A big thank you to Katy Cutshall of Bedford for shining a light on one of New Hampshire’s local heroes: Brian Nolen.

Nolen is the founder of NH4Ukraine, an all-volunteer nonprofit that has been providing humanitarian aid to some of the most vulnerable victims of Russia’s war in Ukraine since March 2022. What began as a grassroots effort has grown into a mission that delivers direct, measurable support to people in need. In mid-July, Nolen will embark on his ninth mission trip to Ukraine.

“I am honored to know Brian and I strongly believe in the humanitarian aid he is providing. His dedication has never wavered,” Cutshall said. 

To learn more about Nolen’s work and the impact NH4Ukraine is making, visit NH4Ukraine.org.

If you have a New Hampshire hero you want to recognize, send me an email, and we’ll feature them in an upcoming newsletter!

Here’s some good news you might have missed:

Here’s what else is inside today’s newsletter:

📸 Rhododendrons in bloom

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

🛕 See the winning sand sculptures at Hampton Beach

📢 Question of the week: What piece of history do you think deserves more attention as America turns 250?

🌞 The bright side: Your local good news roundup

💪 Nominate a local hero, and we’ll feature them in this newsletter

(Courtesy of Katy Savage)

I’m sharing another one of my own photos today—rhododendrons in bloom. They take a beating every winter from snow sliding off the roof and landing right on top of them. Somehow, they bounce back year after year, proving their resilience again and again.

Have a favorite photo of your garden, backyard, or a favorite spot in New Hampshire? We’d love to see it.

Share your pictures with us, and they may be featured in a future newsletter or community photo gallery.

Related: HGTV named the best gardens in New Hampshire and Maine. Here’s how to visit them

We’re running our summer supporter drive through June 30, and we need your help to keep reporting the local stories that matter most to New Hampshire.

Donate today to support the Granite Post.

Any amount helps us continue delivering trusted, community-focused journalism.

We have 5 days to go. If 60 Granite Staters donate $14, we could end our drive today. Will you help us cross the finish line?

“The Height of Stupidity” won first place during the 26th annual Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting Classic on Saturday, June 20. (USA Today Network)

By USA Today via Reuters Connect 

Abe Waterman took home top honors at the Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic with his 21-foot-tall piece, “The Height of Stupidity.”

The towering sculpture depicts an AI‑powered robotic arm holding a skull toward the sky. Below it, Waterman carved human figures with their “heads buried in the sand,” he said—people “giving their energy to it all.”

America’s 250th anniversary is coming up, and many of the stories we learn about the nation’s founding leave out important perspectives. Indigenous communities were living here long before 1776. Enslaved people, women, immigrants, and everyday residents all played roles in shaping New Hampshire’s history, yet many of their stories receive far less attention than those of famous founders and military leaders.

So this week’s question is:

What piece of history do you think deserves more attention as America turns 250?

Here’s what you’re saying:

“We teach our young people almost nothing about the role Indigenous people and Black people played in the Revolution. This is contrary to the principles we profess to embrace as a nation, and should be corrected.” — JoAnn Carlson

The following briefs are presented in partnership with Granite Goodness. Subscribe today.

🌱 Some of the most meaningful changes are happening quietly in everyday life …

American fathers aged 30-45 now spend as much time caring for their kids as the average American mother did in 1985. New research has found that since the pandemic, fathers have been voluntarily trading work hours for more time to cook, clean, and raise their kids. American Institute for Boys and Men

👨‍👧 While family life is changing at home, institutions around the world are evolving too …

There is a massive, underappreciated boom happening in both the number of museums worldwide and their willingness to engage in the return of looted artifacts to formerly colonized states. The world has gone from 22,000 museums in 1975 to over 104,000 today. The Progress Network

🇨🇴 And the signs of progress don’t stop there …

Colombia’s multidimensional poverty rate has dropped from nearly 30% in 2010 to under 10% today, a measure that captures not just income but access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Columbia Reports

💙 Know someone in New Hampshire who’s doing something worth celebrating? Whether it’s a neighbor, volunteer, small business owner, artist, or community leader, we want to hear about it!

Send us their name, what they’re doing, and why it matters to you at info@granitepostnews.com.

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

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