Fosters Daily Democrat • 28th April 2023

Science teacher pursues version of Biosphere 2 in Dover: 'Pie in the sky idea'

Science teacher pursues version of Biosphere 2 in Dover: 'Pie in the sky idea'

DOVER — A Dover High School science teacher with dreams of building a smaller-scale version of Arizona's Biosphere 2 on County Farm Road has gone public with his ideas.

Matthew Endrizzi, a former research assistant at Harvard Medical School and a former manager with the Human Genome Project at the Whitehead Institute in Cambridge, made his pitch to the team of three Strafford County commissioners at their meeting Th

Fosters Daily Democrat • 28th April 2023

Dover hires waterfront park contractor for $19.5M: Project expected to begin soon

Dover hires waterfront park contractor for $19.5M: Project expected to begin soon

DOVER — Public improvements along the Cochecho River appear to finally be on the horizon after years of delay.

With newly approved funding, the City Council has selected a contractor to construct the city's portion of the waterfront redevelopment: a 3.4-acre public park. The park is planned to stabilize the river shoreline, grading the elevation to account for projected sea level rise and installing a stormwater

Portsmouth Herald • 28th April 2023

Four children, driver escape as fire destroys school bus in Portsmouth

Four children, driver escape as fire destroys school bus in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — Four children and a driver safely evacuated a small school bus that caught fire while on the road Friday afternoon.

At 12:12 p.m., the city’s Fire Department sent crews to the Route 1 Bypass southbound to respond. The bus was destroyed, according to the department.

The children and the bus driver had safely escaped, but the bus was in flames, parked near a Toyota dealership.

“When they got there, there was a

Portsmouth Herald • 28th April 2023

USS North Dakota arrives at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard: Here's what to know about it

USS North Dakota arrives at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard: Here's what to know about it

KITTERY, Maine — The USS North Dakota, a Virginia-class attack submarine, pulled through the Piscataqua River Friday, arriving at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for a nearly three-year scheduled maintenance period.

The nuclear-powered submarine is set to undergo approximately $347 million in system upgrades and other maintenance, according to shipyard officials. Carrying 130 crew members, the North Dakota is expecte

Fosters Daily Democrat • 27th April 2023

8 books in Dover schools challenged. Here are the titles targeted for bans.

8 books in Dover schools challenged. Here are the titles targeted for bans.

DOVER — Eight books currently offered to students in the city's school district have been challenged by a community member and will be reviewed to determine whether they’ll stay on the shelves.

A book review committee in the district will soon take up the requests to reconsider the different titles, a process detailed in a city school district policy regarding the reconsideration of instructional materials.

William Ha

Portsmouth Herald • 27th April 2023

Portsmouth teen charged with hateful graffiti targeting Temple, businesses

PORTSMOUTH — A 17-year-old accused of spray painting hateful imagery and messages on downtown businesses, homes and houses of worship is facing 22 counts of violating the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act, according to New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella.

The teenager, a Portsmouth resident and former Portsmouth High School student, allegedly damaged property on Feb. 21, prompting a strong rebuke of the actions by leaders and business owners across the city. Investigators found hateful im

Portsmouth Herald • 25th April 2023

Pizza Lidos: Owner envisions an Italian-style vacation experience in Rye, NH

RYE — Giorgia Nagle, inspired by Italy's Amalfi Coast, is opening Pizza Lidos near Pirates Cove Beach, her second business on Ocean Boulevard.

“I want you to feel like you’re at a big communal table in Italy, that you’re under the vines,” Nagle said. “It’s going to be breezy and light with hopefully some canned Aperol spritzes, some great pizza and some really, really fresh ingredients.”

The new pizza and gelato shop will transform the former home of 603 Burgers at 1215 Ocean Blvd at the junct

Portsmouth Herald • 24th April 2023

Navy boss, US senators talk Portsmouth Naval Shipyard hiring and housing: What we learned

Navy boss, US senators talk Portsmouth Naval Shipyard hiring and housing: What we learned

KITTERY, Maine — Hiring and housing were two key topics discussed by the top Navy admiral and Maine and New Hampshire U.S. senators following a Monday tour of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Adm. Mike Gilday, the U.S. chief of naval operations, was joined by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, on Seavey Island for an update on the 223-year-old military installation.

The trio laud

Portsmouth Herald • 19th April 2023

Parking rates to go up at 5 Seacoast NH beaches in 2023 if state lawmakers approve

Parking rates to go up at 5 Seacoast NH beaches in 2023 if state lawmakers approve

Visitors to five popular Seacoast New Hampshire beaches will pay more to park in 2023, starting in May, if a request to raise rates is approved.

The state Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee will hear a proposal Friday calling for parking rates to be increased $1 per hour during peak season, a move that could generate an additional $1 million-plus annually.

If approved, the cost of parking would jump to $3 per h

Portsmouth Herald • 18th April 2023

School threat suspect Kyle Hendrickson booked in Portsmouth, appears in federal court

CONCORD — Kyle Hendrickson made his initial federal court appearance Tuesday afternoon after being booked at the Portsmouth Police Department for allegedly threatening to "shoot up" Portsmouth High School.

The 25-year-old Berwick, Maine resident, was arrested by authorities Thursday, April 13 in Portland, Maine. He allegedly posted the threat a day earlier via a Snapchat video showing him with a firearm in a vehicle in front of the school in Portsmouth. He is facing a state Class B felony charg

Portsmouth Herald • 13th April 2023

Portsmouth High School shooting threat suspect arrested

PORTSMOUTH — Kyle Hendrickson, the 25-year-old suspect accused of threatening to shoot up Portsmouth High School in a social media video, was apprehended by authorities in Portland, Maine, Thursday, according to Portsmouth Police Chief Mark Newport.

Hendrickson, who is known for a history of incidents with local law enforcement, was believed to be the only person involved with the incident, Newport said. The chief said Hendrickson did not attend Portsmouth High School. All city schools were clo

Portsmouth Herald • 13th April 2023

Sen. Shaheen touts Portsmouth shipyard talent as 3 nations ink historic submarine deal

KITTERY, Maine — In March, President Joe Biden and leaders from Australia and the United Kingdom touted a deal that could see Australia purchase three to five U.S. Virginia-class, nuclear-powered submarines and develop a future Australian and United Kingdom submarine model using U.S. technology.

The phased approach, criticized by China’s Foreign Ministry, would “lift all three nations’ submarine industrial bases and undersea capabilities, enhancing deterrence and promoting stability in the Indo

Portsmouth Herald • 11th April 2023

Outlets at Kittery project: Hotel, apartments, restaurant planned. Here's what we know.

Outlets at Kittery project: Hotel, apartments, restaurant planned. Here's what we know.

KITTERY, Maine — The Outlets at Kittery would be demolished under a new proposal calling for the construction of a 120-room hotel, 100-unit apartment building and a 10,000-square-foot retail and restaurant building along bustling Route 1.

The Kittery Planning Board is set to hear the mega-mixed-use redevelopment proposal for the first time this week. The 6.4-acre retail shopping plaza site, located at 283 R

Portsmouth Herald • 11th April 2023

Kittery's new prospective pot shop owner is known for pushing town to allow them

Kittery's new prospective pot shop owner is known for pushing town to allow them

KITTERY, Maine — Josh Seymour, who helped lead the successful push to allow retail marijuana shops in town, is now working toward opening one of his own.

Seymour, owner of North Berwick medical marijuana company Green Truck Farms, hopes to open the second adult-use pot shop in Kittery. Seymour is applying for a license after one of the winners of Kittery's 2021 pot shop lottery bowed out of the process, creating a

Portsmouth Herald • 10th April 2023

Easter Sunday fire destroys Eliot, ME riverside home. Cause investigated.

ELIOT, Maine — A fire destroyed a single-family residence along the Piscataqua River late on Easter Sunday.

Firefighters and the state fire marshal’s office are investigating the fire that began around 6:35 p.m. Sunday, according to Eliot Fire Chief Jay Muzeroll. Smoke and flames shot up out of the one-and-a-half-story home as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.

Yellow tape was strung around the property on Monday, the windows burnt out and walls torn down. Ruins of the residence pile

Portsmouth Herald • 10th April 2023

Country music stars Kenny Chesney, Kelsea Ballerini visit Portsmouth bar

Chesney, a Grammy-nominated artist with a dozen Country Music Association Awards to his name, shared to his official Instagram page on Saturday, April 8 that he visited Portsmouth.

The legendary country performer, currently traveling the United States on his “I Go Back” tour, was not the only celebrity spotted in the photo. Tagged in his post was country music singer Kelsea Ballerini, an award-winning vocalist opening for Chesney on his tour, as well as local siblings Marissa and Tyler McLaughl

Portsmouth Herald • 7th April 2023

NH police: Florida driver dragged trooper with car at Portsmouth gas station

PORTSMOUTH — Police allege an Orlando, Florida, man briefly dragged a New Hampshire state trooper with his car Thursday night during an incident that ended with his arrest on 12 charges, including three felonies.

The trooper was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and has since been discharged, according to State Police.

Michael Anthony Arrington, 28, was driving a 2014 Audi Q5 with Florida registration, police said. At 10:06 p.m. Thursday, state police were called and told a car ha

Portsmouth Herald • 7th April 2023

Seacoast NH homes selling to Mass. buyers escaping new 'millionaires tax,' realtor says

Seacoast NH homes selling to Mass. buyers escaping new 'millionaires tax,' realtor says

RYE — Are out-of-state home buyers acquiring New Hampshire real estate and moving to the Granite State for tax purposes? At least one Seacoast realtor believes so.

Great Island Realty co-owner and broker Janet Sylvester and her team are observing a steady stream of high-end buyers moving to the Seacoast, despite continued low inventory of single-family homes and inflated prices. A number of buyers, she note

Portsmouth Herald • 7th April 2023

$21M Kittery school budget advances: Pay-to-play for sports would be eliminated

$21M Kittery school budget advances: Pay-to-play for sports would be eliminated

KITTERY, Maine — If approved by voters in the June budget validation referendum, Kittery taxpayers will pay roughly $18.2 million toward the town’s fiscal year 2024 school budget.

Adopted by the Kittery School Committee March 28, a town school system budget of $20,845,048 for the coming fiscal year has been sent to the town manager for further review. The overall proposal represents a 4.33% increase over the existi

Fosters Daily Democrat • 7th April 2023

Dover adopts $183.3M budget. Here's what it means for city's schools and taxpayers.

Dover adopts $183.3M budget. Here's what it means for city's schools and taxpayers.

DOVER — Weeks of deliberations culminated with the City Council voting Wednesday to adopt a $183.3 million budget for fiscal year 2024, in compliance with the city tax cap.

Despite an increase in funding for Dover schools, however, school leaders noted some new positions the district hoped to add in 2023-24 may not come to fruition.

The vote after an hours-long work session resulted in a $183,275,839 budget, r

Portsmouth Herald • 5th April 2023

Dover teen gets 'American Idol' golden ticket, says Lionel Richie's words 'made my life'

Dover teen gets 'American Idol' golden ticket, says Lionel Richie's words 'made my life'

DOVER — “American Idol” has played frequently in Harrison Goodell’s family’s household growing up, but auditioning for the long-running reality singing competition wasn't a goal for the aspiring singer-songwriter.

That is, however, until last summer. A spontaneous decision by the Dover High School student led to performing in front of the show's trio of famous judges — Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Br

Portsmouth Herald • 3rd April 2023

Portsmouth's damaged British phone box: Myths and truths as city looks to repair 1984 gift

Portsmouth's damaged British phone box: Myths and truths as city looks to repair 1984 gift

PORTSMOUTH — A gift from Portsmouth’s friendship namesake city in England, gifted decades ago, is slated for rehabilitation after falling into disrepair over the years outside the Portsmouth Historical Society.

The red telephone booth, or phone box, with four crowns emblazoned on it, has been a run-down fixture outside the former public library building. Marked “telephone” on each side despite having no

Fosters Daily Democrat • 3rd April 2023

Dover waterfront park project attracts 2 bidders. Goal is to start construction this year.

Dover waterfront park project attracts 2 bidders. Goal is to start construction this year.

DOVER — Two bidders are competing for a city contract to build a public park along the Cochecho River and make other improvements, the latest chapter in efforts to beautify the waterfront.

Pending City Council approval of additional funding at the end of April, work on the long-sought revamping of the waterfront could begin in the 2023 construction season. A private developer's separate project is expect

Fosters Daily Democrat • 30th March 2023

Dover murder-suicide: Man smothered wife, then took his own life.

Dover murder-suicide: Man smothered wife, then took his own life.

DOVER — A man smothered his wife to death inside their home at 4 Dowaliby Court before killing himself, also by asphyxiation, according to authorities.

Christine Navish, 58, and Sean Navish, 56, were found dead inside the home Tuesday, according to the New Hampshire attorney general's office.

At 3:14 p.m. Tuesday, Dover police officers responded to the home after receiving a call from a home care service asking for a welfare ch