Category: News

NFL blasts off

The Big Story: Football is back, and just in time, with the Red Sox season on life support after the Sox were swept at home by the Astros last week.
It starts Thursday, Sept. 7, when the Chiefs and upstart Lions square off in Kansas City before the Pats face (gulp) the great O and D-lines of Philly in Foxboro on Sunday.

Football 101: Who has run for the most 100-yard games in NFL history?

Thumbs Up – Gil Brandt: The legendary player evaluation Dallas Cowboys guru passed away last week at 91. RIP.

News Item – Sox’ Demise: In winning 16 of 21 the Sox were rolling as July was coming to a close. And with 10 games ahead vs. bad teams and all but three of the rest of them head-to-head match-ups with direct wild card race contenders the August schedule offered a great chance to solidify a grip on a playoff spot. But that slipped away as they went 6-4 vs. bottom-dwelling Washington, KC and Detroit and 2-8 vs. Toronto and Houston to enter September six and a half games back for the final wild card spot.

News Item – Patriots Get Underway: It’s not like the olden days when there were 12 automatic wins when the schedule came out and said “see you come playoff time.” Instead, with Aaron Rodgers now a J-E-T-S, Jet, Jet, Jet and them having the most dismal pre-season in memory, most are picking the Pats to finish last in the AFC East for the first time since Year 1 of the Belichick administration in 2000. 2023 starts with people wondering the following: (1) how the Mac Jones redemption tour will go; (2) can he survive behind a (so far) porous O-line? (3) is the D as good as most think it will be? and (4) can Bill coach them up to be better than the sum of their parts appears to be?

News Item – Predictions For Top 5 Super Bowl Favorites:
(1) Chiefs – With the game’s best player and KC now the place veterans want to go to win, they’re what the Patriots used to be.
(2) Bills – Josh Allen wins games on his own, he and Stefon Diggs are a dynamic combination and the coach is really good.
(3) Eagles – I love their offensive and defensive lines and the outside receiving speed is dangerous.
(4) Bengals – Joe Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins keeps them in every game.
(5) 49ers – the QB situation may seem goofy, but the D gave up the fewest points in the NFL last year and may do it again.

Random Thoughts:

I know — how could anyone say this about a show on a Rupert Murdoch-owned channel (FS1) and run by honest Skip Bayless. But who wants to bet the walk-off-the-set move by replacement Undisputed co-hosts Keyshawn Johnson and Michael Irvin during an argument with other new co-host Richard Sherman that playing cornerback was harder than wide receiver was staged to build phony drama?
Even with the United Auto Workers threatening to strike if they don’t get a 46 percent pay increase and 32-hour work week, that isn’t the week’s craziest labor story. It’s disgruntled KC DE Chris Jones holding out to have his mammoth $19.5 million salary raised to a ridiculous $30 million.

A Little History – Gil Brandt’s Impact: Along with Tom Landry and GM Tex Schramm, Brandt helped build the Cowboys from an expansion franchise in 1960 into a perennial Super Bowl contender for 25 years until doofus owner Jerry Jones fired them after buying the team in 1988. During that time Brant developed two now standard player evaluation practices. He began evaluating players based on speed, strength and jumping skills over simply the position they played in college, because he (correctly) believed they could find a position for stronger, faster athletes — which is what the newfangled scouting combine is about. He also pioneered using computers to locate, track and compare players no matter what level they played on, which led to drafting athletic marvels like Bullet Bob Hayes, Too Tall Jones and Hollywood Henderson from obscure Black colleges few considered then. It led to two SB titles, three more times in the big game and making the playoffs 18 times in 20 years between 1966 and 1985.

Football 101 Answer: With 78 Emmitt Smith is the record-holder for most 100-yard rushing games, followed by Walter Payton and Barry Sanders with 77 and 76.

Final Thought: So much for the vaunted 2020 QB draft class. It was supposed to rival the John Elway, Dan Marino-led five-QB 1983 group. But with the Jets and 49ers already dumping second and third overall picks Zach Wilson and Trey Lance (after giving up three first-round picks to get him), Justin Fields (11th) nearing that fate and 15th pick Mac Jones seriously under the microscope, only top pick Trevor Lawrence looks like a certainty. Think about that next time draft “experts” proclaim this guy is a lock.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

Tough apple year

Concord grower discusses this year’s harvest

Diane Souther of Apple Hill Farm in Concord provides insight into a frost’s devastating impact on their apple harvest this year.

Can you describe what exactly happened this year with the harvest and how that affected you?

On the night of May 19, we were bracing for the predicted cold spell. We have measures in place to safeguard our crops, like our wind machine and [techniques such as] irrigating the strawberries. Around 11 p.m., Chuck went out to monitor the temperatures. It’s common for the coldest part of these frosty nights to be around 5 or 6 in the morning, but this time, temperatures dropped significantly earlier, starting around 11:30 p.m. and remaining low until the next morning. … [The apples] were past the sensitive blossom stage and had already started forming on the trees, some even bigger than pea size, so we thought they’d be alright. But as the day warmed, the apples just started dropping. They had been frozen solid. There was about three weeks when we just didn’t talk about it. We were hoping that some would just stay on the tree and still survive, but they weren’t. The very few apples that did survive had visible frost rings, a scar-like mark around them. The blueberries, the raspberries, the corn — they all pulled through. But it was just too cold for the apples.

What have you heard from other farms around the state?

The cold spell affected a stretch right down the Merrimack Valley. But the impact varied based on factors like elevation. Seacoast growers, for example, were a bit shielded due to the tempering effect of the ocean. For us, the cold seemed to roll right off Mount Washington and sweep down the river valley, and the orchards in its path felt it the most. However, farms like Carter Hill, which is slightly higher in elevation than ours, experienced slightly warmer conditions — maybe by a degree or two. Even so, they too had challenges to address as the season progressed. What’s the plan moving forward?
Where do we go from here? Luckily, we’ve been in the apple business for a number of years, and we have lots of good friends. … We’ve made calls to them, and they’ve got apples that they’re sharing with us. We’re able to purchase apples from them so we’ll have apples in the farmstand. And we’re trying to keep positive; our vegetable crops are doing great. We grow more than one thing here at Apple Hill: Our corn is coming in, tomatoes are coming in, cucumbers, beans, all of that stuff.

Have you ever had to do that before? Source products from other farms?

Not to this extent, no. We’ve always supplemented a bit. We go back and forth: if we had a good year and had lots of Honeycrisps, some of these farms that we’re purchasing from this year are ones we used to sell apples to. This year, we’re buying apples from them. It’s a great support system, the fellowship of the farmers here in New Hampshire, and even extending to New England. They’re a fantastic group of people. When one is struggling, the others will step up and assist as much as they can. With the “pick your own” option affected [Apple Hill will not offer pick-your-own apples, according to its website] this year, do you have alternative experiences for visitors at the farm?
Absolutely. We have a few hiking trails. We feature pollination plots, which are fascinating to wander through as different flowers bloom and attract various pollinators as the season shifts. We’re anticipating the arrival of fall raspberries, though I can’t provide an exact date. It depends on having about 10 days of sunlight. Our grapes are another attraction; while the initial batch was affected by the frost, the second blooming — often referred to as a secondary set of fruits — managed to thrive.

How have your customers responded to the situation?

It took us a while to address it … but we announced it on our website. The overwhelming support from our customers has truly uplifted our spirits. Many expressed their sympathy as if we’d lost a family member when they heard about our apple loss. They’ve been supporting us by buying our other products. The community has been great.

Diane and Chuck Souther of Apple Hill Farm. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 23/09/07

Be prepared

During National Preparedness Month this September, the New Hampshire Department of Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) will focus on the theme “Take Control in 1, 2, 3,” emphasizing the preparation of older adults for disasters. According to a press release, the Division is encouraging families to update their emergency plans and kits and sign up for community alerts. As part of the initiative, HSEM will host three online sessions, on Wednesday, Sept. 6, from noon to 1 p.m.; Tuesday, Sept. 12, from 9 to 10 a.m., and Thursday, Sept. 28, from 3 to 4 p.m., detailing emergency preparedness steps. Registration is required for these sessions. For more information, the public can visit readynh.gov and follow updates on the HSEM’s social media channels. Coach on the move
The Concord Group Insurance Companies and the Abbot-Downing Historical Society relocated the historic Concord Coach #80 on Aug. 24 from its former headquarters in Concord, according to a press release. The 170-year-old stagecoach, previously owned by Henry Ford, will be stored while it awaits the opening of the Abbot-Downing Historical Society’s upcoming museum, where it will be displayed.

Drug use prevention

U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, along with Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas, have announced a federal grant of $750,000 from the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program for youth substance use prevention in Portsmouth and Souhegan Valley. According to a press release, the Greater Portsmouth Youth Wellness Coalition will receive $625,000 over five years, while the Community Action for Safe Teens, a part of the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley, will get $125,000. The funds aim to bolster community efforts to prevent youth substance use, with a focus on education, parental involvement and outreach.

Help the trails

Volunteers are needed for trail repair and maintenance in Greenfield. According to a press release, the Appalachian Mountain Club is organizing a work day for these trails, which are the largest accessible mountain-based system in the country and span 1,200 acres. The trails will be closed to the public during this work day, which is set for Saturday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers can work for half-day or full-day shifts and don’t have to be club members. Volunteer slots are limited due to safety and limited parking, and advance registration is mandatory. Tools and snacks will be provided. Visit cmf.org.

New hire

The YMCA of Greater Nashua has appointed Kelli Wholey as its new Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving. According to a press release, Wholey, from Nashua, previously operated Lumina Portraits and taught marketing at Alvirne High School. She co-founded the Nashua Chapter of the Women’s Business League and holds degrees from Southern New Hampshire University and the University of New Hampshire. In her new position, she will lead development efforts encompassing annual gifts, major gifts and planned gifts, and will collaborate with staff and volunteers on various fundraising initiatives.

Young adult health

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) has introduced a new telehealth program, Teaching Health Resilience in IBD Through Virtual Engagement (THRIVE), aimed at supporting young adults aged 18 to 26 living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during their transitional years, such as entering college or moving out of their parents’ homes. Designed to meet the unique challenges of this age group, THRIVE offers multi-disciplinary telehealth sessions, covering areas from medical to psychological needs, according to a press release. The initiative is funded by the Susan & Richard Levy Health Care Delivery Incubator, promoting innovative health care solutions. The program’s holistic approach tackles various aspects of patient care, such as stress, body image issues and medication management and can function as a primary care source or in conjunction with existing gastroenterology care teams. Visit go.d-h.org/ibd-thrive.

Taking Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), the country’s first nonprofit weight-loss support group, celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. To commemorate this milestone, NH TOPS is hosting a 5K Walk/Run into Weight Loss and Health on Oct. 22 at Memorial Field in Concord. According to a press release, the event, open to all, emphasizes the importance of weight management. New Hampshire has eight TOPS chapters, but new ones can be initiated with a small group. Those interested in joining or learning more can contact Deb Heath at [email protected] or 851-1439.

Bianca Garcia has been appointed the new executive director of Manchester Community Music School. According to a press release, Garcia, a Curtis Institute of Music alumna and Fulbright Scholar, has an extensive musical background that spans international tours and collaborations with renowned musicians. She also has professional experience with the Oracle Corp. and has served on committees at the New Hampshire Statehouse. Garcia aims to expand the Music School’s reach within New Hampshire and beyond, the release said.

The New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus (NHGMC) has selected Sophia Desilets, valedictorian of Merrimack High School Class of 2023, as its 2023 scholarship winner. According to a press release, Desilets is set to attend the Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music this fall to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater. She has participated in more than 20 productions at the Palace Theatre, including roles in Chicago and Mary Poppins, and has volunteered at the Palace and at Amherst Street Elementary School in Nashua.

This Week 23/08/31

Big Events August 31, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, Aug. 31

The Hopkinton State Fair starts today at 905 Park Ave. in Contoocook. The fair is open from 5 to 10 p.m. today; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Sept. 3, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 4. A five-day pass costs $39. A general admission day pass costs $14 (with discounts for youth and seniors). A Megapass, which includes admission all five days and unlimited access to mechanical rides, costs $45, according to hsfair.org, where you can purchase fair tickets as well as tickets for the demolition derby (Saturday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 3, at 6:30 p.m.; tickets cost $25 in advance, $29 at the fair) and the monster truck show (Thursday, Aug. 31, and Friday, Sept. 1 — gates open at 5 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m.; see the website for ticket packages). In addition to the midway full of rides and games and the fair food offerings, the Hopkinton State Fair features agricultural exhibits and events such as livestock and horse shows, pulling competitions, a great pumpkin weigh-off, displays in the home arts building, a 4-H show and auction, educational exhibits, Charmingfare Farm petting zoo and a farmers market, the website said. The fair also features live music, including Rumboat Chili (Thursday, Aug. 31, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.), as well as magic and comedy performances.

Thursday, Aug. 31

Kick off your Labor Day weekend with some art and music. The Currier Museum of Art’s (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) Art After Work program — when admission is free from 5 to 8 p.m. — will feature a performance by J Street Extension this evening (this central New Hampshire band describes its style as blues-rock-funk-country). The museum will be open through the holiday weekend, including Monday, Sept. 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular admission costs $20 for adults, $15 for 65+ and students, and $5 for ages 13 to 17 (12 and under get in free).

Saturday, Sept. 2

Head to Elm Street in downtown Manchester for the 22nd annual Cruising Downtown car show held by the Manchester Rotary Club today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find live music, vendors, food and cars competing in several categories. See cruisingdowntownmanchester.com.

Monday, Sept. 4

Start your morning with Pac-Man and Galaga at Funspot (579 Endicott Road in Laconia; funspotnh.com). The “largest arcade in the world” continues its summer hours — 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and until 11 p.m. on Saturdays — through today, Labor Day. (During the off season the arcade is open noon to 10 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.)

Monday, Sept. 4

Milford celebrates Labor Day with a parade! The parade will step off at 1 p.m. and head from Milford High School at West Street to the Milford Oval, around the Oval and then to the Harley Sanford VFW, according to milford.nh.gov. This year’s theme is “Celebration of Sports,” the website said.

Save the date: Sunday, Sept. 24
The Beaver Brook Association (Maple Hill Farm, 117 Ridge Road in Hollis; beaverbrook.org ) will hold a full moon hike on Sunday, Sept. 24, from 7 to 9 p.m. Enjoy that crisp fall evening air while a naturalist guides the group through the trail, highlighting seasonal changes and local animals, according to the website. Registration costs $22 plus fees. Find this and other fall programming at beaverbrook.org.

Featured photo: Hopkinton Fair.

Quality of Life 23/08/31

Kids in flight

The “Young Eagles” program, organized by EAA Chapter 106 from Lawrence, Massachusetts, recently provided 37 youngsters with a unique experience of flying in an airplane. According to a press release, the event was part of the annual PlaneFest! celebration held by the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport on Aug. 19. For many participants, this flight marked their first experience in a small aircraft. The program, which started in 1992, has been dedicated to offering children aged 8 to 17 their first free airplane ride, aiming to inspire them about the world of aviation.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The event coincided with the birth anniversary of aviation pioneer Orville Wright.

Money for animals

The New Hampshire Liquor Commission (NHLC) raised $60,000 for local animal rescue and therapeutic organizations through its inaugural “Allies for Animals” Scotch whisky raffle. According to a press release, the raffle prize included almost 35 rare Scotch whiskies valued at over $10,000. The beneficiaries of the raffle were The Animal Rescue League of NH, Friends of the Manchester Animal Shelter, and Back in The Saddle Equine Therapy Center, each receiving $20,000. NHLC has raised $3.6 million for various nonprofits over the last eight years.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Kathrine Lacey of Meredith won the raffle and received the whisky collection, mileage reimbursement, a two-night luxury hotel stay and a $200 dining gift card.

Help for moms-to-be

AmeriHealth Caritas New Hampshire, a managed care group serving local Medicaid recipients, recently hosted a Community Baby Shower at its Wellness & Opportunity Center in Manchester. According to a press release, the event attracted more than 50 expectant mothers, offering them access to essential tools and community support resources for healthier childbirth experiences. The gathering included activities, raffles and practical demonstrations like baby swaddling.

QOL score: +1

Comment: With an 8.8 percent preterm birth rate in Manchester and New Hampshire’s infant mortality rate at 4.3 per 1,000 live births, AmeriHealth aims to enhance care and health outcomes for mothers and babies, according to the release.

QOL score: 86
Net change: +3
QOL this week: 89

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

Featured photo: “Young Eagles” program gives kids airplane rides. Courtesy photo.

Betts big in Fenway return

The Big Story: It was the return of Mookie Betts at Fenway. He picked up right where he left off by going 7-15 with two doubles, a homer, four RBI and five runs scored.

Sports101: Name the two players who share the single-season record for hitting the most home runs in September.

Thumbs Up – Fenway Faithful: For the well-earned warm welcome back those on hand gave to Betts on Friday.

News Item – Pundits Drool Over Douglas and Boutte:It’s weird to have pundits drooling over a rookie wide receiver this late into Patriots camp. Let alone over two of them. But many still are over Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte. And some of the comments are over the top. Like Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal saying he sees flashes of Tyreek Hill in Douglas, while ESPN’s Ryan Clark says Boutee could be the “steal” of the entire draft if he re-finds the Top 10 level talent he took to LSU when they recruited him. But I’m a “believe it when I see it” type over hype from a pretty dismal camp overall. The most telling thing will be seeing what role each has in the game plan in Week 1 vs. Philly. That will tell you what the coaches think of them.

The Numbers:

2–wins needed by Cardinals hurler Adam Wainwright to reach 200 for his career as he enters September, which doesn’t seem too tough, except at 41 he’s 3-9 with an ERA of 8.67 so it’s likely now or never for him.

24–season-high number of hits for the Red Sox in Thursday’s 17-1 skunking of Houston when they had six doubles and three homers as the Astros used catcher Martín Maldonado to pitch the final two innings.

50–doublesDodgers slugger Freddie Freeman already has in 2023 after getting three more at Fenway last weekend to keep him on pace to be the first player to get 60 in a season since Famers Charlie Gehringer (60) and Ducky Medwick (64) last did it in 1936.

‘Of the Week’ Awards

Defensive Play of the Week – GarrettWhitlock: It goes to the heads-up play made by the Sox reliever, the kind of play pitchers never make — a running, sliding on his back catch of a foul ball 30 feet behind home plate after catcher Connor Wong became entangled with the batter at home plate. It kept Houston at bay in an eventual 7-5 win in 10 innings on Wednesday.

Lead-off Hitter of the Week – Alex Verdugo:For doing what no Red Sox player and only two others in history have done: leading off three straight games with homers, vs. Houston and L.A. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Random Thoughts:

Granted the offensive line play was just awful, but after a 30-of-51 for 253 yards pre-season, who still thinks Bailey Zappe should be the Pats’ starting QB?

I’m glad the lovable, Casey Stengel-led 1962 Mets will remain the most hapless team in baseball history. Oakland would have to finish 1-31 and even they’re not that bad.

Sports 101 Answer:The all-time one-season September home run champs are Babe Ruth and Albert Belle with 17. Ruth did it 1927 on his way to hitting a then record 60, while Belle did it as he closed out his spectacular 1995 season when he became the first player in history to have 50 doubles and 50 homers in the same season.

Final Thought: Two days ago was the 61st anniversary of the first pro game I ever went to. It was a thrilling day that started with the rarity of me spending half a day at my dad’s office in Manhattan, then it was a subway ride up to the Bronx and Yankee Stadium.

The first vivid memory was the vibrant color bursting out at us as we left the darkness of the tunnel to see the field. It was like when The Wizard of Oz goes from black and white to color as Dorothy opens the cabin door after landing in Oz and the color just jumps out at you.

My favorite guy, Mickey Mantle, had two hits and made a nice shoestring catch in center. The only downside was Cleveland won 3-2 after Terry Francona’s father, the original Tito, knocked in the winning runs with a two-run single during a game the box score reminds me only took 2:33 to play.

I also saw something that day I haven’t seen since. It was when Cleveland right-hander Gary Bell threw an overhand curveball to pinch hitter Yogi Berra that bounced a good 6 feet in front of the plate. I can still see how calm Yogi was patiently staying on the ball before ripping a line drive over the second baseman’s head into right for a single with a picture-perfect level swing after it bounced up belt-high right off the ground.

A glorious day.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

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