Category: News

News & Notes 25/05/22

Volunteer Fair

The United Way of Greater Nashua will hold a Greater Nashua Volunteer Fair on Thursday, May 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Chandler Wing of the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St. in Nashua; nashualibrary.org), according to a press release. The event will feature more than 30 local nonprofits representing a variety of volunteer opportunities including “youth development, food security, environmental sustainability, or supporting older adults,” the release said. See unitedwaynashua.org.

New at MSD

Last week, the Manchester School District Board of School Committee approved the hiring of an assistant superintendent and principals at Highland-Goffe’s Falls Elementary School and Manchester School of Technology High School, according to a district release. Ryan Roth, currently working in a California school district, will serve as the assistant superintendent of middle schools and student services, the release said. “Longtime District administrator and current Assistant Principal Keith Puglisi was selected as the next Principal at Manchester School of Technology,” succeeding the retiring Principal Tim Otis, the release said. And Tim Larney, an administrator at the Nashua School District, will be Highland-Goffe’s Falls principal, the release said, succeeding the retiring Principal Sue Matthews. All the new positions are effective July 1, the release said.

New executive director

Liberty House, a Manchester-based program from Catholic Charities NH that provides “transitional housing and a community pantry for New Hampshire veterans,” has announced that Ashley Kitchell is the organization’s new executive director, according to a press release. Kitchell has worked at Liberty House for nearly a decade and was most recently the assistant director, the release said. See libertyhousenh.org.

Memorial Day commemorations

The Manchester VA Medical Center (718 Smyth Road in Manchester) will host a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 26, from 10:30 a.m. to noon outside the Eagle entrance of the center, according to a press release.

Bedford holds its annual Bedford Memorial Day Hometown Parade on Sunday, May 25, at 1 p.m. The parade will run up Meetinghouse Road from Bedford Center Road to the Town Hall, followed by a celebration at Bedford Village Common Park, according to a post on the Bedford Parks & Recreation Facebook page.

The Concord Memorial Day Parade will take place Monday, May 26, at 9 a.m. and run from the Christ the King Church parking lot on Thorndike Street and wind toward the City Plaza, according to concordnh.gov.

Indie Lens Pop-up, a series featuring screenings of films from PBS’s Independent Lens, will present Free For All: The Public Library followed by a discussion with Susan Drisko Zago, Law Library Director and Professor of Law at UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, on Saturday, May 31, at 11 a.m. at Red River Theatres in Concord, according to a Red River Theatres Facebook post, where you can find a link to reserve a seat for this free event.

Tickets are on sale now for the Palace Theatre’s Kitchen Tour on Sunday, June 1. The tour will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and feature a self-guided tour at kitchens in Amherst, Bedford Hollis and Manchester, with a lunch offered at Baron’s Major Brands in Manchester. Tickets cost $55 in advance, $65 on the day. See palacetheatre.org.

The Peterborough Town Library (2 Concord St. in Peterborough; peterboroughtownlibrary.org) will hold a two-day craft supplies swap Friday, May 23, from 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, May 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring in new or gently used art supplies to exchange.

Shirley Phillips will discuss her book How Not To Fly An Airplane: A Female Pilot’s Journey on Saturday, May 24, at 2 p.m. at Balin Books (Somerset Plaza, 375 Amherst St. in Nashua; balinbooks.com).

This Week 25/05/15

Thursday, May 15

The BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) hosts a performance of “This Is My Brave – The Show” tonight at 7 p.m. benefiting NAMI New Hampshire. Performers will share personal stories of overcoming mental illness and substance use disorder. Tickets are $31.

Saturday, May 17

NH Muscle Cars will hold its Granite State Season Opener Car Show today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Deerfield Fairgrounds featuring live music, vendors, fair food and of course fields of cars competing for 35 trophies in a variety of categories. Spectator admission costs $5; see nhmusclecars.com.

Saturday, May 17

Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road in Canterbury; shakers.org) opens today for the season and will be open daily through October from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Today, the Canterbury Shaker Village Cross Country 5K begins at 10 a.m.

Saturday, May 17

Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church (3 Peabody Row, Londonderry, 437-8333, stpeterslondonderry.org) will hold its 38th Annual Spring Artisan Craft Fair today from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 17

The Manchester City Library (405 Pine St., Manchester, 624-6550, manchesterlibrary.org) holds its spring book sale today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Library’s Winchell Room.

Saturday, May 17

The NH Philharmonic will present “Swashbucklers and Superheroes,” a celebration of “the iconic music behind some of the greatest adventure films in cinematic history,” tonight at 7:30 p.m. and tomorrow, Sunday, May 18, at 2 p.m. at Seifert Performing Arts Center in Salem. Tickets cost $35 for adults, $30 for seniors, $10 for students. See nhphil.org.

Saturday, May 17

It’s the final weekend of the New Hampshire Renaissance Faire. Tickets, which can be purchased at nhrenfaire.com, cost $20 for adults and $15 for ages 6 to 12 and for military and veterans, the website said. Kids ages 5 and under get in for free.

Sunday, May 18

The Nashua Choral Society presents Vive La France, “a choral journey celebrating French composers,” at 3 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church (216 E. Dunstable Road, Nashua). See nashuachoralsociety.org.

Sunday, May 18

Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888, chunkys.com) hosts the 2025 New Hampshire High School Short Film Festival at 12:30 p.m. Presented by the New Hampshire Film Bureau, this festival screens a two-hour program of selected films. This event is free to attend. Visit nhmediateachers.org.

Tuesday, May 20

“Beyond the Lawn: No Mow May’s Role in Sustainable Communities” will be the topic at tonight’s Science Cafe NH, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at SOEL Sistas Cafe, 30 Temple St. in Nashua.

Wednesday, May 21

Beaver Brook (117 Ridge Road in Hollis; beaverbrook.org) will host a Lilac Walk today from 1 to 3 p.m. Registration costs $22.

Saturday, May 17

It’s plant sale Saturday! The Goffstown Community Garden Club sale starts at 8 a.m. and runs until noon (or when they sell out, whatever is first) at the Goffstown Town Commons. Find the Milford Garden Club from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Community House Lawn, at the corner of Union and Elm streets. The Nashua Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to noon at the Nashua Historical Society, 5 Abbot St. The Bedford Garden Club will hold its sale at Joppa Hill Farm (174 Joppa Hill Road in Bedford) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 25/05/15

Ew, ticks

In a May 1 press release Gov. Kelly Ayotte declared May Lyme Disease Awareness Month in New Hampshire. Deer tick nymphs, which can carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, are most active from May to July, the release said. The press release offered recommendations from the state Department of Health and Human Services to lower one’s risk of tick bites, including wearing light-colored clothing when outdoors, and washing and drying clothing immediately after being outdoors. Information about tickborne diseases is available atdhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/disease-prevention/infectious-disease-control/tickborne-diseases.

QOL score: -1

Comment: An online report from Harvard Health Publishing on April 29 noted, “Ticks are now thriving in a wider geographic range, and appearing earlier and sticking around later in the … spring and fall.”

Those Chromebooks are not free, kids

In a May 11 online article, WMUR reported on a recent TikTok trend has challenged students to sabotage Chromebooks, such as the ones used in many school districts, the article said. Parents in some NH towns received alerts from their school districts about this latest bit of dangerous and expensive TikTok-ery. WMUR quoted New Hampshire Fire Marshal Sean Toomey: “Any sort of lithium-ion battery fire is going to release [fumes]; it’s extremely dangerous. And it releases toxic gases…”

QOL score: -2

Comment: The WMUR article reported a statement by “School officials [saying that] any student caught participating in the challenge will be required to pay for a replacement.” Fire Marshal Toomey was quoted as saying that “in some cases, the behavior could lead to criminal charges.”

Speaking of electricity

In a May 6, online article, WMUR reported that electricity provider Eversource has informed the Public Utilities Commission that it will raise electric rates for New Hampshire customers beginning in August. As reported by WMUR, “Eversource is requesting a 6.75% increase, along with a separate adjustment that it said would help offset the cost of recent storms.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: “If all the changes are approved, the average customer could be paying nearly $19 more per month to Eversource than they were a year ago,” the article reported. “The hearings on the rates will continue until mid-June. The approved rates will go into effect on Aug. 1.”

Nashua Tooth Fairies

As reported by WMUR in a May 6 online article, a pair of Tooth Fairies are “offering in-school dental care from pre-K through high school. Each week, the nonprofit organization sets up a dental office inside a different school building, returning to the rotation after visiting all of them.” The Traveling Tooth Fairies’ certified public health dental hygienists Myra Nikitas and Mary Duquette “provide cleanings, screenings, fluoride treatments, sealants, and even fix cavities with no drill fillings,” WMUR reported. Treatment is carried out under the supervision of a dentist and is performed regardless of whether a student is covered by insurance.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The Traveling Tooth Fairies program is supported by sponsors including Northeast Delta Dental and the Nashua Lions Club. It is a nonprofit organization. Visit travelingtoothfairies.com.

QOL score last week: 64

Net change: -3

QOL this week: 61

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Knicks stun Celtics

The Big Story – C’s Go Down 1-2 to New York: There’s not enough space to list the number of coaching decisions and non-decisions Joe Mazzulla made to cause the Celtics to lose Games 1 and 2 at home to the Knicks, in an astonishingly poor job of inaction to adjust during a game.

In Game 3 they were much more aggressive going to the rack. But ironically Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown missed tons of those shots and they got their 115-93 win thanks to making 15 more 3’s than NY. Game 4 went off after I filed this column.

Sports 101: Name the only Division I players in history to lead college basketball in scoring and rebounding in the same season.

News Item – Mazzulla Game 1 and 2 Box Scores: The players had something to do with it by missing an NBA record 45 three-point shots and being 25-100 overall. But those 45 misses were the point. They kept firing blanks with no intervention by Mazzulla as they blew a 20-point third-quarter lead without adjusting to stop the bleeding by going inside for better shots or to get free throws.

The first-quarter hacking of poor foul shooting Mitchell Robinson was dumb for two reasons. (1) You don’t have key people (Jrue Holiday, Payton Prichard, Luke Kornet) accumulate unnecessary early fouls because you can’t predict when more will come as the game proceeds. So Mazzulla handcuffed his end-of-the-game decision-making when Kristaps Porzingis couldn’t play in the second half and the now needed Kornet was chained to the bench with five fouls. (2) You don’t give free points to a guy who doesn’t have the ball or is nowhere near the basket. And guess what? While he only went 3 for 10, no free 3 points, no OT and C’s win Game 1 by two. Plus it puts teams in the bonus much earlier than normal to give the better shooters more free throws.

End of Regulation: As usual the C’s have no set play. Just a Tatum isolation that leads to a bad 23-foot fallaway, which (as usual) he bricked. Meanwhile Jalen Brunson got a back screen and slithered into a 10-foot leaner that went in and out. He missed it, but it was a good final shot.

Finally — with three seconds left in OT and down three — again no set play, and in the game are frigid three-point shooters Brown (1-10), Tatum (4-15), Holiday (2-7), Horford (1-5) and White (5-16). Who’s not in? Prichard, their best three-point shooter, who shot 45% on the year 2-5 in Game 1. The 91-90 Game 2 loss mirrored Game 1.

News Item – Here Comes The Judge: If the season ended today Aaron Judge would win the triple crown and be the first .400 hitter since you know who in 1941. To go along with the .409 average, his 14-homers 39-RBI stat line after 40 games projects to 64 and 156 to rank among the greatest single seasons ever.

News Item – Rest In Playoffs: A long rest after ending an NBA playoff series early isn’t as good as some think. It was the opposite again last week as the rested higher-seeded Celtics, Cavaliers, T-Wolves and Oak City all blew home court advantage with rusty, unfocused Game 1 play.

The Numbers:

21 – runs allowed by Colorado in a 21-0 loss to Arizona that dropped them to an astonishing 6-33, which got manager Bud Black fired the next day.

31 – years streak Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton are trying to end of a Canadian team (Montreal) not winning the Stanley Cup.

600 – cheapest ticket price in dollars at MSG for Celtics-Knicks Game 3.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Up – Mike Tirico: For calling out ESPN’s Stephen A. Blowhard talking about being a Knicks fan during halftime of NBA playoff broadcasts. Sorry, nobody gives a flip who you’re rooting for, Steve A.

What A Stupid I Yam Award – Me: For last week’s Sport 101 Answer, which numerous people mentioned was wrong. I assumed Rickey Henderson holdingthe record for lead-off homers meant he’d broken up the most no-hitters by homer. It didn’t occur to me, but the Babe and others got up after two outs in the first inning and then homered to end the no-hit bid more often.

Random Thoughts:

The NBA shouldn’t limit coaches to just two replay challenges. Why should a team be penalized if the refs keep missing calls? Instead they should retain their right until their challenge fails.

Sports 101 Answer: Wichita State’s Xavier McDaniel (1985) and Loyola of Marymount’s Hank Gathers (1989).

Final Thought – Raphael Devers: Absolutely hard to believe the Red Sox let this immature player tell them he won’t switch from DH to first base. What they should say is, that’s insubordination. You’re suspended without pay. We’re bringing Roman Anthony up to DH, Marcello Mayer to play second base and moving Kristian Campbell to first base. And if you don’t like it, too bad.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 25/05/15

Family bicycle day

Trek Bicycles and the Granite State Health & Fitness Foundation will hold a free family-friendly Bike Day on Sunday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Goffstown Parks and Recreation, 155 S. Mast St. in Goffstown. The day will feature a bike safety check, a helmet safety check and education, basic maintenance clinic, games, a food truck and more, according to a Foundation email. Register at tinyurl.com/FamilyBicycleDay.

Assistive tech

The New Hampshire Department of Education will hold its fifth annual Assistive Technology Expo on Friday, May 16, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 25 Hall St. in Concord. The expo will feature about 30 vendors offering a range of devices to help people of all ages and abilities, according to a department release. The event is free to attend.

Electronics dump

The Hudson-Litchfield Rotary Club will hold an electronics recycling fundraiser on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to noon at Alvirne High School, 200 Derry Road in Hudson. Find a list of suggested donations for items (for example $20 for a fax machine) on the club’s Facebook page. Bring cash or check.

Digital equity

The United Way of Greater Nashua will hold its Greater Nashua Digital Equity Summit on Thursday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nashua Community College. “This summit is designed to bring together individuals and organizations who work with Greater Nashua residents facing challenges in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape,” according to an email from the United Way of Greater Nashua. Admission is free. Register at unitedwaynashua.org/events.

Eyas update

Starky, the third of five eyasses (falcon chicks) to successfully hatch, joined the peregrine falcon nest at Brady Sullivan Tower in downtown Manchester on Friday, May 9, according to the daily log of the nest accessible in the comments of the livestreaming feed. Starky, named for Stark, joins Una (short for Sunapee) and Alpy (short for Walpole), whose names were picked by Hooksett fifth-graders, the log said. Find links to the live views of the nest via nhaudubon.org/education/birds-and-birding/peregrine-cam, where the New Hampshire Audubon offers the nest cams with support of Peregrine Networks and Brady Sullivan Properties, the website said.

Cemetery walk

The Derry Public Library (64 E. Broadway in Derry; derrypl.org) will hold a Holy Cross Cemetery Walk titled “A Look at French Canadians in the Great War” featuring TJ Cullinane of the Derry Heritage Commission and Erin Robinson of the Derry Public Library on Tuesday, May 20, at 6 p.m. Register for the one-hour walk online.

The 49th Annual Great Smith River Canoe and Kayak Race will take place Saturday, May 17, at 1:15 p.m at Albee Beach in Wolfeboro, hosted by the Wolfeboro Lions. Register between 10 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Call 569-4697 for information.

Head to the City-Wide Community Center, 14 Canterbury Road in Concord, for a New England contra dance with caller Chris Ricciotti and music by Vince O’Donnell, Bruce Cobb and David Moore on Saturday, May 17, from 7 to 10 p.m. Beginners, singles and families are welcome; the cost is $10 per person ($5 for ages 15 to 25 and free for under 15). See concordnhcontra.wordpress.co

New Hampshire farming in the words of Robert Frost is the focus of a talk on Wednesday, May 21, at 7 p.m. at the Pembroke Library, 313 Pembroke St. in Pembroke. Jeffrey Zygmont, a New Hampshire writer and poet, will discuss Frost’s works

The Woman’s Service Club of Windham will hold its 13th Annual Spring Craft Fair on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Golden Brook School, 112B Lowell Road in Windham, featuring crafters from across New England, according to an email. See womansserviceclubofwindham.org.

This Week 25/05/08

Friday, May 9

The Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts teens will present Sweeney Todd School Edition tonight at 7 p.m.; tomorrow, Saturday, May 10, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 11, at 2 p.m. at Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway in Derry; majestictheatre.net). Tickets cost $15 to $20.

Friday, May 9

The Peacock Players present Chicago Teen Edition with shows tonight and May 16, at 7 p.m. and Saturdays, May 10 and May 17, and Sundays, May 11 and May 18, at 2 p.m. at Janice B. Streeter Theatre, 14 Court St. in Nashua. Tickets cost $15 to $18 for adults, $12 to $15 for students and seniors.

Saturday, May 10

The Perennial Exchange runs today from 8 a.m. to noon at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St. in Concord). The event, put on by the Friends of the Audi and Concord’s General Service Department, urges gardeners to split overgrown plants to bring to the Audi to swap and share, with plants available for new gardeners and a Great Gardening Raffle, according to theaudi.org. Call 344-4747

Saturday, May 10

The Granite State Trading Cards & Collectibles Show will take place today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road in Concord). Admission costs $5; ages 12 and under get in free. See jimmysplacesportscards.com.

Saturday, May 10

The New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival will take place today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and tomorrow, Sunday, May 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Deerfield Fairgrounds (34 Stage Road in Deerfield). The event will include a sheep show, fleece sale and judging, lectures and demonstrations and more. See nhswga.org/festival for tickets.

Saturday, May 10

“Impressions,” a printmaking exhibition, will be on display at Mosaic Art Collective (66 Hanover St. in Manchester; mosaicartcollective.com) today through Friday, June 27, with a reception today 4 to 8 p.m., according to Mosaic’s Facebook page.

Saturday, May 10

The Colonial Garden club of Hollis will hold its Annual Plant Sale today from 9 a.m. to noonin the field next to the Lawrence Barn, 28 Depot Road, in Hollis.

Saturday, May 10

Experience Monster Jam live at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) today at 1 and 7 p.m., and tomorrow, May 11, at 1 p.m. Tickets start at $20.

Saturday, May 10

The second annual Maker’s Market craft fair will be held today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Center for Life Management, 10 Tsienneto Road in Derry, featuring handcrafted artwork and gifts, according to an email.

Save the Date! Thrift Shop Prom
To Share Brewing (720 Union St., Manchester, 836-6947, tosharebrewing.com) will host its Second Annual Thrift Shop Prom Saturday, May 17, from 5 to 8 p.m. There will be a Pop-Up Shop by Fishtoes Vintage, drag performances by Luke Laroe and company, and live DJing by DJ Shamblez. Dress in your most fabulous thrifted and/or outrageous prom attire and come ready for an unforgettable night of celebration, music and giving back.

Featured photo: Joselyn Rutstein as Mrs. Lovett and Gavin McCullough as Sweeney Todd

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