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DURHAM, N.H.— Lawns have long played a role in neighborhood status and appeal to prospective buyers. But they can also be an important piece of the ecological picture when it comes to carbon storage—the prevention of releasing carbon into the atmosphere that can increase global warming. Researchers at the University of New Hampshire found that when looking more closely at carbon storage in the soil of urban homes, the older the home, the more carbon stored underground.
“People may not think the small ecosystem around their home, the grass, soil, and vegetation is providing a service to society,” said Alexandra Contosta, research assistant professor at UNH’s Earth Systems Research Center. “But the key to meaningful ecological carbon storage may be as close as their own backyard.”
In their study, recently published in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning, researchers from UNH and the U.S. Forest Service went digging for answers in yards of city dwellers. Because urban areas are important for understanding the global carbon cycle that can affect climate change, they wanted to see whether they could detect patterns of carbon storage within people’s yards. They focused on lawns in a smaller city (Manchester) and included a suite of variables such as housing age, population density, income, home value, percentage of married couples and how long residents had lived in the house. They found the largest contributing factor when it came to higher carbon storage underground was the age of the house.
“We were surprised that socioeconomic traits didn’t play a larger role,” said Contosta. “The only thing that seemed to matter was time.”
In contrast, carbon storage above ground by trees was more related to income, lifestyle, residents’ age and marital status, with housing age playing a secondary role. Housing age seemed to matter more when the tree was under 50 years of age. After that, trees on lawns with older houses tended to store less carbon. Such gardening practices as tree trimming, tree removal, and even tree planting may have also played a role.
“What it showed us is that one size does not fit all,” said Contosta. “And, when it comes to individuals interested in doing their part by helping to increase carbon storage in their own yard, there may be more than one option.”
The researchers say understanding the nuances of carbon storage in city lawns is critical for urban planning, policy-making, and management. It highlights the need for a variety of approaches tailored to protecting and enhancing urban carbon storage and minimizing carbon loss.
This study was supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Carbon Cycle Science Program.
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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DURHAM, N.H.— When the new Solar Orbiter blasts off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in early February, it will carry with it an instrument designed and built by researchers from the University of New Hampshire Space Science Center (SSC) to study the Earth’s closest star, the sun. The international mission, led by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with NASA will focus on the heliosphere — the bubble-like region of space that surrounds the solar system. It will provide data to help scientists gain an even deeper understanding of the solar wind, solar eruptions, and the sun’s magnetic field which all influence space weather and can impact astronauts, spacecraft, satellites, and communication technologies.
“The Solar Orbiter is unique from other missions in that it will focus on the higher latitudes of the sun and will have the ability to co-rotate with the sun and fix on points of interest for longer periods of time, providing more detailed information about specific regions,” says Antoinette Galvin, professor of physics and lead UNH co-investigator on one of the particle detectors on the Solar Orbiter. “This mission will not only build on the success of previous missions but also hopefully help predict forthcoming solar storms that may impact humans and technology.”
UNH’s research involved 43 faculty, staff, and students all assisting in the development of the time-of-flight subsection of the Heavy Ion Sensor (HIS), which will detect solar wind particles such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon and provide data on their charged state to indicate from what part of the sun they originated. UNH’s SSC Assembly Lab and the Morse Hall Machine Shop helped to fabricate components, ran exhaustive simulations, tested prototypes in vacuum conditions, and ran several sub-assembly stress tests, so the unit would not only detect the proper particles but also withstand the stress of launch.
HIS is a collaboration between UNH, the Southwest Research Institute, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the University of Michigan, and the University of Bern, Switzerland and is one portion of the Solar Wind Analyzer instrument — one of ten instruments aboard the Solar Orbiter.
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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2020 is a banner year, and even more so in Barrington where we are booming and growing as we mix history with the community. We at Barrington Town News believe that recognizing those businesses in the community that is growing and providing places of employment and enjoyment is important. With the rise in social entrepreneurship, giving back and the focus on building local community we took a look around our town and these were some of the businesses we saw were giving back. We’re certain there are other deserving companies – so if you would like to nominate one, and the reason why – mention it in the comments below, or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For Service to the Community - Esther Sawyer CPA, LLC
In business for 20 years, this 2-year transplanted home-based business exemplifies partnership, giving back, and integrity. Esther and Chris Sawyer moved to Barrington because of the quality of life, and have focused on getting engaged in the community and their local church. Both are active in leadership in the American Legion, donate time to the Strafford County Homeless Center, participate in local fundraisers such as the Peepers race.
For Employment Opportunities – Turbocam International
This worldwide organization employs over 900 people and is still growing. It is the largest employer in New Hampshire – and has developed a culture of giving and developing bases for jobs and wealth development both in the US and in other nations.
For Wildlife Protection and Education – Wildlife Encounters and Ecological Center
Founded by Derek Small, Wildlife Encounters and Ecological Center introduces people to animals, through an educational program designed to teach and familiarize us with common animals and exotics. This company does more than its fair share in animal rescue and recovery and sports more than a few alligators to prove it. Money made from the educational programs often go into the rehabilitation of animals that have been mishandled in the past.
For Food and Enjoyment – Kozy’s Pizza
Kozy’s may have been around for twenty years, but in 2014 it got new owners and a fresh spin on pizza delivery. Last summer, it went through an expansion, opening a craft beer brewery, and now offers its own homebrews – from the cellar to the tap. Known as a local community gathering spot, they aim to continue building community one mug at a time.
For Connecting People and Pets – It Takes a Village Pet Care
Not only are Traci Bisson and her team running a quality pet care organization, licensed and accredited – they give back to the community and non-profit organizations through their dog walking club. This year they have dedicated proceeds from events to – Elder Pet in Durham, Mary’s Dogs of Northwood and Granite State Dog Recovery in Manchester. It Takes a Village Pet Care has been running since 2016, and growing and thriving as well as giving back.
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The owners of Esther Sawyer, CPA LLC, Esther and Chris Sawyer, are a pair of rising leaders in our community. Three terms come to mind when thinking of the Sawyers – Partnership, Integrity, and Giving Back. They started the business 20 years ago in Maryland, but 2 years ago when Chris retired from his job, they moved to New Hampshire and the business moved with them.
In Maryland where they both had great careers in the finance area, Esther worked for a private CPA firm and as a DC Government Auditor. This provides Esther with a detailed knowledge of the bookkeeping and auditing part of the business. Her Tax Preparation background started when she was in school to become a CPA. When she was doing a project on rental property tax returns for class, one of her cousins offered to give her a chance to practice on his taxes and from that, a home-based business was born.
Meanwhile, Chris worked for the IRS in many different areas including customer service, tax collection as a Revenue Officer, and in their Headquarters as an Analyst. Because of his job, he understands the ins and outs of all the codes and uses that knowledge now to help others with tax issues. When they first started their business Esther ran it, because getting paid to file tax returns would be a conflict of interest for Chris. However, Esther had a built-in advisor, so complex issues would be dealt with as a team effort – with Chris providing the resources and guidelines for problems that were tax-related. Throughout the years, while they both worked full-time jobs, Esther built up a clientele working the tax business part-time while Chris kept the household work done – sharing the raising of their child Xena.
Of the two, they have realms of expertise that they provide as services in and for their company. Chris - the reference guy, collections issues, and business startup consulting for their clients. He also is more technologically savvy so he helped build their website, manages their SEO and handles any internal computer issues they may have. Esther handles Auditing, Accounting and most of the complex tax preparation work. They also use their business to teach their daughter (who is now 16 and working on her dream of becoming a doctor), how to organize and manage a business.
Their first client in New Hampshire had over 12,000 dollars in taxes in arrears and penalties and was going to have to pay that amount because he had received some misinformation from his original CPA. Chris did the research and wrote a letter to the NH Dept of Revenue requesting a reasonable cause penalty abatement. Then he just billed the client for the time taken to write the letter – because he was unsure of the result. The client was so happy just about the letter that he gave them a tip for helping out. The gentleman received a letter within six weeks that his penalty abatement request was approved in full.
Because of their interests in helping their community, the couple is active and involved in several activities and groups in the area. Chris is a Navy veteran, so both give back by being active in the American Legion. Chris is the Finance Officer, and Esther is the president of the American Legion Auxiliary. The couple is also active in their church, engaged in local fundraising events, and even work with the homeless and those in recovery.
They also give back by providing free tax services (on a limited basis depending on need), offering friends and family discount, and a 20% discount for First Responders and Veterans. Give them a call for any tax-related questions.
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Concord, NH – The Office of Highway Safety (OHS) reminds all motorists that choosing safe behaviors behind the wheel could save a life. While people’s preferences in the types of transportation they use differ, they all have one thing in common - everyone is a pedestrian. In 2020, there have been seven traffic-related fatalities in NH so far and two of those involved pedestrians.
“As a motorist, avoiding a pedestrian seems like common knowledge, but too many people are still paying with their lives,” said OHS Commander William Haynes. “Unfortunately, if there is a collision between a pedestrian and a vehicle, the pedestrian is most likely to be the one killed or injured. Everyone is responsible for safety on NH’s roads.”
Drivers and pedestrians need to stay alert at all times while traveling. While driving, it can be tempting to pick up an electronic device or fiddle with the radio, but that choice could cost someone his or her life. As a pedestrian, wearing headphones or using a cell phone could lead to disaster if you don’t hear a car horn or miss a stop-signal at a crosswalk. It is important for pedestrians to wear visible clothing as well as use a flashlight or headlamp to light their path if walking at night. If your vehicle becomes disabled on the side of the road, stay in the vehicle, dial 911 and ask for assistance. Stay in your vehicle until assistance arrives.
In addition, 4-out-of-the-5 traffic-related fatalities not related to pedestrians, were a result of ejection. It is another reminder of how seat belts can save lives. NH has the highest unbelted fatality rate in the country so we want to encourage everyone, regardless of age, to buckle up - every trip, every time and in every position of the motor vehicle.
Both drivers and pedestrians should always follow the rules of the road, including not using electronic devices or driving/walking impaired, traveling the speed limit, and by simply buckling up. Everyone who uses NH’s roads has a duty to drive safely, which, in turn, helps everyone get to their destination unharmed.
Follow NH OHS on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nh_ohs and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NHHighwaySafety/ Also, sign up for NH Alerts to receive emergency information via your mobile phones.
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New Hampshire's 2.6% preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December 2019 was ranked sixth lowest in the nation, tied with Hawaii and Virginia, based on data released this morning by BLS.
Lowest were:
South Carolina --- 2.3%
Utah --- 2.3%
Vermont --- 2.3%
North Dakota --- 2.4%
New England states -- seasonally adjusted:
Vermont --- 2.3% -- lowest (tie)
New Hampshire --- 2.6% -- 6th lowest (tie)
Massachusetts --- 2.8% -- 11th lowest
Maine --- 2.9% -- 12th lowest (tie)
Rhode Island --- 3.5% -- 26th lowest (tie)
Connecticut --- 3.7% -- 31st lowest (tie)
Highest rates:
Alaska --- 6.1%
Mississippi --- 5.7%
District of Columbia --- 5.3%
https://www.bls.gov/web/laus/
For additional Economic and Labor Market Information, please contact ELMI at (603) 228-4124 or via e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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On Tuesday, January 14, 2020, the School Administrative Unit 74 (SAU74) held a public hearing for the 2020-2021 School Budget at the Barrington Middle School Auditoria. Besides the School Superintendent, select administrative staff, and the School Board itself, there were less than 20 people in attendance for this important hearing.
From the perspective of this reporter, the presentation of the proposed budget was well executed and well delivered. The budget for SAU74 encompasses children from the preschool age to high school. Because Barrington does not have its own high school, students can choose between Coe Brown in Northwood, Oyster River High School in Durham, or Dover High. The school district pays the tuition and transportation for high school attendance.
The handout provided the Goals and Priorities for the year, the Accomplishments from last year, which included a significant improvement in Math and Reading, and the fact that the Barrington Elementary School has been recognized for NH Excellence in Education (EDiesAward). The budget process itself was reviewed as well as facts and figures that help the viewer understand the budget numbers, such as Enrollment History, Projected Enrollment for 2020/2021, and cost per student for education at the Barrington Schools as well as Barrington’s three receiving high schools.
Of most interest was the Challenges slide. Noted were Systematic interventions in all schools, Increasing enrollment at the preschool and High School levels, the need for new revenue sources, and Mental Health support and resources (an area of need for all of New Hampshire).
To address the challenges of enrollment an additional preschool teacher position has been proposed. This cost will be partially offset by the ability to support more tuition students, but the primary drivers for the need of the teacher are the increased demand for 3-5-year-old children required special education supports and services.
Another proposed position is for a Social Worker for the district. This position is to bridge the gap between what the guidance counselors cover in the day to day of school, and the needs that children in more intense situations (clinical and social) have in our current society. Things like homelessness, social family breakdown, direct and indirect effects of substance abuse, interventional identification, and training in mental health situations like anxiety, and learning disabilities. Since these are societal issues impacting our entire country, the school district is looking for other funding streams to assist in covering these costs.
Other budget drivers include High School Tuition, Retirement Commitments, Contractual Obligations, a new Transportation Contract, Food Service Contract increase and the two new positions proposed. It should be noted that three of the grants traditionally received by SAU74 have decreased as well, one by a reallocation to support high schools, the other by a new state formula, and the third due to budgetary reasons.
There are four Capital Reserve Accounts – High School Tuition, Special Education, Technology, and Facilities. Money in these accounts can only be used for their respective designated purposes.
There are also four warrant articles up for consideration. The Paraprofessional Contract (3yr Collective Bargaining Agreement), A question if that article is defeated if the governing body can call a special meeting to address said contract’s cost items, a request to contribute additional money to both Facilities Capital Reserve and High School Tuition Capital Reserve utilizing, if applicable, only surplus funds from the budget and not to come from additional taxation.
Click on the following link for the presentation materials and budget proposal.
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DURHAM, N.H.—The Crimes against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire has been awarded a four-year grant from the National Institute of Justice to track trends in the incidence of crimes, offenders and victims in cases involving technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation. This is the fourth in a series of studies conducted by the CCRC since 2000.
“Technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation crimes, like child pornography possession, can grow and change quickly,” said Kimberly Mitchell, research associate professor of psychology and the study’s director. “Such rapid changes are unusual in criminal justice and social science research, and that means we need to closely monitor this volatile environment so law enforcement can respond.”
The new research will help the criminal justice system track dynamics that are not always apparent or picked up on by other criminal justice data collection systems.
The study involves conducting interviews with a national sample of police investigators. It will identify whether the training, legislative and policy changes in approaches to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation crimes are having a positive impact. Findings will also help determine whether there are some new or growing technology-facilitated crime types that need greater attention.
The National Institute of Justice is the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice. Mitchell will head up the research team in partnership with the National Criminal Justice Training Center, the main training and technical assistance provider for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces.
The Crimes against Children Research Center conducts research to help policy makers, practitioners and the public improve the response to a wide range of crimes against children from sexual abuse to gun violence.
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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One of the hidden gems of Barrington is the Nippo Lake Golf Club and Restaurant. The Golf Club was founded in 1964, and like many places in New England repurposed an existing old building. The restaurant is in an old summer house, that used to be attached to an old colonial home that had been built in the early 1900s. Located at 88 Stagecoach Rd Barrington, NH 03825, the establishment is a well-groomed property, with sweeping views of the Blue Hills Mountain Range. The view is amazing, and the renovations inside take advantage of the beauty, bringing it inside with a bank of lovely windows.
Other changes inside the building include a relocation of the bar, which now sweeps around the interior of the building, and the bathrooms have been moved to the first floor, making them handicapped accessible.
The facility hosts weddings, banquets, and other functions, as well as golf club amenities. The deck holds 24, the bar 26, and the main dining area holds 100. In fact, the Greater Barrington Chamber of Commerce, holds its monthly membership meetings the first Wednesday of every month, usually from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm.
The Golf Club hosts the Chamber’s annual Golf Tournament and is highly involved as a Chamber member. As well as Chamber meetings, there are live bands and bluegrass music on Sundays. The calendar of events can be found here.
The chef and his crew at the restaurant offer a diverse range of food, which is high quality and quite tasty. The servers are timely and helpful, the views amazing – this is a great place to take a date, meet with friends or dine with the family.
If you’re not a member, stop in and view the changes, enjoy the updated atmosphere and discover one of the hidden treasures of Barrington.
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ROCHESTER, NH - Brox Industries, Inc.'s Rochester Plant 6 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.
"The awards that Brox receives is a testament to the tireless work of our employees, their knack for innovation, and their can-do spirit" said Brox Industries, Inc. Plant Manager Bob Norkiewicz. "We’re a team of problem solvers."
The nationally recognized Diamond Achievement Commendation program was developed in 1999, and assesses five areas of an asphalt plant, including environmental practices, safety, appearance, operations, and community relations.
Peers within the industry choose the winners of these awards, which recognize responsible asphalt plant operations and encourage strong community relations.
NAPA’s Chairman John Harper stated about the award program, "Earning the Diamond Achievement Commendation enhances both the image of your individual facility and the image of the asphalt pavement industry. It clearly demonstrates a corporate commitment to excellence with a community focus.”
Brox has been awarded numerous NAPA Diamond Achievement Commendations for Excellence in Hot Mix Asphalt Plant/Site Operations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, with its Rochester Plant 6 earning recognition for six consecutive honors.
For more information about Brox Industries, Inc., visit http://www.broxindustries.com/.
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