Category: News

Quality of Life 24/02/01

Democracy and stickers!

Voters in last week’s presidential primaries were able to score some pretty great “I voted” stickers. Three different options were available: an Old Man in the Mountain profile in front of an American flag, a happy-face-having state of New Hampshire fishing and a moose in front of an autumnal landscape. The artists behind these stickers are New Hampshire fourth graders Grace of Milton, Jacob of Auburn and Rilynn of Mont Vernon, respectively. New Hampshire Secretary of State David M. Scanlan and Deputy Secretary of State Erin T. Hennessey announced the winners of a statewide sticker-making contest for fourth graders back in October 2023. The stickers will appear at all state elections in 2024.

Score: +1

Comments: QOL did — after asking permission — take one of each.

Students helping out

The University of New Hampshire has introduced the “Semester for Impact” program, a unique experiential learning initiative designed to benefit students and New Hampshire organizations, according to a press release. This program enables UNH undergraduates to work 30 hours a week for 15 weeks with local businesses, nonprofits and municipalities, focusing on projects with positive environmental and social impacts. Students earn academic credit and engage in complementary workshops and courses. The program, which embeds immersive learning into the academic curriculum, is a collaboration with the nonprofit College for Social Innovation. It builds on the success of the Semester in the City program in Boston and aims to develop key competencies, professional skills and career networks for students. Host organizations are invited to apply to participate in the program.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Previously, 190 UNH students have participated in the Semester in the City program in Boston through this collaboration, focusing on community-based learning experiences.

Tax help

Granite United Way has launched its free tax prep program for New Hampshire residents with annual household incomes of up to $64,000. According to a press release, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, supported by a $50,000 contribution from Citizens, connects qualifying low-to-moderate-income individuals and families in the state with IRS-certified volunteers who can help them access the greatest amount of tax refunds. This initiative helped participants collectively receive more than $5.5 million in federal tax refunds last year, including significant amounts through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). To schedule an appointment near you visit nhtaxhelp.org, or go to MyFreeTaxes.com for self-preparation with guidance.

QOL score: +1

Comment: IRS data revealed that about one in five eligible New Hampshire residents don’t file for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), leaving an estimated $31 million unclaimed, according to the release.

QOL score: 52

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 55

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].

SB sweepstakes down to two

The Big Story – Super Bowl-Bound: After a Sunday filled with great performances and bizarre plays we’ve got our Super Bowl teams.

Despite completing a pass to himself for a 13-yard gain, Lamar Jackson and favored Baltimore were undone at home by KC 17-10, thanks to a terrific defensive effort that got two turnovers at the Ravens’ end zone and a great game from Travis Kelce in catching all 11 balls thrown his way for 116 yards and the opening TD that gave KC the lead for good.

Game 2 was the opposite as the 49ers roared back from down 17 at halftime to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in a 34-31 win. The key play was a 51-yard gain after Brandon Aiyuk caught a ball that ricocheted off the face mask of the guy covering him. And the Lions were undone by the thing most responsible for getting them to the NFC Championship game, the grit to always go for it on fourth down.

See you in Vegas on Feb. 8.

Sports 101: Four people have won a Super Bowl as a player and a head coach. Name them.

News Item – Crazy NBA Scoring Week: Joel Embiid broke Wilt Chamberlain’s single game Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers franchise scoring record by going for 70 in a win over the Spurs, and wasn’t even the week’s highest scorer. It was Luka Doncic with a fourth best in history 73 in a 148-143 win over Atlanta.

But big scoring didn’t guarantee a win, as the Suns’ Devin Booker and Minnesota’s Karl Anthony Towns each had 62 in losses to Indiana and Charlotte respectively when Towns had an astonishing 44 in his first half.

News Item – NBA Trade Deadline Arrives Next Thursday: With the Celtics going well and restricted by ridiculous NBA salary cap rules don’t expect much from them. Lots of rumors, though, where Portland could continue reshaping the Eastern Conference, as after shipping Jrue Holiday here and Damian Lillard to Milwaukee they could give the Knicks, who are 9-2 since getting OG Anunoby, a further jolt by sending Malcolm Brogdon there as rumored. And surprisingly they supposedly have Robert Williams on the block too.

The Numbers

152 – most ever career playoff receptions recorded by aforementioned KC tight end Travis Kelce to move past Jerry Rice as the all-time NFL leader.

… Of the Week Awards

Got It Wrong Again Media Report – NY Post: Early in the search it reported the Atlanta Falcons were “desperate” to hire Bill Belichick. It turned out they interviewed 11 different guys before hiring Rams D Coordinator Raheem Morris instead.

NFL Draft Oddity – Jared Goff and Brock Purdy: Sunday’s game between Detroit and SF was the first time in history that a QB taken first overall in the draft (Goff) and a QB who had been taken dead last (Purdy) faced each other as starters in a playoff game.

Separated at Birth – Goff and Ryan Gosling: Speaking of Goff, is it just me who thinks he’s a dead ringer for the Ken doll Hollywood star?

Put It in Perspective Coach B Quote of the Week – Jayson Tatum: who said on Belichick’s departure as Patriots coach. “… It’s a little weird, he’s been coaching the whole time I’ve been alive. All I’ve known is Bill Belichick and the Patriots.”

Random Thoughts:

I’ll remind folks saying Coach B should take a year off to decompress that that is exactly what people said Andy Reid should do when he was bounced out in Philadelphia. Instead he went to KC, whom he immediately turned around. And in his 10 seasons there he has won less than 10 games just once, while winning two SB’s, and is now on his way to the big game for the fourth time in five years.

Sports 101 Answer: The four guys who won a Super Bowl as a player and head coach are Tom Flores, Mike Ditka, Tony Dungy and Doug Peterson.

Final Thought: God love his gung-ho style. But it was ironic seeing the very thing, Dan Campbell used to instill the fight and toughness that got the long moribund Lions to the NFC title game undo them in the end.

It’s not a second guess to say he should have taken the field goal both times he went for it on fourth down in the fourth quarter vs. SF. It’s a lesson to those who blindly follow the analytics crowd, because making it 59 percent of the time on fourth and three or less means that also it doesn’t work four times out of 10. Thus more factors need to be considered, like field position, distance, the score, time left, what an opponent’s strengths are and momentum.

Campbell didn’t do that in a game his team lost by 3 (34-31) when not taking the two chip shot field goals he passed on likely cost his team a chance to go to the Super Bowl. The good news is it’s a live-and-learn world and it doesn’t overshadow the great job he did. Email Dave Long at [email protected].

News & Notes 24/02/01

New drug to reverse opioid overdoses

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has announced the availability of nalmefene, a new medication for reversing opioid overdoses, statewide. According to a press release, pharmacies across New Hampshire are authorized to dispense nalmefene to individuals at risk of opioid overdose and their support networks. This initiative is part of the state’s efforts to combat substance use disorder, with Gov. Chris Sununu and DHHS Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Ballard emphasizing its importance in saving lives. “Yet again, New Hampshire is increasing access to every resource possible in our continued work to combat substance use disorder and save lives,” Gov. Sununu said in the release. “With this tool, we increase opportunity to partner Granite Staters in need with the variety of recovery resources available and put them on a path to a brighter future.” Nalmefene, which is particularly effective against potent opioids like fentanyl, will be provided at no cost to Medicaid beneficiaries in New Hampshire. This announcement complements the existing availability of naloxone and the state’s investment in opioid response initiatives, including the establishment of The Doorways program for substance use disorder support and the statewide placement of NaloxBoxes in 2023.

Insurance news

New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID) staff have been appointed to key roles within the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), positioning New Hampshire at the forefront of discussions and decisions that impact insurance regulations and policies nationwide. According to a press release, Christian Citarella is now Chair of the Casualty Actuarial and Statistical (C) Task Force, while Commissioner DJ Bettencourt serves as Vice Chair of the NAIC/Consumer Liaison Committee and the Consumer Participation Board of Trustees. These appointments, along with others in various task forces, help to ensure that New Hampshire residents’ interests and concerns are directly represented at a national level in the insurance sector.

Child protection

Senate Majority Leader Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) has introduced two bills, SB 459-FN and SB 463-FN, aimed at bolstering protections for children. According to a press release, SB 463-FN proposes expanding access to court-appointed counsel for children involved in dependency proceedings, specifically for those in group homes or child care institutions. Meanwhile, SB 459-FN seeks to amend the child protection act by including restraint or seclusion in the definition of institutional child abuse or neglect, updating the presumption of harm and enhancing the mandatory reporting law.

Awards

Four members of Dartmouth Health — Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital (APD), Dartmouth Cancer Center, Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center, and New London Hospital — have received national recognition from Press Ganey, a leader in health care experience solutions. According to a press release, APD’s Emergency Department and New London Hospital Express Care were awarded the Guardian of Excellence Award for Patient Experience, with APD receiving this honor for the second consecutive year. Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center earned the same award for Employee Experience. Dartmouth Cancer Center, New Hampshire’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, received the Pinnacle of Excellence Award for the fourth year in a row, ranking in the top five percent of health care organizations for exceptional patient experience. These accolades are part of Press Ganey’s annual evaluation of top hospitals and health systems for patient experience.

Funds for northern New Hampshire

The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) has been awarded nearly $3 million in federal funds, aimed at supporting economic development in New Hampshire, Maine, New York and Vermont. According to a press release, this funding, allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development’s Rural Business Development Grant Program, will assist in enhancing rural businesses, outdoor recreation and workforce development in these states. Specific allocations in New Hampshire include the Coös Economic Development Council, Upper Valley Snowsports/Whaleback, White Mountain Science, Inc., and Shugah Valley Snow Riders. The funding is a result of legislative efforts that included the expansion of the NBRC’s scope in the 2018 Farm Bill and increased funding in government funding legislations for FY2023 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which aims to support infrastructure and community development projects in the region.

The Southern New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Committee hosted the Concord Update on Jan. 26 at Campbell’s Scottish Highlands Golf Course in Salem. According to a press release, this event provided Chamber members and local citizens an opportunity to hear from State Representatives about current business matters in Concord.

The Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund (BCAF) of the Diocese of Manchester has announced the opening of its grant application period for the Spring 2024 cycle, with a submission deadline of Feb. 21. According to a press release, the BCAF, focusing on projects that address basic needs, welcomes applications from all 501(c)(3) organizations in New Hampshire, irrespective of religious affiliation. Funding comes from donations by individuals, businesses and philanthropic entities. See catholicnh.org/BCAF.

The Nashua Garden Club is hosting a program featuring Kerry Ann Mendez, a garden design consultant and author. According to a press release, the event, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Nashua, will showcase a pre-recorded video titled “Clever Design Tips for Everblooming, Low-Maintenance Gardens.” The program aims to provide insights to help gardeners avoid common landscaping mistakes. This event is open to all. Visit nashuanhgardenclub.org

This Week 24/01/25

Big Events January 25 and Beyond

Thursday, Jan. 25

Drum Tao, a show with costumes and staging highlighting Japanese Taiko drums, will be at the Capitol Center for the Arts Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com), today at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $44 through $76. See drum-tao.com/en for a look at the performance.

Thursday, Jan. 25

The Concord Garden Club and local artists kick off the annual “Art & Bloom,” the show featuring floral arrangements paired with art, today at Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St. in Concord). The show will be on display today from 2 to 5 p.m., with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The show is just one of the events happening during Concord’s Winter Fest; find more in the story on page 23.

Thursday, Jan. 25

Do you know your Midge and Allan? Check out the 21+ Barbie movie trivia night tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Manchester (707 Huse Road, chunkys.com). For a closer look at trivia nights, check out the Jan. 11 cover story (go to hippopress.com and look for the e-edition). For more trivia events this week, see page 42.

Friday, Jan. 26

It’s comedy night at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com) featuring Kenny Rogerson, Jody Sloane and David Lamb. The show starts at 8 p.m.; tickets cost $22. Find more comedy this weekend and beyond in the Comedy This Week listings on page 41.

Friday, Jan. 26

Mosaic Art Collective (66 Hanover St., Suite 201, in Manchester; 512-6309, mosaicartcollective.com) will host an artist talk with photographer Gary Samson from 5:45 to 7 p.m. The event is free but reserve a spot via EventBrite (find a link on Mosaic’s Facebook page). See garysamsonphotography.com for more on Samson and his work.

Saturday, Jan. 27

As of earlier this week there were still a few spots left for Date Night in the Pottery Studio at Studio 550 Arts Center (550 Elm St. in Manchester; 232-5597, 550arts.com) tonight at 6 p.m. The class runs about an hour and a half and participants get a basic pottery lesson and then can make their own creations, according to the website, where you can sign up.

Tuesday, Jan. 30

See the professional dance company Step Afrika! today at 7 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com, where you can see videos of the company’s performances). The show is part of the William H. Gile Concert Series, so tickets are free, but go online to reserve seats.

Save the Date! Sunday, March 10
Team Police takes on Team Fire, for a good cause, on Sunday, March 10, at 1 p.m. at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com) at the Battle of the Badges Hockey Championship presented by the Elliot Perry Foundation (elliotperry.org) to raise money for Dartmouth Health’s Children’s. See childrens.dartmouth-health.org/events for more on the event and to purchase tickets which cost $16 (plus fees) for ages 6 and up. On the day, tickets will cost $20.

Quality of Life 24/01/25

We’re #1!

In a comprehensive report by Retirement Living, New Hampshire has been ranked the best state for retirement in 2024. This accolade comes as part of a detailed analysis of various factors critical to retirees, including cost of living, quality of life, and health care. The state’s appeal is bolstered by its tax benefits — no tax on income, estate, or sales — and the availability of year-round activities. Retirees make up 20% of New Hampshire’s population, and they enjoy discounts on tourist attractions. The ranking is based on a Retirement Living Score, derived from a survey of more than 1,075 people age 55 and older, alongside government data from sources like the U.S. Census Bureau and FBI. The report aims to guide individuals considering relocation for their retirement, highlighting the importance of factors like retirement taxes, access to health care and overall affordability in making such a decision.

QOL score: +1

Comment: This is the second consecutive year that New Hampshire has taken the spot in the study.

Easier college funding

The recent changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) have wide-reaching implications, particularly for students in New Hampshire, NHPR reported. The simplified FAFSA, featuring just 36 questions instead of the previous 108, has altered the aid formula, shifting from the expected family contribution to the student aid index as the metric for calculating a student’s ability to pay for college. This change benefits New Hampshire students, with approximately 12,000 more becoming eligible for Pell Grants and over 24,000 qualifying for the maximum grant amount.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Additionally, a new state law now mandates high school seniors in New Hampshire to complete a FAFSA or opt out through a waiver, a policy expected to increase competition rates for eligible students, aligning with trends seen in other states with similar requirements.

Now I can find my texts!

Last weekend, texts from QOL’s dad and other real people were lost in a sea of desperate pleas that QOL Vote For Whomever! or take someone’s survey. Any real phone calls QOL got were ignored along with the flood of calls from one presumes candidates or something, who knows, because QOL stopped answering. According to a WMUR report from Jan. 22, some people who did answer their phone heard what sounded like (but wasn’t) the voice of President Joe Biden telling them not to vote on Tuesday and the NH attorney general is now investigating those calls. But, hark! With the primary now over (hopefully, as of press time on the morning of Jan. 23), we can all look forward to finding our real texts, answering our phones and getting our precious magazines from the mailbox without wading through election stuff.

QOL score: +1 (-1 for the fake phone calls but +2 for, hopefully, an overall lessening of calls and texts)

Comment: At least until mid October.

QOL score: 49

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 52

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].

The week that was

The Big Story – NFL Championship Weekend: The Sunday when the NFC and AFC championships are played is the best sports day of the year. And that’s what we’ve got coming Sunday, when defending champion KC led by football’s best QB (Pat Mahomes) takes on Baltimore and the best running QB (and likely MVP) Lamar Jackson) in Game 1, followed by a rematch of the famed 1957 NFL special playoff game (finally) between the 49ers and Lions to determine who’d represent the Western Conference in the ’57 title game vs Cleveland. Which, oh by the way, is the last time the Lions were NFL champs. Can’t wait.

Sports 101: Name the two players who’ve scored the most TD’s in NFL playoff history.

News Item – Mahomes on the Road: Amazingly Sunday in Buffalo was the first time he had ever played on the road in the playoffs during his entire six-year career. Though a heartbreaker for the Bills, it was actually lucky number 50 for him. As it was his 39th overall road win to make his road winning percentage of 78 percent the best career for any QB in NFL history.

News Item – The New Philly Phold: In Philadelphia it’s hard to top the famed Phillie Phold (which turns 60 this year), when their baseball team blew a 6½-game lead in the final week of 1964 after not being out of first place even one day the entire season. But by going from 10-1 to finish 11-6 and getting smoked by mediocre Tampa Bay in the Wild Card round, the Eagle collapse may have done just that.

News Item – Chip Kelly Hot Topic: The rumor mill is cranking overtime this time of year in the NFL. One interesting item has the local lad and current UCLA head coach on the wish lists of several teams with openings to be their offensive coordinator.

News Item – Jaylen Brown: When he is bad he is often beyond belief awful bad, Exhibit A being his impossible to forget elimination Game 7 disaster at home vs. the Miami Heat. This time it was Friday’s battle of 2024 NBA titans with Denver when:

(1) he was 1 for 9 from three-point land,

(2) had two lay-ups blocked from behind because he eased up instead of dunking it like he needed to and usually does,

(3) down 1 with a minute to go, he clanged two free fouls in a game they lost 102-100,

(4) he stepped into the lane 2 seconds early on a missed Aaron Gordon FT with 17 seconds left to take away a crucial rebound from Boston in lieu of a jump ball that resulted, and

(5) he was one of several guys toasted by Jamal Murray on his way to his killer 35-point night.

The Numbers:

10 – most all-time playoff meetings between two teams in NFL history, which came Saturday when SF won a 24-21 thriller over Green Bay.

16 – after getting two more vs. Buffalo, times Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce have hooked up for TD’s in the playoffs to pass the Tom Brady–Rob Gronkowski combo for most in NFL history.

… Of the Week Awards

Funniest Super Bowl-Worthy Commercial – Uber Eats: Seeing iconic British actress Helen Mirren sitting on a sofa watching playoff action eating cheese balls just delivered by Uber Eats as she yells, “a Jets sweep on third and 11 — YOU IDIOTS!” before throwing the cheese balls at the TV. Very funny.

Why Can’t We Get Guys Like That Award – Nelson Agholor: He may have been a disappointment in Foxboro, but after he scored the Ravens’ first TD in their 31-10 win over Houston they loved him in Baltimore.

Thumbs Up – Dan Campbell: He’s gone from over-the-top gung-ho nut who’ll last two years tops as head coach in Detroit to a guy who’s somehow done the impossible, transforming the eternally awful Lions into the Cinderella story of the NFL.

Sports 101 Answer: With 22JerryRicehasscored the most playoff TD’s in history.Emmitt Smith and Thurman Thomasare next with 21.

A Little History – 1957 NFL Championship Game: Hard to believe, but the Lions were Patriots-like in the 1950s NFL, winning 3 times. The last was in 1957 behind backup QB Tobin Rote (also the QB for San Diego as they demolished the Pats 51-10 in the 1963 AFL title game) with swaggering Hall of Famer Bobby Layne lost for the season. First by bringing them back from down 24-3 to a 31-27 win over SF. Then Detroit crushed Cleveland 59-14 as Rote threw four TD passes and ran for another to avenge a similar 56-10 beatdown by the Browns in the 1954 Championship game.

Final Thought – Predictions:

49ers-Lions: SF should win, but being the hopeless romantic I am, I’m pulling for the upset by upstart Detroit 34-31. I know, dumb. But that’s my story.

Chiefs-Ravens: Another titanic QB battle. I’ll take Mahomes over Jackson until he proves me wrong. Final-minute 24-23 KC win.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!