Category: News

Quality of Life 22/05/12

Stop the jumping worms!

As it prepares for its annual plant sale, the Derry Garden Club is on the lookout for “jumping worms.” According to a press release, the worms remove nutrients from the top soil, which wreaks havoc on the agricultural environment, and they have recently resurfaced in New England. The club is repotting all plants to treated vermiculite in order to keep the jumping worms at bay. Anyone who has unwanted perennials that they would like to donate to the sale can set up a time with the club to have them sort through your garden (call Sally at 432-7714).

Score: -1 for the concept of worms that jump

Comment: At least you know the plants you get at the sale on June 4 at Robert Frost Farm in Derry will be jumping-worm-free!

More affordable health care

Affordable Care Act benchmark premium rates in New Hampshire are the lowest in the country, according to a study released last month by the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. According to a press release, benchmark premiums in New Hampshire have decreased for the second year in a row, down from $405 per month in 2020 to $333 per month in 2021 and $309 per month in 2022. The national average, on the other hand, was $453 in 2020, $446 in 2021 and $438 in 2022. The nation averaged a 2.2-percent reduction in benchmark premium rates from 2019 to 2022, while the Granite State’s reduction was 8.2 percent.

Score: +1

Comment:“Never before has New Hampshire had better access to more increasingly affordable health insurance options,” NHID Commissioner Christopher Nicolopoulos said in the release.

Middling drug problems

New Hampshire is in the middle of the pack when it comes to states with the biggest drug problems. According to a report from WalletHub, the Granite State ranked 24th in the personal-finance website’s recent study, which looked at factors like arrest and overdose rates, the number of opioid prescriptions and employee drug testing laws. In the broader category of Drug Use & Addiction, New Hampshire ranked 34th, while it ranked 15th in Law Enforcement (which included statistics like number of drug arrests) and 37th in Drug Health Issues & Rehab (which included statistics like number of people receiving substance abuse treatment per 1,000 drug users), according to the report.

Score: 0

Comment: Cross the border to Vermont and you’ll be in the state with the highest share of both teens and adults who used illicit drugs in the past month, the report said.

Magnifying youth voices

Forty-eight youth artists were featured at the 2022 Magnify Voices Expressive Arts Contest celebration on May 4, an event that showcased their personal struggles with mental health through artwork and stories. According to a press release, the contest was created in 2019 by the New Hampshire Children’s System of Care to give youth in grades 5 through 12 a chance to share their stories through short films, essays, poems and other expressive art, and to change the stigma around mental health. Attendees at the celebration were able to view the art as well as receive information from organizations focused on improving youth mental health and hear from keynote speaker Dr. Alison Roy, a licensed clinical psychologist and trauma expert. The People’s Choice Award went to Emily W., Emily A., Lindsey K. and Lana. G for a submission titled Short Film, which discussed mental health illnesses; audio from the video includes, “If you suffer from any of these conditions, you are not alone. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a trusted loved one or a professional,” the release said.

Score: +1

Comment: This year’s submissions will be on display June 4 through July 16 at the Jaffrey Civic Center in Jaffrey and at other events around the state. On May 15, NH CSoC will be the featured nonprofit at the Fisher Cats game in Manchester.

QOL score: 79

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 80

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

NBA Round 2 Update

With Round 2 of the NBA playoffs in full swing, here’s a look at the big stories making news.

With the Hall of Fame induction of Jayson Tatum on hold after a terrible Game 1 and an awful Game 3 (4-for-19 shooting, 1 rebound) vs. Milwaukee, with a 47-point effort by Ja Morant in Memphis’ Game 2 win over Golden State it looks more like the playoffs are Ja Breaker’s coming out party to enter the NBA Top 10 player list. His nothing-but-net mid-court buzzer-beater at halftime in Game 3 was a beauty. That dude can play and boy does he have hop and hang time. Yikes.

Give Jrue Holiday and Wes Matthews credit for Tatum’s struggles. Their perimeter D has been sensational and it has totally messed up the Celtics half-court offense.

NBA 101: Who holds the record for taking the most foul shots in a game without making one?

Include me as one who felt a bit sorry for Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton as he went 4 for 22 overall from the free throw line and 1-10 in Game 4, because he’s a good young player and is going to get better. The good news is Wilt Chamberlain was once worse, going 1-11 from the stripe in the famed Willis Reed Game 7 of the 1970 Finals.

Back to the Morant for a second. Was he sending a message to GS coach Steve Kerr when he posted on Twitter about Jordan Poole “breaking the code” after his Game 3 injury? Because that’s the same phrase Kerr used when Steph Curry got hurt after being entangled with Marcus Smart during his dive for a loose ball in March.

I hate to harp on the officiating, but it looks to be a big story line going forward after being a big issue during the first three Boston-Milwaukee. For example: Somebody tell me what the rule is. Been watching missed calls repeatedly on guys stepping in bounds before passing the ball in after a made basket. In Game 3 Jaylen Brown passed one in with both feet clearly on the base line, and Brooks Lopez stepped in bounds with the ball in his hands, then stepped back out of bounds to pass it. In my world that’s a turnover. And they’re in the lane all the time before foul shots are taken.

It was pretty rich seeing Mike Budenholzer going berserk after an obvious Tatum offensive foul went non-call. He was right, it definitely was a foul, but, but, but after what his star gets away with on every drive to the basket Budenholzer should shut up and stay on the bench. If they let Shaq get away with all the contact Giannis Antetokounmpo gets away with, people would still be in traction today. Love his effort and fight, but it should be embarrassing for the NBA and unfair to let him get away with it on 80 percent of his drives because it’s not basketball.

Adam Silver needs to do something about it, because refs ignoring his best player breaking the rules in this fashion is far worse than when they let Michael Jordan palm it and/or walk on every possession in the 1990s just because he was Michael. Especially if he’s playing against Joel Embiid with his orbital bone injury in the next round.

Embiid incidentally gets major points for toughness.

The Celtics felt they got screwed on the play at the end of Game 3 that gave Smart just two foul shots instead of three when he anticipated a foul coming and shot it even though he wasn’t in position to actually make it. It was a bogus miss called because it was a shot attempt. But not giving it was consistent with what the zebras called all year on similar plays. Still, heads up plays shouldn’t be penalized.

Having said that, would love hearing what Johnny Most would have to say about all this.

And given all the whining coming from Lopez, I’m sure Buck Nation has a list of their own complaints.

NBA 101 Answer: Shaq is the record holder by going 0 for 11 from the line vs. Seattle in 2000.

Surprised Steve Nash survived the carnage in Brooklyn. Especially with the blank expression on his face as things went downhill vs. Boston bringing to mind Peter Sellers playing Chance the gardener in the 1979 major motion picture Being There.

It is mystifying to me that coaches regularly use their only challenge on inconsequential plays early in games instead of waiting for a big moment at the end of a game. Like the blown call that gave Tatum his sixth foul with 2:50 left in a tight Game 4 vs. Brooklyn. Using it when he got his fifth made sense, but whoever is supposed to see the replay before calling for it blew it because JT clearly hit Seth Curry with his shoulder. And why in the name of Bailey Howell would a coach ever listen to any player? They never think they ever commit a foul. I know I didn’t and I fouled out of 11 games my last season in college.

For the record, the great Kyrie delivered again as Brooklyn was 11-19 in the games he played in 2021-22. If that’s worth the $246 million he’s expected to get as a free agent this summer, the economy’s inflation spiral is a lot worse than I thought.

Living boldly

Samuel Habib discusses new disability documentary

Transitioning to adulthood comes with some unique challenges for Samuel Habib, 21, of Concord, who lives with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. In My Disability Roadmap, a documentary he co-directed with his father, local filmmaker Dan Habib, the two set out on a journey around the country to interview disability activists about how to live boldly as an adult with a disability.

What is it like being a young adult living with a disability?

I don’t like that sometimes people talk to me like I’m a 3-year-old. My genetic disorder has made it more difficult to drive my chair by myself and use my communication device. The biggest challenge for me is getting into the homes of my friends and family members. Sometimes, I also get too tired to stay up late, so I miss out on going to bars, parties and dates at night. But I’m proud to be a part of the disability community, and I have an awesome team of support people with me every day.

What is your goal for the film?

My goal for the film is that people won’t talk down to people with disabilities. I want everyone to know that people with disabilities demand respect and rights, and I want other young adults with disabilities to have the same opportunities that I’ve had for health care, inclusive education, college, assistive technology, jobs, making friends and independent living. I want people to learn from disability role models. I want to help people learn how to live a full life with a disability as they transition to an adult by focusing on all the possibilities of relationships, work, education and disability rights.

How did you choose your interviewees?

They were people I looked up to. They are good advocates and role models for kids and young adults with disabilities. I wanted to ask them about their transition to adulthood to help me and others be successful. Success can be defined in many ways. These are just people I wanted to have as mentors.

What was the most challenging part of creating this film?

Setting up and getting all of the interviews done. We had to fly or drive a long way for the interviews. On our flight to Indianapolis, they turned my power wheelchair on its side both ways, and it got damaged both ways. On our trip to D.C., we had a six-hour flight delay, and another passenger talked down to me like I was a 3-year-old. On our NYC trip I had a seizure. But we still got the filming done on all the trips.

What advice did you receive during your interviews that had an impact on you?

Maysoon Zayid, one of my mentors in the film, told me, ‘You are not alone. Find your community.’ That was powerful advice because I’ve always had a strong community, starting with elementary school. I’m continuing to find my community at college, in the disability rights community, at work and in my hometown of Concord.

What are you up to now? What are your plans for the future?

I am in college at NHTI, the local community college in Concord, working on getting my liberal arts Associate’s degree. I have been taking one class a semester and have a 3.0 GPA. This semester I’m taking English Comp Mindful Communication, and I also joined the Environmental Action club at school. I am thinking about transferring to a four-year college in the future. I have enjoyed meeting new people. I look forward to making more friends and maybe finding a girlfriend. I dream about getting married and having kids, making more films, and traveling around the country and the world. I want to go to the Football Hall of Fame, Mount St. Helens, a Florida Gators game with my cousins, London and Europe.

Featured photo: Samuel Habib.

News & Notes 22/05/12

Covid-19 update As of May 2 As of May 9
Total cases statewide 311,144 314,533
Total current infections statewide 2,989 3,902
Total deaths statewide 2,481 2,488
New cases 2,698 (April 26 to May 2) 3,389 (May 3 to May 9)
Current infections: Hillsborough County 873 1,148
Current infections: Merrimack County 202 364
Current infections: Rockingham County 601 817
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

Covid-19 news

State health officials reported 267 new cases of Covid-19 on May 9. The state averaged 516 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period, a 31 percent increase from the week before. As of May 9 there were 20 hospitalizations statewide.

Homelessness report

Last week, the New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness released its annual report on the State of Homelessness in New Hampshire. According to a press release, the report shows that the number of unsheltered homeless people more than doubled across the state from 2020 to 2021, with 4,682 total unduplicated individuals and people in families experiencing homelessness in the 2021 calendar year – “likely because of the pandemic’s impact over the two fiscal years.” There were some successes, like 17 percent less family homelessness, “likely due to the comprehensive homeless prevention programs implemented utilizing the significant infusion of federal Covid-19 resources in NH.” The report was compiled using data from state and federal sources, including the Homeless Management Information System and the State of New Hampshire Official Point-In-Time Count (conducted on Jan. 23, 2021, the Point-in-Time Count identified 1,491 people, including children, who were homeless during a 24-hour timeframe). “It is important to understand the underlying impact that the pandemic has had on people experiencing homelessness in New Hampshire. This knowledge, along with this report’s clear picture of who the homeless population is in our state, lends itself to identifying where our energy should be placed — what policy changes, funding investments, and program recommendations should be considered,” Stephanie Savard, Director of the NHCEH, said in the release. Meanwhile, a new study from NHCEH and the University of NH School of Social Work is currently underway exploring the perceptions and experiences of Black, Indigenous and People of Color who currently or formerly experienced homelessness in a predominantly white rural state, the release said.

DHHS website

The decade-old New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services website has been redesigned with new and enhanced customer-centric features so visitors can more easily find the information they need. According to a press release, the dhhs.nh.gov address will remain the same, but there will be new site features like an easy-to-use search function with tags and categories, and a “How Can I Help You” box prominently displayed on the homepage, with a list of most requested topics. Dropdown menus feature popular programs and services, and new sections include Apply for Assistance, Doing Business with DHHS, and Reports, Regulations & Statistics. Enhanced accessibility options include the ability to change text size, make the cursor larger and change the contrast, text spacing and font, and the site can be translated into any language supported by Google Translate. The first DHHS logo was created as part of the website redesign and shows a person surrounded by the supports and services the department provides.

AED awareness

The New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Emergency Services and Communications has partnered with PulsePoint to improve and update the state’s AED registry. According to a press release, an automated external defibrillator, which delivers an electric shock to the heart, can be deployed by anyone and can help keep a heart attack victim alive until treatment arrives. In 2012, the state established an AED registry and further required the registration of all AEDs in the state, in part to identify fixed-location AEDs based on associated telephone numbers for inclusion in the Enhanced 9-1-1 system’s database. But nearly 80 percent of all calls to 9-1-1 now come from cell phones, and those callers need to be directed to an AED associated with their location. With PulsePoint, registered AEDs can be displayed on a map visible to telecommunicators taking 9-1-1 calls, so they can get the caller to a nearby AED, and PulsePoint’s data integrates with software that guides telecommunicators by providing medical instructions that can be relayed to the caller. Anyone deploying an AED in New Hampshire is required by law to register it with the Division of Emergency Services and Communications.

Road project meeting

A public Alternatives Meeting about intersection improvements at South Willow Street and Weston Road in Manchester will be held Wednesday, May 18, at 6 p.m. at the Department of Public Works at 475 Valley St., Manchester. According to a press release, HDR Inc., the city’s consultant, will discuss the project’s purpose and recommended improvements. The main purpose of the meeting is to present the identified alternatives, the pros and cons of each, and a detailed narrative of why the proposed action best meets the project’s purpose. Comments will be collected on the project’s objectives, proposed design alternatives and recommended action for the intersection improvements.

The Honorable Jane E. Young was sworn in on May 2 as the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire. According to a press release, Chief U.S. District Judge Landya McCafferty administered the oath of office at the federal courthouse in Concord. Young served as the Deputy Attorney General for the New Hampshire Department of Justice from 2018 to 2022 and has held various leadership positions in the office since she joined in 1992, the release said.

The First Parish Church in East Derry will be selling military flags and patriotic flowers the weekends of May 21 and May 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. by the church parking lot at 47 E. Derry Road. According to a press release, all donations will go toward the rehabilitation of the 275-year-old building.

Dr. Norman W. Crisp Elementary School in Nashua has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Children’s Literacy Foundation, which will go toward books for classrooms and students as well as author visits and other special literacy-based events that encourage reading for knowledge and pleasure. According to a press release, the grant is awarded to elementary and middle schools serving pre-K through grade 6 that have demonstrated a commitment to literacy and creative ideas for celebrating reading and writing.

This Week 22/05/05

Big Events May 6, 2022 and beyond

Friday, May 6

The Actors Cooperative Theatre will kick off their final weekend of Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier at Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall 270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com) with a show tonight at 7:30 p.m., followed by shows tomorrow, Saturday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 8, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for seniors and students. The production offers a twist on the 1990s Aladdin story, telling the story from the point of Ja’far, according to a press release.

Friday, May 6

Kick off the weekend with music from Bobby Lane tonight from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Station 101 (193 Union Square in Milford; station101nh.com). Find more live music at area restaurants, breweries and more in our Music This Week listing, which starts on page 38.

Saturday, May 7

The Concord Farmers Market moves outdoors for its first week today, from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Capitol Street. The market continues outdoors through the end of October. Visit concordfarmersmarket.com. Also kicking off its season today is the Contoocook Farmers Market, running from 9 a.m. to noon behind the Contoocook Trail Depot, on Main Street and feature music from the New Hampshire Music Collective musicians. The market runs through October and free parking is available in the municipal lot, at the train depot and on the street, according to a press release.

Saturday, May 7

Shop for some eats and arts (maybe for Mom, Mother’s Day is tomorrow, May 8) at the Henniker Handmade & Handgrown arts and farmers market featuring 65 vendors who will gather on the lawn in Henniker Community Center Park (57 Main St.) today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to a press release. The market will feature live music (slated performers include Walker Smith, Decatur Creek and Beechwood), kids activities including a seed starting station, prepared food (including sausage subs, grilled on site), food fine arts, jewelry, pottery and more, the press release said.

Saturday, May 7

Don’t miss the Friends of the Audi’s 20th annual perennial exchange, happening today from 8 a.m. to noon at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord). Bring snips of perennials to swap and participate in a raffle with the chance to win up to 10 prizes. Call 344-4747 for more details.

Saturday, May 7

After a two-year hiatus, the Seacoast Cat Club’s annual cat show returns to the Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord) today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Highlights include a cat petting area, a breeding presentation, and local vendor booths with various items for cats and their owners. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and for kids ages 5 to 12.

Saturday, May 7

The Bedford Craftworkers’ Guild’s (3 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford) annual spring fair continues through today, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., where you’ll find a wide variety of wares from local artisans, like jewelry, fibers, paintings, mixed media and more. Visit thecraftworkersguild.org.

Save the Date! May 12
The Nashua International Sculpture Symposium opens its 15th annual event on Thursday, May 12, at 5:30 p.m. at the Picker Artists (3 Pine St. in Nashua). Meet the three artists — Anna Miller from Connecticut (pictured), Brent Howard from New Jersey and Corinna D’Schoto from Massachusetts — who will be creating pieces on this year’s theme “Merriment.” Visit the sculptures Mondays through Saturdays from May 16 through June 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to see them work. Or get even more involved by signing up to bring a meal or volunteer at the site. Go to nashuasculpturesymposium.org for more on this year’s Symposium or a look at the pieces from previous years and to find a map to go tour the pieces for yourself.

Featured photo. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 22/05/05

Statewide historical quest

Hit the road for a journey that could take you to more than 270 of New Hampshire’s historically significant places. The state Division of Historical Resources announced in a press release that it has created a new Historical Highway Marker Quest to entice travelers to visit the state’s historic markers. If you visit at least 10 markers you can fill out a form online at nh.gov/nhdr to get a sticker that says “I love N.H. Historical Highway Markers.” Anyone who visits any marker is encouraged to post pictures of their stops on social media using the hashtag “#NHHistoricalMarkers.” According to the release, the online N.H. Historical Highway Markers map has been upgraded to make it easier for people to find the places where they want to stop, and it includes a picture and location description of each marker. Highway markers include meeting houses, stone arch bridges, lost villages and cemeteries, as well as spots related to poets, painters, athletes and more.

Score: +1

Comment: Sounds like some fun summer road trips to QOL!

Baby falcons on board!

As of May 3, all five peregrine falcon eggs in the nest that is monitored by NH Audubon’s live falcon cam appear to have hatched. According to the falcons’ YouTube page, the first three hatched on the same day, on April 28, and the fourth hatched May 1. To see the nest, which is at 750 Elm St., you can find a link at nhaudubon.org or search for “peregrine networks” on YouTube.

Score: +1

Comment: In the coming weeks, the young falcons will learn from their parents how to hunt before they start to migrate out of the area, according to the YouTube page.

Basketball for animals

Salem High School student Noah Mustapha and his friends love a good game of pickup basketball, and he loved his experience volunteering at the Salem Animal Rescue League — so it made sense, he thought, to create a “3v3” tournament fundraiser, with proceeds going to the Rescue League. According to a press release, Mustapha and fellow students Jack Dailey and Dom Buccheri set up the basketball tournament in the high school gym and got 16 teams to join, with more than 100 fans coming to watch. The event raised almost $700 to benefit the animals.

Score: +1

Comment: “I decided to choose SARL because during the football season my team and I went to help move things around and set up the cages outside and thought it would be awesome if we could help out more,” Mustapha said in the release.

National scholars

Out of more than 5,000 candidates nationwide, six New Hampshire seniors have been named semifinalists in the 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. According to a press release, the semifinalists are Abhinav S. Govindaraju of Bedford High School, Ke Nicole Hu of St. Paul’s School, Akhil S. Kammila of Nashua High School South, Lilia R. Potter-Schwartz of Portsmouth High School, Annabella Wu of Londonderry High School and Vincent H. Xiao of Phillips Exeter Academy. “These high school seniors are among a group of highly distinguished and academically-centered students who have been chosen because of their achievements both inside and outside of the classroom,” Frank Edelblut, commissioner of education, said in the release.

Score: +1

Comment: New Hampshire’s semifinalists join a group of 620 semifinalists from throughout the nation who are being recognized for their outstanding achievements in academics, the arts, leadership, school and community involvement and career and technical fields, the release said.

QOL score: 75

Net change: +4

QOL this week: 79

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

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