Tag: 221201

NFL enters December

With the Thanksgiving Day extravaganza in the books, the stretch run for the 2022 NFL season has begun. It offers all sorts of local and national story lines. Here’s a look.

The Playoff Picture: Almost every team is still in it somehow, though in some cases it has little to do with the accomplishments of teams in the race. Like Tampa Bay, where at 5-6 Tom Brady is under .500 at the latest point ever in his career. Yet even in TB’s year from hell he finds himself in first place because the NFC South is so bad.

There must be something about the water in the South, as continuing the under .500 story, only Tennessee is above water in the AFC South. But they’re not alone in that way, as only 8-2 Minnesota is over .500, with a three-game lead over the pack in the NFC North.

Then there is the east, where the water must be better with every team in the NFC and AFC over .500 and threatening to make the wild card weekend an intra-division event.

The Patriots Thanksgiving Calamity: They gave themselves no help by coughing up a winnable game in Minnesota (with help from a pair of big mistakes/misses by the zebras). Thanksgiving was actually a double whammy, as Buffalo appeared to be headed to a loss before surviving vs. Detroit in the early game. If the verdicts were reversed, as they easily could have been, the teams would be tied at 7-4. Instead Buffalo has a two-game lead ahead of their meeting on Thursday night. Then came wins on Sunday by all their wild card contenders — Bengals, Jets, Chargers — to drop them from the 5-seed to on the outside looking in at eighth.

Odds and Ends

Biggest Surprise – Philadelphia: While most thought they would be good, few saw them being the last team to lose a game and having the best record as December arrived.

Most Disappointing Team: That would be the 4-7 Packers, though not to me. I seem to be the only one in the country to realize the Pack is always picked for high achievement in pre-season and by the time the post season ends they never achieve it.

Has The Game Passed Him By Award – Bill Belichick: It seems absurd to suggest this. But his utter failure or unwillingness to recognize the growing importance of home run-hitting, deep-threat receivers in today’s NFL makes you wonder. They may have been afterthoughts when he won two Super Bowls with the power running Giants back in the day and the first three with the Pats, but today they’re to the NFL what deep shooters are to the NBA, once low-priority players who became vital as their games evolved.

Look no further than Mac Jones if you want a vivid example of why. After Miami traded for the dynamic Tyreek Hill to pair him with the Alabama speed Jaylen Waddle I said they needed to trade for a disgruntled home run threat like AJ Brown or DK Metcalf because the D’s were about to become an offensive power with those guys, just as Buffalo did after getting Stefon Diggs from Minnesota in 2021. Instead Philly paid the price in draft capital and salary needed to pair Brown with Waddle’s dynamic Alabama teammate DeVonta Smith.

The results are clear, as all three quarterbacks got immediately better with those dynamic receivers. Josh Allen was a given. But in one year the two QB’s who preceded Mac at Alabama have gone from a potential first-round bust (Tua Tagovailoa) and stand-in-until-something-better-comes-along Jalen Hurts to the highest-rated QB in the NFL and leading MVP contender respectively.

And the point of this diatribe is that when Mac played with Waddle and Smith he threw 47 TD passes and three interceptions as Bama won the national title, whereas now with Waddle, Hill, Brown and Smith, those two once questionable guys have shot by him because he’s saddled with slow, unreliable receivers and they have dynamite wideouts.

Best Tight Ever: I know Tony Gonzalez has the most career catches by a tight end, so maybe I’m a homer. But I have thought for several years Rob Gronkowski is the best TE ever. But the more I see Travis Kelce the more I think it’s a legit debate over who’s better. Kelce is not the blocker Gronk was and with a higher yards per catch average (15-12) and a lot more TDs (92-63) the big fella was a bigger downfield threat. But Kelce has more catches and career receiving yards. And in having missed just two games in nine seasons he’s a lot more durable than Gronk, who missed 30 in 11 years. Either way, that Kelce dude is teally good.

What Goes Around Comes Around Award – Patriots: It’s true the refs blew it missing the hold on Kyle Dugger during that back-breaking Kene Nwangwu TD kick return on Thanksgiving vs. Minnesota. But it’s ironic it came less than a week after a clip was missed on the Marcus Jones punt return that gave the Patriots a final-second win over the Jets. Didn’t hear many local complaints about that.

However, since the Patriots likely would’ve kicked a game-winning FG even with the penalty yards tacked on it wasn’t as damaging.

Super Bowl Hangover Award – L.A. Rams: Now 3-8 after Sunday’s loss to KC, few teams have had a worse season after a Super Bowl than the Rams have had this year. And they were stumbling before big injuries hit.

Team Killer Award – Carson Wentz: After going from Philly’s last MVP (2018) candidate, HH’s killed the Eagles, Colts and Commanders in consecutive years. Though Washington has gone 5-1 since he was benched in favor of Taylor Heinicke after a 1-4 start.

Finally, with Buffalo twice and Miami in the final six games the Pats had better play well, because their playoff hopes are in peril.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

The shopping experience

Families in Transition has revamped its food pantry

Families in Transition, in partnership with Hannaford Supermarkets, launched a newly remodeled Families in Transition Food Pantry in Manchester last month, reimagined to resemble the look and feel of a traditional grocery store. Stephanie Savard, chief external relations officer at FIT, talked about the pantry’s unique concept.

How does the newly remodeled Families in Transition Food Pantry work?

It’s literally like a mini grocery store. When folks come in, there’s shopping carts and baskets. They check in at the check-in station, and then they can shop through the store. … There are two sort-of aisles — one for our breads and our desserts and bakery items, and then the next aisle is all of the pantry items, like pastas and canned foods. Then, as you move down the aisles, you come across the dairy section, a meat section and a produce section. Hannaford helped us with the purchasing of refrigerated fans so that it looks just like the produce department at a grocery store. It’s displayed beautifully, and folks can just walk up and pick the produce that they want. … People can either bring their own reusable bags, or we can put [the food] in boxes. As they’re leaving, they check out like you would with a cashier. … Hannaford even helped us with getting a huge food scale so that we can weigh the food and know how many pounds of food is donated on a regular basis. … People put their food on the scale and weigh it before they leave. Then, they bring all that good food home to their family.

How did this idea come about?

The Families in Transition Food Pantry was moved to a new location in December 2020. Because it was during Covid, we had to do it quickly. It did the job to get food in the hands of those who needed it, but it had a very warehouse-like feel to it. We really wanted to improve the customer service of the pantry. … We’ve had a long-standing relationship with Hannaford. They are the primary sponsor and donor of all of the fresh produce that we receive. We’ve continued to talk with them about how we can bring better services and better quality to the food pantry. They knew we wanted to do something different, and they really rose to the occasion when we talked about wanting to make it like a shopping experience and wanting to do a better job of inventorying the food that we receive from them. … This amazing donation by Hannaford allowed us to renovate the front portion of the food pantry to look like a mini grocery store.

How many families does the pantry serve?

Before the renovation, we were averaging about 400 unique households a month. Since the renovation, we’ve more than doubled, and we’re averaging about 900 a month. It used to be that people could come in daily or weekly, but we’ve seen such an increase that we had to switch to once a month because we were concerned that our food quantity couldn’t keep up with the pace. It’s hard to say whether the demand went up because of inflation — food, utility and gas prices are higher — or because people are feeling more comfortable coming to our pantry. I’d like to say it’s a combination of both.

What has the response been from families who have used the pantry so far?

The response has been so positive. It’s really bringing dignity and choice for those who are food-insecure. They can choose their own food as opposed to waiting in a line with a big box and just taking whatever is given to them. It’s an opportunity to respect that they know what’s best for their family and know how to meet their family’s needs.

Are other food pantries doing this?

We did some research, and there are definitely some facilities across the country that are doing this, but it’s not common. We’ve had some other shelters and food pantries in New Hampshire and in Maine reach out to us to ask if they could come tour our pantry because they’re interested in mimicking the model.

Is there anything you want to expand or improve on for the pantry in the future?

One thing is making sure that we have culturally diverse foods in our inventory. We serve a diverse population, and we want to make sure we’re getting the food that they want on their table. That can be tricky when you rely on donations, but we can do that through community food drives where we ask for a variety of ethnic foods, and by collaborating with local food stores and markets that serve different populations.

How can people help?

We always need volunteers to pick up the fresh produce from the grocery stores, sort it, and help in the pantry, checking in customers or helping customers with their shopping. People can learn about how to volunteer and sign up on our website, fitnh.org. Then, there’s donating — whether it’s cleaning out your own pantry at home or getting your friends or business or organization together to do a drive. We also have a “high needs” list on our website so that people can do drives specifically for those types of foods. If people would like to do an ethnic food-specific drive, we can get them a list of things we’d love to get for that.

Featured photo: Families in Transition Food Pantry. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 22/12/01

Ray Wieczorek

Former Manchester mayor Raymond J. Wieczorek died on Nov. 22 at Catholic Medical Center at the age of 93. According to his obituary, which appeared in the Union Leader, Wieczorek’s public service included five terms as mayor of Manchester, from 1990 to 2000, and then six terms as Executive Councilor for the State of New Hampshire, from 2002 to 2012. “Mayor Wieczorek cared deeply about this city, and many of our beloved institutions, like the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and the SNHU Arena, were made possible by his hard work. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” said Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig in a statement. A funeral was held for Wieczorek on Nov. 28 and included a procession past City Hall, where past Manchester mayors joined Craig in paying their respects, according to the Union Leader coverage.

Nashua Center for the Arts

A grand opening for the long-awaited Nashua Center for the Arts has been announced. According to the venue’s Facebook page, the celebration will take place on April 1, 2023, followed by a full schedule of local, regional and national acts through the spring and into the summer, including Suzanne Vega on April 15, Beauty and the Beast performed by the Safe Haven Ballet on April 22, Symphony NH’s 100 Year Anniversary Concert on April 29, The Rush Tribute Project on May 19, Celebrating Billy Joel on June 8, Grace Kelly on June 17 and Jake Shimabukuro on July 16. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, Dec. 2, at 10 a.m., with more events to be announced on Dec. 6. Call 1-800-657-8774 or visit nashuacenterforthearts.com.

School safety

Gov. Chris Sununu and the Executive Council have approved $9,873,605.40 for school safety funding in New Hampshire. According to a press release, the funds, authorized as part of the Security Action for Education grant program and distributed through the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery, will support 335 projects at 231 public schools and 18 non-public schools, with a cap of $100,000 per school. “School safety is an absolute priority in New Hampshire, and this latest round of SAFE grants will work to ensure that schools are prepared and supplied with new technology and other advancements to enhance school safety and the protection of our children,” Frank Edelblut, New Hampshire education commissioner, said in the release. The funds are in addition to $3.9 million in SAFE grants awarded earlier this year to 92 public schools in the state.

Rental assistance

The Executive Council has approved an item from the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery to divert federal funds that were originally allocated in August 2021 for the resettlement of 250 Afghan evacuees in the state toward statewide rental assistance, NHPR reported. In October, New Hampshire Housing announced that it would be forced to put its New Hampshire Emergency Rental Assistance Program on pause after the U.S. Treasury announced that New Hampshire will not receive any additional resources to continue the program beyond Dec. 29. The approved item will reduce funding for the resettlement of the Afgan evacuees from $408,330 to $242,000, with the difference of $166,330 being used to support the state’s emergency rental assistance program.

Mobile clinic

The Health Care for the Homeless Program of Manchester, a collaboration between the City of Manchester Health Department and Catholic Medical Center, is launching a new mobile clinic for homeless and medically underserved people of all ages in the city. Manchester Mobile Health Care will be staffed with members of CMC’s Street Medicine Team, according to a press release, and will provide medical checkups, bloodwork, vaccinations and counseling. “This will undoubtedly expand our reach and allow us to creatively get to individuals who otherwise would not have care,” Anna Thomas, public health director for the City of Manchester Health Department, said in the release. “That is critically important as we enter the winter months, when those without stable housing are even more vulnerable.” The mobile clinic will be regularly stationed at the Families in Transition Adult Emergency Shelter on Manchester Street and at the Manchester Recovery & Treatment Center on Wilson Street.

603 Equality, the Reproductive Freedom Fund of New Hampshire and GunSense NH (a project of Granite State Progress) held a solidarity candlelight vigil at the Statehouse in Concord on Nov. 22 to remember the LGBTQIA+ lives lost at Club Q in Colorado in November.

Double Midnight Comics & Collectibles in Manchester announced that it’s moving from its current location on Maple Street to The Factory (252 Willow St. in Manchester) on Jan. 5, according to a post on Double Midnight’s Facebook page.

Merrimack’s holiday parade and tree lighting will be held Sunday, Dec. 4. The parade will start at 3 p.m. at 515 Daniel Webster Hwy. and the tree lighting will be at 3:45 p.m. at Abbie Griffin Park (6 Baboosic Lake Road). See merrimackparksandrec.org.

Look around you

by Jeff Rapsis

In London, visitors to St. Paul’s Cathedral who approach the tomb of architect Sir Christopher Wren are greeted with this inscription: “If you seek his monument, look around you.”

The same may be said about Raymond Wieczorek, longtime Manchester politician and businessman, who passed away recently at age 93.

Yes, look around you. Wieczorek, often called “the Wiz,” played a key role in developing much of what we point to today with pride about modern-day Manchester.

Examples abound. The SNHU Arena, which opened in 2001 and prompted a rebirth of the city’s downtown. The “new” terminal at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, christened in 1994 and now a regional economic engine. Zoning changes that led to a vibrant millyard business district.

During his time as mayor of Manchester from 1990 to 2000, Wieczorek’s vision and support made all these things happen.

I remember Ray being most proud, I think, of City Hall Plaza, the downtown office tower across from City Hall that was completed in 1992. At 245 feet, it remains the tallest building in northern New England.

Ray enjoyed following the construction, which he could see happening every day he came to work. To him, it was a tangible sign of good times to come for the city he called home.

All of this is more remarkable when you consider that the early years of Wieczorek’s time as mayor were among the darkest ever to hit the Queen City.

In the late ‘80s, New Hampshire suffered through a prolonged real estate mortgage crisis. One day in October 1991, the FDIC took over eight Granite State banks — five of them headquartered in downtown Manchester.

As a reporter for the Union Leader, I was downtown that day. The sight of the feds arriving, briefcases in hand, had many people convinced that a new Great Depression was underway.

Not Ray. He followed his instincts, honed by decades in the insurance business. He took a conservative business approach to guiding the city through the crisis, both in government and in the community.

The approach worked, although he had to make some hard choices. Members of the school custodian’s union never forgave him for replacing them with a private cleaning service.

But most importantly, the Wiz recognized the value of investing for the future. That’s what made such a difference in the long term.

So if you seek his monument, look around. Or better yet, take a drive on “Raymond Wieczorek Drive,” which connects the F.E. Everett Turnpike to the airport and the development around it.

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