NH state primary

The New Hampshire state primary election is Tuesday, Sept. 13. Offices on the ballot include Governor, U.S. Senator, Representative in Congress, Executive Counselor, State Senator, State Representatives and County offices. The results of the primary election will determine the candidates from each party who will be on the ballot for the general election in November.

Voters may only vote in the primary for the party with which they are registered; voters registered as “undeclared” can vote in either primary, but not both. To be eligible to vote, you must be at least 18 years old on Election Day, be a United States citizen and reside in the city or town where you plan to vote. If you are not yet registered to vote, you may register in person at the polls on Election Day.

Registration involves filling out a Voter Registration Form and providing documents proving your identity and age, U.S. citizenship and residency. If, when registering to vote, you do not have those documents, you can sign an affidavit, affirming under oath that you meet the voting eligibility requirements.

If you are already registered to vote, the only documentation you will need to bring to the polls is a valid photo ID, in accordance with the New Hampshire Voter ID Law (a full list of valid forms of ID can be found on the Secretary of State website). Registered absentee voters can file their absentee ballots at their local clerk’s office in person anytime before Monday, Sept. 12, at 5 p.m.; assign a delivery agent to deliver the completed absentee ballot in the affidavit and mailing envelope to the clerk at the voter’s local polling place on election day, Tuesday, Sept. 13, by 5 p.m.; or mail their absentee ballot to their local clerk via the U.S. Postal Service, understanding that the ballot can only be accepted and counted if it is received by the clerk from the Postal Service by 5 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Sept. 13. Use the Secretary of State’s voter information lookup tool at app.sos.nh.gov to check your voter registration status and party affiliation, the status of your absentee ballot, your polling location and hours and town clerk information and to see a sample ballot. For more information about voting, visit the Secretary of State website at sos.nh.gov.

Monkeypox vaccines

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has announced that people who are at high risk of infection for monkeypox and people with known exposure to a person with a confirmed monkeypox infection are eligible to receive the monkeypox vaccine. According to a press release, the vaccine, known as JYNNEOS, is currently being distributed through city health departments and participating provider clinics throughout the state. If you believe you are eligible to receive the vaccine, contact your primary health care provider for a referral to a participating clinic. If you do not have a primary health care provider from whom you can get a referral, you can still receive the vaccine at a participating Convenient MD location, which currently include Belmont, Concord, Dover, Keene, Littleton, Manchester, Nashua, Portsmouth, Bedford, Londonderry, Merrimack, Stratham and Windham, as long as you live, work or have a primary health care provider in New Hampshire. “We recommend that anybody who has been exposed to the monkeypox virus and anybody who is at high risk for being exposed get vaccinated as soon as possible,” New Hampshire State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said in the release. “The JYNNEOS vaccine is safe and effective at preventing monkeypox. However, because it takes time for vaccine protection to develop and because no vaccine is 100 percent effective, people should continue take steps to reduce their chance for exposure and limit their number of sex partners.” NH DHHS identified what it believed to be the first case of monkeypox in the state in late June, and the monkeypox outbreak was declared a national health emergency on Aug. 4. The virus can produce symptoms such as fever, headache, exhaustion, muscle aches, sore throat, cough, swollen lymph nodes and a skin rash and may last for two to four weeks. Transmission typically requires close interaction or physical contact. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms or has been exposed or possibly exposed to the virus should isolate at home and consult their health care provider. Visit dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/disease-prevention/infectious-disease-control/monkeypox for more information and updates on the monkeypox outbreak in New Hampshire.

Biofab grant

A coalition led by the City of Manchester was selected from more than 500 applicants and 60 finalists to receive a Phase 2 Build Back Better Grant to support its Southern New Hampshire BioFabrication Cluster proposal. According to a press release, the award includes $43,999,995 in federal funding from the Economic Development Administration, matched with $12,542,521 provided by coalition and industry partners, for a total of $56,542,521. The coalition, which consists of the City along with the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute, the University of New Hampshire, Southern New Hampshire University and Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission, seeks to make Manchester the epicenter of the biofabrication industry. A growing manufacturing base is estimated to create 7,000 direct jobs and approximately 37,250 total jobs across southern New Hampshire over the next seven years, including a significant number of jobs for non-degreed, biofabrication and quality technicians.

DOT info meeting

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation will hold a public officials/public informational meeting with the Hooksett Town Council on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m. at the Hooksett Town Hall (35 Main St.) to discuss planned preservation work on five bridges located on Interstate 93 northbound between Exits 7 and 9 in Manchester and Hooksett and associated traffic control. According to a press release, this work will consist of pavement and membrane replacement, partial and full deck repairs, guardrail repairs, and joint replacements. The meeting will present information about the proposed project to the public and invite citizens and public officials to weigh in.

The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, with Gov. Chris Sununu and first lady Valerie Sununu, held a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil and dedicate the New Hampshire Native Pollinator Garden at the Bridges House, at 21 Mountain Road in Concord, on Sept. 3. The certified pollinator-friendly garden — built by Master Gardener volunteers and the Sununu family — is dedicated to former first lady Nancy Sununu (wife of John H. Sununu, governor in the 1980s, and Chris Sununu’s mother), according to a press release. See friendsofbridgeshouse.org/pollinator-habitat.

Manchester Proud will host its annual CelebratED event on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, on Elm Street between Central and Merrimack streets in downtown Manchester. The annual event celebrates Manchester schools and features ceremonies, live music, food, robotics demonstrations, an activity station, an aerial show, an art show, a sensory tent, bookmobile readings and more, according to the website. Visit manchesterproud.org/celebrated.

The Thank You Project, a charitable organization that works to build wells in Nigeria, will host its 7th annual Water Walk on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Greeley Park, on Concord Street in Nashua. According to a press release, the event raises funds to support the organization’s mission, providing easier access to clean drinking water for people living in communities in Nigeria, and to support a scholarship fund for students studying at the Dr. Michael Okpara University in Nigeria. Visit thankyouproject.org to learn more.