On March 11, Raymond residents will vote on a warrant article that contributes $82,647 to 17 local and regional social service agencies such as A Safe Place, AIDS Response, American Red Cross, Area Homemaker Health Aide Service, Lamprey Health Care, Rockingham County Nutrition Program, Rockingham Visiting Nurse Association, and a few others. The tax impact is 9 cents per thousand or about $18 on a $200,000 home. So, for approximately $18.00, each property tax paying family can make a contribution to these many organizations. This is a good example of how the help of a few can combine to help many.
I guess my only concern is that we ask residents to contribute to making a donation to an organization they may not agree with. It’s a tough call. Recent comments at Selectmen meetings indicate that we should require these agencies to appear before t he powers that be and justify these requests. These agencies are highly regulated by various government agencies. I don't believe we need to make their life more difficult by adding more requirements for "information, presentation, and accountability". If one really wants to learn more about any of the agencies just take a look at their web pages or their publicly available documents. Heck, we budgeted $4,700 last year ($2,886 this year) to the town fair in services and overtime and we have no documentation to know where the income they receive in fees goes to or what bills they pay.
Do we really need a dog and pony show or begging to know that these agencies need our help with funding? There isn't an agency on this list that isn't well known. Funding is critical to service agencies such as these. Let's not make their work harder taking away time from those they serve. Please continue to support them by voting yes on this article.
Kevin Woods
Candidate for Selectman
Raymond
To the Editor:
The things that really tick me off.
Recently I received two Lightwiz bulbs in the mail along with a rebate coupon to buy more. These bulbs are supposed to save you quite a bit on your electric bill. So I decided to install them immediately. To my dismay, neither works. As I was going to throw them in the trash, a little warning on the package warns not to dispose of them in the regular trash since they contain mercury.
Now I was starting to boil a little. One: those bulbs are supposed to last 10,000 hours. And two: they are endorsed by our Utility and Government agencies. But they contain mercury and you can get rid of them.
I wonder if other consumers received defective bulbs (Made In China, thank you very much). It might have been an easy way for this company Lightwiz to get rid of defective bulbs instead of disposing of them, which I guess could have been costly.
Now for the kicker. I called and e-mailed both the Utility Company and the manufacturer and, of course, I am still waiting for them to acknowledge my correspondence.
Jean-Yves Gourlay
Plaistow
To the Editor:
Kingston Should Purchase YWCA Property
Kingston residents! Your help is needed! Please support Kingston Warrant Article 15 on the March ballot. This article supports Kingston purchasing the YWCA property at 24 Main Street, at the corner of Wadleigh Point Road, right in Kingston.
This is a wonderful opportunity for the Town of Kingston.
The Newburyport YWCA is offering to sell, to the Town, this 3.6 acre camp with 231 feet of waterfront on Kingston Lake, at a greatly reduced price. The property includes 5 buildings and most of the equipment from their camp activities. There is a beautiful sandy beach for future public use.
Kingston, at this time, has the opportunity to have this parcel of land, which could provide a Community Center in the existing 45’ x 95’ camp Activity Hall. This site is large enough that it could also serve as a central location for other municipal buildings. It is centrally located, close to Routes 11 and 125. Our youth, our Seniors, and all our residents, who have been using private halls for Senior and Youth activities, would have a beautiful site for many public and civic functions.
Future plans include using the Recreation Capital Reserves savings account to improve the main building for year-round use.
Watch for a notice of an “Open House” before Voting Day! It will be posted at the site!
Roger Clark, Chairman
Kingston Recreation Commission
To the Editor:
In Support of the NH Cancer Plan.
As a resident of Atkinson, I am writing to thank the Governor and legislature for funding the Comprehensive Cancer Plan last year in an effort to help improve the health and lives of our New Hampshire citizens.
For those who may not be aware, the New Hampshire Cancer Plan is a scientifically based strategy to address the cancer burden in our state by focusing on selected priorities that will have the greatest impact on saving lives and saving money for the state of New Hampshire.
Governor Lynch and the NH Legislature funded the plan at 6 million dollars over a two year period. The priorities identified included tobacco use prevention funding, increased breast cancer screenings, and a colorectal cancer screening program. Additional priorities included supporting prostate cancer survivors and developing a state resource center for cancer survivors. The Cancer Plan is in jeopardy as budget cuts are looming.
The New Hampshire Cancer Plan is important to me and my family. We have dealt with Cancer many times and have also “walked the cancer journey” with (too many) close friends. I have an understanding (both personally and professionally) of how cancer affects the citizens of New Hampshire and am keenly aware of the importance of the Plan’s priorities such as prevention education, screenings for early detection, and access to resources.
The New Hampshire Cancer Plan is important to New Hampshire! It addresses a major health burden in our state with a comprehensive approach to saving lives, enhancing quality of life for those dealing with cancer, and last, but not least, reducing costs. It is an excellent financial investment!
Please join me in urging the Governor not to cut funding of this important program as he considers how he will trim the state budget. Cuts in this program will only result in an increased cancer burden, higher health care costs and diminished quality of life for those affected by cancer.
Susan Kuhn
Atkinson
To the Editor:
When I first came to our town of Kingston, I was struck by the town’s beauty -- the Plains with it’s wide grasses, white houses all lined up, the library snuggly on the corner. The town had a feel to it that led my husband and me to buy a house here. Kingston has a heart, and that heart includes our town center -- the Christmas tree lit up in the winter on the bandstand -- Kingston Days and musical events on the Plains, and all through the summer, soccer teams, cheerleading practice, people picnicking under a shady tree.
Our town library is part of our center. People walk, ride bikes, and drive there from all over town. Nichols Memorial Library has been in the heart of Kingston for over 100 years. It’s beautiful stone structure with stained glass windows has been a welcoming beacon for thousands of people taking out books, movies, audio books, or maybe attending some of the library events. Perhaps they have come to use the computer or to take out a new magazine. People may just be enjoying a drive to our town, admiring one of the oldest libraries in New Hampshire.
Marilyn Bartlett has graciously donated land right next to our library. We now have a chance to add a small two-story addition to this already existing beautiful historic building! Let’s keep our town center as beautiful as it is.
Vote Yes for our new Nichols Memorial library addition. Keep the heart of our town where it is.
Wilhelmina Bradley
Kingston
To the Editor:
To the residents of Danville:
Included in this year’s Town Clerk Operating Budget is a provision to allow all residents to use mail-in registrations as an option when re-registering their vehicles.
While new vehicle and transfer registrations will still require a visit to the Town Clerk’s office, residents who are re-registering an existing vehicle will have the option of doing it in person during regular Town Clerk business hours or by mail, thus saving a visit to the Town Hall. We will be unable to offer this option if the Operating Budget warrant article fails to pass. I am asking for your support to vote “yes” on Article #8 - Operating Budget.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Town Clerk’s office at 382-8253 ext. 2.
