Nashua (N.H.) Telegraph Daily News

NASHUA – A prospective member of an outlaw motorcycle gang has received a rare maximum sentence for assault, following the shooting of a teen following a gang melee at a pizza joint last year. Kristofer Haken, 32, formerly of Londonderry, was sentenced to 10-20 years in prison by Hillsborough County Superior Court Judge Gillian Abramson on Wednesday. Haken had pleaded guilty to second-degree assault for shooting a high school student during a gang turf war at Luigi’s Pizza Bar and Grill, according to Hillsborough County Attorney Dennis Hogan. Police were called to the restaurant at 712 Valley Street around 8:30 p.m. on April 16, 2010 following what Hogan described as a “tense confrontation.” Members of two motorcycle gangs, the Hell’s Angels and the Outlaws, began fighting in the parking lot and the bar’s owner, Petros Kostakis, fired several rounds from a handgun into the air to try and break up the melee, Hogan said. Shortly after that, Haken, who was a prospective member of one of the motorcycle groups, went into his girlfriend, Alica Cote’s, vehicle and retrieved a .20 gauge shotgun, got into the passenger seat and fired the gun out the window as Cote drove away, Hogan said. The blast was toward three high school boys, who were completely unconnected to the gangs, and hit one of them in the hand and leg causing serious injuries, Hogan said. At the sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Haken’s lawyers presented evidence that he suffered from post traumatic stress disorder after serving in the military in Afghanistan and Iraq, Hogan said. But Manchester Police Chief David Mara testified at the hearing – also a relatively rare occurrence – that a long sentence would send a message that Manchester will not tolerate gang violence, Hogan said. In the end, Abramson sentenced Haken to the maximum sentence for the felony assault charge, suspending 21?2 of the minimum term, Hogan said. Assistant County Attorney Kenneth Perkes prosecuted the case, Hogan said.

SEABROOK – The nuclear power plant here remained shut down on Friday, and it’s uncertain when the plant may start up, a Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokeswoman said. The Seabrook Station nuclear power plant automatically shut down Thursday when low water levels were detected in a stream generator, according to the NRC. The plant remains stable, and the shutdown hasn’t posed a danger to the public, said Diane Screnci of the NRC. “It is not unusual for the plant to shut down, and in this case the plant worked as it’s designed,” Screnci said. On the other hand, the event is not everyday, she said. “But (nuclear) plants don’t have a lot of unplanned shutdowns,” Screnci said. NRC inspectors are at the plant as owners NextEra Energy Resources determine the cause and make repairs, she said. It is up to the owners to determine when the plant will reopen, she said. The low-water level was detected as a pump was being returned to service after routine maintenance, according to the NRC. The plant began operating in 1990 and generates enough electricity to supply the daily needs of 900,000 homes, according to NextEra Energy Resources website. – PATRICK MEIGHAN

NASHUA – After gaining 132 yards on 25 carries last Friday night in Concord, Nashua South senior running back Armond McRae spoke of the slick footing on the grass field in Concord. It didn’t stop McRae, but it might have slowed him down. There were no such footing issues Thursday night on the new turf at Stellos Stadium. In the first half of the Panthers’ 47-0 victory over cross-town rival North, McRae scored on touchdown runs of 55 and 48 yards and caught a 58-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Knight. He opened the second half with a 74-yard kickoff return, making it 40-0 and pretty much ending the night for the starters from both teams. “I love the new turf,’’ McRae said. “It’s so much easier to make cuts.’’ One of the great things about the football series between North and South has been how competitive it has been, even in the early years when both schools were trying to recover from the split. But at the moment, parity has been put on hold. After three very competitive games a year ago, it was all South last night in the 16th meeting between the two schools. “That’s a very good football team,’’ Nashua North coach Jason Robie said.

Al Kaprielian gives you a heads up on what the weather will be like this weekend. Ask Al! Send Al your weather questions and he’ll answer them in an upcoming forecast. E-mail question to askal@nashuatelegraph.com.

KEENE – Keene High School has played this season as two different football teams: a Division II power in the first half, and a mistake-riddled, turnover-happy squad in the second. On Thursday night, the Blackbirds played like one complete team – and that team was downright dominant. Quarterback Lucas Luopa threw for a personal-best five touchdowns to lift the Blackbirds to a much-needed 36-13 victory over Merrimack at a pink-clad Alumni Field. “We finally put it all together,” said senior tight end Oakley Singer, who had 87 yards and two touchdowns on four catches. “We all knew we can’t let these games get out of our hands.” Wearing pink socks for the team’s “Tackle for a Cure” breast cancer fundraiser, Tom Galanes, Matt DelVecchio and Alex Parenteau also caught a touchdown apiece for Keene (2-3 overall, 2-2 Division II), which had lost two straight despite holding second-half leads in both games. “We put a whole football game together,” Coach John Luopa said. “Our backs are against the wall and we need to play the football we know we can play.” Luopa threw for four touchdowns in the Birds’ 31-7 win against Alvirne earlier this season. But five? “I don’t believe so,” said Luopa, who finished 11-for-20 for 188 yards.

On Wednesday, some wondered where the trash-talk would come from as both the Jets and the Patriots prepared to play each other. Certainly not from Tom Brady Then, Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes spoke. He was asked about the Patriots defense, which is ranked last in the league in yards allowed. And his response was either trash-talking or honesty. Maybe both. “The numbers speak for themselves about how well they’re not playing,” Holmes said. It sounds like a shot.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – These Jets are clearly not yet ready for take-off. Still, the New England Patriots will warn you, don’t go by one or two games. Don’t read too much into the fact the New York Jets, who visit Gillette Stadium on Sunday, were manhandled last Sunday night by the Baltimore Ravens. Don’t be fooled by the fact that their offense looked anemic and, defensively, they haven’t had the same push they were known for when they whipped the Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs last January. “I mean obviously it wasn’t one of their better days,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “We’ve all been there before.

NASHUA – After gaining 132 yards on 25 carries last Friday night in Concord, Nashua South senior running back Armond McRae spoke of the slick footing on the grass field in Concord. It didn’t stop McRae, but it might have slowed him down. There were no such footing issues Thursday night on the new turf at Stellos Stadium. In the first half of the Panthers’ 47-0 victory over cross-town rival North, McRae scored on touchdown runs of 55 and 48 yards and caught a 58-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Knight. He opened the second half with a 74-yard kickoff return, making it 40-0 and pretty much ending the night for the starters from both teams. “I love the new turf,’’ McRae said. “It’s so much easier to make cuts.’’ One of the great things about the football series between North and South has been how competitive it has been, even in the early years when both schools were trying to recover from the split. But at the moment, parity has been put on hold. After three very competitive games a year ago, it was all South last night in the 16th meeting between the two schools. “That’s a very good football team,’’ Nashua North coach Jason Robie said.

NASHUA – Despite recording only two sub-80 scores on the day, the Keene Blackbirds were able to bask in the Nashua sun, repeating as Division I champions, edging out Bishop Guertin 402-408 in Thursday’s team competition at Nashua Country Club. Once again, Keene – which won last year’s title on the best regular-season record after the tournament was rained out – was led by Chelsoe Barrett. This Blackbird was medalist for the day with a 74. The three-over par round puts last year’s individual state champion ahead of the rest of the field and in good position to repeat. The top 24 (and ties) individual scorers from the team competition round will take to NCC again Saturday for the individual championship. The first tee time Saturday is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Thursday’s scores will be added to Saturday’s totals to arrive at a 36-hole cumulative score, which is used to determine the individual champion. The Cardinals led the way for area teams with four qualifiers for the individual component of the tournament.

VOLLEYBALL Nashua North 3, Nashua South 0 Nashua North setters Bridget McCarthy and Erica Vendituoli combined for 23 service points, 26 assists and seven kills to lead the Titans to a 25-22, 25-19, 25-18 over Nashua South. Libero Caitlin Roeser recorded five points, 16 assists and 22 digs as North improved to 8-4 on the season. Middle hitters Emily Boots and Melissa Pardo (combined for 14 points, 18 kills, three blocks) and outside hitters Katie Przystac and Abbey Miller (24 points, 15 kills, two blocks) were a force at the net. FIELD HOCKEY Nashua North 1, Nashua South 0 (OT) Nashua North’s Ellie Shuman collected a pass from Julia Croteau and deposited it in the net just 38 seconds into overtime to not only give the Titans (1-11) a sudden-death victory over Nashua South, but also their first win in two years. Krystal Bizier and Meaghan Dezurick combined for the shutout in net. Windham 1, Hollis/Brookline 0 Ashley Adamson scored in the 18th minute of the second half to lift the Jaguars over the Cavaliers on Thursday afternoon. Midfielder Leda Kennedy, and the two-headed goalie of Sarah Drazin and Rachel Dunn played well in what turns out to be the sixth one-goal loss of the season for H/B (5-6). GIRLS SOCCER Bishop Guertin 6, Spaulding 1 Sophomore midfielder Averi Farhat scored one goal and assisted on another in her varsity debut as the Cardinals cruised to a five-goal win over the Red Raiders. Kelsey Baines added two goals and an assist of her own, while Sarah Swallow, Emma Annand (one assist) and Megan Ethier chipped in with one goal each for BG (6-6). BOYS SOCCER Campbell 1, Hopkinton 0 (OT) Tyler Guarino did all the work, but it was Cougars teammate Ben Billings who ultimately booted in the game-winning goal 1:57 into overtime. Guarino stole the ball from a Hawks player, dribbled down the left sideline – beating two defenders in the process – and fired a shot on net. It didn’t tickle twine, as Hopkinton’s keeper made the stop, but the rebound came right back to Guarino’s feet for an easy feed to an wide open Billings for the finish. Jacob Morgan made 11 saves in net for Campbell, which improved to 8-4-1 with the win. GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY Spartans sweep tri-meet Courtney Hawkins and Brianna Lippitt finished first and second, respectively in 19 minutes, 45 seconds and 20:36.47, to lead Milford to a pair of wins at home. Milford beat Trinity 31-41 and Pelham 31-56. Kerri Tocci finished seventh overall for the Spartans in 22:06.23, while teammate Aimee Kraff was ninth in 22:27.72. BOYS CROSS COUNTRY Milford coasts for two wins David Wilson finished first overall in 18 minutes, 16.62 seconds, to lead the Spartans past Trinity 22-37 and Pelham 22-67. David Addington was second in 18:25.78, while Milford teammates Jon Penniman (18:35.90), Ryan Hull (19:04.08), Jacob Drescher (19:09.04) and Jack Nichols (19:33.71) finished fourth, seventh, eighth and 10th respectively.

NASHUA – When word was tweeted, wall posted and announced Wednesday night that Apple co-founder and tech titan Steve Jobs had lost his long battle with pancreatic cancer, it shook the world, as Mac fanatics took to every social media engine available to pay respects. “The world rarely sees someone who made such a profound impact,” fellow technology wiz and Internet architect Bill Gates tweeted Wednesday night. “For those of us lucky enough to get to work with Steve, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.” Millions, famous or not, echoed Gates’ sentiments, considering Jobs’ legacy as Apple consumers, rather than colleagues. “Steve Jobs changed this world.

WASHINGTON – For the first time in months, a host of indicators are pointing to an improving labor market ahead of the monthly jobs report from the government. The latest report from the Labor Department, coming today, is likely to cement the view that the U.S. economy is clear of another recession. Gauges of manufacturing activity, private-sector hiring and first-time unemployment claims all showed improvement for September, providing more ammunition for those economists who think the glass is still half full for the U.S. economy. “The next recession hasn’t started yet.

CHICAGO – Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.’s success with hormone-free dairy products, naturally raised meat and local produce has the restaurant chain taking its message to a broader audience. The Mexican-inspired fast-casual chain released an animated video to movie theaters last week, and hosted the first of many food-and-music festivals. “We think the more people understand where their food comes from and the impact on independent family farmers, animal welfare, the more they’re going to ask for better ingredients,” said Chipotle founder and co-chief executive officer Steve Ells. Chipotle has shown that a focus on local produce and animal welfare can be done in a fast-food setting. It is one of the fastest-growing stocks in the restaurant sector. For the most recent quarter, Chipotle’s same-store sales, a key metric of restaurant health, increased 10 percent. Given this rapid growth, Chipotle executives and industry experts maintain it’s time to up the ante on its marketing. Through consumer research, the Denver-based burrito chain uncovered that while many consumers think “organic” and “local” are the kinds of attributes to have associated with their food, only 30 percent were willing to go out of their way for what Chipotle calls “food with integrity.” So the company is preparing to tug on customers heartstrings, with an animated video that began playing on 10,000 movie screens last weekend. Set to Coldplay’s “The Scientist” as performed by Willie Nelson, the story centers around a farmer who builds his pig business into a large factory only to decide to return to more natural methods.

LOS ANGELES – Putting worries about the economy aside, shoppers responded to deep discounts and the final weeks of back-to-school shopping by spending heavily at major chain stores last month. The retail industry posted a 5.1 percent year-over-year rise in September sales, according to Thomson Reuters’ tally of 23 large retailers released Thursday. That was better than the 4.6 percent uptick expected by Wall Street analysts and reflected a healthy shopping mind-set among consumers despite an otherwise sluggish economic outlook. “The general disconnect between U.S. retailers … and broader weakness in the global economy continued in September,” said Ken Perkins, president of research firm Retail Metrics Inc. Sales rose 8.6 percent at discounters, 3.7 percent at department stores, 2.9 percent at apparel sellers and 6.2 percent at teen apparel chains. Results are based on sales at stores open at least a year, known as same-store sales and considered an important measure of a retailer’s health because it excludes store openings and closings. All told, 60 percent of chains beat expectations. The month’s top performers reflected a mix of retail sectors. Leading the pack was Costco, which reported a 12 percent rise.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – Blu Homes, a Massachusetts-based builder of energy-efficient, prefabricated homes, is opening a factory in Vallejo, Calif., in a move that will add home-building jobs in the Bay Area while giving the fast-growing company a bigger California presence. Blu Homes uses computer technology to help buyers design their homes, which are then manufactured in a factory using structural steel to frame the house, instead of wood, along with green and energy-efficient building techniques, before they are shipped out to the buyer’s land in a flatbed truck and assembled. The 250,000-square-foot manufacturing facility will start operations at the former Mare Island shipyard in November, and will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 20. The company expects to hire about 80 people in the first year. The homes will range in size from about 500-square-foot studio or one-bedroom (priced at about $125,000) to 2,500 square-foot four-bedroom (priced at $500,000).

SHREWSBURY, MASS. – A University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute-sponsored report has shown that the cable industry in New Hampshire boosted employment, capital investments and economic activity in the Granite State in the middle of an economic decline. The study found that from 2006-10, employment rates in New Hampshire dropped by 3.2 percent while cable industry employment grew by 10 percent, to 1,437, in 2010. New Hampshire cable providers created 3,200 jobs, including 1,700 in other industries statewide. The cable industry during the same period spent $229.3 million on capital projects, including the network, head ends and customer equipment that created and supported 10,500 miles of broadband and 2,000 of fiber strand. High-spreed broadband cable lines in New Hampshire have increased by nearly 70 percent since 2005, to 314,000 in 2009, one of the highest rates in New England during that period. Also, in 2010 alone, major New Hampshire cable companies generated $622.8 million in economic activity, including $352.9 million in direct spending on capital projects, operations and employee compensation, plus $269.9 million in catalyzed spending by industries such as real estate; advertising; and professional, scientific and technical services. The cable industry also made significant contributions to New Hampshire communities, paying $20.4 million in state and local taxes, $10.4 million in franchise fees, and $615,000 in cash and in-kind support to nonprofit organizations in 2010.

NASHUA – A Temple Street man received a suspended jail sentence for burglary, but prosecutors dropped mugging charges against him because the alleged victims refused to cooperate. Ezequiel Quintana pleaded guilty to the burglary charges and received a 12-month suspended sentence Wednesday in Hillsborough County Superior Court. Speaking through a court-appointed translator, the man in his early 20s admitted that he stole jewelry in July 2010 from a woman whom a prosecutor described as an acquaintance and possibly a relative. Quintana agreed to pay $1,300 in restitution to the victim. He was placed on probation for a year. Quintana has no prior criminal record, said Assistant Hillsborough County Attorney David C. Tencza. Tencza said the other charges against Quintana have been dropped, including another alleged burglary and a mugging, because the victims wouldn’t cooperate. Quintana, who was living in an apartment at 29 Temple St.

CONCORD – A key, legislative working group endorsed a bill Wednesday making it legal to gamble at two casinos with Rockingham Park in Salem and the Green Meadow Golf Club property in Hudson the leading contenders. Prospective bidders aren’t identified or even described in the amended bill (HB 593), but Millennium Gaming has a $450 million casino plan for Rockingham Park while Green Meadow partners has broadly shopped a $300 million project. The move by the Massachusetts legislature and governor to get behind a three-casino proposal has breathed new life into what was a dormant debate. This New Hampshire bill requires one license be granted as soon as possible with the second two years later. Millennium officials say they are ready to seek the first, and Green Meadow developers could as well. “We could seek the first license, and if we weren’t successful, then we’d certainly be well positioned to get the second,” said Robert Clegg, a lobbyist for Green Meadow and a former Hudson state representative. A truce of these two competing projects emerged after pro-gaming legislators dropped earlier restrictions on how close any two casinos could be to one another. Each destination resort would pay a $50 million license fee to have up to 5,000 slot machines that would return 35 percent profit to the state to be used to reduce business taxes. The state treasury would get 8 percent of the profit from table games. Supporters claim this could net the state as much as $130 million a year. “My conclusion is it’s a fair bill. It deals with the proliferation question coming down from six sites to two,” said state Rep.

NASHUA – When word was tweeted, wall posted and announced Wednesday night that Apple co-founder and tech titan Steve Jobs had lost his long battle with pancreatic cancer, it shook the world, as Mac fanatics took to every social media engine available to pay respects. “The world rarely sees someone who made such a profound impact,” fellow technology wiz and Internet architect Bill Gates tweeted Wednesday night. “For those of us lucky enough to get to work with Steve, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.” Millions, famous or not, echoed Gates’ sentiments, considering Jobs’ legacy as Apple consumers, rather than colleagues. “Steve Jobs changed this world. Sent from my iPhone.

SHREWSBURY, MASS. – A University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute-sponsored report has shown that the cable industry in New Hampshire boosted employment, capital investments and economic activity in the Granite State in the middle of an economic decline. The study found that from 2006-10, employment rates in New Hampshire dropped by 3.2 percent while cable industry employment grew by 10 percent, to 1,437, in 2010. New Hampshire cable providers created 3,200 jobs, including 1,700 in other industries statewide. The cable industry during the same period spent $229.3 million on capital projects, including the network, head ends and customer equipment that created and supported 10,500 miles of broadband and 2,000 of fiber strand. High-spreed broadband cable lines in New Hampshire have increased by nearly 70 percent since 2005, to 314,000 in 2009, one of the highest rates in New England during that period. Also, in 2010 alone, major New Hampshire cable companies generated $622.8 million in economic activity, including $352.9 million in direct spending on capital projects, operations and employee compensation, plus $269.9 million in catalyzed spending by industries such as real estate; advertising; and professional, scientific and technical services. The cable industry also made significant contributions to New Hampshire communities, paying $20.4 million in state and local taxes, $10.4 million in franchise fees, and $615,000 in cash and in-kind support to nonprofit organizations in 2010.