Some are necessary and we can’t switch them off Others help us to provide you with the best possible service We use cookies to personalise content and ads to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic We also share anonymous information about your use of our site with our social media By accepting cookies you will be helping us to continue to provide you with the best possible service OEM worked with ForgeFX to develop laser screed training simulator The flagship in Somero’s concrete finishing machine lineup has a 20-ft 360-degree machine rotation and laser-guided controls The company said its S-22EZ Advanced Laser Screed is popular on large-scale flooring projects such as during the construction of warehouses because it can spread level and vibrate concrete in a single pass The machine helps crews finish thousands of square feet of concrete every day Mastering such a sophisticated piece of equipment can be a daunting task for a new operator and that situation is made worse by the ongoing labor shortage in construction and other trades According to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) last year 79% of construction firms reported difficulty in finding skilled workers which impacted project timelines and cost – and prevented them from bidding on jobs one of the biggest risks for our customers is finding someone willing to show up every day learn the craft and do the job at a high skill level,” said Dave Raasakka Concrete leveling depends on skill and craftsmanship “There is a lot happening on a typical jobsite when an S22 is being used,” said Raasakka “You’ve got the machine itself plus concrete mixers lined up full of product and you have people working on the floor To address some of the challenges its customers were facing Somero worked with San Francisco-based ForgeFX Simulations to develop the S-22EZ Advanced Laser Screed Virtual Training Simulator which allows end users to learn the machine risk-free The OEM met the ForgeFX team at a World of Concrete show several years ago Visitors to Somero’s booth during the 2024 event saw an early version of the results of that meeting Somero and ForgeFX introduced the finished product and called it a “paradigm shift” in operator training “Traditional training methods rely on learning in real-world scenarios time consuming and hazardous,” said Greg Meyers “This simulator transforms the training process by offering a risk-free environment where operators can refine their skills gain confidence and master the intricacies of concrete leveling improving training efficiency and prioritizing safety this tool delivers significant value to both trainees and the industry as a whole.” Somero said trainees develop critical skills and muscle memory while minimizing expensive mistakes and eliminating the cost of fuel and material they can use the simulator to practice avoiding over-pours making quick adjustments under tight time constraints and handling the equipment – even how to back the machine off the trailer ForgeFX’s team converted Somero’s CAD files for the screed into the simulator creating high-fidelity models that operate smoothly in its simulation engine Trainees begin with pre-start inspections and cockpit familiarization then progress to complex tasks such as screed head calibration and laser system setup visual overlays and voice prompts guide trainees through the steps Designed for use on the commercially available Meta Quest VR headset the simulator leverages Meta’s hand-tracking capability to ensure screeding operations and boom adjustments mirror real-world dynamics “Back when we started developing simulators if I wanted an immersive simulator that had hand tracking and positional tracking and all the features that this system has we would have had to build a dome the size of a room and equip it with a lot of projectors,” said Meyers “Now we can get all of that in a $300 device you can buy at Best Buy so if Dave [Raasakka] needs to ship a simulator The simulator software is based on Unity XR tools and the ForgeSIM simulation engine to enable realistic physics equipment modeling and dynamic feedback systems Long the platform creator of choice for video game developers Unity recently announced that Toyota Motor Co selected it to develop the graphical user interface for its next-generation in-car human machine interface (HMI) “We use simulation-based training tools to combine the knowledge from Dave’s team and his subject matter experts to incorporate them into our simulator,” said Meyer “Being in the business of developing simulators for 20 years we have a lot of code that we can reuse across all of our customers Then we harness the Unity Interaction Toolkit [XRITK] which is basically a set of component-based tools What this allows us to do is create a digital replica of Somero equipment and also create virtual concrete that has the right viscosity.” Additional features of Somero’s training simulator include multi-user support and cloud-based performance tracking Operators can run the simulator on their own in unguided/guided mode or in a trainer-led virtual environment Somero can use it to train operators in Boston and Barcelona on the same day without leaving the office Real-time feedback helps users understand the impact of their actions such as extending the boom more than halfway without deploying stabilizers Raasakka said the virtual training simulator will also be a valuable tool for Somero’s own employees “We’re using the simulator to help build familiarity and reinforce terminology so when customers call us for help then we’re all talking the same language That’s very helpful just from a communication standpoint and they travel all over the world to take care of our customers If you start as a junior level technician or a trainer The simulator will be used at the Somero Concrete Institute in Fort Myers and will be sold worldwide through Somero for end-users and vocational programs This article originally appeared in the March 2025 issue of Power Progress You’ve reached your limit of premium article views this month Become a Plus Member today and gain further access to the content The trusted reference and buyer’s guide for 83 years The original “desktop search engine,” guiding nearly 10,000 users in more than 90 countries it is the primary reference for specifications and details on all the components that go into engine systems Unique marketing services that create demand for your products locally Marketing Services Download Media Kits and receive alerts when they’re in the news Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists Proactive news team spans the world’s key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London We are experts in medium and small-cap markets we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies commodities and broader investment stories This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation Shares in Somero Enterprises, Inc. (AIM:SOM) tumbled 14% in the first hour of trading on Thursday after the concrete levelling equipment maker warned of a softer year ahead citing delayed project starts in the US and heightened global uncertainty Despite healthy backlogs and strong demand from industrial sectors like data centres and EV plants the Florida-based firm said first-quarter trading came in weaker than expected Elevated interest rates and mixed signals on trade and immigration policy have prompted customers to defer capital spending though customer-facing and strategic growth teams remain untouched The company is also tightening discretionary spending to protect margins With conditions unlikely to improve near term Somero now expects 2025 revenue of $105 million down from earlier market expectations of $113.6 million Forecast EBITDA has been trimmed to $24 million The company expects to end the year with $28 million in cash but still signalling balance sheet resilience Sign up to receive alerts and news direct to your inbox Autonomix Medical CEO Brad Hauser joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce a significant milestone in the company’s development of breakthrough neuro-modulation technology The company has released a compelling new video testimonial from a patient who participated in the initial phase of.. Proactive Investors Limited, trading as “Proactiveinvestors United Kingdom” is registered in England with the Company Registration number 05639690. Group VAT registration number 872070825. You can contact us here Market Indices, Commodities and Regulatory News Headlines copyright © Morningstar. Data delayed 15 minutes unless otherwise indicated. Terms of use Monday - Friday 9am-12pm / 2pm-6pm GMT + 1 All financial news and data tailored to specific country editions This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page She graduated from Ely Memorial High School and Ely Junior College where she initially worked as a homemaker until their children were older Marilyn was highly involved in her community participating in organizations such as P.E.O. Hospital Auxiliary and the Red Hat Society She was known for her volunteer work and dedication chaperoning and organizing events for Girl Scouts A devoted member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church she contributed significantly to church life through her involvement with the Ruth Circle She and Bill were also recognized for their culinary contributions to countless fundraising dinners Marilyn took great pride in her Finnish heritage She was a lifelong Girl Scout who attended the very first Girl Scout Round Up in 1956 She was known as a sharp dresser who never went anywhere without her lipstick especially trips to visit her grandchildren She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents The Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12 Noon on Saturday 2024 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Virgina A gathering time for family and friends will begin one hour prior to the service at the church the family prefers donations to Gethsemane Lutheran Church Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church901 4th Street South, Virginia MN 55792Tel: 1-218-741-4961Web: https://gelc.info/ Virginia Community FoudationP.O. Box 559, Virginia MN 55792Tel: 1-218-749-8239Email: director@virginiafoundation.comWeb: https://www.virginiafoundation.com/why-give/give-now/ Essentia - Virginia Hospital Auxillary901 9th Street North, Virginia MN 55792Tel: 1-218-741-3340Web: https://www.essentiahealth.org/foundation/our-family-of-foundations/virginia/ a resident patient of Canal View–Houghton County and former resident of Atlantic Mine and Oskar went home to be with our Lord on August 30 He was the son of William (Bill) and Ellen (Ojala) Korpi Larry Graduated from North Middlesex High School in 1961 He worked during his school years at his father’s car dealership but soon after High School he followed his passion in the construction industry and worked for years with Seppala and Aho Construction Larry built many beautiful homes for his own family and others as well as remodeling homes He became a skilled mason who’s work with stone and brick fireplaces were admired by many in homes and restaurants in the Upper Peninsula Larry continued to work in construction; building homes and taught many his masonry skills He started his own business of selling woodstoves in the Copper Country during the winters when construction work slowed down He loved to stay busy with various construction projects and working in his incredible vegetable garden and greenhouse Larry enjoyed his work and did not retire until he was 74 years old due to health complications Larry was proceeded in death by his Loving wife 22 Grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren He loved his grandchildren and enjoyed joking telling stories and teaching them how to garden and fish He was a friend to many and enjoyed visiting family and spending days at the beach discussing politics and sharing his faith in Jesus and brought a lot of laughter to conversations with friends The knowledge of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ was most important to Larry and something he shared with his family and friends often Larry will be dearly missed by his family and friends yet the knowledge and wisdom he shared will live on in his writings and memories of conversations with him a private funeral service will be held in September The family extends a heartfelt Thank You to the incredible and kind staff at Canal View who took such wonderful care of our Dad the family suggests memorial contributions be given to Zion Lutheran Church To view Larry’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchapel.net The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel has been assisiting the family with the arrangements Copyright © 2025 Ogden News Publishing of Michigan Profits down on tougher US building conditions  Dividends of 13ȼ plus buyback programme announced Rationing isn’t often an issue in the US, but Somero Enterprises (SOM) had to cut its 2024 guidance off the back of cement shortages just months into the year. The company, which specialises in concrete floor levelling devices called screeds, has now reported lower sales and profits for 2024 because of these tougher trading conditions.  Somero’s adjusted cash profit fell almost a quarter to $27.7mn (£21.4mn), continuing a decline since its peak from 2021, when the warehouse boom was on. The company said the non-residential market in the US remained healthy, but demand had dropped in the first half of 2024 because of customers “not operating at full capacity due to project start delays and pauses caused by elevated interest rates, labour shortages and concrete rationing”.  this innovative training tool offers a fully immersive scalable solution for the construction industry The S-22EZ Advanced Laser Screed Virtual Training Simulator delivers a fully realized training suite for Somero's flagship S-22EZ Advanced Laser Screed. The S-22EZ includes a 20-foot telescoping boom, 360-degree machine rotation, and advanced laser-guided controls for unparalleled precision. The machine's ability to spread, level, and vibrate concrete in a single pass makes it indispensable for large-scale flooring projects, but mastering such a sophisticated piece of equipment can be daunting. "This simulator is not just a tool for training, it's a transformative step forward for the construction industry," said Greg Meyers, CEO and co-founder of ForgeFX Simulations. "By dismantling traditional barriers to skill development, we are pioneering a new era of operator training, ensuring professionals are equipped to lead and excel in an ever-evolving industry." Concrete placement is a high-stakes process where errors lead to costly rework and waste. The S-22EZ Virtual Training Simulator lets trainees learn by doing - risk-free. Before working with perishable materials like concrete, operators can practice navigating jobsite challenges, such as avoiding over-pours, handling equipment and making quick adjustments under tight time constraints. "In today's labor market, one of the biggest risks for our customers is finding someone willing to show up every day, learn the craft, and do the job at a high skill level," Raasakka explained. "The simulator helps tackle that head-on by building familiarity with the machine and teaching operators the critical terminology and processes before they ever step onto a jobsite." "It takes years to train someone to become an expert who can fly halfway around the world to train a customer," added Raasakka. "With this simulator, we've created a way to deliver high-quality, consistent training without those limitations. It's about learning by doing, showing, and example - while reducing costs through sustainable practices and increasing accessibility for everyone." The immersive VR environment ensures trainees can make mistakes and learn without jeopardizing project timelines or incurring additional costs. Real-time feedback helps users understand the impact of their actions, whether it's adjusting the screed head angle, managing boom speed, or perfecting their screeding technique. Warnings alert operators for unsafe actions, such as extending the boom more than halfway without deploying stabilizers which could cause the machine to tip. Additional warnings alert users to potential collisions such as approaching obstacles and protrusions. This safety-focused training reduces workplace accidents and enhances jobsite efficiency. The simulator reflects Somero's commitment to responsible practices by lowering emissions and logistical expenses associated with traditional training such as reduced travel and consumption of resources like fuel, oil, and concrete. Accelerated onboarding and consistency are also advantages - whether a trainee is in the U.S., Europe, or Asia, they receive the same high-quality instruction. For contractors, the benefits of hiring operators trained on the simulator include reduced downtime and proficiency from day one. Projects are completed faster, with fewer errors and less waste. Mascenic’s Maya Oliviera, left, and Fiona Alix share a high five. BEN CONANT / BEN CONANT PHOTOGRAPHY Mascenic's Payton LaFreniere readies to serve against Concord Christian. BEN CONANT—BEN CONANT PHOTOGRAPHY The Mascenic girls' volleyball team celebrates after scoring a point against Concord Christian Wednesday. BEN CONANT—BEN CONANT PHOTOGRAPHY Mascenic’s Lyla Somero spikes one against Concord Christian. BEN CONANT / BEN CONANT PHOTOGRAPHY Mascenic’s Lyla Somero hits a spike against Concord Christian. BEN CONANT / BEN CONANT PHOTOGRAPHY Mascenic’s injured senior captain Val Stenersen listens in during a huddle. BEN CONANT / BEN CONANT PHOTOGRAPHY Mascenic head coach Lauren Somero instructs her team.  BEN CONANT / BEN CONANT PHOTOGRAPHY  Mascenic senior captain Emma McInnis gets down for a dig against Concord Christian. BEN CONANT—BEN CONANT PHOTOGRAPHY The Mascenic girls’ volleyball team is growing in fits and starts and still finding its identity halfway through their Division III season. For the better part of the last decade, the Vikings seemed to be title contenders nearly every season. This year, they’re in the middle of the DIII pack – below the usual standard, but not bad for a rebuild year. Mascenic returned just two seniors this fall, co-captains Val Stenersen and Emma McInnis, but lost Stenersen to injury just before the season started. That leaves head coach Lauren Somero with lots of work to do. After a season-opening five-set loss to Moultonborough, Mascenic ran off five straight victories before a loss last week at Epping and Wednesday’s shutout by the Kingsmen. That macro streakiness was apparent at the micro level Wednesday, where the Vikings strung together some dominant service work in between bouts of ineffective reception. “What put us away is that we made a lot of hitting errors and made a lot of receive errors,” Somero said. “I thought we received really well in the first set; even though we lost by a large margin, we actually received pretty well. But we made a lot of hitting errors tonight, and we need to be more efficient than that if we’re going to play at a high level.” Mascenic’s struggles were due in no small part to their tough Concord Christian opponent and their trio of senior stars: outside hitter Lylah Shumway, middle hitter Sadie Thompson and setter Abby Owens. Somero said the Vikings gameplanned to keep the ball away from Shumway, but didn’t always execute. Any time Shumway got a clean receive, it was straight up to Owens for a set back to Shumway or to Thompson, and more often than not, it was a Kingsman kill. “I haven’t seen every setter in the state of New Hampshire, but I would feel confident saying that [Owens] is in the top five in the entire state in every division,” Somero said. “She was good last year and she’s very, very, very good this year.” The Vikings were solid in the service game, scoring off some service streaks from Brooke Bishop, Lyla Somero (six kills, three digs, one ace), Ava Krook (three kills, two digs, one ace) and Payton LaFreniere (three kills, one dig, one ace). Mascenic was good in the first set but went down relatively quickly thanks to CCA’s strong offense. In the second, the Vikings overcame an early deficit, put together some good serves and built the energy up enough to force a pair of Kingsman timeouts and grab a 20-16 lead. But Concord Christian, unwavering, rallied back and scored nine straight points to take the set, the momentum and ultimately, the match. At their best, the Vikings are a bit sharper than they looked Wednesday. Ideally, they rely on their freshman libero Maya Oliviera and freshman setter Fiona Alix to set the table for hitters Lyla Somero and McInnis. Concord Christian was able to take away the middle, but as the underclassmen adjust to the game speed, they will be better able to play their game, and the Mascenic rebuild will start rising from its strong foundation. “We’ve had a lot of surprises this season, but you know, we’re putting one brick up at a time,” coach Somero said. The Vikings moved to 6-3 on the season with a 3-0 win over Conant Friday behind Oliviera’s career-high 14 aces. Mascenic hosts Trinity Wednesday. By using this site, you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience, measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users Former New Ipswich Fire Chief Gary Somero, at the podium, passes the torch to his deputy, Benjamin Hatcher, in a pinning ceremony earlier this month. COURTESY PHOTO— The New Ipswich Fire Department during a ceremony recognizing various promotions in the department, including the pinning of new Fire Chief Benjamin Hatcher. COURTESY PHOTO The New Ipswich Fire Department during a ceremony recognizing various promotions in the department, including the pinning of new Fire Chief Benjamin Hatcher. COURTESY PHOTO— At the start of the month, the New Ipswich Fire Department saw a changing of the guard, as Fire Chief Gary Somero retired after 50 years in the service and Deputy Chief Benjamin Hatcher was appointed the new head of the department. Hatcher said he knows he has some big shoes to fill. “Gary was a leader, and he led from the top,” Hatcher said. “There was no job that was below him. If it was rolling hose, he was the first to step up and help. He didn’t care about power – he cared about teaching you, and education.” Hatcher has been a member of the volunteer fire service for 12 years, and said that although he initially got involved due to a friend, his family has always espoused a community-first attitude. Hatcher has spent most of his firefighting career in New Ipswich, though for five years, he was on the Groton Fire Department as a firefighter and EMT. During that time, he still trained with New Ipswich. He said the Groton department had a much higher call volume, and the mentorship of then-Groton Chief Steele McCurdy taught him a lot about the service and what it takes to be a leader. “You need to be the coolest person on that scene. Everything can be happening all at once, and you have to act as though you’re moving as a snail. Gary had the same mentality – it’s something I really want to take from the both of them. It’s something that creates an ease with your firefighters,” Hatcher said. Hatcher said he didn’t seek a rank at Groton, because he knew it was not a long-term position for him. When he returned to New Ipswich’s department as a full member, he said he knew he wanted to start to take those steps. He was appointed as a lieutenant almost immediately, and started working his way through the ranks. Hatcher said one of his main goals will be growing the department. Currently, the roster is about 26 members, which Hatcher said is robust for a rural department, but flags compared to the department’s high of about 40 members. “It’s getting harder and harder to get equipment out the door – people don’t volunteer like they used to,” Hatcher said. Hatcher said the department is also anticipating the delivery of a refurbished pumper rescue truck that has been donated. It will be the first vehicle of its kind in their fleet, which Hatcher called “huge for New Ipswich and the surrounding communities.” Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT. The pilot of a small aircraft was taken to a local hospital after crashing in New Ipswich Tuesday, but was not seriously injured, according to police. New Ipswich Road Agent Peter Somero was conducting routine duties at the town’s transfer station when he looked up and saw a small airplane circling. At first, he said he thought it was someone sightseeing, checking out the cleared area of the transfer station. Then, the plane came down. “I looked up and saw a plane flying really low. At first, I thought they were just checking out what was going on at the transfer station. But it continued to fly low, and I thought, ‘Wow, I think this plane is in trouble. I think it’s trying to land here,” Peter Somero said. Peter Somero said the plane never got to attempt a landing, though. “All of a sudden, the thing just dropped into the trees and disappeared,” Peter Somero said. “All of a sudden, it lost lift and just fell out of the sky.” Peter Somero called 911. He said the plane wasn’t visible behind the trees, but it had sheared off the top of a pine, and he was able to use that to direct police to the crash when they arrived. According to a press release issued by the New Ipswich Police Department on Tuesday afternoon, crews, including the Police Department, Fire Department and Souhegan Valley Ambulance Service responded to the report of the crash at about 12:52 p.m. New Ipswich Fire Chief Gary Somero said when emergency crews arrived, they found a two-seat experimental aircraft. The single occupant, the pilot, was awake, aware, had extricated himself from the cockpit and was able to walk out of the woods to a Souhegan Valley Ambulance for evaluation. Gary Somero said the plane had landed upright, and about 300 to 400 feet into the woods. “He went into a bunch of birch trees, and thankfully, that kind of caught him,” Gary Somero said. Gary Somero said there was no fuel spillage as a result of the crash. The New Ipswich Police Department and the FAA are conducting an investigation into the incident. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the New Ipswich Police Department at 603-878-2771. The transfer station in New Ipswich is only open on Saturdays. Peter Somero said any change of hours this week, if needed, will be announced on the town’s website and on the electronic sign at the transfer station entrance. Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Mascenic baseball builds big lead, then holds off Wilton-Lyndeborough comeback PHOTOS: Anglers reel them in at fishing derby in Peterborough Over 90 children took part in the 35th annual Loran B. Hanson Memorial Fishing Derby at Otter Brook in Peterborough on Saturday. The tournament is organized by the Peterborough Recreation Department and the Peterborough Fire Department. World of Concrete 2023Attendees at World of Concrete 2023 will be able to bid toward a brand-new Somero S-485 Laser Screed machine as part of the CIM auction Inc.One of the biggest innovations in the world of raking and screeding concrete to world-record-setting limits has been the laser screed After its development in early to mid-1980s the laser screed has been one of the more important machines for the concrete contractor.  Find out more about the Invention of the Laser Screed at "Q&A with the Inventor of the Somero Laser Screed" The latest to be added to the list of available items, the CIM program has announced the donation of a Somero Enterprises Inc. S-485 Laser Screed.  Steve Lloyd, an industry-renowned and flat floor finishing expert, purchased his S-485 at a previous CIM Auction and calls it "state of the art." “If you want high F-numbers and can’t get a large Somero machine in there, you have to use their small Laser Screeds," he says. "It is so essential every concrete contractor should own one or more!” Standard features for the S-485 Laser Screed include: Copyright © 2025 Ogden News Publishing of Michigan, Inc. | https://www.mininggazette.com | P.O. Box 368, Houghton, MI 49931 | 906-482-1500 the SP-16 Line-Pulling and Placing System is equipped with powerful engines and load-sensing and variable-displacement hydraulics that move concrete pump hose lines with ease Learn more at https://www.somero.com/products/materials-placement/sp-16/  After a narrow defeat at the polls of an article that would have created a full-time fire chief, code enforcement and building inspector position, New Ipswich Fire Chief Gary Somero appeared before the Select Board Tuesday to discuss the future of the department. The article, which failed by 17 votes, would have created a combined position to cover the duties of all three positions,  which Somero currently holds as part-time positions paid by stipend. The position would have been put into place mid-year, coinciding with Somero’s planned retirement in July. Somero said his recommendation for after he retires is that second-in-command Ben Hatcher, one of the department’s deputy chiefs, would become the fire chief. Deputy Chief Cody Vaillancourt, currently third in command, would become Hatcher’s second-in-command. “It just moves them up a step,” Somero said, noting that the Fire Department held an officers meeting to discuss the future, and the other officers indicated agreement with those appointments. Hatcher said it would continue to be the aim of the department to seek turning the chief into a full-time position. “That’s still where we really want to be,” Hatcher said. “I’m just going to fill in until we have that full-time position available. The goal is to have a full-time fire chief/building inspector, but there’s no one that can do the interim of both right now.” Somero advised the board to begin the search for a replacement for his building inspector and code enforcement duties as soon as possible. “What that’s going to leave open is the building inspector, and I would suggest you advertise the position, probably sooner rather than later,” he said. Select Board Chair Shawn Talbot said he was not prepared to discuss the matter at length during Tuesday’s meeting. Selectman Jason Somero agreed that there was no immediate need to make a decision that night. The board requested that Gary Somero, Hatcher and Vaillancourt return to the board on April 2, to further the discussion, as there was other Fire Department business already scheduled for that date. Talbot requested that his fellow board members prepare any questions they might have about the realignment for that meeting. In other Fire Department business, Hatcher discussed the possibility of taking a flatbed F550 currently in use by the town’s Highway Department and converting it to a brush truck for the Fire Department. “Our brush truck that we currently have is lucky to be running,” Hatcher said. “It’s going down the road of being a real headache.” Hatcher said the Fire Department’s truck is actually owned by the state, with New Ipswich given permission to use it, so it does not make sense to put a large amount of funds into repairs. He said it would be more economical to put a tank, pump and some tools on one of the town’s existing vehicles, suitable for going off-road. The F550 is the oldest in the Highway Department’s fleet, and the department is willing to give the truck to the Fire Department. The board offered no objection, and approved transferring the truck, with Talbot and Jason Somero in favor, and Lou Alvarez abstaining.  Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT. World Of ConcreteWorld of Concrete attendees will be able to bid on a new S-485 Laser Screed donated by Somero Enterprises for the Concrete Industry Management program The S-485 does more than just screed concrete it also rakes it with three levels of Somero Quick Pass settings.Somero Enterprises The annual auction will be held Wednesday, Jan. 24 in the North Hall Room N262 of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The silent auction will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and the live auction begins at 1 p.m. For a full list of items, please visit www.concretedegree.com/auction.  The Somero S-485 Laser Screed is an incredibly easy to operate and powerful 4-wheel drive machine It is multi-functional as well capable of fine grading most subbase materials or for screeding of concrete to very high floor levelness standards including world record-setting and Golden Trowel Award winning performance Its lightweight design allows for utilization either on grade or on most decks (level or cambered) Available with 8- or 10-foot vibrator beams to work around any number of slab penetrations the S-485 is packed with modern industry exclusive features like: “If you want high F-numbers and can’t get a large Somero machine in there you must use their small Laser Screeds," says flat floor finishing expert Steve Lloyd "The S-485 is state of the art.  It is so essential every concrete contractor should own one or more!” Lloyd purchased his S-485 at a previous CIM Auction Receiving tremendous support from the concrete industry the CIM program was the first of its kind in the U.S – a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Concrete Industry Management the CIM program has expanded and offered at Middle Tennessee State University New Jersey Institute of Technology and South Dakota State University there are nearly 1,600 graduates of the Concrete Industry Management program working in the industry The goal of the program is to produce broadly educated articulate graduates grounded in basic construction management who are knowledgeable of concrete technology and techniques and are able to manage people and systems as well as promote products or services related to the concrete industry from English and history to science and mathematics A series of required business courses such as finance management and business law are also taken throughout the length of the program The concrete-specific courses teach the fundamentals of concrete All of these courses provide much more than what is simply in the text – they emphasize problem solving quality assurance and customer satisfaction They utilize practical case studies and an internship to make sure the student obtains real-world experience essential to starting a successful career Additional opportunities include on-campus socials and other events providing industry networking and professional development an Executive MBA program was added by the CIM National Steering Committee The CIM Executive MBA is specifically designed for individuals with three or more years of experience in the industry The CIM program has provided and continues to provide future leaders for the concrete industry.  Those interested in making a donation should contact CIM Auction Committee Chairman Ben Robuck at [email protected] or (404) 456-6867.  or for screeding of concrete to very high floor levelness standards Those interested in making a donation should contact CIM Auction Committee Chairman Ben Robuck at [email protected] or (404) 456-6867. According to industry-renowned and flat floor finishing expert Steve Lloyd who purchased his S-485 at a previous CIM Auction; “If you want high F-numbers and can’t get a large Somero machine in there, you have to use their small Laser Screeds. The S-485 is state of the art.  It is so essential every concrete contractor should own one or more!” A sign on the side of Turnpike Road advocates for petition articles on the ballot, none of which gained community support. STAFF PHOTO BY ASHLEY SAARI Jesus Cantu Trevino campaigns outside of the Mascenic Regional High School during voting. STAFF PHOTO BY ASHLEY SAARI A sign advocating for Tim Somero for School Board sits on the side of Turnpike Road. Somero won his race. STAFF PHOTO BY ASHLEY SAARI— Mascenic will have a default budget for the next school year – a move that the School Board was advocating for – after an operating budget that had been cut by $1 million during the district’s deliberative session failed at the polls Tuesday. A series of petition articles, including putting a tax cap on school spending, eliminating the superintendent’s position and establishing a Budget Committee, also failed to gain majority support with voters in Greenville and New Ipswich. After the cut, the proposed budget was $20.45 million, leaving the default budget the higher of the two at $21.15 million. The final vote on the budget was 748 yes to 1,098 no. Both towns supported the default option, with Greenville voters more than 2-1 against the proposed budget in a 209-91 vote. In New Ipswich, the gap was narrower, but voters still rejected the budget by a 1,098-748 margin.  Mascenic senior Aurora Sousa was at the polls on Tuesday, advocating for the default budget and for the failure of the three petition articles. “I’m trying to get word out so a decade from now, I don’t have to say the diploma I have is from a school that is closed,” Sousa said. “I want to protect people’s education.” Jesus Cantu Trevino was also at the polls, campaigning for a position on the School Board and speaking to residents in support of the petition articles, which he helped author. He said significant tax increases were taking food from family’s tables, and that the School Board needed to “rethink its mission and goals.” Trevino lost his bid for the three-year School Board seat to Timothy Somero, with Somero gaining 696 votes to Trevino’s 421. Voters in Greenville were strongly against proposals to have a district Budget Committee, which would be in charge of drafting the budget rather than the district’s current model of an advisory committee, which makes recommendations to the School Board. Greenville voters were against forming a Budget Committee in a 216-80 vote, while New Ipswich voters were against in a 915-599 vote, for a total of 810 yes votes, and 1,131 no votes. This article gained the least support of any article Tuesday. District voters were also in favor of retaining its superintendent, turning down an article that would have eliminated the position and assigned the duties to existing personnel. Voters in Greenville were against the proposal 224-74, and in New Ipswich the vote was 850-688, for a total of 762 for and 1,074 against. A proposed tax cap of 1.2% gained the most support of any of the petition articles, but still did not break a majority, when a three-fifths majority would have been required to pass. Voters in Greenville voted 204-95 against implementing a tax cap, while the vote in New Ipswich was narrower, with 715 yes votes to 815 no votes, for a total of 810 yes votes and 1,019 no votes. The only articles on the warrant which passed were a proposal to add $150,000 to the district’s school repair and maintenance capital reserve and accepting the district reports. The funds will be taken from the unreserved fund balance from 2024, rather than raised by new taxes. It passed with 1,195 in favor and 605 against. It was supported in both towns. Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT. The S-940e provides eight hours of runtime and can cover up to 35,000 sq per full charge.SomeroSomero offers the S-940e electric Laser Screed Machine for concrete finishing and surface applications on jobsites The self-propelled screed serves as a solution for projects requiring reduced noise pollution or zero emissions wide screed head covers large areas during use the S-940e features four-wheel drive with hydraulic motors for performance in worksites The S-940e provides eight hours of runtime and can cover up to 35,000 sq A full charge takes approximately four hours using a 240V outlet or 10 hours using a 120V outlet Optional features include a rotating head dolly spare tire or wheel assembly and spare auger kit Crews work to rescue a horse, named Ben Franklin, after it fell four feet through the floor of its stall. COURTESY PHOTO After his rescue, Ben Franklin was found to have no major injuries and was able to be settled into a new stall. COURTESY PHOTO Using a ramp, crews were able to bring the horse, named Ben Franklin, back to level ground. COURTESY PHOTO Fire trucks line Preston Hill Road during a rescue of a horse, named Ben Franklin, that had fallen through a barn floor on Wednesday. COURTESY PHOTO On Wednesday morning, New Ipswich fire crews responded to a unusual rescue request – a horse that had fallen through the floor of his barn and was stuck in his stall. Shortly before 8 a.m., crews responded to 11 Preston Hill Road, and when they arrived, found that the floor of the stall had given way, and that the horse was standing on the dirt ground below the barn. Fire Chief Gary Somero said initially, the 23-year-old horse, named Ben Franklin, was lying on its side in the dirt floor under the stall, about a four foot fall from the main floor of the barn. “We first waited for a veterinarian to show up to sedate the horse, as he was pretty active,” Somero said. Somero said the horse was checked by the veterinarian, but did not have any major injuries. Crews cleared the debris from around the horse and called for assistance from the Keene Fire Department, which provides mutual aid to the town during technical rescues and large incidents. While the Keene crew was on their way, the horse was calmed, and the New Ipswich crew began to plan a way to get the animal back to level ground. Somero said the Keene team has experience in these kinds of rescues, and responded to a very similar case in Swanzey the previous week. Somero said because horses are so large, and because these kinds of rescues are rare for New Ipswich, they are highly technical and can take a long time to complete while ensuring the safety of the rescuers and the animal. “They’re always a challenge and take a long time to do properly,” Somero said. Usually, he said the horse is fitted with a strap and lifted from above, but the barn did not have the overhead structural components that would be needed to execute that kind of rescue. “If the first plan doesn’t work, you try a second one,” Somero said. “ It was a good, collaborative effort.” Somero said the horse was eventually able to stand and move itself enough that crews were able to remove a larger section of the stall, take the planks from the floor to build a ramp and successfully lead the horse up to the main floor of the barn. “It was a really good horse, and was able to walk out on its own,” Somero said. “It went amazingly well. This is something we don’t really deal with, and he was a big horse, but fortunately, he had a calm disposition.” The horse was able to move to another stall in the barn. Somero thanked the Keene team for their assistance in the rescue. In other Fire Department news, New Ipswich crews were busy on Saturday, responding to a few minor calls during the course of the day before being dispatched as mutual aid to Ashburnham, Mass., to help put out a brush fire. While the Fire Department was on that call, at about 6:07 p.m., Peterborough Fire & Rescue squad was dispatched for a reported brush fire on Route 123, initially reported to be in Sharon, where Peterborough provides fire services. When the Peterborough crews arrived, it was discovered that the fire was located on the New Ipswich side of the town line, at the town’s transfer station off of Route 123. According to Somero, earlier that day, the town had been burning brush at the transfer station, and the ashes had not been thoroughly extinguished. Wind carried some of the embers, which ignited a brush fire. As New Ipswich crews were in Ashburnham, the Peterborough crews were requested to continue to respond to the brush fire, and begin to put it out. New Ipswich crews were released from the Ashburnham scene to return home to assist. Somero said firefighters put out the fire shortly thereafter. There were no injuries, and the fire was limited to brush, with no firefighter injuries reported. Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.  built the first Somero Laser Screed in 1984 while he was still owner of S&S Concrete Floors The invention changed the concrete industry for contractors around the world Concrete Contractor recently had the chance to ask Dave a few questions about the Laser Screed and his advice for today’s inventors Concrete Contractor: What challenges were you facing in the field that led you develop the Laser Screed Dave Somero Sr.: In the early 1980s we were getting more jobs that were requiring lower slumps and tolerances were starting to be discussed Even though there were vibratory screeds available the extra labor and materials needed to set up for strip pours was hard to get compensated for CC: When did you realize your equipment could help other contractors across the country CC: How long were you developing the design for the Laser Screed before it became a reality It took a while to get all the bugs out of the system, but we continued to improve it. About 1986 the laser equipment manufacturer came to one of our jobs with the intent of telling us how to improve the machine. They told us not to touch it. They never saw anything work that good. CC: How did the addition of the Laser Screed on your projects help your business change and grow? DS: Tolerances improved. Fewer hassles over slump. We were able to increase the size of placements and complete the work with much less labor. Prior to the Laser Screed, we had a high turnover over workers. Once we took a lot of the bull work out of the job, it seems the turnover was less. CC: Your invention helped transform the concrete industry by improving quality and increasing crew efficiency. It was a big idea that helped shaped the industry today. What advice do you have for other contractors out there who are dreaming up tomorrow’s big ideas? DS: Don’t stop dreaming. Don’t expect to get by cheap if you need good engineering, accounting and lawyers. Coming up with new ideas was easy, getting a patent wasn’t bad, getting the prototype built and the engineering for the improved telescoping model cost about $500,000. All that was doable. But the one thing I was not prepared for was the marketing. 2023 at 4:10 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A man from Manchester was accused of driving the getaway car during a Hudson burglary in 2021 NH — The following people were indicted recently in Hillsborough County Superior Court South Jackie Simons of Clocktower Place in Nashua on a felony controlled drug act; acts prohibited-cocaine charge on April 19 in Nashua of Philmart Drive in New Ipswich on seven aggravated felonious sexual assault charges He was accused of repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting a girl and sexually assaulting a baby-toddler between July 10 Pablo Soto-Batista of Salem Street in Nashua on a felony stalking charge He was accused of being within proximity of an intimate partner on June 15 in Nashua after previously being convicted of stalking in Nashua District Court in July 2022 of Mills Street in Greenfield on a felony possession of a narcotic drug-cocaine charge in Hollis on Aug of Bockes Road in Hudson on nine possession of child sexual abuse image charges He was accused of possessing .jpg photos and .gif files on June 15 Kelvin Taveras Nunez of Lake Street in Nashua on a felony second-degree assault charge He was accused of strangling another person on April 18 in Nashua Idris Terrell, 30, of South Beech Street in Manchester on accomplice to burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary. He was accused of working in concert with Jafet Centeno, by driving the getaway car, from an incident on Riverside Avenue in Hudson on Jan Matthew Weeks of Georgetown Drive in Milford on a felony insurance fraud charge He was accused of submitting false information on Nov to GEICO concerning a crash involving a Chevy Tahoe that occurred after the insurance policy had lapsed Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The leading authority for the Architecture & Design community Recharge in a Restored Spanish Farmhouse in Menorca Words: Karine Monié Photography: Sean Litchfield While the palette is mostly neutral, the homeowners wanted to be able to easily introduce color over time to mix things up. Some patterns and carefully selected hues were introduced throughout. “The interior reflects the clients’ taste, especially the wife/mother,” says Charette. “She has a mostly black wardrobe and likes to inject color in small doses.” Creative couple Satya Bhabha and Carter Batsell brought in LAUN to help direct the refreshing of their 1930’s bungalow, bringing the three bedroom/2 bath home from its original 1,377 square feet into almost 2,000. After a decade of looking around her home base of New York City, architect Andrea Leung finally found a space worthy of her grandmother’s magic: a 1,600-square-foot Tribeca loft. She kept its verdigris tin ceilings and… Arnold Studio updates a historic brownstone in the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn while conserving key original details. High-concept apartments across the globe, from an eras-mixing Paris aerie to a food-themed Prague two-bedroom, are truly transporting. From Toronto to Shanghai, shops and showrooms worldwide embrace the season with a fresh palette of soft greens, deep blues, and sophisticated grays. Ringo Studio gives the Steve Madden Times Square Flagship a bold new facelift, melding gritty New York attitude with tactile sophistication. Somero Enterprises Inc.Accomplishing a flat floor at ground level is one thing a warehouse of choices for equipment and tools are all at your disposal obtaining the same floor with the same flatness specs has its own challenges when working on a multiple-story building A. In today’s market almost all large slab-on-grade floors (warehouses, parking lots, etc.) are placed with laser screeds. In fact, some customers like Amazon actually specify that a laser screed must be used in placing their floors due to the higher tolerances required for FL and FF numbers. Most contractors also utilize our slab-on-deck laser screeds for placing concrete on metal decks for the same reason.  There are advantages that larger machines provide that contractors can’t get manually. These include automated laser-guided flatness, engine-driven power that moves and screeds concrete efficiently, as well as sizable reductions in labor. Not to mention tireless consistency. The two biggest challenges for using the  SkyScreed® is access to the crane for moving the machine and penetrations that need to be lowered, in some cases, to allow screeding over them. These challenges have been handled by every contractor we have dealt with so far.  Somero Enterprises Inc.A. Concrete delivery is much more challenging requiring pumping and bucketing. Additionally, removing unacceptable concrete is typically not an option compared with on-grade work. Wind can shut down the tower crane on a job allowing finishing equipment to be placed on the slab. Using a SkyScreed® on a structural deck allows the customer to utilize laser-guided technology as opposed to wet pads increasing both productivity and quality. Also, working safer is a major theme in any quality contractor's company mission statement. For example, the ability to just screed over existing concrete beams versus placing manually can create a hazardous condition (stepping in or tripping over). It is important to include limited perimeter access with safety rails to safely finish slab edges.  S-15R Laser Screed® machine is compact enough to be pulled with a pickup and skid-steer size trailer It has a 20-foot telescopic boom and 10-foot wide vibrator for a true 200 sq It has a 20-foot telescopic boom and 10-foot wide vibrator for a true 200 sq of consolidated concrete per pass plus.  The 18-inches of head offset combined with the flip down plow extension knockdown an additional 50 sq per pass to further minimize overlaps.  the machine includes a multi-function LCD screen with OASIS laser control system offering diagnostics and allows each operator to customize or fine-tune settings to their individual desires The location of the operator area also provides 360° visibility around all sides of the machine for safety This model is powered by a 44.3-hp Kubota Tier 4 turbo diesel engine with 12-hrs of run time per tank.  •  Soft landing                                 •  Quick Pass®                   •  Automatic Column Block Protection •  Self Leveling Head                      •  Quick GradeSet™             •  And More……….. The S-15R is well verse for midsize and large paving projects and multi-sloped applications indoors or out with the available Somero 3-D Profiler System®. Large screed performance in a mid-size package. Here is an ultra-talented roster. Meet the All-Greenville high school boys basketball team including the Greenville News player of the year for the 2023-24 season He is Eastside's all-time leading scorer with 1,810 points shot 49.1 percent from the field and 89.7 percent from the foul line The three-time all-state player led Eastside (18-7 5-2 Region 2-AAAA) in nearly every category just got better and better during the season and helped Greer reach the Class AAAA Upper State final Anderson is listed by Big Shots Basketball as the state's No Harvey was named Class A player of the year after leading Christ Church to its second consecutive state championship Harvey helped the Cavaliers (21-5) to three state titles in the past four years and was on varsity for six years Iturbe helped Riverside go 25-6 and make it to the Class AAAA state championship game leading the Warriors in scoring and rebounding The 6-8 forward even moved out and played some point guard after injuries hit Somero more than doubled his scoring average from a year ago with 21 points per game and was named one of the most improved seniors in the state by Prep Hoops He had a 43-point game to rank among the program’s top 10 all time He also averaged 3.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds