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The Share the Warmth blanket drive has finished up here at Neighborhood News, and it has given a warm feeling to more than just the recipients of those blankets. It gave our staff a warm, fuzzy feeling too. That’s the beauty of charity done from the heart – even when you don’t see who is receiving a gift, it gives you the feeling of having done something nice for someone.

This year was Neighborhood’s first effort at organizing some charitable drives. We collected food for the hungry at Thanksgiving as well as the blankets for this holiday season, and were very pleased at how many people in our communities made the effort to bring food and blankets to our offices. To those of you who took the time, spent the money, even knit or crocheted blankets for us, then made the effort to get those blankets out to our Bedford offices, we give you thanks from the bottom of our hearts, and on behalf of the nursing home residents who now have those blankets.

We did get to give out blankets personally to the residents of one nursing home, and it struck us how much this small gesture meant to the residents and staff members. One man, Arthur Richard Humphrey, at Presidential Oaks, particularly impressed us by asking the staff to help him sit up in bed, don a silly Santa hat, and have his photo taken because he was so happy to be given a blanket.

Ultimately, though, it was our readers who made it all possible. You are the ones who gave from the heart, and we thank you for your generosity.

­ Ginger Kozlowski
Editor, Hooksett Banner

To the Editor:
Thanks to all who made our holiday party and concert so successful last weekend:

Lisa Gillis, “Storyhour Moms,” Hannaford Food, BJs Wholesale Club, Dick Marshall, Girl Scouts, Katie Piszczek, Megan April, Patrick Lee Hebert, Ross Boyd, Jodi Thiele, Chris Ferrin, Marielle Metivier and Friends of the Library.

Amy Lapointe
Library Director
Hooksett Public Library

To the Editor:
I have been asked recently if the town needs to move ahead with the proposed renovation and addition to Epsom Central School this year, or if it can be put off.

My answer is that if the project is delayed another year or two, education will still go on in Epsom. We have a dedicated staff that will rise to the challenge and make the adjustments that are necessary to perform their jobs.

The question that I ask is whether we are willing to make the compromises that will be needed if we continue without this project.

This year we have first grade classes with 20-21 students when most studies show that 15-16 is the ideal number. Next year both first- and second-grade classes will be at these high levels. There is no room to add a class to reduce these numbers.

The library has been cut nearly in half to accommodate additional classrooms. Any plan to provide a class for gifted students has been shelved due to lack of space. The heating and ventilation system no longer provides the air quality that is needed in a school.

After all the progress that has been made over the past few years, it would be unfortunate to see the quality of education offered in Epsom regress because of an inadequate school building.

If this project is approved in March, the state will contribute 40 percent of the cost.

Next year this figure could drop to 30 percent, which would add close to $700,000 to the amount needed to be raised by taxpayers. Also, bond rates now are in the 4.5 percent range.

A delay of the project will most likely result in a higher interest rate with its increased cost. Now is the time to make this investment in Epsom’s future.

Don Harty
Epsom School Board

To the Editor:
My daughter gift-wrapped a box, complete with a ribbon, for Jesus. She cut a small slit in the top and cut strips of paper to fit inside. Upon these strips of paper, we write down things we would like to give Jesus for His birthday. Visitors, family and neighbors are invited to add their wishes to the box as well. It is our hearts that He desires and the thought is what really counts, but faith without works...

Tangible gifts of charity and assistance are highly favored by God. “You will know them by their fruits.” Actually, we are commanded to be fruitful. It all belongs to Him anyway. I have a great suggestion for those looking for a last minute gift for The Lord; Help us build Mount Zion Christian School! Time is short and the task is great. You can even help after Christmas, a little late is ok. Maybe you know someone who can help; business associates, co-workers, neighbors, builders, politicians, etc.

Mount Zion is a non-denominational Christian school and has students from 26 towns, representing 46 churches in the area. A need is being filled and an opportunity is now offered to families wishing to have a Bible-based education for their children, without the influence of any single denomination being exalted over another. This school was formed from two Christian schools that both needed a building by September 2005. These students and families need our help, now.

Many communities began and survived because generous citizens came forward in times of community need. Their names can be found on parks, roads and town buildings. Some may be forgotten to us, but never to those whom they have helped, or to the Lord. May we add your name to the “Founders Wall”?

Your tax-deductible treasures will live right here in New Hampshire and God has promised to store up treasures in Heaven which are everlasting and tax-free. Mount Zion is a worthy and faithful steward of Gods children and will be of your generous help. Call 606-7930, or visit www.mountzionNH.org, to find out more. Merry Christmas to all!

Dave Ross
Hooksett

To the Editor:
While silver bells are ringing,
While carolers are singing,
Please don’t forget the brave men and women of our military who are stationed far away.
Please don’t forget, if not for them perhaps we wouldn’t be free to celebrate the holiday.

While seated at the table, holding hands and saying grace,
Please don’t forget our troops in the desert sand,
Please don’t forget our troops who are away in another place.

While looking at your tree admiring its decorations,
Its beautiful glare
The tinsel, the garland, the colorful lights,
Please don’t forget, ask God to keep our military men and women in his care,
And ask for all of them to have a peaceful, silent night.

Robert Dobzanski
Manchester

To the Editor:
Good morning. I would like to send along kudos to the Hooksett Fire Department. Yesterday, they cruised down my street with Christmas lights and horns blowing on the truck. Santa rode up on the back and they stopped at houses when kids came out to greet him! I was very impressed and just want to publicly commend them for their constant dedication and good will in our community.

Lin Benz
Hooksett

By Bert Whittemore
Contributing Writer

While looking for something else recently among the mementoes of family life, I came across a document that caused me to think about another time and place. It was a copy of my father’s 1937 Internal Revenue filing. There were two things that immediately drew one’s attention. In the first place, it was only six lines long and showed that dear old Dad made $3,400 that year. This was a princely sum in the middle of the Depression. He successfully raised three active, voracious sons and supported the family in a comfortable manner with that level of income. The other item was that he had an income at all. During those tough times, many family heads, including my grandfather, had no income at all.

One wonders how the government managed to get along with such meager income returns. During those dark years, there were none of the ubiquitous social programs we have become accustomed to. Still, the mail had to be delivered (3 cents), teachers paid ($2,000 a year), dead buried ($150), etc.

On a happier note, I’ve included a photo of a visit by the then president, Dwight Eisenhower, to New Hampshire and Maine in 1955. After a self-consciously primitive lunch at the Dartmouth College grant in New Hampshire, the presidential party traveled by car to Lake Parmachenee in Oxford County, Maine, for some fishing and other manly pursuits. The photo shows my father chatting with Ike there. The late presidential chief of staff, Gov. Sherman Adams, was behind all this, of course, and a good time was had by all. At this late date, I’m struck by the fact that both men work neckties and jackets even in that rural setting. As a matter of fact, we all did during those times. I had to wear a tie to classes in secondary school and graduate school in the ’50s.

What seemed like a big joke at the time was the ill-concealed fact that the spot chosen for the presidential fishing hole (Little Boy’s Falls on the Magalloway River) was stocked with a big fat hungry trout. The fish were starved for days and nets were put both up- and downstream to keep the little critters from straying too far from the lures offered by the crusading hero of the European war. The press crowded around to watch as Ike brought several fish with admirable ease. It wasn’t a very serious challenge for him, all knew. I was particularly struck by the fact that no one mentioned the salting of the mine, so to speak, least of all the presidents, who knew how to be a good guest and how to play the part of a delighted sportsman.

In this day of photo ops and scriptured ad libs, such harmless fun seems primitive and quaint. Those days shouldn’t be forgotten, however. Ike’s visit was an event; long savored by the North Country and other Granite Staters. They even struck a license plate to commemmorate the event. They don’t do that in these times. Here in New Hampshire, we have long become accustomed to presidents and candidates eating baked beans, riding snowmobiles, kissing babies and promising the world to all who care to listen. It is well to savor less cynical times when a vest and tie were expected in the most casual atmosphere.

Bert Whittemore is a Pembroke resident who writes an occasional column on his memories of the area’s history.