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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TOWN OF RYE NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 2002 ONTHECOVER: THEAWCOMINMARSHRESTORATION ARyeConservationCommissionProject Againstabackgroundofinvasivephragmities,symbolofadyingmarsh, andtheremovalofspoilsdredgedfromRyeHarborin 1941 and 1962: (lefttoright) - ConservationCommissionChairmanJimRaynesexplains theprojecttoBoardofSelectmenChairMelLow, - proper tidalflowis restoredviacreationof newstreams, andstakesindicateanarea replantedwith barerootstock seedlingsofnativemarshgrassesby S"'gradestudents as a community service through Corp Explorer under the directionofDaveBurdickoftheUNHJacksonLab. COVERDESIGN/EDITOR: PriscillaV. Jenness *****j|:****:t:************=(:************************** To the inhabitants ofthe Town ofRye, in the County ofRockingham and in said State, qualifledtovoteinTownaffairs: You are hereby notified to meet at the Rye Elementary School in said Rye on Tuesday, thell***ofMarch,nextateighto'clockintheforenoon untilseveno'clockintheevening forvotingbyofficialballotonallissuesbeforetheTownofRyeunderRSA40:13. 4c:t::i:************4:**4:*4:****4::|::|:***4:4:************4:**** AsrequiredunderSenateBill2,theDeliberative Sessionwasheldon Saturday, February 01, 2003 at9:00AMattheRyeJuniorHightoreviewandamendthe2003 TownWarrant. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/annualreportofto2002ryen In Memoriam RichardH. Porter 1923-2002 Bom in Fitchburg, MA in 1923, Richard (Dick) Porter was graduated from Lunenburg, MA High School in 1941 and later Northeastern University. He was a veteran of WAVn, serving in the South Pacific with the 1884* EngineeringAviationBattalionoftheU.S.Army. Heworked37yearsforTurnerConstructionCompanyof NewYorkCitybeforeretiringtoRyein 1988. Here Dick became very involved with church and community projects serving as project manager for the recentlybuiltBethanyChurch. Manyothersrecallthatfor9 years he was co-chairman, along with Al Harper, of the TravelCommitteeoftheOver55Club. In 1998, Dickbecame amemberofthe original planning committee investigating and documenting need for a new Fire Station. Following the death of Fire Chief Bruce Walker, this committee reorganized. Dick Porter remained onthe committee, contributinghis knowledge and expertise until illnesspreventedfurtherparticipation. Hiscounsel and guidance are missed. He leaves his wife of50 years, one daughter,onesonandtheirfamilies. John J. Facella 1933 - 2002 The Rye Board ofAdjustment lost a dedicated, reliable and conscientious member on September first with the suddendeathofJohnFacella. Bom in Lawrence, Massachusetts and educated in Lawrence schools, he later graduated from Fitchburg State Collegewithadegreeinspecialeducation. John worked on the first Apollo space mission while employedatAVCOandlaterdevoted23yearstoteachingin Haverhill, Mass. at the Whittier Regional Vocational TechnicalHighSchool. Atthe time ofhis death, he was employed as aresearch anddevelopmentmachinist. John was aveteran ofthe United StateNavy, serving as an aircraft engine mechanic and he received numerous servicemedals. Pride inservinghiscountryandhisSicilian ancestry were exceeded only by love of family. He is survived by his wife. Sheila, one son, four daughters including Mary Lou Arcidi of Rye Beach two step daughters,andtheirfamilies. In Memoriam CarolS, Beckwith 1937-2002 Born in Boston in 1937, Carol Beckwith graduated from Melrose High School, Class of 1955, and attended Boston University. Herhusband of41 years, John (Jack) Beckwith, their sons, Geoffrey and Derek, andtheir families were the focus ofher life. She also found time for many interests which included political activity, civic affairs, writing and editing. Friends recall that she never hesitated to take a courageous stand on matters where she perceived an injustice. Carol took great pride in her work with the Reading, Mass. Library as a member ofthe Board of Trustees and memberofThe Reading Library BuildingCommittee while livingthere. After vacationing in Rye for 25 years, Carol and Jack becameRyeresidentsin 1994. Fromthenon,Caroldevoted her time, boundless energy, and enthusiasm to our town, assisting in the information campaign for the Rye Junior HighSchoolexpansionandbyservingasasupervisorofthe checklist. You are most familiar with her work ifyou have read and enjoyed our Rye Town Newsletter produced by CarolandJack. Sheisgreatlymissed. John E. Johnston 1910-2002 BominHalifax,NovaScotia,JohnJohnstoncametoRye fromNeedham,MawhentheMacallenCo.Inc,forwhomhe worked, moved to Newmarket. At retirement, he was executive vice president, treasurer and general manager of MacallenandgeneralmanageroftwoChicagosubsidiaries. TheJohnstonfamilymoved intotheBlakeRandhouseat the comer ofLang Road in 1951 and John soon became a memberofthe Historic District Commission. A graduate of BentleyCollege ofAccounting, he served Rye as Chairman ofthe Budget Committee for 10 years and was both Town and School District Auditor during this period. He participated in Boy Scout ftmd raising and was an incorporatorofthePortsmouthHospitalCorporation. During WWII, John held the rank ofchiefpetty officer U.S. Coast Guard later seniorvice commanderCoastGuard Auxiliary. An avid ham radio operator, he participated in MARS,communicationnetworkoftheU.S.Army. Johnwasknown for devotion to family andchurch. He waspredeceasedbyhiswife,Emma,andleavessixchildren, includingIanJohnstonofRye,andtheirfamilies. In Memoriam Norman C. Dennehy 1936-2002 Norman Dennehy ofMarion, MA, formerly ofRye, died suddenlyon December28,2002 Norman grew up in Massachusetts, graduating from Tabor Academy in 1955. He served four years in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman. In 1961 he graduated from Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massuchusetts(Amherst)with an Associate's Degree inTurf Management. Following positions in the Bahamas, Missouri, New Jersey and Mass., he was employed as golf course superintendentbytheAbenaquiCountryClub in Rye Beach. After settling in Rye, Norman served as cubmaster for Pack 183 atthetime his sons Michael, Patrick, and Timothy were growing up. He was also an EMT for the Rye VolunteerAmbulanceCorps forsevenyearsand wasaCPR instructorduringthesameperiodoftime. He was a Class A member of the Golf Course Superintendents Assoc, ofAmericaand past president ofthe N.H. GolfCourse Superintendents Assoc. Norman and his wife,Carole,hadrelocatedtoMarionjustoneyearago. .t^'Z^J J. MEMORIALDAYOBSERVATION2002 Undertheauspicesofthe Rye Recreation Departmentand with Jim Cullen coordinatingthe program, observanceofMemorial Day, 2002, was held atthe Central Cemetery. Thedate forthecomingyear hasbeensetfor9a.m.onApril26,2003.