2 - December 2 , 2011 | Hudson - Litchfield News More than 1100 Meals Served at Annual Dinner


by Doug Robinson Everywhere you looked at the annual Gil


Accolades


Bailey Comyns, daughter of Bob and Sandi Comyns from Litchfield, was recently awarded the J. Guy Smart Scholarship at the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire. Professor of Economics, Dr. Michael Goldberg presented the scholarship award. Velma


Smart, widow of J. Guy Smart, a prominent local businessman, established the J. Guy Smart Scholarship in 1976. Jared Lambert, son of Alan and Nadine Lambert from Hudson,


was recently awarded the WSBE Undergraduate Scholarship at the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire. Professor of Economics, Dr. Michael Goldberg presented the scholarship award. Whittemore School alumni have contributed generously to the annual appeal and have funded an ongoing scholarship that will benefit those students who follow in their footsteps. All majors within the school are eligible for this award that is based on merit and need. Brick and Mortar, a University of New Hampshire-Manchester theatre club, hosted the second annual Broadway in Revue II in November. Students performed pieces from such famed Broadway musicals as Wicked, Avenue Q, Jeykll and Hyde, and the children’s classic, Mary Poppins. In total, 14 students and staff performed 1,304 measures of music in just 52 minutes and 45 seconds. The event raised $160 for the Autism Society of New Hampshire. Among the students performing in this year’s Broadway in Revue II was Jessica Carrigg, senior in biology from Alvirne High School. Nicholas Guarente is a 2011 graduate of


Alvirne High School. Nicholas had a childhood ambition of becoming a police officer and has maintained that ambition throughout his high school career and completed four years of JROTC. In the JROTC, he developed good citizenship and leadership skills. He learned how to perform drill maneuvers and enjoyed participating in drill competitions, especially as a participant in the dual saber team. In his final year of JROTC, he became a drill captain and developed a strong interest in competing


in the dual saber competitions. Alvirne High School’s JROTC program has given Nicholas the boost needed toward his career choice. On November 21, Nicholas was sworn into United States Air Force at the Boston MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) and was then be transferred to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX, where he will complete his eight and a half weeks of basic training, at the advanced pay grade of E-3, which is offered for completing accredited high school military program. After basic training, Nicholas plans to fulfill his career ambitions by continuing his education in the field of Security Forces in the Air Force. Nicholas’ family and friends and teachers are very proud of Nicholas for choosing law enforcement as a career goal and for the commitment he will be making to honor, protect and serve his country in the Air Force.


Knox Thanksgiving Dinner, turkeys were cooking. Turkeys were in the oven while others were roasting in nearby roasters. More turkeys were being carved in the kitchen, while others were being wrapped for serving. In total, 175 turkeys were cooked by the Hudson fish and Game Club as they prepared meals for over 1,100 families during the annual Gil Knox Annual Thanksgiving Dinner. Hundreds of volunteers have donated hundreds of hours of their time for five days, cooking, cutting, peeling, boiling, baking, and preparing the meals to be driven to those in need. Everyone involved is a volunteer. There is no cost to any person or family receiving a Thanksgiving dinner, complete with trimmings, from the Hudson Fish and Game Club. For over 25 years, Hudson Fish and Game have organized the dinner. At the steering wheel of this well-oiled machine sits Karen Knox. As Karen begins to step aside, daughter Tammy Curren refers to the day as “organized chaos.” “We began calling our contact lists a month ago and we have spent the past two weeks preparing, cooking and organizing. We have been taking calls from those who wish a meal for many months from Knox recalled that the Thanksgiving dinner idea originated in 1987. After a visit to the Fish and Game Club, Knox’s late husband, Gil, decided to bring home a “few” friends who he had just met at the Club. The seven or eight strangers were returning from a hunting trip and just happened to be visiting the Club. While Knox continued to clean up from the large meal, “as the boys watched football,” she remembers telling her husband (only as a wife can do with that certain “wife voice”), “Why don’t we just do this again next year and invite anyone who is going to


Melissa Johnson of Hudson receives help with the loading of the Tanksgiving Dinners from longtime volunteer, Shelby Monlased. “I have been doing this all my life,” commented Shelby. “Tis is my 15th year.”


the Fish and Game Club?”


And so, with that “marital moment” the seed to today’s annual Hudson Fish and Game Club’s Thanksgiving dinner was born. In 1988, the club served 88 meals. Today, over 1,100 meals were served. And that attitude is shared by the countless number of volunteers who drive hundreds of miles to those who spend hours peeling potatoes. Other volunteers stand for hours with potato mashers crushing cranberries. Hundreds of pies, cherry, apple, and pumpkin pies sit on tables waiting to be cut and placed in containers. Other volunteers fill bags with banana, oranges, and apples. Over 800 pounds of potatoes and another 800 pounds of squash awaiting peeling, cutting, and washing, boiling, smashing, and scooping into awaiting trays. Volunteer Mike Mitchell of Hudson comment echoed the thoughts of all who helped and volunteered by stating, “I am happy to help and will do whatever it takes to make it happen. This is my fifth year, and it is great to be able to help.”


Retired butcher and 20 year volunteer Rudy Boehm has carved over 2,000 turkeys during his time volunteering at the annual event.


Brooke Foley, Heather Hardy, Meghan O’Keefe,


Michael O’Keefe, Tara Hardy, Allison Bixford, and Melanie Nute share a laugh while peeling potatoes.


Santa Comes to Town


by Doug Robinson The Alvirne High School band was


playing, the crowd was caroling, and all awaited eagerly for Santa’s arrival at Library Park. And true to form, dressed all in red from his head to his foot, his snow-white beard was only offset by his big black boots. The annual event is celebrated the


day after Thanksgiving at Library Park. Hundreds of spectators stood and clapped upon Santa’s arrival. And with the flick of a switch, the thousands of Christmas lights


became brilliant and crisp, lighting up trees, shrubs, and the gazebo. Santa then ordered his reindeer to take him to the Community Center, where many of his elves assisted Santa with the various activities of face painting, ginger bread cookie making, face painting, letter writing to Santa, and Christmas tree ornament making. The yearly event has been sponsored


by the Hudson Lions Club. Santa, sitting in his chair next to his Christmas tree, listened to the requests from hundreds of starry- eyed children. Legos, E-Z bake ovens, basketballs, hoops and even an elf to do their chores and homework were on the lips of the little children.


Ethan, 2 1/2 months, and Brother Lucas 3 1/2 confess to Santa that they would really like to have some puzzles and candy for Christmas


Staff photos by Doug Robinson


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