To the Editor:

Six years ago when I first ran for state representative, I involved my son Sean in the process by having him draw me an elephant. I have this drawing on my signs not just because I love it, but because it lets people know who and what I am.

I work full-time as a tool maker. The time I miss by going to the legislature I will work nights and weekends to make up. Because of this, I believe I can fairly represent those like myself who have to struggle to keep a roof over their heads.

I am a Republican because I am convinced that the principles of local control and less government are the principles that will leave our children a better and more affordable future.

I am a Republican because I believe liberty is the greatest gift we can leave our children and grandchildren. In my years in public office, I have taken some popular and some not-so-popular stands, but have always stood on Republican principles.

It would be an honor to represent the folks from Weare and Goffstown in Concord.

Gary S. Hopper
Weare

To the Editor:

I’ve read in this paper about all the problems that the people of this town have had with the floods that happened over Mother’s Day and after. I think it’s all well and good that things are finally coming around for them. They’ve gone through a great deal of frustration and pain and I applaud them for doing so. Keep it up and you will get what you want.

The story about needing additional help at the fire department is also an item, but I’m really not surprised that you can’t get any help. I’m going to tell you one story. It is an isolated one, but one that no one would know about unless I wrote it and you read it in this paper.

My husband, who is a call firefighter/EMT-I in Goffstown, who had worked his full shift at his full-time job, then went and put in a 24-hour shift at his second job at an ambulance service, did not go home and rest like he should have because Goffstown needed every person they could get to help cover the problems they were having with the flooding. So, being the goodhearted firefighter he is, he volunteered to help. After working for three days, on his last shift he lifted a pump and bent down to get two gasoline cans and herniated a disc in his lower back. He has not been to work since. He has been in extreme pain and could have used more help getting around or getting yard work done or just getting a call once in a while just to see how he was doing by more than the select few that did make the effort and the association (you know who you are, and I thank you very much for everything you’ve done).The rest of the department doesn’t seem to be as concerned or made any attempt to check on his status for the past three months. He finally had surgery on his back on Aug. 17, and although he is still in pain, he knows this will go away as he heals and is really hoping to get back to his normal life. He will still be out of work for at least three to six months. We don’t know for sure if he will ever make it back 100 percent, but, knowing him, he will do his best because that is the kind of person he is.

For those of you who said, “If you need something, give us a call,” know the independent person that my husband is. He doesn’t ask for help unless it’s life threatening and if you knew him, you would’ve have known that and would just have shown up to help. Instead you left it up to him and that left you off the hook. I guess when you get hurt and need help you find out who your real friends are.

If the department had more people who actually cared about their co-workers, the department status might not be where it is today.

Tina Kyer
Goffstown

To the Editor:

I have read the articles in The Goffstown News about the sewer line bills increasing their fees to $100 per quarter.

I am aware that the first increase to $75 will occur in September and the jump to $100 will begin in March. Doesn’t sound too bad, does it?

Well, those figures are for single-family homes only. I find it interesting that the writers of the articles regarding the increase cost neglected to mention the cost for two-family homes.

I currently pay $100 per quarter, which means that when the figures double, I will be paying $200 per quarter. That is a huge increase. Especially when I have less people living in my two-family home than the average single-family home.

For retired individuals on a fixed income, either increase in cost will be a hardship for them.

Lori Roy
Goffstown

To the Editor:

I realize it is very easy to be critical and it is often not helpful. I am writing to express extreme disappointment in the leadership of The Goffstown News for the tasteless, invasive photo you took ­ and much worse printed ­ of the Mackenzie family in your Aug. 17 edition. And, I hope the editor might, at least privately, find it helpful.

Look ­ Laura made a terrible mistake in judgment. She and her family have paid a painful price for that. But they do not at all deserve to be plagued by a photographer or video camera any and everytime they appear in public to resolve the situation.

Why in the name of common sense and basic courtesy to the entire Mackenzie family, do you feel it helpful or necessary to take the picture of “a distraught” Laura? Are you really proud of this “journalism”? I have no respect for your decision to take the picture, much less the tacky decision to print it.

Clearly there will be further court appearances. While understandable that the business conducted at the hearing be objectively reported there is no need to show up with your camera.

The press has done on enormously thorough job of photographing Laura and her family multiple times during their stressful ordeal.

For the record, I do not know Laura or any member of the Mackenzie family. I write because I feel deeply sorry for the terrible stress they have all been through and wish you would consider that and respond far more professionally.

Donald E. Brown
Goffstown

To the Editor:

As one of Goffstown’s community for 50 years, I’ve always been proud of our little village and proud of the way we band together and support each other in difficult times. This year has been no exception.

Our neighbors have faced flooding and house fires, illnesses and a missing child. We opened our hearts and our wallets. We prayed and passed out fliers. It is a fine example of what’s right and wonderful about our community.

I agree that 18 is on the fringes of adulthood. Unfortunately there is no magic age threshold we cross where we become enlightened and empowered to avoid life changing mistakes.

As a parent, we do our best to keep our children on the right path. Sometimes our children fall and loving parents are waiting with open arms to help them get back up. As a community, we need our neighbors, our teachers, our churches and our police department to help us keep our children safe.

If one of our own is missing … it is our moral duty to help find them. As Hillary Clinton said, “It takes a village” to raise a child.

Laura Mackenzie and other young people in our community should not face anger from your editorials. Laura Mackenzie has lived her entire 18 years in Goffstown and she should know that we are happy she is home and wish her well in the future. We are the “village” and she needs our continued love and support.

Joyce Sperry
Goffstown

To the Editor:

I read criticisms in The Goffstown News from armchair experts on what we could do to change the recycling program in Goffstown, a recycling program that is a model for many other New Hampshire communities.

If it is as easy as some of the critics suggest, then why is it that all communities in New England are struggling with the cost of trash and recyclables? While some few commodities in the waste stream can in fact make money (aluminum cans, for example), to separate these commodities from the rest of the recyclables or trash waste stream would either mean reimposing on our citizens the duty to perform this separation, a decision that the community went away from to promote simple single-stream recycling; or, it would require hiring labor and acquiring building space and incurring other cost and hassle on the town’s part, costing more than the potential value of the recyclables.

Separation at the transfer station would also be a violation of our single stream recycling processing agreement. Instead, the recyclables are going to a separate facility where economies of scale play a part.

While the result is a net cost to the town, the value of these recyclables reduce the cost such that it is half the cost of trash disposal, which is why we are promoting recycling so hard. The more people recycle, the more money the town saves and the lower our tax rates are. The problem is that if people don’t recycle, or do so minimally, they are not seeing the direct cost in their own wallets of their inaction ­ it is passed on to the entire community in the tax rate. A “tragedy of the commons” takes place.

Short of direct payment by individuals for their own behavior, whatever that behavior may be, the DPW and the Solid Waste Commission can only promote recycling by catching people doing it right and by enforcing some of the more egregious non-compliant households. We prefer the more positive approach but we will be pursuing both avenues.

On the positive side, my next candidates for people “caught doing it right” with respect to recycling using “Big blue” are Armand and Donna Juneau of 222 Snook Road. Donna tells me that they have a separate wooden container for recyclables in their kitchen. They got it at an unfinished furniture shop and finished it to match the cabinetry, so it blends right in to the kitchen, and looks nice. On the other hand, the trash is under the sink, behind a kid lock, so it is much harder to reach.

She says that her 11-year-old son is always reminding them about recycling. She thinks 60 to 70 percent of what they generate in the waste stream is being recycled. She has learned that Styrofoam (other than packing peanuts) is recyclable so she is putting that in the recycle bin. She says party cups and plastic and paper plates wind up there.

When she asked for a 95-gallon “Bigger blue” because she was generating so much recycling, it was there within a day.

She is very impressed with the entire solid waste operation of the DPW. She is particularly impressed with the household hazardous waste operation, which she can bring by appointment to the DPW at any time convenient to her.

She pointed out how helpful Tom Fatcheric has been with respect to recycling and household hazardous waste. In fact, she thinks that the entire DPW is very good (an opinion I share) but she will think even more highly of the road side of the DPW when Snook Road gets paved!

Fred Plett, Chairman
Goffstown Solid Waste Commission

To the Editor:

I urge the voters of Weare and Goffstown to join me in supporting Neal Kurk for state representative.

Neal has been a dedicated public servant for many years and, in my opinion, is a master statesman. He understands the workings of the Legislature better than anyone I know.

Neal Kurk is a realist, not an idealist. He knows what can be accomplished and how to get things done, which anyone familiar with government work can tell you isn’t easy.

Representative Kurk deserves our support and I humbly ask you to vote for him on Sept. 12.

Joe Fiala
Weare