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City of Rochester Grants $45,000 JOB Loan to Back Hill Brewery

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  City of Rochester
Blaine Cox, City Manager
31 Wakefield Street
Rochester, NH 03867

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

City of Rochester Grants $45,000 JOB Loan to Back Hill Brewery

From left: Business Relationship Manager Corina Klein, Commercial Lender Tina Paulsen, Back Hill Beer Company Owners Laura Casadonte and Peter LaPlante and Rochester Economic Development Specialist Jenn Marsh. (Courtesy Photo City of Rochester)

ROCHESTER — Mayor Caroline McCarley and City Manager Blaine Cox are pleased to announce that the City of Rochester has awarded a $45,000 JOB Loan to support the launch of a local brewery.

Back Hill Beer Company is tentatively planning to open its doors in the Gonic Mill at 73 Pickering Road in January 2020. The brewery expects to bring several new jobs to the neighborhood and welcome customers from throughout the region.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Back Hill Beer Company to Rochester,” said City Economic Development Specialist Jenn Marsh. “This is an exciting step forward for our city’s economic development and will further enhance the opportunities available in Rochester for people to live, work and play.”

Back Hill Beer Company will offer a variety of beer on tap, but will focus on hop forward styles of beer. The brewery will also highlight the building’s unique industrial features while fostering a warm, inviting space for patrons. In addition to beer, a small menu of snacks will be offered.

The City officially presented the loan to Back Hill Brewery Company Owner Peter LaPlante on Tuesday, Oct. 1. LaPlante expects to add 6-8 jobs within the next two years.

“Rochester is a great city,” LaPlante said. “It is in a part of the state that my wife and I are drawn to: close to the ocean and the mountains. Everyone we have met in the city has been great, and you can tell that there is a ton of potential and the city is on the rise. On top of that, the makeup of the city is a great fit for a brewery of our size.”

The JOB Loan program, a low-interest loan incentive that allows businesses to borrow between $10,000-$75,000, supports local businesses located, expanding or relocating to the City of Rochester, including East Rochester and Gonic. The loan program is designed to support businesses that will create or retain permanent jobs in the area, with at least 51% of those new employment opportunities to be filled by low and moderate income persons in the city. The program is made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. For more information, click here. 

For more information about Back Hill Beer Company, visit www.backhillbeer.com. The latest updates will also be posted to the business’s Instagram account, @backhillbeer.

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Rochester’s Stitches Alterations & Needleworks to Host Open House

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  City of Rochester
Blaine Cox, City Manager
31 Wakefield Street
Rochester, NH 03867

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Rochester’s Stitches Alterations & Needleworks to Host Open House

Longtime Rochester resident Joanne Piazzi has opened a new business, Stitches Alterations & Needleworks, on North Main Street. (Courtesy Photo Stitches Alterations & Needleworks)

ROCHESTER — Residents looking to have curtains made, a jacket tailored or a hem repaired need look no further– a new business in Rochester will provide a local destination for sewing and alterations needs of all kinds.

Stitches Alterations & Needleworks, located at 107 North Main St., will host an Open House next week.

WHEN:

Thursday, Oct. 17 from 4-6 p.m.

WHERE:

Stitches Alterations & Needleworks, 107 North Main St.

WHAT:

Longtime Rochester resident Joanne Piazzi launched her sewing and alterations business, Stitches Alterations and Needleworks, from her home in March with the goal of opening a shop within the year. Approximately seven months later, Piazzi has made that goal a reality.

Piazzi retired in June following a 35-year teaching career in Rochester and Barrington.

“I’ve lived in Rochester for 27 years, and am thrilled to contribute to the burgeoning arts scene in the downtown area,” Piazzi said. “I’m looking forward to providing a place for people to learn new skills and share creative interests, in addition to promoting quality alteration services.”

With 40 years of professional experience in bridal and formal wear, menswear, vintage repair and restoration, general sewing and alterations under her belt, Piazzi is ready to take on Rochester’s sewing needs, of all shapes and sizes.

In addition to clothing alterations and needlework services, Piazzi will also craft specialized home decor items, including curtains, tablecloths and cushion covers. Her shop will also offer space for locals who would like to work on projects of their own, and guests will have the opportunity to use tables, sewing machines and tools for a small rental fee.

Piazzi also plans to offer classes in needlework, knitting and other fiber arts crafts.

“We are thrilled to welcome Stitches Alterations & Needleworks to our business community,” said City Economic Development Specialist Jenn Marsh. “Joanne has an incredible vision to not only offer high quality services, but has plans to support and connect the fiber arts community in our area by providing work space and classes.”

Stitches Alterations & Needleworks will also house Remnants — The Creativity Thrift Shop, a space where fabric, yarn, trims, books and various craft supplies will be sold at thrift shop prices. Proceeds from the thrift shop will be used to make quarterly donations to local organizations offering assistance and support to women.

Stitches Alterations & Needleworks will be open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and clients are encouraged to make an appointment by calling Piazzi at 603-866-2073 or sending an email to [email protected].

For the latest updates about Stitches Alterations & Needleworks, like and follow the shop’s Facebook page @PiazziJoanne. 

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Town of Groveland Encourages Survey Participation for Elm Square Study

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Town of Groveland Encourages Survey Participation for Elm Square Study

GROVELAND — Town Planner Rebecca Oldham is pleased to share that the Town of Groveland is encouraging residents to participate in a survey on the current economic condition of Elm Square.

The Town of Groveland is conducting a study of the of economic development in the downtown area, including market conditions and revitalization activities. The study is being funded by a $15,000 grant award from the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative Technical Assistance Program, and seeks to help inform future economic development efforts in the Elm Square Business District.

“This is a really exciting opportunity to examine how we can better support economic development in Elm Square, and we’re encouraging everyone to participate in the survey to share their thoughts, opinions and ideas,” said Town Planner Rebecca Oldham. 

The Town has partnered with FinePoint Associates, an independent economic development research and consulting firm, to conduct the study. 

Anyone who frequents Elm Square, including residents, visitors and those who work in the area, is encouraged to submit their input about the downtown at www.surveymonkey.com/r/ElmSq. Business and property owners in the Elm Square area who have not yet been contacted to fill out a separate survey by town officials can submit their input by contacting Rebecca Oldham at [email protected].

Responses will remain anonymous, and the survey takes about five minutes to fill out.

The survey features questions including where residents park when visiting Elm Square, which businesses they frequent and how satisfied or dissatisfied they are with characteristics of the area including cleanliness, pedestrian safety and selection of restaurants.

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UPDATE #63 (5 p.m.) Town of Andover Provides Update on Restoration Process Following Gas Emergency

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 617-993-0003

 Town of Andover Provides Update on Restoration Process Following Gas Emergency

ANDOVER — The Town of Andover continuously seeks to provide residents and business owners with key updates regarding the ongoing recovery and restoration efforts following the Merrimack Valley Gas Emergency.

Restoration Timeline

The “House Ready” process is expected to be completed between Dec. 2 and Dec. 16, and a Rapid Re-light process has been implemented that will result in gas service being restored ahead of Dec. 2.

Gas service has been restored to 50 percent of businesses and 34 percent of residential gas customers in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence who lost service in the crisis that began on Sept. 13.

As of Wednesday, 44 percent of all Andover residents who lost gas service have had their service restored.

Fifteen more Andover businesses had service restored on Tuesday. This means that 59 percent  of 127 of the 217 commercial gas customers in the affected area have now had their service restored. However, 90 Andover businesses remain without gas service.

Columbia Gas releases a daily briefing with updates on the progress of the restoration effort. Click here to read the briefing for Nov. 7.

Hot water heaters, stoves and dryers will be replaced and boilers and furnaces will be safely repaired or replaced with those being repaired eventually being replaced beginning in the spring.

Andover Business Social Media Campaign

Today, a group of town officials, high school students and public relations students from a Northeastern University School of Journalism class took to downtown Andover, visiting more than 30 town businesses and Tweeting with the hashtags   .

The students took photos inside each business to call attention to the vibrant and diverse group of shops and service providers who have persevered through the Merrimack Valley Gas Emergency for nearly two months.

You can view some of the results on the Town of Andover Twitter Page.

After the social medial campaign Wednesday afternoon, the volunteers were treated to a free pizza party courtesy of Bertucci’s on Main Street.

Information for Landlords and Tenants

Attorney General Maura Healey’s office has released information for landlords and tenants affected by the Merrimack Valley Gas Emergency, which can be viewed in full here.

As a first step, the Attorney General’s Office encourages landlords and tenants to discuss the situation and work cooperatively to try to resolve issues. Landlords and tenants should discuss what claims each can make with Columbia Gas. For example, landlords should file claims for lost rent with Columbia Gas. Neither landlords nor tenants should suffer any financial loss. Columbia Gas is responsible for all losses caused by the gas explosions.

Tenants and landlords should be aware of their rights, duties, and protections under Massachusetts law. Tenants or landlords who are having problems can call the Attorney General’s Merrimack Valley Hotline at 617-573-5370 for help. Affected residents can request temporary alternative housing by calling Columbia Gas at 1-800-590-5571.

Self Mitigation Information

Columbia Gas has provided information on how residents can expedite the gas disaster mitigation process on their own.

For those who decide to go about repairing or replacing their own appliances, there are several steps that the utility has provided for residents interested in doing so.

To read the Columbia Gas mailer being sent to customers in full, click here.

The steps for self mitigation and restoration outlined in the mailer are:

  • Contact Columbia Gas and make the claims adjuster assigned to your case aware of your intention to self mitigate. Adjusters will walk residents and business owners through the process, including briefing them on the information they’ll need for later reimbursement. The Columbia Gas claims phone number is 1-800-590-5571.
  • Hire only licensed installers, who must obtain appropriate permits from the Town of Andover in order to complete the work. Work may include pressure testing, repair and replacement of gas lines, extension of outside gas lines, installation of appliances and completion of a town inspection. Once all of that work is completed, gas service may be restored to individual homes.
  • Work with a claims adjuster to purchase replacement equipment and appliances. Columbia Gas will reimburse customers for reasonable replacement costs of like kind and quality appliances, including making payments on their behalf or paying customers back for out-of-pocket costs.
  • Install equipment and appliances, and complete inspection. Once installation is complete, licensed installers will arrange a town inspection. Only work that has been appropriately permitted prior to completion will be eligible for an inspection.
  • Contact Columbia Gas for service restoration. Once inspections are complete, customers will receive either a green “house ready” tag, or an orange “house ready” tag depending on a home’s level of readiness for service restoration. To have service restored following self mitigation work, call 1-866-388-3239.

Claims Center 

The Andover Claims Center is located at 45 Main St. (the former location of Greater Boston Running Company). The Claims Center is open Monday through Friday, noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

So far, over 4,700 claims have been submitted to Columbia Gas by Andover residents and businesses. Columbia Gas has paid out over $15 million to settle Andover-based claims.

Save the Date: Holiday Happenings

Andover will celebrate its annual Holiday Happenings event on Friday, Dec. 7 from 4-8 p.m.. The event will feature a variety of activities, including photos with Santa, carnival and train rides, shopping, dining, fireworks and more.

The event will be held across a variety of locations throughout downtown, including Old Town Hall, Memorial Hall Library, Andover Historical Society, Center at Punchard and the park at Chesnut and Bartlet Street.

Alternative Housing 

Andover residents still have the option to seek free alternative housing while their gas service remains offline. Housing options include apartments, hotels and temporary trailers, and are completely paid for by Columbia Gas.

As of Wednesday, 800 Andover residents were being lodged in alternate housing arrangements, including 261 people in apartments, 487 in hotels and 52 in RV’s.

Impacted Columbia Gas customers who choose to be placed in alternative housing while their homes are without gas should call Columbia Gas’ Claims line: 800-590-5571.

Transportation arrangements will be provided for residents staying in hotels and apartments who do not have their own means of transportation.

A congregate shelter has been established for those in need. It is capable of hosting up to 1,000 people and will have hot meals available. The shelter is located at 46 Stafford St., Lawrence.

The congregate shelter has been established as a warming center with showers, and can accommodate residents for short-term overnight stays.

“Back to Business”

Columbia Gas has developed an integrated process to quickly restore business customers. The “Back-to-Business” initiative will assign a project manager to each business owner who will be responsible for addressing the businesses’ unique needs in order to make the business ready to receive natural gas. The project managers will proactively reach out to business owners to introduce themselves and will begin visiting businesses in the coming days.

Back to Business Centers

Under the direction of each project manager will be a fully integrated team including claims adjusters, plumbers, laborers and electricians to quickly restore business customers.

The “Back-to-Business” initiative’s integrated teams will work out of three business centers, located in each of the affected communities.  These centers will serve as the operation center for construction operations managers, claims representatives and linguists, and will work to build customized plans for each business based on their assessed needs.  While business owners will be hearing from their project manager proactively, these centers are open to the public should business owners choose to visit them during the claims and recovery process.

The locations of the “Back-to-Business” Centers are:

  • 439 South Union St., Lawrence: Construction Operations Manager Derrick Seitz
  • 45 Main St., Andover: Construction Operations Manager Jeff McCaples
  • 115 South Main St., North Andover: Construction Operations Manager Charlie Romano

The centers will be open from Tuesday to Friday from noon-8 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To view businesses in Andover that are located in the affected and are currently open for business visit: www.andoverma.gov/andoverbiz 

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