Portsmouth Herald
Joe’s Meat Shoppe sold
The sale follows Kutt’s 2025 opening of the Freight House, a breakfast spot she launched in the 1860 freight house next door to Joe’s — a building her family has owned for 15 years. Joe’s, at 229 Atlantic Avenue, has long been a local go-to for coffee,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
MARKET STREET PROPOSAL
PORTSMOUTH — A developer is seeking to build a five-story mixed-use building at 200 Market St., which, preliminary plans say, would include 11 residential units. VPC LLC’s proposal calls for erecting a new building that would be “connected to the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Spaulding Turnpike lane closures start
DOVER — Drivers on Spaulding Turnpike southbound are expected to see daily lane closures for about six weeks, starting Tuesday, Oct. 13, due to the removal of the old Gen. Sullivan Bridge adjacent to the busy roadway. The closures will take place from...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Merger brings relief and hopes for growth
YORK, Maine — York Hospital’s new leadership say the recent transition into MaineHealth’s statewide system is starting off smoothly, while local leaders say they are grateful the merger saved their local center for healthcare. York Hospital officially...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Will new warming center in Dover open in time?
DOVER — The new Strafford County warming center, which is being built on county property, will open for the 202627 season, according to a local official. However, the question is exactly when. Strafford County Commission Chair George Maglaras said...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
MORE IN STORE AT SEACOAST LANDING
PORTSMOUTH — The developers of the massive Seacoast Landing project are in negotiations with a potential second retail anchor in addition to Costco, and are also in discussions with a major medical provider in what could be a “game changer” for the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Wood-fired saunas open at Throwback Brewery
NORTH HAMPTON — Inspired by the Scandinavian sauna culture he encountered during Navy Reserve trips to the region, Skog & Stone Sauna Company owner Prince Boateng set out to bring a community-focused winter experience to the Seacoast. “There’s just a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
PROJECT CALLED A MUST
PORTSMOUTH — Members of a city committee recently received preliminary estimates on how the $58.6 million municipal complex project will impact taxpayers. Nathan Lunney, deputy city manager for finance and administration, shared the estimates on...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
STRUCTURAL CONCERNS
PORTSMOUTH — Developer Mark McNabb is proposing a major change to his previously approved redevelopment of 134 Pleasant St. because of “structural necessities” with the existing Citizens Bank building. Tracy Kozak of Arcove Architects, McNabb’s...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Work on Peverly Hill Road could begin in spring 2027
PORTSMOUTH — Work on the long-discussed Peverly Hill Road Complete Streets project — which includes adding a multi-use path and sidewalk to the heavily travelled road — could begin as soon as spring 2027, according to Dave Desfosses, city public works...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
New concepts for McIntyre redevelopment unveiled
PORTSMOUTH — Developer Anthony DiLorenzo and his team are slated to appear at the Oct. 14 city Historic District Commission meeting to discuss his updated plans to redevelop the former Thomas J. McIntyre Federal Building site. DiLorenzo stated “after...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
END OF AN ERA
DOVER — For 92 years, the old Gen. Sullivan Bridge has defined the view for drivers crossing between Dover and Newington over picturesque Little Bay. Now the bridge — which closed to traffic decades ago and, believe it or not, made a late 1990s pro...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
$595K luxury ‘car condos’ advertised
NORTH HAMPTON — Developers proposing 16 “car condos” at the current Betty’s Kitchen site on Route 1 are already taking non-binding reservations for the $595,000 units — even though the project has not yet been approved. The project, submitted by...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
New fire station, upgrades to Town Hall planned
GREENLAND — Constraints at the town’s fire station — cramped quarters, a low-hanging ceiling in the attic level, little space between fire engines and gear located next to the public entrance — are prompting town officials to again evaluate the need...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Cold Current Kelp faces ‘Shark Tank’
Kelp farmed on the Maine side of the Piscataqua River by a local skincare company will come under the microscope of some of the world’s wealthiest entrepreneurs. ● Inga Potter and Krista Rosen, both York, Maine, residents, are the cofounders of Cold...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
HALLOWEEN HAUNT
HAMPTON — Nightmare at the Goat has officially arrived at Hampton Beach, where the country-andwhiskey bar has transformed itself into a full-blown Halloween haunt. Frankenstein made the trip in the back seat of Goat staffer Ethan Palmer’s car, first...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘The Point’ on sale for $10 million
HAMPTON — Seagulls and cormorants drift by at eye level at the very tip of Great Boar’s Head, one of the distinct elements of life outside a World War I-era home on sale for $9.95 million. The modern-day six-bedroom, six-bathroom home known as “The...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Repairs at city’s oldest cemetery boosted by $240K donation
PORTSMOUTH — A project to replace the wall around the city’s oldest cemetery is moving forward, thanks to a combination of city monies and private donations. The estimated cost is $480,000, according to city regulatory counsel Suzanne Woodland. She...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Casino Ballroom lines up big fall shows
HAMPTON — The Casino Ballroom is gearing up for a fall run featuring rock, country, comedy and more, setting the venue up for its historic 100th season next year. W.A.S.P., Lee Brice, and comedians including John Mulaney and Kathleen Madigan are among...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
New England BIPOC Fest moved to October
PORTSMOUTH — One hundred-plus vendors are lined up for the sixth annual New England BIPOC Fest, a growing celebration of the region’s Black, Indigenous and people of color founded by three Seacoast eatery owners. Cuisine and culture are the focal...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FUELING REGIONAL GROWTH
PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth Naval Shipyard contributed nearly $1.5 billion to the local economy last year, according to the Seacoast Shipyard Association’s annual report released Sept. 22. The 2025 impact of $1,484,588,373 is down from $1,615,239,781 in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Pain into purpose’
SANFORD, Maine — Local teenager Jonathan “Jony” Hunter wrote a goodbye letter in his journal, which he left behind in his car on the Piscataqua Bridge, where he ended his life on the Maine-New Hampshire line in May of 2025. In the last line of his...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Rooster statues still a source of debate
OGUNQUIT, Maine — The town has again fined the owners of The Omelette Factory for keeping 6-foot metal rooster statues on their property, which the code office says constitute prohibited signage. In a Sept. 17 letter to Seafaring Real Estate, LLC,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Fleet Street by Gilley’s to become one way
PORTSMOUTH — A city plan calls for redeveloping what is now a two-way section of Fleet Street into a one-way road, while adding new, wider, ADAcompliant sidewalks and a downtown bike lane. Eric Eby, a traffic engineer with the city’s Department of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Fall fun on the farm
As the leaves turn and the air cools, autumn is the perfect time to visit local farms for fresh produce, seasonal treats and more. From pick-your-own apples and pumpkins to haunted walks and even a chipmunk-themed corn maze, farms on the Seacoast have...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
132 YEARS OVERDUE
The book sat on John Hanson’s bookshelf for decades, first in his Boscawen home and then in Barrington. ● Its faded brown cover, held by tape to the spine, was such a familiar sight that he hardly even noticed the volume’s presence. ● It bore markings...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
C&J Bus leader cites high costs, backs Warmington for governor
PORTSMOUTH — C&J Bus Lines chief executive Jim Jalbert said Sept. 15 diesel costs have more than doubled in the past year as the Seacoast New Hampshire-based bus service has seen a decline in international traveler ridership to Logan Airport in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Non-resident rates rise; Parrott Ave. lot restricted
PORTSMOUTH — The City Council voted to make a number of changes to the pilot Resident Access Parking Program, including restricting parking in the Parrott Avenue lot to only residents and downtown workers. The council voted unanimously to pass the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Thoughtful dining
PORTSMOUTH — Influenced by Parisian cooking, North Atlantic seafood and worldly wines, the newest eatery from restaurateur Julian Armstrong is representative of his personal and professional evolution. Cranes Bistro, the neighborhood establishment...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Portsmouth’s ‘cheeky’ new bar
PORTSMOUTH — The story of Small Talk Wine began with a friendship between its co-owners that first blossomed at Wild Valentine, a coffee and flower shop in the city’s South End. Sarah DiCecca, the founder and owner of Wild Valentine, grew close with...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Man denied bail in 1993 Kittery murder
BIDDEFORD, Maine — A York County Superior Court judge has denied bail for Daniel Jolly, the Portsmouth, New Hampshire man charged with the January 1993 murder of Maxine Bitomski, a Kittery resident and Jolly’s former client. A Harnish hearing, a form...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Superior sandwiches
During his last interview on the “Late Show with David Letterman” in 2002, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Warren Zevon uttered the words he’s often remembered for. “Enjoy every sandwich.” That was his reply when Letterman asked his advice for life in the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A GOLDEN GLOW-UP
OGUNQUIT, Maine – Joan Fricke had a special wish: she wanted to see a beauty pageant for older women. Even more, she wanted to be the first contestant in that pageant. Imagine Fricke’s good fortune, then, when, in 2020, she met Candice Simeoni, who...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Trooper reflects on 9/11 response
Seth Gahr was at his Brooklyn home on that bright September morning when he saw the news: terrorists had attacked his hometown of New York City. ● A 15-year veteran of the NYPD, Gahr didn’t stay in his living room watching the horror unfold from a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
NH primary winner
The U.S. Senate race to replace retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, is officially a showdown between former New Hampshire Sen. John E. Sununu and Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H. ● The two won their respective primaries on Sept. 8, fending off challenges from...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Hampton Beach Seafood Festival
HAMPTON — The Hampton Beach Seafood Festival, one of New Hampshire’s signature fall events and a longtime Seacoast tradition, returns Sept. 11–13, 2026, for its 37th annual celebration. Presented by the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce, the three-day...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Restaurant coming to former Brewery building
PORTSMOUTH — The new owner of the former Portsmouth Brewery building on Market Street plans to open a restaurant at the prime downtown site. Mark Gianniny of Portsmouth Architects, who represented Party of Five Hospitality LLC at a recent city...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Air control tower project is like ‘open heart surgery’
PORTSMOUTH — The rehabilitation of the air traffic control tower at the Portsmouth International Airport at Pease is quickly approaching its conclusion. Airport manager John Meehan took visitors Aug. 31 to the top of the roughly 100-foot tower cab —...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CHANGING LANDSCAPE
Editor’s note: This article is the second in Granite State News Collaborative’s “Invisible Walls: Seacoast” project, produced in collaboration with Seacoastonline.com and Fosters.com. PORTSMOUTH — When Jim Splaine was growing up, the city’s North End...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Don’t lose your roots’
ELIOT, Maine — Walter Hanson, wearing spectacles, knee breeches, a vest and a white linen shirt, carries wooden relics from the colonial era into the #8 One Room Schoolhouse Museum. The weight of his old shoes makes the historic floor creak as he walks...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘FUNNY MONEY’
YORK, Maine — A new documentary revisits how comedian Dane Cook — one of the biggest celebrities with ties to York — had $12 million stolen by his half-brother, who owned a home at Short Sands Beach. “Funny Money” premieres Sept. 29 on Apple TV and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Shipyard Brew Pub closes doors
ELIOT, Maine — Shipyard Brew Pub has permanently closed its doors in the Eliot Commons plaza as founder Fred Forsley remains in litigation with the town, alleging he is owed more than $100,000 in tax increment financing district payments. A real...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Black Rock Social Club expanding spaces
PORTSMOUTH — A city board granted variances needed for the Black Rock Social Club to officially expand its uses to include outdoor dining, a restaurant/ bar and a function room to host live events. Attorney John Bosen, who represents the club and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Old Louie’s restaurant building listed for sale
PORTSMOUTH — The old downtown Louie’s restaurant building — which is part of an approved plan to redevelop the demolished Daily Times building — has been listed for sale for $1.75 million. Property owner and developer Peter Floros received Portsmouth...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Only limitation is you’
HAMPTON — Navy veteran Tracey LaCroix said he felt “lost” when he became paralyzed and in need of a wheelchair, never imagining he would surf again. LaCroix and dozens of other veterans with disabilities were back in the waves Aug. 28 with help from...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘OUR CHILDREN CAN’T STAY HERE’
Editor’s note: This article is the first in Granite State News Collaborative’s “Invisible Walls: Seacoast” project. The series produced in collaboration with Seacoastonline.com and Fosters.com, looks at how zoning laws, housing and other public...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘A blooming, vibrant, wonderful environment’
EXETER — Painted buttercup yellow with a flowering garden in the back, Art Up Front Street looks like it was plucked straight out of a storybook, though it sits right in west Exeter. For the last decade, the art collective has opened its doors to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Major projects in Newington advance
NEWINGTON — Expansions of the Sig Sauer and SubCom campuses have received the backing of town planning leaders, while Costco Wholesale’s arrival in Newington moved a step closer to reality, too. Sig Sauer, a gunmaker and defense contractor...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Reworking a landmark
KITTERY, Maine — A feasibility study on the future of the former Portsmouth Naval Prison building, long ago abandoned by the Navy, may be on the horizon. This spring, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, requested $5 million in federal funding in the fiscal...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
COURAGE FROM TRAGEDY
Thick smoke, fire and debris surrounded Shawn Walsh on Sept. 11, 2001, during his escape from the Pentagon, moments after hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the western facade of the building. ● Two weeks before, Walsh said, he and his...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Rye Select Board chair resigns
RYE — Select Board chairperson Rob Wright, a member of the board since March 2024, has resigned. Wright stepped down Thursday, Aug. 20, effective immediately, according to an email written to Town Administrator Matthew Scruton. “With great sadness,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Former firefighter recalls Dover rescue ‘There wasn’t much time’
DOVER — James Pozdziak, a former firefighter, ran into a burning home at 14 Old Rochester Road early Sunday morning, Aug. 16, as he knew he had to get occupants out. As he raced to the house, one of his companions called 911. Their actions saved the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ECONOMIC IMPACT
PORTSMOUTH — A total of $2.3 billion in wages and salaries — along with “local consumption expenditures” — were driven “by the activity of the Pease Development Authority” in 2025, according to an economic impact study released by the Pease Development...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Few differences on display at GOP debate
Before the debate at Grace Ministries International church even began, the moderator had an offer for the candidates on stage. It was warm inside the unairconditioned Brentwood church. Would they like to take off their suit jackets before they got down...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘It’s very important’
ROCHESTER — Departing U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, will soon exit political life but is strongly advocating for the federal government and the Pentagon to support hiring initiatives at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The congressional delegations...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
PARKING PUSHBACK
PORTSMOUTH — The City Council rejected a proposal to hike on-street parking fees for non-residents by $1 to $3 an hour during a lengthy discussion on parking issues in Portsmouth. The council voted 5-3 to defeat a motion to support increasing the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
NH’s school vouchers expand to 12,500 students
Enrollment in New Hampshire’s school voucher-like program, known as Education Freedom Accounts, is up 25% for the upcoming academic year. There are 12,500 students enrolled, and the Children’s Scholarship Fund, which operates the program, said another...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
DEVELOPER PLANS 40 TOWNHOMES
RYE — Forty townhouses may be built on land adjacent to Airfield Place on Route 1, as proposed in a purchase and sale agreement. The Kane Company, a Portsmouth real estate investment and development company, is under agreement to buy the property,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Portsmouth celebrates sound walls on I-95
PORTSMOUTH — City and state officials — along with a group of Pannaway Manor residents — gathered Aug. 14 to celebrate the completed installation of sound barrier walls and privacy fencing along Interstate 95. A variety of neighborhood activists, as...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘IT’S A SLIVER OF WHO HE WAS’
PORTSMOUTH — Seacoast New Hampshire ties are abundant in A24’s “Tony,” a biopic about one eyeopening summer in the life of late chef, writer and television personality Anthony Bourdain. Amy Greene and Chris Stinson, Portsmouth filmmakers and frequent...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Crowdsourcing a new look
EXETER — Potential was the word on everyone’s lips at a planning charrette dedicated to reimagining the Exeter train station and the surrounding Lincoln Street neighborhood. Over the course of two public discussion sessions and a rapid-fire sixhour...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Kittery wants hearing on shipyard water project
KITTERY, Maine — The Town Council is asking the state’s Board of Environmental Protection to hold a public hearing on the Navy’s proposal to improve water capacity at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard with a new 2.5 million-gallon tank. The Navy’s anticipated...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Exploring expansion
NEWINGTON — Tavern in the Square is exploring expansion to Newington with a potential new restaurant and bar location in 2028. Colleen Fleming, an executive with Broadway Hospitality Group, the Boston-based owner of the chain, confirmed the company is...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
PFAS at Coakley
NORTH HAMPTON — Despite being closed for more than 40 years, the former Coakley Landfill is still leaching “unacceptable levels” of contaminants the city of Portsmouth and others must deal with. Peter Britz, Portsmouth’s director of planning and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Amie Hendrix aims to create ‘lasting imprint’
KITTERY, Maine — New Town Manager Amie Hendrix sees parallels between Geneva, New York, her prior place of employment, and Maine’s oldest town as she settles into her first month on the job. The city in the Finger Lakes region, with a population of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Seacoast martial arts center closing
GREENLAND — Seacoast Family Martial Arts Center will close Aug. 31 after its owner, Harry Charache, was ordered to register as a sex offender in New Hampshire. Four women, three of whom are mothers of his former students, alleged sexual misconduct...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SEACOAST’S BEST SLICE
Whether it’s Sicilian, Greek, Italian, New York, Chicago or Detroit-style, pizza is one food accessible to nearly everyone. And everyone has their favorite. Here are 11 of the most often mentioned favorite pizza places in Seacoast New Hampshire and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Hampton Beach lifeguards dominate New England Lifesaving Championship
HAMPTON — Hampton Beach lifeguards captured the New England Lifesaving Championship for the eighth straight year, topping competitors from four states. The July 29 event unfolded under gray skies and, later, a heavy afternoon downpour, but 67...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CONTACT SPORT
DOVER — Gina Bowker (aka Ginan Toxxic) of Rochester takes off her glasses and puts her contact lenses in before practice. She knows it’s going to get rough. She’s looking forward to it. Bowker is a blocker for the Cocheco Valley Rollers. She and her...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘We’re going to try to work together’
The town Planning Board will review a preliminary proposal for the Betty’s Kitchen site to make room for a future 25-unit condominium vehicle-storage facility. ● Granite Post Green, owned by Joseph Roy and Julio Jaramillo, will bring the proposal to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘ON CLOUD NINE’
Katie Carter was in the midst of a meltdown at her great aunt’s vacation home on Laurel Lane — her engagement ring was lost, somewhere at Long Sands Beach. ● The ring is actually two, as she previously had her diamond engagement ring soldered to her...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Dream come true’
SALEM — Portsmouth didn’t get too comfortable despite a 16-run lead over Bedford entering the bottom of the sixth inning in the deciding Game 3 of the New Hampshire Little League championship series on Aug. 2. Portsmouth players were still encouraging...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘I want kids to DREAM BIG’
YORK, Maine — The sign on the door at 6 Main St. reads “Micah Dreams.” Inside is a studio where Micah Johnson gets lost in his creations, from paintings and charcoals to Aku, the main character of his New York Times best-selling children’s book. “The...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘THE MATH IS JUST BROKEN’
PORTSMOUTH — Families seeking childcare on the Seacoast must deal with high costs and a lack of available spots for their infants and toddlers, according to a recently released report prepared by the Portsmouth Childcare Working Group. “When we talk...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A ‘spritz for summertime’
Il Cornicello swept both categories in the Exeter Chamber’s Great Cocktail and Mocktail Challenge this year, bringing home the win with drinks reminiscent of an Italian summer. ● The Water Street restaurant won diners’ votes for best cocktail for the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Bridge Street Inn developers ask city for additional time
PORTSMOUTH — The developers of a proposed three-story, 10-room inn located in the heart of downtown have filed a request to postpone their scheduled appearance at the Aug. 4 Technical Advisory Committee meeting. John Adams of the Rafferty Investment...
Read Full Story (Page 1)