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City high schools consider forcing payment for extracurriculars

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:26:00 GMT

City school officials are drafting a pay-to-participate policy that would include athletics, a policy that many say would have negative consequences at all three city high schools, but particularly bad at West High School.

Facing a budget crisis that could lead to layoffs in the city, Manchester school officials discussed the proposal as a way to save money.

The policy could have a big impact on West, which is already facing the challenge of fielding teams while no longer being able to turn to Bedford athletes.

With or without the pay-to-play policy, several Blue Knight teams are likely to get the ax because of low numbers, including hockey, field hockey, golf, swimming, nordic skiing and boys lacrosse.

Manchester School Board member Stephen Dolman said he does not see pay-to-play as a good option.

“My opinion is that it’s not the best way to go. I don’t believe in pay to participate,” said Dolman. “It would be devastating and you’d lose at least 30 percent of participants. That’s unfair and it becomes a system of haves and have nots.”

Fellow board member Chris Hebert said the proposal likely wouldn’t be across the board, meaning the teams which cost the most for the schools to operate would cost athletes money to participate.

Hebert used hockey as one example as that, and said the potential policy is far from set in stone.

“It’s got to be modified of course,” said Herbert. “I don’t think it’s a one-size fits all kind of thing. We have to tailor it so we can maintain as many of the sports that we can afford, but also share the cost.”

Board member Katherine Labanaris said she wonders how students who can no longer afford to play varsity sports will choose to spend the free time that they would have.

Labanaris said the Blue Knights would be the school most impacted by the change.

“At West in particular, it would death knell. It would decimate the programs at West,” said Labanaris. “I think it’s the duty of the people who craft budgets and pass budgets to fund the school district so it can have an athletic program that serves the needs of the students.”

In many cases, Dolman said having students participating in sports goes much further than wins and losses.

“All these programs are a part of a child’s education. Many people say that sports are what kept them in school,” said Dolman. “That can be a carrot to keep them going, and other students it can be a way to earn a college scholarship. It’s about educating the student as a whole, and this is a big part of that.”

Ice storm of Dec. 11-12 leaves hundreds of thousands without power around state

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:26:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Local towns are dealing with the wrath of Mother Nature, who dropped ice around the Granite State, leaving a good portion of the state in the dark.

More than 325,000 New Hampshire residents were left without power following an ice storm that many officials say was worse than the one that took place in 1998.

Virtually all of Epsom, a town of about 4,000 people was left in the dark at the start of the ice storm.

“There were quite few trees and wires down,” said Selectman Joanne Randall. “The whole town was out. As of Monday (Dec. 15), we still had small pockets of secondary roads without electricity. There may still be some people without power at the end of the week.”

Epsom Fire Chief Stuart Yeaton said they learn something from each event, having gone through floods the past few years and the tornado this summer.

“Every time we get another event, we learn something,” he said. “People would call and say they have power and a generator (to offer).”

Auburn police have seen the criminal element take advantage of the storm. Police Chief Edward Picard said his department received a call during the power outage about an attempted break in.

The call came at 3 a.m. Sunday morning, Dec. 14, but Picard said his department hasn’t been faced with the theft of generators that he has been told is happening in surrounding towns.

“People have to go all the way to Connecticut to purchase generators,” said Picard. “The bad guys are using this emergency to their advantage.”

As of Tuesday, Dec. 16, about 50 percent of Auburn was in the dark, compared to what Picard estimated to be about 90 percent at the storm’s height.

Despite the negatives that came with the storm, Picard said there is a positive he took out of it.

“I’m proud of the way that the town has responded to helping their neighbors who don’t have power,” said Picard. “There were private residents going around with their generators, and that’s the character of Auburn.”

Candia officials met on Friday, Dec. 12, to set a plan of action, a plan that included getting the town’s roads cleared first.

While the road agent and his crews began on the back roads, firefighters attacked dangerous trees on Route 43, High Street and Old Candia Road.

Officials opened an emergency shelter later in the day at the Moore School, but after only one resident stayed there Friday night, it was suspended on Saturday.

The use of generators and personal heaters made for busy days and nights for the Hooksett Fire Department, according to Chief Michael Williams.

“We were extremely busy responding to over 60 electrical emergency incidents in a 48-hour period,” said Williams. “We are now experiencing carbon monoxide problems due to generators operating in garages and kerosene heater operating in houses. Just (Monday, Dec. 15) we responded to five carbon monoxide problems with related medical symptoms.”

Pembroke and Allenstown were not hit too hard. Lt. Dwayne Gilman of the Pembroke Police Department reported that 425 homes in Pembroke were without power at the height of the problem, mostly in the northern area of town. Allenstown residents also lost power, but there were no serious issues reported by the Allenstown Police Department.

Large turnout expected Nov. 4, police in Hooksett and surrounding towns prepare for traffic

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:33:00 GMT

BY GINGER KOZLOWSKI

A record turnout is likely in the works for the presidential election on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and area police and poll workers are gearing up for the crowds.

In Hooksett and Pembroke, police will be enforcing a change in the usual traffic patterns at the school buildings where voting takes place. Police in Epsom, Allenstown, Candia and Auburn were not making any changes in traffic pattern, but will be prepared for more traffic than usual.

In Allenstown, poll workers will be available an extra hour in the morning, with hours now starting at 7 a.m., and ending at 7 p.m., for this election only. Parents of Hooksett’s middle school students will have to be aware that voting is likely to make parent-teacher conferences scheduled for that day difficult to get to on time.

“Be patient,” said Hooksett police detective Paul Cecilio. “If you have a parent-teacher conference, get there early. We anticipate a large crowd.”

Cecilio added that there will be message boards and officers to direct traffic. Additional lighting will also be provided so those voting after dark will be able to find their way to the auxiliary parking areas behind Cawley Middle School.

Expect to wait in line.

“If we get an influx of people,” said Cecilio, “it could be all the way to (Route) 28.”

And if you are in line near the time the polls close?

“If your car’s in line (at 7 p.m.),” said Cecilio, “they’re last to vote.”

In Auburn, there will be extra voting booths at Auburn Village School to help manage the crowds, said town clerk Joanne Linxweiler.

“If people are in line waiting to vote at 7 p.m. (closing time),” she said “the moderator will allow those already in line the opportunity to cast their vote.”

In Candia, town clerk Christine Dupere said she is having additional poll workers to help that day, including same-day voter registration. Again, if you are in line by the time the polls close, you will be allowed to vote.

“The moderator and I are doing a lot of advanced planning to keep things running smoothly,” said Dupere,” and I will be holding a training class for all the poll workers and election officials.”

Allenstown Elementary School will be closed that day.

“We will have extra officers on duty,” said Police Chief Shaun Mulholland. “However, there are no plans to change traffic patterns. We do expect parking problems, there is no real way to resolve that issue.”

In Epsom, there will be extra help at Epsom Central School.

“We will be having greeters that will direct people where to go to vote or if they need to register to vote,” said town clerk Dawn Blackwell. “We will be having two check-in tables.”

Traffic pattern changes in Pembroke

Pembroke is making the following changes to the traffic pattern on Election Day:
• Pine Street from Broadway to High Street, westbound only.
• High Street from Pine Street to Maple Street, southbound only.
• Maple Street to Broadway, eastbound only.
• Prospect from Maple to Pine Street, northbound only.

On-street parking will be limited to one side of each affected street. It will be properly posted with no parking signs. The Police Department will have officers at the polls to assist with the new traffic pattern. There will also be personnel on hand to assist with traffic flow in the school parking lot. Extra lighting equipment will be in place to help light the area after dark. School will not be in session on Election Day. Handicap parking will be available.

Traffic pattern changes in Hooksett

In Hooksett, all traffic will enter Cawley School through the entrance off White Hall Road in two lanes approaching the school. All traffic will exit through the rear gate of Cawley onto Farmer Road. Traffic wishing to exit back onto Whitehall Road should use Whitehall Terrace to reverse direction. All other north/south traffic should go to the end of Farmer Road and exit via Londonderry Turnpike (Bypass 28).

Officers will be at Farmer Road and Londonderry Turnpike to assist with traffic should it back up on Farmer Road.

Many struggle to pay last year’s fuel bills, worry about future

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:36:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

It’s going to be a lot harder for the Hills family of Allenstown to stay afloat financially this year, with fuel prices hitting record highs.

Jeanne Hills babysits her toddler grandson, staying home while her husband and her adult children work. With the price of heating oil averaging more than $4.50 a gallon, according to the state Department of Energy and Planning, the future looks frightening.

The Hills got a decent price last year, but ended up spending a total of $2,281 on their oil deliveries between September 2007 and their most recent in May 2008. This year, they are likely going to spend much more than that to heat their home.

Hill added that her mother, a 70-year-old retired woman on a fixed income, had so much trouble trying to pay for the oil heat bills on her mobile home in Derry that she had to move in with Hill’s sister.

“I used to buy 150 gallons (per delivery) and had to go down to 100 gallons,” said Hills. “It wasn’t fitting in our budget. Prior to that first September bill, I was paying $240 for 150 gallons, and now for 100 gallons it was almost as much,” Hills said, adding she made good use of her wood stove last winter and would continue that practice this winter.

Not a bad idea, and one David Pearl of Hooksett has more than bought into. Pearl, who runs “Spotlight Video” out of his Main Street home, has two years’ worth of wood sitting in his back yard in preparation of the heating crunch.

Pearl does use oil, but stocks up on the wood each year, buying it wholesale at about $1,200 for a gigantic truckload that equals about 12 cords, a two-year supply.

At first, said Pearl, his wife, Joanne, wasn’t crazy about the the huge amount of wood in their backyard. “This year, she’s kind of on board; that it’s definitely worth it,” said Pearl. “You’re going to have to have heat one way or the other.”

Local governments under stress
Hooksett Town Administrator David Jodoin said most of the town’s buildings run on gas heat, the price of which is also on the rise.

Still, with energy prices increasing along with gasoline, Jodoin said there are going to be many trickle-down effects from the national and state levels to the towns.

“We will be forced, like many towns, to postpone paving if things get too tough and look at hours of operation, and possibly even layoffs,” Jodoin said. “Projections are impossible right now. The market on fuel is fluctuating way too much. All we can do is, like everyone else, pray that things stabilize.”

To heat the old Town Hall and the highway garage for the 2007-08 year cost Hooksett $11,768.42 said Finance Director Christine Soucie.

The only building in Candia that runs on oil is the old library, not in regular use. The heat has to stay on the lowest setting there so the pipes don’t freeze, said selectmen’s assistant Dawn Chabot.

That building alone cost $1,401.47 to heat between January and December 2007.

“It’s probably going to be double, if not triple, this year,” said Selectmen Chairman Fred Kelley, adding his own home cost about $1,000 to heat during this past winter.

Pembroke and Allenstown use little heating oil, as they sit almost directly on top of a gas line. Natural gas prices are also increasing, according to the Department of Energy and Planning, but not at the rate of oil increases. The average cost for natural gas is around $1.70 per unit on the high end.

“The major gas line that runs to Concord runs through Pembroke between Route 3 and the (Suncook) river,” said Pembroke Town Administrator Geoff Ruggles, adding that skyrocketing oil prices will have only a small effect on Pembroke.

The only Pembroke building using oil is the Perry Eaton building, the old police station, which also houses the Sewer Department.

Most of the town is also on gas, Ruggles said, but some residences in older sections may be on oil heat.

It’s basically the same story in Allenstown, where the majority of buildings – including the town hall, police and fire stations and recreation center – are on the same gas line that runs through neighboring Pembroke.

“I’m sure the rate will increase just like everything else,” said Police Chief Shaun Mulholland, agreeing with Jodoin that gasoline is going to have the biggest impact on the town’s budget.

The highway garage in Allenstown is a little bit different. “We actually heat the highway garage with waste oil,” said Selectman Tom Gilligan. “We have a waste oil burner that we put in years ago, and we continue to maintain and upgrade it. We also have a propane tank as a backup at the highway garage,” he said.

Epsom selectmen’s assistant Nancy Wheeler said the current town office building, the old Town Hall, and both the fire and police departments run on oil heat. The highway shed is the only town building that uses propane.

In 2007, she said, Epsom spent $13,738 on heating oil, coming within $150 of what they had budgeted for that year. Selectmen budgeted $15,475 for 2008 in anticipation of the historic meeting house, which was moved next to the old Town Hall, is completely renovated and becomes involved in the oil heat budget this year.

So far, the town has spent $8,188 of their 2008 heating oil budget line, with about three more months left to go between October and December.

Wheeler added the town was able to lock in a good rate at $2.34 per gallon, but will have to go out to bid again sometime in the next month. “If it goes up a dollar a gallon, based on what we used the second half of the year, we should be okay, but who knows?” said Wheeler.

Auburn Town Administrator Bill Herman said town is trying to juggle the rising costs of heating fuel, gas, and asphalt, and said those increases have exceeded their budget projections.

The Board of Selectmen is looking at installing a new, more energy efficient heating system in the town hall this year to help to defray some of the increase in oil heat costs down the road.

“Depending on the account, increases of 10 to 27.5 percent were included in the 2008 operating budget for anticipated fuel increases. It appears at this point those increases may not be enough to cover the expenses of heating the town buildings this year,” Herman said.

All town buildings except for the highway garage run on oil heat, he said, and rising heating fuel costs caused the budgets for both the police department and general government buildings, including the Town Hall, highway garage, and old police and fire stations, to run over budget in 2007-08.

So far in 2008, according to Herman, those accounts are getting close to their budgeted amounts, with at least three months left to heat on this year’s budget.

Assistance is available if you can’t pay your bill

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:30:00 GMT

BY CHRISTINE HEISER

Next winter, when the temperatures drop and the oil tank is low, rising fuel costs might bring on a budget crisis for some homeowners.

Unlike public utilities such as gas or electric, private oil companies are not bound by law to deliver in the winter even if the customer doesn’t pay their bill, so each company sets its own policies. But most will work with the customer if they can’t pay.

Janice Fusco at Viking Oil and Propane Company in Candia said they follow the normal collection procedures for their credit customers, with letters and phone calls to follow up. If a customer is behind in payments, Viking might require a customer who orders fuel to pay for the delivery upfront along with 25 percent of their balance, for instance.

But those policies can always change, said, Fusco, as fuel companies also have to pay for the fuel they get, and prices are rising quickly. “We advise customers to not ignore their bills or our attempts to reach them,” she said. “Communicate with us and we’ll work something out.”

State offers fuel assistance Area fuel assistance programs are gearing up for the 2008-09 heating season and the rise in demand that’s sure to come with skyrocketing fuel costs.

“The number of requests went up by 7 percent last year from the year before,” said Sharon Brody, head of the Rockingham Community Action fuel assistance program. “We’re expecting even more this year.”

The Rockingham office handles the area from Auburn to the Seacoast and south to Salem. There are six community action agencies in the state, which distribute federal funds made available to them from the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning in the form of low-income home energy assistance block grants. Help is available to both homeowners and renters.

Go to the state OEP Web site, www.nh.gov/oep/programs. htm, and click on “fuel assistance,” for more information and for the contact for your area.

Brody couldn’t say what the exact eligibility criteria would be for assistance this year, as it depends on how many applications the office gets and how much money is available. But she encourages people to apply as soon as they can if they anticipate a need. Applications are taken from Sept. 1 through April 30, and from that point, an interview will set up with those requesting help.

Some towns also offer assistance to varying degrees, Brody said, but this year, everyone will be strapped trying to assist those in need.

The community action agencies also accept private donations. “Sometimes elderly people get assistance, then they ask to be taken off the list when they no longer need help,” Brody said. “Then we’ll get $1 or $5 in the mail from them. It breaks us up.”

To make a donation, send to the community action agency of your choice and earmark it for fuel assistance. The phone numbers and e-mail addresses for the agencies are listed on the OEP Web site.

Brody is hoping, most of all, for a warm winter this year. “But if not, we hope we can help everyone,” she said. “We’re waiting for our Santa Claus, our knight in shining armor, so we can help as many people as possible.”

Decision time for high schools

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:57:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

After months of toiling over the Manchester school budget, it’s almost time for the Board of Aldermen to settle on an amount.

Aldermen had to make a decision on the city budget, which includes the mayor’s proposal for a $140 million school district budget for 2008-09, by Tuesday, June 10. As of June 3, aldermen and the mayor reached a tentative agreement on a $146 million budget, which is about $1.2 million less than last year’s budget. A joint meeting between aldermen and the school board was scheduled for June 4.

It is still unknown whether the $146 million budget would cut some academic, art and sports programs.

The school boards of Hooksett, Auburn, Bedford and Candia are keeping a close eye on the school budget proceedings, having expressed concerns over major cuts that would have to be imposed under the $140 million budget.

All four towns send their high school students to schools in Manchester, and want to make sure the Manchester school district lives up to the terms of its tuition agreements.

“Honestly, I think it would devastate the Manchester school district if they had that $140 million budget and they had to make those cuts,” said Hooksett School Board Chairman Maura Ouellette. “At this point, we have a contract for another 15 years.”

The Manchester Board of School Committee has taken three votes on whether to issue pink slips to teachers this year, all of which failed before the May 10 deadline to issues those layoff notices.

On the long list of potential cuts are the academies that were in the works for West High School, athletics, unified arts, gifted and talented programs, full-day kindergarten and a slew of other items.

“Unfortunately, those are the only areas we can cut from. We don’t have a lot of options. Most of our budget is set,” said Manchester School Board member Kathleen Kelley.

Manchester Board of School Committee Vice Chairman Katherine Labanaris said the $140 million budget could put Manchester’s contracts with the four sending towns in jeopardy. “It would be impossible to meet the contractual obligations with Auburn, Bedford, Hooksett and Candia,” she said, which include keeping class sizes at state recommended levels and delivering quality education, which under the state’s guidelines includes unified arts.

Around 2,000 Manchester school teachers, concerned parents and students fighting for their programming and curriculum showed up for a public hearing on Mayor Guinta’s proposed $140 million budget on April 28, voicing concerns about cutting staff, programming and extracurricular activities from Manchester schools.

Last year, aldermen approved a $147 million school budget, which is what the district is currently running on. The mayor’s proposal is about a 5 percent decrease over last year’s school district appropriation. “We’d like to at least have what we have now,” said Kelley.

The Manchester Board of School Committee originally asked for $153 million for the 2008-09 year.

Mike Lopez, chairman of the Board of Aldermen, said the board’s charge is to keep both taxpayers and students in the forefront.

“I think at the public hearing we had some discussion and many questions, and I think there’s many aldermen who are trying to make up their minds as to the minuses and pluses and the direction they could go,” said Lopez.

The mayor’s $140 million proposal, if accepted, would allow tax rates in Manchester to remain level for the second year in a row, something Labanaris said is important to Manchester residents.

The four sending towns said they can’t argue with the amount of money the Board of Aldermen decides to give the Manchester School District, but are hoping that number will allow Manchester to keep good on their contracts.

“We hope that the budget number that they come to will not affect our contract,” said Auburn School Board Chairman Elaine Hobbs. “We’re just continuing to try to stay on top of it and hope that when they go through their budget process that they will come to a number that is beneficial to the students, and that no programs will be cut, class sizes will be at recommended levels, and that extracurriculars and fine arts will be included.”

Candia School Board Chairman Ed Caito agreed with Hobbs, and said even if the $140 million budget does go into effect, that does not alone put Manchester in a problematic position. “It’s tough to look at a budget and say it is or it’s not going to work,” Caito said. “The budget remains a process in Manchester, and the mere passage of a budget does not mean a contractual violation.”

Bedford students are being phased into their new high school, but the current junior class will be spending next year at West High. By the 2009-10 school year, all Bedford high school students will be in the new high school, leaving a revenue shortfall in the Manchester school budget.

“This isn’t a surprise that there’s a loss of revenue and they can’t bring the expenses down,” Caito said, explaining that even as Bedford students at West High leave, costs are not going down and in some cases are rising.

Some Manchester School Board members said a lack of planning for the withdrawal of Bedford students is part of the problem.

“Those folks are quite correct that the Manchester School Board did not do a good job trying to plan ahead,” said Manchester School Board member Doug Kruse of those who have said that Manchester wasn’t ready for Bedford’s exodus.

“At the time, our school board didn’t really spend much time at all contemplating that possibility or beginning to plan for that possibility. When Bedford gave us the final notification that they were going to be leaving, there were several of us on the board advocating for a plan,” said Kruse. “A lot happened way too late in the game. I think Manchester collectively dropped the ball on that.”

Labanaris said it would have been impossible to make up the revenue for Bedford’s exit, and said the school district tried to keep costs in line at the school by cutting teachers last year to accommodate the decreased student population. Later, she added, one was asked to come back.

“I don’t know what they would want us to do in that case,” Labanaris said. Manchester School Board members said there has been talk of re-working Hooksett’s contract, which currently has some students going to Central and others going to West, so that all Hooksett high school students would attend West, a solution both Ouellette and Kelley said was not feasible.

Kruse said he would support looking into that option in the future. “I think at this point, given the financial situation Manchester is in, everything has to be on the table,” he said.

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.”

It’s time to vote

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:10:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

New Hampshire towns are gearing up for the annual vote on town and school issues. Polls will open Tuesday, March 11. Hooksett’s official ballot town elections are not until May 13.

Pembroke and Auburn adhere to the traditional Town Meeting format, and are only electing officials on March 11.

Auburn will, however, decide whether to change to the official ballot law, or SB2, at the March 11 vote. Auburn will also decide between Paul Raiche and Harland Eaton for selectman.

Hooksett – school
Hooksett will choose two of four candidates for School Board and vote on four warrant articles. The four running for School Board are Becky Berk, Pat Rueppel, Paul Cournoyer and Trisha Korkosz. Warrant articles include a $25 million school budget and renovations to the Underhill kitchen.

Allenstown – town
There are two contested races in Allenstown. David Bouffard, James Rodger and Chris Roy are competing for one road agent position. Lawrence Anderson, Thomas Irzyk, Richard Keeley, Sandra McKenney, Robert Lee and Roger LaFleur are running for one selectman’s slot.

• Proposed operating budget: $5,055,264. Should the budget fail, the default would be $4,541,936.

• The Suncook Wastewater Treatment Facility expansion: a $15 million bond to be paid over 20 years would expand the sewer plant, Allenstown taxpayers being responsible for 48 percent of the total costs and Pembroke 52 percent.

At the town’s deliberative session, voters amended the wording of the article to say that the town would only go for the expansion if at least half the costs could be secured in state and federal grants. A 60 percent majority vote is needed for this article to pass.

• New fire truck: This article asks voters to approve a $450,000 expenditure on a new fire truck to replace one dating back to 1976. The new truck is a 2,500-gallon pumper/tanker that would do the work of three of the older trucks for the Fire Department.

• Road agent: This article asks to change the method of putting the town’s road agent in place from official ballot election to Board of Selectmen appointment.

Allenstown – school
• Proposed operating budget: $9,954,853. Should the budget fail, the default budget would be $9,838,008. School warrant articles would add an extra $78,802.

• A warrant article asks for $58,802 for the first year of a four-year collective bargaining contract with the Allenstown Paraprofessional Association.

Epsom – town
The only contested race in Epsom is between four people running for three slots on the Budget Committee. They are David Fiorentino, Greg “Whitey” Foss, Mar Lou J. LaFleur and Carol McGuire.

• Proposed operating budget: $2,882,220. Should the budget fail, the default budget would be $2,469,881.

• Various articles ask for money to pave and maintain roads, projects that have been put off in the past few years due to defaulted budgets.

• A citizen’s petitioned warrant article asks voters whether they favor going back to a fivemember Board of Selectmen.

At this year’s election, three members will be voted in after Epsom residents voted last year to reduce the number of seats on the board down to three.

• The police and fire departments submitted a warrant article asking for $57,054 for six months’ salaries for one full-time officer and one full-time firefighter.

The article states $4,500 of that would come from a line in the police department’s budget, with the rest being raised through taxes. Another article asks for $82,815 to give all fulltime fire and police personnel pay raises.

Epsom – school
• Proposed operating budget: $8,071,443. Should the budget fail, the default budget would be $7,904,002.

• The school district asks in a warrant article for $36,292 to fund pay raises for school support staff.

• Another article asks for $34,884 to pay for bus transportation for Epsom high school students attending Pembroke Academy. Currently, there is no school district funded transportation for those students.

• To remove asbestos flooring left in the Epsom Central School, the district asks voters for $70,069.

Candia – town
Candia has two contested races. Dannis Lewis and Paul C. Vallee are competiting for road agent. For selectman, voters will choose between Todd D. Allen, Frederick Kelley and Amanda Soares.

• Proposed operating budget: $2,321,660. Should the budget fail, the default would be $2,265,781.

• A citizen’s petitioned warrant article asks whether Candia voters are in favor or selling a 12-acre parcel of land by Exit 3 off of Route 101. A 2003 vote already gave selectmen the authority to sell the land for a grocery store, but the article voted in also allowed for a citizen’s petition after two public hearings on the land sale.

• Selectmen submitted a petition asking voters’ stance on “rescinding” the town’s Budget Committee. The wording was changed at the town’s deliberative session, and now asks whether voters are in favor of “retaining” the Budget Committee.

Candia – school
• Proposed operating budget: $7,486,408. Should the budget fail, the default would be $7,526,161 (almost $40,000 higher than the proposed budget).

• The most expensive article asks voters to allow the Candia School Board to enter into a tuition agreement for a joint middle school with Auburn, and further to spend $296,708 for the first year’s payment on building costs. The tuition agreement would be in effect for 20 years, with Candia paying 38 percent of the school’s building and operating costs based on current enrollment.

• A warrant article for a collective bargaining agreement with Moore School teachers would require $83,347 to be raised in taxes.

• The school district is asking for $91,885 to purchase a generator for the Moore School.

letters to the editor of The Hooksett Banner, Feb. 28, 2008

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:10:00 GMT

Editorial:

We must make math education a priority

Half, yes, half, of the 11th-graders tested by the state were listed as “below proficient” in math. That’s the politically correct way of saying they failed. They weren’t even close to being able to do the math expected of them. Yes, the 11th-grade test is harder than simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. But if half the students taking the test fail, you have to wonder if it’s the students or it’s the test.
In this case, having looked at the test preparation booklet available online (http://www.ed.state.nh.us/Education/doe/organization/curriculum/NECAP/PracticeTest.htm), we think it’s the students. Which means they are either not taking the test seriously – a point worth considering – or they have not been adequately taught. You can’t do algebra or geometry without a strong basic foundation, and our elementary schools are also struggling to meet the state’s proficiency requirements. This problem started when these students were much younger.
We need to make sure our students are well educated in the fields of math and science. Our futures all depend on our children’s ability to solve complicated problems. China is graduating far more math and science students than the U.S. is – a point often hammered home by FIRST founder Dean Kamen. This isn’t to be taken lightly. We must find a way to teach our children and make them care about it.

letters:

Epsom should return to a five-member board of selectmen

To the Editor:
A committee to study whether the town would be better served by a five-member board was appointed by the town moderator. They met in 2001, four times in three months. They interviewed town officials from four towns that were about the size of Epsom and had changed from three to five members (Bow, Deerfield, Hinsdale and Bethlehem) and approximately 30 current and former town leaders.
The major concern was if we stayed at three we would need to hire a town administrator. And if we went to five, it would need to increase the office staff because of the extra work. At that time, we had one full-time and one part-time employee in the office. When the board went to five members, the staff doubled. We now have three full-time employees, who have been working in the office for the past four years.
There are over 18 departments and committees that the BOS is responsible for. Each one has to have a liaison from the BOS. Some committees require that a board member attend each meeting as a member of that committee. That’s six departments or committees for each selectperson.
The truth is that our town is growing, and the work load is increasing not decreasing. I am very concerned that if it stays at three, next year we will see an article for a town administrator.
Remember, if it doesn’t pass this year, it will take two years before we can change it back. That’s why I support voting to go back to a five-member board this year.
Richard Frambach
Epsom

I endorse Fred Kelly and Joe Duarte for selectmen

To the Editor:
There will be a “Meet the Candidates” night on Friday, March 7.
I would like to express my views on two of the candidates running this year.
One is Mr. Fred Kelly, who is running for re-election for chairman of selectmen’s board. I would like people to know that this man has served and delivered great things to our town for many years. He is truly dedicated to the people, interests and safety of our town and proves his dedication time after time. Even when the pressure is overwhelming, he always remains calm, open-minded and objective. He is also a resident of Candia, which I feel is important for our town.
The second is Mr. Joe Duarte who is running for re-election for selectman. I would like people to know that he also is dedicated and has delivered great things to our town. Mr. Duarte is always dedicated to the people of this town and always is truly interested in the issues of our residents. He never lets the small voice go unheard and is open-minded, objective and patient. He is also a resident of Candia.
Thank you for your time.
Jennifer Haggett
Candia

Please vote for Trisha Korkosz for Hooksett School Board

To the Editor:
My name is Trisha Korkosz. I am a resident of the town of Hooksett and I am running for the Hooksett School Board. I would like to ask people to go to the polls and vote for me on March 11.
I would like to represent each of you on the Hooksett School Board. I will work with the School Board, the SAU administration and the school administrators to help us all educate the students of the town of Hooksett. I believe that we, as a town, need to work together to make the best choices for our students. I feel what I may lack in political experience, I make up for in that fact I represent a sector of the population that may not have a strong voice. By this I mean that I have young school-aged children within our system. I can bring fresh ideas and new energy to the board.
I feel that the School Board needs to work with the SAU administration, the other towns within our SAU and the school administration in a collaborative manner to enact what is best for our students. In our very changing economy, we need to be fiscally responsible and spend money in a manner that gets us the best results. I think this year the School Board and the Budget Committee worked very hard at having positive communication and doing what is best for our students while being as frugal as possible. I would like to help continue this improved communication.
When people ask why I am running, I answer that my husband and I are trying to teach our children that we each have a responsibility to do our part to make our community better. We believe, as we were raised, that the one of the most important things we give our children is a great education. We feel that Hooksett has a great school system and we would like to help make it better. The manner in which we think we can do that is by my running for School Board.
I can promise each member of the Hooksett community, when you vote for me on March 11, I will do my best to represent you on the Hooksett School Board.

Trisha Korkosz
Hooksett

Thank you for allowing me to serve the town of Epsom

To the Editor:
To the residents of Epsom:
Thank you for allowing me to serve you as selectman for the past year. I have certainly learned a lot about Epsom; budgets, RSAs, tax rates and many other important things.
I have also learned what a great town Epsom is, especially the people. I am overwhelmed sometimes at how eager people are to help, donate, volunteer and generally assist the town.
Although I will be running unopposed, as are the other two selectman candidates for their positions, it is important that you make the effort to vote on March 11.
Vote yes on Article 1 and carefully consider each article on the ballot. Each warrant article has many hours of thought and consideration behind it, including cost considerations.
It is important to support our police and fire departments, as well as the work that needs to be done on our roads and for our Highway Department.
Thank you for continuing to support our great town!
Joanne Randall
Selectman, Epsom

Snowmobilers and four-wheelers make park a raceway

To the Editor:
On Sunday afternoon, my daughter and I went for a snowshoe hike to Hayes Marsh in Bear Brook State Park. But it felt more like we were at the Loudon Raceway with all the snowmobiles and four-wheelers flying full throttle down the trails. Firsthand we learned why snow vehicles should not be allowed in the same area of the park that hikers and skiers use.
Following a trail parallel to Podunk Road (which goes from Deerfield Road to the 4-H camps), we came to a wide roadbed leading from Podunk Road to Hayes Marsh. There were 15 to 20 vehicles revving their engines so much that we could hardly hear each other talk. They all took off at full speed toward the marsh. We walked along the edge of the road looking for the next foot trail to escape to. A four-wheeler sped past us and suddenly veered to the right as three snowmobiles came racing from the other direction.
At the place where the road narrowed, a sign said “No motorized vehicles allowed,” but they all drove past it without slowing down to look.
On our return trip, we took the Hayes Farm Trail to save time, but had to keep stepping aside for each group of machines that was apparently trying to set a new speed record. When we were about a quarter mile from the parking lot, we went down Podunk Road and had to suddenly evade a snowmobile that was racing full throttle up the road around a curve at what seemed like 40 to 50 mph.
I am disappointed in the behavior of all these people. In the summertime, you can walk along a roadway and feel safe that passing cars will slow down and give you wide berth. But that does not seem to be the mindset of the snowmobile/four-wheeler crowd. Full throttle seems to be the only way to travel.
Michael Frascinella
Allenstown

No need to be disagreeable when disagreeing with someone

To the Editor:
Apparently, the young Mr. Ross mistook what I intended as advice for admonition.
For the record, Rep. Snow stands behind his votes. As a candidate I was, hopefully, clear about how I would represent my constituents, if elected. I have, again hopefully, consistently attempted to do what I said I would do: listen to everybody, attempt to understand all the sides of every issue and vote for what I believe best serves the needs of all the people.
Inasmuch as there are many sides to every issue, some people will inevitably disagree with any particular vote. It would be nice if we could disagree without being disagreeable.
As always, I’m available for discussion on any issue. I’m old enough to have gained the wisdom to know that there are more questions than there are answers and that I, like Mr. Ross, have opinions, but that neither of us have infinite wisdom.
Richard H. Snow
Candia

Epsom needs recording system

To the Editor:
I am writing this letter in support of Article 17. This article addresses the purchase of an audio/video system for the various town board meetings.
For years, the Board of Selectmen and other boards have had to rely on handwritten notes and transcribed minutes to record their meetings. For those who cannot attend the meetings, it is difficult to keep up with business in town.
This equipment will allow Metrocast subscribers to view the meetins from your home. It will supplement record keeping and could be made available for public use and would be in invaluable in future litigation.
Many towns are now broacasting their town meetings. Let’s bring Epsom into the 21st century.
John Campbell
Epsom

Things not done

To the Editor:
I regret not being able to accomplish the following tasks:
1. An exit exam for the eighth grade, done independently from the school.
2. State and federal government to pay for unfunded educational mandates.
3. State and federal government to pay for unfunded non-educational mandates.
4. The state to allow schools to refuse the mandate moneys and not comply, as is done on the federal level.
5. Stop the demasculinization of our youth.
6. An understanding of where our rights come from and what they are in the Constitution.

Gordon R. Ellis
School Board member
Epsom

SAU withdrawal plan denied

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:58:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

The state Board of Education sent Hooksett’s SAU Withdrawal Committee back to the drawing board for more information on what pulling out of SAU 15 would mean for the two remaining towns, Auburn and Candia.

At a hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 9, the state rejected the Withdrawal Committee’s study, which outlines the plans for withdrawal and projected impacts for both the new Hooksett SAU and SAU 15, in a 4-1 vote.

According to minutes, the state called for more information about the educational and monetary consequences for pulling out and encouraged the Withdrawal Committee to work closely with Auburn and Candia school boards on their plan. The state turned down the previous plan in December 2006, asking for more information.

John Lyons, chairman of the state board, said commenting further on what specifically the board wants to see in the application would be unfair to the towns involved.

SAU Withdrawal Committee chairman and School Board member Dana Argo said he believes the plan is sufficient and includes all of the fiscal and educational information the state should need to approve it.

The state’s decision not to approve will set the committee back another year, as the approved plan was to go before voters at this year’s School District Meeting.

“I think it’s difficult for the state Board of Education to move a plan forward when the two remaining communities are so opposed to it,” said Maura Ouellette, a Withdrawal Committee and Hooksett School Board member. “What’s really unfortunate is that the Hooksett voters don’t get the opportunity to go to the polls and vote on this issue. This essentially blocks them from having any say in how they would like to see their school district run in the future.”

Argo said he feels strongly about the withdrawal, citing thousands of new housing units in the pipeline and an overstretched SAU staff as clues that Hooksett, which comprises 58 percent of the current SAU, should pull out.

“There’s not really a blackand- white answer for when to withdraw, but we think the time is now,” Argo said.

Auburn School Board Chairman Elaine Hobbs said the plan makes assumptions about Auburn and Candia without collaboration from the two towns.

She referenced a section in the plan that says Auburn and Candia could house SAU 15 in their new middle school after Hooksett leaves. The joint middle school proposal will go to voters in both towns in this year’s election.

Both Hobbs and Candia School Board Chairman Karen Smith said they have not heard from the SAU Withdrawal Committee for collaboration since October 2006.

Both also pointed to what they said were miscalculations in the outlined budgets for the new Hooksett School District and the two-town SAU 15, errors they said likely swayed the state board’s decision.

Based on enrollment figures, Hooksett owns 58 percent of the current SAU 15’s assets and pays the same percentage of its annual operating budget, with Candia and Auburn splitting the remaining 42 percent.

The projected costs for Hooksett would remain much the same for the new SAU. Hooksett will contribute $521,081 to the coming year’s SAU 15 operating budget, and, according to the Withdrawal Committee’s calculations, would contribute $521,064 to the operating budget for their new SAU, plus one-time capital costs, including relocating the SAU office to the Cawley School.

Auburn and Candia would see almost 50 percent increases in their contributions to the SAU operating budget and the current building’s rent.

The plan also outlines the payroll for a new SAU staff for Hooksett, which would may take away the services of Superintendent Phil Littlefield and Assistant Superintendent Gail Kushner, among others.

The plan showed a $105,00 salary in the new Hooksett SAU operating budget for a superintendent.

Littlefield currently makes $14,000 more than that.

Ouellette noted the high turnover rate of superintendents in the past decade.

“There would be nothing preventing any individual from applying to the new Hooksettonly SAU if they so desired,” she said.

“I think everyone agrees Phil is an outstanding superintendent. The question is how long can he continue at this pace?” Ouellette said.

Hobbs said she doesn’t think Hooksett looked into other options closely enough.

“I think the SAU staff works very hard,” she said. “I think they might be shortstaffed, but I think the solution is not to separate the staff.”

The withdrawal plan is available for viewing on the Hooksett School District’s Web site, http://www.hooksett.k12.nh.us

Record turnout for primary

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:03:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

High voter turnouts, particularly among young people and independents, characterized this year’s primary election as one of a possible culture change.

More than half of registered voters in Hooksett, Pembroke, Allenstown, Auburn, Candia and Epsom participated in the primary vote, with Hooksett hitting a high 68 percent turnout.

Overall, New Hampshire is one of the more independent states in the country. According to an ABC News exit poll, about 40 percent of registered New Hampshire voters who participated in the nation’s first primary on Tuesday, Jan. 8, were registered as undeclared or independent.

Republican winner John McCain, who took 37 percent of the Republican vote, was the favorite coming into the primary for his perceived ability to capture independent votes.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were in a dead heat for most of the night as results poured in, but Clinton pulled away overnight and came through with 39 percent of the Democratic vote to Obama’s 36 percent to take the win.

In Hooksett, where just three votes separated McCain and Romney on the Republican ballot, Clinton was a favorite with about a fifth of the total 5,337 votes cast for both parties.

Including write-ins and 25 blank ballots from voters who wrote in their choices and forgot to fill in the oval, 5,487 votes were cast, a 68 percent turnout.

Leslie Nepveu, Hooksett town clerk for the last 21 years, estimated more than 500 new voters registered at the polls. “For a primary election, it was definitely the highest turnout,” Nepveu said, but added checklist supervisors did not yet have an exact count.

The Associated Press set up shop at the polls at Cawley School with a live feed to a news program in Europe, Nepveu said.

About a third of Candia’s voters are registered as undeclared, 1,176 out of a total 3,228 names on the checklist. The total number includes 224 new voters, who accounted for one-tenth of the primary votes. About 65 percent of Candia’s registered voters showed up at the polls.

“I’ve been the town clerk for 24 years, and this was probably the best primary we’ve ever had,” said Town Clerk Christine Dupere.

Pembroke registered 45 new voters, bringing the checklist total to 5,505. According to Town Clerk James Goff, 3,025 votes were cast for a 55 percent turnout. New voters accounted for about 15 percent of the total votes. Democrats on the whole got about 40 more votes than Republicans in that town.

Pembroke election moderator Tom Petit, who has been working at the town’s polls since 1972 in various capacities, said he thinks the spike in voting numbers is a sign of the town’s growth.

“My first thought is our town, like a lot of other towns, is in a state of change,” he said, adding new people, particularly of a younger generation, have come to town in the past few years.

Before the election, said Allenstown Town Clerk Diane Demers, there were 2,554 registered Allenstown voters, 1,205 of those registered as undeclared.

By the close of the polls, 279 new voters had contributed to the 1,696 votes cast, making up about 17 percent of the total votes. The total turnout was 59 percent of registered voters.

“I think there’s a lot of things going on that’s sparking people’s interest,” Demers said, referring to the younger generation’s surge in political involvement and world issues.

Joanne Linxweiler, Auburn town clerk, said 2,541 votes were counted, amounting to a potentially record-breaking 66 percent turnout. Complete numbers for new voter registration were not available by press time, but Linxweiler said she was impressed with the amount of new voters who came out.

Epsom counted a total of 1,905 ballots. Of those, 227, or almost 12 percent, were from newly registered voters. Out of the total 3,261 registered voters, Epsom had a 58 percent turnout.

Blackwell said the inundation of political calls and mail in the weeks before the election could have spurred people to vote, as well as the outcomes in Iowa where Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee took their respective party’s victories in caucus.

Epsom was the only Banner town to vote mostly Republican, with 1,004 total Republican ballots to 901 Democratic ballots counted.

FEMA pays for flood study

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:15:00 GMT

By JENN McDOWELL

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is funding an independent study on the 2006 and 2007 flooding of New Hampshire rivers.

The Suncook River is one of the prime focus areas of the study, which will look into the differences between the two flooding episodes, possible reasons for the excessive flooding and ways to reduce flood impact in the future.

The first of three public forums on the study was held at the Department of Environmental Services in Concord on Dec. 12. The study looked at whether improvements can be made to dam operations, as well as how emergency response can cut down on future flooding impact.

FEMA’s interest in the study is to reduce the magnitude of their response, said Jim Gallagher, head of the state Dam Bureau.

FEMA has spent about $30 million on responding to the flooding throughout the state according to Albie Lewis, who was FEMA’s federal coordinating officer during the May 2007 flood.

The study, which costs about $330,000, is being conducted by international engineering firm URS Corporation, and will be overseen by independent experts in water resource management.

“They’re really taking a fresh look at this,” said Gallagher about the researchers involved, who are engineers being consulted by weather experts and emergency management personnel.

Lewis said Gov. John Lynch called him personally about finding a way to fund the study through FEMA.

According to Lewis, one of the study areas will be the amount of sediment along the riverbeds. When sediment builds up along a river’s bottom, it decreases the amount of space for the water to travel through between the banks.

This is particularly important for the Suncook River, where such a buildup of sediment in Epsom caused an avulsion, or a change in the river’s course of direction, during the May flooding. This may be one of the reasons for the worse flooding and the increased amount of flood damage in Epsom and towns downstream, such as Allenstown.

The two floods were not consistent with historical flooding statistics, particularly for the Suncook River.

“Over the years, without a heavy flow of water, sediment fills in channels of the river. When that happens, water overflows its banks,” Lewis said.

The rain totals for the May 2007 event were significantly less than those from the 2006 floods, prompting questions as to why the flooding would be so much worse the second time around.

Researchers looked at high-water marks of the 2007 floods and compared them to those of the 2006 floods, finding the more recent to be higher. This points to a possible increase in the amount of sediment along the river bottoms, Lewis said.

The study will also include an analysis of the dam operations along the various rivers included in the study. Researchers will look at flow analysis, average daily flow, the height of such dams at low and high water marks, and the general operations at the dams.

The Webster Dam on the Suncook in Pembroke is of particular interest to researchers said Gallagher. Interviews will be conducted at the Webster Dam and others around the state to determine what was done at the time of the flood and how problems were addressed.

Lewis added the study will include looking at wetlands that typically absorb excess water from the rivers in question. The less water in such wetlands the more there is in the river itself, he explained.

In March, researchers will hold another public meeting to present their interim findings before compiling a final report on the study, which should be completed in May.

2007 Top stories: Hooksett 'fired four,' more floods

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 19:26:00 GMT

By: Jenn McDowell

As 2007 comes to a close, we take a look back on the year.

One issue common to many towns in the Banner’s coverage area was the floods that came for a second time in two years.

Among our top stories of the year was the Hooksett Town Council’s decision to fire four town employees, which gained international coverage as the world debated whether it was fair to fire anyone over gossip in the workplace.

In Epsom, the historic meetinghouse was saved from the wrecking ball and the town reorganized its governance with new selectmen and a change in road agent rules.

Candia and Auburn wrestled with the need to solve school space issues.

And, just as families in southern New Hampshire began to recover from the 2006 Mother’s Day floods, another storm in April 2007 ravaged the region.

Communities, particularly along the Suncook River, saw devastation worse than the first time around. Many homes were left abandoned, roads washed away, and lives drenched and destroyed.

In Epsom, the Suncook River changed its course in 2006, bringing tons of sludge pushed in from the raging waters and redepositing it inside people’s homes, but 2007’s flood just made things worse.

Phone service and electricity outages were charted all over the area, along with washed out roads, many of which are still in disrepair.

In Auburn, a local woman had to be rescued from her convertible when she became trapped in the flood waters on Wilson’s Crossing Road, and the car began floating away in the strong currents. Fred McNeill, a Manchester town employee who was trying to pick up his son at Pinkerton Academy, noticed Colette Deusinger of Auburn in the front seat.

Paul Lynn, who owns nearby Turnpike Pizza, responded to McNeill’s cries for assistance and provided a screwdriver to rip through the soft roof of the car as Deusinger attempted to kick out her window.

Allenstown was once again submerged, due to many lowlying neighborhoods, particularly Riverside Park Drive right on the Suncook’s banks.

Marcia Abbott and Brian Gagne, who live in a small cottage they lovingly call “the gingerbread house” on Riverside were lucky enough to get some help with materials and labor from the Community Action Program, There’s No Place Like Home, Grace Capital Church and many volunteers.

The couple had just completely gutted and rebuilt their little home after the first flood, a luxury they were able to enjoy for just a few months before the April 2007 flood waters took over their neighborhood.

Studies on the flooding and how to prevent it from happening in the future have been in the works for months. The Department of Environmental Services held the first of three public information meetings on Dec. 12 in Concord regarding an independent study of the flood’s causes and the differences between the events in 2006 and 2007.

Letters to the editor of The Hooksett Banner, week of Dec. 20, 2007

Hooksett Editor — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 03:52:00 GMT

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

Lego League gets middle schoolers into robotics

Hooksett Editor — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:28:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

FIRST Lego League teams from Candia and Hooksett converged on Manchester Central High School on Saturday, Nov. 17, for a qualifying tournament in hopes of making it to the state championships.

Cawley Middle School in Hooksett sent their Hawk Bots, while Candia had two teams participating in the event. The Game Freaks came from the Moore School, and the all-female Technochicks team, who are sponsored by the GirlsConnect scholarship fund.

The 2007 robot challenge for FIRST Lego league was based on efficient energy resources and preservation.

Each team’s robot had to perform a variety of tasks on a field containing Lego models, including placing a solar panel on the roof of a house, installing a dam in a river, inserting wind turbines, “mining” for uranium and planting trees.

Additionally, each team had to build their own functioning wave turbine to bring to the competition.

Teams were judged on their robot’s performance as well as its design. There was also a team problem-solving component in which each team entered a room with judges and had to work together to solve an assigned problem.

The Technochicks took the Champion’s Award, which is the highest achievement in FLL competitions. The team who best exemplifies FIRST values of knowledge, motivation and teamwork, as well as obtaining good scores in the other more technical areas, receives this award.

The Robot Design Award, given to the team with the most inventive or efficient robot design, went to the Game Freaks. For this award, the judges interview the team members to figure out how they came up with their ideas for the robot.

Both the Technochicks and the Game Freaks will advance, along with several other winning teams, to the state FLL championship tournament at Nashua North High School on Saturday, Dec. 8.

The Central High FIRST Robotics Team (CHAOS) put on this event.

“We used to mentor teams and needed a place for them to compete so we started the Manchester Qualifying FLL Tournament,” said teacher David Kelso.

“This was our sixth year organizing this event. At the same time, the team has been helping run the UNH Durham FLL competition for four years.”