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Hudson~Litchfield News Friday the 13th
Volume 22 Number 25 January 13, 2012 16 Pages Michael Undercofler: The Eagle Scout Behind the Booth by Maureen Gillum After completing more than
by Doug Robinson Paraskevidekatriaphobia is the fear of Friday
the 13. And Triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13, has for centuries, paralyzed millions people, shutting down civilizations around the world. World dynasties, economic industries, and educated cultures throughout the world have believed that it would be best to respect that “bad reputation day,” known as Friday the 13th. “Some say Friday’s bad reputation goes all
the way back to the Garden of Eden. It was on a Friday, supposedly, that Eve tempted Adam with the forbidden fruit. Adam bit and they were both ejected from Paradise. Tradition also holds that the Great Flood began on a Friday; God tongue-tied the builders of the Tower of Babel on a Friday; the Temple of Solomon was destroyed on a Friday; and, of course, Friday was the day of the week on which Christ was crucified. It is therefore a day of penance for Christians” writes About. com
“In pagan Rome, Friday was known as the execution day. In addition, (later Hangman’s Day in Britain), but in other pre-Christian cultures it was the Sabbath, a day of worship, so those who indulged in secular or self- interested activities on that day could not expect to receive blessings from the gods - which may explain the lingering taboo on embarking on journeys or starting important projects on Fridays.” The number 13 has been unlucky for centuries as research shows that some Biblical historians believe that superstition to the 13 people are related to those who attended the Last Supper.
“Legend has it: If 13 people sit down to dinner together, one will die within the year. The Turks so disliked the number 13 that it was practically expunged from their vocabulary (Brewer, 1894). Many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue. Many buildings don’t have a 13th floor. If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil’s luck (Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names). There are 13 witches in a coven.” The number’s association with Friday,
however, didn’t take hold until the 20th century. In 1907, eccentric Boston stockbroker Thomas Lawson published a book called Friday the Thirteenth, which told of an evil businessman’s attempt to crash the stock market on the unluckiest day of the month. Thanks to an extensive ad campaign, the book sold well: nearly 28,000 copies within the first week. In 1916 the book was turned into a feature-length silent film. Wall Street’s superstitions about Friday the 13th continued through 1925, when the New York Times noted that people “would no more buy or sell a share of stock today than they would walk under a ladder or kick a black cat out of their path.” Some stock traders also blamed Black Monday - October 19, 1987 - on the fact that three Fridays fell on the 13th that year. The Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute estimates that $700-$800 million are lost every Friday the 13th because of people’s refusal to travel, purchase major items or conduct business. Friday the 13th Myths:
• If you cut your hair on Friday the 13th, someone in your family will die.
• A child born on Friday the 13th will be unlucky for life.
• If a funeral procession passes you on Friday the 13th, you will be the next to die. Friday the 13th Anecdotes:
• In 1913, a New York pastor tried to assuage couples’ fears by offering to marry them for free on Friday the 13th.
• In 1939, a small town in Indiana forced all black cats to wear bells on Friday, October 13. When the measure seemed to work (nothing bad happened, at any rate), the town continued the practice for the next three years.
• At the time, October 13, 1989, was the second largest drop of the Dow in history. Nicknamed the Friday-the-13th mini-crash, these days it’s not even in the top 10. That might be the scariest fact of all. The popular Website, Snopes, states, “There are still those who still allow their trepidation over particular days or dates to prevent them from engaging in their choice of activities. We make jokes about Friday the 13 and only kiddingly instruct loved ones to exercise greater care on that day, but those who suffer from a fear of the number 13 or fear of Friday the 13th may genially feel limited by the rumored potential for all luck connected with the date.”
What’s Happening in the House of Representatives
by Lynne Ober The House met last Wednesday and
Thursday and while many bills were discussed, some failed and some passed. Here are the highlights of the action. Governor Vetoes: The House did not override the Governor’s
Veto on the status of the Rail Commission in New Hampshire. Those voting to override were concerned that this commission had the right to commit the state to bonded obligations with no legislative oversight. However, parents may begin to pay for part of their children’s education in public schools because the House did override by a vote of 255 to 112 the Governor’s veto on HB 542, which states that a parent may object to material and have it replaced - however, the parent will foot the bill for the development of the replacement curriculum. The bill states that alternative curriculum will be developed, however, this alternative will have a cost, and the parent will pay the total cost. “ … an alternative agreed upon by the school district and the parent, at the parent’s expense, sufficient to enable the child to meet state
requirements for education in the particular subject area.” This bill has become law as the Senate also overrode the Governor’s veto. Both the House and the Senate overrode
the governor’s veto on SB57 which allows title loans.
2012 Session Votes
HB 309 repealed a number of insurance mandates. When a mandate is repealed, it can still be negotiated by the entity offering the insurance. For example, mandated inclusion of midwife costs were repealed, but in many cases midwives provide services at a less costly rate than a birthing hospital so a company could choose to continue to include this coverage. Hearing aids will continue to be included for people under the age of 21 when hearing has declined to a set medical standard. Bariatric surgery may be included, but is no longer mandated. The only change in Coverage for Children’s Early Intervention Services was to ensure that services were consistently provided according to established rules and standards. This bill will go to the Senate.
There were three gun bills: HB 536 says that any person not prohibited
from owning a gun may carry a gun concealed without a permit and states that getting a license to carry is optional, but not prohibited. It also repealed the prohibitions against the criminal penalty for selling, possessing with intent to sell, or carrying on one’s person any blackjack, slung shot, or metallic knuckles and allowed guns in courtrooms. This bill will go to the Senate and will probably be amended in the Senate. HB 29, which would have allowed a gun
owner to take a case to either the District or Superior Court, was killed. Although New Hampshire Gun Owners lobbied to have this bill passed, testimony in the House was that the current law was set up at the request of NH Gun Owners so the bill was killed. A confusing situation for all. HB 334 gives the legislature and only the legislature the right to determine a variety of issues concerning weapons. This includes, “No public or private entity shall prohibit the continued to page 7 - Rep. Happenings
325 Boy Scout requirements, Hudson Troop 20’s Michael Undercofler celebrated his Eagle Court of Honor on January 8 with an admiring crowd of family, friends, fellow Troop 20 Scouts, leaders and dignitaries. As his Eagle project, the third- generation Hudson native selected to superbly restore and artfully transform the Benson’s Park red and white ticket booth over eight months from a “dilapidated mess” to its rightful spot as a “town icon.” As Troop 20’s Life Scouts,
Frank Cuniff and Dylan Quinn, heralded during the invocation, “Becoming an Eagle Scout is not so much a destination as a way of life.” And that well depicts Michael and his quiet leadership and determination. “Before Michael, the Benson’s
ticket booth was a real mess and had been floundering,” admitted Harry Schibanoff, Chairman of the Benson Park Committee. “We are most grateful for all his hard work and persistence in completing this major community project.” Schibanoff also commented this was his first involvement with an Eagle project and he was very impressed at its massive project
scope and the great attention and care Undercofler put it into ticket booth’s restoration and surrounding aesthetics. Selectman Roger Coutu reminded the crowd, that it “takes a village” and “a family” to successfully complete something like Benson’s Park as he acknowledged Michael, his parent’s (Joe and Cindy) and grandparent’s (Michael and Natalie) and their long-time commitment and dedication to the project. Coutu proudly shared, “I’m amazed and so proud at the magnitude of what our village accomplished – transforming an abandoned and barren 168 acre parcel into such a treasure for our town.” In keeping with Hudson Troop
20’s slightly irreverent style, the Court of Honor also had a lighter side, led by Scout buddy and fellow Eagle, Phil Christopher. With Michael’s infamous track record in cooking - petrified bagel bites to flaming popcorn (not to mention backwards canoeing) - his roast was most fitting and earned many chuckles.
On a serious note, as Michael took up the rank of Eagle - the 24th Hudson Troop 20 Scout to continued to page 7-Undercofler
Eagle Scout Michael Undercofler at the restored Benson’s Ticket Booth Hudson Students Honored for Posters
winner at the local level will be given a monetary reward, determined by place, and all participants will receive a certificate of recognition from the Lions Club. Mrs. Walsh said she extremely proud of
From the left, Rosita Lee Latulippe, NH Lions District Governor 44-H; first place winner Sarah Voigt, grade 7; and Lillian Bellisle, Hudson Lions Club Peace Poster chair for Memorial School.
by Lynne Ober
Students in the Hudson Memorial Art Club, under the direction of Jan Walsh, designed posters as part of the Lions Club International Peace Poster Contest. Five members were selected as Hudson Memorial’s winners of this content. This year’s theme was “Children Know Peace.” The first place winner was seventh grader Sarah Voight. The four runners up were eighth graders
Brianna Thompson; Julia Balukonis, Rebekah Alpert and seventh grader Lydia Lisowsky. The awards ceremony was scheduled for
Thursday, January 5 at 8 a.m. Attending to present the awards were Lillian Bellisle, former Lions Club president, and Lions Club District Governor DeeDee Latulippe. The winning poster by Sarah Voight will go to the regional contest to be judged with all the other New Hampshire winners. Each
all the Art Club members for their hard work and congratulated those who were chosen as winners. Each year, Lions clubs around the world proudly sponsor the Lions International Peace Poster Contest in local schools and youth groups. “Children Know Peace” is the theme for this year’s annual contest. The contest is open to students ages 11-14 and encourages young people worldwide to express their vision of the theme. The Hudson Lions Club winners from Hudson Memorial School were first place winner Sarah Voigt, seventh grade; and runner-up Brianna Thompson, eighth grade. Honorable mention went to eighth graders Julia Balukonis and Rebecca Albert and seventh grader, Lydia Lisowsky. All were acknowledged at a school assembly at which cash awards of $100, $50 and $25 were awarded to the winners. One winning poster from each participating NH Lions Clubs will be entered in the District competition. The winning District poster will be submitted to Lions Clubs International Headquarters for the final judging. Entries are judged at all levels of originality, artistic merit and portrayal of theme. During the final judging, 23 international merit award winners will receive $500 each and the grand prize winner will receive a cash award of $5,000.
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Paraskevidekatriaphobia:
photo courtesy of the Hudson Lions Club
photo courtesy of Maureen Gillum
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