🌱 Manchester Mayor Has Eyes On Governor Office + NH Teacher Shortage

Morning, neighbors! It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Patch newsletter. Let's get this Tuesday started off right with a quick review of everything you need to know about what's happening around town.

But first, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Cooler with a shower or two. High: 55 Low: 41.
• Wednesday: Partly sunny with a shower. High: 54 Low: 44.

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Here are the top three stories in Manchester today:

1. Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig has taken a step toward running for governor of New Hampshire, announcing an exploratory committee led by fellow Democrats. Craig has served as Manchester's mayor since 2017, and her committee includes former Gov. John Lynch, former state Democratic Party chair Kathy Sullivan, and Stonyfield Organic co-founder Gary Hirshberg. Craig's announcement comes as four-term Republican Gov. Chris Sununu is taking a run for president. (WCAX 3 News)
2. White Mountains Community College in Manchester is partnering with Plymouth State University to launch the Educator Fast Track Program aimed at tackling the state's teacher shortage. The program offers students the opportunity to earn a special education certificate, followed by an associate degree in teacher education. Credits earned can be transferred to Plymouth State University to obtain a bachelor's degree in elementary education and full teacher certification later on. The State estimates 20,000 teaching roles will need to be filled in the next seven years. (The Pulse Of NH)
3. The Queen City Air Quality Monitoring Program in Manchester and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services are launching a pilot project to study whether the air in some neighborhoods is healthier than others, with the goal of reducing racial and economic disparities. The program aims to raise awareness of the disproportionate differences in air quality between low-income and wealthy neighborhoods and will help ensure Manchester is meeting federal air quality standards. (NHPR)

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Today, May 2, in Manchester:

• Small Business Owners Coffee Networking At Unity Cafe (11:00 AM)

Tomorrow, May 3:

• (PYT) Guys and Dolls Jr. At The Palace Theatre (7:00 PM)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

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From my notebook:

• Looking for ideas of what to do around Queen City? Check out a curated list of upcoming activities here. From the return of taco tours to the memorial day parade, there is something for everyone. (Ink Link)
• Volunteers gathered to clean up the area around Stevens Pond and removed 25 bags of trash, three tires, and various other items. In addition to the cleanup, awards were given for the most interesting or unusual pieces of trash found, including a Ball Jar full of wooden hearts and a giant water pistol. (Manchester Urban Pond Renewal via Facebook)
• Interested in a weekly roundup of crime in Manchester? The Manchester Police received 894 calls last week, with an average of 22 mins per call. The majority of these calls required police to check in on the matter of the subject. (Manchester Police via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Free Stuff And Great Perks Every Week (May 2)
• Johnny CASH Tribute - Counterfeit CASH @ The Rex Theater (May 6)
• Local Meal Service Feast & Fettle, Now Serving Manchester (May 31)
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• Can One Manufacturing in Nashua (Details)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Tuesday! I'll see you back in your inbox soon with a new update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.