Four teachers give up insurance; music reinstated

In non-public session on Wednesday, Superintendent Margaret Sullivan presented the Grantham School Board with signed commitments from four individual Grantham Village School faculty members who will forgo their entire health insurance package next year and make other arrangements. The total savings to the school district is approximately $70,000.

With recognition of the sacrifice these faculty members and their families are making, the school board moved to use those funds to restore the music and instrumental programs at Grantham Village School for the coming year. Two part-time teachers will be offered their positions back as a direct result of this faculty giveback.

The School Board remains hopeful that continuing negotiations with the teachers’ union, efforts in finding less expensive health care coverage, and the continuing search for additional cost savings and revenue sources will lead to the recall of additional employees.

At the annual district meeting, an amendment was narrowly passed to reduce the school district budget by $262, 418. In order to comply with the cut, the school board was forced to implement a reduction in force ( RIF ), which affected reading intervention, art, music, instrumental music and guidance. Contracting out the food service program is also being explored.

Cross lightings

The cross on the Grantham United Methodist Church will be lit for Easter on Sunday, April 12 in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Miles by Ed and Pat Masone; in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Dewlos Mutney and Mr. John Holmes by Mr. and Mrs. Frances Mutney; in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Henry, Swensen, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Swensen, Mr. and Mrs. Dudley Swensen, Clifford Swensen, and Jon and Elizabeth Swensen by Mr. and Mrs. Norman Fontaine, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Swensen and Naomi Sanborn.

Twins for the Hastings

Jaime, Wes and Samuel Hastings are delighted to announce that their family has expanded by two!  Faye Olivia and Jack Daniel Hastings were born on March 28, 2009 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center . Proud grandparents are Paul and Kathi Osgood and Ricky and Wanda Hastings. Ecstatic great-grandmas are Janis Hastings and Mae Jones.

DI team on to globals!

Grantham Village School ’s fifth grade Destination Imagination team of Anwen Morgan, Franklin Hogsett, Maya Leopardi, Emily Hastings and Coach Stacy Hogsett earned first place in their division at the state meet and are earning their way to Knoxville , Tenn. to compete at the Global Finals in May. Their solution involved researching the newly discovered rosada iguanas on the Galapagos Islands .

Keep your eyes open for details on upcoming fundraisers to help these kids on their way.

Senior luncheons return

The Senior Lunch returns to Grantham at noon April 14 at Grantham United Methodist Church . There will also be a blood pressure clinic. Suggested donation for the lunch is $2/person.

Events with Dunbar Free Library 

True crime writers Jayne Hitchcock & Kate Flora share the stories behind the stories in “We're Not Making This Up!” beginning at 7 p.m. April 14 at the Dunbar Free Library. Light refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public.

You won’t want to miss the hilarity when magician Mr. Phil & Company comes to town at 7 p.m. April 17. Come laugh off your cabin fever in the lower level of town hall.

These programs are supported by the Friends of the Dunbar Free Library. For more information, contact the library at 863-2172. 

Container gardening April 17

Liz Krieg of Rising Sun Greenhouse and Landscape Company will present Fabulous Container Gardening beginning at 10:30 a.m. April 17 at the Grantham Town Hall . The program is open to the Public. For more information, call 863-8163.

Car washes begin

Now that spring is here, the fire station will again be host to several car washes. The first will be from 9 a.m. to noon April 18, when Erin McClory and her family wash cars to raise money for Erin to attend a Barbizon modeling competition May 2-3 in Framingham , Mass.

On May 2, a car wash will be held from 8 a.m. to noon to benefit the Wolf Pack AAU basketball program.

Get to know your local fire department personnel

The Grantham Fire Department will host its annual Community Night from 7 to 9 p.m. April 18 in the lower level of Grantham Town Hall . Come see the town's newest engine, see fire extinguisher training and get your blood pressure checked. Department awards will be presented, and desserts and beverages will be served.

Art camp and other My ARTery programs

April Vacation Art Camp at my ARTery will run April 20-24 from 9 a.m. to noon at a cost of $22 per day (plus supplies) or $120 for the whole week (supplies included). Visit www.myartery.com for a list of scheduled projects. Call 863-7775 or contact maggie@myartery.com or helgi@myartery.com to register.

On-going programs include:

Tuesdays: 8:30-10 a.m. ART-tots for pre-schoolers and a parent. Snack and supplies included. $15 drop-in fee or discount for monthly commitment.

Thursdays: 9-11 a.m. Homeschoolers program. Please call 863-7775 for details.

First Friday of each month: 3-5 p.m. Occasional Artist drop-in program for school-aged children. $25 fee includes snack and supplies. Next class is May 1.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 3-5 p.m. After-school art program. $18 fee includes snack and supplies.

Hunter safety course

The Grantham Police Department is sponsoring a Hunter Education and Safety Class from 6 to 10 p.m. April 21-25 in the lower level meeting room at Grantham Town Hall . This is open to 20 students; anyone under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian present to register. This class will cover what is necessary to obtain a New Hampshire hunting license. Registration is $5. To sign up or for more information, call the Grantham Police Department at 863-6844.

Register now for Vegetarian Dining night

The Vegetarian Dining Club, which is open to the public, will hold its next dinner at 6 p.m. April 23 at Bistro Nouveau. Enjoy a three-course dinner for $25 per person, which includes tax and gratuity; beverages are additional. For information or to RSVP, contact Carol Moses at carolannmoses@comcast.net or 863-3263 by April 18. Please mention any dietary restrictions when making your reservation.

Teams needed for 5K Walk

Turning Points Network is looking for teams for its third annual 5K Walk on April 25 at Claremont Middle School . Call TPN at 543-0155 or visit www.free-to-soar.org for more information.

Chowda Suppa benefits watershed

The greater Grantham watershed will be the beneficiary of the annual Chowda Suppa, which begins at 4 p.m. April 26 in the Draper Room at The Center at Eastman. Come enjoy hearty chowda (or mac & cheese for those who prefer) for a minimum donation of $10/adult, $5/child (tickets at the door). There will be displays and demonstrations, craft projects, BINGO, raffles and many more family-friendly activities. Sponsored by the Eastman Lakes & Streams Committee, with net proceeds to the Eastman Charitable Foundation.

Starlab comes to Grantham

Thanks to funding by the Eastman Charitable Foundation, the Dunbar Free Library is bringing the Montshire Museum of Science's Starlab to Grantham on April 29. The Starlab is a portable planetarium that brings the stars, planets and galaxies to life in programs designed for all ages.

Many of the Grantham Village School students will enjoy Starlab presentations during their regular school day. The library has arranged for a 3:45 p.m. session for the general public. This is an excellent program for adults and teens, but is not recommended for children under the age of 5.

Since space is limited in the Starlab, you must register in advance with the Dunbar Free Library at 863-2172 or dunbarfreelib@comcast.net.

GVS Building Project Update

From Building Chair Leslie Brown:

With spring’s arrival, site work is picking up pace. The detention pond will be built over the next couple weeks, and drainage lines to that area are being set so the roadway behind the building can be finished. The roadway will be paved as part of this project, as will the staff parking lot to the south of the building. Those of you who have been following the project know that we had hoped to put down a basecoat on that lot before winter, but Department of Environmental Services permitting delays prevented it. The building committee and construction team appreciate the staff’s good humor as they muck through the unpaved lot this mud season. We also appreciate the teachers’ continuing patience as they corral their pupils away from the windows as the construction crews and big machines work outside around the site. The majority of the work continues to be on the north of the building, where the children primarily see it at lunchtime from the cafeteria. Next Tour: May 1.

Long range planning for GVS

The GVS Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC) is involved in the initial stages of establishing a Strategic/Long Range Plan for the Grantham Village School . This plan will formulate a series of goals for the betterment of the school to be addressed over the next five to 10 years.

The first step in the process is to identify or create a list of potential areas of improvement for the school.  The LRPC is seeking specific suggestions to include on this list. Examples of areas previously identified include the addition of a foreign language program, construction of a second vehicular egress, and parent/community technology workshops.

Please send your suggestions to David Armstrong at david.armstrong@dartmouth.edu or PO Box 1686 , Grantham , NH 03753 .

MV registration goes green

As of July 1, the Grantham Town Clerk will no longer send out motor vehicle registration letters in an effort to be more “green” and fiscally responsible. Registration is available on-line with E-Reg through the Grantham website: www.granthamnh.net. There is a small convenience fee for using that service.

Plan now for July 11 event

The Blue Mountain Snowdusters ORC, Inc., Grantham’s outdoor recreation club since 1975, will enter bicycle and walking teams in the 2009 Prouty Bike Ride/Challenge Walk on July 11. The club raised over $5,200.00 last year and hopes to raise at least $10,000 this year to support cancer research at Dartmouth ’s Norris Cotton Cancer Center .

Merle Schotanus and Mary O’Rourke will co-captain the 2009 BMSD team. Call or e-mail them (Merle at 863-2293 or by e-mail at schot@comcast.net, and Mary at 863-4197 or by e-mail at ormary11@yahoo.com) to learn how to join the team and how to contribute to this vital campaign.

Reminders

• If you have a child who will be in kindergarten next year (age 5 by Sept. 30, 2009), contact Grantham Village School at 863-1681.

• Bring food donations to the collection box in the town hall foyer.

• Anyone interested in helping with or who has ideas for Old Home Day 2009 (Saturday, July 4) should contact Laurie Field as soon as possible: field83@comcast.net or 863-9143.

• Selectmen meet at 5 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays each month.

• Register your dog by April 30. A current rabies vaccination is required. If you no longer have a dog, please let the Town Clerk know, 863-5608, so you are not mistakenly fined for not registering your pet.

• Storytimes at Dunbar Free Library at 10 a.m. Wednesdays for babies and toddlers with an adult, and at 10 a.m. Thursdays for preschool-aged children with an adult. (No Storytimes the week of April 20.)

Send your news, births, graduations, events, etc. to grantham-news@comcast.net to let your neighbors know what’s going on.