CHILDREN’S DAY
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Pelham~Windham News
Pelham~Windham News Volume 8 Number 43 May 20, 2011 20 Pages
Happy Birthday, ‘Sweet Mary’
by Doug Robinson And how sweet she is. Over 180 friends and family attended the surprise birthday party hosted in the honor of Mary Griffin’s birthday, which was held at the beautiful Harris’ Pelham Inn. “She thinks she is coming here to receive an award for volunteerism from Salemhaven,” commented Salemhaven Community Liaison Stephanie Micklon. “This is going to be a total surprise.” “There are a lot of important people here tonight to share in Sweet Mary’s birthday party, so, tonight, we are going to check our titles at the door,” commented Micklon, who served as Master of Ceremonies and is a longtime friend of Mary’s. U.S. Congressman Charlie Bass, NH Executive Council Members Ray Wieczorek and John Sununu, and NH State Representative Kevin Waterhouse list only a few of the political dignities who attended to pay tribute to Sweet Mary.
Born in Lynn, MA, Mary Griffin attended Lynn English High School, class of 1943, and continued on to further her education at Pierce Secretarial College. She has been retired from her position as a legal secretary and her position as a District Clerk Secretary. As a Windham resident,
she was a charter member and continues to serve on the Cable Committee. She was the host/emcee for Windham Cable Television for 12 years. Congressman Bass commented that, “I remember my first interview with you when I first got started. Phew. What an interview. I remember as I was walking away that my position in politics could be quickly over after that interview. Nobody can beat your commitment and she is the heart of Windham. The size of this crowd just shows how important she is to us all. She is a great public servant.”
Pelham -see more on page 9 On the bridge, Amber Darisse, Zach Tibault, Alyssa Dearon, Matt Mannelli, Tricia Marsden, Kenny Camacho ECRWSS
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Having received her dozen yellow roses (yellow has the significance of friendship), Mary Griffin and close friend Stephanie Micklon react to the surprise birthday party
Club; Member, Windham Capital Improvement; Member, Windham Crimeline of South New Hampshire; and the Legislative Chair of the Windham Women’s Club.
Sweet Mary also has been a Representative, White House Conference on Aging, 2005; Member, Windham Planning Board; Former Member, Capitol Improvement Committee; Former Member, Conservation Committee; and Former Member, Economic Development. “She used to have a farm stand
where she would sell produce and such from her farm. She trusted everyone. I remember that she would leave a can unattended for folks to drop their money into it. She is so kind
park, paved walking path, covered pavilion/concession stand, and playground areas as the direct result of the gifting of the land from Sweet Mary’s family. For centuries and generations to come, children and adults alike will be able to rest, relax, or simply play in one of Windham’s “Jewels.” However, the night of the ceremony, Sweet Mary was not being recognized for her legacy of life’s political and personal achievements—she was being honored because she is loved. Micklon summed up the evening best by saying, “She is a really good soul.” Another close friend to Mary stated, “When you give to others, it always comes back.” NH State Representative Kevin
Waterhouse commented, “She is the greatest.” For those who wish to sing along with Sweet Mary while she sings, dances, and performs the popular Dean Martin song, “Nobody Loves Me,“ view
http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=FnrBF3dCwws. Here are the words:
You’re nobody ‘til somebody loves you you’re nobody ‘til somebody cares. You may be king, you may possess the world and its gold, but gold won’t bring you happiness when you’re growing old. The world still is the same, you never change it,
Elsie Talanian, Anne Priestley, Stephanie Micklon, and birthday girl Mary Griffin take a moment to enjoy the night planned ahead
For the past 15 years, Sweet Mary has touched the “souls and lives” of many of her constituents as she has served her position as a NH State Representative. As a NH State Representative, she has been elected Deputy Majority Whip as well as Majority Caucus Whip.
Sweet Mary’s list of
organizations, accomplishments, and involvement could fill a phone book: Board of Governors, Vesta Roy Excellence in Public Service, 2004-2006; National Federation of Republican Women, 2000- 2006; Member, Manchester Republican Women’s Club; Member, Nashua Republican Women’s Club; Member, New Hampshire Senior American Pageant; Member, Salem Senior Singers; Member, Salem Veterans of Foreign Wars Sunshine Spreaders; Member, Salem Women’s Club; Member, Seacoast Republican Women’s
and so generous. She has always been giving to others for the 40 years I have known her.” Windham residents today
enjoy Griffin Park’s three baseball fields, soccer field, tennis and basketball courts, in-line skate
As sure as the stars shine above; You’re nobody ‘til somebody loves you, So find yourself somebody to love.
The world still is the same, you never change it,
As sure as the stars shine above; You’re nobody ‘til somebody loves you, So find yourself somebody, find yourself somebody, Find yourself somebody to love.
Melissa Prunier, Katherine Sanscrainte , Alanna Driscoll , Jae Mawby, Matt Raison , Amy Donovan, Ryan Champiny Windham -see more on page 10 A Rebel With a Cause
by Gloria Sullivan With less than a month to go until the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Pelham, cancer awareness is all around us. Pelham resident Rhonda (Park) Palumbo is hoping that this event, which coincides with her own personal cancer battle and her story, will raise awareness to every woman she has a chance to share her story with.
have not spread through the walls of the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue. About one in five new breast cancer cases will be DCIS. Nearly all women diagnosed at this early stage of breast cancer can be cured. Together with her doctor, Palumbo discussed her options. They discussed performing a lumpectomy, which would remove the cancerous tissue, followed by radiation for six weeks and then possibly chemotherapy. She was given a long list of appointments to go to. “I don’t have time for this! I work!” she said exasperatedly. Palumbo had just started a job as a retail manager at Victoria’s Secret in December 2010. Upon learning what radiation can do to the
Rhonda Palumbo, at 36, faced cancer bravely
Palumbo was just 36 when her doctor urged her to have a baseline mammogram. She tried to politely say ‘no,’ but he told her how he has been seeing women as young as her with breast cancer. “I tried to fight him about it because I wasn’t 40 yet and I felt old,” Palumbo admitted. “So I went to appease him because I was always under the impression that you would feel a lump,” she added. In late 2010, Palumbo had her first mammogram and a micro calcification was seen. These are very small bits of calcium that can appear within the soft tissue of your breast. Calcifications are not breast cancer. These aren’t always a sign of breast cancer. Sometimes, calcifications are an indication of a precancerous condition. They appear as white dots on your mammogram. As a precaution, Palumbo was sent for a
Mary Griffin celebrates the moment with U.S. Congressman Charlie Bass, Stephanie Micklon, NH Executive Committee Members Ray Wieczorek and John Sununu
biopsy. She has no family history of breast cancer, she didn’t have a lump, and she was not very worried. Four days later, she received a call to inform her that she had breast cancer. If fact, she had an aggressive type of breast cancer known as Comedo Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer. DCIS means that the cancer cells are inside the ducts, but
body, and what her percentage her chances of cancer’s reappearance, she feared she would be stricken again. “At 36, you have that much longer of a life to get cancer again. I didn’t want to be a three-time survivor of breast cancer. I have two young children, I have a great life, and I wanted to choose life over vanity,” Palumbo explained. She decided to have a double mastectomy to remove her breasts and the cancer completely. “It wasn’t suggested by doctors. I actually brought it up to the doctor after I talked to survivors and did my own research,” she added. Palumbo wanted to be certain that the cancer would not return. “This is the one type of cancer that I can actually remove,” she explained. After her mastectomy, she will only have a 1 percent chance of getting breast cancer again. Although the decision might seem extreme to some, her doctor thought it was a good idea, once Palumbo explained the reasons for her choice. Palumbo’s Pelham friends formed the team “Rhonda’s Rebels” and they will be participating in the Relay for Life to support her cause. Palumbo hopes to participate in the Survivor Lap, an emotional moment for everyone, with other cancer survivors. “I couldn’t ever picture myself as a survivor,” she admitted. Palumbo thinks that often times, women
overlook taking care of themselves and they may skip yearly physical exams because they are so busy taking care of their children. “When we have kids, we will get to a doctor for them, no problem. We’ll go in a heartbeat. But do we take care of ourselves the way we take care of our children? We don’t. So even continued to page 5- Rebel
staff photos by Doug Robinson
staff photos by Len Lathrop
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