Category: News

Quality of Life 24/10/24

Soggy library books

Manchester City Library patrons are still feeling the effects of a water pipe leak that flooded part of the Pine Street building in early September. As of Oct. 21, the library’s website still noted that while elevator access to the main floor is back, “Some areas of the library collection are still unavailable. These include Nonfiction: 400-999, Reference, World Languages, and Biographies.”

QOL score: -2

Comment: While browsing opportunities are curtailed, specific books may be requested for cardholders from nearby libraries that are part of the GMILCS consortium.

Remembering Scipio Page

The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, in partnership with the Dunbarton Historical Awareness Committee dedicated a historical marker to commemorate Scipio Page at Page’s Cemetery at 339 Stark Highway North in Dunbarton on Oct. 19. “A key African American soldier, Scipio fought in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War and later served as a captain of a regional Black militia. … The event featured a military color guard, a fiddle performance, and special treats baked from recipes from the 1800s that Scipio might have enjoyed,” according to an email about the event from the Black Heritage Trail.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Find a list of Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire marker sites, including the four unveiled in 2024, at blackheritagetrailnh.org.

Three bedrooms, three bathrooms and dinosaurs

For Realtor Jonathan Benton, the secret to generating interest in one of his listings has been to stage photos of the property with inflatable dinosaurs. According to an Oct. 13 online article in the Boston Globe, “In one image, [a] dinosaur is pictured swinging from a tire in the backyard. In another, two dinosaurs — computer software was used to create additional images — are baking cookies in the kitchen.” An Oct. 18 article on Realtor.com quoted Benton: “We had an instant response with showings requested within a half an hour of uploading the photos.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: The Zillow listing for the property describes it as a “wooded gem with a Dino-mite two car garage and finished basement!”

Dunka-whole-lotte

Dunkin’s Iced Dunkalatte, a drink announced in late summer/early fall, is apparently more popular than expected. The drink of Rhode Island fave coffee milk plus espresso is such a sippable treat that by the time QOL attempted to get a second Dunkalatte in early October (the first one was quite tasty), some outlets in southern New Hampshire and northern Mass. Dunkin’ were saying that the drink was not available. According to Dunkin’ spokesperson Gabby Camacho, the official word is as follows: “The buzz around the Dunkalatte has been overwhelming! Due to high demand, we’re running low — but stay tuned, the Dunkalatte will be back before you know it. For the latest updates, we encourage guests to check availability with their local Dunkin’ via the mobile app.”

QOL score: -1, for asking the caffeine-dependent to be patient

Comments: You can attempt making your own variation with coffee milk or coffee syrup (2 tablespoons per 8 ounces of milk, according to the Autocrat coffee syrup bottle).

Last week’s QOL score: 79

Net change: -1

QOL this week: 78

Tell us what’s affecting your Quality of Life at adiaz@hippopress.com.

C’s go for No. 19

The Big Story – Celtics Return: Banner 18 went to the rafters Tuesday night to let the Celtics reclaim the top spot for most titles won in NBA history. They then began their quest (vs. the Knicks) to put distance between them and the Lakers in their historical race for NBA supremacy by repeating to win No. 19 this year. They’ll have to do it with Kristaps Porzingis missing around 30 games and in a much improved Conference where the Knicks, 76ers and Pacers will be significantly better. But that’s the fun part. So buckle up.

Sports 101: Name the four players who won NBA titles with three different teams. Hint: All four won one with the Lakers.

News Item – Drake Maye: His uneven Game 2 during the 32-16 loss to the Jaguars in London was not as good as Game 1, even with no turnovers this time. But in throwing for 270 yards he again clearly showed two things over Mac Jones, who was on the other sideline Sunday — better athleticism to escape trouble to gain positive yards and a much stronger arm.

News Item – Jets Not Flying High Into Foxboro: Remember what I said when people were giving the Jets a berth in the SB after trading for Aaron Rodgers — it’s the Jets, something will go wrong. It’s not quite the disaster Joe Namath was going to QB-desperate L.A. at the end of his career. But with them coming to Foxboro this week 2-5 and their coach already fired after Rodgers missed all but four plays last year, it’s not far off.

News Item – Five Interesting NBA Stories to Follow in 2024-25:

The first real NY-Boston basketball rivalry since the early 1970s.

Getting Karl-Anthony Towns for two lesser players makes sense. But will jettisoning one of the Nova 4 be a hit to the Knicks’ team chemistry and backfire? Early returns say no.

In building around soon-to-be-superstar Anthony Edwards and the KAT trade giving them a deeper, better balanced team, will the T-Wolves be better without KAT than with him?

Who will really be in charge in L.A., 40-year-old first time coach JJ Redick or the younger by eight months LeBron James?

How big will the step forward be for Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in Year 2?

The Numbers:

13 – record-setting consecutive games Dodger Max Muncy reached base during the 2024 playoffs.

16 – career postseason homers by the Yanks’ Giancarlo Stanton after hitting five bombs vs. Cleveland in the ALCS to move him past (gulp) Babe Ruth on the all-time list.

18 – percent increase in viewers MLB playoffs have enjoyed over 2023, which translates to 3.3 million vs 2.82 million. And now they have the L.A. and New York markets in the Series.

… Of the Week Awards

Har-Har-Har-Dee-Har-Har Award: To ESPN dimwits for ranking the most overrated player in history, Kyrie Irving, as the NBA’s 25th best player, ahead of Jrue Holiday (34) and Derrick White (39), despite both clearly outplaying him in the Finals when Mr. Clutch choked (again) to average an embarrassing 13 points per in the three games played in Boston.

Alumni News – Mookie Betts: He added the first four-RBI day to his extensive playoff resume with a two-run double and a two-run homer in a 10-2 Game 4 cakewalk over the Mets.

Quote of the Week – Coach B: He put a fork in rumors he’s headed there next year by saying on ESPN’s ManningCast in support of the fired Robert Saleh,“Kind of what it’s been there at the Jets. Barely won over 30 percent in the last 10 years. The owner being the owner, just, ready, fire, aim.”

A Little History – Subway Series: It’s been 43 years since the Yankees and the Dodgers met in the World Series. But still, their 12 match-ups — 1941, ’47, ’49, ’52, ’53, ’55, ’56, ’63, ’77, ’78, ’81 and now 2024 — are the most in history. The Yanks hold a 9-3 edge and before the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn in 1958 the first 7 were intra-city affairs known as Subway Series.

Sports 101 Answer: The four who won NBA titles with three different teams are Danny Green (Spurs, Raptors, Lakers), “Big Shot Bob” Robert Horry (Rockets, Lakers, Spurs), LeBron James (Heat, Cavs and Lakers) and John Salley (Pistons, Bulls and Lakers).

Final Thought – 5 Celtics Predictions:

Burning from his Olympic Team snub Jaylen Brown has a monster year.

Jayson Tatum gets no added drive from his embarrassing Olympic DNP’s because he doesn’t have that same gene.

Thanks to greater outside shooting consistency Payton Pritchardbecomes a killer nightly scorer off the bench.

Luke Kornet surprises even himself with solid play filling in for Porzingis.

They feel the loss of KP in certain games, but still go 61-21 while playing in a tougher conference. Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 24/10/24

Get in the vote

NH Secretary of State David Scanlan is “urging absentee voters who plan to return their ballots by mail” to send them in by Monday, Oct. 28, according to a press release earlier this week. Ballots must be received by a voter’s local city or town clerk, either returned in person or by mail, by 5 p.m. on Election Day to be counted, the release said. “Absentee ballots received after the deadline will not be counted,” the release said.

“Management decisions at the U.S. Postal Service have led to postal delays. To account for these delays and give the dedicated, hard-working postal employees enough time to deliver voters’ absentee ballots on time, absentee voters returning their ballots by mail should send them as soon as possible. Absentee voters who can return their ballots in person by the deadline prescribed above rather than by mail are encouraged to do so,” the release said. Find information about absentee ballots at sos.nh.gov/elections/absentee-ballots.

Seven to Save

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance announced its 2024 Seven To Save earlier this month and the list includes the Concord Railroad Signal Tower and the local tradition of Old Home Days, according to nhpreservation.org. “Old Home Days was the brainchild of Governor Frank Rollins in 1899. Rollins had witnessed the hollowing out of rural towns in the state … Rollins thought that a celebration of place and people, instead of a funeral, would be a successful way to entice former residents back home to reminisce and ideally invest in their hometowns. …Today, fewer than 40 communities routinely host the event, and this special celebration often rests on the shoulders of a few dedicated volunteers… ,” according to the website.

About the Concord Railroad Signal Tower, the Alliance said the tower is the last of New Hampshire’s railroad and switch tower and it is located near the Gasholder building, according to a video about the event available via nhpreservation.org/seven-to-save. Other locations on this year’s list are Ham House in Jackson, New Ipswich Town Hall, Libby Museum in Wolfeboro, Jackson Town Hall and Ashuelot Manufacturing Co. Boarding House in Winchester, the website said.

Clean buses

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Rebate Program celebrated the funding of 110 new clean school buses in nine New Hampshire school districts with a visit on Oct. 16 by EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash to Running Brook Intermediate School in the Derry Cooperative SAU, which received $8.6 million in rebated funding for 25 clean buses and charging infrastructure, according to the EPA. Other districts part of the 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate awards are Litchfield ($2.76 million for eight buses), Hudson ($3.2 million for 16 buses), Concord ($1.03 million for three buses), Nashua ($6.8 million for 22 buses), Lisbon ($345,000 for one bus), Moultonborough ($2.4 for seven buses), Hanover ($600,000 for three buses), Pembroke ($5 million for 25 buses), according to the EPA website. The purpose of the event was to “to highlight the multiple benefits of the Clean School Bus Program — lowering air pollution, protecting children’s health, and saving school districts money,” according to the EPA press release. The application period for the 2024 program is open through Jan. 9 at 4 p.m., according to epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/clean-school-bus-program-rebates.

Sy Montgomery

Author Sy Montgomery will appear locally in support of her new book What the Chicken Knows: A New Appreciation of the World’s Most Familiar Bird, which is slated for release on Nov. 5. She will be at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com) on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss and sign her book. On Saturday, Nov. 9, she will be at Toadstool Bookshop in Peterborough (12 Depot Square; toadbooks.com) at 11 a.m. and then head to Balin Books (375 Amherst, Route 101A, in Nashua; balinbooks.com) at 2 p.m. See symontgomery.com.

Scout history

The New England Memorabilia Show will run Friday, Oct. 25, from 2 to 11 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 26, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Camp Carpenter in Manchester, according to nhscouting.org/memorabilia-show. Admission costs $3 for adults and is free for youth. The event will feature more than 100 tables of scouting memorabilia as well as a pasta course on Friday night and breakfast and lunch on Saturday, according to the website and an email about the event.

New eats

Evolution Bistro & Bar is slated to open in November at 930 Elm St. in downtown Manchester, according to a press release. The restaurant will occupy the space that is currently open at BluAqua (Wednesdays through Saturdays opening at 4 p.m.), the release said. The restaurant is the second from Gourmet Grove Restaurant Group, which is led by restaurateur Scott Forrester and David Schleyer of Elm Grove Companies, which took over 1750 Taphouse in Bedford earlier this year, the release said. Evolution is described in the release as “modern American meets European technique” and will feature “a dynamic menu curated by executive chef Anthony Dispensa.” See evolutionnh.com.

The annual CHaD HERO runs and walks held on Oct. 20 in Hanover raised $825,000 for child and family support services at the Children’s Hospital Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and throughout the Dartmouth Health Children’s system, according to a press release.

Concord Community Music School will hold a celebration of its 40 years with a
fundraising Gala on Thursday, Nov. 7, 5:30 to 8:30 at Pembroke Pines
Country Club in Pembroke. The evening will feature food, music and more. Tickets cost $125; see ccmusicschool.org.

The Ladies Philoptochos Society of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church (111 Island Pond Road in Manchester; assumptionnh.org) will hold a Fall Bazaar on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Greek food (such as lamb shanks, gyro, roast chicken, meatballs, pastitsio, spinach peta, cheese peta) and pastries (including butter cookies) will be for sale; the bazaar will also feature basket raffles and vendors with Greek products, according to an email.

CR’s The Restaurant at 287 Exeter Road in Hampton is celebrating its 10th anniversary Sunday, Oct. 27, through Wednesday, Oct. 30, with special 2014 food and drink items (at 2014 prices), complimentary dessert, 2014 trivia and more, according to a press release. See crstherestaurant.com.

Temple Beth Abraham in Nashua will host the Greater Nashua CROP Hunger Walk 2024 on Sunday, Nov. 3, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. to support local food pantries as well as global food and water needs, according to an event email. See events.crophungerwalk.org/cropwalks/event/nashuanh to register as an individual or a team and for more information.

This Week 24/10/17

Thursday, Oct. 17

As part of the Nashua Community Lecture Series, Jane Pauley will appear at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St, Nashua, (800) 657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) this evening at 7:30 p.m. In addition to her current role as host of CBS Sunday Morning, she is known as an advocate for mental health awareness, using her personal story to encourage and motivate others. Pauley will be introduced by Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess. General admission tickets are $66, $29 for students, seniors and those requiring ADA seating.

Saturday, Oct. 19

“Life’s a Drag,” billed as a fun and hilarious 21+ drag show, will take place tonight at Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888, chunkys.com) at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25.

Saturday, Oct. 19

The ninth annual Great New England Fall Craft and Artisan Show will be held today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hampshire Dome (34 Emerson Road, Milford, 673-8123, hampshiredome.com). There will be 150 indoor/outdoor booths, food trucks, door prizes and live music. See gnecraftartisanshows.com.

Saturday, Oct. 19

Manchester City Library (405 Pine St., Manchester, 624-6550, manchesterlibrary.org) will hold its Fall Book Sale today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hardcover books can be purchased for $2 each, with most other materials available for $1 and a full grocery bag’s worth of materials available for $10. Proceeds from the book sale will go to the library’s museum pass program.

Saturday, Oct. 19

Saint Mathew’s Episcopal Church (5 N. Mast St., Goffstown, 497-2003, stmattsepiscopal.org)will hold its Annual Fall Yard Sale today from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the grounds of St. Matt’s Church across from Sully’s in Goffstown Village.

Sunday, Oct. 20

New England-based baroque ensemble Brandenburg and Beyond will perform in concert today at 3 p.m. at Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church (3 Peabody Row, Londonderry, 437-8333, stpeterslondonderry.org). The concert will include classic baroque works by Vivaldi and Telemann, among others, as well as new music written in this century. This event is free and open to the public.

Wednesday, Oct. 23

Great Cities of Europe with Marlin Darrah, a Walker Lecture Fund Travelogue, will be presented at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord, 228-2793, theaudi.org), beginning at 7:30 p.m. Join Marlin Darrah as he recounts journeys through Northern Europe visiting fjords, fish markets, art museums, cathedrals, canals, bridges, palaces and parks from Norway to France. Darrah will be at the City Auditorium for questions and conversation. This event is free and open to the public.

Save the Date! Saturday, Oct. 24
Sinclair Lewis’ It Can’t Happen Here will be presented in an
enhanced staged reading by the Community Players of Concord on Oct.
24 and Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. at the West Street Ward House (41 West St,
Concord, 225-8690). Admission is free and donations to support the
Community Players will be gratefully accepted. Seating is limited.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Featured photo: Jane Pauley.

Quality of Life 24/10/17

‘Ugh, winter’ or ‘Yay, ski season!’ — you decide

It doesn’t feel like it yet below the tree line, but winter weather has started. The top of Mount Washington has gotten its first significant snowfall of the season. In an Oct. 11 online article, New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR.org) reported that as of Friday afternoon Oct. 11, the Mount Washington Observatory (mountwashington.org) reported “approximately 2.5 inches … capped with a layer of ice.” NHPR quoted the Observatory’s Alexandra Branton, who said that the top of the mountain “typically records 19 inches of snow each October.”

QOL score: -1 for the snow that’s not yet enough to ski on

Comment: NHPR reports that temperatures at the top of Mount Washington were “in the 20s last week, with … single-digit wind chills.”

State of student loan payments

The personal-finance website WalletHub (wallethub.com) reported on Oct. 10 that New Hampshire rates highest among U.S. states in terms of student loan payments. “The median monthly payment on student loans ranges from $142 to $229, depending on the state,” WalletHub reported. New Hampshire had an average monthly student loan payment per user of $229. As reported by the study, “Around 42.2 million Americans owe a collective $1.61 trillion in student loans. That comes out to an average of over $38,000 of debt for each borrower.” Given a fixed interest rate of 6.53%, it would require a monthly payment of $284 for an average American student to pay off everything within 20 years.

QOL score: -1

Comment: Arkansas and Mississippi tied for the lowest student loan payments in this study, with $149 per month.

Northern Lights in Northern New England

For the second time this year, observers in New Hampshire have been able to see the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. In a rare display, viewers throughout the country were able to see the bright colors in the sky. “Last night’s event was the strongest since May,” reported the Boston Globe (bostonglobe.com) in an Oct. 11 online article, “with the lights coming out as far south as Texas, Florida and California.”

QOL score: +1

Comments: Ooo, pretty.

The death of a celebrity loon

The The Loon Preservation Committee (183 Lees Mill Road, Moultonborough, 476-5666, loon.org) announced on Tuesday, Oct. 8, that one of the loons familiar to viewers of its popular Loon Cam (loon.org/looncam) had been found dead. After performing a necropsy, The Loon Preservation Committee found that the female from Loon Cam 2 had probably died from a severe fungal respiratory infection. “Aspergillus fungus is extremely common in the environment,” the LPC reported in its October newsletter, “and normally does not pose a threat to a healthy loon. However, if a loon’s immune system is compromised in some way — if the bird is battling another illness, recovering from an injury, or otherwise experiencing stress — it becomes more susceptible to Aspergillus infection.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: “We are sad to lose her, but excited at the prospect of her offspring being productive members of our loon population for years to come,” the LPC wrote.

QOL score last week: 81

Net change: -2

QOL this week: 79

Tell us what’s affecting your Quality of Life at adiaz@hippopress.com.

Maye day hits home

The Big Story – Drake Maye’s Debut: With two picks and a strip sack fumble, Maye’s first start wasn’t perfect. But it’s hard not to be encouraged by what the rookie showed in the 41-21 loss to Houston.

His 243 passing yards (20-33) was the first time the Patriots had over 200 all year, and the previously non-existent outside passing game appeared as the wideouts caught a season-high 10 balls. That can’t be a coincidence. And finally Maye’s three TD passes are more than Jacoby Brissett had in all five of his starts combined. So while you don’t want to go overboard since they still lost by 20 points, the debut left Patriot Nation dying to see more.

Sports 101: Washington’s Jayden Daniels’ spectacular start has him in the early MVP conversation. So who was the last NFL rookie to be MVP?

News Item – Drake Maye Observations: (1) His perfectly thrown 40-yard TD pass to Kayshon Boutte right before halftime was a thing of beauty. (2) He showed an ability to escape the rush while running out of trouble for three first downs and again on his outside-the-pocket 30-yard hook-up to Hunter Henry. (3) Liked his rhythm with Demario Douglas leading DD to six catches for 92 yards and a TD.

News Item – Baseball Playoffs a Winner: The baseball playoffs are delivering in a big way, with titanic signature moments, like Francisco Lindor’s epic series-winning grand slam vs. Philly; the injury-riddled Dodgers surviving from down 1-2; out-of-nowhere upstarts in Detroit and KC showing quite well, and rivalries ignited between LA and SD and reignited between ’70s rivals KC and NY.

News Item – Sickening Trend: I personally hate it. But with both the Dodgers and Cleveland closing out their playoff series while using openers to start their games and eight pitchers each in their deciding games, get ready to see that strategy employed more going forward.

The Numbers:

2:36 – average time of games in the major leagues this year, which according to Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe is the lowest average since 1979. Thank you, pitch clock.

7 – receptions by JuJu Smith-Schuster for 130 yards on MNF makes you wonder why that didn’t happen in NE.

26 – times Patriot QBs have targeted second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk when per the CBS broadcast he’s only caught 10.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Up – Jeff Ulbrich: The interim Jets coach gets thumbs up for demoting Aaron Rodgers binky/OC Nathaniel Hackett from his play calling three days after the rumor mill had Rodgers placing a knife in Ulbrich’s ex-boss Robert Saleh’s back right before he got fired. That lets Rodgers knows who’s boss. About time somebody stood up to Rodgers. Bravo.

Deja Vu All Over Again Award: Given that it hasn’t happened in 64 years it’s been a long time between the Deja and the Vu. But for the first time since 1960 Army and Navy are both ranked in college football’s Top 25 teams this week.

Blow Your Top Award: Hurricane Milton did more than anything even the best D-Ray teams were able to do, which was to blow the roof clean off the Tropicana Dome as it roared through Tampa last week.

Random Thoughts: In baseball a starting pitcher can’t be credited with a win unless he goes five full innings. So how does it make sense that Detroit hurler Brant Hurter entered Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Cleveland in the second inning and didn’t last to the end of the fifth inning during a 3.1-inning stint, yet somehow he gets a win he wouldn’t have if he were the starter?

Sports 101 Answer: The great Jim Brown went straight from Syracuse to be NFL’s last rookie named MVP in 1957.

A Little History – Jim Brown: He was MVP as a rookie after winning the first of his eight rushing crowns (in nine seasons) by running for 962 yards and nine TDs in the then 12-game regular season. He won it again in 1958 when the numbers ballooned to 1,527 and 17 in just those 12 games again.

Final Thought – Luis Tiant: There is nothing I hate more than voters suddenly deciding a guy should go into a Hall of Fame just after they die. They did it with Dennis Johnson in basketball and Ron Santo in baseball. And mark my words they’re going to do it with Sox great Luis Tiant, who passed last week. He should have gotten in long ago given that his stats line up to Catfish Hunter, Jim Bunning and Don Drysdale to go along with his great season of 1968 and being one of the best big game pitchers of his era. And thanks to the wild gyrations in his wind-up and variety of arm angles of his delivery he was arguably the most entertaining mound artist of his time. So RIP to the great El Tiante and boos to voters who never gave him a chance to enjoy the honor he earned.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

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