A few years ago Steve Young of Imageability had some large (17-foot) balloons for marking construction sites that he would image for renderings of facilities for marketing presentations for our customers. One was quite colorful, so he brought it to Old Home Day (OHD) tied to the back of the jeep.

Steve says “There was extra helium so I picked up balloons at the local party store. Drove into the OHD events — on the common, in front of the school, through the parade — and started to hand out balloons. When I first started, everyone asked “How much?” My response is always the same, “Just a smile.”

There is nothing like red, white and blue balloons, hundreds of them bobbing around to the music at an event. Keeping them free keeps down on the commercialism, just the way it has been for over one hundred years.

Steve says “Andy Soucy has the 17-foot balloon now. He has been using it for his shows with the Lancer Marching Band and Color Guard.”

Mary Tetreau
OHD BlogMaker

RE/MAX 1st Choice sponsors hot air balloon rides from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 21st. The ride is a tethered ride, that is you, don’t sail away into the sky but are attached to the earth with a rope.

The balloon rides are at Matthew Thornton School field on Mammoth Road in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Rides cost $10 each, and a family with a maximum of 4 members pays $30. Arlene Hajjar of RE/MAX explains, “All money collected from the balloon rides is donated back to local scholars. This is the 8th year that RE/MAX has sponsored the rides.”

Rides are dependent on the weather. Arlene gives this advice: “Come early, because it’s first come, first served. The rides are very popular!”

For more information, call Arlene Hajjar at 603-425-2400.

Mary Tetreau
OHD Blog Queen

I want to thank all the businesses that have donated money and items to Old Home Day (OHD). Your support has made it possible for the OHD team to put the 2005 Old Home Day festivities together for another successful year!

Following are the sponsors who have made it possible to keep the Londonderry OHD traditions alive:

PLATINUM
BANK OF AMERICA
BLUE SEAL FEEDS
COLONIAL PRINTING
CRACKER BARREL RESTAURANT
DERRY NEWS
HOUSE OF THE SAMURAI, INC.
IMAGEABILITY
LONDONDERRY TIMES
LUNDGREN CHIROPRACTIC
MURRAY’S AUTO RECYCLING
PRUDENTIAL VERANI REALTY
SPEEDSEED HYDROSEED
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF IPSWICH
THE UNION LEADER

GOLD
CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
CONTINENTAL PAVING INC.
LONDONDERRY LIONS CLUB
STONYFIELD FARM, INC.
S & S METALS
TUPELO MUSIC HALL

SILVER
APPLE TREE FAMILY PHYSICIANS
BANKNORTH, N.A.
GLADSTONE FORD
GRANITE RIDGE ENERGY
OFFICE DEPOT
PARTYRAMA
PEABODY FUNERAL HOMES
RE/MAX 1st CHOICE
SHAW’S SUPERMARKETS
SOUTHERN NH CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION
SOVEREIGN BANK
SPECTRUM GYMNASTICS ACADEMY
TINKHAM REALTY, INC.

ITEMS LESS THAN $250.00 TO BE RAFFLED OR SERVICES PROVIDED
CINEMA 12 – 8 MOVIE TICKET’S
LONDONDERRY BURGER KING – 25 FREE WHOPPER CERTIFICATES
MARK LAWRENCE PHOTOGRAPHERS GIFT CERTIFICATE
MOVIE SCENE – 2 MOVIE GIFT BASKETS
MR. B’s ITALIAN RESTAURANT (Somerville, MA) PIZZA’S for SENIOR’S NIGHT

Once again, on behalf of the Old Home Day Committee, we thank you for your support!

AL Baldasaro
Finance Chair

The initial idea for Old Home Day was to create a kind of family reunion for the town, similar to a town meeting but without budgets or controversy. Old Home Day is time of recognition and remembrance, a chance to make new acquaintances and to renew old ones.

Old Home Day was developed so a community could preserve its character. Londonderry has followed that tradition. By preserving Londonderry’s historic inheritance, open space, and character, we have established a community that is a wonderful place in which to raise our children.

These seem like simple things, but the reality is that most of us spend far more time with our careers than we do with our neighbors, and the chance to visit with friends is a rare treat. The celebration of Old Home Day is a testimony to the spirit of community that still lives on in Londonderry. Our large community is truly is a small town at heart. In the heart of Old Home Day, if you feel like you belong, then you’ve come to the right place.

Kathy Wagner
Old Home Day Chair

The 106th Londonderry Old Home Day is fast approaching and the excitement surrounding the event is beginning. Just wanted to let everyone know that our final brochure is almost golden and will be printed and distributed to every home in Londonderry. Look for this mailing in early August. This year we have a new event on Wednesday, August 17th: a concert for our enlightened ones. It will feature the Windham Swing Band. The swing band plays concerts, dances, and functions throughout the area. The Swing Band has full big band instrumentation including Lauren Meehan as vocalist. Its repertoire includes swing “standards” and other big band arrangements.

Watch the website for updates and information regarding the town’s most anticipated celebration.

Kathy Wagner
Old Home Day Chair