DERRY, N.H. – There’s just over a week until Election Day and officials in New Hampshire are not only under added pressure to ensure a fair and safe process, they’re also struggling to find people willing to work as poll workers.
“We’re putting the test ballots through the machine, we do have to put them through four times,” said Derry Town Clerk Tina Guilford.
“We’re here to do our jobs”
It’s the kind of safeguards she said are built into the election process. Test ballots in eight machines are inserted several times, the numbers between the machines have to match. The machine head is then sealed until Election Day and Guilford said she’s feeling more scrutiny than ever before.
“We’re not here to play partisan politics, we’re here to do our jobs,” said Guilford.
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Doing the job hasn’t been easy and Guilford said it’s even a struggle to get poll workers to work on election night.
“A lot of people have told me that they’ve worked elections in the past and they’re just not interested because of the environment because they call it toxic,” said Guilford.
Political tensions are high since former President Donald Trump lost re-election in 2020 and claimed the election was stolen. It’s cast suspicion on election workers and Guilford has felt it.
“I’ve been called a communist, fascist, not pleasant,” said Guilford. “They’re unhappy and they’re taking it out on the person they can get a hold of.”
Pledging transparency
At Manchester City Hall, the line was nearly out the door Friday with voters registering. There’s high interest in an election that has also prompted calls to Elections Manager Thomas Hilton, who said he can only pledge transparency.
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“I understand where these people are coming from, that it’s their process,” said Hilton. “I think people are concerned, they want to know their vote is counting, as it should be. And so, I completely respect that and I’m glad that we can answer those questions for those people.”
Newly trained poll worker Jim Dietzel said he wants to be part of the process.
“If I, as a regular citizen, who’s not an insider, can go out and tell the public no, everything is really on the up and up here, I think it gives people a lot of confidence,” said Dietzel.
There’s no early voting in New Hampshire, just absentee ballots, so Election Day is expected to be particularly busy.
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Beth Germano
Emmy award-winning Beth Germano is a general assignment reporter for WBZ-TV News. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Germano has been a New England-based reporter for more than 15 years. She joined WBZ-TV as a freelance reporter in 1996 after reporting for several local television stations including WCVB-TV, New England Cable News, Monitor Cable Channel, WLVI-TV, and WGBH-TV.
Tiny homes may be having a moment—but it is rare that one arrives on the market offering not just an opportunity to downsize in a one-of-a-kind cabin, but also a chance to claim a lush 6-acre expanse of land just 90-minutes’ drive from the nearest beach.
Yet that is the exact package currently being offered in New Hampshire, where a unique yurt-shaped abode has recently been listed for the bargain price of $300,000.
Set on more than 6 wooded acres in the picturesque Monadnock Region—known for its hiking trails and classic New England vibes—the two-bedroom dwelling is described as a “private, peaceful retreat with the perfect balance of rustic cabin character and modern convenience.”
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The Peterborough, NH, cabin itself features several incredibly unique design features, not least its yurt-inspired shape, which makes it look almost like a UFO from the outside.
Inside, however, that shape helps to create a truly fairy-tale feel, with a lofted bedroom at the heart of the round structure, creating the impression of sleeping in a treehouse.
A unique yurt-shaped abode has recently been listed in New Hampshire for the bargain price of $300,000.Realtor.com
The Peterborough, NH, cabin itself features several incredibly unique design features, not least its yurt-inspired shape, which makes it look almost like a UFO.Realtor.com
Inside, however, that shape helps to create a truly fairy-tale feel, with a lofted bedroom set at the heart of the round structure, creating the impression of sleeping in a treehouse.Realtor.com
The home’s all-wood interior immediately evokes the feeling of a secluded mountain cabin, despite being just a short drive from downtown Peterborough.
Built in 1980 and last sold in 2013, the circular home blends rustic cabin coziness with all the modern comforts. The distinctive wooden yurt-style residence, which is listed with Lisa Stone of Keller Williams Realty, comes with roughly 1,200 square feet of living space designed to take full advantage of its natural surroundings.
Attached to the round yurt-style structure is a more traditionally-shaped addition that houses the property’s only bathroom—with an entryway serving as the connector between these two wings. Sliding glass doors provide instant access to the backyard from this area.
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But it is the yurt structure that really shines as the star of the show, with every inch of space utilized to create a true woodland escape that feels totally removed from the bustling town that exists just a few miles away.
At its center, a wood-burning stove anchors the open-concept floor plan, while a sunken living room creates an inviting gathering space beneath timber ceilings.
Directly above the sunken living room is the loft-style primary bedroom, which is accessed via a wooden ladder and features a large circular skylight, perfectly positioned for stargazing from bed.
The primary bedroom space also has multiple windows that open up to the lush surroundings and help to fill it with a blissful breeze, while built-in dressers and closets provide ample storage.
A second, smaller bedroom with an adorable reading nook is tucked just off the kitchen.
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A second, smaller bedroom with an adorable reading nook is tucked just off the kitchen.Realtor.com
A freestanding outbuilding provides additional flexibility as an artist’s studio or home office, making the property especially appealing to creatives seeking an inspired place to work.Realtor.com
“The acreage offers distinct spaces to explore and utilize. A short, scenic walk down a wooded path leads directly to Otter Brook running through the backyard woods,” the listing crows. Realtor.com
The open-plan kitchen takes up a large section of the rounded walls and comes complete with a sizable countertop for food preparation, plenty of built-in storage, and a small dining table situated under another skylight.
Another area perched above the sunken living room has been transformed into an office, while the area next to the wood-burning stove is currently being used as an additional seating area.
The idyllic nature retreat extends outdoors, where a brook meanders through the property and natural landscaping reinforces the feeling of being tucked away in a private woodland escape.
“The acreage offers distinct spaces to explore and utilize. A short, scenic walk down a wooded path leads directly to Otter Brook running through the backyard woods,” the listing crows.
A freestanding outbuilding provides additional flexibility as an artist’s studio or home office, making the property especially appealing to creatives seeking an inspired place to work.
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While it is currently being used as a residence, the listing notes that the property is rich with potential—whether a buyer is seeking out a “private homestead” or a lucrative rental, highlighting its convenient proximity to nearby Peterborough.
“With its eclectic design and distinct features, this property is an ideal setup for a standout short-term rental destination or a private homestead-all just minutes from downtown Peterborough,” the description notes. “Peterborough is known for its quaint down town full of shops and restaurants and for its arts and music events.”
And it seems the allure of the property was too hard to resist for one eager buyer—with the listing now showing that the home is already “pending” sale, meaning that an offer has been accepted, although the deal has not yet closed.
For the buyer looking for a weekend getaway, an artist’s retreat, or a full-time residence with unmistakable charm, the home’s rare combination of affordability and privacy makes it easy to see why it was scooped up almost as soon as it hit the market.
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Larissa Runkle is a seasoned real estate writer, lifestyle journalist, and marketing strategist with over a decade of experience and 2,000+ published articles. Her work covering housing, personal finance, and lifestyle has appeared in major publications like Bankrate, MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, and New York Post. In 2023, she launched a boutique copywriting studio to partner with land developers and top brokerages, creating strategic content that builds lasting brand authority. When she isn’t writing, Larissa enjoys the outdoors from her home in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, where she lives with her husband, son, and German shepherd, Yoko.
A driver was killed in a 3-vehicle crash on the Everett Turnpike in Nashua, N.H. that also sent a Massachusetts woman, another driver and several children to the hospital, New Hampshire State Police said.
Theresa Douville of Hooksett, N.H. was driving a 2020 Honda CRV around 4:30 p.m. when she allegedly failed to slow down for traffic stopped in the northbound lane, State Police said in a statement.
She crashed into an Infiniti QX 60 driven by Gyna Santana, 35, of Lawence, who had children in her car, the statement said.
Santana’s car then hit another Infiniti QX 60 driven by Madison Berube, 30, of Hooksett, who also had chldren in the car, State Police said.
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Douville, 69, was treated at the scene for serious injuries by emergency workers. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, the statement said.
Santana, Berube, and multiple children from both vehicles were taken to a local hospital to be evaluated as a precaution, police said.
Three lanes of northbound traffic were shut down for about an hour while troopers processed the scene.
The crash remains under investigation.
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Adam Sennott can be reached at adam.sennott@globe.com.
Have you ever wanted to meet the people who work every day to help keep your community safe? Now you and your family have the perfect opportunity!
One of my favorite things about living in New Hampshire is how the community genuinely makes the effort to know one another. Whether its neighbors lending a helping hand, local businesses supporting fundraisers, or first responders showing up for community events, there’s a real sense that we’re all in this together.
Events like Coffee with a Cop are a perfect example of that Granite State spirit!
Coffee with a Cop gives residents the chance to sit down with the dedicated men and women of the Bedford Police Department in a casual setting. Just real conversations over coffee and pastries.
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This is a wonderful opportunity for children to meet police officers outside of an emergency situation. Instead of only seeing officers during stressful moments or traffic stops, they get to laugh, ask questions, and learn about the people behind the badge.
As a newer mom, I don’t take for granted the people who work every day to protect the community my child is growing up in.
If you’re looking for a simple way to connect with your neighbors while supporting your local law enforcement, stop by Simply Delicious Bakery on Wednesday, July 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Grab a cold drink, enjoy a pastry, and spend a few minutes getting to know the people who work tirelessly to help keep Bedford a safe place to call home.
READ MORE: The Next Great Filmmaker Could Be Premiering Their Work Right Here In New Hampshire
I love highlighting stories like this because they remind us what makes New Hampshire special. It’s not just the beautiful scenery, it’s the people who continue to show up for one another.
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Gallery Credit: Megan Murphy
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Thank you to Lynne DeMelio-Rafferty for creating this.