Author: NH Business Review Staff

Small fire closes Elm Street block

MILFORD- A block of Elm Street was closed for a half-hour Thursday afternoon when a spark from a welding torch caused a small fire in an old barn that houses Beaver Woodworks. No one was injured in the blaze at…

City planning flu-shot clinic

NASHUA- The city’s Division of Public Health and Community Services has scheduled a flu clinic for residents of Greater Nashua. It will be held on an appointment-only basis Friday, Dec. 17, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at St. Joseph Church, 777…

Outlook: Nashua

Great American Downtown group hires new director The Great American Downtown civic group has hired an executive director with a background in historic preservation to lead the organization into its third year. Sarah DiSano, of Dorchester, Mass., a former program…

Manchester restaurateurs serve up an unbeatable recipe

A conversation with John and Rosa Paolini, owners of Piccola Italia Ristorante in downtown Manchester, is just as likely to yield a recipe for a happy life as it is a recipe for his scrumptious Veal Piccata. Since its opening…

Guest Opinion: Medicaid needs a dose of personal responsibility

In 1965, Congress passed and President Lyndon Johnson signed the law that created Medicaid. The program was enacted to provide care to impoverished citizens for their medical needs. Medicaid was never designed to offer subsidies for middle- and upper-class individuals…

No way to treat a commissioner

John Ratoff, commissioner of the state Department of Employment Security for the last 20 years, deserved far better treatment than the unceremonious dismissal he received earlier this month at the hands of Gov. Craig Benson. Benson decided in the waning…

Letter: Get your life back under Sarbanes-Oxley

To the editor: U.S. companies have gained a year’s grace before they need to change from a period of 75 days to 60 to report annual results. Big deal. It’s about time we got something back from Sarbanes-Oxley Rule 404,…

Utilities watch

In November the five-member Executive Council voted 3-2 to confirm Michael Harrington, a Republican state representative from Barrington, as a member of the Public Utilities Commission. Harrington will fill out the term of former PUC Commissioner Susan Geiger, who resigned…

Improving Performance

I had never seen the polls so crowded. As I gave my name to get a ballot, I noticed two strange-looking women with clipboards hovering over the table. They didn’t look like they belonged, and they were obviously paying attention.…

Cook on Concord

Gov.-elect John Lynch continues to shape his upcoming administration. While the ceremonial aspects of planning the inauguration are fun and full of adrenaline, the real business of government became apparent as department heads presented their proposed budgets to legislative committees…

The Pfundstein Report

Several days after last month’s column on insurance producer compensation was published, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) issued its first draft of a model broker compensation disclosure law. I was pleased to see that the NAIC rejected the…

Real estate should remain a good investment for 2005

It’s November, the end of the year is soon upon us. My partner and I will be sitting down to budget/forecast 2005. Norton Asset Management Inc. is a small firm (10 full time employees). We have three areas of business:…

Flotsam & Jetsam

Come fly with me At last month’s Nackey Loeb Awards dinner, Union Leader publisher Joe McQuaid took a moment to thank David Fink and Timothy Mellon of Guilford Transportation - owner of Pan Am Airlines — for supplying the plane…

Home builder

Born in Tacoma, Wash., self-described Army brat Felix Torres grew up in a number of locations, primarily Pemberton, N.J. After graduating from Harvard as a history major and doing post-graduate studies in urban affairs at MIT, he served in various…

The business model is key to raising outside capital

It is assumed that businesspeople not only understand what a “business model” is, but that they also know how to identify, assess and create one. Sounds simple, right? Think again. The term means many different things to different people. Recently…

Agenda for Growth: Capital resources for growing your business

Sources of capital to support growth in less-populated northern New England can present challenges to New Hampshire companies. Compared to Massachusetts, comparatively few “traditional” (i.e. technology) venture capital businesses emerge from the region and fewer regional venture capital funds exist…

Despite SEC probe, Salem firm hopes to fly high again

On April 19, 2004, StockerYale Inc., the once high-flying, then struggling, Salem-based fiberoptics company, announced it landed two orders from defense giant BAE Systems for specialized lasers. After the news, the company’s stock went “ballistic,” in the words of spokesman…

New obligations emerge for environmental due diligence

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Superfund law better known as CERCLA, as amended in January 2002 by the Small Business Liability Relief and Revitalization Act establishes certain liability protections for “innocent” landowners. In brief, CERCLA establishes…

High court ruling looms in descriptive trademark case

In October, the Supreme Court heard arguments that could directly affect the enforcement of many federally registered trademarks and the rights of advertisers. The trademarks specifically affected are descriptive registered trademarks. Descriptive trademarks normally cannot be registered, but if a…

Poor employee performance: a cast of characters

How to handle a poor performer An employee who demonstrates issues with attitude, productivity, attendance or other areas is sometimes easy to ignore. This is especially true if others cover and/or pitch in to ensure that the work gets done.…

Program helps N.H. firm fly high with federal contracts

One key to success in business is being aware, and taking advantage, of opportunities. But how can you be certain you can spot all the opportunities, and that you best allocate your time to take full advantage of them? One…

Judge rules against parents in lost wages case

A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that parents cannot sue to recover the wages they lost while caring for their disabled adult son. In a ruling last month, Judge Joseph DiClerico said that state law requires parents to care…

SBDC perseveres despite funding, staffing changes

The New Hampshire Small Business Development Center’s observance of its 20th birthday in October could be called a celebration of survival as much as growth. The SBDC - which provides business counseling to small start-up businesses - lost four of…

Celestica buys H-P plant in Exeter

The Celestica Group has officially acquired the former Hewlett-Packard assembly plant in Exeter, more than seven years after agreement was reached on the transaction. Foster’s Sunday Citizen reported that, according to Celestica’s Web site, the two companies had agreed in…

Yoken’s sold for $3.8 million

In September, Yoken’s “Thar She Blows” restaurant and conference center closed its doors for good, after nearly 60 years in business on Portsmouth’s busy Route 1. The Yoken’s property — a 4,800-square-foot building and five-plus acres of land — was…

Residents file petition against logging company

LITCHFIELD - After a lengthy discussion, the Zoning Board of Adjustment agreed Wednesday to accept an application by residents appealing a code enforcement decision that a logging business is allowed in a residential area. Although the decision says the business…

Commission tables plan by Wal-Mart

NASHUA - The Conservation Commission came within a whisker of issuing another unfavorable recommendation on a plan by Wal-Mart to build a 186,000-square-foot superstore to replace Building 19 on Amherst Street. The panel on Tuesday voted 4-3 against a motion…

Appeal denied in Litchfield labor case

BOSTON (AP) - A New Hampshire couple convicted of forcing Jamaican laborers to work in their tree-cutting business have lost their attempt to overturn the conviction. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a decision issued Wednesday affirmed the…

Panel applies brakes to skate ban

NASHUA - A standing-room-only crowd of teens holding skateboards sat beside inline-skating adults in the aldermanic chamber in City Hall on Wednesday to protest a proposal to ban skateboards and skating from city streets. Outspoken skateboard fans and parents of…

Fatal accidents ahead of ’03 rate

CONCORD - New Hampshire’s highway deaths are running way ahead of last year, with the busy holiday season still ahead. As of Sunday, 156 people died on New Hampshire roads this year, up from 119 during the same period last…

Easements, trails to be discussed

WILTON - Conservation easements and public trails will be the subject of a hearing called by the Board of Selectmen and the Conservation Commission for Dec. 20, at 7 p.m., in the town office. Members of the Hoover family are…

Food drive to aid soup kitchen

A food drive to benefit the Nashua Soup Kitchen is under way. Area residents may drop off food items at Fashion Bug, 375 Amherst St., through Dec. 18.

Guertin plans Christmas concert

NASHUA- Bishop Guertin High School’s music department will present the school’s annual Christmas concert Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the school’s gym. The public is invited to attend. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors.

Group’s meat raffle to help veterans

MERRIMACK - The Ladies Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8641, at 247 Daniel Webster Highway, will be holding a member-guest meat raffle on Saturday at 3 p.m. Benefits will go to the National Veterans Home and the Children’s…

Skate goats?

NASHUA - That skateboard under the Christmas tree could wind up contributing to lawbreaking. A proposal being pushed by Ward 6 Alderman Robert Dion would outlaw skateboarding or inline skating on any street in the city. The idea has created…

Presentation of Mary Academy to aid homeless families

HUDSON - Presentation of Mary of Academy is moving forward with plans to lease a building on its property to house homeless families. The building will be leased to the Greater Nashua Interfaith Hospitality Network to use for displaced families.…

Transformer fix to mean no power

NASHUA - A crummy transformer is forcing power officials to pull the plug on some of the city’s residences and businesses tonight. About 2,200 customers in the Crown Hill and French Hill neighborhoods are expected to be affected when Public…

Board: New school is best option for town, students

LYNDEBOROUGH - Members of the Central School Board agreed on Monday that building a new school is the best option for the town and the students. A warrant article asking for the necessary architectural fees for plans for a new…

Wintry weather blows into region

Area police, fire and utility crews were kept busy Tuesday as freezing rain sent motorists spinning and dropped tree branches as well as several whole trees onto power lines. In Hollis, a school bus carrying about 45 middle- and high-school…

Creator of holiday favorite appears in Nashua

NASHUA - When Ellen Cutcliffe’s daughters were young, they were fascinated by “The Polar Express.” Now, Cutcliffe wants to introduce her 2-year-old granddaughter, Sophie, to the book that excited her children year after year. Cutcliffe is among the hundreds of…

Panel gives nudge to rail plan

NASHUA - The plan for a local commuter rail station cleared a hurdle Tuesday night when an aldermanic committee approved a resolution to pay the city’s estimated $14 million costs for the project using a special tax district. It was…

Nominee: No to Nashua judgeship

CONCORD - John Coughlin has formally withdrawn himself from consideration for the Nashua District Court judge post, Executive Councilor David Wheeler of Milford said Tuesday. The Executive Council will cancel a hearing on Coughlin’s nomination, which had been set for…

Mission needs aid for annual party

NASHUA- A letter from the North Pole to the residents of Greater Nashua is urging support for the Tolles Street Mission’s annual Christmas party. “Dear community,” the letter begins in a shaky old hand. “As you know, I’ll be loading…

Man suspected of robbing Wal-Mart

BEDFORD - Police were looking for a man who robbed a local Wal-Mart store Tuesday night. The robbery happened at about 9 p.m. at the Wal-Mart at 17 Colby Court, Bedford police officials said in a prepared statement. According to…

Presentation of Mary Academy to aid homeless families

HUDSON - Presentation of Mary of Academy is moving forward with plans to lease a building on its property to house homeless families. The building will be leased to the Greater Nashua Interfaith Hospitality Network to use for displaced families.…

City kids will either face ban or roll on

NASHUA - That skateboard under the Christmas tree could wind up contributing to lawbreaking. A proposal being pushed by Ward 6 Alderman Robert Dion would outlaw skateboarding or inline skating on any street in the city. The idea has created…

Broad Street roundabout plan scrapped

NASHUA - The Division of Public Works is pulling back its proposal for additional roundabouts and a so-called urban boulevard on Broad Street, and wants its consultant to take a second look at the area. Public Works Director Richard Seymour…

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Nongfu Spring From Alibabacom
Energy and Environment, Government, Real Estate & Construction

Unbottling the Nongfu Spring deal

New Hampshire’s attorney general says no improprieties by state officials preceded the sale of a large Nashua commercial building to China’s largest water bottler. But Attorney General John Formella’s report to Gov. Kelly Ayotte dated Oct. 3 says the provisions of federal law should have taken place prior to the sale of the 337,391-square-foot building at 80 Northwest Blvd. in Nashua by a subsidiary of Nongfu Spring.