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With a Halloween season that now stretches almost
from the end of August to Oct. 31, and a Christmas –
oops, holiday – season that seems never to end, it’s
easy to overlook Thanksgiving. It’s just not a very commercial
holiday. About the only merchants who make
out for Thanksgiving are the grocery stores, and that’s
hardly on the level of Christmas shopping.
That black Friday of shopping madness the day after
Thanksgiving may be upon us, but let’s first take that
breather between big holidays and enjoy Thanksgiving
for what it offers – time off from work with family and
friends, with no more expectation than that you eat a
hearty meal and perhaps watch some football.
We’re thankful for a holiday that lets us reflect upon
the good in our lives. Tell your loved ones how much
they mean to you, appreciate the things you have, and
above all, enjoy dessert!
Ginger Kozlowski
Editor, Hooksett Banner
To the Editor:
Last week you published a
letter for me in regards to the
upgrades at the Route 3 and
Pembroke Hill Road intersection
and its posing dangers, and
I would like to thank you for
that. This week I would like to
give my thanks to all who aided
in the Nov. 26, 2003, motor
vehicle accident.
My first thanks goes out to
the Pembroke Fire Department
for their response and their caring
words; second to the
Pembroke Police Department,
also for their quick response
and understanding.
An even bigger thank you to
Pamela Algeyer for her comforting
words at the hospital.
I’ll always remember what you
told me. You said there’s one
thing you always have to
remember and that is that no
matter what this outcome is, it
wasn’t your fault. Those kind,
understanding, nonjudgmental
words have helped me through
my healing, and for this I thank
you.
Also Rev. Dan, who rode in
the ambulance with me and
held my hand all the way,
assuring me that things would
be OK. For praying with me,
and for staying with me until
my family arrived and then
more, thank you from the bottom
of my heart.
I thank the Tri-Town
Ambulance driver and the
women who cared for me in the
back. I would also like to thank
Guy Vachon and his co-worker
at the gas station for their quick
response in calling 911, also all
the people who stopped to help
as they were going through
their day.
If there is anyone I’ve forgotten,
well, thank you.
Most importantly, I would
like to say to Mrs. Davis’s
loved ones that I am sorry for
the pain that has been cast upon
your lives. I think about you
often, and I pray for you a lot. I
wonder how you all are doing
in your healing and can only
say how truly sorry that for
whatever reason your mom
crossed through the intersection
on that November day, that it
had to be me God put in that
spot.
I, too, carry much pain, pain
much like yours (it’s just the
other side of your pain), and I
would like for you all to know
that for me and my family it has
changed our whole lives around
forever. Please don’t feel as
though I walked away from the
accident and just went on living
my life, because the truth is
nothing about me or my life has
been the same since.
I never had the pleasure of
knowing your mom, but am
sure she was a beautiful loving
person and probably a saint to
you as well as many others.
From the bottom of my heart,
I’m sorry for your pain. I will
never forget as I walk my journey
through life, and I will forever
pray for God to make your
load lighter and walk with you
in your times of need, and when
he can’t be there, I’ll pray for
him to send an angel that’s able
to take the lead.
Bianca Pinciaro
Allenstown
Food Bank freezers are empty as holiday season approaches
To the Editor:
As Thanksgiving Day draws
near, the number of requests for
holiday meals has surged at the
New Hampshire Food Bank. To
date, the Food Bank has
received over 7,500 requests for
turkeys and they expect that
number to exceed 10,000.
Unfortunately, the freezers are
empty. While they have been
campaigning, and have raised
some money, it still is not
enough to meet this enormous
demand.
Each day, thousands of needy
families across the State rely on
the New Hampshire Food Bank
to provide their next meal.
Distribution has risen over 50
percent in the past year. While
it is good that more food is
reaching those in need, the
empty shelves are cause for concern.
As the only Food Bank in
New Hampshire, they serve the
nearly 80,000 living at or below
the poverty level. Thousands of
your neighbors struggle all year
long to provide enough food for
their families, and this struggle
only worsens when heating bills
come due.
The Food Bank’s goal is to
make the holiday season joyous
and abundant for everyone. In
the coming weeks. The Food
Bank will campaign tirelessly to
meet that demand. However,
they can’t do it alone. Through
the generosity of individuals
and companies, they are able to
reach many needy residents in
the state. The Food Bank
accepts all forms of donations ö
cash, checks, credit card, inkind
donations, and of course,
food products and other grocery
items.
By soliciting donations of
food and grocery items and
channeling those supplies
through their network of over
320 soup kitchens, shelters and
food pantries they are working
to ensure that people at risk of
hunger across the state get
enough food to eat. They do
this very efficiently·in fact. For
every dollar contributed, we distribute
four meals for people in
need.
Please, join the fight against
hunger. Please, help make this
holiday season and the coming
new year a celebration for
everyone. Please, donate today.
To send a donation, call 669-
9725 or mail to: The New
Hampshire Food Bank, 62 West
Brook Street, Manchester, NH
03103
Erin Chamberlin
Program Services Director
New Hampshire Food Bank
62 West Brook St.
Manchester
Thanks to all who voted for Democrats; now stay vigilant
To the Editor:
As one of eight Democrats to
run for state representative from
Auburn, I write to express our
collective thanks to all those
who cast votes for a team that
was pledged to move the state in
a new direction. Unfortunately,
none of us won, but we will
remain vigilant and monitor
how all nine Republican representatives
vote, especially
regarding education funding.
We offer our opponents congratulations
but we will remain
their “loyal opposition.” Key
issues and legislation in 2005
will deal with reform of health
insurance, Medicare and
Medicaid, the environment, and
restoring full funding for the
Healthy Kids program as well as
LCHIP.
New Hampshire is a wonderful
state in which to live and
raise a family. We hope that it
will continue to be so for future
generations. This means that we
must have legislators who are
pledged to maintain a safe and
clean environment and who
work to maintain those essential
state services needed by the elderly,
the disabled and infants
and young children.
Overall, we Democrats hope
and trust that our newly-elected
state legislators put children
first. Thank you.
William Thomas
Auburn
Now that elections are over, don’t play the blame game
To the Editor:
First, I would like to thank
God for encouraging and motivating
His people to vote and
campaign for the candidate most
closely aligned with Christian
teaching. Being a Christian, I
had reservations with both candidates
and had to choose the
more authentic one. Second, I
sincerely thank all who voted
for doing their duty.
This election proved that
America is still the greatest
nation on earth. The involvement
and determination exhibited
by both sides was invigorating
and exciting. Regardless of
the radicals and lawbreakers, the
outcome was decided by voters
of all stripes, democratically and
undeniably.
Now that it is over, how you
voted is no longer an issue. We
are all Americans and need to
get back to our lives, jobs and
families. I did not vote against
you and you didn’t vote against
me. We vote for each other and
what our best opinions were
regarding our country’s leaders.
Hopefully, that is how we all
vote, not according to party, nor
person, but to rational thoughts
and beliefs.
Those who continue to play
the “blame game” and attempt
to divine why we voted the way
we did should sit down and shut
up. Your activities only cause
division and hate. To those who
voted for the first time, please
don’t let it be the last, nor
reserve your votes only for
national elections. We need you
at the local elections and Town
Meeting too!
May God continue to bless
America and keep our nation
safe for future elections.
Dave Ross
Hooksett
Why another Hooksett plaza?
To the Editor:
Saturday, Nov. 13, we
shopped at the Shaw’s plaza off
Hooksett Road. Staring at the
many vacant storefronts, we
couldn’t help but wonder wny
we need another plaza on
Hooksett Road! (as per Nov. 10
Hooksett Banner front page)
Wal-Mart has stated their
intentions to move and leave its
space in the plaza vacant. That
means 90 percent of this plaza
will be vacant and ugly. Is this
smart land use? Smart for
Hooksett traffic? We think not!
Sara and Butch Norton
Hooksett
Candia food drive nets 2 tons
To the Editor:
A special “Thank You” to the
residents of Candia who put out
their Scouting for Food bags last
Saturday, Nov. 20.
Over 100 Candia Boy Scouts,
Cub Scouts, parents, Candia
Woman’s Club members and
other volunteers worked from
dawn till dusk, driving all over
town, picking up bags and delivering
them to the Candia Food
Pantry, where they were counted,
weighed, sorted and organized.
Over two tons of food were
collected and will be available
for needy families in Candia for
the coming holidays.
The Candia Food Pantry is
located in the Candia Town
Office Building and food donations
can be dropped off there, at
the Candia Moore School or put
in the specially-marked container
in the lobby of the Candia
Post Office. Donations of nonperishable
food items are always
needed and always appreciated.
If you have any questions
about the Food Pantry, you may
contact them at the Town Office
(483-8101) during their regular
office hours.
Richard H. Snow
Candia
Cub Scouts say thanks
To the Editor:
Pack 97 would like to thank
all of the Cub Scouts, their parents,
family and friends for their
help in this year’s Popcorn
Fundraiser. This year’s event
was very successful because of
their hard work and support.
Popcorn will be delivered beginning
this week (Nov. 22).
The Pack would also like to
thank the Cub Scouts and their
families for making the
Father/Son Cake Auction a huge
success. All of the cakes were
amazing, and the bidding was
intense. It made for a fun night
and all of the money raised will
be used on supplies and activities
for the Cub Scouts.
Thanks again for your participation
and support!
Tom Gilligan
Pack 97
Allenstown
Hooksett Boy Scouts thank
community for food donations
To the Editor:
The Scouts, leaders and committees
of Hooksett Cub Pack
and Boy Scout Troop 292
would like to thank all of the
residents of the town for supporting
the annual Daniel
Webster Council Scouting for
Food Campaign. With your
generous donations, we were
able to supply the Hooksett
Food Pantry with nearly 6,000
food items. These items will
help the Hooksett Food Pantry
supply those families in need
this holiday season. We wish all
of you a happy holiday season
and hope that you are humbled
by the thought that you made a
difference in the life of those
less fortunate.
Again, thank you, for your
donations.
Scott Ladieu
Committee Chairman
Boy Scout Troop 292
Hooksett
