THE STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL RENOVATION PLAN

Work on repairing and renovating STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL has been underway for a few months now and it looks like a lot of the trees there have  been cut down, much to the dismay of many, who thought they would not be and that construction could have been done around them. It looks just like another large paved lot, with asphalting to render the 'campus' hot but easy to plow and set up for buses to turn around and park, as well as for faculty and students who will have places to park?

The plans for the city, as some call the TOWN OF CLAREMONT, seem to be mostly tearing  down places, tarring the lots, keeping them vacant and also turning the broad street area into aTtypical 'flat-land'.

The old GOODWIN     COMMUNITY CENTER remains empty and forlorn and the city is sitting on it in further moments of indecision that plagues the AREA.

The old UNIVERSALIST CHURCH that sits,'idle and decrepit', between the FIRE STATION and the FISKE FREE LIBRARY is another landmark that is ignored and supposedly rendered unusable.

We can also point to other church areas now falling into neglect and on a suggested list to demolish and or sell.

But to get back to STEVENS when the wood pellets begin to rise in price, one wonders what taxpayers will say when taxes and things for the school go up and up as the demands for bio-fuels and pellets increase.

2013 STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMN I ASSOCIATION PARADE & ACTIVITIES

Once again, the nation's oldest and active HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION at STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL in CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE is holding its ANNUAL ALUMNI DAY PARADE, which is an most important event for the TOWN that pretends it is a city.

Over the years, newcomers to CLAREMONT have tried to have the school either torn down and possibly re-built or torn down and a new high school built in another area. A rennovation plan recently passed with a better plan than before. Previous plans were turned down, voted down, due to tax issues and bond issues and other things.

Those who do not recognize the importance and value of STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL do not realize that if and when the STEVENS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION dissolves or vanished, there will be little or nothing to  bring attention to CLAREMONT after that. To see this, one has only to  look at other towns that have rebuilt or shifted high school attendance to other buildings or areas to see the results of such. The town of NEWPORT, one of STEVENS's former rivals in sports, especially football, had TOWLE HIGH SCHOOL but while the building exists and serves another function, the TOWLE ALUMNI HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION does not exist and ended in around 1976.

In CLAREMONT, the ST. MARY'S HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION has their parade and activities at the same time as the STEVENS EVENT since they no longer have a high school which was shut down by the DIOCESE, though an elementary school still exists. If the SHS ALUMNI DAY PARA DE vanishes and is held no more, it is more than likely that ST. MARY'S ALUMNI GROUP will also fade.

What many persons simply do not know or understand about STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL is that it has produced many outstanding graduates over the years and STILL DOES. Graduates and attendees of STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL are all over the world and many hold significant jobs and positions and have contributed much to the nation. They still do. Even those who went to STEVENS but did naot graduate, whether because they moved or had to attend other schools elsewhere, benefited from their STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.

CERTAINLY, teachers who served CLAREMONT over the years and even those who did so only for a brief period must recognized how their careers were influenced by their experiences in CLAREMONT and if they had children who attended or graduated from schools in CLAREMONT, especially from STEVENS, how valuable such education is and was for them.

THE OLDEST GRADUATE WHO WILL BE IN THIS PARADE IS HELEN LOVELL, AGE 99, who perhaps is still driving and she graduated in 1932. The second oldest almuni  graduate of Stevens will also be in the parade. I believe she graduated in 1934. However, a lady from the class of 1946, has attended since her graduation, every STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION BANQUET SINCE THEN!


Although, the venue for the banquet has changed over the years, it is still being held, though more attendees are obviously needed. The annual dance(s) also need attendance and their venue has changed also. The STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM used to be used for graduations and alumni activities but in recent past years graduations have sometimes been held outdoors, apparently, and alumni activities elsewhere.

THE PARADE still continues but its ROUTE has been shortened and altered and the number of class floats has diminished and the number of other floats and participants have also changed,BUT THE ENTHUSIASM HAS NOT CHANGED!


I graduated in 1954 and only went back to watch the parade on and off over the years, but my two sons and one of my daughter-in-laws graduated from the school. I also did a video on one of the parades and interviewed a few persons for CATV 8 in WHITE RIVER JCT. VT. I do have some footage of other parades and photos.

THE 1954 CLASS SECRETARY & TREASURER, BEVERLEY MICHAUD passed away last year after holding the class together since our graduation day. Our class misses her and her enthusiasm and loyalty to our class and to STEVENS.

I cannot say enough about STEVENS  HIGH SCHOOL except to say that it has OVER ONE MILLION DOLLARS IN SCHOLARSHIPS AWAITING THOSE STUDENTS & GRADUATES OF STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL!

One scholarship set up by an ALUMNI FAMILY dates back to the late 1870's  and IS STILL FUNDED BY MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FAMILY GROUP!

THE SCHOOL BOARD CONTINUES TO PLAN FOR STEVENS

The Claremont School Board continues to plan for the renovation of STEVENS HIGH SCHOOl despite concerns and fears over the raising of taxes upon homeowners and others in Claremont to do so. It seems that whenever proposals to increase the expenditures in the City, whether or not for the school systems, another business closed and another house goes up for rent.

Hostile citizens have not considered certain things and neither has the school board or the city government in light of current developments in THE NATION!

These will necessitate a  RECONSIDERATION OF PLANS NOW ON THE TABLE BEFORE HAVING TO RAISE ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND REVENUES IF THE CURRENT PLAN IS PASSED AND FULLY APPROVED!

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? Most persons have been cogniscent of the various school shootings and other gun-related issues which will mean that NEW SECURITY MEASURES AND SYSTEMS WILL BE MANDATED BY THE US GOVERNMENT FOR ALL SCHOOLS IN THE NATION!

Already, governors and mayors,etc. across the US are meeting in groups and panels to discuss and deal with this growing threat which is not that of outside terrorists but by people living in this country, many of them fueled by the violent society in which they live and work and play.

Already certain Executive Orders are being issued for some of this but the full extent of this NATIONAL PROBLEM WILL MEAN AT LEAST FOR STEVENS THAT CERTAIN SECURITY MEASURES AND SYSTEMS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRESENT PLANS FOR RENOVATION WILL HAVE TO BE FUNDED IN SOME WAY AND ADDED INTO THE BUILDING, WHATEVER THEY MEAN!

WHETHER OR NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL FUND SUCH REMAINS TO BE SEEN AND SOME MAY FEEL THIS WILL BE DUBIOUS, therefore meaning that the STATES, COUNTIES, AND CITIES AND TOWNS WILL HAVE TO FUND THESE THEMSELVES IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS, PUPILS, TEACHERS, STAFF, ETC. AND FOLLOW SECURITY MEASURES THAT ARE NOT ALREADY IN PLACE!

Special Zones with armed guards and others will be established,at least in certain areas, screenings and scannings will have to be done by both people and expensive machines and other things similar to AIRPORT SECURITY SYSTEMS NOW REQUIRED FOR TRAVELERS.

Metal detectors, x-ray machines, constant video surveillance, patrol cars and vehicles to follow buses when loading and unloading and dropping off or picking up students,etc.


ALL CARS AND VEHICLES ENTERING OR LEAVING OR WHATEVER IN THE SCHOOL SECURITY ZONES WILL HAVE TO BE CHECKED, SEARCHED FOR GUNS, EXPLOSIVES & BOMBS, KNIVES,ETC.   THIS MEANS ESPECIALLY ALL STUDENT CARS.  THE PARKING LOTS WILL HAVE TO BE PATROLLED AS WELL AND CAREFUL GUARDING OF THE AREA DONE AT ALL TIMES.


THIS WILL MEAN A LOT MORE PERSONNEL, MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT, ETC. TO BE HIRED AND BOUGHT.

RELOCATE THE PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION STATION AT STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL

If and when STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL is redesigned and renovated, I suggest that to bring this school into the 21st Century, that the present COMMUNITY ACCESS TELEVISION STATION be housed and set up in the HIGH SCHOOL & RUN BY THE STUDENTS UNDER AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR and learn all the facets of television filming, editing, production, broadcast, etc. as a LEARNING SITUATION and that the present equipment now housed in a Technical School be transferred to STEVENS and that the CITY OF CLAREMONT RELEASE THE FUNDS NOW BEING COLLECTED FROM COMCAST FOR THE STATION GO TO THE STATION WHICH WOULD COVER OPERATING COSTS OF THIS AT THE SCHOOL,ETC. The city now retains a portion(undisclosed to taxpayers and cable tv subscribers for the most part) for the city and then give a certain portion to the station. This sort of program being suggested here for the school is not different from other programs that include various real life environments and places for such, such as, shop, auto, business, etc. curricula once found in many schools and cities,

THE CONTINUED ATTEMPT TO RENOVATE STEVENS

Several attempts to renovate Stevens High School have been seen in the past several years, motivated by different groups with different approached and numerous arguments and debates, but which boil down to the economy of Claremont and what taxpayers who own property in the town can afford and tolerate on top of what other agencies, departments, and issues of the town need financing by taxes from local residents,etc.   The state and federal governments tend to mandate things to be done, at little or no financial backing of funding, and the city as well has its own agenda. All of this tends to obscure the real issues and mask the underlying attempts to demolish Stevens High School and replace it in all manner of ways, none of which are guaranteed to bring the school into the 21st Century as many seem to demand, not realizing that most of the models they would put in place are no better than the one now existing, except in certain 'cosmetic' areas. In fact, most of the renovation plans will create many unforeseen consequences for the town, that is, for Claremont, the town that pretends to be a city........                                                                                      This discussion needs to be continued and expanded in the near future.                                                                                                                                                            

THE 2012 STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI PARADE

I was able to video and produce one video on this 2012 STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI DAY PARADE and to have it shown on CATV 8 which is in WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VERMONT, and can be seen on their website at CATV8.ORG and also accessed via VIMEO which is also there on the home page of CATV 8....CATV is also on FACEBOOK and can be accessed at CATV8/10 by typing in this address on FACEBOOK...I shall try to upload the parade video sometime in the future.... The CLAREMONT COMMUNITY ACCESS TELEVISON STATION which is at the CLAREMONT TECHNICAL CENTER next to the CLAREMONT MIDDLE SCHOOL (CMS)on South Street, did their own TV project on the parade...I do not know what it shows or what was done...but in mine, I tried to get some interviews and comments and other things rather than a mere record of the parade going by,etc.

A SCHOOL CALLED STEVENS

Since my graduation in 1954 from STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL, I have been aware over the years the constant and continual trend of residential change(s) and even before that time......it has taken several directions and,from my point-of-view, many misdirections....which many will dismiss as being so much 'water-over-the dam',usually in the strong and often emotional belief that anything new is always better and the same for size, 'the bigger the better' and this has had many results as those who did not grow up in this town of CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, continue to add to the 'pool gene' of those attitudes..... A town is often defined, at least in some physical sense, by its buildings and in CLAREMONT, many buildings have been and continue to be demolished for a wide variety of reasons....but if one carefully looks about THE TOWN OF CLAREMONT THAT PRETENDS IT IS A CITY, the findings will reveal to any honest and objective observer,whether resident or not, graduate of STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL or not, that vacant lots, vacant store fronts, parking lots, and abandoned buildings exist and,of course, various real estate speculators have operated over the years, often catering to out-of-town and out-of-state landlords plus the importation of numerous 'managers' whose fiscal policies and programs, whether liked or not, have had many economic effects, that include, as many well know, a number of perhaps costly lawsuits for the town that pretends it is a city. While this might seem not to be the place to discuss such things, the fact is that many years ago I predicted the DEMOLITION OF STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL, which plan is nearly in effect if certain factions and interests have their way. The alternative plans to this complete destruction of STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL have some things to commend them, of course, but not everyone can or will nor is expected to accept or agree with any or all of them, to be sure......usually the more vocal groups, who have set up and developed a specific agenda tend to prevail and the public tends to remain apathetic for a variety of reasons that will be discussec on my other blog entitled, CLAREMONT CAPERS.......... THE STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION prides itself,of course, and rightly so, of being THE OLDEST HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IN THE UNITED STATES but,despite the long list of outstanding and talented and a bit famous graduates that have come from there, not to mention those who merely attended but did not graduate for various reason but who became most successful in life, few pay attention to STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL...