Proposed Amendments to Dublin’s Zoning Ordinance
Article 2: Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment #1 as proposed by the Planning Board for the Town of Dublin Zoning Ordinance as follows:
Add the following:
Article XXII, Alternative Energy Ordinance.
This proposed ordinance would encourage alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power. Systems designed to primarily provide power for residential use would be allowed while large scale projects intended to produce power for sale or for business use would be regulated to mitigate adverse impacts on neighboring properties. Yes No
Article 3: Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment #2 as proposed by the Planning Board for the Town of Dublin Zoning Ordinance as follows:
Amend Article XX.C.2 and 3 concerning Subdivision Design and Procedures.
Current regulations make Conservation Subdivision Design the default for minor subdivisions where the parent lot is equal to or greater than four conventional lots of minimum lot size for that District. The amendment would make Conventional Subdivision design the default for minor subdivisions regardless of the size of the parent lot. Yes No
Article 4: Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment #3 as proposed by the Planning Board for the Town of Dublin Zoning Ordinance as follows:
Amend Article II.2 concerning Accessory Living Units.
The ordinance currently regulates the relative sizes of the accessory living unit to the primary living unit, and requires a Special Exception if the accessory unit contains more than 25% of the space of the primary unit. This amendment would remove that limitation. Yes No
[The above amendments were prepared by the Planning Board. Two articles on following pages shed more light on the issues.]
Annual Pre-Town Meeting
Tuesday, March 1: 7 pm
Town Hall, lower level
(snow date: March 2; 7 pm)
Hosted by the Dublin Women’s Club
Town Election (Ballot Voting)
Tuesday, March 8: 8 am to 7 pm
Town Hall, Top Floor
(An accessible entrance and an elevator are located at the back of Town Hall.)
Town Meeting
Saturday, March 12; 9 am
Dublin Consolidated School
(park at Yankee, take shuttle down hill)
Dublin Women’s Club Pre-Town Meeting
Each year this event provides a valuable opportunity for townspeople to become acquainted with the issues before Town Meeting.
The Dublin Women’s Club invites all interested citizens to attend the annual pre-town meeting on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 (snow date is Wednesday, March 2) at 7 pm in the downstairs meeting room of the Town Hall.
Selectmen, Budget Committee representatives and department heads will be available to answer questions on the 2016 budget and warrant. Refreshments will precede a short Women’s Club meeting.
Dublin Public Library
Nothing has stopped families from enjoying a wonderful time at Wednesday morning Story Times the first two months of 2016. There is never a sign of winter blues as children stretch, dance, and make new friends while working on puzzles. New books are always read and a snack and craft follow. March is a busy month as we talk about hedgehogs, dogs and the Iditarod, ducks, spring, and Easter. Then — all aboard — as we end the month with a program on trains. Programs begin at 9:30 am. Please join us for one or all five.
The Easter Bunny will be hiding eggs all through the library. Come on Saturday morning, March 26, promptly at 10 am and gather in the lower level meeting room. Then the children will go upstairs to find them all. We’re looking forward to seeing all the children with their baskets.
March always seems like the longest month of the year as winter still hangs around with occasional promises of spring. So don’t just sit there waiting…come into the library for books to escape into, books to give you the promise of flowers and vegetables to come, books to just help you dream.
Books
On a Night Like This by B. Freethy
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by K. Bivald
Brotherhood in Death by J.R. Robb
The Only Game in Town by M. El-Erian
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by M. Kondo
SPQR History of Ancient Rome by M. Beard
Georgia (novel of Georgia O’Keeffe) by D. Tripp
Find Her by L. Gardner
A Thousand Naked Strangers by K. Hazzard
NYPD Red 4 by J. Patterson
FDPL Notes for March
By Kim Allis
March is going to be busy, what with Spring and all: Town Meeting, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, and the book sale. And with warmer weather and easier driving, you may want to take advantage of the museum passes available at the front desk.
On Wednesday, March 9, at 6:30 pm, Kevin Gardner will explain why New England has so many stone walls, the ways in which they were built, their evolution of style over time, and their significance to our iconic landscape. He will also touch on restoration tips, design, materials, preservation, and more. There will be plenty of time for Q&A and copies of his book will be available for purchase. This event will be held in the lower level of the DPL.
The 31st will be the first day of our book sale, and it continues on the first of April. This should keep everyone happy until beach weather, when we will have another sale for summertime reading.
Francis de Marneffe’s presentation at our Annual Meeting (canceled for snow) is rescheduled for April 23, 10 am. We will have a table at Town Meeting, so stop by and say hello.
Kim Allis is on the board of the Friends of the Dublin Public Library (FDPL).
Meet Your Candidates
Have questions? Looking for answers? Want to meet the candidates running for elected office in Dublin? Stop in the library on Saturday, March 5, at 11 am to chat with the candidates. Coffee and snacks will be served.
Candidates for Town Positions — Vote on March 8
Supervisor of the Checklist – Six Years
(Vote for One)
Judith A. Knapp
(Write In)
Library Trustees – Three Years
(Vote for Two)
Celeste Kidder Snitko
Gail Bartlett
(Write In)
(Write In)
Water Commissioner – Three Years
(Vote for One)
Arthur H. Susmann
(Write In)
Budget Committee – Three Years
(Vote for Two)
Dale G. Gabel
(Write In)
(Write In)
Cemetery Trustee – Three Years
(Vote for One)
Bruce Fox
(Write In)
Trustee of Trust Funds – Three Years
(Vote for One)
Frederick W. Macmillan
(Write In)
ConVal School District Member – Three Years
(Vote for One)
Bernd Foecking
(Write In)
Robert P. Weis
1928 ‑ 2016
Update on Women’s Club Erosion Control Project
By Mary Armstrong and Jill Lawler
Even though it’s winter, the Board of Directors of the Dublin Women’s Club and the Beach Committee are working hard to get ready for next season. The club is nearing the end of a process begun several years ago with efforts to control erosion and enhance the swimming experience at the beach property. Gary Springs, a certified professional in erosion and sediment control, developed plans that have been accepted by the NH Department of Environmental Services.
His plan addresses the two major problems with the beach site: the runoff from Route 101 and the consistent pressure on the beach from winds that come straight across the lake. Several local contractors have met with beach committee members and have given input and submitted bids.
The Board of Directors and the Beach Committee contributed more than 10% of the estimated $20,000 budget and have sent letters requesting donations.
It is our hope that we can complete the project in time for our 2016 season that will begin at the end of June.
Mary Armstrong is on the Dublin Women’s Club Board of Directors; Jill Lawler is the Chairman of the Beach Committee.
Men Who Cook: A Keene Event
Monadnock Family Services announces its 14th annual Men Who Cook event in Keene to benefit mental health treatment for children through MFS on Saturday, March 12, at the Zorn Dining Commons at Keene State College. The doors open at 5:30 pm; appetizers will be served at 6 pm.
Amateur and professional chefs from throughout our community will prepare a variety of dishes representing foods from around the globe.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $7 for children age 10 and under. For more information, contact Mary Delisle, MFS, 64 Main St., Keene, NH 03431; 283-1568 or email mdelisle@nullmfs.org.
PB Chair Explains Subdivision Amendment
By Bruce Simpson
Several people have asked me to explain the proposed change to the subdivision rules (see p. 1). There are two types of subdivisions. The conventional subdivision requires only a certain amount of acreage and a certain length of road frontage, depending on what zoning district the lot is located in. The newer type is a conservation (or open space) subdivision and applies to any subdivision of four or more lots and, currently, to any subdivision of land where the parent tract contains four times the minimum lot size in the district. This is a much more complex process that requires the owner to submit a good deal of information about the land to the Planning Board, who then chooses a portion of the property which can be developed, and a portion which cannot. The portion that must remain undeveloped must equal at least 50% of the usable land (not including wetlands or steep slopes) and must be placed in permanent conservation easement. The remainder of the usable land can then be used for the subdivision, generally in a cluster-type design on smaller lots.
So, under the conservation subdivision rules, we require a property owner to give up more than half of their property in exchange for the right to subdivide. This makes sense when applied to a large subdivision where the developer is going to realize a good profit from selling numerous lots and/or houses. But it is unfair in a case where, for instance, parents wish to divide a large piece of land among their children, and face the prospect of having to give up more than half of their best land in order to do that.
The proposed change would allow property owners to divide their lot (even a large lot) into two or three lots using the conventional design if they meet the frontage and acreage requirements, while subdivisions of four or more lots would still need to use the open space subdivision process.
Bruce Simpson is chair of the Planning Board.
In keeping with the tagline of The Dublin Advocate, “to encourage and strengthen our community,” our newsletter focuses on the dissemination of community information and entertainment. The editor reserves the right to select and edit all editorial and advertising. The views expressed in these issues are not necessarily those of The Dublin Advocate or its staff. –Ed.
Amend the Ordinance?
By Traceymay Kalvaitis
At our last meeting of the Dublin Conservation Commission, we discussed the amendment proposals to the zoning ordinance. One amendment, in particular, is difficult to decipher. Please refer to Article 3, page 1.
Translation: The parent lot is the parcel of land we start with. Depending on where the land is in Dublin, the minimum lot size varies between 1 acre and 8 acres. If three or fewer houses are planned in the subdivision, we call it a minor subdivision. Current regulations state that a Conservation Subdivision Design should be the initial approach. According to the zoning ordinance, “a major goal of the Town’s in enabling this regulation is to protect the maximum amount of open space possible without adversely impacting development. Working with the subdivider, the Planning Board is encouraged to protect more than 50% of the buildable area whenever fair and practicable.” Any land set aside for open space is put into a conservation easement where it can still be used for low-impact recreation and agriculture. This design opens a window of opportunity to intentionally link areas of undeveloped land across larger areas, as our Master Plan suggests. The Planning Board is asking us to change the ordinance so developers of minor subdivisions bypass Conservation Design and use Conventional Design as a default, regardless of the size of the parent lot.
The Planning Board has, and will continue to have, wide latitude to consider whether or not to require the Conservation Design. Major subdivisions (four or more houses) are required to consider the Conservation Design initially and that would not change with this amendment. The Conservation Commission sees the value in retaining the option of Conservation Design for both major and minor subdivisions of large parcels.
The outcome of this vote may not immediately alter our town, but it is a step in a certain direction. The Planning Board is asking us: Do we wish to close a window and streamline a development process that is not required to take into account the bigger picture? It’s our choice; it’s democracy in action.
Traceymay Kalvaitis is a member of the Conservation Commission. Other members are Rusty Bastedo, Miriam Carter, Jerry Branch, Wendy White, Walter Snitko, Katri Jackson, and John Morris.
News from Dublin Consolidated School
Help DCS collect aluminum tabs, box tops for education, and soup labels.
By Nicole Pease
As I thought about this month’s writing, I took the opportunity to reflect upon May Clark’s submission last year and found that the March entry was about my nomination to the Principal position. I am so fortunate to have secured the job and to have had such support!
February brought us some snow, much less than last year, but we were still able to get in the five weeks of “Winter Fun Days” where half our students went skiing/snowboarding at Crotched Mountain, and half stayed at DCS. It was such a joy to see the progress in our students’ skills. Students who stayed at DCS had lots of fun sledding, playing, and of course enjoying some hot cocoa!
We reached the 100th day of school on February 8. To honor this day, the Kindergarten/First Grade class set out to collect 100 cans of food to donate to a local food bank. They had great success and collected more than 100. They partnered with the Fourth and Fifth Graders to sort and count the food collected. It was a wonderful collaborative activity!
We finish out the month with our February break. When students return to school, we will hold our belated Family Lunch, where family members will enjoy a turkey dinner.
Students will also begin practicing for the annual DCS Talent Show to be held on March 24. There will be two performances, one during the day, and another at 6 pm. Please join us.
The DCS students are collecting a few items and we would appreciate your help. We collected 24 pounds of aluminum tabs and delivered them to Shriners Hospital to be used for a variety of things, which is quite a feat! Please know we also are collecting box tops for education and soup labels. Feel free to donate any of these to DCS; every bit helps!
Nicole Pease, M.Ed., is Dublin Consolidated School Principal and the Math Coach for SAU1.
A New Playground at DCS?
By Mary Armstrong
As the town voting draws near, residents will notice a warrant article regarding the Dublin Consolidated School playground. Voters will be asked to raise and appropriate $25,000 to go toward renovating the playground.
These upgrades are a goal the DCS PTO and the Playground Committee have been working towards for the better part of a year. We have raised over $17,000 already through fundraisers and donations, and hope to continue to raise more through these methods.
Current estimates for the renovation of the playground put the total amount in the neighborhood of $52,000. We hope to have the money in time for construction to begin this summer so the people of Dublin can enjoy the new playground facilities by next fall.
The proposed project includes new swings, slides utilizing the natural slope of the hill on the property, and climbing structures. (See rendering in the Advocate, October 2015.)
This project began after people recently observed the wear and tear on playground equipment that has occurred over the years. The current equipment has been in place for two decades. Inspections are done through the school district, which maintains the playground, every six months and the last inspection found 15 deficiencies out of a possible 32.
Though the school district maintains the equipment, Dublin Consolidated School is a town-owned facility and thus it is up to us to replace the equipment, which is degrading through extensive and long-term use.
The people of Dublin get a lot out of the playground. In addition to its use by Dublin Consolidated School students, families frequently bring children during off-hours. The Dublin Summer Playground uses the equipment, and town activities also take place there. The playground is a place where people can go to be active, congregate, and enjoy themselves.
We are asking the people of Dublin at Town Meeting to help us replace the equipment. With your help we can ensure the people of Dublin can use the playground for decades to come.
Mary Armstrong is PTO president at DCS.
Results of Internet Connectivity Study
Half of homes in regional survey double as workplaces.
By Jeanne Dietsch
The Monadnock Region of New Hampshire supports multitudes of home businesses, workers and telecommuters, according to results of the Internet Connectivity Study posted for the public at www.townofpeterborough.com.
The purpose of the Internet Connectivity Study of the Eastern Monadnock Region, 2015, conducted on behalf of the Peterborough Economic Development Authority (PEDA), was to understand the current status of broadband coverage, uses, satisfaction and future needs.
Although the study was funded by a grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation in the Town of Peterborough, it reached out to towns throughout the eastern half of the Monadnock Region. A key aspect of the study was to identify and understand the needs of home businesses and telecommuters. The study found that more than 1 in 4 workers responding work only at home, while 60% work at home sometimes. Overall, about half of respondents’ homes double as workplaces.
As more workers and employers choose home workplaces, broadband needs disperse outside business zones. This means that companies with better residential broadband will attract more businesses and workers than those without. Broadband prices vary from town to town and region to region based on competition since telecommunications companies, naturally, charge what the market will bear.
The alternative, faced by residents in towns such as Hancock, Greenfield, and Dublin, is for homeowners to find themselves increasingly unable to sell their houses as faster and faster Internet speeds, beyond the capability of phone lines, become standard for home workers, and their families, purchasing homes. Increasingly, schools also rely on a network connection at home for homework assignments and to relay information to parents.
Peterborough Economic Development Authority’s Strategic Planning and Broadband Committees will be following up to understand what towns can do to maximize productivity, revenues, and quality of life for this growing majority in New Hampshire. We know gigabit broadband will be a critical component.
Jeanne Dietsch is chair of the Peterborough Economic Development Authority’s Strategic Planning and Broadband Committees.
[The Internet Connectivity Survey was conducted by Accelera Research of Harrisville, NH, in September 2015, commissioned by the Town of Peterborough, NH, Office of Community Development. Accelera conducted research among Internet users in Peterborough and 16 neighboring towns in the eastern Monadnock Region between October 3 and November 8 to explore satisfaction with current levels of regional Internet service and to gauge interest in greatly increased Internet access speeds. [Participation in the survey was announced in the Advocate, November 2015.]
Share Tools, Ideas, Skills or Labor at Makerspace
Brings laser cutter to artisans, artists, designers and small business owners.
MAXT (MonadnockArtXTech.org) makerspace announced an addition to its tool collection: a commercial-quality laser cutter. Members can now use vector or raster files to etch and cut designs on nearly any material, including wood, paper, glass, rubber, leather, fabrics, plastics, aluminum, stone and more. The applications range from furniture to fashion, circuit boards to sculpture, architectural models to commercial signs.
MAXT is a new makerspace located at the elbow of the Monadnock Plaza, 1 Jaffrey Road (Rt. 202 S) in Peterborough. Memberships start at $30 per month.
Funds for the laser cutter were donated by three private individuals interested in spurring economic development in the Monadnock Region.
For more information about MAXT membership or to donate, visit MonadnockArtXTech.org.
Monadnock Area Food Pantry Thanks Town
The Dublin Community Church helped us feed more than 4,100 families, which had 3,143 children, 431 seniors, and 211 are veterans. The church gave Monadnock Area Food Pantry more than 1,500 lbs. of food and just over $700 to help us purchase food. We truly appreciate what you do for the Monadnock Area Food Pantry. — Meredith White, Peterborough, NH
Remembering Bernie Knight
By Janice Lutzen
Bernadette Duval Knight, 95 years young, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2016, at Summerhill in Peterborough, NH. “Bernie,” as she was affectionately known, spent her early childhood in Jaffrey, NH, and moved to Dublin at the age of 16 where she met and married her soulmate, Bob. Together they proudly raised a son, Gordon, and twin daughters, Janet and Janice.
The passion of her life was her family: her husband, children, and fun weekend gatherings with her many siblings.
Bernie was well known for her love of cooking and baking. Whether you were family or a stranger, you would be welcome at her table. Bernie took pride in her custom Irish-knit sweaters. She also was a whiz at her sewing machine and could alter or create any article of clothing. You could always count on Bernie to offer support for any cause she felt was worthy.
Bernie loved all animals — with dogs being her favorite. She looked forward to their evening walks, which included a “hike up the hill.”
Every July, Bernie could be found in the blueberry patch. She loved picking enough to make “all things blueberry” to share with others and freeze until the next year.
Following the wishes of Bernie and her beloved Bob, her husband of 69 years, their co-mingled ashes will be interred at the convenience of their family.
Janice Lutzen is the daughter of Bernadette and Bob Knight.
5th Annual Masquerade Ball
You can help Hundred Nights’ cold weather shelter keep the doors open. Hundred Nights, Inc. is holding the 5th Annual Masquerade Ball on March 19, which features local band Murphy’s Blues.
Put on your dancing shoes and join in the fun. All proceeds benefit the Cold Weather Shelter, the Open Doors Resource Center, and the Be Well Free Medical Clinic of Hundred Nights Inc., which is dedicated to providing a warm and safe space to anyone in need.
The event will be held at the Best Western Sovereign Hotel, 401 Winchester St., Keene. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Masks and costumes are encouraged, and there will be a prize for Best Costume.
Tickets ($50 per person) are available by going to www.hundrednightsinc.org.
For more information, please call Mindy Cambiar at 352-5197.
HCS Offers Walk-in Hours in Peterborough
Lighten your worries as you learn about ways HCS can help.
Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services (HCS) welcomes residents of Dublin to Walk-in Wednesdays on the first Wednesday of every month from 3 to 5 pm at the HCS office in Peterborough (45 Main Street, Suite 316).
Drop by for completely free, off-the-record, no-commitment advice from our staff members who specialize in home care, geriatric care planning, and hospice. They will be on hand to talk with you individually about your specific concerns.
The next Walk-in Wednesdays are scheduled for March 2 and April 6. Those who are not able to stop by may call 532-8353 for further information.
HCS is a Monadnock United Way agency serving southwest New Hampshire communities for more than 30 years.
A Potluck for Laughs
By Lisa Foote
Dublin Historical Society will hold its annual potluck supper at the Dublin Community Church on Friday, March 18.
The program will feature Adam Boyce presenting “Old Country Fiddler: Charles Ross Taggart, Traveling Entertainer,” courtesy of a New Hampshire Humanities, Humanities To Go grant. We will gather at 6 pm to share a meal, followed by the program, which will start around 6:45 pm.
Boyce will regale us with a portrayal of Taggart, a musical humorist from Vermont who traveled the country performing for more than 40 years beginning in 1895. Taggart was a fiddler, piano player, comedian, singer, and ventriloquist who made at least 40 recordings. Boyce will portray Taggart near the end of his career in 1936, sharing recollections of his life, with some fiddling and humorous sketches interspersed in the program.
All are welcome at this free event. The price of admission is simply a dish to share — a main course, side dish, salad or dessert. DHS will provide beverages. Those wishing to attend only the program are welcome to do so.
Come join us for an enjoyable evening of delicious food, great company, and a glimpse of the versatility of an early 20th century entertainer.
Please call 563-8545 with any questions, or if assistance with transportation to the event is needed, please leave a telephone message before noon on Thursday, March 17.
Lisa Foote is the Dublin Historical Society Archivist. She can be reached at 563-8545.
A Volunteer at CMARS
A Dubliner describes being an adaptive ski teacher at Crotched Mountain Accessible Recreation & Sports.
By Margaret Gurney
A decade ago, Milton Brown of Dublin, aka Mick, says he arrived at Crotched Mountain Accessible Recreation & Sports “organically.” His summer commitment behind him for the season, he describes coming into his last ten winters spent teaching adaptive skiing on Crotched Mountain as “perfect timing.”
“Back then, the CMARS program was a fledgling program, and Molly Hajjar needed help getting it off the ground.” Mick is now amazed at the way what was once a brand new program has expanded, both for skiers who bring to the slopes their wide range of varying abilities as well as almost 70 volunteers.
A program at Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center in Greenfield, skiing lessons through the CMARS program are provided on the other side of the mountain at Crotched Mountain Ski and Ride. CMARS can accommodate skiers with a wide range of diagnoses including autism, developmental disabilities, brain injury and spinal cord injury; and the program recently broadened to include seniors, many of whom live locally.
Regardless of ability, “It’s about 50-50 standup or sit-down lessons,” Mick explained, “all depending on the needs of the skier.” To guide the skiers downhill, volunteer skiers tether themselves to different skier’s positions (either with skis clipped together and tethered at the boots or to a seat stationed on skis). One such recent descent was met with the word “awesome,” spoken with enthusiasm by a stroke survivor.
“You can’t put a price tag on these kinds of things,” reflects Mick, “and these kinds of things happen all the time.”
CMARS offers almost 350 lessons in adaptive skiing in a ski season. As inspiring as Mick finds the skiers, he says it is the volunteers who never cease to amaze him. “They are the ones who make it happen all year.”
It is a physically demanding process, and these volunteers are “always learning new ways of dealing with the students, as it’s a very diverse bunch for sure. But it’s the quality of volunteers we have, their strength and their willingness to volunteer for all the right reasons. They put their own stuff aside and pour it into the lesson.”
When Mick sees fresh faces showing up to volunteer each year, he acknowledges a welcome and equal mix of males and females, and recognizes how solid they are. “They’re not all middle-aged folks like me, some are young adults who come to volunteer too. Think about it,” Mick adds, “in this day and age, when you get a teenager to come to what can be a tough setting, they learn to get comfortable quickly. It speaks to their willingness to get involved. It’s impressive. It’s not easy!”
In the end, Mick suspects the others are like him, in that they all “get more than they give. It’s not a cliché,” Mick points out, “we’re the lucky ones to be in on that.”
Mick lives in Dublin with his wife Vicki, who has worked at Dublin Consolidated School for 16 years. Their three children went through DCS and ConVal, and two of them, Abbie and Nate, are just finishing up at Keene State College. Abbie and her older sister, Sarah, who is an Xray technician, are both engaged to be married. When Mick is not working as grounds manager at the Dublin Lake Club Golf Club, he enjoys hunting and flyfishing, and he and Vicki recently had an occasion to travel through Ireland, visiting golf courses and staying at B&Bs along the way.
Margaret Gurney is editor of the Advocate.
CMARS offers adaptive sports and recreational activities all year long at the rehabilitation center in Greenfield and other locations throughout the Monadnock Region. Individuals of all abilities can participate in snowshoeing, kayaking, cycling, hiking, outdoor education, and adaptive target shooting with the support of adaptive equipment and instruction by licensed, certified therapeutic recreation specialists (CTRS/L) and trained volunteers like Mick.
Artist of the Month at the Hub
By Mary Loftis
Gill Truslow will be the featured artist for March at the Dublin Community Center. Gill works in her studio located in Keene, NH, creating pastel paintings that illuminate the subject with a richness of color, texture, and sense of intimate connection to a special moment in time.
Gill is a Signature member of the Pastel Society of NH and has exhibited in national and international juried shows throughout the Northeast. Her work can be found in numerous private collections, as well as on her website: www.gilltruslow.com
There will be an opening reception for the artist on Saturday, March 5, from 4 to 6 pm. Light refreshments will be served.
Mary Loftis is on the board of the Advocate.
Guest Zumba Fitness Instructor at Hub
A guest Zumba Instructor will lead the Monday night Zumba Fitness classes in the DubHub on March 14, 21, and 28. Pam Durkin, a retired dance school owner who lives in Westmoreland, will teach her high-energy Zumba routines from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.
Pam is certified to teach Zumba Fitness, Zumba Gold, and Zumbatomic and says that after decades of teaching children ballet and tap, she is “having the time of her life” working with adults. The cost to attend Zumba with Pam is $5/class. Please bring exact change, either cash or a check made payable to Pam Durkin to each class. (There is no Zumba class on March 7.)
Deb Giaimo will return with her Spring Session (8 classes) on Monday, April 4.
For more information call Deb Giaimo at 563-8648 or Pam Durkin at 499-5382.
Poetry Readings at Del Rossi’s Hosted by Rodger Martin
Arrive at DelRossi’s at 2:30 pm on Sunday, March 6, for a social and sign-up, and you’ll be ready for the Open Reading, which begins at 3 pm. The feature Poet Showcase is An Anthology of New Hampshire Poets (published by Hobblebush, 2015). The poems read by the poets were selected for the Hobblebush Anthology: Poet Showcase by the last three New Hampshire Poet Laureates: Pat Fargnoli, Walter Butts, and Alice Fogel.
Two Sundays later, on March 20, the Open Reading (3 pm) will feature Elizabeth Powell (The Republic of Self, 2001 New Issues Poetry Prize) and Matt Miller (Club Icarus, winner of the 2012 Vassar Miller Poetry Prize). Donations are welcome.
Rodger Martin is the host, a poet in his own right. Call 563-7195 or visit www.delrossis.com.
A Chorus of Appreciation for Barbara Summers
By Mary Loftis
Barbara Summers is an up-tempo woman – full of musical talent, intellectual curiosity and physical energy. In April, when she retires from 30 years as Music Director (organist and choir director) for the Dublin Community Church, her tempo won’t diminish, it will just be directed in new ways.
Barbara began as Music Director in January 1986. She recalls that she showed up for her first Sunday in a snowstorm to discover that worship had been cancelled – so she went next door to the parsonage and had a nice chat with Rev. Jane Sabean, the minister at the time. Since then, she has worked with five other ministers, all of whom were always supportive of her role in Sunday worship services.
Prior to Barbara taking on both the organist and choir director roles, the job had been divided between two people. Barbara has fulfilled both aspects remarkably, applying her prodigious musical talents to the piano and organ, and directing the volunteer choir to produce an inspirational accompaniment to weekly worship services. Her selections, in conjunction with the minister, offer an imaginative program of music that spans genres from classical to contemporary.
“Barbara Summers is the finest church musician I have worked with in my forty years of ministry spanning seven churches,” explains Rev. Mike Scott. “Her sense of timing and of the flow of worship, and her energy and positive spirit all complement and highlight her outstanding musical talent. She will be sorely missed as a colleague (although I hope she will still be present among us as a friend and member of the church family).”
One of Barbara’s hallmark achievements at the church has been establishing a summer guest musician series. This program, made possible through the McIntyre Fund, has allowed the church to showcase musical talent, often featuring young musicians. Barbara says that she expects this program to continue with her successor Thomas Martin, also of Dublin, who will take over the position after his retirement from Keene High School later this spring.
It’s very clear that Barbara will not be bored in her retirement! She’s looking forward to the flexibility to visit family out of state. Between them, she and her partner Bill Goodwin have nine grandchildren, none of them local. She plans to “keep up with” the piano, which she has played since the age of five, and has an upcoming concert scheduled at RiverMead on April 3 in conjunction with the McKay siblings from Francestown.
In addition, Barbara plays bridge weekly, attends three reading groups, takes classes at Keene State College, participates in two writing workshops, and finds the time to play tennis, too!
All of the church members feel a bit sad and wistful at the prospect of losing this woman who has brought so much meaning and beauty to our lives, but it’s clear that Barbara’s retirement will be a rich and active one.
Mary Loftis on the staff of the Advocate.
Barbara Summers will return to the DCC for two Sundays in April: On April 3 she will perform with the McKays and on April 10 she will lead Jazz Sunday at DCC (10 am) with the Scott Mullett band. Come enjoy these special musical Sundays and wish Barbara well in the next phase of her life.
Monadnock Folklore Society Show at the Dublin School
Michael Roberts and Wooden Dinosaur return to the stage on Friday, March 4 at 8 pm at the Fountain Arts Building on the Dublin School campus. Admission is $12/$9 (senior, student or in advance).
Wooden Dinosaur is the songwriting project of Vermont singer, guitarist, and bandleader Michael Roberts. Throughout the project’s 10+-year career, Roberts and his collaborators have explored the back roads of American music from the last century, creating a fearless blend of old time fiddle music, country soul, rock n’ roll, Dixieland jazz, and delta blues.
Wooden Dinosaur’s upcoming release will be its most cohesive and fully realized to date and contain songs inspired by the rural writing of Wendell Berry, John Berger, and Wallace Stegner, as well as early “Americana” albums by Ry Cooder, The Band, and Jackson Browne.
At Dublin School, Roberts, along hometown boy Jeffrey Murphy on bass and Frank Roberts on drums, will preview songs from their upcoming release, in addition to songs from their growing catalog of original works.
Contact Larry Ames at (603) 547-8809, lsames@nullworldpath.net, or www.monadnockfolk.org, for further information.
Monadnock Rotary Speakers in March
By Susan Copley
The Monadnock Rotary Club meets on Tuesday mornings at 7:30 am in the lower level of the Dublin Community Church to enjoy fellowship, breakfast, and to hear engaging, interesting speakers. The club’s mission is community service with a special focus on youth development and health advocacy for people of all ages, locally and internationally.
The Monadnock Rotary Club’s presenters for March will be as follows:
March 1: Roy Schlieben, presenting on Monadnock Art X Tech, a community makerspace dedicated to supporting a vibrant creative and entrepreneurial community in our region.
March 8: Jake Nonweiler, Program Director of the Hannah Grimes Center in Keene, will describe how this Center develops and maintains workshops, seminars, and projects that support entrepreneurs and business owners in the Monadnock Region.
March 15: Ellen Avery, Executive Director, Contoocook Valley Transportation Co., which arranges for vetted volunteer drivers to take people who are without ready access to a ride, to drive people to their doctors’ appointments, pharmacies, or grocery-shopping. CVTC is in the midst of a large expansion of services to the greater Monadnock Region.
March 22: Steve Kim, Financial Advisor at Monadnock Financial, LLC, in Dublin, will present a program on best practices in financial planning.
March 29: Suzanne Brouillette, a Harrisville-based tour guide for Slovenian Bee Tours, will provide an overview of bee-keeping culture in the alpine country of Slovenia, including the design of their historical beehives that depict folklore, biblical, or historical scenes.
If you are interested in learning more about the Monadnock Rotary Club, including its annual Wellness Festival and its Youth Leadership and International Exchange programs for high school students, please contact President Rob Harris at rob@nulljreharris.com.
Sue Copley is a member of the Monadnock Rotary Club.
Exhibits at Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery
Continuing through March 27, the Biennial KSC Art Faculty Exhibition will be held at the Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery, on the campus of Keene State College (229 Main St., Keene, NH: (603) 358-2720), or email thorne@nullkeene.edu.
Continuing through May 15, at the same Gallery, is “Color Studies: Notes on White Space,” works on loan from the Museum of Art at the University of New Hampshire. Visit www.keene.edu/tsag for a listing of special events.
Hancock Woman’s Club Extends Area Scholarship
The Hancock Woman’s Club’s annual scholarship is open to applicants within the ConVal School District, which includes Dublin. Formerly available only to women in Hancock, the Club now provides this opportunity to qualified women throughout the entire community.
The scholarship is provided every year to an adult woman who is in mid-career or plans to begin, change, or return to a career after some years of family or other responsibilities.
The $1,000 scholarship this year will be awarded in May 2016. To qualify, the applicant must be a current resident within the ConVal School District and have lived in that area for at least two years. The applicant must be planning to attend an educational program and will be required to provide confirmation of her acceptance or enrollment. Educational program refers to a recognized college, university, technical or training school, or professional organization. The scholarship is not available for independent study or recreational workshops.
Since its inception in 1991, the Club has awarded scholarships to women who have advanced their skills and positions in nursing, education, child development, and many other fields.
Deadline for filing is March 31. For more information, call Joyce Perry at 525-3304.
The Red-Tailed Hawk
Keep your eyes on the sky.
By Tom Warren
One of the most widespread and observed raptors in North America, the Red-Tailed Hawk, has been seen in the Dublin area throughout winter, especially during the mild conditions we had earlier this winter.
It sits on trees and telephone poles, always facing the sun’s warm rays. It is a large buteo often seen soaring high in the sky. Farmers would shoot this bird, assuming it was eating his chickens, when it was actually the Coopers Hawk or Goshawk doing the hunting.
The Red-Tailed Hawk, with its distinctive reddish-brown tail, has greatly expanded its population due to clearing of forests for agriculture and urban development, and has acclimated so well that there is even a nesting pair at Fenway Park (before the baseball season) and another in downtown Manhattan, where one pair became the subject of a popular book.
Only northern populations are migratory, sometimes heading south for only a few weeks. They migrate here in late October and November, alone or in small groups, generally avoiding water crossings, by shifting several hundred miles to the south.
It hunts mice, rabbits, squirrels, snakes, voles, wood rats, snowshoe hares, carrion and other birds such as starlings, bobwhite and pheasants.
Both the male and female share in the choosing of the nest site and building the nest. Oftentimes they will choose an old nest and make repairs. In Dublin they prefer White Pines in which they construct a large stick nest, which is often used by Great Horned Owls later. The nest tree is often the highest tree in the area.
Normally there are two to three eggs that hatch in 30 to 35 days. The young fledge in about 45 days. Great Horned Owls are the major predator of Red-Tailed Hawks, both the young in the nest and adults.
You can observe these birds from open lookouts on the Old Harrisville Road along Route 101 in Marlborough and at the Dublin Post Office.
Tom Warren is Dublin’s resident ornithologist, and serves as a trustee of both the Harris Center and the Audubon Society.
Transportation for All
CVTC helps meet the transportation needs of residents of the Eastern Monadnock communities through the goodwill of volunteer drivers, who can choose which rides they can take and get reimbursed for that mileage.
And now CVTC (Contoocook Valley Transportation Co.) has stepped up — as it was selected to inherit the American Red Cross driver program. Everything has doubled, even tripled: people needing rides, people giving rides.
More drivers are signing up to take more riders than ever to the doctor, pharmacies, and grocery shopping — it’s a thrill to be able to meet basic human needs, as the essentials of food, health, and safety require transportation to the store, to medical care, and medicine.
Strengthen your community by reducing isolation and increasing inclusiveness, and contribute to the overall wellbeing of the entire region.
Consider becoming a volunteer driver, or — ask for a ride. Contact CVTC, 1-877-428-2882 x 5, or look online at cvtc-nh.org.
Poetry Reading at Brewbakers Café
Rebecca Kaiser Gibson will read from her first full-length poetry collection, Opinel, on Sunday, March 27 at 4 pm at Brewbakers Café, 97 Main St., Keene.
Her poetry begins and ends on the image of the Opinel, a workaday knife from the French alps used by peasants, shepherds, and artists. Gibson uses these poems to untangle her thoughts on family, culture, nature, and the world we inhabit. In many poems in Opinel, Gibson’s speaker acts as a careful observer of people. Rebecca Kaiser Gibson teaches poetry at Tufts University. She has been widely published.
OPINEL: Poems is published by Bauhan Publishing (www.bauhanpublishing.com).
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