End 68 Hours of Hunger Vendor Bingo!

Where: Congregational Church Northwood

When: April 4 6pm

Cost $5.00 pp 

Questions please contact Sarah @ [email protected]

The Veterans Corner

Submitted By Richard Doucet

Our “Greatest Generation” In The Wrights Museum

It was August 3, 1942, Raymond and Laurette arrived at their honeymoon location, a small summer cabin referred to in the family as the “camp.” It had been built on Jenness Pond, Northwood,  by Raymond, his three brothers, and their father in 1939.  They arrived using a borrowed car that was riding on tires provided by friends, and using gas purchased with ration coupons given as gifts from relatives. It was the dark, early days of WWII.  Everything was in short supply as the  “troops at the front” needed all that the nation could provide so they could “beat the Axis.” Raymond and Laurette were my parents.

I usually write about what veterans have gone through but we often, too often, forget what “those left behind” have to live with. Sometimes it is very public such as rationing and other times it is more personal.  I realized that when I watched my own son leave for the Second Gulf War. As I watched as he boarded the bus I then understood what my parents were feeling when they watched as I went off to Vietnam to “kick some VC butt.”  I was to realize it was far easier to go and fight than it was to stay and wait….even though we at home did not feel the privation in that conflict that those of the “Greatest Generation” lived with as their loved ones were at the front in WWII.

That sense of going without “stuff” so others could live, even survive, is lost on too many in our present generations who seem to measure their life only in how fast their desires…not even needs…can be gratified by “someone.”

Part of the Veterans of Foreign Wars mission is to educate the youth of America on what prior generations have done to give us what we have today.  That mission extends beyond talking about the fighting men and women to what life was like for those “left on the home front”.

As the snow and cold of this very harsh winter passes into memory, along with the arrival of warm spring temperatures, many of us will be looking for things to do to get over cabin fever. This is true not only for families, but for teachers as well, who need to “get the kids outside“, and for organizations whose members also want “out!”

Well, I have the perfect suggestion for early spring outings, summer adventure for bored children as well as for organizations, like the VFW, who want to help educate the youth of our towns on what life for the “Greatest Generation” both one the battle field and on the home front was like: The Wright Museum of WWII History in Wolfeboro NH.

The Museum is a one-of-a-kind, non-profit institution dedicated to not only preserving military artifacts but also every day items used on the home front.  I can  tell you, though, nothing makes you feel old like seeing a military item you once carried in the field now in a museum! 

The Museum’s Founder, David Wright, a veteran of Korea, restored some 50 military vehicles and made them available as a mobile museum for community events under the provisions of the E. Stanley Wright Museum Foundation Inc. in 1983 in Shrewsbury MA.  In 1992 David Wright bought eight acres of property in Wolfeboro and in 1994 the Museum opened its doors.  In the past 20 years over 200,000 people have visited the museum.

The physical space is divided into sections for the military and for the home front that lets you walk through history in rooms that focus on each year from 1939 to 1945.  The visitor can see how life was lived, the events of that year, and the important people who were the movers and shakers of their day.

The oldest among us will remember what it was like in “those days” while the youngest may marvel at the thought of “party line” telephones, rationing, meatless days, drives for scrap metal, tires, and paper; Rosie the Riveter, Victory Gardens, home canning and black markets.  Many of the rooms have video programs that the visitor can activate to get an explanation or see newsreels of the day.  One of the most interesting to me is the presentation of the Women’s Flying Corp.  Few Americans, even during the war, ever heard about these amazing women pilots who flew some of the most dangerous missions not involving combat.  They were the ones who ferried aircraft around the country delivering them to various airfields.  Many times the aircraft were derelicts barely able to stay in the air and were being flown to airfields to be cannibalized.

The biggest thing that strikes people is the attitude difference in people after December 7, 1941 and after 9/11.  After December 7th no one stood on the pile of rubble at Pearl Harbor and declared that we should just go on with our lives and not be disturbed by this act of war.  The Wright Museum is the perfect location to educate the younger generations on  how their grandparents and even great grandparents responded to threats to our way of life, not just on the battlefield but as importantly…perhaps more importantly…at home.

The Museum will open for the season in May and will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year with two special programs.  One will run from July 27th through September 7th titled Snapshots of D-Day Photographs of the Normandy Invasion” developed by the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. September 13th through October 25th will be the “Anne Frank: A History for Today” developed by the Anne Frank House and is sponsored in North America by the Anne Frank Center USA located in New York.

Dr. Michael Culver, the Executive Director of the Museum, told me that tours can receive reduced special pricing when making reservations.  School groups and organizations such as the VFW are most welcome.  The Museum is very much handicapped friendly.  He also informed me that the museum does run other special programs during the year.  Depending on the day and time there are often docents, (knowledgeable volunteers) to explain displays. Lastly the Museum has an excellent gift shop. 

My wife and I have been there twice and we just could not get over how well and accurately everything was displayed, often items donated by New Hampshire residents, were presented.  If ever there was a time in our history when we need to look back at that history, I think it would be now.  This is the time for families to take grandchildren and great grandchildren to this time capsule and show them what others did then so that we could live as well as we do now.

You can get complete information about the museum by visiting their website; www.wrightmuseum.org or contact the Museum at: [email protected], or call 603-569-1212.

Relocated In Northwood New Pathways Counseling Services

Donna LeBel, a resident of Northwood for 30 years would like to announce her relocation of her private practice, New Pathways Counseling Services located at 103 1st NH Turnpike in Northwood.  Her office is conveniently located on Rte. 4 inside the Northwood Primary Care Offices.

As a daughter, sister, wife, and mother of four, Donna draws from her personal and professional experience to create a warm, inviting, and non-judgemental office setting where change can happen for her people of all ages.

Donna is a graduate of Notre Dame College, Manchester NH. She brings 16 years of experience to her clients. She is a member of the American Mental Health Counselor Association and has specialized training in working with those that experience Anxiety, Depression, Grief, Divorce, and Lifestye changes. Prior to her opening her private practice in Deerfield, NH, 6 years ago, she was employed by Riverbend Community Mental Health in Concord, NH where she provided counseling for children, adolescents, and families. 

Donna’s approach to counseling includes Cognitive Behavioral Techniques, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Family Systems, and Positive Psychology to name a few.  

Contact Donna at 496-1395 to take the first step to getting support on this journey of change. Please visit me at www.donnalebel.com for more information about my services and practice.

Historical Society To Host Appraisal Day

Is that yard sale find really a treasure?  Come to Parker French West on Sunday, March 23, 1-4 PM for Appraisal Day to benefit the Northwood Historical Society.  Caroline French and Daniel Olmstead will be available to appraise your treasures, $5.00 per item or 3 items for $10.00.  Refreshments will also be available for sale.

Proceeds will help the Northwood Historical Society with the purchase of new light blocking curtains for the Northwood Historical Society Museum to protect the items in our collection.

We look forward to you joining us with your family heirlooms or yard sale finds and help the Northwood Historical Society to preserve Northwood’s rich history.

As part of the year-long celebration of our 25th anniversary, Northwood Congregational Church, UCC has invited former pastor Rev. Maren Tirabassi to visit on Sunday, March 23rd.  She will preach at our worship service at 9:00 am with a light lunch following.  We invite you to join us to welcome Rev. Tirabassi.

Letter To The Editor

A review of the voting in Northwood last week reveals several things.  First, most of the articles passed.  This should not be surprising because while the town budget was up a little, the school’s was down from last year’s expenditures.  What’s to complain?  And many other town warrants were funded from 2013’s surplus, requiring no additional revenue to be raised.

Other expenditures simply made good sense.  For example, buying two defibrillators passed 539/110 (83%) and upgrading the public safety communication system passed 395/245 (62%).

Several other articles funded or created “rainy day” funds: Teacher Retirement Reserve Fund (61%); High School Tuition reserve Fund (66%); Special Education Reserve Fund (66%).  Strangely, a similar fund to cover Benefit Pay due town employees when they retire failed (42%).  Since the exposure is great if several long-time employees retire at the same time, we should revisit this next year.

Two other items will require more immediate attention: the Teachers’ and Support Staff contracts.  Both failed.  The latter by only 4 votes.  To his credit, Tim Jandebeur worked long and hard to negotiate these agreements. I think their failure shows the weakness of SB2.  If you came to the Deliberative Session, you learned that the teachers have been working without a contract for 3 years.  This contract attempted to make up some of that lost ground.  The contract also specified that the teachers’ day will increase by 15 minutes, more than a week of school.  But now it’s back to the drawing board.

Finally – and sadly, in my opinion – the warrant for All-day Kindergarten failed by 40 votes – 310/350.  Having seen it pass in several other towns, I had hoped it would pass here, too.  As one Hopkinton voter put it, “we must invest in our children.”  How true.

Tom Chase

Letter To The Editor

With the local election now over I wanted to clarify the primary reason why I resigned as a selectman in November of last year. On 11/7 I was diagnosed with a medical condition that kept me from my employment in Boston for a period of time. I informed the town administrator that I would be unable to attend the next selectmen’s meeting on 11/12. During my one-year in office I had not missed a meeting. As it turned out that meeting was cancelled because another selectman was also unable to attend.

Prior to the next selectmen’s meeting scheduled for November 26th, I returned to my doctor for a follow-up visit where my condition had not improved. Not wanting to put my volunteer work as a selectman ahead of my own personal health, I decided to resign from the board. I emailed my letter of resignation to the other two selectmen and town administrator with an effective date of November 30th.

By that time we (selectmen) had already reviewed and basically approved the proposed operating budget for 2014. We had also reviewed the majority of the proposed warrant articles for 2014. The recent description of my resignation made by a school board member is contrary to what actually happened.

Saying that I ‘abandoned our town in its hour of need by resigning his selectman position at a very difficult time’ is unfounded. Making up the facts as he goes along has been a consistency of his for some time. The town has been running on ‘automatic pilot’ for some time.

On 2/20 I spent the day undergoing a series of specialized tests at Mass General and am beginning to make a recovery. I will continue to speak out for those that don’t have a voice, especially our elderly citizens. 

Sincerely,

Jim Hadley

Northwood

Northwood Election Results

667 registered voters determined the outcome of the 2014 town and school budgets, warrant articles, and open positions on many boards and committees.  The low turnout represented 22% of the 3052 registered voters, yet still a significantly higher number than those attending the 2014 deliberative sessions, or the annual meetings before SB2 was in place.  

With very few races for elected positions, Richard Bojko took a planning board seat from incumbent Joseph McCaffrey. Incumbent Lucy Edward will continue to serve on the planning board following her re-election. Incumbent police commissioner John Schlang was re-elected to the commission over challenger Al Peel. 

In uncontested positions, Scott Bryer was elected to another term as selectman. He has served continuously on the board of selectmen since March 1999. Timothy Jandebeur was elected as selectmen for two years, which is the remainder of the term held by James Hadley who resigned in December 2013. William Mello was re-elected to the school board for a three year term. He was appointed last fall to the open position due to the resignation of Chris Andrews. 

The proposed town ($3,347,837.) and school ($11,877,186.) budgets were approved by voters as they were presented by the budget committee.  Voters did reject a warrant article to raise $145,000 to build a highway maintenance building. The building which currently on site at the transfer station was originally approved as a recycling building and constructed in 2002, although never used for that purpose.  It has been used since that time for housing and maintaining the highway equipment.  Voters approved a warrant article to upgrade the heating/cooling system at the town hall, which should provide savings over time through energy efficiency. The position of road agent will remain as elected; voters turned down a request from the selectmen to make the position appointed.  

On the school district ballot, both teacher and support staff contracts were defeated.   A warrant article to establish an all-day kindergarten program did not win voter support, by a narrow margin.  The creation of a new capital reserve fund for retirement benefits and the addition of funds to two existing capital reserve funds were approved. 

Cbna Theatre To Present Fiddler On The Roof

Coe-Brown Northwood Academy Theatre will proudly present the classic musical Fiddler on the Roof on March 20, 21, 22, 2014 at 7 pm in the Gerrish Gym on the CBNA campus in Northwood, NH. Fiddler on the Roof tells the story of Tevye, a poor dairyman, as he tries to instill in his five daughters the traditions of his tight-knit Jewish community in his little village of Anatevka, in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia. Rich in historical and ethnic detail, Fiddler on the Roof has touched audiences around the world with its humor, warmth and honesty. The universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class, nationality and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter, joy and sadness. The production features senior Tyler Shane Chittum in the role of Tevye.  He is joined by seniors Grace Axelrod, Samantha Corwin, Jessica Gallant, Gwyneth Horne, Allyson LaFrance, Anna Leclere, Zachary May, Travis Newton, Taylor Pitre, and Daniel Rivera; juniors Olivia Anatone, Kyle Bousquet, Jillian Burrows, Sophia Chartier, Rachel Dallaire, Hannah Grady, Alec Schleich, Jordan Roach, and Colton Rush; sophomores Janais Axelrod, Jessica Cooper, Isaac Guzofski, Claire Hammond, Damien May, Jared Neal, Emily Therrien, and Ryan Wadleigh; and freshmen Cassandra Barnhart, Lauren Burrows, Kayla Cates, Joe Guptil, and Arianna Jones.  The production stage manager is senior Kathi Cozine.  Fiddler is directed by faculty member Elizabeth Lent with music direction by David Deardorff and choreography by Kolby Hume.  Reserved tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors, and will be available after March 17, 2014, by calling 942-5531, ext. 237, by email [email protected] or at the main office before or after school.

Letter To The Editor

The Spirit of Liberty

The Northwood deliberative sessions have been held. The town has voted on school and town budgets as well as many warrant articles.  Town officers have been elected.  Old fashioned New Hampshire democracy lives.

Deliberative sessions are valuable and important meetings where we can:

· Become informed about the issues facing the town.

· Express views on issues. 

· Get an explanation of any budget or warrant items a month before having to vote on them.  This gives us a chance to consider these matters carefully and discuss them with family, friends, and neighbors, rather than having to make a hasty decision.

· Change the dollar amounts in warrant articles. In 2013, for example, several significant changes were made.

· Show our support for all those town officers, committee members, board members, and volunteers who have worked so hard all year to put these warrants together and help the town run smoothly.

· Visit with our neighbors in a relaxed and unpressured atmosphere.

The importance of our New England town meetings was probably best described 200 years ago by Alexis de Tocqueville:

“Local assemblies of citizens constitute the strength of free nations. Town-meetings are to liberty what primary schools are to science; they bring it within the people’s reach, they teach men how to use and how to enjoy it. A nation may establish a system of free government, but without the spirit of municipal institutions it cannot have the spirit of liberty.”

Next year, we can help strike a blow for liberty by attending these town meetings.

Michael Faiella

Northwood