The Buzz Online

In the Spotlight: Plan NH in Portsmouth presented its annual Merit Award for planning, design and development projects that embody Smart Growth principles, social responsibility and outstanding cooperation or collaboration. Award winners included Gilford Village Knolls III, Lakes Region Community Developers; Concord City-Wide Community Center and Concord Complete Streets City of Concord; and Bradley Commons, Dover,  The Housing Partnership.

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Nathan Wechsler & Company, PA has added Callie Chase, Jordan Forsyth, Cassidy Huckins, and Brady Wentworth to their professional team. All four new team members join the firm as associates to perform a variety of work for clients, including accounting, auditing, compliance, financial statement preparation, tax return preparation, and special projects.

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Newburyport Bankdonated $5,000 to the American Independence Museum for the 29th Annual American Independence Festival. The event took place earlier in July at the Ladd-Gilman House and Folsom Tavern.

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James Prieto, director of real estate at Granite Commercial Real Estate in Nashua, was recently appointed as the NH Government Relations chair of the International Council of Shopping Centers. Prieto, who specializes in commercial real estate, will advocate on issues critical to the retail and shopping center industry at the national, state and local levels.

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Pierce Atwood, which has offices in Portsmouth and around New England, received a “Band 1” ranking, the highest available, for its Trusts & Estates Practice Group in Maine from the Private Wealth Law by Chambers and Partners, a  London-based publisher of guides to the legal profession.

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Franklin Savings Bank awarded more than $17,900 in scholarships to 17 seniors from six area high schools including: Franklin High School, Gilford High School, Merrimack High School, Merrimack Valley High School, Newfound Regional High School, and Winnisquam Regional High School.

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Merchants Fleetreceived two recognitions for its workplace culture. The company was certified with Great Place to Work for the fourth consecutive year, and named among “Chicago’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” for the first time. Great Place to Work is a global analytics and consulting firm, and its certification confirms at least seven out of 10 employees have a consistently positive experience at their company. Merchants Fleet exceeded this benchmark with 92 percent of employees ranking it as a great place to work.

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Colliers International Group Inc. honored David F. Choate, III, who works in the Portsmouth office. He was inducted to the Everest Club for the fourth year. The Everest Club recognizes the top 10 percent of all Colliers professionals in brokerage, valuation, and corporate solutions in the U.S. based on revenue production. Choate was also recognized by the Colliers New Hampshire office as its Top Producer for 2018.           

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Great NH Restaurants in Bedford donated $25,000 to the Children’s Scholarship Fund NH from their Copper Door locations in Bedford and Salem. The funding supports scholarships for local NH children grades K through 12. Forty-nine schools are part of the program and the average school scholarship was $2,402.     

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Pong Robotics in Nashua was nominated by the New England Innovation Society for a 2019 Innovation Award in the wellness category. The 25 finalists will demonstrate their ideas at the New England Innovation Showcase.

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Five Rivers Conservation Trust and the Hopkinton Conservation Commission collaborated to permanently protect a 55-acre farm field in the center of Contoocook Village from future development. The Houston family owns the field, located behind Dimitri’s restaurant and Colonial Plaza, as part of its Pine Lane Farm. The family has a long history of farming in Contoocook.

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The NH Liquor Commission named Nicole Brassard Jordan, a liquor commission employee of more than 30 years, deputy commissioner. Jordan, who was confirmed by the NH Executive Council in June, previously served as NHLC division director of marketing, sales, merchandising and distribution for almost four years.