Category: News

This Week 26/04/02

Thursday, April 2

It’s time for your encyclopedic knowledge of the movie Dirty Dancing to pay off at Dirty Dancing Trivia tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888, chunkys.com). Tickets are $7 through the Chunky’s website.

Thursday, April 2

The new season of music at the Casino Ballroom on Hampton Beach kicks off tonight with Melissa Etheridge. Doors open at 7 p.m.; show starts at 8 p.m. See casinoballroom.com for tickets.

Friday, April 3

Jewel Music Venue (61 Canal St., Manchester, 819-9336, facebook.com/jewlnh) will host the Hachi presented Wizard’s Wasteland Tour featuring headliners Space Wizard along with Swamp Wizard, She-Wolf, Ainonow and Slang Dogs, according to Jewel’s Facebook page, where you can find a link to purchase tickets.

Friday, April 3

The BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) will host Lisa Joins a Cult tonight at 7:30 p.m. foran immersive evening of exploring religious cults, why they happen and what keeps them going. Tickets are $27 through the Capitol Center website.

Saturday, April 4

There’s a Baa Baa Bash at Brookford Farm (250 West Road, Canterbury, 742-4084, brookfordfarm.com) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday in April beginning today. Welcome spring with baby animals, muddy boots and maybe even a live animal birth. Buy feed bags and feed the animals. Admission is free. Visit brookfordfarm.com/events.

Saturday, April 4

The Exeter LitFest will run today from noon to 5 p.m. at Exeter Town Hall and feature authors including Chanda Prescod-Weinstein (whose works include the April 7 release The Edge of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry, and the Cosmic Dream Boogie) and Catherine Newman (author of 2025’s Wreck) among other author conversations, according to exeterlitfest.com. The day will also feature children’s events at the Exeter Public Library starting at 10 a.m., the website said.

Saturday, April 4

Concord’s Giant Indoor Yard Sale takes place today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord), according to the event’s Facebook page. Adult admission costs $5, the page said.

Sunday, April 5

Catch Cecil B. Demille’s first attempt at the Moses story when the 1923 silent film The Ten Commandments plays at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre on Main Street in Wilton, screened with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, today at 2 p.m.

Friday, April 3

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats open their 2026 season tonight at 6:03 p.m. at Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester, 641-2005, milb.com/new-hampshire). They will take on the Binghamton Rumble Ponies tonight and again tomorrow, Saturday, April 4, and Sunday, April 5, at 1:05 p.m. See milb.com/new-hampshire for tickets. The game will be preceded by a Hot Dog Happy Hour with food and live entertainment beginning 90 minutes before game time.

Save the Date! April 17, 2026
The three-time Grammy Award-winning Nitty Gritty Dirt Band will perform at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) Friday, April 17, at 7:30 p.m. as part of their “Farewell Tour, All the Good Times: 60 Years of Dirt.” Tickets start at $66, with a limited number of VIP passes available through the Nashua Center’s website.

Featured photo: Retired Navy pilot Lynn “Skip” Carter. Courtesy photo.

Hoops heaven on Saturday

The Big Story – Final Fours: Down to the Final Four in both NCAA basketball championships this weekend. Can the only school to already do it, UConn, see their men’s and women’s programs both win the same title in the same year for the third time after doing it in 2004 and 2014? On the women’s side it’ll be UConn vs. the South Carolina-TCU winner and UCLA vs. the Texas-Michigan winner. For the men it’s UConn vs. Illinois and Michigan vs. Arizona. If the Michigan women won after deadline on Monday we could have Michigan-UConn both going for the double in the Finals. How cool would that be?

Sports 101: Name the five highest individual player scoring games in NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament history.

News Item – NCAA Tournament Notables:

• Biggest Shot – There were a lot, but since Braylon Mullins’s three with seconds left sent UConn to the FF over 1-seed Duke, he gets it.

• MVP So Far – Tarris Reed Jr. has averaged 21.8 points and 13.5 rebounds in four games for 2-seed UConn.

• Record Set – Hannah Hidalgo: After going for 31 points, 11 rebounds, 10 steals, 7 assists and a near quadruple double, as Notre Dame upset 2-seed Vanderbilt 67-64 the ND guard set the all-NCAA record with 199 career steals.

News Item – Early Baseball Stories to Follow:

• The spring batting average for Merrimack’s Mickey Gasper was .358 with a triple, two homers and seven RBI in 28 at-bats and it still wasn’t enough to make the Red Sox varsity, even though the guy in front of him at second base, Marcelo Mayer, hit .196, and .220 his rookie season. So Gasper starts in Worcester.

• Roki Sasaki – It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the 21-year-old Japanese phenom this spring after an up and down Year 1. This spring the ERA was an astronomical 15.58 in four starts with 15 walks in 8.2 innings.

• Prediction – Forgot to say this last week, but I’ve got Ceddanne Rafaela having the breakout year to hit 25 homers.

The Numbers:

2.25 – ERA of the Boston bullpen over three games and 12 innings with a loss and a blown save by Greg Weissert.

21 – combined winning streak ended last week by the streaking Celtics since Jayson Tatum’s return when they beat Oak City (12) 116-106 and Atlanta (9) 109-102 two nights later.

188 – opening day Red Sox payroll in millions down from 240 in 2025.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Down – Roman Anthony Leading Off: Yes, he’s likely to have their best OBP. But, even with that, how can leading off make sense? It guarantees their best RBI guy comes to bat 162 times with no one on base. And if they have their lowest-OBP guys bat 8 and 9 like usually happens, it’ll be closer to 300. That’s nuts.

Quote of the Week: “All I’m saying is, ‘Young fella, we’ve already got one ‘Iceman,’” one-of-a-kind ABA/NBA scoring genius George Gervin told the Chicago Sun-Times after Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams tried to trademark/steal his nickname.

The Phew Moment – Brad Stevens: It was when Top 5 in the league Celtics GM said he’s staying after his name surfaced as a possible at UNC after Hubert Davis was fired on Tuesday.

Comedic Hiring of the Week – Luke Murray: When Boston College hired son of SNL legend Bill Murray to leave as UConn assistant to be new head basketball coach at BC.

Random Thought: Before you complain about the Sox payroll, remember Milwaukee had 2025’s best record with just MLB’s 23rd highest payroll at $115 million.

Sports 101 Answer: The Top 5 NCAA Basketball Tournament scoring games are 61, Austin Carr, Notre Dame; 58, Bill Bradley, Princeton; 56, Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati; and Carr again, who scored 52 twice.

Final Thought – Who Acquired 2026 Red Sox: Most teams are a composite of acquisitions by the current GM and their predecessors, like the curse-busting 2004 Red Sox, where key guys like Manny, Pedro and Damon were Dan Duquette’s doing, while Theo Epstein found Big Papi, Schilling and Varitek among others. Here are the key guys in the 2026 edition acquired by Craig Breslow and company:

Chaim Bloom draftedRoman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Kevin Teel (traded for Garrett Crochet) and Kristian Campbell, traded for Abreu, and acquired FA Trevor Story.

Dave Dombrowski drafted Rafaela, Brayan Bello and Jarren Duran.

Breslow tradedfor Crochet and Sonny Gray, and signed Willson Contreras.

Future: With five OF/DH guys, a boatload of starting pitchers here and in AAA, and talented but under-achieving young’n Triston Casas headed to the minors, they have the pieces to make a major trade this summer to fine-tune the Fenway team.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Quality of Life 26/04/02

I’ve been meaning to clean out my freezer, anyway

As reported on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection website (fsis.usda.gov), Ajinomoto Foods, a frozen food company that supplies many grocery stores, including Trader Joe’s, has expanded a recall of frozen rice and frozen chicken products. “The establishment is recalling approximately 33,617,045 additional pounds of various ready-to-eat (RTE) and NRTE chicken and pork fried rice, ramen, and shu mai dumpling products, for a combined total of 36,987,575 pounds subject to recall” the USDA statement read.

QOL score: -1

Comment: Approximately 9 million pounds of the recalled food was Trader Joe’s Vegetable Fried Rice. According to the USDA website, “The problem was discovered when the establishment notified FSIS that it received multiple consumer complaints involving glass found in product.”

Easter shortages

As reported by New Hampshire Public Radio in a March 23 online article, cold weather and a delayed harvest have contributed to a local carrot shortage. NHPR reported that “a mid-January freeze and exceptionally hot weather this month in California, from where the majority of the national carrot supply originates, appears to have delayed harvests in the southern San Joaquin Valley,” leading to shortages in area supermarkets. Additionally, according to a March 29 online article by WMUR, rising chocolate and candy prices have driven up the cost of this year’s Easter candy. “Along with chocolate, candy prices are up nearly 12% over the past year,” the article reported.

QOL score: -2

Comment: You could grow your own. Carrots, that is, not candy. Late spring is the time to harvest your early-spring-planted carrots.

Indoor bugs

As reported on March 26 New Hampshire Public Radio at nhpr.org, the large numbers of ladybugs that have been appearing in your house are, according to horticulturist Emma Erler, “not dangerous and they don’t hurt the structure or lay eggs, but they are annoying.” Erler said in the article that “[y]ou can vacuum them up with abandon as the species is invasive and in no danger of disappearing from the landscape.”The native New Hampshire ladybugs tend to hibernate outside and it’s the Asian ladybugs we’re seeing indoors, the article said.

QOL score: -1

Comment: One ladybug? Awww. More? Ewww.

QOL score last week: 51

Net change: -4

QOL this week: 47

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 26/04/09

Bird news

The pair of peregrine falcons nesting at the Brady Sullivan Tower in Manchester welcomed an egg on March 25, according to the daily log for the Peregrine Cam, which you can access via nhaudubon.org/education/birds-and-birding/peregrine-cam. The cam offers livestreaming video of three angles on the nest via NH Audubon and the support of Peregrine Networks and Brady Sullivan Properties, according to the website. Last year the nest produced five eggs, of which three hatched.

Bird events

The NH Audubon’s Massabesic Center, 26 Audubon Way in Auburn, will celebrate the return of nesting birds with two programs on Saturday, April 11. “NestWatch Volunteer Training: Eastern Bluebird and Tree Swallow Monitoring” will run from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and “Build-A-Birdhouse” will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., according to the NH Audubon’s newsletter. Register for either at nhaudubon.org.

Health care forum

The New Hampshire Insurance Department will hold the 2026 Commissioner’s Health Care Policy Forum on Wednesday, April 29, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. “This first-of-its-kind event is designed to bring together policymakers, stakeholders, and interested members of the public for a proactive discussion on one of the most pressing issues facing New Hampshire residents and employers: the rising cost of health care among Granite Staters. The forum is the first event hosted by the Department specifically focused on examining ways to help bend the cost curve and promote greater transparency around the drivers of health care spending. The program will feature the rollout of New Hampshire’s Total Health Care Expenditure findings, including the New Hampshire Health Care Dollar, 2023 and 2024 total statewide health care spending, and insights from the NHID Health Care Data Chartbook,” according to a press release. The forum will take place at the New Hampshire Fire Academy Auditorium, 98 Smokey Bear Blvd. in Concord. Register at bit.ly/3NyeIzY.

Baby shower

The United Way of Greater Nashua is collecting items for its Community Baby Shower, which is slated for April 22, according to a press release. Donate to the registry or drop off baby items to 20 Broad St. in Nashua, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., through Sunday, April 12. Items include baby clothes, car seats, diapers, board books and more; see unitedwaynashua.org/event/community-baby-shower.

Manchester Artists

The Manchester Artists Association will hold its April meeting on Monday, April 6, at 7 p.m. in the Community Room at the Michael L. Briggs Public Safety Building, 405 Valley St. in Manchester, featuring speaker watercolor artist Leah Keuhne, according to a press release. See manchesterartists.com.

“Emergence,” a spring juried members exhibition, will open Thursday, April 2, and run through Saturday, June 27, at the Center for the Arts Members Gallery, 428 Main St. in New London, with an opening reception slated for Saturday, April 4, from 3 to 5 p.m. “‘Emergence’ highlights artwork inspired by themes of transformation, renewal, and the shifting energy that arrives as spring moves toward summer. The exhibition reflects both the natural transition from cold to warmth and the creative momentum that grows within a supportive arts community,” according to a press release. The gallery is open Thursday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. See cfanh.org.

Dave Anderson of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests wraps up the Cottrell-Baldwin Environmental Lecture Series with a talk called “New Hampshire Forests — Past, Present and Future: 125 Years Protecting NH Landscapes and Landmarks Mammal Tracking in New Hampshire” on Tuesday, April 7, from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at Fox Forest’s Henry I. Baldwin Environmental Center, 309 Center Road in Hillsborough. See forestsociety.org/events to RSVP.

Salem Animal Rescue League will hold a fundraising music bingo event on Friday, April 10, at 7 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m., at the Windham Country Club, 1 Country Club Road in Windham. Tickets cost $60 and include dinner; see sarlnh.org.

The Queen City will be featured in its own board game with Monopoly: Manchester Edition, slated for release in late November, according to a press release.

This Week 26/03/26

Thursday, March 26

Retired Navy pilot Lynn “Skip” Carter will speak about his military flying career and other exploits, including his recent work as an author of historical fiction, in an “Exploring Aviation” presentation tonight at 7 p.m. at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, aviationmuseumofnh.org). Tickets are $10 per person.

Friday, March 27

Iconic New England band Entrain will perform live at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) tonight at 8 p.m. See the website for tickets.

Friday, March 27

Acclaimed pianist Teresa Walters will perform “Listz’s Canticle of the Sun” and more at Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester) on tonight at 7:30 p.m., according to tickets.anselm.edu.

Saturday, March 28

The Capital City Craft Festival returns to Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord) today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and tomorrow, Sunday, March 29, until 4 p.m. There will be more than 125 juried artisans offering handmade arts, crafts and specialty foods. See castleberryfairs.com/capital-city-craft-festival for tickets.

Saturday, March 28

The Queen City Black Market returns to Manchester today from 1:15 to 8:15 p.m. at the Masonic Temple (1505 Elm St., Manchester). It will feature vendors, attractions, performers, food/drink and more. Visit lustshroometc.square.site.

Saturday, March 28

To Share Brewing (720 Union St., Manchester, 836-6947, tosharebrewing.com) will host a Thrift Shop Prom and Ruth Release Party tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. with music by DJ Shamblez, drag performances with Glamme Chowdah, tarot readings with Arkit Tarot, ear lobe piercings by The Terracotta Room, and vintage finds from Fishtoes Vintage. A portion of prom proceeds will benefit the Pink Boots Society NH Chapter.

Saturday, March 28

There will be a Chamber Concert featuring Symphony NH musicians tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Keefe Center For The Arts (117 Elm St., Nashua, 820-2666). Tickets are available through the SymphonyNH website.

Sunday, March 29

Manchester emo power punk band Time Eater plays an afternoon show to celebrate the release of a new EP, Depression Haver, on a bill with Quickdraw and Fun City Fan Club. Catch them today at 2 p.m. at Candia Road Brewing Co., 840 Candia Road, Manchester, linktr.ee/timeeatermusic.

Wednesday, April 1

Gibson’s Bookstore presents an evening with humorist and writer Jenny Lawson in conversation with Rebecca Lavoie at the Chubb Theatre (Chubb Theatre at CCA, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) tonight beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $39 through the Capitol Center website. (Admission includes a copy of Lawson’s new book, How to Be Okay When Nothing is Okay.)

Save the Date! Saturday, April 4
Concord’s Giant Indoor Yard Sale will take place Saturday, April 4, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord). Expect thousands of items from more than 100 sellers. Adult admission is $5. Children 12 and under get in free. Visit facebook.com/CapitalEventsNH.

Featured photo: Retired Navy pilot Lynn “Skip” Carter. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 26/03/26

Turtle road

In a March 19 press release the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department announced that the Department’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program was recently awarded a nationally competitive grant to build structures in four locations to help prevent turtles and other vulnerable wildlife from being killed in traffic. “The project will have multiple benefits including reducing wildlife mortality and improving habitat connectivity, safety ….”

QOL score: +1

Comment: The announcement pointed out that turtle populations are especially vulnerable to traffic. “Turtles have a life history that includes low annual nesting success and hatchling survival, late age of initial reproduction (14-20 years), and lengthy adult survivorship (they can live for 70 years or more),” the announcement read.

Slightly more potholes

A March 18 online article by the Concord Monitor reported that more than 1,300 potholes have been repaired in Concord’s streets. While this seems like a huge number, the article reported, it is about the same as in previous years. “According to the Concord city database, from Jan. 1 to March 16, city crews filled 1,309 potholes,” the article read. “Over the same period last year, they filled 1,262 of them. This year’s tally is 3% higher than in 2025.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: In a March 18 online article, New Hampshire Public Radio quoted Gary Stanley, who owns and operates the pothole repair business Mr. Pothole: “‘All these potholes, believe it or not, they start with one small, tiny crack,’ he said. ‘Such is life, is it not?’”

Home heating expensive this year

A March 20 online article by WMUR reported that New Hampshire homeowners pay some of the highest prices in the country for home heating oil. “The New Hampshire Department of Energy says the state ranks second in the nation for heating oil use per capita, with 42% of homes relying on it as their primary heat source,” the article read. WMUR quoted Patrick De Haan of GasBuddy, a popular mobile app that helps drivers locate the lowest gas prices using crowdsourced data: “$5.50 a gallon is certainly possible in the next couple of weeks.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: As of Monday, March 23, the price of a gallon of home heating oil in the Concord-Manchester-Nashua area ranged from $4.89 to $5.49. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average price for heating oil in New Hampshire in February was $3.91.

QOL score last week: 52

Net change: -1

QOL this week: 51

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

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