Meta pays NH $224M, resource center gets a trial run, and lanternflies arrive

Happy Friday, Nashua ☀️

A pop-up thunderstorm is likely this afternoon, between 2 and 4, with a high near 85. Luckily, the weekend turns things around with sun and highs of 83 Saturday and 86 Sunday.

The aldermen cut the resource center’s federal ask by more than half and cleared a small trial version to open next month. New Hampshire is getting $224 million from Meta over how its apps treat kids.

And the spotted lanternfly finally turned up in the state. Saturday downtown is stacked, with Zumba on the library plaza in the morning and ArtCity and the Greeley Park art show all afternoon.

Let’s dive in.

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What’s Happening Around Nashua

Resource center gets a smaller ask and a September test run The aldermen signed off on the city applying for $1.2 million in federal housing money, down from the $3.05 million it first wanted, with the application due October 15. A scaled-down version opens next month in space borrowed from a partner agency while the city spends eight weeks looking at sites. Nashua Ink Link

The police horses are paid for by merch, not taxes Nashua runs one of only three mounted patrols in the state, and none of it comes out of the city budget. About 20 volunteers look after JR and Sam at a barn in Merrimack, and the pair work downtown, Mine Falls, and Crown Hill. Nashua Ink Link

Merrimack seniors painted their own parking spots Fifty dollars buys a Merrimack High senior a reserved spot and the right to paint it however they want, within reason. About 50 spots went out this week, the money goes toward senior class events, and the school covered the fee for students who could not swing it. NHPR

Nine indicted, including an axe attack from January A Hillsborough County grand jury handed up indictments against nine people, among them Tyler Philbrook, 27, of Nashua, on two counts of first-degree assault tied to an axe attack on January 9. The rest cover drug, burglary, and assault charges out of Nashua, Windham, and Lowell. An indictment is a charge, not a conviction. Nashua Patch

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Upcoming Events in the Area

Zumba on the Plaza Saturday, August 29 at 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

• Nashua Public Library Plaza, Nashua, NH (2 Court St, Nashua, NH 03060)

• A free outdoor Latin dance fitness class for adults, led by Dawn from zClub Fitness, moving into the library theater if the weather turns. Learn More

73rd Annual Greeley Park Art Show Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30 at 10 AM – 4 PM

• Greeley Park, Nashua, NH (100 Concord St, Nashua, NH 03064)

• A juried outdoor show where artists from around New England sell painting, photography, and 3D work out of tents, with demonstrations, music, and food. Free to walk through. Learn More

ArtCity Nashua Saturday, August 29 at 12 PM – 8 PM

• Heritage Rail Trail between Elm and Ash, Nashua, NH (Tree Streets neighborhood, Nashua, NH 03060)

• More than 20 muralists paint permanent walls along the trail while two stages run live music, with food trucks, vendors, and free art workshops. Learn More

Moo Moos & Mimosas Sunday, August 30 at 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM

• Soel Sistas, Nashua, NH (30 Temple St, Nashua, NH 03060)

• A $30 ticket covers three mimosas, a grazing table, karaoke, and a sip and paint downtown. Learn More

Bilingual Storytime with Danielle Dellolacono Thursday, September 3 at 11 AM

• Arlington Street Community Center, Nashua, NH (36 Arlington St, Nashua, NH 03060)

• The author of Little Critters Big Feelings reads in English and Spanish and stays after to meet families. Learn More

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Other Happenings Around New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s cut of the Meta settlement is $224 million The state will collect about $224 million from a $17.1 billion deal over how Instagram and Facebook treat kids, announced by Gov. Kelly Ayotte and Attorney General John Formella. Within six months Meta has to set a two-hour daily cap for teens and shut the apps off by default from midnight to 6 AM. InDepthNH

The spotted lanternfly turned up in Salem A small number of the invasive bugs were found in Salem, the first time any have been caught in the wild in New Hampshire. They go after grapevines and nursery plants and leave people and pets alone. The state is asking for sightings at NHBugs.org. NHPR

September 8 absentee ballots are not affected Two courts lifted holds on the president’s mail-in ballot order this week, both on procedural grounds rather than the merits of the case. Secretary of State Dave Scanlan says none of it changes absentee voting for the September 8 primary, and he is prepared to sue if the new postal rule ever takes effect. New Hampshire Bulletin

That’s it for today.

Saturday holds at 83 and sunny, so ArtCity and the Greeley Park show should both be easy walks. Sunday is even better if you want to catch the art show’s second day.

I’ll be back in your inbox Monday.

– The Nashua Note