Ok, so here are this week's stories, I'll give everyone an update on things tomorrow:
Fire House meeting gets hot
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
NEW DURHAM — The May 5 meeting of the committee investigating possible options for the New Durham fire station was still engendering heated emotions at the Board of Selectmen workshop six days later on May 11.
Local police responded to the May 5 meeting after an argument ensued between members of the public and town officials. No one was charged.
Interpretations vary as to what exactly happened prior to the meeting between Town Administrator William Herman, Fire Chief John Nicastro, committee member Linscott "Skip" Fadden, and Planning Board alternate George Gale. Each side sees the events unfolding differently, and both sides take issue with the other’s viewpoints. Questions as basic as who was in the library at the time are in question, as are some statements made in the police report, filed by Patrolman Lloyd Gifford. About the only thing agreed upon by all parties is that George Gale began setting up video equipment in the town library, in preparation for the 7 p.m. meeting, approximately 15 minutes beforehand.
Gale says that around that time, Herman arrived and began talking to the chairman of the committee, Gullmar Nelson. He said that Fire Chief John Nicastro then arrived, and begin yelling at Gale for trying to tape the meeting. Gale also said that Nicastro used profanity, in addition to raising his voice, and that there were children in the library at the time. He said that Nicastro was "standing in my face, screaming." Gale stated that Herman also yelled at him (Gale), stating that the town administrator "suddenly had a huge objection (to having the meeting filmed)." "They said they were going to have me arrested for filming the meeting," Gale alleges. He said that what he characterized as "excuses" for not allowing him to film the meeting shifted. Gale said, "At first it was that it (the meeting) could not be filmed, then shifted into ‘you took the camera from Betsy Booth’s office.’" (Booth denies this, saying that the town’s camera is kept in the Land Use office. The Land Use office confirmed that they had given the camera to Gale earlier that day.).
Gale also alleges that perhaps Herman and Nicastro knew ahead of time what they were going to do. "I find it hard to believe that Herman didn’t know ahead of time (that Gale was taking the camera to film the meeting). The whole thing could have been scripted from the start." After Officer Gifford arrived (the police had been called), Gale says that he was asked to go outside to discuss the matter. He also alleges that Herman and Nicastro made false statements to the police regarding Gale taking the camera from Booth’s office, as well as indicating to officer Gifford that Gale did not have permission to film the meeting, which was necessary for it to be broadcast.
Herman’s account differs from Gale’s. Herman said that upon arriving at the meeting, he talked to Nelson, specifically about getting the committee to vote on whether or not they desired to be broadcast. He said that Gale approached him at that point, and that he, Herman, raised the objection to filming the meeting for broadcast, citing an unwritten rule of Wolfeboro Community TV that allows committees to decide whether they desired to be filmed for the purposes of being broadcast on Wolfeboro Community TV. He also said that he did not see any children in the library, and that he did not see Nicastro come in initially (Nicastro also denies yelling and swearing at Gale). The issue, Herman said, besides the issue of the unwritten rule, was that of "town property and its appropriate use." Herman said that "no one has been denied their right to film," saying that Gale would have every right to film with his own camera. "Committees have always had the right to decide to be broadcast over community access." Herman said. The town of New Durham, having contributed funds to Wolfeboro Community TV, is considered the owner of the camera, though the camera does say "Wolfeboro Community TV" on it.
The fireworks of the night did not end with Gale going outside to talk to the police. Fadden arrived, he says, around 7 pm. He saw Gale outside with the officer, and was told by Gale that he was not being allowed to film the meeting. Herman, Fadden says, was at the meeting to review the Right-to-Know laws with the committee (Herman says that this was the case, that he and Selectman Ron Gehl were there to talk about the issue, but that never took place). Fadden then began reading the "Right-to-Know law" to the committee, believing that they were "looking for anything to keep him (Gale) from taping the meeting." Fadden then said that Herman shouted, above the din of voices at the meeting, "you’re wrong" at Fadden, and then Fadden yelled back "No Mr. Herman, you’re wrong." Herman denied yelling at Fadden, though he did agree that they had an exchange. The police report says that the two men had to be separated, and that Fadden was taken outside. Fadden then said that he became upset, because he, a member of the committee was being taken outside, and Herman, who is listed as a resident of Concord on the police report, should have been, given that he is not a town resident. According to Herman, Chief Shawn Bernier, Chairman Nelson and himself told Fadden that if he and Gale got their own camera they could tape the meeting. Gale then drove Fadden home, and they unsuccessfully looked for a camera. In the meantime, the meeting began, and the committee voted to allow meetings to be recorded for broadcast, provided that Kathy Merrill, the town’s land use clerk, or a designee tape the meeting. Fadden then returned to the meeting, where discussion continued on what had taken place. He believes that members of the committee were "misled" by Herman about the Right-to-Know law, and that by denying Gale the ability to film with the town’s camera, they were effectively violating that law. Herman said that no such violation took place, especially since the committee did not deny Gale the right to tape with his own camera.
Fadden, still fuming about what happened, advised the Board of Selectmen last week that he believed that they may need legal counsel to look into the events of May 5. The selectmen agreed to look at the letter, as well as revise the town’s policy on the filming of meetings for broadcast. Meanwhile, Gale has, according to Bernier, decided to file a complaint alleging that he was threatened as well as assaulted at the meeting prior to the arrival of the police department. With the case being reopened, the police department was unable to make further comment about the incident before the arrival of Officer Gifford and Chief Bernier.
(See related story, page 1)
Local family runs Co-op, has their own energy saving plan
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD — Dan Barraford is proud of the co-op he and his wife, Cate, have helped put together since 1999. Operating out of their Barnstead home, and working on both the co-op and their main business, a publishing company, the family has helped to save thousands for families throughout the area during the winter months, and increasingly, summer as well.
By pooling the purchasing power of its 3,800 members, the Barrafords’ Co-op, Our Town Energy Choice, was able to save consumers between 70 and 80 cents for their per-gallon cost on propane last year. Barraford describes the co-op’s first years as a "charity." He says that a hike in oil and propane prices in 1999 inspired him to begin his project.
"We recruited senior citizens in Alton and Barnstead to go in together," he says of his first year setting up the co-op, " and we were able to pool pricing." "pricing for volume"
Barraford says, is cheaper than the alternative, because of the pooled pricing. He also said that at the end of that first year, there were over 500 families involved. Membership fees were instituted the next year.
Barraford says that his co-op, which serves families in Massachusetts and Maine as well as throughout New Hampshire, serves mostly residents and businesses, but has also counted the Alton school district and the Governor Wentworth school district as members in the past. While still primarily focusing on heating costs, the co-op has expanded into areas like phone service and Internet access, as well as providing discounted Canadian pharmaceuticals for seniors in the area.
For many, membership fees are waived in cases of severe hardship. Barbara Itchkawich, of Alton, says that she has been a part of the co-op since the first year and that she is, "very pleased" with her decision.
"It’s helped me out, its helped a lot of people out," she says.
That sentiment is echoed by Kathy Secirano of New Durham, who says that her family has been involved "for a couple of years" and that it has "saved us money."
In the style of "practicing what they preach" the Barrafords have also made another money saving change. They have converted one of their cars to run on vegetable oil. The conversion, which only works on diesel engines, which Barraford says were originally designed to be run on peanut oil, involves a kit which can be purchased online for between $700 and $800. Barraford said that he then paid a mechanic an additional $800 to do the conversion, but says that anyone could do it themselves "if they’re handy." The oil, which Barraford receives free from local restaurants is filtered for impurities and then heated, till it hits the same viscosity as diesel fuel. The car he says, takes some time to warm up in the before it can be started, five minutes in the summer and 10 in the winter, in order to heat the vegetable oil to the proper temperature, but that when the car runs "you can run it for free."
Barraford says he will soon be converting his other car to run the same way. He also says that the car gets the same mileage and power as if it were running on diesel fuel, but emits 60 percent fewer emissions, and that those emissions are biodegradable. When talking about his car, Barraford seems to be perpetually grinning, knowing that he’s no longer paying high gas prices.
Local Academy hosts big tournament this summer.
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
ALTON — Meg Jones has been running the Kwoon Karate Academy of Self Defense in Alton for almost three years. In that time, she’s seen thousands of kicks, punches and chops from everyone from small children to adults at her downtown location. This June, however, the academy will be stepping out a bit.
The academy’s staff, students and families will be playing host to participants in a large multinational tournament, the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame Crown Championship, to be held in Manchester, at the Radisson Hotel, on June 10 and 11. Jones, who was tabbed as the female instructor of the year in 2004 by the Hall of Fame, says that the parents of students will be participating in running the events of the tournament, while many of the academy’s students will be competing in the tournament itself. According to Jones the academy was asked by The Hall of Fame’s founder, Dr. E.A. Moore, to host the tournament last year. "We’ve been working on it ever since," she says.
In addition to the normal events associated with this tournament, which includes a world-class karate tournament featuring 200 to 300 competitors from South Africa, Canada, the British Virgin Islands and across the United States, as well as a ceremony and dinner to induct new members into the Hall of Fame, the Academy will be conducting a charity event as well. Though the nature of that event, according to Jones, it will either be a kick-a-thon or a break-a-thon (where participants would break boards), depending on whether they receive donations from local lumber companies, is still up in the air, the proceeds from that will go to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital for cancer research. Jones also mentioned that several New Hampshire residents would be up for induction into the hall of fame.
Information on the event can be obtained by calling 603-875-1171. Jones says that admission to the tournament is open to the public at a cost of $5 each. There are also seminars being offered by various speakers at the tournament, and the public is also able to purchase tickets to the induction dinner and ceremony.
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD — With two selectmen away from the meeting – Mike Akstin was on vacation and Jack O’Neil was attending a hearing in Concord – the three remaining selectmen met to primarily discuss the town website, as well as deal with other matters.
The longest portion of the night’s proceedings was a presentation by Scott Sainsbury, of Verity Creative, about his plans for a potential town website. Sainsbury, who is currently working on a website for the Wolfeboro Chamber of Commerce after a great success with his site theboros.com (Tuftonboro, Moultonborough, and Wolfeboro), presented his own experience and the possible options that he could offer the town website if he were chosen to create the site.
The site, as proposed by Sainsbury, would be a sort of "one-stop shop" for resources in Barnstead. He mentioned that local businesses, including realtors, as well as the town government might use the site, which might attract more visitors to the site using search engines. Gordon Preston mentioned that he sees many selling points about Barnstead, saying, "we’re right on the beaten path." "We’re the midpoint between Rochester, Manchester and Concord," he said, advocating that the town’s website be used not just to let people in the town know what was going on with town government, but also serve as a way of attracting businesses to potentially locate themselves in Barnstead as well.
Selectmen Ed Tasker asked Sainsbury, at the end of his presentation, about the potential costs for the town of putting a fairly large site, like Sainsbury was proposing as a possibility, and also how quickly the site could be up and running. Sainsbury replied that the cost would likely be less than what the Wolfeboro Chamber of Commerce paid, as Barnstead’s would likely be a smaller site, and that the hosting fees on the servers he used was "not as expensive as what others would charge." He also said that he could write a proposal for a website and a contract very quickly, and that the town could have a website developing within weeks of hiring him.
Other issues the selectmen touched on included the question of whether the town might be reimbursed for some, if not all, of the cost of using its manpower and equipment to clean up a car accident which happened in the town last week, which was estimated to have cost around $900. The selectmen agreed to ask the municipal organization if they can bill the insurance company for those services.
The selectmen also agreed to ask a town officer to pick up their exhibits from the Superior court offices in Laconia after no one appealed the town’s growth ordinance. They also agreed to ask the police department whether they believed that the town had gotten its money’s worth out of the Juvenile Court Diversion Program, which cost the town $3,500 for the year.
It was found that there was a $25,001 difference between the Selectmen’s budget and the town’s budget as decided at the town meeting, and that that money would now be put into a "selectmen’s miscellaneous fund" for the remainder of the year. The town approved a budget for more than what the Selectmen needed.
The Selectmen asked that those wishing to make announcements for meetings in The Baysider should please first schedule the use of the Town Hall with the Board of Selectmen.
Selectmen discuss Ethics, Recording policies
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
NEW DURHAM — The May 11 workshop meeting of the New Durham Board of Selectmen, held at the New Durham Library, grew more heated as it went along. While the primary focus of the meeting was on putting together a conflict of interest policy and a policy regarding Community TV, other issues sidetracked the meeting as it drew to a close.
After Selectmen Dwight Jones raised the issue of a conflict of interest policy, especially with regard to town officials becoming involved in the formal bidding process, at the last workshop meeting, held April 27, the selectmen investigated several possibilities to strengthen the town’s current policy, which was adopted in 1997. Selectmen Ron Gehl suggested, along with chairman Dean Stimpson, that policies in Antioch and Raymond, which were similar in many ways, were good templates for the board to follow. Jones was intrigued by the long list of definitions both policies had, which would help to clear up any possible misinterpretation of anything in the policy. Gehl and Stimpson also said that they would like to see such a conflict on interest policy separate from a purchasing policy, in order to avoid future confusion. The Selectmen agreed to work on a policy, taking, in Jones’ words, "the best of each one" and then getting together and finalizing a policy that would be best for New Durham’s situation. George Gale, who had brought a copy of the 1996 draft of the current policy, asked the board why it had been, to use Gale’s words "gutted" in the final version. Stimpson replied, looking a bit frustrated with the question, that "that’s a moot point. It’s over and done with" and that the board was looking to improve the current policy, not rehash how that policy came to be.
The group also looked at possibilities for a new, written policy regarding Community TV and video recording of meetings. Both Gehl and Town Administrator William Herman, had put together their own drafts for such a policy, and both were distributed to the Board at the meeting. Gehl’s policy was distributed to members of the community and began with a preamble, the text of the Right to Know law. Each draft made provisions to allow ordinary citizens the right to broadcast any such meetings, and provided guidance for what committees would be broadcast as a requirement and which committees could decide for themselves. Herman used as an example, the Conservation Commission, which chose not to record its meetings for broadcast. Community member Skip Fadden hoped that the selectmen would add language saying that would apply to all public officials in the town, and that any potential conflicts would err on the side of the "right-to-know" law. There was some question about how best to manage tapes at the town office, with Herman suggesting that the Clerk’s office did not want to have to handle sending tapes up to Wolfeboro as well as logging tapes in and out. He added that while some in the town offices "would like to be responsible, as long as someone is responsible," referring to the fact that volunteers are now mostly responsible for getting tapes to the Community TV station.
George Gale also suggested that some provision be made, giving only the Board authority to decide to destroy tapes, saying that in the past he had been told that tapes had been destroyed at Town Hall. Herman denied this saying that it was "news to us," that tapes had been destroyed, and saying that Gale had never logged a complaint stating as such.
There was also some question about how community groups might use town equipment, and what the ownership of that recording was. Community member Cathy Orlowicz said that she was confused by the placement of that section in Gehl’s draft and suggested moving it to another spot.
The meeting turned very heated at the end of the discussion of recordings, as some community members were upset by what they perceived as heavy-handed tactics by some in the town administration at the May 5 meeting of the Fire Station committee (see related story, page xxx). Stimpson seemed frustrated by this saying that it was a "rehash of something that happened, an unfortunate thing that happened." Fadden p-resented the board with a letter asking them to consider investigating the incident. The board will meet again May 18, after the next Baysider goes to press, but that meeting will be covered in our May 26 issue.
A special place in Barnstead is a Yankee best
BY Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD — When Harold and Cynthia Huckaby arrived in New Hampshire in 1974, and purchased their eighteenth-century home, they wanted, according to Harold Huckaby "a place to raise our children."
In the years following though, their home became much more than that. The restaurant that the Huckabys opened in 1976 in their home, The Crystal Quail, has become renowned throughout the area, and was just recently a recipient of an "Editor’s Choice endorsement" from Yankee magazine, as a place that no traveler to New England should miss.
The Huckabys grow much of their own vegetables, along with spices and their own herbs, in their organic garden behind their home. The dining room seats only about 12-14 people, but the restaurant has received almost universally positive reviews and counts many fans, including longtime Washington Post columnist David Broder and Evelyn Lincoln, the former personal secretary for John F. Kennedy.
Still, the business of running the restaurant is still largely the same for the Huckabys as it was 29 years ago, when they opened. Harold Huckaby says that he begins work on a day’s menu "whenever I get up. There’s a lot of hours that go into preparation. Sometimes there will be days worth of preparation." Huckaby says the traditionally busiest season for the restaurant is in the summer and into the early fall, but that they do operate all year, from Wednesdays through Sundays.
While Huckaby is not quick to label the restaurant’s food as fitting into any particular style he says that he and his wife "draw on everything we’re exposed to. We’ll use that, try that (techniques and styles) on anything we have on hand."
Much of the food is also organic, "as much as possibly can be," says Huckaby, "but sometimes it cant’ be. But for the most part it is, especially when it comes through the garden."
The Huckabys do their own composting, and much of their lettuce and other greens come from the garden, as do their cabbages and other root vegetables. Huckaby describes his wife’s style of planting as her own. "She allows things to grow where they want to. It’s a very Japanese style. If things reseed themselves, she’ll let them stay." Some vegetables, he says, like lettuce, will come up two or three times in a season, which helps keep salads and vegetables du jour fresh.
The meats that the Huckabys carry, such as game bird or wild boar, might be considered exotic, but Huckaby disagrees, saying that "it isn’t exotic for ‘exotics sake.’" He says that he tries to combine different flavors and that those tastes often determine how he has to prepare the food. He describes it all as "a very creative process."
The land that the restaurant now stands on was once a main road through the area. Several times, the Huckabys have found ox bows and sled runners, from when the home’s owners serviced oxen teams.
Harold Huckaby says that the Crystal Quail has been good to him and his family. "We’ve made our way, and the lifestyle has kept me in good health." With continued recognition and acclaim, the restaurant would seem to be a likely constant fixture of the area for years to come.
Award given at Board of Selectmen meeting
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
ALTON — Local victim’s rights advocate and artist Florence Holway was presented with an award from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center at the May 16 meeting of the Board of Selectmen. Lynda Ruell, a victim’s advocate working in the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office, presented Holway with the award, calling her a "survivor and a voice" and being instrumental in toughening New Hampshire’s rape laws and raising awareness of sexual violence in the state, and eventually around the nation, following an HBO documentary made about her which aired in January. The center awarded Holway, one of only three people in the nation to receive the award this year, for her "effectiveness" in promoting awareness. Holway was presented with a framed award certificate, and thanked the many friends and family who attended for coming to see her receive the award.
After a short break the board returned to discuss other matters. The board granted two easements on barns that were being preserved, awarding the full 75 percent to each owner. The board also voted in favor of establishing small fees for certain electronics in the town’s electronic recycling program. Televisions and computer monitors of less than 19 inches would be charged $5; above 19 inches would be charged $10. All other electronic items would be free to recycle. Selectmen Peter Shibley noted that the town was trying to recoup some of the money that it costs to haul away those large items.
The selectmen went on to approve the town’s hazard mitigation plan, as well.
Selectmen Alan Sherwood wanted to remind citizens that the Household Hazardous waste collection say is Saturday, and that directions could be found on the town website. He also noted that the Planning Board, because of the volume of cases in front of it, would be spreading their May 17 meeting over two nights, with the meeting continuing into May 18 (look for coverage in next week’s Baysider).
Town Administrator Russell Bailey noted that the rescue vehicle the town had approved two years ago would be arriving soon, and that the old rescue vehicle would be donated to the Red Cross upon the arrival of the new vehicle.
The board, convening as the Board of Health granted waivers for septic tanks and leech banks at three locations, one on Woodlands Rd. and the other two on Varney Rd.
The main order of business, and the most controversial of the night, proved to be the denial of a permit sought by the Barbershoppers to sell alcohol on town property. The Barbershoppers were hoping to have a beer tent at their upcoming event in Alton Bay. While Peter Shibley noted that the group had never had any problems before relating to alcohol, a majority of the board was very hesitant to "set a precedent" with regards to serving beer on town property or near Alton Bay. Cris Blackstone noted that she had received several phone calls from citizens saying that "they weren’t interested in beer sales on town property." After it became clear that the beer tent would be denied, Shibley noted sarcastically that the Barbershopper’s might consider relocating to Madison, N.H., where, he said, the town passed an ordinance allowing people to drink on the streets. The permit was denied by a 3-2 vote.
Other issues included concerns about the town’s policies regarding animal control and smoking in public places, in particular the ballpark. A public hearing on those issues will likely be scheduled soon, so the selectmen could receive citizens’ thoughts on the matter. The selectmen also agreed to put out a mailing reminding townspeople to be compliant with the town’s E911 ordinance, which requires signals for emergency vehicles to spot a home at night. Bailey said that he did not want the fire department to "waste time trying to find houses." The motion passed 4-1, with Shibley dissenting. The selectmen also authorized the use of $3,100 in funds earmarked to renovate the B & M caboose for the B & M Railroad Park, as well as authorized tearing down an equipment shed in the area which is considered unsafe.
Friday, May 20, 2005
Monday, May 16, 2005
Story Time, again
Sorry about missing this past week. I've been busy, plus I really couldn't find a lot to write about. I decideed to send out personal greetings to the graduates privately. So I'll write tomorrow, but here's last weeks stories. One of my stories got held for this week, so there's four, one of which was in the Granite:
Local Man Uses work experience to invent new tool
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD — Tim Smith worked for more than 15 years in the propane industry as a technician. He installed the copper tubing that brings propane into homes and businesses, but he, and many of his colleagues, found it difficult to tighten the "t-valves" that propane needs to use to connect pipes in various areas of a building. The valve has two horizontal ends, and has brass fasteners, which can be tightened easily with a wrench, Smith explained. The third end is not so easily tightened, because tightening would turn the rest of the valve along with it, leading to lots of frustration and, potentially, increased liability for installers, because often, the lateral end would not be as tight as the other two.
Using these experiences, Smith came up with a new tool, one that he believes makes life a lot easier for those in his former profession. His home business sells his invention, the "Timmy-T-Tight," which helps to tighten the "T-Valve" by holding the two ends in place, allowing the user to tighten the lower valve without hassle. Smith says that a prototype, currently being used by a propane company in North Carolina, has proven to be very popular with installers. "They tell me that their guys have been fighting over it," he says, obviously very proud that his tool has proven to be a big hit.
Smith says that he has been working on his invention over the past three years, working to perfect the design, as well as to go through the patent process. While his patent is now pending, Smith has begun selling his tool online at his company’s website (www.takmacllc.com). While marketed primarily for use by professionals installing propane and heating oil, Smith is working on other models for use by other industries as well.
Smith has not been alone in putting his invention out into the world. He has been assisted by members of his family, which include his sisters helping him with both marketing and sales, and his daughter, Kayley, helping run the office. Smith’s longtime girlfriend, Amy Hall, also helps him with shipping, he says. Smith also credits local machinist David Lebrecque for assisting with the engineering and casting of his invention.
Smith also serves the town of Barnstead as a fireman. While he says that the fire department does get the occasional call related to propane, it was his experience as a propane installer that got him to work on this new tool. "It’s a liability risk for those installing propane," he says, "they’re the ones held responsible if something goes wrong." Smith hopes that the "Timmy–T-Tight" will help to alleviate some of those fears that installers might have, and make things safer for everyone else.
First Meeting in Nearly a month focuses on finance issues
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD — After missing a regularly scheduled meeting because it fell during spring break, the Barnstead school board used their May 10 meeting to discuss several issues, including approving the hiring of new teachers and accepting a bid for next year’s heating oil needs, and the approval of next year’s school calendar.
The calendar, in keeping with the school’s move to a trimester grade reporting system, will feature more days set aside for parent teacher conferences. While the October conference day will be reserved for meeting with all parents, other meeting days in January and in March will be on an "as needed" basis, with both teachers and parents able to ask for conferences. Barnstead Education Association Co-President Linda Nelson said that the calendar’s changes would still allow for the school year to end on time, as well as allowing for more interaction between parents and teachers.
Interim principal Michael Tocci also reported that the Community Work days for the construction of the school’s new playground would be held on the 15 and 16 of July. He also reported that the school’s new alternative program was off to a good start, with relatively positive reactions from students so far, and that the program was successful in changing "the culture within the classroom" for the better.
The board also approved the hiring of two teachers currently serving in positions on a one-year contract to permanent one. Sixth grade teacher Amy Fuddy and Kindergarten teacher Gwen Starr both were filling in for teachers on leaves or absence who decided not to return. Both were judged to have done a very good job this year, and the board unanimously approved their hiring.
The board also approved a transfer of funds for more than $14,000 to cover costs incurred throughout the year. They also accepted a bid to purchase next year’s heating oil supply, from Frank Fuller Oil Company, to provide the school with its 24,000 gallons of heating oil. Board member Keith Couch asked why the bid was for about 30 cents more than he is paying for his own heating oil to the same company, and district business administrator Donna Clairmont replied that a spike in oil prices over the last few months contributed to the increase. The board also approved payment of $2,500 to an engineer from Kohler and Lewis to look at the school’s air quality, which for some reason had not improved following maintenance by its current company, Johnson Control.
The board also discussed its committee structure, and the charter for the Building and Grounds committee will be discussed at the next meeting, following a meeting between its members and Clairmont. The next school board meeting will be held on May 24, with a workshop following a week later.
Water brings Representatives to Barnstead
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD — Efforts by the Board of Selectmen and local activist Bruce Shearer brought more than 30 people from area towns and villages to discuss water issues effecting central New Hampshire at a meeting held May 4 at Barnstead Town Hall. While much of the meeting was spent watching a documentary, "Thirst," which discussed issues related to public versus private ownership of water in areas around the world, which included the United States, much of the meeting was spent discussing possible strategies to avoid the kind of problems faced by nearby towns like Barrington, Nottingham and Farmington in recent years.
Various officials, including three members of the district’s representation in Concord, attended the meeting, as did a representative from Governor Lynch’s office, who mentioned that the governor’s office "was happy to talk with the people." The meeting was also attended by community members and by officials in nearby communities including Pittsfield, and representatives of Save Our Groundwater, which has been fighting the USA Springs bottling plant for many years in Barrington and Nottingham.
The film primarily looked at scenes from a World Bank conference on water issues, as well as scenes of rioting in Bolivia after its third largest city privatized its water supply, and water rates rose for citizens there. A 17-year-old was killed in the fighting, according to the film. The film also shows efforts in Rajasthan, the desert state of India, to preserve their own water supply, and the dispute in Stockton, Calif., following the decision to privatize the town water company.
Many in attendance admitted that they hadn’t been thinking about water issues, but that the film made several key points that they took interest in. Veterans of the campaign against USA Springs suggested that they, too, were in the same position before the controversy hit their town. Several members of the Barnstead Board of Selectmen also attended the event, and made their own statements as well. Selectman Gordon Preston mentioned that he was especially concerned about the possible sale of community water for commercial purposes. He also said that the selectmen "were interested in local control, but they don’t know how much water is there (in the town’s wells)." Currently, he explained, the town uses a privately owned firm to provide water from the aquifer. Jack O’Neil mentioned that, in his role as town welfare director, he found that of all the utility companies, the water utility, because it is corporately owned, was the only utility he couldn’t make deals with to help families facing difficult times. He also added that he was concerned about the potential for bottling companies to go into the White Mountains to get their water, which he feared would hurt everyone in the area as tourism decreased.
Representative John Thomas, who represents Alton, Barnstead, Gilford and Belmont, said that he was impressed that meeting like this were going on in the area but warned the gathering that, "you have to keep committed. You have to stay involved with other communities." Gilford Representative Alida Millham, when asked at the meeting to rank the general awareness of the water issues in Concord, ranked it low, saying, "The awareness is not where it should be for most members."
Selectmen from other towns said that they were also concerned about the situation in their area. A Pittsfield selectmen stated that her town was now trying to take back their water company, which had been sold, using eminent domain, but that there might be the potential for one company to start controlling water in several communities at once.
Bill McCann, of Dover, a member of the board of directors of Save Our Groundwater, urged citizens to stay involved, saying that "this isn’t a Barrington or Farmington issue, it’s the entire state." Others at the meeting voiced some pessimism about how effective they could be, with water companies having the resources to hire several lobbyists to be in Concord all the time on their behalf. O’Neil did say that he felt that if citizens stood "with enough voices," they could make a difference. He also suggested that concerned townspeople could form a non-profit, which would allow them access to local media as well.
Shearer said that he has been working on the water issue "for about six months." He said that he was aware of the issues involving USA Springs, but that as he became involved in the Grassroots New Hampshire organization, water became a major issue for him. Shearer says that he would like to see an unamended version of House Bill 68 pass, which would give local communities greater control of their water. He also wanted to alert people in the area of "the environmental concerns of bottled water," including their disposal and materials. He hopes that Barnstead’s Board of Selectmen, who he said were invaluable for their help in setting up the May 4 meeting, will draft a strong ordinance regarding water that will be a model for other communities. Selectmen Mike Akstin also expressed similar hopes at the meeting.
New Machine gives doctors "Second Look" at mammograms.
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
WOLFEBORO — Members of the Huggins Hospital department of Medical Imaging and Radiology departments have a new tool to help with the diagnosis of breast cancer. The hospital recently has come into possession of a new iCad machine, which will allow radiologists and mammogram technicians a "second look" at screening mammograms. While this does not replace the standard mammogram machine, it does allow for a closer look at certain areas that doctors and medical professionals might not initially see. The technology can improve the early detection by about 23 percent, according to literature provided by the manufacturer.
The new machine, Mammographer Louise Saxby said, will start to be used this week, after two weeks of test runs at the hospital. She says the new technology will be used, "primarily for screening mammograms."
"It digitizes the (mammogram) images, and prints out a paper report that highlights areas of concern for the radiologist," she said.
Saxby explained that the machine's software looks for areas of particular density that might be of concern. "There are subtle changes (in yearly breast examinations)," she said, "there isn't any bone to see broken or anything like that." Saxby said that she and the hospital’s other mammographers, Debbie Taylor, Darlene Ramsdell and Laura Smith perform between 2,400 and 2,600 mammograms a year at Huggins.
Dr. Gregory Vance describes the machine as "an important tool" in what he terms a "team approach to looking at a mammogram." But still, he says, "the human factor takes over" in the actual diagnosis of cancer.
Saxby made the point that the radiologist is still the one that considers risk factors for cancer, like age or family history, and that the radiologist takes factors like those into account while looking at the reports of the iCad.
Michael Wilkes, Director of Metal Imaging at Huggins, says that the department will be making attempts in the next few years to improve its technology. Currently, most all of the equipment still produces photographic images. Soon, according to Wilkes, the department will be trying to do more digitally.
Each Huggins professional emphasized the importance of early detection in breast cancer, including the importance for women, especially those over 40, to receive yearly mammograms. Early detection is important, as survival rates are far higher when the cancer is caught early on before it metastasizes.
Local Man Uses work experience to invent new tool
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD — Tim Smith worked for more than 15 years in the propane industry as a technician. He installed the copper tubing that brings propane into homes and businesses, but he, and many of his colleagues, found it difficult to tighten the "t-valves" that propane needs to use to connect pipes in various areas of a building. The valve has two horizontal ends, and has brass fasteners, which can be tightened easily with a wrench, Smith explained. The third end is not so easily tightened, because tightening would turn the rest of the valve along with it, leading to lots of frustration and, potentially, increased liability for installers, because often, the lateral end would not be as tight as the other two.
Using these experiences, Smith came up with a new tool, one that he believes makes life a lot easier for those in his former profession. His home business sells his invention, the "Timmy-T-Tight," which helps to tighten the "T-Valve" by holding the two ends in place, allowing the user to tighten the lower valve without hassle. Smith says that a prototype, currently being used by a propane company in North Carolina, has proven to be very popular with installers. "They tell me that their guys have been fighting over it," he says, obviously very proud that his tool has proven to be a big hit.
Smith says that he has been working on his invention over the past three years, working to perfect the design, as well as to go through the patent process. While his patent is now pending, Smith has begun selling his tool online at his company’s website (www.takmacllc.com). While marketed primarily for use by professionals installing propane and heating oil, Smith is working on other models for use by other industries as well.
Smith has not been alone in putting his invention out into the world. He has been assisted by members of his family, which include his sisters helping him with both marketing and sales, and his daughter, Kayley, helping run the office. Smith’s longtime girlfriend, Amy Hall, also helps him with shipping, he says. Smith also credits local machinist David Lebrecque for assisting with the engineering and casting of his invention.
Smith also serves the town of Barnstead as a fireman. While he says that the fire department does get the occasional call related to propane, it was his experience as a propane installer that got him to work on this new tool. "It’s a liability risk for those installing propane," he says, "they’re the ones held responsible if something goes wrong." Smith hopes that the "Timmy–T-Tight" will help to alleviate some of those fears that installers might have, and make things safer for everyone else.
First Meeting in Nearly a month focuses on finance issues
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD — After missing a regularly scheduled meeting because it fell during spring break, the Barnstead school board used their May 10 meeting to discuss several issues, including approving the hiring of new teachers and accepting a bid for next year’s heating oil needs, and the approval of next year’s school calendar.
The calendar, in keeping with the school’s move to a trimester grade reporting system, will feature more days set aside for parent teacher conferences. While the October conference day will be reserved for meeting with all parents, other meeting days in January and in March will be on an "as needed" basis, with both teachers and parents able to ask for conferences. Barnstead Education Association Co-President Linda Nelson said that the calendar’s changes would still allow for the school year to end on time, as well as allowing for more interaction between parents and teachers.
Interim principal Michael Tocci also reported that the Community Work days for the construction of the school’s new playground would be held on the 15 and 16 of July. He also reported that the school’s new alternative program was off to a good start, with relatively positive reactions from students so far, and that the program was successful in changing "the culture within the classroom" for the better.
The board also approved the hiring of two teachers currently serving in positions on a one-year contract to permanent one. Sixth grade teacher Amy Fuddy and Kindergarten teacher Gwen Starr both were filling in for teachers on leaves or absence who decided not to return. Both were judged to have done a very good job this year, and the board unanimously approved their hiring.
The board also approved a transfer of funds for more than $14,000 to cover costs incurred throughout the year. They also accepted a bid to purchase next year’s heating oil supply, from Frank Fuller Oil Company, to provide the school with its 24,000 gallons of heating oil. Board member Keith Couch asked why the bid was for about 30 cents more than he is paying for his own heating oil to the same company, and district business administrator Donna Clairmont replied that a spike in oil prices over the last few months contributed to the increase. The board also approved payment of $2,500 to an engineer from Kohler and Lewis to look at the school’s air quality, which for some reason had not improved following maintenance by its current company, Johnson Control.
The board also discussed its committee structure, and the charter for the Building and Grounds committee will be discussed at the next meeting, following a meeting between its members and Clairmont. The next school board meeting will be held on May 24, with a workshop following a week later.
Water brings Representatives to Barnstead
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD — Efforts by the Board of Selectmen and local activist Bruce Shearer brought more than 30 people from area towns and villages to discuss water issues effecting central New Hampshire at a meeting held May 4 at Barnstead Town Hall. While much of the meeting was spent watching a documentary, "Thirst," which discussed issues related to public versus private ownership of water in areas around the world, which included the United States, much of the meeting was spent discussing possible strategies to avoid the kind of problems faced by nearby towns like Barrington, Nottingham and Farmington in recent years.
Various officials, including three members of the district’s representation in Concord, attended the meeting, as did a representative from Governor Lynch’s office, who mentioned that the governor’s office "was happy to talk with the people." The meeting was also attended by community members and by officials in nearby communities including Pittsfield, and representatives of Save Our Groundwater, which has been fighting the USA Springs bottling plant for many years in Barrington and Nottingham.
The film primarily looked at scenes from a World Bank conference on water issues, as well as scenes of rioting in Bolivia after its third largest city privatized its water supply, and water rates rose for citizens there. A 17-year-old was killed in the fighting, according to the film. The film also shows efforts in Rajasthan, the desert state of India, to preserve their own water supply, and the dispute in Stockton, Calif., following the decision to privatize the town water company.
Many in attendance admitted that they hadn’t been thinking about water issues, but that the film made several key points that they took interest in. Veterans of the campaign against USA Springs suggested that they, too, were in the same position before the controversy hit their town. Several members of the Barnstead Board of Selectmen also attended the event, and made their own statements as well. Selectman Gordon Preston mentioned that he was especially concerned about the possible sale of community water for commercial purposes. He also said that the selectmen "were interested in local control, but they don’t know how much water is there (in the town’s wells)." Currently, he explained, the town uses a privately owned firm to provide water from the aquifer. Jack O’Neil mentioned that, in his role as town welfare director, he found that of all the utility companies, the water utility, because it is corporately owned, was the only utility he couldn’t make deals with to help families facing difficult times. He also added that he was concerned about the potential for bottling companies to go into the White Mountains to get their water, which he feared would hurt everyone in the area as tourism decreased.
Representative John Thomas, who represents Alton, Barnstead, Gilford and Belmont, said that he was impressed that meeting like this were going on in the area but warned the gathering that, "you have to keep committed. You have to stay involved with other communities." Gilford Representative Alida Millham, when asked at the meeting to rank the general awareness of the water issues in Concord, ranked it low, saying, "The awareness is not where it should be for most members."
Selectmen from other towns said that they were also concerned about the situation in their area. A Pittsfield selectmen stated that her town was now trying to take back their water company, which had been sold, using eminent domain, but that there might be the potential for one company to start controlling water in several communities at once.
Bill McCann, of Dover, a member of the board of directors of Save Our Groundwater, urged citizens to stay involved, saying that "this isn’t a Barrington or Farmington issue, it’s the entire state." Others at the meeting voiced some pessimism about how effective they could be, with water companies having the resources to hire several lobbyists to be in Concord all the time on their behalf. O’Neil did say that he felt that if citizens stood "with enough voices," they could make a difference. He also suggested that concerned townspeople could form a non-profit, which would allow them access to local media as well.
Shearer said that he has been working on the water issue "for about six months." He said that he was aware of the issues involving USA Springs, but that as he became involved in the Grassroots New Hampshire organization, water became a major issue for him. Shearer says that he would like to see an unamended version of House Bill 68 pass, which would give local communities greater control of their water. He also wanted to alert people in the area of "the environmental concerns of bottled water," including their disposal and materials. He hopes that Barnstead’s Board of Selectmen, who he said were invaluable for their help in setting up the May 4 meeting, will draft a strong ordinance regarding water that will be a model for other communities. Selectmen Mike Akstin also expressed similar hopes at the meeting.
New Machine gives doctors "Second Look" at mammograms.
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
WOLFEBORO — Members of the Huggins Hospital department of Medical Imaging and Radiology departments have a new tool to help with the diagnosis of breast cancer. The hospital recently has come into possession of a new iCad machine, which will allow radiologists and mammogram technicians a "second look" at screening mammograms. While this does not replace the standard mammogram machine, it does allow for a closer look at certain areas that doctors and medical professionals might not initially see. The technology can improve the early detection by about 23 percent, according to literature provided by the manufacturer.
The new machine, Mammographer Louise Saxby said, will start to be used this week, after two weeks of test runs at the hospital. She says the new technology will be used, "primarily for screening mammograms."
"It digitizes the (mammogram) images, and prints out a paper report that highlights areas of concern for the radiologist," she said.
Saxby explained that the machine's software looks for areas of particular density that might be of concern. "There are subtle changes (in yearly breast examinations)," she said, "there isn't any bone to see broken or anything like that." Saxby said that she and the hospital’s other mammographers, Debbie Taylor, Darlene Ramsdell and Laura Smith perform between 2,400 and 2,600 mammograms a year at Huggins.
Dr. Gregory Vance describes the machine as "an important tool" in what he terms a "team approach to looking at a mammogram." But still, he says, "the human factor takes over" in the actual diagnosis of cancer.
Saxby made the point that the radiologist is still the one that considers risk factors for cancer, like age or family history, and that the radiologist takes factors like those into account while looking at the reports of the iCad.
Michael Wilkes, Director of Metal Imaging at Huggins, says that the department will be making attempts in the next few years to improve its technology. Currently, most all of the equipment still produces photographic images. Soon, according to Wilkes, the department will be trying to do more digitally.
Each Huggins professional emphasized the importance of early detection in breast cancer, including the importance for women, especially those over 40, to receive yearly mammograms. Early detection is important, as survival rates are far higher when the cancer is caught early on before it metastasizes.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Canards
So this week is the anniversary of V-E Day, and the anniversary of the end of Great Patriotic War, as its known in Russia. A lot has been made this week about the appearance of Bush at the Russian military parade commemorating the end of that war, especially at a time when Vladimir Putin is consolidating power the way the Soviets used too. But he also resurrected an old conservative canard this week, when he talked about Yalta, essentially accusing FDR of selling out people in the Baltics and Eastern Europe. This is an old canard that the really old Conservative movement, like Colonel McCormick era and the John Birch Society, love to talk about to discredit Roosevelt. The fact that Alger Hiss was present at the meeting also is important for them, to the point where they make out that Hiss wrote the whole agreement, which is why the "betrayal" of Eastern Europe took place.
The problem with this is simple. Those who believe this either refuse to acknowledge or simply don't realize the role the Russians played in defeating the Germans. 27 million Russians died under Wermarcht tank treads. By the time that the Allies were ready to accept the Germans' surrender, the Russians were in Berlin, and they'd taken Poland and Eastern Europe with them. There was absolutely no bargaining power that FDR had. He wasn't going to force Ike to fight the Russians after fighting the Germans. They tried to get free elections in Poland, because there were different governments, one installed by the Soviets, the other in-exile in London, but they didn't happen. They trusted Stalin to hold to the deal, and he didn't. But we needed his help against Japan, because we didn't know if the bomb would work.
The Allies had to go with Stalin, because they wouldn't have otherwise had the ability to be facing only part of the German army.
I'm going to talk about some other stuff on Thursday, but tomorrow I send out my best wishes to my friends in the class of 2005.
The problem with this is simple. Those who believe this either refuse to acknowledge or simply don't realize the role the Russians played in defeating the Germans. 27 million Russians died under Wermarcht tank treads. By the time that the Allies were ready to accept the Germans' surrender, the Russians were in Berlin, and they'd taken Poland and Eastern Europe with them. There was absolutely no bargaining power that FDR had. He wasn't going to force Ike to fight the Russians after fighting the Germans. They tried to get free elections in Poland, because there were different governments, one installed by the Soviets, the other in-exile in London, but they didn't happen. They trusted Stalin to hold to the deal, and he didn't. But we needed his help against Japan, because we didn't know if the bomb would work.
The Allies had to go with Stalin, because they wouldn't have otherwise had the ability to be facing only part of the German army.
I'm going to talk about some other stuff on Thursday, but tomorrow I send out my best wishes to my friends in the class of 2005.
Monday, May 09, 2005
Two Steps Forward
Congratulations to the Albion College Class of 2005. I am so proud of all of you, my friends, who have made it through this part of the journey that is your lives. For you Andy Groggel, Mike Bohne, Nick Mourning, Maggie Holdershaw, Alex Rivera, Chelsey Wagemaker, Katie Aumann, Heather Schweitzer, Mike Kopec, Mike Huff and the rest of you, my heartfelt thanks for all you've given me in terms of support and the greatest of friendships. You know, as John and I were discussing, losing you makes us feel that much older, because you were such an incredible part of our lives, that even after been away from Albion, its difficult to imagine the place without you. I'll send out more personal congratulations here on this blog later this week, probably tomorrow or Wednesday. But there are some other issues from this weekend I want to talk about, and I want to save those for the special place that you all deserve.
The flights, and I say flights because I had to board two plans on Friday, one in Manchester that flew to Chicago-Midway, and then the other that flew from Midway to Detroit, were fine. The aggravating part was the rather lengthy layover, three hours, that I had in Chicago. I was able to have Potbelly again, which was great, but I probably could have done without sitting the last hour and a half or so. Arriving at home, it was great to see some of those familiar sites, and to see my brother again for the first time in a long time.
I enjoyed Commencement, in that I enjoyed seeing my friends complete their college careers, and to see and talk to my class of 2005 friends, along with John, Amber, Randi, and everyone else. The commencement speech was underwhelming to me, and I think that William Green's speech was good, though not as good as Alex's amazingly good speech at our commencement. I also had a ton of fun after commencement seeing prof's, though again, seeing that Uncle Ralph won't be at Albion anymore was sad. I was melancholy to see my friends go, but I know that I will see them around again soon, like at Mike's wedding.
After Commencement, and the various searching for people, John and I went over first to Charlie's to meet up with Amber and Randi, which was nice because we also got to see Andy again. It was also a bit weird for me because it was the first time that I'd been there since my first date with Karen, but I think not getting upset over that shows that I have moved on and that I'm ready to start living again. We then went over to Nick's sisters house for a barbecue, which was much appreciated by this very hungry soul. We then went to Olive Garden with Randi, Sarah and Amber, and we also ran into one Matt Chandler, there doing god knows what before he graduated from Adrian on Sunday. I then said my goodbyes and headed out.
I then made the short trek to Chelsea, where Ms. Amy Lewis was kind enough to get me a ticket to see the Purple Rose's production of Bus Stop. It was a really good show, and it further convinced me that I need to start writing again soon, though the night was a bit dampened by something I heard before the show, when I heard someone refer to the playwright (who won the Pulitzer Prize) as "William Ing" not "William Inge". I felt like slapping my forehead about twenty different ways. After the show I got a chance to catch up with Ms. Lewis for a while, which was amazing, as we went through a lot of old photos, and she gave me a copy of that most sought after picture, the one at Susan and Adam's wedding that everyone in it wants a copy of. After that I went home and then had a great mother's day brunch with my family, Jen, my grandmother, my aunt Claudia, my Uncle Bill and my cousin Katie. Then it was off to the airport again, first to get to Chicago, and then off to Manchester. Now when I was on the way to Manchester there were a couple of crying children on the plane. I lose patience quickly with those who complain about crying children, because they don't differentiate between the two types of crying children on an airplane: those having a tantrum, and those who are in physical pain. While tantrum children are difficult to deal with, they tend to finish their tantrums quickly, and if a child is in physical pain, I'm not going to blame them if they cry, because flying, with the ear popping and loud noises, can be a painful experience.
I kind of got lost on my way home last night, but I made it back fine, and then had a lovely chat with Rose, who is headed out to backpack in the Smoky Mountains before she heads off to London, where hopefully she will give my best to one Audrey K. Coleman, who I haven't seen in ages.
I'd be remiss if I didn't talk about something else that made me kind of sad on Saturday. When they were reading the names of graduates there was one name prominently missing among the "S" graduates. That person would be Alison Snow. I know of no one, ever, who was dealt a worse hand by fate than Alison, and to make it through as she has is remarkable. If you're reading this dear, remember, that all of us who know you , and knew you at Albion, love you a great deal, and we think you are one of the most special people on this planet. Please be well, and let us know how things are going for you. I know I, personally, would love to talk to you very soon. Be well everyone. I'll write about some of the reading I've been doing, perhaps getting a bit political tomorrow, then I'll post my personal greetings to the rest of my friends in the class of 2005.
The flights, and I say flights because I had to board two plans on Friday, one in Manchester that flew to Chicago-Midway, and then the other that flew from Midway to Detroit, were fine. The aggravating part was the rather lengthy layover, three hours, that I had in Chicago. I was able to have Potbelly again, which was great, but I probably could have done without sitting the last hour and a half or so. Arriving at home, it was great to see some of those familiar sites, and to see my brother again for the first time in a long time.
I enjoyed Commencement, in that I enjoyed seeing my friends complete their college careers, and to see and talk to my class of 2005 friends, along with John, Amber, Randi, and everyone else. The commencement speech was underwhelming to me, and I think that William Green's speech was good, though not as good as Alex's amazingly good speech at our commencement. I also had a ton of fun after commencement seeing prof's, though again, seeing that Uncle Ralph won't be at Albion anymore was sad. I was melancholy to see my friends go, but I know that I will see them around again soon, like at Mike's wedding.
After Commencement, and the various searching for people, John and I went over first to Charlie's to meet up with Amber and Randi, which was nice because we also got to see Andy again. It was also a bit weird for me because it was the first time that I'd been there since my first date with Karen, but I think not getting upset over that shows that I have moved on and that I'm ready to start living again. We then went over to Nick's sisters house for a barbecue, which was much appreciated by this very hungry soul. We then went to Olive Garden with Randi, Sarah and Amber, and we also ran into one Matt Chandler, there doing god knows what before he graduated from Adrian on Sunday. I then said my goodbyes and headed out.
I then made the short trek to Chelsea, where Ms. Amy Lewis was kind enough to get me a ticket to see the Purple Rose's production of Bus Stop. It was a really good show, and it further convinced me that I need to start writing again soon, though the night was a bit dampened by something I heard before the show, when I heard someone refer to the playwright (who won the Pulitzer Prize) as "William Ing" not "William Inge". I felt like slapping my forehead about twenty different ways. After the show I got a chance to catch up with Ms. Lewis for a while, which was amazing, as we went through a lot of old photos, and she gave me a copy of that most sought after picture, the one at Susan and Adam's wedding that everyone in it wants a copy of. After that I went home and then had a great mother's day brunch with my family, Jen, my grandmother, my aunt Claudia, my Uncle Bill and my cousin Katie. Then it was off to the airport again, first to get to Chicago, and then off to Manchester. Now when I was on the way to Manchester there were a couple of crying children on the plane. I lose patience quickly with those who complain about crying children, because they don't differentiate between the two types of crying children on an airplane: those having a tantrum, and those who are in physical pain. While tantrum children are difficult to deal with, they tend to finish their tantrums quickly, and if a child is in physical pain, I'm not going to blame them if they cry, because flying, with the ear popping and loud noises, can be a painful experience.
I kind of got lost on my way home last night, but I made it back fine, and then had a lovely chat with Rose, who is headed out to backpack in the Smoky Mountains before she heads off to London, where hopefully she will give my best to one Audrey K. Coleman, who I haven't seen in ages.
I'd be remiss if I didn't talk about something else that made me kind of sad on Saturday. When they were reading the names of graduates there was one name prominently missing among the "S" graduates. That person would be Alison Snow. I know of no one, ever, who was dealt a worse hand by fate than Alison, and to make it through as she has is remarkable. If you're reading this dear, remember, that all of us who know you , and knew you at Albion, love you a great deal, and we think you are one of the most special people on this planet. Please be well, and let us know how things are going for you. I know I, personally, would love to talk to you very soon. Be well everyone. I'll write about some of the reading I've been doing, perhaps getting a bit political tomorrow, then I'll post my personal greetings to the rest of my friends in the class of 2005.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Story Time- Week Four
I'm about to head out to the airport to go to commencement, but before I go, I wanted to leave my four articles from this week for your perusal, and again, feel free to make as many comments, including criticisms, as you want:
New park brings back past (This one was very spur of the moment, but I think it turned out well)
By Jim Shilander
STAFF WRITER
ALTON — A century ago, the town of Alton really was centered on the railroads that ran through the area. Stations throughout the town dropped off tourists and served town businesses for nearly 75 years until the railroads stopped running through town in 1942. The freight building for the B & M railway sat behind the town hall for years, as growth and litter overwhelmed the surrounding area. But with a bit of effort put forth by members of the Downtown Revitalization Committee, the area is now ready to be transformed completely, from overgrown brush to a jewel of a public park where committee members envision seeing many generations of Alton residents enjoying the area, and learning about the town’s history and resources in the process.
The committee was founded in late 2003 to help bring about projects that would improve downtown Alton. The Alton B&M railroad park, as it is going to be known, is the first of such projects to be put into motion. The park will cover an area about 300 feet behind city hall and stretching from the former J. Jones and Sons Warehouse building (which in fact was serviced by the Railroad) to the wetland areas a few hundred feet away, and from the police station to Old Wolfeboro Rd. Work is ongoing to put the park into place but already there are plans to put in a walking path as soon as this fall, according to board chairwoman Judy Fry. She also says that apart from the initial $5,000 in seed money that the town approved for the project at the 2003 town meeting, there would be little or no additional costs to the town. The remaining money needed would be raised via grants and donations.
Currently, besides the plans for a walking path, the committee is planning several big steps in the building of the park. The old B & M caboose that sits on the property will be moved to the area where cargo was once loaded into the freight building, which sits in the middle of the property. That area, which will have a real railroad bed put into place, and a platform, which will be reconstructed, will serve as part of a railroad museum inside both the caboose and the freight building. The moving of the caboose, "all 32 tons of it," according to committee member Marty Cornelissen, will be taking place shortly. He says that it has been sitting, essentially abandoned, in the old railroad yard for about 12 years.
The committee is working with the town historical society to help turn the park into a reality. The historical society, according to Fry, holds a lease on the freight building, as well as owning the J. Jones & Sons warehouse.
In addition to the museum and walking path, a boardwalk will be constructed in the coming year to take visitors into the wetland area that sits in the rear of where the park will stand. Educational kiosks will dot this "Wetlands Walk," allowing for what committee members hope will be a valuable educational tool for young people and newer residents about the town’s history and its natural resources.
The park will include an open-air pavilion, the "Mt. Major Station," which will play host to weddings and concerts. There will also be a picnic area as well as a children’s play area, perhaps with a train theme.
The committee also envisions volleyball, badminton and bocce courts. Committee member Deanna O’Shaughnessy said that it has been wonderful to have the support of the town’s officials, "Its inspiring how much the people who have been working for us are now excited too." She and other committee members hope that the park "will make downtown hop again." Fry said that the committee had a member of the planning board helping with permits, and that other concerns, such as parking and a sidewalk between town hall and the park would also be addressed in the coming years as the park moves forward. Still, she hopes to see the B & M Park bringing Alton residents a taste of their town’s past very soon.
Jump for education and your heart.
(Again, a kind of spur of the moment piece. I wasn't able to get any pictures for this, because they didn't get back to me before close to deadline and after school.)
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
New Durham — All this week, students at New Durham Elementary School have been having fun as well as learning about the importance of a healthy heart as a part of the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope/ Hoops for Heart program. The program raises money for heart research as well as teaches kids about the risks of heart disease and stroke, America’s number one and three causes of death, respectively.
During this week’s physical education classes, according to physical education teacher Deb Skelley "Every child is participating, whether they’ve raised money or not." She says that the enthusiasm for the program, which the school has done in the past, though not last year, "has been great."
Skelley says that she first became aware of the program when her own children participated, at both Carpenter School and Crescent Lake School in Wolfeboro, and brought it with her to New Durham, though she says the school may have participated in the program before her time there. Usually, the fundraising at New Durham schools has been around $1,000 per year, and Skelley says that the program is having, "one of the better years so far," in terms of fundraising.
In talking to the students about the risks of heart disease and stroke, Skelley says that she has "seen hands shoot up" when the children are told that its quite likely that members of their family or their friends have had heart related issues. The students will often tell stories about their loved ones’ heart problems as well, she says.
Originally, the program only contained the Jump Rope portion to raise money. Hoops for Heart was added, Skelley believes, because many older children might have felt that they had outgrown using a jump rope, and the American Heart Association wanted to appeal to them as well. So far, that pattern has been holding, as far more students seem to be playing basketball in the three-on-three tournaments and other events that the physical education teachers have set up, though the jump rope is still popular among younger students.
Skelley wanted to add that because of the recent school vacation, student fund-raising envelopes would be accepted through the end of the week.
Board Approves Subdivision, Reviews master Plan (A kind of typical meeting story for me)
BY JIM SHIILANDER
Staff Writer
NEW DURHAM — The New Durham Planning Board approved a three-lot subdivision at their meeting on May 3, but said that the owners must make some of the necessary improvements to the property before it would allow the building of a second house on the lot.
The area, which would contain two homes and a wood lot, requires several drainage issues to be addressed, which applicants Paul Zuzgo, James Gamble, Richard Gamble, Sr., Scott McClelland and Margaret Wheeler said would be done. They agreed to improve or replace several existing 12-inch diameter culverts with larger 15-inch diameter ones, as well as add 18-inch culverts in other problem areas. They also promised to remove a cabin, which is located on the wood lot area. The removal of the cabin was made a condition for releasing the $5,000 bond, which the applicants said they would post in order to begin work on the drainage issues. They also said that they had planted approximately 100 Christmas trees, which would likely be ready for harvesting in seven years.
The board also further discussed issues related to revising the town Master Plan. The meeting did become a bit contentious when Chairman Robert Craycraft suggested in the documents implementation section that the town put together a tax committee to investigate how the town’s money was being spent, feeling that some of the town’s budget information was not readily available to the public, and that an infusion of "new blood" might help to keep better tabs on the town’s expenditures. Some on the committee felt that this might be a duplication of much of the budget committee’s responsibility, and that citizens could be involved in the budget process best by attending budget committee meetings, not by working at cross purposes with it. Compromise language was eventually agreed to, but the committee also agreed to discuss the matter further at a later meeting.
In addition, issues of language to encourage involvement of seniors in the community were discussed. Resident Marcia Clark asked if the committee would take into account the desires of seniors in how best to achieve this, and the committee suggested that perhaps a survey of senior residents might be a good way of assessing this. In addition, member Donald Voltz suggested a couple of changes to a section regarding the town’s landscape architecture that suggested lining sidewalks with maple trees, saying that Maples, because their roots are so close to the ground, often cause sidewalks or roads where they are planted near to crack. He also suggested not using cobblestone sidewalks, because they might be inaccessible for those in wheel chairs.
Selectmen Discuss Bidding, other issues (Another meeting story, though I didn't include the discussion of the Foster's Article (see last weeks stories and the High Horse post)
By Jim Shilander
STAFF WRITER
NEW DURHAM — With several issues on the docket, the New Durham Board of Selectmen’s workshop on April 27, was lively and sometimes heated,
A majority of the meeting focused on two issues, first, those involving the town’s fire station and its roof, which needs significant repairs. With repairs possibly going into the area of $70,000, there were question about whether or not expensive repairs were truly worth it, given the likelihood that a new fire station would have to be built soon. Longtime member of the Board Dean Stimpson suggested that the wait on such a fire station could stretch on for another "two to three years" given that the town would have to vote first to put up a new fire station, and then have to vote again as to what property to purchase to put that Fire Station on. There was also some question, and some frustration voiced by Fire Department officials, about the committee set up to handle the fire house issue, because, at least for some at the meeting, it was felt that that group lacked coherent direction and policy goals, and was seen by some in the fire department as trying to get more control over the budget. Selectmen encouraged the board to come to a consensus on their direction and their policy parameters.
Much of the rest of the meeting was taken up by discussion of issues relating to whether selectmen should be allowed to be a part of the open bid process if they have business that could be of use to the community. Selectman Dwight Jones, who was in the process of donating what he termed a "weapons system" to the town police force, said that he was concerned about the potential appearance of impropriety in the future if he, or another Selectman, became part of the open bid process. Presently, each town department has its own list of vendors with which it has dealt in the past, but Town Administrator William Herman said that a comprehensive list of vendors could be put together. Currently, the town must put open for bidding anything that goes over $1,000 in cost for general town business, and $1,500 in the case of the Highway Department and for equipment mechanics. The Selectmen wished in the future that several additional lists be kept, including lists of all solicited companies and that wider publication of the town’s qualified vendors list should be attempted. Jones said that he wanted Selectmen to be above reproach when it came to this situation, and that they should be held to the highest of standards in terms of conflict of interest in the bidding process. Jones said that during the process of donating, he was often approached to sell to the Town, and wanted clarification of the rules in the future, not just for the Board of Selectmen, but for other committee’s as well. It was also suggested that some of the town’s statutes in this regard were out of date, especially in terms of costs. Selectmen Ronald Gehl and Stimpson suggested that not just the conflict of interest policies, but also that all policies should be looked at in this light, especially if they were drafted around the same time as the conflict of interest policy (1997).
The meeting concluded with a terse exchange between Herman and Planning Board member Robert Craycraft, with regards to the Planning Board’s application for the assistance of the Natural Resource Outreach Council (NROC), who will help the town decide what to do about natural resources as the town grows.
Craycraft clarified that state statutes prevented assistance from other committees, for such a venture, but also said he had never received those statutes. Herman said that he had sent them, however, Craycraft again denied receiving them.
New park brings back past (This one was very spur of the moment, but I think it turned out well)
By Jim Shilander
STAFF WRITER
ALTON — A century ago, the town of Alton really was centered on the railroads that ran through the area. Stations throughout the town dropped off tourists and served town businesses for nearly 75 years until the railroads stopped running through town in 1942. The freight building for the B & M railway sat behind the town hall for years, as growth and litter overwhelmed the surrounding area. But with a bit of effort put forth by members of the Downtown Revitalization Committee, the area is now ready to be transformed completely, from overgrown brush to a jewel of a public park where committee members envision seeing many generations of Alton residents enjoying the area, and learning about the town’s history and resources in the process.
The committee was founded in late 2003 to help bring about projects that would improve downtown Alton. The Alton B&M railroad park, as it is going to be known, is the first of such projects to be put into motion. The park will cover an area about 300 feet behind city hall and stretching from the former J. Jones and Sons Warehouse building (which in fact was serviced by the Railroad) to the wetland areas a few hundred feet away, and from the police station to Old Wolfeboro Rd. Work is ongoing to put the park into place but already there are plans to put in a walking path as soon as this fall, according to board chairwoman Judy Fry. She also says that apart from the initial $5,000 in seed money that the town approved for the project at the 2003 town meeting, there would be little or no additional costs to the town. The remaining money needed would be raised via grants and donations.
Currently, besides the plans for a walking path, the committee is planning several big steps in the building of the park. The old B & M caboose that sits on the property will be moved to the area where cargo was once loaded into the freight building, which sits in the middle of the property. That area, which will have a real railroad bed put into place, and a platform, which will be reconstructed, will serve as part of a railroad museum inside both the caboose and the freight building. The moving of the caboose, "all 32 tons of it," according to committee member Marty Cornelissen, will be taking place shortly. He says that it has been sitting, essentially abandoned, in the old railroad yard for about 12 years.
The committee is working with the town historical society to help turn the park into a reality. The historical society, according to Fry, holds a lease on the freight building, as well as owning the J. Jones & Sons warehouse.
In addition to the museum and walking path, a boardwalk will be constructed in the coming year to take visitors into the wetland area that sits in the rear of where the park will stand. Educational kiosks will dot this "Wetlands Walk," allowing for what committee members hope will be a valuable educational tool for young people and newer residents about the town’s history and its natural resources.
The park will include an open-air pavilion, the "Mt. Major Station," which will play host to weddings and concerts. There will also be a picnic area as well as a children’s play area, perhaps with a train theme.
The committee also envisions volleyball, badminton and bocce courts. Committee member Deanna O’Shaughnessy said that it has been wonderful to have the support of the town’s officials, "Its inspiring how much the people who have been working for us are now excited too." She and other committee members hope that the park "will make downtown hop again." Fry said that the committee had a member of the planning board helping with permits, and that other concerns, such as parking and a sidewalk between town hall and the park would also be addressed in the coming years as the park moves forward. Still, she hopes to see the B & M Park bringing Alton residents a taste of their town’s past very soon.
Jump for education and your heart.
(Again, a kind of spur of the moment piece. I wasn't able to get any pictures for this, because they didn't get back to me before close to deadline and after school.)
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
New Durham — All this week, students at New Durham Elementary School have been having fun as well as learning about the importance of a healthy heart as a part of the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope/ Hoops for Heart program. The program raises money for heart research as well as teaches kids about the risks of heart disease and stroke, America’s number one and three causes of death, respectively.
During this week’s physical education classes, according to physical education teacher Deb Skelley "Every child is participating, whether they’ve raised money or not." She says that the enthusiasm for the program, which the school has done in the past, though not last year, "has been great."
Skelley says that she first became aware of the program when her own children participated, at both Carpenter School and Crescent Lake School in Wolfeboro, and brought it with her to New Durham, though she says the school may have participated in the program before her time there. Usually, the fundraising at New Durham schools has been around $1,000 per year, and Skelley says that the program is having, "one of the better years so far," in terms of fundraising.
In talking to the students about the risks of heart disease and stroke, Skelley says that she has "seen hands shoot up" when the children are told that its quite likely that members of their family or their friends have had heart related issues. The students will often tell stories about their loved ones’ heart problems as well, she says.
Originally, the program only contained the Jump Rope portion to raise money. Hoops for Heart was added, Skelley believes, because many older children might have felt that they had outgrown using a jump rope, and the American Heart Association wanted to appeal to them as well. So far, that pattern has been holding, as far more students seem to be playing basketball in the three-on-three tournaments and other events that the physical education teachers have set up, though the jump rope is still popular among younger students.
Skelley wanted to add that because of the recent school vacation, student fund-raising envelopes would be accepted through the end of the week.
Board Approves Subdivision, Reviews master Plan (A kind of typical meeting story for me)
BY JIM SHIILANDER
Staff Writer
NEW DURHAM — The New Durham Planning Board approved a three-lot subdivision at their meeting on May 3, but said that the owners must make some of the necessary improvements to the property before it would allow the building of a second house on the lot.
The area, which would contain two homes and a wood lot, requires several drainage issues to be addressed, which applicants Paul Zuzgo, James Gamble, Richard Gamble, Sr., Scott McClelland and Margaret Wheeler said would be done. They agreed to improve or replace several existing 12-inch diameter culverts with larger 15-inch diameter ones, as well as add 18-inch culverts in other problem areas. They also promised to remove a cabin, which is located on the wood lot area. The removal of the cabin was made a condition for releasing the $5,000 bond, which the applicants said they would post in order to begin work on the drainage issues. They also said that they had planted approximately 100 Christmas trees, which would likely be ready for harvesting in seven years.
The board also further discussed issues related to revising the town Master Plan. The meeting did become a bit contentious when Chairman Robert Craycraft suggested in the documents implementation section that the town put together a tax committee to investigate how the town’s money was being spent, feeling that some of the town’s budget information was not readily available to the public, and that an infusion of "new blood" might help to keep better tabs on the town’s expenditures. Some on the committee felt that this might be a duplication of much of the budget committee’s responsibility, and that citizens could be involved in the budget process best by attending budget committee meetings, not by working at cross purposes with it. Compromise language was eventually agreed to, but the committee also agreed to discuss the matter further at a later meeting.
In addition, issues of language to encourage involvement of seniors in the community were discussed. Resident Marcia Clark asked if the committee would take into account the desires of seniors in how best to achieve this, and the committee suggested that perhaps a survey of senior residents might be a good way of assessing this. In addition, member Donald Voltz suggested a couple of changes to a section regarding the town’s landscape architecture that suggested lining sidewalks with maple trees, saying that Maples, because their roots are so close to the ground, often cause sidewalks or roads where they are planted near to crack. He also suggested not using cobblestone sidewalks, because they might be inaccessible for those in wheel chairs.
Selectmen Discuss Bidding, other issues (Another meeting story, though I didn't include the discussion of the Foster's Article (see last weeks stories and the High Horse post)
By Jim Shilander
STAFF WRITER
NEW DURHAM — With several issues on the docket, the New Durham Board of Selectmen’s workshop on April 27, was lively and sometimes heated,
A majority of the meeting focused on two issues, first, those involving the town’s fire station and its roof, which needs significant repairs. With repairs possibly going into the area of $70,000, there were question about whether or not expensive repairs were truly worth it, given the likelihood that a new fire station would have to be built soon. Longtime member of the Board Dean Stimpson suggested that the wait on such a fire station could stretch on for another "two to three years" given that the town would have to vote first to put up a new fire station, and then have to vote again as to what property to purchase to put that Fire Station on. There was also some question, and some frustration voiced by Fire Department officials, about the committee set up to handle the fire house issue, because, at least for some at the meeting, it was felt that that group lacked coherent direction and policy goals, and was seen by some in the fire department as trying to get more control over the budget. Selectmen encouraged the board to come to a consensus on their direction and their policy parameters.
Much of the rest of the meeting was taken up by discussion of issues relating to whether selectmen should be allowed to be a part of the open bid process if they have business that could be of use to the community. Selectman Dwight Jones, who was in the process of donating what he termed a "weapons system" to the town police force, said that he was concerned about the potential appearance of impropriety in the future if he, or another Selectman, became part of the open bid process. Presently, each town department has its own list of vendors with which it has dealt in the past, but Town Administrator William Herman said that a comprehensive list of vendors could be put together. Currently, the town must put open for bidding anything that goes over $1,000 in cost for general town business, and $1,500 in the case of the Highway Department and for equipment mechanics. The Selectmen wished in the future that several additional lists be kept, including lists of all solicited companies and that wider publication of the town’s qualified vendors list should be attempted. Jones said that he wanted Selectmen to be above reproach when it came to this situation, and that they should be held to the highest of standards in terms of conflict of interest in the bidding process. Jones said that during the process of donating, he was often approached to sell to the Town, and wanted clarification of the rules in the future, not just for the Board of Selectmen, but for other committee’s as well. It was also suggested that some of the town’s statutes in this regard were out of date, especially in terms of costs. Selectmen Ronald Gehl and Stimpson suggested that not just the conflict of interest policies, but also that all policies should be looked at in this light, especially if they were drafted around the same time as the conflict of interest policy (1997).
The meeting concluded with a terse exchange between Herman and Planning Board member Robert Craycraft, with regards to the Planning Board’s application for the assistance of the Natural Resource Outreach Council (NROC), who will help the town decide what to do about natural resources as the town grows.
Craycraft clarified that state statutes prevented assistance from other committees, for such a venture, but also said he had never received those statutes. Herman said that he had sent them, however, Craycraft again denied receiving them.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Da Do Run Run
I promised a post on the runaway bride. To me, this is an incredibly overblown story, which isn't a wholly original thought, I know. Look, my colleagues (And that's so cool to say) in TV, especially, are always looking for the next flavor of the month, especially during the summer. We've had Laci Peterson, Chandra Levy, all sorts of these attractive white woman (and they have to have both, if you're poor or have a touch of brown to your skin, you're screwed) 24-hour cable needs something to talk about, and actual issues or investigating poverty and its causes isn't really compelling television, so they have to manufacture things. This was their attempt to get their next story. So anyway, I really believe that any woman, especially if they were the kind of gigantic wedding this woman was having, its more than possible that she suffered some sort of mental breakdown. This is why no one, ever, should make any sort of major decision, and a decision like the one she made, while in a heightened emotional state of any sort. She panicked, ala Amy in Company, only without Bobby behind her to convince her to go back because she really wouldn't want to be with Bobby. I'm sure she's humiliated, that she'll never be totally trusted by her family again. But no one, I repeat no one, should be giving her husband a great deal of sympathy. He's in an absolute no lose situation. Barring doing the cruel thing (taking her to the altar and then dumping her) he can't lose. If he takes her back, he's the all time great guy, if he doesn't everyone will say "Who can blame him?" She made a terrible mistake, but I'll bet there was no way that anything approaching a rational thought went through her head while she did this, only irrational ones, the kind we make when we're scared.
So we put out the paper today, wit a bit of a struggle, but we did get it out. Twice this week I've been approached by subjects of last week's story's to tell me thank you and to say how much good feedback they've gotten about the articles, which obviously is a nice ego boost. I also picked up my car today, and its running fine. I have to say that the people at AAA have been pretty helpful through this, despite my frustration at points.
Good luck to the Euphonics over the next couple of days.
So we put out the paper today, wit a bit of a struggle, but we did get it out. Twice this week I've been approached by subjects of last week's story's to tell me thank you and to say how much good feedback they've gotten about the articles, which obviously is a nice ego boost. I also picked up my car today, and its running fine. I have to say that the people at AAA have been pretty helpful through this, despite my frustration at points.
Good luck to the Euphonics over the next couple of days.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
I Get Letters
Ok, so while its kind of been a slowish week in terms of news, and my car situation isn't completely cleard up yet (good news though, the repairs to the wheel are finished, and I will only have to pay the $250 deductible rather than the $500 one. So I should be on the road again soon, or at least until I have to take it in to the body shop to fix the fender.), I do have interesting information. I got my first bit of kooky mail today, with regards to one of last weeks stories. Here's what it says (along with some editorial comments from yours truly):
"Dear Sir/Madam (My name's the one on the story, and I know very few women named Jim)
RE: St. Katharine Drexel
I thought it was very insulting to address our pastor as "Ham" in your recent article (AP Style guide says you only address people by formal titles once, thus the Pope is referred to as Pope Benedict XVI usually only once in a story, afterwards its just Benedict XVI, same with the president.) Were you short on printers ink that you were'nt able to identify him as "Fr. Ham"? (You see the problems here don't you?) Maybe your just atheist? (Again, the problems)
Any one else and you would've address that person as Mr., Mrs. or an appropriate title identify the person's status. (okay)
Yes, I did like the article and I do appreciate the newspaper. (Them why'd you accuse me of being an atheist and basically being a part of a conspiracy against God?)
Yup, I get letters. I kept all the grammar and spellings as they appeared in the letter, in case you didn't realize.
I'll blog tomorrow about the runaway bride story, and why she shouldn't be getting dumped on like this.
"Dear Sir/Madam (My name's the one on the story, and I know very few women named Jim)
RE: St. Katharine Drexel
I thought it was very insulting to address our pastor as "Ham" in your recent article (AP Style guide says you only address people by formal titles once, thus the Pope is referred to as Pope Benedict XVI usually only once in a story, afterwards its just Benedict XVI, same with the president.) Were you short on printers ink that you were'nt able to identify him as "Fr. Ham"? (You see the problems here don't you?) Maybe your just atheist? (Again, the problems)
Any one else and you would've address that person as Mr., Mrs. or an appropriate title identify the person's status. (okay)
Yes, I did like the article and I do appreciate the newspaper. (Them why'd you accuse me of being an atheist and basically being a part of a conspiracy against God?)
Yup, I get letters. I kept all the grammar and spellings as they appeared in the letter, in case you didn't realize.
I'll blog tomorrow about the runaway bride story, and why she shouldn't be getting dumped on like this.
Sunday, May 01, 2005
A New Hope
Ok, so I'm watching Episode IV, or, as its usually called, A New Hope, and I have a couple of questions and observations:
First, is there bigger whiner in the history of film than Luke Skywalker? Other than Benjamin Braddock that is.
Second, according to the AuFrance rules of writing and cheap exposition, you have to earn your exposition, not just deliver it an a stupid way. The crawl obviously is an example, but what about any time where C-3P0 is talking to R-2 in English and R-2 talks in bleeps? Isn't that the equivalent of a one-way phone conversation, or perhaps closer to Charlie Brown speaking to an adult in a Peanuts cartoon?
Obi-Wan must have aged terribly, seeing that there's only about 20-25 years between the end of Episode III and Episode IV. Suddenly he goes from being a 35-year-old Ewan McGregor to a 65-year-old Alec Guiness.
How is it exactly that the religion of the Force is so ancient, if there's only about a 20-year gap between the episodes III and IV, and there were quite a few Jedi still around, at least for a while, in Episode III?
I'm going to go ahead and head to Taci Station and pick up some power converters now, I'll post more later. I'm a nerd, I know.
First, is there bigger whiner in the history of film than Luke Skywalker? Other than Benjamin Braddock that is.
Second, according to the AuFrance rules of writing and cheap exposition, you have to earn your exposition, not just deliver it an a stupid way. The crawl obviously is an example, but what about any time where C-3P0 is talking to R-2 in English and R-2 talks in bleeps? Isn't that the equivalent of a one-way phone conversation, or perhaps closer to Charlie Brown speaking to an adult in a Peanuts cartoon?
Obi-Wan must have aged terribly, seeing that there's only about 20-25 years between the end of Episode III and Episode IV. Suddenly he goes from being a 35-year-old Ewan McGregor to a 65-year-old Alec Guiness.
How is it exactly that the religion of the Force is so ancient, if there's only about a 20-year gap between the episodes III and IV, and there were quite a few Jedi still around, at least for a while, in Episode III?
I'm going to go ahead and head to Taci Station and pick up some power converters now, I'll post more later. I'm a nerd, I know.
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Flying Off the Handle
That's not what I did, because, frankly, I never do, but that is essentially what my left front wheel did on Friday. My car had been making some odd noises, but that it was related to the exhaust, and that I'd take the car in soon and have the problem fixed. Well, it turns out that at least some, if not all, of my wheels lugnuts were not tightened (I just had new tires put on on the 4th of April, about 3 weeks ago). So the tire flew off as I was driving to the New Durham town hall. I mean it flew off, and careened toward some guys putting in a driveway across the street, and I, now with three wheels on a four wheeled car, went to the right. Here's a look:
Yup, that's my wheel in the sand, and my poor fender, after the tire shot it up and out.
Posted by Hello
So yeah, not too fun. That sort of took the rest of my Thursday away, which was expected. My car is currently sitting at Sal's, the repair shop in town, and I am awaiting word from my insurance company as to what I'll have to pay, and perhaps what responsibility Discount Tire has.
So, though my car issues put a damper on things there still were some fun things that happened the last few days. Like me getting paid. I also heard from Ms. Karen Green, who sent me a lovely note after receiving the paper I sent her. I also was privy to the announcement of the birth of Connor Allan, the young nephew of Ms. Susan Southard and Mr. Adam Emperor Southard. Adam, my colleague at the Baysider was also kind enough to have me over to watch game 3 of the C's and Pacers with him and his girlfriend Shannon, who teaches at a school about 90 minutes away.
I will tell you what the most difficult transition is for me here. The accent. Its omnipresent, thankfully for my sanity, Adam and Mary don't have it, but most everyone in the office, especially the women, have that brassy sounding New England accent. Its as omnipresent as chowder or lobster here. And the use of "wicked" as both adjective and adverb. Yup. I feel like there should be ten neighbors around me named Sully.
Congratulaions to the Seniors at Albion College as you enter Senior Week, and a belated congratulations to the fabulous Albion College Euphonics for the concerts. I saw the movie versions of the songs that were posted on the website and they were all fabulous. It should be pointed out that one of the newly annointed Euphonics members off of this Semester's auditions is Beth Carroll, the little sister of one Alexander Theodore Carroll, so we know have second-generation (kind-of) Euphonics, which is very cool.
This story really irks me, as you would expect it would. Banning books by gay authors or with homosexual charchters pretty much is censorship and downright evil, and then of course you have the problem of what you do afterwards, and what line is next to be drawn. Now this state senator argues that such books should be put in a hole and burned, meaning he'd be right at home in a Leni Reifenstahl film.
Yup, that's my wheel in the sand, and my poor fender, after the tire shot it up and out.
Posted by Hello
So yeah, not too fun. That sort of took the rest of my Thursday away, which was expected. My car is currently sitting at Sal's, the repair shop in town, and I am awaiting word from my insurance company as to what I'll have to pay, and perhaps what responsibility Discount Tire has.
So, though my car issues put a damper on things there still were some fun things that happened the last few days. Like me getting paid. I also heard from Ms. Karen Green, who sent me a lovely note after receiving the paper I sent her. I also was privy to the announcement of the birth of Connor Allan, the young nephew of Ms. Susan Southard and Mr. Adam Emperor Southard. Adam, my colleague at the Baysider was also kind enough to have me over to watch game 3 of the C's and Pacers with him and his girlfriend Shannon, who teaches at a school about 90 minutes away.
I will tell you what the most difficult transition is for me here. The accent. Its omnipresent, thankfully for my sanity, Adam and Mary don't have it, but most everyone in the office, especially the women, have that brassy sounding New England accent. Its as omnipresent as chowder or lobster here. And the use of "wicked" as both adjective and adverb. Yup. I feel like there should be ten neighbors around me named Sully.
Congratulaions to the Seniors at Albion College as you enter Senior Week, and a belated congratulations to the fabulous Albion College Euphonics for the concerts. I saw the movie versions of the songs that were posted on the website and they were all fabulous. It should be pointed out that one of the newly annointed Euphonics members off of this Semester's auditions is Beth Carroll, the little sister of one Alexander Theodore Carroll, so we know have second-generation (kind-of) Euphonics, which is very cool.
This story really irks me, as you would expect it would. Banning books by gay authors or with homosexual charchters pretty much is censorship and downright evil, and then of course you have the problem of what you do afterwards, and what line is next to be drawn. Now this state senator argues that such books should be put in a hole and burned, meaning he'd be right at home in a Leni Reifenstahl film.
Friday, April 29, 2005
Story Time- Week #3
I only say number three because I had both 1 and 2 last week. Without further ado, here are my stories for the last week, any comments, constructive or otherwise, please feel free to make in the Comments area (Note- because of the way I copied the text, there maybe some unnecessary hyphens in words where they were extended over two lines in the paper. I tried to get as many as I could, but if you see any odd hyphens, that's why):
Selectmen Deny Rumors of Secret Meetings
(This is the semi-controversial one, the one that prompted my high-horse post of Tuesday)
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
NEW DURHAM - Rumors can run rampant, and there's one running through town politics right now.
The newly elected Board of Selectmen recently fielded questions about un-confirmed allegations that the board has been meeting in se-cret.
The allegation is that the Board of Selectmen had dis-cussed town business outside of meetings, a violation of state "Right to Know" laws. Town Administrator William G. Herman said that he had been told of anonymous calls to local media outlets regarding this issue when a reporter from a local paper called to get his comments on the rumor. Selectman Dwight Jones denied the rumor and said, "There aren't any illegal meetings going on." He also stated flatly that he and newly elected selectman Ron Gehl, who could not be reached by deadline, had not been meeting at other board mem-bers' homes.
"I've never been to Ron's house and he's never been over to mine," he says, decrying what he sees as an effort to undermine the board in the local press. Jones reported that he had heard about the anonymous calls to local media outlets as well. Jones was adamant that no discussion of town business was going on outside of meetings.
Town Administrator William G. Herman said that he had become aware of the rumors through a reporter from Foster's Daily Democrat, who called him seeking comment, but said that he "couldn't say it was actually happening." One thing that does concern Herman about the ru-mor is that, "There is a perception that a majority of the board is communicat-ing outside of meet-ings." He was also concerned about what he termed a "gray area" of selectmen attending other meetings, such as the Planning Board, in their capacity as selectmen representatives, pointing to a meeting of the New Durham Planning Board, where selectmen who attended were asked a question as selectmen and not as members of the general public. Herman speculated that this sort of exchange may have led to the rumors.
The most senior member of the Board of Selectmen, 25-year-member Dwight Stimpson, deemed the rumors of secret meetings, "a complete surprise to me."
"As far as I'm concerned it certainly is not happening," he says, adding that he "didn't know if someone's trying to cause trouble," by spreading it. He reiterated that he has not met outside of meetings and that he has no reason to believe the other members are.
"It's a real ugly rumor, that's for sure," said Stimpson.
State statutes prohibit communications related to town business outside of meetings, except in certain cases. Stimpson added that some issues could also be discussed in non-public sessions as well, but that non-public sessions were totally different from secret meetings.
Community TV goes dark
(I liked this one, and it was very easy to write, because the source was very open and got back to me.)
By JIM SHILANDER
Staff Writer
WOLFEBORO - Equipment failure has led Wolfeboro Community Television (Metrocast Channel 25) to essentially shut down. While currently showing the Channel 24 Bulletin Board, this is the limit to which the station is able to broadcast at the present time, according to WCTV Coordinator Peter Pijoan.
Pijoan says that the equipment, which sends the television signals of Channel 25 to Metrocast for cable distribution, failed April 23, sometime in the night.
The equipment was shipped to California for potential repairs this week. However, because the equipment is antiquated, and in fact, no longer manufactured by its original company, there exists a very real possibility that new equipment will need to be purchased.
The Governor Wentworth School District has agreed to cover $4000 of the potential $7000 cost, according to Pijoan. Still, he is unsure at the present time where the remaining funds will come from.
If the new broad-casting equipment is needed, that updated equipment would be able to provide greater accessibility and programming to the area. While the programming on Channel 25 would be re-stored, Channel 26 could also be used to broadcast school programming for the Gov-ernor Wentworth district, including sporting events and school produced programming.
Channel 25 services Wolfeboro and New Durham. It broadcasts community events, such as last weekÂ’s New Durham Planning Board meeting and the presentation of the Natural Resources Outreach Coalition to New Durham residents. The Planning Board had talked last week about using Community TV to greater effect in increasing awareness of its activities and events in New Durham.
Pijoan also added that anyone with questions should please call 569-0219, and that any assistance with the purchase of new equipment would be greatly appreciated. He also added that the station is endeavoring to return to the air-waves as soon as possible.
Selectman keeps people fed, saves town money
(This was the story I worked on Tuesday tha took me out to Basnstead. Jack O'Neil used to be in the Army, doing Special Ops.)
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD -Jack O'Neil has many jobs in Barnstead. He' a member of the Board of Selectmen, and also welfare director for the town. Still, much of his day he spends in the base-ment of the town hall, working to help local families and fight against hunger.
Since February of last year, O'eil has used donations to put together a food pan-try large enough to provide 2,000 meals a year for Barnstead folks in need. After a town Christmas drive in 2003 had left a significant amount of donated food unused, it was suggested to O'Neil that he start a pan-try to provide for needy families year-round.
With donations ranging from $7 to the $750 check he received last week from summer resi-dents, as well as donations of time and equipment (including the $1,800 refrigera-tor/freezer donated by a local resident after they decided to replace their own) O'Neil is extraordinarily proud of the community for the efforts they've made, "It's a wonderful community, the way they come together (to help)," he says.
The pantry, which sits in the town hall basement, provides "everything a family would need," according to O'Neil. Cans of coffee sit next to a dozen bags of dry milk, and everything from Spaghetti-O's to rice milk and soups and meats are pro-ided at discounted rates by local gro-cery stores, includ-ing the Barnstead Country Store; and Dani's and Twin M Market, both of Pittsfield. O'Neil uses proceeds from donations from supporters to buy this food, and there is a public hearing as to how the money is be-ing spent. The checks are then made di-rectly to the mar-kets, what O'Neil calls "vendors" and the pantry receives the discounted food. The pantry also receives shipments from the US Department of Agriculture as part of its community action program. Food such as pudding, dried figs, yams, peaches, peanut butter and dried milk all come in these shipments, along with other necessities including baby food and diapers.
O'Neil says that 10 to 12 families a week take advantage of the pantry's services. As town welfare director, he says that one of the best ways to keep people off the welfare rolls is through programs like the pantry, because the families would otherwise spend a great deal of money on food. The pantry then, has saved the town thousands and that the pantry has helped reduce the welfare budget of the town by $1,000.
Families are recommended by word of mouth, such as from local churches, and from O'Neil's personal knowledge of the people and their situations. In almost a year and a half, O'Neil says, he has only rarely said no to families in need of help.
O'Neil is aided in his efforts by volun-teers, as well as by kids doing community service as part of the Juvenile Restoration Program. He has received significant help from local busi-ness, especially Bill and Hazel Holmes of Holmes Firewood and Logging, who donated wood for the shelves, and made important donations of time and money to help with this year's Christmas drive, including pur-chasing handmade quilts, mittens and hats.
O'Neil, a Vietnam veteran, feels the need to act primarily, he says, because he sees the needs of people in the area. He says that being a selectman, "because a good percentage of it is helping people." As long as families meet his guidelines, and especially if there are children involved, he says, he won't refuse help to anyone.
Donations to the Barnstead Food Pantry can be made out to "Barnstead Food Pantry", PO Box 11, Ctr. Barnstead, NH 03225. For any questions about the pantry please call Jack O'Neil at 776-8253
Local UNH student is "Not Too Sharp," but right on key
(There would have been more to this story, but because the subject didn't get back to me before deadline, I had very little to go on.)
By James Shilander
Staff Writer
ALTON - Dave Snell, a 2003 graduate of Alton Central High School, will be performing with his co-horts in UNH's "Not Too Sharp," an all male a capella and barbershop singing group, at a benefit concert to raise money for the American Cancer Society next Friday, May 6 at 7 p.m. The group, which has been on campus for several years, has made this charity concert an annual event filled with their take on contemporary songs as well as old favorites. Snell, who is concentrating on math education at UNH, joined the group earlier this school year.
The group recently competed in the semi-finals of the International Championship of Collegiate a capella, which were held in New Haven, Conn. on the campus of Yale University. Not Too Sharp made it there by placing third in a competition in Hartford, Conn. held in November, and was chosen to be among the eight New England groups at the competition.
The Concert will be held at the Municipal Union Building on the campus of UNH. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Municipal Union ticket office at 862-2290.
New church brings two congregations together
Construction on schedule, dedication in July
(This one was difficult to write, because the section on the students was going to be a bigger focus, but because the schools are on break, I couldn't get in touch with anyone before deadline)
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
ALTON — The new St. Katharine Drexel church building, which is located off of Route 28 in Alton, is proceeding apace, according to pastor, Fr. George Ham. The formal dedication of the building will take place on July 30, but there is still significant work to be done on the church building, including the raising of the steeple, which, Ham says, will be happening soon.
It's been a long and difficult road for the parish, which was recently, established when St. Cecilia's in Wolfeboro (where masses still take place) and St. Joan of Arc in Alton were combined by the diocese of Manchester. St. Joan of Arc church burned to the ground in 2000, and it was felt that St. Cecilia's lacked adequate facilities, especially for handicapped parishioners. When plans for the new church were announced, many at the former St. Cecilia's resisted, because they were used to having their church in town. Ham understood saying, "Everyone wants the church down the street. But there aren't enough priests to have one in Wolfeboro and one in Alton. In addition, neither place (St. Cecilia's and St. Joan of Arc) had adequate facilities, in terms of serving the needs of the handicapped." That access will include basic necessities such as ramps and accessible bathrooms, as well as elevators to take disabled parishioners to the basement and to the choir loft.
Ham also gives credit to the former parishioners of St. Joan of Arc for coming together after the fire. "For many in the Alton area, the fire was a bless-ing in disguise. They realized that a church isn't a build-ing, it' the people. They banded together as a community."
In addition, both former churches will have some of their traditional pieces taken over to the new parish. Ham says that several of St. Cecilia's stained glass windows, along with the church's stations of the cross and the refurbished tabernacle, will be coming from St. Cecilia's. A reproduction of one of the stained glass windows that was lost in the fire at St. Joan of Arc will also be added. Each side of the church will also feature a large, round, stained-glass window that features either St. Joan or Arc or St. Cecilia.
Also being con-structed are church offices next door to the new building. Ham wants to use that space to offer classes and, he says, "opportunities for young people and young couples to have activities." "There are going to be religious education classes as well as a lot of young families looking for new programs." He says that such programs will be a focal point in the new church.
Ham says that a committee has been set up to sell the land currently occupied by St. Cecilia's. A similar committee was able to sell the land in Alton where St. Joan of Arc had stood, and the new Profile Bank in Alton sits on that land today. In a nod to original users of the land, Profile Bank has commissioned local artist Marcia Kiley-LeMay to recreate the church in several paintings. Said LeMay, "it is very important that the memory that the memory of St. Joan of Arc be commemorated."
An interesting note about the new office building is that high school students are helping construct it. Students from the Region 9 Vocational-Technical Education Center (at Kingswood Regional High School in Wolfeboro), who have put up several houses in the area, are responsible to putting up much of the office and class-room spaces. John Deloia, project manager for Eckman Construction, who is building the church, says that the vocational school students, "have worked fine. The whole set up has worked fine."
Due to new diocesan rules, there will be no rectory space, other than for offices, so the parish priests will be living at another location.
Ham believes that this is a new start for the church, coinciding with the election of the new Pope, Benedict XVI. "We can say that this is an exciting time, the church is constantly renewing itself, but the basis of our faith haven't changed." Ham believes that the church, which will attract parishioners from across the Lakes Region, will serve as a central point for Catholics throughout the area.
Number one in acohol consumption
(Another story that proved difficult to get sources for)
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
WOLFEBORO - Sgt. Dean Rondeau of the Wolfeboro Police Department does not mince words when it comes to what he believes is the worst part of his job. "When you have to tell someone, a father, mother, wife, girlfriend, son or daughter that someone's been in a fatal accident, and then having to tell them that that person had a little too much to drink, and that's why they aren't coming home."
Over the last year, Rondeau says that he and the police de-partment have seen a rise in alcohol related incidents, in-cluding Driving While Intoxicated, Minors in Possession, and other problems. There was even, he says, a fatal motor vehicle accident involving alcohol. Sometimes, he says, police have had to take people into protective cus-tody because, Ron-deau, says "We can't have drunk people walking around in traffic." This especially is true in the winter, he says, because of the added danger of the elements, where, if they passed out or fell asleep, they could die from exposure.
Nearly everyday at Huggins Hospital, someone is admitted to the ER for symptoms related to alcoholism, Terri Hooper, director of Volunteers said. These people are usually referred to their primary care physician, but some of the more extreme cases can end up with the police or with mental health agencies. The hospital does host Alcohol Anonymous meetings on its premises to make use of the AA program to combat alcohol in the community.
According to state statistics, New Hampshire ranked first in the nation in per capita in consumption of alcohol in the year 2000, though that might also be somewhat attributable to people coming from out of state to buy alcohol. The state is making it a goal to decrease those year 2000 levels of consumption by half, from four gallons per person (over age 14) to two gallons.
Rondeau attributes some of the rise in alcohol related ac-tivity to a growing population in town, and greater population density. While he's concerned about the rise he and the department has seen, and in fact would be concerned any time that such statistics are rising, he believes that the factors of population do play a major role, and that there is not likely a crisis in the community regarding alcohol.
There are some state statistics that are encouraging, especially the decrease in binge drinking among underage drinkers, and an overall decrease in that same groups consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Selectmen Deny Rumors of Secret Meetings
(This is the semi-controversial one, the one that prompted my high-horse post of Tuesday)
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
NEW DURHAM - Rumors can run rampant, and there's one running through town politics right now.
The newly elected Board of Selectmen recently fielded questions about un-confirmed allegations that the board has been meeting in se-cret.
The allegation is that the Board of Selectmen had dis-cussed town business outside of meetings, a violation of state "Right to Know" laws. Town Administrator William G. Herman said that he had been told of anonymous calls to local media outlets regarding this issue when a reporter from a local paper called to get his comments on the rumor. Selectman Dwight Jones denied the rumor and said, "There aren't any illegal meetings going on." He also stated flatly that he and newly elected selectman Ron Gehl, who could not be reached by deadline, had not been meeting at other board mem-bers' homes.
"I've never been to Ron's house and he's never been over to mine," he says, decrying what he sees as an effort to undermine the board in the local press. Jones reported that he had heard about the anonymous calls to local media outlets as well. Jones was adamant that no discussion of town business was going on outside of meetings.
Town Administrator William G. Herman said that he had become aware of the rumors through a reporter from Foster's Daily Democrat, who called him seeking comment, but said that he "couldn't say it was actually happening." One thing that does concern Herman about the ru-mor is that, "There is a perception that a majority of the board is communicat-ing outside of meet-ings." He was also concerned about what he termed a "gray area" of selectmen attending other meetings, such as the Planning Board, in their capacity as selectmen representatives, pointing to a meeting of the New Durham Planning Board, where selectmen who attended were asked a question as selectmen and not as members of the general public. Herman speculated that this sort of exchange may have led to the rumors.
The most senior member of the Board of Selectmen, 25-year-member Dwight Stimpson, deemed the rumors of secret meetings, "a complete surprise to me."
"As far as I'm concerned it certainly is not happening," he says, adding that he "didn't know if someone's trying to cause trouble," by spreading it. He reiterated that he has not met outside of meetings and that he has no reason to believe the other members are.
"It's a real ugly rumor, that's for sure," said Stimpson.
State statutes prohibit communications related to town business outside of meetings, except in certain cases. Stimpson added that some issues could also be discussed in non-public sessions as well, but that non-public sessions were totally different from secret meetings.
Community TV goes dark
(I liked this one, and it was very easy to write, because the source was very open and got back to me.)
By JIM SHILANDER
Staff Writer
WOLFEBORO - Equipment failure has led Wolfeboro Community Television (Metrocast Channel 25) to essentially shut down. While currently showing the Channel 24 Bulletin Board, this is the limit to which the station is able to broadcast at the present time, according to WCTV Coordinator Peter Pijoan.
Pijoan says that the equipment, which sends the television signals of Channel 25 to Metrocast for cable distribution, failed April 23, sometime in the night.
The equipment was shipped to California for potential repairs this week. However, because the equipment is antiquated, and in fact, no longer manufactured by its original company, there exists a very real possibility that new equipment will need to be purchased.
The Governor Wentworth School District has agreed to cover $4000 of the potential $7000 cost, according to Pijoan. Still, he is unsure at the present time where the remaining funds will come from.
If the new broad-casting equipment is needed, that updated equipment would be able to provide greater accessibility and programming to the area. While the programming on Channel 25 would be re-stored, Channel 26 could also be used to broadcast school programming for the Gov-ernor Wentworth district, including sporting events and school produced programming.
Channel 25 services Wolfeboro and New Durham. It broadcasts community events, such as last weekÂ’s New Durham Planning Board meeting and the presentation of the Natural Resources Outreach Coalition to New Durham residents. The Planning Board had talked last week about using Community TV to greater effect in increasing awareness of its activities and events in New Durham.
Pijoan also added that anyone with questions should please call 569-0219, and that any assistance with the purchase of new equipment would be greatly appreciated. He also added that the station is endeavoring to return to the air-waves as soon as possible.
Selectman keeps people fed, saves town money
(This was the story I worked on Tuesday tha took me out to Basnstead. Jack O'Neil used to be in the Army, doing Special Ops.)
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD -Jack O'Neil has many jobs in Barnstead. He' a member of the Board of Selectmen, and also welfare director for the town. Still, much of his day he spends in the base-ment of the town hall, working to help local families and fight against hunger.
Since February of last year, O'eil has used donations to put together a food pan-try large enough to provide 2,000 meals a year for Barnstead folks in need. After a town Christmas drive in 2003 had left a significant amount of donated food unused, it was suggested to O'Neil that he start a pan-try to provide for needy families year-round.
With donations ranging from $7 to the $750 check he received last week from summer resi-dents, as well as donations of time and equipment (including the $1,800 refrigera-tor/freezer donated by a local resident after they decided to replace their own) O'Neil is extraordinarily proud of the community for the efforts they've made, "It's a wonderful community, the way they come together (to help)," he says.
The pantry, which sits in the town hall basement, provides "everything a family would need," according to O'Neil. Cans of coffee sit next to a dozen bags of dry milk, and everything from Spaghetti-O's to rice milk and soups and meats are pro-ided at discounted rates by local gro-cery stores, includ-ing the Barnstead Country Store; and Dani's and Twin M Market, both of Pittsfield. O'Neil uses proceeds from donations from supporters to buy this food, and there is a public hearing as to how the money is be-ing spent. The checks are then made di-rectly to the mar-kets, what O'Neil calls "vendors" and the pantry receives the discounted food. The pantry also receives shipments from the US Department of Agriculture as part of its community action program. Food such as pudding, dried figs, yams, peaches, peanut butter and dried milk all come in these shipments, along with other necessities including baby food and diapers.
O'Neil says that 10 to 12 families a week take advantage of the pantry's services. As town welfare director, he says that one of the best ways to keep people off the welfare rolls is through programs like the pantry, because the families would otherwise spend a great deal of money on food. The pantry then, has saved the town thousands and that the pantry has helped reduce the welfare budget of the town by $1,000.
Families are recommended by word of mouth, such as from local churches, and from O'Neil's personal knowledge of the people and their situations. In almost a year and a half, O'Neil says, he has only rarely said no to families in need of help.
O'Neil is aided in his efforts by volun-teers, as well as by kids doing community service as part of the Juvenile Restoration Program. He has received significant help from local busi-ness, especially Bill and Hazel Holmes of Holmes Firewood and Logging, who donated wood for the shelves, and made important donations of time and money to help with this year's Christmas drive, including pur-chasing handmade quilts, mittens and hats.
O'Neil, a Vietnam veteran, feels the need to act primarily, he says, because he sees the needs of people in the area. He says that being a selectman, "because a good percentage of it is helping people." As long as families meet his guidelines, and especially if there are children involved, he says, he won't refuse help to anyone.
Donations to the Barnstead Food Pantry can be made out to "Barnstead Food Pantry", PO Box 11, Ctr. Barnstead, NH 03225. For any questions about the pantry please call Jack O'Neil at 776-8253
Local UNH student is "Not Too Sharp," but right on key
(There would have been more to this story, but because the subject didn't get back to me before deadline, I had very little to go on.)
By James Shilander
Staff Writer
ALTON - Dave Snell, a 2003 graduate of Alton Central High School, will be performing with his co-horts in UNH's "Not Too Sharp," an all male a capella and barbershop singing group, at a benefit concert to raise money for the American Cancer Society next Friday, May 6 at 7 p.m. The group, which has been on campus for several years, has made this charity concert an annual event filled with their take on contemporary songs as well as old favorites. Snell, who is concentrating on math education at UNH, joined the group earlier this school year.
The group recently competed in the semi-finals of the International Championship of Collegiate a capella, which were held in New Haven, Conn. on the campus of Yale University. Not Too Sharp made it there by placing third in a competition in Hartford, Conn. held in November, and was chosen to be among the eight New England groups at the competition.
The Concert will be held at the Municipal Union Building on the campus of UNH. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Municipal Union ticket office at 862-2290.
New church brings two congregations together
Construction on schedule, dedication in July
(This one was difficult to write, because the section on the students was going to be a bigger focus, but because the schools are on break, I couldn't get in touch with anyone before deadline)
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
ALTON — The new St. Katharine Drexel church building, which is located off of Route 28 in Alton, is proceeding apace, according to pastor, Fr. George Ham. The formal dedication of the building will take place on July 30, but there is still significant work to be done on the church building, including the raising of the steeple, which, Ham says, will be happening soon.
It's been a long and difficult road for the parish, which was recently, established when St. Cecilia's in Wolfeboro (where masses still take place) and St. Joan of Arc in Alton were combined by the diocese of Manchester. St. Joan of Arc church burned to the ground in 2000, and it was felt that St. Cecilia's lacked adequate facilities, especially for handicapped parishioners. When plans for the new church were announced, many at the former St. Cecilia's resisted, because they were used to having their church in town. Ham understood saying, "Everyone wants the church down the street. But there aren't enough priests to have one in Wolfeboro and one in Alton. In addition, neither place (St. Cecilia's and St. Joan of Arc) had adequate facilities, in terms of serving the needs of the handicapped." That access will include basic necessities such as ramps and accessible bathrooms, as well as elevators to take disabled parishioners to the basement and to the choir loft.
Ham also gives credit to the former parishioners of St. Joan of Arc for coming together after the fire. "For many in the Alton area, the fire was a bless-ing in disguise. They realized that a church isn't a build-ing, it' the people. They banded together as a community."
In addition, both former churches will have some of their traditional pieces taken over to the new parish. Ham says that several of St. Cecilia's stained glass windows, along with the church's stations of the cross and the refurbished tabernacle, will be coming from St. Cecilia's. A reproduction of one of the stained glass windows that was lost in the fire at St. Joan of Arc will also be added. Each side of the church will also feature a large, round, stained-glass window that features either St. Joan or Arc or St. Cecilia.
Also being con-structed are church offices next door to the new building. Ham wants to use that space to offer classes and, he says, "opportunities for young people and young couples to have activities." "There are going to be religious education classes as well as a lot of young families looking for new programs." He says that such programs will be a focal point in the new church.
Ham says that a committee has been set up to sell the land currently occupied by St. Cecilia's. A similar committee was able to sell the land in Alton where St. Joan of Arc had stood, and the new Profile Bank in Alton sits on that land today. In a nod to original users of the land, Profile Bank has commissioned local artist Marcia Kiley-LeMay to recreate the church in several paintings. Said LeMay, "it is very important that the memory that the memory of St. Joan of Arc be commemorated."
An interesting note about the new office building is that high school students are helping construct it. Students from the Region 9 Vocational-Technical Education Center (at Kingswood Regional High School in Wolfeboro), who have put up several houses in the area, are responsible to putting up much of the office and class-room spaces. John Deloia, project manager for Eckman Construction, who is building the church, says that the vocational school students, "have worked fine. The whole set up has worked fine."
Due to new diocesan rules, there will be no rectory space, other than for offices, so the parish priests will be living at another location.
Ham believes that this is a new start for the church, coinciding with the election of the new Pope, Benedict XVI. "We can say that this is an exciting time, the church is constantly renewing itself, but the basis of our faith haven't changed." Ham believes that the church, which will attract parishioners from across the Lakes Region, will serve as a central point for Catholics throughout the area.
Number one in acohol consumption
(Another story that proved difficult to get sources for)
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
WOLFEBORO - Sgt. Dean Rondeau of the Wolfeboro Police Department does not mince words when it comes to what he believes is the worst part of his job. "When you have to tell someone, a father, mother, wife, girlfriend, son or daughter that someone's been in a fatal accident, and then having to tell them that that person had a little too much to drink, and that's why they aren't coming home."
Over the last year, Rondeau says that he and the police de-partment have seen a rise in alcohol related incidents, in-cluding Driving While Intoxicated, Minors in Possession, and other problems. There was even, he says, a fatal motor vehicle accident involving alcohol. Sometimes, he says, police have had to take people into protective cus-tody because, Ron-deau, says "We can't have drunk people walking around in traffic." This especially is true in the winter, he says, because of the added danger of the elements, where, if they passed out or fell asleep, they could die from exposure.
Nearly everyday at Huggins Hospital, someone is admitted to the ER for symptoms related to alcoholism, Terri Hooper, director of Volunteers said. These people are usually referred to their primary care physician, but some of the more extreme cases can end up with the police or with mental health agencies. The hospital does host Alcohol Anonymous meetings on its premises to make use of the AA program to combat alcohol in the community.
According to state statistics, New Hampshire ranked first in the nation in per capita in consumption of alcohol in the year 2000, though that might also be somewhat attributable to people coming from out of state to buy alcohol. The state is making it a goal to decrease those year 2000 levels of consumption by half, from four gallons per person (over age 14) to two gallons.
Rondeau attributes some of the rise in alcohol related ac-tivity to a growing population in town, and greater population density. While he's concerned about the rise he and the department has seen, and in fact would be concerned any time that such statistics are rising, he believes that the factors of population do play a major role, and that there is not likely a crisis in the community regarding alcohol.
There are some state statistics that are encouraging, especially the decrease in binge drinking among underage drinkers, and an overall decrease in that same groups consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Peyton Place
Seriously, that's what the politics locally are like here. Everyone seems to be looking out for themselves and they try to undermine other people. Yesterday, after I got back from an interview, one of the New Durham Board of Selectman came into the office to give me the heads up about some anonymous phone calls going out to media outlets (read: us at The Baysider, and Fosters, the competition) about members of the Board of Selectmen were meeting in secret, which is a violation of New Hampshire law. Anyway, the other outlet received some of these anonymous calls and essentially printed the allegations with comment from several town officials, except they never mentioned that they had received anonymous phone calls in their article. This gave the allegation more credence than it deserved. So anyway, the Selectman (who owns a gun shop in Wolfeboro) came to tell me about the article, and basically I turned around, called the town administrator and one of the other selectmen to get their comment and wrote my own article. They each informed me that the other article had used anonymous phone calls as the basis of their story. I say in my story that the other outlet told the town officials that they had heard from anonymous sources, and the town officials told me as such when I asked them. That's in my story as well, as are denials from the two selectmen who were available for comment, and the town administrator telling me that he was aware of the rumor, but didn't know of anything like that happening.
Now, the ethics of this are the following: you don't use anonymous sources. Now the difference between unnamed sources and anonymous sources is that unnamed sources are known to the reporter. When Woodward and Bernstein used Deep Throat as a source, they didn't just print what he said as fact, they investigated it first to see if what this person was saying was accurate. Just using anonymous phone calls as the basis of a story, and to essentially say that people are alleging that selectmen are violating state law, without any proof of anything, and then not to explicitly say that in your article, is either the height of questionable ethics, or plain not knowing any better. Both are scary, I think the second scares me more.
Still, I've seen backbiting and dirty politics before. I saw PLG (the little blonde girl who managed to get Colleen Kelly, the most friendly woman on earth, to hate her guts) up close and was a part of the Albion College Theatre Department, the Music Department and the politics of the Euphonics. So I know the dirtiest of dirty politics. Plus I lived in Chicago and voted six times last year. Okay, just once ;).
Okay, (steps off of high horse for a while) so it's been a busy last couple of days. I got to layout a page, one with a long story I wrote, last night, something I'll be doing more of, which gives me more responsibility, which I like. A lot of sources didn't get back to me quite in time, and so I had to work really hard to find stories or to finish the ones I started. I'm sure when the paper goes out tomorrow, that we might get some feedback, and certainly, when I post my stories on Friday, you'll be able to judge as well. We've gotten great feedback so far, especially from people like Selectmen and Planning Board members, because Adam and myself write well and we cover their meeting fairly, and sometimes, they like us because we cover their meetings at all.
I'll post some fun thoughts tomorrow, seriously.
Now, the ethics of this are the following: you don't use anonymous sources. Now the difference between unnamed sources and anonymous sources is that unnamed sources are known to the reporter. When Woodward and Bernstein used Deep Throat as a source, they didn't just print what he said as fact, they investigated it first to see if what this person was saying was accurate. Just using anonymous phone calls as the basis of a story, and to essentially say that people are alleging that selectmen are violating state law, without any proof of anything, and then not to explicitly say that in your article, is either the height of questionable ethics, or plain not knowing any better. Both are scary, I think the second scares me more.
Still, I've seen backbiting and dirty politics before. I saw PLG (the little blonde girl who managed to get Colleen Kelly, the most friendly woman on earth, to hate her guts) up close and was a part of the Albion College Theatre Department, the Music Department and the politics of the Euphonics. So I know the dirtiest of dirty politics. Plus I lived in Chicago and voted six times last year. Okay, just once ;).
Okay, (steps off of high horse for a while) so it's been a busy last couple of days. I got to layout a page, one with a long story I wrote, last night, something I'll be doing more of, which gives me more responsibility, which I like. A lot of sources didn't get back to me quite in time, and so I had to work really hard to find stories or to finish the ones I started. I'm sure when the paper goes out tomorrow, that we might get some feedback, and certainly, when I post my stories on Friday, you'll be able to judge as well. We've gotten great feedback so far, especially from people like Selectmen and Planning Board members, because Adam and myself write well and we cover their meeting fairly, and sometimes, they like us because we cover their meetings at all.
I'll post some fun thoughts tomorrow, seriously.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Okay I lied
David Baas just went to the 49ers. He'll obviously get a chance to play a lot, and he'll be really productive for them. He's also a good player to start building a team round, someone who can be with the franchise for years.
New England Patriots- Logan Mankins, G, Fresno State
I really don't know who he is, though I'm sure he's incredibly smart, and they're seeing he has a real mean streak. This is someone to take the place of Joe Andruzzi.
My feelings on the first round are this, there are a lot of teams that made the chalk picks, and nearly everyone has someone who filled a need. The stories of the draft will be the quarterbacks and the running backs in terms of how they develop, and then the "out of the box" choices like Matt Jones and Mike Williams. The Lions won't be rated highly, unless they blow people away with their choice in the second round. But they'll be among the top offenses in the league next year. They'll take defense in this next round, but they have to get better play than they got from their two corners last year, and they'll need Boss Bailey to stay healthy. If those things happen, and Dick Jauron gets another year in, thy'll be fine. I'll make some posts if I see something interesting in the next couple of rounds, but I do need a bit of a break.
My feelings on the first round are this, there are a lot of teams that made the chalk picks, and nearly everyone has someone who filled a need. The stories of the draft will be the quarterbacks and the running backs in terms of how they develop, and then the "out of the box" choices like Matt Jones and Mike Williams. The Lions won't be rated highly, unless they blow people away with their choice in the second round. But they'll be among the top offenses in the league next year. They'll take defense in this next round, but they have to get better play than they got from their two corners last year, and they'll need Boss Bailey to stay healthy. If those things happen, and Dick Jauron gets another year in, thy'll be fine. I'll make some posts if I see something interesting in the next couple of rounds, but I do need a bit of a break.
Philadelphia Eagles- Mike Patterson, DT, USC
They got their interior lineman, maybe someone to eventually replace Corey Simon. He's slightly undersized, but Jim Johnson is incredibly smart , and he'll know how to take advantage of his quickness and his ability to split double teams. There are certain characteristics that are way overrated, and height of a defensive lineman, along with that of running backs is not really important. Skill level is. Patterson has that skill level.
The Patriots are up next, and the defense is the logical pick, either a linebacker to replace Tedy Bruschi for however long that is, or someone like Justin Miller to provide depth in the secondary.
The Patriots are up next, and the defense is the logical pick, either a linebacker to replace Tedy Bruschi for however long that is, or someone like Justin Miller to provide depth in the secondary.
Pittsburgh Steelers- Heath Miller, TE, UVa
This is the perfect guy for the Steelers. He's a great receiver, and now they have a great safety valve for Roethlisberger. He had a sports hernia, which kept him from running or working out, but the Steelers have themselves an incredibly good football player at the 30 spot.
The Eagles are picking nnext. They've lost a few players off of their defense, like Derrick Burgess, they may be looking to deal Corey Simon, and they are probably going to say goddbye to Hollis Thomas soon. A defensive tackle would be a godd fit.
The Eagles are picking nnext. They've lost a few players off of their defense, like Derrick Burgess, they may be looking to deal Corey Simon, and they are probably going to say goddbye to Hollis Thomas soon. A defensive tackle would be a godd fit.
Indianapolis Colts- Marlin Jackson, CB/FS, Fine Institution
I'm glad that Marlin went here. He can play really well in the cover two system, and potentially, could move inside to safety if he needed to. He'll be in a great spot with a great defensive coach, and he'll win right away.
The Steelers should be sprinting up to get Heath Miller
The Steelers should be sprinting up to get Heath Miller
San Diego Super Chargers- Luis Castillo, DT, Northwestern
They got a guy to help the defensive line, and a guy who, for whatever reason, admitted that he took steroids to help recover from an injury. And it should be said that it was Andro, not an anabolic steroid or THG. The thing is that they had other need positions, though with White gone, it would have been a reach for any of the receivers.
The Colts are up now, and I'm sure will take something defensively. Here might be a good spot for a linebacker, either Channing Crowder or Odell Thurman, or maybe one of the ends that are still out there. They probably won't be going safety here, because they've done so in the last two drafts (Mike Doss and Bob Sanders).
The Colts are up now, and I'm sure will take something defensively. Here might be a good spot for a linebacker, either Channing Crowder or Odell Thurman, or maybe one of the ends that are still out there. They probably won't be going safety here, because they've done so in the last two drafts (Mike Doss and Bob Sanders).
Atlanta Falcons- Roddy White, WR, UAB
Fine pick, they needed to upgrade at wideout and this helps them. They'll now have another weapon for Michael Vick, the defense is fine and White will grow in this offense.
The Chargers are up again now, they got their pass rusher the first pick with Shawne Merriman. With White gone, they may go after someone like Khalif Barnes of Washington for the offensive line. They don't need a tight end obviously, Brodney Pool could also be a good pick here.
The Chargers are up again now, they got their pass rusher the first pick with Shawne Merriman. With White gone, they may go after someone like Khalif Barnes of Washington for the offensive line. They don't need a tight end obviously, Brodney Pool could also be a good pick here.
Seattle Seahawks- Chris Spencer, C, Mississippi
This is an ok pick. Spencer is rated as one of the top center prospects in years. Roddy White has pretty good hands, unlike much of the Seahawk receiving corps. He probably will start at guard, and then move to center when Robbie Tobeck quits.
The Falcons are up now. This is probably defense, as they grabbed Michael Jenkins last year, but I wouldn't rule out Roddy White. Probably one of the Cody's, but it wouldn't shock me to see Brodney Pool here, or maybe Roth.
The Falcons are up now. This is probably defense, as they grabbed Michael Jenkins last year, but I wouldn't rule out Roddy White. Probably one of the Cody's, but it wouldn't shock me to see Brodney Pool here, or maybe Roth.
Washington Racist Stereotypes- Jason Campbell, QB, Auburn
I really hate this pick, I do. They already have a couple of QB's, and Patrick Ramsey is still young. They just knee-capped him. I don't know why Joe Gibbs is so enamored of him. I realize he had a great year, but the last three years before that have to count for something too. Campbell was inconsistent throughout that time, only until he became a senior. There were other needs here, like wideout and linebacker, that could have been addressed.
The Seahawks are up now. Other than jars of Stick 'Em for their receivers and a brain for Mike Holmgren in late game situations (You have that play late in the game to tie against St. Louis in the playoffs, and somehow Jerry Rice is on the sidelines, geez) they need help on defense. This could be a spot for one of the Cody's (Dan or Shaun), Matt Roth, or maybe one of the linebackers.
The Seahawks are up now. Other than jars of Stick 'Em for their receivers and a brain for Mike Holmgren in late game situations (You have that play late in the game to tie against St. Louis in the playoffs, and somehow Jerry Rice is on the sidelines, geez) they need help on defense. This could be a spot for one of the Cody's (Dan or Shaun), Matt Roth, or maybe one of the linebackers.
Green Bay Packers- Aaron Rodgers, QB, Cal-Berkeley
Well, they've got their successor to Brett Favre. Good for Rodgers, who's been sitting alone in the rooms for about 4 hours. He gets to learn from Favre for however much longer Favre is there. This doesn't help them this year, obviously, but now they have a real chance down the line, once Favre leaves, to keep their success going, without taking a huge dip once Favre leaves and they have to use JT O' Sullivan to start. They have two seconds, because of the McKenzie deal, maybe they could entice someone at the bottom to trade, or take a linebacker or end in the 2nd round.
The Skins are up next now, they may end up getting a QB (Jason Campbell) at this spot, but I really don't think they need a QB, they need a receiver more than that, so Roddy White of UAB would be good fit, or maybe someone on defense.
The Skins are up next now, they may end up getting a QB (Jason Campbell) at this spot, but I really don't think they need a QB, they need a receiver more than that, so Roddy White of UAB would be good fit, or maybe someone on defense.
Oakland Raiders- Fabian Washington, CB, Nebraska
Al Davis loves speed. he adores it. Its his favorite thing. Fabian Washington ran a sub 4.3 40 at the combine. They just got rid of Phillip Buchanon and may deal Woodson. Washington will be there a while, mainly because he's fast and also because he's fast.
Well now, the Packers now have a choice to make. They just had a possible Favre successor fall into their laps. They also need defensive help, maybe at linebacker, the defensive backfield or what they might need more, a pass rusher. My guess here is that its either Rodgers or Matt Roth of Iowa to play opposite KGB.
Well now, the Packers now have a choice to make. They just had a possible Favre successor fall into their laps. They also need defensive help, maybe at linebacker, the defensive backfield or what they might need more, a pass rusher. My guess here is that its either Rodgers or Matt Roth of Iowa to play opposite KGB.
Baltimore Ravens- Mark Clayton, WR, Oklahoma
He's may be a really productive receiver, but really, I question how he'll respond to being hit, because he disappeared completely against LSU and USC in the last two National title games.
The Raiders just traded up with the Seahawks, I have to believe that they're going for defense, or they could well be takign Aaron Rodgers, because they just moved ahead of the Packers. That might make sense, because I question how much longer Kerry Collins will be there, and they can get the guy for the future today with Rodgers. Or they might be moving to get a corner, and that might be in response to the Packers always drafting corners.
The Raiders just traded up with the Seahawks, I have to believe that they're going for defense, or they could well be takign Aaron Rodgers, because they just moved ahead of the Packers. That might make sense, because I question how much longer Kerry Collins will be there, and they can get the guy for the future today with Rodgers. Or they might be moving to get a corner, and that might be in response to the Packers always drafting corners.
Jacksonville,Jaguars- Matt Jones, QB/WR/TE/ATH, Arkansas
No one has been rising up the boards and been more of a story than Matt Jones the past few months. He can create a lot of matchup problems for Jacksonville, and they'll probably use him as an H-Back tight end type. He could be really special, because he has abosolutely amazing athletic ability.
The Ravens should probably take about 15 seconds to go and grab a WR here. Roddy White's more of a classic wideout in terms of build, but Mark Clayton, despite some size issues, caught a ton of balls and could have the best hands in the draft.
The Ravens should probably take about 15 seconds to go and grab a WR here. Roddy White's more of a classic wideout in terms of build, but Mark Clayton, despite some size issues, caught a ton of balls and could have the best hands in the draft.
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