Pelham News

Pelham High School reaches playoffs; coach seeks year-round commitment to improve

2009-11-04T22:41:00Z

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The Pelham girls volleyball season lasted one match longer than recent years. Thanks to a three-win campaign, the Pythons earned a playoff berth before falling to undefeated top seed Hollis- Brookline in straight sets on Thursday, Oct. 29.

Pelham was overmatched by the Cavaliers from the start, falling 25-14, 25-11 and 25-18.

While the Pythons’ efforts didn’t pay off on the scoreboard, extended points on many occasions thanks to diving efforts and digs on hardhit shots.

Alex Hall led the Pythons with 16 digs, while Kathryn Mostone managed eight digs and seven blocks. Roxanne Lapierre chipped in six digs as well.

“For us, our defense is always a mark of what we’re doing well,” said Pelham head coach Jen Nugent. “Our defense has been much improved. It’s gotten better with every match.”

The team secured its postseason berth on Oct. 19 with a 3-1 road victory over John Stark, thanks in large part to 10 kills and 17 blocks by Jacqui Perry. Mostone also had a solid match, contributing 16 digs and 14 blocks.

Nugent had only one bench player during her team’s playoff match, making it difficult for the Pythons to keep up with the Hollis-Brookline’s high-octane attack.

Pelham hung close early in the first game, trimming the deficit to 11-8 before the home team pulled away.

The Cavaliers controlled the second game, but in the third frame Pelham grabbed its first lead of the match, 4- 1, with Kelsey Kenney at the service line.

Kenney led the Pythons with 11 service points and an ace.

The Cavaliers recaptured an 11-10 edge, and although Pelham took a 14-13 lead, Hollis-Brookline dominated the remainder of the match to proceed to the Division II quarterfinals.

Nugent said her team was excited to have gained the No. 16 seed.

“We have a lot of girls interested in being on the team, but it’s just about getting them to buy into playing year-round to continue to improve,” said Nugent. “It’s my goal to get them to love it so much, they don’t want to stop.”

Pelham Police adopt new texting tip system

2009-11-04T22:24:00Z

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Residents can let local law enforcement know at the push of a button if they’ve seen a crime, thanks to an anonymous text message tip system.

Tip411 is the newest feature of Citizen Observer, a Web-based community alert program the Pelham Police Department adopted last fall, said Chief Joseph Roark. Now residents can report suspicious activity by texting the department rather than making a call, he said.

“We’ve had people in the past create fictitious e-mails to send us tips, and we’re excited to give people an option to send it in really quickly and directly,” Roark said. “It comes right into our dispatch center, and it looks like an instant messaging screen. The tip comes in, and they’ll look at the tip and distribute this to the appropriate division.”

Though the messages are received anonymously, the department can use the program to get back in contact with tipsters to follow up even without knowing who they are, Roark said.

The program also allows two-way communication.

Local police can now broadcast emergency information to cell phones to use all those extra eyes and ears to help find missing persons or solve crimes.

Tip411 comes at no additional cost, said Roark, other than the $2,500 annually the department already spends for Citizen Observer.

The company first offered a text message tip service about two years ago, said Dan Zell, Tip411’s national program manager. Law enforcement agencies in 45 states are now enrolled, ranging from major metropolitan departments like Detroit to small towns like Pelham, he said.

“It’s a smaller agency that has access to resources that typically only large communities and agencies would have access to,” Zell said. “With their use of it, they’re kind of leveraging a loop of communication that engages citizens … as well as enabling the community to engage them.”

Turning to residents to help solve or prevent crimes isn’t a new idea in police work, said Jim Pasco, executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police in Washington, D.C. “All you’re really doing is using one of the oldest concepts in policing: knowing your neighborhood and letting your neighbors know you,” Pasco said. “That goes back to the cop walking the beat and taking that concept, which is tried and true, and applying new technology in communications. It’s the next logical step.”

Police departments adapt to the times, he said. A quick exchange of information is crucial in the first hour after a crime is committed and doubly so in a hostage or abduction scenario, Pasco said.

Roark said he hopes the program will make it more comfortable for members of the “text-friendly” generation to reach out to police. Since rolling out Citizen Observer, the department has had 350 residents sign up for e-mail alerts. Getting information out to the public has helped solve crimes and fosters a working relationship with residents, he said.

That’s something Roark would like to see continue. “It’s a way to reach people in a society that’s instantaneous. We have to adapt,” Roark said. “We can’t (mail) newsletters like we used to do. People want their information very quickly and very easy to digest. It’s been outstanding and worked very well.”

To begin using Tip411, text “PELHAM” to 847411 to register for alerts. The department recommends users store the number on their phone for quick access. Anyone can submit a tip online at www.pelham police.com, sign up for e-mail alerts or learn more about the program.

Tip411 should never be used in an emergency and is not a replacement for 911, the department says. All life- or property-threatening emergencies should be reported by calling 911.

Falling tree takes trick-or-treater’s life

2009-11-04T22:16:00Z

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Flowers and handwritten notes have grown around the stump of a white birch brought down by high winds, killing 10-year-old Christian Gualtieri while he was trick-or-treating in Pelham on Oct. 31.

The day after Christian was pronounced dead at the Saints Memorial Medical Center in Lowell, Mass., a single arrangement of flowers and a handwritten note reading “We love and miss you Christian” marked the location of the tragedy at 14 Fineview Circle. A silent vigil of teddy bears and stuffed animals now rings the stump. Others placed bouquets of flowers and homemade cards.

“We will miss you, our prayers will go out to your family,” reads one. “Don’t think of him as gone away. His journey has just begun. Rest in peace,” read another.

Christian was trick-or-treating near his Susan Drive home trick-or-treating with about 20 neighborhood children when a strong gust of wind snapped the tree about 6:35 p.m., authorities said. He was at the end of a driveway away from the other children.

Nancy Gualtieri, Christian’s grandmother, said his loss devastated the family.

“We’re not doing well at all,” she said, who struggled to maintain her composure.

Gualtieri described her grandson as a wonderful boy with a great personality. He was caring, funny and an athlete. The night he died, Christian dressed up as a clown, she recalled.

“He was my baby and I took care of him a lot when he was little,” Gualtieri said. “He was what a grandmother would always want in a grandson.”

Christian was a fifth-grader at Saint Jeanne d’Arc School in Lowell, Mass., his grandmother said, and would have celebrated his 11th birthday Nov. 5.

“There is no rational explanation for this tragedy,” wrote Sister Prescille Malo, Christian’s principal, in a statement. “His smile was contagious and affability was his trademark. As a faith community we will deal with this challenge in prayer and mutual support.”

In the wake of Christian’s death, grief counseling is available at the school, Malo said. Counseling also is available at Pelham Elementary, according to principal Alicia LaFrance.

A few students asked to speak with counselors yesterday, LaFrance said. Parents were alerted to the accident by the school’s e-mail system Sunday, she said.

Though he attended private school, Pelham school officials are treating Christian’s death as they would the loss of any student in the community, said Frank Bass, superintendent of schools. In the days ahead, Bass plans to reach out to the family.

Christian’s parents could not be reached for comment.

Neighbor Joanne Anderson echoed Christian’s grandmother, calling the tragedy “devastating.” “It’s the timing,” she said. “It could have fallen at any time, and it picked that time. As a Christian, I have to believe that God allowed it to happen.”

Young, sub-.500 PHS has an air of success that its coach has already seen

2009-10-28T19:14:00Z

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

There aren’t many similarities between lacrosse and soccer, yet Matt Regan is still experiencing an enjoyable case of deja vu.

Regan coached the Pelham High School lacrosse team that was 2-12 in 2008 and a state semifinalist in 2009. He senses a similar turnaround for his soccer squad, one that ended its season with a 6-2 victory against visiting Milford on Friday, Oct. 23.

Following the triumph, the Pythons concluded their 2009 campaign with a 4-12-0 record. The team does not lose a senior off its roster.

“I was able to do it with lacrosse because we had a lot of talented juniors who became seniors and rose to a whole new level,” said Regan. “By doing that, they bring everyone with them.”

Sophomore forward Alec Paradis connected on a feed from junior Ryan White midway through the first half, giving Pelham a 1-0 edge.

White concluded the firsthalf scoring when he found the back of the net five minutes prior to intermission, extending the lead to 2-0.

Evan Skinner, also a sophomore, scored early in the second half to give his team a three-goal lead, and the outcome was not in doubt again.

The Pelham starting lineup against Milford included five juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen, including one who should be central to the PHS attack for years to come.

Rafeal Decampos is a tall and powerful player who possesses tremendous abilities both with the ball and in the air, said Regan, though the mentor understands his young midfielder has work to do.

“When he’s on his game, everyone molds around him,” said Regan. “The games he played good, we won. The games we lost, well, he was a freshman. He’s going to be a spectacular player.” DeCampos and Peter Figurito also scored for Pelham, while Brian Finney made eight saves.

Sophomore Derrick Defranzo has started his first two years at the school and was recently joined up front by Paradis, previously a midfielder.

The Pelham mentor said he’s excited about the duo’s potential thanks to the speed and quickness each possesses. “You can tell they’re sophomores,” said Regan. “They’re still raw. If we can hone those skills, they’re going to be extremely hard to defend in the next couple of years.”

Despite its poor record overall, Pelham has shown glimpses of what could await Class I foes in the near future. On Oct. 13, the Pythons fell to Oyster River by a lone tally in overtime, and on Oct. 20 Pelham led Bedford until late in the contest before falling to the Bulldogs, 2-1. Those two teams have 19 wins between them, and both reached the Class I postseason tournament. PHS also beat playoff-bound Laconia on Sept. 30, 3-1.

As was the case for his lacrosse team, Regan said offseason play is key to ensuring forward momentum continues.

“They had been struggling and had some tough years. They had to get it out of their heads that the teams they were playing were better than they are,” said Regan. “We can play with these teams now.”

Pelham school district donates house to Fire Department

2009-10-28T17:50:00Z

BY DERRICK PERKINS

For Fire Chief James Midgely, it’s the gift that keeps giving – a 17-room, two-story home donated by the school district to the department for handson practice.

Saturday, Oct. 24, marked the first of many training sessions Pelham Fire Chief James Midgely will hold in a Burns Road home. It’s an opportunity the department hasn’t had since 2003, Midgely said.

“It’s not often that you get to work in a building, and we’re going to have it for an extended period of time,” he said. “We get a building and we get to beat the heck out of it.”

Here’s the scenario: Lt. Greg Atwood is on his hands and knees doing a sweep of a smoke-filled first floor room when the fire-ravaged ceiling collapses, leaving him caught in a nest of wires and cables.

But Atwood isn’t alone. He has instructor Pat “PJ” Johnson from Kittery, Maine, to lead him through the drill. Johnson sits off to the side where he can talk to Atwood while operating a contraption simulating a collapsed ceiling – a tangle of electrical wiring strung from a rope. The “smoke” is crumpled wax paper stuffed into Atwood’s mask.

The home is a boon to a department that normally holds weekly drills inside Town Hall and has few opportunities to train at the New Hampshire Fire Academy in Concord, Midgely said. Just walking through what to do in this situation or that scenario isn’t enough, according to Midgely. Sometimes hacking through a wall is a lot more instructive, he said.

“There are things you can’t do unless you have a building you can destroy,” Midgely said. “Simulation only goes so far, talking about things can only go so far.” That wasn’t lost on firefighter Patrick Weaver. Having a real building to use was “the most educational training” out there, he said.

Superintendent Frank Bass said the School Board purchased the $124,000 home and 3.5 acres on Oct. 15. The district wants use the land as additional parking space for the high school or a permanent kindergarten facility. Either way the home will be demolished, he said. Once the sale was completed, the board decided to ask the Fire Department if they wanted to use the home for training, Bass said. “(Bass) sent me an e-mail asking if we wanted it and I said, ‘Heck yeah we want it,’” Midgely said.

Bass dropped off the keys last Monday and Midgely has been busy organizing firefighting drills ever since. He’s opened the building up to other area departments as well, including nearby Hudson, Salem and Windham. The Dracut, Mass., Fire Department has already signed on, he said.

After long struggles, Pelham girls soccer program is improving

2009-10-14T19:23:00Z

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Pelham girls soccer players, all too familiar with the agony of defeat, are starting to experience the thrill of victory.

The Pythons, frequently winless in recent campaigns, have won two contests in recent weeks, a small step for second-year head coach Amy Alfaro, who continues to instill a new attitude in her players.

“Last year we would lose by four goals, and they were happy. I didn’t understand it,” said Alfaro. “They’re used to losing. Until recently, none of these girls knew what it felt like to win at the high school level.”

On Friday, Oct. 9, Pelham knocked off ConVal, 1- 0, when Kayla Soares scored four minutes into the second overtime session to help the Pythons improve to 2-9 on the year.

Pelham appeared to have scored the go-ahead goal with 10 minutes remaining when Soares and Brianna Diaz converged undefended on a through-ball in front of the keeper, finding the back of the net.

The goal was disallowed thanks to an offside call by the official, and the game remained scoreless. Though Alfaro said she did not believe the offside call was correct, she said it helped her team come away with the win.

“They were frustrated,” said Alfaro. “That call fueled them, and they used it to put pressure on (for) the rest of the game.”

Gina Grimes kept the visitors off the scoreboard throughout the game, using her aggressive goalkeeping style to break up chances and preserve her first shutout of the year.

Nine minutes into the first half, Grimes stopped the best ConVal threat of the game when she extended fully and knocked a low shot wide that was headed for the lower right-hand corner of the net.

Grimes used the muddy field conditions to her advantage, constantly racing to the outskirts of the box and sliding at the feet of attackers to grab the ball before they could put shots on net.

Alfaro said while Grimes has allowed nearly five goals per contest, the freshman has shown a great deal of potential.

“I took this job last year as a favor to a friend, and that favor expires next year,” said Alfaro. “(Grimes) will be the reason I stay beyond that. When an athlete like that comes along, she just makes you want to stay and keep building.”

The keeper’s toughness is undeniable; earlier in the season Grimes suffered a gash that required multiple staples in her head, but she never noticed until the referee stopped play. Grimes had to miss two games due to the injury.

Soares’ goal came from outside the box on the left side, and it was perfectly placed into the top right corner of the net, just as she planned.

“I just want to win,” said Soares. “I was aiming for that spot, and I hit it. It was definitely the high point of the year for us.”

The two teams met again on Monday, Oct. 12, at Con- Val, where the hosts defeated the Pythons, 4-1.

During a late-September contest, Pelham was thumped by Oyster River, 6-0, but Alfaro said that was the moment she saw a change in her team. The Pythons doubled up Laconia, 4-2, in their next scheduled match.

“I’ve been telling them all year about pressuring the ball, and during that (Oyster River) game, something clicked,” the mentor said. “I tell them that when we don’t have the ball, all 11 of them are defenders. They’re starting to get that.”

Crash damage to fire station shows what will happen if road changes

2009-10-14T19:12:00Z

BY DERRICK PERKINS

With the Pelham Fire Station left with only two working bay doors after a motorist rammed the fire house last month, Chief James Midgley is worried the situation is just a glimpse of what is to come. Midgely has had to juggle how emergency vehicles are parked to deal with only having two working front doors out of four since the Sept. 20 accident.

It’s a preview of the future, said Midgely, because if state and local officials redesign roads in the town center as a roundabout, as has been discussed, that would eliminate three bay doors at the fire department, making the temporary situation resulting from the accident permanent.

“If we have to shuffle trucks around, it’s a no-brainer,” he said. “It’s going to slow us down.”

Though Midgely had applied for funding for a new building with federal stimulus money, it does not look likely that the town will receive the aid, he said. Midgely now hopes to put a proposal for a $4.7 million fire station back before the voters in March. That same proposal failed at the ballot earlier this year.

According to Town Administrator Thomas Gaydos, selectman have yet to decide whether they will endorse the move. The board is preparing to take up the warrant article on Oct. 20.

Selectman Edmund Gleason said constructing a new fire house was a high priority for the community. The problems with the existing station, including inadequate storage and personnel space, will only get worse once work on the roadwork begins, according to Gleason.

“The frequency of calls have gone up,” he said. “It’s not something that we can neglect.”

One option to offset the impact of losing the bay doors would be to construct a three-bay out-building with enough space to house the department’s smaller vehicles, including two ambulances.

According to Midgely, some money has been set aside in the $39 million federal earmark funding the roundabout project to mitigate the impact to the station. Whether those funds will be used for an outbuilding remains to be seen, according to Gaydos.

Though the town has no timeline for when work on the roundabout project will begin, Gaydos said the state is preparing to move ahead pending approval from the Governor’s Council.

Initially against a new fire station, six-year resident Bruce Long said he had come around to the idea after watching the town grow up around him.

“(The station) is old, it’s too small and too cramped. The town is still growing, and I believe that the fire department tends to spend its money wisely. That’s the reason why I changed my mind,” he said. “I know its going to impact the tax rate, but still I firmly believe that it was one of the organizations that should be supported a little bit better.”

Pelham falls to Bow, drops in standings, must rebound quickly

2009-09-30T17:45:00Z

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

It’s a task Tom Babaian hasn’t faced in recent years, but the Pelham football head coach must now help his team find a way to bounce back.

After producing undefeated state championships the last two seasons, the Pythons are now 1-2 in Division V play following a heartbreaking 17-14 loss to visiting Bow High School on Friday, Sept. 25.

Pelham clung to a 14-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter, but the Falcons took control of the ball with 6:26 remaining in the contest and drove down to the Pythons’ 10-yard line with 30 seconds remaining.

Bow’s Austin Hill threw a corner end zone fade to a tightly covered Tom Poitras, but the 6-foot-6 receiver reached over the head of the defender and hauled in the go-ahead score.

“We had it covered perfectly. What else are you supposed to do?” said Pelham’s head coach, Tom Babaian.

The Pythons responded rapidly with a threat of their own as Tim Schaffer took the ensuing kickoff and returned it to the Bow 43-yard line with 17 seconds remaining.

Quarterback Joseph DeAngelo had one clean shot at the end zone, but the well-thrown ball fell through his receiver’s hands, and he was sacked while scrambling on the next and final play of the game.

DeAngelo gave his team a lead early on, scoring the game’s first touchdown on a quarterback keeper in the first quarter.

Bow struck back late in the second quarter to knot the score, but DeAngelo and the Pythons answered the call on a 41-second drive that culminated with a touchdown pass to freshman Kevin Cheam with 1:49 remaining until intermission. The second half, however, belonged completely to the Falcons, who possessed the ball for 19 of a possible 24 minutes while pounding into the teeth of the Pelham defense.

The Pythons missed an opportunity just prior to Bow’s game-winning drive. With 8:13 remaining in the contest, Conor McColgan leveled a Bow ball carrier, jarred the ball loose, and Josh Luciano scooped it up at the Falcons’ 31-yard line. But four plays later Pelham turned the ball over on downs, setting up the frantic finish.

Pelham went 22-0 combined in 2007 and 2008, but Babaian said it’s unfair to compare this year’s unit to those teams because of the skilled players and leaders who graduated.

“We are nowhere near the team we were in ’07 and ’08. You have to put that all behind,” said the Pelham mentor. “A lot of (the early struggles) are that they’re still trying to find each other, figure out what their teammates can do.”

Bow head coach Paul Cohen said his team knew coming it faced a difficult foe … and may have to again.

“Do I think they’re a team who can be one of the top contenders in the division? Absolutely,” said Cohen. “If we see them again, we’re going to have to prepare even harder.”

Babaian said his team wants that chance.

“We’re hoping,” he said. “That sure would be nice to get another shot at them.”

Upbeat Pelham High School volleyball dedicated to reversing recent struggles

2009-09-09T18:26:00Z

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Jen Nugent doesn’t mind being target practice.

The Pelham High School girls volleyball coach said she uses unique drills during practice to keep her team’s spirits up while trying to turn around a program that’s stumbled in recent years.

“They feed off of each other, and they’re a supportive group. We like to try to do some things that are fun but also productive,” said Nugent. “Even if that means hitting balls at me.”

Pelham opened its season with a 3-0 home loss to Souhegan, but the team improved in each game.

After falling in the first game, 25-13, the Pythons trimmed the Sabers lead to 22- 18 in the second frame before falling, 25-20.

The final game was the closest of the three, with Pelham close throughout; the score was 21-21 before the Sabers pulled away with a 25- 21 victory.

Nugent said she was happy with her team’s chemistry as the match progressed despite the setback.

“It was all about comfort level,” said Nugent. “It was their first match of the year, so just getting on the court and getting the season started was the big thing towards working the nerves out.”

Second-year captain Jacqui Perry is one of the Pelham leaders after topping the charts for the Pythons in digs, kills and blocks in 2008.

Sophomore Kathryn Mostone brings a determined, all-out style to the team; her mentor said the outside hitter won’t hesitate to hit the floor for a loose ball and also has improved her overall game.

Another player Nugent looks forward to watching this season is Sara Fuller, a junior middle blocker who the coach said shown rapid improvement and, thanks to her hard-hitting ability, a force at the net.

Last year, the team went 1-15, and the coach said she seeks a return to the tenacious defense Python players perfected several years ago, as well as an improved service game.

“We just want to be competitive, and we’ve gone a few years without that,” said Nugent. “It’ll take a lot of hours in the gym – and a lot of dedication.”

Pelham Old Home Day

2009-09-09T18:14:00Z

The 103rd annual Pelham Old Home Day celebration will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Rain date is Saturday, Sept. 19, on the grounds of the First Congregational Church. This year’s theme is Unity in the Community.

Proceeds of the event go to benefit the Nashua Soup Kitchen, Pelham Food Pantry, Pelham Good Neighbor Fund, Lazarus House, Bridges, Nobody’s Children, Church World Services, Habitat for Humanity, Oxfam International, Mercy Corps and Heifer International, just to name a few.

Schedule of events:
8:30 a.m. – 5K road race and walk to benefit Nashua Special Olympics.
9 a.m. – Grounds open, with food tent, country store, craft booths, kids’ games, white elephant table, hourly raffle drawings and more.
9 a.m. – Women’s fellowship country store opens.
9 a.m. – Victor Spaulding Memorial Auction reading of the rules.
9:30 a.m. – Auction begins.
10 a.m. – Penny sale with raffle and theme gift baskets.
11 a.m. – The Legionares, Sue Howard’s jazz band.
Noon – Dance Concepts demonstration
12:45 p.m. – Dog fashion show, featuring Raggmopps.
1:30 p.m. – O’Halloran Irish Dancers.
2:15 p.m. – Family Martial Arts demonstration.
2:30 p.m. – Grand Parade, featuring floats, bands, clowns classic cars, horses and more.
More onstage entertainment.
3 p.m. – Pelham’s Got Talent contest.
3:15 p.m. – Penny sale winners posted.
4 p.m. – Dave Hardwick and Friends, folk rock music..
4 p.m. – 18th annual Pretty Pie contest prize winners posted.
4:30 to 7:30 p.m – Chicken barbecue dinner and takeout, with corn on the cob, salad, rolls, homemade pies and more. Adults, $7; children, $4. Takeout dinners are $7.
5 p.m. – Pelham Old Home Day quilters raffle, drawing on stage. Prize is a 1930s sapler queen size quit. Tickets available at the country store booth.
5 p.m. – Grand prize raffle drawing, on stage. Tickets may be purchased at the Old Home Day raffle booth. Prizes include a Nintendo Wii and other great prizes donated by local businesses.

Pelham resident stabbed during burglary

2009-09-02T18:43:00Z

BY DERRICK PERKINS

A Derry man has been arrested and charged in connection with an attempted burglary that ended in a physical altercation with a Vassar Drive homeowner on Aug. 26.

Now facing first-degree assault and burglary charges, 37-year-old Anthony Richardson was located in Methuen, Mass., and taken into custody by Pelham detectives working alongside local authorities at about 8:45 p.m. that night.

According to police, evidence recovered at the crime scene identified Richardson as the suspect in the attempted breakin and a warrant for his arrest was put out after the homeowner positively identified Richardson in a photo line-up.

At about 10:15 a.m. that morning, the homeowner – listed as Dennis Viger by Vision Appraisal’s online assessors database – arrived at his 3 Vassar Drive residence to find a vehicle parked in his driveway with the trunk open. As the homeowner took down the license plate number of the dark-colored four-door Saturn, Richardson allegedly exited the residence carrying a computer.

Placing the computer in the trunk, Richardson then confronted the homeowner, using a screwdriver as a weapon and sparking a scuffle that left the homeowner with a broken wrist and stab wound to his left bicep, according to authorities. Though the home-owner was able to eventually wrestle the screwdriver away from Richardson and stab him between the ribs with the tool, Richardson was able to flee the scene.

At the time, Lt. Brian McCarthy said that while the homeowner’s encounter with Richardson had not ended badly, the department’s policy was to discourage witnesses to a crime from getting involved.

Officers at the scene said Richardson was unknown to the homeowner, who initially thought the strange vehicle in his driveway may have belonged to a contractor doing work on the residence. Richardson will be held in Massachusetts on fugitive of justice charges until he is remanded to authorities in New Hampshire, police said.

Pelham’s roster includes seasoned returners and talented additions

2009-08-26T18:49:00Z

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Even with summer winding down, Linda Koehler wasn’t excited to have her Saturday calendar unexpectedly cleared. Pelham High School’s field hockey coach preferred following through with her original plans.

The Pythons were set to take part in a four-team jamboree on Saturday, Aug. 22, but the games were canceled due to inclement weather, a disappointment for a coach who wanted to provide game action to a relatively inexperienced squad.

Nine seniors graduated from last year’s Pelham team that finished the 2008 Class I regular season at .500, 6-6-2.

“When I look at the team, numbers-wise I do have returning players,” said the mentor. “Some have some really strong time in at varsity, and some have a spattering of varsity playing time. It is going to be about transitioning (the untested players), and that’s our major focus right now.”

One aspect of the team that should make the transition easier is the relationship between the varsity and JV programs. Several players suit up for both teams, and each squad runs the same system, making it easier for athletes playing varsity for the first time.

Returning players Kally Riddinger and Stephanie Winn, who serve as team captains, lead the group.

Riddinger is the Pythons’ top defender, while Winn is a midfielder. But Koehler said the pair brings more to the team than fine contributions on the field.

“You name it, they do it,” said Koehler. “They’re smart players with a strong varsity background, and they are hardworking, good role models in addition to being solid at their positions. Those are the key elements you look for.”

Kelsie Lynde is one player Koehler expects to improve throughout the season; the junior’s athleticism should help fuel the Pelham offense from midfield to attack.

For Pelham to excel on offense, Koehler said forwards Molly Smith and Keri Foley need to meet their potential; both possess strength in the offensive zone.

The coach also said the 2009 unit is an easy-going bunch with good chemistry. As the season proceeds, Koehler said she hopes to see her inexperienced players develop a better grasp of the game and make some necessary mental adjustments.

“It’s a matter of them realizing that they are more talented players than what they thought, but it’s hard to build that confidence,” said Koehler. “I think they’re much better than what they are giving themselves credit for.”

Fire destroys Pelham mobile home

2009-08-26T18:45:00Z

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Authorities believe the cause of the fire that destroyed a mobile home on Mammoth Road on Aug. 17 was accidental, although the blaze remains under investigation.

According to Fire Chief James Midgley, the fire ignited somewhere in the right rear portion of the mobile home, but officials are still trying to determine what set it off. No one was home when the fire broke out sometime before 6:01 p.m., though the resident of the 556 Mammoth Road mobile home arrived shortly afterward, Midgley said.

According to officials, the resident was later transported to the Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua after suffering serious injuries trying to free his dog from the fire. Midgley said the resident tried to break through a glass door and sliced open his arm in the process. Officials are still trying to locate the dog, according to Midgley.

Authorities are not releasing the name of the resident, though Kevin Edwards is listed under the phone number for the address on yellowpages.com.

Midgley said the fire spread quickly, consuming much of the mobile home in the roughly seven minutes it took his department to respond to the initial report. According to Midgley, mobile home fires are some of the most dangerous fires to fight.

“(The fire) went fast ... The mobile home is constructed out of lightweight stuff and there is not a whole lot of insulation to contain the fire,” he said. “By the time the call was placed the fire had ripped through the place.”

Firefighters had the blaze under control at 6:21 p.m., according to officials.

Pelham received mutual aid from the nearby communities of Hudson, Windham, Salem, Litchfield and Dracut, Mass. Derry and Londonderry covered the fire station during the fire, Midgley said.

Pelham’s Helliwell uses football to help tackle classroom difficulties

2009-08-12T18:57:00Z

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Bill Helliwell decided to give high school one more shot.

Now, he’s giving college a shot.

During his freshman year of high school, Helliwell decided school was not for him, and for the last month of the year he didn’t attend, instead getting a full-time job that he worked at throughout that summer.

Toward the end of the summer, Helliwell decided to give the classroom a final chance, and that year he found the football field.

Through his gridiron participation, Helliwell learned dedication that transcended his position as a defensive tackle.

“Football changed my life, which is why I have such a respect for the sport,” said Helliwell, who wound up on the honor roll and graduated with high honors. “It wasn’t just about playing a game. Football changed me as a person.”

Python head coach Tom Babaian instilled the work ethic that helped Helliwell on the football field, and the mentor also kept an eye on the tackle in the hallways of the school to make sure he was staying out of trouble.

“Coach rode us hard,” said Helliwell. “He would be on our case, and he’d tell us that when you’re tired, you don’t give up. You will not stop, because you’re going for that one goal. I applied that to everything, and that’s what made me realize that school wasn’t that difficult.”

One of Helliwell’s closest Python teammates was star running back Bruce Vieira, as the two developed a friendship while training together each summer.

“Coach was a big factor in (Helliwell’s progress),” said Vieira. “He always pushed Bill to his limits and a little bit past them. He could have given up on Bill from the get go, but he gave him a chance and it paid off with him becoming an allstate player.”

Helliwell’s high school career culminated with a berth in the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, where he earned a starting spot.

Thanks to his hard work in the classroom and participation in night classes to make up for the time he missed, Helliwell will also be attending Husson University, where he will play football.

Though Vermont’s offensive line during the Shrine Bowl implemented a different strategy than Helliwell was accustomed to, he was still able to apply pressure during New Hampshire’s 40-6 victory on Saturday, August 1.

“For throwing a team together in two weeks, we did a great job of meshing together as a team,” said Helliwell, who also said he’s ready to take the field for Husson after his Shrine experience. “I’ve got the football fever now.”

Helliwell admitted he was tired in the first half, but got his legs underneath him and came out strong in the second half, getting penetration and recording several tackles. Seeing his friend named to the game had a big impact on Vieira.

“The path he took was quite a path, going from where he was to making the Shrine Bowl,” said Vieira. “Being a part of that and helping him in school and football really was something that meant a lot to me as well.”

The victory was secondary for Helliwell, who was excited to have been named to the team because it signified just how far he had come.

“A few years ago nobody would believe that I’d make it to the Shrine Bowl when nobody thought I was going to be anything,” said Helliwell. “It was the best day of my life.”

Pelham Library goes fine free

2009-08-05T18:26:00Z

Are you concerned about returning your overdue library materials because of the mounting fines on your account? The Pelham Public Library wants you to know that we understand the rough economic times that face us these days and we want to help.

Introducing Fine-Free Fridays: Starting on Friday, Aug. 7, bring back your overdue materials and we will wipe away the fines with a smile. Think of how good it will feel to start fresh with a clean slate.

Library director Sue Hoadley said Fine-Free Friday is not only good for patrons, but also good for the library.

“Basically, all we want is our books back. It’s much more important to have the materials back in circulation for other patrons to enjoy than to collect the fine money.”

So, look under those beds, search between those couch cushions and stimulate your own economic future at the Pelham Public Library.

The Pelham Public Library is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursday, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call the library at 635-7581 or visit the Web site at www.pelhamweb.com/library.

Note: Replacement costs for lost or damaged items are not included in Fine-Free Friday.