The Epsom-Chichester Lions Club will conduct “KidSight” Pre-School
Eye screenings at the Epsom Library on March 5, 6, and 7. They will
be available during story hour at the Library at 1:30 pm on Tuesday,
10 a.m. on Wednesday, and 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. You do not need to
attend story hour. There is no charge. The screenings are for
children 6 and under to detect eye problems.
Northeastern University is pleased to recognize those students who
distinguish themselves academically during the course of the school
year. Epsom resident Krystara Brassard, a Northeastern University
student majoring in Criminal Justice, was recently named to the
University’s dean’s list for the fall semester, which ended in
December 2012.
A Turkey Dinner, sponsored by the American Legion Post 112, Short
Falls Road, Epsom, NH, will be Saturday, March 2, 2013, 4:30 pm to
6:30 pm.
Donations:$9.00 Adults, $4.00 children 6-12, under 6 free.
Turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, garden salad, carrots,
green beans, onions, cranberry sauce, rolls, homemade desserts, and
beverages will be served.
Door prizes and 50/50 raffle. Proceeds to benefit Post 112 community
activities.
Call Harvey at 736-4926 and/or Jane at 435-8770 for information.
Michael Briggs
Spaghetti Dinner
The staff at E.C.S. will be hosting the 7th annual Michael Briggs
Spaghetti Dinner to raise additional money for an award to be given
to an eighth grade student in remembrance of Officer Michael Briggs.
This dinner will take place in the Epsom Central School cafeteria
on Tuesday, March 12th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The cost is $5.00
per adult and $3.00 for a child. Tickets may be purchased in advance
or the night of the dinner. This year we will continue with the
option of a “take-out” meal. We appreciate your support. Any
questions please call Robin Donovan or Bobby Paine at 736-9331.
Letter
It seems that the ½ inch stone application on the roads this winter
isn’t so popular in town. I think that it is good on gravel roads to
add some coarse traction after a storm and to give a good bite when
the surface freezes over. But it seems that the pea-stone treatment
is being used on all surfaces, even paved. Not only will the stones
add wear to the roads and shorten their lifespan, but now we have
little rocks flying around blasting the undersides of vehicles,
windshields, paint jobs, and not to mention driving on these stones
can reduce traction on paved roads during normal conditions. I have
swept many tons of sand in the spring, and it isn’t the most
enjoyable job, but reconsideration needs to be discussed. I propose
no stones on paved surfaces, a mixture of stones and sand on gravel
roads. This topic has been discussed with the BOS.
Different weather conditions will dictate how and when ice and snow
is treated. There are many options for keeping roads clean and safe.
Calibrating sanders will help reduce chlorides in the watershed and
reduce salt consumption. Cutting the salt with calcium chloride will
help melt ice in low frigid conditions. I plan to stay flexible and
modify treatments as needed during winter storms, not create one
blanket policy and expect everything to be perfect.
Meet the Candidates is March 3, 2 pm at the Library.
Contact me at
[email protected].
Mike Tinsley
Epsom
Letter
To my constituents in Allenstown, Epsom, and Pittsfield:
This week, the House voted to make the white potato the state
vegetable. HB535, sparked by a class of Derry fourth graders, had no
real debate and passed 276-75, with only a few broccoli lovers such
as myself voting against. It seems to me that New Hampshire has
plenty of symbols already and the fourth graders can do some civics
project that doesn’t involve finding a new state symbol.
More importantly, we voted 188-151 to pass HB370, which repeals the
educational opportunity scholarship program that just went into
effect January 1. This program offers a very tightly crafted
combination of business tax credits for donations to a charitable
scholarship organization, which would give scholarships averaging
$2500 to income eligible families. The state would save the
education adequacy aid, if the child went to a non-public school,
and in fact it was estimated that this repeal would cost the state
over $200K the first year – and local school districts over $300K!
Despite the fact that this program saves money, the Democrat
majority was more concerned with the loss of a tiny amount of
funding for schools (offset by having fewer students) than with
allowing educational options for any children whose parents need
help with tuition or transportation. It was very close to a party
line vote, with only five Democrats opposed and seven Republicans in
favor of the repeal.
On a more cheerful note, HB325, paying state employees up to 10% of
the first year’s savings for cost saving suggestions, was passed
despite my committee having recommended to kill it. I was one
speaker in favor, and the bill was not killed on a 179-179 tie.
HB325 then passed, 199-162.
Interested readers can email me for my newsletter, with more details
than fit here.
Representative Carol McGuire
[email protected]
782-4918
Epsom Public Library News
The award-winning film ARGO will be shown at the library on Friday,
March 1, at 7:00 p.m. as part of the Adult Programming. Ben
Affleck, the winner of the Golden Globe’s best director award, stars
in this tense dramatic movie concerning the rescue of six Americans
who were temporarily housed in the Canadian embassy in Iran after
Iranian fanatics violently overtook the US Embassy. Affleck plays
CIA operative Tony Mendez. Soft drinks and popcorn will be provided.
Letter
Write-In Scott Elliott For Epsom Road Agent
I would like to remind Epsom residents that I am running as a
Write-In candidate for Epsom Road Agent. I have worked for the Epsom
Highway Department for 4 years. I have extensive knowledge of our
roads and know what needs to be done.
I have plans on updating our department to make our work more
efficient. I plan on installing computer programs designed for
highway departments. This will help in keeping a balanced budget.
This will help in documenting work done and what needs to be done. I
have plans on making our winter storm plowing more efficient. I will
be able to make our roads safer, faster during winter storms so we
can get our kids to school and ourselves to work. By making winter
road maintenance more efficient, I will be able to spend more money
on road maintenance during the summer months. My plans include more
hands on work verses sub-contracting work out. This will allow us to
get more work done for our tax dollars. With my 29 years of
experience building and maintaining roads I have the knowledge and
drive to make our roads better.
Please Write-In Scott Elliott For Road Agent Please don’t forget to
check the box.
Thanks,
Scott Elliott
Epsom
Epsom Girl Scout Troop 22406 members interview a community member
panel as part of their aMuse Journey in which the girls are learning
about various roles that women play. The panel members were Dr.
Fiona Reeve, Ms. Jane Virgin, Ms. Erin (Tigger) Balcom, Ms. Kira
Hageman and Ms. Jane Fargo.
Epsom Girls Scouts are exploring different roles as part of the
aMuse Journey program and invited women from the community as their
guests to discuss their various roles. Keely Smith, Brianna Virgin
and Mary Nericcio prepare snacks for their guest.
Epsom Girl Scouts Brianna Virgin, Grace Parker, Keely Smith, Iris
Hall, Katie Muise, Samantha Muise, Mary Nerrico, Molly Fellows and
Annalise Bellorado pose during a visit to Strawberry Banke in
Portsmouth. The girls learned about what life was like for girls who
lived in Portsmouth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Letter
A meeting of Epsom Democrats was held at the home of Ken and Carole
Brown Friday, February 15th. Epsom’s NH Democratic State Caucus was
formed for this year’s convention. Officers elected: Chair Harvey
Harkness, Secretary Nancy Heath, Treasurer Nancy Claris, Delegate at
Large Charlie Yeaton. State Representative Mary Frambach will also
attend convention.
Nancy Heath
Epsom
Letter
Attention: Epsom residents! It has just come to my attention that
Joni Kitson is running for a seat on Epsom’s Select Board as a
Write-In candidate. Joni has served as Selectman in Epsom in the
past and during that time, I was impressed by her ethics, her
willingness to make unpopular decisions and her ability to rise
above her own interests.
Joni is able to contribute to the Select Board in positive ways, as
has been proven by her past service. Please consider writing in Joni
Kitson for Selectman.
Thank you,
Bruce Graham
Letter To The Editor
Please support the Epsom teachers contract March 12
To the Editor:
After two years of contract limbo and no salary increases, the
teachers of Epsom Central School and the Epsom School District have
reached an agreement that is both fair to the teachers and
respectful of the town’s taxpayers.
Now, it’s time for Epsom residents to agree as well, and they can do
so with their vote on March 12.
To their credit, from the beginning of negotiations, the teachers
resisted the understandable temptation to leapfrog back to where
they would have been financially had there been even modest raises
for the prior two years (there were none), landing on a contract
that offers what I would call moderate salary increases, at just
under 3 percent per year, and a health insurance plan that requires
a slightly higher contribution from our teachers than before.
Ultimately, we have a contract that was unanimously recommended by
the Budget Committee, which a year ago had voted not to recommend a
proposal which then failed at the polls.
So often, the debate around whether or not to support a contract
centers on cost, which is appropriate in these challenging economic
times. But equally appropriate is to address the subject of value,
and here in Epsom we have an incredibly valuable asset in teachers
who are as caring and nurturing as they are successful. That success
is demonstrated not only by consistently excellent student test
scores in relation to other New Hampshire schools, but by Epsom
students who typically enter their high school years – a majority of
them at Pembroke Academy – well prepared for the vigorous academic
world of the high school student.
Epsom voters, please visit the polls on March 12 and vote yes on
school district warrant Article 2. Doing so will demonstrate the
well-earned support of our teachers, our students, our community.
Dave Cummings
Epsom
(The writer is Chairman of the Epsom School Board.)
Letter
To the Residents of Epsom:
As you prepare your vote for March 12th, please be discerning in
your decisions and use caution when casting your final vote. Many
years ago I ran for Selectman because I felt there were injustices
being served in our town. People are people. That presents the risk
of human nature and its questionable motives to take hold within
town government.
Check carefully the qualifications of those who ask your vote and
contact them to find out where they stand on issues concerning our
town. But more importantly, research the history of those in
positions they may have held in town previously. Some candidates for
various offices have been on Budget Committee, Board of Selectman,
and others, and it is your responsibility to find out what they
accomplished, or not, in their prior positions.
In any case, please register and vote. Not voting for what you
believe in is a vote against it in every case. Thank you.
Joanne Randall
Epsom
Letter
Joni Kitson for Selectman
My name is Joni Kitson and I am running as a write-in candidate for
selectman in the town of Epsom . I previously served as selectman
in Epsom from 2003 to 2008, in those 5 years I was present for every
meeting, attended seminars, workshops, trainings and made myself
accessible to the residents of Epsom. I am ready and
willing to make the commitment to once again represent the residents
of Epsom. My only agenda upon entering this race is to be fully
available to listen to the concerns of our residents and to work
with the other selectmen to do what is best for the town and its
people.
In 2012 there was a warrant article on the ballot requesting that
the town offices be moved to the Meetinghouse located by the new
library. The majority of voters were in favor of this warrant
article. As many of you know, in 2007 through grants and volunteers
the Meetinghouse was moved to its present location. Until recently
it was thought that because of the grants any changes to the
building were very limited. After meeting with a Historic Resource
Specialist through LCHIP it was learned that changes were less
restrictive and more of the building could be utilized, meaning that
it might be feasible to locate the town offices somewhere within the
building. I feel that as a result of the 2012 vote the Meetinghouse
should be the first and foremost option for town offices. If there
are legitimate reasons, not excuses, as to why this building can not
be used for town offices I will be sure to bring that information to
the residents.
Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments,
603 848-8150
[email protected]
Joni Kitson
Please, exercise your right to vote.
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