Category: News

News & Notes 25/10/02

PFAS funds

NH Attorney General John M. Formella announced that the state has received an initial payment of nearly $8 million from the 3M Company’s nationwide PFAS settlement of public drinking water systems claims, according to a Sept. 24 press release. “The funds will be deposited in the N.H. Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund … for distribution to eligible public drinking water systems across the state,” the release said. “I am proud to announce this initial influx of substantial settlement funds to support the Granite State’s public water systems as they work with our Department of Environmental Services to address PFAS contamination and continue to provide safe, clean drinking water to Granite Staters,” said Attorney General Formella in a statement in the release. “This payment is the first installment of New Hampshire’s approximately $56 million allocation (before payment of attorneys’ fees and litigation costs) of settlement funds from Phase One of the 3M settlement, with an additional allocation of funds scheduled in Phase Two sometime after 2026. A second, larger, Phase One payment is expected near year-end with subsequent smaller annual payments continuing through 2033,” the release said.

CMC ER in Nashua

Catholic Medical Center, which is part of HCA Healthcare, is planning a nearly 10,000-square-foot freestanding emergency facility at 338 Amherst St. in Nashua, according to a Sept. 22 press release. A ground-breaking on the site, the former Leda Lanes location, is slated for Oct. 28 with the facility project to open in mid-2026, the release said. “The Nashua Emergency Room will provide patients with convenient, 24/7 access to high-quality emergency care … Equipped with advanced diagnostic technologies, including computerized tomography (CT), ultrasound and radiology, the facility will also feature an on-site laboratory, covered ambulance entrance, and a dedicated pediatric waiting and treatment area,” the release said. See catholicmc.com.

Fire prevention

Fire Prevention Week in New Hampshire and nationwide runs Sunday, Oct. 5, through Saturday, Oct. 11, according to a post at the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office Facebook page. This year’s theme is “Charge Into Fire Safety” with the mission to teach people “how to safely buy, charge, and recycle lithium-ion batteries” according to the National Fire Prevention Association. Lithium-ion batteries cannot be thrown away in the regular garbage, according to nfpa.org. As of July 1, it’s been illegal to “throw lithium-ion batteries into the waste stream to end up in a landfill or waste-to-energy incinerator” in New Hampshire because “these batteries can explode, give off caustic gasses, and catch fire spontaneously” according to a newsletter from NH Recycles in July. See call2recycle.org for a local lithium-ion battery dropoff spot.

See “Passion for Progress: Serigraph Prints by Corita Kent,” selections from the permanent collection at Alva de Mars Megan Chapel Art Center at Saint Anselm College in Manchester. The works will be on display through Dec. 5. “Kent’s contemporary ‘Pop’ style and motivation emerged from within her very own life as a sister of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in California, and folded into the revolutionary period of the 1960s, the peace movement, alongside tremendous social change and contradiction in both the secular world and her religious life in the Catholic Church,” according to the show description at anselm.edu. The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m., the website said.

Dartmouth CARES (Community Awareness Research and Education) will hold a heart health screening on Thursday, Oct. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Derry Public Library, 64 E. Broadway in Derry. The event offers free community screenings for cardiac health, including blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose screening, according to a library release. No registration required.

The United Way of Greater Nashua seeks volunteers to support the city of Nashua’s Winter Warming Station at the former Elm Street Middle School, according to a press release. The warming station will be open nightly, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Dec. 1 through April 15, and volunteers help with tasks such as facilitating activities for guests, overseeing supplies and monitoring guest belongings, in two-hour shifts, the release said. See tinyurl.com/StayWarmNashua2025.

This Week 25/09/25

Thursday, Sept. 25

The Deerfield Fair runs today through Sunday, Sept. 28, at the fairgrounds, 34 Stage Road in Deerfield. The event features rides, live music, the Flying Wallendas high wire act, horse shows and agriculture events (including pig scrambles), magic shows, dog demonstrations and more. Visit deerfieldfair.com. Hungry? John Fladd spoke to several purveyors of fair food in the Aug. 28 issue of the Hippo, which you can find in the digital library on page 10. Pictured are super-sized doughnuts from Betsy’s Country Fair Donuts.

Friday, Sept. 26

Iconic band Cowboy Junkies will perform a career-spanning show at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $55.

Friday, Sept. 26

Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) presents Gimme Gimme Disco tonight beginning at 8 p.m. This is a DJ-based dance party playing all your favorite ABBA hits plus plenty of other disco hits from the ’70s & ’80. Tickets start at $25.50.

Friday, Sept. 26

A restored version 1927’s silent science fiction movie from director Fritz Lang, Metropolis, will screen at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry, 404-2928, derryoperahouse.org) at 7 p.m. with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis. Admission is free; advance registration is requested. Register via the Derry Public Library’s website at derrypl.org and click on the online ‘Events’ calendar.

Saturday, Sept. 27

The Beaver Brook Fall Festival runs today 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Beaver Brook Association, 117 Ridge Road in Hollis, and feature live music, an Artisan Market, kids’ activities, live animal presentations, nature exhibits, hayrides, food trucks and more, according to an email from Beaver Brook. See beaverbrook.org.

Saturday, Sept. 27

Pay tribute to Robert Redford by watching 1976’sAll the President’s Men at Red River Theatres in Concord today at 10 a.m. The screening is part of the Civic in Cinema series, featuring post-film discussion. See redrivertheatres.org.

Saturday, Sept. 27

The Jason R. Flood Memorial, the organization behind Pizzastock, will present a show today from noon to 3 p.m. in the parking lot at Kendall Pond Pizza, 7 Mammoth Road in Windham, featuring performances by Clare Mitchell, Parietal Eye, Phoenix Revival and Vermilion, according the organization’s Facebook page. Admission is free.

Saturday, Sept. 27

Symphony New Hampshire presents “Unexpected Stories,” led by Music Director finalist Tiffany Chang, tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Keefe Auditorium (117 Elm St., Nashua). Single tickets start at $20; see symphonynh.org.

Save the Date! Saturday, Oct. 4

The second annual New Hampshire Book Festival will take place Saturday, Oct. 4, in downtown Concord. It will be a celebration of books, featuring more than 50 nationally recognized authors and poets. It is a free, all-day festival supported by ticketed keynote events. Visit nhbookfestival.org.

Quality of Life 25/09/25

Things are getting thirsty

According to a Sept.16 online article from WMUR, this summer’s drought has hit a new milestone: some wells are starting to run dry. Quoting Ted Diers from the Department of Environmental Services, the article read, “Basically, this is a statewide drought. What we’re encouraging is for people to be very, very careful with their well water, be conservation minded, [and] use it gently.” The NHDES website posts a warning, “Drought conditions continue to worsen. Currently, 73% of the state is in severe or extreme drought. Please follow local water use restrictions and fire requirements, and conserve water where you can.

QOL score: -3 (because see also page 4)

Comment: More than half of New Hampshire residents depend on private wells for their water. Visit des.nh.gov/climate-and-sustainability/storms-and-emergencies/drought.

But relief might be on its way

As of Sept. 22, WMUR’s extended forecast shows a likelihood of at least one day of rain in the next week, with a 90 percent chance of rain. The National Weather Service is more cautious in its estimates, predicting a maximum of a 70 percent chance of rain.

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to the National Weather Service, Concord experienced 18 days in August (the latest data available) with temperatures above average, and 1.18 inches of rain, compared to the 3.36 inches of a normal year. Visit.weather.gov.

Is ‘stagnant’ as bad as it sounds?

In a Sept.11 report, the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (nhfpi.org) analyzed U.S. Census data and concluded, “While Granite Staters’ economic well-being did not worsen, it also did not improve. From 2023 to 2024, median household incomes were essentially flat when adjusting for inflation, poverty rates remained unchanged. These stagnant indicators suggest that while New Hampshire has avoided backsliding, many families continue to face persistent challenges meeting basic needs.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: According to the Institute’s report, “A limited supply of housing units in New Hampshire is contributing to both higher rental costs and increased sale prices for single-family houses across the state, making purchasing a home, and associated wealth-building opportunities, more difficult to access for those who currently rent.” Visit nhfpi.org/blog/acs2025.

‘I owe how much!?’

According to a recent study by the online finance website WalletHub.com, New Hampshire ranks second among states with the highest rate of student loan debt. “[New Hampshire] Borrowers owe an average of close to $40,000, the highest amount in the country,” the report read. New Hampshire came first in the average amount of student debt, second in the proportion of students with debt, first in the percentage of student loans past due or in default, and — perhaps a good sign — third in grant growth. Only Mississippi scored higher.

QOL score: -1

Comment: According to the WalletHub report, “At the end of the first quarter of 2025, total outstanding college-loan balances stood at over $1.66 trillion, according to the Department of Education. That comes out to an average of over $39,000 for each of the 42.5 million borrowers.” Search for “States with the Most and Least Student Debt (2025).”

QOL score last week: 72

Net change: -4

QOL this week: 68

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Huge baseball weekend ahead

The Big Story – The Final Weekend: Since we’re filing this on Monday it’s hard to predict where the Red Sox will be as the final weekend begins. But they’re facing a tough week, starting with three at first-place Toronto and then their final three games at Fenway vs. Detroit. Who, thanks to Cleveland getting red hot, could now be fighting for the same WC slot. The good news is Garrett Crochet goes tonight (Thursday) in Toronto. Which means, if looking ahead like you’re not supposed to do, he’ll be the starter of the Wild Card game if they make it into the tournament.

On the precarious side, they’ll then be depending on rookie starters Kyle Harrison (who gave up just one run in six innings vs. TB in his Red Sox debut Friday) and Connelly Early on Friday and Saturday. Lucas Giolito will pitch Game 162.

Nothing like the final week of a baseball season when you’re still in the race. So enjoy the final weekend while thinking 1967.

Sports 101 – Which NFL team has gone the longest without winning a playoff game?

News Item – Pats Fumble Away Win vs. Pitt: (1) Not that it takes a degree from MIT, but it’s nearly impossible to win when you have five turnovers as they did Sunday. (2) After two more fumbles, including one as he was going in for the tying score, on top of seven last year, when do you think Rhamondre Stevenson will next see any action? (3) With Antonio Gibson also benched for fumbling, who’s going to be the RB if TreVeyon Henderson fumbles next week? (4) Except for two exceptionally thrown TD passes, 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers looked like he was on the 17th hole throwing for 139 yards. (5) Where is Efton Chism III?

News Item – The Career Legacy – Going Down:So far the college career ain’t going as Bill Belichick had hoped. After another pasting, this time 34-9 to the University of Central Florida, Coach B has dropped to 2-2 while being outscored 91-84. And seeing the 20-something girlfriend wearing knee-high go-go boots on the sideline didn’t do much for the image either.

News Item – NFL First: Vikings DB Isaiah Rogers did something no one else had ever done in their 44-13 thumping of the Saints on Sunday. He became the first to ever return an interception and a fumble recovery for TD’s in a first half. And then for good measure he recovered two more fumbles later in the game.

The Numbers:

400 – career home runs for Angels outfielder Mike Trout after blasting one Sunday.

509 – career TD passes for Aaron Rodgers after hitting DK Metcalf Sunday to move into fourth place on the all-time TD passes list.

4,012,430 – 2025 attendance for the Dodgers, making them the 10th MLB team to draw 4 million. The per game average was 49,537.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Down – NFL and Tom Brady: Sorry, but being a part owner of the Oakland, er, Las Vegas Raiders while doing all that’s needed to be Fox’s lead broadcaster is an obvious conflict of interest.

Stupid Coaching Move That Worked – Mike Vrabel: Going for (and making it) on fourth and 1 from his 15. The last guy to do that deep in their own territory early in a game was Barry Switzer when coaching Dallas vs. the G-Men in the ’90s. The headline in the NY Post the next day was “Bozo The Coach.”

Random Thoughts:

Besides Aroldis Chapman and to some degree Garrett Whitlock, the Red Sox bullpen has been an unreliable joke. Alex Cora never knows what he’ll get game to game from anyone ranging from pitching well to total arson. How can someone manage like that?

How in the name of Hoyt Wilhelm does Sox reliever Justin Wilson get a positive stat when he pitches just two thirds of an inning and gives up two runs to BLOW a one-run lead? But somehow he got a “HOLD” — even though he didn’t do it.

Earth to baseball: HE BLEW the lead in, oh by the way, a very important game and he still gets a positive stat. Just NUTS.

Sports 101 Answer: The Dolphins haven’t won a playoff game since Dec. 30, 2000, when Dave Wannstedt was the HC.

Final Thought – Red Sox Pennant Race Thoughts: Raise your hand if at the beginning of the year you had Nick Sogard knocking in Nate Eaton with the winning run in extra innings in a crucial pennant chase win as they did in the Sox’ 5-4 win in 10 vs. Oakland on Wednesday.

Ditto that they’d have to rely on two rookie starters, Harrison and Early, in the year’s crucial final weekend series.

Or that, with all due respect to Crochet and Chapman, a guy brought up from AAA in early June would be their MVP?

Don’t agree? They were 32-35 when Roman Anthony arrived, then went 46-27 until he got hurt. Since then they’re 7-10.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 25/09/25

Wildfire risk

On Monday, Sept. 22, Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed a proclamation prohibiting “[k]indling of any open fire, including fires built for camping, the burning of debris, or warming,” and “smoking a pipe, cigar and/or cigarette outdoors in or near woodlands, or on public trails,” according to the proclamation on the NH Forest and Lands website, nhdfl.dncr.nh.gov. The proclamation also lays out the exclusions to the restrictions including training fires and certain campground sites. The restrictions will be in place “until such time as the period of protracted drought or excessive dryness which requires these extraordinary precautions ceases to exist in the State of New Hampshire,” the proclamation said.

The New Hampshire Forest Protection Bureau are reminding Granite Staters that summer drought conditions and the lack of “significant rainfall have increased the risk of wildfires statewide,” according to a press release set on Sept. 22 by the New Hampshire Department of Natural & Cultural Resources and the New Hampshire Division of Forests & Lands. “It is important to note that with the drought conditions we will need multiple rain events to reduce the wildfire risk,” said Chief Steven Sherman, N.H. Forest Protection Bureau, in the release. “While rain may wet the area for a day, it will take a lot to make up for the lack of rain this summer and soak deep into the soil.” The release said that 90 percent of wildfires in New Hampshire are from human causes. “In New Hampshire, fire permits are required for all open outdoor burning, which include campfires and bonfires. With the statewide burn restrictions in effect, no permits are being issued by forest fire wardens, fire departments or via the state’s online fire permit system, nhfirepermit.com,” the release said. See nhdfl.dncr.nh.gov for more.

Food in Manch

Mondays from 5 to 7 p.m. through Oct. 27 the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program and Fresh Start Farms will hold a Manchester Market at Community Action Partnership Hillsborough & Rockingham Counties, 130 Silver St. in Manchester, featuring New Hampshire-grown produce, according to a flyer at the Manchester Health Department website. The market is open to the public and takes cash and Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits, the flyer said.

The Manchester Health Department website also features the recently posted 2025-2026 Manchester Food Resource Guide, with a listing of food assistance, including for kids and seniors, food pantries, community gardens, farm share and more. See manchesternh.gov/departments/health.

Rebel with a Clause, a documentary featuring grammarian Ellen Jovin with her Grammar Table set up in cities across America, will screen on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 10 a.m. at Red River Theatres in downtown Concord, one of the cities where we see her dispensing grammar advice in the trailer. Tickets cost $15. Find the trailer and more about Jovin at rebelwithaclause.com.

The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, a theatrical presentation celebrating the release of Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl album will hit area theaters on Friday, Oct. 3, through Sunday, Oct. 5, and feature the world premiere of the music video “The Fate of Ophelia” along with behind-the-scenes footage and other videos, according to a screening description at the Milford Drive-In, where tickets to the Friday and Saturday night screenings at 7:30 p.m. cost $12 per person and are on sale now (see milforddrivein.com). You can also catch it at Apple Cinemas in Merrimack and Hooksett, Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem and O’Neil Cinemas Brickyard Square in Epping, according to releasepartyofashowgirl.com.

The Craftworkers’ Guild Harvest Shop, located in the Oliver Kendall House at 3A Meetinghouse Road in Bedford, behind the Bedford Public Library, is open Thursdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Monday, Oct. 13 (the shop will also be open that day). See thecraftworkersguild.com.

This Week 25/09/18

Thursday, Sept. 18

The Amoskeag Quilters Guild meets tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church (14 Mammoth Road, Hooksett). There will be show & tell, signups for various guild activities, and light refreshments. Visit amoskeagqg.org.

Thursday, Sept. 18

Vocal act A Girl Named Tom will perform at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St, Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) tonight at 7:30 p.m., with supporting act Torri Weidinger. This is the only group to ever win a season of The Voice. Tickets start at $33.

Friday, Sept. 19

This year’s NASCAR Weekend kicks off today at 1 p.m. with a Hauler Parade. Forty NASCAR Cup Series haulers will parade through downtown Concord on Main Street. The hauler parade will finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway; Gov. Kelly Ayotte will wave a green flag from the Capitol, and fans are encouraged to line the Main Street sidewalks to cheer for the NASCAR race team haulers. Visit nhms.com.

Friday, Sept. 19

Hollis Old Home Days are today and tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 20, with events including the town parade (10:30 a.m Saturday), an artisan market, rides, a heritage and demonstration tent, fireworks Saturday evening, tethered hot air balloon rides on Saturday afternoon, youth art activities, a petting zoo on Saturday and more, according to hollisoldhomedays.org.

Saturday, Sept. 20

There will be a New England contra dance tonight at the City-Wide Community Center (14 Canterbury Road, Concord, concordnhcontra.wordpress.com) with caller Don Veino and music by Here on Hill, from 7 to 10 p.m. Beginners, singles and families are welcome. Visit concordnhcontra.wordpress.com.

Saturday, Sept. 20

“A Taste of Ireland” – The Irish Music and Dance Sensation makes a tour stop in Manchester at the the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, tickets.anselm.edu) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Performed by former world Irish dance champions and featuring dancers from Lord of the Dance and Riverdance, this promises to be a night to remember. Tickets start at $49.50.

Saturday, Sept. 20

The Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry, tupelomusichall.com) will host Tupelo Night of Comedy with Chris Pennie, Joni Grassey, Wayne Russell and Ethan Printz tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $25.

Saturday, Sept. 20

Derryfest takes place today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Derry’s MacGregor Park. The day will feature a fair, a line up of live performances and vendors, including Kona Ice, Sweet Dreams Confections and more, according to derryfest.org. Live performances for the day include Kids Coop Theatre (11:20 a.m.), Pro-Martial Arts Academy (12:15 p.m.) andWild Life Encounters (1 p.m..), as well as other dance, music and martial arts schools. Find the booth map and vendors on the website as well.

Save the Date! Thursday Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 28
The Deerfield Fair will take place at the fairgrounds, 34 Stage Road in Deerfield. The event features rides, live music, the Flying Wallendas high wire act, horse shows and agriculture events (including pig scrambles), magic shows, dog demonstrations and more. Visit deerfieldfair.com.

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