Happy Birthday to Jacob Beaudet, celebrating his birthday
on February 16th.
Chris
Gnanakan To Speak At CBCC
This
Sunday, February 17th Dr. Chris Gnanakan will be speaking at the Center
Barnstead Christian Church. A native of Bangalore, Chris worked as an
electrician in MICO factory for 3 years before theological studies at
the Word of Life Bible Institute and School of Youth Mission (New York).
He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree from Tennessee Temple University and
went to do a Master’s in Divinity at Temple Baptist Seminary that he
completed at the Asia Graduate School of Theology.
Currently,
Chris works as the Director of Training for Outreach To Asia Nationals.
OTAN serves in over nine Asian countries, where traditional missions are
‘restricted,’ by encouraging, equipping and empowering national,
pastoral leaders to fulfill the Great Commission.
Chris is
happily married to Dorothy, and they have two daughters Alethea and
Charis. This Friday and Saturday, Chris will also be speaking at a
Prison Fellowship weekend seminar in the Concord State Prison. Come and
hear what Dr. Gnanakan has to share from God’s Word this Sunday.
Sunday
School begins at 9:00 am and Morning Worship follows at 10:00 am. The
Center Barnstead Christian Church is locate on Route 126, next to the
Town Hall. For more information, please call the church at 269-8831.
Family Game
Night At Barnstead Library!
The Oscar
Foss Memorial Library is hosting a Family Game Night on February 25,
2013 from 6-8 pm. We invite all Barnstead families to come participate
in the fun! Some board games, light snacks, and drinks will be provided
but we would love families to bring their favorite games to share. Each
family that attends will receive a ticket for our Board Game Raffle!
In case of
inclement weather, our snow date is February 28th, 6-8 pm. Our space is
limited, so please call us at 269-3900 or stop by the library to sign up
your family. We hope to see you there!
Letter To
The Editor
Dear
Editor:
I recently
attended the Belknap County Budget Meeting in Laconia. This meeting was
well attended, and lots of folks had a chance to give their thoughts
about the various spending line items and possible county tax increase.
There were
some who argued that any cuts would result in county employees not
getting a raise, and possibly having to contribute a bit more to their
healthcare costs. While I can sympathize with folks wanting to keep
their level of pay, it is my opinion that the obvious escaped them. Many
of us taxpayers are already paying more per month for our healthcare,
thanks to the passage of Obamacare. For me, that increase is just over
one hundred dollars a month. Many small business owners pay even more
than I do in this difficult economy. Contrast that with county
employees, who contribute approximately five percent towards their
healthcare costs. It would seem reasonable to me that they could share
some of the increased burden, just like the rest of us.
I do not
begrudge county employees a livable wage and a fair benefit package. But
they need to be reminded that every penny they earn comes out of the
taxpayer’s pocket. We can no longer sustain the current levels of pay
and benefits, especially when so many of the county residents are
struggling to make ends meet. That is just not right, and something has
to give. In all fairness, I think that should be the county employees.
Don Walker
Barnstead
Letter
This report
to local voters will center on Belknap County while another in the near
future will concern legislative progress at the Statehouse in Concord.
When the
commissioners of Belknap County proposed a budget which included an 8.9%
hike from the 2012 budget, there was a clear message sent to area
representatives from constituents: do not raise taxes at a time when
many people have difficulty paying their current tax bills.
Many of the
representatives at the convention budget hearings expected to be
criticized by those in county employ. We were, but more numerous and
louder were the voices of those who wish to keep spending in check.
Unfortunately, keeping the 2013 budget in line with last year’s budget
means not only withholding a pay raise but also passing on a large
increase in health insurance premiums to our county employees. That is a
difficult decision to have to make but one that the majority of the
delegates to the county convention decided was necessary.
New
Hampshire is trailing the region in job creation and faces numerous
problems which will be difficult to solve. Until the economy begins to
grow, it seems that most of us will be making do with less. In the
meanwhile, all of your area representatives are doing their best to
hold the line on spending and on tax increases.
Richard B.
Burchell
State
Representative
District 5