Letter To
The Editor
State Representative Yvonne Dean
Bailey is one hard worker. It’s like she never stops going.
Whether she’s fighting for taxpayers up in the State House or
hosting an ice cream social for the local community - Yvonne is
on the ball.
That’s why I am excited to support her
in the September 13th Republican Primary. In the short time that
Yvonne has served in the State House she has been an advocate
and voice for the taxpayer. She has been a strong supporter of
the Second Amendment and local control.
She has worked to help Northwood
families and businesses by advocating for lower taxes, limited
spending and nonintrusive government.
It has been a great pleasure to serve
with her and sit next to her on the House floor. Yvonne shows
up, get things done and works hard on behalf of the Greater
Northwood community.
Yvonne Dean-Bailey is the clear choice
for conservatives in the Primary on September 13th. I hope you
will join me in supporting her so we can keep a strong, fresh,
conservative voice representing Northwood.
Sincerely,
Rep. Bruce Hodgdon
Republican,
Northwood
Letter To
The Editor
It’s encouraging to see that recent
test results show that the Northwood Elementary School is making
some significant progress in providing a better education for
the children of Northwood. Keeping in mind, of course, that test
scores are but one aspect of measuring progress in education, as
a tool they can still be useful to help give an overall picture
and identify areas that the school may need to focus on.
The recently-released Smarter Balance Test scores for NES show
some really good improvement in the areas of Math and Language
this year. There are some individual grade-level
regressions (there always will be), and we’re still a bit behind
the overall state average, but the improvement demonstrated by
the student proficiency scores well outpaces increases in the
state averages this year. We’ve made up a lot of ground.
In the area of English and Language Arts, the school’s overall
proficiency score increased by 14% from last year, while the
state average only increased by 4%. In Math, Northwood’s overall
proficiency increased by 8% while the state average remained
stagnant. In fact, our grade 6, 7, and 8th grade
proficiency levels in Math, and 3rd and 4th grade ELA levels are
at or above the state averages. A couple highlights: The number
of Northwood 8th graders scoring proficient or higher in math is
7% more than the state average number. The number of 4th graders
scoring proficient or higher in ELA is 11% more than the state
average.
Kudos to the teachers and staff at Northwood Elementary for
their positive impact on the students in town. With the
community’s support, I hope to see the positive trend continuing
and putting the town on an even better footing going forward
into the future.
Best regards,
Keith McGuigan, Chair, Northwood
School Board
Letter To
The Editor
To the Editor,
Where does the buck stop? The
facts/data is there. Our local school tax is 40% more that the
average NH town. School Digger.com will show you that we have
below average class sizes. We begged for and you funded an
incredible array of technology. Our students begin school above
average and leave below. More than half are below proficiency in
math.
Is it the students? The data says not. Teachers? Hearing one say
that they didn’t want a new math program shoved down their
throats, the old one was fine, got my attention. Third grade
teacher? 70% of third grade below proficiency. Wow! But no.
The school’s administration? They are not here long enough. It
would be easy for me to stop it at the SAU. Dr. Gadomski and his
assistant are in their fourth year. In Northwood alone they are
on their third principal and third assistant principal. Our
students are certainly not any better educated today. A
third of a million dollars for the SAU’s expertise. So who is
left. Parents? It’s a different world. So many have abdicated
parenting to the schools. Having to walk a couple hundred feet
to a bus stop is far more important than proficiency in math.
???
No, it’s the board. A one hour a day
bus guard cannot be hired without approval. All money by policy
or vote goes through the board, however, the current and last
board has ceded all local control away, and it shows. Or is it
you, the voter? You voted the best chair out for a ridiculous
reason and voted the worst one in. Go figure.
Tim Jandebeur
Northwood
Letter To
The Editor
Goldilocks’ Choice
In a letter to last week’s Suncook Sun, a Northwood Democratic
activist implied that Republican “twenty-something” and
“septuagenarian” candidates can’t be worthy state
representatives because they’re either too young or too old.
Apparently the Democratic candidates’ ages are “just right.”
Michael Faiella
Northwood
CBNA To
Hold Fourth Annual Homecoming Weekend
September 9, 10 &
11
Coe-Brown Northwood Academy is pleased
to announce that our Fourth Annual Homecoming weekend will be
celebrated on Friday through Sunday, September 9, 10 and 11,
2016.
The weekend will kick off with “Red
and White” day for students on Friday, followed by the family
friendly Comedy Hypnosis Show Steve Wronker’s Funny Business at
7 pm ($10) in the Gerrish Gym.
A full day of fantastic family activities is planned across the
campus for Saturday the 10th including athletic events: Bass
Fishing at 8 am, Cross Country at 9 am, Girls JV/V Soccer
at noon, Boys JV/V Soccer at 2 pm and Girls R/JV/V Volleyball at
2:30, 3:45, and 5.
To get the day started, FCCLA will cooking a Pancake Breakfast
in the Dining Hall from 8 am to 10 am. Tickets for the breakfast
are $8 at the door, or contact Mrs. Morales at
[email protected]
(603) 942-5531 for discounted presale tickets. The Homecoming
Car Show featuring classic cars and trucks, race cars and
classic snowmobiles, to benefit the CBNA Automotive program,
will be held from 10 am to 2 pm. (Contact Mrs. Morales for
registration information for this event as well). The
Northwood Fire Department will be on hand for a Touch-A-Truck
event from 10 to 2. In addition, there will be a number of
booths and carnival games sponsored by many of CBNA’s classes
and school organizations including FFA Alpaca Bingo, an FFA
Woodman’s demo, a FCCLA dunk- a-teacher dunk tank, and a
whiffle-ball tournament for all ages. Concessions offered
throughout the day. Homecoming Saturday will end with a
homecoming semi formal dance sponsored by the sophomore class
for current students from 7 – 10 pm ($7).
The weekend will culminate with the annual Run to Fall 5K race
starting at 9 am. For more information about any of the
events, contact CBNA at 603-942-5531. Whether you attend
Homecoming every year or have never been, this is the year to
check it out! Hope to see you there.
Else
Cilley Chapter
Nottingham, NH. The Else Cilley Chapter of the National
Society Daughters of the American Revolution met in August at
their chapter-owned and maintained historic building, the
Nottingham Square Schoolhouse. Regent Fernald presented a
program on Interesting Women in New England History.
Members were fascinated by stories of Marilla Ricker (whose
portrait will soon be in the NH State House), Rebecca Nurse,
Goodie Cole, and Ona Judge Staines. Do you know who these women
are? Else Cilley meetings are always full of fascinating
historical, patriotic, and educational programs and reports.
Come join us! Meetings are open to the public. For
more information, visit our website.
http://elsecilley.nhsodar.org The Else Cilley Chapter will
“woman” a booth for Nottingham Day at the Nottingham Elementary
School on Saturday September 17. Raffles will include a
hand-made well house with all proceeds going towards the
painting and repair of the historic Nottigham Square
Schoolhouse. Patriotic literature, information on becoming
a DAR member, and coloring activities for children will be
available. Flags will also be given to children stopping
by the booth. Hope to see you there.
Chesley Memorial Library News
National Library Card Sign-Up Month
September is Library Card Sign-up Month—a time when libraries
across the country remind their communities that a library card
is the key to endless opportunities. Since 1987, Library Card
Sign-up Month has been held each September to mark the beginning
of the school year. It is a time when the American Library
Association and libraries across the country join together to
remind parents, caregivers, and students that signing up for a
library card is the first step towards academic achievement and
lifelong learning. Snoopy, the world-famous beagle from Peanuts,
is returning to be this year’s Honorary Chair of Library Card
Sign-up Month. The Chesley Memorial Library will offer free
replacement library cards all month and will celebrate with an
open house on Saturday, September 10, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. We
will also participate in the second annual Granite State Library
Card Challenge to see if our library can sign up the most new
library cards during the month of September. It’s never
too late for your first library card!
Open House/Local Author
The Chesley Memorial Library will hold an Open House on
Saturday, September 10, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Stop by to
see what’s going on at your local library and say hello to the
library staff and trustees. You will also have a chance to
meet local author Robin Vergato from Candia. Robin will be
selling signed copies of her children’s picture book “Charlie
Finds A Home: A Homeless Guinea Hen’s Journey” for $16.95 per
copy. Autographed books make wonderful gifts!
Knitting/Crocheting
Do you want to learn how to knit or crochet? Do you need help
with knitting or crocheting projects? Join local artisan
Norma Heroux at the Chesley Memorial Library on the first and
third Wednesday of every month from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
No registration required, all ages welcome. If you are
interested but can’t make it on Wednesdays, please let a library
staff member know what days/times would be convenient for future
consideration.
Book Discussions
The Afternoon Book Discussion Group will meet at the Chesley
Memorial Library on Wednesday, September 7, at 2:00 p.m. to
discuss “Reading Lolita In Tehran” by Azar Nafisi. Or
maybe you feel like reading an old favorite…if so, the Evening
Book Discussion Group will meet at the Chesley Memorial Library
that same date at 7:00 p.m. to discuss “Gone With the Wind” by
Margaret Mitchell. New members always welcome! Looking ahead to
October: The Afternoon Book Discussion Group will meet at
the Chesley Memorial Library on Wednesday, October 5, at 2:00
p.m. to discuss “Under the Wide and Starry Sky” by Nancy Horan.
The Evening Book Discussion Group will meet at the Blaisdell
Memorial Library in Nottingham on Wednesday, October 26, at 7:00
p.m. to discuss “Quiet” by Susan Cain. New members always
welcome!
Senior Café
The Senior Summer Café has morphed into the Senior Café for the
fall months and will still meet every Monday from 1:00-2:30 p.m.
We are looking forward to home-baked goodies featuring apples
and pumpkins, all of those fall favorites! And you still
have a chance to sing old-time favorites with our local ukulele
Boni Hibbard. Boni takes special requests so don’t miss your
chance to bring back some fond memories.
Museum Passes
The fall weather is perfect for planning family weekend outings
so why not try one of the library’s museum passes? We have the
following available: Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Children’s
Museum of NH, McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, New Hampshire
Farm Museum, Seacoast Science Center, or SEE Science Center!
Each pass works a little differently…some let you in free while
others provide discounted admission. Call the library at
942-5472 for updated information regarding passes. We can also
provide you with information on when to visit the Currier Museum
of Art in Manchester for free admission.
Lego Club @ Your Library/Recon Rover
Magformers were wildly popular at the library in August so we
hope to bring them back again soon! We are scheduled to borrow a
ReCon Rover for September. The ReCon Rover is a toy, a robot,
and a tool for learning. The ReCon Rover is a toy robot that you
program to move, turn, talk, record sounds, even deliver small
items! Program in simple step by step instructions, such
as move forward 2 feet, turn 90 degrees, play sound 1, and then
watch the Rover carry out your instructions! We plan to have our
Rover active on Wednesdays from 12:00-6:00 p.m. but please call
the library at 942-5472 to make sure Rover has arrived safely!
Don’t forget about the LEGO Club at the library! School is back
in session so you might want to drop in after you’re done for
the day just to relax and have some fun playing with LEGOs.
Or maybe you are looking for something to do with your younger
children while your older children are in school! Whatever
the situation, LEGOs are out every Wednesday from 12:00-6:00 pm
for your enjoyment. We have LEGOs for all ages so drop in and
let your imagination be your guide. LEGO creations will be on
display until the next session so bring your family and friends
back to see your masterpieces!
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
JOIN THE 1000 BOOK CLUB! The single most important thing
you can do to prepare your children to read is to read to them
every day. Research proves that children need to hear 1000 books
before they begin to learn to read independently. Reading to
children will increase their vocabulary and their listening and
narrative skills. Reading with children will also help to
instill in them self-awareness, confidence and an understanding
of their place in the world. The program is
sponsored by the Chesley Memorial Library with help from
Northwood School teachers.
HOW CAN I READ 1000 BOOKS? It’s easy! One book a day for
three years=1000; three books a day for one year=1000; ten books
a week for two years=1000.
WHAT COUNTS? Everything! Every book you read counts every
time you read it! Books your child hears in Storytime count.
Books that others read to your child count. It all counts!
WHERE CAN I SIGN UP? Sign up at the
Chesley Memorial Library. We will give you sheets to help you
keep count of the books you read. You will receive a book bag
when you sign up and will continue to earn incentives as you
read your way to 1000 books.
WHEN: Today! Register anytime when
your child is between birth and five years old.
IMPORTANT: Please update your progress at the circulation desk
every time you read 100 books! We keep track in a log at the
library and update our milestone wall display in the youth area.
1000 book readers will be recognized with their name on the
library’s sign and will be invited to attend a special ceremony
at the Northwood School next August with recognition from the
library staff and trustees, Northwood school teachers and
personnel, and Northwood School Board. We just hosted our
first annual celebration on August 18. Congratulations to our
first round of 1000 Book Readers: Liam Cooper, Abigail Costanza,
Evelyn Seavey, Norah Seavey, Mabel Winslow, and Miles Winslow.
Congratulations to the following participants entering
kindergarten: Peter Faris, Norah Naleid, and Marlena Thorn. We
are very proud of our young readers! Check out our web site
(chesleylib.com) to see our 1000 Book slideshow.
Story Time
Story Time will be held on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m.
beginning September 14. This program is best suited for
children under the age of five, but older siblings are always
welcome. Story Time sessions explore a variety of themes shared
through books and crafts while introducing young children to the
joys of reading and the library. The early literacy
practices featured help build a foundation for a lifelong love
of learning. Registration not required, but please share your
contact information with the library at the first session you
attend in case of cancellations due to weather.
Meet The Pharmacist
“Meet the Pharmacist” at the Chesley Memorial Library on Monday,
September 12, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. sponsored by Hannaford
pharmacy. Have you ever wondered: How your supplements
interact with your prescription drugs? What foods may change the
effectiveness of your medication? Timing: how critical are the
intervals of taking medication? What immunizations do you really
need? And just how do you manage your prescriptions? Learn the
answers to these questions and others you might gave from your
local Hannaford pharmacy team! Enjoy light refreshments
and giveaways provided by Hannaford Pharmacy.
This Weekend’s LRPA After Dark
Feature:
1934’s “Of Human Bondage”
Join Lakes Region Public Access
Television at 10:30 p.m. this Friday and Saturday night
(September 9 & 10) for our “LRPA After Dark” presentation of
1934’s melodrama “Of Human Bondage,” starring Bette Davis and
Leslie Howard.
In “Of Human Bondage,” we meet Philip Carey (Howard), socially
awkward and painfully self-conscious due to a clubfoot. He has
dreams of becoming an artist, but is advised by his teacher to
give up on those dreams due to limited talent. Philip returns
home to London to enroll in medical school. Joining a fellow
student at a tearoom, Philip meets Mildred Rogers (Davis), a
vulgar Cockney waitress who attracts many of her male customers
with her wanton ways. Philip tries to flirt with Mildred, but
she rudely rebuffs him. Undaunted, he persuades her to go on a
dinner date, where she continues to mistreat him. Philip becomes
obsessed with Mildred, daydreaming of her instead of studying
for his exams. He proposes marriage, but she rejects him for
another man, taunting him for loving her, and leaving Philip
brokenhearted. Just as Philip is getting back on his feet and
finding contentment with another woman, Mildred returns – with
another man’s child. Will Philip learn from his mistakes, or
will the bond that he feels for Mildred draw him back
under her spell?
Bette Davis was so convinced that “Of
Human Bondage” would be her breakthrough film that for six
straight months, she begged Jack L. Warner, the head of Warner
Brothers, to lend her out to RKO to make this picture. Warner
felt that the terribly unglamorous and indecent part would ruin
her career, but he eventually gave in. It was the right
decision, as both critics and movie goers alike found her
spellbinding in this sadistic, heartless role. Davis had made 21
films before “Of Human Bondage,” but Mildred the waitress was
the character that catapulted her to Hollywood superstardom. “Of
Human Bondage” was adapted from the W. Somerset Maugham novel
and made into a movie two more times, once in 1946 with Paul
Henreid and Eleanor Parker, and again in 1964, with Kim Novak
and Laurence Harvey. Neither film was the critical success that
is our original. The New York Times critic Mordaunt Hall wrote
that Davis’s portrayal of Mildred was “enormously effective” and
said this of Leslie Howard’s performance: “One might be tempted
to say that his portrait of Philip Carey excels any performance
he has given before the camera.” This movie truly is a classic.
Grab your popcorn and meet us after dark for the movie that made
la Davis a star.
You can’t find television like this it anywhere but LRPA TV,
MetroCast Channel 25. Not a subscriber? Then log onto Live
Stream through our website (www.lrpa.org) where you
can catch all the fun.
Have you been in to see Heritage
Corner Market yet? If not, it’s time you did. Located next
Heritage Hardware, it’s a great place to find all you BBQ,
Tailgating, and Lunchbox Needs!
Public Invited To Celebrate 10 Years
In The NALMC Neighborhood!
This is a Free Event on September 10 Connects People and
Nature
Celebrate the 10th anniversary of working together across our
stone walls. On Saturday, September 10th, NALMC will be hosting
a free family-friendly event open to the public in celebration
of their ten years.. The day will be a reflection of
NALMC’s story of public and private neighbors in Northwood, that
have discovered or rediscovered the value of talking as
neighbors about their shared values enabling them to
maintain and enhance the ecological, social, recreational, and
economic resources of the local landscape.
The public is invited to join NALMC from 1pm to 5pm at Short
Creek Farm (the barn at Winding Hill and Harmony Road) in
Northwood for an afternoon of activities that reflect their
value of connecting people and nature. In observation of
NALMC’s roots and reflection of NALMC’s value of community
gathering and collaboration, the day will start with a potluck
lunch at 1:00 pm with a short program beginning at 1:30pm
recognizing NALMC’s community contributors., Bring
your appetite and if you can a dish to share.
Diverse nature-based programs begin at
2pm.
• Children’s activities will focus on creativity, curiosity and
exploring nature.
• Live music will be provided by indie-rock band the Pullstarts!
• Discover wildlife and hunting on NH Fish & Game’s educational
trailer.
• Watch a portable saw mill process logs that are incorporated
into Leopold benches for the NALMC neighborhood.
• Meet the farmers (and their animals) of Short Creek Farm and
learn about their farming practices.
• Attend a field trip or all three! Field trips, each with
a different theme, will be offered at 2 pm, 3 pm, and 4 pm:
learn about fall wild flowers, the watershed divide and habitat
diversity.
NALMC, the Northwood Area Land Management Collaborative, has
been meeting and collaborating on projects focused on improving
wildlife habitat, outdoor recreational opportunities, and forest
and water resources for the past ten years. Their
community-wide efforts have enabled them to create publicly
accessible hiking trails, build and provide Leopold benches
throughout the community, offer nature-based educational
opportunities and produce a stewardship report reviewing the
people and natural ecosystems in the neighborhood. For
more information, visit www.NALMC.net.
Northwood School AmeriCorps Grant
Northwood School is excited to have
been granted an AmeriCorps grant that will allow us to provide
tutors to Northwood School students before, during, and/or after
school.
This will be the first year of a three year grant. Federal
monies, along with some Northwood tax dollars, will fund this
program. These funds will be used for mentors and
the training and materials they need to provide support to
students in the areas of math, reading, and science.
We are looking for volunteers to serve as tutors. A
commitment for a certain number of hours during the year is
needed by the service workers/volunteers, and in return, they
can receive college tuition money, either to pay college loans
or to put toward their own tuition.
Some, meeting certain age requirements, will be eligible for
college money for their grandchildren. Applications will be
available soon at the SAU 44 website,
www.sau44.org,
nhedjobs.com, and indeed.com (type in Northwood, NH as job
location). Our goal is to have 20 individuals at the
school supporting our students in grades k-8.
Former Northwood teacher, Linda Kramas, has been hired to
coordinate this program. If you have any questions or are
looking for more information, please email her at
[email protected]
or
[email protected], or call the school at
942-5488.
Letter To The Editor
There is said to be a Chinese curse: “may you live in
interesting times.” Well, I guess the curse is upon us. This
political season people I talk to are gritting their teeth. My
look at American history tells me it has often been so,
different issues and strong divisions. There is though, a
relatively new division it seems to me plaguing us:
whether we will live as a free people or a kept people. Whether
we leave the next generation with a land of opportunity or
managed mediocrity.
We simply can’t afford every thing
we’d like. Most of us live this in our personal lives and
sometimes manage to teach it to our children. But politicians
are not supposed to be children. It seems only proper that
common sense frugality be followed by governments we elect.
Politicians frequently promise what can only be paid for by
raising taxes (and damaging our economy) and perhaps worse,
diminishing the future of the next generation. It isn’t that
these guys don’t have any money to work with now. They waste it.
Not all, but spending frugally and wisely seems to escape the
sensibilities of many. My motto is that it’s “always other
people’s money,” be careful!
This fiscal motto is not as profound
as the New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die.” Not just our money is
wasted but our liberties are being eroded: religion, free
speech, private property and the right to defend ourselves are
under constant assault. As General Stark said “... death is not
the worst of evils...”
These are some things I think matter.
Please WRITE IN for NH state representative Joseph McCaffrey
District 1 on Republican ballot.
Sincerely,
Joseph McCaffrey
Letter To The Editor
Vandalism
A cowardly vandal is riding around
Northwood with a can of black spray paint.
Last week, I put up two signs in a
neighbor’s yard. The next morning, they had been vandalized with
black spray paint. He alerted the police, but it is unlikely
that they can locate the culprit – unless one of you knows who
it is and does your civic duty.
Some of you may be saying, “what’s the
big deal?” So for those of you who need it spelled out, it’s the
First Amendment of the Constitution. The freedom to speak and be
heard – or in this case, read.
I must confess, however, that I, too,
do not like all the signs I see along our highways. But I don’t
obliterate their messages with spray paint.
So I would encourage our vandal to put
down the spray paint and write a letter to the editor instead.
And I would add the caution that Tractor Supply has game trail
cameras on sale. You may become a YouTube celebrity.
Tom Chase
Northwood