angels routed them 11-4 in the nightcap. It was also his first career complete game, and the homers boosted his league-leading total to 38.

Weirdest No-Hitter: First, Portland using three pitchers is a reminder of how the powers that be don’t get that a single pitcher throwing a no-no is the most suspenseful one-game moment in the game and relentless micro-management of pitchers is eliminating that.

Second, the trio of Sox prospects, all-name teamer Wikelman Gonzalez and relievers Brendan Cellucci and Luis Guerrero, managed to give up one run without a hit, not once, but twice, in separate innings during the 6-2 Portland win.

Triple Play: The Red Sox ran themselves into a rare triple play after Adam Duvall inexplicably ran to second on a routine pop-up to center, to become the second out when CF Michael Harris II threw to first baseman Matt Olson, who then threw out Masataka Yoshida trying to go to third. It was the first 8-3-5 triple play since the Boston Beaneaters last pulled one off in 1884!

Sports 101 Answer: The Sox’ four Cy Young winners were Jim Lonborg, Roger Clemens. Pedro Martinez and Rick Porcello.The other 11 are Sparky Lyle, Fergie Jenkins, Tom Seaver, Bret Saberhagen, The Eck, Frank Viola, Jake Peavy, Bartolo Colón, Eric Gagne, David Price and Corey Kluber.

Final Thought – Thumbs Up, Patrice Bergeron:Tip of the cap to a great Boston sports all-timer upon his retirement after 19 years of excellence. Reliable, tough, clutch and, most of all, classy.

Bravo and thanks for the memories.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Ed with AI & VR

New tech at Manchester Community College

Peter La Monica, Department Chair and Associate Professor of Computer Science at Manchester Community College, discussed some of the innovative new programs and courses being offered at the college, as well as the cutting-edge technology shaping the future of education.

Tell us about the new programs and courses being offered.

There are two new programs. One is the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Program. We’ve taken out some of the database stuff and focused more on artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language programming and computer vision. … We aim to help students make sense of vast amounts of data generated during cyber investigations and use artificial intelligence to analyze and interpret it effectively. … Students can also complete work and get certifications from Amazon Web Services. The other program is Computer Science and Extended Reality. This is an exciting new program where students can join virtual reality classrooms using VR headsets or flat screens. We’re teaching them about platforms to create virtual and augmented reality meetings, making interactions more immersive than traditional Zoom meetings.

What are some real-world applications or careers that students with these skills can pursue?

The Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence program is mainly designed for programmers and focuses on using AI in various fields like advanced manufacturing, healthcare and the cyber world. … Many products and applications today use artificial intelligence, making programming skills highly valuable. … The Computer Science and Extended Reality program is geared towards students who want to work in an office or contract for an office to design meeting spaces or even create virtual avatars for websites. … It can be applied in onboarding, training, meetings and classes, to provide a more engaging and immersive experience.

How do you keep up with the rapid advancements in this field while developing the curriculum?

Staying up-to-date with technology is essential. We closely monitor new products and trends, especially in emerging technologies like 5G and virtual reality. We ensure our students have access to the latest technology, like 5G antennas and virtual reality headsets, to learn and explore these cutting-edge fields.

How have students responded to these new programs?

Students in the Extended Reality class loved it and said it was more engaging than anything they had ever done before. They had the option of coming to class [in person] or [attending via] the metaverse, and most of them did the metaverse. They think it’s great, because this is the type of world they live in now.

Did offering these programs require any additional resources or facilities?

For the Artificial Intelligence program, we had to enhance some computing platforms. However, we had planned ahead and managed most of it progressively. As for Extended Reality, we invested in virtual reality headsets and have been preparing for this program since 2017, waiting for the technology and infrastructure to catch up.

Why did the college decide to invest in these programs for students?

We believe in providing students with opportunities to create successful careers. Technology is the future … and extended reality and augmented reality are becoming a major transition in technology. Everything is going to start to go into this virtual world, in various industries. It’s not really in the mainstream yet, but we want our students to know about it and to start using it so that they can be at the forefront of these advancements. We want to equip them with cutting-edge skills and give them an edge in the job market.

News & Notes 23/08/03

Bill signing

Gov. Chris Sununu signed a number of bills into law on July 28, according to a press release, including SB 215, which aims to address the national shortage of nurses by allowing fully qualified individuals to join the workforce and contribute their nursing skills across various settings; SB 268, which allows for pre-hospital treatment and transportation for supporting K9 members of law enforcement, search and rescue and military operations, ensuring that the animals receive the necessary resources for their health and safety while serving and protecting the communities; SB 161, which aims to provide clean energy benefits to low-income families who have been particularly impacted by inflation and high energy costs, to facilitate a fair and equitable energy transition for all residents; and HB 249, which establishes regulatory standards for the pet insurance industry and allows restaurant owners to keep their companion dogs on the premises. Gov. Sununu vetoed one bill, according to the release; SB 42 would have allowed interest-free loans to be provided to individuals who received benefits they were not eligible for due to manipulating the system. In response to the veto, New Hampshire Employment Security Commissioner George Copadis and Deputy Commissioner Richard Lavers expressed appreciation for the governor’s decision, stating that it is crucial to discourage such behavior and uphold honesty and integrity in the program.

Help for kids

Granite VNA is reintroducing the “Helping Heal with Others” (H2O) program, providing support for grieving children ages 6 to 18 and their families. According to a press release, the monthly program offers coping skills and peer support, aiding children in experiencing and processing grief. Led by agency staff and volunteers, the sessions incorporate age-appropriate creative activities, pet therapy and stress management techniques to encourage healing. Concurrently, the program offers supportive sessions for accompanying parents and caregivers. A drop-in information session will take place on Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Boys & Girls Club of Central NH in Concord. From Sept. 9, 2023, to June 8, 2024, H2O will run on the second Saturday of each month. The program is offered at no charge, and participants will receive lunch during each session. To register, call 224-4093, ext. 82822, or visit granitevna.org.

Consumer help

The New Hampshire Insurance Department’s Consumer Services Unit has released its statistics for Fiscal Year 2023, revealing a record-breaking recovery of approximately $6 million for New Hampshire consumers. Throughout the year, the unit processed 1,078 consumer complaint investigations, 4,086 assistance requests and 88 applications for external health review, according to a press release. The unit’s mission is centered around educating, navigating and investigating to assist residents with insurance-related issues. Consumers can contact the Consumer Services unit for assistance and guidance on insurance matters by calling 271‐2261 or by email at consumerservices@ins.nh.gov.

Dental assistants

Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) is addressing the community’s dental health concerns by partnering with the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center (HACTC) to offer scholarships for their new dental assisting program. According to a press release, the program is an online certificate program that provides hands-on work experience as dental assistant trainees with participating dental offices and aims to increase the local dental workforce and improve access to dental care. Students interested in the program can contact Aron Tomlinson at tomlinsona@hartfordschools.net or calling 802-359-4752.

Firefighter grants

The New Hampshire delegation, including Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, along with Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas, has announced more tha $700,000 in Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program funding for fire departments in rural New Hampshire towns, including Errol, New Hampton, Surry and Warren. According to a press release, the grants will be used to enhance the safety and training of firefighters and to purchase necessary equipment, such as a tanker vehicle, firefighter turnout gear, vehicle extrication equipment and firefighter breathing apparatus.

Certification

Joshua Mann, Chief of Operations, Radio Communications Maintenance for the New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Emergency Services and Communications, has achieved the Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) designation, a prestigious initiative aimed at elevating professionalism and recognizing excellence in the public safety communications industry. According to a press release, the program, established in 2016, consists of two 12-week online courses and a 10-day capstone seminar at APCO headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida, focused on equipping participants with essential skills to lead organizations in the complex and ever-changing environment of public safety agencies

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire (NOFA-NH) has announced the return of the Collaborative Regional Alliances for Farmer Training (CRAFT) of Farming for its fifth season. According to a press release, the program features on-farm workshops in summer and early fall, aimed at building farming skills and fostering community among local growers, aspiring farmers and consumers. The 2023 CRAFT season starts at Callie’s Creamery, an organic micro-dairy in Peterborough, on Thursday, Aug. 3, from 4 to 6 p.m. The workshop, focused on intensive rotational grazing and grassland management, is open to all, with free admission for farmers, farm workers and NOFA members, and a sliding scale fee of $5 to $15 for other attendees. Register at nofanh.org/craft.

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) will begin work on a bridge replacement project on Route 107 in Deerfield at Freese’s Pond on Aug. 7. According to a press release, the work will require a full closure of the section for 30 days, with detours for southbound and northbound traffic. This is part of a larger $975,000 effort to replace the bridge, which is expected to be completed by Nov. 3, 2023.

The Upper Room in Derry is providing backpacks filled with school supplies for the new academic year. According to a press release, families enrolled in Upper Room programs can register to receive backpacks in late August. The organization is seeking donations of backpacks, folders, notebooks, pencils, pens, erasers, highlighters, index cards and loose-leaf paper. Around 75 to 100 children will benefit from the annual backpack distribution day. Donations can be dropped off at The Upper Room’s front desk on Tsienneto Road until Aug. 21.

This Week 23/07/27

Big Events July 27, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, July 27

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats celebrate that classic Manchester food item, the chicken tender, at tonight’s game at 7:05 p.m. versus the Hartford Yard Goats. There will be Atlas Fireworks after the game. The run of games continues at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester (7:05 p.m. on Friday and Saturday — Saturday will also feature post-game fireworks) through Sunday, July 30, when game time is 1:35 p.m. and the first 1,000 attendees will receive a Fisher Cats flag. See milb.com/new-hampshire.

Friday, July 28

The Nashua Silver Knights also have a game this week — tonight at 6 p.m. they will face off against the Westfield Starfires with post-game fireworks. See nashuasilverknights.com.

Friday, July 28

Ro Gavin Collaborative Theatre kicks off the final weekend of its production Big Fish at the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com) with shows tonight at 7:30 p.m.; tomorrow, Saturday, July 29, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, July 30, at 2 p.m. Find more theatrical productions in the Arts section, which starts on page 13.

Friday, July 28

Catch comedians Will Noonan and Andrew Della Vope tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). Tickets cost $25. Find more laughs in the Comedy This Week listings on page 36.

Saturday, July 29

Browse sales of books and whatnots, enjoy a frappe bar and sausage grinders, participate in (or just cheer on) a 5K road race and watch an 11 a.m. performance by Mr. Aaron (pictured) at the Canterbury Fair today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at locations in Canterbury Center. The day will also feature live animal encounters and other activities for kids, Canterbury Historical Society exhibits, artisan demonstrations, a full schedule of live music and a wide variety of eats including a chicken barbecue. See canterburyfair.com.

Tuesday, Aug. 1

Author Richard Russo will discuss his new book Somebody’s Fool tonight at 7 p.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets cost $39 for one admission, $49 for two admissions and include a book. Find more book listings on page 29.

Save the Date! Thursday, Aug. 10
The Manchester International Film Festival returns for its second year on Thursday, Aug. 10, through Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) and the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester). The festival kicks off with Animation Night at 6 p.m. on Aug. 10 at the Rex with screenings of animated shorts, an animated student film, a feature film, a Q&A with filmmakers and a presentation of an “Emerging New Hampshire Animator” award, according to the Palace’s website. Friday, Aug. 11, is New England Night and Comedy Night with a screening of the short Nuclear! (see the trailer at gonfalonpictures.com/nuclear), a post-film Q&A, a feature film billed as a “Manchester premiere,” a Q&A with filmmakers and the presentation of “Best New England Short Film” award, the website said. At the Rex, the Saturday, Aug. 12, line up will include a Cartoon Festival with Cereal, short films, a feature presentation and an audience choice film, the website said. Tickets cost $20 ($10 for students) to each day. Call the box office for more ticket info.

At the Palace Theatre on Aug. 12, catch actor and comedian Kevin Pollack at 7:30 p.m. for “An Evening with Kevin Pollack.” Tickets to this event cost $59 to $79 (VIP tickets include a 6:45 p.m. meet and greet) and include a weekend pass to the rest of the festival.

Featured photo: Mr. Aaron.

Quality of Life 23/07/27

Plastic habit

According to a study by personal-finance website WalletHub, New Hampshire ranks 4th among the states with the highest credit card debts. The median credit card balance in New Hampshire is $2,793, and the cost of interest until payoff is $355, with the expected timeframe to pay off the median credit card balance at 14 months and 13 days. The study used data from TransUnion, the Federal Reserve, the U.S. Census Bureau, and WalletHub’s proprietary credit card payoff calculator to determine the cost and time required to repay the median credit card balance in each state. The analysis included credit cards with a balance and excluded store cards. The calculation assumed consumers would pay an average 20.92 percent interest rate, based on the APR paid by existing cardholders.

QOL score: -1

Comment:Interesting considering New Hampshire’s per capita income is on the higher end at $41,241, ranking the 8th highest, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Kids catching up

Recent assessment results in New Hampshire indicate positive academic gains among students, marking a slow upward recovery trend for two consecutive years. According to a press release, preliminary performance scores from the spring 2023 assessment show modest improvements in math and reading across various grade levels, except for 11th-grade SAT scores. Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut expressed delight in the signs of academic progress, which defy national trends. “This newest data from New Hampshire contradicts some nationwide data showing that academic recovery has stalled and reflects the hard work of our school leaders, teachers, students and families, that everyone needs to work together to close learning gaps,” he said in the release. While student performance advanced from 2022 to 2023, student growth percentiles also improved in every grade level and subject area, indicating accelerated learning rates compared to 2019.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The iPlatform system will release individual school and district data for both the NHSAS and SAT results in the fall. Parents had previously been given access to their child’s scores.

Go, team!

The University of New Hampshire swimming and diving team has been awarded CSCAA Scholar All-America honors for the Spring 2023 semester. According to a press release, they achieved a program-best 3.68 team GPA, surpassing their previous record of 3.67 from the previous semester. Additionally, senior captain Madison Linstedt won the America East Women’s Swimming and Diving Scholar Athlete of the Year award, making it the 11th time a Wildcat has received this honor. Several other team members also earned academic accolades.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The University of New Hampshire swimming and diving team also achieved their fourth consecutive America East Championship and secured their 11th overall title in the league’s history during the past seasons, marking the first time in the program’s existence that UNH has won four championships in a row.

QOL score: 80

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 81

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

Pats camp open for business

The Big Story: Amid unending talk about Bill Belichick’s job security, the Patriots got back to work on Wednesday in what is a big year for many, including the coach and his hand-picked QB. They begin camp without much fanfare nationally, where almost everyone is picking them for last in the AFC East. And after trading for Aaron Rodgers, New Yawkas are sensing blood in the water after having it shoved down their throats since Belichick resigned as HC of the NYJ’s over 20 years ago. So buckle up, because it should be interesting, if not as enjoyable as it was in these parts for so long.

Football 101: Name the two men who hold the NFL record for most losses by a head coach at 165.

News Item – 3 Biggest Patriots Question Marks: You would think they’d have addressed the first two in free agency and the draft, but incredibly, by going defense with their three draft picks they didn’t. This leaves the focus on the offense.

The Receivers: They were below average last year and besides a slight upgrade in JuJu Smith-Schuster over the departed Jakobi Meyers the GM didn’t give Mac Jones much new help, though putting all out of their misery by sending mistake-prone Jonnu Smith elsewhere was addition by subtraction.

The O-Line: The big question is, was Trent Brown hurt, out of shape or deep into the back nine? Because he was a procedure penalty or sack give-up waiting to happen. Determining his status is a major key, because the protection for Jones last year was uneven at best and terrible at worst.

Mac Jones: The Pats need to find out if 2022 was just a bad year brought on by a combination of factors, not the least of which was having an inexperienced and completely over his head offensive coordinator in charge of his development, or if he’s just not good enough to build around. I think it was the former, but only time will tell, making this the make-or-break year for Mac.

Numbers:

2 – times the Patriots will wear their Pat the Patriot throwback uniforms in 2023. They’ll do it against old-time AFL day foes Miami in Week 2 and in Week 13 vs. the Chargers.

12 – teams scoring in double digits Tuesday night, which was the first time that has happened since 1994, with the highlight being the Cubs’ 16-13 over Atlanta.

Injured List: Trevor Story – There appeared to be no setbacks in his rehab weekend in AA Portland. He played shortstop three times while going 2-8 with a homer and 3 RBI.

Of the Week Awards:

Who’s Hot: Triston Casas –The batting average of the Sox rookie continued to climb. After an 8 for 17 week he’s hitting .348 in July. That’s taken the average to .247 after being .131 on May 1.

Hippo Jinx – Right after I lauded the recent performance of Sox rookie hurler Brayan Bello, he got lit up by the lowly A’s for six runs in four innings before the column even came out.

In Case You Missed It – The Stolen Base: Thanks to the pitch clock and other new rules, the stolen base is back. After eight years without anyone stealing 50+, at least two players are going to 50, including Braves star Ronald Acuna, who with 45 is on pace to swipe 80 and he could be joined by four more.

Football 101 Answer: The late Dan Reeves (190 wins) and longtime Oilers/Titans coach Jeff Fisher (176 wins) hold the record for most losses by an NFL coach at 165.

Final Thought – Prediction: While an avalanche of media types can’t talk about anything else, count me as one who doesn’t buy that Coach B is on a category 4 hot seat. The detractors are broken into two camps: (1) national media, many of whom are speculating without any real evidence and looking for payback on the cantankerous Coach B, and (2) the local gaggle all hitting on the same follow-the-leader conspiracy theories. Now the latter are closer to things than me, but I’m better at logic and reading people. And the reason I don’t think he’s in real trouble (outside of a two-win season) is the needy owner’s unending desire to sit at the cool kids’ table. Like his forays to hang with 20-something rappers at star-studded parties in the Hamptons each summer. Or showing up at the Academy Awards despite not being in the movie business. So while everyone wants another Super Bowl, with six his dynasty already has two more than anyone else in one run. Thus a bigger prize (besides him getting in the Hall of Fame) is him being able to bask in the glow of the coach he picked becoming the winningest coach in NFL history.

So no matter what, Belichick the coach stays because Bob Kraft doesn’t want to see Coach B pass Don Shula while on the sideline for someone else. Simple as that.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

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