There was a fine turn-out for the Chichester Town Elections on March
10. Six hundred fifty-four people voted in person, and there were
twenty-two absentee ballots for a total of 676 votes. Richard DeBold
was returned as Selectman on a write-in vote. Jim Plunkett was voted
back in as Road Agent. Harold Losey was returned to the School
Board. Now we have another year to review our options as citizens
and voters. How about a woman on the Board of Selectmen, for
example?
The voter turn-out was due in large measure to Chris and Jason Weir
whose publications kept us all reminded of our duty as voters. If
you see them, give them a word of thanks.
The Chichester United Methodist Church will have an early Easter
morning service in front of the church on April 5, 2015, at 6:30
a.m. There will be a breakfast served in the parish hall at 7:00
a.m.
Happy Birthday to Matthew Morey on March 20 and to Sharon Wescomb on
March 22.
It is now officially Maple Month in New Hampshire. If you are
driving around the state on a weekend or an evening and see steam
rising from a sugar house, it is a sign that boiling is happening.
Most sugar houses welcome visitors while boiling is going on, so
stop in and say hello. There are a couple of sugar houses in
Pittsfield and an abundance of them in Loudon.
Granite State Crush Girls 6th Grade AAU Basketball Team is looking
for a few players to join our team. We practice Mondays
at 6pm and Sundays at 2pm at Chichester Central School.
If you are interested please contact Mike Valotto at 369-1644.
Boys Baseball Ages 13-15
Now is the time to pre-register for Babe Ruth baseball for boys ages
13-15 as of April 30. Any players from Chichester, Epsom,
Allenstown, and Pembroke are welcome. The cost is $115 for the
season, but it costs nothing to pre-register to reserve a roster
spot. Go to eyaasports.net for more information and to register.
Letter
Citizens of Chichester,
Congratulations, CCS teachers! You organized, negotiated, messaged,
rallied, and passed your new contract, earning a well-deserved
raise. I am, without reservation, happy for you.
Thank you those who participated in our school budget meeting,
turning out to exercise your rights and responsibilities, voicing
your views and casting your votes.
However, while taking care of short-term needs, we have only kicked
long-term concerns down the road.
The Affordable Care Act “Cadillac Tax” begins in 2018, conveniently
after the 2016 elections. At current trends, this tax will cost our
town and teachers up to $400,000 in 2018 only goes up. The union
and board have made a non-binding agreement to make changes to avoid
or minimize this tax. It is our responsibility to hold them to that
commitment.
The average household in Chichester pays about 10% of income ($6k)
in taxes, either directly or through rent. At current rates of
increase in taxes and incomes, that will be 17% in 10 years, and 34%
in 20. This how Detroit failed.
I look forward to working with our board and selectmen this year to
keep Chichester vibrant and prosperous.
Sincerely,
Pat Testerman
Chichester
Letter To The Editor
Chichester Old Home Day cancelled for 2015. This letter is to
inform all residents that Chichester Old Home Days 2015 will not be
happening. The newly formed Committee has held three (3) public
meetings at which only three people attended.
If Chichester residents truly want a 2016 Old Home Day celebration,
we need volunteers to help put on this event.
It takes a large number of people to produce an event everyone
enjoys and can be proud of. In the past only a handful of people
made for hard work. Many hands make light work…we need volunteers
to handle the many tasks in order for things to run smoothly. A
good example is the Children’s Activities in 2014...we had a
Committee rep, a team leader and nine volunteers; it turned out
great. This is what is needed for about a dozen activities over the
two-day event, such as: noon meal, tractor pull, car show, flea &
farmers markets, talent- variety show, 2# table, parade, vendor &
association midway, music, trash & recycling, parking, set-up and
clean-up.
If you want to continue this 100+ year old historical
tradition in 2016, contact a member of the Committee: Philip
Hitchcock or Ann Davis at 798-3584;
[email protected]
Philip Hitchcock
& Ann Davis
Chichester Central School
Kindergarten/New Grade 1 2015-2016 Registration Dates
Do you have a kindergarten child or first grader new to Chichester
Central School entering in the fall of 2015 and are unsure of what
to do? Kindergarten/New Grade 1 registration will begin on March 23
and run until April 17th. Parents/Guardians must stop by Chichester
Central School to pick up a registration packet and will need to
return the completed package in person to school by April 17th.
Parents will be asked to supply a copy of their child’s birth
certificate & immunizations, parents/guardians driver’s license, and
proof of residency in Chichester. The age requirements for entry is
age 5 (kindergarten) and age 6 (grade 1) by September 30. School
hours for registration pick up and drop off are between 7:30-3:15,
Monday-Friday.
Children will go through a screening process in May that will allow
the kindergarten committee to assess abilities so that the morning &
afternoon classes will be evenly balanced. Transportation is
provided to school in the morning and to home at 2:40 (there is no
mid-day transportation). The New Morning Program does provide an
on-site before school and after 2:40 care program for a minimal
cost. Please call Mrs. Plunkett, School Secretary @ 798-5651 for
more information.
Chichester Town Library News
The Library invited and hosted teachers for the week of March
9th-13th to visit the Down Under Used Books to view the selection
and choose books they would find useful for their classes or
themselves. It is a gesture to show our appreciation for their
ongoing work, as well as to share resources.
Over fifty people enjoyed the presentation by Rebecca Rule on “Moved
and Seconded: Town Meetings in New Hampshire.” Many attendees now
have a better appreciation of this purely New England tradition and
probably even enjoyed this past Town Meeting as they looked around
and identified some of the characters described by Ms. Rule.
Pre-school Story and Craft Hour will meet tomorrow, March 19th, at
10: 30 a.m.
The Library will be the site for the Agricultural Commission meeting
on Wednesday, March 18th at 7 p.m. and the Heritage Commission
meeting on Thursday, March 19th at 7:00 p.m.
Monday, March 23rd at 7:00 p.m., the Down Cellar Writers’ Group will
meet. Local writers and poets are welcome to bring and share their
work.
Monday, March 23rd at 7:00 p.m., the Photography Club will be
meeting. This group is open to local photographers interested in
discussing and learning about their craft and in planning group
events.
Chichester Library Acquires Passes To Children’s Museum And
See Science Center
The Chichester Library is always looking for ways to
encourage and even assist Chichester families in experiencing
different venues of learning fun. It was earlier reported that the
Library has passes for 50% off the regular admission fee for up to a
family of four/day for the Children’s Museum in Dover, NH. This is
an interactive arts & science museum for children & families of all
ages. These passes make admission much more affordable. You can
access more information on what is available at the museum at their
web site: www.childrens-museum.org.
The library has also purchased a pass to the SEE Science Center, 200
Bedford St., Manchester.
This is an interactive learning center geared toward
children ages 1-14 with “hands-on exhibits covering topics such as:
forces, light sound electricity, simple machines and more.”
This is also where the LEGO Millyard Project is on permanent
display. Adults should also find some interesting experiments to
try along with the kids. It is open seven days a week. The pass
may be used once a day and gives free admission for one family
(immediate family members only), along with free parking.
Additional guests are $8.00 per person. Come to the library for
further information on exhibits & driving directions-Ignite a Spark
of Discovery! For full details:
www.see-sciencecenter.org.
Letter To The Editor
It was amazing to see so many town residents on Election Day. It’s
reassuring to know how many of you care about Chichester’s future.
I would like to thank everyone who supported me in my re-election.
To the people who offered to place a sign in their yard, the sign
holders on Election Day, those who wrote the wonderful letters of
support, and many others who offered words of encouragement, you
have my deepest gratitude. It is always a team effort. Thank you
again, and have a great 2015.
Jim Plunkett
Road Agent
Chichester NH
Out Of Your Attic Thrift Shop News
Submitted By Carol Hendee
Someone dumped two TVs at the Attic. We do not take TVs or
computers or monitors. TVs can go to Goodwill-otherwise, we have to
pay to dump them.
We do take glass jars with lids, small is better, we can put buttons
in them, which sell very well.
We can take bicycles, now that there may be solid ground to ride
them on! Also, scooters and any kind of sporting equipment (bats,
baseballs, basketballs, soccer balls, etc.). Kids are ready to get
out & play!
We are located on Rte 28 5 miles North of the Epsom Circle. Tuesday
& Thursday 8-4; Wed. 11-4 & Sat. 10-4. 247-7191.
Letter To The Editor
I want to extend my genuine appreciation to all the Chichester
residents who voted for me last Tuesday for Selectman.
It was a complete surprise for me to hear the news Tuesday evening
that I had won the election for another term as your Selectman as a
write-in candidate! And having won the election with such
resounding results was extra special and very humbling.
As far as anyone can remember there has never been a winning
write-in campaign for a Selectman in Chichester!
As I had explained in a letter to The Suncook Sun on March 4th, my
wife and I have plans to move to our Wells, Maine property in the
not too distant future. As such I made sure that I did inform
everyone that I would not be able to serve out the whole three year
term if elected. However, I did inform people when asked that if
they voted for me as a write-in candidate that I would gladly serve,
if elected, for as long as we call Chichester our home.
I believe the election results for Selectman last Tuesday was a
statement by many that having witnessed a recent increase in
incivility and disrespect at public meetings, and towards some of
our Town’s elected officials, they have had enough.
My sincere thanks go out to the few very dedicated people who, on
their own, led the ‘charge’ on my behalf.
Once again, thank you so very much to all who have given their trust
in me, through your votes, to continue-on for my 5th term as your
Selectman. I will continue to serve, as I have for the last 12
years, with respect for all regardless of their opinions, with
fairness, and always with the best interests of Chichester in mind.
Richard DeBold
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