Snow Removal Budget Bursting at the Seams
February 29, 2008
Like the storm clouds this winter, Epping’s snow budget is bursting at the seams, and selectmen are forced to look forward to the end of this year and plan for what to do if there is another snowy December.
Road Agent Dave Reinhold told selectmen Monday night that he thinks the town will make it to spring without breaking the budget.
“But if we have another December like this past one, it’s going to be tough,” Reinhold said.
More from Terrill Covey, SeacoastOnline.
Selectmen Debate Permits for Transfer Station
February 29, 2008
A resolution to the question of how to deal with landowners who don’t live in town was proposed to selectmen Monday night.
Jim Freeman came before selectmen with a proposal that would allow the town to grant permits to taxpaying landowners who wish to use the transfer station when they are between tenants and working on their property within the town.
Freeman suggested that the town grant permits to such landowners, and on those permits would be their name and the address of the property they own.
Full story from Terrill Covey, SeacoastOnline.
New England Dragway Hosts Winter Rally Race
February 29, 2008
Cars were sliding all over the place in Epping last Saturday. The cause wasn’t Friday’s storm, however.
The Sports Car Club of America came to the New England Dragway for a winter rally race. More than 40 drivers showed up, with every state in New England represented, and raced their vehicles through an ice and snow covered course, set up in a field behind the grandstands.
In a rally cross race, the cars do not race side by side, instead, they compete to see who can navigate a pre-set course, through hairpin turns, over snow and ice quickly.
“It’s about the adrenaline,” said Tim Chevalier, one of the drivers at the event. “It’s fun. You have a good, safe environment to try things that you should never dare do on the street.” Chevalier and his fellow drivers gathered to race at 9 a.m. Saturday morning, and raced throughout the day until 5 p.m. The competitors could be seen throughout the day working on one another’s cars, eating lunch together, and exchanging stories about past rally crosses.
Terrill Covey has the full story on Seacoast Online.
Date Set For Hazardous Waste Pick Up
February 29, 2008
Solid Waste Department supervisor Jim Freeman came before selectmen Monday night to discuss a date for home hazardous materials pickup, and to air some concerns.
Freeman suggested that the town hold its hazardous materials pick up in conjunction with the town of Exeter on Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Freeman said holding the event on that day would cost the town less money than other options, and he added that the Exeter highway shed is an easy location for Epping residents to find.
More from Terrill Covey.
Recreation Dept. Helps Low-Income Children Achieve
February 26, 2008
The Epping Recreation Department is joining forces with the schools to help kids from low-income families achieve success in all facets of their lives.
The town has applied for federal 21st Century Grant funding, which could bring up to $125,000 for each of the three schools, or $375,000 combined.
“The district is approaching 30 percent in our free and reduced (lunch) population, and it must be acknowledged that some of our families are struggling,” said Superintendent Barbara Munsey. “The district also sees this in our classrooms and our state test scores.” Munsey said if the town receives the grant money, most of it will go toward before and after-school programs, as well as programs during school vacations.
Full Story from Terrill Covey.
Preserving the Leddy Center
February 26, 2008
When was the last time you went to the theater? I don’t mean to the movies, I mean to a play. When have you seen actors up close and personal? Have you heard the crinkle of a dress, seen the glint from the stage lights in an actor’s eye, heard each breath being drawn during an emotional scene?
At the Leddy Center for the Performing Arts in Epping you have this opportunity, at least for now.
Elaine Gatchell is the director of the Leddy Center. As a child she did what children did in the 1950s without TV, she played outside. But Gatchell’s play was really the beginning of a lifelong path.
Read the full piece from Vandy Duffy at Seacoast Online.
PLEDGE TO HELP
The Gustavsons have offered the Leddy Center theater the opportunity to rent to own the Leddy building first floor so they can access their current second floor theater space. Gatchell hopes 200 people will come forward and pledge at least $10 a month for a year so the first year’s rent can be raised. A pledge form can be obtained at www.leddycenter.org/pledgeletter. Gatchell hopes to continue the season’s production schedule and children’s camps as scheduled. To plan to see a play, musical production or enroll in a camp visit www.leddycenter.org.
Plans for 288,000-square-foot Retail Center Before Planning Board
February 26, 2008
The long-awaited project behind Burger King in Epping, may finally be growing legs, as the developers say they should begin work on the property within the next month.
Representatives of Waterstone Retail, owners of the site, appeared before the Planning Board on Thursday night to go over the details of the plans for a 288,000-square-foot retail center, which has been in the works since 2001.
Doug Richardson, vice president of development for Waterstone, came before the board to outline the plans for architecture, landscaping and signage.
The Planning Board approved the layout of the plan at an earlier meeting, and Thursday night Waterstone returned to begin to move the project forward.
More from Terrill Covey
Girls Basketball Team Falls in Quarterfinals
February 25, 2008
The Epping High School girls basketball team was defeated by No. 1 Gilford, 71-38, in the Class M quarterfinals on Sunday at Plymouth State University.
“They took us for a great ride,” Epping coach Tim Hopley said. “I’d do anything to take away the hurt and pain (of today’s loss), but when they look in the mirror tomorrow, when the tears dry up and smiles start to come out, and they ask themselves, was it totally worth it, maybe it’ll make them feel better.
More from Ken Stejbach.
Newmarket, Epping to Join Forces in Football
February 22, 2008
They’ll call them the Epping-Newmarket Blue Devils.
Epping and Newmarket are joining forces this fall on the football field.
Last week the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA) classification committee approved the request submitted by both athletic directors — Casey Todd at Epping High School and Randy Edgerly at Newmarket — to form a co-operative football team that will play at the Division V level.
Epping was originally scheduled to move down to Division VI football after this past season.
- Full story from Ken Stejbach.
Girls Earn Class M Tournament Win
February 22, 2008
Meghan Fiore got her 1,000th point and the Epping High School girls basketball team earned a trip to Plymouth State University and the Class M quarterfinals with a 41-34 win over Somersworth on Thursday.
From seacoastonline
