pelham~windham news 2-26-2016

7/24/2019 Pelham~Windham News 2-26-2016

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Volume 14 Number 16 February 26, 2016 16 Pages

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by Barbara OBrienSeveral days after a

public forum in which twofinal candidates for the

job of Windhams schoolsuperintendent talked aboutthemselves and their futuregoals, school board memberschose to offer the job toRichard Langlois, a longtime

educator who currently servesas superintendent of schools inMarlborough, Mass.

Although a strong contenderfor the job and a favoriteamong many residents andfaculty members, Dr. TinaMcCoy was not given thenod. This came as a surpriseto many who were followingthe process. School boardmembers are, thus far, refusingto say what the vote to hireLanglois was. The vote wastaken in non-public late onthe evening of Feb. 16 andthe minutes of that session,subsequently, sealed.

It was a very difficultdecision to choose betweenour Interim Superintendent

Dr. McCoy and Mr. Langlois,said School Board ChairmanKen Eyring, after the vote wastaken. I believe that Mr.Langlois will be an excellentleader for the WindhamSchool District, based uponthe results he achieved asthe superintendent in Saugusand Marlborough. Duringthose tenures, he formulatedimprovement plans that wereused to substantially elevatethe academic achievements ofboth school districts.

All of the people wecontacted to learn more abouthis leadership style and skillshad nothing but exceptionalpraise for his abilities, Eyringsaid. Im excited that Mr.Langlois will be our nextsuperintendent and lookforward tothe positiveimpact he willhave on oureducationalenvironment,our studentsandcommunity.

Accordingto Langlois,his existingthree-yearcontractwith theMarlboroughSchoolDistrict runs

until 2018.Apparently,however,that contractwill beterminated, as Langlois isscheduled to take on thesuperintendents job inWindham as of July 1, 2016.Langlois and Chairman Eyringsigned the new three-yearcontract on Feb. 17, the dayafter the vote in non-publicsession was taken.

The contract betweenLanglois and the WindhamSchool District calls for anannual salary of $150,000,substantially more than theamount for which the positionwas initially advertised. There

will be savings to the schooldistrict, however, as Langloiswill not be receiving health

insurance benefits throughhis employment in Windham.Langlois contract may beterminated at any time bymutual consent.

He is an experiencedadministrator who willbring exceptional skills,knowledge and experienceto our district, Eyring said.

Eyring also thanked Dr.McCoy for the excellent

job she has done during thetransition; having taken overwhen former SuperintendentWinfried Feneberg took the

job as superintendent in theKearsarge School District,after giving only a few weeksof advance notice. McCoywill continue as interimsuperintendent until June 30,the end of the current fiscalyear.

Its important to be part of acommunity that cares stronglyabout providing a qualityeducation for the children, andI am very invested in makingthat happen, Langlois said.There are many similarities

between the opportunitiesin the Windham schools andthose of the other districtsIve served technology,accountability of faculty andstaff, fiscal responsibility,even facility construction,he said. I am lookingforward to working with theWindham School Board, theadministration, the faculty,the staff and the communityto move the school districtforward.

During the public sessionearlier this month, Langloissaid he had reached thepinnacle of his professionalcareer in Massachusettsand was seeking otheropportunities. He also saidthat the commute fromWindham to his residence

in Bradford,Mass., issignificantlyshorter thanthe one fromMarlborough.Langlois saidhe is eligibleto receiveretirementbenefits fromMassachusetts.

Langloissaid his careerincludesexperience asa secondary-level teacher,

buildingadministrator,district-widedirector,assistant

superintendent andsuperintendent. As acandidate, I offer a broadunderstanding of theoperations and managementof a school system,Langlois said, referring tothe implementation of TheRace to the Top initiative inMassachusetts, as well as thefederally mandated No ChildLeft Behind program. Mostimportant, I understand theessential ingredients of highlyeffective school systems andthe fiscal challenges and

responsibilities associated withmanaging a school district, hecommented.

MassachusettsCandidate Selectedas Windham School

Superintendent

Richard Langlois of Massachusetts has

been hired as the new superintendentfor the Windham School District,effective July 1.

submitted byNicole Brockman

Scouts andfamilies of Pack266 in Windhamcame together onFeb. 6, to celebratethe anniversaryof Scouting at theannual Blue andGold Banquetand CrossoverCeremony. Theevening wasfilled with a silentauction, games,food, awards, and

inspiration for theleaders, Scouts,and parents.

The eveningstarted with theArrow of LightAward and Ceremonyled by Harry Burnham,Pack 266 co-founder.The Arrow of Light is thepinnacle of a Cub Scoutscareer. It is also the onlyCub Scout award andinsignia that can be wornon the Boy Scout Uniform.This was the award thatthe Webelos II from dens 7and 9 had worked so hardto achieve.

Burnham brought eachWebelos II to the front and

spoke with each Scoutindividually. He focusedon each of the boys beingthe same yet celebratingtheir uniqueness. Each

boy brings hisown talents thatstrengthen thegroup as a whole.Each Scout wasencouraged tocontinue withhis journey,remember hisstrengths andtalents, bringthose gifts ashe enters BoyScouts, andalways rememberthe people whohelped along the

way.Throughout theevening familiesparticipated in asilent auction thatbenefited the Pack

and their activities throughoutthe year. Pack 266 wants tothank the vendors and familiesthat donated to the event. Theywere as follows: Gill Family,Cyr Lumber, Cobbetts PondPizza, Gilsen Family, LawOffices of Suzan Messina, PoolTables Unlimited, Trans-Medic,Karate International, ManchesterMonarchs, Windham BarberShop, McIntyre Ski Area, SquamLake Natural Science Center,Canobie Lake Park, FisherCats, Professional Martial Arts

Academy, Kitty MichelottiFamily, Stars and Stripes, J.Michaels, Lindt, Gym-Ken,Clix, Annies Hallmark, Lucas

Family, Reds Tavern, MarketBasket, BJs, Lindt Chocolates,Hannaford, McDonalds,

Coffee Coffee, Shaws, and Bella Viaggio.After games, dinner, and awards the Webelos II concluded with

the Crossover Ceremony. The ceremony began with a slide showpresentation of the past five years. Then each Scout was invited tocross over a bridge that signified the ending of Cub Scouts and thebeginning of Boy Scouts. Webelos II from Den 7 who crossed overwere Payton Balch, Kellen Donahue, Daniel Gill, Andrew Lucas,Mason Monterio, Sam Montgomery, Jack Rossetti, and MatthewRyan. Webelos II from Den 9 who crossed over were BrendanAshworth, Spencer Brockman, Jake Joyce, William Moore, SamPancoast, Jackson Skwiot, Jacob Spalinger, and Michael Wimmer.

Pack 266 Webelos Continue their Journeyas Boy Scouts

Welcoming the newest Boy Scouts from dens 7 and 9

e Arrow of Light Ceremony is the pinnacle of a Cub Scouts career.continue to page 8- Superintendent Selected

Courtesyphoto

Courtesy photos

PHSs Dr. Dorothy Mohr Resignsby Kaela Law

At the Feb. 17 Pelham SchoolBoard meeting, seats filled up withteachers, former and present PelhamHigh School students, and residentswanting to hear news of PelhamHigh School Principal Dr. Mohrsresignation.

At the start of the meeting,Superintendent Amanda Lecarozread a prepared statement: TheDistrict accepted Dr. Mohrsresignation in January, and this isthe first public meeting since thattime, so I wanted to announcethat through the leadership of Dr.Mohr, Pelham High School has

seen many changes of the last twodecades; dramatic changes, suchas competency based educationand the development of pathwaysfor student learning. As we usherin the next phase of change - anew facility, one to one technologyfor students, and personalizedlearning the next 10 years willbring about a redefinition of PelhamHigh School. As we embark on this

journey, having a leadership teamthat will be able to see this nextphase all the way through to fruitionis critical. To that end, Dr. Mohrhas decided to move on to otheropportunities and allow the nextgroup of leaders to guide PelhamHigh School through the next phase of development. She will beleaving the Pelham School District on June 30, 2016 and we wishher well in her future endeavors.

Public comments and input were invitedfrom the audience members. An emotionaltestimony was heard from student School BoardRepresentative Kaitlyn Minichiello. Why? sheasked simply. Why would the woman whofought so hard for the brand new building wehave, leave right before the grand opening?

Her sentiments and questions were re-iterated over again by each speaker who tookthe microphone that evening. Why a womanwho has been loyal to Pelham High School for30 years would decide to leave out of nowhere,with no explanation for this sudden decision?The common consensus seemed to be thatsomething untoward was going on behind thescenes, and residents were looking for answersand seeking a reversal of the decision to accept

Dr. Mohrs resignation. It seemed to themthat her decision to resign was not altogethervoluntary.

Minecello held back tears while she stated,I believe in Dr. Mohr. I believe that she isthe best person to keep moving PHS in thedirection of success.

No answers were to be had that evening,however, as it is not common practice or inkeeping with school board policy to discusspersonnel issues publicly.

Perhaps the strongest statement encouragingthe Pelham School Board to reconsider theirdecision to accept Dr. Mohrs resignationcame from Debra Sawyer. The president ofthe Pelham Education Association, who ranksDr. Mohr at the very top in terms of positiveeducation facilitating, encouraged the board

to request Dr. Mohr return to her position for at least the next twoyears. Sawyers address to the school board is printed here in full.

Student School Board Representative Kaitlyn Minichiello,pictured center, listens carefully in disbelief while

Superintendent Lecaroz announces the boards acceptanceof Dr. Mohrs resignation. Dr. Mohr has been loyal to the

Pelham High School for 30 years, said Minichiello.

Good Evening,My name is Debra Sawyer, President of the Pelham Education

Association, speaking to you in that capacity. Thank you forallowing me to speak tonight.

When I was told that Dr. Mohr was planning on submittingher resignation to the Board th is evening, I was completely takenaback. There were no signs from her of beginning to mentallywrap up her career or of her health making the demands of the

job difficult. In fact, the opposite has been true. The observationsthat I make in this address about how Dr. Mohr has led, andcontinues to lead, Pelham High are a mixture of my personalexperiences and those of many staff members who cannot speaktonight.

Dr. Mohr cares about the learning, growth, and success of each

student in the building. She actively seeks out opportunities forher students to interact within the local and global community.During her tenure, students have held internships, worked in astudent IT help desk, participated in research with universities,skyped with experts as part of original r esearch, and conductedresearch on local issues such as the pipeline. New studentlearning opportunities have been developed such as working toestablish the FIRST Robotics team, chartering of various honorsocieties, more participation in music, art and writing contests,expanding Running Start and Dual Enrollment opportunities,increasing the number of Advanced Placement classes, and thedevelopment of expanded and new STEM and other Pathways.When a student is in danger of not fulfilling the requirements of aclass or for graduation she works collaboratively with the student,

continue to page 10- Dr. Mohr Resigns

StaffphotobyKaelaLaw


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2 - February 26, 2016| Pelham - Windham News

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Endicott College is pleased to announce the Deans List studentsfor fall semester. Among those achieving this honor are Melissa AnnCino, daughter of Paul and Robin Cino of Windham, is a sophomoremajoring in Management and Olivia Crane, daughter of Christopherand Debra Crane of Pelham, is a senior majoring in Graphic Design.

Joshua Hebertof Windham, a member of the class of 2017majoring in computer science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute,recently completed an intense, hands-on research project in MoscowProject Center. The project was titled Mobil Applications forCollaborative Research. All WPI undergraduates are required tocomplete a research-driven, professional-level project that appliesscience and technology to addresses an important societal need orissue. The project-based curriculum offers students the opportunity toapply their scientific and technical knowledge to develop thoughtfulsolutions to real problems that affect the quality of peoples lives-andmake a difference before they graduate.

Rachael Corsoof Windham has been named to the Marist CollegeDeans List for the fall semester. Corso is a member of the Class of2018 and is majoring in Fashion Merchandising.

Merrimack College has announced the names of students whohave achieved Deans List status for fall semester. From Pelham:Bridget Barnes, Erika Campbell, Brooke Coupal, Alexandria Hogan,

Alexander Khoury,and Nicholas Khoury. And from Windham:Kayla Breton, Marisa DeLuca, Kendall Desrosiers, Ashley Gendreau,Zachary Hollins, Justine Levesque, Brendan McInnis, andDerekSaffie.

Carl Morlockfrom Windham has been named to the University ofMassachusetts-Dartmouth Deans List for the fall semester.

The following Windham residents were among 1,238 students fromWorcester Polytechnic Institute named to the universitys Deans Listfor academic excellence for the fall semester. Alexander Fitzgerald,a member of the class of 2018 majoring in mechanical engineering;Jack Grubb, a member of the class of 2019 majoring in mechanicalengineering; Emily Hao, a member of the class of 2019 majoring incomputer science; Joshua Hebert, a member of the class of 2017majoring in computer science; Michael Sheahan, a member of theclass of 2017 majoring in mechanical engineering; and Sai KiranVadlamudi, a member of the class of 2017 majoring in computerscience.

Congratulations go to Katelyn Goupilof Pelham who has beennamed to the Deans List for the Westbrook College of HealthProfessions at the University of New England. Katelyn is the daughterof proud parents Paul and Sharon Goupil.

Northern Essex Community College is pleased to announce theappointment of students to the Deans List for the fall term. Pelhamresidents: Alexandra Beauchesne, Kerry Cabral, Nina Cabral, CoreyCouillard, Sirena Hilbertand Lindsey Young.Windham residents:Nicole Chaloux, Michael DeNuccio, Charles DiPrima, DylanLamontagne, Dylan OKeeffe, Kristi Pease, Genevieve Scherer andGena Stearns.

Travis Sandersof Windham will perform in the Dean Collegeproduction of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, beginningWednesday, March 2, 2016 through Sunday, March 6, 2016.Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is the highly inventive tale ofShakespeares play Hamlet as told from the bewildered view of twominor characters, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The screenwriter ofthe Oscar winning Shakespeare in Love, Tom Stoppard presents thisElizabethan comic duo the opportunity to take the lead role, but do soin a world where echoes of Waiting for Godot resound, where realityand illusion intermix, and where fate leads our two heroes to a tragicbut inevitable end.

Megan McNamara, a member of the class of 2018 from Windham,has been named to the fall Deans List at Loyola University Maryland.

Rachel M. Sullivanof Windham has been selected for inclusion on

the Deans List for academic achievement during the fall semester atSt. Lawrence University. Sullivan is a member of the Class of 2016and is majoring in economics. She attended Windham High School.

Send your Accolades to [email protected] with a photo

School DistrictAccepts Donationsby Barbara OBrien

Earlier this month, Windham School Board membersunanimously accepted donations totaling $1,511.10with sincere gratitude. Voting in favor were Chairman

Ken Eyring, Vice-Chairman Tom Murray and schoolboard members Dennis Senibaldi, Rob Breton andDaniel Popovici-Muller.

School board members accepted a $511.10donation for Golden Brook School from Box Tops forEducation. The funds are to be deposited in to theschools student activity account and used towardstudent-centered activities as they relate to teachingand learning. School board members expressedtheir appreciation to the Windham PTO for all itsvolunteers hard work and dedication to students andtheir families.

Also accepted was $1,000 from the Health Trust forthe purpose of enhancing the health of staff membersemployed at Windham High School. According toInterim Superintendent Tina McCoy, the expenditureof these funds will be overseen by the school districtshealth and guidance departments.

Three Names on the Ballotbut Only Two Remain Candidates

Pelham Hannaford Shares Gift Cardswith its Community Partners

WomansService Club

ExploresBenets

and Services

As the guestspeaker at theWomans ServiceClub of Windham,Connie Youngfrom ServiceLinkspoke on Feb. 3about the benefitsand services ofMedicare andMedicaid.

by Barbara OBrienWhen Windham voters go to the polls on Election Day, Tuesday,

March 8, there will be three names on the official ballot for theone open position on the school board, but there are only twocandidates seeking the office.

The three names listed in alphabetical order on the WindhamSchool District Ballot are Eileen Mashimo, Matthew Rounds andDennis Senibaldi. All three individuals did, indeed, file for officeby the Jan. 29 deadline. Mashimo, in fact, came into register her

candidacy only a short time before the filing period closed.Apparently, when Rounds filed as a candidate, he thought theonly competition he had was Senibaldi. This turned out not tobe the case, however, giving Rounds some concern, when helearned the race for the three-year slot was actually a three-waycompetition.

Fearing that he and Senibaldi would wind up drawing from thesame group of supporters, permitting Mashimo to walk away with

a win, Rounds decided to withdraw his candidacy. It was toolate, however, to have his name removed from the school districtballot. No longer actively seeking a seat on the five-memberschool board, Rounds is asking that voters not cast their ballot forhim, but vote for Senibaldi, instead. Rounds said he and Senibaldishare some basic beliefs on what is important for the students andtaxpayers of Windham.

Rounds, reportedly, asked to address the situation during thispast Tuesdays Candidate Night, sponsored by the Windham

Womans Service Organization, but was told that would not beallowed, since he was no longer a candidate.Rounds is currently an alternate member of the Windham

Planning Board, a position he says he intends to honor. He alsosaid he fully expects to file for one of the two school board seatsthat will be up for grabs this time next year. Those seats arecurrently held by Rob Breton and Ken Eyring. Rounds and hisfamily have been Windham residents for the past two years.

submitted by Frank SullivanThe Pelham Hannaford was the winner of their district

last year for a competition surrounding the Helping HandsBoxes, not just in one category, but in both categories inwhich they were competing. Because of this, they havebeen awarded four Hannaford gift cards in the amount of

$500 each to share with their community partners. Sincethe Pelham Good Neighbor Fund was one of the majorcontributors to the success of these awards and helpingHannaford to support both the Pelham community andthe veterans of Greater Manchester, the Pelham GoodNeighbor Fund was awarded $500 in food gift cards. Theother winners were the Pelham Food Pantry for $1,000 andthe Nam Knights for $500.

From left are Todd Grzywacz, store manager;Karen Fournier, vice president, Pelham Good Neighbor Fund;

Frank Sullivan, president, Pelham Good Neighbor Fund;and Mario Verolla, assistant store manager.

Courtesy photo

Courtesyphoto

Decision from State on Charter SchoolApplication Delayed

by Barbara OBrien

Following a recent meeting in Concord, members of the NewHampshire Department of Education have delayed making adecision on whether or not to grant approval for WindhamAcademy, a proposed charter school now under the directionof a non-profit group known as the Foundation for StudentAchievement.

A charter school in Windham first came to light more than twoyears ago, when a now defunct non-profit organization, entitledthe Education Council Foundation, came before the WindhamSchool Board. They also met with state representatives from theDepartment of Education concerning the proposed facility onLedge Road, a building owned by one of the foundations directors,Tom Murray. Murray was not a school board member at the time.He was subsequently elected to the Windham School Board inMarch of 2015. Murrays name is not on the list of directors for themore recently formed Foundation for Student Achievement.

Current Windham School Board Chairman Ken Eyring was alsoon the roster for the original non-profit foundation, but does notappear on the board of directors for the newly formed Foundationfor Student Achievement. Both Murray and Eyring have said thatthey are not involved in the current process.

The original concept, which asked for local funding for thecharter school project, was not approved, either at the schooldistrict or the state level, due to what were said to be deficits in theproposed curriculum plans. The initial failure to gain approval fora charter took place in late 2014. The new application involvesthe so-called State Model and does not require local school

district approval for a charter.During the past several weeks,

representatives of the Foundationfor Student Achievement,including Windham residentand attorney Andrea Alexander,met with officials from the StateDepartment of Education, butwere told additional time wasrequired for state officials toreview the updated plan for aproposed kindergarten throughfourth grade charter school.Officials had, reportedly, onlyreceived the update earlier the

same day.Concerns expressed by state

officials included those regardingthe age-appropriateness of theproposed curriculum. A STEMcurriculum proposal (Science,Technology, Engineering andMathematics) is the basis for theproposed charter school. Stateofficials wanted to know how

school administrators would measure the success of its students

and programs. Education Commissioner Virginia Barry saidfoundation directors needed to present a conceptual framework fortheir proposed curriculum. The Department of Education needs aclear understanding of the proposed charter schools philosophyand vision, Barry emphasized. Phase one of the proposed charterschool would include approximately 100 students across five gradelevels (kindergarten through fourth) with approximately 20 studentsper grade level.

Although not happy with another delay in the process, membersof the Foundation for Student Achievement did agreed that theywould use the additional time to more clearly define the charterproposal.

Former New Hampshire State Senator James Rubens, who isfrom Etna, New Hampshire, attended one of the public hearingsheld during 2014. Rubens said he didnt attend the hearing toadvocate for the Educational Choices Foundation, but to providebasic information on charter schools.

Charter schools are a part of the public school system, Rubenssaid, adding that there were 22 approved charter schools in NewHampshire. Each one is very different, Rubens said, addingthat each of them is over-subscribed and, as a result, students are

selected by a lottery. Rubens described charter schools as a toolfor change and for solving problems. In many instances, he said,charter schools have served to lower a school districts specialeducation costs. Charter schools are not allowed to go to votersfor construction bonds and must pursue grants and fundraisers forsuch projects. A charter school strengthens the overall schooldistrict, he said. Charters are up for renewal every five yearsand administrators are held accountable for student achievement,Rubens explained.

There are two routes that those proposing a charter school cantake: 1-first seek local school district approval and then get stateapproval or 2-go directly to the State Department of Education forapproval. It is this second option that the Foundation for StudentAchievement is currently pursuing.

The Foundation for Student Achievement was registered withthe state as a non-profit organization on July 15, 2015. Thelocation is identified as 6 Stonehedge Road in Windham. The fiveWindham residents who are listed as directors are Sean Donahue,Christopher Baker, James Fricchione, Andrea Alexander and KarlDubay.

While some residents who came to the podium during the

public hearing were adamantly in favor of a charter school beingopened in Windham, others were completely opposed. Generally,however, many who spoke expressed uncertainty about howWindham Academy would affect the school district as a whole andtaxpayers in particular.

Should the Foundations for Student Achievement ultimately gainstate approval for Windham Academy, plans are to get the charterschool underway for the 2016-2017 school year. A location for theproposed facility has not been made public.


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CurrentlyNew Hampshire Flag FootballLeagues

spring season registration is open. Theleague offers flag football for boys and girls

ages 5-15. For information on the leagueand to register your player, please go to www.NHFFL.com

Saturday, February 27Supervisors of the Checklistfor the Town

of Pelhamwill be in session on from 11 to11:30 a.m. in the lobby of the Pelham Town

Hall, 6 Village Green. For the followingpurposes: Correction of the checklist for townelection RSA654:27,669:5. Last day to acceptvoter registration applications. No additions orcorrections shall be made to the checklist after thissession, until Election Day, except as provided inRSA 659:12, RSA 654:8, II.

Monday, February 29 thru Friday, March 4,Monday, March 7 thru Friday, March 11 &Saturday, March 12

Windham Wolverines Registration.Returning Member Registration will run

from Feb. 29 to March 4 and will be an online

registration process. Sibling Member Registrationwill run from March 7 to 11 and will also bean online registration process. New MemberRegistration will be held on March 12 from 8 to10 a.m. and will take place, in person at WindhamHigh School.

Tuesday, March 1Registration for the Spring Story Hour

Sessionwill be held at the NesmithLibrary. Numbers will be handed out

when the library opens at 9 a.m. No phoneregistrations will be taken until after the in-houselibrary registration is completed, and then subjectto space availability. Program is only open tofamilies who are Nesmith Library cardholders.Story hour is for children ages 3-6 years of age whocan independently participate in an hour of stories,songs, and a simple coloring project. Childrenmust be 3 years of age by the date of registration tobe eligible for this session, and each child may only

be registered for one class per story hour session.Tuesdays, March 1 thru April 19

Nine week Total Body Strength and SculptClasses, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Pelham Senior Center.Program fee. This is a total body exercise classfor all levels designed to strengthen, sculpt andtone every muscle group utilizing free weights,resistance bands and your own body weight.Strength training is proven to help improvemuscle strength, maintain bone health and aid inimproving metabolism. Bring your own mat, waterbottle, and good supportive sneakers. You maybring your own weights and bands. Try before youbuy free class with no obligation at the start of theclasses. Register with Pelham Parks and Recreationoffice. Form available to print at www.pelhamweb.com/recreation. You may register and pay onlineat webtrac.pelhamweb.com. Space is limited; firstcome, first served. E-mail [email protected] or call 635-2721 with any questions.

Wednesday, March 2The Womans Service Club of Windhams

next meetingwill be held at the WindhamTown Hall. Luncheon begins at 11:30

a.m. followed by program and meeting.Program will feature guest speaker Scott Slatteryfrom Harbor Homes in Nashua who will speakabout housing and services for veterans. Guestswelcome, bring friend, neighbor and cometo enjoy! Find out what we are about. Forinformation call membership chairman Sue Violi at889-0578.

Lets Play Musicout of Derry is offering aunique Kindermusik experience for childrenfour to 6 years of age at the Nesmith Library at1 p.m. This Exclusive Rock & Roar, single-classexperience is centered on Disney Juniors newhit television series, The Lion Guard. We willexplore the African savannahs in a rip-roaring,fast-moving adventure, all set to the thunderous

beats of some of our favorite Kindermusik tunesand music from The Lion Guard. Kindermusik is aresearch based developmentally appropriate musicand movement program for children 0-7 years.Each class is packed full of fun activities such asinstrument exploration and play, singing, dancingand more, which can help boost school readinessand have a positive impact on all areas of a childsdevelopment. Space is limited, and pre-registrationis required. You must be a Nesmith Librarycardholder to participate. Stop by the library orcall 432-7154 to register.

Fridays, March 4, 11 & 18The Knights of Columbus, St. Patricks

Council 6902, will host a Fish Bakein theParish Center of St. Patricks Church, 12

Main St., Pelham, every Friday during Lentexcept for Good Friday. Hours are 4:30 to 6:45p.m. Adults - $11, seniors and children - $10. If

you are ordering take out, call 635-3829. All arewelcome.

Saturday, March 5Book & Author Festivalat Nesmith

Library, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join us for anexciting Author Festival. We will have

six local New Englander authors on handto talk writing, publishing, and more. Stop by tomeet published writers from your community. At12 p.m., the authors will convene for an authorsdiscussion panel, to cover all things writing andpublishing. Come with questions, as the panelwill conclude with a Q&A session. Authorsscheduled to appear: Windham Sci-Fi Author CJDaniels, Suspense Author John Denney, Poet andFantasy Author Rich Feitelberg, Horror Writer ScottGoudsward, Fiction Writer Gordon Bean, Horrorand Fantasy Author RC Mulhare. Event is freeand open to the public. No registration required.Call 432-7154 for more information, or visitnesmithlibrary.org.

Saturday, March 5 & Sunday, Mach 6New England FIRST Robotics Competition

Granite State Districtevent, Windham High

School, 64 London Bridge Rd., Windham, from8 a.m. to 5p.m. both days. Free and open to thepublic. Kicking off the first of 10 FIRST RoboticsCompetition district qualifying events this winteracross New England, 34 high school FRC teamswill put their STEM and teamwork skills to thetest. This is the first year that WHS is hosting aNE FIRST qualifying event, a fitting start to theseason for the state in which resident and inventorDean Kamen founded FIRST in 1989. Since then,FIRST has grown to five programs for grades K-12that involve 400,000 students, 38,700 teams and180,000 team mentors and volunteers in the U.S.and internationally. Visit www.nefirst.org for a listof NE FIRST events this winter.

Mondays, March 7 thru May 2The Nesmith Librarys Toddler Time

is a drop-in program for children ages18 months to 3 years accompanied by a

parent or guardian. This program is offered

on Monday mornings; you choose either a 9:30or 10:30 a.m. session to attend. No registration isnecessary. Toddler Time lasts approximately 20-25 minutes with 30 minutes following the sessionfor parent/child social interaction. Toddler Time isonly open to cardholders of the Nesmith Library.Toddler Time is for you and your child to explorethe library, enjoy books and music together, andvisit with other families. Sharing books with yourchild encourages healthy language developmentand helps to build a strong foundation for laterlearning. If you have any questions or would likefurther information, call the library at 432-7154.

March 8Pelham: Town Meeting/Elections, 7 a.m. to8 p.m., Pelham High SchoolWindham: Local Town Election, 7am-8pm

at Windham High School

Thursday, March 10Pelham School District Child Find

Program. The Pelham School District willconduct screenings for Pelham children,

ages 2.5 to 5, who may have vision,hearing, speech, motor or overall developmentalconcerns and or an educational disability. Thepurpose of the screening is to identify childrenthat may require special education and or relatedservices. Child Find Program screenings will takeplace on at Pelham Elementary School, 61 MarshRd, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointments arerequired; space is limited. For more informationor to schedule an appointment, contact PelhamElementary School at 635-8875, ext. 5002 ore-mail [email protected] or [email protected].

Friday, March 11So, you think you can pitch? Come join

Friends of Windham Jaguars BaseballandFriends of Windham Jaguars Softballjust

to see how good you are! First Pitch Pub

Night will be our season opener at the Castleton.This adult only venue will be a casual and relaxedatmosphere filled with music, dancing and lotsof fun. Two of Windhams finest bands will beplaying throughout the night, Off Duty Angels andPop RoKs. You can rock out while showing offyour pitching talents, buying a few raffle ticketsor enjoying incredible food which will be servedfrom 6 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person(cash bar) and can be purchased via check payableto Friends of Windham Jaguars Baseball PO Box352, Windham, NH 03087 or via PayPal: www.friendsofjagsbaseball.org/first-pitch.html.

Friday, March 11 and/or Friday, April 22.Windham Recreation is excited to be partnering

with the creative and fun teachers from HampsteadAcademy for an incredible opportunity. On theupcoming early release days for the WindhamSchool District, register for this! STEAM based

projectsare hands-on, reality based lessonsthat cater to developing divergent thinking andimplementation of skills. STEAM experiences arean exciting way of learning, promoting critical

thinking, problem solving, and application ofknowledge. We are offering two different datesfor this both from 1 to 2 p.m. at the WindhamSenior Center. The cost is $7/child per session,which includes materials and a creative hour! Toregister, go to windham.recdesk.com. Sign up forboth dates or just one! For information, contactthe Recreation Office at 965-1208 or [email protected].

Friday & Saturday, March 11 & 12 & Friday &Saturday, March 18 & 19

The Windham High School theater companywill perform Disneys Tony award winning musical,Mary Poppinsoriginal music and lyrics byRichard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman,Windham High School Auditorium, at 7 p.m.Sunday Matinee on March 13 at 2 p.m. Reservedseating will be available for sale at ticketstage.comstarting Feb. 1 and at the door. $17 adult, $12senior 65/student/child.

Monday, March 14How well do you know your teenager

or preteen? Do you know the signs tolook for around risky behaviors? Do you

think your teenage decoding skills aresavvy? If there is a teen in your life, this free eventis for you! Windham PTA is hosting a powerfulinteractive community eventfor the public (adults21 and over only) to increase awareness, promoteearly detection, and intervention of teenage riskybehaviors from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (doors openat 6 p.m.). This is one night you wont want tomiss! Get firsthand knowledge and up to date vitalinformation on the ins and outs of risky behaviors.Participants will tour a mock teenage bedroomand be shown many indicators and warningsigns, what to look for and techniques to use forcommunicating with teens. See you there!

Tuesday, March 15The Windham Recreation Department

will start registrationfor spring andsummer programs. There are a variety ofprograms such as tennis (women and kids

ages 4-10), Messy Play, mini-sports, Fun and Fit,and more! To view the programs, or to register,go to windham.recdesk.com and click on thePrograms tab. For more information, contact theRecreation Office at 965-1208 or by e-mail [email protected].

Tuesday, March 15Join us at St. Patrick Parish, 12 Main St., Pelham,

to hear Matthew Arnold, a lay Catholic speaker,author and host of the weekly radio program Shieldof Faith on the Radio Maria network. Who is OurLady of Good Success? What is her message? Findout the answer to these and more questions aboutthis little known identity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Thursday, March 17 thru Saturday,March 19

Book Fair at the Nesmith Library.

Hours Include: *Presale: Thursday, 3 to 6p.m. (*Open to FLOW members, teachers

and seniors only. You can become a FLOWmember at the presale to take advantage of openingnight.), Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 9:30a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Fill a bag for just $5 duringthe last hour of the sale on Saturday. For moreinformation visit www.flowwindham.org.

Thursday, March 17, Saturday, April 9& Friday, April 29

Registrationdeadline Girls Spring Softball,softball field at Muldoon Park: March 17 - 10U,12U and 14U; April 9: 8U; April 29: 6U, for girlsages 4.5 14. Program fee. This is a new programwith Pelham Parks and Recreation this year,formerly run as an independent program in town.Practices begin in April; games all begin in May.Schedules on practices and games will be availableat a later date on our website. Players providetheir own gloves. T-shirt uniforms are provided

along with bats and other equipment. Cleats arestrongly suggested. Register online at webtrac.pelhamweb.com and pay with MC/VISA. [email protected] or call 635-2721 withany questions.

Saturday, March 19Rockin Rainforest:The Nesmith

Library will transform into a tropicalrainforest filled with games and activities.

Wildlife Encounters will introduce kidsto animals from the rainforest in a show from11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will also be facepainting, crafts, coconut bowling and more! Lightrefreshments, raffles and other fun treats will roundout the family friendly event. There is no costto attend and no registration required. For moreinformation visit www.flowwindham.org.

Tuesday, March 22The Homeland Heroes Foundation -

Helping Soldiers Every Daywill hold a1960s Dance Party, its third annual Dinner

Dance, from 6 to 11 p.m., at the AtkinsonCountry Club. Dance the night away for a greatcause! Music by The Reminisants, live and silentauctions, prize wheel and more! Reserve yourtable today! $60 per person. Tickets availableat HomelandHeroesFoundation.org or by calling(617) 910-6948. Visit us at facebook.com/www.homelandhereosfoundation.org.

Wednesdays, March 23 thru May 4The Artist in Your Childfor beginners

and beyond, all ages (starting at age6). Instruction will be held from 4 to 5

p.m. at the First Congregational Churchbasement classroom. The course will explore art invarious mediums, such as water colors, oil pastelsand clay. Students will use their imagination andcreativity to explore art. Get ready to create!Parent drop off and pick up. Size of groups islimited; first come, first serve. There is a programfee. Registration form available at Pelham Parksand Rec office or online at www.pelhamweb.com/recreation. Register online at https://webtrac.pelhamweb.com. Sign up by March 18. Call 635-2721 with any questions or e-mail [email protected].

Friday, March 25Daddy/Daughter Dancesponsored

by the Pelham Outlaw Program, 6 to 10p.m., Harris Pelham Inn. Tickets: $30

each ($60 per couple). Includes: PastaDinner Buffet, Dessert Buffet, Juice and SodaBar. Great music from DJ Torre, photography byLinda will be on-site. Tickets will be avail at theParks & Rec office, Monday through Friday, 8a.m. to 4 p.m. and through Jen Moyer. ([email protected] or e-mail Jen at Moyer

[email protected] to reserve your tickets).

Tuesdays, March 29 thru May 24Are you interested in becoming debt

free? This class will change your life and

your financial legacy! Get out of debtand stay out of debt! Crossroads Churchwill host Financial Peace University by DaveRamsey. The class runs for nine weeks. Class startspromptly at 7 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. If youhave any questions call 635-1556 or e-mail [email protected].

Saturday, April 2The Windham Community Bands 18th

Annual Evening of Music fundraiserwill be held from 5:15 to 11 p.m. at

Castleton Banquet and Conference Centerin Windham. Last years event was a great successwith a large audience of friends and supportersenjoying dinner, raffles, dancing, and outstandingmusic by the Windham Concert Band, Swing Band,and Flute Ensemble. This years musical theme isIsnt It Romantic? The musical selections willinclude popular songs inspired by romance aswell as classical pieces from the Romantic periodof music. The gala starts with a cocktail hourand music, followed by a lemon caper chickendinner at 6:15 p.m. After the concert at 7:30 bythe Concert Band, the Swing Band concludes theevening with two hours of romantic music fordancing. As always, in addition to the wonderfulmusic, there will be attractive raffle baskets andsilent auction items. Tickets are $50 apiece; tablesof 10 are $475. Contact David Howard at 965-3842 or [email protected] to buy ticketsand reserve seats.

April 11-June 6Have you ever wondered how the

Windham Police Department reallyworks? Do you want to ride with a

Windham Police Officer during a shift? Ifso, apply today to participate in the second

annual Windham Citizen Police Academy. Thisexciting nine-week course will show you thereality of police work. The class will meet fornine consecutive Mondays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

starting April 11. Topics to be discussed: Criminaland Motor Vehicle Law, Crime Scene Investigation,DWI Law, SWAT, Accident Reconstruction,Firearms and much more! For more informationor to obtain an application contact Sergeant BryanSmith at 434-5577 or [email protected].

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Good for the CommunityYour Hometown Community Calendar

Pelham - Windham News | February 26, 2016 - 4

2nd


5/16

The Word Around Town...

Letters to our Editor

5 - February 26, 2016| Pelham-Windham News

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Re-Energize with Eileen MashimoOver the years, I have attended many board meetings. I have had the opportunity

to witness firsthand many former school boards, and how they address theirresponsibilities, goals, Superintendent relationships, and most of all, public comment.

Some school boards set goals and others had none. Some boards severely limitedpublic comment and others made it a campaign promise to expand the privilege.For me, March elections have become as exciting as seeing a child achieve success.

Its an opportunity for the parents and taxpayers to rally behind those that bringpromise in the form of new ideas, innovation and most of all accountability.

My favorite part of a school board meeting is public comment. Tere is nothinglike listening to board members opinions and then having a parent-resident-taxpayer offer comment ... especially when it is acted upon. I have seen Boards andadministrations totally ignore comments and requests by never following up, andothers provide an immediate response. One of the few citizens who offers insightfulopinions that catch my attention is Eileen Mashimo.

Intrigued, I first reached out to Eileen after hearing her a few times at one ofthe school board meetings and sought to learn more about her background andperspectives. My first impression was that Eileen is an approachable, open tocomment, data driven process oriented professional. A mother and taxpayer, whoplaces a great deal of importance on the education for our children. Her attentionto detail and willingness to be a catalyst for positive changes that will improve ourlearning environments and test scores is second to none. Ive since gotten to knowEileen well, and my first impressions have been confirmed. She is a very special,intelligent woman who cares deeply about our town.

Before March 8, please do what I did and reach out to her and learn more aboutwho she is and how she can help our district. Her professional background providesher with an advantage to understand budgets, forecasts, goals and administrative law.When coupled with her keen attention to accountability, its exactly what we need. As

a steward of our money, Eileens laser focus on issues pertaining directly to our kidsand not ancillary gossip or character smearing is exactly who I want to watch over mykids and who would be an excellent addition to the board.

I thank you for your time and please join me in voting for Eileen Mashimo March8.

Richard S. Amari, Jr., Windham

Eileen Mashimo for Windham School BoardEileen Mashimo is your best choice for the Windham School Board when you vote

on March 8.I have attended many School Board meetings in the past year, and heard Eileen

make many public comments about how our money is spent. Tose insightfulstatements included issues about the default budget, use of wrong account codes,misallocation of funds, and record keeping procedures.

One of the biggest cost savers Eileen spoke about was the Cenergistic contract. Letus not forget this debacle early in 2015. Mrs. Mashimo researched and found outthat this customized energy conservation company had been in business for 27 years,but they changed their name from EEI to Cenergistic. Tis name change came afterthe Massachusetts Inspector Generals offi ce sent a report to Massachusetts schooldistricts in 2009, warning them to steer clear of the compan y. None of this negativeinformation was found before our School Board approved the contract - in a hasty

decision - and public outcry was loud. Eileen played a key role in saving our schooldistrict almost $600,000 by exposing these serious concerns about the company.

Our School Board needs another member that will research and find details. Votefor Eileen Mashimo.

Lois Bates, Windham

Breton Calls Senibaldi the Best ChoiceTese are my personal thoughts, and do not necessarily reflect those of my fellow

School Board Members.I have had the honor and privilege of serving on the Windham School Board,

elected by the voters, for the past two years. In that time I have worked with 6different School Board members - through many meetings, late hours, and manydiscussions about critical issues facing our District. When you spend that much timewith people (at times being with them more than with your family) and undertakethose types of important discussions together, you really get a good sense of the kindof people that they are. Most often, the public watching at home doesnt always seethat part of it, and thats unfortunate.

As a Windham parent, what I want most is the best educational opport unities formy children. o ensure that that happens, I want School Board members in place thathave that same goal at the forefront of their thinking, above all else.

Dennis Senibaldi has been, is now, and will continue to be that type of School

Board member. I say this confidently, and not based on what I have heard fromothers, seen on cable V, or read in the paper. I have lived itworking alongsideDennis for two years. He is the best choice to help continue to do the work andmaximize the opportunity we have to position the Windham School District as asuperior District. When I say that, I dont just mean in NH, I mean nationally. Wehave the Administration, Staff, and teachers to get it done.

Education is ever evolving and ever changing - which I believe is good for ourstudents. Te School Board must provide oversight and guidance to the Educationalprofessionals we employ, but enable them to shape and deliver that outstandingeducation. Dennis understands and supports that, and no one works harder to cometo the meetings prepared to discuss the issues facing our District and to make decisions.

Please join me on March 8 and cast your vote to re-elect Dennis Senibaldi to theWindham School Board.

Rob Breton, Windham

In Support of Dennis Senibaldi for School BoardI have had the pleasure of knowing Dennis since I moved to Windham over a

decade ago. In that time, he has served the town in many diverse capacities, alwayswith a view toward improving the spaces and pla ces where we all live and spend our

time in Windham. And while manyothers will also have claims of service for

this committee or that, in this criticalelection for School Board (one seat)we need to re-elect Dennis to keepmoving forward to returning the Boardsfocus back toward high achievement,better employee morale, and solidadministrative leadership.

One of Dennis greatest strengths andthe reason we need him on the Boardis his commitment to transparency.Whenever we deal with Dennis, asa Board member or as a member ofthe public, he provides no-nonsenseanswers that clearly communicatewhere he stands. Other members ofthe Board may find it maddening, butI find it refreshing that Dennis agendain his comments, deliberations, anddecisions is to provide the public asmuch information as possible aboutthe decisions that go on not just at themeetings, but the many back channelmeetings that occur. When we re-electDennis, we can rest assured that wewill have someone who can tell us, inplain fashion, whats going on and whosdoing what.

Dennis also is someone who can

look forward. He is someone who can disagree with the Administration and otherBoard members, have a discussion about the issues, and not make it personal. Dennishas learned that doing the right thing is not always the popular thing, and he workstirelessly to figure out a way forward that will best serve the interests of the public bytrying to move things along even when he disagrees on a particular point. Dennis has

earned the trust and respect of the Administration, and knows that the Boards properrole is one of oversight and strategic vision, not micro-managing daily operations.Finally, Dennis knows that Schools require investment. We dont budget-cut our

way to better school facilities, curriculums, or teaching excellence. So while we all arecareful to not approve wasteful spending, Dennis works with the Administration tokeep current on educational trends, needs of the kids and the new opportunities forthe District to maintain academic rigor and achievement.

We need to return our School Board to a body that is forward looking, for wardthinking, and above all, serves the voters who elected them. Dennis re-electionensures that we are starting that process, and I urge you to vote for Dennis Senibaldifor School Board on March 8.

Rev. Mark Brockmeier, Windham

Endorsing Mashimo as aGood Steward for Windham

Te idea that all Windham families are affl uent and can continue t o spendmore each year without concern is a fallacy. Te continuing pervasive culture and

wasteful spending of some Board members is concerning. My vote in the last fewyears has been to change the culture of wasteful spending that approves whatever theadministration asks for.

Te Cenergistic debacle last year is one example. Several school board members

voted to enter into contract negotiations that would have resulted in a nearly$600,000 price tag to have Cenergistic teach our district employees when to turnoff lights, turn down thermostats and replace filters with no permanent changes ininfrastructure. ake a look at the MA Inspector Generals report that Mrs. Mashimouncovered and provided to Windham residents. It warns every School District in MAabout doing business with Cenergistic, formerly known as Energy Education, Inc.Tankfully, the multitudes of information that Eileen exposed about Cenergistic ledto a community uproar and was instrumental in the contract never being signed.

Mrs. Mashimo also wrote a series of letters to the School Board this past fall thatidentified tens of millions of dollars in liabilities that was tied to the teachers contract,based on the districts obligation to continue paying for each employees healthcareafter retirement (for as many as 15 years!). Te Board listened and her concerns wereaddressed in the recently ratified WEA contract that will be on the March 8 ballot.

Tese are just two of the many reasons why I am writing to endorse EileenMashimo. She identifies problems and offers solutions. She has been an activeparticipant for many years. She points out discrepancies in the budget, and identifiesexcessive expenditures and inaccurate bookkeeping practices as defined by the State ofNew Hampshire.

Its time to get our nearly $50 million dollar school budget under control. Tiscan be achieved with a new budgeting process that is being developed by the newlyformed Finance Committee, which Eileen is serving on. Having that processincorporated into a comprehensive plan is an important part of the solution. Eileen

will listen closely to our district administrat ion, but not blindly approve their requests.Mrs. Mashimo and her family volunteer hundreds of hours each year to our

community. She is honest, believes in rules and wants to raise the quality of educationin Windham. Her perspective as a mother of two children, long time Windhamresident, keen attention to detail and calm demeanor will complement the schoolboard. She collaborates well with others and creates bonds, not division!

Eileen Mashimo will make a great school board member and will be a good stewardof our hard earned money. Please join me in voting for Eileen Mashimo for the

Windham School Board.

Gary A. Carbonneau, Windham

Make your Vote Count on March 8As the voting on uesday, March 8 approaches, please: Remember the importance of education in preparing our children for a lifetime

of opportunity Remember the difference a teacher can make in a life Remember that the operating budget gives our teachers and administration the

funds necessary to deliver a quality education Remember the strong growth our community has experienced in the last decade

and that adequate space is critical for our students Remember that, even beyond the educational benefits, our real estate values

depend on a high-quality school system Remember that supporting the school warrant articles for our facilities, teachers,

and operating budget is the best way to maintain both the quality of oureducational system and our investments in our homes

All of the above can only happen with the support of the Windham voters.Remember to vote on uesday, March 8 at Windham High School between 7 a.m.

and 8 p.m.

Diane Carpenter, Windham

Supporting Dennis and the GBS projectTe Windham School District voting on March 8 is of vital importance to the

town. I shall be supporting Dennis Senibaldi in his bid for re-election to the boardand I also support the proposed renovation and construction at Golden Brook School.

Dennis has proved to be a person who values, appreciates and supports publiceducation. I know that Dennis is well thought of by those he interacts with whetherit is a teacher, an administrator or a parent. Dennis understands that public educationis about the students foremost. He realizes that all students are not alike, all areindividuals who often need special attention and support.

Dennis supports the proposed building project as do I. Te project as presentedto the voters is the answer to all of the capacity issues that Windham faces. Grantedit will take 2-3 years to construct the project, but when completed and the grades arerealigned the capacity issue will no longer be a concern. Te construction time will bedisruptive, but planning and phasing will help to minimize disruption. Te plan as

presented is the answer. Should the building plan fail at the polls to achieve 60%, thecommunity will see the same basic project again next year for no doubt an increasedprice tag.

It is important to keep the present balance among the School Board members as wesee it now. We should not allow the membership to become such that the community

will see an even more unbalanced voting record. Dennis will continue his support ofpublic education. He will support the building project and he will bring forth to thecommunity issues of importance to all of us.

I encourage a positive vote on March 8 for Dennis Senibaldi and for the GoldenBrook/Middle School Building/Renovation plan as presented.

Barbara Coish, Windham

Another Successful Candidates NightTe Womans Service Club of Windham would like to thank all of the people

who helped make this years Candidates Night a great success! Tank you to all thecandidates who attended and presented their positions on the issues and answeredquestions from the audience.

Tank you to Al Letizio as moderator. Tank you to co-chairs Kathy Palermoand Rebecca Howard for organizing this event. Tank you club members whovolunteered their time to help. Tank you to the Maintenance Department forsetting up. Tank you to Pelham~Windham Newsfor great publicity coverage of this

event. We thank the wonderful volunteers of WCV-21 for the excellent coveragethey continue in cablecasting this event, we greatly appreciate this.

Ruth Coole on behalf of the Womans Service Club of Windham

Appreciation from the Womans Service ClubTe Womans Service Club of Windham wants to thank everyone who stopped

by our table on Primary Day, Feb. 9. Tank you to the members of our club forvolunteering their time to help at the table and baked many homemade goodies.

Special thank you to Al Letizio Letizio AJ Foods for opening his kitchen andproviding the ingredients and his assistance in helping those members whovolunteered their time in preparing dozens of cookies.

Raffl e winner of lovely wine basket - Pat Russell. Wine basket donated by memberRebecca Howard.

Tank you to co-chairs, Valerie Bronstein, Polly Chervincky, and Betty Csenger fortheir time and hard work for this event. Tank you to the community for your caringsupport of our organization.

Proceeds to benefit our many civic and community project: Candidates Nightsponsored yearly, awards to middle school graduates, scholarship fund, annualdonation to four Windham Schools, Veterans Project, baskets and adopt families forChristmas gifts, donations made to Shepherds Pantry several times a year and manymore.

Ruth Coole on behalf of the Womans Service Club of Windham

Re-elect Ruth Ellen PostOn uesday, March 8, we go to the polls to elect our own leaders. One of the

most important Boards in own is our Planning Board. Tis Board not only reviewsand approves (or denies!) major building projects in own, but also is responsible forthe Capital Improvements Program (CIP), the Master Plan, the Subdivision/Site Planregulations, and recommending Zoning Amendments to the voters. Members of thisBoard must be hardworking and dedicated to serving the own in this vital function.

Of this group, Ruth Ellen Post is notable for her diligence in performing her duties.In addition to her regular duties in attending meetings and studying plans, Ruth Ellenhas made significant contributions to the updating o f Windhams Master Plan. Tisdocument provides guidance no t just to the Board , but also to own/School offi cialsand the developers who build in our own.

As an attorney, she brings a high level of expertise to the Board. Sinceunderstanding the laws and regulations that govern how the Board can act is arequirement for Board members, this legal background is extremely valuable. it isparticularly appreciated when drafting language for revisions to zoning, site planregulations, and subdivision regulations.

She first joined the Board in 2004 and I have had the privilege of serving withher for many years. Her contributions have been notable and I am very pleased torecommend her reelection. On March 8, please remember to vote and vote for RuthEllen Post.

Margaret McKee Crisler, Windham

Vote No to Market SquareOn the ballot this March is a zoning amendment (No. 2) to allow a large area of

own adjacent to Interstate 93 and 111 to be rezoned from Business and echnology(offi ce park) to Market Square (commercial/retail/mixed use), recommended by thePlanning Board 4-3. As is clear from the Boards vote, this new overlay district hasbeen highly contentious, with Board members divided on what development in thearea would be best for Windham. (Te area in question is the northwest corner of theintersection of I-93 and 111, the very high bluff overlooking the new section of 111and very visible from I-93. It is in the watershed of Cobbetts Pond.)

As a long standing member of the Planning Board, I have never before spokenpublically in opposition to a decision of the Board. My vote on this proposal wasno,and I urge voters to do the same. Allowing this change in zoning could be seriouslydetrimental to our property values and to the public perception of Windham.

Although many of us want a walkable, pedestrian friendly downtown area wit happealing shops and good tax revenue, this area is not suitable for that type ofdevelopment. Te best place for this development was determined some time ago,and the own rezoned the area between own Hall and Hardwood Road as VillageCenter District, to encourage that type of development. Finally, now that theeconomy is picking up, we are seeing development start in that area. We dont needtwodowntown areas.

Te primary appeal of rezoning the Market Square area is its location, highly visibleto traffi c on I-93. A large, billboard sized sign is already planned to attract mot orists.Unfortunately, the Planning Board has no say in the actual businesses which could goin such an area, and we could find ourselves with another outlet mall or low end storesat the very entrance to our own.

Te proponents of this change have been emphasizing the tax benefits of retaildevelopment as opposed to residential development. However, the current zoning isfor offi ce park, which gives an even greater tax benefit to owns than retail, and also

allows for many desirable ancillary businesses to be located there, such as restaurants,day care, banks, schools, fitness clubs, etc. Also, increased traffi c is less of a concern.

Another potential benefit of leaving the zoning as an offi ce park is the verydesirable result of providing job opportunities for Windham residents. Every day avery high percentage of our working adults commute many miles to work. Wouldntit be great to have high paying jobs available here in own and not have to payMassachusetts income tax!

I urge you to vote No to retail development at the most visible location in own.

Margaret McKee Crisler, Windham

Endorsing Jennifer Simmonsfor Windham Selectman

I am writing this letter to show my support for Jennifer Simmons for WindhamSelectman. Ive known Jennifer personally for over 12 years. We met doing whatJennifer does very well volunteering and giving back to her community. We startedworking together on the Friends of the Library of Windham Board (or FLOW) whereshe eventually became President. I was amazed at the effort she put into this role,especially for the Strawberry Festival - the largest town fundraiser. When the librarylocation became a safety issue because the event grew SO large, she worked tirelesslywith town, police, fire and school offi cials to have this major event, which draws

thousands of people, moved to Windham High School - all without a hitch.Jennifer and I also worked together on the Windham School PA Board where shebecame PA President. Under her leadership, membership and contributions grewevery year. Jennifer was a constant volunteer in the schools. When she saw a needfor the students or teaching staff, shed work to get the PA support and funding tohelp wherever needed. She was always working and volunteering to givebackto thecommunity and make things better.

Jennifer has also served on the Windham Capital Improvements Plan (CIP)Committee for the past four years. She has spent her time researching and talking tothe various town departments to fully understand the needs of every CIP request.

Jennifer has given her all to every position she has held with the own of Windhamand consistently looks to improve things for Windham and make it better foreveryone. Windham would be very lucky to have her as a Selectman. Please join mein supporting Jennifer Simmons for Windham Selectman on March 8.

Laura Dempsey, Windham

Value the Elderly as well as the YouthA warrant article regarding proper ty tax reduction for the elderly in Pelham who

meet the requirements will be on the ballot in March of 2016. Te motivationbehind the writing of this warrant article was a concern that our seniors not have toworry about being displaced from their homes or having t o choose between groceriesand medication due to high property taxes. Pelham under its current policy, offers itsseniors the least generous property tax reduction out of the five surrounding townsof Salem, Windham, Hudson, Derry and Londonderry. Te figures on the warrantarticle represent a median of the reductions offered in the categories of: Single andMarried income, otal Assets and age groups. Tese new figures make what Pelham

continue to page 6- More Letters


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6 - February 26, 2016| Pelham - Windham News

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More Letters to our Editoroffers to its seniors more competitive with the aforementioned communities.

Critics of this warrant article charge that the new reductions will lead to abuse programs such as Welfare, Food stamps, Medicare, and others have led to abusesin the system, However does that mean that we do not enact programs to servicepeoples welfare? Or do we enact the programs and craft policies to cor rect the abuse?Others have charged that the assessment in Pelham is lower than the surroundingcommunities- I would argue that assessment figures are set by the Revenue departmentin Concord on a yearly basis. Tis assessment figure is based on the number ofqualified home sales in the town and fluctuates from year to year. Are we to hold ourSeniors hostage to home sales in the town as a criterion for setting their property taxreduction? Still others state that a senior can appeal to Selectmen personally for anadditional discount due to hardship We have a Presidential candidate campaigning

on a platform that includes increasing social security benefits to seniors so that theymay live with Dignity and Respect Tere is nothing Dignified about a seniorhaving to ask a Selectmen for a further discount in property taxes. Tis warrant articleis the townspeoples way of saying We want our seniors to live with Dignity andRespect.

Lastly, some townspeople worry that they will have to pay more in their propertytaxes due to possible deficits incurred by this new warrant article. Currently we arespending $30 million a year to educate 1,840 students. Student enrollment hasbeen declining since 2004 and is projected to decrease by some 300 students overthe next three years. Reallocating monies from a declining enrollment to fund anyrevenue deficit caused by implementation of this warrant article for seniors, as well asstreamlining school and town budgets while preserving the quality of education andservices should not impact on higher taxes for the rest of the townspeople. A commontheme that bonds all in the town together is lower property taxes would not creative,out of the box thinking policies to streamline budgets be a better alternative and awin for all in the town? As a town we spend 15 million dollars on public ser vices(100,000 for the senior center).

As a town we spend $30 million on our school system, it is clear that as a town wevalue our youth, it is time to demonstrate that we also value our elderly. As one seniorso aptly stated to me All we want is a fair shake Tis warrant article property taxreduction is competitive with that being offered in surrounding towns and is theirfair shake.

Donna Dube, Pelham

Mashimo: a Bad Choice for School BoardOn Feb. 5, 2016, Windham had our School Deliberative Session. Over 100 people

showed up to make their voices heard in regards to school warrants. Tree showed upand were told they were not able to participate

in these proceedings. Mike, Wendy and Madelyn Joanis were denied their rightto vote during t he Deliberative Sessions because they were expunged from the VoterChecklist. It did not take long for that information to be spread throughout theauditorium. Te owns people, upon being asked by Moderator Dunn, agreed to letthe Joanis family speak on articles even though they would not be allowed to vote.

It is known throughout the tow n that Mike Joanis, former School board member,is a major proponent of education and is very vocal in regards to this currentWindham School Board being run by Ken Eyring as Chair. Chairman Eyring did noteven vote in favor to pass his own budget that the Windham School Board and theadministration have been working on since early fall of 2015. Mike and Wendy haveshown up to many school board meetings. It is also known that Eileen Mashimo,Supervisor of the Checklist, is an advocate of Chairman Ken Eyring and his agenda.Mashimo and Eyring have worked together, speaking as a team in many towns on theSustainable Communities Initiative.

So the question is was this a malicious act or an act of incompetence bythe Supervisor of the Checklist. Either way, Ms. Mashimo should not be makingdecisions for our children if this is how she believes the Voter Checklist should be

supervised and she should not be responsible for a $48,000,000 budget.

Andy Ducharme, Windham

In Response to Daniel Popovici-Mullers LetterLast week, Mr. Daniel Popovici-Muller included my name in his negative letter

submitted to the Windham Independent, and I am assuming that it will be in thisweeks Pelham~Windham News. He states my name and that my relationship withMr. Senibaldi was acrimonious and dysfunctional while I was on the school board.First, his statement about me is not true, and I am offended that he would make sucha statement. During my tenure on the board, it was extremely important to me asa board member to listen to all opinions and to always try to work toward finding acommon ground that focused on the best educational interest of the students.

I find it ironic that Mr. Popovici-Muller submitted this negative letter about afellow board member the same week that the School Board Policy on Ethics wasdiscussed. I had some concerns with the first draft of the School Boards Ethic Policy,so I attended the School Board meeting on uesday, Feb. 16, and waited until 11 p.m.to speak on this topic.

I read to the board an excerpt from Becoming a Better Board Member, a bookprovided by the NH School Board Association to all school board members whoattended the NH School Boarding raining Course. Te excerpt included theimportance of teamwork and respect in order to be an ethical effective school boardmember. I was told by the current board that they did not think it was necessar y to

include these conduct statements in the policy because all members should alreadyknow how to conduct themselves. In the same week that I was told this, I read Mr.Popovici-Mullers derogatory statement against Mr. Senibaldi in the paper. Te NH

School Board Association believes it is important to include conduct statements inEthic Policies, as do I.

Mr. Popovici-Muller points his finger at Mr. Senibaldi as the source of acrimony.Yet, it is Mr. Popovici-Muller writing the negative letter. Mr. Popovici-Muller endshis letter with and if you decide to vote for Dennis, do not complain again aboutboard culture and acrimony. Should we vot e for someone who shares the majorityof the boards opinion? Difference of opinion is critical to any functional, productive,and balanced board.

I have done my homework, a s Mr. Popovici-Muller asks, and Mr. Senibaldis viewsare in much better alignment with mine, than the opposing candidates. I greatlyappreciate Mr. Senibaldis willingness to stand up for our students, our teachers, andour administrators. Mr. Senibaldi has been a solid advocate for the students of our

district and for the educational professionals who work for our district. He remainsfiscally conservative and understands the budget.In direct response to Mr. Popovici-Mullers letter Yes, my vote goes to Dennis

Senibaldi. Yes, I do expect Mr. Senibaldi to remain strong in his advocacy. And yes, Iwill complain when I do not see people treating each other wit h respect.

Michelle Farrell, Windham

A Checklist of Reasons Why to Vote for SenibaldiI am voting for Dennis Senibaldi for School Board because he:1. Advocates for students2. Partners with teachers and administrators3. Demonstrates budgetary responsibilityAdvocates for Students Dennis believes in standing up for what is in the best interest for our students. Dennis has been very vocal in his support of educational programs that align

with our curriculum and are within budgetary constraints. For example, Dennisrecently fought hard to ensure that im Green, an author and inspirationalspeaker, would be allowed to speak at Windham Center School. Whereas, twoschool board members voted against this assembly, even though it directly aligns

with our curriculum and vision for our district. Tis is just one example of themany ways Dennis has proven his dedication to our students education.

Hes committed to education; showing his commitment to the students of ourdistrict and to his own education, as he has achieved two degrees, a Bachelor ofScience in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration,

while serving on the board. Partners with teachers and administrators As soon as Dennis joined the school board, he spent a tremendous amount of

time working with Dr. LaBranche, our interim superintendent, to learn moreabout the educational needs of our district.

Dennis makes himself available to teachers and to staff in our district. Hiswillingness to work with our teachers and admini strators translates into a greaterunderstanding of the educational needs of our town.

Dennis has always been respectful of the professional expertise of our teachersand administrators. Repeatedly, I have witnessed Dennis asking for theprofessional opinions of our teachers and our administrators, and then use theseopinions in his decision-making as a school board member. On many occasions,I have watched Dennis defend the professional experts of our district. His levelof respect for our teachers and our administrators is commendable.

Demonstrates budgetary responsibility Dennis has always taken the time to meet with our business administrator in

order to thoroughly understand the budget. Trough his understanding ofthe budget, Dennis has made specific suggestions as to where he recommendsbudgetary cuts that would save money, but not jeopardize learning. He believesin a conservative budget that is in line with student enrollment.

Proudly, the academic achievement of Windham students is well above the state

average and the cost spend per pupil is below the state average. A true testamentthat educational money is being spent wisely.

Dennis Senibaldi for School BoardAs a past school board member who has worked with Dennis, I have watched

him grow into a strong educational advocate. Trough his understanding of ourdistrict, he has become a sound voice; championing for what is in the best interest ofour students, supporting our educational professionals in their decision-making, andrecommending specific budgetary savings.

It is with great respect, that I will be voting for Dennis Senibaldi for School Board,and I would encourage you to do the same!

Michelle Farrell, Windham

Finding Issue with Windhams Article 2Issues with purposed Article 2: Golden Brook Elementary School + WMS

Construction Project ($40 million)1. No traffic study done prior to the deliberative session presentation or before

developing the plans major traffic issues even with purposed driveway.2. About $1 million to pump sewage from GBS up the hill past WMS. Long

term, will have problems with pumps failing and needing to be replaced thatwill be forcing sewage against gravity to the septic system past WMS.

3. Tis wi ll be the largest number of students in an elementary school in the

state! Only two in the state have more than 700, and this would be over 1,000!Almost double the number of most in the state! Not a Best Practice. www.schooldigger.com/go/NH/schoolrank.aspx.

4. Most large towns a nd cities have two or more elementary schools for this reason.5. 3 years of const ruction while students are in school distractions and chaos.

Not a Best Practice.6. Over 80% o f the current GBS will be torn down in the process Really a new

school!7. A stat e of the art gym built in GBS (pre-K-4th grade) and a second gym, where

there are no school-sponsored teams.8. $5 millio n spend to alter the rooms inside WMS to add science and technology

labs.9. Tis purpo sed plan is not allowing for any free classrooms if built!Te own of Windham is one of the fastest growing communities in New

Hampshire and, according to data issued by the Southern New Hampshire PlanningCommission, can expect to see another 10 percent increase in the next five years.

And, thanks to the adjacent location of Interstate 93, could reali ze a 38 percentpopulation hike by 2050. Written January 15, 2016 http://www.areanewsgroup.com/data-shows-population ...

Te Ideal Solution to Overcrowded Schools in Windham1. Remove all students from the current GBS (that has many issues, and is too

small). own can decide what to do with the building and land.2. Have Pre-K through 2nd grade in Center Schoo l.

3. House 3rd and 4t h grade in the current Middle School.4. Build a new school, grades 5-8 that have the needed science and technology labs,and a track. Tis could be done on London Bridge Road on the opposite side of

WHS. Tis would allow construction without di sruption of learning, solve the

issues with lack of science and technology labs, add needed fields, and providea track that could be shared by the high school and the middle school teamsand classes (providing an appropriate place to run, and reduce the risks of over200 students being in an accident on the streets). Tis will allow for a moderngymnasium for classes and school funded sports teams. Lastly, this would notcreate a monstrous elementary school in Windham, where a smaller town feel ispreferred.

5. Tis would allow WHS to be grades 9-12 as initially intended, as the Preschooland half of the third grade would be relocated appropriate locations.

Brian Fillion, Windham

Mashimo: the Right Candidatefor Windham School Board

Mrs. Eileen Mashimo is a woman with exceptional vision. Mrs. Mashimo isa budgetary genius with a fine eye for financial deviations and an acute focus ondetails. Over the years I have known her, I have come to appreciate her expertise inmany areas of finance and budgeting. Her philosophy surrounding the education ofchildren is refreshing too. She is an advocate for safety, excellence in the classroom,proper budgeting, fiscal accountability, facility needs, staff retention, and more. Shebelieves every decision the district administration makes regarding the education ofour children should be tied to a strategic plan. Unfortunately, this key document doesnot exist.

Mrs. Mashimo believes all of these goals must be defined and prioritized in astrategic plan if we are to control spending and raise academic achievement. Astrategic plan would become the roadmap for increased student performance and fiscalaccountability. Eileen believes the budget should clearly define expenses, so taxpayersunderstand what they are being asked to approve and then also be able to verify themoney was spent as budgeted. Tese are goals that will have a positive, lasting impacton our school district and community, and the reasons why Eileen is running.

She is a current member of the districts newly appointed Finance Committee.She has the uncanny ability to find even the smallest of inconsistencies in our schooldistrict budget. Her ability to research issues with an unbiased eye and her desire todo the right thing for our town makes her the perfect candidate for the Windham

School Board.Mrs. Mashimo has been a supervisor of the checklist for four years. She has been

instrumental in following best practices that have prevented and uncovered voterfraud in our town. She carries out her duties to the letter of the law and contrary towhat some would have you believe, her integrity is irreproachable.

Windham needs trust, teamwork, and cooperation on our school board. We needan honest, rational, logical candidate that will make decisions based on factual dataand not emotion. One who can collaborate with fellow school Board members to getthe job done effectively and efficiently; qualities that her opponent lacks. Viewing anynumber of the 2015 School Board videos will confirm this.

I am thrilled to see a woman of Eileens standing running for local office in ourtown and fully endorse her candidacy. I hope you will join me on March 8 at thepolls and do the same.

Cynthi

pelham~windham news 2-26-2016

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