Search results matching tag 'Hopkinton'

Communities gear up to help those in need

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:15:00 GMT

BY SUZANNE D’AMATO

To those of us who live in the Granite State, it’s no surprise that small-town folks have big hearts.

With the holiday season almost here, the familiar requests for monetary donations and drives for items of all kinds are being made.

The following are just a few examples of how generous donations of money, time and items from the kindness of strangers will touch the lives of friends and neighbors in need in our communities and provide them with some of the basic necessities of life, such as food, shelter, warmth and companionship.

Located in the parish house of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, the Goffstown Network Food Pantry (see box) is one of many organizations helping the Goffstown community satisfy the most basic of human needs – hunger -- at holiday time and all year long.

“Our goal is to offer one week’s worth of groceries for each person in our clients’ households. We accept donations of just about anything that’s nonperishable,” said David Greiner, president of the pantry, which was established in 1990.

Cans of fruits, vegetables, soups and tuna fish; bags of dried beans; boxes of pasta and macaroni and cheese; paper goods; and other staples line the pantry’s shelves and are depleted almost as soon as they arrive.

“Right now, canned soups are our most-needed item. We also need donations of personal- care items, such as shampoo and toothpaste, because our clients cannot use food stamps to purchase nonfood items,” Greiner said.

Additionally, the pantry sponsors Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday programs for its clients. This year, on Nov. 20 and 21, in preparation for Thanksgiving, and on Dec. 17 and 18, in preparation for Christmas, the pantry’s volunteers prepare and distribute to its clients gift boxes that contain the food and other items necessary to make traditional holiday dinners and, hopefully, a little holiday cheer.

To help fund the pantry’s efforts, the pantry receives a percentage of the sales made next door at The Community Clothing Center, a used-clothing store. St. Matthew’s also uses some of the clothing-sales money to pay its bills. Any remaining funds are deposited into the Goffstown Clergy Association, a crisis fund set up by Goffstown’s pastors to help people in need.

Less than 5 miles away, the food pantry at the Goffstown Harvest Christian Church has been open to help feed the hungry for the past eight years.

A new customer who recently came to the pantry to ask for assistance particularly stands out in the memory of Gerry St. Jean, who is the administrator of the church and oversees the food pantry.

“One morning, a woman with five of her children showed up at the food pantry and said that she had three more children at home who were sick,” St. Jean said.

“She’d said she was in dire need of food but couldn’t come to the food pantry for the past two weeks because she had no money.”

The pantry buys and sells certain foods at discounted prices to customers to keep running the food pantry, and it also gives away food to those customers who can’t pay.

St. Jean told her that all she had to do to receive help was to notify the pantry of her needs, and then he gave the woman free of charge lots of pastries, breads, meats, vegetables and fruits for her family.

“We ended up blessing her and her family tremendously,” St. Jean said.

Where to find or give help

Goffstown Harvest Christian Church – 542 Mast Road, Goffstown; 641-5993; www.ghonline.org.
Hours: Saturdays, 9 to 11 a.m.
Items most needed: turkeys for Thanksgiving and hams for Christmas plus other nonperishable holiday – dinner staples, such as canned vegetables and cranberry sauce, stuffing mixes, pie crusts, etc. For monetary donations, make checks payable to “Goffstown Harvest Christian Church Food Pantry” and mail it to the church. Donations of food items can be made when the church is open each week from Tuesdays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call the church to make arrangements for after-hours drop-off.

• Goffstown Network Food Pantry – Located in the St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church parish house, 7 North Mast St., Goffstown; 497-3433.
Hours: Wednesdays, 6 to 8 p.m.; and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon, all year long.
Items most needed: canned soups and personal-care items (shampoo, toothpaste, etc.) For monetary donations, checks payable to “Goffstown Network” can be mailed to the Goffstown Network at P.O. Box 603, Goffstown, NH 03045. When the pantry is open, donations of food and personal care items can be dropped off any time inside the front doors of the church or, when the pantry is open, at its location at St. Matthew’s parish house on 7 North Mast St.

• Weare Food Pantry – Located at Weare Middle School, 16 East St., Weare; 529-0320
Hours: Wednesdays, 5 to 7 p.m.
Monetary donations can be made out to Weare Food Pantry, c/o 39 Maplewold Road Weare, NH 03281.

• Wood for Warmth – Sean Powers Wood Bank, Hopkinton Transfer Station; 746-5729; www.woodforwarmth.com
Hours: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Fridays, 1 to 5 p.m.
Firewood for low-income families needing to keep warm. If you need access to firewood, contact the Hopkinton human services director at the number above. Donations of burnable hardwood in 16-inch lengths can be dropped off at the transfer station, or contact Mary at woodforwarmth@hotmail.com.

Hopkinton wins fourth straight title behind prolific Abildgaard

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:55:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Members of the Gilford defensive backfield tugged at the side of the net, hoping to find a hole that the ball could have slipped through, not willing to believe the ball indeed snuck into the upper right-hand corner of the goal.

The Golden Eagles joined the list of teams left baffled after a jaw-dropping postseason run by Hopkinton junior forward Kris Abildgaard.

Abildgaard scored 11 goals in four Class M boys soccer playoff games, the final tally giving his team its fourth consecutive state championship with a 2-1 victory over top-seeded and previously unblemished Gilford on Sunday, Nov. 8.

“That might be the most dominating stretch New Hampshire has ever seen from one player in a while, maybe ever,” said Hawks head coach Scott Zipke. “He also proved that he was able to use his teammates. Yeah, he scored, but today I was impressed with how he utilized the guys around him.”

Neither team cracked the scoreboard in the first half, but Gilford broke the drought little more than three minutes after the intermission.

But Hopkinton bounced right back. Billy French headed home a feed from Carter Rouleau to knot the score just 31 seconds later.

Then, with roughly 14 minutes to play, Abildgaard teed up a corner kick from the left side, but the ball was pushed out of bounds by a defender on the other side of the goal line. On the second attempt, Abildgaard bent the ball in with 13:46 remaining.

Zipke said Abildgaard has scored off corner kicks close to 10 times this year, though it was the first time he had done so from that side of the net.

“I’m never surprised by him anymore,” said Zipke. “Every time we have a corner kick we’re dangerous. He can bend it outside and inside. You just try to hit that in the middle and good things happen.”

Jay LeBlanc made five saves in net for the Hawks, and his head coach said the senior keeper and the defenders in front of him felt embarrassed following a 5-4 overtime semifinal victory against Prospect Mountain.

Abildgaard scored four times in that contest to lead his team to the win, but the defenders felt they had changes to make for the title game.

Brian Scala, Dan Lux, Adam Coen and Brandon Mansfield all bounced back in the championship tilt to limit Gilford, a team that had scored 112 times in 19 games entering the finale.

“The (defenders) had a lot to prove, and they wanted to show that (the semifinal) was an aberration,” said Zipke. “Our offense won us the semifinals, but it was our defense that won the championship.”

Unlike last year, when the Hawks entered the title game as the top seed, Abildgaard said there was less pressure arriving at Southern New Hampshire University as the No. 3 team.

“It was not looking at it like every team is looking to beat you since you’re on top,” said Abildgaard. “It was almost like we were the underdog.”

Seniors on the team include LeBlanc, Lux, Mansfield, Coen, Zak Jantzen, Tim Glanville, Nick Ellis, Carlos Banda Halla, Erik Kilens and Robby Keilig. Each has known nothing but that championship feeling in their years at the school.

And with state titles in each of his first three seasons, Abildgaard has similar plans. “We’ll have to make it another year,” said Abildgaard. “I want four.”

Contoocook Carry returns Sept. 27

Goffstown Editor — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:33:00 GMT

By MATT SCHOOLEY

The coldest months of winter may still be far away, but Hopkinton residents are already looking to help community members by using their legs, paddles and bikes.

For the seventh consecutive year, locals will take part in the Contoocook Carry triathlon on Sunday, Sept. 27.

The event is a 2-mile run, a kayak route down the Contoocook River and a 14-mile bicycle ride through the town.

Proceeds will benefit the town’s fuel assistance program again this year. Last year the event raised about $14,000 through donations and race fees.

“This year will probably be worse than last year economy-wise,” said event organizer Mary Congoran. “It’s one of the events that brings together families, athletes and people just coming out for the cause.”

Following the event, which usually takes competitors about two hours to complete, many racers return to Hopkinton

High School to receive prizes donated by residents.

Many competitors perform the race in teams, often dressing up in costumes to match their team names.

Congoran said volunteers in town also have contributed by helping prepare crates of wood for the wood bank, supplies that in the past have been almost completely used by the end of the winter.

“It just feels good for people to do something good for others with their own hands and their own bodies,” said Congoran. “I’m really proud of our community in whatever amount they give. It’s about the money, but it’s also about seeing how many people are willing to come out and help.”

The race begins rain or shine at 1:30 p.m. at the high school, and race day registration runs from 11:45 a.m. until 1:15 p.m.

Pre-registration information can be found at www.hopkinton-nh.gov under the Contoocook Carry link in the Resident Quick Links section.

Due to the difficult economic times, Congoran said it’s difficult to set expectations for what she hopes to raise this year. Regardless of the total amount raised, Congoran said she is always surprised by the amount of participation.

“These envelopes come in, and you can just tell people wished they could give more,” said Congoran. “But the point is they took the time. They took the time because they are saying that they want to do whatever they can to help.”

Clean air, yes; tall tower, no

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:23:00 GMT

By Dan O’Brien

A 445-foot steam tower built at Public Service of New Hampshire’s Bow transfer station last month has numerous residents in nearby Pembroke piping mad.

Peter Bonanno of Mason Drive, Pembroke, has gathered 160 signatures from residents of Pembroke, Hopkinton, Contoocook and Hooksett who are opposed to the steam stack.

Of those 160 signatures, 63 were signed by people who say they can directly see the steam stack from their homes. The residents most affected are from Pembroke.

Nervous about home property values, Bonanno said he got steamed after watching the tower go up in only three weeks’ time while he and other neighbors had no idea it was going to happen.

“This just doesn’t seem right,” Bonnano said Friday, Sept. 11. “No one has talked about it and no one even received notice about it.”

On Sept. 9, Bonanno sent the petition and a letter to the state Site Evaluation Committee requesting a hearing on the steam stack, also called a “scrubber.” According to the letter, the committee deemed the tower “not a sizeable addition” to the current power plant site.

“It defies common sense that anyone could look at the new (steam) stack – at 445 feet in height … and not consider it a sizeable addition,” the letter said.

PSNH spokesman Martin Murray says the company “went above and beyond” to notify abutters and held two public input sessions at Pembroke’s Board of Selectmen meetings on Aug. 18, 2008, and June 15, 2009.

“We went above and beyond what we had to do in order to make sure the town was aware of what was going on,” Murray said. “More importantly, to provide the public with opportunity to ask questions.”

However, Murray admitted PSNH did not send letters to the nearby residents about the proposed scrubber.

Murray says the scrubber is a necessary part of PSNH’s $475 million plan to upgrade the facility to meet state environmental laws.

Currently, the Bow site, called the Merrimack Station, generates electricity by burning coal.

The purpose of the new scrubber is to drastically reduce the amount of pollution caused by the burning coal.

Once the facilities are renovated and the scrubber is functional, which is expected to be in July 2012, mercury emissions will be reduced by more than 80 percent from its current levels and sulfur dioxide will be reduced by more than 90 percent, Murray said.

“The state law passed in 2006 requires mercury emissions to be reduced by at least 80 percent,” Murray said.

“I’m not against my air being cleaner. But I feel that due diligence had not been done,” Bonnano said.

Scenes from Hopkinton State Fair

NHLife — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:15:00 GMT

This is a great video of the motocross competition that I found from this year's Hopkinton Fair.

Video from the popular Demolition Derby:

If I find some additional video from the fair, I will post it here. Happy Labor Day Weekend, everyone!

It’s fair time

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:12:00 GMT

Hopkinton Fair: Sept. 3 to 7;

Hillsborough Fair: Sept. 11 to 13

By SARAH LEBRUN

As the cooler, autumn weather moves in, state and county fairgrounds come alive will the smells of fried foods and barnyard animals.

The first such fair to take place is the 94th annual Hopkinton State Fair, Sept. 3 to 7.

One of the biggest draws of the Hopkinton Fair is the demolition derby, which takes place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5 and 6, at 6:30 p.m. During this event, drivers will turn full-size cars into compact cars. There is a separate admission fee for this event – $7 for adults and $6 for children 2 to 12.

In addition to the demolition derby, there will also be many 4-H shows and exhibits, including horses, goats, oxen, sheep, llamas/alpacas and more.

Local band Jeff Dearborn and the Contoocook Blues Society will perform again this year, taking the stage Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. and Monday from noon to 5 p.m.

The next fair takes place Sept. 11 to 13 at the Hillsborough County 4-H Fairgrounds in New Boston.

This year marks the 52nd year this fair has been in operation.

According to Jolee Chase, program associate for 4-H youth development, this fair has a bigger agricultural component than many other state and county fairs, but size-wise, it is one of the smaller fairs in the state.

Chase said all of the favorite 4-H shows will be offered, including beef, goats, sheep, rabbits, poultry, working steers, horses and more.

In addition to 4-H events, there will also be an apple pie-baking contest, a doughnut- baking contest and a King Arthur flour recipe contest. Any apple pie recipe will be accepted, but specific recipes for doughnuts and the King Arthur flour recipe contest are available online at www.hcafair.com. Pies should be delivered to the youth center on Sept. 10 between 2 and 9 p.m.

Hopkinton Fair schedule of events
Thursday, Sept. 3
• Stock farm tractor pull – 9 a.m.
• Gymkhana – 10 a.m.
• Horse pulling – 11 a.m.
• Open sheep show – 1 p.m.
• Magic of Ron Diamond – 2 p.m.
• Free Cycle bikes and skateboards – 1, 3 and 5 p.m.
• Horse pulling – 3 and 7 p.m.
• Moomania – 4, 6 and 8 p.m.
• Ron Diamond’s hypnosis – 7 and 9 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 4
• Garden tractor pull – 8 a.m.
• 4-H horse show – 9 a.m.
• Open dairy show – 9 a.m.
• Open sheep show – 9 a.m.
• 4-H working steer – 10 a.m.
• Horse pulling – 11 a.m.
• Free Cycle bikes and skateboards – 1, 3 and 5 p.m.
• Open beef and cattle show – 2 p.m.
• Magic of Ron Diamond – 2 p.m.
• Horse pulling – 3 p.m.
• Moomania – 4, 6 and 8 p.m.
• 4-H llama/alpacas – 6 p.m.
• Horse pulling – 7 p.m.
• Ron Diamond’s hypnosis – 7 and 9 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 5
• 4-H dog show – 8 a.m.
• Horse show – 8:30 a.m.
• Draft horse farm show – 9 a.m.
• 4-H working steer – 9 a.m.
• 4-H dairy goat show – 9 a.m.
• 4-H swine show – 11 a.m.
• Cattle pulling – 11 a.m.
• Noteable Decades – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Free Cycle bikes and skateboards – Noon, 2 and 5 p.m.
• Open dairy – 1 p.m.
• Magic of Ron Diamond – 1 p.m.
• 4-H dairy – 1:30 p.m.
• Cattle pulling – 3 p.m.
• 4-H sheep lead line – 6 p.m.
• Cattle pulling – 7 p.m.
• Ron Diamond’s hypnosis – 7 and 9 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 6
• 4-H working steer – 8 a.m.
• Horse show – 8:30 a.m.
• 4-H sheep show – 9 a.m.
• 4-H dairy show – 9 a.m.
• Cattle pulling – 11 a.m.
• Moomania – 11 a.m., 3, 6 and 8 p.m.
• Free Cycle bikes and skateboards – Noon, 2 and 5 p.m.
• 4-H swine show – 1 p.m.
• Magic of Ron Diamond – 1 p.m.
• 4-H working steer – 1:30 p.m.
• Cattle pulling – 3 p.m.
• 4-H llama/alpacas – 3 p.m.
• 4-H beef cattle show – 3:30 p.m.
• Four ox working hitch – 5:30 p.m.
• 4-H dairy goat costume – 5:30 p.m.
• Cattle pulling – 7 p.m.
• Ron Diamond’s hypnosis – 7 and 9 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 7
• 4-H dairy goat/pack trail – 8 a.m.
• Oxen show – 8:30 a.m.
• Horse show – 8:30 a.m.
• Moomania – 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• 4-H sheep show – 11 a.m.
• Pony pulling – 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Free Cycle bikes and skateboards – 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.
• Magic of Ron Diamond – Noon
• Ron Diamond’s hypnosis – 4 p.m.
Hillsborough Fair schedule of events
Friday, Sept. 11
• Stock farm tractor pull – noon
• Horse log-skidding – 1 p.m.
• Flag ceremony – 5 p.m.
• Giant pumpkin weigh-off – 6 p.m.
• Fireworks – 9 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12
• Ox pulling – 9 a.m.
• Horsehoe-pitching contest – 9 a.m.
• Farm tractor pull – 9 a.m.
• Gymkhana – 9 a.m.
• 4-H working steers – 9 a.m.
• 4-H sheep show – 10 a.m.
• 4-H rabbit show – 10 a.m.
• Divine Intervention – Noon
• Audubon Center reptiles – 1 p.m.
• Cowboy shootout – 1 p.m.
• Sonic Boomers – 2 p.m.
• 4-H goat fit and show – 2 p.m.
• Square dancing – 3 p.m.
• New Boston Recreation Center dance recital – 4 p.m.
• 4-H beef show – 4 p.m.
• Compost Heap – 6 p.m.
• 4-H sheep lead line show – 6 p.m.
• Poetry slam – 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 13
• Horseshoe-pitching contest – 9 a.m.
• 4-H dog show – 9 a.m.
• Sheep block and trim – 10 a.m.
• 4-H goat classes – 10 a.m.
• 4-H dairy show – 10 a.m.
• Divine Intervention – 11 a.m.
• Horse pulling – 11 a.m.
• 4-H sheep block and trimming – 11 a.m.
• Compost Heap – Noon
• Truck pull – Noon
• 4-H market lamb show – Noon
• Sonic Boomers – 1 p.m.
• Bird of prey – 1 p.m.
• 4-H working steer show – 1 p.m.
• Police K-9 demonstration – 2 p.m.
• Horse pulling – 3 p.m.
• 4-H sheep market lambs auction – 3 p.m.
• Free-for-all horse pulling – 5 p.m.
• Awards program/raffle drawings – 5:30 p.m.

Visit N.H. Fish and Game at the Hopkinton State Fair

AskLisa — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:36:00 GMT

While you're at the Hopkinton State Fair this September, be sure to visit the "Discover Wild New Hampshire Building" presented by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. See wildlife mounts and exciting exhibits, talk to Conservation Officers and wildlife biologists. At the fair, you can buy hunting and fishing licenses, purchase the new 2010 New Hampshire Fish & Wildlife Calendar and get your official Fish and Game merchandise. The fair is a great place to learn more about hunting, fishing and wildlife watching opportunities! Stop in and check the schedule for special wildlife features daily, including live falcons, turtles and more. On Saturday only, meet Milo the Moose, official mascot of N.H. Motor Speedway.

New Hampshire Fish and Game will be at the Hopkinton Fair from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 3 through Sunday, September 6; and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 7.

To find Fish and Game fast at the Hopkinton Fair, park at the blue gate. The Discover Wild New Hampshire Building will be on your left as you enter the gate.

For information on the Hopkinton State Fair in Hopkinton, N.H., visit http://www.hsfair.org.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state's fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats. Visit http://www.WildNH.com.

Hopkinton State Fair kicks off Sept. 3

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:19:00 GMT

By MATT SCHOOLEY

The economy may be down, but attendance at the Hopkinton State Fair will likely remain up again this year.

Though many families have been hesitant in recent months to plan vacations, the fair’s reasonable ticket prices may once again make it a destination for visitors from across New England when gates open on Thursday, Sept. 3, through Labor Day.

“It’s really got huge value from an affordability standpoint,” said Hopkinton State Fair representative Brian Naro. “It’s one of the things that people in this economy just won’t give up. It’s a great way for families to get together and have an afforable mini-vacation.”

Fair organizers have tried to focus on bringing in more musicians to perform throughout the weekend and have also added a woodsman show that will take place for three 40-minute shows on Monday, Sept. 7, with axe throwing, chainsaw-carving, racing and much more.

Many of the events remain unchanged from previous years, including free bicycle and skateboard demonstrations, the demolition derby and tractor pulls.

Local band Jeff Dearborn and the Contoocook Blues Society will perform again this year, taking the stage Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. and Monday from noon to 5 p.m.

Naro said the crowds at the fairgrounds don’t only include members of the Hopkinton community, but also residents from far and wide, as the event has become a staple for them.

“When you go to the fairgrounds and you see the different people, there are people who are local to the fair that come more than one day,” he said. “We get that, but we also get people from as far away as Boston. It’s very wide-reaching.”

In addition to special events, there are also the regular agricultural competitions and a petting zoo for children.

Naro said the wide range of things to see and do make the fair a unique experience.

“You’ll see the kids who are in the strollers or just learning how to walk who love to go to the petting farm, all up to people in their 60s, 70s and 80s because there’s so much to do,” said Naro.

There’s also one aspect of the fair that Naro said even he looks forward to each Labor Day.

“Save up the calories for that weekend so you can have the fried dough, the onions rings, just about everything,” said Naro. “I find myself checking off all the items throughout the weekend. When the fair rolls around, you’ve just got to have it.”

Orchard gets new management

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:44:00 GMT

By MATT SCHOOLEY

The fruits growing at Gould Hill Farm and Orchards won’t be the only things new this fall.

After previously being run by the Leadbeater family, Erick and Susan Leadbeater announced a local family has leased the Hopkinton property and has already begun to work toward this season’s opening.

Amy and Tim Bassett, who live in Hopkinton with their three children, have been working closely with the Leadbeaters in order to get acclimated to the day-to-day operations while eyeing an Aug. 14 kickoff.

The farm, which harvests peaches, plums, nectarines, pumpkins and more than 80 varieties of apples each year, is scheduled to remain open until around Christmas.

“We are happy that we were able to find a young family to continue to run the farm,” said Erick Leadbeater.

For the last 10 years the Bassett family has lived in Hopkinton, and part of the motivation for leasing the farm came from Tim Bassett’s upbringing on a dairy farm.

“My husband grew up on a dairy farm in Vermont, and he loved the experience of being close to his family,” said Amy Bassett. “He wanted to give that back to our three children so they could have the experience of us being around.”

Each year, Bassett said, she has brought her children to Gould Hill Orchard, taking in the view while picking apples.

Work on the orchard started for the Bassett family several months ago, and the couple is planning renovations and changes in the layout, including a bigger retail store and the inclusion of ice cream, doughnuts and baked goods for visitors.

“We intend to grow the business and the experience,” said Amy. “We want to eventually make it a year-round experience where guests can pick apples in the fall, pumpkins late in the season and continue through Christmas and maple sugaring. We want a hands-on experience.”

She said she is most looking forward to interacting with community members and visitors who come from long distances to visit the Contoocook mainstay.

Though the operators of the orchard have changed, the staff remains the same this year, and the Leadbeaters have been certain to make the transition as smooth as possible.

“They want to see us succeed,” said Amy Bassett. “We couldn’t have done it without their willingness to help. We’re going into it blind. Having them be part of it, it means everything. It means we will be successful.”

stunt

admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:23:00 GMT

A bicyclist performs a stunt at the Hopinkton Fair.