Pelham - Windham News | April 20, 2012 - 3


Pack 25 Webelos Celebrate Arrow of Light Crossover Graduation Ceremony


Road Re-Construction Bids to be Sought


by Barbara O’Brien Acknowledging that the Town of Windham does


not have sufficient equipment or manpower to perform road reconstruction projects “in-house,” selectmen have instructed Highway Agent Jack McCartney to come up with plans for soliciting competitive bids.


Selectman Phil LoChiatto said he wants to see a


side-by-side comparison per hour for contracting both men and machines. Saying he didn’t want to nit pick, LoChiatto said he still wants to be able to “look at the unit costs” involved in hiring outside contractors to perform road reconstruction. Selectmen’s Vice-Chairman Ross McLeod said he feels that asking contractors for too much specific detail is just “asking for useless information.” “I’m more concerned about getting the best competitive bids for the whole project, not piecemeal,” McLeod stated.


McCartney said he agreed with getting bids for


Mr. Harry Burnham, Nicholas Alborghetti, James Msaddi, Christopher Kelly, Peter Alborghetti just after the Momentous Ceremony


submitted by Beth Knight, Pack 25 Nicholas Alborghetti, Peter Alborghetti, Christopher Kelly and James Msaddi Webelos Scouts in Pelham’s Pack 25 were lead by their Den Leader, Marie Yanish, crossing over the bridge from Cub Scout Pack 25 to Boy Scout Troup 25! Scoutmaster Tom Goss and his Troup were there to welcome them into their new family, as they tie their new neckerchief on. The boys receive their Arrow of Light Award with an awesome ceremony by Mr. Harry Burnham. Mr. Burnham’s ceremony is legendary. Making it a truly special night for everyone, he had the entire Pack 25 intrigued with his every move. Soothing tribal music playing in the background, Mr. Burnham was beautifully dressed from head to toe as a Native American. His Den filled with his sentimental collection. He spoke about family, the journey, the meaning of the arrow. Then presented our 4 graduating boys with their Arrow of Light Award. Andre Michaud, Pack 25’s Pack Trainer, Religious Emblems Coordinator, Webelos Den Leader and Dad to Webelos George Michaud and Calvin Knight, Dad to Tiger Jacob Knight, both remember back to when they were scouts and Mr. Burnham celebrated their Arrow of Light Ceremonies! The Arrow of Light award is the highest award


available to Cub Scouts. It requires the Scout to have earned the Webelos Scout badge and eight activity badges. In addition to the skill and activity requirements of the preceding ranks, the Arrow of Light requires Scouts to learn the Scout Promise and Scout Law, and visit one meeting and one activity of a Boy Scout troop, in preparation for advancing to the Boy Scouts. Earning the Arrow of Light will help earn many of the requirements for the lower ranks of the Boy Scouts. The Arrow of Light award is the only Cub Scout award[note 1] that can be worn on a Boy Scout uniform.


Also with us to celebrate was Nutfield District Unit Commissioner Chris Cox. Mr. Cox presented Pack 25 with our Charter Certificate. Pack 25 celebrates 52 years in Scouting! We congratulate our boys for their outstanding


achievement and thank them and their families for all their outstanding dedication. We will miss you all tremendously. This momentous crossing-over event marks the coming end of the Scout season and gears us up for our new upcoming season! Check out Pelham’s Pack 25 atwww.pelhamweb.org/ pack25 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ PelhamNewHampshireCubScoutPack25 and see all the fun and exciting things we are planning!


Windham Girl Scouts Earn Cooking Badge


highway projects, but emphasized the “need to go with just one contractor” per project. “We don’t want seven different contractors fighting with each other,” McCartney commented. “The question is how much do you want done for the dollars you have to spend,” he added.


Chairman Bruce Breton also supported the need to seek competitive bids. “We can’t build a road in-house. We don’t have the equipment to do it,” Breton said. “We have to use contractors.” Town Administrator David Sullivan told selectmen how important it is to have McCartney supervising all road construction projects. “It’s to the town’s benefit to have Jack out there overseeing the work,” Sullivan said. “That way, any changes can be made as we go along,” which will save money in the long run, Sullivan stated. “There are always unforeseen developments, especially when it comes to ledge, whether the job is done in-house or put out to bid,” McCartney said.


Sullivan also said any engineering involved in road reconstruction projects should also be put out for competitive bid, on a per hour basis. Selectman LoChiatto said he would help McCartney put together a proposal for soliciting road reconstruction bids. Precisely which roads will be tackled during 2012 has not yet been determined, McCartney said. Prior to that list being developed, it is expected that selectmen will accompany McCartney on a “tour” of town roads that are in need of being reconstructed.


Castle Hill Bridge in Need of Culvert Repair


by Barbara O’Brien There is already a weight limit of 10 tons on Castle Hill Bridge, a span that goes from Windham to Pelham, but if repairs to one of the culverts that runs under the bridge isn’t fixed, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (DOT) could choose to reduce the capacity to three tons. The issue of repairs to Castle Hill Bridge came to the forefront during the Windham Selectmen’s meeting on April 9 as the result of town officials having recently been told that the structure was being added to the DOT’s “Red List.” DOT officials reportedly inspected the span this past November, finding defects with the culvert that runs underneath. According to Windham Highway Agent


Jack McCartney, repairs to the west end of the bridge were done more than 20 years ago, with subsequent damage being done during the Mother’s Day Flood in 2006. “It’s not an eminent danger,” Town Administrator David Sullivan said, “but it could become a danger.” “We need to be prepared,” he said.


McCartney said that the needed repairs could be done by installing a poured cement culvert inside the existing culvert, thereby reinforcing it. The estimated cost of the repairs was said to be in the neighborhood of approximately $130,000. Sullivan said that the Castle Hill Bridge wouldn’t make it on to the DOT’s State aid list until 2014 at the earliest and, perhaps, as late as 2017. “We’re not waiting for the State anymore,” Sullivan said,


submitted by Lisa McGrath Windham Girl Scout Troop 11182 (Carly, Katie, Kayla, Hannah, Shelby, Isabella, Cassie and Amanda) completed their cooking badge at Johnny Troy’s on South Willow Street in


Manchester. Owner Joe Troisi showed them first hand how to make the best pizza and a delicious pasta dish, Chicken Siciliano! The girls loved every minute - especially eating what they made and can’t wait to bring their families back!


Lights Go on at Griffin Park Early This Year


by Barbara O’Brien The milder than usual weather has had many benefits for those who enjoy the outdoors in the springtime and one of those is that youngsters have been able to get out and utilize the athletic fields at Windham’s Griffin Park sooner than would normally be the case. The only problem is that it is still getting dark in the evening sooner than it will be a month or so from now. In order to enhance the safety of those using the park around dusk, selectmen have waived the policy that mandates the use of lights at the town-owned park. It was far from a unanimous decision, however. During the board meeting on April 9, selectmen


voted 2 to 1 to waive the policy stating that lights could not be turned on at Griffin Park prior to May 1. The policy waiver allowed those lights to be used beginning April 10. Selectman Kathleen DiFruscia said that her only concern was whether or not residents abutting the park would be opposed to the change. Town Administrator David Sullivan said that the issue was posted on-line and at other locations in town,


but that he had gotten no input or complaints from any area residents.


Selectman Roger Hohenberger said he was opposed to allowing the use of the lights earlier than stipulated in the town policy. “I feel it’s an extension of what the selectmen promised,” Hohenberger stated. Selectmen’s Vice-Chairman Ross McLeod excused himself from the board during the discussion due to his connection with the Recreation Committee and the Windham Soccer Association.


Referring to the drier than normal weather that has been prevalent this past winter and, now, into the spring, Selectmen’s Chairman Bruce Breton said, “We’re fortunate to have the extra time to use the fields.” Voting in favor of waiving the lighting policy for Griffin Park were Breton and DiFruscia. Voting in opposition was Hohenberger. McLeod recused himself. Selectman Phil LoChiatto was not in attendance at the meeting when the vote was taken. There was no public input on the issue.


Honoring Ellie A Memorial Event To Benefit the


Ellie Morin’s long time friend Allison Doucette has planned a memorial event to celebrate Ellie’s life. Allison is no stranger to the heartache that accompanies the loss of a loved one; she lost her brother Billy ten years ago and her brother Steve two years ago. Ellie died unexpectedly and tragically last December 21, leaving family and friends in shock.


Fri. May 18 from 7 – 10pm


Searles School and Chapel 35 Range Road, Windham, NH


Raffles, Food, Beverages raffle items include handmade quilts to gift cards to local business


establishments, generously donated by local businesses and other kind hearts.


Admission $10, Raffle Tickets $1, or 8 for $5 Send Donations To: Elizabeth Claire Memorial Scholarship C/O Salem, NH Dollars for Scholars, PO Box 297, Salem NH 03079


For more information contact Allison Doucette at arm63@wildcats.unh.edu


emphasizing that the DOT could further reduce the load limit on the bridge.


McCartney also said that the cost of road/ bridge construction has gone up about 20 percent in just the past two years. “If we wait, it could wind up costing us more,” he added. Sullivan recommended that cost estimates for the project be gotten as part of this year’s budget process and the project then put out to bid. Selectman Kathleen DiFruscia questioned


whether additional damage could result if the repairs are put off. “Not immediately,” McCartney said, “But there will be problems if we let it go too long.”


Selectman Roger Hohenberger said, “I don’t


believe there is a danger” regarding the condition of Castle Hill Bridge. “It’s not in dire need of being repaired immediately,” he said. “The State (DOT) comes down and red lists it, now, all of a sudden, it’s an emergency?” Hohenberger wanted to know.


Selectmen decided that the Castle Hill Bridge and the need to repair the damaged culvert will be discussed further during the annual budget process, commencing early next fall.


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Ellie had a big heart and was dearly loved by all who knew her. Everyone described her as down to Earth and will remember her wearing a head band and a pair of moccasins. She adored music, was passionate about Harry Potter, and loved nothing more than to spend time with her brother Matt and her sister Katie. She will forever be missed.


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Salem, NH located at the Salem Market Place


603.458.2630


Photos courtesy of Beth Knight, Pack 25


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