Emerson, an artist and former grant writer, didn’t grow up in Newbury, but her family’s connection to the community spans across generations to 1762 when her ancestors were among the town’s founding families. Growing up in Cleveland, her interest in her Vermont roots led to an unpredictable journey.  About 25 years ago, Emerson innocently asked her father about family lore related to Helen Keller and her great-great-grandfather, Joseph Edgar Chamberlin. Her curiosity was piqued when her father confirmed that the stories were, indeed, true.

HAVERHILL—Haverhill Cooperative School Board members will mull over whether to ask voters to install a school resource officer in the district’s schools.

NORTH HAVERHILL—Pam Aldrich has nine students that attend her Blackmount Micro School in North Haverhill. They range from kindergarten through the sixth grade. It’s like a contemporary one-room schoolhouse. Blackmount is affiliated with Prenda, a national program which employs a four-day school week and a six-hour school day.

WAITS RIVER—Less than 50 voters from Corinth and Topsham approved a $7.3 million operating budget for the Waits River Valley School in 2023-2024 at the annual district meeting on May 1. In a hand count, the budget article was approved 39-9.

ORFORD—The Orford Selectboard voted to hold on to a decommissioned police cruiser and transfer it to the highway department. The vote came during a regular meeting on April 26.