Tag: 220217

This Week 22/02/17

Big Events Feb 17, 2022 and beyond

Thursday, Feb. 17

The Full Monty, the musical based on the 1997 film, concludes its run at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) with shows tonight at 7:30 p.m.; tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 18, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 19, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 20, at noon. Tickets cost $39 and $46 (plus fees).

Thursday, Feb. 17

Oscar completists can mark off Drive My Car (NR, 2021), nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best International Feature Film and Best Adapted Screenplay, tonight at the Music Hall (28 Chestnut St. in Portsmouth; themusichall.org). The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $15 for adults.

Saturday, Feb. 19

Unwind with some music this weekend. Area 23 (254 N. State St., Unit H, in Concord; thearea23.com) will feature a bluegrass jam with Ross Arnold at 2 p.m. today. Then at 8 p.m., catch Scalawag. Find more live music in our Music This Week listing, which starts on page 35.

Monday, Feb. 21

If President’s Day (today) is one of your days off, head to the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144), which isn’t usually open Mondays but is open today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. , according to the website. The “Looking Together” docent-led close study of one piece of art that day will be of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ “Standing Lincoln” at 11 a.m. and noon.

Monday, Feb. 21

Or use this day to get outside. Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road in Hollis; beaverbrook.org, 465-7787) is holding a Guided Winter Hike for ages 14 and up today from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Admission costs $20. The hike (or snowshoe walk, depending on the weather) will go through meadows and evergreen forest and near wetlands, according to the website.

Wednesday, Feb. 23

The Flying Ace, a 1926 silent film with an all African American cast, will screen tonight at Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St. in Concord; redrivertheatres.org, 224-4600). Tickets cost $12. The screening will feature live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis.

Jeff will be performing at several other silent film screenings this week. On Thursday, Feb. 17, he will accompany Girl Shy (1924), a Harold Lloyd rom-com, at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. On Sunday, Feb. 20, he will accompany When Knighthood Was in Flower (1922), which stars Marion Davies, at 2 p.m. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre (wiltontownhalltheatre.com). (Suggested donation is $10).

Save the date! Feb. 28 through March 6

The Nashua Garden Club and the Nashua Public Library will hold a Seed Swap Monday, Feb. 28, through Sunday, March 6, at the library (2 Court St. in Nashua; nashualibrary.org) during library hours (Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m, according to the website). Samples donated by seed companies and information on collecting seeds and gardening will be available, according to a press release. People with seeds to swap can bring them packaged in small quantities, labeled with the name and instructions, to the Chandler Memorial Wing of the library before Feb. 28, the press release. A virtual lecture, “The Soil Food Web” by Diane Miessler, will be presented on Thursday, March 3, at 7 p.m.; register at bit.ly/soil2022. See nashuagardenclub.org for more information.

Featured photo. Kathryn Boyd and Laurence Criner star in The Flying Ace (1926).

Quality of Life 22/02/17

Top teacher

Tristan Bowen, a fourth-grade teacher at Riddle Brook School in Bedford, has won the 2020 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, representing the country’s top honors for teaching in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science. According to a press release, Bowen has been teaching for 22 years and is one of 102 teachers nationwide to receive the award. She and other award recipients will receive a certificate signed by the president of the United States, a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation and a trip to Washington, D.C., to participate in professional development opportunities.

Score: +1

Comment: “What sets Tristan apart is her forward-thinking and student engagement abilities, especially in the area of STEM education. She encourages creativity, critical thinking and problem solving through interest-based learning for her students,” Principal Molly McCarthy of Riddle Brook School said in the release.

Red Cross needs help

The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers for its Disaster Action Team and for blood donor ambassadors due to an increase in the number of house fires this winter and the ongoing critical need for blood. According to a press release, local Red Cross Disaster Action Team members have responded to at least 83 home fires in New Hampshire, helping 421 people, since July. Now, more volunteers are needed to help families with immediate needs after a fire, as well as to provide emotional support. Most locally, disaster team volunteers are needed in Laconia and Plymouth and on the Seacoast. The Red Cross is also looking for 26 blood donor ambassadors in Hillsborough and Rockingham counties, according to the release. Blood donor ambassadors greet and register donors and offer support throughout the donation process.

Score: -2 for the high number of house fires and the critical blood shortage

Comment:Vaccinations are required for in-person volunteer roles, the release said.

Local Hall of Famers

Sixteen Central High School graduates have been named as inductees into the Manchester High School Central Hall of Fame. According to a press release, the new inductees are usually announced every five years but were postponed last year because of Covid. Some of the biggest names among the inductees are Col. Jason Fettig, director of the President’s Own Marine Band; Rep. Chris Pappas, who represents New Hampshire’s 1st District in Congress; Max Clayton, whose Broadway credits include featured roles in The Music Man and Moulin Rouge; and Kayleigh Cronin, who is currently appearing on the Great White Way in a production of Mrs. Doubtfire, the release said.

Score: +1

Comment: Previous inductees of the school’s Hall of Fame, which was founded in 1996, include Olympic gold medalist Bob Beattie; John Sullivan, former secretary of the Navy; Chip Kelly, former head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles and current UCLA head coach; and comedian Adam Sandler.

Free small business support

The NH Tech Alliance and NH Small Business Development Center have launched a free Cybersecurity Review program for small- and medium-sized businesses. According to a press release, businesses in New Hampshire with up to 500 employees can participate and receive an online education, a one-on-one consultation with a cybersecurity consultant, and a report with action items based on the consultation.

Score: +1

Comment: The release said 61 percent of all small- and medium-sized businesses have reported at least one cyber attack during the previous year according to the 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report.

QOL score: 59

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 60

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Celtics wins and losses

I don’t know about you, but I was perplexed by almost every one of the many deals made during last week’s NBA trading deadline period. Were those teams trying to improve? Blow things up? Or just getting worse without even realizing they were? On most, I couldn’t tell which it was.

That was the case on the big deals GM Brad Stevens made. Neither struck me as “I love that,” or even “I’ll take that.” But I decided to think about them before jumping to conclusions.

After I did, I don’t think they won either trade mentioned below head to head, or even in relation to this season. But oddly they did probably win both for long-term reasons, and that made the risks taken for the remainder of 2021-22 worth it.

Here’s an analysis of the gains and losses of the day.

Celtics trades: In the end they were about exchanging the short-term offensive punch of Dennis Schroder and Josh Richardson for the immediate defensive prowess and long-term roster-building benefits of Derrick White and Daniel Theis.

Dennis Schroder: He gave them needed penetration in the half-court and an ability to score in bunches. I’m not sure if White can do either. But what you couldn’t get around is that he’s one and done in Boston, and by trading him now Stevens opted for the big picture and was right to do so.

Josh Richardson: I hate losing this guy. Especially after he found his groove in mid-January as a high-energy scorer off the bench. He also usually came in for Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum and they didn’t get anyone back who can do that. So that leaves two holes to fill.

Daniel Theis: Nobody likes Theis better than me. But getting him back for what Schroeder did for the team seemed like an odd choice. But, if you accept the premise White is an upgrade over Schroeder, there are two reasons to like this deal. First, he’s a tough, gritty, versatile defender who fights his guy on every play. And if Philly lies ahead in the playoffs, between Al Horford, Rob Williamsand Theis they now have 18 fouls per game to throw at Joel Embiid and they may need all of them. Second, lament Schroeder’s loss all you want, but they got a player of value signed through 2025 for a guy who is gone in June no matter what. That helps long-term depth.

Derrick White: In giving up Richardson, Romeo Langford and another first-round pick my first thought was that they overpaid for White. But, since I’ve only seen him play a few times I don’t have a lot to go on.

Based on what I do know, he scores 14 a game, shoots 31 percent on threes, not quite a point guard, but can play it and is a solid, versatile defender. He sounds like Marcus Smart 2.0, and is that really what they needed?

On the bright side, he scores about the same as Schroeder, is a much better defender, learned how to play under Gregg Popovich so you know he’s team-oriented and is signed at a reasonable/ tradable $17 million per through 2025, which makes it seem like an upgrade. Stevens said this was a no-brainer. It had better be, because he’s the key new guy.

The bench: By trading seven guys it’s thin in numbers and talent. It also left gaping holes to be filled by proven guys getting expanded roles, unproven guys being asked to do things they haven’t done yet or by getting lucky in the buyout market. The options are these:

Grant Williams: I’m guessing those Tatum replacement minutes go to Grant. He’s not remotely the same kind of player, but he’s got the size to defend the players Tatum does. Plus while limited offensively he’s somehow gone from an abysmal 25 percent three-point shooter as a rookie to their best distance shooter percentage-wise at 41.3 percent. I’m still not confident any time he lines up to take one, but the numbers are the numbers

Bench scoring: What they’ve clearly done is put the onus for this on two guys who’ve given very little indication they can do it consistently. Payton Pritchard has had his moments, so if he can ever give it up instead of dribbling the offense into submission and stop shooting from the parking lot maybe he can develop the distance shooting consistency he seems capable of. As for Aaron Nesmith, I trust him about as much as I would a Tesla if I were sitting in the backseat of one of their self-driving cars. First, he’s a three-point shooter who can’t make threes. At least so far. And while he certainly hustles, he does it without any kind of plan. So it’s like watching the bumper cars ride at Canobie Lake as he crashes into anything that moves. But, while it’s probably wishful thinking, with the same size and range as Richardson it would be more beneficial if he can develop into something than if Pritchard does. Though what matters most is for one of them to do it.

Trading first-round picks: Maybe they’re gun-shy after all the blown picks. But I’m not comfortable giving up two in a row. So fix the talent evaluation part with better scouts, and stop giving up picks, because low-salaried, productive young guys are valuable.

Brad Stevens: I hated using a first-round pick to trade Kemba Walker. They should have just bought him out and got Horford another way. But getting Richardson for a guy who could barely make a layup (Tristan Thompson, who’s already been twice more since leaving Boston) was solid. Now these next two moves have strategic long-term value. So I feel better about young Brad than just two weeks ago.

OK, now comes the stretch run for the suddenly red hot C’s, as we get to see in real time the effect of the new additions.

Mindful advocate

NAMI NH names new executive director

The National Alliance on Mental Illness New Hampshire chapter welcomed Susan Stearns as its new executive director last month. Stearns discussed the position and how she plans to lead NAMI NH in addressing the state’s mental health care needs. You can reach the NAMI resource line at 1-800-242-6264.

What is your background in this type of work?

I’ve worked in the nonprofit field all of my adult life in New Hampshire, and I’ve been working in mental health for the last 20-plus years. Truthfully, I have stayed in this line of work, being an advocate for people with mental illness, because I have loved ones in my family with mental illness. Having had the [personal] experience of trying to navigate [mental health] systems and challenges, it’s work that ultimately chose me. I’ve been here at NAMI New Hampshire as an employee for almost nine years — I was the deputy director — but I’ve been a longtime member and supporter of NAMI New Hampshire for about 20 years because of my experience as a family member [of people with mental illness].

What does your job as executive director entail?

It’s leading our organization, but also working with our partners across the mental health system to ensure that individuals and families affected by mental illness and suicide can have access to the support and services they need to get treatment, recover and live full lives in their communities. … NAMI New Hampshire is part of a nationally recognized suicide prevention program, so we offer suicide prevention and intervention training; we offer postvention training for communities after a suicide loss; and we do a lot of work with survivors of suicide loss and survivors of suicide attempts.

What are some of New Hampshire’s greatest needs when it comes to mental health care?

The biggest need that we’re seeing is access to care. New Hampshire has, for probably close to nine years now, had a real problem with people experiencing mental health crises being able to access crisis care in a timely fashion. … We’ve seen some significant strides in recent years toward [addressing] that; on Jan. 1 of this year, New Hampshire launched its rapid response access points and statewide rapid response mobile team. … People [experiencing a mental health crisis] will now have access to a proper response [from mental health professionals] as opposed to having to call 911 and get a response from law enforcement. That’s going to be transformational for our system.

How has the pandemic impacted mental health care in the state?

The need for mental health care has gone up, and we’re seeing and hearing from a lot of folks who are struggling to get initial appointments with providers. That, of course, is very concerning, because what is the long-term impact for folks who are reaching out, needing help, and not able to access that care in a timely way? How does that play out? Do they wind up in a mental health crisis further down the road if they aren’t able to get that earlier intervention? … I also want to point out that our mental health workforce providers are, at the same time, experiencing the same challenges that all of us are going through at this time. They’re helping people through these challenges when they, too, are living through them. The pandemic has really impacted everyone’s mental health.

What do you hope to accomplish as director?

Advocating for individuals and families affected by mental illness and suicide, and advocating for … long-term investments to ensure that we have a robust system … of mental health services. … Ideally, we would have a system [in which] people would be able to access the level of care they need when they need it so they don’t have to board in an emergency department.

What do you find rewarding about this work?

I had the opportunity a week or so ago to … sit in on a meeting with a group of high school students … who have experienced suicide loss in their school communities and have really stepped into a leadership role around creating a safe space for students to be open with their mental health needs, support each other, dispel stigma and bring mental health out into the open. That was one of the most inspiring conversations I’ve gotten to listen to in a while. … We also have speakers … who are folks living with mental illness who are trained to tell their story and offer up hope in that process. It’s always really moving to hear those stories and realize how folks can go through some very dark days, but, with help and by seeking treatment, they can come out on the other side, so to speak, and be able to then share that story of hope with others and help to promote hope and healing. It’s those moments — seeing that transference of hope or people holding onto hope for each other — that is one of the most rewarding things I experience.

Featured photo: Susan Stearns. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 22/02/17

Covid-19 update As of Feb 7 As of Feb 11
Total cases statewide 284,180 288,191
Total current infections statewide 6,277 5,343
Total deaths statewide 2,260 2,294
New cases 7,324 (Feb. 1 to Feb. 7) 4,011 (Feb. 8 to Feb. 11)
Current infections: Hillsborough County 1,596 1,314
Current infections: Merrimack County 632 547
Current infections: Rockingham County 978 769
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

Covid-19 news

On Feb. 11, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration announced in a press release that its virtual advisory committee meeting discussing possible emergency use authorization approval of the Pfizer vaccine in children ages 6 months to 4 years old has been postponed. The meeting had been scheduled for Feb. 15 but was postponed following new data findings from Pfizer’s ongoing clinical trials, according to the release. A new date has yet to be scheduled as of Feb. 14.

The same day, the FDA greenlit emergency use authorization for a new monoclonal antibody against the omicron variant. According to a press release, the authorization for bebtelovimab is for treatment of mild to moderate Covid in people ages 12 and up. The drug is not authorized for patients who are hospitalized or require oxygen therapy due to Covid.

In New Hampshire, health officials reported 531 new Covid cases on Feb. 11. The state averaged 635 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period, a decrease of 36 percent compared to the week before. Hospitalizations stood at 174 statewide as of Feb. 11.

Revenues up

Last week Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Charlie Arlinghaus announced New Hampshire’s updated revenue projections for Fiscal Year 2022-2023, with estimates indicating that revenue will be $283.8 million over plan. “Republicans in Concord cut taxes and our economy is seeing record-setting results,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement after the announcement. “By cutting taxes in New Hampshire, businesses have flooded in, revenues are through the roof, and our economy is soaring. This model has proven successful and New Hampshire families are seeing results.”

Superintendent resigns

Dr. John Goldhardt has stepped down as superintendent of the Manchester School District. The Manchester Board of School Committee announced his resignation Feb. 11 and said it was effective that day at 5 p.m. According to a press release, Goldhardt will still be an employee of the district until June 30, though he will not be acting in a superintendent capacity during that time. The decision was “an amicable transitional employment agreement with all parties involved, the release said. “I want to thank Dr. Goldhardt for his service to the City of Manchester,” Mayor Joyce Craig said in the release. “The past few years have been challenging. I understand Dr. Goldhardt’s desire to move closer to his family and wish him the best moving forward.” An interim superintendent was expected to be nominated and voted upon at the regularly scheduled Board of School Committee meeting on Feb. 14, and a special committee will be named to begin the search process for a new superintendent, the release said.

New commission

An order establishing the Governor’s Commission on Cryptocurrencies and Digital Assets was signed by Gov. Chris Sununu last week. According to a press release, the new commission will be responsible for reviewing and investigating the cryptocurrency and digital asset industry, as well as federal and state laws and regulatory rules and laws of international jurisdictions; holding public hearings; making findings and determinations regarding possible modifications and improvements to laws and regulations; and supporting any proposed legislation or regulations. Membership will include the Attorney General, or designee; the Commissioner of the Bank Department, or designee; one state senator recommended by the Senate President; one state representative recommended by the Speaker of the House; one representative of the New Hampshire Bankers Association who is a resident of the state; one representative of the Cooperative Credit Union Association who is a resident of the state; three public members with experience with cryptocurrencies, digital assets and the provision of services to institutions or consumers with respect to digital assets; and three additional members. A report with the commission’s findings, determinations and recommendations will be presented within 180 days, the release said. “New Hampshire is a hub of financial innovation, and this Executive Order will further our commitment to attracting high-quality banking and financial businesses in a safe and responsible manner,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in the release.

2021 drug deaths

Chief Forensic Investigator Kim Fallon of the state’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner released a report last week with the number of drug deaths in 2021. According to the report, there were 416 total deaths, with “fentanyl with or without other drugs” accounting for the greatest number of that total at 197 deaths. One hundred seven deaths are still pending toxicology. “If all the pending toxicology deaths are confirmed and no unsuspected drug deaths are identified, then the number of drug deaths in 2021 will be essentially the same as in 2020,” Fallon said in the release.

Summer enrichment

A free summer enrichment program for all New Hampshire students in kindergarten through 8th grade will be available to help students who have experienced learning loss due to the pandemic. According to a press release, the Prenda Discovery Summer Camp will provide assistance to students in a personalized, small-group setting. There are four two-week segments from July 5 through Aug. 26 that will be led by Prenda Guides in various locations, including homes, libraries, community centers and more. “While the pandemic has resulted in missed learning opportunities for many children, summer learning programs can empower youth and narrow achievement gaps,” said Frank Edelblut, commissioner of education. “This free educational platform will offer project-based and collaborative summer learning that targets creativity in the arts, technology, science and engineering.” For more information, contact support@prenda.com.

Easterseals Camp Sno-Mo located in Gilmanton Iron Works was the recipient of a $161,384 donation after hundreds of snowmobilers gathered in Shelburne for the 50th Annual Ride-In to benefit the camp. According to a press release, local snowmobile clubs raised the money throughout the year through fundraising efforts like spaghetti suppers and bake sales. Camp Sno-Mo is for campers ages 11 to 21 with disabilities and special needs who participate alongside Boy Scouts in activities like water sports, team sports, hiking, archery, a ropes course and crafts, the release said.

On Feb. 11, U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen visited the Commercial Driving School in Concord to talk with trucking industry leaders about the importance of training qualified commercial truck drivers to address supply chain challenges. According to a press release, the state has received a 90-day waiver to adjust state laws to comply with new requirements of the Entry Level Driver Training program. “A robust trucker workforce is key to avoiding any bottlenecks in the supply and delivery of goods, and it’s clear the Commercial Driving School is hard at work training the next generation of truckers,” Shaheen said in the release.

NH Audubon’s Twitcher Reunion Tour Team in Rye took home the “Townie Award” during the Semi-Superbowl of Birding on Feb. 5, according to a press release. The competition involves looking for as many bird species as possible in 12 hours, and the team spent the entire day in Rye, tallying 62 species, including a thick-billed murre, a razorbill and a black guillemot, all relatives of the puffin, as well as a gray catbird and a yellow-rumped warbler, which usually don’t stick around in the winter, the release said.

Embrace the ‘mander

New Hampshire is in the process of its once a decade setting of electoral districts at all levels of government. The state and federal constitutions call for each district to be about the same size so that a vote in one district is equal to one vote in another district. This is the reason we take a census every 10 years.

Not surprisingly, this process of setting districts is a political one with the political parties jostling for position every decade. Each tries to tilt the map to its advantage. The result taken to the extreme is what political scientists call gerrymandering, where the driving force of redistricting is to ensure one party or the other is all but ensured of getting elected and the districts tend to stretch over long distances to get in one voting group or another. On the face of it, that seems pretty undemocratic.

But it’s not. Elections aren’t fair and never have been. Incumbents have huge advantages over challengers. Just like in life, those in power are likely to stay there. But it’s no conspiracy. We — the voters — elect them. Maybe you identify as a Republican but nothing stops you from voting for a Democratic candidate or vice versa. Nothing stops parties from running candidates that might appeal to voters that typically favor the other party.

And that may be why Gov. Chris Sununu signaled that he opposes the Republican state Senate plan that would take the current two districts and rejigger them so that one heavily favors Democrats and the other Republicans. As currently configured, Republicans actually have a good shot at taking both districts if they put up candidates that appeal to a wider electorate, candidates in the mold of Sununu himself.

And that’s the rub. Gerrymandering by its nature shifts candidates of the dominant party to the party base because the only race that counts is the one inside the party. In addition if you’re a party insider in Washington you’re not really looking for Sununu-type officials that might not vote the party line. This goes for both parties. Though the parties want to win, if given the choice, they are going to support less independent candidates.

The flip side is that heavily gerrymandered districts with their more fringy candidates can present an opportunity to the other party if they are willing to be a big tent and allow for candidates with broader views. Voters will listen and will vote for great candidates regardless of their party affiliation if they feel it’s in their interest. But you can’t expect people to vote for candidates who don’t share some of their values. To me the problem isn’t gerrymandering, it’s the parties’ unwillingness to really be competitive in every district. Now wouldn’t that be something.

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