Matthew_Spolar

Matthew_Spolar's picture

Concord Monitor staff

Position
Reporter
Biography

Matthew Spolar covers politics for the Monitor. A native of Pittsburgh and a graduate of Penn State University, Spolar began working at the Monitor in December 2009 after leaving an internship at the Philadelphia Inquirer. He will gladly entertain any and all criticism of the six-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Story ideas are also appreciated.

Most recent content by Matthew_Spolar
Goffstown

'Pole dancer' rant spurs dressing down

The leader of the Manchester GOP is calling on state Senate candidate John Hikel to end his campaign after Hikel accused former New Hampshire Republican Party vice chairwoman Pam Manney of being an ex-stripper. "I said something that was stupid and inappropriate," Hikel, a state representative from Goffstown, said yesterday. Hikel is running against Rep. Phil Greazzo of Manchester… 3

May 22, 2012

Former teacher, senator to run for Senate seats

A former elementary school teacher from Chichester and a three-term Senate veteran from Portsmouth will run as Democrats for next year's newly mapped Senate. Nancy Fraher, a Candia Elementary School teacher retiring next month, announced Friday she will run this fall for the Senate District 17 seat, held by Republican Sen. Jack Barnes of Raymond. Republicans outnumber Democrats… 5

May 22, 2012

Bassett a Supreme Court shoo-in

Jim Bassett's appointment to the state Supreme Court is all but assured following a hearing yesterday before the Executive Council. Only one of the five members of the all-Republican council said afterward that he is leaning against Bassett's confirmation. Bassett, a Canterbury resident who has spent 27 years… 2

May 19, 2012

Anti-abortion amendment kept off of child health bill

Anti-abortion advocates nearly hijacked legislation requiring infant screenings for congenital heart defects before the Republican-controlled House reconsidered its action yesterday and passed the bill without changes. Senate Bill 348 adds the pulse oximetry test to the medical screenings required for newborns in New Hampshire. The bill is to be known as "Parker's Law,"… 0

May 18, 2012

'Sieg Heil' shout condemned

A national group committed to protecting Jewish people from defamation called for a more complete apology yesterday from a state lawmaker who uttered a Nazi-era salute on the House floor. "The verbal apologies by Representative (Steve) Vaillancourt simply do not demonstrate any understanding of how offensive his comments were," Derrek Shulman, regional director of the Anti-Defamation… 3

May 17, 2012

Aide resigns as mileage issue breaks

Bob Mead has resigned from the House Majority Office following a Monitor report that he billed taxpayers for trips to Republican events where he sought to recruit House candidates. "It is our unfortunate task to let you know that, due to a difference over House policy, Bob Mead left his position in the Majority Office this afternoon," read a joint email Monday evening… 3

May 16, 2012

House rebellion of one

In a bizarre legislative spectacle, a Republican state lawmaker was called onto the House floor yesterday to apologize for uttering a Nazi-era salute in response to what he described as the tyrannical actions of House Speaker Bill O'Brien. Rep. Steve Vaillancourt of Manchester, an outspoken critic of O'Brien,… 37

May 16, 2012

Bill would add sex ed exemption

The New Hampshire Senate is expected to pass a bill this week that would allow parents to pull their children from sex education class for any reason. Exemptions are currently limited to religious objections. House Bill 1456 requires school districts "to adopt a policy allowing an exception to a particular unit of health or sex education instruction whenever a parent or legal guardian… 8

May 15, 2012

House paid mileage for GOP recruiting

Bob Mead, a state employee in the House Majority Office, was reimbursed by taxpayers for traveling to Republican events where he sought to recruit House candidates for this year's elections. While it's rare that House employees file for mileage, the practice is allowed. State House veterans, however, say the purpose of Mead's activity has crossed into an ethical gray… 9

May 13, 2012

LGC can stay mum under law

The state Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the New Hampshire Local Government Center can keep private 14 conversations it had with its lawyer in open meetings because no one from the public was present at the time. The decision follows a lengthy court battle waged by the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire against the nonprofit seeking documents under the state's right-to-know… 3

May 12, 2012
Most recent comments by Matthew_Spolar

Hi Bill,

This story includes a sentence in which you deny affiliation with the Hikel campaign. Not sure what else you wanted, but I'm glad you posted so people can read your publication themselves. Make it a great day.

Matt

Matthew_Spolar's picture

Just wanted to make sure you saw this: "Despite losing two votes, the Senate still managed to override Lynch's veto on a 17-7 vote, sending it to the House for an override attempt there." Also, check out this legislative scorecard that ran in the paper: http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/278480/legislative-scorecard

No scheduled override in the House yet. Not sure if that's intrepid enough for you. :)
Bests,
Matt

Matthew_Spolar's picture

Apologies for getting some of you excited about the raw milk possibility. It's my understanding that raw milk isn't allowed to be sold in stores in New Hampshire.

See: http://www.realmilk.com/happening.html#nh

Matthew_Spolar's picture

I've attached Clough's report to the bottom of the article if you want to have a look for yourselves. It's pretty exhaustive.

Bests,
Matt

Matthew_Spolar's picture

Access to Mountain Road and Shawmut Street has been restored.
Matt

Matthew_Spolar's picture

Most of his family is within two or three hours of a low-security federal prison in Petersburg, Va.
-Matt

Matthew_Spolar's picture

Hi there,

The prices were in the print edition but didn't make it onto the web. Here you go:

Cranmore: $9 for one ride or $23 for three rides. Fri. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Attitash: One ride: $10 with lift ticket, $12 without lift ticket. Three rides: $25 with lift ticket, $30 without lift ticket. Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bests,
Matt

Matthew_Spolar's picture

Hi there,

That issue was not a focus of this debate. If you would like to read more about it, you can go here: http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/219217/formal-complaints-filed-aga...

Matthew_Spolar's picture

Donations to help out the Chaputs can be made to the Chloe Chaput Transplant Fund at any Citizens Bank location.

Matthew_Spolar's picture

Hi there,

I wrote the article and meant no disrespect to you by using those phrases. It actually said "blue blazer" in the paper, so I've made that change to the web version. I'm not sure what is objectionable about the phrase "so-called pin-on ceremonies," but I'm always willing to take suggestions. Feel free to e-mail me at mspolar@cmonitor.com.

Bests,
Matt

Matthew_Spolar's picture

Hi there,

From the article: "Since then, Verville, Martel and the other volunteers on the meetinghouse committee have whipped the building back into shape using private donations and grant money." Outside of recently paying the electric bill, the town has not used money from its operating budget on this project.

Matt

Matthew_Spolar's picture
Don't miss this
Customer service: