Tag: 230112

Quality of Life 23/01/12

Get your Thin Mints and Samoas

Girl Scout cookie season has begun in New Hampshire. According to a press release, the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains are taking orders now and can start delivering cookies to local customers around Feb. 10. If you don’t know a Girl Scout personally, you can place an order online starting on Feb. 27 or use the online Cookie Finder tool to locate a booth near you where the Scouts will be selling cookies in person from mid February through March 19. Visit girlscoutcookies.org.

QOL Score: +1

Comments: Every box of cookies sold supports Girl Scouts’ service projects, troop traveling and summer camps.

Helping people be healthy

Bank of New Hampshire has made a $10,000 donation to the local nonprofit Granite United Way as part of a corporate pledge for 2022. According to a press release, the funds will support Granite United Way’s mission of helping people “learn, earn and be healthy” and removing barriers to create opportunities for people to make a positive impact in their local communities.

QOL Score: +1

Comments: “Granite United Way is proud to partner with the team at Bank of New Hampshire to ensure our community has access to critical programs and services that strengthen individuals and families,” Patrick Tufts, President and CEO of Granite United Way, said in the release.

Eggs cost what?

Grocery prices have become a blur of “wait, how much for Cheez-Its?” but QOL took notice when a dozen eggs was over $5 at an area supermarket last week (and cartons of 18 eggs were nearly $9 each). According to a New England Public Media story from Dec. 27, the higher egg prices are due in part to a deadly outbreak of bird flu that has led to fewer egg-laying chickens nationwide.

QOL Score: -2

Comments: The strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza was first detected in New Hampshire in January 2022 and is still present in the state, NHPR reported in a Jan. 3 story.

QOL score: 51

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 51


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

NFL 2022 wrap-up

After an awful week of fear for the life of Buffalo DB Damar Hamlin after he suffered an on-field heart attack on national TV, Week 18 thankfully ended with the happy news that he is steadily improving, as evidenced by his tweeting all throughout his team’s win over the Patriots on Sunday. Which leaves a chance to look at some of the interesting stories of what I thought was one of the more mundane, dramaless regular seasons in recent memory.

Exhibit A was the Patriots’ somehow missing the playoffs by just one game after losing games in the following fashions: (1) After coming back from down 22-0 they lost to the Bengals 22-18 because they fumbled inside their own five-yard line in the final minute of the game. They needed a TD instead of the easy FG they would have taken after not scoring on any of their three PAT attempts by failing on the two-point try they had to do because Nick Folk missed two extra point kicks. (2) They were thoroughly embarrassed 31-14 on Monday Night Football by the Bears, who finished with the worst record in the NFL. (3) They suffered the most humiliating NFL loss since the 2012 butt fumble game by handing the Raiders a win on the final play in the final seconds in the game that will be forever known as the Las Vegas Lateral game. (4) They lost by 12 in a must-win final-week game in Buffalo after giving up not one but two kick returns for TDs.

The only thing missing from their debacle of a season was Bill Belichick nearly getting electrocuted by a mic at a press briefing like Clive Rush almost was when introduced as new HC of the NEP’s in 1969.

From my pre-season preview here’s what I got right: (1) Matt Patricia would be a disaster as OC. (2) Kyle Dugger would be the man in the secondary. And what I got wrong: They’d badly miss JC Jackson in the secondary. They didn’t.

Biggest NFL Surprise: Jacksonville coming back from four games behind Tennessee, to win their last six to win the AFC South, including their winner-take-all Week 18 showdown with the Titans.

Biggest Disappointment: What a difference a year makes, where the 5-12 Rams had one of the worst hangovers on record after winning the Super Bowl.

Boy, finishing first in the NFC South after forcing out Bruce Arians as coach of the Bucs (to get Tom Brady to un-retire) for one-time Jets failure Todd Bowles really worked out great. Of course they did it by being the sub .500 division winner ever to be un .500 at 8-9 after looking in complete disarray all year.

And if the 7-10 Titans, who were 7-3 on Nov. 17 before losing their last seven games, had beaten Jacksonville last Saturday night it would have been two. I think it was emblematic of a lot of bad football played in 2022, which I attribute to fatigue and added injuries from the 17-game schedule.

The vastly improved play of Trevor Lawrence in Year 2, by the way, puts him in the lead among the vaunted QB 2021 draft class, where (as predicted by me on draft night) Brett Wilson appears headed for bust-ville with SF’s Trey Lance not far off. Justin Fields improved some, at least as a runner, but the Bears still finished with the worst record in the league. So despite his awful season, Mac Jones pulls up in second place.

Incidentally, I only said Wilson would bust because the Jets took him and history said they’d screw it up. Like with their last big QB hope, Sam Darnold, who, oh by the way, was better in Carolina than Wilson was in NYC, after being dumped for Wilson. Speaking of projecting the future for QBs, while there’s a long way to go for most of them, in Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Pat Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert and depending on injuries Lamar Jackson there are no fewer than seven QBs who look like Hall of Fame material if they stay on the same trajectory.

Once again Green Bay did not live up to its pre-season Super Bowl contender billing. Something done annually more on the reputation of their star QB than substance. At 8-9 they missed the playoffs again as their string of SB wannabe failures hit 12 years and counting.

Back to the Rams. Their troubles may continue if the chatter is correct that Sean McVay is really thinking of stepping away from coaching. And if he does, it’a significant historical NFL story, as while there’s still eons to go, by already having 60 wins by age 36, he could get the all-time record by the time he reaches 60 if he averaged the same 11 wins per Coach B has in 22 years with the Pats. For context, his 60 wins are 60 more than Coach B had at 36.

BTW, Belichick finished the year with 329 wins, 18 behind Don Shula’s record 347.

Another rumor going around has free agent Tom Brady reuniting with Josh McDaniels in Las Vegas. It’s partially being driven by owner Mark Davis wanting star power because he doesn’t like Vegas being a tourist destination for opposing fans who fill his stadium with nearly as many out-of-towners as Raiders fans.

They’d better hurry with that one as after making the 2021 playoff their 6-11 finish has Josh in peril entering Year 2, just as he was during his first HC try in Denver when he got fired mid-way through his second season.

Finally, with Lamar Jackson missing every game after Thanksgiving for the second year in a row, the old adage seems truer than ever that while running quarterbacks add an extra dimension to the offense, it’s usually not worth it because if they run a lot sooner or later they’re gonna get killed.

I’ll have a fuller autopsy of the Patriots’ season in a few weeks.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Get kids back on track

Finding ways to help Manchester youth

Meet Michael Quigley, the new director of the Office of Youth Services in Manchester.

What is your background in working with youth?

I grew up in Quincy, Massachusetts. Shortly after college, I worked in the public schools for about a year. Then, I landed a job at YouthBuild Quincy as a case manager. YouthBuild is a program for opportunities for youth. There are a lot of young people who were disengaged from the community, who had no criminal backgrounds either as a youth or young adults, who are facing homelessness and other challenges. We’d provide workforce development training to help them find meaningful employment while also helping them to get their high school diploma. I worked in YouthBuild for 14 years in a variety of positions, in Quincy, Worcester and the North Shore and was a director for about 10 of those years.

How did you come into this position at Manchester OYS?

During Covid, my program went into a shutdown, and I was running it remotely. I was trying to figure out what my next steps were in my career to further develop myself and allow myself to grow. When I saw the opportunity with the City of Manchester, I thought it would challenge me in different ways and also give me an opportunity to grow something that would help youth in the community that needs it.

What does your job as director entail?

Right now, we’re [working with] the schools. Our counselors are at the high schools and middle schools working with young people who might be struggling with attendance or having an issue with getting in trouble. We can step in and support that young person to help get them back on track by providing case management between them and a teacher or guidance counselor in cases where they may not be able to communicate effectively what they’re feeling or what’s going on. I’m also meeting with as many community partners as possible to see where we can expand our services beyond just the schools and where we can impact the city in different ways, maybe by creating some programming or other opportunities for young people to express themselves and be heard.

What would you like to accomplish?

We definitely want to bring anger management groups back for young people who are struggling with the management of their feelings and their emotions. That’s something we can do to have an impact right away. In the long term, we’re working with other organizations to create programming, like workforce development opportunities, college readiness opportunities, life skills, groups and case management, so that we can also provide those youth and families outside of school. Something else that I’m interested in exploring is starting a youth advisory board for the City of Manchester. I think it would be really great to provide an opportunity for youth from different schools to have a voice in local politics and local policy and to give back to their community.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing youth right now?

Sometimes, it’s as simple as they’re lacking support and love in their life. People formulate opinions about kids, and they aren’t even fully developed yet. Teachers may hear things from other teachers, or coaches may hear things — negative things — about a kid before they even start working with them. There are populations of our youth that don’t feel like they’re respected, don’t have a safe space to express what’s going on, or don’t have caring adults in their lives who are fostering an environment for them where they can feel valued.

How does OYS work to address those challenges?

Our staff is trained on how to be caring adults who are going to listen and care about what kids have to say and show them what it means to feel valued. We may not always agree with them, but we’re going to honor their opinions. We’ll give anyone who comes through our door a chance to show us who they are. We try to help them understand why it’s important to love yourself and have confidence. We try to look at their talents and provide them with [related] opportunities that can help them build those skills. I truly believe that if young people in the community feel heard and respected, that’s going to help tackle [the number of] suspensions and youth crime and other issues.

What do you enjoy most about working with youth?

I came from a community where a lot of the kids I grew up with, including my older sister, were labeled as “problems.” People would make comments about them and treat them a certain way because of what they looked like or the community they lived in or what their parents were like. It set these kids up for failure, and, unfortunately, I saw a lot of my friends fall into some heavy stuff when they got older. They had childhood trauma, and they just couldn’t turn it around. The most fulfilling part of my job is when there’s a kid who comes through the door, who is a bit rough around the edges or has been through some tough stuff and is lacking confidence, who, once they have these adults in their lives who believe in them, are able to do something with that belief. It’s great to be able to be a part of that change.

Featured photo: Michael Quigley. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 23/01/12

Increased education costs

New data released by the New Hampshire Department of Education revealed that New Hampshire’s average cost per student is on the rise. According to a press release, the new statewide average cost per pupil of $19,399.97 is an increase of 5.24 percent from the previous year. Costs rose substantially beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, reflecting an increase associated with federal and state Covid-relief funds; pre-pandemic, the cost per pupil was rising, on average, about 3.1 percent each year. New Hampshire school districts are expecting to grapple with high inflation costs, coinciding with the expiration of Covid-relief funding, the release said.

Aging in NH

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services and the State Plan on Aging Planning Committee are seeking the public’s input via a series of listening sessions to help guide and inform the 2024-2027 State Plan on Aging. According to a press release, the listening sessions will be held in person throughout the state, including one in Concord at GoodLife Programs & Activities (254 N. State St.) on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and one in Manchester at William B. Cashin Senior Activity Center (151 Douglas St.) on Thursday, Feb. 2, from noon to 2 p.m. There will also be a series of virtual sessions held over Zoom, which are scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 18, Friday, Jan. 27, Monday, Jan. 30, and Wednesday, Feb. 1. Residents are encouraged to complete the online State Plan on Aging Survey to help provide information about the availability of supports in their communities, including health care programs and screenings, affordable housing, transportation and in-home long-term supports and services. “As we continue to provide programs and services that focus on older adults, we must have an understanding of what their needs are as they age,” BEAS Bureau Chief Wendi Aultman said in the release. “New Hampshire has one of the fastest-growing aging populations, and these listening sessions will give us the opportunity to offer supports that are meaningful and relevant to older residents, so that everyone can participate fully in their communities.” The State Plan on Aging is required for New Hampshire to receive federal funding for programming through the Older Americans Act. Visit dhhs.nh.gov/new-hampshire-state-plan-aging.

New at the Elliot

Elliot Hospital in Manchester has become the first hospital in New Hampshire to offer the Sonata System by Gynesonics’ procedure to treat uterine fibroid, a procedure that was first performed by Manchester OB/GYN Associates at the hospital. According to a press release, Uterine fibroids, which are benign growths in and around the uterus, affect about 70 percent of white women and more than 80 percent of black women before the age of 50. They can cause debilitating symptoms, such as heavy menstrual bleeding, which can worsen over time if left untreated. The new procedure is minimally invasive, using an intrauterine ultrasound handpiece to identify the fibroids, and radiofrequency energy to shrink the fibroids and reduce symptoms. “At The Elliot, we continue to expand our leading-edge medical procedural offerings to meet the needs of our patients,” Beverly Primeau, Vice President of Surgical and Procedural Services for Elliot Health System, said in the release.

Volunteers wanted

The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry) is having a volunteer open house on Tuesday, Jan. 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., where the public is invited to meet current volunteers and learn about the volunteering opportunities available at the museum. According to a press release, the Aviation Museum is a nonprofit organization “dedicated to celebrating New Hampshire’s role in aviation history and inspiring tomorrow’s pioneers, innovators and aerospace professionals.” Volunteering opportunities may include greeting guests at the front desk, leading tours and staffing the gift shop; working with young people through the education outreach program and student plane-building program; evaluating donations and cataloging items in the historical archive and assisting researchers; administrative tasks related to memberships, fundraising, communications and building maintenance; managing tech systems; and helping with special events. If you plan to attend the open house, call 669-4877 and leave a message with your name, or send an email to ldearborn@nhahs.org.

Seedlings online

After 112 years in business, the New Hampshire State Forest Nursery is beginning to take online orders. According to a press release, the website, buynhseedlings.com, resembles the Nursery’s traditional print catalog, but with additional features, including multiple color images of each seedling and a live inventory that shows the availability of each species and product in real time. “Sales at the NH State Forest Nursery have increased dramatically over the last several years,” NH Division of Forests and Lands’ Chief of Forest Management Will Guinn said in the release. “Much of this is due to a renewed interest in the outdoors as a result of the pandemic, as well as a desire to help mitigate climate change through planting trees to sequester and store carbon.” More than 1,000 customers used the online store to purchase 150,000 seedlings within the first two weeks of its launch. For customers who prefer to order on paper, mailed order forms are still being accepted, but will eventually be phased out, according to the release.

A New Hampshire Lottery player purchased a winning Lucky for Life ticket at Convenience Plus on Roundstone Drive in Manchester in the drawing on Jan. 5. According to a press release, the prize before taxes is the winner’s choice of $25,000 a year for life or a one-time payout of $390,000.

The majority of stores at Merrimack Premium Outlets were reopened on Sunday, Jan. 8, according to the mall’s website, after a Dec. 28 rock slide behind the mall damaged a gas main and forced the closure of some stores for several days.

A new Dollar General store is open at 17 Crystal Ave. in Derry. According to a press release, the variety store, which had 18,818 locations in 47 states as of October 2022, expects to employ six to 10 people from the community and has announced plans to donate 100 new books to a local elementary school as part of a nationwide campaign in partnership with Kellogg Co.

They need us

The girl’s eyes followed me. She glanced sideways, wordlessly imploring for help. I had to respond. But how?

Thankfully, this child was not on the street but in a photo superimposed with the words “CASA of New Hampshire.” It was an ad seeking advocates for abused and neglected kids.

Much as an image like that tugs at my heart, I like to see the big picture before joining anything.

Here’s a sketch of what I’ve learned about CASA of NH and the state’s child protection process.

CASA is a 33-year-old statewide nonprofit organization. With almost 40 paid staff and 642 active volunteers, the organization’s goal is to serve 100 percent of New Hampshire’s abused and neglected kids. In 2022 that meant 1,538 children.

When a problem is reported to the State of New Hampshire Division of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), a social worker investigates. If corroborated, a petition is filed in family court against the parent for abuse or neglect. A Court Appointed Special Advocate or “CASA” is brought in to represent the best interest of the child.

DCYF proposes a plan to protect the child, either leaving them in-home with services and check-ins or placing them with relatives or foster families. The court specifies what actions must be taken for the family to be reunified, and what supports DCYF must provide.

Over the course of the year, as the parent works to address their issues, the CASA meets once or twice a month with the child. The CASA also gathers information from the parent, foster parents, social workers, health care providers, therapists, educators and others. The CASA writes a quarterly report to the court and attends the case hearings. Everyone’s goal is to get the family back together.

A year is not a lot of time to resolve some of the most difficult physical and mental challenges a person can face — problems such as addiction, domestic violence or mental illness, not to mention housing, food, transportation and employment. Sadly, reunification is not always possible. If the parent can’t convince the court that the child will be safe and secure in their care, DCYF typically requests that the plan be changed to adoption. If the court agrees, then a different legal case is filed to terminate the parent’s rights, and DCYF works to find an appropriate permanent home for the child.

Two years in as a CASA, I am astounded at the twists and turns abuse and neglect cases can take. Much as I want to know what’s ahead, it’s impossible to predict. I do know for certain these children need more advocates as well as foster and adoptive families. They need all of us.

Susan Hatem, former Director of Programs and Grant Making at New Hampshire Humanities, is a CASA of NH guardian ad litem and a connector, mentor and writer. Email her at susanh8m@gmail.com.

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