Portsmouth Herald
THE SEACOAST IS LITTERED WITH HIDDEN GEMS Here are 24 fantastic restaurants to discover
They’re the local restaurants loyal customers return to again and again, maybe more than once a week. They’re the bars where you want them to know your name. They’re the places that serve that one dish or one cocktail you just can’t get enough of, but...
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Rye teens are against paid beach parking on Route 1A
RYE — High school students are fighting to keep free public access to the town’s coastline by opposing a plan to charge for beachside parking on Route 1A. Lorax Reed and Aidan Chin, two Rye teenagers and friends since sixth grade, organized an online...
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‘FIELD OF DREAMS’ AT PEASE?
NEWINGTON — The New Hampshire Air National Guard is exploring installing athletic fields on the roughly 42-acre north apron at the Pease airfield. • The conceptual pitch was delivered to Newington selectmen by Brig. Gen. William Davis, commander of the...
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Clement gets prison for 2024 hit-and-run death
DOVER — Paul Clement was sentenced Jan. 9 to 5-10 years in prison for the hit-and-run collision in Rochester that took the life of Brig. Gen. John Pogorek, 57, commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard at Pease. Clement, 82, a Rochester...
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Martha Stewart makes surprise stop at York shop
YORK, Maine — Time stopped for Maureen Bane when Martha Stewart walked into her home décor store Signature Finishes this past weekend. “Time stood still,” Bane said. Bane, a star herself in the global empire of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, said she was...
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2026 developments
PORTSMOUTH — Peter Britz, the city’s director of planning and sustainability, said the recent housing development surge in Portsmouth is the biggest he can remember. “Starting at 2018 you’d be safe to say that. It’s been very busy for housing,” Britz...
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‘Onward and upward’
EXETER — The long-awaited Gateway at Exeter project is slated to break ground this spring, bringing hundreds of residential units to Epping Road after years of delays. The developer, Tom Monahan, said 90% of the site work and 80% of the construction...
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Vincenzo Panetta receives sentence
BRENTWOOD — Vincenzo Panetta, convicted of negligent homicide in the August 2023 fatal fall of Rochester resident Zachary Colbroth from a Portsmouth parking garage, was sentenced Jan. 2 to between 3.5 to 7 years in state prison. Panetta was sentenced...
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Full speed ahead for shipyard hiring in 2026
KITTERY, Maine — Hiring hundreds of workers is at the top of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard commander Capt. Jesse Nice’s to-do list. After assuming the post in June, Nice and the centuries-old shipyard got the go-ahead to hire 820 workers this fiscal year,...
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250 years strong
The first written state constitution in American history will return to Exeter, the place of its drafting, on Jan. 5, 2026, exactly 250 years after it was adopted. Accompanied by an honor guard comprised of 1st New Hampshire Regiment reenactors, it...
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‘Working for ourselves’
DOVER — The Hampton couple behind the Big Bad food truck have finally found a home for their first full-service restaurant: Molly’s has opened at the former location of Diverge and Kelley’s Row. Ben and Molly St. Jeanne have already accomplished a lot...
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HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026
There is no print edition of the paper today, but you can find today’s puzzles, comics, national news and sports here in the eNewspaper.
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Man’s videos help kids with cancer smile again
YORK, Maine — A song about a giant pickle monster collecting hamburgers can go a long way for a young child. James Orrigo, a York resident, spends many days working with children battling pediatric cancer, scripting stories from their wildest...
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‘Just one day at a time’
Robin Berounsky says the life of her 23-year-old son Lincoln Berounsky Kelley changed forever Dec. 5, and so did the lives of the people who love him. The 6-foot-4-inch, 240-pound man was working as a welder fabricator, not far from the Charles River...
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Many eateries opened or closed this year
From new restaurants opening to old favorites being revived, 2025 has been a typically busy year for the dining scene in Seacoast New Hampshire and southern York County, Maine. Here’s a look at the openings and closings of the year: FEBRUARY The...
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Returning the ‘Legend’ to sea
An overhaul of the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Cheyenne has been completed nearly two months ahead of schedule, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard officials announced Dec. 23. ● It is the first submarine to complete the Service Life Extension Program...
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Seacoast police deal with the hidden toll of trauma
At 8:21 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 18, New Hampshire’s 911 dispatchers received a report that multiple people may be dead inside a Madbury home. Because state police cover the small-town neighboring Dover during evening hours, troopers from Troop A in Epping...
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‘WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER’
PORTSMOUTH – The goal for Home For All leaders with its Seacoast Pop-Up Care Villages is simple: Meet unhoused and housing-insecure people where they are with the help they need. “We are here to meet people where they are at and remove the barriers...
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Man living in woods severely injured in fire
SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Stephen Goodale, 78, of South Berwick, is slowly recovering from burns he suffered during a fiery accident before midnight on Dec. 8. He was using a portable propane heater to stay warm in his makeshift home in the woods off...
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Rye Harbor shacks get new deals
RYE — Proprietors at Rye Harbor were given oneyear extensions to operate their shack businesses in 2026, while Tighe & Bond, an engineering firm, has recommended the structures stay put after a previous threat of demolition and redevelopment. The...
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10 restaurants loved for their classic cuts
The Library Restaurant remains one of the most beloved dining options in Portsmouth. It's where you go to celebrate life’s milestones, to cheer an accomplishment or to propose to that special person. It also continues to be one of the best places on...
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Holiday lights return to York’s beloved Nubble Lighthouse
YORK, Maine — The holiday lights are back at the Nubble Lighthouse, outlining the historic landmark and its adjacent keeper’s home once again against the night sky. About a fourth of the white lights on the Nubble are newly replaced by keeper Matt...
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Savers to close in Newington two days before Christmas
NEWINGTON — Savers will permanently close its Newington Park Shopping Center location two days before Christmas, sending several dozen employees out of a job during the holidays. The thrift apparel and merchandise company confirmed the Newington store...
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Reducing the fumes
HAMPTON — A bill introduced in the New Hampshire legislature, if passed, would ban smoking at Hampton Beach State Park beginning in 2027. Introduced by state Sen. Debra Altschiller, D-Stratham, and state Rep. Chris Muns, DHampton, the legislation...
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Mother-son duo brings Picklr to Granite State
SEABROOK — New Hampshire’s first Picklr pickleball club is set to open on Route 1 in March, offering a 25,000-squarefoot indoor facility with nine courts for one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports. The franchise will be operated by the...
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American Cruise Lines to return to Portsmouth in ’26
PORTSMOUTH — American Cruises Lines has committed to returning to the city in 2026, according to Richard Hartley, the recently named director of the Division of Ports and Harbors. Hartley stated during a Dec. 10 interview that American Cruise Lines...
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‘They helped me in so many ways’
ROCHESTER — Kathrine Nickerson has proudly raised successful, good children, but her success story comes on the heels of a devastating time in her life that she says she likely would not have survived without Community Action Partnership of Strafford...
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Robotics club marks 10 years of innovation
YORK, Maine — York’s middle and high school robotics club is marking its 10th anniversary, building on a history that includes multiple trips to international competitions. The robots zoom around on wheels and move blocks by pushing, flinging, or any...
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‘Gentrified’ Gilley’s Diner?
PORTSMOUTH — The city Historic District Commission voted to continue its review of the proposed redevelopment of the iconic downtown Gilley’s Diner until next month, after members raised concerns about the plan. Commissioners pointed to issues with...
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Continuous construction
PORTSMOUTH — City officials say traffic has improved in the rapidly developing North End, where a number of construction projects are ongoing. But as that progress is happening, according to police and Department of Public Works officials, the city is...
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NO ROOM FOR PORTSMOUTH’S DEAD?
PORTSMOUTH — The City Council recently asked for a report on the potential to allow green burials in the city. City Councilors Andrew Bagley and Kate Cook made the successful motion to “request a report back from city staff and the Cemetery Committee...
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Bill seeks Pease housing at Great Bay for students, military
PORTSMOUTH — Lawmakers hope to see housing built at Great Bay Community College for the school’s students and faculty and military personnel stationed at Pease Air National Guard Base. A legislative service request has been filed for the 2026 session...
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BREAKING GROUND FOR PRESCOTT POST
PORTSMOUTH — Officials from The Kane Company and Eastern Real Estate celebrated a ceremonial groundbreaking for their massive 17-building, 360unit market rate apartment development. The Prescott Post apartments project event took place Dec. 3 in a...
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York woman marks 10 years as Maine’s singing lobster
YORK, Maine — Katherine Mayfield had only lived in Maine for about five years when she decided a state with such a rich maritime tradition ought to have a dancing, singing lobster. Singing telegrams were something Mayfield had done in her college...
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Gilley’s Diner food court designs unveiled
PORTSMOUTH — The plan by developer Mark McNabb to expand and upgrade the iconic downtown Gilley’s Diner is slated to be discussed at this week’s Historic District Commission meeting, according to documents filed with the city. McNabb isproposing to...
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Loaf and Ladle opening in Exeter
The Loaf and Ladle, a beloved local landmark known for its homemade breads, soups and sandwiches, was set to rise again, starting Wednesday, Dec. 3, ending a 12-year hiatus that began when the Exeter location closed in 2013. ● Leading the effort are...
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Brewing merger impact
HAMPTON — The brewing equipment inside the Smuttynose Brewing Company campus has been auctioned off in the wake of a merger earlier this year with Mass. Bay Brewing Co. The equipment was auctioned recently in pieces to various bidders, according to...
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Chinburg plans duplexes, link to North Mill Pond Trail
PORTSMOUTH — Chinburg Properties is proposing to build three duplexes, and create a pocket park and a walking trail along the North Mill Pond, according to project documents and statements made by the developer’s representative at a recent city...
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Vinyl siding dilemma solved in Historic District
PORTSMOUTH — City staff have issued a permit to a contractor working for a Dennett Street senior citizen to install new cedar shingles on her historic home, according to City Manager Karen Conard. Sheila Lynn Raeburn had previously asked the City...
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Sneak peek
PORTSMOUTH — Developer Mark McNabb gave several members of a city board a sneak peek at his soon-to-be finished Treadwell Mansion Boutique Hotel. Located in the heart of Portsmouth’s popular downtown off Pleasant Street, the redeveloped highend hotel...
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Dover Holiday Parade to bring cheer
DOVER — Looking for a way to kick off the holiday season? Organizers of the annual Dover Holiday Parade hope to be just the thing to set spirits high, Sunday, Nov. 30. The parade starts around 3 p.m. near the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce and...
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Parades, tree festivals and so much more!
Here’s a look at upcoming holiday parades, tree lightings and festive fun across the Seacoast and southern Maine. Nov. 28 Norton Lights returns to brighten the season WELLS, Maine — The Norton Lights Christmas Wishes display will return Friday, Nov....
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Mall at Fox Run demolition to begin in 2026
A red and green-themed Santa Claus village awaits his arrival at Mall at Fox Run, where garland, tinsel and bright bulbs adorn the ceilings and giving trees from Hometown Holiday Helpers are on display. Seasonal cheer is in full swing, but the end is...
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‘New Franklin really needs this renovation’
PORTSMOUTH — New Franklin School parents turned out at this week’s City Council meeting to urge councilors to pass the proposed capital improvement plan and the millions of dollars it includes to address long-neglected physical deficiencies at the...
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Portsmouth sets 2025 free holiday parking program
PORTSMOUTH — The city’s annual downtown free holiday parking program will run from Monday, Dec. 15 through Thursday, Jan. 1. The City Council approved a motion by councilor Andrew Bagley for the program, which gives city residents and visitors three...
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Veterans celebrated
Speaking at a Veterans Day ceremony on Hampton Beach, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Chris Nevins offered a solemn reflection on service and sacrifice. ● Nevins, a Vietnam War veteran who also served in the New Hampshire Air National Guard and flew for...
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Desirable dining
PORTSMOUTH — Developer Mark McNabb is proposing to construct an addition to the iconic downtown Gilley’s Diner, according to project documents filed with the city. Gilley’s would be expanded and two new food trucks are proposed at 175 Fleet St. “with...
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CONSTRUCTION STARTS
PORTSMOUTH — Work has begun on a massive new 360-unit market rate apartment project on a 26-acre site that was once home to big box stores Bed Bath & Beyond and the Christmas Tree Shops, according to developer Michael Kane. The 17-building project is...
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The Ramen Club opens with inspired dishes
PORTSMOUTH — A three-week trip to Japan in May helped restaurateur Nuttaya Suriyayanyong hone her ramen expertise and conduct firsthand culinary research. The journey east led to Suriyayanyong and her four co-owners opening The Ramen Club, a downtown...
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ANTE UP!
HAMPTON — The town Planning Board gave final approval Nov. 5 for the redevelopment of the Hampton Beach Casino, paving the way for luxury condos, a hotel, a casino gaming facility, and a new Ballroom entertainment venue. The unanimous vote — approved...
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Hampton saddles up
HAMPTON — After carefully leading them out of their trailer, the Hampton Police Department on Nov. 3 introduced its two newest members, Dixie Outlaw and Wally, outside Wally’s, a local pub on Ashworth Avenue. The roughly 1,000-pound Tennessee Walker...
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Restaurants, pantries
PORTSMOUTH — Black Trumpet Restaurant & Bar is among the Seacoast restaurants stepping up to offer free meals as the U.S. government shutdown has stalled SNAP benefits. Chef Evan Mallett, a restaurant staff member and two volunteers bagged lunches...
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Mayor Deaglan McEachern reelected
Deaglan McEachern was elected to his third term as mayor Nov. 4 on an Election Day dominated by City Council incumbents. Assistant Mayor Joanna Kelley ● also won her third term in that position, according to unofficial election results shared by City...
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SEACOAST WEARS IT
PORTSMOUTH — Each of Ashley Cushon’s designs is known to come with its own set of stories, often inspired by the combination of her fashion knowledge and the life tales of her muses. Her most recent work was no exception. It was indeed the biggest...
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Redevelopment plan encounters roadblock
PORTSMOUTH — A major redevelopment project by Mark McNabb hit a snag when a city board rejected a variance request for a proposed drive-thru at the new Kennebunk Savings bank facility proposed for the site. The Zoning Board of Adjustment denied the...
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IT GETS SCARY
PORTSMOUTH — From shiny spacemen to butterflies to pirates, colorful costumes were fluttering in the brisk wind as marchers assembled Oct. 31 at Peirce Island for the start of the 30th Portsmouth Halloween Parade. Billed as an “all-inclusive...
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‘MORE NEED THAN WE’VE EVER SEEN’
New clients are seeking assistance from Seacoast food pantries due to the four-week-long U.S. government shutdown and the looming halt of federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. On Nov. 1, federal funding for SNAP is set to...
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‘Music is my life’
PORTSMOUTH — Cuzin Richard Entertainment Associates’ burgundy-painted door with a glass panel at 91 High St. in Portsmouth has been opened and shut countless times since 1976. The man who’s done so more than anyone is undoubtedly Richard Smith, better...
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‘Reinventing ourselves’
HAMPTON — When Michael Higgins got the call in the early morning hours of Oct. 13 that the Old Salt at Lamie’s Inn had experienced an attic fire, the innkeeper and executive chef was five hours away, in upstate New York’s Adirondack Mountains. He and...
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Music Hall under pressure
PORTSMOUTH — The Music Hall leaders were put on the spot multiple times during a listening session Oct. 27 as they attempt to rebuild community trust. That trust was shaken following a recent decision to cancel a Lovering Health Center fundraiser,...
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Frightful, fun Halloween parade
When the Portsmouth Halloween Parade steps off from Peirce Island at 7 p.m. sharp on Friday, Oct. 31, it will be the 30th time the heartbeat of Portsmouth has unleashed its creepy creativity on the city’s streets to scare all who dare to watch. ● The...
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‘The industry is already dying’
SEABROOK — The Yankee Fishermen’s Cooperative could be charged rent for the first time in its 24-year existence this fall — a move its leadership says would put it out of business. The cooperative has helped member fishermen and lobstermen stay afloat...
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NH DOT floats Hampton I-95 toll hike and more to fund projects
HAMPTON — Facing stagnating revenue and a growing list of priorities, New Hamsphire Department of Transportation officials have floated a $1 hike at three tollbooths across the state, including the Hampton plaza on I-95. If approved by the Executive...
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SPOOKTACULAR
PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Halloween Parade will take to the streets on Friday, Oct. 31, and across the Seacoast, marchers are getting their costumes ready. Popular performers are getting in their final practices before the big night. Two...
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‘It’s begrudgingly positive’
YORK, Maine — Hayden Atkinson felt disconnected from his friends, his college admissions process, and his fantasy football team without his phone on the first day of school this year. “The first few days, I would check my pockets, and it just wouldn’t...
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Parking garage death trial details fight before fatal fall
PORTSMOUTH — Jurors in the negligent homicide trial of Vincenzo Panetta toured the city’s High-Hanover parking garage Oct. 21, two-plus years after the fatal fall of Rochester resident Zachary Colbroth from the structure after an alleged confrontation...
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Former gas station site in Portsmouth to be reimagined
The city Planning Board approved a major redevelopment project by Chinburg Properties to convert the former longtime Ampet gas station in the city’s West End into a new restaurant. ● The board granted site plan approval for the project and approved a...
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Was that legal?
PORTSMOUTH — Anthony Ferola, a 17year-old Portsmouth High School senior, grew religious his freshman year, using prayer as a way of addressing anxiety and later as a source of comfort following his mother’s breast cancer diagnosis. Baptized in the...
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Bridge Street Inn planned in Portsmouth
PORTSMOUTH — The owner of 64 Bridge St. is planning to redevelop the building with a three-story 10-room inn, according to project documents and statements made at a recent city meeting. The property, which is located in the heart of downtown adjacent...
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No Kings protest in Portsmouth takes on Trump
PORTSMOUTH — “No Kings” protesters gathered in the city Oct. 18, as well as several more Seacoast communities and about 2,500 locations around the nation, targeting what organizers call authoritarian actions by President Donald Trump. Protesters spoke...
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STRUGGLING DURING SHUTDOWN
KITTERY, Maine — Some Portsmouth Naval Shipyard civilian employees have turned to Footprints food pantry and the Mainspring social services collective since the Oct. 1 start of the U.S. government shutdown. Yard workers have inquired about food and...
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‘I’m so grateful’
EXETER — When she began playing the harp in the later stage of her life, Regina Delaney never expected any recognition. She was drawn to the instrument, the national symbol of Ireland, because it connected her to her ancestry and homeland. But...
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‘A good life’
KITTERY, Maine — If his family history is any indication, firefighting is in Bill Paisley’s blood. Paisley, his father, Kenneth, brother, John Sr. and nephews John Jr. and Kraig Paisley all worked for the Kittery Fire Department, combining for nearly...
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A cultural cornerstone
“This is Ground Control to Russ Grazier. You’ve really made the grade Here’s a message from The Portsmouth Halloween Parade “It’s time you led our grand crusade.” This is Russ Grazier to Ground Control I’m honored to lead that cabaret And I’m...
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10 must-see movies
PORTSMOUTH — New Hampshire filmmaker Aaron Wiederspahn has traveled to film festivals all over the country and the world, and he’s convinced the New Hampshire Film Festival is one of the best. “Portsmouth stands out,” Wiederspahn said. “It’s not just...
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