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At games, some adults cross the line of unacceptable behavior

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:45:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Sitting at a youth hockey conference, watching what was likely to be another boring prerecorded training video, Kermit Brunelle sighed.

On the screen, Don Lucia, coach of the national champion University of Minnesota ice hockey team, was giving a speech.

“A lot of people think I have the best job in hockey, and I tell them, ‘You know, I have the second- best job in hockey,’” said Lucia. “‘The best job is being the head coach at an orphanage – no parents to deal with.’” Brunelle chuckled.

The Bedford native has been coaching youth hockey in the greater-Manchester area the past decade.

For nine years, he woke before sunrise, brought his son or daughter to a frigid ice rink and taught half-awake children to skate, handle the puck and, most importantly, play hard and clean. Only this year did he shed the added pressure of coaching one of his own children.

He’s been able to handle the lack of sleep and multiple layers of clothing well enough.

In fact, the experience has generally been positive, even rewarding, but it’s parents who think their child deserves more playing time than another, or those who vocally second-guess a coach or official, that grate on his nerves.

That behavior, said Brunelle, does not reflect the true nature of youth sports.

In some cases, emotions run high; in extreme cases, people are hurt, even killed. Usually, it’s the child who suffers.

Pressure points
As a Little League coach in Goffstown, Bob Gurskis knows all too well the weight parents can put on coaches’ and players’ shoulders.

In a town where baseball roots grow deep, he feels like just another weed to be plucked from the infield dirt, even after leading the Goffstown 9- and 10- year-old tournament team to a District 1 title in 2007.

“Some parents are so demanding, I literally have to talk to them and say, ‘Hey, lighten up, you’re taking the (kid’s minds) out of the game,’” said Gurskis. He said he’s talked to several players so disenchanted they’re ready to quit the sport rather than continue into Babe Ruth. It’s no wonder, he said, that at least one study indicates only 9 percent of children play organized baseball after the age of 12.

Gurskis grew up playing in Nashua and competed in semipro ball. He relocated to Florida and coached Little League there before moving to Goffstown. The attitude toward junior baseball in Goffstown – as compared to everywhere else he’s lived – is astounding, he said. “This year, even more than ever, I think it’s kind of 50-50.

Half the families and half the people involved understand baseball is entertainment. It’s a game. Coaches teach you to work hard. Sports is a healthy thing,” he said. “The other half take the game so far to the opposite direction. Every play is life or death. Every pitch is the last out of the World Series.”

And Gurskis said that mentality has reached the softball diamond, the soccer field and the football gridiron, among other playing surfaces.

“Everyone gets emotional,” he said. “But it becomes personal. ‘Why is your son getting the starting assignment and not mine?’ or ‘Why is he playing four innings and mine is only playing three and two-thirds?’”

Gurskis has clashed with fellow board members and coaches who have exhibited such an attitude, both at games and behind closed doors.

He can deal with the shots fired at him. It’s the collateral damage that concerns him.

“The pressure comes down on the kids, and that’s not what you want,” he said. “They’re going to find pressure in life without us. We don’t need to put more on them.

“Let’s help them try to be successful and analyze and improve what they’ve done wrong rather than scream at them for swinging at a bad pitch.”

It’s not just the coaches and players who are targets.

Leon Kenison of Bow began officiating baseball in high school when he was forced to substitute for a group of absent umpires. Roughly 50 years later he’s still listening to parents, coaches and players question his rulings. Most of it is background noise.

“Because of my gray hair, I guess I don’t get as much grief as some of my younger colleagues, whether it be from parents, coaches or players … But it’s tough to say because I’ve really trained myself not to hear that stuff,” said Kenison. “I know the younger (umps) let it get to them a little. When I’m in the stands I prefer to be a silent spectator and only positively encourage those on the field, but if I’m umping and someone gets really bad, I’ll just turn to them and say, “Gosh, I could use some help.”

There is constant recruiting for umpires, added Kenison, who said he’d rather be officiating than coaching.

“The coaches get a lot more pressure from parents in terms of, ‘Why doesn’t my kid play more?’” he said. “Not only do they have logistic stuff, in terms of scheduling practices and finding fields, which is a nightmare, but they have to deal with the parents of a 12-year-old kid who is going to break into the Major Leagues next week.”

Kenison has umpired and/ or coached at every local level, from Little League to high school to American Legion and beyond, and he’s seen the sport and the attitudes evolve.

In the past, a disruptive parent would be reprimanded and usually calmed by peers. These days, it’s not necessarily a parent’s actions that create problems, said Kenison, it’s inaction. “A kid (is) throwing a hissy fit when they think they’ve been tagged out or something like that,” he said. “… I’m not saying parents should reprimand their kids right on the field, but I certainly don’t see folks getting involved (in discipline) like they did 20 or 30 years ago. I think it makes it harder on the coaches more than anyone.”

Brunelle can relate.

On the ice, he teaches children to play with respect for themselves, their foes and the game, minus the violence generally associated with hockey. He knows other coaches preach a similar approach.

Yet many pupils still exhibit selfish tendencies.

“It’s the trips home from the rink after games,” said Brunelle. “(Parents are) talking about the performance of their individual child, where on the bench we’re stressing team play.”

Every now and then he witnesses the effects of a parent coaching from a distance.

“A lot of parents, I think, try to live vicariously through their children,” he said. “But parents yelling from the stands in such a manner that a child can hear it, that child usually takes it as criticism and internalizes it as a negative experience for them.”

Indeed, such actions generally serve as a deterrent to participate, said Kate Hays, who practiced sports psychology in Concord for 25 years before moving her practice to Toronto in 1997.

“Ironically, a kid may lose interest in being involved in sports because of the huge amount of negative energy involved,” she said. “(The parent) is thinking they’re protecting their kid or standing up for their kid, but most kids actually find that type of intervention embarrassing and feel more pressure to perform.

“Essentially, what may ordinarily be a fun activity with friends begins to have a lot of emotional pieces that in turn create long-term implications.”

Jim Bail not only coaches and serves as a Little League board member in Windham, but he scouts players for the professional ranks.

At one particular American Legion game in 2007, Bail was asked by Concord coach Avril Cate to take a look at a couple players.

Bail obliged and, after the game, pulled one particular athlete aside and told him he’ll never have a chance at the next level if he continues to throw fits over an umpire’s calls.

“I see parents softening their kids up a little more than is good for them,” he said.

More than ever, he added, parents are turning their children into victims.

“(The players) aren’t taking enough ownership for their own issues,” he said. “They try to pout their way onto teams or try to pout their way into starting positions – with mom and dad in the background saying how unfair it is – instead of bucking up and doing it themselves.”

Even in youth football, said Dave Tremblay, a coach receives their share of parent-generated headaches.

Tremblay has coached football at the youth and high school level for roughly 10 years.

“Generally, I think you have two different types of parents,” said the current Pembroke Academy head coach. “You have the parents who expect their kids to be all-stars, and then you have the parents who kind of have the fear of the unknown, the ones who get nervous when their kids are practicing five days a week, and they’re getting used to the physicality of the sport.” The latter is easier to deal with, said Tremblay.

He remembered one incident when he coached the Hooksett Hurricanes.

A neighbor, whose child played under Tremblay, decided to confront him because of a perceived lack of playing time.

A mildly heated exchange ensued, recalls the coach, but he said he learned from the experience.

“First of all, the Pop Warner rules set forth and regulate playing time, but I’ve just learned to be really open with everyone and let them know up front how it’s going to be. I also spread the responsibility among my coaches, so it’s not just my decision, and parents can’t single out one person.”

Even if disagreements occur, Hays said these kinds of moments offer opportunities to positively resolve problems.

More importantly, she said it’s necessary to communicate with the child and identify and separate the aspirations of the young athlete from the parent.

Proof positive
One of Brunelle’s most memorable moments as coach involved a youngster from Minnesota who had transferred to New Hampshire and was moving back to the Midwest with his parents.

“I received an e-mail thanking me for my efforts as a coach, and more importantly it said the one thing the boy remembered is, at the end of the game when you shake hands, you’re supposed to take your glove off.”

That, said Brunelle, was indicative of parents who care, and there are many of them, he said.

In fact, all parties interviewed for this story acknowledged they’ve generally had positive experiences with youth sports, and they said there are some encouraging trends.

Leagues around the country are taking proactive approaches to eliminating inappropriate behavior.

Kenison noted that approximately 10 years ago the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association created a policy that mandates any coach or player ejected from a game must sit at least one additional contest. A second violation brings an immediate end to that individual’s season.

Several other organizations, said Kenison, including Babe Ruth, have adopted similar policies. “It’s sort of a motivational tool to make people behave, and from what I’ve seen, it’s made a heck of a difference,” he said. “People previously felt they could have their say anytime they wanted, and now we just say, ‘See ya.’ I think that’s had a very sobering effect on malcontents and makes the umpiring job much easier.”

Brunelle said USA Hockey and Granite State Youth Hockey have created a parents code of conduct and are enforcing zero-tolerance policies concerning a parent’s verbal or physical abuse of a player, coach, fellow parent or official.

If an individual breaks the code, he said, a 30-day suspension follows, and those punished must go before a board and request reinstatement.

“I think it’s needed just to make sure parents understand this is a game,” said Brunelle, “and winning and losing is not that important, as long as kids continue to develop as players and people.”

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.”

Properties added to State Register

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:12:00 GMT

The New Hampshire Department of Historical Resources announced that 12 properties have recently been added to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places, including three in Hooksett and one in Allenstown.

The New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places recognizes and honors properties that are meaningful in the history, architecture, archeology, engineering or traditions of New Hampshire’s residents and communities. It is one part of the state’s efforts to encourage public and private efforts to identify and protect historically significant properties throughout New Hampshire.

“These irreplaceable resources are the physical manifestation of our state’s history and identity,” said New Hampshire’s state historic preservation officer Elizabeth Muzzey. “They create New Hampshire’s distinct identity and serve as the backbone to the state’s heritage tourism economy.”

The most recent additions to the New Hampshire State Register are:

• Head Chapel and Cemetery, Hooksett. Originally an 1839 school, the Head Chapel was remodeled in 1922 to serve as a chapel for the cemetery, which has been in use since 1800. The chapel was a model school, being not only one of the most substantial schools in the area and representative of local brick manufacturing, but also remains one of the most intact one-room schoolhouses left in the region.

• Hooksett Village Bridge, Hooksett. Known locally as the “Lilac Bridge,” this 1909 structure is one of the state’s nine surviving metal truss bridges designed by engineer John William Storrs, the only bridge design specialist in the state in the early 20th century. The three-high-span truss bridges an important crossing of the Merrimack River, first bridged after 1804 by the proprietors of the Londonderry Turnpike.

Arah W. Prescott Library, Hooksett. Prominent citizen Arah W. Prescott donated the funds to build the town library in 1909, and designed the building himself. Completed in 1910, the building and the institution it houses have contributed significantly to the education of the citizens of Hooksett.

• Allenstown Public Library, Allenstown. Erected circa 1934- 35 by Works Progress Administration workers, this Colonial Revival structure is the only building in Allenstown constructed expressly as a library. The design by Harold, Homes, Owen, Inc. has well served the community for more than 70 years.

Anyone wishing to nominate a property to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places must research the history of the nominated property and document it fully on individual inventory forms from the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. Having a property listed in the Register does not impose restrictions on private property owners. For more information, visit http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr

New Hampshire’s Division of Historical Resources, the “State Historic Preservation Office,” was established in 1974 in order to preserve the historical, archaeological, architectural and cultural resources of New Hampshire that are among the state’s most important environmental assets. Historic preservation promotes the use, understanding and conservation of such resources for the education, inspiration, pleasure and enrichment of New Hampshire’s citizens. For more information, visit www.nh.gov/nhdr or call 271-3483.

New buildings planned for SNHU campus

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:46:00 GMT

BY GRETA CUYLER

Southern New Hampshire University is gearing up for a nearly $20 million construction project to include a new academic building, dining hall and parking lot on North River Road.

If approved by the town, the university plans to break ground this summer; construction will last 16 to 18 months, SNHU President Paul LeBlanc said. “I think this set of projects is a dramatic start to our second 75 years,” LeBlanc said. “These are dramatic, state-of-the-art buildings that reflect the latest in sustainability. I think they reflect a level of confidence and maturity in the institution.”

Both the dining hall and academic building will be “green,” using environmentally friendly features such as low-flow plumbing.

Money for the project -- three years in the making -- will come from the university’s cash reserves, plus up to $16 million in bonds. Sen. Judd Gregg, RN. H., helped procure $2 million in federal funds for the academic building.

It’s a far cry from the school’s humble beginnings in the late 1960s, when it was housed on the second floor above the Palace Fruit Company on Hanover Street in Manchester, LeBlanc said.

The $6 million, two-story academic building will have nearly 33,500 square feet, five classrooms and 24 offices for the School of Community Economic Development. There will be a state-of-the-art case study room and the latest in multimedia features. The building will include a large cafe for students to enjoy coffee, sandwiches and salads. Nearby there will be study rooms and booths.

“It’ll be more noisy than the library, but quieter than the dining hall,” LeBlanc said.

The school’s growth has led to a need for space. In the last seven years, enrollment has jumped nearly 30 percent. There are now approximately 1,900 full-time undergraduate students. Over the past two years, more than 100 full- and part-time faculty members have been hired.

SNHU owns 230 acres east of North River Road and recently built four new dorms -- adding 550 beds -- and a new academic building there. The latest building project continues that expansion, LeBlanc said.

“This is in accordance with our campus master plan to shift the center of gravity to that side of campus,” LeBlanc said.

The two-story, 47,700-squarefoot dining hall will seat 632 and will be located next to the academic building. It will cost $13 million to build the dining hall and install the necessary equipment. This will replace the school’s existing dining hall, which will be given a new use, not yet determined.

Also included in the construction project is a 150-space parking lot for nearby dorm residents with a price tag of approximately $350,000.

The plan is a scaled-back version of a previously proposed joint dining hall/student center, a school representative told the Hooksett Planning Board.

LeBlanc said next up is building a new student center on campus, one that would be nearby or attached to the dining hall. But he said that won’t happen for at least another five years.

Although the college is nearly at capacity for its undergraduate program, LeBlanc hopes to expand the school’s evening and online continuing education.

SNHU is also planning to spend $3.3 million on various deferred maintenance projects on campus, including new roofs, windows, siding and repairs to kitchens, bathrooms and dorms. Tuition will rise 7 percent next fall to $24,624, an amount that still leaves the college’s annual price tag below that of its peer schools, LeBlanc said.

US National Amputee Hockey includes Hooksett man

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:02:00 GMT

The United States National Amputee Hockey Team again has three New Hampshire residents on its roster, including returning team captain Dave Levesque of Hooksett.

Shane Warren and David Goodwin also wear the red, white and blue as they compete for the 2008 World Amputee Hockey Championships at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Mass.. Teams from Canada, Finland and Latvia also compete.

The trio joins the 2008 team after gaining international experience in Riga, Latvia, in 2006.

Team USA finished with a silver medal there, losing to Canada, 5- 2, in the gold-medal game.

Team USA opens tournament action on Wednesday, April 2, at 1 p.m. against Latvia. Team Finland is next up on Thursday, April 3, at 6:50 p.m. Team USA closes out the preliminary round against Team Canada on Friday, April 4, at 8:10 p.m.

The bronze-medal and goldmedal contests take place Sunday, April 6.

Hooksett to consider sewer plant expansion

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:52:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

Among the items Hooksett voters will discuss at Town Meeting on Saturday, April 5, are a $1.5 million bond for sewer plant upgrades, two new trucks for the Highway Department, raises for nonunionized town employees, additional staff for the Highway and Fire Departments, and starting up a public access TV station.

They will also weigh in on a proposed budget of $15,786,795, more than $400,000 higher than the default budget, which would project the tax rate at around $6.60 per $1,000 of assessed value. For a home assessed at $300,000, the proposed town budget alone would comprise $1,980 on the tax bill.

Sewer expansion According to Sewer Commissioner Sid Baines, the $14 million plant expansion needs the $1.5 million from voters to add to $6 million the plant has already raised to fund the second phase of the project, which would add a second clarifier and increase the plant’s capacity by 10 percent.

About half of the $6 million raised came from a state revolving loan fund and the other half through developers. Sewer rates increased in the past year to help pay back the loan, Baines said.

The $1.5 million was originally built into the plans for Cabela’s, which have been put on hold due to reduced profits. The bond would increase the tax rate by about 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. For a Hooksett home assessed at $300,000, that’s an increase of between $45 and $51 on the tax bill.

At the Budget Committee’s public hearing on the warrant, the idea of comitting 30 percent of the plant’s flow to commercial business to foster growth was discussed.

“I think it would be much more appealing and guarantee it to pass,” said Budget Committee member Gerald Kearney about including such a promise in the warrant article.

Town Administrator David Jodoin said the idea was discussed with town attorney Bart Mayer, who said that would only “murky up” the language. Baines agrees with that advice. “Anything more that you put in an article muddies it up when it goes to the bond bank,” he said.

Town Council Chairman Paul Loiselle said the town cannot continue to say “no” to prospective developers because there is no more sewer capacity. “I definitely am adamant about the voters getting behind this 100 percent,” he said.

More firefighters
While the Town Council and Budget Committee were in agreement on the majority of warrant items, they differed when it came to Article 24, which asks for $129,548 to fund two additional firefighter/EMT positions in the Fire Department.

While the Town Council voted 6-1 to recommend the article, the Budget Committee voted 2-6 against recommending it. Passing this article would reduce the operating budget by $99,672 in overtime, leaving the town with a net increase for the coming year of $29,876 should voters pass the article.

Assistant Fire Chief Dean Jore said the department has saved the town money by doing its own vehicle maintenance and repairs, and plowing out the town’s hydrants and cisterns. “I don’t think firefighters should be plowing cisterns,” said Budget Committee member John Pieroni.

The two additional employees would also bring the department closer to state standards for staffing levels, Jore said. Currently, at least one officer and two firefighter/EMTs staff both the Central Station at the Hooksett Safety Center and Station 1 by the Town Hall 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

More highway workers and trucks
The Highway Department is asking voters to approve a total of $324,294 to purchase two trucks and hire two more employees.

Passing Article 16 would grant the Highway Department permission to enter into a 5-year lease for $151,000 for a plowdump truck, and would further collect $30,205 from Hooksett taxpayers for the first year’s payment.

Article 17 seeks $55,000 for a one-time purchase of a backhoe for the Highway Department.

Unlike the Fire Department’s endeavors to get two more firefighters, the Highway Department’s request for $118,294 to hire two full-time truck drivers went to the warrant with recommendations from both the Town Council and Budget Committee.

Public access cable TV At the public hearing, the Budget Committee also heard from resident David Pearl on a petitioned warrant article to bring public access television to Hooksett.

The program would be paid for through franchise fees the town currently collects from Comcast customers, which is currently about three percent of the total bill.

Right now, the money collected from those fees goes into the town’s general fund, and it would more than cover the estimated start-up costs for the station.

The total amount needed for the first year could approach $100,000, which would pay for a typical set up for the station and fiber optic cables.

Hooksett Town Meeting takes place Saturday, April 5, at 1 p.m., at Cawley Middle School.

Arah Prescott Library on Historic Register

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:38:00 GMT

The Arah W. Prescott Library is the third Hooksett property to be added to the State Register of Historic Places.

It was recognized by the states Division of Historical Resources as an irreplaceable resource, meaningful to the history and traditions of New Hampshire residents and communities.

The history of the public library in Hooksett began in 1891, when the state passed a law designed to encourage towns that didn’t already have a public library to establish one. A Board of Library Commissioners was formed, and they were allowed to expend, upon application of any town having no free public library owned and controlled by the town, a sum not exceeding $100 for books to establish a free public library. In Hooksett that $100 was encouragement enough to bring the matter before the voters.

The March 1, 1893, town warrant, asked the town to elect a Board of Library Trustees and appropriate the money necessary to secure the gift of $100 worth of books from the state; the article passed. Three trustees were elected, and $25 was allocated in support of the library. In November of 1893, the books were received, and Hooksett’s first free public library opened in a corner of Town Hall. A local teacher, Jennie Abbott, was hired as librarian; she went on to serve until 1938.

By March of 1899, the librarian began pointing out the need for a library building and did so for the next several years.

The period from 1890 to 1915 was the golden age of philanthropy in New Hampshire’s library history. Of the 100 library buildings constructed in New Hampshire before 1930, only about 10 appear to have been erected wholly by community funds. Private initiative and generosity frequently made up for inadequate local revenues. Local citizens or summer visitors, grown wealthy through business enterprise or through careful frugality, often stepped forward to do what the local community could not do for itself.

In the spring of 1909, Arah W. Prescott made the town an offer – $3,000 to construct a separate library building. Prescott was the perfect benefactor – hard working, very involved in local civic affairs, a long-time supporter of the library and a man who knew the value of an education and a dollar. The town accepted his generous offer.

In the librarian’s report of the dedication on Feb. 3, 1910, she said: “Mr. Prescott has erected a beautiful building of brick, with slate roof. The inside finish is of quartered oak, with furniture to match. The book racks are of steel. Among the furnishings is an ornamental fireplace with brass fixtures. The building is lighted by electricity. The location is on a hill in one of the most charming spots in Hooksett village.”

As originally hoped, the library became a part of the social and educational life of the community.

Many thought of it as a supplement to the local schools. Educators opined that “mong the aids to an education is a public library where old and young, rich and poor, can get books to read and improve their minds.”

Others were interested in occupying their children and keeping them “from the evils with which they are surrounded.” Clearly the residents placed great value on the library; the Prescott building was a symbol of civic pride.

It served the town until 1973, when the library moved to the Duracrete building on Route 3.

In 1975, the voters allowed the newly formed Hooksett Historical Society use of the building to house and display various memorabilia of Hooksett interest, and it was renamed the Arah W. Prescott Historical Library. The Historical Society continues to occupy the building.

Kathie Northrup, chairman of the Hooksett Heritage Commission, completed the research and prepared the Inventory form/application.

“What a great little building this is. It’s very much like it was when built; so few changes have been made. The oak trim and wainscoting inside are beautiful, and the ornamental fireplace with oak mantelpiece and brass fixtures is still the centerpiece of the room,” Northrup said. “It’s quite a story of local philanthropy, education, and community.”

The Arah W. Prescott Library is now approaching 100 years of service to the town of Hooksett and its citizens, occupying a prominent location in the heart of the village near the Town Hall (ca. 1828) and other historic buildings.

Editor’s note: This article was submitted by Kathie Northrup of the Hooksett Historical Society.

Hooksett seeks $1.5M to upgrade sewer

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:29:00 GMT

BY GRETA CUYLER

Without $1.5 million from voters, commercial and industrial development, even some major residential subdivisions, will come to a halt, say Hooksett Sewer Department representatives.

All of the town’s sewer capacity is either being used or has been pre-sold to developers for upcoming projects, said Sewer Commissioner Sid Baines.

In May, voters will be asked to fund $1.5 million of a $14 million expansion project to double capacity to 2.2 million gallons – the first time in 38 years tax dollars will pay for plant upgrades, said Superintendent Bruce Kudrick.

“For what that $1.5 million will give them, there should not even be a question,” said Baines. “If the (voters) refuse us, we’ll close our doors.”

This is the third time the warrant article will appear on the ballot and needs a three-fifths majority to pass. If approved, it’s expected to add 15 cents to 17 cents to the tax rate, or $45 to $51 to the tax bill for a $300,000 home.

Planning Board Chairman *** Marshall said that without the sewer expansion, single-family homes using septic and well will drive the town’s growth, putting strain on town services, especially schools.

Commercial and industrial projects can help to offset the residential tax rate.

Already the Sewer Department has started turning down some proposed projects in town, including two over-55 housing developments and a self-storage facility, making it impossible for those developers to bring their proposals to the Planning Board.

The Sewer Department has raised more than $6 million for the expansion, which was once enough to complete the work, Baines said. But delays and statemandated changes have driven up costs.

The Sewer Commission has agreed to a number of statemandated changes, including rerouting a small stream by cutting down trees, re-sloping the area and replanting trees. That change alone increased the project’s cost from $10,000 to $250,000, Baines said.

Hooksett’s treatment plant has undergone five expansions since 1970, but the only time taxpayers contributed was in 1970, to the tune of $125,000, 5 percent of the project’s cost, said Kudrick. In the early 1980s, the Sewer Commission started charging users a system development fee, paid upfront per user. That money is used to upgrade the plant as necessary. But with no more capacity to sell, the Sewer Department is stuck.

Even the 428-unit Head’s Pond development has sewer capacity for only 130 units, said developer David Campbell. He bought that capacity three years ago and won’t need to buy any additional for at least four more years.

If taxpayers approve the warrant article in May, the Sewer Department can do enough upgrades to convince the state to expand capacity by 10 percent, and then they can sell capacity to fund the remaining upgrades.

There is a possibility that the Cabela’s developer will pay for the $1.5 million upgrades if all goes well with the planning process this spring. But the money wouldn’t come to the town until the store’s possible opening in early 2010 and then the taxpayers’ debt would be repaid, said developer Gene Beaudoin.

Hooksett settles with two of ‘fired four’

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:20:00 GMT

BY GRETA CUYLER

Hooksett has reached a financial settlement agreement with two of the four former employees fired last year for gossiping about their boss.

According to court documents, former administrative assistants Joanne Drewniak and Jessica Skorupski have ended the case they filed last summer in Merrimack County Superior Court, although the attorneys involved requested additional time to file documentation with the court.

In November, attorney B.J. Branch of Backus, Meyer and Branch confirmed all four former employees were scheduled to attend mediation in early 2008 to try and reach a financial settlement.

Court papers do not disclose the settlement amount. Drewniak and Skorupski didn’t return calls for comment, nor did Branch.

Town Council Chairman Paul Loiselle said the settlement will be paid through the town’s liability policy, administered by the Local Government Center. If LGC presented the Town Council with a settlement and the council rejected it, the taxpayers would have been on the hook for any resulting payments.

The town’s attorney, Debra Ford, did not return a call March 13. Skorupski, who now works as a dispatcher for the Goffstown Police Department, was recently named the department’s Employee of the Year.

Last April, at the same time Drewniak and Skorupski were fired, the Town Council also told Town Assessor Sandra Piper and Code Enforcement Officer Michelle Bonsteel to pack their bags. The four women had worked a combined nearly 50 years for the town.

The council later reversed its decision on Bonsteel. She returned to her job for about six months before resigning the first week of March.

Attorney Jon Meyer, who represents Piper and Bonsteel, wouldn’t confirm if his clients had participated in any type of mediation, but did say his clients are still proceeding with the suit they filed in U.S. District Court, claiming the firings violated the women’s constitutional rights and the town’s own charter.

Other court documents show the town prevailed in a related case that alleged the town council violated the state’s Right-to- Know law. That case, filed by Piper’s daughter, Michelle Gannon, claimed the council met illegally in nonpublic session when it turned down her initiative petition to rehire the employees. The court ruled it was a legal nonpublic session under RSA 91-A and that allegations of a phone poll were immaterial because the council returned the petition several days prior to the alleged phone poll.

Central shows true colors in loss to unbeaten state champions

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:16:00 GMT

BY JERRY LIPTAK

The question for fourth-seeded Central: how do we, after losing to this team by 16 points on our home court just a few weeks ago, stop unbeaten and top-seeded Salem?

The Little Green found an answer – incomplete, it turns out – in the Class L boys basketball semifinals. Still, they proved they could more than compete during a 46-42 loss to the Blue Devils on March 12 at the University of New Hampshire’s Lundholm Gymnasium.

In fact, the Green machine was humming along quite nicely as halftime approached. Will Bayliss scored all of the team’s seven first-quarter points, then led a secondquarter surge that created a 26-20 edge for Central at the break.

However, the team’s best chance to suffocate Salem expired even before the first-half clock did; ahead by 10 with less than 20 seconds remaining, Central allowed Mike Kimball, who poured in a game-high 23 points, and Kevin Sledge to hit buckets.

Kimball added the first five points of the third quarter, and suddenly the Little Green lead had virtually vanished. It was gone by the end of the third quarter, and despite the best efforts of senior Michael Stys, who nailed half of his eight threepoint attempts, Central never took the lead again.

“The toughest thing for me right now is to go and console (those) kids,” said Central’s head coach, Dave Wheeler, who devised a game plan revolving around Bayliss’ relentless defensive pressure on Josh Jones, Salem’s leading scorer.

After amassing 29 points in the teams’ last meeting, Jones scored just two, but those two were game-clinching points; the Blue Devils’ junior canned a pair of free throws with 10.2 second remaining, effectively putting the game out of Central’s reach.

Bayliss and Stys, as usual, keyed the Little Green, combining for more than 80 percent of the offense. Bayliss scored all 15 of his points before the break, while Stys netted 12 of his 20 points after halftime.

“(Stys) is asked to do more than probably any player in the league,” said Wheeler. “He leads us in scoring every game, has to guard the other team’s best big man, and he’s got to handle the rebounding.”

Though he loses the soongraduating Stys, Bayliss returns.

“(Bayliss) has one of those unique traits. People look in his eyes, and there’s a resolve there, a determination, that lifts up his teammates and his coaches,” said Wheeler. “It’s more than just basketball. He’s going to be a leader in whatever he chooses.”

Salem’s coach, E.J. Perry, said he was happy to be through with Bayliss until next winter.

“He was the best point guard I’ve seen this year,” said Perry.

Seamus O’Neill and Philip Hayden added four and three points, respectively, to round out Central’s scoring. Like Bayliss, they’ll return for the 2008-’09 season, as will Zachary Collins, Connor Spiro and Brett Parenteau, who gained valuable experience in the team’s three-game Class L postseason run.

In addition to Stys, the Little Green lose long-range shooter Matthew Shaughnessy, along with guard Robert Lucas and forward Matthew Paulson.

Central reaches semifinals again, draws familiar foe

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:06:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

With his fourth-seeded squad playing its best basketball of the season, Central boys basketball coach Doc Wheeler said a 16-point home loss to undefeated Salem two weeks earlier helped propel his young hoopsters into the Class L semifinals.

The Little Green have won five in a row since the embarrassing setback Feb. 22, earning a rematch with the defending state champs following a 41-32 thumping of No. 5 Londonderry in the Class L quarterfinals on Sunday, March 9.

“We’re playing our best basketball by far right now,” said Wheeler. “If you would have seen us play Alvirne in the (sixth) game of the season (a 59-38 Central loss), to be honest, we weren’t a very good team. But we’re blessed in that we’ve had a lot of younger kids mature, accept roles … and it’s going to take a heck of an effort to knock us out.”

Londonderry can attest to that. Central jumped to a 5-0 lead and never allowed the Lancers within three points. Behind 17 points from senior Michael Stys and another 12 from junior Will Bayliss, the Little Green turned a 20-7 first-half advantage into an easy win.

While the contest was never in doubt, even Wheeler had to admit that he couldn’t have expected 41 points to win a playoff game, though he noted his defense more than made up for the offensive shortcomings.

“Seven points at halftime, you think about that, they scored on three possessions,” he said. “I mean, we can’t play any better than that.”

Wheeler said his squad’s familiarity with the University of New Hampshire’s Lundholm Gymnasium paid dividends against Londonderry.

“I think it’s pretty significant. Our guys expect to be here, and they expected to win,” he said. The Little Green’s rematch against Salem, the one squad with as much recent experience in Durham, was set for Wednesday, March 12.

Wheeler said adjustments were made and his team was ready, adding that, aside from several late-game free throws, Salem star Josh Jones made one field goal in the second half of the previous meeting.

The winner of the semifinal match plays Saturday, March 15, for the state title. Tipoff is 3 p.m.

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.

Central knocks off Timberlane to reach semifinals

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

BY JERRY LIPTAK

Someone older and someone newer led Manchester Central to a familiar spot – the Class L girls basketball playoff semifinals.

The second-seeded Little Green used 16 first-half points from senior Alicia Doucet and all six team points in overtime from sophomore Christiana Bakolas to escape with a 51-48 win on Sunday, March 2, against seventh-seeded Timberlane at Southern New Hampshire University.

The victory moved CHS to the state semifinals for the second straight year. Doucet connected on three of four three-point attempts, including one that gave the locals a two-point edge heading into halftime. In the process, Doucet reached the 1,000-point plateau.

“She’s worked so hard, and she deserves it,” said her head coach, Mike Wenners. “She’s a remarkable competitor and will do whatever it takes to win.”

Bakolas, who shares starting backcourt duties with classmate Sam Walker of Hooksett, was held in check through three quarters, with three points on one three-pointer.

But she scored six points in the fourth quarter and six more in OT to finish with 15.

Still, it was another senior, Catherine O’Neill, who stopped a 7-0 Timberlane run and forced the extra session when she grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a putback with four seconds remaining in regulation.

“It helps to have a good senior group,” said Wenners.“All six of our seniors really help keep the team focused and in control.”

Bakolas’ half-dozen overtime markers were all earned at the charity stripe. And as Central prepared its last-second defense, the coaches urged the Little Green cagers watching from the bench to control themselves.

“It’s so emotional, especially an overtime game like this,” said Wenners, whose team was scheduled to face No. 3 seed Londonderry on Wednesday, March 5. “But the reality is, we’re in the quarterfinals.”

Londonderry is one of two teams to defeat 18-win Central in the regular season.

“But we played as individuals that time,” said Walker. “We play better as a team, and we have been (playing that way) for the past two weeks.”

Should the Little Green vanquish the Lancers in the semifinals, top-seeded Winnacunnet, which handed Central its other loss, or No. 4 Merrimack awaits in the finals, set for Friday, March 7, at SNHU. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

Bakolas, who shares starting backcourt duties with classmate Sam Walker of Hooksett, was held in check through three quarters, with three points on one three-pointer.

But she scored six points in the fourth quarter and six more in OT to finish with 15.

“It helps to have a good senior group,” said Wenners.“All six of our seniors really help keep the team focused and in control.”

Londonderry is one of two teams to defeat 18-win Central in the regular season.

“But we played as individuals that time,” said Walker. “We play better as a team, and we have been (playing that way) for the past two weeks.”

Host Central falls to Salem as Jones fuses visitors’ attack

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:35:00 GMT

BY JERRY LIPTAK

Central’s student body had a message for visiting Salem and, more specifically, its star junior forward, Josh Jones: “Napoleon Dynamite – Gimme your tots!” Jones, the Central faithful feel, bears a striking resemblance to the awkward high schooler of film fame.

But on Saturday, Feb. 23, Jones was anything but awkward – though he certainly added to his burgeoning fame – in the Blue Devils’ surprisingly simple 63-47 Class L boys basketball win over the host Little Green.

Jones scored Salem’s first eight points en route to 29 markers overall, drawing “Ooohs” from the Salem fans who trekked to see this battle between the 2006 Class L champs – 11- 3 Central – and the 2007 Class L champs – 16-0 Salem.

To be completely accurate, even the Little Green followers grudgingly uttered, “Whoa!” following more than one (very) longrange three-pointer from Jones.

Central’s coach, Dave Wheeler, was more to the point.

“Sometimes, you’ve got to tip your cap to a better team, a better player,” said Wheeler. “And (Jones) is a very good player.”

And Salem is clearly a very good team. The Blue Devils, 17-0 following the victory, are one win from a perfect regular season. Alvirne, 9-6 following a recent tailspin, stands in Salem’s way.

“People keep reminding us about the Patriots,” said the Blue Devils’ head coach, E.J. Perry. “But these guys stay focused.”

“These guys” certainly were focused at Central, outscoring the hosts, 8-3, 10-0 and 8-2, at the start of the first, second and third quarters, respectively. That forced the Little Green into a constant game of catchup, a daunting task against steady Salem.

Each time Central closed to eight, nine or 10 points in the second half, Salem answered with a basket or free throw, usually involving Jones, or the Little Green committed a turnover.

“We’ve got a home crowd that’s dying for us to make a play,” said Wheeler. “We just couldn’t do it.”

With three regular-season games remaining, Central, Wheeler added, must work on defensive communication, becoming more physical and overcoming adversity.

As an undersized team, the Little Green, playing man-to-man defense, have to shout out defensive switches. That didn’t happen against Salem, which scored countless buckets on backdoor cuts.

Seamus O’Neill, recently returned from a knee injury, should help Central compete near the basket, using his 6-foot-4, 240-pound frame as a low-post equalizer.

Most importantly, the team must learn to come back from deficits and overcome unfavorable game sequences, said Wheeler. He looks to Will Bayliss and Michael Stys to provide leadership and added the team’s postseason performance is directly related to theirs.

That suits Wheeler just fine. He called Bayliss “a born leader, a born worker” who simply tried to do too much against Salem. Stys, according to his coach, averaged nearly 30 points in the previous five games, of which four were victories.

Against the Blue Devils, Stys netted 19 points. Bayliss added 13. Central, 11-4 after the loss, dropped to fifth place in Class L, but the team closes the regular season against the current No. 4 seed, Londonderry, on Sunday, March 2.