Category: News

News & Notes 22/11/17

School projects

The State Board of Education has approved a list of 17 New Hampshire school districts seeking funding for construction projects for the fiscal years 2024 and 2025, ranked according to priority. According to a press release, the top five districts are Rochester (Nancy Loud School and School Street School), Colebrook (Colebrook Academy & Elementary School), Monadnock Regional (Emerson Elementary, Gilsum STEAM Academy, Mt. Caesar Elementary, Troy Elementary and Cutler Elementary), Concord (Rundlett Middle School) and Litchfield (Griffin Memorial School). The proposed projects include new school buildings as well as additions, consolidations and renovations for existing school buildings. Priority was determined by various criteria, including school security, unsafe conditions, obsolete or inefficient conditions, operation efficiency and more. The total estimated funding sought for all 17 projects is about $227.7 million. NHDOE will present the list to the state legislature for consideration as part of its proposed overall budget; it is not yet known how many projects will be funded, and some of the projects would require local approval from voters before construction can begin.

Restoring Chandler House

Merrimack County Savings Bank has supported the Currier Museum of Art’s Chandler House Restoration Fund with a purchase of $10,000 in tax credits, facilitated through the Community Development Finance Authority. According to a press release, CDFA tax credits allow New Hampshire businesses to fund qualifying economic or community development projects in exchange for a tax credit worth 75 percent of their contribution that can be applied against state business tax payments. The Currier Museum of Art worked with the City of Manchester’s Planning and Community Development Department and supporters from the community to acquire the George Byron Chandler House, a 19th-century architectural landmark located across the street, completing the sale in February 2021. It is the third architectural landmark to be purchased by the museum, joining two houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The contribution from Merrimack County Savings Bank will be used to restore the Chandler House into a gallery, ceramic studio, art classrooms and office spaces. “We’re grateful for The Merrimack’s support as we restore this architectural treasure from the late 19th century to its original glory,” Alan Chong, director of the Currier Museum of Art, said in the release. “Saved by the community, we look forward to making the historic property accessible for everyone to enjoy.”

More historic spots

The State Historical Resources Council has added eight historic properties to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places, representing 150 years of New Hampshire history, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. The properties include Brown School, one of eight public schools built in Berlin in the early 20th century; Academy Hall in Henniker, which was built in 1836 and alternated as the town’s high school, event venue and grange hall for more than a century; First Congregational Church, built in 1766 in Hopkinton; First Congregational Church and Parish House built in Milford in 1834; Eagle Hall in Milford, used as a meetinghouse and town hall in the late 18th century; the 1798 New Hampton Town House; Captain Smith Emerson Farm in Lee, dating to circa 1765; and Goodell Company Mill in Antrim, which includes five adjoining brick structures built between 1867 and 1895. Visit nh.gov/nhdhr for more information about the historic properties.

Planning help

The New Hampshire Alliance for End of Life Options, in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association and Gibson Center, will host an online workshop, “Before You Lose Your Mind … Take Control and Start Planning,” on Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom, for people who are concerned about developing or a loved one developing Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia in their future. According to a press release, the workshop will address how people can specify what they want and don’t want for life-prolonging medical treatments and interventions should they not be able to speak for themselves due to Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia in the future. It will include sample documents and real-life scenarios raising essential questions of life and death, and health care practitioners and an elder law attorney will guide the discussion and answer questions. The free workshop will be recorded and made available to people who register but are unable to attend. Visit nhendoflifeoptions.org/events-2.

The New Hampshire Liquor Commission and DHL Supply Chain celebrate the 27,000-square-foot expansion of the DHL distribution center in Bow with a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 10. According to a press release, the facility houses products sold by New Hampshire’s 67 Liquor & Wine Outlets and more than 6,200 licensed sellers in the state, and the expansion will allow it to hold more products, aligning with NHLC’s continued sales growth.

Families in Transition will host its 29th annual Breakfast Fundraiser on Tuesday, Nov. 22, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Manchester. The event, which is FIT’s largest yearly fundraiser, will be held in person for the first time in three years. Funds raised support various FIT programs, including emergency shelters, affordable and supportive housing, food programs and essential supportive services for individuals and families who are homeless or in need. See fitnh.org.

A new temporary traffic pattern is being implemented on Route 101 in Bedford as part of the red-listed bridge replacement at Pulpit Brook, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation announced. Daytime paving was scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Nov. 16, with the configuration expected to be functional by the end of the day on Tuesday, Nov. 22. On the days that road work is in progress, traffic will be directed through a single lane of alternating two-way traffic between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Once implemented, the new pattern will be in use until further notice.

This Week 22/11/10

Big Events November 10, 2022 and beyond

Thursday, Nov. 10

The Wilton Town Hall Theatre (40 Main St. in Wilton; 654-3456) will screen the silent film Wings (1927) today at 7:30 p.m. with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis. The movie, which was a blockbuster hit when it opened and won the first “best movie” Academy Award ever given, is a silent film about American pilots flying through Europe during World War I, according to a press release. Tickets cost $10 at the door, and tickets for veterans and members of the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire are free. For more information about the Aviation Museum, visit aviationmuseumofnh.org.

Thursday, Nov. 10

On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan, a musical featuring some of Gloria Estefan’s biggest hits, will hit the stage at the Capitol Center for the Arts (Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $55 (plus fees).

Friday, Nov. 11

The Southern New Hampshire University Penmen and Saint Anselm College Hawks will go head-to-head in a women’s basketball game today at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium (73 College Road in Manchester). The game will start at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $10 per person and can be purchased with credit cards only one hour before game time at the door. Visit saintanselmhawks.com.

Friday, Nov. 11

Creative Venture (11 Nashua St. in Milford; creativeventuresfineart.com) will hold the opening for its annual “Small Works, Big Impact” show today from 6 to 8 p.m. The non-juried show, which will be on display through Dec. 31, will have works of art, all smaller than 12 inches in diameter, from 30 local artists with media ranging from graphite and ink to polymer clay and glass, according to the website.

Friday, Nov. 11

Comedian Jimmie “JJ” Walker will perform two area shows this weekend. Catch him tonight at 8:30 p.m. at the Chunky’s in Nashua and tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 12, at 8:30 p.m. at Chunky’s in Manchester. See chunkys.com.

Sunday, Nov. 13

The Manchester City Marathon will start at Veterans Memorial Park (723 Elm St. in Manchester) today at 9:15 a.m. There will also be a half marathon and a 5K starting at the same time. Registration is $30 for the 5K, $85 for the half marathon and $100 for full marathon. To register, visit millenniumrunning.com.

Save the date! Wednesday, Nov. 30
A new exhibit, “Manchester Through the Lens of Frank Kelly,”is coming to the Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum) on Wednesday, Nov. 30, with an opening day unveiling at 5 p.m. Kelly, a photographer from Manchester from the 1950s through the 1980s, owned his own studio and he and his wife Eleanor photographed people, landmarks, and buildings of Manchester. Many of the photographs and negatives will be on display. Reserve a spot by emailing [email protected] or calling 622-7531.

Featured photo. Wings. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 22/11/10

More eagles in NH

Bald eagles have continued to find new places to nest in New Hampshire, according to research conducted and released by New Hampshire Audubon. Ninety-two territorial pairs of eagles have been confirmed in 2022, which is up by nearly 14 percent from 2021. Additionally, there are 72 incubating pairs confirmed (up by more than 7 percent from last year) and 84 young fledged — up from 81 fledged in 2019 and 2021.

QOL score: +1

Comment: New Hampshire Audubon reports that the bald eagle population has been doubling in size every five to seven years since the late 1990s. New Hampshire Fish and Game removed the bald eagle from the state’s Endangered and Threatened Wildlife List in 2017.

Rent is up

A recent report released by Rent.com revealed New Hampshire to be the state with the fifth-highest rent increase over last year, with rent costs up 19.1 percent from September 2021, and the median rent cost in the state currently at $1,894.

QOL score: -1

Comment:Rhode Island is the only other New England state that made the top 10, coming in at No. 9 with an increase of 16.5 percent, whereas Massachusetts was one of five states — and the only New England state — to see a year-over-year decline (-0.6 percent).

Socks for all

United Way of Greater Nashua has announced that it will share the donation of 5,000 pairs of socks it receives from the company Bombas every fall with nearly 20 other nonprofit organizations in the greater Nashua area serving the homeless population. According to a press release, Bombas committed to donating one pair of socks to homelessness-related charities for every pair of socks it sells in response to learning that socks are the most requested item at homeless shelters.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Clean, dry socks can help to prevent health complications such as skin infections, nail diseases, frostbite and trench foot, which are more prevalent among people experiencing homelessness due to spending more time outside, exposed to the elements, and more time on their feet searching for assistance.

QOL score: 84

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 85


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

The week that was

It was another week of, as Johnny Carson used to say, weird, wild stuff. Among the happenings were Tom Brady ending a tough week with his billionth final-minute drive for a win, and the latest analytics-driven decision to cost a team the World Series.

Flash back to the ninth inning of Game 7 in the 1962 World Series. After a two-out double down the right field line that sent Matty Alou to third, Willie Mays was the winning run on second with the Yanks leading 1-0. If it were 2022, it would be, as Arnold would say, hasta la vista baby for starter Ralph Terry. Ditto for Jack Morris when he told Twins manager Tom Kelly to get back in the dugout in far more colorful language than that after he gave up a single and double to start the eighth inning while leading 1-0 in Game 7 of the 1991 series vs. Atlanta. He got the next three hitters and went for a complete game win in the 10th as the Twins won a second title in five years under Kelly.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson had that same decision on Saturday in Houston. He went with those in the stat geek suite and yanked Zack Wheeler in the sixth with two aboard after giving up just three hits, for Jose Alvarado, to get a lefty-lefty match-up with Willie McCovey look-alike Yordan Alvarez. Instead of hitting the rope that second baseman Bobby Richardson caught to end the ’62 Series, Alvarez hit a homer to center to give the Astros a 3-1 lead they would never surrender to take the Series in six.

Other than to revel in the second Series-costing failure in three years by the stat geeks, my point isn’t to hammer Thomson, especially since Alvarado had struck out all three Houston batters in the only inning he had pitched in the Series. It’s to say sometimes the right decision doesn’t work out and analytics are just a tool in the decision-making process. All the numbers they trumpet are what happened in the past and have nothing to do with the moment at hand, which is under an entirely unique set of circumstances.

World Series 101:Terry figures in an even more historic World Series moment than winning Game 7 in 1962. What was it?

Dusty Baker getting mobbed in the dugout by his players after Houston closed out the Phillies to win his first World Series as a manager after 25 years in the dugout has got to be a nominee for most heartwarming moment of the year.

UCLA and USC in the Big 10, yeah, that makes perfect sense. How many weeks do the, ahh, student-athletes get off from school when they do the Rutgers and Maryland swing in the Big 10 schedule? All of which Bill Walton sounded off on last week.

The Now I’ve Seen Everything Award goes to news that sportsbooks have put odds on who will be Gisele Bundchen’s first boyfriend after her divorce from TB-12. The favorite is ex-SNLer Pete Davidson. Nonsense like that probably made leading struggling Tampa Bay on a game-winning 60-yard final-minute drive over the Rams on Sunday a little sweeter for Tom.

There must be more to the Ime Udoka story, because I can’t see Red letting a guy who did such a great job as a rookie coach go to a division rival for no compensation. That says they just wanted to get rid of him for other misconduct or personality issues. I’d have tried to get Nic Claxton, who’s the athletic kind of big they need behind Al Horford and Rob Williams, and if it took expanding the deal beyond Udoka I’d do that.

World Series 101 Answer: When Bill Mazeroski hit the only Game 7 walk-off homer in 1960 to win a World Series it was Ralph Terry who threw the pitch Maz hit out of Forbes Field, making Ralph Houk’s decision to stick with Terry all the more revealing about the difference in thinking between then and the micro-management of today.

Finally, for the record: I haven’t liked Herschel Walker since he got run down from behind by a kicker (Adam Vinatieri) with nothing but the goal line in front of him on a kick return vs. the Patriots in 1996.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

Finding buddies

Helping people with disabilities make new connections

Sarra Dennehy Lynch is the founder of the New Hampshire chapter of Best Buddies, a worldwide nonprofit dedicated to ending physical and social isolation of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through friendship, leadership, employment and inclusive living opportunities.

What does Best Buddies do for people living with disabilities?

In New Hampshire right now, we have our school friendship programs and adult friendship programs where we match people with disabilities with a typical peer in their community or school. It’s not a mentoring program; it’s peer to peer, to build a friendship. We have our leadership programs … where we do day-long trainings, teaching people how to feel comfortable speaking in public and sharing their stories, advocate for themselves, and eventually network and write a resume and … feel comfortable getting a job. … The jobs program, which we don’t have in New Hampshire yet, places people with disabilities in jobs they really want. We’re not saying, ‘OK, you have Down syndrome, I’m sure you can bag groceries.’ We’re saying, ‘What are your dreams and hopes? What do you want to do with your life?’ … and we offer support to help them make it happen. … Our inclusive living program is designed for [living on] college campuses or near a college campus. We only have two of those [established] right now in the United States. If they’re not attending college classes for whatever reason, then they’re auditing classes or they’re working on campus. They’re able to have that kind of college experience even if they’re not able to go to college.

How did you get involved?

I started in political fundraising. After college, I worked in Washington, D.C., for my congressman, then for one of the national parties, and then for John McCain. Then, in 2001, I gave birth to my first child, a baby boy, and he was born with Down syndrome. My world was shaken to the core. I felt scared and lost and ill-equipped to have a child with, I thought, a disability, and was realizing how ill-equipped the environment that surrounded me was to prepare me. The doctors weren’t what you would think they should be. It was an ‘I’m sorry’ thing; there was no ‘Congratulations.’ There was no happiness around me at all that I had given birth to this beautiful kid. That joy and happiness had to come from me researching and learning. … We moved to New Hampshire in 2022, and eventually, when Liam — that’s his name — turned about 8 or 9, I started seeing that the world wasn’t fair for him. Even in tee-ball, if you don’t move fast enough, you’re not good enough to play with the typical kids. I knew I wanted to find something that celebrated people with differences. … I found Best Buddies, and somebody got me involved in the Hyannis Port Challenge, which is a 100-mile bike ride from Boston to Hyannis Port. That was the first time I had ever seen people with disabilities thriving the way that they were, and I was hooked. I said, ‘We need this in New Hampshire,’ and a bunch of us decided to help bring [Best Buddies] to New Hampshire.

What is Liam doing now?

He just turned 21 and just left me — he’s in college in Wisconsin, and he’s doing great. He’ll be home at Thanksgiving.

How has Best Buddies helped you and Liam personally?

Liam was involved in Best Buddies all throughout school. … When I first started doing Best Buddies, I was doing it because I wanted Liam to have a great experience in school. Then, I slowly realized that he was going to have a great experience, and I started to realize that Best Buddies is just as important for the neurotypical kids, because it shares with them the magic of learning about people with disabilities. These are the kids that are going to be our senators, congressmen, teachers, business leaders, parents; if they grow up around people with disabilities, maybe someday it will become more normal.

What is next for Best Buddies in New Hampshire?

We’re working really hard on bringing the jobs program here. We’re shooting for 2025. It’s a pretty substantial financial investment, and we have to raise the money … but I think it’s going to be really wonderful for people. They will each have a job coach … who will make sure their jobs are what they want and that they’re getting what they need.

How can people get involved?

We have all kinds of opportunities. They can be board members, sponsors or on event committees. … We’re always looking for people to serve as what we call ‘speech coaches’ for our leadership training. They help our participants get their thoughts down on paper and prepare and practice their speeches. … If you want to be matched in our [friendship] program … we send a questionnaire to learn a little bit about you, and then we find the best match for you, like someone who lives close to you and has similar interests. We would do a Zoom introduction, and if it’s a good match, you’ll see each other one to two times a month and talk or text weekly. It’s not a huge time commitment, and usually it turns into a normal, natural friendship where you don’t have to monitor how many times you see each other.

Featured photo: Sarra Dennehy Lynch with her son Liam. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 22/11/10

Food support

The Capital Region Food Program announces the launch of its 2022 Holiday Voucher Pilot, a new food support program to reduce hunger for individuals, families and local agencies in the greater Concord area. According to a press release, the program was created as a more flexible, customizable and sustainable alternative to the nonprofit’s Holiday Food Basket Project, which has provided holiday meal boxes in Concord and its surrounding communities since 1974. The vouchers, which will be distributed on Dec. 10 and redeemable through Jan. 31, will allow recipients to shop for their own food and household necessities at local Market Basket stores. “Participating families will now be able to customize their food selections to not only accommodate various dietary restrictions but also to accommodate their cultures and holiday traditions that are important this time of year,” Karen Emis-Williams, director of human services for the City of Concord, said in the release. “The voucher program helps ensure clients receive the right food they need.” Voucher applications are being accepted through 33 partner agencies throughout the state until Nov. 30. Visit capitalregionfoodprogram.org/holiday-project-2022.

Paxlovid access

New Hampshire residents who don’t have access to a primary care provider are now able to get a prescription for the Covid therapeutic treatment Paxlovid through a free telehealth appointment with On-Site Medical Services, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. The antiviral, which can significantly reduce the severity of Covid symptoms, may be prescribed to certain patients who are at risk of developing serious complications from the illness. It is most effective when administered within 72 hours from the onset of symptoms. The telehealth appointments, which may be conducted over video or telephone, are available to qualifying residents age 12 and older who have received a positive Covid antigen or PCR test. If Paxlovid is prescribed, the medication will be sent to the patient’s preferred pharmacy for pickup or shipped to their residence via overnight mail. Visit on-sitemedservices.com/telemedicine or call 800-816-5803.

New housing

Gov. Chris Sununu and the Executive Council approved $50 million to support 30 projects under the Governor’s InvestNH Housing Fund that are held to affordability restrictions and construction completion within 18 months. “New Hampshire is moving fast to address our housing challenges,” Sununu said in a press release. “This initial $50 million investment will create 1,500 new rental units across the state, helping increase supply, drive down costs, and ensure New Hampshire is the best state to live, work, and raise a family.”

Home heating help

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP) has been approved to receive $33.9 million in federal funding, the New Hampshire Congressional delegation announced in a press release. LIHEAP funds New Hampshire’s Fuel Assistance Program and helps low-income households pay their home heating and energy bills to prevent energy shutoffs, restore service following energy shutoffs, make minor energy-related home repairs and weatherize their homes to make them more energy-efficient. “Especially as the winter months approach, ensuring Granite Staters are housed and in residences with adequate heating is crucial, so I’m relieved to see these additional federal resources allocated to New Hampshire,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds LIHEAP, said in the release. “I urge the State to move quickly and get these funds out the door to applicants.” New Hampshire households that are struggling to pay their energy bills can apply for assistance through their local Community Action Partnership online at capnh.org/home.

Future forensic psychiatric hospital

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Administrative Services and New Hampshire Hospital officials will hold a public information session on a proposed forensic psychiatric hospital on Monday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. According to a press release from DHHS, the 24-bed secure facility will be built adjacent to New Hampshire Hospital, a psychiatric hospital located on Clinton Street in Concord, and will provide safe, skilled and therapeutic psychiatric treatment for forensic patients. The information session, which will specifically cover design updates for the new facility, will be held virtually over Zoom, accessible at nh-dhhs.zoom.us.

No mail Friday

U.S. Postal Service offices in New Hampshire will be closed on Friday, Nov. 11, in recognition of Veterans Day. According to a press release, all retail operations and street delivery except for guaranteed overnight parcels will be suspended for the day and will resume on Saturday, Nov. 12.

Concord reached a record high temperature on Saturday, Nov. 6, of 78 degrees, breaking the previous record of 75 set for the same day in 1994, the Union Leader reported, citing data from the National Weather Service. The record also marks the second highest temperature recorded during the month of November in Concord, tying with a 75-degree November day recorded in 1948. The average high temperature this time of year for Concord is 53 degrees, the article said.

Hateful and racist messages and symbols were found spray-painted in blue graffiti on pavement, mailboxes and street signs on Penacook Road in Hopkinton last weekend. The Concord Monitor reported that town officials and community members came together to clean the graffiti, and that the Hopkinton Police are investigating the case and have designated extra patrols to watch for graffiti vandalism.

Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains will host an informational session, “Launch into Girl Scouts,” on Monday, Nov. 14, from 6 to 7 p.m. at 1 Commerce Drive in Bedford. Caregivers can learn about Girl Scouts and troop openings while their girls participate in fun space-themed activities, according to a press release. Walk-ins are welcome. Sign-ups for Girl Scouts are available year-round at girlscoutsgwm.org.

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