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News and Information for the Town of Goffstown
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The Goffstown Screamin’ Eagles middle school football team plays for its third championship in four years following a convincing 28-8 win against the Manchester Bears on Sunday, Nov. 15. The locals face Lowell, Mass., at Bedford High School on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 11 a.m. Goffstown once again started quickly, with Alex Duval capping the opening drive with an 11-yard touchdown. After the Bears answered immediately, the Eagles’ defense shut them down. Charlie Hunt and Chris Garrison led the group with six tackles apiece, followed by Nathan Eldred, Ty Lazzari and Kyle Indingaro with five each. Ben Genest, Matt Garrison, Dylan Schlange and Dylan Sherwood all added three tackles. Among the big plays were Chris Garrison’s 38-yard touchdown run and Indingaro’s 30- yard TD jaunt. Lazzari added a 2-yard scoring run. Indingaro rushed for more than 100 yards. Goffstown’s junior varsity middle-schoolers also beat Manchester, 22-6, behind fine play from Nick McCallum, Ryan Pinard, Matt Collins, Christian Marque and many others.
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BY MATT SCHOOLEY When the next fall sports season arrives, expect a change in the landscape of New Hampshire athletics. Beginning with the 2010- 11 fall schedule, all sports will use the divisional format, including the possibility of petitioning up or down. The change, according to athletics directors, provides more choice for schools. Some sports, including volleyball and hockey, are already broken up into divisions, but most use the class system – L, I, M and S. Under the new system, teams line up in Division I, II, III or IV, depending on enrollment numbers. If a school is particularly dominant – or overmatched – in one sport, administrators can petition to move that team up or down a division without affecting other varsity teams. “Everything we do is about trying to promote equity and fair competition,” said R. Patrick Corbin, executive director of the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association. “There will be periods where a school is good for three or four years, but you have other schools that it’s just no competition for them where they were.” Some ups and downs
One example of a team ready to move is the Derryfield School tennis team, which routinely dominates Class S. In the past, if the Cougars wanted to move up in class, all Derryfield teams would have been forced to do the same. Now DS has petitioned to move its tennis program into Division I, and in spring 2011 faces teams previously in Class L. A school at the opposite end of the spectrum is Manchester West, which has struggled just to field teams following the departure of Bedford students. The Blue Knights move to Division II in some sports while working to increase interest in their teams. Still, the majority of teams face the same competition they have in the past. “We’re staying right where we are,” said Suzanne Klink, Pembroke Academy athletics director. “We saw that there were a few question marks, one with field hockey, but I feel like they are on track. We’re looking better. We’re moving in the right direction.” The biggest controversy with the realignment has come out of Bishop Guertin, a school currently playing football at the Division II level. Guertin has dominated the division in recent years, and many expected the Cardinals to ask the football committee to move them into Division I. Instead, the Cardinals elected to stay in their current spot, despite frequently winning matchups with D-I foes when playing inter-divisional games. “There’s no question most people anticipated they would petition up because of their dominance at Division II, and quite frankly they’d probably be dominant in Division I,” said Corbin. “People were surprised – and some disappointed – they didn’t petition up.” Since entering its original plan, Guertin administrators asked to be moved up a division but were told it was too late. Class L Salem High School would have been one of the teams awaiting Bishop Guertin’s arrival at the D-I level. “There was some talk about them coming up, and I think it would have been a great move,” said Dave Rozumek, SHS athletics director. “Do I believe they could be successful in Division I? Absolutely.” Travel plans
Most Windham High School’s teams won’t face varsity competition until next year, and athletics director Bill Raycraft is preparing to enter at Division II next fall. “Our plan is to come in at Division II and get our feet wet at the varsity level,” he said. “It’ll allow us to have some flexibility to move up in sports we feel are ready for it. “The unknown is the hardest part,” he continued. “We have a good idea how many students we have, but we can’t predict the type of talent we’ll have. That’s why we want to go in where our numbers put us and reevaluate.” Mark Searles, John Stark’s AD, said he believes the plan is a positive move for the state. “Teams that struggle, it could help their program build back up,” he said. “I’d hope that most schools will find themselves in a better situation to play up where the numbers tell them to. Overall, I think the flexibility is a very good thing, being able to move one team without impacting your entire athletic program.” The only drawback Searles sees involves baseball and softball. At many schools, those two teams travel to away games together; moving one into a different division than its counterpart could lead to scheduling difficulties. Corbin said schools certainly must consider this factor before petitioning for a change. ‘Change is good’
Bedford High School plans to compete at the Division- II level, with the exception of swimming and alpine skiing; both are set to face Division-I teams. Athletics director Bill Whitmore was happy with the NHIAA’s willingness to adjust its current setup. “I think it’s healthy for the state,” said Whitmore, in his first year with the Bulldogs. “Change is good. Where in the past we’d have to declare every program, now we can pick and choose teams who may need a little bit more time to come around.” Some schools can face nearby opponents whom they were previously unable to play. Hopkinton and Bow, for example, have hosted some contentious games in the past. “To have more local rivalry and more local teams in the division with us, I think it’s really exciting,” said Scott Zipke, who mentors Hopkinton boys soccer’s four-time defending champions. “Certainly it’s always a good thing to have some shorter bus rides.” Bow’s athletics director, Jim Kaufman, said while Bow does lose competition with some local teams by switching divisions, he looks forward to again taking on Hopkinton. “That was a healthy and unhealthy rivalry years back,” he said. “They’ll give us all that we can handle. Playing Hopkinton should be a good thing, as long as the public doesn’t get too intense as it did years ago.” Wherever teams decide to play beginning next year, they must remain there for a minimum of two years. For the next scheduling cycle that begins in fall 2012, committees will analyze win/ loss records before recommending where schools should play. The Falcons land in Division III in every sport other than field hockey and golf, which play at Division II. “The last two cycles we had petitioned up. We did well at first, but since then we’ve drifted into the middle of the pack,” said Kaufman. “Coaches were split on their opinions, and I had a lot of conversations about this. Division III certainly isn’t the old Class M we dominated at the end of our time there.”
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BY MATT SCHOOLEY Good things do indeed come in small packages. Especially when it’s a blitz package. The Goffstown sixth-grade football team was severely outsized in its Northeast regional semifinal contest against Massachusetts foe Milford, but the Screamin’ Eagles proved they weren’t going to be outworked. On Saturday, Nov. 14, the locals moved within one win of a trip to the American Youth Football National Championship Week in Kissimmee, Fla., following a 40-13 victory at Bedford High School. “They had a center who was 200 pounds, and we have some kids who are 75 pounds,” said head coach Geoff Hubbard. “They got the ball, and when they started marching on us, they were doing it at will. The first few minutes of the game I was very nervous that we were going to get creamed – badly.” Hubbard and his coaching staff made critical adjustments after Milford scored a touchdown on its opening drive. The Screamin’ Eagles began to stunt and blitz with more regularity and relied on a six-man front to quell the opponent’s rushing attack. Zack Comeau and Casey Gervais led the aggressive defense with 13 and 12 tackles, respectively, while Chris Melanson and Andrew Biron pounced on a fumble each and combined for eight tackles. “While they were bigger than we were, they weren’t quicker,” said Hubbard. “We were able to take advantage of that and get past them. We have the best overall defense that I have ever seen in a youth group.” Goffstown’s offense wasn’t too shabby either, led by TJ Urbanik, who amassed 160 yards rushing and three touchdowns, and Connor Bourque, who found the end zone twice to complement an interception on defense. The New England Regional Championship is Saturday, Nov. 21, in Meriden, Conn., against another large opponent, Bridgeport, Conn. Hubbard said he plans on using his team’s experience against Milford to prepare for his final New England combatant. “Moving forward against Connecticut, they can’t be as fast as us, and that plays into our strengths again,” said Hubbard. “Our kids have shown they can battle against big teams. Our biggest asset is that our kids are stronger than the average team, and they’re super fast.” Damian Jackson added to the ground attack for Goffstown, darting in for a 42-yard score and piling up six tackles in the blowout. The Goffstown mentor said he now knows no team can blow out his Screamin’ Eagles, and he’s been surprised at the strength of the team’s mental makeup. “They have certain things you can’t coach,” said Hubbard. “If we’re down by a score, they don’t let it faze them. They realize we’re a good enough team that we can score a couple quickly, so they don’t get rattled. I don’t think I have ever seen a group as poised as these guys.”
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BY SARAH LEBRUN Thanks to numerous donations, three new pieces have been added to the Goffstown skateboard park. According to Goffstown Recreation director Dave French, nearly $4,000 in donations was received for some new stairs, a rail and a bench. And on Saturday, Nov. 14, despite heavy rain, members of the Goffstown High School baseball team and skateboard enthusiasts gathered to install the new skateboard park equipment. “This was a great opportunity for teens to get together for a worthwhile cause to do something positive for the community,” said recreation director Dave French. The Friends of Recreation donated $1,000 to the cause. The rest of the money was received through memorial donations, as requested by the family of Nicholas Hamel, a 20-year-old Goffstown resident who died in August. Hamel was an avid skateboarder and a player with both Goffstown Junior Baseball and Babe Ruth. Tom Sousa of Sousa Signs has also donated a sign in memory of Hamel to display in the skateboard park.
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BY SUZANNE D’AMATO To those of us who live in the Granite State, it’s no surprise that small-town folks have big hearts. With the holiday season almost here, the familiar requests for monetary donations and drives for items of all kinds are being made. The following are just a few examples of how generous donations of money, time and items from the kindness of strangers will touch the lives of friends and neighbors in need in our communities and provide them with some of the basic necessities of life, such as food, shelter, warmth and companionship. Located in the parish house of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, the Goffstown Network Food Pantry (see box) is one of many organizations helping the Goffstown community satisfy the most basic of human needs – hunger -- at holiday time and all year long. “Our goal is to offer one week’s worth of groceries for each person in our clients’ households. We accept donations of just about anything that’s nonperishable,” said David Greiner, president of the pantry, which was established in 1990. Cans of fruits, vegetables, soups and tuna fish; bags of dried beans; boxes of pasta and macaroni and cheese; paper goods; and other staples line the pantry’s shelves and are depleted almost as soon as they arrive. “Right now, canned soups are our most-needed item. We also need donations of personal- care items, such as shampoo and toothpaste, because our clients cannot use food stamps to purchase nonfood items,” Greiner said. Additionally, the pantry sponsors Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday programs for its clients. This year, on Nov. 20 and 21, in preparation for Thanksgiving, and on Dec. 17 and 18, in preparation for Christmas, the pantry’s volunteers prepare and distribute to its clients gift boxes that contain the food and other items necessary to make traditional holiday dinners and, hopefully, a little holiday cheer. To help fund the pantry’s efforts, the pantry receives a percentage of the sales made next door at The Community Clothing Center, a used-clothing store. St. Matthew’s also uses some of the clothing-sales money to pay its bills. Any remaining funds are deposited into the Goffstown Clergy Association, a crisis fund set up by Goffstown’s pastors to help people in need. Less than 5 miles away, the food pantry at the Goffstown Harvest Christian Church has been open to help feed the hungry for the past eight years. A new customer who recently came to the pantry to ask for assistance particularly stands out in the memory of Gerry St. Jean, who is the administrator of the church and oversees the food pantry. “One morning, a woman with five of her children showed up at the food pantry and said that she had three more children at home who were sick,” St. Jean said. “She’d said she was in dire need of food but couldn’t come to the food pantry for the past two weeks because she had no money.” The pantry buys and sells certain foods at discounted prices to customers to keep running the food pantry, and it also gives away food to those customers who can’t pay. St. Jean told her that all she had to do to receive help was to notify the pantry of her needs, and then he gave the woman free of charge lots of pastries, breads, meats, vegetables and fruits for her family. “We ended up blessing her and her family tremendously,” St. Jean said. Where to find or give help Goffstown Harvest Christian Church – 542 Mast Road, Goffstown; 641-5993; www.ghonline.org.
Hours: Saturdays, 9 to 11 a.m.
Items most needed: turkeys for Thanksgiving and hams for Christmas plus other nonperishable holiday – dinner staples, such as canned vegetables and cranberry sauce, stuffing mixes, pie crusts, etc. For monetary donations, make checks payable to “Goffstown Harvest Christian Church Food Pantry” and mail it to the church. Donations of food items can be made when the church is open each week from Tuesdays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call the church to make arrangements for after-hours drop-off. • Goffstown Network Food Pantry – Located in the St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church parish house, 7 North Mast St., Goffstown; 497-3433.
Hours: Wednesdays, 6 to 8 p.m.; and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon, all year long.
Items most needed: canned soups and personal-care items (shampoo, toothpaste, etc.) For monetary donations, checks payable to “Goffstown Network” can be mailed to the Goffstown Network at P.O. Box 603, Goffstown, NH 03045. When the pantry is open, donations of food and personal care items can be dropped off any time inside the front doors of the church or, when the pantry is open, at its location at St. Matthew’s parish house on 7 North Mast St. • Weare Food Pantry – Located at Weare Middle School, 16 East St., Weare; 529-0320
Hours: Wednesdays, 5 to 7 p.m.
Monetary donations can be made out to Weare Food Pantry, c/o 39 Maplewold Road Weare, NH 03281. • Wood for Warmth – Sean Powers Wood Bank, Hopkinton Transfer Station; 746-5729; www.woodforwarmth.com
Hours: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Fridays, 1 to 5 p.m.
Firewood for low-income families needing to keep warm. If you need access to firewood, contact the Hopkinton human services director at the number above. Donations of burnable hardwood in 16-inch lengths can be dropped off at the transfer station, or contact Mary at woodforwarmth@hotmail.com.
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BY SARAH LEBRUN Residents of the Medvil Cooperative in Goffstown can expect their rent to increase 12 to 82 percent next year. At the cooperative’s annual meeting at Maple Avenue Elementary School on Nov. 14, residents approved a budget that would increase the rent of association members to $455 per month as of April 11. Nonmembers will be charged $660. For members who are currently paying $250 per month, this is an 82 percent increase. “Some of our residents cannot afford this,” said Medvil member Donald Morin. Morin said at an informational meeting hosted by the Medvil Board of Directors in October, some residents got up in tears, saying they would not be able to eat, heat their homes or feed their animals. “For some people, this is their last stop in life,” said Morin. “They have nowhere else to go.” Residents of Medvil pay rent for the property on which their home sits, in addition to a possible mortgage. Morin, 73, currently pays $319 per month for rent. Though retired, he said he will be able to afford the increase. According to a copy of the Medvil Cooperative 2010 Budget Overview, if the budget had been voted down, the cooperative would have been in default of its loan with Citizen’s Bank. “We were in default for 2008, and were fined $1,000,” the overview stated. “We expect to be in default for 2009.” Morin said the previous owners of the park also made an appearance at the meeting, but were escorted out of the building by a police officer before getting the chance to speak. “Everybody kept yelling, ‘Out, out, out, out, out,’” said Morin. The previous owners still own six homes in the park and are grandfathered in to paying $350 per month for rent until they sell the properties. This was a condition of selling the park to residents in 2006. The Board of Directors could not be reached for comment as of press time.
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Hillsborough County Nursing Home has several residents that have passed the century mark in age. One of these ladies is Helen Salter, who turned 102 on Sept. 11. She was born north of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., in the small town of Tunkhannock, Pa., to Percy Stark and Fanny Dornsife Stark. This was a rural area where most residents ran dairy farms as a livelihood. Her father was an educator and her mother a homemaker. Her father also worked in wholesale foods and brought the first grapefruit to the area, their home enjoyed the first oil burning furnace as well. Salter received a teaching degree from Westchester State College and did her student teaching in New Jersey. After her marriage to Walter Russell Salter on June 16, 1928, they lived in Manhattan, N.Y. Salter longed for her beloved Mount Avery and Mount Miller, the mountains she climbed as a small child and into her late 40s. Walter and Helen Salter relocated to Tunkhannock, where he also fell in love with this countryside and became the dairy commissioner. When she suggested moving back to Manhattan, he confessed he wanted to spend the rest of his days exactly where they were. Salter had given up teaching and become a full-time homemaker. The Salters loved Canada and would vacation in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick several times a year. Gardening, cooking and baking also became lifelong passions. Though these pastimes have since been given up she still enjoys game shows and card games. Helen and Walter Salter celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in 2003, and Walter died in 2004. Helen Salter then relocated to New Hampshire to be near her daughter, Elizabeth Dunn, and her two grandchildren. Dunn visits every day, and they spend their time chatting and playing cards.
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By Jillian Jorgensen
Residents may be happier than last year when they open their property tax bills, with the tax rate in Goffstown dropping by $1.02 from 2008. The 2009 property tax rate is $21.67 per $1,000, Sue Desruisseaux, town administrator, said yesterday. “Any little bit helps right now, and most taxpayers are going to see a $200 to $400 decrease in their tax bill,” said Scott Gross, chairman of the Board of Selectman. For a home valued at $300,000, the savings for the year will be $306. The town rate is $8.68; the local education rate is $9.50; the state education rate is $2.41; and the county rate is $1.08. The savings came largely from the school district, officials said, where revenues and under-expenditures more than offset the decrease in revenues from the state and the passing on of retirement costs. “We were short that amount of money; however, the school district side got a tremendous windfall, which they did not spend,” Gross said. Stacy Buckley, superintendent of School Administrative Unit 19, said the district saved money by spending conservatively and receiving additional revenue they did not expect, including grant money. “We just consistently looked at what our spending was,” she said. “When we made purchases like technology purchases, we asked, ‘Is this something we really need to have, or can we put it off?’” The district does not have a designated grant writer, so employees were working hard to apply for and win competitive grants in addition to other duties. “When money is tight and you want to continue to move forward, what are some other ways you can do it? So we really have been creative in trying to find alternative ways,” she said. Gross also credited careful spending and the influx of grant money for the savings. “I think credit does need to go to the School Board, and it does need to go to the town government as well,” he said. “We have been fairly conservative in the last couple of years in our spending and also tried to be aggressive in trying to get grants to get some of our funding.” Gross said he did not think the town was “out of the woods yet.” “We’re not immune to rising costs. We’re challenged right now as we prepare our 2010 budget, we’re very challenged to keep our budget in check.” But he said it was also important not to skimp on what needs to be done. “We have to pick up the garbage. We have to patrol the streets. We have to put out the fires. And all of those things cost money,” he said.
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BY MATT SCHOOLEY For the Goffstown boys soccer team, the pitch was far from perfect in the opening round of the Class L tournament. In addition to dealing with top-seeded Concord, the No. 16 Grizzlies battled a muddy and wet surface during action on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Despite a lopsided 5-1 score, Goffstown gave the home team a bit of a scare, trailing 2-1 until about 15 minutes remained, when the Crimson Tide pulled away. Concord jumped to a 2-0 lead and was ready to cruise into the quarterfinals, but an own goal by the Tide defense put the Grizzlies on the board before intermission. “The score was not in any way indicative of the play,” said head coach Larry Houghton. “We played really well, but they were just bigger, stronger and faster than we were.” In the first 25 minutes of the second half, Concord regularly possessed the ball in the offensive zone before finding the back of the net again. The Grizzlies won four times during the regular season to earn the final Class L postseason berth, a strong feat for a team with only three seniors – Michael Whitney, Shayne Pouget and John Carbonneau. Carbonneau played an especially large role in the team’s development this year, starting as the goalie before being asked to move into the field to allow freshman keeper Adam Routhier minutes in net. Come crunch time at the end of the year, Houghton asked Carbonneau to step back into net, where he finished the regular season and playoffs. Sophomore twin brothers Kyle and Dylan Bisceglia anchored the Goffstown defense, while junior Ryan Emerson brought leadership in addition to his contributions in the backfield. Though Houghton said the three freshmen and four sophomores in this year’s starting rotation bode well for the program’s near future. “(The game against Concord) was crazy, and we played outstanding soccer for 80 percent of the game. It just wasn’t enough,” said Houghton, who added he thought the team had a chance to win if the turf had been dry. “We can play some great soccer and I look forward to seeing us do that.”
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BY MATT SCHOOLEY The girls of Goffstown High School volleyball have started a tradition their coach plans to continue year after year – success in the postseason. The Grizzlies won a playoff match for the first time in school history in 2008, and they did it again in ’09, upsetting seventh-seeded Alvirne, 3-2, on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The 10th-seeded locals fell to No. 2 Londonderry, 3-0, in the quarterfinal round on Saturday, Oct. 31. Senior captain Jackie Borror pounded out 40 kills and 33 digs combined in the two postseason matches, while senior libero Amelia Raymond collected 68 digs, and junior setter Jill Turcotte doled out 58 assists in the playoffs. “There was never any panic,” said head coach Matt Leonard. “There was the feel that we could do it. Even in the second round there was that same feel. When we got behind, you knew they’d keep fighting for the next point.” Leonard received some unexpected postseason contributions. Senior captain Leana Berube exploded with her blocking and hitting skills, but Leonard also said she played surprisingly well on defense during the team’s two playoff matches. Fellow senior Renee Lefebvre peaked in the postseason as well, making it difficult for her coach to keep her off the floor in crunch time. Freshman outside hitter Abby Cook saved the best matches of her inaugural year for last, racking up 28 kills in the final three matches. The GHS mentor also said right-side hitter Kaitlyn Johnson played a big role in the team’s success, bringing a strong competitive fire in addition to her abilities blocking at the net. Seniors Berube, Lefebvre, Borror and Raymond depart, but Leonard is looking forward to seeing players come up from a JV team went 14-4 the last two seasons and has won at least 10 matches four straight years. “Certainly the varsity level is where it shows the most, but we’ve had a lot of success over the last few years at other levels too,” said Leonard. “(Winning postseason matches) shows that year in and year out, hopefully, we can have a winning tradition.”
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By Amy J. Vellucci Several hundred turned out in the rain, sleet and, yes, even snow, to witness Goffstown’s annual Giant Pumpkin Regatta on the Piscataquog River on Sunday, Oct. 18. “Everyone seems to be having fun,” said Robbie Grady, executive director of the Goffstown Main Street Program, which runs the weekend-long event in which townspeople convert giant pumpkins into theme-decorated boats and race them down the river. It certainly wasn’t ideal weather, but it could’ve been worse, she pointed out. “We could be standing in a foot of snow!” She laughed. On the other hand, Saturday was a beautiful fall day and attracted approximately 1,000 more than did the previous year, said Grady, estimating approximately 3,400 in attendance at the height of the afternoon. Perhaps people had heard Sunday’s dismal forecast and brought their families out on Saturday instead, some speculated. The weekend’s events began Saturday with the arrival of the giant pumpkins on the common, donated by the area’s giant pumpkin growers. Scores of other activities followed, such as pumpkin painting, a pumpkin cook-off, live music, food, pumpkin catapulting, a pumpkin seed spitting contest and booths from many local organizations. The highlight and culmination of the weekend is the annual regatta. In the past, as many as 5,000 people have turned out for this bizarre but fun event that attracts people from all over New Hampshire and even from some neighboring states. After the boom of the cannon at 3 p.m. on Sunday, the pumpkin boats took off. Warmly dressed spectators lined both sides of the bridge over the river, several holding umbrellas, bundled-up children and hot coffee or cocoa. Bruce Normand, who chairs the promotion team for the weekend, helped launch all the boats. He also helped with general organization of the activities that include the scooping-out and other preparations of the pumpkins on Saturday afternoon. This year, Lori Davis from the Goffstown Lions Club took first place in her black Catwoman boat. Pam Young (Fahey), of The Goffstown News, took second place with her bright yellow duck and two ducklings trailing behind. She was followed closely by Fire Chief Richard O’Brien. The giant “pumpkin-eater” boat made an appearance, drenching several of the boat captains and generating cheers from the crowd along the riverbank.
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By Jillian JorgensenGoffstown municipal employees will feel the pinch next year, with the town cutting cost-of-living adjustments and switching to new insurance plans for nonunion employees. “This is not an easy topic, and I think we all know it. I think the employees of the town know it,” Scott Gross, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said Monday night. “We’re not trying to save the town on the backs of our employees.” The town has historically given nonunion employees cost-of-living adjustments of 4 percent a year, but voted last night 4-1 to cut that to 2 percent for all nonunion employees. Selectman Nick Campasano voted against the motion, after introducing a motion that would have given a 4 percent cost-of-living adjustment as a lump sum payment to anyone who was not scheduled to receive a step raise that year. People with one to eight years on the job are given step raises; after eight years, employees begin receiving longevity pay, which is paid in lump sums and capped at a set amount. Campasano said he felt an across the board percentage created a disparity, with some people receiving just the cost-of-living adjustment and others their step raises. Other members of the board agreed that was an issue, and also discussed a need to revisit the town’s pay structure matrix for employees, but said they did not know the potential savings or unintended effects of Campasano’s motion. The cut of the cost-of-living adjustment from 4 percent to 2 percent for nonunion employees will save the town $48,246, Town Administrator Sue Desruisseaux said. In order to reduce what Desruisseaux said was a 17 Officepercent increase in health insurance costs, she also recommended changes to insurance plans for nonunion employees to the board. Next year there will be two managed-care insurance plan options for nonunion employees, instead of three. The price of copayments and prescriptions will rise, and there will be a deductible for some services, such as CT scans and hospital stays. Desruisseaux said the town did have enough time to consider higher-deductible plans, noting that they would be a more drastic change from current plans. The vote passed 3-2, with Selectmen Steven Fournier and Vivian Blondeau voting against. The town also voted to purchase two fire vehicles and four vehicles for the Department of Public Works through lease purchasing, pending a look at how the payments, spread over five years, will fit in the capital improvement plan. If approved after the review, the town will spend $1 million to purchase two vehicles, an engine and a tanker-pumper, over five years. Fire Chief Richard O’Brien originally asked for the engine this year and the tanker next, but purchasing them together reduced the cost. The estimated yearly payment, at a current interest rate of 4.65 percent will be $218,580. There is more than $100,000 in a capital reserve fund for the department that could be applied to the first payment. The board voted 4-1 in favor. Fournier voted against, after questioning O’Brien about the need for more trucks. In a separate motion the board also voted to lease-purchase four vehicles for the Department of Public Works. That would cost $981,700 over five years, and combines the department’s anticipated major purchasing needs for 2010 and 2011. With the current interest rate the yearly payment would be $222,312. That motion passed 4-1, with Fournier voting against.
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By Kathy Remillard Goffstown residents going to the post office will no longer see the familiar face of Alan Dutch behind the counter. Dutch retired Oct. 31 after spending 35 years at the Goffstown Post Office. Staff members marked Dutch’s last day quietly, with a cake and certificate of appreciation. Dutch has worked at the Goffstown branch since July 1974. Postmaster Marc Richer has worked with Dutch for the past six years and saw him as a great local resource. “He had a lot of knowledge, not only about the postal service, but about Goffstown in general,” said Richer. Richer also admired Dutch’s ability to connect with people. “He probably knew two-thirds of the people who came in, even if they were just coming in to check their P.O. boxes.” Though Goffstown has grown considerably in the past 35 years, Dutch helped to retain the post office’s small-town feel. “He’d always try to greet people by name, which was a real tribute to him and contributed to his longevity in the business,” Richer said. Co-worker Kelly Selfridge agreed. “He seemed to know everyone by name. You just don’t get that too much anymore.” Selfridge also said that she will miss Dutch’s sense of humor. According to Selfridge and Richer, Dutch wanted to keep his retirement low-key, but planned on spending time with his family and grandchildren, and pursuing his interest in antique cars. “He’ll be really, really missed by a lot of people,” said Selfridge.
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By SARAH LEBRUN Tamblyn F. Gosling, esq., an attorney with a practice in Goffstown, has been issued a six-month suspension from practicing law, stayed for a period of two years, for altering medical release documents in a divorce proceeding. Gosling is currently able to practice law and will be listed in records as having a six-month suspension but will not have to serve it if there are no additional problems within a two-year period. According to a case file from the New Hampshire Supreme Court Professional Conduct Committee, the case arose from a divorce proceeding where she was representing Scott E. Simpson. During the case, Gosling expressed interest in obtaining medical records on Simpson’s ex-wife, Julie Simpson. A medical release was forwarded for Julie Simpson to sign. According to the case file, when Gosling received the original release, she altered it using a different color ink, adding check marks next to seven additional types of records that Julie Simpson had not authorized. In the case file, Gosling said she did not expect Julie Simpson’s therapist would accept the release, but she thought she would try. The New Hampshire Supreme Court Attorney Discipline Office would not comment on this case. Gosling could also not be reached for comment.
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By SARAH LEBRUN Giant pumpkins return to Goffstown on Oct. 17 and 18 for the annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off and Regatta. According to Robbie Grady, Goffstown Main Street director, more than 5,000 people attend this event annually. The weekend is packed with various events, including a giant pumpkin weigh-off, pumpkin catapulting, live entertainment, pumpkin decorating, and of course, the giant pumpkin regatta. Last year’s weigh-off winner was Geoff Peirce of New Boston, with a pumpkin weighing in at 1,295 pounds. “The giant pumpkin growers have had kind of an iffy year (this year) because of the rain in June,” said Grady. “But the end of the season turned bookout well for them.” Each year, giant pumpkin growers also donate gourds to the Main Street program for the regatta. “It’s very generous of them to give us pumpkins,” said Grady. “We sure to appreciate it.” Last year’s regatta winner was Chief Patrick Sullivan of the Goffstown Police Department, who will defend his title in this year’s contest. Sullivan said his strategy for winning the race was speed. “You have to keep your eye on the prize first,” said Sullivan, “then go back and fight the water fight.” Sullivan was also confident he would win the race again this year. “You would think the fire chief would have a better chance (of winning) with the water he deals with all the time, but he’s not so good with the water,” Sullivan laughed. “I’ll win!” Besides the Police Department, other regatta partcipants include Rob Bennett of Neighborhood News, Chief Richard O’Brien of the Goffstown Fire Department, selectmen Chairman Scott Gross of the Goffstown Board of Selectmen, Main Street President Karen Henderson, Kimberly Peace of the Goffstown Conservation Commission, Mike French of the Rotary, Brian Hanson of Granite State Environmental, Mike Lee of Mountain View Middle School and Lori Davis of the Goffstown Lions Club. Other events this year include a New England Patriots cheerleaders meet and greet at NY Pizza and Calzones, where Patriots cheerleaders will sell and sign their calendars. Goffstown Main Street will also offer free pumpkin masks at the Main Street booth. Attendees will be able to take their masks to various places around the village will they will be able to decorate it. Goffstown’s Great Talent is also back for its second year of competition. Those wishing to compete may sign up until 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Main Street booth. There will also be a raffle for a quilt made by Marion Hooper of Goffstown. People can buy tickets at the Art Happens booth near Town Hall for $1. Weekend schedule
Saturday:
• 8 a.m. – Flea Market at St. Matthew’s Church
• 9 a.m. – Giant pumpkins arrive on the common, booths open, art show-off at Town Hall, art and flowers at Apotheca
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Art Happens on Main Street
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Open House at Masonic Lodge on Mountain Road
• 10 to 10:30 a.m. – Doggie costume contest at Glen Lake Animal Hospital
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – pumpkin painting at Ace Hardware, holiday decoration close-out sale at the vestree
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Fire station open house
• 11 a.m. – NHGPGA State Weigh-off on the common, Main Street chicken barbecue on Mill Street
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Pumpkin cook-off drop-off at popcorn stand
• Noon – Announcement of prince and princess on the common, concert featuring Jim West at Relevant Church on Depot Street
• Noon to 4 p.m. – Live music by John Erlman at NY Pizza, pumpkin catapults on Mill Street
• Noon to 2 p.m. – pumpkin carving at Patrick’s Country Restaurant on High Street
• 1 to 2 p.m. – Meet the artists at Town Hall
• 1 p.m. – Concert featuring Terry Barton at Relevant Church on Depot Street
• 1:30 p.m. – Pumpkin seed spitting contest on the common, cook-off tasting at the popcorn stand
• 2 p.m. – Giant pumpkin boat building on Mill Street, concert featuring Paul Lavoie at Relevant Church on Depot Street
• 2:30 p.m. – Goffstown’s Great Talent on the common
• 3 p.m. – Concert featuring Paul Nelson and Ed Karjala at Relevant Church on Depot Street
• 4 p.m. – Concert featuring Dan and Jeni Klardie at Relevant Church on Depot Street
• 5 p.m. – Booths close
• 5 to 8 p.m. – Turkey dinner at Goffstown Historical Society on Parker Station Road – tickets required
Sunday:
• Noon – Giant pumpkin drop on Church Street, booths open
• Noon to 3 p.m. – Pumpkin games on the common, art show-off at Town Hall
• 12:15 p.m. – Pumpkin catapult finals on Mill Street
• 1 p.m. – Shopping cart race on Mill Street
• 1:30 p.m. – Pie-eating contest on the common – pre-register at Main Street booth
• 2 p.m. – Mini-pumpkin race on Mill Street – buy your tickets at Main Street booth
• 2:15 p.m. – Little red wagon kids race on Mill Street
• 2:45 p.m. – Arrival of pumpkin prince and princess
• 3 p.m. – Giant pumpkin regatta
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