Portsmouth’s soon-to-be mayor visits DBA

Mayor-elect Tom Ferrini introduced himself to the Downtown Business Association during its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 14, and entertained questions from concerned business owners. Ferrini, who currently serves as assistant mayor, was the top vote-getter in the Portsmouth City Council race on Nov. 6. He will take over in January for current Mayor Steve Marchand, who opted not to run for reelection to a second term.

Addressing a crowd of about 20 business owners at the Portsmouth Gaslight Co. on Market Street, Ferrini emphasized the importance of maintaining solid channels of communication between the City Council and the business community—especially during the holidays, which is a crucial time for many local retailers.

“We want to make sure we step up our vigilance during this busy season,” Ferrini said.

Briefly outlining city projects that should benefit downtown businesses, Ferrini pointed to the importance of improving roads and parking. Completing the Sheraton Harborside Hotel and Conference Center and parking garage will be critical to expanding the city’s tax base and providing more parking, he said.

Asked whether added revenue from Northern Tier projects would go toward reducing taxes on business owners and renters, Ferrini said that would be one of the objectives.

“An expanded economic pie … is what gives us strength, and we need that, and that’s what gives you tax relief,” he said.
Ferrini also said the city needs to do more to attract workforce housing and maintain economic diversity downtown. With the influx of $1 million condos, older people are moving out at a faster rate than new people are moving in, he said. The City Council must provide opportunities for police, teachers and other employees earning well below the median income to live in Portsmouth.

Others complained about the lack of quick snow removal on sidewalks outside downtown business fronts. Ferrini encouraged residents and business owners to contact him and other councilors whenever such problems arise.
“Tell us, and tell us again,” he said.

the Iowa/New Hampshire Exchange

What happens in New Hampshire and Iowa during primary season matters to the entire country. Candidates pay frequent visits to both states, expecting to be grilled with tough questions from savvy voters. They know a strong showing in the first two primary states is crucial to their campaigns. But, since the Granite State and the Hawkeye State are different in many regards, candidates often tailor their responses depending on the audience.

A new program co-hosted by New Hampshire Public Radio and Iowa Public Radio will allow voters in both states to exchange questions, concerns and opinions. “The Iowa/New Hampshire Exchange” will explore key issues being discussed in the 2008 primary season with three hour-long call-in programs. The show is co-hosted by NHPR’s Laura Knoy and IPR’s Ben Kieffer. The first show, “The Economy,” aired on Wednesday, Nov. 14. The next show, “Social Issues,” airs at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 28. The last show, “The Environment,” airs at 2 p.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 12.

“It’s a great opportunity for voters in the two first-in-the-nation states to talk to each,” said Keith Shields, executive producer of “The Iowa/New Hampshire Exchange.” He approached Iowa Public Radio with the idea of co-hosting a listener call-in program. Representatives from both stations met to iron out the details, decide on a format and choose which issues to discuss.   

“The war in Iraq is a huge, huge issue, but we decided not to do that. You wouldn’t see the same compare-and-contrast conversation. We wanted to pick issues that are playing out differently [in the two states] and find the compare-and-contrast moments,” he said.

Same-sex marriage, abortion, religion and faith will be discussed in the “Social Issues” program. “The Environment” will look at ethanol production, carbon emissions, acid rain and global warming. In Iowa, a candidate might focus on ethanol production, whereas in New Hampshire, discussion might include more emphasis on wood chip production, Shields said.

“It will be very interesting to see how our listeners compare notes and where the candidates tailor their positions depending on who they are talking to,” said Betsy Gardella, president and CEO of NHPR. “This will be an election cycle where character really matters. Candidates who have figured out what their positions are and are able to communicate that in a consistent way with voters in different parts of the country are going to be meaningful for the New Hampshire voter.” 

NHPR’s primary coverage also includes a program called “Primary Place,” which views the primaries through the lens of Exeter voters. “Primary Place” was picked up by NPR’s “Weekend Edition.” The show is now broadcast across the country and boosts NHPR’s listenership from 161,000 during the week to 1.3 million on Sundays, when the show airs. 

Phillips Exeter offers free tuition

An education from Phillips Exeter Academy typically comes with a hefty price tag, but it will soon be made accessible to students with modest means. The prestigious private school in Exeter recently announced a new financial aid program that will allow students whose families earn $75,000 per year or less to attend the academy for free. School officials hope to attract high caliber students who otherwise could not afford PEA’s tuition.

“We’re interested in drawing students from a broader, deeper pool. We think there are students out there that don’t consider a Phillips Exeter education because they think they can’t afford it,” said PEA communications director Julie Quinn.

The financial aid package covers tuition, room and board, books, academic supplies, linens, health and technology fees and a computer. Without any financial aid, the cost of attending PEA is nearly $40,000 per year. Of the 1,000 students currently attending the school, 46 percent receive some form of financial aid. That includes the children of faculty and staff. 

The financial aid program at PEA is funded by the academy’s endowment, which has surpassed $1 billion. The academy’s fundraising campaign recently reached its $305 million goal—two years ahead of schedule. The free tuition program takes effect at the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year. School officials expect to see an increase in applications.
“We hope we will,” Quinn said.

Cross Roads House prepares for renovations

A proposed renovation of the Cross Roads House would not make the homeless shelter on Lafayette Road any bigger, but it would make it a lot better. The project would include replacing three old buildings with a single, new-and-improved facility, according to executive director Chris Sterndale. The new building would house individual residences, some family residences, a kitchen and dining room, a classroom, counseling space and offices for staff.  

“The primary concern is the condition of the buildings we have,” Sterndale said. “The core of our oldest building was built in the 1920s. We need them to be a lot safer and more secure. We’re spending a lot of our resources on maintenance. If we’re going to be here in the future, we need to do something about the buildings now.”

Through an ongoing fundraising campaign, the shelter hopes to raise an estimated $3 million to cover the cost of renovations. According to Sterndale, several individuals have already stepped forward with generous donations, but the campaign still has a way to go. The timeline for the project will depend on the success of the fundraising campaign, Sterndale said. “We would love to start in spring. That would allow us to be finished before next winter,” he added. 

The first step will be to gain approval from the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a number of zoning variances. “We’re asking for variances to zoning ordinances regarding lot line setbacks and the placement of parking,” Sterndale said. The zoning board met on Nov. 20 to hear the proposal. If the variances are approved, the project will go before the Planning Board for a site review.

While Sterndale stopped short of making any predictions, he remains hopeful the Zoning Board will approve the variances. “You never know until you go before the board, but overall, the site is going to improve in a lot of ways, so we’re hopeful the Zoning Board will help make that possible,” he said