How Nature Works

First-grader Brandon Bergeron is handed a painted turtle from Kim Murphy of the New Hampshire Audubon for a closer look, as Caitlin Fortini and Jayme Payson look on during last week's visit from the Massabesic Center in Auburn. The Derry Village Elementary School students learned how local animals survive the winter months through hibernation.  See additional photos on page 10.

 




 


Councilors Disagree on New Economic Development Proposal
Benjamin C. Klein
Nutfield News

A week after Derry economic development advisor George Kassas presented his vision for revitalizing downtown into a site for high-technology incubators and start-up companies, Town Councilor Kevin Coyle called the plan just a more "grandiose" version of a failed project spearheaded by the Derry Economic

Development Corporation (DEDC) a few years ago.

And because of that, Coyle, who announced earlier that he would not seek reelection, said he is considering running for Town Council again after all. more

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Local Reps Sponsor Bill That Would Reclassify Pinkerton
Benjamin C. Klein
Nutfield News

State Rep. Frank Sapareto's House Bill 1201, which would reclassify Pinkerton Academy as a private business and require it to pay property taxes, was described last week by a Pinkerton spokesperson as "unfair, precedent setting, possibly unconstitutional and flawed."

At the annual winter meeting with its sending towns, hosted by Pinkerton on Jan. 26, Chip Underhill, the school's Executive Director of Public Relations and External Affairs, said, "The bill as written says that since Pinkerton is a private corporation, it should be taxed. The first part of the premise is flawed. We are a registered non-profit."

Co-sponsoring the bill with Sapareto, a Derry Republican, are fellow Republicans Kevin Reichard, Jim Webb and John O'Connor, all of Derry.

"You can't tax one thing," Underhill said. "You can tax a category, but you can't tax just Pinkerton. Other representatives who have talked to us have agreed it would be unconstitutional." more

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Construction Plans Announced for Career & Technical Education Program
Benjamin C. Klein
Nutfield News

Pinkerton Academy's Center for Career and Technical Education (CTE) will see a big physical change in the coming years.

At Pinkerton's annual winter meeting, held Thursday evening, Jan. 26, Pinkerton CTE Director Jack Grube presented the plan and timeline for a multi-million-dollar expansion of the program that would involve the construction of three  new buildings and the renovation of three existing buildings.

Aside from the buildings targeted for construction or renovation, Grube said that every CTE program would at the least receive a "cosmetic change."

Grube said construction would be primarily funded by a state grant totaling $7.8 million, but as part of accepting the money from the state, Pinkerton must pay 30 percent of the total cost of the project.

Along with the construction and renovations, the CTE program will use some of the money to buy new furniture and upgrade the technology and equipment for its programs. more

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