Category: Quality Of Life

Green light in the sky

As reported by WMUR in a Dec.10 online article, a comet will be visible in night skies in January, after an absence of 50,000 years. Discovered two years ago, the comet, whimsically named C/2022E3 (ZTF), “will make its closest approach to the sun on Jan. 12, according to NASA,” the story reported. This loop around the sun represents the near edge of an orbit that normally takes the comet through the extreme far edges of the solar system. “The icy celestial object,” WMUR reported, “which has steadily brightened as it approaches the sun, will subsequently make its closest pass of Earth between Feb. 1 and Feb. 2, around 26 million miles away, according to EarthSky — as the comet nears Earth, observers will be able to spot it near the bright star Polaris, also called the North Star, and it should be visible earlier in the evening.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: While keen-eyed observers might be able to see the comet unaided at the end of January, most sky-watchers will need the help of binoculars or a telescope.

A rude shock for Rochester dogs

According to a Dec.11 online story by WMUR, Rochester City officials are investigating a number of complaints from pet owners that their dogs have been shocked while peeing against city light poles. WMUR quoted dog owner William McKay: “I walked him over to a pole, he lifted his leg up, and then he just screamed real loud, jumped up in the air and ran away.” According to the report, this has been traumatic for pet owners as well. “My dog started walking,” the story quoted Rochester resident Ryan Naples, “and he lifted his leg to pee, and all of a sudden, it was the most excruciating noise I’ve ever heard in my life. For about 30 seconds, he was just screaming and panting, laying on the ground, freaking out.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: As reported by WMUR, “The city said it’s looking into what’s causing the shocks. It has cut power at all the reported sites as the investigation continues.”

The odds may be in your favor

A recent study by VegasInsider.com compared payouts in lotteries across the country and found that “New Hampshire had the best overall chance of winning any sort of prize, with a 1-in-10 chance of winning something,” according to a Dec.12 press release. The study used the official websites and odds chances of state lotteries. “The results showed that the games specific to New Hampshire, Kentucky, Iowa, and New Mexico have the most likely odds of winning the big prize of 1:10,000,” the press release read.

QOL score: +1

Comment: New Hampshire’s relatively small population might be responsible. According to the press release, “bigger populated states with bigger state lottery jackpots were the least likely to succeed for the top money. New York had the worst chances, with a whopping 1-in-45,047,474, followed by Texas and Florida, which had chances of [one in] over 20 million.”

Last week’s QOL score: 72

Net change:+1

QOL this week: 73

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

Let us know at [email protected].

Baffling the beavers

As reported in a Dec. 5 article by Nashua Ink Link (nashua.inklink.news) the City of Nashua is deploying technology in its ongoing battle of wits against beavers. In an effort to reduce beaver-related flooding, the article said, “after deliberation … a pond leveler was installed at Mine Falls Park, near the entrance on Spine Road. Pond levelers are pipes that run underneath beaver dams that create a permanent leak to keep ponds at a controlled, safe level.” The pipes are fitted with baffles to prevent beavers from feeling the flow of water and kicking off a new spate of dam-building. Popularly referred to as “beaver deceivers,” pond levelers have been used successfully in several beaver ponds in southern New Hampshire.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Sustainability manager Deb Chisolm said in the article, “We really have no local data to indicate whether [pond levelers] work or don’t work. We’re just trying to test it out; we thought that the Spine Road area would be a good location.”

Protecting against holiday scams

According to a recent study, Granite Staters were scammed out of more than $27 million online in 2023. In a Dec.3 press release, the Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov) warned consumers to protect themselves online this holiday season. “Taxpayers can be duped into unwittingly handing over their confidential tax and financial information,” the press release read. “Would-be victims could also get tricked into disclosing their addresses, Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers or passwords, which can lead to tax-related identity theft and fraud.” The IRS recommends shopping at online sites with web addresses that begin with the letters “https:” (The “s” stands for secure communications.) Also look for a padlock icon in the browser window. Make sure that your security and anti-virus software is up-to-date, and use strong, unique passwords for online accounts.

QOL score: -1

Comment: Better news is that New Hampshire ranked 47th in the United States in online scam victimhood. View the study at socialcatfish.com/scamfish/state-of-online-scams-2024.

Wrong way

As reported by WMUR in a Dec.2 online article, the number of New Hampshire drivers involved in driving in the wrong direction is increasing. “New Hampshire State Police said there have been 248 reported cases of wrong-way drivers and 17 related crashes on state roads this year,” the article reported. Although the number of accidents has decreased slightly — there were 26 last year — the overall number of wrong-way driving incidents has increased significantly. WMUR quoted Lt. Christopher Storm with New Hampshire State Police, who said that alcohol is a common denominator in most wrong-way crashes. “Number one, impairment,” he said. “Number two is people’s inattention or medical situations. And the third is our drivers that may not understand the language.”

QOL score: -2

Comment: According to WMUR’s article, the State plans to form a commission to study this problem.

Last week’s QOL score: 74

Net change: -2

QOL this week: 72

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

Let us know at [email protected].

Just hang up

If you feel like you get more phone calls from robots than from actual humans, you’re probably right. According to a Nov. 20 press release from Whistle Out (whistleout.com), an online technology comparison service, a recent study found that the residents of New Hampshire receive a staggering number of spam calls. “New Hampshirites receive 144,221,100 robocalls annually,” the press release reported. “That’s 103 per person.” New Hampshire ranks 33rd in the number of these calls, and 12th in preventing them.

QOL score: -1

Comment: It could be worse. According to WhistleOut, “Southern states are hit the hardest by spam calling: Louisiana residents receive the most robocalls per capita (339) in the U.S., followed by Georgia (307), South Carolina (248), Alabama (248), and Arkansas (238)” It could also be better; Utah has the fewest, with 78 calls per person.

So many mice

TheNew Hampshire SPCA is up to its eyebrows in mice. As it described on its website on Nov.14, the SPCA was approached by a man in the lobby, hoping to surrender some pet mice. “The man was overwhelmed by the sheer number of mice in his possession,” the NHSPCA wrote, “initially stating he had 150 pet mice in his home. Subsequently, he clarified that he actually had 150 tanks with mice in them. Depending on the size of the tank, there may be more than a dozen in each. The mice were not separated by sex and were reproducing uncontrolled. Many of the females came to the shelter pregnant. By Tuesday morning, more mice had been born. Our current estimate is that there are an approximate 400 still at the man’s home, but we may be looking at intaking as many as 1,000 mice in total.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: A breeding pair of mice and their offspring can produce more than 5,000 mice in a year, so this is a tribble-like compounding problem for the SPCA. “Community members wishing to help are encouraged to foster, adopt or donate,” the organization wrote on its website.

Plowy McPlowface?

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation tapped the public last month to find names for its fleet of snowplows. As reported by WMUR in a Nov. 27 online story, the DOT has accepted suggestions for names from the public for one of its plows. On the DOT website, a guideline for the names said that suggestions should be unique, polite, short and politically nonpartisan. The deadline for suggestions closed on Nov. 29. The DOT will look over the suggestions, then post some of the best ones online for the public to vote on. The voting will take place between Monday, Dec.9, and Friday, Dec.13. Visit dot.nh.gov/name-plow-contest.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The WMUR story reported that “the Massachusetts Department of Transportation held a similar contest earlier this year. Some winners included Edward Blizzard-Hands, Snow-B-Wan-Kenobi and Sleet-Wood Mac.”

QOL score: 75

Net change: -1

QOL this week: 74

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

Let us know at [email protected].

Some rain, some drought

The U.S. Drought Monitor for New Hampshire reported on Nov. 21 that a small section of southeastern Rockingham County was in “extreme drought” while portions of Rockingham, Hillsborough and Cheshire counties were still in “severe drought” with the rest of those counties plus all of Merrimack, Sullivan, Strafford and Belknap counties listed as in “moderate drought” along with parts of Grafton and Carroll counties. The rest of the state was labeled as “abnormally dry,” the map reported.

QOL score: -1

Comments: According to WMUR, the report looks at rainfall Tuesday to Tuesday, so it does not include the rain from the second half of last week — here’s hoping the next report, which you can find at drought.gov/states/new-hampshire, is more promising.

Fun for data nerds

New Hampshire’s Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau has released an application that allows users to examine data for the 234 incorporated cities and towns in the state. In an Oct. 23 email the ELMI — part of the Department of Employment Security — explained, “Data on many topics are available ranging from population and demographics as well as income, labor force, educational attainment, housing units, and property taxes. Additional information on school and day care enrollment, as well as other specific data provided by the municipalities, can be compared.” If you’ve ever wondered what the average weekly wage in Derry is, for instance, it’s $1,281. Or it ever seemed to you that there are more men than women walking around Concord, you’re right — there are 22,879 men, versus 21,170 women (as of 2023).

QOL score: +1

Comment: To access the application, visit nhes.nh.gov/elmi.

We’re woodworking winners

New Hampshire carvers dominated the recent New England Woodworking Competition, which featured works by professionals, amateurs and students, held at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. In a Nov. 15 press release, The Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers wrote that there were 150 entries from New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts including more than “60 elementary, middle school, high school and college students.” The three Judges Awards all went to Granite Staters: David Foote of Barrington; Ronald Litalien of Canterbury and Ted Blachly of Warner, the release said. In the student categories, Michael Franta of Contoocook won first prize in the Middle School division (for “Cherry Wood Coffee Table”) and Gabriela Crinigan of UNH won first prize in the College division (for “Tooth Box”). New Hampshire woodworkers swept the Amateur Woodworkers division: Joe Marshall of Nashua in Carving; Edward Marks of Nashua for Turning between Centers; Ron Marcoux of Bedford for Bowl Turning; Jim McLaughlin of Warner for Amateur and David Labrie of Manchester for Traditional, the release said.

QOL score: +1

Comment: To see this year’s winners and their winning works, visit the Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers website at gnhw.org.

QOL score last week: 74

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 75

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

Let us know at [email protected].

Sad news for local music fans

The sudden passing of Brooks Young on Nov. 8 shocked the local music-loving community. The level of commitment he brought to his music was inspirational, and his success was a combination of talent and tenacity. The guitar-slinging bandleader wasn’t content to simply meet his heroes, playing with icons like B.B. King, Robert Cray and Jimmie Vaughan, and touring with George Thorogood & the Destroyers multiple times. Once he performed in front of 20,000 fans with Sammy Hagar, Jason Bonham and Van Halen’s Michael Anthony. Young, however, brought the same intensity when he played for a handful of fans at Concord Craft Brewery. He’ll be missed.

QOL score: -5, but really incalculable

Comment: Young leaves two daughters and a son, and a GoFundMe (gofund.me/b05711e5) has been established for them. A memorial concert organized by Young’s family and his musician friends is in the planning stages, as is an annual blues festival that will happen on the anniversary of his death.

Manchester gets a puppy

As reported in a Nov.14 article by Manchester Ink Link (manchester.inklink.news), the Manchester Fire Department has brought a new member of its support team back from hurricane rescue work in North Carolina. “The firefighters also brought home a dog named Bo,” the story read, “a shortened new name from its original moniker of Boone, one of the cities in North Carolina where Manchester’s firefighters operated.” Members of the Manchester Fire Department were deployed to western North Carolina as part of an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) response to damage from Hurricane Helene earlier this fall. As reported in a Nov.14 online story by WMUR, “Months-old puppy Boone was adopted from the Meat Camp Fire Department, where they lived with local families during the second half of their time in North Carolina.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: On its Facebook page, the Meat Camp, N.C., Fire Department posted, “We’ve been happy to provide a place for our friends from City of Manchester, NH Fire Department to clean up and lay their heads at night after working tirelessly serving the hurting folks of our county and surrounding counties. We’re glad to have them and thankful for their efforts to help us in this recovery. They’re a great team and bring valuable knowledge and assets to our efforts.”

Hannaford Supermarket is back online

In a Nov. 17 online story, WMUR reported that the Hannaford Supermarket chain is back online, following complications relating to cybersecurity issues. “It had been down since earlier this month and customers could not access online order services or the app,” the story read. According to a Nov. 12 article in the Boston Globe, the same issue “reportedly affected the ability of some stores to accept payments via gift cards or debit cards.”

QOL score: -1 for the missed coupon opportunities

Comment: According to a message on hannaford.com: “Hannaford.com and our app are online! Hannaford To Go pickup and delivery orders may be placed as slots become available. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your continued understanding.”

QOL score last week: 79

Net change: -5

QOL this week: 74

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

Let us know at [email protected].

Good news for coyotes, bad news for outdoor pets

The University of New Hampshire announced in a Nov. 6 press release that, despite human and predator pressures, coyote populations are thriving. “Surprisingly, the study’s findings suggest that human hunting practices may actually contribute to increasing the number of coyotes,” the press release read. It quoted Remington Moll, Assistant Professor of Natural Resources and the Environment and lead author of the study. “Intensive coyote removal can obviously reduce populations in the short term, but removal can also result in younger coyote populations with higher reproduction and immigration rates,” Moll said.

QOL score: +1 for the coyotes, -1 for your cat

Comment: At wildlife.nh.gov, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department warns, “In suburban areas, coyotes have been known to kill house cats. Keeping your pets and pet food inside at night helps reduce the likelihood that a family pet will become prey. Coyotes are often blamed for events for which domestic dogs, automobiles or other wildlife are responsible. As for your safety, coyotes pose little risk to people.”

Hard times for soft cheese

Savencia Cheese USA has announced a voluntary recall for some of its soft-ripened cheese because of potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration email and a notice at savenciacheeseusa.com. See pictures of the items, which include Aldi Emporium Selection Brie and Market Basket Brie, and a list of the UPC and best-by dates of the affected items on Savencia’s website.

QOL score: -1

Comment: “Through routine testing, it was identified that processing equipment at the site may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. While finished product testing has not identified contaminated product, we have initiated a voluntary recall to retrieve the potentially affected product,” the website said.

NH is bicycle-friendly

New Hampshire is the ninth best state for cyclists. A Nov. 7 press release read, “The legal team at Philadelphia-based personal injury law firm KaplunMarx analyzed various metrics, including the air quality, cyclist deaths per capita, bike routes per square mile, local government actions supporting cycling, federal funding for cycling projects, and bicycle laws to determine the most cycling-friendly states in the U.S.” The study found that New Hampshire has a higher-than-average density of bike paths (62.8 miles per 1,000 square miles), good air quality, and a low cyclist fatality rate (3.3 per million residents).

QOL score: +1

Comment: The study rated New Hampshire’s overall score as 62.4 points out of 100. The top-rated state was Minnesota, with a score of 84. The lowest scoring state was Alabama, with 39.

Last week’s QOL score: 79

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 79

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

Let us know at [email protected].