Hudson - Litchfield News January 14, 2011 - 3


The Word Around Town... Letters to our Editor


Reaching Out for Support This spring I will be walking nearly 40 miles over the course of


two days as a participant in the Boston Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. I am honored to be walking with thousands of others who have made the same courageous commitment: to help raise awareness and funding for this devastating disease. Two years ago, my mom was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ—a type of breast cancer found in the lining of the breast tissue. After an emotional bout with surgeries and procedures, our family learned just days before this past Christmas that my mom’s mammogram results came back clean. We were overwhelmed with joy!


In May, I will walk in honor of my mom—my best friend and the most courageous woman I know.


I’ve committed to raising $1,800


for this event, which will be used to help advance medical research, and provide medical care, support services, educational seminars, and early detection programs. To support my efforts, please go to www.avonwalk.org and click “Boston” and then “Donate Now.” You can then type in my name: “Samantha Arroyo.” This will take you to my personal page where you can make an online donation. Your gift will be appreciated more than I can possibly tell you.


Samantha Arroyo - Hudson


Response to Cutting $100K for Police Budget


A letter to the editor authored by Tom Alciere was published in


the January 7 edition of the Hudson~Litchfield News. He suggested that we could cut $100K from the town’s police budget by not enforcing drug and alcohol laws. I would be remiss if I didn’t respond, as I am the Selectmen’s liaison to the Hudson Police Department. What Mr. Alciere fails to recognize is that the Constitution allows for the Judicial Branch of government to interpret the laws that are implemented and to reject any law it deems unconstitutional. Drug and liquor laws are on the books in order to protect our citizens from one who would “infringe” on our right to live a peaceable and harmonious coexistence with each other. We, the overwhelming majority of citizens of Hudson, want to


enjoy the freedom to transport ourselves without the worry of an impaired driver killing one of us. We, the people, want to be safe in our homes and not feel the threat that an impaired person would enter our home and cause our families or us harm. Mr. Alciere, know that the $100K is well-spent money, and also realize when you read of someone being harmed or killed as a result of an impaired person’s lack of responsibility to adhere to the laws of the land, that, “but there for the grace of God go I.” It is money well spent, and be grateful that our police force is out there, on a daily basis, enforcing these legitimate laws.


Selectman Roger E. Coutu - Hudson


Residents to Vote on Cost of Living Increase


So Superintendent Elaine Cutler found a way to cut the school budget by removing 33 jobs. And the School Board has frozen all salary increases. Well, it’s about time. Now, Superintendent Elaine Cutler wants us to vote on a warrant article for a one-percent Cost of Living increase adjustment for employees not included in the teachers’ union. An increase of just $38,547. I say, super idea, and I can tell you where to find that money for that one-percent increase. Litchfield School Administrative Unit #27 Staff – 2009-2010 Total Salary for seven individuals: $529,409. A 7.3 percent cut of the Litchfield School Administrative Staff Salary would yield $38,646.86, thereby meeting your required one- percent increase in Cost of Living for employees not included in the teacher’s union. You want them to have a cost of living increase? Take it from your salaries. Yes, I am retired; I live on a fixed income. No, I did not get a Cost of Living in my Social Security for the past two years. Put your warrant article away.


Francis H. Dube - Litchfield


Transition to High School is Essential to Success


Every spring, thoughts of a new incoming freshman class prompt the beginning of a transition plan that runs for an entire year. Teachers and administrators at Hudson Memorial School and Alvirne High School recognized years ago that if a student felt comfortable in their transition from one building to the next, it helped in their ability to focus on their schoolwork. This transition process begins with a curriculum review, which culminates in the development of the annual Program of Studies at Alvirne. This document, prepared in January, provides detailed information about every class available for students to take at the high school. The department heads at each building then meet to review any changes in the curriculum that may have been proposed since last year, as well as to meet to review the proper offerings within each department. Course selection materials are then sent to the schools that send their students to Alvirne. These schools include Hudson Memorial and the Presentation of Mary Academy, to name a few. Alvirne High School hosts their annual Eighth Grade Parent night, which is a great opportunity for parents of the incoming freshman class to hear from the department heads regarding curriculum. That night also gives parents the opportunity to see the clubs, activities, and sports that are available for their students. Parents are also encouraged to sign up for a counseling appointment for early April. During these meetings, the parents and student meet with their school counselor to complete the course selection process for the upcoming year. In early March, the eighth graders are presented with key information regarding academic opportunities, academic expectations, extracurricular options, and behavioral expectations. Once scheduling process for the incoming freshmen is complete, we look forward to the start of the new school year in the fall. Freshmen and their parents are welcomed to the school during Freshman First Night, held typically the Thursday before school opens in September. Students receive a copy of their schedule and then follow an abbreviated bell schedule that night. This gives the student the ability to meet each teacher they have, find out where their classes are, find their locker, and just walk around Alvirne. Once the school year begins, Alvirne’s school counselors meet with every freshman through a variety of in-class and individual appointments through mid-year, when the process resets itself for the next incoming class. Students are always welcome to meet with their counselor as needs arise and the counselors strongly encourage parent involvement at any time. It is this attention to detail we hope makes the move from middle school to high school less stressful and truly more enjoyable. This year’s 8th grade parent


night will be held on February 9 from 6:30 until 9 p.m. at the high school. For more information, please call 886- 1260, extension 2506 or 2507.


William R. Hughen, Alvirne High School, District Director of Guidance - Hudson


We Should Enforce Drug


and Alcohol Laws


I read with great interest a letter in last week’s paper to titled “How to cut $100K from the Budget.” The writer says that can be done by not enforcing drug and alcohol laws. He further goes on to say that “Nobody thinks the government has any right to impose drug control laws.” I do think the government has that right. In most cases, laws are put in place for the greater good—people’s actions affect other people. If an individual lived on an island and their actions had no effect on anyone else, then whatever they do is okay. That is not the case of a person under the influence of alcohol or drugs and if they are driving or whatever the case—it can have disastrous effects on other people. As a person who in a past life had to deal with these issues, I can guarantee that drugs and alcohol were a huge factor in the majority of issues I had to deal with. I understand what is perceived as the futility in any progress in the pursuit of these laws, but I don’t think that is any reason to give up. Every time a drunk driver or someone under the influence is stopped, the potential for a life to be saved or some other negative behavior to be stopped exists. I, for one, am okay with that.


Bob Olson - Hudson


Holiday Gift Tag Program Thank-You On behalf of all of us here at St. Joseph Community Services,


the provider of Meals on Wheels in Hillsborough County, I would like to thank the community for their tremendous generosity to our annual Holiday Gift Tag Program. Because of the kindness of many individuals and over 70 businesses, organizations, and churches, every single one of our 1,331 homebound and disabled Meals on Wheels participants received a little bit of holiday cheer along with their hot meal and daily safety check. The average age of our homebound participant is 80 and the majority of them live alone. Each of these participants received a small gift bag including much-needed and appreciated necessities such as soaps, snacks, scarves, and warm blankets. This thank-you letter recently arrived in our mailbox: “I am writing to you to thank you for the Christmas gifts you give to us, mine was a beautiful afghan, you just don’t know how I appreciated it, I would like to thank Meals on Wheels for their meals and for the excellent service that we get.” Another thank-you that we received says: “I just love the hat and gloves and the throw is perfect for these cold nights – I like to sit up and read! Thank you so much. Meals on Wheels are just great for me.” If you would like to help us continue to make a difference in the life of a homebound neighbor, please donate online at www.mealsonwheelsnh.org or mail a check to us at St. Joseph Community Services, PO Box 910, Merrimack, NH 03054.


Paula J. Telage, Development Manager, St. Joseph Community Services - Merrimack


Full-Day Kindergarten for Litchfield?


It was close, but fortunately for all of us, not now; at least not without the voters’ approval. Which is the way it should be. But it is not the way the Litchfield School Board would have liked it to be. You see, the Litchfield School Board, on December 15, voted to approve a full-day kindergarten program for our school system. They made the claim that a full-day kindergarten program would be a winning situation for all of Litchfield, but could not elaborate as to how.


Our School Board really wanted this—so much so that they chose to not ask for any community participation or even permission from the voters. Instead, during the December 15 School Board meeting, they spent all of 25 minutes discussing this new and expanded program, and voted to quickly get it into the budget. Fortunately for all of us, the following night when the School Board was asking the budget committee to approve the funds for this new program, level heads prevailed and the budget committee did not allow those funds to be placed into the budget. Instead, the budget committee reminded the School Board that this is a new and expanded program and the voters should be asked to vote via a warrant article.


A 2003 and 2004 warrant article was referenced clearly stating


that any new or expanded programs are to be approved via a warrant article instead of being voted in by our five-member School Board. It wasn’t until the Principal of Griffin Memorial School (GMS) clearly expressed his concerns for the second time to the School Board in regard to this proposal, as well as our BA saying there were some costs that were not accounted for in their very limited research with this new program, did the School Board make the decision to drop this proposal for now and begin doing legitimate research before presenting it to the voters next year. I know this is the first time the vast majority of you are hearing that we were so close to offering a full-day, non-mandated kindergarten program here in Litchfield. Which is the reason why it is so important that you spend a few moments of your very valuable time and watch the Board meetings. It is our complacency that sometimes allows this School Board to interpret our warrant articles to mean whatever it is they want them to mean instead of obeying the will of the voters.


But most important, please don’t forget to vote this March 8.


This new and expanded full-day kindergarten program may be the greatest thing for this town while costing the taxpayers very little, or it may be a huge tax burden and a costly, ineffective debacle.


continued to page 5


Dependable, Professional, Dentistry Here for you when YOU need care!


Your smile is one of the first things people notice. If you want a beautiful healthy smile and exceptional dental health, visit Columbus Dental Care where Drs. Joe and Dori's caring team strive to provide patients in Hudson the highest quality, most comfortable dental care in a relaxing, state-of-the-art environment. Columbus Dental Care can give you the beautiful, healthy smile you deserve with advanced restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Local, dependable care for you and your family!


High Tech Dentistry for


Your Beautiful Smile • Laser Tooth Preparation • One Visit Crowns • Digital X-Rays


• New 3D Digital Panoramic X-Ray


Little Extras:


• DVD/CD Players in Treatment Rooms • Headphones • Refreshments • Outside Financing Information Avail. • Courtesy Insurance Processing


Dr. Joseph V. Columbus Dr. Dori Lang Columbus


DISCOVER A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF DENTAL CARING BROOK PLAZA • 30 LOWELL ROAD HUDSON • NH


Orthodontics for all ages!


Replace Missing Teeth! Dr. Dori Columbus is now accepting


patients for phase I (early treatment) and phase II orthodontics.


Call now for your orthodontic consultation!


Many adults are looking for relief from ill fitting dentures or missing teeth.Dental Implants could be the solution.


Call Dr. Joe Columbus for your Implant Consultation.


COLUMBUS DENTAL CARE, P.L.L.C. www.Columbus-Dental.com 882-9955


Combined Over 30 Years of Experience


We accept


CareCredit as a payment option.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16