An Independent Weekly Newspaper


Hudson~Litchfield News


Hudson~Litchfield News Volume 22 Number 49 June 22, 2012 16 Pages Great


Outdoors Month


by Doug Robinson Schools are out, and summer is


here. June has been identifi ed and proclaimed as the “Great Outdoors Month - a time to celebrate our country’s magnifi cent landscapes, waterways and historical sites. From the Grand Canyon to Central Park, and from the Great Lakes to the California coast, America is full of spectacular sites that are open for all people to explore and enjoy’ states letsmove.gov. People are urged to cycle, walk,


jog, and explore parks and trails within their own communities as well as throughout the United States. Scavenger hunts, long walks, games, swim, and even canoeing offer all the excitement that only the outdoors can bring. The President of the United States


has even written a Proclamation, stating that June is the Great Outdoors Month. “America’s natural treasures and


unique landscapes have always mirrored the rugged independence and cherished diversity that defi ne our national character. From rocky coasts to lush woodlands to urban parks, our great outdoors have set the scene for countless adventures, trials, and triumphs. During Great Outdoors Month, we celebrate our long legacy of environmental stewardship and resolve to preserve clean and healthy outdoor spaces for generations to come. Thanks to centuries of forward-


thinking Americans - from leaders like Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt to private citizens and neighborhood groups - our lives have been enriched by a tremendous array of natural beauty. To uphold this tradition, I was proud to launch the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. Building on input from tens of thousands of people across our country, we are joining with communities, landowners, sportsmen, businesses, and partners at every level of government to reconnect Americans with the natural world and lay the foundation for a more sustainable planet. Through the Initiative, we are also helping support farms and ranches that provide our Nation with food, fi ber, and energy. The 21st Century Conservation Service Corps is empowering our Nation’s youth to restore and protect our public lands and waters through meaningful jobs and service opportunities. And First Lady Michelle Obama’s Lets Move Outside! initiative is encouraging children and families to explore the outdoors and engage in outdoor recreation as part of a healthy, active lifestyle. “Protecting our environment is not


only a duty to our children; it is an economic imperative. Visitors to our public lands contribute billions of dollars to local economies, and I am committed to supporting this engine of growth. As part of our National Travel and Tourism Strategy, my Administration is working to increase visits to our national parks and scenic places. This initiative will help support small businesses and drive job growth across our country. “Great Outdoors Month is a time


for all Americans to share in the natural splendor of which we are all proud inheritors. Whether camping, fi shing, rock climbing, or playing in a neighborhood park, nature offers each of us the opportunity to get active, explore, and strengthen our bonds with family and friends. This month, let us celebrate our natural heritage by experiencing it together. Now, therefore, I, Barack Obama,


President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States do hereby proclaim June 2012 as Great Outdoors Month.


to explore the great outdoors and to uphold our Nation’s legacy of conserving our lands and waters for future generations,” stated President Obama in his proclamation


by Andrew Belliveau After 12 years of being together day after


day, the night of Thursday, June 14, would be a bittersweet one, as it will always be remembered by the Alvirne High School Class of 2012 as the last night they would spend together as


Alvirne Class of 2012 and Principal Lane Leave Alvirne Together


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Caps in the air, the band plays and the class of 2012 offi cially graduated


a class. Many of the students tired from the previous night’s Senior Boston Harbor Cruise, they marched into the Verizon Wireless Arena in the form of the well-rehearsed, neat entry procession that Principal Bryan K. Lane is known for. This ceremony was not only bittersweet for the


students, however, as this is Principal Lane’s fi nal graduation as the Alvirne High School Principal. Starting in July, he will replace Randy Bell as Superintendent of the Hudson School District. Following the procession, the B-Naturals sang the National Anthem. Then, Robert Allen Diamond gave his President’s Address. Diamond gave a very motivating speech in which he compared the Alvirne Class of 2012’s experience to a roller coaster. “No one besides the people that were on our coaster - on our specifi c cart - knows our exact experience; no one in this room besides us knows what it was like to be a 2012 senior.” He stated all that the class had accomplished, and how much they will continue to accomplish in the world outside of high school. Next was the Salutatorian’s Address


Before marching into the verizon, Sarah T ibodeau and Beccky Turgeon are all smiles


James, “Jimmy” Tomaswick shows that even with diploma in hand, he still has AHS spirit


by Ashley M. Felch. In her address, Felch discussed the true meaning of the pop-culture mantra “YOLO,” short for “you only live once.” She urged the departing Class of 2012 to embrace their lives and do with it what they truly wish to do, as there are no do-overs in life. continued to page 9 - AHS 2012


Litchfi eld Presbyterian Church Celebrates Strawberry Season


by Andrew Belliveau On Saturday, the Litchfi eld Presbyterian Church held its fi fth annual


Strawberry Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The festival served as a fundraiser, with the proceeds going to the church. McQuesten Farm of Litchfi eld donated the strawberries. Boy Scout Troop 11 was present amongst the many volunteers from the church. The event consisted of baked goods, an assortment of strawberry delights,


raffl es, children’s games, and a performance by the Granite State Cloggers. This was the cloggers’ second year at the Strawberry Festival. This year, they danced to an assortment of songs, including “Be Our Guest,” “Born This Way,” and “Forget You.” Reverend Stephen Quinlan commented on the purpose of the fundraiser:


“The Strawberry Festival is not only a fundraiser. It is a benefi t for the community to give people the opportunity to get together, enjoy each other, and celebrate strawberry season.” The festival concluded at 3 p.m. with the raffl ing off of various prizes.


Strawberries being served by a church volunteer New Trash Program Aims to Increase Recycling by Kristen Hoffman


Changes are coming to trash and recycling pick up in Hudson this July. Starting the week of July 1, Hudson residents will be issued a single, 96-gallon recycling tote for single stream recycling. Residents will be able to mix aluminum, plastic and paper all in one canister. Recyclables will be collected every other week, instead of once a week. The recycling canister will be bright blue, to distinguish it from the new trash totes, which will be black with a black top.


I urge all Americans


Hudson residents will still use 64-gallon trash totes, which will continue to be collected every week. Kevin Burns, of the Highway Department said that those who would like an additional trash receptacle will be able to rent one from Pinard Waste Management for $75 for fi ve years. According to Burns, the “grey top” trash barrels will no longer be available, and those who have them will be able to sell them back to Pinard for $25. Instead of the grey-topped receptacles, residents will be able to rent a new, yellow-topped receptacle to handle trash overfl ow. Burns said that the program is a cost saving measure, as the town pays a certain price per ton for every piece of garbage that is removed from the


Some changes are coming to the recylcing program in Hudson


town. On the other hand, the town does not incur any costs for recyclable materials collected by Pinard. In the fi ve years since the town has put a heavy emphasis on recycling, the trash collection budget has dropped from $1.6 million to $1.5 million, which, though a small drop, has still been benefi cial to the town’s budget. According to Burns, trash pick up is one of the most costly line items in the town’s budget. He estimated that the


former program has saved the town upwards of $3.5 million throughout the years.


This is the second time in fi ve years that the


town has changed their solid waste disposal program. This is the fi rst time the town will introduce single stream recycling though. Burns said that about 85 percent of what is


thrown away is actually recyclable. Possibly unbeknownst to Hudson residents, those who choose not to recycle are actually spending money to do so. According to Burns, about 24 percent of Hudson residents do not take advantage of the recycling program, and therefore, the costs come directly out of their pockets. Coincidently, Burns added that about 24 percent of recyclable materials are diverted from landfi lls, while he doesn’t expect everyone to start recycling everything right away, he said that he hopes with the new program, upwards of 40 percent of all recyclable material will be diverted from landfi lls. But what to do with the old recycling totes? Burns said that those can be recycled. Those who want to get rid of them can set them out on the curb on trash day, and Pinard will collect it. Brochures outlining the new procedures will be given to residents upon delivery of the new totes.


Staff photo by Doug Robinson


Staff photos by Len Lathrop


Courtesy photo by Luis Mata


Staff photo by Andrew Belliveau


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