BY DERRICK PERKINSWhen Kay and Jon Normington turned an old Victorian home not far from the long since abandoned Manchester and Lawrence Railroad line into a country store five years ago, they had no idea what would be coming down the tracks. Since then, much of the former railroad line, which at one time brought passengers, mail and freight ...

By JILLIAN JORGENSENA Bedford woman is on the journey of a lifetime, taking a 3,629-mile bicycle tour across the country to raise money for charity. Jeannie Benton, 51, began the trip in Astoria, Ore., on June 21. She plans to arrive in Portsmouth 11 states and 50 days later, on Aug. 10. The ride will not only give her a chance to pass through ...

BY RYAN O’CONNORElizabeth White has been playing catch-up most of her young life. Now, others are trying to catch up with her. The 13-year-old Lurgio Middle School student won her first national championship in cyclocross last month, traveling to Kansas City, Kan., and enduring some of the harshest weather conditions she’s ever ...

BY JENNIFER MCDOWELL Police responded to a call regarding a collision between a vehicle and and a 10-year-old boy at the intersection of Jackson Avenue and Catamount Hills Drive at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23. Lt. Paul Paquette of the Allenstown Police Department said the boy suffered multiple injuries, but could not comment on the nature of ...

BY SAPNA PATHAK Rob Ricard was 8 years old when he made the decision. Twenty-two years later, Ricard made good on it. On July 22, the Bow native completed his first full Ironman triathlon, earning himself a chance to travel to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, to compete in the Ironman World Triathlon championship. “If anyone knows anything about ...

BY SAPNA PATHAK Flying down the side of a mountain, reaching speeds of 50 mph, Erik Gosselin welcomes a bad fall every now and then. Indeed, the Bedford High sophomore looks at each fall off his mountain bike as a learning experience, rather than a reason to give up the sport. “I’ve had some pretty bad spills,” said Gosselin ...

BY SAPNA PATHAK Mike Lavery remembers the moment well – wading in Mirror Lake, surrounded by thousands of swimmers, the Bedford native faced his toughest mental challenge to date. One year later, he did it all again. After a taxing introduction in 2006, Lavery signed up for his second Ford Ironman USA triathlon, once again heading to ...

BY KEVIN SHALVEY Nancy and Howard Roever came to speed-biking at different times -- he before their marriage and she when the couple started riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge, an annual bike tour to raise money for cancer research. “He’s always biked. Since the Pan-Mass Challenge, I just got involved and I love it. But, I’m no ...