NBA notebook for July

Count me among those who liked that Brad Stevens did not stand pat after the Celtics’ surprising season.

Adding real scoring punch to the bench was met with near universal approval in these parts and around the league, as trading for Indiana guard Malcolm Brogdon and signing free agent Danilo Gallinari serms a perfect fit.

Except, maybe by me.

Not because I don’t like either player, but because on paper they fill two slots.

Gallinari has always been the 3-point-shooting instant-offense wing they’ve needed forever, with the added benefit being he’s big enough and versatile enough to do it at the 3 or 4. And if you read this space regularly you know I like Brogdon’s combo guard game a lot, especially his ability to get below the foul line and score. I’ve suggested/begged that the Celtics should trade for him (and teammate Domantas Sabonis, who I liked even more) on numerous occasions. Including when Danny Ainge blew a chance to make a larger sign and trade deal when the Pacers were lusting to bring free agent Gordon Hayward home to Indiana two summers ago — a trade that, oh by the way, also would have filled the glaring hole (see below) this deal created.

The deal also makes them deeper and didn’t cost any of the first eight guys in the playoff rotation. Plus his contract gives them another big-number contract to include if a deal for a great max player presents itself.

So having said all that, what’s not to like, Dave? It’s not so much what’s not to like, as much as that each guy brings a red flag. For Brogdon it’s durability. He’s played as many as 70 games in a season only once, and that was six years ago in his rookie season of 2016-17. The six-year career average is just 51 games per and last year it was a worst of all 36. I hate guys who get hurt a lot and can’t recover quickly. So beware.

For Gallinari it’s aging. In the last four years his scoring averages have been, in order, 19.3, 18.7, 13.3 and 11.7, while for the 3-point shooting averages it’s been a career best .433, .405, .406, .381. That seems like a trend to me.

Then there’s the giant hole behind 37-year-old Al Horford and the brittle Lob it to Rob Williams. It remains to be seen who the new guy turns out to be. But don’t underestimate this; filling this spot with the right guy is important. Of the available names, I like athletic defender Nerlens Noel best.

Now some thoughts on the other big stories going on.

Kevin Durant: Due to their unrealistic demands — an all-star player, two role players and five first-round picks — it’s looking like he’ll stay in Brooklyn.

If I’m Miami, as good as he is I’d be reluctant to give up mid-20 Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro for him. With one including Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole and James Wiseman the best package could come from Golden State. But they just won the title, so why not keep the young guys to try to extend their reign beyond the Curry era.

As for the unrealistic demands? They’re fine, but to make that work you need a sucker and I don’t see one right now. Which brings us to an old friend.

Danny Ainge: Nobody is better at finding suckers than Danny. He did it with Brooklyn to eventually get Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for fool’s gold in 2015. And now comes a deal for a guy (Rudy Gobert) who couldn’t get his team out of the first round of the playoffs in April with Minnesota for five unprotected first-round picks and five players. Given their gruesome 21st-century history, I give Minnesota points for trying something different. But I’m guessing after a few productive years it eventually ushers in a decade of more awfulness. The good news is, since he’s now a part owner, A-Rod will be one of the sufferers.

Now watch what Danny does with Donovan Mitchell and the two best guys he got back, Patrick Beverley and Malik Beasley.

Kyrie Irving: Speaking of Celtics alumni, I guess hell has frozen over. It appears no one is dumb enough to want team-killer Kyrie Irving. Well, except the Lakers, who have turned into a sad, desperate mess. Except the Nets aren’t dumb enough to take back the hard to play with Russell Westbrook and his $49 million contract. Beyond that, the Nets can’t find any takers for the alleged “superstar” who led the Nets to 11-18 in the 29 games he played last year.

James Harden: I was wrong about him again. He not only stayed put in Philly; he took a big pay cut so his boss had more cap space to bring in players to help them win. Kudos to him. Now all he has to do is lose 30 pounds or adjust his game to a bigger, maturing body

Steph Curry: There was some chatter last week saying he is the second best player in NBA history. Putting him in the Top 10 never even occurred to me, to be honest. But after gaining a new appreciation for him as he annihilated the Celtics in the Finals I’m willing to entertain the Top 10 debate. But who would he replace? On his side, his 3-point shooting changed how the game is played and his four titles is one more than Larry Bird and three more than Oscar Robertson. Can’t go No. 2 as among LeBron and the Greek Freak I’m not even sure he’s in the Top 2 of his era as that’s still being determined. But he’s climbing.

Ja Morant: I don’t know if it’s youthful enthusiasm or youthful ignorance but I did get a kick out of him saying last week he could beat an in-his-prime Michael Jordan playing one on one.

I’ll take Mike because of his unmatched killer instinct.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

A place in time

Colorado author pays tribute to New Hampshire

Colorado author Christina Holbrook discussed her debut novel All the Flowers of the Mountain, which is set in New Hampshire and was inspired, she said, by the times she spent in the Granite State during her childhood.

What is your connection to New Hampshire?

I grew up in New York, and my parents owned a house in Sugar Hill, New Hampshire, where we spent all of our summers and winter vacations. Also, my grandparents had farms in New Hampshire. At that time in my life New Hampshire made such a deep impression on me. I felt like my heart was in the White Mountains. I’ve had that feeling through most of my life. As an adult I lived in New York City, and now I’m in Colorado, but I always found a way, especially in the summers, to get back to New Hampshire for a visit. I feel like it’s the home of my imagination.

What is All the Flowers of the Mountain about?

It’s a love story and a coming-of-age story about growing up in New Hampshire. It begins in the present and then moves back to this particular summer when these two main characters meet each other, impact each other’s lives and eventually go their separate ways. It ends in the present again, with the open question as to what will finally happen with this relationship that was so important to these two characters.

What is the significance of New Hampshire in the story?

… The setting is extremely important to the story. It has a big impact on the characters, how they interact with each other and the choices they make and is part of how the story comes together in the end.

What made you want to write this novel at this time in your life?

I’ve been a writer all my life … but I’ve spent my professional life in publishing. … I feel like I’ve always been in sort of a supporting role to other creative people, and I felt like it was finally time for me to put myself in more of a center role as a creative person. … [Another reason was] becoming older. I’m 61 years old now, and in your late 50s and early 60s you start to reflect back on all the things that made you who you are. … New Hampshire is a place that means so much to me in my life. I have a really deep nostalgia for this period of time when I grew up in this particular place, and I really wanted to write about it. … Many of the places that were part of my life back then are included in the story. I’ve described [the book] to my publisher as ‘my love song to New Hampshire.’

What has the writing and publishing process been like?

I started putting the pen to paper on a draft about five years ago. About six months later I had my first draft, and I spent the next year revising it. Then I started to send it out to literary agents to try to get representation. By the beginning of 2020 I had an agent who wanted me to do more revisions … and I ended up rewriting the entire novel. … It took me until this past March to finish that draft. I turned it in to my agent, and she was thrilled because it was such a departure [from] and quite a big improvement on the story. … Also at the end of March, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I had surgery in April, and I’ve just finished six weeks of radiation. It’s a pretty serious situation. In the world of publishing, it could easily take my agent six months to a year to find a publisher, and then it could take two more years [to publish it], and at this point, I don’t know if I have two or three years to wait. A local publisher in Colorado came to me and said, ‘We understand your situation. We will get this book out in three months for you.’ They had a team of people do the copy editing, cover design, proofing, everything, and they pulled the whole thing together in three months.

When was the last time you were in New Hampshire, and when will you be back?

The last time I was in New Hampshire was last summer, and we will be going again this summer, probably toward the end of August. I’m working on [scheduling] a book signing there. … I’m really hoping to share this story with people in New Hampshire. Two years ago, during Covid, when there were all these remote writers groups, I also ended up connecting [with] and joining the New Hampshire Writers Project … and started to join them on their monthly Zoom calls.

What would you like people to take away from your book?

I feel like Vermont and Maine get a lot of play but people don’t always know about how incredibly beautiful and magical New Hampshire is. … I hope that, for people who haven’t been to New Hampshire, this book will give them an interest and curiosity to come visit the Granite State. For people who have lived in New Hampshire, I hope it gives them a sense of pleasure to recognize the places and descriptions of New Hampshire.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 22/07/21

Covid-19 update Last weekThis week
Total cases statewide 333,483 (as of July 7)335,149 (as of July 14)
Total current infections statewide 1,854 (as of July 7)1,946 (as of July 14)
Total deaths statewide1,425 (announced July 7)2,609 (as of July 14)
New cases 1,363 (June 30 to July 7)1,723 (July 7 to July 13)
Current infections: Hillsborough County898 (as of July 11)867 (as of July 18)
Current infections: Merrimack County302 (as of July 11)306 (as of July 18)
Current infections: Rockingham County690 (as of July 11)669 (as of July 18)
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

Academic improvements

The preliminary data generated by the New Hampshire Statewide Assessment System for 2022 has shown some improvement in New Hampshire students’ academic performance levels for the first time since the pandemic. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education, assessment scores, including ones that measure proficiency in English and math, dropped for students in grades 3 through 8 in 2021. This year, scores have improved among grades 3 through 7 and have remained the same for grade 8. “Assessment scores are inching upward and returning to near pre-pandemic levels, but it is clear that there is still work to be done to recover from the academic declines that resulted from Covid-19,” Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut said in the release. “New Hampshire has not fully regained ground, but these early signs of improvement are promising.”

Health commissioner steps down

New Hampshire’s Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette has announced her resignation, effective December 2022. Appointed to the position by Gov. Chris Sununu in January 2020, Shibinette has led the Department of Health and Human Services’ response to Covid-19 and regularly accompanied Gov. Sununu at televised press conferences to provide updates on the pandemic. “Covid-19 has been a challenging time for our state, our country, and for health care,” Shibinette said in a statement. “During this time, it has been a privilege serving as your commissioner. The last three years have been incredibly challenging yet equally rewarding.” Gov. Sununu said in a statement he “cannot thank her enough” for her service to New Hampshire over the course of the pandemic. “Throughout her tenure, Lori has played a key role in my administration as New Hampshire’s top health official,” he said. “From the early days of the pandemic to her leadership at New Hampshire Hospital, Lori has earned the respect and trust of New Hampshire’s citizens. I consider her a great friend and wish her all the best in whatever she decides to do next.”

Call for child care workers

A new marketing campaign has been launched by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central New Hampshire to address the state’s shortage of child care care workers. According to a press release, the campaign will utilize a series of eight public service announcements, which will run as television, digital and social media ads, to recruit applicants for various positions in child care facilities throughout the state via the New Hampshire Connections Child Care Job Board. “Family stability across New Hampshire depends on access to child care options that best fit their individual needs,” DHHS Associate Commissioner Christine Santaniello said in the release. “From home-based child care to larger centers, families need quality, fully-staffed child care providers that can meet New Hampshire’s demand.” The campaign is being funded by a portion of the state’s American Rescue Plan Act child care funds.

New crisis line

New Hampshire has implemented a new three-digit dialing, texting and chat code, 988, as a suicide prevention and crisis lifeline. The number will connect callers experiencing suicidal, mental health or substance misuse crises to a national network of more than 200 call centers via the established National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. “New Hampshire remains committed to providing streamlined access to mental health support services, and providing on demand assistance through 988 is another positive step in that direction,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement. According to a press release from DHHS, the 988 line will augment, not replace, New Hampshire’s Rapid Response system, implemented in January 2022 as part of the state’s 10-year Mental Health Plan, which provides 24/7 mental health crisis services and, when necessary, deploys mobile crisis response teams, to New Hampshire residents experiencing a crisis.

Training for women in government

The New Hampshire Women’s Foundation will run “Women Run!” a day-long nonpartisan training program designed to teach New Hampshire women skills and confidence needed to run for state or local political office, on Wednesday, July 27, in Manchester. Participants will learn about the past and current landscape of women’s representation in New Hampshire government and campaigning techniques. The percentage of women in public office in New Hampshire is 37 percent in town offices, 41 percent in city offices and 23 percent in mayorships, according to an email from the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation. Visit nhwomensfoundation.org/womenrun to learn more.

A new New Hampshire Historical Highway Marker has been installed in Carroll, just north of the intersection of Routes 3 and 302 in a tourist section of town known as Twin Mountain, commemorating the glacial boulder where Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, a Congregationalist clergyman, abolitionist, proponent of women’s suffrage and the brother of author Harriet Beecher Stowe, preached his sermons in the late 1800s. It is the 274th marker installed as part of the New Hampshire Historical Highway Marker program, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources, which oversees the program.

The Manchester Health Department reopened the public beach at Crystal Lake, located off Bodwell Road in southern Manchester, for swimming after closing it earlier this month due to elevated levels of E. Coli. Water samples will continue to be taken every Monday through Labor Day, with results announced every Tuesday at manchesternh.gov/departments/health/services/water-quality.

Elm Grove Companies will break ground on a new rental housing development, Depot & Main Apartments, at the end of this month at 41 Main St. in Salem, according to a press release. The more than $20 million project is a 74-unit Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and Workforce Housing community created to meet the need for affordable rental housing for New Hampshire’s low to moderate income families and workforce. A ceremony will be held at the ground-breaking on Tuesday, July 26, at 10 a.m.

This Week 22/07/14

Big Events July 14, 2022 and beyond

Friday, July 15

The Center for Life Management is hosting its 14th annual silent auction and concert benefit at Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry). The silent auction will start at 5:30 p.m. and the concert will begin at 7 p.m., featuring 33 1/3 LIVE, which will perform their Killer Queen Experience. Tickets are $40 for the mezzanine, $45 for main floor, and $50 for the lower level. Find information at tupelomusichall.com.

Friday, July 15

Loudon is hosting racers for the Ambetter 301 NASCAR weekend starting today at noon at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1122 Route 106) and continuing through Sunday, July 17. The weekend will be filled with races, fan events, live music and more. Friday night will feature dirt duels. General admission tickets start at $20 and attendees 12 years old and under are $10. For the Ambetter 301 weekend, single adult tickets start at $59 and tickets for children 12 years old and under are $10. Visit nhms.com/events/nascar-cup-series for more information.

Saturday, July 16

The Aviation Museum (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry) is rolling out vintage cars for the classic car show today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Classic cars of various makes and models will compete for the people’s choice award, and the Amoskeag Reserve Engine Co., a local chapter of the national fire apparatus preservation society, will show off restored antique firetrucks. There will be food trucks, a raffle and a yard sale. Registration will be from 9 to 10 a.m. and costs $10. Spectator tickets will cost $5 for adults; children 12 and younger are free. For more information, visit nhahs.org.

Saturday, July 16

The annual New England vintage boat and car auction is today, with the first in-person bids being placed at 10 a.m. Some of the featured items available at this year’s auction include a 1961 24-foot Chris Craft Sportsman, a 1968 20-foot Chris Craft Grand Prix and a 1947 22-foot Goodhue Race Boat. While the online auction started on July 7, there will be a showing of boats and cars on Thursday, July 14, and Friday, July 15, from noon to 5 p.m. at The Nicholas J. Pernokas Recreation Park (10 Trotting Track Road, Wolfeboro). Additional viewing before the bidding will begin at 8 a.m.

Saturday, July 16

The American Independence Museum (1 Governors Lane, Exeter) is hosting the 32 Annual American Independence Festival starting at 10 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m. The festival will have historical reenactors, an artisan village with everything from ropemaking to tinsmithing, and musicians playing traditional instruments such as clavichords, dulcimers and harpsichords. Tickets are $4 for kids ages 4 to 8, $10 for adults, and free for children under 4 years old.

Tuesday, July 19

Gibson’s Bookstore (45 South Main St., Concord) is hosting local author Sarah McCraw Crow for a paperback release party for her novel The Wrong Kind of Woman today at 6:30 p.m. The event is free to attend and does not require registration. See gibsonsbookstore.com.

Save the Date! Saturday, July 23
The Rebel Collective is performing at the Bank of NH (16 S Main St, Concord) to support Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire. The Rebel Collective is a New England-based American/Irish pub rock band that was started in 2015. CASA is a nonprofit organization that recruits, trains and supports community volunteers to advocate for children who have suffered abuse or neglect. The doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $18 and can be purchased at ccanh.com.

Featured photo. The Rebel Collective will be performing July 23. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 22/07/14

Give blood, get a shirt

The American Red Cross is calling for blood and platelet donations after experiencing a “steep drop” in donations last month, according to a press release. The organization was approximately 12 percent short on donations needed in June — 14 percent short in the Northern New England Region — making June 2022 one of the largest monthly donation shortfalls in recent years. In efforts to increase donations and prevent a blood shortage this summer, the Red Cross has partnered with Discovery to give everyone who donates during Shark Week, which is July 21 through July 24, an exclusive Shark Week T-shirt, while supplies last, and everyone who donates during the month of July a chance to win an exclusive Shark Week merchandise package.

QOL Score: -2 for the shortfall (but plus a shark-ton for the Shark Week promotion)

Comment: To book a donation appointment at a Red Cross blood donation site near you, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767.

Backpack to school

The New Hampshire Department of Education’s annual backpack drive is going on now through Aug. 12. Now in its 7th year, the drive was created by Diana Fenton, an attorney at the Department, to help New Hampshire families that cannot afford to purchase a new backpack for their children. “We want to make sure that every child can start the new school year with a fresh start and a new backpack,” Fenton said in a press release. The backpacks will be distributed at schools across the state by school nurses to the students who need them.

QOL Score: +1

Comment: Donations of new backpacks may be dropped off at the department’s office, at 25 Hall St. in Concord, on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. When you arrive at the front entrance, call Natasha Lupiani at 271-3196 for assistance.

Expensive energy

A recent WalletHub study ranked New Hampshire as the 8th most energy-expensive state in the U.S., calculating the average monthly cost of energy for New Hampshire households to be $550. The study looked at the average retail or residential costs of electricity, natural gas, home heating oil and motor fuel in each state relative to the state’s average monthly consumption rate of those energy resources. New Hampshire made the top 10 for highest price of electricity (8th) and highest price of natural gas (9th) and came in 20th for the highest price of motor fuel.

QOL Score: -2

Comment: Among the New England states, however, New Hampshire’s energy costs are on the lower end; the study found Connecticut at No. 4, Massachusetts at No. 5 and Vermont at No. 7, with Rhode Island and Maine not far behind New Hampshire at 11th and 13th, respectively.

Model pets

The Salem Animal Rescue League is accepting submissions now through July 30 for its 7th annual Pet Calendar Photo Contest. In the past, the calendar has exclusively featured pets that were adopted from SARL, but this year, in celebration of the shelter’s 30th anniversary, the contest is open to all cats and dogs, “including those that have crossed the rainbow bridge,” Executive Director Jinelle Hobson said in a press release. The public will vote for their favorite pet. The pet that receives the most votes will get a professional photo shoot and be featured on the cover of SARL’s 2023 calendar and on the month of the winning pet owner’s choice.

QOL Score: +1

Comment: Head to gogophotocontest.com/salemanimalrescueleague to submit a photo of your pet, along with a mini bio or favorite memory and a $20 donation. Then, share your submission on social media and ask your friends and family to vote; a $1 donation equals one vote, and there is no voting limit.

QOL score: 84

Net change: -2

QOL this week: 82

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Mid-season baseball update

We are a few days away from baseball’s All-Star break, the time in the good old days when Manny Ramirez would announce (again) the same relative had died for an eighth time to get him out of playing in the once great game.

Even though it’s long past that point in games, it’s the unofficial midway point for the season. So let’s take a look at some of the big first-half stories and one looming on the horizon.

Pennant Race: After splitting last weekend’s series in Boston, the Yanks were 61-25, among the best starts ever. Meanwhile, after their glacial start, Boston was 47-39 and 14 back. A big but not insurmountable lead, as history shows Boston led NY by (gulp) 14.5 on July 17 in 1978 and lost.

Assuming 95 wins takes the division, the Sox need to go a doable 48-28, a .613 winning percentage, which translates to a 102-win season. But it requires a 34-47 Yankees collapse, not for Boston to play out of their jocks.

AL News

I’m not against it and I’ll sorta buy the nod for the 8-4, 2.44 pitching record, but with him 14th in homers (19) and 15th in RBI (54) can we all agree taking Shohei Ohtani as a “two way” All-Star is a gimmick?

There was a time Merlot Joe Maddon was considered a managerial savant as low-budget Tampa Bay won with him in the dugout. But after ending the Cubs’ 108-year curse in 2016, it’s been straight downhill since. He got pushed out of Chicago in 2020 and then didn’t even last till June in Year 2 with Anaheim. In the meantime, still budget-conscious Tampa mostly just kept winning. So maybe it wasn’t Joe after all.

NL News in case you’re interested

Thealwaysunlikable Manny Machado is living up to the big money he got from the Padres (.309, 14 bombs and 50 RBI). That’s not good news for the Xander Bogaerts contract front. Because with Xander better and more reliable it’s another benchmark his agents can use at the bargaining table.

How about the Freddie Freeman nonsense? In his first trip back to Atlanta since leaving last winter he acted like a homesick puppy, which followed his firing the agent who convinced him to take the bigger deal from the Dodgers. We can only guess how that played in the Dodgers locker room.

What is it with the Dodgers and the weird (dis) spirited first baseman? A couple of years back an injured Adrian Gonzalez actually went on vacation when they were in the playoffs. Though with those hated Dodgers on pace to win 106-games (again) Freeman hasn’t been an issue yet.

Alumni News in case you’re wondering

Andrew Benintendi: Off having a nice first half hitting. 327 with 3 homers and 35 homers, rumors have him headed to the Yanks at the deadline.

Kyle Schwarber: His 28 homers are second in baseball. Along with his 57 RBI and the modest deal he got in Philly, it makes not re-upping him to DH a titanic mistake by Chaim Bloom.

Hunter Renfroe: With him hitting .247 with 13 homers and 27 RBI he’s no loss.

Eduardo Rodriguez: Amid family problems he left Detroit a month ago and hasn’t been heard from since. Sad news for him and Detroit, but a disaster averted for Boston.

News From The Empire

With all due respect to the upcoming Bogaerts free agency saga, it’s not gonna touch the looming drama that could ignite a full on war in the Big Apple.

If you ain’t been paying attention there’s a gigantic game of chicken going on between Aaron Judge and the Yankees, which the Yanks are really screwing up with a lot more at stake than usual.

First, since Yankee fans have never seen them lose a free agent they wanted to retain, Judge has the leverage in the contract negotiations in a normal year.

But with him challenging The Babe (60) and Roger Maris (61) for the Yanks’ treasured single-season home run record, the leverage grows stronger, as that’s a pretty good way to walk into free agency.

Finally, that leverage will explode if the Mets step up to try and outbid them for Judge after a historic year, a very real possibility.

Their (still) new owner Steve Cohen is nuts enough to do it because (a) he’s a lifelong diehard Mets fan from Long Island who’s been taking guff from Yankee fans his whole life, (b) after bringing in Max Scherzer and Francisco Lindor he’s already shown he’ll spend big, and (c) since he’s the richest owner in baseball he’s got the incentive and dough to do it.

Most importantly, even with the extreme expense, it would be good business for New York’s JV baseball team to steal the face of the Yankees franchise away from them, because (a) it would be like when the Jets gave rookie to be Joe Namath the richest contract in sports in 1965, which sucked in all the PR oxygen and the tabloids ate it up,and(b) it could swing the pendulum their way in NYC if it leads to an immediate World Series with Judge as the star, as, oh by the way, it would make a beloved former Yankee star the face of their hated crosstown rival. Thus it’s the biggest event in their joint history since the Mets arrived in 1962. Not to mention likely the biggest and most expensive free agent battle in history.

So all the pressure is on Hal Steinbrenner and GM Brian Cashman. Who have played it so far the same lowball way that sent Jon Lester to free agency all ticked off in 2014.

The only thing missing is George Steinbrenner, who would have it in the headlines every day while making it a nasty fight to boot!

Please, Steve Cohen, make it happen.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

More to the story

Museum adds to its view of history

The American Independence Museum in Exeter was recently awarded a grant to increase its exhibition space to share a more comprehensive history of the founding of America. Jennifer Carr, the museum’s curator and collections manager and acting executive director, discussed what that will look like and the importance of inclusive storytelling in American history.

What will the grant be used for?

The Samuel P. Hunt Foundation has generously awarded us $21,250 to enhance our archival and exhibit infrastructure … [with new] archival museum cases, as well as some smaller-ticket items that will help us to tell stories about inclusive history. For the past couple years, the museum has been taking a look at how we interpret the founding of the American nation, and we’ve seen that we tell the story from really one perspective, which is the military perspective. That left a lot of people out of the equation. We’ve been doing research on local and state history and looking at our collections to see how we can bring more inclusive history into what we do with the museum. We’ve discovered that we have a collection of more than 3,000 items, and there are different stories we can tell with those items than what we’ve been telling. There are many different ways for historians to interpret the same item. … With the grant, we’ve been able to purchase five new cases, as well as labels which are ADA-compliant. With that, we can bring more of our collections out of storage and put that research to use, sharing those incredible stories with our guests.

What are some of the stories you plan on telling with the expanded exhibit space?

We’re looking to expand to as many different underrepresented groups as we can. We’ve been working with Black history, women’s history, indigenous history, and we even have one story that covers LGBTQ history. We have a military order book written by General von Steuben, who helped General Washington whip the Continental Army into shape and start winning battles, and it turns out there’s an interesting LGBTQ history related to General von Steuben, so we’re able to bring that book out and talk not only about military strategy but also about the contributions of the LGBTQ community to the founding of our nation. We also have indigenous artifacts uncovered during the 2019 archeological dig at the Ladd-Gilman House … so we’re able to tell the pre-contact history of indigenous peoples right in our own backyard.

When will these updates be ready to view?

The company that manufactures these museum cases actually has a pretty long lead time at this point, so we won’t be able to get them out on exhibit until next season. In the meantime, we’re going to continue working on research to dive deeper into our collections and see how many more stories from different perspectives we can uncover to prepare for getting those museum cases in place to share with our guests in 2023.

Who does this historical research, and what does that process look like?

It’s primarily me. Before I began serving as acting executive director, I was primarily focused on curatorial work. I was taking the lead on all the research and interpretation. We also had a couple fantastic volunteers who helped us with research and going to the historical societies and digging through deeds and archives. It’s been a team effort.

What led the museum to pursue these updates?

It’s something happening industry-wide. I think America has realized so much of its history has gone untold. There’s a reckoning right now with that. We’re looking at everyone who has gone underrepresented in this nation. We feel it’s important to tell a balanced story of the founding of the nation, not just from the military perspective, not just the grand stories of the founding fathers, but of everything the people of this nation went through to gain independence. … Independence wasn’t won only on the battlefield; it was about boycotts women were engaged in to fight the taxes Britain was levying on the colonies; it was about the enslaved people who left their families to go off to fight in a war they believed would lead to freedom for them, only to come home and remain enslaved. There are a lot of stories, good and bad, that led to the founding of this nation.

Has there been an interest from the public in learning about these stories?

Yes. I’ve personally led some tours over the past couple years that included these new stories we’ve uncovered, and I’ve heard people making comments like, ‘Wow, I had no idea that happened here. I’m glad you’re telling these stories, because it’s something I didn’t hear in school.” That has been great to hear. Overwhelmingly, the feedback has been positive. I think people enjoy hearing stories that are different from what they learned in school. We’ve all heard the story of the Boston Tea Party; it’s a great story, but it’s nothing new. I think people are interested in hearing new things and learning on a deeper level.

Featured photo: Jennifer Carr. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 22/07/14

Covid-19 update Last weekThis week
Total cases statewide 332,120 (as of June 30) 333,483 (as of July 7)
Total current infections statewide 2,016 (as of June 30)1,854 (as of July 7)
Total deaths statewide2,585 (announced June 30)1,425 (announced July 7)
New cases 1,671 (June 23 to June 29)1,363 (June 30 to July 7)
Current infections: Hillsborough County921 (as of June 30)898 (as of July 11)
Current infections: Merrimack County333 (as of June 30)302 (as of July 11)
Current infections: Rockingham County658 (as of June 30)690 (as of July 11)
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

Support for kids

The One Trusted Adult program will be offered throughout New Hampshire through a contracted partnership with the New Hampshire Department of Education approved by Gov. Sununu and the Executive Council. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education, the program, which works to ensure that children have an accessible, trusted adult to provide support outside of the home, will be implemented at 125 New Hampshire schools over the next two years, serving students in grades 5 through 12. “When a student can name a trusted adult at school, we create our best chance for preventing bullying, mental health issues and substance abuse, all while promoting positive self-worth, engagement in community and availability for learning,” Brooklyn Raney, founder of One Trusted Adult, said in the release. The $794,555 contract will include online, on-demand professional development training for both educators and families.

Continued support

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has announced the launch of a new community-oriented program that will provide intensive transitional support for people being discharged from inpatient psychiatric hospitalization at no additional cost. According to a press release, the program, called Critical Time Intervention, is part of the state’s Ten-Year Mental Health Plan and is designed to help reduce the number of psychiatric hospital readmissions. In the nine months following a person’s discharge, CTI coaches will work directly with the person and their community to ensure they have stable and sustainable living arrangements and employment and access to mental health resources and support. “Providing concrete, one-on-one support for people as they transition from hospital to home offers them a sense of stability and independence, and could potentially prevent a readmission to the inpatient setting,” DHHS Commissioner Lori Shibinette said in the release.

Bills signed

Last week, Gov. Chris Sununu signed 14 bills into law, according to a press release from the governor’s office. Bills included HB 1280, a law that prohibits a parent’s decision regarding vaccinating their child to be considered as evidence in any parental rights proceedings; and SB 270, a law under which New Hampshire’s Department of Energy will work with the state’s utility companies to enroll low- to moderate-income families in a community solar energy program, the release said. “Inflation and rising energy prices hit our low-income families hardest, and this bill will help ensure that these New Hampshire families and communities can share in the benefits of clean energy,” Gov. Sununu said in a statement. Families enrolled in the program will receive a credit on their electricity bill. Gov. Sununu also signed HB91, a law that allows the families of first responders who die by suicide to receive line-of-duty death benefits.

Reimbursement for testing

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will award a FEMA Public Assistance grant in the amount of $4,080,860 to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse the state for the cost of providing Covid testing. As part of a contract with Clear ChoiceMD, New Hampshire provided 22,988 Covid tests at four Clear ChoiceMD walk-in urgent care locations in Nashua, Claremont, Manchester and Newington between October and December 2021. To date, FEMA has awarded New Hampshire more than $137 million in Public Assistance grants for pandemic-related expenses.

Testing RELIEF

A research team at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon will receive $6.6 million from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to study nonsurgical treatment options for urinary urgency incontinence. According to a press release, the study, called “Reduced-dose onabotulinumtoxinA for urgency Incontinence among Elder Females (RELIEF): A mixed methods randomized controlled trial,” will explore the treatment onabotulinumtoxinA, better known by the brand name Botox, which has shown some potential to be an effective treatment for urinary incontinence, particularly for older women, for whom there are few suitable urinary incontinence treatments available

The Loon Preservation Committee hosts its annual Loon Festival at The Loon Center in Moultonborough (183 Lees Mill Road) on Saturday, July 16. Now in its 43rd year, the festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature all kinds of loon-related fun, as well as wildlife displays and presentations, food, games, balloons, face painting and a dunk tank. See loon.org/event/annual-loon-festival.

Nearly two dozen items were stolen from the historic house in Franklin where statesman Daniel Webster was born in 1782. According to the Associated Press, the theft of items, most of which were replicas, is believed to have occurred sometime between July 3 and July 8.

The 2022 Loon Census will also take place on Saturday, July 16, from 8 to 9 a.m., inviting people to observe loons at lakes throughout the state to help the Loon Preservation Committee collect data about New Hampshire’s loons. To learn how you can participate in the census, visit loon.org/census.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig met with members of Moms Demand Action in Manchester on July 8 to discuss gun violence prevention efforts in New Hampshire, according to a press release from Sen. Shaheen’s office.

This Week 22/07/07

Big Events July 7, 2022 and beyond

Thursday, July 7

Chunky’s Cinema Pub is hosting a 21-and-older screening of Thor: Love and Thunder tonight at 8 p.m. at all three locations (707 Huse Road in Manhcester, 151 Coliseum Ave. in Nashua and 150 Bridge St. in Pelham; chunkys.com). O’neil Cinemas Brickyard Square (24 Calef Highway in Epping; oneilcinemas.com) is also on the list of theaters hosting “Thorsday” evening screenings. The movie opens wide on Friday, July 8.

Friday, July 8

The 47th annual Raymond Town Fair will start up at 5 p.m. this evening at Raymond Commons. Bingo starts at 5 p.m. under the tent, live music starts at 6 p.m. and the firemen’s parade starts at 7 p.m. The fair continues through Saturday, July 10, and will include a silent auction, fireworks and sack races. For more information, contact the organizers at raymondnhtownfair@gmail.com or find the event on Facebook.

Saturday, July 9

The Warner Historical Society is hosting playwright Eugenie Carabatsos for a staged reading of her short play Seven Minutes in Heaven at Warner Town Hall (5 E. Main St. inWarner) at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Carabatsos, a professor at Dartmouth, is the first author presenting in this summer’s Tory Hill Authors series. Visit toryhillauthorsseries.com.

Saturday, July 9

The craft beer festival Keep NH Brewing is back (after a two-year hiatus) at Kiwanis Waterfront Park, 15 Loudon Road, Concord (see Matt Ingersoll’s story on page 26 in the June 30 edition of The Hippo; find the e-edition at hippopress.com). The event, which will run from 1 to 5 p.m., features more than 130 brewers from across the Granite State, plus vendors and music. The event is limited to adults age 21 and older. Tickets are $50 in advance, $55 day of, and $65 for VIP. Visit nhbrewers.org

Saturday, July 9

Catch the band Alligator Wine at the Millyard Brewery (25 E. Otterson St. in Nashua) tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. (music on the patio, weather permitting). Find more live music at more area patios (and inside breweries and restaurants), in the Music This Week listing, which starts on page 38.

Tuesday, July 12

As part of the Literary in the Lounge series, Tom Perrotta will read from his new novel, Tracy Flick Can’t Win, at the newly renamed Music Hall Lounge (131 Congress St. in Portsmouth) at 7 p.m. The book follows Tracy, a character from Perrotta’s 1998 novel Election, and how her life has changed since she was in high school. Tickets cost $44 and will include a hardcover signed copy of the book, an author discussion, Q-and-A session and post-show meet-and-greet. See themusichall.org. The space, which was formerly known as “The Loft” is a 116-seat venue and is slated to reopen July 7 with comedy by Pat McGann.

Save the Date! Thursday, August 11
The Manchester International Film Festival will run from Thursday, Aug. 11, through Sunday, Aug. 14, at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St.) and the Rex Theatre (23 Hanover St.). The film festival will show movies made by independent filmmakers, directors and performers. Film listings are still being announced but so far they include the short film For Pins, the and horror film An American Werewolf in London, which will have a podcast taping with Southern New Hampshire University film professors after the showing. Call the box office at 668-5588 or purchase tickets online at palacetheatre.org/film.

Featured photo. Thor. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 22/07/07

Taking to the skies

The five baby peregrine falcons that hatched in late April and early May at the New Hampshire Audubon’s peregrine nest box atop the Brady Sullivan Tower in Manchester have fledged. According to the Audubon’s daily peregrine falcons log, the male baby named Colum was the first of the bunch to fledge on June 10, followed by female Cinquey and male Blue on June 11, female Colby on June 12 and female Clem on June 13. Peregrine falcon fledglings typically spend four to six weeks learning to hunt from their parents before migrating out of the area, while the peregrine parents tend to stay in the area year-round. As of June 24, all five have been accounted for and have been seen and photographed in the sky running hunting drills.

QOL score: +1

Comment:You can watch the falcons on the Audubon’s 24/7 high-definition livestream of the nest box on YouTube. Visit nhaudubon.org/conservation-2/peregrine-web-cam and click “Link to Camera 1 Live Stream.” QOL is watching papa peregrine on the livestream now, at 8:30 a.m. (Images of the baby peregrines posted on the Audubon’s daily peregrine falcons log on June 22.)

Teachers honored

More than 150 New Hampshire teachers and educators were presented with a Christa McAuliffe commemorative silver dollar coin to recognize the difference they’ve made in the lives of students, as part of an initiative started this fall by the SEE Science Center and Service Credit Union. According to a press release, the teachers were chosen by students, families, colleagues and administrators. The coins were awarded at the teachers’ respective schools during school board meetings and education award ceremonies held by the New Hampshire Department of Education and the NH Excellence in Education Awards.

QOL score: +1

Comment:The U.S. silver dollar exclusively minted in 2021 bears the inscription of Christa McAuliffe’s words, “I touch the future, I teach.”

Welcoming new citizens

This Fourth of July, New Hampshire celebrated its newest U.S. citizens at a citizenship ceremony held at Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth. According to WMUR, 71 people from 31 countries were sworn in during the first large citizenship ceremony held by the U.S. Federal Court for the District of New Hampshire since the pandemic began.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Many of the new citizens said the thing they are looking forward to doing most as a new citizen is voting in the next election, WMUR reported.

Cheers for good weather

Since QOL is always quick to complain about early snow or late snow or some other weather unpleasantness, it seems fair to recognize the good weather when we get it. Such as the weather we had over the long Fourth of July weekend, when the days offered plenty of fun-in-the-sun opportunities and both the evenings of July 3 and July 4 were clear and fireworks-friendly.

QOL score: +1

Comments: Downtown Manchester got fireworks both evenings with the city fireworks show wowing the audience on Sunday night and the “biggest fireworks show in Fisher Cats history” (according to a team press release) on Monday night after the game.

QOL score: 80

Net change: +4

QOL this week: 84

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

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