Category: Quality Of Life

Offline kids

An Aug. 24 report by thecannyvulture.com said, “In Hillsborough County, 2,253 children live in a home with no internet, 2.7% of all the kids in the county.” According to an Aug. 24 blog post on compareinternet.com, nationwide, 3.2 million school children are starting this school year without internet access.

QOL score: -1 New Hampshire ranks well in internet access nationally, but this is still 2,253 children too many.

Comment: According to the compareinternet.com blog post, “Washington County, Mississippi, in the Delta, has 47 percent of its children living in homes with no internet. That’s more than 5,100 kids. Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, is also at 47 percent. Socorro County, New Mexico, rural and largely Hispanic and Native American, is at 39 percent.”

Lanternflies

As reported in an August 25 online article by WMUR, an invasive species of insect, the spotted lanternfly, has been seen in New Hampshire for the first time. “Officials confirmed … that the spotted lanternfly was seen in Salem,” the article reported. “The spotted lanternfly poses risks to vineyards, nurseries and agricultural and ornamental plants. Officials said it doesn’t harm people, pets or structures, but it can become a nuisance if it becomes more established over time.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: On its website, the US Department of Agriculture describes the spotted lanternfly as “an invasive planthopper that feeds on a wide range of plants, including grapevines, hops, stone fruit trees, and hardwood trees. When the spotted lanternfly feeds, it excretes a sticky, sugary fluid that promotes sooty mold growth, which can further damage plants.” Visit aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/slf.

Murals and more murals

In an Aug. 31 press release, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua announced that as part of the club’s ongoing MuralFest, “10 nationally and internationally known artists continue transforming the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua through five large-scale murals, located throughout the Club both inside and outside. The festival, which runs through Sept. 2, brings artists from across the country and around the world together with the Club community. The event’s name, Be Creative BGCN MuralFest, was chosen by a Club member.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: In an Aug. 30 online article, WMUR reported that on Saturday, Aug. 29, artists from the organization ArtCity Nashua invited members of the public to help create 15 permanent murals along Nashua’s Heritage Rail Trail. The goal of “the mural and music festival,” WMUR reported, was “to transform the area known as the ‘Tree Streets’ into a public art display. Artists joined people from the community to make masterpieces, even leading a spray painting class.”

QOL score last week: 58

Net change: -1

QOL this week: 57

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

More fun than Connecticut, anyway

According to a recent study released by online economics website Wallethub.com, New Hampshire is the 43rd most fun state in the country. Reporting on its study, Wallethub wrote that it had “compared all 50 states across 26 key indicators of enjoyable experiences that won’t break the bank. These range from movie costs to accessibility of national parks to nightlife options per capita.” And while New Hampshire didn’t compare well with fun powerhouses like California or Florida (ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively), we ranked 41st in the category of Entertainment and Recreation, but 47th with respect to Nightlife.

QOL score: -1

Comment: It could be worse; compared to West Virginia, New Hampshire looks like springtime in Paris. Visit wallethub.com/edu/most-fun-states/34665.

Of course she’s blue; we just ruined her vacation

As reported by WMUR in an Aug. 19 online article, a Goffstown family made a “one-in-a-billion” discovery last week. While on a chartered fishing trip out of Rye, WMUR reported, “the [Major family] noticed a fishing pole and line in the water. When they went to pull it out of the water, they found a lobster tangled in it.” Even more exciting was the color of the lobster: blue. Blue lobsters do occur naturally but are very rare, the article continued — “about one in two million.” On top of that, she turned out to be a pregnant blue lobster, making her an even rarer find.

QOL score: +1

Comment: WMUR reported that the anonymous blue lobster was marked and returned to the water to continue with her birthing journey.

Maybe it’s the lack of ‘fun’?

A recent survey by the University of New Hampshire found that “25 percent of Granite Staters are considering moving away.” “The greatest likelihood of leaving is among younger and never married residents,” the Aug. 18 survey report read. “In contrast, [the study] found little differences in likelihood of leaving by other characteristics and life experiences such as educational attainment and household income.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: Study authors pointed out that the number of New Hampshire residents considering moving is in line with the statistics from other New England states. “Recent polling by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center found that only 23 percent of New Hampshire residents responded they were ‘likely or somewhat likely’ to move out of the state in the next five years. In contrast, larger shares of respondents from nearby states reported they were likely to leave, including residents of Vermont (42 percent), Connecticut (40 percent), Rhode Island (35 percent), and Massachusetts (34 percent).” Visit carsey.unh.edu/publication/retaining-residents-important-new-hampshires-future-why-do-people-leave.

QOL score last week: 59

Net change: -1

QOL this week: 58

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Not here, fanwort – not today!

According to an Aug. 17 press release by NH LAKES, “a vigilant Lake Host recently prevented fanwort, an invasive aquatic plant, from entering Newfound Lake, one of New Hampshire’s most pristine lakes.” After identifying fanwort among some plants tangled in his boat’s propeller, NH LAKES Lake host Aidan Nolan removed it, and reported it to the Newfound Lake Region Association. As a result, the invasive fanwort was stopped before it could establish itself.

QOL score: +1

Comment: In the same press release, NH LAKES highlighted the danger of fanwort. “This invasive, aquatic species can spread rapidly, crowd out native plants, disrupt habitat, interfere with boating and swimming, reduce shoreline property values, and negatively impact local tourism.” Visit nhlakes.org/invasive-species-prevention.

Gone and no longer forgotten

As reported online on Aug. 17, by the Concord Monitor and New Hampshire Public Radio, a new historical marker was unveiled in Concord on Sunday, Aug. 16, honoring William Penn Thompson, a pioneer of Black baseball in the United States. Erected by the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, the marker, which overlooks White Park, celebrates Thompson’s life and career. Thompson was born in Virginia but moved to Concord sometime before 1891. “Thompson led an impressive career as a ballplayer, playing for the Cuban Colored Giants and the Philadelphia Colored Giants in the Negro Leagues,” the Monitor/NHPR story reported, at a time of strict segregation between Black and white teams and players. “This new addition is the first Black Heritage Trail marker in the city,” the article reported.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Thompson’s marker reads, in part, “Although discrimination denied him the opportunity to compete in the major leagues, Thompson’s extraordinary talent, perseverance, and showmanship left an enduring mark on the game. His contributions to baseball history secured his legacy as a pioneering athlete and one of New Hampshire’s most notable Black sports figures.” Visit blackheritagetrailnh.org/nh-black-history-marker-sites.

Traffic lights smarter than most of us

“The City of Manchester installed new technology to adjust traffic signals in real time at 22 busy intersections,” reported WMUR in an Aug. 13 online article. “The white, dome-shaped cameras use sensors and artificial intelligence to detect vehicles and pedestrians. The system then alters traffic signal timing to help traffic move as efficiently as possible.”

QOL score: +1, optimistically

Comment: “The project was funded through a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation, or SMART, Grants Program,” the WMUR article reported. “The Queen City was one of 34 Stage 1 SMART Grant recipients from 21 states to receive a collective total of $50 million.” View a map of the locations of the new traffic lights at infogram.com/untitled-1hmr6g83nvrxz2n.

QOL score last week: 56

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 59

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Jalapeños alert

According to an Aug. 8 press release, “Hannaford Supermarkets is recalling a limited number of deli and produce items after being alerted by Taylor Farms, the maker of some of Hannaford’s deli products, that their jalapeño supplier has initiated a recall due to the potential for salmonella contamination.” There are six products, including Beans Rice and Cheese Burrito, Classic Beef Burrito, Chicken Verde Burrito, Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Wrap, Diced Jalapeños, and Pico De Gallo Salsa. According to an Aug. 9 press release from Taylor Farms, “A grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, that supplies to Coast Citrus Distributors was identified as the potential source in this outbreak.” See hannford.com (“product recalls”) for details.

QOL score: -1

Comment: According to the Taylor Farms press release, “Salmonella [is] an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis.” Visit taylorfarms.com/recall.

More hungry children

According to an Aug. 10 press release from the New Hampshire Food Bank, food insecurity for New Hampshire’s children continues to rise. The Food Bank quoted a new report from Feeding America, described as the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. “Child food insecurity increased by 6% year-over-year, climbing from 36,160 children in the 2025 report to 38,430 this year,” the press release stated, adding, “the overall food insecurity rate has also grown, with the latest data showing 11.2% of all New Hampshire residents lack consistent access to adequate food, up from 10.7% in the previous report.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: According to the New Hampshire Food Bank, Coös County has the highest percentage of food-insecure children: 22.1 percent. Rockingham County has the lowest rate, at 11.6 percent, but that is still more than one in 10. Visit map.feedingamerica.org/county/2024/child/new-hampshire. See nhfoodbank.org for links to food resources and for donation information.

QOL score last week: 58

Net change: -2

QOL this week: 56

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

New Hampshire schools

A recent survey by financial website WalletHub.com rated New Hampshire’s school system as the fourth-best in the country. WalletHub’s report mentioned the state’s relatively high safety rating (15th in the country), our math scores (4th best), and our graduation rates (also ranked No. 4). Governor Ayotte’s office released a statement that read, in part, “New Hampshire is proud to have some of the best schools in the country, and this new ranking is a testament to our dedicated teachers, supportive parents, and hardworking students who helped make it possible…. New Hampshire will keep striving for #1 and prioritizing a best-in-class education for our kids.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: Massachusetts schools received the study’s highest rating, and New Mexico scored the lowest. Visit wallethub.com/edu.

BitCoin scam – DENIED!

As reported in a July 28 press release by the Manchester Police Department, three senior customers at the Varney Street Quick Stop in Manchester were saved from an expensive scam by store employees last month. “On three occasions in July,” the press release stated, “seniors entered the store with cash they intended to deposit into a cryptocurrency ATM. Employees recognized signs of a scam, warned the customers and contacted Manchester Police. Officers responded and confirmed that all three were being victimized.” The scams would have cost the victims more than $17,000.

QOL score: +1

Comment: “Before these incidents,” the press release read, “Manchester Police Fraud Detective Ray Lamy contacted the store owner to discuss scams targeting seniors. The owner educated his staff and promised to intervene when customers appeared to be at risk.”

Meteor showers are the best showers

Mid-August is one of the best times of the year to see shooting stars. That’s when the Earth passes through a cloud of space debris resulting in the Perseid Meteor Showers. As reported in an Aug. 2 online article by New Hampshire Public Radio, “as Earth plows into these tiny particles, they burn up in our atmosphere, producing bright streaks across the night sky.” Conditions for watching meteor showers should be especially good this year; the peak will coincide with a new moon. The darkness will give extra contrast to the trails the meteorites leave behind them.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The NHPR article advised stargazers to find a dark, open area away from artificial light in the hours just before dawn for the best viewing conditions. According to astronomy website earthsky.org, “the mornings of August 12 and 13 are probably your best bets [to see meteorites].”

Aren’t the mosquitoes bad enough on their own?

An Aug. 1 online article by WMUR reported that “Hampton and Derry are now the latest communities where mosquito batches have tested positive for Jamestown Canyon Virus. Positive batches have also been found in Exeter, Fremont, Kingston and Salem.” The virus can be spread to humans through mosquito bites. There have been no reported cases of human or animal infection in New Hampshire this year.

QOL score: -1

Comment: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, symptoms of Jamestown Canyon Virus “can include fever, headache, and fatigue, but disease can also be more severe. No vaccines or medicines are available to prevent or treat Jamestown Canyon virus disease.” Visit cdc.gov/jamestown-canyon.

QOL score last week: 56

Net change: +2

QOL this week: 58

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Trailblazing in a tiara

As reported by the Nashua Telegraph in a July 24 online article, New Hampshire organizer, athlete and beauty contestant Christina Hurley “was recently crowned Ms. North America, becoming the first amputee to receive that honor.” Hurley, the founder of Less Leg More Heart, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping amputees, won her title on July 17 in a ceremony in Orlando, Florida.

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to the pageant’s Facebook page, “the Ms. North America pageant is an international division of the North America Beauty Pageant that welcomes women aged 30 and older…”

UNH to take on ticks in a no-holds-barred grudge match

In a July 22 press release, the University of New Hampshire announced that it will launch a “statewide initiative to study ticks, diseases and the environment.” The University has received a “National Science Foundation award of $8 million to support focus on three key tick species,” the announcement read. “Ticks are an issue that touches nearly every community in New Hampshire,” the report quoted Dr. David Needle of UNH’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. “By combining cutting-edge science with statewide collaboration and education, we have an opportunity to build knowledge that benefits both our state and the broader scientific community.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: The initiative will be called EMBEDDEd-NH, the press release reported — Endeavor for Multi-Omics-Based Exploration, Data-Driven Modeling, and Education in New Hampshire. Visit UNH.edu/news.

Fate and drama in a bowling alley

As reported by the Concord Monitor and republished by New Hampshire Public Radio in a July 21 online article, an independent film has wrapped up filming in a Concord candlepin bowling alley. Filmmaker Carson Lund’s The Pinsetter chronicles a New England candlepin joint from 1994 to 2004, the story read. “Per its synopsis, ‘an aging, morally dubious candlepin bowling alley owner, Henry Nash, battles precarious finances, changing tastes in entertainment and a conniving local politician to keep the communal dream of his suburban alley alive at the turn of the 21st century.’” Principal bowling alley content was filmed inside Boutwell’s Bowling Center in Concord.

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to the article, “The aim for the independent film is for a festival premiere next summer … .”

Sourcing local lettuce

As reported in a July 25 online article by NH Public Radio, in the wake of recent cyclospora outbreaks “some people are turning to local farms to get their produce. Now is generally a time of year when people seek out fresh produce anyway, but some customers have confirmed they’re concerned about reports of parasites in produce.” The NHPR story quoted Brandy Deno of Brookford Farm in Canterbury: “Recently, Deno said, customers have been telling her they’re suspicious of lettuce from national chains. ‘They’re not trusting the grocery store lettuce anymore, and [there are] starting to be recalls, and it scares people,’ Deno said.”

QOL score: +1 for local farms, however …

Comment: Meanwhile, the NH Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health reported in a July 23 press release that it confirmed “9 people with cyclosporiasis (Cyclospora infection) who consumed lettuce products served at the Cheshire Medical Center cafeteria in Keene” and suggests that anyone who ate lettuce at the center from early June through July 20 “who develops severe or persistent watery diarrhea should contact their health care provider for evaluation and testing for Cyclospora infection. See dhhs.nh.gov.

QOL score last week: 52

Net change: +4

QOL this week: 56

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.