Poor decisions and lucky to be alive

To the editor: The first thing that i would like to comment on is that I am a caregiver. I understand the plight of the needy and the ones who have been victimized and ravaged by this sometimes very cruel and tough world we live in.

My heart aches for those who cannot help themselves and I give what I can where I feel it's needed, not having a lot extra myself with inflation and such. But I do not understand why there would be a "fund" set up to help someone with expenses that have been incurred by wrongdoing.

Yes, I am talking about the two teenagers in Lebanon who were skipping school and were somewhere they should not have been! If they had been in school this tragedy never would have happened. They are lucky to be alive, pulling a foolish prank like that.

I am really concerned that this paper would promote this story as if they are poor souls that have been accidentally injured.

I am the mother of teenagers in that same school system. I make it my concern to know where my daughters are.

A late night sleepover on a school night? With mom working? What were they thinking?

This article plays this up like some kind of a fun little thing for teens to do. "They did the usual — talk on the phone, surf the web, jump on the trampoline in the backyard. They didn't go to sleep until about 1:30 a.m. They woke up late for school the next morning. The sun was out. It was warm, so they decided to skip class and go down by the pond about a mile away from the house. They hid themselves from cars and neighbors. They lay down on the tracks. they were still tired. The sun was warm and comfortable they fell asleep."

Since when is skipping school, hiding from authorities and being in a very dangerous place "the usual?" What about that poor train conductor? Can you imagine being the one to run them over, when you did everything in your power to alert them? Maybe we should rather take up a collection for therapy for him!

I'm sorry, but I am mortified that they (the two girls) are being played up like some kind of normal teens. This happened because of very poor decisions — and mom, I'm sorry — but lack of supervision.

They are very lucky to be alive. And the one who was tired because of a long session with physical therapy? .It's just beginning girl. You have a long frustrating road ahead of you.

Please don't ask me to donate to this fund. There are many others who really did not deserve what happened to them out there. They really need the help.

Parents, it's 10 o'clock. Do you know what your children are planning for tomorrow?

Cheryl Hunter

Lebanon, Maine

What consequences are they facing?

To the editor: They fell asleep on the railroad tracks and a school official is quoted as saying "they didn't deserve this."

I think most people would agree that young middle school kids don't "deserve" to be hit by a train, but, when you skip school and fall asleep on railroad tracks ... you greatly increase your odds of this happening. While it is nice to see that the girls are recovering, it is also important to know what consequences they might be facing, i.e. detention, suspension or if they have apologized to the conductor of the train who will undoubtedly be haunted by this event for a long time.

Joan Wade

South Berwick, Maine

Numbers crunching time in Rochester

To the editor: In Foster's June 4, 2008 paper concerning the outpouring at the Rochester public hearing on the 2009 budget about the councilors allegedly not grasping the severity of a large tax increase during tough economic times, Mayor Larochelle was quoted as saying "No matter how you dice it, we have a relatively low tax rate." This was in reference to the existing $18.81 per $1,000 of valuation on property in the City of Rochester.

He stated median family income in 2006 was fifth in the nation, at nearly $72,000 and the state had the fifth lowest poverty rate based on a three-year average from 2001-2003. For many people, incomes have changed since 2003 and they have decreased rather than increased. We all know heating fuels, gasoline, food, medical and many other items prices have increased drastically. I can't think of anything that has gone down in price.

Let's also not forget people that are out there making $10,000 a year had to keep their heat at 50 degrees this past winter because of such high home heating fuel costs. Many taxpayers are cutting items out of their budgets to stay self supporting and keep their homes and pride. How very sad to think of the retired people that are battling to keep out of debt. They are dreading any type of medical problem.

No matter how you dice it, things are tight and getting tighter. It's figure crunching time. Sharpen those pencils and keep up the good work. Please, don't stop until we are at a budget we can afford. $0.00 increase in taxes would surely help many, many Rochester taxpayers. Please do not forget the ones on fixed budgets and the lower income folks way under the $72,000 figure.

Donna Moulton

Rochester

Make 2008 a healthier year

To the editor: We spend more money each year maintaining our cars than we do maintaining our health in the U.S. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this country spends less per person on preventive health than the cost of an oil change.

Meanwhile chronic diseases, such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and depression are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States — affecting the lives of 90 million Americans. No effort to improve the health of the people of New Hampshire can afford to overlook the impact of chronic disease on our families.

Chronic diseases lead to seven out of every ten deaths in the U.S. — killing more than 1.7 million Americans every year. Studies by the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease show total costs related to chronic disease have soared to approximately $3.3 billion and account for 75 cents of every dollar spent on health care.

Clearly, if we want to improve the affordability and quality of health care, we must make chronic disease prevention and management a chief priority for our state's health care system. This affects young and old alike.

According to the New Hampshire Council for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions, one in six children currently contend with a chronic health condition. To put that into perspective — 42,000 New Hampshire children suffer with chronic diseases and 10,000 of those children have a life-threatening chronic illness. Combine this with the nearly half a million other New Hampshire residents with chronic health conditions and the magnitude of this problem truly takes form.

In many cases, chronic diseases are preventable. Developing healthy habits can go a long way to preventing chronic conditions like heart disease, cancer, strokes and diabetes.

It remains critically important that policymakers, businesses, health care groups and families all do their part to address chronic disease treatment and prevention in New Hampshire.

On May 23, 2008 Governor Lynch took New Hampshire in the right direction with his proclamation of May 25-May 31 as Chronic Disease Awareness Week. It was our honor to have the opportunity to attend and to speak in support of this important issue. The Governor's proclamation is just the beginning of our renewed efforts to help families across the state lead healthier lives.

Let's make 2008 a healthier year in the State of New Hampshire.

Sen. Maggie Hassan

D-Exeter

Sen. Jack Barnes

R-Raymond



'Swingtown' offends

To the editor: An open letter to CBS

I am offended by the content of the CBS program "Swingtown." The offensive content clearly violates our local community standards and does not reflect your license obligation "to serve the public interest."

I urge you to refuse to air future episodes of "Swingtown."

I also ask you to place a copy of my complaint in your files according to FCC regulations.,

Pat Sutliffe

Epping



Safe toys in 2008

To the editor: Now that the House and Senate have both passed the CPSC Reform Act, the question is whether Congress will finish the job. No one wants 2008 to be another "Year of the Recall."

Instead of listening to Bush Administration and toy industry demands, Senate and House conferees negotiating the final bill should listen to parents and toygivers. We want the strongest final law possible and we want it passed in time to ensure a safe toy-shopping season in 2008.

Congressional conferees should take the best parts of both bills. The final bill should protect the greatest number of kids by taking the House provision protecting all children up to 12 years old. It should require that all toys, including dangerous magnets, be tested and that a publicly accessible database of hazards be established immediately at the CPSC, as in the Senate bill. And the final bill should get toxic lead and phthalates out of our children's toys.

Our senator, John Sununu, serves as one of the conferees on the CPSC Reform Act. As citizens we should urge the conferees to give our kids the best protection possible by taking the best provisions from each bill.

Amy Saucier

U.S. PIRG

Campaign Coordinator

Washington, D.C.

Be aware if you are hospitalized

To the editor: We have experienced a recent hospitalization (one night) and found out Medicare no longer pays for "self-administrable" drugs.

We were told by Medicare that this was effective January 1, 2008. The cost on the drugs runs eight to 112 times higher than cost from the local pharmacy, ex: $34.60 for one pill at the hospital, $4.60 for same pill or be charged $227 for one nasal spray vs. $2.02 from a local pharmacy.

Your prescription drug coverage may cover this, but it is up to you to search it out. In the meantime you could be billed $556 and more (for one night) for pills (or injections) you regularly take at home, but the hospital says it is illegal to administer them yourself in the hospital, or bring them to the hospital for distribution.

We feel we were blindsided by the hospital for not telling us that Medicare no longer paid for "self administrable" drugs. We would have had questions: "What is" and "how much."

This was an eye opener for us; just want to pass it along to others.

Dwight and Ellen Crow

Nottingham

Beware the aggressive cat

To the editor: This is a letter to Dover cat owner's near Horne and Ash Streets and the surrounding neighborhood.

If you are the owner of a short- haired tiger cat with a bright pink heart hanging from his/her collar, please know that this cat has been very aggressive toward my cats. On three separate occasions that we have witnessed ourselves, it has run my cats wild, almost into the road, while they were in our own yard. The other day, it came within about one foot of me to go after my kitten. It certainly was not intimidated by me standing there with my kitten at my feet.

The worst case so far is that my older cat was attacked by another cat a couple of weeks ago so badly that we are still not sure if she will lose her front leg. My cat literally goes outside about 20 minutes a day for fresh air on our porch.

Besides the high medical bills we have incurred to care for her, she certainly did not deserve this injury. If you are the owner of this aggressive cat, please do something about it. If you are a cat owner in this area, please beware.

Laurel Severson

Dover









To the editor: The majority of members of the United States Congress are upset, nay incensed that the Iraqi government is reported to have wasted billions of U. S. taxpayer's dollars. Clearly that is the exclusive purgative of the 110th Congress of the United States.

However, they feel a little better this week having passed, over the president's veto, a massive farm bill loaded with pork for industrial agriculture businesses, as well as funding many "important" projects in their own districts. When it comes to wasting U.S. taxpayer's dollars the 110th Congress of the United States will not be outdone.

The system is broken. Both the Democratic and Republican parties are rife with the power hungry who's only interest is to remain in office. Their formula for that is to spend taxpayer dollars where it is sure to return to their reelection campaigns.

We in New Hampshire can be proud that both of our Senators Judd Gregg and John Sununu voted no. This bill subsidizes the ethanol disaster. One third of the corn crop now goes to ethanol production. Ethanol in gas is mandated by the federal government.

The result has been that food prices are going up at twice the rate of inflation. Less land going into wheat and soy bean production is causing a world wide food shortage. On top of that the United States is now importing wheat further aggravating world shortages.

The average person of New Hampshire is paying taxes that are used to raise his food costs, and his gas costs. He is supposed to feel good because he is paying triple to fend off the possibility that in the year 3000 it will be too warm in New Hampshire to support the ski industry?

The real tragedy is that there aren't more principled Senators in Washington like Senator Gregg and Senator Sununu.

Thomas Akin

North Hampton



To the editor: Our fearless leader, Alexis Dascoulias would often quote that mantra, "It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness." She set the tone for the work done to create the Cocheco Arts and Technology Academy (CATA), a public charter school.

With the potential funding now from the Legislature, people will continue to give their all for this school whose mission is to provide a college preparatory program with the arts incorporated across the curriculum.

How well is this done? Come and see. On Wednesday, June 11th at the West End Studio Theatre at 959 Islington Street in Portsmouth, students' creations and talents will be on display. The Gallery opens at 6:30pm; the recital begins at 7:30 pm.

CATA is not a perfect school. There is much to be done. However, CATA strives to survive, to ask what can be done now and to do it.

CATA has test scores, an accountability plan and outside evaluations. But more importantly, it has stories. To interact with the students, to hear their stories ... to read the student comment "This school changed my life."— that is what provides the impetus to do yet another fundraiser, to find resources for another school year.

Great thanks to all who have supported CATA, with a hope that this will continue.

Fran Chickering

A CATA student parent

Dover



High taxes vs. city budget

To the editor: It is very clear to the taxpayers of Rochester that our taxes are already too high.

As a member of the Rochester Concerned Taxpayers, we have a fine, honest and dedicated leader in Mr. Fred Leonard. He understands the tax system and what burden the taxpayers can really live with. The mayor thinks the median income per household is $71,000. The average family income is between $25,000.00 and $38,000.00, not including our retired people on fixed incomes.

Many families are beginning to endure hardships due to rising gas and fuel prices and cannot under any circumstance take on additional taxes beyond their ability to pay. The City Council must think we have a "money tree" growing in our yards to spend on everyone's "wish list."

The City Council needs to take a hard look at the budget, trim all excess and approve a budget we can all live with. To quote former President Clinton, The Rochester Concerned Taxpayers Association "will be here until the last dog dies."

Fellow taxpayers, call your council representatives, let your voices be heard loud and clear.

City Councilors, trim that budget and set a standard to be followed in years to come.

Bruce Wright

Rochester



Rochester needs a tax cap

To the editor: Rochester needs a tax cap. Dover's tax rate is expected to rise 61 cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. The tax cap is obviously working for Dover and the tax payers are the winners.

Rochester needs a tax cap to prevent a future tax increase of $3.99 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. The city of Dover is still functioning with the tax cap and so will Rochester.

Did I mention that Rochester needs a tax cap — to help the city manager and mayor formulate a reasonable budget? Rochester needs a tax cap.

Charles E. Slone

Rochester



Newmarket School Board explains its action

To the editor: Residents of Newmarket, On May 28th the School Board held a meeting to discuss the recently approved warrant for the installation of an elevator at Newmarket Jr./Sr. High School. The meeting was held at the school and could not be televised on Channel 13. In order to maintain a steady flow of information we send this letter to our local news outlets and post it on the district website.

The School Board has decided to halt the elevator project. We believe it is important to communicate both the decision and reasoning behind it. The decision was made after a presentation by the architect and careful consideration of the current situation.

The project was halted for three reasons. 1. The construction bids were all for an amount greater than the warrant article was approved for. The board is not willing to spend more money than the voters approved for the project. 2. The design and placement of the elevator in the building needed to change based on updated state requirements. The new placement would have called for the use of a part of two classrooms to allow for access to the elevator on each floor. This would result in the reduction of classroom space in two classrooms that already fail to meet state minimums for size. 3. Since the passage of the warrant article, the results of the facilities survey conducted by UNH have been received. Results indicate doing something with our current building is an option preferred by a significant portion of the community.

If the voters approve a renovation plan the board does not wish for the location of the elevator to limit design options, or in the worst-case scenario create a situation where the elevator has to be demolished to allow for the best construction solution, thus wasting the investment.

While the current lift situation is far from perfect and in some cases completely unacceptable, the board has decided to enter into a service agreement for the next year to keep it in operation and allow time for consideration of a possible renovation of the building and exploration of the waivers needed to accomplish this.

Forest Ransdell, vice chair

for the Newmarket School Board



Where's the 'news?'

To the editor: Many times I see a story that repeats itself for days, (that is not news). Today I went to your ' Online Fosters' several times. What was I looking for? Well I was waiting to hear your take on the "news" of the day, not just any news, but "history-making news!

I was looking for great coverage of the Obama Victory! Every other news site that I visited had this story right up front or at the top of their home page. Fosters had a piece at the bottom — in the "Perspectives."

What does this say about Fosters and what they choose to call "news?"

Cathy Fitzpatrick

New Durham



Barrington selectman answers critic

To the editor: Mr. Ott, like everyone else, is entitled to his opinion, but it doesn't make his opinion right. The Barrington taxpayers are not being ripped off and Mr. Cook, the Road Agent, continues to be a responsible department head who makes decisions in consultation with the Board of Selectmen and the town's administrator.

As to the matter of the roof at the Recycling Center, the previous roof was made from a low-cost product which was easily breached by teenagers throwing stones from behind the building. At first there were only a couple of holes which leaked, but not disastrously. But, once the word got around, the petty vandalism escalated. All of a sudden there were numerous holes in the roof and water was running into the electrical wiring in the ceiling and then down onto the floor and onto an expensive compactor that runs on 220 volts. Furthermore, the National Weather Service was predicting rain over 5 or 6 days.

Mr. Cook was left with three choices: (1) close the Recycling Center for 3 or 4 weeks while the normal purchasing process was conducted, during which time all the recyclables that we sell would be dumped in the hopper and the town would pay Waste Management to haul it away; (2) leave the Recycling Center open for 3 or 4 weeks, let the water run in, and pray that there would be no short in the electrical circuit that could electrocute some employee or citizen while the normal purchasing process proceeded; or (3) simply get the roof fixed using a responsible local contractor who has done work for the town in the past and who was available to do the job right then when the need was most urgent.

Mr. Cook chose the third option. That is what's called responsible management. Sometimes we are left with a difficult set of choices. Had the building burned down due to an electrical short, Mr. Ott would have accused Mr. Cook of failing to properly maintain the building.

Finally, just to be entirely clear about the financing of this roof project, it was included in Mr. Cook's annual budget which was approved by the selectmen and the Advisory Budget Committee in 2007 and approved by the voters in March 2008.

Mr. Ott's view of the world is that everybody except himself and his self-appointed guardians of the town's "best interests" are idiots. There' really is no way, or any point in trying to refute such people because they are incapable of being convinced by the actual facts.

Charter Weeks

Selectman

Barrington



Portsmouth taxpayers' group meets next week

To the editor: The next meeting of the Association of Portsmouth Taxpayers, (APT) will be Wednesday, June 18 at 7 p.m. in the Hilton Garden Inn Meeting room of the Portsmouth Public Library. This meeting will be the June annual meeting as per our by-laws and designated as the Convention Meeting for the purpose of electing officers. We will also address the Articles of Agreement our by-laws and our approach to the on going city contracts.

We welcome any and all city residents and taxpayers to our meetings as these meetings are open to the public. New members are always welcome and our dues are only $10 for a family membership. Please join us.

Bill St. Laurent, President

The Association of Portsmouth Taxpayers

Portsmouth