New Boston News : New Boston

Man with dementia wanders off, gone for 10 hours

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:13:00 GMT

BY SARAH LEBRUN

A New Boston man was found after he went missing for 10 hours on Nov. 12.

Leonard “Butch” Cullinane of 114 Beard Road, a 73-year-old man with dementia, was found on the side of the road near Dodge’s Farm Stand shortly before 11 p.m.

According to New Boston Police Chief Chris Krajenka, Cullinane was found by Robert Gagnon of Weare.

“Something caught his eye on the side of the road while he was driving by,” said Krajenka. “He backed up to look and saw it was the victim.”

Krajenka said Gagnon then picked up Cullinane and got him to emergency services. Though Cullinane was cold, wet and suffered from mild hypothermia, he was otherwise uninjured.

Krajenka said Cullinane’s son, with whom he lives, realized he was missing about 1 p.m., but didn’t report it to police until 5:40 p.m.

“(Cullinane) apparently has a pretty regular routine,” said Krajenka. “When the son went into the house and didn’t find him there, he became concerned.”

Fifteen different agencies were involved during the height of the search, including New Boston police and fire, New Hampshire Fish and Game, Goffstown police and fire, New Hampshire State Police, Weare fire, Francestown fire, Bedford fire, Mont Vernon fire, Manchester police, DHART helicopter, New England K-9 Search and Rescue, New Boston CERT and Goffstown CERT.

“We (also) had at least 50 community members come out and volunteer time and resources we never even asked for,” said Krajenka. “It really enthuses me to see how this community comes together.”

Krajenka said this case could have turned tragic, but didn’t.

“This agency, as well as the community, is grateful to all the folks involved in this,” said Krajenka.

New Boston properties being assessed for 2011 revaluation

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:53:00 GMT

The town of New Boston last measured and inspected all properties in 1997 and 1998 for the 1998 townwide revaluation.

In 2006, the town adjusted its property values to market value using a statistical update, with only properties which had been sold within the two previous years being inspected.

All assessments will need to be updated again for the 2011 revaluation. As it has been more than 10 years since all properties have been inspected, the town needs to measure and inspect all buildings before 2011.

Jack McCarthy, the data collector will be assisting the assessor, George Hildum, by measuring and inspecting all properties between now and the end of 2010.

McCarthy will have an identification badge, and he will never enter a building unless there is an owner or someone 18 or older home.

If you have any questions, contact the Assessing Office at 487-5504, ext. 101 or 102.

New Boston home lost to fire, no insurance

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:45:00 GMT

By JILL JORGENSEN

A New Boston couple lost their home and possessions in a devastating fire on Oct. 28. Richard and Gail Riendeau of 97 Saunders Hill Road did not have homeowners insurance.

Gail Riendeau’s brother, Steven Christensen, said they were dropped by multiple insurers. “For whatever reason their insurance company, their homeowners, dropped them,” he said.

He said his sister then tried another company who would not insure them. They were insured for some time by Lloyd’s of London, he said, but were dropped again. “Nobody gave them a reason as to why they dropped them,” he said. “She eventually ended up calling the insurance commission and ended up getting no results.”

Now, the two have lost their home, belongings and the tools needed for Richard Riendeau’s work in the fire, which officials said may have been caused by a candle. “It’s an awful sad story. He’s self-employed as a remodeling contractor, and he had started remodeling their house. They were in that home for close to 30 years,” he said.

Gail Riendeau has multiple sclerosis and cannot work, Christensen said. “Richard has pretty serious burns. He won’t be able to work, even if he had some (work), for a little while,” Christensen said.

He said Riendeau got second- degree burns on the bottom of his feet while trying to put out the fire.

The couple is currently staying with Gail Riendeau’s son from a previous marriage, Christensen said. But their family does not have much money to help them: Gail’s son is a single father to four children, and her parents are elderly and have limited resources, he said. “They have no insurance. He really has had no work because of the recession, and they both have serious health conditions,” Christensen added.

Richard Riendeau recently had surgery on a tumor in his pituitary gland, he said.

It is not clear if any of the home will be salvageable.

“What I am concerned about is that he might end up with just the lot in New Boston,” Christensen said. “(Richard) is able, once he recovers, of (rebuilding) it himself, but he needs the tools and at least a line of credit.” “We only have so many resources, and they’re also too proud to ask for a lot of it, too,” he added.

For now, he said the family is just finding it hard to believe how much they have lost. “It’s really devastating, and they’re still in a daze,” Christensen said.

A fund has been set up at TD Bank at 2 High St., P.O. Box 310, New Boston, NH 03070. Monetary donations may be mailed to the Riendeau Fire Fund at that branch or made in person at any TD Bank branch.

Personal items may be donated by contacting Shannon Silver, New Boston health officer, at 487-5504, ext. 108.

New Boston Police adopt new alert system

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:10:00 GMT

By SARAH LEBRUN

In an effort to keep residents more informed about safety issues in town, the New Boston Police Department has adopted a communications network called Nixle.

This federally backed program sends residents text or e-mail alerts regarding road closures, accidents, burglaries and other criminal activity in the area, and cautionary messages.

“It improves our efforts on solving crimes, because there’s more eyes out there,” said New Boston Police Chief Chris Krajenka.

Krajenka has been working since August to get this 17program running in the Police Department, and he is now working with the school and Fire Department to get them on board as well.

Krajenka said the program would be important in the school, as it would give alerts about missing children, early school closings and other emergencies.

It may be another three or four months before the school and Fire Department are on board with the network, but Krajenka said so far, the response about this program has been positive.

“The Goffstown Police Department has been using it, and it’s been a success,” said New Boston Police Chief Chris Krajenka.

Residents can choose to get alerts from other towns as well, depending what they choose as their alert coverage area. The program is free, and residents can sign up by visiting www.nixle.com and following the prompts on the main page.

Granite State Gymnastics Center boys, girls compete at state meets

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:39:00 GMT

The Granite State Gymnastics Center boys team, coached by Craig Thibaudeau and Sean Sirrianna, took part in the New Hampshire State Championships at Gymnastics at Brentwood Commons on March 7. The level- 7 team won the competition, while option team finished second.

Among level-10 entrants, Sean Sirrianna was second in the all-around, including second on pommel hors, parallel bars and high bar, and Jay Grimes took fourth in the all-around, sparked by a first-place tie on floor.

Ben Henry of New Boston won the 14-and-older level-9 division in the all-around, keyed by a first-place showing on high bar.

Jack Kirsch finished fourth in the all-around among 12- and 13- year-old level-9 athletes, including second on floor In level-7 competition, Griffin Antle finished second in the all-around; his balanced effort featured second-place outcomes on rings and parallel bars. Charlie Lipscomb of Bow placed third in the all-around and second on high bar. Peter Erf of Weare took fourth in the all-around; his best finish was third on rings.

Karle Erf, a level-6 entrant from Weare, was consistent in finishing third in the all-around. He was strong on rings, taking second place.

• • •

GSGC’s level-4 through level- 6 girls team hosted the state championships recently in Bow.

Level 4 girls results The level-4 team placed 11th. Kayleigh Doherty’s best finish was seventh on floor in the 8- year-old division. Among 9-yearolds, Laura Hoeker placed third on vault en route to seventh place in the all-around with 36.775 points, Emma Kneissl-Williams took eight on vault.

In the junior 11- and 12-yearold division, Jessica Scagliotti- Thurlow finished sixth in the all-around, including fourth on vault.

Level 5 girls results The level-5 girls took 10th in team competition. Jennie Ess placed eighth in the all-around among 7- and 8-year-old competitors, while Jennifer Smith took 11th on beam in the 10-year-old division.

Among 11- and 12-year-olds, Elizabeth Ludwig was eighth in the all-around, paced by her fourth-place finish on bars. Denali Smith took 10th on bars. Sarah Farrelly placed sixth on beam.

In the 13-and-older division, Mikayla Sarette won the bars and took second on beam, helping her finish third in the all-around.

Level 6 girls results The level-6 team finished ninth. Facing fellow 9- and 10- year-old athletes, Peighton Barker placed took sixth on bars, Abby Grandmaison took fifth on beam, Liberty Gendron was eighth on bars, and Gabi Brummett managed 11th place on bars.

In the 11-year-old division, Carolyn Picard was 13th on beam.

Brianna Puleo finished third in the all-around among 12-year-olds, including first on vault and beam. Megan Reese took third on bars and fourth on vault.

New Boston residents reject library bond article

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:29:00 GMT

BY SARAH LEBRUN

New Boston will not be seeing a new library in its future anytime soon, as residents voted against an article requesting a $499,000 bond for the project.

Though the vote was 790-612, it needed a three-fifths majority, or 60 percent, to pass and only received 56 percent.

“The majority of voters voted for the new library and recognized the many ways the library supports the community,” said Whipple Free library assistant director Pat Fickett. “We want to thank everyone in New Boston who supported the New Library Campaign.”

Fickett said the New Library Campagin Committe will need to get together to discuss plans for the future.

Residents also voted to change the selectman position from a three-year elected position with no limit on the number of terms in office to a three-year elected position with a limit of two consecutive terms.

The town will also not run on a default budget this year, as the proposed operating budget of $3,888,9897 was also passed.

On the town ballot, the library bond was the only warrant article that did not pass.

On the school ballot, the Support Staff Association bargaining agreement was approved by an 884-467 vote. The cost will be $37,575 in the first year, $39,245 in the second year and $41,715 in the third year.

Residents also approved the proposed school operating budget of $10,337,147, which is actually less than the default budget by $119,195.

New chapter for Whipple Library?

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:59:00 GMT

BY SALLY BRZOZOWSKI

You need only to glance at the outside of the Whipple Free Library in New Boston to imagine the inside. The building is tiny from the inside out and bursting at the seams. Boxes are stacked on top of bookshelves, tables must be pushed aside in order to accommodate reading groups and many books are in storage due to the lack of shelf space.

If residents vote to appropriate money for a new library on Tuesday, March 10, all that could change.

If Warrant Article 16 passes with a 60 percent vote, New Boston will get a new library through a $499,000 bond, a price that the Whipple Free Library’s assistant director Pat Fickett calls “a bargain.”

The remainder of the funding will come from the New Library Campaign, which has raised $857,000; and from the Capital Reserve, which is holding $104,000 in previously approved funds.

The tax impact of a new library would be 10 cents per $1,000 assessed property value, or $20 on a $200,000 home.

The need for more space becomes apparent the minute you step inside the library. The shelves are crowded to the point where Fickett said, “If for some reason all the books came back at once we’d be in trouble!”

She siad that in order to add a book to the shelves, another one must be removed and placed in storage, or on one of the temporary carts and displays around the room.

The lack of bookshelves is just the tip of the iceberg. “This building wasn’t built for computers,” said Sarah Chapman, Whipple Free Library director. “When we opened, everything was different, and it was fine.”

Looking around the library today, it’s easy to see how 21stcentury technology has made the crowded space seem even smaller. A lone computer sits at the top of the stairs for patron use, and other residents must check out laptops and find somewhere to sit among the few open chairs scattered around the library.

While the shelves overflow with books, DVDs and books on tape are stacked on top of each other wherever there is room. There’s no space for this new technology, and no privacy for people who come into the library to use the free internet services.

“I’ve helped people with their resumes while standing at the circulation desk,” said Fickett. “It’s not fair to them or to us.”

In its cramped quarters, the library offers more than just physical objects. From the summer reading program to the knitting program to other reading groups and discussions, the space is often full.

“Sometimes we have 20 people in this place and it gets … intimate,” said Chapman, gesturing to a small circle of chairs. Despite the lack of space, the library is an important place in the community.

“It’s a wonderful gathering point for families,” said Mary Locke, who works at the library. The selectmen and the Finance Committee have already signaled their approval for the bond plan.

Town administrator Burton Reynolds echoed the sentiments of the library staff when he said, “They are very short on space in the current library for community programming. They have to switch things around for every program, and even then, there’s not enough room.

“I think people can feel confident that the public expense portion of this is included in the improvement plan and will have very little impact on taxes,” said Reynolds when asked about the amount of the bond. “If you look carefully at how everything has been constructed, taken into context with all other types of spending, other types of spending have been reduced so we can do this project without a tax spike.”

He believes the current proposal combats the criticisms of previous plans, and thinks the town is ready for this improvement.

With more space, the library could offer a greater amount of community programming, more programs for children, a better selection of computers, and more books, including all those which are currently sitting in storage. All it needs is a new building.

“This library has such fantastic energy,” said Fickett. “It’s such a small building with so much going on.”

Voting takes place Tuesday, March 10, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at New Boston Central School.

New Boston monthly dinners, presentations foster togetherness

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:47:00 GMT

BY SALLY BRZOZOWSKI

Edward Everett has delivered his famous speech more than 137 times, but Friday was the first time that his speech followed a dinner of lasagna and chocolate truffle cake at the New Boston Community Church.

Everett, as portrayed by the actor Jim Cooke, visited New Hampshire on Friday to speak to a group of attendees who braved the cold for a chance to enrich their community and their minds. In his first incarnation, Edward Everett was known as one of the world’s most-famous orators, “the likes of Frank Sinatra,” according to Richard Katula, who just published a book on this friend of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. Everett was “the other speaker at Gettysburg,” the one who spoke for almost two hours before President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.

This is the fourth year that residents of New Boston have enjoyed presentations and dinners together at the New Boston Community Church in what Butch Locke calls “a magical marriage with the library.”

Locke is on the Community Church’s Stewardship Committee, and was one of the organizers of Friday’s dinner.

Gail Parker also serves on the committee and arranges speakers and presentations on behalf of the Whipple Free Library Perspectives program. The Perspectives program started 10 years ago, but has thrived since its union with the community dinners.

“Perspectives is a way to give adults in this small New England town a new perspective, a chance to broaden their horizons,” said Parker.

Jed Callen, who has supported the program since it began, says the program came about when some residents realized the town had many programs to offer its youth, but very few opportunities for adults to expand their horizons. Now, the program has seen many visitors speak on diverse topics.

“We’ve had a doctor who visited Antarctica,” said Parker, “and a talk about the Big Dig, and then the next month someone came and talked about all the antiques they found during that construction project.”

“There was someone who talked about the last days of Marilyn Monroe, and two of the players from A League of Their Own visited once. We’ve also had local people who have something to share,” added Callen.

“Just because the talk is in the church doesn’t mean that there’s a connection to religion. We’ve had people in to talk about UFOs and aliens; really, the connection between this dinner and the Perspectives program is about serving the community.”

The dining room at the church was filled with guests sitting at round tables, making new friends and catching up with regulars.

Among them was 11-year-old Alexia Gorton. She was joined by her mother, brother, classmates, and other Community Church members who made sure the rotating group of diners were well-outfitted with everything, including dressing, lasagna, coffee and lemonade.

Bib and Verna Elliott, longtime residents of New Boston, dined on lasagna before moving to the next room to hear about Edward Everett.

“We’ve attended quite a few of them,” said Verna of the dinners. “It’s interesting, and it gives me a chance to find out what’s going on.”

The next community dinner takes place March 20 at 5:30 p.m. and will be followed by the annual library auction, both at the Community Church in New Boston.

For more information on Whipple Free Library Perspectives, visit www.whipplefreelibrary.org.

New Boston man dies in excavator accident

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:52:00 GMT

BY STEPHEN BEALE

A New Boston man died Monday, Feb. 9, at his home when an excavator malfunctioned, striking him with its bucket, according to New Boston police.

John B. Zyla, 38, of 306 Wilson Hill Road, was near the Caterpillar excavator while his lifelong friend, Wayne Nichols, 38, of 151 Kimball Pond Road in Dunbarton was using it to push over some trees in the backyard of the New Boston home.

Around 10:30 a.m., the hydraulics controlling the boom of the excavator malfunctioned without any warning, causing the bucket to fall and hit Zyla, according to police. “The driver made all efforts to correct,” said New Boston police Cpl. Richard Widener. “It was one of those accidents. There was no warning.”

Zyla was pronounced dead at the scene by a representative of state Medical Examiner’s Office. The boom was removed by the New Boston highway and fire departments.

State and local authorities have concluded the incident was an accident.

“At this stage in the investigation there are no charges pending and there does not appear to be any negligence on the part of the operator,” police said in a statement.

Representatives of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration showed up but did not participate in the investigation because Nichols was doing the work as a friend and had not been hired as a contractor by Zyla, according to Widener.

Zyla is the son of John T. and Dorothy Zyla of Goffstown and served as warehouse manager at his family’s business, John Zyla Inc. in Merrimack.

Calling hours will be Thursday, Feb. 12, from 4 to 8 p.m., at French and Rising Funeral Home in Goffstown. Funeral services will be Friday, Feb. 13, at 10 a.m., at the funeral home.

$119,195 cut from New Boston school default budget

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:04:00 GMT

BY PATRICK O’NEILL

An amendment to the operating budget for this year was made to the New Boston School District warrant at the deliberative session of School District Meeting at New Boston Central School on Tuesday, Feb. 2.

Article 3 in the warrant, which originally called for an increase from the default budget of $10,456,342 to $10,497,147 was amended at the session to $10,337,147.

Board members indicated that the decrease originated from the decrease of the Goffstown School District’s budget. “Our budget was proposed before their recalculation,” said Marti Wolf, School Board chairman.

Because the New Boston School Board contributes tuition to Goffstown to allow New Boston students to go to Goffstown schools, when Goffstown decreased their budget, New Boston’s tuition payments were decreased, leading to a lower budget.

Residents also discussed the other warrant article, increases in salaries and benefits for support staff at New Boston schools. The new three-year collective bargaining agreement made between the New Boston School Board and the New Boston Support Staff Association would allow for the following increases over the next three academic years:
• $37,575 in 2009-10
• $39,245 in 2010-11
• $41,715 in 2011-12

The motion to place the article on the ballot passed. Voting on the articles will be March 10 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at New Boston Central School. Voters will also choose one member for the School Board for a three-year term.

New library center of discussion in New Boston

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:54:00 GMT

BY PATRICK O’NEILL

A new library could open in New Boston by January 2010 if residents approve it on the March ballot.

Residents and town officials discussed this, among other items on the town warrant, Monday, Feb. 2, at the deliberative session of Town Meeting.

Eric Seidel, chairman of the Board of Library Trustees, presented a plan to build a $1.46 million library east of Route 13 between the post office and Piscataquog River. The warrant article requests a bond of $499,000 from the town to cover part of the cost.

“We are completely out of space,” said Seidel of the current Whipple Free Library. “The shelves are completely full. Seating is extremely limited. We have only three computers. At the same time, usage of the library is up considerably.”

The new library plan would allow for the construction of a one-story, 5,200-square-foot library, twice the size of the current one. In addition to having double the capacity for materials, an expanded children’s room and circulation desk, the new library would also have a new community program room.

“We’ll be able to provide better programming,” said Seidel on the new room, which could become a cultural center for the town. “We can envision a lot of activity.”

According to the trustees’ plan, if the bond is passed at the March vote, construction would begin in May, finish in December, and the new library would be open in January 2010.

Fifty-nine percent of the plan is privately funded, according to Seidel, with fundraising by the library trustees and money in the library capital reserve fund. The cost of a $499,000 bond to taxpayers would be an average of 10 cents per $1,000 assessed property value, or $20 on a $200,000 home.

“This is a project that’s long been overdue,” said Selectman Dave Woodbury. “This is a very good time to take on this project.” Some residents questioned the legitimacy of the project given the current economic downturn. Almost all residents in attendance approved the motion to put the article on the March ballot.

Other issues at the deliberative session included the operating budget for 2009. The town is requesting a 4.5 percent increase in the operating budget to $3,888,987. The increase is half of what it has been in previous years, at 9 percent, mostly due to the economy. After some debate, the motion to place the article on the March ballot passed.

Residents discussed another article which would not allow dogs to run at-large and out of the control of their owner. Police Chief Christopher Krajenka spoke about the growing issue of loose dogs in the town.

“I’ve had numerous complaints,” said Krajenka at the meeting. “Currently, I have no way to enforce (a law).”

If the article passes in March, it will be unlawful for a dog to run at-large unless accompanied by the owner or when used for hunting, herding, etc. The motion was passed by all those in attendance.

All other articles up for deliberation passed. Some included the purchase of a 10-wheel dump truck to improve roads during the winter and an energy audit of the Town Hall.

In addition to the articles discussed, residents will vote for a selectman, cemetery trustee, fire ward, library trustee, trustee of the trust take place March 10 at New Boston Central School from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Horses rescued from frigid pool

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:41:00 GMT

BY SARAH LEBRUN

Jumping into a frigid swimming pool was not what New Boston Fire Chief Dan Mac- Donald expected to do when he responded to a call for help on Friday, Jan. 30.

But that is what he and rescue crews from New Boston and Francestown did to rescue two horses – Zoey, a seven-month pregnant mare, and Cole, a gelding – that fell into an in-ground pool at 206 Colburn Road in New Boston.

“I was unloading hay and left the gate open,” said owner Joan Carley. “The snow was so deep they went into the garden area, and by the time I came up behind them, one was sitting in the pool.”

MacDonald arrived on the scene at 5:06 p.m. and immediately told Carley to call the veterinarian. He and another firefighter then put ropes around the horses’ necks to keep their heads above water.

Appoximately 20 firefighters responded to the call, including New Boston firefighter Dick Moody and his wife, Betsy. The two train horses and were able to help properly place rescue straps around each horse so as not to hurt them.

By 5:43 p.m., both horses were out of the water. MacDonald estimates the horses probably spent about one hour in the water.

“We hung around for another 45 minutes or so to help dry the horses,” said MacDonald, “but everyone was gone by 6:30 p.m. It’s the kind of rescue fire departments don’t do all the time.”

Carley said the horses are doing fine now.

“It took them about a day or two to recover, but now they’re right as rain,” said Carley.

New Boston Police acquire Tasers

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:34:00 GMT

BY STEPHEN BEALE

At the end of a three-day binge of drugs and alcohol, an angry former lumberjack was confronted by police, and only one thing stood between them – a Taser gun fired by a state police trooper.

The confrontation was triggered by a call to police on Christmas Eve a year ago when a man allegedly pulled a shotgun on his mother and brother. When local police arrived, a New Boston officer who knew the man tried to talk him down. At the very last second, the man was going to charge the officer, when Chief Christopher Krajenka nodded to the trooper to take him down with a Taser.

Since the man did not have the shotgun with him at the time, the officer would not have used a gun to defend himself. Without the Taser, police would have had to wrestle the man under control.

“That sold me, when I observed that, the fact that I can cut liability with regard to injuries,” Krajenka said. “All of us can get our butt kicked. We’re all human. We’re not invincible and knowing that I’ve got officers out there with a weapon that could protect them and keep them from getting injured, I couldn’t be happier.”

The week before Thanksgiving, the New Boston Police Department got its own set of eight Taser guns at a cost of $13,000. There are 126 departments with Tasers in New Hampshire, but New Boston is one of the first smaller ones to acquire the weapons, according to Police Chief Chris Krajenka.

The Tasers New Boston officers carry with them have been substituted for pepper spray, a messy and inefficient way of bringing down a suspect that usually affects all those in the vicinity, including the officer, Krajenka said. There also is a potential fire hazard if the Taser were somehow to ignite the spray.

So far, New Boston officers have not had to fire or even draw them. Given how painful the experience can be, wouldbe assailants tend be less likely to challenge officers. Once they see the red laser sight aimed at them, they tend to become “very cooperative,” Krajenka said. The Tasers also can be easily distinguished from guns by their yellow color, which police will continue to carry.

Though less lethal than a gun, Tasers are not necessarily less painful. The weapon fires two small dartlike electrodes, which stay connected to the main unit by conductive wire.

During training, Krajenka said he and another officer experienced what it was like to be on the business end of a Taser.

“It’s the most excruciating thing I’ve been through. I wouldn’t wish it on anybody,” he said. “All of us were like, ‘Nice experience, but once in a lifetime.’”

Restaurant owner cooked for presidents, other dignitaries in D.C.

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:01:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

During the week leading up to Bill Clinton’s 1993 presidential inauguration, Damian Martineau and several other chefs teamed up to make special treats for the inaugural balls – 25,000 saxophone-shaped shortbread cookies.

It’s one of the memorable highlights of the nearly 24 years Martineau spent in the nation’s capital, where at times he cooked for some of the highest dignitaries in government, including presidents, ambassadors, cabinet members and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“I don’t believe that I would have met the people that I met, cooked for the people I cooked (for), rubbed elbows with the people I rubbed elbows with, in my entire life had I not taken this career path,” said Martineau, 45, a professional chef.

Martineau, who now lives in Bedford, took an interest in cooking as a teenager working in a Pelham restaurant. At The 76 Restaurant and Pub, Martineau rose from dishwasher to line cook.

“It was a good introduction to food,” recalled Martineau. “They say when you enter the food industry, you get bit by the bug and you can’t get it out of your system. That’s what happened to me. I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”

After graduating in 1980 from Pelham High School, where he baked and cooked during home economics classes, Martineau refined his professional trade at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y.

Following cooking stints in Nashua, Montreal and Connecticut, Martineau began a 24-year stretch working in the Washington, D.C., area.

Seventeen of those years were spent working as a corporate chef for Guest Services Inc., a company with contracts to cook meals for employees at many federal agencies, including the Pentagon, the State Department, the Department of Justice and the Central Intelligence Agency. The work required Martineau to obtain government security clearance.

“We cooked for all the brass for the Pentagon,” he said.

Martineau has cooked for Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, secretaries of state; and Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, twice met George H.W. Bush, and won Hillary Clinton’s appreciation for his service on Team Nutrition, which helped the U.S. Department of Agriculture improve its school lunch program.

“I was never a big political junkie,” said Martineau, an independent voter, who was not politically active. “Of course, in Washington, you’re bombarded with (politics) every day.”

Martineau has worked in kitchens where agents from the Secret Service brought dogs through to sniff for bombs, and has prepared meals for presidents under the agency’s watchful eyes.

One day when Martineau was cooking in a kitchen, agents escorted Bill Clinton through the room.

“They don’t want people to know what route they’re going to take,” said Martineau. “They always have three or four ways of getting in and three or four ways of getting out.”

Martineau has also made meals for famous newsmen – Brit Hume and Sam Donaldson among them – and cooked at a law firm where John Roberts, the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, practiced law.

Martineau acknowledges being “a little star struck” when he first began cooking for famous people. But eventually, he said, the novelty wore off.

Martineau currently runs Damian’s On the River restaurant in New Boston, a refined casual dining establishment he opened in July 2007.

On the day the old restaurant building on the site was being auctioned, Martineau – with a cell phone in one hand and a saute pan in the other – was cooking a luncheon for President George W. Bush in Virginia while placing his bid.

Life in Washington had changed dramatically following the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks. The stress of working in the nation’s capital, and the desire to raise his four sons away from the city and closer to his large New Hampshire family, prompted Martineau and his wife, Sonia, to move to Bedford last year.

Despite leaving Washington, he has fond memories and keeps a collection of memorabilia, some of which are on display in his restaurant.

A photo of him and Hillary Clinton hangs on a wall. A bottle of champagne from Bill Clinton’s 1993 inaugural sits on the dessert case.

Martineau also has a small bottle of champagne with the presidential seal from Ronald Reagan’s presidency, an autographed tie clip from the first President Bush, a photo of him with Attorney General Janet Reno and a wristwatch featuring the presidential seal.

During his tenure in Washington, Martineau became a member of the American Academy of Chefs, the honor society of the American Culinary Federation.

Henry Haller, who spent 22 years as the White House Executive Chef, nominated him.

Martineau also served five years as president of the Nation’s Capital Chef’s Association. During his tenure, he increased the organization’s membership from 80 to 400 members and vastly improved its finances – from being in debt to having more than $100,000 in the bank.

In 1992, the group raised more than $250,000 for charity.

Since opening his restaurant, he’s donated 700 pastries to the Bedford Rotary Club for its pasta dinner and gave away free ice cream cones to the 250 children participating in Goffstown Public Library’s summer reading program.

“I’ve always believed if God gives you a talent, use it for good,” he said.

New Boston cider mill celebrates 100 years

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:29:00 GMT

BY SARAH LEBRUN

The 1908 New Boston cider mill, owned by Bob and Eileen Belanger, celebrated its 100th anniversary over Columbus Day weekend, Oct. 11 and 12.

The mill used to be part of the Valley View Farm, owned by J.R. Whipple. It produced sweet cider and cider champagne for his Boston hotels in the early 1900s.

Bob purchased the mill in 1974 after seeing the mill advertised in Yankee Magazine. The mill was in operation until the early 1990s, making both apple cider and cider vinegar. By then, both Bob and Eileen had full-time jobs and did not have the time to continue running the cider press each day.

“It’s a lot of work,” said Eileen, explaining that each time the cider press is used, there is approximately two hours of clean-up time involved. Though the press is no longer run on a regular basis, it does operate each Columbus Day weekend.

“We pride ourselves in keeping that apparatus still operating said Bob.

Each year, a group of apple growers from the New Hampshire area close in on the mill to press their own apples into cider. And beginning in 2007, the Belangers began a fundraiser to donate proceeds of apple cider sales to the New Hampshire Food Bank.

“Last year, we raised $700, and this year, we raised close to $2,000,” said Eileen. The mill also houses Eileen’s art studio and gallery, The Cider Mill Gallery, which opened over Columbus Day weekend. Eileen creates murals and other fine arts. She also designs and paints furniture for Old English Woods in Goffstown.

It will be open by appointment, during special exhibits or events, and when the open flag is out. Private lessons will also be available.

“It’s more of a place for people to come see what I do, see me painting and to meet with clients,” said Eileen. For more information, call 487-5522.