AMHERST – The Souhegan Valley Transportation Collaborative (SVTC) is pleased to announce that the Souhegan Valley Rides bus service, a.k.a. “The Blue Bus”, will be providing rides to local voting locations for the upcoming Presidential Primary Election on February 11th and in March for the Town Voting Day on March 10th.

Passengers will need to be pre-registered with the service and must call to schedule an “Election Ride” a week in advance of the scheduled voting day. For the February Primary Election, please call by Tuesday February 4th. For the March Town Election, please call by Tuesday March 3rd. The regular bus fare of $2 each way will apply. In keeping with SVTC’s mission, priority will continue to be given to rides requested by senior citizens and residents living with a disability. Other residents may use the service as space and the daily schedule allow. Pre-registered passengers are encouraged to call and request a ride if needed. SVTC works closely with their partners at the Nashua Transit System, and together they make every effort to accommodate requests within the limits of the service’s operating hours and available resources.

Souhegan Valley Rides is a curb-to-curb, dial-a-ride bus service available to residents of Amherst, Brookline, Hollis, Milford, Mont Vernon and Wilton. The service is available Monday through Friday 8AM to 6PM including travel time to and from the garage in Nashua. Rides are available within and between the six towns, and to and from Nashua. The first morning trip to Nashua will arrive no earlier that 10AM and the last pick-ups to return home will leave Nashua no later than 4PM. Passengers should schedule their appointments and plans around these times. Riders are asked to pay $2 each way. A free bus pass program, solely funded by donations, is available for eligible residents who cannot afford the bus fare. Pre-registration is required and applications are available by calling 880-0100 ext. 2 and on SVTC’s website at www.SouheganValleyRides.org.

AMHERST – Fulcrum Associates has announced the hiring of six new managers and superintendents: Patrick Madden, Lynn, Massachusetts, superintendent; Chris Gagnon, Milford, project manager; Matthew Proulx, Bedford, assistant project manager; Amanda Sargent, Brookline, assistant project manager; Marcus Swedberg, Auburn, assistant project manager; and Patricia Dwyer, Nashua, contract administrator.

AMHERST – Amherst Lions Club’s Fire & Ice added a new category this year: local Lions Clubs are invited to submit their chili at the fifth annual chili cook-off and ice cream social, Friday, Feb 7, 5-7 pm at the Amherst Middle School (14 Cross Road).

As voted by the attendees, winners in the individual, restaurant and club categories receive bragging rights for one year as the best local chili and your name engraved on a silver bowl. Two-gallon minimum requested. Deadline for entries is Feb. 5. 

At newspaper deadline, all previous individual and restaurant winners as well as 11 others have agreed to defend and re-take their title as the best. Brookline, Bedford, Merrimack, and Milford Lions Clubs have signed up to submit their chili entries as well as Joey’s Diner, Moulton’s Market, Cafe on the Oval, Smokehaus, and Papa Joe’s Humble Kitchen. Last year, a total of 18 individuals and restaurants competed for the title.

In addition to chili, there will be corn bread, salad with all the fixings, drinks, and hot dogs who might not care for chili. A make-your-own ice cream sundae making station will also be available. 

Instead of ticket purchase, the Lions are asking for a donations with all proceeds going to local charities. Entertainment includes the Amherst Middle School Jazz Band and Krickey the Clown. Eye screenings will be offered. Lion Bob Miskelly may be contacted at amherstlionsclub@gmail.com for more details.

AMHERST -Brox Industries, Inc.’s Amherst Plant is a recipient of the National Asphalt Pavement Association’s (NAPA) 2019 Diamond Achievement Commendation for Excellence in Asphalt Plant/Site Operations for its dedication to responsible practices and high-quality products.

“Safety and sound operational procedures for the benefit of our employees, the community, and our customers are always top of mind,” said Brox Industries, Inc. Plant Manager Bob Norkiewicz. “We have an exceptional team here at Brox.” NAPA’s Awards Program distinguishes ongoing improvement in all facets of asphalt operations, and industry peers choose the winners of these honors. NAPA was founded in 1955, and represents national asphalt contractors and producers with over 1,100 companies belonging to the association.

The Annual Diamond Achievement Commendation is held in high regard throughout the industry and demonstrates a company’s commitment to excellence and leadership efforts dedicated to superior products and responsible operational practices. This designation marks the fifth consecutive Diamond Achievement award received by the Amherst Plant, which specializes in hot mix asphalt and paving and aggregate supply services. The plant is one of five New Hampshire locations.

For more information about Brox Industries, Inc., visit

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KEENE – Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Rahul and Karthik Chalumuri of Keene as January’s Granite Staters of the Month for their efforts to organize donation drives at their school to support patients at a local cancer center.

Karthik and Rahul, who are fraternal twins, are currently seniors at Keene High School. Before heading off to college, they decided that they wanted to give back in a big way. They founded a club at their school, Students for Hope, to organize donation drives to send care packages to Cheshire Medical Center’s Norris Cotton Cancer Center-Kingsbury Pavilion, which would distribute the care packages to their patients. The brothers’ first donation drive in August brought in a substantial amount of items thanks to local businesses and individuals in their community. Since then, they have organized two more donation drives around both Thanksgiving and Christmas, and plan to hold another one in February around Valentine’s Day.

GREENFIELD, NH- Crotched Mountain Foundation recently received a $9,500 grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. The grant will support Crotched Mountain Community Care (CMCC), Crotched Mountain’s independent case management program, which provides services to approximately 900 older adults and individuals with disabilities across New Hampshire, helping them live independently in the community.

“Through New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s generous grant funding, our CMCC clients, who are often living with significant physical disabilities, will have access to accessible living items and services,” said Kara Nickulas, CMCC’s Director of Business Operations and Compliance. “These include grab bars and hand rails, home modifications such as the widening of a door that allows for easier wheelchair navigation, portable and permanent wheelchair ramps, and many more solutions.”

Crotched Mountain Foundation is a charitable organization founded in 1953 with a mission to serve individuals with disabilities and their families, embracing personal choice and development, and building communities of mutual support. Crotched Mountain provides special education, accessible recreation, and community and residential support services for people in New Hampshire, New England, and beyond. For more information about Crotched Mountain, please visit cmf.org.

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is New Hampshire’s statewide community foundation, founded in 1962 by and for the people of New Hampshire. The Foundation manages a growing collection of more than 1,800 funds created by generous individuals, families and businesses, and awards nearly $40 million in grants and scholarships every year. The Foundation works with generous and visionary citizens to maximize the power of their giving, supports great work happening in our communities and leads and collaborates on high-impact initiatives. For more information, please visit www.nhcf.org or call 603-225-6641.

PETERBOROUGH – The perfect marriage between a treasured American poet and a beloved actor, Emmy-winner (NYPD Blue) and Tony-nominee Gordon Clapp returns for an encore performance as Robert Frost in A.M Dolan’s “Robert Frost: This Verse Business.” Fresh from the Lincoln Center production of “The Great Society,” Clapp once again breathes life into Frost, poised and waiting for the birth of a new poem. “Why don’t I say some poems to ya’ I’ve already written…and we’ll see if another one creeps up on me.” Frost’s endless quest to express life through metaphor – and encourage the reader to find their own meaning of life – is beautifully captured through this intimate moment between actor and audience, featuring timeless Frost classics such as ‘“Mending Wall,” “The Road Not Taken,” and “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening.”

WILTON – On Tuesday, Jan. 14, after a brief non-public meeting to discuss a new communication from their attorney, the Zoning Board of Adjustment unanimously approved granting a rehearing requested by Quinn Brothers. The company has requested a variance from a height requirement in order to construct an asphalt processing plant and accompanying silo on Quinn Drive. Minutes of the non-public hearing were sealed, and no reason was given for granting the rehearing.

About 25 people attended the half-hour hearing in the Town Hall Court Room. The rehearing was set for the next regular meeting, 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 18. The hearing will be held at Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative High School because of the expected number of interested people. Over 100 people attended an earlier hearing. Chairman Neil Faiman said the re-hearing is, “literally s new hearing. It will be open to receiving new evidence,” but since the minutes of previous meetings will be considered as part of the record, “you won’t have to say all that over again.” Also included will be a letter from the Quinn’s attorney, which accuses the board of “bias,” and was not discussed at an earlier meeting. Quinn Properties LLC of Amherst has requested a variance from the height restriction of 45 feet in the industrial zone. The proposed buildings measure 68 and 72 feet. Faiman repeated, “We are still considering only the height restriction, not whether an asphalt plant is a good idea.”

The plan has been determined to have a possible regional impact and all neighboring towns will be informed.