Salem Community Patriot December 23, 2010 - 5


Salem Brownies


submitted by Candice Richardson Salem Brownie Troop 10200 attended The Palace Theatre for a production of A Christmas Carol recently. Thanks to the generosity of the Palace Theatre and a new program for Girl Scouts the girls were able to tour backstage and learn about the technical aspect of a theatre production. It was an enjoyable experience for the girls and adults alike.


Outdoors Fund for Heroes


Charlie with Chalk In the hospitals and rehabilitation units where America’s young


wounded heroes continue to display their incredible courage and fight to regain their health and mobility, they ask only to be remembered. And to be sure, many sportsmen and women are looking for ways to say, “We won’t forget,” but also for ways to say “Thank you,” especially during this special holiday season. It may be easier to show your gratitude than you think. When these valiant servicemen and women are asked what


they’d like to do again, either during or after their rehabilitation, a frequent answer is, “I’d like to go hunting and fishing again.” And experience clearly demonstrates that going hunting, fishing, or enjoying a day at the shooting range helps our heroes heal, gain confidence in their abilities, build new support networks and, in general, be happier and more positive about life. By clicking on www.100000patriots.org, outdoorsmen


Film Timelines of School for the Mentally Disabled


by Robyn Hatch Freda Smith of Salem helped fight for the rights of her daughter,


Janet, and all of New Hampshire’s disabled children. With her fight, the Laconia State School shut its doors in 1991. Twenty years later, Local filmmaker Bill Rogers teamed up with Gordon DuBois, a Laconia State School historian, and the Community Support Network to produce Lost in Laconia, which traces the history of the Laconia State School from its beginning in 1901 (then known as the New Hampshire School for the Feeble- minded) until closure in 1991. This was not so much a school as a warehouse, where for more then eight decades, thousands of mentally retarded and physically handicapped residents were dumped and forgotten.


In 1901, the New Hampshire Legislature passed legislation to establish a state school for “feeble-minded” children. Sixty children living in almshouses throughout the state were admitted to the school in 1903. By 1973, 1,100 children and adults with disabilities resided at the institution, many living in sub-human conditions. Thousands of New Hampshire citizens were confined to a life with no meaning. Families were cut off from friends and community. In the first half of the century, this was widely accepted.


In 1991, with the help of a federal class action lawsuit, Laconia


was closed and New Hampshire became the first state to have no institutions for people with developmental disabilities. It was the timeless determination of people like Freda who helped bring the pressures to bear that closed Laconia, changing the lives of Smith’s daughter, Janet, and thousands like her for good. Freda, in addition to her maternal duties, served as a State Representative, board member of the Association for Retarded Citizens, and President of the Laconia State School Parents


– wore on her. There was no one Freda could talk to—she had no support. One day, Freda broke down with all the stress. While Freda was recovering from a nervous breakdown, five- year-old Janet was placed at Laconia State School. Freda says that to this day, the ‘quit’ will never leave her. Besides closing Laconia State School, the one great thing that came out of this was that all support systems were put into the community. Parents today will never have to experience the guilt of putting a child in an institution. There is always someone in the community to help. In 1962, there were 900 residents; in 1974, there were 1,000, with a waiting list of 400. In 1975, the Laconia State School began releasing some higher functioning residents, but there was never enough money to supervise the outside. Because the school’s buildings were old and lacked privacy, staffing was inadequate. Dr. Jack Melton became its superintendent and changes in philosophy started. The school was forced to change students’ lives. In 1979, Melton urged state lawmakers to spend $5.5 million to resettle the residents to home communities before a judge government, and the legislature said no. From 1974 to 1979, the state moved from 44th in the nation to spend services on mentally retarded to 50th. This lawsuit and 10,000 pages of dispositions complained


Freda Smith talks about Laconia GENERATORS INSTALLED


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of wards of stinking urine, residents tied to beds and wheelchairs, excessive drug use, very little recreation area, sexual abuse, and major isolation daily.


Judge Devine was


more than convinced. Today, the 400-acre Laconia State School campus is a medium-security prison. Freda holds on to a collection of photos in three massive scrapbooks that sit on a table in her living room. Janet died at Freda’s home, surrounded by pink curtains and clean sheets.


Te movie Lost in Laconia


Association. She is remembered by many for her dogmatic efforts to give her daughter and other residents better living. She was an active participant through the whole legal process, refusing to give up until she got what the residents deserved. Janet Smith was born on August 31, 1961. She was two and a half months old before she showed any signs of trouble. Then, it went downhill quickly. In Children’s Hospital, Freda was told that her daughter had brain damage with no use of her left side. Her right side was also damaged with no vision in her right eye. After being told that Janet was also epileptic and would always be a ‘vegetable,’ her best alternative would be to institutionalize her and forget her. Freda and her husband, Harvey, refused to turn Janet over to


anyone. Since the 19th century, the solution for people with mental deficiencies was to separate them from the sane. For five years, the Smiths cared for Janet the best they could. Freda stated that the constant care required for Janet, who never slept – only napped


and women can make a Christmas donation to a permanent endowment fund established specifically to organize hunting, fishing, shooting, and other outdoor activities for America’s wounded heroes and help them heal. It would be a simple – but meaningful – gift of thanks.


Charlie Chalk can be reached at outdoorswithcharlie@areanewsgroup.com Salem Selectmen


by S. Aaron Shamshoyan It’s the season of giving, with this holding true at the Selectmen’s meeting Monday night. A total of $14,185 was received by the Selectmen in the form of grants and donations. First, a grant from New Hampshire Primex, in the amount of $10,000, was accepted to fund the installation of Automatic External Defibrillators in town facilities. The money will also be used for ergonomic wrist rests for all town computers.


Next a donation of $250 was accepted from TD Bank for the Salem


Cable Access Fund. The Make a Difference Program, sponsored by the bank, will match a donation of time or finances to an organization from a bank employee. Brenda Tecce of TD Bank volunteered over 40 hours of time at SCTV17 making them eligible for the donation. The Council on Aging donated $3,000 to the Senior Center for maintenance on the senior citizen van. Finally a donation of $935 came from Rockingham Christian


Church to benefit the recreation department and assist families with summer program registration. “We know it’s kind of tough for families to afford programs for their kids,” said Steve Cullum of Rockingham Christian Church. The funds came from the proceeds of the church’s annual Salem Fest 5K road race.


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Best Yet - Tail On 31-40ct COOKED SHRIMP $7.88/lb. bag


MOZZARELLA BALLS $4.99/lb.


BelGioioso FRESH


GARDEN SALAD 2/$3


Fresh Express /12 oz. Serino's - Cheese or Spinach


HOMEMADE RAVIOLI2/$5 16oz.


Freda Smith and Janet, her daughter 5 lbs. or More - 75% Lean


GROUND BEEF $1.88/lb.


FRESH Plain or Marinated


TENDERLOIN $2.99/lb.


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TOMATOES $1.99 28oz.


PORTERHOUSE STEAK $8.88/lb.


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LONDON BROIL $3.33/lb.


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Sale Dates: Sunday, December 26th- Friday, December 31st,2010 USDA - Beef Tenderloin


STUFFED SCALLOPS 2/$6 4oz. ea.


Gourmet Iceberg


LETTUCE 98¢/head


BROWN EGGS $1.49 doz.


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IBC ROOT BEER


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Certified Angus Beef® $18.88 lb. 5 lb. Bag


MIGNON $6.99/lb.


FILET CHICKEN WINGS WHOLE


$1.59/lb. Boneless - Family Pack


CENTER CUT PORK CHOPS $2.19/lb


Christmas Eve Hours: New Year’s Eve Hours:


Sunday, Dec. 26th 12 pm - 7 pm


7am- 5pm • CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY 8am- 5pm • CLOSED NEW YEAR’S DAY


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