Story time- again

This is what happens when I don't post them on time, but here you go, this week's efforts:


Worst-selling author talks about his book, miserable sales
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
Dr. Daniel Kamen of Buffalo Grove, Ill. has what some might consider an unusual job. He also has what some might consider a pretty unenviable title.
Kamen is the author of four books. Three, (‘The Well Adjusted Horse," "The Well Adjusted Dog," and "The Well Adjusted Cat") are essentially his guides as a practicing animal chiropractor. The fourth, and the one that earned him his rather unenviable title, is called "Sam Donaldson’s Toupee…and other Material Off the Top of My Head." Kamen’s book, which is essentially 340 pages of the Doctor’s thoughts on various subjects and experiences, is the worst selling book in the history of Amazon.com.
Kamen says that his book has sold, one, just one copy on the Internet bookstore. "One day I received a check for $6.30 from Amazon for the sale off the book, but at least I sold one book to qualify." Kamen says that he has sold several of the books while at seminars he conducts on horse chiropractics, but that much of the first printing of the book (250 copies) were given away to friends or sent to members of the media. "I’ve sent books to all the networks including ABC (Donaldson’s former employer), The Late Show with David Letterman, Jay Leno, Imus in the Morning, Howard Stern, just anybody, trying to get some publicity. It’s just a miserable seller right now."
Kamen also said he sent copies to Donaldson (who currently hosts a show on ABC Radio) as well, hoping to get a reaction, any reaction, that might generate some publicity for the book. "I kind of hoped he would sue me," says Kamen.
The title of the book comes from what Kamen sees as an interesting question about Donaldson. "It struck me that a guy with that fame and resources could look like that? Its just such an obvious toupee, why would he hold himself up to ridicule like that?" The Donaldson chapters though, are only a small part of the book, which consists of more than 100 chapters of Kamen simply writing about whatever he wanted to write about, regardless of time or where he was, "Its really just a bunch of random things that happen," says the author.
In addition to sending the book out to media members, Kamen has also tried to find other ways to generate publicity for his tome. His web site is running a "Worst Toupee in the USA Contest." But, Kamen says, some of the rules of the contest are perhaps limiting the number of entries. "It has to be a photo of your own toupee," Kamen says, "and the money (the $2,000 first prize) will go to the person with the toupee." Second prize in the contest is a rug shampooer "a pretty good one," according to Kamen. Third place winners will receive "Mr. Potato Head" dolls. Currently, there are no entrants. "I had one guy who submitted (a photo) and then told me to forget it."
According to Kamen, much of the book was written while traveling to and from the seminars he attends (about 40 to 45 per year). He describes the book as something he had wanted to work on. "Everyone else would like to write a book about the things that have happened to them. I wrote it, really, just the way I thought." He does say, that despite the books poor sales, "I do take pride in it. When people try to overwrite, they’ll lose me immediately. It’s like looking at a very busy oil painting and not knowing what’s going on. I just want to see a picture."
Kamen does say that his kids "are kind of embarrassed by the book," which might be the result of some of the more colorful chapters that might detail Kamen’s bathroom habits or encounters with some "unique" individuals.
Past books have also gotten Kamen into weird situations. His book on cats, which he says has not sold as well as his other to chiropractic books, accidentally featured his home phone number, as a result of a mistake by his Brookline, Mass. publisher. "A woman called me with her cat in her lap, and I heard this blood curdling scream of the cat (as the woman tried to adjust its back), it sounded like she was trying to kill her cat.
Kamen didn’t initially study to be an animal chiropractor, certainly not write books that might cause harm, in the wrong hands, to the domesticated feline.
He became a licensed chiropractor, for humans, in June of 1981. He opened his own practice in September of that year. However, a call he received the next month, from one of his first clients changed his career path. "A human patient of mine wanted me to adjust a thoroughbred race horse she had at Arlington Park Raceway (a racetrack outside of Chicago)." After adjusting the equine, Kamen had a new career.


Tent and teepee raised on Route 28 lead to Locke Farm
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD — If you’ve traveled through Barnstead recently, along Rte. 28, you probably have noticed the tent and teepee set up along the road. Many have wondered exactly what these are there for. The answer is surprisingly simple.
Terry Locke and her husband Nathan own Locke farm, which sits on North Barnstead Rd. The Lockes set up the tents as a farm stand along Rte. 28, Terry Locke says, "because it’s incredible how many people don’t know we’re here." The farm, which was purchased by the Locke family in 1921, is in the midst of its 85th growing season this year. The stand is there to help sell the early fruits of this year’s crops, including flowers, tomatoes, summer squash, peas, broccoli, cucumber and peppers, according to Locke, "We’ve been farming for five months already."
Locke says that the intersection of North Barnstead and Rte. 28 is "very dangerous," and because of that, few people realize that the farm is operating, and selling its goods. "We’re exceeding our goal (for sales) just by being down there," Locke says of the stand, which features a teepee and a large tent. "Two of my regular customers are stopping by (per day) to ask, ‘What are you doing?’ but we’re getting eight to ten new customers a day (at the farm.)"
The structures are there for both decorative and practical purposes, according to Locke. The purpose of the tent, she says, "was to cool off the area for the seller," and the teepee structure was placed there for the same purpose, as well as to attract attention to the farm. Locke says that often, while planting or working, she and other members of her family will find farming tools and other implements, which she has had verified as being used by Native Americans. Thus, she planned to use a "Native American theme" to the farm.
While she understands that the display might be a little different from other stands along Rte. 28, Locke says, "People should pay attention to the road, not the stand. The whole idea was for a non-taxable structure (along the road), because it is non-permanent."
Locke also points out that the structure uses no electricity, and in fact uses no nails at all. Putting up the tent and teepee required neither, she said, "I had the trees, and I had the material." She hopes to replace them with a simple sign pointing to Locke Farm, once more people are familiar with the location.
The farm itself is a hub of activity, with a diverse selection of food and flowers being grown.
"We grow things big here," says Locke, "Last year, we had a watermelon which weighed 25 pounds." Several different means of growth are used by the Lockes, including natural stakings and hydroponics, along with close control over the feed the plants receive.
The Locke’s are also trying to find other ways to raise their funds. While digging through a chest, Terry Locke discovered a violin, which she believes to be an original Strativarius. She has had discussions with auction houses and other outlets, and is also looking to authenticate the violin.
For the last few years, Locke has also been growing a flag-like area she calls "Stars and Stripes," composed of a variety of items. "I tried it with flowers, but I never could get enough," says Locke. This year, she is attempting the feat with various lettuces, along with kale, collards, and other greens.
While Locke did say she received a complaint from a member of the Lakota tribe about the Native American figure and teepee she had displayed, she says she is trying to do what she can to save the farm.
No complaints about the structure had been made to Town Hall, according to Selectman Gordon Preston (who also lives on North Barnstead Rd.) and town office personnel.


Recess just got better- Barnstead Elementary has new playground
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD — Parents, teachers, students and community volunteers all joined together July 15 and 16 at Barnstead Elementary School for a common goal, to build a new playground at the school.
Parent Lisa Goodwin, who chaired the Playground Committee of the PTA, and helped coordinate the volunteer activities, described the old playground as "old, tired and worn." The PTA had looked at various options to replace the 19-year-old playground and settled on a model featuring mostly steel and plastic offered by Dr. Play of Salem.
While the old playground had been cleared (with the exceptions of a swing set, basketball hoop, jungle gym and slide) prior to the arrival of the new equipment, it took more than one day to totally put together the new playground.
Volunteers spent last Friday unwrapping and doing "pre-assembly work" and prepared for a long day the next day. Speaking on July 15, Goodwin said that volunteers would be at the school the next day "From eight o’clock until whenever we finish.
The group, however, was finished and enjoying lunch by 1 p.m Sunday, hot sun and all.
The assembly of all of the pieces took far less time than she, and many other volunteers, had anticipated.
The playground features new variations on some classic playground staples, such as a slide, which allows three students to ride at once. Modern equipment includes climbing wall stations, at all heights, throughout the playground.
Russ Packard of Dr. Play, who supervised the assembly, said that the Barnstead volunteers were "the best crew we’ve ever had." He also said that the new structure would "last decades," because of its materials. The only thing students had to wait for now, Dr. Play’s Packard said, was for the concrete to dry. (Concrete holds much of the structures in place)
While Goodwin and her volunteers sipped lemonade and gathered for a group picture as they neared the finishing touches on the playground, children ran around the new structures. Goodwin’s goal to replace the old playground with this new one certainly seemed to be realized in the faces of the children. "Everything is brand new," she said.


Area schools get both good and bad news in new funding bill.
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
The recently passed changes to state education funding delivered both good and bad news throughout the area.
Donna Clairmont, the Business Manager of SAU 51, which contains schools in Barnstead and Pittsfield, says that Barnstead managed to both gain and lose from the new bill. While the district had initially feared losing as much as $600,000 in funding, Clairmont says that next year, the district will have an increase in funding of around $200,000. However, this is less than what the increase would have been under the previous system, which the school board used in figuring the budget for the next year.
The district would have received $2,487,337 under the old law; the new law will provide the district $2,298,450, according to Clairmont. "It’s a mistake to say we’ll be receiving more, compared to last year – they are, but less than anticipated. (The district has) suffered a loss." She said this would become a burden on the Barnstead taxpayer.
Other area town received better news. Alton will no longer be a donor town after this year, says Russell Bailey, the Town Administrator. "Alton will send money (to the state) in the fall, but the following year would lose donor status."
Jack Robertson, of the Governor Wentworth Regional School District, said the district "as a whole, does better than under the old plan." Robertson indicated the positive impact would come to $1,961,205. One of the great positives for the district, said Robertson, was that both Wolfeboro and Tuftonboro would be losing their status as donor towns. Of the towns in the district, said Roberton, only two, Brookfield and New Durham, lose funding.
New Durham Town Administrator William Herman says, "There is nothing the town can do," about the decrease in funds, which come to $84,274, according to Robertson, "It’s a school district issue." "The SAU budget is the driver, they’ll just need to shift the budget," says Herman, who says that under the old plan, New Durham’s funding would have increased.
While there are efforts in the state, especially among southern tier cities like Londonderry, to fight the new rules in court, it is unclear at this time whether any of the districts in the area would be joining those towns in the legal battle. Certainly none of the districts benefiting from the new rules will be doing so, and it might be difficult for some of the smaller districts that might be losing money to afford the cost of any additional legal fight.


State Special Ed team gives BES a thumbs up

By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD — A state team looking at Barnstead’s special education efforts gave the School Board very positive feedback. While Interim Principal Michael Tocci was unable to deliver the report, Anna Williams, director of pupil services, said that the team was pleased overall. She said, however, that there were additional efforts that could be made to aid students. The primary concern of the team was giving pre-kindergarten special education students more opportunity to interact with their peers.
Top of the lot for kindergarten
Williams also told the board that a finalist for the vacant kindergarten teaching position is going to be interviewed by Superintendent Owen Conway shortly. Williams said that she had "never seen so many applications to this district" – 60 were received for this kindergarten spot.
Another position, middle school, language arts, had also received much more response than had typically been found in the past.
Asbestos in the wing
Business manager Donna Clairmont said that while asbestos had been discovered in one of the school wings, an asbestos abatement would be required to fix the problem.
She said that the Space Needs Committee should first look at their goals, and perhaps add asbestos removal to the list, before any abatement.
AC and other equipment
The board authorized $4,800 for a portable air conditioner to meet the special environmental needs of a student currently attending summer school. The board also accepted a bid for additional kitchen equipment, including a new freezer, refrigerator, range and icemaker. The cost of the new equipment, including installation and other costs, still came under the $25,000 warrant article by more than $1,000.
The building’s engineer was authorized to deal directly with the company that recently worked on the school’s boiler, to see what costs might be incurred with the installation of new heating equipment in the C-wing of the school. The boiler was classified by the engineer as "old, undersized, or simply not working." In authorizing this, the board hoped to have potential work on the system be done before the start of "the heating season."
In other news
Williams said that the school would be relocating the alternative program to the video lab, as well as announcing that new staff orientation would be held in August.
She also delivered good financial news, saying that several students were being brought back to the district from out of district placement, or from foster care liabilities. This leaves the district with only three out of district placements, as well as two students attending alternative schools outside the district.
The board approved new language allowing certain support staff to receive dental insurance, as well as a wider range of choices of health plans, and they approved language encouraging students to get daily physical activity.
The board’s next meeting will be taking place Aug. 19. Among the topics will be board goals, information on state standards as well as potential approval of the contracts for new teachers.


Local talent fuels Rochester Opera House’s opening
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
New Durham and Wakefield provide much of the talent in the opening play of the Rochester Opera House’s summer season.
"The Foreigner," by Larry Shue, is directed by New Durham resident Cathy Allyn, stars David Durham, also of New Durham, and Tounger Robbins of Wakefield. Anthony Ejarque, the producer of the play also has area ties, according to Allyn. "He owns a cabin on Merrymeeting Lake. He also got his start at Dot’s Lunch, where the new Johnson’s restaurant is."
Allyn describes the play as "a comedy with something to say about prejudice." The action of the play involves a man staying at a resort who must assume the identity of a foreigner in order to continue his stay. He must invent customs and other affectations in order to keep the ruse up along the way.
Durham has been a true veteran of stages throughout the area, including the Merry Meeting Merrymakers, the Hackmatack Playhouse and the Mill Pond theatre. He also performs in Murder Mysteries at the Governor’s Inn. Robbins, however, is a young actor with big dreams.
Since getting his start as "Rocky" in a seventh grade production of "Damn Yankees" in Wakefield, Robbins has spent much of his time acting, participating in summer theatre productions throughout New England. While he is just about to enter his senior year of high school at Spaulding High in Rochester, Robbins hopes to continue acting on much bigger stages.
"After I graduate next year, I’ll be moving to Los Angeles (to make it as an actor)." He describes his part in "The Foreigner," Ellard Simms, one of younger characters in the play, as "quite the character. A little slow, but he’s fun. A good kid."
The play opens July 20 and runs until July 30. Shows are Wednesdays through Saturdays. The Wednesday show begins at 7 p.m., all other nights begin at 8.pm. Allyn says that she considers the Opera House to be "the least expensive of all summer theatre in the area," adding that newly installed air conditioning makes the experience much more pleasurable.