100+ Women who Care Cheshire County was founded in 2016 and is associated with the 100 Who Care Alliance. They are also a part of over 700 “giving circles.”

Here in Keene, Project Home is a non-profit organization helping asylum seekers move from detention centers into caring homes and communities while waiting for their asylum hearings.

A little background on both organizations:

Women who Care meet four times a year for about an hour where each member donates a $50 check which will then be given to a local non-profit organization. How this works is, at each meeting members nominate an organization, the names are placed into a hat and three names are then drawn. Presentations are given about the organizations, questions (if any) are answered and then a vote for one is taken. The non-profit receiving the most votes, is given all the checks which are then made out to them.

“Project Home is a grassroots organization that helps asylum seekers move from detention centers into our communities and homes as they await their asylum hearings. We will welcome at least five asylum-seeking families or individuals in a given period of time, providing not only housing but legal, medical, educational and any other necessary support. We are creating a community-based model in the Monadnock Region and working with other organizations to develop a coalition that supports this work. This will serve as the foundation for replicating this model across New Hampshire, and eventually across the nation.” This is the Mission Statement from the Project Home website.

In 2019, Project Home became a busy non-profit organization dedicated to the needs of those guests who are seeking asylum here in America. Teams are assembled to supply support in various ways such as hosting a family (or a single person, or perhaps a parent and child), arranging for legal support, transporting them to services such as medical and mental health care, English as a second language classes, schools for children, and job training. Basic assimilation into a new community.

Recently, at the August 2023 meeting of 100+ Women Who Care Cheshire County, Project Home was chosen as the recipient of the quarterly donations totaling $18,130. This funding will go a long way in providing Project Home guests with the basic needs of food and shelter, education and legal support.

Guests and new members at 100+ Women who Care are always welcome. For more information about the group, visit 100pluswomencheshire-county.com or email 100pluswomencheshirecounty@gmail.com. To learn more, possibly become part of a team, or to donate go to the above mentioned Project Home website.

Congratulations Project Home and thank you Women who Care!

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” 

Emma Lazarus 1849-1887

On October 5 there was a public hearing that came before the Keene City Council on the proposed rezoning of a lot off of Ashuelot Street. Locals will recall this spot as a big empty concrete overflow parking lot for the mall, back when there was a mall, and which has recently been replaced by a big lawn adjacent to Ashuelot River Park. 

Two thirds of the 3.5 acre property was donated to the city last year to become parkland. I was one of four Councilors who voted against accepting that property, although ten others voted in favor.  So now that land will be expanding a city park, which is nice, but not as nice as becoming new apartments that people can live in.

The proposal before us now is to convert the rest of the property from high-density residential zoning to commercial zoning, so that the space could be developed into a headquarters for the Monadnock Conservancy.

While the Monadnock Conservancy does important work stewarding habitat in our region, I just don’t like this project. 

My concern is that, at a time when we are facing a simultaneous housing shortage and oversupply of commercial space, the Conservancy is building a suburban-style office building on a piece of land in our city’s walkable urban core. A far better use of that spot would be to build a family-oriented apartment complex.

Think about it. A fact of our age is that young families can’t afford starter homes anymore. But what may be in reach would be two and three-bedroom apartments near the center of town, adjacent to the Ashuelot River Park and featuring some of Keene’s only waterfront views, that can provide a supportive community and a fun place for kids to grow up.

The Monadnock Conservancy project doesn’t offer any of that. By displacing potential urban apartments, they are squeezing new housing development out to the city’s edges, consuming far greater amounts of land and energy and fostering car-dependent lifestyles that put pressure on the city’s roads and parking capacity.

Thus, while the building is going to be LEED certified and the parking lot is going to be covered in solar panels, that kind of green halo doesn’t really cancel out the much greater effect of bad land use decisions. This project is not actually green. 

An actually green option would be to save the prime housing location for housing, and for the Monadnock Conservancy to instead move to one of the several commercial properties that are currently for sale down on Main Street. I really hope that happens.

If the recent pandemic has highlighted anything (actually many anything’s) one issue would be the need for more child care providers who are paid a livable wage throughout the state. Here in Keene a new program was recently begun by the Monadnock Economic Development Corporation with those in rural areas in mind. The idea is to bring child care services into private homes with the aid of tax credits and grants. The goal is to make available financial assistance for health and safety improvements to private homes while they receive child care and business training. 

Any money appropriated from selling tax credits goes for renovations that are a requirement for health and safety codes. For those who need assistance in navigating the process of child care licensing, a grant through the NH Charitable Foundation pays for a consultant. Additionally, Keene State College and Monadnock United Way both acquired funding to increase their training in early childhood education. 

This past June, the state budget included $60.5 million to help increase the number of providers, their expenses and financial assistance to families looking for child care. In Sept., the Executive Council approved a project proposed by the NH Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS). According to Karen Hebert, director of the DHHS Division of Economic Stability, Granite United Way in Manchester was awarded $1.5 million. This money will be used to involve employers in expansion efforts of child care services.    

On Wednesday, the Executive Council approved a request from the NHDHHS offer of a one-time financial assistance to those who have child care services in their homes and to child care facilities. This is $3.6 million in federal money which is in addition to the more than $100 million NH had previously funded for the expansion of child care services since the pandemic. Providers will have to apply for it and the money can be used to get back some operating expenses sustained between Mar. 3, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2023. 

Allowable expenses, (according to the department’s request), include building or expansion of outdoor space; repairs, renovations or maintenance; lease or long-term mortgage payments; and training or software for the business. The goal is for this assistance to allow child care providers to hire and retain more employees. In the past, requests were made to lawmakers by these providers for extra financial assistance. 

The lack of child care providers came to the attention of the Legislature and resulted in House Speaker Sherman Packard to form a special legislative committee. The committee was formed this past Jan. with the goal of finding ways how to address this ongoing crisis. Legislation is expected to be brought in January, 2024 concerning child care scholarship program for families; staff to child ratios; and increasing child care providers. 

The DHHS will post the application on nh-connections.org, which is a resource website for providers and families in need of child care. These new awards will be based in part on the amount of children providers serve. The deadline to apply will be Dec. 1 at 4:30 p.m.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), there are fifteen known hate groups in New Hampshire. A little more than half are statewide with the remaining in towns such as Gilford, Manchester and Richmond (to name a few). Some of these groups are listed as “anti-government” others just “general” hate. This article will introduce us to the New Hampshire chapter of Proud Boys, whose “general” hate is directed throughout the state.

Their website has a Youtube presentation given by original Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes, which was founded in 2016. They call themselves the NH Proud Boys, Sons of Liberty and consider themselves to be a patriotic organization celebrating American values and traditions. One of their beliefs on their website is “Venerating the Housewife,” the women who work tirelessly caring for their families and work to keep their homes running smoothly.  

Yeah, I guess they would view that as a traditional, American value, honoring the housewife.

They would also like to end welfare, believing this would encourage people to work hard and contribute to society while promoting independence and self-sufficiency. OK, how about we tank welfare AFTER every employee in every employment situation in every state earns a living wage to comfortably afford food, housing, day care, health needs not covered by insurance, schooling (either for themselves or their children), car payments/transportation and anything else that life tends to throw at a human being.

They would like to see censorship outlawed as they feel censorship only suppresses ideas and stifles progress. No word on how they feel about book-banning but they are not overly fond of drag queens reading a book to kids. 

They profess to have zero tolerance for racism, believing every individual, regardless of their race, ethnicity or cultural background, deserves to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect. Well, I guess in the summer of 2021that belief went out the window as these NH Proud Boys had begun to attend the Nashua Board of Education meetings by either standing at the back of the room or milling around outside. Several were photographed wearing hats, sunglasses and masks to hide their identities no doubt, with one member flashing the “WP” (white power) sign. They reportedly mocked and insulted various Board members which included Raymond Guarino, a Latino and Gloria Timmons, president of the Nashua chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Yeah, so much for zero tolerance.

Their website claims to be a pro-Western, libertarian social club for men, proudly proclaiming to be “Western chauvinists who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world.” 

Yeah, I guess “housewives” need not apply. Can’t say we weren’t given a heads-up . . .

Many of these members of various groups, not just the NH Proud Boys, but also the Liberty Alliance and Free State Project, have infiltrated our local and state government. Larger cities throughout NH will be holding local elections on Nov. 7. Be as aware as you can be about the backgrounds of those who are on your ballot.

Our democracy depends on all of us!

“Democracy is not something we have, it is something we do.” -Granny D

HB628: “requiring certain non-public schools or education service providers that accept public funds to perform background checks on all employees and volunteers.” 

This is a bill that would require nonpublic schools and education service providers who accept public funds to comply with requirements for criminal history background checks for employees and volunteers. This would also include any education program approved under NH’s “Learn Everywhere” program. Pretty straightforward and who wouldn’t want to keep school children as safe as possible even in an educational environment?

Republicans, that’s who.

About a week ago, while considering the bill, Republicans on the House Education Committee felt HB628 was needless. State law currently requires public school districts perform a criminal history background check on every person applying for any position in said district. The law also stops districts from hiring anyone until the background check is passed. 

Naturally, the committee Democrats support the bill, arguing the benefit new security measures would bring to recent programs which permit families to use public money for nonpublic education. The argument was the state should now become proactive in vetting potential employees for those schools. 

And naturally, Republicans disagreed. They felt it is up to the parents, not the state, to decide whether they feel comfortable sending their children to a private school. One Republican committee member stated “These are people that (parents) trust. Why the need for a background check?”

Really?!? That’s your argument??

Another Republican committee member said most private schools claim they already require background checks for potential employees, something their insurance companies ask for. This member also said when public adequacy funds are given to parents via “education freedom accounts,” that money should not be thought of as public funds anymore. Why? Well, because the schools are not public, therefore the state shouldn’t require background checks. A Democrat committee member who is a former teacher, stated having to go through criminal background checks for any position that this committee member previously held. “This is not an intrusion on people; this is a safety net for kids.” 

The House Education Committee takes the bill up in Nov. and then it goes to the entire House to be voted on. If you would like to express your own opinion about this bill to the committee just click here.

On the other hand, in head-scratching disbelief, Republicans are instead pushing for House Bill 267, which would permit public school districts to perform more background checks “on any group of employees on a more frequent or reoccurring basis” than what is already required. Naturally, the Democrats have expressed concern about how this bill, which they are against, could be negatively used against some employees. 

Again, if you would like to express your own opinion to the committee, as to the blatant hypocrisy between the two bills, just click here.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) and there are more than 10,000 people (male and female) affected annually by domestic violence in New Hampshire. There is a law requiring any person suspecting abuse or neglect in a child under age 18 must report immediately to the state’s Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF). 

There are crisis centers holding events this month to promote awareness of and education about domestic violence, while at the same time getting information about available resources out to the public. 

• Thursday, Oct. 12, 8:00pm (rain date, Oct. 19)
  T-Hall Lawn at UNH
  “Take Back the Night”
  This is an annual event led by students. There will be a candlelight vigil and inter-active awareness activities, along with student activists and speakers. An opportunity for those who have been affected by any form of violence (abuse, harassment, sexual violence and stalking) to share their stories will be available.
  
   
• Tuesday, Oct. 17 -Tuesday, Oct. 31 all day
  Dimond Library at UNH
  Clothesline Project Display
  The SHARPP (Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention Program) clothesline project display is a collection of shirts made by and for domestic violence survivors. This display enables survivors to tell their stories while raising awareness about domestic violence. There will also be a resource table available with books and podcasts.
  
   
• Wednesday, Oct. 25, 6:30pm
  YWCA NH (72 Concord St. Manchester)
  “Dare to Speak”
  This event is a collaboration between REACH @ YWCA of NH, SHARPP, The Harbor at St. Anselm College, SNHU Deborah L Coffin Women's Center, and Manchester Community College and brings together students and communities.

A little more about SHARPP, according to their website:

“SHARPP’s mission is to provide free & confidential response services and comprehensive prevention initiatives for students, staff, and faculty at the University of New Hampshire. Along with our community, we co-create education, prevention, and advocacy opportunities from an intersectional and empowerment-based lens that recognizes oppression as the root of violence. By centering those most impacted by interpersonal violence, we strive to foster individual healing and collective liberation.”

Sexual Violence Prevention Virtual Resource Center at Keene State College website:

“Keene State’s Sexual Violence Prevention Virtual Resource Center is a hub for resources, supports, and information about sexual and relationship violence and sexual health and wellness on campus and in the community. You'll discover how and where to get help for yourself or a friend when sexual or relationship violence has occurred, what sexual health resources are available to you on campus and in the community, how you can become involved in sexual violence prevention on our campus, what prevention and response trainings are available on our campus and how to sign up for them, and more.”

Need assistance or know someone who does? Call 1-866-644-3574 helpline. To report child abuse or neglect, call (800) 894-5533 (in-state) or (603) 271-6562. 

Last Monday night I went to NH Department of Transportation’s public meeting concerning our states 10-year transportation plan. This is the instrument that is used for planning infrastructure projects along all the state roads in New Hampshire. 

The long and the short of it is, there just isn’t that much money available in our state transportation kitty. The last state gasoline tax increase was in 2014, when it was raised from 18 cents to 22.2 cents a gallon. The additional four cents per gallon was set aside to pay for state and municipal bridges and roads, and to cover the bond payments on I-93.

The average cost of gasoline has only gone up about 12% since 2014. Compare that to the cost of road construction, which has doubled in that time. Meanwhile, the gasoline tax hasn’t moved at all, even as behemoth gas-guzzling trucks are selling at a faster rate than ever.

Those four cents have enabled New Hampshire to have some pretty nice roads in the meantime. I always compare our roads to Massachusetts, where the roads universally suck, I guess because voters in that state choose to prioritize things like education over easy driving. 

But New Hampshire’s road-superiority over Massachusetts may be ending soon, as the proceeds of that four cents gasoline tax increase are scheduled to be diverted from paying for roads and bridge construction to cover their other purpose, which is making those the I-93 bond payments.

This financial squeeze being what it is, we are looking at a situation where long-term project planning is having to be slashed.  Planning ahead to 2033, there is less than $5 million in available funds to cover projects in all the southwest region of the state. 

Three projects were submitted to this program from Keene and Swanzey, but the $5 million will only partially cover one of those projects, which will widen and add multi-modal lanes to Route 10 in Swanzey. The other two projects – both worthy and reflecting transportation and safety needs in our community – have been cut from the planning.

Basically, there isn’t enough in the kitty. A four-cent gasoline tax hike from nine years ago, soon to be diverted elsewhere, is not enough to keep up with the growing cost of pouring concrete and asphalt in 2023, much less 2033.

Last November, three Executive Councilor members defunded a ten year old community sex education program. While councilors Joe Kenney (R), Ted Gatsas (R) and David Wheeler (R) had voted for the program in the past, they now cited the rights of parents for changing their votes in November. Both Kenney and Wheeler felt parents should be aware of what their children are sharing while participating in the program. But in the next head scratching moment, children need parental permission anyway to be in the program. 

Wait! What?

The program focuses on children who are considered at-risk, such as those living in homeless shelters, in foster care or who have been victimized through human trafficking. This program is not through the schools but by community agencies, and offers instruction on abstinence, birth control, reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases. Decision-making and relationship skills are also offered in addition to subjects concerning gender identity.

The only two councilors who approved the $680,000 contract was Janet Stevens (R) and Cinde Warmington (D). Despite not being approved, our elected federal representatives managed to convince federal officials to bring back the funding, circumventing the Executive Council.  

On Thursday, September 21, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) announced funding will be provided to the Amoskeag Health in Manchester and the TLC Family Resource Center in Claremont through the Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Those two cities have experienced the highest teen pregnancies in the state. Between those two centers, this funding will enable them to reach almost 300 students. 

The council’s Republican members had also previously defunded family planning contracts with Equality Health Center, Lovering Health Center and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. Sen. Shaheen was instrumental in securing $500,000 to bring back Planned Parenthood’s services. Again, circumventing the Executive Council.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way! 

But we can avoid a large amount of that by educating ourselves as to who candidates are and do they represent the best interests of ourselves, our families and our communities? Voting matters, not just at the federal level but statewide and equally important, locally! Tuesday, October 3rd is primary day for a lot of communities in New Hampshire. Take the time to vote so your voice can be heard, don’t throw it away.

Yesterday I posted an article heralding Tuesday’s special election win of Hal Rafter (D-Gorham) to New Hampshire’s House of Representatives. I also included the fact that there are currently three vacant seats due to recent resignations, two of them this week. 

Troy Merner (R-Lancaster) apparently doesn’t live in Lancaster, according to an investigation undertaken by NH’s attorney general’s office. Merner resigned not only from his position in the NH House but also from the Lancaster Board of Selectmen. The Boston Globe reported the investigation discovered he hasn’t resided in Lancaster, the district he previously represented, since August, 2022. He and his family live in Carroll, a town in a different legislative district in Coos County. The Lancaster address turned out to be a rented office.

Merner, a four-term representative, was aware of the on-going investigation, but continued to collect the mileage compensation for claiming to travel between his former residence in Lancaster and Concord. The attorney general’s office is now looking into whether Merner broke any laws when he took compensation for mileage and voting in a town he no longer lived in. 

This past Monday, Sept. 18th, the attorney general’s office sent a letter to House Speaker Sherman Packard, informing him of the alleged deception. Merner resigned his seat the next day along with his position on Lancaster’s Board of Selectmen.

Question: will former representative Troy Merner be held liable for the compensation he wrongfully took from taxpayers? Asking for a friend . . .

As an aside but should not be forgotten; in 2020, Republicans in the NH House proceeded to gerrymander the district maps. Despite that disenfranchisement to voters, they lost seats in the 2022 midterms.

On August 12th, I wrote about an upcoming special election for Rockingham County. I asked you to urge anyone you knew in either towns of Northwood and Nottingham to get out and vote on September 19th for Hal Rafter, a former Nottingham selectman and school board member. Well, I am pleased to report that Mr. Rafter won that open seat for the NH House of Representatives!

This past April, incumbent Brian Bartlett (R) resigned due to health issues, resulting in this win by Rafter. Despite a heavily gerrymandered map drawn up last year, this latest win by Democrats brings their numbers up to 197 to the Republicans 198. There are also two Independents in the House with three seats that still remain open. This past Monday, Bill Hatch (D-Gorham) announced his resignation (unknown when to take effect), and Troy Merner (R-Lancaster) resigned on Tuesday. David Cote (D-Nashua) resigned in July due to chronic health conditions. 

If Democrats can flip at least two of the open seats on November 5th, a slim majority can be gained. If you know people who live in those districts, feel free to share this post and urge them to vote in November! Together, we can do this!