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Pelham~Windham News
Members Selected for SAU Study Committee
by Barbara O’Brien This past March, the majority
of Windham voters approved establishing another committee to study the pros and cons of maintaining a two-school-district School Administrative Unit (SAU), comprised of Pelham and Windham.
A similar study was approved
by voters and conducted about three years ago. At the time, based on the results of that study, School Board members from both Pelham and Windham agreed with the recommendation that SAU 28 remain a dual-town entity and not go their separate ways. Their decision was based on both financial and educational reasoning. They felt that shared resources was beneficial to both school districts and their students. The latest committee formation came about due to a citizen petition authored by former School Board member and chairman Barbara Coish and
signed by at least 25 registered Windham voters. The petition called for the selection of committee members to be made by Windham School District Moderator Betty Dunn. During the School Board meeting that was held on May 3, Chairman Ed Gallagher announced the names of the members chosen previously by Dunn. Representing the Windham School Board on the newly formed study committee are Vice Chairman Bruce Anderson and School Board member Michelle Farrell. Committee members from the community-at-large are former Center School Principal Andrew Desrosiers, former School Board member Richard Horrigan, Guy Mulder, Patrick Robertson, and Kurt Simione.
A date has not yet been set for the first meeting of the SAU Study Committee. These meetings will, however, be open to the public.
Grant Could Give WIRE Project Major Boost
by Barbara O’Brien The competition might be heated, but members of the non- profit Windham organization dubbed “WIRE” believe they have a chance to be awarded a significant chunk of the $1 million grant being put up by the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (NHUPC). Alan Carpenter, founder of “WIRE,” an acronym for Windham Initiative for Renewable Energy, met with School Board members during their May 3 meeting, telling them he had only recently learned of the money being offered by the Public Utilities Commission. “WIRE” could be eligible for as much as $500,000, Carpenter said. “We have no money in hand, yet, but we have applied for the grant,” he added.
“WIRE” was formed for the purpose of promoting alternative energy and providing hands- on learning opportunities for the students at Windham High School. The goal of WIRE is to create a solar and wind energy installation, as well as a weather monitoring station, that together will serve as a testing and learning platform.
“WIRE” is being assisted by
the Windham Endowment for Community Advancement, using its Capital Campaign 2010 to provide WIRE with a fundraising arm. That affiliation has allowed “WIRE” to meet its goal of raising sufficient funds to implement phase one of the project. Together, the Endowment for Community Advancement and “WIRE” sought out ReVision Energy to assist with solar need specifications for this particular grant. ReVision Energy has offices in Portland, ME, and Exeter. The Endowment’s Board of Directors voted to “partner” with “WIRE” back in 2008, when “WIRE” first became an ad hoc committee of the Windham School Board. “As this project would not receive any financial support from the school district in the way of tax dollars, 100 percent of the project costs needed to be raised privately,” Windham Endowment spokesperson Diane Carpenter explained. By working with the
Endowment, “WIRE” received expertise in the area of marketing, fundraising, and grant writing. The Endowment incorporated “WIRE’s” Alpha Project into its own Capital Campaign for Windham High School and with
the hugely successful Stephen O. Anderson matching grant, was able to reach 100 percent of the fundraising goal. “’WIRE’ now has the funds it needs to complete Phase I [the Alpha Project],” Diane Carpenter said. The PUC Grant for $500,000
would allow “WIRE” to implement Phase II of its work and bring real financial savings to Windham High School through the reduction of utility costs, Diane Carpenter noted. In the grant application, Windham High School is requesting the grant to be used for the installation of a 101-kilowatt solar electric array on both its roof and also on a pole mount, in order to maximize both efficiency and visibility. The technology employed is known as photovoltaics. The system proposed would consist of 436 230-watt panels. The primary 101-kilowatt photovoltaic array would be a ballasted roof-mounted system. Output control, monitoring, and inversion equipment would be wall-mounted in a third-floor mechanical room with roof access. Instrumentation would also include a remote monitoring “web box” that would provide access to real-time system performance data to anyone with a web-enabled device. As the high school is situated
on a vast hilltop clearing with ample year-round solar exposure, it is said to be the perfect location for the proposed system. If built as proposed, Alan Carpenter said, it would offset about 137,000 pounds of carbon on an annual basis.
Alan Carpenter said that the
grant process will take about two or three months to finalize. He was uncertain, however, of when an answer would be received, but the decision could be learned by late July. “If we get this grant, the scope of this project will totally change,” Alan Carpenter said. School Superintendent Frank Bass said he was unsure of how much competition there is for the million dollars in grant money statewide. School Board members expressed their appreciation to the members of “WIRE” and the Windham Endowment for Community Advancement for their efforts. “Getting this grant could be a real game-changer,” School Board Chairman Ed Gallagher said. “But win, lose, or draw, there has been a terrific amount of work done by the grant applicants.”
Fran Walsh and George Squires
Police Officer of the Year: This is a shared award between
Detective James Johnson and Detective Sergeant T. J. O’Donnell. Last year, an increase in serious crimes in Pelham due to prescription drug addictions
of Oxycontin was occurring. These two men partnered to conduct a three-month-long investment into the distribution and possession of these controlled drugs. Through their efforts and assistance from patrol officers, eight individuals were arrested and charged
Pelham~Windham News Volume 8 Number 42 May 13, 2011 16 Pages
First VFW Loyalty Day Dinner Presents Awards
by Robyn Hatch The John H. Hargreaves Memorial
VFW Post 10722 and the Ladies Auxiliary welcomed everybody to the First Annual Pelham VFW Loyalty Day Awards Dinner this past weekend. The Color Guard posted the Colors, and then everyone remained standing to sing the National Anthem with pride and listen to the Invocation, which was led by the Post Chaplain and World War II veteran Fran Walsh. Mark McCabe, the current Commander, and his wife, Rita, spoke a few words to help recognize some special citizens of Pelham that have made a difference for the betterment of the community. Next came the introductions of the Department of NH VFW and Ladies Auxiliary State Officers and recognition of State Representative Shawn Doherty and the Pelham Selectmen. An excellent buffet followed, which included everything from salad to dessert.
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PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
HUDSON, NH 03051
PERMIT NO. 33 Postal Customer
Gene Carter (Adjutant Trustee), Dot Carter (Chaplain), Rita Daigle (Guard), and Diane Brunelle (Treasurer, Ladies Auxiliary)
with various Oxycontin-related crimes. This type of action created a productive dialogue among community members regarding the common availability and dangerousness of Oxycontin abuse. Through their proactive actions and determination, Detective Johnson and Detective Sergeant O’Donnell showed incredible dedication to ensuring the safety of Pelham citizens. These two men will both receive the VFW’s Police Officer of the Year awards. Firefighter of the Year: Firefighter/Paramedic Rob Horne has been serving on Pelham’s Fire Department since 2004. Having earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, he is also a Nationally Registered Paramedic, NH Firefighter III Trench Rescue, Qualified drive/operator of all vehicles with pumpers, NH wild land firefighter, and is certified in HazMat Operations. Horne is dedicated, committed, and constantly excelling. He completed EMT certifications, where two top awards are presented to the class. He has won both top awards, and made Pelham very proud.
continued to page 6- VFW Awards
PES Fifth Graders Graduate from D.A.R.E.
Fifth grader Charlotte Cummings
reads her D.A.R.E. report during the graduation celebration on Friday, May 6, at Pelham Elementary School
Pelham Elementary School fifth-grade students attend the first-ever D.A.R.E. graduation ceremony in the gymnasium on Friday, May 6. On stage are Pelham Police Chief Joseph Roark, Assistant Superintendent Amanda Lecaroz, Officer Ron Page, Officer Brian Kelly, Sergeant Anne Terriault, PES School Guidance Counselor Lisa Laroche, and PES School Principal Alicia LaFrance
by Karen Plumley On Friday, May 6, in the Pelham Elementary School gymnasium, 199 fifth graders, proudly clad in their red D.A.R.E. t-shirts, received their diplomas and a big congratulations from school administrators for their successful completion of the school’s D.A.R.E. program. D.A.R.E., or Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is an educational program designed to give kids the skills necessary
to effectively avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence. A team of specially trained law enforcement officers from the Pelham Police Department taught the nine-week classroom series, including Sergeant Anne Therriault and Officers Ron Page and Brian Kelly. This year’s fifth graders were the first to graduate from this internationally recognized effort. “The decision-making model that was taught engaged students in life situations, helped kids learn how to recognize good friends from bad friends, and gave them the tools to be successful for life,” stated Sergeant Therriault in her congratulatory speech. Officer Page added that they could not have asked for a better group of students. The D.A.R.E. mascot—Daren the Lion—was a symbol of
inspiration for the students throughout the program. “The reason why Daren is a lion is because lions travel in prides, and his message is to take ‘pride’ in good decisions,” explained Officer Kelly, who is slated to become the district’s new school resource officer in the fall. During the hour-long ceremony, several students performed skits and songs, and read their D.A.R.E. reports. Notably, fifth grader Charlotte Cummings stated in her D.A.R.E. project that she gained “the knowledge and bravery” to do the right thing going forward.
Fifth grader Diana Sauer receives a congratulatory handshake and her D.A.R.E. certificate of completion from Sergeant Anne Terriault
After the student presentations, Assistant Superintendent Amanda Lecaroz spoke to the students about entering into middle school, stating that, “the decisions you make can either keep doors open or close them forever. It is always better to have doors that are open than closed.”
May is
staff photos by Karen Plumley
staff photos by Robyn Hatch
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