Category: News

The week that was

It was an eventful week with all sorts of things happening.

News Item: Pats Draft Crazy Again

As usual Bill Belichick created a huge hoo-ha with the way he conducted last week’s Patriots draft — most notably, after the usual two trades down, with his pick in the first round of guard Cole Strange. An appropriate name for a guy who went 29th overall when everyone else in the NFL universe had him a third-round-level player. They said it was because they thought he might have been gone at their next pick at 51. That statement is laughable for the following reasons. (1)Coach B had the stones to stay put at 15 last year after Chicago traded up to take Justin Fields at 11 leaving only Mac Jones (of the Big 5) on the board when they absolutely needed to get a QB and QB-needy Pittsburgh, Washington and New Orleans were still lurking out there. So somehow I don’t see the urgency to vault a guard from IAA two rounds ahead of where most had him rated as a third-round pick. (2) Even if they were realistically afraid he might be gone by 51, it’s not like Bill doesn’t have a history of moving around the board. For instance, in 2010 they got Rob Gronkowski in the second round at 42 after starting the day at 51, before going up to 44 and finally getting him at 42.

And instead of strangely reaching for Cole, they could have packaged the saved No. 1 pick with others needed to get into the A.J. Brown sweepstakes and used the second-round pick on Strange instead of doing what recent history says they can’t do, drafting a wideout in Baylor speedster Tyquan Thornton at 51. Then by taking Strange in Round II they fill the OL hole while getting the electric game-breaking Brown to help their young QB from Day 1, rather than waiting for a rookie to figure it out over his first two seasons.

News Item: Bloom Is Off The Rose

As Popeye the sailor used to say, that’s all I can stanz, I can’t stanz no more. That moment came when after pitching four perfect innings on Friday, Rich Hill got yanked by Sox manager Alex Cora when hitter 13 led off the fifth inning with a single. It’s the epitome of the Tampa Bay replica Chaim Bloom is turning the Sox into. And while I know TB has had success, I am now rooting for Chaim to fail and be fired. I know I’m a relic and it won’t change anything. But I hate seeing Cora turned into a spreadsheet puppet since his return. And that’s before Xander Bogaerts walks next winter in free agency (though John Henry will deserve blame for that too). Sorry, nothing personal, but I hate TB’s brand of baseball, so Chaim’s toast with David Long the baseball fan. BOOOOO.

News Item: C’s Cut Down the Nets

I don’t want to tell you I told you so, but I told you so. The Nets were not to be as feared, as almost everyone else on the planet (besides me) said they should be. While a bit better than expected, Brooklyn’s D could not contain the Boston O, particularly Jayson Tatum, who averaged 29.8 points per in the series, and the Celtics defense stifled almost everyone, even Kevin Durant,who had a miserable shooting series before getting 39 in Game 4. And Kyrie Irving did what I said he would — put up a 39-point wow game, deliver two chokes (10 and 16 points in Games 2 and 3), with a pedestrian 20-pointer (Game 4) to get him pounded by the critics as well, which we’ll have more on in a few weeks.

News Item: Piling on Durant

The piling on Durant began immediately after that embarrassing sweep, led by Charles Barkley’s “driving the bus” nonsense. Idiotic because (1) KD is right that in joining Houston late in his career in a vain attempt to finally win one himself, Barkley is hypocritical slamming Durant for joining Golden State in 2016. Then again it would be good for KD to understand that while entertaining, Chuck is almost always wrong about almost everything, so it’s best to ignore him. (2) When Barkley mentions Durant has not won a title since leaving GS, he neglects to mention neither have the Warriors since he left them. (3) Being the bus driver isn’t why KD struggled vs. Boston; credit their defensive game plan and execution for that. And he’s also hardly the first bus driver to string some bad playoff games together. How about Houston’s Robert Reid holding Larry Bird to shooting 11-38 when Larry scored 8, 8 and 12 points in Games 3, 4 and 5 in the 1981 Finals. Or how about none other than Chuck’s 12-8-8-points submission when the Rockets got swept by Utah in 1998?

News Item: Celtics Throw Up Game 1 Stinker

You can look at the Celtics’ horrid 101-89 Game 1 loss to Milwaukee two ways. That they immediately coughed up the home court advantage Bucks Coach Mike Budenholzer gifted them by tanking the final game of the regular season. Or that it’s the playoffs and it’s rare for teams to run off long winning streaks because you’re always facing good teams. Either way, what was most troubling was the mental fog their top two scorers played in, with the most notable being Jaylen Brown. Hard to imagine anyone playing a more bumbling, worse game, because when he’s off he can be beyond-belief bad. The good news is plenty of teams have laid Game 1 eggs before coming back to win their series. Most notable was when the Celtics demolished the Lakers 148-114 in the Mother’s Day Massacre of 1985 before L.A. recovered to take Game 2 in Boston Garden on their way to winning in six, showing Sunday was just one game, that’s it.

At least so far.

Starting on a high note

Concord Community Music School welcomes new director

Meet Daniel Acsadi, who will begin his tenure as executive director of Concord Community Music School — and the second permanent executive director in the school’s history — on Monday, May 9.

What is your background in this kind of work?

I have almost 20 years of experience in music, performance, education and nonprofits. My education is from Cornell University, where I did my bachelor’s — a double degree — in music and economics. I did my graduate studies — my master’s and my doctorate — at the New England Conservatory of Music, and I’m a classical guitarist by training. Recently, I was employed as a faculty member at Tufts University, Longy School of Music of Bard College and Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts. I was the director of The Boston Classical Guitar Society for seven years, ending a few years ago. Most recently, I served as the director of education and community programs at Powers Music School in Belmont, Massachusetts.

How did you come into this position at Concord Community Music School?

I was familiar with the Concord Community Music School through the National Guild for Community Arts Education, which is an overarching group that has been around for a while. There’s a lot of activity going on through that as part of its northeast chapter, and Powers Music School and Concord Community Music School are both part of that. I became especially interested in the school after I heard that the visionary founder of the school, Peggy Senter, retired about a year ago, and that they were pursuing a search [for a new director]. The more I learned about the school, I was just intrigued, and it was just really clear what a special community it is, and what a special organization it is.

What will your job as executive director entail?

As executive director, I’m going to be managing the day-to-day operations of the school, supervising staff and faculty and just overall being a good steward to the school’s programs and initiatives.

What do you expect to be some of the biggest challenges?

My first task will be to learn as much as possible about the school, and that’s going to take a little bit of time at the beginning, for sure. Every institution has dealt with things over the last few years both similarly and differently, but It’s encouraging to know that the community remains as vibrant as ever. Obviously, as we resume activities and hopefully turn a corner after the pandemic, we’re able to recapture a lot of the energy and a lot of the programming that stems from being together in person. Ensembles and programming where we’re making music together in groups is, of course, the best kind of music-making.

What do you hope to accomplish?

I want to support the wonderful things that are already going on at Concord Community Music School. It has an absolutely fantastic faculty, which I’m getting to know every day now as I’m preparing to start a great collection of lessons, classes and events, and this incredibly strong community that has been built around the school over almost 40 years. Some of the immediate goals are to creatively grow the programming of the school to ensure that we can best serve the region’s needs and interests musically and artistically. I also want to work on increasing the marketing reach of the school to ensure that, of course, everyone in the community knows about everything that we offer. … It’s really just ensuring that this school is a vibrant center of music making and arts and remains a pillar of the Concord artistic community.

What unique qualities or perspectives do you bring to this position?

I feel like I’m able to bring a lot of different perspectives because of my experience. I’ve been a performer, as a guitarist and chamber musician. I’ve been teaching for a long time at all sorts of levels, from beginner students to graduate students at conservatory level. I’m also a parent, so I understand the goals of parents as they try to educate their children. I’m continuing to play and learn, so I also understand the needs, goals and the love of music that adults experience and the need for music throughout our lifetimes. Finally, with my experience working in the nonprofit sector, I’m able to bring all of these perspectives. I hope that I’m able to really tie all of this together to help the school to continue to improve and flourish.

What are you looking forward to most?

I’ve heard this word repeatedly over the course of getting to know some of the people in Concord and at the school, and that is that the school is truly a ‘gem.’ I’ve gotten some glimpses at that, and I’m really looking forward to exploring and getting to know everyone in this amazing community.

Featured photo: Daniel Acsadi.

News & Notes 22/05/05

Covid-19 update As of April 25 As of May 2
Total cases statewide 308,446 311,144
Total current infections statewide 2,444 2,989
Total deaths statewide 2,475 2,481
New cases 2,253 (April 19 to April 25) 2,698 (April 26 to May 2)
Current infections: Hillsborough County 709 873
Current infections: Merrimack County 157 202
Current infections: Rockingham County 435 601
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

Covid-19 news

State health officials reported 270 new cases of Covid-19 on May 2. The state averaged 393 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period, a 15 percent increase compared to the week before. As of May 2 there were 2,989 active infections and 18 hospitalizations statewide.

Foster funding

Former foster youth are being urged to apply for time-limited federal funding under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and use it for rent, utilities, groceries, education expenses and other necessities. According to a press release from the state Department of Health and Human Services Division for Children, Youth and Families, more than 300 youth and young adults up to age 22 who spent time in foster care after the age of 16 have already accessed this federal funding. “We streamlined the application process to break down barriers, providing better, faster outcomes for our former foster youth,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in the release. To provide this simplified online application process, DCYF is using its existing partnership with Waypoint, which works with former foster youth to connect them with available community resources, so people can apply through Waypoint’s online portal. “The Covid-19 pandemic heavily impacted our older youth in care and former foster youth, who are either in the process of transitioning to adulthood or are new to this phase of their lives,” DCYF Director Joseph E. Ribsam said in the release. “Through this additional funding, we have an opportunity to impact their future success.” Funding is provided on a first come, first served basis, and amounts depend on age and exit status from DCYF, the release said.

Pot legislation

Though the New Hampshire House passed a bill to legalize recreational cannabis in the state earlier this year, that bill failed in the State Senate last week. According to a report from NHPR, opponents argued that recreational cannabis legalization could lead to higher rates of use by minors, as well as more impaired drivers on the road. The bill would have allowed adults 21 and older to possess up to three-quarters of an ounce of cannabis, as well as cannabis-infused edibles and tinctures. According to the report, the Senate has never passed a cannabis legalization bill. The bill failed on a 15-9 vote, with three Democrats, Sen. Lou D’Allesandro, Sen. Donna Soucy, and Sen. Kevin Cavanaugh, all from Manchester, joining all but two Republicans to kill the measure. GOP Sens. Harold French of Franklin and John Reagan of Deerfield voted in favor of the bill. Supporters said the bill was an important step toward racial equity, as studies show that Black people are more likely to be arrested for marijuana use, despite both white and Black people using the drug at similar rates, the report said. “New Hampshire has become an island in New England, with our overly burdensome regulations of cannabis that are out of sync with what the scientific, health and social data says,” Sen. Becky Whitley, a Democrat from Contoocook, said during the debate, according to NHPR. Adults in New Hampshire can legally purchase cannabis in Massachusetts and Maine, and later this year in Vermont, but there is a $100 fine in New Hampshire for adults caught with small amounts of marijuana, the report said.

Voter confidence

Last week New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan hosted a press conference to introduce the newly formed Commission on Voter Confidence, a nonpartisan effort to discuss, educate and mitigate concerns about the apparent decline in voter confidence due to misinformation and political rhetoric, according to a press release. “Our goal is to reeducate the voting population, with the help of local election officials, on our voting procedures and help voters understand there aren’t any secrets in the election process,” Scanlan said during the press conference. Members are Richard Swett (Co-chair), Bradford E. Cook (Co-chair), Andrew Georgevits, Ken Eyring, Amanda Merrill, Jim Splaine, Douglass Teschner and Olivia Zink. “We want to hear from the people and understand what their concerns are because what they think is true is often just as important as what is not,” Cook said at the conference. The commission then met for the first time on Monday, May 2, to discuss its meeting schedule for the coming months. According to a report from WMUR, the commission will begin a statewide listening tour next week. “I am fearful that some of the partisan rhetoric and some of the anger that exists around elections will come out in the commission,” Zink said at the meeting, according to WMUR.

Boscawen Academy and the “Much-I-Do” Hose House were recently named to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places. According to a press release, the Academy was built in the Late Federal style in 1827-28, and the clapboarded Hose House was built in 1893 to shelter the town’s fire-fighting equipment. Also recently added to the State Register are the 1720s John Gregg House in Derry — one of the oldest houses in town and the only one remaining of the original 20 Scotch Irish families that settled in what was then called Nutfield — and the circa-1912 gambrel-roofed Houston Barn in Hopkinton that was part of a 115-acre farm that originally had chickens, sheep and Angus beef but focused on dairy production in the mid-20th century, the release said.

A commencement ceremony for the first-ever graduating class of the New Hampshire Career Academy Program will be held May 5 at the New Hampshire Department of Education’s office in Concord. According to a press release, the Career Academy provides students with a pathway leading to a high school diploma, an associate’s degree, an industry credential and a job interview with a New Hampshire employer over a two-year period at no tuition cost to students or their families.

The loose change that Derry Garden Club members have been putting into a “Penny Pines” canning jar during meetings has added up — so far it has paid for the reforestation of 3 acres of trees that suffered irreparable damage. According to a press release, the national project raises funds to plant seeds in the areas of the country most in need, and it only takes $68 of loose change to plant one acre. The canning jar will be out for donations at the club’s plant sale on June 4 at the Robert Frost Farm.

This Week 22/04/28

Big Events April 28, 2022 and beyond

Friday, April 29

Catch Brad Aikens and Friends at the Millyard Brewery (125 E. Otterson St. in Nashua; millyardbrewery.com, 722-0104) tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. Find more live music at area restaurants, pubs and more in our Music This Week listing, which starts on page 34.

Saturday, April 30

It’s a day of races.

The Dirty Paws 5K to support the Pope Memorial SPCA will kick off at 9 a.m. at the shelter (94 Silk Farm Road in Concord) and loop through the grounds of St. Paul’s School. Register online for the run/walk (for humans and dogs) at popememorialspca.org/dirtypaws5krun through Thursday, April 28, at 5 p.m.; onsite registration is also available on the day of the event. Registration is free for kids 13 and under and costs $25 for teens, $35 for 19+ in advance and $35 for teens, $40 for adults on the day.

Or run on the Londonderry Rail Trail to support the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org, 669-4877). The “Run the Rail Trail 5-Miler” starts at 9 a.m. at the museum. Registration costs $30 in advance and $35 on the day. Participants may register online at www.runsignup.com and search for “Aviation Museum,” according to a press release.

Sunday, May 1

The Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum (18 Highlawn Road in Warner; indianmuseum.org, 456-2600) opens for the season today from noon to 4 p.m.. Admission costs $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, $7 for children ages 6 to 12 and $26 for a family (two adults plus children).

Sunday, May 1

The Nashua Choral Society will present “Made for You and Me, Songs of America,” its free springtime concerts in Greeley Park (at the Bandshell, 100 Concord St. in Nashua) today at 3 p.m. (The rain date will be Sunday, May 15, at 3 p.m.) The lineup will include patriotic songs, folk songs, sea shanties and a tribute to those in the armed forces, according to a press release, which recommends bringing a lawn chair or a blanket.

Sunday, May 1

The New Hampshire Jewish Film Festival is selling virtual tickets to a bingefest of the six-episode television showLabyrinth of Peace, set in Switzerland at the end of World War II. Tickets cost $24 for the season-long run, which will stream for ticket-holders starting today through Sunday, May 15. See the trailer to the drama and purchase tickets at nhjewishfilmfestival.com.

Wednesday, May 4

Ben Folds will bring his “Ben Folds: In Actual Person Live For Real Tour” to the Chubb Theatre at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) tonight at 8 p.m.; doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $55 through $75.

Thursday, May 5

Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood of Whose Line Is it Anyway? fame will bring their “Scared Scriptless” improv show to the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $49 to $75.

Save the Date! May 7 & May 8
Monster Jam! comes to Southern New Hampshire University Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com, 644-5000) on Saturday, May 7, with shows at 1 and 7 p.m. and on Sunday, May 8, at 1 p.m. Tickets start at $18.

Featured photo. Courtesy.

Quality of Life 22/04/28

A trail built for all

Some of the physical, cultural and social barriers to nature have been broken down with the grand opening of the All Person Trail at The Nature Conservancy’s Manchester Cedar Swamp Preserve. According to a press release, the purpose of the newly constructed trail is to bring people of all abilities and backgrounds closer to nature even when they’re in the midst of the state’s largest city. The 1.2-mile trail officially opened on Earth Day after three years of planning and construction. It winds through the preserve’s diverse habitats, including wetlands and rock formations dating back to the Ice Age. It is flat and even, allowing for easy walking and use of assistance-providing devices like wheelchairs and strollers, the release said. There are benches along the trail, along with illustrated panels that highlight the sights, sounds and smells of the preserve; there’s also an app-based audio tour in both English and Spanish. The parking area includes accessible parking spaces and a nongendered, family-friendly portable toilet, according to the release.

Score: +2

Comment: Also beginning today, a new stop on the Manchester Transit Authority’s bus route provides much-needed transportation to and from the preserve, located in the Hackett Hill area of Manchester. Riders can now take the Route 11 bus to the “All Persons Trail” stop.

Spotlight on New American youth

Refugee youth will get their chance to shine at the New Americans Got Talent Show, happening Thursday, April 28, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord. According to a press release, the event is being put on by Overcomers Refugee Services and Project S.T.O.R.Y. The performers are ages 7 to 20, and they’ll be presenting talents like musical performances, dancing, athletics, cup stacking and public speaking. “Local celebrities” will be on the judges panel, and the top three performers will win cash prizes of $500, $300 and $200, the release said. Attendance is free, but donations benefitting refugee youth programs are welcome at OvercomersNH.org. RSVP at outreach@overcomersnh.org.

Score: +1

Comment: “This talent show is important to me and the kids because the kids get a chance to show their talents and perform,” Fred Nshimiyimana of Project S.T.O.R.Y, said in the release. “I think that’s really great because here in America, a lot of refugee kids haven’t had the chance to show off their skills and talents.”

Support for first responders

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats have a new charitable initiative called the First Responders Fund, created to support the families of New Hampshire Police and Firefighters in need. According to a press release, the fund will officially launch as part of First Responders Night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 11, and 50 percent of the proceeds from individual tickets sold that night will benefit the fund, as will the in-game 50/50 raffle and boot pass collection. The Fisher Cats Foundation will also make a $2,500 donation and contribute a portion of the funds from the annual Granite State Baseball Dinner, the release said.

Score: +1

Comment: “Oftentimes, first responders find themselves in need of help also. This initiative will help our members overcome some unforeseen obstacles in their personal lives,” Manchester Fire Chief Andre R. Parent said in the release.

Police impersonation scam

Last week the Manchester Police Department sent out a public alert after several people called to a report that a person claiming to be a Manchester Police Officer had called and demanded money. According to a press release, the scammer uses the name of an officer who really works at the Manchester Police Department and tells the person they owe thousands of dollars in court fees. The caller also tells the victim that they will be arrested if they hang up.

Comment: -1

Score: Always contact your local police department directly to verify any calls like this that seem suspicious, the release said.

QOL score: 72

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 75

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

Big draft blows tonight

Today is like Christmas for football personnel junkies, as Round 1 of the annual draft of college players goes off in Vegas tonight.

It’s the first of a three-day extravaganza that creates a lot of buzz around NFL Nation for mock drafts, potential trades and maneuvering around the board.

So as I sit here hoping Coach B makes the bold move I know he won’t — swing for the fences to get the home run-hitting wide receiver they need — here’s a series of thoughts buzzing in my head as Round 1 begins Thursday, April 28, at 8 p.m. in the east.

For a change there hasn’t been much rumble about QBs in this draft, the most discussed subject being the undersized hands of the guy at the top of the QB board, Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh.

It’s a stark contrast to last year, when the likely five first rounders were the catalyst for two major pre-draft trades, as they captured all the conversational oxygen in the room. That the last picked of those five, Mac Jones, had by far the best rookie year was a big story through the entire year, even as the Pats’ December fade helped Ja’Marr Chase deservedly sneak by Mac to be Rookie of the Year for his dramatic impact in Cincy.

Instead QB’s in the league already have dominated the pre-draft headlines. This included the Packers bowing to Aaron Rodgers’ bluff of wanting out of Green Bay to give him what he really wanted — being the highest-paid player in the NFL. Russell Wilson got his wish to get out as Seattle headed to a rebuild. Denver paid a king’s ransom to get him to end their playoff-less streak since Peyton Manning retired after 2015. Here’s hoping it doesn’t end as I hate when ungrateful quitters come out on top after walking out on teams that took a big chance on them at the start.

A similar price was paid to finally put an end to the Deshaun Watson saga in Houston and bring his enormous baggage with him to Cleveland. I’m hoping he hits rough seas too, both for his alleged sexual misconduct activities and so Cleveland Browns’ slimy, ends-justify-the-means owner Jimmy Haslam doesn’t benefit either.

That move sent Baker Mayfield into pout mode because he somehow can’t see why the Browns would want to start over at QB over committing ginormous money to a QB with a most uneven record.

Seattle and Carolina are rumored to be likely places to land. Not sure which is worse as Panthers Coach Matt Rhule looks to be a year away from the firing squad and Seattle puts him back in the same situation he was in when he got to Cleveland.

Big paydays also came to wide receivers in various ways: extensions (Stefon Diggs), free agency (Davante Adams to Vegas) and trade (Tyreek Hill to Miami, as their growing influence on the game in the 2020s becomes more evident by the year.

With both Diggs and now Hill in the AFC East, and the flush with draft capital Jets looking for a big play guy, those moves are why the Patriots need to get in the DK Metcalf and Deebo Samuel sweepstakes, as over the next five years to win in the East you’re going to have to outscore the other guy. Similar to Coach B deducing in 2007 he needed to bring in Randy Moss and Wes Welker as outscoring them would be the only way to beat Manning and the Colts. And with an evolving QB who could use the extra help and on his rookie contract it will never be more affordable than right now.

Anyone know the Vegas odds for Jacksonville taking the wrong guy with the top pick? Since they only fired Urban Meyer and not the GM who hired him, I’m betting it’s worth the investment to lay down a few bob on a blown pick.

Finally, something to bear in mind as the so-called draft insiders yack about measurables, intangibles and great value picks while gushing over every player taken as if they’ll be the second coming of Barry Sanders, Jerry Rice and/or Lawrence Taylor. It’s an inexact science where only about 25 percent turn out to be as good as they were bloviated about, and sometimes after thought 199th picks turn out to be GOATs, and first overalls like JaMarcus Russell can’t start for the local YMCA.

Exhibit A is Mike Mayock, a talking head who was considered the draft “guru” while analyzing drafts on TV before and after all the picks were made. That is until the crystal ball he was oh-so confident in magically became quite foggy when he had to do it for real as the personnel chief of the Raiders under the defrocked Jon Gruden.

The record is pretty mixed with 2019 picks Josh Jacobs in Round 2 and wideout Hunter Renfrow in Round 5 being the highlights. The lows were character misses on 2020 first-round picks Alabama wideout Henry Ruggs III and DB Damon Arnette. Ruggs is now sitting in jail with his career likely over, after a woman was killed when he crashed his car into hers while allegedly intoxicated and driving 150 MPH on the Vegas strip last October. While Arnette was released a short while after that when a video surfaced of him brandishing firearms a la Aaron Hernandez and making violent threats.

Evaluating all aspects of the talent package is a lot harder than the yackers make it out to be.

OK, Jaguars, you’re on the clock.

The bigger picture

NH Travel and Tourism director joins national travel board

Lori Harnois, director of the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs Division of Travel and Tourism, has been elected to serve a two-year term on the U.S. Travel Association’s board of directors. She talked about the opportunity and the intersection between her work in New Hampshire and the part she plays in national issues.

What is your background in travel and tourism?

This is my second time serving in this role as director of travel and tourism for New Hampshire. I [returned] at the end of February 2020, a month before Covid hit. Before that, I was working for Discover New England, which is a marketing organization that promotes the New England region as a travel destination to the overseas traveler. Before that, I was in this role I’m in now. I feel fortunate that I was able to come back to this role to promote the state that I live in and tell everybody why New Hampshire is a great place to come and visit.

What does your role as director of New Hampshire’s Division of Travel and Tourism entail?

Our department’s role is to promote New Hampshire as a travel destination, both domestically and internationally, for the purposes of increasing business, the business economy and the workforce, all centered around travel and tourism. We head up all the marketing efforts that promote New Hampshire as a travel destination, like the state’s website visitnh.gov and a guidebook on New Hampshire that’s given out to travelers, encouraging them to come here. We’re also responsible for a grant program that provides assistance to chambers of commerce and other destination marketing organizations, such as Ski NH, the White Mountains Attractions Association and the Lakes Region Tourism Association, to help them pay for their marketing efforts. Since the pandemic, we’ve also been helping [the state’s industries] work through workforce issues by encouraging people to consider moving and living … playing or working here, and we’ve been trying to help the tourism industry recover, because it was actually the industry that was hit the hardest as a result of the pandemic.

What is the function of the U.S. Travel Association board of directors?

It’s a fairly large board — at least 125 people, I’d say — with CEOs from a variety of different organizations, such as Expedia and Disney World, as well as [representatives from] states, like myself. … Some of the main issues this national organization has focused on are things like reopening the international borders during the pandemic; workforce … and the importance of international workers; … and trying to help the [tourism] industry recover from the pandemic … by encouraging [a return to] in-person meetings and traveling for business. … The board meets three times a year. … We just had a meeting two weeks ago.

What are some of the issues the board discussed at the last meeting?

Promoting the U.S. as a travel destination to international travelers for the purposes of restarting international travel was a big priority that we were discussing. We talked about the international workforce … and how to speed along the visa-processing time, because there’s quite a lag right now between when someone applies for a visa and when they can actually come here to work. … We talked about how we can change the [public’s] perception of jobs within the tourism sector and [show that] there are good-paying jobs, not just low-paying jobs, and that there are opportunities to grow and climb the ladder quickly. We talked about updating and maintaining our country’s infrastructure, like our roads and our airports, to increase travel mobility; how technology plays a role in that; and how we can do it in the right manner to [meet] the need for sustainability.

How does being on the national board inform your work in New Hampshire?

There are a lot of things on the national scale that we look at and think about how we can mimic those efforts at a state level in New Hampshire. … There were also breakout sessions for state tourism directors like myself, where we were able to talk about what we do, what’s been working for us and how we can potentially take some of those ideas and implement them in our own states.

How does representation from New Hampshire inform the national board’s work?

Being part of the U.S. Travel Association board of directors allows New Hampshire to have a voice on a national level … and express our concerns on certain issues. … I can take stories from the companies here in New Hampshire and share those with people in the U.S. Travel Association, who can then communicate to Capitol Hill what is going on in the states and what issues need to be addressed … with some type of policy change. That’s how New Hampshire has a direct impact [on a national level].

Featured photo: Lori Harnois

News & Notes 22/04/28

Covid-19 update As of April 18 As of April 25
Total cases statewide 304,365 308,446
Total current infections statewide 1,544 2,444
Total deaths statewide 2,459 2,475
New cases 1,828 (April 12 to April 18) 2,253 (April 19 to April 25)
Current infections: Hillsborough County 572 709
Current infections: Merrimack County 157 180
Current infections: Rockingham County 435 507
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

Covid-19 news

On April 25, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved the Covid-19 treatment Veklury (remdesivir) for younger children, according to a press release. Before now, Veklury had only been approved to treat Covid-positive patients ages 12 and older. Pediatric patients 28 days and older and weighing at least 7 pounds can now receive the treatment after being hospitalized with Covid, the release said. The only approved dosage form for Veklury is via injection — the antiviral medicine can also be administered to non-hospitalized pediatric patients who “have mild-to-moderate Covid-19 and are at high risk for progression to severe Covid-19, including hospitalization or death,” according to the release.

In New Hampshire, health officials reported 173 new Covid cases on April 25. The state averaged 323 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period, a 20 percent increase compared to the week before. As of April 25 there were 2,444 active cases statewide and 22 hospitalizations.

DOC jobs

The New Hampshire Department of Corrections has created a new website to help fill its many vacancies in Concord and Berlin. According to a press release, interested candidates can go to jobs.nhdoc.nh.gov to see open positions, which include corrections officers, chefs/cooks, nurses, counselors, teachers, logistics and administrative staff. The website includes salary and benefits information, and candidates can begin the application process as well by filling out an initial interest form. “It’s a great time to start your career at the Department of Corrections,” Commissioner Helen Hanks said in the release. “We offer a variety of positions that will propel your professional career while suiting your needs. We offer a competitive compensation package with outstanding benefits. Working at the Department of Corrections is a rewarding career, one which you will be proud of, and we look forward to speaking with you about our opportunities.”

STANDUP

Last week U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan hosted a roundtable at the Manchester School of Technology, leading a discussion on youth suicide prevention. According to a press release, Hassan talked to Granite State students, educators and mental health and suicide prevention advocates about the STANDUP Act, a new law that requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to give priority for grants that implement evidence-based suicide awareness and prevention training policies in states, tribal governments and local educational agencies. Roundtable participants then talked about the continuing efforts to prevent and respond to youth suicide and mental illness in the state, including students providing peer-based support to Manchester-based Makin’ It Happen, a nonprofit organization seeking to create a coordinated community response around improving youth mental health. “The feedback I got today was so important. What it tells me is that we have young people in this state who are very aware that mental illness is a real problem and they’re very concerned about their friends. They are also very aware that there are tools out there that can keep each other safe,” Hassan said in the release.

Restaurant support

The Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery has launched the Local Restaurant Infrastructure Investment Program, a new Covid-19 relief program that aims to help address workforce issues and overall restaurant safety challenges that small, local restaurants across the state have experienced. According to a press release, the program is funded by American Rescue Plan Act funds and will provide awards of up to $15,000 to local restaurants seeking reimbursement for eligible equipment, infrastructure and technology purchases. The deadline to apply for the program is July 13, though review of applications will begin prior to the deadline.

School heroes

United Way of Greater Nashua’s “Ribbons for School Heroes” project, created to show appreciation for local school staff, is underway, and Greater Nashua residents are invited to tie a ribbon in their town’s high school colors on their mailbox or tree. According to a press release, ribbons are currently available at local libraries in the colors of the area’s high school (Hollis residents may pick up their free ribbons at the Lull Farm instead of the library), or at the United Way of Greater Nashua office located at 20 Broad St. in Nashua. This new campaign stems from the “United With School Heroes” school staff appreciation project that took place earlier this year, which thanked all faculty and staff in local schools for their hard work over the past three years. The ribbons are an additional way to express gratitude, the release said. Anyone interested in participating can pick up a complimentary ribbon at the library in Amherst, Brookline, Hudson, Litchfield, Lyndeborough, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, Nashua or Wilton or Lull Farm in Hollis in addition to the United Way office, which is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.

Energy assistance

U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas recently announced that New Hampshire has been awarded $2,881,938 to help families cover the costs of home energy expenses through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. According to a press release, the total amount of LIHEAP funding allocated to New Hampshire over the past year is now $64,347,626. “As working families struggle with surging energy costs, I’m pleased to welcome $2.8 million to the Granite State to help households afford their energy bills. LIHEAP is an important program that helps lower heating and cooling costs so families aren’t forced to face an impossible decision between paying for these expenses or paying for food or medicine,” Shaheen said in the release.

Bee data

The NH Beekeepers Association is asking all beekeepers in the state to help it collect data on 2021-2022 winter beehive survival. According to a press release, this data, along with data collected in five previous surveys, is being used to understand why New Hampshire’s winter hive loss has been higher than the national average, and what management practices have been helping improve survival. The survey takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete and is available online until April 30 at surveymonkey.com/r/NH2022HiveSurvey. It is open to all beekeepers in the state, not just Association members. The survey analysis and results will be available in mid-June, the release said.

On April 22, 17 dogs and handlers from across the country came to the New Hampshire Fire Academy in Concord for a demonstration of the training that arson dogs and their respective handlers get to find evidence at fire scenes, including accelerants such as gas, oil or fuel used to start fires. According to a press release, the media event was hosted by The New Hampshire Department of Safety, Maine Specialty Dogs and State Farm Insurance, which funds the national Arson Dog Program.

The bi-annual National Take Back Day will be held on Saturday, April 30, and Manchester residents can drop off their unused or expired prescription medications between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Manchester Police Department at 405 Valley St., at Elliot at River’s Edge at 175 Queen City Ave. or at the NH National Guard Armory at 1059 Canal St. According to a press release, pills, patches, vaping devices and cartridges will be accepted, but liquids, needles and sharps will not.

Temple Beth Abraham and Rivier University in Nashua will host a presentation for Holocaust Remembrance Day on April 28 at 7 p.m. in the Dion Center at Rivier. According to a press release, Tom White, coordinator of Educational Outreach for the Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, will present “Remembrance, Education and Resiliency” and discuss the relevance of Holocaust and genocide education.

This Week 22/04/21

Big Events April 21, 2022 and beyond

Friday, April 22

“Let’s assume for a moment that you are a dishonest man” — so starts the plan by Bialystock and Bloom to produce “the worst play ever written” and keep the backing money of their none-the-wiser investors. Things, of course, very much do not go as nefariously planned in the comedy musical based on the 1967 Mel Brooks movie. The Producers kicks off a four-week run at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) tonight with a show at 7:30 p.m. Showtimes are Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at noon through May 15. Tickets cost $39 to $46 for adults.

Thursday, April 21

Catch Lucas Gallo and Friends tonight at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). The show starts at 8 p.m.; doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 (plus fees).

Also at the Bank of NH Stage this weekend is The Senie Hunt Project, which will be performing Saturday, April 23, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $18 (plus fees). Senie Hunt was one of the artists profiled in Michael Witthaus’ recent story about musicians who can’t quit the Granite State; find that story on page 30 of the March 24 issue (find the e-edition at hippopress.com).

Saturday, April 23

Earth Day is Friday, April 22, but the New Hampshire Audubon’s Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way in Auburn; nhaudubon.org) is celebrating today with a day of family-friendly activities including guided nature walks, bluebird nest-box building, animal presentations, storytime, crafts and more. Go online to reserve a time slot. Admission costs $15 for a family of four and includes one birdhouse kit. Find more family fun activities in the Kiddie Pool column on page 19.

Saturday, April 23

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord (starhop.com) and the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum (18 Highlawn Road in Warner; indianmuseum.org) will hold an event called “Spemki Nib8iwi: The Heavens in the Nighttime” today at 7 p.m. Bring chairs for an evening of stargazing (the Discovery Center will provide telescopes), a campfire and storytelling; the museum will offer hot beverages. Admission is free.

The following day, Sunday, April 24, is Bittersweet Day at the museum, when they will present a day-long lineup of events focused on clearing the museum ground’s patches of the invasive plant bittersweet. See the website for details.

Monday, April 25

Calling all Abbott Elementary fans: Start the April vacation week (for some New Hampshire students) with some teacher humor live when the Bored Teachers Comedy Tour featuring a lineup of teacher comedians comes to the Palace Theatre (80 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $30. See boredteachers.com for their comedy videos about parent teacher conferences, teacherisms that follow them into their off-duty hours and Target.

Tuesday, April 26

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats return to Northeast Delta Dental Stadium with a run of home games against the Reading Fightin’ Phils starting tonight and running through Sunday, May 1. Games tonight through Saturday, April 30, start at 6:30 p.m.; the Sunday, May 1, game starts at 1:35 p.m. See milb.com/new-hampshire for tickets and the lineup of promotions such as the pop-it giveaway (Friday, April 29) and Princesses at the Park (on Sunday, May 1).

Save the Date! Wednesday, May 11
Acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke will perform on Wednesday, May 11, at 8 p.m. at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com). Tickets cost $40 to $45.

Featured photo. The Producers.

Quality of Life 22/04/21

Uke lovers rejoice

After two and a half years with no performances, The Ukestra with Mike Loce will be performing for the residents of the Huntington at Nashua on April 28. According to Ukestra Music Director Mike Loce, the group has about 30 active members and has been rehearsing regularly at Nashua Public Library. Prior to the pandemic, their last performance was a holiday show in 2019 at the Nashua Community Music School; their next planned gig scheduled for March 15, 2020, was, of course, canceled. “Having this group shut down (with everything else) was one of the hardest things I had to get through as an independent, self-employed musician/educator,” Loce said in an email.

Score: +1 (for being back in action!)

Comment: You can check out the genesis of this uke enthusiasts’ group and more at ukestra.org.

Reverse raffle for the win

The Queen City Rotary Club’s first ever Pot of Gold Reverse Raffle was a success, bringing in more than $40,000 to support Manchester’s youth. According to a press release, club members sold tickets and sought sponsorships, and on March 17 the winning ticket was drawn at the Manchester Millyard Museum. The big winner’s name was chosen last — hence the “reverse raffle” — and they got half the winnings, with the other half going to charities that support youth in the Queen City.

Score: +1

Comment: “This was a true grass roots event,” MonicaLabonville, president of the Queen City Rotary Club, said in the release. “Our club is united in our cause, and we have a lot of fun raising money.”

Too soon, ticks!

Since mid-March there’s been an increase in the number of emergency room visits for tick bites in New Hampshire, according to a report from WMUR. “We’re seeing a gamut of patients coming in with various stages of tick bites — some where the ticks are still embedded,” Dr. James Martin, medical director of Urgent Care at Milford Medical Center, told WMUR. “We have occasional patients who are actually ill from their tick bites, and they have headaches and fevers and maybe the rash, muscle aches and that type of thing.” Health officials are encouraging people to wear repellent with DEET, wear long pants and sleeves, keep grass short, get rid of standing water, do regular tick checks on people and pets, and put clothes worn outside in the dryer to kill any ticks.

Score: -2

Comment: It seems a little unfair that we already have to worry about ticks when we’ve barely had any warm, sunny days yet.

SleepOut success

Waypoint’s SleepOut 2022, held remotely on March 25, raised more than $313,000, with 270 people from across the state sleeping in their own backyards and coming together online for a livestream event. According to a press release, proceeds from the event support Waypoint’s mission to help youth who are experiencing homelessness through street outreach, basic needs relief, crisis care, case management, the Youth Resource Center in Manchester, and rapid and transitional housing throughout the state. Gov. Chris Sununu attended the livestream and told a story of a young person who is receiving help from Waypoint and will soon have his first apartment, the release said.

Score: +1

Comment: Waypoint also has plans for expansion of services in three areas of the state, including outreach and drop-in centers in Rochester and Concord, and New Hampshire’s first overnight shelter for young people, in Manchester, the release said.

QOL score: 71

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 72

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

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