Senate race update
U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander told WMUR that she will not seek the U.S. Senate seat in 2026, according to an April 17 report. The race will have no incumbent for the seat as Sen. Jeanne Shaheen has said she will not run for reelection. U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, a Democrat, announced his campaign for the seat in early April. Earlier this month, former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu also told WMUR that he wouldn’t run for senate. In the April 17 story, which you can find at wmur.com, Goodlander endorsed Pappas in his campaign for the seat and Pappas endorsed Goodlander in her reelection campaign to the New Hampshire 2nd District seat.
Historic marker
The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire will hold an unveiling ceremony on Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. for a historic marker honoring author Harriet E. Wilson (the first Black novelist in the U.S. whose book was published in 1859), according to a Black Heritage Trail press release. The marker is on the historic Nehemiah Hayward Homestead (19 Maple St. in Milford) where Wilson was indentured as a child, the release said. A statue of Wilson stands in Milford in Bicentennial Park at 123 South St., where the Trail also has a marker about Wilson. See blackheritagetrailnh.org.
Weather ready
April 20 through April 26 has been designated Severe Weather Awareness Week, during which New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will be offering information on preparedness and safety tips, according to a press release. “Flooding is the main disaster that affects New Hampshire. In recent years, the state has seen tornadoes, earthquakes, extreme heat and extreme cold,” the release said. See readynh.gov for tips as well as instructions for signing up for NH Alerts, a serive that will send information about tornades, floods, gas leaks, power outages and other emergencies to your phone or email. The N.H. Forest Protection Bureau and Gov. Kelly Ayotte have also proclaimed April 21-27 Wildfire Awareness Week in New Hampshire as spring is the beginning of wildfire season, according to a press release from the N.H. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.
Recall reminder
Gerber Products sent out a recall reminder on April 18 for its Gerber Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks, originally recalled and discontinued Jan. 31, “due to a potential choking hazard for babies and young children,” according to the recall notice at nestleusa.com. “We are issuing a second press release about this recall due to recent reports of recalled product still available for sale on some retailer shelves and online,” the release said. The products were sold nationwide, including in New Hampshire.
Plymouth State University will host its annual Showcase of Student Research and Engagement on Friday, May 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. on the Plymouth campus in the Courtroom at HUB and at Silver Center and Museum of the White Mountains, according to a press release. Students from a variety of disciplines including the arts, humanities and sciences will present their projects on topics including mental health, biology, history and more, the release said. The event is free and open to the public. See plymouth.edu/2025-showcase-research-engagement.
Mosaic Art Collective (66 Hanover St. in Manchester; mosaicartcollective.com) will hold a Drop + Draw on Thursday, April 24, 5:45 to 8 p.m. “Open to all to just hang out and make some art together,” according to the post on Mosaic’s Facebook page.
Craftworkers’ Guild Spring Craft Shop at Kendall House (3A Meetinghouse Road in Bedford, behind the Bedford Public Library) will open Thursday, May 1, and stay open through Sunday, May 25, Thursdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. See thecraftworkersguild.org.
Bring Back the Trades will hold a Skills Expo Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Londonderry High School (295 Mammoth Road in Londonderry) featuring more than 50 local trades organizations, according to a press release. The event is free and open to all ages and includes live demonstrations, equipment showcases and giveaways, the release said. See bringbackthetrades.org.