Bridge finally set to settle in Milford

MILFORD – It’s not a bridge too far, but it is a bridge that has come far!

Milford’s long-awaited pedestrian bridge over the Souhegan River is finally scheduled to arrive Thursday. In what should be an impressive sight, the 150-foot steel span will be lowered in two sections by crane, after being trucked here from its home plant in Indiana.

The bridge will join Keyes Field on the south side of the river with the property of the new Souhegan Valley Boys & Girls Club, in the former American Stage Festival property. Officials had hoped to have the bridge in place for the club’s formal groundbreaking earlier on Thursday, but delays caused in part by shortages of steel got in the way.

The bridge is being paid for by a $500,000 grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. The money will also build a walking trail on the north side of the river, connecting the new bridge to Emerson Park and Route 13, as well as various improvements around the Oval.

There won’t be quite as many improvements as had been hoped, however: The soaring cost of steel pushed the price tag of the bridge up to around $300,000, well over what was originally envisioned.

This will be Milford’s second footbridge. The famous “Swing Bridge” on the east side of the Oval has been in place since 1854, when it was built to help workers get to their jobs in local textile mills.

Local prosecutor, big case

HUDSON – He got his start helping working on one of the largest cases in Hudson.

Now, he’s prosecuting one of the most high-profile cases in the country.

Former state resident Army Judge Advocate General Capt. Christopher Graveline is one of three Army lawyers prosecuting Army reservists accused of torturing prisoners at Abu Ghraib.

Graveline got his start in New Hampshire. According to the New Hampshire Bar News, while attending Franklin Pierce Law School Graveline interned for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and worked with two lawyers on a case where two armored car drivers were robbed and shot in Hudson.

Graveline has been a member of JAG since 1998.

‘The nurse is in’

LYNDEBOROUGH – A blood pressure clinic will be held on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2:30-3:30 p.m., at Citizens’ Hall. Registered nurse Cynthia Geiger will be on hand to answer any questions of a non-emergency nature.

“The Nurse Is In” will be held on the first Thursday of each month, sponsored by Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services.

Equipment on display

NEW IPSWICH – The Fire Department will hold an open house Saturday, Nov. 6, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the fire station on Turnpike Road.

The department will display all of the equipment received recently through grants from the Federal Energy Management Agency, part of Homeland Protection.

Also on view will be the new thermal imaging camera and hazardous materials equipment.

Refreshments will be served.

Pasta for police

LYNDEBOROUGH – Wednesday, Nov. 20, the Police Association will host a spaghetti dinner at the Town Hall in Lyndeborough Center. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children 12 and younger. Proceeds will benefit several community programs including the summer soccer league. It is requested that those attending bring a canned food item to be donated to the Open Cupboard Pantry in Wilton. There will also be a collection box at Citizens’ Hall for those wishing to contribute non-perishable food items during the holiday season.
For information, contact Lorraine Strube at 654-2691, or Sgt. Michael Geha at 654-5469.