Category: News

Quality of Life 26/10/01

Maybe just burn a pile of money, instead

As reported in a Sept. 20 online article by WMUR, the current record prices for heating oil in New Hampshire are expected to climb even more aggressively than usual. “The average house will pay 31 percent more for home heating oil,” the article read, “running the average household nearly $2,300 this winter. The rising prices are closely tied to the Iran war, and New England will feel the greatest impact, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: WMUR reported in the same article that the state recently passed new laws requiring heating oil companies to be more transparent about their fees.

“Oh, that was due this month?”

New Hampshire Public Radio reported in a Sept. 28 online article that “credit card delinquency in New Hampshire is reaching levels not seen since the Great Recession.” NHPR wrote, “The state’s Department of Employment Security recently analyzed consumer debt data for the first quarter of 2025, the most recent state-level information available. Their analysis shows nearly 12 percent of New Hampshire borrowers have severely delinquent debt, and they’re particularly behind on paying off credit card and auto loan debt. Nearly 10 percent of Granite State borrowers are severely delinquent on credit card payments, similar to the rate between 2006 and 2010 leading up to and during the Great Recession. Severely delinquent auto loans have also increased to 4.6 percent, although they haven’t reached the recession-era peak of six percent.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: NHPR said, “A borrower is considered delinquent when they haven’t paid their scheduled debt payment, and they are ‘severely delinquent’ if their bill is at least 90 days past due.”

The bird-watching equivalent of spotting a yeti

In a Sept. 16 Joy of Birding blog post the New Hampshire Audubon Society (nhaudubon.org) confirmed that a Chilean Skua, a species normally found at the very southern tip of South America, had been reliably identified near the Isles of Shoals on Sept. 8. “The two trip leaders were split,” the post read. “Steve Mirick believed we had seen a South Polar Skua, a rare sighting for New Hampshire but not totally unexpected bird (this would be the 4th record for the state), and Ben Griffith thought it was a Great Skua, a bird never seen in New Hampshire waters but that occasionally had been found in the Gulf of Maine.” Ultimately, it turned out to be a much more unlikely sighting.

QOL score: +1

Comment: An editor’s note at the end of the Audubon post put the sighting in perspective. “To understand how truly rare a Chilean Skua would be in New Hampshire and North America, visit eBird and look at past reports of Chilean Skua globally. … As far as we can tell, there are no previous records of Chilean Skua in North America, let alone New Hampshire.” Visit joyofbirding.nhaudubon.org.

QOL score last week: 62

Net change: -1

QOL this week: 63

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

News & Notes 26/10/01

Follow-up

Some follow-up to two news stories from last week that made the QOL:

• The Manchester Police Department has “made an arrest in the vandalism of the Moka Pot” in downtown Manchester, according to a Sept. 25 department press release. “Twenty-year-old Tyler Inman of Allenstown has been charged with Criminal Mischief and Falsifying Evidence in connection with the incident,” the release said. “Given the nature of the alleged conduct, the case will be prosecuted in coordination with the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office,” the release said.

• After closing on Sept. 21, the Queen City Bridge was reopened, according to a press release dated Sept. 24 from Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais’ office, posted on the Manchester Department of Public Works’ Facebook page. “[E]ngineers cleared the bridge for reopening following the additional testing and evaluation conducted in response to concerts identified during the recent inspection,” the release said. In a statement in the press release, Ruais said, “The City also appreciated the cooperation and patience of motorists who were impacted by the closure and detours.” Tim Clougherty, director of Public Works, also had a statement in the press release, saying, “The additional inspection and testing were conducted to ensure that the condition of the bridge was fully understood before it was returned to service.”

Family summit

Tickets are on sale now to the 14th Annual Strengthening Families Summit slated for Tuesday, Nov. 3, at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord and held by the NH Children’s Trust (described on its website as an organization “leading the drive to strengthen families and communities, through education, advocacy, and collaboration that prevents child abuse and neglect.”), according to a press release. The summit runs from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and includes a continental breakfast and a lunch as well as a keynote speech by Tim Rourke, “a national consultant and strategist focused on behavioral health policy, systems transformation and expanding equitable access to care,” according to nhchildrenstrust.org, where you can purchase tickets.

Potato & Hawk

Current and future voters can get the basics on voting and what to expect to see on election day in New Hampshire in the roughly five-and-a-half-minute video “Ed and Cate Go to the Polls,” a civic education project by the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s office and KartoonEDU. The video, launched in September at Nottingham Elementary School, features Ed, a potato (the state vegetable), and Cate, a red-tailed hawk (the state raptor), according to a Sept. 4 press release. “In the video, Ed and Cate educate voters on each step of the voting process on election day, highlighting the many checks and balances in place that ensure our elections are safe, secure and accessible,” the release said. The video also includes an up-close look at ballot counting devices. Find a link to the video via the NH Secretary of State’s Facebook page or under the “Notices” section at sos.nh.gov, where you can also find voting information.

An artist reception for photographer Becky Field for the exhibit “Finding Home: Portraits and Memories of Immigrants” will be held Thursday, Oct. 1, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Proctor Academy, 204 Main St. in Andover, in the Brown Gallery, according to a press release. To view the exhibit or attend the reception, email campus curator Molly Leith at leithmo@proctoracademy.org, the release said.

The Forum Pub, 15 Village St. in Concord, will honor the late actor Tim Curry with “Tim Curry Evening and Rocky Horror Sing-along” on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 6 to 11 p.m., according to the Forum Pub’s Facebook page.

The Wilton Folk Cafe Coffeehouse at the Wilton Collaborative Space, 21 Gregg St., 2nd Congregational Church Hall in Wilton, will present Coastwise Radio, a six-piece American roots acoustic band from Massachusetts, on Friday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m., according to a press release. Doors open at 7 p.m.; reserve seats by emailing strumma@aol.com or calling Sandy at 603-654-1245.

“Swordplay!,” a presentation that will “focus on sharp, pointy weapons with re-enactor Anne Kraemer,” is slated for the Oct. 8 Beer for History program at the American Independence Center’s Folsom Tavern in Exeter, held on select Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m., according to a press release. Tickets cost $25; see aicnh.org.

This Week 26/09/24

Friday, Sept. 25

Catch the second to last Final Friday this season in downtown Manchester today between 4 and 8 p.m. on Hanover Street between Elm and Chestnut streets, featuring vendors, food, music and more, according to the event’s Instagram page.

Friday, Sept. 25

The Manhattan Short Film Festival, manhattanshort.com, will screen at NHTI in Concord today at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 26, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m., according to the website, where you can get information about the 10 finalists.

Saturday, Sept. 26

Beaver Brook Association’s Fall Festival will take place today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Beaver Brook Association, 117 Ridge Road in Hollis, and feature live demonstrations, food, activities for kids and an apple cider press, according to Beaver Brook’s Facebook page. See beaverbrook.org.

Saturday, Sept. 26

Local Comic Shop Day will take place today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Double Midnight Comics, 252 Willow St. in Manchester, according to Double Midnight’s Facebook page. See localcomicshopday.com.

Saturday, Sept. 26

The Harvest Moon Festival at the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner will take place today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to indianmuseum.org. Tickets will be for sale at the gate, the website said.

Saturday, Sept. 26

Henniker Handmade & Homegrown will take place today and tomorrow, Sunday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Henniker including inside the Community Center and in the park at 57 Main St., according to a press release. The event will feature 90 local artists, crafters, farmers and food makers as well as live music, food trucks, farm animals and a kids zone, according to a press release. Scheduled musical performers include Danny Savage Band, The Honey Bees Trio, Colin Nevins, Doug Farrell, Beth Mangano, Joey Clark, Vickie Branch, and Walker Smith on the Angela Robinson Bandstand, the release said. Scheduled food trucks include Taco Beyondo, Batulo’s, a Chicago-style hot dog cart, Rico’s Grill and more, the release said. Parking will be available at Henniker Community School with a free shuttle to and from the event, the release said. See facebook.com/HennikerCommunityMarket.

Saturday, Sept. 26

Henniker Brewing Co. in Henniker will host Dysfunction Junction 2, a day of music, food trucks, vendors and more, on Saturday, Sept. 26, with doors opening at noon. The event, which is for all ages (no pets), will feature music on two stages (one inside, one outside), according to hennikerbrewing.com, where you can find a link to purchase tickets.

Sunday, Sept. 27

The Concord Municipal Airport will host Wings & Wheels today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., an all-ages event focused on aviation and STEM, featuring vehicles and aircraft, Academy of Model Aeronautics demos, food trucks and more, according to concordnh.gov/1713/ Wings-Wheels-Event.

Sunday, Sept. 27

Concorso Italiano, a celebration of Italian cars and food as well as live music and family entertainment, will take place today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tuscan Village in Salem, according to tuscanvillagesalem.com.

Save the Date! Thursday, Dec. 17
The annual holiday celebration The Greg and the Morning Buzz Ball will take place Thursday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts John F. Swope Theater (formerly the Chubb Theatre) 44 S. Main St. in Concord, according to a Cap Center update. The event will feature the Greg and the Morning Buzz team as well as musicians, comedians and other guests, the newsletter said. See ccanh.com for tickets and see morningbuzz.com/buzz-ball for more on the event.

Featured image: Greg and the Morning Buzz

Baseball playoffs dead ahead

The Big Story – Sox Headed for Postseason: The good news is, after a truly dreadful first three months of the season, the Red Sox somehow are headed to a wild card playoff match-up with the Yankees starting Tuesday.

The bad news is after going 9-9 in September against a line-up of mostly bad teams they backed into it while losing two of three in Tampa Bay over the weekend. Some of that understandably was from resting banged up guys to get healthy for the playoffs. But that’s a delicate balance, as you wonder if a mediocre team can regain the momentum of winning 24 of 27 in July and August.

Worse, they’ve hit .233 during 18 September games while averaging just 3.3 runs per game. That’s daunting especially with their best hitter, Roman Anthony, striking out 35 percent of the time as he struggles to find his form after missing four full months with injury. It all sets up the ancient what’s best conundrum: keep your foot on the gas, or get everyone healthy through needed rest?

Sports 101: Name the three NFL quarterbacks to win an MVP award before turning 25.

News Item – Pats Even Record at 1-1: Here’s the good, bad and ugly from the 20-3 win over Pittsburgh.

Good – The D: True, they played against a backup QB in Game 1 and a QB with a horrid O-line who should have retired five years ago in Week 2. But they’ve given up just 16 points with six sacks while holding the bad guys to 161 yards passing and 94 on the ground.

Bad – The O: The D (Elijah Ponder) scored as many TDs as the O vs. Pittsburgh, after the fourth-quarter horror show when they scored just 10 in the Seattle loss.

Ugly – Injuries: RG Mike Onwenu broke his ankle, so he’s done for a long while at best, while starters Craig Woodson and Dre’Mont Jones were lost with significant shoulder injuries.

News Item – Baseball’s Pennant Races: The only race of note entering the final week is the National League wild card chase, where only two of Philly, Chicago and San Diego will get in. And a la 1967, Philly starts one game behind the other two.

The Numbers:

18 – pitches Tristan Peters forced Cleveland’s Gavin Williams to throw before drawing the sixth-inning walk that opened floodgates to a six-run rally and a 7-3 White Sox win.

37 – of the Red Sox’ 84 wins are of the comeback variety after Trevor Story’s three-run eighth-inning homer that gave them a much needed 4-3 comeback win over Texas on Thursday.

157 – temperature on the artificial turf in Nashville Sunday that actually melted players’ cleats and forced Philly Coach Nick Sirianni to be given an IV after Philly’s 24-20 win over Tennessee.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Up – Return Of Patrick Mahomes: For his Jayson Tatum-like quick return from last December’s torn ACL.

Let’s Run It Up Game of the Week – Oregon vs. Portland State: OU laid the wood 84-0 to schedule patsy P.U., er, I mean P. S. on Saturday.

Random Thoughts: Congrats to the USA women for winning gold in the World Basketball Classic. But I wasn’t a big fan of its wildly over-rated coach Kara Lawson before the WBC. Less so now. Too arrogant and too stubborn.

Sports 101 Answer: The three under-25 QBs to win an MVP are Dan Marino, Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.

Final Thought – Coach B Update: Despite a surprising opening week upset of TCU to start this year, most know his tenure at North Carolina has been barreling out of control right from the jump. But it got even worse as the calendar turned to 2026. Here’s the recap. (1) The mouthy girlfriend, young enough to be his granddaughter, caught attention in all the wrong ways from Day 1; (2) They went a shocking 4-8 in Year 1; (3) An internal university investigation this summer yielded the resignation of program GM/Belichick lackey Mike Lombardi, and last week his son/DC Steve Belichick resigned; and (4) They’re now 1-2 after losing 28-20 to Clemson Saturday. The UNC mess is dragging the coaching legacy down and it’s looking like a good time for a course correction. Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Quality of Life 26/09/24

Bridge closed

On Monday, Sept. 21, a routine inspection by the NH DOT found “potential structural deficiencies” in Manchester’s Queen City Bridge and so the bridge was closed until further notice, according to a press release the City issued that day. “At this point the full inspection has yet to be completed. In order to protect the safety of the traveling public the bridge will be closed until further notice. We will continue to keep the public informed as the inspection is complete, and will provide updates and plans for traffic as information becomes available,” the press release said.

QOL score: -2, but feeling good about routine inspections

Comments: Visit nixle.us/manchester-nh-city to see recent Nixle alerts for Manchester and to sign up for mobile alerts for your area.

‘We will not tolerate that in Manchester’

In the early hours of Sept. 16, downtown Manchester cafe The Moka Pot was vandalized. Windows were broken and “offensive language and hate symbols had been spray-painted on the business,” according to a press release from Manchester Police Department. “Due to the nature of the graffiti, the New Hampshire Department of Justice Civil Rights Unit was notified,” the release said. Manchester Police Chief Peter Marr released a statement: “This was more than property damage. It was a deliberate act intended to intimidate and instill fear, and we will not tolerate that in Manchester.” On Sept. 17, the police released images from a nearby security camera to the media and on its socials showing a “person of interest.”

QOL score: -2

Comment: A post labeled as “from The Moka Pot Team” on the cafe’s Instagram page thanked the community for support after the vandalism and read, in part: “We’ll fix the windows. We’ll clean the walls. We’ll make the repairs. And we’ll do what we do best: make the coffee.”

Helping the kids

In a Sept. 17 press release, local educational support organization Manchester Proud announced the turnout for its annual free back-to-school event, CelebratED. “More than 2,500 people attended this year’s celebration,” the statement read, “an estimated 200 percent increase over 2025. Families received 1,000 backpacks, 833 items of clothing, 372 books and 600 lunch boxes, while young people received 150 hair services and 65 vision screenings. More than 90 community organizations participated, supported by 60 volunteers and more than $50,000 in contributions from donors and community partners.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: “Manchester Proud has done an amazing job connecting thousands of families with the resources and support they need to start the school year ready for success,” Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais said in the press release. Visit manchesterproud.org.

QOL score last week: 65

Net change: -3

QOL this week: 62

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

News & Notes 26/09/24

Color Main Street

Coloring Main Street returns to downtown Nashua on Saturday, Sept. 26, on Main Street from the Main Street Bridge to the Nashua Public Library to City Hall, from noon to 3 p.m., according to a press release. “Chalk will be provided by local Main Street businesses and DNA [Downtown Nashua Association], so all you need to bring is your creativity and enthusiasm. However, it is recommended that participants wear clothing they don’t mind getting chalky and be sure to use the hashtag #ColoringMainStNashua when posting photos of their work on social media,” the release said. See downtownnashua.org/coloring-main-street for details.

Democracy & AI

Tickets are on sale for the New Hampshire Humanities Annual Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 1, at BNH Stage in Concord, according to nhhumanities.org, where you can purchase tickets for the event at 6 p.m. and for the reception at 5 p.m. at the League of NH Craftsmen Headquarters. Doors to the BNH Stage open at 5:30 p.m.; “Visit exhibits of New Hampshire Humanities programs such as Live Free or Dial with the New Hampshire Telephone Museum and Community Conversations with cartoonist and educator Marek Bennett. Peruse books for sale courtesy of Gibson’s Bookstore,” the website said. The main event is the presentation “Democracy in the Age of A.I.: An evening with Jenn White of 1A [the NPR show]” with special guests including Father Philip Larrey, a Catholic priest and professor at Boston College; Lawrence Lessig, a professor at Harvard Law School, and Roopika Risam, chair of film and media studies at Dartmouth College and author of the new book Data Empire: The Power of Information to Organize, Control and Dominate, the website said.

Fall league

Five players from the 2026 New Hampshire Fisher Cats roster are on the Mesa Solar Sox, “a roster made up of prospects from five different MLB clubs,” part of the 2026 Arizona Fall League, according to a Fisher Cats press release. “Pitchers Jake Bloss, Yondrei Rojas and Fernando Perez, catcher Aaron Parker and infielder Arjun Nimmala were all listed on the Solar Sox roster, along with athletic trainer Katie Reyes. Nimmala was traded to the Angels earlier this year on Aug. 3 but played in 33 games with New Hampshire after making his Double-A debut on May 5,” the release said. “The Mesa roster also includes Toronto minor league pitchers Brandon Barriera and Gilberto Batista, and outfielders Jake Casey and Jake Cook.” The Arizona Fall League runs its regular season of 30 games per team Saturday, Oct. 3, through Saturday, Nov. 14, the release said. See mlb.com/arizona-fall-league.

Correction

Last week’s Kiddie Pool and film listings featured the wrong date for the next outdoor screening in Manchester. Inside Out 2 (PG, 2024) will screen in Derryfield Park in Manchester on Friday, Sept. 25, at 8:15 p.m., according to a post on the Manchester Parks & Recreation Facebook page.

Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, kimballjenkins.com, will hold a one-day class “Ghosts & Pumpkins: A Halloween Clay Workshop” on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. for ages 12 and older, according to a newsletter. See the website to register for this and other classes in the school’s second fall session, for which registration ends Oct. 12, the newsletter said.

The Millyard Museum, 200 Bedford St. in Manchester, will hold an American Girl Tea Party featuring Felicity Merriman, a Colonial-era American Girl Doll, on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m., according to a press release. See manchesterhistoric.org for advance registration, which is required. The event is part of a day of events at the museum themed “Whose Revolution Is It Anyway?” the release said.

The Dover Public Library, 73 Locust St. in Dover, will hold a puzzle swap Saturday, Sept. 26, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Donate complete puzzles in good condition of 250 pieces or more through Friday, Sept. 25, and then come to the library Saturday to pick up to five new-to-you puzzles, according to a press release. See library.dover.nh.gov.

The New England Animation Festival, which will run Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Park Theatre in Jaffrey, is accepting submissions of animated short films (10 minutes or less), according to a press release. The last-minute deadline is Nov. 11 (with earlier deadlines for a discounted entry fee), the release said. See filmfreeway.com/NewEnglandAnimationFestival.

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