Community Advocate
Benjamin Domaingue
Reporter
United States
Reporter with WestfordCAT. Former Staff Writer for the Concord Monitor.
University of New Hampshire '21 alumni
United States
Reporter with WestfordCAT. Former Staff Writer for the Concord Monitor.
University of New Hampshire '21 alumni
Community Advocate
"Whenever I'm traveling, my eyes are continuously looking," he said in a recent interview. "[I'm thinking] 'Oh this is good, let me take a photo.'" Qadri has photographed Marlborough for years, developing his personal photography into a passion project. His primary focus remains natural photography - with a strong preference for the Marlborough skyline and its unique sunsets.
Speaking to the Marlborough Rotary Club, the mayor discussed items ranging from Marlborough's COVID-19 response to upcoming budget requests. He reiterated priorities laid out last month in his inaugural address while touching on a handful of other topics. Vigeant optimistic on COVID-19 outlook "Everybody's been stepping up to the plate for us," Vigeant said.
MARLBOROUGH - Marlborough's police chief David Giorgi was lauded in communication from Mayor Arthur Vigeant to the City Council last week, earning praise as Vigeant requested approval of his reappointment as police chief. For Giorgi, this continues a chapter in a long career in law enforcement as the Marlborough Police Department tackles ongoing challenges in the community.
Bergeron was emotional as he announced his resignation to the Marlborough School Committee Jan. 11. He said his focus is creating a smooth transition for the next superintendent. "But I feel this is the best choice for me and my family," Bergeron said.
"Whenever I'm not in school doing work, I'm working with people to help others," she said in a recent interview. Mohanakrishan, a junior at the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science, recently won the Marlborough Lions Club Youth Speech Competition for the second year in a row.
Fears recently spread around rumors that the junior class was unable to fundraise enough to hold the event. "We're still planning on having a junior prom," MHS Principal Dan Riley told the Community Advocate on Monday, though. "I think the class officers were trying to communicate that they can't hold a private venue," he continued.
MARLBOROUGH - The sword of former mayor and civil war officer Henry Parsons was recently presented to Marlborough's current mayor, Arthur Vigeant, by representatives of the Marlborough Historical Society on Thursday. Parsons, who began his career as a private in the New York Volunteers in 1862, quickly rose to the rank of captain.
The discussion comes after Marlborough's previous officer opted to leave the city for another position with a higher wage, according to a memo sent to the City Council by Mayor Arthur Vigeant. Parking enforcement officers had previously been paid up to $18 an hour, the same rate as city crossing guards.
SOUTHBOROUGH - The Southborough Board of Health, which has recently voted to lift their broader municipal mask mandate, recommended this week that the Select Board lift the town's mandate for municipal buildings. In a unanimous decision on Tuesday, the Select Board voted to, indeed, rescind the mandate, which was enacted back in August of last year.
REGION - A regional emergency dispatch system is still in the works in the area. But it's still a long way away from coming to fruition. "There's a tremendous amount of preliminary work before public officials can make a decision about something like this," Hudson Fire Chief Bryan Johannes told the Community Advocate last week.
That decision is effective immediately. This came after a separate back on Jan. 18 that featured public comment about the option for a broader town-wide mask mandate. The board voted to shelve the decision until discussion Feb. 15 in a unanimous vote that night.
HUDSON - Hudson Public Schools educators recently provided an update on a now two year-old effort to evaluate and improve diversity in school curriculum. They spoke during a School Committee meeting on Jan. 25, discussing their findings and experiences related to this work.
The Northborough Community Affairs Committee welcomed dozens of families to make luminary bags on an unseasonably warm February evening. Attendees could fill these white bags with lights. "I'm very happy with the turnout," committee member Suzanne Cieslica told the Community Advocate.
NORTHBOROUGH - The Algonquin boys hockey team continued its tradition of wearing camouflage jerseys to honor the memory of Northborough's Brian Arsenault this week. They wore their alternate jerseys for their game against Groton Dunstable on Thursday, paying tribute to Arsenault while students also wore red, white and blue clothes.
Indeed, they're a tool to help solve real world problems. The Beastly Building Boys are a lego building team made up of eighth graders from Westborough and Southborough. They have participated in competitions together since 2019, completing challenges through the FIRST Lego League .
That's the result of a unanimous vote by the Board of Health on Tuesday to shelve the issue until Feb. 15. The delay, according to Board of Health chair Michael Delfino, is aimed at giving residents more time to submit comments on the matter. "We will review this at our February meeting," said Delfino.
Concord Monitor
As a kid growing up in Franklin, Kathy Fuller remembers skiing with her family at the small slope in Franklin after her father and other World War II veterans had cleared the trees and smoothed out the land.It was a place where families went to spend...
Pediatricians and other healthcare professionals say they are an essential line of defense in educating families and their children on the detrimental effects of climate change on a child's physical and emotional wellbeing, while remaining a non-partisan and objective practitioner with their patient's best interests in mind.
Belmont's historic Gale School, which was successfully relocated in July of last year, could begin its transformation into a new community center as early as next year if fundraising goals are met. After relocating the building, Lakes Region Community Developers, which had partnered with Save Our Gale School group, assumed responsibility for preserving and repurposing the school.
Millions of dollars will soon be available to plant more trees and improve the health of the White Mountain National Forest through funds available in the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. The REPLANT Act, which stands for Repairing Existing Public Lands by Adding Necessary Trees, was a standalone bill later included in the infrastructure bill that removes the cap on the Reforestation Trust Fund, previously $30 million, quadrupling U.S.
Deb Grove was so worried she will not be able to find a tree in her home state of Florida, she bought one in Concord to bring back home."I drove up for Thanksgiving and I'm driving back with a tree," Grove said this after purchasing an evergreen at...
As families begin to string up their holiday lights and ornaments, so too does the Bektash Shriners, with a twist. Each year, families, businesses and organizations alike decorate and donate their own unique Christmas tree with gifts, products and ornaments to represent their donors to be raffled off by the Shriners.
Growing up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Frank Dunia says he was born with a love for hair care that he has honed throughout his life."You're born with something," said Dunia, who sports a well-groomed beard and clean-shaved head. "You love...
As police chief in the small town of Thornton with 2,500 residents at the foot of the White Mountains, Kenneth Miller worked on partnerships. "My philosophy has always been building a strong community and police partnership," said Miller. "When we realized Thornton didn't have a lot of things to do, we started National Night Out."
Charlie Moulton, manager of Simply Birkenstock in downtown Concord, is in charge of making sure his store has an ample supply of international and small lot brands of shoes and apparel, like Kuhl clothing, Giesswein wool footwear and Bed Stu handmade...
Pitco Frialator's decision to consolidate its operations in Concord is an economic win for the city, but it also comes at the expense of neighboring towns Pembroke and Bow.Pitco occupied a 200,000 square-foot storage facility on Sheep Davis Road in...
On the brink of closing, Penacook's Living Hope Community Church saw a change in leadership and a renovation effort revitalize their aging building and their shrinking congregation. Jonathan Hutchins, Living Hope's new pastor, has spearheaded the renovation project to spruce up the historic building inside and out with colleagues from Indiana.
Meet Melina Caron, the city of Concord's first official trail ranger. The City of Concord recently adopted its Trail Master Plan, which identifies and prioritizes initiatives for more than 80 miles of public and privately-held trails in and around the city.
After nearly 18 months, Granite Restaurant and Bar is reopening its doors after taking a cautious approach to COVID-19. Unlike standalone eateries in Concord, Granite Restaurant is located in the Centennial Hotel, which suffered from a lack of travel and tourism during the pandemic that plagued the hospitality industry.
Former Bow Police Chief Margaret Lougee will face no charges for failing to document or investigate a reported sexual assault against a Bow teenager in 2016.
A senior project turned into a passion for Dillon Hicks, who has trained guide dogs since her final year at Bow High School in 2017. "I've loved dogs my entire life," said Hicks. "Usually people think of guide dogs as always working. They have so much...
The remaining five percent of University of New Hampshire faculty and staff who haven't gotten vaccinated - including student employees - will be required to do so by December 8 or risk losing their jobs. A federal vaccination mandate stipulates that...
A house on Clinton Street in Bow where profane political banners were hung as it was being constructed this summer is now for sale for $899,000.While it was being built, several town residents and commuters complained about the vulgar language on...
Four years ago, Pembroke Academy junior Grace Simmons lost her grandmother to breast cancer. On Sunday, she took an active role in stopping the disease."She was like my best friend," said Simmons. "She didn't call herself a survivor, she called...
Defying the odds, Pumpkin Blossom Farm in Warner received one of four USDA-backed grants for the state of New Hampshire. New Hampshire remains one of the lowest awarded states in the nation, receiving just four Value Added Producer Grants totaling only $564,230 out of over $76 million in available aid, according to data provided by the USDA.
When Laura Jones was developing a plan to open a natural healthcare store in an old ice cream shop in Concord, COVID-19 was never part of her calculations.Just months after opening her new business on Broadway Street, a global pandemic struck...
Last weekend, more than 1,000 protesters swarmed city streets around the State House calling for medical freedom and an end to any federal vaccine mandate. Main Street was clogged for a time and someone reported a man armed with an assault rifle.No...
Sled dog racing evokes images of canines and their caretakers charging through frozen trees across harsh winter climates. Yet, because of changing New England winters and a frequent lack of snow on the ground, the sport has been forced to adapt in...
At the entrance of the Merrimack Station power plant, protestors stood in defiance of local and state police wearing helmets and body armor as they called to shut down the last remaining coal power plant in New England.Merrimack Station in Bow, which...
Amid the smell of disinfectants and the glow of fluorescent hallways, hospitals rarely provide a natural escape for their patients. A resurgence in the therapeutic benefits of nature has made hospitals reconsider some of their unused space. Concord Hospital recently unveiled plans for a new rooftop meditation garden for its staff and patients.
After years of work on the other three, the last of the cabins around Kimball Pond in Hopkinton is getting its turn.Volunteers have been working since 2014 to repair the town-owned cabins by replacing rotten boards and logs, fixing the roofs and...
Maher Abbas, owner and operator of Wow Fried Chicken and Subs, is looking to expand Concord's downtown experience, planning to open a new arcade for the general public.Abbas, a small business owner, has operated his restaurant for nearly seven years...
The large signs outside of the construction site on Route 13 in Bow have varied in size and message depending on the day and number of subcontractors working on the new single-family home.It started with a red white and blue banner hanging from a...
Longtime Concord eatery, In a Pinch Cafe on Pleasant Street, is looking for a new owner.Sandy Chen, who purchased the business in 2012, is getting ready to retire with her husband and eventually visit her mother more in Taiwan."Usually I take two...
Richard Ellison was nowhere near the house on North State Street 16 years ago in early December where a fire killed 84-year-old Robert McMillan, Ellison's defense attorney argued in the closing arguments of his murder trial."Rick Ellison did not go to...
As the world focuses on the Taliban's actions in Afghanistan, Bow resident and activist Samrawit Silva wants to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis and informational blackout in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Silva was born there and left when she was six years old.
Concord City Councilor and former Verizon Vice President of Government and Public Affairs Erle Pierce has begun a three-year term as a New Hampshire Lottery Commissioner. Pierce was nominated by Gov. Chris Sununu and confirmed by the Executive Council last month.
A paved walkway following the path of United Airlines Flight 93 in a quiet park in Southern New Hampshire leads visitors to a steel beam that was part of the World Trade Center. Hudson is one of four towns in the Granite State to display pieces of the...
Mountain lions remain an enigmatic animal for residents of New Hampshire, with New Hampshire Fish and Game reporting three to five sightings per week."Of those three to five reports, one or two come with photos," according to Patrick Tate, a wildlife...
The New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire (UNH) Assistant Professor Craig Chapman has recently come under scrutiny for allegedly posing as a woman of color on Twitter under the name "The Science Femme" with the handle "piney_the." Chapman is an assistant professor within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) at UNH, where he teaches chemistry.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the University of New Hampshire's (UNH) Durham campus manages to look as beautiful as ever. Even with the enhanced cleaning protocols due to COVID-19, UNH's Resident Housekeeping Supervisor Annette Vachon keeps a smile on her face under the increased workload.
In an email following up with RAs, Director of Residential Life Ruth Abelmann rejected potential hazard pay for resident assistants. University of New Hampshire (UNH) resident assistants (RAs) and the Department of Residential Life recently met to discuss additional compensation for RAs due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
University of New Hampshire (UNH) Resident Assistants (RAs) are requesting hazard pay from the university through a petition that has circulated among the student body. The petition, which has amassed nearly 480 signatures at the time of writing, notes concerns of the increased workload for RAs when UNH transitioned to its orange mode of operation.
The University of New Hampshire (UNH) has reported its first coronavirus (COVID-19) cluster on its Durham Campus. A COVID-19 cluster is a single location with three or more confirmed cases. Eleven positive cases of COVID-19 were discovered as a result of a Saturday, Aug. 29 party at the university-affiliated Theta Chi fraternity.
Gov. Chris Sununu announced a $4 million investment into the University System of New Hampshire's (UNH) COVID-19 testing infrastructure. "We are grateful to the governor's office and our congressional delegation for their support of this work with funding from GOFERR (Governor's Office for Emergency Relief & Recovery) and the CARES Act," said Marian McCord, senior vice provost for research, economic engagement and outreach, and co-chair of the UNH Testing and Tracing Committee in a press...
At 7:05 p.m. on March 18, President James W. Dean Jr. informed the University of New Hampshire (UNH) student body that all in-person classes will be cancelled for the remainder of the spring semester due to COVID-19.
University of New Hampshire (UNH) President James W. Dean, Jr., along with the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) Board of Trustees, announced on May 8 that it will reopen UNH's campus for the fall semester of 2020 amid the uncertainty of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
On Thursday, July 21, Vice Provost of Academic Affairs Wayne E. Jones Jr. held a town hall with University of New Hampshire (UNH) students and parents on the Student Confirmed Consent Agreement (SICA), and UNH's reopening plan, which received over 915 questions from the student body.
Throughout the community of the University of New Hampshire (UNH), a letter has circulated from over 200 members of faculty and staff frustrated and concerned over the university's lack of communication regarding the reopening plan. The signatories included Molly Campbell, the president of UNH Lecturers United, the subsidiary of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), the union that represents university faculty and staff.
Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) made her University of New Hampshire (UNH) debut in the Granite State Room at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday to great fanfare. Each seat in Granite State Room was filled, with the audience surrounding its perimeter.
Late Wednesday night, University of New Hampshire (UNH) President James Dean announced via email to the student body that the university would continue classes as scheduled after spring break, despite discussion about potentially curtailing operations or moving classes online due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The University of New Hampshire (UNH) hosted two closed vaccination points of dispensing (PODs) for eligible students, faculty and staff. Eligible members of the community included full-time New Hampshire residents. Out-of-state college students were not eligible at the time of the clinics, but it has since been announced by Gov.
On Friday, May 8, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Wayne Jones Jr. released a statement from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) outlining the impending CARES Act disbursement from the federal government to students. The CARES Act, or the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, provided $2 trillion to affected individuals, industries, and higher education institutions.
In an email to students, the University of New Hampshire's Global Education Center announced their decision to cancel all fall 2020 study abroad programs in accordance with their International Travel Risk Policy. "It is with sadness and disappointment that UNH is announcing the cancellation of all student international travel programs and experiences for the Fall 2020 semester in accordance with our International Travel Risk Policy.