2007 Union Leader Photo Contest Submission

Massabesic Lake at dusk

BY JENN McDOWELLIt’s going to be a lot harder for the Hills family of Allenstown to stay afloat financially this year, with fuel prices hitting record highs. Jeanne Hills babysits her toddler grandson, staying home while her husband and her adult children work. With the price of heating oil averaging more than $4.50 a gallon, according to ...

BY CHRISTINE HEISERNext winter, when the temperatures drop and the oil tank is low, rising fuel costs might bring on a budget crisis for some homeowners. Unlike public utilities such as gas or electric, private oil companies are not bound by law to deliver in the winter even if the customer doesn’t pay their bill, so each company sets its ...

BY TOBY HENRYThe defeat of a two-town middle school to serve Auburn and Candia has left Auburn to evaluate a possible new school proposal on its own while Candia officials say they’re done making plans for now. In Candia, the past five years have seen three school proposals shot down, including the recent failure of a tuition contract which ...

BY TOBY HENRY Residents approved the town’s first public kindergarten and town budget of $4,218,251 during the final annual Town and School District meetings March 14 and 15. The voters’ decision to approve the SB2 official ballot voting system on March 11 means the traditional meetings held on Friday and Saturday were the last ...

BY JENN McDOWELLAside from electing their town officials, Auburn voters also decided whether to go to an official ballot style of voting on town matters and school matters. In an overwhelming vote, it was decided the town and school district would now be governed by the official ballot law, often called SB2 for the Senate bill that became the ...

BY JENN McDOWELLCandia residents decided against the tuition agreement for a joint middle school with Auburn in a 278-766 vote. The article for a $25 million bond will now come off Auburn’s warrant, being void. Candia School Board Chairman Karen Smith said she was disappointed with the result, but that the School Board would continue to ...

BY TOBY HENRYThe March 11 vote on establishing Senate Bill 2 official balloting is getting a mixed review as residents weigh increased voter participation vs. the traditional meeting and discussion format. “Less than 200 people last year voted for an almost $9 million school budget, and I think that percentage is just too low,” said ...

BY JENN McDOWELLNew Hampshire towns are gearing up for the annual vote on town and school issues. Polls will open Tuesday, March 11. Hooksett’s official ballot town elections are not until May 13. Pembroke and Auburn adhere to the traditional Town Meeting format, and are only electing officials on March 11. Auburn will, however, decide ...