Category: News

Quality of Life 25/10/09

Yeah but what about ‘Baconchester’? ‘Baconcord’?

In an Oct. 2 press release, New Hampshire Lottery described the return of its “bacon-scented, scratch-n-sniff $2 ‘I Heart Bacon’ scratch ticket” this way: “As players scratch the “I Heart Bacon” ticket, they’ll be met with the aroma of sizzling bacon, and an opportunity to win up to $10,000, along with a second-chance drawing for a … full year’s supply of bacon from North Country Smokehouse in Claremont.” To promote the sniffy scratchies, the NH Lottery posted a video on its website replacing the “ham”s in say New Hampshire or Durham or Pelham, with “bacon,” so “New Baconshire,” “PelBacon,” etc.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Because at least you know you’ll win the bacon smell.

Dry but colorful

In an Oct. 2 press release, the University of New Hampshire announced that the state’s drought conditions will not have a significant impact on this fall’s foliage. “There should be plenty of leaf peeping opportunities this year,” the press release read. The report quoted Steve Roberge, professor of natural resources and UNH Extension forestry specialist: “[Y]ou still see color because it is already in the leaves from the rainy weather we had this spring.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: “The color’s reveal is controlled by the length of the days and nights as we head into fall,” said Roberge. “What has been great so far are these lovely 45-degree nights that help to bring out the first reds and deep purple colors.”

The number of NH drug deaths has dropped

A recently released study by the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute found that drug-related deaths in New Hampshire have dropped to their lowest level in more than a decade. “In 2024, 287 Granite Staters died from drug-related causes, down from a peak of 490 in 2017,” the Institute reported in a Sept. 30 press release. The study credited State investment in anti-drug measures for much of the decrease.

QOL score: +3

Comment: According to the Fiscal Policy Institute, “In 2015, New Hampshire had the second-highest drug-related mortality rate in the nation (32.5 deaths per 100,000 residents). By 2024, that rate had fallen more than 38 percent to 20.0 deaths per 100,000 — the lowest in New England and below the national average.” Visit nhfpi.org/press-releases.

QOL score last week: 68

Net change: +5

QOL this week: 73

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Sox head to vacation

The Big Story – 2025 Ends for Sox: It ended in the worst place of all, at Yankee Stadium, where the Sox went out 1-2 in their Wild Card Series with the Yankees.

After the Sox won a surprising 89 games and went to the playoffs for the first time in three years, some in the fellowship of the miserable spent Friday looking under rocks to find the 2025 negatives. And the Boston Globe’s Prince of Darkness reverted to his classic 1990s “the sky is always falling” form by being bizarrely fixated on the Raffy Devers trade to say that’s why they lost to the Yanks. Except they weren’t headed to the playoffs with him.

Actually it was an entertaining year and a sign of things to come after the Devers nonsense ended when he got dumped to SF — who, oh by the way, tanked when he got there. The missing piece in the WCS was really losing the catalyst for their turnaround, Roman Anthony.

Sports 101: Name the two players whose NFL records for most receptions and receiving yards in a season are under threat this year.

News Item – Patriots Beat Buffalo 23-20:Key stat – Pats had 3-1 advantage in TO’s. Improvement by Andy Borregales: The guy everyone wanted to send packing after Game 1 gaffes won the game with a FG with 20 seconds left. Backslide: The offensive line was shaky as they rushed for just 71 yards and Maye was pressured all night. Game ball: Stefon Diggs (10 catches for 145 yards) was excellent, but it goes to the emerging Drake Maye (22-30 with no TO’s) for a mistake-free game, fighting off constant pass rush pressure and leading the game-winning drive with two minutes left.

News Item – 2025 Alumni News: Catching up with recent ex- Red Sox players who could have helped the cause in 2025.

Kyle Schwarber: NL MVP candidate thanks to hitting 56 homers and knocking in MLB-leading 132 RBI.

Nathan Eovaldi: FA passed on. 11-3 with a 1.73 ERA for mediocre Texas.

Nick Pivetta: Free agent. Was 13-5 for SD; ERA 2.87 over 181.2 innings. Seems like they could have used him in Game 3.

Quinn Priester: Dumped in spring trade to Milwaukee, which they now regret. Stats: 13-3, 3.32 ERA and 157.1 innings in 24 starts.

The Numbers:

6.5 – million dollars raised for The Willie Mays Foundation through an auction of memorabilia from his awesome career.

3:04, 2:50, 2:30 – times of the three WC games between the Yanks and the Sox.

119 – homers by Seattle bashers Cal Raleigh (60) and Eugenio Suarez (47), which kinda sorta is the second highest by teammates in history to Mickey Mantle (54) and Roger Maris (61) in 1961. Kinda sorta because Suarez actually only hit 13 for Seattle after being traded there in July.

… Of the Week

Thumbs Up – Impossible Feat of the Week: Helped by two Paul Goldschmidt base running blunders, Aroldis Chapman escaped a bottom of the ninth, no out, bases loaded jam without allowing any Yankee to score while saving Boston’s 3-1 WCS Game 1 win.

Who’s Hot – Puka Nacua: His 52 catches for 588 yards after five games puts him on pace for 170 catches for an even 2,000 yards, which would be all-time NFL records.

In Case You Missed It:

Ryan Day: His Ohio State Buckeyes stayed atop the college football rankings after stomping Minnesota 42-3. The defending national champs are 5-0 as they head to Indiana Saturday.

Mac Jones: He threw for a career high 342 yards, two TD’s and no picks while going 33-49 as his 49ers beat the Rams 25-23. He’s now 3-0 filling in for Brock Purdy with six TD passes, one pick and a 99.2 QB rating in Kyle Shanahan’s system. Makes you wonder what would have happened if (a real OC) Josh McDaniels had coached him for all three NE years.

UNC Update: Coach B got clocked again. This time 38-10 at Clemson when they allowed a most ever by a Bill Belichick team 28 first-quarter points. UNC dropped to 2-3 with the losses being by 34, 28 and 25.

Random Thought: Those NY-Boston game lengths are a long way from the five-hour marathons from the Tito–Torre era. Guess the 15-second clock is working.

Sports 101 Answer: The record for most receptions and receiving yards are 149 receptions by the Saints’ Mike Thomas (2019) and 1,964 yards by Detroit’s Calvin Johnson (2012).

Final Thought – Who Brought 2025 Red Sox to Fenway:

Dave Dombrowski: Drafted– Brayan Bello, Ceddanne Rafaela and Jarren Duran.

Chaim Bloom: Trade – Wilyer Abreu. FA – Trevor Story. Drafted– Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell and Kyle Teel, who was used in the Crochet trade.

Craig Breslow: Trade– Garrett Crochet and Carlos Narvaez. FA – Chapman and Alex Bregman.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 25/10/09

Meatball recall

Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce produced by FreshRealm and sold at Walmart stores is recalled “because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria” according to a Sept. 30 press release from the NH Department of Health and Human Services. “The recall includes 12-ounce Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce products with “best if used by” dates of September 22, 24, 25, 29 and 30 and October 1, 2025, which were distributed to New Hampshire Walmart stores,” the release said. “There is a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to prepared meal products manufactured by FreshRealm. While there have been no illnesses in New Hampshire to date, 20 people in other states have gotten sick with listeriosis after eating these products. Four have passed away.” See cdc.gov/listeria for more information on listeria and see fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts for updates about additional products.

Coat drive

Granite United Way, United Way of Greater Nashua and Monadnock United Way are collecting new and like new coats as part of a coat drive through Friday, Oct. 31, according to a press release. Find drop-off locations at graniteuw.org/nhcoatdrive including Cleary Cleaner locations, NHTI in Concord, Manchester Community College, Nashua Community College and more. You can also purchase new coats for the program via a link on the coat drive site, the release said.

Shirts for a cause

The Manchester Fire Department and Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 856 will wear pink shirts to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, according to a press release. The Department will also sell shirts with proceeds to benefit the American Cancer Society, the release said. Long sleeve and short sleeve shirts and hoodies are for sale at manchesterpffl856.itemorder.com.

TB update

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has identified two people with active tuberculosis who were in the Manchester and Nashua area while infectious, according to an Oct. 1 press release. “These individuals are the second and third people diagnosed with active TB in greater Manchester and Nashua areas since” a first person in Manchester was identified in March, the release said. The Department is encouraging people to get tested for TB if they were at 1269 Cafe in Manchester from Jan. 1 through March 1; Loads of Love event at Wash Street Laundromat at 1231 Elm St. in Manchester Jan. 1 through July 17 (Mondays and Thursday nights 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.), and Hillsborough County Department of Corrections, 445 Willow St. in Manchester, April 16-25 and May 9-Aug. 15, the press release said. Call 211 for care or see dhhs.nh.gov for links to free TB testing.

Wonderland Books and Toys, 245 Maple St. in Manchester, will hold a family game night on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. Families can bring their own games or try one of the games from the store, according to a press release. Wonderland is also offering a Stuffy Sleepover Storytime on Friday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m. when kids can bring in a stuffy, hear a story and then leave their stuffy for an overnight sleepover at the store, the release said. See wonderlandbooksandtoys.com.

Registration is open until Oct. 26 for the 3rd Annual New England Woodworking Competition, according to a press release. Interested woodworkers can submit up to two pieces for judging (more for the exhibition) for an entrance fee of $25 in categories including Master/Expert Craftsperson, Emerging Makers and Student (with sections elementary age through college and technical school), the release said. Prizes will be awarded at the New England Woodworking Competition event on Sunday, Nov. 9, at the University of New Hampshire in Durham; tickets cost $25 in advance or $30 at the door. See gnhw.org/woodworking-competition/.

Tickets are on sale now for the Friends of the Bedford Library Books & Baskets Fundraiser. For $10 you get 10 tickets (or 25 tickets for $20), to put in drawings for baskets such as a “Kids and Crafts Basket,” a “Romance Basket” for 21+ fans, a “Hockey Basket” (featuring UNH Wildcat and NH Mountain Kings merch) and more, according to friendsofthebedfordlibrary.com. Tickets are for sale online through Friday, Oct. 10, at 5 p.m. with drawings to be held Saturday, Oct. 11, at noon.

This Week 25/10/02

Thursday, Oct. 2

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance (7 Eagle Square, Concord, 224-2281, nhpreservation.org) holds its biennial Statewide Preservation Conference featuring its Seven to Save announcement today from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. The day’s activities will provide information and networking for preservation advocates, students, community leaders, planners, architects, and others. Visit nhpreservation.org/events-calendar/2025-conference.

Friday, Oct. 3

The theme for October’s First Friday in downtown Concord, which runs today from 4 to 8 p.m., is Spooky Season. There will be food trucks on Capitol Street, including Cali Arepa, the Deadproof Pizza Co. and Teenie Wienies. There will be live music from The Wandering Souls Band from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Capitol Plaza with The Wicked Witches of the Lakes Region (pictured, from their Facebook page) slated to perform a dance at 6:30 p.m. And there will be street soccer matches in costumes with Samba X. In Bicentennial Square, events will be Oktoberfest themed, with live music from Joe Begin from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and a stein holding competition at Penuche’s Ale House, according to the website. Downtown businesses will stay open late and offer specials. Visit firstfridayconcord.com/october.

Saturday, Oct. 4

Broadway’s Next Hit Musical presents The Phony Awards, an original improvised awards show, at the Stockbridge Theatre (22-98 Bypass 28, Derry, 437-5210, pinkertonacademy.org/stockbridge-theatre) tonight at 7 p.m. Master improvisers gather made-up hit song suggestions from the audience and create a spontaneous evening of music and comedy. Tickets start at $33.

Saturday, Oct. 4

Legendary blues guitarist Robert Cray will perform at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $54 through the Nashua Center’s website.

Tuesday, Oct. 7

Fantasy author R.A. Salvatore returns to Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord, 224-0562, gibsonsbookstore.com) at 6:30 p.m. for a launch day event for his newest series, The Finest Edge of Twilight: Dungeons and Dragons. An author talk and Q&A will be followed by a signing line.

Wednesday, Oct. 8

As part of the Walker Lecture Series, hiker Carey Kish presents 7,400 Miles on Foot: Tackling the Triple Crown of American Hiking at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord, 228-2793, theaudi.org) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Experience the highs and lows of long-distance hiking across America’s Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail, the “Triple Crown” of hiking. This event is free and open to the public.

Save the Date! Monday, Oct. 13

Pink Martini will perform at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) Monday, Oct. 13, at 7:30 p.m. Featuring three of the band’s favorite singers and long-time collaborators, the Pink Martini All-Stars tour conjures up a mix of old favorites and new treats, glittering with the band’s unique brand of catchy classic pop, big band sound, and Hollywood glamour. Tickets start at $64.

Sox vs. Yanks dead ahead

The Big Story – Baseball Playoffs Begin: There was a lot to choose from, between the Europeans holding off a furious USA final day rally to win the Ryder Cup 15-13 at Long Island’s famed Bethpage Black; the Red Sox clinching their playoff spot in 1967 Yaz-like fashion via Ceddanne Rafaela’s clutch walk-off triple on Friday; and the first Patriots trouncing of an opponent since the Brady administration left town in a 42-13 thumping of hapless Carolina.

But the Big Story goes to baseball’s playoffs starting Tuesday when the Sox face the Yanks at the Stadium. The other series are Cleveland-Detroit, L.A. (Dodgers)-Cincy and Cubs-Padres.

Sports 101: Name the five winningest pitchers in postseason history.

News Item – Patriots Observations: (1) Player of the game is Marcus Jones for sparking the team with an 87-yard punt return for their first TD and a 61-yarder that put them inside their 20 to set up their third score. (2) Drake Maye’s 14 for 17 for 203 yards, two TD passes, no turnovers and a 155.6 QB rating day shows he is maturing in front of our eyes. (3) FA newcomer Milton Williams is earning his big paycheck. (4) Still too many penalties — 7 for 54 yards during the first half. (5) I like that Mike Vrabel didn’t bury Rhamondre Stevenson as Coach B would have after Week 3’s fumble-itis game, ’cause they need him.

News Item – Clayton Kershaw to Retire: He takes three impressive feats into retirement. He passed Yankees great Whitey Ford (.690) to finish with the highest winning percentage (.699) of anyone with at least 200 wins (222-96) His 2.54 career ERA is the lowest since the dead ball era ended in 1920. And his 18 years with the Dodgers ties him with Zack Wheat and Bill Russell for the most seasons in franchise history.

News Item – Cal Raleigh’s Sensational Year: His 60 homers and 125 RBI (.247 BA) as Seattle came out of nowhere to win the AL West is arguably the best season of any catcher in history.

The contenders: (1)1970, Johnny Bench, .283-45-148. (2) 1953, Roy Campanella, .312-42-141. (3) 1950, Yogi Berra,.322-28-124.

The Numbers:

4 – times Aaron Judge has hit 50+ homers ìn a season to match Babe Ruth as the only other to do it outside of the steroid era.

6 – catches for 101 yards in Stefon Diggs’ first “that’s more like it” game for the Pats in Sunday’s win.

30 – number of doubles, homers and stolen bases by the Cubs’ Pete Crow–Armstrong to become just the sixth person ever to do that.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Up – Garrett Crochet: The Sox paid a big price for him to be THE MAN. And in going 18-6 with an ERA of 2.59 along with 255 strikeouts and just 46 walks he was. Most notably by pitching eight shutout innings in the year’s biggest game to get Tuesday’s 7-1 win in Toronto.

Thumbs Down – NY Fans: Their behavior toward the Europeans at the Ryder Cup was appalling. Booooo!!!

Fiscal Sanity Award: To Milwaukee, who had baseball’sbest record at 97-55 despite spending a meager $120 million on payroll compared to the 93-59 Dodgers, who’ve racked up a billion dollars in deferred player payments, or the $323 million Mets, who didn’t even make the playoff, showing it’s not how much you spend, but how you spend it.

Random Thoughts: Hey Robert Saleh, what does “legally” stealing signs mean as you claimed before Sunday’s SF-Jacksonville game? Doesn’t legal mean it’s OK to do? That led to a near brawl between the 49ers DC and Jax head coach Liam Coen, who, oh by the way, beat out Saleh for Jax’s HC job last spring.

Sports 101 Answer: With 19, Andy Pettitte has the most postseason wins, followed by Justin Verlander (17), John Smoltz (15), Tom Glavine (14) and Kershaw (13).

Final Thought – The Raffy Devers Trade: With the year ending, here’s the early evaluation of the highly controversial trade.

Records: On day of trade SF was 41-31 and Boston was 37-36. After that, SF went 40-50 and Boston 51-37.

Stats: Devers with SF: G 89, BA .239, HR 19, RBI 50, K 119. Overall: G 163, BA .252, HR 34, RBI 108, K 191.

Red Sox Got Back: Just one win from the four guys they got. But it was a big one for the WC race by Kyle Harrison.

Future: From the money saved by trading Devers they’ll have $250 million to invest this winter for a No. 2 starter.

Who Won the Deal: 2025: Based on their record, getting rid of Dever’s distractions to make room for Roman Anthony worked out fine for Boston. Given what he hit, it’s hard to pin (or ignore) SF’s slide on just Raffy, but it happened.

Future: Can’t be fully judged until we see what they do with that saved $250 million.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Quality of Life 25/10/02

From UNH to space!

As reported by the University of New Hampshire in a Sept. 24 press release, New Hampshire-built technology was aboard a rocket launched that morning. “Instrumentation designed and built by researchers, engineers and students from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) blasted off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida,” the press release read. “The rocket is headed toward the sun as a part of NASA’s latest scientific mission to better understand the impact of space weather, cosmic radiation and their impacts on Earth.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: As reported by WMUR in a Sept. 25 online article, “Multiple spacecraft from the rocket are expected to reach their destination, a location between Earth and the Sun about one million miles away, by January.” Visit “UNH and IMAP-Lo“ on YouTube.

You might need to borrow a little more money

As reported by the Concord Monitor in a Sept. 24 online article, the cost of buying a home in New Hampshire has gone up. Again. “August marked the 67th consecutive month in which New Hampshire home prices were higher than in the same month a year earlier, according to the New Hampshire Association of Realtors,” according to the article

QOL score: -2

Comment: “Rockingham County topped the list as the most expensive area to buy a house last month,” the Monitor reported, “with a median price of $689,000. In Merrimack County, the median price was $527,500.”

Hoping you don’t work at the top of a hill

In a Sept. 28 post, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation announced on its Facebook page (facebook.com/NHDOT) that it was encouraging the drivers of New Hampshire not to drive. In a post titled, “Could You Go a Week Without Driving?” the DOT wrote that “from Sept 29 – Oct 5, NHDOT is stepping out of the driver’s seat and into the reality of millions who rely on walking, rolling, biking, transit, or carpooling every day.” They prompted temporary non-drivers to “sign up at weekwithoutdriving.org.”

QOL score: +1 for good intentions

Comment: The online responses included: “Well, that’ll be a really long walk to get groceries 35+miles away,” and, simply, “No.”

QOL score last week: 68

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 68

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