Category: News

Pats hit 10-week mark

The Big Story – Patriots’ 10-Week Update: After Sunday’s 19-3 domination of Chicago they stand 3-7 in Week 10. Here’s a brief update.

The Good – Drake Maye: “I tell the guys all the time he looks like Josh Allen 2.0. I played Josh Allen in Miami his rookie year, and he didn’t look that good. Josh Allen is a phenomenal player. He’s an MVP-type player…. Drake looks better than Josh in his rookie year.” — D-tackle Davon Godchaux as told to the Boston Globe.

The Bad – The Coach We knew there’d be a learning curve for Jerod Mayo. But for much of his first 10 games he hasn’t looked ready for this assignment.

The Ugly – What Maye Has to Work With: With 32 sacks allowed and the QB under pressure 43 percent of the time the O-line has been mostly bad, and outside of Hunter Henry, with flashes from DeMario Douglas, ditto for the receivers.

Bottom Line: A lot of struggles, but they’ve won two of three, so things are looking better.

Sports 101: Name the only person to lead the NBA, ABA and NCAA in scoring for a season.

News Item – Sox Reset Starting: The brass was at the GM meetings last week to get the off-season re-shaping underway. The big rumor says Triston Casas may be trade bait because both he and Rafael Devers should play first base. If that’s the case, I trade Devers instead for two reasons. First, because trading the more established Devers frees up big money for free agency, which along with what they get back in the trade could net them two-three solid pitchers. Second, with as many four top minor prospects close to joining Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck and Casas in Boston, that is a deep, young, low-payroll (for now) core that can grow up in the way the Mookie Betts-JBJR-led group started in 2015. Plus the under-control low payroll lets them invest in additional pieces to fortify the team as it evolves.

News Item – Best Sign About The Celtics: That Jayson Tatum is looking to score from the jump — by scoring 14+ in five of their first six games. As opposed to the absolute nonsense Doris Burke spewed on ABC/ESPN all last year about it being good he wasn’t shooting early to get others involved. The only people who thought that was a good idea were those guarding him in the first quarter (phew!).

The Numbers:

1.5 & 13 – dismal sacks and solo tackles for ex-Patriot Matthew Judon with the 6-4 Falcons.

9 – second best in Patriots history sacks for the D vs. Chicago on Sunday.

13 – consecutive strikeouts by soon to be Japanese free agent hurler Roki Sasaki when the now 23-year-old had 19 overall in his 2022 perfect game.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Up – UNH Hoops: For hanging in against two-time defending champion UConn to be down by just five (29-24) in the final minute of the first half. Yes, it was Katie bar the door after that as the Huskies finished it with a that’s more like it 92-53 final. But it was a nice half for the one time Yankee Conference rivals.

Random Thoughts:

Rookie issues? Or did the Bears draft another QB bust? I saw nothing from first overall pick Caleb Williams vs. NE on Sunday to be impressed with.

How is it that Steph Curry goes down after every single shot he takes? Couldn’t be he flops on every single shot he takes? What happened to T’s for flopping, Adam Silver?

With Milwaukee off to a 2-8 start after blowing a big lead to the Celtics on Sunday, wonder if they still think it was Adrian Griffin’s fault last year. You may recall after starting out 30-13 in year one the ex-Celtic got axed and replaced by Doc Rivers, who is 20-27 since then.

Sports 101 Answer: Rick Barry led the NCAA in scoring at the University of Miami, the NBA with the San Francisco Warriors and the ABA with the Oakland Oaks.

Final Thought – Celtics Broadcasters: The trio of Abby Chin, Drew Carter and to a lesser extent Scal could not have sounded like bigger homer yahoos during last week’s game with GS talking about Steve Kerr not playing Jayson Tatum in the Olympics as much as everyone wanted. Earth to those people: He did it for one reason and it wasn’t match-ups. That was the excuse. It was because Tatum didn’t play well. Period. Slump, confidence loss or Kerr is his kryptonite, but do these yahoos know he was 0-10 from behind the line during the Olympics? Or that he averaged just five points per when he did play? Give it a rest. If he’d played better he’d have gotten more time, just like Derrick White and Jrue Holiday did.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

News & Notes 24/11/14

Health insurance help

The NH Navigator Program offers free health insurance navigation services to New Hampshire residents looking to apply for and enroll in health insurance through the Federal Marketplace, Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), according to a press release from Foundation for Healthy Communities and New Hampshire Hospital Association. NH Navigator is an initiative of the Foundation for Healthy Communities, “ a nonprofit organization that builds healthier communities for all” according to the release. The NH Navigator offers help during the Open Enrollment period, which began Nov. 1 and ends Jan. 15. Access the NH Navigator at acanavigator.com/nh/home. “Navigators offer free assistance to people exploring health coverage options through healthcare.gov, from reviewing available plans to assisting with eligibility and enrollment forms, and post-enrollment services such as using their coverage to get care. Navigators can also assist people in helping enroll in or renew Medicaid CHIP coverage,” the release said. To request an in-person visit for assistance in identifying the right insurance option, consumers can email Adrian Jasion, director at NH Navigator, at [email protected].

NH tourism

The Executive Council unanimously confirmed Michelle Cruz as the new State Tourism Director for the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development, according to a press release.

“She will provide strategic direction for the Department and will also be responsible for guiding the development and implementation of the state’s domestic and international marketing and communication strategies, talent/workforce, and business recruitment platforms; oversight of the functions of the DTTD office; as well as working with industry leaders to advance and maximize the New Hampshire brand to a broad set of audiences,” the release said. She will officially begin her new position on Dec. 2. See visitnh.gov.

UNH, NASA & NOAA

NASA awarded the University of New Hampshire $24.3 million to build solar wind sensors to monitor space weather for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), according to a UNH press release from Oct. 29. The sensors will be part of a “high-priority alert system that will monitor space weather and solar wind — caused by explosions on the sun — for potential interruptions to key technology like satellite communications, electric power girls and GPS systems,” the release said.

“UNH will oversee the design, development, fabrication, integration, testing and evaluation of the sensors. The researchers will also support the launch, supply and maintain the instrument ground support equipment and support post-launch mission operations at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Maryland. UNH will work with subcontractor Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory where researchers there will focus on the electronics for the instruments. The project is expected to take nine years to complete,” the release said.

Funds for Mothers

The Executive Council voted in favor of $400,000 for a new effort in New Hampshire to provide direct care support to perinatal mothers and parenting women experiencing mental health challenges, according to a press release from Gov. Sununu’s office on Oct. 30.

“The one-time financial support, which makes use of ARPA funds, will assist in establishing a maternal hub in southern New Hampshire to provide a hybrid model of emergency and preventative support services. The hub will collaborate with existing Family Resource Centers and healthcare providers,” the release said. “New Hampshire was recently ranked the No. 1 state in the country for women and children by the United Health Foundation,” the release said. See dhhs.nh.gov.

Coats for Charity

The United Way of Greater Nashua is holding its Winter Coat Drive and collecting gently used winter coats as well as new coats and items like hats, gloves, scarves, and hand warmers to help people experiencing homelessness stay warm, according to a press release.

They also have an Amazon Wish List for other essential items like thermal underwear, duct tape and flashlights. People can drop off coats and donations at the United Way office, 20 Broad St. in Nashua, on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact United Way at [email protected] or 882-4011.

Diabetes month

YMCA Nashua (6 Henry Clay Drive in Merrimack) will hold a free seminar Thursday, Nov.14, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on managing blood sugar and preventing Type 2 diabetes, led by experts from St. Joseph Hospital. The seminar will focus on nutrition, physical activity and essential components of diabetes care, according to a press release. Participants will receive resources including a free blood glucose meter, a nutrition handbook and other educational materials, the release said. The workshop is free but registration is required. Visit nmymca.org or email the Director of Healthy Living, Erikur Holt, at [email protected]

Special Olympics New Hampshire Pick Your Prize Raffle (prizes for which include a Peloton, e-bikes, a hot tub and more) will select winners on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 4:30 p.m. in the Expo Center of the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel (700 Elm St. in Manchester). Winners do not need to be present to win and participants can purchase a ticket for $20. Visit sonh.org.

The American Independence Museum (AIM) in Exeter presents its final Beer of History of 2024, featuring beer brewed by UNH Brewing Science Laboratory, on Thursday, Nov. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. $25 ($20 for AIM members). Visit independencemuseum.org.

The Nash Casino, currently under construction at Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua and slated to open this winter, will hold career fairs Tuesday, Nov. 19, and Tuesday, Dec. 10, at Courtyard by Marriott, 2200 Southwood Drive in Nashua, according to a press release. See thenashcasino.com/careers.

This Week 24/11/7

Thursday, Nov. 7

Leah Dearborn, author of Grenier Air Base: A Beacon On the Home Front, will speak and sign copies of her book tonight at 7 p.m. at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, aviationmuseumofnh.org). The book explores the history and significance of Grenier Air Base, a military facility that occupied the site of today’s Manchester-Boston Regional Airport from World War II through the Vietnam era. Admission costs $10 per person. Copies of the book, which is priced at $35 per copy, will be available at the discounted price of $25 per copy for attendees

Friday, Nov. 8

Cirque Kalabante’s Afrique en Cirque, a show by Yamoussa Bangoura inspired by daily life in Guinea, will take place tonight at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) at 7:30 p.m. This performance shares the beauty, youth and artistry of African culture.Tickets start at $48 through the Capitol Center’s website.

Saturday, Nov. 9

Art ’Round the Room is a speed-dating-style event geared toward adults but about art not dating. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit timed stations around the room and experience oil paints, acrylic paints, watercolor, pastels, charcoals, collage, cross-stitch and printmaking with guidance from professional artists. It will take place from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at Derryfield School (2108 River Road, Manchester, 669-4524, derryfield.org). Tickets cost $40. Visit creativegutspodcast.org.

Saturday, Nov. 9

After two private playtests, New Hampshire startup business Novel Antics has announced the first public playtest of its live-action medieval siege game For King and Castle, today beginning at 1 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Field (275 S. Taylor St., Manchester). Teams of four will take territory progressing toward storming a castle before a rival team can storm theirs. This event is free and open to the public. Visit novelantics.com.

Saturday, Nov. 9

The Giles Series will present a Veterans Day Concert by the NH 39th Army Band tonight at 7 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com).This event is free, but reservations are highly recommended.

Monday, Nov. 11

The Manchester Veterans Day Parade will take place this morning. According to the Manchester Police Department, the official start time will be 11 a.m., but road closures will begin around 9:30 a.m

Tuesday, Nov. 12

Cartoonist, musician and educator Marek Bennett will present “Rally Round the Flag: The American Civil War Through Folksong,” at the Salem Historical Society (310 Main St., Salem) today at 7 p.m. Through camp songs, parlor music, hymns, battlefield rallying cries, and fiddle tunes, Bennett will examines the folksong, according to nhhumanities.org.

Save the Date: Friday, Nov. 15
The Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus is coming to the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) Friday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16, at 11 a.m. and 3 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 17, at noon. Witness a fast-paced, action-packed production with modernized acts on a scale never seen before creating real connections between audiences and performers. Tickets start at $19.

Featured photo: The Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus.

Quality of Life 24/11/7

Nashua parking blues

In an Oct. 1 press release the City of Nashua announced that it is raising the price of parking in a metered space as well as the cost of tickets for parking violations. “Parking meter rates will see an adjustment across the three existing zones and the addition of a fourth zone,” the press release read. The new rates will range from 75¢ to $4 per hour. Parking violations will cost anywhere from $15 for an expired meter to $250 for a handicapped parking violation. The press release quoted Parking Manager Jill Stansfield: “These updates are designed to improve the overall parking experience for residents, businesses, and visitors.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: The changes will take effect on Jan.1, 2025.

It’s a good sign

It’s a fun election story! As reported in an Oct. 30 online story by WMUR, Goffstown resident Andy Brown’s lawn has been sporting a campaign-style sign that reads, “Andy Brown, not Running for anything, just wanted a sign.” Brown told WMUR that the sign wasn’t expensive, so he ordered it on the spur of the moment.

QOL score: +1

Comment: “The initial sign was partially a prank on Brown’s wife, Erin Marchal,” the story read. “I don’t actually know how long it was [up],” she told WMUR. “I’m told it was weeks.”

Still 603

As reported in an Oct. 31 press release by the Governor’s office, “Governor Chris Sununu announced that following his “Don’t Overload the Code” Executive Order, federal regulators have updated the projected exhaustion date for the 603 area code to the third quarter of 2029.” This extension was part of the Governor’s “Don’t Overload the Code” initiative. He directed the State Department of Energy to look into strategies to preserve the current area code, and directed the Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) to complete a study on the costs of implementing a new area code.

QOL score: +1

Comment: “The 603 area code has incredible symbolic and economic value for New Hampshire and we have taken tremendous strides to protect it,” the Governor said in a statement.

A moving picture

The Yankee Flyer Diner mural has found a new, indoor home in the Nashua City Hall Building, according to a Nov. 1 article on Nashua Ink Link. The mural, a 10- by 28-foot elaborate still-life of the Yankee Flyer Diner, which was a fixture in Nashua from 1930 to the mid-1960s, was painted in 1997 by Nashua native James Aponovich, the article said. Aponovich and his wife Beth restored the seven-panel mural over the summer.

QOL score: +1

Comment: This is the second restoration for the mural, which was last refreshed in 2015, according to the report. After its first restoration, the mural was returned to Main Street across from City Hall, where the original diner was located. This time the mural has been moved indoors, to a wall in the City Hall Auditorium, the article said.

QOL score: 77

Net change: +2

QOL this week: 79

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

Let us know at [email protected].

The week that was

The Big Story – Dodgers Win World Series: With the Dodgers and the Yankees facing each other for a record 12th time and having the season’s two biggest stars in Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, images of epic-ness were dancing in our heads. That didn’t turn out to be the case, but there still were some major notables, which we’ll outline a bit later.

Sports 101 – Name the only teams to play their home games in a dome stadium during the season they won the Super Bowl.

News Item – Education of Drake Maye: In a boring 20-17 loss strewn with penalties and bad O-line play there were some good and bad moments for the rookie QB. The bad included three turnovers, where a strip sack handed Tennessee field position for their second TD and his second interception came on a bad decision that ended the game. Not throwing it down field enough, thanks to curious play calling, as evidenced by DeMario Douglas only gaining 35 yards on 7 catches, led Maye to having just 206 passing yards. However, his scrambling was superb in running for 95 yards on eight carries and he again led a drive ending with a TD on the final play to send it to OT. Overall, C+.

News Item – World Series Takeaways

For hitting the first walk-off grand slam to win Game 1 and becoming the first person to hit homers in six consecutive Series games Freddie Freeman clearly was the MVP.

NY’s fifth-inning defensive meltdown in Game 5 when Aaron Judge made the worst Series error since Bill Buckner in 1986 and Gerrit Cole forgot to cover first on a ball hit to Anthony Rizzo was indicative of why they lost. They just couldn’t make a play when needed.

The oddest stat L.A. had from Freeman’s slam on is that they only outscored NY 25 to 24.

Hey, John Henry, if you want to win, spending money matters.

Thanks to the power of L.A.’s two Japanese stars, Game 1 drew more TV viewers in Japan (15.1 million) than in the U.S. (14.75).

What a colossal mistake letting Mookie Betts leave Boston was.

By going just four for 23 Judge was hardly the first star to have a bad World Series. Ted Williams hit .200 with no extra-base hits and one RBI in 1946. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner called Dave Winfield “Mr. May” after he was 1 for 22 in 1981. And the great Willie Mays hit just .230 in four World Series with no homers and just six RBI. It happens.

The Numbers:

0 – catches Sunday for Ja’Lynn Polk to make it just 10 in nine games for the Patriots’ second-round pick.

16 – rushing yards vs. Tennessee on 10 carries for Rhamondre Stevenson, though he did score both Patriot TDs.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Up – Bob Costas retires: He hangs up his baseball announcing mic after 40 years. Of the many high-profile sports people I’ve worked with he was the nicest, most accommodating and real of them all. Well done, young fella.

Thumbs Down – The Yankees and MLB: For not banning the nitwits who ripped the ball out of Mookie’sglove forever from Yankee Stadium.

Random Thoughts:

Hard to imagine anyone more in love with the sound of their own voice than Mark Schlereth was doing Sunday’s Patriots game on Fox.

Grant Williams, what exactly were you trying to do purposely bulldozing Jayson Tatum while not making any normal defensive play on Friday?

Sports 101 Answer: The three dome team SB winners were the (St. Louis) Rams (1999), Colts (2007) and Saints (2010).

Final Thought – Fox Broadcasting Malpractice in World Series: Hey, Joe Davis, career postseason home runs are not the same as career World Series homers. Thus when Fox showed a graphic for career postseason home runs that had Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle way down the list you should have made a distinction between the two. There were no playoffs when they played, thus while he trails Bernie Williams’ 22 all of Mantle’s 18 came in the Series, while the three postseason leaders, Williams, Derek Jeter and Giancarlo Stanton, have just five, four and two respectively. Mantle’s Series record 18 are followed by the Babe (15), Yogi Berra (12) and Reggie Jackson and Lou Gehrig with 10.

Then there was saying “Walker (Ferris) Buehler joined Sandy Koufax as the only Dodgers pitchers to not allow runs in consecutive postseason starts” when departing Game 3. True, but Buehler going four scoreless against the Mets and a gut-wrenching five vs. the Yanks wasn’t close to what Koufax did, which was throwing complete game shutouts in Games 5 and 7 vs. Minnesota in 1965 when he threw 134 pitches in Game 5 and 130 in Game 7 on two days’ rest. So to compare what Buehler did to what Koufax did is misleading and silly. Come on, Joe.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

News & Notes 24/11/7

Chief heads to Easterseals

Manchester’s police chief, Allen Aldenberg, who recently announced his plan to retire in November, has been named chief military and veterans officer for Easterseals NH & VT, according to a release from the organization. “In this new role, Aldenberg will oversee the operations of the Easterseals New Hampshire Military and Veterans Campus now under development in Franklin, New Hampshire, and expected to open in summer 2025,” according to the press release. In addition to serving in local law enforcement since 1998 (first with Goffstown and then in Manchester), Aldenbreg “has served in the Army National Guard for over 30 years, and he currently holds the rank of Colonel,” the release said. About the Franklin campus, Easterseals NH said “the campus will provide affordable housing; a retreat center which includes a hub of services of veteran service organizations, 22 hotel-style rental bedrooms, and a rentable conference center … and recreation activities for service members, veterans, and their families as well as first responders.” See eastersealsnh.org.

Nominate all-stars

Steven Abraham, previous head football coach at Salem High School, and Kip Jackson, head coach at Merrimack High School, will be the Team East and Team West coaches respectively in the 2025 Dartmouth Health Children’s New Hampshire East-West High School All-Star Football Game on Friday, June 27, at 6 p.m. at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, according to a press release. More than 80 of the state’s top high school football players play in the fundraising game, tickets for which go on sale in February. Chelsea Dennis, director at East Celebrity Elite Londonderry and coach at Londonderry High School; Jada Belt, head coach at Souhegan High School, and Karissa Edelstein, Windham High School coach, will coach the All-Star Cheerleading Team. See chadallstarfootball.org for updates. High school coaches in the state can also submit football player and cheerleader nominations to the website, with players drafted in early December, the release said.

Fair for the trades

The New Hampshire Bringing Back the Trades & Tradeapalooza Career Fair will take place Friday, Nov. 15, at NHTI-Concord’s Community College, according to a press release from Merrimack County Saving Bank, a sponsor of the event. A free career fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and “offer the opportunity to speak to companies in many different trades from construction to automotive to manufacturing and more,” according to nhbringingbackthetrades.org. The day will also feature an interview with Dirty Jobs’ Mike Rowe; see the website for the ticket options for that position of the event.

Donate from home

Goodwill Northern New England will offer donation pickups in New Hampshire starting with people near stores in the Amherst, Concord, Hooksett, Hudson and Manchester areas, according to a press release. ReSupply will offer a fee-based pickup service to donors and will take any items Goodwill cannot take to other charities, the release said. Clothing and household items can also be brought to Goodwill stores for donation for free. Visit goodwillnne.org/donate or call 361-264-1467 to schedule a donation pickup and ReSupply will reach out to coordinate the pickup within 24 to 48 hours, the release said.

Historic spots

The New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places has 10 new properties on its list, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources.

The new spots are the Upper Deerfield Road Causeway and Culvert from 1777 in Deerfield; the Ashuelot Manufacturing Company Boarding House in Winchester built in two phases in the 1800s; Eaton Center Church built in 1879; First Universalist Church in Jaffrey from 1845; West Milan Methodist Church from 1897; District 4 School/Lockehaven Schoolhouse from the early 1800s and Enfield Center School from 1851, both in Enfield, and properties in Randolph, the release said. See nhdhr.dncr.nh.gov for the register and for information on how to nominate a property.

Gleaning

United Way of Greater Nashua and Hillsborough Country Gleaners held the third annual “Gleaning United” to harvest fresh produce for 26 sites such as food pantries, senior centers, shelters and other locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, according to a press release. The United Way of Greater Nashua reported that 74 volunteers collected 5,780 pounds of apples and 2,600 pounds of pumpkins from Kimball Fruit Farm in Pepperell, Mass. For more on the United Way’s hunger relief programs, see volunteergreaternashua.org.

Craft fair season

Multiple craft fairs have been scheduled for this weekend. Check out the Arts listings on page 14 for a rundown of some fairs. Know of an upcoming craft fair? Let us know at [email protected].

The Business and Industry Association will hold BIA’s 2024 New Hampshire Energy Symposium on Thursday, Nov. 7, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Grappone Conference Center (70 Constitution Ave. in Concord). Admission costs $150 in advance at biaofnh.com or $175 at the door if there is availability.

The Peterborough Town Library will host presentations about Medicare and other benefits available to seniors in the Monadnock Region by Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services — “Know Your Benefits: Options for Care and Reimbursement” at the library (2 Concord St. in Peterborough) on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at noon and 5:30 p.m. Go to peterboroughtownlibrary.org or call 924-8040 to register.

A ribbon cutting and grand opening for 75 Canal, a residential apartment community at 75 Canal St. in Manchester, was slated for Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Milford’s Veterans Day Parade will commence at 10:45 a.m. and begin and end at the American Legion, 15 Cottage Street, traveling to the Milford Oval and then to the World War I, World War II and Korean War memorials, according to milford.nh.gov.

Ethan Tapper will discuss and sign copies of his new book How to Love a Forest at Balin Books (375 Amherst St. in Nashua; balinbooks.com) on Friday, Nov. 8, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Find more about the Vermont-based forester and author at ethantapper.com.

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!