Salem Community Patriot | September 16, 2011 - 3


The Word Around Town... Letters to our Editor


Rockingham County’s High Sheriff to Meet with Windham Republican Town Committee


Te Windham Republican Town Committee is pleased


to welcome Rockingham County’s High Sheriff, Mike Downing at their next regular meeting. Te event will be held at the Windham Senior Center at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20. Mr. Downing, formerly the NH State Senator from


Salem, was elected to Sheriff last November after a contentious primary. He will discuss his first year in office, particularly noting how he is managing the budget cuts that have affected his department. Tis program is presented as a public service and is open to all, no matter what party affiliation. If anyone has questions or wishes further information, they may call Margaret Crisler 595-7625.


Margaret Crisler - Windham


Editor’s note: In response to the article, “Catholics ask Romney to Reject Bettencourt’s Offensive Statements about Catholic Bishop,” that ran in last week’s paper, Representative DJ Bettencourt has requested that the following letter, written by the Director of the Romney for President Catholic Coalition based in Northern Virginia, be published.


Another Liberal Catholic Trap Borrowing a famous phrase from President Reagan,


“Well, there you go again.” Tis time the Catholics United is at it again, demanding Governor Mitt Romney distance himself from an endorsement of the New Hampshire House Majority Leader. Te Republican number two man in the New


Hampshire House, DJ Bettencourt, recently endorsed the Governor. He stated, “I think Governor Romney’s experience in Massachusetts best suits him to take on the challenges of the country.” Te average reader would probably conclude just another state representative endorsement. Enter Catholics United, liberal front organization that attacks traditional Catholics and regularly engages in partisan activities. A simple search on their website reveals the group is nothing more than opportunists looking each day for ways to take down Republicans. Tey were vocal attack dogs against the Wisconsin legislature and stood on the side of union bosses and against working families and taxpayers. Tey have repeatedly endorsed the failed policies of Barack Obama’s administration. Tey pushed for a universal healthcare takeover, supported the Supreme Court nomination of activist judge Sonia Sotomayor, pushed Cap and Tax legislation, and worked to advance other job killing measures. Terefore, it was no surprise when the so-called Catholics United group dug up a statement from April of this year when Representative Bettencourt called the Catholic Bishop John McCormack a “pedophile pimp.” Te full statement read: “Would the Bishop like to discuss his history of


protecting the ‘vulnerable’? Tis man is a pedophile pimp who should have been led away from the State House in handcuffs with a rain coat over his head in disgrace. He has absolutely no moral credibility to lecture anyone.” His comments were in regard to the Bishop’s public


lobbying against the recently passed state budget, which cut government spending by 11 percent. New Hampshire, like most states, had to make hard choices in its state budget. Representative Bettencourt statements about the Bishop were about the ongoing New Hampshire Attorney General’s numerous cases and audit agreement about the Diocese of Manchester covering up priest abuse cases. Representative Bettencourt has


apologized for his comments. Catholics United does not mention this apology. Tey have decided to use this statement as another liberal trap for Governor Romney. Representative Bettencourt, a Catholic himself, feels that Bishops who cover up priest abuse cases are not above the law. Representative Bettencourt is not alone in those regards. Te vast majority of Church going Catholics would agree with him. His language was strong, but this issue strikes a raw nerve in every Catholic. He should be applauded for his stance. Should Governor Romney distance himself from this endorsement? No way! Te Governor should realize that most Catholics feel as Representative Bettencourt does. Te Governor should know that Catholic Priests who abuse others should not be wearing collars, but should be in jail, and those that cover up such cases should be in adjoining cells.


Steve Kramer – Alexandria, VA


Renovated Schools’ Public Open Houses this Weekend Phase 1 of the Salem Schools’ Facility Renovation


Project is substantially completed, and public open houses are this weekend. Lancaster’s open house is tonight (Friday) 6-8 p.m.; Barron’s open house is tomorrow (Saturday) 10 a.m.-12 p.m., and North Salem’s open house is tomorrow (Saturday) 1-3 p.m. Tese open houses are a wonderful opportunity for all of the public to view the improvements and expansions to Salem’s three elementary schools. All citizens are encouraged to attend any or all with their families and friends. Salem Fest is also on Saturday, which presents a great opportunity to attend both that event as well as the open houses. It is a festive day for Salem. Many parents and citizens of the Salem community


worked very hard to pass Warrant Article 2, which resulted in Phase 1 of the Facility Renovation Project coming to fruition. Over the past year and a half, the school administration, building committee, construction company, teachers, staff, kids, and parents have put forth full effort in making the renovations a success. Te quality of the construction work is outstanding, and the project has come in on time and under budget. We now have three elementary schools in Salem that


are adequate facilities. Tey meet current safety code. Sprinklers are installed in classrooms, and asbestos has been removed. Additional storage space has removed the necessity of storing equipment and supplies in the hallways. Stairwells have been expanded. Security systems have been installed at all entrances. Front administration areas have been reconfigured to increase visibility to the front entrance and provide increased student accessibility to the office.


Tese schools


now meet modern educational standards, providing for better educational quality. Additional classrooms include Kindergarten, and portable classrooms


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Come Tour the Only All-Girls’ High School in the Region, Meet Our Faculty and Register for the HS Placement Test!


HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE DATES


SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2ND AND SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH NOON - 3 PM - TRANSFER STUDENTS WELCOME!! Pre-register online at www.ndatyngsboro.org/hsopenhouse, or contact the


Admissions Office at 978.649.7611, Ext. 327, or at admissions@ndatyngsboro.org. Walk-ins also welcome.


180 MIDDLESEX ROAD, TYNGSBORO, MA 01879 WWW.NDATYNGSBORO.ORG


The Academy of Notre Dame, Tyngsboro, is a Catholic, private school comprised of a college- preparatory high school for young women, a co-educational Pre-K - grade 5 elementary school and a grades 6-8 middle school. Sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, the Academy is based upon the educational philosophy of their foundress, St. Julie Billiart.


, 2011


have been removed. Additional space for small group instruction now adequately accommodates subjects such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, ESOL, and special education needs. Tese small groups are not relegated to the hallways and closets any longer. Separate gymnasiums/multi-purpose rooms will offer a dedicated venue for physical education and other school activities, in addition to accommodating the needs of Salem’s recreation groups. Separate gyms and cafeterias also increase safety, as students will not be co-located in a room serving food nor have to navigate around stored tables, risers, gym equipment, and other items previously stored in the combination multi-purpose rooms/cafeterias. Expanded and dedicated libraries now can adequately meet the needs of library education. Te renovated and expanded schools also feature


greater energy efficiency through the installation of new boilers, a new roof, and new HVAC and electrical infrastructure. New lighting fixtures are energy efficient, and new plumbing fixtures save water. All of these things help to save money and resources over the long run, while providing a better, safer, and quieter environment for learning.


Te financial impact to taxpayers is also considerably less than first projected, due to securing interest-free financing on the majority of the bond. Te cost for a home valued at $300,000 was zero in year one (covered by impact fees). Te second year will be under $35 and the third year under $40. Te fourth year will be the highest year at $72, decreasing thereafter over the remaining thirteen years of the bond. Overall, the school district saved taxpayers $6.8 million in interest costs. I hope that as many people as possible can attend these open houses to see first-hand the immense improvements and incredible value for the tax dollar. Students at three of our elementary schools now have adequate facilities to support an optimized learning environment and school experience. It is a great thing for Salem. Tank you to all for your past and continuing support.


Sherry Kilgus-Kramer - Salem Salem Lions Club


5k Walk for Hunger Te Salem Lions Club will be hosting the First Annual


Salem Lions Club 5K Walk for Hunger on Sunday, October 2. Te walk will start and finish at Salem Cooperative Bank, 3 South Broadway, Salem. Sign in will begin at 9 a.m. All proceeds of the event will be distributed to the


local food pantries. Te Lions Club has supported the pantries for many years and this is a crucial time of year for them. Tis year the Club would like to include the community in their effort with a 5K walk. Te walk is a family event and all are welcome to participate. Tere will be a $10 registration fee and walkers are asked to obtain pledges and raise money to be donated to the pantries. Each walker is asked to bring a non- perishable food item to the event for the on-sight food drive.


Te first 250 walkers will receive a T-shirt and all


participants are invited to the cookout after the walk. If you would like to participate in the Walk for


Hunger, simply go to the Salem Lions Club Website, www.salemlionsclub.org and print your registration and pledge form. Mail the registration form along with the $10 fee to Salem Lions Club, PO Box 294, Salem NH 03079.


Te club is also seeking corporate sponsors. For


more information about sponsorship, please call Sandra Dennehy at (603) 560-1988 or Sheryl Parsons at (603) 894-5631. Te Salem Lions look forward to a successful community project to help the needy in our community.


Sheryl Parsons, President, Salem Lions Club - Salem


In Response to the “Tumbs” Column


Two “thumbs down” in the September 9 edition illustrate manifestly the indelible divisions in America today. Te first is a well-written and rather caustic “thumbs down” on Ed Brooks, whose weekly rants ignore basic truths, and the second is a “thumbs up” for Brooks while taking a pot shot at me with a weakly supported rationale. I should like to present a brief support for my political feelings. We started this new century with a growing, healthy fiscal condition and ended the first decade in a sea of deficits. Our vision for prosperity is the lowest since the Great Depression, and it all started with 9/11 and the financial losses incurred by that tragedy: 3,000 people lost and a collapse of over a trillion in market value. But these costs pale in comparison to a poorly handled response in the form of never-ending wars, one of which was totally unnecessary and both paid for with borrowed money. Te record shows that when Bush was advised on August 6, 2001, in his “President’s Daily Bulletin” that Bin Laden was going to attack


Continued to page 5


Academy of Notre Dame High School Open House EDUCATING TOMORROW’S


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Pick up and drop off service available.


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