Memorial Day: Thank you, Rindge!

Did you know we almost didn't have a Memorial Day Celebration in Rindge this year?  It's true.  The RVA took over Memorial Day planning back in 2001 or 2002.  Prior to that, the Chamber, the Woman's Club, the Town, the RAMS, POOR and all the organizations put a committee together to organize the observances and events.
Well, time marches on and the RVA, while growing it's membership, finds that they are getting too old to be responsible for all the arrangements.  The younger veterans are still raising children or are in demanding careers that leave little time for all the required tasks.  The Town pays for most of the expenses, but someone has to file the paperwork, collect invoices, develop the program, contact all the groups that will march or volunteer services, get wreaths, arrange for music, and file a multi-page form for requesting a Town event.  Michael Krygowski of the RVA still did all the work of coordinating with the Boy Scouts to put flags on the graves of veterans.  Paul Stewart and the RVA provided a Ceremonial Guard for the RMS School Assembly, provided a Parade Marshal and Ceremonial Guard for the parade, and for Memorial Day at COTP on May 30th.  In addition, Paul Stewart picked up and returned the grill used for the picnic.
I would like to thank the RVA for all the years that they organized Memorial Day for Rindge.  And, I also offer thanks for all the things they still do to make Memorial Day a meaningful event.  It touches my heart to see WWII veterans still marching with us or riding the float.  Captain Craig Clark did a great job as Parade Marshal in his first year.  Still, we miss Sgt.Major Earl Marshall leading the parade as he did for so many years.
For my part, I had to use a waistband expander to fit into my shirt and felt my hip hitch a couple of times when we marched up the hill from the school during the tributes.  I can't ignore the fact that I've been wearing that same skirt for 15 years now...and marching with the same old bones.  I'm not ready to give it up yet, but I have to face the fact that time does march on for all of us. 
So, the RVA passed the baton for organizing Memorial Day back to the Town in late February or March.  Could the Town get it together in time?   Town Administrator, Jane Pitt, reached out to the community to see what could be done.  Should we have a simple service at the Meeting House and forget the rest of it?
Memorial Day is tricky for Rindge because we don't have our own High School Marching Band.  We share the Conant Band with Jaffrey...so, we are constrained in terms of scheduling. We could all just go to Jaffrey and celebrate with them.  Memorial Day in Jaffrey is wonderful!  So many veterans march and receive a wonderful welcome at the American Legion and Jaffrey VFW after the parade, that it's hard for Rindge to compete.
But, then, what of the Tributes at the Memorials?  Memorial Day observances in Rindge stretch far back in our history as a Town.  It is part of our identity.
On my advice, Jane reached out to Linda Bussiere to see if she would chair the event with the help of the Town.  Linda, working two jobs, caring for an aging parent, and generally having a busy and demanding life, made the commitment to keep the tradition going.  I volunteered to help, as did Dennis Casey, Paul Stewart (representing the RVA), Amy Raymond, Jeannette Gutteridge (representing the RWC), Carol Donovan (representing P.O.O.R), Annette Williams, Nicole Sesia, Jane Pitt, Deb Douglas, and all the Department heads.  The R.A.M.S. lent their muscle to helping set up the Common with tables, chairs and tent.  The Boy Scouts helped with many tasks; putting out no parking signs, carrying wreaths for the tributes and parade and assisting the RVA in putting out flags on the graves of the veterans.  Kim McCummings was there first thing in the morning to help put out the signs and generally set things up for the day.  She just shows up every year without being asked!   Thanks to Pam Shuel and Phyllis Sesia for helping to collect all the signs after the parade.  Again, they just showed up to help without being asked!
Thanks to the Rindge Woman's Club for doing all the cooking, preparing and serving of the picnic.  And a deeply felt thank you to Hannaford's for donating all the food, drinks, ice, and chips as they have for so many years.  Jeanne and Nick Carguilo and Deb and Jim Qualey organized, cooked, served, cleaned up and made it all work beautifully!
Thank you to Jennie Aho and her group for performing during the picnic.  Jennie performs patriotic selections, plus several of her own beautiful and moving compositions.  Due to concern about "stepping off" on time, Jennie's performance was cut short and we deeply apologize for that!  We will try to start the whole day 1/2 hour earlier next year so that this doesn't happen again. 
Thanks to Music Teacher, Deb Rainey, and the RMS Chorus and Band.  The sweet voices of the children and their beautiful faces and spirits are a highlight of the day and always bring a tear to my eye.  It is for their shining futures that our wars were fought.
The Conant Band did a wonderful job, as usual and despite challenges, and really made the parade something special for us.
Thanks to Savron Graphics and Rob Crowley for printing such a beautiful program for us!  It is a real keepsake!  Dennis Casey did all the layout and was extremely nice and patient with us in that last week!
Thanks to Eric Poor for the wonderful biography for our very deserving Grand Marshal, Kathy McKinney!   
Dana and Becky Ryll of Fieldstone Farms turned a couple of benches and a flatbed trailer into a beautiful float, complete with canopy, to carry our veterans, who no longer march, in real style!
Reverend Jadlocki not only delivered moving and relevant tributes to our fallen, but also innovated a PA system so that we could actually hear his prayers and reflections on this solemn day.  
Thanks to all the local veterans who showed up to fill out the Ceremonial Guard.  It is great to see the young veterans making the commitment to join us in honoring our fallen heroes!
Annette Williams of Fawn'd Memories did a wonderful job with the wreaths.  They were absolutely stunning!  Thanks to P.O.O.R for paying for the materials to make them.
Thanks to the Highway department for organizing and readying the signs, putting the tent together , setting out picnic tables on the Common and making the transfer station available for parking.
The RPD and Larry Harris were with us all day, safeguarding the marchers, and helping with communications and set up.
The RFD did us the great honor of marching with us.  They looked so sharp!  It is very touching the way they line up outside of the cemetery to salute the colors as they pass.  We also thank them for putting up the barricades and taking them down again after the parade, and keeping an eye on our health and safety throughout the parade.
Thanks to Rae DuVernay and the Beautification Committee for the plantings at all the Memorials.  This is truly an act of love for the town that we enjoy all year!
Thanks to the Rec Department for the use of the grill, picnic tables, and bullhorn.
But, MOST OF ALL, thank you to Linda Bussiere who held it all together, arranged for the 6th NH to join us, and MADE IT FUN!   There would have been no Memorial Day in Rindge without her efforts!  She put out a million little fires and took care of details that would boggle the mind in a very short time.  For me, the best part of this Memorial Day was the joy of getting to know Linda and the fun of working with her.
I am posting this blog because there is no way that I could thank all the people involved in the proscribed length of a Letter to the Editor!  In fact, I'm sure, despite my efforts, I have probably missed people who helped behind the scenes.  Please know that I am grateful to you as well!  Thank you one and all for making Memorial Day in Rindge such a beautiful event!
I always think to myself that the reason we have these town events is partly to remind ourselves that we CAN pull together as a community for the greater good...in good times and bad.  

Dancing Fool...it's who I am...

Went for my annual checkup today.  I expected my BP to be in the 130/90+ range after all the stress and political controversy I've been engaged in (Not blaming anyone else.  I am doing this of my own accord).  Surprise! 110/80  My doctor thinks it's all the dancing I do.  And I think the dancing is what immunizes me against the public shaming and ridicule I've encountered.  It's kind of hard to shame a woman in her 60s who's willing to strap on tap shoes, dress up in costumes and dance around in public.  Seriously.  I know I'm not hurting anyone...well, except for their sense of taste, perhaps?  So why shouldn't I dance with all my heart or speak my mind?  I think I'm standing up for the Town of Rindge (people and organization) and our First Amendment rights when it comes to the Charrette and the ability to communicate with the RPCs or any other State approved organization in the best interests of the town.  The zoning changes failed.  That is over and I recognize it.  It was always up to the voters and so it went that they rejected the changes.  But, rewriting our history or restricting the right of free association goes too far, in my opinion.  I promised my family that I would disengage before I get hurt, but until someone with expertise answers my question, I will hold fast to that belief and keep asking the question.  I am NOT bitter.  I am NOT angry.  And my doctor assured me that I am NOT going senile or "around the bend."  So, this is NOT hurting me mentally or physically.  If you love me, don't worry about me because I am really okay.  Being an "outsider" is familiar territory for me (Air Force, engineering school, etc.), but the true friendships I have...even if they don't see my point or concern... sustain me and make it so worthwhile to live here.   If I get an opinion that this is not a First Amendment issue, I will drop that argument, but I won't stop campaigning for challenging those warrant articles at the next town meeting.  I think it's important for everyone in town.  That makes me feel good about it.  I really have not and will not call people names.  This is not some "dark" battle for me.  I am just waiting for the answer to what I consider a very important question.  Sometimes it isn't that obvious when something is covered by the First Amendment.  I'm not 100% sure, but if there's a chance, it should be tested.  Feeling that way, I can't consider myself a true patriot if I'm unwilling to defend it.  That is how we protect our freedom and liberty. 

Time

I love watching Neil DeGrasse Tyson's "Cosmos."  Sometimes I record it so I can watch it again.  There is so much to absorb about space-time and the laws of quantum mechanics that I can't "fix it" in my brain without hearing it repeated at least a couple of times.
Right now, I am thinking about Time in a very personal sense. 
I have asked a question and now I must wait patiently for the answer. 
Time seems to expand with the experience of waiting.  The hands on the clock move with the same speed as always, but the personal experience of their movement...the waiting seems infinitely slow.  
Of course, waiting for an answer isn't nearly as unendurable as waiting to hear the results of a biopsy for oneself or a loved one.  I am grateful that the only thing at stake is intellectual curiosity and the pursuit of truth.
The trouble with waiting is that there's a tendency to put life on hold.  I don't mean to do that.  I need to put all the worry and struggle aside and throw myself into life. 
I WILL get an answer in a few weeks or months.  That should be enough for me. 

Please don't throw the Charrette Study out

Below is the text of the speech I gave to the Planning Board at the Public Hearing on removing the Charrette from the Master Plan.  It was of no avail.  The PB voted 6 to 1 to remove the Charrette.  

I will be brief.  Tonight, as a result of the passage of Article 29 at the last Town Meeting, which requests that you delete and remove the entire contents of the "Plan NH" Charrette from the Rindge Master Plan, you are faced with a decision.  Please consider that you were not commanded to remove it, but simply requested to do so.  You can say, "No."  

Here are a few reasons why you should consider retaining it.

1.) Those who worked on the Charrette, did so with the understanding that there would be a work product as the result of their efforts.  Agree or disagree with the suggestions; it was an honest effort and everyone tried to bring their best "game" to the meetings and workshops.  When the Economic Development meetings began, working folks made time to come to early 8 AM meetings before going to work.  They gave up Saturdays and evenings to participate in the Charrette meetings.  Everyone was welcome to be part of it.  It was advertised to the general public by email, mail, webpage, Facebook Page, the newspapers and "The Rindge Connection."  I consider it suppression of "Free Speech" to bury the work product of our efforts.  It might seem like a small thing, but consider the impact and precedent you are setting.  When a person volunteers for the town it is with the understanding that, within reason, you will respect their gifts and their time and won't waste either needlessly. Deleting the Charrette is like erasing the work of the people who participated.

2.) Of all the projects this Town has taken on, this "chapter" or appendix in the Master Plan must rank among the most controversial.  If we are to "learn from history," the Charrette should stay in the Master Plan if only as a caution for future projects.  By deleting the Charrette, you are removing an important piece of our history from the record...you are, in fact, rewriting history.  If someone would care to add an appendix to explain why the zoning regulations associated with the Charrette failed, I think that would be helpful to future committees and planning boards.

3.) The zoning regulations failed.  That should be enough for the people who opposed the Charrette and its vision.  I did not campaign for or against the zoning regulations.  The only thing I ever cared about was that people were truthful and allowed to express themselves openly, without intimidation.  The voters of Rindge have spoken and said that property rights trump any "visions" or plans that others may have. At least, that is how people feel today.  But, property rights do not trump free speech; which cannot be taken away by a vote.   

It’s great to see so many new faces turning up for meetings, but while we all need critics to help us improve, without positive feedback and support, we will wind up with no one willing to expose themselves to volunteering or running for office in this town.

That is all I have to say.  Thank you.