St. James Preschool Celebrates 40 Years of Fun and Education

School is known for its family-friendly atmosphere and opportunities for children to flourish.

Today marks the 40th last day of school for St. James Preschool Learning Center. For four decades, the small preschool and prekindergarten (and once upon a time kindergarten) programs have readied a group of the town's youngest learners for a lifelong of eduaction and it's a tradition staff and parents hope to see carried on for years. “You know your kids are going to learn so much and have such a great time here,” said Staci Felder, a St. James parent. As described by parents following a morning of their children being at school, St. James is a small, tight-knit community that allows children to have a great deal of fun while preparing for kindergarten and their next 12 years of education. St. James Preschool, which is run out of a couple…

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Evacuation Drills Critical to Emergency Prep

Students at Thorntons Ferry participated in simulation last Thursday, middle school is next up on May 23.

Like a well-oiled machine students, teachers and administration worked together with Merrimack emergency and town officials to conduct an evacuation drill at Thorntons Ferry Elementary School. The drill was part of an ongoing series of emergency drills designed to keep the schools and Merrimack's police and fire departments as well as town administration current on what they would do with the possibility a school would need to be evacuated and the students moved off  campus. Last Thursday's scenario was one in which a fire call was made to the fire Department and the condition of the school was quickly determined to be dangerous to keep the children on campus It's a scenario that was familiar to training consultant Les Carter. The former …

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UNH Celebrates 143rd Commencement

Lt. Gen. Mary A. Legere '82 was the commencement speaker at Saturday's ceremony.

DURHAM, NH – University of New Hampshire commencement speaker Lt. Gen. Mary A. Legere '82 challenged graduates to dare to live their lives and their dreams during the university’s 143rd commencement held Saturday, May 18, 2013, when more than 2,500 undergraduate and 522 graduate students, including 68 military veterans, ranging in age from 19 to 67 years old and representing 29 states and 23 foreign countries received degrees. “They say in life that we make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give,” Legere said. “I urge you to leave this university with that in mind. The story of your life is going to be written as soon as you leave here.” She reminded students of the courageous acts shown at the Newtown tragedy and the …

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MHS Theatre Performance of 'Hunchback' Starts Tonight

Show runs through Saturday a Merrimack High School's Little Theatre.

Don’t expect the Walt Disney version of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" when the Merrimack High School Theatre Department's production opens Thursday.  This exciting dramatization by Tim Kelly, one of America's most popular playwrights, captures the essence of the famous original by Victor Hugo.  Set in 15th century Paris, it stays true to Hugo's original rendering.  To help set the mood of the play the renowned pianist, Jeff Rapsis, will perform live improvised musical underscoring.  Rapsis is a writer/editor, educator, and also a composer and performer who specializes in creating live musical scores for silent film screenings. This production brings to life, on the stage, some of the most memorable fictional characters ever created: the …

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For the Record

LOG: Accidents, a Bear and Gunshot Complaints

A snapshot of Merrimack Police activity between May 9 and 10.

1:13 a.m.: Responded to Stowell Road for a report of a hit and run accident. 7:35 a.m.: Responded to Crosswoods Path for a report of an odor of gas in the building. 8:12 a.m.: A Birch Street resident reports four teens offered to clean his or her house. 9:12 a.m.: A Bedford Road family reports finding a dead animal floating in the pool. 3:21 p.m.: Responded to Baboosic Lake Road for a two-car accident. Drivers were Linda Freeman of Milford and Constance Feingold of Merrimack. 8:55 p.m.: Odor of gas reported in the area of Daniel Webster Highway. 10:39 p.m.: Assisted the Nashua Police Department with a K-9 search. 2:16 a.m.: Arrested Timothy Zoulias, 25, of 38 Summer St., Haverhill, Mass., on a charge of driving while intoxicated and DWI-…

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Two Schools to Perform Evacuation Drills

Drills will be conducted at Thorntons Ferry and Merrimack Middle Schools on May 16 and 2

Two of Merrimack's schools will hold emergency management training drills later this month, one of which will temporarily re-route traffic. Thorntons Ferry Elementary School will conduct adrill on May 16, (rain date: May 17) from 1:30 to 3:15 p.m. Students and staff will walk from the school, located on Camp Sargent Road to Veterans Memorial Park, also located on Camp Sargent Road. During the drill, traffic will be re-routed around the Camp Sargent location under the direction of the Merrimack Police Department and Department of Public Works. The Merrimack Fire Department will also participate in the training drill that day. Then, on May 23, Merrimack Middle School will conduct an a drill in the morning (rain date: May 24). Students and …

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Sharon Putney Leaving Thorntons Ferry for Londonderry

Assistant Principal Putney will take the helm at Matthew Thornton School in Londonderry.

These final weeks of the 2012-13 school year will be the final weeks for Thorntons Ferry Assistant Principal Sharon Putney in the Merrimack School District. On Wednesday, the Londonderry School Board announced it had appointed Putney as incoming Principal of Matthew Thornton Elementary School. Her new position is effective July 1. Putney, who was named New Hampshire's Elementary School Assistant Principal of the year this year, is in her fifth year as Assistant Principal of Thorntons Ferry. She has previously won New Hampshire Gifted and Talented Teacher of the Year. Putney has been working in education since 1982 and prior to being named assistant principal at Thornton's Ferry, she has worked as a music teach, as a gifted and talented …

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Who's Your Favorite Teacher?

In honor of National Teacher Day, we ask you to share your stories of gratitude, and let us know who the best teacher in town is.

Today, Tuesday, May 7 is National Teacher Day, according to the National Education Association. Teachers have long been among the most unsung heroes of our time, affecting and shaping the brains of countless individuals without truly getting acknowledged for their remarkable influence. By the way, teachers, bring your teacher ID to any Chipotle and the meal's on them. The details are on the restaurant's Facebook page. Today, in honor of this day, we ask you to share your stories about your favorite teacher. Or, we ask that you shine the light on a remarkable teacher in town. Did an educator change your life? Say something to you, or teach you something that would forever influence you? Who do you think is the best teacher in Merrimack, and…

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