Teens from Rockingham County and the surrounding area are invited to the 4-H Next Step Teen Club’s open house on Thursday, November 21, 2013. Interested youth and adults will learn about the club’s activities, community service, and discuss ideas for future projects. There will also be a presentation about the club’s recent international service learning trip to Dominica.

The Next Step Teen Club is open to youth ages 13 and up from anywhere in Rockingham County or nearby. The club meets twice a month and participates in additional events and activities.

Members of the 4-H Next Step Teen Club traveled to Dominica this year on a service learning trip. The club will hold an open house on Thurs., November 21 for interested new members and will be sharing their trip experiences. In Dominica are club members, from left, Elizabeth Caverly of East Hampstead, Anya Vogel of Raymond, Christine LaMoré of Newmarket and Jordan Roberts of Brentwood.

The open house will be held from 6:30 to 8 PM at the UNH Cooperative Extension office at 113 North Road in Brentwood. Refreshments will be served. For more information or to RSVP, contact Christine LaMoré at jointhenextstepteenclub(at)gmail.com.

The 4-H Youth Development program of UNH Cooperative Extension strives to create supportive program environments where youth have a sense of belonging and a desire to grow in knowledge and skill. Key elements include: caring adult leaders, inclusive environments, safe places, opportunities to learn and master skills, opportunities for youth to be active participants in their own future, and practice leadership and service learning.

Leo Paul Paradis, 83, of Nashua, NH, passed away November 11, 2013, after a fulfilling life. He leaves behind his dear wife of 61 years, Rosemarie Rita (Hankard); two daughters – Patricia (Paradis) Miceli and her husband Michael of Nashua, NH, and Denise (Paradis) Blackburn and her husband Michael of Western Springs, IL. He also leaves two sons – Joseph Paradis and his wife Joanne of Londonderry NH, and Paul Paradis and his wife Corinne of Quincy MA, as well as ten grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and numerous other relatives and friends.

Leo was born in Arlington, MA on April 17, 1930, the fifth child of Joseph and Ernestine Paradis. He was pre-deceased by his brothers Robert, Normand, Roland, and John Paradis, and his sister Marcelle (Paradis) Hensgen and her husband Walter.

A hard worker all his life, Leo began peeling vegetables, with his brothers, for his father and uncle who owned The Lunch Cart, a popular diner in Arlington Center (MA) from the 1930s-1950s. He had a long and prosperous career in the New England fishing industry as a sales broker, manager, and business owner. If you wanted to talk fish, Leo was your guy.

Leo’s primary hobby was puttering. He thought nothing of laying down a new roof, staining the house, or building a shed. He filled every nook and cranny in his houses with some sort of homemade cabinet, closet, or storage bin.

An avid conversationalist, Leo would talk to just about anyone and made friends easily. He loved to dance, watch movies, and travel around the world with his lovely wife. They also enjoyed precious retirement years in Venice, FL with his sister Marcy and her husband Walt.

A private service and burial will be at the family plot in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Arlington MA. There are no calling hours.

Visit the Peabody Funeral Homes website to leave a condolence note or view others.

Donations in Leo’s memory may be made to The Huntington at Nashua Scholarship Fund c/o The Huntington at Nashua, 55 Kent Lane, Nashua NH 03062. Leo was quite fond of the young people who worked there and cared for him and Rosemarie over the last eight years. Your support of this fund for those young people would make him very happy.

The New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF) will be hosting a special informational evening specifically geared towards future college athletes. Led by Senior College Counselor Jay Hauser, this Thursday evening, November 14, 2013, Londonderry High School will be home to one of these events.

Open to all area student athletes, including those outside of Londonderry, the event will feature a panel of experts who will be available to discuss a variety of topics. These include NCAA eligibility, recruitment, self-marketing, balancing demands, and time management.

Students and their parents are welcome to attend this event, scheduled to begin at 6 PM Thursday. For more information, contact Jay Hauser at 1-888-7-GRADUATE extension 441 or via email at jhauser(at)nhheaf.org.

Navy Seaman Apprentice Jeff Zandarski, son of John and Cynthia (Zandarski) Caron of Londonderry, NH, and Gerald Zandarski, of Hannahan, SC, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at the Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. Zandarski also designed one side of the flag carried that represented his Division 429, Ship 03, of 88 Sailors at the Pass In Review, on November 8, 2013. Zandarski is serving a 5-year term and 5-year Reserves.

During the eight-week program, Zandarski completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.

The capstone event of boot camp is “Battle Stations.” This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. “Battle Stations” is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. Its distinctly “Navy” flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a Sailor. He will remain in Illinois for a 10-week special training program prior to his permanent Ship assignment.

Zandarski is a 2013 graduate of Londonderry High School in which he achieved a ribbon for Academic Excellence.

The FBI is seeking the public’s assistance to stop a child predator.

The individual being sought is currently known only as John Doe 27. Video of the man engaging in sexually explicit activities with a child were discovered online in April 2013 by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), and those images are still circulating in child pornography forums across the Internet.

The video shows a glimpse of John Doe 27, which investigators hope will lead to his identification—and the recovery of the exploited child. “These types of individuals typically don’t stop with one victim,” said Special Agent Shanna Daniels, who is investigating the case. “That’s why we need to catch him before other children are victimized.”

Working with NCMEC, investigators in the Violent Crimes Against Children program have enhanced images from the video showing John Doe 27’s face and other details. For example, the subject and the victim appear to be inside a residence with a distinct plaid chair in a corner—a chair that someone familiar with the house might easily recognize. And based on audio recovered from the video, it is believed that the subject may have referred to himself as “Jimmy” and may have been speaking with a Southern accent.

Daniels said it is important to note that there are no specific details linking the suspect to a particular state or region of the country. “The only thing we can say for certain is that this guy is an offender,” she added, “and we need to stop him.”

The efforts to identify and apprehend John Doe 27 are part of the FBI’s Operation Rescue Me and Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) initiatives and represent a longstanding partnership with NCMEC. Operation Rescue Me identifies child victims of sexual exploitation by using sophisticated image analysis to obtain evidence. ECAP seeks public and media assistance to help identify the John and Jane Does who display their faces—and other distinguishing characteristics such as tattoos—in pornographic pictures and videos.

Since the inception of ECAP in 2004, 27 John/Jane Does have been investigated and 17 have been successfully identified and prosecuted. These cases have led to the identification of more than 29 child victims.

Daniels, who has worked child exploitation cases for two years, noted that asking for the public’s assistance can produce powerful results. “Thanks to media exposure and the public’s help,” she said, “the first two cases I worked on were solved within 24 hours of publicizing the subjects’ pictures.” She added, “It’s extremely gratifying to get these offenders off the streets—and we couldn’t be as successful as we have been without the support of concerned citizens.”

We need your help. John Doe 27 appears to be a white male, possibly in his 40s or 50s, with dark hair and dark eyes. Anyone with information about this individual should submit a tip on our website or call the FBI’s toll-free tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Just minutes from Londonderry, at the Rockingham Park Racetrack, hundreds of people will gather over the next few days to get unique and creative holiday gifts, accessories, art, and more. Castleberry Fairs is coming to Salem, New Hampshire for the 18th Annual New England Craft and Specialty Food Fair.

This special fair will feature more than 250 of the area’s finest craftsmen and women, as they display and sell their goods. Items include home goods like candles, soaps, wall hangings, chimes, tapestry, quilts, baskets, ribbon angels, ceramics, appliqués, Victorian wreaths, leather, slate, mail boxes, silk and dried floral arrangements, topiary, and collectable bears; arts like turned wood, pottery, photography, metal sculpture, hangings, marble craft, carved birds, soft sculpture, oil paintings, pen and ink drawings, calligraphy, and poetry; and clothing like fleece, knits, scarves, and hats. Other items include fine jewelry, puppets, and folk toys.

Food samplings will include herbal dips, sauces, jams and jellies, maple products, candies, dried fruit and nut mixes, honey products, telishes, pickles, cinnamon, bread mixes, pumpkin butter, fudge, garlic spreads, vinegars, pastry, ils, salsas and gourmet coffees.

The fair will be held in Salem from Friday, November 15 through Sunday, November 17, 2013. Hours are from 10 AM until 5 PM each day.

Admission is $7 for adults and children 12 and under are free. One admission is good for all three days. Click here for a discount coupon!

Rockingham Park is located just off Exit 1 of Interstate 93.

To learn more about Castleberry Fairs, visit their website.

Hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to put on a bright orange article of clothing when they head afield this fall. Wearing a fluorescent orange hat, vest or jacket makes you highly visible in the woods, one of several key safety precautions for hunters, hikers and others enjoying the autumn woods.

“Wearing blaze orange has definitely been shown to decrease hunting incidents across the country,” said Josh Mackay, who coordinates the Hunter Education Program at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. “It is important for outdoors enthusiasts generally, but especially for hunters, because the overwhelming majority of hunting-related incidents involve members of hunting parties.”

Mackay stressed that, along with wearing blaze orange, the top safety rules for hunters are controlling the muzzle of your gun at all times and positively identifying your target — and what’s beyond — 100 percent of the time.

Overall, New Hampshire has an excellent record for hunter safety, largely attributable to the state’s effective hunter education programs. The average number of hunting-related incidents per year has gone down each decade since mandatory hunter education classes became required in the 1970s. The 1960s saw an average of 21.4 incidents per year in New Hampshire. Fewer incidents have occurred each decade since, with an average of 2.8 incidents per year since 2002. Serious incidents are even rarer — only four hunting-related fatalities have occurred in the state in the last 10 years.

While most hunting-related incidents do not involve nonhunters, it’s a good idea for hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts getting out to enjoy the fall woods to think safety as well, by sticking to established trails, reviewing the hikeSafe guidelines, and wearing an article of blaze orange clothing during hunting seasons, which are already underway in the Granite State. Blaze orange pet accessories are also available.

For more information on dates and details of NH hunting seasons, click here.

Originally published: November 02, 2008

Sunday services, and Sunday breakfast of eggs, bacon, home made beans and biscuits hot out of the oven; Quiet times, hectic times with lots of chatter, lots of small children pulling at the oilcloth hanging at the sides of the table.

I did not know then that the cloths were made of a specially treated canvas which was waterproof, durable and inexpensive. The color and designs lasted for years with very little fading. Today these table cloths are called vinyl tablecloths because they are made of a slightly different material.

For the youngsters in my family, the oilcloth held a treasure of board games. After our Sunday dinner mom would flip the tablecloth wrong side out and everything seemed right with the world.

On the cotton backing she had copied a number of board games such as Home, Tic-Tac-Toe and one we called Pot-o-Gold. This last game was a favorite as one could win wood chips that could be cashed in for a piece or two of penny candy.

Our game men were not men at all but buttons. We were allowed to choose any fancy button of our choice from the button box as well as a set worn dice. I wonder if most of today’s children would get a kick out of playing board games instead of the held electronics of today.

Electronic games are popular and fascinating. I have gone on line many times to play against a graphic of a robot. Some on-line games will ring a bell, whistle, and a voice will tell you what a great job you did.

No matter how many games I play I still have no one to brag to when I win, no one to pout at when my games piece is knocked off the board and no one talk to while I play.

Computer games offer solitary entertainment but they do not compare to the board games that were inked on the oilcloth table cover. They do not give me a sense of belonging or share the togetherness I enjoyed with my family on a Sunday evening.

Lorraine

Editors Note: Lorraine Cookson passed away on October 27, 2013 after a brief illness. As one of our first columnists, she was very active with the Senior Center and attended nearly all the events in Town. In memory of Lorraine, we will reprint each one of her columns on Sunday mornings.

Londonderry Trailways invites the public to celebrate the opening of the first completed mile of Rail Trail on Saturday, November 30, 2013 at noon at the trailhead off Sanborn Road at the North Elementary School parking lot.

The celebration will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony and walk on the Rail Trail. Participating in the ceremony are: Londonderry Town Manager Kevin Smith, a representative from the State Department of Resources and Economic Development, State Senator Sharon Carson, Londonderry Commerce and Visitors Center, Rail Trail Project Manager, Bob Rimol and Londonderry Trailways Secretary, John Daley, MD.

The first mile of completed Rail Trail runs from Symmes Drive at Exit 5 to Sanborn Road. The construction project began September 9, 2013. The work, supervised by the Town’s Public Works and Engineering Director Janusz Czyzowski, was done by the Daniel T Ladd Construction Company of Loudon, New Hampshire. The project was completed as scheduled by mid November and came in on budget. The Rail Trail was funded by a Warrant Article passed at the March 12, 2013 election.

Bob Rimol, Project Manager, says, “I hope community members will come out on November 30th for the ribbon-cutting and a walk on the new trail. This is their trail and we want to thank everyone who made this possible, and to enjoy celebrating together!”

The event will be held rain or shine. For more information on the Rail Trail project and other trails in Londonderry please go to the Londonderry Trailways website.

Stephen “Mack” McNamara, born on December 17, 1948 to the late Raymond and Patricia McNamara, left this earth in a better state than he found it. Mack spent his childhood in Wilmington, MA, attending Wilmington High School, while playing baseball. He served as president of his class at Cape Cod Community College, and adored his years at Ricker College, in Holton, ME, where he made countless friends and memories. After graduating in 1972, he realized there was one part of college he couldn’t leave behind – the love of his life – then Mary Dolan. He chased her down after graduating, and married her in Winchester, MA on May 31, 1980. Mack and Mary raised three phenomenal children with huge hearts and even bigger smiles. Mack worked with his father as a foreman at McNamara Tire, and later worked for the Londonderry School district, touching the lives of hundreds of students and teachers.

Mack dedicated his life to making others happy and bringing smiles to faces of all around him. He complimented strangers, sent hundreds of post cards with positive messages to friends, and loyally stuck with family and friends through good times and bad. Mack cared for nothing more than his incredible family and large circle of friends.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Mary, two daughters, Maura and Elizabeth, his son, Ben; his brother and sister-in-law, Casey and Ann McNamara of New Hampshire; and other siblings, Michael, Margaret, Patrick, and Joseph; his mother in-law, Jan Dolan, and in-laws, Libby and David Witham, Ben and Linda Dolan, Anne and Joseph Lofredo, David Dolan, many nieces and nephews, and countless friends in the Londonderry community.

Forever in our hearts, devoted father, loving husband, and loyal friend, Mack, will be missed and will continue to be an inspiration to us all.

After cremation, a wake will be held at Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 290 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, on Tuesday, November 19, from 4-8pm, and a celebration of life will be held at The Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, NH, on Wednesday, November 20, at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, send a friend a postcard, do a random act of kindness, and memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Did you know…?

Londonderry High School has 36 different athletic teams, ranging from the varsity level to freshman teams, and covering three sports seasons: fall, winter and spring. These teams have claimed titles like the 2012 Division I State Championships in boys’ tennis and the 2012 Division I State Championships in girls’ cross country.

The Lancer Marching Band and Color Guard are nationally renowned, playing in China, events like the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena California, New York’s Saint Partick’s Day Parade, on ice at the Manchester Monarchs hockey games, on the parquet at Boston Celtics games, as well as in the 2009 Presidential Inauguration Parade in Washington DC.

With such a great variety of after-school activities, students still strive for excellence in their academics. Be sure to share this publication with family and friends through many popular social networks by clicking the Share/Save button!

Londonderry High School Honor Roll
Quarter 1
2013 – 2014

High Honors

Grade 9
Jack Aaron, Victoria Arsenault, Lisa Baldinelli, Cody Baldwin, Kelsea Batchelder, Laura Batchelor, Damian Bernardini, Ryann Boudreau, Madison Britting, Brittaney Brown, Eric Brown, Faye Brown, Giovanni Cafaro, Bethany Carver, Andrew Chase, Marissa Ciano, Margaret Coburn, Kelsey Coffey, Sarah Court, Nicholas Daileanes, Sarah DePasquale, Abraho DeSouza Lima, Laura Doherty, Mackenzie Donovan, Kathryn Dwyer, Deena Feldmann, Julia Fitzgibbons, Keira Fitzmaurice, Haley Follansbee, Brian Frechette, Abigail Giguere, Elise Goodspeed, Kaleigh Grant, Morgan Grant, Caleb Green, Kayla Grennon, Anna Gruchot, Lindsey Guenther, Hannah Hagearty, Ian Harris, Kiersten Hoglund, Caitlyn Hudson, Melina Illinger, Christian Irwin, Natasha Islam, Erin Janas, Connor Keeley, Heather Kelly, Anna Kemball-Cook, Hannah Kennedy, Tatiana King, Rachel Larkin, Samantha Lecaroz, Owen Lefevre, Kevin Letalien, Annika Lidster, Courtney Lynch, Oliver Mack Jr, Allison Martin, Rachael Martinez, Samantha Mauceri, Alexa Mayo, Gretchen McGrath, Madeline Meeks, Anna Mercier, Tiffany Miller, Aleksandra Moskal, Alessandra Moulton, Bryan Murphy, Jillian Naar, Andrea Nelson, Elizabeth Niven, Mackenzie O’Leary, Ryan Pitard, Sophia Poulin, Alena Pursel, Dereck Ramos, Nicolas Ramy, Katrina Rivard, Lindsey Robbins, Shea Robinson, Richard Roy, Sydney Saldana, Samantha Schofield, Zachary Serfass, Valerie Shay, Shannon Siders, Madison Sousa, Jake Stevens, Ashley Stewart, John Stuart, Elizabeth Stubbs, Alexander Swan, Zachary Tarbox, Angelis Thibedau, Emily Tinkler, Nina Touch, Erika Tsetsilas, Nicholas Vanini, Michael Vivian, Emily Vrettos, Olivia Wilson, Christopher Zaino, Isabella Ziolek, Danielle Ziv.

Grade 10
Victoria Ackley, Nicholas Anderson, Breanna Baker, Riley Barton, Declan Battles, Alexis Bertrand, Matthew Bompastore, Mikhala Bornstein, Courtney Brown, Brendan Cail, Alison Cashin, Raimond Chevalier, Kylie Chisholm, Malissa Christie, Joseph Cipoletti, Hannah Cohen, Jillian Colby, Stephanie Colon, Jacob Couturier, Griffin Cowles, Ryan Crowley, Emily Dawson, Cameron Dickson, Jack Draghi, Jordan Dufresne, Julia Dushane, Elijah Ellis, Abigail Espaillat, Jacqueline Facendola, Craig Fairweather, Rebecca Feenstra, Alisha Fernandez, Natasha Gallagher, Gianna Galluzzo, John Galluzzo, Hailey Gilbert, Katherine Gore, Isaiah Granger, Steven Guertin, Lauren Hansen, Madison Harper, Gabrielle Hernandez, Brianna Ho, Jillian Hoffman, Breda Holland, Mae-Lynn Hutchinson, Sarah Jackes, Caitlyn Johnson, Stephany Joncas, Jillian Joubert, Jared Kane, Orianna Kane, Elizabeth Keller, Robert Kilgore, Andrew Kilgus, Taylor Krause, Nathaniel Lambert, Susan Lane, Travis Lantry, Dale Larie, Ethan Lauer, Yini Liang, Nathaniel Livernois, Kayla Lovy, Colleen Lucey, Jaclyn Luckhardt, Scott Lynch, Kyle MacKenzie, Elizabeth Mak, Matthew McElrath, Hannah McGrath, Anthony McGray, Erin McKenney, Madison McKivergan, Gabrielle Morris, Liam Murphy, Jillian Murray, James Nee, Laura Nolan, Allyson O’Neil, Conor O’Regan, Angela Peikert, Rachel Pepin, Hayley Peters, Jessika Pignone, Kelly Plakyda, Daniel Pleva, Evan Plevinsky, Sean Psaledas, Karamel Quitayen, Kevin Radzelovage, Nicholas Ricci, Nathaniel Robillard, Srishti Sadhir, Shannon Sonia, Thomas Stanley, Michael Sweet, Kirsten Sweetman, Anna Tighe, Claire Tighe, Colleen Toomy, Luc Velie, Noah Vogler, Brady Wall, Joshua Wasserman, Anna Wilkinson, Abigeal Wright.

Grade 11
Holly Alix, Zoya Andary, Chelsea Austen, Bradley Baldinelli, Cody Ball, Jeffrey Baroody, Jake Barr, Sophie Bartlett, Hanna Batchelor, Eryk Bean, Marissa Beaton, Alexis Board, Emma Breslow, Raquel Brooks, Megan Butler, Meredith Byerly, Christian Calawa, Lewis Carroll, Rebekah Carroll, Emily Casey, Melinda Chan, Andrei Chevalier, Jacob Childs, Shannon Coburn, Catherine Collins, Maggie Connors, Ryan Cotter, Jason Cournoyer, Lauren Courtemanche, Thomas Cranmer, Emily Crocetti, Julie Delano, Michael DeRosa, Madeleine Doris, Emily Downing, Victoria Dumoulin, Mariah Eacrett, Noah Ellis, Joleen Evans, Eric Fairweather, Ashley Fatur, Mariska Feenstra, Gabrielle Feig, Molly Feldmann, Alyssa Fitzgerald, Alicia Fitzmaurice, Christopher Garian, David Holzberger, Natalie Howes, Kyle Hussey, Sabrina Iarrobino, Marisa Jellison, Tonya Jiang, Colby Joncas, Geoffrey Kayo, Casey Keeley, Theodore Keller, Matthew Kennedy, Michelle Kerns, Mackenzie Kewley, Michaela Kewley, Cameron Letalien, Arianna Liles, Gabriella Liles, Fred MacKay-Wright, Madeline May, Olivia Mazzoni, Emily McClure, Jennifer McQueeney, Madison Milton, Sophia Mirageas, Andrew Mitchell, Christopher Monks, Kathryn Montminy, Kathleen Moore, Frank Moskal, Kathleen Murphy, Patrick Murphy, Ryan Muse, Katy Nelson, Dorina Neveu, Nicholas Nigro, Brianna Nowicki, Anson Nurnberg, Jordan O’Donnell, Megan Parrott, Joseph Paulenka, Jacob Peabody, Jonathan Peabody, Maria Pento, Sydney Perry, Margaret Phillips, Kirsten Quitayen, Robyn Raadmae, Emily Radford, Ian Radloff, Sarah Rettig, Kristyn Riley, Matthew Rimol, Kayla Robbins, Hannah Robillard, Marissa Roger, Matthew Ross, Cooper Roy, Timothy Russell, Alisha Savoy, Trevor Seppala, Nicole Singh, Annika Skov, Kayla Slide, Melissa Sprague, Rebecca St. Pierre, Rachel Stevens, Selena Stewart, Benjamin Stoller, Kassia Swanson, Haley Tarbox, Hannah Teague, Alexis Vaughn, Rebecca Walker, Alex Walter.

Grade 12
Caroline Aaron, Emily Agostino, Nicholas Amato, Maria Andary, Rita Andary, Kaitlin Anderson, Hailey Angione, Hannah Austen, Allison Bagley, Kristen Bates, William Bates, Brent Beaudoin, Gabrielle Berry, Katherine Biondo, Cailey Blatchford, Samantha Bogdahn, Michael Boisvert, Andrew Bompastore, Brent Bourque, Kristen Bourque, Samuel Breslow, Nicholas Brodeur, Merissa Brousseau, Matthew Brown, Robert Brown, Hannah Brownstein, Andrew Brunelle, Chloe Buco, Cassandra Burbine, Elisabeth Caron, Jaimee Cava, Brianna Cerullo, William Chen, Stephany Christie, Angela Ciarletta, Katelyn Cintron, Eric Coburn, Hemenway Coburn, Andrew Collins, Taylor Collins, Erin Conti, Joseph Conti, Stephanie Conti, Mackenzie Conty, Shannon Corcoran, Anissa Cote, Timothy Court, Emily DeCarolis, Robert DelSignore, Bridget Deyeso, Patricia Driscoll, Benjamin Dupree, Makayla D’Urso, Audrey Eccles, Lyndsey England, Brett Evangelista, Tianna Federico, Valerie Fernandez, Brianna Ferraro, Nicholas Flanders, Alexander Forgues, Julia Frechette, Maria Gagliardi, Emily Georgakopoulos, Faith Giguere, Joseph Green, Daniel Haas, Samantha Haggar, Dakota Hayes, Isabella Hernandez, Stephen Hession, Matthew Hicks, Maeve Holland, Leah Hunt, Morgan Imparato, Jacob Jaehne, Amanda Jeanty, Timothy Jennings, Danielle Johnson, Hannah Johnson, Hannah Kearney, Kayla Keeley, Kial Keough, Damon Kilgore, Omer Klaen, Kyle Kling, Molly Koon, Mariah Kunitake, Harrison Kutney, Adam LaFleur, Nicholas Lafond, Jace Lamarre, Nora Lane, Kaylin LaPointe, Samantha Larkin, Brooke Lawson, Alexxis Lemire, Cassidy Litch, Alaric Liu, Christopher Livernois, Erin Lucey, Hanna Lundgren, Marc Lussier, Samantha MacKenzie, John Magrath, Kaitlin Mak, Mallory Manning, Jordan Marett, Kelly Marko, David Marks, Stephen Marzik, Matthew Marzola, Justin Mayer, Allison McCarthy, William McClelland, Joseph McGrath, Matthew McGrath, Cameron McInnis, Dillon McKay, Matthew McKinney, Shannon Meeks, Elizabeth Menard, Lindsey Michalewicz, Mary Miller, Ana Milosavljevic, Alden Milton, Kyle Montibello, Caroline Muse, Hailey Nartiff, Clarissa Navarro, Ashley Nelan, Emma Nelson, Matthew Nolan, Jennifer Ober, Gina Occhipinti, Madison O’Neil, Meghan O’Regan, Jillian O’Rourke, Gabrielle Owens, Benjamin Parker, Ann Payneau, Nathan Peabody, Stephanie Pestka, Grant Peters, Naomi Phillips, Kyrsten Pizani, Casey Plummer, Joshua Pouliot, Alyssa Precourt, Amanda Preston, Olivia Pucciarelli, Gianna Puleio, Gabriel Quimpo, Kylee Quitayen, Kimberly Radzelovage, Lauren Reinhold, Hannah Rettig, Kimberly Roberts, Brooke Robinson, Mitchell Rose, Marissa Russell, Kelsey Ryan, Mitchell Schirch, Michael Schneider, Alexis Schofield, Simone Selover, Gregory Servaes, Anna Shveshkeyev, Aliza Simpson, Hannah Solomons, Danielle Souza, Connor Student, Blair Swasey, Zachary Tavano, Natasha Telschow, Nikolas Theodhosi, Amelia Tighe, Laura Troisi, Brooke Tulley, Jordan Tutt, Andrew VanSchalkwyk, Andrew Vivian, Meghan Voorhies, Brendan Wall, Jessica Wells, Nicholas Winn, Katherine Wipf, Taylor Wood, Frank Wynters, Nicholas Yennaco, Kelli Zaino, Brandon Zalinsky.

To see the rest of the Londonderry High School Quarter One Honor Roll students, click Read More. Don’t forget to hit Share/Save to share the story with friends and family!

Honors

Grade 9
William Bargerhuff, Jordan Baronas, Cullen Behling, Brennon Berard, Noah Bourgoin, Austin Bresnahan, Sarah Broughton, Jake Brunette, Emily Buttafuoco, Nicholas Byrne, Ian Candela, Noah Carey, Jennifer Carrier, Kendra Chisholm, Nicholas Codner, Nathaniel Cohen, Issabella Cooper, Jarad Cote, Ethan Cullen, Ethan Cunningham, Abigail Davidson, Sarah Desmarais, Zoe Dieffenbach, Katelyn DiMaggio, Abigail Dolan, Hannah Donohue, Timothy Duffy, Brody Dupuis, Thomas Dutra, Amber Ekroth, Devyn Enwright, Iain Ferguson, Andrew Fruci, Hailey Gagnon, Joseph Gagnon, Kimberly Garian, Addison Garofalo, Kristina Genthner, Victoria Gilchrist, Tyler Grant, Emily Gyorda, Michael Hession, Thomas Heuston, Madison Hines, Rachel Hogan, Emily Holland, Samantha Honeywell, Antonio Houde, Thomas Houston, Shaye Kelly, Christopher Komst, Haley Laliberte, Camille Lamont, Carl Lamontagne, Jackson Leavitt, Benjamin LeBreton, Stephanie Leger, Christopher LeGrow, Leah Lockhart, Jackson Lyscars, Taylor MacKenzie, Kaitlyn Marchant, Amy Marko, Samantha Marquis, Madison McCrorey, Kelly McEachern, Teagan Miller, Alec Misco, Samantha Nadeau, Haylie Nee, Merrill Neiman, Alison Nelson, Alexa Newman, Vivy Nguyen, Olivia Palumbo, Emily Parnell, Christian Paulenka, Nathaniel Pepe, Zachary Peters, Nathan Pinelle, Nicholas Pucillo, Cameron Reddy, Arianna Reyes, Seamus S Rioux, Nicholas Salcito, Leonard Santosuosso, Emily Schackart, Avraham Schenkman, Amanda Segee, Jillian Semaski, Ryan Shields, Rachel Simkevich, Sara Stapleford, Julia Stone, Madison Sullivan, Shaye Sullivan, Michaela Tarquinio, Brian Tausky, Negeib Usmani, Nico Vacca, Kayla Vanagel, Riley Walberg, Kate Warriner, Jayden West, Kiley White, Allison Whitehead, Rachel Winsor.

Grade 10
Abigail Adams, Elena Agrella, Kayla Allard, Nathan Anderson, Colby Austin, Jake Barbieri, Amanda Battaglia, Conor Battles, Samantha Board, Kathleen Boucher, Brianna Bourque, Brandon Boutot, Heather Bresnahan, Yuly Cabeza, Daniel Cain, Brittany Can, Bryanna Casey, Marissa Cassidy, Sierra Cinelli, Jason Coburn, Sarah Countie, June Cranmer, Emily Crouse, Casey Daron, Derek Davies, Emily Davison, Alexis Dionne, Nicholas Donnelly, Corinne Dubois, Hannah Dumont, Andrew Duragano, Cody Eklund, Sean Enright, Cullen Enwright, Katherine Ferraro, Nolan Fitzgerald, Kyle Foden, Logan Ford, Courtney Foster, Olivia Gagan, Thomas Gaudette, Elana Gennell, Mark Gigliotti, Abigail Gilchrist, Bennington Gile, Stefanie Green, Shayla Griffin, Holly Grodt, Courtney Guay, Aanchal Gupta, Jamie Harding, Maxwell Hastings, Madison Havener, Makayla Haynes, Kyle Helman, Anna Hickey, Christopher Host, Matthew Hotchkiss, Crystal Huntley, Elise Isaak, Jaclyn Jenkinson, Kailey Johnson, Gillian Kayo, Ryan Kearney, Caroline Kelly, Laura Kelly, Ryan Kelly, Kayla Koster, Spenser Kutney, Justin LaGree, Travis LaGree, Corey LaMalva, Mark Leach, Leah LeBrun, Rebecca Link, Connor Lundstedt, Samantha Luongo, Tucker MacIntosh, Anna Maggio, Andrew Marsden, Timothy McEacharn, Jill McIntire, Tyler Miller, Sarah Moriarty, Caleb Moscoso, Nicholas Musto, Venessa Mwaipungu, Maegan Nadeau, Mackenzie Olin, Yorgelis Ortiz, Kristyn Pelletier, Vincent Perella, Thomas Perry, David Peterson, Alexander Powers, Ryan Richards, Marieli Rojas, Connor Rouse, Skylar Roy, Cameron Ryan, Connor Ryan, Mariah Santostefano, Noah Schrank, Miranda Seppala, Brandon Sherwood, Patrick Sullivan, Skyler Tarmey, Noah Tavano, Julia Thorpe, Olivia Travaglini, Riley Treanor, Savannah Tutt, Drew Twombly, Duncan Van Etten, Andrew Walsh, Katherine Wells, Christopher Wiedenfeld, Andrea Wooldridge.

Grade 11
Thomas Aguilar, Alexander Agusto, Shane Althouse, Thomas Bajek, Scott Beedham, Sarah Bell, Jennifer Berglund, Nicole Berte, Matthew Bevis, Richard Bilodeau, Brandon Blaesing, Joshua Bouchard, Jeffrey Brien, Bradley Brink, Alexandria Burnell, Coleen Burpeau, Samuel Cadorette, Alexandria Cardinal, Gemma Caruso, Olivia Collins, Jenna Conroy, Cooper Corliss, Jessica Cournoyer, Jacqueline Curtin, Owen Davies, Kiana DelViscovo, Jonathan Deschamps, John Diaconu, Elizabeth Domingue, Michael Donovan, Julie Dubreuil, Hailey Endyke, Gabriell Flagg, Rebecca Fondo, Kyle Forrence, Vannessa Gallant, Rachael Grady, Leonard Gratton, Alexander Hawk, Madison Hayward, Stephanie Hemenway, Madison Hicks, Joshua Hoffman, Brandon Holt, Spencer Jacob, Andrew Jacobs, Philip Keon, Pran Kerdkrung, Thomas Kilgore, Amber Kimball, Alison Kraytenberg, Ashleigh Lecaroz, Ivana Leclerc, Jean-Luc Lemieux, Chelsea Lewis, Paul Lind, Emily Lupo, Marissa MacDonald, Janelle Magoon, Angela Maio, Michael Marino, Christopher Marrello, Brandon Martinez, James Mast, Aidan McCaffrey, Samantha McCarthy, Justine McElman, Amanda Mitchell, Matthew Monahan, Christopher Moore, Elizabeth Murphy, Sean Murphy, Eileen Niven, Keith Perry, Samantha Pucillo, Jack Radzelovage, Nathan Richards, Christopher Rowan, Jeremy Schackart, Gino Scionti, Dean Sheldon, Sophia Simard, Alexis Soucy, Victoria Stubbs, Joel Sussenberger, Jessica Toomey, Brittani Varney, Tristan Wait, Daniel Ward, Craig Watkins, Keith Weidner, Nicole Wheeler, Mariah White, Alyssa Wilcox, Kailey Wilson, Joshua Winsor, Makoto Yabusaki, Alexander Young, Lauren Zins.

Grade 12
Brooke Alpers, Meghan Anderson, Vineeth Annu, Brenda Band, Alexa Bedell, Michael Bolduc, Steffanie Bosteels, Patrick Boutin, Kory Brennman, Payton Broadhurst, Elizabeth Brown, Ryan Buonanduci, Brittany Burk, Benjamin Byerly, Gina Cabeza, Kayleigh Campbell, Tanya Ceron, Alexander Champa, Shannon Crowley, Shawn Cummings, Zachary DeGraw, Devon Dionne, Lynda Dominguez, Ryan Domitrz, Paul Doran, Julia Enos, Brendan Enwright, Alana Fanaritis, Taylor Fitton, Amber Foose, Christian Gamache, Samantha Gannon, Bailee Garside, Evan Gennell, Michaela Giandello, Trevor Glennie, Victoria Goggin, Justin Gozza, Catherine Gray, Michael Griffith, Julie Hamilton, Rachel Hansen, Curtis Harper, Samantha Harris, Kelly Hayes, Andrew Hodkinson, Emily Holtshouser, Sarah Ijaz, Elizabeth Innie, Erik Kenison, Daniel Kirby, Robert Krause, Vanessa Lantagne, Breeanna L’Etoile, Colleen Lewis, Emily Lind, Tristan Long, Kacey MacConnell, Connor Maher, Cullen Maher, Keith Marcoux, Michelina Marino, Nicolas Marsden, Grant McAuliffe, Conor McGrath, Kaitlyn Mellinger, Noelle Michaud, Sean Montibello, Benjamin Montminy, Alexis Morgan, Matthew Moriarty, Shayla Murphy, Jamie Nesbitt, Catherine Newman, Elizabeth Nicoli, Justin Olin, Kayla Palmer, Jason Parker, Austin Petruzziello, Jesse-Jacob Pierson, Michaela Pinelle, Sarah Poirier, Gabriella Pucciarelli, Jennifer Rahilly, Emily Raymond, Mikayla Reddy, Jessica Roberts, Alexander Roy, Kristina Servaes, Deryn Smith, Jessica Sroka, Nicholas Stone, Matthew Sullivan, Olivia Taylor, Shelby Thibedeau, Sami Tocman, Michael Toth, Cameron Ugolini, Drew Uphold, Kayleen Walberg, Olivia White, Darrin Wilbur, Jonathan Young, Karissa Young, Sean Young.

Honorable Mention

Grade 9
Samy Achab, Jenna Brooks, Olivia Brutus, Jacob Coleman, Sean Cotter, Jack Cowette, Joseph Davis, Cora Donovan, Dominique Faucher, Domenic Federico, Edie Feldmann, Kyle Freire, Alexandra Hill, John-Michael Hughes, Jacob Jean, Alexander LaPlante, Alexandra Laverriere, David Lawton, Gabrielle L’Heureux, Emily Love, Benjamin Maynard, Nicholas McCann, Patrick Mitchell, Marcel Monteiro, Peter Navarro, Katherine Penland, Christopher Pizani, Lauren Poirier, Cory Rowan, Matthew Rubin, Mitchell Sheldon, Dalton Shields.

Grade 10
Chloe Abbott, Mahdi Achab, Alyson Aramento, Olivia Caruso, Alisha Copeland, Timothy David, Jordan Deschamps, Hannah Dowers, Cameron Fennell, Sean Fitzgerald, William Flagg, Cristian Flores, William Fournier, Hunter Goldman, Kristofer Haken, Gabrielle Hood, Casey Humes, Taylor Humphreys, Rodney Lafond, Samantha LeBrun, Samantha Marcantonio, Robert McEachern, Madyson McElroy, Cynthia Miller, Troy Nielsen, Elizabeth Ober, Colin Ryan, Samantha Savini, Daniel St. Cyr, William Stepanik, Andrea Stevens, Jax Theriault, Mia Vitukevich, Shannon Young, James Zimolka.

Grade 11
Matthew Alley, Cooper Binette, Devin Brunet, Brianna Burns, Mitchell Case, Lukas Charbonneau, Haley Cole, Joseph Davidson, John Derhak, Christopher Desena, Spenser Flood, Matthew Freda, Stephanie Girard, Shain Graczyk, Alyssa Hartwell, Michelle Hennessey, Bradford Herrick, Summer Holt, Katelyn Holtshouser, Lauren Hudson, Noelle Lambert, Christian Lasyone, Mila Lawrence, Eric Leavitt, Connor Lynch, Kaylyn Macneil, Matthew Muldoon, Timothy O’Neill, Lucas Poulin, Ryan Reid, Robert Reynolds, Sebastian Roszczenko, Dylan Skudlarek, Madison Smith, Olivia Stack, Caitlin Tanner, Chandler Walden, Timothy Whitehead.

Grade 12
Brittni Abramowicz, Dante Abruzzese, Nina Battaglia, Frank Belmonte, Bradley Benedict, Martin Bourque, Alanah Burns, Brittany Constantino, Thomas Corey, Andrew Coveney, Jessica D’Anjou, Meghan DeLorme, Michael Evers, Christopher Fiquet, Christopher Fondo, Patrick Garrity, Bethany Griffin, Ryan Hennessey, Brett Laplante, Emily Leischner, Emily Mariano, Michael Moore, Summer Sanderson, Amelia Sarvis, Sean Scannell, Stephen Scenna, Elizabeth Swanson, Alexa Travaglini, Torianna Virgin, Juliette West, Logan Westfall.

Winter is closing in, and snowmobile education classes are underway across the state. To operate a snowmobile in New Hampshire, any person age 12 or older must have either a valid Motor Vehicle Driver’s License or have successfully completed an approved Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV) Safety Education class taught by volunteer instructors trained by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

Additionally, all children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a licensed adult when operating a snowmobile, unless they are on property belonging to their parents, grandparents or guardians.

Sign up soon if you or someone you know needs a class. There is no charge for the classes, which are usually completed in a single day. Parents are encouraged to attend along with their children. For a current class schedule, click here. New classes are added as they become available.

“Snowmobiling is a great way for families to have fun exploring the great outdoors, but riders have a responsibility to obey the rules of the trails, to be courteous and — most of all — to ride safely,” said Captain John Wimsatt, who coordinates Fish and Game’s OHRV Education Program.

Many of the trained volunteer instructors teaching the safety classes are affiliated with one of the more than 100 snowmobile clubs in New Hampshire. “Joining a snowmobile club is a great way to learn about safe riding, help support local landowners and help maintain trails for your own and others’ enjoyment,” Wimsatt said.

The New Hampshire Snowmobile Association (NHSA) and its member clubs have actively promoted safe and responsible riding since 1969. NHSA members work with Bureau of Trails staff and Fish and Game to manage over 7,000 miles of trails in New Hampshire and provide safety education to more than 1,500 riders each year. For more information on how to become involved with a snowmobile club, click here.

In addition to safety education, this winter Fish and Game Conservation Officers will use innovative enforcement patrols to detect and apprehend impaired snowmobile operators, enforce speed limits, deter unlawful off-trail riding and detect machines with modified exhaust. These ongoing initiatives will help to keep the state’s snowmobile trails safe for all outdoor enthusiasts during the upcoming season.

New Hampshire’s regular firearms deer hunting is going well, as hunters look forward to time afield during the Thanksgiving holiday week. Through November 17, 2013, hunters had taken an estimated 9,122 deer in New Hampshire. The 2013 statewide total through that date represents a 10% increase from the 8,313 registered at this point in the 2012 season.

“Every county has shown at least slight increases from 2012, with Cheshire, Coos, and Carroll counties showing the largest increases,” said Dan Bergeron, Deer Project Leader for Fish and Game. “The next couple of weeks, including the Thanksgiving holidays, should provide hunters with excellent opportunity, as the rut should remain strong during this period.”

The regular firearms deer season runs through December 8 in most of the state, with the exception of Wildlife Management Unit A in northern New Hampshire, where it closes December 1. Deer hunters should note Wildlife Management Unit and season-specific either-sex day regulations in the New Hampshire Hunting Digest, available online here and Game license agents.

The statewide total continues to be the second highest in the past nine years, according to Bergeron. For a comparison of harvest results by county at this same point in the season in recent years, click here.

New Hampshire’s bear hunting season has ended in most of the state, with the exception of the White Mountains region (Units C1, D2, E and F), where it closes November 26. Preliminary results show that as of November 4, a total of 524 bears (322 males, 202 females) had been taken in the hunt, according to Fish and Game bear biologist Andrew Timmins. Through that date, bait hunters had harvested 306 bears, still hunters/stalkers took 133 bears, and hound hunters registered 85 bears. The current overall harvest sex ratio is 1.6 males per female. The bear harvest over the next 14 days in the White Mountains region (the only area still open to bear hunting) is expected to be low.

Hunting licenses can be purchased online anytime, from license agents statewide or at Fish and Game headquarters in Concord. The basic N.H. hunting license is $22 for residents and $103 for nonresidents. Hunters under age 16 do not need a license, but must be accompanied by a licensed adult at least 18 years of age.

For more information on hunting in New Hampshire, click here.

Originally published: November 23, 2008

November, 1945. There was a knock on the door and I, closest to the front hall answered the call. My heart dropped, I had the sudden urge to urinate and my tummy fizzed with fear.

Standing before me were two men dressed in blue uniforms. They asked to speak to the lady of the house. Fearful that something bad had happened, I could only nod my reply.

Sounds of my mother’s footsteps echoed in my ears as she strode to my side. The baby she held in her arms was fussing and the atmosphere was thick with tension. I began to cry as the only thing I remembered about men in uniform is that one was to be feared if one was not an abiding citizen.

Fearful thoughts and a zillion questions filled my head.

What bad thing could Mama have possibly done? When would she have had the chance to leave the house for any kind of misdeed?

About the only time I saw mama out of the house was on Sunday mornings when we all attended services. Relatives and friends always came to our house to visit because it was easier for them to go about without a dozen children following behind them.

As the uniformed men spoke, mama began to cry. She did not make a sound but big fat tears ran down her face as she shushed the babe in her arms. My tears grew more intense and a bout of hiccupping followed.

Mama rubbed the top of my head and told me it was okay. Then she instructed me to go to the dining room and to clear the table that was covered with a sewing pattern.

My tears dried upon my cheeks as I folded the pattern and turned in time to see the two uniformed men wave to some one on the other side of the door. Mom stepped back and waited as the men left the hall.

I swallowed with relief when I saw them leave. Mama was not going to be going to jail. She was not in trouble. My heart pumped with joy and the fizzing in my stomach disappeared as if by magic. There was a song signing in my soul as I watched the men re-enter our home.

In their arms they carried large baskets filled with food. The first held a big turkey surrounded with fresh stalks of celery, bunches of carrots and bags of potatoes.

The second basket was filled with fresh fruit; oranges, tangerines, grapes and a red fruit that was unfamiliar to me. I came to know the tangy taste of the pomegranate and the sweet taste of love.

A taste of love from the people who will drop a coin into the black kettles carried by the salvation Army people. I learned that a man in uniform is not to be feared but respected for what they do for the people in their town.

I learned that many people, through hard times and good times have love flowing from their heart for their neighbors. They are lessons that are passed from generation to generations.

That is what Thanksgiving means to me; a day to be thankful for what we have and not to complain about what we do not have.
Lorraine

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Image Courtesy The Salvation Army, visit the website HERE.

Editors Note: Lorraine Cookson passed away on October 27, 2013 after a brief illness. As one of our first columnists, she was very active with the Senior Center and attended nearly all the events in Town. In memory of Lorraine, we will reprint each one of her columns on Sunday mornings.

On Friday, November 22, 2013, Londonderry Police, in conjunction with the United States Postal Inspection Service, arrested 21 year old Londonderry resident Kyle Pedrick after he received a package containing about two pounds of suspected marijuana.

At about 10:43 AM, police officers watched as the post office delivered the suspicious package to a residence on Anthony Drive. Within minutes, Pedrick approached the package and returned to the house with it. Officers immediately moved in to make the arrest.

A search of the residence resulted in the seizure of firearms and more than $19,000 in cash. Police also found suspected Butane Honey Oil*, as well as items suspected to be used in the manufacturing of the oil.

Pedrick was charged with two counts of Possession of Controlled/Narcotic Drugs, Possession of Controlled/Narcotic Drugs with the Intent to Distribute, and Manufacture of Controlled Drugs. He was held on $20,000 cash bail, which he was unable to post. He was arraigned this morning, November 25, 2013, in Derry District Court.

*Butane Honey Oil (BHO), also known as hash oil, dabs, shatter, or wax, is a highly concentrated clear, golden brown derivative of marijuana that resembles honey or wax. Manufacturing BHO requires the use of butane, and the recent rise in the drug’s popularity has led to many explosions.

Linda Anne Ginnard, 52, of Londonderry, NH made her journey to heaven on Friday November 22, 2013 after being diagnosed with Lung and Liver Cancer. She was born on September 8, 1961 in Boston, MA to parents Thomas and Mildred Conway. Linda was a valued friend and employee at Aavid Thermalloy for thirteen years.

Linda was a phenomenal mother, daughter, wife, sister and friend. She is survived by her Daughter Allison; Husband James; Parents Thomas and Mildred; Brothers Richard and Thomas; and nieces Ashley and Rachel.

Linda was known for her bright, beautiful smile, selflessness and endless ability to make people laugh. The memory of her inspirational influence will continue to bring smiles to faces and joy to each and every heart she has touched.

Please join us on Monday, November 25, 2013 from 4:00PM to 7:00PM at Peabody Funeral Home located at 290 Mammoth Road, Londonderry NH 03053 to celebrate Linda’s life. Please also join us for a Liturgy of Christian Burial on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at 10:30AM at St. Marks Church, 1 South Road, Londonderry, NH 03053. Interment will follow in Pillsbury Cemtery, Londonderry.

Turkeys must be kept at a safe temperature during “the big thaw.” While frozen, a turkey is safe indefinitely. However, as soon as it begins to thaw, any bacteria that may have been present before freezing can begin to grow again.

A package of frozen meat or poultry left thawing on the counter more than 2 hours is not at a safe temperature. Even though the center of the package may still be frozen, the outer layer of the food is in the “Danger Zone” between 40 and 140 °F — at a temperature where food borne bacteria multiply rapidly. Refrigerator thawing is the best method to use to thaw your frozen turkey for Thanksgiving.

Refrigerator Thawing Times
A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days before cooking. When thawing a turkey in the refrigerator, plan ahead – allow approximately 24 hours for each 4 to 5 pounds in a refrigerator set at 40 °F or below. Place the turkey in a container to prevent the juices from dripping on other foods. Follow these guidelines:

• 4 to 12 pounds: 1 to 3 days
• 12 to 16 pounds: 3 to 4 days
• 16 to 20 pounds: 4 to 5 days
• 20 to 24 pounds: 5 to 6 day

As you can see, thawing a 20-pound turkey in the refrigerator will take the better part of a week. So plan ahead! A bit of preparation will ensure that you’re not faced with a still-frozen turkey on Thanksgiving morning.

The New Hampshire Fire Marshal is urging everyone to be safety conscious this holiday season. With Thanksgiving approaching, the increase in cooking and holiday lighting like candles and other decoration poses an even greater potential risk of fires and fire-related deaths.

A recent report by the United State Fire Administration shows the average number of reported residential fires on Thanksgiving Day nearly doubles, compared to the average number of reported residential fires on all days other than Thanksgiving.

The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office, along with the National Association of State Fire Marshals, has issued the following tips to ensure a safe and happy holiday season.

Cooking Safety
Pay attention while cooking, especially when using oils and grease. Cooking appliances should be kept clean of grease build-up, which can easily ignite. Applying a lid to a small grease fire is usually the most effective and safest method of controlling it. Trying to carry a pan that’s on fire is extremely dangerous because it can ignite clothes or spill, causing severe burns. If the fire is inside your oven, turn off the heat and leave the door closed to cut off the fire’s air supply.

Young children should be kept away from cooking appliances to prevent any mishaps. It’s always a good idea to use back burners when possible and keep pot handles turned to the inside so they won’t be pulled or knocked over. Check stoves and other appliances before going to bed or leaving your home to make sure that the units are left in the “off” position.

With the increased popularity of frying turkey, NFPA and the National Burn Foundation warn consumers and discourage the use of turkey fryers. Tests have shown that many of the fryers have a risk of tipping over, overheating, or spilling hot oil, leading to fires and burns. The suggested alternative is to have a commercial professional prepare the turkey.

Holiday Lights
Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets. To avoid overloading electrical outlets, do not link more than three light strands unless the directions indicate it is safe. However tempting, it is not recommended to leave your lights burning overnight or while you are away from home.

Candle Safety
If you choose to use lit candles, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave lit candles unattended. Lit candles should not be placed on or near your Christmas tree or near anything that can burn. Young children can be fascinated with a burning flame, so be sure candles are not in reach of curious hands.

General Household Safety
Now is a great time to make sure your smoke alarms are in working order and to review your home escape plan so that if in the event of a fire, everyone in your household knows how to get out quickly and safely. For even greater protection, consider installing a residential fire sprinkler system, which actually stops the spread of fire, protecting lives and property.

St. Mark’s Council #10488 of the Knights of Columbus is pleased to announce details of its biggest fundraiser of the year, its Twenty-Fourth Annual Christmas Tree Sale. Sales will begin on Saturday, November 30, 2013, at Chuck’s BP Station on Route 102 in Londonderry, between Dunkin Donuts and the Crossroads Mall.

Over 350 top quality, New Hampshire-grown balsam fir trees, mostly from 6 to 8 feet in length, will be available along with a good selection of 9-foot and taller premium trees.  There will also be a few smaller trees, including some of  “Charlie Brown” size.

The Knights, assisted by several Confirmation students, will be selling trees on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 AM until 6 PM and on Mondays through Fridays from 6 until 8 PM until they are gone. As there will be fewer selling days than ever before, the Knights would like to encourage everyone to pick up theirs early!

As in the past, all proceeds will go directly to several charities and organizations supported by the Knights of Columbus and St. Mark’s Parish which serves parts of Londonderry, Windham, and Hudson.

Originally published: December 6, 2009

Lorraine did over 60 stories for us before moving from Londonderry. The door is always open for her to provide her remembrances of a day gone by. We just got our wood in for the winter and stumbled across this while looking for something else.

Woodpile, a Love Story

As I drove past an old farm in Londonderry on Wednesday morning the sight of cord wood piled neatly between two large trees reminded me of the days when our family burned wood in a pot-bellied, black stove. It was a time when wood stoves warm homes and country stores alike. Logs were split and delivered by a logging company. Once the logs were dropped at the end of the drive it was up to one of my older brother’s to stack the wood in close proximity to the back door.

There were times when he had to chop the logs into smaller sections be used as kindling. The long handled axe seemed to extend twice the length of his arms. I often wondered how he stopped himself from being flipped forward from his downward swing. Brother would swing the axe according to his mood. When he was angry he would swing the implement fast and furiously and with such strength as to leave a gaping slice mark into the tree trunk that was used as a chopping block.

Then there were days when I watched him pick up the axe as though it weighed two tons. On that day I him unmercifully in a sing song voice that he detested. It was on such a day that I pushed him too far. His temper flared, he picked up a log and pounded the axe to the wood. A stray piece of log flew to my left; hit the iron post holding the cloths lines then dropped onto my brother’’s foot.

With great glee I watched him dance around the chopping block and to my horror colorful words popped out of his mouth as he dropped the axe on the ground and fixed me with a menacing stare. I had not seen my brother as angry as he was at that moment and my insides began to shake.

“Don’t you dare hit me”, I screamed.

He limped closer and closer until he was but inches away. To my surprise, he did not lift a finger to me yet his tongue lashing left my heart bruised and sore.

The chafing cut me to the quick as he was the best of the best to me. Tears stung my eyes as I apologized for teasing and not heading to the safety rules our father imposed. All onlookers were to stand four feet away, in all directions, from the chopping block. His chafing seemed to last and last.

Suddenly a voice coming from the neighbor’’s opened window asked sweetly, “are you alright, Bo?’

My brother looked up at the girl hanging from the window sill and like a butterfly coming out of its cocoon his frown turned into the silliest grin I had ever seen.

For my brother, it was the beginning of a love affair with self and the sting of the love bug for me. It was as though no other person existed except the girl next door and I was left out into the cold.

He no longer seemed to mind stacking wood. He looked forward to the chore at precisely three thirty every afternoon. That is when she passed by our house on the way home from school. The changes were subtle at first; torn jeans were replaced with a pair that had been ironed smooth, his favorite flannel shirt was left on a hook and he began to wear snug, short sleeved shirts

I once caught him flexing his muscles in front of a pane of glass before heading for the back yard. It was sickening syrupy and a stab to me heart. He lingered by the back step until that girl was around then he would attack the logs as though they were an enemy to his well being. When he was ready to chop a log into kindling, he made it an art form. My brother would rest the axe handle against his right arm and with his left hand he would held the log in a manner that would make the muscle in his left arm bulge. Ever so slowly he would then chop away to a rhythm that only he could hear and now and then he would look to the neighbor’s window from under his eyelids.

The same scene played out day after day for more than a week. The girl next door did not venture any further than the open window.

My jealousy over the girl lost its density and my heart went out to my brother. I approached him with on a late October day and simply stated, “I bet you a quarter she would come out of the house if you asked her to join us during one of your breaks.”

My brother‘s eyes lit up with hope and his grin returned when he asked, “do you really think so?”

“Yes, I do. I would if I were her.”
“You would?”

“Sure, she is not looking at the woodpile when she hangs out of the window, dummy. “She’s looking at you. “

It was as though I had given him a double dose of pure energy. He picked up the axe and began to chop kindling wood as though his life depended on the amount that would be needed to keep the pot-bellied stove going. After a bit he turned to me and spoke in a loud voice.

“Boy, oh boy, I need a break.”

I could not stop from smiling as I declared, “she at the window again.”

He looked up, put his hands in his jean pocket and pulled out some change and asked the girl.

“Would you like to go for a hot chocolate with my sister and me?”

She disappeared from the window and with frustration my brother kicked a small mound of wood chips into the air.

Within moments a sweet voice called down to him.

“My mom gave me permission to go if I want to.”

“Do you want to?”

I am never going to fall in love. I thought as I listened to the exchange.

The rest of the afternoon found me playing second fiddle to the two of them as we sat on the woodpile enjoying the hot chocolate. Well, they were sort of enjoying the drink but it was hard for me to tell seeing as they were doing more talking and looking at each other more than anything else. In time she told us that she had to leave because it was her turn to cook supper.

My brother took her by the arm and offered to walk her home; the distance being all of about twenty feet.

When he returned my brother walked over to my side, poked me in the arm and complimented, “You are the greatest sister ever. No wonder I like you best.”

“Better than that girl?”

“Sure, only in a different way.”

That day, by the woodpile, I realized that a brother’’s love does not go away just because he falls in love with the girl next door. To show him that I understood I offered a suggestion.

“You know, old Mr. Farley could use some help stacking his wood. And he lives across the street from her front porch.”

My brother stacked wood for most of our neighbor’’s during his teen years and fell in love a half dozen times. Is it no wonder that looking at a pile of wood stacked between two trees brings back such sweet memories?

Lorraine

Editors Note: Lorraine Cookson passed away on October 27, 2013 after a brief illness. As one of our first columnists, she was very active with the Senior Center and attended nearly all the events in Town. In memory of Lorraine, we will reprint each one of her columns on Sunday mornings.