Hudson - Litchfield News | April 6, 2012 - 3 Hudson Residents Walking for Multiple Sclerosis


submitted by Laura Lockhart What is MS?


Multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specifi c symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. What is Walk MS? Walk MS is the signature fundraising event of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society with over 250,000 walkers in more than 700 cities across the country.


It’s a celebration of the great


things we can achieve when working together for a common cause. Money raised in support of this 5-mile walk brings us closer to a world without multiple sclerosis. Last year, the Greater New England Chapter spent over $8 million on MS education, support, advocacy, services, and research to benefi t more than 19,000 individuals and families who are affected by MS in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, and 400,000 across the country. Who Is Destination: Cure? This year, the team consists of walkers from Hudson: Laura Lockhart (team captain), Brody Lockhart, Jason Lockhart, and Madison Lockhart, as well as walkers from northern NH and


year our core team members have participated in the walk. There are several ways you can help. First and foremost, our team will be hosting a benefi t concert to raise awareness and funds. Mark your calendars: Friday, April 20, 7:30 to 11 p.m. at the VFW on 2 Quincy Street in Nashua. Anyone 21-plus is invited to attend and enjoy the festivities. We will have a great local fi ve-piece cover band, named Remedy, covering some of the best rock music from the 70s to today starting at 8 p.m. There will also be a 50/50 raffl e and door prizes courtesy of some great sponsors, including Carrabba’s, Smokey Bones, and more. Tickets may be purchased in advance (through a team member) or at the door. You can also make a tax-deductible donation online by visiting the New England Chapter of the National MS Society. Visit www.MSnewengland. org, click on “Donate to a Participant,” search for our Team, Destination: Cure. If you prefer, you can send your contribution


Left to right: Stefanie Wilcox, Heather Demers, Roger Demers, Team Captain Laura Lockhart (Hudson) Brody Lockhart (Hudson), Debbie Demers, Andrew Demers, Olivia Demers, Jason Lockhart (Hudson), and Madison Lockhart (Hudson).


Massachusetts. We call ourselves “Destination: Cure” because each step we take during the walk brings us closer to a cure. We walk to raise awareness and funds for the National MS Society (for more information, visit www. nationalmssociety.org). They provide aid to those with MS, educate the newly-diagnosed


and people that care for them, and help fund the research that brings new medications, and therefore, hope to those struggling with the disease and its symptoms. Our team hopes to raise close to $2500 this year through our new fundraising efforts. Although our team members have varied over the years, this will be the sixth


Superintendent Search Down to the Wire


agreed that the ever-changing technology is causing schools to rapidly evolve. Lane said that technology is both a “wonderful and terrible weapon,” as social networking can revolutionize communication, but can also be a harbinger of bullying. Ormond stated, “I’m not a fan of MySpace and Facebook in schools,” but added that there is no way to completely shun technology as a whole, nor would it be prudent to be so. She said that it would be better for students to keep their phones on their desks in plain sight, so they can be out in the open. Leaving phones in plain sight will allow teachers to have better control of what’s going on in the classroom, as students would more likely be less inclined to use the phones in plain sight as opposed to hidden in their pockets or sleeves.


Both candidates were asked Bryan Lane


by Kristen Hoffman The search for Hudson’s new Superintendent is getting down to the wire. Four candidates have made it to the fi nal round of interviews, Alvirne Principal Bryan Lane, Hudson’s Assistant Superintendent Mary Ellen Ormond, Superintendent of the Wilton Lyndeborough School District Trevor Erbel and Hollis Brookline Assistant Superintendent Betsey Cox-Buteau. Lane and Ormond were interviewed by the


School Board during their April 2 meeting. Lane has been the Principal of Alvirne High School for 14 years. He made it clear during his public interview that communication is an important part of the job, “I’m a communication person, someone who like to build new relationships. He added that his attention to detail and his interest in motivating others has been well suited in his position, and will transfer well to the Superintendent’s offi ce. Ormond has worked with the Hudson School District for 23 years. She stated that district has changed immensely since she was originally hired. She said that the positions of Assistant Superintendent and the Superintendent were very different, but added that the job of both offi ces is to keep everything transparent and accessible to the community.


Both candidates were asked a few questions by


the School Board. The candidates received the same questions, as not to give one candidate an unfair advantage over another. Topics discussed ranged from teachers’ salaries, social media in the


classroom, and parent outreach. School Board Vice Chair Laura Bisson asked


the two candidates about salary discrepancies. It was recently discovered that Hudson teachers, on average make less money than teachers in other districts in Greater Nashua. Bisson noted that Hudson teachers, on average deal with larger class sizes than other districts in the sample area. Lane noted that Hudson, Alvirne in particular employs many younger teachers. “There are only twelve [faculty members] in the building that I didn’t hire,” Lane said. He added that it isn’t that the teachers are inexperienced, but the pay scale is directly infl uenced by the level of education, meaning that teachers with advanced degrees are generally paid better. According to Lane, the District would benefi t by adding professional initiatives for teachers he added, “The initiative to more from one level to another is not very strong.” In the long run, providing incentives will lead to a better community, and benefi t the children in the District, “It all comes back to how can we make it better for our students,” Lane said. Both


candidates were asked about their views on


social media, and its


place in the school. Both candidates


what they beliveve their role as a Superintendent would entail. Lane said that he wants to be a hands on Superintendent, saying that he wanted to be a part of the schools, saying that he didn’t want to see a bunch of unfamiliar faces at graduation, but instead, wants to be an integral part of Hudson Schools. Ormond answered that the Superintendent needs to make Hudson a priority, as the job reaches beyond the schools and impacts the community as a whole. The Hudson School Board conducted their second round of interviews during a special meeting on April 4. Erbel and Cox-Buteau, the two external candidates will be publicly interviewed. The new Superintendent will be named during their April 9 meeting.


to Walk MS, National MS Society, Greater New England Chapter, PO Box 845945, Boston, MA 02284-5945. In the memo section of the check, include our team name (Destination: Cure) and the name of the fundraising event (Walk MS Nashua, NH). Any and all donations will be warmly welcomed, and greatly appreciated. Together we can get closer to fi nding a cure!


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Board of Selectmen Liaison Assignments


Liaison assignments announced at Tuesday night’s Hudson Board of Selectmen meeting: Committees Benson’s: Nadeau/Coutu Budget Committee: Brucker/ Luszey


Cable Committee: Coutu CIP: Maddox CTAP: Nadeau Chamber Commerce: Coutu/ Nadeau Conservation: Brucker Emergency Preparedness: BOS Chairman Energy Committee “The Green Team”: Nadeau HazMat: Coutu


Hudson Senior Council on Aging: Luszey Joint Town/School Planning Committee: Luszey LEPC: Maddox NRPC: Maddox Nominations & Appointments: BOS Chairman


Planning Board: Maddox/ Brucker Recycling Committee: Nadeau


Sewer Utility Committee: Coutu


State Liaison: Coutu Water Utility Committee: Nadeau


Zoning Board of Adjustment: Nadeau


Departments Assessing: Coutu Community Development (Building, Engineering, Planning, Zoning): Brucker Fire: Coutu Finance:


Brucker


Information Technology: Luszey Library: Nadeau Police: Maddox Public Works (Highway): Nadeau


Recreation: Coutu Town Clerk/Tax Collector: Luszey Water Utility: Brucker


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