On Memorial Day 2013, I remembered four men. One, a paternal uncle in Missouri, fought for the Union in the Civil War. The second, a maternal uncle from Massachusetts, was on the Western Front in World War I. The third is my late father-in-law. A USMA graduate, his active duty career included World War II […]
Voting for the casino bill was hard.
The recent late frost hit my grapevines hard. The leaves and the buds were 90% to 100% burned. Not unlike some of my most dedicated supporters, incensed by my support of SB 152, the casino bill. I voted to talk about it and make it better, not to kill it. My “No” vote was a […]
I can’t even begin to imagine the challenges associated with trying to produce a monthly small-town newspaper. And then to do it in such a way that is consistently interesting, informative, and somehow unbiased. One hundred issues later, I still look forward to finding the Beacon in my mailbox. You guys are the best!
May 20, 2013 Dear Friends and Neighbors, Franklin VNA and Hospice has proudly been providing home care services to your community since 1945. Now entering the 68th year, we have reaffirmed our mission statement and will continue to offer you quality home care and hospice services. This is your community. This is your VNA. If […]
To speak to rumors regarding wind turbines on Ragged Mountain, I am penning this letter to the editor and community. Many months prior to becoming a Town Selectman, or even considering that position, I approached a New Hampshire-based wind power generating company to find out whether or not such a project would be feasible for […]
Given the relative lack of value to the “dollar,” encouraging those who do roadside clean-up, either to town roads or the State’s highways through Adopt a Highway, to deliver full bags of collected debris to a dump or recycling center is a waste of time and loss to the recyclers of the state. On average, […]
On March 19, the Andover Constitution Freedom Alliance held a public meeting to discuss the UN’s Agenda 21 and its relationship to sustainable communities. Guest speakers were Tim Carter and Greg Carson (one con and one pro). The meeting was well attended by over 75 citizens and had some very good questions for both gentlemen. […]
House passes budgets with less downshifting of costs
The main event occurring in Concord recently was the adoption of the operating and capital budgets in the House. The operating budget (the day-to-day operations of the State), HB 1 and HB 2, passed on a mostly partisan basis , 194 to 172 and 193 to 166. The revenues used in this budget did not […]
First, a technical point. When we vote for a bill in the House or the Senate, we do not actually vote on the bill itself, but rather on the originating committee’s recommendation for the bill. For example, HB 337 (total legalization of marijuana) came out of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee with a […]
Despite the heavy March 19 snowfall, there were several errands around town that couldn’t be put off. Driving Routes 11 and 4, and secondary roads such as Plains, Switch, Chase Hill, Old College, Cilleyville, and others, I was struck by how effectively the storm was being fought. I wouldn’t have wanted to travel the same distance on the roads of […]