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ROCHESTER, NH – HRCU is pleased to welcome Tyler Hudson as the Vice President of Digital Strategy & eServices. In this new role, he will direct and guide the digital strategy across the entire organization to ensure consistency of the member experience across all channels. With a new digital banking platform being introduced in late May, the recent addition of a network of Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs), member support and operations that now heavily rely on the digital experience, it is critical to have the experience and knowledge in place to stay ahead in the quickly changing and evolving digital world.
Hudson comes to HRCU with 17 years of experience in credit unions, financial technology, operations, process improvement, and digital platform implementation. Most recently, he served as Assistant Vice President of Development at Synergent, a FinTech-focused service bureau that provides access to state-of-the-art core processing solutions, payments, programming, and marketing services. In that role, Hudson led a team of Business Analysts and Programmers in software development, core data conversions, and professional services. Prior to his time with Synergent, he got his start in the credit union world at San Diego County Credit Union and Symitar, a core data processor leader.
“Tyler brings a great deal of valuable experience to HRCU”, said Brian Hughes, President, and CEO. “In the ever-changing world of delivering the most convenient and comprehensive financial services, HRCU is elevating to be a leader in digital technology. Tyler will be building his HRCU team while working to bring the best digital channel experience to our members.”
Hudson resides in Springvale, Maine with his wife Erica and their three children.
HRCU is a state-chartered and NCUA federally insured community credit union that serves over 22,000 members throughout the New Hampshire Seacoast since 1962. You are eligible to be a member if you live or work in New Hampshire.
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- Written by Patrick R. McElhiney
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DURHAM, N.H.—Nearly every presidential candidate in the primary race has a proposal to make college more affordable, a new analysis released by the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire found.
“Driven by steadily rising college costs and student debt, the 2020 presidential campaign has put the issues of college cost and student debt on the agenda like never before,” said the authors. “Many candidates are promising to transform the federal investment in college affordability and this analysis explores the challenge of college affordability and summarizes the proposals to address it.”
In addition, Carsey will host an event Thursday, Feb. 6, from 3:30-7:30 p.m. in Huddleston Hall Ballroom to explore the topic of college affordability as well as look at how the issue is playing out on the campaign trail.
The analysis was conducted by James Kvaal, president, and Jessica Thompson, director of policy and planning, at the Institute for College Access & Success. The institute is a trusted source of research, design, and advocacy for student-centered public policies that promote affordability, accountability, and equity in higher education.
The Carsey School of Public Policy is nationally recognized for research, policy education and bringing people together for thoughtful dialogue to address important societal challenges. The school develops and facilitates innovative, responsive and equitable solutions at all levels of government and in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.
The University of New Hampshire inspires innovation and transforms lives in our state, nation, and world. More than 16,000 students from all 50 states and 71 countries engage with an award-winning faculty in top-ranked programs in business, engineering, law, health, and human services, liberal arts and the sciences across more than 200 programs of study. As one of the nation’s highest-performing research universities, UNH partners with NASA, NOAA, NSF and NIH, and receives more than $110 million in competitive external funding every year to further explore and define the frontiers of land, sea, and space.
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CONCORD, N.H. – New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management reminds residents and visitors of New Hampshire to be prepared for a long duration mixed precipitation event that will impact the state Thursday into Friday. A lull is possible Thursday afternoon before a second round of precipitation intensifies overnight and continues into Friday afternoon and evening.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Gray, Maine issued a Winter Storm Warning for parts of Coos, Grafton and Carroll counties from 7:00 A.M. tomorrow until 10:00 P.M. on Friday. Heavy snow is expected in Coos County with total accumulations of 9 to 16 inches. Parts of Grafton and Carroll counties should expect heavy mixed precipitation with total snow accumulations of 6 to 9 inches and ice accumulations of a light glaze.
The NWS has issued a Winter Storm Watch for parts of Coos, Belknap, Strafford, Grafton, Rockingham and Carroll Counties from 7:00 A.M. tomorrow until 10:00 P.M. on Friday. Heavy mixed precipitation is possible with total snow accumulations of 2 to 7 inches and ice accumulations of around one-tenth of an inch.
The NWS issued a Winter Weather Advisory for parts of Hillsborough, Cheshire, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, and Sullivan counties from 4:00 A.M. tomorrow until 10:00 P.M. on Friday. Mixed precipitation is expected with total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches and ice accumulations of around one-tenth of an inch.
“Once the storm begins, travel will be difficult,” NH Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Jennifer Harper said. “If you must travel, remember to clear snow and ice from your vehicle, slow down, allow extra time for travel, and leave plenty of space between vehicles.”
No widespread power outages are expected.
Director Harper provides these additional reminders:
- Slow down and move over for emergency vehicles.
- Do not crowd the plows or emergency crews.
- Clear all snow and ice off your car, including your food, around lights, and license plates before traveling.
- Bridges, overpasses, and exposed road areas are the most prone to icy conditions.
- Visit ReadyNH.gov to learn more preparedness tips to help you and your family stay safe.
Take time now to prepare. Director Harper encourages everyone to plan ahead for disasters. The core steps toward preparedness are (1) make an emergency kit, (2) have a family emergency plan, and (3) stay informed by signing up for NH Alerts. Download templates and instructions for each of these preparedness steps online at ReadyNH.gov.
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Will your license fly?
CONCORD, N.H. – Soon, federally compliant identification will be required to board domestic flights and enter some federal facilities. A New Hampshire REAL ID driver license or non-driver identification card is fully compliant and will get you where you need to go. This Saturday, you can get your REAL ID driver license or non-driver identification card at several New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles locations.
Getting a REAL ID is voluntary, and other federally compliant identification, such as a passport, may also be used for domestic air travel. However, time is running out and we encourage New Hampshire residents who wish to obtain a REAL ID to do so as soon as possible. REAL ID applications must be submitted in person.
To make REAL ID services more easily accessible, the following New Hampshire DMV locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. this Saturday, February 8, and the second Saturday of each month, for REAL ID transactions only. REAL ID transactions may also, be conducted at all locations during regular weekday hours as well as all other DMV business.
Concord, Manchester, Nashua, Newport, Dover, and Twin Mountain.
Additional documentation is required when applying for REAL ID and should be gathered prior to your visit to the DMV. Documentation related to name changes due to marriage, divorce, adoption, etc., must be presented at the time of the transaction.
For detailed documentation requirements and facts about REAL ID, visit www.getREAL.nh.gov.
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The countdown is on! Only 20 more days until the Leapfrog special is done! The Leapfrog Special is a discounted rate to be a runner in the Annual Peepers 5K Run/Walk Race this year, which is May 9, 2020. Registration begins at 8 am, and the race begins promptly at 9 am!
This annual fundraiser goes to providing 3,500 Dollars in local scholarships for students in the Barrington area, or whose family members are in the Greater Barrington Chamber of Commerce. This annual chamber event is hopping into it’s 26th year.
Originally an actual frog jumping contest, after a couple of years it turned into a person hopping race, then an informal walk/run and now it's a sanctioned race – with bibs, timing, and runner categories. Local Runners from the entire area will come to the race because they need to make a certain number of sanctioned races to qualify for the bigger events. The average number of participants is about 421 racers – the goal is to get to 600. Some people run in costume, some in teams, some walk. Sometimes you'll see strollers, and other times you will see people representing a group or a cause. There is even a friendly rivalry in town between TurboCam and Stonewall Surveying for the number of racers in each team. Each of those teams has a charity of choice that they represent, like the local food pantry.
Stacey Gallant, the organizer of the race, strives each year to improve the race. The committee works diligently to provide the registration, snacks, water, and other things that assure a smooth race day. There are vendor tables, entertainment (such as Wildlife Encounters), raffles, bake sales, etc. The Peepers race is really a community activity which can use more community involvement.
This year, one of the improvements is to increase business scholarships. Businesses are encouraged to sponsor this event, which could mean a logo on the back of a t-shirt, a vendor tent with giveaways and goodies for the people in the races and even donations for prizes for the racing winners. There are recommended sponsorship levels found on the website, and recognition for the sponsors as well. It's a good way to give back.
For more about the race – Click Here!
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CONCORD, N.H. – Colonel Christopher Wagner will be retiring from his position, effective March 2, 2020. Colonel Wagner has served and protected the citizens of New Hampshire as the Colonel of the Department of Safety for over three years and as a law enforcement officer for almost 25 years.
After consulting with his family, Colonel Wagner has made the difficult decision to retire from law enforcement and the tremendous family sacrifice that his position requires.
The Department of Safety appreciates the years of service that Colonel Wagner has provided to the citizens of New Hampshire and wishes him well in his future endeavors.
The Department will conduct a full and extensive process identifying qualified candidates to serve as the next Director of the Division of State Police, including holding stakeholder meetings and receiving input from the community's leaders.
You can read Colonel Wagner's resignation letter here.
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Due to ongoing health concerns, Kat Roedell will be stepping down from full-time leadership at Barrington Town News. She will remain writing for the paper, and work with us during the transition to assure a smooth trade-off of responsibilities and to posture us for growth in the future.
To that end, we are announcing three contract positions available at the Barrington Town News. We are looking for people who have a passion for their community and reporting the news in a non-biased manner. The internet has changed the news industry radically in the past 20 years, however at the core it is the same – report the truth in a positive, uplifting manner. The positions we are filling are:
Sales Manager: The sales manager will oversee the sales and marketing aspects of the Barrington Town News, from the Business Directory, Banner Ads, and Promotional Marketing – including sales of feature ads and content development for clients in the greater Barrington area. This person will forge business relationships within the community and would be a great fit for a person with a great networking base. Compensation is commission-based.
Journalist(s): Every paper needs great writers that are creative, have high-quality standards and strive to understand the ins and outs of the community. Journalists can be subject-based (such as a group member sharing the ins and outs of meetings or historical stories), or more news story based (such as covering grand openings, school board meetings, etc.)
Graphic Storyteller: More than a photographer, we are looking for people who communicate through pictures, and have a good handle on graphic design for infographics, banner ads, and photojournalism. Must provide own equipment.
Barrington Town News offers flexible schedules, work from home capability, and project-based pay. This is perfect for students, homemakers, stay at home parents or even people on disability. If you are used to working in a gig-based economy, this is a great place to work and build a strong portfolio for your future. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to express interest in working with us.
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DURHAM, N.H.— Scientists at the University of New Hampshire have unlocked one of the mysteries of how particles from flares on the sun accumulate at early stages in the energization of hazardous radiation that is harmful to astronauts, satellites and electronic equipment in space. Using data obtained by NASA’s Parker Solar Probe (PSP), researchers observed one of the largest events so far during the mission. These observations show how plasma that is released after a solar flare—a sudden flash of increased brightness—can accelerate and pile up energetic particles generating dangerous radiation conditions.
“We’re getting some of the earliest observations from this mission to the sun on how the coronal mass ejection—the sun’s release of plasma and energy—builds up particles released after solar flare events,” said Nathan Schwadron, professor of physics in UNH’s Space Science Center. “Because energetic particles are accelerated near the sun, by flying closer and getting a better look we are able to observe the beginning of the energization process and see them actually start to pile up like snow that piles up in front of a snowplow. Instead of an actual snowplow, it is the coronal mass ejections released from the sun that causes the buildup of this material in space.”
In the study, recently published in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, the researchers observed solar energetic particle events from April 18, 2019, to April 24, 2019. when two active regions near the sun’s equator became highly unstable, releasing a number of flares followed by coronal mass injections (CMEs). Scientists saw the complex interplay between the flares, particle populations and CMEs causing the pre-accelerated particles that are created by these solar events to get trapped and pile up. The study highlights a new phase of the energization process that is critical for the formation of radiation hazards.
“We have known that these high-energy particles are energized in this region, but the missing link was how these particles buildup in the fronts of coronal mass ejections,” said Schwadron. “It’s like imagining a room filled with bouncing tennis balls and asking how did they get there? The particles become so highly energized that they move at almost the speed of light and, as a result, can pose hazards in the form of harmful radiation that causes health issues for astronauts and damage electronic equipment in space.”
The PSP, which was launched by NASA in 2018, is on a seven-year mission to learn more about the sun, the solar wind and the origin of the energetic particles that can pose radiation hazards. The probe will fly to within 4 million miles of the sun’s surface, closer than any previous spacecraft has flown and will face formidable heat in the corona—the sun’s atmosphere—to help scientists improve the forecasts for space weather that affect life on Earth. Onboard PSP, the Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun instrument suite is specially designed to measure the near-sun energetic particle environment and includes two instruments that were designed based on previous missions with which UNH was involved.
The University of New Hampshire inspires innovation and transforms lives in our state, nation, and world. More than 16,000 students from all 50 states and 71 countries engage with an award-winning faculty in top-ranked programs in business, engineering, law, health and human services, liberal arts and the sciences across more than 200 programs of study. As one of the nation’s highest-performing research universities, UNH partners with NASA, NOAA, NSF and NIH, and receives more than $110 million in competitive external funding every year to further explore and define the frontiers of land, sea, and space.
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New Hampshire Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Highlights – December 2019 Estimates
(Note: Rates are not seasonally adjusted)
- The December 2019 not seasonally adjusted State unemployment rate was 2.3 percent. This was unchanged from the November rate. The December 2018 rate was 2.1 percent.
- New Hampshire’s December 2019 not seasonally adjusted labor force estimates show 14,960 more employed and 1,760 more unemployed than in December 2018 for a year-to-year net gain in the labor force of 16,720.
- Sixteen areas recorded rates below the statewide not seasonally adjusted average of 2.3 percent:
- New Hampshire portion of the Lebanon NH-VT Micropolitan New England City and Town Area – 1.7 percent
- Concord NH Micropolitan New England City and Town Area – 1.9 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Conway NH-ME Labor Market Area – 1.9 percent
- New London NH Labor Market Area – 1.9 percent
- Newport NH Labor Market Area – 2.0 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Portsmouth NH-ME Metropolitan New England City and Town Area – 2.0 percent
- Charlestown NH Labor Market Area – 2.1 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Dover-Durham NH-ME Metropolitan New England City and Town Area – 2.1 percent
- Hillsborough NH Labor Market Area – 2.1 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Littleton NH-VT Labor Market Area – 2.1 percent
- Manchester NH Metropolitan New England City and Town Area – 2.1 percent
- Meredith NH Labor Market Area – 2.1 percent
- Plymouth NH Labor Market Area – 2.1 percent
- Belmont NH Labor Market Area – 2.2 percent
- Franklin NH Labor Market Area – 2.2 percent
- Raymond NH Labor Market Area – 2.2 percent
- Ten areas recorded rates at or above the statewide not seasonally adjusted average of 2.3 percent:
- Haverhill NH Labor Market Area – 2.3 percent
- Keene NH Micropolitan New England City and Town Area – 2.3 percent
- Peterborough NH Labor Market Area – 2.3 percent
- Claremont, NH Micropolitan New England City, and Town Area – 2.4 percent
- Wolfeboro NH Labor Market Area – 2.4 percent
- Laconia NH Micropolitan New England City and Town Area – 2.5 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Colebrook NH-VT Labor Market Area – 2.6 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Nashua NH-MA New England City and Town Area Division – 2.6 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury MA-NH New England City and Town Area Division – 2.8 percent
- Berlin NH Micropolitan New England City and Town Area – 3.4 percent
- The New Hampshire portion of three interstate labor market areas contain only one town:
- New Hampshire portion of the Lawrence-Methuen-Salem MA-NH New England City and Town Area Division (Salem town) – 3.0 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford MA-NH New England City and Town Area Division (Pelham town) – 3.2 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Brattleboro VT-NH Labor Market Area (Hinsdale town) – 3.6 percent
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Esther Sawyer CPA, LLC has been identified as was one of Barrington's Best Businesses for the category of Giving Back. The owners – Chris and Esther Sawyer are engaged in multiple facets of giving back to our local and national community.
For the Sawyers Faith and Family Comes first. Esther was born in Guyana and still has family in that area. Guyana is known for its violent crime, such as armed robbery and murder, which is common. Local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.
Over the years both she and Chris has sponsored many of her family members to come over legally in The United States. Not only do they sponsor those family members, but they help them to obtain jobs homes and education if necessary. They don't just give them the one thing (a ticket out), they provide them with the infrastructure that they need to be successful. In July they sponsored her youngest sister with her two children. She has gone to LNA school, is now employed, and her children are excelling in school.
Chris is a Navy Veteran with 8 years of service which included combat in Lebanon and has been sober for 25 years. He was recently asked to speak at an Alanon meeting as a person in recovery, educating family members of alcoholics and addicts on the recovery process. He considers AA as a community and therefore, a part of his family. He still attends meetings, speaks and helps other AA individuals. He's very engaged and involved with The Triangle Club in Dover and helping people to become better, and have a firm foundation for restoring and repairing their lives. Chris and his church team participate in the Annual 5K Spirit of Recovery Race, which is a core fundraiser for the Triangle Club.
They've participated in the NH Seacoast Project Linus blanket events with their church. This is a community event (the next one is scheduled for November 14th) where new sew fleece blankets are created and then dropped off at the Joanne Fabrics drop off-site. Blankets are distributed to children in need, including at homeless shelters, battered women’s shelters, and hospitals.
As a family, they have gone to the Strafford County Homeless Center and cooked meals for the residents. They try to do this in times where there's a greater need. During the warmer months, there are traditionally fewer people in the shelter, so while the need is still there it is not as apparent. During the wintertime, people need more connections. The Sawyer’s go in and create a whole meal to help the occupants to feel encouraged and valued. They give the community “hugs” to show them they are valued and loved.
Chris and Esther are also very engaged in the local American Legion. Chris is the finance officer. Esther is the president of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary. As leaders, they tried to identify more veterans to bring into the organization. It's not just a social club. The American Legion has a mission:
“It is the nation's largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans. “
From https://www.legion.org/mission
Chris and Esther view their many activities as a way of identifying people in need. It provides them with a way to surround these people with the community and lift them up. Veterans especially, service to our country should never be forgotten. The Sawyers exemplify these beliefs by helping other people. In their Church, they're very active in Leadership and engaged in many Outreach programs. From youth leadership to communications, they are present and involved as partners to help their church thrive and grow.
Whatever the Sawyers participate in is a family event with their daughter Xena. They go as a unit to help wherever they can. Both Esther and Chris are encouragers and investors in people, and they have taught their daughters to be the same. The Sawyers doesn't just temporarily help a person. They don't hand them a fish. They teach them another way to live.
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