New Hampshire’s outdoor recreation sector created $2.2 billion in economic activity in 2020, making it among the Top 10 states in the nation with the highest value added to the state’s gross domestic product (2.6 percent), according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs. Though non-traditional outdoor activities like amusement parks, water parks and festivals were negatively impacted by the pandemic, more conventional outdoor activities like camping, boating, fishing and RVing either increased or stayed the same: boating/fishing increased by 41 percent, bicycling by 14 percent, RVing by 9 percent and OHRVing by 5 percent.
Score: +1
Comment:New Hampshire’s outdoor recreation industry employed more than 26,500 people in 2020, according to the release.
A new challenge to staying connected
New Hampshire residents who rely on 3G service could find themselves disconnected come 2022, as cell carriers shut down the old network to make way for higher-speed, more reliable 5G service, according to a report from WMUR. By the end of 2022 all 3G service will be obsolete, so people with older cell phones and tablets should check with their carriers to find out when they plan to stop 3G service.
Score: -1
Comment:According to the WMUR report, there are some medical devices and in-vehicle data services that still depend on the 3G network, too, and services like OnStar are contacting customers about plans to update its software to keep people connected.
Community caring
Students of the Granite State Independent Living programs in Manchester, Nashua, Concord and Littleton are giving back to their communities all month long, according to a press release. Granite State Independent Living helps underserved students with disabilities transition from high school to the workforce or a post-secondary education. Now some of those students are reaching out to help others; locally, Manchester students are writing thank-you notes to health care workers, Nashua students will volunteer at the Nashua Soup Kitchen and make Christmas ornaments for a local nursing home, and Concord students will prepare Thanksgiving dinners for the homeless.
Score: +1
Comment:“Our students are remarkable and we are deeply touched to see their youthful enthusiasm for various community projects all around the state,” Deborah Ritcey, CEO of GSIL, said in the release. “It’s a great way to showcase the kindness and generosity of these young people.”
Even easier travel options at MHT
Prefer to fly nonstop, and from Manchester, not Boston? Manchester-Boston Regional Airport has launched two more nonstop routes on Spirit Airlines, to Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers and Tampa International Airport, joining its nonstop routes to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, according to a press release. This also adds more options for passengers who want to fly internationally, as they can connect in Florida to destinations like Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico and Costa Rica. Spirit started flying out of MHT this year, the first new airline at the airport in 17 years.
Score: +1
Comment:“Time and time again, our passengers are showing us that they prefer to fly out of MHT, even to connect internationally,” Airport Director Ted Kitchens said in the press release. “It’s exciting to see Spirit expanding to two more Florida destinations from MHT.”
QOL score: 75
Net change: +2
QOL this week: 77
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].
With the general managers meeting being held in California last week, baseball’s hot stove league is off and running. It is by far the most interesting part of the baseball year for me — the team-building phase. It involves teams analyzing their strengths and weaknesses, an avalanche of unfounded trade rumors, the free agent sweepstakes, bargain hunting and some actual big trades.
There’s usually also an ample number of colossally dumb moves, with most being the result of over-spending by desperate teams to eventually handcuff them financially for years to come like the Sox dropping $178 million on Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval to placate irritable fans after finishing last in 2014.
But with Sox GM Chaim Bloom having a different mandate from ownership, that doesn’t seem to be the case going forward. At least let’s hope not.
Before they can figure out what they should do, they need to decide their strengths and weaknesses, whom they’re willing to trade if need be and what the financial picture is. The latter is the place to start because, like it or not, it determines every move.
Financial situation: With a payroll north of $190 million they are not “Tampa Bay by the Charles,” as Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy mockingly calls them. He still somehow doesn’t get that what makes an owner a good one is not how much they spend but how they spend it, Exhibit A being those D-Rays, who despite spending $334 million less on payroll have won 34 more games than Boston in the last three seasons, finished ahead of them all three times and won the AL East twice. And if 2020 had been a full 162-game season it would be more like 50 wins and $400 million. I get how people don’t like TB’s style and treating stat geekiness as gospel. But, out of pure necessity, they have figured out how to win cost-effectively. That seems like a process to study, not mock.
After some financial pruning after Bloom arrived to get under the luxury tax line and put the financial house in order, the Soxappear to havethe flexibility to go after a big free agents if they choose. Though any move must take into account that Xander Bogaerts and Raffy Devers will be up for mega deals after 2022 and 2023 respectively.
Biggest strengths:(1) Whether they re-sign Kyle Schwarber or not, the batting order from 2-5 is top-notch. (2) Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck give them two young, versatile pitchers to build around, whether it’s in the bullpen or as low-cost starters for the next five years. (3) Position versatility from Kiké Hernandez and Alex Verdugo. (4) With Whitlock, Houck, Chris Sale, Nate Eovaldi and Nick Pivetta they have options on where to go to strengthen the full pitching staff. (5) Team karma under Alex Cora.
Biggest weaknesses:(1) Infield defense. (2) A mostly awful bullpen, which is bad when your manager routinely pulls starters far too early in games than he should. That’s especially if Houck and Whitlock become starters. (3) A second baseman. (4) A lead-off and it would be nice if he could also play second base.
Biggest question mark:What can/will Sale be going forward? Ace, or fourth-level starter?
Top trade bait:(1) J.D. Martinez. (2) Alex Verdugo. I like him, but I’m not in love with him, so in the right deal — go. (3) Raffy Devers. Given the financial realities of the day, they’ll probably have to decide who gets the giant contract, Bogie or Raffy. I’d take Bogie because his body will age better and eventually be a better big bat defensive option at third. Hope I’m wrong ’cause he could be great, but that’s what I see eventually happening. (4) Depending what happens with Schwarber and Raffy, Bobby Dalbec.
Decision 1 – J.D. Martinez.He opted into his final year at $20 million so they have a DH. Some don’t think that was a good thing, but I do because they now have a good player to put in any deal they want to.
Decision 2 – Whitlock and Tanner. If they stay in the bullpen, it gives them two two-inning pitchers to build around. But even with the value that offers, I’d make them starters because it gives the Sox two low-cost options in the rotation under contractual control for several years. If Pivetta can follow up his decent 2021 season that makes three, to leave a lot of resources to invest in the total makeover needed for the bullpen. Decision 3 – Big trade vs. big free agent. In lieu of the plan of developing a deep farm system, I lean toward free agent to fill major holes. That lets the farm system rebuild continue without pulling talent out before the plan is done.
Decision 4 – Big hitter. As long as the length of the deal doesn’t go beyond four years (five at the most) I’m fine with re-signing Kyle Schwarber.In addition to his power, I like his position (DH, LF, 1B) versatility. Plus if they sign him Martinez could be traded for relief pitching. Another option is Marcus Semien, who hit 45 homers and knocked in 102 for Toronto and since he plays second base he’d fill two needs. Though I wonder if he can do it again since it was the career year.
Once that’s all done, it’s time to act. Hopefully leading to more Tampa Bay by the Charles moves along the lines of Bloom spending just $10 million for the 51 homers, 159 RBI, a gold glove nomination and a crazy productive post-season delivered by Kiké Hernandez and Hunter Renfroe rather than the aforementioned Ramirez/Sandoval $178 million debacle Shaughnessy “commended” when it happened in 2014, and that the baseball economic dinosaur apparently still pines for.
The Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord will welcome its new executive director, Salvatore Prizio, on Monday, Nov. 29. Prizio talked about what he brings to the position and his short- and long-term goals for the performing arts venue.
What is your background in this kind of work?
I went to Northeastern University as a music industry major. I spent the better part of 10 years in New York City, working in the record business and touring and playing with my own bands. Then I moved to upstate New York with my wife and we opened a place called Bread and Jam, a 100- to 150-person coffee house where we had live music four nights a week. I had that for about two years, but it was during the Great Recession and business wasn’t as good as I hoped. … I went to [work at] the College of Saint Rose for about six years, running the Massry Center for the Arts, a 400-seat recital hall and performing arts center venue. I loved it there, and we did fantastic things with that space, but I couldn’t grow anymore. I started … doing programming for Proctor’s Collaborative, which has venues all over the Capital Region [of the U.S.] and a contract with Rivers Casino, booking their talent. … I was also able to expand my skills and do some work on the logistical side of things, like getting venues up and running, doing support work for the board, supporting fundraising teams, that sort of stuff. After five years there, I really wanted to take the next step to become an executive director. When the search firm [informed] me about the opportunity at the Capitol Center, I thought it was the right-sized organization and right time for me to step into that role.
What will your job entail?
At an organization of this size, the executive director does a bit of everything. I’ll be working with our programming person to make sure our programming is meeting our goals and objectives from a mission standpoint, while also making sure we’re being fiscally responsible. I’ll oversee budgets; implement or make changes to the strategic plan that’s in place; work with the board on a daily basis; check in with our ops team and make sure we have proper staffing.
What do you expect to be some of the biggest challenges?
One of the major issues CCA and all performing arts centers are facing now is getting back on their feet [financially]. They have a lot of fiscal issues from being shut down for months. … How do you balance expanding [programming] … while making sure you’re not being irresponsible from a budgetary standpoint? … The other piece of that is, like most businesses, the Capitol Center had to lay off a lot of staff, and now getting qualified staff back is a huge challenge. … Then, there’s people’s reticence to get back [out]. We have to help alleviate that through safety measures, making sure people feel comfortable again. … Once I get to understand the organization more, I’m going to develop strategies for the best practices moving forward.
What are some of your immediate goals?
Coming from upstate New York to a city like Concord, there are going to be differences — not major differences, but nuances — so my first goal is to really understand those differences. Then there are some nuts-and-bolts things … like updating the website … and getting our staffing back up to where it needs to be.
What are some of your long-term goals?
Most people think of a performing arts center as a place with four walls, seats and a stage, where you go to experience art, whether it’s comedy, music, theater or whatever. What I really want to do is break down those barriers of what a typical performing arts center is … and start thinking about CCA as more of a presenter/promoter. If there are communities that can’t get into our space, whether it’s because of mobility issues or economic challenges or anything like that, we want to be able to present [programming for them] outside of our buildings — things like street fairs, block parties and festivals and [events] at their community centers. … While researching this position, I found out New Hampshire is home to many new Americans, so I’m excited to find out who those communities are and have conversations with them about what types of art would resonate best within their communities. … During the pandemic, many performing arts centers were able to pivot to digital media so they could still reach their patrons, and that’s going to be a long-term component of performing arts centers. I can see the Capitol Center having more multimedia-kind of presentations; that’s going to be critical for us down the road. It’s a way we can reach a wider audience and allow people who might not have the opportunity to get to our physical space, like some of the folks living in senior centers, for example, to experience art from the comfort of their own home.
What unique qualities or perspectives do you bring to this position?
I bring enthusiasm, openness, acceptance and a willingness to stretch the boundaries of what people think about art. Inclusiveness is a huge thing I want to emphasize; I want everyone to know there’s a seat for them here. In this world where everything has become so polarized, I feel art is something that can always bring us together. I take that responsibility very seriously, but with a sense of joy.
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
Covid-19 news
During the state’s weekly public health update on Nov. 10, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that New Hampshire averaged about 650 new cases of Covid-19 per day over the previous week. Test-positivity rates, hospitalizations and deaths due to the virus have all continued to climb in recent weeks. “We are … seeing an increasing number of deaths reported from long-term care facilities, although the majority of deaths continue to be in our community setting,” he said. Chan renewed the state’s recommendations for residents to get vaccinated if they have not already done so, adding the reminder that kids ages 5 to 11 are now eligible to receive their first shot. “We continue to work with our Public Health Networks to set up a combination of both school-based clinics [and] community-based pediatric vaccination clinics to support the vaccination efforts that are ongoing in our communities,” Chan said.
Gov. Chris Sununu also commented on the state Executive Council’s unanimous vote earlier that day to accept $22.4 million in federal Covid relief funds. “The vote … will definitely help speed up that distribution process, which is a good thing for all of our citizens, putting funding behind the efforts and help battle the pandemic,” Sununu said during the press conference.
As of Nov. 15 there were 6,295 active infections of Covid-19 in New Hampshire, up by more than 1,000 from just a week ago, with 260 current hospitalizations statewide. All 10 counties remain at substantial levels of community transmission.
Renting resolutions
The New Hampshire Judicial Branch has launched a new free mediation service to help landlords and tenants resolve conflicts before resorting to filing an eviction case in court. According to a press release, the “eviction diversion mediation program” is supported by federal funds through the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery and administered by the Office of Mediation and Arbitration and the New Hampshire Circuit Court. To use the service, a residential landlord or tenant can request a remote mediation session with a neutral third-party mediator, who will assist the parties in talking through issues, such as paying back rent or applying for rental assistance, and drafting a contract of agreement to prevent an eviction case from being filed. “When parties can resolve a dispute without filing an eviction, everyone wins,” Circuit Court Administrative Judge David King said in the release. “Landlords avoid the time, expense, and uncertainty of going to court, tenants avoid the black mark of an eviction case on their records, and the courts see fewer new cases.”
Anti-discrimination webpage
According to a press release, a new webpage launched by the New Hampshire Department of Education will help “ensure that students and educators are free from discrimination, and that they have the opportunity to learn and teach in a safe environment.” The release said the website supports the New Hampshire Commission on Human Rights by giving parents an online site to report concerns that their child may have been discriminated against. Parents, guardians and teachers can submit a public education intake questionnaire that will be reviewed by a Commission intake coordinator to determine if there are grounds to file a formal complaint.
Education Freedom accounts
More than 1,600 children in New Hampshire have been approved for Education Freedom Accounts, and the first round of funding from the Children’s Scholarship Fund NH is being made available to eligible families this month. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education, the grants, which total $8,096,903, give families access to resources like customized learning, tutoring services, career schools, technical schools, home schooling, and non-public and private schools. Among the 1,635 participants, 88 are special education students, 81 are English Language Learners and 879 are eligible for free and reduced lunches. Manchester has the largest number of families enrolled throughout the state, with 166 students receiving Education Freedom Accounts, followed by Nashua with 64 students enrolled, Rochester with 52 students, Laconia with 52 and Concord with 46.
Funds for farmers
New Hampshire will receive more than $1.2 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support farmers in the state, according to a Nov. 2 press release from the office of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. Of those funds, $749,856 will be awarded to Land for Good in Keene through USDA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which helps beginner farmers develop the knowledge and skills to successfully acquire land for farming. Five hundred thousand dollars has been allocated through USDA’s Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network to facilitate mental health services for farmers in the state. “Granite State farmers face a myriad of unpredictable and uncontrollable challenges that can create or exacerbate stress, anxiety and trauma,” Shaheen said in the release. “Now more than ever, ensuring they have access to the resources they need to address these mental health challenges must be a top priority.”
Affordable housing
The New Hampshire Housing Board has approved funding for three new multi-family affordable housing developments to be built in Concord, Newport and Rochester, providing a total of 83 units to help meet the need for more affordable rental housing in the state. According to a press release, the Concord development, Penacook Landing II, is a second-phase expansion of a new development on a brownfield property that was previously owned by the city. Thirty-four general occupancy units were created in Phase I; Phase II will build 20 additional general occupancy units, with a small portion of the site to be used for a public park. Funding for the housing developments is allocated through Low-Income Housing Tax Credits About 95 percent of publicly funded workforce housing in New Hampshire is LIHTC-funded, according to the release, and the Housing Board expects to allocate more LIHTC funds for additional housing developments by the end of the year.
NewDEAL
Last week Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig was chosen as one of 20 leaders from across the country to join the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a national network of state and local elected officials chosen from more than 1,650 nominations over its decade-long history. According to a press release, the nearly 200 members “work to enact pro-growth progressive solutions in a diverse array of communities” and are currently supporting each other in addressing the challenges created by the pandemic.
The national Choose Love wellness tour stopped at Gill Stadium in Manchester on Nov. 13, a free event promoting mental health for kids and adults and offering “Choose Love” lessons and strategies, plus activities, food, vendors and performances. According to a press release, the tour is a response to the increase in stress and anxiety that has resulted from the pandemic.
The Salem Police Department reported last week the community has seen an increase in reported car thefts and break-ins. According to a press release, several motor vehicles had been broken into and others were stolen over the course of a few nights last week. The investigations are ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to call the Salem police at 893-1911.
The Nashua Public Library is celebrating 50 years at its Court Street home, having moved from the Hunt Memorial Building at 6 Main St. in 1971. According to a press release, the library is celebrating its anniversary this month and next with a display of photos, posters, furniture, architectural drawings and other memorabilia, and it will have 50th-anniversary library cards for anyone who signs up for a new card or anyone who already has a library card and wants to replace it with a new one.
Today at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; 669-6144, currier.og) veterans and their guests can get a free meal (of up to $15 each) in the Winter Garden Cafe, according to the museum website. Also today, at 11 a.m. and noon the “Looking Together” tour, when a docent focuses on a small number of works, will focus on the “WPA in NH” exhibit. The NH DHHS Mobile Covid-19 Vaccination Van will be set up in the Currier parking lot from 3 to 7 p.m. offering booster shots as well as first shots for adults and children, the website said. And today’s Art After Work, when admission is free to all from 5 to 8 p.m., will feature music by Charlie Chronopoulos.
Saturday, Nov. 13
Catch Warren Miller’s 72nd film Winter Starts Nowtoday at noon and 3 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). Tickets cost $30.50 ($55 for VIP tickets). Proceeds from this screening will support Kristen’s Gift Endowed Fund at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. The movie will also screen next week at The Music Hall in Portsmouth.
Saturday, Nov. 13
See Matt Carbonello perform a Neil Young Tribute tonight at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 St. Anselm Drive in Manchester; tickets.anselm.edu) at 7:30 p.m. with proceeds from the show benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project. Tickets cost $25.
Saturday, Nov. 13
Another November Saturday, another round of craft fairs.
Today, head to Memorial High School in Manchester for their booster club’s craft sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission costs $1 per person; the fair will feature more than 215 booths and vendors, according to the club’s Facebook page.
The Lil’ Iguana’s Craft Fair & Raffle will run today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nashua North High School. Admission is free and more than 70 crafters and vendors are expected to attend, according to liliguanausa.org.
You can also find a fair at the Eagles Wing Function Hall, 10 Spruce St. in Nashua, sponsored by Bazaar Craft Fairs, which will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and feature more than 40 crafters and vendors, according to Bazaar Craft Fairs Facebook page. Admission is free.
The United Church of Penacook (at Community Drive and Canal Street) will hold its fair today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and has a list of participating crafters with photos of their items at ucpnh.org.
At St. Kathryn Parish (4 Dracut Road in Hudson), the Christmas Bazaar and Penny Sale will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, Nov. 14. The event will include raffles, sales of theme baskets, baked goods and an appearance by Santa, according to stkathryns.org.
Also on Sunday, Nov. 14, head to the Bedford High School for the Bedford High School Handmade Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring local artists and artisans, according to the group’s Facebook page.
Save the Date! Nov. 19
The Jamantics — Masceo Williams, Freeland Hubbard, Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki, Eric Reingold and Lucas Gallo — will reunite Friday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets cost $15 for general admission, $25 for reserved balcony seating (plust fees).
The first Inferno of the Badges, a fundraiser and fitness challenge that will have police, fire, corrections and military personnel compete for a title and to help a good cause, is looking for more teams to make the inaugural event a success. Teams of five will perform CrossFit-type exercises, and the one with the best time gets to choose the charity that the event’s proceeds will be donated to. The Inferno is a community effort: CrossFit of New Hampshire and the Manchester Police Department have helped organize it, McIntyre is providing its facilities for free, McHugh Funeral Home in Manchester is a sponsor, and Messy Mike’s Barbecue from Derry is providing free lunch to competitors and volunteers.
Score: +1
Comment: Though this first Inferno of the Badges, happening Nov. 17, is just for police, fire, corrections and military personnel, if it’s successful it will become an annual event that the public will be invited to watch, according to Bibiana Rummler of McHugh Funeral Home.
Something fishy
Elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) have been detected in fish tissue samples in five lakes, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. There are now new and more restrictive fish consumption limits for those lakes: Beaver Lake in Derry, Robinson Pond in Hudson, Horseshoe Pond in Merrimack, Canobie Lake in Salem and Cobbetts Pond in Windham. According to the release, the mercury-based statewide guideline of fish consumption for most freshwater fish is one meal per month for young children and pregnant woman and four per month for adults and children 7 years old or older; in comparison, many of the recommended guidelines for fish consumption in these lakes are more restrictive. The levels of PFOS in Robinson and Horseshoe ponds, for example, are high enough that kids younger than 7 should not eat any amount of any freshwater fish taken from those water bodies.
Score: -1
Comment: NHDES pointed out in the release that there is no known risk to catching and handling these fish, so catch-and-release fishing is not impacted.
Three more cases of Jamestown Canyon virus
Three adults have tested positive for Jamestown Canyon virus, a viral infection transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. The adults are from Loudon, Pittsfield and Rumney, and they are the second, third and fourth detections of the virus in the state this season. According to the release, the adults from Rumney and Pittsfield were hospitalized with neurological symptoms but are now recovering at home, and the person from Loudon was not hospitalized and is in good health.
Score: -1
Comment:“It is important to remember the season of mosquitos is longer than just the summer months. Mosquitos can continue to transmit infections like Jamestown Canyon Virus until there is a mosquito-killing hard frost,” Dr. Benjamin Chan, New Hampshire State Epidemiologist, said in the release.
Letter a scam
A consumer alert has been issued by the Attorney General’s Office after scammers sent a fraudulent letter purporting to be from the Office to a New Hampshire resident. According to a press release, it appears to be issued on Attorney General’s Office official letterhead and has a forged signature from the New Hampshire’s Deputy Attorney General. It claims the recipient’s identity has been used in connection with a purchase through an online retailer and warns that any of the accounts linked with the resident’s Social Security number will be shut down.
Score: -1
Comment:The resident called the number in the letter and was asked to buy gift cards from a local retailer and send photos of the gift card numbers, and to send cash through the mail with personal identifying information, the release said.
QOL score: 77
Net change: -2
QOL this week: 75
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].
