A Toast to Healing

Jason Phelps pours a glass of strawberry wine, made from strawberries
 he and his wife, Margot, picked at a local farm. 

By APRIL GUILMET
Union Leader Correspondent

 Jason Phelps shows off a wooden wine
press kept in his basement wine cellar.

LONDONDERRY -- For Jason Phelps, life is meant to be savored — like fine wine.
Eight years after his diagnosis of testicular cancer, Phelps is feeling better than ever and plans to continue living life to the fullest, sharing his love of fine beer and wine with all the new friends he meets along the way.
“It’s nice to be able to tell my story,” Phelps said in his dining room one sunny afternoon last week, as he poured a hearty glass of his homemade strawberry wine.
In 2003, newly diagnosed with cancer and undergoing aggressive treatment, Phelps’ wife, Margot, had some words of advice for her workaholic husband.
“She asked me if I’d like to enjoy life, here and now, instead of working all the time,” he said with a laugh.
Working in IT, Phelps recalled a time when he’d work day and night.
“I’d buy IT books like people buy coffee,” he said. “But I always wanted to try making my own beer. Margot encouraged this, and suggested I make her some fruit wine while I was at it.” 
An avid home cook, Phelps began with his own twist on dark, stout-style beers. 
“I made a brown ale with some New Hampshire-made maple syrup,” he recalled. “It was just awesome.” 
More home brews soon followed, while Phelps remained on the gradual road to recovery. 
“I didn’t realize, at first, how many resources were available,” he said. “But I’d see catalogs with pages and pages of home-brewing kits. It was all so new to me.” 
These days, Phelps’ health is pretty good: and his wines are award-winning. 
“I’ve been very, very lucky,” he said. “Lately, I just have to go in for annual monitoring.” 
And though he’s returned to his IT job, what he’s learned from his illness is the art of maintaining balance in all areas of life — and to take plenty of time to stop and smell the grapes. 
“Now it’s definitely become an obsession,” Phelps said of his hobby. 
The possibilities have seemed endless. 
From March through May, and then again in September through November, the climate is just about perfect for brewing a batch of home wine. Summer months are a bit too hot for fermentation, while a drastic climate drop can actually cause the wine to take on a sulphury odor. 
Last June, Phelps and his wife stopped at nearby Sunnycrest Farms, where they picked some native strawberries for use in the bright pink, aromatic wine. 
“Just like standing in a strawberry patch,” he said, holding the glass under his nose. 
Other wines have contained such ingredients as white plums, red currants, pears, Concord grapes and even jalapeno peppers, among other locally grown treats. 
There have been a few slight flops. In 2005, Phelps’ attempt at making an apple wine had some slightly rotten results. 
“It just came out too dry,” he noted. “But it inspired me to try making cider instead.” 
While his in-home operation doesn’t currently lend itself to commercial endeavors, Phelps’ home brews have nevertheless managed to capture the interest of the international publication Wine Maker Magazine, among other organizations. 
Last spring, nine of Phelps’ wines were honored during Wine Maker’s International Amateur Wine Competition, held in Manchester, Vt. 
This week, the Phelpses will load up their car to deliver another box of entries for the coming spring’s contest, totaling 12 wines in nine different categories. 
Along the way, he hopes to educate other would-be wine brewers and encourage them to partake in the hobby that’s brought so much healing. 
Keeping a regular food and wine blog, Phelps enjoys pairing favorite foods with the perfect beverage. Pairing homemade wine with a nice, home-cooked meal seems an ideal combination, he said. 
“You cook at home, so why not do both at home,” he said. 
Under state law, a home brewer is permitted to make up to 100 gallons of wine, cider or beer in their homes annually. With two adults in their household, the Phelpses are permitted to make up to 200 gallons, though they usually make closer to 80 or 100 gallons each year. 
Downstairs in the basement, a half-dozen large jugs contain fermenting wine batches, which sit in an empty kiddy pool, awaiting bottling. It’s a tedious process, involving crushing, pressing, fermenting and waiting, sort of like a complicated chemistry experiment. 
White wines usually take less time to perfect, Phelps noted, since the wine grapes are both crushed and pressed prior to fermenting. The reds tend to be aged longer, as it takes time to bring out the natural tannins contained in the grape skins. 
But Phelps doesn’t mind a bit when it comes to waiting the proper amount of time needed to savor those latest creations. 
“If you asked me eight years ago if I thought this would be possible, I’d have never believed it in a million years,” he said. 
To learn more about home brewing, visit www.phelps-online. com or send an e-mail to jasonphelps@yahoo.com. 

Read all about it: Wally wows them in Derry

Second-grader Ben Fowler prepares to high five Wally after Friday's assembly.

Barka first-grader Emily Manning returns
 to her seat during Friday assembly,
after playing a few rounds of
Rock, Paper, Scissors with Wally.

By CHELSEY POLLOCK
Union Leader Correspondent

DERRY -- As Red Sox players prepare for spring training this month, mascot Wally the Green Monster kicked off his literacy tour Friday with a stop at Barka Elementary School in Derry.
The mascot, accompanied by team rep Mike Prizio, spent about an hour reading aloud to the children during an assembly.
“A lot of people like players to come in, but Wally’s got celebrity status too, and we just want kids to say, if Wally reads, so should I,” said Prizio after the Friday assembly. “It gives them something to shoot for.” 
Prizio said Wally and the team visit between 10 and 20 schools each year, as part of a literacy program in its third year. The Red Sox partner with the Massachusetts Teachers Association. Barka Principal Daniel LaFleur said he invited Wally to come to the school earlier this year, hoping it could rally students.
“It’s wonderful to have positive role models come in to talk to the kids,” said LaFleur “It’s important for us to show students at this school that we can have the same passion for reading as we have for the Red Sox.”
And the students at Barka were full of energy Friday, forming stadium- style waves and shouting, “Wally, Wally.” Fourth grader Amie Wildes described the day as “awesomely awesome.” And while Wally lifted their spirits, Wildes and her classmates said they are already passionate about reading at Barka. 
“It helps to you expand your vocabulary,” said Makayla Perez, 9. 
“Books can bring you on an adventure,” said 9-yearold Jayden White. 

Sign of Spring: How to ask a girl to prom

Senior Class President Dan Tierney went big in seeking a prom date, and his efforts were rewarded.

By APRIL GUILMET
Union Leader Correspondent

Dan Tierney and Caroline Miller.

LONDONDERRY -- “Love is the ultimate outlaw,” author Tom Robbins once wrote. “It just won’t adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is sign on as its accomplice.” Those words were fitting Friday morning, when Londonderry High School senior Dan Tierney literally “signed” on as long-time friend Caroline Miller’s prom date.
For anyone driving down Mammoth Road Friday morning, Tierney’s words spelled out his most earnest of hopes, for all to see, with the message: “Caroline Miller, Will You Go To Prom With Me? – Dan Tierney,” posted in large, block let­ters across the high school’s front sign. The senior class president said knew he wanted to do something special for his prom last year, when he was brainstorming with friends about unique ways to ask a girl. Wanting to make a lasting impression on the girl he’s shared a close friendship with for the past several years, Tierney opted to keep his best idea under wraps until the time came to ask her. 
Now well into his senior year, Tierney recently approached school administrators with his plan, hoping their answer, like Miller’s, would be an unhesitating “yes.” While administrators were initially hesitant, love ultimately ruled the day, though it would only be for one day. Assistant Principal Art Psaledas noted that Friday’s sign would have to be a one-time occurrence, since overwhelming requests from other smitten seniors could potentially pose quite a challenge. 
So, with the blessings of administrators and Miller’s family, Tierney set off for school Friday morning, shortly after the sun came up. “I got here around 7 a.m.,” he said with a guilty grin. “The janitor helped me put up the letters.” 
By the time Miller’s mother, Amy, drove her to school, the starry-eyed young woman knew something unusual was in the works. “She usually drives me in through a different entrance,” Miller said. “I saw the sign right away.” 
Walking into school in disbelief, Miller saw Tierney, carrying a bouquet of pink roses and waiting to ask the question that begged an answer. 
“I started to cry,” Miller said. “Then I said yes!” 
On Friday afternoon, Miller’s father, Jim, snapped a few photos of the now-famous sign. The elder Miller said he knew about Tierney’s plan one day in advance, as the young man wanted to make sure Miller’s parents were kept in the loop. 
Fortunately, father approved. “He’s just a very outward, good young man,” said Jim Miller. “He knows how to make things happen.” 
Londonderry High School will hold its senior prom in early May. 

Pinkerton: Enrollment Trend is Troubling

By CHELSEY POLLOCK
Union Leader Correspondent
DERRY -- Facing declining enrollment projections for at least the next 10 years, Pinkerton Academy trustees are looking to an Auburn tuition agreement and the removal of an off-contract student cap to maintain programming.
While Pinkerton has at times held around 3,400 students, there are 3,169 on campus this year, said Headmaster Mary Anderson during a meeting with sending towns on Thursday. Next year, that number is expected to fall to 3,100, she said. By 2019, projections show enrollment could reach 2,469. 
“With 500 less students, things get really precarious,” Anderson told school boards and administrators from Derry, Hampstead and Chester Thursday night. “If you take away 500 students, we’re not going to be able to cost-effectively run the programs we run now.” 
If Auburn voters agree to send their students to Pinkerton beginning in 2013, Anderson said, the school’s enrollment would reach 2,966 in that first year, coupled with decreasing numbers from Derry, Hampstead and Chester. 
Once the transition is complete in 2016, Anderson said about 260 Auburn students would attend Pinkerton, bringing the 2016-2017 enrollment to about 3,028. 
“The Auburn students stabilize the tuition, which in the end is going to do nothing but save everybody money because it will maintain those enrollment levels so we can effectively maintain tuition,” Anderson said at the Thursday meeting. “We don’t want to get into the position where we are eliminating programs because it’s too costly and there’s not the enrollment for it.” 
Auburn already sends 82 students to Pinkerton off contract, Anderson said. 
Anderson and the Pinkerton trustees also asked sending towns Thursday to consider removing the current enrollment cap of 135 students from towns outside of Derry, Hampstead and Chester. 
The permanent contract allows for 75 students to be tuitioned in to Pinkerton from outside the three contracted towns, but that number has increased to 135 with two temporary agreements from the sending school boards. 
Those 135 possible students account for an additional $1.3 million in tuition revenue with little financial cost to the school, Anderson said, as students will be spread across grade levels and require no additional staffing. 
But some in the sending towns said they worried that removing the cap could open the door to skyrocketing enrollments in years to come. 
“I hear that 3,100 is where you want to fill it to, but is there any guarantee that in four or five years other trustees wouldn’t like to recruit kids from Saudi Arabia and put it up to 3,400 or 3,500?” asked Winfried Feneberg, assistant superintendent for Hampstead and Timberlane Regional school districts. “By giving up that cap, is there any protection for the size of the school?” 
Speaking on behalf of the board, Pinkerton trustee William Nevious said that’s not the group’s intent. 
“There’s some idea that we want this to go up to 3,500 or 3,700 and absolutely that’s not where we are,” Nevious said. “... We’re not looking for ways to grow this school to 4,000 students. That’s just not what we’re trying to do. We’re trying do make the taxpayer in the position where we won’t have to keep raising taxes because enrollments are going down.” 
Anderson said it will be up to the sending school boards to make the final decision about the off-contract cap. 

'Unknown Artists" no longer

Aimee Cozza of Derry has spent about two months pulling together the “Unknown Artists” show,
which includes her own artwork and pieces from eight other artists. 

By CHELSEY POLLOCK
Union Leader Correspondent
DERRY -- The town is losing two local arts shops this month, with the closing of Poles Apart Artisan Gallery on West Broadway and the Country Cupboard on Crystal Avenue.
But 23-year-old Aimee Cozza of Derry says she hopes that a new free art show she has curated will encourage people to take some time to appreciate local, relatively unknown artists.
“I think it’s sad to see,” Cozza said of the recent business closings. Cozza said she had become close with Poles Apart proprietor Marylee Martin after participating in the Art of the Sidewalk event last fall. 

Martin announced last month that she would soon be closing her doors after six years. 
“Our arts community feels kind of nonexistent, and I feel like there’s still a lot of headway to be made,” Cozza said Tuesday. “We’re trying to bring something to Derry, and I think it’s slowly gaining interest.” 
Cozza, who moved to Derry from Litchfield three years ago, is studying illustration at the New Hampshire Institute of Art in Manchester. 
Working primarily in digital arts, Cozza said she has displayed several of her pieces around Derry, at the Art on the Sidewalk event, at How’s Your Onion? restaurant and The Coffee Factory coffee shop. She is preparing a few pieces for display at the Derry Public Library soon. 
But in February, Cozza is presenting a new group show at The Coffee Factory, running through the end of the month. 
“This is the first time I’ve done a group event,” she said. “And it’s been pretty grueling trying to get everybody on the same page.” 
Altogether nine artists from Derry and surrounding towns are participating in the show, which Cozza has named “Unknown Artists.” Among the more than 60 works are a range of paintings, photographs, jewelry and a reclaimed skateboard deck that Cozza cites as one of her favorite mediums. 
Many pieces are already hanging at the coffee shop, but the show’s opening ceremony is scheduled for Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. 
“They asked if I wanted to charge and I said no, this should be free,” Cozza said. “It’s just not that sort of thing. I want people to come in and enjoy the art; talk to the artists and just make connections.” Cozza has started curating other shows for the Steez Gallery in Nashua. 
While she currently works at a local bank to put herself through school, Cozza said she hopes to one day put her curating skills to full-time use. 
“I’m hoping I can put all my interests together to one day run a gallery and publish other people’s works and have a studio of my own,” she said. “It will be some kind of Frankenstein creation.” 
The Coffee Factory is located at 55 Crystal Ave. in Derry. For more information, call 432-6006. 

Derry man charged in knife fight incident

MARTIN

By CHELSEY POLLOCK

Union Leader Correspondent

DERRY -- Police say the Derry man cut with a large knife during a fight yesterday was using the blade to threaten his roommate's son.

Bruno Martin, 37, of 1 Franklin St. Apt. 6 was arrested upon his release from Parkland Medical Center in Derry at about 1:30 p.m. this afternoon.

Police say Martin, who was previously convicted of burglary, is facing three felony charges in connection with Wednesday's fight, including attempted first-degree assault, criminal threat with a weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Derry police detectives believe the fight broke out in an apartment on the second floor of the building between Martin and his female roommate just before 3 p.m. yesterday, said Derry police Capt. Vern Thomas.

Thomas said the woman's 25-year-old son who does not live at the home later became involved.

The verbal argument escalated to physical violence, Thomas said, and police believe Martin threatened the son and tried to stab him with the 15-inch knife.

Martin himself sustained "serious" cuts from the blade to his arm and upper back and was transported to Parkland Medical Center.

During an investigation, Derry police executed a search warrant of the apartment and found a firearm believed to belong to Martin, a convicted felon, Thomas said.

Martin was arrested as he was released from the hospital and is being held at the Derry Police Department on $30,000 cash bail pending arraignment in Derry District Court tomorrow.

Thomas said the female roommate was also treated for difficulty breathing at the scene Wednesday, but was not hospitalized.

Don't fall victim to silent killer

By CAROL ROBIDOUX
Union Leader Correspondent
DERRY -- Two separate calls to the Derry Fire Department Tuesday for possible carbon monoxide poisoning prompted the department to issue a reminder on Wednesday to residents to clear heating vents and fresh air intakes, typically located only a few feetabove ground level outside a home. Derry Fire Battalion Chief David Hoffman said Wednesday that any appliance that heats up — from propane, pellet or wood stoves to gas or oil burning units — requires proper ventilation of exhaust. 
“Make it part of your routine when shoveling to check your vents,” said Hoffman. “Outside vents can quickly become overwhelmed with snow, particularly given the number of snow events we’ve had in the past two weeks.” 
According to Deputy State Fire Marshal John Southwell, there have been 15 accidental deaths attributed to carbon monoxide inhalation in New Hampshire since 2005. 
“That doesn’t take into account the number of incidents reported annually in which someone falls ill and it turns out to be related to carbon monoxide,” Southwell said. 
Carbon monoxide poisoning is considered a “silent killer,” which often begins with subtle symptoms including nausea, headache and vague flu symptoms. Because carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas, is indiscernible without an in-home CO detector, a small device that looks and operates much like a household smoke detector and costs about $25. 
Salem Fire Marshal Jeffrey Emanuelson said even dryer and hot water vents need to be checked and cleared regularly, expecting that snowdrifts or mounds of snow falling from a roof can block vents that have already been cleared. 
“With the amount of snow we’ve had in these back-toback storms, it seems like every two or three days for the past few weeks snow has been an issue. Keeping vents clear is imperative,” Emanuelson said. 
Nashua Deputy Fire Chief John Allison said yesterday that while calls for CO alarms are commonplace throughout the year, there have not been any in the past few weeks. 
“We’ve been busy with cars accidents and water problems due to frozen pipes, but so far no calls for carbon monoxide issues — but it’s that time of year, and the potential is always there,” Allison said. 
Keene Fire Capt. Ronald Leslie said his department fielded a few carbon monoxide calls last week, including one from a woman who had left her car running inside the garage of her condominium complex. 
“Even 10 minutes in an attached garage is enough to elevate CO levels: It’s never a good idea to leave the car running. If you are going to start your car ahead, make sure you pull it out of the garage first,” Leslie said. 
Plaistow Fire Chief John McArdle said he has had one carbon monoxide call, which turned out to be a battery problem with the detector. He would much rather answer a false alarm then find someone unconscious and overcome by fumes. 
“I caution people that if they aren’t sure, better to give us a call and we’ll check out the CO levels, just to be safe. Also, it’s wise to keep the instructions to your detector handy, just so you can check the batteries yourself,” McArdle said. 
Another safety measure residents should be mindful of is clearing at least one good pathway to their home, McArdle said. 
“It’s best to have two ways out, if possible. People will typically shovel a small path to their door for their convenience, but for safety reasons, it’s important to have enough room for emergency equipment, to be prepared,” McArdle said. 
Derry Fire planned Wednesday at 5 p.m. to send out a mass call to residents using its Code Red electronic alert system, to remind people of the specific hazard of carbon monoxide gas from blocked vents. 
The big hurdle, beyond getting the word out, is getting the public on board with installing CO detectors, ideally on every level of their home, said Hoffman. 
“They still aren’t as widely used as smoke detectors, which is why we’re having this conversation,” Hoffman said. 

Forecast freezes bus companies

Andy McLavey plows around abandoned cars at Boston Express bus depot Wednesday.

By CAROL ROBIDOUX
Union Leader Correspondent
LONDONDERRY -- It’s a rare storm that grounds the daily Boston Express commuter bus line — which apparently qualifies Wednesday’s storm as rare.
“It’s only the second time in five years that I’ve been working for bus companies that I’ve seen it happen, and the first time was three weeks ago, on Jan. 12,” said Boston Express General Manager Ben Blunt, who was about the only one left hang­ing around the Exit 5 bus terminal yesterday. 
After watching on radar as the roaring two-day storm rallied its second wind Tuesday evening and rolled up the East Coast, Blunt decided to mount a preemptive strike, alerting commuters arriving back from Boston that there would be no bus service Wednesday due to the storm. 
“We had a chance to interact with our customers and many of them told us they had already planned not to go into work (Wednesday), so that helped. Then we just tried to get the word out through our website,” Blunt said. 
Normally the terminal is jammed with early-morning commuters, most of whom ride to Boston or to the Logan Airport from one of five bus stations along I-93, accounting for about 650 daily riders, Blunt said. In addition to the two Londonderry stops, including a second one off Exit 4, there are also depots in Manchester, Nashua and Salem. 
As it turned out, Stormzilla: The Sequel was a little overblown, said Blunt. 
“We have so much hype over storms up here, and so I think people had already heard so much about the second storm that they had decided they weren’t going to go out in it,” Blunt said. “I actually thought it would last longer.” 
He said the storm also stymied other local bus lines, including Concord Coach, Concord Trailways and C&J, a Seacoast bus line that will be launching a daily run from UNH Durham to New York City at the end of this month. 
Another residual effect of the storm: More than 50 cars were abandoned overnight, not including the rows of cars under several layers of snow in the long-term parking lot. Blunt figured the vehicles stranded in the daily lot likely belonged to people who drove in Tuesday and decided to stay overnight in Boston rather than travel again in back-to-back storms, or else they were long-term parkers taking advantage of the closer parking spaces reserved for the daily commuters. 
Either way, the random configuration of snowed-in cars peppering the lot yesterday made Andy McLavey’s job that much more challenging. 
“I’m used to it by now,” said McLavey, who yesterday was doing his best to plow around the snow-topped cars as he moved mounds of snow to make way for tomorrow’s travelers. 
“It’s just how it is after a storm,” McLavey said. “I don’t mind.” 

Superintendent: Quorum ruling won't invalidate Feb. 11 vote

By APRIL GUILMET
Union Leader Correspondent
LONDONDERRY -- Though a motion for preliminary injunction against the school district’s 500-member deliberative session quorum was denied in Rockingham County Superior Court late last month, a ruling in the petitioners’ favor is still a very real possibility, school officials said earlier this week.
However, even if the court rules against the decade-old quorum, that won’t invalidate any decisions made during the Feb. 11 deliberative session. 
During Tuesday night’s School Board meeting, Superintendent Nathan Greenberg addressed the board’s concerns over a pending quorum decision. Greenberg said that after consulting the district’s representing attorney, Gordon Graham, he’s confident that even if a decision were eventually made in the petitioners’ favor, the outcome of this year’s deliberative session would stand. 
“It is beyond my comprehension that after a court review, even if the current charter is found to be unlawful, this would be the case,” he stressed. 
Greenberg estimated that the court case has cost the district close to $17,000 so far, money he hopes will be reimbursed to the district if a decision is made in the district’s favor. 
On Jan. 20, Judge Tina Nadeau denied a motion for a preliminary injunction filed by residents Al Baldasaro, Sean O’Keefe and Brian Farmer against the Londonderry School District and its meeting moderator, John Michels. 
The three residents filed the lawsuit in early December 2010 after alleging the current quorum required during the annual deliberative session is unconstitutional as it potentially prevents residents attending the annual meeting to influence the outcome. 
Following the court ruling, the Feb. 11 Deliberative Session will be subject to a 500-voter quorum requirement, same as has been done in previous years. 
The school district’s current quorum requirement has been in place since the charter was approved at the March 2000 ballots. 
Baldasaro said last week he expected a final decision would ultimately be made in the petitioners’ favor. Like his fellow petitioners, Baldasaro maintains the quorum is unconstitutional since achieving a 500-member quorum at deliberative sessions hasn’t happened in many years, thus denying voters the opportunity to amend any school warrant articles. 
“There is no doubt in my mind it will be decided this quorum is unconstitutional,” Baldasaro said. “Now, its just a waiting game. There’s no legislative authority for this quorum.” 
In court documents filed Jan. 20, presiding judge Tina Nadeau denied the petitioners’ preliminary injunction request, noting the latter “is an extraordinary measure and should not be granted unless there is an immediate danger of irreparable harm to the party seeking injunctive relief.” 
“The court finds that the petitioners have not provided information sufficient to warrant the grant of this extraordinary measure, as they have failed to demonstrate that irreparable harm would result but for the grant of this preliminary injunction,” Nadeau stated. “Further, the purpose of a preliminary injunction is to preserve the status quo, and enjoining the enforcement of the quorum provisions, which have existed for 10 years, would accomplish the opposite result.” 
Nadeau added that an ultimate decision on the quorum’s future is “a purely legal question not requiring any further evidence.” 
“A final order will be issued in due course,” she stated. 

School kids: Welcome to the Ever-Shrinking Summer

By APRIL GUILMET
Union Leader Correspondent
LONDONDERRY -- With yesteryday's snowstorm marking the fifth school cancellation for Londonderry this year, district officials are considering following in the footsteps of the Kearsarge School District, where virtual classrooms remain “open” regardless of the weather.
Using “blizzard bags,” or packets of school assignments teachers assemble in advance, students can learn the day’s lessons, both at home and online. Once schools reopen, teachers assess the students’ work, and a “snow day” becomes a “school day.”“I believe it may be too late to do anything for this year, but it’s a meaningful option to consider for next,” School Board Chairman Ron Campo said.
After contacting Kearsarge Superintendent Jerome Frew, Londonderry Superintendent Nathan Greenberg expressed great interest in the blizzard bags this week, though agreed it might be a bit late to begin such a program this school year. 

Frew said the Kearsarge district began piloting the program during the 2009-2010 school year after obtaining permission from the state Department of Education. 
The Kearsarge school district serves the towns of Newbury, New London, Springfield, Bradford, Sutton, Warner and Wilmot. 
“We were only able to try it once (last year) and the feedback overall was very positive,” Frew said in an e-mail. “As in any new thing, there were some suggestions made for improvement that we incorporated into this year’s plan.” 
Wednesday marked the third time “blizzard bags” were used in the Kearsarge district this school year. Some parents have criticized the program for its high expectations for student work, and the challenges it might present to households with multiple schoolchildren. 
“The positive comments included the choices that students had to complete work, the self-pacing of that work and the fact that we wouldn’t have to make up the time in June,” Frew said. 
In Bedford, School Superintendent Timothy Mayes said school officials aren’t considering blizzard bags now, but haven’t ruled them out for the future. 
He said Bedford has no plans to eliminate winter or spring vacations, another option being considered by some Granite State districts. 
“Today is our fourth day out with weather, so we plan to add these four days to the end of our school year,” Mayes said on Wednesday. 
“We think the Kearsarge idea is one we would like to discuss,” SAU 15 Superintendent Phil Littlefield said Wednesday night. To date, SAU 15 school district, which encompasses Hooksett, Auburn and Candia, has missed four school days. 
“Since our students started early this year, we do have a number of snow days available in June,” Littlefield said. “There’s a lot more winter, so we will monitor the situation and make adjustments as necessary.” 
In the Windham and Pelham districts, Superintendent Dr. Frank Bass said a number of options are being considered, with blizzard bags among the possibilities. Wednesday was the fifth day Pelham and Windham students missed year. 
He said omitting winter or spring vacation would be a last resort. Another option, he noted, would be a reduction in teacher workshop days. 
“Right now, we’ve got half of the winter to go,” Bass said. 
School boards do have the option of applying for a emergency State Department of Education waiver from the 180-day minimum. 
A number of waivers were granted after the spring floods of 2006 and the winter ice storm of 2008. 
A call to the state Department of Education confirmed that none of New Hampshire’s school districts has requested snow waivers yet. 

Argument leads to stabbing in Derry

By CHELSEY POLLOCK
Union Leader Correspondent
DERRY -- A man was stabbed in the arm and upper back Wednesday afternoon, police said, after an argument between roommates and a house guest escalated to physical violence.


Police responded to the scene of 1 Franklin St. at about 3 p.m. for reports of a disturbance involving a knife, said Derry police Capt. Vern Thomas. 


Officers found one man with serious knife wounds to his arm and upper back at the scene.
Thomas said the injured man was transported to Parkland Medical Center in Derry with non-life threatening wounds.

Investigators believe that an argument started in a second-floor apartment between roommates and a guest at the home, Thomas said.

The argument escalated into a physical fight between one of the roommates and the guest, and Thomas said and it was the roommate who was stabbed.

No arrests have been made in connection with the incident. Thomas said police are investigating the case as a first-degree assault.

While on scene, officers requested a second ambulance to assist an apartment resident who was having difficulty breathing. Thomas said the woman, who was present but not directly involved in the investigation, was examined at the scene but not hospitalized.

Derry FD reminder: Keep roofs, vents clear of snow

The public is reminded by the Derry Fire Department to make sure exhaust vents are clear, and roofs are shoveled.

SNOW DAY UPDATE: The Derry Fire Department is urging all residents to check the heating vents and fresh air intakes that are often located just above the foundations of their homes.
With all the snow on the ground, and more coming tomorrow, many homes may see several feet of snow accumulating around their foundations. Often extra snow can accumulate around a foundation of a home, because of snow drifts, residents shoveling roofs, decks, or even snow sliding off of roofs. This snow can create hazards. In 2005, 7-year-old Nicole Garofalo died of carbon monoxide poisoning in her Plymouth, Massachusetts home after snow blocked the heating vent, forcing the deadly gas back into the home.
Many newer, high-efficiency heating systems, including pellet stoves, have the vents and fresh air intakes located near the foundation, just a few feet above the ground. If these vents and intakes become blocked, or partially obstructed by accumulating or drifting snow, or ice they can cause serious carbon monoxide problems in the home, cause your heating appliances to run inefficiently, or even shut down.
To prevent this from happening residents are urged to check the areas around the foundation of their home, and clear snow and ice from around the vents, fresh air intakes, gas meters, and gas regulators.
Starting around 5 p.m. on February 2, the Derry Fire Department will be doing a mass-call on its Code Red Alerting system to warn residents of this specific hazard. Also starting tomorrow there will be announcements on the Derry Cable System and on the Fire Department Web Page at www.derry- nh.org
Lastly, all residents are reminded to install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in their homes. Install CO detectors on every level of your home, test them monthly, and remember twice a year during Daylight Savings Time, when you change the clocks, change the batteries on your smoke and CO detectors.

Council begins task of cleaning up charter mess

By CHELSEY POLLOCK
Union Leader Correspondent
DERRY -- Without a judge-ordered reconstitution of the town’s disbanded charter commission, the Derry Town Council was faced Tuesday night with three options for moving forward.
In the end, councilors decided to explore putting individual charter amendments directly on the ballot in March 2012.
Councilor Kevin Coyle also suggested two alternatives: put a new charter commission before voters next March or ignore the state attorney general’s objections and put the original charter proposal on the ballot.
After mistakes at the state level, the attorney general’s objections to some charter changes came just a week before they were set to go before voters last September. Last month, attorneys from the town and the state failed to convince a superior court judge to reconstitute the commission in time to make the required changes.
“Frankly, (the state) should’ve made the objections when they were supposed to and they didn’t, so it’s deemed approved,” Coyle said. “... I don’t think the attorney general would challenge us and if they did, they will have egg on their face for their actions.”
“I think they already do,” responded council Chairman Brad Benson. “I think it’s understood that it was a terrible situation, and it’s embarrassing for a lot of people. I think to play Russian roulette with the AG’s Office is not the most prudent thing to do.”
Ultimately Coyle’s motion to put the charter commission’s original report on the ballot failed without a second.
A second motion by Coyle to ask voters whether they would support a new charter commission also failed with a vote of 2-4, with Coyle and Brian Chirichiello supporting the measure.
“I don’t think the town should be the authoritarian figure that would look at all those questions and work on that,” Chirichiello said. “I think it would be wise to elect new commissions, even though it may be nine new people, it’s another set of eyes.”
But others said they didn’t want a new commission that could make changes to the prior group’s proposal, which cost the town $25,000 for a special election and legal fees.
“I think that the last charter commission was one of the best charter commissions since I’ve been in this town,” said Councilor David Milz. “... I think if we just put together a new one, it could undo all this good work they’ve done.”
Instead, the council reached a consensus that the board would move each of the proposed charter changes as separate questions to the ballot.
Coyle asked if the council would commit to putting every proposed change on the ballot, including the more controversial ones like the creation of an ethics committee and a mandate to report political campaign contributions of more than $1,000.
After a discussion, the council’s consensus was that members would look at each proposed change and if there ended up being some that members didn’t want to put forward, then the council would propose a new charter commission for the following year. Council Vice Chairman Neil Wetherbee and Milz said they might propose additional changes to the charter, after discussions.

The Groundhog will need a shovel today

Happy Groundhog Day!

Winter's not going away anytime soon, shadow or no shadow.

By CAROL ROBIDOUX
Union Leader Correspondent
LONDONDERRY -- Here’s hoping the groundhog got the “snow day” memo and is taking the day off.
Not that there’s a chance of that fat little rodent seeing his shadow in the midst of a swirling winter storm, anyway.
But if you think about it hard enough — or ask a wildlife specialist — you’d understand that the promise of an abbreviated winter based on the appearance of a groundhog in the dead of hibernation season is, well, hogwash.
“The good news is that groundhogs get to sleep through this weather every year — they trek into their burrows in October, and they sleep through it all. They don’t care how much snow falls on Feb. 2. They’re just having their sweet dreams. And come April, they’ll emerge from hibernation in peak physical condition, with a 30 percent weight loss. Somehow they’ve figured out how to come through the winter physically fit — which makes me wonder why I’m not a groundhog,” said Eric Orff, a wildlife biologist for the state Fish & Game Department. 
Woodchucks are as close to dead as a mammal can be this time of year without actually being dead, and not much will stir them prematurely from their instinctive repose. 
Still, every Feb. 2 we wait for the word from Gobbler’s Knob on whether the world-famous Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. Holiday lore dictates that if it’s cloudy when Phil emerges from his burrow, he’ll give up on sleeping and get back to life. 
Spring hibernation break is on. 
If it’s sunny, he will be scared back into his hole by his own shadow, which means he will have no choice but to go back to sleep for six more weeks — forcing the rest of us into a seasonal purgatory of extended winter. 
Maybe that’s how they roll in Punxsutawney, but here in New Hampshire, we have our own Groundhog Day reporting system. 
For starters, ask Todd Bahan of Groundhog Landscaping in Londonderry and he’ll tell you there’s a pretty good chance winter is going to last until, oh say, the end of winter in mid-March — shadow or no shadow. 
“It’s the weather pattern we seem to be in,” said Bahan, who was busy plowing driveways Tuesday during part one of this two-day snow event. Given the name and nature of his business — which keeps him busy no matter what the weather — Bahan is not concerned with what the pint-sized Pennsylvania prognosticator predicts. 
Winter is here. Spring will get here, eventually. 
In Somersworth, Woodchuck Lane neighbors Trudy Grant and Philip Munck are both rooting for winter to end soon — even though the once prevalent woodchucks have vanished. 
“When we moved here in 1986, there were groundhogs. They were located off Granite Way, so named because there was a quarry here. So there’s rubble and underground caves where they used to roam, but I can’t say I’ve seen one here in years,” said Munck. 
Grant said she’s never bought into the whole Groundhog Day mythology, anyway. But if there’s a chance that today’s sunless sky could be an early warning system for winter’s end, she’s all for it. 
“I’d rather be optimistic about things — my husband is champing at the bit to get out and do some golfing, and I’m waiting to open the windows for some fresh air,” Grant said. 
Derek Small, a wildlife biologist with Granite State Zoo in Rochester, said we should all feel fortunate that we’re not stuck in an underground hole somewhere, dreaming of spring. 

There but for the grace of fossil fuel, go we humans.

"If not for the discovery of fossil fuels or our ability to keep living spaces warm, the only way we would have to survive in the winter is to go dormant, like groundhogs do. In nature, food is scarce unless you're a predator, and even at that, most of your prey has gone dormant too, or headed south," said Small.

For most mammals, survival in the depths of winter is a balancing act, and the hibernation of the groundhog is a reminder to us all that life is as fragile as nature is astounding.

“We have to remember that groundhogs hibernate, no because of the cold or snow, but because of the shortening of the daylight hours as we approach winter,” Small said. 

They burrow down below the frost line, about six feet into the ground, taking only one breath every four or five minutes. Their body temperature drops from about 100 F to 40 F. 

“Groundhogs would never naturally emerge from their burrows on February 2, even if we had an unusually warm winter,” said Small. “But if you’re asking me, I hope winter ends sooner than later.” 

Local schools among green elite

By APRIL GUILMET
Union Leader Correspondent
LONDONDERRY -- The town’s ongoing efforts to conserve energy within its six public schools haven’t gone unnoticed by state and federal officials.
During the Tuesday’s School Board meeting, school officials announced five of its schools currently qualify for Energy Star status. According to facilities director Chuck Zappala, less than 5 percent of all American public schools have earned Energy Star awards.
This past August, the district was asked to participate in a state public utilities commission survey comparing their energy use with other Granite State schools. Londonderry school officials offered up two years’ worth of data, detailing each school’s energy usage, and a mechanical engineer was assigned to perform an in-depth analysis for each facility.
“The results showed that the average cost of energy use per square foot and per student in the Londonderry Schools was almost 40 percent lower than the state average,” Zappala said. “Based on the information provided in the survey, we were invited to continue the process to earn the awards.”
The district was informed of its status in late December, though the sixth school, Moose Hill School, remains to be verified.
Zappala attributed the delay to the fact that the school, which houses Londonderry’s morning and afternoon kindergarten classes, doesn’t have a gymnasium or cafeteria, and has limited evening and weekend activities. However, he anticipates Moose Hill School will likely be ranked among its peers.
Zappala lauded the efforts of district energy manager Bob Lees, noting that the district has reduced its energy consumption by nearly 30 percent in recent years, with cost avoidances totaling $3.5 million over the past decade.
Toward the beginning of fiscal year 2001, the district embarked on its energy conservation program, partnering with Energy Education Inc., a Texas-based national organization dedicated to helping large organizations, such as school districts, map out comprehensive and people-driven energy savings programs.With Lee’s guidance, the district saw results almost immediately, and in 2008 the Londonderry School District earned a Lighthouse Award in recognition of its conservation efforts.
With over 900 heating, venting and air conditioning units throughout the district, staff members have taken an extremely aggressive approach to monitoring the schools’ usage of heat, lights and air conditioning, particularly in the after-hours and during the summer months.
In October 2008, school officials began the long process of converting the middle school’s heating system from oil to the more economical natural gas, connecting the school to an existing Mammoth Road natural gas line.
Conversions at Matthew Thornton and South elementary schools soon followed.

.

Students prepare for Wellness Fair, where fitness meets fun

By APRIIL GUILMET
Union Leader Correspondent
LONDONDERRY -- Eating healthy foods and exercising regularly do not necessarily go hand in hand with having fun.
But don’t tell that to the scores of elementary school students expected to fill the gymnasium of Matthew Thornton Elementary School next week.
On Feb. 9, the school will host its annual Wellness Fair. From 6 to 8 p.m. that evening, students will have the chance to enjoy a variety of free, fitness-oriented activities, including dancing, rock wall climbing, karate demonstrations and even children’s Zumba .
According to Danielle Barrette, one of the event’s organizers, all children attending the Wellness Fair will be presented with “passports,” which they can stamp at assorted educational booths and have the chance to earn raffle prizes.
Among the local businesses and organizations hosting booths next week are Stonyfield Yogurt, Nutrition In Motion, Healthy Living Library, Arbonne International, Chair Massage Transitions, Elliot Health Systems, For Kids Who Cook, CVS Pharmacy, The Learning Stop, Parkland Hospital, Med Stop Wellness Training, ZumbAtomic Kids and the American Kenpo Academy.
Principal Carol Mack will host “Just Dance” in the school lobby, while physical education teacher Mike Corf will oversee the rock wall climbing.
Members of the Hip Hoppin’ Hawks, South Elementary School’s award-winning student jump-rope team, will perform at 7:15 p.m.
Meanwhile, students throughout the school have been keeping active during the winter months via the school’s Fun Fit program, held appropriately on “Wellness Wednesdays.”
Each Wednesday, Corf leads students and staff members in fun-filled games and activities in hopes of beating the winter doldrums.

Where do your donated clothes go?

Donna Jesmer unloads some clothing at a New England Clothes Recycling bin in Derry.  Contrary to her hope that they will be used to help a local family in need, the company will sell them in bulk to an overseas textile operation.

By CAROL ROBIDOUX
Union Leader Correspondent
LONDONDERRY -- Every couple of months Donna Jesmer loads up a shopping bag or two of old clothes and drives to the nearest “public clothing drop.” Normally, she hits one of the two donation bins on Route 128 in town, but yesterday she had to divert her bags to a receptacle in the parking lot of the Derry Meadows Plaza, one town over. 

This New England Clothes Recycling bin in Londonderry is
overflowing and the lot is unplowed, making donations impossible.

The two yellow bins she usually feeds in Londonderry were filled to overflowing and impossible to access, due to mountains of unplowed snow. 
“It bothers me that nobody plowed, and that people put things in there they shouldn’t be putting,” said Jesmer, who said she often finds the clothes drop bins beyond capacity. 
Still, said Jesmer, it’s good to know her clothing donations help those in need locally. 
Or at least, that’s what she has always thought was happening with her bags of clothing, based on the words “Public Clothing Drop,” and the smaller sign that reads “New England Clothes Recycling” off to the side of the yellow bins on Route 128. 
What Jesmer didn’t know is that those particular bins — and just about every other clothes drop bin in the state — are tended to by for-profit textile recyclers, who take the castaway clothing, bundle it into 40,000pound bales and sell it to the highest bidder in a competitive commodities market. Once sold, the clothing is sorted by how wearable it is, and then shipped to people in foreign countries -anything that’s too worn or dirty is recycled as textile scrap. 
Making money from donated clothing is nothing new. Today, textile recycling is a booming business in which castaway clothing is sold by the pound in a process comparable to the way cardboard and newsprint are bundled and sold by municipalities for profit. 
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans in 2009 generated 12.7 million tons of discarded textiles, accounting for 5.2 percent of total municipal solid waste generation. 
Generally speaking, people misunderstand the life-cycle of recycled clothing, said Peter Shellenberger, who runs Ecosmith Recyclers Inc., a Londonderry textile recycling operation on Tinker Avenue. 
“What’s funny is that people who donate want their old clothes to do the most good they can possibly do. But if you bring a bag to the Goodwill or the Salvation Army, those organizations are going to use less than 10 percent of what’s given to them in-house for their operation. The rest, they sell to people like me,” said Shellenberger. 
He mentioned a church organization in Milford that calls him regularly to pick up the bulk of their donated clothing, which aren’t suitable for sale at their thrift store for one reason or another. “What’s in style is subjective,” Shellenberger said. 
“We pay them for what we pick up and that money goes right back to the church, so in that way, the donated clothing benefits the charity — just not in the way people think,” Shellenberger said. “Every bit of clothing you keep out of waste stream helps taxpayers, and it doesn’t cost the non-profits a thing to give it to us. I like to think of myself as the local guy doing something to help the local economy. What I hate is to get thrown in with rest of ‘them,’ other for-profit recyclers who don’t take care of their bins and let the clothing pile up on the ground and get ruined by the weather,” Shellenberger said. 
New England Clothes Recycling, based in Chelsmsford, Mass., does not work with local charities and municipalities to return a portion of their profit to those who host collection bins. Shellenberger’s operation, which he runs with his wife Susan, gives back between 10 and 15 percent of their gross income to local organizations, among them, Goffstown Parks and Recreation Department. 
Department Director Rick Wilhelmini said an Ecosmith bin at the Goffstown Hannaford supermarket has for several years provided money for the town’s youth and senior citizen programming. 
“For example, we needed to equipment for our youth basketball program, and we were able to use money generated from the clothing donations for the costs, which weren’t covered by our recreation budget,” Wilhelmini said. Shellenberger said over the years Goffstown has probably made about $50,000 from its percentage of his profit. Although Shellenberger would not disclose how much he gets paid per pound for selling the clothing, he said groups he works with usually make about 3 cents per pound. 
“Every location is different. Some, like at the Boys and Girls Club in Derry, don’t generate so much — people just don’t seem to know the bin is there. But we have some PTOs out there —like in Exeter for example — that earn several thousand dollars a year,” Shellenberger said. 
His biggest competition, however, is from Planet Aid, an international non-profit organization that has six times the number of collection bins he has in New Hampshire. 
Calls made yesterday to Planet Aid for comment on this story were not returned. 
Yes, he’s in it for the money. But Shellenberger said he believes what he’s doing is important, with the rapid rate at which landfill space is filling up. He launched his textile recycling business 20 years ago, after running the Amherst transfer station for 13 years with wife Susan. In that time they saw what a problem discarded clothing was posing for municipalities. 
“For me, the most important part is getting clothes out of the waste stream. Statistically, only one-third of all the clothing people donate gets used by charities. That means twothirds of it ends up in the trash, one way or another,” Shellenberger said. “Better for me, or another textile recycler, to bundle it up and ship it overseas, where they can really use it.” 

Tavern takeover delayed

By CHELSEY POLLOCK
Union Leader Correspondent
DERRY  -- In a tentative agreement, town staff and the owners of the Pinkerton Tavern have pushed back the restaurant’s move-out date to March 15, said Derry Town Administrator John Anderson.
An earlier agreement had cited Feb. 1 as the last date that Tavern owners Jen Lutzen and Guy Streitburger could remain in their 13 Manchester Road building, as the town has initiated eminent domain on the property as part of a Route 28 widening project.
But Anderson said Lutzen and Streitburger had concerns about losing business over Valentine’s Day and not having enough time to fulfill outstanding gift certificates. He said the push back will not interfere with the widening schedule, which calls for construction in April.
Under the draft agreement, Anderson said the town would pay Lutzen and Streitburger $305,000 to cover the cost of relocating their business.
Lutzen and Streitburger have made no public acknowledgment of their plans for the restaurant and could not be reached for comment. 

The town is still in negotiations with Arnold Goldstein of Bedford, who owns the 13 Manchester Road property, about an appropriate compensation for the parcel to be seized under eminent domain. 
Anderson said the tavern building will go up for auction in the early spring and will likely be knocked down if not purchased. 

New space, new philosophy

Construction of Pinkerton Academy's $23-million freshman building should be completed by July.

By CHELSEY POLLOCK
Union Leader Correspondent

Construction scaffolding covers the outside of the building's
 main entrance, while about 70 workers continue
painting and heating improvements on the
 interior of the building this week.

DERRY -- Change can be slow to come to a 195-year-old institution. And when first-year students fill Pinkerton Academy’s freshmen building in August, they will be guinea pigs for a new philosophy more than 10 years in the making.
“We are trying to personalize education so there’s no student who falls in between the cracks,” said Pinkerton Headmaster Mary Anderson. “We want kids to be successful, and in order to do that, we have to get to every single kid.”
Beginning in August, first­-year students will take all of their core courses – English, science, math and social studies – in the new freshmen building, taught by teams of 8 teachers with about 200 students each, Anderson said. 
The new building will also house administration and guidance staff who will deal exclusively with freshmen students. 
Anderson said the hope is that next year’s nearly 700 freshmen will feel more comfortable in a smaller environment at a school with an enrollment of more than 3,100. Teaching teams will also be encouraged to compare notes on student progress throughout the year, she said. 
While construction of the $23-million project started in the fall of 2009, Anderson said the school’s long-range planning committee began considering the possibility of creating a freshmen “school within a school” in 2000. 
“Instead of just building another building, we said, ‘OK, do we want to change the philosophy?’” Anderson said. “We did a lot of research and met with a lot of different schools, and we just liked the philosophy of a school within a school making a large school feel smaller.” 
Construction was originally scheduled for 2008, but Anderson said the economic downturn slowed the project. At that point, the work was expected to cost about $29 million, she said. 
With the reduction of a $4 million playing field complex and under-budget bids, construction on a revised $23 million building began in the fall of 2009. 
To date, she said, the project remains on budget. 
At this point, about 70 workers are completing painting and heating improvements to the interior of the building, while much of the outside brick is already in place, she said. 
Once completed in July, the three-story building will house 28 freshmen classrooms, 6 math classrooms for upperclassmen and 9 rooms for the school’s culinary, allied health and video production Career Technical Education programs. Plans also include a media center with 75 computers open to students of all ages, a freshmen cafeteria and a small lecture hall. 
All staff moving to the new building will come from other areas on campus, Anderson said, and the school will be able to remove 22 of its 40-year-old portable classroom buildings once the new space is open. 
Two of those portables will be moved to the special education department at Haynes House, she said. 
Anderson said the building will be paid for by a 25-year bond and is expected to account for an increase of about $250 in per-student tuition next year. 
In total, Pinkerton tuition will increase by $342 next year, to $9,712 per student. 
But Anderson said that money will be well spent. 
“All Derry, Hampstead and Chester parents and residents should know that we have done a ton of research and put a lot of thought into this,” she said. “We didn’t just build a building because we needed to get rid of portable buildings. We built this with a specific philosophy in mind that will better meet the needs of our kids, their kids.” 
Once the freshmen building is ready, Anderson said she’s hoping to bring similar concepts to other areas on campus, working slowly with the existing infrastructure. 
“We’ve got the facilities to be able to go in whatever direction we want, with more research,” Anderson said. “Change is slow to the academy, but that’s not always a bad thing.” 

Derry Planning Fees are going up

By CHELSEY POLLOCK
Union Leader Correspondent
DERRY -- It’s been five years since Derry has updated its planning fee schedule and now staff say fees collected no longer match the costs of project review.
“We looked at our numbers and found the amount we were paying out to consultants was more than we were charging, when in reality it’s supposed to be a wash,” said Derry Planning Director George Sioras. “We found that we were getting close to overspending the last couple years.”
Sioras said planning staff have spent the past few months working closely with the public works and finance departments to look into the town’s own costs and to compare fee structures with other municipalities.
As sizable projects usually pay a proportionately larger fee and employ a team of engineers, Sioras said it was the smaller developments that ended up taking the most staff time.
“Smaller developments come in and hire smaller firms, so sometimes we spend more time on the plan and that’s where we’re taking the hit,” he said.
For example, Derry Planning Assistant Elizabeth Robidoux said that one particular plan has cost the town $2,300 in external review so far, when the applicant paid a fee of $775. In another case, the town spent $1,300 in staff and contracted time to review a project that brought in a similar fee of $775. And while not every project overspends to that extent, Robidoux said it only takes a few costly plans to make a difference.
“It’s a trend that we’re not recovering our costs,” she said. “I’m all for development and I think it’s a good thing for the town, but I also don’t believe that the taxpayers should pay that price. We’re here to serve the community and I think we need to keep that in mind.”
If changes are approved, Robidoux said that developers would be asked to pay separately for a project’s external review at a cost to be determined by the planning department. Under the current system, external review costs are supposed to be covered by the regular application fee.
Under the proposed changes, developers would pay $.15 per square foot of new commercial or industrial construction up to a $10,000 limit, as opposed to the current fee of $350 plus $100 per lot and $500 per acre of disruption. 
On projects requiring a legal notice, applicants would pay $50 where no current fee is in place. 
Lot line adjustments currently cost $20 per lot or unit, but under the new fee schedule developers would pay $100 per lot. 
A full list of the proposed changes is available at the town’s website, www.derry. nh.us. 
The Derry Planning Board moved the proposed fee increases to a public hearing to be held on Feb. 16. Sioras said the board will likely make a decision that night, which would go into effect immediately. 

Get your snowshoe on at Musquash

By APRIL GUILMET
Union Leader Correspondent
LONDONDERRY -- With more than four miles of new trails now open at the Musquash Conservation Center, novice snowshoers can experience winter at its finest during a special field day later this month.
On Saturday, Feb. 12, the Londonderry Conservation Commission, along with University of New Hampshire’s Cooperative Extension, will sponsor Musquash Field Day.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., interested locals can snowshoe, explore new trails, hike to cellar holes and learn the secrets of the forest, its plants and wildlife. Refreshments served around an open fire will top off the afternoon.
A favorite spot amongst local hikers, cyclists, snowshoers and nature enthusiasts, the heavily forested Musquash Conserva­tion Area spans more than 900 acres. 
Named for the Algonquin word for “muskrat,” the conservation area, which was established in 1979, includes forests and wetlands. Londonderry Trailways volunteers regularly maintain trails, while the conservation commission works closely with a licensed forest manager. 
According to conservation commissioner Mike Considine, the field day event has been a popular one for more than a decade. 
“We’ve been pretty busy this year,” Considine said, noting that those who haven’t visited the conservation area lately can explore the four new trails, all added during the past year. 
According to conservation commissioner Deb Lievens, one of the new trails connects Faucher Road to the site’s landing area, the same spot where residents will gather around the campfire next Saturday. 
The conservation commission has been working closely with town GIS manager John Vogl to update the Musquash trail map. Considine said the updated map should be posted online later this week for residents to access it prior to the field day. 
Next week’s adventure seekers will likely spot animal tracks from roving coyote, fox, fisher cats and deer. Commissioner Mike Speltz said he hopes to see moose, weasel and muskrat tracks as well, and noted that hikers would likely see beaver dams and heron nests. 
Considine, who regularly hikes the Musquash trails, said he’s seen many deer, porcupine, moose and fishers during recent visits. He said a goodsized crowd attending the field day would likely scatter wild animals. 
“Now, if someone set out to our trails by themselves, maybe early in the morning, they might see some creatures,” he said. 
For those who don’t own snowshoes, not to worry: representatives from Manchester’s Eastern Mountain Sports store will offer a limited supply of snowshoes, which residents can borrow. 
“It’s a piece of cake,” was Considine’s advice for the uninitiated. “Just strap ‘em on and go.” 
Those wishing to participate in the field day are asked to meet with the local conservation team at 10 a.m. on Feb. 12 at the Musquash main entrance, at the end of Hickory Hill Drive. No registration is required. 
For more information, including a trail map of the Musquash Conservation Area, go to www.londonderrytrails.com.