Heads up! I’ve got something special coming to your inbox tomorrow: a special edition of this newsletter dedicated to the midterm elections. It will break down who’s on the ballot, how much the elected positions pay, and what the people holding those offices actually do!

More:

Here’s what’s inside today’s newsletter:

🗳️ Your midterm election cheat sheet: Ayotte won’t say whether she still owns data center stock now worth nearly $1M

📸 Reader photo: A rainbow of fall colors in Kingston. Share your pic!

🍕 A slice of history: Why Durham House of Pizza is still loved by the UNH community after 50 years

📢 Question of the week: Do you feel comfortable sharing your political opinions publicly? Why or why not? Sound off!

🌞 The bright side, including: Wild Blueberry Collective purchases 158 acres to preserve Maine’s iconic barrens

💪 Nominate a local hero, and we’ll feature them in this newsletter. Tell us your hero!

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Tell us what’s motivating you in a short, selfie-style video, and we may feature it in our newsletter or on social.*

(Sending us a quick video also enters you into a giveaway* for a chance to win $25!) Tell us why you’re voting →

By Colin Booth

In 2017, Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte was paid to sit on the board of a company that powers data centers, and the stock she held there is now worth close to $1 million, according to a new report. She hasn’t said whether she sold it.

The Lever, a national investigative newsroom, reported Oct. 21 that Ayotte served on Bloom Energy’s board from 2017 to 2019. Bloom makes fuel cells, machines that generate electricity on-site, and lists data centers at the top of the industries it serves. Ayotte was paid $112,500 for her board work, The Lever found.

(Courtesy of Nancy Halloran)

Who says you have to look up to see fall’s best colors? Nancy Halloran captured this beautiful scene of colorful leaves floating on the water at Hunt Road Town Forest in Kingston. “Every color of the rainbow on the water,” she said.

Share your photo: We’d love to see New Hampshire through your lens. Share your favorite photo for a chance to appear in an upcoming newsletter.

Related: Find more places to enjoy New Hampshire’s fall foliage

Stephen Petrovitsis listens to his son, Justin, talk about the family business, Durham House of Pizza, which turns 50 in November. Stephen started the business in 1976 with his father and now his sons run it. (USA Today Network)

By USA Today via Reuters Connect

DHOP, as it’s affectionately known by local residents and University of New Hampshire students, is a cornerstone of the college town community. In November, the business that is still owned and operated by the same family will celebrate 50 years in business.  

With Election Day approaching, political conversations are everywhere, from social media to family gatherings. While some people openly share their views, others keep their opinions private to avoid arguments, judgment, or strained relationships.

So this week’s question is:

Do you feel comfortable sharing your political opinions publicly? Why or why not?

Here’s what you’re saying:

“I can’t say I’m comfortable with expressing my political opinions anymore.  No one actually has a conversation, an exchange of ideas, which doesn’t devolve into rancour. Most people I know don’t even discuss politics, except online, and then only on a site with similar views. If the issue at hand is one I feel passionately  about, I don’t mind push back. I do, however, owe an explanation as to why I feel this way and not just lob what could be read as an incendiary attack. The exchange must be above all else civil. Hence my discomfort with sharing my political views, because so few are civil.” — Timothy S. McGucki, Hollis 

These briefs featuring good news from around the world are presented in partnership with Andy DeMeo of Granite Goodness. Subscribe today.

🥗 UMass Amherst launches $120M Future of Food Initiative to tackle global food challenges. The effort will build a 36,000-square-foot innovation center and establish endowed faculty positions to advance research on climate-resilient agriculture, food safety, and nutrition for populations across the globe. UMass Amherst

🫐 Wild Blueberry Collective purchases 158 acres to preserve Maine’s iconic barrens. Eight Maine women (from an impressive variety of backgrounds!) banded together to secure a $750,000 agreement acquiring a large section of land in Searsport. Their vision is to create public trails, community harvests, and educational programs for Maine’s barrens. Midcoast Villager

🌲 Northern Maine’s ancient forests get protected with landmark conservation deal. The New England Forestry Foundation and Irving Woodlands Maine agreed to preserve nearly 500 acres of rare old-growth forest in Aroostook County, protecting carbon-rich ecosystems, pristine ponds, and native wildlife. New England Forestry

Know someone in New Hampshire who’s doing something worth celebrating? Whether it’s a neighbor, volunteer, small business owner, artist, or community leader, we want to hear about it!

Send us their name, what they’re doing, and why it matters to you at info@granitepostnews.com.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Katy Savage with a story from Colin Booth and USA Today via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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