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This week's stories: (click on the headline
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Auburn
Feeling the primary crush
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By KAREN BRAYNARD
Correspondent
The temperature on this crisp Saturday
morning may have been just above zero, but the reception for
presidential candidate Gen. Wesley Clark was more than warm on
Saturday, Jan. 24 in Auburn. A crowd of more than 400 squeezed
into the Auburn Fire Department, and it was standing room only
for those who wanted to meet and support this Democratic hopeful.
Supporters who arrived late were turned away at the door due
to the huge turnout at this breakfast sponsored by local Clark
campaign volunteers.
The crowd couldn't see her very well, yelling
out "down in front" to the media crowding center stage.
A box on an emergency vehicle was the remedy.
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PACKING THEM IN The
crush of supporters and media in the new Auburn Fire Station
was almost out of control on Saturday, Jan. 24, at a pancake
breakfast supporting presidential candidate Wes Clark.
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Able to make eye contact across the crowd,
Clark revved up the group with his comments about the war against
Iraq. Asked by a child, who his presidential role models were,
Clark was quick to respond with "Abraham Lincoln and Thomas
Jefferson."
Although many Auburn residents tend to
be vocal about environmental issues, the questions for the retired
general were focused primarily towards his positions on education,
the economy, health care and the military. Clark said one of
the first things he would do in office, would be to sign a bill
allowing Americans to purchase prescription drugs from Canada.
Many of the attendees were still on the
fence about which candidate they would vote for.
A good number of the attendees of this rally were not Auburn
residents, but Clark supporters have been attending "everything
Clark" in an effort to show support.
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STAR STUDDED Above, actor Ted Danson
gets ready for the spotlight just before the Clark rally. His
wife, actress Mary Steenburgen, below, was also there. They didn't
address the crowd, but talked to people individually. (Lara Skinner
Photos) 
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Karol Straub of Vienna, Va., is a volunteer
who served up pancakes all morning to the hundreds of attendees.
She traveled to New Hampshire to help out for a day or two. Nine
days later she's still here.
"New Hampshire is an important part in this election process,"
she said. "I wish more people in this state would realize
that they have an opportunity to really make a difference here.
An opportunity that so many others across the U.S. don't have."
Ted Danson and Mary Steenbergen, celebrity supporters, also attended
this Auburn event. Neither star addressed the crowd, but they
did spend time talking with people one-on-one during and after
the breakfast event.
Hooksett
Teachers, books, buses
cut
By KATE BENWAY
Staff Writer
kbenway@yourneighborhoodnews.com
Two first-grade teachers,
two buses, textbooks, a teaching consultant and after-school
help have been cut from Hooksett's school budget. Even with those
cuts, the budget has increased from $17.9 million last year to
$20.5 million.
The proposed school budget voters will consider at the Friday,
Feb. 6, deliberative session of the annual School District Meeting,
has been molded and debated, with some key requests surviving
the process.
A proposal to hire an assistant principal at the Hooksett Memorial
School was on the chopping block more than once as the town's
budget committee considered the school board's budget proposal.
The $65,897 position was kept in the budget at the last minute
after residents, school board members and some budget committee
members agreed Principal Carol Soucy couldn't do without the
help.
"At the budget committee hearing, the feedback from the
people there was very strongly in favor of keeping personnel,"
said Becky Berk, chairman of the Hooksett School Board.
The budget committee also approved a $10,000 allocation for a
technician to complete the computer and technology hook-ups at
the newly renovated Memorial School and approved an additional
$37,320 for high school tuition.
But cut was a $65,897 chunk from the text book line item, making
room for the vice principal position, said Bryan Williams, Hooksett's
budget committee chairman.
A proposal to hire two new first-grade teachers was also trimmed,
shaving $97,464 off the bottom line.
The committee also took out a $3,400 line item for after-school
algebra.
"The point of the program is to give students an introduction
to algebra so when they hit high school they're not confused,"
said Williams. "But our conclusion is that we find it difficult
that we need to teach this when we should already be teaching
it."
Also cut was $12,500 for a teaching consultant and a $71,496
proposal to add two new buses to transport students to local
schools.
An attempt to add just one bus was also shot down by budget committee
members.
This year, voters can scrutinize the proposal when they take
up the budget, along with other warrant articles, at the deliberative
session of the School District Meeting.
If the budget is not passed by voters, the default budget would
be $20.3 million.
"We could spend months looking at this budget, fine-tuning
it," said Williams. "The point is it's a bottom-line
budget and it's increasing a lot."
School and budget officials agreed to try to keep spending down
this year as the David R. Cawley School opened and the high school
tuition bill came in.
The purpose of the budget committee, said Williams, is to balance
the needs of the community.
"Just because we cut a position doesn't prevent the school
board from creating that position themselves," said Williams.
"They've got a lot of wiggle room to play with. We don't
want to cut everything, but we don't want to tie their hands.
We need to keep a balance."
Berk said board members have not met since the final cuts and
additions were made, but said members will meet the on Tuesday,
Feb. 3, in time to help present the budget to voters on Friday,
Feb. 6 at the deliberative session.
Candia
Dogs can stay
Barking bothers neighbors; others support
Pet-Agree
By KATE BENWAY
Staff Writer
kbenway@yourneighborhoodnews.com
The meeting room at the town hall was filled
with people; some sitting, some standing, some leaning against
the wall or on a table. The body heat generated by the crowd
made opening a window amidst below-zero cold a necessity.
For the first time in the building's history, according to some
town officials, the meeting room was filled to capacity.
And most were there to support resident and local business owner
Karen Smith.
For Smith, who's owned and operated Pet-Agree for 22 years, the
crowd was a welcome support system. On the corner of High Street
and Donovan Road, Pet-Agree is a grooming, boarding, day care
and training facility for dogs.
Smith came before the zoning board on Thursday, Jan. 22, to defend
herself against a noise complaint that led to a question about
the legality of her business.
Ultimately, she agreed to set up additional noise barriers as
members of the zoning board voted unanimously in favor of allowing
Smith to continue to operate as she has for over two decades.
"I'm elated," she said the next day, still fielding
calls and visits, warm wishes and flowers. "I'm so grateful
to everyone, from the staff to the customers to my friends."
But the happiness wasn't contagious as far as Smith's neighbors,
Helen and Noel Desilets, were concerned.
From their home at 669 High St., the Desilets said they are often
bothered by incessant barking by the dogs Smith takes care of
each day.
About five months ago, the couple, who are in their 80s and have
lived in their home for over 50 years, called the town to complain
about the barking.
"You don't realize how aggravating it is," said Helen
Desilets. "I'm out in my flower garden and it's just awful.
It's much worse in the summer."
Smith said she was notified of the complaint and went to the
building department in person to talk about it.
"I said, 'Should I put up a bigger fence or more trees?'
And they said I should just hire a lawyer, that I might have
to move my business," said Smith.
The complaint sparked concern that Smith was running a commercial
kennel a charge her lawyer, James Steiner, thoroughly debunked
at the zoning hearing.
Smith's business is grandfathered from any zoning requirements
laid on her property since opening over 20 years ago, Steiner
told board members.
"And as defined by state statute, Karen Smith is not operating
a commercial kennel," he said, pointing to several key factors.
The statute defines a commercial kennel as a business that generates
40 percent of its gross income from the sale or transfer of dogs,
and one that sells or transfers 10 or more litters each year.
Smith's business does neither, said Steiner.
In fact, Pet-Agree is not in the business of selling or adopting
any animals, said Smith.
"I offer doggie daycare, training, grooming and boarding,"
she said.
The sentiment was ultimately echoed by zoning board members as
well.
Meanwhile, though Helen and Noel Desilets were the only two to
speak out against Smith at the hearing, they stressed the complaint
was not based on any personal relationship, but simply their
desire to enjoy a barking-free summer season.
"This is not a personal character assassination attempt.
I like Karen very much," said Noel Desilets. "But the
barking is quite loud and it can go on for an hour or two. It's
quite obvious it's a lost cause. It's up to us to move right
now."
But Smith said she doesn't want to alienate any of her neighbors.
In fact, most of them showed up to support her at the hearing.
She agreed to plant evergreen trees along her property edge and
to put slats in her chain-link fences to block the travel of
the barking or other noise made by the dogs.
And zoning board members agreed that the compromise was the only
action they could mandate.
"I can very much sympathize with Mr. and Mrs. Desilets.
It can be a very annoying thing," said member Judith Szot.
"But after 22 years of working in this town, we can't change
it."
The sentiment was one the crowd was glad to hear. Supporters
hugged Smith and cheered upon hearing the final decision.
"I'm more than happy to do whatever I can to resolve this
problem," said Smith. "This is my lifeblood."
Epsom
Town Meeting and School District Meeting
Epsom to consider new library once more
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By RUSS CHOMA
Staff Writer
rchoma@yourneighborhoodnews.com
Epsom voters will have two separate chances
this week to alter the school and town warrants that will appear
on the March ballot.
During the Town Meeting, on Saturday, Jan. 31, voters will
get a chance to hear and possibly revise the details of the warrants,
including proposals to fund a new library and approve a full-time
fire chief.
Four days later on Wednesday, Feb. 4, voters
will have the same opportunity with the school district's warrant
articles, including one that would increase the district's annual
budget.
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· The deliberative session of the
Town Meeting is Saturday, Jan. 31, 9 a.m., at the
Epsom Central School gym. Snow date Feb. 7.
· The deliberative session of the School District Meeting
is Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 6:30 p.m., at the Epsom Central School
gym.
· Voting for town and school warrants and elections is
Tuesday, March 9, at the American Legion Hall,
from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Town Meeting
Town budget After working for several weeks to trim
the areas of greatest increase, the selectmen and budget committee
have both approved a proposed town budget up only slightly from
last year.
This year's proposed town budget is $2,162,280 - only $17,906
more than last year's town budget.
Approval of the budget will add 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed
property value to the tax rate. This translates to an increase
of $15 for the owner of a $150,000 home.
Library funding Proponents of a new library are once
again bringing a warrant article to the table seeking voter's
approval.
Numerous plans have been presented over the past 20 years, with
the last three efforts failing at the poll.
The proposed total cost of the building would be $750,000. Out
of that sum, the library committee is asking Epsom taxpayers
to pay for just $250,000. The rest of the funds will come from
private donations and money already in the capital reserve fund.
Voters will have two options to deal with this issue.
Article 1 proposes bonding the $250,000 over a period of five
years. This would have no impact on next year's tax rate.
Article 2 proposes raising the entire sum in one year. This would
add en estimated $1.49 per $1,000 of assessed value to the tax
rate.
Elected officials Articles 16 and 17 deal with a long-running
debate in town: Should the town's welfare officer and road agent
be elected officials?
The selectmen have endorsed these two articles and argue that
it's necessary they be appointed.
Rob Berry, chairman of the board of selectmen, said that at least
with the road agent position, the idea of electing the position
simply is no longer feasible.
"That worked back in 1895 when everybody knew everybody
and you had three roads," he said. "We're trying
to get a handle on the (departmental expenses) and we (the selectmen)
just end up running it because they keep changing."
School District Meeting
The single largest article appearing on the school district's
ballot this spring is approval of the district's operating budget.
The district is asking for $6,259,017 for the upcoming fiscal
year. This represents a projected tax increase of $2.70 per $1,000
of assessed property value.
For the past two years, voters have rejected the district's proposed
budget, forcing the school board to cut programs like music and
art for the first half of this school year.
There are five other warrants to be considered. They include
raising money to purchase the modular classroom the school is
already using, adding a fourth custodian, $25,000 to develop
land donated to the school for athletic fields, $150,000 to add
to the school construction capital reserve fund and $5,000 to
restore school board salaries to $1,000 per board member.
Allenstown
Town Meeting
Tax exemptions for elderly, fire truck
among warrants
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By RUSS CHOMA
Staff Writer
rchoma@yourneighborhoodnews.com
When Allenstown residents converge at Town
Meeting this year, they'll face a packed slate of warrants asking
voters to consider proposals ranging from zoning amendments to
new equipment for the fire department.
At the Jan. 31 deliberative session, voters will have the opportunity
to discuss and possibly amend the 29 warrants on the ballot.
Any registered voter can attend the meeting, which will be held
at 9 a.m. at the Allenstown Elementary School, and any voter
can propose an amendment. If a simple majority of those present
agree, the warrant can be amended.
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· The deliberative session
of the Town Meeting is Saturday, Jan. 31, 9 a.m., at Allenstown
Elementary School.
· The deliberative session of the School District Meeting
is Thursday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m., at Allenstown Elementary School.
· Voting for town and school officials and warrants is
Tuesday, March 9, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., at St. John the Baptist Church.
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Items of interest on the ballot include:
Article 10, town operating budget: By far the largest item
appearing on the ballot, this article asks voters to approve
an operating budget of $3,090,376. This year's budget is approximately
$200,376 more than last year's.
Town Administrator David Jodoin declined to give an exact
figure on how this would affect the tax rate. Jodoin said that
generally for every $213,000 spent over the previous year, the
tax rate goes up by $1 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Despite this, he said he was not ready to peg a number as a guaranteed
impact on the taxes because the situation could change.
Article 11, elderly exemption from property tax: This article,
asks voters to OK an expansion of the exemption from property
taxes already offered to elderly in town.
The article, if approved, would establish an exemption of $10,000
for residents aged 65 to 75; $15,000 for residents 75 to 80 and
$25,000 for residents 80 and over. In addition to age requirements,
residents would also have to qualify in terms of income.
Jodoin said this expanded exemption would help keep senior citizens
in town, which would be financially beneficial to the town.
"Anytime you can keep the elderly in their home, it's a
good idea," he said. "Once they move, chances are someone
will come in with kids."
Jodoin said the additional families and additional children would
add stress to the already overtaxed school system.
Article 16, possible renovations: If approved, this article would
provide the town with up to $40,000 to pay for a study to determine
the feasibility of town buildings. The study would review all
town buildings and determine the cost of remodeling, rehabilitating
or replacing each building.
This would increase next year's taxes by 18 cents per $1,000
of assessed property value. This would translate to a tax increase
of $27 for the owner of a $150,000 home.
Although selectmen voted to approve this article, the budget
committee did not.
Article 28: This article seeks to redirect fees currently paid
to the town towards the conservation commission.
Jodoin said there were several different designations for the
use of a property, and when a land owner changes the use from
one that encourages conservation to a more flexible use, there
is a fee. If approved, this article would redirect the money.
Seven different articles address fire department needs, both
for equipment and staff.
Several of the articles request a significant sum of money, including
Article 12 which asks for $78,364 to enter the first year of
a 10-year lease on a new fire truck. Neither the board of selectmen
nor the budget committee voted to recommend this item, which
would increase the tax rate by 37 cents per $1,000.
Another warrant item, Article 15, requests $50,864 for the hiring
of two new full-time firefighters. This item, which would increase
the tax rate by 24 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value,
also did not receive the recommendation of either board.
Candia
Red Hats at Robie's
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Dorothy Robie of Hooksett holds photos
of the old ferry crossing in town on the Merrimack River in the
early 1900s. She wore a red hat and purple dress as a member
of the newly formed Red Hat Society in Hooksett at their meeting
at Robie's Country Store. She shared memories of historic Hooksett,
as did Roger Hebert, past postmaster for the town.
The Red Hat Society is a group of women over 50 who gather just
to have fun. Its name is based on a poem that talks about how
when one gets old, one won't care about other people's comments
and will wear a red hat with a purple dress. The Hooksett chapter
of the group formed in October and welcomes members from others
towns as well.
(Warren Parnell Photo)
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