NH Artist Laureate

Genevieve Aichele of Portsmouth is the next New Hampshire Artist Laureate.

She was nominated by Gov. Chris Sununu and confirmed by the Executive Council, according to a press release.

Aichele is the founder and former executive director of the New Hampshire Theatre Project and has performed, directed, choreographed and taught theater arts nationally and internationally for more than 40 years, according to the release. Under her leadership, the New Hampshire Theatre Project won the 2021 Governor’s Arts Award for its Elephant-in-the-Room Series, which uses performance and audience discussions to address a range of topics, including substance misuse disorder, human trafficking, mental health, school violence, eating disorders and attitudes around death and dying, according to the release.

In a statement, Aichele said, “The arts have positive effects on our lives in ways that people don’t always realize. As New Hampshire’s artist laureate, I look forward to continuing interacting with people of all ages and backgrounds to help them find ways to draw on the arts as a resource, both to find strengths within themselves and to make connections with others.”

The New Hampshire Artist Laureate position was established in 1997 and is a two-year honorary term served without compensation. Aichele is the 10th artist laureate in the program. Visit nh.gov/nharts.

PFAS removal help

According to a press release, House Bill 1649 was signed into law allowing the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) to continue to provide rebates for water treatment or connection to public water systems as part of an effort to assist private well users whose water supply has been impacted by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, although administrative rules are still in the process of being adopted.

In response, NHDES will reinstate the PFAS Removal Rebate Program for Private Wells for eligible applicants on Monday, Sept. 9. The department still continues to process rebates for applications submitted prior to the program suspension on Monday, June 10, according to the release. The NHDES will release a new application form for submission starting Sept. 9. Highlights of the program terms include rebates up to $5,000 to assist in the installation of a treatment system designed to remove PFAS or up to $10,000 for a service connection to a public water system completed after Sept. 30, 2019; applicants are limited to owners of residential properties in the state of New Hampshire that use a drinking water well impacted by PFAS and who have not been offered or are not being provided alternate water, temporary or permanent, from a potentially liable third party, and provisions will be made available for income-qualified applicants to request rebates be distributed directly to a treatment installer or contractor, according to the release. Program specifics will be made available on the PFAS Removal Rebate for Private Wells website as soon as possible. Visit des.nh.gov.

Political sign rules

According to a press release, the Department of Transportation is once again reminding candidates and their campaign workers about proper placement of political signs. The law prohibits placement of political signs on the interstate highways, including the entrance and exit ramps. The law also prohibits placement of political signs on or affixed to utility poles or highway signs, including delineators; signs that create a traffic hazard or obstruct the safe flow of traffic will be removed and it should be noted that signs affixed to bridges create a traffic hazard and will be removed. Signs will be removed to perform maintenance, and this is prime mowing season. Placement of signs on private property requires permission from the landowner; signs on private property that obstruct traffic signs or signals, or restrict a motorist’s field of view at an intersection, will be removed as a traffic hazard. (RSA 236:1, 236:73). Candidates are required to remove all political signs by the second Friday following the election, unless the election is a primary and the advertising concerns a winning candidate (RSA 664:17). Visit dot.nh.gov.

Legionnaire’s alert

Five people were diagnosed with Legionnaire’s Disease in June and July after visiting Lincoln, possibly from exposure to contaminated water droplets from a cooling tower behind the RiverWalk Resort in the downtown area, according to a New Hampshire Dept. of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health Services press release from Aug. 12. “Legionnaire’s disease is a bacterial pneumonia caused by inhaling water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria,” the release said. “Many people who are exposed to Legionella bacteria develop only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. However, the bacteria can cause a more serious pneumonia …. Symptoms usually begin 2 to 14 days after exposure and can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.”

DHHS confirmed the presence of Legionella bacteria contaminating the cooling tower and RiverWalk is partnering with DHHS to address the contamination, with additional test results for the cooling tower expected next week, the release said. For more information about Legionella, see dhhs.nh.gov.

The Sunflower Soirée is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Sunday, Aug. 18, at Brookford Farm in Canterbury (250 West Road). Children 4 and under are free. Children ages 5 to 12 are $7 ($10 at the door) and those 13 and older are $10 in advance, $14 at the door. Visit brookfordfarm.com.

The New Hampshire Telephone Museum and Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum will host a program called Code Talkers at Warner Town Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 21, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Judith Avila will be discussing her work Code Talker, which is the memoir of Chester Nez, one of the original Navajo code talkers of WWII. Tickets are $10 and children 10 and under are free. Visit indianmuseum.org or nhtelephonemuseum.org.

Head to The Word Barn in Exeter (66 Newfields Road) for The Call to Adventure, an evening of storytelling around the fire pit in the meadow with professional storyteller Alex Foy, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m. Bring a chair or blanket. The program is free and open to all with a $5 suggested donation. See thewordbarn.com.