2 - May 11, 2012 | Pelham - Windham News Redistricting Lawsuits Moved to Supreme Court


by Diane Chubb As of now, fi ve separate lawsuits have been


fi led challenging the redistricting plan created by the House. Those suits will now be moved up to the New Hampshire Supreme Court. On Thursday, May 3, the suits were brought up for a hearing in Superior Court. Judge Kenneth Brown was ready to sign an interlocutory transfer to the Supreme Court if all of the parties would agree to a statement of facts. An interlocutory transfer would eliminate the need for a hearing at the lower court level, and move the issue straight to the Supreme Court, where the issue would ultimately be litigated. Almost all of the parties were prepared to agree


to the transfer. However, House Speaker William O’Brien was not on board. Judge Brown instructed O’Brien’s private lawyer,


David Vicinanzo, to encourage the speaker that this was the way to go. Ultimately, O’Brien agreed, but only if the record was closed on the case. This would close the record to competing plans being offered to the one approved by the House. The issue remains intensely debated, with strong disagreement on both sides. More fi lings are expected, as others want to make sure their arguments are heard. Judge Brown stated that moving the suits to the Supreme Court ensures that the matter will be


heard quickly. ““The citizens of New Hampshire are entitled to a quick solution, and we are prepared to put this on an expedited basis to deal with those circumstances,” Brown said.” This redistricting debate began because of the


plan drawn up by committee in 2011 as a result of updated census data. For the past few months, the battle regarding redistricting has raged on and Pelham has been one of the casualties. The redistricting plan denies 59 of these towns its own representative. Pelham is among these towns, which has suffi cient population to support four representatives. After the bill was vetoed by Governor Lynch,


almost immediately, House Republicans took up a vote to override the veto. Pelham’s Shaun Doherty was the only one from the local delegation to support the veto. The other members of the delegation, all of whom live in Hudson and Litchfi eld, voted to override the veto. In 2006, New Hampshire voters


overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the state constitution to ensure that communities with enough population - 3,291 residents - “shall have its own district of one or more representative seats.”


Opponents to the plan claim that it violates the state constitution. As a result, fi ve separate lawsuits have been fi led against the House plan.


Branding and Social Media Critical for All Businesses


submitted by Pelham Economic Development Committee The Pelham Public Library was the place to be on Tuesday, May 1. Over 20 people gathered for a presentation about the importance of branding, marketing, and social media. Diane Chubb of Legalogos and MaryAnn Pfeiffer of 108 degrees gave a slideshow presentation to those in attendance. The main message from both ladies


was that developing a successful brand and creating a social media campaign


requires a level of investment from the business owner - both in time and money. “Grabbing an image you like from the Internet is the quickest way to a cease and desist letter,” reminded Chubb. “And that logo that the kid down the street did for you might cause problems down the road as well.” Both Chubb and Pfeiffer talked about


how a brand conveys the personality of a business, and conveys that to potential customers.


Pfeiffer also went to discuss the


Honoring Ellie A Memorial Event To Benefit the Ellie died unexpectedly and tragically last December 21,


Elizabeth Claire Memorial Scholarship Fund


leaving family and friends in shock. Ellie had a big heart and was dearly loved by all who knew her. She loved


nothing more than to spend time with her brother Matt Fri. May 18 from 7 – 10pm and her sister Katie. She will forever be missed. Ellie’s ’s long time friend, Allison Doucette has planned a memorial event to celebrate Ellie’s life.


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


importance of understanding the target market. “If you are looking for customers with disposable income, you want to be on Facebook. If you seek government contracts, then Linked In is the place for you.” The program was the last in


a four-part series of workshops designed to provide local businesses with useful information. The series was presented by the Pelham Economic Development Committee (PEDC) partnered with the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce, the Pelham Public Library and Citizens Bank. The Pelham Economic


Development Committee is


Diane Chubb and MaryAnn Pfeiff er were the featured speakers at the fi nal workshop in the PEDC series.


Strawberry Festival and Book Fair Design Contest Winner


submitted by Kim Capici, FLOW Kyle Gschwend, 8, of Windham is the proud winner of this year’s Strawberry Festival and Book Fair Design Contest. Artists ages 12 and under were asked to create a design for the Festival’s publicity that refl ected the themes of strawberries, books, and community. Kyle created a


wonderful design of a strawberry shaped hot air balloon fl ying over the Nesmith Library. Kyle’s winning design will be used on this year’s Strawberry Festival posters and publicity. All contest entries will be displayed at this year’s Strawberry Festival and Book Fair on June 2 at Windham High School. FLOW would like to thank all the Design Contest entries for the wonderful artwork that was submitted.


a volunteer organization dedicated to showcasing the benefi ts of doing business in Pelham as well as assisting existing business to grow and


prosper. If you are interested in more information about the PEDC, please contact Jeff Gowan at 635-7811.


Don’t Miss Our Job Fair! Tuesday, May 15th


Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital 70 Butler Street, Salem NH 03079


We will be interviewing candidates on-site to fill open positions for:


• Registered Nurses • Physical Therapists • Occupational Therapists • Speech/Language Pathologist


NORTHEAST REHABILITATION HOSPITAL NETWORK


603-893-2900 Like Us on Facebook


• RN Supervisor • Case Managers • Clinic Managers • Pediatrics


Can’t make the Job Fair? Submit your resume to


thoward@northeastrehab.com or visit www.NortheastRehab.com for more information.


Visit: www.HudsonChamber.com Gr. Hudson Chamber of Commerce, 71 Lowell Road, Hudson NH 11am-2pm


Meet local businesses, communi-


ty organizations and school clubs, tour Alvirne’s Restaurant and


store, plus enter for chances to win many great door prizes!


Wednesday, May 16th 4PM—7PM At Alvirne High School Exhibitor Space available, to reserve:


email: info@hudsonchamber.com or call 603-889-4731 Door Prizes—Food—Demos– And More!


FREE TO ATTEND • EVERYONE WELCOME First 100 Attendees Receives a FREE Hudson T-Shirt EVENT SPONSORS:


Schools Tightening Up Collection of Overdue Lunch Bills


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in Windham are urged to catch up on their bills, sooner than later. According to SAU 28 Business Administrator Adam Steel, a change in federal lunch program regulations no longer allows school districts to carry a negative balance at the end of the school year, a procedure which, in the past, resulted in the federal government ultimately picking up the tab. As a result, if someone doesn’t pay his or her overdue charges for school lunches now, the defi cit must be eaten up by the school district and passed on to local taxpayers. As a result, school district offi cials are “tightening up their collection efforts,” Steel told school board members, during their meeting on May 1. Having a past due bill, however, will not impact a student getting a lunch. “Every kid will get a lunch everyday, regardless of money owed,” Steel said of those who do not bring a lunch or lunch money from home. The meal that students will get, however, is not the same as those students who are up to date on what they owe for lunches. A so-called “emergency meal” will be provided to those who owe money for lunches. At Golden Brook and Center Schools, there will be a two-day grace period before the emergency meal is provided, at Windham Middle School the grace period will be one day, and at Windham High School there will be no grace period. The emergency meal will be provided on the fi rst day that lunch money is not forthcoming. When asked by school board members what the emergency meal included, Steel said that it is a tuna fi sh sandwich. “We can’t do peanut butter, anymore,” Steel said, referring to danger for those students who might have a peanut allergy. School board members made several comments indicating a dislike for tuna sandwiches, joking that being offered tuna fi sh would likely result in lunch bills being brought up to date. “You could call it punitive tuna,” school board member Michelle Farrell quipped. Steel reminds parents that school lunches can be paid for in advance, online, thereby avoiding any overdue lunchtime disasters for students.


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