Category: Quality Of Life

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.

Hey, leave our seafood platters alone

Dozens of restaurants in New Hampshire are feeling the effects of a nationwide ransomware attack, WMUR reported. The attack on NCR, a supplier for many restaurant point-of-sale systems, has caused issues with gift cards, loyalty points and payroll for some restaurants. While some can still redeem old gift cards, others have been unable to issue new ones for almost two weeks. In a statement to WMUR, NCR said it’s working to restore applications and enhance its security. In-restaurant purchases and transactions are not currently affected.

QOL score: -1
Comment: The Beach Plum, a restaurant chain with four locations in New Hampshire, has been hit particularly hard by the ransomware attack since it typically offers a gift card promotion in anticipation of Mother’s Day, according to the article.

New lab

Catholic Medical Center has expanded its cardiac electrophysiology (EP) services by opening a third EP lab in Manchester, according to a press release. EP is a cardiac specialty that deals with abnormal heart rhythms, which can be treated with minimally invasive procedures like cardiac ablation, pacemaker insertion and the Watchman and Convergent procedures. Last year 2,259 patients were treated in CMC’s EP Labs. “We have a tremendous demand for these services,” Brian Cusson, MS, RDCS, Director of Invasive and Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Services, said in the release. “Adding this third lab allows us to better provide timely and needed care to patients in our community.” CMC plans to continue to improve and upgrade its existing EP facilities.

QOL score: +1
Comment: Heart arrhythmia affects approximately five percent of adults in the U.S., with atrial fibrillation being the most prevalent type, according to the release.

NH: Still not super diverse

Rochester, New Hampshire, came in second-to-last in a WalletHub study that ranked the 501 most populated cities in the U.S. from most to least diverse. Cities were analyzed across five diversity categories, including socioeconomic, cultural, economic, household and religious diversity. Other New Hampshire cities were also low on the list, including Keene at No. 498, Dover at No. 493, Derry at No. 491 and Lebanon at 488. New Hampshire’s most diverse city is Nashua, coming in at No. 367.

QOL score: -1
Comment:New Hampshire did have one outlier, with Derry ranking as the city with the second most diverse household incomes.

QOL score: 72
Net change: -1
QOL this week: 71

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

Featured photo: Catholic Medical Center opens a third cardiac electrophysiology lab in Manchester. Courtesy photo.

Woo-hoo, NH robotics teams!

Five student robotics teams from New Hampshire have qualified to compete in two upcoming world robotics championships in Texas. The robotics team from Spark Academy in Manchester and Awesome Potatoes, a team from Great Brook Middle School in Antrim, will head to the VEX World Championship in Dallas from April 25 through May 4. The Blue Box team from Windham Middle School and Windham High School, the Lakerbots from Inter-Lakes Middle High School in Meredith and Chop Shop 166 from Merrimack High School are competing in the 2023 FIRST Championship in Houston from April 19 through April 22.

QOL score: +1

Comment: All teams currently have GoFundMe campaigns to help them raise the necessary funds for the trip.

Help for the helpers

Elementary and early childhood educators in New Hampshire who are enrolled in the Lexia LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) one- and two-year training programs will be eligible to receive a stipend upon achieving a mastery level score of 80 percent, among other program completion requirements, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education. Gov. Chris Sununu and the Executive Council approved $956,340 in federal funds to be distributed as stipends to qualifying educators in the amounts of $1,000 for elementary educators and $500 for early childhood educators. “These educators are working diligently to empower our youngest children to read proficiently, and they are spending their valuable free time advancing and integrating the science of reading so that New Hampshire can accelerate literacy learning for all students,” New Hampshire education commissioner Frank Edelblut said in the release.

QOL score: +1

Comment:Around 2,468 individuals have enrolled or pre-enrolled in the Lexia LETRS program since it was made available to educators in New Hampshire in November 2022. The program will continue to be offered through September 2024. Visit lexialearning.com/newhampshire-letrs to learn more and to register.

Funds for the trail

Merrimack County Savings Bank has contributed $10,000 to the Friends of the Merrimack River Greenway Trail, an initiative to create a continuous, off-street paved trail following the Merrimack River from Pembroke to Boscawen. According to a press release, the funds will support the development of Phase 2, a recreational trail to be built by the City of Concord this year as part of the Merrimack River Recreation and Open Space Corridor, extending from the northern end of Terrill Park’s wetland to Loudon Road’s cornfields.

QOL score: +1

Comment: When complete, the trail will be approximately 13 miles long and accessible to individuals with mobility challenges, according to the release. Visit merrimackrivergreenwaytrail.org.

QOL score: 69

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 72

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

Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Friends of the Merrimack River Greenway Trail.

Sweet sign of spring

Dover Public Library has announced the winners of its annual “Peeps Show” contest held last month. According to a press release, participants built shoe box dioramas using Peeps marshmallow candies of any color or design to recreate scenes from literature. And the winners are: “A Day at Charm School” by Emmeline Jess-Johnson in the kids division; “3 Little Peeps and the Big Bad Chick” by Harper Stansfield in the youth division; “Midsummer Night’s Peep” by Lucy McCammon in the teen division; and “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Sarah Denham in the adult division.

QOL score: +1

Comment: On April 6 the New York Times published on its website a series of photographs of the Peeps-making process, from the dyeing of the sugar to a photo of a phalanx of Peeps headed to their boxes. An interesting debate in the comments section — what is tastier, fresh Peeps or Peeps that have been brought out of their packaging and left to “cure” for a few days? Discuss!

Keep smiling

Manchester Public Health’s Oral Health Program has received a donation of $6,101.26 from the Manchester Rotary Club. According to a press release, the funds will be used to offset the costs of much-needed electrical components for the program’s mobile dental van and of updating the outlets and breakers at the 21 area schools that the program serves, which has become necessary in order for the program to continue providing dental care to all qualifying children.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The city’s oral health program is the largest of its kind in New Hampshire, providing free preventive dental care to around 600 students each year.

Cheers!

The New Hampshire Liquor Commission, in partnership with Jack Daniel’s whiskey brand, kicked off a first-of-its-kind recycling program in Manchester this month, NHPR reported, collecting more than 6,300 pounds of glass. The program, called “Bring Back Jack,” incentivizes customers to recycle their empty wine and spirits bottles to reduce glass waste in landfills; customers who bring at least a dozen glass bottles to select outlet locations will receive $25 off a future purchase of $150 or more, and if any of those bottles are from Jack Daniel’s products, customers will receive an additional $5 off the purchase of a single Jack Daniel’s product. The recycled bottles are crushed into glass cullet and used to make new glass bottles for beverages. Visit liquorandwineoutlets.com/bringbackjack for a schedule of upcoming recycling events.

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to the article, data from the Environmental Protection Agency shows that the percentage of glass recycling in the U.S. is only 31 percent, and that more than 7 million tons of non-recycled glass waste ends up in U.S. landfills each year, equaling about 5 percent of all waste.

QOL score: 66

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 69

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

Featured photo: “Midsummer Night’s Peep” by Lucy McCammon, teen division. Photo courtesy Dover Public Library.