I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Letters
Region
Obituaries
Abstract Paintings & Tribal Masks Exhibition At New Hampshire Antique Co-Op
Now on view through May 31, 2020
Congregational Church Stays Connected
During the suspension of in-person activities in light of the Covid-19 situation, the Congregational Church of Amherst, UCC has a variety of ways for members and others to connect with church programs. This is especially important during April as Holy Week and Easter are on the horizon.
The most up-to-date information about church activities can be found on the church’s website (ccamherst.org) or by calling the church office at 673-3231. Sunday services are broadcast on FacebookLive and recorded for later on-line viewing. Services are followed by a Virtual Fellowship Hour. Links for these and other events can be found on the website.
The church’s Facebook page is another source of information, including updates and video messages from the pastors. Pastors Maureen Frescott and Kate Kennedy are available to provide pastoral care during this time, and the church welcomes community members to connect with this loving, serving, open and affirming community of faith.
Lorraine Alice Hamilton
AMHERST – Lorraine Alice Hamilton of Amherst, New Hampshire, Beach Haven, New Jersey and Rancho Mirage, California died June 14, 2020 from pancreatic cancer at her home in California. She was 73 years old and a participant in the trial of a new cancer drug at NYU Langone in New York City since April 2019. She hoped that results from the trial would improve care for other patients who develop this cancer. She was with her family when she died and was
Donald Richard Haaker
Donald Richard Haaker, 80, born June 2, 1940, son of Carl E Haaker and Jeanne LaRochelle Haaker of Fitchburg, MA, son, brother, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, peacefully passed away on Sunday, June 7, 2020 at Saint Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, MA.
Don, as he was affectionately referred to by friends, and Dad or Grandpa by family, was a proud veteran, avid fisherman, former business owner, collector of “As Seen On TV” gadgets, and
More Letters
SAU 39 and Transparency
To the editor:
It would be a great travesty to our SAU (especially its teachers) to not applaud them for their outstanding commitment to educating our children throughout the last 18 months, otherwise known as covid. Congratulations goes out to those within the SAU that navigated unchartered waters safely.
Having followed the board meetings in the town of Amherst, I believe I have a good reading of its goals. Hence, priority one goal is to educate our children, goal two requires the SAU’s integral parts be responsible to its citizens. Overall, these two goals can be challenging.
Education is a complex science; many variables and philosophies are in play. Obviously, residents place trust in elected officials, school boards, therefore, relying on them to make choices benefiting residents and educating their children.
However, there exists obstacles to residents who make inquiries and valid recommendations that are ignored. There are critical issues, the foremost being transparency within our school district.
Transparency is a double-edged sword, likened to the devil you know is better than the devil you do not know. But damned if I do and damned if I don’t. The SAU would like citizens to be able to find answers to their questions. Yes, answers to inquiries are offered – masked in rhetoric. A maze/labyrinth can be frustrating.
There are two questions for the SAU that have been ignored: First, what is the “Equity Project” being created in the SHS? Second, why are meeting minutes of the project not being published for the citizens to view?
Right To Know?
Lastly, our citizens, employers of the SAU, demand to have their suggestions heard to benefit the education of its children. If that cannot be done through the board meetings, what do its members propose? The proposition is transparency.
Marilyn Gibson,
Amherst
Amherst Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) Supports Warrant Article 32
To the editor:
Amherst’s most popular pedestrian infrastructure project, the Souhegan/AMS School Campus Sidepath, is on the town ballot this June 8th. Article 32, the “Capital Reserve Fund for Amherst Multimodal Facilities” would raise $75,000 for this project. Both the Board of Selectmen and the Ways & Means Committee have voted unanimously to support this article.The proposed project would seek to construct a “multimodal sidepath” along Boston Post Road with direct connections to Souhegan High School and Amherst Middle School, providing much-needed infrastructure that would provide a year-round facility for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other modes that is entirely separate from the roadway. It would provide a dedicated space for students and others to access the area safely and without contending with traffic on one of Amherst’s highest-volume roads.The fund enables the town to pursue federal, state and individual grants which often require a local contribution – Amherst has lost out on grant opportunities in the past because it has not raised such funds. By establishing a fund with this warrant article, our aim is to reduce infrastructure costs as well as our reliance on taxpayers whenever we can in the future, with our priority work towards the Souhegan/AMS School Campus Sidepath.Amherst BPAC appreciates your consideration in supporting this article.
Respectfully,
Chris Buchanan, Chair
Richard Katzenberg, Vice Chair
Tom Christensen
George Bower
Christopher Shenk
Judy Shenk
Patrick Daniel
John Harvey
Wendy Rannenberg
Jared Hardner
Carolyn Mitchell
Simon Sarris
ASD Budget Up 23% in Five Years
To the editor:
It’s shocking, but it’s true. The Amherst School District (ASD) budget will have increased 23% in five years. In fiscal year 2017, the budget was $24,597,380. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2022 is $30,429,864. This is a 23.7% increase over five years, which averages out to about a 4.3% increase, or a $1,166,496 increase, each year for five consecutive years. Is this acceptable? Is this sustainable? Has your household income increased 23.7% in the past five years?
I have served on the ASD Ways and Means Committee for the past four years. For the record, this letter is a reflection of my own views only, not of the Ways and Means Committee as a whole. This year’s proposed budget is $1,443,547 larger than the current budget, which is an increase of 5%. I have decided not to support the proposed ASD budget this year. I believe that this disturbing trend of large budget increases year after year needs to stop.
You may have heard that increased costs to the NH Retirement System (NHRS) is one reason that the budget increase is so high this year. This is true. What you may not have heard is that nearly every ASD employee is a member of NHRS. This is very unusual. This is very unusual because it is very expensive. Many NH school districts limit the number of employees eligible for NHRS membership as a way to keep costs down. Unfortunately, ASD chooses not to do this.
You may have also heard that the proposed budget is a 1% increase to the default budget calculation amount. This is true as well. But a percentage point above default should not be used as some sort of benchmark or validation that spending is being kept within reasonable limits. I understand that making significant budget cuts can be difficult and unpleasant, but that is part of the school board’s responsibility when budgets become too large.
I believe ASD is a good school district, and that the ASD school board has good ideas and intentions. But the school board needs to do a better job of reigning in spending.
Jeff Candito
Amherst
Recreation Commission Supports Article 33 - BUCK MEADOW
To the editor:
As you head to the polls on June 8, please consider voting YES on Town Warrant Article 33. It is a multi-year (3) request of $50,000 for matching grants to go towards building two full size rectangular fields and one smaller practice field at Buck Meadow. There are future plans to install a playground, picnic areas, and other amenities in this facility. This warrant article is for fields only. Through the thoughtful planning and work of the Recreation Director and staff, a grant of $40,000 was awarded from the Bean Foundation to assist in updating the Clubhouse. The Recreation Department plans to offer space for meetings, gatherings, and senior programming in this space. As part of a strategic funding plan, the Recreation Department has also set things up in the revolving fund so that 20% of any revenue generated at Buck Meadow goes back into the field fund. The Recreation Commission supports this thoughtfully crafted and long-term plan for Buck Meadow.
Sincerely,
Patrick Daniel, Chair
Wendy Rannenberg, Vice Chair
Stephen Amari
Katie Button Holt
Maria Daly
Lisa Eastland
Shannon Gascoyne
Paul Levesque