“The Rail Trail is a great asset to the northern section of Londonderry,” said Gianni Verani, President of Berkshire Hathaway Verani Home Services, as he made a key donation to the Rail Trail on behalf of the realty company that he owns with his sister, Maggie Verani. “The Londonderry Rail Trail cannot be completed soon enough! From our office windows, which overlook the trail, we constantly see people walking, pushing strollers, and jogging on the Rail Trail even before it is completed,” added Gianni Verani.
Left to Right: Gianni Verani, President of Berkshire Hathway Home Services and Bob Rimol, Chair of Londonderry Rail Trail Committee. Photo courtesy of Londonderry Trailways.
Londonderry Rail Trail Committee Chair, Bob Rimol, in accepting the check said, “This donation comes at a critical time. This money will make it possible, with the addition of a few more donations, to complete Phase 2 of the Rail Trail this fall.” Phase 2 will open a new 3/4 mile section of trail which will run from the Park and Ride parking lot at Exit 5 to the intersection of Liberty and Independence Drives, ending behind the Irving Gas Station on Route 28. The trail goes beneath I-93 and runs a long side the Verani office building where there is a a picturesque pond. The Phase 2 extension to the trail connects with the completed section of trail which runs from the North Elementary School parking lot to Symmes Drive at Exit 5.
Donating to the Rail Trail is a good fit for the Veranis because their company and their family have deep ties to the community and conservation in Londonderry. Gianni’s father, Osvaldo Verani, worked to help preserve the Musquash area as a conservation area and his mother, Patricia Verani — a nationally-acclaimed artist, who sculpted the statute of Johnny Appleseed which stands in front of the Leach Library, the soldier figure on the Revolutionary War statue located on the Town Commons, and the statue of St. Bridget at St. Mark’s Church. She also designed the commemorative coin for the 250th anniversary of the settling of the community of Nutfield.
As soon as Phase 2 is completed, the Rail Trail Committee has its sights set on construction of Phase 3, a 1.4 mile segment continuing from Liberty Drive through the scenic Peat Bog section to Route 28/Seasons Lane.
