From the Eagle Tribune;
Atkinson clinic runs out of flu vaccine after an hour
By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — Fred Kinsella thought he would finally get his flu shot yesterday at the Atkinson Community Center. But the Derry resident arrived just minutes after a sign was posted on the front door saying they were already out of vaccinations, about an hour into the four-hour clinic.
"We're going to have to search for another clinic," Kinsella said.
And he has been searching. Kinsella said he had tried at least four other places before heading to Atkinson yesterday. He said he usually gets his vaccination at work, the Social Security Administration, but this year it ran out of seasonal flu vaccine before he could get his.
"They had so many people, they ran out two weeks before all the appointments would have been filled," Kinsella said.
Atkinson's seasonal flu clinic, sponsored by the Police Department, is one of the largest in the area, according to Cathy Garrett of the Rockingham VNA and Hospice. Last year, about 400 vaccinations were given at the Atkinson clinic, but this year they had just 270.
"The H1N1 has made people aware of the vaccines you should get," Garrett said.
Vaccine wasn't always hard to find.
Two years ago, Garrett said, they had to throw away 1,000 doses because nobody wanted them.
Several people waiting for their shots yesterday said it was the first place they were able to find the vaccine.
Atkinson resident Ivan Grotenhuis said he tried to get a seasonal flu vaccination from his doctor about a week ago, but was turned away when they ran out.
"Doctors haven't really had any either," said Grotenhuis' wife, Gwen, while waiting with hundreds of other people to get their vaccinations.
Atkinson resident Kelly Doherty said she arrived at the clinic right at 10 a.m. because she feared it would run out. Doherty said she works at an early education center, so getting a flu vaccination is important.
But she's even more concerned about her 2-year-old daughter. She hasn't been able to find a place to get an H1N1 vaccination for her, including the family pediatrician.
"That's my highest priority, more so than for me," Doherty said.
According to state health officials 40,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine are on their way next week, but are destined for the highest risk patients — pregnant women, children with health problems and health care workers.
Atkinson Town Hall
The Norman Rockwellian picture of Atkinson
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Heard around the Town Hall: Selectmen Lift Cease and Desist Order
Yes Selectmen met Thursday to sign a new decree apparently drafted by Town Counsel. The new decree lifts the cease and desist order, while retaining authority over all the previously agreed to provisions signed by both the Osborns and the Town.
The Order apparently advises the Osborns that while the town will not intervene in their construction problems, they may continue at their own risk. The letter takes note of the ongoing civil litigation between the Osborns and Mrs. Davis and notes that the Town will await the outcome.
Apparently the Town wants to retain all of it's authority while exercising none of it. They notify the Osborns that all of the provisions that they agreed to are still in force and that they may suffer penalties for violating those provisions, while patently ignoring the violations already committed, preferring to wait until the resident has spent her own time and money to achieve what the Town should have the moral integrity to do on it's own.
The Order apparently advises the Osborns that while the town will not intervene in their construction problems, they may continue at their own risk. The letter takes note of the ongoing civil litigation between the Osborns and Mrs. Davis and notes that the Town will await the outcome.
Apparently the Town wants to retain all of it's authority while exercising none of it. They notify the Osborns that all of the provisions that they agreed to are still in force and that they may suffer penalties for violating those provisions, while patently ignoring the violations already committed, preferring to wait until the resident has spent her own time and money to achieve what the Town should have the moral integrity to do on it's own.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Atkinson board seeks legal advice on road issue
From the Eagle Tribune;
Atkinson board seeks legal advice on road issue
By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — Selectmen plan to meet with their attorney to discuss whether a Big Island Pond homeowner should be allowed to construct a driveway.
Maggie and Daniel Osborn asked the selectmen Monday night to withdraw the cease and desist order they received from the town earlier this month.
In recent weeks the Osborns' home on Valcat Lane has been at the center of controversy.
Selectmen sent the couple a cease and desist order on Oct. 9 because they violated an agreement with the town. They had said they wouldn't do any work without the town's permission.
But Maggie Osborn said previously that all work done at their house had been done with the town's permission. She could not be reached yesterday for comment.
Osborn said last week that her home has been vandalized and her family harassed by other residents.
Selectman Bill Bennett said the three-member board plans to meet with their attorney, Sumner Kalman, to discuss whether Valcat Lane is public or private, and whether to allow the Osborns to continue building their driveway.
"We have to decide what our options are," Bennett said.
Earlier this month, residents complained to the selectmen that the Osborns had destroyed Valcat Lane when constructing the driveway. Some residents have argued Valcat Lane is a public road, but the selectmen have yet to come to a decision.
The Valcat Lane home also is the site of several alleged shoreland protection violations.
Jim Martin, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Services, confirmed there were recent complaints against the Osborns, but they have not yet been investigated.
Atkinson board seeks legal advice on road issue
By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — Selectmen plan to meet with their attorney to discuss whether a Big Island Pond homeowner should be allowed to construct a driveway.
Maggie and Daniel Osborn asked the selectmen Monday night to withdraw the cease and desist order they received from the town earlier this month.
In recent weeks the Osborns' home on Valcat Lane has been at the center of controversy.
Selectmen sent the couple a cease and desist order on Oct. 9 because they violated an agreement with the town. They had said they wouldn't do any work without the town's permission.
But Maggie Osborn said previously that all work done at their house had been done with the town's permission. She could not be reached yesterday for comment.
Osborn said last week that her home has been vandalized and her family harassed by other residents.
Selectman Bill Bennett said the three-member board plans to meet with their attorney, Sumner Kalman, to discuss whether Valcat Lane is public or private, and whether to allow the Osborns to continue building their driveway.
"We have to decide what our options are," Bennett said.
Earlier this month, residents complained to the selectmen that the Osborns had destroyed Valcat Lane when constructing the driveway. Some residents have argued Valcat Lane is a public road, but the selectmen have yet to come to a decision.
The Valcat Lane home also is the site of several alleged shoreland protection violations.
Jim Martin, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Services, confirmed there were recent complaints against the Osborns, but they have not yet been investigated.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Heard around the Town...Selectmen plan to lift Cease & Desist Order!!
ARTICLE SUBMISSION
Selectmen are going to lift the cease and desist order!
We are hearing that the selectmen plan to lift the cease and desist order against the Osborns. The reasons apparently have to do with our Town Counsel again.
So far the story is that because they have not completed the work on their house within the year prescribed by the "waiver of liability agreement" signed by the town and the Osborn's, the town is taking the position that their violation of that provision of the agreement negates the entire agreement.
How ignorant is this reasoning? The Town had the Osborn's agree to certain conditions in order to obtain their building permit. They have violated every one of those conditions and now the town's position is going to be that they can't do anything because the Osborn's violations had the effect of negating the agreement?
So why do we have building and zoning codes if the town is going to selectively enforce them? Why should anyone go through the permitting process if the town is impotent to enforce those codes?
In this situation there is a house built on the lake that has violated building codes, is being lived in without an occupancy certificate, has been built BIGGER than was permitted, has a driveway that is laid across someone else's property, and has involved unpermitted excavation, AND the town STILL does not have accurate plans that the house has been built from, nor does it have engineered plans for this new driveway construction!
But the Town isn't going to enforce ANY of these regulations! And they wonder why we think this town's government is corrupt?
Selectmen are going to lift the cease and desist order!
We are hearing that the selectmen plan to lift the cease and desist order against the Osborns. The reasons apparently have to do with our Town Counsel again.
So far the story is that because they have not completed the work on their house within the year prescribed by the "waiver of liability agreement" signed by the town and the Osborn's, the town is taking the position that their violation of that provision of the agreement negates the entire agreement.
How ignorant is this reasoning? The Town had the Osborn's agree to certain conditions in order to obtain their building permit. They have violated every one of those conditions and now the town's position is going to be that they can't do anything because the Osborn's violations had the effect of negating the agreement?
So why do we have building and zoning codes if the town is going to selectively enforce them? Why should anyone go through the permitting process if the town is impotent to enforce those codes?
In this situation there is a house built on the lake that has violated building codes, is being lived in without an occupancy certificate, has been built BIGGER than was permitted, has a driveway that is laid across someone else's property, and has involved unpermitted excavation, AND the town STILL does not have accurate plans that the house has been built from, nor does it have engineered plans for this new driveway construction!
But the Town isn't going to enforce ANY of these regulations! And they wonder why we think this town's government is corrupt?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Fireworks at Monday Nights Meeting!
Monday Night's selectmen meeting had some drama for those who attended or watched. For those who are in the know, The Osborns were on the agenda for the purpose of getting the Town's cease and desist order lifted, and get their occupancy permit approved.
Maggie and Daniel Osborn attended the meeting with their Attorney. And the segment began with the Lawyer doing most of the talking. The Attorney was evidently unaware of the pending legal action between the Osborns and Mrs. Davis, as he maintained numerous times that there was "no civil action" in this matter. "No dispute" in this matter.
Even the lawyer got caught flat footed when selectman Friel asked if he was claiming that the Osborns had the right to dig up Valcat because they owned an easement across Valcat. Mr. Friel was relentless in his cross examination of the lawyer regarding their right to cut through Valcat, to the point that the lawyer could not offer any permission that was obtained to cut through Valcat.
The essence of the early part of the presentation was that the Osborns feel that their "driveway permit" allows them to construct the entire driveway from Chase Island rd. up the hill across Mrs. Davis land and cutting into Valcat ln. to access their driveway. Neglecting the representation by Mrs. Osborn of herself as "owner/applicant" of the underlying land.
The next claim was that Valcat ln. ended at the Osborn's property. but all the tax maps show Valcat continuing beyond the Osborn property, onto the Vaillancourt property and doglegging down to the lake.
Next at bat was the Road Agent who explained right from the driveway prmit that it only is concerned with the "curb cut" and work within the Chase Island rd. ROW. He explained that the driveway/fire rd. would have had to be approved PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION by both the Fire Chief and Road Agent based upon detailed plans submitted before construction.
Carol Davis was the next to speak, and pointed out that the ROW that the Osborns and their contractors have been using Valcat as a ROW to access the property for a year, why the need for a new Access across her property. She also stated that she has never been notified by either the Osborns or the Town as an abutter about any of these plans, laying a driveway/fire rd. across her property!
A Mr. Dobrov spoke about Mrs. Osborn's attempts to charge him $6,000.00 for "his share" of her new driveway. She then claimed that she tried to get her neighbors to share in the cost as it would be a "life safety" issue to have that access. (we remember this line being used extensively by Mr. Sapia during his tenure as selectman)
The Fire Chief was next up, and explained how Mrs. Osborn initially agreed to sprinkle her house. The building permit was issued even though the town was still awaiting plans, a couple of months later she spoke to him about options to sprinkling. She apparently spoke to Murphy about putting in a cistern and fire access road in lieu of sprinkling the house. Chief is still awaiting detailed plans, for both the house and fire road system. The house is apparently over built, and the "fire road" has a 13% grade which exceeds what a fire truck can handle. Chief Murphy has denied all permits until he has detailed plans, and a grade that is achievable.
The segment ended with Mrs. Osborn claiming in essence that even though she chose not to sprinkle, and to do everything they have done up there, they did it as a life safety decision for her family, and it should be approved. She claimed that she had the Fire Chief's permission to build the fire road instead of sprinkling. Chief Murphy then read from a letter that he sent in February 2009 denying her request for a fire road in lieu of sprinkling because he hasn't received detailed plans. She claims that he told her she had options in Oct. 2008, he states that was based upon her promise to install a cistern and fire road, and submit detailed plans to that event. Chief Murphy states that he STILL hasn't received detailed plans of the road, fire suppression system, cistern, or anything else.
Maggie and Daniel Osborn attended the meeting with their Attorney. And the segment began with the Lawyer doing most of the talking. The Attorney was evidently unaware of the pending legal action between the Osborns and Mrs. Davis, as he maintained numerous times that there was "no civil action" in this matter. "No dispute" in this matter.
Even the lawyer got caught flat footed when selectman Friel asked if he was claiming that the Osborns had the right to dig up Valcat because they owned an easement across Valcat. Mr. Friel was relentless in his cross examination of the lawyer regarding their right to cut through Valcat, to the point that the lawyer could not offer any permission that was obtained to cut through Valcat.
The essence of the early part of the presentation was that the Osborns feel that their "driveway permit" allows them to construct the entire driveway from Chase Island rd. up the hill across Mrs. Davis land and cutting into Valcat ln. to access their driveway. Neglecting the representation by Mrs. Osborn of herself as "owner/applicant" of the underlying land.
The next claim was that Valcat ln. ended at the Osborn's property. but all the tax maps show Valcat continuing beyond the Osborn property, onto the Vaillancourt property and doglegging down to the lake.
Next at bat was the Road Agent who explained right from the driveway prmit that it only is concerned with the "curb cut" and work within the Chase Island rd. ROW. He explained that the driveway/fire rd. would have had to be approved PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION by both the Fire Chief and Road Agent based upon detailed plans submitted before construction.
Carol Davis was the next to speak, and pointed out that the ROW that the Osborns and their contractors have been using Valcat as a ROW to access the property for a year, why the need for a new Access across her property. She also stated that she has never been notified by either the Osborns or the Town as an abutter about any of these plans, laying a driveway/fire rd. across her property!
A Mr. Dobrov spoke about Mrs. Osborn's attempts to charge him $6,000.00 for "his share" of her new driveway. She then claimed that she tried to get her neighbors to share in the cost as it would be a "life safety" issue to have that access. (we remember this line being used extensively by Mr. Sapia during his tenure as selectman)
The Fire Chief was next up, and explained how Mrs. Osborn initially agreed to sprinkle her house. The building permit was issued even though the town was still awaiting plans, a couple of months later she spoke to him about options to sprinkling. She apparently spoke to Murphy about putting in a cistern and fire access road in lieu of sprinkling the house. Chief is still awaiting detailed plans, for both the house and fire road system. The house is apparently over built, and the "fire road" has a 13% grade which exceeds what a fire truck can handle. Chief Murphy has denied all permits until he has detailed plans, and a grade that is achievable.
The segment ended with Mrs. Osborn claiming in essence that even though she chose not to sprinkle, and to do everything they have done up there, they did it as a life safety decision for her family, and it should be approved. She claimed that she had the Fire Chief's permission to build the fire road instead of sprinkling. Chief Murphy then read from a letter that he sent in February 2009 denying her request for a fire road in lieu of sprinkling because he hasn't received detailed plans. She claims that he told her she had options in Oct. 2008, he states that was based upon her promise to install a cistern and fire road, and submit detailed plans to that event. Chief Murphy states that he STILL hasn't received detailed plans of the road, fire suppression system, cistern, or anything else.
Resident designs new system to fight milfoil Man devises new system to combat milfoil
From the Eagle Tribbune;
Resident designs new system to fight milfoil Man devises new system to combat milfoil
By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — Scuba divers are starting to put a serious dent in the number of invasive plants in Big Island Pond. But Bob Patterson, who managed the eight divers this summer, has a new plan to attack the almost 100 acres that have been infested with milfoil.
Patterson wants to arm local volunteers and people across the state with snorkeling gear to pull the weeds from the bottom of the state's lakes and ponds.
Milfoil doesn't grow any deeper than 20 feet in Big Island Pond and with the small supplied-air system Patterson built, anyone could spend all day skin diving to collect the nuisance plants.
Certifications for scuba diving and equipment can cost between $2,000 and $3,000, but a supplied-air system is much cheaper and can run all day on a gallon of gas.
"Now, I can have a diver in the water for $150 instead of thousands of dollars," Patterson said.
Volunteers can become certified skin divers in a weekend. They would only have to take a $100 course to learn to use the air system and complete a state-certified, weed-pulling class to learn how to identify milfoil and pull it, Patterson said.
The new system consists of a generator and a pump that pushes air through a tank and into a hose that connects to the diver's respirator.
The hose on the system Patterson built is about 50 feet long and is connected to a hose that sucks up the milfoil into a net on top of a harvester.
The new program is much easier on the diver, too.
A scuba tank weighs close to 40 pounds and can fatigue a diver within a few hours. But with the new system, the diver only needs a respirator and can dive all day without a problem.
Last weekend was the first time Patterson tried out the new system and he said he was able to stay underwater for 18 hours, something he never would have been able to do carrying a scuba tank.
"It's going to greatly increase the number of divers," he said.
The program has caught the attention of the New Hampshire Lakes Association.
Jared Teutsch, president of the association, said skin diving is the future of milfoil treatment, but first the state Department of Environmental Services needs to approve the treatment.
DES controls the treatment options in the state and has yet to allow skin diving. Chemical treatment and scuba diving are the only approved options to manage milfoil, Teutsch said.
Teutsch said his association would work with Patterson and the DES over the winter to allow the treatment.
Amy Smagula, exotic species coordinator at the DES, was not available yesterday for comment.
The lakes association has received funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association to fund alternative methods of weed control and would like to establish a grant program so lakes across the state can start their own skin diving programs.
"I don't know that we'll be able to put it together for next summer, but that would be ideal," Teutsch said.
Resident designs new system to fight milfoil Man devises new system to combat milfoil
By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — Scuba divers are starting to put a serious dent in the number of invasive plants in Big Island Pond. But Bob Patterson, who managed the eight divers this summer, has a new plan to attack the almost 100 acres that have been infested with milfoil.
Patterson wants to arm local volunteers and people across the state with snorkeling gear to pull the weeds from the bottom of the state's lakes and ponds.
Milfoil doesn't grow any deeper than 20 feet in Big Island Pond and with the small supplied-air system Patterson built, anyone could spend all day skin diving to collect the nuisance plants.
Certifications for scuba diving and equipment can cost between $2,000 and $3,000, but a supplied-air system is much cheaper and can run all day on a gallon of gas.
"Now, I can have a diver in the water for $150 instead of thousands of dollars," Patterson said.
Volunteers can become certified skin divers in a weekend. They would only have to take a $100 course to learn to use the air system and complete a state-certified, weed-pulling class to learn how to identify milfoil and pull it, Patterson said.
The new system consists of a generator and a pump that pushes air through a tank and into a hose that connects to the diver's respirator.
The hose on the system Patterson built is about 50 feet long and is connected to a hose that sucks up the milfoil into a net on top of a harvester.
The new program is much easier on the diver, too.
A scuba tank weighs close to 40 pounds and can fatigue a diver within a few hours. But with the new system, the diver only needs a respirator and can dive all day without a problem.
Last weekend was the first time Patterson tried out the new system and he said he was able to stay underwater for 18 hours, something he never would have been able to do carrying a scuba tank.
"It's going to greatly increase the number of divers," he said.
The program has caught the attention of the New Hampshire Lakes Association.
Jared Teutsch, president of the association, said skin diving is the future of milfoil treatment, but first the state Department of Environmental Services needs to approve the treatment.
DES controls the treatment options in the state and has yet to allow skin diving. Chemical treatment and scuba diving are the only approved options to manage milfoil, Teutsch said.
Teutsch said his association would work with Patterson and the DES over the winter to allow the treatment.
Amy Smagula, exotic species coordinator at the DES, was not available yesterday for comment.
The lakes association has received funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association to fund alternative methods of weed control and would like to establish a grant program so lakes across the state can start their own skin diving programs.
"I don't know that we'll be able to put it together for next summer, but that would be ideal," Teutsch said.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Man who sued Atkinson officials arrested Thursday
From the Eagle Tribune;
Man who sued Atkinson officials arrested Thursday
By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON, N.H. — An Atkinson man who sued town officials for First Amendment violations and recently told the selectmen another resident was destroying public roads was arrested Thursday afternoon on a charge of reckless conduct.
But police yesterday would offer few details about the arrest or any events leading up to it.
Leon Artus of Maple Avenue, no age given, has been charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct for a motor vehicle-related incident, Detective Sgt. Phil Farrar said.
Farrar declined to elaborate on what led to the reckless conduct charge.
Police Chief Philip Consentino said a resident had filed a complaint against Artus, but he declined to name the resident.
Artus did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.
He and two other residents filed a lawsuit in federal court in February against several town officials, including Consentino, alleging First Amendment violations.
The lawsuit alleged Consentino prevented them from placing warrant articles on the 2009 Town Meeting ballot.
Earlier this week, a judge dismissed the lawsuit.
At a selectmen's meeting two weeks ago, Artus told the board a Big Island Pond homeowner had damaged Valcat Lane when she built a driveway.
Artus claimed the road Maggie and Daniel Osborn had damaged was a public road and residents in the area couldn't access their properties as a result of their actions.
Maggie Osborn said earlier this week that her family has been harassed by other residents and her home was recently vandalized.
Man who sued Atkinson officials arrested Thursday
By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON, N.H. — An Atkinson man who sued town officials for First Amendment violations and recently told the selectmen another resident was destroying public roads was arrested Thursday afternoon on a charge of reckless conduct.
But police yesterday would offer few details about the arrest or any events leading up to it.
Leon Artus of Maple Avenue, no age given, has been charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct for a motor vehicle-related incident, Detective Sgt. Phil Farrar said.
Farrar declined to elaborate on what led to the reckless conduct charge.
Police Chief Philip Consentino said a resident had filed a complaint against Artus, but he declined to name the resident.
Artus did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.
He and two other residents filed a lawsuit in federal court in February against several town officials, including Consentino, alleging First Amendment violations.
The lawsuit alleged Consentino prevented them from placing warrant articles on the 2009 Town Meeting ballot.
Earlier this week, a judge dismissed the lawsuit.
At a selectmen's meeting two weeks ago, Artus told the board a Big Island Pond homeowner had damaged Valcat Lane when she built a driveway.
Artus claimed the road Maggie and Daniel Osborn had damaged was a public road and residents in the area couldn't access their properties as a result of their actions.
Maggie Osborn said earlier this week that her family has been harassed by other residents and her home was recently vandalized.
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