🌱Native Bumble Bees + Center Moves Forward+ 'Record Low' Unemployment

Hi, Manchester. I'm here with everything you need to know that's going on in Manchester. Hope you have a great day! Keep reading for the latest.

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First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and very warm. High: 87 Low: 67.

Here are the top stories in Manchester today:

1. A nonprofit community center planned for Manchester’s West Side cleared its first hurdle to build on city land. Aldermen voted to approve the sale of the city park for $600,000 to a developer for a proposed community center on city-owned park land. At a public hearing, neighbors, including Jill Thompson, whose family owns six properties at the end of Hevey Road, opposed the plan. Thompson asked if the center was for anyone, or only residents of the West Side? She also asked if the nonprofit building, which would be a "large structure' in a quiet neighborhood, could end up hosting a homeless shelter or warming shelter. (Subscription/The Union Leader)
2. New Hampshire has 16 kinds of native bumble bees, but alarmingly, three species of the native bees are endangered. Mary Tebo Davis, of the UNH Cooperative Extension Program, explained in an interview with WMUR's Ray Brewer of "Grow it Green," that native New Hampshire bumble bees are essential for specific plants they pollinate, and that wildlife relies on them. In an effort to support native bumble bees, Davis said good native plant choices for your garden that help native bumble bees are butterfly weed, flowering raspberry, meadowsweet, and native Carolina and Virginia roses. (WMUR)
3. The unemployment rate in New Hampshire hit 2 percent—the lowest rate the state has seen in 46 years of record keeping! Unemployment in New Hampshire reached a high of 16.2 percent at the peak of the pandemic. The remarkable low unemployment number signals that "the labor market in the state is strong," said Brian Gottlob, director of the state Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau. Employers in some sectors said they still have positions to fill, but Gottlob said he expects the trend of strong job growth in the state to continue. (Subscription/The Union Leader)

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Today in Manchester:

• Support Boston Children’s Hospital for Dairy Queen’s Miracle Treat Day in Manchester. (Al Day)
• Teen Cuisine: Candy Pizza — Goffstown Public Library. (3 p.m.)

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you around!

— Paula Constance

About me: Paula is a freelance writer, author, and award-winning media producer. She is committed to media projects that empower, engage, and help make the world a better place. You can find her on Instagram and Twitter.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Manchester Daily? Contact me at manchester-nh@patch.com