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Gets Better Every Year Salemfest


by Robyn Hatch


Salemfest for 2011 recently took place last weekend on a sunny, fall-like day. This event gets grander every year and this year was by far the biggest and best. The locations were all over Salem - the Old Town Hall, Alice Hall Library, School House #5, Hannah Tenney Methodist Church, St. David’s Episcopal Church, Kelley Library, Woodbury Junior High, Woodbury Parking Lot, Greystone Farm Assisted Living, Salemhaven, the path to the Senior Center, the path from District Court Parking to the Senior Center, Ingram Salem Center and Triumphant


continued to page 8- Salemfest Anna Carroll, Katie Maccini, Faith Carroll and Justin Chloe Cowin Patriot


by Doug Robinson She is a story teller, but more importantly, she is a better listener. “You have to be an acute listener to sift stories from all the works that rush by day-to-day. When I hear a good line, I jot it in my little black book to remember and, maybe, reuse. Sometimes these lines become part of my own vernacular and my own way of seeing the world” writes story teller, Rebecca Rule. Sponsored by the Salem Historical


Society, patrons of the Salem Historical Society were recently treated to a very enjoyable evening of storytelling by re- noun story teller, Rebecca Rule. Author and writer, Rule offers her audiences an interactive and very personal evening of storytelling, sharing, and coming together. We are just having a “conversation”


Rule would say. As she told a story, she offered the audience the opportunity to share a similar story from their memory banks.


“I just might write down your story and tell it myself,” chuckled Rule. “In fact, I just might write your story in one of my books. I got three of them. Here they are.” With a wide, cheek-to-cheek grin, she just laughed at herself stating, “I’m an author you know. Want to buy a book? I got three of them. Isn’t this a great racket?”


Evie Riggno with her dog Gigi St. David’s Civil War equipment


And with that laughing at her, a true humble nature becomes exposed. Rule connects with the audience in such a way those those who visit her conversations, wish to become involved, share, and participate. “Stories have immortality and survive generations,” commented Rule.


Engaging, enlightening, and full of fun, Rebecca Rule brings joy to all of her audiences


And while she stood in the middle of the Salem Historical Society, surrounded by historical artifacts, historical documents, military uniforms of years gone by, and the tools used by farmers hundreds of years ago, how befitting her stories became as she shared tales from throughout New Hampshire. “ Laughing and carrying on, Rule blurted out to the audience, “Isn’t this better than a poke in the eye?” Everyone laughed, shared, and enjoyed the evening of a true trade: the art of storytelling.


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Volume 5 Number 11 September 23, 2011 16 Pages


Better Than a Poke in the Eye NH Humor


Scan the QR code with your smart phone to view this event


Nancy and Lynita Mitchell


Hannah Tremblay, Pledge of Allegiance


Te Callahan boys doing the wash


Left : Rebecca Rule offers some personal thoughts with her books: Live Free and Eat Pie, Head for the Rhubarb, and Could Have been Worse.


Lancaster, Barron, and North Salem Elementary School Open Houses An exterior view of Barron’s new addition


North Salem Students Ryan, Kurt, and Bella watch as School Board Member Bob Bryant cuts the ribbon.


by S. Aaron Shamshoyan Renovations to three of Salem’s elementary schools were completed just in time for the first day of school. The renovations added classrooms for kindergarten classes, special education spaces, and a new gymnasium. “I’m thrilled with the outcome,” said Superintendent of schools Michael Delahanty. Out of the town’s six elementary schools, renovations occurred at Lancaster, Barron, and North Salem. The district hosted a ribbon cutting and open house at each of the schools allowing the public to see the renovations. “The successful completion of the first phase of our elementary


school construction and renovation project is going to bring some educational, recreational, safety and security benefits,” said Peter Morgan, School Board Chairman at Lancaster’s open house. He


North Salem’s renovated library.


added that students are no longer in cramped closets and high traffic hallways for special support or remedial services. The new gymnasium will double as a community recreation facility said Morgan, who explained that the facility could be closed off from the rest of the building. “The town should be proud of the new buildings,” said community


activist Nancy Carney, as she examined Barron School’s new gymnasium. She also admired the colors and the wide hallways. Barron’s Parent Teacher Association President, Karen Roy, was


very enthusiastic of the renovations. “They’re amazing,” she said. Roy, a former attendee of the school, showed off the new wing and computer lab. She enjoyed the open feeling of the building. The excitement continued at North Salem where teachers


An exterior view of Barron’s new addition


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gave tours of the school to parents and guests. The addition if a gymnasium allows for the former multipurpose room to function as a dedicated cafeteria. Superintendent of Schools Michael Delahanty attended the three open houses, and commented on the project. “They are going to serve the needs of the school district for several decades,” he said also adding the schools received upgrades to the plumbing, roof, security system, and the addition of fire suppression sprinklers, along with the removal of any remaining asbestos. Delahanty expects the School Board to bring fourth phase two of the project, which will include renovations to the other three elementary schools, Fisk, Haigh, and Soule. Those renovations will include added kindergarten, physical education, and special education spaces. He expects the project bond to be placed on the March 2012 ballot. The district is planning phase three of the project for renovations or reconstruction of the high school, and phase four will be renovations to Woodbury Middle School, for which the town recently purchased property adjacent to the building in hopes of future expansion. The cost of phase one is $30 million, which was bonded, and costs taxpayers an average of $6.00 a month said Delahanty. The district was able to save $5.5 million by qualifying for school construction bonds at a zero percent interest rate. Other renovations to the school include a dedicated library space and a new art and music room. The old library had been sectioned off to use as educational space, and music and art were brought to the classrooms, limiting projects and class sizes.


Today!


staff photos by Doug Robinson


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