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Volume 15 Number 22 January 20, 2017 8 Pages

continue to page 3 - Audit of Internal Financial

Danielle Murphy, 17, gets pulled along a trail by two of her

four Alaskan Huskies.

Melissa Murphy, 17, left, and parents Steve and Kim try to restrain their exuberant dogs who
anticipate a turn on the sled.

by Jay Hobson
It would be safe to say that dog sled racing is not your average
activity even in this neck of the woods, but an entire Windham
family of four has chosen to undertake the sport, known as mushing,
that usually finds enthusiasts in Alaska and Canada.
About 10 or 11 years ago we had some retired Iditarod dogs, and,
at that time, all we knew was how they pulled the sled, said Kim
Murphy.
Kim said that back then there was very little dry land activity
with the dogs, which she said is a lot of what they do now.
With so little snow the last couple of years, weve been doing dry
land racing where the dogs pull us on bikes (known as bikejoring),
said Kims husband, Steve.
Daughter Melissa won a gold medal in the adult bikejoring single
dog category in 2016, according to the International Sled Dog
Racing Association website www.isdra.org.
Kim said that after the Iditarod dogs died, they got more dogs and
became involved with racing. Melissa, 17, now a junior at Windham
High, started when she was in the fifth grade and her twin sister,

Danielle, started about two years ago.

The dogs are really excited when they know they are going to be
pulling, Steve said, adding, but when they are just hanging around
they can be real couch potatoes and relaxed.
Kim said that the family has four racing dogs, which allows each of
the family members to race at each event.
We can put all four together as a team to pull a sled when theres
snow, or we can hitch them individually to bikes for dry land events,
Kim said.
Kim said, even though theyve only been racing for the last four
years, It keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Outside, as the family demonstrated how the dogs are attached to
the sled, the dogs were quiet and fairly docile, coming over to sniff
this reporters hand and say hello. Then the harness came out and
the howling and excited pulling against Steve and Melissa began as
Kim and Danielle secured the other two dogs to the sled.
They get really excited when they know theyre going to work,
Steve said They love it and are happiest when pulling the sled.

Adrian Villanueva Takes Top Honors

at PES Spelling Bee
submitted by Kim
Kearney
On Jan. 11,
Pelham Elementary
School held its 11th
Annual Spelling Bee
with 19 participants
vying for the title
from grades three,
four and five:
Mya Belanger,
Lucy Daloia,
Sonya Desroches,
Anthony Detellis,
Jacob Hupper,
Mason Ketelaar,
Madelyn Martone,
Ryan Morin,
Brady OConnor,
Henry Paquette,
Grace Riley, Ben
Riordan, Aiden
Spelling bee participants, along with Principal Adamakos and retired PES teacher Becky George
Sanzo, Kai Sierra,
Nathan Souza, Mia
Suchecki, Aaron
Vann, Vance Vertuccio and
Adrian Villanueva.
The activity was sponsored
by the Pelham Elementary
School Council with Kim
Kearney, the schools reading
specialist for grades three
through five, coordinating the
event. Spelling bee judges
were Deb Ryan, vice chair
of the Pelham School Board;
Danielle Pilato, PES PTA
president; Brenda Hobbs,
PESPA president; Lauren Hall,
KABC teacher and special
education case manager; and
Lauren DiRenzo, health and
wellness teacher. Miss Szuksta,
fourth grade case manager
Spelling Bee Champion Adrian Villanueva, Principal Adamakos and runner-up
and special education teacher
Madelyn Martone
acted as the Recorder, and
Courtesy photos

by Barbara OBrien
Although the outside audit of the Windham School District
for the year ending June 30, 2016, showed a clean finding
in regard to the financial accounting, a review indicates that
there are serious problems with the internal controls employed
for the same period.
Sheryl Stephens Burke, one of the partners of the auditing
firm of Melanson and Heath, met with school board members
during their first meeting of the New Year. Burke started out
her presentation by saying there were no issues with the
records for the 2015-2016 school year. The numbers were
good, she said, but then went on to say that there are many
recommendations regarding the internal controls used by
the prior administration. Some are more significant than
others, Burke added, noting that not all of the issues could
be addressed at the same time. The recommendations are
not intended to recreate the wheel, she explained. Burke
also emphasized that some of the problems have already been
addressed by the new administration, which began its duties
the beginning of July.
Former administrators for SAU 95 include Interim
Superintendent Tina McCoy and Business Administrator Adam
Steel; both of whom left the districts employment the end of
this past June. Current administrators include Superintendent
Richard Langlois and Business Administrator William Hickey.
Kori Becht, who previously served as the school districts
curriculum, instruction and assessment director, is now the
assistant superintendent.
The list of recommendations being made is lengthy and
virtually covers the entire range of internal controls needing
to be improved. Areas scrutinized and for which changes are
being recommended include the following:
The expansion of anti-fraud controls; the implementation of
additional high level controls; the implementation of monthly
financial reporting, including a list of line item transfers
with explanations; adjustments to the general ledger; reports
regarding expenditures for information technology; reduction
of what was described as an excessive number of transfers
between budgetary lines; improvement in the authorization
process for expenditures; a lack of segregation of employee
duties regarding financial transactions (identified as a
significant deficiency); the need to create comprehensive
job descriptions for those handling budgetary functions; and
the prohibition of excessive use of district-issued credit cards
($183,000 charged to a dozen different credit cards); the
elimination of approving purchases after the fact (identified as
a significant risk area).
Other areas being scrutinized are the elimination of
district funds being used for retirement parties and gifts; the
elimination of district purchases being delivered to employees
home addresses; the elimination of gift cards and iTunes
cards, being paid for with district funds, but no accounting
of what was purchased; the elimination of reimbursements
and purchases without prior approval; the need for purchases
through vendors to be done only by individuals not directly
involved in projects, etc.; the need for centralized purchasing
to better utilize district funds; implement segregation of duties
pertaining to payroll to avoid possible fraud (one employee
currently doing too many things); all cash receipts must
involve acceptance by two people and be documented;
multiple problems in accounting for student activity funds;
improvement needed in accounting for grant money received;
and the need for a detailed inventory and tracking system for
fixed assets and equipment (under the prior administration
was not accurate and not complete).
Burke explained that student activity funds often cause
serious issues for organizations, due to insufficient accounting
techniques. A student activity fund is defined as money raised
by students and used for student activities only. Noting that
student activity funds within the Windham School District are
lacking in good internal reviews, Burke said, It seemed to
cause a bit of a nightmare. Burke particularly pointed out
what are known as principals accounts; with one for each
of the four schools in the district. This money should be
used only for students; not for staff appreciation or gifts, she
commented; recommending that the accounts be closed.
Student related is not teacher related, Burke stated.
Burke recommended that accounting duties for student
activity funds also be segregated and that ongoing training be
provided to those involved in the management of these funds.
If there is the perception that youre being watched, it is less
likely that things will go wrong, Burke said. There needs to
be better control of cash, she said, with two people being on
hand to document any receipts. And, never allow a check to
be written to cash, she urged.
Looking on the bright side, School Board ViceChairman Rob Breton said, The good news is that the new
administration is already addressing many of these issues.
School board member Tom Murray said that rectifying the
problems with internal controls is extremely important to
me. Murray agreed that an anti-fraud program, a whistleblower policy and a risk management plan need to be
implemented. Assistant Superintendent Becht said these
issues are top agenda items for the district policy committee.
Chairman Daniel-Popovici-Muller said he wants to see the
responsibilities of the finance committee, a sub-committee
of the school board, expanded. Popovici-Muller pointed out
that a finance committee is not the same as an elected budget
committee. We dont plan to have a budget committee,
ever, he said.
Noting that the school district had spent money to have
its own accounting practices reviewed, school board
member Ken Eyring said he didnt want to see the auditors
recommendations fall through the cracks. Eyring said he
had no problems with the current administration or the ow of
information to the school board. Eyring said he was amazed
by how quickly many of the issues were addressed by the
new administration. Eyring recalled that he had asked for

Dog Sled Racing is All in the Family

Staff photos by Jay Hobson

Audit of Internal
Financial Controls for
School District Lists
Multiple Problems

Becky George,
a retired Pelham
Elementary School
teacher, graciously
volunteered her
time to be the
Pronouncer. A
special thank you
goes out to all of
these individuals
as well as the PES
School Council
members for their
hard work and
dedication to the
students.
The bee began
at 10 a.m. and
continued until
11:30 a.m. More
than half of the
students remained
in the competition
until round 6.
The Final Five
(Madelyn Martone, Ryan
Morin, Ben Riordan, Kai
Sierra and Adrian Villanueva)
reached the tenth round, and
it wasnt until the 14th round
when Adrian pulled out
the victory and became the
school champion by correctly
spelling the word rendition.
Madelyn Martone finished
as the school alternate. She
provided stiff competition for
Adrian. Nice job, Madelyn!
The Pelham Elementary
School family congratulates
all of the participants and
wishes Adrian best of luck in
the statewide competition on
Feb. 25 at the Capitol Center.

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2 - January 20, 2017 | Pelham - Windham News

Pinning Ceremony Held for Newest Fireghter

Courtesy photo

Jonathan Bates of Windham has qualified for the Presidents

Academic Honors list for the fall semester at Dakota State University:
Keene State College announced that 1,400 students have been
named to the fall Deans List, including the following residents. From
Pelham: Kenneth Arsenault, Taylor Bedard, Quinlan Diack, Kayla
Halde, Jared Hannon, Casey Labonte, Meaghan ODwyer, Alexandria
Papadimoulis and Dylan Ryan. From Windham: Taylor Darcy, Lauren
Ford, Abbygail Gregoire, Julia Peet, Eugenia Schipelliti, Christopher
Shea and Ryan Sullivan.
Dean College is pleased to announce that Benjamin Sweetser of
Windham has earned a place on the Deans List for the fall semester.
The following students have been named to the Champlain College
Deans List: Pelham residents Meghan Alagna, who is majoring in
Computer Forensics & Digital Investigations and Richard Hardy, who
is majoring in Game Design and Windham resident Colin Cochrane
who is majoring in Computer and Digital Forensics.
Joseph Minichiello of Pelham, a senior at Dartmouth College,
studying Human Biology/Pre-Med and Psychology, earned a 4.00 GPA
for his fall term and an academic citation for outstanding investigative
skills in microbiology. He is a Deans Office Student Consultant, an
EMT and Director of Operations at Dartmouth EMS.
Lasell College has announced the Deans List for outstanding
academic achievement during the fall semester. Among the students
named to the Deans List are Gina Grimes of Pelham and Alexa
Monfette of Windham.
Assumption College has announced that Bradley Pomerleau, a
member of the Class of 2017 from Pelham, is one of 486 students
named to the Colleges prestigious undergraduate Deans List for the
fall semester.
The University of Rhode Island is pleased to announce that 5,401
students have qualified for the Fall Deans List. The following residents
were recognized: From Pelham, Katharina M. Birch, majoring in
Pharmacology and from Windham, Rachel Vignos, majoring in
Kinesiology and Elizabeth Delia ONeill, majoring in Supply Chain
Management.
Nikita Kruzel of Pelham and Jonathan Ferri and Adina Trager, both
of Windham, have been named to the Deans List at the University of
Vermont.
Curry College is proud to announce that Nathan Chartrand of
Pelham and David McInnis of Windham have been named to the
Deans List for the fall semester.

Womans Service Club of Windham

Honors Scholarship Recipients
submitted by Ruth Coole
At the January meeting of the Womans Service Club of Windham,
scholarship recipients, Julie Sheahan and Conor Leland, were
honored. Julie is majoring in occupational therapy at the University
of Delaware and Conor Leland has a dual major in music and
physiology neural biology at the University of Connecticut. The
scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement,
recommendations and community service. Jean Morrow and Linda
Gallagher serve as co-chairmen of the scholarship program.

Courtesy photo

Accolades

by Barbara OBrien
Also introduced
During the first
during the Jan. 9
selectmens meeting of
meeting was Angela
2017, Firefighter Dave
Marquis, who is the fire
Baker became a full
departments newest
member of the Windham
addition. Marquis, a
Fire Department.
Nashua resident, has
Baker had not always
been working as an
intended to become
administrative assistant
a firefighter, having
since November.
graduated from Johnson
Andrea is ambitious,
and Wales University, with
dedicated and reliable,
a degree in Culinary Arts.
Chief McPherson told
However, dreams and
selectmen.
goals change and Baker
Deputy Chief William
became a paramedic in
Martineau will be retiring
2008. He subsequently
from the Windham Fire
worked at the University of
Department on Jan. 28,
Massachusetts-Worcester
after serving for six years
Shown (from left) are Firefighter/Paramedic Dave Baker, Windham Fire Chief Tom
and for the Peterborough,
in the Town of Windham.
McPherson and Windham Assistant Fire Chief Edward Morgan.
N.H., Fire Department.
Bill has been a great asset to
Windham Fire Chief
the department and the town
Tom McPherson said
of Windham, McPherson
that Baker completed all probationary requirements during the past
commented. Prior to coming to Windham, Martineau served for 32
year, including 400-plus hours of training. Baker received his pin
years on the North Andover Fire Department, where he, ultimately,
from his wife, Emily, and his son, Sam. In accepting the pin, Baker
reached the rank of fire chief. An open house to honor Martineau
commented on how quickly the past year has own by. This place
and to wish him well in the future will be held at the firehouse on
is where Ill spend my career; thats evident, Baker said. The
Fellows Road on Friday, January 27 from noon until 3 p.m. The
Windham Fire Department is very family-oriented. Baker also
public is welcome to attend.
thanked his family for their support throughout his career.

Send your Accolades to news@areanewsgroup.com with a photo

Scholarship recipients Julie Sheahan and Conor Leland

Selectmens Support of Proposed Budget Swayed by $7,000 Expense

by Barbara OBrien
In a last-minute decision, some of Windhams Selectmen chose
not to support the proposed 2017 town operating budget, as
presented at the conclusion of the boards Jan. 9 public hearing.
The reason? The proposed expenditure of approximately $7,000 to
revamp the towns website.
Prior to the vote, Selectmens Chairman Joel Desilets said he
was 100 percent convinced that the process would solve a lot of
problems with the website and would pay for itself. We would
have a constantly updated website going forward, Desilets
said. Despite Desilets pitch, as well as a detailed presentation
by the towns Information Technology Director Eric DeLong, the
motion to recommend the expenditure for the Civic Plus website
management program barely passed. Voting in favor were Chairman

Desilets, Vice-Chairman Ross McLeod and Selectman Jennifer

Simmons. Opposed were Selectmen Bruce Breton and Roger
Hohenberger.
Hohenberger said that he doesnt believe the management
program is needed. Breton said he felt the proposal was too
rushed and selectmen need to hear from residents regarding their
opinions on the need. Several residents and town employees did
speak publically during the presentation, however, each of whom
recommended going with the program.
It wasnt until the next vote, however, that the full impact of the
decision on the website management program became known. The
next discussion raised the issue of whether or not the selectmen
would support the 2017 operating budget as proposed. Town
officials had been working on preparing and reducing the budget
for months by the time the
vote to support it came up
for discussion. It had been
widely assumed that all five
selectmen would vote to support
the $13,706,200 operating
budget (not including separate
moneyed warrant articles); an
amount which had already seen
approximately $150,000 in cuts
from the initial proposal.
Rehabilitation
Full support from the
Private suites
board of selectmen was not
the case, however, as both
State-of-the-art rehab gym
Hohenberger and Breton chose
not to recommend the proposed
operating budget as presented.
www.fairviewhealthcare.com
Memory Care Assisted
Living
Hohenberger and Breton both
said their lack of support was
Specialized programs
due to the $7,000 that was
Open concept, feeling of home
added for website management
at the last minute. Selectmen
were all well aware for an
extended period of time,
Traditional Assisted Living
however, that DeLong had been
24 private suites
asked to look into improving the
existing website and making it
Worry-free living
more user friendly.
After the 3 to 2 split vote to
support the proposed 2017

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operating budget; a situation that the selectmen, those who voted

to recommend its passage, feared would result in residents not
supporting the budget come March, they decided to rescind the
decision on adding the $7,000 to the proposed operating budget.
Chairman Desilets was especially livid about the subsequent
rejection of the web site program, as well as Hohenbergers and
Bretons failure to support the proposed 2017 operating budget.
Desilets accused the other two selectmen of holding the entire
budget hostage over a $7,000 expense.
After the $7,000 for the website was removed from the operating
budget, selectmen voted a second time on whether or not to
recommend the 2017 proposed operating budget to voters. The
second vote came in at 4 to 1. This time it was Desilets who voted
against recommending the proposed operating budget. I cant
support the budget without the funds for the website management
program, Desilets said. Hohenberger and Breton changed their
minds and decided to recommend the proposed operating budget
(without the $7,000 for website improvement). McLeod and
Simmons maintained their original vote of recommending the
budget. This final discussion on the proposed operating budget
came up around midnight; five and a half hours after the meeting
began, and after nearly every member of the public had left the
building.
Desilets has said that he plans to bring up the issue concerning the
management of the web site during the annual deliberative session
on Feb. 11. That meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and will be held in the
Windham High School auditorium.
The proposed 2017 operating budget, plus all other moneyed
warrant articles (totaling $14,303,685) shows an increase of
$495,055 (3.59%) over the 2016 town operating budget, plus other
funded warrant articles, which was approved at $13,808,630.
The largest increases in the proposed 2017 operating budget
include health insurance ($71,710); workers compensation
insurance ($69,730); state retirement ($66,070); non-union
employee wage increases of 2 percent ($52,620); human resources
position change to full time ($42,140); police overtime increase
($28,990); and step increases for employees in all town departments
($24,150).
Selectmen will conduct their next regular board meeting
on Monday, Jan. 23, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Community
Development Building, next to the old town hall. Public
participation is welcome.

Pelham - Windham News | January 20, 2017 - 3

PMA Students Get an

Inside Look at STEM

LaVerne (Verhagen) Steck, 96, of Pelham, passed away

at home with her family by her side on Jan. 4, 2017. She
was the widow of John Steck with whom she shared 64
wonderful years of marriage.
LaVerne was born in 1920 in Chicago, Ill., and served
in the Army during World War II as a nurse stationed in
the Philippines. She met her husband John when she
came to Pelham for a visit with Johns sister Irene, a fellow
Army nurse. They married shortly after and for a city girl,
LaVerne quickly adapted to living and working on a dairy
farm in Pelham while starting to raise a family.
She was a very talented and loving woman who could
drive tractors and trucks, plant beautiful ower gardens,
bake delicious meals and cookies, decorate their home
so it was a cozy place to live, throw bales of hay, provide
nursing care to anyone needing it in town, take care of the farm finances,
host the traditional Thanksgiving dinner for 40 relatives, and nurture their
three children. Together, she and her husband John gave their children the
most wonderful life imaginable - just living and working together as a loving
family on their farm.
LaVerne is predeceased by her husband John; parents, Marie and Christian
Verhagen; brothers, Lt. Col. (ret) Paul Verhagen and Donald Verhagen (a pilot
killed during World War II); her sister, actress Jean Hagen; sisters-in-law,
Frances, Irene and Nellie Steckiewicz and Evelyn Brettell; brother-in-law,
Charles Steck and wife Barbara Steck; son-law, Frank Reed; and greatgrandchildren, Justin Steck-Tornow and Hope Steck-Yeaton.
Survivors include her children, Paul Steck, Linda Steck Reed, David Steck
and wife Audrey, all of Pelham; brother, Dr. Roger Verhagen of Indiana;
grandchildren, Jennifer Steck-Lubao, and Heather Steck-Yeaton and husband
Shane Yeaton; great-grandchildren, Tara, Grace and Elise Steck-Yeaton, and
Gabriel John Steck-Lubao.
Services will be private.
In lieu of owers donations may be made in her memory to Home Health
& Hospice Care, 7 Executive Park Dr., Merrimack, NH 03054.

Nicole
Ouellette, with
some of the
PMA junior
high students,
explains what
STEM is all
about.

Courtesy photos

LaVerne (Verhagen) Steck

Acceptance
of Range
Road
Delayed

submitted by Presentation of Mary Academy, Hudson

The junior high students at the Presentation of Mary Academy had a very smart
visitor last week. Nicole Ouellette from Philips Healthcare in Andover, Mass., is
a test engineer specializing in ultrasound. She presented the students with the ins
and outs of STEM --Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics-- as this is
believed to be the future of the economy.
Ouellette explained to the students that math is the most powerful tool to an
engineer as it helps breakdown problems with different variables. The potential
engineers of the future were fascinated by the different examples of ultrasound
transducers that were passed around the audience. Of course, all audience
participation was rewarded with a Smartie candy!
Ouellette concluded with the encouragement of joining Lego Leagues if students
thought they may be interested in engineering. You can never start too young
to develop your interests,
said Nicole. PMA recently
implemented a Lego Club for
kindergarten through grade
three. Summer camps for Lego
League are also offered during
July at the school and are always
very popular.
Principal Sister Maria Rosa
said, STEM education is a hot
topic in the education world.
You have to always keep your
curriculum up to date and keep
your students interested.
Test engineer Nicole Ouellette presents
to the junior high students.

Audit of Internal Financial - continued

by Barbara OBrien
Range Road is in the process
of being reclassified by the
New Hampshire Department of
Transportation in advance of being
turned over to the Town of Windham.
Range Road has been under the
auspices of the state throughout
the lengthy reconstruction project
involving routes 93 and 111. Now
that the Exit 3 area portion of the
project is winding down, plans are
to make Range Road a town-owned
roadway. While not all of the current
selectmen are in favor of accepting
the road, an agreement was reached
between the State DOT and former
selectmen more than a decade
ago. Selectman Roger Hohenberger
has been particularly outspoken
regarding his opposition to making
Range Road a town roadway.
Town Administrator David
Sullivan told selectmen late last
month that they could make the
choice of accepting Range Road
then or put the issue aside until
the reclassification issue has
been resolved. Sullivan said the
reclassification process could take a
couple of years to complete.
Selectmen voted unanimously (5
to 0) to delay accepting Range Road
as a town-owned roadway. All five
selectmen agreed that not having to
be responsible for maintaining Range
Road for the foreseeable future was a
benefit to local taxpayers.

from front page

manifests to be supplied to the school board, even before taking

the district, but previous administrations and school boards ignored
workshops be conducted on the most pressing issues involving
office almost three years ago, so that board members could perform
my warnings, Eyring said. This Internal Controls Report validates
accounting methods.
their fiduciary duties. Only since the new administration came
those concerns and reveals additional, more serious issues. Its
If we dont get these recommendations done immediately and
on board has this been done, Eyring said. We need to make sure
permanently, we arent doing our fiduciary duty, Murray said. He
important for Windham residents to read it themselves, to learn more
the budget is spent as intended and as much as possible gets into
about the many areas of risk that have been identified, he said.
also commended Eyring for his due diligence over the past three
the classroom he said. As for the recommended whistle-blower
Go to www.sau95.org and click on the WSD Internal Control
years, adding that it was Eyrings idea to create a finance committee;
policy, Eyring said, employees should never be afraid of losing their
Review link on the lower left to view the report.
one which subsequently recommended the internal controls audit.
livelihood for telling the truth!
Moving forward, the school board and current administration will
We cant take these recommendations lightly, Eyring said,
Murray also questioned whether the reported cost per pupil in
adding that he feels the issues recently brought to light are still
continue to work with the auditing firm, as well as David Jack, an
Windham is accurate; stating that he believes it is significantly
outside consultant and former business administrator, to develop
embedded in the culture of this school district. We need to
higher than being stated, as some expenses are listed elsewhere in
appropriate accounting policies.
acknowledge these issues to fix them and to have accountability,
the budget as other. We all know there are a lot of gray areas in
Eyring said. We need to keep a laser focus!
accounting, Popovici-Muller commented.
Near to the conclusion of the discussion, Superintendent Langlois
Popovici-Muller spoke of the importance of segregating
said, Were not going to fix all these issues overnight. There is no
accounting duties. There must be cross-checking, he said.
quick fix, but the issues have now been exposed and the wagon will
Murray added that he had expressed concern about poor
keep rolling forward, he said. While there are some things that
budgeting last year, due to discrepancies. Murray said there were
have to be fixed immediately, the key is to do it right, he stated.
approximately 800 fund balance transfers in just one year, totaling
Finance Committee Vice-Chairman Steve Bookless said he had
about $5.5 million. The auditing review qualified this number of
questions about where all the money spent with credit cards had
transfers as inordinate. There might not be another school district
been used ($183,000). If answers cant be found, impropriety
in New Hampshire, perhaps in the entire country, with a higher
should be suspected, Bookless said. If fraud is found, legal action
number of line item transfers, Murray said. Transfers need to be
should be taken, he urged. There needs to be accountability and
approved at the school board level, Murray said, to prevent this
consequences for anyone who violates policies, he said.
from happening in the future.
A few days after the meeting, Ken Eyring spoke about his feelings
School board member Dennis Senibaldi was more conciliatory
on the need to improve internal controls. I have raised many
in his comments on the internal controls report. The previous
concerns for years, regarding a lack of good accounting practices in
administration used a different methodology, but I do believe they
were budgeting properly, Senibaldi said. Its not fair to keep saying
that what was done previously was done poorly, Senibaldi stated,
adding that he feels he needs to stand up for employees no longer
with the school district.
During the public input session of the meeting, resident Cynthia
Finn said she is concerned over the review. Im not going to fingerpoint, she said, but we do need to learn from past practices.
School board members and school district employees all work
for us, Finn continued. They are stewards of our money! Finn
also mentioned that there were school board members, as well as
members of the public, who attempted to bring this issue to light for
years, but, instead, were mocked and disrespected by others. Finn
said she was very grateful for the new administration and hoped that
residents were paying close attention to these recent reports.
Resident Rich Amari spoke of the red ags that should have
been paid attention to this past year and previously. Amari also
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It was a group effort, Murray said. I dont want to take all the
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4 - January 20, 2017 | Pelham-Windham News

The Word Around Town...

Letters to our Editor

Paying it Forward is an Amazing Sight

I just wanted to share an uplifting experience of mine which took place Dec.
24. The following story developed as I was working at Hannaford as a cashier. A
gentleman purchased a gift card at the end of his order and told me to pass it on to
the next customer. As there was no one at that moment, I explained it when the
next customer approached. He was quite surprised and said let me do the same and
purchased one also. The next recipient was also surprised and she also purchased a
card to pass on. This all started because the first person told me someone purchased
his coee at Starbucks.
As the busy day continued, a couple frantically searched for their credit card only to
realize they did not have it with them. I told them I would put their $60 order aside.
The next gentleman in line handed me cash to cover their order!
In the years I have worked at Hannaford, I have seen customers helping each other
with a few dollars here and there but never experienced anything like this. It was so
wonderful to see there are compassionate, caring folks around!
I was truly touched by all of you and know those involved certainly left with a smile
and a happy heart! Happy New Year to you all.
Anonymous, Pelham

Honor of my Life to Serve

First, I would like to express my gratitude to the people of the great state of New
Hampshire for providing me with the greatest honor that any citizen of this state could
have, the opportunity to serve as a state representative. Today, I leave the state house
for the final time as your elected member of the House of Representatives. Its been
the honor of my life to serve as your state representative.
Its been quite a journey these past few years, but we held together through both
victories and defeats. When we were first elected, the political insiders made fun of us
because of my rags to riches story, and long-shot status as a political outsider. In time,
we made some enemies because our style of leadership disturbed the natural order of
things in government. For example, as a result of our election, we made the legislature
more proactive in a bi partisan manner, while providing the people with a voice in
their government, instead of leaving the power in the hands of the few elites and well
connected. The lesson of all this of course is that America still loves an underdog,
because most Americans see themselves as underdogs. And for most of our nations
history, we were the underdogs. Our remarkable underdog story is evidence that we
the people still have the power to determine the direction of our government.
Like all leaders, I have experienced disappointments and setbacks. There are things I
would do dierently if given the chance. Yet I have always acted with the best interests
of our people in mind. I have followed my loyal faith in God and took decisive action
with the information that I had at the time. Ive been asked if I have any regrets.
Well, I do. Not being able to prevent the tragic closure of Rockingham Park is one.
Rockingham Park had the potential to provide thousands of jobs, millions of dollars in
non-tax revenue, and would have helped unite our community, while providing a sense
of prestige to our state because of the rich history that the former glamorous horse
racing track had to oer. Other regrets include not filing a bill to make our inecient
400 member legislative body more ecient, and my inability to pass a bill that would
have allowed for a referendum to be legal in our state in order to give the people the
power to be actively engaged in the political process. Too often the will of the people
is ignored. Our state can never be true to its motto Live Free or Die until the people
have influence in the direction of the state, instead of only the elitist politicians that
consistently make laws contrary to the will of the people.
Our accomplishments over the past few years are the result of we the peoples
determination to be second to none, and as a result of the eort which we have made
in the last 3 years we demonstrated leadership that was second to none. And while
all of our bills were not passed into law, we took the initiative to initiate a dialogue
concerning the most serious issues of our time. In the words of an ancient Chinese
proverb, A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
In the past 3 years we brought diplomacy to the state house by helping unite
democrats and republicans to work as a team in order to advance the public interest;
we sponsored and co-sponsored legislation to create jobs; protect our natural
environment while defeating the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline project; protected
the property rights of our fellow citizens; protected constitutional rights while making
our judicial system more ecient and ethical; fought against the opioid epidemic and
held drug dealers accountable; fought against taxes and fee increases while reducing
regulations that hurt small businesses which are the backbone of the American
economy; helped veterans with a bill that would have provided property tax relief to
service connected disabled vets; fought for the disabled, elderly, and children; worked
to ensure that our children receive a quality education; honored our commitment to
oer caring, compassionate, and concerned leadership by making constituent services
a top priority; and we were honored with an appointment to serve on the Executive
Committee of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators which made our state
respected on the national scene.
This was not an easy eort. But it was worth the sacrifice. One of my favorite
books is Dantes Inferno. In that book there is a quote by Dante that reads, The
Hottest Places in Hell Are Reserved for Those Who in a Period of Moral Crisis

Maintain Their Neutrality. Together, we met our duty and responsibility in a time of
moral crisis.
As I ride o into the sunset, I am confident that we made a dierence, and as a
result the people of our state are better o.
May God continue to Bless the state of New Hampshire and the United States of
America.
Eric Estevez, State Representative, Pelham

Looking for Support for Jaguar Softball Projects

Friends of Windham Jaguars Softball (FOWJS) is a relatively new organization
(established in 2015), independent from WHS Softball, formed by Windham families
who are committed to helping to provide a rewarding experience to current, past and
future WHS Softball players.
Our goal is to provide support needed for the WHS Jaguars Softball program
including financial, fan support, promotion and/or facilities improvements.
As Windham residents, FOWJS has a goal to bring the Windham Softball
community together with the local business community for the overall benefit of our
town. We can optimize the experience for our players and improve our WHS Softball
program and facilities while improving opportunities for your business.
For the upcoming 2017 season, our major goal is to rebuild the dugouts. Other
basic needs that we are trying to help to fulfill including: field repair and maintenance
for a safe playing field-edging the infield, patching the outfield and loam, Wind
weighted tarps to protect pitching circle and home plate and Batting cage area and
overall softball field aesthetic improvements.
Your sponsorship of FOWJS will help to provide these basic items for the 2017
season, and more importantly will help to provide Windham kids with a positive,
constructive and life-changing opportunity. We have a number of levels of individual
and business sponsorship to provide flexibility for your budget (please see attached
details and note that any donation level will be accepted).
As FOWJS is raising funds through the WHS Jaguars Boosters, a 501(c)3 non-profit
organization, your donation is tax-deductible (Tax ID: 45-1624887).
Donations can be sent to: Friends of Windham Jaguars Softball, c/o Kelley Gravell,
4 Dublin Rd., Windham, NH 03087.
Thank you in advance for your consideration, and please let us know if we can
provide you with additional information on our program.
Anne-Marie ONeil, Windham

Poor Accounting Practices Finally Being Addressed

We all have the expectation that elected ocials will be good stewards of our school
district money by providing our students with the best education at the best price. But
unless youre in the thick of things, its dicult to have a good understanding regarding
how your hard-earned taxpayer dollars are being managed/spent in our school system.
Which is why I would suggest that people take a few minutes to look at the school
districts WSD Internal Controls Review, an independent audit report provided
by Melanson Heath (on the home page of the sau95.org website). The report was
presented to the school board on Jan. 5 and I am disappointed to see that in many
instances in the past, proper accounting practices were ignored. The video of the
meeting is revealing.
I want the residents of our community to realize that certain members of the current
school board and the public, mainly Ken Eyring and Eileen Mashimo, have been
fighting an uphill battle trying to bring these issues (and many others) to light for
years. Even though both volunteers have been ignored, mocked and even disrespected
for their eorts by school board members, past and present, and by members of
the public, they continued their eorts to finally expose the severe lack of proper
accounting principles that were followed. I would personally like to thank them for
their persistence.
In a contentious 3-2 vote under Chairman Eyrings leadership in February of 2016,
Rich Langlois was hired to be the permanent superintendent of our school district;
resulting in the changes that SAU 95 desperately needed. The process of sifting
through the budgetary weeds began in the subsequent school year (beginning July 1,
2016). Our amazing new administrative team, Mr. Langlois, Dr. Becht, Mr. Hickey
and Dr. Bennett, are working tirelessly to find solutions to the on-going saga that was
revealed in the internal controls report and to provide our students with the finest
education in the most fiscally responsible manner.
I would also like to thank Melanson Heath and our Finance Committee for their
due diligence; for the internal controls audit and providing recommendations to rectify
the situation. Although we are finally well on our way to more fiscally responsible and
transparent financial management, I hope the findings in the report are not ignored.
Previous misconduct, inadequate budgeting practices and at times a glaring lack of
integrity and control over Windhams school district finances must continue to be
investigated.
I am desperate to find out everything that is being done to correct the mess our
accounting processes were in. Understanding the history behind our financial woes
and poor past budgeting practices provides insight into how we can learn from our
mistakes, change and move forward. I have the utmost faith that our
current administrative leaders are more than capable of continuing to lead
25 Indian Rock Rd. #15 (rte 111), Windham, 1 mile off exit 3 rte 93
us out of the fragile financial state that we were in.
Cynthia Finn, Windham

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were so upset about the election that they
had to miss school or work right after
they found out the results. Seriously? In
2001 people went to work the day after
9/11 and, 16 years after the fact, people
couldnt go to work because the candidate
that they didnt like won. So we have
not gotten any stronger, in fact we have
gotten weaker. Its absolutely pathetic.
Im young, but I cant think of any other
election where the next day people were
so upset that they called out of work and
counselors were sent to schools to help
children deal with it. It absolutely blows
my mind.
The second group includes people who
use Trump being in office as an excuse to
commit hate crimes. I swear it was a few
times a week after Trump won where all
these hate crimes were being committed,
and the assailants were citing Trump
winning for their heinous acts. Trump
becoming president does not give anyone
the right to commit these terrible acts.
Trump did not give you permission to be a
racist and prejudice ******. Just because
you think you elected a president that is
magically going to deport everyone who
isnt white (not to be rude, but if anyone
has actually thought this they are dumb
and are a little behind on the evolution
scale) doesnt give you a right to be a fill in
the blank.
Trump says hes going to build a wall to
prevent illegal immigrants from coming in.
Im not sure how well thats going to work
seeing as how there are also underground
tunnels that they are going to use. I am
not entirely sure how hes going to make
Mexico pay for it, but whatever. The
Obama Administration I believe deported
the most illegal immigrants out of any
president so far, so Im sure Trump will
beat that.
Im not a Trump supporter or a supporter
to any politician. Just because our leaders
are embarrassing or evil doesnt mean
the citizens of this country need to be.
American citizens need to buck up and
stop crying over every little thing and we
also need to stop being racist. Its 2017,
people, come on.
As always you can email you concerns,
complaints, compliments, comments and
questions at nicole@areanewsgroup.com.

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Pelham - Windham News | January 20, 2017 - 5

Good for the Community

Your Hometown Community Calendar

Saturday, January 21
Blockbuster just released on DVD,
12 to 2 p.m., Pelham Public Library.
Rachel takes the same commuter train
every morning, ashing past a stretch of
cozy suburban homes, and stopping at the signal
that allows her to daily watch the same couple
breakfasting on their deck. Their life, as she sees
it, is perfect ... until she sees something shocking.
Its only a minute until the train moves on, but now
everything is changed. Rachel goes to the police,
and becomes inextricably entwined in the lives of
everyone involved. Has she done more harm than
good?

1st

Tuesday, January 24
Presentation on Oriental Rugs: Tribal,
Village and Workshop Weavings from
the Middle East and Central Asia, 6:30
p.m. at the Nesmith Library. Rug expert
Barry M. Curcio will be coming to present a
colorful exhibition and discussion on Oriental
rugs. Weavings from Turkey, Persia, Afghanistan,
Turkmenistan and Pakistan will be featured, as
these are the major weaving areas still employing
traditional designs and techniques. Acquisition of
rugs, uses and care of rugs and kilims (at weaves)
will also be covered. You may bring your small
rugs, up to 3 feet by 5 feet, for identification and
discussion. Questions welcomed. This promises
to be a lively and entertaining event on a cold
winters night (snow date: Tuesday, Jan. 31). Open
to the public, registration is required. Call 4327154 to register, or e-mail Sarah at swilliams@
nesmithlibrary.org with any questions.

4th

Supervisors of the Checklist for the Town of

Pelham will be in session from 7 to 7:30 p.m. in the
lobby of the Pelham Town Hall, 6 Village Green,
for correction of the checklist. Change in party
registration may be accepted.
Starting January 25
Oscar Winner Guessing Contest. Pick
up a contest form at the Nesmith Library.
Participants with the most accurate
predictions will win prizes. Free to enter.
Limit three entries per person. Open to all ages.
Open to the public, registration is required. Call
432-7154 to register, or e-mail Sarah at swilliams@
nesmithlibrary.org with any questions.

25th

Wednesday, January 25
Today, from 4 to 5 p.m., children ages 7 and up
are invited to participate in the Nesmith Library
S.T.E.A.M. MakerSpace Club. MakerSpaces can
be any area where people gather to make and
create. The previous sessions have been a lot of
fun and it was impressive to see the kids navigate
their way through various circuits to create an LED
holiday ornament. In this upcoming session, we
will experiment and make three different kinds
of slime from scratch! Participants should be
prepared to get their hands gooey are encouraged
to wear clothes that they dont mind getting messy!
As always, snap Circuits sets and Magformers will
be available during this hour long program. Snacks
and drinks will be provided. Space is limited and
registration is required. Call the library at 4327154 to reserve a spot.

hold a meet and greet for home school families

in Windham and the surrounding area. Its a
great opportunity to meet other parents who are
homeschooling as well. The meet and greet will
be held in conjunction with an Ultimate Treasure
Hunt led by Deb Humiston. Becky DelSignore,
a representative from the New Hampshire
Homeschooling Coalition, will be available to
answer questions and provide information to
parents regarding home schooling. The event will
be held inside the library multi-purpose room
but children who are participating in the treasure
hunt will be led outdoors. Dress appropriately for
the cold weather! Registration is preferred for a
general idea of how many children will take part in
the treasure hunt but not required for the meet and
greet. Stop by the front circulation desk or call the
library at 432-7154 to register.
Red Cross Blood Drive. St. Patricks Knights
of Columbus Council, Pelham, will host a blood
drive from 2 to 7 p.m. at St. Patricks Parish Hall,
12 Main St. Walk-ins are welcome. Appointments
encouraged - www.redcrossblood.org or (800) 7332767.
Each year, a long list of books is developed by a
panel of judges from the library community who
then select an award winner and three honors
title in each of five categories. Massacre on the
Merrimack, Hanna Dustins Captivity and Revenge
in Colonial America, written by local author Jay
Atkinson, his book has been named as an Honors
Book in the 2016 Massachusetts Book Award
Program in the nonfiction category. Atkinson was
honored at the Massachusetts State House on
Dec. 6, 2016. Join the Windham Historic District
Commission tonight at 7 p.m. in the Nesmith
Library, 8 Fellows Rd. in Windham for Atkinsons
presentation. The book centers on the plight of
Hanna Dustin and members of her family, who
were captured by Indians while homesteading
in Haverhill Massachusetts and who then later
escaped them. Light refreshments will be available
at the conclusion of the presentation.
Friday, January 27
Game Night from 5 to 8 p.m. at the
Nesmith Library. Join us for a night of
traditional board games and strategic
games for adults. Bring a group, or come
on your own. Snacks and drinks will be served,
and there will be a door prize! Ages 17+ only.
Open to the public, registration is required. Call
432-7154 to register, or e-mail Sarah at swilliams@
nesmithlibrary.org with any questions.

7th

Salt: Taste Bud Thriller or Silent Killer, 1:30

to 2:30 p.m., Pelham Public Library. Leave with
knowledge and ideas for salt substitutes. Healthy
refreshments will be served. Free and open to the
public.
Monday, January 30
th
Join the Pelham School District for a
Conversation with Former NH Supreme
Court Justice John Broderick regarding the
Campaign to Change Direction, a national
movement to change the culture of mental health
in our country. 7 p.m., Pelham High School
Auditorium, 85 Marsh Rd.

Quilling Workshop, 6 to 7:45 p.m., Pelham

Public Library. Come learn this little known paper
craft from local expert Leslie Kennedy. She is a
member of the North American Quilling Guild
and has been quilling since she was 4 years old.
Quilling, also known as paper filigree, is the art
of curling and shaping narrow strips of paper
and laying them on edge to form intricate filigree
designs. The process, which dates back to at least
the 13th Century, originated with religious orders
who used the gilded edges of old manuscripts
to decorate religious artifacts. It is believed the
paper was curled around the base of a quill (or
feather), hence the name quilling. Today, it is
often used in scrapbook layouts and on cards.
Quilling also makes beautiful tree ornaments and
gift tags as well as ornate paintings and freestanding sculptures. Free ($5 tool available for
purchase). Registration required; call 635-7581.

26th

Thursday, January 26
Attention Home Schooling Families!
At 10 a.m., the Nesmith Library will

30

1st

Wednesday, February 1
Womans Service Club of Windhams
next meeting will be held at Windham
Town Hall. Luncheon begins at 11:30
a.m. followed by program and meeting.

Program will feature guest speaker Lynn Thieret

of Rivier School of Nursing who will speaker on
Heart Health for Women. Guests welcome at our
meetings, bring a friend and tell a neighbor! Come
and meet us and enjoy, find out what we are about.
Contact membership chairman Sue Violi at 8890578. For more information on the club visit www.
womansserviceclubofwindham.com.

Macoutes Papa Docs secret police is chilling.

Also starring Lillian Gish, Alec Guiness and Peter
Ustinov. Unrated parental discretion required.
Discussion to follow the film.
Wednesday, February 15
Book Discussion: The Dew Breakers
by Edwidge Danticat, 7 to 8 p.m., Pelham
Public Library. A scarred Brooklyn
resident remembers his past life as a Haitian
torturer in the 1960s, a period during which he
waged personal and political battles before moving
to New York, where his past continued to haunt
him throughout his marriage and parenthood.
While providing a moving account of the horrors
and degradations of a dictatorship, Danticat does
not judge her main character or anyone else, but
merely reminds us that atonement, reparation, was
possible and available for everyone.

5th

Haitian History 101, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.., Pelham

Public Library Though Haiti is small, it has had a
huge impact in world history. Come learn how we
can trace Americas economic power to the Haitian
War for Independence. And how decisions made
by world powers centuries ago are still affecting
Haiti today. The speaker is our own librarian, Win
Flint, a subject expert on Haiti. Q&A to follow the
presentation.
Saturday, February 4
83rd Annual Pelham Fireghters Ball,
Harris Pelham Inn, 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. Hors
doeuvres and drinks at 6 p.m., dinner
served at 7 p.m. Come join us for food,
friends, door prizes, music, adult beverages, trivia,
rafes, silent auction with sports memorabilia and
a whole lot of dancing! All are welcome. $45 Per
Plate (cash or check). Price includes door prize
drawings, hors doeuvres, three course meal and
dessert. Tickets are available at the Pelham Fire
Department, 635-2703. Sponsored by the Pelham
Firemans Association and Professional Firefighters
of Pelham L4546. Thank you for your support; it is
our pleasure to serve you.

4th

Third Thursdays thru June 15

Every third Thursday of the month the
th
Windham Garden Club meets on the
second oor of the Windham Town Hall
from 7 to 9 p.m. and features various
speakers. Upcoming speakers and dates are:
Feb. 16: The Nature of New Hampshire which
will feature photos of rare and special plant
communities.
March 16: Learning plant propagation, growing
from seeds and cutting. Learn the optimal
medium, sunlight, temperature and water.
April 20: Learn about the status of Bobcats in
our area. Find where the increased sightings and
captures are.

16

Monday, February 6 & Monday,

February 13
The Pelham Fire Department
offers training classes on First Aid,
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
and Automated External Defibrillators (AED) to
residents of Pelham. The next scheduled class
will be in February. The First Aid portion will be
on Feb. 6 and the CPR/AED portion will be on
Feb. 13. Each class runs 6 to 10 p.m. and is $20.
Class enrollment is limited to nine students and is
an American Heart Association certificate (nonhealthcare). To register or for more information
contact the Pelham Fire Department at 635-2703.

6th

Wednesday, February 8
New England and Haiti We Go Way
back, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m., Pelham Public
Library. Find out how New England went
from being the biggest slave merchant of
the colonies to being among the most generous
region of the United States when it comes to
Haiti. Find out how New Englanders are making
a difference for the long haul. The speaker is
a consultant to local Haitian NGOs. Q&A to
follow the presentation.

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8th

Open Tuesday - Saturday 10-5

Sunday 12-4

Saturday, February 11
Film: Graham Greenes Novel on
Haiti Brought to Life by Elizabeth
Taylor. 10;30am, Pelham Public Library.
Elizabeth Taylor plays the wife of the
Uruguayan ambassador to Haiti and Richard
Burton plays the halfhearted owner of a failing
hotel in the capital city of Port Au Prince.
This is the story of their affair
intertwined with the political
realities of life in Haiti in the
1960s. Despite the title, this is
a drama not a comedy. The
depiction of life with the Tonton

1th

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6 - January 20, 2017 | Pelham - Windham News

Thumbs Up?

Thumbs Down?

Comments expressed in this column are the sole views of those callers and do not reflect the views of the Pelham~Windham News or its advertisers. Town and school officials encourage
readers to seek out assistance directly to resolve any problems or issues. The Pelham~Windham News editorial staff holds the right to refuse any comment deemed inappropriate.

Thumbs down, way down, to the Pelham

Highway Department. The roads during snow
storms have been deplorable. The state is doing a
good job but the town is not. The guy who does
our road rides up and down the road with the
blade up! And to think they are running
the Transfer Station also.

blowing around. High 59s temperatures and no

snow and they cant take 10 minutes to pick up
the leaves that are already in a pile and easy to
pick up. When you see the For Sale sign up, yes,
youre part of the reason. And when I drive by for

Thumbs down to parents who encourage their

kids to play in the middle of the street by putting
a basketball hoop in the street. This is a danger to
your kids and to the drivers in the neighborhood.

Thumbs down to the same three on the

Windham School Board who continue
to bash other peoples reputations
and toss accusations around based on
Tune-up
your
furnace
or
boiler
NOW
OIL misinformation and faulty memories.
GAS
Humorous, yet sad, to watch their
and SAVE on next winters fuel bills
recent attempts in the newspapers to pat
WE WORK ON ALL TYPES OF HEATING EQUIPMENT!
themselves on the back and show that
all is good now and that they fixed
everything. Things wont be fixed until
SERVICE REPAIR INSTALLATION 24 HOURS/7 DAYS these three are removed from the board!
Thumbs up to Rob Breton and Dennis
Over 30 years of experience - Fully Insured
Senibaldi who have always tried to take an
All Brands
High Efficiency Hot Water Boilers , Furnaces & Water Heaters Available informed approach in the midst of insanity
603-635-2012 SeniorDiscounts 603-204-8581 and childish behaviors.

$AVE MONEY ON FUEL & HEAT

Thumbs down to the Superintendent

of the Windham School District. You
would think the new superintendent of the
Windham School District would, when
hes promoting a new school, a big budget
and other extras, not want to alienate a
single tax payer. Not so. I e-mailed him
a simple two-part question regarding the
budget and followed up two times in the
next 10 days with a copy to the chairman
of the school board. Zero replies. Are
they trying to hide something from the
voters? Why have an e-mail address if
you dont reply to your e-mails. To me a
no reply equals a vote on all schools budgets and
project funding.

Dave Chadwick Home Heating Services

the last time, you can kiss my butt. Im always

hoping for a hurricane to knock all those trees
down. Hope no kid or pet falls in your pool since
the fence is all knocked down.

Thumbs down to neighbors leaves still

Thumbs down to Trump and his lifelong motto, deny, deny, deny. The nightmare has
just begun. So I ask God to bless us all, we will
need it now more than ever.

Town Employee Survey in the Works

by Barbara OBrien
As part of their goal to address town employee
appreciation efforts, Windham Selectmen are in
the process of developing an employee satisfaction
survey. The concept is similar to an employee survey
conducted by school board members last year.
The initial survey proposal was compiled by Town
Administrator David Sullivan, Selectman Jennifer
Simmons and Administrative Assistant Wendi Devlin.
Late last month, it was reviewed and revised by the
full board of selectmen. Questions on the proposed
survey involve supervisors, administrators and
selectmen and pertain to job satisfaction, benefits, etc.
Selectmens Chairman Joel Desilets said he would
encourage not making any changes to whatever survey
form is approved for at least the next three years in
order to establish a baseline of data. Selectman Roger
Hohenberger emphasized the importance of assuring
that all survey forms remain anonymous.
Selectman Simmons suggested putting a drop box
at a central location so employees could deposit the

forms at their convenience.

Vice-Chairman Ross McLeod had some concerns
about a few of the proposed questions, however,
stating that he felt some of them were somewhat
leading.
Selectman Bruce Breton agreed. The questions
need to be more neutral, Breton said. They shouldnt
be push/pull to elicit a particular answer. Selectmen
ultimately decided to bring the questions back to the
full board for discussion again, prior to making any
final decisions. Desilets said he would like to roll the
survey out sometime in January.
Selectmen are also soliciting nominations for
employees of the year; with one to be chosen each
from the fire department, police department and
from among municipal town employees. Sullivan
said he had already received some nominations, but
was hoping for additional suggestions. Keep them
coming! Sullivan said. Employees of the Year will
be announced at the annual deliberative session next
month.

Thumbs down to Trump and his hired group

of pooper scoopers. For Trump, nothing new
to Trump. His way of life. But doesnt anybody
ever get tired of always having to sweep up his
continuous and habitual messes? What a mess.
Thumbs up/Thumbs down to the selectmen of
Windham. If someone says that Galloway Road
and Gateway Road sound too much alike and in
an emergency situation, you should change the
name. Why are the selectmen complaining? Big
article in the paper. Theyre like spoiled brats and
in an emergency your voices are not always clear.
Stop the confusion, grow up and do whats right
for the safety of everybody.
Thank you for your submissions. All comments, thumbs
up or down, are anonymous and not written by the
Pelham~Windham News staff. Thumbs comments can be
sent via telephone, 880-1516 or emailed to us at thumbs@
areanewsgroup.com. When submitting a Thumbs comment, please specify that you would like it printed in the
Pelham~Windham News. No names are necessary. Please
keep negative comments to the issue. Comments should be
kept to 100 words or less.

Security of Center School

Entrance Investigated
by Barbara OBrien
Originally, it was thought that upgrading
the entrance to Windham Center School
would carry a price tag of about $22,000.
Further study, however, has unearthed the
need for additional security improvements
totaling as much as $65,000. A recent quote
by the architects overseeing the proposed
construction projects at Golden Brook
and Windham Middle schools came in at
$45,910. The vast differences in cost were
alarming to school board members.
After listening to the anticipated costs,
school board member Tom Murray suggested
that the project be given to the building and
grounds sub-committee to vett; in hopes of
finding a more cost-effective solution. Murray
noted that safety requirements involving
the entrance to Center School are currently

being met. School Board Vice-Chairman Rob

Breton said he feels that having the upgrade
done is absolutely necessary. We need to
do this for the safety of the students and the
staff, Breton said. This project should be in
the budget, he added.
Rob St. Laurent, chairman of the building
and grounds committee, said committee
members would be happy to look at the
project. It has to be brought up to code, St.
Laurent said. Sticker shock can be great, he
added. We need to make it less expensive
and still meet our goals. This is a capital
need, not maintenance, St. Laurent noted.
Once building and grounds committee
members have fully studied the project, they
will return to the full school board with the
information.

Small Turnout for Public Hearing on School Bond and Budget

by Barbara OBrien
When the Windham School Board conducted its annual public
hearing on the proposed 2017-2018 school district budget, totaling
nearly $50 million, plus a nearly $39 million construction bond
proposal, only eight residents showed up. There were far more
school district employees gathered on one side of the Windham
High School auditorium than there were residents scattered
throughout the remainder of the nearly empty room. In fact, more
school district officials were seated on the stage than were residents
in the audience.
One resident said she believed people just werent interested in
learning about the proposals; that they had already made up their
minds how they will vote in March. One staff member said he
thinks residents are so pleased with the new administration that
they just trust them to do the right thing and will support what
is proposed. Another resident said he thinks people are just still
overwhelmed by the recent presidential election and are simply
burned out with anything remotely political. School board members
said they hoped residents were watching on cable TV or would catch
it later on view on demand.
Following a brief presentation regarding the proposed building
project (Article 2), which involves Golden Brook and Windham
Middle Schools, school board members voted to recommend the
project by a vote of 5 to 0. The total cost of the 26-month project

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stands at $38,907,102. Eight hundred thousand dollars of that

amount is currently set aside in a capital reserve fund that was
established last year. The tax impact over the life of the bond (20
years) would average $1.10 per thousand dollars assessed property
value.
According to school board member Tom Murray, who has been
extensively involved in formulating the project for the past three
years, the proposal is a full-district solution, one that will update
antiquated facilities and bring the school district into the 21st
Century. The proposal will also correct civil rights and Americans
with Disabilities Act violations, as well as create space for additional
programs of studies. The project will also either eliminate or
minimize the number of teachers who currently have to teach off
rolling carts, rather than have their own classroom space. Safety and
security measures, including fire sprinklers, are also in the plan. Site
improvements include a new athletic field with ADA parking and
emergency vehicle access, as well as expanded playgrounds and
more green space. Portable classrooms would be used during the
phased construction. There was no public input on the proposed
construction project.
Article 3, which also pertains to construction at Golden Brook
School and asks voters to approve up to $547,000 additional
funds to enlarge the proposed gymnasium from 7,000 square feet
to 9,000 square feet, is not being recommended by the majority
of school board members. Voting against recommending a larger
gym were Vice-Chairman Rob Breton and school board members
Ken Eyring and Tom Murray. Voting to support enlarging the
proposed gymnasium were Chairman Daniel Popovici-Muller
and school board member Dennis Senibaldi. Those who support
the concept believe the larger gym should be built at the same
time other construction is underway. Those who dont support a
9,000-square-foot gym feel this is not the right time, due to other
large expenditures.
Article 4, which also relates to the main construction project, asks

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voters to support spending an additional $345,000 for a full-sized

natural grass athletic field at Windham Middle School, complete
with fencing, handicap parking and emergency vehicle access.
Senibaldi said there has been no increase in the towns field capacity
since 2001 or 2002. Article 4 is being recommended by a school
board vote of 4 to 1. The only opposing vote was from PopoviciMuller.
The issuance of a construction bond requires a two-thirds majority
of all votes cast on Election Day (Tuesday, March 14).
Article 5, which is not part of the construction bond, but a standalone warrant article, asks that voters approve the purchase of
approximately four acres of land at 114 Lowell Road; land currently
leased from Tony Massahos for $25,000 per year. This article is
being proposed in case the construction bond for Golden Brook
and Windham Middle School does not pass. If the construction
bond does pass, Article 5 will become null and void. Article 5 is
recommended unanimously by the school board (5 to 0).
Article 11, the operating budget for the 2017-2018 school year,
which begins on July 1, 2017, totals $49,995,312; a 3.42 percent
increase from the current school year. The budget, as proposed,
is being unanimously supported by the school board (5 to 0), as
well as the newly formed finance committee. The default budget,
should the proposed operating budget fail to garner sufficient voter
support, would be set at $49,211,740; $783,572 less than the
proposed budget. According to information provided during the
public hearing, the tax impact of the proposed operating budget, as
presented, would be a $15.80 increase per $1,000 assessed property
valuation. This years operating budget (2016-2017) was approved at
$48,426,503.
There was no public input on the proposed budget. School board
member Ken Eyring said this was the first time in the three years he
has been on the board that he has supported the proposed operating
budget. These resources are intended to support the education of
our students, Vice-Chairman Breton stated. Eyring commended
the detailed information provided to the school board by the new
administration.
The annual school district deliberative session will be held on
Friday, February 10, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Windham High
School auditorium. Only registered Windham voters may participate
in the discussion, unless otherwise recognized by the school district
moderator.

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Pelham - Windham News | January 20, 2017 - 7

Scoops got your

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All other ads can be mailed or delivered to: Pelham~Windham News, One Campbell Avenue, Hudson, NH 03051. Call 603-880-1516 for more information.
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978-995-1444
If you dont see it, ask!

AAA LANDSCAPING: Fall

Cleaning Starting at $195.
Mulch Installation, Patios,
Walkways, Retaining Walls,
Aerating & Overseeding,
Irrigation Blowouts ($50
for up to 10 zones), Fully
Insured, Free Estimates. Call
(603) 759-4591 or visit us at
www. JasonsAAALandscaping.
com 1/6/17

*JACOBS
CONSTRUCTION*
Additions, decks, screened
porches, basements, interior
trim work, etc. Licensed
and insured. Over 25 years
experience. We accept
MC, Visa, Discover. Call
Joe 603-635-9953.www.

EMERALD GREEN
LANDSCAPING FALL
CLEANUPS Complete
Landscape Maintenance,
Fall Fertilizations & Lime.
Brick & Stonework, Lawn
Care & More. Fully insured,
free estimates. www.
emeraldgreenlandscapingnh.
com 603-860-4276 1/6/17
JOES LANDSCAPING
& LAWN SERVICE:
Mowings, Trees/bush/
shrubs - trimming, pruning,
removal. Spring/Fall
cleanups. Full tree service.
Call for a free estimate. 603401-3255. 11/18/16

SERVICES
REFLECTIONS HAIR
CARE: Complete perm,
$50.00; Colors, $45.00; Cut
and style, $18.00. Over 30
years experience. Call for
appointment, 603-893-0377.
1/6/17

HELP WANTED
Our company distributes building supply materials to construction companies
We are looking for a handful of laborers to:
Load and unload vehicle by hand or by use of a dolly
Stack, pad and secure items in position on trucks to prevent
damages during shipment
Delivers and stacks merchandise on customers premises
-Must be able to lift at least 50-100lbs
-Must have reliable transportation
-OSHA certification a plus but not required

jacobsconstructionllc.com. 1/6/17

Monday-Friday - Weekly checks

Attn: Kristen Rodgrigue
From: La
5:30am start time (with 1-20 hours OT)
Email/Fax: krodrigue@pelhamsd.org
Area New
$12-$14/hr (time and a half after 40 hours worked)
Attn: Carla A. Anger, Food Services Director
From: Laurie W
Total Column Inches: 2 col x 2
Paper: Pe
Email/Fax: canger@sau81.org
Area News Grou
Cost: $49.00
PO #
Total Column Inches: 2 col x 3.5
Paper: Hudson~L
Run date(s): 1/20/17
Cost: $ 85.75
PO#__________
Phone: (603) 635-1145
Run date(s):
Please email with
Please email me with your approval of the following ad proof:
Hudson Litchfield News 1/20/17
Pelham Windham News 1/20/17

New Regulation-Size Athletic

Field Proposed for
Middle School
by Barbara OBrien
A lot of debate surrounded what to
do about building a new athletic field at
Windham Middle School, a facility that is
slated for significant construction. Should
voters give the bond issue a thumbs up this
coming March?
The proposed athletic field, to be
included in the construction costs, would be
built atop the leach field behind the school.
While everyone involved in the project
seemed to agree that another athletic field is
needed, there was disagreement as to what
that project should entail.
Initially, $230,000 was included in the
construction budget to build a minimalistic,
non-irrigated practice field. There were
some, however, who wanted to build a
regulation-size game ready playing field,
complete with an irrigation system, at a
cost of $575,000. School board member
Dennis Senibaldi was the most outspoken in
favoring the irrigated field. If youre going
to do it, do it right, Senibaldi said. If you
dont put in the irrigation, youll just have a
dust bowl out there, he said. You might as
well let them practice in the parking lot. I
guarantee that it will be a dirt pile in a year,
Senibaldi added.
Building and Grounds Committee

Chairman Rob St. Laurent said that

committee members did not favor spending
$575,000 for a field at this time, but did feel
the $230,000 field was worth pursuing.
Id rather invest in programs inside the
school building, St. Laurent said of the
higher expenditure for an irrigated field. I
dont feel its critical for the education of
our students. St. Laurent said it would be
possible to add a well or irrigation system at
a later time.
After further discussion, school board
members voted to propose a ful- regulation
grass field, without irrigation, at a cost of
$345,000. The motion, made by Senibaldi,
passed by a vote of 3 to 1. Voting in favor
of the motion were Rob Breton, Tom Murray
and Dennis Senibaldi. The only vote in
opposition was from Chairman Daniel
Popovici-Muller. School board member Ken
Eyring was absent from the meeting.
A public forum on the proposed school
construction project, which includes
Golden Brook and Windham Middle
School, is scheduled to be held on Thursday,
Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. at Golden Brook School.
The Windham School District Deliberative
Session will be Friday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. in
the Windham High School auditorium.

A
Conversation
with Supreme
Court
Justice John
Broderick
Join the Pelham School District for a
night with former NH Supreme Court
Justice John Broderick who will be
speaking to the communities of Pelham,
Windham, Hudson and Salem regarding
the Campaign to Change Direction, a
national movement to change the culture
of mental health in our country. Broderick,
co-chair of the Campaign to Change
Direction NH said, We are thrilled to be
the first state to launch an effort like this.
This is a conversation, we, as a state, must
have. Imagine a future where people can
ask for help for mental disorders as easily
as they seek treatment for a physical illness
or injury. The event will take place on
Monday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. at Pelham High
School auditorium on 85 Marsh Road.

PUBLIC NOTICES
TOWN OF PELHAM

PUBLIC NOTICE

SCHOOL BOARD FILING

Please be advised the that the filing dates for Pelham School
District Officials will be held on January 19,20,23,24,25,26,27,30
and 31 between the hours of 9:00AM and 3:00PM at the SAU
office located at 59A Marsh Road. Pelham, NH. Filing for after
working hours will be held on January 19th and 25th between the
hours of 4:30PM and 6:30PM at the home of Pelham School District Clerk, Kristen Rodrigue, located at 16 Wilshire Lane, Pelham
NH.

JOB POSTING

Hudson School District

Immediate Food Service Opening
Cafeteria Employee/Cashier

Cafeteria employees perform the essential tasks of cashiering, food

preparation, and serving to meet the goals of our food Service program.
Minimum of two years experience in Food Service or a related field
Ability to perform job tasks that may include heavy lifting and kitchen
maintenance.
4 hours per day/5days per week $10.57 per hour

Cafeteria Assistant Manager

Assistant managers perform the essential tasks of cashiering, food

preparation, and serving to meet the goals of our food Service program.
Minimum of two years experience in School Food Service or a related
field
Three (3) years of quantity food preparation and cooking experience,
with the knowledge and understanding of sanitation and safety in a
kitchen.
5.5 hours per day/5days per week $12.09 per hour
For consideration candidates should apply online at www.sau81.org

8 - January 20, 2017

Pelham~WindhamSports
Pelhams Strong Defense Leads Girls Past Campbell

by Craig Smith
In terms of size the Pelham girls basketball team typically has
an advantage over their opponents. When it comes to basketball,
a single inch can be an enormous benefit. It not only translates
to a wider reach that can make scoring easier, but it also makes it
a bit more simple to contest shots and see over opponents heads
to find passing lanes. The dual benefit of having players that are
skillful and tall has given the Pythons multiple lineups that showcase
how dominant the athletes can be on both ends of the court. They
can score points with the best of any team because the young
women can shoot from beyond the arc and get into the paint or on
the off chance that they come up with a miss they have excellent
rebounders who can start the play over again.
Typically teams with a lot of length and size use a slowed-down

Courtesy photos

St. Patrick CYO Red team

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throughout the year, but it is hard to believe that they could be much
better considering they now sit at 7-1 in the standings with no hint at
cooling off.

Pelham Boys Cant Overcome

Poor First-Quarter Shooting

St. Patrick CYO Teams

Fare Well at Nashua Tourney
submitted by
Jennifer Nale
Two St. Patrick
CYO basketball teams
recently competed
in the St. Joseph Tip
Off Classic Christmas
tournament in
Nashua. St. Patrick
Red, coached by
Rich Repici and Jim
Patchen, and the St.
Patrick Blue, coached
by Scott Montminy,
competed in the
third- and fourthgrade junior mite
bracket. All of the
St. Patrick CYO Blue team
boys represented the
St. Patrick Parish from
Pelham very well throughout the tournament. St Patrick Red
won in all rounds and advanced to the championship game,
where they defeated St. Elizabeth Seton 24-9 to win the firstplace trophy. St Patrick Blue also played well and placed third
overall in the tournament.

Emily Bevens completes a pair of free throws.

by Craig Smith
Even at the professional level there are some
nights when a team just cant find its shooting
stroke, and, on Jan. 13, Pelham just happened
to be that type of team. In the first quarter
Pelham scored only 8 points with almost all of
them happening in the first couple of minutes.
Joe Pantaleo would swish a jump hook with
about six minutes to go and then Pelham just
could not generate any offense as hard as
they tried. Coach Larson was understandably
frustrated by the situation and tried to help them
get back on track with a few words of wisdom
and play suggestions. The quarters result was
exacerbated when Campbell came out on a tear,
seemingly scoring without any opposition. The
final score of the quarter would be 8-23.
The deficit lit a fire under the Pythons and
they seemed to go back to their old selves. They
began to look like the team that started the
season on a four-game win streak when they
passed more and were diligent in taking highpercentage shots. The biggest change was in
Drew Brown shoots over his defender.
their competitiveness on the defensive end, and
they were able to keep Campbell
from scoring for several minutes
before the quarter ended; they had
managed to catch up 30-31.
Blake Woekel, Kyle Frank and
Pantaleo would all do some heavy
lifting to ensure that they didnt fall
behind again, and, in the second
half, it looked as if it could go either
way. Pelham refused to give up
any more ground, and Pantaleo was
going absolutely nuts on the boards,
snatching up every rebound and
contorting his body every which way
in order to get the ball away from
his defenders so he could lay it in.
By the end of the third, the score
would be tied at 45-45, and it would
stay tied until the final minutes of
the game where Campbell would
sink a few difficult jumpers to take
a single-point lead in the final
Blake Woekel inbounds the ball.
minute. Pelham would have to foul
and hope for a miss so they could take
the game back into their own hands.
Unfortunately for the Pythons, they wouldnt get the opportunity they hoped for as Campbell made
nearly all of their free throws, and Pelham simply ran out of time, falling 61-55.
Pelham is one of the better teams in the league, despite their loss to Campbell, but it just goes to
show that in basketball anything can happen. These young men are too strong to have their season
derailed by a single poor quarter, so fans can look forward to seeing the group playing at their peak
potential once again when they match up against Souhegan on Jan. 20.

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Staff photos by Craig Smith

Lilly Shlimon sizes up her defender.

Staff photos by Craig Smith

Pelham~WindhamSports
style of play to force mismatches and keep their energy up, but
Pelham has a completely different game plan. They are as run and
gun as a team could possibly be, and, instead of forcing mismatches
for the defense, they use their speed and length to get down the
court before the other team has a chance to hunker down and pass
over the heads of their opponents. Its a tiring style of play, but the
conditioning for these athletes is incredible and the lineup is so deep
that when a player does get tired they can replace her with very little
loss to their play style.
Their matchup against Campbell on Jan. 13 was just one of the
many examples of how this teams style of play gives them an
advantage over most of the other teams in the state. Lilly Shlimon
set the tone for Pelham early. She had quite a few inches on the
young woman defending her, which gave Shlimon a ton of freedom
to be patient and watch over her opponents head to see where the
best moves would be. Then, after allowing her teammates to score,
she took it upon herself to use her length to simply shoot over her
defender before driving to the basket and using her reach to keep the
ball away, all while drawing a foul. These moves are hardly new for
Shlimon, but utilizing them so early sets the pace for the rest of the
game, and suddenly all of the Pythons were ying down the court
in the same style. When the team struggled to convert a few layups
they didnt deviate from the plan, instead they kept trying until their
opponents were too tired to close out on Pelhams shooters. Then
they allowed their shooting to draw defenders away from the paint.
After one quarter Pelham was winning 15-5 and their defense and
hustle had already worn Campbell down.
Nothing would change in the preceding quarters and Pelham
would see a 30-11 lead blossom into a 55-18 lead by the end of the
third. Everyone was sprinting down quart and using their wingspans
to poke the ball loose and force turnovers. Cheyenne Lee and Olivia
Gagnon exhibited a remarkable ability to take the ball away and
finish a play on the fastbreak, and they were anchored as always
by Danielle Sirois and Olivia Crowley who cleaned up any misses
and put them back in. The team would go on to win 69-29 in what
would be their most dominant performance of the year and a solid
indication of where the teams strengths lie. This team has found
its identity and will make it even stronger as they continue to play