Salem Observer : Salem, Concord

It’s back to Concord for Garcia

Salem Editor — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:51:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

When the parents of Republican state Rep. Marilinda Garcia looked north from Massachusetts for a new home in the Granite State, they moved for the very things she wants to preserve with her return to Concord.

“They wanted a larger yard for their kids, more opportunities for educational experiences, (the chance to) play tennis and baseball and all these different things. We really didn’t have those opportunities in Massachusetts,” Garcia said.

“My parents wanted a better standard of living for myself and my brother and sister.”

On April 28, the 26-year-old Garcia easily secured the vacant District 4 seat in the New Hampshire House – encompassing the two southern communities of Windham and Salem – after beating rival Sheila Murray in a special election. Garcia had previously served a term in the House from 2006 to 2008, but lost her re-election bid last fall. The District 4 seat opened up earlier this year after Republican Mark Pearson vacated his seat to take a job in Hudson.

As Garcia looks forward to serving out the rest of Pearson’s term, she hopes to safeguard the New Hampshire advantage, from keeping the state attractive to business owners and entrepreneurs to maintaing the Granite State’s natural beauty. A harpist, Garcia said the opportunity to travel as a performer had helped her keep her appreciation of her home state.

“Growing up, I played a lot with traveling orchestras. I’ve been fortunate to see much of the world and across the United States,” said Garcia, who also holds a degree from the New England Conservatory of Music as well as a degree from Tufts University. “There are some places that have charm ... but New Hampshire, I’m always happy to come back to.”

Her background in the performing arts has also allowed her to connect with children as a music teacher and aided her as an elected official in Concord. Years of being on the stage taught her how to present herself calmly in front of large audiences, taking away the nervousness associated with public speaking, she said.

Donna Sytek, a former Speaker of the New Hampshire House and a mentor of Garcia’s, said the 26-year-old candidate impressed her with her character as well as her ability to put a young face on traditional Republican values.

“I met her as a candidate and she was so unusual, her being young, a woman and being so capable. I was impressed with her confidence ... She’s not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, and to find a young person who is so confident is a rare combination,” Sytek said. “It’s certainly encouraging for us to have somebody to pass the torch to.”

For the time being, Garcia is focusing on her district seat and becoming an effective legislator as well as finishing up her master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. But her return to Concord has drawn attention from across the state.

Former Gov. John H. Sununu, current chairman of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, praised Garcia as a great candidate and hard worker.

“We were very pleased with the result (of the election),” Sununu said. “We think she represents the kind of young Republican that is certainly important to the party, and since she is so informed and well spoken, we’re looking for great things from her.”

Garcia, Murray to vie for open House seat

Salem Editor — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:12:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

With the votes tallied from the March 24 primary, two local women are now set to go head to head for the open District 4 House seat.

Former state representative and Salem resident Marilinda Garcia handily defeated three other Republican candidates at the ballot box, putting her on the path toward regaining a position in Concord.

Garcia garnered 742 votes, with challengers James Holland, 272, Edward DeClercq, 80, and Donna Mauro, 32, falling short.

The 25-year-old Garcia will now face off against Democrat Sheila Murray, 63, in the April 28 special election. Murray, also a Salem native, ran unopposed in the March 24 primary.

The District 4 House seat opened up after Mark Pearson resigned in January following his re-election in order to take a position with the town of Hudson. The race for the open house seat was the only item voters from Windham and Salem weighed in at the ballots, the primary being the first of three special elections Salem is set to hold this spring.

In a statement released after the polls closed, Garcia called the results a strong message from residents in Windham and Salem to keep taxes low, limit spending and demand both an efficient and accountable government.

“I’ll make sure that we have a voice for fiscal responsibility and transparent government in the State House,” Garcia said. “We need one more person who will put the brakes on the massive tax increases and runaway spending that we see being proposed by an out-of-control legislature up in Concord.”

A part-time college student and music teacher, Garcia opened her campaign last month with higher taxes for tobacco products, the potential for tolls on Interstate 93 and a proposed $10 increase in car registration fees in her sights. Garcia served previously for a single term in the House through 2008.

Murray, a former Salem librarian and supervisor of the checklist, is focusing on increasing services for the elderly, education and has come down in support of expanding gambling at Rockingham Park as a new source of revenue for the state.

In rough-and-tumble battle, Salem hockey loses to Bishop Guertin, falls to .500

Salem Editor — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:43:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Salem and Bishop Guertin hit hard all afternoon, but the Cardinals saved their biggest blows for the back of the net, skating past the Blue Devils, 5-2. BG scored twice in each of the first two periods and added an empty-netter in the final frame, dropping Salem to 5-5- 0 on the season following the contest on Saturday, Jan. 31.

Throughout the game, both sides delivered thunderous checks on their opponents, and several times players exchanged words after an official’s whistle blew. The physical play eventually hurt the Blue Devils; three Guertin goals were scored on the power play.

“That’s what happens when these two teams play each other,” said Salem’s head coach, Mark McGinn. “They’re a physical, strong team, and … I was happy with how we were able to keep up with them. Even the little guys were getting physical with them.”

Already trailing, 2-0, Salem missed an opportunity to cut the deficit late in the first period. The Blue Devils, with a 5-on-3 opportunity and subsequent man-advantage, produced five scoring chances. They couldn’t capitalize.

“They don’t give you many second chances when it comes to being down in front of the net,” said McGinn of BG. “You really have to bear down in front of the net and find the puck.”

Salem senior forward Aaron Mackey broke up the shutout with 9:02 remaining in the game, and Cory Lavallee added a second tally three minutes later, breathing life into the previously lethargic Blue Devils. Michael Frahm and Michael Rocheleau assisted on the two Salem goals. And with 40 seconds left, Salem’s last chance to climb within a goal, with the puck bouncing dangerously in front of Guertin’s net, was foiled by a crease violation.

The Cardinals’ empty-net tally quickly followed. McGinn said his team came out with a different – and better – attitude in the third period.

“They took it personally in the last period,” said McGinn. “They went to the net more and were able to catch a bounce or two.”

The Cardinals, now 7-0-0, top the Division I standings, and McGinn said it was a welcome challenge for his team to play the defending state champions.

“I needed it more to see how we would play against a top team. They responded the right way. We just need to play with that intensity versus everyone we play,” said McGinn. “Hopefully we’ll get another crack at them in the finals.”

Fun run is done – Salem American finally falls in District 1 tourney

Salem Editor — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:37:00 GMT

BY SAPNA PATHAK

Enter a dugout occupied by the Salem American Little League baseball squad; it’s an unusual atmosphere for a contender’s bench. Maybe it’s the players laughing and joking with each other. Maybe it’s the amusing dances they do when a teammate succeeds.

But when you’re part of the best Little League team Salem has seen in 13 years, no one really questions your behavior.

“He made that up himself,” said outfielder Matt Cefalo with a laugh, referring to a dancing Billy Rayno during American’s 10-9 win over Concord National on July 10. “It’s a lot of fun because we laugh a lot. Everyone has funny stories they’d tell. I think we had so much fun because the coaches would laugh a lot too, and it didn’t make us too serious.”

It was that lighthearted attitude – and impressive play – that moved American to this year’s District 1 losers bracket final, the deepest any Salem Little League baseball team has gone in the 11- and 12-year-old majors tournament since 1994.

But American’s successful story came to an end July 12, when the team dropped a 14-2 loss to eventual District 1 runner-up Bedford. The defeat came one day after an emotional, come-from-behind win over Concord National, one requiring a lot of energy from the victors.

“They left everything on that field in Concord,” said Salem American manager Peter Rayno. “(We faced) one of the district’s best teams and (did) so after a game that took so much out of the kids. We’ve had two losses (Manchester North and Bedford), and they were the two best teams in the tournament … There’s no shame in that.”

A tired lineup plus shaky defense hindered American, as starter Matt Barbin was knocked out after three innings and an 8-1 Bedford advantage. Barbin returned to the all-star roster with Jake Ratka and John McQuarrie.

“Some kids were in another league, so we knew how they played,” said Ratka. “It wasn’t our best defensive game, but we’d beaten the same Bedford kids in that other league, so I thought we could do it.”

Bedford stymied an American offense that notched 47 runs in its first five tournament match-ups. Salem’s two runs
came from a solo shot from Ratka and a run scored by catcher Pat Lacroix, who came around on a passed ball.

Against Concord National, Ratka took the mound with a 5-0 lead after one inning. National recorded seven runs in the top of the third, added two more in the fourth against reliever Salem Phil Smith and took a 9-5 lead.

American answered with three runs in its half of the fourth, tightening the score, 9-8, and pulled ahead, 10-9, in the bottom of the fifth. Barbin and McQuarrie led off the frame with back-to-back doubles, scoring Barbin. Shortstop McQuarrie scored the go-ahead run on Ratka’s RBI single.

“Nobody was really down on themselves,” said Barbin after the Bedford loss. “We were pretty relaxed as we stayed in the tournament because it didn’t matter if we’d won or lost because no one’s made it this far in a long time. The longer we stuck around, the less pressure we felt and the more we would have fun.”

Game notes

Against Bedford, Barbin pitched three innings before relievers Mitchell Dufton and McQuarrie finished.

Against Concord National, Lacroix drove in one run. Barbin scored one run and had two hits. McQuarrie hit a double and scored two runs. Smith went 2-for-3 and scored one run. Ratka scored twice, recorded an RBI and had two hits.

First baseman Billy Rayno scored once.

Cefalo had one hit and an RBI walk. Ryan Decker helped set up American’s rally in the fourth, drawing a walk to load the bases.

Colin Parnell, Austin Finn and Dan O’ Brien rounded out American’s roster.