Category: News

Funds for schools

The Manchester School District has received a $7.6 million federal grant to enhance its Multi-Tiered System of Support for Behavioral Health and Wellness (MTSS-B) model across all 21 schools, according to a press release. This framework is designed to provide students with social, emotional and behavioral support, thereby promoting wellness and boosting learning engagement. Over five years, the funding will enable the district to not only implement the MTSS-B framework but also set specific goals, such as bolstering student behavioral health, minimizing school violence and disciplinary exclusions and increasing the high school graduation rate. The initiative also aims to reduce stigmas tied to mental health treatment, elevate access to services and cut down on vaping among students. Community partners, including the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, will play a role in achieving these goals. The grant, part of Project AWARE, positions Manchester School District among 21 entities nationwide to benefit from this funding opportunity.

Home upgrades

The City of Manchester, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is offering residents the opportunity to apply for $1.9 million in funds for housing-related health and safety improvements, according to a press release. This is due to Manchester receiving the Healthy Homes Production Grant from HUD, which is aimed at addressing housing needs for low-income families. Manchester plans to utilize these funds to address health and safety issues in approximately 100 housing units over the next 45 months. The interventions range from electrical system upgrades to mold remediation and ADA upgrades for better accessibility. Each of the 100 units can receive up to $11,000, with a mandatory 10 percent match from property owners. The funding is provided as a three-year zero-percent-interest forgivable loan. If property owners comply with conditions for three years post-project, the loan will be forgiven. Additionally, the grant will fund RRP Certification scholarships for 50 individuals, aiming to increase the number of RRP certified professionals in Manchester. To be eligible, property owners must have a residential structure in Manchester that houses individuals 62 years or older, persons with disabilities, or children younger than 6 years old. Income restrictions also apply. Application details are at leadsafemanchester.com.

Helping out

St. Mary’s Bank Charitable Foundation has granted $5,338 to Stepping Stones, Greater Nashua’s sole center for homeless youth under 25. According to a press release, the funds will support two youths for six months, providing essentials like food, clothing, showers and laundry. Stepping Stones, since 2020, has aided over 130 young individuals, offering resources and recently introduced transitional housing. To find out more about Stepping Stones, visit steppingstonesnh.org.

Want a bridge?

The State of New Hampshire’s Department of Transportation is announcing the opportunity for interested parties to submit proposals for the removal and adaptive reuse of the historic General Sullivan Bridge, which connects the Town of Newington and City of Dover, according to a press release. This initiative falls under the 23 USC 144(g) Historic Bridges provision. For your proposal to be considered, ensure it is electronically sent by Aug. 29, to Bureau16@dot.nh.gov with the subject line “Proposal for Adaptive Reuse of General Sullivan Bridge.” Comprehensive details about the bridge, such as location maps, bridge plans, inspection reports and historical covenants, can be found at nh.gov/dot/org/projectdevelopment/bridgedesign.

New doc

Patients in southern New Hampshire can now benefit from the expertise of fellowship-trained breast surgeon Kimberly G. Ellis, M.D., at Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester. According to a press release, Ellis specializes in breast surgery and oncoplastic surgery, aiming to reduce cosmetic damage from cancer-related procedures. Notably, Dr. Ellis introduces Magtrace technology to New Hampshire, a non-radioactive liquid tracer used to trace the possible spread of cancer within the lymphatic system, learned during her fellowship at the University of California San Francisco. Ellis highlights that residents now have access to state-of-the-art cancer care without needing to travel to major cities. For appointments, call 695-2840.

Federal grant

The New Hampshire congressional delegation, comprising U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and U.S. Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas, announced a federal grant of $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Lakes Region Mental Health Center (LRMHC). According to a press release, this grant aims to enhance mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) outreach services for the homeless. Specifically, it will fund a dedicated staff role at LRMHC to help homeless individuals with mental health and SUD issues find treatment.

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation announced in a press release that, starting Aug. 21, they will close the bridge on Oak Street in Rollinsford for 11 days for maintenance over the CSX railroad. A detour will be available via Broadway, Saint James Street, Chapel Street and Route 4. Local traffic can access Oak Street on either side of the bridge. For real-time updates, visit newengland511.org.

Fifteen interns from MyTurn and Kimball Jenkins Summer Placemaking internship will present “Colors of Change: West High Mural Unveiling” on Thursday, Aug. 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Manchester West High School (9 Notre Dame in Manchester). The project’s goal is to have more than 2,000 square feet of mural segments at West, according to a press release. The event will feature live music from a local string trio starring Nicholas So and food for sale by Don Quijotes, the release said. Find Kimball Jenkins on Facebook for more.

The Nashua Region Solid Waste Management District is hosting a Household Hazardous Waste collection on Saturday, Aug. 26, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Pelham Highway Department, 33 Newcomb Field Parkway. Residents of Pelham and 10 other local communities can dispose of specific hazardous household products for a $15 fee per vehicle, covering up to 10 gallons or 20 pounds of waste. Accepted items include oil-based paints, solvents, and various household chemicals. Businesses interested in participating must register in advance. The collection will not accept latex paint, electronics or medications. For a comprehensive list of items and further details, visit www.nashuarpc.org/hhw or call 417-6570.

Lead protection

Manchester’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen recently approved the creation of a Lead Exposure Prevention Commission. According to a press release, the commission’s mandate includes developing strategies to prevent childhood lead poisoning, assessing existing ordinances, recommending changes and providing regular updates to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The commission will evaluate its progress annually, work with city departments on lead-related issues and suggest necessary funding for its recommendations. Comprising 12 members, the commission will include Manchester residents or city employees, representing the Manchester Health Department, the Manchester School District, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, medical professionals, landlords and nonprofit partners. The group is expected to submit reports biannually and will hold public meetings. The city of Manchester contains an estimated 30,000 dwelling units built before 1979 when lead-based paint was banned. From 2016 to 2020, 465 children in Manchester registered blood lead levels above the state’s current action level. The city has received over $18.4 million from the HUD since 2002 to address lead issues, with 1,170 units using this funding for remediation.

Historic sites

The New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources has added four properties to the State Register of Historic Places, according to a press release. These include Claremont’s Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church and Rectory, characterized by its Eastern Orthodox Christian architecture and an 1840s brick Green Revival style house; the Grasmere Schoolhouse #9 and Town Hall in Goffstown, a Queen Anne style building constructed in 1889 with two schoolrooms and an auditorium; the Hampstead Congregational Church from 1861, a blend of Greek Revival and Italianate architectural styles, known for its community significance; and the Joshua Hill House in Stratham, a 1725 two-story timber-framed structure featuring Georgian architecture with Federal details. Visit nh.gov/nhdhr.

Human library

Goffstown Public Library will host its fifth Human Library on Sunday, Aug. 13, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. According to a press release, the event gives visitors an opportunity to engage in direct conversations with “human books” — individuals from diverse backgrounds willing to share their personal stories and challenge societal stereotypes. With narratives spanning from experiences of homelessness to life as a police officer or surrogate mother, these 20-minute dialogues aim to humanize diverse experiences and diminish prejudices. The Human Library, originating in Denmark in 2000 as a response to societal violence, has since spread to more than 70 countries. “We are very excited to be hosting our fifth Human Library and once again be part of this ever-growing global movement, with events being hosted around the world,” Dianne Hathaway, Director, Goffstown Public Library, said in the release. “Being a vehicle for the public to explore the humanity of different lifestyles or belief systems and choices is part of our job. To be able to do that through face-to-face interaction makes it all the more meaningful.” For the latest on the Human Library project’s global activities, visit humanlibrary.org.

Five-star rating

Catholic Medical Center (CMC) in Manchester has earned a five-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which reviewed over 4,500 hospitals across the country. According to a press release, CMC stands out as one of only three New Hampshire hospitals to receive this top rating and is among 483 hospitals with such a distinction nationwide. CMS’s ratings are based on five quality areas: mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience and timely and effective care. “I am extremely proud of our team for their dedication to quality care for each and every patient,” Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr. James Tanner said in the release. “The five-star rating system allows patients to easily determine which hospitals are high-performing to make a more informed choice for themselves or their loved ones. As CMC is the only New Hampshire five-star hospital in the Greater Manchester region, patients should feel comforted that they can receive high-quality, compassionate care right in their community.”

New name

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) has announced a name change for its Office of Federal Compliance. Effective Sept. 1, it will be known as the Office of Access, Opportunity, and Compliance (OAOC). According to a press release, the revised name aims to better capture NHDOT’s efforts in promoting inclusivity, opportunity and adherence to state and federal regulations. “Our values align perfectly with the principles represented by the new name,” Larisa Djuvelek-Ruggiero, Administrator at the OAOC, said in the release. “The Office of Access, Opportunity, and Compliance represents our unwavering commitment to creating a level playing field for all employees, contractors, and stakeholders in the transportation sector.” Visit dot.nh.gov.

Concord Hospital Trust is set to host a Moonlight Gala on Sept. 21, at the Barn at Bull Meadow in Concord to fundraise for new technology at the Payson Center for Cancer Care, according to a press release. The primary goal is to support the acquisition of a new linear accelerator for the Payson Center, which diagnoses over 1,300 individuals with cancer annually. The Foss Family Foundation and J. Daniel Davison have pledged a $50,000 matching gift. Major sponsors include Concord Imaging Center, Sulloway & Hollis and several others. For more information or ticket purchase, visit ch-trust.org.

After closing its previous location in June, the Goodwill store in Hooksett has reopened in a newly renovated space half a mile away at 1328 Hooksett Road, according to a press release. With over 12,000 square feet, the new space includes a “Handpicked” section featuring standout items like designer jeans and KitchenAid mixers. The store will not, however, be accepting donations, and donors are directed to the Manchester or Concord stores.

Students of Bedford Academy, a private STEAM-focused elementary institution in Bedford catering to preschool through grade 5, are excelling academically, testing 1.7 years above national grade level norms in math and literacy. According to a press release, every student scored above national averages in key subjects.