“At least I’ll be anxious and depressed in a place that’s actually anxious and depressing looking.” — Noah Kahan on possibly moving back to the Upper Valley, via his new Netflix documentary.

If you live in the Upper Valley—or even just know the area—you’ll want to check out “Noah Kahan: Out of Body” on Netflix. You’ll recognize lots of familiar places and faces! 

Kahan and his wife even talked about buying a house in the Upper Valley.

He reflects on how being back home gives him space from the pressure of constantly thinking about music and streaming numbers.

The documentary also dives into mental health, as he questions whether returning home can actually help solve some of those struggles.

Here are some other things worth checking out:

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

📸 Your NH view

📰 What we’re reading: News from around the state

📚 Need a gift for Teacher Appreciation Week? Here are some ideas

📢 Question of the week: Should NH ban data centers?

🌞 The bright side: Your local good news roundup

(Courtesy of Julia Prentice)

Thanks so much to Julia Prentice for sharing this gorgeous, pre-dawn view of Londonderry.

If you have a photo to share, send it in, and we’ll feature it in this newsletter.

New Hampshire teachers treasure gifts that their students make for them, like this self-portrait. (Stacy Milbouer)

By Stacy Milbouer

National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4 to 8, with National Teacher Appreciation Day on May 5. New Hampshire current and retired teachers share their gift ideas, which, for the most part, involve sincere expressions of gratitude for making a difference in students’ lives.

Here’s what local teachers want:

📚 A direct message from a parent about their impact — Abby Legere, sixth grade teacher, Timberlane Regional Middle School (Plaistow)

📚 Handwritten thank-you cards from students or families — Patty Langlais, early education teacher, Stonewood School (Hudson)

📚 Parent volunteers to help in the classroom — Carol Guarino, former kindergarten/elementary teacher (Nashua)

Maine would have become the first state in the nation to ban new data centers before the bill was vetoed by Gov. Janet Mills on April 24. Concerns have grown over their massive energy demands—especially those tied to AI. New Hampshire is already home to 15 data centers.

So this week’s question is:

Do you think New Hampshire should ban data centers?

Heres what you’re saying…

“New Hampshire should limit and regulate any data center. To ban data centers could make the state a target for legal battles over any perceived advantage the state’s resources have. But to limit and regulate means defining data centers (a definition that will find itself to be stretched and morphed as technology advances), limiting the impact on resources and infrastructure, putting a leash on lobbying efforts, and not being left with huge abandoned structures when the owners decide to close up and move out.” — Bruce D.

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🌍 Revolution Wind, New England’s first major offshore wind project, has begun delivering electricity to the regional grid. The 65-turbine project off the Connecticut coast will generate enough power for 350,000 homes. It’s projected to save ratepayers $500 million a year on energy costs. Rhode Island Current

🔌 Meanwhile, as renewable energy ramps up offshore …

☢️ All six New England governors issued a bipartisan commitment to explore advanced nuclear energy, the first time the region has united behind the technology. This happens as ISO New England projects regional electricity demand will grow more than 40% over the next two decades. Mass.gov

👉And closer to home, a different kind of energy shift is happening on the water …

💧 New Hampshire is removing a century-old dam in Goffstown, unlocking nearly 70 miles of the Piscataquog River for the first time in decades and restoring the natural flow of water, sediment, and wildlife. Vermont Public/NHPR

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Katy Savage with stories from Stacy Milbouer, WMUR, New Hampshire Public Radio, and Granite Goodness. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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