Category: News

A busy sports week

The Big Story: Baseball Arrives: Tough call — opening of the baseball season or the NCAA Basketball Tournaments as the week’s top story.

I’m going with baseball because for the first time in five years there’s legit optimism regarding the Red Sox.

As for the basketball, it doesn’t hold my attention like it once did thanks to the advent of one and done, the transfer portal, consolidation of the Power 5 Conferences and NIL money. On the women’s side even with its amazing improvement/evolution it’ll likely never grab me the way the men’s tournament once did. But here’s the good news: It’s a “to each his/her own” world, so everyone can watch whatever they like most! So enjoy.

Sports 101: Who threw the only complete-game opening-day no-hitter?

News Item – NCAA Hockey Regional at SNHU Arena: It kicks off Friday when it’s Boston College vs. Bentley at 2 p.m. followed by Providence vs. Denver at 5:30 p.m. The winners meet at 4:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. to see who goes to the Frozen 4.

News Item – Celtics Sold: The two most notable elements are (1) the $6.1 billion is the highest ever paid for a North American sports team, and (2) thanks to tension between him and Wyc Grousbeck, original partner Steve Pagliuca was by passed over in favor of some guy I never heard of. Most likely because he agreed to let Wyc run the team through 2027 and Pags would not.

News Item – MLB Stories to Follow: Seeing the astonishingly versatile “why can’t we get guys like that?” Mookie Betts moving over at 32 to play shortstop for the Dodgers. Terry Francona taking over in Cincinnati after retiring because he was “too beat up” to manage. Question: How do you get beat up managing? Can anyone stop the free-agent-heavy L.A. Dodgers with their monstrous $375 million payroll? The encore for Shohei Ohtani’s 50-50 season. Can he do it again as he returns to pitching? How the Yanks fare with their retool after losing Juan Soto to the crosstown Mets and a mountain of spring injuries that includes losing ace Gerrit Cole for the year to Tommy John surgery.

News Item – NCAA Update: A few notables.Two-time defending champ UConn went down in a great game, a 77-75 loss to top seed Florida. In the battle of UMass, ex-Minuteman coach John Calipari beat ex-UMass player Rick Pitino, who recommended Cal for that job in the ’90s, when Arkansas knocked off 2-seed St. John’s.

Bryant University, who not too long ago was playing in the NE 10 with SNHU and Saint Anselm, got skunked by Michigan State 87-62.

The Numbers:

.333 –spring BA of Sox SS prospect Marcelo Mayer with one homer, two triples and 11 RBI in 36 at-bats.

17.2 –strikeouts per nine innings rate Crochet had with 30 in 15.1 innings this spring.

888 – career goals for Alexander Ovechkin leaving him six shy of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record 894.

Of the Week:

Ignoramuses of the Week – The 2 percent of 4,003 voters who said the Bruins trade for Tuukka Rask was bigger than the Celtics getting Bill Russell in the Boston Globe’s Greatest Boston Trade Ever contest. Which was so big, I don’t know who they traded to get Rask.

What a Stupid I Yam Award – Me: For incorrectly saying in Sports 101 Joe DiMaggio won 10 World Series. He was in 10 but the Yanks lost to St. Louis in 1942, leaving Yogi Berra as the only 10-time winner. Thanks to Gil Rogers of Bow for pointing that out.

Sports 101 Answer: On April 16, 1940, the great Bob Feller no-hit the White Sox with 8 k’s in Cleveland’s 1-0 win.

Final Thought – Red Sox 2025: Things to be excited about:The trade that cost them four prospects but brought back lefty Crochet, who struck out people this spring at a Nolan Ryan-like pace. Second, free agent Alex Bregman gives them two things they badly need: better D at third base and the kind of leader this young team needs.

The young core. With Jarren Duran, Triston Casas, Brayan Bello, Ceddanne Rafaela, Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell and Roman Anthony either here or on the cusp, the Sox have their best group of promising young players since the 1970s when guys named Lynn, Rice, Fisk, Evans, Burleson, Ben Oglivie and Cecil Cooper arrived one after another.

There are two big questions, though. How many innings can the former reliever Crochet pitch now that he’s the ace? And the bullpen overall, and especially who is the closer? While they are clearly rising up, they likely still are a year away. But with the AL East appearing to be wide open you never know. So it should be a fun year. Prediction: Sox go 88-74 and make the playoffs.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 25/03/27

Taco proposal

The Greater Manchester Chamber is holding a Taco Tour Manchester proposal contest for someone willing to propose at the Thursday, May 8, Taco Tour, which runs from 4 to 8 p.m. in downtown Manchester. The winner will receive an engagement ring from Day’s Jewelers (valued at $7,000) and professional photography to document the moment at the tour, the release said. Enter the contest at tacotourmanchester.com/proposal by April 30.

Egg!

The peregrine falcons at Brady Sullivan Tower in downtown Manchester welcomed their first egg of the season on the morning of March 22, according to the daily log. You can watch the couple and their progress at the Peregrine cam at nhaudubon.org/education/birds-and-birding/peregrine-cam, where the New Hampshire Audubon offers three live views of the nest with support of Peregrine Networks and Brady Sullivan Properties, the website said. The log also has a link to a document with basic information about the nest and a look back at previous seasons of peregrine falcons who have occupied it and the chicks that hatched there.

RIP to a K-9

The New Hampshire State Police Canine Unit announced the death of K-9 Wyatt, a Plott Hound who worked with the state police since 2015, according to a press release. Wyatt and handler Trooper First Class Kevin Devlin specialized in search and rescue as well as detection of human remains, the release said. “Wyatt passed away … after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer that had spread throughout his chest and lungs,” the release said. “K-9 Wyatt was a cherished member of the New Hampshire State Police family, an essential part of the Canine Unit,” said Colonel Mark B. Hall in the release. “Today we mourn his passing and remember his years of exemplary service. Trooper First Class Devlin and K-9 Wyatt were instrumental in bringing closure to families throughout New Hampshire and beyond.”

Gardening & climate

The Atkinson Garden Club will host a presentation by UNH Master Gardeners Betsy Coes and Mike Koutelis on “Gardening in a Changing Climate” on Wednesday, April 2, at 6 p.m. at Kimball Library, 5 Academy Ave. in Atkinson, according to a club email. The event is free.

Sustainability

The Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley (56 Mont Vernon St. in Milford) will hold the 2025 Souhegan Sustainability Fair on Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the local food pantry SHARE, according to a press release. The fair will feature live music, food, a guided hike, a story walk, kids crafts, 34 exhibits, presentations and more, according to the release. Admission is free.

The Bach’s Lunch on Thursday, April 3, 12:10 to 12:50, at the Concord Community Music School, 23 Wall St. in Concord, will feature a lecture on “Raga Music Composition.” “Hari Maya Adhikari and David Nugent will present a lecture on traditional Indian string instruments and their use in the creation and performance of Raga music,” according to a press release. The event is free; see ccmusicschool.org.

Keep those St. Patrick’s Day celebrations going: Manchester St. Patrick’s Parade steps off at noon on Sunday, March 30, running down Elm Street from Salmon to Central. Join in the fun by running in the Shamrock Shuffle at 11 a.m. (a kids’ fun run starts at 10:30 a.m.). See millenniumrunning.com/shamrock for details on the 2-mile run/walk and visit saintpatsnh.com for more on the parade.

The Southern NH Skating Club will hold its “All the Best” 60th annual ice revue on Saturday, March 29, at 1 and 7 p.m. at JFK Coliseum (303 Beech St. in Manchester). Tickets cost $10 for adults, $6 for children and seniors. See snhsc.com.

The Nashua Garden Club will hold a workshop on figs on Wednesday, April 2, at 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 121 Manchester St. in Nashua, with Jay Guarneri, who will discuss growing figs in cold climates, the different flavor classes of figs and more, according to a club email. Admission is free; see nashuanhgardenclub.org.

This Week 25/03/20

Thursday, March 20

Tonight’s Art Off the Walls at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester, 669-6144, currier.org) will spotlight the works of contemporary artist Ann Agee and her exhibition “Madonna of the Girl Child” is on view at the Currier from March 7 to June 5. The Art off the Walls event is tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged.

Thursday, March 20

The Manchester Garden Club will hold a meeting today at noon and feature “Go Native! Incorporating Native Plants into Your Landscapes” by Jane Raymond, Master Gardener through the UNH Cooperative Extension. The meeting will take place at St. Hedwig Hall, 147 Walnut St., Manchester, and is open to the public.

Friday, March 21

Ventriloquist and comedian Jeff Dunham will take the stage at SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) tonight at 7 p.m. as part of his Artificial Intelligence Tour. Tickets start at $66.

Friday, March 21

The 11th Annual National SleepOut takes place tonight. This is a challenge to spend a night outside to raise awareness and funds to support New Hampshire’s only low-barrier emergency youth shelter and safe space in Manchester and a range of support services. Visit waypointnh.org.

Saturday, March 22

Join the fun at the Goffstown Public Library (2 High St., Goffstown, 497-2102, goffstownlibrary.com) today from 11 a.m. to noon with The Musical Baseball Show with Howie Newman, former sportswriter for the Boston Globe, the Lowell Sun, the Patriot Ledger and Associated Press. Howie will entertain with live baseball songs, stories, trivia and surprises. Register at the Library’s website.

Saturday, March 22

The Chubb Theatre (Chubb Theatre at CCA, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) presents comedian Whitney Cummings tonight at 7 p.m. on her Big Baby Tour. Tickets start at $37.50.

Saturday, March 22

There’s a Seed Starting Workshop at Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury, 783-9511, shakers.org) this morning from 9 to 11 a.m. Learn from Andy Messenger of Turning Mill Farm how to start your own seedlings for your garden this year. The cost is $20.

Wednesday, March 26

The Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord, 228-2793, theaudi.org) is hosting two Walker Lectures tonight, starting at 7:30 p.m.: “New England Traditions: Maple Mania” with Willa Coroka and “Discovering New England Stone Walls” with Kevin Gardner. All Walker Lectures are free and open to the public.

Save the Date! Wednesday, March 26

Join Ally the Piper on Friday, March 28, at 8 p.m. at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com). Ally is known for taking the traditional Great Highland bagpipe into the modern era. Tickets are $35.

Featured photo: Ally the Piper. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 25/03/20

Cookies for heroes

There is still time to buy Girl Scout cookies for “Hometown Heroes.” According to Ginger Kozlowski, spokesperson for the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, the Gift of Caring program is a way for community members to thank active military members and other professionals who give of themselves to their communities: “Police, fire, hospitals, food banks — almost any charitable or nonprofit kind of [organization].” Gifts may be made online at https://bit.ly/4fquQeW for the rest of cookie season.

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to the website of the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains (1 Commerce Drive, Bedford, 888-471-9686,girlscoutsgwm.org), their most popular cookie is the Thin Mint. This year each box of cookies is $6, which helps support the Girl Scouts and their mission.

Concord man sets medical milestone

As reported in a March 7 online article by New Hampshire Public Radio, a Concord man has received a kidney transplanted from a pig. According to the story, 66-year-old Tim Andrews “is one of only four people in the world who have ever received pig kidneys. And he’s one of just two still living.” The two-and-a-half-hour operation took place on Feb. 7 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. According to a press release from Mass General, the kidney was “a genetically edited pig kidney with 69 genomic edits.” According to the NHPR report, Andrews is on his feet and walking independently.

QOL score: +1

Comment: As reported by NHPR, “Mass General is planning two more pig-to-human kidney transplants this year, as part of a federally approved study.” To hear more from Tim Andrews and his doctors, visit YouTube and search for “Our Milestone Second Successful Xenotransplant.”

Big winners for tiny films

The Nashua Public Library has announced the winners of this year’s Tiny Film Festival. The Library showcased 20 local filmmakers on Friday, March 7, at this third annual event. According to a March 10 press release from the Library, “film submissions were open to everyone and featured only two criteria: the film had to be under 60 seconds and must be suitable for viewing by all ages.” The winner of the Kids 12 and Under category was Skunk Movie by Elizabeth Goemans, and the runner-up was Little Worm by Laurel Guarneri. In the Teen category, Lyriq Rivera, Vidhi Pawar and Chase Coffin won for The Other Side, with Yin vs. Yang by Gil and Roy Costa taking second-place honors. In the Adult category, Case of the Missing Pizza by Ronit Sinha and Dark by 3 by Andi Cass took first and second place.

QOL score: +1

Comment: View the films at nashualibrary.org/tinyfilmfestival.

QOL score last week: 57

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 60

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

March Madness arrives

The Big Story – NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament: It all started with Tuesday’s play-in games, which included San Diego State vs. (yup, once mighty) North Carolina. It goes full throttle Thursday with the top seeds being Auburn, Duke, Houston and Florida. The two biggest questions are (1) Can 10-seed UConn be the first to win three straight titles since the UCLA dynasty won seven between 1967 and 1973? and (2) How close to full strength will Larry Bird play-alike Cooper Flagg be when Duke opens Friday after spraining his ankle last weekend?

Sports 101: Aside from UCLA’s seven straight titles, how many of the eight other schools to win back-to-back NCAA titles can you name?

News Item – The Good, Bad and Ugly for Pats Last Week: Good – They solidified the defense, with the best FA signings being Eagles nose tackle Milton Williams and Detriot CB Carlton Davis. Edge rusher Harold Landry’s wasn’t bad either. Bad – Maybe he can’t play anymore, but not throwing a fifth-round pick at the desperate for anything Rams to take a flier on Cooper Kupp seems dumb. Especially with him signed at manageable money for just two years. Ugly – They got no left tackle and no number one wideout, leaving their two biggest needs unfilled.

News Item – Garrett Crochet: The new Sox hurler was named the opening day starter. Given his numbers — one run allowed in four starts with a whopping 21 strikeouts in 10.1 innings — that’s hard to argue with. That’s 18.2 k’s per nine innings and is more than baseball’s all-time one-game record was for 85 years until Roger Clemens struck out 20 in 1986. Can someone please tell me why top prospect Roman Anthony only had 22 at-bats as of Monday? That he knocked in eight runs in those 22 is impressive, as that projects to 240 RBI over a full season! I know, not possible, but that’s what it comes to in a short sample size.

Biggest Sox Question – They still don’t know who the closer will be.

Biggest Sox Surprise – Trayce Thompson. Klay Thompson’s unheralded little brother has a team-leading six homers and 13 RBI in 30 AB’s.

Sox Injured List – Starters Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford will start 2025 on the IL.

News Item – NFL FA Leftovers: The vaunted QB draft class of 2021 with five taken in the first 15 picks is likely the biggest bust ever. With Justin Fields (Jets), Zach Wilson (Miami) and Mac Jones (SF) moving last week they’re all now on their third teams. Trey Lance was bounced out of SF after just two years and first overall pick Trevor Lawrence ain’t exactly the most popular guy in Jax these days. After leaving the Giants and Steelers hanging I’d tell Aaron Rodgers to stuff it. Dealing with his nonsense once might have been worth it, but now it’s a distraction.

The Numbers:

6 – record-setting number of schools Rick Pitino has taken to the NCAA Tournament after St. John’s won the Big East Tourney Saturday to join BU, Providence, Kentucky, Louisville and Iona.

70 – pace for the second most wins in NBA history the Cleveland Cavaliers are on.

Of the Week:

Thumbs Up – David Andrews: A true Patriots gamer gets it on his way out the door after being released.

Random Thoughts: Calling the SEC having 14 teams in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament “historic” is a joke. With major conference expansions as schools defect from their traditional conferences that’s no great accomplishment, because the big schools are stuffed into half as many conferences as there used to be. Jones to SF and Jacoby Brissett to Houston. The Pats are supplying the NFL with QB’s.

Sports 101 Answer: The back-to-back winning schools are Oklahoma State (45-46), Kentucky (48-49), San Francisco (55-56), Cincinnati (61-62), UCLA (64-65), Duke (91-92), Florida (06-07) and UConn (23-24).

Final Thought – Golf Media:

After he suffered a torn Achilles last week it’s sad to see Tiger Woods hurt again. But when is the golf media going to understand that he is no longer a big story? Every time a big tournament rolls around, like last week’s Players Championship, he’s a lead story despite the fact he’s far more likely to miss the cut than finish in the Top 25. Last week’s headline was Tiger Won’t Be Here This Year. It’s just nuts. Earth to golf media: It’s over. Like with Michael Jordan, Willie Mays and Peyton Manning the end comes for everyone no matter how great they are. And then those still don’t lead Super Bowl and World Series stories.

Why don’t they just let it be and put him in the Hall? Because no matter what, he ain’t coming back to within three time zones of what he once was.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 25/03/20

Open senate seat in ’26

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen announced on March 12 that she will not seek reelection in 2026, according to a press release.

Shaheen, who is 78 according to Wikipedia, was the first woman elected governor of New Hampshire, in 1996; she served three terms, the release said. In 2008 she was elected U.S. Senator, the release said.

“There are urgent challenges ahead, both here at home and around the world. And while I’m not seeking reelection, believe me, I am not retiring. I am determined to work every day over the next two years and beyond to continue to try and make a difference for the people of New Hampshire and this country,” Shaheen said, according to the release. See shaheen.senate.gov for her video message and a video highlighting her accomplishments. Married to Dover native Billy Shaheen, Jeanne Shaheen has three daughters and seven grandchildren, the release said.

Ed commissioner

NH Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut will “complete his term in office and will continue in holdover status to support schools through the end of the school year,” according to a press release from Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s office. Edelblut is the longest-serving education commissioner in the country, having served since 2017, the release said. “My office will launch a search for our next Education Commissioner who will build on this momentum and further our goal of improving our standards and academic performance, supporting our incredible teachers, and delivering a best-in-class education for every child in New Hampshire,” Ayotte said, according to the release.

Raw milk alert

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services sent out a press release on March 14 advising consumers not to drink Brookvale Pine Farm raw milk with “best if used by” dates through March 22 because the milk “may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.” The release said that the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food notified DHHS that a cow at the farm was diagnosed with listeria infection, the release said. The milk was sold in half-gallon containers at the Brookvale Mercantile in Brentwood, the release said. “Brookvale Pines Farm is working closely with DHHS to conduct ongoing milk testing, contact customers who may have purchased raw milk from the farm, and ensure the public’s health and safety,” the release said.

“To report an illness after raw milk consumption, contact DPHS at 603-271-4496. For more information about raw milk, visit the CDC website,” cdc.gov/food-safety/foods/raw-milk.html, the release said.

The Derry Public Library, 64 E. Broadway in Derry, will host a Red Cross blood drive on Saturday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. To register call 800-73302767 or go to redcrossblood.org.

“Worlds,” featuring works by artists Julian Kent and Emma Kohlmann, is open now at Outer Space Arts, 35 Pleasant St. in Concord. The paintings will be on view through May 18; the gallery space is open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. See outerspacearts.xyz.

“Three Vignettes” is open now at the Alva de Mars Megan Chapel Art Center at Saint Anselm College in Manchester. “This exhibition comprises works from the permanent collection, with brief essays/meditations by 17 Saint Anselm College students,” according to a press release. The exhibit is open through May 9 and the gallery is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday, 4 to 7 p.m.

The Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St. in Nashua, will hold a “Little Green Thumbs” program on Wednesday, March 26, at 4:30 p.m. for grades K through 5. Kids will learn how to plant basil seeds and take care of the plant, according to a Facebook post. See nashualibrary.org.

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