Teacher, advocate, ambassador, legend: ‘The Ms. Naccach experience’ has made all the difference

Monday, September 23, 2024Thursday, June 11, 2020

If it were a city, it would be a big one – like New York. Its Times Square would be the spot where the ground floors of the James and the Burns buildings intersect. It is from a tiny, windowless office in that precise location that Selma Naccach-Hoff has chaired Central’s English department for roughly half of her 45-year career as a teacher and mentor to thousands of Manchester kids. It is from this perspective that she has watched the rich pageant of four generations of American high school students march by day after day.

Letters: I don’t miss Manchester, but I miss Joe Kelly Levasseur

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Wednesday, June 10, 2020

I wish to say that while he is a Republican and I am a Democrat, and we have different political views, when I lived in Manchester for four years, I always voted for him. The reason I supported him is because his heart was always in the right place.

Letter: Community leaders must ‘give thought to the impact of your words on all stakeholders’

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Three weeks ago, Alderman Michael Porter made some very disparaging remarks about Manchester teachers on a public Facebook group Manchester (NH) School Chat. I confronted him as I thought it very inappropriate for a public official to be offering unedited opinions in a public venue. He was quite dismissive of my feedback, insisting he had every right to express any opinion he chose

Turning down state money hurts low-income and minority students

Monday, September 23, 2024Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Many citizens do not realize that our city can not spend money given to it by the state without overriding the spending portion of the tax cap. Yet it is craziness to refuse to cash a check sent to us by the state.

Black Lives Matter: Mighty Forces

Monday, January 20, 2025Wednesday, June 10, 2020

“If we do not falter in our duty now, we may be able, the handful we are, to end the

Money from state intended to improve schools must go to schools

Monday, September 23, 2024Saturday, June 6, 2020

This is the confounding situation we find ourselves in right now. Manchester schools have received a check for $7.5 million from the state that can’t be cashed unless the Aldermen vote to override the incoming revenue portion of the tax cap. This one-time override requires a supermajority (10 of 15) Aldermen to understand and agree to this technicality and vote to override the cap so that Manchester schools can use the funds allocated to them by the State.

An open letter to New Hampshire’s 2020 graduates

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Thursday, June 4, 2020

There is a long road ahead for all of us, but our country has prevailed through challenging times before, and we will do so again. One day, I hope that you look back at the way you grappled with these unprecedented times and remember your resilience.

So, how will WE save you from this dark and stormy night?

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Tuesday, June 2, 2020

As the nation rages tonight, as the President threatens Martial Law, as a mother mourns a son and a virus eats away at a population with 40 million unemployed, rest easy, my friends, because you are in good hands.

The Soapbox: ‘We’re on a frightening path of injustice’

Monday, September 23, 2024Thursday, May 28, 2020

The governor has two choices right now, and only one of them leads us back to the liberty we once celebrated on July 4 every year: 1) Allow the emergency orders and the State of Emergency to expire, apologize for his overstep, and let everyone slowly get back to normal, or 2) Continue down the road of injustice and face the necessary consequences of that path. There is no in-between.