Author: NH Business Review Staff

Nottingham planners OK USA Springs application

The Nottingham Planning Board has accepted USA Springs Inc.’s application to build a water bottling plant in town, but postponed public comment until Sept. 22. At the next meeting, the board will devote the first 45 minutes to three issues…

Construction spending hits all-time high

U.S. construction spending rebounded in July, rising to the highest level on record, the government has reported. The rebound, which came after a June lull, meant that the value of buildings put in place clocked in at a seasonally adjusted…

High court backs elderly housing

The state Supreme Court has upheld Newmarket’s elderly housing zoning ordinance. The ruling brings CCW Management of Concord one step closer to constructing a 57-unit elderly housing project on a nine-acre site at 292 Wadleigh Falls Rd. Abutters had appealed…

Office Depot eyeing Nashua

Office Depot, the world’s No. 2 office supply store, is renovating the inside of the former Kids R Us location in Nashua to make way for a new store. Nashua Planning Director Roger Houston said Office Depot has applied for…

School district wants firm to cover steel increases

The Dresden School District in Hanover is locked in a dispute with its construction company over huge increases in the cost of steel for a new middle school and renovated high school. Eckman Construction Co. of Bedford, the construction manager,…

Wal-Mart plans Portsmouth expansion

Wal-Mart has proposed converting its Portsmouth store on Lafayette Road into a Wal-Mart Supercenter, with at least 60,000 square feet of new store space, a new section for groceries, a hair salon and a bank. To make room for the…

Confusing data clouds status of recovery

For several months I have been commenting on job formation - specifically, the lack thereof. Several people have told me I am being too negative and that the economy is really OK. Of course, others think we are about to…

Associated Grocers gets conditional OK

The Pembroke Planning Board has conditionally approved the planned construction of a 350,000-square-foot Associated Grocers of New England warehouse — the first development in the Soucook River Development District. The board did set out a dozen provisions for Associated Grocers…

Littleton readies new master plan

The Littleton Planning Board has made final adjustments on a draft version of the town’s master plan in preparation for a public hearing some time in October. The proposed master plan is separated into 12 subsections addressing various issues, including…

Chamber supports Exeter garage

An Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce task force is recommending construction of a four-level garage at the Water Street municipal lot to provide spaces for long-term parking needs. Tracey McGrail, president of the chamber, told selectmen last month that demand…

Lonza plans third Pease building

Lonza Biologics Inc. has announced plans to nearly double its operations at Pease International Tradeport. The firm wants to spend another $200 million to develop a third facility. Lonza’s director of engineering, John Machulski, has asked the Pease Development Authority…

What do consultants do for the money?

Should the state pay high-priced consultants to design the state’s Medicaid plan and write federal waivers that could help implement it? That’s the question raised by Cindy Mann, consultant for the New Hampshire Endowment for Health, one of the chief…

Consultant warns of Medicaid waiver pitfalls

The state will be walking into a spending cap trap if it applies for a federal waiver to restructure Medicaid — a trap that could jeopardize the state budget for years to come as well as shift health-care costs and…

Billing system is among health care’s biggest ailments

I had some minor surgery last summer. Thankfully, everything turned out OK. The interesting thing is I’m still getting bills a year later. In fact, the billing process is so fragmented, extended and convoluted, I’d be hard-pressed to tell you…

Giving back

The unfortunate illness of a child has led to a million-dollar gift and the launch of the Children’s Fund of the Upper Valley, a newly formed charitable organization. The gift — $1 million over the next 10 years from the…

Free prescription program hits milestone

The Portsmouth Regional Hospital Prescription Assistance program has reached a milestone, successfully providing area residents with $1 million worth of free prescriptions. Part of New Hampshire’s Medical Bridge Program, the hospital established the referral service operated by Lamprey Healthcare in…

Mandatory kindergarten proposed by state Board of Ed

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - All school districts would have to offer kindergarten in September 2007 under changes proposed by the state Board of Education. The board is revising the minimum public school standards - the basic rules all schools must…

School’s books to get routine audit

LYNDEBOROUGH - The board of the Central School has agreed that the school’s books should be audited, something that apparently has not been done in anyone’s memory. The school’s accounts, except for an activity fund, are kept by the School…

District 26 primary eliminates one

NASHUA - One Democrat didn’t make the cut in the state representative primary for 10 seats in District 26. Jeffrey Roscoe Richardson of 60 Nottingham Drive finished in last place in the 11-person field, with 398 votes. That was 16…

New fire marshal has Nashua ties

CONCORD - A Nashua native was sworn in as the state’s top fire official Friday. J. William Degnan was sworn in as state fire marshal at an afternoon ceremony at the New Hampshire State Fire Academy, Nashua Fire Inspector Rick…

Woman competing in senior pageant

A city woman is one of the finalists competing this weekend in the Ms. Senior America Pageant in New Hampshire. Jean Hines, 66, of Nashua will be competing today at the pageant in Exeter. The New Hampshire winner will represent…

Board OKs Pond Street parking lot

NASHUA - A site on Pond Street that has been an eyesore for years will be cleaned up, and a 113-space parking lot for the Main Street Marketplace will be built there under a proposal approved unanimously by the Planning…

Selectmen OK union raises

Merrimack- The Board of Selectmen on Thursday approved raises for 30 public works employees. Under a contract negotiated with the employees’ union, the workers would receive 3 percent raises in each of the next two years, said Selectmen’s Chairman Dick…

Women hurt in evening crash

A Nashua woman was injured early Friday evening when her car was struck broadside by a sport utility vehicle on Amherst Street. Emily Holland, 23, was treated and released from Southern New Hampshire Medical Center where she was transported after…

School Board mulling changes

WILTON - The board of the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School is considering changes to policies on attendance and student safety. The changes were first discussed Wednesday, and further discussions will be held at the School Board’s next meeting on Sept. 22.…

History teacher receives award

NASHUA - The head social studies teacher at Nashua High School North has been named the New Hampshire winner of the new Preserve America History Teacher of the Year Award. Thomas Gilfoyle of Pelham will receive a $1,000 award, a…

Law enforcement expo planned

MERRIMACK - The Nashua Police Department’s 10th annual Northeast Law Enforcement Expo will be Sept. 25-26 at the Anheuser-Busch fields. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. More than 75 federal, state, county and local law…

Trail day to be held at Mine Falls

NASHUA- The Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee will hold its next trail day of the season Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The group will meet at the Whipple Street entrance to the park, near Simon Street and the soccer fields.…

IF YOU GO: Nashua River Rail Trail

The Nashua River Rail Trail runs from the southwest corner of the city to Ayer, Mass. The start of the trail in Nashua is off Route 111A (West Groton Road), near the Hollis town line. The city plans to create…

Town closes road for construction

LYNDEBOROUGH - Selectmen have closed Old Temple Road West to all traffic through the construction area around the old stone arch bridges. The road will be closed until further notice. Selectman Dwight Sowerby said the closing was a precaution. “There…

WMSA to hold yard sale

WILTON- The Main Street Association will present its second annual Whale of a Sale fund-raiser on Saturday, Oct. 9, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Second Congregational Church in downtown Wilton. Donations of yard sale items in good…

Legion to recognize longtime members

NASHUA- The Legionnaires of James E. Coffey Post 3, along with Auxiliary Unit 3 and Sons of the American Legion Squadron 3, will honor their members for their longevity in the organization and service to their community on Sunday. The…

IF YOU GO: Nashua River Rail Trail

The Nashua River Rail Trail runs from the southwest corner of the city to Ayer, Mass. The start of the trail in Nashua is off Route 111A (West Groton Road), near the Hollis town line. The city plans to create…

Native American gathering

MASON - Parker’s Maple Barn will host “Honor the Spirit,” the eighth annual gathering of American Indians, on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 11 and 12. The grounds, across the road from the restaurant at 1316 Brookline Road, will be open…

Brigade to show old fire equipment

NEW IPSWICH - On Sunday, Sept. 12, the New Ipswich Antique Fire Brigade will host a “Gathering of the Clan” in the Barrett House field, featuring hand fire pumpers from throughout the region. The event will run from 1-4 p.m.…

Condo association sues roofers

A Merrimack condominium association charges that a Massachusetts company botched a major roofing job several years ago, leading to leaks. The Harris Pond Condominium Association filed suit last month in Hillsborough County Superior Court against WDC Development Co. of North…

Agency offers after-school, ESL programs

The Salvation Army will begin its after-school program on Monday, Sept. 20. The program will run from 3-6 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Children will be picked up at school by the Salvation Army, and the program will include homework assistance,…

Arbitrator hears firemen’s grievance

HUDSON- An arbitration hearing was held Monday on a grievance the firefighters union filed over the Board of Selectmen’s decision that firefighters’ T-shirts and polo shirts cannot make reference to the union. The meeting, which included testimony, was closed to…

Former Enterasys exec pleads guilty to fraud charge

A former executive at Enterasys Networks pleaded guilty Aug. 19 to conspiracy to commit securities fraud, saying she falsified information at the direction of both the company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer. In exchange for a lesser sentence,…

Q&A: Learning about the CLL from Karol LaCroix

For the past eight years, Karol LaCroix was dean of the University of New Hampshire-Manchester. Earlier this summer, she became president of New Hampshire’s College for Lifelong Learning after the resignation of Thomas M. Rocco. During a recent interview at…

How to make the most of the Tri City Expo

Editor’s note: This is the final part of a three part series detailing how New Hampshire businesses can make the most of expositions and trade shows in the lead up to the Tri-City Business to Business Exposition, to be held…

It’s time to repeal the misguided SB 110

Despite the claims of proponents of the Senate Bill 110 health insurance “reform” measure, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that the effects of the legislation have not only been onerous but very likely have been tying the economic hands of small…

Missing from the Business Services Guide

To the editor: I was very glad to receive my copy of the Business Services Guide 2005. This is a fact-packed publication that is sure to be used time and time again. Imagine my dismay, however, when I discovered that…

Praise for sole-source story

To the editor: I just read your latest issue (Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2004). The piece on sole-source contracts is a wonderful piece of work. Making government accountable through oversight by the press. Sounds like a high school textbook. Great job!…

Music to your ears

Like the Van Morrison song, sounds as sweet as Tupelo honey will rise starting on Sept. 11 from a new music venue in Londonderry. At the site of the former Muse in Londonderry, the Tupelo Music Hall live music venue…

Day trippin’ in the Merrimack Valley

The Drive For many of us, there isn’t much of a drive to get into the Merrimack Valley, namely Concord, Manchester, Nashua and nearby towns, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take the back roads to get there. Route 43…

Truth or dare

Apparently those doomsayers who have predicted that the state faces a more than $300 million budget gap in the next biennium are way off the mark. Just ask Governor Benson, who has assured his citizenry that the budget gap will…