On Wednesday March 9 at 1:30 PM the Epsom Library will be showing
the movie, “Learning to Drive”. This R rated movie stars
Patricia Clarkson and Ben Kingsley. Quoting IMDB “As her
marriage dissolves, a Manhattan writer takes driving lessons from a
Sikh instructor with marriage troubles of his own. In each
other’s company they find the courage to get back on the road and
the strength to take the wheel.” Should there be a storm,
please call the library at 736-9920 to make sure the library is
open.
Epsom Food
Pantry
Well, Hi, one and all. I really have fallen down on my
job, but here goes again.
We are doing just great at the Pantry. We still struggle to keep the
shelves full and all in all do pretty well. Right now we could
use tomato soup, cream soups, jellies, hamburger helper, and
anything else your heart desires.
As usual our local churches are just so
generous, like St. Stephens in Pittsfield (they never forget us)
sent us a wonderful gift and the Ladies Aid at New Rye take care of
us as they did recently.
Charley Yeaton had a 39th Birthday and he
sent us some of his monetary gifts.One, especially, that Carolyn and
Paul Davis gave him.
And would you believe when some of our
volunteers who work in the Pantry see a need for something, they
step right up to the bat. Thanks JR.
Lastly, I want you all as citizens to let me know or Ken or Liz, if
you see or know of somebody who needs a helping hand and is too shy
to step forward. Please let us know and we will be right there to
help them out. When I formed this Pantry it was with the wish
that our group would make sure that no man, woman or child would
ever go hungry in Epsom.
Until next time,
Priscilla
Michael Briggs
Spaghetti Dinner
On Tuesday, March 8, 2016 the Epsom Central School will be holding
the 10th 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 from Epsom. This
will then be distributed upon the end of high school as this student
pursues his/her postsecondary education or enters a public service
career.
In order to make this award a reality we need your empty stomachs
and generosity. Epsom School Staff will be cooking and serving the
dinner in an effort to raise money for the award. The dinner will be
from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in the Multipurpose Room. The cost will
be $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children. Tickets will be
available in the office ahead of time or you may purchase them the
night of the dinner. We will once again be offering “take out”
dinners. We will make it fresh for you when you come in to
pick it up.
With your support we can make this award a reality. Any
questions please call Mrs. Donovan or Mrs. Brodeur at 736-9331.
Thank you.
Letter
To my constituents in Allenstown, Epsom,
and Pittsfield, There’s no session this week, so I thought I’d give
an update on the progress of my bills. HB216, allowing licensing
boards to recover some cost of investigating wrong-doing, has passed
the Senate after spending the summer with them. It may return to the
House because they amended it, but it was a minor and friendly
amendment. HB369, establishing a defined contribution plan, was sent
to interim study in favor of a hybrid plan (HB1673.) HB1123,
creating a property tax exemption for standby generators, was killed
by the committee since I’d chosen the wrong tax exemption to model
it on. They did identify a better law to use and I’ll try again next
year since it was a constituent request. HB1124, removing a doctor
from the occupational therapy board (since they can’t find one!) is
still in committee, but I’m optimistic. HB1243, on storm water or
sewage penalties, was amended by the committee to broaden its scope,
passed by the House, and is now in its second committee. HB1244, on
municipal cemeteries, has been recommended to pass, with a
clarifying amendment that satisfies them and the town of Allenstown,
which requested the bill.
HB1245, some corrections to the
rule-making statute, is still in committee, but I’m pretty sure
they’ll pass it. HB1246, on speech language assistants, has been
recommended to pass with a clarifying amendment. HB1282, updating
the state building code, has a work session this week: since the
building code review board and the home builders have agreed on some
minor additions, it should go smoothly. HB1395, on keeping municipal
records in electronic formats, is still in committee with a minor
wording change in process.
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
In Representative Carol McGuire’s weekly letter on the House
legislative session, she recounts her involvement with the Medicaid
expansion bill (HB 1696). She is wholly opposed to continuing
this program which currently provides health insurance to tens of
thousands of NH citizens.
As a part of her discussion, she unequivocally states that all those
currently receiving these benefits are basically dead beat bums.
A most cynical accusation, indeed, and one I wholly disagree with.
Rather, I contend that there are many honest, hard working
individuals who, for one reason or another, find themselves in a
financial situation which would otherwise prevent them from
obtaining health insurance without this program. Like any
public assistance, abuse by the few should not mandate depriving the
many who legitimately benefit.
Rep. C. McGuire goes on to claim that continuing the program is a
very poor bargain for the state. Her reasoning involves some
kind of cost comparison between extending Medicaid expansion and
traditional Medicaid which pits low income folks against those who
are both low income and handicapped. This argument seems scripted by
her American’s for Prosperity mentors and its conclusion is more in
line with the interests of the billionaire Koch brothers than with
the people she purportedly represents.
A more practical and humane approach would find that, besides the
obvious health benefits provided to tens of thousands of recipients
and economic benefits to the health care providers and states
economy as a whole now being realized, the federal government will
contribute 95% of program funding until 2020; a 20 to 1 deal in the
state’s favor. That sounds like a pretty good bargain to me
and it obviously did to the majority of House legislators who passed
the bill.
Glenn Horner
Epsom
Letter
Epsom Residents:
New Building vs. using Meeting House
There has been a heated debate for many
years about using the Meeting House (also known as the church
building) located next to the Epsom Library for Town Offices.
Numerous times in the past few years various people came forward to
propose articles on the Town Warrant for a vote to use the building
for that purpose. Dozens of ideas for design and financing options
have been discussed, debated, and defeated.
Speculation about why keeps us in the
past. The town, and the Board of Selectmen, are moving forward with
supporting Article I on the 2016 Warrant, appropriating monies to
construct a new building for Town Offices to be built next to the
Police Station. Further, Epsom is in a position to use a portion of
the unreserved fund balance to significantly reduce the amount of
interest to be paid for the construction. Win/Win.
It is important to note that the Board of
Selectmen feel that the Meeting House, and its future use, is
important and should be handled separately with a plan of its own.
The historic Meeting House deserves our undivided attention.
Although it will most definitely serve the town in a community
serving capacity, the Board of Selectmen feel that a town office is
not the best fit.
The 2016 Warrant is available on the Town of Epsom website,
www.epsomnh.org, listed under public notices.
Please contact the Board of Selectmen or the Town Office if you have
any questions. The phone number is 603-736-9002.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the
Epsom Board of Selectmen, Joanne Randall Public Information Officer,
Epsom, NH
Obituaries
Loraine E. (Turell) Watson
Epsom - Loraine E. (Turell) Watson, 81, of
Epsom, formerly of Gilmanton passed away Saturday, January 30, 2016
peacefully with her family by her side at Presidential Oaks in
Concord.
Born February 18, 1934 in Fitchburg, MA,
she was the daughter of the late Joseph A. Turell and Esther
(Boudrot) Turell.
She attended Fitchburg High School in
Fitchburg, MA. Loraine retired from Globe Firefighters MFG of
Pittsfield, N.H. She was an avid Bingo Player and a member of TOPS.
Loving mother, grandmother and
great-grandmother she leaves behind her children James and Sandi
Lennon of PA, Judy Lennon of MA, Diane and Mike Maloney of NH and
Debra and Roy Osterberg of MA; six grandchildren and seven
great-grandchildren.
A private family ceremony was held on her
birthday, February 18.
In lieu of flowers please make donations
to the Concord Regional Visiting Nurses Association or her favorite
Saint St. Jude.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Bennett
Funeral Home of Concord.
Messages of condolence may be offered at
www.bennettfuneral.com
Richard T. Fowler
Epsom - Mr. Richard Tripp Fowler, 87, a
lifelong Epsom resident, died Saturday, February 13, 2016 at the
Miriam Boyd Parlin Hospice Residence in Wayland, MA.
Born on February 20, 1928, Dick was the
son of Warren and Gladys (Rose) Fowler. He graduated from
Pembroke Academy and served in the Civil Air Patrol while still in
high school. He continued his education at UNH, earning both
his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees there. He was a member of
the Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) Fraternity at UNH and stayed active with
the alumni until recently.
He began his career farming, then taught
school in both Epsom and Chichester, finally working his way up to
being the principal of the Chichester School.
Dick loved history and was a member of
the Epsom and NH Historical Societies. He was a 4-H leader for over
35 years, served on several town boards, was a volunteer fireman and
an educator at PSNH fishways at Amoskeag Falls.
In addition he had a special interest in
learning and teaching about the American Indians and the Shakers.
He was awarded the name “Great Eagle” by the Sioux and volunteered
as a tour guide at the Shaker Village in Canterbury. Over the
years, he also found great pleasure in being Santa Claus to many
children.
Mr. Fowler was the widower of Joan
(Crosbie) Fowler, who died this past November and to whom he had
been married 62 years. He was also predeceased by his two
sisters, Geraldine Saturley and Margery Yeaton.
He is survived by 4 daughters and their
husbands, Katherine Becker and Robert of Boxborough, MA, Katrina
Fowler of Berlin, Kathleen Griffin and John of Framingham, MA, and
Karen Gunterman and John of Memphis, TN; 6 grandchildren; 2 great
grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A gathering to share memories was held
Thursday, February 18th at the Still Oaks Funeral & Memorial Home in
Epsom. Services by Rev. James Young were held at the funeral home on
Friday, February 19th. Spring burial will be in New Rye Cemetery in
Epsom.
In lieu of flowers please consider supporting Alpha Gamma Rho
Fraternity at UNH, 6 Strafford Avenue, Durham, NH 03824 of the
4-H UNH Cooperative, Taylor Hall, 59 College Road, Durham, NH 03824.
Tom Petit of the Still Oaks Funeral &
Memorial Home is assisting with arrangements and offers an on-line
guestbook at stilloaks.com.
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