Congratulations to Megan Spainhower of Northwood, a member of
the Colby-Sawyer College class of 2020, majoring nursing, for
making the fall semester Dean’s List. To qualify for the Dean’s
List, students must achieve a grade-point average of 3.5 or
higher on a 4.0 scale while carrying a minimum of 12 credit
hours in graded courses.
Letter To The Editor
To
the Editor,
I
am a founding member of the School District Governance
Association, and an officer. We are a group comprised of
like-minded school board and budget committee members that are
unhappy with the cost of educating our children and the quality
of that education. At a seminar in November over budgeting
issues, one of the speakers (there were several including State
Representative Karen Umberger) made a profound statement.
“Interestingly, school districts with disciplined budgeting
almost always have the highest academic results. The discipline
seems to cross lines resulting in positive results across the
board, i.e. financially, educationally, public and
personnel relations.” We were given Bedford, NH as an example.
There is one closer.
The
Nottingham Budget Committee met with the school board and SAU
three times to go over draft Nottingham School budgets. A final
budget will be presented to the residents of Nottingham, giving
them an opportunity to have a say. After that, the Budget
Committee will further discuss the budget, maybe amend it, and
finally approve it.
In
Northwood, well, we do it differently. The Northwood Budget
Committee met with the school board and SAU one time. In one
hour and seven minutes they, without making one cent of change,
rubber stamped the $11,830,426 school budget. Now they will have
a public hearing, after the budget has been approved. Don’t
bother going. It’s a waste of your time.
Interestingly, Nottingham’s cost per student is near $3,000 less
than ours, they are in the top tier of K-8 schools and their tax
rate is far less than ours. In the ‘09/‘10 year we had 726
students and our budget was $12,035,197. This year it is
$11,919,337 and we have 616 students. So our student count went
down 15% but our budget less than 1%.
Tim
Jandebeur
Northwood
This Weekend’s LRPA After Dark Feature:
1932’s “Rain”
Join Lakes Region Public Access Television at 10:30 p.m. this
Friday and Saturday night (January 12 & 13) for our “LRPA After
Dark” presentation of 1932’s melodrama “Rain,” starring Joan
Crawford and Walter Huston.
“Rain” opens in idyllic Pago Pago, located on the Pacific island
of Tutuila. Life goes on there as it always has. One day, a boat
arrives with various passengers, including the puritanical and
moralistic missionaries Alfred and Martha Davidson (Huston and
Beulah Bondi), as well as Sadie Thompson (Crawford), a “woman of
ill repute” who has traveled from Honolulu looking for adventure
and good times. A suspected cholera outbreak forces the
passengers to remain quarantined ashore. There’s only one
cramped hotel on Pago Pago, so all of the ship’s passengers must
stay there together. One of the shipmates introduces Sadie to
some Marines stationed on the island, and they welcome her with
open arms. Sadie has brought along her Victrola and plays jazz
day and night, dancing and carrying on with the Marines, one in
particular who begins to fall in love with her. The nonstop
festivities are more than the Davidsons can stand. Alfred
intervenes, attempting to convert Sadie and save her mortal soul
from eternal damnation. At first, he is unsuccessful, and
conflict ensues. Will Sadie change her wicked ways? And what
happens to the lives of those around her if she does?
In
its day, “Rain” was both a critical and box office flop.
Crawford took the role hoping that it would prove her acting
skills, but it seemed that no one wanted to see her cast against
type. At that early point in her career, Crawford played women
who were honest, virtuous and hardworking. She herself
later wrote about this role, “I hope they burn every print
that’s in existence!” But eight decades later, critics and fans
agree that the film and its performances are quite powerful,
particularly for their time. “Rain” was an adaptation of a play
by W. Somerset Maugham. It was first performed by in London and
then later on Broadway and created quite the scandal in its day.
The story was made into two other films: 1928’s silent “Sadie
Thompson,” with Gloria Swanson and Lionel Barrymore, and 1953’s
highly sanitized “Miss Sadie Thompson,” with Rita Hayworth and
José Ferrer. The 1932 version is the closest to Maugham’s play,
and the one that was made during that brief period of time known
as Hollywood’s “Pre-Code” years, between 1929 (the advent of
talking pictures) and 1934 (the strict enforcement of the Motion
Picture Production Code). “Rain” has a frank sensuality that is
lacking in the other adaptations, and portrays Sadie Thompson as
exactly what she was: a prostitute with an unsavory past. So is
“Rain” a gem or a flop? You be the judge! Grab your popcorn and
meet us after dark for this tropical Pre-Code drama.
Northwood Rec News
With all of the holiday hustle and bustle over, the Recreation
Commission wanted to say thank you to all that helped us make
the season even brighter.
We
started our annual Holiday Lights contest. Although only three
won the contest, many participated and all enjoyed the light
displays. We hope more families join the fun next year.
Santa’s Parade was a huge hit! With help from Northwood Police
and Northwood Fire and Rescue, Santa was escorted around town
with much fanfare. It was wonderful to see so many families
along the parade route waving to Santa!
The
annual tree lighting party was an afternoon filled with fun and
games. Children were able to sit on Santa’s lap, and rattle off
their Christmas list. There were games, crafts and cookies to
decorate too. The event ended with caroling by the town tree.
Tootsie, the town elf was sent down from the North Pole too! She
was welcomed by many, into their yards. With the amount of
selfies posted...you would think she would have gotten a “big”
head. She has since returned to the North Pole, but plans on
returning next season.
Lastly, the town ice skating rink has been installed. This is
sure to provide lots of enjoyment to the families of Northwood.
We
have many more fun events and activities planned for 2018.
However, these all require volunteers. If you would like to help
us make Northwood even better, please consider helping out too.
.
Northwood Recreation Commission Town Ice Skating
Rink
Northwood Recreation Commission is pleased to announce the
opening of the town ice skating rink, located at the Recreation
Fields on Route 4.
A
huge thanks goes to the volunteers that helped make this happen!
The selectmen and fire department, as well as many townspeople,
have created our very own winter wonderland right here in
Northwood, for all to enjoy!
A
hockey net, has also been lent to the recreation department for
those that want to bring along their stick. We are currently
looking for another net, if you have one that you’re willing to
lend, please let us know. Volunteers are needed after each storm
to help shovel off the rink, and surrounding picnic tables. If
you are able to help, grab your shovel and head on over.
So,
Northwood families grab your skates and fill up the thermos with
cocoa; and go to the rink and have some fun!
Northwood Congregational Church Epiphany Arts Festival
January 7 through February 11 and Coffee House Sunday January
21, 3:00 - 5:00 pm, Northwood Congregational Church, 881 First
NH Turnpike, Northwood NH
The
Northwood Congregational Church Epiphany Arts Festival for 2018
is back by popular demand.
The
Epiphany Arts Festival visual arts display will return in all
its glory on Epiphany Sunday, January 7 th and will run through
and be taken down directly after worship service on Sunday,
February 11 th , three days before Ash Wednesday and the
beginning of Lent. Epiphany is also known as Three Kings Day and
commemorates the day that the three kings arrived at the
birthplace of baby Jesus after having followed the star in the
Eastern sky for many days. They showered the infant Jesus with
the gifts they had bought, gold and frankincense and myrrh and
so we, to honor the occasion and celebrate the season of
Epiphany, will showcase the artistic gifts of our church family
including but not limited to: photographs, sculpture, paintings,
poetry, jewelry, drawings, wood work, pottery, calligraphy,
needlework, knitting, quilting etc.
To
enhance the Epiphany Arts Festival, the church is also hosting a
coffee house on Sunday January 21. Church family and friends
will share their gifts of music and writing from 3:00 – 5:00 pm
in the Northwood Congregational Church fellowship hall. Coffee,
tea, cookies and other snacks will be provided.
Donations will be accepted but not necessary.
Northwood Santa’s Helpers
Thank you to the citizens, businesses and organizations of
Northwood for your support to make the 2017 Northwood Santa’s
Helpers program another success.
We
sincerely appreciate your generous donations of toys, gift
cards, warm fleece blankets and so many wonderful gifts that
made it possible to brighten the lives of 38 Northwood children
this this year. Cash donations were used to purchase
winter clothing, especially needed with our rapid change in
temperature. Your thoughtfulness and caring has made a
difference for these children and their families as they
expressed their thanks when your gifts were delivered. We can
just image their delight as they ripped open the wrapped
packages (each labeled with the child’s name from Santa) and
found their wonderful surprise gifts.
Thank you for helping to make this community project possible.
The members of Northwood Fire-Rescue Association and the
families you assisted, wish you and your families a happy, safe
and healthy 2018.
