Category: News

Sox fighting downward spiral

The Big Story – Red Sox Update: The 2025 ship appeared to be sunk after Friday night’s 9-6 loss to the Yanks, as it was their ninth in 12 games to leave them five under .500 and 10.5 back of the Yanks.But they did show some spunk with 10-7 and 11-7 comeback wins the next two nights, highlighted by Sunday’s five-homer barrage and Trevor Story coming to life with a five-RBI day Saturday and going 5 for 9 with a double, homer and six RBI overall in those wins. A nice glimmer, but with their woeful pitching giving the Yankees 23 runs in a three-game series the ship is hardly out of choppy waters. They left the Bronx 32-35 and 8.5 behind in the AL East.

Sports 101: Rick Carlisle is trying to become the fourth coach to win NBA titles with two different teams. Name the three who have.

News Item – Knicks Fire Thibodeau: Here’s the lone pertinent question on the shocking firing of their coach Tom Thibodeau: How can they have “plateaued” under him, as GM Leon Rose said in the announcement, when the win totals went 41, 37, 43, 50 and 51 in his five years and they went to a conference final for the first time in 25 years?

News Item – One-Word Descriptions for People in the News:

Angel Reese – jealous PUNK

Aaron Judge – GREATNESS

Tyrese Haliburton – CLUTCH

Brad Marchand: Florida BARGAIN

Rafael Devers – selfish. No, immature. No, selfish. No, make it BOTH.

The Numbers:

.133 –batting average since May 4 for struggling Red Sox rookie Kristian Campbell.

6 – pitchers used by Sox manager Alex Cora who pitched less than an inning as he used eight overall in nine innings during Sunday’s 11-7 win over NY.

6 & 17 – Red Sox record in 2025 one-run games.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Up – Thank You, Caitlin Clark Award: The New York Liberty was recently valued at $450 million to make the WNBA team the most valuable women’s sports franchise in America. And while that number is not just because of her, the “thank you Caitlin” part (even though she plays for the Indiana Fever) comes in when you know that after 19 years in business the Liberty were worth “just” $130 million last spring and then, helped along by winning the 2024 WNBA title, they appreciated a quick $320 million in less than a year during the hoo-ha surrounding Clark’s arrival in the WNBA. Not a coincidence.

Give Me a Break Award – Worst Quote of the Week: ESPN’s Mike Breen opened Game 1 coverage by calling the Oak City vs. Indiana series “the most anticipated NBA Finals.” Since when, Mike? More than any Lakers and Celtics match-up — ever? All six of Jordan’s Finals? Dr. J’s entry to the NBA vs. Portland in 1977? Actually it’s two of the smallest TV markets ever to be in the Finals who, not surprisingly, delivered an awful Game 1 rating. A great matchup for real basketball people like me, but “most anticipated”? Come on, man.

Thank You, Paul George Award: Interesting how trading the so-called superstar to get the new team over the top actually was the key move that got both teams trading him to the NBA finals instead. The Clippers gave Oak City Shai Gilgeous Alexander and a zillion first-round picks for George after he first got to Oak City in a trade for Domantas Sabonis, who the Pacers later flipped for current Indy star Tyrese Haliburton. Thanks, PG.

Random Thoughts:

Given all Haliburton’s end-of-game heroics, he’s rapidly becoming to this era what Big Shot Bob (Horry) was to his.

Yes, Deion, I’m sure the Giants and other teams mistreated your son during pre-draft interviews. Of course it was a league-wide conspiracy to have him undrafted until the fifth round, instead of it being an entitled kid whose act turned all those teams off.

Sports 101 Answer: Pat Riley, Phil Jackson and Alex Hannum are the only two to win NBA titles with two different teams.

A Little History – Alex Hannum: He’s also the only coach to stop Bill Russell from winning a title during his 13-year career. He was player-coach when the St. Louis Hawks did it in 1958 and later HC as the Wilt-led 76ers did it in 1967.

Prediction: The OKC-Indiana series tied 2-2 when you see this.

Final Thought – Rafael Devers Saga: Latest developments:(1) David Ortiz says the brass should let Raffy decide if he wants to play first or not, making the mess worse. 2) It’s ridiculous that with Alex Bregman on the DL they still had to move journeyman first baseman Abraham Toro over to third because Devers is refusing to play there too.(3) Team owner John Henry actually flew to KC to beg a guy he’s paying $31 million a year to play a new position. Given No. 3, how could anyone be surprised at the shambles the team is in?

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 25/06/12

Hurricane season

The Atlantic hurricane season started June 1 and runs through Nov. 30, and the Red Cross is urging people to be prepared for the season predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to see 13 to 19 named storms, according to a Red Cross press release from its Northern New England Region office in Manchester. The release says even people living inland are at risk for wind, thunderstorms, flooding and power outages. The Red Cross Emergency app, which is free, offers weather alerts, open shelter locations and advice in English and Spanish, the release said. Find more on the app at redcross.org.

Forest lands

The Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire acquired a 99-acre parcel of the Robert Rix Family Forest in Deerfield on May 14, an addition to the 4.5 acres donated last year and a 70.5-acre parcel across the street donated in 2022, according to a SELT press release. The Robert Rix Family Forest, consisting of the three parcels, is owned and managed by SELT in honor of Robert Rix Sr., father of Robert and Brill Rix, who donated the land, the release said. See seltnh.org for a look at SELT’s lands and trails as well as more on the organization.

NH Humanities

Tickets are on sale now for the New Hampshire Humanities 2005 Annual Celebration for the Humanities on Thursday, Oct. 9, featuring keynote speaker Akhil Reed Amar, an author and constitutional scholar, in conversation to Laura Knoy, according to an email from NH Humanities. “The Remaking of the American Constitution” is the subject of the talk, the email said. The evening begins at 7 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m., at the Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St. in Concord. Tickets cost $44 general admission, $166 for a VIP ticket; add $40 for a copy of Amar’s 2025 book Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution 1840-1920,according to ccanh.com, where you can purchase tickets.

Design contest

The New Hampshire Secretary of State David M. Scanlan announced the launch of a contest to “find an original heirloom marriage certificate design,” according to a press release from the Secretary of State’s office. “The winning design, which should combine the joy of marriage with the beauty of New Hampshire, will be the official heirloom marriage certificate issued by the state. The contest is being executed by State Registrar and Vital Records Director Kristin Martino. Ms. Martino drew inspiration for the contest from an 1886 decorative marriage certificate she found while searching for antiques,” the release said. The contest is open through Sept. 5 to New Hampshire residents 18+ and designs “must be [non-religious] with a focus on New Hampshire and cannot be inappropriate or offensive,” the release said. See sos.nh.gov.

Members of either the McAuliffe Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord, starhop.com) or the North East Motorsports Museum (922 Route 106N in Loudon; nemsmuseum.com) can enjoy free admission to the other museum during June, according to a press release from North East Motorsports Museum, which is open Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the summer, the Discovery Center is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Pierce Manse, 14 Horseshoe Pond Lane in Concord, piercemanse.org, the onetime home of President Franklin Pierce and his family, will host Ed Brouder to discuss his book Manchester’s Airport: Flying Through Time on Wednesday, June 18, at 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The New Hampshire Jewish Film Festival Movie Club will present the 2024 documentary Sabbath Queen on Sunday, June 22, at 3 p.m. at Chunky’s Cinema Pub, 707 Huse Road in Manchester. Tickets cost $10; see jewishnh.org/community-calendar/movie-club-sabbath-queen.

Science Cafe NH will feature a panel discussing “The Impacts of Technology on Child Development” on Tuesday, June 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Soel Sistas, 30 Temple St. in Nashua, according to an email. The event is free. See facebook.com/sciencecafenh.

This Week 25/06/05

Thursday, June 5

Dogma,the 1999 movie from director Kevin Smith that features Jay and Silent Bob, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as angels, Alan Rickman as an angel, religious controversy, excellent George Carlin and Alanis Morrisette cameos and so much more is getting a theatrical rerelease. Catch it today and Sunday, June 8, at the Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem at 6:50 and 10:20 p.m. and on those days at the Regal Fox Run in Newington. See dogmamovie.com.

Friday, June 6

The theme of downtown Concord’s First Friday for June is “Beach Party,” starting at 4 p.m.. Many downtown businesses will be open until 8 p.m. tonight. There will be food trucks, free yoga, storytelling, live music from The Wandering Souls Band, and DJ Nazzy. Visit firstfridayconcord.com/june.

Friday, June 6

Evergreen, a one-acre woodland garden featuring more than 400 mature rhododendrons, will be open to the public today through Sunday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, according to a press release. The garden’s 220 Catawba rhododendrons are at peak bloom in early June, the release said. Because the plans along paths are easily damaged, no pets or children younger than 12 will be admitted, the release said. See evergreenfoundation.org.

Saturday, June 7

The Goffstown Rotary Club’s Car Show is returning for its 11th year today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Parsons Drive in Goffstown. Check out the classic vehicles along with the food trucks and vendors. See goffstownrotary.org.

Saturday, June 7

The Griffin Free Library (22 Hooksett Road in Auburn; griffinfree.org) will host a World War II Encampment Reenactment today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to commemorate D-Day (June 6, 1944). See historically accurate clothes and equipment, talk to volunteers in period clothing and listen to music of the era. The event is free.

Saturday, June 7

The NH Audubon’s McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord) will hold its annual Native Plant Sale & Spring Craft Fair today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. NH Audubon staff and volunteers will be available to answer questions.

Saturday, June 7

This is a big day for treasure hunters. Many local towns are staging town-wide yard sales today, including Allenstown, Candia, Epsom, Goffstown, Lee, New Boston and Weare. Visit individual towns’ websites for details.

Saturday, June 7

Singer Aimee Mann takes the stage at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $66.

Sunday, June 8

The New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus wraps up its concert series “Celebrations!” today at Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) at 3 p.m. Tickets are $30.75.

Save the Date: Thursday, June 12
Legendary jazz band Spyro Gyra will perform at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) Thursday, June 12, at 8 p.m. as part of its 50th Anniversary Tour. Tickets cost $57.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 25/06/05

Animal news, part 1

The state’s moose population is under siege by winter ticks, according to a New Hampshire Bulletin article from May 29. The story by William Skipworth reported that a warming climate has nurtured an increased population of winter ticks, which have been having “a huge impact on the area’s moose,” the story read. The article quoted Eric Orff, a New Hampshire-based wildlife biologist: “They [the moose] basically become zombies and die.” Unlike other varieties of ticks, the story explained, winter ticks find a moose, deer or other animals around November and extract their blood for the entirety of winter, with hundreds or thousands of ticks often latching onto a host.

QOL score: -1

Comment: The New Hampshire Bulletin article said New Hampshire Fish and Game estimates indicate that the state’s moose population peaked in the late 1990s around 7,000 to 8,000 moose and has declined to “roughly 3,000 to 4,000.”

Animal news, part 2

The Loon Preservation Committee’s (183 Lees Mill Road, Moultonborough, 476-5666, loon.org) Loon Cams are up and running for the season. In a May 26 statement, the Committee announced that two cameras are broadcasting from loon nesting sites somewhere in the Lakes Region. There is no nest visible on Loon Cam 1 yet, but a mated pair has been spotted visiting the nesting raft regularly and been seen mating several times over the past two weeks. Another pair has laid two eggs on Loon Cam 2 and is brooding them. Visit loon.org/looncam.

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to the Loon Preservation Committee, “The male and female loons take turns incubating, and nest exchanges happen several times each day and can last minutes or much longer.”

Feeling shaky

As reported by WMUR in a May 25 online article, Greenland was not exactly slammed, but gently nudged, by a 1.6 magnitude earthquake. “The earthquake epicenter was 1.9 miles south-southeast of Greenland and happened around 1:45 p.m. The earthquake was about 4 miles deep, according to the USGS,” WMUR reported.

QOL score: -1 (-1.6)

Comment: “Earthquakes in the Granite State are typically minor, though there have been other memorable ones,” the WMUR article reported. “

Communicating better at the airport

According to a May 29 Nashua InkLink story, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) has announced an “expanded partnership with Aira, a video remote interpreting app, to now offer free access to Aira ASL (American Sign Language) for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. The airport already offers Aira Explorer for the blind and low-vision community.” Deaf and hard-of-hearing passengers can download a free smartphone app that will connect with a professional sign language interpreter, using the phone’s camera and speaker, the story said.

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to the InkLink story, MHT is the fourth airport in the country to make the Aira ASL service available to passengers.

QOL score last week: 65

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 65

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Mayer for mayor?

The Big Story – Another Top Prospect Makes it to Fenway: Another of the Red Sox jewel prospects made it to the show when shortstop Marcelo Mayer was called up last week. But he went 6 for 30 with two doubles and 10 strikeouts in his first eight games. And if you’re wondering, he’s the first Marcelo to play in the majors.

Sports 101: Ten current teams have never won an NBA championship. Name them.

News Item – Red Sox Pitch Count: Alex Cora actually let someone reach 100-plus on the pitch count Sunday. The 112 Garrett Crochet threw let him go seven full innings with 12 K’s to, for once, keep the game away from the many arsonists in the Boston bullpen in a 3-1 win over Atlanta.

News Item – Duel of the Week. The World Series rematch began on Friday as Aaron Judge led off the game with a homer, which Shohei Ohtani matched in the bottom half of the first. Ohtani hit a second in the sixth as L.A. followed the script from their 2024 WS-clinching Game 5 comeback to go from down 5-1 to win 8-5 to open the series. It was worse on Saturday, because while Judge hit two more homers L.A. won 18-2, before the Yanks won 7-3 Sunday with the two stars not much of a factor.

News Item – Chris Sale: When he punched out Philly’s Edmundo Sosa last week the ex-Red Sox hurler became the fastest in history to reach 2,500 career strikeouts. He did it in inning 2,026 to eclipse Randy Johnson’s record 2,107.2. Pedro Martinez is the third at 2,152.2 and, if you’re wondering, all-time strikeout king Nolan Ryan is fifth at 2,286.1.

The Numbers:

.153 – after a 9-50 startthewinning percentage of the Colorado Rockies, which puts them on a pace to have a worst ever (by far) 25-137 season record.

15 – losses the Red Sox have in their 21 one-run games.

449 – pounds Tampa Bay rookie D-tackle Desmond Watson weighs, which will make him the heaviest player in NFL history if he’s on a Game 1 roster.

… Of the Week Awards

Quote of the Week – Terry Bradshaw: What the Pittsburgh Steeler Famer thinks of his former team’s beg-a-thon to get Aaron Rodgers to be their 2025 QB: “That’s a joke,” and “That guy needs to stay in California, go somewhere and chew on bark and whisper to the gods out there.”

In Case You Missed It – Tyrese Haliburton: The Indiana point guard did something no one else, not even Magic, MJ or LBJ, had ever done in Game 4 vs. New York: record the first triple double (32 points, 12 rebounds and 15 assists) in playoff history without committing a single turnover.

Random Thoughts:

While the talent and skills are obvious, I can’t warm up to the Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns because he’s soft and gets more unnecessary fouls than any player I’ve seen in my 159 years of watching the NBA.

With Stefon Diggs missing voluntary camp for the Miami boating excursion the Patriots got their first red flag from the self-centered receiver.

Anyone else know that since Chaim Bloom foolishly cheaped out on Michael Wacha after he was 11-2 for the Red Sox in 2022, he’s gone 31-12 since?

Sports 101 Answer: The 10 teams to never win an NBA title are Brooklyn, Orlando, Charlotte, Utah, Memphis, Minnesota, L.A. Clippers and Phoenix along with Indiana and Oak City, one of whom will leave the club next week.

Prediction – Oak City over Indiana in six.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 25/06/05

Help for students

Granite Edvance, a nonprofit that supports New Hampshire students and their families through free career and higher education counseling and resources as well as scholarships and private student loans, has donated $100,000 to a fund at the Foundation for New Hampshire Community College students to help with short-term non-academic expenses such as food, housing, child care and transportation, according to a press release. The new donation comes in addition to an initial $80,000 donation to the Foundation’s Student Emergency Aid Fund, which has helped more than 100 students at the state’s seven community colleges, the release said. See givenhcc.org.

Get kids outside

New Hampshire Environmental Educators is offering grants of $200 to $2,000 to help with outdoor learning experiences for New Hampshire students in grades K through 12, according to nhee.org/about-us/we-nheed-to-get-outside-grant. Grants can be used for transportation costs, student fees or equipment for outdoor exploration for experiences where “students observe, explore and interact in outdoor settings,” the website said. Grants for the 2026 cycle will be accepted Sept. 15 through Nov. 20, with funds slated to be distributed in January 2026, the website said.

National Trails Day

Celebrate National Trails Day on Saturday, June 7, with a guided sculpture hike at the Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13 in Brookline; andresinstitute.org) at 10 a.m. The hike will be approximately 2 miles, meet at the welcome center, no registration necessary, according to an Andres newsletter. Find more on National Trails Day at americanhiking.org/national-trails-day.

Stars for CMC

HCA New England Healthcare’s Catholic Medical Center in Manchester and Portsmouth Regional Hospital “have earned the top rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons for patient care and outcomes in bypass surgery and in a new multi-procedure category,” according to a press release from HCA New England Healthcare. Both locations were awarded a three-star rating, the release said.

Help pets

During June, the New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will be recognizing National Pet Preparedness month with information on ways to keep pets safe posted on the division’s socials, according to a press release. Steps to keep pets safe include stocking at least three days worth of food, water and medicine for pets, finding pet-friendly places to stay in an emergency and having a friend or neighbor who can care for a pet if needed, the press release said. See ReadyNH.gov.

NAV Arts will host George Wallace, Writer in Residence at the Walt Whitman Birthplace, followed by an open mic at Bookery Manchester (844 Elm St.; bookerymht.com) on Wednesday, June 11, 5 to 7 p.m.

Tailgait Transport and Rescue will hold a plant sale on Saturday, June 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Burger King, 737 DW Highway in Manchester, with all proceeds going to Tailgait. See tailgaitrescue.org.

The Derry Parks & Recreation summer concert series kicks off Tuesday, June 10, at 7 p.m. at MacGregor Park (12 Boyd St. in Derry) with Pizzastock presents The Hand Me Downs. See derrynh.gov.

Spend some time with Couch, the band playing the Concerts on the Common at the Londonderry Town Common (265 Mammoth Road in Londonderry) from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11. See concertsonthecommon.org.

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