Pelham - Windham News 2 - April 15, 2011


Pelham Public Library Hosts Stuffed Animal Sleepover


had committed their time to make sure that when the children left, their prized and treasured stuffed animal would receive proper care and have great time. Upon arrival, children were required to fill out “Stuffed Animal Sleepover Permission Slips” that listed the stuffed animal’s friend’s full name, phone number, stuffed animal’s full name, type of stuffed animal, age, allergies, hobbies/talents, and favorite type of story. Name tags were created


and children could be seen introducing their stuffed animals to their fellow sleepover stuffed animals. After having read the bedtime story to you and your pal, children were offered a bedtime snack of milk and cookies, and then offered the opportunity to “tuck your animal in for the night, give him/her a final kiss, and then say goodnight.” After the children left,


Children fill out the proper paperwork as they participate in the Pelham Library’s Stuffed Animal Sleepover


by Doug Robinson The Pelham Public Library recently hosted their first Stuffed Animal Sleepover on Tuesday. Bears and bunnies, pandas and pooches, and stuffed animals large and small were brought to the Pelham Library not only for their special sleepover night, but trained teenage babysitters


Ramses Needs Your Help!


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Ramses is a handsome 10 yr young Belgian Malanois Shepherd. This 94lb male shepherd is very active, playful, crate trained and housebroken. Ramses loves to go for walks and car rides. He is very social with people of all ages. He has been the only family dog and has lived with the family cats. He prefers to be the dominant dog. He has been a healthy dog with no special diet or medications.


Ramses has


been with his family since he was a puppy. He will soon be losing his home as his owner has become very allergic to dogs and can no longer keep him. Time is of the essence for this boy. If you are able to either adopt or foster him, please fill out a foster or adoption request form at www.arnne.org or call the shelter at 603-233-4801 and a volunteer will return your call. Ramses will be at our April 16 Pet Adop- tion Day from 11:00 – 2:00 at the First Congrega- tional Church in Pelham…..please stop by to meet him and get ready to fall in love!


volunteers made sure that all the needs for the stuffed animals were taken care of. Volunteers helped the stuffed animals fill out a personal journal of their Library stay. Each animal answered the questions of “Wow, I had so much fun! First I …,” and “then, I …,” and “the best part was that I made so many new friends. The library sure is a cool place to


hang out.” Each stuffed animal personally signed their sleepover journal. Children returned to the library the next morning to pick up their friend and received their personal journal.


St. Patrick Students Perform Pirates! The Musical


Bottom row: Michela Ferris, Jessica Fox, Kelly McDermott, Julia Vawter. Top row: Elizabeth Burgess, Ashley Pelletier, Allison Newey, Haley Ferrara, and Stephanie Rossmeisl


by Robyn Hatch St. Patrick School held two incredible performances of Pirates! The Musical at Sherburne Hall in Pelham this past weekend. The musical weaves a story about a boisterous, zany pirate crew with a stowaway on board, and the pirates make their way to a singing contest, but encounter a little problem. This 40-minute, kid-friendly musical is written


by John Jacobsen and Roger Emerson, and was performed by St. Patrick students under the direction of Director Amy Morello and Assistant Director Lori McDermott, both teachers at the school. Guided by their enthusiastic directors, the young performers worked diligently to prepare as part of their extracurricular activities.


Students/cast members were: Catherine Santangelo, Shawn McDermott,


Morgan Walsh, Jillian Eaves, Alex Merrill, Ryan Ferrara, Olivia Koravos, Kiera Bussie, Emily Lalmond, Maura Bussietre, Christina Clark, Cody Fox, Allison Newey, Jessica Fox, Danielle Zajchowski, Colin Ferris, Michela Ferris, Kelly McDermott, Stephanie Rossmeisl, Elizabeth Burgess, Eric Cieszynski, Ashley Pelletier, Julia Vawter, Baylee Duarter, Nicole DeFranzo, Haley Ferrara, Sidney Bavin, Kristina Bebirian, and Madison Trepanier.


Approximately 180 turned out for the weekend’s two performances, and were treated to an entertaining delight of a show.


Concerns Voiced about International Field Trips


by Barbara O’Brien The Windham High School band and choir’s proposed excursion to Puerto Rico next year has raised some concerns among certain parents and School Board members.


Last month, Dean of Students Karen Sayward proposed the trip to Puerto Rico, tentatively slated for April 2012. Close to 100 students, plus teachers, chaperones, and nurses would participate in the trip, Sayward told School Board members. “The trip would be well planned and well thought-out, resulting in an exceptional experience,” she promised administrators. Sayward did admit, however, that such a “field trip” is a big undertaking, but says she has done similar trips in the past and is confident in the New York-based tour company with which she is planning the five-day/four-night journey. “Safety and security are of paramount importance,” she said. After listening to Sayward’s presentation in March, School Board members voted unanimously to allow her “to move forward” with the planning process. The topic came up again, however, at the April 5 School Board session, during the public address portion of the meeting. Parent and former School Board member Beverly Donovan came to the podium and told school


administrators that she has serious concerns about getting a group of high school kids through airports and several flights in a safe and non- stressful manner. The only other long-distance trip taken by high school students was to Florida, she said, and that was by tour bus. Donovan said other parents have expressed similar concerns to her in the past couple of weeks. “I’m not trying to squash this trip, but a more stringent [international field trip] policy needs to be put in place,” Donovan said, adding that Puerto Rico is not the only international trip planned. Trips are also being planned for Windham High School students to travel to Scotland, Italy, and Spain, she added. Donovan was also concerned about the early deposit being expected from students going to Puerto Rico; a date she feels is premature with so many details not finalized yet. Donovan said she had been told that the deposit had to be handed in by April 11. Windham High Principal Tom Murphy seemed surprised by the April 11 deadline for a deposit from students. “A drop- dead deadline is non-existent,” Murphy said. “I have not signed any document” to that effect, he explained. School Board member Jeff Bostic said he totally agreed with Donovan’s concerns. “There


are multiple pieces of policy that need to be better defined,” Bostic said. “We need our ducks in order before we proceed,” he commented. Bostic also said he is very worried about the cost of the trip, one that is estimated to total between $1,300 and $1,400 per student. “This is a big economic hit for a lot of families,” he stated. “I don’t want these trips to be a matter of the haves versus the have-nots,” he said. Tentative plans include students spending time


studying at the Conservatory of Puerto Rico. “We are already penciled in for an outdoor concert,” Sayward said. Plans also include visiting Old San Juan, as well as the rainforest and other cultural centers.


Bostic also took exception with some of the plans slated for the Puerto Rican visit, saying that he believes these trips need to be primarily educational, not tourism. He said he wants to see more musically oriented events on the agenda, rather than visiting historical places. School Board Chairman Ed Gallagher asked administrators to redraft the relevant policies for field trips, adding that he hopes the draft proposals will be available at the School Board’s next work session later this month. In the meantime, no date has been set for the required deposit.


Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce to Hold Business After Hours & Annual Meeting


The Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly Business After Hours & Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 20, at the Used Book Superstore located at 419 South Broadway. The event is being co-sponsored by Balducci’s Pizza in Salem and all members of the Chamber are welcome. Business After Hours is 5:30-7:30 p.m. At the Business After Hours, Chamber volunteers will be selling


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tickets to the Platinum Sports Raffle, which offers a Grand Prize of a pair of tickets each to a Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, and Boston Bruins game in 2011. The First Prize is a luxury suite for 18 at a New Hampshire Fisher Cats game this season, and the Second Prize is a family four-pack to both a Fisher Cats and Manchester Monarchs game in 2011. Anyone who is not a member of the Chamber


may also purchase sports raffle tickets at the office located in Salem’s Depot Square or by


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