Preschool Openings!

Now is the time to think about enrolling your child in preschool.  The Center School in Northwood is accepting registrations for the 2011-2012 school year.  The Center School is a parent cooperative preschool located next to the town hall in Northwood, which provides a developmental program for three, four, and five year olds of Northwood and surrounding towns.  There are openings in our two-day (T/Th) program and three-day (M/W/F) morning programs.  Call us soon and come to visit!  For information, please call director Karen Andersen at the school at 942-7686.

Letter

To the Editor:
Important issues are on the Northwood School Boards agenda so it continues to baffle me that parents and taxpayers refuse to engage.

Just look at the past few years.  A Superintendent was fired and is in the process of suing. She’s won (correctly) all rounds so far. 

The Board has repeatedly ignored the fact that student numbers have diminished and therefore reduced staff to provide money for updating curriculum etc. Inattention to details have led to many mistakes, there is a mistrust by any and all that pay attention. A budget presented was so bad and inaccurate it borders on childish, one that they neither understood nor could defend. And finally, an Annual School District Meeting that left them reeling, burning oil fields (staff) while in full retreat.

So, about that one issue.  Their budget was defeated in favor of the sensible Budget Committee’s budget. Instead of returning to the budget (which had hundreds of thousands of dollar errors) to fix it, they are ignoring everybody and riffing 6 teachers and 4 paras.  By design or ignorance (?) there will be 2 outcomes. 

In June, all of a sudden, there will be enough dollars for all of their wish lists like a 2643.60 % increase in science supplies; a miracle, manna from heaven.

And the rifted will be suing because they were singled out rather than a part of an overall budget reduction strategy.  Who wins?  Lawyers. Who loses? Everybody including me because for the first time ever I’ll agree with the NEA.  That hurts!

Tim Jandebeur
Northwood

Northwood Native In “Soul Surfer”, Premiering Nationwide

Arlene Newman-Van Asperen will make her debut on the silver screen in the true life story of Bethany Hamilton.

Teen surfer and accomplished athlete, Bethany Hamilton, captured the hearts of the nation when she lost her left arm in a traumatic shark attack in Hawaii in 2003, then rose back with determination and strength to compete again in the sport she loved.

Ms. Van Asperen is in the role of Sydney Blanchard, the mother of Bethany’s best friend Alana, who is played by Jack Nicholson’s daughter Lorraine Nicholson. Her role placed her working with Academy Award winning actress and film great Helen Hunt, who plays Bethany’s mother along with a cast of stars including Dennis Quaid and Carrie Underwood. Although Van Asperen’s role is small, it goes throughout the film, and provided her the opportunity to work alongside seasoned actors.

 
For Van Asperen, who has lived in Hawaii for the last two decades, this has been a work that she supported as much for the message within the film as it was for the prospect of using her acting abilities in a major film production. This is a film the whole family will enjoy and offers particular appeal to faith based audiences.

Ms. Van Asperen walked the red carpet in Los Angeles at the film’s premier last week. Her parents, Pastor John and Mrs. Fran Newman, are flying in to New York to meet her for another premiere before they will all travel back to the family home in Northwood. 

Ms. Van Asperen, a graduate of Coe-Brown Northwood Academy, looks forward to visiting friends and family in her hometown. She has enjoyed acting since childhood and won the crown of Mrs. Hawaii in 2005. She will be making appearances at local theaters in Concord, Newington and Hooksett to promote the film, sign autographs and to share the story of her journey from Northwood to the big screen.

Northwood native Arlene Newman-Van Asperen appears in the major motion picture Soul Surfer now showing in theaters.

Easter In Northwood
Submitted By Pastor John Newman

Please join us as we hike to the cross on Saddleback Mountain in Northwood on Easter Sunday, April 24th at 5:30 am. It is a moderate walk on a path for about one half mile with two “no problem” hills. The view is outstanding including three states and looking out over the Isle of Shoals. We have shared this special occasion on this mountain for over thirty years. All are welcome.

When the sun begins to rise, appearing to come up out of the ocean, a piper will play Amazing Grace. The vivid red color reminds us of the blood our Savior shed at Calvary.

A free breakfast will be held at our church, Higher Ground Ministries, on Route 126 in Barnstead from 8:00-9:00 am. A church service will follow. For more information, please call 942-8696.

Northwood Recreation Update

Easter Egg Hunt - Join Northwood Recreation on Saturday, April 23rd for the 4th Annual Easter Egg Hunt.  Be on the look out for the Easter Bunny around 9:45 am. Where there is an egg hunt there is bound to be a bunny near by.  The Easter Egg Hunt will begin at 10:00 AM Sharp at the Northwood Elementary School.  There will be 3 golden eggs hidden in each of the 3 age groups; 4 and under; 5 – 7; and 8 – 10 years old.  Find a golden egg and receive a special prize!

Are you older than 10?  Don’t miss the Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt this year; Friday, April 22nd at the Northwood Elementary School.  The hunt will begin at about 8:15 (just after dusk). There will be 3 golden eggs hidden in 2 age groups; 11-12 and 13 and older.  Both of these events are Free to Northwood Residents.  Don’t forget to bring your own basket and cameras.  For additional information contact the Recreation Department at [email protected] or 942-5586 x209.

Northwood Softball Baseball Association

On Saturday, April 16th starting at 9 am the Northwood Softball Baseball Association is having their annual Field Clean Up Day to get ready for the 2011 season. All parents’ and players’ help to get the fields ready is needed. Please bring rakes, shovels, and/or wheel barrows.  Each division will report to the following fields:

• T-Ball at Recreation Fields located on Route 4.

• Rookie Softball and Baseball at Camp Yavneh on corner of Route 43 and Lucas Pond Rd.

 • Minors/Majors Softball and Baseball and Babe Ruth at Northwood School Fields.

On Saturday, April 30th at 9 am we kick off the season with Opening Day of the 2011 Northwood Softball Baseball season. There will be a parade down to the fields followed by the ceremonies along with softball and baseball games throughout the day. Please come and support the kids of Northwood.

Please visit the website at www.northwoodsoftballbaseball.org

Franklin R. Hopkins

Franklin R. “Hoppy” Hopkins, 77, died April 2nd at the VA Medical Center Hospice Unit in Manchester. He was born on September 4, 1933 in Brooklyn, Conn., the son of the late Dorothy Hopkins Rice.

He was a truck driver for NU-Carriers based in Providence, RI, retiring in 1990. He was a US Army Veteran having served in Korea and Germany. His passion was riding his four-wheeler throughout the neighborhood,  visiting friends and helping anyone needing a helping hand.  He is at rest with his late daughters and his dog “Moose.”

 
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Barbara (Steeves) Brooks Hopkins of Northwood.  Two sons, Jeffrey Hopkins of Thompson, CT. and Henry Hopkins of Pascoag, RI. A stepson, Brad A. Brooks of Northwood and a stepdaughter Bonnie-Lynn Brooks Ries of St. Louis, MO; three daughter-in-laws;  eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

He was predeceased by daughters, Carol Bell Hopkins, Sue Hopkins Rushford and Joan Hopkins Andrzejewski.

Services will be held at the convenience of the family. Donations in his memory may be made to the CRVNA Hospice House, 30 Pillsbury St. Concord, NH 03301. The Perkins and Pollard Memorial Home, Pittsfield, is assisting with arrangements.