Northwood Town Democrats Gear Up For 2010 Elections
Submitted By William deVries
Wisdom says all politics is local. (Well, actually, it was Tip
O?Neil.) But if individuals don’t organize at the local level to
drive the process, big interests quickly assert their money and
power.
The
price of real democracy, therefore, is eternal vigilance and
constant effort. Help us drive our politics and our government in
the right direction. Self-serving partisanship that puts party
advantage over national interest is no response to the current state
of the nation. The Northwood Democrats will be holding its caucus to
elect officers on Sunday, March 21st at 7 p.m. at the home of
Lucy Edwards at 177 Old Mountain Rd. It will be a dessert potluck.
Please call Lucy at 942-7241 to RSVP. 2010 will be an important
year: We are electing a congressperson, a senator, a governor, and
our state reps and senator. When local voices unite into a
resounding chorus, America is at its best. Join us.
Resident Helps Wildlife In Honduras
When Gabriele Chase, from Northwood, N.H., and a student at Cornell
University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, arrived on the Island
of Roatan in Honduras last month, she found a float of American
crocodiles wading in diesel fuel – the result of a storm-cracked
tank. Under the leadership of Drs. Marisa Bezjian and George Kollias,
the students triaged the animals, washed away the oil, performed
physical examinations, applied lubricant to their eyes, and
collected blood to check for protein levels and red blood cell
counts with a portable chemistry analyzer provided by Abaxis, Inc.
This was just one of the experiences that the group of 14 students
say illustrated the needs of tropical species during a recent class
that was conducted in Honduras.
“It
was an amazing opportunity to help these animals,” said Lucy, who is
a member of the Class of 2012. “Wildlife is part of a delicate
system that can be affected by countless variables. The system is
tested every day by nature and people. Animals, humans, and nature
are all connected, and veterinarians are instrumental in ensuring
the system thrives.”
Now
in its second year, the two-credit course, called Field Techniques
of International Wildlife Management, affords Cornell veterinary
students and professors the opportunity to help Honduran animal
managers and caretakers improve the quality of life for captive
native wildlife. Care can be challenging in this developing nation,
where resources are scarce and the desire to help the animals is
overwhelming, explained Dr. Marisa Bezjian, a zoological medicine
resident at the College of Veterinary Medicine.
During the experience, the instructors and students consulted with
animal management staff at Macaw Mountain in Copan, Rancho San Luis
in La Ceiba, and Maya Key in Roatan. Highlights of the class found
the students performing physical examinations on macaws, toucans,
kinkajou, ocelots, and sea turtles; administering antibiotics to a
spider monkey with a wound on his back; watching trainers collect
blood from dolphins and learning about the training techniques
implied to make such procedures routine; and making recommendations
regarding diet and enrichment opportunities for primates.
“At
Cornell University Hospital for Animals, the Zoological Medicine
Service is an elective rotation,” said Kollias. “As such, students
may not have the opportunity to work with a high volume of different
species of birds or other exotic animals as seen in Honduras.
Practicing veterinary medicine in a tropical country gives them the
opportunity to add depth to their portfolio of cases and to see how
life happens outside of the states.”
To
prepare for the trip, students familiarized themselves with the
husbandry and diet needs of Honduran wildlife, practiced conducting
physical exams and drawing blood, and received predatory lectures.
On-site, they put these skills to use doing hands-on work and making
creative - and inexpensive – management suggestions, including diet,
captive habitat, and enrichment activities.
“We
believe the experience is an eye-opener for students to realize some
of the professional opportunities that exist in Central America and
a chance for personal growth,” said Bezjian and Kollias. “It can be
easy to overlook the luxuries and conveniences in our country. We
encourage students to use their basic knowledge and add a touch
creativity to develop a low-cost, practical plan for the animal care
managers in Honduras.”
Plans are currently underway to expand the program to other
locations, including Costa Rica, where students would have the
opportunity to also discover and practice different aspects of
conservation medicine.
Obituaries
George N. Geers
George Nils Geers, 82, of Mooreland Avenue in Concord, died Friday,
Feb. 26, 2010, at Harris Hill Center after a long illness.
He
was a mechanical engineer, heavy construction equipment dealer,
developer and former member of the Concord City Council.
Mr.
Geers was born in Northwood, June 2, 1927, the son of Ada (Berg) and
Lawrence M. Geers.
He
was a graduate of Coe-Brown Northwood Academy and Wentworth
Institute in Boston. He was a longtime trustee of Coe-Brown and was
named trustee emeritus.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, and moved to Concord in
the late 1940s to raise his family. He was a former owner of
Chadwick-BaRoss in Concord and Maine, and Gears Inc. on Route 106.
He was involved in land development in East Concord and on Route
106, with his friends Levi Ladd and Bob Cole. Mr. Geers represented
Ward 7 on the Concord City Council in the late 1990s.
Mr.
Geers was active in the heavy construction industry and with antique
cars. He served as president of the N.H. Good Road Association and
New England Equipment Dealers Association, vice president of the
Associated General Contractors of New Hampshire and director of the
American Equipment Dealers. In addition, he was active in several
antique and classic automobile clubs, including the Pierce Arrow
Club, the Buick Club of America and the Profile Antique Auto League.
He
was predeceased by a son, Lawrence M. Geers; daughter-in-law, Sharon
(Daley) Geers; sister Anna Burrows and brother, Theodore Geers.
He
is survived by his wife Elizabeth (Young); his son George L. and his
wife Meredith MacLeod of Concord; two granddaughters, Kelly Landine
and her husband Jeffrey of Brookfield, MA, and Susan Geers and her
companion Nicholas Gravel of Southbridge, MA; three
great-grandchildren, Riley, Mary Elizabeth, Jackson, and Benjamin
Landine of Brookfield; three sisters-in-law, Lillian Deely and
Maxine Young of Rochester; and Donna Geers Martin of Florida;
several nieces and nephews and cousins.
A
memorial service was held Saturday, March 6, 2010, at Wesley
Methodist Church in Concord.
Donations may be made to the George Geers Fund, Coe-Brown Northwood
Academy, 907 First New Hampshire Turnpike, Northwood 03261.
William Arthur Barnes II
Northwood - Bill Barnes of Jenness Pond Road died quietly on
Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at a nursing home in Deerfield at the
age of 96.
William “Bill” Arthur Barnes II was born on January 25, 1914, in
Marston, MO, a town which was founded by his grandfather.
Bill’s father, William “Mr. Willy” Barnes, owned and operated the
town’s general store and post office in Marston. Bill had three
older sisters, Lois, Wilma, and Rose and graduated from high school
in Marston, being the only male in a graduating class of six.
Bill moved to Chicago, IL, where he was hired by the A&P Grocery
Market and worked his way to assistant manager. While working at the
A&P, Bill met Olive Yost, a native of Chicago, and they married on
August 1, 1937.
In
1941 Bill was hired by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Identification Division in Washington, DC. He was a fingerprint man
and after 30 years of loyal, dedicated service, Bill achieved the
highest possible clerical position in his division, Unit Supervisor.
He retired from the FBI in 1971, having had a distinguished career
with multiple awards and achievements.
He
also furthered his education by attending the District of Columbia
Teacher’s College, Southeastern University, and George Washington
University, obtaining Master’s degrees in Business Administration
and in Science and Transportation.
After retiring, Bill and Olive lived the quiet life along the banks
of the Patuxent River in Calvert County, MD, and later on the shore
of the Chesapeake Bay in Lusby, MD. One of Bill’s passions was
writing poetry. Many of his poems were dedicated to the true love of
his life - Olive - whom he adored and cared for until she passed
away on November 2, 2008 after 71 years of marriage.
Bill was a Mason. He enjoyed family gatherings, talking politics and
family history. He and Olive would work crossword puzzles together
every day. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. Bill was once asked
what he considered to be the greatest achievement of his life. He
replied that it was raising his four wonderful children who have all
done very well for themselves.
Bill and Olive raised their four surviving children in the suburbs
of Seat Pleasant and College Park, MD.
Their children are William Arthur (Marston) Barnes III, Bonnie Olive
(Barnes) Bennett, Garry Edward Winston Barnes, and Gregory Dale
Carmack Barnes.
Bill and Olive had 9 grandchildren; and 7 great grandchildren.
Bill will be buried next to his Olive in a family plot near his
hometown, Marston, MO.
The
Still Oaks Funeral & Memorial Home of Epsom is assisting with local
arrangements and offers an on-line guestbook at:
stilloaks.com.
|