NEWS & NOTES Gov debates
GOP candidates diverged over how to tackle the drug crisis during a televised debate, candidates for both parties have taken part in a number of forums and Democrat Mark Connolly said he will boycott an upcoming WMUR debate because of an ongoing labor dispute. During the GOP debate on NH1, state Sen. Jeanie Forrester and Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas took Executive Councilor Chris Sununu to task for comments he made in June that there has been no leadership at the state or local level to deal with the opioid crisis. Sununu stood by his statements. When asked if the candidates support minimum sentencing laws for possession of any amount of heroin, Forrester said that would be a good start but she would also treat fentanyl dealers as attempted murderers. Gatsas said he would make sure fentanyl dealers get charged for murder when their product causes a fatal overdose. Sununu and state Rep. Frank Edelblut said that while being strong against dealers is important, minimum sentences for just heroin possession alone is not something the state should be focusing on, since they said that could lead to incarcerating addicts who would be better served by drug court diversion and treatment. Candidates were also divided similarly when it came to decriminalizing marijuana. Forrester said she was against it because she believes marijuana is a “gateway drug,” and Gatsas said he would not decriminalize marijuana because of the fentanyl epidemic. But Edelblut and Sununu supported decriminalization, arguing it would prioritize law enforcement resources to deal with opioids. Meanwhile, NHPR recently hosted a forum with Democratic candidates Colin Van Ostern, Mark Connolly and Steve Marchand. Marchand told host Laura Knoy that he thought New Hampshire voters have moved further left than politicians on both sides are willing to admit, suggesting his chances of winning as a progressive candidate are good. Van Ostern highlighted his endorsements, some from organizations that endorsed Bernie Sanders. Another forum was held at Saint Anselm College that focused on the state’s young children, with six
A “staggering” number of
of the seven main candidates from both parties. NHPR reported Connolly announced he would not participate in a Sept. 6 Democratic gubernatorial debate on WMUR because of an ongoing dispute between the station and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1228.
over, according to a press release. lawn flamingos in Weare have been stolen, but 15 of The company has already completthose were returned by the ed 1,730 miles of the 2,800 miles thieves. The Union Leader of trimming work planned. The reported the flamingos prolonged drought affecting southwere being sold as part of a ern New Hampshire has made the fundraiser for a 12-year-old girl with cancer. Those who work increasingly critical as trees returned the flamingos said distressed from a lack of water are CONCORD they were sorry and didn’t at an increased risk of collapse or know what they symbolized The civic arena in Manbreakage. Crews are working to and that any others still misschester has a new name. identify distressed trees, marked ing were not taken by them. According to a press release, They also enclosed a cash by early fall coloring and leaf shedHealthcare exchange the erstwhile Verizon Wiredonation. ding. Trees account for more than An insurer is pulling out of New less Arena is now the SNHU Arena, following an official Hooksett Hampshire’s health insurance mar- 60 percent of all outages in the state. sign unveiling on Sept. 1. It’s ketplace, in the latest blow to the the first time the name has web-based exchange created by the Melissa Crews changed since it opened in Goffstown Just a week after one of the most Affordable Care Act. The exchange 2001. is meant to foster competition and prominent faces of drug recovery in lower premiums while offering New Hampshire stirred controversy MANCHESTER subsidized individual plans to low- by attacking Gov. Maggie Hasincome citizens. NHPR reported san in a Republican TV ad, she has The silhouette image of an Community Health Options, a com- tendered her resignation. Melissa exotic dancer and a stripBedford Pennichuck Water Works is pany based in Maine, made the Crews, a recovering addict, recovper pole was added to a building a new facility on the decision to leave the New Hamp- ery advocate and wife of prominent state “Attractions” sign border between Nashua and Derry Merrimack along Route 101 eastbound shire market because newly insured Manchester businessman Andy Merrimack.Amherst The Telegraph in Raymond. The Union of Nashua reported the $6 customers had been uninsured for so Crews, had served on the board of Leader reported the unauLondonderry million, 53,000-square-foot Milford long they had put off doctor visits, HOPE for New Hampshire Recovthorized image was reported building will be more censo when they got covered the claims ery for years and was its chair last by State Police to the Departtrally located and big enough piled up and Community Health year during a period of high-profile ment of Transportation over to handle an operation that’s the weekend and crews later Options projected increased losses. expansion. The Concord MoniNASHUA grown five times as big since removed it. The sign has This follows the exodus of Aetna tor reported she resigned from the the first building was conotherwise been blank for structed in the 1966. from every healthcare exchange in board days after appearing in the some time. the nation. Reports say the CEO of ad funded by the National RepubAetna had written an ultimatum to lican Senatorial Committee. In the the federal government vowing to ad, Crews said Hassan mishandled DWC students the organization’s accreditation pull out from the state marketplac- the drug crisis and implied that HasA recent federal ruling will not standards. Ed McKay, head of the es if regulators didn’t approve their san’s budget veto was responsible prevent students already enrolled state’s Division of Higher Educafor more than 400 deaths a year. for classes at Daniel Webster Col- tion, said ITT has been put on notice plans to merge with Humana. NHPR reported board member Bob lege in Nashua from getting federal after ACICS, the accrediting body, Kelly was “horrified” by the ad, aid, according to state officials. The threatened to yank accreditations Hindu temple In response to increased interest which identified Crews as a peer Telegraph of Nashua reported the for 130 of its schools and the federal among a bustling Indian popula- recovery counselor. In a statement, U.S. Department of Education is government followed suit by threattion in Nashua, the Hindu Temple HOPE’s CEO Cheryl Coletti-Law- prohibiting DWC’s parent compa- ening to withhold financial aid. But of New Hampshire is planning to son said Crews’ contribution to ny, ITT Educational Services, from DWC is not included in that. ITT, expand its classroom and office the organization and the recovery enrolling new students using feder- a for-profit educational corporation, space. The Telegraph of Nashua movement was “without equal.” al financial aid over concerns with bought DWC in 2009. reported Indian parents are interested in the language classes offered at the temple for their children. The temple teaches Sanskrit, the ancient THE UNH COMMUNITY DERRY NEIGHBORHOOD language of the Hindu religion and UNH announced in a press release last week Several residents on Chester Road, Nesmith philosophy, Hindi and other dialects that school officials had gotten a surprise last Street and Silvestri Circle were forced from from southern India like Tamil and year: A longtime university librarian had left the their homes last week when a gas main sprung Telugu to about 60 students currentschool a $4 million estate in his will. Richard a leak. WMUR reported contractors broke the Morin was a cataloguer in the school’s library main when they were drilling a hole to install a ly from 5 years old to 12th grade. for 50 years and quietly amassed his fortune No Parking sign at a school bus stop, according The request to build additions to a while living simply. He lived the last 15 years of to officials. Area residents heard what they deresidential house adjacent to the his life at an assisted living facility and died just scribed as a “loud gush” but realized it was gas temple goes to city planners Sept. 8.
Tree trimming
The state’s largest electric utility, Eversource Energy, is investing $30 million into trimming trees overhanging power lines and cutting down trees at risk of toppling
HIPPO | SEPTEMBER 8 - 14, 2016 | PAGE 4
over a year ago at the age of 63. The majority of the money, $2.5 million, will be used to build a centrally located career center for students and alumni; $1 million will support a video scoreboard for the new football stadium and, in accordance with Morin’s will, $100,000 will go to the library for multimedia room renovations, work study scholarships and support staff.
when they saw no water at the site. Derry police coordinated evacuation efforts in neighborhoods at risk and relocated residents in a nearby apartment complex. Fire crews kept the gas soaked with a high pressure hose until the main could be shut off by Liberty Utilities. Residents returned to their homes later that morning and an investigation into the cause is underway.