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Editorial

Sewage shock is price shock

 

Ginger KozlowskiNo one would ever argue these days that letting the Merrimack River be polluted by sewage is a good thing. Of course we all want our natural resources to be protected and our rivers to run clean.

But it is shocking to us that the state could so nonchalantly (it appears) put new regulations on the treatment of sewage without giving people more warning. Hooksett, Allenstown and Pembroke are already straining to provide sewer hookups to all the new houses and businesses coming in, and all of a sudden these towns have to finance a multi-million dollar type of sewage filtration?

We’re told to educate our children so none are left behind, but not how to pay for it. We’re told to bring our public buildings up to code for the disabled and for voting standards, but not how to pay for it. Now we’re told we have to clean up our sewer plants, but not how to pay for it. We’re told to pay for any number of great program ideas, but where is all this money supposed to come from?

Property values keep going up and tax bills with them. There are no money trees growing on these properties. People have to be able to pay their living expenses as well as their tax bills. Homeowners can’t be expected to keep coughing up money they don’t have for programs the state or federal governments fail to fund, clean rivers or not.

­ Ginger Kozlowski
Editor, Hooksett Banner

 

Letters
If Hooksett school bond is repaid, it does affect the tax rate

To the Editor:

As a persnickety wordsmith, I am upset by the report in the Nov. 4 issue of the Banner that the excess cash from the bonding of the Cawley/Memorial schools’ construction, if used for repairs to other school properties, would, in the words of our SAU, “have no effect on the tax rate.” This is absolutely not true.

Agreed, if the bonding overage is used for repairs, the school portion of our taxes will not go up – again. But, if the bond is used partly repaid, the school tax rate would go down – and that’s a definte “effect.” The phrase “effect on the tax rate” is often politically correct code for “tax increase!” It rankles me because officials of all stripes now use it to justify all kinds of public expenditures, and it’s sometimes wrong! And that’s always wrong!

I hope the Hooksett School Board does the right thing, as they have done before, and prepays the bond. The proposed repairs should be a new, separate item for debate.

Tom Barrett
Hooksett
Allenstown

 

No one saw anything wrong at deadly Pembroke intersection?

To the Editor:

I am writing in regards to the dangerous intersection located at Route 3 and Pembroke Hill Road in Pembroke, reading back on some of the recent year articles about how unsafe it is.

Considering there were 21 accidents resulting in 11 that were personal injury – OK – No one saw anything wrong here?

Then an article stating that the townspeople knew there was going to be a fatality and that it was just going to be a matter of time. If you all knew, then why did you wait? Just in case there wasn’t going to be fatality, that things were going to be OK?

But, what I don’t understand is: What about the other side?

Did you ever take into consideration all the lives that are not only affected, but also yet ruined on the other side? I didn’t until it happened to me, and quite frankly I’m pretty upset at the fact nothing was done soon after the first 5-10 MVA. Did you know intersection-related accidents are 3/4ths, are the number one leading cause in motor vehicle fatalities? And that’s without the intersection known as being a danger.

My life may not have changed physically or mentally. And I’ll tell you, I am the other side, and I have to let it be known that a traffic light would not have changed the circumstances of how the Nov. 26, 2003, MVA fatality happened. But maybe it will make others aware even just a little in different situations and prevent future MVA or fatalities. It’s worth the time, effort, and money. Yet the upgrades on Route 3 for the housing project – now that is a situation that needs top priority and attention? Yes, maybe they did need a new police department in Pembroke, but was that a top priority? Were people being hurt? Were lives forever being changed because of their location? Was the state or town losing money? OK, then why?

In Pembroke, there is an intersection that carries your child, your grandchild, your stepchild, your brother, your sister, on a school bus transporting them to and from school two times a day. I would like to let you know that there is a dangerous concern that their lives are 100 percent at risk of being severely injured or killed at this intersection. Maybe your mom, your dad or whomever it may be. Could you live with that on your conscience? Knowing something was going to happen? Yet, waiting until it did before something was done about it. Could you sleep at night? Pembroke townspeople, where are your priorities, really? I’m highly concerned.

Bianca Pinciaro
Pembroker

 

Hooksett PTO auction raises thousands while having fun

To the Editor:

The Hooksett Hawks PTO held its third annual fund raising Auction on Saturday, Nov. 6, at the Cawley Middle School and once again it was a huge success. With just under 200 items available at the silent and live auctions, there was something there for everyone.

Entertainment was provided by two comedians this year, Lauren Verge and Teddy Bergeron, and both had the audience in stitches.

We’d like to thank all those volunteers, parents and CMS staff who helped make this auction even better than last year’s.

A special thanks to our returning auctioneer, Billy “Going Once, Going Twice” Gahara and to all those businesses who donated goods and services to the auction. Without the support of these folks, the PTO would not be able to provide such a fun night out for our community while raising approximately $9,000 for our middle school and its students.

Thanks to: The American Legion, Blake Farms, Lugie Press, PSNH, Shaw’s, Shogun Japanese Steak House, Ocean National Bank, Edith and Bob Houlihan, Ray and Susan Guay, Mudge Real Estate Services, MTS Services, Grace Limousine, Adam Sandler, JJR Productions, Neighborhood News, Charmingfare Farm, Safe-T-Driving School, Faulkner’s Landscaping, Tri-Town Ice Arena, Pepsi Cola, Linda Harrington, The Body Shop, Russ Wyman, Susan Wheeler, the Burdzy family, Johnny 9 Irons, Granite State Flying, Plausawa Country Club, Ron Pedro, Grant Benson III, Lisa Devos, Dr. Lary Burleigh, Hooksett Hair Manor, Elaine Mondor, Merchant’s Automotive, HYAA, MacLean-Stevens Studios, Peterborough Baskets, Billy’s Sports Bar, Martial Arts Centers, Intervale Country Club, Great West Trading, The Mane Place, St George & Spenard Attorneys, Manchester Wolves, Manchester Monarchs, Delores Ferland, The Dana Center, Granite Gallery, SNHU Culinary Institute, World Cup Sports, Shorty’s Restaurant, Angela’s Pasta Shop, Spotlight Video, the Covey family, Commercial Property Tax Services, Topic of the Town, Michelle’s Pastries, The Home Depot, Delta Dental, Yarde Metal, The Circle Restaurant, Chantilly’s Restaurant, New Hampshire School of Ballet, Merrimack County Savings Bank, Mr. Bee’s Flowerland, Puritan Backroom Restaurant, Subway, Signature Style, Coldwell Banker Culbertson Realty, Longfellow’s Service Center, Belisle Granite, The Argo Family, Party Lite Candles, McGrath Law Firm, Seacoast Harley-Davidson, Andy Lalos, Silpada Designs Guylaine Robidoux, Jessica Payeur, Walk’N Cut, Highland Piano Studios, New Hampshire Snow and Skate, Target, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Myrtle Manor, Inkerbelles, Osborne’s Agway, Manchester Boy’s & Girl’s Club, Paula and Glen Rowley, Bull Run, Wild Rover, Dr. Spindel, Hooksett Tool Rental, Olympia Sport, Marie St. Onge, Hooksett Family Eyecare, Melinda Parker, Doris St. Pierre, Sean and Dorothy Darby, Supercuts, Corri Wilson, Crown Trophy, John’s Hallmark, Teach & Learn Shop, Levesque’s Sew & Vac, Goodale’s Bike Shop and Supreme Pizza.

Linda Penney
Hooksett

 

Hooksett Soccer Association hosts season-ending tourney

To the Editor:

The often fickle New England weather cooperated in a big way as Hooksett held its first-ever recreational soccer tournament on Sunday, Nov. 7, at Donati Field under sunny skies.

Fifteen teams representing the U-9/U-10 and U-11/U-12 divisions ended their seasons in style during an all-day round robin tournament.

In addition to soccer games contested on three fields at once, families enjoyed a variety of great foods provided by the Kiwanis Club of Hooksett and participated in a number of amusements such as “bouncing houses” and soccer shootout games.

Each player in the tournament also received a trophy, lunch and special gifts courtesy of Hooksett Soccer, the Kiwanis Club of Hooksett, The SEE Science Center, the New Hampshire Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, and the American Lung Association of New Hampshire.

Other sponsors of the event included The Bachman Company, Great State Beverages, Freihofer’s, Central Paper Products, BJ’s Wholesale Club and Robie’s Country Store.

Hooksett Soccer owes a huge debt of gratitude to its many sponsors and supporters. The concessions were staffed and operated by terrific volunteers from the Kiwanis Club of Hooksett. The tournament planning committee was headed by Andre Chagnon and included Derick Aumann, Marc Pinard and me. Marc Chagon served as public address announcer during the tournament. Hooksett Soccer also thanks Ed Ithier, our referee coordinator, and all of our wonderful youth referees.

In all, more than 600 people attended the tournament. It was a great event for our league and town, and we hope to do something like this next fall.

Chris Dugan
Bedford

 

Thanks for supporting Langlais

To the Editor:

Now that the excitement of this past election has settled, I am writing to express my gratitude to all my supporters. This includes all those who spoke to others about my candidacy, those who graciously put my signs on their property, those who held signs and were cheerleaders for me at the polls, as well as all of you who supported me with your vote.

I am awed but yet humbled by your support and gratified to know that family values are important to you as Suncook Valley citizens, as they are to me.

Thank you again for your vote of confidence. I look forward to being your say in Concord, representing Allenstown, Epsom and Pittsfield for the next two years.

Once again, you can visit my Web site at www.geocities.com /lang_nh_house/.

Thomas Langlais
Epsom

 

Thanks to 10,000+ voters who helped elect John Lynch

To the Editor:

I would like to thank the 10,000-plus voters of Senate District 16 who expressed their belief that mercury in the water, discrimination in health insurance, attacks on public education and the erosion of Constitutional rights is not the New Hampshire way. Many of us met for the first time, and we made a difference. Our efforts helped John Lynch and many others.

I’ve met many interesting people over the last few months. Riding my bicycle to meet voters has been a good experience. Well, except maybe for this one really long hill in Bow – but I made it all the way up! Changing Senate 16 is a long hill to climb too. The 2004 campaign is over, but the climb is just begun.

If readers have St. Martin signs left over, please contact us and we’ll pick them up.

Above all, stay involved and stay in touch. We need to watch the Senate and the House, and help Gov. Lynch whenever we can.

Our campaign Web site (www.stmartinforsenate.com) will remain up; please check it periodically and use it to contact us.

Thank you all for your confidence and support.

Tom St. Martin
Hooksett

 

Thanks for voting Larsen

To the Editor:

I want to thank the voters of Concord, Pembroke and Hopkinton for their generous vote of support this past election.

With your help we have moved our state to a more balanced, moderate position and have sent a message that we expect our State House leaders to uphold the New Hampshire tradition of ethical, honest and accountable government that represents all of the people.

I will continue to work to uphold those values. I am honored to return to the State Senate as your voice on issues of state and local importance.

Please feel free to call me at 271-3076 whenever I can be of assistance.

Sen. Sylvia Larsen
District 15