Northwood Town Democrats Gear Up For 2010 Elections
Submitted By William deVries

Wisdom says all politics is local. (Well, actually, it was Tip O?Neil.) But if individuals don’t organize at the local level to drive the process, big interests quickly assert their money and power.

The price of real democracy, therefore, is eternal vigilance and constant effort. Help us drive our politics and our government in the right direction. Self-serving partisanship that puts party advantage over national interest is no response to the current state of the nation. The Northwood Democrats will be holding its caucus to elect  officers on Sunday, March 21st at 7 p.m. at the home of Lucy Edwards at 177 Old Mountain Rd. It will be a dessert potluck. Please call Lucy at 942-7241 to RSVP. 2010 will be an important year: We are electing a congressperson, a senator, a governor, and our state reps and senator. When local voices unite into a resounding chorus, America is at its best. Join us.

Resident Helps Wildlife In Honduras

When Gabriele Chase, from Northwood, N.H., and a student at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, arrived on the Island of Roatan in Honduras last month, she found a float of American crocodiles wading in diesel fuel – the result of a storm-cracked tank. Under the leadership of Drs. Marisa Bezjian and George Kollias, the students triaged the animals, washed away the oil, performed physical examinations, applied lubricant to their eyes, and collected blood to check for protein levels and red blood cell counts with a portable chemistry analyzer provided by Abaxis, Inc. This was just one of the experiences that the group of 14 students say illustrated the needs of tropical species during a recent class that was conducted in Honduras.

“It was an amazing opportunity to help these animals,” said Lucy, who is a member of the Class of 2012. “Wildlife is part of a delicate system that can be affected by countless variables. The system is tested every day by nature and people. Animals, humans, and nature are all connected, and veterinarians are instrumental in ensuring the system thrives.”

Now in its second year, the two-credit course, called Field Techniques of International Wildlife Management, affords Cornell veterinary students and professors the opportunity to help Honduran animal managers and caretakers improve the quality of life for captive native wildlife. Care can be challenging in this developing nation, where resources are scarce and the desire to help the animals is overwhelming, explained Dr. Marisa Bezjian, a zoological medicine resident at the College of Veterinary Medicine.

 
During the experience, the instructors and students consulted with animal management staff at Macaw Mountain in Copan, Rancho San Luis in La Ceiba, and Maya Key in Roatan. Highlights of the class found the students performing physical examinations on macaws, toucans, kinkajou, ocelots, and sea turtles; administering antibiotics to a spider monkey with a wound on his back; watching trainers collect blood from dolphins and learning about the training techniques implied to make such procedures routine; and making recommendations regarding diet and enrichment opportunities for primates.

“At Cornell University Hospital for Animals, the Zoological Medicine Service is an elective rotation,” said Kollias. “As such, students may not have the opportunity to work with a high volume of different species of birds or other exotic animals as seen in Honduras. Practicing veterinary medicine in a tropical country gives them the opportunity to add depth to their portfolio of cases and to see how life happens outside of the states.”

To prepare for the trip, students familiarized themselves with the husbandry and diet needs of Honduran wildlife, practiced conducting physical exams and drawing blood, and received predatory lectures. On-site, they put these skills to use doing hands-on work and making creative - and inexpensive – management suggestions, including diet, captive habitat, and enrichment activities.

“We believe the experience is an eye-opener for students to realize some of the professional opportunities that exist in Central America and a chance for personal growth,” said Bezjian and Kollias. “It can be easy to overlook the luxuries and conveniences in our country. We encourage students to use their basic knowledge and add a touch creativity to develop a low-cost, practical plan for the animal care managers in Honduras.”

Plans are currently underway to expand the program to other locations, including Costa Rica, where students would have the opportunity to also discover and practice different aspects of conservation medicine.

George N. Geers

George Nils Geers, 82, of Mooreland Avenue in Concord, died Friday, Feb. 26, 2010, at Harris Hill Center after a long illness.

He was a mechanical engineer, heavy construction equipment dealer, developer and former member of the Concord City Council.

Mr. Geers was born in Northwood, June 2, 1927, the son of Ada (Berg) and Lawrence M. Geers.

He was a graduate of Coe-Brown Northwood Academy and Wentworth Institute in Boston. He was a longtime trustee of Coe-Brown and was named trustee emeritus.

 
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, and moved to Concord in the late 1940s to raise his family. He was a former owner of Chadwick-BaRoss in Concord and Maine, and Gears Inc. on Route 106. He was involved in land development in East Concord and on Route 106, with his friends Levi Ladd and Bob Cole. Mr. Geers represented Ward 7 on the Concord City Council in the late 1990s.

Mr. Geers was active in the heavy construction industry and with antique cars. He served as president of the N.H. Good Road Association and New England Equipment Dealers Association, vice president of the Associated General Contractors of New Hampshire and director of the American Equipment Dealers. In addition, he was active in several antique and classic automobile clubs, including the Pierce Arrow Club, the Buick Club of America and the Profile Antique Auto League.

He was predeceased by a son, Lawrence M. Geers; daughter-in-law, Sharon (Daley) Geers; sister Anna Burrows and brother, Theodore Geers.

He is survived by his wife Elizabeth (Young); his son George L. and his wife Meredith MacLeod of Concord; two granddaughters, Kelly Landine and her husband Jeffrey of Brookfield, MA, and Susan Geers and her companion Nicholas Gravel of Southbridge, MA; three great-grandchildren, Riley, Mary Elizabeth, Jackson, and Benjamin Landine of Brookfield; three sisters-in-law, Lillian Deely and Maxine Young of Rochester; and Donna Geers Martin of Florida; several nieces and nephews and cousins.

A memorial service was  held Saturday, March 6, 2010, at Wesley Methodist Church in Concord.

Donations may be made to the George Geers Fund, Coe-Brown Northwood Academy, 907 First New Hampshire Turnpike, Northwood 03261.

William Arthur Barnes II

Northwood - Bill Barnes of Jenness Pond Road died quietly on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at a nursing home in Deerfield at the age of 96.

William “Bill” Arthur Barnes II was born on January 25, 1914, in Marston, MO, a town which was founded by his grandfather.

Bill’s father, William “Mr. Willy” Barnes, owned and operated the town’s general store and post office in Marston. Bill had three older sisters, Lois, Wilma, and Rose and graduated from high school in Marston, being the only male in a graduating class of six.

Bill moved to Chicago, IL, where he was hired by the A&P Grocery Market and worked his way to assistant manager. While working at the A&P, Bill met Olive Yost, a native of Chicago, and they married on August 1, 1937.

In 1941 Bill was hired by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Identification Division in Washington, DC. He was a fingerprint man and after 30 years of loyal, dedicated service, Bill achieved the highest possible clerical position in his division, Unit Supervisor. He retired from the FBI in 1971, having had a distinguished career with multiple awards and achievements.

He also furthered his education by attending the District of Columbia Teacher’s College, Southeastern University, and George Washington University, obtaining Master’s degrees in Business Administration and in Science and Transportation.

After retiring, Bill and Olive lived the quiet life along the banks of the Patuxent River in Calvert County, MD, and later on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Lusby, MD. One of Bill’s passions was writing poetry. Many of his poems were dedicated to the true love of his life - Olive - whom he adored and cared for until she passed away on November 2, 2008 after 71 years of marriage.

Bill was a Mason. He enjoyed family gatherings, talking politics and family history. He and Olive would work crossword puzzles together every day. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. Bill was once asked what he considered to be the greatest achievement of his life. He replied that it was raising his four wonderful children who have all done very well for themselves.

Bill and Olive raised their four surviving children in the suburbs of Seat Pleasant and College Park, MD.

Their children are William Arthur (Marston) Barnes III, Bonnie Olive (Barnes) Bennett, Garry Edward Winston Barnes, and Gregory Dale Carmack Barnes.

Bill and Olive had 9 grandchildren; and 7 great grandchildren.

Bill will be buried next to his Olive in a family plot near his hometown, Marston, MO.

The Still Oaks Funeral & Memorial Home of Epsom is assisting with local arrangements and offers an on-line guestbook at: stilloaks.com.