Tag: 230223

Quality of Life 23/02/23

We love our teachers

The New Hampshire Department of Education received a record-setting 322 nominations for the 2024 Teacher of the Year award. According to a press release, the nominations, submitted by New Hampshire educators’ coworkers, students, students’ parents and school leaders, represented 118 schools across 59 towns. “New Hampshire has fallen in love with the bright, engaging and dedicated teachers that devote their careers to educating our youth,” Christine Brennan, deputy commissioner of education, said in the release. “We are overwhelmed with the large number of nominations for our Teacher of the Year program, and we are thrilled that the education field is eager to recognize these hardworking individuals.” Nominations are now closed. Nominated teachers must formally accept the nomination and apply for the award by March 20. The 2024 Teacher of the Year will be announced in October.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Christian Cheetham of Alvirne High School in Hudson currently holds the title of 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Somebody’s QOL just got way better

A winning ticket for the Tri-State Megabucks lottery was sold at the New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet on Leavy Drive in Bedford on Saturday, Feb. 18, WMUR reported. The jackpot is estimated by the New Hampshire Lottery to be worth $1.77 million. The winner, who matched all five winning numbers and the Mega Ball number, has a choice between taking their winnings in graduated annual payments over 30 years or as one lump sum payment.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The last Megabucks jackpot, which was worth an estimated $1.5 million, was sold in Madawaska, Maine, on Nov. 12, 2022, and was never claimed, according to the article.

Fundraising fun

Catholic Charities NH generated more than $200,000 to help Granite Staters in need from its 2023 Mardi Gras Gala, held on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown. According to a press release, the nonprofit’s signature event featured authentic New Orleans cuisine, cocktails, entertainment, a live auction, dancing and more. “As our first in-person Mardi Gras since 2019, we made up for lost time with the experience and celebration that our community deserves,” Karen Moynihan, vice president of philanthropy at Catholic Charities NH, said in the release. The funds raised will support programs that help to create lasting change in the lives of individuals and families struggling with a wide range of issues that impact communities across New Hampshire, such as hunger, poverty, financial despair, mental health, homelessness, unsafe environments for children and isolation among seniors.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Plans are already in the works for the 2024 Mardi Gras Gala, which is set for Feb. 10, 2024, according to the release.

QOL score: 51

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 54

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

Featured photo: Catholic Charities NH Mardi Gras Gala. Photo by Mark MacKenzie, Capturing Wisdom Photography.

The week that was

The Big Story: With the All-Star game history, the NBA begins what it calls the second half of its season even though the Celtics have already played 71 percent of their 82 games. The good news is that with 42 wins and 17 losses they start the stretch run to the playoffs with the best record in the league, a fact made more impressive by their doing it playing the first two months without Robert Williams and the last two weeks with a majority of their starters out with injuries.

The Bucks along with the 76ers and Cavaliers round out the Top 4 in the Eastern Conference and are the teams that pose the biggest obstacles to getting back to the Finals. Though I’m not counting out the Heat until I see them pick up their fourth loss in any playoff series.

Thumbs Up: The interim tag being taken off Joe Mazzulla’s title. Well-earned.

Thumbs Down: Can’t say I was happy to see Jaylen Brown play in the All-Star game. I know it’s a thrill, but when you miss three games going into the All-Star break it’s better to take the additional time off to heal, rather than risk getting dinged or worse. Leadership is about putting team over personal disappointment.

Sports 101: The most surprising nugget mentioned during the hoo-ha of LeBron James becoming the NBA all-time scoring leader was Bob Ryan writing in the Boston Globe that LBJ is fourth on the all-time assist list as well. So name the three people ahead of him and, just for fun, the six behind him to round out the Top 10.

News Item – Jayson Tatum: Even though the 184-175 final shows what a competitive joke the aforementioned All-Star game is, I guess Tatum was ready to play. When you think of the guys who’ve played in that game, it’s impressive he now sits atop all of them after going for a record 55 points as he also took home MVP honors. Though since three others scored over 30, including Brown, who had 36, it wasn’t exactly a defensive struggle. For the record, he was 22-32, 10-18 from deep while making just one free throw.

News Item – the Kyrie Irving Press Conference: Speaking of people who put themselves above team (and everyone else): The self-delusional quote of the week came from (who else) Irving, who said at his introductory press conference in Dallas that after getting suspended for supporting a racist film this year, derailing their 2021-22 season by refusing to get vaxxed and the previous two with his usual array of injuries, that he “felt very disrespected” by the Nets and that what he wanted was to be in a place where he’s “celebrated, and not just tolerated.” Oh, and after missing what would have been his third game with Dallas with a back issue on Thursday, he played in the All-Star Game a few nights later.

Random Thoughts – Lou Grant Award: Only old bucks will get this. But there is a famous scene in the late great The Mary Tyler Moore Show when her grumpy boss Mr. Grant says to her, “You’ve got spunk,” which Mary takes as a compliment until he adds, “I HATE spunk”! Well, that’s what you have to say about the Celtics bench, which likely is the best since the days when John Havlicek was the sixth man. Though the ones from ’85-’86 and ’07-’08 may take issue with that. But they have done the job all year long and especially during the recent deluge of injuries heading into the break. However, instead of Mr. Grant hating their spunk, it was Philly, whom they beat without four starters, and Milwaukee a few nights later when the Celtics narrowly lost in OT with all five starters missing, when the Bucks only got to OT because Jrue Holiday dropped a 70-foot heave at the end of the first half.

GiannisAntetokounmpopulled off a box score miracle in the ASG by being credited with scoring two points while officially playing no minutes in the game. It happened because he played just one play due to a sprained wrist. So someone please explain what was the point of playing at all?

Media Notes: (1) Somebody please tell Brian Scalabrine that LaMelo Ball is nothing like Pete Maravich as he continues to say on Celtics broadcasts. Pistol Pete was like trying to follow the sleight of hand of a great magician, which in Pete’s case was the ball because you were never sure where it was going. Low dribble, high dribble, hesitation dribble to the blow-by drive. Behind the back, through his legs or sometimes yours. No-look passes, high off the glass or pull up from 35. LaMelo is a nice young player, but he ain’t got any of that. Pete was a magician with the ball. (2) Similarly, please tell back-up play-by-play guy Sean Grande that an NBA player playing occasionally on back-to-back nights is not akin to scaling Mt. Everest like he makes it out to be by mentioning it over and over when they do it.

A Little History: For the record: In the year Wilt Chamberlain averaged 50 points a game (1961-62), he “only” scored 42 points in the All-Star game. However, if you take out the three-pointers that didn’t exist in those days Tatum only beats Wilt by three points, 45-42.

Sports 101 Answer: Nos. 1 through 3 are John Stockton, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul.

Nos. 5 through 10 are Steve Nash, Mark Jackson (that one surprised me too), Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Isiah Thomas and Russell Westbrook.

The Final Word: Glad the Celtics didn’t dismantle the team to get Kevin Durant. Great player, but trading a 25-year-old 27-point-a-game scorer and key defender who also is a very good contributor to team rebounding for a 34-year-old who has missed all but 111 of his team’s last 300 games makes no sense to me.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

Crypto mining for charity

Concord software developer discusses his new app

Concord entrepreneur Russ Willey talked about his new company Crypto-Charities and how its software helps nonprofits, organizations and individuals generate passive income from their supporters. Learn more at crypto-charities.org.

What is Crypto-Charities?

It’s a software that users download and install on their Windows-based PC, and essentially what it does is mine digital currency while the computer is active. … [The user] enters a code for the charity of their choice into the application, and all the digital currency that’s collected is sent back to our secure servers. At the end of the month, we [calculate] how much each code has received … and send out checks to all these charities.

How did you come up with it?

I went to UNH in Manchester and studied computer science and networking, but I didn’t graduate. I got into printing and variable data in my career. Back in the ’90s, I [was interested in] the use of distributed computing. … It was easier to collect and analyze data through distributed computing than through one supercomputer. I always kept that idea in my brain. Then, with the advent of digital currency, I thought, this would be a perfect application for distributed computing. … The idea developed over the years, and we went into full development last summer.

Is anyone else doing anything like this?

We’re the only ones in the world. The idea of mining digital currency is not a new thing, but no one else is … mining cryptocurrency for charities … or doing what we’re doing … with our workflow — being able to tag that work for each charity using a code system. That’s what we’ve patented. It’s a great thing to be at the forefront of.

Who is using the app?

Anybody can use it. Someone who wants to support a charity can just download the app and run it. There are companies we’re working with that have 100 to 200 computers running, so they just run this app in the background and they’re actually generating income. We’re also starting to work with content creators and streamers; they pick a charity they support and are passively fundraising for that charity when their followers and subscribers download the app and use that content creator’s or streamer’s code.

How much money can it generate?

Through our testing, we’ve found that, on average, [a single computer] will generate between $10 and $30 annually, possibly more depending on the strength of the computer. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but if you get 1,000 supporters who are each [generating] $10 a year, that’s $10,000 a year. Any charity that could get all of its supporters to give $10 a year would be tickled pink — and with the app, the supporter can do that without having to dig into their own pocket.

How can people start using the app to support a charity?

They can go to our website and download and install the application. We have a whole list of charities that we work with, so they just pick a charity and put that charity’s code in. The software will remember that code you’re using, but you can change the code anytime you want to. … Also, if people are involved with a charity or have their own ideas about what charities they’d like to see added to the app, they can reach out to us.

Featured photo: Russ Willey. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 23/02/23

Money for outdoor amenities

The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation is now accepting proposals for the 2023 Land and Water Conservation Fund grants, according to a press release. The grants, funded by the National Parks Service and administered in New Hampshire by New Hampshire State Parks’ Bureau of Community Recreation, facilitate public outdoor recreational projects. Eligible projects may focus on developing new or renovating existing outdoor recreation support facilities, acquiring property for public outdoor recreation use, or a combination of both development and acquisition. Recent New Hampshire projects supported by LWCF grants include ball fields, a boat ramp, a ski lodge, rail trails, multiple municipal parks and other projects that improve public access to quality outdoor recreation experiences. “New Hampshire has been known worldwide for its recreational opportunities for generations,” Brian Wilson, director of the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation, said in the release. “It’s one of the reasons so many people come to visit the Granite State, and it’s definitely why so many choose to live here and do business here.” Project sponsors who are interested in applying for a grant should submit an Intent to Apply form to New Hampshire State Parks no later than June 2 at 4 p.m. Program staff will review the submitted forms and conduct inspections of the project sites to determine eligibility. If a project is deemed eligible, the project sponsor will be invited to complete the grant application process. Project sponsors must agree to contribute a 50/50 match of the grant. Visit nhstateparks.org/about-us/community-recreation/land-water-conservation-fund-grant or call 271-3556.

Drug warning

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services is warning residents about a growing trend of the animal tranquilizer xylazine being added to opioid street drugs like heroin and fentanyl. The non-opioid sedative, approved for use in veterinary medicine, can have dangerous effects when consumed by humans, such as sedation, respiratory depression, a slowed heart rate and muscle relaxation. According to a press release, the number of xylazine-positive overdose deaths has doubled in the Northeast between 2020 and 2021, and individuals who are struggling with substance use disorder may be unaware that they are ingesting xylazine when it is mixed with other drugs. “The increased presence of xylazine circulating in the Northeast is concerning,” Dr. Jonathan Ballard, Chief Medical Officer for DHHS, said in the release. “When added to opioid drugs like heroin and fentanyl, it may increase the risk of overdose and death.” Xylazine users are at risk of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms when they stop consuming the drug, and repeated exposure can cause the user to develop severe necrotic skin ulcers. If you suspect an overdose involving xylazine, call 911, then administer naloxone if available, DHHS advised in the release. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication that can quickly reverse the life-threatening effects of an opioid overdose. Though it does not work to reverse the effects of xylazine, it should be administered in an overdose situation as opioids are often consumed in conjunction with xylazine.

Disaster help

Gov. Chris Sununu sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Friday, Feb. 17, requesting a major disaster declaration and federal emergency assistance for the severe weather conditions that New Hampshire experienced from Dec. 22 through Dec. 25, which included flash flooding and heavy winds that resulted in downed trees, blocked roadways and power and heating outages and warranted execution of the State Emergency Operations Plan. “New Hampshire sustained major damages to state and local infrastructure that led to numerous requests for state assistance,” Sununu wrote in the letter, adding that “the response consumed staff time and exhausted available resources.” State and local damages have been valued at $1,965,549. If the declaration is granted, it will be the third major disaster declaration in New Hampshire in 18 months. Read the full letter at nh.gov/safety/divisions/hsem.

Citizen of the year

The Greater Manchester Chamber has selected Dr. Paul. J. LeBlanc, president and CEO of Southern New Hampshire University, as its next Citizen of the Year. According to a press release, the annual Chamber’s Citizen of the Year Celebration will be held on Tuesday, April 11, at 5 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown, where Chamber members, community members, friends, family and colleagues of LeBlanc are invited to gather in honor of LeBlanc and celebrate his accomplishments and dedication to the city of Manchester. “Paul LeBlanc has been an unwavering advocate for the residents of this community and used his impeccable leadership at Southern New Hampshire University to not only lift up his students, but to lift up our entire community,” Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig said in the release. “Paul’s presidency has helped shape our city into what it is today.”

Honoring McAuliffe

By an executive order from Gov. Chris Sununu, a permanent memorial to Christa McAuliffe will be built on the Statehouse grounds, NHPR reported. McAuliffe, who taught at Concord High School, died in the Challenger space shuttle tragedy on Jan. 28, 1986, at the age of 37 and is buried in a local cemetery. Sununu’s order calls for $500,000 from the state budget to fund the memorial and the assemblance of a commission to study, design and oversee its construction. The memorial is expected to be unveiled by Sept. 2, 2024, on what would have been McAuliffe’s 76th birthday.

Optima Dermatology & Medical Aesthetics, led by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Molly Cowdrey, will open a new practice at 176 S. River Road in Bedford on Monday, Feb. 27, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to follow on Tuesday, March 14, according to a press release. This is Optima’s fourth practice in New Hampshire and fifth in New England.

United Way of Greater Nashua will host food drives at stores in Greater Nashua every Saturday through April 22, starting with the Market Basket in Hudson on Saturday, Feb. 25. The drives support pantries such as Nashua Community College Student Assistance Pantry, Milford SHARE Outreach and others, according to a press release. The schedule is at tinyurl.com/FoodDrivesUWGN.

Through March 26, Jordan’s Furniture in Nashua is collecting donations of new and gently used prom dresses and gowns for its Belle of the Ball Program, which distributes donated prom attire to students with limited financial resources, according to the Jordan’s website. Visit jordans.com/about-us/philanthropy/belle-of-the-ball.

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