Water Damage Restoration in Manchester, NH

The director of operations at ArgenTech Solutions received the honor from the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire.

MANCHESTER, NH — The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire (WACNH) has chosen Rita Castonguay-Hunt, Director of Operations at ArgenTech Solutions, Inc., as the 2024 International Businesswoman of the Year award recipient.

Castonguay-Hunt has distinguished herself by creating strategic partnerships and leading complex unmanned aircraft systems operations worldwide, excelling in a field that remains predominantly male, both in the U.S. and globally. According to the World Affairs Council, her global outlook, dedication to elevating New Hampshire’s business presence internationally, and strategic partnership initiatives have earned her this prestigious recognition.

“Having worked directly with Rita Castonguay-Hunt in several of her positions and projects, I can verify that she is knowledgeable, strategic and creative when it comes to developing, growing, and sustaining business on a global level,” Dawn Wivell, CEO of Firebrand International, said. “She is devoted to growing NH business internationally and embodies the best qualities of being a businesswoman in a very male oriented sector: aerospace, aviation, and unmanned systems.”

Now in its third year, the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire’s International Businesswoman of the Year award celebrates exceptional women who exemplify resilience, overcome obstacles, and forge successful global connections. This award also recognizes the distinct challenges women face in the international business landscape and honors those who excel despite these realities. Past recipients include Grace Preston of GSSI and Lindsey Badger of Airex, showcasing the level of leadership and achievement recognized by this prestigious honor.

The WACNH will present this award to Ms. Castonguay-Hunt at its annual Global Business Summit – Consulate Reception on Nov. 12 . This event brings together the consular corps from Boston representing the interests of countries around the world. Attended by leaders across business, government, academics, and the public, WACNH provides a unique opportunity to build global connections from right here in the state. In its second year, WACNH is proud to welcome the Consul General of Korea and the Director General of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office to this event.

For additional information and registration, visit: tinyurl.com/Consulate-Reception-2024

The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering global awareness and understanding through educational programs, community events, and discussions on international affairs. Its mission is to engage the people of New Hampshire in international issues and to promote global citizenship.

Submitted by the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire.

MANCHESTER, N.H. —

Town clerks across New Hampshire are asking voters to bring their patience when they head to the polls Tuesday.

The secretary of state is predicting record turnout in New Hampshire as voters cast their ballots for president, governor, Congress and local races.

Secretary of State David Scanlan said long lines are expected throughout the day, but the best times to go are typically mid- to late morning and early to mid-afternoon.

On Monday, voters were filling out absentee ballots, which can be requested in person until 5 p.m. Monday. Absentee votes are due in person at their local town clerk's office the day before an election, or if they are being sent by mail, they need to arrive by 5 p.m. on Election Day.

A designated agent of an absentee voter, such as a family member, nursing home administrator or a person assisting a voter with a disability who signs the absentee ballot affidavit, has until 5 p.m. on Election Day to deliver the absentee ballot.

>> More information: Where, when, how to vote

In Londonderry, Town Clerk Sherry Farrell is expecting turnout to be around 90%.

"Right now, we have about 17,000 registered voters, and I expect we'll have a minimum of 16,000 voters that will come out to vote," she said.

Farrell said voters should expect something of a wait.

"Think of this as if you were going to a sporting event or a great concert where you'll wait in line," she said. "There's going to be traffic. Plan for that."

Voters heading into the polls can expect to be greeted by a barrage of campaign signs, but Farrell reminded voters that signs and other campaign materials aren't allowed inside the polling places.

Derry Town Clerk Tina Guilford, who oversees the elections process at Pinkerton Academy, said voting is easy.

"You're going to go to a booth, and you're going to choose the booth you want, and you're going to vote," Guilford said.

Town officials spent the afternoon setting up Derry's single polling location, equipping it with 199 voting booths, one for every 100 registered voters.

"We have 19,073, and at this point I'm expecting them all," Guilford said.

About 140 poll workers at Pinkerton will be available to help voters.

Voters can bring materials such as voter guides into the booth with them. It is also legal to take a selfie with your ballot.

If you happen to forget your photo ID, there is another option.

"I'll be over there taking pictures of voters," Farrell said. "They swear an oath and just state that they are who they say they are."

That will count as your ID, so you can cast your vote. Eligible voters who need to register to vote on Election Day can do so if they bring documentation to prove their citizenship, their age, their primary address and identity.

"If you haven't already registered to vote, you can come in on Election Day," Farrell said. "Check your times as to when polls open, here in Londonderry, 6 in the morning until 8. But our supervisors of the checklist will have a crew, and you can register for same day and then cast your vote directly after that."

Farrell said she has one more request.

"Remember that everyone involved are humans, so there are going to be little glitches here and there," she said. "It's going to happen."

Polls in different communities can close at different times. Some polls close at 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m., but all polls in the state are closed by 8 p.m. If you are in line but haven't voted yet when the polls close, you can still cast your ballot.

After weeks of sleepless nights preparing for Election Day, Guilford said she's looking forward to the election being over.

"I'm looking forward to Wednesday when everything is counted and everything is done," she said.

MANCHESTER, NH — One of the world’s most famous British pop bands played New Hampshire for the first time in their illustrious four-and-a-half-decade-plus career, but, unfortunately, compared to past shows, it was a slightly disappointing affair.

Duran Duran’s performance in Manchester at the SNHU Arena was the last show on a short seven-gig tour this year with stops off the beaten path — in places like Verona, New York, Allentown, Pennsylvania, and the Queen City, as well as Madison Square Garden on Halloween and Mohegan Sun on Oct. 25, expected venues for larger bands. Duran Duran also has a show booked in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 30.

Saturday’s show featured a shorter-than-normal setlist and muddy sound — John Taylor’s bass playing was a thudding blur of morass for most of the night. But there were also some soaring moments, especially the two songs from the fantastic so-called Wedding Album from 1993.

The lower points of the gig did not seem to be a big deal to the throngs of a packed SNHU Arena, though.

A mix of aging Gen Xers, the younger side of Boomers, parents and their kids, and some Millennials, too, could be seen dancing in the aisles to many of the band’s biggest hits — “Hungry like the Wolf,” “Wild Boys,” “Notorious,” “Union of the Snake,” “A View to A Kill,” “Planet Earth,” and “Save A Prayer” and “Rio” for an encore. Only a few calls of “I love you, Simon,” could be heard in the crowd. Some late arrivers were also a bit on the annoying side, including four people sitting next to me who arrived for the last two songs of the set and stayed for the two-song encore.

Why bother?

It could also be a bit of snotty on my part, too, having seen Duran Duran so many times now that if the show is slightly off, it’s noticeable.

The show in Boston in September 2023 was simply stronger even though there were only three more songs played, according to the band’s online setlist link (the band played “Careless Memories” and “(Reach Up For The) Sunrise” for that set). The free show at City Hall Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1999 was a tight dozen songs with the then-three-person lineup (singer Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and Warren Cuccurullo, the former Missing Persons guitarist) and was easily the best time I’ve seen them.

Of course, not everyone can perform at the same level they did in their 40s.

But the mid-destruction of “Lonely In Your Nightmare,” mixed with a cover of Rick James’ “Super Freak” from the “Danse Macabre” album, seemed like a disservice to both songs and did last year, too (and I can say that as a massive fan of both songs and probably one of the only kids in Concord who listened to KISS 108 or owned a 7-inch of “Super Freak” in 1981). As was the “Girls On Film”/”Psycho Killer” medley. Adding “Evil Woman,” the ELO single, was new and kept with the Halloween theme. “White Lines,” a highlight of every set, was a bombastic mess, with the band seemingly not knowing where their mates were during the song’s performance.

Big songs missing?

“Skin Trade,” the spectacular second single from “Notorious,” and “Is There Something I Should Know” would have filled the setlist hole. “Too Much Information,” still timely in 2024, and another great track from the Wedding Album, could have been slipped in. As would the sillier side of the band (see “Lava Lamp,” “Hallucinating Elvis,” and “Electric Barbarella”). Or how about a medley of “White Lines,” the Sly & the Family Stone classic, “I Want To Take You Higher,” and “911 Is A Joke” by Public Enemy, all featured on the “Thank You” covers album? The set at Madison Square Garden featured 25 songs, but Manchester only gets 17? (Mohegan Sun had 23 songs).

C’mon.

At the same time, the hits were flawless and stood the test of time many decades later, proving The Fab 5 were excellent pop songwriters and performers and not just about the “Duranies” (the screaming girl fans of the early 1980s). “Come Undone” and “Ordinary World” from the Wedding Album were amazing. The latter was dedicated in Manchester, as it was in Boston, to those who had lost their lives in conflicts around the planet (like Gaza and Ukraine, which received a stronger response from the audience). Those two songs continue to be worth at least part of the price of admission (and did you see those ticket prices?! Yikes!).

Was the band jetlagged after performing in NYC on Halloween, supposedly flying back to London to see the Cure Friday night, and then hopping again over the pond to get to our little neck of the woods, which is the rumor? Maybe. And it’s understandable, considering the Cure’s show was supposedly spectacular. At the same time, New Hampshire deserved a bit more, me thinks.

Unlike the show 13 months ago in Boston, which featured excellent openers Bastille and Nile Rogers & Chic — who offered a power-packed performance of his most famous songs and a medley of hits you never knew he wrote, the Manchester gig offered Darling Chuck, a DJ, who competently mixed a slew of hits from the ‘80s as fans began to enter the facility. She did a great job to a sparse crowd, quickly knowing when to pull something like a Genesis song after OMD’s “If You Leave” from “Pretty In Pink” and having fun with call-and-response with The Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me.”

While she was fun, if you’re not going to have an opening act, you had better not skimp on the tunes, especially when Connecticut and New York got more. Thank you.

Do you have a news tip? Please email it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel. Follow the NH politics Twitter account @NHPatchPolitics for all our campaign coverage.

What is the best internet provider in Manchester?

For many households in New Hampshire, Comcast's Xfinity Internet is the best internet service provider overall for Manchester. This cable provider has nearly complete coverage of Manchester and offers some of the most affordable internet plans in the area. If Xfinity service is unavailable at your location, alternatives like T-Mobile Home Internet and Fidium Fiber are also commendable options.

For those searching for the most cost-effective internet service, Xfinity's Connect plan provides 200Mbps at $25 per month, free of data caps or mandatory contracts. Meanwhile, for the quickest internet service, Fidium Fiber offers a $75 plan that delivers 2,000Mbps of symmetrical speeds.

Best internet in Manchester, New Hampshire in 2024

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Manchester

Cheap internet options in Manchester

If you’re searching for the cheapest internet plan in the city, Xfinity offers a 200Mbps plan for $25 per month. While Breezeline’s Base plan is $5 cheaper than Xfinity’s, it isn’t available for Manchester residents -- only those living north of Manchester will be serviceable for Breezeline.

Most providers we've mentioned also participate in the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program, which gives eligible low-income households a $30 monthly discount (or up to $75 for households on tribal lands) for high-speed internet. You can use the ACP toward any internet plan -- not just the cheapest ones -- from participating providers.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Manchester

The best internet deals and top promotions in Manchester depend on the discounts available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

Manchester internet providers, such as Xfinity and Fidium Fiber, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including T-Mobile and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

How fast is Manchester broadband?

New Hampshire ranks 17th for the fastest broadband speeds by state. So, how does the city of Manchester stack up? According to Ookla, Manchester has a median download speed of 275Mbps, which beats New Hampshire’s average speed of 206Mbps.

If you want a speed faster than 275Mbps, you have many options, including fiber, cable and fixed wireless connections. Fidium Fiber has the speediest plan in the city, offering 2 gigs for $75 per month. If you’re looking for cable connectivity, Xfinity’s Gigabit Extra plan offers 1,200Mbps of speed for $80 monthly.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What's a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Manchester

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it's impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

It doesn't end there: We go to the FCC's website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees, and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis) and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

What's the final word on internet providers in Manchester?

Despite Manchester not having many national broadband names, like AT&T Fiber, Google Fiber or Cox Communications, there are still plenty of connection choices in the city. Manchester residents have access to fiber, cable, and fixed wireless internet, but it all comes down to the provider available at your location. Xfinity has the widest coverage across the city, but Fidium Fiber offers symmetrical speeds only a fiber connection can provide.

Internet providers in Manchester FAQs

$600K keeps domestic violence shelter open; some NH Mickey D's donates to sports teams Thursday; Pats update; "Hopeville" inspires readers.

Tony Schinella, Patch Staff

CONCORD, NH — Here are some share-worthy stories from the New Hampshire Patch network to discuss this afternoon and evening.

This post features stories and information published during the past 24 hours.

Homeless Man Accused Of Trying To Torch Concord Store On Storrs Street: Christopher Blodgett was arrested Monday on attempted arson, reckless conduct charges. He has been criminally charged 66 times since 2009.

$600K In Funding To Keep Manchester Domestic Violence Shelter Open: Emily's Place was in danger of closing after its crisis services operators REACH and the YWCA ended their partnership.

12 NH McDonald’s Locations Will Donate App Sales To Athletics Thursday: 20% of app sales from 3 to 9 p.m. Oct. 10 in Londonderry, Manchester, Milford, Nashua, Portsmouth, and other schools, will go to athletics.

Find out what's happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Coffee, Concerts, Costumes, Cribbage, Pumpkins, Stories: Get Out, NH: Craft fairs, karaoke, wine, glassware, hiking, hobbit house, art openings, and other things to do around the Granite State this weekend.

New Hampshire North Country Fugitive Wanted For Failure To Appear: Joshua Cismowski was convicted on unauthorized use, drug, and assault charges, received a suspended sentence, and skipped his probation.

New Hampton Man Arrested On Penacook Assault Charges: Concord Cop Log: Plus: Concord man, with priors, faces 2nd DUI charge; Franklin man arrested on drug charge; criminal threatening incident at Rite Aid.

Elderly Man Indicted On Knife Threat Charges: Superior Court Roundup: Lawrence man indicted on 9 drug, stolen Mustang charges; woman accused of theft at Planet Fitness; Maine man indicted for reckless conduct.

Epsom Woman Indicted On Gun Threat, Domestic Violence Charges: Roundup: Plus: Manchester woman accused of hiding drugs in genitalia; Concord theft and drug indictments; drug and weapon indictments in Northfield.

Drake Maye Era Set To Begin For New England On Sunday: Maye will get the start against Houston on Sunday, his first as an NFL quarterback. Here's what Jerod Mayo had to say on Wednesday.

Shooting In Park; Fugitive Caught After 2-State Chase: PM Patch NH: Life-saving fire alarms; crashes; Oct. 7 victims mourned at Statehouse a year terrorist attacks; goodbye to Red Sox great, “El Tiante.”

Follow Patch’s Hurricane Milton coverage here.

Here are some other posts readers may have missed:

Partial Win For Bow Parents In 'Pink Armbands' Free Speech Lawsuit

With New Hampshire At The Forefront, 'Hopeville' Inspires

Town Of Bedford: Trick Or Treating Hours On Halloween

As Ski Industry Gears Up, Black Mountain In Jackson Moves Toward Co-Op Ownership

Chamber Collaborative: Free Google Ads For Your N.H. Nonprofit: It's Worth The Work!

NHFPI: Business Tax Receipts Fall Well Short Of Target As NH Revenues

Michael Moffett, Merrimack District 4 Candidate Profile

New Hampshire Senate News Release

Believe in Bedford: Re-Elect Loren Foxx

Concord Sound & Color

Jabrill Peppers Added To NFL Exempt List Following Assault Charges

Kittery, ME - SOLD

Purple Sage Fall Studio Sale

Holiday Deals Start Now: 2024 Prime Big Deal Days Are Here!

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