Nutfield News

13/01/2026

13/01/2026

HB 1170 helps our retirees keep up with rising costs. Tell your legislators to vote YES on HB 1170! Click below and sign in support!
https://gc.nh.gov/house/committees/remotetestimony

12/01/2026

NHDES Announces Emergency Drought Assistance Program

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) announces it will reopen a program to help low-income homeowners experiencing water supply issues resulting from the ongoing drought. During this historic drought, nearly 250 residents have reported drywells causing insufficient drinking water in their homes. In response to these widespread reports of dry wells, the Drinking Water and Groundwater Advisory Commission voted in November to approve a $1,500,000 grant from the Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund (DWGTF) to re-establish the Emergency Drought Assistance Program (EDAP).

Following the driest summer on record, all of New Hampshire has been experiencing drought since August 2025, with several counties declared in extreme drought. Neither short- or long-term precipitation outlooks indicate drought relief in the coming months.

Drilling a new bedrock well can be very costly, creating a barrier for low-income households to access clean and safe drinking water when their wells are dry. Depending on household income and family size, EDAP will cover up to 100% of the total costs to mitigate drought impacts and provide reliable drinking water to qualifying residents. Eligible costs under the program include rehabilitation or replacement of a residential well that is dry from drought, or if feasible, the cost to connect the home to a nearby existing community water system.

To qualify for the program, applicants must provide income information, and verification by a licensed New Hampshire well driller or pump installer that the well has experienced irreversible water supply issues due to drought. More information can be found on the EDAP website . Private well-owners are encouraged to self-screen eligibility using the income limits provided in the application.

For more information, email [email protected] or call Marysa Boire at (603) 271-1355.

12/01/2026

Daniel G. Ellingwood, 78, of Manchester, NH, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday January 7, 2026, following a period of declining health. He was born on February 21, 1947 in East Derry, NH, and raised and educated in Derry. He was a son of the late John and Ellen (Murphy) Ellingwood. Daniel had resided in Manchester for the past 15 years, formerly living in Bristol, NH. Daniel proudly served his country in the US Army during Vietnam. He started his postal career at the Derry Post Office and retired as the Post Master at the Bristol, NH Post Office.

He is survived by his two sons, Jason Ellingwood and his wife Terri of Spring Hill, FL; Eric Ellingwood and his significant other Cyndi Williams of Raymond NH; his significant other of 37 years Brenda Leighton; Dan’s grandchildren, Freddy and Cole Ellingwood; Brenda’s children Lynn Martino and her husband Joshua of TX; Andrew Porzio and his wife Alexia of TN; grandchildren, Maia, Talia, Ava, and Calie; three brothers, Jack Ellingwood and wife Brenda of Salem, MA, James Ellingwood of TX, and Bill Kendall and wife Doris of FL; former wife and lifelong friend, Barb Ellingwood; as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family. He was predeceased by his sister-in-law, Brenda Ellingwood in July of 2025.

He had many lifelong friends, most of which were part of his graduating class at Pinkerton, the Terrific Class of 1966. These friends and their youthful antics are what shaped him and his sense of humor. He never lost sight of these great memories and loved to share his stories.

Dan lived a life defined by devotion to his sons and grandsons. Each and every, Thursday night he would sit with Eric and, as he would put it “solve all the worlds problems”, no one listened to their solutions, so ritually they met the next Thursday to try again. He would reminisce about the many trips they had taken when Eric and Jason were young, and all the trouble that surely followed them on their adventures. Dan instilled his love of classic cars, especially his Mustang, in his sons which had been passed to his grandsons. He is remembered for his listening ears and much sought after advice on life. His kindhearted nature was genuine, yet he still had room left to be cynical.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday January 13, 2026 from 5 – 7 pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry with a time of sharing to begin at 6:45 pm. Burial will be at a later date in the NH State Veteran’s Cemetery, Boscawen, NH.

12/01/2026

James David “Dave” Shields, 68, of Derry, NH, passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. He was born on December 5, 1957, in Quincy, MA. Dave is preceded in death by his parents, the late James D. and Jane (Sansom) Shields, and his cherished wife and mother of his children, Donna.

Dave worked as a Software Engineer for Raytheon for 34 years until his early retirement in 2013, at age 55. While working he developed novel test software for the Patriot Missile System, which helped greatly enhance test efficiency, effectiveness and system reliability. He was essential training allies around the globe, reaching as far as Japan.

In retirement, Dave was able to relax, unwind and live freely. He loved his trips to Hawaii, Mexico, Florida and Las Vegas, often with family by his side. He was a fantasy football Champion, playing among friends and family.

In his younger years, he was active in his community and at one time was the President of the Hampstead Civic Club. He was devoted to his sons, in life and sports, as they grew, both in the community and through school. He was immensely proud of the good, kind men they have become. He will always be remembered for his love for his children and grandchildren.

In his early family life, Dave would pack up his family in an overstuffed conversion van for road trip vacations to Disneyworld, or cross-country to Disneyland and National Parks like Zion, The Grand Canyon, Yosemite and many others. He took pride in the care of his Hampstead home, especially his yard, pond and pool, and was never shy to task a chore. The Shields home was well known for having large themed pool parties where people from all over town would come to swim, laugh, and live loving the time spent together.

He is survived by his three sons, Davis Shields and Bobby Shields, both of Derry, and Zach Shields and his wife Sarah of Hampstead, NH; three granddaughters, Lilly, Allison, and Jocelyn; three sisters, Laura Quintal of Nashua, NH, Sharon Morgan of Ocala, FL, and Jessica Riddle of Rifle, CO; as well as many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Following cremation, memorial calling hours will be held on Monday, January 12, 2026 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch Street, Derry. The burial will be at a later date in the spring in West Hampstead Cemetery, off Rt. 121, Hampstead, NH. To send a condolence please visit www.peabodyfuneralhome.com

12/01/2026

Spartans Basketball, NH's largest AAU Basketball program, will be holding Spring tryouts

At Pickup USA Gym in Manchester, NH.
Tryouts will be open to boys' and girls' grades 3rd-12th.
The first tryout date is Sunday, January 18th.
Times are 3rd - 7th Grade boys and girls: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm.
7th through 12th grade Boys & Girls will be from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM. For any questions contact Chris Coates at [email protected].

Send a message to learn more

10/01/2026

https://www.facebook.com/VivianaIreneLeonMemorialFund

Our baby girl Viviana Irene Leon passed away unexpectedly on June 28th, 2012 at the young age of almost 3 months. She was a happy smiling little Princess. Our son Ethan was especially in love with his baby sister and loved being around her. Thanks to t

09/01/2026

We are thrilled to announce that our annual Dr. John H. Moody Memorial Golf Tournament will be held closer to home this year at the Windham Country Club, making it easier for community members who couldn’t attend in the past due to distance to participate. Please save the date and join us for a day of golf paired with the Derry Village Rotary Club’s signature hospitality and camaraderie. We look forward to welcoming familiar faces and new participants alike for a meaningful day of golf, connection, and support.

09/01/2026

09/01/2026

🎉 Celebrating Our November Students of the Month! 🎉

On December 4th, we proudly recognized Bethany McLlarky and Kennedy Rassbach as Gilbert H. Hood Middle School’s November Students of the Month! 🌟

📸 Pictured (left to right): Bethany McLlarky, Kennedy Rassbach, and Rotarian Brian Germaine.

👏 Congratulations to these outstanding students for their hard work, dedication, and positive impact. We’re so proud of your achievements—keep up the great work! ✨

08/01/2026

2026 New England Journalism Scholarships Now Open

The Journalism Education Foundation of New England (JEFNE) is once again opening the door for the next generation of reporters, editors, photographers, and multimedia storytellers. Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 New England Journalism Scholarship Program, offering scholarships of up to $2,000 to outstanding student journalists across the region.Administered by the New England Newspaper & Press Association, this annual program supports up to ten high-potential students who are committed to pursuing a career in journalism or a related field.

The program also includes the prestigious MacGregor Fiske Award, presented each year to an exceptional student journalist who demonstrates great promise in the profession. Eligible applicants include high school seniors and undergraduate students who are residents of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont.

Applicants will be required to submit a cover letter, transcript, résumé or biography, letter of recommendation, and a portfolio of at least three published or class-produced journalism pieces.

Full application details and links are available on the NENPA website.

To be considered, a completed application must be submitted by March 27, 2026. Please review the qualifications below. For any questions or more information, contact [email protected].

• Must be a resident of New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, or VT).
Applicants may attend a college or university outside New England — residency determines eligibility, not school location.
• Must be a high school senior or undergraduate college student planning to attend college in Fall 2026, studying journalism or a related field.
Currently, we do not accept graduate students.Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Must demonstrate a strong interest in a journalism career by submitting:
• Cover letter
• Transcript
• Résumé or biography
• Letter of recommendation
• Must submit a minimum of three pieces of published or class-produced journalistic work.
• You will receive an email confirming receipt of your application and instructions for submitting the rest of the required documents.