Concord News : Concord

Bikers, runners and paddlers complete Contoocook Carry

Bow Editor — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:11:00 GMT

Since I first spoke with event organizer Mary Congoran about the race, she has been telling me the Contoocook Carry brings out the best in Hopkinton residents.

I figured she was right, but until I rode my bicycle into a ditch on the side of the road, I never really completely understood.

On Sunday, Sept. 21, what seemed like the entire town of Hopkinton was either racing, setting up the race, handing out Gatorade and water – or, in the case of Peter Sorel, helping a stranded reporter pop his chain back into place.

The race got started with a 2-mile run. I found myself in the middle of the pack when I arrived with my red kayak, a piece of equipment I hope to never see again.

I hopped in, pushed off and started paddling my way down the Contoocook River, starting the 5-mile voyage down the calm river (Believe me, I wish there had been a current).

It took me a while to realize that I was taking on a bit of water, and by a bit, I mean about half of my kayak was filled with the Contoocook River. But hey, I’m not one to make excuses.

Getting my kayak out of the river was nearly as difficult as the 5 miles of paddling, and carrying it to the second half of the river wasn’t that easy either.

By the time I slowly paddled by selectmen Chairman Scott Flood, who was floating on a metal boat on the river, I considered paddling over to him and seeing if I could find a way to finagle the motor off and attach it to my kayak.

Eventually, I made it to my bicycle and thought I had finally made it to the point where I could cruise the final 14 miles to the finish line, but as I took my first left onto Dustin Road, I heard a pop – never a good sign when you’re on anything attached to wheels.

No longer able to pedal, I tried to pull off the road, which turned out to be a bad decision. While my bike came flying up at me, I landed square on my feet. I did, however, have a severely bruised ego, and wasn’t sure I’d be able to finish the race I had been looking forward to for the past few months.

Then, along came Peter Sorel.

“Come on over to my barn, let’s see what we can do for you,” he said.

A complete stranger who happened to live nearby, Sorel walked with me toward his home, and jokingly asked me if I knew who Rosie Ruiz was, and if I was interested in performing a similar feat. (In 1980, Ruiz registered for the Boston Marathon and got a ride close to the finish line before running the rest of the way.)

After Sorel finished repairing my bicycle, I hit the road, and as I peddled I had one question: When did Hopkinton get so many hills?

A little over three hours after I started, I returned to Hopkinton High School, extremely exhausted but happy to have been able to take part in an event that both raised money and brought a community together.

This year, the event raised about $9,000 from event-day participants and donations from numerous people, according to Congoran. The event brought 82 teams, with more than 200 participants, ranging in age from 3 months to 88.

All of the proceeds go toward fuel assistance, a cause that will be crucial this winter with the rising costs of oil.

My time certainly was nothing to brag about in this challenging event, but on the bright side, I lived to tell about it.

Concord's Post 21 helps student-athletes offset some college costs

Bow Editor — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:47:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Despite a disappointing season for the Concord American Legion baseball team, Post 21 manager Averill Cate wanted to conclude the summer on a positive note.

In fact, he said he wants to end every Legion season like he’s done this year. On Thursday, Aug. 14, Concord Post 21 and the Forty-and- Eight Club congratulated four athletes and one coach on fine performances and awarded them a total of $4,750 in college scholarships.

The players, Daniel Solomon of Concord, Matt French of Hooksett, Mitch Philibert and Nick Comtois each received $1,000 in education funds, and Brian Drew, who coached Concord’s junior American legion team this season, took $750. Drew a standout at Concord High School, currently attends Keene State College.

French, an outfielder, played his high school ball at Trinity in Manchester. Cate said the third-year Legion player has been a huge asset for the team.

Nick Comtois, another three-year player, pitched and played the outfield. He attended Coe-Brown High School in Northwood and now heads to the State University of New York Cobbleskill this fall. Longevity is not necessarily a prerequisite for the award, however.

Solomon, an outfielder who recently graduated St. Paul’s School in Concord, plans to attend the University of New Hampshire, and Hillsboro-Deering’s Philibert, a pitcher and third baseman, completed their first season with the Concord squad, yet both are reaping the benefit of a generous college scholarship.

And that’s the point, said Cate.

“If you play for our program, and you stick with it through the summer, and you’re going to college, we’re going to try and help you with $1,000,” he said. “If you go to college and you still have another year of eligibility and come back, we’ll try and get you another $1,000.”

Hunter education courses offered around N.H.

Bow Editor — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:49:00 GMT

To purchase your first hunting license in New Hampshire, you must first complete a hunter education course.

Individuals 16 and older need a hunting license to hunt in New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department offers hunter and bowhunter education classes around the state, as well as trapper education.

To find a class, visit www. wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/ hunter_ed_schedule.htm or call 271-3214.

The basic hunter education course averages about 16 hours of classroom instruction and field experiences, including live fire on a shooting range. Courses are taught by trained, certified volunteer instructors according to national guidelines and state standards.

Safe firearms handling; wildlife ID; game trailing, recovery and care; hunter ethics; outdoor safety and survival skills; hunting laws; and map and compass skills are covered.

Each class concludes with a written test and practical field exam. If successful, students receive their hunter certification card. Hunter education instruction and course materials are provided free of charge; instructors may charge up to $5 per student to cover the use of facilities.

To receive a certificate of completion in basic hunter education or bowhunter education, participants must be at least 12 years old by the end of the course.

In addition to traditional classes, Fish and Game offers a home-study option for completing the hunter education requirement. This option takes about the same amount of time as a classroom course, but preparation is done at home, and participants attend a required field day involving a written exam and field skills testing. There are specific deadlines for signing up for the home study option, and space is limited.

For successful completion of the home-study course, participants must be at least 15 years old.

For a list of home study sessions, call 271-3214 or visit www.wildlife.state. nh.us/Hunting/hunter_ed_ homestudy.htm.

Post 21’s eclectic group hits well but has trouble in the field

Bow Editor — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:12:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Garde Burgess had an early idea how Concord Post 21’s American Legion baseball season was going to play out.

During one of the team’s first practices, he pulled his nine pitchers aside and asked each one how many high school innings they’d pitched. Aside from ace Mitch Philibert, the answer was five – total.

“I thought that was a pretty telling statistic,” said Burgess. “I pretty much had spring training with my players during the district season. I was out there working on mechanics with them before, during and after games.”

It came as no coincidence, then, that Philibert notched three of Concord’s four wins. He would have had six had it not been for three blown leads by the bullpen, said Burgess. Still, the coach is quick to point out the team is young, and most of the players return in 2009, many the season after that as well.

“They’ll do a lot better next year, that’s for sure, but there’s no doubt any extra pitching experience we can get will help. That was definitely our weakness,” he said.

The bats, on the other hand, boomed.

Post 21 averaged double-digit hits per game.

“A lot of games we’d have 16 hits, but we lost the game because we had given up 12 walks,” said Burgess. “Of course, you know if you give up those kind of base runners, you’re going to lose a lot of games.”

Still, Concord put runs on the board in all but one game, though Burgess noted the players often got into trouble on the base paths.

Mark Sullivan of Concord and Hooksett’s Matt French, said the coach, led the team in hitting.

French, in fact, went 16- for-19 his last four games, and would have produced even more throughout the season had it not been for a hamstring injury that caused him to miss several games.

Others contributing include Hopkinton’s Thomas Johnson and Evan Levy; Bow’s Dan Yvars; Pembroke Academy’s Zachary Cogswell, Connor Moroney and Doug Turnbull; Goffstown’s Matthew O’Brien; Daniel Solomon, Benjamin Thurston, Ryan Wakefield, Tucker White, Nicholas Comtois and John Boudrais.

“They all got along really well, which is kind of unusual with a team compiled of kids from so many different areas of New Hampshire,” said Burgess.”This was a very good bunch of guys, probably one of the most delightful bunch of guys with some of the most unique personalities I’ve ever coached.”

Contoocook Carry triathlon heats up

Bow Editor — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:06:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Residents running, paddling and pedaling in September’s Contoocook Carry will use as much energy as they can to get to the finish line.

This year, their physical energy will turn to heating energy, as 75 percent of the proceeds from this year’s race will be given to Hopkinton Human Services to help those in need of fuel assistance due to the skyrocketing cost of oil.

“For the last few years, we’ve tried to give most of the proceeds to human services for all needs,” said Mary Congoran, one of the race’s organizers. “Last winter, I was looking out my window seeing us getting hit so hard with snow and cold weather, and it was just getting to me. I knew there were people needing fuel assistance.”

The sixth annual triathlon takes place Sunday, Sept. 21, featuring a 2-mile run, 5-mile paddle and 14-mile bicycle ride. Racers can sign up as individuals or teams, with a prize table at the end of the race set up to give each racer a reward for completing the course.

While 75 percent of the proceeds will go to fuel assistance, the remaining 25 percent will be donated to Hopkinton High School’s Interact Club, a group of students dedicated to community service.

“I usually try wherever possible to have the youth be able in some way to give back,” said Congoran. “(The Interact Club) helps with the race and offers prizes like babysitting, car washing, lawn mowing and things like that to give to participants.”

Congoran said each year she sees the triathlon bring out the best in residents, and not just financially.

In response to the sponsorship letter Congoran sent out, one resident agreed to donate dry, split wood for the prize table.

“That letter isn’t meant to always draw money out of the pockets of everyone,” said Congoran. “It lets your neighbors know that you care and you’re trying to help in a crisis situation. It isn’t always money.”

The race isn’t designed to be highly competitive, as it is meant to be a fun way to raise money for a cause in town.

“It’s great because we have some super athletes that come also. I like to believe everyone is coming this year for fuel assistance, to help their community,” Congoran said. “We have had people from Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts. They understand, too. It’s never going to be a big-time fancy race, but it’s meant to be down home and to do a lot for the community.”

Last year, the race raised about $2,000, and while Congoran said she hasn’t set monetary goals in the past, she hopes to raise a large amount this year to help residents in need.

“We definitely are really trying to raise a good bit more this year,” she said. “So many good things happen that I haven’t always focused on the funds. This year, whether people can put together a team or not, if they can find a way to help their neighbors, that’s what we’re after.”

Contoocook trombonist swings to the sound of jazz

Bow Editor — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:47:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Dave Dustin has never been a big fan of reading – not music, anyway.

The Hopkinton Town Band member also plays the trombone in the Tall Granite Jazz Band, a group he founded that is dedicated to Chicago-style jazz and swing.

“I’ve always liked jazz because of the energy and the expression that’s possible in it. Part of it also is that it also seems more suited to my talent,” said Dustin. “I’m not the greatest reader of music in the world. I can always close my eyes and imagine the music, so improvisation has always come fairly easy to me.”

By day, Dustin works in Concord at Nobis Engineering, where he negotiates and administers contracts to the federal government, but upon leaving the office he turns to his trombone.

“I think that they’re probably not all that similar. Maybe they are in that they are fairly detailoriented,” he said. “I’ve always looked at music as a therapy and a refuge from the burdens, toil and strive of the day job and making a living. Music is my therapy, and it’s a very helpful one to have.”

Dustin said he enjoys the ability to rely on his other band members in order to put on a successful show.

“(The night of a concert) is a lot of excitement and anticipation, and you’re always glad when you look to either side of you and see a great group of musicians, sometimes with skills that exceed your own,” said Dustin. “You know you can rely on them.”

The jazz influence for Dustin came from his parents, who lived during the age of jazz and swing in the 1930s and 1940s. Dustin’s parents continued to listen to the music after he was born, and he was constantly exposed to it.

“When I was growing up, there was a lot of big band music in my house,” he said. “It just became something that was a real habit for me, and something I loved to listen to. I would fantasize about being a musician in those bands.”

Although Dustin said it can be harder to find venues to play at in New Hampshire, he said when you find the right spot there is no feeling like it.

“I really love it when we’re bringing some great music and great musicians together to make a joyful noise. I like it when the band is just cooking along and you can see that people are really enjoying the music,” he said. “It’s a bond between musicians, and a bond between the band members and the audience.”

You can listen to Dustin and The Tall Granite Jazz Band play at the Bow gazebo as part of the Bow Rotary Club’s summer concert series on Sunday, July 27, beginning at 6 p.m.

The Tall Granite Band is also scheduled to play Thursday, July 31, at Nonni’s Open House at the Concord Holiday Inn. The ballroom doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the band kicks off at 6:30 p.m.; and at the Beech Hill Farm and Ice Cream Barn in Hopkinton for the Hopkinton Congregational Church Rally Sunday picnic on Sept. 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The band will also play at the Eastern States Exposition, “The Big E,” in West Springfield, Mass., on New Hampshire Day, Friday, Sept. 19, at 5:30 p.m.

Bishop Brady’s fine season stopped in state semis

Bow Editor — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:10:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

CONCORD – The call came with two outs and one on in the bottom of the third inning. Bishop Brady pitcher Jill Nemcovich was cruising when she reached down and grabbed some dirt. She rubbed her hand on her pants and gripped the ball.

The umpire ruled the move illegal, and the runner advanced to second. A base hit later, Brady trailed. Then an assistant coach was ejected for arguing with the umpire.

By the end of the frame, the third-seeded Lady Green Giants faced a three-run hole, and their opponent, No. 2 Portsmouth, pulled away for an 8-2 victory on Thursday, June 12.

Shawn Brechtel, Brady’s head coach, acknowledged while his players couldn’t control the officiating, they could control their play.

“Hey, we didn’t string hits together. We had our opportunities, and we didn’t take advantage,” he said.

The frustrating conclusion, however, takes nothing from a season that saw the Lady Green Giants compile a program-best 15-2 record. A 4-3 first-round win against Pembroke and a 1-0 victory over Kennett in the quarterfinals pushed Brady to the Class I state semifinals for the second time in four years.

While the Green Giants lose five seniors, including four starters, Brechtel said the future is promising.

“I only see us getting stronger. They’re going to play better, they’re going to develop, and I think we’ll be successful in the upcoming years,” he said. “It always helps when you have depth in your program, and we have a lot of interchangeable parts. We’re trying to build a well-rounded team, and if the kids stick with it and keep doing their jobs, we’ll be tough for teams to beat.”

Water ban in Contoocook

Bow Editor — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:27:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

With high temperatures and little rain, Contoocook Village precinct residents and businesses have to limit their water usage as town officials have put an emergency water ban into effect.

Though Steve Clough, assistant director of Public Works, said the town’s water supply is not running short, a lack of rain and a bottleneck in the filtration system led to the ban, which was put into place June 1.

“We have plenty in our source, but we can only filter about 200 gallons a minute,” Clough said. “(The weekend of June 1), we were using a couple gallons a minute at night and during the day as high as 500 a minute. We couldn’t get our storage levels up enough. We have to keep drinking water and fire protection levels up.”

The ban means residents in the area, which includes Hopkinton High School and the town’s commercial area, will not be allowed outside water use until further notice.

“This means there will be no outside watering and no outside usage,” Clough said. “If you have plants you can bring watering cans outside.”

Clough said because of the hot weather, even with the ban the town is having a difficult time getting its tanks filled.

“If we do get our tanks back up and want to move forward, it’ll still be hard,” he said. “If we remove the ban now, it’ll be a short period of time before our tanks are back down again. What we really need is a steady rain, and that just isn’t coming.”

Town officials were scheduled to meet Tuesday, June 10, to decide how long to keep the ban, as well as address short and long-term plans.

Among the options for short-term solutions is the possibility of limited use, including a potential alternate-day usage system. Regardless of the solution for this summer, Clough said officials will also need to think of a long-term answer to the problem.

The water filtration plant used by the town was built in 1993, with increased storage built in 2002. Although the plant is scheduled for another upgrade within a few years, Clough said officials may need to look at moving up the date of the next phase.

“Within the last year or two, it’s been a mini-explosion of sprinkler systems, some of them larger ones,” said Clough. “The combination of all that is straining the system and we can’t keep up with it.”

WWII cadet nurses want recognition as veterans

Bow Editor — Wed, 21 May 2008 19:34:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Merle Dustin wasn’t on the front lines, but the Contoocook resident now finds herself trying to fight for the rights of some of the unsung heroes from World War II.

In June 1945, President Harry Truman signed an executive order that made the United States Public Health Service a part of the military until the war was over.

Although the nurses, including Dustin, were recognized during the war, they are not recognized by the government as veterans.

“It’s sad because it has taken so long, and yet we are still not recognized,” said Dustin, who served as a cadet nurse during the war.

Dustin was accepted into Salem Hospital Nursing School in Massachusetts, with the agreement that she would serve in the military upon graduation. After training for two weeks at Fort Devens in Ayer, Mass., she began treating soldiers who had been wounded in battle.

“I did my best to make it comfortable for injured soldiers. It touched all of us nurses,” said Dustin. “We were thrust into a tremendous situation. We saw these young people coming back broken, some who may have never been well again.”

Among her duties as a cadet nurse was giving back rubs to injured soldiers to keep them comfortable in their beds. It was this duty that lead Dustin to a ward boy whom she would get to know well.

Several off-duty soldiers came to Dustin’s post at Cushing General Hospital in Framingham, Mass., and challenged some of the nurses to see who gave the best back rub. The losing contestant would have to go to dinner with one of the soldiers.

Unaware at the time, Dustin had been set up by the group and ended up on a date with Eben “Dusty” Dustin, whom she would befriend and eventually marry.

“My favorite memory from my time as a cadet nurse would have to be when I met my husband,” she said. “That wasn’t my intention at all. I was going to be a nurse, and life was going to deal me what it dealt me.”

The two married just days before the war ended, with friends and relatives pooling together enough gas coupons to get the couple off on a honeymoon to Wolfeboro.

With the war over, Merle Dustin took her state board nurses exam and worked for a variety of hospitals in the Boston area, and now recalls making the walk home to the couple’s Boston apartment, often late at night.

After the war ended, the nurses’ connection to the military did as well, and they were not considered veterans.

Dustin recently found out there is a bill before Congress that would grant cadet nurses from World War II veteran status, and has taken up the cause by writing letters to local newspapers searching for her fellow nurses.

“It is sad to find that there are so few of us. We are a fast-disappearing generation,” she said. “There were 124,000 graduates, and how many are living? I have no idea.”

Following her letters about the bill, Dustin has received seven letters from cadet nurses around New England, with each promising to spread the word to anyone they can.

For Dustin, earning veteran status is a matter of respect. “My goal is for us nurses to get our just due,” she said. “What that’ll give us as veterans, I don’t know except the fact that we’re being thanked.”

Bishop Brady falls in hockey final for second straight season

Bow Editor — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:08:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The puck from the Division I boys ice hockey championship ended up where it spent a great deal of the game – with Bishop Guertin goalkeeper Dave O’Brien.

O’Brien notched his eighth shutout of the year to lead his team to a 3-0 victory over Bishop Brady, stopping 23 shots as the Cardinals won their second straight title.

After the game on Sunday, March 9, O’Brien stood in the corridors of the Verizon Wireless Arena – the championship plaque clutched in one hand, his glove on the other.

“Here, you kept it out of the net all game,” said a Guertin assistant coach, dropping the puck in his glove. “You deserve it.”

After a scoreless first period, the Cardinals grabbed a 1-0 lead when Eric Harries received the puck from Kyle Curry and worked it past Bishop Brady goalie Tyler Ingerson.

With 7:35 remaining in the second period, Harries returned the favor, setting Curry up for a goal to put Bishop Guertin ahead by two goals.

That lead was nearly cut in half late in the second period. With 37 seconds remaining in the period and O’Brien out of position, Bishop Brady’s Brooks Herrington had an open shot at the right side of the net, but O’Brien dove across the crease and made the glove save.

“I went down too early and just had to sprawl out for it, and it ended up in my glove,” said O’Brien. “Bishop Brady has a lot of great players up front, and my defense made it really easy for me.”

Bishop Guertin head coach Gary Bishop said he was as shocked as the rest of the raucous crowd in attendance to see the puck land in O’Brien’s glove.

“I saw the light, and then I thought what everyone else was thinking: how did he do that?” he said. “It’s really nothing new.”

Harries added his second goal of the game with 5:54 remaining to cap the scoring.

Bishop Guertin also defeated the Green Giant squad last year to earn the championship.

“Being in the title game back to back years is the upside, although obviously you don’t want to lose two in a row,” said Bishop Brady head coach Clint Edinger. “We’re still searching for that championship, but the future is bright, and we’re going to continue to get better.”

Bishop was at least as specific with his wish list for 2009.

“Another win would be alright,” he said with a smile.

Second-half push sends powerful Salem past winless Concord in Class L Basketball

admin — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:09:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

CONCORD – The Concord High School girls basketball team was “hungry” for its first win of the season, but Salem High School wasn’t letting that get in the way of its fast start to the year, cruising to a 63-47 road victory.

Concord kept the contest on Friday, Jan. 25, within shouting distance into the halftime break, but the Blue Devils pulled away to improve to 9-1 on the season.

Amanda Saab turned in a solid game for the visiting Blue Devils, playing especially well in the final quarter to push the Salem lead to as many as 23. Despite playing a winless opponent, Salem head coach Elizabeth Briggs said her team faced a tough task.

“It was a battle tonight. They’re hungry, and I was impressed by how they played that third quarter,” she said. “In the second quarter we sat back and our defensive effort was lacking, and we let them back into it. In the third quarter we were on a mission to come out with intensity and work harder.”

Saab scored six points in the fourth, including a breakaway layup that pushed the Blue Devil lead to its peak.

“(Amanda Saab) really took over the fourth and made a difference,” said Concord head coach *** Pratt. “She’s a nice player. She’s a difference maker, and she really was one in this game.”

Concord’s closest margin of loss this season has been 11 points, leading to the Crimson Tide’s current 0-10 record.

“They were 0-9 coming in, but they were scary as heck,” said Briggs. “We were certainly not overlooking Concord. We maintained the lead with some key subs, and were able to come out with a win.”

Kelsi Record and Sarah Raye came off the bench to play well on both ends of the floor for Salem. Pratt said his team has not been pushing harder than usual in an attempt to come out with its first win.

“Downstairs I told them that the word upset was invented for a reason. We go in there thinking we can win. We made mistakes of an inexperienced team. They are an experienced team, and they converted,” said Pratt.

“Every game is a new game, and our record is immaterial. It doesn’t change anything, and it doesn’t raise our panic level.” The Crimson Tide, following a 67-44 loss at 8-3 Merrimack on Tuesday, Jan. 29, continues the search for victory hosting twowin Spaulding on Friday, Feb. 1.

Fledging Concord team skates to fast start

Bow Editor — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:56:00 GMT

BY JERRY LIPTAK

If the cliche, “Practice makes perfect,” retains even a bit of truth, foes of Concord High’s girls ice hockey beware.

When CHS took the ice on Tuesday, Jan. 8, it marked the Crimson Tide’s first practice session in roughly one month, said coach Tom Ackerson, who acknowledged persistent snows and consistent scheduling conflicts as roadblocks to the usual Tuesday and Thursday practices at St. Paul’s School.

Yet the Concord girls are 3-1- 0 heading into a matchup with another strong Division I crew – St. Thomas Aquinas of Dover – on Saturday, Jan. 12, at Everett Arena in Concord.

“Their effort,” said Ackerson, “has been awesome, but they don’t have the experience yet.”

Still, Concord produced a 3-1 win over a solid Lebanon team in New Hampshire’s first varsity girls ice hockey match, then followed that Dec. 8 victory with an 8-0 shutout of host Exeter three days later.

The team’s most recent contest, a 5-0 triumph against visiting Bishop Guertin on Jan. 2, showcased the Crimson Tide’s exceptional goaltending and team depth.

Julia Coffin, a senior, turned aside each of the 13 shots she faced in net, and Ackerson said Concord is blessed with a feeder program that should ensure a continued supply of stingy backstops. Meanwhile, five different players scored, and four others earned assists.

Senior Grace Hirshon tallied first, taking a pass from sophomore Melissa Lehtinen 1 minute, 14 seconds into the contest. Senior Erica Simpson extended the lead 5:45 into the second period, depositing a short-handed goal on an assist from sophomore Paige Hansen. Nineteen seconds later, Lehtinen’s short-handed score, assisted by classmate Meridith Foote and junior Hilary Kane, made it 3-0.

Two more tallies in the third – one from sophomore Jackolyn Haydon, off a feed from freshman Brittany Premo, and another from sophomore Ashley Liotti, assisted by Foote – capped the scoring. That’s at least one point from every class – the vast majority from underclassmen.

“I think we can compete (this year),” said Ackerson, who added Hanover, an 8-1 winner over Concord on Dec. 18, has played against and beaten Vermont challengers for years and is clearly the class of New Hampshire’s Division I girls hockey scene. “We want to do well this year, but we’re also looking to set ourselves up for the future.”

Ackerson pointed to those to-date elusive practices as an opportunity to improve in certain areas, including proper positional hockey, consistency and conditioning; though Concord outshot BG in the final period, 11-1, Ackerson said his team suffered too many defensive breakdowns.

“Right now they’re mostly good athletes,” said Ackerson, who expects to witness the program’s transformation from largely a group of fine athletes playing hockey to a group of hockey players who happen to be good athletes.

“Going (to) varsity (status) means so much. It keeps the (middle- school) girls motivated to represent their high school.”

Help celebrate Franklin Pierce’s 203rd birthday

Bow Editor — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:20:00 GMT

Franklin Pierce, the 14th president of the United States, said of his departure to fight in the Mexican War: “I will return with honor or not at all.”

Now the only U.S. president to ever hail from New Hampshire is back as a limited edition bobblehead issued by the New Hampshire Historical Society on the 150th anniversary of Pierce’s presidency.

To celebrate, the Society will throw an unveiling party on Nov. 23, which is Pierce’s 203rd birthday. Stop by the Society’s library, located at 30 Park St. in Concord, anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to enjoy a piece of birthday cake and to be one of the first to get a Franklin Pierce bobblehead going on sale that day. Admission to the event is free.

First available in January 2006, the Society’s series of historical bobbleheads has paid tribute to Revolutionary War hero General John Stark, statesman and orator Daniel Webster, New Hampshire’s Great Stone Face, Sarah Josepha Hale — the “Mother of Thanksgiving,” and Neil Tillotson, the New Hampshire inventor and entrepreneur who cast the first vote in every U.S. presidential election from 1960 to 2000.

Franklin Pierce (1804-1869) served his country during one of the most tumultuous periods of American history. Born in Hillsborough, at the age 48 Franklin Pierce was the youngest man yet elected president of the United States. In an early speech Pierce made clear that, in the face of turmoil, he would not abandon his fervent belief in the Constitution and his desire to preserve the Union, despite the consequences.

“Some men are so constituted that they do not incline to bow before a storm,” Pierce said.

The Pierce bobblehead is available exclusively through the New Hampshire Historical Society. The eight-inch figurine is a replica of a young Franklin Pierce, dressed in black, with an elegant head of hair that was the calling card of the man known as “Handsome Frank.”

The base is inscribed with a quote from the president who sought to hold his nation together: “The Union! Eternal Union!” The Franklin Pierce bobbleheads retail for $15.95 and are available at the Society’s library (30 Park St., Concord) and museum (6 Eagle Square, Concord), as well as online at nhhistory.org.

Release of the Piece bobblehead this year coincides with the publication of the second volume of Peter A. Wallner’s new biography of Pierce, “Franklin Pierce: Martyr for the Union.”

The biography offers a fresh and in-depth look at Pierce’s life from his first days as president until his death in 1869.

It includes many stories illuminating Pierce’s life in the White House and his relationships with his wife Jane and contemporary personalities including Nathaniel Hawthorne, Jefferson Davis, Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. Copies of Wallner’s two-volume biography will be available for purchase, and the author will be on hand to sign books.

While at the library, plan to see New Hampshire: A Proven Primary Tradition, a new exhibition of the New Hampshire Historical Society and the New Hampshire Political Library.

The exhibition looks at the impact New Hampshire’s primary has on the national presidential nominating process and examines how the state’s political culture and traditions have shaped its first-in-the-nation role. The colorful retrospective adds to our appreciation for the New Hampshire primary and reinforces the importance of our own participation in the political process.

New Hampshire: A Proven Primary Tradition is sponsored by Rath, Young and Pignatelli, Boston Private Value Investors, the Mount Washington Resort, and BaileyDonovan, with the New Hampshire Union Leader and WMUR-TV as media sponsors. The exhibition is on view through May 24.

Founded in 1823, the New Hampshire Historical Society is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving, preserving and sharing New Hampshire history. The Society serves thousands of children and adults each year through its Museum of New Hampshire History, research library, educational programs, publications, and outreach programs.

The Society is not a statefunded agency. All of its programs and services are made possible by membership dues and contributions. For more information about the Society and the benefits of membership, visit nhhistory.org or call 228- 6688.

Bishop Brady hosts annual holiday craft fair

Bow Editor — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:24:00 GMT

Bishop Brady High School’s Class of 2009 will be having their third annual Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This is a juried craft fair featuring the finest of crafters and artisans in New Hampshire. New Hampshire Made and New Hampshire League of Craftsmen members will be filling the cafeteria and gymnasium with their products.

There will be New Hampshire maple products, jams, jellies, pickles, wood turnings, gourmet dog biscuits and accessories, hand-crafted jewelry, handmade soaps and body products, quilts, fleece wear, pottery, and much more. Food will also be offered for sale, as will a raffle table. Bring your appetite and shopping lists. There will be something for every budget.

The craft fair will coincide with the Interact Club’s Children’s Fair. Where kids will have the opportunity to shop for their parents assisted by the Bishop Brady “elves.” Cookie decorating and a visit with Santa will make this an unforgettable day for your youngster. While the kids are busy, stroll through our holiday crafters. Many take Visa and Master Card. This is a free event not to miss. For more information, contact Sharon Blais, craft fair chairman, at 435-6741.

Audubon lecture to focus on politics and climate change

Bow Editor — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:10:00 GMT

Jonathan Lash, an internationally respected leader in pragmatic environmental policy and finance, will share his insights into climate change policy and politics at an open lecture and discussion in Concord on Thursday, Nov. 1.

Lash is the president of the World Resources Institute, a global organization based in Washington, D.C.

His success at bringing business leaders and the environmental community together on climate change policy earned him recognition as “one of the world’s 100 most influential people in finance,” in 2005 by Treasury and Risk Management magazine.

Lash’s appearance will be the concluding event in New Hampshire Audubon’s 2007 Environmental Research Lecture Series, which has focused on climate change and emerging energy technologies.

Other speakers have included Harvard professor James McCarthy, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Dartmouth professor Lee Lynd, a founder of Mascoma Corp., which hopes to commercialize a process for converting wood to ethanol.

The series has been underwritten by Stonyfield Farm, Bob and Sylvia Larsen, and Mike Smith.

Lash will speak from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at New Hampshire Audubon’s McLane Center on Silk Farm Road in Concord. The event is open to the public; a $10 donation is suggested from non-members.

Earlier that day, Lash will be the guest on New Hampshire Public Radio’s public affairs program, The Exchange.

The World Resources Institute is a global environmental think tank that goes beyond research to provide practical solutions to problems of environment and development. Under Lash’s leadership, WRI has pioneered the use of digital technologies to solve environmental problems, engaged the business community in helping to foster development that is sustainable, and created new mechanisms to empower civil society groups.

From 1993 until 1999, Lash served as co-chairman of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development, a group of U.S. government, business, labor, civil rights and environmental leaders that developed visionary recommendations for strategies to promote sustainable development. At various times, he served as a member of advisory groups to the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Trade Representative.

He has served on a broad range of national and international groups, including: the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Round Table on Sustainable Development; the Tata Energy and Resources Institute (India); the Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation (Japan); the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development; and the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (Japan). He is a member of the board of the Institute for Sustainable Communities, the Wallace Global Fund, and the Heinz Center.

New Hampshire Audubon is an independent statewide membership organization whose mission is to protect New Hampshire’s natural environment for wildlife and for people. It is also involved in statewide conservation research and wildlife monitoring projects, protects thousands of acres of wildlife habitat, and advocates for sound public policy on conservation issues.

For information on New Hampshire Audubon, including membership, volunteering, programs and publications, call 224-9909, or visit www.nhaudubon.org.