*** Announcements ***
Happy New Year!
After 14 years of providing advertising and local board of selectmen, planning board and school board news articles to Raymond, Chester, Sandown and Hampstead, we’re saying goodbye to Raymond Area News website.
It’s been a good journey and we’ve met some interesting people and covered some important news. But it’s time for us to shut down the daily posting of articles and enjoy life without worrying about deadlines and breaking news.
It’s time for us to retire.
We encourage our readers to keep paying attention to local news, to watch selectmen’s meetings and school board sessions, to attend deliberative sessions and of course, to get out and vote in every local election.
It’s been an honor.
Happy Retirement to Us and Farewell from Raymond Area News staff.
*** Letters to the Editor ***
All Opinions and Letters to Editor and Editorials
******** NEWS ********
Raymond School Board Appoints New Member
Sandown Selectmen Accept Meghan Drive as Town Road
Raymond Board of Selectmen Honor Two Retiring Long time Employees
Chester Board of Selectmen Approve Foskitts' Pomp Road Building Request
Chester Planning Board Continued Garabedian Gravel Pit Excavation to January
Raymond Planning Board Continued All Four Applications on the Agenda
Hampstead School Board Announces Cost of Central School Project
Raymond Board of Selectmen Reviewed 2023 Proposed Operating Budget and Warrant Articles
Hampstead Selectmen Honor Servicemen, Review Warrant Articles and Approve 2023 Proposed Budget
Sandown Selectmen Discuss MS4 Stormwater Compliance Requirements
Chester Selectmen Accept HVAC Impact Fees
Raymond School Board Member Dawn Leamer Resigns Siting Code of Ethics Issues
Chester Academy Awarded Grant for Front Entrance Work
Sandown Selectmen and Budget Committee Review Proposed Matrix
Hampstead Planning Board Site Visit Planned for Elderly Housing Proposal
Raymond Selectmen Discuss Recycling Issue with Casella and Approve a Few Tax Abatements
Chester Selectmen Decide Against Fund for PTO/Vacation Liabilities
******************* November 2022 *******************
Chester Planning Board Approve Crowley Woods Subdivision Extension
Sandown Selectmen Discuss Property Donated to Town and Budgets
Hampstead Selectmen Revisit and Clarify Plow and Sander Rates
Hampstead School Board Discusses Hampstead Central School Bond Interest Rates
Raymond Town Manager Presented Proposed Budget to Selectmen and Tax Rate is Set
Raymond Planning Board Refuses Jurisdiction of Two Applications
Raymond School Board Revised the Default Budget
Chester Board of Selectmen Decide on 3 Percent COLA
Hampstead Selectmen Approve Bids on Fire Department UTV and Trailer and Tax Rate Set
Chester Board of Selectmen Approve Budgets and Learn of Clothes Closet Issues
Raymond Planning Board Continues Candia South Branch Brook, LLC Earth Excavation Permit
Hampstead School Board Presented with New Hampstead Central School Renovation/Construction Plan
Sandown Selectmen Review More Department Budgets
Hampstead Planning Board Approves Hampstead Heights Elderly Development Continuance
Chester Selectmen Hear From Moderator Requesting Selectmens’ Attendance at Elections
Raymond Planning Board Continues All Agenda Items to Future Meetings
Chester Academy School Board Approves Temporary CESPA Agreement
Sandown Selectmen Set 2022 Town Tax Rate
Raymond School Board Approves 2023 Budget and Default Budget
******************* October 2022 *******************
Raymond Planning Board Conditionally Approve IC REED & Sons Site Plan
Raymond School Board Makes Adjustments to Budget
Chester Selectmen Discuss Preliminary Tax Rate
Hampstead School Board Department Budgets Discussed
Hampstead Selectmen Approve Using Voter Registration List for Proof of Residency
Raymond Selectmen Review Budget with Estimated Increase of $725,637
Chester Selectmen Discuss Budget and CIP Items and Set Agenda Item Filing Deadline
Raymond School Board Discusses Increasing Substitute Pay Rate
Sandown Planning Board Hear Residents Concerns Over Snow Lane Elderly Development
Hampstead Planning Board Approves Master Plan
Sandown Selectmen Vote on Employees Salaries 5 Percent Increase
Raymond School Board Budget Work Session Discussions
Chester Selectmen Delay Foskitts Pomp Road Building Permit
Chester Planning Board Vote to Continue Garabedian Gravel Hearing Again
Hampstead Selectmen Negotiating with John Worthen to Be Temporary Highway Supervisor
Hampstead School Board Approve Eighth Grade Trip, Bus Schedule has Improved
Chester Board of Selectmen Discuss Conduct of Selectmen's Meeting
Chester Academy School Board Updated on Multi-Tiered System of Supports
Chester Planning Board Approve Pomp Road Development
Raymond School Board Discuss Breakfast and Lunch Price Increases
Sandown Planning Board Approved Little Mill Road Condo Conversion Application
Hampstead Planning Board Rejects Cameron Court Elderly Housing Application
Sandown Selectmen Discuss Town Hall Feasibility Study and Review Budgets
Raymond Selectmen and Budget Committee Hear Public Works 2023 Budgets
****************** September 2022 *******************
Chester Selectmen Decide to go for Two New Servers and Open Oil/Propane Bids
Chester Planning Board Still Want More from Garabedian Gravel Pit Application
Hampstead School Board Hears Transportation Update
Sandown Selectmen Discuss Snowplow Drivers Rates and Employee Health Services
Hampstead Selectmen Meet with Communication Committee to Discuss Working on Voter Guide
The Raymond Selectmen and Budget Committee Begin 2023 Budget Review Process
Chester Selectmen Discuss with Fire Chief Step and Grade for Fire Department Office Manager
Raymond School Board Continues Discussion on What to Do About Elementary School
Sandown Planning Board Meeting Agenda Continued Due to Lack of a Quorum
Raymond Selectmen Make Decision on Water Storage Tower Type
Chester Selectmen Discuss Carkin Street Issue Again and Working to Fill New Road Supervisor Position
Sandown Selectmen Win Superior Court Decision to Deny Special Meeting
Hampstead School Board Discuss District Transportation Issues
Chester School Board Told Opening of School Went Smoothly and 300th Committee Responds to Concerns
Chester Selectmen Introduce New Transfer Station Manager and Learn New Impact Fee Schedule
Raymond School Board Discuss New Lamprey River Elementary School Again and Staffing Issues
Hampstead Fire Station Building Expansion Presented to Hampstead Planning Board
******************* August 2022 *******************
Sandown Selectmen Discuss Employee Wage Increases
Chester Selectmen Discuss Cole Road Engineering Issue and Solar Project Proposal
Raymond School Board Vacancy Filled, New Hires Approved and No Athletic Event Transportation Again
Hampstead School Board Approves Class Size Increases and New Hires and Resignations
Hampstead Town and School Together Open and Accept the Bid for Heating Fuels
Raymond Selectmen Sign Off on the Primex Risk Management CAP Agreements
Chester School Board and Chester Academy Principal Welcomes Students and Parents
The Raymond Planning Board Continues IC Reed & Sons Site Plan Again Over Telephone Poles
Chester Selectmen Support Town Wide Trash Pick-up Proposal
The Sandown Planning Board Brings in Experts to Address Resident Concerns
Raymond School Board Discusses 2023-2024 Budget
Chester Board of Selectmen Decide Police Department Roof Leak Needs to be Addressed
Sandown Selectmen Decide on Impact Fee Amount for School District
Public Works Director Explains Drought Policy to Raymond Board of Selectmen
Hampstead Board of Selectmen Approve Water Ordinance
Raymond Planning Board Continue Hearing on Expansion of Storage Facility
Chester Selectmen Choose to Stay with MRI and SHF Recieves Grant
Chester Academy School Board Announce Teaching Staff Complete
Raymond School Board Decision Made on Buses and John Harmon Voted in as Chairman
Chester Planning Board Continues Colby Farm Application Again
Hampstead Planning Board Rejects Incomplete Cameron Court Elderly Housing Application
******************* July 2022 *******************
Chester Planning Accepts DuBois & King Wason Road Drainage Recommendation
Raymond School Board Delay Transportation Decision Until Next Meeting
Sandown Selectmen Hold Public Hearing for Auction of Town Owned Property
Hampstead Water Resource Committee Ask Selectmen to Consider Water Conservation Ordinance
Chester Selectmen Approve Hourly Rate Increase for Snowplow Drivers
Chester Academy School Board Vote to Replace High Use Doors
Raymond School Board Chair Ada Vadeboncouer Resigns
Sandown Planning Board Hear Residents Claim Hasago Gravel Pit Operations Have Damaged Showell Pond
Chester Selectmen Ban Animals at Wason Pond on July 23 During Anniversary Events
Chester Planning Board Continue Colby Farm Subdivision Hearing
Raymond School Board Discuss Capital Improvement Projects and Busing
Hampstead Selectmen Sell F350 Truck to Highest Bidder, Water Bills Increase 34 Percent
Sandown Selectmen Make No Decision on Request for a No Voting Machine Use Special Meeting
Ernie Creveling Returns to Raymond as Town Manager
Raymond Planning Board Continue Mountain Road Trading Post Hearing
Hampstead Residents Express Objection to Planning Board about Proposed Elderly Development
******************* June 2022 *******************
Chester Selectmen’s July 7 Meeting Cancelled
Hampstead Selectmen Considering Changing from Road Agent to Public Works Department
Raymond School Board Hear District Hires and Resignations
Chester Planning Board Discuss Southwoods Subdivision
Sandown Planning Board Public Hearings for 65 Odell Road and Showell Pond Road Continued
Chester 300th Committee Provides Draft Information on Three Events to Selectmen
Hampstead School Board Announce New Estimated Cost of Central School Project
Hampstead Selectmen Accept Road Agent Jonathan Worthen’s Resignation
Raymond Selectmen Sign Contract for Curbside Trash Pick-up with Pinard Waste Systems
Chester Selectmen Approve Three Roads as Town Roads
Chester Academy Chooses Director of Learning and Growth
Sandown Selectmen Deny Special Meeting Request to Ban Voting Machines
Chester Planning Board Discussed Bonds, Had No Hearings or Appointments
Raymond School Board Discuss the Transportation to Sports Events Issue
******************* May 2022 *******************
Carkin Street Resident Chaze Complains to Chester Selectmen Again
Hampstead Superintendent Thompson Introduces Two Design Concepts for Central School Project
Raymond Selectman Learn Buy Back of PAYT Bags is an Issue and Recycling Pickup Ends
Hampstead Selectmen Seek Consultant to Put Cell Tower Lease Out to Bid
Raymond Planning Board Continue IC REED & Sons Gile Road Site Plan Hearing
Chester Selectmen Approve Truck Purchase and Reverse Abatement Denial
Raymond’s Last Day of School Remains June 20
Sandown Planning Board Meeting Lacked a Quorum
Raymond Water Tower Issues with State Addressed with New Tower Coming in June
Chester Selectmen Discuss Winter Maintenance
Chester Planning Board Discuss Wason Pond Bridge Grant and Lifestyle Homes Development
Chester Academy Close to being Fully Staffed Going Forward
Hampstead School Board Heard New Plans for Central School Construction
Raymond Selectmen Approve Waste Management Extension Agreement but Recycling Ends as of June 1
Sandown Selectmen Approve Cable Coverage Recording Equipment for Recreation Building
Chester Board of Selectmen Discuss Facility Usage Forms
Raymond School Board Approves Accepting and Expending Unanticipated Funds
Hampstead Planning Board Approves One Route 111 and Two Danville Road Site Plan Applications