News – Page 124

Crypto mining for charity

Concord software developer discusses his new app

Concord entrepreneur Russ Willey talked about his new company Crypto-Charities and how its software helps nonprofits, organizations and individuals generate passive income from their supporters. Learn more at crypto-charities.org.

What is Crypto-Charities?

It’s a software that users download and install on their Windows-based PC, and essentially what it does is mine digital currency while the computer is active. … [The user] enters a code for the charity of their choice into the application, and all the digital currency that’s collected is sent back to our secure servers. At the end of the month, we [calculate] how much each code has received … and send out checks to all these charities.

How did you come up with it?

I went to UNH in Manchester and studied computer science and networking, but I didn’t graduate. I got into printing and variable data in my career. Back in the ’90s, I [was interested in] the use of distributed computing. … It was easier to collect and analyze data through distributed computing than through one supercomputer. I always kept that idea in my brain. Then, with the advent of digital currency, I thought, this would be a perfect application for distributed computing. … The idea developed over the years, and we went into full development last summer.

Is anyone else doing anything like this?

We’re the only ones in the world. The idea of mining digital currency is not a new thing, but no one else is … mining cryptocurrency for charities … or doing what we’re doing … with our workflow — being able to tag that work for each charity using a code system. That’s what we’ve patented. It’s a great thing to be at the forefront of.

Who is using the app?

Anybody can use it. Someone who wants to support a charity can just download the app and run it. There are companies we’re working with that have 100 to 200 computers running, so they just run this app in the background and they’re actually generating income. We’re also starting to work with content creators and streamers; they pick a charity they support and are passively fundraising for that charity when their followers and subscribers download the app and use that content creator’s or streamer’s code.

How much money can it generate?

Through our testing, we’ve found that, on average, [a single computer] will generate between $10 and $30 annually, possibly more depending on the strength of the computer. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but if you get 1,000 supporters who are each [generating] $10 a year, that’s $10,000 a year. Any charity that could get all of its supporters to give $10 a year would be tickled pink — and with the app, the supporter can do that without having to dig into their own pocket.

How can people start using the app to support a charity?

They can go to our website and download and install the application. We have a whole list of charities that we work with, so they just pick a charity and put that charity’s code in. The software will remember that code you’re using, but you can change the code anytime you want to. … Also, if people are involved with a charity or have their own ideas about what charities they’d like to see added to the app, they can reach out to us.

Featured photo: Russ Willey. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 23/02/23

Money for outdoor amenities

The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation is now accepting proposals for the 2023 Land and Water Conservation Fund grants, according to a press release. The grants, funded by the National Parks Service and administered in New Hampshire by New Hampshire State Parks’ Bureau of Community Recreation, facilitate public outdoor recreational projects. Eligible projects may focus on developing new or renovating existing outdoor recreation support facilities, acquiring property for public outdoor recreation use, or a combination of both development and acquisition. Recent New Hampshire projects supported by LWCF grants include ball fields, a boat ramp, a ski lodge, rail trails, multiple municipal parks and other projects that improve public access to quality outdoor recreation experiences. “New Hampshire has been known worldwide for its recreational opportunities for generations,” Brian Wilson, director of the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation, said in the release. “It’s one of the reasons so many people come to visit the Granite State, and it’s definitely why so many choose to live here and do business here.” Project sponsors who are interested in applying for a grant should submit an Intent to Apply form to New Hampshire State Parks no later than June 2 at 4 p.m. Program staff will review the submitted forms and conduct inspections of the project sites to determine eligibility. If a project is deemed eligible, the project sponsor will be invited to complete the grant application process. Project sponsors must agree to contribute a 50/50 match of the grant. Visit nhstateparks.org/about-us/community-recreation/land-water-conservation-fund-grant or call 271-3556.

Drug warning

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services is warning residents about a growing trend of the animal tranquilizer xylazine being added to opioid street drugs like heroin and fentanyl. The non-opioid sedative, approved for use in veterinary medicine, can have dangerous effects when consumed by humans, such as sedation, respiratory depression, a slowed heart rate and muscle relaxation. According to a press release, the number of xylazine-positive overdose deaths has doubled in the Northeast between 2020 and 2021, and individuals who are struggling with substance use disorder may be unaware that they are ingesting xylazine when it is mixed with other drugs. “The increased presence of xylazine circulating in the Northeast is concerning,” Dr. Jonathan Ballard, Chief Medical Officer for DHHS, said in the release. “When added to opioid drugs like heroin and fentanyl, it may increase the risk of overdose and death.” Xylazine users are at risk of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms when they stop consuming the drug, and repeated exposure can cause the user to develop severe necrotic skin ulcers. If you suspect an overdose involving xylazine, call 911, then administer naloxone if available, DHHS advised in the release. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication that can quickly reverse the life-threatening effects of an opioid overdose. Though it does not work to reverse the effects of xylazine, it should be administered in an overdose situation as opioids are often consumed in conjunction with xylazine.

Disaster help

Gov. Chris Sununu sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Friday, Feb. 17, requesting a major disaster declaration and federal emergency assistance for the severe weather conditions that New Hampshire experienced from Dec. 22 through Dec. 25, which included flash flooding and heavy winds that resulted in downed trees, blocked roadways and power and heating outages and warranted execution of the State Emergency Operations Plan. “New Hampshire sustained major damages to state and local infrastructure that led to numerous requests for state assistance,” Sununu wrote in the letter, adding that “the response consumed staff time and exhausted available resources.” State and local damages have been valued at $1,965,549. If the declaration is granted, it will be the third major disaster declaration in New Hampshire in 18 months. Read the full letter at nh.gov/safety/divisions/hsem.

Citizen of the year

The Greater Manchester Chamber has selected Dr. Paul. J. LeBlanc, president and CEO of Southern New Hampshire University, as its next Citizen of the Year. According to a press release, the annual Chamber’s Citizen of the Year Celebration will be held on Tuesday, April 11, at 5 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown, where Chamber members, community members, friends, family and colleagues of LeBlanc are invited to gather in honor of LeBlanc and celebrate his accomplishments and dedication to the city of Manchester. “Paul LeBlanc has been an unwavering advocate for the residents of this community and used his impeccable leadership at Southern New Hampshire University to not only lift up his students, but to lift up our entire community,” Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig said in the release. “Paul’s presidency has helped shape our city into what it is today.”

Honoring McAuliffe

By an executive order from Gov. Chris Sununu, a permanent memorial to Christa McAuliffe will be built on the Statehouse grounds, NHPR reported. McAuliffe, who taught at Concord High School, died in the Challenger space shuttle tragedy on Jan. 28, 1986, at the age of 37 and is buried in a local cemetery. Sununu’s order calls for $500,000 from the state budget to fund the memorial and the assemblance of a commission to study, design and oversee its construction. The memorial is expected to be unveiled by Sept. 2, 2024, on what would have been McAuliffe’s 76th birthday.

Optima Dermatology & Medical Aesthetics, led by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Molly Cowdrey, will open a new practice at 176 S. River Road in Bedford on Monday, Feb. 27, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to follow on Tuesday, March 14, according to a press release. This is Optima’s fourth practice in New Hampshire and fifth in New England.

United Way of Greater Nashua will host food drives at stores in Greater Nashua every Saturday through April 22, starting with the Market Basket in Hudson on Saturday, Feb. 25. The drives support pantries such as Nashua Community College Student Assistance Pantry, Milford SHARE Outreach and others, according to a press release. The schedule is at tinyurl.com/FoodDrivesUWGN.

Through March 26, Jordan’s Furniture in Nashua is collecting donations of new and gently used prom dresses and gowns for its Belle of the Ball Program, which distributes donated prom attire to students with limited financial resources, according to the Jordan’s website. Visit jordans.com/about-us/philanthropy/belle-of-the-ball.

This Week 23/02/16

Big Events February 16, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, Feb. 16

Join the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org, 669-4820) for a program about the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II today at 7 p.m. Bob Sheppard will speak about his father, James Sheppard, an aviation mechanic assigned to the 100th Fighter Squadron, based at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama, according to a press release. He was reassigned to the 301st FS and shipped to the European theater, where he was promoted to crew chief, and was honorably discharged after the war as a staff sergeant, the release said. Bob Sheppard will show part of his video Reflections of a Tuskegee Airman and answer questions, the release said. Tickets (which can be purchased at the door or reserved by calling 669-4877) cost $10 per person.

Thursday, Feb. 16

Anheuser-Busch (221 Daniel Webster Hwy. in Merrimack) is hosting a beermaster tour today starting at 11 a.m. The tour will give visitors a chance to see behind the scenes how Budweiser is made, as well as enjoying a brew of choice. Tickets cost $40 and can be purchased at budweisertours.com.

Friday, Feb. 17

Tonight is the opening night for Leading Ladies at the Majestic Theatre (880 Page St., Manchester; majestictheatre.net, 669-7469). The comedy follows two Shakespearean actors as they try to lay claim to the inheritance of a recently deceased old lady. The catch? The men must disguise themselves as her precious British nieces, according to the website. Tickets start at $15 and curtain time is at 7 p.m. The show also runs Saturday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 18

The Derry Frost Fest will take place today from noon to 3 p.m. with free family-friendly events throughout Derry including ice sculptures on the patio at Sabatino’s; a puppet show at the Parks and Recreation office (31 W. Broadway) at noon and 1 p.m; food trucks B’s Tacos and One Happy Clam at Benson’s Lawn, and Frosty the Snowman walking along West Broadway, according to derrynh.org/parks-recreation. Find more ideas for family fun in our Kiddie Pool column on page 21.

Saturday, Feb. 18

The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) presents Who’s Bad: Michael Jackson Tribute tonight at 7:30 p.m. All of the king of pop’s greatest hits will be performed at this high-energy show, according to the theater’s website. Tickets start at $35.50.

Sunday, Feb. 19

The World Was Yours, a play by William Ivers that includes bickering artists Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol and Bob Ross watching three living artists vying for a grant, will finish its run at the Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) with a show at 2 p.m., according to Hatbox’s website. The show will also run Friday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 18, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults and $19 for seniors and students.

Save the Date! Saturday, March 18
Pick a side, police or firefighters, at the annual Battle of the Badges Hockey Championship on Saturday, March 18, at 1 p.m. at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester). The two sides will battle it out on the ice, with proceeds from the game being donated to the kids and families of Dartmouth Health Children’s. Online game tickets cost $15 for ages 6 and up, day-of game tickets are $20 for ages 6 and up, with kids 5 and younger free. Visit getinvolved.dartmouth-hitchcock.org.

Featured photo. 1944 photo of James Sheppard preparing to fly reconnaissance mission with the British Royal Air Force from Italy as a flight engineer. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 23/02/16

Test for lead

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health Services has released some concerning data about the rates of testing lead levels in young children in the state. Its latest annual report, 2021 Lead Exposure in New Hampshire Data Brief, revealed that between 2019 and 2021 the number of children who had their lead levels tested at the ages of 1 and 2 as required by New Hampshire’s Universal Testing Law had dropped by 25 percent, likely due to the pandemic. “Childhood lead exposure is a significant issue in New Hampshire because of the large number of older homes that contain lead-based paint, the main source of exposure in children,” Dr. Jonathan Ballard, chief medical officer NH DHHS, said in a press release. “Now is the time for parents to play catch-up if their children missed important doctor’s visits. Parents with children under 6 years of age who have not had two lead level tests in their lifetime should schedule an appointment to be tested.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: Lead in the blood, even at low levels, has been shown to negatively affect a child’s ability to think, learn and behave and could result in permanent effects if the poisoning is not caught and stopped early, the release said. Visit dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/environmental-health-and-you/lead-poisoning-prevention-program.

Helping the loons

Biologists from the Loon Preservation Committee carried out a successful rescue mission on Feb. 6 and Feb. 7 for seven loons that became trapped on Newfound Lake and Lake Winnipesaukee when extreme cold temperatures caused the lakes to ice over. According to a press release, adult loons typically migrate to the ocean for the winter, at which point they molt their feathers, which leaves them flightless for four to six weeks while their new feathers grow in. Some loons, however, become flightless before making it to the ocean and end up stranded on the frozen lakes, where they may starve or become prey.

Tuftonboro Fire Department assisted the biologists, providing an airboat and three firefighters to help with the rescue mission. The loons were treated and rehabilitated at VCA Capital Area Veterinary Emergency and Specialty and Wings of the Dawn Wildlife Rehabilitation for a couple of days, then released at the ocean off the New Hampshire coast.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The biologists attached colored bands to the rescued loons’ legs for possible tracking. Six of the ten banded loons that were rescued in a rescue mission in January 2022 were later identified on New Hampshire lakes, and four of those six were in breeding pairs.

What is “cheer on the local student?”

Caleb Richmond, a Georgetown University student from Bedford and Jeopardy! Teen Tournament semifinalist in 2018, will return to Jeopardy! for the “High School Reunion Tournament,” a 14-day event that airs Monday, Feb. 20, through Thursday, March 9, according to a press release from the show. Caleb is slated to make his first appearance in this tournament on Thursday, March 2.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Jeopardy! airs weekdays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. on WBZ-TV CBS, according to jeopardy.com where you can also find the 2018 episodes (see Caleb in episodes labeled “Game #2” and “Game #7”).

QOL score: 50

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 51

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

The week that was

The Big Story: It wasn’t quite the Patriots coming back in dramatic fashion to beat Atlanta in SB 51. But given that it ended with a game-winning field goal kicked in the waning seconds after a frenetic second-half comeback led by a gritty, bloody sock-like star (for the second straight game), it’s fair to say SB 57 goes into the books as one of the Top 10 Super Bowl games. Though Kansas City’s 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles does not make the Mahomes Chiefs a dynasty, as the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin said they were on Monday. At least not yet. To be that they need to win two or three more times and hang around the top of the league’s contenders for another 10 years. For now let’s just celebrate the two-time champs’ admirable win and give a shout out to Philadelphia for fighting the good fight and just coming up short in a great game.

Thumbs Up: To LeBron James for breaking Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s all-time NBA scoring record of 38,387 set in 1984. Say what you want about LeBron, and my only issue is how he unethically got around tampering rules to get Anthony Davis to quit on his teammates in mid-season to make him a Laker. Beyond that he always puts the team first, plays hard and almost always shows up to play. Along with talent, durability and effort are the prime factors for someone to break a record that takes as long as it does to become the NBA’s all-time scoring leader. Well done, young man.

Thumbs Down: To the bloated monstrosity the Super Bowl has become. Born simply as the NFL/AFL championship game, it has become an “all things to every possible aspect of society” attempt to cram as many eyeballs in as possible to maximize TV ratings. It leaves us with ridiculous sights like jamming what seemed like 110,000 people around the mid-field coin toss, including kids from NFL PR/marketing programs no one ever heard of or cares about; worthy people being used in transparent “Hey Aren’t We Great, Guys?” PR ploys, and a 40-minute half-time distraction with a person wearing a bright red outfit that made it look like one of those high-flying objects the Air Force shot down last week had avoided detection and landed on the half-time show stage, followed by about 200 people filling in divots kicked in by said show on a field that already had people slipping far more than players should for a game of this magnitude. All of which makes the actual purpose for the massive production (the game) a sideshow. Sorry to those insulted by this “get off my lawn” rant, but I’m a frustrated guy who just wants to watch the freaking AFL/NFL championship game devoid of all the other crap.

Sports 101: How many of the seven other people who at one time held the all-time NBA scoring record can you name? Hints: One guy’s son later played in the league and another played for the Celtics before he took over the lead for a short time.

News Item – NBA Trading Deadline a Doozy: Can’t remember as active a trade deadline as last week. The dual big stories were the Nets scrapping the plan that almost everyone (except me) said would lead to multiple championships in Brooklyn and their star Kevin Durant landing in Phoenix. It makes them more dangerous for sure, but it did strip a weak bench of its best guy (Cam Johnson). Though the pick-up of Terrence Ross after a buyout in Orlando was a nice helpful addition. The two other biggest winners were, with LeBron leaving the GM-ing to the brass for once, the Lakers coming away with three nice additions to their bench while dumping ill-fitted Russell Westbrook’s gargantuan contract (and ego) and the Nets, who’ll be better than you think, starting over with a zillion unprotected first-round picks, a better team-oriented point guard and three more solid wing players to give trade flexibility this summer. Finally Jae Crowder going to Milwaukee makes them tougher vs the Celtics because he’s a lot better than Grayson Allen.

And then there’s the they’ll-never-learn chatter that teaming Kyrie Irving with Luka Doncic will make Dallas a legit contender. SPOILER ALERT: That’s what they said about the KD-KI pairing, which ended in disaster, just like it will in Dallas.

Do The Math: in case you are interested in the final Durant/Irving Tally in Brooklyn, it went like this: Durant played in 114 games out of 300 they played when he was a Net, while for Kyrie it was 143 in 300 as they went 159 and 141 (53 percent) while going one and done in the playoffs twice and losing in Round II the other time.

Not to mention Brooklyn let two inmates run the asylum, leading to the firing of three coaches in three years, Kenny Atkinson (totally undeserved), Jacque Vaughn (the first time when he was passed over ’cause Durant and Irving didn’t approve) and the disrespected all-timer Steve Nash (deserved). All for the bargain basement price of $22.9 million.

Sports 101 Answer: The NBA all-time leading scorer parade started with Piston George Yardley, followed byGeorge Mikan, the traded-for-Bill Russell Easy Ed Macauley, Dolph Schayes, whose son Danny was an NBA’er, first 20,000 point career scorer Bob Pettit, Wilt Chamberlain and Jabbar.

Finally, Greg Olsen doesn’t have the star power of future No. 1 Tom Brady, but Fox hit a homer with its new-for-now lead analyst. He was on all year with useful insights and thinking ahead strategies, like saying two plays before it happened KC runners should get down before the end zone to run out the clock before kicking the winning field goal. Not sure I agree, but it gave viewers something to consider, which is what a good analyst should do. And since Harrison Butker hit the FG the strategy worked too.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Card members

Merrimack Cribbage League moves to larger venue

For more than two decades, the Merrimack Cribbage League has provided opportunities for local cribbage enthusiasts to get together and play four-person and partner cribbage. The group, which currently has about 40 members, moved its weekly games to a larger venue last month and is looking for new players to join the fun. Co-organizer Scott Mortimer answered some questions about the card game and the league.

What kind of game is cribbage?

Cribbage is a game that combines both skill and luck, yet requires more skill than other card games. Luck is needed for the cards you are dealt; skill is needed for the cards you discard and the order they are played. All that is needed to play is a deck of cards and a cribbage board with four pegs. The object of the game is to score 121 points before your opponents. Without getting into detail, points are scored two ways: pegging and counting.

How does the new venue accommodate the league?

In January, we moved to the American Legion in Merrimack. The new location will allow us to increase our membership. We now have the capacity to grow well beyond 50 players.

How does a league game night work?

Game night has each team playing 10 games. Games move along efficiently, and each game lasts about 15 minutes. Winning teams for the evening are determined by the total score after completing 10 games.

Describe the atmosphere at a league game night.

We are a casual cribbage league. The word “league” is not meant to be intimidating. There can be a little nervousness starting out, but our newest members will tell you it is a relaxed environment.

What is your membership demographic?

We are a very diverse group. People ages 22 to 92 have played in our league. Teams are made up of family members, friends or random players we pair up. The game has a mass appeal because of the strategy, excitement and the stroke of luck with each hand.

Is the league casual or competitive? Or are there opportunities for both kinds of play?

Can I call it casually competitive? We do award small weekly cash prizes for top-scoring teams, yet it is encouraged to assist opponents when it comes to mentioning missed points when scoring.

Is cribbage growing in popularity?

We like to think so! There are a few leagues in the area, as well as some local microbreweries that have monthly cribbage tournaments. With some practice, cribbage can be a challenging and fun card game for all ages and abilities while having lots of fun playing. Cribbage is an excellent game for grade-school children to learn as it combines simple math, guessing the odds and predicting outcomes. In fact, there is a fifth-grade teacher in the Merrimack School District who teaches cribbage to his students.

Why should cribbage players consider joining a league?

If you are someone who has played in the past with family or friends and you want to get out and meet new people … or if you are someone who plays online or on a smartphone app and you want something a little more challenging, then our league is a good fit.

Merrimack Cribbage League
Who: The league is open to all. Interested players who are unable to commit to a full season or just want to try it out are welcome to play as a substitute. League organizers help to pair up players without partners.
Where: Second floor of the American Legion, 43 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack
When: Weekly, on Wednesday, starting around 5 p.m.
Cost: $5 per weekly play, with payouts for top-scoring teams, and a “quarter cup” awarded for any hand that scores zero points.
More info: Find the group on Facebook at facebook.com/merrimackcribbage, or email co-organizer Scott Mortimer at merrimackcribbage@gmail.com.

Featured photo: Scott Mortimer. Courtesy photo.

Category: News