2011 Festival of Trees Winners

PORTSMOUTH—

Great weather helped bring record crowds to the Portsmouth Garden Club's 19th Festival of Trees, held on Nov. 18, 19 and 20. Approximately 7,000 visitors donated 1,454 pounds of food over the three days, which helped The New Hampshire Food Bank fill 230 Thanksgiving Baskets for families in need throughout the seacoast area.

People’s Choice winners by category are:

Learning Center: Full size trees

First: Wentworth Greenhouses, Rollinsford: “A Gardener’s Christmas;” Second: Piscataqua Obedience Club, Durham: “It All Starts With Obedience;” Third: Ambrosia Gardens, Portsmouth: “Ambrosia Delight.”

Outdoor Trees and Exhibits:

First: E Clips Salon, Portsmouth: “Angry Birds Christmas;” Second: Green Penguin Landscaping, Rye: “Granite State Christmas;” Third: Rye Airfield, Rye: “Something For Everyone.”

Rosemary Cottage: Miniature Trees

First: KD Mason Books, Greenland: "Frozen Winters to Tropical Paradise: Murder, Suspense, And Romance;" Second: Carol Leach-Doll Artist/Illustrator, Dover: “Woodlies Workshop-A Forest Folk and Fairie Tree;” Third: Portsmouth Public Library, Portsmouth: “Novel-Tree.”

Antique Cape, Decorated Rooms, People’s Choice:

Sitting Room by Collins Gift Shop, Rye: “Twas The Day Before Christmas.”

Winners will be honored at a luncheon at the Urban Forestry Center on Jan. 11, 2012.

The Portsmouth Garden Club and the Urban Forestry Center would like to thank everyone who helped make this year's event such a success. Special thanks to Portsmouth High School students in Mr. Dexter Robblee's woodworking class who built a shed used for the ticket booth and to Lamprey Energy who donated materials for the chowder shed which was built by Mr. Robblee. The next Festival of Trees will be held the weekend before Thanksgiving in 2013.

Photo Caption: First place in the Outdoor Trees and Exhibits division was won by E Clips Salon, Portsmouth: “Angry Birds Christmas.” This tree was especially popular with young people, including Elizabeth Dang, 7, of Portsmouth. (Courtesy photo)

Local Students Nominated for U.S. Service Academies

WASHINGTON, D.C.—

U.S. Representative Frank Guinta has announced the names of the students from New Hampshire’s First Congressional District who received his nomination for appointments to the U.S. Service Academies.

“I have the distinct honor of nominating young Granite Staters to the U.S. Service Academies,” Guinta said. “That is where many future American leaders develop the skills that will help guide us into the 21st Century. I’m delighted these students are interested in serving our country. I’m proud to be a part of this important process and wish these outstanding young men and women the very best in their coming studies and in the years ahead.”

Guinta’s nomination doesn’t guarantee admission to a service academy. The nominees compete for a space in the class of 2016. The individual service academies will make the final decisions. The following is a list of nominees, their hometowns and high schools:

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Forrest M. Albiston, Bedford, Bedford High School; Paige Balcom, Londonderry, Apple Tree Academy; Zachary Hill, Rollinsford, Somersworth High School; John Keisling, East Hampstead, Pinkerton Academy; Dillon L.J. Lanctot, Somersworth, USAF Prep School, CO; Allen Olmsted, Barnstead, Prospect Mountain High School; Duncan Richards, Moultonborough, Moultonborough Academy.

U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY (West Point)

John J. Banarhall, Auburn, Marion Military Institute, AL; Zebulon Coombs, Effingham, Norwich University, VT; Jared Hornsby, Bedford, Bedford High School; Henry MacGibbon, Goffstown, Goffstown Area High School; Luke Morrier, Plaistow, Timberlane High School; John Scippa, Exeter, Exeter High School; Darien Vaughan, Madison, Kennett High School; Brady Shawn White, Dover, Leavenworth High School, KS.

U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY

Madeline Borek, Durham, Colby College, ME; Thomas Duvall, Durham, Peddie School, NJ; Blaire Ann Fenniman, Dover, St. Thomas Aquinas High School; Dana K. Goss, Moultonborough, Moultonborough Academy; Abigail K. Guerra, Durham, Holderness High School; Joseph N. Lane, Durham, Oyster River High School; Daniel Martens, Merrimack, Suny Maritime, NY; Dominic J. Mutter, Dover, St. Thomas Aquinas High School; Jacob Ray, Strafford, Coe-Brown Northwood Academy; Robert A. Vachon, Laconia, Laconia High School.

U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY

Christopher Glass, Epping, Trinity High School; Michael Leonard, Merrimack, Trinity High School; Timothy Peterson, Merrimack, New Mexico Military Institute, NM.

Information on applications for a 2012 nomination to the U.S. Service Academies is available at www.Guinta.House.Gov in the “Serving You” section.

Exeter Area Chamber to Host Bruins Alumni Benefit Game

EXETER—

The Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce hosts the 2nd Annual Bruins Alumni / Seacoast Alumni All-Star Benefit Hockey Game presented by Access Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics on Saturday, December 17 at 1:30 p.m. at The Rinks at Exeter. The event benefits the Chamber Children’s Fund and the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce and is sponsored by Core Orthopaedics, Unitil, Cobham, Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank, The Provident Bank, Perkins Lawn Mower & Saw Service, Proulx Oil and Propane, Clear Channel Radio, The Rinks at Exeter & Shooter’s Sports Pub.

Many all-star Bruins Alumni will be on hand for the 60-minute game, including Rick Middleton and Ken Linseman. (The line-up of participating Bruins Alumni players may change without notice.) Pre-game activities, raffles and good ol’ half-time fun mixed with the Bruins Alumni and Seacoast Alumni hockey action will add up to an exciting day in Exeter.

Purchase tickets from the Chamber online at www.exeterarea.org/shop and also at the Chamber office, 24 Front Street, Exeter. Tickets are also on sale at Exeter Bowling Lanes/ Shooter’s Pub at 10 Columbus Ave. and The Rinks at Exeter, 40 Industrial Ave.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. Advance purchase is recommended, as seating is limited. For more information, contact the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce at 603.772.2411 or events@exeterarea.org.

Photo Caption: Children and adults alike received autographs and photos at last year’s event. (Photo courtesy Exeter Area Chamber)