Category: Quality Of Life

Ewww

New Hampshire waters are experiencing a record number of cyanobacteria blooms this summer due to recent weather conditions, WMUR reported. Environmental officials indicate that the heavy rainfall has enriched the waters with nutrients, promoting the growth of the bacteria. Following the rains, the sunny, warm weather allows the bacteria to thrive. Cyanobacteria manifest as clouds of material, surface scums, or ribbons or flecks floating on the water surface. They can pose health threats to humans and pets, including symptoms like gastrointestinal distress and eye, nose and mouth irritation. More intense reactions might include numbness, seizures and, in extreme cases, organ failure and death.

QOL score: -2

Comment: New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services offers a safe swimming map to alert residents about the water quality in various locations throughout the region; visit des.nh.gov/water/healthy-swimming/healthy-swimming-mapper.

Baby-friendly

WalletHub recently released a report on the best and worst states to have a baby in 2023. When evaluating the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 31 key measures, such as costs, health care accessibility, and overall baby-friendliness, it found New Hampshire to be the sixth best state to have a baby in 2023. Specifically, New Hampshire excelled in several categories: it ranked 1st in Hospital Conventional-Delivery Charges, 2nd in Hospital Cesarean-Delivery Charges, 7th in the Rate of Low Birth-Weight, and 9th in Infant Mortality Rate. Additionally, the state was 13th in Pediatricians & Family Medicine Physicians per Capita and 15th in both Midwives and OB-GYNs per Capita and Child-Care Centers per Capita.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The average conventional birth costs over $2,600 for mothers with insurance and nearly $15,000 for mothers without insurance, according to the report.

Athletes and scholars

The University of New Hampshire (UNH) women’s soccer team showcased its academic prowess in the 2022-23 year by placing 25 student-athletes on the America East Academic Honor Roll, according to a press release. Of these students, 20 were awarded the Commissioner’s Honor Roll, which requires a GPA of 3.50 or above in fall 2022, while the remaining five made the Honor Roll for GPAs between 3.0 and 3.49. The team’s academic achievements rose this year, with 86 percent of the members receiving an honor, marking a 1 percent improvement from the prior year. Notably, seven Wildcats, Ande Allison, Emily Bini, Ashley Buchheit, Cassie Jones, Abbi Maier, Sally Rainey and Whitney Wiley, secured a 4.0 GPA. On the field, the team triumphed by winning the 2022 America East Championship. They also maintained team GPAs of 3.6 in the Fall and 3.64 in the Spring, with Cassie Jones earning the Elite 18 Award for the highest GPA during the championship game.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Across all sports sponsored by America East in 2022-23, a commendable 77 percent of student-athletes achieved the Honor Roll standard, according to the release, with a total of 2,694 student-athletes being honored for their academic commitment and success throughout the conference.

QOL score: 82

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 82

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

Weird weather

The National Weather Service (NWS) has confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down in Dublin, New Hampshire, on July 27 during a Tornado Warning. In a press release, the Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management emphasized the importance of preparedness as severe weather events are becoming more prevalent. HSEM provides preparedness resources for residents and visitors, available online at readynh.gov.

QOL score: -1

Comment: This is the first tornado confirmed in the state for 2023, whereas two tornadoes occurred in 2022.

Help for families

United Ways across New Hampshire received a donation of $175,000 from Eversource Energy. The funding will support United Way’s efforts to address pressing issues faced by local families and individuals, particularly in areas related to health, education and financial stability, and will directly benefit thousands of individuals who rely on United Way’s services.

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to a press release, the contribution was part of a larger $2.6 million donation made by Eversource employees and the Eversource Foundation to United Way organizations in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Getting gold, helping kids

Acadia Gelineau, an 18-year-old Girl Scout from Nashua, has achieved the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award for her program called “Mighty Minds,” according to a press release. With a focus on helping children cope with stress and anxiety, Gelineau created a patch program that teaches students from kindergarten through 12th grade about anxiety and its effects. The program includes age-appropriate steps to develop positive coping strategies, such as breathing exercises and creating coping tool boxes filled with sensory tools like fidget toys. Gelineau’s program, along with the children’s book she wrote, will soon be available online for Girl Scouts across the country.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Gelineau said her own journey through Girl Scouts has been personally transformative, helping her overcome shyness and develop leadership and communication skills.

QOL score: 81

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 82

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

Plastic habit

According to a study by personal-finance website WalletHub, New Hampshire ranks 4th among the states with the highest credit card debts. The median credit card balance in New Hampshire is $2,793, and the cost of interest until payoff is $355, with the expected timeframe to pay off the median credit card balance at 14 months and 13 days. The study used data from TransUnion, the Federal Reserve, the U.S. Census Bureau, and WalletHub’s proprietary credit card payoff calculator to determine the cost and time required to repay the median credit card balance in each state. The analysis included credit cards with a balance and excluded store cards. The calculation assumed consumers would pay an average 20.92 percent interest rate, based on the APR paid by existing cardholders.

QOL score: -1

Comment:Interesting considering New Hampshire’s per capita income is on the higher end at $41,241, ranking the 8th highest, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Kids catching up

Recent assessment results in New Hampshire indicate positive academic gains among students, marking a slow upward recovery trend for two consecutive years. According to a press release, preliminary performance scores from the spring 2023 assessment show modest improvements in math and reading across various grade levels, except for 11th-grade SAT scores. Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut expressed delight in the signs of academic progress, which defy national trends. “This newest data from New Hampshire contradicts some nationwide data showing that academic recovery has stalled and reflects the hard work of our school leaders, teachers, students and families, that everyone needs to work together to close learning gaps,” he said in the release. While student performance advanced from 2022 to 2023, student growth percentiles also improved in every grade level and subject area, indicating accelerated learning rates compared to 2019.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The iPlatform system will release individual school and district data for both the NHSAS and SAT results in the fall. Parents had previously been given access to their child’s scores.

Go, team!

The University of New Hampshire swimming and diving team has been awarded CSCAA Scholar All-America honors for the Spring 2023 semester. According to a press release, they achieved a program-best 3.68 team GPA, surpassing their previous record of 3.67 from the previous semester. Additionally, senior captain Madison Linstedt won the America East Women’s Swimming and Diving Scholar Athlete of the Year award, making it the 11th time a Wildcat has received this honor. Several other team members also earned academic accolades.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The University of New Hampshire swimming and diving team also achieved their fourth consecutive America East Championship and secured their 11th overall title in the league’s history during the past seasons, marking the first time in the program’s existence that UNH has won four championships in a row.

QOL score: 80

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 81

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

A rain-soaked Sunday

Torrential rain in New Hampshire caused significant damage, including sinkholes, flooded basements and over 120 road closures, NHPR reported. The downpour lasted throughout Sunday, July 16, with flash flood warnings in effect for most of the day. The continuous rain disrupted traffic and made many roads impassable, presenting challenges for authorities. State emergency officials activated support teams to aid communities dealing with flooded and damaged roads while urging residents to stay inside if possible and drivers to seek alternate routes when encountering closures or flooding. WMUR reported that Manchester city officials had opened an emergency operations center, and firefighters conducted a rescue operation in Manchester after a driver became trapped in a flooded car.

QOL score: -2

Comment: One of the biggest disruptions was the postponement of The Crayon 301 NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon until Monday. Race officials made the decision to ensure the safety of attendees, WMUR reported. Fans who weren’t able to attend the rescheduled event can exchange their tickets for tickets of equal or lesser value to another race within the next calendar year.

More libraries, more books

The University System of New Hampshire (USNH) campus libraries, including those at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Durham and Manchester campuses, Keene State College (KSC) and Plymouth State University (PSU), now offer free borrowing services to New Hampshire residents. According to a press release, this allows residents to access over 3 million physical and digital items for research, education, and continued learning. Previously, residents had access to library spaces and resources, but free borrowing provides more flexibility. Library cards can be obtained by New Hampshire residents over 18 years old with valid identification and proof of residency. The libraries also provide access to special collections and archives unique to each institution.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The libraries’ special collections provide a number of unique resources for academic exploration and historical research, such as the internationally famous Betty and Barney Hill papers at the Dimond Library at the UNH Durham campus and the Charles and Judith Hildebrandt Collection at the Mason Library at KSC, which supports the only undergraduate program in the U.S. dedicated to Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

Recognition for CMC

Catholic Medical Center (CMC) in Manchester has been recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) with the Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award. According to a press release, this award signifies CMC’s commitment to providing high-quality stroke care based on nationally recognized guidelines, and educating patients, leading to improved patient outcomes and reduced disability. Get With The Guidelines is an in-hospital program that helps hospitals align patient care with evidence-based guidelines, ultimately enhancing stroke treatment and preventing long-term effects.

QOL score: +1

Comment: CMC also received the Target: Stroke Honor Roll award and the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award from the AHA for their efforts in reducing treatment time for eligible stroke patients and providing specialized care to those with Type 2 diabetes, according to the release.

QOL score: 80

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 80

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

Floods

The National Weather Service issued a Flood Watch for most of New Hampshire from Sunday, July 9, through the morning of Tuesday, July 11, warning that heavy rain could lead to flash flooding in parts of Hillsborough, Merrimack, Cheshire, Grafton, Coos, Carroll, Belknap and Sullivan counties, according to a press release. The New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management urges residents and visitors to be prepared to “take action and seek higher ground immediately” in the case that a Flood Warning — which means flooding is imminent — is issued.

QOL score: -1

Comment: Most flood deaths happen in vehicles, the release said; never drive through flooded roadways as just 6 inches of water can reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control and possible stalling, and 1 foot of water can sweep a vehicle away. If there is moving water, remain in your vehicle, but if the floodwaters are not moving, abandon your vehicle and move to higher ground.

Light show

A solar storm on Thursday, July 13, could make the Northern Lights visible in 17 states, including New Hampshire, according to an AP story on NHPR.org. According to the article, the Northern Lights are caused by solar wind hitting Earth’s magnetic field, making atoms glow, and the storm is part of an 11-year solar cycle that is increasing the chances of seeing the colorful sky show in lower latitudes.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The lights are most likely to be seen between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., somewhere away from city lights. According to the travel guide website Rove.me, the best place in New Hampshire to see the lights is the region’s highest peak, Mount Washington, which offers a clear and dark view of the sky, intensifying the colors of the lights.

Baby loons!

You can now watch baby loons on LoonCam Live, a live broadcast of loon nests in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, run by the Loon Preservation Committee, a nonprofit organization that works to preserve loons and their habitats in the state. According to the LPC’s website, the LoonCam is currently streaming 24/7 on a nest with two chicks that hatched on July 9 and July 10. The parent loons have left the nest and are guarding their chicks nearby. The broadcast will continue until mid-July, when the loon chicks are expected to fledge. Watch at loon.org/looncam.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Viewers can also find timelapse videos, updates from a loon blogger and information on how to support the LPC’s mission on the LPC’s website.

QOL score: 79

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 80

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

Featured photo: Screenshot from last year’s LoomCam.

Girls getting gold

Twelve Girl Scouts were honored at the Young Women of Distinction ceremony held by Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains last month at the Grappone Center in Concord. According to a press release, the Girl Scouts received recognition for achieving the highest awards in their respective age groups: Gold, Silver and Bronze. The Gold Award, the highest honor for Girl Scouts in grades 9 through 12, was earned by Patricia McNerney, Sophia MacDonald, Ella Lawson and Annabelle Holmes. Their projects included creating an outdoor classroom, developing a grief garden, providing personal protective equipment, and building a softball shed.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Girl Scouts, with the support of adult volunteers, work together to bring their dreams to life and make a positive impact in their communities. Gold Award Girl Scouts also have the opportunity to earn college scholarships and demonstrate strong educational and career outcomes, according to the release.

Scam alert

Attorney General John M. Formella and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have issued a joint Consumer Alert warning about potential scams related to student loan debt, according to a press release. Following a recent Supreme Court decision on the Department of Education’s student loan forgiveness program, scammers may use robocalls and texts to exploit the news coverage and pressure consumers for payments or personal information. Consumers are advised to be cautious of calls or texts offering debt relief or forgiveness programs and to seek information from official sources such as StudentAid.gov. Signs of a scam include pressure to send money, requests for upfront payments, and directing consumers to websites outside of StudentAid.gov.

QOL score: -3

Comment: If you receive a suspected scam call or text, do not share personal or financial information, and consider filing a complaint with the New Hampshire Department of Justice by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-888-468-4454 or online at joj.nh.gov/consumer/complaints.

Bill break

Starting Aug. 1, residential customers who receive their energy supply from Eversource will see a decrease in their electric bills by 24 percent. According to a press release, the energy supply charge will change from 20.22 cents per kilowatt-hour to 12.58 cents per kilowatt-hour. For the average customer using 600 kilowatt-hours per month, this amounts to approximately $46 in savings. These changes do not apply to customers who receive energy from a third-party supplier.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Customers should keep in mind that energy usage tends to increase during the summer months, particularly due to increased air conditioning usage. To offset higher energy use, Eversource encourages customers to take advantage of their energy efficiency programs before the hot weather arrives.

QOL score: 80

Net change: -1

QOL this week: 79

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

Featured photo: Girl Scouts were recognized June 4 at the Young Women of Distinction ceremony in Concord. From left are Gold Award Girl Scouts Patricia McNerney, Sophia MacDonald, Ella Lawson and Annabelle Holmes. GSGWM photo.