New Hampshire State News

Bakery in New Hampshire wins in free speech case over a pastry shop painting

Tue, 20 May 2025 14:02:53 +0000

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire town’s attempt to force a bakery to remove or alter its painting that shows sunbeams shining down on a mountain range of doughnuts, a muffin, a cinnamon roll and other pastries is unconstitutional, a judge ruled in a First Amendment dispute.

The town of Conway infringed on the free speech rights of bakery owner Sean Young, U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante ruled Monday, following a one-day trial in February.

He ordered the town to stop any efforts at enforcing its sign code regarding the mural painted by high school students atop Leavitt’s Country Bakery, mentioning a “complete disconnect between what the ordinance purports to regulate and the town’s enforcement, as well as the illogical way it applied and explained that enforcement” to Leavitt’s.

“I’m thrilled that the students’ artwork can remain up, I’m thrilled that my First Amendment rights have been vindicated, and I’m thrilled that the community can continue to enjoy the beautiful piece of art,” Young said in a statement. “I think our mural is a wonderful depiction of everything that makes the Mount Washington Valley such a great place to live.”

Young asked for $1 in damages. A lawyer representing Conway said they were disappointed by the outcome, but agreed with Laplante that the town and its officials “conducted themselves conscientiously and in good faith in managing town business.”

The community of more than 10,000 people in the White Mountains draws skiers, nature lovers and shoppers. Some residents want regulations enforced as they worry about overdevelopment in the tourist town.

When the mural went up in June 2022, it attracted a lot of compliments and visitors, including one from a town zoning officer.

The zoning board decided that the painting was not so much art as advertising. The board determined it was a sign, and so it could not remain as is because of its size. At about 90 square feet (8.4 square meters), it’s four times bigger than the local sign code allows.

If the painting didn’t show what’s sold inside — baked goods — it wouldn’t be considered a sign and could stay, board members said.

The town has shown that “restricting the size of signs serves the significant government interest of preserving the town’s aesthetics, promoting safety, and ensuring equal enforcement,” lawyers for Conway said in a court document.

Laplante said Conway’s interests “are undermined if the only regulated displays are those that depict products or services sold on the premises where the display is located, and no others.”

Young sued in 2023 after he was told to modify or remove the painting, which he said was never intended to be a sign. He was faced with possible misdemeanor criminal charges and fines after his appeals were rejected.

Both sides agreed in court that the town’s definition of a sign is very broad and even the judge said it seemed to include “everything.”

A sign in Conway is “any device, fixture, placard, structure or attachment thereto that uses color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol, or writing to advertise, announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of any person or entity, or to communicate information of any kind to the public, whether commercial or noncommercial.”

The town “will continue to work conscientiously and in good faith to ensure that the constitutional rights of all are not infringed, while maintaining public safety and Conway’s natural beauty,” Brooke Lovett Shilo, one of the lawyers representing Conway, said in a statement Monday.

Driver facing DUI charge after crash sends vehicle into pond in Hudson, NH

Sun, 18 May 2025 21:53:52 +0000

A Hudson, New Hampshire resident is facing a driving while intoxicated charge after crashing into a deck and then a large pond in Hudson, New Hampshire early Sunday morning, officials said.

Officers responding to a reported single-vehicle crash on Lawrence Road around 2:30 a.m. determined Alexander Doyle, 20, of Barnstead, New Hampshire, was driving a Hyundai Santa Fe southbound on Robinson Road when they drove through the intersection and into a large deck connected to a house, according to police.

When reversing away from the crash, Doyle allegedly crashed into a large pond next the house. They were uninjured in the crash.

Doyle was arrested at the scene on a charge of aggravated driving while intoxicated and is schedule to be arraigned in 9th Circuit District Court in Nashua on May 29.

This crash is still under investigation, anyone who witnessed the crash can contact Officer Daniel Donahue at (603) 886-6011.

Authorities investigating possible murder, attempted suicide in Plaistow, NH

Sun, 18 May 2025 13:50:42 +0000

Authorities have launched a suspicious death investigation after a woman was found dead in Plaistow, New Hampshire on Sunday morning.

Officers responding to a 911 call from a home on Old County Road around 6:13 a.m. found a woman and a man suffering from injuries. The woman was pronounced dead, the man was taken to the hospital, according to a statement issued by Attorney General John M. Formella, New Hampshire State Police Colonel Mark B. Hall, and Plaistow Police Department Chief John Santoro. The woman’s name has not been released.

There does not appear to be any threat to the general public in connection with this situation. At this time, authorities are investigating the incident as a possible murder and attempted suicide, the statement said.

This is a developing news story, stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Dump truck driver facing DUI charge in NH crash that killed woman

Sat, 17 May 2025 21:48:18 +0000

A man is facing an operating under the influence charge in connection with a crash in Ossipee, New Hampshire that left an 80-year-old woman dead, officials said.

Officers responding to a reported crash on Route 28 on Friday determined that a Mack dump truck driven by Robert Gifford, 54, of Rochester, had hit a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by Dorothy Marshall, 80, of Ossipee, according to police.

After an investigation, police determined Gifford had been traveling northbound when he lost control of the dump truck and hit Marshall’s vehicle, which was traveling in the opposite direction.

He was arrested on a charge of aggravated driving while intoxicated and is being held on bail at the Carroll County Department of Corrections pending his arraignment on Monday.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or who has information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Trooper First Class Dan Quartulli at Daniel.R.Quartulli@dos.nh.gov.

Police ID 20-year-old killed in rollover crash in NH

Sat, 17 May 2025 13:08:31 +0000

Authorities are investigating a rollover crash in Hooksett, New Hampshire early Saturday morning that left a 20-year-old man dead, officials said.

Officers responding to a reported crash on Farmers Road found a 2005 Pontiac Grand Am that had been traveling eastbound when it left the road and hit a large rock and a tree, according to police.

Jack Van Nort, of Hooksett, was pronounced dead at the scene.

There were no other occupants and no other vehicles are believed to be involved.

The Hooksett Crash Reconstruction Unit responded to conduct the investigation, and a portion of Farmer Road was shut down for several hours. Both speed and alcohol are believed to be factors.

If anyone has information that will assist in the investigation, they are asked to contact Lt. Valerie Lamy at 603-624-1560 ext. 307 or e-mail vlamy@hooksettpolice.org.

Authorities ID man shot by police in Pelham, NH

Sat, 17 May 2025 12:53:52 +0000

Authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Pelham, New Hampshire.

Officers responded to a 911 call for an armed man in mental distress at a home on Nashua Road and one of the officers shot Sheldon Brockelback, 33, according to a statement issued by Attorney General John M. Formella.

No law enforcement officers were physically injured in the incident. Brockelbank is currently receiving medical treatment for his injury and was alert and communicative when he was transported to a medical facility. There is no known threat to the public at this time.

The names of the officers involved in the incident are being withheld pending the conclusion of formal interviews. The exact circumstances surrounding this incident are now under active investigation.

This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Culinary students shine at National ProStart Invitational