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NORTH HAMPTON
Community Newsletter
SPONSORED BY: Friends of the Library, North Hampton Public Library, North Hampton School Board and the Town of North Hampton
The start of the 2009-2010 school year at North Hampton School was celebrated by students, parents, staff and community members at the Open House and Back to School Picnic sponsored by PAL on Thursday, August 27. Within our freshly scrubbed and gleaming school facility, students found their way to their new classrooms and were greeted warmly by their new teachers. Outside, under a perfect blue sky, everyone had the opportunity to reconnect with old and new friends Back to school picnic 2009 over barbequed hamburgers and hotat North Hampton School dogs. The music, the bouncy house, the playground, the volley ball court, and most importantly the dessert and information tents all contributed to a festive welcome of the new school year. Perfect weather again ushered the students off the bus and out of their cars on Monday, August 31 for the first day of school. Four hundred eighty-three students walked through the doors ready to begin a new learning journey with their teachers and peers. If faces at the end of the day were any prediction, this year promises to be one of our best! North Hampton School has some different faces this year as ten new interns and five new Educational Associates join the staff. We have also hired three new certified teachers: Michelle Kling in Grade 2, Susan Haight in Visual Arts K-4, and Trish Johnston in Grade 5. Be sure to introduce yourselves to all of us, whether we are returning or new staff members. We want to be sure you know us and the important work we are about in this school. To give you a taste of what we value, please read our newly adopted Mission Statement and Guiding Beliefs below. We hope you will join our community forum this fall to write the Vision that will align with these beliefs. Stay tuned for additional public information on this way of having a voice in your school.
GUIDING BELIEFS:
We believe our school must be a healthy and safe environment both physically and emotionally for all. We believe we are educating individuals in the areas of academics, arts, civics and wellness; we will support and challenge each student to achieve his/her highest potential. We believe there is a shared responsibility and necessary collaboration among students, parents, educators, school board and community for advancing the schools Mission, Guiding Beliefs and Vision with a commitment to continuous improvement. ~Jan Scipione, Assistant Principal
NORTH HAMPTON COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
Next Deadline
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2010
Newsletter Contacts
SCHOOL: Tara Rossi, 964-5501 TOWN: Lorreen Keating, 964-6326, youthlib@nhplib.org
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MUNICIPAL OFFICES
233 ATLANTIC AVENUE, NORTH HAMPTON, NH 03862 TEL: (603) 964-8087 FAX: (603) 964-1514 TOWN OF NORTH HAMPTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Town of North Hampton Reaches a Rate Settlement with Aquarion Water Company
NORTH HAMPTON, NH -The Town of North Hampton is pleased to announce that it has reached a rate case settlement agreement with Aquarion Water Company of New Hampshire, the NH PUC staff, and the Office of Consumer Advocate. On July 14, 2009 the settlement was presented to the NH PUC for its review and approval. An order on the settlement proposal is expected within 30 to 60 days. The Town believes that the settlement will allow Aquarion to continue to modernize and maintain its system, while responding to its customers needs by reducing the requested rate increases. North Hampton had several objectives in the rate case: to limit the increase in hydrant fees, the address the inequity of ratepayers subsidizing the cost of seasonal water connections by summer residents (most of whom reside in Hampton and Rye) and to encourage the adoption of measures to address water conservation. Aquarion had proposed a 21% increase in public hydrant fee charges. The Town was successful limiting the increase in fire hydrant fees to 9.99% instead. This was the lowest increase of any customer class. This has been a contentious issue with the Town since it pays almost $250,000 in hydrant service fees. Aquarion has acknowledged that its seasonal water connection fee of $15 was not covering the actual cost (estimated at $44) of providing such service. The settlement calls for the seasonal water connection fee to increase to $44, with the new revenue to be dedicated to reduction of public hydrant rates. The settlement commits Aquarion to work with North Hampton and the other municipalities where it provides water service on issues related to water conservation. The Selectmen, the Water Commissioners and the town land use boards look forward to working constructively with Aquarion on strategies (land use regulations, building code revisions) that will encourage water conservation. North Hampton also joined with the Office of Consumer Advocate in supporting the companys proposal for a Water Infrastructure and Conservation Adjustment Charge (WICA). This pilot program will run until the next rate case is presented (3-5 years) and will involve the company presenting to the parties a 3 year plan for capital improvements that address projects. For the first time, this will allow North Hampton and other parties an opportunity to review and comment on water infrastructure improvements before they are installed. North Hampton and the Office of Consumer Advocate sought to have the company move more quickly to install meters that can be read electronically from the street. This would allow for monthly billing, thereby providing customers with timely price signals on the costs of increased water usage during the summer. North Hampton and the Office of Consumer Advocate also supported the adoption of a system development charge (a typical charge when municipalities operate the water system), whereby those who wish to connect to the system pay a sum to buy into the investment that the long term customers have been making over the years in the systems capacity to serve new customers. Consensus could not be reached on these issues with the PUC staff. North Hampton looks forward to seeing these measures implemented as part of a future rate proceeding. As always, the North Hampton Water Commission wants to remind everyone that the best way to offset any increase in the water rates is conservation. There are many simple things that you can do to conserve water and at the same time, conserve money. ~North Hampton Water Commission Henry Fuller, Co-Chair, Bob Landman, Co-Chair, Richard Bettcher, Timothy Harned
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SEPTEMBER 25, 7:30PM New Organ Dedication Concert OCTOBER 17, 6:30PM Matimba Choral Concert OCTOBER 24, 10AM TO 3PM Book Sale and Pumpkin Carving NOVEMBER 6, TIME TBD Pops Concert by No. Hampton Choir NOVEMBER 7, 9AM TO 3PM Ladies Union Fall Fair NOVEMBER 14, 5PM Ham & Bean Supper
~Ellen Dozet, Office Manager
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Twos Time - ages 18 months to 36 months Tuesdays at 10:00am. Starts Tuesday, September 22
and ends Tuesday December 8th. Ages 3-6 Wednesdays 10:15am. Starts Tuesday September 23 and ends Tuesday December 16th.
Pajama Story Time: First Monday of every month at 6:30pm. We will finish by 7:00pm. All ages
are invited for stories, songs, music, and rhymes. Wear your pajamas and bring a favorite stuffed animal. No registration is required. Monday, October 5th at 6:30 Monday, November 9th at 6:30 Monday, December 7th at 6:30
Book Bunch - After School Fun for children in grades K and up. Book Bunch features books and
activities. Registration is required for Book Bunch. Program meets Thursdays: September 24, October 22, November 12 and December 17 from 3:45 -4:30.
Crafty Kids - Crafts for K and up. Meets one Wednesday a month from 3:30 4:30. September 16, October 14, November 18 and December 9. Sign up is required. Limited to 15. Literary Lions A book group for students in grades 4-5 (and capable 3rd grade readers). Upcoming meetings and book are: Tuesday, September 22, 3:45-4:30 Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar Tuesday, October 13, 3:45-4:30 Dial-a-Ghost by Eva Ibbotson Tuesday, November 10, 3;45-4:30 A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park Tuesday, December 8, 3:45-4:30 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl Pizza and Pages a book group for grades 5-8, featuring pizza and books, discussion, games, and a raffle prize. Stop by the library to pick up a copy of the current book and let us know you are coming so we have enough pizza for everyone. Upcoming Meeting dates: Mondays, September 21, October 26, November 23, December 21. Time: 7:00 7:45.
All programs are offered free of charge. Call to sign up today. Your book and movie suggestions are always welcome let us know. See you at the Library! ~Lorreen M. Keating Assistant Director & Youth Services Librarian
NORTH HAMPTON COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER PAGE 9
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Martha Dana and Polar Bear serve up Summer Fun. Photo courtesy of Linda Sherouse.
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Sponsored by: The Town of North Hampton, North Hampton School Board, Friends of the Library, North Hampton Public Library, North Hampton, NH 03862