Author Archives: Steve Young

Art Inaction a Draw for Londonderry Art in Action

May 6, 2012

On display Sunday May 6th from 9:30am through Noon

Saturday morning and again this Sunday morning you had best pay attention to your driving in front of Mack’s Apples on Route 102!  Many drivers on this old stage coach road from Lowell to Concord could not believe what they saw in front of the farmstand.

A girl living statue in bronze with hat and umbrela in Londonderry, New Hampshire

Seemingly overnight someone carved stone and sculpted brass statues of turn of the century Londonderry figures.  They were placed on top of apple crates nearby the roadway.

Living statue of a farmhand in Londonderry, New HampshireAt closer look the statues were living some at times blinked, moved, twitched or gave away the fact that they were a live art form.  That is all except for one farmhand that remained still for the entire time we were on location.  All students of Mimi Johnson in the Londonderry High School art program.

To the west of the statues were more art students sketching the figures taking advantage of the morning light and the cool air.

Donations were being accepted to offset the costs of art supplies used by the students in the art program at Londonderry High School.

Inside the Mack’s farmstand dozens of artists created work in front of visitors to the farm.  The parking lot was full but still had room for more visitors on Saturday.  Sales were brisk at times, and art continues to be created before your eyes today.  The show is open today from 10am through 4pm.

More information and directions if you need them can be found at the Londonderry Commerce and Visitors Center website, “Art in Action in Londonderry all Weekend.”

For more images of “Art Inaction” visit the Londonderry Darkroom.

White marble living statue at a farmstand, 1800's farmworker with fruit basket

Click the image for a full slide show of "Art Inaction"

Just in from our new photojournalist more photos of the Art in Action this weekend by Lauren Holahan Click here to view in the darkroom.

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When Zero Percent Cost You

March 12, 2012

The teacher contract was the only one not supported by the budget committee.  According to the committee, “The amount of money was to much, the town has 0% increases this year.”

What you will be voting for on the town and school ballot this Tuesday is the most complex I have ever seen since arriving in Londonderry in the early 80′s. Five pages of questions for the town and two for the school district means a lot of responsibility that day.  You may not know it, but you are voting on about $100 million; it’s your $100 million too!

Using information that is easily available from the town and school, the analysis of the five contracts up for a vote this year yielded some surprising results.  Looking at items that are considerably different on the surface and comparing them between bargaining units, I hope the voter can get a snapshot of what they will be voting on.  The contracts are long, large booklets with lots of information; like school funding, it takes time to decipher everything.

I felt frustrated with the budget committee’s vote on the teachers contract.  The 6 -1 vote against, I felt, was based on the size of the number presented rather than the percentages and facts within the contract.  This is due to the reality that this group of employees are a $25M part of the budget.  Any increase, no matter how small, requires a large amount of money from the taxpayer.  I would like to add, I respect the Budget Committee’s position and if I had taken the time to do this work before they voted, it may have been a different vote.

SalaryMeritTotal Possible Compensation Life of ContractPossible Increase Total over Three YearsHealth Insurance Buyout
Council 93 Public Safety (proposed) (Police, Capt/Lt., Fire Chief/MarshallYr1 - 0%
Yr2 - 2%
Yr 3 - 2% 		Range 0 - 3% Yr 1 - 0% - 3%
Yr 2 - 2% - 5%
Yr 3 - 2% - 5%		4% - 13%$2,500
Council 93 Unit B Town Admin (proposed) Building Inspect, Public Works, Town PlannerYr1 - 0%
Yr2 - 2%
Yr 3 -2%		Range 0 - 3% Yr 1 - 0% - 3%
Yr 2 - 2% - 5%
Yr 3 - 2% - 5% 		4% - 13%$2,500
Local 1801 Depart Sec, Deputy Tax Collector, Payroll clerk, etcYr1- 0% + 1 Step(3%-9.4%)
Yr2-2% + 1 Step (3%-9.4%)
Yr3-2% + 1 step (3%-9.4%)		NoneYr 1 - o% - 9.4%
Yr 2 - 2% - 9.4%
Yr 3 - 2% - 9.4% 		4% - 28.2%$2,500
TeachersYr 1 - range (2% - 2.1%)
Yr2 - range (2.1% - 2.25%)
Yr3 - range (2.5% - 4%)		NoneYr 1 - range (2% - 2.1%)
Yr2 - range (2.1% - 2.25%)
Yr3 - range (2.5% - 4%)		6.6% - 8.2%$500
Allied Health ProfessionalsYr 1 - range (2% -3%)
Yr2 - range (2.25% - 3%)
Yr3 - range (2.5% - 3%) 		NoneYr 1 - range (2% -3%)
Yr2 - range (2.25% - 3%)
Yr3 - range (2.5% - 3%)		6.8% - 9% $500

I have left out health care, sick days, vacation days and language items.  Many of those items are similar or wash out in the end as being nearly equal.  Also they are so complex when compared, it is hard to follow them.

The town unions’ concessions to have a 0% increase on the salary line item is commendable. If the teachers bargaining unit had structured the contract with the school board that way it may have looked better. The problem is it may have come out costing more over the three year life of the contract.

Zero percent is not zero when you look at the full three years of the town contracts.  Additionally, on two of the town contracts they include the possibility of Merit raises, something the school district contract does not have.  They don’t show up on the warrant article because merit increases are included in the general budget.  Year one for Local 1801 has 0% but “+1 step” for those of us in the private sector, “steps” are hard to understand.  They are increases in pay; the employee moves up the pay scale automatically.

The bottom line, over the three years, not each year but the total for all three years.

  • Town 4% to 28.2%
  • School 6.6% to 9%

Another area to focus on is the difference between town and school health insurance buyout.  The town provides $2,500 to an employee if they do not take the insurance.  The school district only provides $500.  Presently 149 get the cash buy out, teachers are 93 of those employees.  If they were town employees that would total $298,000 more in benefits to the school employees, just for one year!  Likely if they were getting an extra $2,000 even more would opt in.  The schools have offered $500 in the last 12 years I have held an elected position.  The town has been dropping down this benefit from $8,000 for those 12 years.  Good thing too!

For those that will be voting against all union contracts, I am sure this information was not needed.  But for those of you voting on the teachers contract please consider the facts before you fill in the oval next Tuesday.

This is what you will vote on Tuesday March 13th, our valued asset, good talent is not “0%” it’s not free, Town or School.

Steve Young

Londonderry

Steve Young is presently a school board member running for re-election and voted to support the teachers contract. He is also one of the publishers of Londonderry Hometown Online News

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Phil at Five Thirty after 126 Years

February 2, 2012

Up at 5:30am dealing with our own little rodent at Parmenter Farm here in Londonderry, we get this email live from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.  No text to go with it, a bit odd for writer and editor John Robinson.

So we will do the best we can with a little help from the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

You do have to wonder. With all these lights wouldn't Phil always see his shadow?

Facts

  • There has only been one Punxsutawney Phil. He has been making predictions for over 125 years!
  • On February 2, Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobbler’s Knob – in front of thousands of followers from all over the world – to predict the weather for the rest of winter.
  • According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

This just in, Live from the scene from field reporter John Robinson at 5:45am, “Well it’s about 2 hrs to groundhog time. Brooke and I and about 10000 people are here for Brooke’s birthday. So far so good but it’s still pretty chilly.”

Well back to our own little rodent, our pair of mating raccoons will not be seeing their shadow this morning, mostly because they are in the attic space over the kitchen in the farm house.  Wish Benson’s was open at 6am, all the traps we have are to darn small!

Live from the scene of Punxsutawney Phil at 5:50am February 2, 2012

Read more to find out who supports Phil, and his forecast live at 8am this morning.

 

Read More »

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Life is Better with Londonderry High Students

January 8, 2012

On-Demand video of a record 231 heads and countless ponytails from angels.

The Londonderry High School Mission Statement is full of Academic responsibility and of course the main mission of the school is to teach.  The major responsibility of the students is also to learn.

Not exactly sneaking in to the Mission Statement are a few other items, some of them demonstrated in this video production of the January 2012 Giving Ceremony. Students a few staff and parents made up 231 heads of hair to be cut at the Londonderry High School Day of Giving.

Exhibiting school pride and supporting this school activity these students brought hope to those without by providing hair for cancer patients all around the Country.

No bullet point in the mission statement matches the pictures of hundreds of students with thousands supporting them than;

  • Interact cooperatively while working toward common objectives.

That statement  sounds so dry in print, yet when acted upon is wet with tears of joy of happiness and support for friends, family and strangers.

For more information on the event January 6th 2011 read, “Record Turnout at High School Giving Ceremony”

Be sure to watch the video full screen HD 1080p if you can, this is a professional production.

This video was shot and edited by Brandon Cardwell a 2010 graduate of Londonderry High School.  Working on another project he felt this clip had to be shown as soon as possible.  We agree and hope you do too!

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Last Minute? Shop Hyper Local

December 24, 2011

Rush Rush Rush! Time to finish up for the holiday.  While some may think Christmas Eve on a Saturday is great since they have the entire day off to prepare, some just don’t know where to go.

A few ideas that come right to mind.

Who wants to head for the mall, the traffic, the parking, the crowds.  If you enjoy that sort of thing, chances are you made the trip in the past few weeks.

For about 30 years the Apple Tree Mall has served Londonderry with a variety of changing but at least not ever changing store fronts.  Anchored by Shaws, our first Supermarket, you will likely find room to shop for those last minute items you will need Christmas Day.

Also in the mall Radio Shack “don’t forget the batteries” with the ever cool remote control cars. Lindt was busy Friday night, and for those with a sparkle in your eye, Richter’s Jewelers has a new location right on the corner.  The parrot shop is hidden down the side, “Let’s Wrap” moved closer to 93 next to Whips’.

Farmstands this time of year are boarded up with closed signs in the southern New Hampshire region.  Most waiting for the big snowfalls, when many doors will be blocked by snow sliding off the roof.  Not Mack’s Apples looks like they will be open all winter with this years crop.  More importantly they are open today Christmas Eve till 3pm today.  More than just apples make your own gift basket from local homemade and handmade items.

If you miss Mack’s apples, here is a stocking stuffer idea, head to Hank Peterson’s knock on the door, ask for some great maple syrup products made here in Londonderry. We know it’s Christmas Eve, he won’t mind this is how he makes his living. (If he does get mad, tell him we sent you.)

No need to head to the super centers for your pet needs.  Just nearby Robin’s Animal Clinic in the Cross Roads Mall is the well stocked Pets Plus store.  You have to have a gift for the family pet to open!  Game Castle all the way past Edible Arrangements to the new Sisters Gift Shoppe check out what they have.  You know Londonderry Quick Stop will be open for you, but wear a coat, they keep the heat down to save money!

Drug store needs, this is drug store corner.  Pick your favorite, or shop them all and cherry pick the best bargains.

Back to Londonderry Road, near the Derry line, you need to check in at Moonlight Meadery. Christmas Eve, free wine tastings, check out how this Londonderry Product is made and take home some, or add to your gift basket.

Oh, it is Christmas Eve so be sure to plan ahead for dinner! Ginger Garden, Jay House, Super Wok or Hong Kong Taste.  Here’s a link for Chinese takeout directions in Londonderry.

I am sure we missed many like the Hallmark shop by the new Market Basket, the fireworks stores, the V.I.P store, restaurant gift certificates, gas cards, Mr. Steer and the liquor store too.  Let us know if we needed to add one of your favorites.

You can find a lot of these stores with maps, directions hours and details on our Visit Londonderry directory and guide for the community.

Full disclosure, no one paid us, asked us or wanted us to put them in this story.  You don’t need to tell them you saw it here, they should advertise here or even visit here.  We do ask that you visit Londonderry with us and be a tourist in your own hometown.  Spend some of your hard earned money local today.

God Bless you all, enjoy the festival of lights or the birth of Jesus in your own way.  Londonderry Christmas Eve Services

Steve & Kathy

 

 

 

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Explore the Newest Art In Action Venue

November 6, 2011

Art in Action in Londonderry is part of NH Open Doors

Arriving on the muddy drive to the back parking lot it would be hard to understand you are about to step into a brilliant gallery of working artists.  Just at the corner of Adams Road and Mammoth Road just a mile south of the Mack’s family farm where more than half a dozen artists create in the the packing house yesterday and today.

Debbie Curtin, renaissance woman and one of our new columnists working at Art in Action

While workers at the greenhouses clean up the outdoor environment of this working horticultural island on the busy Mammoth Road we parked next to the log home on the left side of the driveway.  Heading to the sea of greenhouses the first with a wood front on the left caught our eye with blazing color the door was opened cooling off the plants inside.  Not our destination as we traveled the pea size stone path under foot in the direction of a simple NH Open Doors sign at the flat two steel door entrance.

On entering the greenhouse the brilliant and bright shadow free light illuminated two rows of artists stretching from the door to the rear of the greenhouse.  On top of the black woven matting it was like being inside a piece of translucent acrylic with artist stations like portals into the world of art with a dozen paths to select.  Pen and ink, water color, acrylic, pastels, pencil and acrylics you select the medium.

You select the subject matter too, animal, landscape or still life the artwork is fascinating to see come to life and available to be bought or you can even commission a future piece of art of a loved one or loved location in your live.

Not on the list but at the far back corner of the greenhouse we found Tom Abruzese a custodian from north school. Painting on New Hampshire leaves his canvas is delicate and brilliant.  On arrival one of his customers was departing with a print of his artwork, very happy to have that one leaf.  For us the tour was a break from cleaning up the leaves and limbs with a few trips to the West Road transfer station Saturday Morning.  It left us wondering what New England canvas did we discard?

Open from 10am today Sunday November 6th at both Mack’s Apples and the Shady Hill Greenhouse from 10am to 5pm. If you visit the greenhouse the warm sun eliminates the need for a jacket in the cool fall air. At Mack’s apples the aroma of apples, product and produce in the farmstand will transport you to the world of Art in Action.

  • Open Sunday November 6th 10am to 5pm

Click Image to view all the artists at the Greenhouse in our Darkroom.

 

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