February 19, 2009

News in brief

Helping out in Africa
Merrimack resident and Boston University student Alyssa Snow is stretching a helping hand all the way across the Atlantic.

Together with fellow BU student Brendan Callahan, Snow, 20, launched a fundraising campaign for her non-profit organization, Achieve in Africa, Inc. Snow, a 2006 graduate of Merrimack High School and now a senior in BU’s College of Communication, founded the organization in September with Callahan. Achieve in Africa will provide schools in Africa with facilities and supplies, Snow said.

“Personally, I just feel very privileged,” Snow said. “I’ve had such a great education at Merrimack High School and now ... at BU, and I’ve always been really passionate about volunteer work and wanting to give back.”

The organization’s first project is to construct two classrooms and provide school supplies for the overcrowded Olasiti Primary School in Tanzania. The school, which houses the equivalent of grades one through seven, has about 1,900 students squeezing into 16 classrooms, Snow said. “It’s really crowded,” she said. “I’m not even sure how they do it.”

The duo aims to raise the $30,000 needed for construction by June, when Callahan will travel to Tanzania to oversee the beginning of construction. See www.achieveinafrica.org.

Happenings
Concord’s City Council approved a pay-as-you-throw trash program last week it hopes will control trash removal costs and encourage more recycling. Under the plan, which will take effect July 1, residents must pay $2 per 30-gallon trash bag and $1 per15-gallon bag, the Concord Monitor reported. There are no fees for recycling pickup. Housing complexes would be charged per dumpster.

The state settled an air pollution case with Pinetree Power, Inc., for $92,700. The company, based in Houston, Texas, has a wood-fired electric-generating facility in Bethlehem. The settlement resolves alleged violations of the New Hampshire Air Pollution Control Act and the Federal Clean Air Act that occurred at the facility during the installation of pollution control equipment last year, a state press release said. The company will pay $23,175 in cash to the state and the remainder will be paid in the form of supplemental environmental projects to fund local energy-related projects.

The devastating ice storm that hit New Hampshire hard in December left more than 400,000 homes and businesses statewide without power. Fallen trees and branches made hundreds of roads impassable. The repairs cost the Public Service of New Hampshire about $75 million, of which about $50 million will be recovered from customers over time, according to a PSNH report. Previously, the largest storm PSNH had dealt with had left about 93,000 customers powerless. The company saw more than 322,000 of its customers lose power in the most recent storm. View the report at www.psnh.com.

Salem-based UltraVision won this month’s “Innovation Rocks!” award from the state Division of Economic Development’s Business Resource Center. The award, which is sponsored by Rock 101 (WGIR-FM), highlights New Hampshire companies demonstrating innovation. UltraVision was honored for its UltraSensor security sensor that can see through walls, roadbeds, sidewalks and ceilings, according to a state press release. Visit www.ultravisionsecurity.com.

Toss out that old computer
InkSpot, a cartridge refilling business, partnered with ReMine Recycling, a Hudson-based recyclables company, to collect electronic waste at InkSpot’s Manchester and Derry locations. The electronic waste drop-off program began Monday, Feb. 9, at the Manchester InkSpot at Shaw’s Plaza, 373 South Willow St., and the Derry InkSpot at Plaza One, 37 Crystal Ave. Customers can drop off a variety of electronics to be safely recycled. Computers or monitors cost $10 and televisions cost $15. Printers, scanners, microphones, speakers and accessories cost $1 each, or up to five free when dropped off with a computer. Up to five computers can be dropped off per visit. Power cables, USB cords and other miscellaneous wires or extension cords can be dropped off at no charge. Visit inkspotnh.com and reminerecycling.com.