Dental health

LYNDEBOROUGH – February is National Dental Health Month and it was observed at the Early Learning Center with a visit to the kindergartners by dental hygienist Kris Redman. Her presentation is through a school-based program in the Milford School District.

Redman demonstrated a typical visit to the dentist assisted by her friend “Mike the Monkey,” who has a prodigious set of teeth,

The students knew all the right answers: why the hygienist wears a mask and gloves (“germs!”);

brush your teeth twice a day, eat good foods, and, if you leave your baby tooth under the pillow, the tooth fairy will leave you some money.

Each child assisted Redman with a part of the presentation: counting teeth, how to brush properly, flossing, or by holding implements.

Each child received a “goodie bag” containing a toothbrush, tooth paste and a dental-related coloring book.

The program was arranged by School Nurse Laura Gifford.

The traveling dental program is supported by Delta Dental, the Milford Rotary Club, and Milford Hospital Association. Materials were supplied by Oral Health of America.

Tradition

WILTON – Tradition won. The Board of Selectmen will not become “The Office of the Select Board,” even on the office door.

Selectwoman Kellie Boissonnault offered the suggestion at the regular meting of the board on Monday, Feb. 12. Personally, she said, she didn’t mind being a selectman, “it’s just a title, but it doesn’t encourage younger women to step up. Some of them might be offended. Change the reference and make it gender neutral,”and the change is permitted under a state RSAs.

Chairman Bill Condra did not agree. “It’s another piece of political correctness that is not necessary. I recognize we have women on boards of selectmen, but tradition should prevail.”

Selectman Kermit Williams was in the middle. “The (legislative) change was made in 2008, but I tend to agree that ‘men’ in this case doesn’t apply just to males. It’s not really a sexist term.” He asked, “How would the board refer to itself? As select persons? I’d be uncomfortable renaming ourselves.”

Then there was the problem of addressing the chairman? Chairwoman?

Boissonnault said, “The form is ‘Madam Chairman.'”

Condra said they had been selectmen “for over 200 years and it shouldn’t change.”

Williams agreed and the vote failed, 2 to 1.

Black history

MILFORD – For a large exhibit called “Journey to Freedom,” the Milford Historical Society is looking for items relating to Harriet Wilson and her novel, “Our Nig,” including the book’s original printing from 1859, published by Geo. C. Rand & Avery in Boston.

Wilson was the first African American to publish a novel, and the society is looking for any items having to do with her time as an indentured servant in Milford from 1830 to 1843, as well as original glass bottles of the hair products she later sold, labeled “Mrs. H.E. Wilson’s Hair Dressing.”

They are also looking for an original printing of the Farmer’s Cabinet’s front page from Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1851 where Wilson’s poem “Fading Away” is printed. The society has copies and is looking for the original paper.

Vietnam soldiers

MILFORD – Herb Reckinger, a volunteer with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s “Faces Never Forgotten” project, notified The Cabinet last week that he now has photos for every fallen soldier and sailor from New Hampshire whose name is etched on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington.

About half the states have achieved that distinction, he said.

The organization that built The Wall decades ago is planning to build an education center behind it and fill it with photos, aiming for at least one picture for every soldier. For Milford, it acquired photos for Dennis Lorden, Allen Brackins, William D. Shinn III and, most recently, for Roger McAllister.

“It looks like congratulations are in order for the State of New Hampshire,” Reckinger said. “I looked today at the pictures remaining for the soldiers of your state and there are none. You have now joined over half of the states in our country that have pictures for all of their Vietnam fallen soldiers. I think you are the 28th state to be done.”

Reckinger, who lives in Minnesota, worked with The Cabinet and the Milford Historical Society to find McAllister’s family members and those family members were able to provide photos.

McAllister was a 24-year-old Army ranger from Milford and part of the U.S. Army Special Forces, the beginning of the Green Berets. He was shot and killed during combat on Mother’s Day 1965.

One of 226 men from New Hampshire who died in the war, Sgt. McAllister had collapsed from heat exhaustion five weeks earlier and airlifted out of the jungle where he had been dropped to prepare a landing area for U.S. helicopters. When he recovered he was sent back into service.

Candidates forums

MILFORD – Seven people, including incumbents Mark Fougere and Gary Daniels, are running for two positions on the Board of Selectmen this year, and there will be a selectmen’s candidates forum on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. in the selectmen’s meeting room.

The challengers are Christopher Labonte, James R. Powers, Christopher Skinner, Paul Dargie and Suzanne Fournier.

There are also contests for cemetery trustee and checklist supervisor.

For Milford School Board, budget committee member Susan Kater is challenging board Chairman Ron Carvell. That forum will be held on Monday, March 6 at 6 p.m., also in the selectmen’s meeting room.

Election day is Tuesday, March 13.

No Keno

AMHERST – Keno will not be on the town ballot for the March 13 elections in Amherst.

Last year New Hampshire’s kindergarten-Keno bill was signed into law allowing towns and cities to vote on whether to allow the electronic bingo-like game in estabishments that pour liquor. Revenue will go to support all-day kindergarten programs around the state, and every school district is getting the same share whether or not they allow the game.

Amherst selectmen’s Chairman Dwight Brew said Keno was brought up at a meeting when selectmen were identifying potential warrant articles but no one made a motion to add it to the ballot.

Keno will be on the ballot in Milford, as a petition article.