Congratulations to Jenna Makarewicz who was named to the Dean’s List at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vt. for the fall 2008 semester. Full time undergraduate students who earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher for the semester receive recognition on the dean’s list. Jenna is an animal science major with an emphasis on pre-veterinary medicine and is seeking a Bachelor of Science degree.

Northwood Historical Society To Host Annual Candidates Night

The Northwood Historical  Society will be hosting the Annual Candidates Night Wednesday, February 25 at 7:00 p.m. at the Coe Brown Academy Multi-puropse Room. There are several town positions available this year and this gives the taxpayers the opportunity to ask questions and to have the candidates showcase their talent. It’s a much easier decision, when voting for people you’ve met and heard. The warrants will also be discussed briefly.

The snow date will be Thursday, February 26 at 7:00 p.m.

Refreshments will be available, and as always, free to the public.

Letter
I am running for a three year term on the Budget Committee.

My wife Pat and I moved to Northwood in 2005. Our son Jared is a chef in Philadelphia. I have 30 years of experience in the clinical and financial sides of health care. After my first Northwood town meeting, I  became interested in the town and school budgets. My professional work involves the analysis of clinical and financial data. I believe this experience will be an asset on the budget committee. I am fiscally responsible and make decisions by balancing solid facts against a diversity of opinions. I think it is important that the budget committee be a strong advocate for the residents of Northwood by raising the probing questions to the Selectmen, School Board, and Town Administration. I also believe it equally important that the Budget Committee be prepared to wisely advise the town on its proposed budgets.

I will bring my technology expertise to the budget process to make it easier for the participants and more accessible to the public.

I am the chairman of the Northwood Recycling Committee and the President of the Northwood Lake Watershed Association.

Please call me at home 942-5365 to discuss any budget concerns.

Jim Vaillancourt

Foundation For Christmas (Part 5)

By Pastor Ted White
Christmas, the foundation of the law points us to the birth, life, death & resurrection of Jesus as stated in Galatians 3:24. From Adam and Eve to all the Passovers that were held throughout the ages, this all pointed us to Jesus. For a Jewish person with the history of the substitute, if they were standing near John the Baptist the day he said “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” as stated in John 1:29, the light should have come on for them as it should for us. And it did for many people, may it for you.

The Lamb of God is the Substitute of God and from God. This one born of Mary who would “save their people from their sins” would take the penalty, the punishment for their sin so that “whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Adam and Eve came God’s way, through the substitute of an animal God provided for them. Those obedient at Passover took the blood of a lamb and applied it to their doors and did not see judgment come to their homes. And those who obey God and trust the finished work of Christ will be clothed in Christ (Galatians 3:27), will not be judged (John 5:24) and will have the righteousness of God in Christ (II Corinthians 5:21).

Christmas is about the greatest gift ever given by the greatest Giver that will ever give. If we have acknowledged we are sinners before God and that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin and called upon His Name to save us, then we are His. We have experienced the greatest gift ever given that will never run out! If you have never trusted God’s Substitute for your sin, why not? He is the only way. He alone can give life. He alone is the truth. The law shows us that we are sinners. We have seen that. Now, will you trust Jesus or hold on to a flimsy rope dangling over the judgment of hell. A rope that is already broken leaving you in great peril, eternal peril. Oh, trust the Christ of Christmas…the greatest gift ever.

God wants you to enjoy the life He has given you and to escape the consequence of death, which is separation from Him forever, under His wrath in Hell. To do so go to www.newhopenorthwood.com or call 942-7729 or to find peace with God www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp or www.simplysharejesus.com

Letter
Taxing Times

I have decided to run for the office of Northwood Selectman. I have been active on the Town budget committee and have enjoyed the process. I am however, very concerned, in regards to the state of the economy and the effect it is having on everyone. During the budget review process this year I strongly lobbied for a level funded budget, at the school and town level. I believe with some minor adjustments we could have succeeded in moving forward a no tax increase budget. I am concerned once the budgets are reviewed at the Town and School meetings, in March, emotions will ultimately change the final budgets, with little consideration to the impact.

An example of the items I struggle with in the Town budget is my opponent’s recommendation to increase the Selectman stipend line by $1,000.00. When I questioned the wisdom of suggesting the increase, he stated the increase would not have a significant impact on taxes. Quite frankly, I disagree; I view every penny of your tax dollars as very significant. I have the good fortune to still hold a good job and I believe when times are this bad we all need to look for ways to survive the down turn and to help out others where we can. I pledge to the voters of Northwood that if I am elected I will not accept a salary for the first year of my term. I am able to do it, I should do it and I think I would be good at helping manage your hard earned money. If you are interested in saving tax dollars, you can start by cutting my salary. The money could be used to reduce taxes, pay town employee salaries or to fund the recreation line. Difficult times require sacrifice and creative thinking.

Bob Holden

Northwood Recreation Update

By Kathy Boudreau, Recreation Director
Saturday, February 7th was a perfect day for ice fishing. Many members of the community participated in the Ice Fishing Derby. The derby was held on Harvey Lake from 7 A.M. to noon.  50 children competed to win prizes in 5 categories in the following age brackets: 6 years & under, 7-10 years old, and 11-15 years old.

The winners of the shortest fish were Ayden Difeo, 4, fish length, 8.5"; Lilli Pease, 10, fish length, 9"; and Nicholas Longsbury, 10, fish length, 9".

The winners of the longest fish were Scott Ireland, 6, fish length, 16 3/4"; Austin DeTrude, 10, fish size, 12 ¼”; and Brett Winsatt, 14, fish size, 15 ½”.

The early birds caught the first fish of the day. The winners were: Seth Ireland, 4; Annie Comtois, 9; and for the 2nd consecutive year, Garrett Kunz, 11.

The winners of the last fish caught were: Issac Wells, 7; and Matt Steinburg, 13.

The most fish were caught by Cameron Garland for the 2nd consecutive year, 4, caught 5 fish; Samuel Thurston, 8, caught 6 fish; and Dylan Clark, 11, caught 12 fish! Austin DeTrude, Logan MacRea, Issac Wells, Dylan Clark, and Jamie Cox were also winners of other prizes throughout the day.

Congratulations to all who participated.  Don’t forget to check out the web site for information about upcoming programs and volunteer opportunities at www.town.northwood.nh.us or contact the Recreation Department at 942-5586 x209.

The Promotion of Wickedness

By Pastor Ted White
More and more our culture is being influenced by wickedness. Corruption, sinfulness and immorality are all around us. So many don’t even blink an eye at the filth that is taking over our culture. Now, if you do not think this is the case, you are either one of those people who don’t blink an eye at immorality or you are a promoter of it. I went to a judicial committee hearing on homosexual marriage recently. The arguments I heard from those who are for homosexual marriage were appalling and illogical. Yet, to a large degree our culture is sitting back and letting those who promote this have their way, even though they are a small minority.

Another way our culture is being influenced in the promotion of wickedness is in the area of borrowing money. Psalm 37:21 says, “The wicked borrow and do not repay…” Those who borrow money, knowing they cannot repay it or choosing not to repay it, fall into the category of being wicked. Many people who file bankruptcy and do have the intent of paying back the money owed fall into this category as well.

Whether on a personal level, a business level, state or national level, to borrow money knowing that it cannot be paid back, or choosing not to pay it back, only promotes wickedness. When this line of choosing is crossed there is a tendency to slide down the slippery slope.

These areas of wickedness occur when an individual or nation chooses to remove God from the conscience individually or corporately. Romans chapter 1, in context, tells us of the downhill slide into darkness and the promotion of it when a turning from God takes place. May we turn from our own ways and turn back to Him! After all, He is the One who knows what is best!
 

Mardi Gras Party At The Chesley Memorial Library

Mardi Gras Day, the last day of the Mardi Gras Carnival Season, is February 24, this year. Mardi Gras Day falls on a different day each year. The date is always 46 days before Easter.

Come celebrate the end of the Mardi Gras Carnival Season at the Chesley Memorial Library on Monday, February 23 at 2:00pm!

At the Chesley Memorial Library’s Mardi Gras party we will be making some Mardi Gras masks, a Mardi Gras Joker Hat or Crown and enjoying some Mardi Gras goodies! We will also be reading some books about Mardi Gras.

This program is all ages, and everyone is welcome to attend. Registration is required - so we have enough supplies for everyone.

To register for our Mardi Gras party please call the library at 942-5472 and speak with Danielle!

Center School to Hold Parent Cooperative Preschool Auction

The 9th Annual Dinner Auction will be held on March 28th at Lake Shore Farm in Northwood. A homestyle baked stuffed chicken dinner with all the fixings at 5:30 p.m. will be followed by the auction at 7:00 p.m. The dinner requires advanced tickets, but all are welcome to attend the auction.

There will be many exciting items to bid on, including 4 Disney Park Hopper passes, Holiday Inn overnight stay, weekend of camping at Jellystone Park, 2 rounds of golf at Nippo Lake, ski lift passes to Pats Peak, passes to Six Flags, Strawberry Banke, Santa’s Village, Squam Lakes Science Center, See Science Center, Chucksters, and the Music Hall, autographed Jodi Picoult book, and gift certificates for area restaurants and other businesses. With so many diverse items, there will be great bargains and lots of fun.

The Center School is a preschool located next to the Northwood Town Hall in the old American Legion building. It is indeed a small one-room school house! Since it is a parent cooperative preschool it is up to the parents to raise money for items such as playground equipment, classroom supplies, and any building repairs. The annual auction is the school’s biggest fundraiser. Local businesses are contacted for a donation to our school, a non-profit organization, which we then auction off. Thank you to all who donated items or services for the auction, last year, as well as this year. We are hoping this year’s auction will be our biggest yet! This year’s proceeds will be used for sorely needed new windows for the 200+ year old schoolhouse. The windows would help us to become much more energy efficient.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the dinner call the Center School at 942-7686.

Pizza
Mmmmm. Pizza.

I like pizza, my mom likes pizza, my cat likes pizza- well, he likes the toppings.
Do you like pizza?

How about making pizza?

I love to make my own pizza. I love to add my own cheese and toppings, and just the right amount of sauce- lots. What kind of toppings do you like?

Sound like fun?

Come to the Chesley Memorial Library on Thursday, February 26, at 11:30 and we’ll make our own pizza lunch!

Registration is required for this program, (so we have enough pizza-making-supplies), and space is limited so register early! We are asking for a 1-2 dollar donation for this program, to help fund the cost of supplies.

If you have any questions about the program, or to register, please give us a call at 942-5472 and ask for Danielle!