Congratulations to Dublin’s Graduates
ConVal Class of 2013
Andrew Bennett is a lifelong resident of Dublin who attended DCS, learned to swim at the Woman’s Club and how to be a team player by playing Dublin baseball.
He played four successful years of basketball and football at ConVal and plans to study accounting at New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord.
Shelby Bourgoine will be attending Keene State College’s nursing program, fulfilling her lifelong ambition to enter the medical field. She earned her LNA license last year and has interned in various departments at MCH. Shelby hopes to become a pediatric nurse.
Brendan Lucas has hopes of joining the military after graduation.
Lauren Mackey played four years varsity field hockey, basketball and softball while making the honor roll and/or high honors. She plays softball during the summer for the New England Diamond Gems and works part-time at the Dublin General Store. Lauren will attend Clark University. She is the daughter of Anne Mackey of Dublin and Scott Mackey of Antrim.
Zachary Mackey played golf, ice hockey and baseball, and will play for the New England Ravens Baseball team this summer. Zach worked at the Dublin General Store as well as for Dublin School Buildings and Grounds. Zach will attend Keene State College to study Business Management. He is the son of Anne Mackey of Dublin and Scott Mackey of Antrim.
Hunter McKay will fly out to Washington state to drive cross-country. He joined the NH Army National Guard in April and will attend Boot Camp in Fort Benning, GA, in July; immediately following he goes to train to be a Signal Support Systems Specialist. Hunter will then attend a NH college or university.
Trenton Mills will be a camp counselor for his third year at Dublin Summer Playground, and will return to the Dublin Women’s Club Beach as the sailing instructor while continuing to work part-time at RiverMead. He will attend Nashua Community College to gain a degree in the Honda/Acura Automotive Technology Program.
Isaiah Claggett Singleton has deferred admission to Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR, in order to spend the coming year volunteer teaching at a public school in the Himalayan region of India.
Kaitlyn Walker is leaving in July for boot camp for the Army National Guard, and will return in November. She starts college in the 2nd semester at NHTI, and plans on playing softball and earning a Nursing Degree.
After graduation, Hope Werden plans to live for a year in Australia, with her sister Pemi, before starting college. Her interests are in jewelry design and aviation.
Other High School Graduates
Sierra Barden, daughter of Jason Barden of Dublin and Johanna Barden of Rindge and granddaughter of Brian and Jean Barden, graduates in June. Her extracurricular activities include soccer, basketball, lacrosse and horseback riding. She plans to enter college in the fall to study nursing.
Jessany Katka graduated from Dublin Christian Academy and will attend Bob Jones University this fall, majoring in speech and minoring in music.
Dublin Public Library
The Dublin Public Library Story Time will offer “Waiting for Summer Fun” on Wednesday mornings June 5, 12, 19, and 26. Learn through books about the difference between lakes and oceans, camping under the stars and how to stay safe while still having fun. Programs begin at 9:30 with refreshments served.
If you are interested in hearing more about the summer reading program, “Dig into Reading,” then pick up one of our handouts at the library after June 1. We will have stories and crafts every Wednesday as well as a few surprises this year. It is not necessary to register as we welcome all children to enjoy our program for one week or all six weeks from July 3 to August 7 every Wednesday at 10 am.
The books displayed (they can circulate) will be about gardening, encouraging your children to go outside and enjoy nature; children’s books on gardening, and other special books to read during the summer. Come and check them out!
New Books
Bunker Hill by N. Philbrick
Bird Watching in New Hampshire by E. Masterson
A Delicate Truth by J. LeClair
Fly Away by K. Hannah
Paris by E. Rutherfurd
DVDs
Hyde Park on the Hudson
Last of the Red Hot Lovers
My Man Godfrey
Any Given Sunday
The Host
Oz the Great and Powerful
Jack Reacher
Lake Host Program at Dublin Lake
By Bill Goodwin
As mentioned last month, we have Olivia Thomas back as a lake host this summer. In addition to Olivia, we will have Genna Weidner as our second lake host. Genna is a ConVal student and has been involved with a variety of school activities. We look forward to having Olivia and Genna working at the boat landing on weekends during much of July and August. They will be wearing their blue NH Lakes jerseys and caps while on duty.
Training for the lake host position will involve attending a training session in Concord on June 5th. The staff of NH Lakes will provide hands-on training regarding identification of invasive plants and how to conduct a voluntary search of boats and trailers for unwanted vegetation. We have been very fortunate to have boaters on our lake who take measures to assure that their boats and trailers are free of vegetation.
Please stop by the boat landing and welcome Olivia and Genna when they start working on Saturday, June 29.
Bill Goodwin is Point Person for the Dublin Lake Host program.
Dublin Summer Playground
begins on June 29th and runs to August 12th
— 9 am to 3 pm weekdays —
Registration forms can be picked up
at the Town Hall and the Library.
Save the Dates
Dublin Day: Saturday, July 20th
Yankee Barn Sale: July 27
(rain date July 28)
More College Graduates
Jason Abram graduated magna cum laude from Keene State College on May 11 with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. While attending Keene State, Jason was a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He is a 2006 graduate of ConVal High School and the son of Sterling and Linda.
Joshua Andrew Clater graduated from Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC, on May 3 with a Bachelor of Science in Business with an emphasis in Finance. He plans to remain in the Greenville, SC, area and work in the field of business finance. He played intramural sports and was on the intercollegiate basketball team of the BJU Bruins. Josh is a 2009 graduate of Dublin Christian Academy and is the eldest son of David and Kathy.
Melanie Lizotte graduated cum laude from Keene State College on May 11 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She currently works at the college in the Counseling Center as the administrative assistant. She was proud to share this event with her husband, Ted; their daughters, Jessica and Amanda; Amanda’s fiancé, Chad; and many family and friends. Her goal is to work with families and their loved ones afflicted by Alzheimer’s.
Ethan McBrien, formerly of Dublin, graduated from the University of Vermont on May 19 magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy. He was named American East All Conference in XC and Track and Field, American East All Academic Team and All IC4A Honors. He graduated from ConVal in 2009 and is the son of Eileene and Dan.
Nora Nelson is graduating from Seattle Pacific University on June 9 with a major in Visual Communication. As part of her undergraduate studies she completed internships at Yankee Publishing and web design in the Communications Department at Seattle Pacific University. Nora will move to Durham, NC, following a trip to Europe this summer. She is the daughter of Dave and Margaret.
On May 17, Ying Simpson graduated from River Valley Community College summa cum laude with an Associates Degree in Business Management. She earned a cumulative GPA of 4.0 and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Ying is employed by the Commonwealth Financial Network at Savings Bank of Walpole. She plans to continue her studies at Southern New Hampshire University this fall.
It is never too late to let the Advocate know
of any graduates in your family.
Send along your info with a photo
to DublinAdvocate@nullgmail.com
Monadnock Rotary Meetings Open to All
By Ruth Clark
The Monadnock Rotary Club meets every Tuesday morning at 7:30 am at the Dublin Community Church. Please join us for breakfast.
Speakers this month include Rebecca Harris, Director of Transport New Hampshire who will be joining us on June 4 to discuss whether or not our current transportation infrastructure helps or hinders the development of a vibrant economy and a healthy population. On June 11 we will be joined by the new superintendant of ConVal, Brendan Minnihan. His talk is titled- “Back to the Basics: Creating good citizens who know “stuff” and have options.” June 18 will feature Robert Harris speaking about his experiences building the Alaskan Pipeline.
Since the Club will be celebrating the passing of the gavel to our new President, Paul Tuller, one evening the week of June 23, the regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday June 25 is canceled.
The Monadnock Rotary Club is based in Dublin and is dedicated to community service. The Club’s primary interests are youth development and health advocacy for people of all ages in the Monadnock region and around the world. The Club is part of Rotary International, a worldwide service organization of more than 1.2 million members.
Ruth Clark handles publicity for the Rotary. For questions or details, please call her at 924-9505.
News from the Dublin Consolidated School
By May Clark
The month of May went so fast, and now it’s almost time for summer vacation! The last day for students is June 14, earlier than usual. The last two weeks are always filled with wonderful events, like the graduation for fifth graders, field day, and our first annual Art Day. Carole Storro, our art teacher, and Jeannie Connolly, ConVal Arts Enrichment Coordinator, are planning a day of art activities for all the students, culminating in an art show to display the day’s projects. It’s Tuesday evening, June 11 from 5-6 pm — all are welcome!
Meanwhile, in May we completed the year’s testing and then enjoyed some special fun. Grades 1, 2, 4, and 5 went to Boston for the day on the 21st. The younger students spent the day at the Boston Aquarium, and the older kids walked part of the Freedom Trail, as the culmination of our revolutionary war study. Third graders completed a wonderful community project, where each student interviewed someone from the community. We found a lot of friends, and the kids had a great time. Our kindergarteners have made huge strides this year, and are getting ready to move up to the world of first grade.
May also brought us two days with artist Mark Ragonese, who has visited DCS twice before. We always love to have him in our building, and the creations from the children under his guidance are something to behold. We are especially grateful to the Dublin Women’s Club, which has given us a donation to help us pay for Mark’s residency.
Coming up is our Spring Social — June 7 from 6:30-7:30 — we love to see everyone!
May Clark is Teaching Principal at DCS. You may contact her at 563-8332 or email mclark@nullconval.edu.
Who Pays for What
By Fiona Tibbetts
Hello fellow Dubliners! One of Dublin’s finest was honored at last month’s School Board meeting. May Clark was selected for the prestigious Chairman’s Award for her long and illustrious service to the district. Joann Hopkins, longtime administrative assistant at Dublin Consolidated School was among the first ConVal employees to be honored with an award a year ago.
You may have read elsewhere that some district residents are upset that the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce has canceled this year’s Independence Day fireworks at the high school. The School Board has approved a plan to maintain and improve the parking lots and baseball field at the high school and this work conflicted with the traditional celebration, leading the Board to turn down this year’s permit application. The issue has raised a more general question about the appropriate uses of school property and who should pay for non-educational uses.
As a member of the Budget & Property subcommittee, I will be asked to weigh in on establishing a fee schedule for use of school facilities by outside groups. The Board has an existing policy that calls for the collection of fees, but it appears that most if not all groups have historically been exempted. Those arguing for continued free access point out that taxpayers pay for the schools so all should have the right to access. On the other side are those who argue that the incremental costs associated with maintaining the buildings and grounds after hours should fall to those users and not the entire tax base.
I’m inclined to side with the latter. If we are going to reverse the trend of ever-increasing costs per student, we need to look at all cost savings and revenue enhancements. Invariably this will lead to subgroups of constituents losing out on some benefit, but we’ll only make progress if we keep our eye on the prize of the best education for the lowest dollar.
Coming back to the fireworks: everyone likes a good fireworks display, but every year the crowds damage the athletic fields. Do you think the Board should go back to allowing the displays next year, even if it means extra costs for the district? I’d be interested to know what you think about the district subsidizing community groups through use of school property.
Fiona Tibbetts, Dublin’s representative to SAU 1, can be reached at 566-2823 or email her at fiona.tibbetts@nullgmail.com.
Dublin Rotary Park Spruced Up By DS Students
Thirteen students and three teachers of the Dublin School participated in a clean-up at Dublin Rotary Park on Earth Day, April 22. The event was a part of Dublin School’s scheduled activities to commemorate Earth Day.
Katri Jackson, chair of Dublin School’s Science Department, and Jerry Branch, Monadnock Rotary member and park developer, coordinated the event. Work on the warm and sunny day centered on clearing and stacking brush from around the edge of the meadow and the trails.
Jack Lewis, Chair of the Dublin Conservation Commission, guided the crew to the various areas needing clearing. Rusty Bastedo, a member of the Conservation Commission, and Ramona Branch worked alongside the students. Supervising the students were Dublin School teachers Jonathon Weis, John Emerson and Rick Connell.
“The students made a significant contribution,” Branch said. “We are looking forward to their continued help in making the park more attractive and accessible. Hopefully the students and Dublin residents will really enjoy the park this summer.”
Property Tax Relief
Available for low and moderate income homeowners.
By Jeannine Dunne
It is time again for New Hampshire’s Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief program set forth under RSA 198:57.
The application filing period for this program is after May 1, 2013 but before June 30, 2013. To be eligible for property tax relief, an applicant must:
a) Own a homestead or an interest in a homestead that is subject to the State Education Property Tax.
b) Have resided in the homestead on April 1, 2012, except such persons as are on active duty as provided for in RSA 198:57, III(b); and
c) Meet the following total household income levels:
1) Households with one single adult member, $20,000 or less;
2) Households with 2 or more adult members, $40,000 or less; or
3) Head of a New Hampshire household, $40,000 or less.
Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief Applications (Form DP-8) are available at the Town Clerk’s office. In addition, applicants can obtain information about the program at (603) 230-5920 prompt 2, then prompt 2 again. Applications forms and additional program information are also available at www.revenue.nh.gov/forms/low_mod_program.htm.
Jeannine Dunne is Town Clerk/Tax Collector and can be reached at 563-8859.
Classic Craft Painting
Painter Edith Tuttle portrayed Dublin machinist John Albano at his 70-year-old high-precision Monarch lathe, as part of Edie’s Classic Crafts of New England series.
The Sharon Arts Center in Peterborough is now showing Edie’s new oil paintings of the water-powered Daloz mill in Hancock, and of the millworkers’ brick boarding house in Harrisville. (John’s portrait — and other paintings in the Crafts series — are for sale at Edie’s Windmill Hill Road studio).
BOS: School Crossing & Phase II Traffic Calming
By Sterling Abram
It is an appropriate time to report on the status of two projects that are scheduled for the Town of Dublin.
First is the building of a new crosswalk and walkway to the elementary school that will provide a State-approved pedestrian access across Route 101 from the sidewalk to the Dublin Consolidated School. A grant was applied for and received for this project, and the Town of Dublin voted to expend the funds. In an attempt to save money on the project, the Town sought to gain approval for having our own highway department do the bulk of the work. Eventually, though, even though State regulations clearly accommodate that approach, the attempt had to be abandoned because of conflicts between the regulations that allow it and the actual implementation of the plan. Work will now be done by a private contractor. Engineering is complete and State approval for the design is expected within a few weeks. This approval will allow for bids to be solicited so that this work can go forward this season while school is in recess.
The second project is the second phase of highway and sidewalk changes in the town center that are planned for pedestrian safety and traffic management. This will extend the improvements of the first phase westward to include the intersection with Old Common Road. Funds for this project were also obtained through a grant and subsequently approved by the Town. The process of approval for engineering study proved to be more complicated than Phase I because of new requirements enacted by the federal government, so this project has taken longer than expected to commence. Currently there is still a slight chance that it will be built in 2013, but it is very likely that construction will have to take place in 2014 instead. The funds are not in jeopardy, and planning and design will continue. Whenever the preliminary design is approved, a meeting will be called for residents to hear a review of the design and offer comments on the plans. We are hopeful that this will take place soon, but since this project has suffered many unanticipated delays we expect to experience more. Please feel free to inquire about any specifics at any time.
Sterling Abram has been a selectman of Dublin since 2006.
Dublin Women’s Club News
By Jill Lawler
Twenty-six members and guests enjoyed a delicious dinner and fellowship at DelRossi’s on April 30 for the club’s annual meeting.
The membership voted new membership fees for 2013: the cost to join the Women’s Club will be $25; anyone wishing beach privileges will pay an additional $100 for a total of $125.
Invitations to join the Club have gone out. If you did not receive an invitation and wish to join, contact Treasurer Nancy Campbell. If you have questions about financial assistance, contact Jill Lawler (924-7675) or any other member of the Beach Committee: Nancy Campbell, Shannon Carpenter, Connie Cerroni, Emily Johnson, or Rebecca Oja.
The Dublin Women’s Club has donated $741 to Dublin Consolidated School to support their enrichment programs. $500 will support the residency of Mark Ragonese, a wonderful artist who has come twice to DCS. He did the wishing flag display (which fell during the last hurricane, but lasted almost three years) and the village sculpture mounted on the school’s lobby walls. The balance of the money will be invested in the school’s garden structures — one new raised bed and soil, as well as some worm farming equipment to help in their continuing work with the Cornucopia project. The money for these projects comes from the interest generated on the James Fund that was bequeathed to the Club in the early 1970s by Mrs. Frederika James to support children’s programs in town and money donated in memory of Glenna Eaves who for years had a relationship with the children at DCS.
The Beach Committee will be ordering plastic reusable water bottles with the beach logo to encourage our members to cut down on waste and not go through so many paper cups. They will be available for purchase at the beach.
A reminder: We need volunteers to set up the beach equipment on Sunday, June 9beginning at 10:30 am; lunch will be provided to volunteers. Bring work gloves, rakes and shovels. We have also scheduled a second day, Saturday, June 15(if needed), beginning at 10:30 am. We will make every attempt to have lifeguard coverage at the lake beginning on June 17; lessons will start June 27. Polly Seymour and Liz Lawler are returning for another season as our lifeguards and Trenton Mills will once again be our sailing instructor. We hope to see you all there.
Jill Lawler is the Chairman of the Women’s Club Beach Committee.
Dublin Baseball’s Field of Dreams
By Rusty Bastedo
Readers of the June 2012 Dublin Advocate were informed that volunteers were coming together to help renovate and restore Dublin Baseball Field, located on Church Street behind Town Hall. Work began in Spring 2012 with contributed efforts by Eric Amundson, Dean Setzler, Brooks Niemela, Jamie Kierstead, Shawn Macy and Rich Scheinblum; it continues in Spring 2013 with Tim Russeau (volunteer tractor work), Tom Knight (volunteer chainsaw work), Frank Colon (overall work), and others. At a recent Board of Selectmen’s meeting, Rich Scheinblum presented information on the current status of the Dublin Baseball Field restoration/renovation project.
His hope is to expand the use of Dublin Baseball Field, possibly following a 1930s architect’s drawing that includes a town playground on the property. During the Great Depression years dollars were hard to come by, and the plans were never acted on; Rich feels that now may be the time to develop the area as a well-equipped town resource.
Land for Dublin Baseball Field was sold to the town of Dublin by a resident of Miami, Florida, for one dollar, on October 1, 1930, but did not give the Town of Dublin all the space needed for the 1930s architect’s drawing to be fully implemented. Mike Worcester recalls that his parents gave the town a little bit of their adjoining land at no cost, and he thinks that the Dublin Baseball Field was a WPA project, possibly 1936-1937, although records are not definitive. The WPA was certainly doing projects like Dublin’s all over the country (and putting eight million unemployed Americans to work in the process).
The current work on the infield began in spring 2012. As of May 2013, 50 tons of “baseball dirt” have been brought in (thanks to a $1500 donation) and another 100 tons of “baseball dirt” are needed for the field, according to Rich Scheinblum. Twenty companies and individuals have expressed support for the project as of early May, and work on rebuilding the infield and pitcher’s mound is set to start in early fall. This year the field will have to be enlarged as well: the Cal Ripken League has expanded 2013 field dimensions for “Majors” games (players aged 11-12), and our “Majors” team is playing its home games at Hancock this year because of the changes mandated by the League.
Dollar estimates for all the work have not been made, and it remains a question whether the 1930s plan for an entire playground is realistic today. Some costs may be defrayed by selling advertising space on outfield walls, as has been done in many other towns, according to Rich Scheinblum. But work on Dublin Baseball Field is under way, and Advocate readers should stay tuned for further updates! Every New Hampshire youth had dreamed of “the crack of the bat at Fenway,” and the dream continues.
Russell Bastedo, who served as New Hampshire’s State Curator from 1997 to 2009, has been on the staff of the Advocate since its inception.
Save the Date — MESA Meeting
The annual picnic and meeting of the Monadnock Eastern Slope Association (MESA) will be held on Sunday, August 18,
with the picnic beginning at 5 pm and the meeting and a speaker to follow.
Additional details will appear in the July issue of the Advocate.
Don’t Forget — Farmer’s Market
Farmer’s Market every Wednesday at Depot Square in Peterborough,
in back of the Toadstool, from 3 pm to 5 pm throughout the summer.
You’ll see many of your Dublin friends there.
The Wrights’ Service to Town
By Margaret Gurney
As Story and Tom Wright graciously welcomed me into their home, their Bernese Mountain dog, Oliver, did the same. With a terrific view of the lake from the west as a backdrop, Tom recounted his early years visiting Dublin from Keene as early as the ‘50s. His first civic duty was on the planning Board, a highlight of which was Dublin’s first real Master Plan, “the first serious one,” as Tom put it. They had help in those days, much as now, from the Southwest Region Planning Commission. “It helped shape the direction of Dublin,” he explained. And ever since then, Tom and Story, who married in the ‘70s and have five children between them, have innumerable years in various forms of service to our fair town.
Tom went on from there to serve on the Zoning Board of Adjustment, which he chaired “for a long time.” He praised other members of the board with whom he worked including but not limited to Will Oja, Bill Barker, Suzan Dennis, Mr. O’Rourke, and others. “We had a good board,” Tom recalled.
Tom also worked on the early Transportation Committee, collaborating again with the Southwest Region Planning Commission, to help determine this region’s needs for transportation, which remain a challenge to this day. He resigned after a 10-year plan was completed.
Story has also given of herself to this community in more ways than one. Many will recall her most recent involvement with the Beech Hill/Dublin Lake Watershed Association, a 501 (c) 3 organization that formed and culminated in the fundraising for the subsequent purchase of the Beech Hill property in 2007, which was transformed into a conservation easement with the Monadnock Conservancy. Currently home to trails and views as far as the eye can see to the south and east, the property once threatened with commercial development is safe for all to enjoy, and the watershed feeding Dublin Lake is protected in perpetuity.
Story organized the planting of flowers in the Oval for the Sesquibicentennial, the 250th celebration of the founding of Dublin, which the town celebrated in 2002. She also served on the Cemetery Committee, a position she recently left and Bruce Fox has filled.
Going back in time, Story was a frequent volunteer at Dublin Consolidated School when her children, Kate and Will, attended and she served as representative to the ConVal School Board for two terms (six years). “We had a wonderful superintendent in those days, Bob Reilly, and his assistant, John Carr. They were a great team,” Story recalled.
Since 2008, Story has been serving on the board of the Monadnock Conservancy, which has had such a positive impact on Dublin and surrounding towns in the Monadnock Region. As for her part, Story simply states, “I did whatever I could that the town needed me for.” She speaks for Tom as well in that regard, and Dublin is the better for their efforts.
Margaret Gurney is editor of the Advocate.
Story Wright —
• Dublin’s ConVal School Board Representative 1980-1986 (she was the Chairman for two years; at the time the SAU included Jaffrey-Rindge, now a separate school district).
• Cemetery Trustee 2011-2013.
• Chairman of the Beech Hill / Dublin Lake Watershed Association since its inception in 2005.
Tom Wright —
• Planning Board member 1972-1977 (Secretary for some of that time).
• Zoning Board of Adjustment member and Chairman 1978-1986; 1991-2000.
• Dublin Lake Preservation Committee 1997-2008 (Chairman 2000-2008).
• Tom is a descendant of Thomas Morse, the first permanent settler in Dublin!
Information courtesy of the Town of Dublin Archives and the Dublin Historical Society Archives.
Children’s Sunday at DCC
The Dublin Community Church will celebrate Children’s Sunday on June 9, at 10 am. The Sunday School children will lead the entire service. The theme will be a liturgical journey through the church year – the Eight R’s: Remember, Review, Rejoice, Reveal, Reflect, Renew, Receive and Respond!
This is the day that the children are celebrated for their participation in church life with the presentation of the traditional Cross and Crown award pins. The town is invited to this most meaningful service and to the All Church Picnic following worship.
News from the Food Pantry
By Meredith White
The Dublin Community Church donated 469 lbs. of food the first quarter of 2013. All good food, nothing expired! Thank you all.
During January, February and March, we fed 2,639 people (from 15 different towns), of which 98 were senior citizens, and gave out 18,765 lbs. of food.
Please drop food off at the Community Church whenever you think of it.
Meredith White is director of the Monadnock Area Food Pantry, which is based at All Saints Church in Peterborough, NH.
Peter’s Ponderings
If something good could possibly result from the marathon bombings, it could be that our own police, so often taken for granted, are getting recognized for their guts and their dedication.
I was especially impressed by the coordination among all the police departments and agencies involved in the extraordinary capture.
Peter Hewitt retired to RiverMead a few years ago along with several other former Dublin residents.
Town of Dublin
Public Notice
Pursuant to N.H. R.S.A 675:7, the Dublin Planning Board will hold a public hearing on proposed changes to the Driveway Regulations on Thursday, June 6th at 7:15 pm in the Town Hall. The changes are intended to simplify and streamline the application and approval process. The wording of the proposed changes is available at Town Hall for review.
By Direction of the Dublin Planning Board,
Neil R. Sandford, Dublin Planning Board Secretary
Jean Barden Joins Advocate Staff
By Jeanne Sterling
What a nice way to spend a rainy, chilly Saturday morning… Chatting up my neighbor and long-time friend, Jean Barden!
I easily remember what brought Jean to Dublin — her marriage to Brian 45 years ago this June 29th. The two met through mutual friends while Jean was a student at Keene State College. After graduation, she returned to Barrington, NH (her hometown), and taught school in Dover, NH.
Once married, the couple settled into their home on Upper Jaffrey Road, next to Friendship Field, and they have lived there ever since. Jean continued her teaching career at the Dublin Consolidated School for five years, transferring to the New Ipswich school district for one year. In 1981, Jean began working for the U.S. Post Office, juggling hours between Dublin and Peterborough, and finally settling in the Jaffrey Post Office in 1992 until her retirement in 2006.
Jean and Brian have two children, Melissa and Jason, both residents of Dublin, and three grandchildren; Sierra (18), Shelby (17) and Alexander (11). Oh yes, and a wonderful kitty, Lyle, who visits us often for ‘treats’.
Throughout the years past and present, Jean has been involved with the Dublin Women’s Club and the Dublin Community Preschool during Jason and Melissa’s attendance there. Jean is currently Chairman of the Steward’s Committee at the Dublin Community Church and is very active in Church affairs.
Jean shares Brian’s interest in antique cars, often attending Cruise Night at Kimball’s Drive-In during the summer months. The couple can be seen enjoying the scenery in either their 1914 Model T touring car or the 1914 Model T Speedster. They belong to a Central N.H. Model T Group, Yankee IngenuiT’s and Autoneers (pre-1916 autos).
We all welcome Jean to the Advocate staff and look forward to her input and fresh ideas for the publication.
Jeanne Sterling is advertising coordinator for the Advocate, and writes for it frequently.
Upcoming Community Conversation to Focus on Monadnock Region’s Future
By Tara Germond
Residents, business owners, municipal officials, parents, youth and others are invited to participate in a community conversation about the future of the Monadnock Region on Thursday, June 6 at the Peterborough Town House from 6 pm to 8 pm.
This conversation is an opportunity for neighbors to speak with neighbors about the challenges and opportunities facing our region now and into the future and to consider the question: ‘How can we make the Monadnock Region the best place to live, learn and work for everyone?’
The thoughts and ideas shared at this conversation will help inform Monadnock Region Future, an initiative facilitated by Southwest Region Planning Commission to develop a regional plan for the future of the 35 communities of Southwest New Hampshire. The regional planning process is an opportunity to identify actions that could be taken to help the region’s communities keep what is valued, increase economic opportunities and plan for the future. It examines the connections within and between communities, and the connections between land use, transportation, economic development, housing, public health, energy, and natural resources.
Monadnock Region Future is committed to the idea that the best public decisions are made when the people who will be affected by these decisions are heard. “The outreach work that’s part of this process is going to be a terrific asset to our communities,” says Elaine Levlocke, a Selectman in Chesterfield. “We want every person to have the option to give input and help identify the issues facing our town, the region and the whole state. Our population is decreasing and young people are moving away. We need to hear from everyone and find ways to make it more possible for young families to stay here if they want to.”
To register for this conversation, please contact Tara Germond of Southwest Region Planning Commission at tgermond@nullswrpc.org or (603) 357-0557. This conversation is free and open to the public.
To learn more about this project visit: www.granitestatefuture.org/regions/southwest-region.
Tara Germond, a granddaughter of Jane Thorne Kauppi’s, has been Senior Planner for the Southwest Region Planning Commission since June of 2009.
Rabbit Ear Films Launches Indiegogo Campaign
Just $15,000 needed to complete documentary on Monadnock.
By Steve Hooper
Rabbit Ear Films, a local non-profit filmmaking company, launched an Indiegogo Fundraising Campaign on May 1 to help complete the documentary on Mount Monadnock, America’s most climbed mountain.
Monadnock-The Mountain That Stands Alone, a feature-length high-definition film, is in the final phase of post-production when taped interviews of first person stories about the mountain are combined with still photographs, video taken on the mountain, narration and music. Research and production are completed. This has been a three-year effort with film completion targeted for the end of 2013.
The Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign, where people contribute to the film project online in whatever amount they choose, will continue through June 14. All contributions will be tax deductible. To make a donation, visit http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/monadnock-the-mountain-that-stands-alone/x/2733517. You can also find this link at www.monadnockfilm.com.
The Rabbit Ear film crew has experience in producing quality documentary films and Monadnock-The Mountain That Stands Alone, will be presented at film festivals, schools and historical societies. The group also will seek presentation on PBS.
Indiegogo, the largest global crowdfunding platform, empowers individuals and organizations — it is the equal-opportunity platform dedicated to democratizing the way people raise funds for any project —creative, entrepreneurial or cause-related. For information about the Indiegogo fundraising campaign and the Mount Monadnock documentary, contact Steve Hooper at (603) 762-3071, or visit monadnockfilm.com and facebook.com/rabbitearfilms.
[For the full story see Advocate issues: August 2012, October 2012 (cover), and February 2013.]
Steve Hooper is Executive Producer of “Monadnock-The Mountain That Stands Alone” and Board Chair of Rabbit Ear Films. He has been staff photographer of the Keene Sentinel since 1988. He was the featured speaker at MESA Annual Meeting last summer.
Monadnock at Home
After holding informational sessions in Peterborough, Harrisville and Fitzwilliam, our membership has doubled since our inception two and a half years ago. We now have 80 household memberships, comprising 117 individuals. Many of those members came in May to enjoy the MaH sponsored viewing of “The Age of Champions” movie. Members laughed and cheered and left with healthy recipes and new easy exercises to work into their daily routine.
Our volunteers have also been busy, lending a helping hand to our members. Our volunteers will help with outdoor spring chores like lawn cleanup or screen door installation, transportation to appointments, computer assistance and so much more. If you are a member, do not hesitate to give us a call. And if you are not a member, these are just a few of the things MaH can help you with; please call us to learn more. Our volunteers are a key part of our team. If you are interested in volunteering for Monadnock at Home we would love to hear from you.
For more information, call Cindy Bowen, Executive Director at 371-0809. You may also visit www.monadnockathome.org and at www.facebook.com/monadnockathome.
The Walden School presents
Phyllis Chen, piano and toy piano
Works by Cage, Crumb, Lucier, Cowell, and Chen, among others
Sunday, June 30
7:30 pm
Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall
Dublin School
FREE and open to the public
Olga Litvintsova Performs in Dublin
By Barbara Summers
People often ask me “Who is Olga, and how did you find her?”
Olga Litvintsova, violinist, came to the United States in ’05 from the Ukraine, having been invited to join the faculty of the Royal Music Academy, in Worcester, MA.
Previously, Olga was a violinist at the Donetsk Philharmonic Orchestra with whom she toured extensively in Russia, Spain, and Italy.
She appeared as a soloist with the Rhapsody Chamber Orchestra, in Donetsk, Ukraine, from ’98 to ’01. She holds a Masters of Music from the Prokofiev Conservatory (Donetsk, Ukraine, ’01), and a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Boston Conservatory in ’09.
Olga currently resides in Boston, with her husband, Andy Bean, and is a faculty member of Newton Music Academy, where she often performs with pianist Sivan Etedgee and cellist Nicholas Dinnerstein.
For the last five seasons, Olga has played with the Plymouth Philharmonic and Cape Cod Symphony Orchestras. The highlights of the last couple of seasons of the orchestra were the collaboration with wonderful musicians such as Jon Nakamatsu (Gold prize winner of the Van Cliburn International Competition), Joshua Bell and Yo Yo Ma.
She often comes for weekends and holidays to Jaffrey Center, to visit her in-laws, Chris and Clare Bean, which is how I met Olga.
Olga will be playing at the Dublin Community Church on June 30th, the first of the summer music series, at the regular 10 am church service. The music planned is from Shubert’s violin and piano works.
Barbara Summers is Director of Music at Dublin Community Church.
Writing Camp for Young People
By Jill Lawler
Liz and Jill Lawler will again offer a writing camp at the Peterborough Historical Society this summer; co-sponsor is the National Writing Project in New Hampshire based at Plymouth State University. The Peterborough camp is one of more than a dozen the NWPNH sponsors throughout the state.
The theme is “Hunting for Local Treasures” and is for students entering grades 3-5 and 6-8. The camp will meet from 9-12 daily from July 22 to July 26. Using the resources and the grounds of the Peterborough Historical Society, we will build on the stories of others’ lives to create our own. We will discover and write about the local treasures in our families and our own communities. We will write from artifacts and our senses, from remnants of the past as well as what we find around us, sharing our stories as we begin to write our own history.
Cost is $125 per student; there is a $10 discount for siblings. Some scholarship assistance is available. For more information, contact Jill Lawler at jilltlawler@nullgmail.com.
Jill Lawler retired in 2010 after teaching high school English at ConVal for 40 years; she now works as a consultant working with teachers on implementing Writing Across the Curriculum. Elizabeth Lawler has taught 3rd grade, kindergarten and 2nd grade at Antrim Elementary School for five years.
Hospice at HCS Grief Support Workshops
By Susan Ashworth
Colleen Krause, a certified ‘From Heartbreak to Happiness’ Grief Coach will present “Widow Wisdom,” a workshop for those who have lost a spouse on Wednesday, June 12 from 5 pm to 7 pm at HCS, 312 Marlboro Street in Keene. The workshop will offer resources and practical advice for survival after the loss of a spouse.
Hospice at HCS is also offering “Beyond Widowhood,” an opportunity for widows and widowers stop by on the third Wednesday of the month during the summer – June 19, July 17 or August 21 – from 5 pm to 6:30 pm to talk and share with others who have lost a spouse. Beyond Widowhood will also be held at HCS, 312 Marlboro Street in Keene.
Bereavement support is available to Dublin residents at no charge, but registration is necessary. Call Lynn Anne Palmer at 352-2253 to for more information and to register.
Susan Ashworth is Director of Community Relations at HCS – Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services, based in Keene and Peterborough.
Harrisville Farmers Market
Enjoy high quality, locally produced goods and foods.
Harrisville will once again host its summer Farmers Market beginning Friday, June 14th. The market will run from 5:30 to 7 pm every Friday through the end of August. Located in front of the picturesque Granite Mill on Main Street, the market will feature fresh local goods and music.
Vendors from Harrisville, Nelson and Hancock will attend and will offer produce, fruits, meats, flowers, prepared foods and crafts.
“The Harrisville Farmers Market is our favorite! It’s a reflection of the town – friendly, community oriented, and offering high quality goods,” said Sarah Heffron of Mayfair Farm.
From the Harrisville Agricultural Commission. For details, contact Deirdre Oliver at 827-3973.
Farm to Table Dining Series
Mayfair Farm in Harrisville will host its first-ever farm to table dining series beginning Sunday, June 16th. The dinners will be outdoors under the stars on their newly reclaimed hilltop pasture. The dinners will begin at 6 pm and occur once a month from June through October.
The dinners will showcase Mayfair Farm products including chicken, pork, beef and lamb raised on fresh pasture and non-GMO grains. Each dinner will feature produce from a different farm in the Monadnock region including Tracie’s Community Farm, Hand Drawn Farm, Walkabout Farm and Farmer John’s Plot.
Make a Difference in a Child’s Life
By Diane Valladares
Volunteers in CASA of NH advocate for abused and neglected children in the NH courts, and more are needed throughout the state. A CASA is appointed by the court to independently monitor and report on children in their own community, and advocate for what is in their best interest, with the goal of a safe, permanent home.
Here is what “Katie,” a 17 year-old in the foster care system, had to say about her CASA volunteer:
“Ever since I was little, I have been involved with the child welfare system…. Five years ago I met Sue, my CASA volunteer. She was the one person who has actually stuck around the entire time. Even when I made mistakes or bad decisions, Sue hung in there with me and kept telling me I could achieve any goal I put my mind to. I could not have done it without my CASA. This summer I moved into my very own apartment, which is right across the street from my little sister’s school! We see each other every day.”
CASA of NH invites all interested individuals to learn more about the program, download the application, or view the statewide training calendar at their website, www.casanh.org.
Diane Valladares is Training & Recruitment Coordinator for CASA in Manchester. She can be reached at 800-626-0622.