Salem Observer : Salem, Pelham

SHS, PHS, WHS run in Manchester

Salem Editor — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:42:00 GMT

For the first time, Windham took part in the Manchester Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 26, and the girls team ran well thanks in large part to the 11th-place time of Kate Farrell.

Farrell completed the cross country race in 21 minutes, 7 seconds. Emma Boyd’s time of 22:12 was the second-fastest time for the Jaguars.

Rounding out the Windham top five were Olivia Goodale in 92nd, Alexis Clemons in 96th and Glori Foster in 112th.

Both of the Pelham teams finished in the middle of the pack during the event. The boys ended the day in 20th among 31 teams, and the girls were 10th out of 21.

Ethan Ely and Emily Spognardi posted the top times for the boys and girls, respectively, Ely coming in 87th in the small-school category at 18:50 and Spognardi grabbing seventh overall with a time of 20:55.

Salem’s day at the races included a 16th-place finish from its boys team and an eighth-place result from the girls.

Benn Dutton, Dan Schmidt, Eric Teuber, Eric Hutchins and Mitch Dutton were the top five boys for the Blue Devils, starting with Benn Dutton’s time of 17:41.

Crossing the finish line first for the Lady Blue Devils was Stephanie Cabral in seventh place overall, with Samantha Hutchins, Colleen Gill, Kerrin Foley and Amy DeNuzzio wrapping up the scoring on the day.

– Matt Schooley

Law raising dropout age to 18 means schools must find, return kids to class

Salem Editor — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:53:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

When school doors opened across the state this fall, an unexpected group of students was affected thanks to a new law that raised the minimum dropout age from 16 to 18.

Schools in New Hampshire were given the task of locating formerly legal dropouts, as students who had legally dropped out previously before turning 18 must now return to school.

Pelham and Salem were not greatly affected by the new law, which went into effect on July 1.

Pelham/Windham Superintendent of Schools Frank Bass said the issue isn’t about tracking down the students who had already left school, but stopping future students from doing the same.

“The new law is not really an issue for us,” said Bass. “The issue is being able to catch the student before their fall. We have to provide a safety net and find intervention strategies that will be helpful for them and their parents.”

Pelham High School, which had 693 students last school year, had a dropout rate of 2.3 percent in 2008-09, a total of 16 students. Though Salem High School had a higher number of dropouts than Pelham, the percentage was lower in 2008-09, with 44 students leaving school, a percentage of 1.9 percent. Superintendent of Schools Michael Delahanty said Salem officials had to send out letters to six students telling them of their obligation to return to school, and they have not had any trouble tracking those students down.

Before the law was even put into place, Salem had a variety of alternative programs for students struggling with standard classroom learning, something he believes directly led to the school’s low dropout rate.

“The options and alternatives we’ve offered for years have been beneficial to our students and students in other communities,” said Delahanty. “Many districts have patterned their programs after ours and adapted it for their own purposes. For our school district, our program works very well.”

The school offers an alternative diploma program, the GED option and an individual accountability plan for completing the high school work that must be approved by the superintendent, which can include online or evening classes.

One of the issues with the law that Delahanty sees is that in many cases students dropping out of school are involved in drugs and alcohol, and school is not always the solution for what they need.

Overall, however, the superintendent believes the law is in the best interest of the state’s students. Bass agrees, saying Pelham school officials embrace the change, and see it as another opportunity to help kids stay on track.

“We’re confident that we’ll be in great shape when the year is over,” said Bass. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we had zero dropouts at Pelham High School.”

Salem, Pelham athletes impress at MOC; many locals earn trip to Vermont

Salem Editor — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:21:00 GMT

BY JERRY LIPTAK

Salem and Pelham high schools bused a number of athletes to the Track and field Meet of Champions at the University of New Hampshire on Saturday, June 6. Many of those proved themselves among the state’s best and, by finishing among the top six in their events, travel to New Englands on Saturday, June 13, at Burlington High School in Burlington, Vt. Mike Marshall was a double winner for the Blue Devils, easily winning the 110-meter hurdles in 14.85 seconds. The senior also won the long jump with a leap of 21 feet, 4 inches. In addition, he placed fifth in the high jump. Amy Desrosiers, an SHS sophomore, followed up her solid Class L performance by winning the discus throw at the MOC with a toss of 122- 2. Her classmate, Melissa Higgins, took fifth in the 200- meter dash, and the underclassman was third in the 400.

In the Salem senior’s last competition in New Hampshire, Robyn Ciriello placed second in the shot put and fourth in the discus, so she’ll head to Vermont for regionals as well.

Salem freshman Jerickson Fedrick raced to second place in the 100-meter dash. His sophomore teammate, Max Jacques, took fourth place.

The 4x100-meter relay team, without a senior among the group, took third place, while the 4x800 group placed sixth.

Salem junior Erica Begin moved on to New Englands by taking sixth in the javelin. Pelham’s Cameron Robidoux, a junior, finished fourth in the 200.

Salem’s Jacques also competed in the triple jump at the MOC.

Pelham sophomore Kelsi Lynde was 12th in the 300- meter hurdles.

SHS freshman Victoria Rozumek tied for eighth in the high jump.

Police applicants on the increase in Pelham and Salem

Salem Editor — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:16:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Even before the recession was in full swing, Lt. Brian McCarthy had seen a change in the attitudes of civilians and certified police officers alike looking for open positions within the Pelham Police Department.

With one officer overseas in the military, McCarthy began to look for a temporary replacement, and though there was no guarantee the individual hired would have a job when the officer returned, it wasn’t long before he found a taker.

“It’s ‘take any work you can get.’ He told me, ‘I don’t care, it’s work and I’ll take it,’” McCarthy said. “Thankfully, we were able to keep him. and this is before the sky fell.”

Now the department has been inundated with applications from both certified police officers and civilians looking for work. This time last year, McCarthy said he had received two resumes. He has already received 25 so far this year with three coming in over the last week alone.

“Anytime that the economy starts to tank, people flock to government jobs, in my opinion. This recession is a perfect example of that. People are getting laid off from the private sector left and right, from computer companies to retail stores,” McCarthy said. “The only people so far that have not had to deal with any layoffs are the police.”

There has not been an increase in the number of resumes and applications flowing into the Police Department in nearby Salem, but officials said that was likely due to the department not having gone through a hiring process since the economic crisis began. During downturns and recessions in the past, Salem police Capt. Shawn Patten said the number of individuals applying for open positions rose to anywhere between 300 and 500. During a year when the economy was doing well, that number would be around 50, he said.

Officials may have a chance see first hand how much interest in law enforcement employment has grown in the near future as selectmen plan to discuss applying for the COPS Hiring Recovery Program this week as a way to possibly bring three new officers to the department. As part of the economic stimulus package, the program subsidizes the first three years of the new officers’ salaries and benefits with the department agreeing to keep those individuals on staff for a full year after the funding ends.

If the town is approved, it would mark the first growth in the department since 1990, according to Chief Paul Donovan.

With one vacancy to be filled in his department, McCarthy has already begun interviewing applicants. One benefit of the increased interest in the position is the amount of certified police officers sending in resumes. While it costs roughly $27,000 and takes about a year to train a civilian, experienced officers can be patrolling in 12 weeks or less.

Still, the number of civilians putting in applications outweighs trained officers, according to Mc- Carthy. Given the economy, he said it wasn’t a surprise to him.

“We’ve seen a significant increase in the last 10 months,” McCarthy said. “We just got a vacancy that I’ve already got people in for interviews this (week)”

Salem’s deep gymnastics team takes another state title by big margin

Salem Editor — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:14:00 GMT

BY JERRY LIPTAK

The Salem girls gymnastics team followed Pinkerton throughout the state gymnastics championship meet at Salem High on Saturday, Feb. 21. Yet ultimately, each New Hampshire team found itself in a familiar place – following the Blue Devils in search of the state title.

The hosts won their third straight crown and eighth overall with 136.2 points, and they did it handily, defeating Pinkerton, the No. 2 seed entering the meet, by nearly four points. The Astros’ total of 132.625 was precisely two points better than Central.

Pelham, which placed 12th as a team, received a fine performance from senior Chelsea I’Anson, who was seventh in the all-around among individuals and won the beam (please see the story on Page B-2).

SHS head coach Ginnie La- Vallo said the Blue Devils generally perform well on beam and dominate the floor exercise, but they struggle at times on vault and uneven bars.

Salem, paired with Pinkerton throughout the afternoon session, began its title quest on vault, then moved to bars. If the Blue Devils stumbled on either or both, the Astros and Little Green were waiting to pounce. They’re still waiting.

“The vault has always been our downfall,” said LaVallo. “But they sure came through today.”

Salem won the vault with four top-20 efforts. Junior Shireen Kirata posted a 9.025 to take fourth, and senior captain Leeann Vadala was sixth. Those two competed in the all-around for SHS and joined with senior captain Jessica Maffeo, back from mononucleosis, and freshman Jamie Maffeo to tally 34.725 points in the event.

Vadala, sporting two knee braces to stabilize her from further injury, then posted the day’s highest score, earning a 9.4 on uneven bars. Jamie Maffeo finished sixth, Kirata tied for seventh, and sophomore Geena Terino also scored as Salem won bars as well. The rout was on.

“We’re certainly going to enjoy this one because who knows what happens next year,” said LaVallo, who added that the team’s depth ensured this season’s crowning achievement.

The program loses Jessica Maffeo and Vadala, who finished second to Spaulding’s Kaitlyn O’Brien for the individual all-around title, to graduation. In addition, Windham’s high school welcomes Jamie Maffeo and fellow freshmen Christy Theriault and Giana Contrada; all contributed in Salem’s pursuit of the championship, with Theriault’s ninth-place tie on floor and 12th-place tie on beam adding to the SHS score.

Vadala was sixth on beam, and Contrada and Kirata, a strong eighth in the state among all-around competitors, pumped up the team score. Jessica Maffeo and Taylor Buatti, a junior, competed on beam as well.

Buatti joined Vadala and the young Theriault among top- 10 finishers on floor, and Jamie Maffeo, 11th, also scored. Juniors Kirata, Jess Theriault and Buatti are eligible to return for Salem, as is Terino. LaVallo, though, said her two seniors, Jessica Maffeo and Vadala, are difficult to replace.

“They have been great leaders, even role models,” said the coach. “They do their own work and find time to help others. They’re exactly what you want in a captain.”

Meet notes
Spaulding’s O’Brien also scored a 9.4 on floor to match Vadala’s tally on bars. Salem was within one-half point of sweeping each team event, taking second on beam to Pinkerton before closing the tourney with the usual strong performance on floor.

Mass. gas tax hike may benefit N.H. businesses

Salem Editor — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:46:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

A 19-cent jump in the Massachusetts gas tax has local gas station owners hoping to see a rise in customers from across the border, though the talk of taxes has left motorists steaming at the pumps.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick unveiled the increase to the state’s gas tax on Jan. 20 as part of a plan to raise $500 million a year to offset the cost of repairing the Commonwealth’s deteriorating roads, bridges and tunnels.

Reaching a total of 42.5 cents per gallon, the increase would leave Massachusetts surpassing New York and California with the highest gas tax in the nation. By comparison, the gasoline tax in New Hampshire is 18 cents per gallon, with another 1.6 cents set aside in environmental fees. Motorists already pay a 18.4 cent federal tax on each gallon of gasoline purchased.

“If you keep on taxing people, they are not going to buy it,” said Jim Massahos, owner of Salem’s R and J Getty. “People from Massachusetts will start coming over here. If someone gets 20 gallons, that’s like eight to 10 bucks a week. That’s a lot of money, especially now.”

Massahos, who has been operating the Main Street gas station since 1972, said the tax hike was good news for border communities like Salem with Massachusetts residents considering crossing the border for gas as one way to save money.

Frank Laratonda, manager of the Route 28 One Stop Retail Shoppe, said he had already seen a roughly 7 percent increase in the amount of customers from Massachusetts filling up at his pumps, a figure he expects to rise with the Commonwealth’s gas tax.

“I believe that it will help our sales, at least on the border stores. People are coming up here right now for other items, why not come up for gas, too?” he said. “This should definitely be a benefit for us.”

While many New Hampshire motorists view the increase as making the state a more attractive location for out of state consumers – like Derry resident Mike Stankus, who called the move “great news” for the economies of border communities – the plan has left a sour taste in the mouths of Massachusetts motorists.

Topping off his gas tank at Salem’s North Broadway St. Hess station, Richard Bartholdson, a native of Massachusetts’ South Shore, said the tax increased disgusted him.

“Where does it end?” he asked. “Between that and the cost of food, the lack of jobs and then the little guy gets to pay more for gas. Do you have to lose your home before you get relief?”

Massachusetts is not alone in eyeing increased taxes at the pump as a way to fill in budget deficits. Legislators in New Hampshire, for the first time since 1992, are considering a 15 cent increase on the gas tax as a way to fund the upkeep of the state’s transportation infrastructure.

Casting a critical eye on the move, Massahos predicted the potential increase would backfire, inspiring motorists to stay off the roads and dampening business for gas station owners. If the state wanted to lend residents a helping hand during the recession, they ought to cut taxes rather than raise them, he said.

“These people have already adjusted to where they’re learning not to use two cars anymore because of the price of fuel. All that it is going to do is keep people from driving,” Massahos said. “If they were smart they wouldn’t raise the tax and everyone will come over here. It’s a no-brainer.”

Salem boys take third at state meet; all Salem, Pelham teams score

Salem Editor — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:01:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Mike Marshall led Salem High School to a third-place finish at the Class L state meet, while Pelham took part in the Class I-M-S competition as well.

On Sunday, Feb. 8, at Hanover’s Dartmouth College, the Blue Devils boys team scored 46 points, just two behind secondplace Londonderry. No team approached Nashua South, which won the title with 57 points.

Marshall won two individual races, grabbed a second-place finish and teamed with Ross Davies, Max Jacques and Jerickson Fedrick to win the 4x200 relay, having a hand in 38 of the team’s points.

“After the two-hour ride up, Mike went all over the place for the rest of the afternoon,” said head coach Todd Seastedt. “He was a busy boy.”

In addition to the relay, Marshall won the long jump and 55- meter hurdles and took second in the high jump.

“You have to be happy with the performance,” said Seastedt. “I spent the whole bus ride trying to find a few more points. Maybe you could look at another few points from (Marshall), but it’s nearly impossible to expect three gold medals from a kid. All of the kids performed well, and we couldn’t have gotten much stronger performances.”

The Salem girls finished 10th out of 13 teams, scoring 18 points on the afternoon.

Robyn Ciriello, Melissa Higgins and Stephanie Cabral all earned top-six finishes for Salem. Ciriello contributed 10 points in the shotput with a winning toss 35 feet, 7.5 inches, Higgins added six points, finishing third in the 300-meter dash at 41.39 seconds, and Cabral took fifth – and two points – in the 1,000-meter dash with a time of 3:10.38.

Pelham
The Pelham boys finished in the middle of the pack during the Class I-M-S event, ending the competition in 11th among 21 teams with 10 points.

Todd Paquin led the boys with a third-place long jump finish and a fourth-place effort in the 55-meter dash. He was also eighth in the 55-meter hurdles, during which he took a hard spill.

“He got a little ahead of himself, over-rotated, and that caused him to stumble. He had no choice but to get right back up and immediately run in the 55-meter dash finals,” said Jen Jaquith, one of Pelham’s coaches. “You would never know that Todd had fallen less than five minutes earlier when he ran his 55-meter dash.”

Cameron Robidoux battled an ankle injury he suffered the prior weekend at UNH, taking eighth in the 55- and 300-meter dash. Kelsi Lynde was sixth in the 55-meter hurdles and also ran on the sixth-place 4x400 relay team with Emily Long, Melody Long and Emily Spognardi, who placed sixth in the 1,500-meter race.

Home meet goes swimmingly for Rockingham Area Youth Swim team

Salem Editor — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:08:00 GMT

The Rockingham Area Youth Swim (RAYS) team’s second home meet of the season was a decisive victory against the Peterborough Wave Swim Club.

The meet, which took place Dec. 7 at the Workout Club and Wellness Center in Salem, ended with a 308-61 win for the girls and a 270-49 margin for the boys.

Among 8-and-under girls swimmers, Gillian Connors took first in the 25-yard freestyle and butterfly, and second in the 25 backstroke. Halle Hamilton won the 25 back and placed second in the 25 free.

Ally Gillespie won the 100-yard individual medley (IM), while Emily Martsolf took top honors in the 25-yard breaststroke and second place in the 25 fly. Madison Martin was second in the 25 breaststroke.

For the 8-and-under boys, Donovan Hopkins won the 25- and 50-yard free, and the 25 back. Max DesRosiers won the 25 fly and took second in the 25 and 50 free. Liam DesRosiers placed second in the 25 back.

In the 9- and 10-year-old girls division, Mackenzie Donovan swept the 50 free, 100 IM and 50 back. Sarah Rodgers was second in the 50 and 100 free, as was Sarah Muller in the 50 back. Alexis Sawyer won the 50 fly and 100 free. Michaela Smith placed second in the 50 breaststroke.

Among 9- and 10-year-old boys, Connor Hopkins took the top spot in the 50 free, 100 free and 50 breaststroke. Raimond Chevalier took second in the 50 free and back. Eli Runge won the 50 fly and placed second in the 100 IM. David Hume was second in the 50 breaststroke and third in the 100 IM. Samuel Lynn won the 50 back and took second in the 100 free.

Brianna Nowicki placed first in the 200 free and second in the 50 fly and breaststroke in the 11- and 12-year-old girls division. Lauren Courtemanche won the 50 free, and Anna Matsco took second in the race.

Meghan O’Connor won the 200 IM and was second in the 100 free. Emily Matsco won the 100 free and took second in the 200 IM. Julia Enos won the 50 fly and breaststroke.

Brandon Perron paced the 11- and 12-year-old boys by winning the 50 and 100 freestyle races.

Andrew Dalencourt took second in the 50 free and fly. David Holzberger won the 50 back and placed second in the 50 breaststroke. Justin Missert was second in the 50 back. Richard Hume topped all competitors in the 50 fly and placed second in the 100 free, while Christopher Gallo won the 50 breaststroke.

Jessica Martin took first in three races among 13- and 14- year-old female competitors – the 200 free, 100 free and 100 breaststroke. Allison McCarthy was second in the 200 and 500 free races. Julia Bushell won the 50 and 500 free races and took second in the 100 free. Alyssa Boccia won the 200 IM and took second in the 50 free. Shelby McKenney won the 100 back and took second in the 100 fly. Tori Claverie placed third in the 100 back, and Cassie Clark was third in the 100 fly. Tricia Caiati was second in the 100 breaststroke.

In 13- and 14-year-old boys competition, Ethan Doherty was first in the 200 free. Nicholas Bergeron placed first in the 50 free, 100 back and 100 free. John Rodgers took second in the 50 free and 100 breaststroke.

Alex Flinn topped everyone in the 200 IM and 500 free and was second in the 100 back. Alex Holzberger took second in the 200 IM, 100 free and 500 free. Kelley Hayes was third in the 100 breaststroke.

The 15-and-over girls group included Hannah Fairbanks, first in the 200 free and 100 fly, and second in the 500 free; Haley Bowen, second in the 200 free and first in the 100 breaststroke; Jane Tighe, tops in the 50 free, 200 IM and 100 free; Mandy Avella, second in the 50 free and 100 breaststroke and first in the 100 back; and Angela Bleeker, second in the 200 IM, third in the 100 free, and first in the 500 free.

For the 15-and-over boys, Mark Bacigalupo won the 100 fly and placed second in both the 200 free and 100 back. Nathan Thompson was first in the 500 free and finished third in the 200 and 100 free. Colton Skavicus topped everyone in the 50 free and 100 breaststroke, while placing second in the 100 fly. Erik Luebbers was second in the 50 and 100 free. Chalmer Swanson IV was second in the 100 breaststroke.

Lawrence cop, from Salem, faces rape, kidnapping charges

Salem Editor — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:23:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

Pelham police arrested a Lawrence, Mass., police officer on Tuesday, Sept. 30, after Salem police asked for assistance on a well-being check for him.

The Lawrence officer, who lives in Salem, is facing serious charges related to a possible rape that allegedly took place on Friday, Sept. 26.

Kevin Sledge, 46, of Salem, is facing criminal charges out of Lawrence of rape, kidnapping and indecent assault and battery, according to Pelham police, and was considered a fugitive from justice at the time of his arrest.

Sledge allegedly left his post during a shift at the Lawrence Police Department at around 1:45 a.m., picked a woman up off the street and put her into his 2002 Jaguar. The charges stem from that incident, but few details have been released.

Capt. Shawn Patten of the Salem Police Department said a call came in on Tuesday, Sept. 30, asking for a well-being check on Sledge.

“We went to the address to conduct a check and he was not there, but we came to find out that he had left in his vehicle,” said Patten.

Salem police put out a bulletin on Sledge’s car, and a citizen responded and gave a description of the vehicle, saying it was at the Pentecostal Church on Bridge Street in Pelham.

Pelham police Lt. Gary Fisher said police caught up with Sledge at around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30, as he attempted to leave the church, pulling him over on Bridge Street in the area of Hobbs Road.

Sledge has been in trouble with the law before, said Patten. Salem police arrested Sledge in 2005 after being accused of assault and battery by his girlfriend, whom Sledge claimed had assaulted him. For that, Sledge was placed on modified duty.

Deputy Chief Michael Driscoll of the Lawrence Police Department said Sledge has been in trouble several times during his 15-year tenure with the Lawrence police.

“He has had some issues in the past,” said Driscoll. Sledge was charged with rape in 1999, but was acquitted in court. He was on administrative leave during the court proceedings. Sledge pleaded guilty to tampering charges in 2004 in Concord District Court, and was on administrative leave for a while.

The city of Lawrence informed Sledge on Monday, Sept. 29, that he will no longer have a job with the department, Driscoll said.

“Yesterday, he was served with notice of intent to terminate by the city of Lawrence,” said Driscoll.

As of Tuesday, Sept. 30, Sledge was being held as a fugitive at the Pelham Police Department. His arraignment, where he would decide whether to be extradited back to Lawrence, was scheduled for 2 p.m. that day.

Elsie retires from Salem Observer

Salem Editor — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:42:00 GMT

BY CHRISTINE HEISER

Elsie Talanian, longtime Salem Observer employee and town icon, is retiring.

One of the most familiar faces in town, Elsie, 88, cites health reasons for stepping down from her position, which she’s held for 42 years.

She’s known to readers for her column, “A Chat With Elsie,” a folksy collection of local announcements and wisdom, one of the most popular items in the paper. She’s also well known throughout the Salem community and surrounding towns as a successful advertising saleswoman.

She was inducted into the New England Press Association Hall of Fame in 2007 for her editorial and advertising contributions to the paper.

Elsie remembers her start at the Observer in 1966.

“I was staying at the Rockingham Hotel in the Depot, after just moving to New Hampshire from Connecticut,” she said. “I was in the little store across the street and saw an ad looking for a newspaper person. I went to see Robert Phinney, the publisher, and he hired me on the spot.”

She already had experience as a socials writer in Connecticut. While working there, she met and interviewed then-Gov. Abraham Ribicoff, Lady Bird Johnson, Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Margaret Truman. She also had breakfast with First Lady Pat Nixon.

At the Observer, she started writing about clubs and organizations, making $95 a week. The paper was run in a room in the hotel back then, she said. Occasionally, her stories wouldn’t run. When she confronted Phinney about it, he told her there weren’t enough ads to support the number of pages it would take to run everything.

In typical Elsie fashion, she took matters into her own hands. She asked Phinney to show her how to sell ads, then she hit the streets. The rest is Observer history.

Elsie has witnessed many events in that history.

“I remember one time when the horses got loose at Rockingham Park,” she said. “Lenny Wefers, the Tribune reporter, was in the Masonic Hall writing up the story. Meanwhile I was in Peever’s, the corner drug store, on the phone telling the story to the Associated Press. I thought that was pretty funny.”

Peever’s was on the corner where Salem Co-op Bank is now. She said it was the best place to hear the news.

“I’d sit in there, having a hot chocolate in the winter, or a Coke if it was summer, pretending to look over my notes,” she said. “That’s when you heard all the town gossip.”

Elsie was with the paper through several changes in management. Phinney sold the paper to Richard Noyes, who sold it to Arthur Mueller Jr., who sold it to the Union Leader.

Joe McQuaid, Union Leader publisher, knows things will be different at the Observer from now on.

“No one is irreplaceable, they say. But ‘they’ never met Elsie Talanian,” McQuaid said. “All of us associated with The Salem Observer and Neighborhood News know that the paper and the office won’t be the same without her.

“When we took over the Observer, Elsie took over all of us. You didn’t try to stop her, you just tried to keep up with her. She remains dear to her newspaper family as well as the community.”

In 2005, the paper was added to the four other weekly papers published by Neighborhood News Inc., an independent subsidiary of the Union Leader Corp. Elsie rolled with the changes, continuing her successful sales career and writing about and taking photos of town happenings.

Like a family

But it hasn’t been all business to Elsie. To her, her friends and coworkers were like family. Gail Stratos, lead designer and assistant production manager at Neighborhood, has worked with Elsie since 1982, when Stratos joined the Observer while still in college.

“Elsie’s been with me my whole adult life,” said Stratos.

She recalls when she and her husband, Danny, who also worked as a graphic designer at the Observer at the time, were getting married. Elsie booked them a room for their wedding night at the Hilton in Boston and made sure the room was stocked with champagne, fruit and cheese.

“It was so nice of her to do that for us,” Stratos said. “And she took care of the staff like we were her kids. She’d bring in Chinese food and pizza, making sure we were all fed. I love her to pieces, and I’ll miss her so much.”

Sales manager Dixie Goodell was always amazed by her energy and work ethic.

“It’s been my privilege to work with Elsie since I joined the company five years ago,” she said. “She is a true professional with a tenacity for getting the facts correct, meeting deadlines, and treating everyone she meets with dignity and respect. All of us at Neighborhood News understand her need to focus on her own health at this time, but are sad to lose her from our daily lives.”

Elsie has many happy memories of working with people in town. She thanks those who gave her news tips through the years, and also thanks her advertisers, who were always good to her, she said.

Many times business owners would tell her to just put them on the page if the cost wasn’t too high, if she were doing a sponsorship page for the Cub Scouts or a blood drive, and not bother to call them.

“I never took advantage of any of my people,” she said. “They trusted me.”

She’ll miss her friends and advertisers, she said. The feeling is mutual.

“She’s been knocking on my door for 23 years,” said Emmett Horgan, owner of Rockingham Toyota in Salem. “She’s an incredible lady, the most well-known person in Salem. I have the utmost respect for her."

Horgan says he uses her as an example for his own staff.

“I wish my sales team had her energy,” he said. “Retirement is just not in her DNA, but I wish her the best.”

Betsy Harris, from the Harris’ Pelham Inn, said words failed her at the thought of Elsie retiring.

“She’s a great friend, like a surrogate mom,” she said. “She’ll be sorely missed.”

Elsie is heartbroken about leaving the Observer, she said. She talked of all the people who have been named in her column.

“I’d put the birth of a child in there, then years later, I’d post the marriage of that child,” she said.

Her retirement plans are first to follow doctors orders, “this time,” she said, and recuperate fully from recent surgery on a bleeding ulcer. Then she’ll take it from there. She’ll have time to spend with her friends playing Bingo at Rockingham Park, for sure.

Of course, the steady stream of visitors to her room at Salemhaven, where she is at present, attests to a woman who plans to spend retirement with the people who mean most to her: the friends and neighbors she’s met through her years at The Salem Observer.

Symptoms, treatment and prevention for bug-born illnesses

Salem Editor — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:15:00 GMT

EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS

Although Eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE, has not been detected in samples taken from around New England this year, officials urge that care be taken to avoid contracting this viral disease, considered to be one of the most deadly mosquito-borne diseases in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site.

Symptoms in humans tend to take three to 10 days to develop after a bite from an infected mosquito. Many people who contract EEE have no apparent illness. In those who do get sick, symptoms range from mild flu-like illness to inflamation of the brain, coma and death. The mortality rate in those who become ill is about one-third.

People older than 50 and younger than 15 seem to be most susceptible, and also those who work or play in areas where the disease is present, mainly in freshwater hardwood swamps in the Atlantic Coast and Gulf states, and also in the Great Lakes region.

The number of cases is small, mainly because people don’t live close to swampy areas where the mosquitoes live. About 220 cases have been cited in the United States between 1964 and 2004.

There is no human vaccine for the virus, but people can take precautions, such as using an EPA-registered repellent, wearing protective clothing, avoiding outdoor activity when mosquitoes are active – some carriers are aggressive day-biters, according to CDC – and removing standing water where mosquitoes can breed.

Although there is no specific treatment for EEE, medical care can include nursing care, physical therapy and prevention of secondary infections.

About half of those who survive the EEE will have mild to severe neurological damage. – Information from the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov.

LYME DISEASE

Lyme disease is fairly easy to prevent if you know you have been where ticks live and look for the pest or evidence of its bite. However, for those unaware of the tick bite, Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed, causing longterm illness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Infection (CDC) says Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium carried by blacklegged ticks.

According to their Web site, “Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks; laboratory testing is helpful in the later stages of disease. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics.”

The rash typically has a bullseye pattern, and shows up between three and 30 days after the bite. Patients also experience symptoms of fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes. In some cases, these may be the only symptoms of infection, according to the CDC.

Left untreated, Lyme disease can progress to loss of muscle tone, severe headaches and shooting pains, arthritis, joint pain and swelling.

If you’re bitten

Try to avoid areas with ticks, and checking for ticks if you have been outdoors. Discourage deer from coming onto your property, as they carry the ticks that harbor the Lyme bacteria.

The CDC recommends pulling a tick off as soon as it’s found, using tine-tipped tweezers as close to your skin as possible. Pull straight up. Clean the skin with warm soap and water. Don’t use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish or other products.

If the tick has been attached to your skin for less than 24 hours, your chance of getting Lyme disease is very small, but the bitten area should be watched closely.

WEST NILE VIRUS

Pesky mosquito bites are irritating and in some cases, though rare, can cause West Nile virus.

But, the right conditions have to occur for someone to contract the virus.

The West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito that has fed on an infected bird. The infected mosquito then bites a human and transmits the infection.

The risk of contracting the infection is low but can be a serious threat to seniors, young children and those with poor immune systems.

West Nile virus can also be spread to people through blood transfusions and organ transplants from infected donors. And, pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers infected with West Nile virus could possibly pass it to their baby.

Symptoms

Illness typically occurs within three to 15 days after someone has been bitten by an infected mosquito.

The majority of people who become ill have no symptoms, though others may experience mild, flu-like symptoms – fever, headache and body aches, often with a skin rash and swollen lymph glands.

In a small percentage of people, more severe infections can cause headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, paralysis and, sometimes, death.

There is no known transmission from birds to people, however, you should not handle birds or any dead animals with your bare hands.

There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus.

Prevention is key

While mosquitoes are active beginning in June, people should be thinking about prevention through Oct. 20.

In warm weather, mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts more than four days. According to the state Department of Health and Human Services, residents can help prevent West Nile virus by following these guidelines:

• Eliminate standing water and other mosquito-breeding locations around your property – Remove old tires that can collect water; dispose of tin cans, plastic and ceramic pots; drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outside; make sure roof gutters are clean and drain properly; clean and chlorinate swimming pools and hot tubs; aerate garden ponds or stock them with fish; change water in birdbaths at least twice weekly.; and turn over plastic wading pools when not in use.

• Secure your home – Make sure that doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace all screens in your home that have tears or holes.

• Protect yourself from mosquito bites – If outside during evening and dawn hours when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, children and adults should wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts and socks.

Use an effective insect repellent, such as one containing DEET. Repellents that contain Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus have also been determined effective against the virus. Vitamin B, ultrasonic devices, incense and bug zappers have not been proven effective in preventing mosquito bites.

Since West Nile virus was first seen in the U.S. in 1999, in Queens, N.Y., states across New England have been tracking the occurrence of illnesses and the number of reported dead birds tested that could carry the virus.

This year, the West Nile virus has not been identified in New Hampshire, though 2,131 mosquito pools, one horse sample and 56 human samples have been tested so far. In 2007, no specimens tested positive for West Nile virus.

In 2003, three human cases were reported in New Hampshire. Facts about West Nile and other mosquito-borne diseases, the handling of dead birds and information about communities under declared public health threat can be found at www. dhhs.nh.gov or call the toll-free West Nile virus information line at (866) 273-6453.

– Source: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Web site, www.dhhs.nh.gov.

Bug battle - Most towns can’t afford disease-prevention measures

Salem Editor — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:02:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

As warm summer weather entices people to spend more time outside, state health officials are warning residents to be more aware of the big dangers that lie in wait in the tiniest of organisms.

Jason Stull, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ public health veterinarian, said that right now marks the tail end of prime time for ticks and just the beginning for mosquitoes.

Ticks are out in droves during the months of June and July, while mosquitoes thrive in July and August during dawn and dusk.

That means anyone spending time outdoors is exposed to an increased risk for three diseases: West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and Lyme disease.

The symptoms for both EEE and West Nile are very similar and are very close to the symptoms of the common flu. Those who come down with severe cases of either of these mosquito-borne illnesses can expect to have a pounding headache and fever lasting several days. They can even go into a coma. Both diseases can be fatal, especially EEE, Stull said.

“About 30 percent of people who contract EEE die,” he said.

There are about 47 types of mosquitoes in the state, but only a handful of those are capable of carrying EEE. There’s really no way of knowing which species has landed on your skin to take a bite.

Lyme disease, transmitted by the blacklegged tick – commonly called the deer tick – also comes on like a flu, with symptoms including fever, fatigue, headache and a skin rash starting at the bite area.

The lower part of the state is rampant with deer ticks, Stull said.

“In Southern New Hampshire, about 50 percent or more of the ticks that we sampled in 2007 were positive for Lyme disease,” Stull said.

About 892 people in the state contracted Lyme in 2007, he said.

The best way for individuals to protect themselves against ticks and mosquitoes is to wear insect repellent with DEET as well as protective clothing. Both mosquitoes and ticks love damp areas, so steering clear of wet areas is another precaution.

b>What towns are doing

While there is little municipalities can do to fight ticks, there are ways of diminishing mosquito populations – if the town can pay for it.

Estimates for mosquito prevention and spraying run around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on what the town does and how large the town is.

Many towns have started to adopt the practice of injecting catch basins and breeding grounds with larvicide. This is when a synthetic chemical, usually a common one called BTI, is poured into the standing water for the mosquito larvae to eat. This is typically done in the spring to get the mosquitoes before they hatch.

According to Salem health officer Brian Lockard, Salem uses larvicides in certain areas and, depending on state lab testing on mosquitoes, decides whether or not to spray later in the summer. It’s important to inject larvicide early on, said Lockard, because when the larvae get to their final stage, they stop eating.

If signs of EEE or West Nile show up, the town will consider spraying fields, woodlands and other public areas for adult mosquitoes, which is less environmentally friendly than the larvicide approach.

The entire program, from doing the larvicide, to trapping and testing mosquitoes and spraying for adults, can cost the town roughly $47,000, Lockard said. Rockingham County is considered a hotbed for mosquitoes, Lockard said, because of the amount of wetlands and thus prime breeding grounds.

“We’re getting into that period of time in the summer where you start to see the EEE showing up in mosquitoes,” Lockard said. “If we do find the virus, then we’ll consider doing the adult spraying,” he added.

The town of Salem has four state-installed mosquito traps, Lockard said, but is not at liberty to say where they are, due to public misunderstanding and possible overreaction.

Windham also uses the larvicide approach, and upon state results, the Board of Selectmen decides whether or not to spray. They have not decided to spray this year, but did last year and the year before, said Planning Director Al Turner. The areas typically sprayed are the edges of the woods around the schools and public parks, he said.

The biggest threat falls in the late summer and fall, Turner said.

Windham Town Administrator David Sullivan said it costs about $25,000 for the larvicide every year, and the spraying can cost about $5,000.

Pelham Town Administrator Thomas Gaydos said they have also taken the larvicide approach this year, and are monitoring mosquito trappings.

The town would prefer not to spray for adults, given the harmful effects the chemical contained in some of the sprays can cause in people, animals and plants.

“The town would prefer not to spray but will if the situation warrants it,” said Gaydos.

He emphasized the importance of wearing DEET-based insect repellent when outside. Both the proactive (larvicide) and reactive (adulticide) measures are expensive. That’s why a lot of towns choose not to do anything about the mosquito problem but keep the public informed of the hazards they need to avoid during the summer months.

Hooksett Town Administrator David Jodoin said money has never been put into the budget for something like that.

“It’s controversial for a lot of people. Some people want the spraying done, some think it’s only going to hit in secluded areas,” Jodoin said, pointing out the effects the sprays can have on the environment.

Auburn Town Administrator Bill Herman said the issue of spraying has never really been raised in town, but added the parks and recreation department is considering the feasibility of spraying some of the baseball fields near wetlands.

“Spraying in and of itself won’t accomplish a whole lot,” Herman said, adding the larvicide approach is the best way to deter mosquitoes. “The real effort should be getting it early in the spring, around the catch basins and breading grounds.

“It’s not inexpensive. At least at this point, I’ve been told a town of our size would be looking in about the $30,000 to $50,000 range,” Herman added, saying such funds are not in the budget.

The public tends to latch onto the spraying, Herman said, because that is a very visible means of killing the mosquitoes, requiring someone with a backpack full of chemicals to actually walk around and spray.

Dr. Vincent Greco, the health officer for Pembroke, said the town has not been doing too much in terms of larvicide or spraying this year.

“This wet weather has not been conducive. Everything will be washed away,” Greco said. Mary Hall, the health and welfare officer for Candia, said she tried to get funding, starting about three years ago for mosquito control into the town’s budget, when the information about EEE and West Nile first began to really surface.

She’s been unable as of yet to secure the funding, she said. The town did spray several years ago.

This year, she was able to get the money to apply for a state permit that would authorize the Board of Selectmen to make a decision to spray.

“It gives us the go-ahead to figure out what we’re going to do,” Hall said, adding she would try again next year to get funding set aside for mosquito control.

N.H. gives towns another year to start kindergarten

Salem Editor — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:37:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

School officials for Salem, Pelham and Windham schools are breathing a sigh of relief now that the state has agreed to extend the deadline for instituting public kindergarten.

In its definition of an adequate education, the state Legislature included public kindergarten as a requirement.

Since then, 12 communities throughout the state currently without kindergarten have been scrambling to find funding, space and project enrollment and costs to establish kindergarten programs by September 2008.

That deadline has now been extended to 2009, a timeline that seems much more attainable, said Salem Superintendent Michael Delahunty.

The state has also included several funding options in their newest plan, something the 12 towns had been asking for, many of them calling the original kindergarten bill an unfunded mandate.

“I think the Legislature just understood the impracticality of expecting school districts without kindergarten to have something in place by the fall of 2008,” Delahunty said.

He added that the final kindergarten legislation – including acceptable funding options – was not complete until most of the towns had completed their budget processes.

“It will give us the chance to prepare a budget that includes the costs associated with implementing public kindergarten,” Delahunty said, including budgeting for supplies and other operating costs.

While the state will not help towns purchase land for kindergarten facilities, they have offered other funding options, including paying for portable classrooms for four years, paying 75 percent of the building costs for a custom school and footing the bill for all of the building costs for a state-approved school design. The state has also agreed to pay operating costs for kindergarten for the first year.

The state has also offered towns the option of being able to contract with private kindergartens for up to three years while they get their own public programs going.

Towns who have not begun a kindergarten for September 2008 have to submit a plan to the state by December outlining their plans to put the program in place.

“I think we’re very appreciative of the House-Senate bill’s change in its format and in its language because it gives us a little more time and a little more leeway,” said Frank Bass, superintendent of Pelham and Windham schools.

Bass said the Pelham and Windham school boards have not made any hard decisions on which avenues to take in terms of funding and facilities, but said those discussions will happen soon.

Delahunty said the Salem School Board is leaning toward installing portable classrooms on existing school grounds, similar to what is now being used at the high school, only the kindergarten portables would be a little smaller.

Bass and Delahunty were both adamantly against the state forcing public kindergarten on towns without providing the funding for it and on such short notice.

The nine other towns currently without public kindergarten are Hudson, Auburn, Mason, Lyndeborough, Mascenic Regional, Milford, Derry, Litchfield and Chester.

Cheaper heat: How efficient is your fuel?

Salem Editor — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:02:00 GMT

BY GINGER KOZLOWSKI

If there’s one person who’s doing well in this changing economy, it’s John Labbe.

Labbe is the owner of Hearth Designs in Hooksett, and he sells pellet stoves, wood stoves, fireplaces and other heating-related items.

With people looking for alternatives to heating with oil, he said pellet stoves are outselling wood and gas stoves 10 to one, and his store has been swamped.

“Most people have already decided they want a pellet stove,” said Labbe, about the customers he has. “They’ve done their research.”

And no wonder. Heating with wood pellets has become considerably cheaper than heating with oil. That is, as long as pellets are priced about where they are currently – around $280 to $300 a ton.

Labbe said the energy output of pellets at $280 per ton is equal to the energy output of oil when it’s at $2.40 per gallon. Those days appear to be far behind us, with fuel oil well above $4 a gallon.

It’s an investment, though, to convert or supplement your home’s heating system. Pellet stoves run about $3,000 to $4,000 installed, said Labbe, so it can be daunting to come up with that kind of money when one is already struggling to pay last year’s oil bill. And the stove really won’t eliminate your oil bill, as it’s more of a supplementary system that allows you to turn your oil system down or even off, depending on the configuration of your house and how warm you want each room to be, said Labbe.

How to decide if it’s worth it? It’s not easy.

“Electricity follows gas and oil prices,” said Tom Belair, a spokesman for Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH), which provides electricity to this area. “It doesn’t matter what (fuel) you use, efficiency is what’s important.”

Belair points out that all forms of energy tend to rise together, so it may not be long before pellets, electricity and gas go up in price as well, negating the savings you expect from a conversion or supplementary heating system.

Indeed, pellets and cord wood are already in high demand and low supply, according to Lester Robinson, manager of Osborne’s Agway in Hooksett.

“We’re out of wood until September,” said Robinson.

His store sold out of pellets when they advertised a pre-season sale in May and June for $250 per ton. His vendor now can’t guarantee product until September, and he expects it will cost about $300 a ton.

“We cut our own firewood,” he said. “Had 100 cords, we sold it all.”

And it’s not just fuel. He said his Agway has sold more vegetable seeds and chickens this year than ever before, with people trying to save money by growing their own food and getting eggs fresh from the chicken.

So what do you do about that high heat bill?

“Make sure you’re not wasting (energy),” said Belair. “Making a long-term decision (based on today’s oil prices) may be short sighted.”

Diversity is probably a good idea, he said. Adding a pellet stove to an oil system at least gives you the choice of using whichever fuel is least expensive at the time. Having an electric space heater in the one room you sit in in the evening and turning down the heat in the rest of the house can save on the oil bill.

But make sure that portable space heater is safe, Belair emphasized. It shouldn’t be used as your main heating source.

“Buy a safe one!” he said.

Solar power could help

BY JENN MCDOWELL

While solar energy can save homeowners big on their heating bills, it’s pricey to install and based on current heating oil prices can take over five years to pay for itself, according to Malik Haig of Sustain Ablity New Hampshire, a Laconia-based solar products distribution company.

Haig said manufacturers have said a solar air heating system could save about $500 per year on fuel bills. “But of course, that was based on last year’s prices,” Haig said.

A solar air heat box can alone warm up to 1,000 square feet, Haig said, by pumping the heated air into the home. It takes about 10 minutes from the time the sun comes out to heat the box, which pulls cool air from inside the home and pumps it back in at temperatures between 90 and 100 degrees. It uses about 30 watts of electricity to run the fan that blows the air inside, Haig said.

A bigger savings can be found in using a solar hot water heating system with rooftop solar panels, or “flatplate collectors.”

“This doesn’t replace an existing heat source, just vastly reduces it,” Haig said, adding the equipment needed to run such a system starts at about $3,635, plus a few thousand dollars more for installation depending on the size of the house and the amount of copper piping it has running in it.

Haig said homeowners could reduce their oil or gas consumption by about one-third over a winter, but said the savings won’t be realized for about seven to 10 years after the system has paid itself off through fuel savings. If fuel prices continue their upward trend, that payoff could be a lot sooner, Haig said.

“There’s a lot more interest now, and lots more people coming in and saying, ‘I can’t take any more of these rising fuel costs,’” he said.

Geothermal's a good choice

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Geothermal heat pumps can be an expensive up-front cost, but in most cases are worth that high price in the long run.

Leeds Burchard of Ultra Geothermal and Ultra Heating and Cooling in Barrington said there is no way to estimate a cost without knowing the specifics of the house, as two homes with the exact same dimensions could end up costing different prices based on the ground source.

“There are no drawbacks,” said Burchard. “When it comes down to new construction, it’s the only way to go. It’s time the country got off the dependency of fossil fuels.”

For existing houses, geothermal may not be the best fit, as Burchard said not all homes are good candidates for a retrofit.

Burchard said since the company started installing the systems, they have seen an increased demand due to rising costs of fossil fuels.

“We’ve definitely seen a significant increase,” he said. “Twelve years ago we started installing, and we were lucky to do two a year. Now we have 40 to 50 on order and have over 300 installed.”

Firewood's a traditional choice

BY SARAH LEBRUN

Though pellet stoves are the hot item this year, many people still choose to buy the traditional wood stove.

According to Bob Gardner, manager at Fireplace Village in Concord, wood stoves range in price from $800 to $2,500, and some are capable of heating a 3,500-square-foot area.

According to www.alternative- heating-info.com, a cord of wood as of June 10 was selling for an average of $240 per cord, or a stack of wood that is 4 feet high and 8 feet wide.

According to Pat Dean at Joe Gauci Landscaping in Bedford, they are selling split and seasoned wood this year for $325 per cord, delivered locally to Manchester, Bedford and Goffstown.

“We expect this to really go fast because the prices keep rising,” said Dean.

“Don’t wait too long to buy wood or pellet stoves this year,” said Gardner. “You might not get one. Manufacturers are backed up like crazy.”

Firewood's a traditional choice

BY GINGER KOZLOWSKI

Pellet stoves are the hot alternative to the traditional wood stove, and they’re selling like hotcakes, according to John Labbe of Hearth Designs in Hooksett.

While it’s like using a wood stove, the pellets, which come in 40-pound bags, are easy to load into the hopper of the stove, and the stove itself can regulate itself with a thermostat, keeping your home at a steady temperature without poking at wood to keep it burning.

For about $3,000 to $4,000, said Labbe, you can have a stove installed in your home. The beauty of it is that you don’t need the traditional venting. A pellet stove can be located almost anywhere. A heat sensor can be run as far as 100 feet away from the stove, allowing the room’s temperature to be set where you like it.

One consideration is where to store all those pellets, though. They’re typically bought by the ton, said Labbe, so you’ll have a delivery of quite a few 40-pound bags on a pallet. Most people store them in their garage, he said.

The rising cost of fuel in Salem, Pelham and Windham

Salem Editor — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:00:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

Alice Campbell of Salem, retired and living alone in her home, said she’s not sure how she’s going to deal with heating oil expenses that add up to even more than what she paid last winter, which was about $2,000 total for her small cape home.

“As it is now, I shut off my dining room completely because I don’t use it much in the winter,” said Campbell. “I don’t know what I’m going to do this winter, but we’ll have to see.”

“It’s scary. My son and I were talking about this, and the situation is getting really scary,” she said. “I’m 80 years old and I’m trying very hard to hold on to the house.”

Al and Colleen Alfaro live in Pelham.

“I know we’re estimated to spend about $4,000, and we’ve decided to go on a budget plan,” said Colleen Alfaro, adding they use Rockingham Oil in Derry.

She added they would certainly be making greater use of their wood stove this winter.

With oil prices hovering around an average of $4.50 per gallon on the low end, about twice what most people were able to lock into last year, wood may become a hotter commodity this winter than ever before.

Local governments under stress, too

Salem finance director Jane Savastano said the town’s oil rate is going to more than double come July 1.

Most of the town’s buildings run on oil heat, Savastano said. Only six, including the library and senior center, run on gas.

The town is still under contract until June 30 to buy oil for $2.15 per gallon. The town had to go out for bidding on oil again a month ago, she said, and had to lock in a rate of $4.39.

Luckily, she said, the town has enough left in its 2008 budget to pay for the oil at that price and get them through the year.

The town budgeted $187,088 for the year, and has so far expended $88,624, she said.

“It won’t be as bad for Salem as it will be for other towns,” said Savastano, pointing out the Salem has an advantage by operating its budget around a calendar year rather than a fiscal year.

Most of Windham’s town buildings run on propane, the price of which is also increasing. The administrative offices, senior center, and Searles building all run on oil heat, said finance director Dana Call.

The town was able to prebuy their oil in 2007 at a price of $2.19 per gallon, Call said, having budgeted $57,380 for oil and actually spending $53,200. When the pre-purchased fuel ran out though, Call said, the town did have to buy some at around $4 per gallon.

“We did all right because we usually pre-buy at low prices. That’s probably not going to be the case this season,” Call said.

The town budgeted $51,890 for 2008, Call said, having developed the budget numbers back in fall 2007.

“We will be over budget,” said Call. “We didn’t know back in the fall that we’d be paying this amount of money,” she said, adding the town is looking at joint buying ventures for next year.

The situation is so dire, Pelham Town Administrator Tom Gaydos joked, “We’re looking at drilling our own wells.”

In Pelham, the municipal complex, senior center and barn, annex, historical society, dog pound, transfer station, recreation building and highway building all run on oil heat, Gaydos said.

Gaydos said Pelham used 23,700 gallons of oil in 2007 for a total cost of $52,351. So far in 2008, the town has used 12,984 gallons and has spent $28,500 out of the budget.

“We bid fuel costs with the school which provides a huge savings,” said Gaydos. “We will bid again in August.”

Even oil providers feel the pinch

While they are in the money- making business, several oil companies in the state have said the through-the-roof prices are not exactly good for business, and are going to pose a problem this winter as they try not to buy too much for deliveries.

“The biggest concerns are the elderly and people on fixed incomes,” said Bill West, manager of the Derry-based Rockingham Oil. “How are they going to come up with that money? They’re going to have to choose between heat and food, and that’s not a good place to be.”

Rockingham Oil’s price is hovering at $4.49 a gallon right now, up almost double from the $2.31 the company was selling a gallon for in March 2007.

West said they’re still doing pre-buy and budget plans, but won’t set a lock-in price until August.

“For anybody in this industry, the lower the price, the more fuel you sell. But it’s a commodity – everybody needs it,” said West, adding sales are currently down and collections are higher.

Ricky Barnard, manager of Contoocook Valley Fuel, said the oil prices aren’t good for anyone, oil companies included.

Right now, Barnard said his company, a family-owned and operated business since 1961, is selling 150 gallons of oil at a discounted price of $4.59 per gallon. The company has a 100- gallon purchase minimum, and is selling 100 to 149 gallons for $4.69 per gallon.

Like Rockingham, Contoocook Valley is still going to offer pre-buys and budget plans, but won’t set a price until the end of July or August.

“I’m hoping it will get better. Some people say it will go higher, and others say it will come down and the bubble will pop,” said Barnard.

He added the nation’s reliance on foreign oil sources should be actively diminished.

“I think we should be allowed to drill inside the United States, and we need to update the refineries,’ said Barnard.

Viking Oil, based in Candia, sold out of the oil it was selling at $4.49 a gallon in two days, according to owner John Mayland.

“We usually go out with a contract at a stated price based on next heating season buys,” said Mayland. “This year, we sent out a letter to customers saying we have only so much oil, and to call for a price and contract paperwork. We sold out in two days at $4.49 a gallon. Now we’re selling at a higher price, $4.74 a gallon,” Mayland said.

Mayland added the volatile market is making it hard to determine how much he should get for his customers. “We’ve been very careful about buying too much. We’re not sure how much people are going to use,” he said.

A lot of customers have told him they’re going to keep their thermostats set extremely low and use space heaters, Mayland said.

Fred Fuller Oil Co., one of the largest in the state, is selling oil at $4.59 a gallon right now. In June 2007, said general manager Bill Fuller, the price was $2.20 a gallon.

“People can’t afford to fill their tanks or afford to do any pre-buy or budget plans,” said Fuller, adding the company will still offer both, but has yet to lock in a rate.