Author Archives: Jacklynn Weeks

Hundreds Flock to Mack’s For Pork and Peaches

September 2, 2010

As part of an event-filled weekend at Mack’s Apples, this past Saturday’s Pulled Pork and Peach Festival proved a huge success. Featured during the festival were pulled pork sandwiches from KC’s Rib Shack in Manchester, peach shortcake, made from Mack’s very own peaches, and the Brook’s Young Band.

The festival pulled in hundreds of people, all apparently craving the delicious sandwiches, shortcake and lemonade being served. Over six hundred pulled pork sandwiches, four hundred shortcakes, and more than fifty gallons of lemonade were dished out by the Marching Lancer’s parent support organization.

Also at the festival was a Lancer cutout. The cutout was imaged and donated by local companies, and proved to be very popular with the younger crowd.

The Pulled Pork and Peach Festival was organized to help raise money to send the Lancer’s Marching Band and Colorguard to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena this New Year’s. Overall, the band raised more than $5,000 for transportation expenses at the festival. The total cost to transport the equiptment is about $18,000.

Sponsors of the festival last Saturday include Mack’s Apples in Londonderry, Frank FM 106.3, KC Rib Shack in Manchester, ImageAbility in Londonderry, McDonald’s, Frito Lay, Shaw’s Supermarkets, and Hostess.

If you missed the festival, but would like to donate, please visit the Send the Band website.

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A New Hampshire Labor Day Tradition Continues

September 2, 2010

Imagine being surrounded by the smells of Italian sausage loaded with peppers and onions, French fries fresh from the oil, fried dough caked in powdered sugar and cinnamon, and manure. Children are screaming from all different directions, cows are mooing, engines are roaring from across the field, and you can’t help but smile. You make your way through the crowds and pillars of smoke from the overcooked food, to the center of it all. Why? Well, because it’s a state fair and it only comes once a year.

A New Hampshire tradition now in it’s 95th year, the Hopkinton State Fair officially started today. The fair boasts five days filled with animals, wild shows, rides, demonstrations, food, and so much more. Fairgrounds open early, and close late, letting the thousands that come exhaust themselves, stuff themselves, and leave feeling completely content.

Events include Greg Frisbee, a new addition to the fair this year. The show amazes audiences with juggling, fire eating, mind reading, extreme balancing, audience participation, and comedy. Also, the Free Cycle Bikes and Skateboards will perform. Professionals will perform daredevil stunts choreographed to high energy music. Ron Diamond will also headline with two different shows. The Magic of Ron Diamond and Ron Diamond’s Hypnosis will amaze all with his feats of magic and illusion.

For farmers and animal lovers, several shows have been scheduled for the weekend. The Stock Farm Tractor Pull, The Horse Show Gymkhana, a few Horse Pulling demonstrations, and an Open Sheep Show will be today’s agricultural highlights. Also featured during the weekend will be 4-H Swine Shows, Cattle Pulling, 4-H Llama and Alpaca, Four Ox Working Hitch, Pony Pulling, and Draft Horse Farm Shows.

New this year is a one-day-only show; the Monster Trucks will perform in the Grandstand. Performing tonight at 7 PM, these trucks will surely pump up the adrenaline. The show has been described as an “incredible, ground pounding, car crushing, axle wrenching Monster Truck Show.”

Other special shows include the one-day-only Freestyle Motocross Bikes Competition. The competition will be held on Friday, September 3, at 6:30 PM on the Grandstand. “Don’t miss the opportunity to watch these mud-slinging bikes perform jaw-dropping turns, jumps, and ‘whoops’. Not sure what a ‘whoop’ is? Come find out. This show is a must see!” claims the fair. The Demolition Derby will perform both September 4, and 5, at 6:30 PM. Saturday’s performance will include full-size and Sunday’s will feature four-cylinder vehicles.

Throughout the rest of the weekend, a special Sand Sculpting demonstration will be held near Piggy Palace. The team of master sand sculptors will turn mounds of sand into works of art right before spectators eyes. A maple sugar house will show visitors how maple syrup is made, and will offer samples of one of New Hampshire’s oldest agricultural traditions. Charmingfare Farm will bring the classic barnyard animals for a special petting farm to entertain adults and children alike.

The Midway will feature rides to thrill anyone. Opening at noon on Thursday and Friday, and 10 AM on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Fiesta Shows’ Midway has partnered with the fair to bring the best of the best in rides. Along with regularly priced tickets, the fair offers “Pay One Price.” This allows guests to ride unlimited rides for one price.

A short trip north on 93, through the tolls, and onto highway 89, the fairgrounds are just off Exit 7. Follow the signs, they’ll take you straight to the fun! Once there, parking in the fair’s lot costs only two dollars. If parking is full, several other private parking lots are in the area and cost anywhere from two to four dollars. Admission into the gates varies depending on days and ages. The prices are as follows:

Adults Age 12 and Up
Thursday and Friday: $8
Saturday and Sunday: $10
Monday: $5

Senior Citizens Age 60 and Up
Thursday and Friday: $7
Saturday and Sunday: $10
Monday: $5

Child Age 6 to 12
Thursday, Friday and Monday: $5
Saturday and Sunday: $6

Child Age 5 and Under
Any Day: Free

Grandstand shows require an additional admission fee. Prices may vary depending on shows and ages of children. Visit the Hopkinton State Fair website for more information.

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Stonyfield To Send One Winner to the 2011 US Open

September 1, 2010

Wishing you could be in New York right now, watching tennis balls getting hit back and forth between players at the US Open? One lucky person, along with Stonyfield, will be! Sponsored by the local yogurt company, the US Open Getaway has already named one person who will fly into New York, stay in a four star hotel, and eat free yogurt for a year. But the competition isn’t over!

From now until October 31, the contest will name one more lucky individual who will join Stonyfield at the 2011 US Open Tennis Championships. The second Grand Prize winner, to be drawn on November 15, will fly to New York, along with a friend of their choice. If the winner lives within a 200 mile radius of the city, however, they will be provided ground transportation. Ground transportation from the New York metropolitan airport to the hotel and back will be provided as well.

Click for a larger image.

The winner will stay in a four star, double occupancy, hotel room for two nights in Manhattan, New York. Dinner the day of arrival, breakfast, lunch and dinner the second day of the stay, and breakfast the final day, for two, will also be provided. The winner will also receive a year of free yogurt, which consists of one serving of Stonyfield products per day for a year. The approximate value of the prize is $3,500.

Also on November 15, Stonyfield will draw “Finalist One” and “Finalist Two” winners. Each winner will receive the opportunity to choose a tennis racket and tennis bag of their choice. They will also receive a year of free yogurt. These prizes are valued at about $750 each.

Entrants can send their information via mail, or online through the Stonyfield website. Click here to go straight to the entry form. To see all the official rules, go here. To enter through mail, send a 3″ x 5″ card with your first name, last name, address, including zip code, daytime telephone number, including area code, age and email address in a postage prepaid envelope before October 31, 2010 to:
Stonyfield Farm, Inc.
Attention: US Open Getaway Sweepstakes
10 Burton Drive
Londonderry, NH 03053

Contest ends October 31! Don’t miss your chance to see New York, cheer on your favorite tennis players and eat at the newest addition to the Stonyfield family! The Stonyfield Cafe, located just outside the walls of the US Open, is a great place to stop for fresh, organic, and fast food. Get there early, the food is popular!

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Londonderry North School Announces 2010 Achievements

August 31, 2010

As we start our new school year in Londonderry look what happened last year!

Annual Art Award

  • Brianna Young
  • Brennon Berard
  • CJ Lamontagne
  • Dereck Ramos
  • Joshua Fish
  • Emily Haney
  • Mitchell Sheldon
  • Grace Maguire
  • Sara Dionisio
  • Kalina McLaughlin
  • Teagan Miller
  • Amy Marko
  • Ben Maynard
  • Matthew Wood
  • Valerie Shay
  • Geanna Britton
  • Essence McCarthy

New England Math League
Grade 5

  • First place – Kiersten Hoglund
  • Second place – Cameron Reddy

Grade 4

  • First place – Bethany Costello and Cole Britting
  • Second place – Nick Demers and Jeffrey Cieslikowski

2009-2010 Physical Education Obstacle Course Winners

  • Grade 5 – Nalen Dias-Iarrabino, and Camille Lamont
  • Grade 4 – Chris Kadon and Maeve McPhail
  • Grade 3 – Nick Rivard and Leah Sylvain
  • Grade 2 – Dylan Fabiano and Kelly Calawa
  • Grade 1 – Dean Haggert and Sarah Frazier

Manchester Union Spelling Bee Champion
Tom Heuston, Grade 5 student, represented North School in the Regional Spelling Bee.

PTA Blue Ribbon Volunteer Award and Governor’s Award recognizing North School’s outstanding Volunteer Program for 25 consecutive years.

PTA Reflection Winners – Awards of Excellence

  • Danielle Boufford
  • Faye Brown
  • Kiersten Hoglund
  • Jillian DeMeo
  • Cyrus Laplante
  • Olivia Stowell
  • Matthew Pemberton
  • Ruby Laplante
  • Jonathan Furlong
  • Bethany Costello
  • Aakash Thumma
  • Connor Fongeallaz
  • Kentin Virgin
  • Sara Agresti
  • Anna Mercier
  • Edie Feldmann
  • Catherine Beaton
  • Gabrielle Geraghty

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Several Arrested for Drunk Driving This Weekend

August 30, 2010

Between 12:30 PM Thursday afternoon and 12:50 AM Saturday morning, Londonderry Police arrested six drivers that were either intoxicated or under the influence. Several of these drivers were pulled over late at night or early in the morning after being observed to be driving erratically. The first stop, however, was made when a female called police and notified them that the person in front of her was driving erratically.

While traveling on Pillsbury Road at about 12:31 PM Thursday, a woman noticed a Saab that seemed to be erratic. She stated that the driver was a male, and had pulled into the Grange Hall parking lot and put his head on the steering wheel. Officers responded immediately, ran the plate and license, and subsequently arrested Ronald Hussey of Londonderry. During the arrest, police requested that Londonderry Fire send an ambulance over for facial injuries. Hussey was charged with Driving While Intoxicated (Second Offense), Driving after Revocation or Suspension, and Resisting Arrest of Detention. He was arraigned in Derry District Court on Friday morning. Be sure to go to the end of the story to hear live audio from this arrest!

Early Friday morning, at about 12:26 AM, Londonderry Police arrested Scott Murley, of Derry. He was stopped by police on Nashua Road, taken to Parkland Medical Center for blood withdrawal, and arrested. Murley was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Liquor. He has since been released on personal recognizance bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on September 21 in Derry.

Just four minutes after Hurley was stopped, Londonderry Police stopped Christopher Gallant on Nashua Road. Gallant, from Londonderry, was pulled over after nearly hitting a police unit while pulling into traffic. Police took custody of Gallant’s dog, who was also in the car with him, and brought the dog to the police kennel. Gallant was also taken to Parkland for blood withdrawal. Gallant was charged with Driving While Intoxicated (Second Offense) and Reckless Conduct; Place Another in Danger. He was released on personal recognizance bail and will be arraigned on September 21 in Derry.

At approximately 2:17 AM, Londonderry Police stopped a driver near the intersection of Constitution Drive and McAllitster Drive. Johnathon Hilane, who lives on Constitution Drive in Londonderry, was arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Liquor. He was released on personal recognizance bail and is also scheduled for arraignment on September 21 in Derry.

Late Friday night and early Saturday morning, two more vehicle stops were made. The first, at about 10:58 PM Friday, resulted in the arrest of Wayne Holt of Derry. The second, at about 12:49 AM Saturday, resulted in the arrest of Jeffrey Pellerin of Manchester. Holt was charged with Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated; Pellerin was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Liquor. Both were held on personal recognizance bail and are scheduled to appear in Derry on September 28.

Be sure to listen to the audio of the arrest of Ronald Hussey. Keep in mind that some personal and irrelevant information, as well as quiet air time, has been removed. The arrest took over a half an hour, from the initial call to the officers arriving at the station with Hussey, and has been reduced to just over seven minutes.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Local Teen’s Car Wash Raises Over Eight Hundred Dollars for Bella

August 30, 2010

Recently, Londonderry High School graduate Jessica Morris held a car wash in honor of Bella Tucker at BP in Londonderry. After the car wash raised a total of $810, Jessica knew she needed to hand-deliver the money, along with a few other gifts. Jessica was able to visit Bella at Children’s Hospital in Boston on Monday, August 16.

Jessica and friends wash cars at BP to raise money for Bella Tucker.

“Once I got to Bella’s room I knocked on the door and Selena told me she had just gotten up and to just give her a few minutes before I went it. I went in there and she was as happy as could be and already had a smile on her face,” said Jessica. After talking for a few minutes, Jessica explained, “One of her nurses then came in and they did all of her medicine. Bella explained to me that she knows when to take them all, what they all mean, and what they all do. I was impressed on how much Bella had known.”

Bella Tucker (left) poses with Jessica Morris during Jessica's visit to Children's Hospital in Boston.

Jessica then gave Bella the gifts she had brought. Bella opened the gifts, which included the money from the car wash, Selena Gomez stickers, “because she loves her,” a large Bella Tucker poster that was on display at the car wash, and a letter B that Jessica had made and painted herself. “Bella absolutely loved it,” said Jessica. She had also made t-shirts for herself and Bella. On Bella’s shirt, it said “We love you Bella” on the back, and “www.bellatucker.org” on the front. On the back of Jessica’s shirt, it said “Please visit www.bellatucker.org, NH loves you Bella” and on the front it said “I love Bella Tucker.” Jessica said, “Bella loved the shirts and was so happy.”

This poster, made by Jessica Morris, was on display at the Bella Tucker Car Wash, and was later given to Bella.

According to Jessica, Selena (Bella’s mother) and Bella had made a deal. If Bella stays in Spaulding Hospital and does her physical therapy for two weeks, Selena will pay Bella one hundred dollars. “Bella was so excited for it,” stated Jessica.

In closing, Jessica said, “Just being able to go and visit this little nine year old girl made my heart warm. She’s such a sweet, strong, little girl and no one could hate her. I can’t wait to be able to go to Spaulding Hospital and see Bella.”

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A Night to Feel Young Again in Londonderry

August 29, 2010

This year’s Senior Night, part of the Town’s Old Home Day Celebrations, left many feeling younger than ever! A night filled with laughter, good friends, delicious food, and music to reminisce by. What could be better than that for Londonderry’s own seniors?

In true tradition, the Lion’s served up their delicious barbecue and members of the Old Home Day Committee baked over 388 cookies. This year’s hot food item was the hot dogs. While selling out may not have been possible, as the food was free, the hot dogs were gone in the blink of an eye. With so much variety, the ice cream almost went uneaten!

“What was truly ironic was the fact that we had about 25 less people than last year when we had so much of everything left over,” Carole Connolly, Chairperson for Senior Night, stated, in reference to the popularity of the food. “The cookies, specially baked earlier in the day by several of the OHD Committee, were a very special treat and everyone wanted more and more,” she continued.

Performing again during the concert Wednesday night, the Windham Swing Band was very popular. “The concert was super bringing back many memories and sentiment for all alike. It seemed like we were all in the middle of the Big Band Era wanting to just dance away at such familiar tunes as we had done in another life time,” commented Connolly.

In closing, Carole Connolly thanked all who helped with the success of the evening. “The Lions Club and wives; the Maidens of St. Joan who did so much from setting up the chairs at the Common to actually serving and assisting the Seniors with their meals; the OHD committee volunteers and Gladys Frederick who participated as a Mentor and assisted all of the Seniors as well.”

For more great shots from Old Home Day Senior Night, visit our darkroom. And don’t forget, all images are available for purchase!

We offer 99 cent matte or glossy 4×6 prints for over 20,000 images of Londonderry! These images are free for you to browse plus we offer “Big Prints” 4 x 6 images, for only 99 cents each. Many photos are also available as big as 30 by 40 inches. Our 99 cent prints are professional printed photographic images. Other media outlets charge $2.50 for the same print, some even charge as much as $8.00 for a 4 x 6 print. See something you like, order with a 100% quality guarantee!

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Londonderry Orchard Hosts 5K Run

August 28, 2010

While local fourth graders pack up from their bake sale this Sunday at Mack’s Apples, athletes will arrive pumped and ready to run. Registration for a cross country 5K run will begin at 4 PM, just as the fourth graders are shutting down.

The run, a collaboration of Mack’s and the Greater Derry Track Club, will take place in the apple orchards. Runners will travel through orchards and woods, in a scenic cross country setting over rolling terrain. Refreshments will be available and awards will be given based on age groups and overall placing.

Called Mack’s Run for the Apples, the 5K will begin at 5 PM on Sunday, August 29th. Registration is $10 per person, or $25 per family. Participants can pre-register by mailing in a registration card, found here, or can register between 4 and 5 PM on Sunday. Custom tank tops will be available for the first 100 entrants.

For more information, please contact Eldon Burkinshaw at 603-432-9805, or visit the Greater Derry Track Club website.

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Man Travels North in Southbound Lanes

August 27, 2010

New Hampshire State Police and 911 operators received dozens of calls yesterday afternoon at about 5:34 PM, regarding a wrong way driver. According to reports, a 2008 Chevy Silverado pickup truck was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes from the 293-101 exchange towards Exit 5 in Manchester, NH.

As the truck traveled in the wrong direction, dozens of vehicles were able to evade hitting the oncoming vehicle head on. Just north of Exit 4 southbound, the truck struck three vehicles. The first was able to continue without sustaining major damage. The second vehicle, a minivan, was struck along the driver’s side, which dislodged the left rear tire. The third vehicle, a white Mercedes Benz, was hit in the left rear quarter pane, also dislodging the rear tire.

After hitting the three vehicles, the truck spun around and hit the jersey concrete barrier. The pickup truck rolled onto its roof, slid across the highway, and came to a final stop in the southbound breakdown lane.

Fortunately, none of the drivers or passengers in any of the vehicles were injured in the accidents. The operator of the truck, Kenneth Seaburg, was transported to Elliot Hospital in Manchester, New Hampshire for non-life threatening injuries. He is being charged with Driving While Intoxicated and Felony Reckless Conduct. He is scheduled to be arraigned on October 4, 2010, at the Manchester District Court.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is being asked to contact Trooper Chad Lavoie or Trooper Brian Viglione, of New Hampshire State Police Troop B at 603-223-8685.

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