6 - January 27, 2012 | Salem Community Patriot


In My Opinion... Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down


by Ron Penczak I always take time to read the “Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down” section of each week’s publication for


its entertainment value. I especially enjoy the “Thumbs Up” tidbits. Also, there are times when I can understand why submitter’s will generate “Thumbs Down” items for publication. The ones I enjoy aren’t offensive and are accounts of a generic nature and not personal. One example, when someone complains about school busses providing what appears like portal-to-portal service and seemingly stopping at each student’s home is understandable. In today’s world, drivers are impatient and want to be on their way. No big deal. They got the issue off their chest and perhaps feel better about it. That is just one example. I doubt that the school bus drivers or the school department is going to do anything about it. It’s harmless. However, those that use the paper to make personal attacks on others I find reprehensible, especially when they hide behind the anonymously submitted tag. Over time I have read numerous paragraphs


where individuals have attacked the Budget Committee, Selectmen, Zoning and Planning Board members, police officers the police chief and other town employees. I don’t object to those who bring up specific actions or issues that can be verified as being true and aren’t personal attacks. Although I would suggest that if one is going to criticize someone anonymously because they do not have the courage to submit their name, that they provide full disclosure by addressing the issue; indicate who or what is involved, and provide information on how they verified the incident. Corroborating evidence should also be included. Those who have read my columns in the past


by Ron Penczak


know that I’m not shy about criticizing a person, an organization or a subject that I feel strongly about. But, by the same token, I do provide my name and in many instances I have received comments both good and bad from readers. Of particular concern to me are those who wish to publish strong criticisms about an individual whom they feel is incompetent, lazy, uncaring (or worse) without allowing their name to be published. First thing that comes to mind is: How does the reader know what is being said is true? Does the submitter work with the person, the organization they are berating? Where is the submitter obtaining the information and what are the facts to support the statements? How can each comment be verified? Oh, wait a minute, it’s all anonymous so nothing has to be factual, just put down what comes to mind and what will generate controversy. It doesn’t matter if it is a total lie, half-true or just a smidgeon true. Hey, it’s okay if the submitter has a personal vendetta and wants to make an individual or an organization look bad; it is all anonymous so that makes it okay. Don’t say you’re afraid of retaliation. If the allegations are true there is no need to be afraid. It doesn’t bother me when people submit


“Thumbs Up” comments anonymously. Perhaps they want to stay out of the spotlight. I don’t have a gripe against those who submit nameless “Thumbs Down” comments that don’t attack individuals or organizations. However, I don’t respect anyone who will hide behind the cover of anonymity to viciously attack an individual or an organization. I do feel sorry for those individuals who don’t have the intestinal fortitude to face those that they attack and allow them the opportunity to defend themselves. Maybe they are afraid that they would be sued for slander. Perhaps that is the reason why they hide behind the cover of anonymous because they know their statements are false and would result in them being sued. Anyway, this is just one man’s opinion but I do believe many will agree with me.


In My Opinion is strictly an OP-ED column that stands on the opinion of one writer, Ron Penczak, as opposed to a newspaper reporter who does not provide an opinion but reports the facts. This column, in many instances, is a counterpoint to published stories and does not reflect the unbiased reporting policy of the Salem Community Patriot or the opinion of the management, advertisers and ownership of Area News Group.


Front Porch From My


by Pat Blodgett If an award is ever given for the Coziest Kitchen in Salem, Darlene and Greg Eden will win it hands down.


On one of the chilliest rainy days so far this


year, I settled in at the Eden’s antique oak kitchen table to get the story on their P.P. Stewart vintage cook stove built in Troy, New York, in 1902. What a handsome piece this is! Originally the stove was used on the old Ermer family farm in North Salem, which is where Greg Eden acquired it in 1973 for the ridiculously low sum of $100. Straight from the factory the stove would run on


wood or coal, but had been converted to range oil (kerosene). Being a stickler for authenticity, Greg went to Preston Fuel in Lowell, MA, to get grates that fit correctly, enabling him to run the stove on wood for the past 20 years. “In 1992 I paid $1,200 to get the entire stove retrofitted, seams sealed, all the nickel redone. Stanley Iron Works in Nashua shipped out the nickel parts to be redone. It’s expensive because there’s so much toxic waste to that process. We were surprised when we got the stove back. We hadn’t realized that the blackened parts were really nickel until we saw it with those same parts all renickeled and as shiny as new.” The right corner is missing a piece of nickel, which just serves to make the stove more interesting. Greg explained, “I asked Charlie Ermer about that. He says when he was a child he was running around the kitchen and walloped his head on that corner. His mother promptly pulled the piece of nickel off the stove to protect her son.”


Darlene cooks on the stove year round, but “in winter with all the stews, and chowders, and recipes that you can leave on the stove top all day, it does get more use.” She also tells me that “years ago people used to move their large stoves to an area between the house and the barn in what they called their ‘summer kitchens’ to keep the heat out of the home.” The antique stove has a nifty foot pedal that they can use to open the oven when the latch on the door gets too hot to touch. I asked if they would ever consider selling the antique stove. Both answered, “It will go back to someone in the family if we ever move and can’t take it with us.” Just a few feet away sits an antique icebox from the 1920s. Greg reports, “This was a mess when we first acquired it, but we had it sandblasted with nutshells, which is a much softer method, and then we restored it with tung oil. It was made by Cavalier in Tennessee, the company who made Coca Cola coolers.” I left the Eden’s kitchen reluctantly. My visit


had brought back so many memories of my childhood when I used to make Wonder Bread toast right smack on top of the stove, and we clamped onto small heated metal triangles to iron our clothes. In an age where things we bought only three months ago are already obsolete, isn’t it grand that some people choose to preserve these treasures from the past?


Salem Co-operative Bank Supports Granite United Way’s VITA Program with Grant


Salem Co-operative Bank announced today their exclusive sponsorship of a $5,000 grant for Granite United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) site in Salem. The VITA Program provides free income tax return preparation


3.042%


*Rates are based on owner occupied property and are subject to change without notice. Rate is based on 0 points, $9.66 monthly P & I per $1,000. The monthly P & I per $1,000 are based on the rate and term indicated assuming a down payment of 20%. Please note that Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is


978-372-7731


978-372-7731


Haverhill, MA 978-372-7731


*Rates are based on owner occupied property and are subject to change without notice. Rate is based on 0 points, $9.66 monthly P & I per $1,000. The monthly P & I per $1,000 are based on the rate and term indicated assuming a down payment of 20%. Please note that Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is required on all loans with LTV’s greater than 80%. If an escrow account is required or requested, the actual monthly payment will also include amounts of real estate taxes and/or PMI, if applicable. The maximum loan limits are as follows: Single Family-$417,000; Two Family-$533,850; Three Family-$645,300; and Four Family-$801,950. Additional rates for loans that exceed the loan limits are available upon request. Call to speak to a Loan Offi cer. All loans are subject to the Bank’s credit standards. The APR is based on a loan of $180,000; please call for a personalized quote.


re*Rates are based on owner occupied property and are subject to change without notice. Rate is based apn 0 points, $9.66 monthly P & I per $1,000. The monthly P & I per $1,000 are based on the rate a d Three Family-$645,300; and Four Family-$801,950. Additional rates for loans that exceed the loan limits are available upon request. Call to speak t dit s andards.


quested, the actual monthly payment will also include amounts of real estate taxes and/or PMI, if oterm indicated assuming a down payment of 20%. Please note that Private Mortgage Insurance erm indicated assuming a down payment of 20%. Please note that Private Mortgage Insurance


applicable. The maximum loan limits are as follows: Single Family-$417,000; Two Family-$533,850; t (PMI) is required on all loans with LTV’s greater than 80%.


crequested, the actual monthly payment will also include amounts of real estate taxes pplicable.


Member FDIC Member DIF


The maximum loan limits are as follows: Single Family-$417,000; Two Family-$533,850; a Three Family-$645,300; and Four Family-$801,950. Additional rates for loans that exceed the loan Three Family-$645,300; and Four Family-$801,950. Additional rates for loans that exceed the loan The APR is based on a loan of $180,000; please call The APR is based on a loan of $180,000; please call


(PMI) is required on all loans with LTV’s greater than 80%. L Officer. Af aln escrow account r applicable.


limits are


limits are available upon request. Call t credit standards.


Member FDIC Member DIF


Member FDIC Member DIF


Member FDIC Member DIF


The maximum loan limits are as follows: Single F mily-$417,000; Two Family-$533,850; limits are available upon request. Call to speak to a Loan Officer. All loans are subject to the Bank’s credit standards.


credit standards.


vailable upon request. Call to speak to a Lo The APR i


based on a loan of $180,000; please call


speak to a Loan Officer. All lo ns a e subject to the Bank’s for a personalized quote.


for a personalized quote. The APR is based on a loan of $180,000; please cal


oan Officer. All loans are subjec is required or for a personalized quote.


loans are subject to th te Bank’s nd/or PMI, if


on 0 points, $9.66 monthly P & I per $1,000. The monthly P & I per $1,000 are based on the rate and plicable.


(PMI) is required on all loans with LTV’s greater than 80%. reques ed, the actual monthl


uir loans with LTV’s greater than 80%. f an escrow account


978-372-7731





term indicated assuming a down payment of 20%. Please note that Private Mortgage Insurance *Rates areq based on owner occupied property and are subject to cha Inge without notices. R iaste r iesd baseed


on 0 points, $9.66 monthly P & I per $1,000. The monthly P & I per $1,000 are based on th rate and all i


*R tes are based on owner occupied property nd are subject to change wi hout notice. Rate is based require uirq ord or


603-329-7333


Hampstead, NH 603-329-7333


603-329-7333 603-329-7333


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Three Family-$645,300; and Four Family-$801,950. Additional rates for loans that exceed the loan requested, the actual monthly payment will also include amoun Its olf real estate taxes and/or PMI, if


The maximum loan limits are as follows: Single Family-$417,000; Two Family-$533,850; If an escrow account


for a personalized quote.


payment will also include amounts of real es ate taxes and/or PMI, if is required or


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Salem, NH 603-893-3588


603-893-3588 603-893-3588


603-893-3588 603-893-3588


Purchase or Refinance at APR*


10 Year Owner Occupied 10 Year Owner Occupied


10 Year Owner O cupied 10 Year Owner Occupied


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Purchase or Refinance at APR*


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by trained, certified volunteers and access to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). While the Program is offered to anyone, it targets lower income families. It is estimated that 2,000 families and individuals in Greater Salem are eligible for EITC. The Salem Boys and Girls Club has agreed to host the VITA site this year, keeping the grant benefits local to the Greater Salem area. Salem currently ranks ninth in New Hampshire with regard to the number of filers who qualify for EITC. “At Granite United Way, we are committed to helping individuals and families achieve and maintain financial stability,” says Patrick Tufts, President and CEO of Granite United Way. He goes on to say, “there are many who will greatly benefit from the services they receive at this local free tax preparation site. We are extremely grateful to Salem Co-operative Bank for recognizing this and supporting our Salem VITA site.” “We are proud and excited to be involved with such a


worthwhile cause. This program will provide much needed resources and assistance to low income families in the Greater Salem communities,” states the Bank’s President, Ann Lally. In addition to tax preparation, Granite United Way will also


provide individuals and families with information on other programs available to them such as prescription drug discounts, locations of nearby food pantries, education on positive saving behaviors and budgeting.


THEWINEBAR


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to our Mediterranean Night:


January 31st, 2012 5:00pm to 8:00pm


At Tuscan Kitchen, 67 Main Street, Salem, NH 03079.


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Book a Vacation of 7 Nights or more and receive a Tuscan Kitchen Gift Card!


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You're Invited


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