union employees at Dover schools fight for their jobs

A small group of local union employees took to the streets of Dover on April 13, marching and waving signs in front of City Hall on Central Avenue. The group, consisting of members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2932, was protesting the Dover School District’s decision to privatize custodial services at city schools. The decision means that 30 to 35 union employees who currently staff the schools will be out of a job when their three-year contract expires on June 30.

The demonstration was quickly broken up by police, who said the group needed a permit for such a public congregation. Union members tried to reschedule for the following Monday, but they were told that the permit would have to be approved by the City Council, which would not convene again until Wednesday, April 23.

Portsmouth considers streetscape improvements on Market Street Extension

The Islington Street Action Plan has received a lot of headlines lately. But another corridor leading into Portsmouth is also slated for big changes. A public input session was recently held to discuss the Market Street Extension Streetscape Improvement Plan.

Market Street Extension runs from Kearsage Way, under Interstate 95, to Deer Street. Dubbed a “gateway” into Portsmouth, it is the main access route to the central business district and home to the city’s working waterfront. Nearly 16,000 vehicles enter Portsmouth via the road each day, passing by such attractions as the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center and the Albacore Submarine Museum. On April 14, roughly 35 people gathered at Portsmouth Public Library for the unveiling of conceptual designs created by the Cecil Group.

identifying NH reptiles and amphibians

Can you tell the difference between a leopard frog and a pickerel frog? Both are typically two or three inches long and have brown or greenish skin with rows of dark spots. But if you look closely, the leopard frog’s spots are rounder than those of its pickerel cousin, and leopard frogs lack the bright coloring that is seen on the inner thighs of pickerels.
This distinction is important because, while pickerel frogs are abundant throughout New Hampshire, leopard frogs are currently vulnerable to extinction.

town juggles a contentious resignation, steep budget cuts and a new comprehensive plan

To say that the current atmosphere within South Berwick’s town government is hectic would be an understatement. As the southern-Maine community of 6,670 people labors to draft a municipal budget that some people have labeled a “crisis,” it is also recovering from the loss of former town manager Jeffrey Grossman, who resigned amid considerable controversy last month. At the same time, the town is finalizing an updated comprehensive plan that has been in the works for more than six years. On top of all that, Public Works director Terry Oliver submitted a letter of resignation late last month.

war on drugs becomes war of words in Rochester

The Rochester School Board and Rochester Mayor John Larochelle have encountered some harsh criticism over the past few weeks. The city’s predicament began a few weeks ago, when two members of the School Board, both also state legislators, voted to decriminalize small quantities of marijuana.

House Bill 1623, which would make possession of less than one-quarter ounce of marijuana a violation instead of a misdemeanor, recently passed the House 193-141. Democrats Pamela Hubbard and Bill Brennan, both members of the Rochester School Board, voted in favor of the bill. But at least one vocal Rochester resident thinks their votes send the wrong message to students. Fred Leonard, father of two teenage sons in the Rochester School District, believes Hubbard and Brennan should resign from the School Board.

proposed legislation aims to reform NH’s retirement system

Proposed legislation to reform the New Hampshire Retirement System recently glided through the House of Representatives, but the bill is expected to encounter greater resistance in the Senate. Irked by language that would force police and firefighters to add five years to their careers, many public employees are calling for the bill to be quashed. 

public mulls Islington Street options

Imagine if Islington Street were a one-way traffic corridor with a bike lane, widened sidewalks and small trees along the roadway. Or what if the massive parking lot at Plaza 800 were converted into open space above a two-level underground parking structure? Supposing the street was dappled with pocket parks, raised crosswalks, small parking areas and a bus hub?

electric cars to be driven by faculty and staff

UNH faculty and staff have the opportunity to test drive two electric cars, thanks to a number of organizations concerned with the environment, including UNH Energy and Campus Development, the Office of Sustainability, and the UNH Energy Task Force in partnership with Maine Electric Vehicles of Falmouth.

Starting on March 17, the cars, which are called Neighborhood Electric Vehicles, will be driven around campus for two weeks to assess the benefits of adding them to the Clean Fleet Program.

“Neighborhood Electric Vehicles are one potential niche market alternative fuel vehicle that might be useful as part of the UNH-Durham campus fleet,” said Steve Pesci, the Energy and Campus Development project director for special projects.

N.H. House moves along notable bills

Last week, there was a flurry of activity among New Hampshire lawmakers, with the Senate and House sending along several bills to each other. Global warming, marijuana, text messaging and negligent hiking were among the issues addressed by the House and that will now be taken up by the New Hampshire Senate.

House Bill 1434 commits New Hampshire to a 10-state regional effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Approved 214-107, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative would allow New Hampshire to adopt its own laws and regulations to reduce carbon emissions from power plants. The bill would also establish an energy conservation and efficiency board.

high prices are hurting local businesses

Oil isn’t the only commodity inflicting sticker shock these days. Wheat prices have increased dramatically over the last year, leaving many local business owners struggling to adapt.

For Me & Ollie’s owner Roger Elkus, the price of wheat has more than tripled in the last three months. He use to pay $11 for a 50-pound bag of wheat, but lately, he has had to shell out around $30 per bag.

Unlike larger bakeries, which buy their wheat a year in advance and therefore enjoy a set price for the entire year, Me & Ollie’s purchases flour as the need arises. The price they charge for a loaf of bread reflects the most recent price they paid for a bag of wheat. “Unfortunately, because we’re small, we have to react pretty quickly,” Elkus said. When the price of wheat is up, Elkus charges more for bread. Eventually, the bigger bakeries will change their price, too. “They let the little guys pave the way for sticker shock, so they can kind of ease their prices up,” Elkus said. “We have to go in unprotected.”

development headed to Bow Street in Portsmouth

After two years of legal wrangling, the New Hampshire Supreme Court has approved a proposed development on Bow Street in Portsmouth. The Martingale Wharf project will expand the existing brick building at 99 Bow Street, causing a drastic reduction to the only significant view of the Piscataqua River between Bow Street’s shops and restaurants.

Representing RRJ Properties of Portsmouth, attorney Malcolm McNeill said the Supreme Court’s decision came back on March 7, just one day after oral arguments concluded. McNeill said the quick decision was “very unusual.” While his client is pleased with the final decision, “we regret (that) the appeals brought by Harborsquare have required two years to be resolved,” he said.

Harborsquare is a legal entity made up of abutters to the development site who oppose the project. They believe the development will have a negative impact on the character of Bow Street and its views.

John McCain is greeted with jeers and cheers in Exeter

John McCain supporters who packed Exeter Town Hall on Wednesday, March 12, first had to elbow their way through a dense crowd of feisty protesters who noisily chanted and ranted against the Republican presidential nominee. Refrains of “Bush, McCain, more of the same” rose and fell like waves as supporters and protesters awaited the arrival of McCain’s campaign bus, the Straight Talk Express.

It was the Arizona senator’s first visit to New Hampshire since his momentum-shifting state primary victory on Jan. 8. Having since secured the Republican nomination, McCain announced that he would return to the Granite State to personally thank the voters who set him on the path to primary conquest. But McCain is also looking ahead to the general election in November, when he will battle either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton in this “battleground” state.

Last May, Portsmouth residents and members of the North Church congregation celebrated the completion of major renovation work. The iconic steeple in Market Square had been rebuilt, a new roof had been installed and a slew of other repairs had been made, giving the church a significant facelift and improving its structural integrity. The church’s clockworks were also restored.

It was a major project that encountered several setbacks, including a violent windstorm in July 2006 that sent the church’s spire scaffolding crashing onto Pleasant Street. When restored, the steeple and new roof looked better and stopped water from leaking in. But, as the interior began to dry, especially the narthex (or lobby) the plaster and paint started to chip and flake. In January 2008, the church shut down again so that crews could work on the interior. After months of work, North Church is set to reopen on Sunday, March 16—this time for good. 

In the original restoration plan, church officials intended to fix the plaster and add new paint, but it made sense to wait until the exterior was finished. In November 2007, the church membership authorized additional funds to complete the interior work.   

New Hampshire ranks last in state management

While New Hampshire may be number one in our hearts, it’s number 50 when it comes to government performance. A recent report released by the Pew Center on the States ranked New Hampshire last in terms of state management. Poor financial reporting, inefficient human resource management, aging infrastructure and ineffective information management earned New Hampshire a D+ in the 2008 “State Management Report Card.”

The Pew Center on the States hopes to help New Hampshire and other states improve by pointing out weaknesses, showcasing good practices and working with government officials to implement changes.

“Our mission is to improve service to the public by strengthening state government policy and management,” said Neal Johnson, director of the Pew Center’s Government Performance Project. “The mission of our organization is really to improve service to citizens.”

No, not an All Terrain Vehicle—an Automated Transfer Vehicle, which was launched by the European Space Agency to bring supplies to the International Space Station. After a March 9 launch, one of the four propulsions systems on the massive space freighter was shut down by an onboard computer, according to a recent space.com story.ESA’s ATV mission manager John Ellwood said that all other systems seem to be fine, and the craft is in a stable orbit.

Launched aboard an Ariane-5 rocket, the ATV can carry a payload the size of a bus, and is carrying food, water and air to the ISS crew.

McIntosh College to close

McIntosh College faces a murky future. The college’s parent company, Career Education Corporation, has announced that it will begin slowly phasing out MacIntosh’s educational programs. The announcement, released on Friday, Feb. 15, laid out a plan that would close McIntosh’s doors for good late in 2009. The gradual process allows for the approximately 1,000 students currently enrolled in the school to complete their educations.

Lynne Baker, vice president of corporate communications for Career Education, said the school is no longer accepting incoming applications. McIntosh will, however, continue to work with its remaining students until all of their programs have been completed.

Career Education had been searching for potential buyers for the school since November 2006, but failed to find an agreement that would “protect the short and long-term interests of the school’s students, faculty and staff,” Baker said.

CEO and co-founder of City Year selected to be keynote speaker at 2008 commencement

Many seniors at UNH may have been keeping their fingers crossed for a famous talent from Hollywood to follow last year’s high profile keynote speakers—former presidents George Bush Sr. and Bill Clinton. While a face from Tinsel Town will not visit UNH this year, university administrators feel they have found an ideal speaker in City Year co-founder Michael Brown.

Brown has dedicated the last 20 years of his life to bettering the lives of others. A Harvard University and Harvard Law School graduate, Brown co-founded a youth service group called City Year in 1988. The program brings together over 1,400 people each year, ranging in age from 17 to 24, to commit to one year of full-time community service, which includes leadership development and civic engagement. City Year has many locations throughout the United States and South Africa, and even has a local office in Stratham.

Brown said he is inspired by the power of young people. In his speech, he plans to share part of his own life story to explain how he got into his line of work.
“I’m just honored to have the opportunity to talk about the tremendous role that young people can have in making change in society,” he said.

Senate hopeful Jeanne Shaheen tours foreclosed property in Rochester

The two-story wood-frame house at 13 Summer St. in Rochester was built right around the turn of the 20th century. Its white exterior is accentuated by an elegant bay window, and green recycling bins rest on the front porch. There are a total of seven rooms in the house, including three bedrooms, along with a bathroom nautically decorated with seashells and starfish. Snow is piled several feet deep on the back patio, and containers of laundry detergent still sit atop a washing machine in the basement.

But the house is empty, devoid of furniture or inhabitants. And although it is still in decent condition, no one seems interested in buying. It is one of many homes that has been foreclosed on in Rochester this year, and others will follow. The mortgage crisis has hit hard in the Lilac City, which experienced around 90 foreclosures in 2007—the highest number of any community in Strafford County.

three bills address affordable housing

Throughout the Seacoast and the rest of New Hampshire, many communities seem to treat workforce housing with little concern and, at times, outright contempt. Three bills now before the New Hampshire Legislature would ensure affordable housing developments receive a fair shot in municipalities throughout the state. Senate Bill 342 would establish a way for developers to appeal municipal actions that deny, impede or delay qualified proposals for workforce housing. Senate Bill 421 and House Bill 1472 would require municipal land use regulations to provide reasonable opportunities for the creation of workforce housing.

A hulking, black file cabinet sits in the Smuttynose Brewery office on Heritage Avenue in Portsmouth. It’s long enough and wide enough to hold large architectural drawings and geo-technical surveys. Most of the drawers are labeled with small, white markers. On one of the bottom drawers, a label reads, “Newmarket, Kittery, Lafayette Plans.” This is the archive. At the top, another label reads “Towle Farm Plans.” Smuttynose owner Peter Egelston reaches into this drawer for renderings of the new facility he wants to build in Hampton.

“The Capitol looks really big at night under spotlights when you’re alone on the front steps,” said Tim Stone. The Portsmouth resident and founding member of Portsmouth Community Radio (WSCA, 106.1 FM) returned last week from a trip to Washington, D.C., during which he advocated to U.S. representatives from New Hampshire for expansion of community radio possibilities nationwide. 

Big as it was, the Capitol was not unapproachable for Stone, who met with Sen. Judd Gregg and staffers for Sen. John Sununu and Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, in addition to FCC staff, last Tuesday. Stone was one of about four dozen community radio leaders from across the country who attended Low-Power FM Leadership Days on Feb. 25 and 26.  The event was organized by Prometheus Radio Project, a nonprofit community radio advocacy group based in Philadelphia. 

Prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, pro-war rhetoric swirled around much of the country. But there is a difference between the patriotic fervor that fueled the mission in Iraq and the sort of reasonable discussion that many believe was sorely missing. Several New Hampshire peace organizations don’t want to make the same mistake when it comes to Iran, so they have organized an event at UNH to discuss the potential impact of an American-led strike on Iran.

“The Folly of Attacking Iran: A Discussion with Stephen Kinzer” will be held on Tuesday, March 4, from 12:40 to 2 p.m., in UNH’s MUB Theatre II. As a reporter for the New York Times for over 20 years, Kinzer has covered more than 50 countries on five continents. He is the author of several books, including the 2003 New York Times Bestseller about Iran, “All the Shah’s Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror.” 

“A lot of mainstream media does not adequately cover such important issues. We think that the American people, given good information, can make good choices and understand things,” said Amy Antonucci of Seacoast Peace Response. She helped organize the UNH event, but it was Anne Miller from New Hampshire Peace Action that brought Kinzer to the Granite State.

Miller read Kinzer’s book before visiting Iran in 2005. She was impressed with his insight on how the CIA-lead coup in 1953 contributed to the issues and tensions seen today. “For most Americans, Iranian history goes back to 1979, but U.S. and British intervention goes back at least 100 years,” Miller said.

After several months of debate, it appears that Fort Rock Farm will soon be the new home of St. Michael Parish. The Exeter Zoning Board of Adjustment recently accepted the parish’s revised proposal to build a church and parish center on the Newfields Road space. While St. Michael agreed to several compromises, including the elimination of a proposed multipurpose facility, opponents of the project remain unsatisfied. Critics believe that the church and its adjoining buildings will negatively impact the environment and create an eyesore on a road that many consider the scenic gateway to Exeter.

Warren Henderson is the current owner of Fort Rock Farm who originally approached St. Michael Parish with the proposition to sell. His family has owned the property for six generations. Henderson was elated by the ZBA’s recent decision.

COLSA and T-School kick off seminar series on agriculture

Organic livestock farming was the topic of concern at the Thompson School auditorium on Wednesday, Feb. 13, as a new weekly seminar series entitled “Farming for the Future” began.

The series of seminars, which are sponsored by the Organic Dairy Academic Research Subcommittee, discuss not only the future of farming but also how organic farming is connected to environmental sustainability.

“The goal is to really help students understand the academic as well as some of the research initiatives that are possible so that we can actually have that information help out students so that research projects can be conducted … at the organic dairy (research farm),” said College of Life Sciences and Agriculture associate professor Paul Tsang.

“The fact that we have a conventional dairy (farm) … is an ideal opportunity for students to learn.”

Lately, readers of The New Hampshire Gazette may have noticed that the newspaper is a little lighter than usual. They may have also noticed that some of their favorite features have been omitted from recent issues. That’s because as of this month, the biweekly publication, trademarked as the nation’s oldest newspaper, went from 16 pages to eight. But, while the Gazette may look a little thin these days, the content is as robust as ever, according to publisher Steven Fowle.

“I’ve always compared the Gazette to a motorcycle. It is stripped down to the essentials and it will go like hell,” he said.
Fowle’s decision to shave off some pages came as a result of limited resources and the desire to concentrate more on the Gazette’s Web site, www.nhgazette.com. Slimming the paper also enables Fowle to send it to subscribers by first class mail for 41 cents per issue.

According to city attorney Robert Sullivan, the three establishments violated regulations laid out in a city ordinance pertaining to video viewing booths.

“In general, the ordinance requires that the video booths be located in such a way that the interior of the booths is visible from the common areas of the store. Additionally, the booths have to be lighted and kept clean. There were issues with all of those,” Sullivan said.

Polar Bear Survival Tour headed to Portsmouth

Unless the human race takes quick action to reverse current climate trends, North America’s polar bear population will likely be gone in as few as 50 years. According to scientists, the Arctic sea ice that these majestic creatures depend on for survival is melting at a hazardous pace. The plight of the polar bear is just one of the alarming impacts attributed to global warming.
The good news is that people can still take the necessary steps to rescue polar bears from extinction. On Friday, Feb. 15, the Polar Bear Survival Tour will swing through Portsmouth to educate guests about what is happening to the bears and how they can be saved. Author and Arctic explorer Chad Kister will bring the tour to St. John’s Episcopal Church at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

university and students are concerned with possible summer school boycott

According to Dale Barkey, president of the American Association of University Professors, and Bruce Mallory, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs at UNH, if the AAUP and University of New Hampshire do not reach an agreement later this month, a summer school boycott by the AAUP is likely for both the Durham and Manchester campuses.

After 19 months of failing to agree on contract negotiations, the AAUP and UNH will resume negotiations with a third party mediator later this month. This is the second impasse during these negotiations. Before the present contract, the last time the two sides had to declare an impasse on a contract negotiation was 1997. According to Mallory, the AAUP also boycotted summer courses that year.

lawmakers and environmental groups look to protect New Hampshire’s wetlands

Wetlands rarely steal the spotlight when it comes to environmental action. Most people would rather save the whales or fight climate change. But protecting wetlands should be a local priority. These unique ecosystems play a crucial role in overall environmental health, and they are constantly threatened by development. 

Two bills currently before the New Hampshire Legislature could help protect wetlands by establishing additional setbacks for new structures and an updated permitting process for builders. House Bill 1579 and Senate Bill 435 target wetlands, but the two bills also represent the most recent chapter in New Hampshire’s ongoing struggle to balance economic growth with environmental protection.

award-winning professor leaves UNH for new opportunity

After 39 years at the University of New Hampshire, Berrien Moore III, director of the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, will be leaving UNH and EOS for Climate Central, a small non-profit research institute located in Princeton, N.J. and Palo Alto, Calif.

Moore, who was part of a team of scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its research on how to battle climate change, will leave UNH in June 2008. The interim director of EOS will be Roy B. Torbert, associate director for academic affairs and research at EOS.

Moore came to UNH in 1969 and has been the director of EOS since it was established in the 1980s.

“(EOS) wouldn’t be here if not for Berrien,” said David S. Bartlett, associate director of finance and administration at EOS. “He was the founding director 20-plus years ago. He brought many of the current faculty, including myself, to UNH.”

and in this corner

Iran has launched a rocket into space from its own space center in northern Iran. This is the first launch from the new center, according to a recent AP report.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying,  “We witness today that Iran has taken its first step in space very firmly, precisely and with awareness,” when he gave the order for the launch.

the rush to reserve
camping reservations available in February

On your mark, get set, camp. Reservation season for sites at state campgrounds begin on Wednesday, Feb. 6, and people pining for the outdoors are now able to secure spots at their favorite Granite State campgrounds. Summer is still several dreary months away, but the best camping spots typically fill up within the first month after reservations are made available. So, it’s time to start thinking ahead and make those reservations early.

“People want to get the best site, or their favorite site, so the earlier the better,” said Amy Bassett, marketing director for the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation. Hampton Beach RV Park, certain parts of Pawtuckaway State Park and White Lake usually fill up the fastest. Any site on the water is also popular, especially during summer holidays. “If a certain campground is full, we try to give them another option,” Bassett said

youth vote rises in N.H. primary

Upon returning from winter break, you might have noticed something missing from campus. Gone are members of political campaigns who recruited voters from outside of dining halls and inside the MUB. Signs urging students to vote have diminished, campaign phone calls to dorms have ceased and the political candidates who once targeted Durham as an essential campaign stop have moved on to other states. The New Hampshire primary is over, and life at UNH seems substantially quieter.
In the aftermath of the Jan. 8 primary, many students find themselves wondering how great a part their votes played. While John McCain’s victory in Durham mirrored the overall statewide results for the Republican Party, Barack Obama’s win on the Democratic side in Durham contrasted with statewide results favoring winner Hillary Clinton.

Obama’s local win may have been aided in large part by a surge of voting by absentee ballots in Durham. The town experienced a small voter turnout on the actual date of the primary.

House Bill 1567, sponsored by Rep. Charles Weed (D-Keene), would make it legal to possess up to one-quarter ounce of marijuana for personal or medical use. Last year, Weed sponsored a bill that would have legalized any quantity of marijuana, but it died in the House. Police agencies overwhelmingly opposed the bill.

House Bill 1623, sponsored by Rep. Jeffrey Fontas (D-Nashua), would make possession of up to 1.25 ounces of marijuana a violation level offense, instead of a Class A misdemeanor. A violation carries a $200 fine, while a Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a $2,500 fine. Opponents say the bill, as it is currently worded, would also allow for the legal sale of marijuana.

House Bill 1559, sponsored by Rep. Paul Ingbretson (R-Pike), requires people convicted of Class A misdemeanor charges for possession of marijuana or hashish to be sentenced to home confinement instead of jail time. Under the proposal, fines could still be imposed for drug convictions.

part four of a four-part series on the issues facing the Seacoast’s top elected officials

this week: Somersworth Mayor Mike Micucci uses past experience to address future change

Somersworth occupies a unique space among Seacoast communities. With a population just under 12,000, it’s much smaller than neighboring Dover and Rochester. But rapid growth over the last few decades has introduced a number of issues to Somersworth, putting pressure on city officials to respond. Having served on the Somersworth City Council for the better part of the last two decades, there are few people as familiar with those looming issues as newly elected Mayor Michael Micucci.

During the 2007 election cycle, Micucci ran on a platform of improving communication and transparency in City Hall. The first step in doing so has been making himself more available to the public. When he’s not working as an industrial pre-treatment coordinator for the wastewater treatment plant in Biddeford, Maine, Micucci holds office hours three days a week on the second floor of City Hall. The Wire recently stopped by his sparse office, which gives the impression that Micucci is still in the process of moving in. 

It doesn’t take Tom Cruise in his underwear to know that high school can by risky business. A recent survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tries to gauge how often and in what form kids partake in risky behavior. Results from the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) are used to determine funding and design adolescent health programs. On Jan. 9, the New Hampshire Department of Education announced results from the Granite State.

newspaper columnist challenges Hodes

Republican newspaper columnist and radio host Jennifer Horn recently announced her intention to run against incumbent Democrat Paul Hodes in New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District.

Horn accuses Hodes and other Democrats in Congress of wasteful spending and pandering to lobbyists. If elected, she vowed to reduce taxes, make government smaller, come up with long-term energy solutions and fight for immigration reform.
“Congress has failed the American people,” she said in a written announcement. “With spending out of control, taxes threatening to sky rocket once again, and partisan grid-lock having reached new heights, it is no wonder that the American people have completely lost confidence in Congress. This is not the way government is supposed to be and it’s time for a change.”

Later in her announcement, Horn took sharper aim at Hodes.

“Paul Hodes is a do-nothing Representative in a do-nothing Congress. The people of the 2nd district deserve better and they are demanding change,” she said.

part three of a series on the issues facing the Seacoast’s top elected officials

this week: building community with Rochester Mayor John Larochelle

Rochester Mayor John Larochelle made a solemn New Year’s resolution regarding his civic duties in 2008. Accused of running City Council meetings with too loose of a hand during his first term, Larochelle has vowed to tighten his grip—without putting too strict of a muzzle on councilors or members of the public.

“I need to take a little firmer control during council meetings,” Larochelle said when asked if he made any mistakes during his first term. “My resolution coming into the next term is to try to run a tighter council meeting and try to keep things more on point, be a little more firm without being repressive.”

In Rockingham County, MtBE was found in one of every three private wells tested. In highly populated areas, it was found in nearly half of the wells tested. Forty percent of public water supplies tested were found to contain MtBE, and more than half of the wells serving gasoline stations were contaminated.

this week: growth sets the tone for Dover Mayor Scott Myers

Trying to decide which cultural or historical attraction to visit in Portsmouth can be daunting. However, the Portsmouth Historical Society is trying to make the selection process a little bit easier. The organization wants to turn the former public library on the corner of Maplewood and Islington streets into a visitor’s center that would serve as a gateway to the Port City’s historical and cultural attractions.

As of Jan. 1, the Historical Society has a three-year lease agreement with the city for the brick building. The Society will use the next three years to test the center’s viability and figure out how to raise the $3 million necessary to establish a permanent visitor’s center. Beginning in May, the academy side of the old library will be open as a temporary information center. Over the course of the summer, it will feature a series of rotating exhibits, a DVD called “Historic Portsmouth” and local experts, who will be on hand to help visitors and residents find attractions and events.

this week: Mayor Tom Ferrini seeks to shape Portsmouth’s growth with smart zoning

Running for his third term as a member of the Portsmouth City Council, Tom Ferrini reeled in more votes than any other candidate in the November race, making him the elected replacement for former Mayor Steve Marchand. At the same time, several other longtime councilors opted not to run for reelection in 2007 and were replaced by four new members. That puts Ferrini at the helm of a municipal body with a number of new faces. But he is confident that the Council will find a “new cohesiveness” that will enable it to move forward on the myriad issues facing this rapidly evolving city.

Major development in the city’s Northern Tier will dramatically alter the “gateway” into downtown, and a new Middle School must be constructed on Parrot Avenue. The city sorely needs more workforce housing projects, and economic conditions will make it challenging to keep tax increases low. Meanwhile, the city must attempt to remain at the forefront of sustainable practices and maintain its vibrant artistic community.

The new mayor believes that almost every issue facing the city relates back to the zoning ordinance re-write. With zoning that reflects the ideals laid out in the city’s Master Plan, Portsmouth can continue to grow in a manageable and desirable way, he said.

primary decisions are clouded by a monsoon of campaign tactics

The Iraq War. Health care. Global warming. Needless to say, a number of life-and-death issues hang in the balance of the 2008 presidential race. With less than a week remaining before New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary, thousands of registered voters are still undecided. It is difficult to sift through the campaign rhetoric, the bombardments of television ads and junk mail, the inordinate media attention to where candidates stand in the polls ... all to extract some morsel of truth. But ignoring peripheral distractions and taking a close and objective look at each candidate’s real policies is the duty of every Granite State voter.

Portsmouth elects take their oaths

On Thursday, Jan. 3, newly elected city officials will be sworn into office during a ceremony at Portsmouth City Hall. Nine City Council members, four School Board members, one new police commissioner and one fire commissioner will participate in the inauguration, which takes place in the Eileen Dondero Foley Council Chambers at 7 p.m.

Following the ceremony, which will be broadcast live on local government cable Channel 22, newly elected mayor Tom Ferrini will give an address. The new councilors are Assistant Mayor John Blalock, Nancy Clayburgh, Esther Kennedy and Eric Spear. They join returning councilors Chris Dwyer, Ken Smith, Edward Raynolds, Laura Pantelakos and Ferrini. John Hynes, Harold Whitehouse Jr. and Joanne Grasso did not run for reelection in November, nor did incumbent Mayor Steve Marchand.

If you have attended a presidential candidate event in New Hampshire during primary season, you have probably noticed a contingent of vocal citizens wearing purple T-shirts emblazoned with the words “I’m A Health Care Voter.” At least 70,000 New Hampshire voters have pledged to only support candidates who offer comprehensive health care plans that will provide quality coverage for every American. Those voters have spent much of 2007 attending candidate events across the state and asking pointed questions about each presidential hopeful’s commitment to serious health care reform.

Now you can see what they found out.

For much of December, downtown Portsmouth has been crawling with large, orange plow trucks. Around every corner, they lumber with their big metal teeth on the ground, laboring to unclog the city’s main arteries. They have been out in response to the repeated assaults of heavy snow that have taken residents by surprise after last year’s mild winter.

Walking around Portsmouth on Thursday afternoon, you were almost guaranteed to see someone scrambling over a snow bank or shoveling fresh powder from the sidewalk. But the most ubiquitous sight, other than the snow, was the plow trucks. The city, evidently, was prepared. 

civil union applications come flooding in

Beginning Dec. 10, applications for civil union licenses were made available in communities across New Hampshire. Although couples must wait until Tuesday, Jan. 1, to hold their legal ceremonies, the application process marks one more step toward full marriage equality.

To apply, couples must pay $45 and bring a photo ID to their town or city hall, according to Kelli Barnaby, city clerk for Portsmouth. Individuals who were previously married must present certification of death, divorce or dissolution papers. As of Thursday, Dec. 13, four applications had been picked up in Portsmouth, Barnaby said.

Fort Rock was originally named for an unusual rock formation in the woods off of what is now Newfields Road. In early Colonial times, the rocks supposedly served as a staging area for American Indians who sometimes executed nonviolent raids on the town to get food. The rocks became a landmark on the property owned by Ambrose Swasey and his family, and it came to be known as Fort Rock Farm.

Swasey moved the farm from its original location in the woods to its current site by Newfields Road right around the turn of the 20th century, after The Boston and Maine Railroad laid down a set of train tracks that sliced through the property. It has remained there ever since, along with an old white barn and other structures that date back to Colonial times.

assessment investigates severe floods

The flooding that occurred in New Hampshire in May 2006 shocked the region with its extreme water levels. At the time, it may have been possible to dismiss the event as another freak occurrence in a region known for unpredictable weather. When severe flooding hit the state again in April 2007, however, it was difficult to consider it just another random phenomenon.

What caused the flooding? And what can be done to avoid more flood-related destruction in the future?

Experts will try to answer these questions in coming months. The N.H. Department of Environmental Services recently announced that an assessment has been commissioned to determine the causes and effects of some of the worst flooding New Hampshire has ever seen.

After the recent floods, “people had questions,” said Jim Gallagher, chief engineer of the DES Dam Bureau. So, Governor Lynch asked the federal government to help fund a study to answer those questions.

Lynch requests federal home heating assistance

Gov. John Lynch recently sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt, urging him to provide New Hampshire with $3.8 million in federal home heating assistance.

So far, the state has received 75 percent of the approximately $15 million it is allocated for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The remaining 25 percent has been withheld while Congress debates the overall appropriations. But, with heating oil prices rising by more than 30 percent in New Hampshire in the past year, Lynch believes the money should be released immediately.

“With skyrocketing energy costs, and winter well underway here in New Hampshire, our families are struggling to stay warm and safe,” he said in the letter to Leavitt. “I ask that you immediately release the $3.8 million held back from the state. Desperately needy families should not be left in the cold while the appropriations process works its way to final resolution.”

Gravel to campaign in the Granite State

Democratic presidential candidate Mike Gravel will campaign in New Hampshire from Sunday, Dec. 16 to Saturday, Dec. 22. Although he may not be as well known as his opponents, the former Alaskan senator does not think that means he should be ignored.

“I offer a change. I offer to empower the American people,” Gravel said in a telephone interview yesterday.

This empowerment would come in the form of a new, fourth branch of government that would require a major change in the Constitution. It’s called the National Initiative for Democracy, and it would be made up of citizens who would have the power to vote on laws along with Congress.

senator vows to restore environmental values to the GOP

Sen. John McCain wants to resurrect the Republican Party’s commitment to land conservation and environmental protection—priorities that the general public has not associated with the GOP for several decades. During the Arizona Republican’s recent forum on energy security and global warming at the Seacoast Media Building in Portsmouth, McCain stressed his admiration for former President Theodore Roosevelt, who, despite his fondness for hunting, was a “great conservationist,” McCain said.

A member of the U.S. Senate since 1987, McCain expressed a deep appreciation for Arizona’s wild places. Last August, he hiked the Grand Canyon from rim to rim with his son. Although he admitted that the journey nearly killed him, he continues to cherish the experience.

It’s official—Stratham dairy farmer Lorraine Stuart Merrill will be New Hampshire’s next Agriculture Commissioner. Merrill takes over for Steve Taylor, who recently retired after 25 years of service.

Gov. John Lynch nominated Merrill for the role in October, and the N.H. Executive Council confirmed the nomination on Wednesday, Nov. 28. Merrill has been a partner in Stuart Farm, a 270-acre dairy farm with a herd of about 240 cows, since 1975. She has lived on farms for her entire life and currently operates Stuart Farm, located on Route 108 at the intersection with Squamscott Road, along with her husband, daughter and son-in-law.

Durham rent increases expected for 2008-’09

Callan DeCosta and Maggie Hanlon, UNH juniors, lay sprawled on the couches of their Davis Court apartment on a recent Sunday afternoon. The air outside was chilly, so the girls pulled the curtains closed and wrapped themselves in blankets as they relaxed and watched “Jerry McGuire.”
Hanlon went into the kitchen to get a glass of milk. There was a small dining room table and a bottle of wine sat on the counter next to the refrigerator. Their other roommate, Veronica Ventura, was getting ready for work in the privacy of her bedroom.