On
Epsom Town Election Day, Tues., March 9, the Friends of the Epsom
Library will be hosting their Annual Election Day Bake Sale!
We
appreciate the support of our bakers and buyers! If you are able to
make a baked good (pies and breads are BEST!), please drop it off at
the Library on Monday, March 8 before 7 p.m. or bring to Election at
the gym of ECS any time after 7:30 a.m. If you need assistance
getting your baked good to our sale, please contact the library
736-9920 or Virginia Drew
[email protected].
Town Elections begin at 8 a.m.!
Also, On Monday March 15, the Friends of the Epsom Library will be
meeting at 7 p.m., please JOIN US!
Letter To The Editor
To
the Editor,
It was a privilege for me to have the opportunity to
participate in the democratic process at Epsom’s Feb. 6 Deliberative
Session.
Article #1: To raise $350,000 to construct Town Offices in the Lower
Level of the Meetinghouse was amended. The total of $350,000 was
changed to $1.00, because no figures were provided to support the
article.
There was no organized committee to do the research needed to
develop this plan. I was disappointed that the group that initiated
this article did not follow through with their plans to gather more
information before the Deliberative Session. Had this been done, the
voters might have agreed to support this article. Because of the
deadline, not a lot of time or information was available when the
article was circulated.
In
spite of the amendment, voting for article #1, will convey your
message that you still want the EBOS to have another look at using
the Meetinghouse for our town office, I am sure that they will
consider its use as the First Stage in the solution to provide for
future expansion.
Thank you,
Richard Frambach
Spaghetti Dinner To Benefit Michael Briggs Scholarship
On
Tuesday, March 9, 2010, the Epsom Central School will be holding the
fourth annual Spaghetti Dinner to raise additional money for an
award in remembrance of Officer Michael Briggs. This award will be
given to a graduating eighth grade student. This money will then be
distributed upon the end of high school as this student pursues
his/her post secondary education or enters a public service career.
In order to make this award a reality we need your empty stomachs
and generosity. Epsom Central School staff will be cooking and
serving the food for the dinner, all of which was provided by a
generous donation from Nick at Epsom House of Pizza. The dinner will
be held from 5 to 7 p.m.
The
cost will be $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children. Please contact
Mrs. Donovan or Mrs. Paine at 736-9331 if you have any questions. We
appreciate your support.
Letter
To
Epsom Citizens,
Until last year, estimated tax impacts were
listed at the bottom of each warrant article on the ballot, which
gave an indication of its impact on property taxes. While the
argument can be made that it is just an estimate and that the final
tax rate is set in October for the upcoming fiscal year, it is still
important to have this up-front knowledge in the same way that one
would get an estimate on an addition to a home or business
acknowledging that there may be some surprises and contingency
clauses added.
After all, these figures are listed on the town website:
www.epsomnh.org
and at the town offices but no longer on the official ballot. At
this stage, it is important to send a message to officials that we
as taxpayers want this information to make informed choices when
voting. So, on March 9, please become involved and informed and vote
yes on Article 7, restoring the estimated tax impacts on both school
and town ballots.
Here listed are the Articles, school and town,
which have impacts to your property taxes. They are:
School
Article 1, relating to school operating budget (estimated tax
increase $1.31 per thousand, higher than original $1.14 due to
addition of 2 high school buses) default budget (estimated tax
increase $1.12 per thousand).
Town Article 2, relating to town
operating budget (estimated tax decrease .34 per thousand) default
budget (estimated tax decrease .48 per thousand.
Town Article 3,
relating to spending $30,000 for engineering studies for new town
office (estimated tax increase .07 per thousand.
Town Article 4,
relating to spending $150,000 for capital reserves for road
improvements (estimated tax increase .33 per thousand)
Town
Article 5, relating to spending $26,037 for additional police
officer at half year’s salary (estimated tax increase .06 per
thousand).
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Langlais
Epsom, NH
Letter
To my constituents in Allenstown, Epsom, & Pittsfield:
Wednesday
the consent calendar had 148 bills, including all the ED&A bills we
voted on last week. Among them were HB1178, my bill establishing a
commission on families and children, killed; HB1191, my bill banning
sprinkler mandates, held for study; HB1219, my bill repealing WW I
alien registration laws, passed; HB1162, requiring motorcycle
helmets, killed; HB1494, my bill requiring only 1 license plate,
killed; HB1611, establishing a sales tax, killed.
HB1326, on the
use of long-term antibiotics in treating Lyme disease. I had come
prepared to vote in favor, but the debate convinced me the problem
was diagnosis, not treatment, and there was no real opposition to
the antibiotic therapy. I voted with the committee’s recommendation
of Interim Study. That vote failed, 135-218, and the bill passed,
300-56.
HB1201, including muzzle-loaders in the ban against
hunting from a vehicle, was debated on the grounds that the current
statute against hunting from a vehicle was too broad, infringing on
the rights of Rv’ers and boaters to keep a self-defense weapon. It
passed, 241-115, with both Representatives Brown and Porter voting
for it. I voted against, and Representative Yeaton was unable to
attend the session.
Two constitutional amendments were next.
CACR21 would simply delete the prohibition on judges or sheriffs
serving past the age of 70. It failed, 286-32. CACR28, defining
marriage as between a man and a woman, was debated extensively. One
legislator moved to delay the vote until March 17, after most of the
town meetings with this on the ballot; that motion was defeated
148-191. Finally, the amendment failed, 201-135.
Anyone
interested in what’s going on at the State House is invited to email
or call me; those who’d like a more detailed report than I can fit
in The Sun should email me for my newsletter.
Representative
Carol McGuire
[email protected]
782-4918
Letter
To Epsom voters:
I’m running for reelection to the Planning Board
and Trustee of the Trust Funds, and ask for your support. I am
currently the chairman of the Planning Board since I’m the only
retired member and have time during the day to devote to the board.
I’m a strong advocate of private property rights. Every year we
enact new rules that further restrict how property can be used. The
state and federal governments are by far the worst offenders in this
regard, but the Planning Board contributes as well. Unnecessary
regulation imposes costs and delays that ultimately mean a lower
quality of life. The Planning Board’s function is to balance the
rights of owners to develop their property with the rights of
neighbors (including the town itself) to be free from the negative
consequences of development. I will continue to work to eliminate
rules that arbitrarily interfere with owners without protecting
neighbors.
The town currently has about $1.5 million in trust
funds for various purposes. Currently, it is all invested in CDs and
bank accounts that are extremely safe, but pay little interest,
certainly less than inflation. As a Trustee, I’m concerned that this
leads to loss of our purchasing power. I favor diversifying a
portion of our investments into bonds and mutual funds to improve
our returns.
Please feel free to give me a call to discuss either
of these boards.
Yours,
Dan McGuire
782-4918
How Can
I Save Money By Going Green?
Submitted By Joy Tyrrell, Epsom
If your blood pressure climbs whenever you face your monthly utility
bills, here’s the simplest, most cost-effective solution: go green.
Below are just a few examples of the savings you can achieve right
now.
Lighting
Lighting represents about 25% of home energy
costs. If you replace 44 wasteful incandescent bulbs (average for a
medium-sized home) with money-saving CFLs and LEDs, you can save
$3,500 over the life of the first set of bulbs (based on a 15 cents
per kilowatt hour electric rate).
Reduce Your Water Usage (and
the Energy to Heat the Water)
Switch to a great low-flow
showerhead, which can cut your hot water usage by 50%. Once your
shower is in check, add faucet aerators to your bathroom and kitchen
faucets. Your toilet wastes water with every flush. Install a toilet
tank bag. If you take all of these steps in a two-bedroom home, the
reduction in energy will impact your utility bill of more than
$1,000 in savings each year.
Heating and Cooling
Heating and
cooling accounts for up to 50% of your home’s energy use; cutting
this expense could significantly lower your energy bill. Consider
installing a doorsweep. Magnetic vent covers block heating or
cooling from entering unoccupied rooms. Air also leaks through power
outlets and light switch plates; install insulation gaskets. Install
a programmable thermostat and get a return on your investment by
more than 100% in the first year.
Simple Solutions:
It doesn’t
take a big expense to achieve a big impact for the planet, or your
budget. Start by taking simple easy steps.
Letter
to the Editor
There has been quite a bit of discussion lately
that the Epsom Selectmen removed the estimated tax impact from the
warrant two years ago just to get a budget passed. This is false and
I do not appreciate the implication. Your BOS has a serious
responsibility to oversee the business of the entire town, including
minimizing risk. If the Board decided to work outside the law, and
consequently faced litigation for doing so, then we would be accused
of being irresponsible. You have elected us to make sure things are
done properly, reducing risk at every chance, thereby reducing
fiscal damages. The estimated impact was listed until we found out
that it was a risk to the Town, and then we took it off. The time
comes when you have to choose between what is popular, and what is
right. We made our choice. Until the State gives us authority
to put it on, we cannot put the town at risk. The estimated tax
impact information is available right now from the Town Office and
on our website. Print a copy and bring it with you on Election Day,
March 9th.
We would have liked to have a Meeting House open house
for residents to see necessary repairs to be done before we can use
it, but there is so much that needs to be done, that we are not even
allowed to let the public inside the building for three hours! If
Epsom votes to raise the $30,000 for architectural and engineering
assistance, we can then move forward with a real plan and stop
paying $24,000 per year for rent. If not, we risk never being able
to do anything with the Meeting House and it falling into disrepair
for lack of use and funds to keep it going.
Joanne Randall
Selectman, Epsom, NH
Obituaries
Gregory
M. Hurd Sr.
Gregory M. Hurd Sr., of Towle Pasture Drive, died
February 24th at the CRVNA Hospice House, Concord following a brief
illness.
He was born in Newport, NH, the son of Frank E. and
Helen (Morrill) Hurd and he had lived in Epsom most of his life. He
worked as a cattle breeder for the NH/VT Cattle Breeders association
and retired as the area manager of the Eastern Artificial
Insemination Association.
Following his retirement, he worked for
Banks Chevrolet-Cadillac in Concord for over 20 years. He was
a US Army Air Corps veteran during WWII and was a long time
member of the Elwood O. Wells American Legion Post in Epsom.
He
is survived by his wife of 66 years, Helen (Hostetter) Hurd of
Epsom; 1 son, Gregory M. Hurd Jr. and his wife Jill of Holton, ME; 3
daughters, Patricia A Reeves and her husband Kevin of Epsom, Barbara
Koivula and her husband Ronald of Bennington and Linda Tuttle of
Bedford; 5 grandchildren; and 6 great- grandchildren.
Private
Services will be at the convenience of the family.
Burial will be
in the spring in the New Rye Cemetery, Epsom.
Donations in his
memory may be made to CRVNA Hospice House, 33 Pillsbury St.,
Concord, NH 03301
The Perkins & Pollard Memorial Home,
Pittsfield, is assisting with arrangements.
To sign an on line
guest book, log on to
www.perkinsandpollard.com.
Steven A. Wiley
Epsom - Steven A. Wiley, 53, of Brimstone Hill
Road, died Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010, at home.
Born May 23, 1956,
in Lincoln, Neb., Steven was the son of the late John H. and Juanita
S. (Spyres) Wiley. He lived in Loudon before moving to Epsom five
years ago.
For more than 20 years from 1986 until the time of
his death, he owned and operated the Crossroads Country Store in
Salisbury. From 1986 until 2006, Steve and his brother Larry owned
and operated Belmont Village Store, Epsom Circle Market, Circle Self
Storage and Wendy's in Epsom and Milford.
He enjoyed golf and
was an avid fan and cheerleader for all the sports in which his
daughters participated.
He is survived by daughters, Ciara and
Danielle Wiley of Penacook; a brother, Larry Wiley and his wife,
Barbara Walters, of Northwood; a sister, Sandra Moberger and her
husband, William, of Dublin, Ohio; and nieces and nephews.
A
time of celebration was held Thursday, February 25, 2010, at Still
Oaks Funeral and Memorial Home, Epsom.
Memorial
donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 2 Wall St.,
Manchester 03101.
For more information, log on to
stilloaks.com.
The
Reverend Doctor Arthur N. Foye
On Wednesday, February 17, 2010,
long time Epsom resident, The Reverend Doctor Arthur N. Foye, a
beloved follower of Jesus Christ, pastor, husband, father, grand and
great grandfather, passed away after a long illness. He was born and
raised in Arlington, MA: receiving his B.A. from Boston University
and his Bachelors of Divinity, Master of Sacred Theology and Doctor
of Ministry from Andover Newton Theological Seminary.
Dr. Foye
faithfully served the American Baptist Churches starting in
Marshfield, Scituate and Bedford Mass, then as field counselor for
World Mission Campaign; In the late 1960’s he became the associate
executive minister New Hampshire (and later adding Vermont). During
these years “Art” worked as the Director of Youth Camps in
Grotonwood Mass, Ocean Park, Me and Sentinel Baptist Camp in NH. He
was on the American Baptist Churches/USA Educational Ministry,
Evangelism and World Mission Support Teams. Dr. Foye was an
Ecumenical officer for American Baptist Churches of Vermont & New
Hampshire, and a member of the Vermont/New Hampshire Counsel of
Churches and Minister’s Counsel. For the last several years he also
served as Spiritual leader for Karios Prison Ministries and Tres
Dias Communities.
Dr. Foye has been called an amazing man and
has impacted many lives. He made people feel special and valued
because he believed the best about everyone. He cared about the
world: from the smallest flower to the stars in the sky. His sense
of humor was a gift he shared daily.
The Reverend Doctor Arthur
N. Foye is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joan; children, Donna
and husband Bill Chase, Linda, Joann and husband David Moore,
Michelle, Vickie and Shaun; 14 grandchildren; and 16 great
grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at The First Baptist
Church of Manchester on Feb. 27, 2010.
In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to the Art Foye Scholarship Fund c/o Sentinel
Baptist Camp, 29 Sentinel Lodge Rd, Center Tuftonboro, NH 03816 or
to New Rye Congregational Church of Epsom, New Hampshire.
“I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept
the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day -
and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his
appearing. 2 Tim. 4:7-9
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