New Hampshire Business Review back issues from December 2008:
Following the money: who were the big N.H. contributors in the '08 election?(New Hampshire)
Dec 05, 2008; ... All in all, New Hampshire residents who made donations of $200 or more contributed $11.7 million in the last two-year federal election cycle which ran from October 006 to early last month. And the total doesn't include most of last month's surge in what has been a deluge of campaign cash. ...
New FTC rule may have businesses in N.H. seeing red: wide range of businesses affected by 'Red Flag Rule' targeting ID theft.(IDENTITY THEFT)(Federal Trade Commission)(New Hampshire)
Dec 05, 2008; ... If you extend credit to your customers or clients, you have just gotten a reprieve on a federal deadline you may not have known you had to meet. While many financial institutions, car dealerships and large retailers are gearing up for a new Federal Trade Commission role ...
The BOBs are back.
Dec 05, 2008 ... Once again, NHBR is asking readers to choose the best of New Hampshire business. Now in their second year, our Best of Business awards--the BOBs--is a one-of-a kind way of singling out the best companies in over 60 business-to-business categories. By voting online ...
Susan McKenna, merchant marine.(Q&A)(United States. Merchant Marine Academy)(Interview)
Dec 05, 2008; ... Susan McKenna of Manchester is a 61-year-old grandmother of four who works as a chief officer in the U.S. Merchant Marines, piloting 950-foot-long ships through some of the most dangerous waters on the planet. She's also a survivor of heart disease that could have taken her life ...
35 percent said that they were less tolerant this year of a neighbor's showy holiday decorations.(take 5)(Report)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... If you re one of those folks who elaborately decorate your house for Christmas, don't be surprised if some neighbors give you the cold shoulder. According to a survey by HCD Research of 768 people, 35 percent said that they were ...
Less than 10 percent of those who used e-mail were truthful.(take 5)(Report)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... A recent study at Lehigh University presents a disconcerting scenario. Researchers gave full-time MBA students fake money to divide among themselves and another fictional party. Using either e-mail or pen-and-paper communications, the students ...
What's the best boost to low morale? Better communication, said 48 percent of 150 senior executives surveyed.(take 5)(Report)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... What's the best boost to low morale? Better communication, said 48 percent of 150 senior executives surveyed by staffing service Accountemps. Other remedies suggested included: recognition ...
The quality of some services provided by their commercial lenders had deteriorated.(take 5)(Survey)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... A survey of 115 chief financial officers and other finance executives by CFO magazine found that they felt that, that since September, the quality of some services provided by their commercial lenders had deteriorated. A majority said it ...
32 percent of Americans are saving more as a result of the economic downturn.(take 5)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... A USA TODAY/Gallup survey conducted in early November found that 32 percent of Americans are saving more as a result of the economic downturn, but the ...
DED head: Duddy to take over for Vlacich in state econ development post.(Division of Economic Development)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008; ... The New Hampshire Division of Economic Development will be losing its director, Mike Vlacich, to U.S. Senator-elect Jeanne Shaheen and gaining a new acting director--Roy Duddy, who now heads the agency's New Hampshire Business Resource Center. Gov. John Lynch nominated Duddy, ...
Oil's not well: region's fuel dealers seek bailout help.
Dec 05, 2008; ... The delegation representing fuel dealers from throughout the Northeast who met with U.S. Treasury Department officials in Washington, D.C., last month were are not asking for a dime from the government, said Bob Garside, president of the Oil Heat Council of New Hampshire. While ...
Winnipesaukee Chocolates.(IN THE Spotlight)(Interview)
Dec 05, 2008; ... On July 13, 2007, Jonathan Walpole and Sally Cornwell opened a shop in downtown Wolfeboro for their budding business, Winnipesaukee Chocolates. The line of chocolate bars named for different corners of the Lakes Region--there's milk chocolate Barndoor Island and milk chocolate combined ...
Piling up: Mangosoft notches another loss.(MangoSoft Inc.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008; ... Mangosoft Inc. the one-man public software company in Nashua, N.H., is reporting another net loss and repeated warnings that it may not be able to continue operating. The company reported a loss of more than $109,000, or 2 cents a share, about $6,000 more than the third quarter ...
Closing time? Ioka Theater gets ready to turn off the lights.(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... After 93 years, the Ioka Theater in Exeter will be is closing its doors Christmas Eve. Roger Detzler, co-owner of one of New England's oldest independently owned and privately operated theaters, pointed to several reasons for the closing, including the need for a sprinkler ...
Party poop: companies scaling back holiday celebrations.
Dec 05, 2008; ... Hearst Corporation, one of the world's largest publishing companies, is foregoing its storied lavish holiday party for employees. Morgan Stanley, American Express and Barclays Bank have also canceled their year-end celebrations. It's a sign of the times--company budgets are ...
Being prepared: program links educators, businesses.(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... Some 200 educators and business leaders from around New Hampshire met Nov. 18 in Concord as part of an effort to strengthen education and business partnerships across the state. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Collaboration between a school and the business community ...
Water power: big shareholder eyes Pennichuck board.(GAMCO Investors Inc. has purchaed many shares in Pennichuck Corp.)
Dec 05, 2008; ... GAMCO Investors Inc. and various affiliated companies have bought just about as many shares as they can in Pennichuck Corp. in order to get board members to help push its plan to sell the entire company to the city of Nashua, the company has disclosed. The mutual fund, owned by ...
As national unemployment numbers continue to rise, New Hampshire's jobless rate held steady at 4.1 percent in October, well below the national average of 6.5 percent.(Concord)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... As national unemployment numbers continue to rise, New Hampshire's jobless rate held steady at 4.1 percent in October, well below the national average of 6.5 percent. Data from New Hampshire ...
New Hampshire lawmakers approved close to $60 million in state budget cuts proposed by Gov. John Lynch.(Concord)
Dec 05, 2008 ... New Hampshire lawmakers approved close to $60 million in state budget cuts proposed by Gov. John Lynch. Lynch reduced spending in departments across ...
More New Hampshire residents are seeking help heating their homes, but officials say they're confident they'll have enough money to meet the need.(Concord)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... More New Hampshire residents are seeking help heating their homes, but officials say they're confident they'll have enough money to meet the need. New Hampshire's share for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program has doubled this season to ...
The owners of The Lodge at Belmont want to introduce a new type of gambling to their racetrack: slot-machine-style terminals that allow bettors to wager on the outcome of old horse races.(Belmont)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... The owners of The Lodge at Belmont want to introduce a new type of gambling to their racetrack: slot-machine-style terminals that allow bettors to wager on the outcome of old horse ...
The state of New Hampshire, along with cities and towns, are paying about 25 percent more for road salt than it did last winter.(Concord)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... The state of New Hampshire, along with cities and towns, are paying about 25 percent more for road salt than it did last winter. The state ...
Same-sex partners of University System of New Hampshire employees will lose their health benefits unless they enter into a civil union by July.(Durham)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... Same-sex partners of University System of New Hampshire employees will lose their health benefits unless they enter into a civil union by July. The system, which has offered health benefits to same-sex partners since 2000, currently has 63 employees whose same sex partners are ...
The 1st U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld the constitutionality of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation law making doctors' prescription writing habits confidential.(Boston)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... The 1st U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld the constitutionality of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation law making doctors' prescription writing habits confidential. The ruling overturns one last year in New Hampshire that ...
A 15-year-old girl and her mother are suing the New Hampton School under the Americans with Disabilities Act.(New Hampton)
Dec 05, 2008 ... A 15-year-old girl and her mother are suing the New Hampton School under the Americans with Disabilities Act, ...
The New Hampshire High Tech Council has awarded its 2008 Product of the Year to Londonderry-based Insight Tech Gear's MTMv2-LCD, described as the smallest (11 ounces) high-resolution handheld thermal imaging device in the world, good for search and rescue operations, police and military work.(Londonderry)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The New Hampshire High Tech Council has awarded its 2008 Product of the Year to Londonderry-based Insight Tech Gear's MTMv2-LCD, described as the smallest (11 ounces) high-resolution handheld thermal imaging device in the world, good ...
Holden Co., a Keene metal fabricating supplier, has been sold to EVS Metal Inc., a New Jersey-based metal company, an acquisition that will lead to a "significant capital investment in Keene," to company officials said.(Keene)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... Holden Co., a Keene metal fabricating supplier, has been sold to EVS Metal Inc., a New Jersey-based metal company, an acquisition that will lead to a "significant capital ...
The New Hampshire Liquor Commission has announced that its fourth annual Wine Week will take place Jan. 26-30, 2009.(Concord)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... The New Hampshire Liquor Commission has announced that its fourth annual Wine Week will take place Jan. 26-30, 2009. John Buehler of Buehler Vineyards, Joseph Carr of Carr Winery, Pat Henderson of Heck Estates and Michael Mondavi of Folio Wine Company are among the wine celebrities who ...
White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd.(The Bottom Line)(White Mountains Re Group Ltd.)(Market share report)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... White Mountains Re Group Ltd., the reinsurance unit of White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. (WTM) has declared a dividend of $37.53 per share, payable ...
SkillSoft PLC.(The Bottom Line)(SkillSoft U.K. Ltd.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... E-learning services provider SkillSoft PLC (SKIL) posted higher third-quarter earnings, due to lower expenses, but cut its revenue outlook for the year, sending its shares down as much as 8 percent. In the ...
Sturm, Ruger & Company Inc.(The Bottom Line)
Dec 05, 2008 ... Sturm, Ruger & Company Inc. (RGR) announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program that allows the company to ...
CPEX Pharmaceuticals Inc.(The Bottom Line)(Serenity Pharmaceuticals)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... CPEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CPEX) announced that its development and commercialization partner, Serenity Pharmaceuticals, has reported initiation of a Phase II clinical study of an intranasal ...
Micronetics Inc.(The Bottom Line)
Dec 05, 2008 ... Micronetics Inc. (NOIZ) reported that its board has authorized the repurchase of up to 500,000 shares of its common stock. The repurchases may be made in ...
Stock check: representing a basket of stocks from N.H.-based companies or those doing a significant amount of business in the state.(Statistical table)
Dec 05, 2008 ... <Pre> Stock Check Representing a basket of stocks from N.H.-based companies or those doing a significant amount of business in the state 11/28 11/14% SYMBOL NAMECLOSINGCLOSINGCHANGE TOP GAINER: [up arrow] Environmental Pwr +163.64% ...
Economy shines a light on 50+ worker: businesses may benefit as financial crisis forces more to work longer.(50+: The changing face of New Hampshire's workforce)
Dec 05, 2008; ... Margaret Jaskolka will celebrate her 65th birthday on Feb. 3, 2009. She had hoped to mark the occasion with a retirement celebration rather than a birthday party. After decades spent working in the manufacturing and retail industries, the busy mother of four and grandmother of ...
Retailers hope for a shopping lift: state's merchants sport a cautious holiday outlook.(RETAIL)(Report)
Dec 05, 2008; ... A survey of New Hampshire retailers finds them not quite all merry and bright, but a lot more positive than some other sectors going into the 2008 holiday shopping season. A survey conducted before Black Friday--the traditional start of the holiday shopping season--by the Retail ...
N.H. to Mass. companies: we're open for business: state extends an Open Invitation in effort to recruit Bay State businesses.(ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT)
Dec 05, 2008; ... The New Hampshire Open Invitation Initiative may be bold, creative and enterprising, but one thing it isn't is subtle. Go to the Web site, nhopeninvitation.com, and the first thing you will see is cartoon figure dressed in colonial Pilgrim garb standing alongside a long list of ...
Economic woes trip up N.H. oil change business: the owner of three outlets files for bankruptcy protection.(New Hampshire)(PCK Holding, LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008; ... The owner of three New Hampshire oil-changing businesses filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Dec. 1 in an attempt to keep them going and salvage 15 jobs. Kerner's Quick Lube in Merrimack and Exeter and Mobil 1 Lube Express (formerly Lube King) in Hampstead, will all continue to ...
Healthy families begin at home.(YOUTH PROGRAMS)
Dec 05, 2008; ... "Nick" has been in special education services since elementary school and developed a substance abuse problem by the time he was in middle school. Then he was diagnosed with a mental health problem. As a teen, he was arrested and convicted for a number of juvenile offenses. ...
New Hampshire's stimulus incentive.(Editorial)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... With a recession officially declared, it's apparent the economy needs all the stimulus it can get. Of course, in the grand scheme of things, there's not much the state of New 1t am p shire can do, but there's at least one action state government can take that could almost immediately put ...
The myth of the bloated budget: at a time of great need, state's human services are in danger.(SOCIAL SERVICES)(United States. Department of Health and Human Services)
Dec 05, 2008; ... The New Hampshire Legislature is lacing a budget shortfall of massive proportions. The term "structural deficit" has been aptly used to describe the magnitude of the gap between projected revenue and spending. No Rube Goldberg cobbling of multiple revenue streams gets close to balancing ...
Hammond's view.(N.H. opinions)(Cartoon)
Dec 05, 2008; ... POLL THE CREW ON STRATEGIES FOR WEIGHING ANCHOR. ...
A Big 3 bailout won't work: subsidizing automakers is not role of government in a free market.(ECONOMIC CRISIS)
Dec 05, 2008; ... America's economy is in recession. The world economy is in recession. Every family worries about the future, and politicians want to step forward and demonstrate that they are doing something about it. Sometimes, however, doing the wrong thing is far worse than doing nothing. Passing a $25 ...
Our biggest problem has been bigness.(PORTSIDE)
Dec 05, 2008; ... Far too much of America's energy is being drained today in frenzied attempts to prop up bigness. The housing crisis, the financial meltdown, the teetering of the Big Three automakers. The unifying theme is turn-of-the-last century, laissez-faire, supra-governmental corporate bigness. ...
NHBR about town.(Appledore Engineering, Inc. and Portsmouth firm awarded)(Richard Lowney, president of Clearview Software)(Pro Construction Inc. awarded)(New Hampshire Business Review)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1 Employees of Appledore Engineering take some time off to celebrate announcement of the firm's recognition as the nation's Best Small Civil Engineering Firm to Work For, as recognized by CE News magazine. The Portsmouth firm also was recognized Best ...
Getting real returns from your advertising dollars.(Improving Performance)(Viewpoint essay)
Dec 05, 2008; ... Are you ready for this? I'm not making this up. If you turn to page 136 of the November 2008 issue of Fast Company magazine, you'll see an article by Rob Walker called "Creative Mischief." In it, he quotes Sam Ewen, a nontraditional marketer, as saying, "I believe the new killer app in ...
Remembering Buck Buchanan, 1917-2008.(Cook on Concord)(Creeley S. Buchanan)(Obituary)
Dec 05, 2008; ... Another significant loss for New Hampshire occurred when Creeley. S. Buchanan, known to everyone as "Buck," died Nov. 21. He was 91 years old and had lived a remarkable life. Buchanan came to New Hampshire to attend Tihon School for a post-graduate year after graduating from ...
On Nov. 18, the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce had its Community Leadership Awards Dinner at Dartmouth College's Hopkins Center.(Cook on Concord)
Dec 05, 2008; ... On Nov. 18, the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce had its Community Leadership Awards Dinner at Dartmouth College's Hopkins Center. It was the second annual such dinner, and having the opportunity to attend it, given that my law firm has a Hanover office, pointed out the economic engine and ...
The importance of building relationships.(Beyond Ads)
Dec 05, 2008; ... In all businesses, relationships are important, but for those in the service industry, they are even more critical, since many competitors are capable of performing competently. Compounding the competitive aspects of client relations and development is the crucial nature of ...
Planning for adversity pays off.(Continuing Your Business)
Dec 05, 2008; ... No matter the reason, many companies put off business continuity planning for as long as possible, but having a business continuity plan in advance gives you the opportunity to review your risks, mitigate some and plan for Others. A business continuity plan does not have to be ...
Is district heating the North Country's answer? European heating technology a possible solution for rising energy costs.(going GREEN)
Dec 05, 2008; ... Energy costs are on everyone's minds these days. And in Coos County, hard-hit with job losses and a tough economic climate, heating costs may be the proverbial budget-breaking straw for residents and businesses. Rick DeMark, director of North Country Resource Conservation and ...
New stores offer sustainable products.(GOING GREEN)(Greenland Bioplastics and Green Options)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... Greenland Bioplastics and Green Options, stores featuring biodegradable, compostable and innovative recycled items for home and business, opened its doors Nov. 22 in Greenland. Greenland Bioplastics specializes in biodegradable, non-petroleum based plastic-alternatives, ...
Oil recycler plans to triple workforce.(GOING GREEN)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... A company that has turned a former tannery in Pittsfield into a site for converting used vegetable frying oil into fuel expects to more than triple its workforce in the next year. Amenico officially purchased the former tannery site in October, but has been operating at the site ...
Ruderman to head PUC energy initiatives.(GOING GREEN)(Jack Ruderman of Public Utilities Commission)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... Jack Ruderman has been named director of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission's new Sustainable Energy Division. Ruderman, 45, deputy director at the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning for five years, will oversee about $20 million in energy-efficiency funds. ...
New members join Aspiring Leaders.(GOING GREEN)(five more companies have been named to the Department of Environmental Services' Aspiring Leaders program)(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... Five more companies have been named to the Department of Environmental Services' Aspiring Leaders program, bringing total membership to 17. The new members are: Nantucket Beadboard in Rochester; Ridgeview Construction in Deerfield; Jewett Construction in Raymond; Resource ...
BAE engineers open way for FIRST robots: new code will soon be given to teen competitors for competitions in the spring.(NASHUA OUTLOOK)(BAE SYSTEMS PLC)
Dec 05, 2008; ... The Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner wouldn't be very interesting if you had to control it with a joystick. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Roughly speaking, that explains why two BAE Systems software engineers have spent more than six months working "full time and beyond" to ...
Orthopedic tech program offered.(NASHUA OUTLOOK)(New Hampshire Technical Institute )(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, in conjunction with St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua and Concord Hospital and several private orthopedic offices throughout the state, is offering a certificate program in orthopedic technology. The program trains students in the care ...
Michael Buckley, owner of Michael Timothy's in Nashua, and his wife Sarah have been named Restaurateurs of the Year by the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association.(NASHUA OUTLOOK)
Dec 05, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Michael Buckley, owner of Michel Timothy's in Nashua, and his wife Sarah have been named Restaurateurs of the Year by the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association. The Buckleys were instrumental in the revitalization of downtown Nashua ...
Cultural revolution: civic leaders, representatives from arts groups discuss enriching Nashua's arts scene.(NASHUA OUTLOOK)(Nashua Community College)
Dec 05, 2008; ... All the good things that make the city livable don't necessarily make it sellable as a cultural hub or arts destination. During a cultural planning forum last month at Nashua Community College, many of the 50 or so attendees listed a litany of attributes that distinguish Nashua ...
Wage violations can be a costly mistake: recent case is a reminder that companies should become familiar with state wage laws and bring their pay practices into compliance.(THE LAW)
Dec 05, 2008; ... Sue, a longtime employee of Burger Barn, reported to Janice, her supervisor, that she made a mistake on her time card. Janice made a correction and submitted the time card to payroll. Joe, a new employee of Builders Inc., found out that steel-tip boots are required for the job, ...
A 'preference' you'd prefer to avoid: steps to prevent being caught up in a bankruptcy court 'preference' action.(THE LAW)
Dec 05, 2008; ... It's a fact of business: Some customers will pay slowly and sporadically, promise to catch up, convince you to ship more and then, sadly, file for bankruptcy. Having written off the debt and mentally moved on, two years later you may receive a letter from the bankruptcy trustee ...
Court ruling stiffens 'disparate impact' claims: employers now must prove 'reasonableness' in ADEA suits.(THE LAW)(Age Discrimination in Employment Act)
Dec 05, 2008; ... The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last June in Meacham v. Knolls Atomic Power that employers must prove their decision-making is "reasonable" to avoid liability under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, or ADEA, for "disparate impact" claims. While acknowledging that such a ...
Could a gas-tax hike be in New Hampshire's future? 'Significant action' needed, DOT commissioner says.(REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION)
Dec 05, 2008 ... Some New Hampshire lawmakers are considering a gasoline-tax increase to address what could be a $1 billion shortfall in the state's 10-year highway plan. The lawmakers include Rep. David Campbell, D-Nashua, who led a study of the state's highway fund. The Concord Monitor ...
Mixed picture for future construction.(REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION)
Dec 05, 2008; ... Pending construction contracts in New Hampshire declined significantly for nonresidential and residential projects in October, although they skyrocketed for non-building construction. According to McGraw-Hill Construction, an industry information service, contracts for future ...
Resort cannot depose governor.(REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION)(John Lynch )(Brief article)
Dec 05, 2008 ... Gov. John Lynch will not be forced to be deposed by the owners of Mount Sunapee Resort or to hand over documents from his office, Merrimack County Superior Court Judge Philip Mangones has ruled. Resort owners Tim and Diane Mueller have leased the ski area, which is located in ...