Nancy Morin
Hooksett

This is the only way that our community knows what we do and what we stand for. We have such wonderful programs helping veterans and people in need.

We supported our department president, Kathy Fernald’s, project (songs of love) and our department commander, Charlie Smith’s, project (stones for the N.H. veterans cemetary in Boscawen). We have supported Special Olympics, Children’s Miracle Network, Christmas Tree gift shop at the veterans hospital, given food to the food pantry, put together four Thanksgiving baskets for the needy, helped fire victims, helped our schools, and many other things too numerous to mention.

Thank you again for printing my articles. You are the greatest.

Jean A. Talford
Pembroke

But we hear we do not have enough money to fix schools, pay police or pay teachers. Furthermore, we can’t afford to spray for insects which spread fatal diseases or even install street lights. Is there waste? What are we doing with our tax money?

Alan R. Curtis
Hooksett

If Cabela’s is planning to build in Hooksett in the new TIF, OK. If it means jobs, lowpaying though they may be, OK. If $14 million of the requested $18 million is needed specifically to offset development infrastructure costs (improved roads, conservation issues, sewage treatment capacity, etc), fine. But if Hooksett councilors want to turn TIF funds into corporate kickbacks or themepark money, we should all decry this foul plan. Town councilors might call a $4 million kickback to Cabela’s for Cabela’s interior decorating a TIF, but it smells more like sheltered corporate handout BS to me.

Jim Molony
Hooksett

We moved to 202 Brickett Hill Road the last week of February in a nasty snow/ice storm. I was quite concerned about how our new street would be handled in weather such as this but didn’t think we’d have to endure it on our first day. I was amazed at the attention our road seems to be given for winter conditions! I feel much more at ease now knowing that your employees are on the job and keeping the residents so safe in my neighborhood. I couldn’t have asked for more timely maintenance of my road – your team of professionals was right on it.

My waste was picked up curbside without any hesitation, even though I had not contacted your department to let you know of our arrival in town. The employees running the pick-ups were careful to make sure my waste cans are placed back curbside and not tossed aside to roll back into the road. This is not something I’m used to. It used to be that I would spend my trash day trying to find my waste cans somewhere in a neighbor’s yard. Again, impressed by your department staff.

Yesterday was my first visit to the solid waste transfer facility for recycling. Once again I was impressed with the folks in your department. I was welcomed and shown the ropes immediately. I felt as if I’d been in town for many years. My questions and concerns were handled with professionalism yet familiarity of a friend. A very nice combination for a new homeowner unaware of the expectations of a new area.

We have not met yet, however, through your employees, I feel that I have a good feeling about you, your department and Pembroke in general. It may be hard for your employees to realize that they served as my family’s private welcoming committee, but they did. We are pleased that we have such a great team of individuals working for the citizens of Pembroke and are even more pleased to now be a part of that community. Thank you for having such a great staff.

Heidi Hirtle
Pembroke

On Friday, Feb. 17, the entire school participated in a Jump- For-Heart event as a way to demonstrate friendship to the community. This event, sponsored by the American Heart Association, also helped teach the children the importance of exercise, while creating an awareness of heart disease and stroke, and raising funds for the AHA.

Many school volunteers spent countless hours preparing for this event. They also gave their time during the event and after to help with the collection process and post-event paperwork. A very special thank you to Jocelyn Scarpetti, Alice Kosiarski, Doreen Bartczak, Marybeth Brownlee, Cindy Read, Rod Alston, Ellen Power, Donna McCormack, Patti-Rae and Eddie Burdzy, Aimee Cronin, Kellee Manning, Paula Rowley, Lynn Cote, Kate Kelley, Carrie Bourgoin, Cathy Chagnon, Cheryl Andrew, Vickie Desharnais, Susan Lievens, Jackie Roy, Cheryl Purington Nicole Long- Bennett, Nancy Scarpa, Peam Dubois, and Chris Dugan for all their help. I would also like to thank our event coordinators, Barb Brennan and Carol Olkonen, for their enthusiastic, dedicated leadership, and our staff for their support, encouragement of student involvement, and their active participation.

We are very pleased and proud to announce that our original goal of $1,500 was easily surpassed. The school collected $7,900.55. There were also online donations and company matching gifts for a grand total of $8,465.55.

The generosity of the community of Hooksett is overwhelming! We thank you for all of your support with this event. The students learned the value of friendship, and did something good for their community.

Carol B. Soucy, principal,
Steven Harrises, asst. principal,
Hooksett Memorial School

Who paid for them? Why are these necessary when a half mile south in Manchester, a simple yellow road-level crosswalk is sufficient?

Also, wouldn’t you think the 90-degree turn (right angle) at the junction of North River and Martins Ferry roads would be enough of a speed deterrent here? Aren’t there a few child-laden neighborhoods in Hooksett where speed bumps would better serve the taxpayer and slow cars down? Could the fact that SNHU paid $149,000 in taxes to Hooksett have any influence? Does the word favoritism come to mind?

What we have is a public, taxpayer financed roadway (or did SNHU buy it?) that is now causing taxpayers using it to brake twice in both directions 24/7; is this in the best public under the guise of raised crosswalks? Did the planning board approve this speed bumps? Why?

Are there 2 percent of Hooksett registered voters tired enough of these shenanigans to sign a petition to return North River Road back to a driveable street? Or shall we continue to travel this road (which we pay for) with our foot on the brake no matter whether anyone is crossing the road? What’s next, Route 3?

Ed Groves Sr.
Hooksett

I find it ironic that I make things public, such as the dispatcher on leave for a year and some other things and miracuously he is back a week later.

I brought forward the fact that the chief has not hired any of the new patrol officer positions that were approved three years ago and then gets two positions cut by the budget committee. As glad as I am to see him have to suffer the consequences for his inability to own up to his mistakes, I must ask the budget committee to be careful because you’re not hurting Chief Agrafiotis but yourselves because you are taking away police officer positions that are much needed.

I would like to know why the commission continues to up the legal fees. Who are these attorneys working for, the town of Hooksett Police Department or Chief Agrafiotis and his puppets?

I also find it ironic that in the budget committee minutes Chief Agrafiotis tells the committee that motor vehicle stops are up and then in the commission minutes he tells the commission that the officers are not working. I’m curious, which is it?

I would to take the time to publicly apologize to Mr. Jodoin as I was previously bringing him into this public forum not realizing he had no control over the police department. I have recently learned on the proper process for dissolving a police commission. The information that I have relayed to the proper sources is enough to dissolve the police commission and at the very least remove Commissioner Gagnon. I will no longer bother you Mr. Jodoin, therefore I am sorry for any inconvenience I may have caused you.

D. Dunn
Hooksett