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Central has improved, but team continues chase of division’s best

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:41:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

It was a tale of two halves.

The second half, which Central girls lacrosse coach Whitney Nelson said is more indicative of her team’s level of talent, saw the Little Green match undefeated Souhegan goal-for-goal for 20 of 25 minutes.

The first half, which Nelson said she’s rather forget, was quite the opposite. Goaltender Emily Goupil was peppered with a barrage of shots and the locals fell into a 12-3 hole.

Though Central lost the game on Tuesday, May 6, 20- 7, Nelson said she believes the contest is an aberration, rather than the norm for her 8-2 squad.

“(Souhegan) is a fast team. We’re in great shape, but they were just a step quicker than we were tonight,” said Nelson.

“Honestly, I think there was a little … well a lot of lack of communication with my defense,” she continued. “But they have been doing a great job all season, and I think the 8-2 record speaks for itself, so I think just reiterating those key points with them at halftime, they were at least able to step it up a little bit. And my offense was obviously able to turn it on as well.”

Nelson, in her first year at Central after two years at West, has already doubled the Little Green’s win total from a year ago.

“I think the heart and the desire of the girls and their natural talent has really shown this year,” she said. “Having some leadership on and off the field has helped us kind of put a lot of the pieces of the puzzle together.” Goupil, Chantale Lacroix, Ryann Gibbons and Katie Nichols lead the current squad.

Still, Nelson is the first to acknowledge her team is still young and said she hopes its best games are yet to come. The Little Green roster includes three seniors, three juniors and 11 underclassmen.

“Our goal that we talked about up to this point is to be top four this year, and I still think we can make it to the final four,” said Nelson. “We’re just going to continue to grow over the next couple of years, and I think you’re going to see us make a big impact on this division.”

Bedford Community TV an example for Hooksett

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:34:00 GMT

BY STEPHEN BEALE

Missed that big debate at the Town Council meeting? Or perhaps the Planning Board hearing where a developer explained what he is going to do in your neighborhood?

Now you can watch those meetings and more – in fact, all of the town and school government meetings in Bedford – online at the Web site for the community cable television program. The town now offers video on demand service at www.bedfordtv.com, in addition to channels 16 and 22 which Comcast cable subscribers in Bedford can watch.

The service, which became available at the end of April, took about a year to plan and implement, according to Bill Jennings, the station manager.

“What we wanted to do was expand our broadcast capability so that we could provide our service through the Internet,” Jennings said.

Channel 22 carries all of the local government meetings in town. All other programming, including school athletic games, is on Channel 16. In addition to video on demand for both, the live broadcast of Channel 22 will also be available simultaneously online. That service would make those meetings accessible to a broader population, Jennings said.

BCTV is funded through franchise fees which are charged to Comcast consumers in Bedford. Its budget does not affect the tax rate, according to Jennings.

Jennings estimates that it cost about $10,000 to acquire the video on demand and live streaming. Those new capabilities were provided through Tightrope Media Systems, a vendor that Bedford community television has been using for the past four to five years.

The town has spent a total of $40,000 to $50,000 installing and upgrading Tightrope systems during that period, Jennings said. Before the town could switch over to video on demand and live streaming, Jennings said it had to get a high speed fiber optic line with a wider bandwidth. That would ensure that the community television Web site could handle multiple viewers.

The online viewing capability now means that the 16 percent of Bedford households who do not subscribe to Comcast – meaning they do not get community cable channels 16 and 22 – will now be able to follow meetings, if they are unable to attend them in person, Jennings added.

Even some of the Comcast subscribers might be more comfortable checking out a meeting from the convenience of their computer.

“Sometimes, television has to come to us,” Jennings said. To see the archived videos, visit www.bedfordtv.com.

Hooksett Town Meeting vote, elections are May 13

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:29:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

Hooksett voters will decide on May 13 whether to spend $15.7 million on the town operating budget, a $1.5 million sewer bond and whether to add two new firefighters to the Fire Department.

A citizen’s petition to establish a public access cable television station is also on the ballot.

It would use Comcast franchise fees the town currently collects and uses to offset taxes.

Voters will also choose two new town councilors. Incumbent Jason Hyde and newcomer Nancy VanScoy are vying for the District 2 Town Council seat.

Carl J. Hebert Sr. and Michael Pischetola are both challenging incumbent Stu Werksman for his councilor-at-large seat, also up for grabs this year.

Should voters pass all the warrant articles, the town’s portion of the tax rate would increase by about 99 cents to $7.19 per $1,000 of assessed property value, said Town Administrator David Jodoin. If voters said no to everything and left the town with a default budget, the rate would increase by about 25 cents to $6.45.

The polls will be open at Cawley Middle School on Tuesday, May 13, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Article 2 contains all of the proposed zoning amendments.

Amendment 13, intensely discussed by the Hooksett Planning Board, would add a development phasing ordinance to the current zoning regulations that is designed to sustain but control growth by compelling developers to outline specific phases of their development and limiting the number of units built.

The first money articles voters will see is a $1.5 million bond to complete the second phase of the town’s sewer plant expansion.

Since only $230,000 of the bond would be paid this year, Article 3 would increase the tax rate by 17 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, adding $51 to the tax bill for a $300,000 home.

Article 4 on the ballot contains the proposed 2008-09 town operating budget, amounting to $15,786,795, representing $6.60 per $1,000 of assessed value on the tax bill. For a home assessed at $300,000, the proposed budget would comprise $1,980 on the tax bill. If defeated, a default budget of $15,325,417 will result.

Article 24 asks voters to spend $129,548 to hire two new firefighters, which would decrease the overtime line by $99,762 and leave the taxpayers with a net cost of $29,876 for the coming year. The Highway Department also seeks two new hires in Article 21 to the tune of $118,294, an estimated 9 cent per $1,000 increase on the tax rate.

The long discussed and awaited public access question, asking to use the fees to set up the TV station or otherwise remove the fees from the Comcast bills, appears in Article 26.

Other monetary warrant articles include the purchase of a new $55,000 truck for the Highway Department; $113,975 in raises for non-union town employees; $33,000 for a study to prioritize how impact fees will be spent on construction projects; and $10,400 to hire a part-time Assistant Building/ Zoning Inspector.

Teen who threatened school shooting released on plea agreement

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:25:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

After pleading guilty in Manchester District Court to five counts of criminal threatening, a Manchester West High School student who threatened to “do a Columbine” and shoot teachers, administrators and other students was released from jail.

Sterling Lindbloom, 17, of 659 Montgomery St., Manchester, spent more than two months in jail before striking a plea bargain with the prosecution in the case, earning him suspended sentences of one year each on all counts with time served on one count.

The terms of the agreement stipulate that Lindbloom be on probation for two years, be mentally evaluated and comply with the findings of such an evaluation, turn over the evidence police seized, and adhere to a curfew between midnight and 5 a.m.

It also states Lindbloom will not be allowed at West High, and must steer clear of the subjects of his threats and the student who reported his threats.

Lindbloom’s jail time, served at Valley Street, was the result of a preventative detention order that lawyers on both sides agreed upon, following the threats on others and his own life.

According to police reports, Lindbloom, upset over breaking up with his girlfriend, called the girl and threatened to bring a gun to school and re-enact the Columbine school shootings.

Lindbloom’s former girlfriend told Manchester West Assistant Principal Keith Puglisi about the phone call on Thursday, Feb. 21, during which Lindbloom allegedly said she would be the last person to die in the act before himself. She said the call had occurred between 3 and 6 p.m. on the previous evening, Wednesday, Feb. 20.

“People need to watch their backs because something bad is going to happen at the school,” the ex-girlfriend told police and school administrators about the phone call, according to court records.

During the phone conversation, Lindbloom specifically threatened the lives of school resource officer Jamie Branch, Assistant Principal Gary Dempsey, Junior ROTC Commander Ed Hafner and another student at West, according to Branch’s affidavit.

Upon questioning, Lindbloom said he had a store of weapons in a small structure in the woods behind his house, which police later discovered. In it were found four knives, two hatchets, 31 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, a copper pipe and blankets.

No guns were recovered, but according to a police affidavit Lindbloom said he had plans to obtain one from the home of a friend’s uncle in Massachusetts.

The weapons stash was on a separate piece of property from the one Lindbloom resided on. An inquiry to the owner of the property revealed the owner had no knowledge of the stash of weapons, Branch said.

Trinity nine, still young, swings for return to final

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:19:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

After sneaking up on the competition in 2007 and reaching the state finals with one of the youngest teams in Class L, coach Ed Poisson knows his Pioneers aren’t surprising anyone this year.

But the expectation remains the same.

“To make it beyond that first round in Class L you’ve got to throw your No. 1, and you’re just hoping your pitching staff can hold up,” said Poisson of the difficulty in returning to the state championship game. “I think everybody is looking at us, and they know we have the pitching … They’ve seen them play last year and all summer long, and they know we’re mature, so people expect us to be (in contention).

If the kids continue to do their jobs, this could be a very successful year here at Trinity.”

Last year the Pioneers entered the postseason with a 10- 12 record as the No. 13 seed. But after upsets of Keene, Nashua South and Goffstown, they reached the promised land, only to fall to another upstart team, Merrimack.

This season, despite foes’ familiarity with the Pioneers, the team boasts a 6-2 record. And they’re still young.

With one senior on the 2008 squad, and several Neighborhood athletes receiving regular playing time, Poisson said he’s not only excited about this season, but 2009 as well.

Among a strong group of juniors are Bedford’s Sean Lyons and Garrett Cole, Hooksett’s Rick Fosher and Goffstown’s Dave Danielson.

Last season, Lyons batted .500, stole 18 bases and threw out four baserunners from the outfield.

He’s also the team’s No. 2 starter behind another junior, fellow left-hander Dylan Clark. Fosher, a righty who suffered a serious leg injury and missed the latter half of last season, is Trinity’s third starter and also mans first base. Cole, the team’s closer, and Danielson pitch this season in relief, as does sophomore Connor Lyons.

The younger Lyons, who plays outfield with his brother and senior captain Tim Moreau, batted .367 as a freshman. Sophomore Nick Nallette of Goffstown, who played junior varsity last season with Danielson, has made a smooth transition from shortstop to catcher. Danielson starts at third base, and Cole moves from second to shortstop.

West’s strengths carry team early, lumber must wake from slumber

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:14:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Every game is an adventure.

So Dan Drewniak and his Lady Blue Knights are enjoying the excitement, though they won’t be needing a nail file anytime soon.

West, which currently maintains a 4-4 record on the young softball season, averages 1.3 runs scored per game – second to last in Class L.

Though Drewniak is the first to admit the number is not impressive, he’s quick to point out his team also holds opponents to, you guessed it, 1.3 runs per game – tied for tops in the state.

Of the Lady Blue Knights’ four victories, two have been by one run. Their largest margin of victory, and also their highest run total, came during a 3-0 triumph at Winnacunnet on April 23.

Three of their losses have been by two runs, and they have yet to allow more than four runs in a game.

“We had a good season last year, finishing 11-8 and making the playoffs, but this year has been a real good start for us, and it’s not hard to tell what’s carrying us right now,” said Drewniak. “It’s pretty easy to see we have trouble scoring runs, but our pitching has been phenomenal, and we play some real good defense.”

West is led by six Bedford players – all upperclassmen. Seniors Kurstin Provencher and Lynn Brewster, both captains, alternate between pitcher and shortstop.

Though Provencher threw a no-hitter against Concord, one of Class L’s top four teams last season, Drewniak said there is little difference between his two starting pitchers.

Emily O’Hara, the team’s third captain, catches Provencher and Brewster, and Jennifer Skilton patrols first base.

“The four seniors are outstanding student-athletes, and all four have started for three years for me,” said Drewniak. “They’re excellent team leaders who’re doing a great job helping the younger players along.”

Juniors Sarah Lacaillade and Tricia Tardif, who patrol left field and right field, respectively, have also helped mentor West’s underclassmen, including three Hooksett standouts.

Sophomore Alyssa Nelson starts in center field for the Lady Blue Knights, and classmate Abby Johnson sees significant playing time at both third base and designated hitter.

Freshman Ariel Wilson backs up at both catcher and in the outfield.

Also contributing for West this season are Kayla Johnson, Kelsea Dowse, Amanda Zedon and Meghan Rumore.

“Our goal this year was to finish in the top eight, get a first-round home game and then go as deep into the playoffs as we can,” said Drewniak. “Last year we lost to Concord, 1-0, in a 15- inning game in the first round, so we certainly hope to improve on that, but regardless of our record, this is a great group of players to coach. They work great together, and they have a lot of fun.”

Hooksett to decide on sewer expansion

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:55:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

As another Hooksett election approaches, so does another request for a sewer plant expansion bond.

Since the plant opened in 1970, said Sewer Commissioner Sid Baines, Hooksett taxpayers have only contributed $48,000 for 5 percent of the plant’s original construction costs and about $2 million to clean up the mess left behind by failed septic tanks on Whitehall Terrace in the late 1980s.

“The plant has run itself in all these years,” Baines said.

The commission is looking for $1.5 million from taxpayers at this year’s election on Tuesday, May 13, to help fund the plant’s expansion, which would increase its total capacity from 1.1 million to 2.2 million gallons per day and would cost around $15 million when all is said and done.

The 2006 Cabela’s vote, in which Hooksett voters approved shouldering an $18 million general obligation bond to bring the sporting goods giant to town, included about $4.5 million for sewer upgrades.

Now that the retail corporation is suffering lessened profits and is delaying its arrival at Exit 11 in Hooksett, Baines said the expansion needs to happen regardless so that the state will allow extra capacity that can be sold to potential developers.

Baines added that Cabela’s representatives have assured him that they are still coming to town and will reimburse the $1.5 million for the expansion. “If the town fronts the money so we can finish phase two, all the money (Cabela’s) would give us would retire that debt,” Baines said, and estimated that timeline to be between 2010 and 2012.

Over the years, Hooksett residents have had their scuffles with the Sewer Department. In the mid-1980s, when Baines was on the Hooksett Board of Selectmen, the sewer plant was expanded from 600,000 to a total capacity of 1.1 million gallons per day, with commercial developers contributing to the expansion costs.

Attempts to expand beyond that 1.1 million gallons per day have since been squelched by the state Department of Environmental Services and Hooksett taxpayers on varying levels. In 2003, a proposal to bring composting to Hooksett in an enclosed building was stifled by a lawsuit.

Residents who lived across the river from the plant were against the composting facility being built on a 7-acre parcel of land the Sewer Department planned on buying from the school district, which sat unused near Hooksett Memorial School, and were worried about and annoyed by the smell at the plant.

A land transfer warrant that would allow the Sewer Department to build on the school parcel was on the 2004 ballot, and was shot down with 759 Hooksett residents voting no and 560 voting yes.

The composting was a big part of the $3.5 million in upgrades to the sewer system that Hooksett residents approved a few years prior to that, as it would have handled all the extra solid waste that was produced.

The compost was to be sold to area farmers in neighboring towns for profit to contribute to the expansion, Baines said. That amount of money would only allow some expansion, and would still require $180,000 to come out of the sewer budget to haul the solid waste away.

In January 2005, the state Department of Environmental Services denied the sewer plant’s application to expand and placed a moratorium on hookups to the sewer, citing a 2002 study of the Merrimack River that showed depleted oxygen levels.

Meanwhile, the total cost to expand the plant has gone from $9 million up to $15 million total, a cost that includes a second clarifier that the Department of Environmental Services said in 2006 was required in order for the expansion to take place.

In 2007, there was more conflict with the state over whether a stream running next to the plant would be harmed by adding the second clarifier.

At a Town Council meeting, Sewer Superintendent Bruce Kudrick explained that the stream ran directly in the spot where the second clarifier needed to be installed, and the Department of Environmental Services was requiring the stream be relocated rather than simply installing a culvert to redirect the water.

Baines said that project could cost about $125,000 because the state is making the department dig up all the existing pipe, take down the trees and install retention walls in the area of the stream.

Baines said he hopes this time will be the charm for voters to add $1.5 million to the $5.8 million the sewer commission has saved up for the expansion. “Something’s going to have to happen in order for the plant to grow, and it’s money,” he added.

Hooksett, Candia, Auburn and Bedford all warn city that budget cuts violate tuition agreements

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:47:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

Cassie Hobbs of Auburn said she might have gone with other friends from Auburn Village to Derry for high school had she known the sports and art classes she loves at West High School would be struck from the school’s budget for her senior year.

“I wouldn’t be in this district if it weren’t for these programs,” said Hobbs, 17, who plays on West’s junior varsity soccer and varsity lacrosse teams and has a growing interest in photography.

“I hope that you think this over,” Hobbs told Manchester’s Board of Aldermen at the city’s budget hearing for the 2008-09 fiscal year.

Thousands of concerned parents from Manchester and its contracted school districts, including Candia, Auburn, Hooksett and Bedford; teachers, many anticipating pink slips; Manchester taxpayers and dozens of students wearing school colors and raising signs showed up at the hearing on Monday, April 28, quickly overflowing the 550-seat auditorium at Memorial High School.

“We estimate that there was close to 2,000 people there,” said Manchester Fire Chief James Burkush, adding the auditorium and cafeteria were both filled to capacity with the rest spilling into the gynasium, which was about half full.

The Manchester Fire Department herded hundreds of others toward the cafeteria and gymnasium to watch the proceedings on projection screens.

The hearing started shortly after 6 p.m. and finally wrapped up around midnight, with the majority of the budget discussion focusing on the school cuts.

The $140 million school district budget Mayor Frank Guinta included in his budget preparation is $13 million less than what Manchester’s Board of School Committee asked for, largely due to the reduction in revenue from Bedford’s high school students transition out of West to their own high school.

This year, the Manchester School District is running on a $147 million operating budget. The $153 million request was a 4 percent increase in the budget.

The cuts mean a level tax rate for Manchester, but also the loss of many teaching positions, eight vice principals, athletics, music and art classes, NJROTC program, performing arts, and virtually all other funded extraand co-curricular programs.

The academy structure that West High School was planning to implement next year has also been canned.

Hooksett School Board Chairman Maura Ouellette spoke around 10:30 p.m., warning aldermen and the mayor that cutting these programs and eliminating teaching positions that would inevitably increase class sizes, which would constitute violations in the Manchester’s tuition contract with Hooksett.

The cuts may affect the accreditation renewal of Manchester schools, also a breach in contract, Ouellette said. “With the proposed budget, Manchester will certainly put its accreditation status at risk, thereby jeopardizing students competing for slots in the highly competitive college arena,” Ouellette said.

She added cutting such programs would affect Manchester students’ college applications and scholarship eligibility.

“These programs not only offer a student the chance to excel, it gives them a reason not only to attend school but to do well in school,” Ouellette said.

The Hooksett School Board’s attorney sent a letter to Guinta and aldermen Chairman Michael Lopez informing them of this point.

Ouellette added the cuts would increase class sizes to levels beyond the state’s accepted levels, the minimum being 30 students per class or 24 students for lab classes.

“The ramifications of an ill funded school budget are far reaching and almost impossible to correct at a later date,” Ouellette said.

Elaine Hobbs, mother of Cassie Hobbs and Chairman of the Auburn School Board, agreed with Ouellette’s statements and added that the cuts may overwork the school district administration and remaining staff at the schools as well as affecting students’ well-roundedness.

The Auburn School Board’s attorney also sent a letter to the Board of Aldermen outlining their concerns about violating their tuition contract.

“So, if the cuts are to take place, you may be in breach of contract, which would allow for Auburn, Hooksett, Candia and Bedford to opt out early without penalties and/or (those districts) would not be responsible for the capital component of the contract,” Hobbs, one of the last speakers, told the Board of Aldermen, adding that could further affect the budget.

Candia School Board Chairman Ed Caito said he could not make the meeting, the board being represented at the meeting by other board members who did not speak or issue a statement.

“I really feel that the mayor and the acting superintendent should try to get beyond the rhetoric and both be willing to roll up their sleeves with their own people and say let’s work on this together and come up with a solution,” Caito said, adding Mayor Frank Guinta and Superintendent Henry Aliberti have taken “extreme positions” on both sides of the coin.

“There’s no question that the economic environment is different, but there’s got to be some middle ground,” Caito said.

Prior to the meeting, Ouellette said Hooksett sends 560 students to Manchester schools.

The Hooksett School Board has been searching for buildable land to possibly go to voters with to construct a high school in town.

“We knew that it would be coming up,” said Ouellette about Manchester’s school cut, “that’s why we’re looking at sites for a new high school.”

Hooksett Banner letters to the editor for April 24, 2008

Hooksett Editor — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:38:00 GMT

Editorial

Informed voters make the best choices

Hooksett votes on town candidates and warrants on May 13. In order to give people enough information to make informed decisions, we are covering controversial issues like the drive for public-access cable TV and whether the Hooksett sewer system expansion bond should pass.
On May 1, we plan to run profiles of the candidates in contested races. We sent questionnaires to Nancy VanScoy, Jason Hyde, Michael Pischetola, Stu Werksman and Carl Hebert Sr., who are running for two Hooksett Town Council seats. We’ve heard from a few; to those we haven’t heard from, we hope you got our questionnaire. Let us know if you didn’t. Answers are due now to appear in the May 1 issue. This is an ideal and free way to get your message out to the Hooksett voters.
One dilemma this newspaper has is that it takes an enormous amount of space to print the entire ballot. We will do so when we report the vote results, but it is even more important that voters get to see those warrant articles before the day they walk into the voting booth. Rather than take up valuable news space, we will be happy to e-mail a copy of the ballot to anyone who is interested. Just send a note to editor Ginger Kozlowski, at editor@hooksettbanner.com, and she will be happy to help you become a better-informed voter.

Letters

Information is power, so vote for public access TV on May 13

To the Editor:
Dear Hooksett residents,
Please vote for Article 26 on May 13 at Cawley School. The polls are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Article 26 is a petitioned warrant article presented by citizens of Hooksett to establish public television access to Hooksett.
The major reason I am supporting this article is for information purposes. I am a firm believer one cannot gather enough information. Information is knowledge and knowledge is power. You will have access from the comfort of your home to view how local government runs this community. So many are in the dark about what is going on in the community.
It will be a message board: for example Raymond, during their spring floods, kept the viewers update on the roads that were closed and any other emergency that occurs in town.
Please support Article 26.
Pat Rueppel
Councilor District 1
Hooksett

Voting ‘no’ on sewer expansion will not hinder Hooksett growth

To the Editor:
Have you tried to sort out the arguments of those who either favor or oppose approval of Warrant Article 3, which Hooksett voters will see on the ballot when they go to the polls on May 13?
Article 3 asks us if we are in favor of completing upgrades to the Hooksett Wastewater Treatment Plant in the amount of $1.5 million.
I have, and I urge you to vote “yes” on this very important issue.
Some have argued that defeat of Article 3 will serve to control growth in Hooksett. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Most folks who have taken the time to study the issue agree that expansion of the sewer treatment plant is vital to Hooksett’s future. Failure to expand the sewer plant will not hinder residential growth! Residential development will continue with the installation of less desirable septic systems in the event that sewer capacity is no longer available. In such a case, the added expense to the town for educating more kids, and providing other essential services will not stop.
In my view, failure to approve Article 3 allowing sewer plant expansion will adversely affect commercial development, which Hooksett sorely needs in order to maintain and improve our tax base. There will be little chance that we can lure the larger taxpaying commercial establishments to our community. Without them, your taxes and mine are likely to rise dramatically in the years to come.
I urge you to vote “yes” on Article 3 as recommended by both our Town Council and Budget Committee.
Frank Kotowski
Hooksett

West High School Destination Imagination team needs help

To the Editor:
West High School’s Destination Imagination Team is going global ... and we need your help! Destination Imagination is a program that encourages and develops creative problem solving for students of all ages. Our team placed first at States, which secures us a place at the global competition. We are selling 50/50 raffle tickets, one for $5 or five for $20, to help finance our trip to global finals at The University of Tennessee, where we will compete against hundreds of other D.I. teams from across the U.S. and from 20 other countries.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please contact: Kay Penney at 485-2249, or kaypenney@comcast.net. The drawing will be held on May 19 and the winner will be announced.
Thanks for your support~

Kristin Johnson
Brianna Levenstein
Laura O’Dea
Kay Penney

Separate fact from propaganda, no matter where it comes from

To the Editor:
Rep. Boutin’s letter in the April 17 Banner expressed some opinions about actions being taken in the state Legislature this session. As many of the bills that he refers to came out of the committee that I serve on, I feel somewhat qualified, and compelled, to provide counterpoint to the political rhetoric.
The bottle bill with the 5-cent deposit attached to it was HB1621. It was killed (14-0) by a bipartisan vote in the committee and the House concurred by voice vote at the Feb. 6 session. The Legislature remains unconvinced that the benefits of a bottle bill outweigh the concerns expressed by the retail establishments about the added costs and effort necessary to effectively implement it.
The other bill relating to beverage containers, HB503, was passed out of committee (15-2) with an amendment that would have added a 1-cent distributor fee for all beverage containers brought into the state. It would have generated several million dollars for local recycling efforts, reducing the mountains of plastic and aluminum that litter our landscape and fill up our landfills and lowering our local property tax bills. The House, at the Feb. 6 session, killed the amendment to the bill by a narrow (148-158) margin and then killed the original bill, which would have raised your taxes, with a voice vote.
HB1426 increases the 3-cent fee that you’ve been paying with your gas tax since 1988. It is used to pay for mitigation costs associated with leaky gas and oil tanks. I believe it’s a legitimate exercise to study why, after all these years, we still have leaky tanks and why we have to pay for them. HB1594, in addition to protecting the public safety from accidental or deliberate hazardous material spills and getting your local fire department the information that will help to keep our emergency personnel safe when they have to respond to a hazardous material incident, also has a study commission to look into who pays and who benefits from those fees.
The surcharge added to the real estate deed transfers is the dedicated funding source for LCHIP that was overwhelmingly passed by the Legislature in 2007. I find it ironic that this is being raised as an issue in the same edition of the Banner that talks about the possibility of Hooksett’s population growing from 13,000 to the 40,000 in the foreseeable future. Anyone that doubts the commitment of our residents to preserve and protect our forests and fields has only to count the number of “Moose” plates on the cars going by. New Hampshire Advantage, indeed!
Some of us serve in Concord to solve problems, some to rehash old, tired tax-and-spend slogans. Solving problems costs money, takes time and requires significant effort. In my time in the Legislature, I have met many very bright, experienced and talented individuals. I haven’t found any correlation between their good (or bad) points and their party affiliation.
As a Democratic House member. I have listened to everybody, worked hard to accomplish good things and to ensure that the taxpayers get their money’s worth from state government.
Come November, the voters will give us our report cards. Until then, I’m going to encourage you to separate fact from propaganda, no matter where it comes from.

Rep. Richard H. Snow,
Rockingham One
Candia, Deerfield,
Northwood, Nottingham

Girl Scouts urged to let their leaders know they’re appreciated

To the Editor:
If you are a girl in Girl Scouting – or ever were – I would like to remind you that April 22 was Leader Appreciation Day. I know you have done some great things as a Girl Scout! But please take a minute to remember the people who helped you accomplish your activities and goals – your leaders.
You are a member of a large group of girls in Swift Water Council (more than 14,000) who are facing the world with inspiration and determination. In Hooksett, you are one of over 170 girls who are making a difference in our community and exploring your world. I am seeing your troops doing fantastic projects such as sharing our birthday with our town’s family services office, supplying a neonatal ward in a Boston hospital with eye covers for preemies, creating birthday party kits and donating to CMC’s family services, making new mother/infant lovies for maternity wards, supporting animal shelters, and providing grocery store gift cards to neighbors in need.
You’re exploring some wonderful things like events at the SEE Science Center, learning photography at Clix, needlework at Bonnie’s Stitchery, sky and wildlife exploration, recycling, the theater arts, ice harvesting, maple sugaring, all about our police and fire departments, and what it means to be your best. Our olympic festival coming up will “take us around the world” learning new things from far away countries. And, each of you are starting to take on more leadership roles in your troops and beyond.
I know you are proud of all you have accomplished with your troop. You were very ambitious this year selling cookies to do all these thing - more than 17,000 boxes in Hooksett alone! I know the community appreciates all you are doing to make our world a better place. I also know how much your leaders care about you and want to help you succeed in all you do.
Please take a minute (well, maybe a little more than a minute) to write a note, draw a picture or send an e-mail to your leaders to let them know you appreciate their help. Tell them what you have had fun doing or something that was especially meaningful to you. Just as you know to write a thank you note when someone gives you a present, think of all your experiences in Girl Scouting like a gift that will be with you forever, and the people who helped make them happen.
Thank you, girls! Miss Robin thinks you are awesome!
I, too, want to say thank each of our 46 adult volunteers here in Hooksett for the amazing things our girls are doing because of your support. I am inspired by your dedication in bringing the Girl Scout program to our girls. Your efforts are definitely making a difference in their lives as they grow to be young women of courage, confidence and character. Indeed, awesome!

Robin Boyd
Service Unit Manager
Hooksett

Pembroke Academy’s first triumph comes courtesy of fourth-quarter heroics

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:03:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR
It was the first win in the program’s first year, and it came in dramatic fashion.

The Pembroke Academy boys lacrosse team, entrenched in a low-scoring battle with Pelham on Thursday, April 17, entered the fourth quarter up, 2-1. However, two quick Pelham goals put the Spartans behind and, it seemed, on their way to a third straight loss to open the season.

But with 36 seconds left in regulation, midfielder Patrick McCormack picked up an unforced Pelham turnover, streaked down the field, dished the ball to Doug Merrill, who passed to Brian Roche, who found the back of the net.

Then, 19 seconds later, the Spartans did it again – this time on a McCormack tally with seven seconds left in the game to secure a 4-3 victory.

“I couldn’t be more happy with these guys showing that kind of heart and dedication,” said head coach Stephen Wallin. “I just put them on the field, and they do the rest.”

Nathan Huntley and defenseman Jordan MacRae scored Pembroke’s first two goals, giving

the locals a 2-0 edge.

Senior goalie Nate Komm played a tremendous game in net, said Walllin, who added MacRae earned the game ball for his relentless efforts and Merrill turned in a strong performance at midfield.

Prior to the victory, PA lost, 15-0, to both Portsmouth and Hollis-Brookline – two of the top teams in Division III. Getting the win against Pelham, said Wallin, was a huge boost to morale. “I think they can play with the best of the best,” he said. “I have high expectations for them. I definitely expect them to finish around .500 and maybe make the playoffs.”

Others contributing this season include seniors Ryan Foster, Andrew LaValley, Matt Lavoie, Richard Blye, Tobey Manning and Adam Gray; juniors Jerry Jarnigan, Christopher Allen and Vincent Verecchia-LaChance; and sophomores Matthew Sweeney, Dalton Sirrine, Samuel Harty and Jamison Syphers.

Public shows support for public access TV

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:54:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

As the May 13 election draws near, a committee of residents devoted to instituting public access television in Hooksett continue to spread the word on a petitioned warrant article to establish public access or remove the 3 percent charge the town adds onto Comcast bills.

“We’ve touched base to just about everybody we can think of,” said Peter Farwell, the resident leading the charge, after visiting the Hooksett-ites senior citizen group to bring them up to speed on what’s going on with the public access debate.

The plan is to use franchise fees currently collected from Comcast bills to set up a public access cable TV channel in Hooksett, a project which could cost upward of $90,000 in the first year, depending on whether the town waits another year to buy equipment and hire parttime help to run it.

Currently, franchise fees the town collects, about 3 percent of each Comcast bill, go into the town coffers and are used to offset taxes.

The town gets about $100,000 per year, according to Town Administrator David Jodoin. “The town has to raise $23 million in taxes between school and town, and this is $100,000,” Farwell said, adding it’s likely some of the money would continue going into the general fund after public access has been paid for.

The station would be located at the Village School, currently being renovated to house the town offices. Fiber optic cables would run from the Village School up to the Comcast head station in Manchester.

Buying and installing the cables alone is expected to run around $30,000, Farwell said. Additional equipment needed to run the station has been estimated at around $27,000, rounding out the “one-time” expenses at close to $60,000 for the first year.

Two part-time positions, a technician and a programming coordinator, would tag on an extra $25,000 to $30,000 combined which would be a yearly expense and would become part of the station’s operating budget. Farwell pointed out the town could decide not to add the two part-time positions into the budget until the following year, or even to hold off on equipment for a year to spread out the impact.

Farwell said he envisions an advisory board made up of councilors, school board members and regular citizens that would oversee the setup and operation of the station.

The Town Council has already put a $1 line item in the budget to reserve a spot for public access already, allowing them to put money towards public access.

After conducting surveys, the public access committee found most Hooksett voters who participated in them fell into one of three categories: those who wanted to use the franchise fees to set up public access, those who wanted the fees removed from their bills and those who wanted the fees to continue going into the town’s general fund.

Some of the town’s residents, including Town Councilor David Ross, who supports the public access initiative and feels the franchise fees are an unfair tax because the money, which is only collected from Comcast users, gets spread among the entire town for tax relief.

“The fact of the matter of offsetting the tax rate is true, and it’s an unfair tax,” Ross said at the town’s deliberative session on Saturday, April 5. “It does not cost the taxpayers any money, it costs the ratepayers money if you subscribe to cable.”

David Pearl, another advocate for public access who has worked with Hooksett Issues, an online discussion group, to get the word out, said either public access should be set up or the fee should be removed from Comcast bills.

“There is growing support that if (the warrant article) fails, they’d like to take this franchise fee off,” Pearl said.

Resident Harold Murray said at the Town Meeting that he opposes the idea of public access all together.

“A hundred thousand dollars is now going into the general fund to offset taxes,” Murray said. “That hundred thousand has got to come from somewhere,” he said.

Fire Chief Mike Williams and Police Chief Steven Agrafiotis have both written and signed statements supporting public access in Hooksett, particularly for posting emergency messages having to do with public safety or natural disasters.

Williams said a public access channel would have been instrumental in getting Hooksett residents to safe ground during the flooding of the past two years. “It’s a way to get information out about a lot of people,” Williams said.

Agrafiotis agreed, saying the Police Commission has discussed public access in depth. He added the Hooksett Safety Center would be wired into the fiber optic cables to connect their media room, allowing the police and fire departments to hold press conferences and educational programming at the center.

“From the point of view of public safety, the ability to get out information whether we had a flood situation or a school lockdown or something like that, to get the information out quickly,” Agrafiotis said.

Agrafiotis was chief of the Raymond Police Department when public access was established there, and said it was a positive outlet and excellent source for the community.

Even if the article passes, it’s still going to be a while before public access is up and running, Farwell said.

“I don’t see much happening until the late third quarter, early fourth quarter of this year,” Farwell said, around September or October.

Five arrests at park-and-ride lot

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:42:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

Five men were arrested at Hooksett’s park and ride lot on Hackett Hill Road as police investigated the spot for reports of lewd acts in the woods there.

“It’s been ongoing for years now. There’s been word that this kind of stuff goes on,” said Hooksett police Detective Sgt. Nick Pinardi of the relatively remote trail system near the park and ride, across the street from the toll booth.

Robert Blais, 55, of Manchester, and Earl Corey, 55, of Warner, were arrested on Thursday, April 17, and charged with criminal trespass, indecent exposure and disorderly conduct, said Pinardi.

Pinardi said the department has fielded complaints from citizens going to the park and ride for legitimate use of the trail systems, and have seen people, particularly men, congregating at the parking lot and heading into the woods.

Some have seen these men performing sexual acts, Pinardi said. Since the snow has melted, the department has heard more of these accounts, and responded by putting extra patrols on the parking lot.

“One of our officers walked right up on it,” Pinardi said. The officer caught Blais and Corey “in the act” on the trail by the park and ride, Pinardi said. As the officer approached the area where the two men were, a third man walking ahead of him went to the same spot and stood directly next to Blais and Corey.

That man, Michael White, 44, of Canterbury, attempted to flee when he saw the officer approaching. When the officer asked what he was doing there, White allegedly said he was going to the bathroom.

White was charged with criminal trespass, as he was fully clothed at the time of the arrest.

On a second foot patrol through the trails, an officer came upon William Vickory, 60, of Pembroke, and Stephen Savoy, 43, of Manchester, who appeared to be pulling their pants up, Pinardi said. Both were charged with criminal trespass, he said.

Pinardi said Hooksett police will continue to patrol the area, as they believe this is a common place for people to commit such acts.

The ground in the area, Pinardi said, is littered with trash and condoms.

If Blais and Corey are convicted on the indecent exposure charges, they will have to register with the state’s sex offender registry.

All five men are due to be arraigned in Hooksett District Court on May 21 at 8:30 a.m.

Hooksett zoning warrant would phase growth

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:37:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

In addition to the financial items already discussed at Hooksett’s deliberative session of Town Meeting and electing town officials, voters will also weigh in on several zoning amendments when the polls open on Tuesday, May 13.

While the majority of the amendments are what Planning Board Chairman *** Marshall termed “housekeeping items,” needed for clarity in the current ordinances, one is of particular importance to voters concerned about the town’s growth.

Amendment 13 asks voters to approve adding a development phasing requirement to the current zoning ordinance. The Planning Board has been working on developing a way to control Hooksett’s growth for several months now, having worked with planning consultant Phillip Herr on the town’s growth buildout.

Herr said at a presentation at the library on Jan. 29 that unchecked growth could bring Hooksett’s population up to as much as 44,000 over the next few years. Hooksett currently has a population of about 13,000, according to the 2007 Town Report.

If either a growth management or phasing ordinance were adopted, that population growth could be curbed to around 20,000 in the same time period, according to Herr.

Growth phasing regulates the rate at which individual developments are built. A growth management ordinance, on the other hand, determines how the entire town will be developed over the years.

Marshall said the Planning Board decided on phasing rather than a growth management ordinance to level the playing field among developers and distribute the growth more evenly over a longer period of time. Such a plan is also less likely to end up in court, he said.

The previous growth management ordinance Hooksett voters adopted in 2005 ended up coming before a Merrimack Superior Court judge, who ruled it was not legally binding.

A developer who went before the Planning Board shortly after the ordinance passed with an application to build on 20 lots in town took it to court.

The ordinance included a limit on building permits issued each year to 2 percent of the total dwelling units in town, a quarter of those being reserved for people building their own homes, and a limit of five for any one individual or entity.

Budget Committee member Mike Sorel, who started the petition that got the ordinance on the 2005 ballot, said the result of that vote shows the town’s desire to have something in place to control growth.

Under the development phasing proposal, any development including more than 12 lots or units would require the developer to submit a gradual phasing plan that would restrict the construction to one-eighth of the total lots per year.

For high and medium residential districts, the cut-off number is 24 dwelling units per year.; for developments using sewer capacity, the cut-off is 18 units per year; and for all other types of developments only 12 units can be built each year.

Affordable housing and elderly housing, renovated units that don’t provide additional dwelling spaces, and those units already approved in the planning process would be exempt from the terms of the phasing ordinance.

“It’s very important. Failure to pass this puts us right back where we were, trying to find another way to do it,” Marshall said, saying the board would revisit the growth management issue.

Sorel said he supports the proposed development phasing amendment, calling it a step in the right direction for the town. “It’s more than what we have now, which is nothing,” Sorel said of the proposal. “The town needs to move ahead, and I think they will.

Mother of autistic child will never give up hope

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:17:00 GMT

BY SUSANNA HARGREAVES

Hope is a word, Kim Ryan of Hooksett understands all too well.

As a mother of a 4-year-old autistic child named Christopher, she has learned to hold on to hope very tightly.

“There is so much hope. Not to say that it isn’t easy. It has its challenges and has been very stressful, but we’re very grateful. We just keep persevering and we’re not going to give up,” Ryan said.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of related brain-based disorders that affect a child’s behavior, social and communication skills. Approximately one in 150 children are diagnosed with an ASD.”

According to Ryan, Christopher seemed to be developing normally as an infant, but at around 16 months he stopped talking.

“At first, we thought something was wrong with his hearing because he wouldn’t look when we called his name,” said Ryan. “Then, Chris started to go into his own world and preferred to play by himself.

The doctor said to wait a few months to see because he was saying some words, but then he stopped talking altogether and gave us very little eye contact. Then, by 2, he was diagnosed as having autism.”

Ryan said she was referred to Easter Seals for early intervention where Christopher received in-home therapy from a paraprofessional behavior specialist, speech therapist and occupational therapist. When Christopher turned 3, he received services through the Hooksett public school system, where he currently participates in an integrated class at Underhill.

Ryan expressed great happiness with the school system and his teacher.

“The school has been very supportive and his teacher, Lisa Pollard, and her paraprofessional have been wonderful. I believe anyone who works with autistic children is very special. Their heart is truly in it and it means so much,” Ryan said.

Ryan has learned a great deal of information. The Autism Society of New Hampshire has been very helpful, but the biggest help has been talking to other mothers of children with autism.

“Two programs which have helped Christopher a great deal are Applied Behavior Analysis which was started early, and another is a medical program called Defeat Autism Now,” she said.

Most of the help and answers she needed have been found on the Internet.

“Another reassuring voice has been actress Jenny McCarthy, who has been very vocal in the media as a mother of an autistic son,” Ryan said. “Also, Talk About Curing Autism has a great deal of helpful information.”

Ryan shared her plans to participate in The Green the Vaccine march in Washington, D.C., on June 4 to “promote awareness for the elimination of all toxins from children’s vaccines and have national health agencies reassess the mandatory vaccine schedule.”

Ryan said she is concerned about the increase in children being diagnosed with autism, and through this experience she is also more aware of the concern over chemicals and mercury in food, vaccines and the environment.

“This should be explored more,” she added and that her son is being further tested, but in the meantime she has gone “green” when it comes to cleaning products and chooses more natural solutions. “Diet, such as gluten free or casein free, is also something we’re researching.”

In the meantime, Ryan and her family are on a mission to find helpful information and to share it.

“One thing I learned is that early intervention is key,” said Ryan. She explained that her son has social, sensory and speech challenges. She said communication through pictures, sign language, play scripts and role modeling activities have helped them make a connection with their son. Thanks to his care, Chris’s communication skills have improved.

“I have seen great improvement. Now, at night Chris says goodnight to his two brothers and hugs them,” Ryan shared. Ryan said she hopes to be a resource for local residents with family members diagnosed with autism. For more about autism, Ryan can be reached at 289- 5440.

After falling short in 2007, Little Green’s strong backfield could carry them to playoffs

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:52:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

After losing a pivotal game down the stretch and missing the 2007 playoffs, Central boys lacrosse coach Bill Lawson admitted he and his players weren’t just disappointed to be on the outside of the postseason looking in. They were angry.

If their first 2008 contest is any indication, they’ll be spending the season taking that anger out on anyone who crosses their path.

First up was Salem, on Monday, April 7.

The Little Green stuck a pitch fork in the Blue Devils, 12-1, though Lawson said the key to reaching the postseason isn’t beating up on mediocre opponents, but rather winning contests against upper-echelon squads like Bishop Guertin and Souhegan.

“We missed the playoffs by a tiebreaker last season, and we didn’t like it. But we only had two seniors last year, and that makes us a much more mature team this year,” said Lawson of a squad that finished 7-9 after losing a late-season contest, 10- 9, to Souhegan, which took the final playoff spot. “In a backand- forth game, we made some dumb mistakes, and Souhegan’s experience won out.”

This season, Central fields 11 seniors.

It’s strength, said Lawson, is in the backfield, though the offense looks improved, too. Junior Tyler Prattem, who leads the defense, is complemented primarily by classmate Jeff Monk and senior Pat Tatro.

Ryan Garrell and Kellan Grady handle long-stick duties in the midfield.

In net, senior Kris Butler, junior Shaun Vesey and sophomore Ethan Brown battle for playing time.

Lawson said he has yet to decide on who’s No. 1 but hopes the players make the decision for him.

Offensively, a handful of players are likely to contribute, said the coach.

That list includes seniors Shea McCarthy, Scott Mc- Curdy and Thomas Houle, and juniors Marc Perroni, Justin Colvin and Billy Lawson. Against Salem, McCarthy scored four times, and Mc- Curdy and Lawson each tallied three goals.

Houle and Colvin found the net as well.