Hopkinton News : Bow

Libraries keep young minds learning with annual program

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:07:00 GMT

When school stops for the summer, the learning doesn’t.

That’s the hope of local libraries at least, as Bow and Hopkinton’s summer reading programs are geared to keep young minds fresh. “It’s extremely important to read during the summer,” said Baker Free Library director Lori Fisher. “If you introduce it early, these kids will develop a love of reading that will last a lifetime. We encourage kids to read whatever they can read. It doesn’t have to be chapter books. The only criterea we have is that they read the book themselves.”

The Bow library’s theme for younger readers is “Birds of a feather read together,” and more than 50 people came in for a recent program about birds and their habitats.

Fisher has also helped organize events like rock painting, separate boys and girls book discussion sessions and an upcoming series where teens will have an opportunity to create a mural, eat pizza and play bingo for books.

The teen create-a-space program will take place on Monday, July 27, at 6 p.m., and there will also be a session where Squam Lake representatives bring owls to the library on Thursday, July 30.

Though the majority of New Hampshire residents grimaced at the rainy weather that ushered in the summer, Hopkinton Town Library director Donna Dunlop said she was not among them.

“The rain helped in a way,” said Dunlop. “We were a haven for a lot of families who wouldn’t have had anything else they’d be able to do. It’s gorgeous out and sunny now, but the library is still full of kids. Rain or shine, people are finding their way to the library to enjoy the programs.”

During a recent Hopkinton Town Library program, more than 150 residents attended a hot air balloon program where the balloons were displayed glowing at night.

The hot air balloon has also served as a logo for the library’s summer programs.

On Sunday, July 26, the library is hosting a slumber party at the library for children. Dunlop said she has been impressed to see the turnout at the facility so far this summer.

“It really has been a rallying point for members of the community,” said Dunlop. “It’s clear a lot of people may not be going away, they’ve really valued being able to come here for theater, music and fun activities. Even if people are going away, they still want to come here.”

When school stops for the summer, the learning doesn’t.

The Bow library’s theme for younger readers is “Birds of a feather read together,” and more than 50 people came in for a recent program about birds and their habitats.

The teen create-a-space program will take place on Monday, July 27, at 6 p.m., and there will also be a session where Squam Lake representatives bring owls to the library on Thursday, July 30.

Though the majority of New Hampshire residents grimaced at the rainy weather that ushered in the summer, Hopkinton Town Library director Donna Dunlop said she was not among them.

During a recent Hopkinton Town Library program, more than 150 residents attended a hot air balloon program where the balloons were displayed glowing at night.

The hot air balloon has also served as a logo for the library’s summer programs.

On Sunday, July 26, the library is hosting a slumber party at the library for children. Dunlop said she has been impressed to see the turnout at the facility so far this summer.

Kenison named Hopkinton Town Administrator

Bow Editor — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:29:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Hopkinton officials will now be able to remove the word “interim” from its town administrator position.

Leon Kenison, chairman of the Bow Board of Selectmen, has been named the first permanent replacement since Ed Wojnowksi left the position in August 2007. In the meantime, Bob Veloski held the position until August, when he accepted a position in Sanbornton, and resident John Boatwright took over the duties on an interim basis until a permanent replacement could be found.

Kenison, who will officially take over the administrative duties Oct. 6, said he has always admired the town where he will now be working.

“I’ve always thought highly of it,” he said. “They have a number of things they’re trying to work on. One of the prime things being making it as easy on the taxpayers as they can. Also, I hope to find some new jobs and commercial entitiies that will help provide those job.”

Hopkinton Selectmen Chairman Scott Flood said Kenison brings a new dimension of thinking to the position.

“I think the great thing is that he has the experience to view things from more than just one side,” said Flood. “Instead of just the town administrator side, he can see it from the selectmen’s side and the management side. That will be helpful.”

Kenison also said his experience as a selectman will come in handy.

“I’ve had some exposure to municipal operations since being a selectmen in Bow,” said Kenison. “I’ve seen how that interaction is and know how that works on that side of the table. I’ve gotten an awful good taste of what municipal management is about.”

Most recently, Kenison has served as the town manager in Pittsfield for the past year, and he previously served as an interim city manager in Lebanon. He also held various positions during his 37-year tenure with the state Department of Transportation, including serving as commissioner.

Also appealing to the position for Kenison was its location, as it is only eight minutes door to door from his Bow home.

Kenison will continue his duties as a Bow selectman, and said there will be no scheduling conflicts with his two sets of board meetings. Hopkinton’s selectmen’s meeting are on Mondays, while Bow meets two Thursdays of each month.

Meeting a new set of residents is something Kenison is looking forward to.

“The very immediate will be to meet the people and develop a good relationship with the employees of the town and the residents,” said Kenison. “I want to let them know they’re always welcome to give me a shout with things that concern them.”

Bow's Dorothy Frost turns 100

Bow Editor — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:23:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

For her birthday, the thing Dorothy Stickney Frost wanted most was a big bash.

At 100 years old, she deserved it, and a bash was what she got.

The Bow resident, who has lived in town for more than 40 years, celebrated her birthday with about 60 friends and family on Aug. 31 in anticipation of her birthday, which was Sept. 11.

Frost’s daughters Polly Frost Gilson and Gail Loomis, who works as the administrative assistant for the Board of Selectmen’s office, and her husband, Jim Loomis, hosted the party.

“Jim and Gail had that party and it wasn’t a surprise, but a lot of people that were there were a surprise,” Frost said. “I had a beautiful time.”

Both of Frost’s daughters attended the party as well as several of her grandchildren and many great grandchildren, who range in age from 1 to 21 years old.

Frost’s family came from near and far: daughter-in-law Colleen Frost of Utah, grandchildren Sarah Loomis McEntee and husband Tom of California, Mark Loomis and wife, Val, of Pembroke, and Heather Gilson McClintock and husband, Greg, of Lancaster, Mass. Scott Gilson and family from California were not able to attend as well as Jeff Frost from Illinois and Tim Frost from Utah.

Since the age of 98, Frost has held a special honor in Bow as the holder of the Boston Post Cane, which is given to the oldest resident in town. The award was designed in the 1800s and a cane was given out to every town in New Hampshire for its oldest resident, but many towns have since lost track of their cane.

“I have that right in my bedroom,” said Frost. “I don’t use it, because I have my own cane, but that was quite a nice thing as well. I am very proud of it.”

Gail Loomis was proud to see her mother reach such a milestone birthday.

“I think it’s exceptional that someone can reach that age in the first place, but to be able to still do things and get around is pretty exceptional,” she said.

Jim Loomis has developed a special relationship with his mother-in-law.

“She has been more than a mother-in-law, I call her a mother- in-love,” said Jim Loomis. “I would describe her as a very thoughtful person who, at 100, still at times has a great sense of humor. She is sharp as a tack.”

Seeing her mother reach the century mark gives Gail Loomis a reason to smile for more than one reason.

“I love her a lot and I hope she’s got many more,” she said. “I feel pretty optimistic. They talk about good genes. She had other relatives who were right up there, including an uncle who was 105. There are definitely good genes on her side of the family, and hopfully I got some of them.”

Hopkinton's Martin School celebrates 50 years

Bow Editor — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:12:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Hopkinton’s Harold Martin School is turning 50, and ready to start a year-long celebration. School officials will hold a kick-off event for the anniversary year on Monday, Sept. 15, beginning at 1 p.m. at the school that will include music and an appearance by New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch.

Lynch lives in Hopkinton, and his children attended Harold Martin School.

According to Principal Bill Carozza, the event is a good way to help students appreciate what the anniversary stands for.

“I think we’re just starting off, and part of the purpose is to start having kids really understand what it really means for a school to be around for 50 years,” Carozza said.

During the week, students will take part in other activities focusing on the number as well, including going outside school to do 50 jumping jacks.

Also at the event, students will be given bumper stickers and each will wear a pin that says, “Harold Martin School – 50 years of learning together.”

Carozza first realized the school was reaching the half-century mark two years ago as he was walking through the halls during the summer. He saw a certificate stating when the school was built, and he has been keeping an eye toward the festivities since.

“There’s a lot of pride in this community. This is where it all starts,” said Carozza. “We take a lot of pride in welcoming new families. We want to make it as comfortable of an experience for kids and families that we can.”

Having student involvement in the ceremony is something Carozza is especially excited about. Former students will be involved as well, as the Hopkinton High School’s band will perform, and students at the town’s other schools have been working on essays about their Harold Martin experience.

“I love mixing adults and kids together. I enjoy most of all having the kids be a part of it,” said Carozza. “We don’t ever want these to seem like it’s just a bunch of adults coming together, so wherever you can get the kids involved. It’s amazing what kids can do.”

The principal is beginning his ninth year at the school, and said many of the teachers he works with have been there for many years, giving Harold Martin a close-knit feeling.

“This is really a family, and people can see that when they walk through the doors,” Carozza said. “It doesn’t matter what you do at Harold Martin, everyone is equal in terms of their vaue and their respect. It takes all of us to really make it work here.”

Carozza also said the event will help show students the importance of the school to the Hopkinton community.

“We want to transfer the level of history to the kids, what it means to have heritage and importance for community,” said Carozza. “Hopefully it’s something kids will remember for a lifetime.”

School test scores fall short in Bow and Hopkinton

Bow Editor — Wed, 21 May 2008 19:27:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The Bow and Hopkinton school districts both had blemishes on their adequate yearly progress reports recently released by the state.

Bow Elementary School did not meet the state’s criteria in the reading category, while in Hopkinton both Harold Martin and Maple Street schools fell short in reading.

Students across the state in grades 3 through 8 and grade 11 were given the NECAP test in fall 2007. Students’ progress at the school and district level is measured based on the results and students are broken into different subgroups, including special education and economically disadvantage, for analyzing the performance of particular groups of students.

If one of those subgroups fails to meet the bar in a particular subject area, the entire school is considered not having made adequate yearly progress. If a school fails to meet those standards for two years in a row, it earns a “school in need of improvement” designation. Such a school needs to make adequate yearly progress for two years in a row to exit that status.

High school students across the state were not tested last year to allow a transition from spring to fall testing, but high schools retained whatever status they earned from the prior year’s adequate yearly progress results.

In most cases, school officials say, the special education subgroup caused the school to miss the mark, which was the case in Bow and Hopkinton.

“We were disappointed that the elementary school didn’t pass AYP. We’re not panic-stricken yet,” said Bow Superintendent of Schools Dean Cascadden. “We have a number of initiatives we’ve been putting on. In the budget this year, we put an additional special education teacher, so we’ve had our eye on this area. It’s an area we’re going to pay attention to and have a response plan we’re ready to put into place.”

Hopkinton Superintendent of Schools Brian Blake said the district will analyze the results, but is cautious not to overreact.

“Overall, I don’t place a ton of weight in the results. That’s one assessment of several that students take,” said Blake. “We’re looking at the results, and looking to further help the students who didn’t do as well as we had hoped.”

Blake said there are several areas the school looks at to assess student performance.

“We look at not only the NECAP, but student grades in the courses they’re taken, the assessments given by students’ reading inventory,” he said. “We look at all of the data in terms of how we can help our students learn the information better.”

None of the schools are designated as a “school in need of improvement” because it was the first time coming up short on the test for each.

Cascadden said he is pleased to see Bow Elementary students improved in math over last year’s results.

“This year, their math scores were a definite increase. You have an issue, you look at it, and, hopefully, you get a good response. Our score increased significantly because we’re paying attention to it,” said Cascadden.

“No one wants to not make AYP, but if it’s an area we need to work on we’ll put a plan together, pay attention to it and we’ll be tested again this October.”

Time to file for town, school district seats

Bow Editor — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:13:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

While Hopkinton residents will cast votes for town and school officials as well as budgets in March, Bow voters will wait until May to make their choices. Bow School District Meeting, however, continues to take place at its traditional time of the year, on March 14.

Hopkinton
Those interested in running for office in Hopkinton must file between Wednesday, Jan. 23, and Friday, Feb. 1.

Town
Open seats and filing information include the following: Two selectmen seats for three-year terms each. Seats currently held by Selectmen Don Lane and Peter Russell are open.

One supervisor of checklist for a six-year term.

Two Budget Committee seats for three-year terms each. These seats are currently held by Jane Bradstreet and Barbara Unger.

Two library trustees for three-year terms.

One cemetery trustee for a three-year term.

One trustee of the trust fund for a three-year term.

One treasurer for three-year term. The currrent treasurer is Bonnie Cressy.

Moderator for a two-year term. This post is currently held by Gary Richardson.

To file to serve on an open town seat, contact Town Clerk Sue Strickford at 846 Main St., Hopkinton.

Hopkinton voters will cast ballots on Tuesday, March 11, at Hopkinton High School, from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Hopkinton Town Meeting is Saturday, March 15, at 9 a.m., at Hopkinton High School.

School district
There are two three-year open seats on the School Board, currently held by Marshall Rowe and Joy Bloomfield.

Treasurer, one-year seat. This post is currently held by Arnold Coda.

Moderator for one year, currently held by Charles Dibble.

To file for school offices, see the Hopkinton town clerk.

The Hopkinton School District Meeting is Saturday, March 8, at 9 a.m., at Hopkinton High School.

Bow
The Bow School District Meeting is Friday, March 14, at 7 p.m., at Bow High School, when residents will vote on the 2008 budget.

Voters will then go to the polls on May 13 for town and school district elections.

School district:
There are two open seats on the Bow School Board, with each carrying a three-year term. Deb McCann and Ann Baier currently hold these seats.

Moderator for a three-year term. Jim Hatem is the current school district moderator.

School district clerk for a three-year term. Louise Knee currently holds this post. Treasurer for a three-year term. The seat is currently held by Mark Lavalle.

Town:
Because Election Day in Bow is May 13, open seats on the town side are not yet available.

Residents and incumbents interested in filing to serve on open town and school district seats must file between Wednesday, March 26, and Tuesday, March 31, at the Town Clerk’s office, 10 Grandview Road, Bow.

Longer school year for students

Bow Editor — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:22:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Though the Bow, Dunbarton and Hopkinton school districts missed only one day of school over the winter, the month of April has proven to be more costly than usual in terms of missed class time.

This year, April showers will bring additional school days in June.

Hopkinton

On Tuesday, April 17, Harold Martin Elementary School students missed their fourth school day in April, after losing power the day before and having one of the valves on the boiler malfunction once power was restored.

Maple Street Elementary School and Hopkinton Middle/High School resumed scheduled classes, thus missing three days in the month, for a total of four days.

Hopkinton High School graduation is still set for Saturday, June 9, but for other students, the end of the school year has been pushed back almost a week, from Thursday, June 14, to Wednesday, June 20.

“If we look at the year, overall, in terms of the number of days missed, it’s pretty normal. When we build our calendar, you kind of expect you’re going to use ‘X’ number of days,” said Hopkinton Superintendent Brian Blake. “I think if we would had a snowy winter and then all this rain, and we’re talking about eight or nine days out, we would be in a different situation. But the fact that we made it into April and hadn’t really missed any school proved good for us.”

Blake did note, however, that students have been affected in other ways.

“It hasn’t changed much in terms of when we plan to get out, but the weather has really wreaked havoc on sports,” he said. “By now I’m guessing we should have had six or seven baseball games. We’ve only had one and the softball team hasn’t even played yet.”

Bow

Currently, graduation for Bow High School will remain June 16, though district Superintendent Kathleen Holt said New England weather often changes plans.

“Of course, last year we had two flood days in May, which you can’t really plan on, so it’s hard to define what’s normal?” said Holt, speaking of losing days to rain and wind in addition to the anticipated snow days each year.

This year, Bow students will make up at least two school days and maybe three, depending on what the district decides to do about Monday, April 16, in which students were sent home shortly after 9 a.m. due to a loss of power.

The final day of school was originally set for June 14, but will now go into the next week, though Holt said she it has yet to be decided if or for how long students will attend classes on June 19.

Dunbarton

Dunbarton Elementary School Principal Brent Rogers said, as of yet, he is unsure if students will have to attend make-up days for lost class time.

Though Dunbarton is part of the Goffstown School District, Betty Ann Noyes, Dunbarton School Board member, said the elementary school missed an additional day because of lost power, but had classes Tuesday, April 17, when Goffstown had no classes, which she hopes will put the elementary school back on schedule with the rest of SAU 19.