CONCORD, NH — Here are the Top 10 most popular stories and posts from around New Hampshire Patch sites last week.

1. Biohazard Cleanup Crew At New Hampshire Insurance Department In Concord After Fatality: Update: Limited info is available, but official says there is no suspicious death investigation at the state office on South Fruit Street.
2. Stabbing At Mall At Rockingham Park In Salem Being Investigated: A man reported to be in his 20s was transported to Lawrence General Hospital with a stab wound to the abdomen on Thursday night.
3. Weekend Snow Coming To New Hampshire: Weather Forecast: Forecasters say there is a chance of snow on Saturday night and Sunday morning, and showers are on the horizon due to a slight warm-up.
4. Man Arrested After Incident At Downtown Concord Christmas Tree Lighting Event: Bulambo Dunia was accused of being intoxicated, dancing, and “touching” kids, as well as spitting at police after being taken into custody.
5. Store Closings; Hiker Wanting To See Mountain Sunrise Rescued By Helicopter: PM Patch NH: Man accused of drunkenness, touching kids, spitting at cops at tree lighting, state librarian nominee rejected, still time to see Santa.
6. More Snow For New Hampshire This Week Should Make It A White Christmas: Weather forecasters warn of slick streets, highways, and potentially dangerous road conditions on Monday night and Tuesday morning.
7. Woman In Wheelchair Struck By Car; Satanic Temple Display Follies; More: Nearby News NH: Felon arrested after chase, Obama mask-wearing bank robber from 2013 accused of striking again, bus crash, drug bust, needy children helped.
8. 4 Die Of Carbon Monoxide; Lights In The Sky; Mega Millions Jackpot; More: PM Patch NH: Death in state office building, more snow coming, political notes, wrong way driving trucker caught on camera, the state has a dam problem.
9. Massachusetts Trucker’s Wrong Way Driving Caught On Camera In NH: State Police Roundup: Plus: An elderly Danville man faces a negligent driving charge, clear snow off your vehicle, and arrest blotters from around New Hampshire.
10. Maine Hiker Rescued By Helicopter In Dangerous Weather Conditions: Patrick Bittman of Portland, ME, was rescued from a New Hampshire mountain while suffering hypothermia after attempting to watch a sunrise.

Here are some other posts readers may have missed:

‘Backup Has Arrived’ To Protect Concord’s City Plaza Nativity Scene: Follow-Up

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“Throughout everything, Lyla was thoughtful, kind, always thinking of others, and an amazing friend,” Alkon said in an email Saturday. “The outpouring of grief among her friends, peers and classmates from Brookline and beyond upon learning of her and her family’s tragic passing, is a tribute to how many lives she and her family touched in a loving, profound way.”

She said Lyla and Matthew Goldstein were deeply proud of their daughters and the adults they were becoming.

Valerie, an alum of Newton South High School, graduated from Syracuse University in May and was working as a fifth-grade instructor in Rocky Mount, N.C., as part of Teach for America, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Violet Goldstein was a student at the Rhode Island School of Design, according to a college spokesperson. Violet’s college roommate, Finleigh Lewis, said she was “a beautiful source of light” who radiated kindness and genuine care for every person she met.

“They were both outstanding,” Alkon said of Valerie and Violet during a phone interview later Saturday afternoon. “As was Lyla, as was Matt, really all of them were outstanding.”

A relative of the Goldsteins declined to comment when reached by phone on Saturday. Other family members could not immediately be reached.

The family lived at 29 Margaret Road in Newton, according to city records, where flowers were left on the front steps Friday. City officials said the Goldsteins were active in community events.

Alkon said Lyla was a “dedicated Girl Scout troop leader” when her daughters were in the scouts. A former three-sport athlete at Brookline High School, Lyla Goldstein continued playing basketball throughout her adult life, Alkon said. She was also listed as a board member of the Newton Girls Basketball Association.

Newton City Councilor Bill Humphrey, whose district includes the Goldsteins’ neighborhood, recalled chatting with Lyla and Matthew Goldstein when he’d be out knocking on doors.

“I remember that Valerie would write in to the City Council about her passion for a more sustainable world and a just society as soon as she was old enough to vote, and she asked me to help her with a class project on local environmental policy,” Humphrey said in a statement on social media. “I know many leaders, activists, and educators found both sisters to be memorable and engaging over the years. All four of you will be missed by our community and beyond.”

Goldstein was an eighth-grade math and health teacher at the Edith C. Baker School in Brookline, according to Justin Brown, the president of the Brookline Educators Union. He led the math league and the school’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance.

Brookline Superintendent Linus J. Guillory Jr. said in a Friday statement that Goldstein was “an exceptional educator” and “beloved” member of the school community.

He also inspired his colleagues. A woman who said she worked across the hall from Goldstein said in a social media post that he “took care of everyone around him – his family, his coworkers, his students, etc.”

“He could find the upside to every situation,” she wrote.

The Goldsteins had been expected to arrive at a holiday gathering on Wednesday, but family members contacted authorities when the four did not answer phone calls and messages, officials said. Wakefield police responded to the home at 2962 Province Lake Road and found the four adults dead inside late Wednesday afternoon.

New Hampshire investigators identified the home’s gas heating system as the source of the carbon monoxide leak, officials said. New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey said Friday that investigators believe there was “some sort of malfunction” with the system that prevented carbon monoxide gas from exiting outside the home.

“We’re still looking into all the details of that failure at this point,” he said.

Town records from Wakefield, N.H., show that the Goldsteins purchased the five-bedroom lakeside home in 2017. The property, which was built in 1984, is located on Balch Lake.

Several pictures on Matthew Goldstein’s Instagram page showed the family swimming and kayaking on Balch Lake. A video he posted Dec. 22 showed one of his daughters splitting wood outside the house. After the news of their deaths, the post has received a flood of condolences in the comments.

Toomey said “there were no carbon monoxide alarms” in the home. He urged New Hampshire residents to make sure they have working carbon monoxide detectors and check with their relatives and neighbors to make sure they do as well.

“Carbon monoxide is a silent killer,” he told reporters. “It’s colorless, odorless, and it will mimic flu-like symptoms, headaches, nausea. Especially at this time of year, with all the regular illnesses going on, it can be mistaken for something else, and that stresses the importance of having the working carbon monoxide alarms in your homes at this point.”

The office of the state’s chief medical examiner determined Goldstein’s cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning, and the manner of his death is pending. The cause and manner of deaths of Lyla, Valerie, and Violet also remain pending, officials said. No further information was released Saturday.

Toomey said the state typically sees two or three deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning in a given year, but the number rose above 10 in 2024, including the Goldsteins. He expressed sympathy for the family and their relatives and friends, as well as the first responders who found the family in the home on Christmas Day.

“This has been a terribly tragic year for both fire deaths and carbon monoxide deaths,” he said. “I think it wears on all of us. … To lose a whole family of four right in the peak of the holiday season, it hits home even more.”

Tonya Alanez of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

Nick Stoico can be reached at nick.stoico@globe.com.

Investigators on Friday identified a Massachusetts couple and their two daughters as the victims of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning after they were found dead inside their New Hampshire vacation home on Christmas Day.

The bodies of Matthew Goldstein, 52, an elementary school teacher in Brookline, and his wife Lyla Goldstein, 54, a project manager at Microsoft, were found by officers conducting a wellness check at 2962 Province Lake Road in Wakefield, New Hampshire, just before 4:30 p.m. on Christmas.

Their daughters, Valerie Goldstein, 22, who was also a teacher, and Violet Goldstein, 19, a college student, also died in the accident.

The family lived in Newton, Massachusetts, and were visiting New Hampshire for the holidays, according to New Hampshire Fire Marshal Sean Toomey.

‘Tragic’: State fire marshal answers questions after Mass. family found dead in NH vacation home

Toomey said investigators haven’t yet figured out what caused the apparent leak of carbon monoxide from the propane gas heating system, also noting that there were no carbon monoxide alarms found in the home.

The family was expected to attend a holiday event before their deaths. Toomey said three victims were found in a bedroom and one in a bathroom.

“When they did not show up at the event, family members contacted local authorities and requested a welfare check, ultimately leading to the discovery of the victims,” Toomey said. “Additionally, no working carbon monoxide alarms have been found in the home.”

Brookline Public Schools Superintendent Linus Guillory confirmed that Matthew Goldstein was a teacher in town.

“We are deeply heartbroken to learn of the passing of Mr. Matt Goldstein, an exceptional educator and a beloved member of our PSB and Baker School Community,” Guillory said in a statement. “Mr. Goldstein’s dedication to inspiring students and shaping young minds has left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him.”

The Edith C. Baker School where Goldstein worked serves the Chestnut Hill and South Brookline neighborhoods of Brookline and is one of the largest elementary schools in the town.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, colleagues, and students during this profoundly difficult time,” Guillory added. “We are committed to providing the support and resources needed for the Baker School Community as we grieve this tremendous loss together.”

Baker School Principal Saeed Ola said educators are assembling a support plan for students and staff.

“Tragic news like this is difficult to process, and we know that our entire school community will need support during this challenging time,” Ola said in a statement. “To this end, we are working closely with our school-based and district-level clinicians along with district-level staff to develop a support plan for our students and staff. In the meantime, we encourage you to reach out if you have any immediate concerns or need assistance.”

In a statement, Rhode Island School of Design President Crystal Williams said that Violet was a first-year student at the school.

“This is an unimaginable loss for Violet’s loved ones, friends, faculty, peers, and all of us in the RISD community, and we are currently reaching out to Violet’s closest friends,” President Williams said. “As we process and mourn this tragedy, please take comfort in your loved ones and keep Violet and her family in your thoughts.”

School officials say although the college is closed for winter break, counseling, and psychological services will still be available for students and faculty who feel they need help processing the loss.

“I know that you join me in feeling utter heartbreak at the loss of such a promising young member of our community, along with her family, on what should have been a joyous occasion,” she said.

Friends of the Goldstein family laid flowers at their Margaret Road home in Newton, where family friend Jesse King said Valerie’s 22nd birthday party was scheduled for Friday night.

“It shows how powerful their love really was,” King said. “The family was a perfect example of what a family should be like. The family was super close to each other. They did themed Halloween costumes it was really cute.”

King was particularly close with Valerie during high school.

“She was love personified,” he explained. “She was everybody’s friend.”

A GoFundMe has been set up to raise money for a memorial bench plaque at the Baker School. If you’d like to donate, you can click here.

Anyone with information for investigators is encouraged to call the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office at 603-223-4289 or fmo@dos.nh.gov.

Wakefield is a small town in the Lakes Region, east of Lake Winnipesaukee. The town’s population was 5,201 at the 2020 census.

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