Category: News

This Week 23/05/25

Big Events May 25, 2023 and beyond

Monday, May 29

Several towns celebrate today, Memorial Day, with a parade.

Concord’s Memorial Day runs from 9 to 10 a.m. with the parade starting at Christ the King Church and ending up at City Plaza for a brief ceremony, according to concordnh.gov, where you can find the route.

Windham’s parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. from Center School, according to windhamnh.gov.

Henniker’s parade starts at 10 a.m. and runs from Henniker Community School to Henniker Community Park, according to henniker.org.

Hopkinton’s parade also starts at 10 a.m. and runs along Main Street, starting and ending at Harold Martin School, where there will be a short ceremony and a performance by the Hopkinton Town Band, according to hopkinton-nh.gov.

Litchfield Historical Society starts its parade at 10 a.m. at Litchfield Middle School and ending at the Historical Society building, to be followed by a program featuring Campbell High School Chorus and Band performances and more, according to litchfieldnh.gov.

In Raymond, the parade starts at 10 a.m. at Argo and goes to the New Pine Grove Cemetery and Old Pine Grove Cemetery, according to a post on the town’s Facebook page. The parade is followed by a ceremony from 11 a.m. to noon.

In Pelham, VFW Post 10722 and American Legion Post 100 will host the town’s parade and ceremonies with the parade stepping off at 10:30 a.m. headed to Gibson Cemetery, according to pelhamweb.com, where you can find a full listing of events, which include a town cookout.

The Londonderry American Legion Post 27 will hold a parade and open house with the parade stepping off at 11 a.m. from Robert Lincoln Way, according to Post 27’s Facebook post.

In Hudson, American Legion Post 48 will hold a parade starting at 2 p.m. in front of the Hannaford parking lot to Hudson Common for a memorial ceremony and then to the American Legion, according to a post on the Greater Hudson Chamber of Commerce website (hudsonchamber.com).

Thursday, May 25

Watch the work in progress by the four artists participating in this year’s Nashua International Sculpture Symposium at Picker Artists (3 Pine St. in Nashua), where they are working Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. See nashuasculpturesymposium.org,.

Saturday, May 27

Bow Garden Club’s plant sale runs today from 8 a.m. to noon at the Bow Community Center (2 Knox Road in Bow), according to the group’s Facebook page.

Sunday, May 28

A few early Memorial Day parades today: The Penacook Memorial Day Parade is slotted for 9 to 10 a.m on Village Street, concordnh.gov. In Bedford the parade steps off at 1 p.m. on County Road from Bedford High School to McKelvie Intermediate School. See bedfordnh.myrec.com.

Sunday, May 28

Check out Chad LaMarsh at the Derryfield (625 Mammoth Road in Manchester) playing an acoustic show on the deck from 5 to 8 p.m. Find more live music in the Music This Week listing, which starts on page 48.

Sunday, May 28

Hampton Beach Village District hosts fireworks tonight at 9:30 p.m. at the top of B and C Streets; see hamptonbeach.org.

Monday, May 29

More town celebrations: The Bow Community Men’s Club hosts a ceremony and community picnic at the Bow Gazebo (1 Knox Road in Bow) from 4 to 6 p.m, according to bownh.gov. The Hollis Memorial Day Ceremony at the Common starts at 4:30 p.m. today, according to hollisnh.org.

Quality of Life 23/05/25

Community improvement

The City of Manchester recently completed a community improvement project near 359 Commercial St. that included the construction of an accessible ramp and stair structure, relocation of the Mill Girl Statue, lighting and new brick pavers and concrete flatwork. “The project promotes inclusiveness in our diverse city and provides a renewed place where the community can gather and enjoy improved access between Manchester’s active downtown and the vibrant Millyard,” the City of Manchester, NH Economic Development Facebook page posted.

QOL score: +1

Comment: A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the plaza on Wednesday, June 7, at 1:30 p.m.

Military retirement

A recent WalletHub study ranked New Hampshire the sixth best U.S. state for military retirees. The study looked at various factors, such as state tax on military pension, job opportunities for veterans, rates of homelessness and suicide among veterans, state authorization for veterans’ preference in private hiring, the quality of VA hospitals, the number of VA benefits-administration facilities per number of veterans and more. New Hampshire ranked especially high for veterans per capita (10th) and the share of veteran-own businesses (5th).

QOL score: +1

Comment: Connecticut is the only New England state to join New Hampshire in the top 10, coming in at No. 5. Florida was No. 1.

Butterfly sanctuary

On the 50th anniversary of Endangered Species Day, observed on May 19, the New Hampshire Army National Guard, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services celebrated the success of their collaborative efforts to protect the endangered Karner blue butterfly, NHPR reported. The groups have worked for more than two decades to transform a 28-acre field near Concord Municipal Airport into a sanctuary for the butterflies. In addition to restoring the land, they’ve taken measures to cultivate lupine flowers — which the butterflies rely on for sustenance and egg-laying sites — including controlled fires to clear debris and create a dry climate preferred by the lupines. Their efforts have resulted in a flourishing population of more than 35,000 Karner blue butterflies, according to the article.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The sanctuary has also seen the growth of another butterfly species, the Frosted Elfins, which also rely on lupine flowers.

QOL score: 72

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 75

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

The week that was

The Big Story – Celtics Feeling The Heat: In all likelihood by the time you read this the Celtics season will have ended with a big thud. As I write this they trail the Miami Heat 0-3 in the Eastern Conference Finals after what can only be described as a 30-point surrender to a team all the “experts” said the Celtics should run out of the playoffs with relative ease.

The only trepidation I have for writing their obituary now is the perverse way they play better after putting themselves in a position when their backs are against the wall. But after doing that multiple times in the last two postseasons it doesn’t feel like they can do it this time. Especially since no team in history has ever come back to win after trailing 0-3.

We’ll do our autopsy next week.

Sports 101: What do 1950s-’60s NFL stars Paul Hornung, “Jaguar Jon” Arnett, John Brodie, Ron Kramer and Len Dawsonhave in common?

News Item – More Last-Minute NHL Heroics: The Bruins learned the hard way you have to play the Florida Panthers past the final buzzer. That was the case again in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup semifinals, a game that appeared headed to a fifth overtime before Matthew Tkachuk did it again with 12.7 seconds left in the fourth OT to give them a 3-2 win over Carolina.

News Item – Greatest Team Sports Prospect Ever: That’s what NBA info guru Adrian Wojnarowski drooled out about 18-year-old French hoopster Victor Wenbanyama after Houston won the NBA lottery last week. I get it, at 7’5” he’s mobile with skills of a guard while also being a top rim protector. But that’s what the slobbering New York press said about the now on his third team Kristaps Porzingis.And best ever? Sorry, I’m a skeptic with a sense of history who knows monumental all-timers Wilt Chamberlain, Lew Alcindor and LeBron James all lived up to that title, while Greg Oden and Ralph Sampson did not. Said another way: I’m curious, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

And, one more thing. Not sure if this is a bad omen, but when I saw his picture for the first time, I thought it was Sampson.

News Item – Durability Need Not Apply: Who can be surprised that in the age of the detestable “load management” Jayson Tatum was the only all-NBA first-teamer to play even 70 games. The others, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, ranged from 63 to 68.

Ditto for the second and third teams, where only three were over 70, while Steph Curry, LeBron James and Damian Lillard played 56, 55 and 58 respectively.

Alumni News

Xander Bogaerts: After going hitless in 11 at-bats during their weekend series, he was hitting .257 with 6 homers and 16 RBI. Which isn’t much more productive offensively than Kiké Hernandez and Yu Chang’s combined 6 homers and 24 RBI from shortstop so far in 2023.

Michael Wacha: After Chaim Bloom was too cheap/dumb to give him a two-year deal after going 11-2 last year, he has moved to 5-1 with a 3.58 ERA after 6 shutout innings in the Padres 7-0 win on Sunday. That his cheaper replacement, Corey Kluber, lasted just 2.1 innings in dropping to 2-6 with an unsightly 6.26 ERA was interesting.

The Numbers:

4 – major championships now won by Brooks Koepka after taking the PGA championship Sunday to move him within one of tying Phil Mickelson for most majors won among active players.

205 – home runs the Red Sox are on pace to hit after hitting just 155 last year.

515 – length in feet for the monstrous homer hit by the demoted Bobby Dalbec last week while playing for AAA Worcester.

Random Thoughts:

Jayson Tatum — pink shoes on Friday night. A long way from high black Cons or Pumps.

I’ve heard him recently compared to Vlade Divac, Magic Johnson and Bill Russell (as a rebounder), but position aside, with his feel for the game and ability to influence every aspect of every game with no apparent athleticism, for my money Nikola Jokic is the only player I’ve ever seen that reminds me of Larry Bird.

Sports 101 Answer: Those players were picks 1 through 5 before Jim Brown was taken sixth by Cleveland in the 1957 draft.

Final Thought: There’s a difference between being the most valuable NFL player ever (Tom Brady) and being the best actual football player ever.

In my not so humble opinion the latter was the indestructibleJim Brown,who died last week at 87. The stat rationale is too long, so I’ll just comment on an ESPN poll that had him the GOAT of running backs. The great Barry Sanders was second, but check out the difference between him playing on grass vs. artificial turf. JB just had grass.Trust me, with the highest yards per carry average ever he was the best.

RIP, big fella.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Woman directed

Filmmaker takes her movie on the road

New Hampshire filmmaker Laina Barakat is taking her award-winning feature film Light Attaching to a Girl on a New England screening tour. She discussed the inspiration behind the film, her unique filmmaking style and what audiences can look forward to at the screenings.

Tell us about the film.

It’s called Light Attaching to a Girl. It’s just over an hour. It’s a narrative drama set in Iceland and Keene, New Hampshire. It’s about an 18-year-old girl traveling alone for the first time, processing childhood trauma, and experiencing independence in an unknown country. … A lot of people are really excited about the score; we had a really beautiful orchestra that played on it. They did the music for Parasite and Squid Game and a bunch of other really phenomenal, much larger works.

What inspired it?

The film actually stars my sister. She’s a non-actor; she’s never been on camera before, but I knew she had talent. She wanted to go to Iceland, and I convinced her to let me bring a film crew. We filmed the trip in a documentary style and later wrote a narrative to complement it. We blended the two in New Hampshire.

What’s your background in filmmaking?

I’ve been a filmmaker for about 18 years. I started with Either/Or Films, a film company in New Hampshire. I continued producing, and about six years ago I started my own film company called Wayward Ark Productions so that I could start directing. I’ve directed seven short films. I have some feature-length films as a producer under my belt, but this is my first as a writer-director.

The film blends documentary elements with narrative structure. How did you accomplish that?

My shooting style is very under-the-radar, with a very small crew. When it comes to lighting, I like to work with documentary-style filmmakers, so that I don’t have big lighting packages. … With the narrative piece, I used a lot of local actors and non-actors. We used local locations to pick up bits of naturalism and things that are already there, so we get a sense of truth and reality in what we’re making.

What is it like working with non-actors?

I love to work with non-actors. It’s what I do most of the time, actually. When you live in a rural area like this and you don’t have a lot of talented actors around you, I’d rather work with non-actors than poorly trained ones. I get a sense of realism by putting it into the writing. For my sister, there are bits of my own story and other bits of her story in it. For the rest of the actors in the film, I took pieces from their normal lives. It’s not autobiographical at all, but the more of their personal stories that I can put into the narrative, the easier it is for them to seamlessly act.

The film tour also features women-directed short films. Why is it important to you to highlight other female filmmakers?

It’s super important for women in any industry, especially in the film industry, to hype each other and to support each other. … We are a real minority, not only in paid positions but also in awards and representation in film festivals. For me, when I made the film, it was really important that most of my cast and crew were women.

What does it mean for you to be present at the screenings, do Q&A sessions and engage with your audience?

It makes it a more enriching and meaningful experience. For me as a filmmaker, it’s really great to hear interpretations of my work that maybe weren’t my own, but are valid and important. …I love any opportunity to hear how something hits someone else and why.

Tickets cost $15 for general admission and $12 for seniors, students and children. Visit waywardarkproductions.com.

Light Attaching to a Girl screenings
Friday, June 2, 6:30 p.m. at Studio Lab, 11 A St., Derry
Saturday, June 10, 2 p.m. at Wilton Town Hall Theatre, 40 Main St., Wilton
Saturday, June 10, 7 p.m. at Scriven Arts Center, 452 Route 140, Gilmanton
Sunday, June 11, 6:30 p.m. at The Park Theatre, 19 Main St., Jaffrey

Featured photo: Laina Barakat. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 23/05/25

Banned list

Last week, the Russian government announced the addition of New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella to its expanding list of 500 Americans permanently banned from entering the country. Formella issued a statement, saying, “Given the atrocities we are seeing the Kremlin carry out, being blacklisted by Russia is a badge of honor. I am proud to vigorously enforce New Hampshire law and will continue to do so despite attempts like this to try and intimidate America’s public officials. This ‘action’ will have no impact on me, my office, or our work.” Formella wasn’t the only Granite Stater targeted by the ban. Late-night talk show host and New Hampshire native Seth Meyers also found himself on the list, as reported by WMUR. Meyers, sharing the article on Twitter, humorously commented, “Local kid makes good?” According to the article, the ban, which Russian officials attributed to U.S. sanctions, adds to the existing list that already includes the New Hampshire congressional delegation and former senator Kelly Ayotte.

Bill postponed

New Hampshire’s proposed “parental bill of rights,” which would have mandated educators to disclose to parents whether their children are using a different gender identity or name, was not passed, New Hampshire News Connection reported. Those against the bill emphasized the importance of maintaining safe and supportive environments in schools, particularly for transgender youth, while supporters of the bill argued that it aimed to enhance transparency and communication between teachers and parents. The final vote to “indefinitely postpone” the bill prevents its reintroduction in this session. Similar “parental bill of rights’’ measures have been introduced in 24 states this year, according to the article.

Grants

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance and The 1772 Foundation have awarded grants totaling $125,000 to 16 non-profit organizations in the state. According to a press release, the grants, ranging in amounts from $4,250 to $10,000, are awarded to help the organizations preserve historic buildings and support community landmarks. Recipients include museums, historical societies, and affordable housing organizations. Projects range from roof replacements to foundation repairs. The grants will ensure the preservation of buildings dating from 1774 to 1912. The selection committee considered factors such as resource significance, community visibility and local support. The grants leverage additional funding and emphasize incremental improvements.

One Goffstown

Goffstown Public Library announces the launch of a new public education series, “One Goffstown,” aimed at fostering a more inclusive and accepting community following the distribution of neo-Nazi propaganda in local neighborhoods in March. The program consists of a series of discussions for teens and adults, designed to encourage open communication and unity among residents. Five online sessions will be held on Thursday evenings throughout June, July, and August, the first being on June 8, titled, “What are Hate Crimes and Hate Speech?” Topics to follow will include implicit bias, bullying, being an ally and having difficult conversations. The program will culminate in a special in-person event called the “Human Library” on Sunday, Aug. 13. Registration is required for the online sessions. Visit goffstownlibrary.com/one-goffstown for more information and to register. To show support and unity, participants are also encouraged to share One Goffstown on social media using the hashtag #OneGoffstown.

Mental health series

Dartmouth Health’s year-long monthly webinar series about mental health, “Heads Up: A Year-Long Mental Health Awareness Journey,” concludes with the publication of its latest webinar, titled “Heads Up, A Year-Long Mental Health Awareness Journey: Looking Back and Looking Forward.” According to a press release, panelists in this segment include John Broderick Jr., senior director of external affairs for Dartmouth Health and former Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court; Brendan McQuaid, president and publisher of the New Hampshire Union Leader; Howard Altschiller, executive editor of Seacoast Media Group; and William C. Torrey, M.D., chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Dartmouth Health; with Audra Burns, Dartmouth Health’s senior media relations manager, moderating. Together, they reflect on the series’ highlights and share their insights gained throughout the year. The series explored various themes such as youth mental health, the impact of social media on teenagers, mental health stigma in youth sports, the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system, guidance for parents and caregivers, challenges faced by older adults in isolation and grief, workplace mental health, the correlation between substance use disorder and co-occurring mental illnesses, state and federal mental health policies, and the mental health of veterans and active military personnel. To access the “Heads Up” series and mental health resources, visit dartmouth-health.org/mental-health.

The Putts For Pups Golf Classic will be held at Stonebridge Country Club in Goffstown on Monday, June 26, to benefit Second Chance Ranch Rescue, a nonprofit organization based in New Boston that rehabilitates and finds homes for lost, forgotten and misunderstood dogs. Registration, which includes 18 holes of golf, lunch and the chance to participate in raffles and contests, costs $125 for an individual or $450 for a foursome, according to a press release. Visit secondchanceranchrescue.com.

The Merrimack Rotary Club will host an Electronics Recycling Fundraiser on Saturday, June 3, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Merrimack Town Hall. According to a press release, participants can easily recycle their unused business or household electronics by driving up, paying the recycling fee and dropping off the items without having to leave their cars. Fees range from $5 to $50 depending on the type of electronics. Certain items, such as hazardous waste and unlisted materials, will not be accepted. Funds raised will support scholarships and community projects. Visit merrimackrotary.org.

The Nashua Regional Planning Commission will hold a Household Hazardous Waste Collection on Thursday, June 1, 3 to 7 p.m., at the Nashua City Park & Ride (25 Crown St.) for residents of Amherst, Brookline, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, Nashua, Pelham and Windham, according to a press release. Accepted waste includes paints, solvents, polyurethane, antifreeze, gasoline, pesticides, household cleaners, light bulbs and more. There is a fee of $15 per vehicle (cash or check), with extra charges for waste exceeding 10 gallons or 20 pounds. Contact nashuarpc.org/hhw or 417-6570.

This Week 23/05/18

Big Events May 18, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, May 18

Find new ways to help the community at The Greater Nashua Volunteer Fair today at 4 p.m. at the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St. in Nashua; nashualibrary.org). There will be more than 30 organizations looking for teen and adult volunteers to sign up.

Saturday, May 20

The Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity is hosting its Third Annual Cornhole for a Cause, a tournament fundraiser for the shelter, today at The Biergarten at Merrimack Anheuser-Busch (221 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack). The event starts at 11 a.m. and registration is $75 for a team of two players. There will be raffles and other prizes to win, and registered team members will receive commemorative T-shirts. Visit nashuahabitat.org to register.

Saturday, May 20

It’s another big plant sale weekend! The Bedford Garden Club (bedfordgardenclubnh.org) will hold its sale today at the Bedford Village Common (15 Bell Hill Road) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Goffstown Community Garden Club (facebook.com/goffstowngardenclub) will hold its sale at the Goffstown Commons on Main Street from 8 a.m. to noon. The Nashua Garden Club (nashuanhgardenclub.org) will hold its sale at the Nashua Historical Society (5 Abbott St. in Nashua) from 8 a.m. to noon. The Massabesic Garden Club (massabesicgc.org) will hold its sale today from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Griffin Free Library (22 Hooksett Road in Auburn) on the patio. The Milford Garden Club (milfordnhgardenclub.org) will hold its sale from 8:30 a.m. to noon on the Community House lawn. Stop by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester (669 Union St. in Manchester; uumanchester.org) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for their plant sale. Project Inspire 603 (find them on Facebook) is holding a sale Friday, May 19, and today, May 20, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 88 Kelsey Mill Road in Northwood (the sale raises funds for school supplies). The GFWC Dover Area Women’s Club (doverareagfwc.org) is holding its spring plant sale at the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce (550 Central Ave. in Dover) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Know of an upcoming plant sale? Let us know at adiaz@hippopress.com.

Saturday, May 20

The Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) will feature Samantha Bee on its Chubb Theatre stage tonight in her self-titled show Samantha Bee: Your Favorite Womanat 8 p.m. Bee currently holds the title for being the longest-serving regular Daily Show correspondent of all time and is known for her own weekly late-night show, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. Tickets start at $48.25.

Saturday, May 20

The Life’s a Drag 21+ Show at Chunky’s (707 Huse Road in Manchester; chunkys.com) tonight at 9 p.m. will feature some of the fiercest performers from New England for a high-energy and interactive experience, according to the website. Tickets cost $25.

Sunday, May 21

The New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus wraps up their Spring 2023 Concert Serieswith a performance of “Silver Seasons of Love – How Do You Measure 25 Years?” at the Derryfield School (2108 River Road in Manchester) at 4 p.m. (The chorus also performs Saturday, May 20, in Newington at 7:30 p.m.). The show celebrates the 25th anniversary of the chorus; see the story about the chorus in the May 4 issue of The Hippo (hippopress.com to find the e-edition, the story is on page 16). Tickets for this event start at $17.50 and can be purchased at nhgmc.com.

Save the Date! Saturday, July 29
Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St.) will host An Evening with David Sedaris on Saturday, July 29, at 8 p.m. Sedaris is the bestselling author behind Calypso, Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. He is celebrating the release of his newest book, Happy Go Lucky. After the reading, he will be holding a Q-and-A session and a book signing. Presale for tickets open to Spectacle Live members on May 19, and presale prices start at $52. Visit nashuacenterforthearts.com for more information.

Quality of Life 23/05/18

Our smart kids

Six New Hampshire high school seniors were named semifinalists in the prestigious 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, and two of them were named Scholars. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education, the recognition is considered one of the highest honors for graduating seniors nationwide. The semifinalists are Sydney Buffett from Bedford High School, William Longtin from Hollis/Brookline High School, Sam McLaughlin from Spaulding High School and Kelly Zhang from Oyster River High School, with Aaron R. Joy from Phillips Exeter Academy and Sora Shirai from Hanover High School chosen as Scholars. There were 628 semifinalists from across the nation, chosen out of 5,000 candidates. Up to 161 students can be named Scholars each year, according to the program’s website.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Established in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program originally focused on academic excellence but was expanded in 1979 to include students in the arts and in 2015 to recognize achievements in career and technical education, according to the website.

A hot tourism summer

The Division of Travel and Tourism of the Department of Business and Economic Affairs in New Hampshire predicts a 4.8 percent increase in tourists visiting the state this summer and a 6.5 percent increase in those visitors’ spending. According to a press release, approximately 4.3 million tourists are expected to visit and are projected to spend around $2.35 billion. Despite the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, New Hampshire has witnessed record spending in the past two summers. “While inflation and the potential for a recession continue to pose threats, data shows there continues to be a pent-up demand for travel,” BEA Commissioner Taylor Caswell said in the release.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The state’s summer marketing campaign, themed “Discover Your New,” will focus on road trips and continue targeting core markets such as New England and New York, as well as road trip markets including Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Montreal and Quebec City in Canada.

Sarah Silverman, Seth Meyers suggest otherwise

Somehow, a report by Shiny Smile Veneers names Boston as America’s funniest city and Massachusetts as our funniest state and yet ranks New Hampshire as the No. 5 least funny state, according to a press release and the study at shinysmileveneers.com. The study uses not-entirely-New-Hampshire-friendly factors like per capita comedy specials filmed, comedy festivals, comedy clubs and “search volume per city/state” to score funny cities and states. Of course, some of the people yukking it up in Boston (as well as the comedians working those clubs) are likely Granite Staters — QOL demands a recount!

QOL score: -2

Comments: New Hampshire has plenty of comedy; take our state politics — please! Cough, sorry. But just this year New Hampshire’s own (we don’t care where he was born or where he lives now, he’s ours) Adam Sandler was awarded the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. And you can find laughs on the regular at area comedy clubs and comedy concerts — listed for your convenience in our Comedy This Week (see page 30).

QOL score: 72

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 72

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

Tatum buries 76ers

The Big Story – Celtics Move On To ECF: Say one thing for the Celtics, they certainly like to make it hard on themselves. For the second straight postseason they went down two games to three by coughing up Game 5 at home to put their season on the brink before barely surviving Game 6 on the road and then closing out the bad guys with a blowout Game 7 win at the Garden.

The series brought to the forefront the continued frustrating inconsistency of Jayson Tatum, though his spectacular all-is-forgiven final 53 minutes of the series is the bigger story than said inconsistency, which included three of the worst shooting first halves in Celtics playoff history.

But it was a seven-game series, not one of just first halves, and despite his terrible first three quarters he saved Game 6 and thus the season by banging out three gigantic threes and a deuce over the final four minutes to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat before delivering the best Celtics Game 7 performance these eyes have witnessed.

It leads the Cs into their third Eastern Conference Finals meeting with Miami in the last four years, a team with the best coach in the NBA and who plays them (and Tatum) tougher than anyone.

Could be a nerve-wracking two weeks for Celtic Nation, so buckle up.

Sports 101: In going for 37 points and 23 rebounds this man had the greatest NBA Finals Game 7 by a rookie in NBA history. Name him.

Thumbs Up – Al Horford: Tatum’s sensational Game 7 might overshadow what Al Horford did on Sunday in the history books, but let’s hope not. The 36-year-old Horford’s spectacular defensive effort on Joel Embiid was vital to the win in harassing the league MVP into 5-18 shooting in his not good enough 15-point, 8-rebound afternoon.

News Item – Pats to Honor Tom Brady: Not sure how I feel about Brady being honored on Opening Day in Foxborough. Stems from his never mentioning the Pats or their fans in his social media posts following the first retirement. That snub and lack of appreciation did not sit well in this space. So I’m not for doing it in his first official game of his retirement. Too soon for me.

I also think, with the likes of Jerry Rice, Jim Brown, Lawrence Taylor and a few others in the conversation, Bob Kraft calling him the “best player in history” in the announcement is up for debate. However, with his seven titles, I’m fine with calling him the most valuable player in league history.

News Item – Rough Week for Sox: Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water of thinking the Sox might be better than most thought, last week happened. They entered the week 21-14 and on an eight-game winning streak. But it was all downhill when it ended on Sunday leading to a 1-5 week, concluding with a sweep at Fenway by the last-in-the-NL St. Louis Cardinals. The main trouble was the pitching giving up seven runs a game in the five losses. The good news was Chris Sale made it three straight solid games, his best one yet coming Saturday when he went eight innings while holding the Cards to three hits while striking out nine before Kenley Jansen blew a second straight win in the ninth.

The Numbers:

6 – organization record at any level for stolen bases swiped in one game set by Sox all-name team prospect Ceddanne Rafaela for AA Portland last week.

10 – losses in 16 Game 7s coached by Doc Rivers, which are the most by any coach in NBA history.

12.5 & 34.5 – points averaged by James Harden in Philly’s four losses to the Celtics and in their three wins in the series respectively.

54 – all-time Celtics record for points scored in a playoff record set by the late great John Havlicek in a 1973 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

Random Thoughts:

One more thing about Doc Rivers’s playoff record. Four of his six Game 7 wins came while coaching the Celtics.

For the record, the best Game 7 performance by a Celtic player I’ve seen before Sunday came in 1984 when Larry Bird went for 39 (13-24 and 12-12 from the line), 12 rebounds and 10 assists as the Cs closed out the Knicks in the semi-final round.

The best by an opponent came in the dramatic 1988 duel between Dominique Wilkins and Bird when Nique scored 14 and Larry 20 in their tit-for-tat fourth quarter, before finishing with 47 and 34 respectively.

Sports 101 Answer: The greatest Game 7 by a rookie was authored by Tommy Heinsohn in one of the NBA’s greatest games ever, when Game 7 of the finals went to double overtime as the Celtics beat the St. Louis Hawks 125-123 to claim their first NBA title. Bill Russell, also a rookie that night, went for 19 points and 32 rebounds while Hawks all-timer Bob Pettit had 39 and 19.

2023 Prediction Record: Was right on three of four in taking Miami (in 6), Denver (6) and Boston (7) in the last round while missing on Golden State vs. L.A.

NBA Conference Title Predictions: Denver over L.A. in six. Celtics in seven overMiami.

Final Thought: To all those praising Joe Mazzulla’s “adjustment” to the double big line of Al Horford and lob-it-to-Rob Williams in Game 6 vs. Philly like he invented plutonium, I’ll remind all we said upon his return in January that bringing him off the bench was a bad idea because it made the defense and rebounding worse because they were too small and there was no way he’d be able to play the 30 minutes per night they needed off the bench. It also killed Grant Williams’s confidence by taking away his regular run.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

College for all

A discussion with NHTI’s new president

Dr. Patrick Tompkins, the President of NHTI since February, shared his thoughts on the role of community colleges, the challenges of declining enrollment, strategies to ensure high-quality education at an affordable cost and more.

Tell us about yourself and what drew you to NHTI.

I’ve been working in higher education for several decades … in Iowa, Oklahoma, Virginia and now New Hampshire. I was an English professor for a long time, and then … moved into administration. I was a dean and a provost at a college, then went to Eastern Shore Community College and served as vice president of academics, students and workforce education. I came to NHTI primarily because of the quality of the college and what it has to offer. We have really solid programs in things like health care … and we have some really unique programs, like mindfulness, hospitality, sports management and addiction counseling. … I also really wanted to work at a community college that has an athletics program, because I believe it provides academic opportunity for some students who might not otherwise [attend college].

What do you believe is the role of community college?

I call community college the greatest democratization in the history of higher education. It makes post-secondary education accessible to all. It’s affordable. It’s convenient. There’s a community college within driving distance of everybody in the continental United States. It allows people who may not think they’re right for higher education or who would otherwise not be able to get into higher education to get an education in a wide variety of fields.

How will you work to ensure an education at NHTI is both affordable and high quality?

The state legislature has allowed the community college system to keep tuition only $5 ahead of where it was in 2011. … Even though the tuition [cost] has stayed constant, there is still a gap that is hard for students to fill. That’s where I have to expand our scholarships. … When we’re able to provide scholarships to cover ancillary things, such as books or supplies, that helps to close that gap. … Most folks know we’re inexpensive; we’re less than half the cost of any other college in New Hampshire … but that means nothing if we don’t have quality. … Our quality comes from having superior faculty whose only mission is to teach. … We have programs that can be completed in a short term … and with flexible scheduling … that lead to really good jobs. … We have a campus with wonderful amenities and extracurricular activities. … These are all things that are of value to our students.

What do extracurricular activities, athletics and campus life contribute to the educational experience at NHTI?

We serve the entire student. It’s not just about academics; it’s also about helping them develop as good family members, community members and workers, and to live healthy lives, mentally and physically. … Having the dorms and a mix of student clubs and activities makes for a really rich campus life. Many community colleges don’t have athletics, so I’m really happy that we do. … For some students, athletics may be the thing that draws them in, and once they’re here they start to realize that sports is not going to pay their way and that they’re going to need [job] skills. … Not all students will go pro in their sport, but they are still passionate about it, and being able to play at the college level is an exciting thing for them.

Enrollment in community colleges has been declining. How do you plan to address that at NHTI?

Declining enrollment is a national trend that’s been going on since 2014. The two primary factors are, there have been fewer people graduating high school … and the people who want to work have found work and aren’t in immediate need of training. It’s looking like we’re nearing [the end] of declining enrollment, and that those factors — particularly the second one — are going to change. There are going to be more opportunities for people to change career fields or advance in the field they’re in and [therefore] come back to college. … But should growing enrollment always be the goal? I think the better question to ask is, how well is a community college serving its community? Because enrollment [reflects whether] we are offering the right mix of programs that are relevant to [employment] opportunities for residents in the area. … So our focus is on our programs and looking at where there are new opportunities or opportunities to grow.

What do you find most fulfilling about this position?

It helps me live out a very foundational ethic that was bred in me as a young person, which is my commitment to service for others into the community. … I feel fortunate to have a job where it’s not about me. People in our business sometimes say, ‘Your success is our success.’ I don’t view it that way. I view it as your success is your success; I was just lucky enough to be there as you were achieving it.

Featured photo: Dr. Patrick Tompkins. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 23/05/18

‘Rebel’ marker

The New Hampshire Historical Highway Marker for Elizabeth Gurley Flynn installed in Concord by the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources has been removed after receiving opposition from New Hampshire Executive Councilors Joseph Kenney and David Wheeler, WMUR reported. The marker, which was located at the corner of Court and Montgomery streets in downtown Concord, recognized Flynn, who was, according to a press release from the Division, “a well-known labor, women’s rights and civil liberties activist.” Identifying Flynn as “The Rebel Girl,” the marker highlighted Flynn’s involvement in the labor movement and her imprisonment after joining the Communist Party. The executive councilors argued that the marker promoted “communist propaganda” because of Flynn’s political associations. The controversy prompted Gov. Chris Sununu to call for a review of the historical marker process. “All policies and guidelines were followed in removing this controversial marker,” a statement released by Gov. Sununu’s office reads. “Through their public statements, the City of Concord made clear they were not advocating to keep the marker up. In their communications with the state, it was learned that the marker was located on state property, not city property as previously believed, and therefore the marker was removed this morning.”

Recall recalled

A recall that was issued on May 5 for “Spice” Packaged Salad Greens grown by lēf Farms in Loudon has been canceled. According to a press release, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services confirmed, after a two-day inspection of the farm’s facility and products, that the concerns regarding a potential contamination of Escherichia coli O157 bacteria in a specific lot of the “Spice” green were the result of a laboratory error, and that the products are safe for consumption. “I wish to apologize to lēf Farms, their customers and the public for this unfortunate event,” Division of Public Health Services Director Tricia Tilley said in the release. “lēf Farms’ quick and decisive actions put the health of their customers first. Their products are safe for consumers. We appreciate that lēf Farms has been a willing partner in this process. While this situation is unprecedented, our dedicated staff will embrace all corrective actions to ensure it will not occur again.”

Lock in

Ninety-six New Hampshire law enforcement agencies are participating in the “Join the NH Clique” campaign now through June 4 as part of a nationwide effort to enforce seat belt usage for drivers and passengers. According to a press release, New Hampshire law requires that individuals under the age of 18 be secured with a seat belt or child safety seat, and drivers are held responsible for ensuring proper seat belt usage for minors in their vehicle. Data released by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has revealed that seat belt usage in New Hampshire currently ranks the lowest among all states. From 2020 to 2022, approximately half of all victims in fatal vehicle crashes on New Hampshire roads were not wearing seat belts and were ejected from their vehicles. In 2022, 55 fatalities in vehicle crashes on New Hampshire roads involved individuals not wearing seat belts. In 2021, 51 unbelted individuals lost their lives, while 2020 saw 41 fatalities of unbelted individuals. “We encourage drivers and their passengers to buckle up every trip, every time — no matter what,” Capt. Chris Vetter, Commander of Highway Safety in New Hampshire, said in the release. “Unfortunately, the decision not to do so continues to have deadly consequences throughout our state. Through this campaign, we hope to ultimately save lives.”

Post grad plans

The New Hampshire Department of Education has partnered with the College Guidance Network (CGN) to offer support services to help students, families and school counselors navigate the often complex path to post-secondary education opportunities. According to a press release, the initiative empowers school counselors to provide better support to their college-bound students, assisting them in confidently navigating the college admissions process and making responsible decisions. Students and educators at high schools across the state will have unlimited access to CGN School, an online platform available to families in all participating New Hampshire public and non-public schools, as well as home education families. “New Hampshire is an excellent state to build a statewide model for enabling families to better manage this process,” Jon Carson, founder of CGN, said in the release. “Our mix of on-demand video featuring acclaimed college admissions and career exploration experts, a wide range of content toolkits, live programming and our flagship feature, Roadmap to College, will give New Hampshire schools an important new tool to support counselors, students and their parents.”

New board members

The Manchester Historic Association, which operates the Millyard Museum and Research Center and offers public and school programs, lectures and tours aimed at preserving and sharing the history of Manchester, welcomes four new board members, according to a press release: Ami D’Amelio, CEO & President of Just Flow Events & Marketing, has over 25 years of sales and marketing experience; Michael Duffy is a longtime member and volunteer of MHA and currently serves as director and secretary with the NH Preservation Alliance; Patricia Meyers has served on multiple nonprofit boards, including the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, and has received recognition for her contributions to historic preservation; and Peter Richard, General Manager of XMA Corporation, has a business administration background and involvement in various organizations such as the Manchester Area Human Resources Association and NH Tech Alliance.

The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire in Londonderry (27 Navigator Road) will host an open house on Monday, May 22, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for adult community members who are interested in volunteering as mentors for the museum’s high school aircraft-building program. According to a press release, volunteers collaborate with high school students on site at Manchester School of Technology and Alvirne High School in Hudson to assemble a two-seat RV-12iS light sport aircraft. If you plan to attend the open house, call 669-4877 and leave a message with your name, or send an email to ldearborn@nhahs.org. Visit aviationmuseumofnh.org.

St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua has won this year’s Nashua Gate City Light award. According to a press release, the award, presented by Mayor Donchess and the City of Nashua’s Mayor’s Volunteer Recognition Committee, recognizes an organization and its volunteers for “giving their time in the spirit of community, caring, and making significant contributions to the people of Nashua.”

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting to share information regarding proposed improvements to the crossing of Main Street over Beaver Brook in Pelham. The meeting will be held Wednesday, May 31, at 6:30 p.m. at Sherburne Hall in Pelham (6 Village Green). According to a press release, the project aims to address flooding and to correct structural deficiencies to remove the two bridges from the NHDOT Red List. Call 271-3921 or visit nh.gov/dot/projects to learn more.

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