Livingston: Budgets to go before the aldermen tonight

Livingston: Budgets to go before the aldermen tonight

The Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen will meet in special session tonight to address the school district’s budget.  The meeting begins at six and the district’s budget it the only agenda item.  At a special meeting on April eighteenth, the Board of School Committee voted to submit a Tax Cap budget to the aldermen, as required by the city charter.  The board also forwarded Superintendent Debra Livingston’s budget request, which exceeds the cap by two and one half million bucks.  Mayor Ted Gatsas, proposed funding the schools at the level allowed by the cap in his budget submission to the aldermen more than a month ago.  To reach that number, Gatsas had to provide all of the additional tax revenue allowed by the cap for the coming fiscal year and cut the city side of the budget by over a million dollars.

Sponsors Distracted Driver video contest

Sponsors Distracted Driver video contest

Associated Grocers Supermarkets announced the top three winning teams in their third annual short film contest on Friday.  They partnered with the Allenstown, Bedford and Pembroke police departments, and the administrations of Bedford High and Pembroke Academy to sponsor the contest which encourages high school students to make good choices when driving.  Third place went to a film from Pembroke students Sam Kingston and Ryan Phelps entitled “Make It.”  Second place honors went to an untitled submission on distracted driving from Bedford High students Nicola DiTomaso, Johnny Gabert, Ash Samuel and Jack Redman.  The Grand Prize winner was entitled “We All Scream for Ice Cream” by Chris Violette, Johnny Kiernan, Will Langan, and Jon Violette from Bedford High.  We have linked to all the videos and the full story from this news read for your convenience.  Associated Grocers Supermarkets and its stores Sully’s of Allenstown and Harvest Ace Hardware of Bedford will purchase prom tickets for all members of the three winning teams.

Dispensary now open in Plymouth

Dispensary now open in Plymouth

The first medical marijuana dispensary, known as Sanctuary Alternative Treatment Center, opened its doors up Nahth in Plymouth on Saturday.  The state passed a law in 2 0 1 3 to legalize medical marijuana,  however, it didn’t start issuing identification cards for medical marijuana usage until this past March.  Other dispensaries are scheduled to open in Merrimack and Lebanon.

Rubens: Coming to New Boston

Rubens: Coming to New Boston

The New Boston Republican Committee will host U. S. Senate Candidate Jim Rubens this Thursday, May fifth at the town’s Whipple Free Library.  The meeting is open to Republican and undeclared voters and begins at seven.  New Hampshire Republican State Committee Vice Chairman Matt Mayberry will also speak at the event.

Merrimack PD: Releases open house details

Merrimack PD: Releases open house details

The Merrimack Police Department will host its annual open house this Saturday from ten to two.  The department has planned demonstrations involving K-9s, bomb robots and tasers.  Their infamous “seat belt convincer” will also be on hand.  Family activities include face painting and balloon making.  Of course, there will be food!  The department will be providing child ID kits and talking about child safety all day.  They’re even going to have an Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale on site.  The Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire, the Merrimack High FIRST Robotics Team and Army National Guard are some of the other organizations that will be on hand.  We’ve uploaded their announcement with the schedule of events and all the details you’ll otherwise need.  Be sure to stop by!

News from our own backyard continues after this.

Foster: Announces settlement with Wyeth

Foster: Announces settlement with Wyeth

New Hampshire Attorney General Joseph Foster announced last week that New Hampshire reached an agreement in principle to settle allegations against Wyeth, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer, Inc., that it knowingly underpaid rebates owed under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program for the sales of Protonix Oral and Protonix I V between 2 0 0 1 and 2 0 0 6.  Wyeth agreed to pay seven hundred and eighty four point six million dollars.  New Hampshire will receive six hundred forty-four thousand three hundred seven dollars and ten cents under the settlement.  Because the Medicaid program is jointly funded by the federal and state governments, Pfizer will pay in excess of four hundred and thirteen million dollars of the seven hundred and eighty four point six million to the feds.

Complete Streets: On planners' agenda

Complete Streets: On planners’ agenda

Legislators, professional planners and transportation stakeholders from the Southern New Hampshire Region will come together on Friday, May sixth to discuss multi-modal transportation options and Complete Streets.  This group and the Southern N H Planning Commission will meet at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce at 9: 30.  They plan to begin the event with a brief presentation on what they say is ability of the Complete Street’s approach to increase economic vitality, safety and public health.  After the presentation, participants will be able to experience Manchester’s transportation options via a tour guided by local transportation and planning professionals.  They will experience taking the bus and walking around the city as well as biking.  After these tours, participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences and discuss how encouraging Complete Streets would impact transportation options in Manchester.  For more information, visit s n h p c dot org.

That’s news from our own backyard!  Girard at Large hour ___ is next!

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