OPINIONS - Death of a Small Town?

Volume 32, No. 133, Town Meeting 2003, Page 8

By Judy Poulin

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I have lived in and out of Newington for one half a century, whew - I'm not sure I like that in print, but nonetheless.

Newington over the last 50 years has developed and grown into more than just a small town community. Families have moved here - attracted by its small-town essence. Additional businesses have grappled for space along the Piscataqua River and around the malls - attracted by the deep river, as well as the lower tax rates. Alongside this growing dynamic, political pressures have changed as well. As a town, we find ourselves fighting off the wolves of State governmental demands, as great sums of money are ransomed from the town for statewide education; town roads and control of lands are claimed by the state which had formerly been part of the town under our jurisdiction - we are being besieged by powers external to Newington.

The State of NH has infamously succeeded where no other could - it succeeded in creating schisms between NH towns and cities, turning each one against the other, fighting between one another over the educational needs of our New Hampshire children. The potential of another Gulf War has increased the fly-overs; every hour on the hour - more planes take off from Pease. The Federal Government also has needs and demands to be met in the skies over NewingtonŠ We now live daily with high terrorism alerts, the evacuation plans of Seabrook stationŠ the LPG tanks right here in townŠŠ.

In tandem with these potentially cataclysmic monsters has come a seeming indifference in the political makeup of our town. No longer are there elected officials whose only full-time job has been the oversight of Newington town functions and its people. No longer are there hotly contested political positions where one could choose a seemingly better candidate for office over several others. I remember when political candidates would go door to door to talk to townsfolk about their relevant issues and why they were the superior choice. Instead, we are now living in a world where the highest political offices in town are uncontested, part-time positions. We live in a world where town structure and trust has allowed a secretary the ability to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars of tax payer monies over more than a year before being found out. A town where the highest political office now maintains a resignation rate! A town where the highest political office has 'appointments' made to fill empty chairs. Countless positions remain unfilled on town boards.

This is the NEW WORLD!!!
This is the REAL WORLD!!!
This is OUR WORLD!!!

It isent the world i rember from my youth; it isen't the world i am most comfortable in, but it seems to be the only world there is - there isn't another choice behind door number 3. So, how do we make it better?
First off:

1. Identify the right enemy - we are all in this together. Let's not create schisms within our town. We should be a tight knit town unit. There are enough alligators in our swamp already. We are each other's neighbors, our lands bound one another, and anybody in town for more than 50 years is probably related to one another anyhow. This is where the State of NH succeeded in pitting town against town. No one can fight multiple enemies as successfully as dedicating all effort against one obvious foe. We are not each others' foes!


2. Treat each other with a level of respect and kindliness. Think about what your decisions will do to other townsfolk. Don't recklessly swing your bullhead in my china shop. Think about the other person for a change. If your neighbor is stuck in his driveway - for heaven's sake, wouldn't you go out and help!


3. It never hurts to ask opinions BEFORE making judgements, take the time to evaluate the number of your neighbors your decision will impact, CARE ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS. We are the people you live with every day, we are the people your kid will run to in an emergency when you're not homeŠ we're the people who might catch your dog running loose. We're the neighbor who won't sue you when your kid beats my kid up. We are all in this together.


4. Finally, don't be afraid to say you made a mistake and apologize for past hasty decisions. How we treat one another is the most important thing in this life.

We can't stop the sprawl of change. We can't stop outside forces from lusting after what Newington has. Recognize that it is easier to complain than to enact. Take the time to treat one another kinder and with respect. Short of the family unit, the town unit is the closest acting entity we have. What defines a small town is not the town center, or the political agendas, or the town picnics, it is the way we all interact and how we treat one another. It is the way that we help each other, whether the help is in holding political office, or in publishing a town-wide newspaper, volunteering in church groups, working with Newington's youth or fund-raising to help the needy. . .


WE ARE THE TOWN OF NEWINGTON!

LET US TREAT ONE ANOTHER WITH COURTESY, KINDLINESS AND ABOVE ALL RESPECT!

Entered 2/25/03 by Ricky (Newington Foxes 4-H)