Keene Equinox

In mid-April Keene State College students got a taste of summer, with temperatures rising into the 80s and the sunshine lighting up Appian Way. Some might call it beach weather, and as many KSC students are probably aware, the seacoast is on the opposite side of the state.… 1 Comment

Pondside III residents can take pride in their "living and learning" dormitory which received the KSC Dorm Awarded LEED Green Building Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. This residence hall was awarded because of its rating in design and construction as the greenest and most energy efficient on campus.… Post the First Comment

The New Hampshire Small Business Development Center held a roundtable discussion with NH Congressman Paul Hodes for small business owners in the L.P. Young Student Center on Monday April 28, 2008. Hodes spoke to about 15 people on the struggles facing small businesses in the economy today.… Post the First Comment

An anticipated $41 million will be invested in the proposed expo center which could begin construction in two years, according to Keene State College's vice president for finance and planning. Jay Kahn, who presented the city council May 1 with an expo center feasibility study, said the college itself would commit around $15 million to the project.… Post the First Comment

Many prefer Florida or Mexico for spring break destinations but for a group of 10 sociology and health science students, their 2008 spring break was the culminating point of their course "Sociology of Nicaragua." They presented their experiences and stories during their week-long trip in Nicaragua to an audience of about 50 people on April 30, 2008.… Post the First Comment

Elliot Hall has always had a special history with children. For over 70 years the building, known as Elliot City Hospital and then Elliot Community Hospital, welcomed babies into the world. In 1973 Keene State College acquired the building, naming it Elliot Hall.… Post the First Comment

In the summer of 2007, Keene State College released information of elevated lead levels in outdoor paint in and around the Elliot Hall's Child Development Center (CDC). Less than two months later, a Harvard Medical School official spoke at KSC's 2007 Sidore Lecture on childhood lead poisoning.… Post the First Comment

Encapsulation of lead-based paint is a cost-effective short-term solution, but over time can end up costing more than the abatement of lead paint. According to Frank Ronan, business manager of EnviroVantage, an environmental clean-up company, encapsulation only involves covering up lead paint, not removing it fully.… Post the First Comment

The amount of lead in childrens' blood required to prompt a health inspection was reduced by half with new state legislation, effective Jan. 1, 2008. New Hampshire Senate Bill 176 amends the Lead Paint Prevention and Control law, by creating tougher state oversight and protection of children New Hampshire Governor John Lynch (D) signed Senate Bill 176 on July 12, 2007.… Post the First Comment

Fifteen years after lead toxins were found in the children's playground soil at Keene State College, 20 percent of that same ground still tests over state and federal safety limits, according to an Equinox investigation. On Sept. 25, 2007, The Equinox collected 10 soil samples from the Child Development Center playground at KSC.… 1 Comment

While lead-based paint chips are one way for children to get lead poisoning, another way is by lead contaminated soil in areas such as playgrounds. "Soil is a huge issue," said Katie Lajoie, a New Hampshire public health nurse, at a Keene State College lecture focusing on lead poisoning in children in October 2007.… Post the First Comment

When 17 Keene State College students signed up to take "Investigating Environmental Problems" last fall, they weren't expecting to be digging in dirt or scraping paint chips from railings, windows or buildings. Yet those efforts resulted in providing data on the health of many campus buildings and facilities when it comes to lead paint, a known environmental and public health hazard.… Post the First Comment