The Epsom Central School Class of 2015 is pleased to announce the
winner of the raffle for the Red Sox jersey signed by David Ortiz is
Terry Dionne of Manchester, NH. Congratulations Terry! Terry was
recently presented with the jersey by 8th Grade students Christian
Army and Katie Muise, Vice Principal Jon Herod, parent fundraising
coordinator Jennifer Army, Principal Pat Connors, and Washington DC
trip coordinators Joan Pozner and Mary Yeaton. The jersey was
signed by Red Sox slugger Big Papi during his visit to Concord as a
promotion for the NH Lottery this Spring. All proceeds from the
raffle sales benefit the ECS 8th Grade educational trip to
Washington, DC in April. The Washington DC Fundraising Committee
and 8th Grade extend their sincere thanks to everyone who purchased
a ticket for their support of this trip.
Letter To The Editor
Why are the proponents of increasing the minimum wage so
disgustingly cheap?
They claim to care about and speak for the working poor, but when
push comes to shove, they only want to increase the minimum wage by
a few dollars, thus only marginally improving the lot of the working
poor.
Crumbs!
If all it takes to raise wages is to pass a law, why not pass a law
raising the minimum wage to say $20 or $25 and make a significant
difference in the lives of the working poor.
Better yet, why not increase the minimum wage to $50 or $100 and
eliminate poverty for the working poor altogether?
Yeah. Set the minimum wage at $100 per hour!
Seriously, don’t the proponents of raising the minimum wage owe the
rest of us an explanation as to why they are not advocating that the
minimum wage be raised to $100 per hour?
Yes. They do. But they won’t. Because they can’t bring themselves
to utter two simple words: mass unemployment.
If the minimum wage were raised to $100, all those looking for work
whose skills are worth less than $100 per hour would not, could not,
be hired..
Those earning close to $100 per hour might get a raise and meet the
new minimum wage rate, thereby keeping their jobs. The rest would be
let go. Legally unemployable.
The same process holds true at $50 per hour, $25 per hour, $15 per
hour, and $5 per hour.
Every time the minimum wage rate is raised, a few people get raises
and the rest, mostly the working poor, face mass unemployment.
Time and time again.
Jack Kelleher
Letter To The Editor
We have been bombarded with negativity about the Affordable Care Act
(ACA). Facts you will not see in the political ads:
About 20 million Americans have gained healthcare coverage under the
ACA
Approximately 7.8 million adults 19-25 have enrolled in a parent’s
plan; most could not have been covered before the ACA
Insurers can no longer set prices or exclude coverage due to
preexisting conditions
ACA provides expanded eligibility for Medicaid, with 100% coverage
by the feds until 2016 and reduction to 90% by 2020
Some individuals lost coverage that did not meet the law’s minimum
standard (did not cover basic aspects of medical care)
Narrow networks are a strategy to keep premiums low
As long as healthcare costs grow, premiums will grow - this is not a
function of the ACA
The ACA, although far from perfect, may decrease the number of hard
working citizens who will lose their homes and even their lives, due
to bankruptcy caused by insurmountable medical bills without
healthcare insurance
We have always paid for healthcare for the uninsured, but not in a
cost effective way. Sick people without insurance go to the ER. ER
care is more costly than primary care. Hospitals recoup their
losses by charging more for insured patients. This leads to higher
premiums for the insured. Providing primary care and prevention for
all is a better way to go. All Americans deserve good health care.
Miriam Cahill-Yeaton
Epsom
Epsom Welfare - Holiday Gift Program And Other Info
The Town of Epsom Holiday Gift Program helps provide children with a
few toys and warm clothes for the season. If you need assistance
with holiday gifts, please contact Celeste Decker, Welfare
Administrator, at 736-5507 or visit the Epsom Town Offices during
regular office hours for more information and to complete an
application. The deadline for completed applications is November 17,
2014. All requests are confidential and names will be kept private.
If you would like to sponsor a child or family through this program
you may contact Celeste at 736-5507or select a star from the Epsom
Public Library or one of the other locations in town. Stars will be
available in mid-November.
You may also sign up for a Holiday Food Basket through the Capital
Region Food Program at the Epsom Food Pantry. Please call 736-4024
for more information.
Also, a reminder that applications are now being taken at Community
Action Program (CAP) in Suncook for fuel and electric assistance.
For further information, please contact Celeste at 736-5507 or call
CAP at 485-7824 to schedule an appointment.
Suncook Senior Center November News
During November the Center will have a number of special events. On
November 4th we celebrate all the November birthdays; join us for
lunch and enjoy a make your own ice cream sundae! November 10th at
9:15am come and watch the movie Flags of Our Fathers; this World War
II drama reconstructs the events surrounding the six U.S soldiers,
including a NH native, who were instantly immortalized when they
were photographed raising the American flag atop Iwo Jima.
Beginning at 11:00am on November 12th Servicelink’s Medicare
Counselor, Anita Oelfke, will be available for individual
appointments for people to discuss their Medicare enrolment and
renewal. Servicelink will return to the center on November 18th at
11:15; Caregiver Support Counselor, Lydia Bailey, will provide a
brief presentation and then be available to answer questions about
resources and best practices. The Concord Regional Visiting Nurses
Association will also provide a wellness program: The Importance of
Play as Adults on November 13th at 10:30am. Play can dramatically
transform our health; join us to discover the benefits of play
regardless of age. Please call the center at 485-4254 to register
for Play as Adults.
At 10:00am November 20th you can begin your celebration of
Thanksgiving with a concert by guitarist Cat Faulkner. Following
the concert the center will serve a delicious meal, please reserve
your meal by November 12th. Upcoming holiday activities include a
Lights of Life Remembrance Ceremony on December 2nd, a trip to the
Springfield, MA Bright Lights holiday display on December 4th, and a
Craft Fair at the Suncook Business Park in Allenstown of December
6th.
The Suncook Senior Center is located at the Epsom Bible Church, 398
Blackhall Road, Epsom, NH. The center is open Monday thru Friday
8:00am to 2:00pm, and serves lunch Monday thru Thursday at 11:30am.
Weekly activities include card games, bingo and three different
exercise classes; including Gentle Yoga each Tuesday at 10:00am.
Stop in anytime to explore what the Senior Center can add to your
life!
Letter
To my constituents in Allenstown, Epsom, and Pittsfield,
My committee met for one last time on the bills we held for study.
Four had unanimous recommendations: HB473, converting the university
police force to pension Group II, killed because they can’t get out
of Social Security, which is incompatible with Group II; HB646, on
corrections industries, which we killed because in five years we
haven’t been able to get the details right and the department is
developing a new plan to integrate work with its rehabilitation
programs; HB1563, moving some corrections personnel to Group II,
where we recommended further legislation for a limited set of
positions; and my HB1603, grandfathering existing EMT-I so that they
needn’t qualify as Advanced EMT. Since I wrote that bill, the EMS
Bureau has developed a transition plan, and is on track to complete
the upgrade by 2017, when the federal registry eliminates the EMT-I
level.
HB326, licensing polysomnographers, was recommended 8-7 for further
legislation; the vote was moot because the champion of this bill has
already submitted it. HB1219, on pharmacists’ work schedules, was
recommended 8-6 and a bill has already been submitted for next year.
HB1148, moving the current age 65 reduction in Group I pensions to
Social Security’s “full retirement age” was recommended 9-6. I
strongly oppose this because it will result in a higher pension
costs for state and town employees and teachers.
SB186, requiring training to members of non-profit boards, was not
recommended, 12-2, because non-profits vary so much in size and
scope that it’s impossible to mandate any one level of training.
SB315, creating a board of building officials, was not recommended
12-2, again because of the wide variation between towns on the scope
of their building officials.
Interested readers can email me for my newsletter, with more details
than fit here.
Representative Carol McGuire
[email protected]
782-4918
Letter To The Editor
The Concord Epsom Elks #1210 held their Annual Children’s Christmas
Fund Dinner Saturday October 11, 2014 at their Epsom Lodge. There
were 70 in attendance for this event which included a Spaghetti
Dinner and a fun filled evening of Karaoke.
The event raised over $700.00 which will be used to buy Christmas
presents for local children. Anyone wishing to donate can send
their donations to the Concord Epsom Elks #1210, PO Box 1012, Epsom,
and NH 03234.
The Lodge would also like to express a huge “Thank You” to DJ Ken
Pennell and all those who donated their time and effort to help make
this event a success.
Jim Lombard, Member Concord Epsom Elks #1210
Epsom Food Pantry
Well, this last week has been busy for the folks who work keeping
the Pantry stocked. We really have been stocking food, and with the
cooler weather, we all have a better appetite. We try to get as
many fresh produce as possible as I think we all enjoy those. The
apples have been great and the kids love them.
As far as our wants, eggs are still needed as well as the baby food
for our newest little members. As we get nearer the holiday season,
I will keep you posted on the pickup time for the Thanksgiving
baskets which you will pick up at the Pantry. If you cannot pick up,
you need to let us know in advance so that we can make other
arrangements.
Again many thanks to all that leave us food around town in our food
pantry boxes. So appreciated and go right on our shelves as they are
needed. Remember in the winter you see layoffs in the construction
industry due to weather constrictions, so our needs are greater.
Until next time,
Priscilla
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