Pelham - Windham News 2 - March 4, 2011


Students Hone Babysitting Skills at Pelham Library by Karen Plumley Certified Red Cross Instructor Jennifer Munroe of Nashua’s NH


Gateway Chapter of the American Red Cross led the way in a day-long babysitting course for tweens and teens at the Pelham Public Library on Tuesday, February 22. The American Red Cross Babysitter’s Training included instruction on how to supervise children and infants, perform basic child- care skills such as diapering and feeding, and identifying and responding to such emergencies as choking and allergic reactions. Twenty students


were given a combination of verbal and video instruction, and they were required to participate in childcare role-playing scenarios throughout the day. Course attendees were happy to demonstrate all they learned as the class time came to a close, including the two right ways of picking up an infant, as well as how to handle an unconscious, choking child.


10, pointed out that she was “… surprised that we were going to be using real baby dolls for feeding and changing diapers. We learned all about how to pick them up properly, too.”


During the last half-hour of class, students were then required to take an exam before they were awarded their American Red Cross babysitter’s training certificates. The test presented three or four different babysitting scenarios and required students to use the FIND decision-making model to identify the actions they should undertake. In addition to their certificates, attendees were also provided with a babysitter’s training handbook, emergency reference guide, and a CD-ROM of useful tools such as an organizer, resume template, activity booklet, games, songs, and recipes to use during a babysitting gig.


Tatum Corrente, 12, of Methuen feigns choking while Jane Hannon, 12, of Salem provides assistance in the Red Cross Babysitter’s Training held at the Pelham Public Library on Tuesday, February 22


Comments and reactions to the course were all positive. Fifth


graders Julia and Marina White were impressed with the training. “This course is teaching us a lot about babysitting,” noted Julia, while Marina said, “I think it is really fun and educational.” Callie Lindsay,


According to Munroe, she will be running other babysitting courses for kids at the library in April, and possibly in the summer. More future sessions may be


designed to delve deeper into first aid, CPR, and how to handle babysitting a child with disabilities. For information on upcoming library events, call the Pelham Public Library at 635-7581.


Alyssa Janek, 11, of Pelham helps her choking, unconscious infant in a role- playing demonstration during the Red Cross Babysitter’s Training course on Tuesday, February 22, at the Pelham Public Library


Committee Stands Behind Integrity of Community Survey by Barbara O’Brien


Members of the Windham Economic Development Committee are standing behind the integrity of the data compiled during their recent community survey, the purpose of which is to understand and recognize the opinions and desires of Windham residents regarding future development of the town. During the six-week period that the survey was open for input, 520 “unique” responses were received. All responses were monitored for repetition and 10 were determined to be almost identical. Nine of those responses were, therefore, disallowed in computing the final statistics. According to Economic Development Director Laura Scott, committee members feel that there is a 95-percent level of confidence in the survey results. Economic Development Committee Chairman Ralph Valentine said that the survey is one of a number of elements that need to be taken into consideration when


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determining the direction that future development in Windham should take. The survey was conducted late last year using funds from the Department of Transportation’s Community Technical Assistance Program (CTAP). CTAP was created to provide assistance to those communities located along the I-93 corridor, between the Massachusetts State Line and Manchester; the section that is being widened to four lanes in each direction. The survey was created and administered by the Windham Economic Development Department. The survey was available online, as well as through paper copies


made available to the public at various town offices. Surveys were also included in local newspapers. “Controls were in place to assure validity,” Scott said. The closing date for participation was December 31, 2010.


Enterprise Bank helped make our dream come true...


In 2010, the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning estimated that Windham’s population totaled 12,993 residents. Selectman Roger Hohenberger said he believes, however, that the population of Windham is closer to 15,000 residents. Committee Chairman Valentine said, however, that the statistics generated through the survey are reliable, regardless of this possible discrepancy in total population. When asked how much more business growth residents would like to see in Windham, the responses indicated that 21.35 percent would like to see a lot more; 35.36 percent would like to see a little more growth; 17.12 percent would like to keep it the same as it is now; 11.73 percent would like to see a little less growth; 13.85 percent would like to see a lot less growth; and about .58 percent had no opinion. In response to the question regarding whether residents are satisfied with the way in which Windham has developed thus far, 1.92 percent responded that they are extremely satisfied; 22.12 percent said they were satisfied; 29.04 percent said they were somewhat satisfied; 21.54 percent replied that they are somewhat unsatisfied; 14.62 percent said they were unsatisfied; 6.73 percent replied that they were extremely unsatisfied; and 4.04 percent had no opinion.


When questioned about the importance of community preservation, 59.62 percent said it is very important to them; 14.23 percent said it was somewhat important; 13.08 percent of the respondents were neutral; 6.35 percent said it was unimportant to them; and .38 percent gave no answer to the question.


Building the Cyclones Arena in Hudson was a dream the three of us shared for some time. When a number of local banks approached us to provide the financing for a new facility, Enterprise Bank really stood out. Peter Rayno was with us every step of the way, sharing his expertise and providing the resources and connections to meet the immediate needs of our operation.


We’ve experienced firsthand the difference a community-focused bank like Enterprise Bank has made for our business. Our re sponsive, accessible team of bankers, like Matt Bryant and Alvin Oasan, has helped us make local, informed decisions that have had a positive impact on our success!


More importantly, it’s essential that we work with a local bank that offers all the products of the bigger banks, yet is as committed to our business and the Hudson community as we are.


Left to right – Alvin Oasan, Branch Relationship Manager, VP; Joe Flanagan, Owner & Partner, Cyclones Arena; Bill Flanagan, Owner & Partner, Cyclones Arena; Wes Doloff, Owner & Partner, Cyclones Arena and Matthew Bryant, Commercial Lending Officer


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In response to a question regarding the importance of business development impacting the environment, 49.81 percent placed it first; 21.73 percent placed it second; 14.04 percent ranked it third; 7.88 percent placed it fourth; and 6.54 percent put it in fifth place. The impact of business


growth on property values was another element ranked by those who participated in the survey. 64.04 percent thought it was very important; 16.77 percent somewhat important; 7 percent were neutral; 4.43 percent thought it somewhat unimportant; 7.69 percent felt


it was unimportant; and .38 percent didn’t bother responding to the question.


When questioned as to the importance of business growth on the local tax rate, 51.15 percent said it was very important to them; 18.46 percent indicated it was somewhat important; 14.04 percent were neutral in their opinion; 8.27 percent thought it somewhat unimportant; 7.69 percent said it was unimportant; and .38 percent gave no response.


When considering business development in Windham, those


who took the survey were asked to rank the importance of certain factors, such as the number of employees involved in a business (12.12 percent thought very important, 14.81 percent unimportant), pedestrian-friendly access (22.88 percent very important, 14.23 percent unimportant), the physical size of buildings (24.23 percent very important, 8.08 percent unimportant), traffic impact (51.15 percent very important, 5.96 percent unimportant), type of businesses (40.19 percent very important; 7.50 percent unimportant), visual aesthetics (47.50 percent very important, 6.73 percent unimportant), and location within the community (59.23 percent very important; 6.73 percent unimportant). Survey respondents also listed the following aspects as being important to them in regard to future business development in the Town of Windham:


• Impact on the quality of life in residential areas • Community needs and diversity of customer/business wants • Size and/or scale of businesses • Development of the Village Center and pedestrian access • Architecture and appearance • Ownership


As for the types of future business development preferred in


Windham, 31.92 percent said they felt arts, entertainment, and recreation are very important, while 8.85 percent said it was unimportant. As for business, professional, and office space, 35.38 percent said this was important to them, while 7.5 percent said it was unimportant.


Referring to educational types of business enterprises selecting


Windham as their home base, only 24.81 percent said it was an important factor to them, while 7.12 percent said it was not important at all.


In regard to additional finance, banking, or real estate ventures


moving into Windham, only 14.81 percent felt it would be very important, while 11.15 percent thought it totally unimportant. The idea of manufacturing enterprises taking up residence in


Windham generated little support. Only 8.27 percent thought it would be very important, while 36.54 percent thought it to be unimportant.


Additional retail sales and services also didn’t receive


overwhelming support, although almost 45 percent thought this type of development would be either very or somewhat important. Other business suggestions made by survey respondents included additional restaurants, home-based businesses, enterprises that are locally owned, and “Mom and Pop”-type stores. When questioned as to whether or not they would support


development that has a mixture of residential and business uses on the same property, 25.81 percent said “yes,” while 38.71 percent said “no” and 35.48 percent answered “maybe.” Residents were also asked if they would support the expansion of sewer service from Salem into Windham in the Canobie Lake, Shadow Lake, Cobbetts Pond, and Wall Street areas of Windham. 22.88 percent said they would strongly support the expansion, 23.46 percent said they would support the project, 21.37 percent said they had no opinion, and 11.54 percent said they would not support the sewer expansion in these areas. In response to whether or not they would support expansion of


water service with Pennichuck Corporation, along Mammoth Road (Route 128), Route 111, and Range Road, 17.50 percent said they would strongly support the expansion, 24.62 percent said they would support it, 29.62 percent said they had no opinion, and 12.69 percent said they were in opposition. If Windham were fully built out in the future, “what other area community would you like it to resemble?” was another question posed during the survey. Of those who responded, 67 said Andover, MA, 60 said Bedford, 56 said Derry, 46 said Londonderry, 41 said Windham, 34 said Salem, 25 said Exeter, 17 said Hollis, and 10 said Concord, MA.


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Also posed as a question was, “which area community would you least like Windham to resemble when fully developed?” Of the responses, 277 listed Salem, 77 said Derry, 33 said Londonderry, 25 said Nashua, 23 said Windham, 17 said Lawrence, MA, and 16 said Hudson. For additional information on the survey, check out the town’s Website at windhamnh. com, or contact Laura Scott at the Economic Development Department at 432-3806.


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