Tag: 220728

Quality of Life 22/07/28

Big bugs

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness has opened its featured 2022 exhibit, “Giant Insects,” made possible with a $5,000 sponsorship from Meredith Village Savings Bank. The exhibit, on view now through Sept. 30, features six larger-than-life animatronic insects along the Center’s live animal trail to teach visitors about the important role insects play in preserving the balance of nature. Access to the exhibit is included with regular admission to the Center. Visit nhnature.org/insects to learn more.

QOL score: +1

Comment: “Watch for the spray from the bombardier beetle!” and “Don’t forget to climb aboard the spicebush swallowtail caterpillar for a photo,” the Center said on its website. Other insect stars include the blue-eyed darner, the devil’s flower mantis, the grasshopper and the stag beetle.

Big-league pitcher

Former MLB pitcher Andrew Moore has been transferred from the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. According to a press release, Moore’s MLB career included playing in a dozen games, including 10 as a starter, with the Seattle Mariners in 2017 and 2019. Moore was signed to the minor-league deal with the Fisher Cats, a Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, on June 14 after spending the last two years playing for minor-league teams in the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers organizations. He is the third player with MLB experience to join the Fisher Cats.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The Fisher Cats’ next home game at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester) will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 7:05 p.m., against the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Visit nhfishercats.com for tickets.

Accessible playground

Dartmouth Health Children’s celebrated the opening of a new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant playground at Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with leadership, staff, dignitaries and supporters on Thursday, July 21. According to a press release, the playground was made possible through the 121 Club Initiative, a fundraising effort led by the Perry Family of Bedford, and a similar project is being planned for the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. “Play is not just fun; it is fundamental to healthy physical and mental development in children. It is literally how they learn and grow,” Keith J. Loud, MD, physician-in-chief at Dartmouth Health Children’s, said in the release, thanking all of the individuals and groups that contributed to creating “a playground that is safe, welcoming and designed for all children.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: The 121 Club Initiative is inspired by Elliot Perry, age 10, who was born four months early and given an 18 percent chance of survival. Perry was released from the Intensive Care Nursery at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center after 121 days. He now acts as a young ambassador for the hospital. “I’m thankful to our family, friends and 121 club supporters for joining us and giving back to the place that saved my life,” he said in the release.

QOL score: 83

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 86

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

Time to sell, Mr. Henry

I don’t make U-turns very often. But I have made one in recent days and it’s a major-league about-face.

It concerns Red Sox owner John Henry, whom I’ve always defended amid all the whining that goes on around here. I defended him for two reasons.

First: All I heard in the first 30 years since I moved behind enemy lines was the whining about bad luck as the Sox World Series streak kept growing until it reached 86 years after the cruelest loss of all to the Yanks in 2003; that ended the next year in glorious fashion and was followed by titles in 2007, 2013 and 2018 to give them four in his first 16 years on the job, yet after a short abatement the whining started all over again. So with the knowledge that no other team has won as much as during his time on the job, I’ve always been willing to stand up for him and ask the question, what more do you ingrates want?

The second reason is obvious: John I. Taylor notwithstanding, he is the best owner in franchise history. It’s been a time when they have mostly spent big on payroll and made the wise decision to save/reinvest in their landmark ballpark, all while ending the curse and delivering some of the most exciting moments in franchise history. Not the least of which was climbing out of an 0-3 hole to finally beat the Yanks in 2004.

But, sadly, I’ve come to the conclusion It’s time for Henry to sell the Red Sox.

Here’s why, and I’ll start with the little things.

It Just Feels Old: There is no vitality in the ownership group. It’s a long way from when Henry pulled up at the Sports Hub to defend his team after listening to the endless negativity of Michael Felger and Tony Mazz while tooling around town in his car. Pretty unusual, but I liked the fight.

Not Dealing With the Media: I’m sure team president Sam Kennedy is a fine fellow. But since the owner deigns to speak to the nuisance media once a year he seems like a lap dog when he constantly is answering for the owner. I get it – the media can be obtrusive. But sorry, pal, it’s part of the job and I shouldn’t have to tell that to the guy who owns the Boston Globe. The Nation wants to hear from the boss.

It’s Become Just an Investment: Again I defended him when Fenway Sports Group bought the soccer team. But now there is an auto racing team and the Pittsburgh Penguins along with soccer, and the team seems like just part of the investment portfolio.

The Tampa Bay Way: I have pointed out many times that over the last few years Tampa Bay has won more than the Red Sox while spending millions less. But it wasn’t in support of how they conducted business. It was to show that it’s not what you spend, it’s how you spend it. Like wasting $170 million on Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez as an overreaction to fan discontent after a last-place finish in 2014. Or losing Jon Lester thanks to a ludicrous lowball offer and then having to spend $8 million per more the next year to bring in the soon to be hated David Price to replace him.

I’m Chaimed Out: I not only hate his stat geek, cookie-cutter, bargain basement vision of baseball, but I also find it insulting that one of the great franchises in sports history is copying the ways of one of the worst franchises in baseball history, one that barely draws 10,000 a game while the Sox had a 10-year sellout streak.

I thought he was going to come in to do what his Tampa Bay boss Andrew Friedman did when he landed in L.A.— clean up the payroll, build a farm system and then when he was done use their big market financial clout to fill out the line-up with big-time players like Mookie Betts and now NL home run leader Kyle Schwarber.

But that has not materialized, as it looks more like his place in Red Sox history will be as the 21st century’s answer to Harry Frazee by giving Raffy Devers and Xander Bogaerts insulting (idiotic) lowball contract offers on top of already dumping Betts.

Which brings me to the point of this diatribe. I was OK with not giving Betts what he wanted based on the risk of giving a 12-year contract. And I’m right about that.

But more deals like that have followed, and with Juan Soto (somehow) turning down a 15-year, $550 million deal last weekend it’s not likely going to go in the other direction. So if you don’t want to play that game it’s time to leave. Plus while the overall record is good, amid constant turnover at GM and manager there appears to be no real plan, which might be why they’ve finished last three times and missed the playoffs seven times since 2010.

Take The Money and Run: The team is now worth $3.9 billion, which is a 459 percent return on the $700 million you bought it for in 2002. For the mathematically challenged that’s $187 million appreciation per year or a $3.2 billion profit before whatever they made in annual profits.

So at the risk of understating the case: You have made your money. How much more do you need?

Bottom Line: While you technically own the team, Patriots owner Bob Kraft gets it right when he says teams are a public trust owned by fans who’ve been here longer than any owner ever was or will be.

So unless you still have the passion and energy to lead, along with the willingness to invest at today’s rate, take your $3.9 billion and ride into the sunset.

Yankees fans would never accept anything less. And neither should the fans who you are asking to pay the highest ticket prices in baseball while letting Chaim Bloom turn the Sox into baseball’s version of TJ Maxx.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Teaming up

Community health workers assist police in Manchester

Last month, a new Public Health and Safety Team (PHAST), funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, was formed to serve the City of Manchester, combining the efforts of the Manchester Police and Manchester Public Health departments. The team consists of eight Community Health Workers who are trained in advocacy, conflict resolution and “violence interruption,” an evidence-based response technique for non-police and non-emergency matters to help reduce violent crime. PHAST supervisor Biram Saidybah shared more about how the team serves the city’s residents and allows the police department to focus on issues that require the services of law enforcement.

How and why was PHAST created?

The Manchester Police Department had been receiving a lot of calls … and many of those calls were [about] something that has nothing to do with what law enforcement [handles] … and usually nothing to do with violence. The city realized that maybe it could have another team of people respond to those calls, and that’s how the idea for a Public Health and Safety Team was conceived. … The intention is for us to partner with the police and to inherit those calls that are not law enforcement [issues] … freeing up maybe up to six or eight police officers to be able to concentrate on violence issues.

What qualifications do PHAST workers have?

They all have training to be a community health worker, and some have years of experience working as a community health worker. … Some of us have also lived the same experiences that the people we are serving are currently living, and we want them to also be able to achieve their dreams in America. … It’s also a multilingual and multicultural team. We felt that hiring people who can speak more than one language would be the best way to reach out to a wider community. … Everybody has a unique skill that the others don’t have, so the team has a combination of unique skills. … Anytime we receive a call, we’ll look at who is the best person [to respond to] that call, based on their character and skills here, so that we can address it in the best possible way. … Finally, everyone has a story about why they joined this team. Every one of us on this team is dedicated and loves this community, loves the job that we’re doing and loves to serve people.

What types of calls does PHAST respond to?

One type is what’s called wellness checks or condition checks. … If someone goes to an individual’s house, knocks at the door and nobody answers and they aren’t able to get in communication with that individual, typically they call the police to come check on that individual. … Then, there are people who are repeat callers, who will call the police department three, four, five times in a month. They may be people who have mental health challenges, people who are just lonely and need to talk to somebody, or people who are having issues, like they’re about to be evicted or they don’t know how to apply for health insurance, things like that. Many of those calls are also from seniors who are living by themselves and don’t have anyone there to help them with things in their day-to-day life, so anytime they’re confronted with something [they need help with], they call the police. … Another type of call is for what’s referred to as ‘hotspots,’ neighborhoods that the police receive a lot of calls from or that may have a lot of crime going on.

In addition to responding to those calls, what else does PHAST do?

Part of our partnership with the Police Department [involves] the Community Response Unit; if someone in the city overdoses, we will go with two police officers 72 hours after the overdose to do a condition check on the individual and to give them resources. … Another activity we’ve been engaged in is, whenever we go to a ward, we see if there’s something like a broken sidewalk or a broken electrical pole or a branch of a tree that’s fallen, things like that, and we take a picture of it using the SeeClickFix app, which then goes … to the department responsible for addressing that issue.

How is PHAST better-equipped than the police to handle certain issues?

The Community Response Unit is a good example. When we go to check on a person, we don’t normally allow police officers to do the talking. We’ll ask them to stand back, close enough to provide some security to us, but far enough to give some privacy to that individual, because many people are more interested in talking to us than to the police. … We also have the language skills to communicate with people … and sometimes it’s not just about language, but about culture. If I go to the house of an individual, and we look the same, and we speak the same language, and maybe we’re even from the same country originally, then that individual may be able to trust and open up and communicate with me better.

Featured photo: Biram Saidybah. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 22/07/28

Frozen tuition continues

The Community College System of New Hampshire Board of Trustees has voted to freeze tuition costs for all seven of the state’s community colleges for the fourth consecutive year. According to a press release, the tuition cost is currently at $215 per credit — which comes to $6,450 for a full-time course load — for New Hampshire-residing students, and has been so since 2018. Since 2011, the cost has increased a total of $5 per credit; factoring in inflation, tuition costs at New Hampshire’s community colleges are approximately 24 percent lower now than they were a decade ago, and community colleges remain the most affordable higher education offered in the state. “CCSNH has worked aggressively to control costs and keep higher education financially within reach, as part of its mission to ensure New Hampshire residents have affordable opportunities to remain in the state for college and careers,” Katharine Bogle Shields, chair of the CCSNH Board of Trustees, said in the release. Enrollment at New Hampshire’s community colleges is open and ongoing now through Aug. 29 for the fall semester, which will include on-campus and online course options.

Mental health series

Dartmouth Health continues its year-long monthly webinar series about mental health, “Heads Up: A Year-Long Mental Health Awareness Journey,” with a segment on the effects of social media on youth mental health. According to a press release, “Social Media and Youth — How do we strike a healthy balance?,” the third webinar in the series, features a panel consisting of Dartmouth Health Children’s child psychiatrist Steven Schlozman, MD; Heather Inyart, executive director of the Manchester-based youth development organization Media Power Youth; and Kenny Olibrice, a junior at Manchester Central High School and a youth advisor for Media Power Youth. The panelists discuss the ways in which social media can be emotionally constructive and destructive for youth; ways in which young people can de-escalate conflicts and create a more positive space online; and ways in which parents and caregivers can have open communication with teens about their social media activity and encourage healthy online habits. “What we do know, and what has stayed consistent across multiple platforms, is that teens are much more susceptible to the messages — both positive and negative — that are put out across social media platforms,” Schlozman said in the webinar. For more information on the “Heads Up” series, visit dartmouth-health.org/mental-health.

Attendance recovery

The New Hampshire Department of Education announced in a press release that it has partnered with Graduation Alliance to implement a school attendance recovery program in New Hampshire through September 2024. The $936,000 program, which is being funded with federal Covid-relief funds, will be offered to 2,000 secondary and middle school students throughout the state who are considered to be disengaged, chronically absent or at risk of not obtaining their high school diploma. Outreach counselors will provide personalized support to enrolled students and their families to help students improve their school attendance and academic performance. “New Hampshire, like most of our nation, has seen a dramatic increase in chronic absenteeism over the past few years, and ENGAGE New Hampshire will allow school districts to provide students with additional layers of academic and social-emotional support and adult mentorship without creating more responsibility for already overburdened teachers and staff,” Graduation Alliance CEO Ron Klausner said in the release. “We’re excited to promote school engagement and high school completion in the state of New Hampshire through this partnership.”

Return of the Yellowbirds

The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire will host a “Return of the Yellowbirds” event in Manchester, inviting former employees, family members, passengers and fans of Northeast Airlines to gather in celebration of its 50th anniversary. The pioneering Boston-based Northeast Airlines, which brought the first passenger air service to New England in the 1930s, is remembered for its famous 1960s “Yellowbird” pop art imagery and jingle. “You still hear it today — people who worked for Northeast loved the airline. They thought of it as one big family,” Aviation Museum Executive Director Jeff Rapsis said in a press release. “This summer’s reunion is a chance for Northeast veterans, as well as family, friends and the airline’s many fans, to celebrate a special company, renew old friendships, and also carry the Yellowbird legacy into the future.” The event will take place Sunday, July 31, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Manchester (700 Elm St.) and will include a gourmet buffet-style dinner, special guests, live music, a display of more than 250 historic Northeast Airlines artifacts and uniforms, the premiere of a video honoring Northeast Airlines and more. Tickets cost $75 per person. Call 669-4877 or visit aviationmuseumofnh.org.

USNH Trustees chair

Joseph G. Morone, former president and CEO of Albany International Corp., has stepped down from his position as chair of the University System of New Hampshire Board of Trustees, USNH announced in a press release, after serving 10 years on the board and the last three years as board chair. “Joe’s tenure as chairman occurred during a pivotal period in higher education when the safety of our students, faculty, staff and communities, and the continuity of our mission, were severely disrupted by the ever-changing effects of the pandemic,” Morone’s successor, Alex Walker said in the release. “Joe guided the board through strategic decision-making processes that will advantage the University System of New Hampshire during the fundamental shifts expected in higher education in the coming years. … His service will be long remembered by those who worked with him.” Walker, president and CEO of Catholic Medical Center, has served on the USNH board for six years and will serve as chair through June 2023. The board consists of 28 trustees, according to the release, and oversees three public higher education institutions in the state, including Keene State College, Plymouth State University and the University of New Hampshire, which enroll a total of 32,000 students.

A tornado, categorized as an EF-1, touched down in Chesterfield during an active Tornado Warning on Monday, July 18, the National Weather Service reported. The NWS defines EF-1 as a tornado having wind gusts between 86 and 110 miles per hour. This is the second tornado confirmed in New Hampshire this year; an EF-1 tornado touched down in Charlestown in May, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

A new mural painted on the Arms Park River Stairs in Manchester was unveiled on Friday, July 22. Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig attended the unveiling and posted about it on her Facebook page. “I am blown away by how beautiful and vibrant this mural is,” she said in the post, also thanking the artist, James Chase, and Manchester Connects, which commissioned the mural.

United Way of Greater Nashua, in partnership with the Teachers and Paws Project, will host its “Stuff the Bus” donation drive at its office in Nashua (20 Broad St.) and at the Staples stores in Nashua and Amherst, from Wednesday, Aug. 3, through Saturday, Aug. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Individuals and companies can “stuff the bus” — a real school bus on site at the United Way location — with school supplies that educators might otherwise have to pay for out of their own pockets. Visit tinyurl.com/uwgnschoolsupplies.

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