Category: Quality Of Life

It’s cookie time!

Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains have officially kicked off Girl Scout cookie season, with online cookie ordering available Feb. 1 in case you don’t know any Girl Scouts. According to a press release, the Scouts will also host a few in-person cookie booths across New Hampshire Feb. 12 through March 22, following all pandemic safety restrictions possible.

Score: +1

Comment: New this year, GrubHub is working with local Girl Scouts to safely get cookies to customers. According to the release, in areas where GrubHub operates, customers will be able to order Girl Scout cookies for pickup or delivery through GrubHub. The Girl Scouts will learn to track and fulfill orders, manage inventory and more, and GrubHub is waiving its fees for the Scouts so that all sales proceeds will still go to the troops and the Girl Scout Council.

Happy ending for rescued animals

Seventeen months after the Humane Society for Greater Nashua and the Hudson Police Department rescued 30 animals from a home in Hudson, those animals — cats, guinea pigs, chickens and rabbits — have been released from protective custody and become the property of the Humane Society. According to a press release, now that the court case regarding the Aug. 13, 2019, rescue has come to a close, the Humane Society can provide veterinary services and help the animals find permanent homes.

Score: +1

Comment: To learn more about the rescued animals that are available for adoption, call 889-2275 or email [email protected].

Motorcycle Week history lost in a fire

The Laconia Motorcycle Week Association announced last week that a fire in its offices on Christmas morning resulted in the loss of collectibles and souvenirs from the event’s 97-year history, and its office cat, Ashland, died in the fire. As of last week the Association was still waiting for permission to enter the site of the fire to retrieve Ashland for a proper burial, according to the announcement. The cost of fire clean-up is estimated at $40,000, and a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help the nonprofit cover those costs and other expenses related to the fire.

Score: -2

Comment: The Association is asking anyone who might have memorabilia from any of the past 97 Motorcycle Weeks to consider donating them to help rebuild the history that was lost in the fire.

Serving those who served us

Evan Dexter, a seventh-grade student at the Founders Academy Public Charter School in Manchester, recently donated 500 canteen books to the Manchester VA Medical Center, according to a press release. The books include pre-paid vouchers that patients and residents can use in the center’s store. Dexter is a Son of the American Legion Henry J. Sweeney Post 2, where his grandfather is a member. Canteen books were also donated to the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton and the White River Junction VA Hospital in Vermont.

Score: +1

Comment: “I think it’s good to serve veterans because they served us,” Dexter said in the release.

QOL score: 53

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 54

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

More turkeys, or just more people noticing turkeys?

The New Hampshire Fish & Game Department recently released the results of its 2020 Winter Flock Survey, which showed that there were 2,309 reported flocks totaling 40,476 turkeys statewide. According to a news release on the department’s website, this was a significant increase over the 486 flocks totaling 9,833 turkeys reported in 2019. In 2018 there were 1,372 flock observations totaling 20,224 turkeys. “The increase in observations during the 2020 winter survey may be attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic,” New Hampshire Fish and Game Turkey Biologist Allison Keating said in the news release. “With many people spending more time at home last winter there was an increase in backyard bird feeding as well as bird watching, which may have contributed to the uptick in reports.”

Score: +1 (because yay for being closer to nature!)

Comment: New Hampshire Fish & Game is asking the public to participate in the 2021 Winter Turkey Flock Survey at wildnh.com/surveys/turkey.html. The survey started Jan. 1 and runs through March 31.

Good and not-so-good pre-Covid health stats

The United Health Foundation’s 2020 annual report, which examines 74 measures of health in each state, says that New Hampshire has improved its availability of mental health services, but it has also seen more premature deaths in recent years. According to a press release, America’s Health Rankings, which was created in partnership with the American Public Health Association, highlights some of each state’s health strengths and weaknesses, pre-Covid. In New Hampshire, two of the strengths that were highlighted were an increase in the number of active mental health providers, which went up 21 percent since 2016, and an increase in the percentage of residents who get enough exercise, which went from 21.4 percent of adults to 26.4 percent between 2017 and 2019. Some of the state’s challenges, according to the release, are income inequality (the disparity between the highest and lowest income-earners has increased 10 percent since 2007), and premature death (recorded as deaths before the age of 75), which increased 22 percent between 2012 and 2018.

Score: 0

Comment: Other positive highlights for New Hampshire include a low teen birth rate and a low prevalence of household food insecurity, while other challenges include a high percentage of housing with lead risk and a low percentage of fluoridated water, according to the report.

Saving New Hampshire’s history

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, which supports the protection and revitalization of historic buildings and places, recently announced some of its stats from 2020 to highlight the work it has done throughout the year. According to a press release, the Preservation Alliance presented more than 30 public programs via Zoom, worked on more than 120 projects in more than 100 communities in the state and spent hundreds of hours coaching property owners and civic leaders by phone. Its Seven to Save program has “an impressive” 50-percent success rate, and it invested grant funding in more than 50 community landmarks. The barn tax incentive, which the Alliance helped develop to save old barns, is now used in 100 communities, where tax relief is provided to owners of historic agricultural structures.

Score: +1

Comment: It’s hard to look back on 2020 and see the positives, so QOL applauds the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance for recognizing that even during a challenging year lots of good people still made lots of good things happen for the long-term betterment of the Granite State.

QOL score: 50

Net change: +2

QOL this week: 52

With the new year, the QOL Index resets to 50.

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

More turkeys, or just more people noticing turkeys?

The New Hampshire Fish & Game Department recently released the results of its 2020 Winter Flock Survey, which showed that there were 2,309 reported flocks totaling 40,476 turkeys statewide. According to a news release on the department’s website, this was a significant increase over the 486 flocks totaling 9,833 turkeys reported in 2019. In 2018 there were 1,372 flock observations totaling 20,224 turkeys. “The increase in observations during the 2020 winter survey may be attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic,” New Hampshire Fish and Game Turkey Biologist Allison Keating said in the news release. “With many people spending more time at home last winter there was an increase in backyard bird feeding as well as bird watching, which may have contributed to the uptick in reports.”

Score: +1 (because yay for being closer to nature!)

Comment: New Hampshire Fish & Game is asking the public to participate in the 2021 Winter Turkey Flock Survey at wildnh.com/surveys/turkey.html. The survey started Jan. 1 and runs through March 31.

Good and not-so-good pre-Covid health stats

The United Health Foundation’s 2020 annual report, which examines 74 measures of health in each state, says that New Hampshire has improved its availability of mental health services, but it has also seen more premature deaths in recent years. According to a press release, America’s Health Rankings, which was created in partnership with the American Public Health Association, highlights some of each state’s health strengths and weaknesses, pre-Covid. In New Hampshire, two of the strengths that were highlighted were an increase in the number of active mental health providers, which went up 21 percent since 2016, and an increase in the percentage of residents who get enough exercise, which went from 21.4 percent of adults to 26.4 percent between 2017 and 2019. Some of the state’s challenges, according to the release, are income inequality (the disparity between the highest and lowest income-earners has increased 10 percent since 2007), and premature death (recorded as deaths before the age of 75), which increased 22 percent between 2012 and 2018.

Score: 0

Comment: Other positive highlights for New Hampshire include a low teen birth rate and a low prevalence of household food insecurity, while other challenges include a high percentage of housing with lead risk and a low percentage of fluoridated water, according to the report.

Saving New Hampshire’s history

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, which supports the protection and revitalization of historic buildings and places, recently announced some of its stats from 2020 to highlight the work it has done throughout the year. According to a press release, the Preservation Alliance presented more than 30 public programs via Zoom, worked on more than 120 projects in more than 100 communities in the state and spent hundreds of hours coaching property owners and civic leaders by phone. Its Seven to Save program has “an impressive” 50-percent success rate, and it invested grant funding in more than 50 community landmarks. The barn tax incentive, which the Alliance helped develop to save old barns, is now used in 100 communities, where tax relief is provided to owners of historic agricultural structures.

Score: +1

Comment: It’s hard to look back on 2020 and see the positives, so QOL applauds the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance for recognizing that even during a challenging year lots of good people still made lots of good things happen for the long-term betterment of the Granite State.

QOL score: 50

Net change: +2

QOL this week: 52

With the new year, the QOL Index resets to 50.

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

Tons of toys

Hundreds of kids in Manchester and Nashua got to open presents this Christmas thanks to two very successful holiday programs. The Tower of Toys in Manchester saw its biggest number of donations and recipients in its nine-year history, ultimately providing two gifts each to approximately 1,500 children, according to a press release. And the Front Door Agency in Nashua distributed gifts to nearly 500 children through its annual holiday program, which pairs families in need with “adopters,” according to a press release. This year more than 215 families were given almost $100,000 worth of toys, clothing and groceries.

Score: +2

Comment: Both organizations noted that despite the widespread financial hardships caused by the pandemic, local communities really stepped up to help those in need.

Well-deserved thank yous

Frontline health care workers at St. Joseph Hospital and Southern New Hampshire Health got a big thank-you last week, in the form of gift cards to local eateries. The United Way of Greater Nashua presented each facility with 350 gift cards that were purchased with $7,000 worth of donations from the community, according to a press release.

Score: +1

Comment: The fundraiser was ultimately a gift to small local businesses too, as the gift cards were purchased from 15 small local eateries, including Main Street Gyro, Mr. Macs and SubZero Ice Cream, according to the release.

Vaccine scams

New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald issued a warning last week urging residents to be aware of potential scams related to the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine. According to a press release, there is concern that high demand for the vaccine may create an opportunity for scammers to try to take money or personal information by saying they can provide fast access to the vaccine. Though it’s not widely available right now as doses are first being provided to health care and front line workers, the vaccine will be available to everyone at no cost regardless of insurance status, and you will never be asked for payment in any form to reserve a vaccine or for confidential personal information, including your Social Security number or bank or credit card information.

Score: -1

Comment: If you receive a call or email from anyone offering quick access to the Covid-19 vaccine in exchange for money or personal information, call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-888-468-4454 or email [email protected]. You can also call 2-1-1 for information about the vaccine and its availability.

Pandemic struggles

A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which offers support for at-risk children, was recently released, identifying pandemic pain points — indicators that show families struggling with economic stability, food security, health insurance access and mental health — in all 50 states. According to a press release, Kids, Families and Covid-19: Pandemic Pain Points and the Urgent Need to Respond highlights how households with children are coping in the midst of the pandemic. In New Hampshire 15 percent of adults over the age of 18 living with children reported feeling down, depressed, or hopeless in the previous week, while 12 percent of New Hampshire families reported having slight or no confidence in paying rent or mortgage, and 10 percent reported they sometimes or often do not have enough food to eat, according to the release.

Score: -1

Comment: The report, which can be downloaded at aecf.org, also offers state-specific information about child well-being prior to the pandemic, federal and state support of families and children during the pandemic and strategies to help meet the needs of kids and families now and after the pandemic.

QOL score at the end of 2019: 93

QOL score at the end of 2020: 76

Change in QOL from 2019 to 2020: -17

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

More shelters in state’s biggest cities

The Concord Coalition to End Homelessness announced last week that it has purchased the First Congregational Church of Concord at 177 N. Main St. with CARES Act funding, and it has temporarily moved its Winter Shelter and Resource Center to the larger space. According to a message on the nonprofit’s website, this will allow the shelter to go back to being able to safely accommodate up to 40 people in the Emergency Winter Shelter and about 50 people at a time at the daytime Resource Center — the same numbers as before the pandemic. In Manchester, the Board of Aldermen has approved the use of the old police department building at 351 Chestnut St. as a temporary homeless shelter for the winter, according to a report from WMUR. The City is leasing two floors, which will be able to house 50 people, the report said. And in Nashua, the city’s Soup Kitchen and Shelter will open its new emergency shelter on Spring Street about six months earlier than the anticipated Summer 2021 completion date, according to a story in the Union Leader. The renovation project was fast-tracked because of the pandemic and the need for more space due to social distancing protocols.

Score: +1

Comment: With all three cities finding ways to create more emergency shelter space, it’s a positive step toward ensuring that all New Hampshire residents have a warm place to stay this winter.

Honoring Christa McAuliffe

A commemorative coin in honor of Christa McAuliffe that supports STEM education was unveiled last week. According to a press release, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan led the effort to create the coin to honor McAuliffe, the Concord teacher who died aboard the space shuttle Challenger in 1986. Proceeds will support science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. “Christa was driven by a passion for teaching and scientific discovery, and this … coin will help continue her legacy,” Hassan said in the release.

Score: +1

Comment: In the release, Shaheen and Hassan thanked local inventor and engineer Dean Kamen for the efforts he contributed to making the coin a reality, and for all the work he does to help engage young people in the STEM fields.

So much snow, so little parking

After the state saw more than two feet of snow in many areas during last Thursday’s storm, clearing roads and parking lots seemed to take significantly longer than usual. Some schools that were holding in-person classes were closed both Thursday and Friday to allow for extra time for clean-up. And on Sunday, three days after the storm ended, downtown Concord still had little to no on-street parking.

Score: -1

Comment: While road crews were likely overwhelmed with the sheer amount of snow and did the best they could, local shop owners may have been a bit dismayed too — the lack of parking along Main Street in Concord, at least, certainly made it frustrating for QOL to do some last-minute Christmas shopping.

Bike repairs on the go

There’s a new way for the public to make minor repairs to their bikes in Manchester — a Fixit bike repair station in Bronstein Park, funded through a grant from the Granite State Wheelers, opened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 18. According to a press release, Queen City Bicycle Collective worked with the City of Manchester Parks and Recreation Division to implement the Fixit station, which includes basic tools and an air pump that will help bicyclists make small repairs on the go. It’s the first one in Manchester, and the QC Bike Collective plans to have more stations installed at various locations in the city.

Score: +1

Comment: QC Bike Collective’s goal is to make biking safer and more convenient for people in Manchester, according to the release.

QOL score: 73

Net change: +2

QOL this week: 75

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

Light at the end of the tunnel
On Dec. 14, the first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine arrived in New Hampshire, and on Dec. 15, Heidi Kukla, RN, a nurse at Elliot Hospital’s intensive care unit, was the first person to get the vaccine. During the press event, where several other health care workers also got the vaccine, Kukla said she volunteered to go first because she knows a lot of people have reservations about the vaccine, and she hoped to alleviate some of those concerns. The vaccine was recently approved and given Emergency Use Authorization by the Food and Drug Administration and will first be distributed to at-risk health care workers in the state. According to a press release from the Department of Health and Human Services, two doses of vaccine, administered 21 days apart, demonstrated an efficacy rate of 95 percent during initial trials. The timeline for widespread access to a Covid-19 vaccine is expected to be approximately six to 12 months.
Score: +3
Comment: “This is the beginning of that light at the end of the tunnel that we have talked about for so long,” Gov. Chris Sununu said Tuesday morning.

Sweet experience for Bearded Baking Co. owner
Auburn resident Jon Buatti’s run on Holiday Baking Championship came to an end on Dec. 7 with his elimination from the Food Network show. The owner of the Bearded Baking Co. in Manchester was one of 12 contestants selected from a pool of thousands of candidates to create the best holiday-themed desserts for judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Carla Hall. He made it to the top six before he was voted off. Shooting took place in Los Angeles over the summer; the remaining bakers will compete to win a grand prize of $25,000, and the finale will air on Food Network on Dec. 21.
Score: +1, for representing New Hampshire bakers on a national stage
Comment: “I had never been on national TV before, so I was definitely nervous,” Buatti told the Hippo last month. “The competition was super stiff, and that’s definitely in your mind when you’re out there.”

Tips for toys
A server at the Northeast Cafe in New Boston is donating $1,108 — the amount she made in tips over the course of two days — to Toys for Tots. Though the server (who wished to remain anonymous) has been making less money for months now because of limited customer capacity, she was thrilled to rake in extra tips not for herself but for kids in need.
Score: +1
Comment: Customers really stepped up to help her meet her challenge of earning at least $1,000 in tips; one, for example, left a $100 tip and another left $100 for a $23 bill.

Neighbor helping neighbor
Miracles do happen, according to a man in Bow who got some help from a neighbor during the recent snowstorm. Marc Lippmann posted on the town’s Nextdoor Digest forum that he “woke up to a miracle” after a series of unfortunate events: “Tractor chains broke as I started to clear the double black diamond slope that is my driveway. Plow couldn’t come up because three large birches were bent 180 degrees over it, completely blocking it. When I hiked down to cut them I took a bad spill … then the saw pinched in the third tree and threw the chain … and with the AFib that kicked in after the fall it took me half an hour just to limp back up the driveway,” he wrote. He woke up the next morning to a plowed and sanded driveway, thanks to Kris Reynolds (owner of On-Demand Snow Plowing), who, in the middle of the night, took it upon himself to get his own chainsaw, cut and move the trees out of the way and clear the driveway.
Score: +1
Comment: “That’s who Kris Reynolds is,” Marc wrote. “And that’s what New Hampshire is all about.”

QOL score: 67
Net change: 6
QOL this week: 73

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