Category: News

Erasing the stigma

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Dr. Will Torrey, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Dartmouth Health, discusses Mental Health Awareness Month, efforts to reduce stigma surrounding mental health and resources available to individuals dealing with mental health issues in New Hampshire.

What is the purpose of Mental Health Awareness Month?

The idea is to increase knowledge and understanding of mental health disorders so that the general public can know more about these common illnesses and get increasingly engaged in helping us to help people get timely access to high-quality care. About 20 percent of us in the United States will have a psychiatric illness in any given year, and half of us will at some point during our lifetime. The point of Mental Health Awareness Month is to help engage people so that they’re more knowledgeable about their illnesses, can seek help when needed, and to broaden the coalition of people who are seeking to turn toward psychiatric and addictive difficulties with the same seriousness of purpose as we treat other illnesses, like cancer.

What initiatives is Dartmouth Health doing for Mental Health Awareness Month?

We’re excited to be hosting an exhibit at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center called “Deconstructing Stigma.” It aims to help people understand more about mental illness and to help people start or continue to deepen conversations about mental illness and its treatment. We also have a series called “Heads Up” that started last May and is ending this May and has included monthly articles on different facets of mental health and webinars on those topics. Our last webinar is coming out in May for Mental Health Awareness Month. These efforts aim to educate and foster discussions so that people can start to suffer less and do more together to make treatment more available.

What are the current strengths and weaknesses of mental health care in New Hampshire?

Across the nation, the big challenge is timely access to high-quality care. Covid-19 was a perfect storm in terms of stressors that bring out psychiatric illness. People had health worries, economic challenges, loss to death, social isolation, trouble with child care — all kinds of things that lead people to be more likely to exhibit signs and symptoms of psychiatric illness. At the same time, the health care system has been stressed because of worker shortages, and some of the core supports that had typically been available are less available. New Hampshire has struggled to meet the growing demand for mental health and substance use disorder care despite efforts to address the issues. It has excellent structure in its community mental health systems, but those are somewhat overwhelmed by the need for those services at this time. This is true for inpatient hospitalization needs for children and adults and for general outpatient care. At all levels of the continuum of care, the need for services outstrips capacity.

What can be done to help reduce stigma around mental health and encourage more people to get help when they need it?

When I was growing up, breast cancer was highly stigmatized, and people wouldn’t talk about it. … It wasn’t something that you looked to get support from others for. Nowadays, people get support from their friends and family, and I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be in the same position with mental health care. That’s what we’re working toward: if someone develops depression, psychosis or posttraumatic stress disorder, they should be able to talk to their friends and family and have straightforward, well-organized pathways into care and support. … A lot of it has to do with creating community, advocating together and encouraging these conversations and having these conversations.

What can friends and family members do to support someone struggling with mental health issues?

The core messages are the same as we would give to anyone with any kind of illness — just be clear that you care about them and will be with them through this. Give the message of caring, support and hope. Family members can also get more education through organizations such as the National Alliance for Mental Illness. They offer support groups and courses so that people can learn more about psychiatric illness and be more helpful to their loved ones or friends living with these illnesses.

What resources are available to people struggling with mental health issues in New Hampshire?

First and foremost, if you’re in crisis, you can call the national number 988, which can guide you to the appropriate care. Additionally, New Hampshire has mobile crisis units that can help resolve a crisis situation directly, often without [resulting in] hospitalization. Emergency rooms are always open for real crisis times. You can access mental health care through your community mental health system, or you can go to the Psychology Today website … and it will tell you which providers in your local area accept your type of insurance. Finally, if you’re employed, your employer may have an employee assistance program that can provide you with information about resources and support that are available to you.

Featured photo: Dr. Will Torrey. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 23/05/04

Tuition help for preschool teachers

The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) and Granite State College (GSC) have partnered with the state’s Preschool Development Grant program to provide tuition reimbursement for qualifying students enrolled in Early Childhood Education (ECE) courses through 2023. According to a press release, the initiative aims to address workforce demands in the ECE field by covering full tuition for up to two classes per term for students enrolled in ECE courses at the state’s seven community colleges. The $500,000 award builds on an existing program at GSC, and grants are available to individuals working in licensed child care or out-of-school child care facilities in New Hampshire. Interested students can apply for the funds via the Preschool Development Tuition Assistance website, ccsnh.edu/paying-for-college/preschool-development-tuition-assistance, which includes eligibility requirements, application timelines, eligible course lists and award specifications.

Help for school nurses

The Manchester School District has announced a new partnership with the Manchester Fire Department to help address the shortage of school nurses. According to a press release, the agreement, which is in effect from now until June 30, will allow Manchester Fire Department paramedics, advanced-EMTs and EMTs to volunteer as substitute school nurses when needed. Filling nursing positions has been a persistent issue for the School District, resulting in the use of external staffing agencies to fill the gaps. “We are grateful for this continued partnership with the Manchester Fire Department,” Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Gillis said in the release. “While this agreement does not solve our long-term staffing concerns, it gives us flexibility and puts less of a strain on our staff nurses.” The agreement does not allow the substitutes to provide one-to-one nursing services to students with special needs.

Historic sites

The New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources has selected three state-owned historic sites to spotlight during May as Historic Preservation Month. According to a press release, the sites are Endicott Rock in Laconia, which features inscriptions dated 1652 and is possibly the oldest public monument in New England; Fort Dearborn at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, part of a chain of coastal defenses that protected Portsmouth Harbor and the Naval Shipyard during World War II; and Nansen Ski Jump in Milan, the largest ski jump in the eastern U.S. for more than 50 years and the site of the first U.S. ski jump Olympic trials in 1938. Visitors are encouraged to explore the sites on a self-guided basis, with accompanying activity sheets for each site available for download on the DHR’s website, which each feature a short crossword puzzle, suggested activities and facts about the sites.

The Division of Historical Resources has also installed a New Hampshire Historical Highway Marker honoring Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, “a well-known labor, women’s rights and civil liberties activist,” according to a press release. The marker is at the corner of Court and Montgomery Streets in downtown Concord, which is near the site of her birthplace in 1890, and identifies her as “The Rebel Girl.”

Propose a highway marker for significant New Hampshire places, people or events by submitting a petition of support signed by at least 20 state residents, a draft text of the marker with footnotes and supporting documentation and a location suggestion, the release said.

Visit nh.gov/nhdhr for an interative map of all the state’s historical highway markers, the release said.

5K for Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County is holding its 4th annual Step up 5K Run-Walk on Saturday, May 27, at 9:30 a.m. at Mine Falls Park in Nashua to support its programs and services. According to a press release, Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County has served more than 14.8 million meals since opening its doors in 1977 and currently provides an average of 7,000 meals a week to older and homebound adults throughout Hillsborough County. “Chances are pretty good that older adults in your community — maybe even someone in your neighborhood — is food insecure,” Jon Eriquezzo, president of Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County, said in the release. “Beyond the delivery of healthy meals, our drivers provide vital wellness checks and social connection for our participants. For about 59 percent of those we serve, the driver is the only visitor they have in a given week.” Participants in the 5K will have the option to run or walk the course or do a shorter route. There is also an opportunity to do a virtual race. To register, visit runsignup.com/Race/NH/Nashua/HCMOW5k.

Interstate 93 road work

Starting on the evening of Sunday, May 7, there will be temporary lane and ramp closures on Interstate 93 southbound between Exit 10 in Hooksett and Exit 6 in Manchester for pavement rehabilitation. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, overnight detours will be required for traffic daily, between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., for the duration of the construction period, which is expected to last for three weeks. Real-time traffic news can be found at newengland511.org, and travelers can sign up for “My511” alerts to stay informed about incidents and construction work.

The Sacred Ally Quilt exhibition, a collection of quilts that display the last words of George Floyd, will be on view at First Parish Church in Dover (218 Central Ave.) from Wednesday, May 10, through Saturday, May 13. The exhibition was created by a coalition of nine New Hampshire United Church of Christ ministries to serve as “a visible symbol and a graphic reminder of the need for racial justice,” according to a press release. Viewing hours are 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday; 6 to 7 p.m., on Thursday; and 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. An accompanying documentary by New Hampshire filmmaker Chris Owen, Stitch, Breathe, Speak: The George Floyd Quilts, will be screened on Thursday, May 11, at 7 p.m. Call 742-5664 or visit firstparishdover.org.

The Hooksett Chamber of Commerce announced in a newsletter that it will host an inaugural Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, June 10, to raise funds for its scholarship program. More information and registration will be announced soon, according to the newsletter. Visit hooksettchamber.org or watch the Chamber’s Facebook page for updates.

Riley’s Place in Milford (29 Mount Vernon St.) will host a fundraiser in honor of Bob Dylan’s 82nd birthday on Wednesday, May 24, at 7 p.m., to benefit the Hidden Battles Foundation, a nonprofit that provides mental health support to military, veterans and first responders. According to a press release, the event will feature a number of local musicians, with Jeff Lawrence of Boston’s WMEX 1510 serving as Master of Ceremonies. Funds will be raised through a suggested donation at the door and throughout the evening. Email rileyscreamery@gmail.com for more information.

This Week 23/04/27

Big Events April 27, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, April 27

Today is opening night for Cirque Alfonse-Animal at the Dana Center (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester) at 7:30 p.m. The show reimagines Quebec folklore with a troupe of performers that include acrobats, musicians and a former ski champion. Tickets cost $45 and can be purchased at anselm.edu.

Friday, April 28

This is the last weekend to see the art exhibit “Love Our Planet” at the Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way, Auburn). The exhibit features works of art celebrating the beauty of the natural world and wildlife. There are more than 30 pieces of artwork in various media including oils, watercolors, acrylics, pastel, mixed media, pen and ink, pencil, and photography. For more information visit nhaudubon.org.

Friday, April 28

Get spooky at Fright Kingdom’s (12 Simon St., Nashua) Halfway to Halloween haunted house today from 7 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, April 29 from 6 to 10 p.m. The haunt will have all five unique scary experiences open for people to wander through, with characters outside providing spooky entertainment. Tickets cost $35 and can be purchased at frightkingdom.com.

Saturday, April 29

Concord’s Giant Indoor Yard Sale is back today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord). There will be thousands of items on sale for visitors to choose from, as well as food and drinks to keep up shoppers’ energy. Tickets cost $5, children ages 12 and younger are free. Email concordyard@gmail.com.

Saturday, April 29

The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester) is hosting Beatles cover band Beatlejuice today at 7:30 p.m. The group, which has been performing for more than 20 years, matches the original foursome note for note so audiences can feel like John, Paul, George and Ringo are performing their greatest hits. Tickets cost $29 and can be bought at palacetheatre.org.

Sunday, April 30

Join the Chubb Theatre at Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord) for Swing into Jazz tonight at 4 p.m., doors open at 3 p.m. The concert will feature guitarist John Pizzarelli, who has collaborated with Paul McCartney and Michael McDonald. Tickets start at $33.25 and can be purchased at ccanh.com.

Save the Date! May 6
Celebrate all things theater at the Broadway Rave at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St.) today. Dress up like your favorite Broadway show character, and belt along to the various cast albums at this event. There will be some surprise guests for theater lovers. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $19. Visit nashuacenterforthearts.com to order tickets or for more information.

Featured photo. Highlights from past Concord’s Giant Indoor Yard Sales. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 23/04/27

Hey, leave our seafood platters alone

Dozens of restaurants in New Hampshire are feeling the effects of a nationwide ransomware attack, WMUR reported. The attack on NCR, a supplier for many restaurant point-of-sale systems, has caused issues with gift cards, loyalty points and payroll for some restaurants. While some can still redeem old gift cards, others have been unable to issue new ones for almost two weeks. In a statement to WMUR, NCR said it’s working to restore applications and enhance its security. In-restaurant purchases and transactions are not currently affected.

QOL score: -1
Comment: The Beach Plum, a restaurant chain with four locations in New Hampshire, has been hit particularly hard by the ransomware attack since it typically offers a gift card promotion in anticipation of Mother’s Day, according to the article.

New lab

Catholic Medical Center has expanded its cardiac electrophysiology (EP) services by opening a third EP lab in Manchester, according to a press release. EP is a cardiac specialty that deals with abnormal heart rhythms, which can be treated with minimally invasive procedures like cardiac ablation, pacemaker insertion and the Watchman and Convergent procedures. Last year 2,259 patients were treated in CMC’s EP Labs. “We have a tremendous demand for these services,” Brian Cusson, MS, RDCS, Director of Invasive and Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Services, said in the release. “Adding this third lab allows us to better provide timely and needed care to patients in our community.” CMC plans to continue to improve and upgrade its existing EP facilities.

QOL score: +1
Comment: Heart arrhythmia affects approximately five percent of adults in the U.S., with atrial fibrillation being the most prevalent type, according to the release.

NH: Still not super diverse

Rochester, New Hampshire, came in second-to-last in a WalletHub study that ranked the 501 most populated cities in the U.S. from most to least diverse. Cities were analyzed across five diversity categories, including socioeconomic, cultural, economic, household and religious diversity. Other New Hampshire cities were also low on the list, including Keene at No. 498, Dover at No. 493, Derry at No. 491 and Lebanon at 488. New Hampshire’s most diverse city is Nashua, coming in at No. 367.

QOL score: -1
Comment:New Hampshire did have one outlier, with Derry ranking as the city with the second most diverse household incomes.

QOL score: 72
Net change: -1
QOL this week: 71

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

Featured photo: Catholic Medical Center opens a third cardiac electrophysiology lab in Manchester. Courtesy photo.

Draft winds are blowing

The Big Story – NFL Draft: While knowing Coach B won’t follow the script by trading up, down and around the board, the Pats are now scheduled to step to the podium around 9:35 p.m. tonight (Thursday) to make the 14th selection in the NFL draft. It’s an important draft for a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2018. Whether they do it with savvy picks or draft capital in trades doesn’t matter; they just badly need to come away with a ready-on-Day 1 left tackle and a game-breaking wide receiver. Anything else is gravy.

As for the rest of the draft, it mostly centers around QBs likely being taken with the first two and maybe third picks if Arizona trades out of the spot, along with what could happen with agitated veteran QBs like Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson.

Sports 101: Name the future Hall of Fame offensive tackle once taken third overall who also was a pitcher for USC when their baseball team won the national championship in 1978.

5 Questions Going Into The Draft:

(1) With the Jackson situation in flux at best, what will the Ravens do this weekend?

(2) With whispers growing that his hometown 49ers want in on the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes, are the Jets going to screw it up like they always do to be left at the altar for refusing to give up a first-round pick when they’re ready to win if they get a good QB?

(3) After being stripped bare with salary cap-forced cuts and having no high draft picks to get there, were the L.A. Rams just a one-and-done champion?

(4) Two years after handing L.A. their QB to win that SB, is Detroit in a better position going forward thanks to all those picks they got from L.A., which include the totally unexpected sixth overall pick they get this year from them that seemed like a high 20s pick at the time?

(5) With rumors swirling about Mac’s future in Foxborough, is he Coach B’s guy going forward or not?

Random Thoughts:

The Patriots haven’t drafted a defensive player in Round 1 since tackle Malcolm Brown in 2016.

More Matt Patricia stuff. You rarely see a team give up on a guy so quickly when taken as high as Jeff Okudah was by Detroit. So quite a comedown for the first draft pick of the Patricia era when the Lions traded the former Ohio State star to Atlanta for a measly fifth-round pick just three years after Okudah was taken third overall in 2020.

In Case You Missed It: NFL followers went into comical overdrive with NFL Draft lingo humor when it leaked out that former President Donald Trump weighed in at 6’1” and 270 during his arraignment at the NYC courthouse. NFL Combine maven Dave Kluge tweeted, “If he runs a sub-4.5, he’d comp historically to Dwight Freeney and may have a chance to go in the first round of the NFL Draft.” Former agent and Packers capologist Andrew Brandt tweeted, “Some teams have now taken him off their Draft boards.” And @Nati_Sports said Trump was “too small to protect my franchise quarterback. Day 3 grade.”

A Little History – Best and Worst Draft Picks of Belichick Era:

Worst 5 First-Round Picks: Dominique Easley, 2012 (29), lasted two seasons for work ethic and attitude issues. N’Keal Harry, 2019 (32), perpetually hurt and couldn’t get open. Laurence Maroney, 2006 (21), most indecisive runner in history. Sony Michel, 2018 (30), nice 2018 playoff run was high point, downhill after that. Isaiah Wynn, 2018 (23), because of durability and declining play his last two years were more disappointment than bust.

Best 5 Non-First Round Picks: Tom Brady, 2000, R6 (199 overall), GOAT. Gronk, 2010 R2, after trading up and down to get the 42nd pick. Julian Edelman, 2009 R7 (232). Matt Light, 2001 R2 (48), solid for 10 years. James White, 2014 R4 (130), always reliable and immense vs. Atlanta in 2016 SB. Deion Branch, 2002 R2, SB MVP in 2004 and could have been in 2003.

Interesting Picks:

Stephen Gostkowski, 2006 R4 (110), notable for three reasons: Bill had to get it right because he had just let Adam V walk in free agency; he became the best pick in the sorry 2006 draft class; and he became the franchise’s all-time scorer.

Neither Kliff Kingsbury, 2003 R6, nor Kevin O’Connell, 2008 R3, did anything in New England, but both wound up as NFL head coaches.

2007— even though they only got one player, first-round pickBrandonMeriweather, you can argue this was one of Belichick’s best drafts as by using their second on Wes Welker and the third on Randy Moss it kickstarted the 16-0 season that immediately followed that draft.

Sports 101 Answer: The OT/pitcher for USC was 6’6” 280 Anthony Munoz, who, given his immense size, I’m betting wasn’t a junkbaĺler.

Final Thought: I don’t know about you but I’m getting a little sick of Coach B reportedly being ticked at Mac for seeking advice/help from outside the building during his 2022 struggles. Sorry, Bill, he’s not the one who put incompetents in charge of the offense and the development of a highly drafted second-year QB — you did. And if you want a glimpse of how incompetent Matt Patricia and Joe Judge have been in those roles, take a look at how much the play of Jared Goff and Daniel Jones immediately improved after they were fired by the Lions and G-Men respectively.

Your fault, Bill, not that of the kid in need of real help because he wasn’t getting any and that’s what you’re supposed to do and didn’t.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Local color

A Manchester artist talks about her coloring book

Jyl Dittbenner, the Manchester artist behind the coloring book The Colors of Manchester, talked about her creative process and the inspiration behind her illustrations of the city’s landmarks, businesses and residents. Sold out since its first release a few years ago, the book was recently reprinted, with limited copies available now at the Millyard Museum’s gift shop and the Bookery in Manchester.

How did the idea for a Manchester coloring book come about?

I draw every day, often at various cafes and restaurants, and sometimes people will see me and talk to me. Liz Hitchcock [principal at Orbit Group, a Manchester-based investment firm that supports community development initiatives] saw me drawing a few times and said, ‘You know, I’d really like to see a coloring book of Manchester. Is that something that you would want to collaborate on?’ So I worked with her and some people from the Orbit Group to take a bunch of drawings and move in a direction. I didn’t have any words in mind, so the creative director came up with a few sentences that are in the book, and we agreed on them together.

What locations or landmarks are featured, and how did you choose them?

I looked through my sketchbooks and talked with Liz and her creative department and also people in my life to determine what locations people would be interested in coloring. … There’s Baer Square in Arms Park. There’s Cat Alley. We love cats, so there are actually a lot of cats on random pages. … There’s the Palace Theatre, from the inside and outside. There are some pieces of cafe life. There’s the river and the Millyard in the background on a lot of the pages.

From an artistic standpoint, what do you find intriguing about the architecture, landmarks and scenery of Manchester?

We have a lot of older buildings and architecture, which look very different from the things around them … I also love drawing people; buildings are interesting to draw because they each have their own character, and it’s the same with drawing people. It’s just fun to see what makes us unique.

How does the process of creating a coloring book differ from creating regular art?

Most of my drawings are very sketchy. I don’t like using pencil because I drag my hand across the page, but I do all my drawings in pen. For this coloring book, I would take a sketch drawing and bring it into Procreate on the iPad, then trace over the lines that I wanted to keep, clarify the lines that I thought weren’t quite right and add more detail if I felt like [it was necessary] to create the suggestion of certain shapes and patterns for people to color.

Who would enjoy this book?

It’s for all ages, and kids can enjoy it, but it’s geared more toward adults, because it’s more about reminiscing about the places in Manchester that we frequently see. … For me, drawing and making murals in the city is something I enjoy doing; it’s relaxing and calming. I think coloring is a similar activity for other people, and it’s a less intimidating activity for people who think, ‘I can’t draw,’ or ‘I can’t make art.’ It’s an entry point [to art] for them; they can color something and feel confident in their choices of colors and how it looks.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 23/04/27

Director departs

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has announced the planned departure of Director of the Division for Children, Youth and Families Joe Ribsam on June 1 after five years of service. According to a press release, Ribsam has accepted the position of Director of Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Policy at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a nationally recognized foundation focused on the well-being of children and youth. Under Ribsam’s leadership, DCYF and the broader child welfare system have implemented several child welfare system improvements, including a children’s system of care for behavioral health; Kinship Navigator programs to support extended family and caregivers of children; a new juvenile justice assessment process that has prevented many youth from having to enter the formal justice system; community-based voluntary services that provide support to at-risk families; peer support for parents; expanded support from foster care health professionals and specialists; new evidence-based programs to increase children’s safety; the HOPE program, a voluntary foster care program that allows foster families to provide continuing support to youth ages 18 through 21 for voluntary foster care, and partnerships with housing authorities to prevent children from having to enter foster care due to a family’s housing instability. Over the past few years there has been a 25 percent decrease in the number of children placed in out-of-home care, and New Hampshire currently has the lowest combined rate of youth detention and commitment in the country. DHHS Interim Commissioner Lori Weaver will work to ensure continued support for the child welfare transformation efforts developed during Ribsam’s tenure.

Caregiver honored

Easterseals NH, VT and Farnum, Easterseals NH’s substance abuse treatment program, will honor Roberta Coutu with the Eliot Priest Founder’s Award at Farnum’s 10th Annual Spirit of Hope Event on Tuesday, May 2, at 6 p.m. at The Factory on Willow (252 Willow St., Manchester). According to a press release, Coutu, an eight-year employee of Farnum, supports individuals with substance use disorders on and off the job and helps them enter sober living. “Roberta’s commitment to Farnum and the people we serve is boundless,” Annette Escalante, Senior Vice President for Substance Use Treatment at Easterseals NH, VT and Farnum, said in the release. “She makes everyone who comes through our doors feel safe and at ease at a difficult time in their lives. We are all inspired by her connection with our clients and their families.” The public is welcome to attend the event, and tickets are available at easterseals.com/nh/get-involved/events.

Bike month

New Hampshire celebrates National Bike Month in May with a variety of events throughout the state to celebrate bikes and the people who ride them. According to a press release, this year’s schedule includes National Bike and Roll to School Day on May 3; the Chester Police Department Bike Rodeo on May 6; National Ride a Bike Day on May 7; National Bike to Work Week from May 15 through May 21; The Tour De Francestown 25/50 mile gravel rides on May 20; the New Boston Rail Trail 6-Mile Bike Event on May 21 and more. Visit bwanh.org/calendar to see the full schedule of events.

Energy week

New Hampshire Energy Week — a five-day series of events highlighting prominent energy topics and issues and bringing together leading experts to discuss energy solutions and share their knowledge — will take place Monday, May 1, through Friday, May 5. According to a newsletter, this year’s schedule includes a virtual kickoff event on Monday at 10 a.m., featuring the City of Nashua’s Energy Manager and environmental TikTok influencer Doria Brown and others live via YouTube; followed by a virtual “Investing in Resilience” panel on Tuesday at 11 a.m.; energy trivia and an electric vehicle showcase on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Smuttynose Brewery in Hampton; and a virtual energy career and resource fair on Thursday at 11 a.m.; concluding with an event at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord on Friday at 1 p.m., featuring a number of speakers discussing “Powering New Hampshire’s Energy Future.” Visit nhenergyfuture.org/nhew for details and to register for events.

Old Man

A virtual remembrance event marking 20 years since the collapse of New Hampshire’s iconic rock face known as Old Man of the Mountain will be held on Wednesday, May 3, at 11 a.m., at OldManNH.org. According to a press release, the event will feature storytelling and an opportunity for attendees to share their stories and memories of the Old Man. “People from around the world still have an emotional attachment to the Old Man,” Brian Fowler, President of The Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund board, said in the release. “We want to collect and share these stories during this special year, so we’re inviting folks to share their stories with us to highlight just how fondly we all remember the Old Man.” The Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund board has also organized The Old Man of the Mountain Scavenger Hunt Challenge, which will kick off the same day and continue through the summer in Franconia Notch State Park, concluding with a family fun day at the Old Man Plaza on Aug. 3.

One lane of the bridge that carries Route 111A in Fremont over the Exeter River will be closed for several weeks for maintenance work, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. Traffic will be restricted to a single lane, with alternating travel controlled by a temporary signalized system. Real-time traffic news can be found at newengland511.org, and travelers can sign up for “My511” alerts to stay informed about incidents and construction work.

New Hampshire Roller Derby returns to the JFK Memorial Coliseum in Manchester (303 Beech St.) with its season-opening doubleheader on Saturday, April 29, at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $12 at the door, and admission is free for kids age 12 and under and veterans, according to the website. More home bouts are scheduled for Saturdays, May 20, June 24 and Aug. 5. Visit nhrollerderby.com.

The Craftworkers’ Guild’s Spring Craft Shop opens on Thursday, May 4, at the historic Kendall House in Bedford (5 Meetinghouse Road). Browse handmade items by more than 50 juried artisans and craftspeople, including seasonal decor, photography, fine art and prints, cards, gourmet treats, woodworking, fiber and fabrics, sewn and knit specialties, stained and fused glass art, mixed media, jewelry, doll clothes and more. The shop will be open through Saturday, May 13, daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the website. Visit thecraftworkersguild.org.

This Week 23/04/20

Big Events April 20, 2023 and beyond

Friday, April 21

The beloved rock opera Rent is opening tonight at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) at 7:30 p.m. The show, loosely inspired by the opera La Bohème, follows a group of artists and friends as they try to survive in New York’s Alphabet City while the HIV/AIDS epidemic rages around them. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at palacetheatre.org. The show runs through Sunday, May 14, with shows Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. as well as Thursday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 21

Girl Named Tom is coming to the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St.) today at 8 p.m. The band is siblings Bekah, Joshua and Caleb Liechty, and is the only group to ever win NBC’s The Voice. Tickets to the show are $29 to $69 and can be purchased at nashuacenterforthearts.com.

Saturday, April 22

See the ’80s glam rock cover “hair band” Mullet today at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord) today at 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m. The band is known for putting on shows covering classic rock ’n’ roll artists like Van Halen, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Journey and Poison. Tickets cost $30.75 and can be purchased at ccanh.com.

Saturday, April 22

Celebrate all things Scottish with the New Hampshire Indoor Scottish Festival at Salem High School (44 Geremonty Drive) today from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The festival will have competitions in Highland dance, bagpipes, Scottish snare, tenor and bass on stage. There will also be history talks, clan registrations, vendors, food trucks and more. Visit nhssa.org for more information.

Sunday, April 23

Shop for special antiques at the Spring Vintage and Collectibles Sale at the Timeless Toy Box (25 Elm St., Peterborough) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vendors will be set up to sell vintage toys, collectibles and more. Visit facebook.com/TimelessToyBox for more information.

Wednesday, April 26

Today is the opening day of the Manchester Spring Carnival at the JFK Arena parking lot (303 Beech St., Manchester), with the gates opening at 5 p.m. The carnival will run through April 30 and will have a variety of tasty food, exciting games and thrilling rides. Entry costs start at $30 online, $35 on site. Visit fiestashows.com.

Save the Date! Thursday, April 20
The Concord Multicultural Festival Latin Night is tonight at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) at 6 p.m., doors open at 5 p.m. The show, presented by Barranquilla Flavor and the Concord Multicultural Festival, will have performances, dance demonstrations and South American cuisine. Tickets cost $50 per person.

Featured photo. Rent.

Quality of Life 23/04/20

Woo-hoo, NH robotics teams!

Five student robotics teams from New Hampshire have qualified to compete in two upcoming world robotics championships in Texas. The robotics team from Spark Academy in Manchester and Awesome Potatoes, a team from Great Brook Middle School in Antrim, will head to the VEX World Championship in Dallas from April 25 through May 4. The Blue Box team from Windham Middle School and Windham High School, the Lakerbots from Inter-Lakes Middle High School in Meredith and Chop Shop 166 from Merrimack High School are competing in the 2023 FIRST Championship in Houston from April 19 through April 22.

QOL score: +1

Comment: All teams currently have GoFundMe campaigns to help them raise the necessary funds for the trip.

Help for the helpers

Elementary and early childhood educators in New Hampshire who are enrolled in the Lexia LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) one- and two-year training programs will be eligible to receive a stipend upon achieving a mastery level score of 80 percent, among other program completion requirements, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education. Gov. Chris Sununu and the Executive Council approved $956,340 in federal funds to be distributed as stipends to qualifying educators in the amounts of $1,000 for elementary educators and $500 for early childhood educators. “These educators are working diligently to empower our youngest children to read proficiently, and they are spending their valuable free time advancing and integrating the science of reading so that New Hampshire can accelerate literacy learning for all students,” New Hampshire education commissioner Frank Edelblut said in the release.

QOL score: +1

Comment:Around 2,468 individuals have enrolled or pre-enrolled in the Lexia LETRS program since it was made available to educators in New Hampshire in November 2022. The program will continue to be offered through September 2024. Visit lexialearning.com/newhampshire-letrs to learn more and to register.

Funds for the trail

Merrimack County Savings Bank has contributed $10,000 to the Friends of the Merrimack River Greenway Trail, an initiative to create a continuous, off-street paved trail following the Merrimack River from Pembroke to Boscawen. According to a press release, the funds will support the development of Phase 2, a recreational trail to be built by the City of Concord this year as part of the Merrimack River Recreation and Open Space Corridor, extending from the northern end of Terrill Park’s wetland to Loudon Road’s cornfields.

QOL score: +1

Comment: When complete, the trail will be approximately 13 miles long and accessible to individuals with mobility challenges, according to the release. Visit merrimackrivergreenwaytrail.org.

QOL score: 69

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 72

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

Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Friends of the Merrimack River Greenway Trail.

B’s get all A’s in 2022-23

The Big Story – Bruins Do It: Congrats to the Bruins for their epic achievement of finishing with the most wins and points in NHL regular season history. The bad news is that’s ancient history for the moment, as the best record ever guarantees nothing in the playoffs. The 2015-2016 Golden State Warriors can tell you that, as they got beat in the Finals by LeBron James and Cleveland after their record-setting 73-win season. Ditto for the John Havlicek-Dave Cowens Celtics, who won a franchise-best 68 games (against 14 loses) in 1972-73, but got beat (much to my delight) in Game 7 by the archrival Knicks in the Eastern Conference Final.

So it’s a whole new season that got started this week vs. the Florida Panthers.

But it doesn’t mean the playoffs don’t begin with great promise and high expectations. They just have to back it by keeping the train rolling into June.

Sports 101: Fourteen is the record for most home runs in April. Name the two players who share that record.

News Item – Casas Not Living Up to Hype: Those over-the-top notions that Triston Casas is the next Lou Gehrig (OK, slight exaggeration), pushed by Red Sox brass to get people to buy tickets, aren’t looking so good. After 13 games he was hitting .123 with 2 homers and 7 RBI. That after a .196 September in 27 games last year. The power numbers, though, actually aren’t that bad, as 7 homers and 19 RBI in 40 games projects to 28 and 76.

News Item–NBA Hits Mavs with Big Fine for Tanking:Some will think the $750,000 fine the Dallas Mavericks got for sitting all their key players to ensure they lost to miss the playoffs was stiff. But we’re guessing owner Mark Cuban isn’t one of them. Because if they won them, they’d have lost the protected top 10 first-round pick they owed the Knicks for their long ago Kristaps Porzingis trade. Instead they’ll now draft a player for next year’s team. So instead of likely losing their one play-in game and having no pick (made more important since Porzingis lasted just two years in Dallas) Cuban likely sees the dough as investment in 2023-24 and not a punishment.

New Item – Xander Bogaerts Update: The ex-Red Sox shortstop was hitting .333 with 3 doubles, 4 homers, 12 RBI and 10 runs scored in his first 12 games with San Diego.

By contrast, replacement Trevor Story likely won’t play until June due to a severe elbow injury the brass knew he had when they let Bogie walk, while Story’s fill-in, Kiké Hernandez, was hitting .083 with 2 homers and 4 RBI in his first 11 games.

Thumbs Up – Minnesota Timberwolves: For doing the right thing by suspending ornery Rudy Gobert for throwing a punch at teammate Kyle Anderson during a game even though it caused him to miss their winner-take-all play-in game vs. the Lakers on Tuesday — which they lost. It said something about the team culture they want.

Thumbs Down – Major League Baseball: Thanks to the new speeding-up-baseball rules, with games quicker, beer sales are down. So their cutoffs have been extended to the eighth inning, which will likely send lubed up fans into traffic sooner than when the seven-inning rule, uh, ruled.

Quote of the Week – Snoop Dogg: After being asked who in today’s NBA reminds him most of Kobe Bryant, Snoop eventually said Steph Curry because “he’s never considered the best, but he’s always the best when it’s time to be the best.”

Random Thoughts:

Earth to Joe Mazzulla: Grant Williams should be in the rotation over Sam Hauser. He’s a better, more versatile defender and rebounder and according to the stats not all that much different a 3-point shooter (41.2 – 39.5).

Celtics should hope Jaylen Brown makes one of the three All-NBA teams. Not for the individual honor, but if he does, it makes him eligible for a $290 million contract extension to increase the likelihood he re-signs with the C’s after next year, because that’s $70 million more than he can get elsewhere.

The Numbers:

7 –Major League homers hit by Rafael Devers 14 games into 2023, which projects to 81 if he remains on the same pace.

11.75 –earned run average for one-time Sox ace Chris Sale after his first three 2023 starts. If Don Meredith were still around you wonder if he’d be singing his favorite tune, “The Party’s Over,” on the career for Sale.

13 – tied for most ever consecutive wins to start a season for the Rays after sweeping four from the Red Sox last week to become the first team since the 1987 Brewers (13-0) to start a season with a double-digit win streak. A string where they led the majors with 31 homers and outscored their opponents by an incredible 101-30 margin. It ended on Friday in Toronto.

30.1 – points per game averaged by Jayson Tatum in the just completed NBA season to make him the first Celtics player ever to average 30 or more points a game.

Sports 101 Answer: The April record of 14 homers is shared by Albert Pujols (2006) and Alex Rodriguez (2007).

Glossary: Don Meredith:QB in the 1960s as the expansion Cowboys were on their way to becoming America’s team who next teamed with Frank Gifford and Howard Cosell in the ABC booth when Monday Night Football was a national sensation. Dandy Don would sing “the party’s over” when the game was out of reach.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

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