Search results matching tag 'Weare'

Weare asphalt plant proposal denied

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:45:00 GMT

BY DAN O’BRIEN

The Weare Planning Board denied an application Wednesday, Nov. 18, for a controversial asphalt production facility on River Road, but the abrupt decision had even opponents of the project puzzled.

The meeting only lasted five minutes, and the board did not allow public input.

Mt. William Inc. owner, Chris Bolton, proposed to construct a 4-ton to 6-ton hot mix asphalt production facility on the property of his current sand and gravel plant at 1225 River Road. The idea brought a huge amount of opposition from the community, with 51 neighbors hiring Concord-based attorney Jed Callen to represent them.

About 150 people attended a public hearing on the issue Sept. 30, and about half that number was present at the Nov. 18 meeting.

Planning Board Chairman Craig Francisco said after the meeting that the board made its unanimous decision to deny Mt. William Inc.’s proposal after consulting with the town’s counsel, Bill Drescher, but would not disclose the reasoning behind Drescher’s opinion. A document of the opinion has been sealed from public view, and Francisco said he would not comment further.

Bolton indicated he might appeal the Planning Board’s decision to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

At issue was whether construction of an asphalt mixing plant, which would typically be allowed in an industrial zone, could be built at the Mt. William Inc. property, which lies in a commercial zone.

Bolton had argued the original facility was grandfathered past current zoning regulations.

Callen has continuously argued the town’s zoning ordinances prohibited the Planning Board from even accepting Bolton’s plan from the start of the application process because its proposed use was not allowed in the zone, which raises the question of how his application got so far along.

“It’s elementary. It should have been blatantly obvious,” Callen said after the meeting. “It’s inconceivable to me that he didn’t realize it … and that nobody raised it to him.”

Bolton’s brother, Frank Bolton, is a member of the Planning Board and has removed himself from handling the Mt. William Inc. application. Naomi Bolton, the town administrator and town planner, is Chris Bolton’s sister-inlaw, and her husband works at Mt. William Inc.

Chris Bolton tried to speak publicly at the Planning Board meeting, which is typically allowed, but the board members prohibited him from doing so after not allowing public input. Bolton had tried to ask a question about whether his proposal could be considered as an accessory use.

Callen said he didn’t understand why the Planning Board decided to hold a meeting, which was specifically for discussing the Mt. William proposal, when it could have submitted a letter to Bolton and abutters denying the application based on the counsel’s opinion.

“I’m happy with the outcome,” Callen said. “I expected the board’s response by sending a letter. Then we wouldn’t have had to give up our evening.”

Callen added that he spent many hours in preparation of the meeting, of which the cost will have to be passed on to the residents who hired him.

“We’ll take this as far as it has to go,” said Eric Rineheimer, an outspoken resident who lives adjacent to the site. “It’s not an appropriate use for that location.”

Neighbors say the site is a p rotected natural area and raised concerns about air and water pollution, increased truck traffic, a decrease in property values and safety issues due to an increased amount of hazardous materials.

Bolton left the meeting shortly after it ended and could not be reached for comment.

Treatment fund started for K-9 with cancer

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:42:00 GMT

BY KATHY REMILLARD

When Weare police Sgt. Joe Kelley met up with his partner, Mica, on Saturday, Nov. 14, he knew something wasn’t right.

The 4-year-old Belgian Malinois was weak and sick to her stomach. When Kelley tried to feed her, she wouldn’t eat. A local vet diagnosed Mica with lymphoma the following day.

Mica will require roughly 19 weeks of treatment for the cancer, treatment that the town of Weare has no budget for.

“Cancer treatment is expensive. It could be $5,000 to $10,000, you never know,” said Kelley.

Weare is working with a default budget this year, and though the Police Department has decided to go ahead with Mica’s treatment, there is no way to pay for it.

New Boston resident and longtime supporter of the K- 9 program, Don Lyons, has started the Weare Police K-9 Relief Fund, so residents can make donations to assist with Mica’s vet bills. So far, said Kelley, response has been overwhelming.

“The K-9 program is important to me, but I had no idea how much support was out there,” said Kelley.

Kelley has received calls from New York to Nebraska, from people who saw the story online and wanted to make a donation to the fund. He said he even got a call from Weare Middle School administration, who said students were already collecting money on Mica’s behalf.

“It’s unbelievable – these kids want to give their lunch money,” Kelley said.

Kelley and Mica have been partners for three years, and Kelley is proud of Mica’s job performance. She assisted in finding a missing 4-year-old Weare boy in August 2008 and has been a part of several police investigations, both in Weare and surrounding communities.

“She’s really done some special stuff,” Kelley said.

In May, Mica won seven awards in a K-9 championship in Falmouth, Maine, and placed first in several categories.

Mica has already begun her once-weekly chemotherapy treatments. Kelley said because the regimen affects dogs differently than people, she probably won’t lose a noticeable amount of fur and may even still be able to work in between appointments.

“We’ll just take it easy and see how much she can do,” said Kelley.

Donations may be made to the Weare Police K-9 Relief Fund at any TD Bank branch.

“A lot of people have come forward to help,” said Kelley, “I’m just hoping it will be enough to save her.”

SAU 24 head resigns

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:40:00 GMT

BY SARAH LEBRUN

Students and staff at SAU 24 will see a new face filling the position of superintendent in mid-February.

Doug White, superintendent of SAU 24, serving Henniker, Weare and Stoddard, gave the SAU board his resignation at the end of October.

White has taken the position of superintendent in the Old Rochester Regional School District in Massachusetts.

“I’ve truly loved my experience every day here, and I’ve loved my experience in New Hampshire,” said White.

White was been the superintendent at SAU 24 for two years, and prior to that, assistant superintendent for three years. He currently earns an annual salary of $109,000.

White said for the past five years, he has been living in two different worlds, and took the job to be closer to his family.

Every Sunday morning, he leaves his family home in Plymouth, Mass., and doesn’t return until Friday night. During the week, he lives in a condo in Pembroke.

“You never know when an opportunity is going to come up to be closer to your home and your family,” said White. “I’ve been able to do this with a very understanding family and great committment from both the SAU staff and in the schools.”

According to SAU 24 board Chairman Marjorie Burke, interviews are not yet taking place to fill White’s position. She also said an interim superintendent will be used when White leaves to finish out the year, and hopes to have somebody hired full time by July 1.

“While we’re very sad to see him go, we certainly wish him well in his new venture,” said Burke.

Weare man charged with sexual assault

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:25:00 GMT

Weare police arrested Stephen Corey, 36, of 17 Woodland Drive, Weare, on Monday, Nov. 16.

Corey was charged with two counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, reckless conduct, criminal threatening and simple assault.

Weare police conducted an investigation over the weeend involving alleged domestic abuse by Corey over a four-month period at his home.

The victim, identified as a 30-year-old female, field complaints with police, alleging Corey sexually assaulted her on two occasions. It is also alleged Corey pointed a rifle at the victim and threatened to kill her.

Corey is currently being held on $10,000 cash bail pending arraignment at Goffstown District Court.

Former Weare police chief dies

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:23:00 GMT

Donald Thomson, the man who served as the town’s police chief from 1974 to 1988, has died of prostate cancer. He was 79.

Thomson served the department during a time when there were no full-time officers, said his son, Wayne Thomson, 55, of Weare.

Donald Thomson also served as the town treasurer for 35 years and worked as an electrical engineer at Public Service of New Hampshire before and during his tenure as police chief.

Since he retired, Donald Thomson worked as a bail commissioner for Goffstown District Court until he fell ill last year. In the past several years, he spent winter months in Florida and Texas.

“He did his civic duty,” said Wayne Thomson, who is Donald Thomson’s only child.

Thomson also leaves behind his wife, Carol Thomson.

His first wife, Marilyn Thomson, Wayne’s mother, died in 1987.

Services for Thomson were held the weekend of Nov. 14.

– Dan O’Brien

Communities gear up to help those in need

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:15:00 GMT

BY SUZANNE D’AMATO

To those of us who live in the Granite State, it’s no surprise that small-town folks have big hearts.

With the holiday season almost here, the familiar requests for monetary donations and drives for items of all kinds are being made.

The following are just a few examples of how generous donations of money, time and items from the kindness of strangers will touch the lives of friends and neighbors in need in our communities and provide them with some of the basic necessities of life, such as food, shelter, warmth and companionship.

Located in the parish house of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, the Goffstown Network Food Pantry (see box) is one of many organizations helping the Goffstown community satisfy the most basic of human needs – hunger -- at holiday time and all year long.

“Our goal is to offer one week’s worth of groceries for each person in our clients’ households. We accept donations of just about anything that’s nonperishable,” said David Greiner, president of the pantry, which was established in 1990.

Cans of fruits, vegetables, soups and tuna fish; bags of dried beans; boxes of pasta and macaroni and cheese; paper goods; and other staples line the pantry’s shelves and are depleted almost as soon as they arrive.

“Right now, canned soups are our most-needed item. We also need donations of personal- care items, such as shampoo and toothpaste, because our clients cannot use food stamps to purchase nonfood items,” Greiner said.

Additionally, the pantry sponsors Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday programs for its clients. This year, on Nov. 20 and 21, in preparation for Thanksgiving, and on Dec. 17 and 18, in preparation for Christmas, the pantry’s volunteers prepare and distribute to its clients gift boxes that contain the food and other items necessary to make traditional holiday dinners and, hopefully, a little holiday cheer.

To help fund the pantry’s efforts, the pantry receives a percentage of the sales made next door at The Community Clothing Center, a used-clothing store. St. Matthew’s also uses some of the clothing-sales money to pay its bills. Any remaining funds are deposited into the Goffstown Clergy Association, a crisis fund set up by Goffstown’s pastors to help people in need.

Less than 5 miles away, the food pantry at the Goffstown Harvest Christian Church has been open to help feed the hungry for the past eight years.

A new customer who recently came to the pantry to ask for assistance particularly stands out in the memory of Gerry St. Jean, who is the administrator of the church and oversees the food pantry.

“One morning, a woman with five of her children showed up at the food pantry and said that she had three more children at home who were sick,” St. Jean said.

“She’d said she was in dire need of food but couldn’t come to the food pantry for the past two weeks because she had no money.”

The pantry buys and sells certain foods at discounted prices to customers to keep running the food pantry, and it also gives away food to those customers who can’t pay.

St. Jean told her that all she had to do to receive help was to notify the pantry of her needs, and then he gave the woman free of charge lots of pastries, breads, meats, vegetables and fruits for her family.

“We ended up blessing her and her family tremendously,” St. Jean said.

Where to find or give help

Goffstown Harvest Christian Church – 542 Mast Road, Goffstown; 641-5993; www.ghonline.org.
Hours: Saturdays, 9 to 11 a.m.
Items most needed: turkeys for Thanksgiving and hams for Christmas plus other nonperishable holiday – dinner staples, such as canned vegetables and cranberry sauce, stuffing mixes, pie crusts, etc. For monetary donations, make checks payable to “Goffstown Harvest Christian Church Food Pantry” and mail it to the church. Donations of food items can be made when the church is open each week from Tuesdays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call the church to make arrangements for after-hours drop-off.

• Goffstown Network Food Pantry – Located in the St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church parish house, 7 North Mast St., Goffstown; 497-3433.
Hours: Wednesdays, 6 to 8 p.m.; and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon, all year long.
Items most needed: canned soups and personal-care items (shampoo, toothpaste, etc.) For monetary donations, checks payable to “Goffstown Network” can be mailed to the Goffstown Network at P.O. Box 603, Goffstown, NH 03045. When the pantry is open, donations of food and personal care items can be dropped off any time inside the front doors of the church or, when the pantry is open, at its location at St. Matthew’s parish house on 7 North Mast St.

• Weare Food Pantry – Located at Weare Middle School, 16 East St., Weare; 529-0320
Hours: Wednesdays, 5 to 7 p.m.
Monetary donations can be made out to Weare Food Pantry, c/o 39 Maplewold Road Weare, NH 03281.

• Wood for Warmth – Sean Powers Wood Bank, Hopkinton Transfer Station; 746-5729; www.woodforwarmth.com
Hours: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Fridays, 1 to 5 p.m.
Firewood for low-income families needing to keep warm. If you need access to firewood, contact the Hopkinton human services director at the number above. Donations of burnable hardwood in 16-inch lengths can be dropped off at the transfer station, or contact Mary at woodforwarmth@hotmail.com.

Fire Rescue, pantry help families in need

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:37:00 GMT

By Kathy Remillard

When Wanda McLain contacted Peggy Bailey, director of the Weare Food Pantry, she had no idea just how timely her phone call would be.

McLain, president of the Weare Rescue Association, was calling to let Bailey know that she had a donation of more than $1,200 to present to the food pantry, in addition to more than 200 food items. What McLain didn’t know was that the food pantry in Weare had only about a week’s worth of food left.

“It couldn’t have come at a better time,” said Bailey. “I didn’t know what we were going to do.”

Part of the money was collected at a bonfire and fireworks display sponsored by the Weare Fire and Rescue Association on Oct. 30. Food donations were also accepted for admission to the event.

EMT Mark Bluteau was impressed with the town’s generosity.

“We asked for one nonperishable food item and people were handing over bags,” said Bluteau.

The Weare Rescue Association and the Weare Fire Association each made a $500 donation, pushing the total to $1,206.35.

According to Bailey, the need for food is higher this year, and the food pantry is seeing an increase in women, children and working families seeking assistance. While the need for food doesn’t change for people throughout the year, she finds that most people tend to think of giving more during the holidays. In fact, monetary donations from last year’s giving season carried the food pantry through the fall this year.

For Thanksgiving, the food pantry has teamed up with Weare schools to collect donations to make food boxes for the holiday, which will include 1a turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and canned vegetables.

Last year, Weare Middle School students donated more than 1,300 items to put in the boxes.

Nurse Pat MacNeil at Center Woods said the students really get caught up in the giving.

“They’re so proud, especially the little ones, when they bring something in to help someone else,” said MacNeil.

Nearly 70 baskets were made for local families in 2008, and that number is expected to increase this year.

Food boxes will also be made for Christmas, and the Angel Tree project will be up and running in the coming weeks. Christmas trees with tags on them will be in various locations in Weare, so community members can purchase Christmas gifts for children in need.

“Everyone is having it tough,” said McNeil, “but it’s nice to help the people having it tougher.”

Applications for Thanksgiving food boxes will be accepted until Nov. 18 and can be picked up at the food pantry Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. The Weare food pantry is located at Weare Middle School and is open on Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m.

For more information, contact the Weare food pantry at 529-0230.

Stark edges Pembroke before losing to Bedford

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:06:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Heather Doucette isn’t one to show her emotions. A group of 10 players changed that. The John Stark girls soccer mentor stood at midfield following her team’s 4-1 loss to Bedford in the Class I quarterfinals, embracing 10 seniors before they walked off the field one final time on Saturday, Oct. 31.

“It was really hard. We grew up together and figured out what kind of squad we were going to be,” said Doucette. “I try to be cool most of the time, but it broke my heart seeing it end for them.”

On Thursday, Oct. 29, Lauren Macklin gave her team a 1- 0 victory over Pembroke Academy in the preliminary round of the tournament when she scored with 11:24 remaining to break a scoreless tie.

Macklin waited patiently before stepping around two PA defenders and firing into the corner of the net to propel her team to the win.

The Generals were overmatched by No. 2 Bedford in the next round, falling behind 3-0 in the first half of play. Macklin cracked the scoreboard with 14:17 remaining when she pounded home a loose ball in front of the net, but the Bulldogs responded little more than a minute later to quash any hopes of a comeback. Stark had a prime scoring opportunity in the first 10 minutes of play when Macklin came streaking into the goalie box looking to put a shot on net.

Bedford goalie Aubrey Ouellet had other ideas, attacking the ball and kicking it out of harm’s way before Macklin could pull the trigger.

“They came out on fire and were tackling very tough,” said Bedford’s head coach, Michelle Winning, whose team advanced to a second consecutive semifinal game.

“They don’t give up, and they are a very physical team.”

John Stark loses seniors Macklin, Kayla Hubbard, Emily Pineault, Mia Fournier, Jessica Constant, Sydney Getzin, Megan Gosselin, Angela Beaulieu, Sadie MacLean and Molly Dussault.

Doucette admitted there are a lot of holes to fill next season, though she said with a strong offseason commitment the team can continue its recent tradition of postseason success.

“I felt like we were going against a giant, but we were going to take them on,” said Doucette of her team’s game against Bedford. “We had two more games in our heads. We weren’t ready to say goodbye to our seniors quite yet.”

Seventh-grader begins middle school student council

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:44:00 GMT

By Kathy Remillard

While most middle schoolers in Weare enjoyed their time off from school during the summer, 12-year-old Lindsey Dutton spent her time trying to make her school a better place.

The seventh-grader worked with school administration to begin a student council at Weare Middle School.

“I saw that our school needed some help, and contacted Mrs. Potter over the summer,” said Dutton. “We, as a bigger group, could work to make things better.”

Potter received the idea with enthusiasm. “I’ve wanted a student council here for years,” she said. “I couldn’t wait for someone to be motivated to do this,” said Dutton.

Over the next several weeks, Potter, the school’s assistant principal, had Dutton do some research, and Dutton met with the assistant principal at Henniker Community School, which already has an established student council. Potter noted that Dutton had to take some risks if she wanted to get the project off the ground.

“She hates being in the spotlight,” Potter laughed.

Plans were in place by the beginning of the school year, and students warmed up to the idea immediately. Twenty-four seventh- and eighth-graders ran for positions, and 12 fifth- and sixth-graders came forward as well.

Elected positions on the council include president, vice president, homeroom representative and social committee chairman.

Those running for election to the council had to first write an essay, detailing why they wanted to run for student council and what they hoped to accomplish. They also had to have a campaign, complete with posters and speeches, and students voted for the candidates during lunches.

“Running made me feel more responsible,” said Garrett Thomas, who ran for vice president.

Eighth-grader Austin Boisvert added that in running, students had to promise to “try to do,” rather than say, “I will do.”

“You have to know that not everything you want to do will be done,” said Boisvert.

Potter hopes the student council will provide middle school students with an organized way to get information, and while the council will be taken seriously, not all policies will change because of council recommendations.

“We can’t change every policy, but students will gain a better understanding of why things are the way they are,” said Potter. Dutton is happy with the results of her labor this summer.

She admitted that she did not expect to have such a large group respond to her idea.

“I just want people to feel good about themselves here,” she said. Fellow student Cam Bonenfant, agreed.

“We want to make school fun, and be a place kids want to go, not just have to go.”

Legal counsel sought for asphalt plant proposal

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:35:00 GMT

By Dan O’Brien

The Weare town planner said the Planning Board is seeking the opinion of the town’s legal counsel before it proceeds with a River Road asphalt plant proposal.

At the beginning of a public hearing Sept. 30 at Weare Middle School, Planning Board members declared in a unanimous vote that Mt. William Inc.’s proposed asphalt mixing facility would not be considered a regional impact, but the board has since backed away from that decision.

“After listening to some of the testimony that was given (that) night, they decided that maybe it could be” considered a regional impact, said Naomi Bolton, town planner and town administrator. “They voted to send notification to abutting towns.”

However, Bolton said notification has not been given because she would like to wait for the opinion of the town’s attorney, Bill Drescher. Bolton said she was still awaiting his opinion as The Goffstown News went to press.

She said the board made its turn-around decision after listening to several hours of testimony from neighbors of the proposed asphalt facility during the public hearing. Approximately 150 people attended.

Mt. William Inc. owner Chris Bolton told residents he’s proposing a 4-ton to 6-ton asphalt batch plant that would mix materials that already come from the current sand and gravel pit at the site in question. He said about 5,000 tons of asphalt would be generated every year for smaller-sized commercial and residential purposes.

“It’s not some great big plant,” he said.

The vast majority of residents spoke against his proposal, citing concerns about the environment, traffic, property values and quality of life.

Jeb Callen, a Concord-based attorney representing 39 neighbors of the facility, questioned whether it was legal for the Planning Board to accept the plan for review because he said it violates a zoning ordinance. “I believe under your own site plan regulations it’s illegal for the board to proceed with this,” attorney Jed Callen said.

Callen cited section 4 of the town’s zoning ordinance, which he said calls for any proposal to meet to zoning requirements before it can be reviewed and put before a public hearing, which is what occurred Sept. 30. He said the asphalt plant would fall under industrial zoning, but the proposed area is zoned for commercial use. The sand and gravel facility was grandfathered past zoning reguations because it was made before the regulations took effect.

Naomi Bolton said the town has taken Callen’s argument under consideration and is awaiting the opinion of legal counsel, along with the regional impact issue.

Naomi Bolton is the brother-in-law of the applicant, Chris Bolton. Her husband works for him at Mt. William Inc., she said.

Planning Board member Frank Bolton is Chris Bolton’s brother and has removed himself from handling the asphalt plant issue.