Category: News

News & Notes 25/07/10

NH-01

Two Democrats have joined the 2026 race to succeed Chris Pappas in New Hampshire’s District 1 U.S. congressional seat. Christian Urrutia of Moultonborough announced his candidacy July 1 in a press release. “In 2020, [Urrutia] was appointed by President Biden to the Senior Executive Service as Special Counsel at the Pentagon, where he served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense,” the release said. Sarah Chadzynski, whose press release describes her as a “non-profit leader,” announced her candidacy on July 8, according to a July 7 press release. “[Chadzynski] is a founding member of The American Coalition for Ukraine, and she has worked with a number of nonprofits including MedGlobal and Citizen Ambassador Corps,” the release said. With Pappas having announced his run for the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen when she retires at the end of her term, several candidates have announced their intention to run for the House seat, including Democrats Maura Sullivan, Stefany Shaheen and Carleigh Beriont and Republican Chris Bright, according to a July 1 Boston Globe story.

Cleanup

The former Concord Stables site, a half-acre property in Concord, has received a Brownfield Cleanup Grant of $678,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to an EPA press release from July 1 which discussed a tour of state, local and national officials of the site. “The city plans to use grant funds to clean up the former stables site [which] has been vacant and unused since 1990. The cleanup will include abating hazardous building materials such as asbestos and lead paint in the structure,” the release said. The site on Warren Street was originally built in 1905 and used for city work horses, according to the EPA. Once cleaned up, the space is intended to be used to display Concord’s stagecoaches, according to a Concord Monitor story from June 27. The grant is part of $2 million in Brownfields grants awarded to New Hampshire locations, according to an EPA press release from May. Other sites receiving grants are in downtown Nashua and Milford, that release said.

Big Phish

According to The Medo Minute, a newsletter from the Manchester Economic Development Office sent on July 2, Manchester saw “some 18,000 unique visitors” for the Phish concerts at the SNHU Arena June 20 through June 22, “not including those who attended several shows or were repeat visitors, as well as residents or employees in the area, nearly $8 million was attributed to Phish fans visiting the City, restaurants, retail, hotels, and more.” “Prior to the concerts, some 54% of guests were shopping, dining or exploring Manchester, and 35% continued doing just that even after the concerts let out for the night,” the newsletter said.

New Hampshire Audubon’s Massabesic Center in Auburn will hold an Art Walk in the Garden on Saturday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will showcase “the newly installed All Persons Trail” and feature local artwork for viewing as well as lunch for sale from Greenhouse Pizza Truck, “A Season in the Sun: Photographs from the Massabesic Center’s Demonstration Garden” indoor exhibit (a reception for which starts at 10:30 a.m.) and more, according to the Audubon newsletter. RSVP for this free event at nhaudubon.org/event/art-walk-in-the-garden-2025.

Kids ages 12 and under can brush and floss twice daily — and log it on a form available at nedelta.com/patients/oral-health/oral-health-challenge — to earn two free tickets to specific Oral Health Challenge games days at the NH Fisher Cats at Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester. The upcoming game days are Saturday, July 26; Friday, Aug. 8, and Saturday, Aug. 30. In addition to the two free tickets, additional tickets will be available to participates for $10, according to a Northeast Delta Dental press release. See the website for rules.

An anonymous donor has pledged a $100,000 matching gift for donations made for the renovation of the Early Education Center at the Merrimack YMCA, according to a press release from the YMCA of Greater Nashua. The renovation will modernize classroom spaces, improve accessibility and safety in the facility, expand capacity and more, according to the press release. See nmymcaeec.funraise.org.

This Week 25/07/03

Thursday, July 3

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (milb.com/new-hampshire) will wrap up a three-game series against the Portland Sea Dogs tonight, before traveling to Portland for another three-game series on Sea Dogs turf. Tonight’s game is an Independence Day celebration with free koozies and fireworks. The game starts at 6:35 p.m. at Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester, 641-2005, milb.com/new-hampshire). Find more Independence Day events on page 13.

Thursday, July 3

The Nashua Public Library (2 Court St., Nashua, 589-4600, nashualibrary.org) will host a meeting of the BYOB (Bring Your Own Book) Club tonight from 6 to 7 p.m. Share two or three of your favorite titles based on each month’s theme: “Red, White, and Blue.”

Friday, July 4

Terminus Underground (134 Haines St., Nashua, newhampshireunderground.org) and Liquid Therapy Brewery and Grill (14 Court St., Nashua, 402-9391, liquidtherapynh.com) will host a Fourth of July for Veterans celebration today from noon to 4 p.m at Liquid Therapy, with live music and a free meal for veterans.

Saturday, July 5

It might be the 41st anniversary but as we all know, 1984’s This Is Spinal Tap goes to 11. The movie begins a three-day stint in theaters via Fathom Entertainment today when you can see it at 4 p.m. at Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem and 7 p.m. at Regal Fox Run. The movie also screens at those theaters on Sunday and Monday. See fathomentertainment.com.

Sunday, July 6

Jazz band Love Dogs will perform as part of the Friends of Stark Park Summer Concert Series today from 2 to 4 p.m. at Stark Park (550 River Road, Manchester). Bring a chair or a blanket and enjoy the music.

Tuesday, July 8

North Country Center for the Art’sIMPACT Program, a touring children’s theater troupe, performs a different fairy tale every week for six weeks, starting after Fourth of July weekend. This week the performance is Lost in Wonderland, an interpretation of Alice in Wonderland, at the BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com). The show begins at 10 a.m.; tickets are free and seating is mostly on the floor, the website said.

Wednesday, July 9

Enjoy a Paint by the Pavilion event at Tuscan Village (9 Via Toscana, Salem, 912-5467, tuscanbrands.com) this evening, a guided outdoor painting experience that is part of Tuscan’s new Summer Fun Series. Paint by the Pavilion will be offered every Wednesday through the summer. The Series also includes Movie Mondays with family-friendly films at dusk, Trivia Tuesdays (6 to 8 p.m.) and Dogs and Dancing on Thursdays .

Save the Date! Saturday, July 12
The Derry Public Library (64 E. Broadway, Derry, 432-6140, derrypl.org) will host the Derry premiere of local filmmaker Tim Smyth’s Tyrannocircus Rex, plus other short films by Smyth. Popcorn, drinks and other snacks will be served. Films are unrated and generally appropriate for all ages. This event is free and open to the public.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 25/07/03

Don’t drink it either

On Tuesday, June 24, the City of Manchester Health Department closed the public beach at Crystal Lake to swimming due to elevated levels of E. coli bacteria identified in water samples taken the previous day. The following day, Wednesday, June 25, the beach was reopened for swimming, following new water samples showing E. coli levels within acceptable limits.

QOL score: -1 because just ew for all of it

Comment: Find out about the E. coli levels in your favorite Manchester watering hole, according to results from the most recent samples, at manchesternh.gov/Departments/Health/Services/Water-Quality.

The good news is less acid rain

As reported in a June 30 online article by New Hampshire Public Radio, a recently released report by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services on the water quality of the state’s rivers and streams indicates the waterways have become less acidic. NHPR reported that the study, which examined data from 40 testing sites over the past 30 years, “found that pH levels — a measure of acidity that can be impacted by industrial processes — are improving at several sites. Of the 40 sites sampled for pH levels, 30 presented an improving trend compared to 10 years ago.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: The same report, however, included worrying data suggesting a rise in pollutants, particularly road salt, and an overall increase in the temperature of the water.

New bird!

In a June 24 blog post the New Hampshire Audubon Society announced a new “animal ambassador” at its McLane Center in Concord, “a juvenile Turkey Vulture with a curious personality and a fascinating backstory.” The vulture, which was found on the campus of the University of Connecticut at Storrs, apparently imprinted on humans as a young bird, making him unlikely to survive in the wild. His new duties with the Audubon Society will be to “help educate the public about vultures and their vital role in the ecosystem,” the blog post said.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The public is invited to visit him. See nhaudubon.org.

They can’t all be big and beautiful

New Hampshire’s 2025 legislative session wrapped up on Monday, June 30. A June 20 story by Seacoast Online (seacoastonline.com) looked at several bills this year’s lawmakers considered this session that didn’t receive much attention. “Both the proposal for a new state flag and state animated film were killed with little fanfare when they made it to the House floor,” Seacoast Online reported. “But a bid for a new state marsupial, sponsored by Sen. Donovan Fenton, D-Keene, made it almost all the way to Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s desk.” Other bills sought to repeal bans on brass knuckles and on pet squirrels. Daniel Webster did not get a dedicated state holiday, nor was a state commission established to study unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), formerly known as UFOs, the story said.

QOL score: +1 for representative democracy

Comment: “New Hampshire lawmakers filed over 1,000 bills in the 2025 legislative session,” the Seacoast Online story read.

QOL score last week: 62

Net change: +2

QOL this week: 64

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

No more holiday for C’s

The Big Story – Sayonara, Celtics Dynasty: It took several years to become an annual championship-contending team and only two days to dismantle it. It happened when Brad Stevens traded Jrue Holiday to Portland for a better scorer who is weaker in every other way except being 10 years younger. Followed up a day later by incredibly only getting back bull-in-a-china shop clunker George Niang for Kristaps Porzingis in a deal between the C’s, Nets and Hawks. Just George Niang for KP? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

Sports 101: Name the only pitcher to win 200 games, an MVP, a Cy Young and 3 World Series titles.

News Item – Red Sox Update: (1) The hitting went south in a six-game losing streak since the Raffy Devers trade. (2) They ended that streak by scoring one less run in a 15-1 win over Toronto than they scored during the entire losing streak. (3) Roman Anthony had his first big game then when he was 3-6 with two doubles and two runs scored. (4) At 41-44 the guessing game has begun as to whether they’ll be sellers or buyers at the trade deadline. (5)And the rumors say Jarren Duran is the most likely to go first.

News Item – NBA Year Begins: (1) The biggest trades to kick it off were Kevin Durant to upstart Houston, and the aforementioned Celtic moves. (2) No surprise to start the draft, as the pride of Newport, Maine, Cooper Flagg went first overall to Dallas. (3) Rumors have Lob it to Rob Williams headed to L.A. to fix their hole at center and be the perfect lob threat for Luka Doncic. (4) The genius move to fire their coach by the Knicks drones on with them being down to their ninth or 10th choice.

News Item – Shake Up in ESPN Booth: After its “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” move of firing Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy two years ago, rumor is a change is coming to its NBA booth again. It has Mike Breen again being the only survivor.

The Numbers:

2.5 –millions spent to buy a signed 1986-87 Michael Jordan “rookie” card in California.

101.7 – miles per hour hit on the radar by Shohei Ohtani in his third start after missing last year entirely due to arm surgery.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Down – Dave Parker: Hearing that 1970s/80s Pirates star Dave Parker had passed at 74 was sad enough. But after waiting years he was less than a month from being enshrined into Cooperstown later this month to make it worse. RIP big fella.

Stat of the Week – 11 Walks: The hard to believe free passes the Red Sox issued in a nine-inning 9-5 loss to the Angels when Walker Buehler gave up five runs on just three hits and Garrett Whitlock four more on just two hits because they walked seven and three guys respectively.

Media Fools of the Week – Kendrick Perkins and Steven A. Blowhard: It was pretty rich to hear a five-point-a-game scorer, who could barely make a lay-up and got outplayed by Andrew Bynum in the 2010 Finals, say that a guy who’d already won three playoff games and sent another into OT buzzer-beating shots like Tyrese Haliburton had this spring alone was playing “scared to death.” Ditto for the Division II back-up from Queens turned bloviator, who had 15 measly points on 5 of 23 shooting in his college career at Winston-Salem (according to enemy/provocateur Jason Whitlock), saying “he was glad TH was injured because it at least gave an explanation for his poor performance” as he struggled to play with a bad calf that got worse because he played.

Clueless big-mouths who prove the way to get ahead on ESPN is to say it loudly regardless of whether it makes sense or not.

Random Thoughts:

ESPN’s Jay Bilas loves college basketball and good for him, but his work on their draft show making everyone out to be the next Michael Jordan is a journalistic embarrassment and insulting to those who know that no more than five in a regular year and 10 in a great year will ever leave their mark on the NBA.

Sports 101 Answer: The ’70s and ’80s A’s/Giants lefty Vida Blue is the only one to check 200 wins, MVP & Cy and three World Series won boxes.

Final Thought – Now What, Brad? While the Niang return for KP is insulting to Celtic Nation, Stevens did it for greater flexibility in building his roster, something severely restricted by being above the luxury tax line from a basic agreement that’s anti-dynasty in the name of league-wide parity.However, I am interested in seeing how Stevens goes about reshaping a team to still be an annual contender going forward without Jayson Tatum next year and having the pile of first-round picks Oak City has stockpiled. A tall task.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 25/07/03

$14 more

In an email from June 20, Eversource announced that it filed adjustments to the Default Service supply rate and Regulatory Reconciliation Adjustment, “which are under review with the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and will take effect Aug. 1.” If the adjustments are approved, “a typical residential customer on Default Service using 600kWh per month will have a total bill increase of approximately $14, or 10 percent,” the email said. Compare residential suppliers at energy.nh.gov.

Gee-milks

A dozen libraries in the GMILCS — Greater Manchester Integrated Library Cooperative System — are participating in this summer’s GMILCS Library Hop, which runs through Aug. 31, according to an explanation on the Bedford Public Library’s website. There are 14 libraries in the system; the participating libraries are Amherst Town Library, Bedford Public Library, Derry Public Library, Goffstown Public Library, Hooksett Public Library, Kelley Library in Salem, Leach Library in Londonderry, Manchester City Library, Merrimack Public Library, Nesmith Library in Windham, Rodgers Memorial Library in Hudson and Wadleigh Memorial Library in Milford, the website said. Visit each library, complete a specific challenge and earn prizes, the website said. Pick up a game board at one of the participating libraries; complete all the challenges to be entered into a raffle for a Bookery Manchester gift card, the website said. Looking for an idea for books to check out at those libraries? See our June 26 cover story, “Summer Reads,” for book recommendations from libraries and other local book experts. Find the issue in our digital library at hippopress.com; the story starts on page 10.

Hurricane season

With the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicting above-normal activity for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season (which runs through Nov. 30), Eversource is urging customers to plan for severe weather, according to a press release. Sign up for text and email alerts regarding outages at eversource.com and download Eversource’s app, which allows for account access and features an outage map. The release also cited ready.gov/kit as a resource for building a disaster kit.

Signings

Gov. Kelly Ayotte announced the signing of the state’s two-year budget as well as several other bills last week, according to press releases from her office. The state budget-related bills included provisions that would eliminate mandatory vehicle inspections, according to NHPR, NH Journal and other media reports. According to WMUR, inspections will end as of Jan.31, 2026. Find a rundown of all bills Ayotte signed at the end of June at governor.nh.gov. Find the text of all the final bills at gc.nh.gov.

The New Hampshire Boat Museum’s Back Bay Skippers Model Yacht Club will host an open house at Bridges Falls Path in Wolfeboro on Saturday, July 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn about model yachts and how to sail them, according to a press release. See nhbm.org.

The Tabitha Lemon Memorial Golf Tournament will take place Monday, Aug. 25, 7 a.m. registration at Pembroke Pines Country Club, according to an email about the event. Registration costs $150 for a single golfer, $600 for a four-golfer team at birdease.com/TabithaLemonGolf. The event raises money for Camp Spinnaker, a Zebra Crossing asthma family camp, the email said.

The Palace Theatre will hold its 2025 Garden Tour on Saturday, July 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at public and private gardens throughout Manchester. Tickets to this self-guided tour cost $25 in advance, $30 on the day with registration starting at 9:30 a.m. at Demers Garden Center in Manchester. See palacetheatre.org.

The Manchester Museums — Currier Museum of Art, SEE Science Center, The Millyard Museum and the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire — will offer half-price admission throughout the summer to visitors who have a membership at one of those museums. For example, present your membership card for the Currier and receive half-off admission to the Aviation Museum. See manchestermuseums.nh.org.

This Week 25/06/26

Thursday, June 26

Comedian Demitri Martin will perform at the Chubb Theatre (Chubb Theatre at CCA, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) tonight at 7:30 p.m. as part of his “Quick Draw Tour.” Tickets start at $56.

Friday, June 27

Shop the Block! This evening from 4 to 8 p.m. Manchester’s Hanover Street will be closed for a special event co-hosted by the Palace Theatres and the Downtown Collaborative. There will be more than 20 retailers and live music, as well as food and drinks for purchase.

Friday, June 27

Watch high school football players from across the state at the NH East-West High School All-Star Football Game, benefiting Dartmouth Health Children’s and the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, tonight at 6 p.m. at Grappone Stadium at Saint Anselm College (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). General admission tickets are $15 in advance, $20 on the day. Kids 5 and under get in for free. See chadkids.org

Saturday, June 28

The Black Heritage Trail of NH (222 Court St., Portsmouth, 570-8469, blackheritagetrailnh.org) has collaborated with community leaders to bring people together to read Frederick Douglass’s historic protest speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” in 15 locations throughout the state at noon today. It will also be broadcast live online. Visit blackheritagetrailnh.org/frederick-douglass-statewide-readings.

Saturday, June 28

Take the intensity of your rock climbing to a new level. Vertical Dreams Nashua (25 E Otterson St., Nashua, 943-7571, verticaldreams.com) will host its first headlamp climbing night tonight from 7 to 10 p.m. There will be a DJ, a party atmosphere and climbing. This event is $15 for non-members. Participants should bring their own headlamps. Visit facebook.com/verticaldreams.

Saturday, June 28

Manchester Pride 2025 takes place today, with the theme “Picture Our Future.” The day will start with a parade on Elm Street at 11 a.m. headed to Veterans Park for a festival that runs from noon to 6 p.m. with entertainment, food, vendors and more, according to a Facebook post from Manchester True Collaborative about the event. See manchestertrue.org/pride-2025.

Saturday, June 28

The Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) presents an evening of Dancing with the Celts tonight, beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $44.25.

Sunday, June 29

There will be a Wicked Sing-Along at the BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) today beginning at 2 p.m. Watch the film Wickedand sing along to all your favorite songs. Tickets are $15 in advance through the Capitol Center’s website, or $20 at the door.

Save the Date! Saturday, July 5
The Big Bounce America 2025 tour is coming to Merrimack from Saturday, July 5, through Sunday, July 6. This is the biggest touring inflatable event in the world and includes seven massive inflatable attractions, including a newly expanded 24,000-square-foot World’s Largest Bounce House. It will be held at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery (221 DW Highway, Merrimack, 595-1202, anheuser-busch.com/breweries/merrimack-nh). Book tickets at thebigbounceamerica.com/event/manchester.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

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