NH Brewery Restrictions Could be Eased

Proponents say the efforts will lure breweries to New Hampshire and strengthen existing ones like Throwback Brewery.

New Hampshire lawmakers don't always get along, but if there's one thing most of them can agree on, it's helping the state's breweries. Earlier this year, Rep. Donna Schlachman, D-Exeter, introduced a bill allowing breweries to sell beer at local farmers markets. It passed easily, and earlier this month North Hampton's Throwback Brewery — which is undergoing big changes — sold beer at the Exeter Farmers' Market. Rep. Joanne Ward, R-Stratham, and Rep. Adam Schroadter, R-Newmarket, helped get another bill passed that expanded the state's definition of speciality beers, allowing Portsmouth's Redhook brewery to move its warehouse from Massachusetts to New Hampshire. Ward and Schroadter are now working on a bill that would make it cheaper for …

• Photos (2)

2012 Election Guide

Democratic State Senate Candidates Come Out in Force

Hopefuls show solidarity; hope to bring new leadership they say is needed at the Statehouse.

Democrats running for state Senate in New Hampshire came together in a show of force on June 6, collectively filing their candidacies with the Secretary of State’s Office and talking about the need for new leadership at the Statehouse. Led by Ray Buckley, the chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, and state Sen. Sylvia Larsen, D-Concord, the former Senate president, the candidates stressed better funding for education, focused job creation, and pledged a collaborative legislative environment if elected. The candidates include former Sen. and Executive Councilor Bev Hollingworth, of Hampton, as well as a combat veteran, a teachers, a health care provider, other activists, retirees, and other current and former elected officials. …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (6)

2012 Election Guide

Ovide: NH's Leaders Need to Focus On Issues Larger than Gay Marriage [VIDEO]

The gubernatorial hopeful said other issues are "more important."

Ovide Lamontagne is running for governor in the hopes of bringing strong leadership to the Granite State, and one of the problems he said he sees with current leadership is a weak focus on the big issues. The Manchester resident and former U.S. senatorial candidate said during a campaign stop in Hampton on Thursday there needs to be a greater focus on issues like the economy, job creation and reducing business regulations, and not social issues like gay marriage. Lamontagne, a supporter of "traditional marriage," said the marriage equality issue isn't a "top priority" to him, as he said he doesn't think it's something that concerns residents as much as seeing a resolution to many issues he said have been created in part by Gov. John Lynch'…

• Photos (2)
• Videos (1)