http://www.derrynews.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Wed, 07 May 2008 09:57:00 +0000 http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_128095705.html http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_128095705.html 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. Wed, 07 May 2008 09:56:00 +0000 http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_128095644.html http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_128095644.html 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. Wed, 07 May 2008 09:55:00 +0000 http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_128095539.html http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_128095539.html 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. Wed, 07 May 2008 09:55:00 +0000 http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_128095514.html http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_128095514.html What is the fiercest rivalry in sports? and mdash; Red Sox vs. Yankees and mdash; Celtics vs. Lakers and mdash; 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? Wed, 07 May 2008 09:55:00 +0000 http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_128095600.html http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_128095600.html 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. Wed, 07 May 2008 09:54:00 +0000 http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_128095449.html http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_128095449.html 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." Wed, 07 May 2008 09:54:00 +0000 http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_128095424.html http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_128095424.html 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 Fri, 02 May 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_122153623.html http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_122153623.html 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. Fri, 02 May 2008 06:45:00 +0000 http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_122153600.html http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_122153600.html 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. Fri, 02 May 2008 06:30:00 +0000 http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_122153551.html http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_122153551.html 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. Fri, 02 May 2008 06:15:00 +0000 http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_122153615.html http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_122153615.html 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? Fri, 02 May 2008 06:15:00 +0000 http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_122153607.html http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_122153607.html 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. Fri, 02 May 2008 06:00:00 +0000 http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_122153541.html http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_122153541.html 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. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_120151135.html http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_120151135.html Should members of planning boards, zoning boards and conservation commissions be appointed by town councils or elected by the voters? Appointed and mdash; The council can interview candidates and appoint qualified members. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_120151122.html http://www.derrynews.com/opinion/local_story_120151122.html 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.