News

Amherst braves weather to party

Thursday, July 7, 2011

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Bethany Poulin br> Kaitlin Rice read Tarot cards in her booth at the Fourth of July celebration.

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Bethany Poulin br> Colorful banners grace the fence behind the bake sale tent hosted by Amherst-Mt Vernon Girls Scout Troop 22793 at Souhegan High School Sunday evening.

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Bethany Poulin br> Eric Miron ronds third for the his second homerun in the fourth inning in the All-Amherst fire & rescue softball game.

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Roland & Dianne Gingras of Three Rivers Quebec tough out the rain during the fire & rescue softball game Sunday evening at Bean Field.

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Bethany Poulin br> The grand finale shatters the dark of night one last time before the field fell silent.

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Bethany Poulin br> As dusk settled in explosions filled the air in Amherst during Sunday evening's independence day celebration.

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Bethany Poulin br > The Amherst Town Band plays Stars and Stripes Forever under the leadership of Pat McMillian.

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Bethany Poulin br> Bill Bentley of Mt Vernon plays the tympani during the a medly of John Williams songs during the July 3rd festivities at Souhegan High School stadium.

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Photo by Jodie Andruskevich - Four year old Blayne Forleo tries his best in the sack race at the Family Fun Day at Keyes Field in Milford on the 4th of July.

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Bethany Poulin br> Kaitlin Rice read Tarot cards in her booth at the Fourth of July celebration.

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By BETHANY POULIN

Correspondent

Crowds eventually descended on Bean Field on July 3 for Amherst’s annual Independence Day celebration but some bad weather earlier in the day led to partial cancellation of at least one event.

At 5:30 p.m., a few faithful arrived at Souhegan High School to view a softball game between Amherst Fire & EMS and the Milford Fire Department.

What spectators ended up watching was an Amherst vs. Amherst game.

The Amherst team showed up on time and ready to play with the American flag hung neatly off the end of the ladder of Engine No. 1 raised high above the entrance to Bean Field.

Firefighter Bill Rapf described the game with a twinkle in his eye as “the first in a longtime tradition.”

Unfortunately, the tradition would have to wait, as Milford’s team declined to play given the weather. With their fire gear neatly stowed away and a small but hardy band of fans, the guys decided to play anyway, splitting up into two teams.

With no scoreboard, scorekeeper or officials, the game began. The wet field and serious heckling from opposing players hurt the fielding on both teams, but they made up for it at bat.

Eric Miron hit a home run in the third for Amherst and followed it up with another in the fifth inning. On the other Amherst team Darren “the Probie” Scheiver hit his second homerun in the fifth as well, taking heat from his own teammates. It was even rumored Fire Chief Mark Boynton put one over the fence, but none of the firemen would confirm.

It was clear to all who attended that the guys came to play, have fun and put on a good show for the crowd.

By 6:30, a small crowd had gathered on the side lawn of Souhegan High School to enjoy the contemporary rock of local band Undertow – four 2011 graduates of Souhegan High School, Alex Philbrick, Kyle Robertson and Josh Brackett of Mont Vernon and Dustin Newhouse of Amherst.

Along the fence the Girl Scouts from the Amherst-Mont Vernon troop 22793 sold baked goods to raise money for future projects, while a short walk down the fence, Mark and Brenda Hume made and sold fresh cotton candy.

By 7:30 the infield track was about half full and the stadium seats began to fill up as well as folks came to listen to the Amherst Town Band. Under the direction of Patricia McMullen, the band played traditional July Fourth favorites including a medley of John Williams songs and “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Residents Anna and Michael Rice sat on a wall taking in the sites and sounds of the day before the fireworks began while their daughter – Souhegan High School graduate Kaitlin Rice – read Tarot Cards for visitors in a tent.

The Rice family moved to town in 2001 and attend the festivities every year.

“We love the community,” Michael Rice said. “It is a great school and a great town.”

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