|
|
|
|
 Preshow Return to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook tonight. Mainstreet, New Hampshire. We'll see how the statewide campaign to revitalize our cities and towns is working. and Littleton's redevelopment took great care with its past, including keeping The Gristmill in pristine condition. |
| Headlines Return to index of stories... |
Good Evening. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook. We begin tonight with a summary of state news. |
| Conway Zoning Return to index of stories... |
X-rated businesses in Conway soon could find themselves with new addresses. The planning board is proposing a zoning amendment to create buffer zones around nursery schools, day care centers and homes. The board members meet to discuss the plan on December 14th. |
| Deregulation Return to index of stories... |
The Public Utilities Commission released an order today, setting deadlines for Public Service to submit plans on selling off its power plants. It also set deadlines for public comment on the sell off. The commission says it's trying to do all it can to make sure the benefits of lower rates can be brought to Public Service customers as quickly as possible. |
| Bills to be Return to index of stories... |
Education financing will no doubt take center stage in the upcoming legislative session - but there will be other issues to tackle as well. Already lawmakers have filed paperwork for more than 400 bills to be considered by the House and Senate. Roughly 25 percent of the proposed bills relate to one of three key issues - judicial reform, affordable health care and paying for public schools. |
| Pelham Return to index of stories... |
Buying land can be an expensive proposition. But one community group is still searching for a solution. Southern New Hampshire Services wants to find land in Pelham so it can build an affordable elderly housing project with up to 40 units. Last week - town selectmen voted against donating land for the project.The average price for an acre of land in Pelham - 100-thousand dollars, which is beyond the means of the agency. |
| Summary Wrap Return to index of stories... |
That's the news summary. We'll be back with our focus on the Main Street Program and more after the weather. |
| Weather Forecast Return to index of stories... |
TONIGHT CLEAR LOW IN THE TEENS TOMORROW MOSTLY SUNNY IN A.M. CHANCE OF FLURRIES IN THE P.M. HIGH NEAR 40 WEDNESDAY PARTLY CLOUDY HIGH 30 TO 35 |
| Intro Main Street Return to index of stories... |
There was a time, not long ago, when the downtown areas of US cities and towns fell out of favor. People started jumping in their cars and heading to the malls to shop. Left behind were independent shops and empty buildings. Well, times are changing again and this time, downtowns are making a comeback. In New Hampshire, they're getting a helping hand from a program called Main Street. |
| MAIN SREET Return to index of stories... |
narration Early Friday evening in downtown Durham and the crowds have started to gather. -- There are street merchants and street dancers. The local bagel shop is overflowing with people who are there to buy a sandwich and listen to some live music. -- Later in the evening, Santa is expected to arrive. It's all part of the "Light Up Durham" festival organized by the Main Street program. clip "We put on these events to bring people downtown and feel like their part of community." narration Christine Henderson is owner of Durham's Licker Store -- that's spelled LICKER for the ice cream that they're well known for. She's a volunteer with the Main Street Program and has helped organize the evening's events. christine clip "Light Up Durham started 5 years ago then Main Street came in two years ago and took it over and has turned it into something much larger." narration Forty-five minutes west of Durham, in Concord are the offices of the Main Street Center. Cathy LaPlante is the state director. cathy clip "Main Street is a program where we go in and help the community rebuild the downtown and help save the historical aspect of the downtown." narration Main Street is a national, non-profit program. Presently in New Hampshire, there are 15 communities involved. To take part, they must first apply. If successful, the towns receive about fifty-thousand dollars in technical assistance and training from the New Hampshire Main Street Center. A volunteer board of directors learn how to do many things from fund raising to renovating old buildings to attracting new businesses to their downtowns. cathy clip "Communities receive money from municipalities, but most comes from private sector. It comes from industry, businesses and residents of the community." christine clip "In the last year, we have been doing better. Businesses have fixed buildings, bought new awnings. More people have been walking downtown to go shopping. There is more activity here." cathy clip "Downtowns are imporant to all communities. When you have a healthy downtown, it reflects a healthy community. That is where most communities have a large portion of their tax base. Downtowns are a great investment. There is a lot of money invested in the infrastructure. main Street is set up to protect that investment." christine clip "Our goal in Durhan was to bring people together. We all work together and the program has been a success." |
| Intro discussion Return to index of stories... |
With me in the studio now to talk more about the Main Street Program are Kathy LaPlante, Director of the NH Main Street Center and Linda Kelley, Program Manager, Main Street-Meredith. |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
- why is there a need for this program? - how are communities chosen to participate? - what is required of them? - how has the program been working for you ? - how has Meredith changed after implimenting the program? - a "Main Street" district is the focus of the program - how are those areas in a town identified? - is it mainly small businesses that are involved? - what happens when you have 2 competing businesses in the same district - do they work together? - tell me the "fishing hole" story - this is for Kathy and relates to the box stores vs the small independents. - how does the future look for downtowns? |
| Thank guests Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to my guests Kathy LaPlante, Director of the NH Main Street Center and Linda Kelley, Program Manager, Main Street-Meredith for being here. |
| Main Street Bump Return to index of stories... |
New Hampshire Main Street Communities As of 1999, close to 16 million dollars have been spent on new construction projects. Source: NH Main Street |
| Business Outlook Return to index of stories... |
Here's a look at some of the stories making headlines in New Hampshire business. |
| Labor Shortage Return to index of stories... |
As holiday shopping moves into high gear, The Granite News Service reports that NH retailers are struggling with a labor shortage. Despite vigorous recruiting campaigns and offered bonuses many stores are still short staffed. Nashua’s JC Penney for instance has only hired a third of the 60 people it would like to. In the past, one traditional reserve pool has been senior citizens. But many seniors are apparently not interested in part-time, seasonal work. |
| Christmas trees Return to index of stories... |
Last summer's heavy rain produced a good tree crop this season in northern New England. According to the New Hampshire-Vermont Christmas Tree Association, the region's Christmas trees are selling quickly because of the high quality. Annual retail sales have gone up by four million trees. And mail orders are on the rise. Some growers are selling trees over the Internet, shipping them in wax-lined boxes as far away as California. |
| Internet Voting Return to index of stories... |
A New Hampshire Internet developer says the country wouldn't be in the electoral mess it is if it made elections more high-tech. Manchester's i-Ballot-dot-com says it has has devised a system to securely cast votes on the Internet. Right now i-Ballot-dot-com is limited to the private sector. Voters use assigned passwords to cast online ballots in corporation, condominium associations and school elections. |
| Intro Grist Mill Return to index of stories... |
As we mentioned earlier in the program, there are 15 New Hampshire communities involved in the Main Street Project. Littleton is one of those towns. One of their landmark businesses is the Littleton Diner. There, they make great pancakes because of the flour they use. It comes from the Littleton Grist Mill. John Clayton takes you there. |
| website/phone # Return to index of stories... |
For information on tonight's program, and links to our guests and interviews, visit our web site at nhptv.o-r-g. You can see and hear streaming video of our broadcasts and participate in our daily poll. If you've got a story idea you can call us at 800-639-2721 Or you can send your comments or ideas to: NHOUTLOOK-AT-NHPTV-DOT-UNH-DOT-EDU. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
Tomorrow on New Hampshire Outlook - What city is poised to take on the future? NH magazine unveils its choice and we hear from futurists about their decision. and we visit the first Robotics competition for the middle school set. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of New Hampshire Outlook. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, thanks for joining us. Stay tuned forThe Secrets of the Mount Washington Hotel. We'll be back tomorrow at 7:30. Good night. |
| founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundadtion Public Service of New Hampshire Alice J. Reen Charitable Trust Putnam Foundation Stratford Foundation |
| mock elex Return to index of stories... |
P-NH--Mock Election hrwman N.H. schoolchildren, in mock election, on same page as eligible voters --New Hampshire schoolchildren got a first-hand look at the political process through a statewide mock election, and they appear to be on the same page as eligible voters. In the races for governor, Congress and the president, the 42-thousand students at 153 schools who took part picked the same candidates that voters did on November seventh. The schoolchildren, in kindergarten through 12th grade, picked Democratic Governor Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Congressmen Charles Bass and John E. Sununu. The children also picked Texas Governor George W. Bush over Vice President Al Gore, 49 percent to 41 percent, in the presidential race. Sunapee social studies teacher Laura Kessler says last month's mock election was a chance for schoolchildren to experience the election process and exercise civic responsibility. AP-NY |
| home heat Return to index of stories... |
With oil prices on the rise many New Hampshire residents are turning back to wood to heat their homes. But the price of wood is going up too, and it's becoming hard to find. Stove sales took off last winter and boomed this fall when buyers began to worry that high oil prices may last. According to a draft report of a survey conducted for the governor's energy office this fall, more than 55 percent of New Hampshire households burn oil -- a drop from 59 percent four years ago. About 10 percent of the 400 households surveyed burn wood as a primary fuel; 14 percent heated with natural gas, 10 percent with propane, 5 percent with kerosene and 4.8 percent with electricity. Treehugger Farms in Westmoreland, a major firewood dealer in southwestern New Hampshire, raised its price this season for the first time in eight years. |
| civil disobedience Return to index of stories... |
P-NH--Civil Disobediance,TOPS hmrbc Peace activist arrested at weapons plant XXX Updates with arrests XXX -- Three peace activists were arrested this morning for protesting outside a Nashua company that makes military weapons systems. The three women charged with trespassing were among about two dozen activists who marched from a nearby church to BAE Systems, singing and beating drums. Members of the group say the company makes computer systems and other technologies that help the U-S government build weapons that kill civilians around the world. But a spokesman for BAE says that the company creates weapon systems that protect the freedom of all Americans, including those picketing today. The company, formerly Sanders, makes advanced anti-missile devices and radar-jamming gear for war planes and helicopters. AP-N |
| Corrections Stress Return to index of stories... |
Only eight percent of state employees work for the Department of Corrections - but they account for roughly one-third of all mental stress workers' compensation claims in New Hampshire over the the last six years. Those numbers have some wondering whether corrections workers are abusing the system. But Corrections Commissioner Philip Stanley says he doesn't think anyone is taking advantage of the system. He says stress claims are to be expected because of the nature of the work. |
| PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. What city is poised to take on the future? NH magazine unveils its choice and we hear from futurists about their decision. Join us tonight at 7:30 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |