Police arrested 10 people over the weekend as the result of two checkpoints set up on the night of Friday, June 13. Orchestrated by the Seacoast DUI Task Force, the checkpoints and concurrent “DUI hunter patrols” were initiated as part of a summer crackdown on drunk driving.

The DUI Task Force is a collaboration between officers from Portsmouth, Rye, Greenland, Rockingham County Sheriff’s Department and State Police Troop A. The checkpoints, set up at two locations in Portsmouth, screened more than 800 vehicles between the hours of 10 p.m. Friday and 2 a.m. Saturday. Police warned motorists to expect more checkpoints and saturation patrols throughout the summer.

When conducting checkpoints, police set up roadblocks at designated locations and stop vehicles to assess motorists’ sobriety. The checkpoints are supported by the New Hampshire branch of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Saturation patrols put extra officers on the roads specifically to hunt down drunk drivers. Such measures have led to numerous arrests over the past several summers.

Controversy erupted over sobriety checkpoints in 2005, when a Portsmouth District Court judge dismissed DUI charges against several people arrested at roadblocks that summer. But the N.H. Supreme Court has since reaffirmed the constitutionality of the checkpoints. Charges resulting from the most recent checkpoints included driving under the influence, possession of drugs and driving after revocation or suspension.

The Portsmouth Police Department is also conducting compliance checks on sales of alcohol to minors. On June 12, the department conducted checks at 26 businesses. Four of those businesses allegedly sold alcohol to an 18-year-old subject. Representatives from the Hannaford on Islington Street, Irving Blue Canoe on Lafayette Road, Heath’s Mobil Service Center on Woodbury Avenue and Shaws on Woodbury Avenue will be arraigned on Monday, July 14.

strolling through Kittery

Stroll the Square invites guests to discover the merchants, artists and artisans of downtown Kittery, Maine, on Thursday, June 19, from 4 to 8 p.m. Now in its fourth year, the event will offer art, music, dance, refreshments and conversation in the heart of this waterfront Seacoast community.

At least 27 shops, restaurants and other businesses in the area known as Wallingford Square will open their doors to show customers what they have to offer. Participating businesses are located along a loop that begins on Government Street, curves around Walker Street and extends down Wentworth Street.

According to Lory Pratt, of Papers, Ink!, merchants started the stroll in 2005 as a way of raising awareness about the businesses in town that lie outside the well-known Kittery Outlets on Route 1. “It’s basically an open house just to let people know that we’re down here and give them an opportunity to see what we’re all about,” Pratt said.

The evening’s musical offerings will include a gospel choir at the Second Christian Congregational Church, the New England Irish Harp Orchestra at Rice Public Library and Sea Smoke at The Space, as well as other musicians throughout town. Local artists will exhibit everything from watercolors to photography in various stores.

The event will also enable guests to get a first glimpse at a number of emerging businesses in Kittery. At least three new businesses plan to be open by Thursday, including Christine’s, Yellow House Design and KMZ Skin Care, Beauty & Style. In addition, The Red Door Pottery Studio will hold a grand opening event after months of construction in the winter.

New Hampshire and Maine races taking shape

Maine held its state primary for Senate and Congressional seats on June 11, but there were few surprises. Incumbent Susan Collins, who was unopposed in the primary, easily took the Republican nomination as she makes a bid for her third term in the U.S. Senate. Democrat Tom Allen, who is giving up his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, will challenge Collins in the general election in November.

Chellie Pingree defeated five other Democrats to win the nomination to replace Allen in Maine’s 1st Congressional District. She squares off against Republican Charles Summers, a former state senator and Iraq war veteran who lost a bid for Congress to Allen in 2004.

In New Hampshire, the most recent development was state Sen. Joe Kenney’s announcement that he would challenge Gov. John Lynch in the gubernatorial race. The Wakefield Republican is serving his third term in the N.H. State Senate, while Lynch, a Democrat, is running for his third term as governor.

Republican Jeb Bradley is hoping to reclaim the seat he lost to Democrat Carol Shea Porter two years ago in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, but he must first defeat former N.H. Health Commissioner John Stephen in the state primary on Sept. 9.

In New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District, two Republicans have stepped forward to challenge Democratic incumbent Paul Hodes. Newspaper columnist and radio host Jennifer Horn will face third-term state Sen. Bob Clegg in the primary.
Both Hodes and Shea Porter are serving their first terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Former Democratic Gov. Jeanne Shaheen is challenging incumbent Republican John Sununu for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Sununu served three terms in the U.S. House before defeating Shaheen in an open-seat Senate race in 2002. Both candidates are unopposed in the primary.

The Music Hall buys downtown office space

The Music Hall has expanded by purchasing office space on Congress Street, just around the corner from its theater on Chestnut Street. Already, the windows at 131 Congress St. are covered with posters advertising shows at the performing arts center.

According to executive director Patricia Lynch, the new space will provide staff members with much needed offices and meeting rooms. “Right now we’re developing our plans, and certainly office space is a critical issue for us,” Lynch said.

She also plans to use the space to advance The Music Hall’s many educational programs, which are difficult to conduct in the theater when performances are happening. The split-level building includes more than 4,000 square feet of space.

Lynch could not provide a timeframe for when staff members would move into the new offices. Construction has not yet begun on the Congress Street location, as The Music Hall focuses on extensive renovations to its main lobby. The lobby is expected to reopen on Sept. 18, at the opening of their “Telluride by the Sea” weekend.

Eventually, Lynch hopes the new space will enable The Music Hall to consolidate staff in a central downtown location and create long-term savings