News – Page 76

The week that was

The Big Story: There are actually three. (1) The shocking end to the Bruins’ magical season. (2) The Celtics moving on to Round 2 of the NBA playoffs after barely surviving a major scare from the 41-41 Atlanta Hawks in a series that wasn’t supposed to be that tough. (3) The Patriots’ choices in the NFL draft, showing more evidence Bill Belichick has slipped from his perch as the smartest guy in football.

Sports 101: Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1966 the Patriots have had the first overall pick in the NFL draft four times. Name the players they selected.

News Item – Celtics Up and Down vs. Atlanta: There were highs in the series to be sure. Most notably how dominant they were in the first halves of games 1 and 2, and most importantly the poise showed in the face of a raucous, hostile crowd over the final four minutes to close out a sensational series in Game 6 on the road in Atlanta. But their infuriating inability to stay focused with big leads also returned in games 1 and 2 and when they were overrun by Trae Young while blowing the lead with mistakes in the final minutes of their Game 5 loss.

But two games into their Round 2 playoff series with the 76ers let’s hope they’ve cleaned up their appalling lack of boxing out and woeful weak side 3-point defense that Atlanta murdered them with in the last three games.

News Item – Panthers Shock Bruins: Short of a ball going through your first baseman’s legs at the moment of truth, it’s hard to imagine a worse way to be eliminated from the playoffs than how the Bruins were on Sunday night by Florida.

One minute away from looking like they had survived blowing a 3-1 series lead to an 8-seed they coughed up the game-tying goal by Brandon Montour to send it to OT tied 3-3. And with karma gone the magical season somehow ended 8:56 into OT when Carter Verhaeghe sent the SRO crowd into the night crushed and wondering what might have been.

News Item – Coach B On The Slide: They say the worst thing you can do is chase needs by reaching for players at position of need ahead of more talented players on your draft board. Normally I agree, especially for the dynasty Patriots, who rarely had immediate holes to fill.

But not this year. They went into this draft with one need above all else: to find out whether Mac Jones is or is not the QB of the future. And to do that they needed to give him help to improve 2022’s fourth-worst offense in football. Specifically that meant getting a solid left tackle to improve his protection and a game-changing wideout to open things up on offense.

Yet the ever stubborn, now-living-in-a-2004-time-bubble Bill Belichick used his picks in the first three rounds, where impact players most often come from, on defense. To, I guess, combat the AFC East now having three dynamic passing attacks. While not taking even one guy who was a full-time tackle in college among his 12 picks and no wide receiver until Round 6.

I get that reaching is bad and those two big needs are hard to come by. But if he hadn’t cheaped out on Orlando Brown in free agency, when the Bengals added him to protect the blind side of their young QB, they could have given up the top of their draft to get the game changer. Or he could have traded up to get ahead of the run on tackles they liked.

All of which shows that Coach B is living in the defense-dominates NFL past, which is what got all the great coaches I’ve seen (Shula, Landry, Noll) at their end.

Thumbs Up – Malcolm Brogdon: Being named NBA 6^th Man of the Year after finally giving the Celtics a game-changer off their bench is a well earned honor.

Word of the Week – ‘Ironic’: Hard to come up with a better word for Joe Dumars, who played on the dirtiest team in NBA history, being the guy handing out the punishment for Draymond Green. Not that Joe played like that, but most of his teammates with the ’80s-’90s Pistons did and the league let them get away with it. And now he’s the warden.

Random Playoff Thoughts:

Love the old-school NBA every-other-day schedule for the first six games of the Philly series.

You’d think Charles Barkley would learn after being almost always wrong making predictions. But there he was again guaranteeing Sacramento would “whomp” defending champ Golden State in Game 5 of their playoff series. Then after they lost Game 5 he doubled down for Game 7. But sorry, Charles, wrong again. They lost by 20.

I’d call the Mavericks passing on reasonable money for their own guy Jalen Brunson last summer in lieu of having to now give Kyrie Irving a bigger amount this summer, along with their only two good defenders and a future first-round pick, a colossal mistake.

Brunson was a key to finally lifting the Knicks to a new level, while the Mavs went from the 5-seed out West when he arrived, to missing the playoffs entirely in just 23 games.

The Numbers:

50 – all-time NBA record for points scored in a deciding Game 7 playoff series by Steph Curry Sunday when the Warriors eliminated Sacramento with a decisive 120-100 win.

Sports 101 Answer: The Patriots’ four first overall picks were Jim Plunkett (1971), Kenneth Sims (82), Irving Fryar (84) and Drew Bledsoe (93).

Final Thought – Round 2 Picks: Denver over Phoenix in 7, Golden State over L.A. in 6, Celtics over Philly in 7, Miami over N.Y. in 6.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

Erasing the stigma

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Dr. Will Torrey, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Dartmouth Health, discusses Mental Health Awareness Month, efforts to reduce stigma surrounding mental health and resources available to individuals dealing with mental health issues in New Hampshire.

What is the purpose of Mental Health Awareness Month?

The idea is to increase knowledge and understanding of mental health disorders so that the general public can know more about these common illnesses and get increasingly engaged in helping us to help people get timely access to high-quality care. About 20 percent of us in the United States will have a psychiatric illness in any given year, and half of us will at some point during our lifetime. The point of Mental Health Awareness Month is to help engage people so that they’re more knowledgeable about their illnesses, can seek help when needed, and to broaden the coalition of people who are seeking to turn toward psychiatric and addictive difficulties with the same seriousness of purpose as we treat other illnesses, like cancer.

What initiatives is Dartmouth Health doing for Mental Health Awareness Month?

We’re excited to be hosting an exhibit at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center called “Deconstructing Stigma.” It aims to help people understand more about mental illness and to help people start or continue to deepen conversations about mental illness and its treatment. We also have a series called “Heads Up” that started last May and is ending this May and has included monthly articles on different facets of mental health and webinars on those topics. Our last webinar is coming out in May for Mental Health Awareness Month. These efforts aim to educate and foster discussions so that people can start to suffer less and do more together to make treatment more available.

What are the current strengths and weaknesses of mental health care in New Hampshire?

Across the nation, the big challenge is timely access to high-quality care. Covid-19 was a perfect storm in terms of stressors that bring out psychiatric illness. People had health worries, economic challenges, loss to death, social isolation, trouble with child care — all kinds of things that lead people to be more likely to exhibit signs and symptoms of psychiatric illness. At the same time, the health care system has been stressed because of worker shortages, and some of the core supports that had typically been available are less available. New Hampshire has struggled to meet the growing demand for mental health and substance use disorder care despite efforts to address the issues. It has excellent structure in its community mental health systems, but those are somewhat overwhelmed by the need for those services at this time. This is true for inpatient hospitalization needs for children and adults and for general outpatient care. At all levels of the continuum of care, the need for services outstrips capacity.

What can be done to help reduce stigma around mental health and encourage more people to get help when they need it?

When I was growing up, breast cancer was highly stigmatized, and people wouldn’t talk about it. … It wasn’t something that you looked to get support from others for. Nowadays, people get support from their friends and family, and I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be in the same position with mental health care. That’s what we’re working toward: if someone develops depression, psychosis or posttraumatic stress disorder, they should be able to talk to their friends and family and have straightforward, well-organized pathways into care and support. … A lot of it has to do with creating community, advocating together and encouraging these conversations and having these conversations.

What can friends and family members do to support someone struggling with mental health issues?

The core messages are the same as we would give to anyone with any kind of illness — just be clear that you care about them and will be with them through this. Give the message of caring, support and hope. Family members can also get more education through organizations such as the National Alliance for Mental Illness. They offer support groups and courses so that people can learn more about psychiatric illness and be more helpful to their loved ones or friends living with these illnesses.

What resources are available to people struggling with mental health issues in New Hampshire?

First and foremost, if you’re in crisis, you can call the national number 988, which can guide you to the appropriate care. Additionally, New Hampshire has mobile crisis units that can help resolve a crisis situation directly, often without [resulting in] hospitalization. Emergency rooms are always open for real crisis times. You can access mental health care through your community mental health system, or you can go to the Psychology Today website … and it will tell you which providers in your local area accept your type of insurance. Finally, if you’re employed, your employer may have an employee assistance program that can provide you with information about resources and support that are available to you.

Featured photo: Dr. Will Torrey. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 23/05/04

Tuition help for preschool teachers

The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) and Granite State College (GSC) have partnered with the state’s Preschool Development Grant program to provide tuition reimbursement for qualifying students enrolled in Early Childhood Education (ECE) courses through 2023. According to a press release, the initiative aims to address workforce demands in the ECE field by covering full tuition for up to two classes per term for students enrolled in ECE courses at the state’s seven community colleges. The $500,000 award builds on an existing program at GSC, and grants are available to individuals working in licensed child care or out-of-school child care facilities in New Hampshire. Interested students can apply for the funds via the Preschool Development Tuition Assistance website, ccsnh.edu/paying-for-college/preschool-development-tuition-assistance, which includes eligibility requirements, application timelines, eligible course lists and award specifications.

Help for school nurses

The Manchester School District has announced a new partnership with the Manchester Fire Department to help address the shortage of school nurses. According to a press release, the agreement, which is in effect from now until June 30, will allow Manchester Fire Department paramedics, advanced-EMTs and EMTs to volunteer as substitute school nurses when needed. Filling nursing positions has been a persistent issue for the School District, resulting in the use of external staffing agencies to fill the gaps. “We are grateful for this continued partnership with the Manchester Fire Department,” Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Gillis said in the release. “While this agreement does not solve our long-term staffing concerns, it gives us flexibility and puts less of a strain on our staff nurses.” The agreement does not allow the substitutes to provide one-to-one nursing services to students with special needs.

Historic sites

The New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources has selected three state-owned historic sites to spotlight during May as Historic Preservation Month. According to a press release, the sites are Endicott Rock in Laconia, which features inscriptions dated 1652 and is possibly the oldest public monument in New England; Fort Dearborn at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, part of a chain of coastal defenses that protected Portsmouth Harbor and the Naval Shipyard during World War II; and Nansen Ski Jump in Milan, the largest ski jump in the eastern U.S. for more than 50 years and the site of the first U.S. ski jump Olympic trials in 1938. Visitors are encouraged to explore the sites on a self-guided basis, with accompanying activity sheets for each site available for download on the DHR’s website, which each feature a short crossword puzzle, suggested activities and facts about the sites.

The Division of Historical Resources has also installed a New Hampshire Historical Highway Marker honoring Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, “a well-known labor, women’s rights and civil liberties activist,” according to a press release. The marker is at the corner of Court and Montgomery Streets in downtown Concord, which is near the site of her birthplace in 1890, and identifies her as “The Rebel Girl.”

Propose a highway marker for significant New Hampshire places, people or events by submitting a petition of support signed by at least 20 state residents, a draft text of the marker with footnotes and supporting documentation and a location suggestion, the release said.

Visit nh.gov/nhdhr for an interative map of all the state’s historical highway markers, the release said.

5K for Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County is holding its 4th annual Step up 5K Run-Walk on Saturday, May 27, at 9:30 a.m. at Mine Falls Park in Nashua to support its programs and services. According to a press release, Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County has served more than 14.8 million meals since opening its doors in 1977 and currently provides an average of 7,000 meals a week to older and homebound adults throughout Hillsborough County. “Chances are pretty good that older adults in your community — maybe even someone in your neighborhood — is food insecure,” Jon Eriquezzo, president of Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County, said in the release. “Beyond the delivery of healthy meals, our drivers provide vital wellness checks and social connection for our participants. For about 59 percent of those we serve, the driver is the only visitor they have in a given week.” Participants in the 5K will have the option to run or walk the course or do a shorter route. There is also an opportunity to do a virtual race. To register, visit runsignup.com/Race/NH/Nashua/HCMOW5k.

Interstate 93 road work

Starting on the evening of Sunday, May 7, there will be temporary lane and ramp closures on Interstate 93 southbound between Exit 10 in Hooksett and Exit 6 in Manchester for pavement rehabilitation. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, overnight detours will be required for traffic daily, between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., for the duration of the construction period, which is expected to last for three weeks. Real-time traffic news can be found at newengland511.org, and travelers can sign up for “My511” alerts to stay informed about incidents and construction work.

The Sacred Ally Quilt exhibition, a collection of quilts that display the last words of George Floyd, will be on view at First Parish Church in Dover (218 Central Ave.) from Wednesday, May 10, through Saturday, May 13. The exhibition was created by a coalition of nine New Hampshire United Church of Christ ministries to serve as “a visible symbol and a graphic reminder of the need for racial justice,” according to a press release. Viewing hours are 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday; 6 to 7 p.m., on Thursday; and 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. An accompanying documentary by New Hampshire filmmaker Chris Owen, Stitch, Breathe, Speak: The George Floyd Quilts, will be screened on Thursday, May 11, at 7 p.m. Call 742-5664 or visit firstparishdover.org.

The Hooksett Chamber of Commerce announced in a newsletter that it will host an inaugural Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, June 10, to raise funds for its scholarship program. More information and registration will be announced soon, according to the newsletter. Visit hooksettchamber.org or watch the Chamber’s Facebook page for updates.

Riley’s Place in Milford (29 Mount Vernon St.) will host a fundraiser in honor of Bob Dylan’s 82nd birthday on Wednesday, May 24, at 7 p.m., to benefit the Hidden Battles Foundation, a nonprofit that provides mental health support to military, veterans and first responders. According to a press release, the event will feature a number of local musicians, with Jeff Lawrence of Boston’s WMEX 1510 serving as Master of Ceremonies. Funds will be raised through a suggested donation at the door and throughout the evening. Email [email protected] for more information.

This Week 23/04/27

Big Events April 27, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, April 27

Today is opening night for Cirque Alfonse-Animal at the Dana Center (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester) at 7:30 p.m. The show reimagines Quebec folklore with a troupe of performers that include acrobats, musicians and a former ski champion. Tickets cost $45 and can be purchased at anselm.edu.

Friday, April 28

This is the last weekend to see the art exhibit “Love Our Planet” at the Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way, Auburn). The exhibit features works of art celebrating the beauty of the natural world and wildlife. There are more than 30 pieces of artwork in various media including oils, watercolors, acrylics, pastel, mixed media, pen and ink, pencil, and photography. For more information visit nhaudubon.org.

Friday, April 28

Get spooky at Fright Kingdom’s (12 Simon St., Nashua) Halfway to Halloween haunted house today from 7 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, April 29 from 6 to 10 p.m. The haunt will have all five unique scary experiences open for people to wander through, with characters outside providing spooky entertainment. Tickets cost $35 and can be purchased at frightkingdom.com.

Saturday, April 29

Concord’s Giant Indoor Yard Sale is back today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord). There will be thousands of items on sale for visitors to choose from, as well as food and drinks to keep up shoppers’ energy. Tickets cost $5, children ages 12 and younger are free. Email [email protected].

Saturday, April 29

The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester) is hosting Beatles cover band Beatlejuice today at 7:30 p.m. The group, which has been performing for more than 20 years, matches the original foursome note for note so audiences can feel like John, Paul, George and Ringo are performing their greatest hits. Tickets cost $29 and can be bought at palacetheatre.org.

Sunday, April 30

Join the Chubb Theatre at Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord) for Swing into Jazz tonight at 4 p.m., doors open at 3 p.m. The concert will feature guitarist John Pizzarelli, who has collaborated with Paul McCartney and Michael McDonald. Tickets start at $33.25 and can be purchased at ccanh.com.

Save the Date! May 6
Celebrate all things theater at the Broadway Rave at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St.) today. Dress up like your favorite Broadway show character, and belt along to the various cast albums at this event. There will be some surprise guests for theater lovers. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $19. Visit nashuacenterforthearts.com to order tickets or for more information.

Featured photo. Highlights from past Concord’s Giant Indoor Yard Sales. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 23/04/27

Hey, leave our seafood platters alone

Dozens of restaurants in New Hampshire are feeling the effects of a nationwide ransomware attack, WMUR reported. The attack on NCR, a supplier for many restaurant point-of-sale systems, has caused issues with gift cards, loyalty points and payroll for some restaurants. While some can still redeem old gift cards, others have been unable to issue new ones for almost two weeks. In a statement to WMUR, NCR said it’s working to restore applications and enhance its security. In-restaurant purchases and transactions are not currently affected.

QOL score: -1
Comment: The Beach Plum, a restaurant chain with four locations in New Hampshire, has been hit particularly hard by the ransomware attack since it typically offers a gift card promotion in anticipation of Mother’s Day, according to the article.

New lab

Catholic Medical Center has expanded its cardiac electrophysiology (EP) services by opening a third EP lab in Manchester, according to a press release. EP is a cardiac specialty that deals with abnormal heart rhythms, which can be treated with minimally invasive procedures like cardiac ablation, pacemaker insertion and the Watchman and Convergent procedures. Last year 2,259 patients were treated in CMC’s EP Labs. “We have a tremendous demand for these services,” Brian Cusson, MS, RDCS, Director of Invasive and Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Services, said in the release. “Adding this third lab allows us to better provide timely and needed care to patients in our community.” CMC plans to continue to improve and upgrade its existing EP facilities.

QOL score: +1
Comment: Heart arrhythmia affects approximately five percent of adults in the U.S., with atrial fibrillation being the most prevalent type, according to the release.

NH: Still not super diverse

Rochester, New Hampshire, came in second-to-last in a WalletHub study that ranked the 501 most populated cities in the U.S. from most to least diverse. Cities were analyzed across five diversity categories, including socioeconomic, cultural, economic, household and religious diversity. Other New Hampshire cities were also low on the list, including Keene at No. 498, Dover at No. 493, Derry at No. 491 and Lebanon at 488. New Hampshire’s most diverse city is Nashua, coming in at No. 367.

QOL score: -1
Comment:New Hampshire did have one outlier, with Derry ranking as the city with the second most diverse household incomes.

QOL score: 72
Net change: -1
QOL this week: 71

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

Featured photo: Catholic Medical Center opens a third cardiac electrophysiology lab in Manchester. Courtesy photo.

Draft winds are blowing

The Big Story – NFL Draft: While knowing Coach B won’t follow the script by trading up, down and around the board, the Pats are now scheduled to step to the podium around 9:35 p.m. tonight (Thursday) to make the 14th selection in the NFL draft. It’s an important draft for a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2018. Whether they do it with savvy picks or draft capital in trades doesn’t matter; they just badly need to come away with a ready-on-Day 1 left tackle and a game-breaking wide receiver. Anything else is gravy.

As for the rest of the draft, it mostly centers around QBs likely being taken with the first two and maybe third picks if Arizona trades out of the spot, along with what could happen with agitated veteran QBs like Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson.

Sports 101: Name the future Hall of Fame offensive tackle once taken third overall who also was a pitcher for USC when their baseball team won the national championship in 1978.

5 Questions Going Into The Draft:

(1) With the Jackson situation in flux at best, what will the Ravens do this weekend?

(2) With whispers growing that his hometown 49ers want in on the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes, are the Jets going to screw it up like they always do to be left at the altar for refusing to give up a first-round pick when they’re ready to win if they get a good QB?

(3) After being stripped bare with salary cap-forced cuts and having no high draft picks to get there, were the L.A. Rams just a one-and-done champion?

(4) Two years after handing L.A. their QB to win that SB, is Detroit in a better position going forward thanks to all those picks they got from L.A., which include the totally unexpected sixth overall pick they get this year from them that seemed like a high 20s pick at the time?

(5) With rumors swirling about Mac’s future in Foxborough, is he Coach B’s guy going forward or not?

Random Thoughts:

The Patriots haven’t drafted a defensive player in Round 1 since tackle Malcolm Brown in 2016.

More Matt Patricia stuff. You rarely see a team give up on a guy so quickly when taken as high as Jeff Okudah was by Detroit. So quite a comedown for the first draft pick of the Patricia era when the Lions traded the former Ohio State star to Atlanta for a measly fifth-round pick just three years after Okudah was taken third overall in 2020.

In Case You Missed It: NFL followers went into comical overdrive with NFL Draft lingo humor when it leaked out that former President Donald Trump weighed in at 6’1” and 270 during his arraignment at the NYC courthouse. NFL Combine maven Dave Kluge tweeted, “If he runs a sub-4.5, he’d comp historically to Dwight Freeney and may have a chance to go in the first round of the NFL Draft.” Former agent and Packers capologist Andrew Brandt tweeted, “Some teams have now taken him off their Draft boards.” And @Nati_Sports said Trump was “too small to protect my franchise quarterback. Day 3 grade.”

A Little History – Best and Worst Draft Picks of Belichick Era:

Worst 5 First-Round Picks: Dominique Easley, 2012 (29), lasted two seasons for work ethic and attitude issues. N’Keal Harry, 2019 (32), perpetually hurt and couldn’t get open. Laurence Maroney, 2006 (21), most indecisive runner in history. Sony Michel, 2018 (30), nice 2018 playoff run was high point, downhill after that. Isaiah Wynn, 2018 (23), because of durability and declining play his last two years were more disappointment than bust.

Best 5 Non-First Round Picks: Tom Brady, 2000, R6 (199 overall), GOAT. Gronk, 2010 R2, after trading up and down to get the 42nd pick. Julian Edelman, 2009 R7 (232). Matt Light, 2001 R2 (48), solid for 10 years. James White, 2014 R4 (130), always reliable and immense vs. Atlanta in 2016 SB. Deion Branch, 2002 R2, SB MVP in 2004 and could have been in 2003.

Interesting Picks:

Stephen Gostkowski, 2006 R4 (110), notable for three reasons: Bill had to get it right because he had just let Adam V walk in free agency; he became the best pick in the sorry 2006 draft class; and he became the franchise’s all-time scorer.

Neither Kliff Kingsbury, 2003 R6, nor Kevin O’Connell, 2008 R3, did anything in New England, but both wound up as NFL head coaches.

2007— even though they only got one player, first-round pickBrandonMeriweather, you can argue this was one of Belichick’s best drafts as by using their second on Wes Welker and the third on Randy Moss it kickstarted the 16-0 season that immediately followed that draft.

Sports 101 Answer: The OT/pitcher for USC was 6’6” 280 Anthony Munoz, who, given his immense size, I’m betting wasn’t a junkbaĺler.

Final Thought: I don’t know about you but I’m getting a little sick of Coach B reportedly being ticked at Mac for seeking advice/help from outside the building during his 2022 struggles. Sorry, Bill, he’s not the one who put incompetents in charge of the offense and the development of a highly drafted second-year QB — you did. And if you want a glimpse of how incompetent Matt Patricia and Joe Judge have been in those roles, take a look at how much the play of Jared Goff and Daniel Jones immediately improved after they were fired by the Lions and G-Men respectively.

Your fault, Bill, not that of the kid in need of real help because he wasn’t getting any and that’s what you’re supposed to do and didn’t.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

Category: News