Tag: 201015

What’s going on(line)

ArtWalk and Writers’ Conference to be held virtually

Interviewing Tiffany Joslin of the YMCA of Greater Nashua, one of the 7th Annual Meri Goyette Arts Awards recipients, for ArtWeek Nashua 2020. Photo by Wendy Fisher.

While many of the fall’s large annual arts events have been canceled, some, like Nashua ArtWalk Weekend and the 603: Writers’ Conference, are still happening virtually.

ArtWalk Weekend has been reimagined as ArtWeek, with virtual programming on social media and local television from Saturday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 25.

“We could have easily put this off until next year, but we wanted to make this happen,” said Wendy Fisher, project manager for City Arts Nashua, which hosts the event. “Art in any form is really healing for people, and I think bringing art to folks virtually right now during this crazy time and forming a community around the arts is filling a void.”

The schedule for ArtWeek is still in the works, but Fisher said it will feature around 30 Nashua-area artists and performers through a series of video segments and social media posts. In the videos, which have been professionally filmed in partnership with Access Nashua Community Television, artists give tours of their studios, show their artistic processes and give an in-depth look at some of their works of art. The videos will be broadcast on Access Nashua (TV channel 96) and City Arts Nashua’s YouTube channel. Other artists will have spotlights on City Arts Nashua’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages and website.

“You can learn about the artists and see the work they’re creating [and hear about] how the pandemic has impacted them and how you can support them,” Fisher said. “It’s just like meeting them in person, except instead of walking through downtown Nashua you tune in [virtually].”

ArtWeek will also include elements of the “KidsWalk,” which debuted at last year’s event.

Videos and photos submitted by young artists and performers showcasing their talents and pandemic-era creations will be featured; and, with contributions from the YMCA of Greater Nashua, there will be a scavenger hunt with clues posted on social media where kids can find art kits hidden around Nashua. Kids can then watch a YouTube video with instructions and inspiration for projects they can do with the art kit.

“The KidsWalk was so popular last year,” Fisher said. “We’re so excited to bring back more things for kids.”

Finally, ArtWeek will also air the presentation of the Meri Goyette Arts Awards, which was recorded over the summer. The awards recognize three non-artist community members who have made outstanding contributions to the arts.

The New Hampshire Writers’ Project’s 603: Writers’ Conference, known this year as 603: Writers’ “Sit and Click” Virtual Conference, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 17. Normally held in Manchester in the spring, the conference will feature most of its traditional activities, including panels, classes and a keynote speaker, virtually over Zoom.

“It’s all brand new territory that we’re trying to pioneer, just like everybody else,” said Beth D’Ovidio, marketing director for the Writers’ Project, “but I think most people have become fairly well-versed and confident and comfortable with Zoom by now.”

The conference kicks off with a presentation by keynote speaker Brunonia Barry, New York Times- and international bestselling author of The Lace Reader, The Map of True Places and The Fifth Petal.

Then there will be two sessions with a total of 14 different classes offered, plus one panel, taught by published authors and industry professionals and covering a variety of topics related to the theme “Choosing Your Path to Publishing.” Topics will include the mechanics of powerful prose, protagonists and antagonists, researching a historical novel, strategies for developing a story, dealing with plot holes, beating procrastination, creative approaches to telling personal stories, revising, sci-fi and fantasy world-building, submitting a manuscript for publication, working with an editor, creating a video trailer for a book, selling self-published books through Amazon ads and planning a book tour.

All classes will be held live as well as recorded, and participants will have access to the recorded classes for 90 days after the conference.

“You’ll be able to access every single workshop that is presented that day, which we’re really excited about, because we haven’t been able to offer that in the past,” D’Ovidio said. “I think that’s going to really increase the value of the experience and is a really cool selling point this year.”

Virtual arts
ArtWeek Nashua
When: Saturday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 25. Schedule of programs TBA.
Where: Content will be broadcast on Access Nashua (TV channel 96) and City Arts Nashua’s YouTube channel and posted on City Arts Nashua’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages and website.
Cost: Free
More info: cityartsnashua.org

603: Writers’ “Sit and Click” Virtual Conference
When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Where: Content will be broadcast live over Zoom.
Cost: $125 for NHWP members, $145 for non-members, $100 for teachers and $50 for students. Registration required by Friday, Oct. 16, at 3 p.m. Includes recorded content accessible for 90 days.
More info: nhwritersproject.org

Featured photo: Interviewing Gail Moriarty of Colibri Designs. Photo by Wendy Fisher.

Quality of Life 20/10/15

Finding hairy pine-sap

Hairy pine-sap. Courtesy photo.

A rare plant was discovered last month by a student at the Founders Academy Public Charter School in Manchester, according to a press release. Josiah DiPietro found a group of hairy pine-sap during his Natural History of New Hampshire class, when the group was outside exploring the campus woods. It is now the fifth known location for the species, confirmed by Bill Nichols, senior ecologist/state botanist at the New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau Division of Forests & Lands, which tracks the species due to its rarity. Hairy pine-sap is an herbaceous perennial found in woodlands, often where oaks are present, according to the release, and southern New Hampshire is part of the plant’s northernmost limit.

Score: +1

Comment: Hairy pine-sap flowers in late August through September, and its stems are pink or red, which distinguishes it from the light brown or yellow stems of the more common yellow pine-sap, according to the release.

Dairy products for residents in need

The Rotary Clubs of Milford, Concord and Manchester, among several other clubs in New Hampshire and Vermont, recently donated $21,225 to the New Hampshire Food Bank specifically to purchase milk and other dairy products for New Hampshire residents in need, according to a press release. The Rotary Clubs collaborated with the Food Bank as well as Granite State Dairy Promotion and the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food for this effort. The Food Bank has contracted with Contoocook Creamery to bottle the milk, and Stonyfield Organic in Londonderry will provide approximately 20,000 cups of yogurt for this program with help from the Rotary Clubs’ donation.

Score: +1

Comment: Milk and dairy products are among the top requested items from the food pantries that are served by the New Hampshire Food Bank, according to the release.

Historical milestone for Nashua

Nashua’s first historical highway marker has been installed in front of the Nashua Historical Society’s Abbot-Spalding House museum, according to a press release, and the official unveiling is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17 (with a rain date of Saturday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m.). “The Nashua Historical Society is proud to have our Abbot-Spalding House acknowledged with this marker, especially since this is the first historic marker installed in Nashua,” Beth McCarthy, Historical Society curator, said in the release. The Abbot-Spalding House was built circa 1802-1804 by Daniel Abbot, a 19th-century businessman known as “The Father of Nashua” for his leading role in reuniting the towns of Nashua and Nashville after the two split due to political conflict, according to the release.

Score: +1

Comment: There are more than 250 historical highway markers throughout the state, managed by the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, according to the press release. An interactive map showing the markers’ locations can be found at nh.gov/nhdhr.

QOL score: 57

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 60

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].

NBA observations

The endless NBA season has finally ended with the Lakers winning their (ugh) record-tying 17th title in six games over the Celtics-conquering Miami Heat. While seeing the Lakers tie the Celtics for most titles is daunting, especially since LeBron James and Anthony Davis can do it again next year, part of me was OK with that because if Miami had won there would’ve been no end to the local yakking over the Celtics’ “blowing” their opportunity.

But with the Lakers in control throughout, the same would have happened to Boston. Doesn’t mean they didn’t fumble away games vs. Miami; it just means that they’re not quite there, because their stars are young and they didn’t have enough pieces to get over the final hurdle. We’ll get to that in a bit, but for now here are some final thoughts as the post-season ended.

Said before the playoffs Duncan Robinson had to prove it to me that he was actually as good as he looked at times during the regular season. Well, I’m buying it now on the New Castle native. So is ABC’s Jeff Van Gundy, who called him “the most improved player in the bubble.” Hopefully there’s much more to come.

NBA 101: Who played the most NBA regular games without ever playing even once in the playoffs?

Markieff Morris has the same chippy attitude and play-alike game as brother Marcus had in Boston. Makes sense since they’re identical twins. But while they’re solid players, I slot them just behind Dick and Tom Van Arsdale as the NBA’s best set of identicals. The Lopez brothers are third, followed by Jason and Jarron Collins. And if you want to see something Twilight Zone eerie, go to basketball-reference.com and compare the Van Arsdale brothers’ career stats.

I wouldn’t call Russell Westbrook one of my favorites, but thumbs up for leaving the folks who took care of his hotel room in the bubble an $8,000 tip as thanks for their help. It’s also not the first time he’s done something like that. Nice Russell.

Scrawny Lakers bench guy Alex Caruso is a living version of the major Hollywood motion picture from days gone White Men Can’t Jump. That title describes the exact way every basketball person thinks until a white guy proves otherwise. So with his scrawny frame, goofy headband and non-tan (how does that happen while living in L.A. and Florida?) he’d be the last guy picked in any park in America. He’d then stun all with his spunky game, because he’s a lot better than anyone would think, including me.

Back to Markieff Morris. His 88 is the worst number in NBA history. George Mikan wore 99, but he’s an all-time great and was given it at DePaul to signify his gargantuan size for those days. I get 88 is a play on Marcus wearing 8, but ditch it, bro.

Interesting comments from Charles Barkley on the Dan Patrick radio show the other day where he said Kevin Durant was a “bus rider” in Golden State and not the “bus driver,” which was Steph Curry. Throw in Kyrie Irving kicking off Steve Nash’s tenure as Brooklyn coach by idiotically saying it’ll be a “collaboration” because he and Durant don’t need a coach and it’s more ammo for why the Durant-Irving thing will never live up to expectations. Can’t wait to see how it goes when the NY papers lay it on the thin-skinned Durant and team-killing Kyrie.

Jimmy Butler turned out to be a lot better than I ever gave him credit for. My bad. I really like his mental and physical toughness. Philly should have paid him and traded Ben Simmons.

This just in: that Anthony Davis guy is really good.

NBA 101 Answer: While brother Dick played 34 playoff games for the Knicks and Suns, including the famed triple-overtime Game 5 thriller vs. the Celtics in the 1976 Finals, Tom Van Arsdale played in 929 games with five teams in Cincinnati, Detroit, Atlanta, Philly and Phoenix over 12 seasons and never made the playoffs even once.

I’ll save you the trip to basketball-reference. After starting together at the University of Indiana the Van Arsdales both played 12 years in the NBA and here are the stats, Dick first, then Tom. Games: 921 – 929. FG percent: 47.9 – 43.1. Reb: 3,807 – 3,932. Assists: 3,057 – 2,992. Points: 15,079 – 14,232. Do-doo-do-doo, do-doo-do-doo….

I guess any time you get close it’s an opportunity. But for those who think the Celtics blew one, compare them to the 2008 team. Are they remotely as good? The Big 3 comparison would be Paul Pierce and Jayson Tatum as the get your own shot scorer, Ray Allen and Kemba Walker catch and shoot three in the corner guy (at least Kemba should do that) and the third scoring option, Kevin Garnett vs. Gordon Hayward or Jaylen Brown. While Tatum someday might match Pierce, for now he’s 22. Kemba will never be the Top 5 all-time shooter Ray was, and Garnett scored over 25,000 career points, though his real value was his unmatchable leadership and killer defense skills. In other words the 2008 bunch was a deeply experienced team with a Big 3 all 30+, as each won their first title. Said another way, they’re not ready.

The biggest problem was consistency and grit at the end of games. So, even though Bam was a load, they need two things far more than an upgrade over Daniel Theis: a mentally tough, experienced leader in the vein of Butler, and a real point guard who controls the O in big moments to give scorers the ball when they can do something Rajon with it.

And finally since we all know I like saying I told you so, as I said when he signed with L.A., in recording the most playoff assists off the bench in NBA history Rajon Rondo was big in the playoffs.

Bring him back, Danny, ’cause what he does is just what they need.

Drought management

Why the drought will continue, and how to save water

According to the United States Drought Monitor’s most recent data on New Hampshire (released Oct. 6), 21.99 percent of the state is experiencing extreme drought and 73.07 percent of the state is experiencing severe drought. Stacey Herbold, manager of the Water Conservation and Water Use Registration and Reporting programs at New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and a member of the Drought Management Team, talked about how the drought has affected the state and what residents can do to conserve water.

What impact does a drought have on New Hampshire residents?

We see agricultural operations having to work really hard to keep their crops going. … [Residents with wells] may see their well supply running low or going dry, and they may notice that their water has some sediment in it. … [Residents using community water] have restrictions put on their water use, mostly for outdoor watering … and that can range from a total ban on all outdoor watering, to watering on only certain days of the week, to no lawn watering and only hand watering of gardens. … Right now we have 165 community water systems with water restrictions in place.

What caused the drought? Is it due only to environmental factors, or are people also partially responsible?

It’s the increased water use during the summer, coupled with [environmental factors]. … Spring is one of the most important times of the year for recharging groundwater. … We had a really low snowpack in early spring and below-average rain in the spring, so that started us off in a deficit as we went into the summer. In the summer, we continued not to get enough rain to make up for it … and when temperatures rise, a lot of water ends up going to evaporation. … Water use also increases during the summer months because of outdoor watering. … A lot of people turn on their irrigation system and leave it running even when watering isn’t necessarily needed.

What kinds of water systems are used in New Hampshire, and what does a drought do to them?

Approximately half of the state is on their own private residence with well water, while the other half is on some kind of community water system. Community water systems usually have a diverse set of water sources. They may have wells in various areas, surface water sources and backup [sources], so they’re a bit more resilient when it comes to a drought. … Residential well owners tend to have either dug wells or bedrock wells. Dug wells are shallower wells that are in unconsolidated material above the bedrock. During a drought, they’re the first to run low on water, but they’re also the first to recharge when it rains. Bedrock wells are drilled down into the bedrock and receive water from various small fractures, and it takes longer for them to be impacted by low groundwater levels, but they take much longer to recharge. … It could take weeks to months.

How can people conserve water during a drought?

During the summer months, a reduction in lawn watering is the main thing, and not washing down driveways, power washing houses or washing cars with the hose constantly going. … As we move into the colder weather, people really need to focus on how to conserve water indoors. Do full loads of laundry and full loads in the dishwasher. Take shorter showers. Don’t run water while doing other things. Turn off the faucet while you’re brushing your teeth. When you’re doing dishes, fill up a basin rather than letting the water run. One simple thing that people don’t think about is that you don’t always need to have your faucet on full blast. If you’re just rinsing vegetables off, you could turn it on halfway. … Residential well owners need to space out how they use water throughout the day and throughout the week. You shouldn’t be showering, running the dishwasher and doing laundry all at once.

Should people be buying their drinking water?

Not necessarily. The percentage of the amount of water we use for drinking is so small, it doesn’t really make a difference. But if you have a well and you’re starting to see sediment in your water you may want to consider buying bottled water just to prevent yourself from drinking anything like that.

When is the current drought expected to end?

Different outlets are predicting that the drought will improve over the next month but not necessarily go away. We could enter the winter while still in a drought. Then, our next chance for a really good groundwater replenishment won’t come until next spring.

Is water conservation important even when there isn’t a drought?

Yes. It should be practiced every day. Water is not an infinite resource, and it takes all of us to make sure we have the water supply we need … One of the basic things homeowners should be doing is replacing their outdated water fixtures. … [Older] toilets and washing machines are some of the biggest water wasters. … This can also save you money on your utility bills, and [newer appliances] can save a lot of energy, which could save you money on your electric bills.

Featured photo: Stacey Herbold

News & Notes 20/10/15

Covid-19 updateAs of October 4As of October 11
Total cases statewide8,6459,143
Total current infections statewide492685
Total deaths statewide443456
New cases437 (Sept. 29 to Oct. 4)498 (Oct. 5 to Oct. 11)
Current infections: Hillsborough County250349
Current infections: Merrimack County4394
Current infections: Rockingham County91127
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

Covid-19 news

On Oct. 5, Gov. Chris Sununu issued Exhibit S to Emergency Order No. 29, which had been issued on April 9. Emergency Order No. 29 requires state agencies, boards and commissions t

o submit recommendations to Sununu if any regulatory deadlines should be adjusted in response to the state of emergency. Per Exhibit S, emergency waiver of attendance and leave rules previously adopted by the New Hampshire Department of Administrative Services’ Division of Personnel to provide flexibility to state employees impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic will continue for the duration of the state of emergency.

During an Oct. 8 press conference, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said that public health officials will start to modify the way numbers are reported going forward, focusing “less on the extraneous numbers and more on numbers relative to the current situation in New Hampshire.” Even though the number of new positive test results of Covid-19 has continued to increase over the last several weeks, Dr. Chan said the percentage of positive results relative to all tests remains stable. “We believe that this is, in part, due to the large increase in testing that is being conducted statewide in many communities, both PCR and antigen testing,” he said. Dr. Chan added that there is also, however, evidence of increased community transmission, especially in Hillsborough, Rockingham and Strafford counties, likely due to a decrease in the relaxation of social distancing restrictions in some areas of the state.

On Oct. 9, Sununu issued Executive Order 2020-20, extending the state of emergency in New Hampshire due to the Covid-19 pandemic for another three weeks through at least Oct. 30. It’s the 10th extension he has issued since originally declaring a state of emergency on March 13.

Details of Sununu’s Executive Orders, Emergency Orders and other announcements are available at governor.nh.gov.

Voter alert

The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office is alerting voters that an unidentified source has sent out mailers that contain an absentee ballot application form, a return envelope addressed to the recipient’s town or city clerk, and an allegedly handwritten note that says, “You are needed please fill this out and mail it in.” According to a press release, state law requires that such mailings include the identity of the entity mailing and distributing the form, which is not the case with this mailer. The Attorney General’s Office emphasized that these mailers have not been sent by any New Hampshire town or city clerk or by any state agency, and anyone who received this mailer who had already requested or submitted an absentee ballot does not need to complete another form. Anyone with questions can call the Attorney General’s Election hotline at 1-866-868-3703 or send an email to [email protected].

Opioid settlement

New Hampshire has joined a $1.6 billion global settlement agreement with Mallinckrodt, the biggest generic opioid manufacturer in the U.S., according to a press release from the office of New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald. The settlement comes more than a year after the state filed a complaint in Merrimack County Superior Court against Mallinckrodt alleging that the company failed to disclose risks of addiction, misrepresented the abuse-deterrence qualities of its opioids and failed to report suspicious orders of opioids, all of which violated New Hampshire’s consumer protection laws. The state also claimed that the company allegedly created a public nuisance and that between 2006 and 2014 Mallinckrodt accounted for 21.81 percent of all opioid transactions in New Hampshire; in that time, the company “sold the equivalent of approximately 153.5 million 10 mg opioid pills in New Hampshire, with a population of roughly 1.35 million people. That was enough Mallinckrodt opioids to provide each man, woman, and child in the state with 114 pills,” the release reads. Mallinckrodt, which has filed for bankruptcy, will pay $1.6 billion in cash into a trust, and a large amount of that money will go toward abating the opioid crisis. How much each state will receive will be negotiated during the bankruptcy process. The global settlement agreement includes attorneys general from 50 states and territories and local subdivisions.

NHDRA online

Last week, the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration launched Phase 2 of its new online user portal and revenue management system, for taxpayers of the New Hampshire Business Profits Tax, Business Enterprise Tax, Interest & Dividends Tax and Communication Services Tax. According to a press release, that equates to approximately 139,000 taxpayers who will now have a better online experience. The online user portal, Granite Tax Connect, allows users to file taxes electronically, schedule automated payments, and check on the status of returns, payments, and refund and credit requests. The first phase launched about a year ago, which made the portal available to those who pay the Meals & Rentals Tax, Medicaid Enhancement Tax, and Nursing Facility Quality Assessment. The department expects that by the end of 2021 all tax types will be able to utilize the online portal.

Social Security

AARP NH is hosting a free online discussion about Social Security on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 1 p.m., according to a press release. Local and national experts will talk about how Social Security affects New Hampshire and its residents, and there will be an opportunity for people to ask questions. The discussion is free but pre-registration is required at aarp.cvent.com/SSProgram1021.

SEE Science Center

The SEE Science Center in Manchester has received a CARES grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services — the only award given to a New Hampshire museum, according to a press release. Only 68 projects from museums and libraries throughout the country were awarded funding out of more than 1,700 entries. SEE’s project, Creating Flexible Field Trips: Reopening Programming by Designing for Uncertainty during the Covid-19 Pandemic, is an effort to transition the Science Center’s in-person field trips to other formats so that teachers and students can continue to use the museum’s educational offerings during and after the pandemic.

The New Hampshire Food Bank will host a drive-through mobile food pantry on Friday, Oct. 16, from noon to 2 p.m. at NHTI in Concord, according to a press release. The food bank will bring the food to people in their vehicles.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen was scheduled to visit Catholic Medical Center in Manchester on Tuesday to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on the state’s health care providers, according to a press announcement. Shaheen also planned to talk about providing more resources to providers through relief legislation.

There should be no shortage of golden retrievers in Amherst on Sunday, Oct. 18, as the town holds its Goldens on the Green event from 1 to 3 p.m. on the town green. According to a press release, there will be a kissing booth, pool diving and a parade of goldens. Donations will be accepted, with the money raised going to animals awaiting adoption at the Humane Society for Greater Nashua. Everyone is welcome, including people who don’t own golden retrievers.

Starting in the fall of 2021, Rivier University in Nashua will have men’s and women’s ice hockey, according to a press release. The school plans to launch a national search for head coaches this month.

Local independent business needs your support

Hippo’s annual magazine, Cool Things About New Hampshire, will hit newsstands next week. It highlights many of the local, independently owned businesses and nonprofits that make our corner of America unique.

The magazine pulls its cool things from our annual Hippo Best of Readers’ Poll (published this year in August). These people and businesses are part of what makes our community a community. On an economic level, they help keep our hard-earned dollars in New Hampshire. For every $100 we spend at a local business, $68 stays in the local economy; at a national chain, $43 out of every $100 spent stays here, according to independentwestand.org. I would guess even less stays local when we buy online from Amazon.

This sense of community that local independent businesses help foster requires lots of in-person interaction. Often, it’s that personal service that gives them a competitive advantage.

As one might imagine, the pandemic has been especially challenging for independently owned small businesses and nonprofits. Many national chains, such as McDonald’s and Taco Bell, have seen revenues trend up recently as consumers shift toward drive-thrus. Amazon, Walmart and Target too have all seen a rise in revenue as consumers opt for more online shopping.

Additional government support may be needed to save many small businesses, but with the political climate the way it is, it’s doubtful that any aid will be coming.

That leaves us, the consumers, to vote with our dollars, to make an effort to support the corner cafe rather than always heading to Dunkins or to shop at the local health food store rather than defaulting to Whole Foods. We get the community — with its cool, unique people and businesses — that we support.

Just as I’m asking you to support, as much as you reasonably can, local independent businesses by voting with your dollars, I also ask you to financially support the Hippo, which is also local and independent. For nearly 20 years we’d been completely ad-supported (99 percent of those being local ads) but that source of revenue has rapidly declined recently and we now need broader community support from readers.

We are so grateful to the readers who have already contributed (and we especially love the notes of support!). Please go online to hippopress.com to contribute or mail a contribution to: HippoPress, 195 McGregor St., Manchester NH 03102. We appreciate any amount (and we have some extra thank-yous for those who become members).

Thank you for reading, thank you for contributing and thank you for all the ways you support this community that is so important to us all.

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