The year is coming to a close. In 2011, as with every recent year it seems, change was the only constant.
In the early winter of 2010, the region was buried in snow. But this year, there has been barely a flake — with the exception of a surprise blizzard the day before Halloween. The heavy, wet snow collapsed power lines across the region, revealing a troubling weakness in our electrical grid.
The good weather made it easy for Republican presidential candidates to cruise across the region, vying for votes in the Granite State's first-in-the-nation primary, now a little more than a week away. Among the more interesting campaign events, Derry skydiver Michael Layon had planned a parachute landing at his home in September to welcome his preferred candidate, Ron Paul. The "Leap for Liberty" was grounded by poor weather, but Paul did speak to supporters at Layon's home.
The New Hampshire Primary is Jan. 10. Once that date passes, the Granite State will move out of the national political spotlight, resuming its role as a state with a mere four electoral votes. From that point forward, presidential candidate sightings are likely to be rare.
Turning from national to local politics, things were as contentious as ever in Derry, with an issue as mundane as accepting a road as a public way generating anger.
The town finally accepted Worthley Road as a public way, but not without a fight. The acceptance means the town, and not residents, are responsible for snow clearing and maintenance. Derry has been squabbling over Worthley Road for years with some — even a few residents — preferring that the road remain private. Town Councilor Kevin Coyle ended up suing over how the road issue was handled.
The Worthley Road fight was another in a long list of examples of Derry's inability to resolve any issue amicably.
Normally, the rehabilitation of a derelict property would garner broad public support. But not in Derry, where the remodeling of the former Marinier's Inn generated another bitter fight.
The former boarding house at 35 West Broadway was renovated and became the new home of Granite House, a sober-living facility serving up to 31 people.
Despite Granite House's good record in the community, Steve Trefethen, owner and broker at Summerview Real Estate, objected to the sober house plan, saying the program would cause disturbances in the neighborhood and devalue properties.
Town boards disagreed and gave Granite House the approvals it needed to open and operate.
Growing pains were evident in Londonderry as a once small town struggled with its growth into a larger suburban community.
On March 12, Londonderry held its 289th and last Town Meeting. Voters earlier that month opted to move budget decisions to the ballot.
While some of the registered voters who attended the final Town Meeting expressed sadness, others said it was about time.
"Even my ancestors, some of the first people who settled in town, would say it's time to change," Richard Matckie told our reporter.
Assistant Moderator Reed P. Clark III, a staunch supporter of Town Meeting, said he was "very sad."
The town struggled to cope with the massive scale of the proposed Woodmont Commons development, a plan to turn a former apple orchard into a self-contained village complete with homes, shops and other facilities.
Developers are ready to go on the 625-acre project. But the Planning Board put the brakes on acceptance of the application for the master plan, asking for a third-party review.
Londonderry is growing, perhaps faster than some would like. It is important during such times that town officials continue to promote the changes needed to adapt to that growth, but only with the support and consensus of the people of the community.
