This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
2 - December 16, 2011 | Pelham - Windham News The Polar Express Makes a Stop in Pelham


So this is Santa


by Robyn Hatch Pelham Public Library held a Christmas event for Children’s


Classic The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. In this wonderful story of the Polar Express comes to life for a journey through the dark and quiet wilderness for a special visit to the “North Pole.” The magic sound of the Christmas bells - enjoying hot chocolate and cookies while listening to this timeless Christmas classic. At the end of story time, Santa paid a special visit out of his schedule to chat with the Pelham children. About 75 people showed up for this special event, and after talking to Santa, the kids enjoyed their cookies and hot chocolate. This book will be easily a new addition to the bookcases of Pelham children!


Miss Debbie, Children’s Librarian at the Pelham Public Library, reading “Polar Express”


Conductor, Sam Bettinger, collecting tickets


Listening to the story


Kids patiently waiting for Santa Kindergarten Proposal Tabled for 2012 Ballot


by Diane Chubb Providing public kindergarten has been a question facing Pelham for a number of years. The matter has been brought before the town a number of times, and each time, it failed to get the required number of votes to pass. The current school board intended to place a warrant article on the ballot for the 2012 budget, requesting $1.5 million for a 4- room addition to Pelham Elementary School. However, due to the higher than expected costs associated with the HVAC and sprinkler upgrades to the high school, the Board withdrew the warrant article. School Board member Brian Carton said, “We didn’t put the kindergarten on the ballot because we are being mindful of the financial impact on the voters. We are willing to compromise. If the town can get the fire station passed this year, then we can turn our


attention back to the schools.” Board Chair Rob Hardy continued with that thought. “We debated long and hard about the kindergarten addition. Dr. LaBranche informed us that NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) was holding their report until after the budget and election process. They are waiting to see what progress will be made at the high school. We have one more year to go on the Kindergarten, so we focused on the high school issues listed in the NEASC report. The Board is still pursuing warrant articles for other construction projects, such as the HVAC upgrade for Pelham High School. “We want people to approve projects that have an impact. HVAC upgrade will definitely be a big improvement at the high school.” In 2007, the State of New Hampshire mandated that all towns must offer public kindergarten by 2009. At the time, Pelham was


one of only 11 towns in the state that did not have kindergarten available.


In 2009 the Town of Pelham leased 6 portable classrooms to


provide kindergarten to Pelham children. The state of NH provided funding to pay for the lease of portable classrooms for three years. Six portable classrooms were leased and placed next to Pelham Elementary School. The portable classrooms were also able to temporarily provide space to the Special Education Preschool to address Pelham immediate needs. The state payments for the portable units expires in June 2012.


Thus, any further lease payments must be made solely by the Town of Pelham, in order to comply with the state mandate. In 2010 the Pelham School Board charged a committee to review a number of options and propose a permanent solution for kindergarten and special education pre-k. The intent of the committee was to assist the School Board in preparing a warrant article and communicating the requirements and best option. The warrant article proposed for a new kindergarten and pre-


3.042%


*Rates are based on owner occupied property and are subject to change without notice. Rate is based on 0 points, $9.66 monthly P & I per $1,000. The monthly P & I per $1,000 are based on the rate and term indicated assuming a down payment of 20%. Please note that Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is


978-372-7731


978-372-7731


Haverhill, MA 978-372-7731


*Rates are based on owner occupied property and are subject to change without notice. Rate is based on 0 points, $9.66 monthly P & I per $1,000. The monthly P & I per $1,000 are based on the rate and term indicated assuming a down payment of 20%. Please note that Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is required on all loans with LTV’s greater than 80%. If an escrow account is required or requested, the actual monthly payment will also include amounts of real estate taxes and/or PMI, if applicable. The maximum loan limits are as follows: Single Family-$417,000; Two Family-$533,850; Three Family-$645,300; and Four Family-$801,950. Additional rates for loans that exceed the loan limits are available upon request. Call to speak to a Loan Offi cer. All loans are subject to the Bank’s credit standards. The APR is based on a loan of $180,000; please call for a personalized quote.


re*Rates are based on owner occupied property and are subject to change without notice. Rate is based apn 0 points, $9.66 monthly P & I per $1,000. The monthly P & I per $1,000 are based on the rate a d Three Family-$645,300; and Four Family-$801,950. Additional rates for loans that exceed the loan limits are available upon request. Call to speak t dit s andards.


quested, the actual monthly payment will also include amounts of real estate taxes and/or PMI, if oterm indicated assuming a down payment of 20%. Please note that Private Mortgage Insurance erm indicated assuming a down payment of 20%. Please note that Private Mortgage Insurance


applicable. The maximum loan limits are as follows: Single Family-$417,000; Two Family-$533,850; t (PMI) is required on all loans with LTV’s greater than 80%.


crequested, the actual monthly payment will also include amounts of real estate taxes pplicable.


Member FDIC Member DIF


The maximum loan limits are as follows: Single Family-$417,000; Two Family-$533,850; a Three Family-$645,300; and Four Family-$801,950. Additional rates for loans that exceed the loan Three Family-$645,300; and Four Family-$801,950. Additional rates for loans that exceed the loan The APR is based on a loan of $180,000; please call The APR is based on a loan of $180,000; please call


(PMI) is required on all loans with LTV’s greater than 80%. L Officer. Af aln escrow account r applicable.


limits are


limits are available upon request. Call t credit standards.


Member FDIC Member DIF


Member FDIC Member DIF


Member FDIC Member DIF


The maximum loan limits are as follows: Single F mily-$417,000; Two Family-$533,850; limits are available upon request. Call to speak to a Loan Officer. All loans are subject to the Bank’s credit standards.


credit standards.


vailable upon request. Call to speak to a Lo The APR i


based on a loan of $180,000; please call


speak to a Loan Officer. All lo ns a e subject to the Bank’s for a personalized quote.


for a personalized quote. The APR is based on a loan of $180,000; please cal


oan Officer. All loans are subjec is required or for a personalized quote.


loans are subject to th te Bank’s nd/or PMI, if


on 0 points, $9.66 monthly P & I per $1,000. The monthly P & I per $1,000 are based on the rate and plicable.


(PMI) is required on all loans with LTV’s greater than 80%. reques ed, the actual monthl


uir loans with LTV’s greater than 80%. f an escrow account


978-372-7731





term indicated assuming a down payment of 20%. Please note that Private Mortgage Insurance *Rates areq based on owner occupied property and are subject to cha Inge without notices. R iaste r iesd baseed


on 0 points, $9.66 monthly P & I per $1,000. The monthly P & I per $1,000 are based on th rate and all i


*R tes are based on owner occupied property nd are subject to change wi hout notice. Rate is based require uirq ord or


603-329-7333


Hampstead, NH 603-329-7333


603-329-7333 603-329-7333


If an escrow account


Three Family-$645,300; and Four Family-$801,950. Additional rates for loans that exceed the loan requested, the actual monthly payment will also include amoun Its olf real estate taxes and/or PMI, if


The maximum loan limits are as follows: Single Family-$417,000; Two Family-$533,850; If an escrow account


for a personalized quote.


payment will also include amounts of real es ate taxes and/or PMI, if is required or


o the Bank’s


Salem, NH 603-893-3588


603-893-3588 603-893-3588


603-893-3588 603-893-3588


Purchase or Refinance at APR*


10 Year Owner Occupied 10 Year Owner Occupied


10 Year Owner O cupied 10 Year Owner Occupied


%


Purchase or Refinance at APR*


978-372-7731


Purchase or Refinance at APR*


%


Purchase or Refinance at APR*


603-329-7333


Leave your mark.


The Area News Group is looking for a part time layout artist. One day a week, Tuesdays from 5 pm. Individual will be responsible for creating base pages for production from wax board paste-ups.


Approximately 5-7 hours of work each week.


Persons interested please email a resume to employment@areanewsgroup.com


school failed in the Town Meeting vote in March 2011. However, the need for a permanent home for kindergarten remains. The current school board has been putting together a plan for a 4-room addition to Pelham Elementary School (PES). The addition would be located on the back of the East Wing of the current facility. Construction would be contingent on funding guaranteed by the Department of Education in the amount of 75 percent of the cost of the classroom space. The two-story addition would be approximately 5,120 square feet. Portables would continue to be used for the required pre-school. The state requires that Kindergarten, first and second grades be located on the first floor of the building. Right now, there are some third and fourth grade classrooms located on the first floor of PES. These would be rearranged extensively so that kindergarten would be housed in the 1,000 square foot classrooms, as required. An addition to PES would resolve the kindergarten issue because enrollment has not been as high as first projected. Much of this is due to the fact that the kindergarten program is only a half-day, and many parents need a full-day option with daycare. The enrollment


Continued to page 5- Ballot


R T


Home!


Home!


Home!


Y T


O


I


P


N U


P O


Staff photos by Robyn Hatch


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16