To the Editor:

The people of Goffstown and Weare will be well served by electing Russell Day as one of their state representatives. Committed to the principles of low taxes, limited government and local control, Russ will work hard in Concord and deliver results for his constituents. Russell Day is a man of integrity, and I am proud to be supporting his candidacy.

U.S. Sen. John Sununu

To the Editor:

The Goffstown Junior Baseball Board of Directors would like to say thank you to their 2006 season sponsors for their generosity.

Your contributions to this and other youth programs are an investment in our community that will pay dividends for generations to come.

We ask that the community please pay patronage to the following businesses whenever possible. Thank you!

Allard Ventures, American Flooring, Aubin Hardware, Back Talk Chiropractic, Blue Ribbon Fence, Boisvert Bros. Tree Service, Bryan Fournier Landscaping, China Gourmet, CLD Consulting Engineers, Criterium-Turner Engineers, Dunkin Donuts, Educare Daycare & Learning, Glen Lake Family Practice, Goffstown Physical Therapy, Goffstown Police Association, Goffstown True Value, Gordon F. Burns Agency, Grace Limousine, Howe’s Pharmacy, Jacques Flower Shop, John Neville Excavating, J&G Roofing, J&J Landscaping, KRG Auto Repair, Landscape Plus, Law Office of Anthony Marts, Lifetime Benefits Group, Mansour Orthodontics, Mast Road Lumber, McLane Auto Sales, Neighborhood News, Nixon, Raiche, & Manning, NESM, Northpoint Roofing, Nuwave Electric, Oats Electric, Odd Fellows, Optimist Club, Paquettes Plumbing, Paradis, Raymond & Jalbert, Pinecrest Construction, Pizza Market, Putnam Fuel, Quality Insulation, RE/MAX Synergy, Retlif Testing Labs, Sullys Superette, Super Suds Car Wash, Sousa Signs, Sperry Concrete, State Farm, Thibeault Properties, The Orthopedic Center, The Real Estate Store, The Retirement Advisors, TRB Development Corp and Yankee Pools.

Goffstown Junior Baseball Board of directors

To the Editor:

Last Monday I awoke to find over 30 healthy trees being cut on Partridge Lane, trees that had graced Medford Farms prior to its inception. The last word was that only diseased trees that had been identified by an arborist were to be cut down.

Other trees would also be allowed to be removed if they caused property damage. However, pine needles, particularly heavy this year, and shade were not deemed appropriate reasons to incur the cost of cutting them down.

However, when a logger was found who was willing to cut the trees free for the wood, members were suddenly allowed to remove whatever trees and however many they wished, even those on common property, and while doing so destroying blueberry bushes and fruit trees and a large number of remnants of those trees remain on the street.

I wish to thank the person who had the courage to speak up (I did not) to have this travesty stopped and also to the person who notified the forester. I simply do not understand why one would move into a grove of pine trees and then wish to cut them down. Members, particularly those living in Medford Farms, should have had a vote of this or at the very least, on how it would proceed.

I would hope the committee created at the last meeting will proceed judiciously if cutting is to resume as many of us choose Medford Farms because of those very trees. Cutting every third tree rather than cutting all 20 that some have already marked off near their homes will at least help with less shade and pine needles for them and also take into consideration those of us who enjoy the surroundings as there were when we chose to moved in.

Mandy Deshaies
Goffstown

To the Editor:

On Aug. 9, I was released from from the New Hampshire State Prison in Concord after serving a lengthy term for forgery and drug charges.

During my time in prison, I earned an education and a skilled trade in the sincere hopes that I could make something respectable of myself and get a decent job upon my release.

With all due respect, when I was convicted and sentenced to prison to a term of 7.5 to 15 years, I never once claimed to be innocent and accepted complete responsibility for my actions, paid my price to society and made amends wherever possible in a sincere manner. But upon my release, I found that society was not so forgiving and willing to give someone like me a second chance to work and prove myself, and earn an honest living and become a productive citizen.

As soon as I was released, I began pounding the pavement for employment, went everywhere possible and filled out endless applications. On each application I answered honestly the part where it asked if I had ever been convicted of a felony, and I explained why and about my time in prison.

During the interviews and and review of the applications, when it came to that part, it was instantly over, and in most cases, politely shown the door or told don’t call us, we’ll call you.

I applied for 38 jobs in all for everything from washing dishes, McDonalds and factory work. For the first time in my life, I felt what true prejudice was like, and it was pretty painful, hurt a great deal and made me feel pretty low. At one point, I was really ready to just give up and say the heck with it.

Then I saw an advertisement in the paper for a job with a car dealership in Hooksett to work at their new car lot in Goffstown. So I went and applied for the job, was honest with them and was, to my surprise, hired right on the spot. At first, I didn’t believe it and had to ask a couple times if they were sure and it was me they hired.

Sure enough, I got the job and it came at a time where I had not one penny to my name. I was homeless and living on the streets. I was hungry.

This letter is more about my boss, Mr. Mike McLean; Mr. John Kelly, the company owner; and Mr. Bill Sears, the man who hired me and saw me for who I am now and what I could bring to the company. In all truth and sincerity, I cannot say enough good about these men and auto wholesalers as a whole. Not once, even given my situation living on the streets, did they look at me or treat me less than human or with anything less than complete respect. They took me in, gave me a good paying position reconditioning cars and taking care of all the cars in the lot in the new Goffstown store. It was because of Mr. McLean, Mr. Kelly and Mr. Sears that I now have a decent place to live, clothing on my back, food in my stomach, a great job and great work atmosphere. They saw me in me that I could prove to be a valuable asset and stable asset to them and gave me the priceless chance to work that so many other employers refused to do because of my past.

My immediate boss, Mr. Mike McLean at the Goffstown dealership, has been especially kind and understanding towards me and has become someone that I can confide in openly, and has taken the time to teach me about the car business. In exchange, I give Mr. McLean and Auto Wholesalers 110 percent effort everyday and do what I’m told when I’m told to do it without question. I work on my day off for the company without punching in and being on the clock to show my appreciation and gratitude, and I feel good about doing this and productive at the same time. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for my boss and the company because of kindness, compassion and understanding they have shown and given me.

It is my sincere hope to grown with this company and follow in my boss’ footsteps by his example of leadership and experience. I wish to sincerely thank him and Auto Wholesalers for all they have done for me and for giving me the chance to start life over, get some self-respect and worth, and hopefully, I can do the same for someone else, pay it forward, so to speak.

Marco Mura
Manchester

To the Editor:

My name is Mary Till and I am running for state representative for Goffstown and Weare.

I worked as a social worker for 14 years and a mechanical engineer for 17 years. I live in Goffstown and since I have retired, I have the time, desire and energy to bring a citizen’s perspective to the state legislature.

I am writing this letter because I want your support to go to Concord to fight for your needs. America is a democracy. A democracy is not government by lobbyists for corporations.

A democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people. We are the people. We need affordable health care, we need a living wage. Our children need and deserve a quality education. Everybody needs clean air, clean water and clean earth. A clean earth means a healthy, natural environment in which to live and to raise our children, a place to work, play and grow safe food.

I will work to put the needs of ordinary people first. I will also work to uphold the New Hampshire Constitution, which protects religious freedom, equal rights, freedom of the press, the right to keep and bear arms, the right to know, and the right to vote. But I can’t do this alone. In a democracy, the power resides with the people. You have the power. Vote to protect your constitutional rights. Vote for a clean, healthy environment and vote for a New Hampshire government that meets the needs of the people of New Hampshire.

Mary Till
Manchester
www.goffstownwearedemocrats.org

To the Editor:

My name is Joe Hickey and I am running for the office of commissioner for the third district of Hillsborough County.

I would first like to express my deep and sincere appreciation to those who have shown their support for me in the recent primary election. I would also like to remind you to vote on Nov. 7 in the general election. The democratic process only works when you participate.

The support shown in the primary was phenomenal and, with your continued support, we can win this race together.

When I say that we will win together, I mean that, as commissioner, I will be working not only for you, but with you. I will listen to your needs and see that they are addressed. I understand that the county budget is not comprised of “county money;” it is comprised of your money, taxpayer money.

I will keep a watchful eye on county budgets and county expenditures, ensuring that every tax dollar is accounted for and spent wisely.

I can’t do it alone; I need your vote. Working together, we can stop waste in county government and keep the county budget in check.

I would like to give you a little background on myself. I am a veteran from the United States Army. In addition, I was employed 18 years with the state Highway Department as a dispatcher. I was employed eight years as a State Police special and seven years with the Manchester Police Department special. Currently, I am a court officer with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department. I am a member of the American Legion, VFW and Hillsborough County Law Enforcement Association.

Again, I am running for District 3 commissioner for Hillsborough County. I appreciated the support shown in the primary and would greatly appreciate your continued support in the general election.

Together, we can make a change in county government, but I can’t do it without your vote.

Joseph Hickey Sr.
Merrimack