OurConcord.com

Introducing Concord NH Patch

2011-06-17T19:50:00.002-04:00

Dear regular readers of OurConcord.com,

On June 6, 2011, I started working for Concord NH Patch, a brand new news and community website from AOL. It's been a great two weeks working for the company - going through training in NYC for two days and then, building the site, adding content, covering a slew of stories.
Today, Friday, June 17, the site launched and is now live. There is a lot to read and see there about Concord. Please visit often.

The Concord NH Patch site is now my full-time job and will require a lot of attention in order to make sure it stays constant and vibrant. For these reasons, and the fact that I don't want to create a conflict, this will be my last post on OurConcord.com for the foreseeable future.
As well, for those of you who don't know, I also resigned my co-chairman's position at the nonprofit, nonpartisan Concord Taxpayers Association at the end of May 2011. It was great working with the org offering an important voice to working families and seniors who are struggling to stay in their homes during these difficult times. I will, however, stay involved in the Executive Committee of the Concord Substance Abuse Coalition, which I am vice chairman.

I want to thank each and every one of you who read OurConcord.com, participated in making comments, bought advertising, and privately thanked me for the work we tried to do here. August would have marked four years of producing this site, including two companion print editions. It's been a good run. Thank you for participating with me.

In the past, some folks have sniffed around as to whether or not I would be interested in selling the domain name. I'm happy to entertain offers, if anyone is interested. Feel free to touch base with me at ourconcord-at-yahoo.com.

Exciting news coming ...

2011-05-28T23:03:00.000-04:00

A quick note to let all of my blog followers and readers know that I will soon have some exciting news to announce about a new gig I have landed.
I'll give everyone a little hint: I'm going to be covering the New Hampshire primary, some State House news, and local police/fire and municipal government in Concord.
In order to succeed at this new thing, I'm going to need a lot of help from all of you. So stay tuned for more details.

Charter Commission public hearing Thursday

2011-05-11T20:25:00.000-04:00

The Concord School Board Charter Commission will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, at the central office at 38 Liberty St.
The commission will discuss its preliminary report (linked here: REPORT).
Here is what the community needs to consider:
How school board members are elected: The commission proposed to change the election process from the nine at-large school board member election process from at-large members to three at-large members and six members elected from districts, two from each district [District A: Wards 1, 2, 3, 4; District B: Wards 5, 6, 7; District C: Wards 8, 9, 10].
Authority: There was some discussion about whether the legislation authorizes the commission gives it the authority to recommend ballot questions in addition to the amendment procedure.
Supermajority vote required for approval: The commission intends that the district voting proposal would be adopted as the first question. If the voters approve the first question, the charter would be open for amendment by the second question. The charter commission intends that the second question would only be effective to amend the charter with a vote of at least 60 percent.

Lights on Clinton Street, finally ...

2011-05-10T06:59:00.003-04:00

Traffic lights have been installed at the intersection of Langley Parkway and Clinton Street.
The city has finally installed traffic lights at the intersection of Clinton Street and Langley Parkway, easily one of the most dangerous intersection that had not had a traffic light. Before the lights were installed, it was very difficult for people driving south on Langley to entire onto Clinton. We don't travel on Langley that often but when we do, we've often seen close calls as cars try to quickly dart out into the Clinton traffic. Now, that is all resolved, thankfully.

Schoenberg leaves the Concord Monitor for the Boston Globe

2011-05-05T17:03:00.003-04:00

A quick local media note here: Concord Monitor reporter Shira Schoenberg is departing the local daily and going to work for the Boston Globe, as a correspondent covering the New Hampshire primary. She officially starts on May 23.
In an email to various sources and friends, she thanked everyone who had helped her during the last five years at the Monitor saying, "It has been a pleasure working with every one of you."
Karen Langley and Matt Spolar will be covering political news for the Monitor, according to Schoenberg's email.

Concord Monitor going to a paywall in May

2011-04-24T14:44:00.007-04:00

The new publisher of the Concord Monitor announced this morning that the newspaper will be implementing a paywall for its website starting on May 3: ["Coming soon: a charge for online access"].
The paper will also be adding an iPad app.
At around 2:45 p.m., there were already more than 90 comments on the announcement, most of them negative. This comment by the publisher, however, caught me guffawing just a bit:

After all, we're your watchdog and your marketplace of ideas and commerce. We celebrate your successes and help mourn your losses.
We are your best community connector. Nowhere can you find the depth and breadth of local news and information to match the Monitor.

Hmm, OK John, I'll take the bait on this one. So, the newspaper is a "watchdog" ... well, that all depends on how you look at it. Let's take a look at some of the important local news stories the Concord Monitor missed or flat out ignored in the last few years.
Was the Monitor a watchdog when the school district attorney was caught violating the state's lobbying law? No. Your reporter received an extensive packet of information about the incident and how school officials and our state senator colluded behind closed doors to hold up important legislation. She even received a walk-through from one of our local officials who had been tracking it all. Then, the person above the reporter killed the story, saying it wasn't a story. Wow. Your news operation will go after developer Steve Duprey over and over again for following the law, but when a connected attorney breaks the law, well, that's not a story in your newspaper's mind.
Was it a watchdog when it was revealed that one of the school charter commission candidates worked for the same law firm owned by the Concord school superintendent's husband? How about when it was revealed that one of the school charter commission candidates endorsed by the Monitor had a wife who worked part-time for the newspaper? Or when the teachers' union endorsed a slate of candidates but didn't even bother to talk to the candidates? No. Not a peep out of your news org.
How about investigating the use of PTA emails to influence the school charter commission study process? How about reporting on the hijacking of legislative bills that helped usher in the rigged study process (see above)? How about any extensive reporting on the issue beyond a couple of token hearing attendances? How about delving into emails of public officials that would have given you all the information that the attorney general later was given, thankfully, with the help of one of our state representatives who was actually being a watchdog for the residents of Concord? Nope.
Was the Monitor a watchdog investigating all the shenanigans going on at the cable access center? Reams and reams of stuff on that one. How one of the coordinators spent $19,000 to raise $3,000 in one of its fundraisers? How about wasting thousands of dollars of taxpayer money on travel junkets, and cookies and treats for the board? It's become a regular jobs program for one local family but there has never been a peep out of your news organization. Maybe it had something to do with the cable access center, at the time, paying the Monitor to take care of its website? ... I don't know.
How about the ridiculous city council rules committee hearing where the chairwoman of the committee was actually a host of a program on the same cable access center that was a part of the investigation? Did you ever write about the fact that she abused her power as a councilor by getting the Concord Police Dept. to investigate a private citizen who had a public record? No, no one from the Monitor ever did ... Not only that, when said private citizen wanted to publish a letter about the incident, the executive editor of your newspaper refused because she was afraid the city councilor might get mad at her. Sad, quite sad.
Watchdog John? No, not really, and that's truly unfortunate for you, your news org, and us.
The Concord Monitor was once a great newspaper. I know, I've been reading it since I was a boy. I used to peddle it, as did my brother. It was our first real jobs. The Monitor helped shape who I am today. As a newspaper man myself, I'm heartbroken to see what is going on in our business. And to see this newspaper shrink away to almost nothing is even more horrific.
But, at the same time, some of the employees of the operation have an insane obsession with controlling everything that goes on in this community. It is at the point now where huge news stories are being censored in order to preserve the editorial board's political agenda, an agenda that might not be in the best interests of the community. That is, frankly, dangerous journalism, not watchdog journalism.

Concord, a diverse community ...

2011-04-16T17:47:00.002-04:00

Quite by accident, this link came into my mailbox from a Google News alert: ["Bus stop for Orange Line and Trolley 2 on the Pink Line serve as meeting place on Main Street in Concord"].
I still don't know why. It's kind of weird that it is linked to a Utah site. But, there you go. Concord - and Penacook - diverse places.

DISGRACEFUL!!

2011-04-02T14:16:00.008-04:00

This was the scene at the former Kimball Elementary School grounds on the morning of April 2, 2011, as construction workers demolished a perfectly good historic building at the behest of a clueless school board and its empire building administration. The only response I can muster is to say that this is disgraceful.

Here is a shot from the facade of the eastern side of the parcel. Ah, gee, isn't that swell, the construction workers are saving some of the granite to make everyone feel good ... Pathetic.

Here is another angle from just north of the entrance. Look at all that construction debris. It will take the new building years and years and years and years to reverse the carbon damage from the destruction of this structurally sound historic building.

Here is the view from Rumford Street, where the beams on the west side of the new building have started.

This is the view approaching the eastern side of the parcel on South Spring Street. Working on a Saturday, eh? Hmm, lots of overtime there, even in a conservative state like New Hampshire. How much you want to bet that the project comes in way over budget?

SHAME!

2011-03-16T21:20:00.005-04:00

This is probably the most disgraceful picture you will see this year: Demolition teams knocking down the old Morrill Elementary School and Concord School District Administration Building on the morning of March 11.
While driving down Pleasant, I saw the debris out of the corner of my eye. I did a double-take. I couldn't believe it. I spun the car around and took a look and ... wow ... speechless. A perfectly good, structurally sound, historic building. Gone. Poof. Goodbye. Disgraceful.
Below is the debris left over from the destruction of perfectly good multi-family homes, historic ones, at that, at the corner of Rumford and Pleasant streets. And yes, these homes were purchased at inflated prices by school district. Simply put, more shame.

Changing the way Concord School Board members are elected

2011-02-20T06:12:00.001-05:00

I wrote the following note to members of the Concord School Board Charter Commission last night. This is the corrected version. I would encourage you all to contact them as well:

Since I will probably not be able to attend Tuesday’s meeting, I just wanted to send a short email supporting Mike Donovan’s proposal for a new process for electing Concord School Board members.

As some of you may already know, I had mixed feelings about state. Rep. Steve Shurtleff’s proposal in 2008 to move completely to Ward elections for school board members. I felt it had negative and positive aspects. And I also believe that the current way of electing school board members is inherently flawed. However, having read Donovan’s proposal, I feel this is an excellent alternative to the previous proposal by Shurtleff and the current structure we use to elect members.

First, the proposal allows for a mix of opportunities for candidates, ones who have city-wide support and local Ward support. Lowering the threshold of election by running in three wards instead of at-large should encourage greater participation and will be more inclusive than the current process. Since the election would be more manageable, more people will probably run. The process works very well in electing our state representatives and city councilors (although there is always room for more competition, in my mind).

Second, having the elections held on odd numbered years eliminates what I have termed “the lemming effect,” essentially, thousands of people voting because of the presidential or congressional election cycle, randomly casting votes for school board candidates based on nothing more than names they recognize or the color of a person’s shirt at the polls. This proposal will equalize the process. Also, in the past, there have been huge discrepancies in the number of votes it takes to get elected. For example, in 2007, a municipal election, the three winners of board seats won with between 1,901 and 2,814 votes. A year later, a presidential election, the winners received between 6,480 and 7,086. In 2009, all the incumbents won against a ghost candidate, with between 1,297 and 1,953 votes. Again in 2010, three incumbents were elected with between 8,545 and 9,384 votes, with no challengers. The difference in votes is based on turnout but it is staggering because, essentially, thousands more people determined the outcome of who won in one year over the previous year. Granted, if voters don't bother to vote, then they cost themselves representation. But still, the fact that one year it only takes 1,300 votes to win and then another year it takes more than 6,000 is a serious problem which will be fixed with this proposal.

Third, running both on the district level and at-large ensures that every neighborhood of the city is represented on the school board. This has been a problem in the past. In 2009, for example, a quick analysis of the school board membership revealed that a third of the nine, came from Ward 4. Wards 3, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10, each had one member each. This meant that five members - or more than half – at the time, lived in the Kimball/Walker School District. There was no representation from Ward 2 or 8, meaning the Beaver Meadow and Dame elementary schools had no one from their districts or neighborhoods representing them on the board [No one represented Ward 1 either but most people who live in Ward 1 send their kids to the Merrimack Valley School District]. Today, Wards 1 and 2 are still not represented and there are three members from Ward 5. This proposal would open up opportunities for broadening neighborhood representation.

This is an excellent proposal with an acceptable timeline to implement the plan over a number of years. I encourage you to support this proposal.

Charter commission member emails:

wfa@rathlaw.com
KCon469326@aol.com
ctcogs@yahoo.com
mdvn9@aol.com
chuck@nhlawoffice.com
bob.gile@wedbush.com
betty.hoadley@comcast.net
mhonigberg@sulloway.com
rjosborne@comcast.net

More information on School Board election proposal

2011-02-19T14:36:00.003-05:00

On Thursday I wrote about a new proposal by former Concord Mayor Mike Donovan on how to improve the electoral process for Concord School Board members: [Charter Commission to consider changing the way school board members are elected"].
I only had a bit of background but he forwarded the complete proposal to me earlier today.
Donovan proposes keeping a nine-member school board but changing the way the board members are elected from at-large seats to a mix of at-large and ward seats.
The proposal would establish three at-large positions and six ward positions, two each from districts identical to the voting districts used to elect Charter Commission members.
Donovan also proposes electing board members in odd municipal election years and not every year. In his proposal, he wrote that this would eliminate the influence of much larger voter turnouts during state and national elections, where some board members are elected by 3,500 voters and others by 10,000 or more.
Donovan suggests create four-year terms for the board; five elected in one election and four in another.
"Having 4 year terms elected on two year cycles promotes stability," he wrote in the proposal.
A transitional provision would be implemented to allow the changes to be implemented over a number of years.
As I said in the previous post, this is a much better proposal than moving to all ward representation or leaving it the way it is for a number of reasons.
I urge everyone to contact the Charter Commission members and let them know what you think. Send an email to betty.hoadley@comcast.net.

Charter Commission to consider changing the way school board members are elected

2011-02-17T21:43:00.003-05:00

I received word today that the Charter Commission will be considering a proposal to change the way Concord School Board members are elected.
The next meet will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at Dewey School.
The proposal, forwarded by former Concord Mayor Mike Donovan, would have board members elected in a similar fashion that the charter commission was elected. Instead of having all nine members elected at-large, three of the nine members would be elected at-large. Another six members would be elected from wards (two members from Ward 1,2,3,4; two from Ward 4,5,6; and two from Ward 8,9,10).
This proposal is much different than one forwarded by state Rep. Steve Shurtleff, written about here: ["Rep. Shurtleff's School Board plan"] and here:["The case for ward representation on the school board?"].
And, frankly, this proposal is much more acceptable than Shurtleff's. Having a combination of at-large and ward seats should widen the quality of the candidates who run for school board. The system would mirror the kind of representation that both the Concord City Council and the State House have. Both are much better than the school board. The accessibility of some of the seats would also be easier for candidates without a lot of money or powerful connections. Concord is a much bigger city than it was 50 years ago. While there have been fluke wins on the school board in the past, it is not the norm. Changing this process would be a big improvement.

If you are interested in being heard on this issue, show up to the hearing or email Betty Hoadley at betty.hoadley@comcast.net.

Amateur Radio Station Dedication

2011-02-05T05:33:00.000-05:00

From the inbox:
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in conjunction with the Contoocook Valley Radio Club (CVRC) and the New England Amateur Radio Festival (NEAR-Fest) has completed production of an amateur radio station with full operational capabilities. This station, KA1SKY, will be formally dedicated on February 14 at 11 AM, part of School Club Round-up Week, to 2009’s station project manager Ken Rust, KB1PRV, who recently became a Silent Key. The station will now be called the Mumley-Rust Memorial Station.

The new fully functional HF/VHF/UHF/Satellite amateur station will enable visitors at the Discovery Center to understand and use a part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The radio will allow voice transmission and Morse code on thousands of frequencies of various wavelengths. With the guidance of volunteer amateur radio operators, visitors will be able to talk to other “Hams” around the world as well as contact the International Space Station when it is in a favorable position. Communication with satellites in space will also be possible in order to receive and make transmissions to other parts of the world. Use of the station will also demonstrate how energy and information is transmitted on electromagnetic waves in the radio end of the electromagnetic spectrum, making it an essential tool for enhancing Discovery Center educational programs.

A brief history of the project will be given by project manager Wayne Santos, N1CKM, followed by the dedication with station manager Peter Stohrer, K1PJS. Future plans for the station will also be presented by Santos and David McDonald, education director at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center. The station will officially be open at 11:30 for student and public use.

Donors who made this project possible include Phil Parton; Lee Scott, AA1YN; Gordon West, W5YI; Kenwood USA, Inc.; NEAR-Fest; Port City Radio Club; CVRC; Ham Radio Outlet; West Mountain Radio; and the American Radio Relay League.

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center features 21st century interactive exhibits on aviation, astronomy, Earth and space sciences, a state-of-the-art planetarium and a variety of science, technology, engineering and math programs. The engaging, robust educational programs are geared towards families, teens, seniors, students, community groups, and lifelong learners. For more information, visit www.starhop.com.

So what's this new "television network in Concord" all about?

2011-01-22T17:04:00.002-05:00

Earlier this month, someone posted two jobs openings on the New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters jobs board for a president/CEO and a sales manager for "a new television network in Concord, NH ..."
Here are the posts:
http://www.nhab.org/job_bank/jobdetails.cfm?ID=593
http://www.nhab.org/job_bank/jobdetails.cfm?ID=594
I keep a pretty close eye on media stuff going on around the state especially in Concord, although I'm not up on things as much as I used to. But I haven't heard word one about a new television network in Concord. No one else has either. There's nothing on the message boards. There are no new television licenses available, that I know of. This makes me wonder a bit.
Anyone know anything about this?

No, no ... really ... I'm not running for anything ... really

2011-01-08T18:30:00.004-05:00

A quick note to everyone that, no, really, truly, I will not be a candidate for anything at all this municipal cycle or probably any other political cycle for a very long time if ever (I'll never say never but, it's pretty close to never at this point).
Twice in the last few weeks, someone has asked me if I was planning on running for mayor or school board this year (2011 is a municipal election). I told both of these people that, no, I was not planning on being a candidate and would not be running.
There have been some rumors out there that Mayor Jim Bouley may not seek another term this year. I haven't spoken to him about it recently but probably should. I, frankly, think he has done a pretty good job during his time there although, admittedly, we don't agree on everything. The real power, unfortunately, is in the city manager's position, not the mayor's position (or the councilors for that matter). I'd love to be the city manager, hah (I've been wondering lately if I should go back to school and get into public administration. I mean, spending 15 years analyzing municipal budgets ought to be worth more than I'm getting now, right?)
I also can't afford to take the pay cut and wouldn't be able to work in journalism if I was the mayor ... the mayor makes nothing ... and I really love journalism so much more than politics.
As far as the school board goes, it's a lost cause and has been for a while (as Laura Bonk, a class act, found out the hard way). There are problems in our school system, none of which have anything to do with our beautiful, historic buildings being torn down. It isn't easy running suburban metropolitan school system. But it is clear that we really need some new leadership and new blood managing our education system because the people that are doing it now are doing a lousy job.
That said, if I did run for school board and won, I'd be one of nine. I'd be able to get little to nothing done although I wouldn't sit there like a lump on a log like some of them do.
I do, however, believe in public service and I hope, someday, to be in a position where I can offer my knowledge, ideas, and energy, in a public service position. But, for now, everyone will just have to live with me being the guy who enlightens everyone with a bit of insight, facts, and thoughts you won't read anywhere else.

A little (or a long) vacation ...

2010-12-23T06:26:00.002-05:00

Just a quick "thank you" to all of you who still visit Politizine and OurConcord even though I haven't been posting much. Family and work have been taking a lot of my life of late. The former is fine; I won't get into the latter except to say that I have had a disappointing few weeks but I think 2011 will be an interesting year.
Politizine, specifically, enters its ninth year of existence this week. It's hard to believe that but it's true. Readership has fluctuated from the hundreds to the thousands and back down again, depending on what I have written about or how many other people linked to my site. OurConcord was created and grew out of a frustration with local media outlets not really getting at the heart of many stories. I have been very happy with some of that work. But it can be a daunting, exhaustive task.
Despite all that I have done at this point in my life, I'm facing 45 and I'm really beginning to wonder about things. It isn't just the economy or a moment in time or anything like that. It's just become very clear that I have not been setting priorities. I thought I was, but I wasn't (once again). I have to look no further than the piles of paper in different places in my home, the list of things I have been wanting to get done, both personally and professionally, etc., to see that I have not been focused. Things are not where they should be.
Thankfully, we're not hoarders, not like those folks on television, which is frightening to see. We don't have a lot even though we have much more than some. But even though I'm considered one who takes actions, I do put things off ... and then put them off and put them off again. I always have. It's time though to stop putting things off. And, I need to take some time off.
I'm going on a little or a long vacation. I'm not sure which yet. I'll let you all know in January, when I get back. I don't know what role Politizine or OurConcord play in my future.
I'm wondering about a lot of things lately. But know and understand that I have appreciated your readership, time, and comments about what I have been doing with these sites.
Have a great holiday season. Merry Christmas. And talk to you all again soon.
Best,
Tony

What happened to selling the buildings?

2010-12-18T07:57:00.002-05:00

First, it's a community center at the Dame Elementary School, now this: ["Ex-school as police station? Not so fast"]. A simple question: What happened to selling the buildings? What happened to offsetting the debt with the millions that could be brought in from selling these school buildings? This is all just very crazy.

Writer warns, don't go to PC Wizard

2010-12-05T07:09:00.002-05:00

Guest perspective by Andy Sylvia

I don’t have a huge selection of Xbox games, but the one or two games I played most of the time worked fine until about a month or two ago. I was getting messages that my discs were unreadable at random times. I went down to a local GameStop and found out the problem was my Xbox, as they also got the same message with one of their new games.

So, after unsuccessfully trying to fix the problem with a disc cleaner that Best Buy suggested, I looked all around New England for someplace that could fix my Xbox. I figured Microsoft wouldn’t help since this was a replacement for an Xbox that had the red rings of death last year, and even if they did, I’ve heard horror stories about them.

A friend suggested I check out PC Wizard in on Loudon Road in Concord, so I gave it to them.

They charged $29.99 for the repairs, saying it was an optical lens problem and they could clean it. It would be done in about three days, and I said I would be back in town in four days, so that was fine.

I picked up the Xbox, brought it home later that night, and it was worse off than when I brought it in; before the game at least worked some of the time, now they didn’t work at all on the system.

I came back in asking for a refund, the man there, some guy with a beard, was extremely rude and refused the refund and I said I would spread the word about this experience, which he welcomed. That’s why I’m here today.

I filed a report with the Better Business Bureau, but this whole ordeal has just proven too tiresome, and I didn’t expect to ever get justice from this guy, so I just sold the Xbox to that GameStop at a reduced price (the optical lens ruined the system overall, but the other parts worked apparently, I was able to get to the dashboard at least even after this guy ruined my system) and bought a used one to replace it.

Still, I hope my experience can help other consumers in the Concord area to stay away from being ripped off by this guy.

See, I told you!

2010-12-04T23:40:00.001-05:00

Recently, the Concord Monitor reported that the Concord School District secured its funding for the elementary school consolidation projects at a very low interest rate, less than 4 percent.
With interest and state funding, the final cost of the entire project will be about $112 million, assuming no major (more than the 10-15 percent budgeted) cost overruns occur during the demolition and construction phase of the projects (I should note that this price does not include all the money already spent to get the district to this point, which would probably be another $1 million and change, when including interest).
In other words, as I have been saying for about four years now, the project will be in the $100 to $150 million range, albeit on the low side of that guess.
That said, no apologies necessary from all the naysayers who said I was lying or that my figures were too high or that I didn't know what I was talking about or anything else. No need. I, and many others, who know municipal budgets and finance, told you all how much the final costs would be and we were right all along, despite your protestations, ignorance, and personal attacks.

Well, well, well, Concord has a budget surplus

2010-11-21T08:12:00.002-05:00

The Concord Monitor is reporting this morning that city government will have a $1.4 million budget surplus at the end of the year: ["Concord ends fiscal year with $1.4 million"].
Don't miss the big point here: If the auditing is correct on this, city officials never needed the 3 percent increase they placed on taxpayers earlier this year. In fact, if you look at the math [1 percent tax increase is equal to $290,000], property taxes in Concord should have been decreased this year by about 2 percent.
Yes, folks, you should have received a tax cut, not an increase, not unlike Manchester and other places are getting this year. Throw in the hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings I and others found earlier this year ["Monitor endorses 3 percent or higher tax increase ... "] and it would have been even higher than 2 percent. We're in the middle of the greatest economic crisis of our lifetimes. It's time for municipal government to be right-sized to reflect that crisis.

First Charter Commission meeting

2010-11-20T07:01:00.002-05:00

I was unable to make the first Concord School District Charter Commission meeting due to a work commitment but I heard it was a rather slightly sleepy affair, with the board mainly focusing on procedure business. Eight of the nine members were present along with a handful of residents and a couple of school officials in the audience. No media outlets attended the meeting (they don't work on Fridays, don'tcha know).
Former School Board member Betty Hoadley was elected chairwoman, former Concord Mayor Mike Donovan was elected vice-chairman, and former School Board member Martin Honigberg was elected as clerk.
There was some discussion about whether or not the elephant in the room - the scope of the Charter Commission's work - should be batted around, but that was tabled until all members could be in attendance.
The next meeting, scheduled is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 30, and will be the first of two public hearings, requesting input from residents about the issues. A second one will be held in January.

Meeting moved to Nov. 19

2010-11-09T08:02:00.002-05:00

I received late word last night that the School Charter Commission meeting has been rescheduled to Friday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the District's office at Dewey School. Leaders of the commission will be elected and schedule set for future meetings.

School Charter Commission meeting Wednesday

2010-11-05T07:36:00.002-04:00

The Concord Monitor is reporting that the first meeting of the School Charter Commission has been set for Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the District's office at Dewey School. Leaders of the commission will be elected and schedule set for future meetings.

Note to readers

2010-11-05T06:45:00.001-04:00

A quick note to readers, especially those who leave comments. For whatever reason, the system that alerts me to comments being posted online is not working. The settings haven't changed; they are the same as my other blogs, which seem to be working. But, for whatever reason, they aren't working. I'm going to shut the notification process off and see how that works.

Congrats to the winners!

2010-11-03T07:40:00.000-04:00

I'm really behind on things, due to work deadlines. However, here is a link to the Nov. 2, 2010, election results: http://www.onconcord.com/concordv2.asp?siteindx=E20,14

Guess which Charter Commission candidate works for Chris Rath's husband's law firm?

2010-11-02T12:14:00.004-04:00

So, fair readers, I got another hot tip at the polls today, too late in the game to really do anything with, but what the heck ...
Guess which Charter Commission candidate works for School Superintendent Chris Rath's husband's law firm?

Add "Jeopardy" music here ...

William Ardinger, the Ward 5, 6, 7, candidate who is married to Kass Ardinger, the Concord School Board president, works at Rath, Young, Pignatelli! Wow, indeed.
I don't know why I didn't think to Google the guy before but I just didn't.
Just goes to show you, the fix really is in these days and there is wayyyy tooo much incestuousness in Concord politics.
Future tipsters: Next time, please send this tips along BEFORE the election!

Endorsed candidate's wife works for the Monitor

2010-11-01T17:07:00.002-04:00

I got a little tip this afternoon that Peter Ellinwood, one of the candidates in the Ward 1, 2, 3, 4, School District Charter Commission race, might have an in at the Concord Monitor that helped him land the newspaper endorsement ... His wife works there.
I couldn't believe it, but my source said, "Google it." Sure enough, there is a Suzanne Ellinwood writing for the Monitor. I went and checked my copy of the voter's list and there she is.
Talk about conflicts of interest. This race is so incestuous it's crazy.

Confirmed: NH-NEA didn't survey some candidates

2010-10-31T21:39:00.005-04:00

I have just confirmed from two School District Charter Commission candidates that the NH-NEA, the Concord teachers union, never surveyed or spoke to them about an endorsement.
The union, not surprisingly, endorsed candidates all connected to the school board in some way, shape, or form. The endorsements were included in a newsletter that was postmarked Oct. 27.
However, if the NH-NEA didn't survey the candidates, how did they know who to endorse?
Let's take a look at this for a second, make some guesses, and analyze them.
1) They just guessed who to pick.
Not realistic, but possible.
2) They saw the Concord Taxpayers Association surveys and freaked out.
However, this isn't realistic either. First, the surveys were posted late in the evening of Oct. 24, with a press release sent out that night. While people did look at them that night, traffic shot up on Monday. If they saw our surveys on Monday, Oct. 25, the union would have had to drop everything, throw together a newsletter, get it printed up, and get it to the post office, and magically have them deliver it in record time. Not likely. Plus, they endorsed a candidate who didn't fill out the survey so they don't know where he stands. Based on the theory that they saw the CTA surveys, they were either just guessing on that guy or they know him outright.
3) The Concord Monitor sent the answers to the NH-NEA before publishing them.
The Monitor put together a survey and collected them on Oct. 21. However, the newspaper didn't begin publishing the answers until Oct. 27, and over a series of days after that. That would have been enough time to fax them over to the NH-NEA. On Oct. 27, the newspaper published the CTA press release about our surveys and was the only media outlet to do so. There was a boost in traffic on the CTA site that day. But that would have been too late, since the newsletter with the endorsement was postmarked the same day.
Consider the cozy relationship the editorial board has with the school board and administrators. Do they have such a cozy relationship with the union too? As bad as the Monitor can be some times, you have to think they have some journalistic integrity somewhere and wouldn't do this. It would be totally corrupt.
4) The NH-NEA got their marching orders from the school board or administrators on who to endorse.
Completely likely, considering. Think about it for a second: School Board President Kass Ardinger and School Superintendent Chris Rath collude in secret with state Senators in a back room deal to rig the Charter Commission altogether. They even got put school district attorney John Teague into a situation where he broke the law to rig the Charter Commission. What would keep them from colluding with the teachers union too to rig the Charter Commission election?

Important vote on Tuesday

2010-10-31T16:34:00.007-04:00

For Concord School District Charter Commission, vote the Democracy Slate.
On Tuesday, Nov. 2, voters in Concord have a very important election to participate in. Yes, the governor, Legislature, and federal officers are all up for election. But the future of our city and school system are also on the line, with the election of members to the Concord School District Charter Commission.
The following candidates should receive your votes on Tuesday. I've nicknamed them "The Democracy Slate" because they believe in giving back parents their rights to have democratic choices when it comes to our school district charter:

At-large (3 votes): Laura Bonk and Charlie Russell
Ward 1, 2, 3, 4 (2 votes): Jim Baer and Kathy Conners
Ward 5, 6, 7 (2 votes): John Stohrer
Ward 8, 9, 10 (2 votes): Chuck Douglas.

These candidates understand the importance of this election and what needs to be done with our school district charter. They haven't fallen in line with the insiders. They have looked at the charter, followed the issues, and know the changes we need.

Based on some of the comments issued in the Concord Taxpayers Association and Concord Monitor surveys, as well as conversations I have had with at least one at-large candidate, Betty Hoadley, the following candidates could be considered for second and third votes:

* First, while Mike Donovan refused to send in his answers to the CTA survey after saying that he was ready to and grilled me with a number of questions about what the CTA was going to do with the surveys (all I did was put them online), his answers to the Monitor were interesting and he seems to understand the point of having a Charter Commission. I also had a long conversation with Hoadley at the Leadership Greater Concord event last week where she rattled off a bunch of reasons why I should vote for her. After saying that I had already sent in my endorsement letter and she wasn't on it, she continued and raised some compelling points. And, she asked for my vote too. While I haven't decided to cast a third vote for either Donovan or Hoadley, I might have to think about it. You should too.
* In the Ward 1, 2, 3, 4, race, Roy Schweiker also raised some relevant points in both of his surveys. He emailed his survey in and it was not received until after deadline. But he made some good points. Schweiker has also attended so many meetings and raised so many issues over the years and clearly understands the importance of fixing the Charter now. Baer and Conners have put even more work on this issue, but Schweiker, unlike some others, hasn't been a no-show.
* In the Ward 5, 6, 7, race, unlike the other candidates, Jessie Osborne seems to have an open mind about at least hearing some of the ideas before making a decision. Allen Bennett also raised some good points in his Monitor survey answer. Bennett refused to fill out the CTA survey and also did not return a phone call or email to me when I told him I needed another person to vote for and wanted to talk to him about the issue. This is typical of Bennett (In the past, he has not returned phone calls and then complained that I never called him). I don't completely agree with him on Ward representation, but it should be discussed and considered.

Why mention the other candidates who I may or may not be voting for? Simply put, the case could be made that this Charter Commission should be larger than it is, since there are so many interesting people running, especially those who are not connected to the current people on the school board. Those people who raised relevant issues during their campaigns deserve mentions even if I may not be voting for them.

A lot will be said about this race after the election. It's that important. Basically, there are two schools of thought. One side thinks everything is swell. These folks tend to have control over the system or are inside the system. And they will do anything and everything - colluding behind closed doors, breaking the law, etc. - to keep control of the power they now have.
The other side, which is filled with parents, historians, budget hawks, and others, believe things are not well. They are concerned with the status of student achievement and want to see school board members and administrators focus on educational excellence and not building empires. They have tried over and over and over again to get a seat at the table and to have their concerns be taken seriously those in power only to be continually ignored. It is a classic David vs. Goliath battle that happens in many small cities when a handful of people run everything into the ground.
This election, for the Charter Commission, may or may not lead to the changes that we as parents, residents, and taxpayers, need to make to improve our school system, expand representation, and have control over major bonding projects. Technically, it should.
The law, HB1457 clearly states in Section 3:

The charter commission shall have all the powers and duties of a charter commission established pursuant to this chapter and shall comply with the provisions of this chapter, except as otherwise indicated in this section.

This means, simply, that the Charter Commission has all the powers and duties of a Charter Commission, meaning that it can propose changes to the charter and put it before the voters in November 2011.
Even the final report from December 2009 of the Commission to Study the Concord School District Charter stated that this Charter Commission was to change the charter.
It stated:

A. The Commission recommends unanimously for the Legislature to relinquish control over changes to the school district charter.

E. In regards to amending the school board charter the commission recommends the elected commission use its prerogative to place questions on the ballot separately, that the current charter remain in effect until both a new charter and a new amendment process have been voted on by the citizens.

However, many of the candidates, especially those with close relationships with the school board, school administrators, and teachers union, answered "no" when asked about their positions on various changes that could be made to the Charter [See surveys online @ concordtaxpayers.org]. Many of the proposed questions in the survey were brought before the Legislature in 2008 and are the reason why we are here in the first place.
But many of these candidates don't know that. And, more importantly, they don't know about the responsibilities of what they are running for or are running to hijack the important work that needs to be done. The candidates I have endorsed do.
On top of not knowing what the law is, many of these candidates never even set foot in the Council Chamber when the Charter Commission Study meetings were being held. The following candidates bothered to attend: Jessie Osborne, Kathy Conners, Roy Schweiker, Rodney Tenney, Martin Honigberg, John Stohrer, and Jim Baer. Clint Cogswell, Chuck Douglas, and Charlie Russell also served on the study commission.
There is something to be said for people who bother to participate in long, drawn out meetings and those who come in late to the process (although, anyone can run for the Commission).
In the end, the choice is yours. However, I have been watching this issue for years. Trust me when I say that these are the people you should be voting for on Tuesday.

WKXL wins three Golden Mic Awards

2010-10-31T10:05:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to the WKXL 1450 news department for winning three 2010 Golden Mic Awards last week.
The news team won first place for spot news and swept the merit and first place documentary news categories.
The station was the only Concord station to win any awards.
Also, the New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters should be commended for, finally, fixing the name of the awards. They are, after all, mics, not mikes. :-)
All the winners are listed here: ["2010 Golden Mic Award winners"].

School Charter Commission follies

2010-10-30T22:06:00.001-04:00

Here's some of the things going on in the field for the School Charter Commission campaigns.

Board member backs connected candidate
First, school board members are backing various Charter Commission candidates that are, well, connected to school board members ... which should really be no surprise, considering.
School Board member Jack Dunn was spotted in the South End leafleting yesterday for William Ardinger, the Ward 5, 6, 7, candidate for Charter Commission who happens to be married to Kass Ardinger, the school board president.
Interestingly, the person who saw Dunn leafleting struck up a conversation with him about the illegal activity by school board attorney John Teague and the collusion by Superintendent Chris Rath and Kass Ardinger to put the fix in on the Charter Commission.
Dunn reportedly said he was "100 percent" in support of the activity by all involved (I've emailed Dunn to give him the chance to clarify his statement). Jack's not a bad guy, in person. But if this is true, he's completely clueless and simply unsuited for public office.
Anyone - and I mean anyone - who thinks that illegal activity, collusion and backroom deals with public officials and school administrators to keep parents and taxpayers from having the electoral rights that virtually everyone else in the nation has is OK, is simply not fit for public office. I don't care what the outcome is. It's wrong, period.

Party for school insiders blocks streets
Other school board members, like Bill Glahn and Jennifer Patterson, were reportedly seen outside the home of former School Board member Meagan Devorsey, along with other insiders with leaflets and signs for Peter Ellinwood and Connie Boyles Lane recently.
According to a source, cars were parked all over the Cambridge Street neighborhood, making it difficult for residents to get into their driveways and access sidewalks. It was heard that everyone had a merry ole time.
The Ward has been hit hard for leaflets promoting Lane's campaign, according to residents in the area.

NEA backs candidates who don't understand the charter law
The NH-NEA, the local teachers union, reportedly endorsed a slate of candidates in its most recent newsletter.
Not surprisingly, the union endorsed candidates who seem to not really understand the law or the role of a charter commissioner. They also backed candidates who seemingly are most connected to the school system.
Interestingly as well, the newsletter seems to have been sent out before the Concord Taxpayers Association or the Concord Monitor posted surveys from the candidates, the only two known surveys to be circulated.
This would mean that the union either had an inside track on who to support, it questioned some of the candidates (some say they never received anything from the org.), or they just picked randomly (which is highly unlikely).
How much you want to bet, considering all that has gone on, that the NH-NEA was spoon-fed the people to support by either school board members or school administrators in order to do everything they can to fix this election too? You can almost hear the threats ... "If these people are elected, you may never get another raise ..." even though the truth is that most of the good candidates running believe more money should be spent on actual school operations, not wasted on new, large elementary schools that will be obsolete by the time they are built. Amazing.

In case you didn't see it ...

2010-10-30T16:42:00.002-04:00

Here's the text of my letter in the Concord Monitor from Friday:

Splitting tickets

After more than three decades of watching how government doesn't really work, many of us have come to the conclusion that the more divided it is the better things are. Bipartisan solutions, not one-party rule, will move the state and nation forward.

I don't agree with everything these candidates believe in, but they'll get my votes Tuesday:

First, Democratic Gov. John Lynch's steady leadership is needed to improve the economy during these unpredictable times.

Despite personally liking both major party candidates for U.S. Senate, I will ignore their mudslinging and vote for independent Chris Booth, a Constitutionalist who supports Medicare for all and alternative energy policies.

For Congress, Charlie Bass has already had his turn. Democrat Ann Kuster gets the nod.

After the debacle with the school board charter, our state senator, Sylvia Larsen, does not deserve re-election. Republican Chris Wood will serve us well, without collusion or backroom deals.

Concord Ward 5, 6 and 7 voters should send Democrat Rick Watrous and Republican Pam Ean to the Legislature. Watrous has worked tirelessly for us, supporting open, honest government. Ean, a school teacher, understands that the state must tackle spending first, before increasing taxes.

Most important, the following candidates for Concord School Board Charter Commission deserve your support: Laura Bonk, Charlie Russell, Kathy Conners, Jim Baer, John Stohrer and Chuck Douglas. These candidates will fix the charter and restore our rights as parents, so we can improve our school district.

TONY SCHINELLA
Concord

Dame School can't be a school but can become a community center?

2010-10-26T07:13:00.005-04:00

Many of you will be literally shocked to see the Concord Monitor's article today about a public forum concerning the future of Dame School on the Heights: ["Envisioning a community center"].
Question: How is it that Dame School is beyond repair and unsafe to remain a school but can become a community center? Simply put, it's not beyond repair or unsafe to remain a school.
In fact, as I have stated previously, the school district's own studies say this building, and all the others, are structurally sound.
In addition, all the population growth for Concord on that side of the river is going to be in the southern sector, especially when and if the off ramp to an expanded I-93 gets built and connected to Sheep Davis Road. But all of those kids will be bussed up to the north side of the city instead of being able to get to a closer school at Dame. What a waste of energy, money, and time.
As I have been saying for years, this isn't about quality education or the best option for children, parents, and taxpayers or historic preservation or anything else. This is all about empire building. This is all about School Superintendent Chris Rath and her legacy, and she and others will stop at nothing to get this done, much to our detriment. Mark my words: This plan will bankrupt our community. It will ... and it will be a disaster.
City Councilor Dick Patten, a frequent contributor here, speaking of plans for a new library, community center, and a fire training facility, really nails it on the head: "Where is the money going to come from?"

School Board Charter Commission candidate surveys up online

2010-10-24T21:19:00.003-04:00

The Concord Taxpayers Association surveys are now posted online: Concord Taxpayers Association.
Seventeen of 27 candidates (63%) filled out the survey.
I will have some thoughts about some of the candidates and their responses at a future date. Take a look and let me know what you all think.

Laconia Savings sponsors parade

2010-10-24T21:18:00.001-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten
Laconia Savings Bank has sent in their donation and will continue to be a parade sponsor. I received a call this week and was informed that they have sent in the donation and will have their banner carried in the parade. Thank you!!!

Get ready for the Concord Christmas Parade

2010-10-18T08:49:00.000-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten
The 59th annual Concord Christmas Parade is scheduled to be held Saturday, Nov. 20 at 9:30 a.m. on the Concord Heights. However, there is a slight problem; the participants are doing very well, in fact Joe Joyce, meteorolgist from WBZ TV 4 Boston will be a grand marshal this year, with more participants every day signing up. The problem is no money. As of today, no donations have been received and I am extremely worried.
I know the parade sponsors from past years including Pineconia Grange, Concord Kiwanis Club, Stove Barn will continue to support it. But am waiting for checks and others such as Rowley Agency, Laconia Savings Bank, Merrimack County Savings to come in. There are not many communities having Christmas parades any more. Let's not lose ours in Concord.
Our parade has become one of the biggest in New Hampshire, if not in New England. We need to raise $4,000 for the expenses. WJYY 105.5 and the Wolf 93.6 are also announcing donors on the air.
Please contact Dick Patten at 496-2917 or James Cusano for information.

The Concord Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration is also making plans for the 24th event at the State House Plaza. Nasseau Broadcasting, WJYY 105.5 and 93.6 Wolf are helping to raise funds for the fireworks display put on by TeleStar from Keene.
I need to raise $8,000 dollars to cover expenses from fireworks, petting zoo, horse drawn wagon rides, music and more.
Please send donations to Dick Patten at 30 Pinewood Trail, Concord 03301.
Also a colored star will be placed on the big Christmas Tree during the evening for people to see. WJYY will also announce on the air all donors and their various designation. This event will be held the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 25, at 4 p.m. More events are being planned. I need someone who can do face painting, if anyone is interested. James Cusano is assisting with the planning of the event.

I want to apologize for my absence recently, due to my being seriously sick. I have been trying to recover from bronchitis, ear infections, sore throats, etc. It was not the best time, believe me. I would like to thank Jim Cusano for all he has done.

Food, gas prices going up ...

2010-10-18T06:08:00.001-04:00

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this but food and gas prices are going up in town.
First, in the last two weeks, gas prices at the Irving station at the corner of Penacook and North Main have jumped from $2.59 to $2.73. This is simply amazing. I offhandedly made a comment about it to the clerk and he said, "Holiday travel." And I said, "Holiday travel? Please ..."
Second, food prices at Market Basket, the cheapest place in town, have also increased. Here are a few price increases I have noticed during the last couple of weeks: First, boneless chicken breast has gone from $1.99 to $2.99 a lb. Butter has gone from $1.99 to $2.69 in recent weeks. And sour cream - a must have for nachos or tacos, at least for the wife - has gone up from $0.99 to $1.19 in a week. Bananas have also gone from $0.33 a lb. to $0.49 a lb.
There are still bargains to be had at Market Basket. But these kind of price increases during a one or two week time period is a little ridiculous.

Signs for Charter Commission candidates Cogswell, Lane, and Ellinworth emerge

2010-10-17T14:46:00.002-04:00

Some candidates for the Charter Commission are clearly taking the race seriously and Auburn Street residents are staking out their candidates.
At-Large candidate and current School Board member Clint Cogswell has a sign on his lawn and is also supporting Ward 1,2,3,4 candidates Peter Ellinwood, owner of GreenPoma.com and Connie Boyles Lane, an attorney with Orr & Reno. Some of his neighbors are doing the same.
Since Cogswell has already told the Concord Monitor that he feels the scope of the Commission is limited, is it safe to say that Lane and Ellinwood agree? Maybe, maybe not. We'll have to wait and see.
Also running for the two Ward 1,2,3,4 seats are Robert Gile, Roy Schwieker, Kathy Connors, Jim Baer, and Matt Newland.
I know both Baer and Connors will be quality candidates on the Commission. Schweiker has also indicated from his letter in the Monitor that he understands the importance of the seat and how citizens should have control of the school board charter, without delay. Voters in those Wards should give those three serious consideration.

Monitor decides to send out a survey

2010-10-14T19:58:00.002-04:00

Some of you may have read the newspaper story and letters in the Concord Monitor concerning the extensive Concord Taxpayer Association survey I sent out to the 27 people running for charter commission seats.
The CTA survey went out to candidates two weeks ago, asking them about their positions on potential school board charter changes. The deadline is Monday and then, after that, the candidate answers will be on the CTA site.
However, two weeks later, the Monitor has decided to send out its own survey, three weeks before the election, to gather information from the candidates.
According to sources, the survey, sent out by City Editor Hans Schulz, featured the following questions: Have you ever been elected to public office? Why do you want to be on the Charter Commission? There has been disagreement about whether the law that created the Commissions limits it to proposing a way to amend the Charter or allows it to recommend broader changes: What do you think?
So, instead of talking about some of the things the Charter Commission could do, the Monitor is using its questionnaire to filter the candidates into candidates who think they can amend the Charter and candidates who don't. I wonder if they will use this information to endorse too.

NH AG: Concord school attorney broke lobbying law

2010-10-02T19:53:00.011-04:00

Investigation reveals collusion between state, school officials regarding charter study commission

EXCLUSIVE: Must credit OurConcord.com

The N.H. Attorney General’s Office has found that Concord School District attorney John Teague, of Upton & Hatfield, LLP, violated the state’s lobbying statute in 2009. During the investigation, the AG’s Office also revealed information showing that state and school officials worked behind closed doors to rig the public process surrounding the creation of the charter study commission.
In a warning letter to Teague on Sept. 23, Matthew Mavrogeorge, an attorney with the AG’s civil bureau, stated that Teague violated the law on May 4, 2009, when he – along with Concord School Superintendent Dr. Chris Rath and Board President Kass Ardinger – met with state Senate President Sylvia Larsen and state Sen. Betsi DeVries, a Manchester Democrat and chairwoman of the Senate Public & Municipal Affairs Committee, to discuss HB319. This bill, which was approved by the House, would have turned over regulation of Concord’s school district charter to Concord residents.
At this meeting, which was private and held in Larsen’s office, Teague, Rath, and Ardinger discussed “concerns” they had with the bill. Rath requested that Teague attend the meeting; he was paid $270 to prepare for and attend the meeting.
According to Larsen’s statement to the AG’s Office, Teague, Rath, and Ardinger “expressed ideas” about “how to respond to HB 319 and were looking for Senate support for these suggestions.” Larsen told investigators that Teague came up with the idea for a Charter Commission to study the school district charter.
In the AG’s investigation, Teague admitted that he was asked by Larsen and Rath to “come up with a draft of what the Charter Commission might look like.” Teague gave the AG a copy of the draft that he “ultimately created for Senate President Larsen,” according to the warning letter. The AG determined that Teague’s participation in the meeting constituted lobbying, and since Teague was not registered as a lobbyist at the time, he violated the statute. The AG stated that Teague believed he did not have to register since he was “promoting alternative language as legal services on behalf of a long time client.”
The AG’s office requested Teague “make a retroactive registration with the Secretary of State regarding this lobbying activity and fulfill the public disclosure components of the lobbying registration statute.” Teague, in a letter back to Mavrogeorge, stated that on Sept. 24, he requested forms from the Secretary of State’s Office but that office was “uncertain as to what was meant by this request and was unable to provide me with any forms.”
Interestingly, violations of RSA-15 are misdemeanors, according the the statute: "CHAPTER 15: LOBBYISTS, Section 15:8 Penalty. – Whoever violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor if a natural person, or guilty of a felony if any other person. Whoever shall make and file any statement under this chapter which is to his or her knowledge false shall be deemed guilty of perjury and punished accordingly."
Instead, it appears that Mavrogeorge is saying to the school board's attorney, “Well, you engaged in criminal activity, but we're not going to charge you with that because you didn't think you were,” which is a strange thing to be saying to an experienced attorney who violates this kind of law.

An odd conclusion
The AG Office’s opinion apparently found that Teague did not violate the lobbying statute during his May 14, 2009, testimony before the state Senate Public & Municipal Affairs Committee hearing, 10 days after the secret meeting.
This is odd since, in the warning letter, Mavrogeorge determines that Teague should have been registered as a lobbyist for the May 4 private meeting and has requested that he retroactively register as such. If this is the case, before Teague testified on May 14, it seems that he should have been wearing the lobbyist tag, since he would have been registered as a lobbyist the week before.
As I have written in other posts and as is noted in the AG’s warning letter, the law was amended in September 2009, which was included in the warning letter: “’[p]ublic testimony before a legislative committee or subcommittee’ are considered communications that are ‘excluded’ from the registration imposed by RSA 15 ‘and shall not be considered in a determination of whether a person is required to register or report as a lobbyist.’”
The AG’s decision seems to say that Teague’s testimony on behalf of the school district didn’t trigger the need to register. However, his actions before his testimony triggered the registration requirement. While I’m not a lawyer, I’m puzzled how this was not a violation of the law at the time.

A rigged public process
The larger and, frankly, more frightening and repulsive point, is what a charade this entire process was. Many of us testified at the Public & Municipal Affairs Committee hearing, thinking that our ideas, thoughts, concerns, and request to control our own school charter would be taken seriously by DeVries and the other members of the committee. Every citizen who spoke or signed in that day was in favor of the legislation that Rath and Teague opposed.
However, unbeknownst to us, the fix was already in, as noted in the Mavrogeorge’s finding: Teague, requested by Larsen and Rath, with DeVries in attendance, was to draft new legislation that, later, magically appeared, squashing the bill that had already been approved on the House side.
Neither Teague nor DeVries mentioned the previous May 4 meeting during the May 14 committee hearing. Neither mentioned that there was a revised bill coming. Every single person who forwarded legislation, amendments, testimony, both written and verbal, thought they were getting a fair hearing, but they weren’t. The entire process was a sham.
What does this say about our legislative process when a handful of officials can meet behind closed doors and create a backroom deal that strips away the ability of parents, taxpayers, and Concord citizens to have the power to change their school district charter?

Conclusions
Everyone involved in this incident stole the public process away from the people and rigged everything to a predetermined conclusion. The Legislature, its legislation, committees, boards, and study commissions, are not supposed to work that way. Preservation of their flawed elementary school consolidation plan, a scheme that tears down historic buildings, warehouses our children into four schools, raises taxes, and spends more than $150 million, is what motivated all of this. If this is such a great project, there would be no need for all of these shenanigans. However, here it all is.
It is clearly time for a public hearing by the Concord school board and complete airing of all the materials, documents, emails, and information regarding all activities surrounding this incident in public. The public deserves answers to the many unanswered questions and heads should roll. And yes, there is more coming, too – I have a stack of documents with more to write – so stay tuned.

EXCLUSIVE: AG reportedly investigating school attorney

2010-09-26T22:31:00.015-04:00

The state attorney general is reportedly investigating Concord School District Attorney John Teague and whether he broke the law while not identifying himself as a lobbyist during testimony before the Legislature and other potential conflicts regarding the charter commission process, OurConcord.com has learned.
The investigation arose due to late 2008 and 2009 testimony concerning a number of bills in the Legislature which would change the school district's charter. Since the Legislature controls Concord's school district charter, the only way residents or officials can change the charter is to propose bills, get them approved by both houses, and signed by the governor.
Frustrated by the lack of accountability with the current school board, especially regarding the multimillion elementary school consolidation process and plan, a number of residents proposed bills in 2008. One bill included a proposal to force any district bonding more than $5 million to go before Concord voters for approval. Another proposed changing the way school board members were elected.
During those hearings, Teague testified against bills but never identified himself as a lobbyist, something that the law required at the time. Before the law was recently changed, lobbyists were required to wear an orange ID badge, so that both legislators and citizens knew that they were lobbying for a paid interest. Teague never wore the badge and never identified himself as a lobbyist (I know, I was there, and wrote previously about the issue here: ["Five alternative reasons why people don't attend school board budget hearings"]). Teague even argued that there was nothing wrong with the current system and that the Legislature had been doing a fine job of oversight of Concord's school board charter, much to the chagrin and giggles of everyone with a brain at the hearing.
But it potentially goes further, because Teague didn't stop there.
There was a move afoot by the House to wash their hands of all of this and give the charter back to the citizens of Concord. The bill was approved easily and then was sent to the Senate.
But in the Senate, something strange happened: At Teague's urging, state senators (who don't live in Concord, BTW) rewrote the bill and instead of giving us all the ability to change our charter, created a study commission to look at the issue.
The study commission spent months analyzing the issue with Teague repeatedly testifying and offering up more delays to the process. Instead of returning the charter to the citizens, he argued for an elected charter commission. The commission, he proposed, would be elected in November 2010 and would study the issues during the year and then return a proposal to the voters in November 2011. Shockingly, or not so, since the study commission was stacked with school supporters (["Well folks, the fix was in ..."]), by a 7-6 vote, this is what the commission agreed to do.
This delayed the process of gaining our rights back - rights that nearly everyone in the Granite State and virtually everyone in the nation has - even longer. It also put in limbo legislative initiatives forwarded by residents who were playing by the rules.
According to a source, the AG Office's has been talking to everyone involved in the charter commission study committee process as well as elected officials in Concord. Some have lawyered up, potentially worrying about whatever influence Teague may have wielded over the process.
This story is potentially huge ... it shows you everything that is wrong with some of our current elected officials, whether on the state or local level. It shows you exactly what is wrong with Concord, where a handful of connected people and one attorney can keep people from getting their rights back. And this is all breaking right on the eve of the election of the charter commission that could potentially vote to keep things as they are, with the Legislature controlling our school district's charter. If this happens, it means we have gotten nowhere ... for years. All because some attorney was able to weasel his way into the hearts and minds of people who should know better, while breaking the law.
More later ...

School board candidates escape challenge

2010-09-20T23:30:00.001-04:00

Only three candidates have come forward to run for school board, meaning that none will be challenged in November and they will win by default. Incumbents Jennifer Patterson and Bill Glahn will return to the school board. Former state Rep. and City Councilor Tara Reardon is also running.
As someone noted to me today, isn't it interesting that 27 people (!) have come forward to run for nine seats on the Charter Commission, which could potential change improve the charter and empower parents and taxpayers in Concord, and no one is running for the school board.
It just goes to show us all that people in Concord want to be on the board that will actually create change and make things better - and not on the board filled with many people who don't seem to have a care in the world about what other people think.

Correction: 27 people run for 9 seats on Charter Commission

2010-09-20T23:19:00.005-04:00

Correction ... 27 people are running ... my source missed one. Here is the final list of candidates running for the Charter Commission. I can't believe that 27 different people filed to run. This is just amazing:

City-wide/At-Large (3 seats): John Andrews, current school board member Laura Bonk, former school board member Barbara Brown, current school board member Clint Cogswell, Phil Donovan, a member of the Concord Heritage Commission, former Mayor Mike Donovan, former school board member Betty Hoadley, attorney Charlie Russell, and former school board member Rod Teney.

Ward 1, 2, 3, 4 (2 seats): Former at-Large City Council candidate Jim Baer, preservation activist Kathy Conners, Peter Ellinwood, owner of GreenPoma.com, Robert Gile, husband of state Rep. Mary Stuart Gile, Connie Boyles Lane, an attorney with Orr & Reno, Matt Newland, a former candidate for an at-large Concord City Council seat, and local commentator and frequent city board meeting attendee Roy Schweiker.

Ward 5, 6, 7 (2 seats): Current Ward 6 City Councilor Allen Bennett, former state Rep. Jessie Osborne, James Leon, former school board member and critic John Stohrer, William Ardinger, husband of School Board President Kass Ardinger, and Ken Wiswell, a principal in the Gilford school system.

Wards 8, 9, 10 (2 seats): Former judge and U.S. Rep. Chuck Douglas, former school board member Gerald Eaton, former school board member Martin Honigberg, Robert Munson, and Rob Norton.

Patterson to run for re-election

2010-09-20T16:42:00.001-04:00

Current School Board member Jennifer Patterson, first elected in 2007, has opted to run for another term.
She, along with incumbent Bill Glahn and former state Rep. Tara Reardon have taken out papers to run for school board in Concord.
There are three seats with three-year terms up in November. The deadline to sign-up to run is today.

More charter commission candidates come forward ...

2010-09-20T16:35:00.003-04:00

As of 2:30 p.m. this afternoon, here's the latest candidates running for charter commission:

City-wide (3 seats): John Andrews, former school board member Barbara Brown, current school board member Clint Cogswell, Phil Donovan, former Mayor Mike Donovan, attorney Charlie Russell, and former school board member Rod Teney.

Ward 1, 2, 3, 4 (2 seats): Former at-Large City Council candidate Jim Baer, local commentator and frequent city board meeting attendee Roy Schweiker, Matt Newland, a former candidate for an at-large Concord City Council seat, and Robert Gile, husband of state Rep. Mary Stuart Gile.

Ward 5, 6, 7 (2 seats): Current Ward 6 City Councilor Allen Bennett, former state Rep. Jessie Osborne, James Leon, former school board member and critic John Stohrer, William Ardinger, husband of School Board President Kass Ardinger, and Ken Wiswell, a principal in the Gilford school system.

Wards 8, 9, 10 (2 seats): Former school board member Gerald Eaton, former school board member Martin Honigberg, Robert Munson, and Rob Norton.

This, however, is not a final list yet. When the final list is put together, I'll post some thoughts on the matter.

Two in for school board

2010-09-19T11:25:00.003-04:00

Editor's Note: This post has been corrected. Eric Williams is up for re-election next year.
Current School Board member Bill Glahn and former state Rep. Tara Reardon have taken out papers to run for school board in Concord.
There are three seats with three-year terms up in November.
So far, incumbents Laura Bonk and Jennifer Patterson have not taken out papers to run.
If you are interested in running, stop by Roger Phillip's Office, at 104 Pleasant St. during business hours. The deadline to sign up to run is Monday, Sept. 20.

Updated school charter commission list

2010-09-19T11:16:00.002-04:00

Here's the latest candidates running:

City-wide (3 seats): Former Mayor Mike Donovan, former school board member Barbara Brown, former school board member Rod Teney, John Andrews, and current school board member Clint Cogswell.

Ward 1, 2, 3, 4 (2 seats): Local commentator and frequent city board meeting attendee Roy Schweiker, Matt Newland, a former candidate for an at-large Concord City Council seat, and Robert Gile, husband of state Rep. Mary Stuart Gile.

Ward 5, 6, 7 (2 seats): Current Ward 6 City Councilor Allen Bennett, former state Rep. Jessie Osborne, James Leon, John Stohrer, William Ardinger, husband of School Board President Kass Ardinger, and Ken Wiswell, a principal in the Gilford school system.

Wards 8, 9, 10 (2 seats): Former school board member Gerald Eaton and former school board member Martin Honigberg.

If you are interested in running, stop by Roger Phillip's Office, at 104 Pleasant St. during business hours. The deadline to sign up to run is Monday, Sept. 20.

Charter Commission candidates emerge

2010-09-16T16:46:00.003-04:00

I just received a copy of the latest list of candidates running to have a seat on the Charter Commission that will analyze whether or not Concord's public school system charter should be taken away from the state Legislature and what, if any changes, should be made.
Most of my regular readers already know what I think should be done (And, no, I'm not running and I don't plan on running).
However, here are the candidates who are running:

City-wide (3 seats): Former Mayor Mike Donovan, former school board member Barbara Brown, former school board member Rod Teney, John Andrews, and current school board member Clint Cogswell.

Ward 1, 2, 3, 4 (2 seats): Local commentator and frequent city board meeting attendee Roy Schweiker, Matt Newland, a former candidate for an at-large Concord City Council seat, and Robert Gile, husband of state Rep. Mary Stuart Gile.

Ward 5, 6, 7 (2 seats): Current Ward 6 City Councilor Allen Bennett, former state Rep. Jessie Osborne, James Leon, John Stohrer, William Ardinger, husband of School Board President Kass Ardinger, and Ken Wiswell, a principal in the Gilford school system.

Wards 8, 9, 10 (2 seats): Former school board member Gerald Eaton and former school board member Martin Honigberg.

There were rumors in the Concord Monitor that current school board members Laura Bonk and Bill Glahn might be running instead of running for school board again but they obviously have not signed up to run.

If you are interested in running, stop by Roger Phillip's Office, at 104 Pleasant St. during business hours. The deadline to sign up to run is Monday, Sept. 20.

Get ready for International Observe the Moon Night

2010-09-04T19:44:00.001-04:00

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center will be celebrating International Observe the Moon Night on Saturday, September 18 from 6-10 PM.

Throughout history people have looked up and wondered about the Moon. The goal of International Observe the Moon Night, promoted by NASA and celebrated at institutions around the world, is to engage public audiences and amateur astronomer communities and raise awareness of lunar research and exploration.

Visitors are invited to join Discovery Center educators for a night of telescope viewing and having questions answered by lunar experts. Dr. Harlan Spence, lunar specialist and director of UNH’s Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space will discuss NASA’s latest mission to the Moon. Lunar activities will be provided by special guest Tom Estill of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The night will include hands-on artwork, lunar scavenger hunts, lunar crater making, “Walk on the Moon,” lunar golf, and a special presentation of Tonight’s Sky planetarium show highlighting the Moon.

$9 Adult, $6 Child (3-12), $8 Student/Senior. Free for Members.

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center features 21st century interactive exhibits on aviation, astronomy, Earth and space sciences, a state-of-the-art planetarium and a variety of science, technology, engineering and math programs. The engaging, robust educational programs are geared towards families, teens, seniors, students, community groups, and lifelong learners. For more information, visit www.starhop.com.

Pitch in days upcoming at the Audi

2010-08-25T06:19:00.000-04:00

August 19, 2010 Show Up ~ Eat Up ~ Shine Up!
The Audi’s 20th Annual PITCH IN Menu Lists a Baker’s Dozen of Feats and Treats

The well-seasoned Superchiefs of The Audi’s PITCH IN crew -- Joye and Ken Olson of Penacook – are adding a special flavor to the 20th annual “barn-raising” effort to get the historic municipal theatre ready for its 106th season. They’ve planned a special baker’s dozen of feats and treats for the crews who Pitch In on Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday, August 30-31 and September 1.
The feats: each day, from 9am to noon and 6 to 9 p.m., folks show up and choose jobs from the Olsons’ “honeydew list” – this year including 13 special areas. A family or club or pick-up team scans the posted “menu” and picks an item to suit their skills and interest for a three-hour shift. “The Pitch In actually gets easier and more fun every year,” Joye says, “because 19 years of TLC and good housekeeping have really made a difference.”
The treats: every work session begins with a light breakfast provided by Panera Bread or a supper sponsored by local restaurants and supermarkets. That’s a taste of “honey” before the “do” begins.
“And here’s the history,” she adds. “We’ve always put a theatre spin on the Pitch In, with the Friends of the Audi promising dramatic working conditions, an interesting cast, roles for starts and chorus, an air-conditioned house, absolutely no pay, and the proverbial ‘Sweat Equity’ card.”
The bottom line: Every year since 1991 the all-volunteer Friends of the Audi have gathered crowds of neighbors on three summer days to shine the house for the new season – which opens with the GALA Show and its Arts Fair and Ice Cream Social on Sunday, September 19. Painting and polishing, sewing and scrubbing, mopping and raking and all – in just the past 10 years the Pitch In volunteers have provided the city with over $100,000 in maintenance labor. These savings help hold down the city’s cost of operating the theatre and the groups’ costs of presenting shows – which, in turn, means lower ticket prices. The work of the all-volunteer Friends of the Audi assures that Concord’s community-based arts and entertainment will stay affordable and accessible to everyone. Everybody wins!
Joe Andrews, the city’s former Superintendent of Public Properties, will serve as
crew chief of the six work sessions. “You can retire from the city,” he said, “but you can’t retire from the Audi.” His expertise guarantees a good job done well. This year’s Pitch In caps off a summer of major construction projects. The Friends of the Audi completed the last big item on their original 1991 wish list – mechanizing the flyspace. With broad community support of the $200,000 budget, the group first reinforced the stage area’s ironwork, then contracted for new rigging to replace the old hemp and pinrail, and finally had all the stage curtains cleaned, repaired, and fireproofed. In addition, the City of Concord completed a planned Capital Improvement Project, installing “green” and energy efficient windows in place of the leaky single pane originals. The City and the Friends worked closely together to coordinate these important upgrades.
Any special instructions for volunteers? Everyone is welcome. Superintendent Jeff Bardwell and the Public Properties staff will provide supplies and guidance. Young people 12 and up are always welcome to help gain needed community service hours. Joye and Joe advise wearing work clothes and sensible shoes and hope that volunteers will bring empty coffee cans to hold small amounts of paint. “And rags,” Joye says, “we always need more rags. Also, we especially need folks to share their upholstering and plastering skills.
Most of all, be sure to bring a sense of humor and an appetite for the treats organized by Pitch In hostess Laura McCormack.”
Just Show Up and Walk In, the Friends of the Audi say. Show Up and Pitch In ~ Eat Up ~ Paint Over ~ Sweep Under ~ Wash Down ~ and Head Out. They guarantee this is the most fun you’ll ever have with a 106-year old friend and neighbor. Plus, you’ll know you have really made a difference in the community.
For more information, please call Joye Olson, 753-4765 or email her at nhbridgelady@aol.com.

Classic and Antique Car Show on Sept. 11

2010-08-24T23:14:00.002-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten
I am happy to report that I am back submitting items for Tony. It has been a terrible summer in some ways and I appreciate my friends who have once again been there especially Jim Cusano.

The Kiwanis Club of Concord will have their 25th annual Classic and Antique Car Show on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the NH Technical Institute at 9 a.m. There will be more than 300 vehicles on display with prizes awarded in many categories. There is an admission fee f or those attending. This is one of the largest car shows in New England.

The Heights Farmers Market is open on Thursdays at the Stove Barn from 3 to 7 p.m. Jim Cusano is coordinating the event for Pineconia Grange #322 with Dick Patten assisting. This is a great opportunity for you to come and get your fresh vegetables, flowers, and fruits to enjoy. Call Jim at 586-7484 for information.

The State Primary Election Day is Tuesday, Sept. 14, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Please contact the city clerk if you are not familiar where your voting location is.

Pineconia Grange #322 has resumed meetings with the Grange planning several events over the next couple of months. The Grange will sponsor the Dictionary Project with Dick Patten and Jim Cusano assisting with the project. The Grange will give new dictionaries to third grade students in the Concord School District, Dunbarton Elementary School, St. John Regional, Concord Christian, and Shaker Road.

Oh, and BTW ...

2010-08-17T07:09:00.004-04:00

Thanks Unitil for (finally) fixing the transformer yesterday. However, can we figure out a way to not go without power for eight-plus hours again? I have an entire fridge full of food that is probably a goner at this point. Instead of cutting corners, let's try some preventative maintenance to keep this from recurring again, considering the huge amount of money we are paying for electricity.

Weird fog this morning ...

2010-08-17T07:09:00.001-04:00

There is a really creepy fog this morning ...

Blackberries and blueberries

2010-08-08T10:57:00.002-04:00

We're getting a bumper crop of blackberries and blueberries this year in West Concord.
For the past month, they've been going gangbusters, literally hundreds of blueberries and many blackberries. Not enough to make a blueberry pie or anything, but more than enough to make pretty good pancakes. Interestingly, or maybe not so, they were just pricker bushes last year. There weren't many raspberries at all this year, only two.
Another interesting thing is how the bushes have traveled from one side of the yard to the other. Historically, the blackberries and raspberries were on the west side of the yard. Granted, this was back 25 years ago or so. They were cleared out a while ago. Now, they are on the south side, with the blueberries moving east to south too.

Online petition to save the Kimball block

2010-08-06T22:43:00.002-04:00

There is an online petition attempting to get the school board to change its decision about knocking down the historic Kimball and Morrill schools, along with seven houses. If interested, please sign here: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-the-kimball-block-from-demolition/sign.html

There will be a Planning Board hearing at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at the City Council chambers. Everyone should show up and tell them to save the historic buildings.

Fourth of July Celebration a success

2010-07-10T15:29:00.001-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten
I would like to thank everyone who helped make the annual Fourth of July Celebration a success. The fireworks display was outstanding with some very colorful displays. The Nevers Band entertained as usual with a new conductor and a new large contingent of members. I hope that maybe this band could resume marching some day. Although they did the 1812 Overture, my favorite is the Stars and Stripes. I would dare to say there were well over 10,000 people watching from the field, along Clinton Street, Pleasant Street, and Iron Works Road. The weather cooperated and thank you to those who donated the funds needed to have this celebration.

Pineconia Grange #322 and The Stove Barn are teaming up to sponsor the first Farmers Market to be held on the Heights. Jim Cusano and Dick Patten are working together to organize this event. The Market will be open on Thursdays from 3-7 p.m. featuring locally grown produce along with a limited number of craftspeople. The Farmer's Market will be set inside the parking lot of the Stove Barn, 249 Loudon Road. Please call Dick Patten at 496-2917 or Jim Cusano at 568-7484 for information. The market will be open Thursday, July 22 at 3 p.m.

The Concord City Council will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, July 12 at 7 p.m. at the Concord City Hall Chambers.

Don't forget the annual Downtown Market Days starting Thursday, July 15, and concluding Saturday, July 17. There will be sales of all kinds, food of all kinds, amusement rides for children, demonstrations, activities and more.

The Pittsfield Old Home Day Celebration is Saturday, July 17 with all day activities, parade at 1 p.m. and fireworks at night. Pittsfield goes all out for this celebration.

No increase in fees for Audi

2010-06-27T05:40:00.002-04:00

From the inbox:
The Friends of the Concord City Auditorium JUNE 2010 UPDATE

Greetings and Thanks to All as the 2009-2010 season starts its final week…
The wonderful cooperative spirit of all the Audi’s Friends – presenters, producers,
performers, and audience – has filled the theatre’s 105th year with its busiest schedule ever and the final item on the “wish list” we wrote together in July 1991.
We are delighted to report that thanks to all your help – working at the Pitch In, providing gracious hospitality, respecting and preserving the historic house, conserving the energy by monitoring lights and HVAC, adjusting schedules to allow the maximum use of the theatre, and promoting the Flyspace Project – the City-Friends Memorandum of Understanding meeting agreed there would be no increase in fees for the coming season!

The season ends and the Flyspace Project begins… Here’s the schedule:
Tuesday, July 6 -- Sapsis Rigging will begin installation of the new rigging system.
and we’ll have a preview glimpse of the system on
Sunday, July 11 – 6pm THE FRIENDS OF THE AUDI ANNUAL MEETING starts with a true POT LUCK SUPPER and includes year-end committee reports plus naming The Friend of the Year and The Golden Pineapple Award recipients! Everyone is welcome!
And…during the summer…the City’s General Services Department will complete a project upgrading all the windows in the Audi – a great energy-saving improvement!

Here’s the Update on the Flyspace Project Fundraising: Thanks to over 800 local Friends and some very special supporters, we are within $15,000. of reaching our goal! If you haven’t “chipped in” a “brick” yet, we hope you will get a check in the mail to Audi Friends, PO Box 652, Concord 03302 soon!

All summer long, the Audi Dollhouse generously donated by Winnie and Bob Baker to benefit the Flyspace Project will be displayed around town at Imagination Village, the former Suitcase storefront, First Colebrook Bank, Merrimack County Savings Bank, and at the Saturday markets. Raffle tickets are $2 or 6 for $5 – and the very lucky winner will be drawn at the GALA on September 19.

Speaking of lucky winners – Tom and Rita Curtis of Concord won the pair of Southwest Airlines tickets when their butterfly card #461 was drawn by Mayor Jim Bouley and Friends President Abby Lange at the May 10 City Council meeting!

More dates to mark on your calendars:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, August 23-24-25 – 9am-noon and 6-9pm – PITCH IN!
Sunday, September 19, 6pm – The 20th Annual Season-Opening GALA!

Marketing Committee Update:
We’re working on ideas for co-promoting the Audi’s 2010-2011 shows! Do you have special skills you’d like to use helping create posters, ads, press releases, or special events? There are no large time commitments. It’s just an opportunity to share your talents to help develop our community-based A&E…and to help build your portfolio or resume…and to work with other groups cooperatively promoting your shows and theirs. Cross-pollinating works for apples. Why not for shows? Sound interesting? Please hit reply and we’ll be in touch.

Re-thinking Main Street

2010-06-27T05:37:00.001-04:00

There will be another session of the "re-thinking Main Street" project on Wednesday, June 30. The meeting will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 172 N. Main St. in Concord.
There are some interesting ideas being discussed.

Fireworks challenge ...

2010-06-17T07:12:00.002-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten
As many of you already know, the Concord Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration is in jeopardy. We are $3,000 short in paying for the costs.
At Large Concord City Councilor Mark Coen has issued a challenge this week, that he will donate $10 if 299 citizens would do the same.
Please make out checks to Concord Fourth of July Celebration c/o David Gill, at White Park Office, Concord.
Where can you go for $10 and enjoy wonderful music from Nevers' Band, at beautiful Memorial Field in Concord? It would truly be sad if the capital city of NH fails to observe our nation's birthday.
Please join Coen and myself in helping to keep this family celebration going. It beats watching it on television from Boston or New York City. David and I have worked very hard to raise the funds. We have many pledges but no cash. Until you have it in hand, you can't really count it. Please do it today! Thanks.

Demolition hearing dates changed

2010-06-15T09:37:00.002-04:00

Editor's Note: The dates and times for the Kimball block hearings have been changed again according to members of the Heritage Commission.
The city council chamber has been reserved for Tuesday, June 22, at 7 p.m. for hearings on the demolition of the Kimball and Morrill buildings and Tuesday, June 29, 7 p.m. for the the seven homes abutting the Kimball footprint.

Conant, Kimball demolition hearings scheduled

2010-06-14T09:18:00.004-04:00

I meant to post this yesterday but didn't get to it.

The magnificent school buildings - Conant and Kimball - eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, along with seven houses abutting the Kimball site, are scheduled to be demolished as part of the Concord School Board's elementary school consolidation plan.

Public hearings to consider alternatives to demolition will be held by the Concord Heritage Commission Demolition Review Committee.

All hearings will begin at 4:30PM in the City Council Chambers on the following dates:

* Tuesday, June 15 – Conant School Demolition
* Thursday, June 24 – Seven Homes, Kimball Block
* Tuesday, June 29 – Kimball & Morrill Schools

Come and Let your ideas, recommendations, and plans be known. These community resources should not be destroyed!

In addition, if you can't make the hearings and would like to submit testimony, email City Planner Doug Woodward, the liaison to the Heritage Commission. His email is dwoodward@onconcord.com. Doug will see that all comments get to Fred Richards, who is the chairman of the demolition review committee.

Upcoming council hearings ...

2010-06-14T09:15:00.002-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten

The Concord City Council holds its regular monthly meeting on Monday, June 14 at 7 p.m. This is open to the public and shown live on CCTV Channel 17.

The next budget session is Thursday, June 17 at 6:30 p.m. when city councilors will be discussing the budget, possibly adding items and deleting others. This is in preparation for the final budget presentation before the vote is taken on Monday June 21 at 6:30 p.m.
The public will be able to speak to the council and request funds be added to projects or deleted for this year. The Council will vote on the proposed budget following the input from the public. What would you like to see the council add or delete? I can think of some things.

I do want to apologize to my voters in Ward 8 because I won't be there on June 21. My wife ordered tickets for us to fly to Denver Colorado for a meeting she has for two days and then we are going to Las Vegas for three days. I had no choice, if I don't go, I pay extra to change and my wife wanted to surprise me, she didn't realize I had a meeting. So please understand it was not intended. I work everyday for my voters of Ward 8, I am always out there checking roads and neighborhoods for any problems or road conditions.

Pineconia Grange # 322 is starting a Farmer's Market this summer. New member Jim Cusano is organizing this effort. It will be held at the Stove Barn, located on Loudon Road next to Old Loudon Road. There will be no charge to set up this year. Anyone wishing more information is asked to call Jim Cusano at 568-8474 or Dick Patten at 496-2917.

Deepest sympathies are extended to Larry Ashford and family in their recent loss of his brother.

The Fourth of July Celebration in Concord is still in need of donations for the fireworks and band concert to be held at Memorial Field. Nevers Band will begin their annual concert at 7:45 p.m. There will be concessions offering food and items for sale.

The planning has begun for the 59th annual Concord Christmas Parade. This year's event will be held Saturday, November 20 at 9:30 a.m. on the Concord Heights. The theme for this year is "Our Holiday Wish" with floats, bands, decorated vehicles, emergency response vehicles, and more needed for the parade. Please call Dick Patten at 496-2917 for information.

The planning for the 24th annual Concord Christmas Tree Lighting has begun. The event will be held at the State House Plaza and will feature a variety of activities. The event will be held Friday, November 26 at 4 p.m. and will feature music, petting zoo, and horse wagon rides and more. Please call Dick Patten at 4962917 for information. Money is needed to help pay for the fireworks and other events.

Local primary ballots shape up

2010-06-14T09:07:00.001-04:00

A quick note here about the upcoming 2010 New Hampshire primary ballots:
Locally, Senate President, Democrat Syliva B. Larsen will face off against Republican Chris Wood.
In Concord's legislative races, it looks like Republicans could potentially pick up a seat.
In District 10, only three Democrats filed for four potential seats: Mary Stuart Gile, Fran Potter, and Steve Shurtleff, all incumbents. Myril E. Cox and Carrie McGee are running on the Republican side. Barring an aggressive write-in campaign by another Democrat or independent, it looks like Republicans could pick up a seat here.
In District 11, Michael Bartlett, Candace Bouchard, Jim MacKay, Dick Patten, and Bob Williams are all running for five seats. Three Republicans have also filed: Incumbent Lynne F. Blankenbeker, Jeff Newman, and Frank Rosano.
In District 12, there will be a Democrat primary, with five candidates - including three from Wilson Avenue - vying for four seats. Challengers Helen Deloge and Alex Lee face off against incumbents Chip Rice, Mary Jane Wallner, and Rick Watrous. Deloge, Rice, and Watrous all live in Wilson Avenue. On the Republican side, Pamela M. Ean and John A. Kalb are running again.

In the statewide gubernatorial race, incumbent Gov. John Lynch has two challengers in the Democratic primary: Timothy Robertson of Keene and Frank Sullivan of Manchester. On the GOP side, four candidates - Frank Robert Emiro, Sr., Jack Kimball, Jr., John Stephen, and Karen Testerman will face off.
In the U.S. Senate race, Rep. Paul Hodes has no opposition on the Democrat ballot. Republicans have Tom Alciere, Kelly Ayotte, Gerard Beloin, Jim Bender, Bill Binnie, Dennis Lamare, and Ovide Lamontagne. That's going to be a mess.
In NH CD 2, Ann McLane Kuster of Hopkinton and Katrina Swett of Bow face off. The Republicans have five candidates: Former U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass, Robert J. Giuda, Jennifer Horn, Joseph G. Reilly, and Wesley M. Sonner, Jr.

Donations still needed for July 4th fireworks

2010-06-12T15:44:00.001-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten
The Concord Recreation Department is in urgent need of donations to help keep the Fourth of July Celebration. Please send donations to him at the White Park Office, Concord. Please call him at 225-8690 for information. It would be a sad day if we have no celebration.

The Nevers' Band will be starting their concerts on Tuesdays this month. The first concert will be Tuesday, June 22 at 7 p.m. at the State House Plaza. It will be great to hear the band, which I understand is bigger than previous years and a new conductor.

Pineconia Grange is beginning a Farmer's Market on the Concord Heights. It will be held at The Stove Barn on Loudon Road. Jim Cusano will be coordinating this new venture. The start up date is slated for July. Please contact Jim at 568-7464.

The planning is underway for the 59th annual Concord Christmas Parade to be held on the Concord Heights on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 9:30 a.m. The theme for this year's parade "Our Holiday Wish". Please call Dick Patten at 496-2917 for information. This is my 39th year of organizing the event. Assisting Dick will be Jim Cusano as he begins to learn the chairman's role.

The same goes for the 24th annual Concord Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration slated for Friday, Nov. 26 at the State House Plaza. This event will be dedicated to the memory of the late Skip Houle who passed away recently. Dick Patten and Jim Cusano are organizing the event. Please call them for information.

Happy Memorial Day

2010-05-29T21:36:00.001-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten

I would like to wish everyone a Happy and safe Memorial Day weekend. Please remember the real reason why we are celebrating this special day. Take time out to thank the members of our Armed Forces both living and deceased for their dedication to keeping us safe and out of harms way.

The annual Memorial Day Parade will be held Monday, May 31 at 9 a.m. sponsored by the Concord Veteran's Council. The parade units will begin forming at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot in front of Burlington Coat Factory, off Storrs Street. The parade units will proceed from the parking lot to Pleasant Street Extension, up the hill to North Main Street. The units will turn northerly on to North Main Street and march to Boutin School where they will stop for brief ceremonies at Old North Cemetery. The units will proceed south to Capitol Street when the parade will come to a halt at the State House Plaza for ceremonies. The parade welcomes marchers, patriotic floats, and bands. Please contact Joseph Shea for information.

The City Council is still working on the proposed city budget. There are still several more departments to be considered. It is not too late to make your concerns felt. The next session will be held Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the City Council Chambers.

Main Street Concord meeting

2010-05-23T10:06:00.000-04:00

Main Street Concord will hold its quarterly meeting from 7:45 to 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 25. The meeting will be held at the Main Street Concord Office, 15 Pleasant St., Second Floor.

Clarifying a point

2010-05-23T07:59:00.001-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten

I wanted to clear up something that was mentioned this week at a City Council meeting.
I asked to speak on a matter regarding the voting times for elections. I have been asked by several citizens if the hours were going to stay the same. I was informed that the council voted on this last October and that I was at that meeting and voted for it.
I asked the city clerk to pull those minutes and I was NOT at this meeting. My wife and I were at a computer board meeting of which she is a board member at Wentworth by the Sea for a couple of days. I, then left for Michigan, for my annual football trip. I should have read the minutes but only skimmed them over. So I wanted to correct the statement, I was not in attendance.

Again, funds are needed for the annual Fourth of July Celebration at Memorial Field. It was quoted as saying a donation had been received, however funds are needed. Please contact David Gill, at the Concord Recreation Department.

The Concord Veterans Council is looking for participants to be in this year's Memorial Day parade to be held Monday, May 31 at 9 a.m. The units will form at 8:30 a.m. in the Capitol Shopping Center in the area of Burlington Coat Factory. The parade route is the same as past years. The units will march up Pleasant Street Extension to North Main Street turning onto North Main Street proceeding north. The units will then march the length of North Main Street to Boutin Street. The parade units will pause at Old North Cemetery on North State Street for brief ceremonies. The units will proceed south on North State Street to Capitol Street when the units will proceed onto the State House Plaza. The Concord Veterans Council is coordinating the Memorial Day events. They are looking for bands, floats, marching units including boy scouts, girl scouts, cub scouts, and brownies to march. All veterans of wars or conflicts are cordially invited to march in the parade. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held inside the State House Hall of Flags.

I would like to thank Jim Cusano for helping me to do a adopt -a-spot cleanup at the intersection of Airport Road and Loudon Road. The two of spent three hours raking and cleaning up countless cigarette butts, empty cans, milk carton, and more. I would like to thank Rockys Ace Hardware for donating 6 and one half bags of mulch, Osborne's Agway on Sheep Davis Road for giving us 10 percent in purchasing flowering bushes, and Leon Dupuis who came over and offered to help. We appreciated it very much. Pineconia Grange #322 assisted by Boy Scout Troop 90 and Cub Scout Pack 90 are coordinating the cleanup. They also will be planting flowers in the near the giant spruce tree. A second cleanup will be scheduled within two weeks to finish the project.

I would like to thank Walgreen's Pharmacy (Jim Marston, manager), Makris Lobster and Steak House (Greg Makris, owner), and Foxfire Management (Steve Duprey) for their generous donations to help purchase banners for the summer season along Loudon Road. I had hoped to purchase banners for Manchester Street near the bridge and Old Turnpike Road. The cost for these banners are from $65 to $96 dollars depending on the style and colors. This has been a project of Pineconia Grange and myself as councilor for WArd 8. I also have coordinating the holiday banners during Christmas/Hannakuah. The Grange has been providing lights for the giant spruce tree along with State House Plaza and Eagle Square, along with coordinating the activities for the Christmas Tree Lighting. Please contact Dick Patten at 496-2917 for information.
I also would like thank those who donated funds in memory of a loved one. I had three people who did this and much appreciated.

I would like to offer my condolences to the family of the late Daryl (Skip Houle) who passed away recently. I am going to miss Skip terribly as he gave me anonymous donation for the Christmas Tree Lighting for several years to help with the fireworks. It meant so much to him. I am going to dedicate this year's event to him.

The next budget sessions are this week, Monday and Thursday. Monday, we will be discussing the police and fire budgets. The public is invited to at tend.

Flyspace winners!

2010-05-22T21:16:00.002-04:00

Rita and Tom Curtis

The Friends of The Concord City Auditorium are delighted to announce that Tom and Rita Curtis of Concord are the lucky winners of the Flyspace Project's special incentive prize donated by Southwest Airlines: Two unrestricted roundtrip tickets! Their card was drawn from a butterfly net filled by over 800 donor families by Mayor Jim Bouley at the May 10 City Council meeting, and they are looking forward to a trip to Arizona.

So far, The Audi's Friends have responded to the Project's call to "Come Fly With Us" by donating $134,000 toward mechanizing the theatre's historic flyspace rigging and the project's goal of $200,000. A challenger has offered a 1-1 match on all contributions, so there is just $33,000 to go. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to Audi Friends, PO Box 652, Concord, NH 03301.

The Flyspace is the last big project on the Wish List drawn up by The Friends in 1991. Since then, the all-volunteer Friends of The Audi have raised and invested over $1,000,000. in the city-owned building, turning a wreck into a jewelbox which hosts over 100 public events every season.

Budget season is underway

2010-05-19T07:57:00.000-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten

The Budget Season is underway.
City Manager Tom Aspell gave an opening overview of the proposed budget which offers a small increase in taxes. It was an excellent presentation and gave us a lot of food for thought.
The next session will be Thursday at 6:30 p.m. when the City Clerk's Office, Code Enforcement, and the other departments in City Hall proposed budgets will be discussed. The meeting is open to the public.
The next session after Thursday will be Monday, May 24 for the police and fire departments will be discussed.

Pineconia Grange #322 will meet Monday, May 24 at 7 p.m. at Havenwood Retirement Center. A Memorial Day program will be presented. The baking contest will be held with members entering to be judged with the winning entry going to Merrimack County Pomona for more judging.

Money is still very much needed for the Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration at Memorial Field. A false rumor had been made that a donation had been received to cover it. However, funds are needed, so please consider sending a donation of any amount. Donations are sent to David Gill, Concord Recreation Office, White Park, Concord 03301.

Comcast: Change the name ... raise the rates

2010-05-16T12:45:00.001-04:00

Crossposted at Politizine.com
Finally got a chance to look at the bills this afternoon. Noticed a $7 increase in the Comcast bill. Hmmm, what's this?
Well, it looks like Internet went up $2 per month. The TV side went up $5.01.
I had to go back to April's bill to look up why this was happening.
The HD cable box charge increased by $0.95 per month. If anything, the more people get HD sets, the more the price should go down. In fact, why are we being charged a surcharge for the HD box again? Basic service went up $3. Digital Classic also went up $3 (we have this for the kids programs and other things). Comcast also warned subscribers that Digital Classic will no longer be available for new subscribers. Hmm ...
Standard cable, something we don't have, went up $2.45 per month. Everything else seems to have stayed the same. Expanded basic service, something we don't have, was reduced by $0.50.
Interestingly, two items I don't use - Digital video recorder, recorder service - were also reduced. The "Digital Additional Outlet Service Charge" was increased by $1.
The letter from Comcast stated that the increases were due to "programming and other business costs." But looking at this, one has to really wonder.
Comcast recently started dubbing its services "XFINITY" ... whatever that means. It looks like it means higher rates and a name change. Big deal. Maybe if they spent less money on commercials, the bill wouldn't have to be so high.

More complaints
In looking at Basic Service, one has to wonder what is going on.
First, there are three free "multicultural" channels, specifically, three Spanish channels. Are these really necessary in New Hampshire, where there are few Spanish people?
Second, New England Cable News' HD channel is not on the Basic lineup (the non-HD version is). One has to wonder why we have to pay a surcharge to view this in HD.
Third, still no C-Span or C-Span II in the free service or the Digital Classic. This seems stupid since these channels are free. I have tried to get answers on this in the past and have not received them. I guess I'll be waiting even longer for an answer.
In many ways, these are small complaints. But the $7 increase is a bit much. If anything, the cost of business is dropping, not increasing. We should be seeing decreases in bills, not increases. And, with no competition in Concord, I guess we'll just have to live with it, unfortunately.

No fireworks in Manch on Memorial Day

2010-05-15T10:16:00.000-04:00

No Manch fireworks ... oh well: ["ECONOMY TAKES A BITE OUT OF LOCAL MEMORIAL DAY FESTIVITIES"]

Merrimack Valley Voice turns 1

2010-05-14T08:29:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to the Merrimack Valley Voice, the free monthly newspaper serving Penacook, Boscawen, Salisbury, and Webster, for turning 1-year-old last week. The newspaper is a 16-pager, featuring color photos, submitted copy, and a ton of ads. Nice job and here's to another year!

Council budget hearings upcoming

2010-05-12T22:22:00.002-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten
Pineconia Grange # 322 will meet Monday, May 24 at 7 p.m. at Havenwood Retirement Community in the Auditoroium. The Grange will have a Memorial Day program. The Grange received thank-you notes for the dictionaries presented to Broken Ground School. Merrimack County Pomona Grange will meet June 7 at Daniel Webster Grange. The annual baking contest will be held. Winning entries from all the Subordinate Granges in the Merrimack County Pomona District will compete.

The annual New Hampshire Law Enforcement Memorial Observance will be held Monday, May 17 at 10 a.m. at the Memorial located on the grounds of the Legislative Office Building at the corner of North State and Capitol Streets. There will be many people participating. Participants will gather at the State House Plaza and march to the Memorial. Gov. John Lynch will lead a delegation of State of New Hampshire politicians to the ceremony. The 5th and 6th Grade Chorus from Broken Ground School will sing appropriate songs; remarks will be given b y several invited speakers. Following the speeches, family members will place flowers on the their loved one's name located on the memorial. The New Hampshire State Police, New Hampshire Conservation Officers, Police Departments, Correctional Officers, and more will be among those in attendance. This is open to the public to attend.

A breakfast forum featuring Mayor Jim Bouley and City Manager Tom Aspell will be held Friday, May 21 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Grappone Conference Center,Concord. The cost is $20 for Chamber members; and $30 for non-members this includes a full breakfast. This is sponsored by Nobis, Merrimack County Savings Bank, HinckleyAllenSnyder, CWB PA,Attorneys at Law, 3W Design. Please call the Chamber Office to make your reservation at 224-2508.

The 7th annual Blind Awareness Walk-A-Thon sponsored by N.H. Association for the Blind will be held Saturday, June 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. This will be held ran or shine. Please call Mary at 224-4039 ext. 324 for information. The registration fee is $15 for adults, $5 for children under 12.

The City Council gets ready for the budget meetings: Tuesday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. Budget Overview and Review Meeting Schedule: Thursday, May 20, 6;30 p.m., Administration, Community Development, Conservation Commission; Tuesday, May 25 at 6:30 p.m., Fire, Police including parking; Thursday, May 27, General Services; Thursday, June 4rd, Library, Recreation; Tuesday, June 8,Human Services, Social Service Agencies; Thursday, June 10 @ 6:30 p.m., Capital Budget, Bonded Debt; Monday, June 14 @ 7 p.m., Regular Council meeting; Thursday, June 17 at 6:30 p.m., Reserved/optional work session; and Monday, June 21 at 7 p.m., Public Hearing/Budget Adoption.

There is a scheduled session set for Monday May 31, at 6:30 p.m. with Fiscal Monitoring Report, Miscellaneous, Non-public session - Comp Adjustment. However, May 31 is a holiday, and the paperwork states May 24 as the holiday, so stay tuned, as we will get that checked.
These meetings are open to the public and this is where you, as a citizen needs to attend if you have questions. You can voice your opinions on areas that you are concerned about.

Again, don't forget the annual Memorial Parade parade is scheduled for Monday, May 31 at 9 a.m. with formation scheduled at 8:30 a.m.at the Burlington Coat Factory parking lot off Storrs Street. The parade units will proceed from the parking lot to Pleasant Street Extension marching up the hill to North Main Street and Pleasant Street, turning onto North Main Street traveling north on North Main Street to Boutin Street stopping at the Old North Cemetery where ceremonies will be held along with laying of wreaths. The parade will proceed south on North State Street to Capitol Street to the State House Plaza where ceremonies will be held. The Rundlett Middle High School and Concord High School Bands will provide music for the parade. The ceremonies athe plaza will include laying of wreaths by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Gold Star Mothers, and Gary S.Dillion Marine Corp. The ceremonies lwill include speeches, patriotic music, and 21 gun salute. This is open to the public. The parade is in need of participants. If you would like go enter a marching unit, patriotic float, or band be at the formation site and check with the formation committee. The parade will be held irain or shine. In case of rain, the events will be held inside of the State House Hall of Fame.

Turner moving on at ConcordTV?

2010-05-11T23:25:00.000-04:00

It looks like Julienne Turner, the executive director at ConcordTV, has found a new job, since the cable access center has an advertisement looking for a new executive director in today's Concord Monitor (and online on the access center's site). No word yet on where Julie will be going.
The center is looking for someone with at least five years experience at PEG stations and is offering pay of between $42K and $50K, with benefits. At least someone is trying to rein in salaries in the wake of the great recession.
Best of luck to Julie. It is a tough job over there but she at least attempted to bring some credibility to the organization.

School Board member Fleming to hold public hearing

2010-05-11T07:26:00.002-04:00

From the inbox:

You Have A Lot To Say
Where Have You Been?

I am looking to hear from parent of Kimball and Walker Parents. I am planning additional forums for each school.

My name is Kevin Fleming, I got elected to the school board in November 2008, I was looking to improve education, for the children. And have less parents flee the school system. To date, I have gotten 26 emails, regarding education problems and concerns. How many parents are out there, there are over 500 parents in only Kimball and Walker, but 1,700 in the total school district.

We can only fix problems, when we hear about them, directly. Not complaints in the newspapers, or through the anonymous posts on the Monitor.

I am looking for your help.

Can you help all of the children.

I am hosting an open meeting for parents of both Kimball and Walker.

On May 21, 2010 at 7 pm. West Street Ward House, 41 West Street.

If you can not attend, but would like to say something to me, email me at KevinSFleming@gmail.com or call me at 715-1801

Public hearing about downtown parking slated for Monday

2010-05-06T06:53:00.000-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten
I was reminded that the City Council will be having a public hearing about the price increase for parking in downtown Concord Monday night. This is a good time to come and voice your opinion. I know myself, that I am concerned about events in the evening, if people have to keep putting money in the meters. Not only am I thinking about the Christmas Tree Lighting, what about Nevers Band concerts, Thursday night concerts in Eagle Square, downtown Concord's special nights, and so much more.
Think twice, there are pros and cons and we need to think about it.

This is National Building Safety Month in May according to Mike Santa, city of Concord Code Enforcement Officer. Ted Evans, Concord's Health Officer and Mike Santa were special guests recently with Dick Patten on Around Town. Dick asked the two guests about the building market in Concord and was informed that there is a small increase as compared to previous years. They will host a Building Safety presentation, open to the public on Tuesday, May 25 at 4 p.m. at City Council Chambers. There could be so new changes coming for newly constructed homes, such as requiring sprinkler systems in homes.

I am in need of donations to help with the remainder of the banners on Loudon Road. Pineconia Grange is coordinating the banner project. I have been seeking donations to help purchase a few more. Walgreen's Pharmacy on Loudon Road made a generous donation to purchase two banners. I thought another business was going to donate two more, but so far no donation. Please contact me at 496-2917 if you would like to help.

Flyspace Project prize drawn Monday

2010-05-05T08:07:00.002-04:00

From the Friends of the Audi marking committee:
The agenda of the May 10 Concord City Council meeting includes a 7:05 p.m. item of Audi interest: drawing the "butterfly card" of the lucky Flyspace Project donor who will win the two Southwest Airlines tickets. Thanks go to Mayor Jim Bouley for arranging this very public -- and televised -- drawing. Everyone is welcome to be there. The drawing takes place now so the winner may use the tickets over the summer vacation.
If you haven't donated yet and wish to be included in the drawing, please send your check to PO Box 652 Concord 03302 by May 8. Contributions come in daily, and we will continue fund-raising until we reach our goal -- with a to-date amount announced at the Council meeting.
The Audi's Dollhouse, created and donated by Winnie and Bob Baker, is displayed in the lobby now and will be shown in town over the summer...with raffle tickets available at every house "showing." Let us know if you would be willing to host the house at your event, school, recital, business, etc. The Dollhouse Raffle will be drawn at the GALA.
Double the treasure: a challenger has offered to double every contribution to the Flyspace Project in 2010 -- including every donation, every raffle ticket, every cookie jar. With such wide and wonderful community support, we will reach our $200,000 goal before the last bill comes in! Many Thanks to All.
Here's the Flyspace Project time table: last scheduled event - June 19. Stage curtains taken down -- to be sent for repair, cleaning, refireproofing - June 20. Concord Steam Company begins removing pipes on stage left - June 21. Sapsis Rigging begins installation of Flyspace rigging - July 5.
During the summer the "historic" windows in the building will be replaced. When construction is complete and the dust is gone, the curtains will be rehung and the curtains surrounding the proscenium will be steam-cleaned in place.
The Pitch In will polish the house Aug. 22-25...and we'll be ready on the set for the 20th annual GALA Season-Opening on Sept. 19.
There are 16 events on the Spring season schedule leading up to the Flyspace Project... all exciting community-based arts and entertainment -- and we wish great success to them all!
(Remember to come down to the Audi on Saturday Morning, May 8, Mother's Day Weekend, to boost your garden at the 10th Annual Perennial Exchange -- plus affordable plants and annuals, Mother's Day mugs, and the Great Gardening Raffle sponsored by 10 area nurseries. Info: kdevoid@concordnh.gov.

Disappointed in the lack of coverage for the Grange Awards

2010-05-04T09:03:00.003-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten
Welcome to the month of May! I can't believe the months are flying by before you know it, we will be seeing Halloween decorations out.

The Kiwanis Club of Concord annual Spring Fair and Carnival will begin Thursday, May 13, at the Everett Arena. The fair will continue to Sunday, May 16. The fair will be feature a large variety of amusement rides, games of chance, and typical fair food. The fair opens Thursday, May 13 at 5 p.m until 10 p.m.; Friday, May 14, 5 p.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday, May 15, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, May 16, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. I will be doing a television show this week highlighting the fair as well as the wonderful projects done by the Kiwanis Club of Concord.

I am very disappointing the Concord Monitor has not put any information in the newspaper about the wonderful Community Awards Night which we held at Dame School. It is a shame that good news like this doesn't get printed. Nothing controversial happened so why print a good story.

The donations are coming in slowly for the Fourth of July Fireworks. David Gill reports that he has some pledges coming in. We still need money and it has to come in soon. If you haven't donated, please think about sending in a donation to help with the fund drive. There are many people who come from all over the Merrimack County region to celebrate the Fourth of July celebration at Memorial Field in Concord. Please send donations to the Concord Recreation Department., White Park, Liberty Street, Concord.

The Kiwanis Fair is coming up

2010-04-27T23:48:00.001-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten
I can't believe another work week is underway.

The funds for the Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration are slowly starting to come in. We need commitments quickly from businesses and organizations. I have sent out 50 letters seeking letters to help keep this celebration going. Please think about making a donation no matter how large or small. They all add up. I think it would be sad if the capital of this state didn't have a celebration on the Fourth of July.

There's a lot of talk around town about naming the new schools when they are built. I personally, would be sad to Dame lose its name. I realize many people don't know the history of Dame, named after Harriet P. Dame or the schools involved. I hope they think twice when they choose a name.

City Council meeting in May should be quiet interesting when the proposed smoking ban is discussed. There are pros and cons to this. I know as a non-smoker it irritates me to see someone dump their ashtray in the parking space or lot with their cigarette butts. It is terrible as well as the driver or passenger throwing it out the window. There is a hefty fine if the police stop a moving vehicle with this being done.

Sunshine wishes are extended to Ernest Little who is recuperating at Healthsouth, located behind Concord Hospital. Ernie and his family lived for many years on Ormond Street behind the 7-11 Store on Loudon Road. Ernie's two brothers, the late Hollis and Donald were extraordinary. Both of these fine gentlemen were born blind and both worked every day and were very active members of Pineconia Grange. They were excellent at reading braille. Donald, whose late wife Julie passed away a couple of months ago, still resides on the Heights.

It doesn't seem possible the Kiwanis Fair is only a few weeks away. The fair begins Thursday, May 13 and concludes Sunday, May 16 with Family Day. The fair is held at the Everett Arena with a big assortment of carnival rides outside of the Arena. I am still waiting for information if there will be an event inside the arena. The fair continues bring back fond memories when I take some children to enjoy the rides. I think back to the days at the Concord Airport, then the N.H. Highway Hotel, and finally the Everett Arena. I also miss the annual parade which used to kickoff the parade, but as I was told, changes happen. The Kiwanis Club of Concord sponsors the event and all proceeds goes back to the many charities supported by the Kiwanis.

I am so happy that Jean-Michael, my camera director for my show, who found full-time employment the Page Belting. Good Luck Jean-Michael, but don't forget Tuesday nights at the studio. He has been my left hand for a couple of years and I appreciate him so much. Be nice to him Mark!

I am still upset with people who don't pull over to the side of the road when an emergency vehicle is responding with lights and sirens on. They could be responding to an emergency in your neighborhood. The same is also said for a funeral procession. I believe once the hearse starts and the vehicles behind it are supposed to have their lights on and allowed to stay together and pass through any red lights without stopping. The same applies to motor vehicles who are not a part of the funeral procession; they are supposed to respect the deceased and not get into the procession.

I see vehicles not stopping for the crosswalk lights on Loudon Road. When the light turns yellow or red, people are supposed to stop, but instead they continue driving and not slowing down to see if someone is crossing. Beware there is a hefty fine for not obeying the law.

There are cars still parking in handicap spots without the handicap plates or placards. There is a hefty fine for not having the proper handicap identification.

Monitor's new website: Lookin' good

2010-04-26T08:16:00.004-04:00

The newly revamped Concord Monitor website launched earlier today and it is clearly an improvement over the previous site: ["Concord Monitor"].
The site looks more like a blog, and is a lot airier than the previous site. It also has broader entry points with drop down categories just below the site header.
There are some things that can be improved though.
The weather should be just below the site header, not way down, below ads. That is probably one of the most important things people want to know from a local website. Next should be photo extra, which puts a photo "above the fold" of the site and not just classifieds. This would increase the visuals of the site instead of just seeing text. After that, they could mix it up with ads, most popular, etc.
Missing, which would have been good, is a carousel of feature stories on the front. Our company unveiled this a number of years ago and people love them because it keeps the serious stories with photos up on the front of the page for more than one day (I also publish courtesy stuff up there too, just to mix it up).
They also added the actual numbers of people who have read certain stories and commented on them, which is really great. For example, this morning, one of the top stories had 15 comments. When I got done posting a comment, it was up to 23. The top story views went from single digits into the hundreds. For data geeks like me, this is a cool feature.
Personally, I don't like the color scheme. I think the blue should be darker, more serious. This is the negative side of looking more like a blog site. The newspaper's first impressions answers also has three negative answers; one positive answer. That doesn't seem fair. It's almost as if you are expecting people to hate it. I'm answering "Love it!" but I would really like to answer "I like it, it is better than before," a medium positive answer, because it is better but there are some tweaks that need to be made.
All in all, it looks good and is a real improvement over the previous site.

Locals win Pineconia Grange awards

2010-04-26T06:59:00.000-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten

Pineconia Grange # 322 held their 33rd annual Community Awards Night to celebrate Grange Month recently at Dame School.
A capacity crowd attended the affair while I presented the awards for a 39th year.
The following individuals won awards:
Outstanding Citizen, Mayor James Bouley;
Police Officer, Master Police Officer Ryan Howe;
Firefighter, Lt. Sean Brown;
Noreen Waters, 5th grade teacher at Broken Ground School was not present but will receive the John H. West Memorial Award for Outstanding Educator;
Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Dr. Berger Carlson, Dick Wright, John L. Saturley, Bruce Russell, Doris Ballard, Marion T. Jones, and Grace Walker.
In addition, Youth Awards were presented to Boy Scouts Michael Harris, Derrick Cowen, Brendon Newcott, and Concord Civil Air Patrol Cpt. Josh Thomas.
The Civic Award was presented to former at-large City Councilor Dr. Douglas Black.
The Military Veteran Award was presented to Joseph Shea.
The Heights Business Award was presented to The Stove Barn with a special Business Award presented to A & B Lumber.
A Special Inspiration Award was given to Patricia Pelletier.
The Pioneer Award in recognition of residents living on the Heights for many years was given to the Katherine Dyment Family and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Giulbeault.
The following awards were presented to the following who could not be present:
Legislator of the Year, Rep. Robert Williams;
Commununity Spirit, Dave Mailhot, Alice Blodgett, Dennis Gaudet, and Thomas Cusano;
Award of Excellence/Humanitarian award, Norm Ballard; and State Police Officers Richard Spaulding and Steven Morasco.
Refreshments were served following the awards presentation. The Grange is in need of members either regular, associate, or affiliate. The next community project they will be working on will be the Christmas Parade. In addition there are a number of contests open to everyone, including knitting, sewing, crafts, baking, and so much more.

The following pastoral changes were announced by the Bishop's office recently:
Very Rev. Richard A. Roberge VF, current pastor of Good Shepherd Parish, Berlin and Holy Family Parish, Gorham has been named pastor of Sacred Heart, Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Peter parishes, Concord.
Reverend Steven G. Montesanti, current pastor of Saint John the Evangelist Church has been transferred to Saint Anne Parish, Hampstead. Reverend Anthony F.Kuzia, CM currrent pastor for Sacred Heart Church and Saint Peter parishes has been named pastor of Saint Patrick, Pelham.
Very Rev. Mark E. Dollard, VF current pastor of Saint Theresa Parish, Henniker and Saint Mary Parish, Hillsboro has been transferred to Good Shepherd Parish of Berlin and Holy Family parish of Gorham.
There are several other transfers which I will report next week. We wish them very well in their new roles.

Monitor moving to a pay wall

2010-04-25T08:07:00.012-04:00

Interesting note on the website of the Concord Monitor this morning: The newspaper will soon be moving to a membership fee for some online content: ["Tomorrow, a new 'Monitor' website"].
I don't want to comment on the website design until I actually see it tomorrow. But, I can say that anything will be better than what is there now. The Monitor's site is very un-user friendly. Some of the things described by publisher Geordie Wilson are cool and, frankly, standard fare for major news websites at this point.
But, the pay wall thing? Well, it remains to be seen if it will work but it was bound to happen.
The industry trend has been that print subscriptions and sales at daily newspapers across the country have plummeted. In fact, the only one with increased circulation or growth at all in recent years has been the Wall Street Journal. The rest have seen huge declines with some cutting back to printing semi-daily, moving to web-online only, or going completely out of business.
There have been some interesting articles written about what is going on in the industry these days, including nonprofit and grant funded news operations, low-fi community start ups, and other things. There have even been a few new papers started up in the Granite State, which shows that print can still live on in the 21st Century.
But the daily newspapers are dying off, for many different reasons, including staffing costs, other online news options, and lack of time available to actually sit and read the newspaper. In many ways, dailies like the Monitor, which focus on community news and have no real competition, will survive, in some form.
However, there was a little line in Geordie Wilson's note to readers that really stood out:

The internet has been great for community newspapers like the Monitor in that we are now reaching more people than ever before. Our print paper is read by about 40,000 readers every day, by far the biggest audience in the capital region. Online, we serve about 15,000 unique readers a day.

This strikes me as a little low. Sure, if you combine 40,000 to 15,000 to get 55,000, that is probably a larger audience than the Monitor has ever had. No question. But, I would have thought there would be more unique readers online each day than 15,000.
Second, as I wrote in 2008, there is the "readers" versus "actual copies sold" difference in circulation numbers. Newspapers are tending to go with "audience" sampling instead of actual copies distributed and sold because the latter's numbers are actually quite dismal these days. When using audience figures, the numbers are rosier.
Here is what I wrote almost exactly two years ago when the Monitor last made some changes: ["Monitor faces economic challenges"]:

According to Wilson, the Monitor has a circulation of just under 20,000 weekdays, and a little more than 22,000 on Sunday, based on calculations done in June 2007 by the Certified Audit of Circulations. This circulation includes Newspaper In Education sponsorships, as well as other programs, although Wilson noted in a recent email that more than 90 percent of the editions are paid copies.

That was two years ago, using data from three years ago. Who knows what it is now. But, in using his figures, you can come up with a guesstimate based on previous information: If you use previous CAC calculations, which assumed 2.4 readers per edition sold, that would put the Monitor's circ these days at around 16,500 to 17,000.
If this is true, then this is very bad news. I mean, do the math: If you lose 3,500 subscriptions at $200 a year, that's $700,000. That's about what 28 reporter salaries would be.
This doesn't include lost advertising revenue due to advertisers seeing fewer eyeballs looking at the print edition. Since the bulk of revenue for most newspaper companies is the print edition, and fewer people are buying the print edition, the writing is on the wall.
And the Internet ads, as cool as they are, just aren't replacing the print ads as far as revenue. They are a fraction of the costs and, therefore, a fraction of the profit, although most newspaper companies - as well as radio companies - are seeing more growth in this sector (as an example, note all the Monitor web ads that don't advertise in the newspaper).

Will the pay wall succeed?
Will it work? Will it bring in more revenue? Will Monitor online readers pay for content? What will happen to those people who can't afford the Monitor but want local content? There are many, many questions and it will be interesting to see if the Monitor's pay wall efforts succeed where others have failed. It does, however, have possibilities.
First, charging for some paid content online could drive people back to the print edition. Sure, that's hopeful, but it could happen. The Monitor should also try starving web content. That is, not put everything online, even with the pay wall. Build value into the print edition and give people a reason to buy it all the time.
The time factor is one that should be analyzed. While it is fun to read comments and debate with people online, if you have the time to do that, you have the time to read the full edition of the newspaper.
The Monitor has been running specials in an effort to boost circulation. Last year, after letting the print edition subscription lapse for a couple of months, I resubscribed at a special price ($59 for six months, if I recall correctly), and was happy to do so. I don't mind spending a little money to keep the newspaper, but I won't spend $227 a year for it (I always rounded up the bill with a small tip ... hey, I used to peddle that paper; it's hard work and now, you have to pay for the gas)! It might be good to run the special all the time. Better to get $100 all the time than $225 some of the time, it would seem.
This year, when the bill came to renew and it was back up to the old price, I didn't renew. My decision was based on three factors: Time, money, and the overwhelming slant and lack of real investigation into the school consolidation project forward by the Concord School District.
The time issue was a big factor, even for this newspaper/news junkie. My wife noted, during the time period when I was considering renewing, that the Monitor editions sat at the table for days. Usually, I would catch up on them on Thursday or Sunday. And, because they are so thin, the reading was pretty light anyway. She also noted that she rarely read it at all. Hint, hint ...
On the money issue, well, we're all going through that. The Monitor just isn't worth that much a year. Few newspapers are. When I had the WSJ, I was happy to pay $99 for the year. But $150? Nope. They then dropped it down to $139.99. Sorry, no sale.
However, is the Monitor worth $100? Sure. But not much more in my mind. Not when they are giving it away for free online (not for long ...).
Then, there is the school consolidation issue, which I have written about previously here at OurConcord.com.
As the only real in-depth community news source, the Monitor really dropped the ball on this issue. I mean, come on, not a single sentence noting that the school district's own reports stated that the historic buildings were structurally sound. Yikes. I've written about other issues here online, so I'm not going to get into at length here.
Personally, as a journalist myself, I have no problem with editorial page biases. That's what the editorial page is all about. But when it clearly seeps into the news stories or, the news stories completely ignore all kinds of angles that challenge the editorial page views, well, that's a problem. And I'm just not going to support that with what limited money I have.
Some folks in town were also angered at how the newspaper treated me during the consolidation debate. When a Monitor reporter described me as "sashaying" around during a meeting about the school projects, a woman wrote to me and said she was surprised the Monitor published what she considered a gay slur (I'm not gay but I get her point). Another person said it was the first time in 50-plus years he had ever seen that word in a news story. Another older woman from the Heights called me personally to thank me for the efforts I made trying to save the historic schools, which was really nice.
I told folks at the time that it wasn't a big deal. When one challenges any kind of authority, they need to expect to take the hits too, even from reporters or the editors who oversee the reporters and may influence the content; even if you're right. It's just the way it is.
So, the question then becomes, will someone like me pay to read the content online? Doubtful. And it isn't that I don't see the value in paying for content online. Journalists have to eat too. I know that all too well. But, if I had the money, I'd pay for the print edition.
I think that when the Monitor implements this plan, they will see the unique viewers of the site dip. Those folks who can't afford the pay content - or the print edition - will live without it. Whether or not that will hurt the bottom line, I don't know. But it will be an interesting experiment.

Special Mother's Day weekend events

2010-04-23T06:28:00.000-04:00

The AUDI has the answer to two questions that pop up with the crocus every Spring: How To Jumpstart the Garden? How To Celebrate Mother’s Day?

How To #1: It’s our perennial May Predicament…how to turn a patch of brown mud into a bed of glorious blooms. Then, given our 90-day growing season, how to jumpstart the color and keep it going until a frostbitten night next fall.
In Concord, lucky gardeners get a perennial solution – the Perennial Exchange – as the city’s General Services Department and The Friends of the Audi turn the first spade every Mother’s Day weekend Saturday. On May 8, from 8am to noon, they’ll host the popular floral “marketplace” which draws 100s of gardeners to the Audi’s parking lot to “split and swap” and share perennial plants and garden know-how. The community spirit event helps folks increase the beauty of their gardens and the streetscape, and like all Audi events, the accent is on affordable and accessible.
Here’s how the Perennial Exchange works: Perennials plants start out small and pricey, but don’t take long to outgrow their beds. Hostas and lilies choke one another, artemesias run amok, and violets are not so shy after all. Soon perennial beds need space and variety, and our frugal Yankee gardeners wonder “How To?”
The answer is at the Perennial Exchange! Find the fattest clumps in the garden. Be ruthless! Take a spade and dig them up. Split them into pretty handfuls or a few shoots, put them in cans or newspaper, and water them well. Bring the plants down to City Auditorium on May 8 and add them to the selection on the tables. Then choose among the varieties brought by other gardeners. The assortment changes all during the morning, with incoming and outgoing columbine, iris, daisies one hour, perhaps herbs, peonies, or green “whazzat?” the next. Back home, try to put your new plants where passersby will see them. One little lily or hosta becomes a bunch in a year, a bouquet in three, and a barrel in five.
Since 2001, the Perennial Exchange on Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend has attracted large crowds of swap-happy gardeners. All have agreed the plant selection is great, the help offered by Master Gardeners (including the renowned “Dr. Splat”) is valuable, and – especially these days -- the price is right. At noon, any extra floral material is given to Adopt-a-Spot volunteers and city parks. The event goes on rain or shine, with the added treat of morning coffee and Panera’s pastries.
The Perennial Exchange also features a sale of affordable annuals and the Audi’s traditional “Mother’s Day Mugs”. Specially selected china mugs filled with annual plants and decked in ribbons are -- at a dollar or two -- charming, affordable, useful gifts.
A special feature this year will be a display of the Concord Dollhouse, a beautiful 1”-1’ recreation of the city’s Victorian “painted ladies” created by Winnie and Bob Baker and donated as a fund-raiser for the Audi’s 2010 Flyspace Project.
The Perennial Exchange is supported by the annual “Great Gardening Raffle”, thanks to prizes donated by Concord’s leading florists and garden centers, including Osborne’s Agway, Aubuchon Hardware; Blue Seal, L.A. Brochu Nurseries, Cobblestone Design, Cole Gardens, Marshall’s Florist, D. McLeod Inc., Murray Farms Greenhouses, plus The Friends of The Audi.

Background Information on the Perennial Exchange: Several years ago, residents of side streets just west of the Audi began planting perennial beds in dooryards and sidewalk strips. Neighbors walking through these streets in the evenings stopped to admire the beautiful little gardens and soon there was a very special sense of neighborhood. Around the corner at City Auditorium, strollers chatted about the plantings and worried about the cost of perennial plants. Soon they hit on the idea of sharing plants through a “Perennial Exchange”. A four-hour perennial swap once a year could provide anchor plantings for new beds, and inspire gardeners to visit local “green businesses” to fill in their beds with colorful annuals. The idea took root in 2001 and has bloomed for 10 years! Every year Concord’s streetscape grows more beautiful.
Volunteers from Concord’s General Services Department and The Friends of The Audi co-host the annual Perennial Exchange, which is a highlight of the “Perennial Favorites at the Audi” events of Mother’s Day Weekend. Everyone is welcome to be part of the PXC Committee.
For information, please call Karon Devoid, Chair of the Perennial Exchange,
at Concord’s General Services Department, 228-2737 or email” kdevoid@onconcord.com
How To #2: How to celebrate on Mother’s Day Weekend? Easy. There are three Perennial Favorite events at the Audi this weekend, starting with PF#1 on Friday evening at 7:30pm, when the Freese Brothers Big Band and Performers Who Care will be Swinging for a Cause on the Audi stage. The “Cause” is the Lend Me a Hand Fund at Concord Hospital’s Payson Center, helping cancer patients and their families with out-of-pocket expenses. Tickets are $20/15, and available at Ballard’s, Caring Gifts, Strings and Things, and the door. Info: gerri@gerriking.com or 227-7000 x 3082.
Perennial Favorite # 2 – Bring the ladies back Saturday morning for the Perennial Exchange, help them pick out plants, and treat them to a mug. And come again on Saturday evening at 8pm for Perennial Favorite #3, The Violin Times Two, as the Granite State Symphony Orchestra season finale stars two concertmasters, Elliott Markow and Gerry Mordis. To Concord’s top musicians add these enticements: an exciting silent auction, the city’s tastiest desserts, and a chance to conduct the symphony! Tickets priced to include the whole family at $7-33 are available at Pompanoosuc Mills, www.gsso.org and 226-4776.

Community Awards held tonight

2010-04-19T07:42:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone is enjoying the spring/early summer weather.

The annual Pineconia Grange # 322 Community Awards Night will held Monday, April 19 at 7 p.m. at Dame School School, Canterbury Road.
The event will be open to the public with refreshments served following the awards presentations. Dick Patten, in his 39th year of coordinating the awards event, will present include the Police Officer of the Year, Firefighter of the Year, Citizen, Educator, and more.
Please call Dick Patten at 496-2917 for info.

The City Council meeting held Monday evening drew a few more people than usual. It was nice to see students from the 6th grade reading essays on "If they were Mayor" which included some interesting ideas. The Concord Steam proposal drew several people to speak all in favor of their request.

The annual Fourth of July celebration is once again in jeopardy! David Gill presented his report that reported donations are down from last year. He is meeting with a broadcasting firm this week and hoping to draw up a plan to raise donations. City Councilor Dick Patten requested the City Council to delay any vote in canceling the event until next month giving him a chance to help raise the funds. Funds are needed to help pay for the expenses, such as police, general services, fireworks, and more! A total of $7-9,000 dollars is needed to help pay for the celebration. It doesn't matter how much you can send, any amount is welcomed! The fireworks draws people from all over Concord as well as Boscawen, Pittsfield, Manchester, Portsmouth, Nashua, and more! It would be sad if we, the capitol city didn't have a celebration.

Community outreach meeting on school projects Tuesday

2010-04-14T15:18:00.003-04:00

The Concord School District will be holding a public meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20.
Attendees will be able to view elements of the elementary school consolidation plans including a presentation of site plans, including the Dame/Eastman Wood Chip plant, floor plans, elevations, and green elements for each school location. School Board members and administrators will be on hand to discuss the plans.
The event will be held at the Broken Ground gym, 123 Portsmouth St. in Concord.

Police civilian review board tonight

2010-04-12T09:04:00.001-04:00

The Concord Monitor is reporting this morning that the city council will be rejecting a proposal about the creation of a civilian review board for the Concord Police Dept.
Personally, I wish I had known about this beforehand. The concept of a CRB has nothing to do with whether Chief Barry is doing a good job or the city manager is informed or the council is informed; this is about whether or not the citizens have the ability to review the performance of the police and have a truly neutral board to review complaints against the department or staffers within the department.
I know of at least two situations where the department did not grant equal protection or investigation to one citizen that another citizen received. Both incidents were minor; but if this is happening on a minor level, what is to prevent it - or guarantee - it doesn't happen on a major level?
The citizens should have somewhere to go when they don't think they have been treated equally or fairly. We should be able to have a civilian review board.

The Concord Substance Abuse Coalition’s Town Hall Meeting on Underage Drinking

2010-04-09T21:30:00.000-04:00

Crossroads, Choices, and Community Connections ... Youth Perspectives.
When surveyed only 45% of high-school-age youth in Concord responded that they feel like they matter to people in their community. Join us for a Town Hall Meeting on April 15, 2010 from 6:30-8:00 pm at the Concord High School Auditorium to hear young people speak about their experiences in finding healthy connections. Together, we can make a difference in helping youths feel connected. Healthy community connections lead to healthy choices. So, are you connected?

For those of you who don't have tickets to Wilco tonight at the Capitol Center...

2010-04-07T07:59:00.001-04:00

(like me ... arrgh) There is supposed to be a live Webcast tonight from here: Roadcase

Grange awards coming up

2010-04-04T19:49:00.003-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten

Happy Easter and Passover to everyone!

I was told by a friend that this year and next year 2011 are the only years in which Easter for Christian World and Orthodox (Russian, Greek) and Passover will be celebrated together. This won't happen again until 500 years from now.

Pineconia Grange # 322 will hold their annual Community Awards Night on Monday, April 19 at 7 p.m. at Dame School, in the auditorium. This is open to the public. The Grange's awards night is part of the annual nationwide observance of Grange Month. The Grange will honor the Outstanding Police Officer, Firefighter, Educator, Citizen, and in addition will honor individuals who do Public Service, Legislative, Civic, Youth, Pioneer, and Legend. There will be refreshments served following the meeting. The Boy Scouts Troop 90 and Cub Scout 90 both sponsored by the Grange will present the colors and lead in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Grange recently presented new dictionaries to third grade students in the following
Schools: Concord Elementary Schools, Dunbarton Elementary School, Concord Christian School, Shaker Road, and Saint John's Regional School.
The next project for the members are the two traffic islands at the intersection of Airport and Loudon roads. The Grange is in need of mulch to cover the area. However, due to the cost, the Grange is unable to purchase it. If a landscaper could help by donating mulch for this project, it would be greatly appreciated. The Grange would like to be active in the community, however more members are needed, and the involvement in the Christmas Parade, Christmas Tree Lighting, Banners, plaques for Community Awards, support for the Child and Family Services Group Home, the list goes on and on. Please let me know if you can help, 496-2917. The next meeting will be in May.

Speaking of donations being needed, the annual Fourth of July Celebration at Memorial Field is tentatively scheduled for July 4th. However, the committee needs to raise another $5,000 dollars to pay for police protection, cleanup at the field, music by Nevers' Band, and more. Please contact David Gill at Concord Recreation Department at 225-8690 for information. All checks should be made out to the Fourth of July Celebration and sent to David Gill. As I stated last year, we can't lose our Independence Day celebration. We have lost so many holiday traditions in our city, let's not lose this one.

Bishop Brady High School will have a Spring Open House on Saturday, April 17 at 10 a.m. The school is located at 25 Columbus Ave. Bishop Brady is a Roman Catholic, college preparatory, co-educational high school, founded upon the values of faith, learning, and service. In partnership with families and the greater community, Bishop Brady instills a desire in students to engage in service to others and challenges them to rise above the expected in the pursuit of excellence. Please call 224-7419 for information.

Clean-up day at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church is Saturday, April 17 starting at 8 a.m. Breakfast refreshments will be served with Father Peter agreeing to have hot dogs and hamburgers for those who work to noontime. Please bring gloves, and rakes to help clean the grounds and gardens.

The 6th annual Youth IHM Charity Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, September 4th at Loudon Country Club. The price remains at $100 per golfer or $400 for a team of four players. Please call Paul and Diane Cantin at 223-9999 for more information.

Speaking of events, it is going to be a very tough year and if we can help by donating any amount it will be easier. The 59th annual Concord Christmas Parade will be held Saturday, Nov. 20, with a start date tentative of 9:30 a.m. The Christmas Tree Lighting now in its 24th year will be held the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 26, with activities starting at 4 p.m. Again, donations are going to be needed, although organizers won't be sending out requests until August. This will be my 39th year with the parade and 34th year with the Christmas scene at the plaza and 24th of organizing an event to light the lights. I am also concerned about the possibility of people having to pay for parking until they leave.

Watch out for the detours this week at Exit 14, I-93, Bridge Street or now known as Loudon Road. This will take a while so be patient and please follow the signs.

Happy Birthday to my aunt Irene Spaulding who resides on Heights Road. She has lived on the Heights all her life. I know she has seen so many changes.

A ridearound

2010-03-28T08:26:00.000-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten
I am back from a brief journey to Massachsuetts to visit with a friend who was attending a medical conference in Natick. He traveled from Lake Stevens, Wash., which is about an hour north of Seattle. Chuck Broadbent was a Mormon missionary in Concord in 1999 when we met and became friends ever since. He is raising his children to call me grandpops and he, himself calls me Pops. We usually meet once a year in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to watch the Wolverines play. We are playing to go this year on opening day when they play the University of Connecticut.

So back to news: Pineconia Grange # 322 will meet Monday, March 29 at 7 p.m.at Havenwood Retirement Center, 33 Christian AVenue. This meeting was postponed from last Monday. The annual Community Awards Night will be held Monday, April 19 at 7 p.m. at Dame School. There will be many awards presented that evening. The public is welcome and see who will be honored that evening. There will be refreshments to enjoy throughout the evening.

The Kiwanis club will meet Monday, March 29 at 12 noon at the Red Blazer Restaurant, Manchester Street, Concord. Chris Pappas announced the annual Spring Fair and Carnival will be held Thursday, May 13 to Sunday, May 17 at the Everett Arena.

Speaking of the fair and Everett Arena, I went to the Home Show held inside the Arena today. It is too bad that these vendors wouldn't come back and make their inside fair a success. I can remember how the Kiwanis would have the inside of the Arena filled with booths representing local businesses such as Merrimack County Future Farmers, Concord Lumber, Fern Oil, Sprague Electric, Northeast Electronics, Grappone, and Tri State Rescue to name a few. I am told that due to the timing of this event, the vendors won't come back 4 weeks later. It is sad because the Kiwanis do so many good things for charity in the greater Concord area.

The Bektash Temple Shriners will be having their annual Spring Ceremonial in Concord on April 3rd. No parade this year which is sad but to the cost of having a parade, it was decided to forego this event.

I am hearing a lot of concerns about the increase in parking in downtown Concord. There will be a public hearing in May at city council chambers for the public to come out and voice their opinions. I still think it would be a good idea for valet service in the downtown area. Concord Hospital has one and it seems to be working.

I would like to thank Concord Police Officer Craig Levesque for the informative and interesting Ride-A-Long I did recently. Officer Levesque took me on a tour of his sector which is central Concord Heights. There are two other officers who cover the north and eastern sections of the Heights and East Concord, and a third patrol that covers the southern section of the Heights which covers Manchester Street. I rode for 4 hours and it was very interesting. It brought back many memories for me from my years working with Merrimack County Sheriff, Pittsfield and Bow Police. Although I was a dispatcher, It is still a very challenging position. You are the lifeline for the police officers. I urge more to take advantage of this. We have a very capable police force and very lucky to have such dedicated police officers.

Grange Annual Community Awards Night coming up

2010-03-18T08:06:00.001-04:00

Around Town with Dick Patten
Pineconia Grange #322 will meet Monday, March 29 instead of March 22 at 7 p.m. at Havenwood Retirement Center in the auditorium.
The Grange is getting ready for their annual Community Awards Night on Monday, April 19 at 7 p.m. at Dame School. A variety of awards will be presented by Dick Patten. This is open to the public. Come see who the outstanding police officer, firefighter, citizen, teacher, and more individuals are as they are presented with their awards. A few of them will be submitted to the State Grange for consideration of a state award.
I am looking for comments as the Grange continues to move forward in the new century, is it time for Pinecomia Grange to change its name slightly. Would people recognize the Grange if it said (The Grange of Concord #1) or Concord Pineconia Grange #322) or something to that effect? I ask this because when I went to present dictionaries, the students didn't seem or the adults as well, grasp Pineconia Grange. If the Grange were introduced as the Kiwanis Club of Concord, or the Lions Club of Concord; or the Rotary Club of Concord, or The Concord Rotary Club ... Any change has to be sent to the state Grange and they will vote to decide whether we change or not. I am just thinking as the Grange needs members. We are like many organizations in Concord or in the State who need new members if we are to continue.

The Kiwanis Club of Concord will meet Monday, March 22 at noon at the Red Blazer Restaurant, Manchester Street. The annual Spring Fair and Carnival planning is underway. This year's event will be held in May. Please contact Chris Pappas at 224-2501 for information.

Not to much new on the city scene this week.
It was sad to read the obituary of Bob Baldi who passed away suddenly last Friday. Bob had worked for General Services for many years. I appreciated his help with the Christmas Scene at the State House Plaza. Several times over the years, we had to call him because the box was locked and no one had a key. I can remember a time when the bandwagon was locked, and again no key to unlock it. Deepest sympathies are extended to his family.

Stop the new library insanity ...

2010-03-14T09:41:00.004-04:00

The Concord Monitor, not surprisingly, came out with another editorial in support of a new library. As a frequent user of the current library – and a user off and on for more than three decades – I continue to be amazed and dismayed by the new library discussion.

First, there is no need for a "modern, new library." That is a fallacy that continues to be foisted upon us by a handful of people in this community who are obsessed with “new and expensive,” along with the Concord Monitor editorial board. In fact, it was a previous editor who sat on the first library study committee board that released an extremely lavish report suggesting that our city build a library we will never be able to afford [Hint of the insanity? Paraphrasing, 'let's build a cafe inside the library ...' Oh yeah, great idea ... help continue to make life difficult for the five cafes downtown that pay property taxes and are barely hanging on …].

Second, not unlike our community’s elementary school consolidation plan studies that revealed there was nothing structurally wrong with the historic schools, the same goes here. There is absolutely nothing structurally wrong with the current library. It is a solid, sound building. What it really needs is a consultant to come in and redesign the layout of library services based on the needs of the 21st century. This consultant should also offer realistic and affordable potential renovation and expansion suggestions to make the best use of the current building.

Every time I go into that building, I'm amazed at the misused space. It's almost as if it is done on purpose, mentally forcing people to hope for a new library. The space problems could be remedied if someone just took a little time to think about it. Take the CD room, for example, which barely has any CDs in it and is not used to its full potential. Not only are the CDs not in proper racks, they are taking up all kinds of floor space. It's totally wasted.
How about the main entry way, which is cavernous … Why can’t the second floor be extended over the current first floor to allow for more space?
Not enough natural light? Why not scrap the spotty lawn and unkempt landscape areas around the front of the building and replace them with sunny reading rooms attached to the main building?
Why can’t the children’s room be moved downstairs where the CD room and offices are now located? It could have its own entrance near the small parking area in the back. A family was nice enough to donate that entrance and it is locked off to the public. This would also allow for different space uses upstairs.
I implore the city to scrap the new library plan and hire a layout and renovation consultant to look at this now instead of buying any land. I would also be happy to help out in this regard, free of charge.

Third, at a time when the budget has already cut library hours, and library hours will probably again be put on the chopping block this year, this is no time to be building a new library. That’s a fact. The deficit is even bigger than last year and, unfortunately, the city will probably not listen to any of our ideas on how to better use the funds or even consolidate depts. to save money. They’ll trot out all kinds of library cuts to freak people out again. And everyone, please, don’t fall for the talking point that a new library will be designed so that it can run longer and better with fewer workers. That never, NEVER happens. Let’s try and live a little bit longer with what we have.

Fourth, the city can't afford to take any more private tax revenue off line. Building a new library on Storrs Street will take $35K from the tax rolls. Have we not learned from the disastrous Capitol Commons garage fiasco? It will take millions to buy the parcels and that’s millions we don’t have.

Fifth, why do people continue to talk about parking problems when there are no parking problems? I never have a problem finding parking near the library when I need to go there and I go at all different times during the week. I go on weekday mornings, Saturday mornings, and Sunday afternoons. Sometimes, if there is an Audi event or when the Legislature is in session, I have to park on Centre Street or Spring Street and walk an extra block or two. Big deal. And yes, I do it when I have my two little ones with me. Again, big deal. That’s life. We cannot spend millions on a new library just because people are too lazy to walk a block or two from a parking space. Enough already.

Lastly, there has been some discussion about the “homeless problem at the library." Well, let’s be honest: There isn't a “homeless problem at the library” … there's a homeless problem in our community and we refuse to look at it in real terms (although there are a lot of private people trying to do something). In a nutshell, the problems have to do with addiction, high rents due to high property taxes and landowners squeezing as much of a living or mortgage payments from their rents as they can, and the lack of jobs in our city. The answers to the problems are huge and a new library doesn’t solve any of them. In fact, a new library potentially makes the problems worse.

Question to everyone: When are we going to start thinking outside of the box and stop repeating the same mistakes of the past?

Does someone not like alternative ideas to raising taxes?

2010-03-11T08:47:00.002-05:00

One has to wonder since my post on the Monitor editorial listing numerous things that could be looked at before raising taxes has mysteriously disappeared ...

This morning's must read ...

2010-03-11T08:11:00.002-05:00

A column by Allan Herschlag in the Concord Monitor about the parking fee increase fiasco: ["Parking mistakes upon mistakes"].
Bravo, bravo, Allan! Encore, encore, encore!!

2010-03-11T07:19:00.000-05:00

Around Town with Dick Patten
A reminder to members of the Catholic community, Deacon John at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church along with all the permanent deacons, are collecting cans of tuna fish and pasta items to benefit the N.H. Food Bank. I am sure that if you are not a member and would like to contribute, they would be happy to accept them.

The 19th annual Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Business Showcase sponsored by Fairpoint Communications, Merrimack County Savings Bank, Unitil, Taylor Rental, and Courtyard by Marriott will be held on Tuesday, April 6 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the Grappone Conference Center, 70 Constitution Center, Concord. Chamber member businesses will be showcased. There will be door prizes, refreshments, with $7 admission. Kindly RSVP by April 2. The hospitality is being handled by Alan's of Boscawen, Bagel Works, The Barley House, Granite Restaurant & Bar, and Washington Street Cafe. Partners include Concord Monitor, N.H. Business Review, Nassau Broadcasting, and Wharf Industries Printing Inc./Wallace Press.

The Bektash Temple Drum and Bugle Corps are rehearsing on the first and fourth Mondays of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Shrine Hall, Pembroke Road, Concord Heights. To date, the drum corps has accepted parades in Andover on July 4th, and in Gilford on August 28. The annual Bektash Temple Spring Ceremonial will be held April 3 at the Bektash Shrine Center. Dinner and entertainment featuring Aleppo Shrine Swing Band will be featured from 12 noon to 3 p.m. The tickets are $25 per person. Please call Ted & Barbara Dooley at 893-0674.
The 2nd annual Bektash Yard Sale will be held Saturday, May 22 from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The proceeds to benefit the Bektash General Fund. Please call Chairman Rick Perry at 434-9993 for information.
The HoBo dinner by the Bektash Shrine Clowns supper and entertainment will be held Saturday, May 1 with social hour from 5 to 6 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. with $25.00 a couple of $15.00 for single. The proceeds to benefit the Shriner's Hospitals. Please RSVP by April 28 or call Bill McGowen at 603-942-5259 for information.

Monitor endorses 3 percent or higher tax increase ...

2010-03-10T08:20:00.002-05:00

This morning, the Concord Monitor endorsed a 3 percent or higher tax increase for the city to balance its budget. The move is not surprising, considering that they are always advocating for new, higher taxes. But, it got me thinking. Can new savings be found inside the city budget, even though there is a deficit. Yes, indeed ...

First, as I wrote earlier when the new finance director was hired at top dollar, the city needs to readjust salary scales for vacant positions to bring them in line with what the salaries are for Concord residents or what they can get in a market that is full of unemployed people. In other words, there is a good opportunity for savings in the labor market. The city should be taking advantage of that. Savings: Unknown amount.

It truly is time to look at whether or not every single supervisor is needed in every department and try to find some savings in overlap. It amazes me that when looking at the police budget last year that there was a supervisor for the records dept. and a supervisor for the parking dept. Surely the departments could be combined and have one supervisor. Savings: $60,000, possibly more.

In looking at the registration, clerk, and assessing depts., there seems to be some overlap there. In addition, why can't there be job sharing so when there is a huge line in registration, employees who aren't doing anything in assessing or the clerk's office could be moved over to help residents get through that line more quickly? A new floor design for the three departments would be needed which would cost money. But it would be a productive change. Savings: Unknown, but if you had to spare one vacancy, about $40,000, possibly more.

Concord TV is over-staffed and has been for years. How many employees are there now, five? Six? There used to be three and before that there was one. It is time to slay this sacred cow already. Savings: $60,000 to $100,000.

Buying unneeded items in the middle of a near Depression, like all the new SUVs purchased for the police last year. How many other things are in the capital budget that could wait another year or two? Savings: at least $100,000, possibly more.

Just a few ideas to take seriously BEFORE raising taxes. And, what I see is more than a quarter of a million dollars in potential savings and the budget book isn't even out yet. That's 1 percent of the Monitor's proposed 3 percent tax increase! We're 33 percent there!! How much more can be found? Join in everyone!

Should the parking fees be raised?

2010-03-09T23:24:00.002-05:00

Around Town with Dick Patten
Don't forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour this coming Saturday night or at 2 a.m. Sunday morning. Daylight Savings Time returns until November.

Don't forget to come to a public hearing in May regarding the possibility of raising the parking in downtown Concord from 50 cents to $1 along with several other recommendations. Many comments were raised during the city council meeting. This could be a great opportunity for someone to begin a valet service in downtown Concord especially during prime shopping times. The valet service could be located somewhere on North Main Street or South Main Street and allow the shopper(s) to leave their car so they could go shopping and not worry about putting money in the parking meters. There are details to be ironed out, but I think a valet service could work. I know the one at Concord Hospital has worked well for those who couldn't find a place to park.

Pineconia Grange # 322 will be meeting Monday, March 22 at 7 p.m. at Havenwood, 33 Christian Ave. in the retirement center auditorium. A St. Patrick's Day Program will be presented. Plans are underway for the annual Grange and Community Awards Night to be held April 19, at Dame School in the auditorium.

Don't forget to get your plastic flowers off the graves in the city cemeteries by April 1st. They will be thrown away by staff workers as the cemetery staff begins the spring clean-up. If by chance you didn't get an opportunity to remove them, they might still have them at the garage. Please call General Services at 228-2737 for info.

David Gill reports the Fourth of July celebration is still in jeopardy. Although there are discussions with a local radio station to help fund the display, $8,000 dollars is still needed to pay for expenses. We have one month in which donations have to be received or pledges made. I know money is tight, but I can't believe in the capital city of New Hampshire we may have to cancel our celebration. Please contact David at 225-8690 to make a pledge or donation. We need everyone's help to reach this goal.

Happy birthday to my dad, Clinton Patten as he celebrates his 79th!

I am not sure I have already thanked Walgreen's Pharmacy and Makris Lobster and Steak House for their donations to help purchase more summer banners for Loudon Road on the Heights. Atty. Chuck Douglas also is to be thanked for a donation to purchase three Merry Christmas banners for downtown Concord. Immaculate Heart of Mary Church also made a donation to purchase a Merry Christmas banner for the pole in front of their church.

I need assistance in helping to do spring cleanup at several areas on the Heights. Please call me at 496-2917 for information.

Five alternative reasons why people don't attend school board budget hearings

2010-03-08T07:49:00.003-05:00

The Concord Monitor's Karen Langley has a story about the fact that no resident of the Concord community bothered to attend the school board's budget hearings. Some of the quotes in the article are pretty hilarious, from Superintendent Dr. Chris Rath insinuating that people are happy to former school board member Betty Hoadley suggesting that most people don't have the "time or expertise" to follow the process. Wow. Heaven forbid you actually help people become aware, right?
I posted a long comment for which I will probably be attacked online. Whatever. Here now, however, are five alternative reasons for why people probably didn't attend the school board's budget hearings:

1. Most people know that the school board isn't going to listen to them anyway on anything, so why bother? It is apathy, Dr. Rath. I have spoken to a lot of folks who feel this way. That has become perfectly clear to anyone with a free-thinking brain. Most of the members of the school board will nod politely but will not actually listen to what parents want.

2. Turnout was probably low since one of the hearings was held on a Thursday at 5:30 p.m. when most parents are either still working, still commuting, or sitting down for dinner with their families. While there was another hearing on Wednesday at 7 p.m., why would anyone attend when they would miss "American Idol"? (That was sarcasm, BTW).
I was at least one person who requested during the elementary school process that meetings be scheduled at various times so that those people with complicated schedules could attend hearings and find out what was going on. That seemed logical but it fell on deaf ears.
There's absolutely no reason why a budget meeting can't be scheduled at 8 a.m. on a Friday or noon on a Saturday so that people could make time within their very busy schedules to get there. In many other towns throughout the country, long budget hearings are held on Saturdays so that people can attend. There was just a four hour one in Belmont, Mass., this week, where the entire School Committee and leadership team went through most of the budget in a public hearing. There were no public comments but residents at least know a lot about the budget.

3. In keeping with the schedule point, what kind of outreach was done? It's interesting that there was little to no notice about the public hearings. I saw a notice in the Monitor but thousands of people in Concord don't buy the Monitor. How are you supposed to find out about the hearings? That's right, you didn't. And, it's impossible to babysit the school's Web site for important hearings. Come on. Compare this lack of outreach to the fact that activists in the PTO used email lists to advocate for a political position which went against the interest of parents during the Legislative Charter Commission process ...

4. Why should anyone take any budget process seriously when you can't really get at the details? A few people are still trying to find out via Right-to-Know how much Attn. Teague was paid to advocate for the school system in Legislative hearings while not wearing the required lobbyist notification or even being registered as a lobbyist, which was against the law at the time. Apparently, the administration won't release the information. Why? Why can't parents and taxpayers find out how much the school's attorney was paid to advocate against their interests, while not following the law? Question for the Concord Monitor: How come you're not going after that Right-to-Know inquiry like you did with Duprey? Surely the school's attorney allegedly breaking the law would be a big story, right?

5. Most people do understand budgeting and do want to keep up with things, unlike what Hoadley said. You don't have to be a journalist to understand or have a desire to understand budgeting. Most of us do budgets for our homes all the time. However, many folks are just too busy trying to put food on the table and make ends meet. We're also spending a lot of time making sure that our kids are being properly raised, whether in school or out. We don't have time to worry about everything that is going on (although we should make time).
For these reasons, the school board and administrators should be congratulated for keeping the tax rate as low as possible. Thank you. But, let's be honest, we all know the bills that are coming for the consolidation project ...

Just 4.5 FTEs?

2010-03-08T07:47:00.003-05:00

According to Karen Langley's article in this morning's Concord Monitor, the consolidation of Kimball and Walker schools will yield 4.5 FTEs in savings:

"And the consolidation process will allow the district to save money when Kimball School closes next year, since the jobs of one secretary, 2½ custodians and a library assistant are cut."

Yup, that's right. So much for all that supposed savings when consolidating Kimball and Walker schools, huh? Just 4.5 FTEs? That's all? You must be joking. How much money is that? Spend tens of millions warehousing our children into a massive school that is inappropriately sized on a footprint that is too small to save money from 4.5 FTEs? From the sound of board members and administrators during the discussions about consolidation, you would think it would be a lot more. Wow, I can't believe it.

Condolences to the Greer, Mitchell families

2010-03-06T09:53:00.002-05:00

Around Town with Dick Patten
Deepest condolences are extended to the family of the late former city councilor George Geers who passed away recently. I would also like to extend deepest sympathies to the family of the late Vern Mitchell who passed away. Vern represented Ward 8 in the State Legislature several years ago.

Although it may be late to some, I have submitted a resolution to the City Council to be referred to Facilities Naming Committee to have a portion of Regional Drive named in memory of Manchester Police Officer Michael Briggs who passed away. Michael's family including his widow and children are still residents of Ward 8 and the children still attend Concord schools. I felt that we should honor his memory with a memorial. The proposed sign would state The Michael Briggs Memorial Drive or Parkway (this to be determined by the committee).

How do you feel about the increased parking fees in downtown Concord possibly going to $1? You should come to city council and voice your thoughts or contact your city councilor.

Sunshine wishes to Laura Harwood who was involved in a serious automobile accident in Northwood recently. She was taken to Concord Hospital but was not seriously injured. Laura's son, Joshua, is my best friend and co-director for the television shows Around Town and Around Town-the Capitol Beat. He will be coming on Around Town soon to speak about Passover.

Congratulations to Rebecca Noe for being awarded the 2009 Spirit of Scouting Award by District Commissioner Scott Langille. Rebecca is representing Troop 90 from the Concord Heights and East Concord.

The annual Pinewood Derby is being held Saturday, March 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon. at the East Concord Community Center. Cub Scout Pack 90 will have members participating in this event.

Happy Birthday greetings are extended to Clinton Patten, who is celebrating his 79th birthday next Tuesday. Clinton known to his friends as "Pat" is a school bus monitor for the Concord School District.

Do you know of someone living in a retirement facility or nursing home?
Recently I spoke with Thomas Molway,Resident Council President for the residents at Harris Hill Nursing Home, at 2 Maitland St. He and his wife (she passed away recently) moved to Harris Hill several years ago and loves his home tremendously. They had resided in three others and were unhappy because when they moved in they were moved to separate rooms at the facility and not near each other. How sad! Tom asked to come on the show because Harris Hill was recognized nationally for being one of several best nursing homes in the country. Tom was a delightful guest. he stated that if you know of someone residing in a nursing home, please take a few minutes to go and visit a friend, neighbor, or relative. He said, "At Christmas, there was a female patient who sat on the porch all day waiting for someone to come and visit her. They never came."
Holidays are the worst time when no one seems to come and visit people.

Pineconia Grange # 322 hosted Merrimack County Pomona Grange for their quarterly meeting. State Deputy Arthur Merrill made his Spring Instruction visit. He spoke of several Grange events coming up as well Degree Days in which candidates are needed.