Category: News

NBA takes over

The Big Story – NBA Hits the Stretch Run: With the All Star Game nonsense and Super Bowl out of the picture, the NBA moves to center stage. The three biggest questions are (1) Can Cleveland keep doing it in the playoffs like they have in the regular season?, (2) Can the Celtics shake off their lethargy to hit the switch to defend their crown? and (3) How big a difference will Luka Doncic make as he joins LBJ out there in L.A.? And here’s a fourth: Will we be lucky enough to see a real competitive New York-Boston playoff series for the first time since 1984 (OK, 1990) followed by a Boston-L.A. Final? Time will tell.

Sports 101: Who holds the NBA record for playing the most consecutive games without fouling out?

News Item – Celtics Come Out Swinging:Maybe the Celtic Slump is over, as they came out of the All-Star break with big wins over Eastern rivals Philadelphia and New York on national TV. With Philly reeling and Joel Embiid looking like he’s headed for season-ending surgery, the Knicks’ win was more meaningful, as it was their third drubbing of their likely Round 2 opponent in the playoffs in three games against N.Y.

News Item – Kenny Atkinson: Thing I love most about NBA season so far is that in his next try as a HC after his cowardly boss listened to dirtbags Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving stabbing him in the back to get him fired in Brooklyn, Atkinson is coaching the team with the NBA’s best record in Cleveland while Kyrie and KD are facing steep climbs just to even make the playoffs. As Pat Riley once un-grammatically said, sometimes dems get what dems deserve.

The Numbers:

7 – million dollars the reported among the nation’s top college basketball recruits AJ Dybantsa (Brockton, Mass.) will be paid in NIL money to play at BYU next year.

13 – goals away from passing Wayne Gretsky as the most prolific scorer in NHL history for Alexander Ovechkin after going for the hat trick in Washington’s 7-3 rout of Edmonton on Sunday.

49 – years since Yankees players could have beards and mustaches until this year, now that the ban imposed by George Steinbrenner in 1976 was lifted last week.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Up – Cooper Flagg: The Larry Bird-like Maine native told The Atlantic that he wants to return to Duke for his sophomore season over becoming the NBA’s No. 1 draft pick. The question is, if he does do it, will the team with the first overall pick take him anyway as the Celtics with Bird after he said he was returning to Indiana State for his senior season?

Random Thoughts:

Why does nobody do the “was it Brady or Belichick?” game with Duncan and his coach Greg Popovich? Because in the eight full seasons since TD retired, Pop’s won-loss record is a Cotton Fitzsimmons-like 299-356.

Sports 101 Answer: Most incorrectly believe Wilt Chamberlain holds the record because he never fouled out of any game ever. But he only played in 1,045 in his 14-year career. And while Moses Malone fouled out five times early in his career, he later played in 1,212 straight without fouling out.

Final Thought – Victor Wembanyama: With the French phenom likely shut down for the year due to shoulder and neck issues it’s a good time to evaluate how he’s lived up to the hype he got when entering the league down there in San Antonio.

His 22.6 ppg, 10.8 rpg and 3.8 bpg stats are among the best in the game in his two years. But after hearing how he would turn the NBA on its head, besides those stats and some highlight videos, we haven’t really seen it turn up in the standings. In his Year 1 the Spurs won the same 22 games they won the previous year, which is area codes behind these four guys who actually did immediately turn the league on its head by dramatically improving the teams they joined over the year before they got there:

Larry Bird – Boston had the greatest turnaround ever in going from 29 wins to 61.

Lew Alcindor – expansion Milwaukee won 27 in their first year and 56 the next.

Tim Duncan – he had more help in his first year than the other three as David Robinson missed the year when the Spurs won just 20 and 56 when he was back with Duncan in his Year 1.

Shaquille O’Neal – Expansion Orlando won 21 in their first year and 41 the next year with Shaq.

The first three won the NBA title in Year 2 while Shaq magically had Orlando in the Finals after knocking no less than Michael Jordan and Chicago out of the playoffs. While for Big V it’s just 24-31.

This is picking on the prognosticators who overhyped a new guy again. Not Wemby because he’s been terrific. Just not beyond belief, where so far he’s more Yao Ming than the four real game-changers mentioned above. Email Dave Long at [email protected].

News & Notes 25/02/27

Scam updates

The United Way of Greater Nashua is offering a free scam alert newsletter called the “Scam Alert Email List” that will send “alerts on trending scams as well as fraud prevention tips and resources for reporting suspicious activity,” according to a United Way press release. Sign up via tinyurl.com/ScamAlertsUWGN.

Tiny films

The Nashua Public Library (2 Court St., Nashua; nashualibrary.org) will hold its third annual Tiny Film Festival on Friday, March 7, at 6 p.m. The fest will feature 60-second all-ages films submitted to the library, according to the library’s website. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a red carpet, photo booth and free popcorn, the website said. Films will be judged in the ages 12 and under, 13-17 and 18+ categories. Winners will be announced on the library’s website Saturday, March 11.

Help for vets

Service Credit Union Impact Foundation and Robert Irvine Foundation awarded Liberty House (221 Orange St., Manchester, libertyhousenh.org), an organization that helps veterans, a $20,000 grant, according to a press release. “The grant will support Liberty House’s transitional housing program for veterans facing homelessness, post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and other challenges,” the release said.

Poetry contest

The 8th annual MacGregor Poetry Contest will accept submissions Monday, March 10, through Saturday, April 12. The contest, run by the Derry Public Library (64 E. Broadway, Derry; derry.org), offers prizes in two age groups — poets 15 and up and poets 14 and under. Email ([email protected]) or snail mail (addressed to “Derry Public Library Poetry Contest”) up to two poems, no more than two pages each (no Google docs), according to an email from the library. See the website for entry rules. Winners will be announced in May.

Rock’N Race

Registration is open for the 23rd Annual Rock’N Race, which raises money for HOPE Resource Center at Concord Hospital Payson Center for Cancer Care, slated for Wednesday, May 7, at 6 p.m., according to a press release. The race starts at the Statehouse and racers can choose a 5K run, 5K walk or 1-mile walk. The cost to enter is $35 for adults through March 1, $40 after, at rocknrace.org.

Badges battle

Tickets are now on sale for the 2025 Battle of the Badges Hockey Championship, presented by the Elliot Perry Foundation and raising funds for Dartmouth Health Children’s and the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, which will have Team Fire and Team Police face off on the ice on Sunday, March 16, at 1 p.m. at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, according to a press release. A family fun event starts at 11 a.m. on SNHU Arena plaza featuring first responder vehicles and more; doors open at 11:30 a.m. Advance tickets cost $16 (plus fees) for ages 13 and up, 12 and under get in for free but still need a ticket; tickets on the day cost $20 for ages 13 and up, according to chadhockey.org. Tickets include access to the Kids Zone, a scavenger hunt and more, the release said.

The Gafney Library (14 High St. in Sanbornville; gafneylibrary.org) will host Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki for the program “Songs of Emigration” on Tuesday, March 5, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Howie Newman, former sportswriter for the Boston Globe and other publications, will present “The Musical Baseball Show” at the Goffstown Public Library (2 High St.) on Saturday, March 22, at 11 a.m. The event is free.

The country band Locash will play the Dana Center for the Humanities at Saint Anselm College in Manchester on Thursday, March 6, 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $65. See tickets.anselm.edu.

The NH State Home Show comes to the Manchester Downtown DoubleTree, 700 Elm St. in Manchester, Saturday, March 1, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, March 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for adults, free for ages 12 and under.

Leah Dearborn, associate director of the Aviation Museum of NH, will discuss her new book Grenier Air Base: A Beacon on the Home Front at Balin Books in Nashua (Somerset Plaza, 375 Amherst St., balinbooks.com) on Saturday, March 8, at 2 p.m.

This Week 25/02/20

Thursday, Feb. 20

The Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) will host Less is More: An Evening with Joss Stonetonight at 8 p.m. Joss Stone is a Grammy and Brit Award-winning artist who released her acclaimed debut album, The Soul Sessions, in

Thursday, Feb. 20

Mosiac Art Colletive (66 Hanover St. in Manchester; mosaicartcollective.com) will host Gelli Jam, a workshop on Gelli printing, tonight at 5:45 through 8 p.m. Suggested donation of $5 to $10. Some materials available for use. Register on the website.

Thursday, Feb. 20

LaBelle Winery Derry (14 Route 111, Derry, 672-9898, labellewinery.com/labelle-winery-derry) will host Harvest & Rust, a Neil Young tribute concert, tonight at 8 p.m. Harvest and Rust represents the wide range of Neil Young’s six-decade career,. Tickets are $40.

Friday, Feb. 21

The Warren Haynes Band will play the Chubb Theatre (Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) tonight at 8 p.m. as part of its Million Voices Whisper Tour. Tickets start at $55..

Friday, Feb. 21

Tonight marks the first of three nights of one-act plays from the Nashua Theatre Guild (14 Court St, Nashua, 978-300-2444, nashuatheatreguild.org). The plays will include a noir play, The House on the Hill on the Boulevard at the End of the Sidewalk; Neil Simon’s Rumors; Big Al, and Hammered: a Thor and Loki Play. The curtain will go up tonight and tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 22, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 ($18 for students and seniors) through the Guild’s website.

Saturday, Feb. 22

The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra (647-6476, nhphil.org) will perform Eroica Inspirations: A Journey from Beethoven to Torke tonight at 7:30 p.m. and tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m. at the Seifert Performing Arts Center (Salem High School, 44 Geremonty Drive, Salem, 893-7069, ext. 5601, sau57.org/pac), with special guest pianist Taige Wang. Tickets are $35 for adults, with reduced prices for seniors, students, Salem students, and streaming. Visit The Phil’s website.

Saturday, Feb. 22

There will be an Apokriatiko Greek Dance tonight at the Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral (650 Hanover St., Manchester, 622-9113, stgeorgenh.org) tonight from 7 to 11 p.m. in the church hall, DJed by the Salonica Boys. There will be Greek and American dancing, hot hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. There is a suggested donation of $25; children 12 and under are free.

Save the Date! Saturday, March 1

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers will bring their hard-rocking bagpipe fusion to the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) Saturday, March 1, at 8 p.m. The band has been described as “AC/DC meets the poet Robert Burns.” Tickets start at $29 through the Nashua Center’s website.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 25/02/20

Headed for the Big Show

Venomous snake on Aisle Four

As reported by WMUR in a Feb.16 online article, an employee at the Manchester Market Basket received a surprise on Friday, Feb.14, while unloading a box of bananas: a venomous snake. According to New Hampshire Fish and Game, the snake was a 2-foot-long Ornate Cat-eye, a mildly venomous snake species native to Central America. “The snake was not harmed and given to Rainforest Reptiles Shows,” the WMUR article reported, and went on to quote Mack Ralbovsky, Vice President of Rainforest Reptiles. “We get something like this maybe three or four times a year,” Ralbovsky said. “A lot of the invasive species we see come from situations like this where an animal might be shipped in produce.”

QOL score: -1 because SURPRISE!

Comment: According to Ralbovsky, while technically venomous, this species feeds mostly on lizards and amphibians, and poses little danger to humans.

NH Super Bowl bets

According to a Feb. 14 press release from the New Hampshire Lottery Commission, New Hampshire football enthusiasts wagered more than $7.5 million on last week’s Super Bowl game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. “Of those who wagered on the outright winner, 89% of them were correct in their bet on the Eagles,” the Lottery Commission wrote, then went on to quote Charlie McIntyre, New Hampshire Lottery’s Executive Director. “Between the standard touchdown, yardage, or MVP and the Swiftie Special betting options, the Super Bowl certainly lived up to its reputation as New Hampshire’s largest sports betting event of the year.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: “Since the New Hampshire Lottery and DraftKings launched mobile sports betting in New Hampshire on December 30, 2019, bettors have wagered more than $3.5 billion,” the press release reported.

Joann Fabric holding on by a thread

In a Feb. 12 online article, WMUR reported that troubled fabric and craft chain Joann Fabric has announced it will close more than half of its 800 stores, including seven of eight stores in New Hampshire. “According to court filings, the Hooksett location is the only one of the state’s eight stores expected to stay open,” the story read.

QOL score: -1

Comment: “Joann has filed for bankruptcy twice in the past year and is looking for a buyer,” WMUR reported.

Do not disturb until August

In a Feb. 15 online article, New Hampshire Public Radio reported that “New Hampshire farmers can now apply for funding in exchange for leaving their hayfields alone in the early summer.” The conservation group the Bobolink Project hopes to preserve a strong breeding environment for bobolinks, small migratory birds that nest in New England in the spring. As reported by NHPR, the group will “compensate farmers for the income they might lose by not haying in early summer, paying them to keep their fields as habitat for the birds. Keeping that habitat also helps other birds, like meadowlarks and grasshopper sparrows.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: Farmers can apply to be part of the project at bobolinkproject.com/farmers.php. Applications are due by March 31.

QOL score: 53

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 53

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at [email protected].

Sox finally open the wallet

The Big Story – Alex Bregman: There is an old adage that says it’s not how much you spend, it’s how you spend it. That is the opening discussion point for the Red Sox signing Bregman to a contract that will pay him $40 million a year for the next three years. Even before you get to the fact that his RBI total dropped from 98 to 75, giving a guy who hasn’t driven in 100 runs since 2019 an annual salary that’s larger than all but four MLB players seems like a massive overpay. Which could have been applied to get top-of-the-line FA starters like Max Fried or Corbin Burnes. There’s also the fact that he’s ticketed to play second base, where he’s only played seven games in the majors — last done in 2017.

On the bright side he’s a needed right-handed batter, a solid to very good fielder at least at third base, with major playoff experience, and is the kind of willing leader this young team needs.

Plus John Henry finally acted like a major market owner with a deal that’s only three years. So it won’t strangle them if he’s deeper on the back nine than they think.

Sports 101: Who’s the only player in college basketball (Division I) to lead the nation in scoring and rebounding in the same season?

News Item – Have Celtics Righted the Ship? In winning eight of 10 going into the All-Star break some think they have. Me, not so much. They have a focus problem that has them play down or up to the competition on a nightly basis. Like beating Cleveland and New York in recent high-profile games and losing to Dallas just after they traded Luka Doncic. And that lack of urgency has them an embarrassing 17-10 at home, while it’s a league best 22-6 on the road. Something that suggests their underwhelming 39-16 overall record is more a function of head/motivation issues than physical ability.

News Item – End-of-Year NFL Awards: With football over, here are a few random awards for the just concluded 2024 season.

MVP – Josh Allen –One of the harder choices since 1963 with voters having to decide between Allen, Saquon Barkley and Lamar Jackson.

A Little History – 1963 MVP Vote –Y.A. Tittle threw arecord-setting 36-TD-pass season and Jim Brown ran for all-time records 1,837 yards and 6.7 per carry average. Tittle won.

Most Ironic Story – The Jets, of Course – Seeing their high draft pick QB bust Sam Darnold in the MVP conversation for leading Minnesota to an unexpected 14-3 season, just as they went 5-12 with supposed QB savior Aaron Rodgers.

Worst Decision – Player Category – Has to be Atlanta giving 36-year-old Kirk Cousins a four-year guaranteed deal for a bazillion dollars and then seeing him benched over the rookie they drafted right after signing him. And now they’re on the hook for around $100 million.

Worst Decision – Coach Category –The over-his-head Jerod Mayo. Bob Kraft, why would you hire a guy because he was polite on a trip to Israel?

Worst Decision by an Owner – Bob Kraft – First there was hiring Mayo, then compounding the problem by keeping the same personnel people in place (except Coach B) that had been drafting terribly for several years, which is what they did again after Drake Maye fell in their lap at third overall.

The Numbers:

6.5 – million dollar net loss for Pennsylvania sportsbooks on bets they handled in Pennsylvania on the Super Bowl.

30,000 – career points scored platinum reached by Kevin Durant with a free throw vs. Memphis last week.

Sports 101 Answer: The late Hank Gathers, Loyola Marymount.

Final Thought – The GOAT Race at QB: The dumbest post-Super Bowl comment I heard came not so surprisingly from Steven A. Blowhard on ESPN that the GOAT race between Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes was overbecause he dropped to 3-2 in SBs after his less than stellar effort vs. the Eagles. Guess he forgot Brady was 3-2 in SBs after losing for a second time to the Giants in 2011. It’s silly to say it’s over after Mahomes’ first seven full seasons. Especially since Brady didn’t win his fourth SB until his 14th season.

Thus all you can compare is after their first seven seasons, and I hate to tell the homers in the crowd, Mahomes has got Brady in playoff appearances (7-6), playoff record (17-4/14-5), playoff one-and-dones (PM none, Brady 2), TD passes (46-26) and QB rating (105.4-87.1).

That puts Mahomes in position to catch Brady if he’s able to match his amazing longevity. And if so, will he be able to manage the tall task of winning four more in his late 30s, which Brady needed to do after going 10 years between winning his third and fourth SB?

So actually the race is just getting started, not the done deal some guy on TV proclaimed. Email Dave Long at [email protected].

News & Notes 25/02/20

Landfill moratorium

During her Feb. 13 budget address, Gov. Kelly Ayotte announced “a landfill moratorium and a revamped regulatory process for approving these projects going forward, to ensure that our beauty as a state is not compromised,” according to text of the address available at governor.nh.gov. New Hampshire has six large landfills including “two private mega-landfills” in Bethlehem and Rochester and “roughly half of the waste buried in New Hampshire landfills comes from out of state,” according to a press release from the Conservation Law Foundation. “For too long, our state has been burdened with out-of-state waste, leading to harmful pollution,” said Tom Irwin, vice president of Conservation Law Foundation, in the statement. “While this is a significant first step, more work remains. It’s essential that we prioritize waste reduction and implement innovative solutions to ensure that waste disposal is only a last resort.” For more on that organization, see clf.org.

More from Ayotte

In her address presenting her recommended budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, Ayotte said, “In comparison to our last budget, we are spending $150 million less in General Funds. This adjustment in General Funds was undertaken smartly and thoughtfully, with a scalpel, not a shovel. It does so without across the board cuts and prioritizing those who are depending on services provided by the State,” according to the text at governor.nh.gov. Ayotte highlighted aspects of the budget including that: “This budget … ensures that our education system has the resources it needs. We are making a $98.8 million investment in special education, nearly a 50% increase from the previous biennium.” Ayotte’s address also highlighted that the budget “sends more money to the local level,” “begins the overhaul of the Group 2 retirement system,” “expands education freedom to all public school students,” “will help get cell phones out of the classroom,” and “continues the tuition freeze at our community colleges” among other points. In discussing cuts, Ayotte said “We focused on making our government more efficient and ensuring tax dollars do more with less. We cut bloated contracts with out-of-state vendors, took a hard look at how our agencies operate and worked with commissioners to dial in spending. … We brought our adult Medicaid eligibility back in line with pre-pandemic levels and joined our neighbors in requiring nominal copays for those receiving these benefits.”

See the full address at governor.nh.gov/news/2025-budget-address. You can find the text of Ayotte’s recommended budget at gc.nh.gov/lba/budget/fy2026_2027_budget.aspx.

Chamber prez retires

Tim Sink, president and CEO of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, will step down from his position on Sept. 30, according to a Chamber press release. Sink has been Chamber president for nearly 33 years. “I have had the privilege of serving this dynamic chamber through some challenging and exciting times. It has been an incredible and fulfilling opportunity and I am beyond grateful for the hundreds of talented and generous volunteers and staff that have helped build this organization into what it is today,” Sink said in a statement in the release.

Tech support

United Way of Greater Nashua has expanded its Digital Navigator Program, which provides tree technology assistance at locations throughout the community, according to a press release. Find digital navigators available to the public at Rodgers Memorial Library in Hudson (on Tuesdays from 1 to 2 p.m.) and navigators available for clients, congregants and residents at Nashua Presbyterian Church, Coliseum Residence, AHEPA 35 and H.E.A.R.T.S. Peer Support, the release said. The United Way of Greater Nashua is looking for additional Digital Navigator locations as well as volunteers for the program; contact [email protected] for details. See unitedwaynashua.org.

Homeownership

New Hampshire Housing, “a self-supporting public corporation that promotes, finances, and supports housing solutions for the people of New Hampshire,” according to its website, will hold a Homeownership Conference on Tuesday, March 18, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord. Tickets cost $50 and include breakfast, according to an email about the event. The agenda for the conference includes: “Housing Market & Policy Update,” “AI and Digital Innovation in Real Estate & Lending,” “Economic Outlook: Market Trends & Interest Rates” and “Housing Solutions Panel: Innovation in Action,” the email said. See nhhfa.org.

For the dogs

Salem Animal Rescue League (4 SARL Drive in Salem; sarlnh.org) is holding a Pot of Gold raffle through March 17, according to a press release. The League is selling 350 tickets for $50 each with the big winner taking home $5,000, the release said. The next early bird drawing, for $200, will be held on March 3, the release said. All proceeds from the raffle will support the animals at the League, the release said.

Every Little Thing (NR, 2025), a documentary about a woman who cares for hummingbirds in Los Angeles, will screen at Sweeney Hall auditorium at NHTI in Concord as part of the NHTI Friday Night Film Series on Friday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. Admission costs $10 at the door, cash or check.

The Pembroke Historical Society’s presentation of “Vanished Veterans: An Illustrated Introduction to NH’s Civil War Monuments and Memorials” by historian George Morrison was delayed due to weather and now you can catch it on Thursday, March 6, at 7 p.m. at the Pembroke Town Library, 313 Pembroke St. in Pembroke. The event is free and open to the public. Call 566-1031 for info.

Local Street Eats, 112 W. Pearl St. in Nashua, will host a Boozy Book Swap on Tuesday, March 4, at 6 p.m. Bring up to 10 gently used books with “a little note on a sticky note sharing what you loved about each book and stick it to the cover,” according to the event description. A $25 ticket comes with a glass of wine and a personal charcuterie plate (a full menu is available for purchase). Browse others’ offerings and take up to as many books as you brought. See local-streeteats.com.

Students from Rochester’s Spaulding High School designed and painted a new mural for Max the Moose, New Hampshire’s mascot who is housed at the New Hampshire Department of Education. Max’s new background is a mural showcasing the White Mountains and created with paints and paint markers, according to a department press release.

The Nashua Garden Club will host a program on “Groundcovers: What are They and How to Use Them” presented by Kathie Skinner, lifetime master gardener, on Wednesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 121 Manchester St. in Nashua. The event is free and open to the public. See nashuanhgardenclub.org.

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