To the Editor:

Over the last year or so, the Goffstown Department of Public Works (GPW) has taken a hit or two in the editorial pages by disgruntled residents.

I would like to offer another side. Recently I e-mailed the GPW to ask about a drain issue next to a driveway on my property. The road that passes by the driveway was rebuilt last year and a real nice job was done to accommodate drainage along the sides of the road. The issue I e-mailed about was investigated by Jeff Sarette from GPW and a positive solution was reached.

I want to publicly thank Jeff for his help and all those at the GPW who have done an excellent job in rebuilding the flood-damaged roads despite repeated damage from the tremendous amount of water that pummeled us in the spring and summer months.

I would also like to ask Goffstown residents to do their part in recycling. You don’t know what you are missing until it is gone and I certainly don’t want to become like our neighbors in Bedford having to bring the smelly wet trash and recyclables to the transfer station in the trunk of my BMW, Acura, Cadillac or Audi!

Bruce Lemire
Goffstown

To the Editor:

I want to thank and commend Theresa Pare Curtis and “anonymous” for their letters to The Goffstown News regarding the Goffstown fire chief, Frank Carpentino.

They have raised some very good questions regarding the Goffstown fire chief’s responsibility in all of this controversy surrounding the Goffstown Fire Department. I agree with what they said in their letters and I bet a lot of other people agree too. My husband was also a member of the fire department until about three years ago. He was proud to have served the people of this town for 19 years.

I think a department is only a reflection of its leader. Where Frank Carpentino is the fire chief, perhaps he should look to himself for reasons why response to calls on weekends is sporadically low.

What happened to the abundant number of call (part-time) firefighters that we used to have three years ago? Our dedicated, well-trained and reliable call (part-time) firefighters seem to have been vanishing, one by one. Why?

In my opinion, if the chief had treated his personnel with fairness and respect, things might be different today. Personnel, whether they are full-time or part-time, are his most valuable asset on the fire department. By the way, whether they have the label of “call” or “part-time” or “per diem,” they are the same. They are paid by the town of Goffstown. They just are not full-time firefighters.

Before we try to fix something, we should find out why it broke in the first place. Twenty-four/seven is not the answer to the problem and it is not what this letter is about.

Mary Upton
Goffstown

To the Editor:

On Aug. 30, at approximately 5 p.m., I placed a 911 call for assistance for my husband, who was experiencing difficulty breathing.

He has COPD (emphysema and bronchitis). The response by the EMT personnel was outstanding. In no time, they were at our home and EMTs Allard and Miller (I don’t know their first names) and the driver of the ambulance and the fire truck with Eric Battey, quickly evaluated my husband’s situation and started treatment to alleviate his problem.

He was rushed to the Elliot Hospital emergency room and was subsequently admitted and remained in the hospital for six days. Words cannot express our thanks and appreciation for the swiftness of the response and the outstanding care which he received.

Had it been late at night, when staffing might not have been adequate, and time was of the essence, this letter might not have had a happy ending. We would like to urge the selectmen and the voters of the town of Goffstown to rethink the importance of 24/7 coverage.

We are all so secure in our lives that we never could imagine such a scenario as we experienced. We have always supported our fire and police departments and recognize how important it is to give them the tools they need to keep our town and its residents safe and secure.

So the next time you go to the polls to vote on issues that affect the staffing of these departments stop for a moment and think how important it is to have 24/7 coverage and vote accordingly.

We never thought something like this would ever happen to us, but it did and you could be the next emergency.

John and Janet MacDougall
Goffstown

To the Editor:

Is anyone else as shocked as I am that the Public Works Department is preparing to install a traffic circle (excuse me, they call it a roundabout) at the top of Henry Bridge and Center Streets? The last we heard about this was a year ago. I’ve heard nothing since then.

Why do we need to do something there? Typically, it isn’t a high accident spot. Granted there is a backup onto Henry Bridge, but I strongly doubt that the “round-about” will alleviate that situation. Trucks and buses, especially, will have a hard time trying to enter going uphill from a near dead stop.

Why are we spending our money and time on this? Don’t we have many other roads that need attention? Were other plans considered? Could we attempt something less costly and achieve the goal? (Whatever the goal is?) Where were the other public hearings on this? I had written a letter to the selectmen when this first came to light and received a letter telling me to come to the next public hearing. I never heard about another public hearing.

The Public Works Department already removed the old tree in the triangle. I don’t think it is too late to stop and really look at this plan. At least explain to the public why this is happening and what purpose it will serve, or is trying to serve. Personally, I’d rather see my tax dollars going to more worthwhile projects than “roundabout” solutions. Most people don’t like them and find them very frustrating. Wouldn’t a traffic light or stop sign accomplish the same thing but cost less money?

I don’t know the answers to these questions. They are questions I would have liked to have asked at the “public hearing” that no one that I’ve asked knows when or if it ever happened. I urge you to contact your selectmen and let them know how you feel.

Tricia Wynne
Goffstown

To the Editor:

The Solid Waste Commission’s next candidate for “Doing it Right” with respect to recycling with “Big Blue” is Mrs. Catherine G. Conley of 33 Jasmine Lane.

Actually, I should say with “Bigger Blue” because Mrs. Conley traded in her 65-gallon recycle tote with a 95-gallon tote well before these series of letters to the editor started.

Mrs. Conley believes that 60 percent of her waste stream is diverted to recycling and only 40 percent winds up trash.

And this is despite having four kids from 12 down to 2 years of age.

Even the 2-year-old knows that her personal yogurt snack package goes into the recycle bin, and the 2-year-old is always asking which bucket when she isn’t sure. Of course, the older kids participate with more certainty.

The Conley family has a big plastic tub in the kitchen with handles for the recyclables. All of the kids are very conscious to recycle, as are the parents. She tells me the kids stack boxes in one another to save room ­ cereal, granola and snack boxes, and they put paper good in the boxes as well.

Thank you, Conley family, for “doing it right” with respect to recycling.

Fred Plett, chairman
Goffstown Solid Waste Commission

To the Editor:

I had the incredible opportunity to be the head coach of the 10 and under girl’s softball team from the Kearsarge Mountain South Babe Ruth League. The league encompasses New Boston, Goffstown, Weare and Henniker.

The girls made it out of districts to go to the state tournament, where they had to battle back through the consolation bracket to win the title. From there, they went to the New England Regional Tournament where they once again fought back after losing their first game to win five straight games to play in the regional championship.

In the finals, this scrappy team never quit until the team from Brookfield, Conn., won by a run in extra innings.

I would like to publicly thank some key individuals who helped create this amazing opportunity. The first person is Lee Brown from New Boston, who has been the league president for many years. He has done so much to make the league well- organized and focused on giving the girls an opportunity to play in a learning atmosphere, yet create competitive teams. Lee is a class individual whose leadership has allowed this league to grow and develop talent that can challenge the other teams in the state.

The next two gentlemen who deserve recognition are Tim Landry from Henniker and Gerry Morin from Weare. They are the town directors who helped me with counsel, support and by scheduling fields to practice on.

The next gentleman is Mr. Goffstown Softball, Bruce Rand, the town’s director. He has been so supportive of the girls and been a prime reason why the girls in Goffstown can play in this league and why it is growing every year.

I would also like to thank Butch Gifford and Greg Hartnett, who are awesome individuals and great coaches. You won’t find any better role models in our community and it was an incredible pleasure to work with them.

I would like to thank John Turcotte and Mark Loos for keeping the book and helping us strategically position the girls to allow them to make the plays. I can’t forget Emma Campbell, Clay Campbell and Calahan Loos for being our bat persons and taking care of the equipment.

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the young ladies for working so hard, doing the best they coul, and battling to the very end. From Goffstown: Haeli Campbell, Hannah Gifford, Ashleigh Hartnett, Emily Olson, Erin Trnka and Brionne Turcotte. From Henniker: Kaitlyn Landry, Elena LaRose and Sarah Philbrick. From New Boston: Sara Peirce and from Weare; Chloe Loos.

I’m almost done. I would like to thank all the parents, family members and friends that came and were so supportive of the team. Your enthusiasm and unwavering encouragement helped the girls win so many close games, that you truly were our 11th person.

Finally, I would not have had this great experience if it had not been for my incredible wife, who was so supportive and took on more responsibilities so I could coach the team. She kept me organized, focused and listened to the every strategy and scenario a million times without getting mad. Thank you Colleen, you are truly amazing.

I look forward to next April when the season will start again and we can renew the friendships that have been formed to watch some great softball.

Mark Campbell
Goffstown