AGP Executive Report

Screen Time in Schools: New Hampshire’s new Screen Time Task Force is set to study how laptops and other classroom tech affect focus and social life, after a cellphone ban last summer. Local Arts & Theater: Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith is building a new production tied to an international “one tree” botanical recital concept, showing how NH theater work is reaching beyond state lines. STEM Education: Society for Science picked 100 educators for its 2026–2027 Advocate Program, funding $326,000 to expand student research and science competitions. Community & Sports: Fall sports practices kicked off across the Seacoast, with teams and coaches back on the field for the new season. Public Safety & Community Ties: Dartmouth Health says Tele-ICU and Tele-ED services for rural hospitals are too costly to keep running, raising questions for access to emergency and intensive care support. Civic Tension: Keene residents packed City Hall to discuss recent ICE arrests and what local leaders can safely do under state funding and legal pressure.

Seacoast Fall Sports Kickoff: Day 1 of fall sports practices brought fresh energy across the Seacoast, with teams returning to the field after summer prep. NH Health & Access: Dartmouth Health says Tele-ICU and Tele-ED support for rural ICU and emergency departments is too expensive to sustain, with “sunsetting” talks underway. Local Planning vs. Data Centers: Rochester is moving ahead with a zoning change to steer data centers into a specific industrial area, after residents raised concerns about resources, waste, and noise. Community Music & Fireworks: NBT Bank marks its 170th year in Norwich with a concert-series doubleheader, free ice cream, and fireworks Aug. 20. Sports Abroad: Lebanon goalie Sally Rainey has joined Italy’s AC Milan women’s team, sharing a smooth preseason transition. Arts & Design: Designer Jen Dulac is spotlighted for a Marblehead Colonial renovation that leans into antiques and character. Local History: Lyndeborough dedicated a new Revolutionary War Monument at Memorial Park, with a community supper following. Water Protection: Old Dutch Mustard agreed to a consent decree requiring stronger water pollution compliance after Clean Water Act allegations. Bees & Pesticides: NH regulators will consider restricting bee-toxic neonicotinoids, as other states move ahead amid pollinator decline worries.

Local Arts & Events: Peterborough Folk Music brings The Kennedys (vocal and guitar duo) to Deb’s House in Harrisville on Sept. 5, with a potluck at 6 p.m., video screening at 6:45, and concert at 7 p.m. Literary/Pop Culture: Tarrytown Music Hall and Transom Bookshop host “Sleepy Hollow: Fact & Fiction” with author J.W. Ocker on Oct. 10, followed by a panel of novelists reworking the Headless Horseman legend. Outdoor Theater: Viles Arboretum stages “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Aug. 28–30, with trail-based performances and limited tickets. Community Sports (Seacoast NH): Seacoast preseason awards voting is open for boys soccer and field hockey Player of the Year, closing Aug. 20. Local Spotlight: A Monitor investigation raises questions about a former NH House speaker’s nonprofit that collected $274,000 in casino charitable gaming proceeds without clear public activity. Arts-adjacent Business: Premier Outdoor Group launches an in-house landscape design department built around a single master plan for entire properties.

Live Music (Peterborough): Vocal-and-guitar duo The Kennedys are set for Peterborough Folk Music on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Deb’s House in Harrisville, with a 6 p.m. potluck, a 6:45 p.m. screening of their 30th Anniversary Video, and a 7 p.m. concert (tickets: $25 online, $30 day of show). Outdoor Adventure (Monadnock): A Pennsylvania hiker was airlifted from Mount Monadnock after a life-threatening medical emergency near the White Dot/White Cross trails; NH Fish and Game and volunteers responded, and a Black Hawk helicopter transported him to Elliot Hospital in Manchester. Community Recreation (Wilton): Volunteers keep an 18-hole disc golf course running at the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative Middle High School campus, maintaining tees, targets, and barriers for a growing local league. Local Housing (Lebanon): After years of delays, Lebanon’s Planning Board heard plans to start construction on “The Muse,” an 80-unit affordable housing complex on a long-vacant public works site. Sports (NASCAR, NH tie-in): With Richmond in the rearview, the next Cup race is the Dollar Tree 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Aug. 23 (3 p.m. ET, USA Network), as drivers chase the final regular-season spots.

Local Education Spotlight: Hanover’s Derek Butler, a Frances C. Richmond Middle School social studies teacher, was named New Hampshire history teacher of the year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute. Affordable Housing Update: Lebanon’s long-stalled Spencer Street site is finally moving—developers say construction can start within six months on “The Muse,” an 80-unit affordable complex with apartments targeted to 30%–80% of area median income. Democratic Politics (NH Angle): The DNC approved a new 2028 presidential primary calendar that puts South Carolina first (Jan. 22), then Nevada (Feb. 1), with New Hampshire scheduled for Feb. 8—pushing the Granite State out of the top two slots and drawing pushback from NH Democrats. Community Arts Fundraiser: Nashua Community Music School’s Play It Forward rock show returns Sunday, Aug. 16 at Taffeta Music Hall in Lowell, featuring teen rock band Fates Collide and headliner Westbound Train to support scholarships and free music programs. Sports (NH Next Up): NASCAR’s Cup Series heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway next weekend after Richmond’s Cook Out 400, with the next race set for Aug. 23.

Local Arts & Community: Nashua Community Music School’s fundraiser rock show, Play It Forward, lands Sunday, Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. at Taffeta Music Hall in Lowell, with teen rock band Fates Collide opening and Westbound Train headlining to support scholarships and free music programming. Music in the Lakes Region: The Meredith Bay Barbershop Harmony Jamboree returns this weekend, with the Great Gathering Show Saturday night featuring Granite State quartets and choruses including Sounds of Seacoast Chorus, Granite Statesmen (Nashua), and Seacoast Men of Harmony (Dover). Live Entertainment & Venues: Gate City Casino’s $140 million expansion in Nashua clears a major hurdle, adding nearly 92,860 square feet of gaming space plus new dining and a large parking plan as the Sheraton Nashua Hotel is redeveloped into the new casino complex. Sports Spotlight: NASCAR’s Richmond Raceway weekend delivered a debut moment for 16-year-old Tristan McKee and a big Truck Series win for Kaden Honeycutt, who surged late for his second career victory. NH Culture Talk: A local food debate is back in the spotlight over New Hampshire’s most argued-over comfort dish, American Chop Suey.

Local Theater: Watertown Players Theater opened Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” set in Grover’s Corners, with strong audience praise for its small-town story and performances. Music & Community: Hampshire County youth rock band Sparc debuted with ’80s/’90s covers, opening for Recent History and showing how mentorship can turn into real stage time. Arts & Culture (Food/Place): A new piece spotlights the return of the dressing table—tying today’s TikTok revival to Madame de Pompadour’s 1748 Versailles-era “toilette” spotlight. Outdoors & Environment: The state is asking people to report possible cyanobacteria blooms after DES investigations into reports across multiple NH waters, including Pawtuckaway and parts of Lake Winnipesaukee. Local Sports: Richmond Raceway’s Cook Out 400 is set for 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, with NASCAR Truck Series double-duty disrupted as Christopher Bell pulls out after weather postponement. NH Life & Leisure: A weekend events roundup highlights family-friendly activities across the Monadnock region, from yard sales to living history and live music.

Community Theater: Watertown Players Theater opened Thornton Wilder’s classic “Our Town,” set in Grover’s Corners, with strong audience buzz and praise for its three-act structure and performances. Seacoast Energy & Science: Appledore Island’s Shoals Marine Laboratory is showcasing a renewable, off-grid green microgrid on its 60th anniversary—solar, wind, and sustainability practices built into daily research life. Local Arts & Music Education: Concord Community Music School is gearing up for a free Family Music Festival Aug. 29 with an instrument petting zoo, demo classes, and food trucks. Youth Music Spotlight: Hampshire County’s Sparc, a new ’80s/’90s rock covers band led by 12-year-old Harley Fant, debuts publicly and opens for Recent History. Outdoor & Family Events: Dover’s “Revel in the Meadow” returns Aug. 15 with live roots-rock, art activities for kids, and proceeds supporting young NH artists. Public Health Watch: NH is investigating multiple possible cyanobacteria bloom reports on area waters, urging people to report suspicious green algae.

Solar Policy: A new New Hampshire law starting in 2027 will let homeowners install “balcony” plug-in solar panels, but experts warn it’s not truly plug-and-play—buyers still need to vet products, safety, and their home’s limits. Music & Community: Natasha Bedingfield brought big 2000s pop energy to Lake Morey’s summer concert series in Fairlee, with the event designed to draw people across Vermont and New Hampshire. Seacoast Live Music Fundraiser: Dover’s “Revel in the Meadow” (Aug. 15) returns with roots-rock, art, food, and kids’ activities, with proceeds supporting young NH artists and musicians. Local Concert Spotlight: Old South Concerts in Farmington hosts the Scottish fiddle-and-cello duo Elizabeth and Ben Anderson on Aug. 29. Sports & Local Culture: Bridgewater Little League is one win from the Little League World Series after advancing in the New England Regional. Arts in the Spotlight: Homer Council on the Arts honored Dave Webster with its Mary Epperson Lifetime Achievement Award. Tech in Schools: New Hampshire’s “Screen Time Task Force” is reviewing how classroom tech affects students as the state’s bell-to-bell cellphone ban takes hold.

Historic Hotel Makeover: Omni Mount Washington Resort is rolling out a property-wide renovation with refreshed rooms, expanded spa and fitness upgrades, and new dining concepts—keeping the Gilded Age feel while modernizing guest experience. Classroom Tech Watch: New Hampshire’s “School Screen Time Task Force” is reviewing how students use devices even after the bell-to-bell cellphone ban, with early teacher survey results pointing to improved focus. Arts Recognition: Dave Webster received the Homer Council on the Arts Mary Epperson Lifetime Achievement Award, spotlighting his long-running music and community impact. Local Heritage Marker: Keene is set to unveil a Black Heritage Trail marker honoring pioneering physician Dr. Albert C. Johnston on Aug. 15. Family Fun on the Seacoast: Hampton Beach’s Children’s Festival runs Aug. 17–21 with free daily activities, raffles, and kid-focused entertainment. Community Care Event: Peterborough churches host a Day of Caring Aug. 15 with live music, free food, and “boxes of love” support for people in transition. Environmental Accountability: Old Dutch Mustard will implement enhanced water pollution monitoring after a Clean Water Act settlement tied to contamination of the Souhegan River. PFAS Tech Milestone: 374Water and Arcadis received a Defense Dept. Success Memo validating AirSCWO PFAS destruction for follow-on federal work. Film Buzz: The trailer is out for “The Musical,” a dark comedy starring Rob Lowe and Gillian Jacobs, premiering Sept. 18.

Local Music & Arts: The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra (Salem) announced its 122nd season with a multi-year Beethoven focus, kicking off with “The Haunted Philharmonic: Beethoven’s Seventh” and a Halloween Spectacular, plus Holiday Pops 2026 and livestreamed Sunday matinees. Food & TV Spotlight: Derry’s Deadproof Pizza is getting a “once-in-a-lifetime” moment after appearing on Food Network’s “Great Food Truck Race,” where a whiskey-themed pie helped earn the team a memorable run. Community Events: Londonderry’s 9th Annual Blues Festival returns Aug. 26 at the Town Common, free and family-friendly, with proceeds benefiting Combat Vets Associations. Pop Music: Hayley Williams and Daniel James’ duo Power Snatch released EP2 on Bandcamp, with four new alt-rock/indie-pop tracks and a North and Latin America tour starting in September. Outdoor Culture: Laconia Motorcycle Week leader Charlie St. Clair remains hospitalized after a serious crash in Ohio, with the community invited to send cards as he recovers.

White House Spotlight: New Hampshire native Karoline Leavitt is stepping down as Trump’s press secretary at the end of August, citing the strain of the job after returning from maternity leave. Trump says she’ll shift to an “outside adviser” role, but no successor is named yet. Local Sports & Community: Saint Joseph’s College in Standish is launching a women’s varsity flag football program for spring 2028, hiring coach Kayla Pierce to build what’s billed as Maine’s first collegiate varsity team. New Hampshire Outdoors & History: A new New Hampshire Barn Trail is rolling out as a self-guided way to explore historic, well-preserved barns tied to the state’s rural heritage. Food & Fun: Roy’s Market in Peterborough is set for an expansion with a more accessible entrance and added parking, with plans reviewed by the planning board. Wellness Trend Watch: A Southern New Hampshire doctor weighs in on the growing popularity of peptides after an FDA committee moved to expand access.

Portsmouth Film Spotlight: A24’s “Tony” ties to the Seacoast, with Portsmouth filmmakers Amy Greene and Chris Stinson helping produce the Anthony Bourdain biopic and local actors appearing on screen. Election Fact-Checking Boost: PolitiFact is expanding its 2026 midterm partnership network, including NH coverage with WMUR for the open Senate seat after Jeanne Shaheen’s retirement. Digital Literacy for Creators: A new guide explains how to spot AI-generated video before sharing—an increasingly urgent skill as synthetic clips get harder to detect. Birthright Citizenship Fight: Civil rights groups ask a New Hampshire federal court to block or clarify Trump’s latest executive orders after Supreme Court rulings protecting citizenship for children born in the U.S. Health & Food Safety: Taylor Fresh Foods recalls jalapeno-containing products over possible salmonella contamination, following earlier lettuce-related outbreak concerns. Local Arts & Community: Belmont’s Heritage Commission plans a America250 bandstand concert with the Newmont Military Band on Aug. 23. Wildlife Help Needed: Winchester Wildlife Rehabilitation Center says demand remains high and volunteers/donations are crucial to care for hundreds of injured animals each year.

UNH Athletics: Ryan Colton was officially introduced as the University of New Hampshire’s new athletic director, with a focus on building momentum and strengthening financial support for Wildcat sports. Local Education: Claremont’s school district named Timothy Broadrick as superintendent to stabilize a system still recovering from a major deficit, with audits and “back to basics” planning for staff, schedules, and supplies. Arts & Community Events: Concord Model Railroad Club’s 40th annual Model Railroad Show returns to the Everett Arena, bringing dealers, prizes, and family-friendly fun. Science & Outdoors: Mount Washington Observatory researchers captured multiple lightning bolts in a single summit photo after a line of thunderstorms swept northern New England. Public Health & Safety: Winchester Wildlife Rehabilitation Center says it handles about 500 injured and orphaned animals each year, relying on donations and volunteers to meet growing rescue demand. Food & Consumer Alerts: Taylor Fresh Foods/Taylor Farms recalled jalapeno-containing products over possible salmonella contamination, following earlier produce recall fallout.

Community & Safety: Londonderry’s ICE arrests of five immigrant workers have neighbors in southern Vermont gathering to discuss how to stay informed and safe while monitoring federal actions. Arts & Family Fun: Hampton Beach’s Children’s Festival returns Aug. 17–21 with free daily shows and activities at the Seashell Stage, plus STEM, face painting, and raffles. Local Reading: Manchester’s Bookmobile keeps summer reading rolling with Gov. Kelly Ayotte reading to kids and each visitor taking a book home. Arts, Culture & Travel: The Obama Presidential Center’s “nostalgic architecture” gets a closer look, from its public spaces to the “hope” branding. NH Outdoors & Astronomy: A partial solar eclipse is set for Wednesday afternoon in the Concord area, with safe-viewing guidance for skywatchers. Food & Health: Taylor Farms recalls multiple jalapeño-linked products over Salmonella concerns, including items sold in New Hampshire. Sports & Entertainment: Penn’s new coach Rick Santos shares early changes and confirms a starting QB ahead of the Quakers’ season opener.

Food Safety: Taylor Farms recalled more than a dozen jalapeño-containing products after Salmonella concerns, with items sold in New Hampshire and other states at major retailers; the FDA/CDC investigation is ongoing and shoppers are urged to check “best if used by” dates. Local Public Safety: Salem police are asking for help identifying a driver after a car allegedly tried to hit a pedestrian in a Tuscan Village parking lot, with a possible reckless conduct charge. Arts & Community: The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire will unveil a historic marker in Concord honoring baseball pioneer Bill Thompson at 6 p.m. Wednesday, free and open to the public. Music & Culture: New Hampshire native Joe Samba is spotlighted for celebrating his roots through reggae-rock performances. Outdoors & Events: Mount Washington’s Climb to the Clouds returned after a five-year break, with fog disrupting early runs before conditions improved. Tech & Life: A Concord Science Cafe is set to return Sept. 15 at Litherman’s Limited to tackle AI questions. Sports: NASCAR All-Star talk and local road-race coverage continue, plus a Mount Washington hillclimb recap.