Old Home Day Celebration in Full Swing This Week
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Not to be outdone, U.S. Senator John Sununu, R-NH, Republican Congressional candidates Jeb Bradley and John Stephen, gubernatorial hopeful Joe Kenney, and State Senate hopeful Sharon Carson will be pounding the pavement as well.
The annual Old Home Day parade will roll through town on Saturday morning, with over 25 floats and marching units set to participate along with the politicians.
No parking will be permitted in the middle school parking lot, though children participating in the parade may be dropped off. The parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m.
The 109th Old Home Day celebration is well under way this week, with a barbecue and concert for senior citizens set for Wednesday, Aug. 13, and activities and events offering something for everyone now through Sunday, Aug. 17.
In 1899, the first Old Home Day celebration was Governor Frank Rollins’ attempt to bring the community together.
More than a century later, the five-day event now includes concerts for all age groups, fireworks, a parade, a 5K-road race, a baby contest, children’s games and a pie-eating contest.
Thursday evening, Aug. 14, is especially for children, when the seventh annual Kidz Night events will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Geared toward families with children age 10 and younger, the evening will feature clowns, food, games, bounce houses, and an obstacle course.
Friday, Aug. 15, will mark the official debut of the Funway Park playground on Nelson Road, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony set for 4:15 p.m.
Later, revelers will move on to the high school lawn, where local band “Souled Out” will perform from 7 to 8:30 p.m., followed by a traditional fireworks display.
The baby contest will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, in the Matthew Thornton School gym. Londonderry babies born from Aug. 1, 2007 through Aug. 15, 2008 are eligible to participate in the contest.
Sponsored by Lundgren Chiropractic, a 5K-road race begins at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Grange Hall; registration takes place on Friday in the high school cafeteria from 5 to 7 p.m., and on Saturday from 6:45 to 8 a.m. Several hundred people are expected to participate.
The Londonderry Presbyterian Church will host a variety of events on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting with a continental breakfast and including Ultimate Frisbee tournaments, a bounce house and cookie decorating.
And expect to see the traditional filled-to-the-brim Town Common on Saturday, where about 70 booths present food, fun, and political candidates. Hot air balloon rides, pony rides, bingo, a police and fire softball game on the Matthew Thornton baseball field, Revolutionary War reenactments at the Morrison House and much, much more are ready for everyone who comes home to Londonderry this weekend.
The festivities wrap up Sunday with a contemporary Christian concert on the Town Common from 3 to 6 p.m.
For a full schedule of activities and more detailed information, take a look at the Old Home Day Guide inside this edition of the Londonderry Times.
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Final Ratification Vote on Presbyterian Church Court Settlement Expected Sunday
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While a five-day trial to determine the church building’s ownership had been set to conclude Aug. 1, the final hearing was suspended when both sides opted to settle. Rockingham Superior Court Judge Tina Nadeau approved the settlement on Aug. 4.
According to Roy McCandless, attorney for the PC USA group, both congregations approved the settlement, though both were asked to further ratify the ultimate outcome by month’s end.
After a congregational meeting Sunday, Dr. John Mokkosian, pastor for the PC USA members, said the settlement discussion went well.
“We were able to go through the entire settlement in one meeting,” he said. “And, after much dialogue and many questions, those present voted unanimously to approve the settlement agreement.”
Mokkosian had earlier said the group planned on returning to the Pillsbury Road church by Sept. 7. McCandless said the group would be permitted to return to the Pillsbury Road church by Aug. 31.
On Friday, the Rev. Richard Wyatt, who leads the Presbytery of Northern New England (PC USA), said he was pleased with the resolution.
“We’re very excited about it,” Wyatt said. “We’re glad the lawsuit is finished and the two congregations can move into the future and renewed ministry.”
Wyatt added that he was “certain that both congregations would be voting to ratify.
“ We were disappointed that the dispute went into the court system, but we’re glad it’s been resolved between both groups,” he added.
Meanwhile, the congregation affiliated with the EPC, which had retained use of the church building after changing the locks following the disaffiliation vote, would receive 15 acres of currently undeveloped land adjacent to the existing church, as part of the settlement. According to the settlement, that congregation would also receive a fund, handbells, Bibles and recently purchased furniture.
In early May, members of the EPC announced the arrival of a new pastor, the Rev. Kenneth Glasier, formerly of Parker, Colo. Glasier gave his first Londonderry sermon on July 20, shortly before the trial began.
Last week, Glasier said his congregation planned to meet and take a final vote on the settlement’s outcome on Aug. 17. According to its Web site, the EPC congregation will hold a special meeting to discuss the ratification of the negotiated settlement agreement following the 10 a.m. Sunday service this week.
“The outcome I hope for will be for both congregations to move forward and be an encouragement and blessing for the Londonderry community, and to do the good work that Jesus has called on both of us to do,” Glasier said.
Both groups currently use the name Londonderry Presbyterian Church, though the PC USA group will ultimately retain the name, according to the settlement.
“The name is part of the settlement. We are the Londonderry Presbyterian Church, and others cannot use that name in any way, shape or form, per our agreement,” Mokkosian emphasized earlier this week.
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Fire Damages Home, Aquarium Business
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According to town assessor records, the two-story contemporary home, owned by Bruce Connell, is valued at over $200,000.
Heinrich said the home’s contents and much of the second floor was damaged by smoke, fire and heat, though Connell declined the Red Cross’s offers of assistance, telling firefighters he would stay with friends until repairs were completed.
With the assistance of both the Derry and Manchester fire departments, Londonderry’s three engines, ambulance and command car and two fire crews in all extinguished the blaze in less than 20 minutes.
Initially, Heinrich believed there were people sleeping inside the home, as several cars were parked in the driveway.
Later, fire personal discovered that no one was present in the home at the time of the fire.
Connell operates his aquarium business, Oceans Interior Design, out of his home. Specializing in the installation and maintenance of salt-water and exotic fish displays for homes and offices, Connell has been in business since 1986.
Though the majority of his aquarium stock is stored at another site, several display tanks kept in a showroom at Connell’s home were severely damaged, he confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s not good,” he said, adding that he planned on meeting with his staff members later that afternoon to further assess the losses, which include major structural damage.
Connell said he was uncertain when the building would be fit for occupancy again.
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