The short answer is no. That, like many other statements is patently false.
But what is the truth?
Now thanks to this blog, and the Atkinson Taxpayers Website, that question is easily answered.
If you go to the Atkinson Taxpayers website, and look at the donation acct. ledgers, you will see many expenditures over the last three years, coincidently the years the board of selectmen was controlled by the chief and his puppet, Sapia, were made with no public disclosure.
This is bad enough, but there were alot of problems with that account, The board was supposed to post notice of the public hearing 7 days in advance, and never did. They were supposed to VOTE to spend any money, and rarely did that!
No, even though most requests were made in public, the public usually had little idea of how that money was being spent.
Lets Look at the Donation Account Ledger for 2007;
On 1/10/07 $400.00 to William Anderson for Gift cards NEVER DISCLOSED
On 1/10/08 $50.00 to Rick Theberge for a mailbox NEVER DISCLOSED
On 1/16/08 $117.00 to William Anderson for Senior Drivers Jackets NEVER DISCLOSED
On 3/7/07 $58.00 to William Anderson for Logos on Jackets NEVER DISCLOSED
On 3/7/07 $40.00 to Rick Theberge for Sand/salt driveway NEVER DISCLOSED
On 3/28/07 $40.00 to Charlie McCarthy Senior-4 pops tickets NEVER DISCLOSED
On 3/28/08 $250.00 to Atkinson Youth Baseball for sponsorship NEVER DISCLOSED
On 6/6/07 $21.65 to Charlie McCarthy for Staples/plug/parking NEVER DISCLOSED
On 7/18/07 $175.00 to Details on wheels for wax and buff durango NEVER DISCLOSED
On 7/18/08 $90.00 to Harolds Locksmith for new key for Mercury NEVER DISCLOSED
On 7/25/08 $65.00 to Charlie McCarthy for wax senior car NEVER DISCLOSED
On 7/25/07 $50.00 to Freshwater Farms for Cammilieri(Flowers?) NEVER DISCLOSED
On 10/24/07 $50.00 to Phil's signs for flu shot signs NEVER DISCLOSED
On 10/24/07 $100.00 to ram printing for envelopes NEVER DISCLOSED
On 10/31/07 $216.00 to Lynn Card co. for Police badge cards NEVER DISCLOSED
On 10/31/07 $18.58 to Charlie McCarthy for Rx items NEVER DISCLOSED
On 11/14/07 $173.00 to C&D Auto clinic for car repairs for senior NEVER DISCLOSED
On 11/14/07 $57.00 to Freshwater Farms for Crowley(Flowers?) NEVER DISCLOSED
On 11/14/08 $48.00 to Pulsar Alarms for Med alert NEVER DISCLOSED
On 11/20/07 $15.00 to Phil Consentino for parking fee Boston NEVER DISCLOSED
On 11/20/08 $100.00 to Phil Consentinno for gift certificate NEVER DISCLOSED
On 12/19/07 $45.00 to Exeter flower shop for flowers Kinney NEVER DISCLOSED
On 12/31/07 $486.75 to Murphy and Sons Oil for heating oil assist. NEVER DISCLOSED
On 12/31/07 $75.00 to Rick Theberge for assist snow removal NEVER DISCLOSED
TOTAL SPENT WITHOUT PUBLIC DISCLOSURE $ 2,740.98
And that's just one year! This has been going on for 15 years!
Sorry chief, we know how you hate people to use the word LIE in describing your tales, so can we say untruthful?
We will just let the people decide for themselves. The facts are presented.
Atkinson Town Hall
The Norman Rockwellian picture of Atkinson
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Atkinson Lions bring cheer to lonely residents
From the Eagle Tribune;
Atkinson Lions bring cheer to lonely residents
By John Basilesco
jbasilesco@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — In groups of two and three, members of the Atkinson Lions Club will deliver holiday baskets and pay a visit to lonely residents, many of whom have no families of their own.
Through a community service program started three years ago, club members will mobilize Dec. 13 to deliver baskets and spend time chatting with each recipient.
"The baskets aren't just about giving them some food," club President Al Goldstein said. "For some of these people, we're the only ones who visit them on the holidays. They have no family. In thank-you notes sent to the club, it's amazing how they focus more on the fact that we stopped what we were doing to talk to them for half an hour than the fact that we gave them food."
The idea came from club member George Winchell, who coordinates the annual event with Goldstein and other members.
"Going out and delivering the baskets — and being asked to come in and sit and chat — is one of the best things about it," Winchell said. "You can't describe the look on their faces. It's very moving, very touching."
The beneficiaries are people in need of an emotional boost, Winchell said. They include individuals who have lost a spouse and are spending their holiday alone for the first time. Others include elderly people living alone.
One of the recipients last year was a young woman, recently divorced, facing her first Christmas alone with her children, Winchell said.
"We do it to show them that someone's thinking about them around the holiday season," Winchell said.
Two or three Lions go to each person's house to deliver the baskets. A lot of the people who receive the baskets are by themselves and just want someone to talk to them, he said.
They send touching thank-you notes to the club, which Goldstein reads at club meetings.
"You can hear a pin drop when he's reading them," Winchell said.
The baskets are filled with an assortment of food, including fruit, crackers and a canned ham.
Atkinson Lions bring cheer to lonely residents
By John Basilesco
jbasilesco@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — In groups of two and three, members of the Atkinson Lions Club will deliver holiday baskets and pay a visit to lonely residents, many of whom have no families of their own.
Through a community service program started three years ago, club members will mobilize Dec. 13 to deliver baskets and spend time chatting with each recipient.
"The baskets aren't just about giving them some food," club President Al Goldstein said. "For some of these people, we're the only ones who visit them on the holidays. They have no family. In thank-you notes sent to the club, it's amazing how they focus more on the fact that we stopped what we were doing to talk to them for half an hour than the fact that we gave them food."
The idea came from club member George Winchell, who coordinates the annual event with Goldstein and other members.
"Going out and delivering the baskets — and being asked to come in and sit and chat — is one of the best things about it," Winchell said. "You can't describe the look on their faces. It's very moving, very touching."
The beneficiaries are people in need of an emotional boost, Winchell said. They include individuals who have lost a spouse and are spending their holiday alone for the first time. Others include elderly people living alone.
One of the recipients last year was a young woman, recently divorced, facing her first Christmas alone with her children, Winchell said.
"We do it to show them that someone's thinking about them around the holiday season," Winchell said.
Two or three Lions go to each person's house to deliver the baskets. A lot of the people who receive the baskets are by themselves and just want someone to talk to them, he said.
They send touching thank-you notes to the club, which Goldstein reads at club meetings.
"You can hear a pin drop when he's reading them," Winchell said.
The baskets are filled with an assortment of food, including fruit, crackers and a canned ham.
Friday, November 21, 2008
ATKINSON POLICE CHIEF TRIES TO MISLEAD THE TAXPAYERS AGAIN
PLEASE CONSIDER THIS AS AN ARTICLE SUBMISSION
ATKINSON POLICE CHIEF TRIES TO MISLEAD THE TAXPAYERS AGAIN
Phil Says: Forced changes in elderly improvement
From the Eagle Tribune;
Letter: Forced changes in elderly fund no improvement
To the editor:
This letter is in response to your editorial of Nov. 17. I would like to set the record straight for the second time with your paper. I previously came to your office and explained the process of how the Elderly Affairs Department and the Police Departments Donation/Equipment fund worked. I will again advise you of the process that has been in place since 1994.
SECOND TIME, WHEN WAS THE FIRST? IS PHIL RESPONSIBLE FOR MARGO LEAVING THE EAGLE TRIBUNE? WHAT RIGHT DOES PHIL HAVE TO ADVISE ANY NEWSPAPER ABOUT ANYTHING?
You mention in your editorial the word "transparency" of the funds we received and how those funds were spent. Let's set that record straight. Whenever the Police Department wanted to use funds from our Donation/Equipment fund, the selectman were required to hold a public hearing during their regularly scheduled meeting. During this posted public hearing, I advised the selectmen exactly why we wanted to take funds out of this account. The selectmen then opened the public hearing to the public to see if they had any questions on how or why these funds were being requested. At the conclusion of that public hearing, the selectmen took a vote to authorize the withdrawal of these funds.
THIS IS A HALF TRUTH. GRANTED, A MEETING WAS HELD, BUT NO VOTE WAS EVER TAKEN. HALF TRUTHS DO NOT SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
Once a receipt was obtained for the items requested, that receipt was turned into the town's bookkeeper and she then produced a check. That check was sent to the Board of Selectmen for another approval prior to the funds being expended. That is open and full transparency.
IF THIS WERE TRUE, WHY DOESN’T THE AMOUNTS MATCH UP WITH THE AMOUNTS REQUESTED? AGAIN, MORE LIES FROM OUR CHIEF. SHAME ON HIM FOR MISLEADING THE TRUTH TO THE PUBLIC THAT PAYS HIM.
PLEASE SEE:
http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/pdf/Donation_Ledger2005.pdf
http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/pdf/Donation_Ledger2006.pdf
http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/pdf/Donation_Ledger2007-08.pdf
At least once a month, a resident would come to the bookkeeper's office to look over all of the receipts that were paid out of the Police Departments Donation/equipment fund. That again is full and open transparency.
THE PEOPLE OF ATKINSON WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE PERSON (S) WHO DID THIS ONCE A MONTH. WAS IT THE CHIEF’S WIFE?
Now let me tell you how the new approved system is working. All funds received into the new Atkinson Police Charitable Fund are no longer open to scrutiny by the public, because, under direction of the attorney general's office, we were required to open a nonprofit charitable trust that is not open to public scrutiny under the right to know law.
THIS IS ANOTHER LIE. THE AGO DID NOT DEMAND THE TOWN SET UP A NON-PROFIT THE TAXPAYERS WOULD NOT FIND TRANSPARENT. THAT WAS ONE OPTION. THE AGO RECOMMENDED TURNING THE DONATION ACCOUNT OVER TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE TRUST FUNDS FOR MANAGEMENT, BUT THEN PHIL WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT OR THE TRUSTEES WOULD SAY NO, UNLIKE THE SELECTMEN. PHIL CREATED HIS OWN ACCOUNT SO IT WOULDN’T BE TRANSPARENT. THIS IS HIS OWN PRIVATE NON-PROFIT ACCOUNT. THE GOOD NEWS IS TAXPAYERS CAN STILL DONATE TO THE TRUSTEE OF THE TOWN TRUST FUND. THAT ACCOUNT IS TRANSPARENT. WHY WOULD ANYONE DONATE TO PHIL’S ACCOUNT. THE ANSWER IS: BECAUSE PHIL WILL FORCE THEM TO, IF THEY WANT SERVICES TO CONTINUE.
We are not required to advise anyone how these donations are going to be spent, or provide any receipts for these expenditures. This account no longer has full transparency as it did prior to the separation.
THIS IS WHY THE CHIEF SET UP HIS OWN ACCOUNT. STAFFED BY HIS OWN EMPLOYEES!
You also stated that I was the only person who decided how these donations were to be spent. That was not true. Any senior that needed assistance only had to ask the Police Department and we then provided them with the assistance they requested. Now that these funds are under the control of the charitable fund, we will adhere to the state laws governing a nonprofit charitable fund. Under the guidance of the attorney general's office, we set up a board of directors. They are Philip Consentino, president; William Anderson, vice president; Robert Neill; treasurer, Roger Culliford, secretary; and Richard Magoon, recording secretary. All of the directors are members of the Atkinson Police Department's Elderly Affairs Division.
OF COURSE THEY ARE BECAUSE THEY WILL DO ANYTHING THE CHIEF TELLS THEM TO DO.
Most seniors would rather go without than to go to the Town Hall and fill out a 15-page life history form just to get a one-time assistance with an oil delivery. That is why so many seniors know that they can always come to the Police Department and get the help that they need. So nothing really has changed except we are no longer transparent.
BECAUSE THAT’S THE WAY THE CHIEF WANTED IT. AND THERE IS NO 15 PAGE APPLICATION FOR HEATING ASSISTANCE. HEATING ASSISTANCE IS A STATE FUNDED PROGRAM WITH A SHORT APPLICATION, TO QUALIFY.
There will no longer be any public hearings advising the residents of how these donations will be spent. You will no longer be allowed to look over all of the receipts and slips indicating what these funds were used for. Remember, this new charitable trust was set up by the N.H. attorney general's Charitable Trust Division.
NO IT WASN’T, YOU DID THIS CHIEF.
We did not request to take the transparency away from the public; this was done against our wishes.
THIS WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE CHIEF WANTED, SO IT WOULD NOT BE TRANSPARENT.
As far as separating the Police Department from the Elderly Affairs Department, this is a lose-lose situation for the town. We now have to turn over the full responsibility of the two old police cruisers and the new wheelchair van to the Elderly Affairs Department.
IT’S THE BEGINNING OF A WIN-WIN SITUATION. IT WILL BE AS SOON AS WE GET PHIL OUT OF ELDERLY AFFAIRS COMPLETELY.
Who is going to maintain these vehicles? Who is going to pay for all of the repairs? All of these expenses were paid through the Police Department's Donation/Equipment Fund. This can no longer be accomplished, because these vehicles are no longer under the control of the Police Department.
YES IT CAN, WE WILL TAKE IT OUT OF YOUR POLICE BUDGET AND PUT THE MONEY INTO THE ELDERLY AFFAIRS BUDGET WHERE IT BELONGS. NO MORE BLOATED POLICE BUDGET FOR YOU CHIEF.SINCE WHEN IS IT ONLY THE POLICE DEPT. WHO MAINTAINS VEHICLES?
Who takes the calls from seniors looking for rides to the doctors? Who houses all of the medical supplies? Who helps seniors when they have a problem with Medicare or a contractor that did not complete a job? That's right, the Police Department. The Elderly Affairs program cannot provide the services to our seniors that we do without the interaction of the Police Department.
YES THE COMMUNITY CENTER CAN DO ALL THESE THINGS WITHOUT PHIL.
Can you tell me is this new separation and new charitable fund going to help the residents of Atkinson or is it now going to reduce or completely dissolve the Elderly Affairs program?
THE ELDERLY AFFAIRS PROGRAM WILL NOT BE DISSOLVED. WE INTEND TO INCREASE SERVICES FOR EVERYONE (NOT JUST YOUR CHOSEN FEW) WHILE BEING TRANSPARENT. THE ELDERLY WILL DO BETTER WITHOUT YOU CHIEF. WE WILL SEE TO IT. AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO BELIEVE YOU ARE THE BEGINNING AND END ALL FOR ELDERLY AFFAIRS, YOU ARE NOT.
Please get your facts straight prior to printing your editorials.
THE PAPER HAS IT FACTS STRAIGHT. IT’S THE CHIEF THAT IS MISLEADING THE PUBLIC.
PHIL, STOP INTIMIDATING AND LYING TO THE PUBLIC AND OUR ELDERLY! THEY DON’T DESERVE BEING MISTREATED. YOU SIR, ARE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE IN OUR TOWN. STEP DOWN NOW.
PHILIP V. CONSENTINO
Police chief
Director of elderly affairs
President of the Atkinson Police
Charitable Fund
Atkinson, N.H.
ATKINSON TAXPAYERS COMMITTEE
ATKINSON POLICE CHIEF TRIES TO MISLEAD THE TAXPAYERS AGAIN
Phil Says: Forced changes in elderly improvement
From the Eagle Tribune;
Letter: Forced changes in elderly fund no improvement
To the editor:
This letter is in response to your editorial of Nov. 17. I would like to set the record straight for the second time with your paper. I previously came to your office and explained the process of how the Elderly Affairs Department and the Police Departments Donation/Equipment fund worked. I will again advise you of the process that has been in place since 1994.
SECOND TIME, WHEN WAS THE FIRST? IS PHIL RESPONSIBLE FOR MARGO LEAVING THE EAGLE TRIBUNE? WHAT RIGHT DOES PHIL HAVE TO ADVISE ANY NEWSPAPER ABOUT ANYTHING?
You mention in your editorial the word "transparency" of the funds we received and how those funds were spent. Let's set that record straight. Whenever the Police Department wanted to use funds from our Donation/Equipment fund, the selectman were required to hold a public hearing during their regularly scheduled meeting. During this posted public hearing, I advised the selectmen exactly why we wanted to take funds out of this account. The selectmen then opened the public hearing to the public to see if they had any questions on how or why these funds were being requested. At the conclusion of that public hearing, the selectmen took a vote to authorize the withdrawal of these funds.
THIS IS A HALF TRUTH. GRANTED, A MEETING WAS HELD, BUT NO VOTE WAS EVER TAKEN. HALF TRUTHS DO NOT SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
Once a receipt was obtained for the items requested, that receipt was turned into the town's bookkeeper and she then produced a check. That check was sent to the Board of Selectmen for another approval prior to the funds being expended. That is open and full transparency.
IF THIS WERE TRUE, WHY DOESN’T THE AMOUNTS MATCH UP WITH THE AMOUNTS REQUESTED? AGAIN, MORE LIES FROM OUR CHIEF. SHAME ON HIM FOR MISLEADING THE TRUTH TO THE PUBLIC THAT PAYS HIM.
PLEASE SEE:
http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/pdf/Donation_Ledger2005.pdf
http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/pdf/Donation_Ledger2006.pdf
http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/pdf/Donation_Ledger2007-08.pdf
At least once a month, a resident would come to the bookkeeper's office to look over all of the receipts that were paid out of the Police Departments Donation/equipment fund. That again is full and open transparency.
THE PEOPLE OF ATKINSON WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE PERSON (S) WHO DID THIS ONCE A MONTH. WAS IT THE CHIEF’S WIFE?
Now let me tell you how the new approved system is working. All funds received into the new Atkinson Police Charitable Fund are no longer open to scrutiny by the public, because, under direction of the attorney general's office, we were required to open a nonprofit charitable trust that is not open to public scrutiny under the right to know law.
THIS IS ANOTHER LIE. THE AGO DID NOT DEMAND THE TOWN SET UP A NON-PROFIT THE TAXPAYERS WOULD NOT FIND TRANSPARENT. THAT WAS ONE OPTION. THE AGO RECOMMENDED TURNING THE DONATION ACCOUNT OVER TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE TRUST FUNDS FOR MANAGEMENT, BUT THEN PHIL WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT OR THE TRUSTEES WOULD SAY NO, UNLIKE THE SELECTMEN. PHIL CREATED HIS OWN ACCOUNT SO IT WOULDN’T BE TRANSPARENT. THIS IS HIS OWN PRIVATE NON-PROFIT ACCOUNT. THE GOOD NEWS IS TAXPAYERS CAN STILL DONATE TO THE TRUSTEE OF THE TOWN TRUST FUND. THAT ACCOUNT IS TRANSPARENT. WHY WOULD ANYONE DONATE TO PHIL’S ACCOUNT. THE ANSWER IS: BECAUSE PHIL WILL FORCE THEM TO, IF THEY WANT SERVICES TO CONTINUE.
We are not required to advise anyone how these donations are going to be spent, or provide any receipts for these expenditures. This account no longer has full transparency as it did prior to the separation.
THIS IS WHY THE CHIEF SET UP HIS OWN ACCOUNT. STAFFED BY HIS OWN EMPLOYEES!
You also stated that I was the only person who decided how these donations were to be spent. That was not true. Any senior that needed assistance only had to ask the Police Department and we then provided them with the assistance they requested. Now that these funds are under the control of the charitable fund, we will adhere to the state laws governing a nonprofit charitable fund. Under the guidance of the attorney general's office, we set up a board of directors. They are Philip Consentino, president; William Anderson, vice president; Robert Neill; treasurer, Roger Culliford, secretary; and Richard Magoon, recording secretary. All of the directors are members of the Atkinson Police Department's Elderly Affairs Division.
OF COURSE THEY ARE BECAUSE THEY WILL DO ANYTHING THE CHIEF TELLS THEM TO DO.
Most seniors would rather go without than to go to the Town Hall and fill out a 15-page life history form just to get a one-time assistance with an oil delivery. That is why so many seniors know that they can always come to the Police Department and get the help that they need. So nothing really has changed except we are no longer transparent.
BECAUSE THAT’S THE WAY THE CHIEF WANTED IT. AND THERE IS NO 15 PAGE APPLICATION FOR HEATING ASSISTANCE. HEATING ASSISTANCE IS A STATE FUNDED PROGRAM WITH A SHORT APPLICATION, TO QUALIFY.
There will no longer be any public hearings advising the residents of how these donations will be spent. You will no longer be allowed to look over all of the receipts and slips indicating what these funds were used for. Remember, this new charitable trust was set up by the N.H. attorney general's Charitable Trust Division.
NO IT WASN’T, YOU DID THIS CHIEF.
We did not request to take the transparency away from the public; this was done against our wishes.
THIS WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE CHIEF WANTED, SO IT WOULD NOT BE TRANSPARENT.
As far as separating the Police Department from the Elderly Affairs Department, this is a lose-lose situation for the town. We now have to turn over the full responsibility of the two old police cruisers and the new wheelchair van to the Elderly Affairs Department.
IT’S THE BEGINNING OF A WIN-WIN SITUATION. IT WILL BE AS SOON AS WE GET PHIL OUT OF ELDERLY AFFAIRS COMPLETELY.
Who is going to maintain these vehicles? Who is going to pay for all of the repairs? All of these expenses were paid through the Police Department's Donation/Equipment Fund. This can no longer be accomplished, because these vehicles are no longer under the control of the Police Department.
YES IT CAN, WE WILL TAKE IT OUT OF YOUR POLICE BUDGET AND PUT THE MONEY INTO THE ELDERLY AFFAIRS BUDGET WHERE IT BELONGS. NO MORE BLOATED POLICE BUDGET FOR YOU CHIEF.SINCE WHEN IS IT ONLY THE POLICE DEPT. WHO MAINTAINS VEHICLES?
Who takes the calls from seniors looking for rides to the doctors? Who houses all of the medical supplies? Who helps seniors when they have a problem with Medicare or a contractor that did not complete a job? That's right, the Police Department. The Elderly Affairs program cannot provide the services to our seniors that we do without the interaction of the Police Department.
YES THE COMMUNITY CENTER CAN DO ALL THESE THINGS WITHOUT PHIL.
Can you tell me is this new separation and new charitable fund going to help the residents of Atkinson or is it now going to reduce or completely dissolve the Elderly Affairs program?
THE ELDERLY AFFAIRS PROGRAM WILL NOT BE DISSOLVED. WE INTEND TO INCREASE SERVICES FOR EVERYONE (NOT JUST YOUR CHOSEN FEW) WHILE BEING TRANSPARENT. THE ELDERLY WILL DO BETTER WITHOUT YOU CHIEF. WE WILL SEE TO IT. AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO BELIEVE YOU ARE THE BEGINNING AND END ALL FOR ELDERLY AFFAIRS, YOU ARE NOT.
Please get your facts straight prior to printing your editorials.
THE PAPER HAS IT FACTS STRAIGHT. IT’S THE CHIEF THAT IS MISLEADING THE PUBLIC.
PHIL, STOP INTIMIDATING AND LYING TO THE PUBLIC AND OUR ELDERLY! THEY DON’T DESERVE BEING MISTREATED. YOU SIR, ARE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE IN OUR TOWN. STEP DOWN NOW.
PHILIP V. CONSENTINO
Police chief
Director of elderly affairs
President of the Atkinson Police
Charitable Fund
Atkinson, N.H.
ATKINSON TAXPAYERS COMMITTEE
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Some Advice For Atkinson.
From the Plaistow Town Crier;
Thank you, Mr. Herrick
Some Advice For Atkinson.
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Plaistow, NH Town Crier ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by Dennis Herrick on November 19, 2008 at 09:29:06:
The whole Elderly Assistance Program should be run out of the Community Center by someone other than Consentino. But, your Selectmen are soo afraid of losing the support of the elderly and their chances of a lasting legacy, that they've started catering to Consentino again. All the recent charges are mere cosmetics. They're dancing to the Chief's tune again.
Start focusing on the Selectman's race coming up next year. Who's up for election this time? Is it Childs? Start looking for a neutral player to run against him. How about drafting Fire Chief Murphy? I know he doesn't want it. What sane person would? Make him take it for the good of the community. He could serve for just one term. That's all it should take to clean up the mess. The last thing you need is another Selectman that wants to remain in office forever, working on some imagined legacy.
And a little bit of encouragement for the Atkinson Reporter II. It's your blog, run it the way you see fit. Maybe all the complainers will band together and start their own blog. They can call it Speak-Out-Atkinson. I'm sure Curt Springer would lend a hand. So lonely blog master, if you feel you've been demonized lately, then become the demon. If you think the government is acting like the "parents from hell", then you have a responsibility to act like the "kids from hell". You can do nothing less.
And remember this. If you were back in the 1700s and posted a story about the Boston Tea Party, these complainers would probably say, protests like these are just childish, divisive, nonsense. So keep up the good work.
Thank you, Mr. Herrick
Some Advice For Atkinson.
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Plaistow, NH Town Crier ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by Dennis Herrick on November 19, 2008 at 09:29:06:
The whole Elderly Assistance Program should be run out of the Community Center by someone other than Consentino. But, your Selectmen are soo afraid of losing the support of the elderly and their chances of a lasting legacy, that they've started catering to Consentino again. All the recent charges are mere cosmetics. They're dancing to the Chief's tune again.
Start focusing on the Selectman's race coming up next year. Who's up for election this time? Is it Childs? Start looking for a neutral player to run against him. How about drafting Fire Chief Murphy? I know he doesn't want it. What sane person would? Make him take it for the good of the community. He could serve for just one term. That's all it should take to clean up the mess. The last thing you need is another Selectman that wants to remain in office forever, working on some imagined legacy.
And a little bit of encouragement for the Atkinson Reporter II. It's your blog, run it the way you see fit. Maybe all the complainers will band together and start their own blog. They can call it Speak-Out-Atkinson. I'm sure Curt Springer would lend a hand. So lonely blog master, if you feel you've been demonized lately, then become the demon. If you think the government is acting like the "parents from hell", then you have a responsibility to act like the "kids from hell". You can do nothing less.
And remember this. If you were back in the 1700s and posted a story about the Boston Tea Party, these complainers would probably say, protests like these are just childish, divisive, nonsense. So keep up the good work.
Phil Says: Forced changes in elderly fund no improvement
From the Eagle Tribune;
Letter: Forced changes in elderly fund no improvement
To the editor:
This letter is in response to your editorial of Nov. 17. I would like to set the record straight for the second time with your paper. I previously came to your office and explained the process of how the Elderly Affairs Department and the Police Departments Donation/Equipment fund worked. I will again advise you of the process that has been in place since 1994.
You mention in your editorial the word "transparency" of the funds we received and how those funds were spent. Let's set that record straight. Whenever the Police Department wanted to use funds from our Donation/Equipment fund, the selectman were required to hold a public hearing during their regularly scheduled meeting. During this posted public hearing, I advised the selectmen exactly why we wanted to take funds out of this account. The selectmen then opened the public hearing to the public to see if they had any questions on how or why these funds were being requested. At the conclusion of that public hearing, the selectmen took a vote to authorize the withdrawal of these funds.
Once a receipt was obtained for the items requested, that receipt was turned into the town's bookkeeper and she then produced a check. That check was sent to the Board of Selectmen for another approval prior to the funds being expended. That is open and full transparency. At least once a month, a resident would come to the bookkeeper's office to look over all of the receipts that were paid out of the Police Departments Donation/equipment fund.
That again is full and open transparency.
Now let me tell you how the new approved system is working. All funds received into the new Atkinson Police Charitable Fund are no longer open to scrutiny by the public, because, under direction of the attorney general's office, we were required to open a nonprofit charitable trust that is not open to public scrutiny under the right to know law. We are not required to advise anyone how these donations are going to be spent, or provide any receipts for these expenditures. This account no longer has full transparency as it did prior to the separation.
You also stated that I was the only person who decided how these donations were to be spent. That was not true. Any senior that needed assistance only had to ask the Police Department and we then provided them with the assistance they requested. Now that these funds are under the control of the charitable fund, we will adhere to the state laws governing a nonprofit charitable fund. Under the guidance of the attorney general's office, we set up a board of directors. They are Philip Consentino, president; William Anderson, vice president; Robert Neill; treasurer, Roger Culliford, secretary; and Richard Magoon, recording secretary. All of the directors are members of the Atkinson Police Department's Elderly Affairs Division. Most seniors would rather go without than to go to the Town Hall and fill out a 15-page life history form just to get a one-time assistance with an oil delivery. That is why so many seniors know that they can always come to the Police Department and get the help that they need. So nothing really has changed except we are no longer transparent.
There will no longer be any public hearings advising the residents of how these donations will be spent. You will no longer be allowed to look over all of the receipts and slips indicating what these funds were used for. Remember, this new charitable trust was set up by the N.H. attorney general's Charitable Trust Division. We did not request to take the transparency away from the public; this was done against our wishes.
As far as separating the Police Department from the Elderly Affairs Department, this is a lose-lose situation for the town. We now have to turn over the full responsibility of the two old police cruisers and the new wheelchair van to the Elderly Affairs Department.
Who is going to maintain these vehicles? Who is going to pay for all of the repairs? All of these expenses were paid through the Police Department's Donation/Equipment Fund. This can no longer be accomplished, because these vehicles are no longer under the control of the Police Department. Who takes the calls from seniors looking for rides to the doctors? Who houses all of the medical supplies? Who helps seniors when they have a problem with Medicare or a contractor that did not complete a job? That's right, the Police Department. The Elderly Affairs program cannot provide the services to our seniors that we do without the interaction of the Police Department.
Can you tell me is this new separation and new charitable fund going to help the residents of Atkinson or is it now going to reduce or completely dissolve the Elderly Affairs program? Please get your facts straight prior to printing your editorials.
PHILIP V. CONSENTINO
Police chief
Director of elderly affairs
President of the Atkinson Police
Charitable Fund
Atkinson, N.H.
Letter: Forced changes in elderly fund no improvement
To the editor:
This letter is in response to your editorial of Nov. 17. I would like to set the record straight for the second time with your paper. I previously came to your office and explained the process of how the Elderly Affairs Department and the Police Departments Donation/Equipment fund worked. I will again advise you of the process that has been in place since 1994.
You mention in your editorial the word "transparency" of the funds we received and how those funds were spent. Let's set that record straight. Whenever the Police Department wanted to use funds from our Donation/Equipment fund, the selectman were required to hold a public hearing during their regularly scheduled meeting. During this posted public hearing, I advised the selectmen exactly why we wanted to take funds out of this account. The selectmen then opened the public hearing to the public to see if they had any questions on how or why these funds were being requested. At the conclusion of that public hearing, the selectmen took a vote to authorize the withdrawal of these funds.
Once a receipt was obtained for the items requested, that receipt was turned into the town's bookkeeper and she then produced a check. That check was sent to the Board of Selectmen for another approval prior to the funds being expended. That is open and full transparency. At least once a month, a resident would come to the bookkeeper's office to look over all of the receipts that were paid out of the Police Departments Donation/equipment fund.
That again is full and open transparency.
Now let me tell you how the new approved system is working. All funds received into the new Atkinson Police Charitable Fund are no longer open to scrutiny by the public, because, under direction of the attorney general's office, we were required to open a nonprofit charitable trust that is not open to public scrutiny under the right to know law. We are not required to advise anyone how these donations are going to be spent, or provide any receipts for these expenditures. This account no longer has full transparency as it did prior to the separation.
You also stated that I was the only person who decided how these donations were to be spent. That was not true. Any senior that needed assistance only had to ask the Police Department and we then provided them with the assistance they requested. Now that these funds are under the control of the charitable fund, we will adhere to the state laws governing a nonprofit charitable fund. Under the guidance of the attorney general's office, we set up a board of directors. They are Philip Consentino, president; William Anderson, vice president; Robert Neill; treasurer, Roger Culliford, secretary; and Richard Magoon, recording secretary. All of the directors are members of the Atkinson Police Department's Elderly Affairs Division. Most seniors would rather go without than to go to the Town Hall and fill out a 15-page life history form just to get a one-time assistance with an oil delivery. That is why so many seniors know that they can always come to the Police Department and get the help that they need. So nothing really has changed except we are no longer transparent.
There will no longer be any public hearings advising the residents of how these donations will be spent. You will no longer be allowed to look over all of the receipts and slips indicating what these funds were used for. Remember, this new charitable trust was set up by the N.H. attorney general's Charitable Trust Division. We did not request to take the transparency away from the public; this was done against our wishes.
As far as separating the Police Department from the Elderly Affairs Department, this is a lose-lose situation for the town. We now have to turn over the full responsibility of the two old police cruisers and the new wheelchair van to the Elderly Affairs Department.
Who is going to maintain these vehicles? Who is going to pay for all of the repairs? All of these expenses were paid through the Police Department's Donation/Equipment Fund. This can no longer be accomplished, because these vehicles are no longer under the control of the Police Department. Who takes the calls from seniors looking for rides to the doctors? Who houses all of the medical supplies? Who helps seniors when they have a problem with Medicare or a contractor that did not complete a job? That's right, the Police Department. The Elderly Affairs program cannot provide the services to our seniors that we do without the interaction of the Police Department.
Can you tell me is this new separation and new charitable fund going to help the residents of Atkinson or is it now going to reduce or completely dissolve the Elderly Affairs program? Please get your facts straight prior to printing your editorials.
PHILIP V. CONSENTINO
Police chief
Director of elderly affairs
President of the Atkinson Police
Charitable Fund
Atkinson, N.H.
Separation of police and elder affairs is overdue
From the Eagle Tribune;
Our view: Separation of police and elder affairs is overdue
The Atkinson, N.H. Police Department and Elderly Affairs Program are now officially separate.
It's about time.
It has been years since residents began questioning both the ethics and the legality of police Chief Philip Consentino also being the director of elderly affairs, controlling various donation accounts to both departments and personally selecting who gets money from them.
It has been months since the New Hampshire attorney general said the practice was illegal.
But it took until this past week for the Board of Selectmen to sign off on a plan to separate the two departments, which includes numerous rules and regulations to comply with state law. Consentino will continue as volunteer director of the elder program, but must answer to selectmen.
Consentino argued for years that there was nothing wrong with the way he collected and spent donations to the Police Department and for elderly assistance.
And he has remained popular in town, particularly among senior citizens.
Consentino has conducted a donation drive each year, sending out solicitations on police letterhead.
The money collected is distributed among the Special Senior Fund, the Atkinson Police Department Donation/Equipment Fund and the DARE fund.
But popularity does not trump the law. Terry Knowles, assistant director of the AG's charitable trust unit, recommended that besides separating the jobs of police chief and elderly affairs director, that a system be established for determining who receives money.
So the board of directors of a new nonprofit, the Atkinson Police Charitable Fund, will administer disbursements and issue annual, public reports on account balances and activity.
Finally, the drivers who perform services for elders — a group of retired men — will stop wearing police uniforms.
Consentino deserves credit for his civic activism, but it will be better for him — and for those he says he wants to serve — for the management and distribution of charitable donations to be transparent and decided by a set of standards, not the discretion of one individual.
Our view: Separation of police and elder affairs is overdue
The Atkinson, N.H. Police Department and Elderly Affairs Program are now officially separate.
It's about time.
It has been years since residents began questioning both the ethics and the legality of police Chief Philip Consentino also being the director of elderly affairs, controlling various donation accounts to both departments and personally selecting who gets money from them.
It has been months since the New Hampshire attorney general said the practice was illegal.
But it took until this past week for the Board of Selectmen to sign off on a plan to separate the two departments, which includes numerous rules and regulations to comply with state law. Consentino will continue as volunteer director of the elder program, but must answer to selectmen.
Consentino argued for years that there was nothing wrong with the way he collected and spent donations to the Police Department and for elderly assistance.
And he has remained popular in town, particularly among senior citizens.
Consentino has conducted a donation drive each year, sending out solicitations on police letterhead.
The money collected is distributed among the Special Senior Fund, the Atkinson Police Department Donation/Equipment Fund and the DARE fund.
But popularity does not trump the law. Terry Knowles, assistant director of the AG's charitable trust unit, recommended that besides separating the jobs of police chief and elderly affairs director, that a system be established for determining who receives money.
So the board of directors of a new nonprofit, the Atkinson Police Charitable Fund, will administer disbursements and issue annual, public reports on account balances and activity.
Finally, the drivers who perform services for elders — a group of retired men — will stop wearing police uniforms.
Consentino deserves credit for his civic activism, but it will be better for him — and for those he says he wants to serve — for the management and distribution of charitable donations to be transparent and decided by a set of standards, not the discretion of one individual.
The Atkinson Reporter Blog exists for what reason(s)?
Anonymous said...
Publius: Article Submission:
The Atkinson Reporter Blog exists for what reason(s)?
I would love to hear some opinions as to what the true purpose of this blog really is. I've read so many opinions as to why we have this blog. Here some potential reasons that crossed my mind.
1) Freedom of Speech: Atkinson's voice from the populace has been stifled by the police chief. Technology allows the repressed to speak out freely and anonymously without fear of retribution from the Nazi leader (not to say it is all the officers as we regularly hear most are good). Symbolic of the American Revolution against the King of England. Anonymous posters hide behind trees and stonewalls (now firewalls) taking potshots at the King's troops. Come out into the open and fight you cowards!
2) Forum for discussion of new ideas: Swap ideas and discuss the merits of potential changes to improve Atkinson that might actually reduce spending and taxes. Now there's a novel idea.
3) Slander and defamation league: Great place to spread mistruths. Especially against those who are really good at it. Also a good place to make fun of Demlicans and Repubocrats that voted for anyone in the last election.
4) Vendetta Voice: Those who are out after the chief and his "good name" are united in a cause, for absolutely no good reason mind you, to get him and his family even after all the good they have done for the elderly and the town.
5) Expose graft and corruption that permeates our town government. Led by their fearless leader, Chief Bigum Heado, it is one obligated crony after another elected to numerous positions and committees by his taxpayer funded political machine known as the Dept of Elderly Affairs. The old obligation con lives on and on in our town.
Other reasons? Comments? What is the purpose of the blog, anyway?
Publius: Article Submission:
The Atkinson Reporter Blog exists for what reason(s)?
I would love to hear some opinions as to what the true purpose of this blog really is. I've read so many opinions as to why we have this blog. Here some potential reasons that crossed my mind.
1) Freedom of Speech: Atkinson's voice from the populace has been stifled by the police chief. Technology allows the repressed to speak out freely and anonymously without fear of retribution from the Nazi leader (not to say it is all the officers as we regularly hear most are good). Symbolic of the American Revolution against the King of England. Anonymous posters hide behind trees and stonewalls (now firewalls) taking potshots at the King's troops. Come out into the open and fight you cowards!
2) Forum for discussion of new ideas: Swap ideas and discuss the merits of potential changes to improve Atkinson that might actually reduce spending and taxes. Now there's a novel idea.
3) Slander and defamation league: Great place to spread mistruths. Especially against those who are really good at it. Also a good place to make fun of Demlicans and Repubocrats that voted for anyone in the last election.
4) Vendetta Voice: Those who are out after the chief and his "good name" are united in a cause, for absolutely no good reason mind you, to get him and his family even after all the good they have done for the elderly and the town.
5) Expose graft and corruption that permeates our town government. Led by their fearless leader, Chief Bigum Heado, it is one obligated crony after another elected to numerous positions and committees by his taxpayer funded political machine known as the Dept of Elderly Affairs. The old obligation con lives on and on in our town.
Other reasons? Comments? What is the purpose of the blog, anyway?
Timberlane students embrace Great American Smokeout
From the Eagle-Tribune;
Timberlane students embrace Great American Smokeout Timberlane students help classmates stop smoking
By Margo Sullivan
margosullivan@eagletribune.com
PLAISTOW, N.H. — Don't try to say you don't know about tomorrow's Great American Smokeout if you're a student at Timberlane Regional High School.
You can't turn a corner inside the school without seeing a neon-colored poster, according to 17-year-old Ashley Gillan, a senior in the Peer Outreach group. The posters announce that 75 percent of your classmates don't smoke, and if you do, here's help.
This is the Great American Smokeout "in your face," she said yesterday.
Ashley and about two dozen other students plan to adopt a smoker for the day. They will sit outside the cafeteria from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and offer students who want to quit a one-day contract to sign pledging not to smoke.
Ashley also will carry a supply of "quit bags" to help ease the nicotine craving. For the Great American Smokeout, the Timberlane students stuffed dozens of plastic bags with lollipops, Tootsie Rolls, Jolly Ranchers and gum with the hope the candy would help their classmates quit smoking.
And for people who respond to more dramatic appeals, a set of pig lungs — one healthy lung and one with a tumor — will be on display to show the damage smoking can do to the human body.
"You can even touch the tumor," teacher Tim Lena said.
Rich Cran, a tobacco specialist with the state's Department of Health and Human Services, said he buys the lungs from a mail-order company that provides supplies for smoking cessation groups. The pigs are already dead when the tumors are simulated, and the lungs are subjected to smoke to represent 18 years of a cigarette habit.
"No pig was harmed for this Smokeout," Ashley said.
About two dozen students have spent the past two weeks preparing for the Smokeout — observed nationwide since 1977 — and said smoking is still a problem.
Although fewer high school students light up today compared with the number of teenage smokers six years ago, some cling to the notion that smoking is cool, Cran said. He believes prevention programs such as the Smokeout do work.
"They show more kids are not smoking than are smoking," he said. Asked how many students smoke out of 10, teens will answer six or seven. The reality is two or three, he said.
The latest data shows New Hampshire is winning the battle against teen smoking, said Michael Dumond, chief for the Bureau of Prevention Services at the state Health Department. Between 2001 and 2007, for example, the percentage of seventh-graders who smoke dropped from 8.4 percent to 3.5 percent, he said.
Most of the other age groups, between the seventh and 12th grades, showed similar successes. Seven years ago, 25 percent of all high school students smoked. In 2007, that figure fell to 16.8 percent. Asked why, Dumond cites several reasons, including education, police enforcement and price increases due to cigarette taxes.
"We're going in a good direction, generally speaking," he said, "but we still feel it could be brought down further."
Overall, 19 percent of New Hampshire youths smoke compared with 20 percent nationwide. But although New Hampshire is doing slightly better than the national average, other states outshine the Granite State.
Maine, for example, has brought its percentage of youth smoking down to 14 percent.
Cigarettes are still popular with high school students, Ashley said.
After school, teens are lighting up and smoking cigarettes on streets near the high school, according to Megan Truche, 16, of Sandown. Megan, a junior at Timberlane, said she runs into people smoking outside all the time and most are teens.
"I can't go anywhere without someone blowing smoke in my face," she said.
Timberlane students embrace Great American Smokeout Timberlane students help classmates stop smoking
By Margo Sullivan
margosullivan@eagletribune.com
PLAISTOW, N.H. — Don't try to say you don't know about tomorrow's Great American Smokeout if you're a student at Timberlane Regional High School.
You can't turn a corner inside the school without seeing a neon-colored poster, according to 17-year-old Ashley Gillan, a senior in the Peer Outreach group. The posters announce that 75 percent of your classmates don't smoke, and if you do, here's help.
This is the Great American Smokeout "in your face," she said yesterday.
Ashley and about two dozen other students plan to adopt a smoker for the day. They will sit outside the cafeteria from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and offer students who want to quit a one-day contract to sign pledging not to smoke.
Ashley also will carry a supply of "quit bags" to help ease the nicotine craving. For the Great American Smokeout, the Timberlane students stuffed dozens of plastic bags with lollipops, Tootsie Rolls, Jolly Ranchers and gum with the hope the candy would help their classmates quit smoking.
And for people who respond to more dramatic appeals, a set of pig lungs — one healthy lung and one with a tumor — will be on display to show the damage smoking can do to the human body.
"You can even touch the tumor," teacher Tim Lena said.
Rich Cran, a tobacco specialist with the state's Department of Health and Human Services, said he buys the lungs from a mail-order company that provides supplies for smoking cessation groups. The pigs are already dead when the tumors are simulated, and the lungs are subjected to smoke to represent 18 years of a cigarette habit.
"No pig was harmed for this Smokeout," Ashley said.
About two dozen students have spent the past two weeks preparing for the Smokeout — observed nationwide since 1977 — and said smoking is still a problem.
Although fewer high school students light up today compared with the number of teenage smokers six years ago, some cling to the notion that smoking is cool, Cran said. He believes prevention programs such as the Smokeout do work.
"They show more kids are not smoking than are smoking," he said. Asked how many students smoke out of 10, teens will answer six or seven. The reality is two or three, he said.
The latest data shows New Hampshire is winning the battle against teen smoking, said Michael Dumond, chief for the Bureau of Prevention Services at the state Health Department. Between 2001 and 2007, for example, the percentage of seventh-graders who smoke dropped from 8.4 percent to 3.5 percent, he said.
Most of the other age groups, between the seventh and 12th grades, showed similar successes. Seven years ago, 25 percent of all high school students smoked. In 2007, that figure fell to 16.8 percent. Asked why, Dumond cites several reasons, including education, police enforcement and price increases due to cigarette taxes.
"We're going in a good direction, generally speaking," he said, "but we still feel it could be brought down further."
Overall, 19 percent of New Hampshire youths smoke compared with 20 percent nationwide. But although New Hampshire is doing slightly better than the national average, other states outshine the Granite State.
Maine, for example, has brought its percentage of youth smoking down to 14 percent.
Cigarettes are still popular with high school students, Ashley said.
After school, teens are lighting up and smoking cigarettes on streets near the high school, according to Megan Truche, 16, of Sandown. Megan, a junior at Timberlane, said she runs into people smoking outside all the time and most are teens.
"I can't go anywhere without someone blowing smoke in my face," she said.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Crime Wave Hits Atkinson?
It has been noted by many residents that this past week has seen many advertisements placed upon mailboxes around town. There have been the fliers for plowing, a landscapers ad, and a BSA food drive which hung shopping bags from mailbox flags. And even worse the food drive involves Shaw's and Market Basket supermarkets! Two Large corporations, and a non-profit organization, attacked, not just a few mailboxes, but THE ENTIRE TOWN! This TOWN WIDE CRIME WAVE can not be tolerated!
Many of us will remember chief Consentino's exhaustive investigation into, Carol Grant's placing of fliers on mailbox posts, prior to the 2007 special town meeting, wasting taxpayer time and money. Many of us remember how he came into the selectmen's meeting, on camera, over the cautioning instructions of selectman Sullivan, and laid out his case against Mrs. Grant.
Many of us will remember his admitting that he followed her for two days, as she did this, painstakingly documenting his surveillance, with photographic evidence, his interviews with the Atkinson Postmaster, and his request for back up to the United States Postal Inspectors Service! His accusation that Mrs. Grant was violating FEDERAL LAW! His implication placing her somewhere between John Dillinger and Bonnie and Clyde.
We also remember that although it has been pointed out to him and the Atkinson PD, at least 7 separate times that this Blog knows of since that time, he has never treated another violator in a similar manner. When the suspect was Mrs. Grant He went all out to besmirch her reputation, stating in a high dudgeon that "THE LAW IS THE LAW"!
We wonder if with this new crime wave sweeping our sleepy little town, can we expect another dramatic performance by our keystone Coppish police chief? We will, as always, be watching.
Many of us will remember chief Consentino's exhaustive investigation into, Carol Grant's placing of fliers on mailbox posts, prior to the 2007 special town meeting, wasting taxpayer time and money. Many of us remember how he came into the selectmen's meeting, on camera, over the cautioning instructions of selectman Sullivan, and laid out his case against Mrs. Grant.
Many of us will remember his admitting that he followed her for two days, as she did this, painstakingly documenting his surveillance, with photographic evidence, his interviews with the Atkinson Postmaster, and his request for back up to the United States Postal Inspectors Service! His accusation that Mrs. Grant was violating FEDERAL LAW! His implication placing her somewhere between John Dillinger and Bonnie and Clyde.
We also remember that although it has been pointed out to him and the Atkinson PD, at least 7 separate times that this Blog knows of since that time, he has never treated another violator in a similar manner. When the suspect was Mrs. Grant He went all out to besmirch her reputation, stating in a high dudgeon that "THE LAW IS THE LAW"!
We wonder if with this new crime wave sweeping our sleepy little town, can we expect another dramatic performance by our keystone Coppish police chief? We will, as always, be watching.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Atkinson separates elderly affairs from police on paper only!
From the Eagle Tribune;
Atkinson separates elderly affairs from police It's official: Selectmen sign off on plan
By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — The ink is on the paper.
Months after the state attorney general's charitable trust unit began looking into police Chief Philip Consentino's elderly affairs program, the selectmen signed off on a plan to separate it from the Police Department Monday night.
The Atkinson Elderly Affairs Department now has numerous rules and regulations it must follow, as well as a seven-page document that outlines the director's role, Selectman Bill Friel said this week.
Consentino will sign that document and continue as the volunteer director of the program, but he must regularly answer to the selectmen, Friel said.
"So, we monitor it on a weekly basis now," he said.
Time slips from the department's four drivers and Consentino's volunteer form will be turned in to Town Hall and available for public inspection, Friel said. It will ensure the program remains transparent, which was one of the complaints residents had when they first contacted the attorney general's office in April.
Friel put together the packet based on numerous letters from, and a meeting with, Terry Knowles, director of the charitable trust unit. He said once he developed all the documents, he sent the whole package to Knowles to approve before the selectmen adopted it.
Consentino said the new plan will be a "hassle," but worth it to keep the elderly affairs program alive.
"As a volunteer, I have to do more work than as a paid employee," he said. "How many hours do I volunteer? I have to sign off that I don't expect to be paid."
But he will still get to help seniors with fuel costs and medications, get household repairs done and even send them birthday cards. Most of that will be funded through donations to the Police Department Charitable Trust he set up in response to the state's inquiry.
More than $2,000 was donated toward it last week alone, Consentino said.
That money, plus what's left from previous donations now held by the Trustees of the Trust Fund and a $2,500 line in the proposed budget for next year will be used to assist seniors, Consentino said.
The budget will fund the transportation part of the Elderly Affairs Department, which provides rides to medical appointments and social events.
But nothing will happen without paperwork and regulations. There are instructions for how to accept, use and withdraw donation money from the trustees, Friel said. There are transportation request forms, fuel forms and a mission statement.
The setup does drive up the cost of the department and next year's proposed budget reflects that, but Friel said it was necessary to separate it.
The department will have to do its own repairs and replace its cars now, something that used to fall under the Police Department budget.
The cruisers will be relettered with the department's new name immediately, and the drivers — who are a group of retired men — will stop wearing police uniforms, according to selectmen's Chairman Paul Sullivan.
"I think it's a lot better and it really puts it in the hands of where it should be," Sullivan said.
Atkinson separates elderly affairs from police It's official: Selectmen sign off on plan
By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — The ink is on the paper.
Months after the state attorney general's charitable trust unit began looking into police Chief Philip Consentino's elderly affairs program, the selectmen signed off on a plan to separate it from the Police Department Monday night.
The Atkinson Elderly Affairs Department now has numerous rules and regulations it must follow, as well as a seven-page document that outlines the director's role, Selectman Bill Friel said this week.
Consentino will sign that document and continue as the volunteer director of the program, but he must regularly answer to the selectmen, Friel said.
"So, we monitor it on a weekly basis now," he said.
Time slips from the department's four drivers and Consentino's volunteer form will be turned in to Town Hall and available for public inspection, Friel said. It will ensure the program remains transparent, which was one of the complaints residents had when they first contacted the attorney general's office in April.
Friel put together the packet based on numerous letters from, and a meeting with, Terry Knowles, director of the charitable trust unit. He said once he developed all the documents, he sent the whole package to Knowles to approve before the selectmen adopted it.
Consentino said the new plan will be a "hassle," but worth it to keep the elderly affairs program alive.
"As a volunteer, I have to do more work than as a paid employee," he said. "How many hours do I volunteer? I have to sign off that I don't expect to be paid."
But he will still get to help seniors with fuel costs and medications, get household repairs done and even send them birthday cards. Most of that will be funded through donations to the Police Department Charitable Trust he set up in response to the state's inquiry.
More than $2,000 was donated toward it last week alone, Consentino said.
That money, plus what's left from previous donations now held by the Trustees of the Trust Fund and a $2,500 line in the proposed budget for next year will be used to assist seniors, Consentino said.
The budget will fund the transportation part of the Elderly Affairs Department, which provides rides to medical appointments and social events.
But nothing will happen without paperwork and regulations. There are instructions for how to accept, use and withdraw donation money from the trustees, Friel said. There are transportation request forms, fuel forms and a mission statement.
The setup does drive up the cost of the department and next year's proposed budget reflects that, but Friel said it was necessary to separate it.
The department will have to do its own repairs and replace its cars now, something that used to fall under the Police Department budget.
The cruisers will be relettered with the department's new name immediately, and the drivers — who are a group of retired men — will stop wearing police uniforms, according to selectmen's Chairman Paul Sullivan.
"I think it's a lot better and it really puts it in the hands of where it should be," Sullivan said.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Documentation obtained during discovery phase of State Water hearings now available
Article Submission -
Webmaster says -
Documentation obtained during the discovery phase of the HAWC-PUC hear is now available at
www.just-goaway.com .
There were a number of documents listing potential abutters to the pipeline. I've not included those for privacy purposes.
I'm not going to comment or editorialize on the documents. I will leave it to you to form your own opinions.
A number of people have asked the PUC to hold a public hearing before they make their decision. It is not required but it has been pointed out that the public has had very little input into this whole process. If you feel the same, use the mailing list on the web site and let them know.
Webmaster says -
Documentation obtained during the discovery phase of the HAWC-PUC hear is now available at
www.just-goaway.com .
There were a number of documents listing potential abutters to the pipeline. I've not included those for privacy purposes.
I'm not going to comment or editorialize on the documents. I will leave it to you to form your own opinions.
A number of people have asked the PUC to hold a public hearing before they make their decision. It is not required but it has been pointed out that the public has had very little input into this whole process. If you feel the same, use the mailing list on the web site and let them know.
Our Tax system explained in laymans terms.
From the Plaistow Town Crier;
by Linda W.
Member since: October 26, 2006
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer
and the bill for all ten comes to $100.
I am not sure who wrote this but hopefully it might make a few people think.
If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something
like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the
arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve.'Since you are
all such good customers, he said,'I'm going to reduce the cost of your
daily beer by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the
first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But
what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they
divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But, if they subtracted
that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would
each end up being paid to drink his beer.
So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's
bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the
amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before And the first four continued
to drink for free. But, once outside the restaurant, the men began to
compare their savings.
'I only got a dollar out of the $20', declared the sixth man. He pointed
to the tenth man,'but he got $10!'
'Yeah, that's right', exclaimed the fifth man.'I only saved a dollar,
too. It's unfair that he got
ten times more than I!'
'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man.'Why should he get $10 back
when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'
'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison.'We didn't get
anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat
down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill,
they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money
between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls , journalists and college professors, is how
our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most
benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being
wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore.
by Linda W.
Member since: October 26, 2006
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer
and the bill for all ten comes to $100.
I am not sure who wrote this but hopefully it might make a few people think.
If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something
like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the
arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve.'Since you are
all such good customers, he said,'I'm going to reduce the cost of your
daily beer by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the
first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But
what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they
divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But, if they subtracted
that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would
each end up being paid to drink his beer.
So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's
bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the
amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before And the first four continued
to drink for free. But, once outside the restaurant, the men began to
compare their savings.
'I only got a dollar out of the $20', declared the sixth man. He pointed
to the tenth man,'but he got $10!'
'Yeah, that's right', exclaimed the fifth man.'I only saved a dollar,
too. It's unfair that he got
ten times more than I!'
'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man.'Why should he get $10 back
when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'
'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison.'We didn't get
anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat
down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill,
they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money
between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls , journalists and college professors, is how
our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most
benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being
wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
To All of our Servicemen, and women, past and present, THANK YOU!
A time to give thanks for the air of freedom
Today, Nov. 11, we recognize, remember and give thanks to all who served in the armed forces of the United States. Those traditional ceremonies will range from parades to speeches at local monuments, rifle salutes and invocations. But the fact is that veterans deserve our thanks every day of the year as do those still serving in the military.
The tradition dates to Nov. 11, 1921, when an unknown American soldier from World War I was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, in recognition of World War I veterans and in conjunction with the timing of cessation of hostilities at 11 a.m., Nov. 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month).
President Warren Harding requested that: "All ... citizens ... indulge in a period of silent thanks to God for these ... valorous lives and of supplication for His Divine mercy ... on our beloved country." Inscribed on the tomb are these words: "Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God." The day became known as "Armistice Day."
In 1954, Congress, wanting to recognize the sacrifice of veterans since World War I, proposed to change "Armistice Day" to "Veterans Day" in their honor. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, former Supreme Commander in World War II, signed the legislation.
This Veterans Day finds Americans still in the thick of battle in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their physical and psychological wounds must be tended to upon their return, something which President-elect Barack Obama says will be a priority of his administration. On that, he and his Republican opponent, John McCain, were very much in agreement.
McCain was just the latest in a long line of military men beginning with George Washington who have sought to serve their country in the role of civilian commander in chief. That willingness to serve was noted early in Obama's victory speech last Tuesday night.
"He (McCain) fought long and hard in this campaign," Obama observed, "and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader."
Fortunately, there are relatively few who have undergone the hardships McCain experienced during his five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. But everyone who serves in the armed forces faces the possibility of imprisonment, injury or death, and it's due to that sacrifice we remain a country of free men and women.
Indeed, it was a U.S. Marines chaplain, the Rev. Dennis Edward O'Brien, who put into words what each of us should remember not only on this day, but every day that we are blessed to breathe the air of freedom:
It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Today, Nov. 11, we recognize, remember and give thanks to all who served in the armed forces of the United States. Those traditional ceremonies will range from parades to speeches at local monuments, rifle salutes and invocations. But the fact is that veterans deserve our thanks every day of the year as do those still serving in the military.
The tradition dates to Nov. 11, 1921, when an unknown American soldier from World War I was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, in recognition of World War I veterans and in conjunction with the timing of cessation of hostilities at 11 a.m., Nov. 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month).
President Warren Harding requested that: "All ... citizens ... indulge in a period of silent thanks to God for these ... valorous lives and of supplication for His Divine mercy ... on our beloved country." Inscribed on the tomb are these words: "Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God." The day became known as "Armistice Day."
In 1954, Congress, wanting to recognize the sacrifice of veterans since World War I, proposed to change "Armistice Day" to "Veterans Day" in their honor. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, former Supreme Commander in World War II, signed the legislation.
This Veterans Day finds Americans still in the thick of battle in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their physical and psychological wounds must be tended to upon their return, something which President-elect Barack Obama says will be a priority of his administration. On that, he and his Republican opponent, John McCain, were very much in agreement.
McCain was just the latest in a long line of military men beginning with George Washington who have sought to serve their country in the role of civilian commander in chief. That willingness to serve was noted early in Obama's victory speech last Tuesday night.
"He (McCain) fought long and hard in this campaign," Obama observed, "and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader."
Fortunately, there are relatively few who have undergone the hardships McCain experienced during his five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. But everyone who serves in the armed forces faces the possibility of imprisonment, injury or death, and it's due to that sacrifice we remain a country of free men and women.
Indeed, it was a U.S. Marines chaplain, the Rev. Dennis Edward O'Brien, who put into words what each of us should remember not only on this day, but every day that we are blessed to breathe the air of freedom:
It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Southern N.H. tax rates climb, but property values drop
From the Eagle-Tribune;
Southern N.H. tax rates climb, but property values drop
By Jarret Bencks
jbencks@eagletribune.com
Property tax rates are up in towns all over Southern New Hampshire, but that doesn't necessarily mean homeowners will pay more taxes in 2008.
Pelham's tax rate increased almost 10 percent, but residents will pay about $200 less on average than they did in 2007, according to Town Administrator Tom Gaydos. The drop is a result of a combination of cuts to the budget, falling property values and increased value for commercial properties, Gaydos said. Home values fell more than 11 percent in Pelham, while commercial property values increased by 30 percent.
The state Department of Revenue Administration, which assists towns in setting their tax rates, has seen rates going up in towns across the state as property values continue to fall, according to Barbara Robinson, DRA spokeswoman.
In Derry, residents will be paying more in taxes, but not as much more as the $3.50 rise in the property tax rate would indicate, because homes in Derry were revaluated this year.
The average Derry home was valued at $300,000 in 2007, but that dropped to $267,600 in 2008. The average homeowner paid $6,615 in property taxes last year. This year, the average residential property tax bill is $6,832. The $217 hike can be attributed to increases including sand, salt and pavement, chief financial officer Frank Childs said.
"This town provides a good level of services to its citizens," Childs said. "We have a high level of recreation services, an ambulance service, and provide other services to our citizens."
In other towns, where homes were not revaluated this year, increases have been more subtle. Salem saw a 5 percent increase in its tax rate from $13.21 to $13.88. Salem's 2007 property tax rate was the 49th lowest in the state, according to data from the DRA. Derry's tax rate was the highest in the region for 2007, ranking 202nd on that list. Statewide statistics from the DRA aren't available for 2008.
Londonderry's tax rate increased from $18.22 to $18.48, with the increase coming entirely from the education portion of the budget, according to Town Assessor Karen Marchand. The average homeowners in Londonderry will pay $78 more in 2008 than they did in 2007.
2008 tax bill for a $300,000 home
Atkinson: $4,458
Danville: $6,090
Derry: $7,659
Hampstead: $5,967
Kingston: $6,288
Londonderry: $5,544
Newton: $5,694
Pelham: $5,205
Plaistow: NA
Salem: $4,164
Sandown: NA
Windham: $5,400
Plaistow and Sandown have not set their 2008 tax rates.
Southern N.H. tax rates climb, but property values drop
By Jarret Bencks
jbencks@eagletribune.com
Property tax rates are up in towns all over Southern New Hampshire, but that doesn't necessarily mean homeowners will pay more taxes in 2008.
Pelham's tax rate increased almost 10 percent, but residents will pay about $200 less on average than they did in 2007, according to Town Administrator Tom Gaydos. The drop is a result of a combination of cuts to the budget, falling property values and increased value for commercial properties, Gaydos said. Home values fell more than 11 percent in Pelham, while commercial property values increased by 30 percent.
The state Department of Revenue Administration, which assists towns in setting their tax rates, has seen rates going up in towns across the state as property values continue to fall, according to Barbara Robinson, DRA spokeswoman.
In Derry, residents will be paying more in taxes, but not as much more as the $3.50 rise in the property tax rate would indicate, because homes in Derry were revaluated this year.
The average Derry home was valued at $300,000 in 2007, but that dropped to $267,600 in 2008. The average homeowner paid $6,615 in property taxes last year. This year, the average residential property tax bill is $6,832. The $217 hike can be attributed to increases including sand, salt and pavement, chief financial officer Frank Childs said.
"This town provides a good level of services to its citizens," Childs said. "We have a high level of recreation services, an ambulance service, and provide other services to our citizens."
In other towns, where homes were not revaluated this year, increases have been more subtle. Salem saw a 5 percent increase in its tax rate from $13.21 to $13.88. Salem's 2007 property tax rate was the 49th lowest in the state, according to data from the DRA. Derry's tax rate was the highest in the region for 2007, ranking 202nd on that list. Statewide statistics from the DRA aren't available for 2008.
Londonderry's tax rate increased from $18.22 to $18.48, with the increase coming entirely from the education portion of the budget, according to Town Assessor Karen Marchand. The average homeowners in Londonderry will pay $78 more in 2008 than they did in 2007.
2008 tax bill for a $300,000 home
Atkinson: $4,458
Danville: $6,090
Derry: $7,659
Hampstead: $5,967
Kingston: $6,288
Londonderry: $5,544
Newton: $5,694
Pelham: $5,205
Plaistow: NA
Salem: $4,164
Sandown: NA
Windham: $5,400
Plaistow and Sandown have not set their 2008 tax rates.
Atkinson residents heads to Lesotho today
From the Eagle Tribune;
Atkinson residents heads to Lesotho today Woman starts 2-year Peace Corps stint in South Africa today
By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — Nicole Evans is about to call a round mud hut with a thatched roof home.
The Atkinson resident leaves today for Lesotho, a small South African country where she'll serve in the Peace Corps for two years. She applied for the program a year ago, but found out just six weeks ago that she'd been placed.
Evans, 25, said she's had the Peace Corps on her mind since she attended Central Catholic High School. Max Shaw, her art teacher there, shared many stories with her about her own time serving in Bolivia in the 1990s.
Evans wanted to go to Asia, but was offered the South Pacific or Africa.
"I just figured, when else would I get to go to Africa?" she said.
But when she started researching Lesotho, she soon found that the country is mountainous and has four seasons. That's sure to make an avid hiker from New Hampshire feel a little more at home.
Evans went to Plymouth State College, where she graduated with a degree in childhood studies and a minor in art. She's worked as an at-risk teacher at Timberlane Regional Middle School and a paraprofessional at Epping Middle School since graduating in 2006. She's certified to teach elementary and middle school, but said she purposefully didn't do so after college.
"I knew in my head I was leaving," she said. "And I knew if I took a classroom job, I'd get stuck."
In Lesotho, Evans will use her education and experience to train teachers and teach HIV/AIDS awareness.
More than 2,077 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Lesotho since the program was established in 1967, according to spokesperson Asha Michener. Many of those volunteers work through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief program to address HIV/AIDS issues, Michener said.
Evans' mother, Lori Silva, is proud, but said she doesn't want her daughter to leave.
Vance Evans, her dad, is planning a trip to visit her next fall. And, in the meantime, Evans has set up a blog so she can share what's going on with friends and family at home.
Of course, she'll have to travel into the city to an Internet cafe to blog, since she won't be guaranteed hot water or electricity in her hut.
"I'm not getting my hopes up about having much," Evans said.
There are 23 other Americans in her group, and Evans said she's been in touch with many of them over the Internet. They'll train together for three months, then each separate into his or her own two-year assignment.
"They are freaking out, nervous, excited, too," Evans said. "So it's a big help to know that."
This trip won't be the first time Nicole has been to a Third World country. She has one other friend from high school who is serving in the South Pacific, and Evans visited that friend last year.
But it will be the first time she's lived outside New Hampshire.
Atkinson residents heads to Lesotho today Woman starts 2-year Peace Corps stint in South Africa today
By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — Nicole Evans is about to call a round mud hut with a thatched roof home.
The Atkinson resident leaves today for Lesotho, a small South African country where she'll serve in the Peace Corps for two years. She applied for the program a year ago, but found out just six weeks ago that she'd been placed.
Evans, 25, said she's had the Peace Corps on her mind since she attended Central Catholic High School. Max Shaw, her art teacher there, shared many stories with her about her own time serving in Bolivia in the 1990s.
Evans wanted to go to Asia, but was offered the South Pacific or Africa.
"I just figured, when else would I get to go to Africa?" she said.
But when she started researching Lesotho, she soon found that the country is mountainous and has four seasons. That's sure to make an avid hiker from New Hampshire feel a little more at home.
Evans went to Plymouth State College, where she graduated with a degree in childhood studies and a minor in art. She's worked as an at-risk teacher at Timberlane Regional Middle School and a paraprofessional at Epping Middle School since graduating in 2006. She's certified to teach elementary and middle school, but said she purposefully didn't do so after college.
"I knew in my head I was leaving," she said. "And I knew if I took a classroom job, I'd get stuck."
In Lesotho, Evans will use her education and experience to train teachers and teach HIV/AIDS awareness.
More than 2,077 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Lesotho since the program was established in 1967, according to spokesperson Asha Michener. Many of those volunteers work through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief program to address HIV/AIDS issues, Michener said.
Evans' mother, Lori Silva, is proud, but said she doesn't want her daughter to leave.
Vance Evans, her dad, is planning a trip to visit her next fall. And, in the meantime, Evans has set up a blog so she can share what's going on with friends and family at home.
Of course, she'll have to travel into the city to an Internet cafe to blog, since she won't be guaranteed hot water or electricity in her hut.
"I'm not getting my hopes up about having much," Evans said.
There are 23 other Americans in her group, and Evans said she's been in touch with many of them over the Internet. They'll train together for three months, then each separate into his or her own two-year assignment.
"They are freaking out, nervous, excited, too," Evans said. "So it's a big help to know that."
This trip won't be the first time Nicole has been to a Third World country. She has one other friend from high school who is serving in the South Pacific, and Evans visited that friend last year.
But it will be the first time she's lived outside New Hampshire.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
OBAMA TO REQUIRE CHILDREN TO SERVE THE US THROUGH MANDATORY COMMUNITY SERVICE
This has been Moved to Atkinson Reporter Presidential Blog.
Friday, November 7, 2008
The Decency of George W. Bush.
This Article has been Moved to the Atkinson Reporter Presidential Blog
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The "Taxing Times" hits Atkinson!
Yes many of you have awoke in recent days to find a copy of the "Taxing Times" on your doorstep. This is an informational newspaper put out by the Coalition of NH Taxpayers a number of times a year. There are 50,000 copies of this newspaper in the hands of concerned taxpayers all over the state, right now, and Atkinson is featured prominently in this issue.
Ed Naile's article, first published right here on the Atkinson Reporter, about our colorful police chief, dominates page 8, with Atkinson featuring prominently among the towns, in which taxpayer advocacy groups are operating. Unfortunately, as Ed has mentioned on his weekly radio program, and as we have noted many times on this blog, Atkinson's Taxpayer group is the only group in the state, that feels the need to remain anonymous, for obvious, and numerously stated reasons.
It is sad that a group whose sole purpose is to force accountability upon the officials of Atkinson, must take the very same precautions needed by the underground resistance groups in Europe in WWII, and for much similar reasons.
But, rest easy, fellow Atkinsonians, the winds are a changing. Business is now being conducted in public. No more twice a week meetings at the police station between selectmen Sapia, and Consentino. No more meetings after the meeting, as noted by the Eagle- Tribune, in the past. The corruption is being forced into the recesses, by the light of public awareness, shown on these corrupt practices by this blog, and the Atkinson Taxpayers Website, and the Atkinson Factor, and others. Perhaps we will one day reach a time, when the law is followed because it is right and proper to do so, not because of fear that their corruption will be exposed. Perhaps we will reach the day, when our public officials, will do what is right, without having to be taken to Court to force them to.
Ed Naile's article, first published right here on the Atkinson Reporter, about our colorful police chief, dominates page 8, with Atkinson featuring prominently among the towns, in which taxpayer advocacy groups are operating. Unfortunately, as Ed has mentioned on his weekly radio program, and as we have noted many times on this blog, Atkinson's Taxpayer group is the only group in the state, that feels the need to remain anonymous, for obvious, and numerously stated reasons.
It is sad that a group whose sole purpose is to force accountability upon the officials of Atkinson, must take the very same precautions needed by the underground resistance groups in Europe in WWII, and for much similar reasons.
But, rest easy, fellow Atkinsonians, the winds are a changing. Business is now being conducted in public. No more twice a week meetings at the police station between selectmen Sapia, and Consentino. No more meetings after the meeting, as noted by the Eagle- Tribune, in the past. The corruption is being forced into the recesses, by the light of public awareness, shown on these corrupt practices by this blog, and the Atkinson Taxpayers Website, and the Atkinson Factor, and others. Perhaps we will one day reach a time, when the law is followed because it is right and proper to do so, not because of fear that their corruption will be exposed. Perhaps we will reach the day, when our public officials, will do what is right, without having to be taken to Court to force them to.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Garrity elected with more votes than there are voters in Atkinson!
From the Eagle- Tribune;
DeSimone, Garrity elected in House District 6
Atkinson's House District 6 race for two seats was uncontested, but a ballot machine error gave the incumbent more votes than there were voters in town.
Deborah DeSimone: 2,269
James Garrity*: 6,713
* = incumbent
DeSimone, Garrity elected in House District 6
Atkinson's House District 6 race for two seats was uncontested, but a ballot machine error gave the incumbent more votes than there were voters in town.
Deborah DeSimone: 2,269
James Garrity*: 6,713
* = incumbent
Monday, November 3, 2008
John Stossel's Politically Incorrect Guide to Politics!
This is John Stossel at his best!
John Stossel's Politically Incorrect Guide to Politics from Stryder on Vimeo.
John Stossel's Politically Incorrect Guide to Politics from Stryder on Vimeo.
Atkinson's tax rate climbs 21 cents
From the Eagle-Tribune;
Atkinson's tax rate climbs 21 cents
By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — The town's portion of the tax rate is going up — 21 cents per $1,000 of valuation — for the first time in years.
The state Department of Revenue Administration confirmed the tax rate at $14.86 per $1,000 of valuation last week, selectmen Chairman Paul Sullivan said. That's a 76-cent increase over last year's rate.
The owner of a $300,000 home would see a $4,458 tax bill under the new rate, a $228 increase.
"We wanted to keep it down," Sullivan said. "We took $450,000 from the general fund and applied it to help with the tax rate."
That's something the selectmen have done before, Sullivan said. This year they left a balance of $899,200 in the general fund for anticipated expenditures and to make sure they retained at least a 5 percent savings for the future, he said.
The town's portion of the tax rate is $2.15 per $1,000 of valuation, up from $1.94. The local school rate increased 67 cents, from $9.02 to $9.69.
The state education component dropped from $2.28 to $2.16. The county rate remained steady at 86 cents per $1,000 of valuation.
Atkinson's tax rate climbs 21 cents
By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — The town's portion of the tax rate is going up — 21 cents per $1,000 of valuation — for the first time in years.
The state Department of Revenue Administration confirmed the tax rate at $14.86 per $1,000 of valuation last week, selectmen Chairman Paul Sullivan said. That's a 76-cent increase over last year's rate.
The owner of a $300,000 home would see a $4,458 tax bill under the new rate, a $228 increase.
"We wanted to keep it down," Sullivan said. "We took $450,000 from the general fund and applied it to help with the tax rate."
That's something the selectmen have done before, Sullivan said. This year they left a balance of $899,200 in the general fund for anticipated expenditures and to make sure they retained at least a 5 percent savings for the future, he said.
The town's portion of the tax rate is $2.15 per $1,000 of valuation, up from $1.94. The local school rate increased 67 cents, from $9.02 to $9.69.
The state education component dropped from $2.28 to $2.16. The county rate remained steady at 86 cents per $1,000 of valuation.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Final PUC Hearing on HAWC's Request for Loan for Pipeline.
Article Submission
Final PUC Hearing on HAWC's Request for Loan for Pipeline.
John Wolthers says:
Dear Friends,
Tuesday, November 4, 2008, is the final testimony day regarding Hampstead Area Water Company’s desire to receive MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLAR LOAN ($1,000,000.00) for a twenty (20) year period at 3.44% interest. The LOAN is for the interconnection of Atkinson Town Water with the Town of Hampstead. HAWC has also applied for a full expansion of their franchise to all of Atkinson. I ask that all residents who are concerned about the Public Utility Commission approving the above immediately contact the PUC with your views. A few of the reasons to site would be:
1. Excessive water loss history of HAWC.
2. The interconnection of water flow between Hampstead and Atkinson is against the town ordinance.
3. More than 54% of HAWC’s revenues are paid to HAWC’s related companies without competitive bidding.
4. No town approvals for site or franchise expansion.
If anyone can put this information on the Town TV Channel, it would be helpful.
You can find the complete list of email address to whom you can address your concerns and any other communications at
www.just-goaway.com
Thank you for your support.
John
Webmaster says:
It can be stressed enough how important this hearing is to the people of Atkinson. The citizens will be represent by an able group of people, BUT, the PUC needs to hear from you also. There is power in numbers. Tell the people on the EMAIL list that you are very concerned and that you do not want this pipeline and you do not want HAWC to franchise the whole town. Thank you.
Final PUC Hearing on HAWC's Request for Loan for Pipeline.
John Wolthers says:
Dear Friends,
Tuesday, November 4, 2008, is the final testimony day regarding Hampstead Area Water Company’s desire to receive MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLAR LOAN ($1,000,000.00) for a twenty (20) year period at 3.44% interest. The LOAN is for the interconnection of Atkinson Town Water with the Town of Hampstead. HAWC has also applied for a full expansion of their franchise to all of Atkinson. I ask that all residents who are concerned about the Public Utility Commission approving the above immediately contact the PUC with your views. A few of the reasons to site would be:
1. Excessive water loss history of HAWC.
2. The interconnection of water flow between Hampstead and Atkinson is against the town ordinance.
3. More than 54% of HAWC’s revenues are paid to HAWC’s related companies without competitive bidding.
4. No town approvals for site or franchise expansion.
If anyone can put this information on the Town TV Channel, it would be helpful.
You can find the complete list of email address to whom you can address your concerns and any other communications at
www.just-goaway.com
Thank you for your support.
John
Webmaster says:
It can be stressed enough how important this hearing is to the people of Atkinson. The citizens will be represent by an able group of people, BUT, the PUC needs to hear from you also. There is power in numbers. Tell the people on the EMAIL list that you are very concerned and that you do not want this pipeline and you do not want HAWC to franchise the whole town. Thank you.
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