Pembroke News : epsom

School aid scare

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:57:00 GMT

BY NICHOLAS BROWN

The SAU 53 superintendent said he and other school officials throughout the state are in the dark about reports that the governor’s proposed budget could greatly reduce state funding to school districts, including Pembroke, Allenstown and Epsom.

“Other than the news articles, we haven’t seen anything,” said SAU 53 Superintendent Tom Haley. “Nothing official is out there.”

A daily paper reported that the governor’s proposed budget calls to give all New Hampshire school districts a flat 5 percent increase in state adequacy funding. Most school districts have already firmed up their own proposed budgets, some of which call for dramatically higher amounts of revenue from the state, as projected in November by the state Board of Education.

Allenstown’s operating budget projects a 7.8 percent increase, while Pembroke’s budget shows an 18 percent increase. Epsom’s proposed budget predicts a 41 percent spike in state aid. The governor’s budget would mean that Allenstown could be short in state aid by $108,000, while Pembroke and Epsom could each be out more than $550,000.

If the school budgets in those towns pass, local property taxpayers would be left to make up the loss in revenue. But Haley, who said he hasn’t received any formal notification of the governor’s plan from the state Department of Education, the Department of Revenue Administration or the governor’s office, said he’s not sure what to make of the news.

“It’s something we don’t know an awful lot about,” said Haley. “We’re all a little bit in the dark right now.”

Haley said his impression is that in order for the governor’s reported plan to work, it would have to gain favor from the Legislature to override previous legislation that allowed school districts to count on projections from the state education department. He said it could potentially be months before school districts know exactly where they stand.

“It’s awfully hard to react to something we know so little about,” he said.

Ice sculpture - Second-year coach creates different atmosphere at rink

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 15:54:00 GMT

BY MATT STOUT

HENNIKER – There are those who talk of being different, and there are those who simply are. The Pembroke hockey team is proving itself the latter in this young season.

A year removed from a 4-14 mark and five removed from its first and last playoff appearance, the Spartans are after more than just goals and assists in Division III this season.

Armed with young talent, advanced systems and a defensive core that’s the base of it all, Pembroke coach Marc Noel is in search of a new culture and a postseason berth in his second season behind the bench.

A single win – a 7-3 victory over Monadnock on Dec. 13 – and one hard-fought loss – a 6-5 setback at John Stark on Friday, Dec. 15 – entering a game vs. Somerswoth on Wednesday, Dec. 20, don’t ultimately illustrate that. But it’s a start.

Last season, Pembroke walked away from Lee Clement Arena as 10-0 losers to Stark. On Friday, it erased deficits of 2-0, 3-2 and 5-4 before a Generals short-handed goal with 2:27 to play sank its hopes of an early season upset.

It was a “small victory,” Noel said, but perhaps a bigger sign of things to come.

“We have a different team this year,” said Noel, the coach at Goffstown before coming to Pembroke. “These guys traditionally have had losing seasons for a number of a years and part of me being here the last two years is trying to undo that. It’s not OK to lose. You want to play to win, and you want to play hard. And these guys played hard tonight.”

In changing the face of the program, Noel has kept an eye on the broad spectrum while fine-tuning the details. He’s introduced college-based systems into this team’s play, meaning Pembroke’s creating more movement around the net with the hopes of creating more offensive opportunities.

Oddly enough, Pembroke’s best offense starts with its defense, Noel said.

Led by senior defensemen Evan McGarry and Ryan D’Entrement, sophomore Doug Turnbull and freshman standout Jamison Syphers, the Spartans work from their own end out. Still, even without what Noel would classify as a pure scorer, they’re relying on a number of forwards to clean up “in the trenches.”

Senior captain Tyler Rumfelt has taken the lead so far, scoring four times against Monadnock and once more against Stark, but he’s not alone. Sophomore Jen Poulin scored twice on Friday, V.J. Ranfos scored once and linemate Jordan MacRae assisted on Rumfelt’s score.

Poulin’s linemates, Alex Ari and J.R. Jarnigan, are also expected to contribute, along with third-liners Corey Pinsonneault, Matt Sweeney and Adam Gray.

The goalies, sophomore Zachary Gagnon and senior Torin Barker, are currently splitting time in net, but Noel said he hopes one of the two asserts himself as the season continues.

The Spartans have a different dynamic this year, Noel said, and with officials tightening up on interference calls, PA is doing what it takes to stay out of the penalty box and in line for that coveted playoff spot.

“We used to be all nasty and very, very in the penalty box all the time, but now we’re out of that, pushing hard and playing strong, being physical,” Poulin said. “We always want to win, but you don’t go in thinking you’re just gonna (win).”

Giant pot bust - Pembroke home among 10 found to be part of area marijuana-growing operation

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 21:49:00 GMT

BY NICHOLAS BROWN

An upscale Pembroke home joined a growing list of area marijuana-growing locations taken out in operation “Green Thumb,” a collaborative effort between local, state and federal policing agencies .

The three-bedroom Pembroke home, on three-and-a-half acres at 542 Rebecca Way, was one of 10 homes zeroed-in on in the largest drug find in state history.

Homes filled with marijuana plants in nearby Epsom and Hooksett have already been targeted by police, and those operations have yielded two arrests. State police said the Hooksett and Epsom busts led to the identification of other homes that were doubling as marijuanagrowing houses.

As of press time, no one had been arrested in association with the Pembroke home, which police estimate contained 1,500 plants with an estimated street value at maturity of $6 million.

In late October, police arrested 34-year-old Toan Nguyen, who is accused of growing about 780 marijuana plants – worth up to $2.7 million – in a Hooksett home at 24 Evelyn St.

Police were first alerted to the operation after firefighters responded to an exterior electrical fire at the home, where power was allegedly being diverted.

Just weeks later, on Nov. 2, police entered a home at 35 Woodcote Drive, Epsom, while investigating another alleged rerouting of electrical power. There police found 1,396 young marijuana plants along with about $2,000 worth of growing supplies, according to state police.

Police later arrested 37-yearold Chamber Tran and charged him with felonious drug possession with intent to distribute. A U.S. District Court judge has ordered that Tran be detained until his trial, which is scheduled for Feb. 21.