Category: Quality Of Life

Working ahead

Nine New Hampshire high school students this month received both their high school diploma and an associate degree at the same time. According to a press release, the students are the inaugural graduating class of Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies, a chartered public high school on the campus of Manchester Community College that opened in 2019. The school offers dual-credit programs with a focus on mechatronics, allowing high school students to receive an associate degree in advanced manufacturing from Manchester Community College the same year they graduate from high school. The graduates have already secured internships at prominent companies, according to the release.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Spark Academy plans to expand its offerings to include a degree program in bio fabrication, and openings for the upcoming academic year are still available.

Sustainable fun

Intown Concord, in partnership with New Hampshire Federal Credit Union, has set out to make Market Days, the largest annual festival in downtown Concord, a sustainable event. According to a press release, the festival, planned for June 22 through June 24, will feature initiatives to promote recycling, waste reduction and eco-conscious practices. Staffed recycling stations, reusable cups in the beer tent and vendor composting are among the key sustainability initiatives. Visit marketdaysfestival.com to learn more.

QOL score: +1

Comment: “By making Market Days a sustainable event, we hope to inspire other festivals, organizations, and individuals to adopt similar practices, creating a greener and more sustainable future for our community,” Intown Concord stated in the release.

We’re spendy

A recent study by Forbes Advisor that examined budgeting, debt management and financial planning across the 50 states revealed that New Hampshire ranked as the sixth least financially disciplined state. According to the study, only 56 percent of residents follow a budget that guides their spending; 22 percent regularly save a portion of their monthly income; 32 percent contribute to a retirement account; 26 percent usually achieve their financial goals, such as paying off student loans; and only 18 percent claim to possess high levels of financial discipline.

QOL score: -1

Comment: The study notes low unemployment as a possible factor in securing Alabama’s status as the most financially disciplined state, though interestingly, New Hampshire surpasses Alabama in that area, ranking third for unemployment, while Alabama ranks sixth.

QOL score: 76

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 77

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

Featured photo: Students at Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies. Courtesy photo.

Cookies donated

More than 33,000 packages of Girl Scout Cookies have been donated to numerous organizations across New Hampshire and Vermont. According to a press release, the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, the council serving Girl Scouts in both states, orchestrated the donations through their Gift of Caring program, with the Girl Scouts themselves personally delivering the cookies. The gesture was made possible by the collective efforts of troops, with thousands of packages contributed through both online and in-person sales. Some troops collaborated to donate cookies collectively across the council, while others individually donated hundreds of packages to support causes close to their hearts.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The New Hampshire Food Bank in Manchester was one of the largest recipients, receiving hundreds of cases of cookies.

Fruit and veggie crop losses

A historic freeze last month dealt a devastating blow to Upper Valley fruit and vegetable growers, resulting in significant crop losses for some, NHPR reported. After experiencing a dry April that ranked as one of the hottest on record in New Hampshire, the region encountered cooler temperatures in May. A low temperature of 23 degrees the night of May 17 broke not only the record for that specific date but also for any day in May within the past 50 years. The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined but is expected to have long-lasting effects.

QOL score: -2

Comment: The affected farms remain uncertain about the extent of financial assistance they may receive to cope with the losses, according to the article.

Socks donated

Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) organized a sock collection drive across its 23 branch locations and three back offices that garnered 1,600 pairs of socks donated by community members and employees, matched by nonprofit partner Operation Service with an additional 1,000 pairs of socks. The 2,600 pairs of socks were distributed to 20 nonprofits through New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Socks are an often overlooked but highly requested item at homeless shelters and play a crucial role in promoting the health, well-being and dignity of those in need, according to the release.

SNAP at farmers markets

The New Hampshire Food Bank is enhancing access to fresh and local fruits and vegetables at farmers markets across the state this summer. According to a press release, the Granite State Market Match program, aimed at helping SNAP households in New Hampshire, allows participants to stretch their benefits and increase buying power at participating farmers markets. With $1 in fruit and vegetable vouchers provided for every $1 charged to their EBT card, SNAP households can double their benefits. More than 25 markets currently participate in Granite State Market Match, with new sites being added regularly. Additionally, select independent retailers offer 50 percent off fresh produce for SNAP households through the Double Up Food Bucks NH initiative.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Last year 3,752 New Hampshire residents used the program and Granite State Market Match infused $175,901 into the state’s economy.

QOL score: 75

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 76

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

Community improvement

The City of Manchester recently completed a community improvement project near 359 Commercial St. that included the construction of an accessible ramp and stair structure, relocation of the Mill Girl Statue, lighting and new brick pavers and concrete flatwork. “The project promotes inclusiveness in our diverse city and provides a renewed place where the community can gather and enjoy improved access between Manchester’s active downtown and the vibrant Millyard,” the City of Manchester, NH Economic Development Facebook page posted.

QOL score: +1

Comment: A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the plaza on Wednesday, June 7, at 1:30 p.m.

Military retirement

A recent WalletHub study ranked New Hampshire the sixth best U.S. state for military retirees. The study looked at various factors, such as state tax on military pension, job opportunities for veterans, rates of homelessness and suicide among veterans, state authorization for veterans’ preference in private hiring, the quality of VA hospitals, the number of VA benefits-administration facilities per number of veterans and more. New Hampshire ranked especially high for veterans per capita (10th) and the share of veteran-own businesses (5th).

QOL score: +1

Comment: Connecticut is the only New England state to join New Hampshire in the top 10, coming in at No. 5. Florida was No. 1.

Butterfly sanctuary

On the 50th anniversary of Endangered Species Day, observed on May 19, the New Hampshire Army National Guard, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services celebrated the success of their collaborative efforts to protect the endangered Karner blue butterfly, NHPR reported. The groups have worked for more than two decades to transform a 28-acre field near Concord Municipal Airport into a sanctuary for the butterflies. In addition to restoring the land, they’ve taken measures to cultivate lupine flowers — which the butterflies rely on for sustenance and egg-laying sites — including controlled fires to clear debris and create a dry climate preferred by the lupines. Their efforts have resulted in a flourishing population of more than 35,000 Karner blue butterflies, according to the article.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The sanctuary has also seen the growth of another butterfly species, the Frosted Elfins, which also rely on lupine flowers.

QOL score: 72

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 75

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

Our smart kids

Six New Hampshire high school seniors were named semifinalists in the prestigious 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, and two of them were named Scholars. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education, the recognition is considered one of the highest honors for graduating seniors nationwide. The semifinalists are Sydney Buffett from Bedford High School, William Longtin from Hollis/Brookline High School, Sam McLaughlin from Spaulding High School and Kelly Zhang from Oyster River High School, with Aaron R. Joy from Phillips Exeter Academy and Sora Shirai from Hanover High School chosen as Scholars. There were 628 semifinalists from across the nation, chosen out of 5,000 candidates. Up to 161 students can be named Scholars each year, according to the program’s website.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Established in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program originally focused on academic excellence but was expanded in 1979 to include students in the arts and in 2015 to recognize achievements in career and technical education, according to the website.

A hot tourism summer

The Division of Travel and Tourism of the Department of Business and Economic Affairs in New Hampshire predicts a 4.8 percent increase in tourists visiting the state this summer and a 6.5 percent increase in those visitors’ spending. According to a press release, approximately 4.3 million tourists are expected to visit and are projected to spend around $2.35 billion. Despite the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, New Hampshire has witnessed record spending in the past two summers. “While inflation and the potential for a recession continue to pose threats, data shows there continues to be a pent-up demand for travel,” BEA Commissioner Taylor Caswell said in the release.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The state’s summer marketing campaign, themed “Discover Your New,” will focus on road trips and continue targeting core markets such as New England and New York, as well as road trip markets including Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Montreal and Quebec City in Canada.

Sarah Silverman, Seth Meyers suggest otherwise

Somehow, a report by Shiny Smile Veneers names Boston as America’s funniest city and Massachusetts as our funniest state and yet ranks New Hampshire as the No. 5 least funny state, according to a press release and the study at shinysmileveneers.com. The study uses not-entirely-New-Hampshire-friendly factors like per capita comedy specials filmed, comedy festivals, comedy clubs and “search volume per city/state” to score funny cities and states. Of course, some of the people yukking it up in Boston (as well as the comedians working those clubs) are likely Granite Staters — QOL demands a recount!

QOL score: -2

Comments: New Hampshire has plenty of comedy; take our state politics — please! Cough, sorry. But just this year New Hampshire’s own (we don’t care where he was born or where he lives now, he’s ours) Adam Sandler was awarded the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. And you can find laughs on the regular at area comedy clubs and comedy concerts — listed for your convenience in our Comedy This Week (see page 30).

QOL score: 72

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 72

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

Baby falcons!

Four of the five eggs laid by the peregrine falcon pair that resides in the New Hampshire Audubon’s peregrine nest box atop the Brady Sullivan Tower in Manchester have hatched as of the morning of Tuesday, May 9. According to the Audubon’s daily peregrine falcons log, the eggs hatched on May 3, May 4, May 5 and May 7, while the fifth egg has been deemed “unviable” and was discarded by the mother bird. The babies have been named Ash, Yetti, Mocha and Perci. Watch them on the Audubon’s 24/7 high-definition livestream of the nest box on YouTube; visit nhaudubon.org/education/birds-and-birding/ peregrine-cam for links and more information.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Peregrine falcons typically fledge in June and spend four to six weeks learning to hunt from their parents before migrating out of the area, according to information released by NH Audubon.

Tomie dePaola stamp

A first-day-of-issue event and dedication ceremony for the U.S. Postal Service’s new Forever stamp honoring prolific New Hampshire children’s author and illustrator Tomie dePaola was held on Friday, May 5, at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester. According to a press release, the stamp art features an illustration from the cover of Strega Nona, the first book in dePaola’s popular series of the same name, published in 1975, depicting the book’s title character, which translates from Italian to “Grandma Witch.” The stamps can be purchased through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826 or at Post Office locations nationwide.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Tomie dePaola, who died in March 2020 at the age of 85, wrote and illustrated more than 270 children’s books during his 50-plus-year career.

Pour one (box of popcorn) out

Perhaps, like QOL, you went to regal.com Wednesday, May 3, looking to secure tickets to a Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Thursday afternoon screening at the Regal Cinema in Hooksett. Perhaps you also joined QOL in feeling deep “oh no!” sadness when you saw the alert about that location — and not Concord, as had been reported earlier this year — closing for good after its Thursday, May 4, screenings. Hooksett’s Regal — given fancy new seating in the 2010s — was a solid Manchester-area option for movie-going, particularly during that chunk of 2021 when the Merrimack and Hooksett Cinemagics closed before reopening as Apple Cinemas. Their popcorn, frequent noon-time screenings and ample Thursday afternoon preview screening schedule will be missed.

QOL score: -2

Comments: And right at the beginning of summer movie season!

QOL score: 72
Net change: 0
QOL this week: 72

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

Featured photo: Courtesy USPS.

Girls work

Girls at Work, a Manchester-based nonprofit that empowers girls through teaching them to build and use tools, was slated to hold its second job fair for high school girls on Tuesday, May 2, and Wednesday, May 3. According to a press release, the first job fair, held last November, was organized by two local high school girls following their experience at a construction job fair where they felt they were not taken seriously. The second fair was expanded from one day to two days and featured twice as many businesses, with indoor and outdoor booths. Girls from Manchester, Goffstown and some area charter schools were invited to attend.

QOL score: +1

Comment:In January, following the inaugural job fair, U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan recognized the young organizers, Kaylee Richard of Manchester and Samantha Grenier of Goffstown, as Granite Staters of the Month. “I admire Kaylee and Samantha for taking the initiative to make a difference in their community and empower women to explore their career options,” Hassan said in a statement for the Congressional Record. “It’s important that young Granite State women were able to see themselves in the women professionals they talked to and envision their career paths accordingly. Their courage in tackling the issue and making New Hampshire a more inclusive place is emblematic of the Granite State spirit.”

New to the field and winning

NHTI community college in Concord made history at the 2023 United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Invitational, held on April 29 in Springfield, Mass. In the women’s events, Natalie Riley won second place in the discus, setting a new school record with a throw of 34.41 meters and placing fifth in the shot put with a 9.72-meter throw, making her the first Track and Field conference champion in school history. Hannah Edgerly also set a new school record in the 1,500-meter race with a time of 6:09.12 and a 14th-place finish. In the men’s events, Jahlen Buckmire set a new school record in triple jump, finishing eighth with 11.54 meters.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The Track and Field program at NHTI is in its second season. “Our athletes put in an incredible effort and showcased their talents against tough competition,” Ed Winters, NHTI’s athletics director, said in the release. “The records and medal won by our athletes are a testament to their dedication and hard work.”

Hold on to your e-wallets

A recent analysis conducted by Secure Data Recovery showed that New Hampshire is the state most affected by shopping scams. Using Google search trend data from all 50 states, the study revealed that the rate of internet searches about scams among New Hampshire residents was 43 percent higher than the national average. Facebook emerged as the brand most frequently associated with scams in the state.

QOL score: -1

Comment: The study also noted that the top three states affected by shopping scams — New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont — all have higher median incomes than the national average and suggests that scammers may be targeting individuals with disposable income.

QOL score: 71

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 72

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

Featured photo: NHTI athletes at the 2023 USCAA Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Invitational. Courtesy photo.