dear friends, much of the focus was on projects in nuevo amanecer. on the students' april trip, pete white and others spoke with the mayor of telica about flooding that affects several houses. hizzoner promised to remedy with situation with a bulldozer. a nicaraguan official at the united nations has been enlisted to stiffen his resolve. the diesel generator for the pump broke and is being repaired under warranty. there is talk of buying a backup generator and/or installing solar panels to supply electricity. the biointensive farming program, george pardo reports, is ready to move ahead. jerry, our adviser on the scene, needs to tell us how much money is needed, and when, to get the project going. money is available. george says fencing is a major early cost. george also reports that arsenic levels in the water are testing at 30 parts per billion, triple the standard. he proposes filters for each household according to plans by a professor in new jersey. the filters could be assembled here by students and shipped to nuevo or possibly carried in suitcases. research is needed on the materials and shipping costs. these filters are in use in the far east, but it is not clear if they are being assembled there or being shipped. the tv and dvd player recently supplied by the willens is being used with enthusiasm. it was reported that unsavory fare is sometimes being displayed on the equipment, so more wholesome dvds have been purchased. the school administration has posted the position of adviser for sf60k, a so-called 0.60, in which the adviser would teach for two periods a day and spend the other three periods on club business. the superintendent has vowed that all comers will be considered, including applicants not currently on the staff. friends will monitor the selection process, and the functioning of the club in the new school year. apparently the district also has agreed to pick up the costs of chaperones on the nica trips, vehicle costs there, and to provide buses to projects in farmingdale and huntington. "sarge," who has chaperoned several nica trips, was awarded $10,000 by his company in philadelphia for his good works. the check is made out to friends, and will be spent in consultation with students and the recipient. someone in the community is thought to want to give friends $5,000 but wants a statement about the group's activities. the statement is being prepared and could become the basis of a brochure produced by our own jennifer brady cotter. please keep in mind the students are holding their first annual "new orleans night" 7 to 10 p.m. on friday may 16 in the high school cafeteria. several of them have worked all year on this event, which promises home-cooked creole cuisine and live blues and jazz music. price is $15 for adults and $10 for students. hope to see you there. lastly, fliers were passed around courtesy of kate shreck about high-efficiency wood-burning stoves that are made in nicaragua. they are supposed to produce much less smoke and consume 60 percent less wood. some are already in use in amatitan through the efforts of our lady queen of martyrs volunteers. these could be an alternative to solar cookers, two of which have been provided, one in nuevo and one in chacraseca. we await feedback on whether these cookers are being used. our next meeting is planned for thursday, june 5, same time and same place.