The Berlin Daily Sun

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Free newspaper serving the Androscoggin Valley published Tuesday & Thursday by Country News Club, Inc.

09/11/2026

For many people who lived through the happenings of Sept. 11, 2001, and what followed, please feel free to share your memories and thoughts. On this 25th anniversary of 9/11, what comes to mind most?
Thank you,
Lisa Connell
Editor, The Berlin Sun

09/09/2026

Reminder that Berlin City Council meets tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Berlin. The Wednesday meeting is due to the Monday, Labor Day holiday and the state primary on Tuesday.

09/04/2026

Business NH Magazine names the 2026 best companies to work for in NH

Business NH Magazine named 22 businesses as the "2026 Best Companies to Work For in NH" and inducted 10 companies into the competition's Hall of Fame.

For 28 years, Business NH Magazine has recognized businesses that go out of their way to create engaging workplaces and understand that fulfilled employees are more productive.

“Even as other businesses continue to struggle to attract and retain workers, the Best Companies to Work For consistently are examples of the different ways businesses can create cultures that make employees feel valued, empowered and engaged,” says Executive Editor Matt Mowry.

The 2026 winning companies are:

Rise Private Wealth Management in Bedford
XMA Corporation in Manchester
Ledyard Bank in West Lebanon
HEB Engineers in North Conway
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB) in Bedford
Advanced Exteriors & Glazing of New England in Salem
Granite State Credit Union in Manchester
Altair Group in Bedford
CCA Global Partners in Manchester
Cobalt Benefits Group in Exeter
Soake Pools in Pembroke
Sulloway & Hollis in Concord
SIAA in Hampton
NBT Bank in Manchester
TFMoran in Bedford
Greenman-Pedersen Inc. (GPI) in Bedford
Turner Group in Concord
Mainstay Technologies in Manchester
CoreMedical Group in Manchester
Blackdog Builders in Salem
Hammond Lumber Company in Rochester
BlueLion in Derry

Hall of Fame
Companies that earn a place on the Best Companies to Work For list in four out of five consecutive years are inducted into the Hall of Fame for two years. Seven companies were inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, and three are in their second year on the list:

• Bangor Savings Bank in Portsmouth
• Cohen Closing & Title in Bedford
• DEW Construction in Manchester
• ITR Economics in Manchester
• Moore Nanotechnology Systems in Swanzey
• NFI North in Contoocook
• Northeast Delta Dental in Concord
• Novocure in Portsmouth
• PROCON in Hooksett
• Unitil in Hampton

The 2026 competition attracted applicants from across the state. Each completed an extensive employer survey, detailing benefits and workplace practices. Employees from each company also filled out an employee engagement survey. Both surveys were administered by The Employee Engagement Group, and the results of those assessments determined the winning companies. Essays about company culture were reviewed and scored by HR executives from across the state.

To further refine the ranking of the top 12 companies, business and HR executives volunteered their time and expertise to conduct site tour visits of the top 12 that consisted of interviews with the top executive, a focus group discussion with employees, and a tour of the facility. The site tours were organized and facilitated by The Leddy Group in Dover.

To celebrate the 2026 winners, Business NH Magazine will host Breakfast with The Best on Sept. 22. In addition to recognizing the winning companies, the event will include a panel featuring representatives from the Hall of Fame companies, as well as CultureFest: 2026, where participants will dig into workplace topics in small group sessions through a series of eight-minute workshops with executives from the winning companies. The event will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Manchester Hotel from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. To register for the event, go to businessnhmagazine.com/breakfast-with-the-best.

Sponsors of this year’s breakfast are: Platinum Sponsor: Rise Private Wealth Management; Gold Sponsors: Eversource, Northeast Delta Dental, TFMoran, and Wire Belt Company of America; Hall of Fame Sponsor: DEW Construction; Culturefest Sponsor: Bangor Savings Bank; Silver Sponsors: CCA Global Partners, Hammond Lumber Company, Ledyard Bank, NBT Bank; Photo Booth Sponsor: NFI North; and Print Program Sponsor: Granite State Credit Union.

Read more about the winning companies in the September issue of Business NH Magazine.

09/01/2026

Meeting this week in Berlin: Planning Board, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 6:30 p.m., City Hall, 168 Main St.

Berlin Board of Education (school board), Thursday, Sept. 3, 6 p.m., Berlin Middle High School library, 550 Willard St.

08/24/2026

Family tragedy in Whitefield Aug. 11 claims second victim

CONCORD — Attorney General John M. Formella, New Hampshire State Police Colonel Mark B. Hall, and Whitefield Police Department Chief Maxwell Hodgdon announce that a second victim, Michael Marro, age 41, of Whitefield has died from injuries sustained in the Aug. 11 shooting at the Hilltop Manor Trailer Park in Whitefield.

Marro had been hospitalized in critical condition since the shooting after suffering a catastrophic gunshot wound to the head.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on Michael Marro and determined that his cause of death was a gunshot wound of the head, and his manner of death was homicide.

Amy Blake, 59, died last week at the Whitefield residence. Her death was ruled a homicide, said the office of the state medical examiner.

Eric Blake Jr., 29, shot his mother Amy Blake, his brother Michael Marro and his father Eric Blake Sr. before shooting himself. His death was ruled a su***de.

Eric Blake Sr., 53, also shot, was able to drive himself to a hospital to report the shootings. Blake Sr. is expected to survive his physical injuries.

A fundraiser has been set up for another family member, Nathan Blake, who was not at home when the shootings occurred.

08/17/2026

Woman dies from Whitefield shooting injuries

CONCORD – Attorney General John M. Formella, New Hampshire State Police Colonel Mark B. Hall, and Whitefield Police Department Chief Maxwell Hodgdon announce further information concerning an ongoing investigation into a shooting incident that took place on Aug. 11 at the Hilltop Manor Trailer Park in Whitefield.

In the early morning hours of Aug. 11, Whitefield Police Department, Lancaster Police Department, and New Hampshire State Police responded to a motor vehicle accident, which eventually led them to discover a shooting incident at 3 Hilltop Manor St., in Whitefield. When officers entered the residence, they found three adult family members, who were suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. These family members were Amy Blake, 59, and her two sons, Michael Marro, 41, and Eric Blake Jr., 29. Eric Blake Jr. was pronounced dead at the hospital and an autopsy conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined his cause of death was a gunshot wound of head and his manner of death was su***de.

Amy Blake has since died as a result of her injuries. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on Amy Blake and determined that her cause of death was a gunshot wound of head, and her manner of death was homicide. Michael Marro, who suffered a catastrophic gunshot wound to the head, remains in critical condition.

An additional victim, Eric Blake Sr., 53, also suffered a gunshot wound and was able to drive himself to the hospital where he reported the incident. He is expected to survive his injuries.

Based upon the information available at this time, it appears that in the early morning hours of Aug. 11, Eric Blake Jr., shot Amy Blake, Michael Marro, and Eric Blake Sr., and then shot and killed himself. Because Eric Blake Jr., did not survive, criminal charges cannot be brought against him for his actions.

While the investigation remains open and ongoing, it appears that mental illness was a likely contributing factor in Eric Blake Jr.’s actions during this incident. All citizens in crisis, or anyone with a loved one in crisis, are reminded that they can call, text or chat with trained crisis counselors any time, any day, by calling the Su***de and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

No further information is expected to be released at this time.

08/11/2026

Update on Whitefield family shootings; 29-year-old man dies by su***de, others suffer gunshot wounds

CONCORD – Attorney General John M. Formella, New Hampshire State Police Colonel Mark B. Hall, and Whitefield Police Department Chief Maxwell Hodgdon announce further information concerning an ongoing investigation into a shooting and untimely death that took place inside a home in Whitefield.

At approximately 12:50 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, members of the Whitefield Police Department, Lancaster Police Department, Littleton Police Department, and New Hampshire State Police responded as a result of a report of a vehicle operating erratically and striking other vehicles in the area of 3 Hilltop Manor St. in Whitefield.

Once on scene, officers entered the residence and found three adult family members suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. These family members were Amy Blake, age 59, and her two sons, Michael Marro, age 41, and Eric Blake Jr., age 29. All three were transported to area hospitals. Amy Blake and Michael Marro are currently in critical condition. Eric Blake Jr. was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Each of them appeared to have suffered gunshot wounds. In addition, a fourth family member, Eric Blake Sr., age 53, who suffered an apparent gunshot wound, was able to drive himself to the hospital where he reported the incident. He is currently in stable condition.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on Eric Blake Jr., earlier today in Concord, and determined that Eric Blake Jr.’s cause of death was a single gunshot wound of the head and the manner of death was su***de. At this time, detectives are investigating this event as a potential attempted murder(s) and su***de.

While the investigation is still ongoing, all known parties have been identified, and there is no known threat to the general public.

Additional information will be released once it becomes available. No further information is expected to be released today.

08/11/2026

NH State police investigating Whitefield suspicious death, other victim injuries, circumstances in Hilltop Manor area on Tuesday

CONCORD –Attorney General John M. Formella announces that members of the Attorney General’s Office and members of the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit are responding to a report of a suspicious death discovered this morning in Whitefield, New Hampshire.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Aug. 11, law enforcement officers responded to a call for a motor vehicle operating erratically in the Hilltop Manor neighborhood. Following that call, officers were directed to a nearby home in which they found three adult family members suffering from various injuries. Later, officers were also directed to an area hospital where a fourth injured adult family member was found suffering from an injury.

One of the individuals discovered inside the home, an adult male, was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. The other individuals inside the home, an adult female and an adult male inside the home, were transported to area hospitals and are being treated for their injuries. The fourth individual, the adult male discovered at the hospital already, continues to be hospitalized receiving treatment for his injury.

The exact circumstances surrounding this incident are now under active investigation. More information will be released as it becomes available

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