Category: News

Quality of Life 25/09/18

It’s really dry

As noted by WMUR in a Sept. 11 online report, New Hampshire is very, very dry. According to the report, a small portion of Grafton County, about 7 percent of the state, is suffering from conditions of “extreme drought.” Conditions in much of the rest of the state are classed as “severe drought.” “Just three months ago,” WMUR reported, “100% of the state was not considered to be even abnormally dry, but the situation has progressively worsened since the end of May.”

QOL score: -2

Comment: The New Hampshire Department of Forests and Lands said on its X, formerly Twitter, feed (@NHForestRangers) on Sept. 11, “The predicted Fire Danger in all FDRAs [fire danger rating areas] is HIGH.” See a map of the different fire danger rating areas at

nhdfl.dncr.nh.gov; click on “Daily Fire Danger” under “Forest Protection.”

But there are lots of falcons

According to a Sept. 15 online report from NH Audubon, the number of peregrine falcons in New Hampshire has risen dramatically since last year. “NH Audubon staff and volunteers confirmed a record-high 37 territorial pairs statewide,” the report read, “up a remarkable 30% from 28 pairs found in 2024. This is the largest single-season jump for NH’s state-threatened Peregrine pairs in the last half century!”

QOL score: +1

Comment: NH Audubon counted a slightly smaller number of peregrine hatchlings in 2025 (44, as opposed to 50 in 2024), “but NH recovery data suggests that rebounds often follow down years,” the report continued, so more territorial pairs now could lead to more fledglings next year.”

Ending the season with a W (6 Ws)

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats have wrapped up their 2025 season in triumph. A Sept. 14 Fisher Cats press release game recap said, “The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (27-41, 56-81) ended the 2025 season with their first six-game sweep in franchise history by taking down the Chesapeake Baysox (28-41, 59-77) at Delta Dental Stadium on Sunday afternoon, 7-3.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: The Fisher Cats will open their 2026 season with a home game in Manchester on April 3 against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.

QOL score last week: 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.

Pennant race gets tight

The Big Story – AL Playoff Chase: The Red Sox left Yankee Stadium on Aug. 24 1.5 games behind NY for the top wild card spot. They went on a 16-game slate against three last-place teams and two sub-.500 teams where they went a good but should have been better 10-6. It was a missed opportunity, as the Yanks held pace against a tougher schedule, where after winning two of three vs. Boston last weekend NY kept same 1.5-game lead over their rivals. When you read this on Thursday, the Red Sox have 10 games left, the Yanks 11. So the sprint to get into the playoffs is on. Enjoy.

Sports 101: Who is the only NFL player to win the MVP in his rookie season?

Observations from Pats’ 33-27 Win Over Miami: (1) Been watching football since around when Calvin Coolidge was president and I’d never seen a punt and kickoff returned on consecutive plays until Malik Washington and Antonio Gibson did it Sunday in Miami. (2) With Milt Williams basically ending Sunday’s game with a sack of Tua Tagovailoa, it was the first dividend on his monster free agent contract. (3) Loved the OL’s surge when it overpowered Miami’s D-Line on the two-point conversion they badly needed after two missed extra points. (4) I like when Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson are in the same backfield because it gives them more options.

News Item – Drake Maye: While the stats — 19-23, 230 yards with two TD passes while running for a third TD — weren’t gaudy, it was arguably Maye’s best game as a Patriot, because he had no TO’s, led a crucial fourth-quarter TD drive to take the lead back and was cool throughout in a place that was often a chamber of horrors for Tom Brady.

News Item – Quinn Priester: It appears the former Pittsburgh pitcher they dumped to Milwaukee for lunch money in spring training was a keeper. He’s now 13-2 with a 3.25 ERA and the first-place Brewers won 15 straight games he’d started before losing to Texas last week.

News Item – Connelly Early’s Debut: The Sox’ seventh-ranked prospect pitched five shutout innings vs. Oakland in a 6-0 win on Tuesday, when he allowed five hits and a walk and had a whopping 11 strikeouts. The k’s tied Don Aase’s rookie debut record set in 1977.

And likely it wasn’t luck, as Early’s 2025 minor league record was 10-3 with 132 strikeouts in 100 innings with ERAs of 2.83 and 2.53 in AAA and AA respectively.

The Numbers:

28 – stolen bases in 28 attempts by Trevor Story to become the fifth player to start a season with that many steals without being thrown out.

279 – passing yards with three TDs and no picks by Mac Jones while filling in for starter Brock Purdy as SF downed NO 26-21.

362 – career homers for Aaron Judge after hitting one Friday against the Red Sox to move him by Joe DiMaggio into fourth place on the Yankee’s all-time homer list behind Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and Lou Gehrig.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Up – Red Sox: For having the foresight to keep Aroldis Chapman away from free agency after his spectacular season. He agreed to a one-year deal worth $13.5 for 2026 with a vesting option to keep him in 2027 if he meets a certain level. Exactly the kind of deal you want for a 37-year-old closer.

Record of the Week – Cal Raleigh: Seattle’s catcher set one record and tied another. His 54th homer on Sunday tied Mickey Mantle’s record for most in a season by a switch hitter. It was also his 43rd homer hit while catching, which passed Javy Lopez’s all-time record of 42. And with Seattle surging, can you say MVP?

Random Thoughts: Yes, that was Pats alum Tyquan Thornton who actually caught a deep ball that was thrown over his head on Sunday night. It was the kind of great catch he never made here, which is why he no longer calls Foxboro home. And it went for an important 49-yard TD that let KC close to within three points in its 20-17 SB rematch loss to Philly.

Sports 101 Answer: Jim Brown became the only NFL rookie to be named MVP in 1957. Which, for his encore, he won again in 1958.

Final Thought – Questionable Patriots Personnel Decisions:

(1) Joe Milton: Unless Maye is so soft that he couldn’t deal with competition, why would you give up a back-up QB with the tools, second year salary and one-game resume he has for a sixth-round pick in next year’s draft?

(2) Not being in on Micah Parsons when put on the trade market by Dallas is F-thinking.

(3) Disappointing 2024 second pick Ja’lynn Polk was already out for the year. So unless they’re convinced he’s an unsalvageable draft mistake, why trade him now for less than a sixth-round pick rather than wait to see how the next year goes?

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 25/09/18

Funding cuts

NH Navigator, a program from the nonprofit Foundation for Health Communities that “provides free, unbiased assistance to help people in New Hampshire identify the right insurance options available to them,” will cut its in-person services starting this month due to a 92 percent reduction in federal funding, according to a Sept. 11 release from the foundation. The NH Navigator team based in Concord will be dissolved and services will shift to support via phone and virtual appointments, the release said “Assistance is available by calling 1-877-211-NAVI (6284) Monday [through] Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or one can visit acanavigator.com/nh/home,” the release said.

Parking survey

The City of Concord is conducting a study of downtown parking needs, according to the Intown Insider weekly newsletter from Intown Concord. The survey, which you can find via the City of Concord New Hampshire Parking Facebook page, asks about parking habits and experiences. It will be open through Sept. 30, the newsletter said.

Sun Day, Saturday

This Saturday, Sept. 21, is Sun Day in Concord — an event from noon to 4 p.m. on the Statehouse lawn “providing information, resources and opportunities to take action with others who want to be part of clean energy solutions,” according to a press release. The event is being organized by Third Act NH with support from Clean Energy NH and others, the press release said. The event is billed as family friendly and will feature music, speakers and activities including opportunities to learn how solar works, the release said. See thirdact.org/new-hampshire.

Clean Energy NH also will hold its annual Local Energy Solutions Conference on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the DoubleTree in downtown Manchester featuring panels about solar energy, electric vehicles and more. See cleanenergynh.org for tickets.

New cookie

Girl Scouts will sell a rocky road ice cream-inspired cookie called Exploremores during the 2026 cookie season, according to a press release from the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains. The Exploremores are described as “[f]illed with delicious flavors of chocolate, marshmallow and toasted almond–flavored crème,” the release said. Cookie season runs Jan. 1 through March 15 in New Hampshire, the release said. See girlscoutcookies.org for cookie information and girlscoutsgwm.org for more on local Girl Scouts happenings, such as the Girl Scout Expo at the NH Sportsplex in Bedford on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets cost $10.

Tickets are on sale now for the annual holiday show The Greg and the Morning Buzz Ball featuring the Greg and the Morning Buzz radio show team as well as a line-up of musicians, performers, comedians and more, taking place Thursday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. at the Chubb Theatre at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord. See ccanh.com.

An exhibition by the Women’s Caucus for Art, New Hampshire Chapter, called “Inflection Point: Thirty Years of WCA/NH,” is on display at The Art Center, 1 Washington St., Suite 1177, in Dover, through Friday, Oct. 31, with an artist reception on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 6 to 9 p.m., according to a press release. See theartcenteronlinegallery.com.

The Manchester Artists Association has selected its winning September artists, which will have work on display at locations in Manchester and Bedford through Oct. 6: Cindi Chagaris at Triangle Credit Union, Deb Currier at Day’s Jewelers, Fern Daigle at Bedford Public Library, Sandee Nichols at Creative Framing Solutions, Cindi Peterson at St. Mary’s Bank on Hooksett Road, Rollande Rousselle at St. Mary’s Bank on McGregor Street, Joe Sweeney at Manchester Health Department, and Jim Wong at Triangle Credit Union, according to an email from the Manchester Artists Association.

This Week 25/09/11

Friday, Sept. 12

The “nostalgic pop, funk and dance band” Emily’s Garage Band performs at the Event Center at Hampshire Hills (Hampshire Hills Athletic Club, 50 Emerson Road, Milford, 673-7123, hampshirehills.com/eventcenter) tonight from 7 to 11 p.m., according to the venue’s website. Tickets are $17.85.

Saturday, Sept. 13

Bridges and Connections International Sculpture Symposium at the Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13, Brookline, andresinstitute.org, 673-7441) kicks off today with an opening ceremony (at 1 p.m.) and a blues concert at 5:15 p.m. (tickets cost $25), according to the website. The day will include a keynote address by local artist Marek Bennett followed by sketchbook cartooning with Bennett at 2:30 p.m. for a $5 fee, according to an Institute newsletter. This year’s artists are Parastoo Ahovan of Connecticut and Iran; Robert Leverich of Olympia, Washington, and Jorge Van Daele of Kalmthout, Belgium, according to andresinstitute.org, where you can find links at their website to see their works. On Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. there will be a free Artist Showcase where the sculptors will present their portfolios, the website said. The closing ceremony will be Sunday, Oct. 5.

Saturday, Sept. 13

The Goffstown Rotary Club is holding its 12th Annual Car Show today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Parsons Drive in Goffstown. There will be 16 classes of vehicles, including trucks. Visit goffstownrotary.org/page/12th-annual-car-show-2025.

Saturday, Sept. 13

The Manchester Citywide Arts Festival wraps up with a Free Street Fair today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Hanover Street in downtown Manchester. Then from 4 to 8 p.m., art galleries and other businesses in downtown Manchester will participate in the Downtown Art Walk. See palacetheatre.org/manchester-citywide-arts-festival and get the details in the story in last week’s Hippo on page 29 (find the Sept. 4 issue in the digital library at hippopress.com).

Saturday, Sept. 13

Grasshoppers Garden Center (728 River Road, New Boston, 497-5788, grasshoppersgardencenter.com) is holding its annual Harvest Fest today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be live music, raffles, games, food and wine tastings, local artists, sales on plants and more. Visit grasshoppersgardencenter.com.

Sunday, Sept. 14

A Taste of Ireland brings world Irish dance champions to the Chubb Theatre (Chubb Theatre at CCA, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) today at 3 p.m. This show combines traditional Irish music given a modern twist with jaw-dropping dance performances and vibrant storytelling. Tickets start at $49.

Save the Date! Sept. 19 – 21
This year’s NASCAR Weekend will kick off Friday, Sept. 19, at 1 p.m. with a Hauler Parade. 40 NASCAR Cup Series haulers will parade through downtown Concord on Main Street. The hauler parade will finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for New England’s only NASCAR Playoffs weekend. 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.

Quality of Life 25/09/11

A little off the back, and not so fluffy

WMUR reported in a Sept. 5 online article that a family of baby squirrels was rescued from a Manchester barbershop on Tuesday, Sept. 2. “[The squirrels] had become trapped inside the wall of a local barbershop after a repair accidentally sealed them in, locking their mother out,” the story read. Staff at the barbershop became aware of the problem — presumably by frantic scratching on both sides of the wall — and re-opened the wall.

QOL score: +1 for a happy ending

Comment: “Manchester Animal Control safely removed the babies and reunited them with their mother,” WMUR reported.

Emu spotted

The Concord Monitor reported in a Sept. 5 online article that an unidentified emu was spotted near the shore of Penacook Lake in Concord on Wednesday, Sept. 3. “The owner of the emu is still unknown,” the Monitor story read. “Authorities from the Concord Police Department said no one has reported an emu missing. While not their normal missing animal post, Granite State Dog Recovery did alert its followers that the emu was spotted on the loose in Concord. ‘Is anyone missing an emu?’ the alert read.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: Good luck catching the emu. According to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo website, “The emu is a fast runner and can reach speeds of up to 31 mph (50 km/hr). Their long legs enable them to walk considerable distances or outrun danger. Emus are also strong swimmers.”

Butterfly survey

In a Sept. 1 press release New Hampshire Audubon (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, 224-9909, nhaudubon.org) conveyed the results of its Butterfly Survey earlier this summer. “On July 26, 32 volunteers divided into 5 teams and surveyed 14 sites across the Capitol Area,” the statement read. “Together, NH Audubon volunteers and staff counted a total of 482 individual butterflies of 35 species.” While fewer species were spotted this year than in 2024, that might be explained by our extremely wet spring, followed by the area’s hot, dry summer, the report concluded.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Highlights included “two Common Sootywing — a species which is uncommon in New Hampshire … [and] the newly described Midsummer Tiger Swallowtail,” the Audubon said.

QOL score last week: 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.

Roman’s empire falls

The Big Story – Roman Anthony: We were going to ask this week if a guy who was brought up from AAA in early June could be considered in the MVP race. Because, while Roman Anthony’s .292, 48 runs, 18 doubles, 8 homers and 32 RBI season numbers in 71 games won’t match Seattle’s Cal Raleigh or Yankee Aaron Judge, given how it all turned around for the staggering Red Sox from the day he arrived he certainly embodied the phrase “valuable.”

But instead, after suffering one of the most damaging local sports injuries in recent years, the rookie star is likely out for the rest of the year thanks to the lat muscle he strained last week.

They lost the first three without him. But after Sunday’s 7-4 comeback win over Arizona, they were 1.5 behind the Yanks for the top wild card spot with a 3.5-game lead over Seattle for the second wild card spot.

Sports 101: Which two players hold the all-time record for hitting the most homers in September in one season with 17?

News Item – Aroldis Chapman: As the week began he hadn’t allowed a run his last 18 appearances. The last was Sunday when he struck out four batters in the ninth after one of the K pitches got by the catcher to let the batter get to first after the swing and miss. Astonishingly he’s given up just one run in his last 35 appearances. Which leaves him with a 0.95 ERA with 29 saves and 81 strikeouts in just 55.0 innings.

News Item – Alumni News:

Down Goes Belichick: To say his college debut was inauspicious is a massive understatement. At least that’s what a 48-14 loss to TCU at home says to most of us. UNC did rebound with a 20-3 win over Charlotte.

Kyle Schwarber: He became the 21st player to hit four bombs in a game with his historic four-homer, nine-RBI day in a 19-4 win over Atlanta. It gave him 180 for the Phillies since the Sox let him walk for the same $20 million per they gave to Masataka Yoshida, who’s hit just 37 for Boston.

Duran Harmon: The clutch Patriot safety with the knack for making game-clinching interceptions for the three Super Bowl winners announced he was retiring after 11 years in the NFL, seven with the Patriots. A job well done.

The Numbers

6 – seconds into the season it took Philly DL Jalen Carter to be ejected after spitting at Cowboys QB Dak Prescott.

121 – pitches thrown by 42-year-old Justin Verlander in just five innings as he hung in long enough to pick up his 265th career win when SF downed Baltimore 13-2.

… Of the Week Awards

Comeback of the Week – Orioles Stun Dodgers: With Yoshinobu Yamamoto one out away from a no-hitter and L.A. up 3-0 disaster struck. First Jackson Holliday homered to end the no-hit bid. Then L.A. manager Dave Roberts yanked a guy who made one bad pitch all night in favor of two struggling relievers who then gave the game away as Baltimore won it 4-3 helped by stat geek managing over common sense by Roberts.

Anniversary of the Week – Cal Ripken: That magical Orioles win also came on the 30th anniversary of the glorious 1995 night at Camden Yard when Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s record for most consecutive games played.

Immaculate Inning of the Week: San Diego’s Mason Miller did it by striking out three Baltimore batters on nine total pitches with an awesome slider in the eighth inning of a 7-5 loss.

Thumbs Down – The Great Montreal Goalie Ken Dryden Passes: I’m no hockey expert but I do know dazzling when I see it and that’s what he was when as a rookie with six career NHL games under his belt he shut down the unstoppable Bruins in the 1971 Stanley Cup playoffs before beating Chicago for the Cup. He went on to win five more as Montreal dominated most of the 1970s. He succumbed to cancer at 78. RIP.

Random Thoughts:

While he had a big day (169 yards rushing and two TDs) in Baltimore’s shocking last-second 41-40 collapse to Buffalo on Sunday night, can’t believe Derrick Henry was in just 19th place on the all-time rushing list when 2025 started and still needs over 7,000 more to catch all-time leader Emmitt Smith.

Sports 101 Answer: Albert Belle hit his record-tying 17 September homers in 1995 when he became the only player to hit 50 doubles and 50 homers in the same season. For Babe Ruth he needed all 17 to set the then all-time homer record of 60 in 1927.

Final Thought – Coach B Bans Pats Scouts From UNC Practices: A question and a comment.

How does that help the players you’re supposed to be trying to help get to the NFL, Bill? You’re acting like a fool and a crybaby. You’re 73 — time to grow up buddy.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

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