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Letters
Region
Obituaries
Abstract Paintings & Tribal Masks Exhibition At New Hampshire Antique Co-Op
Now on view through May 31, 2020
Congregational Church Stays Connected
During the suspension of in-person activities in light of the Covid-19 situation, the Congregational Church of Amherst, UCC has a variety of ways for members and others to connect with church programs. This is especially important during April as Holy Week and Easter are on the horizon.
The most up-to-date information about church activities can be found on the church’s website (ccamherst.org) or by calling the church office at 673-3231. Sunday services are broadcast on FacebookLive and recorded for later on-line viewing. Services are followed by a Virtual Fellowship Hour. Links for these and other events can be found on the website.
The church’s Facebook page is another source of information, including updates and video messages from the pastors. Pastors Maureen Frescott and Kate Kennedy are available to provide pastoral care during this time, and the church welcomes community members to connect with this loving, serving, open and affirming community of faith.
Lorraine Alice Hamilton
AMHERST – Lorraine Alice Hamilton of Amherst, New Hampshire, Beach Haven, New Jersey and Rancho Mirage, California died June 14, 2020 from pancreatic cancer at her home in California. She was 73 years old and a participant in the trial of a new cancer drug at NYU Langone in New York City since April 2019. She hoped that results from the trial would improve care for other patients who develop this cancer. She was with her family when she died and was
Donald Richard Haaker
Donald Richard Haaker, 80, born June 2, 1940, son of Carl E Haaker and Jeanne LaRochelle Haaker of Fitchburg, MA, son, brother, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, peacefully passed away on Sunday, June 7, 2020 at Saint Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, MA.
Don, as he was affectionately referred to by friends, and Dad or Grandpa by family, was a proud veteran, avid fisherman, former business owner, collector of “As Seen On TV” gadgets, and
NH Politics
Senate Passes Bill to Help New Hampshire Small Businesses
SB13 lowers BPT and BET tax rates; boosts businesses hurt by pandemic
CONCORD, NH -- The Senate today passed SB13, legislation lowering the Business Profits Tax (BPT) and the Business Enterprise Tax (BET), a move that sends a strong message of support to Main Street businesses that have been hurt by the pandemic. The bill reduces the BPT from 7.7% to 7.5% and the BET from .6% to .5%.
The bill’s prime sponsor, Senate President Chuck Morse, (R-Salem), said, “Reducing these taxes is important because our Main Street businesses are still struggling due to the pandemic. SB13 is about jobs. It will help small businesses keep our friends and neighbors employed as the pandemic ends and we work towards restoring New Hampshire’s economy. Lower tax rates also reduce the cost of doing business, make our state more attractive to companies thinking of relocating here and help incentivize new investment.”
Morse added, “Since 2015, Senate Republicans have been fighting to make New Hampshire’s business climate more competitive. With SB13, we have reduced the BPT from 8.5% to 7.5%, a nearly 12% reduction in the tax rate. Senate Republicans have also lowered the rate of the BET from 0.75% to 05%, a 33% rate reduction on the tax on all New Hampshire employers.”
Additionally, Morse said, “SB13 doubles the current exemption on the Interest & Dividends tax from $1,200 to $2,400 for those who are age 65 or older, blind, disabled or unable to work and not yet 65. Increasing the exemption for those who are 65 and older will make it easier for them to stay in the state and that is important because a third of New Hampshire citizens will be above 65 by 2030.”
NH Expands Eligibility, Additional 35,000+ Granite Staters Schedule Appointments
CONCORD, NH – Today, over 35,000 Granite Staters scheduled an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccine as of 3:00 PM.
“Today’s expansion of eligibility to individuals 30 and older was another massive success,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “As we designed VINI, creating an easy-to-use system that allows Granite Staters to complete the registration and scheduling process as quickly as possible was our focus, and on average, users completed the process in well under 15 minutes. Today was another win for New Hampshire.”
Users did not experience wait times during today’s release.
The state estimates that approximately 25,000 individuals in the 30-39 year old age bracket have already received at least their first dose as part of earlier phases.
Today’s expansion of eligibility follows Monday’s successful rollout to New Hampshire residents 40+. As of 3:00 PM today, over 51,000 appointments had been scheduled by those 40+. Eligibility will expand to all New Hampshire residents 16+ Friday, April 2.
Due to FDA emergency use authorization requirements, 16 and 17 year old vaccine recipients are only allowed to receive the Pfizer vaccine. Pfizer is available at all state-managed fixed sites. A parent or guardian must be present at the time of vaccination.
The State continues to urge those who register to use only one device during the registration process. Individuals who attempt to sign on with multiple devices risk having longer wait times and will contribute to a slower registration process.
New Hampshire Senate
Republicans Vote to Support Second Amendment Rights
CONCORD, NH – All 14 Senate Republicans today voted to pass SB154 - legislation that would prohibit the state of New Hampshire from enforcing a Presidential Executive Order seeking to restrict or regulate a person’s right to own a gun under the Second Amendment.
The bill’s prime sponsor, Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, (R-Wolfeboro) explained the need for SB154 saying, “If there are Executive Orders issued from President Biden restricting an individual’s ability to keep and bear arms, this bill will make it clear that the state of New Hampshire would not enforce any such Orders issued after January 20, 2021. SB154 will protect the rights of New Hampshire citizens to defend themselves and their loved ones. New Hampshire is among the safest states in America because we have effective law enforcement and allow people to exercise their constitutional rights under the 2nd Amendment.”
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Shaheen Statement on the American Jobs Plan
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement after President Biden unveiled his comprehensive infrastructure package, the American Jobs Plan:
“All Granite Staters deserve safe roads, clean water, high speed internet and access to good-paying jobs – these investments and more can’t come soon enough as we recover from this economic crisis. It’s been decades since we’ve invested in our infrastructure in a meaningful way, but now we have an opportunity to repair crumbling infrastructure that threatens our safety and security, while creating jobs and bolstering our domestic supply chain,” said Shaheen. “From expanding access to quality broadband and investing in manufacturing to repairing our bridges, highways and roads, New Hampshire’s infrastructure priorities must be met and I’m eager to work with the Biden administration to make that happen.”
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Senate Votes for Property Tax Relief
SB99 gives cities and towns more Meals & Rooms money to help lower local property taxes
CONCORD, NH -- In a win for taxpayers all across New Hampshire, the Senate today voted 24-0 to pass SB99 which is designed to send more Meals & Rooms (M&R) tax revenues back to cities and towns to help lower local property taxes.
Prime sponsor Sen. Denise Ricciardi (R-Bedford) called the legislation long overdue, saying, “The state has been promising to share more of the revenue generated by the Meals & Rooms tax with local communities for
decades. If signed into law, SB99 will guarantee that promise is finally kept, and I am delighted we took a big step in that direction today with the Senate passing the bill unanimously.”
Under SB99, cities and towns would receive 40% of the M&R revenues generated in their communities instead of the current 22%. This would mean an additional $56 million for local property tax relief.
House Labor Committee Approves Right-To-Work Legislation
CONCORD, NH - House Senior Majority Advisor and 36 year union member Representative Len Turcotte (R-Barrington) released the following statement after the House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services committee voted 11-9 to recommend OTP/A on SB61, prohibiting collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join a labor union.
“I first want to thank my Republican colleagues on the House Labor committee for supporting this critical piece of legislation. Putting SB61 into law would make New Hampshire the only Right-To-Work state in the region and give us a distinct advantage when competing for jobs,” said Turcotte. “The public hearing saw the same old fear-mongering tactics of the past.
Let’s set the record straight. Right-To-work is not a Democrat versus Republican issue. Right-To-Work is not union-busting. Right-To-Work will not in any way, shape, or form affect an individual’s ability to join or form a union. It will allow union members to ensure they are receiving adequate value in exchange for dues paid. It will also assure private-sector workers the same freedom that their public sector counterparts have received since 2018, the ability to make that decision for themselves.”
“Making New Hampshire the nation’s 29th Right-To-Work state would be a clear victory for our workforce by creating more jobs and giving workers the freedom they need to make the choices that suit them best.”