Category: Quality Of Life

Toys!

The 12th Annual Tower of Toys initiative in Manchester marked another successful year by collecting approximately 1,100 gifts and raising more than $15,000 for local children and families during the holiday season. According to a press release, the donated toys were assembled into a tower for public viewing at the Beacon Building’s atrium before distribution to beneficiaries through schools, churches and nonprofit organizations. Local businesses, individuals and 10 restaurants actively participated in the campaign, which also received support from various sponsors.

QOL score: +1

Comment: “With heartfelt appreciation, the 12th annual Tower of Toys initiative celebrates the collective generosity that has made the holidays truly magical for New Hampshire children and families,” Larry Thibodeau, Tower of Toys founder and sponsor, said in the release.

Little extra

Following advocacy efforts by the New Hampshire and Vermont Congressional delegations, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has announced an increase in pay for federal employees in certain counties of New Hampshire and Vermont. According to a press release, this change, impacting workers in Carroll, Cheshire, Grafton and Sullivan counties in New Hampshire, aligns their locality pay with most counties in New Hampshire and the Greater Boston area. Over 1,000 federal employees, including those working at the White River Junction VA Medical Center, White Mountain National Forest and the Army’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, will benefit from more competitive pay rates.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The pay raise aims to improve hiring and retention of federal employees, which is crucial for initiatives like the implementation of the PACT Act, a law passed to secure health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances, according to the release.

Money management

A recent analysis by the Pew Charitable Trusts commended New Hampshire for its prudent use of the $995 million received from the American Rescue Plan, NHRP reported. The state allocated the majority (72.5 percent) of these funds to one-time expenses and dedicated over 19 percent to direct pandemic response, such as vaccine distribution and support for long-term care facilities. Only a small portion (8.1 percent) was used for operating expenses, which are typically recurring and could lead to future budget shortfalls.

QOL score: +1

Comment: New Hampshire’s strategic spending on pandemic response and one-time investments, like purchasing Hampstead Hospital and expanding housing, is in line with Pew’s recommendations for minimizing the risk of future fiscal imbalances, the article said.

QOL score: 90

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 93

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

Featured photo: 12th Annual Tower of Toys. Courtesy photo.

Ski NH

New Hampshire has been ranked as the sixth-best state for skiing vacations in the U.S., with a score of 6.54 out of 10 according to Viator’s points-based index system. This system evaluates the number of ski resorts, ski resorts per capita, average ski resort ratings and average snowfall during the winter months. With 28 ski resorts, New Hampshire boasts the third-highest number in the top 10 states and enjoys the third-highest average snowfall in that group, with 61.3 inches. This figure places it fourth in the nation for ski resorts per 100,000 people.

QOL score: +1

Comment: New Hampshire’s largest ski resort, Bretton Woods in the White Mountains, offers 464 acres of downhill skiing and snowboarding, with 63 trails and 35 glades, accessible via 10 lifts.

Super super

The New Hampshire School Administrators Association (NHSAA) has announced that Dr. Kimberly Rizzo Saunders, Superintendent of the Contoocook Valley School District, is a finalist for National Superintendent of the Year. According to a press release, Rizzo Saunders is among four nominees for this national recognition by AASA, the School Superintendents Association. The award, now in its 37th year, evaluates nominees based on criteria that include leadership, communication, professionalism and community involvement. The winner, to be announced during AASA’s National Conference on Education in February 2024, will also have a $10,000 college scholarship awarded in their name to a student from their high school or the current school serving that area.

QOL score: +1

Comment: “I am deeply honored to be recognized by AASA,” Rizzo Saunders said in the release. “The work our District does every day could not be successful without a supportive School Board, a caring and compassionate community, and staff, colleagues, and peers who have dedicated themselves to excellence every day. Our children are afforded every chance to succeed in school and life because of these supports.”

Lower bills

The Public Utilities Commission has approved an electric supply rate decrease for Liberty Utilities customers to 9.76 cents per kWh, effective Feb. 1, 2024. According to a press release, this represents a 56 percent year-to-year reduction in electric supply rates for their customers. The Department of Energy projects that this rate change will save the average residential customer using 650 kWh per month approximately $79 per month in energy supply costs, compared to the rates from February 2023.

QOL score: +1

Comment: In conjunction with this rate decrease, the New Hampshire Department of Energy has also opened the New Hampshire Fuel Assistance Program to aid families with their heating expenses.

QOL score: 87

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 90

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

Welcome, winter enthusiasts!

New Hampshire has been recognized as the fourth-best state for a winter trip in the U.S., achieving a score of 9.31 out of 10 in a study by travel expert Viator. This commendation highlights the state’s robust offerings for winter enthusiasts, including a high count of ski resorts at 28, the most among the top four states. In addition to providing numerous winter sports opportunities with approximately 61 inches of average snowfall, New Hampshire also caters to ice skating fans with 37 rinks available across the state.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Another reason to get excited about snow.

Bird woes

New Hampshire residents have been noticing a decrease in bird populations, NHPR reported. Sean O’Brien, from the University of New Hampshire’s cooperative extension, has been addressing this concern, identifying a mast year, where oak trees produce abundant acorns, as a key factor. This abundance of forest food reduces birds’ presence in open areas. Furthermore, climate change is impacting bird species, with the National Audubon Society noting significant declines across the U.S. Migratory birds are particularly affected, experiencing habitat changes and increasing temperatures. In contrast, local winter birds like owls and woodpeckers are faring better.

QOL score: -2

Comment: In the report, O’Brien highlighted the importance of native plants in supporting bird populations, recommending that gardens should comprise at least 70 percent native perennials to help birds thrive, along with minimizing pesticide use and keeping cats indoors.

Reading help

New Hampshire is offering free training on the science of reading to parents and educators, NHPR reported, aiming to improve literacy among the state’s elementary students. The Department of Education notes more than 3,300 individuals are already enrolled in the Lexia LETRS courses, with more cohorts opening for 2024. The training covers various aspects of reading education, including phonics and phonology, and is unique in its inclusivity, being open to all adults involved in children’s education, such as parents and homeschool instructors. Funded by federal Covid relief funds, the program sees participation from more than 80 school districts.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The report said this initiative responds to concerns about declining reading scores and the use of outdated teaching methods in the state. New Hampshire’s reading and math scores have been falling since peaking in 2013, with current data showing about half of the state’s fourth-graders not proficient in reading, according to the article.

QOL score: 87

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 87

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

Funding the show

The Community Players of Concord, an all-volunteer theater company founded in 1927, received a significant boost with a $50,000 matching gift from an anonymous donor. According to a press release, this gift is aimed at establishing an investment fund to secure the long-term future of the nearly century-old organization. The fund, named “A Fund for the Players,” requires the Players to raise an additional $50,000 to access the full pledged amount. Already over halfway to their goal, the group plans to meet this challenge before their annual meeting in June 2024.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Contributions to this fund can be made through the Community Players of Concord’s website, communityplayersofconcord.org.

Our holiday look

A “Most Popular Christmas Decorations 2023” study conducted by Lombardo Living found that New Hampshire ranks 7th among states for the most holiday decorating in 2023. The study, which analyzed Google search terms related to Christmas decorations, also indicates that the most popular decoration in New Hampshire is the window candle. This preference places New Hampshire within a unique niche of states that have chosen a specific type of holiday decoration that differs from the more commonly seen Christmas trees and lights that dominate other states’ preferences.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The study reports that 83 percent of Americans are decorating for the holidays this year, spending an average of $140 on decorations.

Jewelry thefts

The Manchester Police Department reported three mid-business-day jewelry thefts happening within a little more than a week at two local jewelry stores, according to a press release. Starting on Nov. 20, Day’s Jewelers fell victim to a “snatch-and-grab” theft of a gold chain, a tactic repeated in a subsequent theft at the same store on Nov. 25. A similar theft took place at Market Square Jewelers on Nov. 28, involving a gold rope chain, the release said.

QOL score: -2

Comment: Manchester Police Department asks anyone for information about the thefts to call Manchester Police Detective Andrew Choi at 792-5514. Descriptions and photos of the men suspected in the thefts are posted on the police department’s Facebook page.

QOL score: 87

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 87

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

Bird page

Bird enthusiasts can now delve into the world of local avian life through New Hampshire Audubon’s new interactive website dedicated to New Hampshire’s birds. This comprehensive portal, accessible within the New Hampshire Audubon website, provides an in-depth look at the current status of birds in New Hampshire, the challenges they encounter and the actions that can be taken for their conservation. The site allows users to explore information sorted by breeding habitats and species groups, including waterfowl, birds of prey, shorebirds, aerial insectivores and ocean birds. It also offers insights into migration cycles and a resources page filled with bird conservation-related links. Visit stateofthebirds.nhaudubon.org.

QOL score: +1

Comment:“Why pay attention to birds?” the website asks and answers: “New Hampshire’s birds are an integral part of our ecosystem. They can tell us about our environment, and what the birds are telling us may be important, not only to their survival but to ours.”

Jobs!

In a CommercialSearch study, Manchester-Nashua, New Hampshire, was recognized among the top 30 metro areas for career advancement, placing 10th with 56 points. The metrics spotlighting New Hampshire included the second-lowest unemployment rate at 2.3 percent, the fourth-best student-to-teacher ratio with 11 students per faculty, and the fourth-highest job mobility for high-skill workers at 3.9 percent. Additionally, Manchester noted a 7.5 percent growth in the percentage of high qualified jobs, adding 2,120 such positions in one year. The study, aimed at identifying metros with the best career development opportunities, evaluated factors like education and labor market conditions.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Manchester-Nashua was the only metro area from the Northeast that ranked in the top 10 for career development, representing the region amidst a list otherwise dominated by Western metros.

Helping out

The New Hampshire Bankers Association completed its third annual #NHBanksGiveBack month of service in October. According to a press release, the event saw participation from 27 member banks, which engaged in community service activities and financial contributions. This year’s efforts amounted to more than 3,186 volunteer hours across 382 events, with a total of $504,900 in monetary donations. The activities included shred events, food and clothing donations, soup kitchen work, and financial literacy outreach, among others.

QOL score: +1

Comment: “In just three short years, the volunteer efforts of our member banks have contributed more than $1.3 million in financial support to our state and communities, backed by over 5,000 volunteer hours spread out over more than 800 charitable events,” Kristy Merrill, President of New Hampshire Bankers, said in the release.

QOL score: 84

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 87

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