Barack Obama will be hosting a Town Hall forum at Keene State College on Monday April 2nd at the Spaulding Gymnasium. (Keene State College is located at 229 Main Street in Keene, New Hampshire). Tickets for this event are available at the Cheshire County Democrats Headquarters located at 2 Eagle Court in Keene (behind Bagelworks), from 9:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M. Thursday March 29th through Sunday April 1st, and from 9:00 A.M. through 12:00 P.M. on Monday April 2nd. They are also available on line at www.barackobama.com.
Doors will open at 6:00 P.M.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Barack Obama to visit Keene-POSTPONED !!!
Town Hall Forum with Senator Barack Obama When: Friday March 16 -- Doors open at 6:30 PM Where: Keene High School Gymnasium, 43 Arch Street, Keene, NH How: The event is free and open to the public. To get a ticket go to:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/keene0316
http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/keene0316
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Cheshire Democrats Book Club
For this month we've decided to switch from the Middle East back to the U.S. We are going to read State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III, by Bob Woodward. If the last book was disturbing, I can't wait to read this one. We are going to meet Tuesday, March 27, at 6:30 PM, at the Keene Public Library, in the Trustees Room on the second floor.
Peace March-POSTPONED UNTIL 3/24/07
To mark the 4th Anniversary of the U.S. MilitaryInvasion of Iraq: The Keene Community will call for ending war and occupation, for diplomatic solutions to international problems, and for funding humanitarian needs instead of funding the war machine. On Saturday, March 17, beginning at 10am, we will gather at the entry arch (Appian Way) of Keene State College on Main Street. A march will take place on both sides of Main St. and converge at Central Square by 11am for the weekly peace vigil. At noon, we will voice our need for peace and share nourishment. Bring signs, drums, music makers and peaceful intentions.For more information, contact Chris Hansen at603-835-6190 or marcuschristian@hotmail.com or callCheryl Quimby at 603-499-1975 Thanks for putting the word out, hope to see you all there!Regards,Cheryl
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Molly Kelly to host Public Forums
A key player in Gov. John H. Lynch’s effort to solve the state’s school funding puzzle — state Sen. Molly Kelly, D-Keene — plans to host four public meetings in her district this week to solicit opinions and ideas about how to define an “adequate” education.
About a month ago, Lynch appointed the newly-elected Kelly to an eight-member task force whose job is to begin solving the school funding problem by developing a definition of an adequate education.
Kelly, who made education the dominant theme of her campaign last fall, said she considered it an honor to be asked to join the task force, which is preparing to tackle a problem that has gone unresolved for about a decade.
The challenge facing the state is to find a way to abide by the N.H. Supreme Court’s ruling that paying for an adequate education is the state’s responsibility, rather than the responsibility of local property-tax payers.
Legislators say solving the crisis will eventually require more than just a definition — it will also require figuring out how much money it would cost the state to provide an adequate education, and how the state will raise the money to pay for it.
But Kelly and other state legislators say it’s important, for the time being, to focus on the issue of what “adequacy” is.
“I understand that it’s difficult not to talk about the cost, but we’re really trying to do that,” Kelly said.
Roughly a decade ago, the N.H. Supreme Court declared the state’s system of paying for education — where the financial burden falls largely to local property taxes — unconstitutional.
Since then, efforts to resolve the issue have been struck down repeatedly by the N.H. Supreme Court.
In a ruling last year, the Court gave the state Legislature until July 1 of this year to come up with a definition of what constitutes an “adequate” education.
On Feb. 12, Lynch introduced his own definition of adequacy, which is based on the state’s school approval standards and curriculum frameworks.
The state school approval standards are a list of criteria all public schools must meet. They include everything from what students should learn in biology class to how much time they should have to eat lunch to how many should be in each 5th-grade class. Schools that fail to meet the criteria are given three years to make improvements.
Lynch’s definition doesn’t include all the standards. While it incorporates the criteria for English, math, science, social studies, the arts, world languages, technology, health and physical education for elementary, middle and high school, it leaves out standards for school facilities and guidance counselors, among others.
Kelly said Lynch’s proposed definition is only a starting point from the task force. She declined to comment on any of the details in Lynch’s definition, saying she’s not offering up her own views until after she hears from the public.
The task force, which includes four senators and four state representatives, is holding public meetings in Plymouth, Manchester, Dover and Claremont to seek public input.
The group isn’t hosting a forum in the Monadnock Region, which is why Kelly is hosting her own meetings in her district this week, she said. The public, however, may attend a forum hosted by the entire task force on Monday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m., at the Maple Avenue Elementary School at 210 Maple Ave. in Claremont.
Besides Kelly, the task force’s other members are senators Iris W. Estabrook, D-Durham, Martha Fuller Clark, D-Portsmouth, and Robert P. Odell Jr., R-Lempster, as well as state representatives Emma L. Rous, D-Durham, Kimberley S. Casey, D-East Kingston, James M. O’Neil, D-Merrimack, and Nancy F. Stiles, R-Hampton.
Kelly’s meetings:
Tuesday, March 6, at 7 p.m. at the ELM Community Center in Winchester.
Wednesday, March 7, at 6 p.m. at Chesterfield Elementary School.
Saturday, March 10, at 10 a.m., at the Cheshire County YMCA building on Lake Street in Swanzey.
Sunday, March 11, at 4 p.m., at Keene High School, room 9.
Members of the public may also attend a forum hosted by the entire task force on Monday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m., at the Maple Avenue Elementary School at 210 Maple Ave. in Claremont.
Kelly said she also welcomes comments sent to her via e-mail, at molly.kelly@state.leg.nh.us, or at adequacy@leg.state.nh.us.
About a month ago, Lynch appointed the newly-elected Kelly to an eight-member task force whose job is to begin solving the school funding problem by developing a definition of an adequate education.
Kelly, who made education the dominant theme of her campaign last fall, said she considered it an honor to be asked to join the task force, which is preparing to tackle a problem that has gone unresolved for about a decade.
The challenge facing the state is to find a way to abide by the N.H. Supreme Court’s ruling that paying for an adequate education is the state’s responsibility, rather than the responsibility of local property-tax payers.
Legislators say solving the crisis will eventually require more than just a definition — it will also require figuring out how much money it would cost the state to provide an adequate education, and how the state will raise the money to pay for it.
But Kelly and other state legislators say it’s important, for the time being, to focus on the issue of what “adequacy” is.
“I understand that it’s difficult not to talk about the cost, but we’re really trying to do that,” Kelly said.
Roughly a decade ago, the N.H. Supreme Court declared the state’s system of paying for education — where the financial burden falls largely to local property taxes — unconstitutional.
Since then, efforts to resolve the issue have been struck down repeatedly by the N.H. Supreme Court.
In a ruling last year, the Court gave the state Legislature until July 1 of this year to come up with a definition of what constitutes an “adequate” education.
On Feb. 12, Lynch introduced his own definition of adequacy, which is based on the state’s school approval standards and curriculum frameworks.
The state school approval standards are a list of criteria all public schools must meet. They include everything from what students should learn in biology class to how much time they should have to eat lunch to how many should be in each 5th-grade class. Schools that fail to meet the criteria are given three years to make improvements.
Lynch’s definition doesn’t include all the standards. While it incorporates the criteria for English, math, science, social studies, the arts, world languages, technology, health and physical education for elementary, middle and high school, it leaves out standards for school facilities and guidance counselors, among others.
Kelly said Lynch’s proposed definition is only a starting point from the task force. She declined to comment on any of the details in Lynch’s definition, saying she’s not offering up her own views until after she hears from the public.
The task force, which includes four senators and four state representatives, is holding public meetings in Plymouth, Manchester, Dover and Claremont to seek public input.
The group isn’t hosting a forum in the Monadnock Region, which is why Kelly is hosting her own meetings in her district this week, she said. The public, however, may attend a forum hosted by the entire task force on Monday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m., at the Maple Avenue Elementary School at 210 Maple Ave. in Claremont.
Besides Kelly, the task force’s other members are senators Iris W. Estabrook, D-Durham, Martha Fuller Clark, D-Portsmouth, and Robert P. Odell Jr., R-Lempster, as well as state representatives Emma L. Rous, D-Durham, Kimberley S. Casey, D-East Kingston, James M. O’Neil, D-Merrimack, and Nancy F. Stiles, R-Hampton.
Kelly’s meetings:
Tuesday, March 6, at 7 p.m. at the ELM Community Center in Winchester.
Wednesday, March 7, at 6 p.m. at Chesterfield Elementary School.
Saturday, March 10, at 10 a.m., at the Cheshire County YMCA building on Lake Street in Swanzey.
Sunday, March 11, at 4 p.m., at Keene High School, room 9.
Members of the public may also attend a forum hosted by the entire task force on Monday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m., at the Maple Avenue Elementary School at 210 Maple Ave. in Claremont.
Kelly said she also welcomes comments sent to her via e-mail, at molly.kelly@state.leg.nh.us, or at adequacy@leg.state.nh.us.
Scott Ritter to speak in Keene
Wednesday March 7, 7pm. KEENE. 'The Case for Engagement with Iran.' Former UN Chief Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter will be speaking about the growing signs that the U.S. is preparing to attack Iran. Scott Ritter served as Chief Weapons Inspector for the United Nations Special Commission in Iraq where he was in charge of searching for weapons of mass destruction. Ritter conceived, carried out, and participated in over forty inspections. Ritter ultimately resigned from UNSCOM, determining that Iraq did not possess weapons of mass destruction, while unearthing the true threats to international justice and global security surrounding U.S. policy. A former Major in the U.S. Marines, Ritter established himself in his distinguished 12-year career in government service within the U.S. armed services. His most recent book, Target Iran, fully illuminates the truth about this potentially devastating conflict between the U.S. and Iran. Mabel Brown Room, Student Center at Keene State College. This event is sponsored by New Hampshire Peace Action, Mothers Uniting, KSC History Club, KSC Sociology Department, KSC Department of Political Science, and KSC Campus Commission on Diversity & Multiculturism and is free and open to the public. For more information, call 228-0559. tel. (603) 355 2816
April Cheshire County Democrats Meeting
Please join the Cheshire County Democrats for our monthly meeting on Sunday April 1st at 5:30 P.M. The meeting will be held at out headquarters located at 2 Eagle Court in Keene, behind Bagelworks.
We look forward to seeing you!
We look forward to seeing you!
Monday, March 05, 2007
New Hampshire House Finance Committee Budget Hearings
New Hampshire House Finance Committee Budget Hearings
The House Finance Committee has scheduled five hearings on the budget across the state so that citizens, community leaders, community members, advocates, professionals, and organization representatives can appear before the committee to comment on the budget.
This is the first time in over 25 years that the House Finance Committee has taken its hearings on the road, opening up the process to those who cannot make it to Concord . The Finance Committee will be recording the hearings so that they may be streamed on the General Court Web site.
“If you breathe the air, drink the water, drive on a road, run a business, go to school, or enjoy the scenery, the budget affects the quality of your life,” said Rep. Bernard Benn, House Finance Committee Vice-Chair. “The budget impacts all of us, and we want to make sure everyone has a say.”
Everyone is invited to attend, whether to listen or to speak to the committee. The hearings are scheduled as follows:
(Click on the link for directions to the hearing)
March 5th, 4-7 pm, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Auditorium E and F, Lebanon
March 6th, 5-8 pm, Alumni Recital Hall, Redfern Arts Center , Keene State College, Keene
March 8th, 4-7 pm, Rochester Community Center , Rochester
March 12th, 4-7 pm, PSNH Auditorium, Manchester
March 15th, 4-7 pm, White Mountain Regional High School Auditorium, Lancaster
The House Finance Committee has scheduled five hearings on the budget across the state so that citizens, community leaders, community members, advocates, professionals, and organization representatives can appear before the committee to comment on the budget.
This is the first time in over 25 years that the House Finance Committee has taken its hearings on the road, opening up the process to those who cannot make it to Concord . The Finance Committee will be recording the hearings so that they may be streamed on the General Court Web site.
“If you breathe the air, drink the water, drive on a road, run a business, go to school, or enjoy the scenery, the budget affects the quality of your life,” said Rep. Bernard Benn, House Finance Committee Vice-Chair. “The budget impacts all of us, and we want to make sure everyone has a say.”
Everyone is invited to attend, whether to listen or to speak to the committee. The hearings are scheduled as follows:
(Click on the link for directions to the hearing)
March 5th, 4-7 pm, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Auditorium E and F, Lebanon
March 6th, 5-8 pm, Alumni Recital Hall, Redfern Arts Center , Keene State College, Keene
March 8th, 4-7 pm, Rochester Community Center , Rochester
March 12th, 4-7 pm, PSNH Auditorium, Manchester
March 15th, 4-7 pm, White Mountain Regional High School Auditorium, Lancaster
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