Letter To
The Editor
A Job Well Done
The 2016 Bean Hole Bash is history,
and I’m writing to express my appreciation for all of those who
made it happen. Strung out along the First NH Turnpike as we
are, we have to work to overcome the geography that separates
us, and this annual event, now revived, helps to build a sense
of community.
Unfortunately, our politics seem to
push us apart, as was evident by the Democratic and Republican
booths competing for attention on Saturday afternoon. However,
given the general level of disinterest in both, they didn’t seem
to be too much of a distraction. After all, the conventional
wisdom is that folks don’t begin to pay attention until after
Labor Day.
However, the on-going antics of the
Republican nominee seem to be calling that into question.
Just how divisive he is was evidenced
by the absence of a single TRUMP sign at the Republican booth.
That’s probably a wise move because a WMUR/UNH poll released
today (8/4) shows him trailing the Democratic candidate in New
Hampshire by 17(!) points. The same poll shows Governor Hassan
leading by 10 points – 50% to 40%.
What WAS hung in the Republican booth
was a large banner asserting that Northwood Votes Republican. I
find that ludicrous. In fact, up to now, we are very evenly
split. In 2012, Obama beat Romney 1,198 – 1,189. In 2014, Jeanne
Shaheen beat Scott Brown, 866 – 842. More significantly,
townspeople voted Tim Jandebeur off the Board of Selectmen last
March.
We have a chance to continue the move
to better representation this November by voting for Mike Smith
as our State Representative. Last Saturday, Mike wasn’t
“politicking,” as some were doing. He was working on shucking
corn for the dinner. He was pitching in to help, as he has done
in many ways. His opponent showed up for the food.
Tom Chase
Northwood
1000 Books
Before Kindergarten
It’s time to celebrate the first year of Northwood’s “1000 Books
Before Kindergarten” program! The club is co-sponsored by
the Chesley Memorial Library and Northwood School. There
will be a special event at the Northwood School Library on
Thursday, August 18, at 6:00 p.m. to congratulate participants
who met their “1000 Books” goal and to recognize all
participants entering kindergarten this fall.
New participants are welcome to register at any time so why not
give your child the tools to become a successful reader? The
program is open to any child from birth to the start of
kindergarten. Reading aloud to children at birth
strengthens their language skills and builds their vocabulary –
two important tools for learning to read when they enter
kindergarten. Stop by the Chesley Memorial Library to
register your child, learn more about the program, and receive a
free canvas book bag for registering.
Liam Cooper was our first “1000 Book Reader” but not the last!
Miles Winslow, Evelyn Seavey, and Norah Seavey are all “1000
Book Readers” and we hope to add more names soon.
Congratulations to all of them! We recognize the readers on the
sign outside the library when they reach their goal and post
their names on the “1000 Books” wall display in the library’s
youth room. We are looking forward to more names joining
them soon!
Letter To
The Editor
I was saddened to read Mr. Jandebeur’s recent letter to this
paper, where he implied that those members of our community who
have kids in our schools are not “adults” and ought not be
eligible to make decisions regarding our town’s school. I
find this attitude needlessly dividing and would much prefer to
see a strong community in town where all voices are heard and
encouraged to get involved in aspects of town business and
leadership, without prejudice towards age, race, religion,
income, or marital/family status.
We live in a small community and it behooves us to work together
with our friends and neighbors to improve the community, educate
our town’s children, and be financially responsible with
taxpayers’ dollars. The strategy of dividing the town and
setting families and community members against each other is not
constructive nor would it ultimately improve any of the town’s
functioning. However by working together I believe we can
succeed at creating a town, school, and community that we ALL
can be proud of.
The school board is very aware of the current trend of declining
enrollment, and is certainly taking this into account when
planning future budgets. However rather than reacting brashly
and slashing away wildly at staffing or programs, we’d to like
work together with the administration and community to find an
intelligent approach towards getting us to where we need to be
in the coming years. To that end we’ve begun the process
of creating a 5-Year Strategic Plan and hope to pull in
community members from across the spectrum in helping us craft
this plan and tailor it for our town. Please keep an eye
out for this in the future and plan on getting involved, as your
opinions are both welcome and crucial.
With kind regards,
Keith McGuigan, Chairman Northwood
School Board
Letter To
The Editor
In a recent letter, Tim Jandebeur claims that school board
members with kids in the system are subject to a conflict of
interest. I don’t see it. Their interest as parents
is in getting an excellent education for their kids.
Isn’t that also their interest as school board members? Isn’t
giving our kids an excellent education in the interest of the
whole community? Where’s the conflict? Is it
supposed to be a conflict with the tax payers? But parents
with kids in our schools are also tax payers. Does
Jandebur think that the interest every citizen has in keeping
taxes as low as possible, consistent with accomplishing the jobs
of the school and town, necessarily conflicts with the
community’s interest in educating our children properly?
Every town has interests both in keeping taxes low and in
educating its children well, and they may not easily be
reconciled. But no one here is properly subjected to a
charge of conflict of interest. Jandebeur’s charge is an
illegitimate attempt to claim the moral high ground in order to
mask a narrowly selfish motive.
Willem A. deVries
Northwood
This
Weekend’s LRPA After Dark Feature:
1932’S “Rain”
Join Lakes Region Public Access
Television at 10:30 p.m. this Friday and Saturday night (August
12 & 13) for our “LRPA After Dark” presentation of 1932’s
melodrama “Rain,” starring Joan Crawford and Walter Huston.
“Rain” opens in idyllic Pago Pago,
located on the Pacific island of Tutuila. Life goes on there as
it always has. One day, a boat arrives with various passengers,
including the puritanical and moralistic missionaries Alfred and
Martha Davidson (Huston and Beulah Bondi), as well as Sadie
Thompson (Crawford), a “woman of ill repute” who has traveled
from Honolulu looking for adventure and good times. A suspected
cholera outbreak forces the passengers to remain quarantined
ashore. There’s only one cramped hotel on Pago Pago, so all of
the ship’s passengers must stay there together. One of the
shipmates introduces Sadie to some Marines stationed on the
island, and they welcome her with open arms. Sadie has brought
along her Victrola and plays jazz day and night, dancing and
carrying on with the Marines, one in particular who begins to
fall in love with her. The nonstop festivities are more than the
Davidsons can stand. Alfred intervenes, attempting to convert
Sadie and save her mortal soul from eternal damnation. At first,
he is unsuccessful, and conflict ensues. Will Sadie change her
wicked ways? And what happens to the lives of those around her
if she does?
“Rain” was both a critical and box office flop in its day.
Crawford took the role hoping that it would prove her acting
skills, but It seemed that no one wanted to see her cast against
type. At that early point in her career, Crawford played women
who were honest, virtuous and hardworking. She herself
later wrote about this role, “I hope they burn every print
that’s in existence!” But eight decades later, critics and fans
agree that the film and its performances are quite powerful,
particularly for their time. “Rain” was an adaptation of a play
by W. Somerset Maugham. It was first performed by in London and
then later on Broadway and created quite the scandal in its day.
The story was made into two other films: 1928’s silent “Sadie
Thompson,” with Gloria Swanson and Lionel Barrymore, and 1953’s
highly sanitized “Miss Sadie Thompson,” with Rita Hayworth and
José Ferrer. The 1932 version is the closest to Maugham’s play,
and the one that was made during that brief period of time known
as Hollywood’s “Pre-Code” years, between 1929 (the advent of
talking pictures) and 1934 (the strict enforcement of the Motion
Picture Production Code). “Rain” has a frank sensuality that is
lacking in the other adaptations, and portrays Sadie Thompson as
exactly what she was: a prostitute with an unsavory past. So is
“Rain” a gem or a flop? You be the judge! Grab your popcorn and
meet us after dark for this tropical Pre-Code drama.
Coe-Brown Northwood Academy Girls Basketball Team Car Wash
CoeBrown Girls Basketball team will be holding a car wash on
Saturday, August 13th at the Northwood Garage from 9:00 to
12:00. Have your car cleaned for a great cause! There will
also be baked goods available for the hungry traveler.
Weather permitting.
Else
Cilley Chapter Press Release
The Else Cilley Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the
American Revolution met in July at their chapter-owned and
maintained historic building, the Nottingham Square Schoolhouse.
Regent Fernald spoke about the process for becoming a United
States citizen, citing information from the US Citizen and
Immigration Services website. She “quizzed” the membership
using questions from the actual test. It was a group
effort, but the members passed. It was a fun and
informative program.
During the meeting, members discussed ways to support the
National theme of Moving Forward in Service to America.
Information about the DAR American History, Junior American
Citizens, and Community Service contests and awards was provided
to members, who will encourage participation in these outreach
programs. Members unanimously approved a motion of support
for First Responders throughout the country.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, August 18, beginning
with refreshments at 1:30. Regent Katherine Fernald will
present a program on Interesting Women in New England History.
Meetings are open to the public. For more information,
visit our website.
http://elsecilley.nhsodar.org