August 2016

Summer Playground Is All About Tradition, Family, and Fun

By Eliot Pelletier

People often ask me why I continue to return to the Dublin Summer Playground year after year. I have worked at the Playground since I was in college, well more than a decade ago. It’s not much of an exaggeration to say that I can’t remember a summer without Playground. In the years since I starting working as a teenage counselor, I’ve gotten a degree, become a certified teacher, taught 5^th grade for ten years in Jaffrey, and seen many changes to the Monadnock Region I love so much. However, through it all I’ve found myself returning again and again to the inviting backdrop of the Dublin Consolidated School to spend often-blazing summer days at Playground.

The Dublin Summer Playground is a day camp located at Dublin Consolidated School during the summer months. The program is intended for local children ages 5 to 12. Playground is open weekdays from 9 to 3. In addition to spending most days at the school, campers take weekly field trips to the Dublin Public Library’s summer reading program, an evening trip to a Fisher Cats game, a hike up Mt. Monadnock, and a day visiting Canobie Lake Park. The summer is capped off with a potluck dinner and a closing day cookout.

There are many reasons why the Dublin Playground is special, not only to me but the community as well. One word that springs to mind is tradition. The experiences children have here are very much the same as those of campers 40 years ago. Kids spend summer the way they should, outside, away from the screens and electronic distractions that abound in our lives. They play cooperatively, and sometimes even competitively! At the Playground there’s plenty of opportunities for imaginative play and projects to express creativity as well as the chance to participate in organized games.

Another word inextricably linked to Playground is family. Getting to know the families that make up our community has always been one of the great aspects about working at Playground. Many campers attend with one or more siblings, and it’s always fun to see the interplay of personalities even from a single family.

It’s also a pleasure to see the families of my own peers and former schoolmates attending, and I relish the opportunity to play an important role in the lives of their children. Another highlight is working with our staff, with about ¾ of the counselors being former campers themselves. Seeing children I remember as young campers from past summers grow into responsible workers makes the teacher in me very proud.

The last reason that keeps me coming back is the fun we have every day. Each summer day is set to a soundtrack of infectious laughter. The personalities of the campers and staff can make for a hilarious mix. Kids find the space and comfort level to be themselves, learning experientially as they go. One of the biggest compliments I get usually isn’t even directed at me, it’s when the kids are disappointed to leave Playground at the end of the day. As they beg their parents to stay for a few more minutes, I can’t help but smile.

The magic of the Dublin Playground has captured the interest of yet another generation, and it is that magic that keeps me coming back summer after summer.

Eliot Pelletier has been directing the Playground in Dublin for the last 12 years. He will teach 3^rd grade this school year in Jaffrey.

 

Dublin Public Library

The Summer Reading Program has had children of all ages working together to create balanced structures like catapults, windmills and sailboats. It is not easy to make these things, but with determination and peer support we have watched it happen. The program ends on Wednesday, August 3, with a few activities before ice cream sundaes! The group has been attentive to the new books we purchased as well as Legos, KNex, and blocks.

Beginning at 10 am, programs on August 10, 17, 24, and 31 will be held upstairs with a story, crafts, and games available. If you have a child feeling anxious about school, check out the display and many books we offer to make a smooth transition. Keep reading!

The Summer Reading Program has been fun for all: lots of fun things to do, great books being read by or to the children, and time to visit and play games. Adults have also been enjoying lots of reading.

Now for you readers, I came across a list of favorite reads for the last 75 years (1940 – 2010).

Here are just a few from the list at the library: A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, Fahrenheit 451, Lolita, Night, The Bell Jar, In Cold Blood, Burr, The Things They Carried, Blind Assassin. Stop in the Library and read the entire list for those years.

New Books
The Vinegar Girl by A. Tyler
Dinner with Edward by I. Vincent
If I Forget You by T. C. Greene
Here is to Us by E. Hilderbrand
Foreign Agent by B. Thor
Wilde Lake by L. Lippman
The Day the President was Shot by B. O’Reilly
Boys in the Bunkhouse by D. Barry
A Certain Age by B. Williams

DHS Annual Meeting

A talk on artworks never before seen that were painted by Joseph Lindon Smith.

Dennis O’Connor, Joseph Lindon Smith scholar, will return to Dublin to present “Unearthing Joseph Lindon Smith Works” at the Dublin Historical Society’s annual meeting. The meeting will be held on Saturday, August 20, at 4 pm in the Fountain Arts building at Dublin School and is open to the public.

In the last quarter of the 20th century more than 60 paintings by Dublin artist Joseph Lindon Smith, held as part of the collection of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, were transferred to the Fitchburg Art Museum for storage. Most have remained out of view since.

In the summer of 2015, O’Connor, William McCluskey, and Smith’s granddaughter Linden Hughes Gaspar underwrote a project to bring these stored canvases out of their crates. Along with the pieces already on display in Fitchburg, the entire set was documented in state-of-the-art digital capture for future use and access. The process assembled a striking collection of Smith’s Egyptian studies.

These rarely seen works will be showcased and discussed in O’Connor’s presentation. Please join us for this unique opportunity to view and enjoy some of “Uncle Joe’s” nearly lost works.

 

Some History about the Dublin Women’s Club Beach

By Nancy Campbell

For more than 80 years, Dublin families and guests have been able to enjoy our little spot on the Lake. In 1935 the Dublin Women’s Club first rented 33 feet of lakeshore for $5 a year, plus taxes. Thanks to the efforts of Club President, Belle Gowing, the Club was able to buy this property in 1941 for $150.

In 1958, the Club was fortunate to receive a donation from the Oscar Sewall family. This gift added about 90 feet of lake frontage, the boathouse, and $1,000 to center the boathouse on the two pieces of property.

In an oral history interview, Dorothy Worcester described Oscar Sewall’s feelings about donating the property to the Women’s Club: “He said that in all the years the Women’s Club had the beach next to him – there was a fence – they had never jumped the fence. The water belongs to everyone. But they’d never gone in front of his lot to swim or do anything harmful. And he said he was so pestered to death by people wanting to buy that piece of property. He didn’t in any way need the money. And the proper thing to do was give it to the Women’s Club.”

In 1959 a concrete slab was poured and the boathouse was moved to the center of the two lots. A gathering place for children and adults, so accurately described in a 1958 letter from Belle Gowing to the Sewalls on behalf of the Club, said: “The view from the boat house is beautiful…the older people will like to sit there and watch the children or just rest. Thanks again and the children should bless you both for your thoughtfulness for many many years to come. One of the nicest things that has come to Dublin.”

The Sewall gift was officially recognized with an appreciation and dedication ceremony at the beach in 1966. The occasion was marked with a natural stone with the following inscription:

“In appreciation of the generosity of
Patricia and Oscar Sewall
Who gave this land and building to the
Dublin Women’s Community Club
1958”

In 1986, additional land was added, thanks to Beech Hill Hospital who gave the picnic area and the cove area to the northwest.

Due to all these generous donations, this year more than 100 members, their families and guests have been enjoying the summer at the Women’s Club Beach.

We have been fortunate to have long-term employees, Polly Seymour and Megan Briggs, back to provide swimming lessons to many young Dubliners. Nathan Brown has been our sailing instructor this year and Natasha Kipka and Rowan Wilson have been our weekend lifeguards.

The Beach Annual Fun Day, with the Lake swim, a cookout, games and sand castle building will be held on Friday, August 12. Shortly after that date, the equipment will come out of the water, which will allow Eastern Slopes Construction to start the next phase of our erosion project.

The Board of Directors and Beach Committee thank our employees and others in the community who contributed in any way to making our beach a pleasant place to be on a hot summer day. We also thank all those people and organizations that so generously contributed to our special appeal for the erosion project.

Nancy Campbell is treasurer of the DWC and the Town Archivist at the Archives.

 

School Board Update

By Bernd Foecking

The school year has come to an end and our students and teachers are hopefully off to all fun-filled adventures one should have during a good New England summer. The administration and the board will continue to prepare for the coming year(s), and the continued work on implementation of the Strategic Plan.

Since the Peterborough vote against the withdrawal study, the Selectman’s Advisory Committee has had a couple of very positive, informative, and productive meetings. Cooperation between the selectmen and the school board will be one important pillar of looking at a configuration of our school district that provides excellent education and is fair to the taxpayer. One point in which we hope that the local boards of selectmen will be able to support the needs of our students, and the public in general, is the expansion and improvement of access to high-bandwidth internet. This would not only improve access for students, but would also be another help in attracting businesses to our region.

The Peterborough vote against the withdrawal study means that the Strategic Plan for SAU #1 can move ahead under the leadership of our current administration.

One important part of the strategic plan is to look at the configuration of our district. We have shrinking numbers of enrollment. We want to and must provide students with access to great education and services. We must do this in a way that does not put undue burden on the taxpayers of the towns.

“I am thrilled that Ms. Saunders accepted the
three-year contract the school board offered her.
She will be a strong superintendent
and will continue to move the district
into the right direction.” —BF

The board feels that we need to continue our nine-town district. I personally sense that people feel strongly about the elementary schools in their towns. Configuring resources or grades in different ways might be a way to secure the schools in each town while improving resources for our students in a financially savvy way. I am eager to hear your thoughts and opinions. Please contact me by e-mail at bfoecking@nullconval.edu.

To close my thoughts for this month, I do want to thank teachers, staff, and administrators of our school district, our SAU, the selectmen, and the members of the School Board for their dedication and work. While we are having difficult discussions (and need to have them), my feeling is always that everyone appreciates the balance between quality of education, service to our students, and financial sustainability.

Bernd Foecking is Dublin’s representative to SAU1, the ConVal School District.

 

Results of Dublin’s Master Plan Survey

Come to the public hearing September 17.

By Bruce Simpson

On Thursday, July 21, the Planning Board held a second public meeting to get input for the ten-year Master Plan Update. Discussion focused on the results of the survey that was completed by 190 townspeople (thank you!) and on how the information and opinions contained in those results should be used in formulating a Vision Statement. The Vision Statement, a key part of the Master Plan, should reflect the goals and desires of the community regarding the future of our town and will serve as a foundation for an action plan designed to help the Town reach its goals.

Among the survey results discussed was Question 2, which indicated a majority of respondents felt Dublin had the right amount of employment opportunities, retail, industrial development, residential development, low-income housing, middle-income housing, high-income housing, pedestrian/bicycle safety, protection of natural resources, open-space preservation, farms, recreational activities, youth activities, and farms. A majority felt there was not enough senior housing or internet service. A question about which types of housing we should encourage showed a solid majority in favor of single-family houses. Just under half of the respondents thought mixed use (business and residence on the same lot) and senior housing should be encouraged. In addition to the multiple-choice results, there were hundreds of written comments, many of which contained excellent suggestions.

At this point it seems a daunting task to refine this all into a coherent vision of a future Dublin, one that recognizes that a majority of Dubliners like things as they are, and still allows for inevitable change ­­— but we will try to do that in time to discuss a draft Vision Statement to share with townspeople at our next public meeting on Saturday, September 17 (time and location to be announced). In the meantime, I encourage everyone to review the survey results. They can be viewed online here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-CLWFV36R/.

We will also make print copies available for review at the Town Hall, Library, and Post Office.

Bruce Simpson is chair of the Planning Board. Other members include Dale Gabel (Vice Chair), Bill Goodwin, Suzan Macy, John Morris, Steve Baldwin, Walter Snitko (Selectmen’s Representative), Neil Sandford (Secretary and alternate), and Alternates Gregg Fletcher, Donna Garner, and Todd Bennett.
News from DCS

School starts August 30.

By Nicole Pease

August will be a busy month at DCS! The Dublin Summer Playground finishes up the first week and the following week is filled with preparations for the installation of the new playground. Emily Bennett, a DCS parent, has been spearheading this operation from the beginning and has worked diligently to have the playground installed before the school year starts. If you are willing and able to participate in this undertaking, please email Emily at emilyebennett@nullgmail.com or give her a call at 723-2048. We are planning on having a ribbon cutting ceremony August 21, time to be determined. There will be music, festivities, and of course food, which will include firing up the pizza oven.

Teachers and staff have been busy getting the school building ready for the upcoming school year, as well as planning lessons and other events to inspire our students. We will welcome a new school counselor to our building, Melissa Much (pronounced Mooha). She will be at DCS half of each week, which is a full day and a half more than we have had in the past. We are lucky to have her join our staff.

Students return to school August 30. At this point it looks like we will have a K/1 classroom taught by Susan Ellingwood, a 2nd grade classroom with Emily Brnger, 3rd grade will be with Deberah Lang, and 4/5 with Deborah Quinn (formerly Bennett). As always, the class configurations are up in the air as new families come to our lovely town and register their children.

We all hope our families and students savor the month of August; we sure will! We’re looking forward to seeing you soon.

Nicole Pease, M.Ed., is the Dublin Consolidated School Principal and Math Coach. She can be reached at 563-8332.

 

New Playground for DCS

Community Build event is August 13.

By Emily Bennett

Thanks to financial support from many organizations, individuals, and grants, as well as the Warrant Article passed at Town Meeting, the new playground at the Dublin Consolidated School is scheduled to be built this month.

The photo shows the winning design, subject to slight changes. Please join us for our town “community build” event on Saturday, August 13. Mark your calendar and email me at emilyebennett@nullgmail.com to let me know that you are interested. Thank you!

We are looking for about 35 people to help put together equipment using hand tools, as well as possible other jobs like planting, preparing food and drinks, etc.

We hope you will help out in any way you can on this exciting day. Look for more details posted around town and the specific jobs we will need help with, tools we hope to borrow, etc.

Emily Bennett has spearheaded the effort to build the new playground at DCS.

 

Beauty Abounds in Dublin Florals

By Sara Timmons

We all drive through Dublin and note how attractive it is. Most of us give little thought to how this happens.

Note that the Dublin General Store is very nicely landscaped with attractive troughs near the entry. Next door, the post office is very thoughtfully taken care of by members of the Garden Club, who work there at least four times a year.

As you go up the hill approaching the Town Hall, the Dublin Community Church entry should catch your eye with its pretty yellow and green flowers and foliage, next door is the Dublin Community Center where the theme is continuing. A thank you to two women who do this work.

Across the way the Town Hall displays its beautiful planted urns, and colorful hayracks, which are designed and watered by the Garden Club and volunteers from the community. Behind the library there is a tree planted in memory of Story Wright, whose many contributions to the town will be remembered. Under the lilacs by the lower library entrance, 500 beautiful blue flowering bulbs (chinodoxa) have been added by a generous couple.

At the library next door potted plants, troughs, and a variety of plantings make the library’s entrance an attractive welcome. A trustee who is obviously a good gardener takes responsibility for this display.

Last but not least are the gardens at Yankee Publishing. The trough at the blackboard, which has been there as long as people can remember, and the window boxes, are always a pleasure. There is a garden in the area between the parking areas. This was started when a blue spruce was planted to relieve the fire department of the yearly putting up and taking down of the town Christmas tree. There are lovely perennial gardens around the blue spruce and in the front and on the side of the Yankee building. The front one was part of the “traffic calming project” of 10 years ago. These are cared for by a talented professional.

The garden in the back of Yankee Publishing was originally kept by the Allisons. They were a very special couple in Dublin. Naturalists and birders (and musicians and teachers), they published lists of birds and wildflowers they observed over 30 years of work.

In addition to the areas mentioned are the many homes and businesses that are conscientiously cared for and appreciated by all who pass through the town. How lucky we are to have generous and talented friends and neighbors who make our “downtown” so special.

Sara Timmons is a member of the Garden Club of Dublin.

 

 

Dublin School’s Nordic Trails Sanctioned by FIS

Skiers’ trails will be ready for the 2016-17 winter season.

By Brad Bates

The International Ski Federation (FIS) voted recently to sanction Dublin School’s Nordic Center. Dublin School’s state-of-the-art racecourse is the first high school course in the world to receive this certificate of homologation, a process that establishes an international standard for race courses to provide guidelines for course design and construction. Dublin School went through a rigorous inspection and application process to secure their homologation.

The homologated five-kilometer course, designed by John Morton of Morton Trails, had to meet specific guidelines for course width, hill variety, length of climbs, safety of downhills, and size of the start and finish stadium.

Dublin’s course was intentionally designed to take advantage of Dublin’s high elevation (the course tops out at 1800 feet above sea level) and north-facing aspect. The course is in high demand due to its proximity to Boston and surrounding communities.

FIS homologation prequalifies Dublin to host national and international events where athletes hope to earn FIS points and qualify for the US National Team. For us, however, we are just happy to have such a fun and technical venue for our skiers to learn and enjoy the sport of skiing. None of this would have happened without the vision and support of Michael Lehmann, the son of our school’s founders, Paul and Nancy Lehmann. I also appreciate the efforts of our Buildings and Grounds Team and the support of trustee George Foote, who were all involved in constructing these trails. Our skiers already cannot wait for the 2016-17 season!

Brad Bates is Head of School at Dublin School.

 

Then and Now

ConCom invites participation.

By Traceymay Kalvaitis

Gather together all that has ever been written about peoples’ connection to where we live and we could probably build a paper bridge from here to Peterborough. In the present era, we can truly choose to live anywhere in the world, so why do we choose to live here in Dublin? And why did all those thousands upon thousands that came before us?

The Abenaki Indians were drawn to this area, in part, because of “Menadenek” (the mountain that stands alone) and the diversity of food it provided. European settlers came and first settled near the confluence of Stanley and Brush Brooks, one mile north of where 137 crosses 101, where clean water was plentiful and the ridgeline to the west protected their village. So here we are, with all of our liberties, in a town and within a country that allows us an impressive degree of participation in how we govern ourselves and use our land.

Betsey Harris, a long-time member of the Dublin Conservation Commission, remembers when the state released 21 million dollars for the acquisition of important natural resources in need of protection. The arduous process of purchasing eleven parcels of land encompassing Mud Pond and the aquifer that sits beneath it “took four consecutive town meetings” and countless hours. Imagine the long-range vision and persistence required for such a task! Credit is due to the individuals who, then and now, volunteer in various positions, setting aside their time, energy and wisdom in service to the town of Dublin. Service, from the Latin servare, is the root of the word “conservation,” which means “to keep in a safe or sound state.”

Do you know of an area in our town that could be a critical resource for generations of Dubliners yet to come? If so, please contact a member of the Conservation Commission (ConCom, we call it).

We are also welcoming new members to the Commission. “It’s a wonderful way to start out serving the town,” says Betsey Harris; “members are appointed, rather than elected, so even someone new to town can serve.” ConCom has a range of ongoing projects that include monitoring, planting, restoration, and eradication. The land and waters of our town sustain us all in vital ways. Those who have come before us have done their best to make wise choices; now it is up to us.

Traceymay Kalvaitis is a member of the Dublin Conservation Commission.

 

AUGUST AT THE HUB

NH Humanities Grants Community Project

Thanks to a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities Council, the Dublin Community Center will partner with the Dublin Historical Society to explore the topic “Discovering Dublin” in many ways. Dublin residents and those from surrounding communities have heard a brief history of Dublin by a local expert; and will be brought through the town on a walking tour to explore historical buildings and recreate the way of life for early settlers. They will be shown a film featuring the early artist colony in Dublin and will be able to ask questions about the artists involved.

Dublin’s Historical Society and the Community Center have partnered to host the following programs:

Lisa Foote, a social historian currently archivist at the Dublin Historical Society, presented in July on the history of Dublin, focusing on the earliest residents.

The second activity will be held at the Dublin Historical Society Museum August 4 from 10 to 11 am, to be run by members of the Dublin Historical Society. Our goal is to include all age groups in learning about Dublin’s past through visual and kinesthetic means. It will involve discussion about early residents and artifacts and offer hands-on activities for children within the museum. An object-based treasure hunt for all ages will be included.

And on August 25 at 7 pm, Paul Tuller, Dublin woodworker of Japanese-inspired work and co-founder of the Friends of the Dublin Art Colony (Monadnock Art) will show a video in which he explains the first Art Colony that settled in Dublin. A facilitated discussion will follow.

On September 10 at 2 pm, a walking tour of Dublin will begin and end at the Dublin Community Center (rain date September 17). A brochure, supplied by the Dublin Historical Society, will supply information on the sights and places the touring public will see along the way. The tour will feature the Levi Leonard House, Dublin Public Library, Yankee House, Wait-Mason House, and the Joshua Greenwood/John Piper House. Donations will be matched by the NH Humanities Council.

 

Anne Ritchie — Artist of the Month

Photographer Anne Weathers Ritchie, a native of Peterborough who currently resides in Maine, will be the featured artist for the month of August at the Dublin Community Center.

Anne is a graduate of Middlebury College and the Sorbonne in Paris and has worked as an educational consultant throughout New England.

Her artist’s statement says that her “passion for photography is with her always, shooting the everyday and the extraordinary, wherever she goes.” Her love for the water and the earth, coupled with the life that comes from them, is apparent in the images she frames in her photographic work.

In addition to the Dublin show, Anne’s work is currently on exhibit in Maine and has been featured in “Zest Maine” magazine and “Echoes,” the magazine of the White Mountain School.

There will be a reception for the artist on Saturday, August 6, from 5 to 7 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

 

Farmer John to Speak about Local Organic Food

By Bridget McFall

This time of the year, as fresh fruits and vegetables become more available, many of us eat more healthily. With various local farms right here in the Monadnock Region and farm stands across New England, it becomes easy to pick up fresh organic corn, tomatoes, blueberries and many other delights. Farmer John’s Plot, right here in Dublin, NH, is a perfect example. They promote sustainability and land stewardship and have wonderful fresh organic produce. Join us August 26 from 6 to 7 pm to hear Farmer John Sandri share their philosophy, what makes them unique, and why to buy local.

Bridget McFall is the director of the Dublin Community Center.

 

Line Dancing/Zumba Dance Parties Benefit the Food Pantry

On August 16 from 5:30 to 7 pm there will a second 90-minute Dance Party held in the DubHub to raise money and collect food for the Peterborough Food Pantry. Instructor Deb Giaimo will teach beginner line dancing from 5:30 to 6 pm followed by Zumba Fitness from 6 to 7 pm.

The requested donation at the door is $5, and non-perishable food items (please check expiration dates) are gratefully accepted.

To date, participants in Deb’s Dance Parties have raised more than $2,500 and given hundreds of pounds of food to the pantry. Deb hopes that these two summer DubHub benefits will result in a sizeable increase in those figures. Please know that the need for food assistance actually increases during the summer.

Come join Deb for part or all of each Dance Party. No experience is necessary, it’s fun exercise, and best of all, it’s for a great cause! If you are unable to attend but would like to make a contribution/donation to the PFP or if you have any questions, please call Deb at 563-8648.

 

MESA to Hold Annual Gathering

Ryan Owens will speak about local conservation efforts.

By Ed Germain

The Monadnock Eastern Slope Association (MESA) will meet at the Dublin Community Center on Sunday, August 21, at 5 pm, for its annual meeting and potluck. All are welcome. MESA provides a main course and drinks. To let us know what food you will bring (appetizer, salad, vegetables, casserole, or dessert), please email edgermain@nullearthlink.net or phone Ed or Sara Germain at 563-8007. We invite you to make a voluntary $5 contribution to cover MESA’s costs.

This gathering celebrates MESA’s 30 years as a Dublin-based organization! After supper, we will discuss and vote on MESA’s future, and invite all to join us for this conversation.

Then we will be privileged to hear Ryan Owens, Executive Director of the Monadnock Conservancy, speak on “Conservation and Community Relevance in the Monadnock Region.”

We hope you will join us for good food, good fellowship, insight into a world changing around us, and an important decision.

Ed Germain is president of MESA.

 

2nd Annual Community Chicken Barbecue
Saturday, September 3, 5-7 pm
Chicken, corn, coleslaw, beans, cornbread, beverage and sweets
Adults $10; Kids $6          
Please call to reserve 563-8467 or 563-8471
Live music for your enjoyment!
Dublin Community Center, 1123 Main St., Dublin

 

NH Daily Fire Watch: www.nhdfl.org/fire-control-and-law-enforcement/daily-fire-danger.aspx

 

Margaret Blackburn Retires from Teaching

After 25 years teaching in the ConVal School District, Margaret Blackburn of Granite Circle, retired from teaching in June. She spent most of her life working with young children, starting in junior high in Norwalk, CT. As a member of the YMCA Girl’s Leaders Club she taught swimming and gymnastics. Margaret attended Springfield College and while working on a Physical Education degree she spent summers as a recreation director at her neighborhood playground. Upon graduation she taught K-8 Physical Education in East Hartford, CT, for five years.

Margaret raised her two children in Dublin and has wonderful memories of the Women’s Club Beach and the Playground Program. She enjoyed teaching sailing at the beach for several summers. When Bryan and Karianne were at Dublin Consolidated School she was a room mother and worked in the students’ publishing house. She knew then that she wanted to become certified to teach Elementary Education and enrolled at Keene State. Margaret was a paraprofessional at Dublin Consolidated School for four years and then moved to teaching second grade at Peterborough Elementary, where she taught for the last 21 years.

Her teaching was recognized by the Harris Center for Conservation Education, the National Science Foundation, and she received the School Board Chairman’s Award. Margaret feels very fortunate to have worked with so many wonderful children, parents, teachers, administrators, and support staff throughout the last 25 years. She looks forward to the flexibility that retirement will afford.

Enjoying children will not end in retirement as she and her husband Greg have five children and 13 beautiful grandchildren with one more on the way. She feels truly blessed to have had a wonderful teaching career and to have such an amazing family.

 

Nonprofits at Work in Our Town: Second in a series.

Since 1989, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire has strived to protect the right of our state’s most vulnerable children to live, learn, and grow in the embrace of a loving family.

Our purpose is to provide well-trained and caring volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children who come to the attention of NH’s court through no fault of their own.

In 2015, CASA of NH provided more than 1,000 victimized children across the state with compassionate advocates to speak on their behalf in court. National research reports that children with a CASA volunteer are half as likely to languish in foster care and are much more likely to find safe, permanent homes than children who do not have a CASA volunteer. They are also more likely to get needed services, do better in school and develop positive attitudes about themselves. At CASA of NH, our goal is to serve 100% of New Hampshire’s victimized children so that they may have a brighter future.

Our volunteers live and work in every county in New Hampshire and the continued support of the Town of Dublin for the past seven years has been vital to our effort to reach every child.

Contact our Recruitment Director, Diane Valladares, at (603) 626-4600 or email speakup@nullcasanh.org.

 

Honor Our Veterans

Serve those who served.

Monadnock RSVP Volunteer Center will carry out a National Day of Service and Remembrance on Thursday, September 8, to provide support to individuals who served in the military and immediate family members (including widows/widowers) throughout the Monadnock Region.

RSVP is also soliciting project requests from individuals who served in the military and immediate family members. Volunteer labor is free of charge, but required materials are the responsibility of the homeowner. Projects should be able to be completed in four hours with a team of two to six volunteers.

For more information about volunteering or to request help with a project, please call Monadnock RSVP at 357-6893 or 924-7350 for the Greater Peterborough area. Monadnock RSVP is a program of Monadnock Family Services, a Monadnock United Way agency.

 

THE ARTS IN THE REGION

July has come and gone, yet there is still plenty of the region’s offerings: music and the arts, theater and dance, lectures and forums.

Art Show in August

Artist Maryann Mullett of Dublin will be exhibiting at Sunflowers Cafe (21 Main Street, Jaffrey) from August 3 through September 6. Maryann paints flora, nature, birds, furry animals, and luscious fruits and vegetables in the pastel medium, in a realism style.

All are invited to attend the artist’s reception on Sunday, August 7, from 3:30-5 pm. Come for refreshments, music, and a short demonstration on painting with pastel. For more visuals, visit www.maryannmullettart.weebly.com.

 

Monadnock Folklore Society: Duo in Nelson

Join us Thursday evening, August 4, at 7:30 pm at the Nelson Town Hall for an evening of dazzling instrumentals, world music, jazz, sacred poetry and soulful original songs. Admission is $15/$12 (senior, student, or in advance).

‘Ilumina’ is a duo of lifelong musicians who perform an uplifting blend of music featuring guitar, ukulele, Native American flute and didjeridoo and upright bass and mandolin. The duo (Stuart Fuchs and Sarah Carlisle (Siri Kirtan Kaur)) tours internationally to music festivals with the renowned sacred chant artist, Snatam Kaur.

For further details, contact Larry Ames at the Monadnock Folklore Society, concertinfo@nullmonadnockfolk.org, www.monadnockfolk.org.

 

A Retrospective: Georgia Fletcher

An Intimate Retrospective of artwork by Georgia Fletcher is being held at The Putnam Gallery on the campus of Dublin School from August 5 through the 27th. An opening will be held August 5 from 5 to 8 pm.

“Woods, Water & Wildlife” in Hancock

An exhibit on local hunting, fishing and trapping opens next week at the Hancock Historical Society (7 Main St., Hancock). “Woods, Water & Wildlife” highlights the history of these pursuits using art, objects, photographs and stories shared by Hancock’s outdoor enthusiasts and from the New Hampshire Fish & Game collection. Open Saturdays, now through October 8, from 2 to 4 pm. Sponsored by the Monadnock Conservancy.

 

August at the Players

By Fred Leventhal

After two contemporary plays in July, the Peterborough Players begins August with a revival of George Bernard Shaw’s celebrated comedy, Pygmalion, previously presented at the Players in 1954 and 1990. The beloved play about the English phonetics professor who bets he can train a Cockney flower girl to pass for a duchess at an ambassador’s garden party became a successful movie with Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller and was, most memorably, transformed into the hit musical, My Fair Lady. Pygmalion will be performed August 3 to 14.

The Ladies Man, a new farce by former Artistic Director Chuck Morey, will open on August 17 and will run until August 28. Adapted from Georges Feydeau’s Tailleur pour Dames, this rollicking comedy, filled with mistaken identities and outrageous coincidences, is set in Belle Epoque Paris. Morey is also author of The Granite State and Laughing Stock, staged at the Players in 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The Second Company (for the children) will perform Sherlock!, an adaptation of the classic Sherlock Holmes mystery by Artistic Director Gus Kaikkonen, for five performances only on August 20 at 2 pm; 22 at 7 pm; 23 at 2 pm; and 27 at 10:30 am and 2 pm.

Fred Leventhal, a Dublin resident, has been a Trustee of the Peterborough Players since 2006.

 

Walden’s Festival Week

Experience an award-winning music camp.

The Walden School is honored to contribute to the lively arts scene in the Monadnock Region for our 34th summer. Join us for the free events of Festival Week. All events begin at 7:30 pm in the Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall at Dublin School (18 Lehmann Way). However, the event held August 5 will be in Peterborough.

Friday, July 29: Concert featuring The Walden School Players, our ‘house band’ of professional musicians.

Sunday, July 31: Lecture/Demonstration by Composer-in-Residence, Paula Matthusen.

Three Composers Forums – Performances of works written by Young Musicians Program participants, with audience discussion moderated by program faculty will be held Monday, August 1; Tuesday, August 2; and Wednesday, August 3.

Friday, August 5: The Walden School Choral Concert will take place at All Saints’ Church (51 Concord St., Peterborough). Enjoy traditional and contemporary music from around the world, along with improvisatory new music. You won’t want to miss this culminating event.

For further details, please visit waldenschool.org.

 

Cathedral of the Pines: Summer Entertainment

Please invite your friends and neighbors.

By Ramona Branch

The Cathedral of the Pines continues its “Summer at the Pines,” with a few more magical evenings at the Cathedral in August, culminating in early September.

This is a new effort to share the treasure of the Cathedral with a wider audience. Families are encouraged to bring their picnics, explore new hiking trails, and stroll through the gardens before the performances.

Summer offerings on Thursday evenings begin at 7 pm and end at 8:25 pm.

August 18: Wendy Keith and Her Alleged Band

September 1: Jeff Warner (balladeer via the NH Humanities Council)

NH Humanities Council sponsored performers are by donation. Musical programs are $5 for adults with children under 12 admitted free.

Tickets are available at the door. In case of rain, the program will be held inside at the Hilltop House.

Ramona Branch is the Coordinator of Summer at the Pines and serves on the staff of the Advocate.

 

Amos Fortune Forum in Its 70th Year

One of the nation’s oldest speakers’ forums, the Amos Fortune Forum celebrates its 70th season this year. Some of the most interesting and talented experts from the region, New England, and the globe have entered the Jaffrey Meetinghouse on a Friday summer evening and enthralled audiences on a myriad of topics.

The lineup of speakers for the August of 2016 continues the tradition of representing a diverse group of backgrounds and topics.

August 5: Clay Mitchell, Lecturer/Teacher, University of New Hampshire will speak on “Renewable Energy.”

August 12: Jamie Hamilton, Rector, All Saints’ Parish, Peterborough: “Iqra: Reading the Qur’an.”

August 19: Dan Hurlin, teacher of performance art, dance and puppetry, Sarah Lawrence College, Obie Award winner: “Futurism, puppets and me. A personal look at the Italian Futurists.”

The Amos Fortune Forum is presented at the Old Meetinghouse in historic Jaffrey Center, NH, approximately 2.5 miles west of downtown Jaffrey.

Speakers are presented at 8 pm sharp each Friday during the summer. The Forum maintains a free admission policy.

After each forum, a brief reception is held at The First Church in Jaffrey, directly across from the Old Meetinghouse. Information for the Forum can be found at www.amosfortune.com, or call (641) 715-3900 x 742251, or mail Amos Fortune Forum, PO Box 153, Jaffrey, NH 03452.

 

Monadnock Summer Lyceum

Monadnock Summer Lyceum presents between eight and ten cultural events in the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church on Sundays at 11 am, during the summer months.

Come hear world-class speakers on social, political, educational, cultural, scientific, economic, environmental and artistic topics:

August 7 – Dean Cycon: “From Beans to Green: How Business Can Work to Help the Planet.”

August 21 – Sy Montgomery: “The Soul of An Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness.”

Presentations are free and donations are accepted. Wheelchair accessible. Parking is available next to the church courtesy of People’s United Bank. Reception following the presentations in the Parish Hall. Childcare is provided. Presentations are rebroadcast by NHPR on the following Sunday at 10 pm.

For details, visit Monadnock Summer Lyceum at www.monadnocklyceum.org.

 

Monadnock Music’s Townhouse & Village Concerts

The Festival Programs for the remainder of 13 townhouse concerts, at the Peterborough Townhouse ($30):

July 31: An exploration of New England Psalm singing tradition and a world premier based on Native American music, 3 pm.

August 13: Beethoven Symphonies No. 4 and No. 7, 7:30 pm.

Village Concerts: Admission by donation – open to the public.

August 4: Sullivan Village Concert, 7:30 pm.

August 6: Harrisville Village Concert, 7:30 pm.

August 7: Temple Village Concert, 3 pm.

August 11, Nelson Village Concert, 7:30 pm.

For information, visit www.monadnockmusic.org, or call 603-757-3929 or 924-7610.

 

Baha’is Host Programs in Dublin

“Education is Not a Crime” is the theme.

This year the Baha’is of the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire will host its annual programs for the public by welcoming Dr. Haideh Sabet of Alexandria, VA, who will offer several talks on the topic “Education is not a Crime.”

On Saturday, August 13, at 3 pm, Dr. Sabet* will speak at the Dublin Community Center where she will describe how Baha’i students are systematically denied access to institutions of higher education in Iran, based solely on their religion. In response to this denial of a basic human right, the Iranian Baha’i Community began the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE). Since its creation in 1987, the BIHE has become a center for learning, with hundreds of affiliated volunteer global faculty, teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses, with degrees that are recognized in esteemed colleges and universities worldwide. A short film will accompany her talk.

Then on Sunday, August 14, Dr. Sabet will speak twice at the Dublin Community Church: at 9 am at the regular service, and again at 3 pm (both in the vestry) when she will provide a more in-depth description of the current situation facing those who support BIHE in Iran.

A reception will follow at 4 pm at the historic Dublin Inn located at 1265 Main Street. All Baha’i programs are free and open to the public. We hope you will join us.

Baha’is have been gathering in August for many years to commemorate the visit of Abdu’l-Baha to Dublin in 1912 at the invitation of Dublin Town notable, Mrs. Agnes Parsons. While He was here He met with many of the friends in the area and gave a number of talks, including the Dublin Community Church and at the historic Dublin Inn.

For more information, please call Phillip or Ruthie Gammons at 563-8809 or visit dublininn.bahai.us.

*Dr. Haideh Sabet is a board-certified neurologist and clinical neurophysiologist, practicing in Alexandria, VA. She is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Georgetown University Medical Center. After attending Cornell University and medical school at the Mayo Clinic, she completed her residency in neurology at Georgetown. She has helped to bring awareness to the U.S. Congress about Baha’i students prevented from getting an education in Iran and is a member of the Local Spiritual Assembly (the governing body) of the Baha’is in her community. For more information about “Education is Not a Crime” visit facebook.com/educationisnotacrime/ or news.bahai.org/story/1039.

 

 

Volunteer Pathways: True Gratitude

By Ruth Blais Thompson

I knew years ago that I wanted to volunteer somewhere and yet didn’t know where that somewhere was until this past January. I’ve found an amazing opportunity to give back in a small way with my time, talents and energy by volunteering once a week at Draft Gratitude, a draft horse rescue operation in Winchester, NH.

If someone had told me that I would find such fulfillment in giving of myself without asking for anything in return, I would not have believed them. You might say the horses are “lucky” to have me, but it is with certainty, that I am very lucky to have them provide such amazing personal reward for me.

I’ve had the opportunity to work with all seven of the rescues currently at the farm but I have a special fondness for Beau, who is shown here. He’s a handsome, sweet and now strong Belgian gelding. Beau arrived last August from a Pennsylvania kill pen. He was underweight, extremely timid and, due to arthritis, could barely put weight on his lame front left leg. He was prescribed treatment at the rescue and can now walk without any noticeable limp.

I’ve had the pleasure of providing Beau with Reiki treatments, which is an energy technique for relaxation and healing. Beau has responded amazingly well from this work. Horses have a way of telling us when they feel energy working in their body by licking, chewing, and yawning. Beau did all of these things, which are clear signs of stress release. Beau has come a long way on his journey. He was one of the lucky ones and now shows his true gratitude when he confidently walks up to visitors and enjoys his grooming days. I am grateful to be a part of his journey and feel very thankful that I was led to volunteer. You can learn more about the rescue at www.draftgratitude.com.

Ruth Blais Thompson lives in Dublin with her husband. She will be seeking Dubliners who volunteer for future articles. Please contact her via DublinAdvocate@nullgmail.com if you’d like to participate.

 

America Reads Unites Young with Old

One hour a week can improve the life of a young child.

The Monadnock RSVP Volunteer Center invites interested men and women, aged 55 and older, to consider becoming an America Reads volunteer. Research shows that supportive and consistent interactions with adults in the early years can affect a child’s brain development and set the stage for school readiness and academic success.

Under the close supervision of a teacher or center director, volunteers will engage children in Pre-K through third grade in literacy activities and one-on-one reading time to build vocabulary, increase letter-word identification, and encourage a love of reading.

If you are interested, complete an interview and application process, attend one of two training classes, and undergo criminal background and reference checks. Fall training takes place in Peterborough on Wednesday, September 21, from noon to 4:30 pm (and September 27 in Keene.)

Contact the Monadnock RSVP Volunteer Center at 603-357-6893 or email rsvp@nullmfs.org. Monadnock RSVP is a program of Monadnock Family Services, a Monadnock United Way Agency.

 

River Center Relocated

The River Center, a Family and Community Resource Center, has relocated to 9 Vose Farm Rd, Suite #115, in Peterborough (on Route 202 North and across from Eastern Mountain Sports in the old Brookstone building). Its neighbors now include Monadnock Family Services, MAPS Counseling, and Monadnock Work Source. We are happy to continue to share space with Southern NH Services Fuel Assistance.

The River Center will still offer access to staff from Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention on Mondays and from Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter on Tuesdays in its new location.

This move offers many new opportunities for collaborations and excellent space to base our family support and community resource services.

You can call the River Center at 924-6800 or www.rivercenter.us.

Margaret Nelson is Executive Director of The River Center and lives in Dublin.

 

Transfer Station to Open on Sundays

The Dublin Transfer Station is offering Sunday hours for a trial period from August 7 through September 25. To relieve some of the congestion of Saturday traffic, the Transfer Station will now open from 8 am to 4 pm on Sundays. This is in addition to the usual Wednesday and Saturday hours, 8-5.