Tag Archive for: Londonderry

Londonderry Bridge Named After Two Fallen Marines

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Governor Lynch signed a bill recently naming a newly constructed bridge in Londonderry after two local fallen United States Marines. Located on the Airport Access Road, the bridge will now be named in honor of Lance Corporal Peter J. Sora, Jr. and Private First Class Eric D. Currier.

The bridge closest to the traffic circle in this image has now become the Sora-Currier Memorial Bridge.

Lance Corporal Sora joined the Marines in 2003 and died during a training accident in 2004 while preparing for deployment. Private First Class Currier, who was recently married, joined the Marines in 2009. He was killed in 2010 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan during a military operation.

Governor Lynch signs the bill while members of both families look on.

After voting unanimously in February this year, the New Hampshire Senate passed the bill on to the House, and finally to Lynch’s desk. Surrounded by members of both families, as well as primary supporter of the bill Senator Sharon Carson, Lynch signed the bill officially naming the bridge.

Effective immediately, the bridge is now known as the Sora-Currier Memorial Bridge.

Originally from the Londonderry Hometown online News reprinted with permission.

Recent Transportation Infrastructure Summit Discusses Importance of Pettengill

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Senator Sharon Carson – District 14

Senator Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry, participated in a transportation infrastructure summit on March 30 in Manchester. The event, billed as “Paths to the Future”, concentrated on the status of road and bridge projects related to the widening of I-93 and was organized by the Greater Derry/Londonderry Chamber of Commerce.

Carson noted the event included an important discussion of the future of Pettengill Road which is an extremely timely, I-93 related project.  “The recent opening of the Raymond Wiezorek Drive connecting the Everett Turnpike with the Manchester/Boston Regional Airport has created a renewed interest in how Pettengill should be developed,” she said.

She added, “Due to its close proximity to the airport and Wiezorek Drive, there is tremendous potential here to attract more commercial businesses in the Pettengill Road area which would create thousands of new jobs in Londonderry.  Since its major upgrades in 1994, the airport has proven to be an amazing economic engine for our area with nearly one thousand acres surrounding it still to be developed.  As a result, Pettengill could play a key role in any future development.  But with all this potential, our challenge continues to be funding. That’s why bringing so many interested parties together for a summit like this is so important.”

Senate passes bill honoring fallen Marines from Londonderry

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SB367 names new airport road access bridge for the late Lance Cpl Peter Sora and Private First Class Eric Currier

CONCORD – With several of their relatives seated in the Chamber looking on, the Senate voted unanimously today on a bill naming a bridge on the newly-constructed airport access road after two fallen U.S. Marines from Londonderry: Lance Corporal Peter J. Sora, Jr., and Private First Class Eric D. Currier.

In his floor remarks addressing SB 367, Sen. Jim Rausch, R-Derry, turned to the family members seated behind him and said, “On behalf of the entire Senate, I want to offer my deepest condolences to you for the loss of your sons who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.  We are forever grateful to them. Lance Corporal Sora, known by family and friends as PJ, joined the Marines in 2003 and died in a training accident in 2004 while preparing for deployment.  Private First Class Currier, who was recently married, had joined the Marines in 2009 and was killed in 2010 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, during a military operation.  Their deaths are a loss to all of us, especially those in the community of Londonderry where both men resided.  It is our hope that the naming of this bridge will honor these two courageous men and inspire admiration for all those who fight for our country.”

SB367 prime sponsor Sen. Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry, echoed Rausch’s sentiments saying, “I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to work on this legislation.  Finding a way to remember our fallen heroes can come in many forms, but it is always heartfelt. We can all take comfort in the fact the Sora/Currier Memorial Bridge will stand a long time.  The entire Senate was moved by the loss of these brave Marines as well as the presence of so many of their relatives who witnessed the vote on this bill in person.”          

The bill now heads to the House where is it expected to pass.   Following approval from the House, SB367 would then be sent to Gov. John Lynch’s desk for his signature. 

Senator Carson Reviews Past Legislative Session and Looks Ahead

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Says much accomplished but stresses need to revisit several important issues

State Sen. Sharon Carson (District 14) said today that she is proud of her accomplishments during the past legislative session and looks forward to revisiting several important issues if re-elected. Carson, who finished her first term in the senate representing Londonderry, Hudson and Auburn, made reducing bullying in school, protecting state/town employees who are whistleblowers and using cell phone technology to increase public safety some of her priorities in the 2009-2010 legislative session.

Carson highlighted the following senate bills she sponsored that are now law:

Senate Bill 358 – expands Whistleblower protections for state/town employees who report illegal activities in their work place and fraudulent waste of taxpayer money. Carson said, “Now, state and town employees can come forward with this type of information without fear of losing their jobs.”

Senate Bill 482 – was successfully combined with a bill in the House that adds the term “cyber bullying” to the state’s definition of what constitutes bullying on school property. “I am pleased that intimidating or harassing someone on school property using the internet, a cell phone or other electronic devices is now considered bullying in New Hampshire. Clearly, state law had to catch up to technology in this area,” she said.

Senate Bill 435 – allows wireless carriers to help law enforcement locate people who are thought to be at risk of death or serious bodily injury by tracing their cell phone signal. Carson said, “This legislation is named for Kelsey Smith, a high school student in Kansas who was abducted from a shopping mall parking lot. Police had difficultly gaining access to her cell phone signal and when they finally found her via her cell phone, she had already been killed. This new law is a tremendous tool for law enforcement that can be combined very effectively with regular investigative work and includes privacy protections.”

Senate Bill 312 – gives The American College of History and Legal Studies in Windham the ability to grant degrees. “As someone who has a Masters in History from UNH”, she said, “I am delighted at the flexibility that ACHLS gives its students, many of who work full-time, to earn a Bachelor’s Degree.”

Increasing transparency in government is another area in which Carson feels strongly. She co-sponsored House Bill 1651 that went in to effect this past July. The senator said, “This new law had strong bi-partisan support in both houses. It puts the state’s checkbook on-line for the first time, allowing the public to see how Concord is actually spending their tax dollars. This is an excellent use of technology to enhance good government. I hope to be able to build upon this legislation and continue to promote transparency.”

Carson also commented on other bills she sponsored that were unsuccessful in the recently concluded legislative session but ones which she hopes to re-submit in 2011 saying, “Keeping our current education funding plan in check while the Legislature creates a fair and equitable plan for all New Hampshire school districts and creating infrastructure improvements around Pettengill Road and will be two of my top priorities if District 14 voters send me back to Concord this November. They can rely on me to hold the line on taxes as well. I voted against every tax increase in 2009-2010. Voters are demanding that New Hampshire live within its means and we need to start by getting our out-of- balance budget under control.”