Pelham - Windham News February 11, 2011 - 13


Thumbs Up? Thumbs Down?


Comments expressed in this column are the sole views of those callers and do not reflect the views of the Pelham~Windham News or its advertisers. Town and school officials encourage readers to seek out assistance directly to resolve any problems or issues. The Pelham~Windham News editorial staff holds the right to refuse any comment deemed inappropriate.


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“Thumbs up to Caitlin Yankowskas and John Coughlin for winning the National Championship in the Pairs Free Skate competition. Their televised performance was a joy to watch. They made a stunning appearance in white costumes. Your community congratulates you for a job well done.”


“Thumbs down Dr Bass... you call for an early dismissal and then dismiss way to late, the roads were horrible and you had employees and student driving on them! Then Thursday when everyone has to get up and clear off the driveways and vehicles you have no delay ... and you also had an opportunity to use a TW/S for a make up snow day and you didn’t bother to do that either...”


“Thumbs down to the Windham Superintendent


for even considering having Pelham come to Windham. We don’t even have 4 full classes and already you are working on a plan to overcrowd the High School - it is bad enough that all our other schools are overcrowded. You stated that Windham overwhelmingly voted to have a HS with Pelham, but that was before we planned and built the HS for just Windham. Start concentrating on figuring out what you will do for the other schools of Windham and stop focusing so much on your precious HS.”


“Thumbs up to the anonymous Good Samaritan that pulled over to assist me on Route 111 when my 2-year-old daughter was choking on the side of the road. She hadn’t gotten any air for almost 30 seconds by the time you pulled over and it was a great comfort to both no longer be alone and to have someone be on the phone with 911 while I helped my daughter. This was all the way back in October, and I’d hoped I’d see you again when on that night you declined to supply your name - alas, I have not. I am so blessed to have had that evening turn out well for our family and I am so grateful to you and your husband for staying with me until the fire department came and she was out of danger. Thank you.”


Pelham School Board. Private meetings again with only part of the School Board? Mr. Ducharme nominates a person from the town for the newly vacated seat and she magically appears in the audience. (She has never been there before.) Then just as magically the School Moderator appears in the audience as well. (He has never been there before either.) She might be a great person but too bad she had


to ‘come aboard’ in such a negative fashion! Welcome to Pelham’s deceptive School Board!!”


“Thumbs down to the Pelham Board of Selectmen. Why are they giving away a town- owned Right of Way off Castle Hill Road, when we have been using that same R.O.W. for necessary access to our property for 32 years? Should other users of town-owned R.O.W.’s now have to start worrying about access to their properties also??”


“Thumbs down to the Pelham Police department and their snowmobile. Are we really spending money on cops riding around with the intent of harassing, I mean policing, snowmobile trails. I understand the snowmobile was seized and did not cost anything but we spent money painting/lettering/putting blue lights/ and then training/ buying mittens and hats/ top of the line helmets, and snow pants, and maintenance... and on and on. This free snowmobile has already cost us hundreds if not thousands of dollars, and that does not include the pay and huge injury/insurance risk. How does this stuff slip in? Unbelievable, btw vote no on the cop in school, they put in for 1/2 of the year but the training and equipment is all paid up front, who are you kidding. I’d rather see them all at Dunkin’s at least that doesn’t cost anything. Be there for us, be crime fighters, but know your boundaries.”


“Thumbs up to the Lobster Tail. I love your new décor in the dining room almost as much as I love your food!”


“Thumbs down to my neighbor. I am a mother home alone, my husband is on a business trip and it took me 4 times to shovel my very long driveway and he came in with his front loader and he dumped all the snow out of his driveway into my driveway, making snow banks 11-12 feet tall. ‘Thumbs down to Kenny B. for being arrogant and rude and not respectful of others property.”


“Thumbs up to the new arcade in Pelham next to Chunkys. ‘It’s a very fun place with friendly staff.”


“Thumbs down. After watching the televised


school board member sworn in (ha ha) I hope it takes just as long, (ten minutes) to get rid of all of you.”


“Thumbs down to the kindergarten. All Pelham


voters beware, pay attention and vote no on a forever kindergarten financial burden.”


“Thumbs down to the building code officer inspecting our local school systems. There is probably 32 pounds per square foot of snow on our roofs. I was told that all Mr. Soucy did was poke his head up through the suspended ceiling and say it was okay. Our children’s lives are in your hands. I think Mr. Soucy should take a good look at himself and his position within the town and I think the people need to take a good look at Mr. Soucy. ‘Thumbs down’ to people who only care about themselves.”


pay her property taxes in full and on time before working on an election campaign.”


“Thumbs down to the school lunches at


Windham High. When the school first opened it was delicious but its been going down hill since then. The meatballs today were tan colored, the pizza was soggy and flavorless, the sandwich meats are all white even the ham, the chicken patties are disgusting. It’s time to re-evaluate your food. It’s like you tried to impress everyone at the beginning with the good food and then you brought in the crap! We miss the chef!”


“Thumbs down to inconsiderate neighbors. On behalf of disabled people who have no choice but to do life’s tasks even though it will make them suffer more than they already do! If you were any kind of a decent person knowing this persons


“Thumbs up to Principal Roger Dumont at St. Patrick’s School for taking the initiative to hire contractors to shovel off the roof. I appreciate everything he has done to look out for our students and our community over there at St. Patricks, it’s reassuring that we have a fine staff member like Roger who takes the initiative. Thanks Roger.”


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“Thumbs up to Steven Ferrante, Yori Kasprzak,


Tom Langlois, Cliff Marotta, Joe Oconnor, Chris Williamson and all the wonderful volunteers who helped to put on ‘A Dad’s Promise.’ This was an amazing evening, one that will remain in our heart and minds forever. Thank you for all your hard work. You are a truly amazing group to put on such an event for the families that have endured the loss of their loved ones.”


“Thumbs down to people who think they know


what it’s like to be in pain all the time and have no help and no other way to get things done. Everything you do has to be adjusted it always takes a lot longer to do, and you have to wait to do the important things until you have a halfway decent day knowing the next few are going to be insufferable!! Maybe you should have been a better neighbor and offered to help instead of taking time to write stuff you obviously know nothing about!!”


“Thumbs down to the Pelham lady running for cemetery trustee. Perhaps she should work to


Sound Test - continued from front page


measured at 67 decibels. “That’s not in question,” he said. “But the cost outweighs any benefit to homeowners,” he continued. The Federal Highway Administration “sets the bar” in these cases, Stamnos said, referring to the criteria used to determine eligibility. According to these federal criteria, the cost per household to construct the sound barrier near Squire Armour would be $50,000 each; $20,000 more per house than allowed. The total estimated cost of the sound barrier along this stretch of highway would be in the neighborhood of one million dollars, Stamnos said. National guidelines were employed during the testing, which utilized a federal highway computer model, one that projects a worst-case scenario 20 years into the future. An adjacent location to Squire Armour Road, however, one that includes May Lane and Jewell Drive, did meet all projected criteria, and will be getting a sound barrier, he said. Windham Selectmen’s Chairman Charles McMahon said he feels that the Federal computer “noise” model used for the testing is “arbitrary” and, therefore, not relevant to this situation. McMahon said the testing was done last year, prior to the removal of the median strip along I- 93 and before a great many trees were cut down. He said he believes that 21 of the Squire Armour households are now significantly affected by increased noise from the highway. “You can’t carry on a conversation,” McMahon


said of trying to talk to someone outside one of these residences on Squire Armour Road. “You have to yell to be heard.” “There’s been a tremendous noise impact on those who have invested in these homes,” McMahon added. “Can the [Federal highway] model be


challenged?” McMahon asked. “There lies the conundrum,” he answered himself. He then said that town officials are asking for a third test to be done, now that the median strip on I-93 is history. Stamnos said that the level of the noise doesn’t change the effectiveness of a sound barrier.


It’s


the line of sight that determines its effectiveness, he said. Another contributing factor is the density of the neighborhood, which helps to determine whether or not explicit criteria are met. Sound barriers are generally about 20 feet high and the closer they are to the highway, the more effective they are. Of those areas tested thus far along the Route 93 corridor, seven locations have met the criteria while 11 have not, he told selectmen. Suzanne Duchesne, a resident of Squire Armour Road, was not satisfied with Stamnos’ comments. “It’s okay for the State to take some of my land for the highway, but, then, it’s not okay for me to give up some of my land so that the State can build a barrier and protect my investment,” she said. “There are a lot of variables here; ones that can be reasonably disputed,” Duchesne stated. Another area resident said she’s very concerned


about the negative impact of the noise increase on property values. “What about the cost to us, as homeowners?” she asked. “We didn’t ask for an eight-lane highway” running next to our homes, she continued. “We feel as if we’re being railroaded.”


Another area resident said, simply, “Put [the sound barrier] on the hill; do the right thing; protect our homes.” Gesturing around the room, she added, “We are a neighborhood; not just a bunch of individual property owners.” Stamnos said that even if the DOT is not able to construct a sound barrier, there are other possibilities to provide a buffer, including the erection of privacy fences or the planting of trees and shrubs. He did admit, however, that these are more a visual screen than a sound barrier. Another resident suggested building an earthen berm to help deflect the noise from these homes. “It’s cheaper than building a wall,” he said. This idea was not well received by State DOT representatives attending the meeting. Selectmen’s Vice Chairman Bruce Breton said he feels that the State’s “hands are tied,” due to federal regulations. The I-93 project is being done with 75-percent federal money, he said. He urged residents to put pressure on their Congressional Representatives. “Get them to expand the scope of the study,” he suggested. Squire Armour resident Frank


Eliminating the Risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Your Home


submitted by New Hampshire Fire Marshal’s Office The New Hampshire Carbon Monoxide Working Group* wants to remind residents about the dangers of carbon monoxide levels in your homes. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned. As the winter months come upon us, our use of fuel for heating increases, thereby increasing the potential for elevated levels of CO. Nationwide, hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning furnaces or appliances. Several deaths occur in New Hampshire every year. Infants, elderly people, unborn babies, and people with anemia or with a history of heart or respiratory disease can be especially susceptible. Shawn Murray, President of the NH Fire Chiefs Association, states that symptoms of CO poisoning may include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, sleepiness, and confusion. Do not ignore symptoms, particularly if more than one person is feeling them. If you suspect CO poisoning, get outside to fresh air immediately, and then call 911. Techniques to reduce the risk of CO poisoning in your home when using fuel-burning devices include: • Have a trained professional inspect, clean, and tune-up central heating system (furnaces, flues, and chimneys) annually. Repair


any leaks promptly. 258257 1-10-08.indd 1


• Install CO alarm(s) with battery backup outside of sleeping areas. • Test your CO alarm(s) frequently and replace dead batteries. • Do not use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time. • Keep gas appliances properly adjusted. • Do not use any gasoline-powered engines, such as portable generators, in enclosed spaces, including your garage, and locate them at least 10 feet from your house with the exhaust facing away from the building.


• Do not idle your vehicle inside a garage. • Do not sleep in any room with an unvented gas or kerosene space heater.


• Make certain that doors on all wood stoves fit tightly. For more information about carbon monoxide, visit www.nh.gov/


co.


*The New Hampshire Carbon Monoxide Work Group includes representatives from NH Office of the State Fire Marshal, NH Department of Safety, NH Department of Health and Human Services, NH Department of Environmental Services, US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Powers Generators Services, Northern New England Poison Center, and the Capital Area Public Health Network.


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Stone said he and other homeowners along this stretch are considering hiring an independent noise consultant, but would like “to partner” with the DOT and town officials. “We need to see what we can do to get a wall in our neighborhood,” he said. “If that’s the path you take, we’ll take a look at it,” Stamnos responded. Bill Cass, who represents the State Commissioner’s office at the DOT, finally came to the podium in an attempt to placate the residents. “You deserve answers,” he said. “We need to go back and look at some of these issues. We do need to go by the [Federal rules, but there may be loopholes.”


Cass said he is willing to work with a private noise consultant in an attempt to resolve the dilemma. “But there are no false promises that the answers will be any different” from prior noise level tests, Cass said. “This cannot slide,” Chairman McMahon said. “We’ll get right on it,” Cass answered, “sooner than later.” When pressed for a more definitive answer, Cass told McMahon that he would tackle the issue beginning no later than February 7.


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situation, like you think you know everything, maybe you should have gotten off your butt and helped, because I’ll bet you didn’t!! Perhaps you know nothing about living on a fixed income, people can’t afford to have everything done for them and I am sure they would have appreciated the help, but instead you just pass judgment without compassion. Yeah you!!”


“Thumbs up! I just wanted to say ‘thank you’ to our neighbor Dave for plowing out our driveway this winter. You have no idea how much that helped us and how much we truly appreciate you!!!”


Tank you for your submissions. All comments, thumbs up or down, are anonymous and not written by the Pelham~Windham News staff. Tumbs comments can be sent via telephone, 880-1516 or emailed to us at thumbs@areanewsgroup.com. When submitting a Tumbs comment, please specify that you would like it printed in the Pelham~Windham News. No names are necessary. Please keep negative comments to the issue. Comments should be kept to 100 words or less.


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