Hudson - Litchfield News January 14, 2011 - 11


Thumbs Up? Thumbs Down?


Comments expressed in this column are the sole views of those callers and do not reflect the views of the Hudson~Litchfield News or its advertisers. Town and school officials encourage readers to seek out assistance directly to resolve any problems or issues. The Hudson~Litchfield News editorial staff holds the right to refuse any comment deemed inappropriate.


“Thumbs down, way down to a local golf course and paving company for tearing down one of Litchfield’s oldest barns. That structure was there long before you. The complete disregard for its history and its significance as a reminder of what Litchfield once was is not only classless, but disgustingly ignorant. Buildings such as these should be preserved, especially when those who possess them clearly have the means to do so.”


“Thumbs up to the Hudson Highway Dept. for fixing our mailbox so quickly. My husband and I appreciate it! Thank you.”


“Thumbs down to Alvirne for still allowing girls to wear yoga pants. Mr. Lane recently announced that it isn’t appropriate to substitute leggings as pants, and yoga pants show off just as much as leggings do (the only exception being that they flare out at the bottom). As a student at Alvirne, I’ve noticed that yoga pants are becoming more and more popular, which really doesn’t make sense considering nobody does yoga at school. The school needs to wake up and change the dress code to accommodate this growing trend.”


“Thumbs up to Litchfield


Technology Park. Thank you for always supporting community events and a special thank you for putting ‘Merry Christmas’ on your sign! Litchfield appreciates your efforts!”


“Thumbs down, way, way


down to the nosiest neighbor I have ever encountered. Guess what? No one is perfect, not me, and certainly not you. Instead of passing judgment, please, please look in the mirror. Quit spreading untrue rumors. Have a wonderful day neighbor.”


“Thumbs down. Petty


your thumbs! I totally agree. We live in NH where you do have the space to ride a 4x4, have bonfires, hunt deer and so on ... if you don’t like that - you should live in the city. Have a great winter enjoying the great outdoors!”


“Thumbs down to the person in the Hummer that felt it necessary to park in the handicap space at HMS the night of ski club pick up. Nice example of respect you are teaching our middle school kids.”


Love, Mom and Dad”


“Thumbs down to those who call others Nazis and the other names you used in school.” “Thumbs up to our neighbor on Alvirne Drive


who snow-blowed our driveway while were away after Christmas … love you guys!”


“Thumbs up to Ian … second place in your first tournament. Woo Hoo! You Rock!”


“Thumbs up to all the


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recyclers over the holidays. Nice to see more recycling than trash!”


“Thumbs up for cutting the budget to help hurting family budgets in town. Are we getting what our taxes are paying for? Giving a raise did not get a better teacher just a person showing up.”


“Thumbs


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stuff. The use of the word ‘got’ is ridiculous. How about using ‘Have’- ‘I got so much homework to do’ - ’I have so much homework to do.’ Also, I’ve seen so many times on the news when the reporter or the police, etc., describing the perpetrator as a ‘gentleman.’ Look it up in the dictionary.


expires 1/31/11 With Coupon


It


describes a man of a good breeding or social position (used as a polite term), a civilized, educated, sensitive, or well-mannered man, and a man of good social standing. Sorry folks, it’s been bugging me.”


“Thumbs up to the Snow Show guy ... I loved


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“Thumbs down to Alvirne High with the new dress code! Thanks for the short notice and notice after Christmas. So happy you think we have money to go buy my daughter new clothes especially after the holidays. Not all the girls in school were letting it all hang out. It’s not right to punish the whole school or the parents’ wallets. They should go on strike!”


“Thumbs up to our daughter, Katie, for making High Honors on the Dean’s List at UNH for the 2010 fall semester. We are so proud of you!


down to the Hudson School Committee. You were the single cause of our recent $250 per home property tax increase. Now you try to cover up your pillaging of the taxpayers by


AAU, you are automatically worthy enough of being on a school team sport. If you are terrible and your parents are involved with Booster or in someone’s face in the AD’s office, you’re on the team of your choice. Wake up parents. All this complaining about drug dealers and alcohol … blah blah blah. It rings true that if you kiss the butt of the big wigs in Litchfield sports, your kid can be on any team they want. Litchfield is known for its shady sports politics from the Rec league right through to the school teams, and the fact that you have to have money to be considered good at anything is sad. No wonder why all of your kids expect to complain and get what they want … you’re teaching them to be that way. Leave the kids alone parents because you are allowing them to be spoiled and feel entitled.”


“Thumbs down to the poor excuse for a man


coaching Litchfield Basketball in the 3/4 boys division who was such a coward and being so negative to the 15-year-old girls doing the best


of the person or persons that broke into the cars and garage located at 5 Adams Dr. in Hudson, NH on the early morning of January 3rd.


Power tool, hand tools and automotive tools stolen as well as various items from our vehicles.


$500 Reward 603-809-5051


for the arrest and conviction


making a few paltry budget cuts that take a mere $1 off our bill. Well I have some sad news for you. The taxpayers aren’t the fools you take them for. Come March we will remember what you did to us and render unto you the ‘shellacking’ you so richly deserve. Come March, once again, the rallying cry will be heard, ‘Throw The Bums Out!’”


“Thumbs up to Becky and Molly for returning to CHS to visit their favorite guidance department! We know it was hard and Becky wanted to use the side entrance so she would not be seen, but we really appreciate it! Molly, were you able to complete your tour of the New England states?”


“Thumbs down to the person (or parent) posing as a CHS student athlete in last week’s thumbs. Most of us student athletes, as well as our parents, know that the teams you get on and the playing time you get has nothing to do with drugs or partying. It has to do with the typical Litchfield sports politics of who knows who. It doesn’t matter how good you are at any given sport … easily put … if your parent complains, you’re not on JV basketball, you get on the team. If you play


Places to Go … People to See


January 15: Full Moon Snowshoe Hikes, Hollis, NH. How often do you take time to enjoy the beauty of the night? Winter evenings are a unique time to get outside and explore the woods and sky.


Join Beaver Brook staff


on the near full moon Friday nights of January and February for a spectacular guided walk on Beaver Brook’s trails. We will conclude our night hike with warm cocoa and cookies back in the warmth of Maple Hill Farm. Or if it is a balmy, calm winter night, we can enjoy a campfire outside with our beverages. Fee includes use of snowshoes; conditions permitting. 7-9 p.m. Maple Hill Farm. (603) 465- 7787; e-mail: info@beaverbrook.org. January 17-29: Stowe Winter Carnival, Stowe, VT. A fun-filled, town- wide festival of entertaining events, including snow volleyball, snow golf, ski races, kid’s activities, ice carving, a “village night” family block party, and live music. (802) 253-7321; stowewintercarnival.com. January 21: Fiddler on the Roof, Lowell, MA. Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, this musical has been lauded by critics again and again, and won the hearts of people all around the world. A perennial hit since it first opened in 1964, Fiddler on the Roof has enjoyed critical acclaim for bringing to the stage a poignant story about the enduring bonds of the family. 8 p.m. Lowell Memorial Auditorium. (978) 454-2299; www. lowellauditorium.com. January 21-23: Knitting Weekend at Slater Mill, Pawtucket, RI. America’s most famous Colonial-era factory, the birthplace of America’s Industrial Revolution, hosts fiber-arts presentations, demonstrations, vendors,


raffles, swaps, workshops, and more. (401) 725-8638; slatermill.org. January 28-30: Sled Dog Dash, East Burke, VT. Friday night, Burke Mountain Lodge hosts a dinner benefiting the proposed Northeast Kingdom community center, followed by a Chinese auction; Saturday and Sunday, head out to Kingdom Trails to watch those puppies run. (888) 287- 5388, (802) 626-7300; skiburke.com, sleddogdash.com. January 28-February 6: Our Town, Portsmouth, NH. Marguerite Mathews and Greg Gathers perform their acclaimed two-person staging of Thornton Wilder’s masterpiece at the Pointine Theatre. (603) 436-6660; pointine.org. February 3: Herbal Moisturizers, Hollis, NH. Learn the art of making herbal moisturizer so you can make custom blends with the oils and scents of your choice. We will create a moisturizer in class; learn about some herbs and oils that heal dry, chapped skin. Participants will take a sample jar home with them along with the basic recipe. Admission fee. 7-8:30 p.m. Beaver Brook Association. (603) 465- 7787; www.beaverbrook.org; e-mail: info@beaverbrook.org. February 5: Midwinter Chocolate Fest, Portland, CT. Treat your sweetie and your sweet tooth at First Congregational Church. Visit the “Chocolate Mouse Café,” check out the bake sale and Valentine gifts, peruse the crafts, and keep the little ones happy with the fair’s kid’s games. (860) 342-1111. February 10-14: Winter Carnival, Ludlow, VT. Snow-sculpture competition, parade, fireworks, old- fashioned hot dog roast, and s’mores


are some of the offerings at Okemo Mountain Resort. (802) 228-5830; yourplaceinvermont.com. February 12: Colebrook Winter Carnival, Colebrook, NH. An all-day festival at Colebrook Country Club, including the “Little Jack Frost and Snowflake pageant,” ice carving, bocce and cribbage tournaments, snowshoe and snowtube relays, dog sledding, and more. (800) 698-8939; (603) 237- 8939; northcountrychamber.org. February 12: Chris Smither, Middlebury, VT. The veteran folk/blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter performs as part of the After Dark Music Series at United Methodist Church. (802) 388-0216; afterdarkmusicseries.com. February 12-13: LEGO Train, Wenham, MA. Watch the New England LEGO Users Group’s intricate model train run through the landscape at the Wenham Museum. (978) 468- 2377; wenhammuseum.org. February 15: Picture Book Bohemia: The Reys of Greenwich Village, Waterville Valley, NH. In this illustrated talk, Leonard Marcus considers Greenwich Village during the 1940s as a creative quarter for children’s books. Here was the home not only of Curious George creators Margret and H. A. Rey, but also Robert McCloskey, author of Make Way for Ducklings, and Goodnight Moon author Margret Wise Brown, among other legendary children’s book authors. 7 p.m. Margret & H. A. Rey Center. (603) 236-3308; www. thereycenter.org. February 18: Food History Mysteries, Watertown, MA. The Commander’s Mansion hosts food writer Sandy Oliver, who answers some of the


culinary world’s most puzzling questions, including “Where are the plums in plum pudding?” and “Is there meat in mincemeat?” A wine- and-cheese reception is included in the admission price. (617) 972-8300; revels.org. February 18: Caesar: The Man from Venus, Amherst, NH. Meet Caesar as he grows up in a Rome that is recovering from one civil war and headed for another. Meet the powerful women in his life who help him achieve his destiny: his mother Aurelia, his aunt Julia, his wives, and his great love Servilla. This is the man who claims descent from the Goddess Venus herself. We watch his rise to power in Rome, his great adventures, his time in Gaul and finally, after he crosses the Rubicon, his war with Pompey that will leave him the most powerful man in the world. We see him as Venus joined with Cleopatra Isis. Here is your opportunity to ask the great man the questions of his time and how they relate to ours. Sebastian Lockwood portrays Caesar in this living history program. 7 p.m. Amherst Town Library. (603) 673-2288. February 18: Indian Stream Republic, Merrimack, NH. Much of what is now Pittsburg, NH, was once a self-described independent nation that called itself the “Indian Stream Republic.” Its citizens wrote a constitution, established courts, elected legislative officials, and challenged their neighbors, Canada and the United States, to justify their claims to authority in the area. The republic, in some form, lasted nearly a decade. This program is presented by Jere Daniell, Dartmouth College, and hosted by the Merrimack Historical


Society. 7 p.m. Merrimack Library. (603) 424-5084. February 18-27: Newport Winter Festival, Newport, RI. Celebrate winter in the “City by the Sea” with special performances, chili and pizza cook- offs, restaurant deals, a children’s fair, live music, and more. (401) 847-7666; newportevents.com/winterfest. February 20: Understanding the Movies: The Art of Film, Salem, NH. Film is a powerful medium, generating billions of dollars and untold hours of entertainment around the world. Understanding how film creates and delivers ideas and how it shapes and reflects popular attitudes adds to our appreciation of the cinematic experience. Increase your film vocabulary and have fun discussing movies together. 7 p.m. Kelley Library. (603) 898-7064. February 25: Susannah Johnson: an English Captive Among the Abenaki and French, Laconia, NH. In a dawn raid on August 30, 1754, the Johnson family was captured by a group of Abenaki. Susannah Johnson was nine months pregnant at the time. The incident began an extraordinary journey that forced Susannah to navigate the cultural waters of three societies: English, Abenaki, and French. 6:30 p.m. Laconia Library. (603) 524-4775, ext. 15. February 24-27: Connecticut Flower Show, Hartford, CT. “Capture the Magic” is the theme for this year’s extravaganza, when 250 booths and scores of landscaped garden displays will take over three acres of the Connecticut Convention Center. Seminars and demonstrations, too. (860) 844-8461; ctflowershow.com.


they could to learn how to referee. You are the wrong type of person to be in front of kids and have seen your act around baseball too. What an embarrassment you are to the town and your family. The referees (13-16 years old) do the best they can and you cannot see past your poor coaching to be a little bit considerate to the girls trying to develop this skill. You add no value to the process, set a bad example and should not be around children in any function.”


“Thumbs down to the intersection at Wason Road/Musquash Road/Bush Hill Road. There have been so many accidents there it would be nice to see the town do something. If you agree, let me know.”


“Thumbs up to the education around here, to


the Litchfield residents, to the Litchfield town, everything here. I’ve been here for about four years and love it. Unbelievable! I’m glad I made the choice to reside here. My son is in school here and he loves it, it’s just amazing! So huge ‘thumbs up’ to everything in Litchfield!”


Tank you for your submissions. All comments, thumbs up or down, are anonymous and not written by the Hudson~Litchfield News staff. Tumbs comments can be sent via telephone, 880-1516 or emailed to us at thumbs@areanewsgroup.com. When submitting a Tumbs comment, please specify that you would like it printed in the Hudson~Litchfield News. No names are necessary. Please keep negative comments to the issue. Comments should be kept to 100 words or less.


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