Manchester, N.H – The City of Manchester will soon begin a two-month Late Fee Forgiveness Program, designed to offer individuals with overdue parking tickets a reprieve from late fees and vehicle boots.

“We want to give people a chance to pay the parking tickets they’ve received without having to pay the late fees incurred or risk having their car booted due to languishing parking tickets,” said Brandy Stanley, parking manager for the City.

The Late Fee Forgiveness Program begins Thursday, May 15, 2008 and runs through Tuesday, July 15, 2008. All registered vehicle owners with outstanding tickets have been mailed notices about the program, during which all late fees will be waived and the City will not boot any vehicles. The program applies to parking tickets issued before May 1, 2008.

Customers may now pay parking tickets online using a Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover credit card at www.ManchesterNH.gov/parking. The newly-launched free online payment system is convenient and easy to use.

Following the Late Fee Forgiveness Program, the penalties for unpaid parking tickets will return and in some cases, increase. After July 15, 2008, all late fees will be reinstated, the boot fee will jump from $50 to $100 and more resources will be devoted to locating and applying boots, including during overnights and the weekends. In addition, tickets more than 12 months old will be referred to collections and reported to credit bureaus. The City will also adhere to RSA 231:130-a, a law prohibiting registration of any vehicle that has outstanding parking tickets, and will send a list of those with unpaid tickets to local towns that have adopted the RSA.

“We strongly encourage people to take advantage of this program,” said Stanley. “Parkers with tickets or those who simply suspect they may have tickets should follow up and take advantage of the cost savings associated with late fee forgiveness.”

For more information about the program, call the Ordinance Violations Bureau at 603.624.6546 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Concord, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announces a change in District Office locations for Londonderry residents. Effective June 1, 2008 Salem District Office (DO) Family Service Specialists (FSS) and the New Hampshire Employment Program (NHEP) Team Members will begin processing all cases with a Londonderry address in Salem, instead of at the Manchester District Office.

For Londonderry residents served by DHHS this will mean a change in where you send your redetermination forms, report changes, send proof of changes, and go to or call when you need to talk about your case. You will also be assigned a new FSS. However, your benefits or eligibility for assistance will not change, and you will not need to fill out paperwork or get new cards for medical assistance, food stamps or cash assistance because of the new location.

The transfer of Londonderry from Manchester to Salem will help staff to better meet the needs of all DHHS clients by providing a more equitable distribution of resources. It will align caseloads at the Manchester DO with caseloads in the other DO's  throughout the State. Manchester has been serving about 40 - 50 more cases per worker than any other DO. This change will reduce Manchester's caseload to about 423 per worker, while increasing Salem's caseload to about 400 per worker. The change should cause minimal disruption to clients, as the distance from Londonderry to the Manchester or Salem offices is approximately the same, 13 miles.

Anyone with questions about these changes can call 1-800-852-3345 ext. 4238.

Since announcing his candidacy for Congress on March 17^th, to represent the state’s 1^st Congressional District, Dr. Peter Bearse has already completed two tours to meet people in the northern sections of the district and is about to do a 3^rd. Towns previously visited include Laconia, Gilford, Weirs Beach, Alton, Meredith, Center Harbor, Moultonboro, Tuftenboro and Wolfeboro. On Sunday, May 11^th, Bearse will visit the most northern towns in the district, including Sandwich, South Tamworth, Tamworth, Whittier, Silver Lake, Conway, West Ossipee and Freedom.

Though from the Southern end of the district, Bearse’s enthusiasm increases as he talks about the towns and encounters that he has already experienced in the “North Country.”:

“The small towns reinforce why I moved to New Hampshire from Massachusetts. I love them all. They represent the best of New Hampshire values, populated by people who work hard with both their hands and their heads, who are resourceful and self-reliant, upholding the values of family and community life. Yet, every one is distinctive.

There’s Meredith with a little diner where, unlike many down South, the friendly, hospitable owner doesn’t mind if a candidate drops in to talk with her customers.

There’s Moultonboro with a fine garden center. Notwithstanding intensive efforts to prepare for Palm Sunday, Easter and Spring plantings, the owner took time to talk about his concerns and didn’t mind my shaking hands with his equally busy staff. Thanks to them all.”

“I heard many laments reflecting economic problems in the North Country – loss of jobs, lack of work, plants closing, decline in business – but my experience as an economist helping solve such problems enabled me to provide some hope. Such problems can be solved by adding local leadership and community collaboration to the same qualities they bring to their own occupations. Look, for example, to what Littleton has achieved in a community farther north.

Wolfeboro provided another example – of a town that urgently needs to renovate its handsome old Town Hall. Bearse had been involved with local government in Merrimac, MA, which provides a good example of how to renovate a similar, historically significant building to better house town government. In talking with the Town Clerk, Bearse observed that: “A new U.S. Rep. can help by fighting to bring money out of Washington back home, where it can add to the blend of local initiative to help people make a difference in their own communities.

“The norther I go, the better I feel,” concludes Bearse, “so I’m looking forward to my 3^rd tour. It won’t be my last by a long shot.”

Released by Supporters of Peter Bearse for Congress, May 10, 2008

MANCHESTER (May 9, 2008) – Today, Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta formed a study committee to examine the city’s sexual predator ordinances in order to strengthen the laws that protect residents. This is in response to previous efforts by citizens to get such laws passed in Manchester.

“As is obvious by the response to the news that a convicted murderer and registered sex offender has moved into an apartment near schools and parks, it is time that the city seriously review its laws to see if we are doing all that we can,” Guinta said. “While I am convinced that the Manchester Police Department and is doing a great job communicating to the public about this individual, we seriously need to investigate how we can make these laws more stringent.”

The committee will consist of five members, three of which have been named today. Former state representative Leo Pepino, deputy director of the Manchester Health Department Anna Thomas, and Sgt. Scott Fuller of the Manchester Police Department have been selected to serve on this committee. Two more names will be announced early next week. The committee will meet within the next two weeks and hopes to have a recommendation by the end of August.

Manchester, NH – The City of Manchester VISTA Project will join the second nationwide celebration of AmeriCorps Week, May 11-18, spotlighting the imperative work done by AmeriCorps members in communities across NH since the national service program began 15 years ago.

“The City of Manchester should be proud to be part of AmeriCorps*VISTA and grateful for the VISTA members who are working hard on developing programs that directly impact our community,” said Sarah Normand, Director of the City of Manchester VISTA Project. “AmeriCorps*VISTA members have made a traumatic impact in our neighborhoods by recruiting volunteers, securing grants and organizing training programs for the residents of Manchester.

Since 1994, more than 540,000 men and women have joined AmeriCorps, and they have given more than 705 million hours of service to their country.

The City of Manchester VISTA Project will be focusing efforts on the Rails to Trails Project. VISTA members and volunteers will concentrate on removing garbage from the trails and plant shrubs and flowers to make it aesthetically pleasing for residents who live alongside Hannaford Supermarket on Hanover Street.

AmeriCorps members typically remain actively engaged in their communities once their service is complete. They not only serve in a volunteer capacity, but they also run nonprofits, marshal resources, and many pursue public service careers.

If you or your organization is interested in participating please contact Sarah Normand, City of Manchester Project Director at 603-665-6646.