Ever been to Madison? How about Henniker? If not, you might want to add both to your New Hampshire bucket list. Madison was just named one of the state’s coziest towns by travel magazine Islands while Henniker earned a nod as one of the quirkiest.

Henniker got love for its classic covered bridge charm, and Madison stood out for Silver Lake and its easy access to outdoor fun.

➡️ Read the full story: This New Hampshire town was called a ‘cozy’ village with ‘stunning’ views. Here’s how to visit

Here’s what else we’re covering today:

🧶 Why cozy hobbies are the new form of self care 

📢  Question of the week: What does our country need in the new year?

🌞 The bright side: Your local good news roundup

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

P.S. It’s the new year—spread knowledge, not clutter. This newsletter is free and easy to share.

By Impressive Inspirations/Unsplash

By Stacker

Cozy hobbies are all over TikTok, and they’re being called the new self-care. Think journaling, coloring, crocheting—simple, hands-on ways to slow down and step away from your phone.

Experts say these low-effort hobbies can help reduce stress and boost your mood, even if you only have a few minutes.

Other examples include things like:

➡️ Journaling or junk journaling
➡️ Coloring or paint-by-numbers
➡️ Crocheting or knitting
➡️ Puzzles and crosswords
➡️ Reading fiction
➡️ Watercoloring or sketching
➡️ Embroidery or sewing
➡️ Building LEGO sets

A new year always brings familiar feelings: a clean slate, a chance to reset, and an opportunity to leave a few things behind. Some changes are big and intentional, others are small but meaningful—but all of them shape how we move forward together.

So this week’s question is…

As we head into a new year, what value do you think the country needs more of right now? It could be…

✔️ Healthcare that’s easier to understand and actually affordable

✔️ Housing that doesn’t require two incomes and a miracle

✔️ More accountability for those in power, fewer consequences for regular people

✔️ Safer communities without constant fear or outrage cycles

✔️ A break from everything being a culture war

Here’s what you’re saying…

“Systemic change is needed in our government. The two-party system is naturally divisive and no longer serves the public interest. Most politicians prioritize party and political careers over people. The power of our vote has been severely weakened over time by wealthy donors and corporations.  Average people cannot compete with billionaires and corporations for political favor. There are things that can be done if we can somehow find the political will to do them. I am not confident we will.” — Mike

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

🌱 Newport bets on trails, Main Street, and the river

Newport is leaning into the outdoor economy with help from the EPA’s Recreation Economy for Rural Communities program. The town is working to better connect Main Street to the Sugar River Rail Trail and regional paths, update wayfinding, boost walkability, draw more visitors, and fold in flood protection and ecosystem restoration at the same time. — Northern Border Regional Commission

💰 New Hampshire invests nearly 2 million dollars to fuel small business growth

New Hampshire is directing $1.99 million to eight organizations that help entrepreneurs sharpen their skills, access coaching, and secure the tools they need to launch and grow. The funding will support 339 small business owners statewide and strengthens the local networks that make New Hampshire’s startup community thrive. — NH CDFA

📚 UNH opens new cleanroom to power advanced research

UNH has unveiled a new ISO7 cleanroom at the John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center, giving students, researchers, and local companies access to a cutting-edge space for microelectronics, space technology, and precision manufacturing. — UNH Today

💙 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.

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

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