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Fast News

Firefighters honor those

who died on Sept. 11

AMHERST – Firefighters from Amherst Fire Rescue climbed 110 stories in fire gear to commemorate the bravery of those first responders who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. The New Hampshire 9/11 Stair Climb was on Sept. 9 at the Home of the N.H. Fisher Cats, Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester.

School officials start

preliminary talks

MILFORD – School officials are starting to talk about the next budget, and at the school board’s Sept. 18 meeting, Chairman Ron Carvell suggested limiting the increase to 1.5 to 2 percent, numbers that alarmed the schools superintendent and at least one board member.

“There’s no question it would impact personnel,” said Superintendent of Schools Robert Marquis, and board member Kevin Drew said the prospect of staff cuts would “create a lot of angst.”

But budget committee Chairman John Wynne agreed with Carvell, saying programs that have been in place for years needed to be examined to make sure they still are needed.

Carvell told board members to look through the numbers over the next two weeks with a view toward prioritizing programs, but “we certainly don’t want to create an emotional roller coaster.”

School board OKs

demographic study

MILFORD – The school board last week authorized Superintendent Robert Marquis to have the New Hampshire School Administrators Association conduct a school demographic study. The study will include projections for the next 10 years for grades K-12 after looking at the number of births, building permits, census information and overall population trends, with results reviewed and shared with town officials.

Retired pastor publishes book , ‘Saints Alive’

MILFORD – More than 20,000 people visit the farming community of Maria Stein, Ohio every year to see the National Shrine of the Holy Relics and its display of about a thousand relics of Roman Catholic saints. Rev. Dr. Alex A. Gondola Jr. would often visit this peaceful setting and, as he watched devotees come to honor these figures and pray, he realized he didn’t quite “get it.” Could there be spiritual enrichment for him, a Protestant, in a place like this?

Gondola, the retired interim pastor of Milford’s First Congregational Church, is the author of “Saints Alive: Claiming the Saints for Protestant Teaching,” sermons from a year Gondola devoted to preaching on one saint per month. He offers this volume as a companion for pastors and group leaders prepared to take a deep dive into matters of faith, calling and the hope Christ offers the world through his humblest of servants, from St. Augustine to Mother Teresa.

Seasonal sermons include: St. Patrick: “Christ in All Things,” for Lent, Nicholas of Myra: “An Advent Saint,” for Advent and “You and I: Called to Be Saints for year end/New Year’s Day.

The paperback book is available through Amazon.com.

Gondola was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 1975, and served as an associate pastor, pastor and senior pastor, mostly in larger membership churches. He retired in 2011. He is a graduate of Allegheny College (Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies), Andover Newton Theological School (Master of Divinity), California State University, Dominguez Hills (Master of Arts) and Colgate Rochester Divinity School (Doctor of Ministry). In addition to his five books, and contributing to a sixth, more than 150 of his articles, sermons, stories and/or preaching illustrations have reappeared in clergy journals. He and his wife, Bonnie, live in Amherst.

MASHstock Reunion donates over $6,000

The third annual MASHstock multi-class reunion for attendees and friends of Milford Area Senior High classes 1971 to 1990, donated more than $6,000 to SHARE Outreach thanks to the support of local business and the event’s 300 attendees. The reunion was Aug. 12, at Knight Farm in Amherst, and was part of the class of 1977’s 40th reunion weekend. Special guests included former varsity football coach Paul Lavigne, who led the Spartans to many championship wins, and Marnie Magoon, aka gym teacher “Mrs. Blanchard.”

Entertainment for the event was donated by professional bands with MASH ties. This year’s event featured The New Englander’s, Straye, Colyer and Brown, Rocket Waltz and The Bat Magoon Band.

Generous raffle donations, including artwork created by many talented MASH graduates plus gift cards from more than 50 local businesses, allowed MASHstock to raise $6,150 for SHARE this year. The Knight family also donated 95 percent of the fresh organic vegetables grown at their farm to the SHARE Outreach food pantry. Local families received fresh corn, tomatoes, kale, lettuce, cabbage, potatoes, beets and specialty vegetables throughout the growing season.

The MASHstock organizing committee would like to recognize the individuals and businesses who contributed to the success of this year’s event:

A&E Coffee, Achille Agway, Amherst Country Club, Amigo’s Mexican Cantina, Balcom Bros, The Barn Restaurant at Hitchiner, Bel Air Salon and Barber, Blue Seal Feeds, Bob Evans Construction, Briand’s Auto, The Chop Shop, Edward Smith of College Bound Movers, The County Stores, The Delage family, Andy and Gayle Drobat, Earthward Natural Products, Ed’s Auto, Foodees, Fransted Campground, Frederick’s Pastry, Sal and Vinny Anfuso of Greenfield Forge and Blacksmithing Shop, Michael Gauvreau of Greensorb, Hairforce, Hayward’s Ice Cream, Hayward’s Trading Post, Hitchiner Manufacturing Co., Jade Dragon, JP Pest Services, Longhorn, Lull Farm, MD’s Trash Removal, Mi Jalisco, Milano’s Pizza, Milford House of Pizza, Milford Seafood and Grill, Laura Pierson O’Leary of Ocean Current Art-Sea Glass Creations,The Pasta Loft, Pizza Top, Pizzeria Roma, RDP Plumbing and Heating, Ron Vars, Sake House, Sal’s Pizza,The Shoe Box, Katherine Newell Romer of Silver, Stone and Pearls, Sophie Knight, Souhegan Woods Golf Club, Subway, T and T Nails, Teddy’s Barber Shop, Toadstool Bookshops, Union Coffee Co., Kevin and Sally Stevens of The Union Street Grill, Pete Von Iderstine, Wickets at Hampshire Hills, and Wok Wok.

For information about next year’s event, visit www.mashstockllc.org.

Granite UW welcomes new board members

This month, Granite United Way welcomed three new members to the board of directors.

Granite United Way is the single-largest United Way in New Hampshire. It serves more than 80 percent of the state and Windsor County, Vermont. The organization has regional offices in Manchester, West Lebanon, Concord, Laconia, Ossipee, Plymouth, Berlin and Littleton.

“Our board of directors is an incredibly active and dedicated group of community leaders and experts in their respective fields,” said Patrick Tufts, president and CEO of Granite United Way. “We are excited to welcome Kathleen Bizarro-Thunberg, Lori Langlois and Tony Speller to our board. Each of them bring a unique lens from their respective regions to the organization.”

The following individuals have been elected to Granite United Way’s Board of Directors:

Kathleen A. Bizarro-Thunberg, MBA, FACHE, executive vice president/federal relations at the New Hampshire Hospital Association. Bizarro-Thunberg resides in Hopkinton.

Tony Speller, division senior vice president of technical operations and engineering for Comcast Northeast Division. Speller resides in Salem.

Lori Langlois is the executive director of North Country Education Services, where she has worked since 1995. Langlois and her wife are life-long residents of Berlin.

Alicea selected as Student of the Month

MILFORD – Delila Alicea, daughter of Christina Ortiz, has been selected as Milford High School’s student of the month for September. Delila’s teachers nominated her as an ideal candidate for recognition.

She was recognized for her personal and academic growth, her participation in the Winni Dip every February and her active contributions and participation in and leadership role as vice president of Best Buddies. Her attendance at the Best Buddies International Conference and recognition by Anthony Shriver brought respect and positive attention to Milford High School. In addition, teachers mentioned her positive energy and kind spirit.

Delila also is a student member of the MHS staff and student committee that addresses issues of drug use and abuse in the community.

She is, according to her teacher, a “truly giving and generous person who has made important contributions to the school.”

Delila was selected from more than 850 students for this distinction. MHS thanks Delila for her contributions to the school programs of Milford and wishes her the best for her future success.

– Kathy Cleveland and from Staff Reports