YourNeighborhoodNews.com: The Hooksett Banner

It was disappointing to us to see the $1.5 million bond to convert the old Hooksett Village School building into town offices and a community center fail at the polls this week. The need for more space at town hall is clear, and the majority of residents surveyed indicated their interest in having a community center. This building will now sit unused for another year when it could have been useful to the community.

Our feeling is that residents are always put off by any request for a million bucks or more. It's a magical number that triggers an automatic "no" response. Can the upgrades be done for less money? We will find out soon enough. Often, when well-intentioned projects are shot down, a better plan is devised. The plans for Hooksett's new middle school are a great example of this - just look at Cawley School, which took several years and plans to be the right one for Hooksett.
-Ginger Kozlowski

Such an event would normally not merit attention, no less a letter to the Banner. However, for Edna and Candia, this was the end of 43 years of her service to the library; first as librarian and then as a trustee. She also had the dream more than a score of years ago to build a new library in town. She was instrumental in making that dream a reality in 2003.

It was with great regret that the trustees accepted Edna's resignation. We had persuaded her to stay on for the last few years; for her wisdom, experience, common sense and intimate knowledge of the library were invaluable to us. Her wit and smile will be particularly missed at the trustees' meetings.

The town of Candia and in particular, the library trustees, owe Edna Brown a huge thank you for her 43 years of loyal and loving service to the Smyth Public Library.

Richard A. Mitchell
Chairman
On behalf of the trustees of
the Smyth Public Library
Candia

At the time I was the president of the Hooksett-ites and was chosen to be their representative.

There was concern among the members of the Hooksettites that a senior center would mean that our group would lose our weekly meeting room at the Hooksett Public Library. The Advisory Committee was informed of these concerns and I was assured that this would not happen. These planned renovations are for a community center, not just a senior center.

When a local newspaper reported that the planned community center would have space for Meals on Wheels and the Hooksett-ites, the Hooksettites previously voiced concerns resurfaced. We do not want to lose our library facility, which at this time, fulfills all our needs. In the future if we outgrow the space allotted to us then we will have to relocate.

Do you think we spent too much money remodeling and building schools too fast which is why we are coming up short on other school budget items?

Do you realize your budget demands and increased property taxes have forced retirees to sell their homes and leave their life long community?

Do you realize that people 50 and older are now selling their houses and heading south due to ever increasing property taxes?

Do you realize that since the last property revaluation - for some Hooksettites - their monthly property tax expense is getting closer to their monthly mortgage payment?

Do you realize that Hooksettites - paychecks or pensions are not increasing exponentially each year?

It's been a busy time for the Pembroke Scouts. The Pinewood Derby took place in April, and many Scouts recently toured the Pembroke Library and visited the Currier Art Museum in Manchester. One afternoon they participated in a rocket building project at Michael's Stores. Future activities include the Tiger Picnic and an overnight stay on a battleship in Quincy, Mass.

Thanks to those who supported the Scouts by pledging and contributing to the Hikea- Thon effort. The money will go toward summer camp and, administrative uses. The Webelos had a great time at Camp Carpenter last year and plan to go this July as well.

Brice Pepin, Bob Royer, Herb Tardiff, Ethan Howard, Lynn Howard, Greg Rolfe, Darren Panzieri, Jerry Nye, Marc Palmer, Christopher Palmer, Richard Busta, L. Charles Firth, Wayne Bouley, Everett Harriman, D.M. Huntress, Ray Racicot, Bruce Gilbert, Jess Eaton, Rick Eaton, Donna Roy, R. John Roy, Bill Lordan, John Lordan, Mike McCarthy, Becki McCarthy, Tom McCarthy, Amy McCarthy, Brian Heselton, Mark Kehoe, Jim Trombly, Brandon Trombly, Dave Rogers, Jim Fusco, Janice Fusco, Theodore Davis, Brenda Nicole, Bob Emery, Matt Emery, Allan Villenau, Brian Squire, Eric Squire, Gus Anderson, Tommy Anderson, Andrew Anderson, Michael Anderson and Linda Anderson and Phil and Joyce McEvoy.

The following brought vital equipment: Frank Minakin for a tractor with bucket and winch, Emerson Heald for a Cat loader, Dan Carpenter for Dumpsters and Mike Pepin for a tractor with bucket. This equipment was crucial to our success of running a project of this magnitude withy no injuries.

Some friends and family came from other communities to lend us a helping hand: Jennifer Bouley O'Leary of Candia, Jarrod Dube of Candia, A.J. Gordon Sr. and A.J. Gordon Jr. of Derry and Mario Pelletier of New Boston.

We would like to thank Troop 127 for sending Scouts and parents to help out and Steve Padfield of Myles Travel Plaza for donating bottled water and ice and the Auburn Lions Club supplied coffee and donuts for all of those that took time out of their busy lives to help out on this hometown project!

We are not finished yet. Due to the low turnout of volunteers, so we will be scheduling another date soon. If you are interested in some community service, contact Norm Bouley at 483-4825, 617-413-4633 or azteamster@aol.com.

I was surprised by the number of Candia residents that do not understand how small town government works. We have a day of voting to elect our energetic and hopefully dedicated public officials. These elected officials are our voice! They should be looking out for the welfare of the town, the residents and the proper schooling of our children.

We then have a School District Meeting and a Town Meeting where everyone's voice should be allowed to be heard. However unfortunate, Robert's Rules of Order prevailed at the School District Meeting this year. I believe that every voice should be heard, not that of a select few that know how to use Robert's Rules of Order. I was educated at the School District Meeting and it was not on Robert's Rules of Order. I learned that a select few, of our more outspoken Candia residents and elected officials, do not care about the education of our children. Candia children are going to be our future leaders of this fine country.

I also have been attending more Candia School Board meetings than in the past. The average attendance of town residents is probably four. Yes, that is four concerned residents. A lot happens at these meetings that all residents, not just parents, should know about. This is getting informed about the schools.

At the monthly meetings of the school board and the board of selectmen, a lot can be learned about your elected officials. You will find out if they, the elected representatives of your voice, are truly talking for you and the town's well-being. With consistent votes of 4 to 1 or 2 to 1, I begin to wonder if all of my elected officials are looking out for my towns' wellbeing. You should also question if your elected officials are looking out for you and your town's well-being. This is a small part of getting involved.

Please consider getting more involved in your town government by seeing what your elected officials are doing or not doing for you by going to the monthly meetings. The elected officials are your voice for change!

Other ways of getting involved is by volunteering. It could be at the school or it could be on one of the many under-volunteered committees in the town. A selectman once told me "the town of Candia is run by 45 people." Let's change that number today. Please get involved and volunteer!

Their new family members are foreign high school students, sponsored by PAX-Program of Academic Exchange, and the students are nearing the end of their five- or 10-month stay in New Hampshire.

For each, the dream of living and studying in the USA for a year was made possible because of the kindness and generosity of a very special "mom" who does, indeed, deserve recognition on Mother's Day.

This year, a special recognition in Pembroke goes to Diane Johnston, hosting Lisa from Germany (CCI) and Deborah Markow in Allenstown, hosting Azri from Malaysia.

As community coordinator for PAX, the educational foundation sponsoring this program, which promotes friendship and understanding across borders, I know full well the challenges and rewards of incorporating a foreign teenagers into one's family life.

As the year draws to a close and that one-time stranger has become a true family member, "Happy Mother's Day" has a particularly special meaning for both host mother and PAX student.

I would like to add to the students - "Happy Mother's Day" wishes my own grateful appreciation to these host mothers (and fathers too, of course!), who agreed last August to make room in their homes and hearts for a young teenager from a faraway country.

I also invite new families to extend the same generosity and friendship and become "moms" and "dads" to teens arriving this August from all over the world.