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Easter Breakfast

by Lynne Ober

Tabitha, 6, and Shayla, 4, with the Easter Bunny

Last Saturday at Hudson’s Community Center, the Junior Women’s Club hosted an Easter breakfast with an opportunity to sit for a picture with the Easter Bunny.

The breakfast was a chance for people to chat as they enjoyed pancakes, eggs and bacon. 

This annual event has grown every year.  This year balloons filled the air.  They were anchored on every table, surrounded the Easter Bunny and swirled in the air above the craft tables.

Club members were busy cooking and serving.  Some monitored the craft tables and others helped with the Easter Bunny. 

By 8:30 a.m. a large crowd had gathered and the chefs were barely keeping pace with the demand for more food.  Laughter filled the air and people lingered over coffee to talk about whether spring would ever come.

The craft tables were constantly busy.  Some were making rabbits to take home; others were coloring and still others were just watching the happy chaos.  Face painters were available with bright symbols.

“We love doing this for the community,” said Lisa Nute, Junior Women’s Club president, as she scrambled eggs.  “It’s just a fun way to get everyone together.”

The Junior Women’s Club will host a jewelry-making craft night Wednesday, March 19, in the Ann Seabury Community Room of the Hudson police station.  This event is open to the public.  It will start at 7 p.m. and end at 9 p.m.  “We are looking for new members,” said Nute.  “We meet the second Wednesday of the month.  Stop by and check us out.”

Seamus, 4, and Mitchell, 8, enjoyed each other and the breakfast.

Conflict Arises Over Sign Removal Incident

by Gina M. Votour

The street corner in question

On Thursday March 6th, five days prior to the election, several political candidates’ roadway signs were removed from the Hudson address of One Campbell Avenue by the Hudson Highway Department. 

Among the signs removed were those of Gary Rodgers, who was seeking re-election to the Hudson School Board, Selectman Benjamin Nadeau, who was running for Town Clerk/Tax Collector, and Michael Mell, who was running for a seat on the Hudson School Board.

Rodgers and Nadeau believed that their signs should not have been removed.  Neither candidate was notified by the Highway Department that this action had been taken. 

Mell was unaware that his sign was among those that had been removed from the Campbell Ave. location.  

According to RSA Section 664:17, “No political advertising shall be placed on or affixed to any public property including highway rights-of-way or private property without the owner’s consent.”  

The land in question is part of a rental property owned by Hudson School Board Chairman David Alukonis.  Rodgers and Nadeau both stated that Alukonis gave them permission to place signs on his property.  

Mell did not receive permission and apologized.  He explained that, being relatively new to Hudson, it was a matter of him “just not knowing” that this area was private property.  Mell says that he spoke with Code Enforcement Officer Sousa in order to help ensure that signs were staked only in appropriate places.  

Alukonis confirmed that he did give permission to both Rodgers and Nadeau.  But Alukonis also added, “To complain is foolish.  Signs go missing all the time.”

RSA 664:17 further states that “Political advertising may be placed within state owned rights-of-way as long as the advertising does not obstruct the safe flow of traffic and the advertising is placed with the consent of the owner of the land over which the right-of-way passes.”  

Nadeau asked Kevin Burns, Road Agent for the Hudson Highway Department, if the signs were removed as a result of impaired traffic views.  According to Nadeau, Burns’ response was that the signs were removed because they were located in the town’s right-of-way.   

When interviewed, Burns explained that the Highway Department removed the signs because they were located on a piece of land that his department physically maintains.  He stated that this area is not necessarily a right-of-way, but that maintenance from approximately 25 feet in from the side of the street is still the responsibility of his department.

“It’s a felony to remove a sign,” proclaimed Nadeau who contacted the office of the Attorney General in accordance with RSA 664:18.  Nadeau was told by this office that the matter will be further investigated.

“I don’t discriminate over who owns the sign,” pointed out Kevin Burns.  Burns added that it is definitely “not a joy to pull a sign for a sitting Selectman.”

State law requires that signs removed by the Highway Department be held for one week.  In Hudson, according to Town Administrator Steve Malizia, signs are often retained for two weeks.  Kevin Burns added that signs are often held even longer than this should their owners wish to retrieve them.  

As far as both Nadeau and Rodgers were aware, none of their other signs were removed from local areas.  Whether or not election results could have been compromised by the removal of the signs on the Campbell Avenue property cannot be known for sure.  Rodgers felt that it did not.  

During the weekend before the election, both Rodgers and Nadeau replaced their signs in this location.  As of Sunday evening, their signs were still standing.

Hudson Election Results

Town Election
Selectman - Three year term	Vote for one
Kenneth "Ken" Massey	1966
Write ins	68
Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Three year tern	Vote for one
Benjamin Nadeau	358
Harry A. Schibanoff	277
Patricia "Patti" Barry	1642*
Joyce Goodwin	220
Budget Committee - Three year term	Vote for three
Ted Luzzy	88*
Tim Bolen	67*
John Drabonowicz	55*
Budget Committee - One year term	Vote for one
Tim Bolen (needs to choose)	19*
Cemetery Trustee - Three year term	Vote for one
George A. Mosnicka	828
J. Bradford Seabury	1359*
Write ins	10
Code of Ethics - Three year term	Vote for two
Dianne Emanuelson	1821*
Write ins	51
Code of Ethics - Two year term	Vote for one
Not filled
Library Trustee - Three year term	Vote for two
Anne C. "Connie" Owen	1676*
Scott Slattery	1338*
Write ins	11
Moderator - Three year term	Vote for one
Paul Inderbitzen	2025*
Write ins	11
Supervisor of the Checklist - Six year term	Vote for one
Joyce Cloutier	1954*
Write ins	7
Supervisor of the Checklist - Four year term	Vote for one
Julieta Stone	1916*
Write ins	6
Trustee of the Trust Fund - Three year term	Vote for one
Russell T. Ober III	1849*
Write ins	6
Zoning Amendments
Article 2:	Yes	No
Dimensional Requirements	1566	773
Article 3:
Permitted Uses	1450	874
Article 4:
Amend Zoning Map	1532	846
Article 5:
Amend Zoning Map - Petitioned (2/3 needed) - Failed	1397	950
Article 6:
Senior Center Addition (3/5 needed) - Failed	1385	1175
Selectmen's Articles
Article 7:
Contract for Police, Fire and Town Supervisors Association	1574	943
Article 8:
Wage and Benefit Increase, Non-union Personnel	1519	983
Article 9:
Wage and Benefit Increase, Full Time Library Employees	1658	842
Article 10:
Operating Budget	1828	639
Article 11:
Hiring of Two Police Officers	1379	1169
Article 12:
Design/Reconstruction/Repair, Pelham Road Dam	1650	817
Article 13:
Sale of Town-owned Property	1856	673
Article 14:
Fire Apparatus Refurbish and Repair Capital Reserve Fund	1845	664
Article 15:
Capital Reserve Fund for Future Property Revaluations	1247	1170
Article 16:
Land Use Change Tax Fund	1539	886
Article 17:
Vote Tallies on Warrant Articles	1967	429
Article 18:
Resolution to Discuss State Tax Options - Petitioned	946	1499
School District
School Board - Three year term	Vote for two
Lee M. Lavoie	1113*
Michael A. Mell	488
Gary J. Rodgers	1164*
Lars T. Christiansen	916
Robert Everett	409
Write ins	12
Moderator - One year term	Vote for one
Paul E. Inderbitzen	1958*
Write ins	11
School District Clerk - One year term	Vote for one
J. Bradford Seabury	1850*
Write ins	21
School District Treasurer - One year term	Vote for one
Cecile Y. Nichols	1953*
Write ins	14
Articles	Yes	No
Article 1:
Operating Budget	1653	822
Article 2:
Construction of Maintenance Building	1300	1193
Article 3:
Salary and Benefit Changes - Non-bargaining staff members	1487	1007
Article 4:
After School Tutorial Academic Assistance Program	1661	863
Article 5:
Increase Stipend of School District Moderator	1728	725
Article 6:
Increase Stipend of School District Clerk	1724	729
Article 7:
School Renovation Capital Reserve Fund	1547	873
Article 8:
Discontinue School Construction Capital Reserve Fund	1727	695
* Indicates winner
There were 2626 votes cast

Litchfield Election Results

Town Election
Selectman - Three year term	Vote for one
Steven D. Perry	610
John Pinciaro	594
Kevin H. Smith	147
Robert D. Bennett	499
John K. Brunelle	390
Frank A. Byron	702*
James J. Censabella	104
Patricia Jewett	752*
Budget Committee - Three year term	Vote for three
Paul D. Parker	1027*
Raymond C.Peeples, Jr.	1113*
Moira P. Beineid	882
Town Clerk/Tax Collector
Theresa L. Briand	1756*
Treasurer
Horace W. Seymour III (resigned)	526
Library Trustee
Diane L. Jerry	1828*
Supervisor of the Checklist - Three year term
Christine E. Lepine	1033*
Mary Nicholas	619
Articles
Article 2:	Yes	No
Growth Management	1431	583
Article 3:
Fire Station	927	1329*
Article 4:
Operating Budget	1134	1054
Article 5:
Engineering Design for Albuquerque	1192	984
Article 6: Bond Article
Drainage System for Corning Road	1067	1108
Article 7:
Two Full Time Police Officers	1020	1183
Article 8:
Guardrail at Nesenkeag Brook on Albuquerque	869	1296
Article 9:
Change Road Agent to Full Time	1061	1088
School District
School Board - Three year term	Vote for two
Margaret Almeida	814
Cynthia Couture	1087*
Moderator - One year term	Vote for one
John Regan	1787
School District Clerk - One year term	Vote for one
Lynne Baddeley	1607
School District Treasurer - One year term	Vote for one
Lynn Baddeley	1645
Articles
Article 1:
New School	1139	1145*
Article 2:
Operating Budget	1366*	892

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