The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is announcing that 18 batches of mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) recently from the towns of Manchester, Nashua, and Salem.
Anyone with questions about WNV/EEE can call 1-866-273-6453
between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Other information about EEE and West Nile virus are available on the DHHS website at www.dhhs.nh.gov and on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov.
CONCORD, N.H. — Members of the military can now enjoy free admission to New Hampshire state parks thanks to a new law inspired by a Marine mom from Salisbury.
Mary Thayer pushed lawmakers to change the law after her son, Master Gunnery Sgt. Richard Thayer, visited her last summer. They were surprised to learn that while state park admission is free for some members of the New Hampshire National Guard, the offer did not extend to all military personnel.
That is no longer the case — the new law specifies that any member of the military can visit state parks for free. At a bill signing ceremony Monday, Mary Thayer thanked lawmakers and cried when she explained that her son is in North Carolina, preparing for his fifth deployment.
the Mars Rover including the 7 minutes of terror that NASA had no communication with the rover. Everything went without a hitch, and the rover even sent back a couple of photo's just after landing.
Curiosity landing on mars 8/6/2012. This video is the last 11:30 of the landing of
FRANCONIA NOTCH, N.H. -- A Westford man who fell and injured his leg while hiking in Franconia Notch Saturday afternoon was helped from the trail by a rescue team, but officials say he was well-prepared for his hike.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department was notified about 3:40 p.m. that Jay Enis, of Westford, fell and injured his leg while hiking on the Old Bridle Path Trail in Franconia Notch. Old Bridle Path is typically used to access the Greenleaf on the way up to Mount Lafayette. The trails on and around this ridge have been a frequent rescue area this year due to various reasons
Members of the Appalachian Mountain Club were helping Enis descend the trail under his own power, but conservation officers from New Hampshire Fish and Game and the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team started up the trail to assist.
Members of the rescue team found Enis about 4:15 p.m., about 2 1/2 miles from the trailhead. They provided first-aid and put a splint on Enis' leg. Everyone made it back to the trailhead by 8:05 p.m.
Despite the injury, Enis was able to slowly complete the hike with some assistance.
"Mr. Enis and the other member of his hiking party were prepared and had all the necessary clothing and equipment for a summer day hike," the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said in a press release.
The agency encourages all hikers to visit www. hikesafe.com for a list of recommended hiking equipment. The trails on and around this ridge have been a frequent rescue area this year due to various reasons, but the common theme in most of the rescues in the area have been due to the lack of preparedness.
Hikers who get in trouble while hiking unprepared can be forced to pay for their rescue.
CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire Fish and Game officials are blaming a late departure and lack of preparedness for the late night rescue of four hikers from Mount Major in Alton.
The hikers, all from Somersworth, included two adults and two children. Officials say they did not begin their hike up the 1,786-foot mountain until 4 p.m. Sunday and were wearing light clothing and carrying one small light. Darkness fell during their descent.
The hiking party called 911 at 9:17 p.m. Fish and Game officials and members of the Alton Fire Department rushed to reach the hikers as storms were moving into the area. The hikers were escorted down the mountain and reached the trailhead at 11:25 p.m. Sunday.
Officials say hikers must be prepared with emergency clothing and gear.
On Sept. 1, New Hampshire residents will be participating in an event called "Hands Across New Hampshire." This is a peaceful, family-friendly protest of the proposed Northern Pass and Trailbreaker projects.
Northern Pass, the proposed 180-mile overhead transmission project through New Hampshire, is slated to bring electricity from Hydro Quebec to the southern New England market.
More than 30 towns along the proposed route of Northern Pass have voted in opposition to the project. Opposition to Northern Pass includes the fact that large hydro-electricity is not designated green or renewable in New Hampshire, it contributes to global climate change, cancer concerns of living or working near overhead HVAC power lines, lost property values, and a for-profit corporation intruding into the White Mountain National Forest.
Trailbreaker is a proposal to bring tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada, through an existing underground pipeline that runs from the Canadian border through Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine where it will be offloaded in Portland to foreign markets. Opposition to Trailbreaker is based on the fact that mining tar sands oil is toxic to the environment and contributes to global warming.
Also the pipeline which will be used was never intended to transport such corrosive and abrasive oil and could result in spills in some of the most ecologically-sensitive areas of New England.
Thus far the following New Hampshire towns are participating in Hands Across New Hampshire: Colebrook, Lancaster, Littleton, Concord, Easton, Campton, Thornton, Sugar Hill, Franconia, Holderness/Plymouth.
For times and locations, or to start your own group, please contact handsacrossnh@gmail.com.
Orion SkyQuest XT10 Classic Dobsonian Telescope From Orion
Price:
$579.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from and sold by Orion Telescopes & Binoculars Average customer review:
(14 customer reviews)
Product Description
Orion(r) SkyQuest(TM) XT Classic Dobsonians It's no wonder customers heap 5-star ratings on these gentle giants. For not only do their jumbo-sized optics and uncomplicated design bring a "new level of joy to simple observing," raved Astronomy magazine, but they're also the most affordable quality Dobs on the market. SkyQuest XT Classics aren't just good bang for the buck, they're a supernova of telescope value! XT Classics give you the deep-space thrills without the deep-pocket frills. We've kept them lean and mean to keep their prices low for tight budgets. But rest assured, they come fully equipped for adventure, whether you're a beginning stargazer or are graduating to a more capable instrument. All Classics feature an expertly figured parabolic mirror housed in an enameled steel optical tube. The tube rides on a stable Dobsonian base that allows easy point-and-view navigation and has a convenient carrying handle. A 2" Crayford focuser (XT6 has 1.25" rack and pinion focuser), EZ Finder II aiming device, 25mm Sirius Plossl eyepiece (1.25"), and quick-collimation cap are all standard equipment. Setup takes only a minute, leaving the rest of the evening to marvel at the planets, the Moon, and a myriad of deep-sky treasures. Enjoy the fantastic views â?" and savings! One-year limited warranty.
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #3726 in Camera & Photo
Brand: Orion
Model: XT10_
Features
The Orion SkyQuest XT10 Classic Dobsonian is a big 10" aperture reflector telescope with a small price tag
Gobbles up light for great views of deep-sky objects such as nebulas, galaxies, star clusters,
Simple "point-and-view" Dobsonian design reflector telescope is easy and fun to use for the whole family
Stable Dobsonian telescope base and Orion CorrecTension friction optimization system
Includes precise 2" Crayford focuser, 25mm Sirius Plossl eyepiece,
EZ Finder II reflex sight, collimation cap, dust caps, and Starry Night software
It keeps reflector optical tube perfectly balanced in any position
And close-up views of more nearby targets like the Moon and planets
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews 122 of 122 people found the following review helpful. I've Reviewed the XT6 & XT8, Might as Well review this one also.
By R. Kirkham
That's right, I own an Orion XT6, XT8, and XT10. I use them for leading seminars. I seem to buy a new one each year. So far I have always kept the previous one. I can probably compare them as well as anyone. They are all sitting side by side in my shed. For the purpose of this review I will compare the XT8 & XT10.
REASONS TO PURCHASE THE XT10
----------------------------
Larger aperture. Yes, it makes a big difference. It was worth the money to take a step up in size. Some views that were beyond the grasp of my 6, and only located with my 8, are now easy to see in my 10.
REASONS TO PURCHASE THE XT8
---------------------------
Money. There is a jump in cost. Both the 8 and 10 are powerful enough to do serious astronomy. Both are good scopes. Both should last for years. There is always a bigger scope out there for a few more dollars. One must draw the line somewhere.
Weight. In my mind the 8" is the largest of the truly inexpensive, portable dobs and the smallest of the large aperture light buckets. The 6" is a wonderful scope. I don't intend to let go of it, but I wouldn't call it a large aperture scope. The 10" is a light bucket, but I wouldn't call it easily portable. The 8" is both. I have the strength to move my 10", but noticed that I wasn't using it as much. Then I purchased a garden cart to haul it around in, and now I use it several times a week. It wasn't that I couldn't pick it up, it was just awkward and I was worried that I was going to break it.
BOTTOM LINE
------------
If you have the money and don't need to lug it around a lot, get the 10". I'm glad I did.
If the cost is prohibitive or you need to move it around a lot, get the 8". All three are excellent scopes.
If you lead regular astronomy seminars and need some good quality dobs so you can create teams of three or four students per scope, get them all! That's what I did, until my wife tells me that one of them must go. 33 of 33 people found the following review helpful. Great Scope!
By M. Hall
I am very pleased with this telescope.
---Assembly of the base took about 15 minutes using the included tool. The tube is held to the base by two sturdy springs which makes it easy to separate and carry. The assembled scope can be carried by the handle on the base, but the scope's size makes it a bit cumbersome. The tube and base are both solidly constructed and the motion is smooth.
---The optics are wonderful. There is no color fringing and the image is sharp from edge to edge. The large aperture enables me to see a clear view of craters on the moon's shadow side, even when it is half full and daytime. A crescent moon in the evening is a great view. I've seen nebula, star clusters and galaxies. I'm no expert, but the limit of apparent magnitude so far has been around 5 or 6. I expect the view to be better in the winter when the sky isn't as hazy. (I live in the Midwest and it's summer). The included 25 mm eyepiece yields a nice wide and bright view. I use it to find objects, then switch to a 12.5 or 6 mm (from an extra Zhumell eyepiece set) if I want to look closer.
---The finder is great. Once you get it sighted in, just look through the finder and put the dot on what you want to see. It has windage and elevation dials just like on a rifle. You don't even have to put your eye in a particular place for it to work.
---I'm glad I didn't get a computerized scope. I feel my money was better spent on the large aperture instead of motorized controls and a heavy tripod. This scope is very quick to set up and makes it easy to look here and there on a whim. Tracking objects as they move is not difficult, but if you're using a 6 or 4 mm eyepiece you have to stay on it or its gone. This scope comes with software that shows what is visible from your location now or any other time, and has a searchable object database. This is one of the best buys I''ve made in a long time. 26 of 26 people found the following review helpful. XT10,amazing views for reasonable $
By Gary Brasell
This is the first product review I've ever written. After my first viewing session, I felt compelled to share my experience with potential purchasers of the Orion XT10. Assembly was fairly straight forward with well written instructions. This scope is great for someone new to star gazing like myself. It only took me a few minutes to find my first target, Saturn. I was amazed to not only see the rings but to also see two moons with the low magnification 25mm eyepiece supplied with the telescope. I look foward to viewing with higher powered eyepieces, I have an 15mm and 5mm on order. My only regret with this purchase is that I didn't make it sooner. This scope is awesome. See all 14 customer reviews...
NASA's Curiosity rover is a 1-ton robot that will make an unprecedented Mars landing on Aug. 5, 2012. See how the risky maneuver will keep rover team members in suspense for 7 fateful minutes. Credit: NASA
Curiosity, the car-size, one-ton rover is bound for arrival on Mars at 1:31 a.m., EDT on Monday, Aug. 6.
The landing will mark the beginning of a two-year prime mission to investigate one of the most intriguing places on Mars.
KENAI, Alaska (AP) — Three Alaska men are being credited with saving a brown bear from drowning.
The Peninsula Clarion reports that Dustin Klepacki was floating the Kenai River with his father and their friend last weekend when they came upon the bear cub drowning in a whirlpool.
They tried to bump the bear out of the whirlpool, but the water caught their boat and they turned in circles as the bear became more frantic.
Finally, the current brought the boat up against the bear, and Dustin's father, Mike Polocz, was able to nudge the bear to slower-moving water. The bear swam to shore.
Another friend, Charlie Mettille, filmed the rescue on his iPhone which has been posted to YouTube, complete with the bear's cries. I have put it down below so you don't have to go searching for it.
Attorney General Michael A. Delaney issued the following consumer alert to all New Hampshire property owners:
Consumers should be aware of mailings being sent to property owners throughout the state from companies using the names:
SECURED DOCUMENT SERVICES, and DEED RETRIEVAL SERVICES
The mailings appear to be official government notices recommending, "that all United States [or New Hampshire] homeowners obtain a copy of their current grant deed" and further indicate that, for a fee of $86.00 or $87.00, these companies will provide the property owner with a copy of their Grant Deed and a Property Profile.
The Attorney General advises that these companies are providing a service of questionable value and the information advertised in these solicitations can be obtained from any of the State's Registers of Deeds for significantly less money. With deeds so easily and inexpensively attainable, the existence of these companies depends greatly on the public's unfamiliarity with the county registers of deeds offices.
Attorney General Delaney stated, “The real lesson for an educated consumer is to know what you are paying for, which in the case of these deed retrieval companies is virtually nothing more than a homeowner can acquire for far less cost. Don't be fooled by a company whose name sounds 'official' or by an 'official' looking notice designed to confuse and mislead you. If you would like a copy of your deed, you can obtain it yourself for nominal cost and time, or contact your county's Register of Deeds, who would be glad to assist you.”
Under New Hampshire's Consumer Protection Act, N.H. RSA 358-A, it is unlawful for any person to use any unfair or deceptive act or practice in the conduct of any trade or commerce within this state. Anyone who feels they have been the victim of any unfair or deceptive act should call the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Bureau hotline at (603) 271-3641 or 1-888-468-4454. For more information on consumer fraud you can also visit the Bureau's website at www.doj.nh.gov/consumer.
Jason Perry and Jason Tremblay were determined to stay in their raft to help the NH Make-A-Wish-Foundation raise $36,000, but they had to abandon ship on Wednesday night after their raft sprung a leak.
Donna Parker, the Make-A-Wish-Foundation's director of development, said the campaign that began on Tuesday morning raised $28,000 before Perry and Tremblay were forced to come ashore at 8 p.m. for their safety.
She said the threat of thunderstorms and torrential downpours may have also kept some people from coming down to Chandler's Loft where the campaign was waiting to accept their donations. But Parker said the non-profit group is still optimistic that some pledges will turn into more donations and they will reach their goal.
"We're hopeful," she said Thursday afternoon. "We'd love to see that $36,000 so we have not closed the event."
Parker said Tuesday the group hopes to grant five wishes with the money raised for children who are suffering from life threatening illnesses. She said wishes range from going to Walt Disney World to digging for dinosaur fossils in their backyards to even building a castle in one child's backyard, which Parker said said the 1,000 wish granted.
Parker said their goal for 2012 is to grant 100 wishes and there are 60 children who have applied for the program and are on a waiting list.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire is celebrating its 25th anniversary and the foundation, to mark the major milestone, surpassed its 1,000th wish in January.
The new arrival area at Pats Peak nears completion (photo: Pats Peak)
Henniker, NH - New Hampshire’s Pats Peak ski area in Henniker will commemorate its 50th consecutive ski and snowboard season under the same local family ownership this winter with a new ski trail, a new arrival area, expanded snowmaking, a bag jump and more.
“We are excited to enter into our 50th consecutive ski and snowboard season. We are fortunate that ownership is committed to improving the operation on a yearly basis, even after a less than stellar season, due to lack of natural snowfall,” says Kris Blomback, General Manager of Pats Peak. “We pride ourselves on providing excellent snow conditions. This season we will continue to fine tune one of the most powerful snowmaking systems in New England by adding additional snow guns to our already impressive arsenal. For the past few plus seasons we have been the first to open 100 percent of our trails and slopes. This investment will help us to honor that commitment to bring our skiers and riders the best conditions.”
The arrival area at Pats Peak has received a major makeover this summer. The new post and beam pavilion is compliments of the craftsmanship by Bensonwood Timber Frames of Walpole, N.H. This new entryway between the lodges is complete with a warming area, brick walkway, stone walls and granite steps. It is finished off with a copper roof and a clock tower.
“We are obsessed with offering the best guest experience,” asserts Blomback. “One of our major improvements this season is for both the winter and summer banquet season. Our arrival area has been re-designed to include a beautiful timber structure, warming area and clock tower. We feel that this will ‘set the stage’ for a welcoming entrance.”
For freeriders, Pats Peak will add a new Air Bag to its F5 terrain park. The Air Bag is an inflatable cushion similar to those used in the world of professional stunts. By placing the Air Bag behind a jump it is designed to offer a safe opportunity to practice all kind of freestyle jumps providing a soft, cushy landing. It is used for training and entertainment for both professional and amateur skiers and riders. Electrical blowers are placed in the sides of the bag to keep it afloat while it is being used.
A new ski run off the summit was added on the “backside” of the mountain this summer. This trail will feed into the middle part of the Breeze trail for a second novice run off the top of the mountain. The new trail, the name of which will be determined via a Facebook contest, is the first step in a long term expansion project that includes several trails and a lift off the mountain’s backside, pending environmental permit approval.
Snowmaking efforts at Pats Peak get another boost this year with the addition of six new fan guns from Snow Machines Inc and HKD Turbo that require 20 to 25 percent less compressed air than other technologies, while putting out more snow in marginal temperature conditions.
“We will be able to open more terrain faster and sustain it longer through stretches with marginal temperatures,” says Blomback. “Also, using this type of snowmaking technology provides us with substantial savings in energy costs,” who adds that some of the ski area’s snowmaking pipe has been upgraded as well.
New this year, Pats Peak has earned the distinction of becoming the first Burton Women’s Learn to Ride Center in New Hampshire. Burton’s specialized women’s rental equipment and snowboard lessons will be offered for women every day, but female snowboarders are guaranteed a 100% Women’s Only lesson, at 11:30 a.m. every Saturday. Pats Peak is already a Burton Learn To Ride Center (LTR) for Adults and Kids with LTR Boards designed to accelerate learning by utilizing beginner-specific equipment.
This season 100 pairs of Dalbello adult ski boots, 100 Elan 140cm skis, 200 Elan junior skis and 125 Burton snowboards, bindings and snowboard boots have been added to the Pats Peak rental fleet, and the ski area’s mountain operations team has slapped a new coat of paint on the exterior of the resort’s base lodges. New carpet has been laid in the Valley Lodge and main entrance area, and a new backup generator has been installed to service the base area.
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. & WASHINGTON — A new kind of bird flu has been causing deadly pneumonia in baby seals off the northeastern US coast and could pose a risk to humans, according to US research released Tuesday.
The new strain has been named avian H3N8, and is blamed for the deaths of 162 seals along the US coastlines last year, said the study in mBio, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
Most of the dead seals were younger than six months of age.
While there have been no known human cases to date, scientists at Columbia University in New York urged caution, given the history of bird flu and its ability to evolve into forms that can infect people, like H5N1.
"Our findings reinforce the importance of wildlife surveillance in predicting and preventing pandemics," said W. Ian Lipkin, professor of epidemiology at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
"HIV/AIDS, SARS, West Nile, Nipah and influenza are all examples of emerging infectious diseases that originated in animals," Lipkin added.
"Any outbreak of disease in domestic animals or wildlife, while an immediate threat to wildlife conservation, must also be considered potentially hazardous to humans."
Scientists sequenced the full genome of the new strain and found it originated from a bird flu virus that had been circulating in North American waterfowl since 2002.
Over time, the virus gained the ability to infect mammals by latching on to receptors in their respiratory tracts.
Wildlife experts first grew alarmed in September 2011 when an increasing number of seals from the coasts of Maine to Massachusetts began developing pneumonia and skin lesions.
A total of 162 dead or dying seals were recovered over the next three months, the researchers said.
Early research on the mutations in the strain "suggest enhanced virulence and transmission in mammals," though further study is needed, the authors said.
The bird flu that most people know about, H5N1, remains relatively rare but has killed about half of the people it has infected since the first outbreak in Hong Kong in 1997.
The World Health Organization has tallied 606 human cases of bird flu since 2003 and 357 deaths, according to a June report.
The so-called swine flu, or H1N1, broke out in Mexico in 2009. The H1N1 virus spread into a global pandemic that claimed the lives of 17,000 people.
Just a few shots of "Babb's" covered bridge in Gorham Maine on Hurricane Road. These shots were taken while on one of our many road trips in Maine. These were shots were taken on July 26th at 2pm.
FRANCONIA, N.H.—The New Hampshire State Parks agency says the Flume Gorge and Visitor Center are back in business following a power outage.
The attraction at Franconia Notch State Park is a natural granite gorge extending 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty.
The visitor center explains the history of the park.
The attraction was without power early Thursday, but was restored later in the day.
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FRANCONIA, N.H. - The New Hampshire State Parks agency said the Flume Gorge and Visitor Center was closed for the day Thursday because of a power outage.
The attraction at Franconia Notch State Park is a natural granite gorge extending 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty.
The visitor center explains the history of the park.
A Berkshire County woman got quite a surprise when she went out to enjoy her porch one day last week.
Elizabeth Hayes McGraw says as she was greeted by the family dog out of the corner of her eye she saw a 4-foot long timber rattlesnake.
McGraw tells The Berkshire Eagle she screamed, grabbed the dog, jumped inside and called police.
She sent a picture to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife district office in Dalton, which confirmed it was a poisonous rattlesnake.
The snakes are classified as endangered in Massachusetts and sightings are extremely rare.
Tom Tyning, a professor at Berkshire Community College, who's been studying rattlesnakes in the Berkshires for more than 20 years, returned the snake the wild.
Lauren Kornacki learned CPR several times. For years she's worked as a lifeguard.
The 22-year-old just graduated from Mary Washington with a physics degree, but while looking for work, she decided to return to something familiar to earn a little money.
Two days ago, her supervisor held a review session on CPR skills.
On Saturday Lauren used what she learned to save her father's life.
"I opened up his airway to make sure he could breathe and everything and at that point I'm just telling him, talking to him," said Lauren.
"You can't leave me. Just stay with me. Keep breathing."
Lauren's father, Alec, was working on his car, a BMW 525i.
The jack slipped and the car fell on top of him.
Lauren was on her way out the door when she came upon him, unconscious and crushed.
"As I go to open the garage door I hear a primal scream, like...dial 911!" said Lauren's mother, Liz.
That scream was Lauren discovering her father.
"There was no tire," said Lauren. Seconds later, she did what most would consider unthinkable, she moved a car weighing a ton and a half off her father's body.
"I just lifted up kind of right here and just kind of threw it, shoved my body as hard as I could then I came back and dragged him out and started CPR," Lauren said.
"It flashed like, I'm going to lose my dad. His eyes were open, he wasn't responding to me. I knew I had to get his heart beating again and I had to get him breathing."
And in that moment, with those skills and strength, she was the only person keeping her Daddy alive.
"I'm just telling him, talking to him. You can't leave me," said Lauren. "Just stay with me. Keep breathing."
Her father is still in the ICU, but walking and finally getting the chance to thank Lauren.
"I told him what happened," said Liz. "He just, the tears just come to his eyes. He said thank you for saving my life and she just smiled her blue eyed smile and that was it."
"Just seeing him move and breathing I literally just sat there and was watching his chest rise and that's when I lost it," said Lauren. "I just couldn't handle it."
Liz says Lauren is the reason Alec is alive.
She says he was without oxygen and a heart beat for less than five minutes.
"She got his heart beating again and got him breathing again," said Liz. "So, she's it. He gave her life and then he gave her life. I am in awe of her.
She is the day. She saved the day. I can't even tell you how proud I am of her."
Alec's doctors didn't want him to speak to the press just yet, because he's still in the ICU.
He has several broken ribs, some numbness, and other fractures, but nothing that appears to be permanent damage.
He also asked us to share this statement:
"I'm just so lucky and proud that I have daughters that can perform CPR and have the knowledge to save lives. I think it's an important skill for everyone to know and if it weren't for Lauren I would not be alive today."
