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Pelham~Windham News


Pelham~Windham News Volume 9 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.”


Te PHS National Honor Society donated over 50 boxes of food & goods to the


Pelham Pantry as a result of their efforts during the high school’s spirit week - (L to R): NHS officers Erika Campbell, Katherine McArthur, Ben Harris, Meghan Taing, Ben Cares, Jonathan Cares


by Marc Ayotte After a week of spirited competition between all four classes


at Pelham High, not only did the junior class emerge as winners, but so did two local charities. The Pelham students while engaged in various intra-school competitive events such as painting murals, performing skits and conducting bake-offs, used their school spirit to help raise money for the ‘Make a Wish Foundation’ as well as held a food drive. According to health teacher Erin Gavin, who also serves as the Faculty Advisor for the PHS National Honor Society(NHS), over 50 boxes of canned goods, pasta, cereal, paper goods and more were collected by the students and distributed to the Pelham Food Pantry.


According to Gavin, the junior class, in addition to winning the


overall school competition, also were responsible for gathering over 50 percent of the boxes of food during the drive. Gavin noted that the spirit week was also “a good opportunity to raise money” in the spirit of competition between the students. Gavin, in her fourth year at Pelham High also thanked Athletic Director Todd Kress for his willingness and effort to coordinate the timing of NHS’s annual food drive with other spirit week activities; noting that donations to the pantry are very important and needed, entering the spring season. After the week-long drive was


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PHS Spirit Week Benefits Community


Pelham High’s Future Business Leaders of America officers display a sign signifying the $870 they raised during spirit week and subsequently donated to the Make A Wish Foundation (L to R): Lauren Carrick, Stephanie Lucas, Stacy Foote, Ben Harris, Katelyn Goupil


complete, Gavin asked NHS members Greg Irwin, Joe Minichiello and Kirsten Salois to drive the boxes of goods to the Food Pantry located near St. Patrick’s church in Pelham. In addition to the food and goods drive, the students raised money to benefit Make a Wish. Wendy Dorval, who is the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Faculty Advisor for PHS students, announced that the spirit week activities generated a total of $870 which was donated to Make a Wish. Dorval noted that the FBLA holds fundraisers throughout the year that benefit Make a Wish as well as the March of Dimes. In accounting for this year’s success in the amount of money raised, Dorval noted the increased level of competition between the classes in an event referred to as ‘coin-wars’ – just one of the many events held during a very successful Python Spirit Week. Dorval commended senior Stacey Foote, who is a member of the FBLA, for her effort associated with the ‘coin-wars’ competition. Tyler Desjardins and Casey LaBonte who work on the school newspaper,


the Pelham Press, shared an excerpt from their interview with A.D. Kress’s overview of this year’s spirit week; “This week is generally just fun and games to most, but it’s nice to see these students put this aside to reach this goal. This is a chance to give and, simply said, it’s wonderful to see.”


Pelham Police Department Recognized


by Tom Tollefson Pelham chose Tuesday, February 28, to recognize the police department for their efforts to “serve and protect” the community. A total of 67 awards were handed out to dozens of men and women


in the Pelham Police Department. Awards for: Good Conduct, Physical Fitness, Military Service Award, Honorable Service Award, Military Combat Service Award, Life saving with Valor, Lifesaving, and Commendation Bar for Distinguished Unit Action, Medal of Honor, and Letter of Commendation were given to various members of the department. Each award had a special criteria rather it was physical fitness, military service, putting their life on the line, or saving someone else’s life. “It’s hard to narrow it down to a few awards because a lot of good work


was done here this year,” said Pelham Police Chief Joseph Roark. Lieutenants Gary Fisher and Brian McCarthy won the Medal of Honor


Award for their efforts in apprehending an armed suspect. The Medal of Honor is the highest award the department will give to a police officer. continued to page 8 - Pelham Police Department


Te members of the Pelham Police Department award recipients.


Personal E-mails Cost McLeod His County Prosecutor Position


by Barbara O’Brien Windham Selectman Ross McLeod has lost his job as prosecutor for Hillsborough County, following a private citizen’s request for copies of e-mails that had previously been sent through the county system. This request came from Corey Lewandowski under the NH Right to Know Law. Lewandowski is a Windham resident and area director for Americans for Prosperity, a conservative political action group. Lewandowski is also a candidate for town treasurer. McLeod is currently seeking re- election to a second term as selectman. The election will take place on March 13. Among the e-mails provided to Lewandowski were a few that were of a personal nature,


including a couple that pertained to a Fantasy Football League. “We’re talking a couple of e-mails,” McLeod’s attorney Roger Chadwick said. “They were part of an e-mail chain, in which there was little participation by Ross.” “It was clear (from the e-mails) that no one was getting paid; that no money was changing hands,” Chadwick said of the Fantasy Football League, adding that there might have been a $5 participation fee, if anything. Still, despite what Chadwick described as a minor infraction, Hillsborough County Attorney Dennis Hogan told McLeod he could either resign or be fired. “Ross did what most of us would do and took the gentler road of resignation,” Chadwick said. McLeod served


as prosecutor for Hillsborough County for about four years. Chadwick is a partner with Bernstein, Mello and Chadwick, PLLC of Nashua.


After his resignation, when McLeod finally had the opportunity to review what had actually led to the loss of his job, he found that Hogan and Lewandowski might not have been strangers when Lewandowski requested the e-mails. At that point, feeling that his only error had been in sending a few personal e-mails via the county system, McLeod asked to rescind his resignation as county prosecutor. Hogan would not reconsider McLeod’s resignation, however, Chadwick said.


continued to page 8 - Personal E-mails Seven-Way Race for School Board


by Barbara O’Brien It’s been a long time since so many Windham


voters signed up as candidates for any town or school district office, but the slow economy, coupled by the overcrowding that plagues local schools, has brought forward seven interested residents this election season. None of this year’s candidates are incumbents, as both Chairman Ed Gallagher and school board member Jeff Bostic have chosen not to seek a second term. Those who are vying for the two vacant seats are: Richard (Dick) Forde, Shawn Foster, Jim Curtin, Michael Joanis, Heather Petro, Jerome Rekart and Carolyn Terrien.


Six of the seven candidates for school board


got together for a Meet the Candidates Night, put on by members of the Windham Woman’s Club, on February 21. The only candidate who did not attend was Jim Curtin. No reason was given for his absence. Dick Forde described himself as a second-


generation Windham resident. He also has children, grandchildren and even two great- children living in town. Forde said he wants to make sure that this next generation can also afford to live in Windham. “We must be careful how we spend our money,” Forde said, referring to tax dollars. “You have to save for what you want.” Forde said he earned a college degree in Computer Science. He has run twice before for a seat on the school board, but was defeated on


both occasions. “I consider myself an advocate for the consumer,” Forde said. Shawn Foster has lived in Windham for a dozen years. He has five school-aged children. “It’s time to give something back” to the community, Foster said. Foster reported that he has a Masters Degree, plus 20 years of experience in educational leadership. He has served for 12 years as the director of a Christian teaching center, Foster said. In addition, he has served for the past eight years as pastor of Crossing Life Church. “I work well with others,” Foster told the audience. If elected, Foster said he would make “prudent use of resources.”


continued to page 8 - Race for School Board


Staff photo by Tom Tollefson


photos courtesy of Pelham High School


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