The CYA St. Patty’s Dance Fundraiser will be held on
Saturday March 22nd at the Concord/Epsom Elks Lodge. Doors open at
6:30 p.m. for a 7p.m. -12 a.m. Dance. Music provided by DJ: Elite
Entertainment. There will also be appetizers, desserts, cash bar,
and a photo booth. Tickets are $20.00 each. Contact Tammy
Montambeault for tickets at 566-5771, 798-3806, or
[email protected].
The Senior Center in Pittsfield is having a special program titled
“The Wacky Songs that Made Us Laugh.” On March 25th at
10:30 a.m. Cal Knickerbocker will present recorded novelty songs
from the 1920’s through the 1980’s. Come to the Senior Center on 74
Main Street in Pittsfield and enjoy.
Happy Birthday to Matthew Morey on March 20; Sharon Wescomb on March
22; and Sean Menard and Keith Davison, Sr. on March 26.
Elizabeth Stock of Chichester was presented with the
Charlotte Gamelin Junior Exhibitor Sportsmanship Award at the
Granite State Morgan Horse Society year end banquet. The winner of
this trophy must demonstrate courtesy, cooperation, horsemanship,
and consideration for others throughout the year. Elizabeth was also
the year end point champion in both the Equitation and Pleasure
divisions. Elizabeth is pictured here with her instructor/trainer,
Joanne Galvin of Deer Run Farm in Pittsfield. Proud parents are
Martha and Stephen Stock of Chichester. Proud grandparents are
Robert and Elaine Lienhart of Chichester.
Out Of Your Attic Thrift Shop News
Submitted By
Carol Hendee
We made it! Spring at last! The fleece & winter jackets are put
away, but if you need one, ask.
The hoodies, sweatshirts, and light spring jackets are ready for
you. There is a good assortment of ladies sneakers to replace those
boots you had to wear all winter. Clearance on baby and little
girls’ winter clothes (long sleeve) and onesies for babies, .25
each. Many who have come by in March who hadn’t seen the new
windows, door and new siding commented on how great the plaza looks.
Come by and see for yourself and visit all of our new neighbors!
Rte 28, Chichester; Monday 8-12; Tues.day and Thursday 8-4;
Wednesday 11-4 and Saturday 10-4. 247-7191.
“Backyard Farming” Lecture Series
The Chichester Garden Club and Chichester Agricultural Commission
are presenting a lecture series entitled “Backyard Farming”
beginning March 26, 2014, to be held 7pm, Chichester Town Library
downstairs meeting room.
March 26: John Carroll, speaking on “The Real Dirt:
Toward Food Sufficiency and Farm Sustainability in New England.”
The 2011 released book The Real Dirt, “Toward Food Sufficiency and
Farm Sustainability in New England,” by John E. Carroll, Professor
of Environmental Conservation at the University of New Hampshire
argues that a whole new smaller scale agriculture is evolving to
replace New England’s commodity agriculture based on selling to
wholesale markets. He contends that a “new agriculture smaller in
scale, directly marketed, sometimes organic, increasingly
grass-based, biodiverse, governed by biological and ecological
principles and sustainable in theory and practice is fast rising
across all of New England.
Part I of The Real Dirt addresses energy issues, the emerging role
of town agricultural commissions, the importance of local gardens in
food security and offers Burlington, Vermont, “the capital of
Localvores” as an example. Part II focuses on the region’s land
grant universities and the potential of the university farms for
supporting food security and sufficiency in New England.
“Sustainable agricultural practices in New England concern us all,
from farmers to backyard gardeners to food consumers,” says Dr. John
E. Carroll. “Agriculture in New England is dying. Quite true.
Agriculture in New England is being born. Equally true. Two
different agricultures.”
John E. Carroll, in four decades at UNH, has taught and done
research on national and international environmental policy,
diplomacy, ethics, and values as they pertain to sustainable
agriculture and food systems. A UNH professor since 1974, he has
directed and taught in the university’s undergraduate natural
resources and environmental degree programs for many years, and has
guided numerous graduate degree students (Masters and Ph.D) in
natural resources and environmental research. Carroll holds a Ph.D
in Resource Development from Michigan State University and lives in
Durham, New Hampshire.
April 23: Donna Miller, also from the NH Speakers’ Bureau, will
talk about “A Garden for Wildlife: Natural Landscaping for a
Backyard.”
“Backyard Farming” lecture series is the brain child of the
Chichester Garden Club which then partnered with the Agricultural
Commission. The Chichester Garden Club’s objective is to encourage
more flower and vegetable gardens in Chichester, promote the love of
gardening, civic beautification and environmental responsibility
through education and example. The purpose of an
agricultural commission is to protect farmland, support the local
agricultural economy, preserve rural character and promote local
agriculture to community members and visitors. As ambassadors of the
farming community, agricultural commissions act as educators,
advisers and promoters to help keep agriculture viable in New
Hampshire.
For more information or RSVP, contact Ann Davis
[email protected] or 603-903-3891.
Letter To The Editor
Right now in New Hampshire, it is legal for teens ages 14 to 18 to
use UV indoor tanning devices, despite the fact that we know these
devices are carcinogenic. My daughter was a high school cheerleader
and there was a lot of pressure to tan. They wore skirts as part of
their uniform, and the girls thought tanned legs looked better, even
in winter.
Luckily, my daughter knew how harmful tanning was, so she never
went. Many of the girls on her team did, risking their lives. Those
who use indoor tanning facilities before age 35 increase their
chance of getting melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 59
percent.
This year in Concord, a bill is being considered that would protect
kids from skin cancer by prohibiting all kids under 18 from UV
indoor tanning. As a society, we already protect kids from cancer by
not letting them purchase tobacco products. Even though teens could
still tan outdoors in warm weather, I think it is important to send
the message that UV damage is unhealthy. I urge my state
representatives to support this bill when it is being debated in the
House.
It could save a life!
Gloria S. Andrews
Chichester
Chichester Town Library News
Even though there is no book sale planned for March, readers wanting
books for their pleasure and collections can access the Down Under
section of the Library during regular Library hours, at the
Librarian’s discretion. Regular hours are: Mon & Wed from 2:30 pm
to 8:30 pm; Tues & Thurs from 10 am-1:30 pm; Fri from 1:30 pm – 4:30
pm; and Sat from 9 am to noon.
Crafters should bring a current project to work on for the Crafting
Club meeting on March 19th at 6:30 p.m.
There is a Heritage Committee meeting at the Library on Thursday,
March 20th at 7 p.m.
Don’t forget the soldering workshop on Saturday, March 22nd at 9:30
a.m., led by Brad Towle. Space is limited, so participants need to
sign up at the Library. This is a good skill to learn to fix that
well-loved piece of jewelry, for example, or an electronic device.
On Monday, March 24th at 3 p.m., parents of preschoolers and
kindergartners are invited to bring them to the Library for a Story
and Crafts program. It is a great way to introduce them to the
Library and the joy of reading.
The Down Cellar Adult Writers’ group will meet on Monday, March 24th
at 7 p.m. Local poets and writers are welcome to bring their work
to share.
Wednesday, March 26th at 7 p.m., the Chichester Garden Club,
partnering with the Chichester Agricultural Commission will be
presenting a free lecture as part of the “Backyard Farming” series.
This segment will be presented by UNH professor John Carroll, who
will be using his book, The Real Dirt: Toward Food Sufficiency and
Farm Sustainability in New England as the basis.
Chichester School District Meeting
Moderator Doug Hall called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. on March
8. Ben Brown led the Pledge of Allegiance, the Moderator’s Rules
were adopted, and Chichester’s School District Meeting was in
session. Seated at the front table were Michelle Plunkett, School
District Clerk; School Board Members Ben Brown, Sally Kelly, and
Harold Losey; Principal Pam Stiles; Helene Bickford,
Co-Superintendent of SAU 53; and Karen Guercia, Special Education
Co-ordinator for SAU 53.
School Board chair Sally Kelly announced that Chichester Central
School is proud to have been selected as a 2014 NH Blue Ribbon
School. The details about qualifying for this prestigious award are
set forth on the school website. One important aspect is that in all
the years of testing under the No Child Left Behind program
Chichester has never been cited as a school in need of improvement
in either reading or mathematics. For a small school that is an
awesome achievement.
Principal Pam Stiles presented her “State of the School” message in
the form of a little movie. It showed students using technology and
practicing critical thinking skills at all levels of the curriculum.
Harold Losey gave a brief history of the J. Myron Leavitt Trust,
which for many years has provided money to help run the school. J.
Myron Leavitt once lived in the house on the corner of Main Street
and Canterbury Road which is now owned by Thomas Towle. He moved to
New York City and made his fortune, but he maintained a summer
residence in Chichester. When he died he left money in trust for the
benefit of Chichester schools. Wisely invested, this money has
provided income to the school each year. Do we have other public
spirited citizens who could step up to do the same?
The budget as proposed by the School Board passed with very little
discussion. The three-year Teachers’ Contract did not fare as well.
There was commentary about how dedicated Chichester teachers are and
how well Chichester students perform in high school. There was also
commentary about how taxpayers without raises have a hard time
funding raises for others. A ballot vote was requested, and when the
votes were counted the measure failed by four votes.
Before the meeting recessed at 11:45 p.m. School Board Chair Sally
Kelly recognized two people in the room. Helene Bickford,
Co-superintendent of SAU 53, and Jo Sanborn, a long-time teacher at
Chichester Central, will be retiring at the end of this school year.
Mrs. Sanborn received a standing ovation from a room full of people,
many of whom were former students or parents of former students.
News from the State House
Respectfully Submitted By
Rep. Sally Kelly
Chichester & Pembroke
Your state Legislators are very busy this month, because at the end
of this month is the “Cross Over” deadline. Cross Over is when
every bill that has passed this year in either the House or the
Senate is passed over to the other body for another public hearing,
debate and vote.
This week, the House passed repeal of the death penalty (Michael
Addison who is on death row would not be included in a repeal) and
minimum wage ($8.25 in 2015, $9.00 in 2016 and indexed according to
inflation starting in 2017). Both of these bills will now go to the
Senate for further scrutiny. Gambling failed in the House but the
Senate has another gambling bill which will probably cross over to
the House for another hearing and vote.
Thank you to SO MANY Chichester citizens who wrote in on behalf of
the minimum wage increase. I believe your sheer number could have
made a difference in the ultimate vote.
As always feel free to contact me with any of your concerns about
upcoming votes: gencourt.state.nh.us and click on Calendars &
Journals on the left side of the page or just give me a call at
798-5806.
I was honored to have two guests from Chichester this week attend
our legislative session. at the State House. Nathan Walker, a
student at NHIS contacted me about learning more about the
legislative process and attended last Wednesday’s session along with
Nancy Fraher, a former School Board member and State Senate
candidate.
We only have a few more months left in this year’s
session, so I encourage any of you who are available to come as a
guest on any Wednesday morning to join me! Just contact me either at
798-5806 or at
[email protected]
or on Face Book at https://www.facebook.com/SallyKellyforNHRep
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