Also on today’s menu:
Bradley Elected Senate President
Celebrity Wins Out Over Threats To Americans
Santa’s Village Returns This Weekend
Governor Chris Sununu and Charlie Arlinghaus, commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services, were dismissive of the concerns raised by Laconia officials after learning details of the planned contract for redevelopment of the former Laconia State School property. The city sent a letter seeking assurances that the project would be completed after learning that developer Robynne Alexander, who has formed Legacy Laconia, LLC, to oversee the $21.5 million redevelopment, has a number of unfinished ventures, including one that is three years behind schedule and the subject of a lawsuit.
“Why are we getting a letter like this literally the morning of the vote, knowing that this huge transaction has literally been in the works for 10 years?” Sununu asked. Arlinghaus blamed pandemic disruptions and the economic aftershocks for delays in Alexander’s Manchester project. “That project is behind three years. The state has a lot of projects that are further behind than that,” he said. “So we just aren’t concerned about that piece of it.” As for the lawsuit, Arlinghaus pointed out that suits are not uncommon in development projects.
District 1 Executive Councilor Joe Kenney, who represents Laconia, suggested that the city’s objections could be “a stalling factor,” but District 2 Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington, whose district includes Belmont, Gilmanton, and Northfield, pointed out that the city had only recently seen the purchase-and-sale agreement and had become aware of the developer’s poor track record. Saying she is excited about the development proposal, she moved to table the measure until the next meeting to give everyone time to consider the concerns. The motion passed, so the council will consider it at its next meeting, on December 21. The council must complete all of its business for this 2020-2022 session at that meeting, and tabled items must be acted upon or dropped.
Bradley Elected Senate President
Senator Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) received unanimous support on December 7 to serve as the state’s senate president. Republican Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) nominated Bradley, and Democrat Senator Donna Soucy (D-Manchester) seconded his nomination.
Bradley has served in the New Hampshire Senate since 2009 and was majority leader in the 2011-2018 and 2021-2022 legislative sessions.
Governor Chris Sununu, in a news release after the vote, said, “Jeb Bradley is a leader and one of New Hampshire’s most effective legislators. I look forward to working with Senate President Bradley over the next two years so we can continue the progress we have made over the last six years.”
Celebrity Wins Out Over Threats To Americans
The Biden Administration has agreed to turn over a notorious Russian arms dealer known as the “Merchant of Death” in exchange for Brittney Griner, an American basketball star who was serving a nine-year prison sentence for possession of cannabis oil. Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February and last month was sent to a Russian penal colony. The arms dealer, Viktor Bout, was being held at a federal prison in Marion, Illinois, after being arrested by the Drug Enforcement Agency in Thailand in 2008 and being convicted of conspiring to kill Americans. He began his 25-year sentence a decade ago.
The Griner-for-Bout exchange leaves retired U.S. Marine Paul Whelan imprisoned in Russia. Whelan has been in Russian custody for nearly four years after being convicted on espionage charges that the U.S. has called false. “We've not forgotten about Paul Whelan,” President Joe Biden said, adding, “we will never give up” on securing his release.
Talks to secure Griner’s release were complicated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the deal may have been part of the Biden Administration’s efforts to get Russia to the negotiating table. However, on December 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the war in Ukraine was a “long process” and he gave no indication that he was willing to seek a negotiated end to the war.
Santa’s Village Returns This Weekend
The Tapply-Thompson Community Center will hold its 67th annual Santa’s Village and Craft Fair on Friday, December 9, from 6 to 8 p.m., and on Saturday, December 10, and Sunday, December 11, from 2 to 5 p.m.
For a donation of canned food, visitors will have an opportunity to see Santa’s elves working on toys and wrapping presents, enjoy one of Mrs. Claus’ cookies, and watch the North Pole train tracks while waiting to see Santa Claus and receive a commemorative Christmas ornament. (See the Liberty Independent Media Project video of the 60th Santa’s Village.)
Also this weekend, there will be a free Breakfast With Santa at the Masonic Lodge on Saturday, December 10, from 8 to 10 a.m.
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Oh, the video clip is great!