By Darrell Halen Jessica Thibeault, 11, sprinkled colorful confetti on a plate before taking a whiff of a bowl of diced tomatoes and cucumbers mixed with balsamic dressing. “Smell this,” Lindsay Miller, 11, who had stirred the mixture, said to her. “Doesn’t it smell good?” Jessica placed paper cupcake holders on ...

BY DARRELL HALENA legislative committee has voted to recommend giving 11 school districts a one-year extension to start a public kindergarten program in their communities. That’s welcome news to school officials in Salem, Windham and Pelham – three towns that don’t offer kindergarten and were each faced with a September 2008 ...

BY DARRELL HALENWhen Timmy Rochon vacationed with his family, he made only small dives while his family went scuba diving. The Windham teen felt left out and wanted to do more – he wanted to become a certified diver. Timmy, who has born with a rare genetic disorder, eventually obtained his diving certification. Because of remarkable ...

By Jim Devine Staff Writer Observer/Bruce Preston From left, Salem High sophomores Aaron Brubaker, Ryan Scenna and junior Katelynn LaSalle discuss limited parking options that underclassmen face. Ross Trecartin, president of the Field of Dreams board of directors, hopes a parking lot may be the ...