Melanie Gosselin: NH Food Bank gets big matching donation
The New Hampshire Food Bank announced that an anonymous New Hampshire foundation will match monetary donations dollar for dollar up to seventy five thousand, giving the Food Bank the opportunity to raise a total of on hundred fifty thousand dollars this holiday season. This donation match will provide three hundred thousand meals for the one in nine people—more than one hundred forty thousand—who are so called “food insecure” in New Hampshire, of which over forty four thousand are children under the age of eighteen, according to a press release issued by the Food Bank on Friday. Last year, the New Hampshire Food Bank delivered eight point five million pounds of food to those in need. This year, it expects to distribute ten point five million pounds of food, enough for eight point four million meals. The Food Bank, which does not receive any state or federal funding, provides half of the food that their network of four hundred food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters distribute to those in need throughout the state. According to the Food Bank, the most needed items are:
- Canned Chicken
- Canned Tuna
- Canned Salmon
- Peanut Butter
- Jelly
- Mac n Cheese
- Canned Soup/Stew/Chili
- Canned/Dried Beans
- Canned Nuts
- Rice and Rice Mixes
- Pasta
- Noodle Mixes
For more information and to donate, visit N H Food Bank dot org.
Building on Hope: Looking for next makeover candidate
New Hampshire nonprofits have an opportunity to get a major gift this holiday season as Building On Hope, a New Hampshire-based volunteer organization that collaborates with builders, architects, designers, and suppliers to provide physical improvements to non-profit facilities is currently searching for its next “Extreme Makeover” type renovation project. In the past six years, Building On Hope has completed eight hundred thousand dollars in renovations to New Hampshire organizations like Easter Seals N H, Girls Incorporated and Opportunity Networks through donated goods and labor. To submit an organization for consideration to be Building On Hope’s two thousand sixteen signature project, compose a letter describing the work done by the nonprofit, how it benefits the community and how a rebuilt and remodeled structure could transform the organization and its services. Every two years, Building On Hope takes on a new challenge, rallying volunteers, gathering resources and focusing attention on a project selected for its potential to create enduring positive change for the immediate community and the state as a whole. Building On Hope needs donations and volunteers for their next project, as well as location ideas. Visit building on hope dot com to learn more about the organization, donate or sign up to volunteer. All letters submitted for the next project should be sent to J H at Warren street dot coop by January 30.
News from our own backyard continues after this.
MPD: New graduates soon to be on the job
Fourteen new cops should be ready to hit Manchester’s streets by early February at the latest as they graduated on Friday from the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Police Academy. Angeline Alexakos, Alex April, Shawn McKennedy, Max Rahill, Matt Mara, Kyle Daly, Sarah Thibeault, Lisa Callahan, Meghan Grant, Mike Dejoy, Mike McGee, Cody Healy, James Pittman and Dave Labbe successfully completed their course. Before being let loose on the streets all by themselves, the newly minted cops will be put through the Manchester Police Department’s own training program to orient them to urban policing and the city’s neighborhoods. Let’s hope they’re not fans of Rookie Blue!
Bedford Police: Nixle available for anonymous tips
If you are a Nixle subscriber you can now text anonymous tips to the Bedford Police Department. Text your tip to 8 8 8 7 7 7 and start your tip with the keyword BEDFORDNHPD. Your message will be received anonymously by the police department and assigned to the appropriate personnel for follow up. Please keep in mind that Nixle is not monitored 2 4/ 7 and this is for anonymous tips only. If you need to report a crime in progress or have an emergency call 9 1 1 or the Bedford Police Department at 4 7 2 5 1 1 3. Your call can also be anonymous if you wish.
Candia Cops: Crime Wave Update
A place that might want to consider anonymous Nixle tips is the town of Candia. We’ve got the latest stats from the Candia Crime Wave. Looks like the boys in blue are making progress as there were only four reported arrests from mid November to last Thursday and only three motor vehicle summons. However there were one hundred eight warnings given to motorists who terrorized town streets. As the Candia Police Department coughs up the stats, we’ll keep you informed. Stay strong little Candia, stay strong!
Metzler: Attending imaginary meetings?
Fallout from last week’s meeting of the the Timberlane Regional School District Budget Committee continued to percolate over the weekend. In an email sent to School Board Members, Superindent Earl Metzler’s secretary Cathy Belcher, who runs the place by the way, wrote quote: “As you may know, the Budget Committee rejected the flat line budget that was presented and further directed the administration to come back with a 3rd draft in the amount of $68,078,927. The Superintendent and Business Administrator will have a 3rd draft by this afternoon and will use this opportunity to incorporate some needed improvements to Sandown North in preparation of the consolidation plan. He thanks you, again, for your continued support. Have a good day. Cathy”
Green: Were we at the same meeting?
Wondering what meeting she was at, School Board Member Donna Green posted this to her blog in response. Quote: “This is so beyond the intention and instructions of the budget committee last night that it defies an honest explanation. The budget committee asked the administration to provide justification for twenty two line item increases greater than twenty percent provided by Mr. Cantone and similarly for other committee members who would like budget line justifications. The deadline is Sunday for submitting requests. There was no instruction to return with a 3rd draft at any number.”
Gorman: Funds for school not cut, spending being redirected
Budget Committee Member Cathy Gorman said that in cutting one point one million dollars from Metzler’s originally proposed budget, the Budget Committee actually did not cut funds for the Sandown Central Elementary School and that it appears as if Metzler thinks he has another three quarters of a million dollars to spend because he’s intent on closing the school.
Meanwhile the Board of Selectmen in Danville, complaining it has the fifth highest property taxes in the state, sent a letter in support of the zero increase budget saying that in overwhelmingly voting for the default budget last year, the town didn’t expect a school tax hike of more than six percent. They expected no tax increase. Apparently, they weren’t too impressed with Metzler’s self congratulatory video on how well the district handled the budget.
Grosky: District luxuries apparently don’t include wife’s un-budgeted PR gig
Oh and this tidbit from last Thursday’s meeting of the Timberlane Budget Committee: Chairman Jason Grosky, whose wife, Gretchen Grosky, just started working as the district’s newly hired Public Relations Specialist at and un-budgeted fifteen hundred dollars a month, referred to Sandown Central Elementary School, which houses district wide Special Education programs in addition to Sandown’s fourth and fifth grade, as a quote unquote “luxury” in supporting its closure in a budget that didn’t remove the funds to operate it.
That’s news from our own backyard, Girard at Large hour __ is next.
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