Increased education costs
New data released by the New Hampshire Department of Education revealed that New Hampshire’s average cost per student is on the rise. According to a press release, the new statewide average cost per pupil of $19,399.97 is an increase of 5.24 percent from the previous year. Costs rose substantially beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, reflecting an increase associated with federal and state Covid-relief funds; pre-pandemic, the cost per pupil was rising, on average, about 3.1 percent each year. New Hampshire school districts are expecting to grapple with high inflation costs, coinciding with the expiration of Covid-relief funding, the release said.
Aging in NH
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services and the State Plan on Aging Planning Committee are seeking the public’s input via a series of listening sessions to help guide and inform the 2024-2027 State Plan on Aging. According to a press release, the listening sessions will be held in person throughout the state, including one in Concord at GoodLife Programs & Activities (254 N. State St.) on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and one in Manchester at William B. Cashin Senior Activity Center (151 Douglas St.) on Thursday, Feb. 2, from noon to 2 p.m. There will also be a series of virtual sessions held over Zoom, which are scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 18, Friday, Jan. 27, Monday, Jan. 30, and Wednesday, Feb. 1. Residents are encouraged to complete the online State Plan on Aging Survey to help provide information about the availability of supports in their communities, including health care programs and screenings, affordable housing, transportation and in-home long-term supports and services. “As we continue to provide programs and services that focus on older adults, we must have an understanding of what their needs are as they age,” BEAS Bureau Chief Wendi Aultman said in the release. “New Hampshire has one of the fastest-growing aging populations, and these listening sessions will give us the opportunity to offer supports that are meaningful and relevant to older residents, so that everyone can participate fully in their communities.” The State Plan on Aging is required for New Hampshire to receive federal funding for programming through the Older Americans Act. Visit dhhs.nh.gov/new-hampshire-state-plan-aging.
New at the Elliot
Elliot Hospital in Manchester has become the first hospital in New Hampshire to offer the Sonata System by Gynesonics’ procedure to treat uterine fibroid, a procedure that was first performed by Manchester OB/GYN Associates at the hospital. According to a press release, Uterine fibroids, which are benign growths in and around the uterus, affect about 70 percent of white women and more than 80 percent of black women before the age of 50. They can cause debilitating symptoms, such as heavy menstrual bleeding, which can worsen over time if left untreated. The new procedure is minimally invasive, using an intrauterine ultrasound handpiece to identify the fibroids, and radiofrequency energy to shrink the fibroids and reduce symptoms. “At The Elliot, we continue to expand our leading-edge medical procedural offerings to meet the needs of our patients,” Beverly Primeau, Vice President of Surgical and Procedural Services for Elliot Health System, said in the release.
Volunteers wanted
The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry) is having a volunteer open house on Tuesday, Jan. 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., where the public is invited to meet current volunteers and learn about the volunteering opportunities available at the museum. According to a press release, the Aviation Museum is a nonprofit organization “dedicated to celebrating New Hampshire’s role in aviation history and inspiring tomorrow’s pioneers, innovators and aerospace professionals.” Volunteering opportunities may include greeting guests at the front desk, leading tours and staffing the gift shop; working with young people through the education outreach program and student plane-building program; evaluating donations and cataloging items in the historical archive and assisting researchers; administrative tasks related to memberships, fundraising, communications and building maintenance; managing tech systems; and helping with special events. If you plan to attend the open house, call 669-4877 and leave a message with your name, or send an email to ldearborn@nhahs.org.
Seedlings online
After 112 years in business, the New Hampshire State Forest Nursery is beginning to take online orders. According to a press release, the website, buynhseedlings.com, resembles the Nursery’s traditional print catalog, but with additional features, including multiple color images of each seedling and a live inventory that shows the availability of each species and product in real time. “Sales at the NH State Forest Nursery have increased dramatically over the last several years,” NH Division of Forests and Lands’ Chief of Forest Management Will Guinn said in the release. “Much of this is due to a renewed interest in the outdoors as a result of the pandemic, as well as a desire to help mitigate climate change through planting trees to sequester and store carbon.” More than 1,000 customers used the online store to purchase 150,000 seedlings within the first two weeks of its launch. For customers who prefer to order on paper, mailed order forms are still being accepted, but will eventually be phased out, according to the release.
A New Hampshire Lottery player purchased a winning Lucky for Life ticket at Convenience Plus on Roundstone Drive in Manchester in the drawing on Jan. 5. According to a press release, the prize before taxes is the winner’s choice of $25,000 a year for life or a one-time payout of $390,000.
The majority of stores at Merrimack Premium Outlets were reopened on Sunday, Jan. 8, according to the mall’s website, after a Dec. 28 rock slide behind the mall damaged a gas main and forced the closure of some stores for several days.
A new Dollar General store is open at 17 Crystal Ave. in Derry. According to a press release, the variety store, which had 18,818 locations in 47 states as of October 2022, expects to employ six to 10 people from the community and has announced plans to donate 100 new books to a local elementary school as part of a nationwide campaign in partnership with Kellogg Co.
