Category: News

Quality of Life 26/09/17

Did he drop it in the book drop out front?

As reported in a Sept. 12 online article by New Hampshire Public Radio and the Concord Monitor, a very, very overdue book has been returned to the Concord Public Library. After reading a flyer announcing the Library’s year-long freeze on late fees, Barrington resident John Hanson decided to return a book that had been on his family’s shelves for as long as he could remember. The book is a bound copy of a magazine, NHPR and the Monitor reported — The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine from September 1894. “It bore markings from the Concord Public Library,” the story read, “along with the words ‘may be kept for one week.’ But the book did not return home for 48,220 days, or over 132 years, since being checked out. It would have amassed an overdue fine of $12,055, although the library wouldn’t have charged him.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: “The library,” the article read, “said it won’t put the magazine back into circulation but hopes to display it in the Concord Room, where Concord-related archival material lives.”

A situation bearly under control

In a Sept. 9 online article, WMUR reported that the Manchester Police and Fire Departments rescued a bear from a tree near Amory Street and Notre Dame Avenue on Sept. 8, with the assistance of NH Fish and Game. As bears go, WMUR reported, it was a fairly manageable size. “According to officials, Animal Control Officers found a bear that is estimated to be one year old and 100 pounds in a tree.” The rescuers’ first plan was not as successful as they would have hoped. “Police say they called in Fish and Game to help get the bear onto the ground. The bear was tranquilized, but proceeded to climb higher into the tree. The Manchester Fire Department brought in an aerial bucket, and a Fish and Game official was able to retrieve the bear.”

QOL score: +1 for a happy ending

Comment: According to a National Park Service website, black bears are exceptional at climbing up trees, but descending is more difficult: “They have strong curved claws that allow them to climb trees with agility. … Unlike other tree-climbing mammals that descend head-first, a black bear walks down a tree with its rear legs in the lead.” Visit nps.gov/articles/black-bears.htm.

Ending veteran homelessness

Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais’s office released a statement on Sept. 10 that the city has effectively ended homelessness among its veterans. “Manchester has met the legacy benchmarks for effectively ending veteran homelessness,” the office announced in a press release, ‘fulfilling a commitment Mayor Ruais made when launching the [Manchester Veterans Initiative] in September 2024.” At that time, the press release stated, there were 47 homeless veterans in Manchester. “Every veteran from that original group has since secured permanent housing. Tragically, one veteran has passed away. Over 130 veterans have now been housed through the initiative.” The statement pointed out that this does not mean that no veteran in Manchester will ever experience homelessness, but that procedures are in place to address it.

QOL score: +1

Comment: “Manchester has a system in place to quickly identify veterans experiencing homelessness, connect them with services, and help them secure permanent housing. The goal is to ensure veteran homelessness remains rare, brief, and nonrecurring.” In a statement, Mayor Ruais wrote, “We can take the lessons learned from this initiative and scale it to address the larger population. This is exactly what we have done with the elderly and infirm, families and children along with those suffering from substance use disorder or mental health issues.” Visit manchesternh.gov/Government/Mayor-and-Aldermen/Mayors-Office/Press-Room.

QOL score last week: 62

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 65

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

News & Notes 26/09/24

Vax up

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services is “encouraging Granite Staters to take steps to protect themselves against seasonal respiratory viruses, including the flu, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and Covid-19. Immunizations are available across New Hampshire and continue to offer the best protection against respiratory virus infection,” according to a Sept. 4 release from the department. See press releases at dhhs.nh.gov for details on age recommendations for the mentioned vaccines.

Diapers needed

Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed a proclamation recognizing Sept. 14-20 as Diaper Need Awareness Week in New Hampshire, according to a Sept. 14 press release from the NH Children’s Trust, the state’s chapter or Prevent Child Abuse America. “Through its Economic and Concrete Supports Program, NHCT has distributed more than 429,941 diapers and 8,039 packages of baby wipes to over 40 organizations, who collectively serve over 15,460 New Hampshire families statewide, working through a network of community-based child and family serving organizations that reach nearly every municipality in the state,” the release said. NHCT will hand out diapers and wipes to families in need at the Goffstown Network Food Pantry’s weekly distribution on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 9:30 a.m., the release said. Families who need diapers can find the partner map at nhchildrenstrust.org/partner-map.

The NH Children’s Trust is also hosting its 6th annual Ride For Resilience, a 100-mile charity bike ride in New Hampshire, on Friday, Sept. 18. See pledgereg.com/ride-for-resilience.

Manch tour

QC Bike Collective will hold a Tour of Manchester on Sunday, Sept. 20, with start times at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., depending on distance, at the Eversource building, 780 N. Commercial Ave. in Manchester, according to qcbike.org/tour, where you can find registration information and route maps. All of the routes feature rest stops with water and food, the website said.

National Guard at NHTI

The New Hampshire Army National Guard has opened a recruitment office on the campus of NHTI in Concord, the first National Guard presence at a New Hampshire community college, according to an Aug. 31 press release. “This partnership is about our students,” said NHTI president Patrick Tompkins in the release. “By working with the National Guard, we can provide our campus unbeatable access to all the opportunities that this avenue of military service has to offer.”

DEA in Londonderry

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration opened a new 50,000-square-foot DEA New England Laboratory in Londonderry, according to an Aug. 27 DEA release. “The lab will strengthen the agency’s ability to analyze drug evidence and identify emerging threats across the region. Londonderry will serve as the central location for analyzing DEA fingerprint evidence from across the country,” the release said.

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness will host a raptor migration celebration, as “raptors begin their incredible annual migration to wintering grounds,” on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with birds of prey presentations at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m., according to a press release. See nhnature.org for details.

A New England contra dance will take place at the City-Wide Community Center, 14 Canterbury Road in Concord, on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 7 to 10 p.m., according to an event organizer’s email. Beginners, singles and families are welcome. See concordnhcontra.wordpress.com.

The Pembroke Town Library is seeking “craft supplies that are clean and in good condition” for a September Craft Supply Drive at the Library, 313 Pembroke St. in Pembroke, according to a press release. The library will host a craft swap on Saturday, Sept. 26, where the community is “invited to browse the collected supplies and take home items for their own creative projects,” the release said. See pembroke-library.org.

Amoskeag Quilters Guild will meet Thursday, Sept. 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 14 Mammoth Road in Hooksett, according to an email from the club. Guests are welcome. See amoskeagqg.org.

This Week 26/09/10

Friday, Sept. 11

Gibson’s Bookstore, 45 S. Main St. in Concord, gibsonsbookstore.com, will hold a pajama party storytime with author Tabatha Jean D’Agata tonight at 6:30 p.m. She will read her picture book The Old Scarecrow, according to the website, where you can RSVP.

Friday, Sept. 11

Sister Act, described as “the feel-good musical comedy smash based on the hit 1992 film” with original music by Alan Menken, will kick off the season at the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St. in Manchester, palacetheatre.org, when the curtain rises tonight at 7:30 p.m., according to the website. The show runs through Sunday, Oct. 4. See the website for tickets and dates and times.

Friday, Sept. 11

The Jason R Flood Memorial, the folks behind Pizzastock, and Deadlight Booking and Photography present a night of music featuring Fourth Degree with Sucker Punch and Rite of Passage tonight at 8 p.m. at Bad BRGR, 1015 Elm St. in Manchester, $10 at the door, according to the Jason R Flood Memorial Facebook page at badbrgr.com.

Saturday, Sept. 12

Springlook Farm, 122 Island Pond Road in Derry, will hold its customer appreciation days today and tomorrow, Sept. 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring free hot dogs and popcorn, a free native New Hampshire plant with purchase, hayrides, local vendors and more, according to an email from the farm. See springlookfarm.com.

Saturday, Sept. 12

Waypoint will hold a Touch-a-Truck event featuring vehicles of all kinds for kids to explore and other activities today from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pease Tradeport, 2 International Drive in Portsmouth, according to an email from Waypoint. Admission costs $5 per person, not to exceed $20 per family, paid via cash, Venmo or credit card at the gate on the day of the event, the email said. Waypoint is “a NH nonprofit that supports children, families, and kinship caregivers across New Hampshire, offering resources, family support, home care, and services for youth experiencing homelessness,” according to the email. See waypointnh.org/touch-a-truck for parking details.

Saturday, Sept. 12

The 39th Fall Artisan Craft Fair will take place today from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and tomorrow, Sunday, Sept. 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 3 Peabody Row in Londonderry, featuring more than 70 booths with artisans with works of jewelry, baskets, wooden goods, quilts, hats, soaps, essential oils, pet accessories and many types of artwork, according to an email from the church. The event will also feature a tag sale, raffles and food sales at St. Peter’s Bistro, the email said. See stpeterslondonderry.org.

Sunday, Sept. 13

Symphony New Hampshire kicks off its new season with a new music director, Adam Kerry Boyles, with the concert “Love, Tragedy & Triumph” today at 3 p.m. at Stockbridge Theatre, 5 Pinkerton St. in Derry, stockbridgetheatre.com, according to a press release. There will be a pre-concert talk at 2:30 p.m. “Boyles’s inaugural program moves from the playful energy of Mozart’s Overture to Così fan tutte to John Rutter’s moving arrangement of the folk melody “O Waly Waly.” The concert also features David Diamond’s Music for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Manuel de Falla’s dramatic El amor brujo,” the release said. See the Stockbridge Theatre website or symphonynh.org for tickets.

Save the Date! Friday, Sept. 19
Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire & Vermont will hold their 18th Annual Stiletto Sprint presented by LeMay Family Goodworks on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m. on Pleasant Street in Portsmouth, according to an email about the event. This 40-yard sprint, done while participants wear high heels, “benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire & Vermont and helps support the youth in our community,” the email said. See give.bigsnhvt.org/event/stiletto-sprint-2026/e771570 to register or donate.

Featured image: Music Director, Adam Kerry Boyles. Courtesy photo.

NFL gets underway

The Big Story — Patriots’ First Game: For the folks who don’t see the paper until Thursday, the Patriots will have already played Game 1 in Seattle in a Super Bowl rematch.

Prediction: 31-24 Seattle.

We’ll look closer at the team all month. But first, some quick thoughts on the offense.

With deep threat A.J. Brown and solid Romeo Doubs joining an already explosive back field and the best deep thrower in football they’ll be very tough to defend.

That’s if Will Campbell and company take the needed step forward in both drive blocking and pass protection.

With those new weapons, expect Drake Maye to top last year’s 31 TD passes if healthy.

Kyle Williams won’t have huge reception numbers, but despite the negative noise, I’m betting he’ll have an impact as a deep ball threat.

We’ll look at the D next week.

Sports 101: Cincinnati Reds rookie Sal Stewart is challenging to become just the third rookie to lead MLB in RBIs. Name the two rookies who’ve already done it.

News Item – Who’s Hot: Not even a one-day demotion to AAA could stop the white hot Merrimackian Mickey Gasper from looking like Roy Hobbs. As he hit a homer in the Sox’ stirring 9-8 comeback win over Seattle the day of his original Aug. 17 recall, his stats were, well, Hobbs-like — 12 for 30 with six homers and 13 RBI in his first 13 games back.

News Item – Dallas Cowboys Myth: With it being the 30 long years since the vaunted Cowboys have even been to a Super Bowl, why are they considered an “iconic” NFL franchise by many? That history actually says they’re an also-ran franchise run by a doofus owner that never meets their annual over-the-top pre-season hype.

News Item — Five Random NFL Observations:

If Aaron Donald can knock off the rust quickly, he and Myles Garrett might lead the Rams to beat the all-time record 72 sacks put up by the hellacious 1984 Bears.

The Patriots will be doing well to make it out of September at 2-2.

Buffalo’s the trendy pick over NE in the AFC East. But with up to 11 losable games their schedule is just as tough, the Patriots added more new ammo and Buffalo has a first-year coach. So I don’t see it.

After reversing Sam Darnold’s downward career start, can Minnesota Coach/QB whisperer Kevin O’Connell do the same with 2019 first overall pick Kyler Murray after he was dumped by Phoenix? Bet yes.

If I can’t pick the Seahawks vs. the Rams in the SB, I’ll take Denver vs. L.A.

The Numbers:

5 – years Tiger Woods lost his driver’s license for after pleading guilty to his latest speed-induced car crash.

62 – second most homers ever hit in one month, which the Chicago Cubs reached with a second most ever nine bombs in a 17-3 rout of Milwaukee on August’s final day.

… Of the Week Award

Thumbs Down – Will Flemming: The Red Sox radio announcer made a fool of himself in calling on the Sox to drill Yankee batter Austin Wells because teammate Jazz Chisholm had the temerity to steal two bases left UNCOVERED late in the 16-1 Yankees win at the end of the month.

Here are two tips for the fan boy announcer. If a team doesn’t want the score run up, it needs to pitch better. And if you leave bases uncovered as the Sox did in (I guess) conceding the win, you’re inviting stolen bases, because real players play hard until the final out.

Here’s a third tip: grow up.

Ludicrous Quote OTW – New Angels Owner Stan Kroenke: He said in announcing the purchase, “The Angels are a storied franchise anchored in a great market.”

Based on what? Going to the World Series once in 67 years and being a stepchild city for L.A. area sports fans?

Sports 101 Answer: One-time Red Sox teammates Ted Williams with 145 in 1939 and Walt Dropo with 144 in 1950 are the only rookies to lead the league in RBI.

Final Thought — A Little History – 1972 Dolphins: Since nobody I saw on TV or anywhere else mentioned it amid last year’s hoo-ha about the Patriots’ weak 2025 schedule, I’ll do it now before everything gets underway in 2026.

No doubt their weak schedule helped. But how come when the undefeated Dolphins of 1972 come up their schedule is never mentioned? Is the reason no one mentions they had one of the weakest schedules in history that I’m the only one who knows that?

Yup, when they did it, the combined winning percentage of the opponents was a paltry 35%, whereas it was 39% for 2025 NE. And Miami only played two teams all year who were over. .500, where both the Chiefs and Giants were only 8-6. It wasn’t much better for the Pats, who faced just three.

But to Miami’s credit they finished it off with a SB win and the Pats did not. So how much does the schedule mean?

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Quality of Life 26/09/10

Hopeful signs

In a Sept. 2 online article WMUR reported that in August, Manchester had its first month without a drug overdose death since 2015. The article quoted Chris Stawasz, the Northeast regional director of American Medical Response, who said that reducing overdose deaths has been a collaborative effort. “It’s a combined effort by many groups to make this happen. And certainly, the availability of Narcan to the general public is a key factor in preventing deaths,” Stawasz said. “That’s probably the single biggest factor that we believe is contributing to this milestone.”

QOL score: +2, for a trend that hopefully continues

Comment: According to the WMUR story, “while the news is optimistic, the opioid epidemic has always been unpredictable. AMR says communities will need to keep working together to prevent deadly overdoses.”

Miss Dolly’s legacy lives on

In an Aug. 27 online article, New Hampshire Public Radio reported a bipartisan effort in the State Legislature “to make Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library accessible to participating families statewide.” The late singer and philanthropist established a program in 1995 to provide age-appropriate books each month to children up to 5 years old. “Currently, there are only a few partnering programs in the Granite State,” the NHPR article reported, “including in Barrington, Durham, Nashua, and the North Country….” On Thursday, state Sens. Darryl Abbas, a Republican from Salem, Donovan Fenton, a Keene Democrat, and Suzanne Prentiss, a Democrat from Lebanon, announced they planned to file legislation for the “Imagination Library Act.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: “[The bipartisan] plan would use state funds, administered through the state Department of Education, to help provide the free books to participating families,” the article read. “According to their announcement, their proposal would cost up to $750,000 per year once it is fully expanded over the next five years.”

Fall hiking safety

HikeSafe is a program developed by New Hampshire Fish and Game to help inform hikers about the facts they need to know to hike safely in the White Mountains. According to a recent blog post on the HikeSafe website, many hikers run into problems when they plan for conditions at the start of a hike, not conditions higher up in the mountains. “One of the biggest mistakes a fall hiker can make is preparing for the weather only at the trailhead instead of the summit or how it will change along the entire route. Temperatures drop as elevation rises, and the higher summits can experience freezing temperatures, strong winds, ice and even snow (sometimes in July!), while conditions down low might feel like a comfortable fall day.”

QOL score: +1 for thoughtful hiking

Comment: Other factors that many hikers fail to consider in the fall, according to the HikeSafe blog post, include not wearing seasonally appropriate clothing, shorter daylight, underestimating crowds on popular trails, encounters with hunters, and, perhaps related, encounters with grumpy wildlife. Visit hikesafe.com/blogs/fall-hiking-in-the-white-mountains.

QOL score: 58

Net change:+4

QOL this week: 62

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

News & Notes 26/09/10

Sept. 11 memorial

Milford will dedicate its new 9/11 Freedom Memorial in Memorial Park (at Union and Elm streets) on Friday, Sept. 11, at 8 a.m. to mark the “25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001,” according to an email from the Milford Memorial Committee. The event will feature Milford first responders, veterans and community leaders as well as the Milford High School Band and Chorus, and Gov. Kelly Ayotte is scheduled to attend, the email said. There will be a moment of silence while the town bell is rung at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane hit the World Trade Center, the email said.

“The centerpiece of the Freedom Memorial is an authentic steel floor truss recovered from the World Trade Center’s South Tower. Master sculptor John Weidman, co-founder of the Andres Institute of Art in Brookline and a Vietnam veteran, incorporated the steel into a granite setting created for the park,” the email said.

“The Freedom Memorial joins Milford’s existing World War II and Vietnam Veterans memorials within the newly designated Memorial Park. A lighted brick walkway now connects the memorials…,” the email said.

Music City in the fall

Southwest Airlines will offer nonstop flights from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport to Nashville (BNA, possibly the future Dolly Parton International Airport) starting Thursday, Oct. 1, according to an MHT Horizons email from the airport. Other expanded travel opportunities it listed included Breeze Airways flights to Raleigh-Durham (RDU) offered three times per week beginning in December and an increase of Breeze flights to Myrtle Beach (MYR) four times per week for spring break in April, the email said. Southwest will also offer Saturday nonstop flights to Fort Myers (RSW) during February and March, the email said. See flymanchester.com.

Seven to Save

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance will announce its 2026 Seven to Save on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 5 p.m. at the Epsom Meetinghouse, 1598 Dover Road in Epsom, according to an event email. “Since 2006, the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance’s Seven to Save program has helped attract attention and resources to irreplaceable landmarks around the state that are under-used or threatened by neglect, insufficient funds, or unsympathetic development. More than half of the 145+ designated properties are considered saved; a small number have been lost and others are in progress,” the email said. See nhpreservation.org/seven-to-save for more on the program and a look at previous Seven to Save landmarks and to register to attend the event.

The Raymond Area Rotary hosts its annual Thunder Run 5K Obstacle Race on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 449 Raymond Road in Candia with a race for competitive runners starting at 8:30 a.m. followed by races open to all runners starting every 15 minutes, according to thunderrunnh.com, where you can find the link to register until 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11. You can also register at the race, the ticket page said. See the website for a look at the obstacles throughout the race.

The Upper Room, 36 Tsienneto Road in Derry, will hold a workshop on E Bike Safety with the Derry Police on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., with pizza provided, according to a press release. Register by calling 437-8477, ext. 126, the press release said.

The Nashua Historical Society will present “In the Spirit of Friendship,” a program about John Adams and Mercy Otis Warren and their friendship, with historical interpreters Michele Gabrielson and Michael LePage, on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. at the Nashua Historical Society, 5 Abbott St. in Nashua, according to the Society’s Facebook page.

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