House Kills Casino Bill

The governor wanted it, the NH Senate overwhelmingly passed it, but the House? No dice.

CONCORD, NH – Gov. Maggie Hassan fought for a casino and the Senate overwhelmingly passed casino gambling, but the House of Representatives refused to play along, voting Wednesday to kill the bill. The bill was rejected by a 199 to 164 vote and followed some tradition: The 400-member House has never passed expanded gambling.  Senate Bill 152 would legalize one "high-end" casino with up to 150 table games and no more than 5,000 video slot machines. Rep. Stephen Spratt (D-Greenville) and Rep. Patricia Lovejoy (D-Stratham) opened the long floor fight. Spratt said the proposed casino would mean revenue for the state, and offset New Hampshire dollars flowing to out-of-state casinos. Lovejoy maintains that a casino would result in higher crime, …

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Jim U Lacrum

6:45 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Just imagine if she'd tried to do the same kind of thing with any other activity that is currently considered illegal. Say she'd decided to try to legalize marijuana or some other victimless activity, but only for ONE establishment in the whole state, and that establishment would have to pay the state some exorbitant amount of money to license the place. Would it then be clear enough that she's …   more ›

House Hunt

Live in Bedford Luxury for $989,000

This 4,600 sq. ft. manse could be yours for less than $1 million!

Whether you're just moving to town or you're looking for an upgrade, Bedford has many properties listed in the $1 milllion range. For those looking te remain under that mark, Susan Burns of Keller Williams Realty-Metropolitan recently listed a 4,600 sq. ft., not-so-himble abode at 2 Merlot Court. Sitting on 1.77 acres, this custom-design Colonial-style property features a luxurious landscape, several fireplaces, chef's kitchen, walk-in pantry, four bedrooms, four bathrooms and much, much more. AOL Real Estate Describes the property as follows: Classical in style and warm with sophistication, this home was born out of the colonial architectural styling of the North Atlantic coastline. Perched atop a large private lot in one of Bedford’s …

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Introducing Small Business Patch

The newly launched site offers tips, info and digital know-how for small business owners.

Patch has launched a new site to educate and empower small businesses with the digital tools, social media strategies and marketing know-how needed to ensure long-term growth. Readers will have access to exclusive interviews with well-known founders and CEOs and small business industry experts who share their experiences, advice and tips for success. One of the latest articles features an exclusive interview with successful real estate entrepreneur, Barbara Corcoran, founder of The Corcoran Group. In this Q&A, Corcoran discusses the how to take advantage of the size of a small businesses, and why making big “mistakes” made all the difference in her success. Click here to read about the tactics Corcoran used to grow her business. Additional…

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Arrest Log

ARREST LOG: 32-Year Old Booked on Theft Charges

Bedford Police make a handful of arrests in a five-day span.

The following arrest information was supplied by the Bedford Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. Wednesday, April 24 6:57 a.m. - Jeffrey D. Mason, 19, of Deerfield, arrested near the intersection of Meetinghouse Road and Kensington Lane after fleeing the scene of an accident and breaking into a nearby home. He was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, conduct after an accident, reckless conduct (placing another in danger), disobeying an officer, resisting arrest and burglary. 7:59 p.m. - Elizabeth Lyden, 32, of Nashua, arrested on a warrant on Constitution Drive and charged with theft by deception. Thursday, April 25 6:57 a.m. - Jennifer Haas, 28, of Manchester, arrested following a motor vehicle stop near …

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Patch Facts

Bulldogs Take Bite Out of BG

Here are five things you should know today in Bedford.

1. Bulldogs advance. The top-seeded Bedford High School boys tennis team earned a 9-0 victory against Bishop Guertin to advance to the Division I semifinals. The undefeated Bulldogs are now scheduled to face No. 5 Londonderry, which traveled to Keene Tuesday and defeated the Owls, 5-3. The Lancers proved Bedford's toughest competition this season, battling and falling, 6-3 at LHS on May 10. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m. this Thursday at the Bedford tennis courts on County Road. 2. Bulldog Bites. The No. 3-ranked Bedford High School girls tennis teams look to follow in the footsteps of their male counterparts when they host sixth-seeded Derryfield School at 4 p.m. today at the County Road tennis courts. The Lady B's fell, 6-3, to the …

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This Inspiring Story Brought to You by Grape-Nuts

Cleanup Organizer Sees a Future of Smaller Footprints

Former high school teacher Pat Conaway sees real hope in the young people who help him clean the area's trails, waterways and roadways.

Pat Conaway admits he is "kind of a nut" about the environment, so when he retired from teaching in 2008, it didn't take long for him to find a number of productive ways to spend his time.  "I wanted to get people fired up about the environment, to try to encourage citizens to get involved locally," said Conaway, of Natick, Mass., founder of Big Hearts, Little Feet.  A nearly constant presence on area roadways, trails and waterways, Conaway can be found leading groups of volunteers, including many students, to pick up trash, improve trails and remove invasive species. From beer cans to soda and coffee cups, trash tossed by the roadside washes into local rivers and, if left alone, eventually finds its way to the ocean, where scientists have…

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Questions Remain About Second Home Invasion Suspect

Officials still mum on Charles Normil's alleged accomplice.

It's been more than a month since Bedford Police announced an arrest warrant had been issued for the primary suspect in last November's brutal home invasion at 7 Proclamation Court. In that time, both local police and county prosecutors have remained tight-lipped about the second suspect, though Bedford Police Chief John Bryfonski said investigators continue to work on the case. "The Bedford Police Department continues to investigate the burglary, assault and attempted murder that occurred at 7 Proclamation Court on November 24, 2012. The case continues to consume significant investigative resources of the Bedford Police Department with assistance from the N.H. State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)," said Bryfonski. "…

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How to Help Oklahoma Tornado Victims

Donating money to organizations that help victims is quick and easy.

Americans across the country are reacting with shock to the devastation caused by a 2-mile wide Tornado in Oklahoma. Dozens have died, and President Obama has declared the path of the tornado a major disaster area. If you would like to help, you can do so from your computer or mobile device right now: Patch will be posting stories of locals who are working to help victims from afar. If you know of someone local who was affected by the tornado or is working to help the victims, please contact your local editor.

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