Category: Quality Of Life

Healthy state for kids

The 2021 Kids Count Data Book, released last week by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, ranks New Hampshire second in the United States for overall child well-being. According to a press release from New Futures, a nonprofit that aims to improve the health and wellness of New Hampshire residents, the national report uses data from four domains in each state: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community context. According to the report, New Hampshire ranks first in family and community context, third in overall health, fifth in education and sixth in economic well-being.

Score: +1

Comment: According to the release, New Hampshire moved from second to first in family and community context because the number of children living in single-parent families decreased from 30 percent in 2018 to 28 percent in 2019, and the number of children living in high-poverty areas dropped from 2 percent in 2018 to less than 1 percent in 2019.

Safe state for cats and dogs

For the first time, New Hampshire is a no-kill state, according to the annual pet lifesaving data recently released by Best Friends Animal Society, with no dogs or cats killed in state shelters in 2020. It’s the second state in the country (after Delaware) to reach no-kill status, the release said, with an aggregate shelter pet save rate of 92.62 percent, which factors in the approximately 10 percent of pets who enter shelters and have medical or behavioral issues that warrant humane euthansia. Of the 8,573 dogs and cats that entered New Hampshire shelters in 2020, all were saved, according to the release.

Comment: +1

Score: In 2019, only 76.47 percent of the state’s shelters were no-kill, according to the release.

American pride

The Fourth of July should be a big day in the Granite State — according to a new report from the personal-finance website WalletHub, New Hampshire is the fifth most patriotic state in the nation.

Data compiled included number of military enlistees and veterans, volunteer hours and share of adults who voted in the 2020 presidential election. According to the report, New Hampshire ranked first in civics education requirement, fourth in percentage of adults who voted in the presidential election and sixth in Peace Corps volunteers per capita.

Score: +1

Comment: New Hampshire follows Montana, Alaska, Maryland and Vermont in patriotism, according to the report.

Queen City scams

In the past couple of weeks, Manchester police have dealt with two significant scams. On June 17, they handled a report from an elderly woman who had received calls from a man who said her Social Security number had been used in a drug and money laundering crime in Texas and told her to send $25,000 to a UPS dropoff in Tampa so that they could make sure the money was kept safe, according to a press release. The woman sent the money to the address, but a Manchester detective told the store manager to hold on to the package, and it was ultimately returned to her. On June 22, Manchester police sent out an Amber Alert for a missing mother and her 4-year-old son, who were found safe in the city soon after the alert went out. Detectives believe the incident was a phone scam, where someone calls the victim and says a family member is in trouble, then demands money for the individual’s safe return, according to a press release.

Score: -2

Comment: Both of these scams ended as happily as they could have, but the police remind everyone to be wary of any suspicious calls or requests for money.

QOL score: 77
Net change: +1
QOL this week: 78

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

Success in the sand

Last week’s Hampton Beach’s Sand Sculpting Classic was a success, held as scheduled (as opposed to being pushed to September, like it was last year) and with beautiful weather. The professional sculptors carved over three days, from June 17 to June 19, and voting took place and awards were given out on Saturday, June 19. According to a press release, the first-place winner was “empty” by Abe Waterman of Prince Edward Island, Canada. His sculpture featured two faces, a double-sided piece that was over 10 feet tall with connecting tears spilling from the eyes, plus a male with his head in his hands on one side and a female laying in a fetal position on the other, representing the feelings of sadness Waterman experienced from a breakup with his wife, the release said. “Nearly every piece was doubled-sided this year, which, although it wasn’t a requirement, points are always given when both sides are completed. So this was a step up,” Lisa Martineau, co-marketing director of the Hampton Beach Village District, said in the release.

Score: +1

Comment: The sculptures will remain on display through Sunday, June 27, and will be lit for night viewing.

Blood shortages at critical levels

Like the rest of New England, New Hampshire is facing a critical blood shortage in its hospitals and health care systems, and the American Red Cross of Northern New England is collaborating with state hospital associations in the region to address the need for all types of blood. According to a joint statement from the hospital associations, donating blood takes only about an hour but is a life-saving gift for someone awaiting a transfusion. “We are experiencing such significant blood shortages that many of our hospitals are down to critical levels,” Steve Ahnen, president of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, said in the statement. “We continue to collaborate with our American Red Cross partners and encourage every Granite Stater who is able to donate blood to do so soon so that we can increase blood supplies across the state.” As part of the effort to get more people to give blood, $5 Amazon gift cards are being offered to those who donate through June 30.

Score: -2

Comment: To make an appointment to donate blood, or to find out how to host a blood drive, visit redcross.org and enter your zip code.

Community healing

Anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one is invited to a free community event on Sunday, June 27, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. Organized by Friends of Aine, a nonprofit organization providing bereavement support services to grieving children, teens and families, “Gathering in Remembrance: Sharing Grief. Honoring Love. Inspiring Hope.” is a chance for the community to join together to pay tribute to those they have lost. According to a press release, it will feature a remembrance tribute with inspirational guest speakers, community support, a butterfly release, kids activities and light refreshments, including free hot dog meals for children under 18. The event is free, but registration is encouraged at friendsofaine.com, where all registered participants will have the opportunity to submit the name and photo of their loved one for display on the stadium’s jumbotron and for inclusion in the tribute portion of the event, the release said.

Score: +1

Comment:“Gathering in Remembrance will offer attendees the opportunity to remove the isolation of grief — no matter when or how their loved ones passed away,” Christine Phillips, co-founder of Friends of Aine, said in the release.

QOL score: 77
Net change: 0
QOL this week: 77

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

Thank you, Laura

Laura Knoy wrapped up more than 25 years of hosting NHPR’s call-in show The Exchange last Thursday, June 10, and talked about her time on air with Peter Biello, regular host of the show’s Friday Weekly News Round-up, on The Exchange on June 14. (NHPR announced earlier in the month that The Exchange will end production in June, with Morning Edition then running from 6 to 10 a.m.) Over the years, Knoy interviewed presidential candidates, a variety of authors, local politicians and activists, experts in all fields and the occasional Hippo writer. She expertly helmed this statewide platform and she and the show will be missed.

Score: + a zillion for all the great conversations, -3 for the hole in the New Hampshire media landscape

Comments: As many callers said on the June 14 show: thank you, Laura — and the team at The Exchange.

NH gave

In 24 hours, more than 13,000 Granite Staters donated $3.7 million to 584 nonprofits during NH Gives, an online fundraising event created by the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, according to a press release. From 5 p.m. on June 8 to 5 p.m. on June 9, donors gave enough to break last year’s record of $3.37 million (which was also a record-breaking amount, more than had been raised in the previous four years combined). Matching funds helped up the totals; the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and its donors contributed $460,000 in matching funds, while individual donors around the state contributed more than $1 million in matching funds for specific organizations.

Score: +1

Comment: Manchester Moves, a volunteer organization working to connect Manchester to the rest of the state via rail trails and greenways, was the top online fundraiser, raising just over $57,000 in 24 hours and winning an additional $1,000 “Power of Many” prize in recognition, while The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire had the highest number of contributions.

A kid helping kids

A 9-year-old girl from Windham has shaved her head and raised thousands of dollars to help kids with cancer. According to a June 13 report from WMUR, Vivian Meyer wanted to get her head shaved because three of her grandparents died from cancer and one of her former teachers shaved her head after losing her son to cancer. The original goal was to raise $500 through “Buzz Off for Kids with Cancer,” and the third-grader ended up raising more than $3,000.

Score: +1

Comment: “The premise of honoring these people that passed away and really helping people today that are fighting this disease, for a 9-year-old, they have all these other things in their mind, [so] to really focus on that is … amazing,” Vivian’s mother, Jennifer Meyer, said in the report.

Eighth best state to live in

Millions of people moved last year, many influenced by the pandemic, according to personal-finance website WalletHub, which released its report on 2021’s Best States to Live In on June 15. New Hampshire landed at No. 8 in the rankings, which compared the 50 states using data like housing costs, education rate and income growth. New Hampshire has the lowest percentage of its population in poverty, is 6th in home ownership rate and 8th in having the fewest adults in fair or poor health. It also ranked 14th for percentage of the population that is insured, 16th for average weekly work hours, and 21st for housing costs.

Score: +1

Comment: According to the report, the Top 3 states to live in are New Jersey, Massachusetts and New York (though if you’re looking for affordability, the Northeast may not be your preferred home; those states ranked 49th, 45th and 47th, respectively, while New Hampshire ranked 40th).

QOL score: 77

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 77

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

Wanted: lifeguards

There may be fewer lifeguards at your local swimming spot this year. Across the state, towns and cities are facing a shortage of lifeguards, according to a June 2 report from WMUR, as getting lifeguards hired and certified has been more of a challenge this year. Nashua’s pools are expected to be fully staffed, the report said, but the city had to increase wages to attract more lifeguards, and it still had to cancel swim classes. Likewise, Concord has struggled to find lifeguards and will have reduced swim class sizes. Check with your town or city, or the state, before heading to a pool or beach to see if lifeguards will be on duty.

Score: -1

Comment: Ocean visitors needn’t worry, though, as Hampton Beach anticipates being fully staffed with a crew of 70, thanks in part to word of mouth advertising, the report said.

Making Manchester more LGBTQ+ friendly

Manchester is implementing new LGBTQ+-friendly initiatives throughout the city, according to a press release, in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign, which releases a Municipal Equality Index each year outlining LBGTQ+-friendly policies in a community. According to the report, Manchester falls in the middle of the state’s rated cities and is now working to create more LGBTQ+-friendly policies and practices. For example, LGBTQ+ liaisons have been appointed in the Mayor’s Office and Manchester Police Department; the Office of Youth Services has designated a representative to support transgender anti-discrimination policies and youth bullying prevention; and the City has established a Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Committee.

Score: +1

Comment: “I’m proud to announce these changes during Pride Month. It is important for everyone to feel safe and welcomed in our city, especially our LGBTQ+ residents and visitors. These changes will make a big difference and are a great step toward helping Manchester become as LGBTQ+-friendly as possible,” Mayor Joyce Craig said in the release.

Lake advisories

Cyanobacteria blooms, some of which produce toxins that can cause a range of health issues in humans and animals, are common in lakes and ponds this time of year, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, and people should be cautious of lake water that has a surface scum, changes colors or appears to have green streaks or blue-green flecks aggregating along the shore. As of June 8, DES had posted advisories for Robinson Pond in Hudson, Swains Lake in Barrington, Elm-Brook Park Beach at the Hopkinton-Everett Reservoir in Hopkinton, and Strafford Town Beach on Bow Lake. Acute health effects include irritation of skin and mucous membranes, tingling, numbness, nausea, vomiting, seizures and diarrhea, while chronic effects include liver and central nervous system damage, the release said.

Score: -1

Comment:Before you head to a lake, visit des.nh.gov for the latest cyanobacteria advisories.

QOL score: 78

Net change: -1

QOL this week: 77

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

A good time to give

Nonprofit organizations are banding together for NH Gives, a statewide effort to raise funds for nearly 600 Granite State nonprofits. Starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8, you’ll have 24 hours to participate in NH Gives, hosted by the NH Center for Nonprofits, at nhgives.org. When you visit the website, you’ll find links to donate to any of the participating nonprofits that you want to support.

Score: +1

Comment: Participating nonprofits range from arts organizations like Kimball-Jenkins and the New Hampshire Theatre Project to community service organizations like Community Caregivers of Greater Derry and Marguerite’s Place in Nashua.

Ride on

More than 100 elementary school students in Manchester have earned new refurbished bicycles as part of the Earn-A-Bike Program, created in 2015 by the Manchester Community Schools Project. According to a press release, fourth-grade students from Gossler Elementary and fifth-grade students from Beech Elementary who demonstrated academic achievement and leadership skills were given the chance to pick out a bike, a helmet, lights and a lock from QC Bike Collective. Students who already had a bike earned extra accessories and a QC Bike Collective voucher for a free repair.

Score: +1

Comment:The Manchester Police Department pitched in too, providing bike registrations free of charge.

Promoting NH

“Don’t Take NH for Granite” — that’s New Hampshire’s new motto for this summer, according to a press release, and it’s an effort to preserve the natural beauty of the state. The New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development worked with local industry partners to develop a pledge to remind visitors to travel responsibly and respectfully. The pledge includes eight components: Plan Ahead; Be Understanding; Be Respectful; Leave No Trace; Properly Dispose of Waste; Respect Wildlife; Leave What You Find; and Be Considerate of Each Other.

Score: +1

Comment: This pledge is pretty common sense, but hopefully the new motto will remind out-of-staters and residents to respect everything New Hampshire has to offer.

Virtual support

It may have been virtual, but the Front Door Agency’s 33rd Annual Gourmet Festival & Auction was still a huge success this year, raising more than $140,000 to support families experiencing financial crisis or homelessness in Greater Nashua. According to a press release, nearly 400 people attended the online event, which featured an auction with more than 200 items, raffles, and the opportunity to buy an exclusive takeout meal from one of four local restaurants: Celebrations Distinctive Catering, Nashua Country Club, Stella Blu or Surf.

Score: +1

Comment: “With so many online events over the past year, we wanted to do something creative and bring back the ‘Gourmet’ component of the event,” Maryse Wirbal, CEO of the Front Door Agency, said in the release.

QOL score: 74

Net change: +4

QOL this week: 78

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

Coming to you live

The NH Live Venues and Theaters coalition held a press conference via Zoom on May 18 announcing the return of live in-person events throughout the state. The coalition is made up of 45 performing arts and independent cinema venues that have been meeting since March 2020 to help the performing arts community stay alive during the pandemic. “Every venue here today is on a journey to increase the number of performances and build back to full capacity attendance,” coalition spokesperson Nicki Clarke of Concord’s Capitol Center for the Arts said during the press conference. “We want to invite all New Hampshire residents and visitors to come out and enjoy concerts, musicals, opera, plays, dance, comedy and film again in our venues.”

Score: +1

Comment: QOL already has tickets to see Mamma Mia! at the Palace Theatre in October but definitely will be looking out for more live shows to see this summer.

Stepping up safety

The New Hampshire Department of Safety is reminding people that seat belts save lives with the “Join the New Hampshire Clique” campaign, which will have state troopers and local police officers increasing their enforcement efforts, according to a press release. New Hampshire law requires that any child under the age of 18 must wear a seat belt or be in a child safety seat, the release said, and this campaign, which runs through June 6, is intended to spread awareness that wearing a seat belt is the most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash. Twenty people in New Hampshire died after being ejected from their vehicles in 2020, the release said.

Score: 0 (+1 for the campaign, -1 that it’s needed)

Comment: In 2020 the seat belt use rate in the state of New Hampshire was 72.4 percent, according to the release.

Good save

Bedford police helped an 85-pound German Shepherd last week after it fell about 6 feet down into an open 500-gallon septic tank. According to a press release, on May 17 Animal Control Officer Steven Paul and Officer Michael Heikkila responded to a call on Country Road, where they and the homeowner used a catch pole to pull the dog to safety.

Score: +1 (for the dog’s sake)

Comment:The tank was being serviced at the time, and Bedford police determined that the incident was an accident and no fault of the owners, the release said.

Tenth best state for military retirees

New Hampshire’s higher number of veteran job opportunities and veterans per capita helped the state make the Top 10 in the 2021 Best & Worst States for Military Retirees report, released May 24 by the personal finance website WalletHub. The study used 30 metrics to determine each state’s retirement-friendliness toward veterans, from job opportunities for veterans to housing affordability. According to the study, New Hampshire ranked 13th for percentage of veteran-owned businesses, 15th for both veterans per capita and veteran job opportunities, and 22nd for number of VA facilities per number of veterans.

Score: +1

Comment: New Hampshire was the only New England state to make the Top 10; next up was Connecticut at No. 22. Vermont ranked 50th.

QOL score: 71

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 74

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