You don’t hear about cats getting their own cemetery plots very often.

But according to The Portsmouth Herald, there’s a small, old cemetery tucked off Exeter Road in Hampton, dating back to the early 1800s, where members of the Sanborn family are buried … along with a couple of cats.

One tiny headstone reads: “Robert Browning Miss Stanton’s Pet Cat.” Another headstone is dedicated to “Little Lady Pitapat” (who died in 1913).

Safe to say, Miss Stanton really loved her cats.

Her full name was Abby Ellen Stanton, born in Hampton in 1834. She went on to become a French teacher and eventually rose to lead Wheaton Seminary (now Wheaton College). She was known as smart, stylish, a little stern, but fair and ahead of her time. She relaxed some of the school’s stricter rules and pushed for greater student independence.

After stepping down in 1897, she returned to Hampton. She died in 1924.

😺 Read more: Meet the cat buried in one of Hampton’s old cemeteries

Here’s what else we’re covering today:

📰 What we’re reading, news from around the state

📢 We asked, you answered: Is it really time to move on from the Epstein files?

🔍 Question of the week: Should New Hampshire have open school enrollment?

💪 2 major moments in New Hampshire labor union history

P.S. If this made your inbox better, it’ll probably do the same for a friend. Forward away.

👉 New Hampshire House votes down anti-vaccine bill

“The New Hampshire House of Representatives rejected a proposal Thursday to end all vaccine mandates in the state.” — New Hampshire Bulletin 

👉 Peanut butter recalled in New Hampshire, 39 other states.

“Federal officials say more than 20,000 peanut butter products sold across the U.S. are being recalled after possible plastic contamination was found during manufacturing.” — USA Today via Reuters Connect 

👉 FBI warns of increasing reports of deed theft in New Hampshire

Imagine having a home or property you own sold without your knowledge. It’s a scam called “quit claim deed fraud,” and it’s happening in the Granite State. — WMUR 

👉 Democrat Cinde Warmington announces run for NH governor

“Warmington, a former District 2 Executive Councilor, said in her campaign lanch video that Ayotte has failed New Hampshire families.” — NBC Boston

👉 NH lawmakers consider post–Labor Day school start

“Proponents of Senate Bill 403 say it would benefit businesses, promote family time, and help students ease into the school year.” — WMUR

This week, we asked readers: Is it really time to move on from the Epstein files?

Here’s what you had to say…

“Not until the pedophiles are arrested and convicted!” — David Masters

“I hope the men in those files are held accountable! These people are criminals and should be prosecuted. I’m pretty cynical at this stage of life. It seems like if you’re wealthy and white in America you can get away with anything.” — Debra Cinnamon Whalen 

“I agree with most of the comments posted regarding moving on from the Epstein files. Of course we should not move on until justice has been served. Not sure if we’ll ever get to the truth when so many pages are redacted. I wonder who they’re protecting?” — Linda Williams

“Nope, not a chance. Those involved must be held accountable for their atrocious offenses. I am hoping the European leaders will disclose the lot of them! The victims deserve restitution and abusers deserve sentencing.” — Margaret Prolman

“Time to ratchet it up.” — Debbie Chase

“Honestly, I think that is it an inappropriate question. It should not be a question at all. Moving on endorses rape and abuse of women and children without question. And moving on endorses lack of accountability of the perpetrators and the powers that be who are covering this up. How would you feel if it were your wife, sister, daughter, or mother who had been subjected to this. This is a matter of law enforcement and defines every person in this country. Would you ask your sister wife, daughter, or mother just. to move on?” — Marci Smoger

“At this point I think the Trump administration is using the Epstein files as a distraction from other issues, such as ICE’s illegal and abusive actions and the possibility of a new nuclear arms race. I would like to see public testimony with cameras from individuals like the Clintons about the Epstein crimes.” — JoAnn Carlson 

“Oh hell no. We’re not moving on from this, until the pederasts and rapists who populate the file are punished. It’s so obvious at this point that Trump is protecting himself and his rich cronies from prosecution and public humiliation. More importantly, this might be the only issue that wakes some MAGA’s from their Trump-induced stupor enough to vote for democracy instead of fascism in 2026. Well, a guy can dream, right?” — Bob Weiner 

“Absolutely not! It’s time to start throwing pedophiles in jail. Every single one of them. Maybe keep them all in the Merrimack “immigration processing” facility Ayotte is planning until they can be tried for their crimes.” — Jenny Power

“This country must not move on from the Epstein Files until there is a thorough and transparent investigation into the allegations, with public trials, and enforced prison sentences for those who are found guilty. No position in the government or corporate board (past or present) should prevent anyone from being tried and properly sentenced. Survivors of sexual violence, particularly children, deserve nothing less than to face their predators in court. The depravity they have endured at the hands of these monsters is something that we have to acknowledge and address. We must know just how deeply this insidious cult of personality goes, and it must be stopped.” — Kate Sprague

“It definitely is NOT time to move on from the Epstein Files—30 years of coverup by prominent men, lawyers, politicians, princes, those who knew the sex trafficking was happening and NEVER bothered to reveal the crimes committed to law enforcement.” — Kay Campbell

“Absolutely not. Were this a Democratic president the Republicans would be up in arms screaming for consequences. When Obama wore a tan suit they lost their collective tiny minds. However, since most of Trump’s cabinet is also named in the files along with senior senators like Lindsay Graham, they are too terrified of their dear leader to do anything at all. Everything being done – interfering with voting rights, murdering citizens, kidnaping children, building concentration camps is all part of the Heritage Foundation’s plan to turn this country into a white dictatorship.” — Joyce Hurd 


“No. Trump made campaign promises (and pledged) to declassify the Epstein files in order to restore public trust. That promise/pledge became LAW and he still hasn’t complied. Enough with the redactions and distractions! Release everything already!” — Joan B. 

“No, the American public needs to see the names of the people of wealth and power that spent time with Epstein.” — William Ground

Republicans in the House and Senate want to make every school in New Hampshire open enrollment. In plain terms, that would mean students could attend any public school in the state, and the town where that student lives would foot the bill.

If you want to dig into the details, you can read the bills yourself: SB 101 and HB 751.

What could that mean financially? Depending on the district, a town could end up paying as much as $18,000 to $40,000 per student.

Supporters say this gives families more flexibility, allowing kids to attend the school that best fits their needs. But critics worry it could create new inequities, especially for students who don’t have transportation to schools outside their area. There’s also concern about cost and unpredictability.

Local school districts set their budgets based on how many students they expect to serve and what those students need. School leaders say this proposal would make budgeting that much harder.

And because each district spends differently, the financial impact would vary widely across the state.

If you’re curious what this could mean for your community, Reaching Higher has a calculator you can use to estimate the potential cost.

So this week’s question is…

Should New Hampshire have open school enrollment?

Workers at Portsmouth’s Naval Shipyard, which borders Maine and New Hampshire, made headlines in 1963. (Wangkun Jia/Shutterstock)

By Sam Cohen 

Labor unions have been an essential part of New Hampshire history for over 100 years. Thousands of workers have campaigned for fair working conditions, good wages, and beneficial schedules (among many, many other things). Amid contract negotiations, these unions will often make the news. That’s certainly the case for many workers across New England, including the women at Lowell Mill, who established the first union for working women in the early 1830s. This area has always had a rich history of working-class individuals advocating for themselves and what they rightfully deserve.

📜 The Palmer Raids, 1920

Amid nationwide fears of a communist uprising after the Russian Revolution, federal agents targeted labor unions and immigrant communities across the country — including in New Hampshire. In January 1920, coordinated raids led to the arrest of 141 people in Nashua and dozens more in cities like Portsmouth, Manchester, and Derry. Many were union members accused of radical beliefs without evidence. While most were eventually released, the raids left a lasting mark on the state’s immigrant and labor communities.

⚓ Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Victory, 1963

After President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 executive order granting federal employees collective bargaining rights, workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard pushed to be fully recognized. In November 1963, nearly 5,000 shipyard workers won official recognition for their unions as legal bargaining agents — a milestone that paved the way for contracts covering safety, training, grievance procedures, and working conditions. It marked a major triumph for organized labor in New Hampshire.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Katy Savage with stories from USA Today via Reuters Connect and Sam Cohen. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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