The Buzz Online

This Week's The Buzz Online Spotlight  

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The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation in Calif. donated $2.25 million to the NH Charitable Foundation in Concord to support a program that is proven to reduce substance abuse among youth and youth adults.

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The board of the directors of the North Country Council selected Christine Frost to head the agency, which is the regional planning commission and federally-designated economic development district for the region.   Frost previously worked for the North Country Council, hired in 2001 as a planner in charge of economic development and grant writing. She left in 2007 to become director of the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission in Lebanon. Benoit Lamontagne, chair of the board for North Country Council, said he is pleased with the selection of Frost and looks forward to the agency heading into a new direction.

Frost, who grew up in St. Johnsbury, Vt., said she has a "great love" for the rural area of New Hampshire and Vermont. "I'm really looking forward to the unique challenges of the North Country and hope to bring the same organizational strength to the North Country Council as I have to the UVLSRP," she said. Her accomplishments in the Upper Valley include strengthening ties with member communities, securing funding for projects and increasing planning staff to serve the region. Frost is a board member of the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority, the National Association of Development Organizations and the Endowment for Health. She will begin her new position on March 3.

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Sarah Holmes, current special assistant for policy projects for U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, was selected by Shaheen to take over as acting NH state director.

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Citizens Bank in Manchester and the NH Union Leader in Manchester named the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley in Milford as a 2014 Champion in Action for its youth programming. Citizens Bank also donated $10,000 to the Music Hall in Portsmouth to support its Writers in the Loft series.

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Piscataqua Savings Bank in Portsmouth hired Laura Prescott as vice president and trust officer.

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Wright-Pierce in Manchester and Portsmouth was selected by PSMJ Resources, Inc. in Mass. as a Circle of Excellence, 2013 Platinum Award recipient. Wright-Pierce was one of six firms in North America to receive this award. 

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Margaret-Ann Moran, partner at Upton & Hatfield in Concord, was sworn in as a circuit court judge.

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The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America in Virginia selected Tom Minkler, president of Clark-Mortenson Insurance in Keene, as chairman.

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Jewett Construction Company, Inc. in Raymond partnered with Southern District YMCA in Kingston to build a new YMCA in Exeter.

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ART in N.C. and the Dallas Market Center in Texas presented Company C in Concord with the ARTS Award for Area Rugs at its 25th annual gala.

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Boldwerks in Portsmouth hired J.L. Stevens, former co-producer for Spotlight in the Arts at Portsmouth's Public Meetinghouse TV in Portsmouth, as director of social and new media.

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Devine Millimet in Manchester selected Angela Martin to be chair of its corporate department. Martin will also continue her role as co-chair of the small business team at Divine Millimet.

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Nanocomp Technologies in Merrimack was awarded an $18.5 million Defense Department grant to produce items essential for national defense.