Hillsborough Democrats announced their municipal slate for next year as they seek to flip the township committee from GOP hands. 

The 2026 Hillsborough committee slate will consist of incumbent Committeewoman Samantha Hand and US Army Veteran and community volunteer Meghann Valeo. The Somerset County town is currently held by Republicans in a 3-2 margin, but Democrats in the town are looking to build upon their strong 2025 and wrest control from the GOP. 

“We could not have two better candidates for Township Committee in Samantha and Meghann, two women who embody Hillsborough’s long history of community volunteerism,” said Hillsborough Democratic Organization Chair Michele Kidd. “Whether coaching youth sports, raising funds for our local fire departments, or fighting on foreign battlefields, Hand and Valeo have proven their commitment to public service.”

Last month, Democrat Jill Gomez defeated incumbent Republican John Ciccarelli 55%-45%.

Hand, a corporate executive, first won election to the committee in 2023. Valeo, an Army veteran, served as a Military Police platoon leader in Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 and received a Bronze Star, according to the announcement.

Democratic Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill won Hillsborough by about 13 percentage points last month. In 2021, it went for Republican Jack Ciattarelli by nearly 5 points.

“Samantha and Meghann understand the true meaning of affordability because they live it, raising families, coaching teams, and supporting neighbors who are feeling the strain of rising costs,” said Somerset County Commissioner Paul Drake, a former Hillsborough Township Committee member. “I’m honored to share the ballot with such high-caliber leaders as I run for reelection this year.”

A Concord sports memorabilia dealer has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after he was caught selling fake sports collectibles, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Daniel Damato, 42, was charged with one count of wire fraud in October and admitted to trying to obstruct the FBI’s investigation into him, prosecutors said.

Between 2022 and 2024, Damato doctored and invented false provenance to valuable items in order to make them look like authentic sports collectibles, the DOJ said. He would then inflate the prices and sell them to people.

Damato admitted to selling a baseball bat in 2023 for $100,000 that he said was used by Willie Mays in the 1954 World Series; in reality, the bat was a factory error and an inch shorter than the one actually used by Mays. Once the buyer sent Damato the hundred grand, Damato also never sent him anything, prosecutors said.

He also sold things like a Mays jersey that was never worn by the baseball great, taking in $50,000 for that con.

The FBI raided Damato’s home in October 2024 and the DOJ said he contacted at least one potential witness in his case to try and obstruct the investigation.

Damato has a sentencing hearing scheduled for March and he is facing up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000, prosecutors said.

Allan Mark Moses

Portsmouth, NH – Allan Mark Moses, 73, passed away peacefully on December 10, 2025, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire surrounded by his children. An avid Steelers fan and affectionately known by his nickname, “Coach Moche”, Allan was born on November 19, 1952, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Ernest and Ruth Moses. Allan lived a life marked by dedication to his family, his community, and his work.

Allan earned his bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in 1974 and went on to receive his MBA from New Hampshire College in 1980. He began his distinguished career at Riverbend Community Mental Health in 1981, where he served as Chief Financial Officer with commitment and compassion until his retirement in 2020. He also shared his expertise as an adjunct professor at New England College and New Hampshire Technical Institute.

Allan’s community involvement was extensive and impactful. He conceptualized the John H. Whitaker Place Assisted Living Facility through Riverbend and served as a longtime Board Member and Treasurer at Temple Beth Jacob. He was a longtime resident of Bow, New Hampshire and was active in youth sports teams as well as a founding member of the Bow High Falcons Booster Club.

Allan was a passionate Pittsburgh Steelers fan known for giving every newborn family member their very own Terrible Towel. He found joy in gardening and cherished the time spent with loved ones and friends, leaving behind countless warm memories and a legacy of kindness that touched everyone who knew him.

A devoted father and grandfather, Allan is survived by his three children: Eric (Cortney Lyford), Kelsea (Matt Modelane), Trevor (Jenny Anderson); his three grandchildren, Anders, Margot, and Isaiah, who knew him as “Fajah”; his sister Barbara (Tom Hudson) and their children Daniel and Rachel; and his cousin Brenda (Ted Roter) and their daughter Sara. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Ruth Moses.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 15th, at Temple Beth Jacob, 67 Broadway, Concord, New Hampshire.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Allan’s honor to Temple Beth Jacob, or to the Steelers. Go Steelers!

Click here to sign the guest book or honor their memory with flowers, donations, or other heartfelt tributes

The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Former Jackrabbits Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.

The562’s coverage of Millikan Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law.

The Long Beach Poly girls’ basketball team faced the convergence of two realities as they opened Moore League action on Friday night against Millikan. 

On one hand, the Jackrabbits have an 0-8 record on the season, with a young roster searching for their identity and learning how to win together.

On the other, the program was looking to extend its Moore League winning streak to 212 wins in a row, a streak that dates back to 2008.

After falling behind early, the Jackrabbits found their footing and displayed their trademark defensive intensity on their way to a 60-37 victory at Ron Palmer Pavilion.

Head coach Carl Buggs scheduled some tough preseason tournaments this season with the intention of challenging his team, and the results started to show after the Jackrabbits fell behind 8-0 over the first few minutes on Friday. 

“We had to find out where we’re at. Our kids have gotta learn how to play, and so I think all those games helped prepare us,” said Buggs of his team’s 0-8 record, and the resiliency they showed in Friday’s win. “We grew a little bit today. It takes a little while, once we fell down 8-0, the way we made that stop and made a run to close off the quarter, that was probably the biggest growth that we’ve made all season.”

Three freshmen helped lead the Jackrabbits out of their early hole, led by ninth grader Eliana Mao who had a game-high 20 points. Along with classmates Jovahnah Dalton (10 points) and Nevaeh Johnson (7 points), the freshmen trio accounted for 37 of Poly’s 60 points.

Mao was a difference-maker in a productive second quarter for the Jackrabbits, scoring 11 points in that frame to turn a 12-9 deficit into a 30-20 lead for Poly at halftime. Buggs called her “fearless” and is pleased with the progress she’s made so far this season. 

Mao said she was thrilled to get to celebrate a win with her teammates and protect their home floor, and said her confidence comes from hard work.

“It’s what I love to do, it’s my passion, it’s my dream,” said Mao. “Going out there every day, giving it my best, giving my all, I know that as long as I give it my best, what is there to expect more of? And when I’m so confident, I get that from just a mentality thing. You can’t do anything if you’re scared.”

Millikan senior Sophia Salazar got the visitors off to a strong start, hitting a pair of corner threes to get the Rams out to their 8-0 start. She finished with 16 points and eight rebounds to lead the way for the Rams.

Poly was able to pull back within three points after the opening quarter, and then went on a 10-0 run to open the second frame, taking a 19-12 lead. Buggs credited Johnson’s energy off the bench to help spark that run, as the Jackrabbits were able to force some turnovers and get easier looks in transition.

“She’s an Energizer bunny, going to the hall, and making things happen,” Buggs said of Johnson. “I thought she initiated that, and then it kind of went from there. It kind of became contagious. We know what Millikan likes to do, we tried to take away what they want to do and get them out of character, and we were able to do that during that 10-0 run, because the kids followed the game plan.”

DURHAM, N.C. — There’s a youth movement at USA Basketball camp this weekend with young WNBA players Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese making their debuts with the national team.

They’ve been competing against each other in college and the WNBA over the past few years and Bueckers was happy to have them as teammates again. Many of the young players had competed together for the U.S. on American youth teams. They’ll get their first taste of the senior national team in a camp at Duke this weekend.

“It’s great competing with them for a change instead of against them and I think we really bring out the best of each other,” Bueckers said. “I think that’s what USA Basketball does. Just so many amazing athletes and women coming together for one common goal. I think that’s always brought out the best of each other. It’s really fun to be able to share the court and be on the same side for a change.”

Bueckers gave the group the nickname “Young and Turnt” – a phrase used by youth players in the past to describe their high energy and excitement playing with USA Basketball.

The trio, along with other senior national newcomers Cameron Brink, Aliyah Boston and JuJu Watkins, are the future of USA Basketball with veterans Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird retired and other longtime fixtures in the lineup nearing the end of their careers. The U.S. has won eight straight Olympic gold medals and four consecutive world championships. Olympic veterans Kahleah Copper, Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum will also be at the three-day camp.

“Obviously there’s some vets and there’s the older class who have already came in and won gold medals, and they have that experience,” Bueckers said. “So as a younger group, you want to ask them questions, soak it up, be a sponge. Like, get their experience and then grow in our experience as well.”

The average age of the 17 players at the camp is just over 25. Bueckers said having so many young players who have been together brings a comfort level.

“There’s a familiarity of competing with and against each other,” she said. “We kind of know each other and it’s more comfortable that way, too. We’re all coming in and we’re having the same expectations of just wanting to go in there and compete and have fun and bring our vibes in and just be us.”

Bird, who is now the managing director for USA Basketball, said this camp will hopefully give the new players a look at international basketball at its highest level.

“Really have it be a tone setter,” said Bird, who helped the U.S. win five Olympic gold medals as a player. “What is it to wear USA on your chest? What is it to be on this team? Whether it’s a World Cup qualifier we’ll get to in March or hopefully the gold-medal game of a big competition, you have to set the tone on Day 1.”

Though many invites went out for the camp, Bird said past Olympians such as A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Napheesa Collier had other commitments.

“There’s a lot of moving parts, that’s always how it is for USA Basketball,” Bird said. “For the young players, it’s a great opportunity to get their first feel and first taste.”

Hearts are still pounding after the gripping finale where the Division 1 teams battled for glory in the final games at the T-Mobile District Arena in San Juan Puerto Rico. After three thrilling days and 94 intense matches, Special Olympics Angola women’s team emerged as champions of the first-ever 2025 Unified 3×3 Basketball World Cup. Special Olympics Angola claimed the crown after a hard-fought victory over Special Olympics Uruguay, with a score of 9-4.

The inaugural Special Olympics Unified 3×3 Basketball World Cup brought together nearly 200 athletes, dignitaries, performers and fans for an unforgettable celebration of sport, culture and inclusion. Hosted by Special Olympics International and Special Olympics Puerto Rico, this historic event unites basketball players with and without intellectual disabilities, known as Unified partners, from countries across the world. Modelled after the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup™, the Cup featured three days of fast-paced 3×3 competition, with 19 men’s teams and 17 women’s teams demonstrating the true meaning of sporting excellence and inclusive basketball.

These global teams poured months of preparation, heart, and passion into every play, and their dedication shone brightly on the court. Special Olympics Angola was represented by athletes and Unified partners Georgina Monteiro, Lucrécia António, Maria Yambe, Janice Pilamambo and Marioneth da Silva. Their coaches are Yolanda Suzana and Antonio Bartolomeu, the national director of Special Olympics Angola.

In the words of the team members: “She is not my sister by blood, she is my sister by heart”. Special Olympics Angola Lucrécia Antonio and Unified partner Janice Pilamambo share a bond that goes way beyond the basketball court. Across the world, this is what Special Olympics and Unified Sports is all about! 

The team’s victory came after an undefeated streak of five matches against Special Olympics Puerto Rico (13-8), Special Olympics Jamaica (14-4), Special Olympics Egypt (8-2) the semifinal against Special Olympics Nicaragua (14-3), and the final with Special Olympics Uruguay (9-4).

Team Angola’s success is rooted in the unwavering commitment of their coach, Yolanda Chitula. Since joining the program in 2022, she has never missed a single basketball event. Starting her journey at Special Olympics as a teacher and trainer, she overcame challenges to build a strong 3×3 team from the ground up. Under her guidance, the players learned quickly, supported one another, and created an inclusive environment that impressed everyone around them. Yolanda dreams of taking Special Olympics Angola to every corner of the country, and continuing to share opportunities and joy with more athletes.

Special Olympics Angola is the newest Program in the Africa Region, founded in 2022, but it is making tremendous moves as it expands its reach and partnerships. Under the skillful leadership of chairperson Jean-Jacques Nzadi Conceição, the former professional basketball player and FIBA Hall of Famer, the Program has ramped up activities and almost doubled its athlete count to 1,363 last year. And they are continuing this momentum through an innovative partnership with Manchester City and global appliance group Midea.

This partnership is another big step taken by Special Olympics Angola, who were among the first Programs to officially join the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion, under the Minister of Youth and Sports Honorable Rui Luís Falcão Pinto de Andrade. This partnership is set to transform the educational and athletic landscape for 3,085 youth across 128 schools nationwide, including those with intellectual disabilities. Over the next three years, more than 200 teachers will receive specialized training to ensure inclusive practices are effectively implemented. 

Coach Yolanda Chitula received training from FIBA instructors at the event, and was amazed at the scale and organization of this global event. “We also surprised the other teams with a beautiful and difficult dancing choreography, and they noticed our contagious energy, dancing and playing,” she said. “There were so many countries present, and many had not even heard of Angola. We in turn learnt about many new countries.”

Team captain Maria Yambe shared that, “This was my first time away from home, and the long journey was stressful, but we received such a warm reception in Puerto Rico. The organizers and volunteers were most attentive to our needs, and answered our questions with great care and respect. It was an incredible experience.”

Marioneth Da Silva is a Unified Partner on the team. “I have two brothers with autism. Seeing up close the scale, the impact and the inclusion that Special Olympics provides left me deeply moved and forever changed,” she said. “It was inspiring to witness the integration, respect and opportunities offered to all athletes. I am grateful for all the work that made this event possible and I am so happy to be part of such a special and enriching moment.”

“For me, the Games were more than a competition, they were a celebration,” said Special Olympics Angola national director António Bartolomeu. “We took 24 hours to arrive in Puerto Rico from home, and Special Olympics Angola made history by winning the gold.”