Hudson - Litchfield News | March 16, 2012 - 5 W.A.T.S. Going on at Alvirne?


make students aware that certain words can be hurtful not only to the individuals being addressed, but also to those close to them. More specifically, the ‘spread the word to end the word’ campaign is directed towards eliminating the “R” word; using “retarded” to describe individuals with mental, emotional or physical challenges. Curry, a special education teacher at Alvirne, along with her club members are stressing a different meaning for the “R” word, and that is Respect. She believes that disabilities should be viewed as challenges and that they are only disabilities if the individual allows them to be. “Don’t tell me what you can’t do, show me what you can do,” noted Curry in reflecting upon the attitude and approach of the W.A.T.S club members. Additionally, Curry praises the club members, saying “it is an amazing group of kids who are so passionate about being a teenager and who have stepped up to be leaders and role models.”


Alvirne High School W.A.T.S. Club members (L to R): Lauren Weber, Lydia Tinker, Amber Baldwin, Kaila Borden, A.J. Maillet, and Sarah Tornstrom.


by Marc Ayotte Stemming from monies received from a Medicaid Infrastructure


Grant written for Teens Mentoring Teens (TMT), Alvirne High students are now able to join and be active members in a club named W.A.T.S. The acronym stands for “We’re All The Same” and that is exactly the specific message club members were conveying on Wednesday, March 7, when the slogan “spread the word to end the word” filled the AHS cafeteria and hallways. Dawn Breault, who is the Transition Counselor for the School District, applied for the grant, approximately four years ago. The funds were used to create an Intro to Human Services class at the high school, from which the club was formed.


According to the club advisor, Joanne Curry, the social club was established so that it would be open to all AHS students with a common interest of students mentoring other students. Curry stated that, “there should be something that all high school students can be a part of” adding that the club offers “a place where you can make a friend and be a friend.” Part of this process involves an effort to


Curry pointed out that although the ‘spread the word to end the


word’ emphasis of this past Wednesday was a collaborative effort, embraced by the entire school, it is just one aspect of the club’s functions and endeavors. The club operates the familiar popcorn stand within the school walls and is involved with many fund raisers; including a bake sale on Red Sox opening day to benefit the Jimmy Fund as well as being active in many Special Olympic events. According to Curry, the group conducts an after school social every month, with different themes, citing Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Halloween - that featured costumes and a haunted hayride, as some of the more popular events. As part of the initiative on Wednesday, Alvirne principal Brian Lane supported the cause of ‘spread the word to end the word’ during his morning address on the in-house TV show entitled Studio 19, according to Curry. That was followed by an ‘outro’ – a two minute video clip produced and acted out by students. A 10-minute topical YouTube video was then shown in all English classes with a follow-up discussion ensuing. To end the day, a 1:30 supportive send-off was given to the school’s Project Unified basketball team (comprised of special education students and typical peers), which headed out later that afternoon for a semi-finals game against Hopkinton.


Litchfield’s Fire Chief Returns to His Roots


hired,” he said. He was originally going to work in the electrical trade, but his true passion was as a firefighter. He trained in the field before the NH Fire Academy was opened. “I did a 12 week recruit school, and pretty much never went back to the electrical trade,” he said, “After finishing recruit school and getting certified as a career firefighter, I did dispatch at Bedford for a couple of years, before I came down here [Litchfield],” Fraitzl added. Fraitzl went back to Bedford after their Department went to 24- hour coverage in July of 1987. He stayed in Bedford for 14 years and eventually made it to shift commander. From Bedford he joined the Merrimack Fire Department as the Fire Marshall, eventually making it to Deputy Chief. “Merrimack is a career department,” he said, as opposed to the Departments in Litchfield, Bedford, and Milford where the crew tends to be made of primarily volunteers. He became chief of the Milford Fire Department in 2007, and retired in July of 2011.


Frank Fraitzl is Litchfield’s new Fire Chief. He started as a full time firefighter in Litchfield in 1986 before moving on to another position in his hometown of Bedford in 1987


by Kristen Hoffman There’s a new face in the Litchfield Fire Department. Frank Fraitzl, the new Fire Chief, started his first day on March 13. Fraitzl is Litchfield’s first appointed Fire Chief. Formally, the Chief


was chosen by voters during March elections. Fraitzl retired as chief of the Milford Fire Department in July. He described the Milford Fire Department as similar to the Litchfield Fire Department. Both are made primarily of volunteers. Fraitzl has been a career firefighter for 28 years. The Bedford


native has worked with the Bedford Fire Department in some capacity since April of 1984, “You never want to forget where you came from,” Fraitzl said. He started working as an on call firefighter in Bedford after he graduated from high school. He also worked for Litchfield’s then growing department for a period of time in the mid- 1980s, “I started in 1986 as one of the first full timers the town ever


Due to his previous retirement, he can only work a maximum of 32 hours a week, making Litchfield’s 24-hour workweek desirable. On March 13, Litchfield voters elected to grant the Fire Chief a three year contract. The default contract was one year. As Fraitzl was appointed to the position, the Board of Selectmen will decide whether or not to renew the contract at the end of the term. It looks like Litchfield will be a good fit for him. “I like the small


town environment,” Fraitzl said, adding, that he has never been a city kid. In New Hampshire, It’s common for Fire Departments to be made primarily of volunteers. He said that only five or six of the larger towns in New Hampshire have entire full time fire crews. Litchfield is no exception, out of the 30-member department, only two of whom are full time. Fraitzl started on Tuesday, and met the rest of the staff on


Wednesday night, “I think I can bring a lot of experience and so forth to the organization and help it grow and move forward he said. He added that he would like the department to have a larger presence in the community, as he views this position as being highly community oriented. The Board of Selectmen scheduled a Meet and Greet for Litchfield residents on March 19 between 5 and 7 p.m. at the Town Hall.


HPD Sponsoring 47th Semi-Annual American Red Cross Blood Drive


for all that the Red Cross does.” HPD dispatcher Erica Crawford also has a personal connection with the receiving of Red Cross Blood. “After the delivery of Cody, I needed two bags of blood to help me recover from a very difficult and hard labor. I weighed only 95 pounds when I gave birth to an 8-pound 10-ounce baby. I am very thankful for the blood I received.” These two examples are only a few of the long list of benefactors which have received the benefit of those who give blood. The Semi-Annual Blood Drive, at Hudson’s Community continues to go and continues to an even larger “Community event” commented HPD organizer Jamie Lee Iskar, “We are so thankful to all the wonder donors who give blood, but also to the local business donors who participate. In addition to free tee shirts and coupons to local restaurants, flowers will be given to the first 100 participants and stress balls will be given to the first 150 donors. A donated car starter will also be raffled off. Those who wish to donate may register on line at www.giveliffe.org, or call the Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS.


Cody, Erica, and Lt. Bianchi want to see you at the Blood Drive and give the “gift of life.”


by Doug Robinson The Hudson Police Department (HPD) will be sponsoring the 47th Semi-Annual American Red Cross Blood Drive at the Hudson Community Center on Friday, March 30, from 12 until 7 p.m. Considered the “gift of life,” the HPD sponsored


program has provided thousands of pints of blood for those in need. HPD Police Officers as well as the civilians who work at the HPD volunteer many hours, as well as give of themselves for the blood drive. Lt. David Bianchi gives blood because it is not only the “right thing to do” but he and his family witness the life giving benefits to those who receive blood. Bianchi’s father is presently undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer.


“It


brings it home,” continued Bianchi. “When I see how the blood helps my dad, I am very thankful


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