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Pats go broke in Vegas

The Big Story – Pats Fall to 1-5: The struggles continued for the Patriots on Sunday with a 21-17 loss in Las Vegas made worse by coming at the hands of an alumni club including Josh McDaniels, a now-ticked-off-at-Bill Adam Butler, Jakobi Meyers (who scored their only TD), Jimmy Garoppolo and, after he got hurt, (gulp) Brian Hoyer, who was solid QB-ing off the bench.

With Buffalo and high-flying Miami dead ahead it’s now or never over the next two weeks, where we’ll know if it’ll just be an ongoing struggle for the rest of 2023 or a (surreal) go for Caleb Williams’ tank-a-thon.

Sports 101: Who’s played the most MLB games without ever playing in a postseason game? Hint: He’s a Hall of Famer.

News Item – Bruce Bochy a Difference-Maker: In his first year as manager the Rangers go from 73 wins to 90. Then in the playoffs he/they were bad news for the AL East as they swept 98-win Tampa Bay in the wild card round and then rolled the 101-win Orioles in the ALDS.

News Item – Japanese Important on Red Sox Radar: They’ve gone there before with Daisuke Matsuzaka. That is, going all in to sign a hyped Japanese pitcher for big money. The next one is Yoshinobu Yamamoto, whose career numbers — 70-29 and a 1.82 ERA along with winning three straight Japanese pitching triple crowns — are impressive. With a few exceptions, the numbers have rarely stood up for Japan imports like Dice-K. But, given their desperation for starting pitching and the need to give its highly irritated fan base red meat, it seems certain they’ll be in the hunt for their next big guy.

News Item – Baseball’s Playoffs March On: It’s the battle of Texas between the Astros and Rangers in the ALCS, notable for the fact that this is Houston’s seventh consecutive time in the ALCS. And in the NLCS it’s the second straight year deposed Red Sox GM Dave Dombrowski has his Phillies face off with Atlanta while the Sox are on vacation.

The Numbers:
11 – tackles recorded by my new favorite player, David Long Jr., to lead Miami in Sunday’s 42-21 win over Carolina.

12.1 – yards per carry average by Dolphins rookie runner De’Von Achane, the highest in history by anyone through four games of a season. Overall 460 yards on 36 carries, including 157 on 11 vs. the Giants two Sundays ago before injuring a knee, which will sideline him for a month.

457 – astonishing rushing yards and five TD’s on 27 carries in a ho-hum day at the office for Souhegan HS’s JJ Bright as they ran over Hanover High 41-22 earlier this month.

… Of the Week Awards
Question: With him stuck on 299 for three weeks people are wondering if Bill Belichick will ever get his 300th career regular-season win.

Triplets: In the Celtics’ 112-101 pre-season win over Philly, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingas and Derrick White each played 17 minutes and each scored 11 points.

Double Play: Game 2 of the Philly-Atlanta NLCS ended with an 8-6-5-3 double dip. After a great leaping warning-track catch, Michael Harris wheeled and over threw to second base, but third baseman Austin Riley, backing up second base, got it and whipped it to Matt Olson at first base to nail Bryce Harper, who was way past second base after thinking the ball would drop.

Random Thoughts:
With the arrest of former safety Sergio Brown for the alleged murder of his mother, that’s two guys from the 2011 Patriots arrested for murder, Aaron Hernandez being the other one of course.

The hardest thing to wrap my head around about the demise of the Patriots is how boring they are to watch.

Must say I love seeing the Dodgers lose in the playoffs. Mostly because I hate the fraidy-cat, by the book, robotic way Dave Roberts manages. It’s a big reason they get knocked out early almost every year.

Sports 101 Answer: The great Chicago Cub Ernie Banks holds the record for most games without playing in the postseason at 2,520.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

A learning environment

NH’s Teacher of the Year talks about her class

Elizabeth Duclos, who teaches third grade at Pembroke Hill School in Pembroke, has been named New Hampshire’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Chosen from a pool of more than 300 nominees, Duclos now advances to compete for the National Teacher of the Year award.

Explain your teaching philosophy and the kind of classroom environment you aim to create.
Children are often in a space where they don’t feel comfortable taking risks or trying new things due to fear of failure or shame. When this happens, children don’t feel open to doing things. The whole basis of what I do is wrapped around children feeling cared for and safe. That’s something that I’ve heard from many parents over the years as a teacher — that I care for their children, making connections with them, learning who they are, and knowing what they like and don’t like. We spend a lot of time cultivating a community in the classroom that allows children to find connections with each other and with me, and that truly is the backbone of what I do.

How do you ensure your students feel safe to take risks and learn from their mistakes?
We talk a lot in my classroom about productive struggle; things might not feel easy, but it’s OK to try. If we don’t make mistakes, we aren’t going to learn. We focus a lot on what we call “growing;” really, what we’re doing is editing. … We try first, look at it, and then we make an edit. And there’s nothing wrong with not using the same strategy as other people. We talk about how we can grow from each other, and that there’s many ways to solve a problem. We want to find new ways to grow our brains and see things in different ways. That’s how we make progress. They know at this point that if they stumble or struggle, we’re going to go over it all together, and then they’re going to be able to make an edit. That’s really important for children to understand — that we can fix mistakes — and that allows them to feel safe and take risks.

What does a typical day in your classroom look like, and what makes it special for your students?
I try to make our classroom feel light and fun. We give ourselves permission to laugh and sing and dance. Every day we have a morning group time … when we play a game and do a ‘share.’ This sharing could be as simple as ‘What’s your favorite food?’ and it helps students connect with each other. Students are constantly encouraged to work in groups … so they can learn how to share their thoughts and ideas and agree and disagree respectfully.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve encountered throughout your career, and how have you dealt with those?
Helping students who struggle to be self-motivated or to find enjoyment with school. I really work to make it a joyful environment, but some students really do struggle, so finding ways to make school joyful for them can be a challenge. There are my own struggles, too, so I’m always seeking out professional development opportunities, working with my colleagues and making sure that I’m growing. It’s an ever-changing process.

How do you plan to leverage your recent award to support educators and students in your state? What core message would you like to convey?
My platform is literacy, and choice in literacy, helping educators build abundant classroom libraries. Children deserve to have access to many different kinds of literature and texts at their fingertips. My whole classroom is full of books, and they’re books that children want to read. I’m hoping to be offering monthly webinars for teachers starting in January on how to make these libraries happen. I also hope just to continue to promote literacy across the state throughout the year.

What advice would you give to other educators?
That you are enough. … We as teachers put a lot of pressure on ourselves to do everything perfectly, but I’ve learned over the years that perfect is not always best. I can try to be perfect and it’s never going to feel like enough. But as long as you’re doing what’s best for students, you’re doing enough. I would also remind them to enjoy it. Teaching does come with challenges, but ultimately it’s a very fun profession. — Angie Sykeny

Featured photo: Elizabeth Duclos. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 23/10/19

Plan for aging

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has received federal approval for the State Plan on Aging, according to a press release. Coordinated through the DHHS Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services, this four-year plan aims to establish a comprehensive statewide system of long-term services and supports with a focus on person-centered care. With the aging population expected to grow, the plan aligns with the core foundation programs of the Older Americans Act, aiming to enhance access to community-based supports and services, promote person-centered care, reduce the risk of abuse and neglect, combat loneliness and isolation and advance age-friendly communities. The plan will be effective now through Sept. 30, 2027.

Engagement center

The City of Manchester has announced the opening of the Engagement Center at 39 Beech St. as part of the city’s efforts to address homelessness. According to a press release, the center offers various essential services, including bathrooms, showers, storage, charging stations, peer support, housing navigation, mental health and substance use programs, employment resources and health care, aiming to reduce barriers for adults experiencing homelessness. It will also provide winter emergency warming if needed. The Center is seeking donations of essential items to support individuals experiencing homelessness. They need items like clothing, hygiene products, toiletries and more. Donations can be dropped off at the Center seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mental health funds

U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, along with Reps. Annie Kuster and Congressman Chris Pappas, have jointly announced nearly $2 million in federal awards to expand access to mental health care for young people in New Hampshire. According to a press release, the funding will support the training of pediatricians in mental health care and the growth of the mental health workforce, particularly in rural communities. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services will receive $850,000 through a Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Award, while the University System of New Hampshire will receive $1,054,728 through the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program. The officials emphasize the importance of addressing the worsening mental health of young individuals, particularly in the wake of the Covid pandemic, and highlight their commitment to providing essential mental health resources for New Hampshire’s youth.

In addition to addressing mental health care for young people, the delegation has secured federal funding totaling nearly $1 million to enhance maternal health care in the North Country region, according to a press release.

Studio space

WORK Lakes Region, a coworking and event studio at 51 Elm St. in Lakeport, Laconia, is set to open this month. According to a press release, the space offers various membership options, including full- and part-time memberships, private offices for one to three people, hot/flex desks, dedicated desks and multiple meeting and event spaces for groups of three to 100. Members will have access to amenities such as unlimited internet, mail solutions, Google My Business – Official Address allocations and community connection events. The facility will also provide programming for leadership, business and personal development led by business coach and brand strategist Jodie Gallant and her team at JMG Business Strategies. Membership enrollment and space reservations are now open on their website, WORKLakesRegion.com.

Robotics for kids

The New Hampshire Department of Education is awarding grants totaling $713,601 to 77 schools in the state to support robotics programs for students. According to a press release, these grants range from $2,000 to $14,850 per school and are intended to establish new robotics programs or expand existing ones. The funding will cover the purchase of robotics kits, parts, and tools, as well as registration and competition fees, transportation costs, team shirts and coach stipends. Some schools will also use the grants to launch drone programs. These initiatives aim to promote STEM education, encourage student participation in competitive events, and develop life and work-related skills while making learning fun. Supported programs include CoderZ, VEX Robotics, FIRST Robotics, and drone content, fostering interest in STEM careers among students.

Music school head

Bianca Garcia has been named Executive Director of the Manchester Community Music School. According to a press release, Garcia studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and the New England Conservatory and has performed worldwide, collaborating with renowned musicians and premiering new compositions. She has also been deeply involved in music education initiatives, working to establish classical music legacies in various countries. She brings a unique blend of musical expertise and community engagement to her role as Executive Director, aiming to enhance the school’s impact in New Hampshire and beyond, the release said.

The 18th annual CHaD HERO event, held Oct. 15 in Hanover, saw a record-breaking turnout of 3,100 participants, sponsors and donors. According to a press release, this community event raised over $700,000 in funding for essential child and family support services at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (CHaD) and in the Dartmouth Health Children’s system. Over the years, CHaD HERO has raised nearly $10 million for pediatric care and research.

The City of Manchester Fire Department announced the grand opening of Station 9, at 575 Calef Road. According to a press release, this new firehouse features a specially designed decontamination area for gear cleaning before entering the living quarters. The station also incorporates memorabilia from the former Station 9 into its design.

The DRIPBaR, an IV vitamin therapy franchise, has opened its first New Hampshire location, in Portsmouth. According to a press release, it will offer IV vitamin therapy options and services like red light therapy and Halo Salt Therapy. The franchise, which has rapidly expanded across the United States, provides IV treatments under the guidance of medical professionals, the release said.

In defense of bats! — 23/10/12

Bats — they’re a great Halloween decoration. But real-world bats are already focused on winter — whether it’s migrating south or snuggling up in a cave or barn. And New Hampshire’s bats are still dealing with their own scary situation in the form of white-nose syndrome. In this week’s cover, we look at the state of local bats and what people can do to lend a hand (wing?) to these mammalian mosquito eaters.

Also on the cover The curtain rises on Kinky Boots at the Palace Theatre (page 14). Pick your own pumpkin — for decoration or pie (page 21). Goffstown celebrates the season with its annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off and Regatta (page 19).

View entire selection throughout the years here

In defense of bats! — 23/10/12

Also on the cover The curtain rises on Kinky Boots at the Palace Theatre (page 14). Pick your own pumpkin — for decoration or pie (page 21). Goffstown celebrates the season with its annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off and Regatta (page 19).

News & Notes 23/10/12

Friday eats In September 2023, the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester (BGCM) announced its “Free Food Friday” initiative, offering ...

Throwback theater

Remembering the Concord Theatre Paul Brogan, author of The Concord Theatre, and author Margaret Porter present a gala at Bank ...

Saints came marching in

The Big Story – Belichick Hot Seat Gets Hotter: A week after being humiliated by the Cowboys, things got even ...

Quality of Life 23/10/12

Millennials on the move A recent study by Upgraded Points revealed that wealthy millennials, defined as individuals ages 26 to ...

This Week 23/10/12

Taylor Swift in promo photo wearing dress with very puffy skirt, looking backwards over her shoulder, carrying guitar

Big Events October 12, 2023 and beyond Friday, Oct. 13It’s a Taylor Swift weekend! Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, a ...

In defense of bats!

bat with wings spread lying on rock, with open mouth showing fangs

The state of NH's bat population and what people can do to help Bat Week, an international celebration and week ...

Music, dancing and kinky boots

group of diverse male dancers posing on stage in front of red curtain with sparkly words Kinky Boots hanging

The Palace Theatre presents Kinky Boots Dancing, music and the iconic red boots will take the stage for The Palace ...

The Art Roundup 23/10/12

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities Art in the City: The Manchester Arts Commission is hosting an ...

Under one roof

studio portrait of two mature women sitting shoulder to shoulder, heads tilted toward each other, smiling

Original play shows family through the generations By Renee [email protected] Two local playwrights, Toby Tarnow of Hollis and Ellen Cunis ...

Whoosh, splat, wow!

giant pumpkin sculpturally carved into pointy-toothed leering face with gourds making horns at top of head

Goffstown Pumpkin Regatta returns by Jill [email protected] Things are going to get creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky on the Piscataquog ...

Putting the garden to bed

Cut, pull, label, rake To me, this felt like the summer that never was. It was rarely hot and sunny ...

Treasure Hunt 23/10/12

a round and a oval base with nail-like spikes poking out of top

Dear Donna,I recently purchased these wondering what they were. I know now they were and are used for holding flowers ...

Pick a pumpkin

Find pumpkins for eating, pumpkins for carving by Jill [email protected] Autumn brings crisp temperatures, colorful foliage and a passion for ...

Kiddie Pool 23/10/12

Family fun for whenever A-maze-ing If this week’s cover story has you thinking about bats, check out the brown bat ...

On The Job – Shane and Evangeline Hooker

man wearing sunglasses and bandana, long hair posing beside woman wearing sunglasses outdoors, both smiling

RV rental providers Shane and Evangeline Hooker are the owners and operators of Happy Hooker Rentals in Milford. Explain your ...

Worker bee brewfest

Worker Bee Fund hosts second Mount Uncanoonuc Brewfest On Saturday, Oct. 14, from 1 to 5 p.m., more than a ...

The Weekly Dish 23/10/12

News from the local food scene Taste of the Trail: Try free samples from local food vendors and win local ...

Chocolate extravaganza

The Chocolate Expo comes to the Granite State The Chocolate Expo has garnered international attention since its start in 2006 ...

Parmentier

Some people are remembered by History and become household names, sometimes for silly reasons. Other, more worthy men and women ...

In the kitchen with Jennifer Stone-Grimaldi

Jennifer Stone-Grimaldi, owner of Crosby’s Bakery. Courtesy photo.

Jennifer Stone-Grimaldi bought Crosby’s Bakery, established in 1947 in Nashua, five years ago after working there for over a decade ...

Album Reviews 23/10/12

Diamond Dogs, About the Hardest Nut to Crack (Wild Kingdom Records) I don’t get too many rootsy honky-tonk-punk records in ...

The Vaster Wilds, by Lauren Groff

The Vaster Wilds, by Lauren Groff (Riverhead, 253 pages) In a world populated with doomsday preppers, people embracing life off ...

The Equalizer 3

Robert McCall takes his polite butt-kicking to Italy in The Equalizer 3, a movie that I hope was both a ...

The Music Roundup 23/10/12

Local music news & events Spooky: Ease into Halloween season with a themed presentation of Candlelight. The Listeso String Quartet ...

Best of the best

Queens honors great women of song For her one-woman show Queens, Jordan Quinn sets a high bar, channeling iconic singers ...

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Best of the best

Queens honors great women of song

For her one-woman show Queens, Jordan Quinn sets a high bar, channeling iconic singers from Ella Fitzgerald to Adele. Her impressive list also includes Aretha Franklin, Carole King, Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Dolly Parton, Lady Gaga, Donna Summer, Chaka Khan and Quinn’s personal favorite, Whitney Houston.

“I save Whitney as the last song of the night because she’s just the best vocalist ever, and her ear is phenomenal,” Quinn said in a recent phone interview. “Of all of those women, it’s always Whitney I relate to most musically.” In particular, she draws inspiration from the story of how Houston came to record “I Will Always Love You,” her biggest hit.

“The first time she heard that song, she rejected it, because it was a country version, Dolly Parton, right? Then her buddy came up to her and … encouraged her to listen to the song with her ears — what would she do with it? She listened again and then decided that she would do it.”

To Quinn, trailblazing is what makes a singer Queens-worthy.

“A woman who was able to influence those to come and who other artists strive to be like,” she said, which explains the inclusion of many contemporary artists. “Lady Gaga is important because she brought a lot of techno to the music. Adele because of all the soul and jazz elements; she kind of keeps that genre alive.”

Though she includes songs from the Queens lineup in her solo act, the show itself is new, first performed Sept. 16 in Dover. Quinn’s father suggested the idea a few years ago. “He presented it to me, and I was just way too shy to even attempt to do this,” she said. “Then I started working with some other tribute bands, and I started learning from them.”

Prominent among those groups is Queen Flash; she sang “Somebody to Love” with them on a few occasions. She opened for them at Blue Ocean Music Hall in Salisbury, Mass., earlier this year. “Freddie Mercury is my personal Queen,” Quinn said with a laugh.

For Queens’ debut in her hometown of Manchester on Friday, Oct. 13, the audience will be invited to take part, with a Halloween costume element.
“I think it would be super fun to have them come dressed up as their favorite queen,” Quinn said, noting that there will be a red carpet for participants to walk across prior to her performance.

Choosing which song to do was almost harder than picking singers, so she’s decided against locking one tune in for each.

“Now that we have the foundation down, the idea is, let’s learn a couple of songs from each artist,” she said. “Then, night of the show, let’s figure out which ones we want to do. That way, it’s not the same thing every time.”
She’s still looking at adding artists.

“It’s crazy,” she said. “I don’t have Britney on there and I don’t know why, but I need her. Christina Aguilera. There’s just so many. Taylor Swift, especially after her tour this year, she’s just totally popping off and I’m like, ‘Great, another woman!’ It’s gonna be a four-hour show.”

A theater kid growing up, Quinn shaped the evening into more than a concert. She had help from her dad, who isn’t a musician but has solid instincts. “It’s insane to me that he’s not in the business,” she said. “He comes up with the ideas and then I take on the theatrical side of it … like 10 to 15 costume changes, an apron and fake prop milkshakes for ‘She Works Hard for the Money.’ It’s a lot of fun.”

Quinn’s group for the show includes guitarist Ben Holiday, Moira Applebaum on keys, a rhythm section of drummer Scott Armstrong and bassist Matt Nemeskal, along with backing vocalists Genesis Toledo and Rebecca Turmel.

“Their talent is just phenomenal,” Quinn said. “I truly wouldn’t be here without them.”

Queens featuring Jordan Quinn
When: Friday, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Rex Theatre, 21 Amherst St., Manchester
Tickets: $29 at palacetheatre.org

Featured photo: Jordan Quinn. Courtesy photo.

Pats go broke in Vegas

A learning environment

News & Notes 23/10/19

In defense of bats! — 23/10/12

In defense of bats! — 23/10/12

Best of the best

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