BY SUZANNE D’AMATOTo 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 ...

BY MATT SCHOOLEYAlthough some volunteer organizations are down in numbers, many have experienced a significant increase in support during difficult economic times. The growth of volunteerism can be seen, especially in Hooksett, where the Kiwanis Club is currently the fastest-growing group in New England. “By the stroke of luck, we were ...

BY DAVID SUITORThe Dec. 11 ice storm brought out the best of Goffstown – its emergency workers and volunteers. Many of those volunteers were part of the Goffstown Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) that staffed the emergency shelter set up at Mountain View Middle School (MVMS) by the American Red Cross. The shelter opened at about ...

BY CAROLE KLEMENT HUXELDebbie and Nicole Riel were running out of options when Gail Thomas stopped by one day to check on the ailing mother and daughter. Their home needed many repairs. It was draining both their finances and their energy, and a winning lottery ticket seemed to be their only hope. Now, after months of labor, Debbie and ...

BY CAROLE KLEMENT HUXELFrom January to December in 2011, Goffstown will pull out all the stops to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the town. The village of Goffstown was incorporated in 1761, and 250 years later, there are almost 18,000 people living in town. There have already been several meetings held to discuss different events and ...

BY ROD HANSENA performance from a local martial arts academy proved to be a highlight at the 30th annual Merri-Loo Community Preschool Family Fun Day on Saturday, March 31. In a combination of agile martial arts maneuvers and flag-waving patriotism, 11 members of the Mark J. Lawrence Martial Arts Academy Demonstration Team offered a 20-minute ...

BY ROD HANSEN Mook may be best known as the indie rock band led by Paul Dano, the actor who portrayed Dwayne in the 2006 comedy “Little Miss Sunshine.” However, the whole band received a rock star’s welcome prior to a recent appearance at the local teen center Crispin’s House. Despite Dano’s movie stardom, ...