NHcafe Summit on Solutions for School Funding

The New Hampshire Communities for Adequate Funding of Education ("NHcafe"), a coalition of nineteen school district units and towns, will present three proposed solutions to School Funding on February13th from 6:45 to 9 pm at the Londonderry High School .

We will be hearing from proponents of three differing proposals. Andy Peterson is a former state senator and newly elected state representative from Peterborough . Fred Bramante is the well-known owner of the Daddy’s Junky Music chain of music stores and is a member and former chairman of the New Hampshire Board of Education. Michael Asselin is a former state representative where he served on the House Education committee and is a member of a bi-partisan group of legislators looking at education funding.

NHcafe members, interested citizens, Representatives, and other government officials are encouraged to attend. DVD’s will be made available of the presentations for others throughout the State that have been fighting for adequate funding for over a decade.

The New Hampshire Communities for Adequate Funding of Education were successful challenging the state on its latest school funding plan. The bill was found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in September of last year. The court has ordered the State to define, cost out, provide, and have a clear easy to understand explanation of what is provided. It must do so by June of this year or the court will step in at that time.

Carol Shea-Porter event at St. Anselm College on Feb. 22

GOFFSTOWN-- Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, the first woman New Hampshire has sent to the U.S. House of Representatives, will report to constituents on the momentous events of her first six weeks in Washington on Thursday, Feb.22 at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College. The event, which will be free and open to the public, is being sponsored by Goffstown's John Sarette Memorial Democratic Club.

Shea-Porter, whose limited-financing grassroots campaign resulted in a stunning upset of the Republican incumbent last November, will speak at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the NHIOP, located at the corner of Saint Anselm Drive and Rockland Road, near the Goffstown/Manchester line.

The FirstDistrict congresswoman, whose strong opposition to the war in Iraq was a keynote of her campaign, was named to the House Armed Services Committee by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.  Her first speech on the House floor was a sharp criticism of the Bush Administration's plan to send thousands more troops to Iraq.

Goffstown Democrats were happy to support Carol as the Democratic candidate in her successful campaign last fall.  We're very pleased and honored to greet her again as she returns to Goffstown as our Representative in Washington," said Goffstown Democratic Chairman Steve Brzozowski

Thank You, NH! -- Radio, Print & TV Coverage -- What's Next?!

NH Obamaniacs!

What an incredible day yesterday  and YOU made it possible! Grassroots activism is alive and well in the Granite State and, thanks to YOUR hard work over the last couple weeks, New Hampshire, New England, and (literally) the ENTIRE COUNTRY heard about the NH Draft Obama Citizens Rally & March for Hope in Manchester! Don't believe us?! Read on...

It started with a surprise phone call in the morning from Chad Stokes Urmston of the bands State Radio and Dispatch  which just became the first unsigned artist with no major radio play to sell out Madison Square Garden, all to raise money for and awareness of the atrocities in Zimbabwe. Chad was en route to a gig in Brunswick, ME and wanted to stop by the rally to see what the buzz in NH for Obama was really all about. Our friend Ed (and Manchester resident) brought his guitar and Chad played a song before having to take off for Vacationland.

** Watch the clip of Chad's performance beginning Monday on YouTube.com! Just Search for "NH Draft Obama Citizens Rally with Chad Urmston on 2/3/07".

Melissa of Seabrook sang a mind-blowing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner! Bobby of Exeter got people not only thinking  but actually talking to one another - about why each of us took the time to show up... TRULY making it an unconventional rally! Boston-based WBZ NewsRadio 1030 (a CBS affiliate) filed a great report on the rally, sharing with its listeners the excitement, hope, and optimism of those who drove from miles around to attend.

** Listen to the WBZ NewsRadio 1030 report online!
http://podcast.wbz.com/wbz/173669.MP3

Following the speaking program, event participants put the finishing touches on their rally signs, put on their coats and walking shoes, and head out to Elm Street, where they marched and were received with honks and cheers! A photographer from the Manchester Union Leader caught the action and included it on page 3 with all of the other NH Primary happenings of the weekend... even though our candidate wasn't in the state!

** Read the New Hampshire Sunday News article !

As soon as the marchers returned to NH Draft Obama spokesman Steve Sullivan headed off to the Merrimack Restaurant for a live interview with NATIONAL FOX NEWS! While we?re unable to track down a copy of the tape, know that Steve riled up the crowd back at Milly's Tavern with his articulate description of the day's events!

All in all, it was a phenomenal day and one that we won?t soon forget. Thanks to everyone who came out and who spread the word! Momentum is truly building ? not only in NH, but across the country. Sure, Chicago will go nuts when the Bears kickoff at Super Bowl XLI in just under a half hour... but the REAL kickoff is about 200 miles south in Springfield this coming Saturday when Senator Obama announces his intentions for 2008!

WHAT'S NEXT?! Stay tuned, friends...

Sullivan Profiled In UNO Alumni Magazine

Manchester attorney and former state representative Peter Sullivan is featured in the current issue of the University of New Orleans Alumni Magazine.

Sullivan, who served three terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, will be a candidate for alderman in this year's municipal elections.

Sullivan is one of the first two people featured in "At Your Service", a new series featuring UNO graduates in public service.

In the profile, Sullivan discusses his work in the legislature, and relates how his education at UNO impacted his work in politics and government.

Sullivan is a 1996 graduate of the University of New Orleans, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

NH DOC statement in Tower verdict

( Concord , NH ) A Merrimack County Superior Court jury returned guilty verdicts in the criminal trial of former New Hampshire Department of Corrections Sergeant Douglas Tower. The jury heard the evidence and made its decision based on that evidence.

The investigation into the allegations was a collaborative effort between the Department of Corrections, the Attorney General and the New Hampshire State Police.

We are entrusted with the custody and safekeeping of all offenders who are incarcerated in our facilities. We take that responsibility seriously. The employees of the Department of Corrections must uphold the laws of the state and we will continue to have a zero tolerance approach to those who violate that trust.