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Council approves $16 million change to Bedford tolls, confirms new member of PUC • New Hampshire Bulletin

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Council approves  million change to Bedford tolls, confirms new member of PUC • New Hampshire Bulletin


The Executive Council on Wednesday agreed to convert the toll plaza on F.E. Everett Turnpike in Bedford to all-electronic tolling, meaning vehicles won’t slow down to pay.

On a 3-2 vote, the councilors approved a nearly $16 million contract between the Department of Transportation and R.S. Audley Inc., a construction company based in Bow. They also OK’d a contingency of just under $800,000 for “unforeseen issues” during construction. The project is funded through the state Bureau of Turnpikes’ Capital Program and is expected to be completed by September 2027.

This project will replace the traditional toll plaza with an overhead, boothless system that doesn’t require vehicles to pump the brakes. That means people won’t be able to pay with cash as they pass through the toll, a point that split the council. Instead, E-ZPasses will be captured by the system, or travelers can pay online within seven days or through a mailed invoice.

A minimum of two lanes of traffic will run on both sides of the highway during construction, and there will be three lanes of traffic both ways once completed, according to documents DOT submitted to the council and governor.

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DOT Commissioner William Cass said toll plazas have posed safety concerns, pointing to “horrific” accidents where people have driven into the barriers. Besides eliminating the accident risk posed by the barriers, it will also help “increase capacity” and “decrease emissions from idling cars,” according to DOT.

Gov. Chris Sununu said the all-electronic tolling should be considered on a “case-by-case basis, if it’s expanded at all.” 

The outgoing Republican governor met with the Executive Council for his third-to-last time Wednesday. Come January, the long table on the second floor of the State House will be surrounded by some new faces, but it will have the same party makeup: 4 Republican councilors, one Democrat, and another Republican governor, Kelly Ayotte, at the helm.

In other news from the meeting:

  • On a 3-2 vote, the council confirmed Mark Dell’Orfano, an assistant attorney general at the Department of Justice, to the Public Utilities Commission. 
  • Sununu nominated Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais to serve on the state Boxing and Wrestling Commission, which helps provide “a framework for the conduct and performance of all boxing and mixed martial arts bouts and wrestling exhibitions” under its jurisdiction, according to its webpage.
  • The council approved the use of federal funds for an energy efficiency program, which will provide rebates for income-eligible residents to purchase certain electronic appliances. The program is expected to launch early next summer, said Joshua Elliot, director of the division of policy and programs at the Department of Energy.
  • Sununu gave some hints as to what’s next for him, saying it would probably be a mix of things. He told reporters he has been looking at opportunities in the private sector, which may include sitting on boards, “helping companies navigate and strategize around avoiding political landmines,” or perhaps media. “I haven’t signed on the dotted line with anything yet,” he said.



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New Hampshire

One dead in single-car crash in Nashua

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One dead in single-car crash in Nashua


One person is dead after a single-vehicle crash in Nashua, New Hampshire early Sunday morning.

Nashua Fire Rescue says they responded to a report of a crash at around 1:08 a.m.

When they arrived, authorities say they found a car had hit the center barrier and ended up against the overpass on Tinker Road.

Hydraulic rescue tools were used to access the person inside the car, according to authorities.

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The person in the car was declared dead at the scene.

New Hampshire State Police is investigating the incident.



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New Hampshire

90-year-old great-grandmother graduates from New Hampshire college 50 years after finishing degree

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90-year-old great-grandmother graduates from New Hampshire college 50 years after finishing degree


MANCHESTER N.H. – Some people may have thought there was a celebrity in the building at Southern New Hampshire University’s graduation on Saturday. Annette Roberge certainly felt like one as she crossed the stage to get her diploma at 90 years old.

“I’m still on cloud nine,” Roberge said. “I can’t even put it into words. It was exhilarating, it was awesome, it was beyond anything I could’ve possibly imagined.”

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Roberge walked across the stage to a standing ovation from her peers.

Southern New Hampshire University

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Degree 50 years in the making

This degree has been decades in the making for the mother of five, grandmother of 12, and great-grandmother of 15. She began taking classes at New Hampshire College, now SNHU, in 1972 one year after her husband of 20 years was killed in Vietnam.

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Roberge graduated from Manchester Central High School in 1953 and she married her husband later that year.

Southern New Hampshire University


She completed several night and weekend courses before it took a backseat to her five kids and two jobs. Roberge worked as an insurance agent while she finished up as a lunch lady at a nearby school. Roberge retired at age 75, but she was a woman who loved learning, and she knew something was missing from her life.  

“If I started something I just have to finish it,” Roberge said.

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But it wasn’t until recently that Roberge’s daughter began poking around and learned her mom had earned enough credits for an associate’s degree in business administration. Barring some health challenges, Roberge finally walked across the stage on Saturday to the roaring cheers from her fellow graduates and a standing ovation.

“Never give up on learning because what you learn can never be taken away from you,” Roberge said.

“It matters so much for the example it sets about what we do for ourselves, to keep learning and stretching and growing,” SNHU President Lisa Marsh Ryerson said.

“Don’t ever give up on a dream”

Roberge even had a parting message for all of her new fellow graduates.   

“If you’ve got a dream don’t let it just sit there. Do something, make it work, don’t ever give up on a dream.”

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If you thought Roberge would be satisfied with her associate’s degree you’d be wrong. She plans to start working towards her bachelor’s degree in January.



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Town Of Bow: Tax Collector Says Bills Will Be Mailed Out In Early December

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Town Of Bow: Tax Collector Says Bills Will Be Mailed Out In Early December


From the office of the Tax Collector:

I am reaching out due to the high volume of phone calls and emails we’ve received from concerned residents regarding their property tax bills.

As a result of the property tax revaluation this year, the tax rate-setting process has been delayed. We are still awaiting the finalized tax rate from the Department of Revenue. Because of this delay, we anticipate that the warrant will be prepared, and tax bills will be mailed out early December. The due date for taxes will be the second week of January, 2025.

I want to inform you that this information will also be available online for your reference. Tax bills will be posted online once they are mailed out under the online payment tab for property taxes.

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In the meantime, you may pay your taxes now based on last year’s tax amount, with the balance due once you receive your updated bill.

If you are looking to qualify for an income tax deduction, please be aware that payments must be received by December 31st, 2024.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving.


This press release was produced by the Town of Bow. The views expressed here are the author’s own.



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