Tag: 210318

Find your Book Love

How to rediscover classics,
find new titles that interest you and have more fun with reading

If it’s been years since you’ve picked up a book (no judgment!), the idea of reentering the vast and always-expanding world of literature can be overwhelming. But with genres that cover everything from werewolves to World War II and reading formats that accommodate all kinds of lifestyles, becoming a reader is easier than ever.

“Every child is an artist, but as they get older, most people stop drawing, stop coloring, and I think it can be the same way with reading,” said Michael Herrmann, owner of Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord. “Every child loves stories, but somewhere along the line, we lose that. The secret here is to get back in touch with that inner child and ask yourself, what kinds of stories do I want to hear now?”

Find a book

Caitlin Loving, head of circulation at Bedford Public Library, said one of the most common hang-ups people have about reading is simply not knowing what to read.

“There is such a wealth of options, which is nice, but it can also be really overwhelming and intimidating,” Loving said, “and if it’s been a while [since you’ve read], you may not know what you’d like.”

Books based on or related to your favorite films and TV series can be a great starting point, Loving said, as they allow you to dive deeper into a story or subject that you know you’re interested in.

“Even though you know what the book is about, there’s often a lot that gets left out [in the screen adaptation], so reading the book can really add to your enjoyment,” she said.

Another popular gateway to reading is nonfiction, said Emily Weiss, head of reference services at Bedford Public Library. You can explore a memoir or autobiography by a person who’s always fascinated you, or a self-help guide that addresses an area of your life that you want to improve, or a commentary on a social or political issue that you’re passionate about.

“If you have someone who is a reluctant reader but really likes sports, a nonfiction book about a sports team or a biography on an athlete will oftentimes draw them in,” Weiss said.

“When I read nonfiction, I can’t stop talking about what I’ve read to other people,” added Susan Harmon, information and technology librarian at Manchester City Library. “It’s a great way to learn more about something interesting or weird, or to become an expert on a subject or hobby of some kind.”

If reading a whole book feels like too much to start, try a book of poetry, short stories, a graphic novel or a novella instead.

“Warm up your reading muscles first … and start small,” said Rachel Stover, technical services assistant at Manchester City Library. “If you haven’t read anything in a while, something too long might get discouraging.”

There’s no shame in reading a young adult or children’s book either, said Sarah St. Martin, systems librarian for GMILCS, Inc., a nonprofit consortium of public and academic libraries in New Hampshire,

“Don’t limit yourself,” she said. “There are so many great children’s stories out there, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t read them.”

“It truly is a golden age for young adult literature,” Herrmann added. “These are books that have great stories and characters … and don’t involve a huge time commitment.”

Podcasts, YouTube channels and magazines often provide recommendations of new titles, especially within a particular genre or niche.

“A lot of YouTubers talk about books they’ve read that go along with what they talk about on their channel, so that can be a really good springboard,” Harmon said.

For more personalized recommendations, reach out to family, friends and co-workers who are readers and know what your interests are, or talk with the staff at your local library or bookstore, who can give you recommendations based on your interests, reading level and goals.

“The people who work in those places are in love with books,” Herrmann said. “They’ll help connect you with the kinds of stories that you’re looking for.”

To read or not to read

Inevitably, you will pick up some books that looked promising at first glance but fall short of your expectations. At that point, you’ll need to decide whether you want to cut your losses early on, read a little more in hopes that it redeems itself, or finish the book regardless.

A good rule of thumb is to read at least 50 pages of a book before making a judgment, Loving said; if it hasn’t appealed to you by then, it’s probably never going to, but if you want to be sure that you aren’t missing out, take a look at the reviews.

“Oftentimes a review will say, ‘It picks up in the second half,’ or ‘The ending is worth it,’ and that can be helpful for deciding if you want to keep going with it or not,” Loving said.

The reverse is also possible:

“You might start a book and be really into it, and then, halfway through, it changes and you aren’t into it anymore,” St. Martin said.

Whether you’re 20 pages in or 200 pages in, if you know that the book just isn’t for you, it’s OK to put it to rest and move on to a book you find more enjoyable.

“A lot of people feel like they have to stick with a book, even if it’s not really capturing their attention, or else they feel like a failure,” Loving said. “I say life is too short for that.”

“There are hundreds of thousands of books that you could be reading, so why read something that’s not speaking to you?” Weiss added.

Make the time

Many people think they don’t have time to read, St. Martin said, but one easy way to find time is to identify the minutes spent checking the news or social media between tasks and use those minutes to read instead.

“Even just that short amount of time is a good way to start,” she said.

If you’re out and about, Loving said, bring a book or download an ebook on your phone so that you can squeeze some reading in while you’re in line at the grocery store, in the waiting room at the doctor’s office or taking public transportation.

“If you’re really hooked on a book, you’ll see that no amount of time is too short,” she said. “You’ll be looking for every little moment to read because you won’t want to put it down.”

If you are able to set aside a more consistent time for reading each day, Harmon said, try to make it an “experience ” — something you look forward to — as opposed to an obligation. One way to do that is by finding a quiet reading space with comfortable seating and sufficient lighting. A cup of hot cocoa, coffee, tea or another hot drink is also a nice touch.

“Minimize distractions,” Harmon said. “Go to the bathroom, eat a snack, get a drink and get comfy.”

Listen up

If a sit-down reading time isn’t feasible, audiobooks may be the best option because they allow you to multitask.

“You can listen while doing boring chores, cooking, exercising, walking, driving,” Harmon said. “It makes the time pass faster … and you get some reading done.”

Audiobooks aren’t just convenient; they’re another way for readers to experience a story.

“Some books you might enjoy more on audiobook, some you might enjoy better reading — it depends,” St. Martin said. “If you’re reading a book and you’re not getting a good feel for it, listening to it on audiobook may make the imagery and characters and everything come alive for you.”

The narrator can make or break an audiobook, Harmon said, so try listening to a sample first, if possible. An over-dramatic or silly voicing of the characters; unfamiliar or odd word pronunciations; or insufficient pop filtering during the recording can be a dealbreaker, Harmon said, but a well-narrated audiobook can be magical.

“There are books I listened to as audiobooks that have become some of my favorite books, simply because the narrator added so much to it,” she said. “He can bring the characters to life in a way that my imagination wouldn’t have done.”

Discover the classics

Local librarians shared 30 classic books that are worth reading outside of English class.

Recommended by Emily Weiss, head of reference services; Caitlin Loving, head of circulation; and Patricia Kline-Millard, reference librarian, at Bedford Public Library:

• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

• Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

• A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

• War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy

• Moby Dick by Herman Melville

• Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

• Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

• White Fang by Jack London

• The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

• Dune by Frank Herbert

• Blackout by Connie Willis

Recommended by Susan Harmon, information and technology librarian, and Rachel Stover, technical services assistant, at Manchester City Library:

• Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

• The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

• Beowulf by Unknown

• The Forever King by Molly Cochran

• Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut

• Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

• The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

• Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein

• Epic of Gilgamesh, author unknown, or Sin-Leqi-Unninni

• Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

• The Giver by Lois Lowry

• The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Classics made easy

Caitlin Loving, head of circulation at Bedford Public Library, shared eight tips for enjoying classic books.

1. Simplify with an annotated edition. “They have detailed explanations of words, phrases, and period details that will enrich your understanding and reading experience,” Loving said. “For example, the annotated edition of Moby-Dick explains all of the obscure nineteenth-century whaling terms, which will definitely enhance your understanding of the story.”

2. Break it down. “Moby-Dick actually has short chapters, and it’s great to read it this way, and a lot of celebrated literature was serialized before it was collected in novel form,” Loving said.

3. Get academic. “You can take notes to keep characters straight and solidify your understanding, and you can look up words you don’t know,” Loving said. “If you’d like to get more formal about it, there are lectures available for free online.”

4. Read a nonfiction book about the book,such asOn Reading the Grapes of Wrath by Susan Shillinglaw, So We Read On: How The Great Gatsby Came to Be and Why It Endures by Maureen Corrigan, and Why Read Moby-Dick? by Nathaniel Philbrick. “These are often fairly short and can bring out aspects of the story you might have missed, or enhance your experience by diving deeper into it,” Loving said. “It’s almost like taking a class about the book or discussing it with a good friend.”

5. Listen to it on audiobook. “Hearing the story can provide greater comprehension,” Loving said, “and one advantage of classics is that there are often several different narrators to choose from so that you can select the voice that speaks to you.”

6. Try a graphic novel adaptation. “The visual aspect can add a lot to the experience,” Loving said. “While they are often abridged, it’s still a great way to read a classic, either to jog your memory, in addition to reading the full text, or just as a way to get to know more classics than you might have time for otherwise.”

7. Find a reading buddy. “You can gush about symbolism, commiserate over the extensive number of indistinguishable Russian surnames, and hold each other accountable for finishing books,” Loving said.

8. Don’t force it. “If you get 50 pages in … and you’re not into it, it’s okay to give up,” Loving said. “No one is grading you, and just because someone decided it belongs in the Western canon does not mean you are obligated to read it.”

New books for new bookworms

Susan Harmon, information and technology librarian at Manchester City Library, shared 10 approachable new releases that have been popular at the library.

• Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

“A deeply ruminative story on depression, addiction, grief, loss, science, religion, faith and love. Readers were drawn in by the engaging and lyrical writing, and the strong character development. You’ll definitely cry.”

• The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson

“A well-researched, funny and deeply fascinating exploration of the human body. The writing style is conversational without making you feel talked down to.”

• The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich

“This historical novel is … [an] authentic story of the Native American experience and fight for rights. Readers loved the engaging storytelling, vivid characters, fascinating historical elements and atmospheric tone.”

• The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson.

“A deeply compelling and immersive exploration of the day-to-day life of Churchill and his family during his first year as prime minister.”

• Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh

“An offbeat, comedic, and engaging collection of illustrated, biographical essays on topics ranging from childhood and very bad pets to grief, loneliness and powerlessness in modern life.”

• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

“Bennett has an incredible ability to weave together unforgettable characters, complex family drama, tragedy, romance, love and triumph. It’s a story of twin sisters who took two very different paths in life.”

• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

“This book is both fast-paced and deeply philosophical. The fantastic setting allows the author to engage playfully and profoundly with some heavy topics, but you won’t get bogged down.”

• The Guest List by Lucy Foley

“This murder mystery will keep you guessing until the end. There is suspense and action from page 1. Each small detail could be a clue, and each of the characters are as guilty as the rest.”

• The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

“This fantastic story explores a timeless theme: ‘Be careful what you wish for.’”

• The Last Traverse: Tragedy and Resilience in the Winter Whites by Ty Gagne

“An epic story of a daring rescue in the White Mountains [that] weaves the personal accounts of volunteer rescuers and survivors with fascinating weather and survival information. This well-researched page-turner will be hard to put down.”

Sarah St. Martin, systems librarian for GMILCS consortium of New Hampshire libraries, shared some other recently published titles that have appeal for newbie readers:

Celebrity memoirs

• The Answer Is … Reflections on My Life by Alex Trebek

• Is This Anything? by Jerry Seinfeld

• Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

From page to screen

• Battle of Brothers William and Harry— The Inside Story of a Family in Tumult by Robert Lacy and Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand (for fans of The Crown on Netflix)

• Return to Virgin River by Robyn Carr (Virgin River on Netflix)

• 28 Summersby Elin Hilderbrand (based on the film Same Time Next Year)

• Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline (sequel to Ready Player One book and film)

Help yourself

• Personality Isn’t Permanent: Break Free from Self-Limiting Beliefs and Rewrite Your Story by Benjamin Hardy

• The New Rules of Aging Well: A Simple Program for Immune Resilience, Strength, and Vitalityby Frank Lipman

• Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty

Major page-turners

• All the Devils are Here by Louise Penny

• The Boy from the Woods by Harlan Coben

• Masked Prey by John Sandford

• One by One by Ruth Ware

• Walk the Wire by David Baldacci

Reading reads

Still stumped on what to read? Find inspiration in these “books about books” recommended by Emily Weiss, head of reference services at Bedford Public Library.

• 1,001 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List by James Mustich

• The Books That Changed My Life: Reflections by 100 Authors, Actors, Musicians, and Other Remarkable People edited by Bethanne Patrick

• Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks. A Librarian’s Love Letters and Breakup Notes to the Books in Her Life by Annie Spence

• Howards End is on the Landing: A Year of Reading from Home by Susan Hill

• My Life with Bob: Flawed Heroine Keeps Book of Books, Plot Ensues by Pamela Paul

• Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading by Nina Sankovitch

• The Toni Morrison Book Club by Juda Bennett, Winifred Brown-Glaude, Cassandra Jackson, and Piper Kendrix Williams

• What to Read and Why by Francine Prose

Quality of Life 21/03/18

More people are making New Hampshire home

Based on a 13-percent net gain of new residents, New Hampshire was the sixth most moved-into state last year, a recent HireAHelper migration report found. According to a press release, the report analyzed 75,000 moves across the country and found each state’s net growth, which takes the number of new residents moving in and divides it by the number of individuals moving out. Topping the list was Idaho, with a net growth of 103 percent, followed by our neighbors, Vermont, which had 62 percent new growth, and Maine, which saw its net population grow by 48 percent.

Score: +1

Comment: According to the release, results of a HireAHelper survey showed that about 25 percent of the moves in the last year were related to Covid-19.

And they’re choosing the Granite State because…

New Hampshire has been ranked the fourth best state to live in, according to the recently released 2021 rankings from U.S. News & World Report. The publication analyzed data in each state from government and private sources, as well as a survey of nearly 70,000 U.S. residents, measuring things like health care, education, economy, crime and more, according to the report. New Hampshire ranked No. 1 for being low crime, No. 2 in natural environment and No. 3 in opportunity, which considers the opportunities that a state offers its residents in terms of economy, housing and equality.

Score: +1

Comment: Washington, Minnesota and Utah were ranked as the Top 3 states to live in, while in New England, Massachusetts ranked ninth, Vermont ranked 11th, Connecticut came in at No. 20, Maine was 27th and Rhode Island was 34th.

Seriously?

The residents of the nonprofit Evergreen Place Supported Assisted Living in Manchester had been looking forward to taking a scenic ride on the facility’s 15-passenger wheelchair bus, which hadn’t been used at all in the past year as residents quarantined. But according to a message on Hippo’s website from Evergreen Place President and CEO Linette D. Handschumaker, on Saturday, when the facilities manager started the bus, it was louder than it should have been, and he thought there might be rust in the exhaust. “He then shimmied under the bus only to discover that someone had CUT OUT the catalytic converter!!!” Handschumaker wrote. After a year of waiting for that scenic ride, the residents now have to keep waiting.

Score: -2

Comment: As Handschumaker wrote to the Hippo, “Just when you think you’ve seen it all….”

A week of hope and appreciation

Throughout this entire week, Catholic Medical Center will honor its workforce with “Hope Week 2021.” It was on March 14 last year that the Manchester hospital suspended its visitor policy, canceled classes and closed its Wellness Center, followed two days later by the cancellation of elective procedures, according to a press release. One year later, Hope Week kicked off Monday with the installation of more than 700 mirrored butterflies on the hospital sky bridge. The butterflies represent the Covid-19 patients who were cared for by CMC in the last year, including the 87 who were lost, the release said. Hope Week will also feature multiple drawings for gifts donated by CMC management and area companies like Millennium Running and Luxe Salon and Spa, and a donor recognition wall is now on display, thanking the hundreds of people and organizations that have supported CMC through the last year.

Score: +1

Comment: The press release said that the public is invited to send messages of appreciation and download a custom Hope Week profile frame on CMC’s social media, which includes Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

QOL score: 62

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 63

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

Uproar after Cam’s signing

This is going to sound hypocritical, especially coming from me. But everyone is a critic.

Even for wildly popular things like the recently passed stimulus bill national polls say was supported by 75 percent of the country. Still, the entire GOP voted it down, as the so-called progressives on the other side loudly say it doesn’t go far enough. Economists? They’re whining it will cause inflation. Meanwhile struggling folks everywhere gratefully say thanks.

As honest Abe once said, you can’t please all the people all of the time.

Joining the chorus this week were those who didn’t like (or hated) Bill Belichick bringing back Cam Newton as Patriots’ QB for 2021. After a 7-9 season, when Cam threw an anemic eight TD passes, it’s fair to question the decision. Particularly at first glance, but if you dive deeper into what’s going on as they renovate the roster, there are legit reasons to do it. Though admittedly they carry risk of failure and don’t inspire confidence throughout Patriot Nation.

As you might expect, it caused media blowback as well, where people like Gary Tanguay and Dan Shaughnessy acted like Bill did something personally to them. For Tanguay, it was his usual harangue (on WEEI) about Bill’s “arrogance to not care what we think,” while Big Dan actually said this in the Boston Globe: “As ever, stubborn Bill knows more than we do. And he’s going to show you how smart he is again.” I had to re-read that about 10 times to make sure he actually meant it the way it seemed. He did and thus it’s hard to contemplate how idiotic that statement is.

Trust me, neither of those two is a deep thinker. They’re reactionaries, who are ready, fire, aim guys thanks to being overly emotional (Tanguay) or taking any opportunity to land a blow in a feud with the Kraft family dating back to the Bill Parcells border war departure (Big Dan). It leads to really dumb predictions like saying (I’m paraphrasing) it’s a big mistake that will come back to haunt them, after Coach B traded sulking Randy Moss (over his contract) four games into 2010. It was such a huge mistake they only won 11 of 12 after that to finish 14-2. There’s also the old standby, “they think they’re smarter than everyone else.” Sorry, having the highest NFL winning percentage over 20 years says they are. So why would anyone listen to them?

One person I will listen to is Rodney Harrison, who has no axe to grind and actually knows something about football. He said long ago he didn’t believe Cam could play at a level needed for NFL success any more. Not sure if I agree or disagree. I mean Baltimore won a SB with Trent Dilfer at QB and Cam’s better than him. But I’m OK with the signing if it’s the first move in a two-step process.

Here’s what I think about why he did what he did:

Biggest Need:It’s notjust finding a QB, but finding along-term solution at quarterback. The best way to get that is to draft one and hit on the pick. Most rookies, even ones that play in Year 1, usually learn behind a veteran for up to a full season. Then when ready they take over and the vet becomes the backup. That’s what I think Newton likely is for 2021.

Why Draft One Over Sign One: Two reasons.You’ve got him for five seasons and thus you can shape him into what you want him to be, as Charlie Weis did by starting Tom Brady off with mostly low-risk slants and quick outs to the sideline until Brady showed he could be trusted with more. Second, they get a QB on a low-cost rookie contract (about $5 million) for five years, over spending the $40 million per Dak Prescott will cost Dallas over the same time. That saving can be invested team wide, instead of the salary cap casualties they’ll see in Dallas. The Pats’ first three SB wins had that advantage.

Why Not Jimmy G: At $25 million per the people’s choice is not as onerous as Dak. But that still cuts into their free agent cash in a year they have a major spending advantage over almost every team. A lot of pot holes can be filled during what will be a tight, bargain-filled job market featuring more talent than usual. Here’s the math: After signing Newton and last week’s Trent Brown and Marcus Cannon trades they had $69 million to spend. With a Round 1 trade up to get the QB, $13 million-ish goes to rookie salaries, taking it down to $56 million. It will take around $25 million or so to keep must-signs (Andrews, Guy, Jackson, Jason McCourty and a third down back) to leave $31 million. Twenty-five more for Jimmy G leaves $6 million to sign two wideouts, a tight end, run-stopping d-lineman, edge rusher and a kicker. What will they get for that? Not much, making the question if Brady couldn’t win with his receivers in 2019 what makes anyone think Garoppolo can with a similar bunch they’ll be able to afford for 2021?

Why Cam Newton: Two reasons. He’s a cheap option with a chance for a higher upside. Second, while they could have gone with a Ryan Fitzpatrick, they probably preferred continuity and are betting with a real training camp, better command of the offense and more talent around him he’ll play better in 2021. And when the rook Is ready, he could evolve into a complementary Wildcat QB, who can actually pass and be the strong short-yardage runner on third down and around the goal line he was in 2020. Fitzpatrick can’t do that.

Only time will tell if Cam is the best choice. In the meantime, the media noise brings to mind the Bill Parcells adage, “if you listen to people in the cheap seats, sooner or later you’ll be up there with them.”

Back to health

Program provides nursing education, employment

Catholic Charities New Hampshire recently announced the launch of Pathways, a career development and advancement program for New Hampshire residents working or interested in working in the health care field. Darlene Underhill, CCNH director of clinical services, discussed the program and how it hopes to address the shortage of health care workers, at CCNH’s facilities and throughout the state.

What’s happening with the number of health care workers in New Hampshire?

There’s been a health care staffing crisis and a critical shortage of both Licensed Nursing Assistants and nurses in New Hampshire and, in fact, in the whole country, for years. … Hospitals, nursing homes, home health [services] — all of us are competing for the same small pool of nurses and Licensed Nursing Assistants in the state.

What’s causing the shortage?

The number of people going into health care careers has been steadily declining. The average age of nurses in the state is almost 50 right now. … Covid certainly hasn’t helped things; Covid has made it much worse, because [it led to] a lot of health care workers deciding to get out of the health care field altogether, or to take an early retirement.

Why are fewer people pursuing careers in health care?

I think there are a lot more opportunities for a variety of [other careers] that people are choosing to do. … [Pursuing a career in] health care is very expensive and takes a lot of time. The state will typically reimburse a Nursing Assistant [for education costs] once they get their license, but having to pay up front to enter the program makes it cost-prohibitive for many individuals.

How does the Pathways program work?

People [pursuing a career in health care] are trying to work, trying to go school and trying to pay for it all, and what we’re doing is paying for the [licensing] program up front so that they can continue to work and go to school without having to worry about that financial burden. We also give them some time off [from their job] to study while they’re in school, and we pay them for that. … Last year, we started offering scholarships for some of our own Licensed Nursing Assistants, partnering with Harmony [Health Care Institute in Merrimack] for them to go into an LPN program. We graduated nine of our LNAs as LPNs, and they’re now working in our facilities. We had so many people from our facilities apply to go into the program that we decided we really needed to do this as an ongoing, formal program, not just a one-time thing. … This year, we just awarded 10 more scholarships for LNAs who work in our facilities to go into the program. … We’ve also just started doing the same thing for entry-level people who don’t have a career or background in health care yet but are looking to get into a new career in health care. We’re paying for the program and any expenses related to it — we’re working with LNA Health Careers [in Manchester] — for them to become Licensed Nursing Assistants. While they’re going to school, we hire them into our facilities as unit aides where they’ll be making beds and assisting with dining and activities and things like that. Then, once they get certified and licensed, we will offer them a position in one of our facilities as a Licensed Nursing Assistant.

What are you looking to accomplish with the program, short-term and long-term?

It’s helping people grow, develop into who they want to be and achieve what they want for their life by moving forward in their careers, and helping people get out of poverty. … For us, the benefit is that we would hire them as employees. We have been living with this critical [health care] staffing shortage, especially since Covid, every day in our skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facility. This is a way for us to grow our staff. … In the long run, we hope it contributes to easing the nursing [staffing] crisis in the state. We do ask [program graduates] for a commitment of time [of employment with CCNH], but we know that not all of them are going to stay with us forever; some of them will want to move on to other [health care facilities], and that’s fine, because overall, the more nurses who are added to the state pool, the better off everybody is going to be.

Any plans to expand the program in the future?

We’re definitely going to keep growing and expanding in terms of servicing more students, and we’re talking about branching into an RN program next year so that [the LNP program graduates] can keep going straight into an RN program, or maybe putting LNA [program students] all the way through to RN.

Featured photo: Darlene Underhill. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 21/03/18

Covid-19 updateAs of March 8As of March 15
Total cases statewide77,06078,813
Total current infections statewide2,0362,064
Total deaths statewide1,1841,199
New cases1,472 (March 2 to March 8)1,753 (March 9 to March 15)
Current infections: Hillsborough County581640
Current infections: Merrimack County163211
Current infections: Rockingham County470509
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

Covid-19 news

During the state’s weekly public health update on March 11, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that there continue to be about 200 to 250 new infections of Covid-19 on average per day in New Hampshire, numbers that have been “relatively stable over the last couple of weeks.” Hospitalizations and deaths from the virus, meanwhile, are still trending downward. “We’re seeing the number of people dying from Covid-19 in long-term care facilities continue to decrease, as we roll out vaccines to those settings, and as we have a higher proportion of our long-term care facility residents vaccinated,” Chan said.

Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, said later during the same March 11 press conference that 10 percent of the state’s population (about 132,000 people) have now been fully vaccinated. Phase 2A of the state’s vaccine administration plan, which includes K through 12 teachers, school staff and child care workers, began March 12. “Our regional public health networks have scheduled 39 regional clinics through the end of the month, with plans to vaccine 17,000 school, child care and youth camp staff,” Daly said. “Phase 2A people who are not invited to one of these regional clinics will be able to register to get vaccinated at a state- or hospital-run site beginning March 17 on vaccines.nh.gov.” She went on to say that registration for Phase 2B, which includes people between the ages of 50 and 64, will open on March 22.

Gov. Chris Sununu also announced that, effective immediately, restrictions and guidelines for several sectors in New Hampshire are being relaxed, including quarantining requirements for all out-of-state travel. “We still recommend folks to quarantine … but it is no longer a requirement going forward,” he said. “Likewise, residents from outside of New England no longer have to quarantine prior to arrival in New Hampshire. … This change applies only to domestic travel, not to international travel.” Capacity at retail stores has also returned to 100 percent, and barbershops and salons are now allowed to have walk-in customers without reservations. Restaurants and bars are also now allowed to resume karaoke, pool, darts and other games, as well as small live bands of three members or less.

Applications for the state’s emergency rental assistance program opened on March 15, according to a press release. The program, which was established through the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery, is providing financial aid to Granite Staters who have experienced difficulty paying their rent, utilities and heating costs due to the pandemic. To be eligible, at least one person per household must qualify for unemployment benefits, have had their income reduced or have had some other financial hardship due to the pandemic. The household must be at risk for homelessness, be paying more than 30 percent of its income for rent and utilities, or be in an unsafe or unhealthy environment. Payments are processed through the state’s five regional Community Action Partnership agencies. Visit capnh.com to submit an application.

Details of Sununu’s emergency and executive orders, as well as the state’s reopening guidance documents, can be found at governor.nh.gov.

Political climate

According to a March poll by the Saint Anselm College Survey Center at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, President Joe Biden’s job approval among registered New Hampshire voters has narrowed since February. In the February poll, 53 percent of respondents said they “approve” and 45 percent said “disapprove.” In March that narrowed to 50 percent and 49 percent, respectively. The poll also showed that Democrats hold a 48-40 percent advantage on the generic congressional ballot. New Hampshire’s senators’ job approval numbers have slipped in the last month: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s approval-disapproval margin is now 51-43 percent, down from 54-38 percent, and Sen. Maggie Hassan has gone down to 47-44 percent from February’s 49-40 percent. Meanwhile, Congressman Chris Pappas and Congresswoman Annie Kuster both saw slight improvements in their approval ratings. “While Democrats still enjoy a numerical advantage among voters, the independent nature of our state tends to be suspicious of a unified federal government, and this may be contributing to the relatively short duration of President Biden’s honeymoon period,” New Hampshire Institute of Politics Executive Director Neil Levesque said in a press release. The survey also looked at a hypothetical matchup between Hassan and Gov. Chris Sununu, with Sununu being the preferred candidate by a margin of 47 to 41 percent. Sununu’s job approval has fallen somewhat since the last poll but still sits at 67-31 percent, with approval from virtually every demographic group, but Hassan would benefit from her party’s strength, according to the press release. “This sets the stage for what may become one of the most closely watched races in the nation this cycle as Gov. Chris Sununu has signaled the possibility of challenging incumbent Sen. Maggie Hassan,” Levesque said in the release.

Access to CTE

The New Hampshire Department of Education has released a report called “Increasing Equitable Access to Career and Technical Education,” a comprehensive review of the state’s career and tech ed programs, as part of an ongoing effort to make those programs more accessible to students, according to a press release. The programs give students hands-on learning experience in high-demand employment fields and can be used to earn college credit, and the report outlines some of the current barriers that might be preventing students from taking advantage of CTE programs. For example, 71 percent of students enrolled in programs have a CTE center co-located in their high school, while 29 percent but must be provided transportation to participate. According to the press release, the report suggests ideas to help overcome this accessibility concern, including better coordination of scheduling and transportation, as well as calendars, between districts. “This research confirmed many of the important issues CTE leaders and other educators have been aware of for many years,” Eric Frauwirth, director of the Bureau of Career Development, said in the release. “Now we have a set of strategies to explore, and will continue to engage with stakeholders and local communities to determine the best options for the students and families they serve.”

Wildlife funding

The New Hampshire delegation announced last week that the Granite State will get more than $8.75 million through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support the state’s wildlife and sport fish restoration and vulnerable species conservation. According to the announcement from U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas, the funding will help state wildlife agencies pursue conservation projects and programs like hunting and fishing education, fish and wildlife management, scientific research, and habitat restoration and protection. “New Hampshire is home to some of the most beautiful land in the country, and we have a responsibility to protect it,” Kuster said in the release.

On March 15, work began on Route 13 at Exit 2 off Interstate 89 in Concord, part of a project that includes painting structural steel on six bridges on and above I-89 between Exit 2 and Exit 5 in Concord and Hopkinton. According to a press release, the work will be done during the day and evening, and once the Concord bridge is complete, painting on the next bridge will begin, with work progressing north until the final bridge in Hopkinton is completed. The project is expected to be completed in December, the release said.

The Manchester Police Department has announced that it has a new training program for all sworn officers, stemming from Gov. John Sununu’s recent executive order calling for law enforcement reforms. According to a press release, the 40-hour week of training includes topics like use of force, implicit bias, cultural responsiveness and ethics.

On March 12, crews removed sections of the three waterslides at Cascade Waterslide at Hampton Beach, according to a report from NHPR. The landmark has been there for more than 35 years, the report said, and there is no word on what might take its place.

Boston Billiard Club & Casino in Nashua announced in a press release that it is the exclusive spot in the region where people can play 21STUD, a new two-card blackjack game that was created and recently patented by New Hampshire-based game designer Brandon Zyxnfryx of ZFX Gaming, also in Nashua.

Leaders bring the weather

In their book Scaling Leadership, Robert Anderson and William Adams note that “Leaders bring the weather.” They further note that the tone, mood, presence, focus and behavior of the leader is the weather in any organization — a force of nature. And everyone who works there can feel it, see it, experience it and describe how it impacts them and those around them.

All leaders bring the weather — organizational leaders or elected government leaders. In New Hampshire, we have a lot of elected state leaders. There are 400 leaders in the House of Representatives, 24 leaders in the Senate, five leaders on the Executive Council, and then of course, our governor. I wonder if these 430 leaders realize that they bring the “weather” to the state by their statements, actions and behavior?

I am a bit of a political junkie, and I will read just about any publication and any article written covering state and federal issues. Needless to say, I am frequently left scratching my head. As an example, US News & World Report recently picked up this headline, “New Hampshire Lawmaker Apologies for Anti-LGBTQ Language,” a story about Manchester Rep. Dick Marston’s apology after referring to LGBTQ people as having “deviant sexuality” in a Zoom House committee hearing. As InDepthNH and other sources reported, earlier in that same meeting, Manchester Rep. Nicole Klein-Knight appeared to take a gummy from her bottle of medical cannabis (“prescribed medication for arthritis,” she later tweeted), apparently trying to make a point during a discussion of two bills, including one related to fines for the possession of marijuana and therapeutic cannabis. WMUR reported on the House’s use of a University of New Hampshire facility for its sessions last year. House Speaker Steve Shurtleff had to apologize to UNH leadership this past September after some members were drinking beer in the hall and failed to wear masks outside the facility, violating UNH and town ordinances. Did I mention the head-scratching?

Let’s be clear. We have many outstanding, hard-working leaders in Concord who are essentially volunteering their time to serve the citizens of New Hampshire, and they deserve our respect and gratitude. Unfortunately, that behavior is not what typically makes the news. Instead of providing the attention-getting headlines described above, wouldn’t it be better if there were more to report on in terms of bipartisan work being pushed out of the House and Senate? Wouldn’t that be a better weather report from our elected leadership?

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