News – Page 76

News & Notes 23/01/19

New curator

The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester welcomes a new chief curator and curator of contemporary art, Lorenzo Fusi. According to a press release, Fusi has curated more than 100 exhibitions and commissioned nearly 200 works all over the world, including the Yerevan Biennial in Armenia, the Liverpool Biennial and Open Eye Gallery in the U.K., the Fondation Prince Pierre in Monaco, Griffin Art Projects and the Illingworth Kerr Gallery in Canada and the Palazzo delle Papesse Contemporary Art Centre in Italy. “I am honored to join the Currier Museum of Art,” Fusi said in the release. “The museum has strong artist and community programs and I hope that my enduring interest in art in the public sphere will deepen and expand these initiatives.” Fusi’s position will entail leading contemporary commissions and the museum’s residency program; promoting collaboration and innovation in the museum’s presentation and interpretation of art; and developing local and international partnerships.

Help for seniors

United Way of Greater Nashua is collecting donations for its Shoebox Project for Seniors now through the end of the month. According to a press release, the nonprofit plans to assemble 500 kits to distribute to low-income homebound seniors who are served by Gateways Community Services, Meals on Wheels and The Caregivers. Accepted items include exercise bands, puzzle books, healthy recipes books, note and greeting cards, stamps, magnifying

glasses, pocket calendars, small stuffed animals, colored pencils, adult coloring books, combs and brushes, dental floss, facial tissue; hot chocolate, tea and coffee bags; and travel size shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap and hand cream. Donations can be dropped off at United Way (20 Broad St., Nashua) on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., no later than Feb. 1. Visit unitedwaynashua.org.

Drug warning

Gov. Chris Sununu, with New Hampshire State Police Colonel Nathan Noyes and stakeholders, announced a new public awareness campaign, “No Safe Experience,” at a press conference on Jan. 12. According to a press release, the campaign, which is being overseen by the New Hampshire Department of Safety, was created to inform people that consuming drugs that have not been prescribed to them by a medical provider is not safe under any circumstance. “There is no safe experience with substances, unless they are prescribed by a provider, and taken only as directed by the person they are prescribed to,” Sununu said in the release. “Our campaign will be laser focused on this critical message to help save lives.” The campaign will launch within the next couple of months and run through the fall. It will include video and public service announcements, an active media campaign with personal stories and data, social media campaigns, an informational website, billboards and highly visible signage and posters and materials that will be distributed across the state and made available to schools.

Help in winter

Granite United Way, in collaboration with other nonprofits and community partners, has launched the Manchester Winter Relief Fund, an effort to provide services and shelter to unhoused individuals in Manchester during the winter months. “Given that shelter beds across the state are near or at capacity, we are tremendously grateful for the collaboration between the City, our nonprofit and faith-based partners, as well as the community, to implement additional emergency shelters in Manchester this winter,” Mayor Joyce Craig said in a press release. “This fund will directly support ongoing short- and long-term efforts to meet critical needs in our community.” To donate to the fund, visit graniteuw.org or text WINTERMHT to 41444.

Outstanding women

Nominations are open now for New Hampshire Business Review’s Outstanding Women in Business Awards. According to a press release, nominees should be women from New Hampshire’s business community in any profession who have a strong sense of self and success-driven work ethic and accomplishments to show for it. Visit nhbr.com/events-awards/outstanding-women-in-business to nominate a colleague, family member, client or friend and share how they are a leader in their field through their commitment, vision and talents. Nominations close on Feb 3.

The Concord School Board has voted unanimously to raise the graduation credit requirement for Concord High School students, the Concord Monitor reported. The new requirement will be implemented over the next two school years, raised from the current state minimum of 20 credits to 22.5 credits for the class of 2027 and to 24 credits starting with the class of 2028. Only about 5 percent of Concord High School students graduate with the minimum of 20 credits; the majority of students graduate with between 24 and 27 credits, according to the article.

The Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire branch will host a school fair at The DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St., Manchester) on Saturday, Jan. 21, from 11 a.m to 2 p.m., as part of National School Choice Week. According to a press release, more than 50 K-12 public and private schools and home-school and online school representatives will be there to talk with families about New Hampshire schooling options and scholarship opportunities. Visit scholarshipfund.org or call 289-4999 for more information.

The Addition Recovery Coalition of New Hampshire in Milford (180 Elm St.) will host a human trafficking info session on Friday, Jan. 27, at 6 p.m. According to a press release, presenter Jasmine Grace Marino, a survivor of human trafficking and author of The Diary of Jasmine Grace. Trafficked. Recovered. Redeemed, will share her story and discuss how to best support someone who may be affected by human trafficking. Visit arcnh.org or call 554-8142.

This Week 23/01/12

Big Events January 12, 2022 and beyond

Thursday, Jan. 12

Catch Joey Clark & the Big Hearts tonight at the Currier Museum of Art’s (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org) Art After Work event from 5 to 8 p.m. Admission to the museum is free.

Friday, Jan. 13

The play Scene Changesat the Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road, Concord) will take the stage tonight at 7:30 p.m. The show follows a seasoned, cynical performer as her castmate is suddenly taken ill and a young, optimistic actor takes his part. The comedy runs through Jan. 22 with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students and seniors. Visit hatboxnh.com.

Friday, Jan. 13

The receptionfor the exhibit “B.B. King, from Indianola to Icon: A Personal Odyssey with the King of Blues” is tonight from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Kimball Jenkins (266 N. Main St., Concord). The exhibit features more than 60 photographs of King that are for sale. The reception will have a Q&A with program director Yasamin Safarzadeh and Charlie Sawyer, a close friend of King’s. For more information, visit kimballjenkins.com.

Saturday, Jan. 14

Join the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord) for a night at the virtual opera with The MET Live in HD: Fedora today at 12:55 p.m. The opera revolves around Fedora, a Russian princess who falls in love with the man who murdered her fiance. Tickets cost $26 for adults, $22 for seniors or MET members, and $15 for students. Visit ccanh.com for more information or to purchase tickets.

Sunday, Jan. 15

Join the Snowflake Shuffle hosted by Millennium Running today at 9:30 a.m. in Bedford. The 3-mile run will start and finish at 25 Constitution Dr. Prizes will be given out to the three fastest men and women runners, in addition to refreshments and beer tickets that can be redeemed at the post-race beer garden. Registration costs $35 until 9 a.m. on the day of the race, after it will be $40 based on availability. Register at millenniumrunning.com.

Sunday, Jan. 15

The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) is welcoming back 1964 the Tribute today with a show starting at 7 p.m. 1964 has been called the best Beatles tribute band in the world by Rolling Stone magazine. Tickets cost $39 and can be purchased at palacetheatre.org.

Tuesday, Jan. 17

Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord) is hosting the Honorable John T. Broderick Jr. as he shares his memoir Backroads and Highways: My Journey to Discovery on Mental Health today at 6:30 p.m. See gibsonsbookstore.com

Save the Date! Thursday, Jan. 26
The 20th annual Art in Bloom will be held from 1 to 5 p.m., as well as on Friday, Jan. 27, and Saturday, Jan. 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature works from newly juried members of the League of NH Craftsmen that are paired with floral inspirations from the Concord Gardening Club. The event will take place at the League’s headquarters (49 S. Main St., Concord). For more information, visit concordgardenclubnh.com.

Featured photo. 1964 the Tribute

Quality of Life 23/01/12

Get your Thin Mints and Samoas

Girl Scout cookie season has begun in New Hampshire. According to a press release, the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains are taking orders now and can start delivering cookies to local customers around Feb. 10. If you don’t know a Girl Scout personally, you can place an order online starting on Feb. 27 or use the online Cookie Finder tool to locate a booth near you where the Scouts will be selling cookies in person from mid February through March 19. Visit girlscoutcookies.org.

QOL Score: +1

Comments: Every box of cookies sold supports Girl Scouts’ service projects, troop traveling and summer camps.

Helping people be healthy

Bank of New Hampshire has made a $10,000 donation to the local nonprofit Granite United Way as part of a corporate pledge for 2022. According to a press release, the funds will support Granite United Way’s mission of helping people “learn, earn and be healthy” and removing barriers to create opportunities for people to make a positive impact in their local communities.

QOL Score: +1

Comments: “Granite United Way is proud to partner with the team at Bank of New Hampshire to ensure our community has access to critical programs and services that strengthen individuals and families,” Patrick Tufts, President and CEO of Granite United Way, said in the release.

Eggs cost what?

Grocery prices have become a blur of “wait, how much for Cheez-Its?” but QOL took notice when a dozen eggs was over $5 at an area supermarket last week (and cartons of 18 eggs were nearly $9 each). According to a New England Public Media story from Dec. 27, the higher egg prices are due in part to a deadly outbreak of bird flu that has led to fewer egg-laying chickens nationwide.

QOL Score: -2

Comments: The strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza was first detected in New Hampshire in January 2022 and is still present in the state, NHPR reported in a Jan. 3 story.

QOL score: 51

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 51

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

NFL 2022 wrap-up

After an awful week of fear for the life of Buffalo DB Damar Hamlin after he suffered an on-field heart attack on national TV, Week 18 thankfully ended with the happy news that he is steadily improving, as evidenced by his tweeting all throughout his team’s win over the Patriots on Sunday. Which leaves a chance to look at some of the interesting stories of what I thought was one of the more mundane, dramaless regular seasons in recent memory.

Exhibit A was the Patriots’ somehow missing the playoffs by just one game after losing games in the following fashions: (1) After coming back from down 22-0 they lost to the Bengals 22-18 because they fumbled inside their own five-yard line in the final minute of the game. They needed a TD instead of the easy FG they would have taken after not scoring on any of their three PAT attempts by failing on the two-point try they had to do because Nick Folk missed two extra point kicks. (2) They were thoroughly embarrassed 31-14 on Monday Night Football by the Bears, who finished with the worst record in the NFL. (3) They suffered the most humiliating NFL loss since the 2012 butt fumble game by handing the Raiders a win on the final play in the final seconds in the game that will be forever known as the Las Vegas Lateral game. (4) They lost by 12 in a must-win final-week game in Buffalo after giving up not one but two kick returns for TDs.

The only thing missing from their debacle of a season was Bill Belichick nearly getting electrocuted by a mic at a press briefing like Clive Rush almost was when introduced as new HC of the NEP’s in 1969.

From my pre-season preview here’s what I got right: (1) Matt Patricia would be a disaster as OC. (2) Kyle Dugger would be the man in the secondary. And what I got wrong: They’d badly miss JC Jackson in the secondary. They didn’t.

Biggest NFL Surprise: Jacksonville coming back from four games behind Tennessee, to win their last six to win the AFC South, including their winner-take-all Week 18 showdown with the Titans.

Biggest Disappointment: What a difference a year makes, where the 5-12 Rams had one of the worst hangovers on record after winning the Super Bowl.

Boy, finishing first in the NFC South after forcing out Bruce Arians as coach of the Bucs (to get Tom Brady to un-retire) for one-time Jets failure Todd Bowles really worked out great. Of course they did it by being the sub .500 division winner ever to be un .500 at 8-9 after looking in complete disarray all year.

And if the 7-10 Titans, who were 7-3 on Nov. 17 before losing their last seven games, had beaten Jacksonville last Saturday night it would have been two. I think it was emblematic of a lot of bad football played in 2022, which I attribute to fatigue and added injuries from the 17-game schedule.

The vastly improved play of Trevor Lawrence in Year 2, by the way, puts him in the lead among the vaunted QB 2021 draft class, where (as predicted by me on draft night) Brett Wilson appears headed for bust-ville with SF’s Trey Lance not far off. Justin Fields improved some, at least as a runner, but the Bears still finished with the worst record in the league. So despite his awful season, Mac Jones pulls up in second place.

Incidentally, I only said Wilson would bust because the Jets took him and history said they’d screw it up. Like with their last big QB hope, Sam Darnold, who, oh by the way, was better in Carolina than Wilson was in NYC, after being dumped for Wilson. Speaking of projecting the future for QBs, while there’s a long way to go for most of them, in Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Pat Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert and depending on injuries Lamar Jackson there are no fewer than seven QBs who look like Hall of Fame material if they stay on the same trajectory.

Once again Green Bay did not live up to its pre-season Super Bowl contender billing. Something done annually more on the reputation of their star QB than substance. At 8-9 they missed the playoffs again as their string of SB wannabe failures hit 12 years and counting.

Back to the Rams. Their troubles may continue if the chatter is correct that Sean McVay is really thinking of stepping away from coaching. And if he does, it’a significant historical NFL story, as while there’s still eons to go, by already having 60 wins by age 36, he could get the all-time record by the time he reaches 60 if he averaged the same 11 wins per Coach B has in 22 years with the Pats. For context, his 60 wins are 60 more than Coach B had at 36.

BTW, Belichick finished the year with 329 wins, 18 behind Don Shula’s record 347.

Another rumor going around has free agent Tom Brady reuniting with Josh McDaniels in Las Vegas. It’s partially being driven by owner Mark Davis wanting star power because he doesn’t like Vegas being a tourist destination for opposing fans who fill his stadium with nearly as many out-of-towners as Raiders fans.

They’d better hurry with that one as after making the 2021 playoff their 6-11 finish has Josh in peril entering Year 2, just as he was during his first HC try in Denver when he got fired mid-way through his second season.

Finally, with Lamar Jackson missing every game after Thanksgiving for the second year in a row, the old adage seems truer than ever that while running quarterbacks add an extra dimension to the offense, it’s usually not worth it because if they run a lot sooner or later they’re gonna get killed.

I’ll have a fuller autopsy of the Patriots’ season in a few weeks.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

Get kids back on track

Finding ways to help Manchester youth

Meet Michael Quigley, the new director of the Office of Youth Services in Manchester.

What is your background in working with youth?

I grew up in Quincy, Massachusetts. Shortly after college, I worked in the public schools for about a year. Then, I landed a job at YouthBuild Quincy as a case manager. YouthBuild is a program for opportunities for youth. There are a lot of young people who were disengaged from the community, who had no criminal backgrounds either as a youth or young adults, who are facing homelessness and other challenges. We’d provide workforce development training to help them find meaningful employment while also helping them to get their high school diploma. I worked in YouthBuild for 14 years in a variety of positions, in Quincy, Worcester and the North Shore and was a director for about 10 of those years.

How did you come into this position at Manchester OYS?

During Covid, my program went into a shutdown, and I was running it remotely. I was trying to figure out what my next steps were in my career to further develop myself and allow myself to grow. When I saw the opportunity with the City of Manchester, I thought it would challenge me in different ways and also give me an opportunity to grow something that would help youth in the community that needs it.

What does your job as director entail?

Right now, we’re [working with] the schools. Our counselors are at the high schools and middle schools working with young people who might be struggling with attendance or having an issue with getting in trouble. We can step in and support that young person to help get them back on track by providing case management between them and a teacher or guidance counselor in cases where they may not be able to communicate effectively what they’re feeling or what’s going on. I’m also meeting with as many community partners as possible to see where we can expand our services beyond just the schools and where we can impact the city in different ways, maybe by creating some programming or other opportunities for young people to express themselves and be heard.

What would you like to accomplish?

We definitely want to bring anger management groups back for young people who are struggling with the management of their feelings and their emotions. That’s something we can do to have an impact right away. In the long term, we’re working with other organizations to create programming, like workforce development opportunities, college readiness opportunities, life skills, groups and case management, so that we can also provide those youth and families outside of school. Something else that I’m interested in exploring is starting a youth advisory board for the City of Manchester. I think it would be really great to provide an opportunity for youth from different schools to have a voice in local politics and local policy and to give back to their community.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing youth right now?

Sometimes, it’s as simple as they’re lacking support and love in their life. People formulate opinions about kids, and they aren’t even fully developed yet. Teachers may hear things from other teachers, or coaches may hear things — negative things — about a kid before they even start working with them. There are populations of our youth that don’t feel like they’re respected, don’t have a safe space to express what’s going on, or don’t have caring adults in their lives who are fostering an environment for them where they can feel valued.

How does OYS work to address those challenges?

Our staff is trained on how to be caring adults who are going to listen and care about what kids have to say and show them what it means to feel valued. We may not always agree with them, but we’re going to honor their opinions. We’ll give anyone who comes through our door a chance to show us who they are. We try to help them understand why it’s important to love yourself and have confidence. We try to look at their talents and provide them with [related] opportunities that can help them build those skills. I truly believe that if young people in the community feel heard and respected, that’s going to help tackle [the number of] suspensions and youth crime and other issues.

What do you enjoy most about working with youth?

I came from a community where a lot of the kids I grew up with, including my older sister, were labeled as “problems.” People would make comments about them and treat them a certain way because of what they looked like or the community they lived in or what their parents were like. It set these kids up for failure, and, unfortunately, I saw a lot of my friends fall into some heavy stuff when they got older. They had childhood trauma, and they just couldn’t turn it around. The most fulfilling part of my job is when there’s a kid who comes through the door, who is a bit rough around the edges or has been through some tough stuff and is lacking confidence, who, once they have these adults in their lives who believe in them, are able to do something with that belief. It’s great to be able to be a part of that change.

Featured photo: Michael Quigley. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 23/01/12

Increased education costs

New data released by the New Hampshire Department of Education revealed that New Hampshire’s average cost per student is on the rise. According to a press release, the new statewide average cost per pupil of $19,399.97 is an increase of 5.24 percent from the previous year. Costs rose substantially beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, reflecting an increase associated with federal and state Covid-relief funds; pre-pandemic, the cost per pupil was rising, on average, about 3.1 percent each year. New Hampshire school districts are expecting to grapple with high inflation costs, coinciding with the expiration of Covid-relief funding, the release said.

Aging in NH

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services and the State Plan on Aging Planning Committee are seeking the public’s input via a series of listening sessions to help guide and inform the 2024-2027 State Plan on Aging. According to a press release, the listening sessions will be held in person throughout the state, including one in Concord at GoodLife Programs & Activities (254 N. State St.) on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and one in Manchester at William B. Cashin Senior Activity Center (151 Douglas St.) on Thursday, Feb. 2, from noon to 2 p.m. There will also be a series of virtual sessions held over Zoom, which are scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 18, Friday, Jan. 27, Monday, Jan. 30, and Wednesday, Feb. 1. Residents are encouraged to complete the online State Plan on Aging Survey to help provide information about the availability of supports in their communities, including health care programs and screenings, affordable housing, transportation and in-home long-term supports and services. “As we continue to provide programs and services that focus on older adults, we must have an understanding of what their needs are as they age,” BEAS Bureau Chief Wendi Aultman said in the release. “New Hampshire has one of the fastest-growing aging populations, and these listening sessions will give us the opportunity to offer supports that are meaningful and relevant to older residents, so that everyone can participate fully in their communities.” The State Plan on Aging is required for New Hampshire to receive federal funding for programming through the Older Americans Act. Visit dhhs.nh.gov/new-hampshire-state-plan-aging.

New at the Elliot

Elliot Hospital in Manchester has become the first hospital in New Hampshire to offer the Sonata System by Gynesonics’ procedure to treat uterine fibroid, a procedure that was first performed by Manchester OB/GYN Associates at the hospital. According to a press release, Uterine fibroids, which are benign growths in and around the uterus, affect about 70 percent of white women and more than 80 percent of black women before the age of 50. They can cause debilitating symptoms, such as heavy menstrual bleeding, which can worsen over time if left untreated. The new procedure is minimally invasive, using an intrauterine ultrasound handpiece to identify the fibroids, and radiofrequency energy to shrink the fibroids and reduce symptoms. “At The Elliot, we continue to expand our leading-edge medical procedural offerings to meet the needs of our patients,” Beverly Primeau, Vice President of Surgical and Procedural Services for Elliot Health System, said in the release.

Volunteers wanted

The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry) is having a volunteer open house on Tuesday, Jan. 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., where the public is invited to meet current volunteers and learn about the volunteering opportunities available at the museum. According to a press release, the Aviation Museum is a nonprofit organization “dedicated to celebrating New Hampshire’s role in aviation history and inspiring tomorrow’s pioneers, innovators and aerospace professionals.” Volunteering opportunities may include greeting guests at the front desk, leading tours and staffing the gift shop; working with young people through the education outreach program and student plane-building program; evaluating donations and cataloging items in the historical archive and assisting researchers; administrative tasks related to memberships, fundraising, communications and building maintenance; managing tech systems; and helping with special events. If you plan to attend the open house, call 669-4877 and leave a message with your name, or send an email to [email protected].

Seedlings online

After 112 years in business, the New Hampshire State Forest Nursery is beginning to take online orders. According to a press release, the website, buynhseedlings.com, resembles the Nursery’s traditional print catalog, but with additional features, including multiple color images of each seedling and a live inventory that shows the availability of each species and product in real time. “Sales at the NH State Forest Nursery have increased dramatically over the last several years,” NH Division of Forests and Lands’ Chief of Forest Management Will Guinn said in the release. “Much of this is due to a renewed interest in the outdoors as a result of the pandemic, as well as a desire to help mitigate climate change through planting trees to sequester and store carbon.” More than 1,000 customers used the online store to purchase 150,000 seedlings within the first two weeks of its launch. For customers who prefer to order on paper, mailed order forms are still being accepted, but will eventually be phased out, according to the release.

A New Hampshire Lottery player purchased a winning Lucky for Life ticket at Convenience Plus on Roundstone Drive in Manchester in the drawing on Jan. 5. According to a press release, the prize before taxes is the winner’s choice of $25,000 a year for life or a one-time payout of $390,000.

The majority of stores at Merrimack Premium Outlets were reopened on Sunday, Jan. 8, according to the mall’s website, after a Dec. 28 rock slide behind the mall damaged a gas main and forced the closure of some stores for several days.

A new Dollar General store is open at 17 Crystal Ave. in Derry. According to a press release, the variety store, which had 18,818 locations in 47 states as of October 2022, expects to employ six to 10 people from the community and has announced plans to donate 100 new books to a local elementary school as part of a nationwide campaign in partnership with Kellogg Co.

Category: News