New England Language Center Hosts Foreign Delegation

ROCHESTER—

On March 22, the New England Language Center hosted a potluck dinner to welcome a delegation representing the Kyrgyz Republic. The group consisted of five Parliamentarians and two interpreters from Kyrgyzstan visiting New Hampshire for four days to explore the issues of government and conflict resolution.

The delegation included representatives of five major political parties in Kyrgyzstan. According to the delegates, 99 political parties participated in the recent presidential election, held in November of 2011. There are 120 members in the parliament, including 26 women. While there are areas of major conflict among the political parties, the members of the delegation said that they have been enjoying their tour to the U.S. and have come to know, understand and appreciate one another on a human level, politics aside. They were also very interested in American educational system and culture. After dinner, one delegate suggested that everyone form a circle on the floor to facilitate conversation to allow everyone to participate and exchange opinions.

Prior to their stop in New Hampshire, the group visited Washington D.C., and will continue to California and Florida.

The delegation is in the U.S. on a special program sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Washington and World Affairs Council of New Hampshire.

The event was also attended by a number of friends of the New England Language Center who offered their own insights into politics of Kyrgyzstan and international issues. This was another great opportunity to meet international visitors, learn more about their culture and their country and to create a lasting bond with them.

The New England Language Center offers highly interactive conversational classes in 16 foreign languages for individuals and small groups. Scheduling is very flexible to accommodate individual needs. Remote Internet learning is also available through Skype. The New England Language Center also offers annual focused cultural tours to Russia and the Ukraine. For more information about the New England Language Center and its international programs, contact Marina Forbes at 603-332-2255 or by e-mail at info@anylanguage.org.

Local Green Businesses Partner for Beach Clean Up

HAMPTON—

With literally tons of litter being left behind on New Hampshire’s beaches, there is a real need for local volunteers to help cleanup after the over one million people who visit popular Seacoast destinations like Hampton Beach each year.

That’s why two local eco-minded entrepreneurs, Johnmark O’Brien of the York Harbor-based Green Maids and Nathan Johnson of Visions Kitchens and Design in Hampton, plan to celebrate Earth Day a bit early this year by organizing a beach cleanup at Hampton Beach on Sunday, April 15. They invite local residents and visitors alike to come out and volunteer from 10 to 11:30am.

“I take my dog for walks on these beaches and am always picking up trash as we go,” says O’Brien. “It just seemed like a good idea to do more to help keep our beaches free of pollution.”

“Plus, keeping our beaches clean helps to keep our oceans clean, and we all know how important our oceans are,” adds Johnson.

The duo is reaching out to local green groups like the Green Alliance and Blue Ocean Society, both headquartered in Portsmouth, to help make the beach cleanup a success.

Last September, over a thousand volunteers turned out to pick up more than 8,000 pounds of trash as part of the annual New Hampshire Coastal Cleanup organized by the Blue Ocean Society. The tally included a mind boggling 28,109 cigarette butts and filters. Recognizing that success, Johnson and O’Brien plan to donate $1 to the Blue Ocean Society for each person who shows up to volunteer at their beach cleanup on April 15th, up to $500.

“Clean beaches play a big role in our local economy. I read one study that found visitors to Hampton Beach spent around $175 million in a single year,” says Sarah Brown, Director of the Green Alliance. “We're inviting all our members to join our friends at Green Maids and Visions Kitchens as they cleanup this iconic beach."

O’Brien has plenty of experience with cleaning. Started in 2009, his company Green Maids provides residential and commercial cleaning services with a sustainable twist.

“Many of today's traditional household cleaning products release harmful chemicals into the environment,” O’Brien explains. “These chemicals often find their way into our air, water and soil when we wash them down our drains. They can deplete the ozone layer and be damaging to plants, animals and humans.”

“We only use products that are all-natural, biodegradable, non-toxic, earth friendly and safe for the environment,” he says. “These products are derived from things that you'd find naturally, such as plants, corn and coconut and also contain essential lemon oils.”

Since launching Visions Kitchens & Design in 2010, Johnson and his business partner Ernest Proper have been working to green customers’ kitchens by using eco-friendly building materials like bamboo, reclaimed wood and recycled countertops. They specialize in design techniques that can help customers achieve LEED certification.

“We offer clean and safe water based finishes on our cabinets,” Johnson notes. “We also use cabinet and counter companies who recycle 100 percent of the water they use.”

Friends for several years now, Johnson and O’Brien are both Business Partners in the Green Alliance, and first met at one of the organization’s networking events for local entrepreneurs. While they come from different industries, both share an interest in doing a business in a way that is eco-friendly.

“We both find importance in keeping the Earth clean and making sure the products we use limit our impact on the environment,” according to Johnson.

“Nathan and I have been trying to think of creative ways to give back to the community and environment for some time now,” says O’Brien. “We’re both excited to make some new friends as we clean up Hampton Beach on April 15.”

This article provided to the Granite State Sentinel by David Anderson.

Local Girl Donates to Haiti Relief

PORTSMOUTH—

Lilly Whelan will be about half the size of almost every guest who listens to her speak at the Caribbean Nights Dance Party Saturday, April 7, in Portsmouth. And although Lilly is generally more comfortable on a climbing structure at her South Berwick elementary school than behind a microphone at the VFW Hall, the fourth grade girl has something she wants to talk about.

“It would be a great idea, if you have everything that you need and you are going to get something extra, to instead send some money, like give it to a cause rather than spending it on an extra toy that you really don’t need,” explained Whelan, who happens to speak from experience.

Whelan, who was asked to be one of the guest speakers at the third annual Caribbean Nights Dance Party, decided to forego a Christmas present in December in favor of sending money to help children at a school in northern Haiti, one of the world’s poorest countries and one still crippled by an earthquake in 2010.

“My mom wanted me to sleep on it so I would be sure, but I really didn’t need to,” said Whelan. “I already have everything I need, like water, food and shelter, but the children in Haiti don’t. So giving up one Christmas present made a big difference for them but didn’t make any difference for me.”

Proceeds from the dance where Whelan will speak benefits the Eben Ezer School in Milot, Haiti. The school has grown over the last five years from 35 children to 200 children and has added clean water, electricity, a library and a kitchen, thanks to support from southern Maine and New Hampshire.

A man who is at least five times her age will follow Whelan at the microphone. Brian Lenzi of Barrington, a former National Guard commander, will speak for a few minutes about plans to lead a local group to Haiti, to build an inn or guesthouse at the Eben Ezer School.

The Caribbean Dance features the Latin rhythms of Combo Sabroso of Boston. The dance, which draws about 200 people, includes free food and lots of photos to let those who attend celebrate the culture and people they are helping.

Dancing begins at 8pm, and will be preceded by a slide show at 7pm about the Eben Ezer School and Seacoast efforts there.

Combo Sabroso, which plays a variety of Latin music, including traditional Afro-Cuban music, agreed to do the first dance in 2010, which took place just after the earthquake killed hundreds of thousands of people and left a million people homeless near Port Au Prince.

The band was formed in 1998 when keyboard player Matt Jenson, then living in Portsmouth, assembled the best Latino musicians he could find in Boston. The band’s main influences are the ensembles of Latin piano icon Eddie Palmieri and the grand percussionist, Tito Puente.

Jenson said the band follows in the tradition of venerated maestros, but layers its own jazz solos over energetic dance rhythms. They play anything from Cha Cha to Danzon, from Bolero to Salsa, from Latin jazz to Plena.

Although Whelan was invited to the dance to speak of her own generosity, the nine-year-old acknowledged something that most people learn at a much older age.

“It felt really good to know that they were going to get the money and they were going to use, it” she said, adding, “It was like a gift to me to have that feeling that I did something good for Haiti.”

The Caribbean Nights Dance Party is Saturday, April 7, at the VFW on Deer Street in Portsmouth. Tickets are on sale at Black Bean in Rollinsford, Ceres Bakery in Portsmouth, River Run in Portsmouth, Nature’s Way in South Berwick, Full Circle Community Thrift Store in Eliot and Fair Tide Thrift Store in Kittery. Checks, made out to Life and Hope Haiti, can also be sent to P.O. Box 185, Kittery Point, Maine. Tickets cost $20 donation. More information is available from newslifeandhope@yahoo.com.

Photo Caption: Lilly Whalen, age nine, holds a check for $50 that she chose to give to children in Haiti rather than get one of her major Christmas gifts. (Courtesy Photo)