Boston.com Today
Sign up to receive the latest headlines in your inbox each morning.
New Hampshire
Second EEE death confirmed in N.H.
Local News
EEE, which is spread through mosquitoes, is rare but dangerous. Two New Hampshire residents have died this year.
Public health officials in New Hampshire recently confirmed that a second resident of the state died after testing positive for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).
The person was only publicly identified as an adult from Danville. They were hospitalized and later died due to an EEE infection, a spokesperson for the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services said.
This is the fifth confirmed case of EEE in New Hampshire this year, and the second fatal one. All five people contracted the virus in August, the spokesperson said.
The family of 41-year-old Steven Perry, a Hampstead resident, identified him as the first person to die from EEE in New Hampshire in late August. He was hospitalized with a “severe central nervous system disease” before dying.
EEE, which is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites, is very rare. But cases spiked in New Hampshire and Massachusetts late this summer. Each state recorded four confirmed cases.
There were just 13 confirmed cases throughout the entire country this year as of Oct. 1, according to the CDC. The fifth New Hampshire case would bring the national total up to 14. No other state besides New Hampshire and Massachusetts saw more than one confirmed case, as of the beginning of this month.
As the weather cools and mosquito activity decreases, so does the risk of EEE. Some risk does still exist in southern New Hampshire.
“It’s important for New Hampshire residents and visitors to remember that as long as mosquitos are out and biting, some risk remains,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
In Massachusetts, moderate EEE risk still exists in parts of the central and eastern areas of the state. Officials confirmed that an Acton man died in early September from EEE. The family of Basil Chigas, 76, questioned the state’s announcing practices in the wake of his death.
About 30% of people who develop severe EEE die, and many survivors have to live with ongoing neurologic problems. Severe EEE can lead to neurologic diseases like encephalitis or meningitis, which are very dangerous. There are no vaccines to prevent EEE. Most people that catch EEE do not exhibit any symptoms. Those that do can suffer from fevers, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes, and drowsiness.
The best way to avoid EEE is to wear insect repellent and long clothing, avoid outdoor activities from dusk to dawn, and get rid of standing water where mosquitoes can breed.
Sunflowers are my absolute FAVORITE flowers. I truly feel like they have magical uplifting abilities. Hence, why I’ve always kept fresh sunflowers in my house, brightening up my kitchen table or even my TV stand.
Obviously, it was a dream of mine to have my maternity photos taken in a sunflower field. They reflect sunshine and exude happiness.
Not to mention, one of my favorite quotes is about sunflowers! “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It’s what sunflowers do.” Helen Keller
A beautiful reminder to keep an optimistic outlook on life and not dwell on the negative.
So, you can imagine the joy I felt when I learned that New Hampshire had its very own Sunflower Festival at Coppal House Farm in Lee!
About the Sunflower Festival:
During the summer, the farm transforms into a sea of golden blooms, giving visitors the chance to wander through thousands of sunflowers, snap photos, enjoy local food vendors, artisan crafts, listen to live music, and experience one of New Hampshire’s most beautiful summer traditions.
Other unique activities on the itinerary? Sip-n-snip! Guests can enjoy a cocktail or mocktail of their choice and cut their own fresh bouquet of flowers.
Or maybe you’re a yoga fan? You can join a 60-minute sweat session from Lee, New Hampshire yoga instructors right in the heart of the flower field.
And because the farm grows oilseed sunflowers for culinary oil (which they harvest in the fall months), the flowers only stay at their peak for a brief window, making the festival a limited-time experience, according to the festival organizers…
What makes this event even more special is the reason behind it. The festival started as a way to share the beauty of the sunflower fields, but it has grown into something much bigger. Organizers say the event has raised more than $90,000 for Make-A-Wish New Hampshire over the years and now shares a portion of its proceeds with several local nonprofit organizations serving the Seacoast community.
Anyone who knows me knows that paying it forward is something that’s incredibly important to me. It’s right up there with my love of sunflowers because both fill my cup in the best way. So, when I found out this festival celebrates my favorite flower and gives back to the community, I knew I had to share it.
Sunflower Festival Details:
This festival only runs from Saturday, July 25th until Sunday, August 2nd. You can get the full list of activities and more on the Coppal Farm website.
Daily Field Hours
10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
(last admission at 6PM because fields close at 6:30)
Weekend Tickets (prepurchased online – day before)
$12 per person ages 13 & older
$10 per person ages 5-12
$10 per person Seniors (65+) & Military
4 yrs & under are always free
Weekend Tickets (purchased day of – online or at farm):
$16 per person ages 13 & older
$14 per person ages 5-12
$14 per person Seniors (65+) & Military
4 yrs & under are always free
includes: access to sunflower fields, craft fair, food vending area, tented shade area, picnic area, farm animals, & live music
Weekday Tickets (prepurchased online – day before)
$8 per person ages 13 & older
$6 per person ages 5-12
$6 per person Seniors (65+) & Military
4 yrs & under are always free
Weekday Tickets (purchased day of – online or at farm)
$12 per person ages 13 & older
$10 per person ages 5-12
$10 per person Seniors (65+) & Military
4 yrs & under are always free
What tickets include:
Access to sunflower fields, food vending area, tented shade area, picnic area, and farm animals
READ MORE: A Classic Fairy Tale Comes To Life At Portsmouth’s Prescott Park This Summer
This festival might just leave you smiling long after you leave the fields!
What Flowers Thrive in New England
See what flowers thrive in New England weather: Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
Gallery Credit: Logan
14 of the Best New Hampshire Farms Offering Locally Grown Strawberries
14 of the Best New Hampshire Farms Offering PYO Strawberries
Gallery Credit: Sarah Sullivan
New Hampshire
Missed Connection – Biking around Noon on Friday at New Hampshire & L St, NW – PoPville
Dating
photo by Paul Sirajuddin
Ed. Note: If this was you and you are interested, please email [email protected] so I can put you in touch with OP.
“Dear PoPville,
I was biking home from a doctor appointment a little before noon on Friday, and stopped at a red light on New Hampshire & L st nw. There was a woman across the street who was looking fine in her dark blue (I think they were) scrubs. I might be crazy, but it felt like we kept checking each other out. By the third time,
if we were in a romcom, one of us would have waved. Sorry I didn’t, but if you are reading this and date men, reach out to the Prince if you are interested in that man on the bike. Have a great weekend!”
Ed. Note: If this is you, please email [email protected] so I can put you in touch with OP. PoPville is not affiliated with either party, please proceed with any potential connection at your own risk using caution as you would any online encounter. For those curious about past missed connections, many have been made and when possible I’ll try to update when/if more are made.
A New Hampshire motorcyclist who had been missing since the Fourth of July was found dead in Shelburne late Thursday night.
State police say they received a request from the Berlin Police Department just after 7:30 p.m. Thursday for help locating 41-year-old Wesley Grondin — the Berlin man was last seen riding his motorcycle on Saturday, July 4, and had been reported missing.
Troopers received a call a couple of hours later, around 10:10 p.m. Thursday, from a concerned resident who had been out looking for Grondin along Route 2 in Shelburne. The person told police they had found Grondin dead, along with his Harley Davidson.
According to state police, a preliminary investigation determined that Grondin was riding his Harley on Route 2 westbound in Shelburne when, for reasons that remain under investigation, he crossed over into the opposing lane, struck a post, and came to a final rest in the wood line.
The crash is believed to have occurred just before midnight on July 4. At this time, police say there’s no indication that another vehicle or person was involved.
All aspects of the crash remain under investigation, however. Anyone with information that may assist investigators is asked to contact Trooper Hunter Newsham at Hunter.P.Newsham@dos.nh.gov.
-
Politics3 minutes agoCommentary: Two Lorenzos from Mexico. One fulfilled his American dream. ICE killed the other
-
Sports14 minutes agoWhat will the Sparks do next? The franchise is at a crossroads after firing its GM
-
World27 minutes ago
Euronews explains: can Hungary's PM Magyar really remove president Sulyok from office?
-
News57 minutes agoMexico files criminal complaints in US over migrant deaths in custody
-
Videos3 hours agoNew explosions near Iranian port cities, says state media | BBC News
-
Los Angeles, Ca3 hours agoBig rig crash spills cinder blocks on 101 Freeway; lanes blocked in Tarzana
-
Detroit, MI3 hours agoHow to watch ‘The Odyssey’ in IMAX, 70mm and more in metro Detroit
-
San Francisco, CA3 hours agoSold-Out SF Marathon 2026: The Races, Routes and Road Closures (Plus How to Watch It All) | KQED
