To the Editor:

A great disservice has been dealt the taxpayers of Goffstown by two former Goffstown Board of Selectmen (BOS) members, two current members and the town administrator!

Failing to grant the wishes of voters (who have voted in favor of a 24/7 staffed fire department) and attempting to persuade townspeople that other options exist is just a method of stalling the implementation of a 24/7 system.

These same administrators would have us believe that a call force of firefighters can effectively cover all incidents occurring in the nighttime hours when full-time paid firefighters are off duty.

Three families in the Wallace Road/Shirley Hill area know first hand what a lack of manpower leads to when a fire occurs. In less than a year, these three fires (and others), floods, accidents and other calls for assistance have stretched the limits of the Goffstown Fire Department’s (GFD) manpower. A recent Goffstown News article about an e-mail (which was somehow acquired by The Goffstown News) quotes Fire Chief Frank Carpentino about the problem of the lack of manpower at GFD. This problem could result in a delayed response to an emergency in town. This was evident in at least one of the three fires already mentioned.

It is known that the intensity of a fire doubles every minute and given that a 20-some-odd minute delay occurred at this fire, it created a critical hardship for the first arriving crew. One firefighter was even forced to drive an emergency vehicle alone when after waiting for other firefighters to arrive at the station, as he made the decision that he had to get the vehicle to the fire scene to provide water and could no longer hope a crew would arrive. Unfortunately, he had to do the work of two to three firefighters once he got to the scene.

Goffstown is not unique! Many communities in New Hampshire and the country are having trouble attracting volunteers or call firefighters to first join the department and then answer alarms. Being a firefighter demands a substantial amount of time training, becoming certified, meeting and answering alarms. In the past, a volunteer or call firefighter might have an alcoholic beverage or two at a family gathering or party and not think twice about answering a fire call. For good reason, this is no longer tolerated by some of the same departments that in the past overlooked the situation. This is one reason for call firefighters in any community to miss a call for an emergency.

Goffstown is no longer an agrarian community with a small population. Goffstown is a small city that can support a full-time fire department 24/7 with on-duty firefighters that can answer an alarm in an instant and be on the scene in time to save property and lives.

The BOS needs to implement the 24/7 system and then address other problems that exist in the GFD like moving the dispatching duties for fire calls to the pros at GFD (and upgrading the radio system) and leaving the police dispatching duties to the police!

Upgrade the GFD fire apparatus and add a large-volume tanker to respond to areas of the town where water is scarce. Another substation somewhere on Shirley Hill would also give the residents in this area a quicker response time to emergencies.

Selectman Nick Campasano had a wonderful idea in gathering a committee of people to brainstorm a solution to solve the 24/7 dilemma. Unfortunately, the only viable solution is full-time on-duty personnel. Nick’s idea could nevertheless be used by the BOS and the town administrator to find solutions to the major problem in Goffstown which is to expand (more commercial and industrial growth) Goffstown’s tax base so that vital monies would not have to be cut from town departments year after year!

The BOS needs to fully fund the GFD and implement the 24/7 system before property loss becomes loss of life!

Bruce Lemire
Goffstown

To the Editor:

The Solid Waste Commission’s next candidate for “Doing it Right” with respect to recycling with “Big Blue” is the Mark and Angie Battey family at 44 Shirley Park Road. They have a 95-gallon “Big Blue” recycle tote and the standard 65-gallon trash tote.

Angie tells me that they have two 13-gallon waste baskets in their kitchen, one for trash and one for recycle. They fill up the recycle once every day, and the recycle bin is overflowing every week, while the green trash tote is about half-full.

They generate a large waste stream, because it is a family with five kids. In the recycle container goes cans, soda bottles, water bottles, newspapers, magazines, junk mail, shredded letter mail in a bag, meat containers and just about everything except food waste and “icky” stuff like paper towels with food waste.

Angie estimates that about 70 percent of the waste stream is diverted to recycling. To her, it is a matter of convenience to recycle, because if she didn’t, she would have so much trash that it couldn’t possibly fit in the trash tote and she would have to bring it to the transfer station.

I extend a hearty thank you to the Battey family for “doing it right” with respect to recycling.

Fred Plett, chairman
Goffstown Solid Waste Commission

To the Editor:

My name is Barbara Barbour and I am running as a Democratic write-in candidate for state representative in Hillsborough District 7 (Goffstown/Weare).

I care deeply about the values on which this country was founded. I see the world changing in ways that frankly concern me. I’d like to work in positive ways to insure a safe, healthy world for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren.

In the past I was a member of the Solid Waste Commission, supporting the recycling program and I worked on the Rails to Trails for Goffstown. I worked on the proposal to get Goffstown designated as a Main Street Community and I continue to support its goals. I’m also a Korean War veteran and member of Veterans for Peace.

For decades I have supported renewable energy and in the early ’70s I designed my home to be passive solar and I still enjoy working in my gorgeous, chemical-free vegetable and flower gardens.

As a retired educator, I continue to share my knowledge and skills as an adult education teacher.

I want the setting of education goals kept in the hands of the local community as opposed to unfunded federal mandates like No Child Left Behind.

I am a firm believer in the separation of church and state and that is why I want our tax dollars to support our public schools rather than faith-based church schools.

I am running for state representative because I care deeply about our state and our communities and I want to make a positive difference.

If you agree with these values, I am asking you to write in the name Barbara Barbour for state representative on the Democratic ballot.

Barbara Barbour
Goffstown

To the Editor:

After reading The Goffstown News last week, some readers may be questioning why the Goffstown School District installed magnetic locks to the entrance of Mountain View Middle School. Simply put, the safety and security of our children and school staff is of paramount concern.

Over the last couple of years, the school board has worked closely with our school administrators and the Goffstown Budget Committee to include reasonable security measures in the school budget. The recent installation of security systems, video cameras and magnetic locks at our middle school and our high school are a result of those discussions. In addition, we continue to reassess the security needs of all of our schools, including our three elementary schools, and develop appropriate plans to enhance security.

The Goffstown School District recognizes the need to ensure the safety and well being of our students and staff during the school day. The installation of magnetic locks and securing the building during school hours at MVMS is a reasonable precaution that prevents individuals without a business purpose from entering the building. Over the last couple of years, we’ve used a similar system at Goffstown High School and we have received favorable feedback from parents and community members.

Please understand that while there have been no incidents of breached security at MVMS, we are taking these precautions to reduce the likelihood of a future event. Rest assured that at MVMS and all of our other schools, we welcome parents and other individuals who need to visit our buildings.

If you have any other questions or concerns about the security of our school facilities, please contact the school building principal or the SAU 19 office at 497-4818.

Scott Gross
Goffstown School Board

To the Editor:

I am sorry that Gov. Lynch and others have resorted to name calling in response to University of New Hampshire Professor Woodward’s beliefs about Sept. 11. Roughly 80 million people in this country, according to a recent poll, now openly suspect government complicity in the attacks.

It is time for real, legitimate debate and a proper independent investigation, not name calling and childish ridicule. The idea that a government which is supposed to protect us may be abusing us is so traumatic, abhorrent and devastating to contemplate that the American people are petrified at the ramifications and in deep denial. Psychologists call it cognitive dissonance. Patriotic Americans deserve the truth and will not accept being labeled as unpatriotic.

There are too many unanswered questions and too many questions with inadequate answers. We love our country, and it is absolutely imperative for us to know if corrupt, rogue elements within our government were part of Sept. 11. The future security and survival of our republic is at stake. A herd mentality that is easily manipulated by a compliant media is no longer an option. Blind faith in bad leaders is not patriotic.

The war in Iraq was sold to us in terms of national security, freedom, democracy, human rights, defeating terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, but really has more to do with money, oil and raw imperial power. It was based on half-truths, omissions, deceptions, fear and lies and it has taken the lives of thousands of our finest youth and untold thousands of Iraqi civilian men, women and children.

We must have the courage to look into the abyss that shelters our president, vice president, secretaries of state and war and Congress. Slavish obedience and unquestioning deference to power will not help us out of the mess we are in.

Charles B. Carr
New Boston

To the Editor:

As president of Goffstown Junior Baseball, I am using this opportunity to thank all of those who have made our program such a success over the years.

This season, GJB captured both the 9- to 10-year-old state championship and the Matty Dobens Minor League Championship. But beyond the banners, I hope that we lived up to our primary goal of having fun while teaching children to play baseball, while also teaching the fundamentals of life, fair play and good sportsmanship.

But we cannot stand on our laurels for too long because once again it is time to elect our board of directors.

There will be a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 6:30 p.m., in the back of the concessions stand at the Villa complex.

We are an all-volunteer organization. We do not work without your help and as grateful as we are for your help, it seems that each year the number of volunteers decreases although the number of participants in our program continues to increase.

All that we ask is that anyone who may be interested in being part of a very successful organization and who has the time and energy to dedicate to improving it, come on out.

Do not feel that it is a requirement to be a baseball expert to be on the board. We need more hands on deck to keep this all working.

John A. Riehl
Goffstown

To the Editor:

I recently announced that I am running for a seat as a state representative from Goffstown and Weare.

I wish to thank all of the many people who have expressed their support. It is truly pleasing to see the number of people who have told me they will support me with their votes on Sept. 12.

I welcome any questions or input from the voters at www.russellday.com.

I want to continue to hear from the voters, as I am very concerned about their issues and positions.

I believe that I have the energy, experience in state government and knowledge to be a strong voice for our towns in the legislature. Thanks to you all.

Russell Day
Goffstown