To the Editor:
I think the decision not to dismiss Hooksett students early on Thursday is absolutely appalling. My 10-year-old daughter did not get off her bus until 5:10 p.m. (in the dark) and my 6-year-old was on her bus, still at Underhill School, until she was picked up by family at 6 p.m. The only reason why we knew she was still at school was because we called the school. There was no parent communication about this at all.
Just think how she felt, sitting in her ski pants, winter jackets, boots, hat, gloves from 3:15 until 6 p.m.! Hungry, tired and scared. She did not understand what was going on.
There is no excuse why these children were not allowed to go home prior to the snow starting. I do understand what happened with the buses and the traffic (It took me about four hours to get to Hooksett from Andover, Mass). But if these children were let out just 90 minutes prior to normal dismissal, it would have allievated all the worries and stress. I  am very disappointed with school officials in how Hooksett dealt with this situation. I would like to know what your plans are for this to be avoided in the future.
Tracy Curtis
Hooksett

To the Editor:
Next year will be the end of my second term as your school district treasurer in Candia. I will not be a candidate for the position next year.
I filed for the position two years ago only because, on the last minute of the last hour of the last day of the filing period, there was no candidate for the office. I campaigned, was elected and served. It was, as are all elected positions, an enlightening experience.
At the end of the filing period this spring, there were again no candidates and I reluctantly filed, was elected and have continued to serve. I am a strong advocate of the New Hampshire tradition of volunteer government and believe that the position is important to the fiscal health of our community.
Unfortunately, I am overbooked and understaffed and can no longer commit the time necessary to do full justice to the challenges and opportunities of this position and must pass the torch on to another generation.
If you’re a resident of Candia interested in helping your school district and earning a little extra money, I’m available to provide advice and assistance. The position currently pays an annual stipend of $1,500.
I will be filing a petition for the next annual School District Meeting to consider establishing a deputy treasurer position to provide a degree of flexibility and the opportunity for a transition and training period for the position.
The filing periods are coming up in January, so if you’re interested, call me now. I can be reached in Candia at 483-2722.

 Richard H. Snow
Candia

To the Editor:
Merry Christmas! That’s right, Merry Christmas. I celebrate Christmas. The real Christmas, the birth of Christ. Not the modern gift-giving “holiday.”
Don’t get me wrong, we exchange gifts on Christmas morning in our family. But we understand the holiday and celebrate the real reason for the holiday. We even have birthday cake on Christmas morning.
Honestly, I don’t care if anyone else celebrates the real Christmas or not, but please, please, stop telling me people are offended when I say “Merry Christmas.”
Celebrate what you want, I won’t stop you. If you wished me a Happy Hanukkah, I would not make a big deal out of it and tell you that you can’t light Menorah candles. But don’t tell me I can’t celebrate the birth of Christ because someone might be offended. Offended by what?
I’m not trying to convert you; I’m just conveying a wish of joy and peace. I would like to see an actual list of people’s names and addresses who are truly offended. If that list exists, I would like to know if those people buy gifts for other people. If so, what holiday are they celebrating?
I’m sorry, but Christmas is a religious holiday whether people want to accept that or not. Why can’t a cashier at a store wish me a Merry Christmas? Shame on those stores and other businesses that restrict their associates in this way. These businesses don’t seem to be offended by making money during this time of year based on sales generated by this religious holiday. They would do well to encourage the real spirit of the season.

Joanne Randall
Epsom

 To the Editor:
Surely you jest! In your railing against the statewide smoking ban and your defense of a gas station at Page’s Corner, you are taking medically indefensible positions.
Breathing smoke-free air and drinking clean, pure water are not important for health, they are absolute requirements. We have marshaled convincing evidence and presented convincing experts showing benzene, a toxin and carcinogen in all gas, gets partitioned in the ethanol phase of gas and then spreads farther and faster in the groundwater.
If this gets into our well water at Page’s Corner, this molecule could poison or kill us all. (A tablespoonful will poison an Olympic-size swimming pool.) I have personally taken care of three patients who were exposed to benzene ... all died.
The state of New Hampshire recognizes the safety issues. They are in the process of revising the rules for above-ground gas tanks with underground piping to be the same as underground tanks, mostly for the concerns mentioned above.
The state also recognized the health hazard of second-hand smoke, hence that ban. Nobody believes tobacco smoke is healthful.
If we were to put credence in your positions, we would have to change the conjunction in General Stark’s famous statement from “or” to “and.”

Herbert B. Allen, MD
Dunbarton

To the Editor:
Holidays are the perfect time to start recycling if you haven’t started already. During the holidays residents generate double the trash and 75 percent of it is all recyclable. 
The town of Hooksett, I am proud to say, has one of the nicest facilities in the state.  The facility accepts cardboard, phone books, magazines (think of all those holiday catalogs), newsprint, mixed paper (a.k.a.: old school papers and junk mail), plastic bottles, aluminum cans, steel cans and glass bottles (green, brown, clear).
Please make an effort to recycle this year! A drop-off recycling program saves taxpayer money!

Diane Boyce
Hooksett Recycling and Transfer