Category: Quality Of Life

Covid is back. Again.

A recent variant of Covid-19 is on the rise in New Hampshire. As reported by WMUR in a July 30 online article, “New Hampshire health officials said emergency department and wastewater data show that there has been a rise in recent infections, and they expect that such seasonal surges will continue.” Despite previous infections and vaccinations, it is possible to be reinfected. As described by the Centers for Disease Control on its website (cdc.gov/covid), “Reinfections with the virus that causes Covid-19 are most often mild, but severe illness can occur. If you are reinfected, you can also spread the virus to others.” According to a WMUR report from Aug. 9, the most common Covid strain right now is KP.3, a descendant of the omicron variant. “Protection against severe Covid-19 illness generally lasts longer than protection against infection. This means even if you get infected again, your immune response should help protect you from severe illness and hospitalization,” read the same CDC advisory.

QOL score: -1

Comment: According to WMUR’s Aug. 9 report, the 2024-2025 Covid-19 vaccines, expected to be out this fall, will target the JN.1 strain because it, too, is in the omicron family.

“I’ve got a bridge to sell you.”

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (dot.nh.gov) announced in an Aug. 8 press release that it has a bridge for sale. “The NH Department of Transportation (NHDOT) is accepting proposals for the purchase, relocation and preservation of the Bridge (No. 254/180) that carries Route 127 over the Warner River, in Warner, NH,” the press release read. On its Bridge Sales Website (dot.nh.gov/historic-bridge-dispositions-bridges-sale) the NHDOT stated that bridges on its sales list are, “in general, eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, and any sale will be awarded for $1.00 to the entity who develops the most responsive preservation proposal.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: The NHDOT describes Bridge No. 254/180 as an example of a steel stringer bridge and says such bridges “rarely feature aesthetic treatments and usually have standard railings or guide rails. Warner 254/180, built in 1937, is the oldest extant example of a continuous I-beam bridge in the inventory.”

Vacationing extraterrestrials?

The website Staker.com has aggregated data from reports of UFO sightings to the National UFO Reporting Center (nuforc.org), which has been compiling reports since 1974. In a ranking of most UFO sightings reported to least, New Hampshire comes in sixth, with 85 reports per 100,000 residents. According to the ranking, Washington State has the highest rate of reported sightings with 100 per 100,000 people, and Washington, D.C., has the lowest rate with 22 per 100.000. Vermont and Maine are both in the top 10, with Vermont fourth (90/100.000), and Maine seventh (85/100,000).

QOL score: +1 probably? Tourism is tourism.

Comment: It has been 53 years since Betty and Barney Hill’s reported alien abduction in Lincoln.

Last week’s QOL score: 74

Net change:+2

QOL this week: 76

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at [email protected].

New Hampshire girls and mental health

In an Aug. 2 article, Nashua InkLink, nashua.inklink.news, reported that according to a recent study by the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation, “50% of girls in the state suffer from mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. This rate is the highest in New England and surpasses the national average of 41%.” The article went on to quote data from New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services revealing that girls in the state attempted suicide twice as often as boys between 2011 and 2023. The reasons for the challenges for New Hampshire’s girls remains unclear.

QOL score: -3

Comment: Read the report at nhwomensfoundation.org/status-of-girls-nh.

Problematic liverwurst

Deli meat supplier Boar’s Head (boarshead.com) initiated a recall of its Strassburger Brand Liverwurst on July 25, after learning that it might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that causes the food poisoning listeria. The company subsequently expanded the recall to include “71 products produced between May 10, 2024, and July 29, 2024, under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names,” according to a July 30 USDA announcement.

QOL score: -1

Comment: For a full list of recalled products, visit fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts or the Boar’s Head website.

We’re smaaahties

As reported by Newsweek (newsweek.com) in an Aug. 1 online article, New Hampshire residents have the second highest IQs in the United States; we average 104.2, with Massachusetts just edging us out with an average score of 104.3. The Intelligence Quotient, or IQ score, assesses a range of cognitive abilities and attempts to reflect these in a two- to three-digit score. As the article points out, human intelligence is too complicated and nuanced to be truly reflected in one number. Nevertheless, it is gratifying to outscore the rest of the country, which has a reported average of 97.43.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Mississippi placed the lowest in the U.S. with an average IQ score of 94.2. The U.S. itself ranked 26th among countries; Japan placed first, with an average IQ score of 106.48.

Hidden treasure

Contractors renovating a barn for Manchester resident Toni Pappas discovered a cache of vintage baseball cards last week, including a Ted Williams rookie card. As reported by WMUR in an Aug. 4 online article, “The collection was hidden in the walls of Pappas’ barn, where she lived with her late husband for many years and where he grew up.” Altogether, workers and friends found 52 baseball cards from the late 1930s and early 1940s.

QOL score: +1

Comment: “Billy Pappas was a baseball Hall of Famer at the University of New Hampshire, a player for his Air Force football team,” the article reported. If any of the cards are sold, the proceeds will go to a sports scholarship in his name at the University of New Hampshire.

QOL score: 76

Net change: -2

QOL this week: 74

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at [email protected].

Shopping for sparrows?

As reported in an online story by WMUR Saturday, July 27, a police officer rescued a hawk after it flew into the Hudson Market Basket at 212 Lowell Road last Friday. “Hudson police officer Matthew Horton happened to be inside the store and the manager came up to tell him that a hawk had followed a customer inside,” WMUR reported. After attempting to call local animal control, Horton, wearing a pair of mechanic gloves, was able to capture the hawk. The Hudson Police Department confirmed in a telephone interview that Officer Horton turned the juvenile broad winged hawk over to the Millstone Wildlife Center in Windham. “We are a mammal facility,” said Frannie Greenberg, a representative of the Center, “but we were happy to hold the hawk temporarily.” The Millstone Center quickly turned the hawk over to a bird specialist, and confirmed that it has been released back into the wild.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Raw video footage of Officer Horton capturing the hawk is available on WMUR’s website.

Outstanding teachers

The New Hampshire Department of Education announced in a press release on Tuesday, July 23, that the selection committee for New Hampshire’s Teacher of the Year has announced the four finalists for the state’s 2025 Teacher of the Year. The teachers are Chelsea Barrett Viera, who teaches grades 2-5 in a self-contained autism classroom at Highland-Goffe’s Falls Elementary School in Manchester; Kristen Dacey, a first-grade teacher at Dr. Lewis F. Soule School in Salem, Candice DeAngelis, a Spanish teacher at Bedford High School, and Brian Gray, who has been a Business Technology and Social Studies teacher at Sanborn Regional High School. “These four teachers are leaders in the field of education, with each of them understanding the need for school improvement, student engagement, bold visions and collective experience,” said Christine Brennan, deputy commissioner and member of the Teacher of the Year Selection Committee. Visit education.nh.gov/news-and-media.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The Teacher of the Year Selection Committee will now schedule visits to observe each of the finalists in their classroom environment. An award winner will be announced in October.

More ways to fly in and out of Manchester

In a recent press release, JetBlue announced that as part of a strategy to add 20 percent more seats to its service to New England, it will “launch service for the first time from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) in Manchester,” adding, “JetBlue flights from Manchester are set to launch in January with service to Florida, including year-round daily flights to Orlando, and winter seasonal service to Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers.” In addition, Avelo Airlines (aveloair.com) announced in a July 24 press release that it will add service to Manchester from Central Florida’s Lakeland International Airport (LAL) on Oct. 25, and twice-weekly service to Charlotte, North Carolina’s Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (KJQF) on Nov. 7.

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to the Airport’s website (flymanchester.com), eight airlines fly in and out of Manchester, with service to more than 250 cities.

Last week’s QOL score: 73

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 76

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at [email protected].

More measles

State officials added to the list of places people might have been exposed to the measles. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced in a July 18 press release that “an out-of-state resident visited New Hampshire while they were infectious with measles. The out-of-state resident was exposed to an international traveler with measles who was previously identified in late June.” The press release went on to say that measles might have been transmitted to any unvaccinated people or people not previously infected. The exposed individual visited restaurants in Alton and Concord on July 5, and Merrimack on July 6. “

QOL score: -2

Comment: “Please visit the DHHS website for updated infection counts and New Hampshire exposure locations associated with this outbreak,” the release said.

Lottery repeat

The same set of numbers came up twice in the State Lottery’s Pick 3 and Pick 4 games Saturday evening, July 20. As reported in a July 20 online article by WMUR, there was a mistake in the numbers entered into the Lottery’s system. “According to the lottery,” the story reported, “a vendor entered the winning numbers for Saturday’s midday Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings as the winning numbers for the evening drawings as well.” The Lottery stated that “it noticed the mistake right away and alerted its vendor to make a correction.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: On its website, the Lottery commission announced that it would honor both sets of numbers for the Saturday evening drawing, but: “This is ONLY for the evening draw on Saturday, 7/20/2024.”

Derry PD is getting a puppy!

The Derry Police Department announced on its Facebook page last Thursday, July 18, that it is in the final stages of choosing a comfort dog to join the department. “Comfort dogs can be used for calm and comfort in all sorts of different situations,” the Department posted, “like mental illness circumstances, domestic violence cases, victim/witness support, courtroom testimony, officer wellness, and helping out in our numerous schools in town.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: The Department has been working with an organization called Hero Pups to select a puppy with the right temperament to grow into the job.

Mosquitoes in Manchester

The Manchester Health Department announced Wednesday, July 17, that one batch of mosquitoes collected in Manchester on July 10 had tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). West Nile Virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, the Health Department said. “Symptoms usually appear within a week after being bitten. Symptoms can include flu-like illness including fever, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue. … A very small percentage of individuals infected with WNV can go on to develop more serious central nervous system disease, including meningitis or encephalitis.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: The Manchester Health Department recommends eliminating pools of standing water, where mosquitoes lay their eggs, and wearing mosquito repellant with at least 30 percent DEET.

Last week’s QOL score: 74

Net change: -1

QOL this week: 73

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at [email protected].

New Chef-in-Residence

The Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) has announced its newest Culinary Artist-In-Residence: Susan Chung of Sue’s Kimbap House. Chung will work with the Capitol Center, using its two commercial kitchens, and selling her food at the Capitol Center and the Bank of NH concession stands throughout her residency. On its website, the Capitol Center said the residency program “works with newly arrived or marginalized community members who want to start a culinary business. This program allows these new entrepreneurs to build their food business in a low-risk way.” Chef Chung specializes in kimbap, a Korean street food made with seaweed, rice and vegetables, fish or meat.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Chef Chung describes kimbap as “more than a meal — it’s a bundle of joy wrapped in tradition.”

Eggcellent news for (some) loons

Observers of the live Loon Cam hosted by the Loon Preservation Committee (183 Lees Mill Road, Moultonborough, 476-5666, loon.org) reported that one of the eggs in Nest No. 2, somewhere in the Lakes Region, had started to hatch. According to the Committee’s webcam site, several excited viewers saw a “pip,” a small hole caused by a hatching chick, in one of the eggs at 5 p.m. on June 14. “After some debate and close inspection, the Loon Cam Operator confirmed that there was indeed a pip, sparking a wave of excitement among the chatters,” the website reported. The new loon was reported to have fully hatched by July 15. Meanwhile, things went less well at Nest No. 1. “LoonCam 1 Live Broadcast was terminated the morning of July 12 because the loons abandoned the nest after two eggs [were] crushed,” the Loon Cam site reported.

QOL score: +1

Comment: To view footage of the latest hatching, visit the Committee’s YouTube video “Loon Chick Hatching.”

Measles spotted

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced in a press release on July 9 that it had “confirmed a measles infection in an unvaccinated New Hampshire resident.” The infection, the DHHS said, “is likely the result of exposure to an international traveler with measles who visited Hanover in late June.” This case follows a confirmed infection in Vermont that is also linked to the international traveler. “The total number of individuals associated with this measles cluster is three,” the DHHS stated. According to the Centers for Disease Control (cdc.gov), “As of July 11, a total of 167 measles cases were reported by 24 jurisdictions [in the United States].” This includes this incident. The DHHS press release quoted Dr. Benjamin Chan, New Hampshire State Epidemiologist: “Measles is a highly contagious but preventable disease,” he said. “The two-dose measles vaccine provides lifelong protection in most people, and it is the best protection against measles and complications of infection. Anybody who is not vaccinated is strongly encouraged to talk with their healthcare provider about completing the vaccine series.”

QOL score: -2

Comment: Anyone with questions or concerns about this confirmed infection can contact DPHS at 271-4496. To learn more about measles, visit the CDC website.

QOL score: 74

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 74

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at [email protected].

A date with giant balloons

Members of the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps (spartansdbc.org) learned last week that they will march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York in November. WMUR reported in an online article July 4 that the Spartans “were selected from more than 100 applicants and were one of nine bands that received the invite.” The invitation came with a $10,000 donation from Macy’s to help with fundraising for the Spartans to travel to New York City next year. “What an amazing way to celebrate the Spartans’ 70th anniversary!” the Spartans posted on their website.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The Spartans describe themselves as “a community-based performing arts program in Nashua, NH.”

Laid-back in Nashua

In a recent study by WalletHub (wallethub.com), an online financial management website, Nashua ranked as one of the least stressed cities in America. Out of 182 U.S. cities, Nashua placed 175th. In a July 8 press release, WalletHub described the study. “WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 39 key metrics. The data set ranges from average weekly work hours to the unemployment rate to divorce and suicide rates.” Nashua scored in the 20th percentile or lower in terms of work, financial, family, and health & safety stress.

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to this study, Cleveland, Ohio, is the most stressed-out city in America, and Charleston, South Carolina, is the least.

Falling for love

Ninety-year-old Manchester man Bill Rogers sky-dived last Sunday to celebrate his anniversary with his late wife, Natalie. According to a July 7 online story by WMUR, Rogers completed his sixth skydive in Pepperell, Mass., with an eye toward teasing his wife, like he would have if she were still alive. “Every time I jump out of a plane, I can hear her say, ‘Billy, you’re as crazy as ever,’’” WMUR quoted him.

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to Guinness World Records (guinnessworldrecords.com) the oldest skydiver on record is 106-year-old Texan Alfred Blanschke, who broke his own record in May of this year.

Goodbye to Bob’s

On July 1, Bob’s Stores announced it would close all its remaining stores, which included one in Salem, New Hampshire. Bob’s Stores began with a single store in Connecticut and eventually expanded throughout the Northeast. Meanwhile, several Eastern Mountain Sports stores, including the one in The Mall of New Hampshire in Manchester, are closing as well. EMS and Bob’s Stores are owned by the same parent company, which recently filed for bankruptcy protection.

QOL score: -1

Comments: The going-out-of-business sale at Bob’s was expected to continue through July 14, according to a story on WMUR.com. EMS still operates its Eastern Mountain Sports School in North Conway and is the official outfitter of the Mount Washington Observatory. (Bob’s Stores, by the way, are NOT affiliated with Bob’s Discount Furniture, a whole separate company that sent out a press release to clear up confusion, according to a July 9 Boston Globe story.)

QOL score: 72

Net change: +2

QOL this week: 74

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at [email protected].