Ivy Green Rebekah Lodge #36 is having a “Baby Shower” on Sunday,
June 9th at 2 pm at the Epsom Public Library. The shower is a
benefit for Concord Hospital Family Health Center’s Baby Layette
Project. Please join us for a fun afternoon of tea and refreshments.
Your donations will help low income and/or uninsured families in
Merrimack County give their newborns a good start in life! Items
needed include onesies, crib sheets, blankets, quilts, infant
toiletries, sleepers, socks, etc. Please RSVP to Jennifer Army,
736-8980 by June 3rd or for more info call Vickie Benner at
736-4707.
Evergreen Lodge #53 and American Legion Post #112 are sponsoring a
Fishing Derby, (Rain or Shine) on Saturday, June 1st from 8:30-11:30
am. This event is free to youth ages 16 and under. Bring your
favorite fishing pole and bait. Some loaner poles and bait will be
available. Prizes will be given to the top 3 in each age group.
Refreshments will be available. Location is 251 Center Hill Road,
watch for signs. For more info call Gary Benner 736-4707.
Growing Up A Country Boy
On Wednesday, May 29, at 7:00 p.m., the Epsom Public Library will
present Buddy Fife of Deerfield who will discuss his book, Growing
Up a Country Boy, as part of the library’s Adult Programming.
Lywood “Buddy” Fife was born in Deerfield in 1937 when times were
different. Life was much simpler, Buddy says: you worked hard, you
ate well, and you played after your chores were done.
Buddy shares many great childhood memories and experiences from his
life, as well as many joys and huge heartaches from his adult life.
He and wife Abby have lived in Northwood for over 57 years where
they started their married life together. They raised their four
children and watched their many grandchildren and
great-grandchildren grow up.
We invite you to come meet Buddy and learn more about him.
University Of New Hampshire Announces May 2013 Graduates
Congratulations to Christopher Michael Allen (BSCIVE), Magna Cum
Laude, Justin Thomas Bosiak (BSME), Rebecca Anne Cummings (BA),
Ashley G. Gelinas (BS), Magna Cum Laude, Megan E. Jones (BS),
Brittany Lynne Roberts (BS), and Amber Nicole Stephens (BS), Cum
Laude.
Letter
To my constituents in Allenstown, Epsom, and Pittsfield:
This week, the House continued with committee work. Mine met briefly
on genetic counselors, then jointly with the Children and Family Law
committee, to review a performance audit of the juvenile justice
system. This was a more focused audit than many, and rather
inconclusive since the definition of CHINS (child in need of
services) was changed last session, and is being re-evaluated this
session. It was clear that no legislative action is required yet. I
was rather disappointed to hear that various school districts feel
that, after the narrowing of the definition of CHINS and lack of
state action on them, that they have “no control” over truants,
since the statutes clearly give local school boards the authority
and responsibility to address truancy.
The gambling committee continued a month of intensive work with a
vote to kill the bill, 23-22. That’s closer than I expect the House
vote to be, since some representatives objected to not having a
chance to vote on the 18 amendments prepared to improve the bill. In
addition, the committee has more representatives from Salem (which
is expected to benefit from a casino) than the House as a whole
does. Dan was the deciding vote against the bill: we don’t object to
gambling itself, but SB152 is not the way to go. A single casino,
besides being unconstitutional, gives too much money and power to a
single entity. If a single business provides 10% of total state
revenues, it will have enormous power in Concord.
Interested readers can email me for my newsletter, with more details
than can fit here.
Representative Carol McGuire
[email protected]
782-4918
Letter
If basing town business by a single local contractor estimates
instead of several, then I continue to believe that the town is
moving in its same old direction. The town’s estimate to upgrade the
meeting house alone with its mold and lack of space issues, no
electricity, window replacement, sprinkler system, no septic system,
no roadways, you are talking about adding upgrades that you promised
the town taxpayers wouldn’t happen. These upgrades to the current
meeting house could exceed $900,000. So I think common sense is if
$350,000 gets property and upgrades, why would the town want to add
more expense to the taxpayers?
Secondly, why would the town not want to move forward in arenas you
are not familiar with, such as being the landlord of rental space
such as other towns do.
Hopefully the town’s taxpayers will show up to hear the presentation
regarding the Epsom Meeting House Proposal on May 20th.
Deborah Sargent
Letter
Epsom is very fortunate to have at the western edge
of our town, the Epsom Traffic Circle. According to NH Dept. of
Transportation, Bureau of Planning, Traffic Reports (2010 traffic
count, posted Feb. 13, 2013 as most current count), on average over
46,000 vehicles travel thru the Epsom Traffic Circle per day! On
line source:
www.nh.gov/dot/org/operations/traffic/tvr/locations/documents/epsom.pdf
In the real estate business, “highest and best use” of a property is
defined by 4 criteria: 1. Legally allowable 2. Physically possible
3. Financially feasible 4. Maximum productive use.
In a high volume business area such as the Circle (and in my opinion
for 1/2 mile in each direction), our town should encourage high
volume businesses. They create jobs, profits and generate property
taxes. Not only would locating Town Offices at Pathfinders not be
“highest and best use” of that property, it is a long way to travel
for those who live on the North Road end of town. I think Town
Offices/Town meetings should be more centrally located.
I am curious to know if most Epsom residents like the idea of
keeping high volume business (and the ‘transient traffic’ that comes
with it) on the west end of town. For long term planning, I for one,
prefer to keep schools, galleries, antique shops (and maybe our
“community center”) east of the Circle.
Next week, I will present my argument for locating Town Offices in a
building which already belongs to us. A group of interested citizens
have drawn up plans for a small addition to the Meeting House. A
bright, sunny foyer/entrance on the south side of the building.
Nancy Heath
Epsom
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