Candia News

Lamprey River 10 and 11s reach losers bracket finals

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:28:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

They made it further than any Lamprey River Little League all-star baseball team before them.

This year’s 10- and 11-yearolds, with players from Candia, Raymond and Nottingham, not only pushed several perennial Little League powers aside during their unprecedented run, but they gave 2008 champ Goffstown all it could handle in a 4-3 loss in the losers bracket finale on Friday, July 18.

In fact, it took a Goffstown rally in the bottom of the sixth and final inning to prevent the locals from meeting Bedford for the state championship.

Still, manager Paul Coates said it sure was a wild ride. “This team was the most relaxed, fun-loving team that I have ever coached,” he said. “I have been coaching for some time, and this group of players were always a joy. They worked hard … and never let the pressure get to them. They always respected each other and their opponent.”

That was never more evident, said Coates, than at the end of the Goffstown game, when an opposing parent approached assistant coach Carl Edin to thank him.

“(She) expressed her appreciation and respect for (Edin’s son) Adam and the other players for congratulating her son, who hit in the game-winning run. She said that she had never seen such sportsmanship,” said Coates. “This was typical of the Lamprey players throughout the tournament. Win or lose, they understood that all that was required was to give their best effort. On Friday, Goffstown was just a little better, and our players recognized their efforts in a great well-played game.”

The fact that Lamprey River suffered both its setbacks to the champs, said the manager, makes the run that much more impressive.

After beating Manchester South, 4-1, the boys were knocked into the losers bracket courtesy of a 10-0 thumping by Goffstown.

Many teams would have folded. Instead, Lamprey River came from behind to defeat Pelham, 4-2, handed Bow a 5-2 loss, then socked a solid Windham squad, 6-1, before taking down Derry American, 4-3.

“It’s very difficult in Lamprey River, as opposed to a Little League composed of one town, for the kids to come together in an all-star format,” said Coates. “This team was comprised of 14 players who all made a commitment to play. Not one kid was cut in tryouts, and right from the onset they developed a strong concept of team play. They brought four towns together and made one Lamprey River.”

Practices, added the manager, were where the players gelled.

“They never got down on themselves, and they helped each other out quite a bit,” said Coates. “There wasn’t one superstar among them. They were a true team.”

In addition to Edin, others contributing during Lamprey River’s ride include Candia’s Garrett Bolton; Raymond’s Jeffrey Bouchard, McKenna West Coates, Dennis Cowan, Alan Towle, Matthew Layman and Tim Trefethen; and Nottingham’s Alex Sprague, Jamie Sigmund, Tyler Comte, Connor Gaffney, Carter Medeiros and Benjamin Porter.

Assisting Coates were Carl Edin and Dan Gaffney. Others helping the players during practice were Tim Layman, Rob Porter, John Sigmund and Sam Towle.

Lamprey River sweeps to state title, heads to regional tourney

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:22:00 GMT

BY JERRY LIPTAK

In winning the New Hampshire Little League 11- and 12-year-old state championship on Monday, July 21, Lamprey River allowed no hits, no runs and no errors, beating two-time defending champ Auburn, 10-0.

The new champs head to Albany, N.Y., for the Eastern Regional tournament, and, according to Auburn’s manager, Ray Pelton, they’ll need to improve on that fine effort if they plan to beat some of the best teams in the country.

“The pitching is dominant. Just unbelievable,” said Pelton, after watching a dominant performance by Lamprey River’s Sarah Lavallee, who fanned five and was backed by a flawless defense.

Ken McLaughlin, River’s manager, agreed with Pelton, knowing his group must wield some mighty bats when pool play begins on Saturday, July 26. “We need to be more patient (at the plate), and we need to hit those gaps (with some extra-base hits),” said McLaughlin. “But these girls are playing so well right now.”

Indeed, the state champs won three straight contests by a combined score of 39-6.

Lavallee and Kim McLaughlin, who steps inside the circle for the regional opener against Connecticut in Albany, shared pitching duties throughout the state tourney run.

And when the River was at bat, it was odd to see the bases empty.

Autumn Masse and Amelya VanDeWalle, who earned a game ball for her triple and two RBI against Auburn in the final, consistently reached base and ran wild. Lavallee and cleanup hitter Gabby Desjardins, both Candia residents, each drove in a run.

The bottom half of the lineup and River’s reserves were also productive. Hannah Keefe, Brandie Valentine, Meredith Reed and Audra Jenkins – the team’s No. 6 through 9 hitters in the championship matchup – all scored a run, as did Makayla Philibert and Kayla Thomas off the bench. Candia’s Sydney Bolduc, a starter in the team’s mercyrule win against Pelham a week earlier, also reached base.

They’ll need to continue to battle because the competition improves – according to Pelton – exponentially at regionals. “It’s a different level of play there,” he said. “A lot of smallball. If you score three runs in a game, you’re doing well.”

Regional lineup
After the tourney opener, Lamprey River faces Maine on Sunday, July 27; Rhode Island on Monday, July 28; and Massachusetts on Wednedsay, July 30, to complete pool play.

Building begins on Exit 3 parcel

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:12:00 GMT

BY TOBY HENRY

The local “building boom” continues this week as site work begins on an Exit 3 parcel, which a developer says will become the first restaurant franchise in town.

Richard Danais of the Manchester- based firm Danais Realty said on July 17 that work has been ongoing at his Old Candia Road (Route 43) property since the July 4 weekend, and according to the current schedule, his $3 million project should be completed by the end of the year.

Last year, Danais received approval from town officials to build a convenience store, coffee shop and a gas station at the site. Danais has said the coffee shop will likely be a Dunkin’ Donuts.

Selectman Joe Duarte said town officials recently approved a slight change to the project’s bond, allowing Danais to sell a 3-acre parcel to another developer.

Danais confirmed that the parcel has been sold to a firm called Wildcat Development, a company he said has done similar projects around the state, and the firm will ultimately be responsible for finding companies that want to operate the small complex.

Although the convenience store and gas station setup has been described by Danais as similar to the “Mobil On The Run” gas stations elsewhere along Route 101, Wildcat spokesman Craig St. Peter would not reveal any of his company’s plans for the site.

Danais said he still intends to put off a second phase of the project, a plan to build five industrial storage condominiums, until the economy improves. The buildings range in size from 7,200 to up to 36,000 square feet each and were approved along with the rest of the project last year.

The work at the Danais site is coming at the end of a period of escalated commercial building in town, which includes the recently completed Liquid Planet Water Park and the new Griffinbrook Limited horse and tack shop. Both facilities are on Raymond Road (Route 27) and have already opened to the public, and a new Candia District Court also opened July 23.

Despite these well-received projects, Duarte said the town still continues to seek a developer for its own building project, a plan to build a grocery store at an Exit 3 site near where Danais’ project is being built.

He noted that the activity at the Danias site may eventually help the town in its own endeavor by spotlighting that area of town, which forms the main entrance for local traffic into Candia.

“Things are difficult everywhere, and the banks are real tight with money, but hopefully what’s going on there will bring more attention to our own big project,” he said.

District court relocates to Candia

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:09:00 GMT

BY TOBY HENRY

The former Auburn District Court is now an empty building after personnel relocated the last remaining files and documents to their new Candia location.

On Monday, July 21, court personnel said they were all but finished with the building that has served as the area’s main criminal and civil courthouse in the area for more than 20 years.

As the last documents were packed up for the trip down Route 101, Deputy Clerk Maureen Murphy said there was little else in the building.

Murphy said she and her fellow court officers were looking forward to Candia’s new building, which is about twice the size of the former Auburn court and has a much larger office area and a second courtroom.

“It’s a more secure building and very spacious,” she said. “Right now there’s not much left here really, just some file cabinets and that’s about it.”

Last year, state officials chose Candia as the new location for the district court, which serves thousands of residents living in Auburn, Raymond, Candia, Nottingham, Deerfield and Northwood, and contractor Severino Construction of Candia recently wrapped up work on the new 8,000-square-foot building. The new facility at 110 Raymond Road (Route 27) was the scene of much activity on Monday morning as workers brought in furniture, computers and thousands of documents while court employees began setting up the new office area, which appeared to be twice the size of the room they’d previously shared in Auburn.

In an earlier interview, Court Clerk Joann Lemay said she’d already completed a full tour of the new building, which she said was similar in design and layout to the Franklin District Court. Lemay said she anticipated everything would be “business as usual” when the building opens to the public.

Judge David LeFrancois, who has presided over the district court for the past nine years, also inspected his new location on Monday, and he said the new building should be free of the infrastructure issues that sometimes delayed court at the Auburn location. Although court staff and local officials did not know much about the history of the former court building, Judge LeFrancois said that problems with termites and plumbing sometimes delayed scheduled cases.

“It was just time to find a better facility,” he said. “The town of Auburn has been a very good host for many years, and we really appreciate that.”

Currently, there are no plans for the old Auburn courthouse.

As of press time court officials said all signs indicate that the building was going to open to the public as scheduled on the morning of July 23. The telephone number for the Candia District Court is 483-2789.

Lamprey River wins three straight in state tourney, needs one for title

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:22:00 GMT

BY JERRY LIPTAK

Three up, three down.

That’s not describing the end of an inning for the Lamprey River 11- and 12-year-old all-star softball team. It’s an accurate account of the team’s state tournament games to date.

Most recently, the locals mercy- ruled host Pelham, 10-0, on Monday, July 14, behind the nohit pitching of Kim McLaughlin and a potent offense.

“I just can’t say enough about that team over there,” said Pelham’s manager, Steve Notini. “That’s a sound team, a good team. And they’re well coached.”

Manager Ken McLaughlin and coach Ken Lavallee assembled a group of 11 players – five from Raymond and three each from Candia and Nottingham – that quickly became one unit.

“They all play against each other all year, and they just want to compete,” said McLaughlin, who added they respect each other’s talent and enjoy each other’s company. “They don’t care about anything else.”

Lamprey River is, right now, the state juggernaut at this level. Both the young McLaughlin and Candia’s Sarah Lavallee throw hard from inside the circle, making at-bats an uncomfortable experience for foes.

“Sarah’s 11 years old, and she’s accurate (with her pitches),” said McLaughlin, who said Lavallee throws even harder than his daughter, who fanned two Pelham batters in the second, third and fourth innings.

Lavallee recorded 13 strikeouts against two-time defending state champion Auburn on Thursday, July 10. She also doubled in a run against Pelham.

A solid defense, one that didn’t make an error in the shutout win, takes care of most everything else. Catcher Hannah Keefe also threw out a would-be base stealer with a strong throw to second base.

And the team can hit. Lamprey River put up 18 runs to Merrimack Valley’s four in the tourney’s first game on July 9, another fiveinning affair, then ripped Auburn the next night, 11-2.

Audra Jenkins and Kayla Thomas, who started the game on the bench against Pelham, contributed mightily in the earlier wins. Jenkins was 3-for-4 in the two games, and Thomas reached base three times and stole home against Auburn.

In the middle of the lineup is cleanup hitter Gabby Desjardins of Candia. McLaughlin said she catches for Lavallee, plays a solid third base and runs well. She also blasted a triple that produced River’s final run against Pelham.

Sydney Bolduc is the team’s other Candia resident. She drew a walk and scored in the fifth. “She’s a really fast, athletic player,” said McLaughlin. “And she’s really improved her hitting toward the end of the year.”

Autumn Masse and Amelya VanDeWalle hit 1-2 in the Lamprey lineup. Each scored twice down in Pelham.

Brandie Valentine and Meredith Reed patrol the middle of the infield at shortstop and second base, respectively. Reed was robbed of an extra-base hit in the locals’ five-run first inning by Pelham’s left fielder, and Valentine drove in two runs with two singles. They hit seventh and eighth in the loaded lineup.

Lamprey River needs one win to secure the state Little League softball title, but it must wait until

Monday, July 21, to attempt it.

The team is guaranteed to face one of the squads it has already throttled. Staying focused, said McLaughlin, won’t be an issue.

“Every single one of ’em has a sense of the game,” said the coach on a post-game walk to the parking lot. “Their parents deserve the credit for that. They’re so supportive of the girls in everything they do.”

Candia man dies in crash

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:30:00 GMT

BY TOBY HENRY

Candia police say a local man died in a July 6 motorcycle accident after colliding with a granite mailbox post.

Officials said on Tuesday, July 8, that Dennis Hoyt, 39, of Merrill Road, was not wearing a helmet as he drove his Harley Davidson motorcycle north on his home street at around 4 p.m. on Sunday. Police said Hoyt apparently lost control of his motorcycle as he rounded a corner, and struck the mailbox post near a home in the vicinity of 173 Merrill Road.

Police said officer Rick Langlois was the first emergency responder at the scene, and he tried to help the man, as did two other people, both nurses, who were in the area at the time. But officials said Hoyt suffered severe trauma in the accident, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident was still being investigated as of July 8, and police said they are still determining all the factors involved in the accident. Merrill Road, like many other local roads in Candia, is a winding road with many curves, and the posted speed limit is 35 mph.

Road Agent Dennis Lewis said on July 7 that there have been no issues in the past with that particular stretch of road or the granite post, and police said no citations had been issued as of July 8.

Sheep mauled in Candia incident

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:09:00 GMT

BY TOBY HENRY

A High Street couple, horrified after a coyote attack on one of their sheep, said the run-in with the canine was the only predator attack they’ve had in more than 30 years of raising animals.

“It was terrible,” said Francis Huard. “There was no way to save (the sheep), really. We’ve seen coyotes out back once in a while, but nothing like this has ever happened before.”

Huard and his wife, Cindy, were at home around 7 p.m. on June 22 when Cindy said she noticed one of their two sheep was missing. Francis said the animals were loaned by a friend to help keep their grass down as an easy alternative to a mower, and typically the two stayed together as they roamed the property. “The other sheep was calling for it, looking for the other one, and we knew that was strange,” Francis said.

Cindy said she then saw a large coyote dart by, and she immediately feared the worst. She went outside to the rear of the house to investigate, and, to her shock, discovered the badly injured sheep.

The couple both said the animal’s back leg was badly chewed, and the animal attempted to move but could not stand up. They soon called the police, and they later asked officer Rick Langlois to shoot the suffering animal.

Cindy said the attack took place in broad daylight. Francis said that in years past, they had other sheep, turkeys and even cows that were never harmed, but he added that the two placid sheep probably seemed like an easy job for the coyote because no larger farm animals were around to intimidate a would-be predator.

“We’ve had cows out there with our sheep before and never had a problem, but cows are very big and they probably kept the coyotes away,” Francis said. “I’ve never seen one in broad daylight like that before, so it might have been pretty hungry.”

The Huards said the remaining sheep appeared upset after the traumatic event, and it was brought to the nearby Charmingfare Farm to be with the other animals behind the petting zoo’s heavy fencing. Police Chief Michael McGillen said the incident was an unusual one for Candia and warned that residents should keep a close watch on pets that venture outdoors and to also make sure that trash is stored in secure containers.

In New Hampshire, coyotes may be shot at any time of the year. According to online Fish & Game and animal control resources, most New Hampshire coyotes average about 35 pounds and the animals are increasingly being seen in suburban areas, such as Portsmouth.

New life for old library

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:59:00 GMT

BY TOBY HENRY

There could be a new life in store for an old gift bestowed on the public decades ago by one of Candia’s most well-known historical figures. Selectmen Chairman Fred Kelley said it’s been many years since anyone has checked out a book from the old Smyth Library, a brick building off of High Street (Route 27). Although the nearly 80-year-old building is regarded as the first made specifically to function as the town’s public library, it has remained largely unused since the opening of the newer Smyth Public Library, about five years ago.

“Right now, it is pretty much only used to store the town’s voting booths,” Kelley said.

For many, the building is one of several symbols of the town’s heritage and it is also one of two gifts given to the town by the family of former state Gov. Frederick Smyth (1819-1899). Smyth also purchased and donated the town’s Civil War Monument, which was fully restored last year and still stands in its original place, across the street from the former library.

And like the statue, which was repaired last year, Kelley sees hope for a similar renovation for Smyth’s other architectural legacy. Although warrant articles to set aside restoration money for the building have been shot down by voters in past years, the building is now listed on state and national historical registers, and Kelley said a new committee will soon be taking a fresh look at what it would take to bring it up to modern standards.

Kelley said the building, if renovated, could alleviate the already crowded conditions in Town Hall by providing Town Clerk Christine Dupere with her own office. As it now stands, Kelley said, as much as $5,000 is spent every year on heating and maintaining the building even though it remains largely unused.

Kelley gave a rough estimate of $125,000 for the renovation job and said he’s eyeing a warrant article request for 2009.

Summer rec program cut

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:57:00 GMT

BY TOBY HENRY

Candia officials say it could be the end of the road for the decades-old summer recreation program after rising fuel costs and a lean budget year made selectmen give the program the axe.

Selectmen Chairman Fred Kelley said the program, which had been budgeted at about $20,000, was not included in the final run-through of the budget approved by voters in March.

He said the cut was prompted in part by rising gasoline costs, and at the time, officials were budgeting for fuel with an expected price of about $3 per gallon.

Kelley pointed out that since then, fuel costs have risen even higher. As of June 21, most regular fuel in the Candia area was selling for close to $4 a gallon, while diesel approached $4.70. Kelley said there is no guarantee the program will be re-slated for next year due to the unpredictability of the current market.

“It’s hard to say, and with the economy the way it is, we don’t really know,” he said. “The price of a lot of things has gone out of sight, and no one in Candia has a lot of extra money.”

Former selectman James Brennan, who resigned from the board earlier this year due to a move to Manchester, said the loss of the program could mean a summer of little to do for the dozens of children who had been looking forward to the program.

Brennan said he attended the program himself at age 6, working his way up to a paid counselor position when he was in his teens and later becoming director.

Brennan said the program typically had around 75 children enrolled, but it peaked at about 120 during his years as director. The six-week program, which specialized in team games such as rounders, flag football and capture the flag, was expected to cost $275 this year, he said.

After signs became clear that the program was not going to continue this year, Brennan said he hoped to organize a similar program through the nearby Candia Youth Athletic Association. But he said this option never panned out because of concern over insurance and liability. “I tried my hardest to get the Candia Youth Athletic Association to pick up the ball, but I can’t blame them for not wanting to,” he said. “They were afraid of unseen liability and didn’t want to get sued ... so I can’t be upset with them.”

Ultimately, he said it will probably be up to voters to decide if the program returns or not.

“When the correct budget was not voted in, things had to be cut,” he said. “I can’t say if it will be back next year, but if it is I guarantee it will be like starting all over again.”

Liquid Planet opens to positive reviews

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:32:00 GMT

BY TOBY HENRY

The June 7 free day at the Liquid Planet Water Park drew hundreds of residents to a new attraction that many local families say they’ll be coming back to.

“It’s small enough, it’s clean, and I think we’ll be going for the season pass,” said Rhonda Thyng, Candia School Board member and mother of four.

“It really killed me to see the lifeguards in the splash area with huge life preservers when the water was only, what, 2 feet deep or something like that?” said her husband, Clark. “But I guess it’s better to be too safe. The really good thing is that this is going to bring a lot of people to our town, and they’ll also be buying gas and eating in our restaurants.”

Rhonda and Clark Thyng were among the more than 500 people who turned out for the park’s official “dry run.” The official ribboncutting for the park’s first official opening day for the general public is Saturday, June 14.

On June 4, Candia Planning Board members told building inspector Bill Hallock and park owner Kevin Dumont that the occupancy permit for the park could be issued, and by the time of the June 7 free day, the town’s biggest seasonal attraction was more than 90 percent complete.

Some minor changes were made to the site in comparison with the site plan the Planning Board approved last year, but Hallock said these were due to ledge at the site, a common problem in many Candia construction projects. The position of the park’s two large water slides had to be changed from an east-west to a north-south orientation, and the main entrance building, originally designed straight, was built with a chevron-shape.

While a few landscaping touches still remained on June 7, residents appeared oblivious to the few bare patches of ground and instead focused their attention on the spray ground. Scores of children and adults gathered around the playground-type amusements as water shot in all directions, and numerous lifeguards and staff members could be observed supervising the scene throughout the day.

“Everything so far is great, and the staff is very attentive too,” said local mother Stacy McKissick, who went to the park with her 6-year-old daughter, Sarah. “She can meet up with her friends here, and the size of the crowd is just perfect.”

Nearby, Sarah seemed excited at the prospect of having a water park in her own hometown. “It’s great! I really like the big orange slide,” she said. “But when I went down the tube slide and landed in the pool, it was so cold!”

Local father Joe Vallaincourt agreed. “It’s really nice, very family- oriented,” he said. “So far, it seems very good.”

Nicole Ferron, a Candia mother, said the park’s modest size makes it relatively easy to keep track of her children, age 3 through 8, as they played at the spray ground.

“It’s so small that you really can see everything, and it seems like it is geared toward smaller kids,” she said.

Staff members across the park reported no major incidents that day, with the few issues being some older children who were issued warnings not to run and some disappointed younger children who did not meet the 4- foot minimum for the big slides. Dumont explained that because the splash-down pool itself is 4 feet deep, regulations dictate that the slide riders also have to be at least 4 feet tall.

Dumont said the park’s ribbon- cutting is scheduled for Friday, June 13, with the first official day of public admission to follow on June 14. The park will be open until Sept. 1, he said, and one new attraction might be added every year or two.

Parents, kids ready for Liquid Planet opening

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:02:00 GMT

BY TOBY HENRY

Parents say their children are paying close attention to the opening of the new Liquid Planet Water Park as the deadline for a free locals-only day approaches.

“Assuming the weather is as nice as we’ve been having, I think we’ll be going,” said School Board Chairman Karen Smith, also the mother of twin eighthgrade students at the Henry Moore Elementary School.

“We’re psyched about the water park, and it sounds like it’s going to be very family oriented. We hope it does well.”

On Saturday, June 7, the family- owned water park that has been the subject of many public meetings for nearly three years and several months of construction will celebrate its grand opening with a free “Candia-only” day, said park president Kevin Dumont. On May 30, Dumont said that nearly the entire park was complete, with only some landscaping and other minor details remaining.

A number of local parents questioned over the past few weeks said they plan on taking advantage of the freebie as a test run to see if they’ll return to the park later this summer. Of the families questioned, all said their children are aware of the new attraction being built on Route 27, but most said that their pre-teens and younger children were more enthusiastic about the park than teenagers.

“They’re all very interested in it, but they like different parts of it,” said Rhonda Thyng, the mother of four children ages 5 through 12. “My oldest son already knows about the two waterslides, and my two youngest ones keep talking about the splash area.”

According to the plan OK’d by the Planning Board last year, the park will feature two 30-foot slides as a main attraction, along with a 25,000-gallon swimming pool. Dumont said the park will also boast New England’s largest “spray ground” -- a water-themed playground with amusements that shoot mist and water -- and this attraction is geared toward younger children.

Most parents said they had no overwhelming concerns about safety or other issues at the park, and some parents pointed out that Dumont’s relatively small park will make it easier to keep track of their children in the crowd.

After Saturday’s opening, Dumont the park will begin its regular seasonal operating schedule on June 14.

Candia firefighter charged with arson

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:09:00 GMT

BY TOBY HENRY

Court documents say a 21-year-old local firefighter charged with two felony counts of arson admitted to police that he set the blaze which destroyed $125,000 worth of logging equipment.

Christopher Millspaugh, a Flint Road resident, was arrested and arraigned on May 21 following a weeklong investigation into the May 14 fire which destroyed logging equipment belonging to the Brookfield-based firm Moose Mountain Logging. At his arraignment, Millspaugh was released after posting $5,000 cash bail.

Fire Chief Rudy Cartier said Millspaugh had started his time with the Candia Volunteer Fire Department as a 14-year-old Fire Explorer, later becoming a fullfledged member at age 18.

The young man was placed on administrative leave shortly after his arrest, and Cartier said the entire department is “shocked and saddened” by the recent events.

Cartier said he met with Millspaugh briefly to explain the administrative leave process. “He seemed OK about it,” said Cartier. “I basically told him that we’ll wait and see what happens and how the process goes through. Everybody has kind of been in a state of shock over this. It’s not something you expect or want to happen. The department is kind of a big family ... and it’s nice to see everybody pulling together.”

According to police, two Candia officers reporting to the fire off Flint Road found Millspaugh, who lives nearby, in fire protective gear at the scene. Under questioning, Millspaugh allegedly told investigators that he could smell “the odor of burning plastic” shortly after coming home at about 12:15 a.m., and that he could see an “orange glow” coming from the woods.

Court documents state that there were early indicators that indicated the fire may have been arson, and the remains of what appeared to be a self-igniting road flare were found near one piece of burned equipment. Later that morning, investigators from the state Fire Marshal’s office investigated and determined the fires had probably been set intentionally.

An affidavit states that “Millspaugh had changed his account of how he found the fire” during a May 20 interview, and state investigators asked him to be honest about what had happened.

He allegedly then “provided a detailed confession” and admitted using road flares and rags to set the fires.

Officials said Millspaugh was in good standing as a firefighter at the time of his arrest and had no prior record. Shortly after the incident, Candia police said only one person appears to be involved and that the motive appeared to be the “excitement factor.”

Cartier said Millspaugh had a good record as an emergency responder. At only 16 years old, Millspaugh and Fire Explorer Jeff Gagnon tried to save the life of Candia resident Carolyn Carnright after her vehicle collided head-on with their school bus, and the two were later dubbed heroes for their attempt.

Millspaugh recalled the tragedy in a 2006 interview on the life-and-death risks faced by firefighters, and he said that responding to the scene of an injured friend, neighbor or fellow firefighter was one of the hardest aspects of the job. “But we are rescuers, and we get called to the scene to make things better,” he said, then age 19.

At the time, Millspaugh said he planned to pursue a career in firefighting, and praised in influence of Chief Cartier and the other experienced members of the department.

“Our chief (Rudy Cartier) is a really great guy, a huge influence, along with the rest of the department,” Millspaugh said. His hearing will continue on June 4.

Jesse Remington students host Colonial Faire

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:22:00 GMT

BY TOBY HENRY

British Redcoats opened fire on local residents in an incident that many say will mark the beginning of a revolt of epic proportions.

This recreation of the historic Boston Massacre of 1770 was one of many historical events that was recreated in real life by local youth and staff members of Jesse Remington High School. The school’s Colonial Faire was the result of more than a month’s worth of research for dozens of students at the small private Christian school, and May 17th’s warm summertime weather provided the perfect backdrop of comfort for the many area residents who attended the event.

Among those who took part were JRHS student Zachariah Horton, 14, who played the role of famous “midnight rider” Paul Revere. Horton pointed out that although most Americans know Revere helped to raise the alarm against the British during the famous April 1775 ride, few are aware that he didn’t actually make it as far as he was supposed to.

“He was assigned to ride to Lexington and Concord to warn against the British troops, and he was also supposed to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the British were coming,” he said. “But between Lexington and Concord, he got captured by the British, and he later had to walk all the way back without his horse.”

Nearby, JRHS senior Jacob Cross took on the guise of frontiersman Daniel Boone and recreated a historic scene from the founding of Fort Watauga, which is in present day Tennessee.

The fort, built in 1775, helped to defend Colonial settlers from raids by Native Americans.

Cross said he had long been an admirer of early American settlers, adding that he had been looking forward to playing the part of his hero.

“When I was growing up, Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone were always my favorite characters,” he said. “I really wish I could have lived back then. It was an amazing time.”

While Colonial Americans figured prominently, other students also took on the role of British Redcoats, who remained loyal to the king, and JRHS professor Ray Cresswell adopted a Tutonic accent and stepped into the shoes of a famous German who played a role in “whipping the patriots into shape.” Cresswell portrayed Baron Friedrich von Steuben, a veteran German military figure who helped train Gen. George Washington’s troops at Valley Forge, Pa.

Cresswell said that without the famous baron, who was legendary for both his skill and his angry outbursts, it may well have taken much longer for the United States to rid itself of the oppressive British.

“Through the help of Benjamin Franklin, he got a position offered to him by Washington to train the troops, and he actually arrived here in New Hampshire, in Portsmouth, in 1777, before making his way to Valley Forge,” Cresswell said. “He whipped the American ‘rabble’ into a fine fighting unit.”

The Colonial Faire is one of a series of four historical re-creations that JRHS students perform annually. Other events in the series, which alternate each year, also focus on the Victorian era, medieval Europe and the American 20th century.

Candia sues to stop trucks on Route 27

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:04:00 GMT

BY TOBY HENRY

Candia town officials said they plan to join a Raymond lawsuit against a gravel pit approved for an area of Route 27.

Last month, Raymond Planning Board officials approved a two-year extension on a gravel pit project for the Londonderry based Thibeault Corporation, which owns a 315-acre quarry on Route 27. An abutter’s group later called for a re-hearing, and when this was denied, abutter representative and attorney John Vetne took the case to local selectmen and asked for their support.

Vetne said the approval of the gravel pit means that an average of up to 150 trucks a day could access the gravel pit, and he said that 40 percent of this truck traffic would be coming through the Candia portion of Route 27. Selectmen Chairman Fred Kelley said a major influx of heavy trucks could give Route 27 the biggest traffic problems it has seen in many decades.

Route 27, sometimes known as old Route 101 or Business Route 101, was at one point the main route to New Hampshire’s coastal beaches. While Kelley said the town cannot control how this state-maintained road is used, he said a significant increase in traffic would still be a major concern because Route 27 will soon be the main roadway to a new town transfer station, a new district court and a seasonal water park.

Kelley said officials had turned the case over to town counsel for analysis and a recommendation.

Although no official decision had been made as of press time, Kelley said the town will likely file for “amicus,” or “friend of the court” status, in order to have access to information on the proceeding while being shielded from potential counter-lawsuits.

Chasse’s is back, but country store is up for sale once again

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:43:00 GMT

BY TOBY HENRY

Patrick Chasse, like the small variety store near the Hooksett border that bears his name, is a survivor.

Although his store has been a literal “last stop” for cars headed out of town for some 40 years, the newly re-opened Chasse Variety on High Street almost became history this year. The 85-year-old Chasse said that after surviving a series of apparently unenthusiastic owners, the store he started in the 1960s stood vacant for about two years and came dangerously close to losing the “grandfathered” status that allows it to be open for business in the rural residential area.

But Chasse, who has survived a bout of cancer and a near-fatal bulldozer roll-over accident, said he still has hope for the family business he started in 1968 and later rebuilt in 1996 after the original store was destroyed in a fire. As deliverymen filled the once-empty store shelves, he said he is looking forward to selling the store in preparation for his final project.

Chasse, a professional mason for the past 60 years, said he plans to start a free school for masonry on his nearby property to pass on the lifetime of skills he’s learned. One of his trademark New England fireplaces adorns the store’s interior today, and he has built countless hundreds of others in many homes across the region over the past six decades.

“The house and the next lot, I bought that for $100 down and $10 a month back in 1959,” he said. “Try finding a deal like that now. I have been planning a school there for four years, free, for anyone 12 and up to come learn masonry. It is hard work. Not many people know how to do that anymore. That is something I want to do before I say ‘goodbye,’ you know.”

For the coming months, Chasse said he will be assisted in the store with daughter Yvonne while he awaits an opportunity to sell the store, but he admitted that he will also be busy answering scores of calls from the customers who continue to request more work from the longtime mason. As the word spreads about the store’s return, Yvonne and her father said they’re keeping busy greeting their returning store customers and letting people know that Chasse Variety is back.

“Due to what’s happened, we didn’t want to lease it out again, and this type of work isn’t for everyone,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of people coming in to shake my dad’s hand, and they all say ‘it’s good to see you back.’ It’s a nice feeling.”