Category: Quality Of Life

Competitive Ford fixing

As reported by Nashua InkLink on May 8, teams of high school students in auto tech programs took part in a statewide competition to determine which team could most efficiently diagnose a troubled vehicle. The 2025 NH ACE Competition was a hands-on, timed event. “Ten New Hampshire Automotive Programs from across the state compete in teams of two to diagnose and repair a Ford Bronco within 90 minutes,” InkLink reported. The event, organized by the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association and Ford Dealerships, brought student tech teams together from 10 area high schools, the story said.

QOL score: +1 for investing in our vocational students

Comment: As reported by Nashua InkLink, “the winning school receives a 2024 Ford F-150 to enhance their training.”

A diploma and an ear-scritch

As reported in a May 14 online article by WMUR, Bear, the Derry Police Department’s first comfort dog, officially graduated from his training program in a ceremony attended by Gov. Kelly Ayotte. “During a ceremony, Ayotte congratulated Bear and his handler, Master Patrol Officer Erin Sullivan, for their hard work and dedication throughout training,” the WMUR story read. “More than 10 fellow service dogs from law enforcement departments across New Hampshire were also in attendance.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: Lt. Shawn O’Donaghue from the Derry Police Department said in a telephone interview that Bear, a 1-year-old black Lab, is ready to go to work full-time for the Department. His duties will “involve the well-being and mental health of officers,” O’Donaghue said, “as well as outreach to the community and helping ease emotional trauma for emergency victims.”

Not enough lifeguards

The City of Concord doesn’t have enough lifeguards. According to a May 13 online article by WMUR, Concord’s Parks and Rec Department is still trying to fill openings before the City’s pools open for the summer in mid-June. WMUR quoted City Councilor Stacey Brown: ““We desperately need more lifeguards. This is something that is incredibly important. We don’t want people swimming in the river; we want people learning how to safely swim. [Our pools are] clean, there is no cyanobacteria, and this is something that sets us apart from other communities,” In a telephone interview with the Hippo, Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Laura Bryant said there is no clear cause for this year’s lifeguard shortage. “It ebbs and flows year to year, so I think maybe people just aren’t thinking about it as much. We’re probably still looking for another 10 to 12 [more lifeguards] at this point.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: Bryant said her department has several interviews scheduled for prospective lifeguards over the next week. She said that there are still a few weeks until Pool Time. “Our Public Properties Division is just getting out and opening all the pools up and seeing where we’re at with everything. So we don’t have an official date, but typically it’s around Father’s Day weekend.”

QOL score last week: 61

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 62

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Ew, ticks

In a May 1 press release Gov. Kelly Ayotte declared May Lyme Disease Awareness Month in New Hampshire. Deer tick nymphs, which can carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, are most active from May to July, the release said. The press release offered recommendations from the state Department of Health and Human Services to lower one’s risk of tick bites, including wearing light-colored clothing when outdoors, and washing and drying clothing immediately after being outdoors. Information about tickborne diseases is available atdhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/disease-prevention/infectious-disease-control/tickborne-diseases.

QOL score: -1

Comment: An online report from Harvard Health Publishing on April 29 noted, “Ticks are now thriving in a wider geographic range, and appearing earlier and sticking around later in the … spring and fall.”

Those Chromebooks are not free, kids

In a May 11 online article, WMUR reported on a recent TikTok trend has challenged students to sabotage Chromebooks, such as the ones used in many school districts, the article said. Parents in some NH towns received alerts from their school districts about this latest bit of dangerous and expensive TikTok-ery. WMUR quoted New Hampshire Fire Marshal Sean Toomey: “Any sort of lithium-ion battery fire is going to release [fumes]; it’s extremely dangerous. And it releases toxic gases…”

QOL score: -2

Comment: The WMUR article reported a statement by “School officials [saying that] any student caught participating in the challenge will be required to pay for a replacement.” Fire Marshal Toomey was quoted as saying that “in some cases, the behavior could lead to criminal charges.”

Speaking of electricity

In a May 6, online article, WMUR reported that electricity provider Eversource has informed the Public Utilities Commission that it will raise electric rates for New Hampshire customers beginning in August. As reported by WMUR, “Eversource is requesting a 6.75% increase, along with a separate adjustment that it said would help offset the cost of recent storms.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: “If all the changes are approved, the average customer could be paying nearly $19 more per month to Eversource than they were a year ago,” the article reported. “The hearings on the rates will continue until mid-June. The approved rates will go into effect on Aug. 1.”

Nashua Tooth Fairies

As reported by WMUR in a May 6 online article, a pair of Tooth Fairies are “offering in-school dental care from pre-K through high school. Each week, the nonprofit organization sets up a dental office inside a different school building, returning to the rotation after visiting all of them.” The Traveling Tooth Fairies’ certified public health dental hygienists Myra Nikitas and Mary Duquette “provide cleanings, screenings, fluoride treatments, sealants, and even fix cavities with no drill fillings,” WMUR reported. Treatment is carried out under the supervision of a dentist and is performed regardless of whether a student is covered by insurance.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The Traveling Tooth Fairies program is supported by sponsors including Northeast Delta Dental and the Nashua Lions Club. It is a nonprofit organization. Visit travelingtoothfairies.com.

QOL score last week: 64

Net change: -3

QOL this week: 61

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

A reprieve from pollen

Although this time of year is typically one of high pollen counts, recent rainy weather has temporarily knocked pollen out of the air. In an April 29 online weather update, WMUR warned New Hampshire allergy sufferers that this is usually the high point of airborne pollen in the state. “Late April and early May mark the peak of tree pollen season in New Hampshire,” the report read. “Maple, birch, and juniper are currently the dominant allergens, though nearly every tree species produces pollen.” Recent rainy weather has brought some relief, however. According to a May 5 15-Day Allergy Forecast by the Weather Channel (weather.com/forecast/allergy) area pollen counts should remain low through the weekend.

QOL score: +1 for a ah ah ahchoo break

Comment: The same allergy forecast projects a return to between “Moderate” and “Very High” levels starting around May 12.

Your package is not waiting to be delivered

According to a recent study by online technology education website Fullstack Academy, the most common way for New Hampshire residents to get scammed out of their personal data is through fake messages claiming that the target has a package or online order that can’t be delivered without more information. According to an April 4 blog post by Fullstack Academy, “Shipping scams are so prevalent that the [U.S. Postal Service] has guides to detecting and protecting yourself from such impersonators. Per [Federal Trade Commission] data, consumers lost $12.5 billion in 2024 to scams, with imposter scams accounting for $2.95 billion in losses alone.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: According to the study, “women are more likely than men to receive phishing lures impersonating shipping companies. Out of all female respondents, 54% said they’ve received USPS scams, while just 46% of male respondents said so. And with UPS-impersonated scams, 53% of women reported receiving one, while just 45% of men have received one.” To read more about this report, search online for fullstackacademy.com and “Phishing Lures.”

Hot. Very, very hot.

A May 2 story from Patch.com warns that this summer will bring “brutally hot weather for our part of the country.” A comparison of “NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, The Old Farmer’s Almanac, and Farmers’ Almanac shares predictions for the Granite State’s summer weather,” the story reported, and the consensus is that this summer will probably be another one of record-breaking heat. “A three-month outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center calls for above-average temperatures across the country from June through August, with pockets of extreme heat in the desert Southwest and parts of the Northeast. In New Hampshire, temperatures have a 70 to 80 percent chance of being above average.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: “Last year saw one of the hottest summers on record,” Patch.com reported, “with a nationwide average temperature of 73.8 degrees Fahrenheit, or 2.5 degrees above normal. It was also Earth’s hottest summer since global records began in 1880, surpassing a 2023 record.”

QOL score: 66

Net change: -2

QOL this week: 64

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Pasta and water, but not pasta-water

A recent study by online insurance company Choice Mutual (choicemutual.com) set out to determine what people from each state would choose for their last meal. Not surprisingly, most respondents chose comfort foods. The study found that New Hampshire residents would order some sort of pasta or noodles, which “includes everything from chicken alfredo to ramen,” the study summary explained. Soda was the first choice of beverages in every state, but New Hampshire respondents chose water as their second favorite drink.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The top Last Meal choice in most states was a steak dinner, followed by potatoes. Excluding soda, the top beverage choices nationwide were wine and water. Visit choicemutual.com/blog/favorite-last-meal-by-state.

Cleaning up the Merrimack

As reported in an April 21 article by Nashua InkLink (nashua.inklink.news), the Massachusetts-based conservation organization “Clean River Project” hopes to expand its clean-up efforts to New Hampshire. InkLink quoted Rocky Morrison, the organization’s head. “We’re dying to go to Manchester and Nashua,” he told InkLink, “and do a scan on the bottom of the river. New Hampshire is like a treasure trove. We don’t know what’s there. You never know what you’re going to find.” The Clean River Project uses boats outfitted with sonar equipment to detect objects in the water, and has contracts with cities on the Merrimack in Massachusetts to maintain riverbanks by collecting floating trash.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Morrison and his group have applied for grants from the EPA to move their efforts into New Hampshire but have not received any yet. Visit cleanriverproject.org.

How fast did we run?

As reported by WMUR in an April 21 online article, “New Hampshire runners had a strong day at the Boston Marathon.” Amherst’s Samuel Bradbury was New Hampshire’s fastest runner, with a finishing time of two hours, 22 minutes, 23 seconds, placing 57th in the men’s group and 62nd overall. Emilee Risteen from Derry had the fastest time for New Hampshire women at two hours, 40 minutes, 35 seconds, placing 52nd among women and 855th overall. Thomas Cantera from Nashua finished the race in two hours, 37 minutes, 35 seconds, placing 490th in the Para Division and 611th overall.

QOL score: +1

Comments: According to an April 23 online article by Runner’s World (runnersworld.com), 28,845 runners started the race. The Boston Athletic Association, which organizes the Marathon, announced that John Korir from Kenya placed first overall, with a time of two hours, 24 minutes, 45 seconds, and Sharon Lokedi of Kenya was the fastest woman, with a finishing time of two hours, 17 minutes, 22 seconds. Switzerland’s Marcel Hug was the fastest wheelchair racer, with a time of one hour, 21 minutes, 24 seconds. Visit results.baa.org/2025.

QOL score last week: 63

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 66

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Gold (golden brown) anniversary

As reported in an April 18 online story by New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR), the chicken tender has celebrated its 50th anniversary. Manchester comedian and chicken tender activist Nick Lavallee, known as “The Mayor of Tender Town,” organized a celebration at the Puritan Backroom Restaurant on Thursday, April 17, to celebrate the chicken tender’s entry into middle age. Food historians speculate that Manchester-style chicken tenders originated at the Puritan. NHPR quoted Lavallee: “A Manchester style tendie. Not only is it marinated in a blend of pineapple juice and other things, but when it’s served fresh and hot, it’s like it’s more of a crisp than a crunch,” he said. “It’s the best. There’s nothing quite like a Manchester style tender.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: As reported by WMUR in an April 17 online article, the cast of the MTV show Jersey Shore visited the Puritan to celebrate its chicken tenders. “Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino, Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi, Ronnie Magro and the crew from the show were at the Puritan Backroom in Manchester filming a new season of their show, Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, the story reported.

EZ to get scammed

An April 15 online story by WMUR stated, “The state Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission are working together to combat a scam that targets E-ZPass users in New Hampshire.” Many drivers have reported receiving fake text messages saying they have outstanding balances on their EZ accounts for unpaid tolls that need to be paid immediately. (For example: “Immediate action is required to avoid penalties and enforcement actions resulting from non-payment,” as the scam text QOL received just this week said.) “The agencies are planning to use data from reports to identify patterns and potentially disrupt scam operations,” the WMUR story reported.

QOL score: -1

Comment: WMUR quoted Senior Assistant Attorney General Brandon Garod, who emphatically stated that “E-ZPass will never text someone about an unpaid bill, something it makes clear on the front page of its website.”

A very senior prom

On Thursday, April 17, Winnacunnet High School students helped throw a prom for residents at a Hampton assisted living home. As reported in an April 18, online article by WMUR, “For months, students and residents at Cornerstone at Hampton worked together to plan the event, creating centerpieces, selecting songs for the DJ and crafting a menu.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: The prom’s theme was “Botanical Garden.” WMUR reported that “each resident was invited to bring a family member or friend as their prom date.”

QOL score: 62

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 63

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

*#$^&@-%! weather

A reminder that New England can still New England in April, the snow totals from last weekend’s snowfall reached 7 inches in Temple, 6 inches in Deering, 5.9 in Francestown and 8.1 in Greenville, according to a snow total rundown from WMUR on April 12. Between 2 and 4 inches seemed to be the totals for most towns between Nashua and the Concord area. According to the National Weather Service, the forecast for the coming weekend in the Manchester area is for a mostly sunny Friday (April 18) with highs near 61, a mostly cloudy Saturday with highs near 64 and a mostly sunny Sunday with highs near 56. Get predictions for weekend weather and beyond at weather.gov.

QOL score: -1

Comment: In Maine the New Hampshire Fisher Cats had two games postponed last weekend against the Sea Dogs in Portland due to snow (Saturday) and “inclement weather” (Sunday). But they’re back for this weekend’s warmer weather to play as Los Gatos Feroces and the New Hampshire Space Potatoes in Manchester.

Job opportunities in Manchester look good

According to a recent study by employment website Indeed.com that ranked 390 cities in the United States by their job prospects, Manchester is the 10th best city in the country in which to look for a job. Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the study reported that Manchester boasts of annual job growth of 3.5 percent, an average annual salary of $62,810, an unemployment rate of 2 percent and more than 100,000 people employed.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The top-ranked city in the study was Midland, Texas, with a job growth rate of 5.1 percent. Visit the report at indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/best-cities-for-jobs.

Clean up, clean up

Manchester organizations are collaborating to hold a city clean-up event deploying more than 200 volunteers on Monday, April 21, according to a press release. The Park2Park cleanup will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. in 14 city parks and the streets in between. The event is a joint effort of Manchester Connects, the SEE Science Center, and the city’s parks and rec department. Many local businesses and nonprofits are participating in the effort. Individuals may sign up to help SEE with the cleanup from Arms Park to Gateway Park at bit.ly/SEEPark2Park until April 15; volunteers must be 18 or older.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Is that song in your head now? You’re welcome.

The Corral returns

As reported by Patch.com on April 13, nearly 200 people waited in line for the official re-opening of Manchester’s Golden Corral Buffet & Grill on Thursday, April 10. “The restaurant at 655 South Willow Street had closed in September,” Patch.com reported. Many of the people in line were previous customers who were excited about the re-opening of the popular buffet restaurant, and others queued for a chance to win free dinners for a year.

QOL score: +1

Comment: While there are more than 370 Golden Corral locations, according to its Wikipedia entry, this is the only one in New Hampshire.

QOL score last week : 60

Net change: +2

QOL this week: 62

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.