Hate crime forums

The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office presents a series of public Hate Crimes Forum conversations, with the first to be held on Thursday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Michael Briggs Community Center (409 Beech St., Manchester). According to a press release, the series will provide community members, public officials and other interested parties with information related to the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act as well as state and municipal hate crimes laws, and engage local and federal law enforcement and community organizations in discussions and information sharing on methods to prevent and respond to local bias incidents and hate crimes. “Preventing hate crimes is one of our most important shared priorities across New Hampshire law enforcement,” Attorney General Formella said in the release. “We need a whole-community approach to truly be successful in our fight against bias and hate. … These will be critical conversations as we work collectively to keep New Hampshire safe and welcoming for people of all backgrounds.” Presenters at the first event will include the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Manchester Police, the Department New Hampshire Human Rights Commission, the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire, the Manchester Branch of the NAACP, the New Hampshire Council of Churches and the IQRA Islamic Society of Greater Concord. Call 230-2518 to RSVP by Feb. 6.

New at Stay

Stay Work Play New Hampshire, a nonprofit organization that works to attract and retain young people in New Hampshire, welcomes a new events and communications manager, Kristina Lafiosca. According to a press release, Lafiosca, a New London resident, graduated from the University of New England in 2011 with a bachelor of arts in sociology and anthropology. She began her career in the nonprofit sector and most recently has owned and operated her own business in the Sunapee region. In her new role, Lafiosca will oversee the organization’s content and communications strategy; provide leadership in planning, coordinating and evaluating the organization’s events, programs and initiatives; and serve as the organization’s primary point of contact for young professionals.

Airport funds

A New Hampshire delegation consisting of U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas welcomed $2,821,120 to support modifications and rehabilitation efforts for the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport terminal building. According to a press release, the award, allocated through the Department of Transportation using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds, will be used to replace 16,000 square feet of the terminal’s original translucent fiberglass canopy, thereby increasing energy efficiency. “Improving and updating Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is critical to our regional economy and ensuring individuals can travel safely and efficiently,” Pappas said in the release. “This federal funding … will update existing infrastructure to improve key systems at New Hampshire’s largest airport.”

Big bird weekend!

The New Hampshire Audubon’s annual Backyard Winter Bird Survey will run on Saturday, Feb. 11, and Sunday, Feb. 12. According to a press release, New Hampshire residents are invited to count and observe birds in their own backyards during that weekend and report their findings to the New Hampshire Audubon to provide critical data to biologists who are monitoring the state’s bird species, such as the northern cardinal, tufted titmouse, red-bellied woodpecker, southern woodpecker and evening grosbeak. Reports of a lack of birds are just as valuable as reports of many birds. “If everyone reported only when they have a lot of birds, we wouldn’t be able to see the declines,” Rebecca Suomala, survey coordinator, said in the release. Forms can be acquired and submitted online at nhbirdrecords.org/backyard-winter-bird-survey or by emailing [email protected].

And the nominees are…

Nominations are open now through April 14 for the 2023 Governor’s Arts Awards. The awards, given every other year, recognize individuals, organizations and communities that have made outstanding contributions to New Hampshire’s arts and culture. The categories include Arts Education, Arts in Health, Creative Communities, Distinguished Arts Leadership, Folk Heritage, Individual Arts Champion and Lotte Jacobi Living Treasure, a lifetime achievement award. To be eligible, nominees must reside in New Hampshire or have resided in New Hampshire while making their contributions. Nominations, which must include a 1,000-word statement of the nominee’s accomplishments and two to five current letters of support, will be reviewed by a panel appointed by the State Arts Council. Visit nh.gov/nharts. Nominees will be notified of the results by mid May, and an awards ceremony will be held in the fall. Visit nh.gov/nharts/artsandartists/gaa/index.htm.

Registration is open for the 21st Annual Payson Center for Cancer Care Rock ‘N Race 5K, to take place Thursday, May 18, at 6 p.m. in Concord. The event raises funds for services for patients and their families at Concord Hospital Payson Center for Cancer Care HOPE Resource Center. Participants may run or walk a 5k or walk a one-mile loop. Visit rocknrace.org to register.

Construction has begun on the F.E. Everett Turnpike south of the I-293 interchange in Bedford. According to an announcement from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, work includes rock blasting in southbound lanes to allow the addition of a through travel lane. The work is scheduled to be done on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. over the next two to three months.

Nashua high schools are adjusting their GPA (grade point average) scale from 5.4 to the more commonly used unweighted 4.0 to measure students’ academic achievement. According to a press release, the 5.4 GPA was originally put in place as a way for students to earn added points for Advanced Placement and honors classes.