DerryNews.com, Derry, New Hampshire--Opinion

No time for time off

Wed, 07 May 2008 09:57:00 EDT

The New Hampshire state Legislature has been dealing with a wide range of critical issues this session. Topics have ranged from the decriminalization of marijuana to radical changes in education funding, from the death penalty to health care reform and, perhaps most importantly, the state pension fund crisis.

John Edmondson: Treasure-hunting at a Florida flea market

Wed, 07 May 2008 09:56:00 EDT

As a child, when my mother wasn't dragging me to the grocery store, Penney's, or one of the many historical sites in the greater Washington, D.C., area, I could count on spending a listless hour or two at a flea market, wondering why so many were bedazzled by old glass bottles and cement bird baths.

Health column: Don't spring back with a fad die

Wed, 07 May 2008 09:55:00 EDT

With spring upon us, a young person's fancy turns to weight loss. The quickest answer to shed those extra pounds that accumulated while we were cabin-bound seems to be one of the latest fad diets extolled by the media. Fad diets are fashionable while the trend lasts, but eventually fade away, usually in a year or two. Most fad diets focus on one food or food group: The "Cabbage Diet," the "Egg Diet" and the "Watermelon Diet" have all been in vogue. Sadly, there is no magic button for weight loss.

Poll question of the week

Wed, 07 May 2008 09:55:00 EDT

What is the fiercest rivalry in sports?
— Red Sox vs. Yankees
— Celtics vs. Lakers
— Pinkerton vs. Londonderry
To vote, log onto www.derrynews.com.
Last week's results
Should members of planning boards, zoning boards and conservation commissions be appointed by town councils or elected by the voters?

My View: The perfect card — with a little help

Wed, 07 May 2008 09:55:00 EDT

On my way to the paint department in our local hardware/crafts store to buy mineral spirits and a scraping tool to remove varnish, I passed through the greeting card aisle. This terrific store has at least one of everything including beautiful greeting cards. I paused from my furniture refinishing mission to select a Mother's Day card from the colorful profusion on display.

Letters to the editor

Wed, 07 May 2008 09:54:00 EDT

Be part of the solution
To the editor:
A rather lengthy commentary in the Wednesday, April 30, Hotline caught my attention. The nameless caller found it "annoying" and "upsetting" that there are homeless people in Derry and asked for the police to "step up to the plate" by registering and tracking them because "there seems to be a lot more of them than there used to be."

Hotline

Wed, 07 May 2008 09:54:00 EDT

I'm calling in response to the person who called in about the homeless people wandering the streets of Derry. I've lived in Derry for a lot of years and I frequent Hood Plaza all the time and though I

Our View: Local Democrats have a lot of work to do

Fri, 02 May 2008 07:00:00 EDT

It's widely acknowledged in New Hampshire political circles that the Greater Londonderry/Derry area stands as the last major stronghold of the Republican Party in the Granite State.
As a result, the region's influence in Concord, with a Democratic governor and a Democrat-controlled Legislature, is limited at best.

Lorraine Lordi: The ageless story of young love

Fri, 02 May 2008 06:45:00 EDT

This morning, the sun is beaming. The grass is greening. The birds are competing cheerfully for which flock can sing the loudest. If only for today, spring has graced us with her presence. We all feel it in our bones. And our hearts.

Letters to the editor

Fri, 02 May 2008 06:30:00 EDT

The phantom Democrats
To the editor:
Since January there have been record turnouts of voters in the Democratic primaries. In Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Indiana, there have been increases of 4 to 8 percent in new voter registrations for the Democratic primaries.

My View: Getting more bang for the Medicare buck

Fri, 02 May 2008 06:15:00 EDT

When you spend more you expect higher quality, whether it's a house, a car or a meal at a restaurant. However this expectation does not hold true for health care. More tests, more specialists and more money do not always lead to better quality. How can this be?

In the home stretch

Fri, 02 May 2008 06:15:00 EDT

The hallways of Londonderry High School have for weeks been roiling with plans. College decisions are being finalized and those fat, non-refundable checks mailed off; prom dresses are being bought, graduation parties being planned, summer jobs being sought. There are some big (and not so big) decisions being made every day, not to mention the large sums of money that are being slung around. So, for any of my classmates who are still deciding, I thought I'd bring you some advice from the experts.

Hotline

Fri, 02 May 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Can we have a do-over of the March election? I made a mistake in voting for Neil Wetherbee in District 3. I should have voted for Doug Newell. I thought Wetherbee would be able to at least start some cost cutting and I see now that he is unwilling to leave unfilled any expensive over-paid positions in our town departments. Doing "that" is the help we taxpaying homeowner's all need.

Derry News Web poll

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:00:00 EDT

Should members of planning boards, zoning boards and conservation commissions be appointed by town councils or elected by the voters?
Appointed — The council can interview candidates and appoint qualified members.

Letters to the editor

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:00:00 EDT

Monarchs are champs
To the editor:
It was a tough loss for the Manchester Monarchs Monday night in overtime. This marked the end of their postseason and the disappointment was clearly visible.

Your Towns: Lowering residential taxes

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:00:00 EDT

Residential property taxes in Southern New Hampshire need to drop. If we can agree on that premise, then let's move on to the how. Londonderry's town officials so far have made selective targeted cuts in the town budget to help lower taxes. They've trimmed several line items, reduced employee benefits, and cut back public services. Two main problems have hindered this approach:

John Edmondson: Under the microscope at a middle school dance

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:00:00 EDT

I do remember lining up in the school cafeteria with a horde of other seventh-grade boys, avoiding eye contact with a similar arrangement of female classmates across the way. With all the tables folded and stacked up along the far walls, the floor seemed like a vast, if not impossible chasm to cross.

Hotline

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:00:00 EDT

Have you been down Park Avenue lately? Well, I think you should take a ride down. On one side of the street you see Cooper Associates for sale signs — Mark Cooper's, who's on the Planning Board now. On the other side of the street is going to be a five-development housing unit going in there and Mark will be voting on that, as a Planning Board member. Don't you think he should not be voting on that plan for going to that site walk and voting on that? Whatever happens on the opposite side of the street will affect whatever property he owns. I think that would be a conflict of interest, seeing as he's an abutter.

Hats Off

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:00:00 EDT

We live on Brook Street. The man across the street has been very nice to us. He has plowed our driveway, he's planted plants for me. My husband is in the hospital — he has been in the hospital since Feb. 14 — and this man is fabulous. He deserves to be recognized — his name is Mr. Donovan, on Brooks Street. Thank you.

Our view: No time for territorial politics

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:00:00 EDT

These are challenging financial times for Londonderry, just as they are for nearly every other community in New Hampshire.
The downturn in the economy, combined with expected reductions in education funding and the impending state pension crisis, are forming a municipal finance "perfect storm" of sorts, forcing tough decisions and encouraging creative solutions.

Taking it to the streets

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:00:00 EDT

The issue of which streets should be accepted as public roads and which should remain private has been a boil on the skin of the Derry Town Council for several years. It has led to court cases costing the town thousands of dollars and has pitted neighbor against neighbor.

College Corner: Well worth the pain and sweat

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:00:00 EDT

Countless hours of work, training and preparation go into Marathon Monday. For most Massachusetts students, it is just another day off school, but for those who participate, volunteer and organize the event, it means a whole lot more. For one local woman, Karen, it meant fundraising and running the 26.2 miles for the cancer survivors, victims, and those currently in treatment that she knows personally, a number that is above 20 right now.

My View: The world is richer for song sparrows

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:00:00 EDT

It's a perfect spring day in April, 70 degrees. At last the grass turns green! Migrating birds, back from the south, sing songs of love and territorial dominance, joyfully celebrating a new year of living in our backyard. They cry out from the massive sugar maples overarching the lawn where we hung the bird feeders that delighted the chickadees, nuthatches, two pairs of cardinals, and blue jays who stayed all winter. It seems we have something like a mini-Audubon sanctuary here in Derry with our wealth of tall poplars, pines towering to 100-foot heights, apple orchards, and tangled scrubland composed of sumac and wild blackberries, a perfect shelter, food source, and nesting place for birds every spring.

Letters to the editor

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:00:00 EDT

Revive rail corridor
To the editor:
I'm appalled at the Derry News editorial with state Sen. Robert Letourneau's move to complete widening I-93 without the reactivation of the Manchester-Lawrence rail corridor. Balanced transportation is needed and I believe that not all commuters are in agreement with our political elected leaders dictating transportation policy that is skewed only in favor of road building.

Hotline

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:00:00 EDT

What if the Derry Planning Board does not want to be impacted by Mark Cooper? Just suppose they all are intelligent, caring people who don't need to be told what to do.