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Hudson~Litchfield News


Hudson~Litchfield News Volume 22 Number 33 March 2, 2012 20 Pages


American Red Cross: Serving the American Public for 131 Years


by Doug Robinson The American Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton and a circle of acquaintances on May 21, 1881. While visiting the Swiss-inspired international Red Cross network in Europe, following the Civil War, Barton learned firsthand the benefits and values of the Red Cross organization. She had a vision which lives on today.


Returning home, she campaigned for


an American Red Cross society and for ratification of the Geneva Convention protecting the war-injured, which the United States ratified in 1882. Barton headed the Red Cross for 23


years, during which time it conducted its first domestic and overseas disaster relief efforts, aided the United States military during the Spanish-American War, and campaigned successfully for the inclusion of peacetime relief work as part of the International Red Cross Movement-the so-called “American Amendment,” which initially met with some resistance in Europe. The Red Cross received its first congressional charter in 1900 and remains in effect today. The charter sets forth the purposes of the “organization that include giving relief to and serving as a medium of communication between members of the American armed forces and their families and providing national and international disaster relief and mitigation” writes the Red Cross. Today, in addition to domestic disaster relief, “the American Red Cross offers compassionate services in five other areas: community services that help the needy; support and comfort for military members and their families, the collection, processing and distribution of lifesaving blood and blood product, educational programs that promote health and safety; and international relief and development programs.” The Red Cross is an independent,


volunteer-led organization, financially supported by voluntary public contributions. The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors. Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors for help. More than half a million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross receive training in first aid, water safety and other skills that help save lives. After World War II, the Red Cross introduced the first nationwide civilian blood program that now supplies nearly 50 percent of the blood and blood products in this country. “Since its founding in 1881 the American Red Cross has been the nation’s premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross distinguishes itself by also aiding victims of devastating natural disasters” states the American Red Cross.


Some four million people give blood to the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States.


“Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting people’s immediate emergency disaster-caused needs. When a disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, and health and mental health services to address basic human needs. In addition to these services, the core of Red Cross disaster relief is the assistance given to individuals and families affected by disaster to enable them to resume their normal daily activities independently” continues the American Red Cross. In addition, the Red Cross also “feeds emergency workers, handles inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area, provides blood and blood products to disaster victims, and helps those affected by disaster to access other available resources.”


Sixth grader Brendan Duquette deflects an elimination attempt then went on to deliver the winning throw in the Dodging Doughnuts’ win over the fifth graders


by Marc Ayotte The Litchfield Middle School concluded a successful spirit week on


Friday, February 24 with the finals of a dodge ball tournament during an afternoon pep rally. The bleachers were jam-packed with wearing pajamas,


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LMS Spirit Week Benefits Project Safeguard


Friday’s spirit theme. In the first of two championship dodge ball games, the sixth grade team, named Dodging Doughnuts defeated the fifth grade team, Smurfs, three games to one in the best of five. Following that contest, the seventh grade ‘Underdogs’ team disposed of the eighth grade entry, ‘Team Name’, by the same score in games. Before the students hopped on the busses to begin their school vacation week, the faculty entertained the students by engaging in a slower, friendlier version of dodge ball battle. According to faculty member Karen Martin, the week-long spirit week, with the culmination of the dodge ball championship was “all a fundraiser for Project Safeguard.” As a member of the LMS United Arts (UA) Team, Martin indicated that the school-wide effort raised over $1,100 which will go to the project event. The program for seventh graders featured a series of simultaneously conducted workshops designed to increase awareness between students and parents as well as address important current day topics such as bullying, substance abuse, stress, and the challenges of going into high school. This year’s workshop will take place on May 17 at St. Anselm’s College in Manchester. LMS Assistant Principal Kerry Finnegan credited the UA Team for organizing and running the event and for donating the proceeds to Project Safeguard; “the whole fundraiser was awesome” specifically adding, “it’s great to raise so much money for a worthwhile event. We cannot thank our students and UA team enough for all the support and assistance – they did a great job.” Finnegan revealed that the keynote speaker for this year’s workshops will


be Dr. Robert Greenleaf, who is the president of Greenleaf Learning. continued to page 9 - LMS Spirit Week


Surprise Guests Visit Robinson Pond


submitted by Nancy Garvey As you know, this winter season has had unusually warm weather, and it has brought many surprises – ice out at Robinson Pond in February, cancellation of Fishing Derby, Canada Geese’s return, early arrival and departure of Merganser Ducks, etc. Well, for me the most exciting surprise that the warm weather has brought is Swans on Robinson Pond! My husband and I have lived on Robinson Pond for 20 years, and we have never seen them on the pond before. Perhaps others have. I am curious to know if Swans have been spotted on Robinson Pond before. I spotted six of them on Friday, February 24, at 9 a.m., I grabbed my camera and took about 70 pictures of them before they flew away around 10:45 a.m. Two of the swans still had a bit of brownish, grayish feathers around their necks and looked smaller than the other four - must have been last year’s young. I believe that these birds are Mute Swans, as they had orange beaks. Hope you are as excited as I am that these beautiful, surprise guests stopped by our lovely town and pond!


Te swans enjoying some mild weather on Robinson Pond


Selectmen Candidates Offer Their Views at Candidates’ Night


Ben Nadeau is looking to be re-elected


by Kristen Hoffman Very few residents attended The Hudson Candidates’ Night on February 23. The event was sponsored by the Hudson Junior Women’s


Shawn Jasper, an incumbent used his experience as a sell- ing point during the Feb. 23 Candidates’ Night


Club. The most contested positions in the March election are the two open seats of the Board of Selectmen There are six candidates vying for the


Tis is Anthony Martino’s first time running for the Board of Selectmen


position, including incumbents, Ben Nadeau and Shawn Jasper.


continued to page 9 - Candidates’ Night


Breault’s Termination Upheld by Labor Arbitrator


In a statement released from Board of Selectmen Chairman Shawn Jasper


Wednesday afternoon, “Donald Breault’s employment as captain with the Town of Hudson was terminated on May 25, 2010. A recent arbitration


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case considered the circumstances of that termination. The arbitration decision has not resulted in any change in Mr. Breault’s status. The town has not entered into any form of severance or separation agreement with Mr. Breault. The town believes that because of RSA 91-A, we are prohibited from providing any details with regard to the arbitration decision.” Breault was the second highest-ranking officer in the Hudson Police Department when he was placed on administrative leave September 8, 2009. He, at that point, was suspended with pay for falsifying work hours to gain vacation time worth more than $2,600. In October 2009 his paid administrative leave was then converted to non-pay status.


In the spring of 2010 the Hudson Police Department reorganized and the captain’s position and Breault’s employment were terminated. In February 2011 Breault was indicted by a Hillsborough County Grand Jury for “theft … [computer related offenses]. The indictment states that his actions were done “recklessly, without authorization [where he] altered or tampered time keeping dates.” In addition the indictment stated that Breault, “schemed, conducted, generated and claimed fictitious work hours which allowed him to obtain approximately $2,639.07 continued to page 9 - Breault’s Termination Upheld


Staff photo by Marc Ayotte


Staff photos by Kristen Hoffman


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