Bernard Herbert has been in the VA hospital in Manchester for the past three months recovering from a fall.

He is in good spirits, but would welcome the company of visitors.

Those interested in sending a card may do so to: Bernard Herbert, VA Hospital, 718 Smyth Rd., Room 113E, Manchester, NH 03104.

Letter To The Editor

To the Editor,

In our small rural towns, there are usually various locations where it is enjoyable to catch up with neighbors and to indulge in a little local gossip.  The Post Office in Barnstead Parade is one such location.

On Tuesday, January 28, 2014, I witnessed the following events at the Parade Post Office.  There were a few people standing around, indulging in just such friendly local activities, when Barnstead Selectman Jim Barnard came in to pick up the mail from his post office box.  As part of the casual greetings, one person commented to Mr. Barnard that the Barnstead Board of Selectmen have been being “grilled” by the voters recently in Selectmen’s meeting and in letters to local newspapers.

Selectman Barnard’s response was, “They are wasting their time!”

Is that how Selectman Barnard views the residents’ efforts to be informed on matters crucial to the governance of our town?  Is that how much Selectman Barnard values direct input from the voters to the elected members of the Board of Selectmen?  Apparently, to Mr. Barnard, public input is only a waste of time!

That is not the attitude I want in our elected officials and I suspect it is not an attitude welcomed by very many other voters in our town.  

It will be one more year until Mr. Barnard and others on the current Board are up for re-election.  But at that time, voters in our town will be able to make their wishes clearly known by voting out elected officials who seem to take delight in ignoring the wishes of the voters.

David Murley

Barnstead

Letter To The Editor

Near Miss

On Sunday, January 19, 2014 I was traveling north on Rt. 28, going over/down the hill section at the “Locke Corner”, North Barnstead intersection in Barnstead, when a truck coming up the hill in the opposite lane suddenly swerved fully into my lane. At that moment I thought that there was no way to avoid a head-on collision! Nevertheless, I cut the wheel hard to the right very quickly and missed the other vehicle by inches! I went down the snowbank into the woods, missed a sign by inches and buried my all wheel drive van into the snowbank at the road’s edge.

Very soon people began to stop and to help me to shovel out, and then someone with chains and a four wheel drive truck stopped to help as well. Within half an hour we had the van back on the road! There is perhaps no greater thing in life in general and in particular than to receive help especially when you really require it! Thank you to all who stopped for your very good helpfulness!!!

All in a small miracle that no one was hurt and no vehicle damage!?! I am very grateful!

The Burgandy Chevy Astro Van

P.S. There is relevance here also to our strained town plow budgets (as snow was not fully, as yet, plowed there) and the strained workload of our local police, who arrived as the van was then ready to go onward. May our towns and country soon regain their fuller budgets, enabling them to function more fully!

Guinta, Kenney To Address

Belknap County Republican Committee 

The next monthly meeting of the Belknap County Republican Committee will be held on Wednesday February 12 at 6:30 pm at the Top of the Town Restaurant, 88 Ladd Hill Rd in Belmont.

This month’s guest speaker is Cong. Frank Guinta of Manchester.  Cong. Guinta has decided to challenge current Cong. Carol Shea-Porter in an effort to win his seat back and return to Washington, DC.  However, to do so will require Cong. Guinta to first win in the Republican primary vs. former Dean of the UNH Business School Dan Innis.  Cong. Guinta will share his thoughts about the current environment in Washington, and his plans for the future if the voters return him to our nation’s capitol.    

In addition, Sen. Joe Kenney, the Republican candidate for the District 1 Executive Council seat of the late Ray Burton, will be attending.  For anyone who hasn’t met Joe yet, this will be your last opportunity to hear from him at a Belknap County GOP meeting prior to the March 11 Special Election.  

Belknap County GOP meetings are open to ALL Republicans and like-minded independents. Per their usual meeting format, if you’re interested in having dinner (at your option) or wish to socialize before the meeting, plan to arrive as early as 5:00 pm.

The Committee is stepping up its request for food pantry donations.  With the onset of very cold weather and increases in propane and oil prices, it’s straining the financial resources of those who are less fortunate.  The Committee asks each attendee to please remember to bring non-perishable food items to the meeting for distribution to local food pantries.

For more information, please send an email to [email protected]   

Everyone is Welcome Here