Quality of Life 23/04/13

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.

Quality of Life 23/04/06

Egg updates!

As of the morning of Tuesday, April 4, four eggs had been laid by the peregrine falcon pair that resides in the New Hampshire Audubon’s peregrine nest box atop the Brady Sullivan Tower in Manchester. According to the Audubon’s daily peregrine falcons log, the first egg was laid on Sunday, March 26, at 4 a.m., with the second, third and fourth to follow on Tuesday, March 28, at 4 p.m., Friday, March 31, at 2 a.m., and Sunday, April 2, at 10 a.m. Last year the falcons laid a total of five eggs. 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 lay their eggs in late March, hatch their chicks at the end of April and fledge their young by early June, according to the NH Audubon.

Ride to school

The Bike School Bus program, a program of the nonprofit Manchester Moves, is back in action, NHPR reported. Now in its second year, Bike School Bus allows elementary school students in Manchester to ride bikes to school safely by providing them with good-quality bikes with bells and lighting and guidance along bike-friendly routes and paths. Visit manchestermoves.org/bike-school-bus to learn more.

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to the Manchester Moves website, the pilot Bike School Bus last year saw more than 20 kids pedaling to school five days a week, rain or shine, with each kid averaging 40 miles per week on their bike.

Manager of the year

Mike Capsalis, Manager of the Hannaford on Fort Eddy Road in Concord, has been named Hannaford Supermarkets’ Store Manager of the Year, according to a press release. With more than 30 years of experience working at Hannaford, Capsalis has served as a store manager for 18 years and previously held other positions at multiple Hannaford stores, including overnight stock crew manager and assistant manager. Chosen from among managers at 185 Hannaford locations across New England and New York, he was recognized in particular for his leadership skills, consistent support and engagement of associates, deep commitment to the community and innovative thinking to improve store operations.

QOL score: +1

Comment:“Receiving this honor is a dream come true,” Capsalis said in the release. “As a long-time associate, I have enjoyed so many experiences at Hannaford and I truly appreciate the family atmosphere, as well as the camaraderie and friendships I have built over the years.”

QOL score: 63

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 66

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

Quality of Life 23/03/30

Falcons’ first egg

The peregrine falcon pair living in New Hampshire Audubon’s peregrine nest box atop the Brady Sullivan Tower in Manchester have welcomed their first egg of the season. According to the Audubon’s daily peregrine falcons log, the egg was laid on Sunday, March 26, at 4 a.m., which is right on schedule as the peregrines typically lay their eggs in late March, hatch their chicks at the end of April and fledge their young by early June. You can watch the falcons 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: The first egg of 2022 was laid on March 21, with four eggs to follow, one laid every two to three days.

We’re pretty innovative

A recent WalletHub study ranked New Hampshire the ninth most innovative U.S. state. The study looked at various factors, such as the numbers of STEM professionals, science- and engineering-degree holders, invention patents, accelerated start-ups, households with internet access and more. New Hampshire ranked especially high for eighth-grade math and science academic performance (No. 2), projected STEM job demand by 2030 (No. 8) and share of technology companies (No. 9).

QOL score: +1

Comment: Massachusetts is the only New England state to join New Hampshire in the top 10, coming in at No. 2, behind District of Columbia.

Tomie dePaola Forever stamp

The U.S. Postal Service will honor prolific New Hampshire children’s author and illustrator Tomie dePaola with the issuance of a Forever stamp. 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.” A first-day-of-issue event and dedication ceremony for the stamp will take place at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester), free and open to the public, on Friday, May 5, at 11 a.m. Visit usps.com/tomiedepaola.

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.

Another reason to avoid ticks

The tick-borne disease babesiosis has reached the status of “endemic” in New Hampshire, meaning that it is considered to be a regularly occurring disease in the state, New Hampshire Bulletin reported. A study recently released by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that the number of reported cases of babesiosis in New Hampshire had risen from 13 in 2011 to 63 in 2019, an increase of more than 370 percent within the eight-year period. The disease, typically carried to humans by infected black-legged or deer ticks, can cause flu-like symptoms and the destruction of red blood cells, or it can show no symptoms. Elderly people and people with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk of developing serious health complications.

QOL score: -1

Comment: Visit tickfreenh.org for local resources and information to prevent and protect against tick-borne illnesses.

QOL score: 61

Net change: +2

QOL this week: 63

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

Quality of Life 23/03/23

Double the St. Pat’s fun

There is still more St. Patrick’s Day fun to be had as the City of Manchester celebrates the holiday this weekend with its St. Patrick’s Parade and Shamrock Shuffle. The parade will be held on Sunday, March 26, kicking off at noon from the intersection of Salmon and Elm streets in the Queen City and continuing south on Elm Street. Admission is free, and shuttle services will run from 10 a.m. to noon from the corner of Central and Chestnut streets to the parade’s assembly area. Visit saintpatsnh.com. Immediately before the parade is the Citizens Bank Shamrock Shuffle, a road race organized by Millennium Running that starts (at 11 a.m.) and finishes in front of Veterans Memorial Park (723 Elm St.). Visit millenniumrunning.com.

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to the Manchester St. Patrick’s Parade Facebook page, Elm Street is primed for the occasion with the two painted shamrocks on the pavement in front of City Hall and in front of Veterans Park having been given a fresh coat of paint with the help of Mayor Joyce Craig and the 2023 Grand Marshal Dick Phelan.

Increased hate group activity

Data recently released by the Anti-Defamation League revealed that activity by organized hate groups is on the rise and at an all-time high in New England. According to NHPR, the number of reports of white supremacist groups displaying or handing out propaganda in New Hampshire is now more than four times what it was in 2021.

QOL score: -2

Comment: The Anti-Defamation League’s report follows data released by the FBI earlier this year which revealed a significant increase in the number of hate crimes committed in New Hampshire, according to NHPR. New Hampshire law enforcement documented 34 reported hate crimes in 2021, up from 19 in 2020. Hate crimes are defined by the FBI as violent criminal acts against a person or property motivated by bias against a race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity.

B.A.s for KFC-ers

Employees of New Hampshire’s 14 KFC restaurants can attend Western Governors University with 100 percent tuition coverage as part of a new partnership between KFC Foundation and the accredited online university. According to a press release, the opportunity is non-competitive, and every eligible employee who applies and enrolls will receive the tuition coverage. “Every year we look for new ways to support and enhance the lives of KFC restaurant employees,” Emma Horn, Executive Director of the KFC Foundation, said in the release.

QOL score: +1

Comment: WGU offers more than 60 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and certification programs across Business, Information Technology, Education and Healthcare, according to the release.

QOL score: 61

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 61

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

Quality of Life 23/03/16

Spring!

This week’s Hippo highlights events happening as the calendar turns to spring, which officially begins Monday, March 20. Last weekend we all did the “spring forward” of daylight saving time. Brightly colored Peeps and jelly beans fill the candy aisles — so naturally that means in New Hampshire it’s time for a Nor’easter! With big weather bearing down on the state, many towns postponed their town meetings (originally slated for March 14) to March 28. See your town clerk’s office for information. By mid morning on March 14, with big fluffy heavy flakes falling steadily, WMUR was reporting that tens of thousands of New Hampshire customers had lost power so far.

QOL score: -1 (hey, complaining about March weather is a New Hampshire spring activity)

Comments: The kids, meanwhile, may be rejoicing. More snow to play with now and, if this is how your town does this, another day off on March 28.

Yes, coach!

NHTI, Concord’s Community College’s Lynx men’s basketball coach Irvin Harris (pictured above) has been named the Yankee Small College Conference Coach of the Year in his first season as head coach. Yankee Small College Conference is a United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division II conference that includes two- and four-year schools from New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and New York State. According to a press release, Harris led the Lynx to an 11-3 conference record, with which they are now tied for first. The team also came out on top in highest-scoring offense, with an average of 86.2 points per game; rebounds, with 45.2 per game; and steals, with nearly 12 per game, under Harris’s leadership.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Harris hails from Omaha, Nebraska, according to the release.

Ukuleles for the kids

The Dover Rotary Club presented a $1,000 donation to the Ukulele Kids Club, an initiative of the Southern New Hampshire Ukulele Group, to support its mission of bringing music and instruments to hospitalized children. According to a press release, the Ukulele Kids Club operates in more than 200 hospitals and has donated more than 14,000 instruments in conjunction with music therapy sessions. “I have witnessed first-hand how music therapy soothes patients,” June Pinkham, one of the organizers of the Southern NH Ukulele Group, said in the release. “I’ve seen how it relaxes them and makes them more receptive to treatment. It’s amazing. We are honored to accept this generous donation on behalf of the UKC.”

QOL score: +1

Comment:Southern NH Ukulele Group has raised over $90,000 for the Ukulele Kids Club to date, with a goal of reaching $100,000 in 2023, according to the release.

QOL score: 60

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 61

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

Quality of Life 23/03/09

Doc talks

The Timothy & Abigail B. Walker Lecture Fund has contributed $6,000 to support the Concord Hospital Trust’s popular “What’s Up Doc?” lecture series for another two years. According to a press release, the series features monthly presentations given by Concord Hospital doctors, nurses and medical professionals about disease prevention and risk reduction, medical advances, new technology and new and innovative medical treatments and services.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Upcoming lecture topics include “What is Acute Pain and Why Does it Sometimes Become Chronic?” on March 10, “Skin Cancer” on April 14 and “Podiatry Update” on June 9. All lectures are free to attend and are recorded and posted on YouTube and Facebook. For more information and to register, visit giveto.concordhospital.org/events/whats-up-doc.

Local dentists

Northeast Delta Dental’s Northern New England Dental Loan Repayment Program has distributed $300,000 in awards to its first round of applicants, supporting three dental practices located in Berlin, New Hampshire; Brattleboro, Vermont, and southern Maine. According to a press release, the multi-year awards, created in 2022 to attract and retain dentists to rural and underserved areas and populations across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, will assist general dentists and oral surgeons with their loan repayment obligations. Visit bistateprimar1.wpengine.com/nned-loan-repayment.

QOL score: +1

Comment: There has been an acute shortage of dentists across all specialties in northern New England, according to the release, due to a combination of factors, including retirements, state Medicaid program benefit expansions, and difficulties recruiting in rural and underserved areas across the region.

Good roads

A new report analyzing data from the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Census Bureau revealed that New Hampshire has the best roads in the country, while “[spending] some of the lowest capital outlay per mile.” According to a press release from the office of Gov. Chris Sununu, New Hampshire receives the lowest amount of total federal funding for roads and bridges, making the No. 1 ranking “a testament to the Department of Transportation’s management.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: “New Hampshire is blessed with a dedicated team of professionals that works hard to build and maintain our transportation system and I’m honored that we are being recognized for our work,” NH Department of Transportation Commissioner Bill Cass said in the release.

QOL score: 57

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 60

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

Quality of Life 23/03/02

See the student plane!

The first-ever aircraft produced by the student plane-building partnership between the Aviation Museum of NH, Manchester School of Technology and Tango Flight, finished last summer, is on display at the museum (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; nhahs.org) now through March 26. According to a press release, the working two-seat RV-12iS light sport aircraft was completed in August 2022 after three years of effort by local students, mentor volunteers from the museum and other program supporters, with assistance from Tango Flight, a consulting nonprofit that specializes in student plane-building projects. The plane has already made numerous flights and special appearances locally and around the country.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Students are currently working on a new plane, the release said.

Nominate your nurse

Nominations are open for New Hampshire Healthcare Heroes. According to a press release, the program, sponsored by Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, the NH Sector Partnerships and Initiative, Southern New Hampshire Area Health Education Center and others, celebrates health care workers in the state. Nominees may include clinical and nonclinical providers, administrators, educators, facilities, custodial and kitchen staff and others who provide direct or indirect care to patients and families receiving health care. A volunteer committee, made up of health care professionals across the state, will review the nominations and select one winner and two runners-up for each of the seven regions in the state. Each Hero will be honored in a pinning ceremony, hosted in partnership with their employer and streamed live on Facebook, and will receive a banner and customized swag bag.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Anyone can nominate a Healthcare Hero by submitting an online nomination form at nhhealthcareheroes.org. Nominations close on April 7.

Almost showtime

The Nashua Center for the Arts and its management partner Spectacle Live will host a series of public information sessions regarding the new arts and entertainment venue set to open this spring. According to a press release, venue staff will be available to provide information and answer questions related to employment opportunities, venue renting and hosting special events, memberships and group sales and corporate sponsorships; and box office representatives will be available to patrons who are interested in purchasing tickets to upcoming shows. Upcoming sessions will take place at Martha’s Exchange Banquet Space (185 Main St. in Nashua) on Tuesday, March 7, from 5 to 8 p.m., and Wednesday, March 8, from 9 a.m. to noon. Visit NashuaCenterfortheArts.com.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The venue, which will be able to accommodate 500 to 1,000 patrons with flexible seating configurations, is expected to open in April and will host nationally touring musicians, live comedy, theater, children’s performances and more.

QOL score: 54

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 57

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

Featured photo: Student-built RV-12 plane on display at the Aviation Museum. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 23/02/23

We love our teachers

The New Hampshire Department of Education received a record-setting 322 nominations for the 2024 Teacher of the Year award. According to a press release, the nominations, submitted by New Hampshire educators’ coworkers, students, students’ parents and school leaders, represented 118 schools across 59 towns. “New Hampshire has fallen in love with the bright, engaging and dedicated teachers that devote their careers to educating our youth,” Christine Brennan, deputy commissioner of education, said in the release. “We are overwhelmed with the large number of nominations for our Teacher of the Year program, and we are thrilled that the education field is eager to recognize these hardworking individuals.” Nominations are now closed. Nominated teachers must formally accept the nomination and apply for the award by March 20. The 2024 Teacher of the Year will be announced in October.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Christian Cheetham of Alvirne High School in Hudson currently holds the title of 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Somebody’s QOL just got way better

A winning ticket for the Tri-State Megabucks lottery was sold at the New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet on Leavy Drive in Bedford on Saturday, Feb. 18, WMUR reported. The jackpot is estimated by the New Hampshire Lottery to be worth $1.77 million. The winner, who matched all five winning numbers and the Mega Ball number, has a choice between taking their winnings in graduated annual payments over 30 years or as one lump sum payment.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The last Megabucks jackpot, which was worth an estimated $1.5 million, was sold in Madawaska, Maine, on Nov. 12, 2022, and was never claimed, according to the article.

Fundraising fun

Catholic Charities NH generated more than $200,000 to help Granite Staters in need from its 2023 Mardi Gras Gala, held on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown. According to a press release, the nonprofit’s signature event featured authentic New Orleans cuisine, cocktails, entertainment, a live auction, dancing and more. “As our first in-person Mardi Gras since 2019, we made up for lost time with the experience and celebration that our community deserves,” Karen Moynihan, vice president of philanthropy at Catholic Charities NH, said in the release. The funds raised will support programs that help to create lasting change in the lives of individuals and families struggling with a wide range of issues that impact communities across New Hampshire, such as hunger, poverty, financial despair, mental health, homelessness, unsafe environments for children and isolation among seniors.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Plans are already in the works for the 2024 Mardi Gras Gala, which is set for Feb. 10, 2024, according to the release.

QOL score: 51

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 54

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

Featured photo: Catholic Charities NH Mardi Gras Gala. Photo by Mark MacKenzie, Capturing Wisdom Photography.

Quality of Life 23/02/16

Test for lead

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health Services has released some concerning data about the rates of testing lead levels in young children in the state. Its latest annual report, 2021 Lead Exposure in New Hampshire Data Brief, revealed that between 2019 and 2021 the number of children who had their lead levels tested at the ages of 1 and 2 as required by New Hampshire’s Universal Testing Law had dropped by 25 percent, likely due to the pandemic. “Childhood lead exposure is a significant issue in New Hampshire because of the large number of older homes that contain lead-based paint, the main source of exposure in children,” Dr. Jonathan Ballard, chief medical officer NH DHHS, said in a press release. “Now is the time for parents to play catch-up if their children missed important doctor’s visits. Parents with children under 6 years of age who have not had two lead level tests in their lifetime should schedule an appointment to be tested.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: Lead in the blood, even at low levels, has been shown to negatively affect a child’s ability to think, learn and behave and could result in permanent effects if the poisoning is not caught and stopped early, the release said. Visit dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/environmental-health-and-you/lead-poisoning-prevention-program.

Helping the loons

Biologists from the Loon Preservation Committee carried out a successful rescue mission on Feb. 6 and Feb. 7 for seven loons that became trapped on Newfound Lake and Lake Winnipesaukee when extreme cold temperatures caused the lakes to ice over. According to a press release, adult loons typically migrate to the ocean for the winter, at which point they molt their feathers, which leaves them flightless for four to six weeks while their new feathers grow in. Some loons, however, become flightless before making it to the ocean and end up stranded on the frozen lakes, where they may starve or become prey.

Tuftonboro Fire Department assisted the biologists, providing an airboat and three firefighters to help with the rescue mission. The loons were treated and rehabilitated at VCA Capital Area Veterinary Emergency and Specialty and Wings of the Dawn Wildlife Rehabilitation for a couple of days, then released at the ocean off the New Hampshire coast.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The biologists attached colored bands to the rescued loons’ legs for possible tracking. Six of the ten banded loons that were rescued in a rescue mission in January 2022 were later identified on New Hampshire lakes, and four of those six were in breeding pairs.

What is “cheer on the local student?”

Caleb Richmond, a Georgetown University student from Bedford and Jeopardy! Teen Tournament semifinalist in 2018, will return to Jeopardy! for the “High School Reunion Tournament,” a 14-day event that airs Monday, Feb. 20, through Thursday, March 9, according to a press release from the show. Caleb is slated to make his first appearance in this tournament on Thursday, March 2.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Jeopardy! airs weekdays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. on WBZ-TV CBS, according to jeopardy.com where you can also find the 2018 episodes (see Caleb in episodes labeled “Game #2” and “Game #7”).

QOL score: 50

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 51

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

Quality of Life 23/02/09

Brrr, cold, part 1

The bitter cold temperatures last weekend posed challenges for firefighters across the state. WMUR reported that a fire truck used to respond to a fire at a building on Liberty Street in Manchester became stuck when the water that was dispensed to put out the fire quickly iced over on the street. Additionally, one of the responding firefighters fell on the ice, and another firefighter suffered frostbite, the report said.

QOL score: -1

Comment: Last month ended with one of the warmest average low temperatures recorded for January: 24.1 degrees, beating the past record of 23.9 degrees set in January 1932, WMUR reported.

Brrr, cold, part 2

In other fire department news, the Manchester Fire Department responded to 56 emergency calls related to broken water pipes and fire sprinkler systems resulting from the extreme cold in the 24-hour period between 7 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4, and 7 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5, according to a department press release, and more followed once the frozen pipes began to thaw.

QOL score: -1

Comment: Manchester Fire Department recommends using passive techniques to defrost pipes and discourages methods involving blowtorches or open flames. When in doubt, it’s best to contact a licensed professional.

A reminder that cold can be fun

Two ice sculptures tied for first place in the live ice carving competition that took place at the 5th annual Concord NH Winter Festival on Jan. 28: an aquatic scene with three fish sculpted by Eric Knoll, and a howling mother wolf and wolf pup sculpted by Michael Legassey. The event was hosted by Intown Concord and included food vendors and other fun for the people who came to watch the competition.

QOL score: +1

Comments: Ice can be lovely when you’re not scraping it off your car.

More help

Catholic Medical Center, New Hampshire’s contracted provider of The Doorway of Greater Manchester, has partnered with Easterseals NH Farnum to provide substance misuse treatment services after hours, on the weekends and on holidays. According to a press release, the program, known as the Extended Doorway, is open at Farnum (140 Queen City Ave., Manchester) Monday through Friday, from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.; Friday, 5 p.m., through Monday, 8 a.m.; and on holidays. “As the Extended Doorway for Catholic Medical Center, we are able to catch people at the peak of their motivation to get help,” Annette Escalante, Farnum senior vice president, said in the release.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Services can be accessed on site or by calling 622-3020.

QOL score: 50

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 50

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