Balkun_KSCFHvsECTPk from Savanna Balkun on Vimeo.
DC APPRECIATION DAY PKG from Kendall Pope on Vimeo.
DC Appreciation Day
Inside Look at KSC's Party Culture
Anna Glassman
KSC-TV Reporter
Keene State College or Keg Stand College some students said the school is known for its partying.
Jordan Bridges is a junior at KSC and said he is concerned that the school’s reputation is not positive. “I would say that the partying is definitely reckless and out of control and I don't want our school being known for it ....but I feel like it is,” said Bridges.
Students continued by identifying freshmen year as the time that people often struggle to find their limits. Ashely Waterman, a Junior, said “I think the areas with most difficulty is the freshmen.”
The attempt to find the boundaries between drinking safely and having fun with friends is something Austin Nadeu said is important. “Your in college to make memories and if your not going to have any of them what’s the point of coming to college.”
The Center for Science and Public Interest reports that alcohol use in college is a problem nationwide. It identifies forty-four percent of students in four-year college as drinking at the binge drinking level. Men who consume five or more drinks in two hours and women who drink four or more drinks in a two-hour span are recognized for binge drinking.
The study also reports that forty-eight percent of students said drinking to get drunk is an important reason to drink.
Upperclassmen at KSC said if freshmen can discover their goals first they have the ability to change the perception of college drinking culture. “If they can figure it out first then they have the potential of their four years to really make good changes,” said Bridges.
However Shahar Resmend a Junior at Keene State College said that changes have to come from the individual. “The alcohol is not going to take control of me. I'm going to have the control not the alcohol,” said Resmend.
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Video StoriesNH Listens Holds Keene Community MeetingApril 24, 2015
Allie Baker KSC-TV Reporter KEENE, NH—Members of the Keene community met with city officials, college officials and students Thursday at Heberton Hall. The topic of discussion: how the city and the college can coexist more smoothly. The meeting was hosted by civic engagement group New Hampshire Listens. People were split into groups of ten to brainstorm ideas that could bring the community and the college closer together. At the end of two hours, the facilitator of each group came to the front and announced one or two of the group’s most beneficial ideas. According to Director Bruce Mallory, the City/College Commission contacted the group to hold a meeting. “They actually asked us to come before the famous Pumpkin Fest of last October,” Mallory said. “This conversation as you’ve seen is not about the Pumpkin Festival, it’s really the long term,” Mallory said. Allison Riley, the Coordinator of Student and Community Relations at Keene State College, attended and said her group focused on the negative aspects of campus culture. “We ended up talking about Pumpkin Festival and the results of the Pumpkin Festival more than I would have liked,” Riley said. “I think for me and my job obviously that topic is very important, but I would like to see us begin to take more steps in the direction of covering off-campus student behavior as it relates to every weekend.” Riley also said her group also discussed landlord responsibility in terms of students hosting large parties or other misconduct. Seven city councilors attended the meeting. It is indeterminable whether any ideas from the meeting will directly affect official decisions. Local Performer Rises in the RanksApril Cushman PKG from Brooke Stall on Vimeo. April 24, 2015
Brooke Stall KSC-TV Reporter KEENE, NH -- A local woman has been making a name for herself in the city of Keene. Twenty-six year old April Cushman has been singing and playing guitar since the age of five. Over the last year and a half Cushman has been performing at local bars and restaurants. She performs regularly for Scores Sports Bar and Grille on their acoustic Wednesdays. Cushman says she enjoys the crowd that gathers on Wednesday nights there. “t's a different crowd ... especially when you're playing acoustically. I think you get a lot of the older crowd, which is nice. I mean we can do some Neil Young ... some older stuff and it's a good mix of people to play there,” Cushman said. She is primarily a country music singer, covering many songs by her favorite artist, Miranda Lambert. However, she does broaden her horizons and cover other artists such as Van Morrison and Tom Petty, Not only has Cushman been performing at local place, she has also been part of many singing competitions. She is a two time participant in Keene Idol, an annual amateur singing competition. Although she did not win, she made it far enough to be cut right before the finale. Cushman participated in the North America Country Music Associations International in Pigeon Ford, Tennessee, where she took the second place title for National Female Vocalist of the year. She was also part of the New Hampshire Country Music Association, winning female vocalist of the year for traditional and new country music, as well as female entertainer of the year for new country music. She has also taken her talents beyond a Keene crowd, getting offers to sing the National Anthem at sporting events. Last year she sang the National Anthem in front of nearly 6,000 people at a UNH men’s hockey game. Cushman said she is comfortable singing in front of people she knows, but the nerves begin to set in when she performs for strangers, admitting that performing for the hockey game was nerve racking, but it was a fun and good experience. Cushman even auditioned for NBC’s hit show “The Voice” twice in New York City. She said the first time she got a flat out no, but her second audition was a little more hopeful. “This year I actually got a maybe. They had me sing a second song and basically said 'hang by your phone if we don't call you by a certain time then it's a no, otherwise hang in there,'” Cushman said. Not only is Cushman a solo singer, she is also in a band. She said they are currently in the process of re-vamping the band and hope to perform at other local places such as Killkenny’s Pub. Cushman and her band will be putting on three performances this year’s Cheshire Fair from July 29th-August 2nd. Warm Weather Benefits Keene BusinessesAlpha Dogs sets 'College-Friendly' HoursApril 17, 2015
Sabrina Lapointe KSC-TV Reporter KEENE, NH -- Tucked away on Winchester Street across from Keene State College is a small hot dog shopped known as Alpha Dogs The fact that they sell interesting hot dogs concoctions like macaroni and cheese on a dog is not what makes this business particularly unique. What is even more unique are their hours. Their business hours run from Thursday to Saturday, from 11 p.m. to two a.m. Being open just nine hours a week during those late night hours, owner Ali Taylor says she gets to see many different sides of the students. In addition to owning Alpha Dogs, Taylor also owns a tanning salon. She says she gets to see the students during the day when they come into the salon with their gym clothes and their back packs, and conversely she also gets to see them late night too after a night out. Students share a common love of coming in late night to get their favorite hot dog and enjoy the atmosphere of inside the restaurant. The strong relationship the students have with the employees is what makes the business a strong one. Taylor says she looks out for the students and gives them water if they seem too intoxicated. The limited hours that this business operates under is just enough for the owners to put food in students bellies at night and create a better relationship between student and members of the community. River Valley Community College Nursing Program Receiving National Accreditation UnderwayApril 17, 2015
Bethany Ricciardi KSC-TV Reporter KEENE, NH — River Valley Community College nursing program has seem multiple ups and downs over the last couple of years, but has high hopes for the future. From having six different nursing directors in the last seven years, to losing national accreditation, the program was in need of serious reformation. Dr. Patricia Shinn is the current director. She works on both nursing programs on the Keene and Claremont campuses. She came in with clear goals and has accomplished a lot in her time already. The nursing program was on probation with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing since 2011 and in 2013 no problems had been resolved. This is when their accreditation was withdrawn. Shinn said she knew there was still a lot to be worked on, and within the last year she has received positive feedback from the Board of Nurses. When they came and visited the campus to examine the program she said, "The feedback was it's wonderful, ‘We can't believe how much you've accomplished in one year, and so we are giving you full approval status and for the full five years,’ which is the maximum granted by the board of nursing." It was not long after this visit that the River Valley Community College nursing program received candidacy status. This means the nursing students who are already enrolled in the program are now eligible to receive their Registered Nurse (RN) license after graduation. Students such as, Andrea Pauza who used to attend Keene State College, but now is a nursing student at River Valley Community College, falls under this status. Shinn says the only difference between becoming an RN with a bachelors degree from KSC and an associate degree from River Valley, is being able to get potential management positions with a KSC degree. Pauza said Shinn has played a vital role in all of the student’s success and building this program to what it is today. In addition her and other classmates provide constant feedback to Shinn and other professors on what can be improved throughout the week. “We've kind of told her what helps us learn better and then that way she can reshape the program and reshape how we're being taught. And then in turn that reshapes the accreditation and how we get there," Pauza said. The plan is to have a final stamp of approval from the national accrediting by June 2016. Shin said she hopes with the support of her students, faculty and staff they can accomplish this. Lock Down On CampusApril 17, 2015
Jesse Reynolds KSC-TV Reporter After an armed individual near campus prompted a lockdown at KSC, Campus Safety officials said everything went smoothly and according to plan, but there is always room for improvement. Reports of a shot fired on Proctor Court in Keene placed the campus into a lockdown. Within minutes police cruisers sped down Appian Way, accompanied by officers on foot wielding AR-15 assault rifles. KSC student Jeff Rosenthal said he was walking to class when he was pulled into the gym by officers. Another student, Kathleen Dougherty, said she watched the scene unfold from the window of her on-campus sorority house. “I was able to see everything and hear the announcements coming from the gym speakers, and I think that there was a proper police response,” she said. Amanda Guthorn, KSC Director of Campus Safety, said lockdown protocols were followed and everything went smoothly, but a situation like this one is a good chance for administrators to spot flaws and make improvements. Guthorn said one of the improvements made to the lockdown protocol can be done through education. "If theres people outside should you let them in if you don't know whether or not they're involved? That a lot of times becomes a judgment call. It exposed a lot of needs for training and discussion,” she said. Guthorn said the lockdown also showed the need for every building on campus to be a part of KSC’s Automated Access System. Most buildings are on the system and can be locked electronically from the campus safety office, however some of the older buildings are not. These buildings must be locked manually which could pose a threat to the campus personnel locking them. With minor improvements taken into account, Guthorn said the situation was resolved swiftly with no issues or injuries, and no KSC students were ever in direct harm. She commended all law enforcement officials, KSC staff, and students for their cooperation and handling of the incident. Pumpkin Fest Voted DownPfest Voted Down PKG from Brooke Stall on Vimeo. April 10, 2015
Brooke Stall KSC-TV Reporter It’s official, there will in fact, not be a 2015 Keene Pumpkin Festival. Keene City Council voted 13 to one against granting non-profit organization, “Let It Shine” a license to host the annual festival. This year would be the 25th year that the Keene Pumpkin Festival has been around for, but due to the wild and destructive behavior that took place outside of the festival’s footprint, that tradition has ended. Although there will not be a 2015 festival, Kendall Lane, the Mayor of Keene said he will be forming a committee for Keene to host a possible spring festival in the future. “After the City Council decided that they were not going to grant a license this year ... I indicated that I'm going to be setting up a committee to take a look at the parameters for a fall festival to be held in Keene,” Lane said. Lane said he is currently looking at a list of people to be part of the fall festival committee, in addition, he is also asking representatives from Keene State College as well as community members around the college to partake in the committee. Lane said the first step is forming the committee and getting it approved. “…And then the committee will start to meet and start to consider exactly what kind of a festival they'd like to see in Keene in the fall,” Lane said. If the city council voted against a Pumpkin Festival, what would make them approve a “fall festival?” Lane said that a main difference between the Keene Pumpkin Festival and a fall festival would be the size. Lane said that the fall festival would be a community-sized event instead of an international-sized event. Lane said that the committee will be looking for a few things while planning the new festival; “We're going to be looking at who the festival is for ... is it for the community? Is it for the downtown businesses? Is it for the nonprofits that certainly made money off of the Pumpkin Fest. We're going to be looking at who exactly is the festival being held for,” Lane said. With the city’s fiscal year ending on June 30th, Lane said he hopes to have the committee formed and running before then. Although there will certainly be no Keene Pumpkin Festival in the fall of 2015, Lane also added that he is aiming for the proposed festival to happen during the fall of 2016. Peer Advisers Help KSC StudentsMorrill peer PKG from Dylan Morrill on Vimeo. April 10, 2015
Dylan Morrill KSC-TV Reporter KEENE -- The spring semester is coming to a close and for many KSC students this means it's time to register for next semester's courses. But, for one group of KSC student it means it is time to help other students register for courses. These student are called Peer Advisers. There are 16 of them, and they work about 20 hours a semester helping fellow students register for classes. Most of these hours are spent during the annual two-week advising blitz known as: Drop in Advising. During Drop in Advising, which takes place in the Mason Library, students of all levels are invited to just drop in and get help with registering for courses for the next semester. Keene State College’s Director of Academic and Career Advising, Pat Halloran, says these Peer Advisers are active during the Drop in Advising session. "I think the advantages of a peer to peer model are numerous,” said Halloran. “And one of them certainly is that when a student assists another student the student assisting has lived that experience prior to the student they are assisting living it.” Most of the time these Peer Advisers are students who previously served as Orientation Leaders prior to becoming Peer Advisers, but some—like KSC Junior Jessica L'hommedieu—have not served previously as an Orientation Leader. "I mean, this is my first time being a peer adviser and I think it's awesome. It's great to be able to help fellow students; some of them really need the help. I know I needed help." While the last day for Drop in Advising was last Friday, students can still get help from the Academic and Career Advising Office year round in the Elliot Center. Students Share Alternative Break AdventuresCurr Alternative Break PKG from kassidy curr on Vimeo. April 10, 2015
Kassidy Curr KSC-TV Reporter One of the most popular programs in KSC’s community service office is the Alternative Break Trips. Alternative break gives students the opportunity to go to other states or countries to work on service projects for a week or a weekend. Each service project is catered to a specific theme to help a community in need. This year some of the themes included pediatric healthcare, hunger and homelessness, and poverty and racism. Multiple information sessions, flyers and social media content can help potential participants decide which trip they would be interested in. Once interested, participants have to apply and be accepted into a specific alternative break trip. To learn more about future applications, you can visit KSC's Community Service page here. Students React to Sexual Harassment InvestigationApril 3, 2015
Joe Geis KSC-TV Reporter The Keene State College campus was faced with yet another obstacle this past week with the results of a 13-month sexual-harassment investigation. Three KSC coaches have been fired as a result of the investigation and filling holes in staff is one step the college is taking to ensure the safety of the campus. Brian Clemmenson, a junior at KSC, said recruits will have trouble attracting prospective students as a result. "I think it will definitely recruits too in terms of athletics and also everyone deciding whether or not they're going to come here for their education." Jesse McNeil, a senior at Keene State College, said he was shocked by the firing of Gino Vallante, the original focus of the investigation. “It was weird and shocking for a lot of people and I mean it shocked me because he always seemed like a someone who was a cool guy.” McNeil said he thinks it was right to fire Vallante and that the college did a good job informing the campus. Clemmonson disagrees, saying, “I really think they haven't done that good of a job, I mean they did what they had to do putting him on leave and then eventually firing him, I don't think it should have taken as long as it did, over a year or whatever for these reports to come out.” The next community forum will be on April sixth at 4 P.M. in the Madison Street Lounge. President Huot Reacts to Sexual Harassment InvestigationApril 3, 2015
Kendall Pope KSC-TV Reporter The reports involving the investigation of Eugene " Gino" Vallante, Pete Thomas and Charles Beach have been relased. In these reports investigations found failings in the college on reporting and investigating sexual harassment complaints. However, the reports also recomend changes to get rid of the "look the other way culture" that has formed at KSC. K-S-C President Anne Huot says those changes are already in the works. "So what happened is tragic but I'm glad I know about it cause it gives me the opportunity to fix it," Hout said. She continued to explain that part of that fixing will include adding new postions in human resources, creating a full time Title nine cordinator and taking a seriuos look at leadship positions in athletics. In regards to changing the culture among the campus, all coaches, faculty, and staff will paticipate in mandatory policy training. Lastly, Hout said that it's not so much the process on reporting is different but that students need to be more familiar with the policeis and procedures so they know how and who to report complaints to. The reports were particularly critical of Athletic Director John Ratliff and Mens' Basketball coach Rob Colbert and their handling of harassment complaints. K-S-C and our partner media The Equinox requested to speak with Ratliff and Colbert but neither man responded to those requests. Sexual Harassment Investigation OverviewKeene Farmer's Market RelocatesApril 3, 2015
Sabrina Lapointe KSC-TV Reporter After 15 plus years in the Commercial Street parking lot, The Farmers Market of Keene will have to be on the move to a different site. City officials will be resurfacing the lot this summer making it unavailable for use. Many farmers such as Bill Fosher are worried that this change in location will leave their customers confused about where to find them. During the winter time, the market is located indoors at The Colony Mill Marketplace where they offer all different kinds of products ranging from lotions and soaps to eggs, cheese, bread, meats, among many other things. Some possible new locations include the parking lots of The Colony Mill Marketplace or The Center at Colony Mill. Keene State College Grad Fights Her Way to the Top4/1/15
Anna Glassman KSC-TV Reporter KEENE, N.H. -- 4-feet and 11 inches, weighing in at 106 pounds a Keene State College graduate is training to become a professional boxer. Jennifer Amato graduated in 2011 with her degree in phycology and is currently working on her masters in phycology at Antioch. She is a nationally ranked boxer but said she should be ranked higher. “I’m currently ranked 8th and that sucks there are girls ranked ahead of me that I have beaten multiple times,” said Amato. Amato said boxing is complicated because of the Olympics. There are only three Olympic weight classes, one-hundred-twelve, one-hundred-thirty-two and one-hundred-sixty-five. She fights at 106 but there are very few girls who fight at 106. In order to compete she fights up at 112 but her fights at 106 are not taken into consideration when boxers are ranked for national tournaments. As a result, Amato said girls she had beaten before received byes while she had to fight the girl, who ended up winning the whole tournament, first. “I lost in a split decision which some of the judges thought I wont the fight. She went on to fight two more fights and she won them both by knock out”… but she has been ranked higher in the past…“I have been ranked third in the nation before,” said Amato. She continued that she is confident when fighting girls. Amato trains with guys at the Contenders Gym. “Sparing with the guys I think has been just about the best thing for me. Just because for one they are always bigger than me so it gives me a little more confidence going in knowing that there is nothing that a one-hundred- and six pound girl can hit me with that I have never been hit with before in the gym,” said Amato. Amato’s goal is to become a profighter, a goal that her coaches think she can reach. Her boyfriend and coach Matt Durling said she when she first came to the gym it was only to get in a good workout. But after a few times it was clear she could be a fighter. Amato describes herself as an in-fighter or pressure fighter. “I try to come forward the whole time,” said Amato. The boxing memories website describes the inside fighter as “the most exciting boxers to watch because their style favour closing inside an opponent, overwhelming him with intensity.” Amato’s coach Mark Durling described her in the same way and further described her attitude during fights. “She is very tenacious [in the ring].” Durling said she fights with a purpose. Lloyd's Marketplace Online Ordering and Take-Out ChangesStall Lloyd's PKG from Brooke Stall on Vimeo. March 26, 2015
Brooke Stall KSC-TV Reporter KEENE, N.H -- Lloyd’s Marketplace has made a few changes over the last few weeks and not everyone is buzzing about it. Lloyd’s used to package food in heavy duty “clam” containers that close for easy transportation of food. However, over the last few weeks, Lloyd’s customers can be seen around campus carrying their food in a new package that no longer contains a lid. Josef Quirinale, General Manager of Lloyd’s, said that they made the switch because this new option is more environmentally friendly. Quirinale said that the “clam” boxes took up too much room in trashcans and created much more waste. He added that this new packaging is able to be composted. Although this alternative might be better for the environment, cashiers at Lloyd’s are instructed to ask each customer with food if they want the old packaging with a lid. Keene State Sophomore Emerald Smith did not speak too positively about the new change. “It doesn't make much sense if they're gonna give you a plate and a piece of paper and then when you go up to pay they ask you if you want a box. I feel like it should just ... I feel like the box is just easier,” Smith said. Another new opportunity Lloyd’s is giving patrons an option to order online. This new feature is set to launch on April first. Quirinale said that this new option to order online cuts down wait time. “You can order it online and you can pay for it online. You don't have to wait in line at Lloyd's and once you order it, within ten minutes your order will be there for you, all bagged and ready to go,” Quirinale said. He said that a new staff member has been hired to help with preparing the food for online orders. Locating the online ordering webpage will be simple: first go to the Keene State Dining website. From there you click on the “dining plans” tab, which will drop down and give you the option to click on “owl card office.” Once you’ve clicked the Owl Card Office webpage, at the bottom, where is says “GET," is where the option to order online will be located. Until the feature is launched, the only option for “GET” is Get Funds. Here students, guardians, or parents can load money onto an Owl Card. Quirinale said that the first few months of “Get Food” (soon to be re-named by student poll) are a test run. Therefore, the menu and hours will be limited until it takes off. Lloyd’s customers will be able to choose their food of choice from The Grille and can either pay online or in person at Lloyd’s. Once the food order has been fulfilled, customers can pick their food up at the Theme Cuisine station located in Lloyd’s. Online ordering will only be available from 7:30 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. Local Produce is in Season and Within Financial Reach3/27/15
Allie Baker KSC-TV Reporter KEENE, N.H. -- It’s nearly the season for local producers to bring their food to market. Locally grown products have many benefits, but they also cost a little more and that can give them a bad rap. With this in mind, stores in the area are doing what they can to lower that price for their consumers. Local products can cost more because of what they lack: pesticides, hormone enhancers, long travel time or haphazard handling. Jen Risley, Marketing and Membership Manager for The Monadnock Food Co-op, says that these reasons and more are how they determine the price of locally produced items. “We want to pay the farmer a fair wage for all their time and effort to get their product here. We also want to be an employer that pays a livable wage and then of course our consumers are used to things being a certain price,” Risley said. In an attempt to keep local produce affordable, Risley says the Co-op gives up some money. “We actually reduce our margins, meaning the profit we're going to make on local items, because we want it to be affordable,” Risley said. Denise Meadows, manager of the exclusively-local Hannah Grimes Marketplace, says that the farmers’ “time and effort” are worth the extra cost, if it exists. “Your local product is so much more a superior product just because of the love that goes into it and the care,” Meadows said. She said local products elude the cost of transportation associated with retail items, which in some cases can save you money. Farmer’s Markets across the state will be opening in the next couple of months as the weather gets warmer. Cheshire County Farmer’s Markets are scheduled to open in May and June. City Council Denies Pumpkin Fest Permit AgainMorrill_pfest2_PKG from Dylan Morrill on Vimeo. March 30, 2015
Dylan Morrill KSC-TV Reporter KEENE, N.H. — Keene’s Planning Licenses and Development Committee voted Wednesday night to unanimously not recommend the approval of an application for a 2015 Pumpkin Festival. This was the second time in three weeks that the committee voted on, and denied the proposal. Keene’s City Council was set to vote on the proposal last Thursday night, but decided not to after Mayor Kendall Lane recommend that it be sent back to the committee for a second time. "It is important that everybody have an opportunity to be heard,” Lane said. “I'm going to refer this matter back to the planning licenses and development committee for further consideration.” Let It Shine, the group that runs the festival, was at that meeting holding orange signs and supporting the festival. One of the group’s organizers, Alex Bates, said that his group is happy with the decision. “It’s a little strange but it’s certainly what we were hoping for you know I was supposed to be at the PLD meeting last week and didn’t get an opportunity to attend,” Bates said. The Mayor’s decision to send the application back to committee had to survive a vote, after Councilor Sheryl Redfern formally challenged the motion. “Your honor I challenge the chair,” Redfern said during the meeting. “I move that we debate the matter and vote on it for this evening. The PLD voted five to zero to not grant them their license." When Redfern's challenge was put up for a vote, it was voted down eight to six. The city council will vote on the pumpkin festival once more at its April second meeting. There will not be any public discussion at that meeting, and it will likely be the final word on the 2015 festival. Brewbakers Café Open Mic NightMarch 13, 2015
Ieysha Williams KSC-TV Reporter KEENE, NH- The first Wednesday of every month at local café Brewbakers are a buzz. Two years ago, the small shop stared hosting an open mic for people who want to show off their talent. The small gathering is a continuation of the popular summer Keene Music Festival. The Keene Music Festival was founded twelve years ago, and its mission is to “create opportunities for local, regional, and national musicians to perform in the area”. They also work hard to connect musicians with fellow musicians and with local venues, in hopes that it will generate more venues for local music. Local resident and music enthusiast Emily Hauge has been the lead host of the Open Mic sense it started. "There aren't that many places that have live music downtown. So were really hoping that this is a place for people to go out and cut their teeth and get the courage to go out and get gig's elsewhere”. Hauge has found that the popularity of the Open Mic has grown so much performance time is very limited. “In the past few months we have had enough interest in the open mic that we could actually do it twice a month,” Hauge stated. The next Open Mic is on April 1st. If interested in performing contact Emily Hauge at [email protected]. Hundred Nights Medical Clinic Ready for PatientsHundred Nights Clinic from Kendall Pope on Vimeo. Kendall Pope
KSC-TV Reporter March 13, 2015 KEENE, NH-The Hundred Nights shelter in Keene is now accepting patients. Recently the shelter built a medical clinic for people in the community who have no healthcare or who are homeless. The ' Be Well' medical clinic is free but not considered a walk-in clinic. If someone wants to be seen by a Doctor they would have to call or go directly to the shelter to make an appointment. If you would like to make an apointment at the clinic, the clinic is open every Monday evening from six to eight. Scheduling or check in time is earlier that same evening between five and six. Doctors, physicians assitants, and even dentists are volunteering their time to evaulate and treat patients. Currently the shelter is only treating acute care which covers minors injurys and illness's like colds, sore throats, and blisters caused from frost bite. Executive Director of Hundred Nights Mindy Cambiar said that several people who have used the clinic have pleased with their treatment. “Patients after come up afterwards and said that they were really really greatful that they had been after to get seen by a doctor and get a prescription and really fast. Its miserable being sick especially without a place to go,” Cambiar said. Pharmacies in Keene are also coming together for the clinic. Chain stores like Walmart, Target and even the Apothecary on Main Street are filling Be Well percriptions. All percriptions are paid for by donations to the pharmacy and lab work fund at Hundred Nights. If you are interested in donating click here. Owls Lacrosse Teams Persevere Through Winter StormsMarch 13, 2015
Sabrina Lapointe KSC-TV Reporter KEENE, NH- The Keene State men’s and women’s lacrosse teams were off to an icy start this season. This season, they experienced heavy snowfalls on their turf field which forced them to seek alternative ways to practice. The men’s team traveled about just under an hour away to Greenfield, Massachusetts to use an indoor facility. While the women’s team was presented with the same opportunity, they decided to stay on campus and replace lacrosse practice with things like yoga. The turf had about an inch and a half to two inches of ice layered onto it for the beginning of the team’s seasons. The athletic director worked with the grounds crew to find solutions to this problem. They contacted the turf manufactures and even looked into using something that airports use on their runways. Despite their rough start, the team’s will still be travelling to Florida for their spring break to take on some teams down there. Pumpkin Fest in LimboMorrill pfest PKG from Dylan Morrill on Vimeo. March 6, 2015
Dylan Morrill KSC-TV Reporter KEENE, NH- While Keene State College has announced that it will pick up the balance of the outstanding Pumpkin Festival security bill, questions still remain about who will pay for security of a 2015 festival, and these questions may derail any future festival completely. Keene State College president Anne Huot announced last Friday that the college would pay the rest of the 2014 Pumpkin Festival security bill. This comes despite saying, back in December, that the college would not help out festival organizer Let it Shine. The cost for all of the officers from across the state to put down riots during the 2014 Pumpkin Festival was more than $90 thousand. Let it Shine paid $59 thousand in December. Now that the college has kicked in the remaining 31-thousand, and the bill is settled, the future of Pumpkin Fest is still in limbo. At a meeting of the Keene Finance Organization and Personnel Committee three weeks ago, Pumpkin Festival organizer Ruth Sterling sparred with city councilors over how much of any future security bill Let it Shine will pay. Sterling says if there were a 2015 festival Let it Shine would cover all security costs inside the festival footprint. "Management of the festival footprint has improved to a point where misbehavior is not a major problem this improvement came from four years of identifying issues and addressing them,” Sterling said. But Let it Shine is asking the city to cover the security costs outside the footprint. And Keene Police Chief Kenneth Meola says these costs would be high. "As far as costs go we look at about 45-thousand-dollars for the footprint ... it really doesn't change that much from last year I think it was 44-thousand,” Meola said. "Winchester Street we would be looking at about 86-thousand-dollars' worth of security measures." Meola's estimate for security on Winchester Street is just shy of the entire security bill for the 2014 festival. That is the bill that Keene State College just paid off. Committee member Randy Filiault says he does NOT expect the town to pay for the expensive security outside the festival footprint. “I'm not a rocket scientist but I can count to eight and there is no way in hell 8 councilors are going to approve this,” Filiault said. Counselor Terry Clark says that the Pumpkin Festival has gotten, “A virus attached to it in the form of college partying, and that this virus is just becoming expensive.” Just days after that meeting, Let it Shine submited an application for a 2015 Pumpkin Festival permit. It recommended in that application that the city pay all security costs outside the festival footprint. That application was discussed Friday at a City Council meeting. City Parking in SnowMarch 6, 2015
Allie Baker KSC-TV Reporter KEENE, N.H. – Area residents will notice fewer parking spaces downtown for the next couple of months. The reason: New Hampshire’s third snowiest winter season recorded. Downtown’s parking slots have received just as much snow as any part of town in the past few weeks, but maintaining them can be tricky with daytime congestion. Parking Services Project Manager Gary Lamoureux said that city snow removal is manned by the Public Works Department. Lamoureux has been working for the city a total of 35 years first as an assistant city manager, fire chief and emergency management director prior to parking services. “The Public Works Department […] takes care of all of the plowing throughout the city. Snow removal, ice control, sidewalk plowing; that’s all done through them,” Lamoureux said. He explained that the snow removal crews tend to the parking slots at night because it’s safer for both the crew and Keene residents. However, what can be unsafe are the number of parking slots the night crew could not clear in total. Some spaces act as a piling area for excess snow that simply could not be cleared during the night shift. “What happens is they’ll push it all into one area and then the night crews will come in and start doing removals,” Lamoureux said. This does not mean, however, that a perfect clean-up is guaranteed. “It depends on if there’s a lot of snow or not,” Lamoureux said. “If there’s not plowing to be done, there’s removal of snow, ice control or other projects they do.” Heavy snowfall in a short period of time means that snow removal crews take on multiple snow related projects for the city. Removing snow from Main Street parking slots is only one of them. Keene State College junior Alicia Berry experienced difficulty parking downtown with the snowy conditions. “We had passed maybe four or five open spots right near the front of the store, but we couldn’t park there because the snow was piled up so high that it blocked more than half the spot. There was no way we could’ve parked there without it being dangerous; the back end would have been hanging out,” Berry said. Lamoureux said that sometimes the department’s capability depends on snowfall. “With the crews you’d have to have many personnel on duty in order to clean up the downtown the way we’d like to see it. Unfortunately, it’s just not feasible to do that,” Lamoureux said. It is advised to check the parking space before pulling in as a precaution. Although parking meters may be more difficult to reach in the snow, normal parking fees still apply. You can learn more about the city’s official winter parking ordinance here. Skiers and Snowboarders Embrace the Winter SeasonEmbrace the winter from Kyle Bailey on Vimeo. March 6, 2015
Kyle Bailey KSC-TV Reporter There are lots of people who see this cold snowy winter as a big problem, while other people choose to embrace the season. Skiers and snowboarders of all ages come out to Granite Gorge all winter long with friends and family to enjoy the winter season rather than staying inside and being miserable. It’s quite clear to see there are plenty of people who love winter; one young rider said how he wishes for more snow. Skiers and snowboarders see the frequent snow falls as a true gift and they think you should too. Lisa Starkey is a Mother who loves to go skiing with her family here’s her advice, “Come ski, come out, be outside its all good we got to make the best of it while it’s here” This winter has officially been the third snowiest and the second coldest in New Hampshire history. Snowday Cancellations ConflictSnow Conflict from Anna Glassman on Vimeo. March 6, 2015
Anna Glassman KSC-TV Reporter There have been two snow days and one curtailed operations this year. Some of the Keene State College community argued it was unfair to commuters, students, faculty and staff to keep school open. While others said it is to be expected during winter in New Hampshire. KSC senior, Forest Decoste said that President Anne Huot’s decisions are unsatisfactory to him. “It kind of pisses me off I understand her point but in the same vain I think she does have to take into account how many commuters do go to this school and how unsafe it is to expect them to come,” Decoste said. About one-fourth of the student population are commuter students according to The Equinox. On the KSC website under the Inclement Weather Policy students are asked to make responsible decisions during the event of extreme weather. The website stated, “Individuals are always asked to make responsible decisions about their personal safety.” However students such as Mark Oosterman said it is not a simple decision to stay home. “I mean it’s a lot of pressure I mean the stakes are high we are all here to get that degree and you know I think it’s important to most students, you know, they care about their grades,” he said. Other students like Sophomore Beau Donovan said when school stays open it throws off the school plans for students and faculty. “They have to cancel classes even though the school is still open. So that throws off students and all of their plans,” said Donovan. Besides throwing off the schedules of students and faculty, Keene State College staff has to use vacation time in order to take the day off. Journalism professor, Marianne Salcetti, wrote in the Equinox that delayed decisions are dangerous and unfair for employees. “Some staff people have to risk coming in just to get paid, while others have to use their own vacation time, which is an unfair punishment,” Salcetti wrote. Excess Snow Creates Parking Problems for Students and FacultyMarch 6, 2015
Brooke Stall KSC-TV Reporter New Hampshire has experienced about one snowstorm each week throughout January and February. At Keene State, the Physical Plant/Grounds crew have been on their toes to make sure parking lots are clear and safe for students and faculty. However, problems arise for cars that sit in the parking lots for weeks on end. Bud Winsor, the Assistant Director of the Physical Plant Grounds Department said when cars remain in spots for a long time; it makes the job a bit difficult. “The bigger challenge is, some of the student lots like the residential lots and the Winchester street lots where students don't leave and cars are there during a snow event or they're there for a prolonged period of time, then that becomes a bit of a problem to work around those,” Winsor said. The Physical Plant Grounds Department use large snowplows to clear out parking lots, which creates a wall of snow behind, and in between cars, blocking them in and making it difficult to get out. James Burgess, a junior at Keene State College said his car has gotten stuck a few times this season. Burgess said he has a car that sits low to the ground, which makes it difficult to drive over the built up snow after a storm. Burgess said that his friends have also gotten stuck in their spots a few times this winter season, but with the help of friends and strength they were able to get their cars free in just a few tries. Winsor said that after a storm, the grounds crew tries to make their rounds about twice a day to clear empty parking spaces of snow, using a smaller plow that easily clears out empty spots. said students should move their cars to a clear space after a snowstorm so that there is less snow piling up as more snowstorms happen. “If you know you need to move your vehicle do it during the daytime and we can help. And also just move it right after a snowstorm. Clear off your car and move it to a cleared space and you shouldn't have too many issues,” Winsor said. Not everyone has an all-wheel drive vehicle and snow tires to trudge through the snow fortress built up behind their cars. Fortunately, if someone’s car gets stuck and they do not have the proper tools or assistance to dig their car out, Winsor said that the Physical Plant Grounds Department is available to help get cars free. The department can be reached at (603) 358-2702. New Name in the works for Thanksgiving DayNovember 25, 2014
Rebecca Marsh KSC-TV Reporter As Black Friday sales begin earlier and earlier each year Thanksgiving is getting a new name. It’s called Black Thursday. Stores like JC Penney, Walmart, and Target, among many other stores in Keene, N.H., will begin their sales will be open and begin the Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving. While there are many stores open on Thanksgiving stores like TJ Maxx and Bed Bath and Beyond will not be open on Thanksgiving and the Black Friday sales will begin on Black Friday. Brian Rich created a Facebook page called, “Boycott Black Thursday,” a few years ago to stop stores from beginning their Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving. The page now has around 103,000 likes. The page has photos up on their newsfeed telling people to “Shop This” for stores closed on Thanksgiving and “Not That” for stores open on Thanksgiving. This is to give people a day off to spend with their families. The site change.org has an online petition asking for Target to open at a reasonable hour so families could have dinner together on Thanksgiving Day. The person who started the petition, Patricia Stumpff, said one of her daughters works in retail and the family has had Thanksgiving dinner early and late the past couple years to eat all together. The petition needs around 33,000 more supporters to reach the goal of 150,000 supporters. However, some people may not be opposed to having stores open on Thanksgiving. Ann Brenoff is a blogger from the Huffington Post. She said retail employees may need the money or have no family. Justin Carley is an apprentice electrician at Keene State College and said having Black Friday sales start on Thanksgiving would help lessen the crowds and hopefully the “madness.” “I don’t see why not [open stores earlier]...Take down on the crowds, still get a good deal. I don’t see any issues with it,” Carley said. The Walden Galleria mall in Buffalo, NY will be open at six in the morning on Thanksgiving Day and mall managers will fine stores in the mall $200 for every hour they are not open. KSC Senior Katie Copeland said she strongly believes in the Thanksgiving family values. “My family, we’re all very strongly against that because the problem with that is it’s a holiday and people shouldn’t have to work on a holiday...especially a holiday that’s very like family oriented.” |