http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/ Daily news from The Telegraph of Nashua en-us dkiesow@nashuatelegraph.com onlineeditor@nh.com http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/961075-196/anti-defamation-league-criticizes-sieg-heil-cry-in.html BOSTON – The Anti-Defamation League, a national group that battles anti-Semitism, has called for state Rep. Steve Vaillancourt of Manchester to apologize more broadly for shouting the Nazi-era salute “Sieg Heil” at the House speaker in Concord on Tuesday. “The verbal apologies by Representative Vaillancourt simply do not demonstrate any understanding of how offensive his comments were,” Derrek L. Shulman, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League New England, said in a press release. Shulman praised New Hampshire House members who have condemned Vaillancourt’s remarks. “Representative Vaillancourt should consider educating himself about the profound impact his words have on survivors and victims of the Nazi regime and then issue a sincere apology. Wed, 16 May 2012 15:40:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/961074-196/plums-peaches-and-pears-a-plenty-nashua.html NASHUA – Small hands scrambled to grab fresh plums, peaches and apples from the cafeteria snack cart at Ledge Street Elementary School Wednesday morning. Other students filled their small paper containers with slices of red and green bell peppers, broccoli florets or bananas. The trays of fresh fruit and vegetables, still wet from a recent wash in the kitchen, are free for students every day, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The Nashua School District has applied for and received the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable grant for the past four years, and the Board of Education voted unanimously to approve its renewal for the 2012-13 school year. In all, the district will receive $152,048 to buy the produce and serve it up for student snacks each day at seven qualifying elementary schools: Amherst Street, Birch Hill, Dr. Wed, 16 May 2012 15:33:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/961070-196/homegrown-sportswriter-mike-lupica-to-visit-nashuas.html NASHUA – Award-winning author and sportswriter Mike Lupica is returning to his hometown for a book reading Thursday at Elm Street Middle School. The event will be from 9-11 a.m. in the library. Lupica grew up in Nashua and graduated from Bishop Guertin High School and Boston College before making a name for himself in sports. He’s on a book tour for his latest children’s novel, “Game Changers.” He has published many sports books, including “Travel Team,” “Heat” and “Miracle on 49th Street.” Lupica also writes regularly for The New York Daily News and appears on ESPN for “The Sports Reporters,” a Sunday morning talk show featuring national sportswriters and columnists. “He’s such a great speaker for boys,” sixth-grade teacher Rosemary Brandi said. “It’s so hard to find men who really write what boys like to read. It’s a great opportunity for us.” The public is welcome. Wed, 16 May 2012 15:30:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/newsstatenewengland/961067-227/house-passes-medical-marijuana-bill-faces-veto.html CONCORD – The New Hampshire House has ignored a veto promise and passed a bill to legalize home cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes. Wednesday’s House vote sends the bill back to the Senate to review changes. The Senate-passed bill would allow patients with debilitating medical conditions or the patient’s designated caretaker to cultivate and possess up to six ounces of marijuana, four mature plants and 12 seedlings at a registered location. Gov. John Lynch has promised to veto the bill if it reaches his desk. Lynch is concerned about a lack of control over its distribution. Lynch vetoed a medical marijuana bill in 2009. The House voted to pass it over his veto but it fell two votes short in the Senate. – ASSOCIATED PRESS Wed, 16 May 2012 15:20:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/961047-196/hudson-litchfield-youth-football-and-cheer-programs-trailer.html HUDSON - The game day trailer that belongs to the Hudson-Litchfield Youth Football and Cheer program was reported stolen Tuesday afternoon. It’s not clear what day the trailer actually went missing, Hudson Police Capt. Bill Avery said Wednesday. “Over the last week or so, someone stole the Hudson’s Pop Warner’s equipment trailer,” he said. The captain noted that the trailer was a white Continental that had an expired registration and expired license plates, as the vehicle was not currently on the road. Wed, 16 May 2012 14:35:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/961043-196/senate-oks-welfare-fraud-bill-now-goes.html CONCORD – State health officers would be able to conduct additional background searches on welfare recipients under a version of the welfare fraud bill passed Wednesday in the state Senate. The Senate approved HB 1658 by a voice vote, permitting the state Department of Health and Human Services to contract with an outside firm to conduct the background checks. The Senate bill, as it stands, differs from the version approved in the House of Representatives, which requires state officials to check the name, address and Social Security of anyone applying for welfare before awarding any benefits. A report issued earlier this year indicated that one of every 14 recipients of state or federal public assistance has an address outside New Hampshire. Because the Senate amended HB 1658 before approving it, the bill now needs to be reconciled with the House version. – JAKE BERRY Wed, 16 May 2012 14:16:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/961037-196/wfnx-fm-sold-to-clear-channel-so-what.html PETERBOROUGH – The purchase of Boston alternative-rock radio station WFNX by the behemoth Clear Channel network has startled music fans in the region, but it leaves New Hampshire radio fans with a question: What’s happening to WFEX, 92.1 FM, in Peterborough? WFEX has been a translator for WFNX since 1999, when WFNX bought it, ending a long, quirky run as an independent radio station. On Wednesday, The Boston Phoenix, which owns WFNX, announced it was selling the station to Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, the nation’s largest radio network. The sale still needs FCC approval, but that seems fairly routine. As of 2 p.m., none of the announcements or statements from Clear Channel or The Phoenix mention WFEX, and calls from The Telegraph had not been returned. The station using 92.1 FM began in the 1970s as the center of the folk scene in Peterborough, associated with the fabled, long-gone club The Folkway. Wed, 16 May 2012 14:11:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/961032-196/mont-vernon-school-board-will-meet-to.html MONT VERNON– The local School Board will meet Wednesday night to discuss the fiscal year 2013 default budget, which was enacted this March after voters turned down a proposed budget for next year that was 4.5 percent higher than the 2012 budget. Voters rejected the $4,890,727 proposed operating budget in a vote of 274-118. That vote set next year’s budget at a default of $4,792,960 and created a budget shortfall of more than $193,000. According to the SAU 39 finance department website, the biggest areas of increase in the proposed budget were in tuition to Amherst Middle School, which increased by $100,265, as well as an increase of $18,298 in the special education budget. Funds were also included in the proposed budget to implement a new SAU-wide math program at Mont Vernon Village School next fall, which increased the budget by about $35,211. About $22,682 was added to the technology budget to help replace equipment, while $13,782 was added to address some facilities maintenance items. SAU 39 Finance Director Betty Shankel said Tuesday that Wednesday’s meeting will give her and other school officials a chance to talk to the board about the various items not included in the default budget that are the biggest priorities for the school. One of these priorities is the purchase of math textbooks to support the new math program. Technology replacements are also high on the list of priority items, Shankel said,including the purchase of a number of desktops, video cameras and three interactive classroom systems, which each cost more than $5,000. Some of the most important items not funded under the default budget, Shankel said, however, are a number of facility repairs. Wed, 16 May 2012 13:36:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/960955-196/nashua-man-charged-with-strangling-woman.html Nashua police charged a man with a slew of charges related to domestic violence on Tuesday. Police were contacted shortly before 8:30 p.m. by a woman who said David Roux, 51, of no fixed address, had strangled, assaulted and threatened her. The department’s Domestic Violence Unit investigated and charged Roux with strangling and assaulting the woman, and stopping her from leaving or calling for help, police said. Roux is charged with felony second-degree assault, as well as two counts of simple assault and a single charge each of criminal threatening, false imprisonment and obstructing the report of a crime. All of the charges except obstructing the report of a crime are domestic violence related, police said. Roux was arrested shortly before 9 p.m. and refused bail. Wed, 16 May 2012 13:23:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/960996-196/senate-pans-effort-to-ban-international-baccalaureate.html CONCORD – The International Baccalaureate program, an honors curriculum offered to Bedford students, among others, will continue after the state Senate killed legislation proposing to ban the program due to its international focus. The Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to reject the House-supported bill, which sought to ban international organizations, such as the IB program, from operating in public schools across the state. Members of the House of Representatives approved the matter earlier this year, claiming that the international program, based in Switzerland, undermines American values. In the Senate, lawmakers rejected the proposal, citing it as an example of government overreach. “It’s not our place to override local (schools),” Sen. Jim Forsythe, R-Strafford said as he cast his vote against the bill. “Whether we like it or not, they should be free to adopt that.” The IB program, offered in Bedford and the Merrimack Valley School District in Penacook, covers six subject areas: first language, second language, history, sciences, math and arts. It offers courses in global studies, British and North American literature and European and Middle East studies, among others. Wed, 16 May 2012 13:11:01 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/960994-196/nashua-eighth-grader-wins-national-recognition-from-c-span.html NASHUA – A colorful campaign bus from C-SPAN took up two parking spaces in front of City Hall Wednesday morning, as the network rolled into Nashua from Washington, D.C., to recognize Nashua eighth-grade student Deepika Kurup. Kurup, a student at Fairgrounds Middle School, was named an honorable mention in C-SPAN’s 2012 StudentCam competition for her brief documentary, “The Bill of Rights in Modern America.” She was one of 48 honorable mentions across the country, and one of 148 students who won awards -- a total of $50,000 in prizes. Over 1,200 students submitted videos for this year’s assignment: to create a video illustrating why one provision of the Constitution is important to you. “The Bill of Rights was made so long ago, I thought, ‘How does that affect modern America?’” Deepika said Wednesday. “I found out that it’s still very important. I want to thank C-SPAN for giving me this award and letting my voice be heard.” You can watch Deepika’s video online at http://studentcam.viddler.com/videos/watch.php?id=aefd6389. “She made a wonderful video above and beyond what we saw,” said Jessica Lindquist, marketing representative with C-SPAN. Deepika’s parents, Pradeep and Meena Kurup, said the video was an all-consuming project. Wed, 16 May 2012 12:51:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/newsstatenewengland/960986-227/nh-house-passes-medical-marijuana-bill-faces.html CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire House has ignored a veto promise and passed a bill to legalize home cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes. Wednesday’s House vote sends the bill back to the Senate to review changes. The Senate-passed bill would allow patients with debilitating medical conditions or the patient’s designated caretaker to cultivate and possess up to six ounces of marijuana, four mature plants and 12 seedlings at a registered location. Gov. John Lynch has promised to veto the bill if it reaches his desk. Lynch is concerned about a lack of control over its distribution. Lynch vetoed a medical marijuana bill in 2009. Wed, 16 May 2012 11:58:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/newsstatenewengland/960985-227/nh-senate-alters-welfare-verification-system-bill.html CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire Senate has voted to allow a new verification system for welfare applicants and recipients as a way to detect fraud and save money, but it wants to see the savings before it pays for it. The Senate on Wednesday approved an amendment to a House bill requiring the state to expand the public databases used to screen applicants. House Speaker William O’Brien says using the technology will root out fraudulent claims and save money. But Senate President Peter Bragdon says there’s no guarantee any money will be saved. His amendment would allow the state to hire a vendor to do the searches, but the vendor would be paid a percentage of any savings. Wed, 16 May 2012 11:56:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/960956-196/nashua-man-arrested-on-burglary-stalking-charges.html A Nashua man arrested last month by federal authorities for being a fugitive from justice was arrested again this week by city police on burglary charges. Nashua police arrested Barry English, 25, of 84 Wethersfield Road, around 10 a.m. on Tuesday and charged him with burglary, stalking and a parole violation, police said. English was initially arrested on the parole violation and police later learned new information tying him to a burglary the day before. He also contacted a woman in violation of a court order, police said. English was arrested on April 9 by Nashua police and FBI agents, who charged him with being a fugitive from justice out of Massachusetts, police said. He was wanted by the FBI’s Gang Task Force on an arrest warrant out of Lowell, Mass., that charges him with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony and receiving stolen property, police said. On Tuesday, English refused bail pending an arraignment at Nashua district court on Wednesday, police said. The Class B felony burglary charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison plus fines. The misdemeanor stalking charge is punishable by up to a year in jail plus fines, police said. – JOSEPH G. Wed, 16 May 2012 11:30:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/960829-196/nashua-woman-charged-with-threatening-another-woman.html NASHUA – A woman is charged with threatening to harm another woman with a screwdriver, police said. Ellisa Guzman, 27, of 58 Vine St. Apt. B, is charged with criminal threatening, a Class B felony punishable by up to seven years in prison plus fines. At 2:30 p.m. Monday, police patrol officers responded to 58 Vine St. Wed, 16 May 2012 11:36:44 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/newsstatenewengland/960847-227/atvs-but-not-dirt-bikes-can-soon.html CONCORD – All-terrain vehicle riders in New Hampshire and Vermont soon will be able to buy one registration to legally ride in both states. The change in rules, known as “reciprocity,” does not affect motorized dirt bikes or the larger, side-by-side utility vehicles. Those still must carry registration from the state they are in. From May 23 through Dec. 1, ATVs that are properly registered in Vermont may be operated in New Hampshire on state ATV trails, without having New Hampshire Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle registration. An New Hampshire ATV registration costs $74 a year for non-residents; registration costs $25 in Vermont. Similarly, properly registered New Hampshire ATVs can operate in Vermont on approved ATV trails during the same period without buying Vermont registration. A Vermont All Terrain Vehicle Sportsmen Association (VASA) trail pass is required on VASA trails, as well as proof of having completed an approved ATV safety class for operators younger than 18. This rule includes a two-year sunset provision and will end Dec. Wed, 16 May 2012 07:39:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/960865-196/motorcycle-crash-victim-had-baby-on-way.html NASHUA – The man who died in a motorcycle crash Saturday night left behind his wife and daughter and had another child on the way. Stewart Triehy, 23, of Pepperell, Mass., died when he lost control of his motorcycle around 8:15 p.m. Saturday on the southbound Exit 2 ramp of the F.E. Everett Turnpike, according to police. Triehy is survived by his wife, Ashley Triehy, and daughter Teagan as well as his parents, Sean and Vicki Triehy, five brothers and one sister. Wed, 16 May 2012 08:10:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/newsstatenewengland/960875-227/state-rep-shouts-nazi-salute-at-speaker.html CONCORD – A Manchester state representative who once lived in Germany, shouted a Nazi salute at Speaker William O’Brien during a debate on voter identification legislation. Rep. Steve Vaillancourt, R-Manchester, shouted “Sieg Heil,” toward O’Brien after the speaker shut down debate on voter ID legislation being heard in the House. Vaillancourt left Representatives Hall briefly and then returned, according to state legislators. O’Brien ruled Vaillancourt was out of order and called Capitol security to have him removed. Wed, 16 May 2012 09:23:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/newsstatenewengland/960884-227/senate-to-consider-housing-bill-that-would.html Local renters could be evicted from their homes for any reason once their lease expires under a proposed law to be voted Wednesday in the state Senate. Most lease agreements allow renters to stay on as month-to-month-tenants once their lease agreement expires. Under HB 1263, landlords could evict tenants at any time for any reason once the contract ends. Rep. Brandon Giuda, R-Chichester, introduced the bill earlier this year to bring housing contracts in line with other legal agreements. “When you make a contract with somebody, you make a contract. Wed, 16 May 2012 07:31:01 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/newsstatenewengland/960885-227/former-mont-vernon-rep.-resigns-from-house.html CONCORD – Robert Mead, director of legislative services for the House of Representatives’ Majority office, has resigned his post amid accusations that he was reimbursed by taxpayers for travel to recruit Republican candidates across the state. According to a report from the Concord Monitor, Mead, a Mont Vernon resident and former state Representative from town, filed for more than $450 in mileage and toll reimbursements in February and March for travel to events where he gave a “presentation on legislator services.” Mead used the events mostly to lobby for Republican attendees to run for office, according to the Monitor. Mead could not be reached for comment Tuesday. A spokeswoman for the Majority office declined to comment, only confirming his resignation. “We do not discuss personnel matters,” Shannon Shutts wrote in an email to The Telegraph. Mead took the legislative services position in December after serving as Chief of Staff to House Speaker William O’Brien, a Mont Vernon neighbor and friend. After resigning his House seat, Mead served a year at O’Brien’s side, but in December, O’Brien replaced him with former policy director Greg Moore, who has held the position since. Some in Concord speculate that Mead was unhappy with the change, which included a nearly $20,000 cut in pay, down to $64,380, according to the Monitor. State ethics guidelines don’t prohibit state workers from party or campaign work on state time. They say legislative employees should “view his or her work for the General Court as a public service and should strive to promote the common good of the citizens of the State of New Hampshire through the devotion of his or her professional talents and energies …” Opposing legislators maintain Mead’s actions crossed the line. “A lot of people in the public will think that this is an abuse of the trust that they have placed in the legislature, unfortunately,” “Charging taxpayers for Republican political recruiting trips is an abuse of the public trust and of taxpayers’ money,” said state Rep. Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth and the House Minority Leader, who raised these and other questions this week in a letter to O’Brien. Wed, 16 May 2012 07:31:01 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/960886-196/nashua-murder-suspect-sobbed-out-confession-without.html NASHUA – Mark Vallee and Randy Hill sat on the front steps of 5 Beard St. on the eve of Memorial Day 2011. Ricky Munster, a tenant in an upstairs apartment, watched them drinking beer there earlier that day. Munster himself was enjoying the holiday weekend, attending an outdoor barbecue with a friend he knew only as “Chicken” and drinking Captain Morgan rum and Busch beer. Cashing it in for the night, Munster passed Vallee and Hill, who lived in the downstairs apartment, and offered them each one of the three beers he was carrying back to his room. Hill graciously took one. Vallee grabbed two. “Randy Hill scolded Mark for being disrespectful to Rick,” Sgt. Wed, 16 May 2012 12:36:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/sportsredsox/960899-221/wakefield-a-reminder-of-how-give-and-take-should.html Before diving into the deep end of the cynical pool, let it be stated that there was nothing wrong with the way the Red Sox honored Tim Wakefield before Tuesday afternoon’s game. They surrounded him with family, old friends, old teammates, and young fans who have benefited from the charitable work he still subsidizes and performs. Wakefield walks the walk when it comes to community service. Most impressively, he doesn’t hire publicists to make sure his every contribution is properly recorded and fed to the world with all the appropriate bells ringing and whistles blowing. He received the Roberto Clemente Award last year, which goes to the big leaguer judged to have gone above and beyond in their community involvement; that is generally considered the equivalent of a Cy Young Award for off-field performance. Not surprisingly, the show stopper came when his longtime catching caddy, Doug Mirabelli, arrived from beneath the center field bleachers in a Boston police cruiser and waddled down the middle of the diamond to catch Wakefield’s first pitch. Who doesn’t remember where they were when Mirabelli was rushed to the park by Massachusetts State Police so he could arrive back from his San Diego banishment to catch Wakefield against the Yankees? Those who don’t should be commended for their grip on reality. It could be argued that Wakefield’s most significant charitable act was giving the Red Sox cause to extend Mirabelli’s otherwise dreary career. Well, it is obvious that the inevitable has happened and we have reached the deep end of that pool. While we’re here, let’s point out that Ted Williams had one day to commemorate his retirement. Wed, 16 May 2012 07:47:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/sportsredsox/960900-221/red-sox-beckett-celebrates-32nd-birthday-with.html BOSTON – Having stumbled home with a thud last Thursday night, thanks to Josh Beckett’s miserable outing against the Cleveland Indians, the Red Sox hit the road off Beckett’s best performance of the spring. Before overstating its importance, however, the Red Sox’ 5-0 win over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday afternoon requires some sense of perspective. The Mariners are 16-22 and, from just about any objective measure, are one of the sorriest offensive teams in the big leagues. They carry a team batting average of .235 on to their next stop, at Cleveland, the Red Sox’ punching bag to begin their current five-game win streak. Still, Beckett did shut down the Mariners with relative ease, striking out nine in his seven innings, allowing just three hits, only one of which left the infield. He was, as manager Bobby Valentine said, “King of the hill. He gave himself a good birthday present.” “These guys have been playing their butts off all year,” said Beckett, who turned 32 Tuesday. Tue, 15 May 2012 23:58:31 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/newsstatenewengland/960904-227/man-who-cared-for-old-tree-dies.html PORTLAND, Maine – Frank Knight’s decades-long battle to save New England’s tallest elm served as an inspiring tale of devotion, so it is fitting that he will be laid to rest in a coffin made from the tree he made famous. Knight, who died Monday at 103, had affectionately referred to the 217-year-old elm nicknamed Herbie as “an old friend.” The massive tree succumbed to Dutch elm disease and was cut down two years ago. Wood from the tree was made into a casket, a secret that was kept from Knight. “To have them together like that is a wonderful thing. I feel like Frank took good care of Herbie. Now Herbie will take good care of Frank,” said Deb Hopkins, a close friend who succeeded Knight as the town’s tree warden. Knight was already middle-aged and running a logging business in 1956 when he became the volunteer tree warden in Yarmouth, 10 miles north of Portland, just as Dutch elm disease was killing trees by the hundreds. He realized he couldn’t save the town’s elms, so he focused his efforts on one tree, a giant with a canopy that could be seen from miles away. When Herbie became afflicted, Knight couldn’t bear to cut down the tree so he instructed workers to selectively prune away diseased limbs. Tue, 15 May 2012 22:59:35 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/newsstatenewengland/960911-227/warm-weather-created-a-short-not-very.html The record warm March cut the maple sugar season short this year and contributed to reduced production, according to both the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association and the area’s best-known maple producer. “We were about 50 percent of normal in terms of volume of sap collected,” said Ron Roberts, owner of Parker’s Maple Barn in Mason, which collects sap from about 1,400 taps on tree from a number of properties. “I’ve heard that Vermont was about the same.” The result of the shortfall is that prices for maple syrup are likely to rise. In its annual season report, the state association says taps were set out at the regular time of late January, but that boiling – the process of driving most of the water out of tree sap to produce syrup – began as early as Feb. 7 and ended by March 19. Parker’s stopped boiling March 18, about three weeks earlier than normal because, as Roberts said, “in mid-March, summer hit.” The syrup association said the situation was similar for all producers. “The last boil of the season came early for many producers in the southern part of the state as temperatures rose into the 70s and 80s for five days forcing the buds to develop and cause undesirable sap for boiling,” it said in a statement. Partly as a result, the group said “most producers found they had 50 percent to 66 percent of an average crop, but reports of only 33 percent of an average crop was not unusual.” The poor season follows a good to excellent season last year, when Vermont had record production, and a weak season in 2010. Roberts said Parker’s syrup had good flavor this year, winning first prize at the annual contest held in Peterborough by the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, although sap was less sweet than usual, which means more boiling was required. “Sugar was down at least a half a percent to a full percent,” Roberts said. Despite the role that maple syrup plays in New Hampshire’s culture and tradition, the state is the smallest producer in northern New England. Tue, 15 May 2012 23:00:33 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/960915-196/mayor-lozeau-calls-for-independent-review-of.html NASHUA – Mayor Donnalee Lozeau is planning an independent review of data that show what some term an “alarming” increase in city crime to determine what the numbers mean for safety, and what actions, if any, need to be taken. The report, produced by the Police Department as part of its budget presentation, compares crime that occurred from January through March 2011 with the same period this year. The figures showed increases in person crimes (23 percent), property crimes (48 percent), crimes against society (29 percent), burglaries (81 percent), destruction, damage and vandalism (73 percent), motor vehicle theft (87 percent), and drug and narcotic offenses (33 percent), plus decreases in a few areas including simple assaults, written warnings, and juvenile arrests. “Of course I’m concerned, but my biggest concern is why,” Lozeau said after going over the statistics Tuesday morning. “If the police, if their POP unit is concentrating on drug issues or whatever, I would expect that we would see more arrests. … That’s the point of getting to the bottom of this report. Other reports that I’ve seen don’t indicate that Nashua is any less safe today than it was a year ago.” The Board of Aldermen’s Budget Committee met with Police Chief John Seusing, Commissioner Tom Pappas, and Business Manager Karen Smith on Monday to discuss the department’s $17.67 million proposal for the 2013 fiscal year. Alderman-at-Large David Deane highlighted the report that the department provided as part of its budget book. Lozeau has proposed an almost 2 percent increase for the Police Department’s fiscal 2013 budget, but Seusing told aldermen Monday that the 177 officers the budget supports falls short of the manpower the department needs to combat the rise in crime. “If our authorized strength was actually increased to 185 or so, we would probably average 177 true working policemen,” Seusing said. Wed, 16 May 2012 13:24:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/960916-196/big-day-of-serving-coming-to-french.html NASHUA – Hundreds of students and adult volunteers will take to the streets of French Hill on Saturday, as part of The Big Day of Serving mission project to renovate the area and spur neighborhood pride. The group will work in 13 different areas to complete 26 specific projects, including eight small home renovations, interior painting at the Tolles Street Mission, replacement of the playground at Mount Pleasant Elementary School, and various other landscaping and cleaning efforts. “Our goal is just to bring some sort of pride and ownership back to the neighborhood,” said community director Pattie Chouinard, who is also a nurse at Elm Street Middle School. “When you take an area that is depressed and bring some life, some joy back into the area, amazing things happen.” She said 444 youth and 85 adult volunteers have signed up to help, as of Tuesday. “The neighbors and residents of that area are starting to get the buzz,” Chouinard said. “They say, ‘You’ve got how many people coming?’ It’s been pretty exciting.” There are many local students, youth groups and volunteers, she said, but there are plenty coming from other states and other churches, too. The Big Day of Serving is a faith-based organization and part of Group Mission Trips, a nonprofit organization that hosts short-term mission trips to help kids, students and adults “connect to Jesus while serving people in Christ’s name,” according to its website. The organization calls itself “interdenominational” and focuses on core Christian beliefs. Wed, 16 May 2012 12:37:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/business/960918-192/lowell-launches-contest-for-entrepreneurs-to-pitch.html LOWELL, Mass. – The Sandbox IdeaLaunch, an initiative aimed to give entrepreneurs a chance to get some money through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs, will hold its first of five pitch contests May 30. Organized by The Merrimack Valley Sandbox, the Sandbox IdeaLaunch will hold five pitch contests where people can pitch their ideas. In the fall, a “small number” of entrepreneurs will be selected to enter a business-plan competition with a prize pool of nearly $50,000. Tue, 15 May 2012 23:01:07 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/business/960919-192/saga-of-almost-bankrupt-usa-springs-stumbles-along.html USA Springs could continue to pursue financing that has so far proved elusive in an attempt to bail itself out of bankruptcy, or it could put itself up for auction, but it can’t do both for very long, said Judge J. Michael Deasy on Monday, as he put off any decision on a slew of increasingly acrimonious filings related to the case. “I don’t see how you can have both processes live at the same time,” Deasy said, suggesting that the parties reach a firm deadline to “ride one horse or the other.” But the Pelham-based company, which has been trying for more than a decade to launch a business to bottle 300,000 gallons of groundwater a day despite the tenacious opposition of some residents in the Barrington and Nottingham area, is trying to saddle both at the same time. Monday’s hearing was held to allow Deasy to rule on a series of objections to USA Springs’ proposed procedures to put the property up for auction July 20 if a promised $60 million loan from Switzerland-based Malom Group AG fails to materialize. Malom insisted that its long-delayed deal is imminent, but the proposed auction would throw everything off. “The Debtor can still jump off the cliff if it wants to make the Malom financing impossible, although that too will have serious, irreversible consequences to the estate,” wrote Bill Gannon, who represents Malom. The acrimony seems to be one more chapter in the ongoing controversy surrounding USA Springs. After spending millions of dollars to obtain a permit, the company ran out of money, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the summer of 2008 to stave off creditors until it could find alternative alternatives. Malom, the company’s latest rescuer, had promised to raise $60 million by October 2011, but the financing has faced one obstacle after another, including the detention by Swiss authorities of two of Malom’s principals relating to fraud charges against another company and the company’s difficulty in converting to cash some dubious Brazilian notes. Malom missed its previous April 30 deadline and it expects to miss its latest deadline – Tuesday – because a “death in the family of an account holder” prevented confirmation from Brazil and India to go through, said Hans-Jurg Lips, one of Malom’s principals. Lips said the deal is expected to close in the next few days, but at a lower price than initially expected. Still, it would result in about $6 million in initial funding for USA Springs, Lips said. Attorneys for USA Springs, having grown tired with the repeated delays and assurances, proposed procedures to put the property up for auction, while at the same time continuing to hope that somehow Malom would come up with the money. The proposed procedures, however, raised objections from a variety of creditors, including Roswell Commercial Mortgage, which originally lent the company about $8 million, but now claims it is owed about $13.2 million with interest. Roswell insisted that it has the right to buy back the property with a “credit bid” if there wasn’t enough raised at the auction – something USA Springs had agreed to in the past. It dismissed USA Springs’ attempt to sweeten the deal by throwing a noncontiguous property in Raymond owned by a related trust, noting that the two acres were secured with a $200,000 mortgage but is assessed at $76,400. Tue, 15 May 2012 23:01:14 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/business/960920-192/lowell-five-opens-up-in-nashua.html NASHUA – Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank, based in Lowell, Mass., opened its 14th branch and first New Hampshire location earlier this month on Harris Road, across the street from the Super Shell Food Mart. The bank currently serves customers in several nearby Massachusetts towns, including Chelmsford, Dracut, Pepperell and Tyngsborough. “The Lowell Five has a large customer base already in the southern Nashua area,” Amy Werner, senior vice president of retail banking, said when plans for the bank were announced earlier this year. “Many former customers have also relocated to this market. We like the site’s footprint as an extension of our branch network as well as the surrounding businesses and residences we hope to serve.” Eight employees will work on site, between six current Lowell Five employees and two new full-time employees, Werner said. The bank occupies the first floor of the 5,200-square-foot building and consists of four offices, a four-window teller line, a two-lane drive-up with ATM and a night depository. – Telegraph Staff Tue, 15 May 2012 23:01:21 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/business/960921-192/fishing-for-future-clients.html Most professionals never stop searching for the next client. Stockbrokers will tell you that they never stop cold calling, no matter how successful they become. Lawyers and consultants never stop networking and prospecting. It becomes, for most of us, a way of life. Tue, 15 May 2012 23:01:29 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/960922-196/3-eateries-bank-plan-for-merrimack-outlets.html MERRIMACK – The Planning Board on Tuesday night approved a project for restaurants and a bank at the Merrimack Premium Outlets. More than an hour of discussion on the project ensued before the board voted on the matter, passing the resolution 6-1 and paving the way for work to continue. Board member Dr. John Segedy cast the only dissenting vote. Before rendering a final decision about the three restaurants and a bank, Segedy cited concerns about pedestrian traffic crossing the roadway. At the Planning Board’s last meeting two weeks ago, members opted to table the restaurant proposal after questions were raised about parking and traffic patterns around the eateries. Tue, 15 May 2012 23:01:36 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/960923-196/forgers-youth-previously-clean-record-helps-avoid.html NASHUA – Ryan Courtenay got cut slack when he was sentenced on forgery and drug charges Tuesday in Hillsborough County Superior Court. Prosecutor Catherine M. Devine admitted as such. But she also said Courtenay, 23, of 8 Cherry St., probably deserved a break. Courtenay had no criminal record before Nashua police stopped him for speeding on F.E. Tue, 15 May 2012 23:01:43 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/businessbusinesspeople/960925-267/business-people-nathan-saller-joe-reilly-tim.html Nathan Saller MANCHESTER – The New Hampshire Credit Union League, Massachusetts Credit Union League and the Credit Union Association of Rhode Island have named Nathan Saller, Bellwether Community Credit Union vice president of sales and marketing, a Credit Union Rising Star. The accolade is presented annually to professionals who make a notable impact in their credit union, the industry and to their community through volunteerism and service to nonprofit organizations. As vice president of sales and marketing at Bellwether Community Credit Union, Saller oversees marketing and online strategy, retail banking and the call center serving Bellwether’s branch offices in Manchester, Bedford and Nashua. In 2004, Saller was selected as an inaugural member of the Filene Research Council i3 program , a think-tank dedicated to developing and implementing innovations in credit unions. Wed, 16 May 2012 07:59:10 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/960926-196/j.-geils-jams-with-jazz-musicians-at.html J. Geils, left, plays along with the Gerry Beaudoin Trio on Tuesday evening during a jazz jam for a dozen musicians and jazz lovers at Studio 99 in Nashua. Also shown are, from left, Dave Landoni, Gerry Beaudoin, Jon Lorentz and Rich Lataille. Geils is best known for his years as lead guitarist in a band that carried his name. The J. Wed, 16 May 2012 09:53:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/sportslocalsports/960927-222/sr.-babe-ruth-tryouts-friday.html Sign-ups and tryouts for the Nashua SBR teams will be held Friday (6 p.m.) at Ledge Street Field next to the Nashua Boys and Girls Club. Tryouts will continue at Saturday (9 a.m.) and Sunday (9 a.m.). Teams will be finalized on Sunday. Any Nashua resident who is between the ages of 16 and 18 and won’t turn 19 prior to Jan 1, 2013 is eligible. All Nashua and Bishop Guertin players, and players from last year’s teams must register. Wed, 16 May 2012 07:59:14 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/sportsnba/960928-222/76ers-host-2nd-rounder-for-1st-time-in.html PHILADELPHIA – See ya, Chicago. Thanks for the split, Boston. These young-and-fun 76ers are loaded with postseason surprises, aren’t they? Who guessed Lavoy Allen, an unheralded rookie, would toss a last-gasp bank shot with .9 seconds left on the shot clock for the clutch points in Game 2? Not the Celtics. And probably not even the Sixers. Yet, here is Philadelphia, after knocking off the top-seeded Bulls in six games in Round 1, set for its first second-round home playoff games in nine years after a 1-1 split in Boston. “After this,” team CEO Adam Aron said late Monday night, “we better come up with something special.” Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals is Wednesday in Philadelphia, where the Sixers are 3-0 in the playoffs. The city hasn’t hosted a second-round game since 2003, when coach Larry Brown and All-Star Allen Iverson ruled the town, and will be welcoming home a confident, young group of players who have shown the kind of grit Philadelphia fans love. “The fans are very appreciative of what we’re doing,” forward Elton Brand said Tuesday. Tue, 15 May 2012 23:58:44 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/sportspatriots/960929-221/welker-signs-9.5m-tender.html FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker said Tuesday he has signed the $9.5 million tender offer that came along with being designated the team’s franchise player. Welker made the announcement on Twitter. He said he loves the game and his teammates and “hopefully doing the right thing gets the right results.” Welker caught more passes than anyone else in the NFL last season but couldn’t come down with the one that might have clinched a Super Bowl victory against the New York Giants. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Welker led the NFL with 122 receptions and was second in the league with 1,569 yards receiving. Welker, 30, is only the second receiver to catch at least 120 passes in two different seasons. The team had nothing to announce on the move Tuesday. Wilson signs, Hartline cut The Patriots signed second-round draft pick Tavon Wilson and released first-year quarterback Mike Hartline on Tuesday. Wilson, a defensive back, became the team’s first draft choice from April to officially sign a contract. Tue, 15 May 2012 23:58:49 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/sportshighschoolsports/960930-221/high-school-sports-highlights-softball-baseball-tennis.html SOFTBALL Pinkerton 12, BG 10 Jacklyn Dubois was 2 for 4 with two runs scored, including a home run, but it wasn’t enough for the Cardinals (7-8) in Division I action. Katie Soraghan was also 2 for 4 with a double, RBI and run scored, while Jessica Lemos, Tori Dubois, Holly Kathios and Sammi Powers also drove in a run each. MacKenzie Marr suffered the loss, giving up eight earned runs on 11 hits and two walks over 52⁄3 innings for Bishop Guertin, which host Nashua North on Thursday. Pinkerton (10-5) trailed 8-3 going into the bottom of the fifth, but scored nine runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take the lead. Natalie Fabrizio was 4 for 4 with four RBIs, two triples, a double and three runs scored. WLC 13, Epping 2 The Warriors had four players drive in three runs each as they improved to 12-0 in Division IV this season. Andrea Heck was 4 for 5, Deanna Davidson was 3 for 5, Sam Broderick was 2 for 4 and Sami Bosquet was 2 for 3, as each had three RBIs. Broderick also got the win, going seven innings and allowing one earned run on six hits with nine strikeouts for WLC. BASEBALL WLC 6, Epping 2 Justin Thibeault had a two-run double to help the Warriors (9-3) past the Blue Devils. Wed, 16 May 2012 07:59:29 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/sportslocalsports/960931-222/new-nashua-jr.-american-legion-coach-greg.html Greg Coy will always be remembered for his scrappy, hard-nosed play as a catcher back in the early 1990s for the Coffey Post American Legion baseball team. He’ll also be remembered for being a winner on those teams. Thus Coy, who has been coaching youth baseball in the city for the last several years, has winced at the fact Legion baseball hasn’t been as prevalent as it used to be. “I was trying out for the Nashua Chiefs (Senior Babe Ruth) and I heard that Jeff Motuzas had been drafted by the Yankees,” Coy said. “And I just dropped my (catcher’s) equipment and ran over to try out for Coffey Post.” With his affinity for the quality of American Legion Baseball in mind, Coy has started up a Junior Legion team in Nashua, with 30 players signed up and tryouts taking place this Saturday and Sunday, of which he plans to keep about 15. The 20 game regular season starts June 20 and ends July 21. Technically, Junior Legion, a growing program across New Hampshire with other teams locally including Merrimack and Hudson, is for youths 17-and-under. Tue, 15 May 2012 23:59:10 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/business/960936-192/subdued-dimon-is-confronted-over-2b-trading.html TAMPA, Fla. – The CEO of JPMorgan Chase offered a quick but blunt apology to shareholders Tuesday for a $2 billion trading loss that “should never have happened” and survived a push to strip him of the title of chairman of the board. CEO Jamie Dimon, who in recent years has given expansive answers to questions about the bank’s handling of foreclosures and loan modifications, was unusually subdued at the JPMorgan annual meeting. He spent four minutes talking about the trading loss and steps the company has taken to address it, and just two more talking about accomplishments of the company over the past year. The loss, disclosed Thursday, rattled investor confidence in the largest bank in the United States and in the ability of Wall Street to fight regulatory changes more than three years after the financial crisis. It also added some theatrics to the JPMorgan annual meeting, traditionally a staid affair. Wed, 16 May 2012 07:59:42 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/960924-196/asa-automotive-systems-starts-saturday-support.html MERRIMACK – ASA Automotive Systems, formerly ASA Tire Systems, which provides software systems and services to tire dealers and auto repair centers, has extended its technical support hours to include Saturdays. Beginning June 2, ASA will offer telephone technical support on Saturdays to all TireMaster customers as part of its standard software maintenance agreement. In the second half of 2011, ASA implemented AtTask, a web-based project management tool that allows ASA customers to log their own support calls, receive automated email alerts when work begins on an issue and when the call is closed, as well as view the current status of open calls and details of closed calls online. Headquartered in Merrimack, ASA Automotive Systems develops and builds enterprise-wide software solutions and delivers support and services. ASA’s software tools help tire dealers and auto repair shops manage order processing, accounting, ecommerce and business management needs of any size retail, commercial, wholesale, or retread operation. – Telegraph Staff Tue, 15 May 2012 23:01:48 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/960843-196/man-left-bruises-on-22-month-old-toddler-police.html NASHUA – Police arrested a 23-year-old Nashua man and charged him with harming a 2-year-old boy. On Monday at 7:02 p.m., members of the Nashua Police Department’s Youth Services Division arrested Zachary Cassista, 23, of 11 Demanche St., and charged him with two counts of second-degree assault, a Class B felony. In March, detectives in the Youth Services Division were notified by the Division for Children, Youth and Families that a 22-month-old male was at the Children’s Hospital in Boston, with numerous bruises. Police say an investigation revealed that Cassista, who is known to the child and child’s mother, is responsible for the boy’s injuries. A Class B felony is punishable by up to seven years imprisonment exclusive of fines. Cassista is being held on $20,000 cash bail pending his arraignment in Nashua district court. – Telegraph Staff Tue, 15 May 2012 22:58:39 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/960841-196/nashua-sisters-threatened-and-hit-girl-say.html NASHUA – Two sisters who allegedly attacked a 17-year-old girl have been charged with threatening and assault, according to Nashua police. Police say that on Monday , about 6 p.m., they responded to Spit Brook Road due to the report of a disturbance. Police say Emily and Rebecca Parker, who are sisters, had a dispute with a 17-year-old female. Police say Emily Parker, 18, of 146 E. Dunstable Road threatened the victim with two knives, while Rebecca Parker, 20, of 924 St. James Place, Nashua struck the victim with a golf club causing “minor non-life threatening injuries.” Emily Parker is being charged with criminal threatening, a Class B felony and Rebecca Parker is being charged with first-degree assault, a Class A felony. A Class B felony is punishable by up to seven years imprisonment, exclusive of fines. Tue, 15 May 2012 22:58:34 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/newsstatenewengland/960863-227/april-state-jobless-rate-drops-to-5.html CONCORD (AP) – New Hampshire’s unemployment rate dropped to 5 percent in April, the lowest level since December 2008. The rate a year ago was 5.4 percent. The national unemployment rate for April was 8.1 percent, down a fraction of a percentage point from the previous month and the rate a year ago. New Hampshire’s unemployment rate in December 2008 was 4.8 percent. These are seasonally adjusted rates, which differ slightly from the “raw” rate that has not been adjusted to account for annual shifts in employment caused by change in the seasons. Gov. John Lynch said that more than 6,800 New Hampshire residents found jobs in the past year. Tue, 15 May 2012 22:58:51 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/business/960914-192/congress-votes-to-reauthorize-export-import-bank.html WASHINGTON – The government’s vehicle for promoting U.S. export sales survived a challenge from conservatives Tuesday with a Senate vote to renew the charter of the Export-Import Bank for three years. The vote, coming after the Senate rejected amendments to weaken or kill the bank, sends the measure to President Barack Obama for his signature. The bill, which passed the House last week, also raises the independent federal agency’s lending cap from the current $100 billion to $140 billion. The vote was 78-20. The bank, which has been renewed several dozen times with little notice since it was established in 1934, became caught this year between business groups that strongly support it and conservative organizations, such as Club for Growth, that said the bank is market-distorting and should be abolished. Tue, 15 May 2012 22:24:00 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/newsstatenewengland/960913-227/nh-voter-id-bill-would-require-photo.html CONCORD (AP) – The House has voted to require voters to show photo identification or have a picture taken at the polls to vote in New Hampshire. The House voted 226-115 to send the Senate a bill that would require a photo ID issued by the state or federal government. The bill also allows the voter to fill out an affidavit and let election officials take the person’s picture. If a voter objects to having a picture taken on religious grounds, the person could fill out an affidavit and be allowed to vote. The Senate’s version of the bill also requires voters to show photo identification and allows election officials to verify a person’s identity without an ID but allows people to sign an affidavit to vote. Tue, 15 May 2012 23:00:43 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/newsstatenewengland/960912-227/nh-house-passes-abortion-limit-senate-rejected.html CONCORD – New Hampshire’s House once again has voted to require pregnant women to wait 24 hours for an abortion by adding the requirement Tuesday to a Senate bill on a research-and-development tax credit for business. The House passed the bill despite fears from some who support the tax credit that the Senate will simply kill the bill. The Senate voted 12-11 last month to kill a House-passed bill requiring women to wait 24 hours, but that same day the House added it to the Senate bill. The 24-hour wait bill requires that women receive explicit information about the fetus, the proposed procedure, medical risks associated with it and alternatives to abortion. Business groups had advocated against adding the abortion provision to the tax credit bill. The bill would raise the tax credit from $1 million to $2 million. The bill also would make the credit permanent, which is set to expire July 1, 2013. The House Finance Committee voted to delete the abortion provision, but the House then voted 198-100 to pass the bill with the 24-hour wait requirement. The back-and-forth over issues between the House and Senate is common at this time of year, but generally the chambers don’t resurrect social issues that have been killed. Tue, 15 May 2012 23:00:38 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/newsstatenewengland/960827-227/garden-to-honor-n.h.-homicide-victims-to.html LACONIA – A memorial garden honoring victims of homicide in the state will be dedicated here Thursday. Attorney General Michael Delaney and Laconia Mayor Michael Seymour will join family members who lost a loved one to homicide for the dedication. Also attending will be professionals who provide victims’ families with services and support. The N.H. Homicide Memorial Garden will be dedicated at 11 a.m. at Stewart Park, at the corner of Main Street and Union Avenue. The garden is sponsored by the New Hampshire Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children and Other Survivors of Homicide Victims (POMC-OSHV) and the attorney general’s office of Victim/Witness Assistance. The garden is established in memory of those whose lives have been taken by violence. Families have donated pathway bricks inscribed with the name of their loved ones. – PATRICK MEIGHAN Tue, 15 May 2012 22:58:23 EST http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/newsstatenewengland/960830-227/warm-weather-created-a-short-not-very.html The record warm March cut the maple sugar season short this year and contributed to reduced production, according to both the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association and the area’s best-known maple producer. “We were about 50 percent of normal in terms of volume of sap collected,” said Ron Roberts, owner of Parker’s Maple Barn in Mason, which collects sap from about 1,400 taps on tree from a number of properties. “I’ve heard that Vermont was about the same.” The result of the shortfall is that prices for maple syrup are likely to rise. In its annual season report, the state association says taps were set out at the regular time of late January, but that boiling – the process of driving most of the water out of tree sap to produce syrup – began as early as Feb. 7 and ended by March 19. Parker’s stopped boiling March 18, about three weeks earlier than normal because, as Roberts said, “in mid-March, summer hit.” The syrup association said the situation was similar for all producers. “The last boil of the season came early for many producers in the southern part of the state as temperatures rose into the 70s and 80s for five days forcing the buds to develop and cause undesirable sap for boiling,” it said in a statement. Partly as a result, the group said “most producers found they had 50 percent to 66 percent of an average crop, but reports of only 33 percent of an average crop was not unusual.” The poor season follows a good to excellent season last year, when Vermont had record production, and a weak season in 2010. Roberts said Parker’s syrup had good flavor this year, winning first prize at the annual contest held in Peterborough by the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, although sap was less sweet than usual, which means more boiling was required. “Sugar was down at least a half a percent to a full percent,” Roberts said. Despite the role that maple syrup plays in New Hampshire’s culture and tradition, the state is the smallest producer in Northern New England. Tue, 15 May 2012 11:47:00 EST