Author: NH Business Review Staff

State resource center learns to mine trade shows

“Persistent opportunists” is one way to describe New Hampshire Business Resource Center’s development managers Michael Bergeron and John DiNapoli. A better description may be real estate agents for New Hampshire. But no matter the description, Bergeron and DiNapoli are experts…

In Brief

Bon voyage: NHPR chief announces his retirement It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Mark Handley during his 14-1/2 years as president and general manager of New Hampshire Public Radio. He acknowledges that some people are still upset over the…

Guest Opinion: A modest Republican manifesto

Let’s give credit where credit is due. Democrats in New Hampshire learned from their mistakes in 2002, when they were nearly extirpated en masse because of their public support of an income tax. A Democrat who pledged to veto a…

The road too often taken

A disturbing rumor is making its way through the halls of the State House in Concord. It involves the state’s chronic revenue shortfall, its growing-like-Topsy budget deficit and an unfortunately long-held tradition among New Hampshire lawmakers. The state’s revenue and…

Guest Opinion: Clearing the air over vehicle emissions testing

Recent articles and editorials have incorrectly implied that the new On Board Diagnostics (OBD) emissions testing program was optional for the state to implement, when in fact it is a mandatory federal requirement. The program also has been depicted as…

An open letter to the governor-elect

Dear Governor-Elect Lynch: On behalf of the officers and members of the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of New Hampshire, we wish to congratulate you on your recent election as governor of New Hampshire. We commend you for taking the…

Online Skating: N.H. author tells tale of spam royalty

New Hampshire loves to highlight its role in cutting-edge tech stuff, so let us all celebrate spam. When it comes to inbox effluent, the Granite State can hold its head high! After all, the legendary “Spamford” Wallace was a Seacoast…

Utilities Watch: Internet tax ban extended 3 years

President Bush recently signed a bill banning taxes on Internet access fees for another three years, extending a ban on Internet taxes that expired a year ago. But the bill contains a grandfather clause that is likely to allow New…

Off The Clock: The holiday blues are no laughing matter

Having a blue Christmas? Hanukkah wasn’t all that happy? You’re not alone. Researchers say that 25 million Americans may feel more jangled than jingle bells at this time of year. I decided to take a closer look at the “holiday…

Flotsam & Jetsam

Craig, we hardly knew ye Others may have mixed feelings about the coming departure of Craig Benson from the Corner Office, but F&J knows which side our bread is buttered on. No other governor in history gave so much to…

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Chugging right along What started out as a hobby for Tom and Debbie Smith has kept them in business — and in trains, cars, rockets, planes and tanks — for 22 years. “I got a train set when I was…

Annual Preview: Economy rebounds throughout N.H.

You wouldn’t think that such small start-up software firm in the North Country town of Jackson would be indicative of the state’s long-awaited and much-delayed climb out of the economic doldrums of the last three years. But in many ways…

Arel probe results in unique deal

When Pennichuck Corp. shareholders receive their one-time payout after the company’s novel $390,000 mid-December settlement with state and federal securities regulators, the money will mainly come out of the pocket of Maurice Arel, the firm’s former chief executive officer. The…

Staying fit, even during the holidays

For some, the holiday season is the same from year to year. A party here, a gathering there, a handful of chocolates or a plate full of hors d’oeuvres - it doesn’t really matter as long as there’s something tasty…

Devil is in the details of consumer-directed health plans

As more businesses offer their employees consumer-directed health-care benefits packages, it’s important to promote a better understanding of them — the legal and operational complexities involved in administering them, and the level of preparedness of the health payers to implement…

Program brings skills, jobs to displaced Jac Pac workers

Rafael Calderon, a job developer with the Jac Pac Worker Assistance Program in Manchester, recalls finding on-the-job training for displaced Jac Pac workers a few months ago with a Manchester company called The Way Home. “They hired four of our…

City marking wetland buffers

The Conservation Commission and the Public Works Division recently teamed up to mark wetland buffers along rivers and streams in the city. The effort was done in conjunction with a nearly $8,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Services.…

Commission OKs new easement

WILTON - A conservation easement on 65 acres belonging to the Hoover family was discussed at a public hearing on Monday. A handful of people attended. The land is located on Isaac Frye Highway near the old town reservoir, and…

School Board limits spending

MILFORD - Milford School Board members have figured out how much they want to spend next year, but they’re less certain about exactly what to spend it on. “It’s hard to have specifics when so much is up in the…

Vehicle visibility may increase

NASHUA - City cars and trucks would be more visible on the roadways under a plan backed by an aldermanic committee to require that city seals and department names be attached to the vehicles. Police and fire vehicles would be…

Information on birth certificate law

NASHUA - A workshop to inform adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents about the new law on access to birth certificates is being held tonight from 7-9 at the Hunt Room at the Nashua Public Library. The law was passed…

Stamping out long lines

NASHUA - With a noontime line of about a dozen people in the downtown post office, John Lavalliere skipped past them all and headed to the new automated postal center. In a matter of moments, the Merrimack resident had the…

Residents seek weed solution

HUDSON - Residents concerned that Ottarnic Pond is becoming choked with invasive weeds are hoping to raise funds to have the pond treated. According to the latest estimates, Advocates for Ottarnic Pond would need to raise about $10,000 to have…

Open land, open question

HOLLIS - Now that voters have approved the largest and most expensive land purchases in town history, it’s time for town officials and residents to decide what to do with all that land. At the Special Town Meeting on Thursday…

Trio accused of smash and grab plot

HUDSON - A 23-year-old and two 15-year-olds are suspected of forcing their way into a house to beat someone up and then stealing items while they were there. Jonathan Inoa, of 53 Newhall St., No. 2, Lowell, Mass., was charged…

Snow, cold cause trouble in the region

Although the season’s biggest snowstorm may not have been powerful enough to leave a massive amount of snow in the region, it was strong enough to cause massive headaches for area travelers. The storm, which began dropping snow in Nashua…

State’s schools chief resigns

CONCORD - Education Commissioner Nicholas Donohue abruptly ended any speculation about his desire to stay on the job Monday, announcing his plans to resign at the beginning of next month. Donohue insisted the decision to step aside was his own…

Panel rejects plan to change naming system

NASHUA - An aldermanic committee endorsed the current system of appointing police commissioners, turning back an effort to have home rule over the Police Department. Many aldermen at the Personnel/Administrative Affairs Committee meeting said the proposal to give the mayor…

Raises in question after budget move

HUDSON - The annual raises for non-union personnel are in question after the Budget Committee removed them from the town budget and the selectmen couldn’t agree whether to put them in a warrant article. Typically the raises have gone before…

Lyndeborough to keep growth ordinance in place

LYNDEBOROUGH - Considering the rate of growth in neighboring towns, the Planning Board decided to keep the town’s growth management ordinance in place for another five years on Thursday night. Lyndeborough has had a growth management ordinance in place for…

Federal funds to aid hospitals’ expansions

NASHUA - Expansion projects at the city’s two hospitals are among 14 across the state that will receive federal funds through a $388.4 billion omnibus spending bill recently approved by Congress. The Omnibus Appropriations Act, which was signed into law…

City short on cash for trash disposal

NASHUA - Aldermen will have to look hard at how to pay for the city’s trash-disposal operation because the Solid Waste Department has a forecasted $3.7 million deficit with the current payment system. And relying on the private sector to…

Federal funds go to sewer project

Congress sent a nice check of $850,000 to the city of Nashua for wastewater and sewage improvements. The announcement came in a laundry list of New Hampshire projects supported by U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass that were approved as part of…

Foster, adoptive parents gather for holiday party

Denise Dube was trying to hold back her tears. She paused to catch her breath as she described what it’s like to be a foster parent to five young children. “It’s a blessing,” Dube said, her eyes beginning to water.…

Environmental road trip

Next month, Parker Sweeney will travel for three hours through the tropics of Mexico in the back of a cattle wagon. He will navigate a trail so overgrown, he and his classmates will have to cut branches above the truck…

House fire contained

NASHUA- A residence on 35 East Dunstable Road suffered some peripheral damage Saturday, but firefighters contained a fire to a second-story bedroom. No one was home when the fire started at 1:24 p.m., Deputy Fire Chief Michael O’Brien said. Its…

Lyndeborough board OKs capital improvement plan

LYNDEBOROUGH - A new pumper for the Fire Department is among the items contained in a capital improvement plan approved by the Planning Board. The five-year plan, which was prepared by a subcommittee in conjunction with the Budget Committee, was…

Rotarians raising money for park

MILFORD - The Rotary Club has started a formal push to turn a dilapidated tennis court opposite Bales School into a park with brick walkways as a way to honor the 100th anniversary of Rotary International. The club is selling…

Concert to benefit scholarship fund

HOLLIS - Students at Hollis/Brookline High School will transform tragedy into melody tonight as members of the school’s FIRST team and students in the senior class gather to host the “Rock 4 Charity” concert. Proceeds from the concert will go…

Board puts new budget on table

MERRIMACK - After a final round of adjustments late Thursday, the Board of Selectmen sent a proposed 2005-06 operating budget of $25.4 million to the Budget Committee. Although that budget doesn’t include special warrant articles, the best apples-to-apples comparison for…

E-ZPass ready for spring debut

CONCORD - By Memorial Day weekend, motorists who sign up to get an E-ZPass will be able to drive their car or truck slowly through all turnpike tollbooths without stopping, Gov. Craig Benson announced Friday. Transportation Commissioner Carol Murray joined…

Nashua mother fights for daughter’s health

When the rest of the Wildcats girls’ soccer team decided to hang up their cleats, Erin Kelley was still kicking. It was 6 p.m. on a late October evening - dusk was approaching, and the air was moving from comfortable…

School’s land may be subdivided

WILTON - A plan presented by Pine Hill Waldorf School to subdivide several acres from its Pine Hill Drive site and lease the land to a Center for Anthroposophy has moved forward. On Tuesday, the Zoning Board of Adjustment approved…

Hollis voters OK land purchases

HOLLIS - The Land Protection Study Committee came out in full force at Thursday night’s Special Town Meeting to push for its No. 1 targeted land purchase, the 180-acre parcel known as Woodmont Orchard West. Voters approved the $3.25 million…

Selectmen cut budget by $643,000

MERRIMACK - Both the town and school budgets proposed for next year are settling into amounts slightly more than 3 percent over current spending. The Board of Selectmen on Thursday debated a series of reductions that Chairman Dick Hinch proposed…

Hollis/Brookline students pack up care, hope for Iraqi kids

HOLLIS - Many of Carolyn Cicciu’s assignments for her eighth-grade students involve discussing foreign cultures and exploring others ways of living. This season, Cicciu found another way to show her pupils that there is more to life than what happens…

Home developer didn’t violate law by giving Arel discount

CONCORD - In 1998, Nashua real-estate developer John Stabile sold Maurice Arel a $339,564 custom-built home at cost, essentially giving the then-Pennichuck Corp. president a $70,000 discount. Why? “We’d had a long-term business relationship. The company agreed to build a…