State Rep Deborah Aylward. Wow! What a Day in Concord and Beyond. . ..

Where to start? Where to start! How about here:

In 2026, House Democrats pushed more than $3.98 billion in tax hikes on Granite Staters. From your property to your income, the Democrats were relentless in their attempts to tax you into oblivion. These bills represent the LARGEST TAX HIKE IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.

If there is only ONE REASON to get out and vote, and to vote for REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES DEBORAH AYLWARD AND LOUISE ANDRUS FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVES, it is to PREVENT TAXING YOUR INCOME, and this TAX AND SPEND AGENDA!

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New Bail Notification System Gives Police Real-Time Access to Release Information

One of the less-publicized public safety improvements enacted following New Hampshire's recent bail reform legislation is now becoming a reality.

A new statewide bail notification system provides law enforcement officers with timely, real-time information when an individual is released on bail. The system allows officers to quickly determine a defendant's release status and bail conditions, helping improve officer safety, victim protection, and enforcement of court-ordered conditions. The state invested $500,000 to develop the notification system for law enforcement agencies across New Hampshire.

The notification system complements House Bill 592, signed into law in 2025, which strengthened New Hampshire's bail laws by expanding judicial authority over bail decisions in serious criminal cases and increasing protections for victims and the public.

While much of the discussion surrounding bail reform has focused on who should or should not be held pending trial, the notification system addresses another important concern: ensuring officers have immediate access to accurate information when interacting with individuals who have recently been released.

Supporters say providing law enforcement with timely bail information is another step toward improving public safety while helping officers make informed decisions during encounters in the field.

Did you know??

Persons may be able to confirm whether family members, friends, intimate partners, acquaintances, business associates (or anyone having access to your property and family members) are currently on probation or parole by contacting the appropriate supervising agency, subject to state law and agency policy.

As a former investigative background specialist and author of The Guide to Criminal Offender Public Records, I was the first to publish a compilation of probation and parole offices’ contact information for all 50 states and U.S. territories.

After realizing that contacting these offices was a type of ‘short cut’ to determining current criminal history, but not finding a state-by-state contact info compilation, the project took two years and the filing of information requests.

The guide received a complimentary review from PI Magazine, and I was surprised to receive a phone call from the director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons directory department that publishes a two- inch+ thick directory of all its facilities (that at the time, did not include these offices’ contact info for some reason), and who jokingly said ‘You have more information in your guide than we do!” That I indeed took as a compliment! The guide was marketed to attorneys and private investigators, and was eventually donated to the non-profit I founded, and placed online so members of the public could access the information at no charge.

Having these offices confirm whether or not an individual is currently under supervision is a matter of public record, however, staff at these offices may balk at the request due to ignorance. Simply ask for a supervisor, and make your request citing RSA 91-A in New Hampshire, or pursuant to any states’ Freedom of Information Act, such as:

“I’m calling to confirm whether or not (full name of individual) is currently on probation or parole.”

It is unwise to rely solely on consumer internet "criminal record" databases, which are often incomplete and may not reflect current supervision status or other recent changes.

Before inviting someone into your life—or your family's life—based on little more than a name, take the time to conduct thorough, reliable research. For the state of New Hampshire contact:
New Hampshire Department of Corrections – Division of Field Services (603) 271-5652
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CITIZEN COMMENTARY

Danbury Select Board Discusses Funding School Pavilion Amid Ownership Questions

A question on everyone’s mind is “Will the Danbury Elementary School closure end up costing Danbury taxpayers money?”

Well, at its June 3 meeting, the Danbury Select Board discussed a request from Danbury Elementary School Principal, Brittany Galvin, seeking Town funding to complete a pavilion at the school.

According to the published meeting minutes, the request raised an unexpected issue: the ownership of the school property was described as unknown — as of that date.

That statement alone raises important questions for taxpayers.

Before a municipality invests local tax dollars into improvements on public property, it is generally expected that ownership of the land and responsibility for future maintenance are clearly established. If ownership is uncertain, taxpayers deserve to understand exactly who will benefit from the expenditure. Several questions naturally arise:

-- Who owns the Danbury Elementary School building and the land on which it sits?

--Was the funding request made by the principal alone, or on behalf of the Newfound Area School District?

--Has the Newfound Area School Board authorized the request?

--What is the estimated cost to complete the pavilion?

-- If Town funds are used, who will own the completed pavilion?

-- If the school ultimately closes, what becomes of the pavilion and the taxpayers' investment?

--Will the Town assume future maintenance or liability for the structure?

In researching the ownership question, searches of the Merrimack County Registry of Deeds under "Danbury Elementary School" located only an original plan, while a search under "Newfound Area School District" located only a Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statement from 2010, having a notation that “Danbury is not named’.

Although this research is ongoing, no recorded conveyance establishing ownership has yet been identified.

Likewise, publicly available tax maps and assessment records do not clearly identify the school parcel, Daffodil Lane — or a separate tax record for the property, that would make sense when ‘exempt’. Meanwhile, the absence of readily identifiable ownership information underscores the importance of obtaining clarification before additional public funds are committed.

None of this suggests that the pavilion is an unworthy project. Outdoor learning and community gathering spaces can be valuable assets — whether used by a charter school, and/or by the community. However, sound fiscal stewardship requires transparency regarding ownership, responsibility, and the long-term obligations associated with any taxpayer-funded improvement.

With Danbury being an SB 2 town, and if this pavilion request turns out to be a new capital expenditure, I would expect there to be a warrant article or another lawful source of appropriated funds. Again, much depends on whether or not a charter school operates in the building, or if the building ends up being used for municipal/community purposes instead.

As this matter moves forward, residents may wish to encourage Town officials, the Newfound Area School District to publicly identify the legal owner of the property, explain the basis for any requested Town funding, and clarify what protections will ensure that Danbury taxpayers receive the benefit of any investment they are asked to make.

Select board meeting minutes MUST detail ‘discussion’, and any ‘action’ taken in meeting minutes so members of the public don’t have to make endless public record requests for complete understanding of matters before the board.

Transparency is not an obstacle to progress—it is a prerequisite for responsible government.

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Data Centers and Bordering Towns Without Zoning: What Are Your Rights?

Many New Hampshire communities have adopted zoning ordinances that regulate where industrial, commercial, and residential uses may occur. Others have chosen not to adopt zoning at all, take the Town of Grafton, for example. In a town with no zoning, a landowner generally has much broader discretion regarding how property may be developed, subject to state laws, environmental regulations, local subdivision or site plan requirements (if applicable), and other permitting requirements.

For residents living along a town line, such as in the Town of Danbury, this can create uncertainty. A property owner may purchase a home in a quiet residential or rural area, only to discover that land immediately across the municipal boundary could potentially be developed under a very different regulatory framework.

Fortunately, New Hampshire law recognizes that some projects affect more than just the community in which they are built.

A sufficiently large project—such as a hyperscale data center—may qualify as a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) under RSA 36:54 through RSA 36:57. When a planning board determines that a proposal has regional impacts, neighboring municipalities and regional planning commissions receive notice and have an opportunity to provide comments during the review process.

However, notification alone does not automatically stop or modify a project. It simply ensures that neighboring communities have a voice before local approvals are granted.

If you own property that abuts or is near a proposed development, there are several practical steps you can take:

• Monitor planning board agendas in both your town and neighboring communities.
• Attend public hearings and submit written comments for the record.
• Work with your town officials to ensure concerns are formally presented during any Development of Regional Impact review.
• Document how the proposal could affect your property, including noise, lighting, traffic, emergency access, visual impacts, storm water, water supplies, and property values where supported by evidence.
• Consult an attorney if you believe your legal rights may be affected or if you wish to understand appeal options under New Hampshire law.

Residents should also remember that zoning is only one layer of regulation. State environmental permitting, wetlands protection, highway access permits, utility approvals, and federal requirements may also apply depending upon the size and nature of a project.

The discussion surrounding data centers should not become a debate of "for" or "against" technology. Data centers provide services that modern society relies upon every day, and many operate successfully in locations where they are appropriately sited and compatible with surrounding land uses.

The more important question for local communities is whether very large industrial-scale facilities are being proposed in locations where neighboring property owners have had adequate notice, meaningful participation, and reasonable protection from potential impacts.

For those living near town boundaries—particularly where one municipality has zoning and the other does not—that conversation deserves careful attention before a project is proposed rather than after construction has begun.

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Where is Maura Murray? My Unexpected Connection to the Maura Murray Investigation

I am often asked about my experiences with missing persons cases.

When 21-year-old Maura Murray disappeared after a single-car crash on Route 112 in Haverhill on February 9, 2004, I had no idea the case would eventually cross my path.

At the time, I was working as a licensed private investigator. Like much of New Hampshire, I followed news of the young nursing student's mysterious disappearance with concern, never imagining I would become involved in one of the many leads investigators would pursue.

That changed when I was contacted by two women from a town southwest of Concord. They shared concerns about a former neighbor and told me that women's clothing had reportedly been found buried near his residence. They had already reported their concerns to law enforcement, which investigated the matter.

Sometime later, after the individual had vacated the property, I met with Maura's father, Fred Murray, at the residence. With permission to enter the property, we conducted a careful examination of the house.

Among the items I observed was a mattress bearing what appeared to be a significant stain, in the basement. Later, in a nearby wetland, a stained pillow was located that appeared consistent with one previously photographed inside the residence.

Every observation I made and every item I documented was turned over to law enforcement. From that point forward, the investigation remained in their hands.

I have never concluded that the individual connected to that property was responsible for Maura Murray's disappearance, nor has law enforcement publicly identified that lead as the solution to the case. Like many investigative leads over the past two decades, it appears to have reached a dead end.

Yet the experience left a lasting impression on me. Missing-person investigations often involve painstaking work, countless tips, and leads that initially seem promising but ultimately yield no answers. It is a reminder that every credible tip deserves to be examined thoroughly, even when it does not solve the mystery.

Today, more than 22 years after Maura Murray vanished, the question remains the same: What happened after she walked away from her disabled vehicle on that cold February evening?

Her family continues to seek answers, investigators continue to welcome credible information, and New Hampshire continues to hope that one day this enduring mystery will finally be solved.

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Thanks for reading!

Deborah Aylward is a resident of Danbury, NH, and serves as a State Representative for Merrimack, District 5 Towns of Andover, Danbury, Hill, Salisbury and Webster.