Tag: 220609

Lace up!

Get ready for a season of road races

Plus tips for finding new sneakers

Summer is full of 5Ks and other opportunities to get off the treadmill and take your run outside. Find some races that fit your schedule and skill level. But first, thinking about new sneakers?

Find your sneakers

If you’re looking to lace up this summer, here are some helpful things to keep in mind before you visit your local athletic shoe store.

Fit for comfort

Foot comfort is something that John Mortimer of Millennium Running in Bedford emphasizes to his customers. Many people who decide to buy running shoes, he said, whether for casual wear or professional competitions, have the tendency to pick a size that fits and make a purchase based solely upon looks, oftentimes leading to physical injury.

“Like any athletic endeavor that you want to be successful at … the first step is often having the right equipment,” Mortimer said.

Mortimer has been a runner since he was in middle school and has owned Millennium Running for the past 10 years. Millennium produces running events throughout the Granite State such as the Cigna/Elliot Corporate 5K Road Race and the Citizens Shamrock Shuffle.

Over at Joe King’s Shoe Shop in downtown Concord, assistant manager Rachel Halverson said it’s important for running shoe buyers to understand the risks associated with simply picking a pair up off the shelf without taking the proper measurements down.

“Making sure you have the correct size is very important, especially because sizing from one style can change from each sneaker, even in the same brand,” Halverson said. “We want at least a thumb’s width in the front, because our foot does move imperceptibly back and forth in the shoe when we are very active.”

pair of sneakers

Black and blue toenails, as well as hammer toes, a condition in which the toe is abnormally bent at the middle joint, can be possible down the line if a sneaker is not fitted appropriately. For example, Halverson said that prospective runners should look to take the time to pick out their sneakers based on the length, width and other conditions and characteristics of their feet.

Easy steps

There is such a thing as a perfect sneaker, and there are several effective ways to evaluate a legitimate fit. “Fitology” is the term Mortimer uses to describe his process in properly fitting customers within his specialized store.

The first step of this process is a simple consultation which helps in seeing where a customer may be in their fitness journey. When consulting with customers, it’s also crucial in understanding what they hope to achieve when purchasing their new sneakers.

Next, Mortimer said, is the static digital analysis, which is a three-dimensional scan of the foot measuring the arch height, foot length, foot girth and determining if the customer is a runner who puts weight on heels or toes. The last step in the fitting process is a video analysis of a customer running on a treadmill to study how the feet look while in motion.

“We want our runners and walkers to be successful, [just like] if you are going to drive a racecar, you need good tires, [and] if you are going to play baseball, you need a bat and a glove,” Mortimer said.

After completing these steps, Millennium Running store associates will bring out a few sneakers in the category the customer’s foot belongs to.

Local shoe stores
• Alec’s Shoes (1617 Southwood Drive, Nashua, 882-6811, alecs-shoes.com)
• Fleet Feet Sports (4 Coliseum Ave., Nashua, 598-1500, fleetfeet.com)
• Joe King’s Shoe Shop (45 N. Main St., Concord, 225-6012, joekings.com)
• Millennium Running (138 Bedford Center Road, Bedford, 472-7867, millenniumrunning.com)
• Runner’s Alley (669 Elm St., Manchester, 606-6949; 142 N. Main St., Concord, 715-5854; 104 Congress St., Portsmouth, 430-1212; runnersalley.com)

B.J. Bottomley is the owner of Fleet Feet Sports in Nashua. Bottomley takes pride in also having a 3-D fit ID machine, which shows the true characteristics of clients’ feet up close. Once measurements are taken, it becomes easy to find a shoe for those looking for one that is stable, has a snug fit, or even a trail shoe perfect for cross-country running, Bottomley said. He suggests runners of all levels use non-cotton moisture-wicking socks to help your feet breathe and avoid the onslaught of constant blisters.

Additionally, Bottomley said there is a window between 300 and 500 miles for when someone should change sneakers, depending on the mileage and terrain of their runs.

— Jack Walsh

5Ks And Other Races

Once you get those new sneakers, take them out in public at one of the many 5K runs and run/walks scheduled this summer. Know of a race not mentioned here? Let us know at [email protected]. Many races have virtual participation options. Often races also charge additional fees for registration close to or on race day. See the individual event pages for details.

Millennium Running races

These races are run by Millennium Running. See millenniumrunning.com (where the following information is from). For most races, unless otherwise stated, register online by noon on the day before the event or at the race site from 90 minutes before the race to 15 minutes before the race (though some races do sell out), according to the website. Some of these races also have virtual options.

• The Windham Rail Trail Flat N Fast 5K takes place Saturday, June 11, at 8:30 a.m. on the paved rail trail starting at the Roulston Road entrance. Registration costs $25 per person, $100 for a family of up to five members, $20 for 65+. See windhamrailtrail.org.

• The Over the River and Through the Woods 5K & Fitness Walk takes place Saturday, June 11, at 9 a.m. at Northeast Delta Dental in Concord. The race is part of the Capital Area Race Series (see runcarsnh.com). Registration costs $20 per person (for in person or virtual).

• The Brewery Chase Relay will take place on Saturday, June 18, with start times from 7:30 to 11 a.m. The 26.2-mile, six-leg race will begin and end at the Backyard Brewery in Manchester and travel through Derry and Londonderry, hitting six breweries along the way. The cost in advance is $55 per person on the relay team (which can be split between two to six people). Register online through Friday, June 17, at noon or register on site on race day (if there is availability) from 6 to 7:15 a.m. for an extra fee.

• For the Veterans Count Pack & Boots 5K Road Race and 1 Mile Survival Run on Monday, July 4, in Portsmouth participants of the survival run will need to provide a pack of about 10 percent of their body weight. You can run either or both. The survival run starts at 8 a.m., the 5K run/walk at 8:30 a.m. and a kids’ fun run at 9:30 a.m. Registration for adults costs $30 for either event or $45 for both. (The kids’ fun run is free.) Register online by Friday, July 1, at noon.

• The Ribfest 5-Miler takes place on Sunday, July 17, at 9 a.m. as part of the Great American RibFest at the Anheuser-Busch complex in Merrimack. The event also features a 100-yard Stoneyfield Lil’ Piglet Race at 8:15 a.m. Races get early admission to the ribfest as part of their registration, which costs $40 for adults, $35 for 20 and under and $10 for kids age 8 and under in the Piglet race.

• The Canterbury Woodchuck Classic 5K, another in the Capital Area Race Series, takes place Saturday, July 30, at 9 a.m. at Canterbury Elementary School. Registration costs $20; $1 for a kids 2K fun run. See runcarsnh.com/canterbury-woodchuck-5k.

• The Cigna/Elliot Corporate 5K Road Race takes place in downtown Manchester on Elm Street (and surrounding streets) on Thursday, Aug. 11, at 6:20 p.m. The cost is $25 per person and you can register as an individual or as part of a corporate team.

• The 5K Race to the Ledges on Saturday, Aug. 13, at 9 a.m. features a course behind Concord Hospital that is part trail and part road, according to genesishcc.com/gl5k. Registration costs $20 (kids 6 and under are free). Participants will get “brunch to go” boxes, the website said.

• The Veterans Count Wolfeboro Pirates Cove 5K Run & Walk is on Saturday, Aug. 13, in Wolfeboro and 2021’s race featured two courses, one for more competitive runners and one for participants looking for something a little more relaxed. The race starts at 9 a.m. and registration costs $25 for 13+ and $25 for kids 12 and under.

• The Bedford Rotary Trails to Ales takes place on the cross-country ski trails at Legacy Park in Bedford on Thursday, Aug. 18, at 6 p.m. according to rotarytrails2ales.com. Runners and walkers can pick a 5K or 2K course and there will be burgers and drinks (including craft beer and wine for 21+) and cornhhole. Registration costs $30 for 21+ and $15 for ages 13 to 20 (kids 12 and under can run for free). Register online by Sunday, Aug. 7, for a discounted registration fee.

• The Loudon Lions Club will hold its Angels 5K Road Race & Fitness Walk at Merrimack Valley High School in Penacook on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 8 a.m. Registration costs $25. The race is part of the Capital Area Race Series.

• The Boot Scootin’ Boogie 5K & Brewfest will take place Saturday, Aug. 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Londonderry Athletic Field Complex (98 Sargent Road in Londonderry). Registration costs $35 for 21+ (and includes entry to the Brewfest), $25 for ages 12 to 20 and $10 for ages 11 and under.

• The NH 10-Miler, which you can run individually or as part of a two-person relay, will take place Saturday, Aug. 27, 8:30 a.m. Registration costs $40 per person.

• The Veterans Count Nashua 5K Fun Run & Walk takes place Sunday, Sept. 11, at 9 a.m. (register online by noon on Friday, Sept. 9). Registration costs $30 for ages 13 and up.

Runners crossing finish line at downtown race.
2021 Brewery Chase Relay. Photo courtesy of Millennium Running.

• The Seafood Fest 5K, part of the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival that runs Sept. 9 through Sept. 11 (see seafoodfestivalnh.com), will take place on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 9 a.m., preceded by Yoga on the Beach at 8 a.m. and a Lil’ Lobster Fun Run (100-yard kids’ run) at 8:30 a.m. Registration for adults costs $25 until Aug. 25 and includes Seafood Festival admission ($30 afterward; $35 on race day); youth (ages 12 to 20) cost $20 until Aug. 25 and kids (ages 11 and under) cost $10 until Aug. 25.

• The Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day race begins on Elm Street and ends at the Wild Rover in downtown Manchester on Sunday, Sept. 18, starting at 10:15 a.m. There are 5K and 10K options. Register online by Saturday, Sept. 17; registration for adults costs $35 for the 10K and $30 for the 5K. For kids, registration is $25 for ages 12 to 20 and $10 for 11 and under. The event is part of a larger Celtic Festival, featuring food and music. The first 500 registrants will get a free kilt.

Total Image Running races

See totalimagerunning.com for more on these races.

• The Lite Up the Nite Run/Walk for Mental Health 5K will step off at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, at McIntyre Ski Area in Manchester. For registration costs on the day and more, see mhcgm.org.

• Bring your dog to Bagels and Biscuits 5K on Sunday, June 12, at 9 a.m. in Derryfield Park in Manchester. The event supports Animal Rescue League of NH and Temple Adath Yeshurun and costs $25 for 20+ (until June 10) and $20 for 19 and under. See runsignup.com/Race/NH/Manchester/BagelsandBiscuits5K.

• The Christmas in July 5K starts at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 10, at the Stumble Inn (20 Rockingham Road in Londonderry). Enjoy a post-race party with costume contest and entertainment. Registration in advance costs $30 for adults, $25 for youth. The race benefits Catholic Charities of New Hampshire. See totalimagerunning.com/christmas5k.

• The LaBelle Winery Wine Run will take place Wednesday, Aug. 10, at 6 p.m. at the winery’s Derry location. Runners 21+ get a glass of LaBelle wine after the run. Registration in advance costs $35 for adults, $30 for youth. The race benefits the Moore Center.

• The Manchester Fire Cross-Country 5K takes place Saturday, Sept. 10, at 5 p.m. The cost is $30 until the day before the event ($20 for kids). The event is dog-friendly. See runsignup.com/Race/NH/Manchester/ManchesterFireCrossCountry5K.

• Hunger is the Pitts 5K BBQ, Bash & Bonfire will take place Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m. at Auburn Pitts (167 Rockingham Road in AUburn). The cost in advance is $30 for adults, $25 for youth. The post-race party will feature barbecue eats available for purchase.

• The Hillsboro Fire Fighters Association Five Alarm 5K will take place Sunday, Sept. 18, at 10 a.m. at Rear Grimes Field in Hillsborough. Registration for adults is $25 in advance ($30 on the day of the race); youth registration costs $20 in advance, $25 on the day.

More races

• The Amherst Lions Club will hold its 1st Annual 5K Race and Family Fun Day on Saturday, June 11, with the race starting at 10 a.m. Registration costs $25 through Thursday, June 9, online and $30 on site (until 30 minutes before the race). There will be food, entertainment and games post-race from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. See e-clubhouse.org/sites/amherstnh.

• Plaistow Old Home Day will hold a 5K run/walk on Saturday, June 18, at 9 a.m. Registration costs $20 in advance ($16 with no shirt) and $25 on the day. See running4free.com and search for Plaistow.

• Marina’s Miles, a 5K that begins at Oyster River High School in Durham, will take place Saturday, June 18, at 9 a.m. Registration costs $25 in advance or $30 in cash on race day. See marinasmiles.org.

• Go running with Dad at the Father’s Day 5K on Sunday, June 19, at 9 a.m. at the Margaritas in Dover. Registration costs $25. See goodwinch.org/events/fathers-day-5k.

• The Smuttynose Will Run for Beer 5K is slated for Sunday, June 19, at 9:30 a.m. at Smuttynose Brewing in Hampton. After the flat race, runners (who are 21+) get complimentary beers. The post-race celebration will also include food and live music. See smuttynose5k.com.

• The Downtown Gym in Laconia will hold its summer event in its Pay It Forward 5K series on Saturday, June 25, at 9 a.m. The run/walk will begin at The Downtown Gym (171 Fair St. in Laconia). Registration costs $25. See downtowngymlaconia.com.

• The Eddie Chambers 5K Run/Walk, in memory of Manchester student Eddie Chambers to benefit Mental Illness Awareness and Suicide Prevention, will take places Saturday, June 25, at 10 a.m. on the campus of Southern New Hampshire University. Online registration costs $25. See miasp.org/News/2022-eddie-chambers-5k-runwalk.

• The Milford Recreation Department will host the Star Spangled 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, July 2, at 9:30 a.m. starting in Keyes Park Register by June 14 for $20; same-day registration costs $25 ($10 for ages 12 and under). Kids 12 and under can also run in a 1K race for free. Strollers and dogs on leashes welcome, according to milfordnh.recdesk.com.

• The Greater Derry Track Club of Southern New Hampshire will host the Run for Freedom 5K & 10K on Monday, July 4, at 7:30 a.m. to support Liberty House in Manchester. The courses, maps of which are available at gdtc.org/run/index.php/run-for-freedom, wind through residential roads in Derry, the website said. Registration costs $30 for the 5K and $35 for the 10K.

• Hillsboro Summerfest will host a 5K Road Race on Friday, July 8, at 6:30 p.m. along the Contoocook River in Hillsborough. Registration costs $20 before June 18 (afterward, same-day registration costs $25 from 5 to 6:15 p.m.). See hillsborosummerfest.com/activity/5k-road-race.

• The Bill Luti 5 Miler, part of the Capital Area Race Series, starts Saturday, July 16, at 8 a.m. at Memorial Field (70 S. Fruit St. in Concord). There will also be kids’ fun runs starting at 9:15 a.m. Register online by Thursday, July 14, at 9 a.m. for $20; see gsrs.com/luti for information on late registration.

• Dancers Dash 5K Run/Walk is slated for Saturday, July 16, at 8 a.m. beginning and ending at Campbell High School in Litchfield. Registration costs $30; see dancersatheart5678.org/events/dancers-dash-2022.

• The Cathy Cray 5K will be Saturday, July 16, at 9 a.m. at the Congregational Church in Amherst, according to runsignup.com/Race/Info/NH/Amherst/TheCathyCray5k. Registration costs $25 and proceeds support The White Ribbon Project, a lung cancer awareness organization (see thewhiteribbonproject.org).

• The Live Free or Die 5000 is a 5K described as “suitable for runners and walkers of all skill levels” according to the registration page, which can be found at livefreeordie5000.squarespace.com. The race takes place on Saturday, July 16, at 9 a.m. in Atkinson (the registration page also features a map of the race route). Registration in advance costs $30.

• The Chester 300th Anniversary Committee is holding a Tricentennial 5K Race on Saturday, July 23, at 9 a.m. on the conservation trails at Wason Pond in Chester. Registration costs $25. The day will also feature a Fireman’s Muster. See chesternh300.org/5k.htm

• The Get Your Rear in Gear 5K run or 1.5-mile walk to raise money for colon cancer will be held Saturday, Sept. 10, at 9 a.m. at Gould Hill Farm in Contoocook. A kids’ run for 10 and under takes place at 8:45 a.m. Registration costs $28 for adults in advance and $15 for youth ages 12 and under (kids’ run runners cost $12 per person). See donate.coloncancercoalition.org/newhampshire.

running shoes

• The Jack Sharkey 5K Knockout the Hills Highnote takes place Saturday, Sept. 10, at 10 a.m. at 173 Prescott Road in Epping. Registration costs $20 in advance, $25 on the day. See running4free.com/RaceDetails.aspx?raceid=457.

• The Hooksett Kiwanis Club will hold its 11th annual 5K Trail Race on Saturday, Sept. 17. Last year’s race included a kids’ fun run and goodie bags. See hooksettkiwanis.org/kiwanis-5k.

• The 6th Annual Greenfield Fire Department Road Race takes place Saturday, Sept. 17, at 9 a.m. at Oak Park in Greenfield. The event will include a 10K, a 5K, a half marathon and a race for kids; registration costs vary by event. Find information on the fire department’s Facebook page.

• Saturday, Sept. 17, is Old Home Day in Pelham. A 5K run and walk will take place at 10 a.m. See pelhamoldhomeday.org for information on Old Home Day.

• The Pant for Paws 5K to raise money for Darbster Rescue is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 18, at 10 a.m. at Rollins Park in Concord. The event is family- and pet-friendly. Registration costs $30. See darbsterfoundation.com/events/ or runsignup.com/Race/Info/NH/Chichester/PantforPaws.

Clubs, ongoing events & more

• The Millennium Happy Hour Hustle takes place many Thursdays at 6 p.m. with courses near downtown Manchester through Sept. 29. The cost is $25 per race; advance registration required. See millenniumrunning.com/happyhour.

• The Millennium Running club costs $75 for annual membership and is open to all levels of fitness, according to millenniumrunning.com. Upcoming events include the Pub Run at the Fisher Cats game on Thursday, June 23.

• The Women Run NH is an event held by the Bedford girls cross-country program that will feature workshops for all ages and abilities on Saturday, Aug. 20, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Bedford High School. Admission will be available for individuals as well as teams of all ages. See womenrunnh.org.

Recommended running spots

We asked local experts to recommend a few of their favorite spots for a run.

Goffstown Rail Trail
Recommended by John Mortimer, owner of Millennium Running in Bedford
Where: Goffstown
Length: 7.5 miles
Difficulty level: Easy
Trail info: The Goffstown Rail Trail is a 7.5-mile point-to-point trail that begins in Goffstown Village and ends at the Manchester city line. The trail is suitable for walking and running, and has relatively flat terrain.

Les Clark Nature Trailhead
Recommended by Gabe Ouellette of Joe King’s Shoe Shop in Concord
Where: Concord
Length: 1.5 miles
Difficulty level: Easy
Trail info: Located on Portsmouth Street near the headquarters of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, the Les Clark Nature Trailhead is a mostly flat route that’s perfect for beginner trail runners.

Piscataquog Trail
Recommended by John Mortimer, owner of Millennium Running in Bedford
Where: Manchester
Length: 2.1 miles
Difficulty level: Easy
Trail info: Located on Manchester’s West Side, this 10-foot-wide paved recreational trail crosses the Piscataquog River and connects runners and walkers from the Queen City to Goffstown.

Rockingham Rail Trail
Recommended by John Mortimer, owner of Millennium Running in Bedford
Where: Multiple towns from Manchester points east
Length: 25 miles
Difficulty level: Moderate
Trail info: This multi-use trail begins at Page Street in Manchester and ends at Ash Swamp Road in Newfields.

Mine Falls Park
Recommended by B.J. Bottomley, owner of Fleet Feet Sports in Nashua
Where: Nashua
Length: 9.7 miles
Difficulty level: Easy
Trail info: Mine Falls Park is a roughly 300-acre park located in Nashua with 9.7 miles of trail options for runners to choose from. It’s directly beside the Nashua River and is known for the forest-like trees overlooking the park. There are sports fields, fishing spots, and trails full of wildlife. “It’s far and away the best spot in Nashua,” Bottomley said.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

This Week 22/06/09

Big Events June 9, 2022 and beyond

Saturday, June 11

The Concord Arts Market, an outdoor artisan and fine art market, kicks off its season (it will run one Saturday a month from June through October) today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Rollins Park (33 Bow St. in Concord). See concordartsmarket.net.

Saturday, June 11

Get ideas for your garden by touring the public gardens maintained by the Milford Garden Club today from 10 a.m. to noon. See milfordnhgardenclub.org/gardentour.html for a map of the 11 spots where club members maintain gardens.

Saturday, June 11

A week of celebration begins today for 2022 Pride Week in Manchester. Queen City Pride will host an event honoring Mona’s 440 Club with a ladies night drag show at Strange Brew (88 Market St. in Manchester) featuring live music, a DJ and pole dancer Andrew Alvarado starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to this 21+ show cost $15. A Pride brunch will be held Sunday, June 12, starting at noon at Gauchos; the cost is $25, no preregistration required. George Cox hosts Pride karaoke at Stark Brewery on Wednesday, June 15. Find the complete Pride Week schedule at queencitypridenh.org.

Saturday, June 11

Laconia Motorcycle Week returns for its 99th year and is slated to run through June 19 with a variety of motorcycle tours, vendors, daily scenic rides, live entertainment and more, all centered around Weirs Beach in Laconia. See laconiamcweek.com. Today, after the Peter Markis Memorial Ride, you can catch the Kan-Tu Blues Band and the Brassholes from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Naswa in Laconia, followed by Blue Matter from 6 to 10 p.m. For more live music this weekend and beyond, see the Music This Week listings on page 34.

Sunday, June 12

New Hampshire Audubon McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road in Concord) will hold a native plant sale today from noon to 4 p.m. Native perennial farm Bagley Pond will sell a wide selection of native plants and shrubs, according to a press release. NH Audubon staff and Pollinator Garden volunteers will be on site to answer questions about gardening, pollinators, native wildlife and native plants (such as the bee balm pictured above), the release said. See nhaudubon.org.

Sunday, June 12

The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire will hold a walking tour in Milford called “Not a Slave, Yet Not Free: Harriet Wilson and the Abolition Movement.” The tour will meet in the Milford Oval at 2 p.m. Registration costs $20 per person, $15 for seniors and military and $10 for students. An author (the first African American to publish a novel in North America) and lecturer, Wilson was born in Milford, where a sculpture of her is in Bicentennial Park. See blackheritagetrailnh.org.

Sunday, June 12

Get some classic cinema today when What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) screens in celebration of its 60th anniversary at Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem and Regal Fox Run in Newington at 1 p.m. The Bette Davis/Joan Crawford-fronted film (the subject of the first season of Feud) will also screen Wednesday, June 15, at 7 p.m. at Cinemark Rockingham Park and O’Neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square in Epping. See fathomevents.com for tickets.

Save the Date! Thursday, June 16
WineNot Boutique (25 Main St. in Nashua; winenotboutique.com, 204-5569) will hold a tasting of rosé wines on Thursday, June 16, with times at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. Tickets cost $20 (plus a fee) and get you samples of more than a dozen wines from around the globe, the website said.

Featured photo. Bee Balm. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 22/06/09

Take the weekend off

Lazy lawnmowers may be doing the environment a favor, according to the results of a recent research study conducted by the University of New Hampshire. Alexandra Contosta, research assistant professor at UNH’s Earth Systems Research Center, said in a press release that reducing the frequency of lawn mowing, or going “low mow,” can help to reduce carbon emissions, build soil organic matter and create better pollinating habitats for bees. “People may not think the small ecosystem in their own yard — the grass, soil and vegetation — is that important to the health of the whole planet,” Contosta said, “but taking important small steps, like not mowing as often, can have a big impact on things … which can influence climate change.”

QOL score: +1 (for giving us all a green excuse to skip mowing this weekend)

Comment: One easy way to go low-mow, Contosta said, is to skip mowing the parts of your property that are underutilized or difficult to access altogether.

Yay for birds, boo for fireworks fans

Fireworks at Hampton Beach were canceled for Memorial Day weekend and expected to be put on hold for several weeks in order to protect two nests of piping plovers that were found on the beach, according to NHPR. Piping plovers are an endangered species in New Hampshire and considered to be at risk nationally.

QOL score: 0 (-1 for the loss of some summer beach fun but +1 for leaving the birds in peace)

Comment: Hampton Beach officials said that they hope to have fireworks for the Fourth of July, according to the report.

Praise for a teacher

The Class of 2022 members of the Nashua High School South chapter of the National Honor Society have selected Nashua High School South English teacher Greg Montine as the 27th recipient of the No Bell Award. According to a press release from the school, the award, which has a symbol depicting a school bell without a hammer, is given to “an outstanding teacher who leads students; communicates enthusiasm and respect for the subject taught; inspires students to develop a hunger for learning; and serves as a role model for students.” Montine also received a $7,500 cash award, which was made possible by an anonymous donor.

QOL score: +1

Comments: Here’s hoping Montine has some relaxing summer plans.

Give blood

The American Red Cross and other blood collection organizations around the world will celebrate World Blood Donor Day on Tuesday, June 14. According to a press release from the Northern New England Regional American Red Cross, the day recognizes the importance of lifesaving blood donations and the nearly 2.5 million people who donate blood and platelets through the Red Cross every year. Blood donation numbers are often at their lowest during late spring and early summer, the release said, but the need for blood and platelet transfusions remains the same.

QOL score: +1 (especially if there’s a post-donation cookie)

Comment: To find a Red Cross blood donation site near you, enter your zip code in the blood drive locator at redcrossblood.org.

QOL score: 76

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 79

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

C’s tied 1-1 after two

There’s good news and bad news from the NBA Finals today.

The good was the Celtics bombing away during an incredible comeback that erased a 15-point Golden State third-quarter lead with a 40-16 fourth-quarter surge to win Game 1 big. The bad was showing once again they can’t handle prosperity by coughing up Game 2 in a 107-88 Warriors rout.

The latter via a barrage of first-half turnovers in a mostly inept offensive effort before getting flattened by a third-quarter Warriors explosion.

True, GS couldn’t go to Boston down 0-2 so they played with desperation, but the Celtics’ lack of intensity was equally responsible for the loss.

In the end being tied 1-1 is good for Warriors fans, those with no dog in the hunt, ABC/ESPN and the league but a repetitive irritation for Celtic Nation. Fortunately resilience has been their calling card so far, so maybe that irritation will fade by series end.

In the meantime, here are a few observations from the first two games.

Raise your hand if you knew Payton Pritchard was the second leading Celtics rebounder in Game 1 with six. One behind leader Jaylen Brown and tied with bigs Al Horford and Rob Williams. He also scored 8 points and played plucky on-ball defense vs. Jordan Poole in the decisive fourth quarter, and the C’s were a plus 14 in his 15 minutes of PT.

Speaking of Poole: This is unofficial, but that shot he made from one step past mid-court to end the third quarter of Game 2 is likely the longest shot made in the finals since Jerry West buried one from two steps beyond mid-court as time expired in the fourth quarter to send Game 3 in 1970 to OT. The Knicks recovered from that to still win 103-101, but that 53-footer was the ultimate clutch shot from Mr. Clutch.

Anyone ever seen Darth Vader and Draymond Green in the same room? Easy to hate that guy’s act after it was chippy stuff all around in Game 2.

I could not disagree more with ref analyst Steve Jaffe and Jeff Van Gundy saying a ref has to take into account game situations when deciding to give Draymond a game ejecting second technical foul for his first-half dustup with Brown. So what if he already had one? Doing that gives a guy whose M.O. is committing mayhem carte blanche the rest of the game. Sorry, he’s the doofus who put himself in the situation by being unnecessarily mouthy earlier in the game. He’s the one who crashed into Brown on his 3-point attempt and gave his landing on him a little extra oomph, then put his feet on his head to be annoying and Brown pushed him back. Double T, no questions asked. See you later, Draymond. Terrible interpretation by the refs.

I’ve never seen anyone who can go from being lights out in the first quarter to stone cold and absolutely awful the rest of the game as Brown was in Game 2, which came on top of his Game 1-saving fourth quarter to make it more perplexing. How does that happen?

Am I the only one who sees the irony in Mark Jackson waxing poetically about the Warriors; mini-dynasty? Because it happened immediately after he got fired for the toxic environment he created when he was their coach.

He hasn’t played all that well yet, but after two years of bad luck and hard rehab it’s nice seeing Klay Thompson healthy and back on the court.

Amid all the local drooling over Jayson Tatum’s many high moments, I’m still pretty tough on him for his lapses. I’m not picking on him; I just think he still drifts too much in his focus. So if you’re wondering why I included him in the Game 2 carnage despite scoring 28 points, it’s because they were -36 when he was on the floor. So something wasn’t working.

Having said that, it was a relief to see his touch return in Game 2. Though I’m with Mark Jax that he’s still not quite in sync, because he’s forcing things in favorable match-ups.

Anyone on the“Stephen A Blowhard is a basketball genius” bandwagon remember he proclaimed the Warriors to be “in serious trouble” after losing Game 1? That’s Game 1 of a best-of-seven series when the Celtics shot a very hard to repeat 7 of 9 from distance in their fourth-quarter blitz. Talk about an overreaction, which predictably lasted one game. Truth is, series like this usually have mood swings and the first two games rarely tell you much because they’re like fighters feeling each other out. As for Stephen A, shouting it louder than everyone else may get you to the top of a sports network, but it doesn’t make you right, which he rarely is. And that imbecile Skip Bayless makes him seem like he’s basketball’s Einstein.

Along that line, the overall stat so far to make Celtic Nation queasy is that the Dubs basically shot the same in both games, while the C’s were a hard-to-match 51.2 percent on 3’s in Game 1 and a back to normal 39 percent when they got croaked in Game 2.

While I love prehistoric history more than most, linking this Celtics team to those from its rich long ago history seems a stretch to me. I see the connection for guys who have played for the franchise and old buck fans like me, but it’s won one title in 36 years! Which by the old way of thinking is three and half decades of failure. The kind of franchise people around here during the Bird era goofed on.

This group is actually more like what Curry and company were in 2015. A young up and comer looking to be the NBA’s next great multi-year contending team. Time will tell if they become that, but if they do, I’ll settle for that.

Peace of mind

Broderick discusses mental health book, webinar series

John Broderick, senior director of public affairs at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health and former Chief Justice for the New Hampshire Supreme Court, discussed his new book, Back Roads and Highways: My Journey to Discovery on Mental Health, coming out at the end of this month, and a year-long webinar series about mental health called “Heads Up,” which he is organizing in partnership with Dartmouth Health.

What is the Heads Up Series?

The Heads Up series was started during Covid … [to talk] to the New Hampshire community about Covid-related mental health issues, for children, for families, for the elderly. It was very successful. … For the next year, we’ll be focusing on mental health issues … covering a number of topics. … There will be some virtual forums on these various topics that will be available to the public at no cost. Some of those forums will have Dartmouth Health people on them and many other folks, too. … The goal of this series is really to increase awareness and start a different conversation around mental health.

What topics will it cover?

A lot of it will be focused on adolescents. … Some of it will relate to social and cultural pressures that young people are feeling before, during and after Covid. We’re going to talk about social media, athletics, stress. … There will be a number of topics that I think will hit a broad audience over the next 12 months.

How did you determine those topics?

They’re topics that I’ve raised in the book I [have been writing] for the last six years with the help and support of Dartmouth Health. … I’ve been traveling all over New England and talked to 100,000 young people in grades 6 through 12 in 300 gyms and auditoriums about mental health awareness. Of those kids, probably 4,000 of them have talked very privately and confidentially to me about what they’re seeing and experiencing, not just during Covid, though a lot of it has been exacerbated [due to Covid].

What is your personal interest in mental health?

It comes from my own lived experience with my family. … I’ve been very open about my family’s journey. … Two decades ago, while I was in public life, I didn’t understand mental health at the time, and I didn’t see it in my own family for what it was. I made mistakes; I see them now. It took my family on a really hard public journey that I wouldn’t wish on another living soul. The good news is, my family came through it. We’ve healed, and we’re in a very different place now. … The reason I’m doing what I’ve been doing is because of my own ignorance and the unintended harm it had in my own household. … Over the last six years, [mental health] has become acutely personal in a different way. … When I go to the schools, I’m honest with [the kids]. I’m vulnerable in sharing my family’s journey. I’m asking for their help to change the culture and the conversation which we have avoided for generations, and kids respond to that.

What is the book about?

The book is not really autobiographical or a story of my family. That story is already public; I share it every time I go and speak. The focus of my book is … everyone else’s family. I wrote the book because I wanted people to come with me at my elbow, into the [school] gyms and auditoriums all across New England, and to feel and experience what I felt and experienced. I want people to realize the nature and scope of the problem, and to understand that we can fix it, but only if we talk about it. … My book really is [meant] to drive a new discussion about the needed change in America’s mental health system, and to say to people that treatment works; it’s not hopeless. We just need to expand the system and allow people to access health care when it relates to something going on above the neck.

How can mental health be improved in New Hampshire?

The numbers of families and people dealing with mental health and substance [issues] is enormous, and we don’t have a system in this country to deal with either problem. … We don’t have enough psychiatrists … or nurse practitioners who deal with mental health issues. We don’t have enough psychiatric social workers … or mental health counselors. It’s not because people wouldn’t go into those careers; it’s because we don’t incentivize it. We don’t pay them. Psychiatrists, for example, are among the lowest-paid members of the medical profession. … Also, [mental illness] is still stigmatized. People are still ashamed. I know because the kids have told me that. They don’t feel that way when they have a broken ankle or a bad back. [Kids] feeling like they’re letting someone down or are defective in some way because they have a mental health problem is on all of us. … We need to let people know that it’s an everywhere, everyday problem, and not the result of some personal deficiency or weakness.

Featured photo: John Broderick.

News & Notes 22/06/09

Covid-19 update As of May 27As of June 6
Total cases statewide 324,373 327,358
Total current infections statewide 4,544 3,658
Total deaths statewide 2,534 2,542
New cases 3,331 (May 21 to May 27) 2,985 (May 28 to June 6)
Current infections: Hillsborough County 1,257 1,593
Current infections: Merrimack County 403 525
Current infections: Rockingham County 1,063 1,330
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

Students march

Students from Nashua North and South high schools will join hundreds of student groups across the country in the March for Our Lives protest, a nationwide event planned for Saturday, June 11, in response to the recent string of shootings throughout the U.S., to raise awareness about gun violence and advocate for gun control legislation. According to a press release from the organizers, the peaceful protest will take place in downtown Nashua, starting at 1 p.m., at The Soldiers and Sailors Monument. The students will then march to Greeley Park, where local high school students and Rep. Laura Telerski will speak about their experiences and opinions surrounding gun violence and gun legislation, starting at 1:45 p.m. March for Our Lives is a national student-led movement formed in 2018 in support of stricter gun control laws following a mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead. See “March For Our Lives Protest in Nashua” on Facebook for updates on the local effort.

Racing history

What was previously known as the North East Motor Sports Museum in Loudon has been officially renamed the New England Racing Museum as of June 2, according to a press release from the Racing History Preservation Group, the nonprofit that owns the institution. The 10,000-square-foot museum features race cars, motorcycles, photographs, artifacts, books, racing helmets, trophies and racing uniforms from throughout the history of motor racing in the New England region. The reason for the name change, the press release said, is to more accurately reflect the museum’s focus, which has become more specific to the six New England states than to the larger Northeast, and to racing than to the broader realm of motor sports, than the museum’s board of directors had originally anticipated when plans for the museum were first drafted more than 12 years ago and when the museum opened its doors in 2017. “You tell me we’re going to see motor sports and I’m not interested,” museum trustee Mike Smeriglio said in the press release in regard to the name change. “If you want to go see racing, I’m on board.” The museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer, Saturdays during the winter, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with expanded days and hours when there are racing events at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Admission costs $10 and is free for children under age 12. Visit nemsmuseum.com.

Space news

The University of New Hampshire has been selected as one of 14 universities in the U.S. to receive a portion of more than $10.4 million in funding from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, WMUR reported. The funds are to be used for research and special projects being conducted at the universities in partnership with NASA. In February, UNH announced that a group of researchers and engineers from the university’s Space Science Center had been recruited by NASA to study particles streaming to Earth from the edges of interstellar space as part of NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe mission, expected to launch in 2024. According to the UNH website, the mission will further understanding of the heliosphere and how the sun impacts the atmospheric space surrounding the Earth, which may ultimately help to provide better protection for astronauts and satellite technology.

The cane tradition

The Warner Selectmen will award long-time Warnerresident Phil Lord the Boston Post Cane at the United Church of Warner on Saturday, June 25. The tradition was introduced in 1909, when the now defunct Boston Post newspaper presented gold-headed walking canes to many New England towns to award to their oldest residents. Lord, who celebrated his 96th birthday on Feb. 4, will be the 32nd recipient of Warner’s cane. According to a press release from the Warner Historical Society, Warner is one of the last communities to still have its cane and continue the tradition. The cane will be preserved at the Warner Historical Society after the ceremony. The event runs from 2 to 4 p.m., with the main presentation at 2:45 p.m., and is free and open to the public. Visit warnerhistorical.org.

Deceased New Hampshire residents who served in the National Guard or as reservists during their lifetime can now be buried in the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen. According to NHPR, the cemetery previously only accepted burials for New Hampshire residents who had served on active duty as members of the military. The Executive Council voted unanimously for the change in policy.

Those grieving the loss of a loved one will no longer have to worry about paying road tolls in New Hampshire when they are part of a funeral procession. Gov. Chris Sununu signed the new executive order on June 6 which states that if the lead car in a funeral procession stops at a toll booth and informs the attendant of how many of the following vehicles are in the procession, the attendant will allow those vehicles to pass without having to stop or pay, according to a press release from the Governor’s office in Concord.

The Merrimack Rotary Club is holding an Electronics Reycling Fundraiser on Saturday, June 11, from 8 a.m. to noon at Merrimack Town Hall (6 Baboosic Lake Road in Merrimack), according to a press release. Drive by and pay a donation fee to drop off telephones, cables, video games, speakers, radios, computers, televisions and air conditioners, the release said. See merrimackrotary.org.

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