Open it and they will come
The Manchester Fire Department has released the latest stats on the opioid epidemic. As of yesterday, the Safe Station initiative had received one thousand seven hundred seven visits from one thousand two hundred twenty one people since its inception on May fourth last year. One thousand one hundred five people had made just one visit to a Queen City fire station. Two hundred sixty eight people accounted for four hundred eighty six visits. So far this year, people have come from over ninety New Hampshire communities and from the states of Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Florida, Kentucky Oregon and Nevada.
Overdoses continue
On the overdose front, with a week left in the month, there have been forty seven suspected overdoses and five suspected overdose deaths in Manchester versus fifty five overdoses and seven suspected overdose deaths last May. Year to date, there have been two hundred seventy one suspected overdoses with twenty eight suspected deaths. Through the end of May last year, there’d been three hundred thirty one overdoses and forty eight deaths. About twenty percent of the people overdosing on Manchester’s streets are not residents of the Queen City.
McLean: The winner
Former Manchester State Representative Mark McLean is on his way back to the State House. He won the special election held yesterday to replace the late Andy Martel in the floterial district that includes Manchester wards Eight and Nine and the town of Litchfield. A Republican, McLean beat Democrat James Morin 6 5 7 to 5 3 6.
Birdsell: Fetal Homicide bill passes
The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee recommended Senate Bill 6 6, which would include a fetus in the definition of “another” for purposes of certain criminal offenses, ought to pass, yesterday. Following the vote, bill sponsor, District Nineteen Senator Regina Birdsell, Republican from Hampstead, issued a statement thanking the committee, saying she was grateful that it supported the so called “fetal homicide” legislation, which allows justice for families when an unborn child is killed. Said Birdsell, quote:
This is such an important change to our state law that would allow families who unexpectedly lose a child in an incident outside of their control to seek criminal charges and the kind of closure they deserve.
She urged the House to support this bill, saying quote:
so we provide justice for those who cannot protect themselves.
In the State Senate, yesterday, the Finance Committee approved reductions to the Business Enterprise and Business Profits taxes as part of the Fiscal 18-19 budget. The Enterprise Tax would be lowered to point six percent in 2 0 1 9 and then to point five percent in 2 0 2 1. The Profits Tax in 2019 would be seven point seven percent and fall to seven a half percent in 2 0 2 1.
Daniels: Praised tax cuts
Senate Finance Chair Gary Daniels, Republican from-Milford, said he was pleased with the tax cut and predicted it would spur economic growth and state revenues. Quote:
Two years ago, after cutting business taxes for the first time in over 20 years, we saw a dramatic uptick in job creation and businesses continue to grow and expand, improving our state’s economy to this day.
The committee also authorized raising the tax deduction for capital purchases, Section 179 Deduction, bringing New Hampshire in line with the Federal guidelines for deductible capital purchases up to $500,000.
News from our own backyard continues after this.
The Manchester Board of School Committee voted to hire two new folks at its meeting on Monday night. Superintendent Dr. Bolgen Vargas’ nomination of Parker Varney Principal Amy Allen to be the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction was unanimously confirmed by the board as was the nomination of retiring Southside Middle School Assistant Principal Don Menswar to be the district’s next athletic director. Both are expected to take their new positions on July first.
Tax bills going out
Derry Tax Collector Dawn Enright issued a release advising the town will mail its Preliminary 2 0 1 7 Real Estate Tax Bills by the end of this week. Payment will be due by July 3rd. How ironic. The tax bill is due the day before the celebration of our Revolution that was, in part, fought over of Taxation Without Representation. Of course, if you’re a public employee union member in Derry, you have plenty of representation, especially if your on the job in the Fire Department.
Taxes due in Derry
Anyway, payments not made by that date will be subject to interest at 1 2 % per year, in accordance with New Hampshire law. These bills are computed using a taxpayer’s current assessed valuation multiplied by one half of last year’s tax rate, which was a whopping twenty seven dollars and six cents per thousand. This is the first of two tax billings. The final bill will be mailed in the fall once the 2 0 1 7 tax rate has been set by the Department of Revenue Administration in the fall. Your are asked to contact the Office of the Tax Collector if you do not receive your tax bill or if you have any other bill related questions.
Oh, by the way, Enright said to be be sure to check the back of the bill, as it contains important information on Elderly Exemptions, Veteran Credits, and Elderly and Disabled Deferral programs that the town makes available.
MFD: Carbon Monoxide warning
The Milford Fire Department has issued an alert advising folks that just because the winter heating season is over doesn’t mean the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning has gone away. Often called the “invisible killer,” carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels, such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil and methane, burn incompletely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel can be sources of carbon monoxide. Milford Fire suggests residents install carbon monoxide detectors per the manufacturer’s instructions and give their local fire department a call to find out what number they should call if the alarm ever sounds. I guess you put that on the fridge.
Bike Rodeo and Family Fun Day
The Bedford Police Department will be hosting its annual Bike Rodeo on Saturday June 3rd from 10:00 to 2:00 at the Bedford Mall. This event will be held at the same time that the Bedford Police and Fire associations hosting their Family Fun Day. There will be police motorcycle and mountain bike demonstrations, cruisers and fire trucks on display as well as the Bedford Police Incident Command Vehicle. Of course, there will be food and many great surprises. They hope you will join them, rain or shine, for this great day of family fun!
That’s NEWS from our own backyard! Girard at Large hour ___ is next!
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