Doing their best at a very tough job
What a winter it has been! As I look out the window of my warm and cozy house, I can see the plow trucks going by. Some are driven by people who work to keep our town roads and parking lots safe, and some are driven by people who work to keep driveways and private […]
Legislature hard at work, despite snow cancellations
The House has settled after the dramatic upheaval of a few weeks ago when Shawn Jasper became Speaker instead of Bill O’Brien. While there are still some lingering bad feelings among the two Republican factions, committee chairs and vice chairs appointed by Speaker Jasper have been busy scheduling hearings, and a sense of normality seems […]
Introduces four-year term for governor again
We had our first House session of 2015 on January 7. Concealed weapons were again allowed anywhere in the State House, reversing the previous House stand. A new rule requiring the support of 20 members instead of 10 to ask for a roll call was tabled 343 to 36. Representative Bill O’Brien’s attempt to have […]
Many details impact costs and benefits
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels produce DC electricity when sunlight strikes a chemically-coated silicone cell. The amount of power produced fluctuates with the intensity of the sun. The DC current moves though wires to an inverter, where it is converted into AC current, the type of electricity that runs our households and businesses. A solar PV […]
It may seem a lifetime ago, but the 2014 election was just over a month ago. I want to thank all who participated, and especially those who voted to re-elect me to represent our three beautiful towns of Andover, Salisbury, and Danbury. My buddy, David Karrick, also got the nod, as did Senator Andrew Hosmer […]
There's a lot to like about the Beacon
Polite letters to the editor! A whole lot of pages, every issue! High-quality paper and large type! Absence of political rants and raves! Spelling and grammer correct, mostly! You only have to read it once a month! The “Beacon Members Win!” giveaways! You get it free – whether you want it or not! Lots of […]
County Administrator Bateson retires
Much has happened during these last few months. You will be very pleased to know that Merrimack County has recently received the highest rating possible for our Tax Anticipation Notes – an SP1+. Our long term rating has been upgraded to AA by Standard and Poor. Due to internal reviews by our insurance company, we […]
Senator Andrew Hosmer wants New Hampshire to adopt Common Core State Standards (CCSS). These standards very profoundly restrict students and teachers: New Hampshire, and therefore parents, abandon local control over curricula and standards which measure academic standings. Parents’ rights to oversee their children’s education are stolen. Students’ rights to be prepared for the ever-more complex […]
There is so much information flying around at election time that I wanted to give some factual background on some of the claims I have heard. As a general rule, I like to find out about a candidate by checking their voting record. A good way to do this for federal candidates is to go […]
Ours is the last with real authority
During every state election, we find candidates for Executive Council on the ballot. I suspect this office remains mysterious to many voters. New Hampshire is the only state that retains an Executive Council with real authority. Our Executive Council goes way back to 1679, when King Charles II directed that New Hampshire be separated from Massachusetts […]