Hooksett Banner editorial and letters to the editor for March 13, 2008

Hooksett Editor — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:29:00 GMT

Editorial: The vote was ‘no’

In town after town, the vote was no on so many items. The Auburn-Candia middle school, the Allenstown sewer bond, the Allenstown and Epsom town and school operating budgets ... virtually every money item in Allenstown.
We can only speculate on why the vote went as it did, but we would guess it’s the economy. People are worried for their jobs, prices are going up and the message they have sent is that they simply do not have any more to give. It’s bound to make some things, like road maintenance, cost far more to fix in the future, but that’s a problem that won’t be faced for another year or two or three.
In Candia, the vote was surprisingly strong against the new middle school. Money was undoubtedly an issue here, but so was local control. We think supporters should try again, and let Candia representatives have some say.

Wishing Michelle Bonsteel the best in her new job

To the Editor:
I want to wish Michelle Bonsteel the best of luck and I was saddened to see her leave.
I want to tell the residents of Hooksett a bit about Michelle. I moved to Hooksett in 1986 and have been involved in politics since then. She is the best code enforcement officer Hooksett has had since I moved here. When her resume came across our desk and I saw she worked in West Chester County, N.Y., and all were top-notch communities.
I hoped she was truly as good as she looked on paper. I am blessed because my husband is a native of West Chester County and many family members and friends live there. I called a dear friend who is a captain on a police force in one of the towns there and ask him to get references for me. They were stellar. Another councilor checked his sources in Laconia and they did not want her to leave.
But – and there is always a but – some of the men did not want to hire a woman and I just shake my head that in 2008 gender bias and racism still exist. One of the men remarked, ”Can you see her climbing up a ladder in a skirt and high heels?” I will say some of the Good ‘Ole Boys complained about her because she would not deviate from the law.
In the old days, a small town could operate on a handshake and you scratch my back and I will scratch yours. We are not a small town anymore and the world is too litigious to do handshakes.
Thank you, Michelle, for being the best, and I wish you great success.

Pat Rueppel
Town Councilor District 1, Hooksett

Thanks for understanding during this winter season

To the Editor:
First, I would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding this winter season. We have seen an unprecedented amount of snow and I am grateful that we have been able to stay on top of it as well as we have.
Next, I would like to ask that you begin to prepare for what will probably be another flood season. Please make sure your culverts are clear. Also, find your storm drains outside your house and keep them clear. Check these every few days to remove any debris that may clog up the drains. This will help to keep things moving once the snow begins to melt.
Finally, I would like to let everyone know that we are doing everything we can to maintain roads in a safe condition. It is very difficult to keep potholes filled during the winter when traffic and the next storm’s plowing just empty them out a day or two later. We are planning work to begin on some of the worst roads as soon as the weather allows. I appreciate your patience and understanding and I ask that you continue to direct all questions to me or the Board of Selectmen.
Gordon Ellis
Road Agent
Epsom

Congratulations to all who worked on Epsom meetinghouse

To the Editor:
Preservationists around the country are applauding Epsom for saving one of our most valuable treasures, the Old Freewill Baptist Church Meetinghouse. The Friends of Epsom’s Historic Meetinghouse committee has worked for two years to relocate and preserve the one of the oldest buildings in town.
I am only the chairman of the committee; the real credit goes to our members. Each one has contributed in their own unique way.
Penny Graham, our treasurer, took over as secretary, and has done a tremendous job. She designed and presented the PowerPoint presentations at our public meetings and represented the committee at the BOS meetings. She filled out applications and applied for grants, recorded our minutes, made phone calls and researched Epsom’s history.
Bruce Graham, Penny’s husband, supported her as she spent so many late hours on this project. Bruce has spent many hours in committee meetings and has donated his time and the use of his equipment.
Harvey Harkness has been our spokesperson and presented our project at our public meetings. He set up the meetings with the NHDHR, and the NHPA. As president of Epsom’s Historic Association, he helped us to handle the finances. He and Ed Nutter met with Gov. Lynch, trying to get us his support. He also coordinated the excavation and foundation work done at the new site.
Sharon Burnston brought to our committee a wealth of historical preservation experience. She has given us invaluable input as we developed our strategy. Sharon is our PR person and writes our press releases.
Ed and Glenna Nutter and Phil and Charlie Yeaton gave us their years of wisdom as well as their financial support.
Even though George Carlson isn’t an official member, in the past year he has done as much work as we have. He has worked with the NHDOT, designed the topographical maps, engineered the blasting and excavation work, and he and his son, Dean Carlson, designed the foundation which was approved last year. George has agreed to be the project coordinator for phase two. He will be consulting with a preservation architect and administering the LCHIP grant.
I would also like to thank everyone who donated their time and talents, equipment and material. The total combined value equaled almost $100,000. The support from the many Epsom residents made an impossible task possible.
Receiving the grant from the Land Community and Heritage Investment Program was the icings on the cake. This grant will assure the town that the building will be restored, upgraded, and prepared for public use without the use of tax dollars. I thank the committee for the time and hard work that went in to the preparation of the application and the presentation to the LCHIP board of directors.
Congratulations on an excellent job.
Richard Frambach
Epsom
Chairman, FEHMC

I thank Joanne McHugh for her years of public service

To the Editor:
Many times it’s the people behind the scenes that make such a big difference. When you think about the good reputation of the Hooksett schools, you of course think about the teachers; they are on the front line making a difference. Administration also comes to mind; they keep everything running smoothly. Something you might not think about, however, is the School Board. For a small stipend, these individuals volunteer their time to keep the schools running and moving forward.
As with all positions, people come and go. Well we have one School Board member who came to us a long time ago, who just made her last appearance on the Hooksett School Board Tuesday night. Twenty-two years ago, Joanne McHugh won a position on the School Board and she has been there ever since.
I have only had the privilege of knowing Joanne for the last five years. I first met her while volunteering in a classroom when the School Board was visiting. It didn’t take me long to figure out that she was interested in everything to do with the Hooksett schools. I started seeing her popping up everywhere -- attending school events, at meetings and seminars, and I even saw her running the popcorn machine at Underhill.
Joanne served as chairperson of the board many times and I always found her to be a total professional, truly interested in the concerns of the public.
Joanne has often been referred to as the “historian.” When an issue would come up, she often had all the details about how it had to be dealt with many years ago.
Joanne’s favorite saying was a quote from our former superintendent, David R. Cawley. Whenever things got very complicated or heated, she would often say, “We have to think about what is best for the kids.” Seems simple, but often that’s what the discussion needed to get it back on track.
She is one person in school who does her homework. I lost count of how many three-inch three-ring binders she pulls out of her bag before each board meeting. Just in the time I have known her, I have seen her work on building a new school, remodeling a current school, hiring a superintendent or two, and dealing with issues ranging from “new math” to “white rice vs. brown rice.”
As a resident of Hooksett and a parent with three Hooksett students, I would like to thank Joanne for her many dedicated years of public service to the Hooksett school system.

David Pearl
Hooksett

A winter to forget – thanks for your patience

To the Editor:
Thank you for being patient. It has been a winter I would like to forget – 35 snowstorms and it is only the 1st of March. The Highway Department has 210 streets or 304 miles of road to plow, not including all town buildings; Town Hall, Station One, Court House, Library, Village School and the Safety Center. We also do all of the schools; this alone takes eight hours. We do all of this with 10 big plow trucks and a 1-ton.
The town also has 9 miles of sidewalks. We only plow 3.43 miles of the state sidewalks. The reason being if we were to plow all 9 miles, this would take us three weeks. We only have one sidewalk machine. Unfortunately, just like your driveways and walkways, we have no more room to push back snow banks but we are trying.
With 210 streets to plow and all of the corners and intersections that must be kept clean it is hard because we only have one backhoe and one loader. Please know that this will take time but we are out there every day pushing snow banks back, cleaning intersections and filling in potholes.
I just wanted to again thank you for your patience. If you do see a problem out there, please give us a call at 668-8019. Just a reminder that Route 3, Route 3A, Route 28, Route 27, Mammoth Road, Londonderry Turnpike By Pass 28, and Pleasant Street are state-maintained roadways, so if you should see a problem on one of those please feel free to contact the state.
Dale Hemeon
Hooksett Highway Manager

Let the market decideTo the Editor:
Congratulations, Gov. Lynch. You have now put more people out of work. Thank goodness we have such wise and learned politicians who know us so well that they can decide for us, since we don’t seem to know any better, that we are not smart enough to read a contract and understand it before we sign it.
If people are getting caught in a “debt trap,” it is because someone is making a bad decision without careful consideration. People learn from their mistakes. They should probably know better, but if the Democrats keep bailing people out of their bad decisions, they will never learn, and we will keep paying.
Let the market take care of people who made mistakes. People learn. They are smart. Stop telling us that we don’t know any better!

Joanne Randall
Epsom

Candia News : editorial

Hooksett Banner editorial and letters to the editor for March 13, 2008