Santa came to Epsom. The Epsom Odd Fellows and Rebekahs
have been sponsoring this event in Epsom for about 17 years.
100% of the proceeds from the Digital photos with Santa, the
Tree raffle, refreshments, and donations are given to local
charity. The Odd Fellows and Rebekahs would like to thank
everyone who helped and/or donated to this project. This
year we raised just under $500.00 from our “Santa Comes To Town”
event, to be donated to the Teddy Bear Fund which gives clothing
and gifts to needy children in the area. In the photo is
Gary Benner, Noble Grand of Evergreen Lodge No. 53 giving the
check to John St. Laurent of the Teddy Bear Fund.
Girl Scouts from Hooksett and Epsom NH connected and held a PJ
Double Feature to benefit the Pajama Program on Friday, December
3, 2010 at the Hooksett Public Library. They collected and
donated 125+ pairs of brand new PJs and about 25 new books to NH
children being placed into foster care and in need. The girls
came in their PJs and watched a couple of movies and munched
popcorn to celebrate their overwhelming success in Taking Action
in making the world a better place.
Letter
I want to ask each of you readers to consider doing
the following when you are talking on the phone to any US
customer service representative that is based in a foreign
country (like India). I have done this twice and it works!
Any time you call an 800 number (for a credit card, banking,
charter communications, health insurance, insurance, you name
it) and you are transferred to a representative (like in India),
do the following:
After you connect and you realize that the
customer service rep is not from the USA (you can always ask if
you are not sure about the accent), please very politely (very
politely - this is not about trashing other cultures) say, “I’d
like to speak to a customer service representative in the United
States of America .” The rep might suggest talking to his/her
manager, but again, politely say, “Thank you, but I’d like to
speak to a customer service representative in the USA .”
YOU
WILL BE IMMEDIATELY CONNECTED to a representative in the USA .
It only takes less than one minute to have your call re-directed
to the USA.
Tonight when I got redirected to a USA
representative, I asked again to make sure - and yes, she was
from Fort Lauderdale.
Imagine, if tomorrow every US citizen
who has to make such a call and then requests a US rep, how that
would ultimately impact the number of US jobs that would need to
be created ASAP. Imagine what would happen if every US
citizen insisted on talking to only US phone reps from this day
on.
If I tell 10 people to consider this and you tell 10
people to consider doing this - see what I mean...it becomes an
exercise in viral marketing 101.
Remember - the goal here is
to restore jobs back here at home - not to be abrupt or rude to
a foreign phone rep. If you agree, please tell 10 people you
know and tell them to tell 10 people they know....etc.
Jim
Breagy
Epsom,NH
Letter
To my constituents:
This week, let me tell you about a
very significant bill I have submitted, concerning pension
reform.
Right now state and local government
employees have a “defined benefit” pension plan. The state
manages the retirement funds and promises a fixed pension based
on a formula that takes into account years of service and pay
levels. Unfortunately, the state made overly rosy economic
assumptions and the fund is now over $3 billion light. So
today’s (and tomorrow’s) taxpayers are on the hook for pensions
that were earned in the past. In my opinion, this is both poor
public policy and unconstitutional.
Private employers have
for the most part stopped offering defined benefit pensions and
have gone to “defined contribution” plans, such as 401k plans.
Each employee has an individual account that is invested as they
see fit. Funds are put into the account during the employee’s
working years and drawn down during retirement.
My bill would
put new government employees into a defined contribution plan.
While we the taxpayers would still be liable for the pension
shortfall for current employees, we would not be making that
problem any worse. All pension expenses for the new employees
would be paid while they are working and the system would not be
subject to political manipulations.
Employees would gain
flexibility and property rights to their money. Their pensions
would be fully vested from the beginning and portable if they
change jobs. They could invest their savings as they see fit
(from a menu of choices). On death, remaining funds would be
passed on to the employee’s heirs. Employees would have to deal
with investment risks, just as the private sector taxpayers do
with their own savings.
I welcome hearing from you at
[email protected],
or 782-4918.
Yours,
Rep. Dan McGuire
Epsom
Obituaries
Thomas E.Wasson
Thomas E. Wasson, 94, died Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at
Epsom Health Care Center after a 15 year battle with cancer.
Tom was born and raised in Deerfield but made Allenstown his
home for over 61 years. He graduated from Central High
School in Manchester.
Tom retired after more than 35 years with the NH Fish & Game
as a biologist aide, focusing primarily on beaver control, as
well as deer and pheasant management. Prior to the Fish &
Game, he worked for the State Park system, including Bear Brook
and Pawtuckaway State Parks. In the 1930s and 40s he was a
volunteer firefighter in Deerfield and also a NH Fire Warden.
For many years Tom had a market garden and was very well
known for his pumpkin patch. He also ran a small sandpit
behind his house. During retirement he helped his wife run
a day care center in their home becoming Dada Tom to dozens of
children.
During World War II he proudly served in the Army with the
111th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, stationed in central
Europe as a light truck driver. Tom has been a member of
the Hoague-Batchelder Post 103 American Legion for over 60
years.
Tom loved his family, friends, hunting, fishing, and
clamming. He dedicated his life to the study and
preservation of wildlife. He was proud of his NH roots and
loved living in the Granite State.
He is predeceased by his wife Hazel Wasson, mother Mabel, a
sister Viola, and brothers, Joseph, Vernon, Clarence, and twin
brother Harry. He leaves his daughter Beverly Wasson of
Allenstown, and several nieces and nephews.
Donations may be made to either the American Legion
Hoague-Batchelder Post 103, PO Box 158, Deerfield, NH 03037-0158
or the Deerfield Volunteer Fire Dept, 108 Raymond Road, PO Box
90, Deerfield, NH 03037-0159.
Family and friends may sign an on-line guestbook by visiting
stilloaks.com.
