Tuesday, April 29, 2014

WHERE ARE THE NITROGEN NUTS NOW???



Since the revelations that there is no proof that nitrogen is killing the eel grass in Great Bay the nitrogen nuts have become eerily quiet.  Look you guys there is nothing wrong in making fools of yourselves, I watch the lunatic fringe do it at almost every selectmen’s meeting; but learn from your embarrassment and listen to other people’s opinions, they just might be right.

 In a recent editorial the Exeter News Letter chastised the Department of Environmental Services for screwing up the Great Bay Study and putting out misinformation.  At times the ENL appeared to be quietly supporting the nitrogen nuts and when the world turned upside down for them, attacked the DES.  I think it is safe to say the paper no longer knows what is happening in Exeter.  When the ENL ends up on the wrong side of an issue because of poor information, they immediately try to get out in front of the right side of the issue.  There was a poll done that showed the confidence in the news media was on the same level as our confidence for U.S. Congressman.


THE EXETER BOARD OF SELECTMAN!!!   

My hat is off to Chairman Gilman for discussing the public comment session of the selectmen’s meeting.  While Ann Surman kept asking for examples of disruption during these public comment sessions, Chairman Gilman chose not to name, names.  Ann kept asking for “examples” while carrying the argument for the lunatic fringe.  I’ll give you an example it was unfolding right before your eyes, this issue, which appeared to be agreed not to do (put it in a different time frame), was all but agreed to; the board of directors of the lunatic fringe kept wanting to be on TV and get quotes in the News Paper for about 45 minutes; there is one of your examples.

Poor Frank Patterson stood up and didn’t know what day it was and had to ask the selectman, “do you know what day it is”, hey Frank in case you didn’t know it is Monday, that is when the selectman meet and I think that is probably why you were there.

Credit also goes to Dan Chartrand and Nancy Belanger for allowing Julie to have the final say on the issue.  The Chairman always votes last and she cast the deciding vote.  This was a true show of respect that probably would not have happened under Don Clement’s rule, to get respect you need to show respect.


A person just can’t make this stuff up…

Friday, April 18, 2014

WHEN YOU’RE RIGHT YOU’RE RIGHT!!! WHEN YOU’RE WRONG YOU’RE EITHER, DENNIS BRADY, BRIAN GRISET OR FRANK FERRARO!!!



The Exeter News Letter reported on the law suit being settled on the Great Bay Nitrogen issue.  Evidently the Department of Environmental Services publically admits they screwed up the nitrogen study in Great Bay and gave the wrong information to the Feds.  If you refer back to my blog about a month ago I outlined the fact that DES was having internal discussions about just this issue.

The cowards blog (the view from the bathroom) the liars who have to hide behind their anonymous blog ownership and postings, refuted my information.   It is gospel now it is out in the newspapers and in the open.

In my opinion the River Study Committee linked the nitrogen in the river to great bay issues which were off base from the beginning.  Tearing down dams, now, is a political Al Gore and Obama issue; climate change and global warming.  It is unfortunate that our so called local Republican Leadership has become Obama supporters and bought into this and then try to sell this misinformation to other Republicans is very sad.

Matt and I never bought into this misinformation and argued against it and Matt stood his ground to protect the taxpayers in Exeter.  How smart do you have to be to understand that climate change is a two way street.  It is not just about floods; ask CA and the Midwest about their droughts.  Our only natural resource in Exeter is our river which supplies much of our drinking water.  What happens if we have a bad drought in the summer, a dry mostly snowless winter and see what happens the following spring?  This is what we are gambling on, and now to find out our studies are wrong and based on misinformation or bad modeling I think we have made a big mistake.

It is my opinion that the River Study Committee has done their job and done about the most damage they could do to Exeter and the Selectman need to disband them.  The voters have voted to tear down the dam and I don’t think they have any further purpose.  I think some of the members embarrassed themselves in how they conducted themselves in the last local election by politicizing the issue.  Some acted like intellectual elitist or wannabes but they pushed a political agenda and not what is good for Exeter.

 

NOT FRANK FERRARO AGAIN???

I don’t think Frank wants the voters to be reminded that, in my opinion, he was instrumental in getting Brentwood to sue Exeter over the Pine Road Posting.  I can remember watching the selectman’s meeting that night when it was voted on and discussed, Matt was the leading vote not to post it which would bar trucks from using it and to give more time for negotiations while Frank’s attitude and vote was to tell Brentwood to go pound sand and to post it; that caused us to get sued and ate up a $100,000 legal budget.

Hey Frank, there is no question you are a little rascal.  You sued the town and that cost us $10,000 and then THOUSANDS for the Brentwood lawsuit, are you still trying to convince everyone you’re a fiscal conservative???

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

WHY AREN'T MORE FACTORIES COMING TO EXETER???


 
This testimony was presented to the NH Legislature in 2008, although it was addressing RGGI the main topic was the increasing costs of manufacturing in the State.

 

We ask ourselves how do we do a better job at bringing manufacturing jobs to NH or our individual communities and we can all see the uphill battle. As I have red after NAFTA 7 million jobs went oversees because of cheap labor, cheaper costs of utilities and less government oversight and regulations.

 

When I look around our area, like Stratham and Epping, I do not see any plans for manufacturing jobs; but, a lot of retail jobs.  The manufacturing jobs coming back from overseas seem to be going down South where there is less government, cheaper labor and lower utility costs.  When I was in the Army there was a common denominator and that was I had a hard time understanding either one.

 

Sylvania has been a great neighbor to the State of NH and the communities they are in; but, in their own way gave us a warning of what may happen in the future if we cannot change our direction for increasing costs to do business.

 

When I was a kid Exeter had about 6-7 or so manufacturing plants, now we have less.  So I think we can see some of the problems the manufacturers are confronted with when we talk about trying to get them to come to Exeter.   

 

 

 

 

 

Testimony to the Senate Energy and Economic Development Committee

on New Hampshire House Bill 1434

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

 

 

 

 

Cheryl Blackwood

Plant Manager, Global Automotive Lighting

OSRAM SYLVANIA

 

 

 

 

April 15, 2008


 

INTRODUCTION AND AFFILIATION

 

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Cheryl Blackwood, plant manager for OSRAM SYLVANIA Global Automotive Lighting in HIllbsoro, Hew Hampshire. OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American operation of OSRAM GmbH, one of three large, global lighting manufacturers. Our company employs nearly 10,000 people, with nearly 2,000 of that number employed in the state of New Hampshire.

 

OSRAM SYLVANIA operates three facilities in New Hampshire, with an annual state payroll exceeding $116 million. The plant I manage in Hillsboro is the leading automotive lighting facility in North America. Our facility in Exeter makes glass and ceramic components for lighting and semiconductor products, and our Manchester plant produces high intensity discharge (HID) light bulbs that are used for street lighting, sports lighting and retail store displays.

 

 

COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY


 

OSRAM SYLVANIA is committed to environmental responsibility in our business.  We share with the State of New Hampshire a genuine concern for the environment and the need to address the causes of climate change.

 

For decades, our company’s environmental efforts have received recognition from numerous respected organizations. Just two weeks ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded OSRAM SYLVANIA its seventh consecutive Energy Star Award for our corporate energy efficiency efforts. In 2004, the Hillsboro plant I operate received the New Hampshire Governor’s Award Honorable Mention, for Pollution Prevention.

 

OSRAM SYLVANIA is taking significant voluntary steps to reduce the amount of resources we use and greenhouse gas emissions that result. In 2007, we set a corporate goal to cut energy consumption by 10 percent. I’m proud to say that we not only met that goal, but exceeded it in New Hampshire with a 12 percent reduction in our energy use. Electricity is just one of the resources we are conserving. Last year alone, our Hillsboro plant recycled over 26 tons of cardboard and 15 tons of wood.

 

We continue to set new goals to make our operations in New Hampshire more sustainable. Our Hillsboro plant has already initiated the process of becoming LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

 

I share these accomplishments to highlight the fact that OSRAM SYLVANIA and its 2,000 New Hampshire employees are working hard every day to sustain our business while we sustain the environment.

 

THE RISING COST OF ENERGY


 

However, the high cost of energy in New Hampshire has made our effort to balance economic and environmental sustainability an uphill battle. Despite our aggressive energy efficiency programs, OSRAM SYLVANIA continues to face escalating energy costs in New Hampshire. We’ve seen our electricity rates skyrocket 61 percent over the last three years, outpacing increases in all the other states where we operate. Our electricity rate of 11.3 cents per KwH is a staggering two to three times higher than the rates we pay in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, for example.

 

Extreme energy costs have a direct impact on our ability to keep high wage manufacturing jobs here in New Hampshire. To stay in business, we need to make products that are cost competitive. In our Exeter plant, electricity represents a staggering 12 percent of the total cost the quartz glass components we sell to the semiconductor industry. The plant supplies customers in more than 20 countries around the world. These global customers are indifferent to our struggle to overcome high energy costs in New Hampshire. If we can’t produce products at a competitive price, our customers will simply take their business elsewhere.

 

I urge this committee to consider that every increase in electricity rates puts more New Hampshire jobs at risk.

 

About HB 1434


 

As a company committed to environmental responsibility,OSRAM SYLVANIA supports the intent behind RGGI. However, we urge the committee to address deficiencies in the bill that threaten to handicap OSRAM SYLVANIA and other large New Hampshire employers.

 

I ask that you to consider some of the specific approaches proposed by the New Hampshire Business and Industry Association. Lower thresholds for ratepayer protection rebates, an expedited rebate process, and provisions to ensure RGGI revenues are dedicated to energy efficiency investments, are all ways to make this well-intended better.

 

I appreciate the opportunity to present the views of OSRAM SYLVANIA. I look forward to continued dialogue regarding this important issue.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Cheryl Blackwood

Plant Manager

OSRAM SYLVANIA

 

 

 

Enclosure:

OSRAM SYLVANIA Global Care brochure

Sunday, April 6, 2014

SHOULD THE BOARD OF SELECTMAN PUT FERRARO ON THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS COMMITTEE???


 

 Rumor has it that little Cranky Frankie Ferraro wants the Board of Selectman to put him on the Budget Recommendations Committee.  I believe there are still members on the BOS that he stabbed in the back, lied about, threw digs at during selectmen’s meetings and was the point man for the lunatic fringe and free staters representing them on the BOS and not the taxpayers.  He is one of the leaders of the fringe that scream about transparency and want you to believe that Town Government is trying to hide everything they do so you don’t know what is going on (which is and has been BS from the beginning) while they hide behind an anonymous blog that consistently and intentionally spews misinformation about people and issues.

 

Who knows what the Board will do; but, Frankie has already shown and proven he cannot work well with anyone who disagrees with him.  If the BOS does put him on the Budget Committee they should expect a new line item covering legal expenses for the next time he gets mad at the Board or Town Manager and sues them.

 

To make a long story short I hope the Board remembers why he was the low vote getter in the last race and should have got the message that the voters caught up with him.

 

ANOTHER RUMOR IN EXETER!!!               

 

There is another rumor floating around political circles that Donna Schlachman is trying to get little Franky to run for County Commissioner, supposedly Donna is looking to get into the lunatic base and has been hanging around with republicans that many republicans don’t want to hang around with.  I am trying to figure whose reputation will be hurt the most.