A substance-abuse rehabilitation facility in South Jersey has agreed to pay almost $20 million to resolve allegations over its treatment program for veterans The payment by Seabrook will include approximately $3.5 million for a whistleblower who sued the Cumberland County-based organization under the federal False Claims Act Seabrook allegedly lacked licenses and contracts for a veterans program at its Upper Deerfield facility yet billed federal and state agencies for its services the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement Opioid settlement: A boost for Burlington County substance-abuse programs Seabrook also tried to keep state inspectors unaware that veterans were participating in its program for short-term residential treatment and partial hospitalization care according to claims in a settlement agreement "On the dates of scheduled state inspections Seabrook staff took these residents on outings so state inspectors would remain unaware that these patients were receiving services Seabrook could not legally provide," it says The agreement also alleges that Seabrook employed too few licensed caregivers for the services billed to the government instead relying on interns “who were not properly credentialed or supervised.” it claims Seabrook falsely claimed to provide "specialized care" to veterans The institution admitted no liability in settling the allegations about its operations from 2022-2024 "Seabrook cooperated in the investigation and resolution of this matter," the federal prosecutor's office said in announcing the settlement April 30 It said Seabrook conducted an independent investigation took corrective actions and disciplined those who were responsible The allegations were first raised in a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act which allows individuals to sue on behalf of the government formerly Seabrook's director of risk management and chief compliance officer brought the suit in Camden federal court in January 2023 Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal SEABROOK — A local man is facing domestic violence charges for assaulting an 87-year-old woman and then fleeing from police as his home next door erupted in flames was arrested Monday on charges of second-degree assault (strangulation) domestic violence simple assault and criminal mischief He also faces one count of simple assault of a police officer that occurred during his arrest Seabrook Police Chief Brett Walker said police were called at 3:21 p.m to 9 Moore Lane for a report of a domestic assault "An 87-year-old woman was found and transported to Exeter Hospital with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries resulting from the assault," Walker said Walker said Moore was located and taken into custody shortly after their arrival they received a report that Moore's house at 8 Moore’s Lane was on fire Firefighters responded and knocked down the fire "The scene was secured as a crime scene for further investigation by the NH State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Seabrook Police," Walker said Moore is being held on preventative detention pending his arraignment at the 10th Circuit Court in Hampton on Tuesday “Our officers did an excellent job coordinating their response and taking the suspect into custody," Walker said "The Seabrook Fire Department also did an excellent job having to care for and transport the victim while simultaneously responding to the structure fire We are grateful that this incident did not result in more serious injuries to anyone involved.” Kensington and Hampton Falls police assisted Seabrook police during the incident and Newburyport responded to the scene to assist Anyone with additional information on this investigation is asked to contact the Seabrook Police Department at 603-474-5200 or through the Crimeline for the Hamptons at 603-929-1222 or https://www.facebook.com/hamptoncrimeline Download the new Press of Atlantic City News Mobile App a drug and alcohol treatment center on Polk Lane “Following a careful review of our operations we have made the difficult decision to close our Seabrook facility,” CEO TJ O’Reilly said in a statement “The persistent challenges facing the facility including the difficult labor market and the state’s unique regulatory environment proved too great to overcome and made continued operations unsustainable.” The closure comes after Seabrook was ordered to pay $19.7 million to resolve allegations that it violated the Federal Claims Act by submitting claims to the Veterans Health Administration and the state’s Medicaid program without the proper licensing Federal prosecutors said Seabrook provided services from Jan without a license and concealed the performed services from state inspectors The services were billed to the VHA Community Care Program A Bridgeton addiction recovery facility has agreed to pay $19.7 million to resolve allegations that it violated the Federal Claims Act by submitting claims to the Veterans Health Administration and the state's Medicaid program without the proper licensing It was further alleged the facility failed to employ a sufficient number of credentialed caregivers; failed to employ caregivers qualified to deal with mental health and addiction issues; provided the same care to veterans that it provided to other patients while claiming it was specialized care; and kept false records of the care provided to patients According to a WARN notice filed with the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development as a result of the closure 96 people will be laid off by July 30 Seabrook was founded in 1974 by Jerry and Peg Diehl Programs at the site center on 12-step programs combined with therapy wellness and recreation to provide healing and strengthen the connection between mind “This is a difficult moment for everyone in the Seabrook family,” O’Reilly said “Our focus now will turn to facilitating a seamless transition of care for our remaining patients and ensuring our staff members have the support and resources they need to navigate this transition.” nhuba@pressofac.com Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly Email notifications are only sent once a day Sign up for a digital subscription to The Press of Atlantic City now and take advantage of a great offer Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist 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 Welcome to our family travel series dedicated to Pacific Northwest adventures and activities tailored to the whole family Writer Kate Neidigh launched this series in 2018 as a new mom determined to get out and explore with her little one excited to share her travel experiences and insights learned along the way and let's discover the wonders of the PNW and beyond Seabrook is one of those places that makes you want to sell everything we practically have a favorite streetlight It’s our go-to for everything from quick getaways to big celebrations—we’re actually planning a family reunion here for my mom’s 70th birthday (cue the group text chaos) We recently went with close friends and all our kids—five total If that’s not the mark of a magical vacation spot Seabrook isn’t your average beach town—it’s a master-planned coastal community that feels like it was designed with families in mind Seabrook was inspired by the principles of “new urbanism,” an urban planning movement focused on walkability That means you won’t find sprawling parking lots or traffic jams here you’ll find charming homes clustered around community parks and front porches that practically invite neighborly chats The town was intentionally built to bring people together Kids make fast friends on the playground or over popsicles in the town square while parents strike up conversations at the fire pit or over coffee from the bakery you’ll recognize familiar faces on your morning walk to the beach—and by the end of the trip it feels like everyone you pass gives a friendly wave but never overwhelming—just the right amount of connection to make you feel part of something Even though Seabrook is a relatively new addition to the Washington coast it pays homage to the region’s rich history the area has long ties to the state’s logging and maritime industries You’ll see that heritage reflected in Seabrook’s architecture and reverence for the surrounding forest and shoreline The whole town strikes a balance between nostalgia and modern convenience—like stepping into a seaside village from another era every rental looks like it belongs on the cover of Coastal Living Some have bunk rooms that will send your kids into a sleepover frenzy Pro tip: book early. These places go fast—probably because families like mine keep coming back like it’s a pilgrimage. Book your stay here and an extra outfit for your three-year-old who will run straight into the ocean fully clothed Access is easy via a staircase (or shuttle if you're carrying 15 things and a toddler) Bike Like You Live There: Rent bikes for the whole crew and the Gnome Trail is a must-ride—a whimsical forest path sprinkled with tiny gnome homes and fairy doors Wander the Town: Swing by Vista Bakeshop for a morning treat (just get the cinnamon roll) and pick up souvenirs you absolutely don’t need but must have Joie Des Livres has the cozy bookshop energy of your dreams and Fresh Foods is clutch for midweek snack restocks Get Your Hike On: Even if your kids groan at the word “hike,” they’ll love the short anything they find on the ground becomes “nature treasure.” and seasonal events like scavenger hunts and outdoor movie nights The kids will be living their best lives while you sip wine or hot cocoa Parents love the wood-fired pies; kids love and the kind of margarita that makes you forget you spent 45 minutes convincing your toddler to wear pants This spot is basically a bribe in store form Some nights you just want to microwave mac & cheese and call it a win Stock up at Fresh Foods or bring groceries from home—your rental kitchen will even make cooking feel fun and full of little surprises that make every visit feel special Because Seabrook isn’t just a vacation spot It’s the kind of place that sticks with you—and keeps calling you back Kate Neidigh is a writer for Seattle Refined, covering lifestyle, fashion, beauty, travel, real estate, gift guides and feature stories. See more of her work on Instagram here services and/or accommodations in this story were provided without charge the opinions within are those of the author and the Seattle Refined editorial board Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application passed into the arms of his Lord & Savior Wilson fought a good fight; he finished the race on Johns Island to Rosa Garvin Seabrook and James Murray Seabrook and his spirit connected deeply with the natural beauty of the island which grew from the beautiful Seabrook Plantation on Edisto Island one of the many small places in the low country he held so dear he enjoyed all aspects of being a low country boy on a sea island Wilson attended the Johns Island school from first through twelfth grade and kept in touch with those classmates throughout the years Wilson was a talented craftsman who designed and built his own house on the Stono River as well as designing and building two boats One of his early jobs was working at "Woodstock" which was a company that made the crates for the Coca-Cola bottling company back in the day Wilson made these crates with skill and care a friend found one of these antique crates with his initials embedded in the slats He retired in 1996 as a planner and estimator for the Charleston Naval Shipyard contributing significantly to the industrious spirit of Charleston Wilson exhibited a soft spot for animals and often nurtured stray dogs and cats on his property which forged his special bond with his cat he created a remarkable library to house all of his books which became a sanctuary for literature of various genres - with the Bible held in especially high regard he could be found walking his property before retreating to the comforting pages of his beloved book Wilson attended the First Baptist Church on Johns Island He was also a member of the Sea Island Yacht Club on Wadmalaw Island and loved watching the Rockville Regatta every year Wilson is preceded in death by his brothers and Cynthia Seabrook Schad (Fred) of Florida and sister-in-laws Mildred Seabrook and Doris Seabrook He also leaves behind several nieces and nephews and his faithful and beloved friend The relatives and friends of Wilson Seabrook are invited to a visitation at 10:30 am The memorial service will begin at 11:30 am. His legacy is one woven together with threads of adventure Donations in Wilson's name can be made to the First Baptist Church on Johns Island, at 3483 Maybank Highway, Johns Island, SC, 29455.  firstbaptistjohnsisland.com Arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Two candidates will run for Seabrook Mayor on May 3 The winner will serve a four-year term in the position previously held by Thom Kolupski Rachel joined Community Impact in April 2023 and covers government in Pearland She graduated from Baylor University in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in journalism listening to live music and spending time in the great outdoors Timothy “Tim” Seabrook Mallard 2024 after a brief but fierce battle with pancreatic cancer to the Honorable Robert "Bobby" Roland Mallard and the late Ruth Hills Mallard He graduated from Bishop England High School (class of 1979) where he played football and lovingly tormented countless nuns He went on to the University of South Carolina and received a B.A he excelled at giving carriage tours through downtown Charleston He also interned with Senator Fritz Hollings and developed a lasting love of politics Tim would later be elected to Charleston City Council where he passionately represented his West Ashley community He would reminisce about his economic development work for the State of South Carolina where he focused on bringing businesses and hundreds of jobs to rural communities he loved seeing the people who benefited from these jobs thrive Tim never met a stranger and made everyone feel as though they were the most important person in the room His warmth and curiosity will be sorely missed He spent many hours cheering on his beloved daughter in everything that she did Their close and loving relationship was extremely special to him He was a proud member of the Hibernian Society and enjoyed attending their events you never saw Tim without his favorite accessory It became an extension of his person- No matter the place “no shame in my game” approach to life the Honorable Robert "Bobby" Roland Mallard; his daughter Julia Mallard Watkins (Mac); and the most loving and patient siblings Grace Ann Mallard; the mother of his daughter The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Wellmore of Daniel Island for the care and kindness they showed during the final weeks of his time on earth.  SC 29401 from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm with Remembrances starting at 3:00 pm memorial contributions may be made to the Hibernian Society Porter-Gaud Advancement Office- Cyclone Fund for Financial Aid and Scholarship or a charity that is dear to your heart A memorial message may be sent to the family on our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.  We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Made with love by funeralOne Builders Close Builders Open Builders Brick Exterior Close Exterior Open Exterior Building Materials Brick Blend Seabrook Join Our Newsletter Email Subscribe Connect with Us { rootMargin: '200px 0px 200px 0px' } ); lazyloadBackgrounds.forEach( ( lazyloadBackground ) => { lazyloadBackgroundObserver.observe( lazyloadBackground ); } ); }; const events = [ 'DOMContentLoaded' ]; events.forEach( ( event ) => { document.addEventListener( event lazyloadRunObserver ); } ); x {{{ data.variation.variation_description }}} {{{ data.variation.price_html }}} {{{ data.variation.availability_html }}} Sorry George “Chip” Seabrook Oswald Jr and Zuleita “Dicki” Burn Oswald Mikell sailing the original Sea Island One Design sailboats Following his service he returned home to James Island where he worked for SCDNR In his later years he enjoyed watching the rise and fall of the tide from his front porch seat overlooking the backside of Clark Sound George "Skipper" Seabrook Oswald SEABROOK — A citizens' petition calling for a 2 percent tax cap on future town spending gained a majority vote at Tuesday's election but did not get the 60 percent needed for approval The tax cap was supported by a vote of 713 to 627 was a hot topic in town before the election with many comments on social media and discussions among residents Some felt it was needed to keep taxes in check but others feared the cap would soon result in a reduction in town services While the town's $26,547,873 operating budget was rejected voters did support the $2,345,042 budget to support the Water Department and $3,037,903 to fund the Wastewater (sewer) Department Voters also approved $18 million in bonds for water and sewer projects with funding to repay the bonded debt from water and sewer rates and fees and not taxes including one to hire eight more firefighters for the Fire Department as well as the new one-year contracts for three town unions: the Seabrook Employees Seabrook Supervisory Employees and Seabrook Police associations Voters also overwhelmingly approved the abolishment of the office of constable a left-over position from the Colonial days that no longer has responsibilities in town government They also choose to change how Zoning Board of Adjustment members are selected instead of appointed by the Board of Selectmen Current ZBA members will serve their appointed terms with new members elected upon term expirations Former selectman Aboul Khan was elected to the Seabrook Board of Selectmen at Tuesday's election Khan was the top vote-getter with 524 votes “It is so great to be elected to go back to my real place the Board of Selectmen,” Aboul Khan said after learning of his re-election to the board and I’ll work harder than ever to fulfill my responsibilities to all my fellow taxpayers.” Seabrook votes to stay in SAU 21Voters sided with the recommendation of the Withdrawal Feasibility Study Committee Tuesday that Seabrook schools should remain a part of SAU 21 The article was approved by a vote of 720 in support of the committee's recommendation and 578 against The committee was formed after Seabrook School District voters approved Article 6 by a vote of 830-601 last year to explore the pros and cons of leaving the five-community SAU The Seabrook School Board put forth the article to start the formal process of breaking away from the SAU in light of concerns brought up by parents and guardians regarding low test scores and the education of their children The committee voted 4-3 against leaving SAU 21 and there was no assurance the district would see improved student test scores Jackie Marshall grew up going to Seabrook schools and has a son in the fourth grade She walked into the polls Tuesday saying she opposed leaving SAU 21 because of the opportunities that would be missed if Seabrook went on its own “I think it's actually going to get rid of a lot of extracurriculars," Marshall said "I don't really see the positive in that." She also doubted claims that Seabrook students were being neglected by the state compared to those in other communities "I don't think that the state can make the students necessarily not as smart as the towns they're in the SAU with," Marshall said said she voted against leaving SAU 21 as well because she believes communities benefit from each other's support "I feel as though it's the wrong move," Chapruet said Voters also rejected the school district's $18,634,589 budget by a vote of 583 to 699 They also rejected spending $115,000 to hire a behavior interventionist for Seabrook schools by a vote of 613-699 There were also two School Board seats on the ballot while Casey Hashem defeated Kelli Hueber for the one-year seat on the board Alspaugh's Boutique 'By KellyAnnette relocated in mid-April to a new spot in Seabrook owner KellyAnnette Alspaugh said on April 28 James joined Community Impact in June 2023 and is the editor of both the Bay Area paper and the Pearland-Friendswood paper Before joining the team he worked for several newspapers in both Texas and Illinois Since graduating from the University of North Texas in 2018 James has covered more than a dozen communities and school districts learning Spanish and podcasting about football SEABROOK — Voters will decide the candidates for Select Board School Board and other contested races on the ballot at the March 11 town election They will also decide on a citizens' petition that would cap future town spending as well as whether to go along with the recommendation to have Seabrook schools remain in SAU 21 and a look at the top issues on the ballot: 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 Who is running for the Select Board?Selectman Srinivasan “Ravi” Ravikumar is not seeking re-election and four candidates are competing to fill his seat Planning Board member Paul Knowles and Justin Gregory Packard are all running for the three-year term Seacoastonline sent questionnaires to all four candidates asking questions about their top priorities Seabrook Select Board candidate answers questions on the issues Aboul Khan:Seabrook Select Board candidate answers questions on the issues Seabrook Select Board candidate answers questions on the issues Seabrook Select Board candidate answers questions on the issues four candidates are vying for two spots on the Planning Board There is a seven-person race for three constable positions on the ballot is considered mainly historic and ceremonial.Under New Hampshire state law constables have the power to serve and return “writs and other civil precepts.” Seabrook Town Manager Bill Manzi said those services are handled by the county sheriff’s department and he’s not aware of constables in Seabrook performing those services The position is held for only one year and carries an annual stipend of $100 Uncontested races include Rio Tilton for moderator Paul Kelley for trustee of the library and Carrie Fowler for trustee of the trust funds Voters will face 42 warrant articles on the upcoming ballot including the town's proposed $26,547,873 operating budget — an increase of $198,773 over the default budget the water and sewer departments will have separate funding articles rather than being included in the overall town operating budget These departments will be funded exclusively through water and sewer rates and fees Article 9 proposes a $2,345,042 budget to support the Water Department a default budget of $2,282,142 will be implemented Article 10 seeks $3,037,903 to fund the Wastewater (sewer) Department also covered exclusively by sewer rates and fees Will Seabrook approve spending cap?A citizens' petition in Seabrook could fundamentally change the town's budgeting practices and potentially limit town services in the years ahead if approved Article 41 proposes a 2% cap on the town’s annual tax levy — the total amount of revenue raised from property taxes each year The tax levy is determined annually based on budget expenses next year’s tax levy would be limited to a 2% increase over this year’s figure The proposed cap does not allow for overrides or warrant articles to address emergency or unexpected expenses the town would need to cut existing spending and services The only way to lift the cap would be through another warrant article which would require a 60% supermajority vote Former selectman Aboul Khan said the concept of a 2% cap on spending appears to be one that could benefit taxpayers financially leaving voters with a lot of questions as to how it works and what it means a state legislator representing Seabrook in the House of Representatives and hearings are held when debate brings up the pros and cons of both sides Legislators listen and discuss all aspects sometimes finding ways to avoid detriments and enhance benefits But that didn’t happen with this 2% spending cap “The citizens' petition just arrived written on a piece of paper,” said Khan who is also running to return to the Select Board “There should be a public hearing where residents and department heads can speak so everyone understands what it would mean perhaps 1½%; we haven’t had the opportunity to discuss it.” “I think things should have been discussed in a public hearing,” Knowles said “I think everything should be out in the open.” Selectman candidate Justin Gregory Packard doesn’t believe the tax cap would be effective “I understand the concerns about rising property taxes but I’m voting no on the local tax cap Article 41,” Packard said “The cap would only limit what the Budget Committee can submit; the amount can be overridden at the deliberative session (according to the Municipal Budget Law).” and 7 ask voters to approve bonds totaling approximately $18 million for three major water- and sewer-related projects These bonds would not be repaid through property taxes but through revenue generated by water and sewer rates and fees The town also plans to pursue federal and state funding to help offset project costs all three articles require a three-fifths (60 percent) voter approval to pass.Article 5 seeks $8.6 million to design and construct five new public drinking water wells off Stard and Weare roads and connect them to the town’s water treatment plant Article 6 requests $1.2 million to fund a federally mandated program to identify lead water pipes running from water mains to approximately 4,000 homes and businesses within the town's water system Article 7 asks for $8.6 million to complete the second phase of upgrades to the aging Wastewater Plant The project includes improving energy efficiency and replacing roofs on three buildings Additional items on the ballot include Article 35 which proposes abolishing the town's three constable positions which seeks to make Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) members elected by voters A sample town of Seabrook ballot is here Who is running for Seabrook School Board?There are two School Board seats on the ballot while Casey Hashem and Kelli Hueber are vying for one The reason why the one-year seat is on the ballot is because Hueber resigned from the board and then was appointed back to fill the term until the March 11 election Seacoastonline sent questionnaires to all three candidates Seabrook School Board candidate answers questions on the issues Seabrook School Board candidate answers questions on the issues Voters are being asked whether they agree with the Withdrawal Feasibility Study Committee which recommends Seabrook schools remain a part of School Administrative Unit 21 The committee voted 4-3 against leaving SAU 21 noting that it would lead to higher costs and there was no assurance the district would see improved student test scores If voters reject the committee's recommendation Other articles on the ballot include the school district's $18,634,589 budget and a $115,000 request to hire a behavior interventionist A sample town of Seabrook ballot is here Reductions in the budget are attributed to general cost-saving measures the expiration of the 20-year bond for the school building project the elimination of one teacher position due to retirement and the currently unfilled associate principal position Increases in the budget include salary adjustments for both union and non-union staff and cost escalation across various accounts including supplies and vocational programs due to higher participation rates and increased tuition Special education expenses have also risen due to higher transportation costs for out-of-district placements to meet students' needs Another item on the ballot is a $2.5 million request for phase two of three to replace and repair the roofs at the high school The final article on the ballot is a citizens' petition requiring the school district to implement zero-based budgeting This budgeting method requires that every expense be justified and approved for each new year According to SAU 21 Associate Superintendent for Finance and Operations Matt Ferreira the school district already utilizes zero-based budgeting A sample Winnacunnet School District ballot is here Tracy Emerton Williams is running unopposed to represent North Hampton on the Winnacunnet School Board All towns in the SAU vote on the board positions Winnacunnet School Board candidate answers questions on the issues SEABROOK — The town’s Route 107 “gun range” has a new lease on life with an agreement signed between selectmen and the Seabrook Sporting Association to reopen the shooting sports facility to the public The board voted unanimously to lease the range for $1 per year to the newly formed nonprofit, which plans to upgrade and maintain the facility which has been closed since 2018 The range is within the borders of Kensington although it is located on land purchased by Seabrook in the 1960s for its well fields the range was a place where Seabrook fathers taught their children to shoot where local hunters honed their skills and adjusted the sights on their long guns where police officers practiced for weapons certification Fish and Game instructors showed license seekers how to safely handle firearms Finding people willing to give up hours to supervise its use became increasingly difficult Its location near Seabrook’s drinking water well fields raised environmental concerns over cleanliness its isolation sometimes attracted unauthorized users and the sound of gunfire unnerved nearby residents Police determined the bullet was fired recklessly A cache of bullet casings found at the range indicated shots were not fired from the proper position toward the berms Since then, the range has only opened with special permission for events like Seabrook Old Home Day’s Turkey Shoot and New Hampshire Fish and Game’s hunter education course In 2019, a committee was formed to develop a financially independent way to reopen the town’s firing range in a manner that is safe for the public and the environment “We went over everything from A to Z,” Felch said The end result was the decision to form the Seabrook Sporting Association More: The Brook casino in Seabrook plans major expansion the committee includes residents who have advocated for the range for decades Police Chief Brett Walker and Water Superintendent Curtis Slayton are also members of the committee basically “a work in progress,” but officers were chosen and include President John Mounsey and Vice President Mike Frost Seabrook Sporting Association will be a membership organization future officers will be elected by the members A membership process and fee structure are in the works and will provide a sustainable funding source the association can expand the range’s purview to include its traditional use as a firing range and the group is also considering hosting some outdoor sporting activities in years to come A number of enhancements are planned for the site as well The group is working on upgrading electricity at the site along with amenities Security fencing and security cameras are also being researched for installation the range will have National Rifle Association-certified officers on the scene “We want to promote safe shooting sports for people,” Felch said The new membership arrangement does not preclude any of the range’s special users police certifications and state hunter education courses are welcome Those interested in joining can keep abreast of the association’s progress on its Facebook page at Seabrook Sporting Association More: Hampton family faces legal action for failing to remove pet hogs from home Selectmen said they look forward to the public being able to enjoy the range in the very near future “They’re doing a great job,” Selectwoman Theresa Kyle said of the group “They’ve cleaned up the place and doing a lot to make it really nice They’ve added safety features and updated it "The vision that the Sporting Association has brought forth will make safety the main concern for all and increase the outdoor experience for all in the community," said Selectman Harold Eaton SEABROOK — A Seabrook police officer charged with possession of child sex abuse images allegedly uploaded graphic videos on a social media chat app and had explicit conversations with underage girls was arrested this week on felony charges of possession of child pornography dissemination of visual material of a child in a state of nudity or sexual conduct and disseminating obscene matter to a minor Seabrook Police Chief Brett Walker said they were notified of the charges by the Haverhill Police Department Monday and that he was "immediately" placed on administrative leave Seabrook Town Manager Bill Manzi said Thursday that Giarrusso is on "unpaid leave" and his certification as a NH police officer has been suspended." Giarrusso was arraigned Monday in Haverhill District Court and was released on $100,000 cash bail Attempts to reach Giarrusso were unsuccessful According to a police affidavit filed by Haverhill Police Detective Kaylee Sarde 11 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding an incident involving the dissemination of child sex abuse material over the internet reported there were five digital files uploaded including ones of naked children between the ages of 6 to 8 years old being molested and raped by adults The IP and email address associated with the account led police to Giarrusso they discovered the child sex abuse images as well as selfies and videos they believe to be of Giarrusso including one photo of him shirtless and a video where he holds up a law enforcement badge in his hand stating Sarde said she also reviewed text messages where Giarrusso allegedly had conversations with other Kik users in which "he indicates that he wants to have sexual intercourse with their wives and also with their wives and daughters at the same time." Giarrusso allegedly tells another user that "the girls in town call (him) Officer Sexy" and that he is a "New England cop." The affidavit also outlines messages to underage females including one who identified herself as a 14-year-old girl where he allegedly says he "wants to see her with a skirt and nothing underneath." he allegedly tells a user that he has had sex with a 13-year-old "There are several messages where he expresses to multiple users that he wants to have sex with their underage daughters and also states that he does not have an age limit," wrote Sarde in the affidavit Giarrusso has been a member of the Seabrook Police Department since 2014 they were able to identify Giarrusso after conducting a search online and matching those photos with the ones found on the Kik app Several news articles highlighted Giarrusso as a Seabrook police officer including one where he raised money for the Child Advocacy Center of Rockingham County's "Beards For Bucks" campaign The county’s CAC opened in 2000 with the goal of “turning hurt into hope” for child victims of physical or sexual abuse who has been the chief of police since 2019 released a statement following Giarrusso's arrest "While the Seabrook Police Department adheres to the principle that those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty the department immediately placed officer Giarrusso on administrative leave," Walker stated "The Seabrook Police Department declines to further discuss personnel actions that will be taken at this time." Walker said the department strives to uphold the "highest standards of conduct in our staff both on and off duty Allegations of criminal conduct against a law enforcement officer are taken seriously and will be dealt with swiftly and appropriately We will continue to cooperate with Haverhill police investigators and monitor this case as it moves forward." Giarrusso faces 2 ½ to five years in jail on each count of the charges of possession of child pornography and disseminating obscene matter to a minor He faces 10 to 20 years on the charge of dissemination of visual material of a child Giarrusso is scheduled to return to court on April 2 for a probable cause hearing Opulent Salon Suites has expanded its presence with a new location in Seabrook offering luxury salon spaces for beauty and wellness professionals.​ (Courtesy Opulent Salon Suites) This story was originally produced by Seacoast Online. NHPR is republishing it in partnership with the Granite State News Collaborative The Brook in Seabrook is rolling the dice on a 24,000-square-foot expansion and renovation project to keep its tagline of being "America’s largest charity casino." The Seabrook Planning Board unanimously approved the plans on Feb the Las Vegas owner of the local charitable gambling complex on Route 107 After his engineers and consultants made their presentation to the board requested immediate approval to begin ordering construction materials before prices rise any further The construction will feature an 18,000-square-foot expansion of the "front of the house," providing additional space for gambling the project will also enhance the reception area and food service options — including the addition of a new restaurant – as well as a small retail shop the entire entity will receive an upgraded mid-century modern facade Continue reading this story at Seacoast Online 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 Two candidates will run for Seabrook City Council At-Large Position 4 seat on May 3 SEABROOK — A Seabrook fire captain is facing multiple felony charges for allegedly hiding a camera in the bathroom with the expectation of filming a child under the age of 18 formerly of Seabrook and currently of Barnstead entered a not guilty plea at Rockingham Superior Court on Jan 14 to five charges of allegedly attempting to manufacture child sexual abuse images The charges are class A felonies and the result of direct indictments pursued by the office of the Rockingham County Attorney Coleman was indicted by a Rockingham County grand jury in December The five charges pertain to alleged incidents each occurring twice in September and October 2022 and once in October 2023 14 and entered a plea of not guilty,” said Coleman’s lawyer “From the beginning of this police investigation My client consistently has pleaded not guilty.” Coleman was initially charged in August with one count of violation of privacy and 11 counts of violation of privacy in a private place Coleman faces a fine of up to $1,000 and up to one year in county jail on each count Although the Superior Court does not customarily hear misdemeanor cases Justice Andrew Shulman agreed to take the case following Assistant Rockingham County Attorney Sharon Ray’s motion to accept jurisdiction More: Seabrook firefighter resolves sex assault case with plea deal to lesser charge Ray wrote she anticipated the charges against Coleman could be upgraded to felonies with the collection of additional evidence the five felony indictments and all misdemeanors were conjoined into one case A town employee and captain in the Seabrook Fire Department the investigation into Coleman's case was conducted by the Portsmouth Police Department last year according to Seabrook Police Chief Brett Walker Walker said they handed over the investigation to ensure there would be no semblance of a conflict of interest According to the Portsmouth Police Department’s police log Coleman was arrested in August 2024 in Barnstead only on the violation of privacy charges Coleman was put on paid administrative leave by the town of Seabrook beginning on or about Aug according to Seabrook Town Manager Bill Manzi that Coleman's status with the town had changed from paid administrative leave to unpaid administrative leave following the town receiving notification from state authorities that on Friday the state board pulled Coleman’s EMT medical license “We were notified because we were his employer,” Manzi said Bailinson said Coleman has pleaded not guilty to all charges Coleman is out on personal recognizance bail under the conditions he has no contact with the alleged victims refrains from the excessive use of alcohol “My client has devoted his life to public service and served honorably in the U.S followed by a career as a first responder who is proud to help the community of Seabrook,” Bailinson said of Coleman “I have been contacted by countless people who said they’re willing to speak on his behalf because of his countless good deeds and we have faith in the New Hampshire judicial system.” 28 for a dispositional conference scheduled to take place privately in the judge’s chambers Coleman’s final pretrial hearing is set for Aug Coleman faces a sentence of 7 ½ to 15 years in state prison on each count More: 100 mph speeders spike on I-95 in NH. Here's how lawmakers plan to crack down on them Two candidates will run for Seabrook City Council at-large Position 6 seat May 3 InDepthNH.org (https://indepthnh.org/2025/04/03/seabrook-starbucks-workers-vote-union/) Union supporters Stephanie Viekman and Sam Merrill are pictured outside the Seabrook Crossing Starbucks Arnie Alpert spent decades as a community organizer/educator in NH movements for social justice and peace.  Officially retired since 2020 he keeps his hands (and feet) in the activist world while writing about past and present social movements SEABROOK—Workers at the Starbucks store at the Seabrook Crossing plaza voted Thursday to join Workers United a union that is representing workers at more than 550 Starbucks stores Get unbiased nonprofit watchdog news sent directly to your inbox In an election administered by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) The latest local Starbucks union drive began in January, said Brandon Wilson, a member of the union’s organizing committee.   Unions are “the only way workers’ rights are improved,” Wilson said in an interview during a “Sip-In” at the store on March 11 I want Starbucks to be a better place,” said Stephanie Viekman a shift supervisor at Seabrook Crossing.  She moved to New Hampshire last summer from West Virginia where she also worked at Starbucks.  As soon as she found out about the union drive here The petition for a union election was filed by Workers United on February 26 Workers were eligible to vote Thursday during two shifts to noon and 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.  Shortly after 5 Rebecca Miller of the NLRB said there had been no challenged ballots and that the only issue that came up during the election was the entry of an espresso machine mechanic Miller then sliced open the cardboard ballot box and put them in two piles.  One by one she turned them over so observers from the union and the company could see them while she announced “yes” six times and “no” five and Stratham have also voted to join Workers United which as yet has no contracts with the company.   workers at 564 stores have voted pro-union with 17 more NLRB elections scheduled.  Negotiations have been proceeding for months but the parties are mum with regard to the status of their talks.   The bargaining unit for the new union includes all full-time and regular part-time baristas and shift supervisors The Starbucks Corporation has not responded to a request for comment on the Seabrook vote who has worked at the Seabrook Crossing store for seven months and served as an observer for the election said the unionization effort is about “people coming out and making their voices heard.”  Viekman said her understanding of unions was aroused by seeing “Matewan,” a 1987 film which tells the story of a West Virginia coal miner’s battle.  Describing the labor movement as a spiritual community much like a church “I get teary when I talk about the union,” which she said has filled a void that used to be occupied by her religious community “It feels surreal that you can work hard for something and see it happen.”  Outside the store after the votes were tallied an organizer with Starbucks Workers United and three workers from the Stratham Starbucks.  She told Viekman and Merrill that their next step will be to elect a bargaining delegate to represent their store in discussions about the contract the union is negotiating with the company.   She also made sure they understood that they now have “Weingarten Rights,” meaning a right to have a co-worker or union rep accompany them to any meeting with managers where they think disciplinary measures could be discussed.   the espresso machine mechanic returned.  Asked if he wanted a Starbucks Workers United t-shirt This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License A generous gift in any amount helps us continue to bring you this service InDepthNH protects independent journalism that holds government accountable to the people Our investigative reporting prompts civil discourse that spurs citizens to action corruption and influence-peddling while giving voice to the disenfranchised InDepthNH fulfills the press’ watchdog role as envisioned by the founders of our democracy InDepthNH.org is published by the New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News SEABROOK — The Brook is rolling the dice on a 24,000-square-foot expansion and renovation project to keep its tagline of being "America’s largest charity casino." The town Planning Board unanimously approved the plans on Feb After his engineers and consultants made their presentation to the board, Andre Carrier “We’d love to get approval this evening,” Carrier told Planning Board members “so we can order steel to be ready at the first thaw.” The expansion project also includes outdoor fire pits as well as an area for outdoor special events to be held under tents Along with improved grading to enhance drainage and treat stormwater run-off new parking areas with better configurations are planned with existing parking lots completely renovated 9 Dragons soars at The Brook: Kowloon’s 'distant cousin' creates buzz in Seabrook More handicapped parking spaces will be added along with ramping to accommodate those with mobility issues in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Another 6,000 square feet will be added to “the back of the house,” to give employees more space This area will include an improved loading dock Additional accommodations have been needed for some time for employees currently deal with cramped quarters since their numbers have swelled from 65 to 550 in recent years Simulcast betting on national horse races and events along with charity gaming continued there under the former owners until Eureka and Carrier entered the picture Renamed The Brook, the property has already undergone a multi-million-dollar renovation following Eureka taking ownership The Brook’s activities resulted in charities earning about $20 million from the venue only charity gaming can take place in the state Once one of only a few such gambling entities in the state charity gaming casinos are more common in New Hampshire now with a number already established and more facilities currently before planning boards in communities like Salem and Hampton Carrier’s traffic consultant predicts that the facility's expansion will not significantly impact traffic on Route 107 over the next 10 years He noted that the intersection leading to the venue already has ample capacity the consultant said other accommodations can be made if needed such as adding designated left-turn- and right-turn-only lanes The possibility of adding a signalized intersection with a traffic light was investigated but the number of vehicles trips through the intersection did not rise to the level the state requires to permit a traffic light at the venue’s entrance Although the Planning Board hearing had several residents in the audience Questions were asked about drainage and the noise that could come from construction and increased outdoor entertainment Abutter Chad Reardon of nearby Deer Crossing Road said those who live in the area “knew this was coming,” and although he didn’t want to speak for every abutter he felt the biggest concern was noise from both construction and possible outdoor special events “Abutters are going to lose some peace and quiet,” Reardon said The town has noise and nuisance restrictions requiring construction not to begin earlier than 7 a.m Janvrin also urged residents to contact the town if problems arise during construction and afterward “We do try to please every abutter,” he said a 10-foot sound wall is already on the site plan to mute the noise that could drift into the surrounding residential neighborhood Carrier also promised The Brook would remain “diligent,” to the noise issue Janvrin said after reviewing the site plan The board placed three conditions on the approval Carrier is to post a $150,000 bond with the town before construction may begin and outdoor lighting must be altered to ensure it does not infiltrate surrounding neighborhoods the Planning Board put a restriction on any outdoor special events stipulating they must be wrapped up by 11 p.m the Planning Board ceded jurisdiction over such special events to the Board of Selectmen the body that issues entertainment licenses which would be required if outdoor music and performances were to take place at The Brook’s new special outdoor event area An official website of the United States government JavaScript appears to be disabled on this computer. Please click here to see any active alerts The project used coastal mapping data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Hurricane Center and LiDAR data collected by the United States Army Corps of Engineers as inputs to the COAST (COastal Adaptation to Sea level rise) Tool to create visual and presentation-based products that support the adaptation planning processes They found that after accounting for regional subsidence by 2100 sea level rise in New Hampshire could be approximately 2 to 5 feet The project identified the vulnerability of each community’s assets and infrastructure from expected increases in storm surge and rates of sea-level rise NH worth between $107 million and $115 million will be at risk during 100-year flood events The greatest identified risks were to sewage pump stations To address these risks in the short-term the RPC recommended that Seabrook: update its regulations and zoning to elevate new development; separate development and infrastructure from tidal wetlands freshwater wetlands and surface waters; and create a coastal flood hazard overlay district the RPC has made recommendations to improve long-term planning and strengthen community outreach and engagement A regional commission collected and analyzed climate data for multiple communities Developed at the University of Southern Maine with funds from EPA which can connect technical results with the social and economic realities of local adaptation users are able to conduct basic cost-benefit analysis COAST (COastal Adaptation to Sea level rise Tool)* Working meetings were used to help local government stakeholders increase their understanding of regional climate data Seabrook used a regional vulnerability assessment to evaluate risks to its assets and infrastructure The Steps to Resilience can help communities determine their vulnerabilities to the changing climate Steps to Resilience (U.S. Resilience Toolkit) Seabrook used its resources for adapting rather than community-specific studies EPA’s Being Prepared For Climate Change Workbook outlines how communities of any size can take appropriate steps to develop a vulnerability assessment and risk-based plan EPA's Coastal Inundation Coastal Storm Surge Scenario illustrates hurricane strike frequency and worst-case coastal storm surge or inundation scenarios NH-–The Stubblebine Company/CORFAC International has announced the sale of Appleton Oaks a 113-unit apartment complex located at 241 Drakeside Road in Hampton and Zack Hardy of The Stubblebine Company facilitated the transaction representing the undisclosed seller and directly procuring the buyer Appleton Oaks comprises two residential buildings offering a total of 113 units The property boasts a prime location near Route 95 providing convenient access to Hampton Beach and surrounding areas “It was a pleasure representing the seller in this transaction,” said David Berman “Our team ran a highly competitive marketing process which garnered serious interest from multiple highly qualified buyers Both the seller and buyer demonstrated a high level of professionalism from start to finish; we congratulate both parties on a successful transaction.” SEABROOK — A Seabrook Starbucks is among the latest to join the ranks of stores whose employees have decided to join a union to fight for what they consider living wages and fair scheduling The employees at the Seabrook Crossing location filed a petition for a union election last week with the National Labor Relations Board "I've been working in food service since high school The work conditions and pay are all the same a barista of 10 months at the Seabrook shop “I know the food industry is watching this union with bated breath and I want to be a part of making it happen.” it looks like Starbucks is a good place to work with solid benefits “I want a union because I love Starbucks and I want a better future and a better Starbucks I want the next generation of baristas to have protected benefits that can't be taken away.” Since Starbucks workers in Buffalo first announced their intention to form a union in 2021 workers at 540 stores have won union elections with the NLRB in 45 states and the District of Columbia More than 140 stores have joined the Starbucks Workers United union since February 2024 The union is seeking to win workplace protections on core issues like living wages Hampton Falls Brew gets green light: New café to open in former Route 1 bank Seabrook is the third location in the state to file for a union election Last year employees of Starbucks in Stratham voted 9-6 to officially join the Starbucks Workers United union In 2023, employees of Starbucks at the Ridge Marketplace in Rochester voted 10-4 to unionize.While Starbucks has recognized the union On Christmas Eve, baristas went on the largest strike in Starbucks history as 5,000 baristas shut down over 300 stores across the country to call out what they described as the company’s unfair labor practices Workers United filed more than 90 unfair labor practice charges after the company backtracked on the path forward it agreed to over the future of organizing and collective bargaining In December 2024, Sara Kelly, Starbucks’ executive vice president and chief partner officer, issued a statement on the stalled negotiations She mentioned that the company had participated in over eight bargaining sessions with union delegates and reached 30 agreements she described the union's wage demands as "unsustainable." Kelly highlighted that Starbucks already provides an average pay of over $18 per hour "No other retailer offers this kind of comprehensive pay and benefits package," Kelly stated "Workers United proposals call for an immediate increase in the minimum wage of hourly partners by 64% and by 77% over the life of a three-year contract especially when the investments we continually make to our total benefits package are the hallmarks of what differentiates us as an employer – and what makes us proud to work at Starbucks." In January, both sides announced they had agreed to bring in a mediator to assist in reaching a finalized contract Seabrook - Virginia “Ginny” Louise (Bragg) Small, 92, a lifelong resident of Seabrook, New Hampshire, passed away at her home surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, November 26, 2024. She was born on June 28, 1932, in Newburyport,... View Obituary & Service Information The family of Virginia Louise Small created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Seabrook - Virginia “Ginny” Louise (Bragg) Small The town Planning Board voted unanimously on March 3 to approve plans for the project located at 712 Lafayette Road (Route 1) with conditions Chick-fil-A known for its chicken sandwiches and waffle fries sought approval to tear down the existing building to make way for a new 5,800-square-foot The structure will include an extensive double-lane drive-thru Seabrook Town Planner Tom Morgan said although indoor dining is an option Chick-fil-A’s primary service delivery methodology is drive-thru.The Planning Board approved the conditional use permit for the project which Seabrook requires for a drive-thru in the zone determining the project met all the criteria for the permit No abutters spoke against the drive-thru at the public hearing nor did any member of the public speak against the development More: Seabrook Starbucks joins union push for living wages amid stalled contract talks Planning Board members were most concerned about traffic and wanted to ensure drive-thru vehicles don’t back up onto busy Route 1 According to Chick-fil-A’s traffic consultant Erin Fredette surveys were done at existing restaurants in the nearby communities of Nashua She said the study determined the volume of new trips expected at the chicken restaurant during the week’s highest peak hours of mid-day on Saturday is 400 who are in the area and decide to stop for a bite and those who drive to the restaurant specifically to dine at Chick-fil-A Seabrook Planning Board’s peer review traffic consultant Dandrade recommended doing another traffic count six months after the Seabrook Chick-fil-A is up and running to reaffirm the trip count and see if adjustments are required Dandrade said the numbers could be used to alter the sequencing of the traffic signals at the intersection Based on the additional trips Chick-fil-A is expected to bring to Route 1 the company must pay an exaction fee to Seabrook for use with possible road improvements to its section on Route 1 the money to be used within six years or returned Morgan said the company may instead pay a donation of $291,600 to the town The discounted amount does not have a six-year expiration date and may be kept by Seabrook until it is needed for road enhancements Other conditions for approval include conducting a traffic study six months after opening planting a disease-resistant elm tree in the roadside landscaping Developers must also submit a lighting photometric grid to ensure flood lighting does not pose a hazard to Route 1 drivers and restrict dumpster emptying to between 7 a.m to minimize noise disturbances for neighbors The Planning Board also required that a month or two before its grand opening Chick-fil-A management submit a plan with town officials More: The Brook casino in Seabrook plans major expansion- New games, restaurants and more Chick-fil-A recently opened its first location on the Seacoast in the Newington Park Shopping Center The Seabrook location will be its fifth restaurant in New Hampshire Two others are in Nashua — one at the Pheasant Lane Mall and the other at the Somerset Plaza — and the third is at Tuscan Village in Salem Chick-fil-A grew out of a 1940s popular chicken restaurant in Atlanta to become the largest fast-food restaurant specializing in chicken sandwiches operating more than 3,000 sites across the nation According to a survey by the American Customer Satisfaction Index Chick-fil-A has been the nation’s favorite fast-food chain for eight years running according to Quick Service and Fast Casual Restaurant QSR Magazine Chick-fil-A was listed as first in its 2023 list of the top 30 quick service chains their breaded chicken is made from boneless breast chicken with no added fillers and is pressure-cooked in fully refined peanut oil is delivered to Chick-fil-A restaurants up to six times a week SEABROOK — A Seabrook firefighter, initially charged with aggravated felonious sexual assault has accepted a plea deal to resolve the case but those charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement by the Rockingham County attorney’s office A nolo plea means Tilley is accepting the charge and agreeing to the sentence without pleading guilty or not guilty Tilley will receive a one-year jail sentence which will be suspended for three years under the condition he remains on good behavior was filed by Rockingham County Assistant County Attorney Roger Chadwick on Friday Rockingham County Attorney Patricia Conway did not immediately respond to an inquiry into why the aggravated felonious sexual assault charges were dropped A New Hampshire court phone operator said no date has been set for Tilley’s plea and sentencing More: NRC approves NextEra's revised emergency plan after two-year review Tilley was indicted in the fall of 2023 for allegedly having non-consensual sexual intercourse with a woman in Seabrook The indictments stated that the assault occurred between April 5 and April 9 The new simple assault charge alleges that Tilley "purposely caused unprivileged contact" with the victim by "having her sit in his lap." Tilley has been with the Seabrook Fire Department since 2013 He was placed on administrative leave after his arrest Town Manager Bill Manzi said Friday he was aware of Tilley's plea He said his employment status has not changed since he was placed on leave “No determination of change in status as of yet,” Manzi said Seabrook Police Chief Brett Walker said his department took an initial report of the alleged assault He said they turned the case over to the Hampton Police Department after consulting with the Rockingham County attorney’s office More: Brentwood man faces charges after high-speed Route 101 chase leads to trooper crash Chick-fil-A, known for its chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, is seeking approval to open a new location at 712 Lafayette Road (Route 1) on a 64,568-square-foot lot currently occupied by the vacant 5,800-square-foot Outback Steakhouse building According to its application before the town's Planning Board the existing structure will be demolished and replaced with a 5,200 square-foot Chick-fil-A featuring a drive-thru and overhead canopy The proposed restaurant will include seating for 70 indoors and approximately 16 seats outdoors While restaurants are permitted in this commercial zone the drive-thru window requires a special use permit from the Planning Board The application also proposes a second curb cut and a new accessway in the northeast corner of the lot Hampton development 2025: Casino makeover, Liberty Lane housing, rail trail and more Why Chick-fil-A wants to demolish ex-Outback SteakhouseAt the first public hearing before the Planning Board on Dec along with consultants Joey Fonseca of Bohler Engineering and Jason Adams of the Bowman Consulting Group Fonseca explained that the existing Outback building must be demolished to comply with Seabrook's zoning ordinance which mandates a 20-foot greenbelt landscaping setback for all businesses with frontage along Lafayette Road members expressed concern about the potential traffic the popular fast-food chain and its drive-thru could generate in an already busy area of Route 1 Seabrook Town Planner Tom Morgan noted Chick-fil-A's representatives had prepared a traffic study based on trip-generation statistics from a standard transportation manual the board requested another traffic study based on actual counts from one or more existing Chick-fil-A locations referred to Chick-fil-A as a "destination restaurant," meaning people are willing to travel significant distances to visit the chain in addition to those who already frequent the area He noted his teenage son and friends often travel to Methuen just to eat at Chick-fil-A Adams responded that as more Chick-fil-A locations open in the region The Planning Board continued the application until Jan 20 with the expectation that a second traffic study will be done More: New coffee shop with drive-thru pitched for former Citizens Bank in Hampton Falls Chick-fil-A recently opened its first location on the Seacoast in the Newington Park Shopping Center.If the Seabrook location is approved it will be its fifth restaurant in New Hampshire Two others are in Nashua — one at the Pheasant Lane Mall and the other at the Somerset Plaza — and the third is at Tuscan Village in Salem Chick-fil-A has more than 2,600 restaurants in 47 states their breaded chicken is made from boneless breast of chicken with no added fillers and is pressure-cooked in fully refined peanut oil Two candidates will run for the Seabrook City Council at-large Position 2 seat May 3 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness will award to me on that day-and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing".  Pasley's Mortuary announces the passing of Hessie Mae Seabrook South Carolina who answered the summons of our heavenly father to retire from the labors here on earth to her rewards in heaven on Tuesday The biggest industrial vegetable producer in the United States in the 1950s Cumberland County’s Seabrook Farms employed 4,000 refugees and immigrants including approximately 2,500 Japanese Americans interned during World War II The stories of those laborers are highlighted in “The Paradox of Seabrook Farms - Shattered Dreams Restored Hopes,” a documentary directed and produced by filmmaker Helga Merits of Merits Productions Rowan University’s College of Humanities & Social Sciences, in partnership with the Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center will present a screening of the film on Thursday in the Eynon Ballroom of the Chamberlain Student Center The screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Merits activists and others involved with the film CHSS Dean Nawal Ammar will moderate the discussion The event is free and open to the public, but online registration is required More than 4,000 laborers from a host of nationalities and cultures at Seabrook Farms built new lives for their families while C.F known at the time as  “the Henry Ford of Agriculture,” worked to destroy the company Seabrook laborers included men and women who worked grueling rotating seven-day shifts while still finding time to maintain their cultural traditions and create new possibilities for their children “The Paradox of Seabrook Farms” sheds light on the questions of how workers were able to cope and avoid bitterness and anger as Seabrook allowed jealousy and distrust to drive the family and company apart Despite the challenges faced by the laborers multicultural community was established at Seabrook The true-life stories of survival and perseverance by Seabrook workers are at the heart of the 86-minute film reflecting struggles for freedom from war and oppression experienced by those in today’s global headlines Latvian and Estonian refugees and Black families who fled the Jim Crow South but these kinds of situations in the agricultural sector are still happening,” Merits says “I wanted to capture the ways the workers were able to cope and give their children a happy childhood For information on the film screening and panel discussion, contact Stephen Fleming, flemings@rowan.edu Rowan University • 201 Mullica Hill Road • Glassboro ©2025 Rowan University. Consumer Disclosures | University Catalog Read the Notice of Availability of Rowan’s Annual Security & Fire Safety Report Two candidates will run for Seabrook City Council At-Large Position 1 on May 3 SEABROOK — There is a sad but hopeful tale to tell about the closing of Cat Tales Rescue the volunteer-run shelter that for eight years practiced its mission of providing “a safe haven for cats in need.” According to Cat Tales' recent social media post it will close the doors of unit 201 at 920 Lafayette Road with “a heavy heart” on April 1 all the needy cats under the care and shelter at Cat Tales have homes “The outpouring of love and support has been nothing short of amazing,” Cassidy said “We have placed all but a few cats after a successful adoption day (Sunday Local rescues have been very supportive and will be taking the remaining cats.” Cassidy previously worked with FuRRR Feline Rescue in Rochester's Gonic neighborhood and opened Cat Tales in 2018 The three adoption rooms at her now-closed Seabrook facility offered 1,100 square feet of space for the cats to live and play in as well as for people to come and meet them Cat Tales Rescue pretty much took all cats: surrendered local pets or those from kill shelters in other states then sheltered in a safe space and loved until forever homes could be found for them through adoption and Cat Tales Rescue can claim saving the lives of 6,000 furry feline friends with the help of volunteers and adoptive cat parents Pet and cat lovers wishing to volunteer their help or to adopt cats or other pets should contact the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, located in Stratham at 104 Portsmouth Avenue, 603-772-2921 x 110, or https://nhspca.org The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society Animal shelters in Salisbury, Massachusetts, also offer adoption for rescued cats. They can be reached at 63 Elm Street (Route 110) in Salisbury, or at mrfrs.org or by calling 1-978-462-0760 Drivas was also ordered to pay restitution of just under $1.6 million to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue According to the U.S. attorney's office, Drivas was the owner and operator of three restaurants — Red’s Sandwich Shop in Salem and Red’s Seabrook in Seabrook — between January 2016 to October 2022 Drivas was the sole shareholder of the Salem restaurant until he sold it to an employee in September 2022 He was the 100% owner of the Peabody restaurant with his wife and the 52% owner of the Seabrook restaurant with his children Prosecutors said from at least January 2017 to June 2022 Drivas paid “under-the-table” wages of $1,496,417 to multiple restaurant employees and did not report those wages to the IRS or pay employment taxes on them Federal tax law requires employers to withhold from any employee wages an amount for income taxes and other amounts for Social Security and Medicare taxes Drivas caused more than $439,000 in employment tax losses Drivas also collected the state and local “meals taxes” paid by restaurant customers which he failed to pay over to the state as required by law all owners and operators of restaurants and bars are required to collect 6.25% sales taxes on meals Salem and Peabody also require restaurants and bars to collect an additional 0.75% local option meals excise tax Although Drivas collected the taxes from restaurant customers he intentionally withheld $1,596,775 of those taxes from monthly reports and payments owed to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue argued for a sentence of home confinement due to his client's acceptance of responsibility for the crimes and the "catastrophic impact that incarceration would have on his many employees." Lovett stated once Drivas learned the government was investigating him following IRS agents executing search warrants at his home and businesses on May 5 he "immediately consented to interviews and cooperated with the government." Lovett noted Drivas pleaded guilty and also made an advanced restitution payment of $439,341.88 toward the payroll taxes owed to the IRS and related state taxes Drivas committed that conduct as a restaurant owner trying to keep his businesses operating on extraordinarily slim and in some years negative margins who was overextended and overwhelmed by expenses," stated Lovett in his sentencing memorandum to the judge "He did not commit the offenses out of greed or a desire to enrich himself by taking advantage of others but to keep his business going and employees employed day by day and week to week." Prosecutors objected to home confinement or no jail time seeking a sentence of two years in prison as well as restitution They noted that Drivas initially did not cooperate with the investigation and lied to IRS agents He also continued his meals tax scheme for several months even after the IRS executed the search warrants on his businesses Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case The court decision likely resolves the last major hurdle for Avangrid’s $1.5 billion New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project Avangrid had capitalized about $1.1 billion on the project as of June 30 ISO New England expects the project will begin participating in its markets by January 2026. “This transmission line will play a key role in supporting the region’s key access to clean energy and achieving broader environmental goals,” the grid operator said in a pending FERC filing posted Oct Avangrid has made progress on building the transmission line, including setting 504 pole bases, erecting 441 poles and installing wire on 178 poles, Avangrid said in a July 1 update to the Maine Public Utilities Commission The company said it started building an HVDC converter station in Lewiston Circuit court’s decision is a part of the long-running challenges to an effort to import hydro power into New England from Québec Massachusetts’ utilities selected Eversource Energy’s Northern Pass transmission project to deliver 9.45 million MWh per year from Hydro-Québec into ISO-NE After the Northern Pass project failed to clear New Hampshire’s regulatory process it was replaced by Avangrid’s NECEC project direct current transmission line set to run about 145 miles in Maine Hydro-Québec is building part of the line in Canada The project overcame a series of hurdles in Maine, including a referendum backed by NextEra and other power plant companies that aimed to block it Increased power supplies would put downward pressure on wholesale power prices in New England The referendum passed but a court determined that Avangrid had already started work on the project and therefore could finish it the DC Circuit court rejected NextEra’s argument that because the Seabrook circuit breaker — which is at 99.6% of its capacity — was part of its generation system and not part of the interstate transmission system FERC lacked statutory authority to require the upgrade The court said the upgrade directly affects the transmission of electricity in interstate commerce “Seabrook’s barely-good-enough circuit breaker currently prevents other power sources from connecting to the interstate grid without posing substantial risks to Seabrook,” the court said “If FERC could not order an upgrade in those circumstances incumbent generators could unilaterally prevent competing sellers from joining the grid … And if FERC could not require generators to install circuit breakers at all the entire grid would be left vulnerable to widespread outages from fault currents.” Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts “There is simply no physical way that wind solar and batteries could replace the myriad uses of natural gas,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said at S&P Global’s CERAWeek Bringing new nuclear “down the cost curve” requires design standardization and continued support from federal clean energy tax credits The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines SEABROOK — A Seabrook police officer has been placed on administrative leave after being charged in Massachusetts with possession of child sexual abuse images was arrested on a warrant on the charge as well as dissemination of visual material of a child in a state of nudity or sexual conduct and disseminating obscene matter to a minor The investigation was conducted by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Seabrook Police Chief Brett Walker issued a statement Wednesday stating the department was notified of Giarrusso's arrest by the Haverhill Police Department on Monday We will continue to cooperate with Haverhill police investigators and monitor this case as it moves forward."   Giarrusso was arraigned and released on $1 million bond According to WCVB Giarrusso is accused of uploading several videos to the messaging app Kik He was also allegedly involved in sending and receiving graphic text messages to individuals who said they were underage SEABROOK — Andre Carrier said it always brought a smile to his face when his dad hit the right blinker on the family car on Route 1 in Saugus and pulled into the Kowloon Restaurant “My memories of Kowloon were always of the best of times,” the CEO of The Brook reminisced of his family’s favorite pit stop during their frequent trips from Massachusetts up to ski country in the White Mountains or someone just got into the college they wanted or my dad was really super happy that one of my sisters had broken up with a boyfriend they didn’t like,” Carrier continued with a chuckle and I know it’s like that for other people It’s an endeavor that neither Carrier nor Wong took lightly given the 75-year legacy of the sprawling “The number of restaurants that you can use ‘iconic’ with and not have it be an empty platitude is really not that many,” Carrier noted Featuring multiple dining areas and the posh Forbidden City lounge and recently expanded full takeout service to every nook and cranny of the country’s largest charitable gaming casino on Wednesdays as well It’s all part of a very deliberate rollout “We’re kind of walking before we start to run,” Wong explained And while Wong has opened several satellite versions of the Kowloon over the years when it came to this endeavor he knew he wanted to go beyond his family’s very successful playbook but we wanted to get away from that,” Wong said More: Fat Hen Brewing's 'Big Mike' takes top honors in Exeter's Burger Bowl To that end, while Kowloon aficionados will find favorites like the restaurant’s Saugus wings that 9 Dragons doesn’t have the same transportative quality which makes its “distant cousin” so unique patrons are dropped into a swanky 1970s night spot in the heart of Hong Kong’s vibrant Kowloon District the Cantonese translation for Kowloon is 9 Dragons and other cult heroes adorn the hallway that leads diners to the well-appointed dining rooms which feature exposed painted brick walls and secluded booths and tables There’s an old-time photo booth at the end of the hallway and a tarot card reading room right next to it patrons can peruse a replica of a Hong Kong Hollywood Variety tabloid and read about Lee and Chuck Norris colliding on the silver screen along with the tasty and well-thought-out menu Carrier says it was all about coming up with a backdrop first then designing a restaurant and menu to fulfill that vision like the Brown Derby of Hong Kong Hollywood,” Carrier asked alluding to the chain of trendy restaurants that dotted Los Angeles in the 1950s “We basically wrote the story and then designed the restaurant We wanted the Kowloon customer to come and find their comfort but at the same time we wanted them to come find something new,” Carrier added Country Music Fest 2025: Niko Moon to headline free show at Hampton Beach Wong and Carrier were connected by mutual friend Mike Moody and soon realized a shared vision for a reimagined version of the Saugus staple more upscale wrapper with a definite Vegas vibe who ultimately signed a licensing partnership agreement and has been working closely with both Carrier and the Brook’s VP of Experiences “They have been better partners than anyone could expect,” Wong enthused and I think we came up with a great spot.” To ensure a high level of service and continuity Wong brought over his managing partner at the Kowloon as well as head chef Valeria Sanchez from Saugus “That was a chief ingredient in trying to ensure the same level of quality and what people expect at the Kowloon,” said Wong who as a student at UNH in the 70s would take a bus down Route 1 each weekend to work for his parents at the Kowloon A self-proclaimed “food geek," Carrier says one of the most enjoyable parts of the new launch was getting back into the kitchen and developing new menu items to complement those from the Kowloon Working in concert with award-winning chef Sheraton Su who he teamed with to launch the acclaimed Fat Choy on the Vegas strip a decade ago Night Market Fried Chicken” a Taiwanese-style crispy chicken is already one of Wong’s new favorites and another favorite is Red Braised Short Ribs as well as crispy fried Brussels sprouts tossed in Kung Pao sauce and he was really a driving force in bringing the other dishes on board,” said Wong Whether you’re looking to share a scorpion bowl served in a decorative ceramic cat pitcher or sip one of the many signature cocktails like The Year of the Dragon mai tai the restaurant's Forbidden City lounge has it The stylish and upscale spot really comes alive on the weekends as it plays host to regional and national DJ talent so that’s why we built the restaurant the way we did,” said Carrier “We want to be a nice compliment to the other restaurants on the Seacoast while providing a different night-out experience We’re very grateful to all the people who have come out to support us.” 9 Dragons is open Thursday through Sunday with takeout available in the casino on Wednesdays. For more information, visit www.livefreeandplay.com InDepthNH.org (https://indepthnh.org/2024/11/27/nextera-risked-seabrook-meltdown-for-profit-according-to-lawsuit/) allowed its infrastructure to degrade to the point of risking a nuclear meltdown as part of a scheme to keep competitors at bay according to a lawsuit brought by clean energy company Avangrid The federal lawsuit filed this month in the United States District Court of Massachusetts Western Division accuses NextEra of engaging in a scorched Earth campaign to derail Avangrid’s New England Clean Energy Connect project the project aims to bring lower cost hydroelectric power from Canada to Massachusetts with a transmission line running through Maine and New Hampshire NextEra has abused the regulatory and judicial process misled voters with illegal dark money and false statements and obstructed electric infrastructure improvements As an incumbent electricity supplier with significant power generation assets in New England NextEra has used these anticompetitive and tortious tactics to line its own pockets by excluding lower-priced competition for electricity supply in Massachusetts from Avangrid’s New England Clean Energy Connect project,” the lawsuit states.  The NECEC project was authorized by the Massachusetts legislature as part of its plan to transition off of fossil fuels NextEra tried and failed to win the NECEC contract NextEra then sought to delay the project through regulatory appeals called “absurd” by the regulatory bodies fought an illegal referendum campaign in Maine that resulted in sanctions against NextEra shell companies and finally through possibly the most alarming allegation in the lawsuit NextEra’s reported strategy to allow New Hampshire’s Seabrook Station nuclear power plant to risk meltdown as a wedge to keep Avangrid’s NECEC stalled It’s a strategy that NextEra reportedly admitted to in a prior lawsuit which protects its Seabrook nuclear power plant from technical problems that could arise in the power grid But against its own safety and engineering interests NextEra allowed the breaker to age to the point that it had reached near-capacity such that any additional source of power added to the grid could overwhelm the breaker and risk a catastrophic nuclear event,” the lawsuit states could not allow any significant new power source project to connect to the grid unless and until NextEra upgraded the breaker NextEra positioned its aging equipment as a bottleneck that it alone controlled creating for itself—and then wielding—the power to veto any rival power source from connecting to the grid NextEra admitted in open court that by purposely refusing to upgrade its safety equipment it secured a ‘veto’ over NECEC and other electricity suppliers aiming to enter the markets.” NextEra did not respond to the allegation that it purposefully risked a catastrophic nuclear meltdown to gain a competitive edge and we look forward to vigorously defending against these claims in court,” NextEra stated Executive Director of local watchdog group C-10 Research & Education Foundation said her group has gone to court itself over NextEra’s actions and is not surprised by Avangrid’s allegations.  and feel strongly that the public should be abhorred by this dubious behavior of our local nuclear power plant trying to illegally influence legislators,” she said “We need our elected officials to prioritize their constituents’ safety especially with the cracks in the plant’s concrete getting worse with NextEra proposing cuts to their on-site emergency response resources and with climate change bringing more frequent and severe flooding of coastal roads that would be unusable if there were a radiological emergency evacuation.” The Brook casino is planning a 24,000-square-foot expansion and renovation that will add more games The Brook is rolling the dice on a 24,000-square-foot expansion and renovation project to keep its tagline of being “America’s largest charity casino.” The town Planning Board unanimously approved the plans on Feb After his engineers and consultants made their presentation to the board, Andre Carrier “We’d love to get approval this evening,” Carrier told Planning Board members “so we can order steel to be ready at the first thaw.” The construction will feature an 18,000-square-foot expansion of the “front of the house,” providing additional space for gambling the project will also enhance the reception area and food service options — including the addition of a new restaurant – as well as a small retail shop These features will be added to The Brook’s current facilities a 10-table poker room, sportsbook Read the full story at Seacoastonline This article is being shared by partners in the Granite State News Collaborative. For more information, visit collaborativenh.org A committee tasked with reviewing concepts for housing development on Old North Main Street heard from Lakes Region Community Developers discussed the conceptual plan for the development of a 10-acre parcel A 12-unit raised commercial building was pitched in 2024 to replace the shack businesses but that idea was scrapped following public criticism The site will be cleared and equipped with utility service needed for the new units by the end of 2025 with construction scheduled to start in 2026 A developer plans to construct six buildings with a total of 36 housing units could soon see new life as an assisted-living and elderly housing facility The White House wants to eliminate federal support for public media Congress will vote soon on a proposal to slash millions from NHPR and NHPBS’ budgets advocates braved the cold and wind at a public gathering at Bronstein Park in Manchester to take a stand against youth homelessness JCPenney has sued the Steeplegate Mall’s owner which wants to tear down most of Steeplegate and build some 600 apartments as well as businesses such as Costco or perhaps Whole Foods New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald is implementing a hiring freeze and warning of potential layoffs across the judicial branch as the Legislature looks to make deep cuts to the budget Seabrook Select Board candidate 2025: Justin PackardPortsmouth HeraldName: Justin Packard Political or civic experience highlights: Budget Committee member and Planning Board alternate How would you address concerns residents have about rising property taxes?: The Select Board recently missed an opportunity to lower property taxes by using the unassigned fund balance above our target level to reduce the latest tax bill The unassigned fund balance is similar to a company’s working capital; too low of a balance can make managing cash flow difficult The balance grows when Seabrook has unspent money in the town's budget or when revenues exceed expectations our unassigned fund balance was above our target of 10% the board can use this balance to directly lower the tax rate or indirectly fund a warrant article the board chose to allocate over $0.6M for warrant article funding I would have preferred if the board had used it to lower our last tax bill Changing the funding source did not change my “no” vote on the Budget Committee regarding the recreation building renovation (Article 22) I will propose using that funding to reduce the tax rate While I believe using the unassigned fund balance for tax relief is important I also understand the value of tax stability I am open to using it for capital reserve funds I think we should consider funding capital reserve funds for DPW vehicles and building maintenance What are your top three priorities if elected?: Under RSA 41:9 the Select Board is responsible for establishing and maintaining appropriate internal control procedures to ensure the safeguarding of all town assets and properties Our external auditor recently reported the following findings: absence of an Ethics and Whistleblower Policy non-compliance with the purchasing card policy misunderstanding of IRS guidelines regarding HRAs discrepancies between recorded employee timesheet hours and payroll system entries lack of documentation for employee rates of pay and missing documentation for adjusting journal entries and budget transfers Warrant articles requesting additional firefighters have failed several times in recent years I will advocate for adding the firefighters in the 2026 operating budget and will make cuts to non-essential services if necessary What else should voters know about you?: I grew up in the Seacoast and graduated from Winnacunnet High School I learned the importance of a strong work ethic at a grocery store here in Seabrook I moved back with my spouse as our jobs became fully and partially remote We love the high quality of life and the low cost of living thanks to the NH Advantage Seabrook School Board candidate 2025: Casey HashemPortsmouth HeraldName: Casey Hashem Education: MA from the University of Massachusetts Political or civic experience highlights: I have been a board member of the Parent Teacher Organization of the Seabrook schools for just under two years as well as collaborated with the Seabrook Reads literacy access initiative What would be your top three priorities if you are elected?: 1.) Growth in academic success: Academic success is shown through improved growth and lesser differential margins There are many factors that contribute to this goal the need for proper collaboration with the administrative team and concurrent planning for the success of all students from 2.75 years of age until 8th-grade graduation is imperative to have upward mobility 2.) Fiscal responsibility: Participation in the fiscal analysis of the needs of our students and educators Knowing that outcomes are not always ideal it is important to explore all avenues of financial accountability balanced with the needs in order to meet the academic success Seabrook strives towards 3.) Communication: Supporting healthy communication and a respectful working relationship for all parties from students and families equity and inclusion in schools?: Education for every child every day I firmly stand by my beliefs that every child in our community deserves a quality education and experiences that are relatable to themselves Children are evolving daily and the means in which we support and provide for them need to adapt at such rates Each child and situation is unique and therefore needs to be treated as such There are baseline standards put in place for student overall well-being and performance from those standards our education system must be able to deviate to the changes we see in our students and classrooms The goals should always be to provide a supportive and comfortable environment and push each student to be more successful than the day prior What else should voters know about you?: I am a devoted parent and member of the Seabrook community and I truly want to continue to dedicate energy to supporting the students and families in my community As I have volunteered for years in both the Seabrook Elementary and Middle School I only want to seek more ways to be involved in the success of our students I work hard and continue to pride myself on being resourceful and seeking information before coming to any conclusions My commitment to our student population is what has motivated me to put myself forward as a candidate.