Hudson - Litchfield News | December 23, 2011 - 3
The Word Around Town... Letters to our Editor
Trees, Please! Christmas is over, the decorations are put away … what to do with
your Christmas tree? Let Troop 20 take it off your hands! On January 7 and 14 the Boy Scouts of Troop 20 will be making the rounds in Hudson picking up used Christmas trees. For a $7 suggested donation (cash or checks made payable to BSA Troop 20) our crew will happily remove your tree for you. To arrange a pickup call or email Stacy at 321-9249 or
cunniffstacy@yahoo.com, and leave your tree on your front porch or in your driveway on the date you specify, with the donation taped to your front door … the boys will do the rest! Pickup service is limited to Hudson. Your donation supports troop activities including camping, merit badge work and admission to educational venues for the achievement of merit badges. Tank you for your support!
BSA Troop 20 - Hudson
Hudson Knights of Columbus Tanks Tose who Gave
Te Hudson Knights of Columbus would like to thank everyone who took time to come to their Blood Drive on December 3. Over 70 pints of much needed blood was collected that day. What a way to start the Christmas season! Tis is the time for giving and these people gave the greatest gift of all - their blood. Te Knights would like to thank Viera’s, Hudson House, and Valentino’s for their donation of pizzas to feed the donors and staff. Market Basket and Hannaford’s also donated food for this drive. Te Knights next drive will be held in May. Hope to see everyone again and continue our giving of life.
John Pierog, Hudson Knights of Columbus Council 5162 – Hudson
Toughts on the Concealed Weapon Debates Every time I read the newspaper crime reports and watch the WMUR
coverage of crimes of every kind, like I did this weekend, I ask myself, that if anyone has mixed emotions about or they are against honest and law abiding citizens carrying concealed weapons; how can any rational person not have a different perspective after they’ve been exposed to the daily crime reports. With the potential to become a victim at any time, in or out of your home or business, how can anyone not have a positive perspective on personal safety and protection; and for their families? Criminals or potential criminals aren’t all that smart, but smart enough to not want a bullet ripping into their body, when they’re racing away from the scene of their crime or about to commit their crime. You have a right to protect yourself and it is your responsibility to do that. Wishing you would have, after you’ve become a victim, is the wrong time to become more protective and careful.
Jerry Gutekunst – Hudson
May the Spirit of the Season be With us all Year in the ‘Tumbs Column’
Friday is finally here, family and friends are gathering at night and
there are festivities to look forward to all weekend. For those who serve or work in this town it is also a time to wonder what could possibly be written in the “Tumbs up/Tumbs down” column of the paper. By now, I have learned that for the most part it is just a community member who is voicing their anger or frustration out in an anonymous way. What I would like to ask writers to consider is that we are all someone’s mother/father, sister/brother, daughter/son, friend or perhaps even a business owner in this town. Every School Board, Selectman’s, Budget Committee meeting begins with public input. Tis input allows all taxpayers and citizens to come forward and address any concerns you may have or would like to know more about. We are always all ears and are willing to hear everything you have to say. You do not need to call ahead; you do not need to be on the agenda, you just need to arrive 10 minutes prior to the meeting to let the chair know you are there. If public input is not comfortable for you, please know that in speaking for the School Board, we are available by calling the Superintendent’s office or by e-mailing any of us. You can find our e-mail and phone listing on our school Website at
www.sau81.org. I would like to just send out a quick shout out to our administration team and staff members. If you have ever had a birthday party for your children you typically invite about 5-10 friends over to your house to celebrate your child’s big day. Sometimes these parties can get a bit chaotic to say the least, and we are all glad it happens once a year. Well, think of our staff that has 20-25 kids in a class every day for six hours, five days a week. Or the Administration team who has 700-1,400 students in their building every day they are responsible for, and have to ensure they are
learning in a safe, engaging and productive environment. Our senior staff is working hard to constantly update curriculum and programs, create policies, manage parent concerns, oversee financial responsibility, and make sure our district is running with efficiency in every area. Tey educate, they console, they listen, they encourage and most of all they love these children and strive to make them the best students they can be. Tey are also the same ones who work on nights and weekends replying to e-mails, correcting, writing lesson plans and updating Edline. I know firsthand because I get updates all weekend long! Reconsider putting any negative comments in the paper about them, they don’t deserve to hear it that way. Please remember when you write things for the “Tumbs” column that they may really hurt someone who was not expecting it. Or you may just make someone upset, like me when I realized I was not getting paid the $116,000 per year to be on the school board. I can assure you it is not the money that made me run for School Board; it was the love of seeing children succeed. Te comma was in the wrong place, the board members receive a stipend of $1,100. Tat is fine with us because we certainly do not do it for the money! Lastly, I can assure you all five members of the Hudson School Board make all decisions that are best for the 4,100 students, 500 staff members and the entire town of Hudson. While we may not always be perfect, we make all decisions with an ethical and financially conscious mind and they are all made with the goal of bringing these students to be twenty-first century learners and model citizens for our community. I sincerely wish this holiday season you find peaceful moments and an
appreciation for all the goodness we have in this town. Maybe we can all splash the paper with Tumbs Up this week … or all year long! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa to you and
yours!
Laura Bisson, Vice-Chair, Hudson School Board – Hudson She’s Right (and Left)
Betty Vaughn was right in last week’s opinion pages (12/16/11). John
York is not the sole reason for tax increases in Litchfield. He has two accomplices on the School Board: Dennis Miller and Mary Prindle. Recall that it was Dennis Miller who made a last-hour motion at the end of the school’s fiscal year last June to confiscate $150,000 in unused “End of Year Funds” to be spent on the track at Campbell High School. Both York and Prindle eagerly agreed to this unnecessary spending. Te vote was 3 to 2, with Jason Guerette and Trish D’Alleva voting against it. Prior to that vote, these latter two, abiding by their unwavering, conservative principles, fought instead to return these unspent monies back to the taxpayers of this town. York, Miller, and Prindle have always, and still consistently resist
returning money to the taxpayers. As witnessed during the previous week’s School Board meeting that Betty Vaughn had referenced (12/7/11), not one of these three argued against, nor challenged my prediction that they would be voting in favor of the million dollar increase to the Default Budget. As a matter of fact, hoping that they would prove me wrong, I offered to make a public apology to the School Board in writing using the Hudson~Litchfield News if the board had eventually voted against the million dollar increase. As I expected, they remained predictably silent to the challenge, thereby guaranteeing that a public apology from me will never be seen here. You see, the Default Budget (RSA 40:13, IX) is supposed to be a “freeze” of the current spending level except for legally required increases due to items such as teacher’s contracts. Usually it’s the alternative Proposed Budget that contains the wish-list of new, additional spending. However, many of those new spending items were tacked onto the agenda in order to add it to the Default Budget as well. So, in essence, come next Election Day in March the voters of this town will not have a choice as to what level of spending they can afford, especially when you consider these uncertain economic times.
Also, a question for Betty Vaughn: Would you have tolerated my interjecting the words of Jesus into this discussion of public school matters? Or is your quoting of the Dalai Lama exempt from the bogus premise of “separation of church and state” because you were the one who wished to proselytize us concerning these public school issues? Suggestion: Clip this to save the names listed above
so that you’ll know which School Board members to vote out of office over the next few election cycles.
Nicholas D’Alleva - Litchfield
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5 George Street, Hudson, NH Alvirne’s Music Program Continues to Shine
by Lynne Ober Those of us who live in Hudson know that Alvirne High School has a high quality music program under the direction of Gerry Bastien. Once again the music program has had a strong showing at all state music competitions and a number of students have been recognized. The Allstate band is comprised of Tara Hardy
and Sarah Rosetti, both on the clarinet. Steve Caporale on Tenor sax. The brass section included Alex Luebbers on trumpet, Matt Sidilau on trombone and Robert Zakeron on tuba. The following students have been accepted to the 2012 NHMEA Chamber Festival. The Chamber Festival Performance will be held at Timberlane Regional High School on Saturday January 7, 2012. Brittany Decker and Samantha Migneault who both sing Alto. Tara Hardy on clarinet and Steve Caporale playing tenor sax, Chase Clark for guitar and Matt Sidilau on trombone.
Selected for the 2012 NH Jazz All-State Honors Band were Steve Caporale on tenor sax, and Chase Clark who earned the High Score on guitar.
Eric Dupont will play drums and Matt Sidilau earned High Score for the third year in a row will play Trombone 1.
Selected for 2012 NH Jazz All-State Band was
Cody Knapp on trumpet. But singers also earned honors. Selected for 2012 NH Jazz All-State Honors Choir were Devan Lyman, soprano, Samantha Migneault, who earned High Sore for soprano and Kurtis Garnick, bass.
Selected for 2012 NH Jazz All-State Choir were Chantel Choiniere, Heather Hotham, Cassandra Strokus and Eric Mealey. All State Chorus
Chantal Choiniere and Heather Holtham, both soprano. Samantha Migneault and Brittany Decker, both altos. Kurtis Garnick, Andres Kraemer. Philip Skinner and Jared Hyam, who sing bass. All State Women’s Chorus: Katherine Masson and Samantha Weis, both
Altos. Congratulations to all of these fine musicians.
Toasters Recalled by Hamilton Beach Due to Fire Hazard
submitted by Hudson Fire Department Some Hamilton Beach brand toasters were recently recalled by their manufacturer. When the toasters are first plugged into outlets, the heating element can be energized although the toaster lifter is in the up or off position, which can pose a fire hazard if the toaster is near flammable items. The Hamilton Beach recall involves model
22602 toasters. The model number is printed on the bottom of the toaster. The toaster has a chromed steel exterior, a front control panel with a rotary toast shade selector and function buttons arranged in an arc, a front removable crumb tray and “Hamilton Beach” printed below the control panel.
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