Exeter Chiefs have endured a rather dramatic week Pumped 79-17 by West Country rivals Gloucester last Sunday a defeat which plunged the club into turmoil head coach Rob Hunter and backs coach Ali Hepher were suspended pending a full review of both the game and the 2024/25 season as a whole Rob Baxter was also handed front-line coaching duties until the end of the campaign issued a damning statement detailing the ‘clear disconnect’ between the coaching staff and playing group That departure now leaves Exeter with a head coach void ahead of the 2025/26 season here are some of the names who could be in the mix for the head coach role at Sandy Park Former Racing 92 boss Stuart Lancaster and former Munster head coach Graham Rowntree will likely be at the very top of Rowe’s shopping list in their quest for a new top dog Both men boast exceptional coaching pedigrees with Lancaster understood to have been the mastermind behind the Leinster juggernaut during his stint there and Rowntree recently took Munster to the URC title against the odds both men would know what it takes to turn a team around quickly which is the sort of thing Exeter need right now Despite the sour ending to his England spell Lancaster had turned the national side around from the carnage of the 2011 World Cup and into consistent Six Nations title chasers He also helped blood in the likes of Owen Farrell Henry Slade and Luke Cowan-Dickie amongst others which again could do wonders for the young Chiefs group at the moment Rowntree took over as Munster boss following a disappointing 2021/22 season where they finished sixth overall but were below both Leinster and Ulster out of the Irish sides they also finished top of the table at the end of the regular season before losing to eventual champions Glasgow Warriors But that rapid transformation under him will have captured Rowe’s attention Suspended Exeter Chiefs boss departs club after ‘clear disconnect’ the former Leicester Tigers icon is also understood to be in contention for the vacant head coach posting at Mattioli Woods Welford Road too with Michael Cheika leaving at the end of the season but Nick Easter is certainly in the discussion for Exeter head coach for next season The former Harlequins icon enjoyed a decent spell at Worcester Warriors as an assistant before properly cutting his teeth with Chinnor in National One He guided the club to safety in his first season in charge and later helped them earn promotion to the Championship He has also gained more valuable experience at Test level as he currently acts as the forwards coach for the USA Exeter Chiefs: Rob Baxter entrusted to fix ‘clear disconnect’ as CEO issues damning statement Easter’s rise through the coaching ranks isn’t too dissimilar to Baxter’s either and with the experience of the long-standing director of rugby His appointment would also be a more long-term one given he is fairly fresh into his coaching career but that again seems to fit the bill of what Exeter want right now It could be a master stroke from the Devonians Leon MacDonald and former Chiefs player Geoff Parling could also be catching the eye of the Chiefs’ higher-ups MacDonald was attracting the interest of Leicester Tigers but reports suggest he has turned them down to take up an offer in Japan; however if the Chiefs act quickly and present a good offer The former All Black again would bring a wealth of experience to the role serving as an assistant under Scott Robertson for the national side and previously worked as an assistant for the Crusaders and later as Blues head coach it’s a bit of a stretch considering he is set to take a role in Japan considering he is Joe Schmidt’s right-hand man at the Wallabies but with the former Ireland boss heading for pastures new The former lock already has a high standing among the Chiefs faithful after an excellent playing career in Devon and he is quickly gaining a reputation as a great coach too A head coach role at Test level is likely in his future too so this could give him the exposure to life at the top This would be a HUGE kick in the teeth for the Tigers but he is available for next season after all He would be a brilliant appointment for the Devonians but he is only leaving the East Midlands to be with his family so another Premiership role seems highly unlikely Another option for the Chiefs head coach role could be Baxter to just continue on for the foreseeable future Baxter has an impressive record at the club but he again commands high standards from his group which saw a dramatic upturn in form and boosted the Chiefs to a Champions Cup semi-final run in the process and if he again sees a rapid rise in fortunes ,he could just hold onto the duties next season too They need to get some form of succession plan in place and after all the drama of the current season this feels like the perfect time to get that sorted out READ MORE: Opinion: Exeter Chiefs call for the return of Caesar to resurrect ‘besieged empire’ Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher were suspended on Monday pending a formal review Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher were suspended pending a full review into the 2024/25 season on Monday but will the return of Rob Baxter herald a new dawn Social media was divided in its reaction to Monday’s development that Exeter owner Tony Rowe has suspended coaches Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher PORTSMOUTH - Exeter High School head coach Matt Brewster said "undeniable" is the best word to describe senior midfielder Marshall Lasewicz And Portsmouth High School head coach Chad Vischer said Lasesicz plays a classy game who is committed to play collegiately at the Air Force Academy continued his stellar start to the season as he accounted for seven points to lead the Division I Blue Hawks to a 11-5 win over Division II Portsmouth at Tom Daubney Field at Portsmouth High School More: Seacoast Friday Roundup: St. Thomas baseball falls to Division I Bedford, more results More: Seacoast Standout: St. Thomas Aquinas junior nets six goals in girls lacrosse win "You can't miss him on the field," Brewster said "He makes groundball plays through three guys He's doing everything he needs to do and he's going to have a phenomenal career at the next level." Lasewicz had five goals and two assists in Exeter's win over the Clippers "Everything I've worked for is to become undeniable and to become that player who everyone has to watch out for," Lasewicz said he's predominantly left-handed but he can go both hands," Vischer said "I see him all winter long in the indoor leagues and he's just a nice kid." The Blue Hawks have outscored opponents 40-7 during the three-game span though only one loss has been to a Division II team - Derryfield they're a good team and competitive," Brewster said kind of the perfect situation and perfect weather Our boys came to play and they played hard." Portsmouth never enjoyed a lead as the Blue Hawks led 5-2 at halftime and kind of fizzled out the second quarter," Exeter goalie Ronan Wilbur said "Then we got our energy back in the third quarter their faceoff was excellent and their defense was excellent." Lasewicz was a Division I all-state first team selection a season ago and it's no secret why He was at it early and often as he struck for his first of three first quarter goals just 37 seconds into the game I definitely started hot in the first quarter," Lasewicz said He scored his second goal with 9:17 left in the first and scored his third goal with 29 seconds left in the quarter as Exeter took a 4-1 lead into the second "The offense was doing our job," Lasewicz said "We were getting great shots and great cuts Everyone did their part and we got it done." Lasewicz added two more goals in the third quarter and spoke about getting into a rhythm and crediting teammates like Tyler Bland and Jackson Greene "It's just a quick (pass) and I can get into a shooting spot," Lasewicz said We were able to get pick-and-rolls off which allowed us to get openings." Patrick Hathaway and Bland each had two goals for Exeter while Greene and Alex Carrigan both had one Portsmouth's five goals was the fewest scoring output against a New Hampshire team this season averaging 10 goals a game in the team's seven in-state games Portsmouth scored a season-low two goals in a 12-2 loss to Newburyport (Mass.) High School "I thought their defense was really good," Vischer said but it's their defense that holds people up." "We had a little change to our defense over the past few weeks," Wilbur said we changed to a zone and now we've been playing a lot better." in greeted by Jack Dever after scoring in the first inning of Friday’s 11-5 win over Trinity Exeter is one of three unbeaten teams in Division I EXETER — Fridays are usually reserved for a start on the mound by Hayden Schimoler but arm tightness relegated the senior to designated hitter duties last week for the Exeter High School baseball team That was no problem for a Blue Hawks team that’s using different ways to jump to an undefeated start midway through the season Sophomore Nolan Engler got the nod and pitched well in his first varsity start while Schimoler left his mark with a three-run homer in an 11-5 victory over Trinity that improved Exeter’s record to 9-0 “We asked a lot of Nolan against a really good hitting team and he stepped up when he needed to,” Schimoler said “He’s a young guy facing a team that is very loud and he did a great job.” Engler had pitched five innings of relief entering the game He faced immediate adversity when Exeter made errors against the game’s first two hitters Engler responded by striking out Logan Whitney and followed that by inducing a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Tristan Hasselbach “I just wanted to throw strikes and let my defense do the work,” Engler said Made sure to stay up in counts and didn’t walk anybody Trinity (5-2) was coming off a 10-2 win over Bedford on Wednesday but Engler (three earned runs) limited the Pioneers to four hits He struck out four batters and walked two in 5⅔ innings of work before Brennan Schimoler relieved him to finish off the win but it was a great spot start for Nolan in his first varsity start He was awesome,” said Exeter coach Bruce Joyce said pretty mature and he’s got kind of a bulldog attitude.” Exeter’s offense was helped greatly from 14 free passes (walks and hit batters) from Trinity pitching Trinity also made two errors in the first inning that Exeter capitalized on with RBI singles from Brennan Schimoler and Finn Adams off Trinity starter Hunter Henderson to give Exeter a 3-0 lead Adams added another single in the third inning and is now hitting .500 on the season (14-for-28) He is tied for the team lead in RBIs (nine) with Hayden Schimoler “We’ve been winning ballgames but it hasn’t always been to the best of our ability,” Adams said “Today it was nice to take one of the top-ranked opponents and get ahead of them early.” Trinity closed the gap to 5-2 on Tristan Lucier’s RBI single in the top of the third and the Pioneers were in position to escape the bottom of the inning before a two-out error was followed by Hayden Schimoler’s blast over the left field fence to give Exeter an 8-2 lead We put ourselves in holes,” Trinity coach Matt Bouchard said they get a home run and it hurts and there is no way to get around it.” After surviving three consecutive 5-4 decisions against Salem Exeter’s bats exploded during Wednesday’s 19-3 win over Timberlane The Blue Hawks are undefeated in the division along with Goffstown (8-0) and Pinkerton (7-0) “We’ve had a couple of wins where we had to come back and get some scrappy wins but I think this was the best we played all year,” Hayden Schimoler said we’ve been lacking a little bit and we kind of came to life today.” Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Would you like to receive our daily news? Signup today Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account If I am having a bad day I pop in there and grab a Mediterranean Falafel bowl and a Peanut Butter cold brew and all of a sudden my frown is turned upside down They have done such a good job making the space warm and welcoming and it shows because both locations are always very busy no matter what day of the week or time you go in I do frequent the Portsmouth location more often but I am a big fan of the walk up window at the Exeter location There is something so flirty and fun about walking up to a window on a nice day and ordering your coffee and breakfast sandwich The Cafe took to social media to share the news with their followers a few days ago: The good news is their Portsmouth location still plans to stay open so the Laney and Lu hole in your heart can be filled if you are willing to drive to route 1 in Portsmouth I know I am not alone when I say I hope we see another Laney and Lu location pop up on the Seacoast It is such a loved business in this area we need more than one Best of luck to the Laney and Lu crew and if you want to bid a sweet farewell to their Exeter location they will be open until this Saturday Gallery Credit: Kira Lew Laney and Lu announced they will be closing their location in downtown Exeter, New Hampshire, after 10 years in business. Their Portsmouth, New Hampshire, location will still be open and they encourage their Exeter patrons to visit them at their Portsmouth location.\nRead More 💛\n\nAfter nearly 10 beautiful years at LANEY & LU Exeter CA — Now it’s easy for residents of Exeter and the surrounding areas to obtain a U.S will be holding a passport fair on the following date: There will be extra staff available to speed up the process and no appointment will be necessary. Applicants can even have their passport photo taken at the event for $15 It is recommended that customers fill out forms ahead of time. Application forms and information on the costs and how to apply for a passport book and/or passport card can be found at www.usps.com/passport or www.travel.state.gov/passport Customers can also obtain passport information by phone by calling the National Passport Information Center toll-free at (877) 487-2778 Once customers have a passport, they'll need a safe way to carry it. USPS Passport Wallets are fashionable wallets, available in black or brown leather, that allow important items, such as a passport, cash, an ID, and up to seven credit cards, to be carried in one holder. The wallets are available at passport acceptance offices and at www.usps.com/shop The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America restore long-term financial sustainability dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage products and services to fund its operations Copyright© 2025 United States Postal Service to win the junior high competition of the 55th Cornhusker Trap Shoot in Doniphan 8:12 PM MDTBy Nebraska Game and Parks CommissionBraxton Harre of Exeter-Milligan broke 96 of 100 targets on Thursday Harre’s score shooting targets at 16 yards at the Nebraska Trapshooting Association home grounds was one better than that of Barrett Debrie of Gibbon and Miles Smith of Doniphan-Trumbull Debrie beat Smith in a shoot-off for second place Smith was on the Doniphan-Trumbull team that rolled to the junior high title Wilber 5 Clovers 4-H won two other team competitions repeating as the ladies’ team champion and winning the 4-H team title Three shooters on its championship ladies’ team were among the five highest scorers individually among the girls Rylee Rohren of Friend shot an 89 to win the ladies’ individual title more than 1,500 senior high students are expected to shoot 75 rounds of 16-yard targets They will shoot 75 handicap targets Saturday and the combined scores of the two days will determine the overall champion wild chimpanzees have been pictured eating and sharing fruit containing alcohol A research team led by the University of Exeter set up cameras in Guinea-Bissau’s Cantanhez National Park Footage of chimps sharing fermented African breadfruit – confirmed to contain ethanol (alcohol) – raises fascinating questions about if and why chimps deliberately seek out alcohol Humans are believed to have consumed alcohol far back into our evolutionary history And the new study suggests our closest relatives might be doing something similar “For humans, we know that drinking alcohol leads to a release of dopamine and endorphins, and resulting feelings of happiness and relaxation,” said Anna Bowland, from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall “We also know that sharing alcohol – including through traditions such as feasting – helps to form and strengthen social bonds “So – now we know that wild chimpanzees are eating and sharing ethanolic fruits – the question is: could they be getting similar benefits?” The researchers used motion-activated cameras which filmed chimps sharing fermented fruits on 10 separate occasions Fruit shared by these chimps was tested for alcohol content The highest level found was the equivalent of 0.61% ABV (Alcohol By Volume – a measure used in alcoholic drinks) But the researchers say it may be the “tip of the iceberg” as 60-85% of chimps’ diet is fruit – so low levels of alcohol in various foods could add up to significant consumption The researchers stress that chimps are unlikely to get “drunk” – as this would clearly not improve their survival chances The impact of alcohol on chimps’ metabolism is unknown But recent discoveries of a molecular adaptation that greatly increased ethanol metabolism in the common ancestor of African apes suggests eating fermented fruits may have ancient origins in species including humans and chimps so this behaviour with fermented fruit might be important,” said Dr Kimberley Hockings “We need to find out more about whether they deliberately seek out ethanolic fruits and how they metabolise it but this behaviour could be the early evolutionary stages of ‘feasting’ it suggests the human tradition of feasting may have its origins deep in our evolutionary history.” To find out more about this research project, visit https://cantanhezchimpanzeeproject.com/ Bowland’s work was funded by the Primate Society of Great Britain The paper, published in the journal Current Biology, is entitled: “Wild chimpanzees share fermented fruits.” View full archives There was nowhere for Exeter to hide on this bright but brutal Sunday in Gloucestershire as a rampant home side rattled up 13 tries to revitalise their ambitions of making the playoffs and inflict the heaviest defeat in the visitors’ top-division history It would have been a proper cricket score had Gloucester not missed half a dozen conversions and it was all but inevitable from an early stage that Exeter’s previous widest losing margin of 43 points would be blown away hearing laughter ring around the ground is another level of embarrassment The club’s chairman, Tony Rowe, could be seen laying down the law in the away dressing room after the game, clearly stung by this non-performance from a team theoretically building for next season. “That was my worst day as a coach,” said the head coach, Rob Hunter, part of the backroom staff who helped Exeter win the European and domestic double just five years ago “It’s in no way acceptable for us to perform like that and we haven’t tried to hide away from that in the changing room “Tony’s entirely entitled to come in and fire in to everybody He’s put a lot of time and effort into the club and everyone’s expectations should be way Fair play to Gloucester but we gifted them momentum at almost every opportunity.” While defeat at Saracens last weekend put a dent in Gloucester’s top-four aspirations no one will be in a rush to face George Skivington’s side on this kind of form With three games still to play – away at Harlequins and Newcastle and at home against Northampton – they sit one point behind fourth-placed Bristol and two points ahead of sixth-placed Saracens In addition to the outstanding Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams and the deadly duo of Jack Singleton and Seb Atkinson will also have taken note of several hardworking England-qualified forwards who must be pushing hard for loftier recognition The hooker Seb Blake has been a handful all season while the back-rowers Jack Clement and Lewis Ludlow and the prop Afolabi Fasogbon also caught the eye in a vibrant team performance Tomos Williams turns on the style as Gloucester run rampant Photograph: David Davies/PATo say nothing went right for Exeter would be to put it politely They had apparently enjoyed an upbeat training week but any semblance of confidence was eviscerated by six Gloucester tries inside the first half‑hour Two powerful driven mauls brought scores for Clement and Seb Blake before the floodgates truly opened and some extravagant offloading delivered a smashing try for a delighted Ludlow ShowDownload the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for 'The Guardian'.If you already have the Guardian app make sure you’re on the most recent version.In the Guardian app then Notifications.Turn on sport notifications.Was this helpful?Thank you for your feedback.The Shed was soon purring again in the sunshine as Chris Harris Seb Atkinson and Gareth Anscombe added further tries to extend the margin to 36-0 Exeter did belatedly string together a few attacking phases in the opposing 22 which allowed Josh Hodge to put his side on the board but the slickness of Gloucester’s handling the inability of Exeter to slow down the ball and some ineffectual tackling all combined to ensure a lopsided contest Free weekly newsletterThe latest rugby union news and analysis Perhaps the most outrageous assist of the lot was a 30-yard pass over the top from Williams to his left wing which sailed over the heads of multiple opponents and ended with Santiago Carreras sending Williams over Gloucester are not perfect but their attack coach has clearly been doing some excellent work It was much the same story after the interval as Jamal Ford‑Robinson and Christian Wade brought up Gloucester’s half-century inside 50 minutes Wade is off to play rugby league in Wigan where he will find life a whole lot tougher Even the cavalry off the bench made little difference for the visitors the defence melting away faster than leftover Easter eggs in the sun to permit a second try for Seb Atkinson and more easy pickings for Singleton who collected a hat-trick of tries inside 12 minutes Even the most exhausted London Marathon runners will feel less shattered than the Chiefs when they limp back to work this week “The reality is that good vibes are not enough,” Hunter said Not having a game next week is probably a good thing for us EXETER — Laney & Lu is closing its doors on Water Street 10 years after opening its first location there in downtown Exeter Desrosiers said her 10-year lease was up this year and she decided not to renew for both personal and business reasons She said she is working with the landlord and a real estate broker to find a buyer to take the restaurant space as a turnkey operation Desrosiers stated in the social media post that the decision was not made lightly. Laney & Lu offers a menu of smoothies and is rooted in Desrosiers’ background in wellness and for being part of something truly special,” Desrosiers wrote Bears That Care: How Whirlygigs brings comfort to Exeter Hospital's young patients Desrosiers did not expect to enter the restaurant business in 2015 She was running her own business as a wellness coach when she noticed a “for lease” sign in the space at 26 Water St It was then home to Hammersmith Sandwich Co. which moved that year to Epping and operated for three more years Desrosiers said the vision for Laney & Lu appeared in her mind when she looked in the window and saw the vacant space “I could see what is now Laney & Lu Exeter – white color “I think I was in there that day or the next talking to the landlord opening a few months later with the expectation of serving mostly smoothies She said the new store was greeted by at least 100 people on their opening day She said she was surprised that 60% of sales came from food They went on to bring in seven figures their first year open People are here for the food,’” Desrosiers said Desrosiers said Exeter was a little sleepier than it is today She said customers praised them for being the only business open on a Sunday downtown when they first opened Desrosiers said she was proud to be a business leader in downtown Exeter and the Seacoast She said Laney & Lu was the first to do turmeric smoothies and matcha lattes and she believes they are still the only ones that have fat coffee which blends coffee with butter and MTC oil Laney & Lu endured the COVID-19 pandemic and gave back to the community through their “Help Others” campaign donating more than 3,500 meals to frontline workers and local organizations Desrosiers opened her second Laney & Lu location at the West End Yards in Portsmouth as well as opened Ginger Fox bakery at the former Sweet Dreams bakery location More: Hampton Beach motel eyed for demolition for new multi-family development Desrosiers said the Laney & Lu brand remains strong in Portsmouth where she said the location has a bigger kitchen that allows her team to do more She said she intends to expand the menu after 10 years of mostly sticking to the same offerings Desrosiers said she plans to continue hosting live events including her current monthly women’s health talk held at the Portsmouth location She said her business Palette has been absorbed by Laney & Lu and that those offerings may become part of the menu as well “We remain steadfast in our mission to nourish whole beings and whole communities,” Desrosiers said “This transition allows us to focus our energy and resources on growing our Portsmouth location located in the West End and developing new channels to serve our community with the same heart and soul that have defined us from the beginning.” Former Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Hunter has today officially left the club by mutual consent After serving under both Rob Baxter and Ali Hepher as forwards coach Hunter was named Chiefs head coach in March Commenting on the news, Exeter chairman and CEO said: “On behalf of everyone at Exeter Rugby Club I would like to express our gratitude to Rob for his dedication and the impact he has had during his time with us We wish him every success in his future endeavours.” Director of rugby, Rob Baxter added: “Rob has been an integral part of our coaching team across multiple seasons I want to personally thank him for his hard work and the positive influence he has had on the squad “Although it is never easy to part ways with someone who has contributed so much we look forward with confidence and enthusiasm as we continue to build on the strong foundations Rob has helped to establish.” Opinion: Exeter Chiefs call for the return of Caesar to resurrect ‘besieged empire’ The former London Scottish and Northampton Saints player joined Baxter’s coaching ticket in 2013 after leaving his role with the England U20s and played a key role in their rise to becoming English and European champions Hunter’s exit comes amid a damning statement from Rowe with the long-standing chairman detailing a breakdown of trust between the players and coaching staff “There has been a clear disconnect between the playing squad and the coaching staff and it is something we simply cannot allow to continue,” Rowe said in a statement on Wednesday “Exeter Rugby Club is built on togetherness “This is about more than just responding to results,” Rowe added “It’s about re-establishing who we are and where we’re going and each time we’ve come back stronger.” There has been no official statement regarding the future of fellow suspended coach Hepher was relieved of head coach duties to make for Hunter in March with the former England Saxons boss lined up to move into the club’s academy staff at the end of the season READ MORE: England hopeful sees Test hopes shattered ahead of Americas tour Planet Rugby assesses the key contenders to take over as Exeter Chiefs' new head coach Frank made his debut on the new cooking reality show by the producers of Bravo's "Top Chef" Monday night The show features 12 highly skilled chefs who or short fuses are holding them back from reaching their full potential." the chefs compete in culinary challenges with one contestant eliminated by the end of the show it's a chance to transform your career and yourself," Andrés said you will compete in a culinary challenge where we judge you solely on your food but each challenge is also designed to stress test your leadership and how well you work as a team," Stewart added The winner of the competition, and who improves "their behavior under Martha and José's guidance," takes home the $250,000 grand prize provided by granola brand Purely Elizabeth "You are all here because you are the best of the best when we talk about cooking," Andrés said "But each one of you has been recommended to us by a close friend who understands something is holding you back," Stewart said "When it comes to cooking you can dish it out," Stewart said "But you may also throw a dish to someone's head," Andrés said According to Frank's bio on the show's website "Lee has a chip on his shoulder after being overlooked in the past," Frank's bio reads thinks that this resentment is hindering his growth in the industry especially with Lee’s goal of starting his own restaurant group Chef!,' Lee wants to show his community that he’s not just a great chef but he’s able to improve on his self-doubt Chef Lee Frank butts heads with former 'Top Chef' contestantThe first cooking challenge titled "Captain Control Freaks," required three contestants to take on the role of team captains selected based on the four-course menus they had previously submitted Frank was placed on chef Katsuji Tanabe's blue team tasked with developing a new four-course menu in just 10 minutes followed by 90 minutes to prepare the dishes "Today's question is can you lead without micromanaging," Stewart said team captains were given a choice by Stewart and Andrés: to cook the menu devised by their team or to have their team cook the menu that earned them the captain role who appeared on "Top Chef" and was nominated for this show due to being labeled a "bully," opted to stick with his own menu contestants provide commentary in a style reminiscent of "Survivor" and "The Real Housewives" "I just got (expletive) run over," Frank vented "Now I'm cooking a dish with (expletive) I would never use "Katsuji's taking upon himself to micromanage literally every single thing you make." noting that his fish "seems like it was started a little bit too early and is just sitting there getting cold The team's meal consisted of endive salad with lemon vinaigrette & shaved bottarga geoduck sashimi tostada with pickled shallots & habanero wood-fired grouper marinated in dried chili adobo and pork jowl nabemono & purple potato while members of the blue (Frank's team) and green teams faced the risk of being sent home Chef Michelle Francis — who was selected for the show because she "struggles with perfectionism and doesn’t always play nice with others" — was named "Most Valuable Chef" (MVC) by Stewart and Andrés Her dish on the red team was seared scallops with Italian couscous & pomegranate "She proved leadership isn't about micromanaging but knowing when to step in and when to trust," Stewart remarked Francis was granted the power to choose her opponent for a cook-off her competitor would be eliminated; if she lost her opponent could select a member from the losing teams for elimination who actively asked to be selected and said if he won he would pick whoever she wanted to be sent home but it's not going to happen," said Tanabe The two chefs faced off in a 45-minute cook-off under the theme "cuisine from around the world." Francis chose the cooking style Tanabe emerged victorious with his vegetarian Greek salad dish which outshined Francis' red snapper that Stewart criticized as "chalky" and "very fishy." Peart had the "least favorite dish" in the team challenge — a lobster gazpacho — which Stewart criticized as "a little sloppy something I would send back at a restaurant." During the cook-off Tanabe stirred controversy by grabbing ingredients which he deliberately left unused to prevent Francis from incorporating it into her dish He later attributed his decision to eliminate Peart to Francis Lee is now one of 11 contestants competing for the title following "The Voice." Fans can also stream episodes on Peacock after they become available the next day Frank also owns the casual hotdog and “burger joint” Lee Frank’s in South Berwick, which he opened in 2021, and one in Wells, Maine, which he opened in 2024. He's opening a third location in Exeter next month In 2024 and 2025, Frank was named one of the 16 semifinalists for best chef in the Northeast in the 2024 James Beard Foundation Awards Frank is also no stranger to reality television He has also appeared on "Chopped" and "Beat Bobby Flay," where he won the first round with his country-fried steak EXETER — Police executed a search warrant at Lotus Foot Spa and Wellness as part of a four-year investigation according to Exeter Police Chief Stephan Poulin "We executed a search warrant at the Lotus Spa for evidence of illegal activities related to prostitution and human trafficking," Poulin said "It is an extensive investigation spanning several years Multiple agencies are involved and the case is open.”  Poulin did not indicate whether charges are expected or what was found during the search. Records from the New Hampshire secretary of state’s office lists the owner of the business Attempts to reach the business owner were unsuccessful A call to the phone number listed in the business records went unanswered A person who answered the business’s publicly listed phone number initially hung up but later texted Polulin stated the investigation was opened in January 2021 as a result of a tip Some individuals working near Lotus Foot Spa said they were aware of the investigation noting a high volume of vehicles with Massachusetts plates and primarily male customers entering the spa A person who answered the phone at a neighboring business said they recall when police began the investigation in 2021 He said fellow employees also saw the search take place in March "If evidence shows there is illegal activity at Lotus then this would be Exeter's second such case." The owner, Ken Ma, was charged and pleaded guilty in 2019 to violating the federal Travel Act the owner placed online ads on the personals section of websites establishment and carrying on of prostitution.” "If any future businesses are planning to come into Exeter to perform illegal activities such as human trafficking then know that the Exeter police will partner with federal and state authorities to investigate and prosecute to the fullest," Poulin said and they need to be protected and removed from potential abuse while those that make money off of their suffering face justice."    Exeter School Board candidate 2025: Kathleen PrattPortsmouth HeraldName: Kathleen (Kate) Pratt Occupation: Physical therapist in private practice Political or civic experience highlights: My support to date has been as a citizen in our community who has been engaged through meeting attendance/viewing but also the state/ federal laws that impact our community's budget and decision-making What would be your top three priorities if you are elected?: 1 including those who do not have children in the school Continuing to ensure that our elementary schools are places where all children feel safe and cared for so that they are able to learn to their capability Continue to support staff autonomy in the classroom allowing our children to receive the best of their vast knowledge and experience equity and inclusion in schools?: This question seems so loaded in today's political climate I am running for an elementary school board that services children from kindergarten to fifth grade how can we not care for them in the best way possible meaning "in the place of a parent." As a parent we of course work to create spaces where differences are valued and celebrated where children are supported with what they need to learn and where they are valued for who they are My goal as a school board member is to build a strong school for the community in which children can succeed The job of educators is to create an environment in which that can more easily happen equity and inclusion allow this to occur and better prepare our children for their future What else should voters know about you?: I am a product of Exeter schools I am grateful for the many opportunities I have been given by all who contributed to this community PLLC a Holistic PT practice in town which gives me the flexibility to do this work It is the right time for me to give back for all that has been given to me EXETER — Three men arrested in Tuesday’s police manhunt in the town forest were arraigned Wednesday All are being held on preventive detention as a judge deemed them to be a danger to the community were arrested Tuesday on charges of resisting arrest or detention after reports of gunfire near the Henderson-Swasey Town Forest Rosado was also charged with simple assault and a second resisting arrest charge for allegedly hitting an Exeter police lieutenant’s arm during the incident A fourth man seen with the three is still unidentified and at large Authorities searched for several hours in a large wooded area of the town forest with the help of several agencies and a New Hampshire State Police helicopter Poulin said Wednesday morning police are confident the suspect is no longer in the area Previous story: Three arrested, one at large after gunfire reported in Exeter near town forest Officers were dispatched to the area of the forest at approximately 12:24 p.m They said at least two of the men were reported to be armed with a handgun Police were told by the person who called that there was a group of men shooting guns in the woods and laughing according to a police affidavit written by Exeter police Lt they walked down a trail and came upon two of the men West wrote in the affidavit that he asked Rosado if they had been shooting in the woods “no.” Rosado then asked West if he could tell them where they were This is when police say Rosado allegedly assaulted West by hitting him “I then grabbed his right hand in an attempt to handcuff and detain him,” West wrote The officer wrote he then pulled out his firearm “stop.” West then chased the unidentified man West wrote he also saw the other two men running in the direction of the Western Front biking trail who had detained Rosado and recovered a firearm from him Other officers located the remaining two men on Industrial Drive West and Joseph also discovered a second handgun along the trail as well as a shoe matching the one Deleon was missing when apprehended Exeter police detective Patrick Mulholland stated Deleon told officers he had been "jumped." When asked for further details Deleon refused to comment until speaking to an attorney he said the two suspects fit the description of the men seen running Joseph indicated one of them could have been wearing the ski mask noting the person had a dark complexion visible under the mask Poulin said the investigation is ongoing and more charges may be forthcoming Poulin said while they were not immediately charged with firearms violations he said it could be illegal to shoot in the town woods depending on proximity to homes which would be considered reckless conduct “It is also illegal to assault an officer and then to run after being told to stop,” Poulin said “These crimes coupled with being armed with firearms unknown identities and unknown reasons for shooting (at what at who?) sparked the need for further investigation and to locate (them).” The three men are now awaiting their next hearing who served as prosecutor at the arraignment said resisting arrest would not normally result in preventive detention but he said given the circumstances of the case they were considered a danger to the public Mulholland told the judge Negron was previously convicted of assault and battery assault with a dangerous weapon in 2023 and was on probation The other two did not have adult criminal records although Mulholland said Deleon has an active warrant issued Tuesday from Massachusetts from the Department of Youth Services Rosado said he would not be a flight risk if he returned to his community He said he lives with his family and wants to return to work and care for his son The judge said while Rosado did not have an adult criminal history there was evidence he was a flight risk because he ran from police Local schools were advised to remain on lockdown in Exeter and Newfields during the incident out of an abundance of caution though police said there was no direct threat Exeter Chiefs chief executive Tony Rowe has cited the ‘clear disconnect’ between the players and coaching staff as the reason behind the dramatic suspension of Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher The pair were both relieved of their duties following Sunday’s 79-17 thrashing at the hands of Gloucester with director of rugby Rob Baxter being handed front-line coaching duties until the end of the season In an impassioned statement, long-standing Chiefs chairman and CEO Rowe detailed the reasons behind the dramatic decision to suspend both coaches “There has been a clear disconnect between the playing squad and the coaching staff and it is something we simply cannot allow to continue Exeter Rugby Club is built on togetherness Exeter Chiefs swing axe after ‘unacceptable’ Premiership defeat as coaching duo ‘suspended’ “This is about more than just responding to results,” Rowe added Rowe issued a rallying cry to the club’s supporters to stick with the team “I would also like to extend a heartfelt thanks to supporters for their unwavering loyalty and passion throughout the season The bond between the team and the fans has always been a cornerstone of the club’s success and that unity will be more important than ever as the Chiefs look to build momentum heading into the future.” Following the suspension of Hepher and Hunter, who had both had spells as club head coach this season, Baxter was handed front-line coaching duties until the end of the season His first spell as head coach began in 2009 leading them to promotion from the Championship in his first season and later lifting three Premiership Cups ‘Hysterical’ online verdict as Exeter accused of ‘losing the plot’ after banning two coaches Rowe backed the former club captain to ‘write the next successful chapter’ of the club’s story “Rob is the right person to bring everyone back onto the same page to ensure that every player and coach is working towards the same goals.” “His understanding of what it takes to build a winning culture and develop players to their full potential is unrivalled in the club’s history.” “With Rob playing a more active coaching role again we are confident this is the first step in writing the next successful chapter of the Exeter Chiefs story.” Exeter return to Premiership action next weekend as they take on Northampton Saints at Sandy Park READ MORE: Opinion: Exeter Chiefs call for the return of Caesar to resurrect ‘besieged empire’ EXETER — Voters overwhelmingly voted to spend $2.1 million to remove the Pickpocket Dam at Tuesday's election The bond article was approved by a vote of 1501 to 723 gaining the necessary three-fifths needed to pass The article was in response to the state Department of Environmental Services ordering the town to address the "high hazard" dam due to its potential for failure Town Manager Russ Dean said while the article asked voters to "raise and appropriate" the funds the town is seeking grants to offset the cost by up to 100 percent The removal of the dam was controversial as there were dueling campaigns one to save it as well as one to remove it The Friends of the Exeter River launched a Change.org petition to preserve the dam and organized several demonstrations outside Town Hall to advocate for their cause including one on March 1 called the "Don't Waste Our Dam Money" protest "There’s six miles of river above the dam that goes into Brentwood and all that water will be lost,” said Catherine Edison one of the members of Friends of Exeter River Other members have argued the dam's removal will forever change the environment and potentially impact wildlife taking away opportunities to use the river for activities such as kayaking and canoeing argue that it is the most cost-effective option based on the current "high hazard" classification Alternatives outlined in a feasibility study by VHB include spending $3.7 million to raise the top of the dam or $3.5 million to maintain its current water level while adding a second spillway on the left side returning the Exeter River to a free-flowing state by removing the Pickpocket Dam would lead to long-term environmental benefits A “Free the Exeter River” group was formed in response to the Friends of the Exeter River protests They argued that "freeing the Exeter River will help to reduce the risk of downstream flooding and is the lowest cost option for Exeter taxpayers." contracts and moreVoters also approved the town's $23.9 million budget $4.6 million water fund budget and $8.1 million sewer budget is estimated to have a tax impact of $27 for every $100,000 of assessed property valuation Sixty-four percent of the operating budget is allocated to the town’s three largest departments Diving the increase in the budget are wages and benefits The budget also includes two new positions a human resources director (budgeted for 9 months at $117,707 including benefits) and a part-time senior coordinator in Parks and Recreation ($32,125 Voters also approved $395,000 for a new street sweeper $575,000 to replace the fuel island station at the DPW Complex and a $1.2 million bond for repairs to the Linden Street Bridge over the Exeter River Three new three-year contracts for public works police and firefighters also gained approval A question to install two two-port electric vehicle chargers in the downtown municipal parking lot also got approval and the warrant article is contingent on the town receiving a grant covering 80 percent of the costs would come from the town's unassigned fund balance Another warrant article dependent on a grant that gained approval was a request to purchase a Styrofoam Densifier Unit to divert more waste from the landfill Voters also approved a zoning amendment to allow short-term rentals like Airbnb's in the Central Area Commercial and Waterfront Commercial zones All the races for town offices were uncontested Select Board members Julie Gilman and Niko Papakinstantis were each elected to another term as were Diana Perry Cathleen Toomey and Barbara Young to the Library Board of Trustees Nick Drinker was elected as Trustee of the Robinson Fund and Dwane Staples as Trustee of the Swazey Parkway Katherine Miller will serve another term as town moderator Pratt elected to Exeter School BoardPatrick O'Day and Kathleen Pratt were elected to the Exeter School Board at Tuesday's election defeating challenger Seariskaw "Shonni" Holmes followed by Pratt with 1,012 and Holmes with 915 Voters also approved the school district's $25,769,231 budget and a new three-year contract for the Exeter Paraprofessional Association Also approved was a request for $75,000 to be placed in the Special Education Expendable Trust Fund and $50,000 for the school's Capital Reserve Fund Both articles will be paid with surplus budget funds from the prior year The club expressed its sincere gratitude for Hunter’s significant and valued contributions over many years highlighting his commitment and professionalism as key to the club’s journey Chairman Tony Rowe acknowledged Hunter's dedication and impact “On behalf of everyone at Exeter Rugby club I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Rob for his dedication and the impact he’s had during his time with us we wish him success in his future endeavors,” Chairman Tony said in a club statement Director of Rugby Rob Baxter also thanked Hunter for his hard work “Rob has been an integral part of our coaching team across multiple season loyalty and positive influence he’s had in the squad,” Baxter said in a club statement While acknowledging the difficulty of the separation Baxter expressed confidence in the club’s future building upon the foundations Hunter helped to establish “Although it is never easy to part ways with someone who has contributed so much we look forward with confidence and enthusiasm as we continue to build on the strong foundations Rob has helped to establish,” Baxter said in a club statement Hunter joined Baxter’s coaching team in 2013 after departing England U20’s role in their growth to become European champions Baxter will lead the coaching team till end season Exeter’s next match will be against Northampton whose strategic involvement helped drive the club through key seasons now leaves Sandy Park after a tenure defined by both loyalty and achievement.  His exit marks the turning point for the Devon-based club which has been under scrutiny in recent weeks following whispers of misalignment at the top Chairman and Chief Executive Tony Rowe CBE acknowledged the depth of the departure but remained gracious in tone “Rob has given so much to this club over the years — his work ethic and determination will not be forgotten “ We’re grateful for his time here and wish him nothing but success going forward,” said Rowe in a statement published on the club’s website The decision follows what insiders describe as “philosophical differences” in the direction of the club particularly concerning player development and management style Director of Rugby Rob Baxter also weighed in on the transition praising his former colleague’s legacy while making it clear that the team is ready to move on “It’s never easy to say goodbye to someone who’s played such a key role His passion and energy shaped a lot of what we’ve become and I’m thankful for that".  we’re embracing a new chapter with optimism and focus,” Baxter shared in a statement published on the Exeter Chiefs' website With playoffs around the corner and fans eager for clarity The Chiefs now turn their attention to restructuring keen to maintain stability as they navigate this unexpected shift at the top is the sous chef at Otis Restaurant in Exeter and the one who nominated chef Lee Frank He got chopped from “Chopped” and won the first round in “Beat Bobby Flay” with his country fried steak is tackling his most personal cooking challenge to date: his temper in the kitchen who is the owner and executive chef at Otis in Exeter is one of a dozen chef contestants on “Yes Chef!” a new series premiering on NBC at 10 p.m The show features Martha Stewart and José Andrés as co-hosts and judges The show sought chefs who are known for their talent but also have something that is holding them back who has been Frank’s sous chef for more than five years saw the call for contestants while scrolling online and thought his mentor would be an ideal chef to participate “He’s a grumpy old man,” Vazquez said of Frank He felt that Frank’s resentment and attitude was holding him back from growth in the industry especially with Frank’s goal of starting his own restaurant group He thought “this is great” when Frank was called up for an interview for the show last fall Frank said while his sous chef didn’t tell him exactly what he wrote “whatever he said was not false.” Frank acknowledged that his temper presents in different ways but I was willing to admit it on national television,” he said He viewed the show’s premise as a creative way to tackle this tendency “I just figured it was a good opportunity to show my food to the world as well as have the opportunity to work on myself and be vulnerable,” he said “If my life journey affects any single person While Frank cannot reveal how he did on the show he says he learned things about himself through the process I’m making the choice to react with anger,” he said He’s now working on calming down and thinking about the situation before reacting Frank points to times during dinner service when things don’t go the way they are supposed to and instead of telling himself that “human beings make mistakes” and it’s not that big of a deal his reaction is to “chuck a pan against the stove.” The California native opened Otis in Exeter in 2016 after serving as the executive chef at the nationally acclaimed Arrows Restaurant in Ogunquit When restaurants shut down during the pandemic Frank began offering takeout fried chicken and smash burgers which became the catalyst for him to open Lee Frank’s Burgers followed by a second location in Wells in 2024 and an anticipated third location in Exeter in 2025 He has been a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef Northeast for the past two years American regional cuisine and is known for his creativity “I love the idea that we come up with a dish we don’t work on something for months on end,” he said “I also like the fact that I can use my platform as a chef for things that are bigger and better than me whether that’s through charity work or donations.” a benefit for the Exeter Area Scholarship Fund which provides financial assistance to students who might not otherwise pursue post-secondary education He recently took part in the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival in California Frank can’t reveal everything but said it was an incredible opportunity I have utmost respect for what they’ve accomplished in their careers,” he said the show has a main challenge and an elimination challenge which results in one chef being sent home weekly “They are set up to challenge ourselves in both our cooking skills and our leadership skills in the kitchen,” he said “I learned that I am OK putting myself in uncomfortable and unfamiliar situations and being able to push myself out of my comfort zone,” he said he has a familiar routine with writing the menu day-to-day prep work or even his role as a father driving his daughters to their activities he had to “relinquish all control” and “not fall on my face.” The best part of the experience was simply being a part of the show “It sounds like a silly answer but it’s season one so we really didn’t know what we were in for,” he said “I think just soaking it all in was really the best part of it How often do you get the opportunity to be part of a television show Vazquez is looking forward to watching it on Monday night and says he is thankful to work with Frank “Being here has been the best education in this industry and just what it means to be a chef and it’s made me a better chef because of it,” he said “If I was to start writing in notebooks I would run out of paper.” Frank is approaching the premiere in his low-key style and is planning to watch with family and a few friends His 11-year-old told him people at school told her they’d seen him in the commercials advertising the show ‘Can you not be famous for one day’ and “I told her (This story has been updated with new information.) EXETER — A former assistant coach for the Exeter High School’s boys hockey team is facing felony charges alleging he was in possession of child sexual abuse images was arrested Monday on 10 Class A felony charges of possession of child sexual abuse images The department stated in a press release the images did not involve anyone local Barbin was arraigned Tuesday on the charges in Brentwood District Court He is currently being held in preventive detention after a judge ruled his release would “endanger the safety of the community.” In the arrest warrant, Exeter police Detective Bailey Teixeira wrote Barbin had been working as the school’s assistant hockey coach since 2019 She also wrote Barbin coached the Make-A-Wish All-Star Hockey Classic in 2024 involving male and female high school seniors from Vermont and New Hampshire More: Kittery man faces DWI, reckless conduct charges after driving wrong way on I-95 said Barbin was a volunteer coach and never employed by the district She said SAU 16 learned of the investigation Feb at which point they notified Barbin he was no longer eligible for volunteer coaching "We encourage any Exeter families that have concerns to contact central office," Murray said Barbin possessed computer files of young boys committing sexual acts with adult males They included videos as long as 15 minutes and photos and videos that included multiple children Barbin was identified as a suspect by the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which includes Teixeira. New Hampshire ICAC receives tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which sends tips to ICAC teams around the country 'Flooded with cases': New Hampshire sees spike in online predators targeting children 30 that a cloud storage Dropbox account in Exeter had "apparent child pornography." The account led police to Barbin and police applied for a search warrant for his residence and vehicle on Feb Teixeira and a detective from the Merrimack Police Department conducted the search and interviewed Barbin Teixeira noted Barbin admitted to having used Dropbox during his college years and acknowledged creating an account as a teenager told police he was “addicted to porn a little bit but there is a line drawn in the sand.” He told police he never shared or downloaded any “child porn,” but he did admit to clicking on links that had such images Teixeira wrote Barbin told police he sometimes clicks on links that show “weird things” on Twitter which he described as “full of porn.” He also stated he has bought links in the past to access adult content including “Bates,” which refers to someone getting catfished into sending nudes that are then posted online stated that leads to groups of files that have pictures of child sexual abuse Barbin also told the officers there was “no chance” that he has had an inappropriate relationship with any of the hockey players on the team he coached turned up two iPads in addition to multiple other electronic devices A search warrant was then granted for Barbin’s Dropbox account on March 12 showed a number of files with alleged child sexual abuse images Barbin is scheduled for a probable cause hearing on April 3 He is being represented by the New Hampshire Public Defender office Barbin could face a prison sentence of 7 to 15 years on each count Hampton Beach L Street Tavern burglary: Two charged in what owner calls 'inside job' heist EXETER — The debate over the removal of Pickpocket Dam has sparked a divide among some community members making it a key issue for the upcoming March 11 vote Taxpayers are looking at $2.1 million to fund the removal of the dam unless the town is awarded grants to offset the cost by up to 100% One of these grants is the $300,000 Great Bay 2030 Grant which Town Manager Russ Dean said the Select Board feels “very very good that we will be awarded the grant.” The town is also applying for two additional grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration More: Exeter Democrats protest president's agenda: 'Impeach Trump Now' Friends of the Exeter River oppose the removal for many reasons including that they feel the “high hazard” classification is unfounded and an appeal should be made to the NHDES They said the current "high hazard" status is based on a Dam Breach Analysis Report that applied a 1,000-year storm standard instead of the typical 100-year storm standard requiring the dam to withstand over two and a half times the volume of water “As a result, all engineering solutions presented are vastly over-designed and over-priced compared to the modest changes needed at the 100-year level – which the dam has already withstood in the 2006 Mother’s Day Flood,” read a post from the group’s Facebook page “We have to meet requirements to be prepared for a 1,000-year flood That's not going to fall here in a lifetime,” said member Cathy Edison “We have more danger with this snowstorm right now than we did with eight inches of water from the 2006 flood.” Edison emphasized the town has until 2027 to address the issue and that time should be spent appealing to the DES regarding their 1,000-year flood standard options for addressing the dam would be much cheaper than the $2.1 million More: RiverWoods 'massive' health center gains approval in Exeter despite opposition Another large reason why the group opposes the removal is due to the potential impacts on wildlife around the dam everything will be impacted if this dam is taken out,” said Edison “Countless species are going to lose their lives,” she said Edison said the dam’s removal would also impact recreation “People come from all around to put their canoes in and go upstream,” Garnett said Others worry about the effects removal will have on their properties “I'm just above the dam in the impoundment area and I'm on a 50-foot cliff above the water,” said Garnett so my worry is that once they remove the water and I'll have more damage to my foundation.” Many group members from Brentwood are unhappy because they believe they will bear the brunt of the impact from the dam removal due to their portion of the river running upstream a question of listening and being sensitive to the people who are most directly affected by the removal of the dam,” said group member Moe Shore He added that he has heard people compare the removal of the Pickpocket Dam to the Great Dam which was located in the center of town until its removal in 2016 “The Great Dam was indeed a danger to the buildings that were adjacent to it “The decision to take down the Great Dam in the center of town is very different than taking down the Pickpocket Dam and which provides a river that people use for recreation and there's a habitat.” More: Why Exeter may lose out on $2M, and potentially more, due to Trump's federal grant freeze Friends of the Exeter River has held a series of protests throughout 2024 and the beginning of 2025 The past two weekends the group rallied at the Water Street Bridge A third protest is set to be held next Saturday Feb “We're going to continue to protest and continue to get the word out there Garnett feels unsure whether the group will be successful in its mission “I would like to believe that the rest of the world is with us on this and I know that based on the deliberative session it was seven people voting to keep the dam and to save it and there were 97 people in the deliberative session that voted to put it on the warrant article for removal.” “I hope that people will vote no and rethink this I'm saying it's a 50-50 shot at this point.” Voters will also elect Select Board members views of candidates and a look at the top issues on the ballot Exeter: Seacoast School of Technology in the Talbot Gym Residents who are not already registered to vote can register at the polls on Election Day you need to fill out a Voter Registration Form with your local clerk or supervisor of the checklist People registering to vote should bring documents showing proof of citizenship; proof of identity and age such as a driver’s license or government ID; and proof they are domiciled in that town Letters: Exeter area candidate endorsements from readers ahead of March 11 election There are 38 warrant articles on the ballot Fire/EMS and the Department of Public Works are three new three-year contracts for public works The town is also asking voters whether they want to install two two-port electric vehicle chargers Another warrant article dependent on a grant is $80,000 to purchase a Styrofoam Densifier Unit to divert more waste from the landfill Exeter residents are being asked to approve a $2.1 million bond to remove the Pickpocket Dam is on the Exeter River near Cross Road and Stoney Water Road in Exeter Town Manager Russ Dean said the project is on the warrant to “raise and appropriate the monies needed,” but the board is seeking grants to offset the cost by up to 100 percent like the organizers of the “Free the Exeter River” campaign “Freeing the Exeter River of the Pickpocket high-hazard dam and restoring the original river ecosystem will help to reduce the risk of downstream flooding and is the lowest cost option for Exeter taxpayers,” said Jim Breeling one of the organizers of the Free the Exeter River group Article 5 calls for a $1.2 million bond for repairs to the Linden Street Bridge over the Exeter River The work includes installing soil anchors to stabilize the existing timber-faced abutments and wingwalls; demolition and reconstruction of the abutment back wall; and replacing the existing guardrail and bridge rails Public Works Director Stephen Cronin said the additional funds will allow them to complete the project in 2025 Other bonds on the ballot include $395,000 for a new street sweeper and $575,000 to replace the fuel island station at the DPW Complex at 13 Newfields Road “The fuel island has reached the end of its life and is critical to the operation so we'd like to proceed with replacing that now as we continue to work on the design of the new facility,” said Cronin Exeter looks to make Airbnbs legal in townExeter currently has over 20 short-term rental listings on Airbnb and Vrbo with several emphasizing their proximity to Phillips Exeter Academy are not currently permitted under town regulations The town is seeking to change this through a proposed zoning amendment the amendment would allow short-term rentals in two specific zoning districts: Central Area Commercial and Waterfront Commercial The Central Area Commercial District encompasses properties along streets such as Water while the Waterfront Commercial District includes properties along the river Citizens' petitions on the ballot in MarchThere are several citizens' petition warrant articles on the ballot including one to discontinue the revitalization tax incentive program which gives tax incentives to owners and investors to spur the revitalization of a property Gerry Hamel said he put forth the article due to "property values more than doubling in the past 10 years and the lack of needing incentives to renovate." Five other articles were petitioned by Karishma Manzur with one directing the town to call on federal elected representatives to support the "safety and right to life of all people living in Israel and Palestine laws prohibiting weapons sales to countries that violate human rights and (3) ensure the safe delivery of food and medical supplies to the people of Gaza?" The other articles Manzur petitioned entailed several other state and national issues including pushing the town to call upon federal representatives to investigate the “massive fraud and waste in the US Department of Defense,” “support a $5,000 limit on contributions to political action committees,” “maintain New Hampshire’s public natural resources,” and “withdraw investments from weapons manufacturers that are profiting from gun violence.” A sample ballot of the town of Exeter ballot is here There are no contested races on the town side Incumbent Select Board members Julie Gilman and Niko Papakinstantis are running unopposed to retain their seats Seacoastonline and the Exeter News-Letter sent questionnaires to both candidates asking questions about their top priorities if elected Did not respond to candidate questionnaire Niko Papakinstantis:Exeter Select Board candidate answers questions on the issues Cathleen Toomey and Barbara Young running for the three seats on the Trustees of the Library Board Nick Drinker is running for Trustee of the Robinson Fund Pat Curtis for Trustee of Trust Funds and Dwane Staples for Trustee of the Swazey Parkway Katherine Miller is seeking another term as town moderator three candidates — Seariskaw "Shonni" Holmes incumbent Patrick O'Day and Kathleen Pratt — are vying for two spots on the Exeter School Board Seacoastonline and the Exeter News-Letter sent questionnaires to all three candidates Exeter School Board candidate answers questions on the issues Exeter School Board candidate answers questions on the issues Exeter School Board candidate answers questions on the issues There are no contested races for the seats available on the Exeter Region Cooperative School District School Board Brian Duffy is running for the Brentwood seat on the board Exeter Region Cooperative School Board candidate answers questions on the issues Exeter Region Cooperative School Board candidate answers questions on the issues Exeter Region Cooperative School Board candidate answers questions on the issues There is a race for the Newfields representative to the Cooperative School District Budget Committee between Mary Belanger and Michael Mackey Running unopposed for the committee is Paul Royal for the Exeter seat and Cameron Orr for the Stratham seat What's on the Exeter Region Cooperative School District ballot?Voters will decide the school district's proposed $71.2 million budget which is an increase of $2,735,640 over last year Salaries make up $33 million of the proposed budget not including the $8.1 million for insurance and $7.9 million for FICA and retirement Driving the budget spike is $116,014 in insurance increases $491,597 in special education contracted services and $1.7 million in special education tuition Transportation for special education increased $516,233 and First Student and homeless transportation went up $33,455 the $70.7 million default budget will go into effect which is last year's budget plus contractual and mandatory obligations The budget covers the Cooperative Middle School Seacoast School of Technology and the Exeter Adult Education program A new three-year contract for teachers is also on the ballot with the additional cost for the first year of $923,316 $1.18 million in 2027 and $1.09 million in 2028 Other articles include a request for $200,000 to be placed in the capital reserve fund for school buildings and $50,000 to be added to the Synthetic Turf Replacement Capital Reserve Fund A sample of the Exeter Region Cooperative School District ballot is here Voters will decide the school district's $25,769,231 budget and a new three-year contract for the Exeter Paraprofessional Association Also on the ballot is a request for $75,000 to be placed in the Special Education Expendable Trust Fund and $50,000 for the school's Capital Reserve Fund A sample ballot of the Exeter School District ballot is here. Jake Richards has made 31 appearances for Exeter City since his debut in August 2023 Highly rated Exeter City teenager Jake Richards says he would "love to stay" at the League One club The 17-year-old has still yet to agree his first professional deal at the club The midfielder has featured in 19 first-team games this season and was named the division's apprentice of the year at the English Football League (EFL) awards Negotiations between the club, Richards' representatives and his family are ongoing, with manager Gary Caldwell stating his desire to keep the talented midfielder at St James Park. "Exeter's my hometown club so I'd love to stay and I'd love to be here for as long as possible," Richards told BBC Radio Devon "But there's obviously things going on behind the scenes that aren't really in my control "Not everything's true in the media but I'd love to be here next season and prove again the type of player I am because I still believe that I haven't shown what I'm fully capable of yet." Jake Richards was named the EFL's League One apprentice of the season this week Richards is the latest young player come to through Exeter's much-admired academy, following in the footsteps of the likes of Ollie Watkins Having made his debut as a 16-year-old in the first round of last season's Carabao Cup Richards' involvement in the first team has gradually increased This season he scored his first goals as a professional and has played 633 minutes in League One He says winning an EFL award for his work has inspired him to improve further "It's good that I've been recognised for my hard work and what I've done over the last two years," he said "It's obviously a personal achievement and I'm very happy about it but I've just got to go into next season and obviously try and do the same aiming towards maybe League One young player of the season and stuff like that." 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Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published attorneys general from nearly three dozen states announced a landmark legal settlement with the nation’s largest auto lender for risky borrowers Santander Consumer USA had for years made high-interest loans to people it knew couldn’t afford them When those borrowers got into financial trouble it allowed them to delay making payments — without disclosing the steep costs of doing so customers ended up owing thousands of dollars in surprise interest charges “Predatory lending practices like this led to the 2008 financial crisis and harmed millions,” Josh Shapiro then Pennsylvania’s attorney general and now its governor said in a press release announcing the settlement which imposed new consumer protections and required clearer disclosure about how loan extensions work The multistate effort, he added, “will put a stop to some of Santander’s most outrageous tactics.” The bank did not admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement, which it said resolved a “legacy underwriting issue.” But by the time the attorneys general were heralding their crackdown they were receiving strikingly similar complaints from customers with loans from another lender The company was being run by former Santander executives who had left that bank amid the investigation most of Exeter’s corporate leadership — including its CEO and its operations chief — was composed of people who had overseen Santander during the period that the state attorneys general said it was “misleading have taken a decidedly different approach with Exeter in 12 states that participated in the Santander agreement officials have taken little or no action in dozens of cases alleging nearly identical behavior The news organization reviewed nearly 200 consumer complaints filed with state regulators over the past five years and found they rarely pressed Exeter about its practices they asked Exeter to participate in a voluntary mediation process then closed the case when the company didn’t respond they just forwarded complaints to their counterparts in Texas an office sat on a complaint for months while the borrower’s car was repossessed Some attorneys general declined to answer questions for this story while others — such as those in Pennsylvania Georgia and California — did not release documents in response to our public records requests a University of Minnesota law professor who spent years in charge of consumer protection at the Minnesota attorney general’s office said attorneys general often have limited staff and money to bring cases against companies “and you bet players like subprime auto lenders know that.” At least two states now appear to be scrutinizing Exeter Georgia has acknowledged investigating the company and Louisiana recently signaled potential action after ProPublica published the first part of its series last month the state attorney general’s office said it “cannot comment on ongoing investigations.” Enforcement from attorneys general is particularly significant for auto borrowers given how little recourse they have for legal action a law professor at the University of Utah and a former senior official at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Many car loan contracts explicitly limit borrrowers’ right to bring cases in civil courts by forcing them into arbitration Consumer rights lawyers “often give indirect auto finance companies and car dealers a free pass because it’s so difficult to get them into court anymore,” he said That makes state attorneys general one of the few official checks on the country’s trillion-dollar auto lending industry Over the past decade, Exeter has grown to become one of the largest players in the business, with more than 500,000 active loans worth $10 billion. As ProPublica reported last month, extensions are fundamental to its business model The company routinely grants borrowers several extensions which typically add thousands of dollars in new interest charges to the loan Dozens of customers told ProPublica that Exeter didn’t clearly disclose the charges even as the extensions drove them deeper into debt The news organization reached out to Exeter’s executives for this story and they either declined to comment or did not return calls the company issued a statement defending its extension practice which it said “has been heavily reviewed by its regulators and is fully compliant with all applicable laws.” It did not answer questions about which regulators had reviewed its practices “Extensions are granted to customers who request them so that they can remain in their vehicles and provide for their families,” the company said ProPublica’s investigation found these payment deferments can do the opposite though with borrowers losing their cars even after paying the equivalent of the original loan or more At the start of 2016, Exeter was headed toward failure. Financial disclosures show it had lost about $50 million over the previous two years. Its turnaround coincided with the arrival of a new leadership team that had a long history in subprime auto loans — and in aggressively granting financially shaky borrowers multiple extensions had just spent more than a decade at Santander had been working for Santander in a similar capacity The two joined Exeter while their former employer was embroiled in state and federal investigations into allegedly deceptive and unfair lending practices A slew of other Santander staffers — from the company’s human resources compliance and executive arms — followed them joined Exeter’s board of directors in 2019 and today is also its chief financial officer “We went ahead and kind of got the gang back together again,” said a former executive at Exeter and Santander who asked to not be named for fear of professional repercussions Neither a federal settlement with Santander in 2018 nor the subsequent one from state attorneys general named the bank’s individual executives While regulators have the power to do so when they bring legal actions against companies they rarely use it with major lenders like Santander a professor of consumer law at the University of California the government’s chief aim is getting a settlement that results in fines and reforms for consumers and the people running those financial institutions “are going to fight really hard” against cases that target them directly Exeter’s Texas headquarters are in a suburb just 15 minutes from Santander Tower Exeter loosened its lending criteria: It began approving borrowers with a debt-to-income ratio of up to 70% meaning they would spend as much as $7 of every $10 of their paychecks on the car loan and other debts each month (Consumer advocates and lenders recommend borrowers keep their debt ratio around 35%.) Exeter also accepted customers with lower credit scores than it had previously lent them more money than before — as much as $50,000 per loan — and gave them more time to repay it Some agreed to repayment schedules stretching longer than six years meaning more costly loans over the course of the term Many borrowers had trouble fulfilling the terms Financial disclosures show the number of Exeter loans with five or more payment extensions soared in the first three years after Grubb and Martin took over Exeter went into the black in 2016 and stayed there claiming $94 million in pretax profit in 2018 Exeter said in a statement that “extensions are not a profit strategy.” However ProPublica found the company sometimes made more money on loans that defaulted than on ones in which borrowers paid on time it resets the clock and reclassifies the delinquent loan as being on schedule Exeter has done this in some cases as many as 12 times over the course of a 72-month loan with borrowers continuing to make payments in hopes of catching up Some of them turned to their attorneys general for help even before the regulators had finalized their settlement with Santander The consumers alleged that Exeter had added huge interest charges without clear explanation sent such a complaint to state Attorney General Daniel Cameron Wells was trying to prevent Exeter from seizing her 2008 GMC Acadia She wrote that she’d taken multiple extensions with the understanding that Exeter had moved the payments “to the end of the loan to keep me current.” At the time but she was nevertheless on the verge of repossession Nearly all of her payments had gone to interest Cameron’s office took months to contact Exeter about Wells’ complaint it simply forwarded her letter to the company which confirmed it had given her five extensions Exeter had already repossessed Wells’ car and auctioned it off Records obtained by the attorney general’s office show Exeter’s extension notices did not explain that Wells’ payments would first be applied to the interest from extensions which would delay repayment of the original loan balance The notices only hinted at the financial consequences saying “any payments you can make before they are due will help you minimize interest.” The company has said that it updated its written disclosures in late 2021 — roughly 18 months after the Santander settlement — but declined to provide copies or details about the changes clarified how interest charges increase and payments are applied after extensions they did not include the actual dollar amount of what the deferments would cost the letter directed them to call a toll-free number who left the attorney general’s office this year after an unsuccessful bid for governor And while on paper it technically applied to just one company consumer advocates and legal experts say it should have telegraphed new standards for all lenders regulators “are putting every other company on notice that we will come after you,” said Ira Rheingold executive director of the National Association of Consumer Advocates some attorneys general pledged to do exactly that “Lenders and servicers have an obligation to deal fairly with Washington borrowers,” said the state’s attorney general who had helped craft the Santander settlement my office will be there to protect Washingtonians.” Matthew Hutchinson hoped for that kind of protection when he contacted Ferguson’s office in early 2022 He’d been rear-ended while driving on a highway near Vancouver flipping his Nissan Frontier over the center median and into oncoming traffic but he was sure the insurance payout would easily cover whatever he still owed on his Exeter loan Hutchinson had taken five extensions during months when money was tight He said Exeter told him he would owe some extra interest but he was given nothing in writing and had assumed the cost would be “reasonable.” The deferments had actually added about $4,000 in interest to his debt according to ProPublica’s analysis of Hutchinson’s loan records Hutchinson filed a complaint accusing Exeter of charging excessive interest and Ferguson's office sent a letter to Exeter the lender acknowledged it had granted Hutchinson the extensions But the attorney general’s staff did not press for more information about whether Exeter had explained how extensions add additional interest charges one of the requirements of the states’ Santander settlement it sent the matter to its voluntary mediation program designed to help consumers and businesses reach an agreement and Ferguson’s office closed the case a month later “I was confused and frustrated,” Hutchinson recalled of the swift dismissal “Because I thought the only thing I could do was contact the attorney general’s office and see if there was any way they could help me.” He said he’s still being pursued for the charges the extensions created Exeter declined to comment on specific cases for this story but it defended its practices in a statement “Customers always receive an Extension Agreement,” the company said “Any assertion that a customer wasn’t provided an Agreement is false.” Ferguson’s office also declined to discuss Hutchinson’s case but confirmed that it closes complaints if a business does not respond said that closed complaints “can and do sometimes lead to open investigations and civil enforcement.” She would not comment on whether that had happened in Hutchinson’s case attorneys general didn’t even contact Exeter when they received complaints That was the outcome in New Jersey after Sophia Nelson and her husband wrote to state Attorney General Gurbir S The couple had struggled to make their monthly car payment to Exeter while caring for their daughter and they filed a complaint in 2020 saying that the extensions added $9,000 in interest to their debt Grewal declined to investigate and sent the complaint to Attorney General Ken Paxton in Exeter’s home state of Texas Paxton’s office told Nelson it could not take direct action on every complaint and would contact her “if we need additional information.” Nelson said she and her husband never heard anything more She said they didn’t expect the complaint would help them personally but they “hoped there would have been some legal action taken or at the minimum an investigation of Exeter’s practices.” The spokesperson for New Jersey’s attorney general said the office’s action was a “customary” response to consumer complaints Paxton’s office in Texas did not respond to multiple requests for comment said the public pronouncements of attorneys general are often constrained by the fiscal realities of their offices — something that companies are well aware of Lenders “should be afraid of the AGs,” he said “but at the same time they know that there are limits.” nearly two years after Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul declared that his settlement “holds Santander accountable and sets an important precedent,” a consumer wrote to him stating that Exeter stood to collect “300% of the original amount financed” thanks in part to extensions After seeking information about how interest was charged on these deferments the borrower reported that “Exeter refused to provide me with any relief.” Raoul’s office had led the multistate coalition against Santander But when the consumer told Exeter they’d be telling the attorney general about their problems they said the company “showed no concern.” told ProPublica the complaint was closed after “an attempted but unsuccessful mediation.” She wouldn’t provide further details Help ProPublica Investigate the World of Subprime Car Loans More and more people are struggling to pay back loans on their used cars Our journalists want to hear from the people who know the industry best The story you just read was made possible by our readers We hope it inspires you to support ProPublica so we can continue producing investigations that shine a light on power ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to nonpartisan evidence-based journalism that holds power accountable Founded in 2008 to address the decline in investigative reporting we’ve spent over 15 years uncovering injustice expensive and more critical than ever to our democracy With seven Pulitzer Prizes and reforms sparked in state and local governments our reporting ensures that the public interest comes first ProPublica remains on the front lines of the stories that matter most Your gift helps us keep the powerful accountable and the truth accessible Join over 80,000 supporters nationwide in standing up for investigative journalism that informs Donate to ProPublica I worked with communities to cover business and consumer protection issues with a focus on exposing harm done to large groups of people Ryan Gabrielson was a reporter for ProPublica covering health care ProPublica will focus on the areas most in need of scrutiny Here are some of the issues our reporters will be watching — and how to get in touch with 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Email Address: Arrow Right Sign Up ProPublica Investigative Journalism in the Public Interest © Copyright 2025 Pro Publica Inc Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) Thank you for your interest in republishing this story You are free to republish it so long as you do the following: Exeter School Board candidate 2025: Shonni HolmesPortsmouth HeraldName: Shonni Holmes BIPOC Kids on the Block LLC; board member and artistic committee chair Political or civic experience highlights: I have never run for office of any kind but I have always found ways to serve the communities in which I've lived via volunteering theatre-based community engagement programs What would be your top three priorities if you are elected?: If elected to the Exeter Elementary School Board my top three priorities would be to champion essential services and resources like occupational and speech therapies among others; amplify the diverse perspectives of parents in our community and collaborate closely with parents to ensure that their concerns are heard and validated - especially as it relates to belongingness and acceptance among our school community; and support the policies that ensure high-quality education inclusive of science that is truly "free and appropriate" and serves to cultivate dynamic should encapsulate the characteristics of a community School is often where children first learn how to interact and communicate across barriers with those who differ from themselves and their family members With a rapidly growing youth of color population and the discrimination that LGBTQ+ youth face I believe it is imperative that we continue the valuable work in our schools that promote genuine fairness and celebration of distinctions honoring all of the people that represent the fabric of our community DEI is an acronym; it can be erased or abolished But strong values are what truly sustain dignity and progress What else should voters know about you?: I am originally from Los Angeles the community feel of Exeter is not too dissimilar to my hometown I appreciate the support I have received to be able to make positive change and be a resource to families; and I love being able to support so many small businesses and community organizations that are striving to keep Exeter a safe one of whom will attend Main Street School in the Fall My husband coaches all of the Exeter Rec Department sports for the youngest groups and I am often the "team mom" who provides snacks whenever I can I love the seasons and being able to watch my children and their friends grow up and experience the beauty of New Hampshire has been an absolute joy I am looking forward to the election and getting to know so many more families as a member of the Exeter School Board entered the plea in Rockingham Superior Court as part of a negotiated plea deal with prosecutors He was sentenced to concurrent terms of 3½ to 7 years on two charges along with a suspended sentence of 7½ to 15 years on two additional charges the court recommended DuBois receive an assessment for sexual offender treatment treatment and educational programs as directed He also must register as a sex offender once released from prison DuBois was originally indicted on six counts of possession of child sex abuse images Prosecutors agreed to drop two of the charges as part of the plea deal According to a criminal complaint DuBois "did knowingly possess at least 35 visual representations of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct." The document states they were "images of nude boys and girls under the age of 18 engaging in various sexual acts." Police said the investigation began after officers received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in March 2024 The tip was reported by Google and all the files were uploaded to a Google Drive account by the same IP address that police later determined belonged to DuBois police issued a search warrant on DuBois' home on Juniper Ridge Road in Exeter and seized multiple items including a Toshiba I terabyte hard drive and an Apple laptop More than 5,600 images on the computer were flagged by Axiom as being "possible child abuse content," according to a police affidavit Police alleged DuBois' computer search history included "I accidentally saved child pornography to my main Google Drive" and "How to tell if Google has reported me to the police." DuBois is a New York Times bestselling authorShortly after his arrest suspended all promotion and sales of his books DuBois is a New York Times bestselling author and writer of 26 novels including “The First Lady” and “Cornwalls Are Gone.” He has also partnered with his mentor and “the most published author in the world,” James Patterson including “The Summer House,” “Blowback” and the recently released “Cross Down.” DuBois is best known for Lewis Cole mystery book series His works have also appeared in Playboy, The Strand Magazine and The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. He also appeared on the game show “Jeopardy” in 2012 Calif (FOX26) — A man was arrested in connection with the 2022 murder of an Exeter man deputies were called to a home in the area of Spruce and Alfred Streets in Exeter for a shooting TCSO deputies arrived and found a man identified as 65-year-old Richard Crowder of Exeter dead inside the home detectives identified 24-year-old Nicholas Hayes of Exeter as the suspect TCSO got an arrest warrant and found Hayes at a home on Friday at Florence Avenue near Riggin Avenue in Goshen He was booked into the TCSO Pre-Trial Facility and faces murder charges Tampa | St. Petersburg | Sarasota-Manatee the standout difference was the social aspects of student life.  Return to article listing Community, Teaching and Learning and service across three unique Tampa Bay campuses Honors News shares the exceptional stories of the Judy Genshaft Honors College Copyright © 2025, University of South Florida. All rights reserved This website is maintained by the Judy Genshaft Honors College Exeter’s empire certainly wasn’t built in a day The Devonians have been on a rollercoaster in the past 15 years The move from the County Ground to Sandy Park sparked far-fetched dreams of possible Premiership promotion but nobody could even fathom what would happen in the years since getting into the top flight Programmes used to joke about Exeter becoming Premiership champions even when the Chiefs began to mix it with the big dogs 2014 saw the first major honour enter the cabinet in the form of the LV= Cup (as it was then) winning the Premiership wasn’t a joke anymore as Gareth Steenson’s penalty saw them crowned champions for the first time after more final heartbreak at the hands of Saracens the greatest fortnight in Exeter’s history encapsulated what was a golden moment for a golden generation but Exeter’s empire was certainly destroyed in one George Skivington’s side, thrashed 90-0 themselves only a year previous, demolished the Chiefs 79-17 in front of a raucous Shed leaving this diehard fan (although neutral reporter may I add) head-in-hands and speechless in the press box Exeter’s empire lay besieged on that pristine 4G turf penalties and just missed chances handed Skivington’s men easy possession and boy did they make it count it had transpired I’d missed another try – one had only been scored two minutes prior If not for Gloucester’s missed kicks at goal ironic considering their merciless rampaging towards the try line had Will Rigg and Will Haydon-Wood not rescued some small level of pride with two late tries It could very easily have been 79-7… Possibly the worst day of my Chiefs supporting life so far Like, this could actually be 100.#GLOvEXE #GallagherPrem — Louis Chapman-Coombe (@LCCJournalist) April 27, 2025 Mere 24 hours after the Kingsholm humiliation Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher were suspended pending a full review of both the game and the 2024/25 season as a whole and Caesar Rob Baxter – the man who built the empire – was swiftly handed front-line coaching duties once again until the end of the season Baxter himself had fielded questions over whether or not the coaching group was getting stale Hunter and Hepher all in place for over a decade “There is a genuine danger of that (going stale) happening,” Baxter said previously the danger of it and it actually happening are two different things.” He added: “If you spoke to the players now and asked if we train the same way as he did a year ago ‘do we talk about how the game is changing what the better teams are doing?’ They would go we’re not trying to repeat the same things that we did five years ago or three years ago or two years ago.’” This also comes amid growing calls for Baxter himself to walk with him previously revealing he did feel under pressure following their horrific run of eight-straight defeats “The reality is I’m a professional sports coach and we’ve just been well-beaten in a competition we qualified for,” Baxter said He added: “It might not be the competition we need to be in at the stage we are as a team But the return of Caesar could herald a much-needed change among the Centurions at the Sandy Park garrison One thing that is for certain is that Baxter demands high standards He was the man who plotted the rise of the Chiefs and led them from being the second-best team in Devon to the best in Europe A staple of that was their work in the five-metre with relentless pick-and-goes which only ever ended when a try was scored or rolling mauls that were only ever going over the whitewash too something that is often overlooked about Baxter’s gameplan is their intent to still play wide and use their backline His return is also a clear nod to the ethos of the Chiefs that has been missing for some time Exeter boss blasts ‘unacceptable’ defeat after coming ‘under an avalanche’ at Kingsholm particularly at a club like Exeter that were simply excellent at the stuff they did not helped by a clear half-back combination have taken away the very fundamentals of their game You’d think Baxter’s first job is getting everyone back on the same page doing the basics well and returning to that style that won them silverware they might not have the same players available to them now as they once did but these were hallmarks of Baxter’s approach and they should come back in bucketfuls now he’s back on the frontline rather than watching from behind the glass panels you feel there could be widespread changes to the team centre Rigg should be the first in line to come back into the starting line-up for the foreseeable future following yet another standout try-scoring performance Given he has also put pen to paper on a new deal Zach Wimbush has struggled with injuries this season but again would add a whole new dynamic to the squad Ben Hammersley’s injury could lead to a reshuffle in the back-three with Josh Hodge likely to push out wide and either Harvey Skinner or Dan John coming in at full-back it could then see either Ben Coen or Will Haydon-Wood start at 10 There will also likely be some changes in the pack considering the manner in which Gloucester ran riot Argentina lock Franco Molina would be a likely candidate to come back in although his future is still up in the air while Josh Iosefa-Scott and Martin Moloney could also return to the starting XV you would imagine Baxter blood’s in a few of the senior academy players The aforementioned Coen is a prime example but Louis Gulley is very highly thought of at the club and recently signed a professional deal Joe Bailey and Kane James have both tasted first team minutes but could be in-line for more regular exposure come the final few rounds Nic Allison and Nick Lilley have also impressed on England U20s duty this year and would be viable options too Baxter doesn’t hold back from making necessary changes He dropped Stuart Hogg for the 2021 Premiership semi-final and final to reward the in-form combination of Jack Nowell Baxter also forced Joe Simmonds into the starting line-up ahead of club legend Steenson too in an effort to speed up his progress It won’t just be changes for changes sake To the life that used to be,” said Grantaire the glasses will be coming out for a different reason soon READ MORE: ‘Hysterical’ online verdict as Exeter accused of ‘losing the plot’ after banning two coaches Massachusetts-based mining and metal production company Phoenix Tailings is planning to open a facility in Exeter this year The company says it would be a first-of-its-kind operation in the U.S The company has not yet applied for permits from state regulators and Exeter officials said they hadn’t been contacted about their plans to open in July But company officials say they will coordinate with state and local officials once they have finalized design plans If they open in Exeter as planned, the facility would produce the kind of critical minerals used for a variety of technology But the company says they’ve come up with a new process that avoids the hazards associated with traditional mining “Our whole goal at Phoenix is to be the world's first fully clean mining and metals production company with zero waste zero emissions all the way through,” CEO Nick Myers told NHPR The name “tailings” comes from the word for mining waste which the company plans to eventually harvest for rare earth elements all the material processed by their New Hampshire facility will come from major mining companies and recyclers in the U.S The company, which is backed by funding from BMW and Yamaha plans to begin producing metals at the Exeter facility in July That facility will be used to meet the demands of a $100 million contract between Phoenix Tailings and an undisclosed automotive company which plans to use the metals in electric vehicles Myers said the company also plans to to sell metals to the U.S defense industry and to be used in medical devices Phoenix Tailings is planning to operate at 100 Domain Dr. a building off of Route 101 between Exeter and Hampton Myers said it’s not yet clear how many jobs will be linked to the facility but they’re hoping to hire about 30 people in the initial stages and increase as the operation grows Most of the rare earth elements, scientists say, are not as rare as their name implies They’re a set of elements that are commonly found together in the earth’s crust Certain elements are important for clean energy technology The elements don’t turn up individually, like nuggets of gold or copper, according to the U.S. Geological Survey That’s the step Phoenix Tailings is focused on that mine was sending its material to China for processing Phoenix Tailings currently has three rare earth element products – Ferro-Dysprosium alloy, Neodymium and Dysprosium – available for sample orders on their website The Exeter plant is expected to produce Dysprosium Part of their goal with the New Hampshire facility is to move more critical metals manufacturing to the United States The company makes a point of neither selling to nor buying from China “One thing we are all galvanized to do is to help re-shore American manufacturing jobs,” he said “And I think New Hampshire is a great place to start.” said he’s hoping to continue building the company in New England But Phoenix Tailings is planning to produce 200 tons of metals and alloys a year in New Hampshire and their goal is to do so without any air and water emissions That would be a big increase from their operations at present which happen at a smaller-scale engineering facility in Massachusetts We have 34 patents and trade secrets around our process So it's all about maintaining everything in the system,” Myers said said they anticipated needing a state air emissions permit for their operations He said they might also need a hazardous waste permit “despite not creating any toxic byproducts,” depending on decisions from state regulators New Hampshire’s Department of Environmental Services said they had not received any permit applications from Phoenix Tailings as of late January said it would be difficult to say which permits they might need and how long permitting might take without knowing more about the facility’s operations and the town’s director of economic development both said in late January they had not yet received communication from the company about their plans to open a facility in town he’d heard about the project and was supportive “We’re obviously excited a business is going to pick up that much space in our town,” he said “We certainly want to give them any assistance we can.” Balladon said the company was still in planning stages but will meet with local officials in Exeter once they finalize a design plan He also said they plan to build a relationship with the local fire department Phoenix Tailings is a member of the New Hampshire Tech Alliance and the company said they are hoping to work with other community groups “We do look to work with any different community group that's willing to work with us in any way “We want to be a key part of the community.” We rely on readers like you to support the local and international coverage on this website Your support makes this news available to everyone A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference An Exeter student dubbed the ‘Greta Thunberg of Sport’ has been smashing European running records alongside her environmental activism a first-year Sport and Exercise Science student at the University of Exeter has already broken two European U20 records Her most recent victory was a 15.08 time at the Bristol Track Club 5k where she won the Elite Women’s race Innes has been turning down competitions where she believes a single race does not justify the emissions of the travel Innes chooses the most carbon-efficient routes— including a 20-hour journey she took by bus and bike to reach Turin for the European Cross-Country Championships in 2022 from Beer in East Devon said: “I think it comes from my respect for other people I feel like I have a responsibility to look after people who are in the Global South or who are directly affected by extreme weather events.” Innes has only been running for three years but is already faster than Olympic legend Paula Radcliffe was at the same age Her coaching team now includes five-time Olympian Jo Pavey—who has won World and Commonwealth medals—as well as Pavey’s husband and coach Innes smashed the UK under-17 women’s record to win the SIAB Schools International and has been going from strength to strength ever since Innes competed in the 3000m race in Ostrava as part of the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold The Exeter first-year achieved a time of 8:40.05 Here she took eight seconds off the previous European record held by Sofia Thøgersen, and 16 seconds off the previous British record Innes has been aiming to raise awareness about the environmental cost of high-level sport Her activism around the carbon footprint of sporting events earned her the Young Athlete of the Year award at the BBC Green Sport Awards in 2023 “I never set out to achieve an award just wanted to raise awareness on climate issues in the athletics and sporting world – trying to get more young people engaged I can reach out to them more easily so that up-and-coming athletes can think about what they’re doing and make decisions that are thoughtful and related to other people and their impact on the climate They don’t have to sacrifice everything just try to make people think and make more conscious decisions.” “I feel powerful when I’m going around the track I can do this.’ I seem to get stronger and stronger and chase times during the session and at the end I’m on that little runner’s high” “Looking at things online and stories about other people in developing countries at the front of the crisis is deep down what hurts Why should they suffer because of what we’re doing Just because we’re in this privileged position doesn’t mean we should take advantage of that We need to help these people who don’t have as much as us Andy Jones Professor of Applied Physiology in the Department of Public Health and Sport Science and an advisor to Innes said: “Innes is doing a great job in combining her academic studies we aim to provide the optimal environment for talented sportspeople to balance their degree programmes with their sporting endeavours.” Voters can share their thoughts and provide input on the proposed budgets and warrant articles during the first session of the Town Meeting, known as the deliberative session Towns and school districts that have adopted Senate Bill 2 hold deliberative sessions similar to traditional New England Town Meetings the final "yea" or "nay" votes take place privately in the voting booth on March 11 The deliberative session determines what appears on the ballot, allowing Exeter residents to debate and amend the wording of an article (except for zoning amendments and as long as it doesn’t change the subject) There will be 38 warrant articles on the ballot Diving the increase in the budget is wages and benefits The Select Board held a public hearing on the proposed budget and warrant articles on Tuesday Here is a look at the top purchases and issues on the ballot Airbnbs are illegal in Exeter: Why so many exist and what the town is doing about it Article 3 calls for a $6.8 million bond for the design, engineering and construction of a new groundwater source off Drinkwater Road “This project has been in our capital improvement program for the last several years,” said Town Manager Russ Dean “We're anticipating anywhere between .4 and .5 million gallons a day for that Select Board member Dan Chartrand called the article one of the most important ones on the ballot I think this might rise to the level of the most important I would urge folks to attend to this one,” he said “Developing more water sources is one of our key functions as the municipality.” Exeter Town Hall: $3M plus in upgrades recommended for historic venue Dean said the project is on the warrant to “raise and appropriate the monies needed,” but the board is seeking grants to offset the cost by up to 100 percent The town has applied for the Great Bay 2030 grant very good that we will be awarded the grant," Dean said "It has to pass a final step in the process before it becomes absolute.” The town is also applying for two other grants through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) More: Historic Exeter home set for demolition to make way for 17 townhouses Article 5 calls for a $1.2 million bond for repairs to the Linden Street Bridge over the Exeter River Other bonds on the ballot include $395,000 for a new street sweeper and $575,000 to replace the fuel island station at the DPW Complex at 13 Newfields Road Electric vehicle charging stations in downtown ExeterThe town is eying installing two two-port electric vehicle chargers Exeter’s conservation and sustainability planner explained that the Department of Energy recommends Exeter have 22 chargers Murphy added benefits of the stations include boosted revenue due to the location of the chargers near downtown businesses and a movement away from fossil fuels She added the chargers would be installed in a way to “minimize the impact on downtown parking.” Murphy said the town plans to apply for a $50,000 grant through RecycleFoam.org the town's share of $30,000 will come from the town's unassigned fund balance Murphy said that reducing Styrofoam waste by diverting more through recycling is essential to prolonging the life of the Turnkey Landfill in Rochester “The closure date for this landfill is 2034 and I don't think a lot of people recognize that or realize just how close that timeframe is,” she said “We want to do that to extend the life of our landfill because looking for a new landfill site is not a pleasant process.” which has already amassed $4,500 in savings in town in its first six months There are several citizens' petition warrant articles on the ballot EXETER — Questions remain for residents and shopkeepers alike in downtown Exeter near where police are investigating the homicide of 88-year-old Janet Rischeill Kelsen “I’m always shocked at violence of any kind,” said Ward Dilmore a Water Street nonprofit managed by his wife They were in the gallery Thursday talking about the homicide for which authorities have not named a suspect nor made an arrest “We feel like we’re in a community that supports each other,” Dilmore said. “You have something like that happen, especially to an elderly person who is defenseless … not really on your mind.” An autopsy by the state’s medical examiner revealed Kelsen suffered from blunt head trauma and the manner of death was homicide, the state’s attorney general stated Wednesday. Authorities named Kelsen Wednesday after informing next of kin. The attorney general’s office stated Tuesday that police believe there is no danger to the public. Asked for clarification, Michael Garrity, spokesperson for the attorney general's office, said Thursday investigators believe they have identified all the parties involved. “The investigation remains active and ongoing," Garrity said. "Investigators are gathering facts and speaking with other household members as well as people who live nearby. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available without jeopardizing the integrity of the investigation.” No one answered the door Thursday at any of the apartments at 133 Front St., where Kelsen’s apartment is located near the rear of the building. The building is located across the street from Supreme Pizza, where staff said they served orders to police all day and into the night Tuesday as they continued their investigation. They said they did not know Kelsen. Laurie Eldridge, who helps her son run his store New England Mercantile on Water Street, said she might know Kelsen’s face if Kelsen was known to walk around town. Her apartment is located less than a mile walk from downtown. Eldridge said crimes like this week’s homicide feel rare in Exeter, a town she has called home her entire life. “It was pretty scary to me to think that something like that would happen in our small town,” Eldridge said. Exeter School Board candidate 2025: Patrick O'DayPortsmouth HeraldName: Patrick O'Day Education: BA, William & Mary; MA, Michigan State; JD Indiana University, Bloomington Occupation: Attorney, education law and civil litigation Political or civic experience highlights: Exeter School Board (19 years), Exeter Youth Basketball coach (2 years), Dover Children's Home Board (6 years) I also will prioritize addressing academic progress. Remote learning resulted in learning loss for many. Our schools evaluate each student using normed, valid and reliable testing. The Exeter School Board created two new teaching positions in math and reading to address learning needs. We have talented teachers in Exeter who engage our students! We need to closely monitor the academic progress of each student so that no child is left behind and advanced students continue to be challenged. A third priority is serving as a voice for the community. Creating a strong school system takes work and must match community needs. As a board member and chair, I've worked diligently to improve our schools. For example, I served as the board's representative on a committee that launched a building expansion and a full-day kindergarten program. A key part of our success included parent surveys and community involvement. We must listen to parents' and community voices when making decisions. As a board member, I intend to face these future challenges as a creative problem solver who listens to parent and community voices, asks informed questions, draws upon my knowledge and experience in education, and makes common sense decisions guided by putting kids first. who had started the night with a second-string side at St will now host top flight rivals Ipswich Town in the fifth round in March The lowest-ranked club left in the competition gave the third-placed top flight side a tough time -- taking a fifth-minute lead before going 2-1 down and then fighting back to end the second half level Exeter's Ed Turns was shown a straight red card in the 87th minute for a high challenge on second-half substitute Morgan Gibbs-White Premier League high-fliers Nottingham Forest struggled past 10-man Exeter City 4-2 on penalties to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup after being held 2-2 by their third tier opponents Exeter's Ed Turns was shown a straight red card in the 87th minute for a high challenge on second-half substitute Morgan Gibbs-White Private equity firm EQT is saying goodbye to its U.S multifamily fund and hitting the brakes on life sciences and office investments to home in on industrial activity The Swedish firm has ended its multifamily fund initiative because of a tough fundraising environment Chief Financial Officer Kim Henriksson said on an earnings call EQT Exeter, EQT’s real estate arm, has 34 multifamily properties across California Meanwhile, its step back from office includes selling a 207K SF Houston building earlier this month with a value of $42M The costs associated with dissolving the multifamily fund total $83M in net taxes and are excluded from the company's adjusted financials because they "are treated as an item affecting comparability," according to the report EQT is also changing the name of its real estate division. What has been known as EQT Exeter will now operate under the firm’s existing EQT Real Estate brand. EQT Exeter was created in 2021 when Exeter Property Group was bought out by EQT EQT declined to comment on the changes being made within the company You are subscribed to the Bisnow National Newsletter or click here to copy link to clipboard We will email you a link to reset your password Upcoming regulations in the European Union require us to show this pop-up and ask you to agree to keep using Bisnow.com We want to take 15 seconds to tell you what's going on: Share price 8408.00p 2 May 2025 at 16:42 News releases 11 March 2025 (Windsor, United Kingdom): IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has opened voco Zeal Exeter Science Park – IHG’s first branded net zero* carbon hotel in partnership with Zeal Hotels and Valor Hospitality It has been designed to operate entirely on renewable and solar energy As with all voco branded hotels, the 142-room voco Zeal Exeter Science Park has been designed to help guests truly unwind and feel at ease with the use of neutral tones and contemporary features throughout the guest rooms and public spaces Guests staying at the hotel will have access to a mini gym a versatile meeting space and 12 EV charging points The hotel’s onsite restaurant and bar emphasises the use of locally-sourced ingredients collaborating with regional farms and producers to offer fresh The voco Zeal Exeter Science Park stands out with its sustainable design, which earned a BREAAM Outstanding rating a renowned sustainable buildings certification It is the first building in the UK that has utilised the Solarlab vertical photovoltaic panels as a rainscreen cladding system It also follows the Passivhaus standard for ultra-low energy buildings and uses adiabatic cooling and heat reversible heat pumps to reduce energy usage In line with voco’s commitment to innovation and sustainability and a belief that small steps collectively make a big difference voco Zeal Exeter Science Park was constructed using materials chosen for their sustainable characteristics and assembled innovatively to achieve best-in-class results they have used Ecocrete during construction a low carbon concrete with up to 85% less CO2 than CEM1 (100% cement) voco hotels is IHG's fastest growing premium brand offering a hotel experience that is consistently thoughtful and distinct Each property is characterised by its individual charm providing guests with something different while also ensuring the reliability of a global brand There are currently 29** voco hotels open across Europe with more than 20 due to open in the next three to five years For more information, visit voco’s website here or follow on Instagram **Numbers as at 31 December 2024 unless otherwise stated * The hotel has been designed to reach net-zero operational and embodied carbon Various measures and techniques have been utilised to achieve net-zero carbon construction IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good With a family of 19 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes with over 145m members IHG has more than 6,600 open hotels in over 100 countries and a development pipeline of over 2,200 properties InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales Approximately 385,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn (WJAR) — An Exeter woman with a talent for woodworking is doing all she can to help her neighbors in need following a devastating barn fire On Nov. 14, in the early hours of the morning, Gabriel DeFrancesco and his dad Michael DeFrancesco watched as their barn, which was home to their woodworking business, 'Exeter Woodworks' “Two o'clock in the morning is when I was awakened," said Michael " I went outside and it looked like it was mostly brush fire and the wind was blowing the flame toward that barn and then I saw the bottom of it was on fire.” which was built in the 80s and is located on their family compound off Hallville Road Before firefighters could get it under control tons of their equipment burned or was melted Products were destroyed and all of their stashed wood became soaked from the hoses and is now unusable building this up it’s our passion and it’s just trying to wrap your head around what’s going on The DeFrancescos made their business officials right before the pandemic They create one-of-a-kind wooden bowls and other statement pieces they participate in the holiday market at Bally's in Lincoln It's a huge boom for this business ahead of Christmas as they sell hundreds of ornaments and other items “We were getting ready for our legacy holiday show it's the largest holiday show at Bally's it’s something we were gearing up for for months," said Gabriel “This caught us right at the peak of the wave and that’s what makes it so devastating," added Michael A few streets down, Jessica Miller runs an Etsy shop 'Cozy Cabin.' she launched her business with a focus on woodworking and custom gifts “Westerly specialize in laser engraved personalized items anything you can think of- we’re willing to give it a try," said Miller has converted her basement into her workshop She learned of the fire at the DeFrancesco's barn while scrolling on social media “It’s very emotional to see all your work and dedication in shambles I was like I can help with this," said Miller not only in my town and community but they are two streets over and it was something I could physically help with not only the monetary way but I knew with my machines I could offer some sort of support." Miller began making custom wooden ornaments that read 'There's No Place Like Home,' offering potential customers an opportunity to send her their zip code You can’t even get bread and eggs for $10 so I wanted it to be something everybody could contribute to," she said “All of the $10 is going directly to the family We’ve had Venmo donations come in from people who just want to help with a donation not only are we doing the donations of the ornaments but I’ve been able to cut items for them.” Miller said initially she contacted another family member of the DeFrancescos to tell them about her efforts The family created a GoFundMe. When Gabriel and Michael found out about what she was doing “I was not only surprised but I think the first notion I was like “It was such a lifting of the spirits that someone that we didn’t even know came to us saying Can I help you in any way?' And it’s just been such a blessing." I'm almost to the point where I should put my sleeping bag down here just to get everything out and done in time for Christmas," she said do something' and here we are.'" Miller personally pays for the materials to make the ornament out of her own pocket so if it costs me a couple hundred dollars to donate to them I think it’s worth it," she said This was not for my personal promotion or anything of that nature but it has grown for me I’ve seen people who have ordered ornaments and then they come back and order other items in my shop to not only support Exeter woodworks but to come back and support me so it’s been amazing for everyone." The full $10 of the ornament goes to Exeter Woodworks; the shipping charge goes toward the shipping fees Miller said if you would like to pick up an ornament and you’re local at checkout us "local pickup" and she will send her address when it’s ready “I have a positive mindset you know no matter what you’re going through in life the good the bad god has a plan for everything," said Gabriel more blessings if you will as a result of this You start to see there are incredible people in our community that have come out and started to help.” MANCHESTER – Exeter High School boys hockey coach Paul DiMarino put everything in proper perspective “I love my team,” he said after Bishop Guertin handed the No 6 Blue Hawks a no-doubt 11-2 defeat in a Division I semifinal Wednesday at JFK Coliseum it's the best two teams playing on Saturday.” 2 Guertin – its 13th straight – pits them in the finals against No.1 Concord which beat Hanover 3-1 in the other semi and was the last team to beat BG back on Jan.18 The Cardinals literally scored from start to finish in one of their most dominant postseason performances in recent years  It started with the first of two James Mantone goals at 2:11 of the first period and ended with the second of two Sean Schultz goals at 14:15 of the third More: OT goal sends St. Thomas Aquinas to title game, eliminates defending champs Oyster River “We played this same goalie (Trent Fujitani) when we only beat him 2-1 and he stood on his head,” Guertin coach Gary Bishop said you get anywhere near the front of the net Guertin led 2-0 after one period; just 27 seconds after Mantone's first goal Jordan O'Hearn fired a hard wrister past Fujitani (20 saves) Mantone's second goal made it 3-0 just 3:08 into the second assisted for the second time by Jordan Delude But Exeter's Joe Crowe slipped one past BG goalie Luke Bettencourt (24 stops) during a fierce frenzy in front of the net (Callum Howarth assist) at 6:35 to make it 3-1 and the Blue Hawks had life More: No. 5 Merrimack ousts top-seeded Spaulding boys hockey in Division II semifinals as Guertin's Cam Auger fired a blast from the right point that deflected off an Exeter stick into the net for a 4-1 lead at 7:46 and then a shot from the point hit one of our own kids' sticks and went in You get some momentum and an unfortunate bounce like that another minute later they got their fifth one "I told them 'Don't look at the scoreboard Callum Howarth assisted on Crowe's first goal and Crowe got another at 1:58 of the third assisted by Chase Barbour Schultz and O'Hearn and Auger's back-breaker I'd take them any day of the week,” DiMarino said EXETER — The New Hampshire Center for Photography (formerly the NH Society of Photographic Artists) will hold its 25th annual exhibit and sale from Jan. 4-26 at the Exeter Town Hall Gallery The exhibit will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 4 p.m Many participating photographers will be available to answer questions about their work during the opening reception on Saturday The exhibit features 52 fine art photographers displaying over 100 original works showcasing a blend of old and new photographic methods The collection includes black and white gelatin silver prints historically inspired handmade contact prints and state-of-the-art digital images printed on archival papers This year’s featured image is an archival pigment print by Frank Conahan titled "Gloucester Dory." we invite our 150 plus members to take part in the exhibition are the ‘best of the best,’ and each year they exhibit their work here in Exeter,” said NH Center for Photography President Ian Raymond you will find that there is always a very interesting story behind each image and there are often various techniques and materials used to create the photograph.” The organization's name change from "The NH Society of Photographic Artists" to the "NH Center for Photography" was made earlier this year to broaden the scope and better align with its mission of education and outreach The group focuses on the education and artistic development of its members and the community by providing exhibitions For more information, visit the NH Center for Photography's Facebook page or their website at www.nhcp.org The Exeter Town Hall Gallery is handicap accessible via an elevator inside the side door EXETER — Main Street School Principal Tonja Neve has been named the next principal of Exeter High School “Tonja is a dedicated and student-centered educational leader with extensive experience as a principal and high school English teacher,” said SAU 16 Superintendent Esther Asbell in a letter sent home to EHS families announcing the appointment Neve will replace Mike Monahan who is retiring at the end of the school year Asbell said Neve brings a strong commitment to fostering academic excellence With more than a decade in secondary education including roles as a department chair and instructional coach Asbell said Neve has led initiatives in curriculum development Throughout her eight years in school administration Asbell said she has championed the implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Neve holds a master’s in educational leadership from Arizona State University where she also earned her bachelor’s in secondary education (English) She is currently participating in the Granite State Leadership Academy ‘The numbers are growing': Exeter food pantry expands hours to serve increased demand Asbell shared that Neve's “leadership philosophy is rooted in fostering supportive environments where students and educators thrive She is a results-oriented administrator skilled in data analysis and collaborative approach to the next phase of her career in educational leadership,” Asbell said Neve has served as the principal of Main Street School since 2021 Neve served as the principal of Desert Valley Elementary School a 620-pupil K-8 public school in the Peoria Unified School District in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale She also served four years as an assistant principal at Lake Pleasant School and Alta Loma Elementary School and began her career as a high school English teacher at Raymond S Kellis High School and Liberty High School Neve was one of two finalists interviewed by the Exeter Region Cooperative School Board on Feb 18 the current principal of Somersworth High School Neve will start as Exeter High School principal on July 1 EXETER – Nik Greco and Nate McNeff have been playing basketball with each other since they were in the seventh grade the Exeter High School senior duo wanted to make sure they left everything on the floor in their final game on their home court Greco and McNeff each scored 24 points as the fifth-seeded Blue Hawks beat No 82-63 in a Division I first-round game on Wednesday “It’s surreal this was our last game here,” said McNeff Up next: Nashua SouthExeter (15-4) will visit No 4 Nashua South (15-4) on Saturday in a quarterfinal round Nashua South advanced with a 55-49 win over No “(South) is a really good team,” Exeter head coach Jeff Holmes said “They’ve beat us the last two times we’ve played them They’ve had our number the last couple of years The Blue Hawks have lost in the quarterfinal in each of the past three seasons “We really don’t want to make it a fourth,” said Greco “We’re really excited to play (South) again.”  Exeter led by as many as 22 points in the second half but back-to-back 3-pointers by Isaiah Santos and Noah Durham cut the deficit to nine and a halfcourt steal by Giovanny Santos and ensuing layup cut the deficit to seven The teams traded baskets and Holmes called a timeout with 5:07 left The Blue Hawks proceeded to go on a 14-0 run and put the game out of reach but I thought the team was really composed,” McNeff said Exeter junior Jack Thibodeau scored six of his eight points during that 14-0 run and a baseline 3-pointer from sophomore Tyler Ream Ream connected on five 3-pointers in the game and to have that come in the tournament is a good confidence booster for him.”  The Blue Hawks scored the game’s first seven points Greco had a team-high 14 points at the intermission Holmes said his senior duo of Greco and McNeff were “phenomenal.”  Both McNeff and Greco complimented the other saying they wouldn’t be where they are if not for the other the best teammate I’ve ever had,” McNeff said I am so happy I get to share the court with him.”  “(McNeff) is definitely the best teammate I’ve had We’ve gotten out in the quarterfinal round the past three years Having him alongside me just gives me the confidence to go out there and do my best.”  158,000-square-foot health center would replace the current facilities at RiverWoods campuses known as The Ridge The Woods and The Boulders to address staffing issues and improve efficiency The three existing campuses would transition to 75 independent living facilities RiverWoods presented its updated plans to the town Planning Board Previous story: RiverWoods CEO makes case for new health care center in Exeter amid criticism RiverWoods makes changes to plans to mask size of building"The site plan itself has not changed," Eric Saari of Altrus Engineering told the board He said many of the light poles along the driveway's back perimeter would be turned off after 10 p.m. “We may add a motion sensor at some point," he added those lights may come up a little bit if there is motion in the parking lot.” Project landscape architect Robbi Woodburn of Woodburn & Company addressed the majority of the site plan changes involving additional screening Woodburn presented a series of photos that superimposed the landscape plans onto an aerial depiction of the site along with three-dimensional photos illustrating the proposed screenings and rose bay rhododendrons," Woodburn said “We like to put the emphasis on native plants She said the three-dimensional photos depicted how the trees would look three years after installation "They will continue to grow," Woodburn said providing a view of what driving next to the health center would look like once it is fully built and screened Exeter Town Meeting preview 2025: Pickpocket dam removal, EV charging stations and more Prior was the first to speak at the public comment session As a former long-time member and chair of the Exeter Zoning Board he argued that RiverWoods is out of compliance with the town's zoning ordinance He explained a congregate healthcare facility of this size requires a special exception from the Zoning Board by bringing this project to the Planning Board without special exception approval from the Zoning Board is in violation of the Exeter zoning ordinance," Prior said "I ask that you delay moving this application forward until the determination of this apparent discrepancy is made.” Planning Board member Gwen English agreed with Prior “I'm baffled as to how all these other projects required and received special exceptions RiverWoods attorney Sharon Somers responded by saying they were told the project did not need a special exception “We have presented several variance applications to the ZBA as recently as this spring the relief that we were told that we needed did not include an amendment to the special exception or a new special exception,” she said Prior’s zeal in trying to reexamine these issues but this issue has been litigated to a conclusion.” The Zoning Board previously denied RiverWoods' requests to exceed the maximum height and reduce the buffer for more parking Tensions were high during the public hearing as residents voiced strong opposition to the proposed RiverWoods facility Barbara Freeman of the Boulders community and former Newbury planning board chair agreed with Prior citing non-compliance with zoning and the building's "out of scale" size “There has been little effort by RiverWoods Exeter in changing this enormous building to fit in this area,” she said highlighting that the screening trees are significantly shorter than the building and will do little to mask the building “Most of the Evergreen screening trees are 6 to 12 feet high "The building's warehouse appearance is going to continue to be visible as a contrast with the area's important rural character The healthcare project forces residents to live in a construction zone for about six years Approximately one-half of the current residents will not be alive at the end of the construction project.” Exeter resident John Maull said the 75 new units being proposed as part of the project would generate significant revenue for RiverWoods at the price of an “expansion out onto a rural road we all have known as a scenic road.” who owns a large property next to the site said she is concerned about drainage into her fields which are already mostly wetlands with a pond She also questioned how the screening with trees would impact her view of oncoming traffic from her long dirt driveway “I'm really concerned about how I'm going to get out of my driveway when there's trees blocking my view,” she said “(Route) 111 is not an easy place to get onto sometimes.” Another major concern brought up was the location of the RiverWoods pickleball court Planning Board vice-chair Aaron Brown asked about the possibility of relocating it Woodburn explained that they had searched for alternate locations but could not find a suitable spot Several residents also raised concerns about traffic flow during construction whether the trees would provide full screening and the impact on the rural neighborhood feel Not everyone spoke against the project at the public hearing Susan Desjardins of the RiverWoods Community Board of Trustees said the project is needed neighborhood-like atmosphere for those requiring enhanced care “We believe the central health care building is the best strategy to ensure we deliver the highest quality of life to our residents in health care,” she said member of the strategic planning committee “I support the building of a center that will be able to provide whatever care I will need also such a place where I will be surrounded by other residents needing health care and other services too “I know our architects and landscaping teams are making every possible effort to make this large building as unobtrusive as possible for our neighbors.” Board members expressed thanks to RiverWoods for their presentation the board felt they needed more time to make a decision and asked the RiverWoods team if they would agree to continue deliberations at the next meeting