Hudson - Litchfield News May 20, 2011 - 7
Governor Announces NH Unemployment Rate Drops to Lowest Point in 2 1/2 Years
submitted by Colin Manning Governor John Lynch has announced New Hampshire’s unemployment rate has dropped to its lowest point in 2 1/2 years. The state’s unemployment rate for April was 4.9 percent, the first time the rate has been below 5 percent since December 2008. The April rate of 4.9 percent is down from 5.2 percent in March. New Hampshire continues to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. New Hampshire’s unemployment rate in April is 45 percent below the national average of 9 percent. “This is tremendous news for our workers, our businesses and our state. The unemployment rate continues to drop steadily here in New Hampshire, as we continue to lead the nation in economic recovery,” Governor Lynch said. “The reason New Hampshire is outperforming virtually every other state is because was have a successful economic strategy in place. New Hampshire is one of the most business-friendly states in the nation, with the lowest state taxes, and we must continue to follow the principles of our strategy if we are to continue moving New Hampshire forward. “There are still a number of men and women who are out of work, who want a job and we must continue to work to help get more of our people back to work,” Governor Lynch said. To continue the state’s efforts in getting more New Hampshire people back to work, Governor Lynch has signed into law an expansion of his innovative jobs initiative that will help more unemployed workers re-enter the workforce. Last year, Governor Lynch created New Hampshire Working, a three- part jobs program designed to help companies and workers avoid layoffs, help unemployed workers return to work and provide training to help workers get new jobs. The Governor signed Senate Bill
62, which expands the program to workers who have exhausted their unemployment benefits. By participating in New Hampshire Working, these workers will get a
Hudson
Baha’is Elect Local Spiritual Assembly
submitted by Hudson Baha’i The Hudson Baha’i community recently elected its nine-member governing council or Local Spiritual Assembly for 2011-2012. The new Local Spiritual Assembly subsequently elected its four officers for the coming year: Ela Ramsey, Chairman; Linda Roche, Vice Chair; Jeffrey Kurtze, Treasurer; and Barbara Kurtze as Secretary. The Baha’i community has been
active in Hudson for more than 10 years. Local Assemblies minister to the needs of the community, organizing classes for the spiritual education of children, adult study circles, devotional programs, Holy Day observances, and service projects. They also conduct Baha’i marriages, pray for the members of the community, and provide spiritual counseling on matters brought to the Assembly. In Baha’i communities around
the world, local and national Spiritual Assemblies are elected during the most holy period for members of the Baha’i Faith, the Festival of Ridvan, celebrated from April 20 to May 2. The Founder of the Baha’i
Faith, Baha’u’llah (1817-1892), taught that in an age of universal education, there was no longer a need for a special class of clergy. Instead, he provided a framework for administering the affairs of the Faith through elected councils at the local, national, and international levels. All Baha’i elections occur through secret ballot, without candidacies, nominations, or campaigning. There are approximately 11,000 Baha’i Local Spiritual Assemblies around the world, elected each year from among the adult believers in every locality where at least nine Baha’is reside. The Baha’i Faith, founded in
Persia in 1844, is the youngest of the world’s independent monotheistic religions and is one of the fastest growing, with approximately 170,000 members throughout the United States and more than five million in the world. Baha’is view the world’s major religions as part of a single, progressive process through which God reveals His will to humanity. Major Baha’i tenets include the oneness of humanity, equality of men and women, eradication of prejudice, harmony of science and religion, universal education, and world peace. To learn more about the Baha’i Faith in America, visit
www.bahai.us.
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chance to participate in up to six weeks of training at a potential new employer, giving them a foot in the door and a chance to show an employer they have the skills and talents that are being sought. Prior to passage of Senate Bill 62, only those workers collecting benefits could participate. This new law expands the program to allow those who have exhausted their benefits to participate as well. To date, 73 percent of those who have participated in this part of the program have been hired full time. “The time is right to expand this program as more and more companies are looking to hire,” Governor Lynch said. “By expanding New Hampshire Working, we can help open the doors to employment for more New Hampshire workers.”
“New Hampshire Employment Security requested that this legislation be introduced because we recognized the need to expand New Hampshire Working in an effort to assist all of our people in getting back to work. We look forward to implementing this change and making this highly successful program available to all jobseekers,” said Department of Employment Security Commissioner Tara Reardon. Senate Bill 62 was sponsored by Sen. Nancy Stiles; and Reps.
Will Infantine, Christopher Nevins, Kevin Sullivan and Donna Schlachman.
We have a clear vision for the future of New Hampshire and it’s C L E AN A I R
Te Northern Pass will improve air quality for healthy trees— and more importantly, the children who play under them.
We all contribute to the culture, society, and economy that make New Hampshire a special place. And we all care when changes are proposed to the state we call home. But sometimes changes need to occur in order to solve the tough challenges facing our communities and our families.
In these uncertain economic times, Te Northern Pass will create more than 1,200 jobs for New Hampshire residents. Surveyors and lineworkers, construction workers and the industry that supports them will have money in their pockets.
Te project will generate $25 million in additional tax revenues for schools, public safety, and to help maintain the infrastructure of New Hampshire. Tat means improving libraries, keeping our snowplows moving, and fixing our roads after long winters.
It will provide us with 1,200 megawatts of clean, reliable energy. Tat’s enough to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to five million tons a year—equal to the annual emissions of 900,000 cars! And importantly, this is the affordable and sustainable energy we need to attract new businesses and support new manufacturing in our state and throughout the region.
Right now the project is exploring partnering with local telecommunications providers to expand broadband access in the North Country, an effort that would remove the single biggest obstacle to true economic development and job creation in the region.
Because at the end of the day, this discussion is not just about energy—it’s about jobs, about local tax revenues, and about a sustainable future for the communities we call home.
www.northernpass.us 1-800-286-7305
THE NORTHERN PASS
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5/11/11 4:25 PM
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