Presort Standard US Postage PAID Stonebridge Press Volume 1 | Number 1 | claremontvillager.com Friday, September 4, 2009 603-504-6833 | [email protected] | 75¢ County gearing up to fight swine flu this season By ARCHIE MOUNTAIN Staff Writer amountainatsalmonpress.com NEWPORT — When dealing with the upcoming flu season, the three basic rules are still being rec- ommended: 1.) Wash your hands frequently. 2.) Sneeze or cough into your el- bow. 3.) Stay home if you are sick. Information on H1N1 swine flu is updated on a regular basis and Jessica R. Rosman, Greater flu.gov and CDC.gov have been rec- Sullivan County Public Net- ommended by health officials as work Coordinator, is coordi- the sites to keep abreast on flu de- Barbara Hathaway works with kindergarten students during the first day of all day kindergarten at Richards school. nating efforts to combat tails. (Photo by Archie Mountain) swine flu this year In this area, Jessica R. Rosman, Greater Sullivan County Public Net- Goshen, Langdon, Lempster, New- work Coordinator, has been work- port, Springfield, Sunapee and Uni- ing with state and local officials as ty in Sullivan County and New Lon- the flu season nears. don, Newbury, Sutton and Wilmot The Greater Sullivan County Re- in Merrimack County. FIRST DAY JITTERS gion includes Acworth, Parents, youngsters pleased with full-day kindergarten Charlestown, Claremont, Croydon, see SWINE FLU, page A15 By ARCHIE MOUNTAIN trict is offering full-time kindergarten classes “The students are so excited to be here,” Staff Writer Councilors talk with the parents of 57 youngsters opting for Wright said. “It’s my first job to keep them [email protected] full-day classes and two others for a half day. safe.” NEWPORT — The biggest challenge for Voters approved the program at the annual While that’s Wright’s top priority, it isn’t full-day kindergarten students at Richards school district meeting last March. the only one. “We have an opportunity to set re-election plans School came at lunchtime on opening day Although the class sizes are up a bit, the stage for the rest of their careers,” she Aug. 27. Wright said she was comfortable with 20 said. Some say they will run; others undecided “The worse problem they had was learn- kindergarteners. A year ago, there were 16 Several parents also spoke in positive ing how to maneuver their lunch trays and students in her half-day class. On opening terms about the opportunity to have their By KYLE JARVIS Andrew Austin said it’s (the deci- open the small cartons of milk,” said Sheri day, she worked with 16 students as four children attend all-day kindergarten. Staff Writer sion to run or not) “a tough ques- Wright, one of three kindergarten teachers. were absent. Wesley Maynard, 5, son of Tim and Robin [email protected] tion, but if I had to say today “They couldn’t believe we drink milk out The longer day didn’t appear to bother Maynard, was “very nervous” when opening CLAREMONT – With city elec- whether or not I’ll run for re-elec- of a carton,” Richards School Principal Patti her students. day arrived said his dad. Wesley attended tions just two months away, cur- tion, I’d say the answer is yes, I Warren told members of the Newport School “We offered the kids a quiet time in the pre-school last year and Tim said he was rent councilors must soon make will.” Board at their evening meeting. morning along with a story and no one closed ready to go to kindergarten. He cited the so- a decision as to whether they will Austin was named assistant “Once that was figured out, everything their eyes,” she said with a smile. cial and educational advantages available to seek another two-year term. mayor last year following the res- else went smoothly,” she said as her 16 stu- “This is definitely my favorite group,” said his son. “That was definitely a huge decision All nine-council seats are up ignation of mayor Scott Pope. dents started their second day of classes Aug. Jodi Moote, a para-professional working maker,” Tim said. for re-election. Then-assistant mayor Deb Cutts 28 working with small blocks. alongside Wright. Also assisting was Barbara Although candidates cannot was obligated by law to fill Pope’s For the first time, the Newport School Dis- Hathaway, a substitute para-professional. see FIRST DAY, page A15 officially file until Sept. 16, it’s in- vacant seat, and the council then evitable that some have already voted to have Austin replace made their decision… and that Cutts. some have not. For Austin, it’s all about stay- New open space committee formed Mayor Deborah Cutts is ing the course. among those who are undecided, “I’m afraid if I don’t run that By KYLE JARVIS good paying jobs, while improv- “everyone has the right to their Currently the committee in- she said Tuesday afternoon. the person who takes my place Staff Writer ing the infrastructure and fixing opinion. cludes six members, all residents “You always wonder who [email protected] will have completely different our downtown. We had to ask our- There aren’t a lot of places of Claremont: David Putnam, Tom might come along, and what they ideas,” he said over the phone CLAREMONT – After two selves then, should Claremont be with the infrastructure we have Brothers, Kevin McCaffery, Steve might have to offer,” she said over failed attempts at creating and last week. “And I’d hate to see a full service city or not?” here, with 140 miles of paved Powers, Mike Lemieux, and Brian the phone. “I’d like to wait and everything we’ve done go down passing a new open space ordi- Santagate acknowledged that roads, 79 miles of sewer, and 50 Rapp. see what others are doing before nance for the city, a new com- the tubes.” while he tends to come down on square miles of land,” he added. The committee unanimously I decide, but once I’ve made my Austin said he believes the tax mittee was formed Tuesday the side of economic develop- “But we have an obligation to selected Putnam as its chair, a po- decision, it won’t change, it’ll be night. issue will be one of the biggest in ment for his reasons stated, he maintain that infrastructure. If we sition he’s comfortable in, having straight ahead.” the coming elections. That new committee’s task values the input of the commit- don’t get more customers, the tax Due to some recent health re- goes beyond open space issues, tee, and the community, since stress will increase.” see OPEN SPACE, page A14 lated concerns, Assistant Mayor see RE-ELECTION, page A15 and may also include zoning laws, conservation and residen- tial development, and other city Cruisin’ with Steven Tyler codes. Animal hospital manager See story page A8 “The question really be- comes, do people of Claremont want to grow the city or not?” said City Manager Guy Santagate, will be hard to replace who attended the premier meet- ing in an advisory capacity only. By JORDAN DAVIS be seen. spent her next four years working Staff Writer Veterinarian and hospital own- for veterinarian Ian Tucker Burr in “Our main goal before was to [email protected] grow the tax base and create er Tony Castrignano, said the Walpole. SPRINGFIELD — It was a day of amount of work Derosier accom- In 1986, Derosier came to the mixed emotions when Springfield plished on a daily basis will be a Springfield Animal Hospital. Animal Hospital staff gathered re- task nearly impossible to repli- “At the time we were brand INSIDE cently to both celebrate and re- cate. new and she came in and started gret the retirement of one its most “There’s so much stuff she taking care of the animals in the Arts & Entertainment .....B7-8, 10 cherished employees, Edie does that we don’t know about — kennel, cleaning their beds and Classifieds ....................................B9 Derosier. stuff she doesn’t even think about feeding them,” Castrignano said. Meet our Staff ...........................A6 After 23 years of service, that she just does — that we’ve re- “And she did the best job ever and North Country Notebook........A7 Derosier has decided to step ally had to divvy up the major I could tell she should be doing down as veterinary technician things amongst five or six staff something more, so she learned Newport Beat ............................A7 and manager at the animal hospi- people,” Castrignano said. to be a veterinary technician, and Obituaries.................................A10 tal. For Derosier, caring for ani- quickly became the hospital man- Opinion .......................................A6 “I’ve come to the age where it’s mals has been a lifelong passion. ager.” too demanding physically and Raised on a farm in Mount Holly, Derosier’s coworkers said she Sports........................................B1-6 mentally and I just think I’ve Vt., Derosier recalls milking, would be sorely missed and not Sports Highlights ...............A12-13 reached a point where it’s better cleaning and feeding a broad quickly forgotten. Villager Almanac .......................B4 left to the younger generation to range of animals. “Her advice and wisdom al- take over,” Derosier said in her “I think the biggest thing that ways had a way of making you feel humble manner at her party Aug. pushed me towards working with better if something wasn’t going 27. animals is just the fact that I loved your way,” veterinary technician Brittney Murray was all smiles Sunday when she had her Whether a younger generation all the farming,” Derosier said.