Author: NH Business Review Staff

Letter to the Editor

To the editor: I can sympathize with reader Paul Kelly and his concern about Social Security. (“Just say no to Social Security revamp,” March 18-31 New Hampshire Business Review.) But it is even worse than he fears; Congress passes laws,…

Utilities Watch

In a surprising vote, the New Hampshire Senate recently passed and sent to the House a bill imposing tougher mercury emissions standards. If ultimately passed and signed into law the measure could have a significant impact on Public Service of…

Ex-paper exec guilty in fraud

It’s safe to say no one in the Androscoggin Valley shed any tears for Mehdi Gabayzadeh, the former CEO of what was once one of the nation’s largest makers of paper products, after he was convicted April 13 of engineering…

Mall: rated R

Parents who want to drop off kids aged 15 or younger at the Pheasant Lane Mall on Friday or Saturday nights are out of luck. In response to recent “disorderly and disruptive” incidents, mall security personnel two weeks ago started…

Bank on it

Lupine Inc., a Conway-based manufacturer and distributor of pet products, has been named the first New Hampshire recipient of a loan through the Citizens Job Bank initiative. The initiative was launched in March by Gov. John Lynch and Citizens Bank…

2005 Athena

Laura Monica, founder of High Point Communications in Bow, has been named the winner of the sixth annual Athena Award from the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce. The award is given to an individual who is committed to the community,…

Q&A with: SNHU President Paul LeBlanc

Paul LeBlanc has taken a varied and interesting road to the presidency of Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester. LeBlanc, who succeeded Richard Gustafson in July 2003, joined SNHU after serving for seven years as president of Marlboro College in…

Stonyfield, SNHU set ‘boot camp’

A two-day “boot camp” designed for community-minded entrepreneurs put together by Stonyfield Farm and the School of Community Economic Development at Southern New Hampshire University will be held June 9-10 at the university in Manchester. Called The Stonyfield Farm Entrepreneurship…

Are faxed health plans too good to be true?

The lure is cast through unsolicited faxes to New Hampshire businesses, and the bait is seductive. It offers extensive health-care benefits, with little or no restrictions, no exclusions for pre-existing conditions or age, often at a monthly cost of less…

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Standing behind the philosophy that “health care is a local activity,” Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is right at home in New Hampshire. Combining national experience with a small-town frame of mind, Anthem focuses on the satisfaction of its…

Music Hall unveils fund-raising, events strategy

A comprehensive fund-raising campaign and an expanded schedule of “trademark” events are the highlights of The Music Hall of Portsmouth’s recently unveiled two-year strategic plan. The 2005-2007 plan, unveiled by Executive Director Patricia Lynch and Gail VanHoy-Carolan, board president, also…

Crotched Mountain continues its uphill climb

Lots of snow and lots of customers made this a great season for southern New Hampshire’s two downhill ski areas, but the reborn Crotched Mountain is still trying to overcome having been out of the public eye for 13 years.…

Inn’s ‘Wellness Room’ features healthy amenities

Travelers looking to take rest and relaxation to a new level now have the option to book a night’s stay in a “Wellness Room” at the Inns at Mill Falls in Meredith. Billed as the first wellness accommodations offered in…

Pease officials keep fingers crossed on Airbus deal

With a host of states looking to inject new life into defunct military bases, the competition to attract the maker of Airbus to a location in the United States is heating up. One of the locations in the running is…

Vested for Growth loan fund gives firms funds, guidance

For SyAM Software, it meant a $750,000 loan to help the Nashua start-up company take the next step without giving it away to venture capitalists. For Bortech Corp., a small machine company in Keene, it meant a $500,000 loan, a…

Flotsam & Jetsam

Throwing them a curve Boy that Steve Vaillancourt sure knows how to play hard ball - at the minor league level at least. Vaillancourt, a Republican state rep from Manchester, was among the most vocal opponents to a resolution proposed…

Rising diesel costs leave truckers road-weary

Diesel fuel prices have risen more than 60 cents - over 37 percent — in the last year, with New Hampshire’s trucking and freight companies feeling the pinch. And consumers will soon. Bill Richard, terminal manager at the Concord location…

Tourism Summit puts a premium on international visitors

Travel and tourism officials from around New England are keeping their fingers crossed that the region’s summer 2005 will attract more international visitors. The industry - which met April 4-6 at the Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods for the…

Old House and Barn Expo attracts 2,800

More than 2,800 people attended the third Old House and Barn Expo in Manchester the weekend of April 2-3, with attendees learning how older buildings are put together and how to care for and invest in them. Attendees identified window…

The Last Word

Men are from Mars and women are from Venus. But what planet are politicians from? Clearly they’re not from Earth, or we would have some idea what on Earth they’re all worked up about. For that matter, it’s not just…

Off The Clock

I found the most beautiful drive into the Durham/Dover area while on assignment for something completely different. Take Route 125 to Route 155, then 155A. You’ll go past beautiful farms and through little towns like Lee — in fact, this…

Caveat Emptor

Since the enactment of environmental legislation of the 1980s, the word “contamination” has directly been associated with liability and risk. The sale or transfer of commercial and industrial properties with contamination has historically frustrated businesses. In fact, most potential buyers…

UNH spinout company fine-tunes MRI innovation

A University of New Hampshire physics professor’s innovations enabling magnetic resonance imaging to better see inside the lungs form the core of the university’s second spinout company, backed by three new grants from the National Institutes of Health. With $300,000…

Brass Tacks

Q: I’m trying to get a handle on the overall health of my business. I’m convinced that I should be doing far better than I am, but I don’t know how to pinpoint the glitches that are holding me back.…

Kindergarten is in state’s economic interests

The quality of New Hampshire’s public schools should be of critical interest to the business community. How well these schools prepare tomorrow’s workforce and leaders will affect not only the availability and productivity of our workforce, but also the economic…

It’s time N.H. raises the minimum wage

The Legislature is once again taking up the issue of raising the state’s minimum wage. House Bill 665, which has many sponsors, including Rep. Sandra Keans, Rep. Terie Norelli and Sen. Dick Green, was approved in the House by a…

N.H. Republicans’ ‘big tent’ belongs in a circus

The Republican Party likes to describe itself as a “big tent.” The phrase was coined in 1989 by then-Republican National Committee Chairman Lee Atwater in an attempt to make those supporting legalized abortion feel welcome in the Republican Party. The…

Serious problems demand serious solutions

It has become apparent over the past several years that the state of New Hampshire has several pressing needs, from caring for the elderly and others who can’t afford to do so for themselves, to educating our children and ensuring…

Solar tax credits a thing of the past

To the editor: Why would you publish a commentary calling for a solar tax credit (“It’s time for a residential solar tax credit,” April 1-14 issue) from a corporation that makes money from selling solar equipment and would profit directly…

Sustainable Lodging Program a hit

To the editor: If you missed the kickoff of the New Hampshire Sustainable Lodging Program (NHSLP) March 30 at The Highlander, you probably don’t know about the $1.2 million rebate fund available to New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant facilities to…

Cook On Concord

There is a theory in the study of history called the “Great Man Theory.” (It probably should be the “Great Person” to be politically correct, but I’ll risk it.) According to this theory, history is shaped by the actions of…

Lavallee/Brensinger builds its reputation and community

Painted along a curved wall in the reception area of Lavallee/Brensinger Professional Association are these words: “We are a family that supports each other through mutual kindness, trust and respect. We are committed to excellence in the service of our…

Fisher Cats manager assesses team’s ’05 prospects

New Hampshire Fisher Cats Manager Mike Basso came close to the major leagues as a Triple-A catcher for the San Diego Padres and may yet make the “show” as a manager or coach in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. But…

N.H. stocks decline in first quarter of 2005

In line with the old saying, “What goes up must come down,” the New Hampshire Business Review/Chartworth Stock Index fell 5.6 percent in the first quarter of 2005, erasing part of the strong finish it registered at the end of…

Sides agree to Pennichuck eminent domain schedule

More than two years after the city of Nashua started the eminent domain process to take Pennichuck Water Works, the two parties have agreed on a trial date — but it’s more than a year away. Attorneys for both the…

Balsams ends an era

After more than three decades at the helm of one of the state’s historic grand hotels, Steve Barba and Chef Phil Learned will retire as managing partners of the operating company for The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel. Tillotson Corporation, owner…

Q&A: Baltimore Orioles GM Mike Flanagan

Now in his third year as vice president of baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles, Manchester native Mike Flanagan appears remarkably unburdened by the weight of fame and glory he earned as an all-star pitcher for “the Birds” in the…

Non-profit transit company is on the right track

Less, according to some social theorists, can sometimes be more, and Advance Transit has been testing the limits of that theory for the past three years. The bus company, which serves four New Hampshire (Lebanon, Hanover, Enfield and Canaan) and…

Senate kills gambling — at least for now

Even as word emerged that a projected state budget shortfall could reach as high as $184 million, the Senate issued an emphatic statement against allowing the installation of video slot machines at up to seven locations in New Hampshire. By…

BestSalesPeople.com: tailored solutions, remarkable results

BestSalesPeople.com, an affiliate of the Sandler Sales Institute, is dedicated to assisting companies in the technology, professional services, business products, construction, financial services, and consulting industries to develop the smartest sales processes. They improve the overall performance of sales organizations…

Accessibility the ambition of NH Community Technical College

“Increasing access to higher education in New Hampshire is a critical component of our mission,” says New Hampshire Community Technical College Commissioner, Dr. William Simonton. “Whether it’s a student trying to defray the cost of a four-year degree, a dislocated…

Discover modern luxury in New Hampshire’s White Mountains

Since 1865, from its location in New Hampshire’s majestic White Mountains, the 400-acre colonial revival style Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa has provided visitors with unparalleled opportunity for escape. With 145 recently restored guestrooms featuring custom-made mahogany furniture, panoramic…

Rivier introduces corporate partnership program, accelerated Business Degrees

Through its corporate partners program, initiated by the Division of Academic Outreach, Rivier College is now offering training, seminars, and workshops in many areas including management, marketing, computer information systems, human resource management, communications, and organizational behavior. “Rivier is building…

The Radisson Hotel Manchester at the Center of New Hampshire

With its 250 impressively-appointed guest rooms and suites, 65,000 square feet of function and exhibition space, appealing downtown locale, and complimentary shuttle transportation to and from Manchester Airport, the Radisson Hotel Manchester at the Center of New Hampshire is not…

McKenna Builders: Quality, Integrity, Value

McKenna Builders of Merrimack, NH, is a second-generation Homebuilding and Land Developing company committed to the construction of high quality homes and large-scale additions. Jim McKenna, company president, grew up in the business and cares deeply about providing a high…