Sumps and Pumps Water Testing
44 Greenough Road
Plaistow, NH 03865
May 30th, 2006

George and Lynne Cunningham
61 East Road
Atkinson, NH 03811


Dear Mr and Mrs. Cunningham,
We at Sumps and Pumps Water Testing of Plaistow have tested kitchen tap water at your home from various minerals. This testing will assist in evaluating what precautions may need to be taken indoors with your fixtures and taps and outdoors with your artesian well to ensure safe, drinkable water.
pH is a measure of hydrogen in water that can display the greater acidic or basic a solution is. The scale begins at zero and reaches 14, the lower numbers meaning the water is more acidic, and the higher numbers represent more basic or alkaline with 7 being neutral. Water should be close to 7, in a range of about 6.5-8.5 to be safe, clean, and maintain an adequate taste, but has flexible parameters of 5.1-7.9. Maintaining a suitable pH level is crucial to not only the safety and health of you and others, but highly acidic solutions can corrode water pipes, and highly basic solutions can cause build up to form inside pipes as well. The water sample from your household that we tested had an outstanding pH level of 7 which registers the same as pure water. Therefore, your water is safe and healthy to drink, and will not harm your pipes, fixtures, or drains.
Chlorine can occur naturally in water or is added through a well or public source of water to reduce bitter taste and odor. Your water did not contain any chlorine, but this does not mean it has odor and bitter taste. Well water often does not contain chlorine because chlorine is added to large bodies of public drinking water and most underground water sources do not naturally contain bleach and/or chlorine.
Iron naturally is found in water, mostly in well water because large amounts of iron are found in the Earth’s crust. Although water with high levels of iron content has been linked to some diseases, many people can consume water with iron, but usually only causes a pungent taste or smell in the water. When tested, your tap water tested negative for iron, but signals of iron in your tap water may include brownish stains around bathtub fixtures.

Adam Cunningham
5/19/06
Consumer Edu. Per 2
Mrs. Hay
Bazaar Written Report

The Consumer Education Bazaar was a project like no other, and a staple
of my 8th grade education. It put me and the other students on the other side of
the consumer merchant relationship which I enjoy very much. I also enjoyed the
open parameters of the projects which made creativity a must . Although the
project was not graded upon the total sales and profit, the sales were based
upon what was graded, the business plan, calendar, inventory, etc. The project
showed that selling products, goods, or services does not work without strategic
plan. As I saw in selling my product, flaws in planning led to losing sales and
being ill-prepared in some aspects of the project itself, such as neglect items in
the process of transportation from my home to the Bazaar. In the initial planning
for the Bazaar in March, May 17th seemed very far away, but as work because
more strenuous, the months seemed to just pass me by. I felt my product was
very unique because nobody else seemed to make anything that related to the
concept of video yearbooks, or even incorporate the technology in their
products. Although there was a large amount of effort in collecting photographs
and coordinating the videos, it was all worth it in the end to seeing other
people’s interest in the product and the satisfaction in knowing my profits, no
matter how large or small, go towards helping others. The videos were similar to
written yearbooks but were in DVD form and did not include individual pictures
of every student, but many students were shown through candid photos in
various large in small school events. There was an emphasis on the departing
8th grade class especially in the dedication because there was great ease in
taking pictures when I was involved in the events, which usually included other
8th graders, such as Career Day, and the lock-in.
Through the ten product surveys that I distributed that asked about what
price was adequate for the Video Yearbooks and what components should be
included, I was able to determine the content and price. I used the average
price from each sheet and converted that into a suitable number, which turned
out to be five dollars. This may have been the set price, but as the Bazaar
progressed, I found myself selling for a low as $2.50. Even though the price
may have dropped by as much as 50% throughout he night, it was still profitable
seeing as each DVD costed about .61 cents to make. I believed the profits
would be much larger than they actually were, but $9.84 was acceptable. The
profit may have been larger, but I anticipated more sales but in actually I only
sold half of my inventory which was about 25 DVD’s. This is what made my
product sales successful. I was able to afford losing some sales and still turned
a profit because I sold a desirable product that was cheap to make. I also had a
computer at the Bazaar to show sample video yearbooks to potential buyers
which I also believe persuaded people to purchase my videos and made me
triumphant. The name of Memory Productions seemed fitting because it
displayed the main idea of my products, it as a video production that was
created to keep memories of Timberlane Regional Middle School.
If I were to do this project over again, I probably would have spent more
time on creating the product itself and less time on the paperwork. I also would
have followed the rubric more to ensure a desired grade in all aspects of the
project. Along with the rubric, I would have followed the business plan as
well because I found myself not completing the aspects of the project when I
had allotted to finish them, and scrambled to complete them on time. Location in
the gymnasium also proved to be a vital factor in selling products. I chose a
table in the back corner towards the door because I figured that people would
see my booth first because that would be the primary entrance, but the entrance
in the opposite corner was. This meant that by the time that people would get to
by table, they had already spent most or all of their money on other products. I
would have chosen a spot closer to the front entrance and placed more
extravagant and eye-catching signs and banners near the product. I have a
newfound respect for local businessmen and women because it is not all
glorified sales and making a profit, but there is much effort involved with
inventory and planning, which I have seen in these last two months through the
Bazaar. Because this process was so invigorating and joyful, I can now truthfully
see myself pursuing a career in business or buying and selling goods.

Beauty and Grace
So beautiful is spring, as a photograph taken,
a keepsake to treasure, and never retaken.
The cold winter days, and long winter nights,
have suddenly vanished, but no need for fright.
spring has arrived, with wonderful cheer,
the trees are now green, for once in the year.
The brisk autumn days, and leaves on the ground,
all raked away in a pile or mound.
All of the pumpkins have fled from their patch,
but spring has brought fruits grown by the batch.
The weather is calm, neither hot or cold,
the summer heats await, and springtime will hold.
So beautiful is spring, the air is fresh,
the dream of fair nature, is now in the flesh.
And why do I weep when spring rolls around,
the plants are so lively, as the grass on the ground.
This green spread widely, nothing left bare,
the sights are so precious, nothing can compare.
The hustle and bustle has come to a halt,
people will turn to watch the exalt.
But why does spring receive such high praise?,
The mild nights of comfort, and long sun filled days.




Kites of Spring
I came across your soaring kites flying so high
kissing the clouds of spring’s full and light blue sky,
And suddenly the ties snapped and broke away,
leaving you just to sulk, and nothing left to say.
It made you cry for goodbye you had to bid,
but then again I saw things different than ever you did.Though I heard your shrill voice through the trees,
I could not see your head bowed low, which brought me to my knees.
The wind that once gave you joy now leaves you to ball,
it felt your agonizing pain, and always heard you call,
You give and give, but in the end it only makes you ache,
for the wind has become the enemy, and only lives to take.





Chapter III Sections I-IV Adam Cunningham
Water from both public and private supplies often needs some treatment to ensure that the water is sage and appealing to drink. Treatments for water can include simple filters in households to a complex process and a public plant.
Water quality: The measure of the substances in water besides water molecules.
PH: Ph is the measure of hydrogen in water which can determine the acidic or basic qualities of water is. Ph has a scale of 0 to 14. Pure water has a neutral ph level, meaning it is neither an acid nor base, and has a ph of 7. The lower the pH, the more acidic, and the higher the pH the more basic.
The level of calcium and magnesium in water is referred to as hardness; which contains high levels of these minerals.
Organisms that cause disease can be present in water as well. Measures of coliform can show the number of Escherichia coli bacteria, which is waste material.
A concentration of water is the amount of one substance in a certain volume of another substance.
Water Quality Standards
Substance Limit
Arsenic .05 parts per million (ppm)
Carbon tetrachloride .005 ppm
Copper 1.3 ppm
Cyanide .2 ppm
Lead .015 ppm
Coliform count > 5 % of samples taken in 1 month can be positive.
pH 6.5-8.5
TYPICAL WATER TREATMENT
Step #1
Filtration is the process of passing water through a series of screens that allow the water through, but not larger solid particles.
Step #2
Flocs are sticky globs that are formed from alum and other chemicals.
Coagulation is the process of other particles sticking to the flocs formed by the chemicals.
Step #3
Chlorine is added to water to kill disease-causing microorganisms. Sometimes other chemicals are added to water to kill specific organisms, such as Cryptosporidium.
Once water has been treated it is distributed to homes and businesses. From the treatment plant, the water goes to the central pumping station and then it is pumped through underground mains. From there they are branched into smaller pipes and into houses. Some communities store water in the air instead of underground. No in clouds or water vapor, but large tanks at the top of hills. Treated water is pumped into the water tower and is released into mains and pipers. Wastewater used in the home or other outlets are referred to as sewage. Many communities treat their wastewater to make it drinkable again. During primary treatment, solids called sludge are settled of the water.
Septic Tanks are underground tanks containing bacteria that treat wastewater as it passes through. The area that water filters into that is around the septic tank is the leech field.
Water shortages are when there is too little water or too great in demand or there is too little water, or both.
Chapter III Section II
The Colorado River provides water for many people in the desert Southwest, but once it flows through Mexico and up into the United States, it has been taped and little precipitation provides a lack of water. A water shortage occurs when there is too little water or too great demand in the area, or both. When a place of normal precipitation receives little or no water through a period of several years, it is known as a drought. A drought will affect groundwater and underground water supplies as well. Without enough water to get to the aquifer, its amount of water decreases. Many people overuse the aquifer, even when there is no drought. When too much water is pumped into it, the probability of it sinking of collapsing increases. Solutions of refilling the aquifer include injecting water underground, but since this is expensive and requires more water, it is easier to just not overuse the aquifer. Using a resource wisely so that it will not be used up is called conservation. Water is used mainly in the United Sates for home use, agriculture, and industry. For example, paper mills conserved water and use only half of the water used in the past to make the same amount of paper. Reducing water use, recycling water, and reusing water are three major forms of water conservation by industries. The process of obtaining fresh water from salt water is called desalination. A farfetched way of obtaining fresh water is also to pull icebergs by tugboat and melt them until liquid forms of water are present in large quantities.

Chapter III Section III
Contamination of fresh water became so bad in the Cuyahoga River near Lake Erie, that chemicals on top began to become flammable. The addition of any substance that has a negative effect on water or the living thinks that depend on the water is called water pollution. Some types of pollutants can build up in the bodies of living things such as the pesticide DDT which can be absorbed into water. The major sources of water pollution are human wastes, industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals, and runoff from roads. A specific source of pollution that can be identified is the point source and the less obvious source is the more dominant cause of pollution. A widely spread source of pollution that can’t be tied to a specific point of origin is called a nonpoint source.
History
Dr. John Snow discovered the reason of large amounts of illnesses in London was caused by Cholera in 1854. Many large cities have sewage lines which contain hazardous wastes. This sewage can seep into the water supply and pollute it. The result of rain with that is largely acidic is known as acid rain. Acid rain can eat away at stones of buildings and statues. Rich supplies of nutrients from fertilizers encourages the growth of plants and algae in and around nearby bodies of water. Pesticides are chemicals intended to kill insects and other organisms that damage crops. They may be sprayed onto crops but run off into large water bodies. The run off substances from crops and roads can run off into wells or even an entire aquifer. Living things in lakes, streams, and wetlands filter out and break down waste materials. Not only living things can help clean up polluted water. Passing through sand and rock can naturally purify water. Many recycling techniques can help conserve water and lessen pollution. Avoiding over fertilizing gardens and disposing of toxic substances can help homes lessen pollution.
Chapter III Section IV
Kinetic Energy is the form of energy that an object has when it is in motion.
Potential Energy is energy that is stored and waiting to be used.
Electricity produced by kinetic energy of water moving over a waterfall or dam is hydroelectric energy.
Hydroelectric power plants capture the kinetic energy of moving water and changing it into electrical energy.
Hydroelectric power is clean, safe, and efficient.
Although building a dam is expensive, the water is free and is naturally renewed by the water cycle.
Hydroelectric plats do have limitations.
Only certain locations are suitable for building a dam. A fast flowing river is necessary, and an area that can be flooded to create a reservoir.
For countries that want to strengthen industry, hydroelectric power is the best way to provide large amounts of power because it is cheap and widespread.
Dams that are large can provide much power, but effect the land around them.

Adolescents often disregard many controversial issues, but the Great Debate gave the students of team 8B the chance to research and sympathize for actions and events that affect numerous people in a hands-on way. It took an in depth look at a broad variety of topics from gun control to stem cell research and put each individual student “in the driver’s seat” so to speak.
What I enjoyed about the debate was the equal workload of each group member. All three of our group members had to research with note cards, draft a speech and either ask and answer rebuttal questions or recite a conclusion; which applied to all groups pro or con. Although I believed that only using one portion of the cards and giving the rest to the opposing group, I enjoyed learning about both sides of the topic to prepare for any of the topics brought up by our opponents. I would have never thought twice about the gun control situation and how it affects American’s in their everyday lives, but now I do. I can take my knowledge gained from this experience and apply it to life. Not only did I gain information about the topic I had to research, but by there being audience participation during the debates, I know about many controversial issues, not just one. The audience and teachers filling out evaluations for every debate was also an aspect that I enjoyed. I felt that putting much emphasis on the debate encouraged me to work better. For example, the debate was being counted as part of both the Reading and Language Arts grade, which made my conduct and work ethic even better knowing that two class grade would suffer if my performance was inadequate.
With the throngs of aspects of the debate that enjoyed, there were some areas where I though there could be improvement. During the opening speeches, many vital portions were not incorporated due to the short 1:15 time limitations. I found myself and others reading too fast and unclearly to compensate for the excessive, and in some cases, prodigal time. I also was confused by the rebuttal answers being irrelevant and not relative to the question itself. Although there were groups such as gun control, they were separated in two groups, pro and con, but all members of the group gave their pro side not cards to the pro and their con side cards to the con side depending on which side they were on. Instead of this, I thought it would be more efficient to decide which group would be pro and con in the beginning to cut down on wasteful and unnecessary work.

RAGING REBUTTALS
Adolescents often disregard many controversial issues, but the
Great Debate gave the students of team 8B the chance to research and
sympathize for actions and events that affect numerous people in a hands-
on way. It took an in depth look at a broad variety of topics from gun
control to stem cell research and put each individual student "in the driver’s
seat" so to speak. It was an assignment with such broad parameters and
rules, and was difficult to find portions that were not to my liking. The
debate assignment was difficult and challenging, but most of all was nerve
racking to me because of my lack of large public speaking and the thought
of making a mistake in front of the crowd which exceeded 100 people.
What I enjoyed about the debate was the equal workload of each
group member. All three of our group members had to research with note
cards, draft a speech and either ask and answer rebuttal questions or
recite a conclusion; which applied to all groups pro or con. Although I
believed that only using one portion of the cards and giving the rest to the
opposing group was prodigal, I enjoyed learning about both sides of the
topic to prepare for any of the arguments brought up by our opponents. I
would have never thought twice about the gun control situation and how it
affects American’s in their everyday lives, but now I do. I can take my
knowledge gained from this experience and apply it to life. Not only did
I gain information about the topic I had to research, but by there being
audience participation during the debates, I know about many controversial
issues, not just one. The audience and teachers filling out evaluations for
every debate was also an aspect that I enjoyed. I felt that putting much
emphasis on the debate encouraged me to work better and revise my
speeches more thoroughly. For example, the debate was being counted as
part of both a Reading and Language Arts grade, which enhanced my
conduct and work ethic due to me knowing that two class grades would
suffer if my performance was inadequate.
With the throngs of aspects of the debate that enjoyed, there were
some areas where I though there could be improvement. During the
opening speeches, many vital portions that illustrated important points
were not incorporated due to the short 1:15 time limitations. I found myself
and others reading too fast and unclearly to complete the entire speech as
written. I also was confused by the rebuttal answers being irrelevant and
not relative to the question itself. Although there were groups such as gun
control, they were separated in two groups, pro and con, but all members
of the group gave their pro side not cards to the pro and their con side
cards to the con side depending on which side they were on. Instead of
this, I thought it would be more efficient to decide which group would be
pro and con in the beginning to cut down on wasteful and unnecessary
work.
The Great Debate was an excellent way to display many personal
strengths and to achieve goals not only set by the teachers, but by myself.
Goals such as completing the opening speech in the allotted time of one
minute fifteen seconds, developing rebuttal questions that complete the
points not covered in the opening speeches, and to be completely
prepared when on stage. It is something that will be fresh in my minds for a
very extended period of time, not only because it is unlike any other project
I have participated in before, but because it is one of the largest
public speeches I have ever made!

Adam Cunningham
04/08/06
Social Studies Ms. Locke
Team 8B
Current Events


Article Title: Library for Hire
Publication: Union Leader
Date: 04/08/06
Location: Atkinson,NH
Event Category: local

Issue: A vote to rebuild the current Kimball Public Library in Atkinson, NH is
not passed by voters.

Summary: This article is about a 2.1 million dollar plan to rebuild the
condemned Kimball Public Library in Atkinson, NH being rejected by voters
in a 564 to 187. Some argue that the lack of funds are a problem, but the
dangers and safety hazards need to be repaired. Many aspects are
considered in the situation, such as precedent with libraries in neighboring
towns and the popularity of the library itself, along with the economic state
of the town. Ultimately this reoccurring maxim remains, it all refers to
preference.

Supporting Viewpoint: The supporting viewpoint of this article is that the
Kimball Public Library should remain un-renovated and shall not be subject
to a significant restoration. The building is only 31 years old and often is left
empty due to the lack of interest by citizens. To house the amount of books
and other items already inside the library, the current two story building is sufficient. Land surveyors and contractors have estimated the project after
excavation and construction to be in a range of 1.8 to 2.1 million dollars
,but in 2005, the “Atkinson Library Fund” only contains 382,000, which
would make the other 1.5 million dollars be accounted for from loans and
miscellaneous funds. There is little leeway in the budget, and depriving
other aspects of the budget to feed the unnecessary faction would weaken
needed areas such as health care and public safety. Local resident Mark
Griffin says, “ The Kimball Library is a staple of Atkinson, and to demolish it
is not only unethical, but destruction of a landmark.” Minor restorations
have been competed in the past, most recently in 2001, making the aspect
of being technologically behind unproblematic.

Opposing Viewpoint: The opposing viewpoint of this article is that the
Kimball Public Library should be rebuilt. The existing building is aging and
does not apply to any laws and building codes due to its age. For example,
as of 1991, all building were required to accommodate for those with
physical and mental disabilities, but due to the Kimball Public Library being
built in 1975 does not abide to this. For example, at 29 inches high, the
desks and tables exceed the maximum height for wheelchairs, and unkept
outer ramps an stairs pose a safety risk. In 2004, a library trustee was

tragically killed from an accident sustained by falling down the stairs from
the second to first floor. “ [Kimball] holds the key to learning, a place where
local elementary students come to read and acquire a very diverse knowledge” says former Atkinson Selectman Michael Acosco. Although this
plan was rejected by popular vote, thousands of dollars are being put into
the “Atkinson Library Fund”, and is to be voted upon again in the next
election. Private donations and separate funds have been developed to
raise the necessary funds. Also, many of the library cardholders at KPL are
senior citizens and young children who find the slanted flooring, broken and
unkept stairs and ramps, and high desks and tables to be strenuous.

Debate Speech
Adam Cunningham
Speaker #1

Resolved: Gun control for assault weapons is unnecessary, and is a way to divest the masses of their Second Amendment rights depicted in the U.S. Constitution. As Rep. Michael Walker of Oregon says, “ A firearm is an innovative invention which is used for good and bad, but many objects in our society do the same, such as the internet, and automobiles. Although gun control is to limit firearm crimes and abuse, many law-abiding citizens are strained because of these outrageous limitations. For example, Shawn Kent

burst into his high school with an automatic assault weapon, injuring five people, but his wrath was only stopped by a teacher who retrieved a handgun from his car, and apprehended the student.


But what would have happened without the aid of this concealed weapon? Although it is an ironic situation where a violent gun encounter was halted by another gun, it occurs all over the country, and in 2004 alone, over 350,000 people thwarted assailants with firearms. So think, if you were in a danger, would your choice be to leave yourself without a means of defense?


Firearm bans do not apply to vendors at gun shows who are allowed to breach the background checks for firearms, and do not constitute for the 230,000,000 guns already in circulation. From 1993-2003, states such as Florida with right to carry laws saw firearm violence drop over 34 percent while the national average rose almost 15 percent in that time.
Alternatives to national gun bans include National Rifle Association Programs and State Gun Control Programs, which have educated over 20 million people in the U.S. since being initiated in 1957. 46 six states have seen firearm crimes drop in the last year, even though a nation wide firearm ban had expired.

Mineral Identification Lab



























Adam Cunningham
Mrs. O’Neill 8B
Science C
4/5/06




In this lab, minerals were put through seven tests to determine what mineral they were. These tests included a test of acid, color, density, hardness, luster, magnetism, and streak. After completing these tests for all six minerals, the results were recorded on the data table, and using this information, the type of mineral was identified.