An Independent Weekly Newspaper Salem Community Santa Arrival Annual Salem Community Patriot Patriot


by Robyn Hatch The Derry-Salem Elks Lodge recently held their annual Santa arrival with close to 90 kids this year. Mrs. Claus mingled with the children before she read them Christmas stories. Frosty the Snowman wandered in and played with the kids. Tasty snacks filled the tables and crafts were everywhere to be discovered. The moment arrived for Santa to come in his big, red fire truck. All the children stood on the steps outside to see him arrive with Rudolph by his side. After a quick “HO, HO, HO!” Santa wandered inside to give every child a huge present. The Derry-Salem Elks makes sure no child is left behind, especially at Christmas. This is a day the kids will remember for a long time. Good job as usual!


Dear Mrs. Claus and Frosty were happy to meet the children


Dave Mulcahey with crazy earrings


Hailie Goodwin gets a snowman painted on her arm


Postal Center USA Adopts Soldiers and Marines by Robyn Hatch


December is a busy month for all of us with Christmas around the corner, but for Vicki Krikorian, of Postal Center USA at North Broadway Crossing, it’s the time of year for her to help to ship out goodies to the troops in Afghanistan. She started the campaign last year after local soldier, Keith Stickney, was ambushed in Afghanistan. She has turned this into “her project.” For the second year, the North Broadway Crossing store owners had “A Visit with Santa” day where donations were collected for the food pantry, coats for the coat drive, toys for the Marines Toys for Tots and for the troops, for which Vicki takes charge of. “It gives me great joy to go out and shop for the men and women who defend my freedom to do so. I go out and have a party buying up everything I can.” This year, Vicki is sending goodies to four Marines, two local Army soldiers, and Chad Martin, who is part of a local National Guard Unit. “Chad came to last year’s event and stayed with us and came back for the presentation of the check. So I felt, supporting Chad with goodies from home was the right thing to do for him and the men and women in his unit.” Vicki is also heading up another project to


“Adopt a Soldier or Marine.” She has a list of local soldiers that we can send goodies to, and also a list of Marines that she got, and the Postal Center is so happy that they have adopted out eight of them to local families!” Though it was a successful event again


this year, Vicki says that there were less people this year, “it’s just a sign of the economy. People are hurting.” If anyone is interested in “Adopting a Soldier or Marine” go to the Postal Center USA or call Vicki at 894-6245 and you will be assigned a soldier or Marine and you can send out goodies


This publication will be the last issue for 2010, as we will be entering into a vacation week after Christmas. As we close out year 2010, I remain filled with the overwhelming, caring attitude that exists in the five communities within which we serve with our newspapers: Hudson, Litchfield, Pelham, Windham, and Salem. During this past year, we have published thousands of stories of individual triumphs, tributes, and tragedies. We have published many more stories about Town budgets, Town banter, and Town battles. But what strikes me in the heart most of all, regarding all the thousands of stories and tens of thousands of words we have published, is how caring, how kind, and how connected our lives are together. While we battle the battles together, much like all families do, we all want what is best for our families, our children of today, and of tomorrow. As we enter into a New Year, I remain humbled by how much I, in my personal life and in my professional life, have been blessed by the sharing of those battles together. Our communities are not known as villages that sit on the sidelines and watch the world go by. We are involved, informed, and interested. As we march forward, fighting the fight, I wish to take the time to thank you. Thank you for your volunteerism. Thank you for your continued letters, both for and against the stories we write. Thank you for contributing to the communities in which we live. Year 2011 will bring new challenges, new beginnings, and new opportunities for us all. Let us continue to remain steadfast to our shared values and our shared concerns. By continuing to work together, there is no telling how far we can grow individually, as well as a community. Merry Christmas and a very Safe and Happy New Year.


Supported Through Advertisers ECRWSS


PRESORTED STANDARD


U.S. POSTAGE PAID


HUDSON, NH 03051


PERMIT NO. 33 Postal Customer


Volume 4 Number 22 December 23, 2010 12 Pages


Bill Rockwell (VP, Burlington Self Storage), Lieutenant Joseph Millett (USHC), Vicki Krikorian and Danielle Fredette (Postal Center USA), Donna Morris (Salem Chamber of Commerce), and Donna Velt (Pentucket Bank)


from your family. “Most of these men and women write back the most amazing notes thanking us for what we send. Imagine, they thank us, where I always say they have it all wrong, we must thank them for defending our freedom.”


At the time this was going to print, Vicki told us she got an urgent request e-mail from a medic in Afghanistan saying he had 70 Marines that were in desperate need of socks, hand and foot warmers, and snacks. “Doc said war is taxing on the soul as well as the body, and some care packages would go a long way to boost the morale of his Marines,” she said. “I put out a notice on Facebook, read the e-mail to a few of my customers, and in a span of 20 minutes,


collected $75 in donations. My friends added to it, and between them and myself, we are sending over 40 pairs of socks, hand and foot warmers, and snacky-food stuff in five boxes to the Marines in Afghanistan. Being chest-deep in water and mud due to the weather over there is not fun, and if we can put a little smile on their faces as we celebrate Christmas and they are defending our right to celebrate, then it’s all good.” If anyone is interested in helping out


Vicki’s latest project, she has the address and e-mail from Ryan “Doc” Underwood and will be glad to share all the details. “Thanks Salem … without the devotion of my loyal customers, I couldn’t get all this product over there,” she said.


Centerpoint Community Church 101 School Street, Salem 893-9191


Friday, December 24: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service – 7:00 p.m.


Triumphant Cross Lutheran Church 171 Zion Hill Road, Salem


Friday, December 24: Christmas Eve Services – 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.


Rockingham Christian Church


Friday, December 24: Christmas in This Place – 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.


www.thecolosseumrestaurant.com Piano Bar Tues. & Weds. Evenings


Winner Best of NH 2008, 2009, 2010! Gift Certificates Available


From Napoli, Italy to Salem, NH How Italian Food Should Be!!


Breckenridge Plaza 264 NO. Broadway, Salem, NH 603-898-1190


St. David’s Episcopal Church 231 Main Street, Salem


Friday, December 24: Feast of the Holy Nativity, Music beginning at 7:10 p.m., Service at 7:30 p.m.


Merry Christmas!


Readers,


Readers,


Happy Holidays!


staff photo by Robyn Hatch


staff photos by Robyn Hatch


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