New Hampshire

Lamprey River Elementary School Holds End of Year BBQ for Fourth Grade Students

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Raymond School District
Tina McCoy, Superintendent
43 Harriman Hill Road
Raymond, NH 03077

For Immediate Release

Monday, July 1, 2019

Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Lamprey River Elementary School Holds End of Year BBQ for Fourth Grade Students

RAYMOND — To celebrate the end of the school year, Lamprey River Elementary School hosted its first barbecue celebration for fourth grade students.

Children enter LRES in preschool, and upon completing fourth grade, move on to the Iber Holmes Gove Middle School.

In what Principal Laura Yacek hopes will be the first of an annual tradition, the school organized a barbecue for students and family members on June 17.

The Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery in Raymond generously donated burgers, hot dogs, buns, water and condiments, with chefs from the restaurant also manning the grill. Parents provided side dishes, drinks and desserts.

“We are so thankful to the Tuckaway, which went above and beyond to help make our party special for our fourth graders,” Principal Yacek said. “Thank you to all the parents who contributed to the barbecue. This was a fantastic event and I couldn’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate the end of the year.”

After the barbecue, Principal Yacek presented fourth grade students with the LRES Bullfrog Medal and then guided children over the fourth grade bridge for one last walk through the school. School faculty and staff and students in the remaining grades then led a “clap out,” applauding fourth grade students for their accomplishments as they walked through the building.

Principal Yacek would like to recognize and thank parent volunteers who helped organize the event: Brandi Ledoux, Brie Mensinger, Stephanie Woods, Lisa Dufour, Karla Bauer, Liz McGovern, Ellen Jolie and Maria Taylor.

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Bedford, N.H. Police Statement on Use of IPAWS Alert System

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Bedford Police Department
John J. Bryfonski, Chief of Police
55 Constitution Drive
Bedford, NH 03110

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Bedford, N.H. Police Statement on Use of IPAWS Alert System

BEDFORD, N.H. — Chief John J. Bryfonski issues the following statement on behalf of the Bedford Police Department:

“On Monday evening, a multi-jurisdictional police pursuit entered the community of Bedford, with Manchester and New Hampshire State Police attempting to apprehend a dangerous suspect who was trying to evade police.

“The pursuit came to an end in Bedford, in a residential neighborhood, near power lines. Initial reports indicated that the suspect may have a firearm. A Nixle alert was sent out to alert residents to shelter in place in the area of Glen Road. As the situation progressed, we learned that there were some residents out and about in the neighborhood.

“Bedford Police made the decision to deploy the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, or IPAWS, a service of the federal government, to alert residents by all means available about the possible danger to avoid the area and shelter in place.

It was the department’s intention for this alert to be broadcast within a half-mile radius of the scene, but we understand that the message went farther into Hillsborough County than we initially intended.

“However, given the exigent nature of this rapidly unfolding emergency, the police department reacted quickly in its attempts to notify citizens about a dangerous situation using the methods at our disposal.

“As soon as the suspect was in custody and the danger had passed, the department issued an ‘all clear’ notice.

“As is the case during all major events, the Bedford Police Department is reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of this incident, including the use of the Nixle and the IPAWS system and any features and settings of the systems that could better specify their range in the future.

“The Bedford Police would like to thank the residents and businesses for their cooperation during this incident. We are grateful, most of all, that no one was injured during the pursuit, standoff or apprehension of the suspect.”

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Bedford, N.H. Police Lift Shelter in Place Advisory

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Bedford Police Department
John J. Bryfonski, Chief of Police
55 Constitution Drive
Bedford, NH 03110

For Immediate Release

Monday, June 24, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Bedford, N.H. Police Lift Shelter in Place Advisory

BEDFORD, N.H. — Chief John J. Bryfonski and the Bedford Police Department advise that the situation in the area of Oak Drive, Glen Road and Wendover way has been resolved.

The previously issued shelter in place advisory has been lifted.

Residents in the area had been asked to shelter in place due to police activity involving an adult male subject who had barricaded himself inside a vehicle.

The subject has since surrendered and is now in police custody.

Residents of nearby streets had been asked to shelter in place, out of an abundance of caution, however the scene is now all clear.

Additional details and updates will be provided as they become available.

 

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Statement of Mascoma Valley Regional School District Superintendent Amanda Isabelle Regarding Dining Services

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Mascoma Valley School District 

Amanda Isabelle, Superintendent

Rt. 4
PO Box 789
Enfield, NH 03748

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, May 17, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Statement of Mascoma Valley Regional School District Superintendent Amanda Isabelle Regarding Dining Services

ENFIELD, N.H. —  A recent occurrence with the Mascoma Valley Regional School District’s dining services has reminded school administrators of their mission: to prepare students to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens in an ever-changing world. This situation reminds us all that we are lifelong learners.

Superintendent Amanda Isabelle has today spoken with the owners of Cafe Services, SAU 62’s Manchester-based dining vendor, regarding the employment of a part-time cafeteria worker who was terminated in March.

Cafe Services has agreed to invite the employee to return to her previous position immediately, with back pay for the time she missed.

The district will work with Cafe Services to review food services policies to ensure that they meet best practices and that there are no conflicts between district and vendors. The goal of this is to ensure that the school district, the vendor, and their employees do not face the uncertainty and allegations levied in this situation in the future.

“First and foremost, it is our goal to do right by our families, community, students and employees at the Mascoma Valley Regional School District. The events of these past few weeks and the feedback I have received from parents has given me considerable pause,” Superintendent Isabelle said. “As a school district, we understand the importance of rules and procedures, but upon reflection, I have become sufficiently convinced that it is wrong of us to assume that all the responsibility falls to the vendor, and I do not believe our communities would accept that explanation of this situation. We must be accountable for the people who work in our schools.”

There are, as there tend to be with rumors that circulate on social media, a number of inaccuracies in the reports that are circulating. The Mascoma Valley Regional School District wishes to state for the record:

  • The school district serves approximately 1,200 students in four regional schools in five towns in western New Hampshire. Approximately 360 (30 percent) of its students receive free lunch.
  • The school district does not refuse to provide food to a hungry child who cannot afford to pay .
  • The district’s policy regarding free lunches is that students will always be provided with meals, milk, fruits and vegetables. There are, however, items such as ice cream bars, sports drinks and chips that are not provided for free. Those packaged items have a high unit cost to the district and are not viewed as essential nutrition.
  • The district will ensure that all food services staff, including employees of external vendors, are properly trained on food distribution policies.

Superintendent Isabelle also understands that this situation has created a serious and worthwhile discussion about the school district’s contract with its food services vendor.

“Our contract with Cafe Services was renewed only after a review of its ability to deliver comprehensive, whole and nutritious meal plans for our students including free lunch for those who need assistance,” Superintendent Isabelle said.

Two vendors submitted bids for the district’s food service contract for the 2019-2020 school year. Cafe Services is a net-positive vendor, meaning that its contract with the district actually results in an annual profit, which goes directly into the school budget. The only other bid would have been revenue neutral in a best-case scenario.

The district has requested the right to be released from its contract with Cafe Services for next year, which would re-open the public bidding process. However, it is Superintendent Isabelle’s hope that the district, the communities and Cafe Services can move forward with these changes, and she is optimistic after Cafe Services agreed to the requests to reinstate the employee, with pay and review its policies.

“I believe we have all learned something through this process,” Superintendent Isabelle said.

Mascoma Valley Regional School District also offers a variety of programs and supports for those struggling with food security, including a food bank that operates out of the high school and a table in the high school lobby where students can take granola bars, apples and other snacks for free during the school day, no questions asked. The district also participates in the End 68 Hours of Hunger program, which supplies students in need with food for the weekend. Mascoma Valley also operates multiple locations in the summer where anyone under the age of 18 can visit and receive a free breakfast and lunch, and coordinates donations of food for students over school vacations and holidays.

Friends Feeding Friends, a program of the local charity group Friends of Mascoma, also works with the school to stock the high school food pantry and provide snacks for teachers to make available to students in their classrooms.

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