Gottesman gets floor at Rotary Club

One of the tenets of the Rotary movement is found in asking: “Is it fair to all concerned?”

On Tuesday, Nashua Rotary West is scheduled to give Democratic candidate David Gottesman, a member of the civic group, the dais to talk about his candidacy for the state Senate seat in District 12.

Gatekeepers so far are not granting equal time to his opponent, Republican state Rep. Harry Haytayan of Hollis.

Last week, the Hollis-Brookline Rotary Club opened its doors to host local state representative candidates, along with Gottesman and Haytayan. A spirited hour-long exchange between the two Senate candidates highlighted their differences.

Fred Daniels, the president of Nashua Rotary West, said Friday he isn’t opposed to having both candidates appear together so the group’s members can hear from both sides.

Daniels said he is willing to explore the possibility of opening up the floor to both candidates after first talking with the group’s program coordinator and Gottesman. But he said the time for speakers is limited, so the group tries to keep it to one candidate per lunch meeting.

He acknowledged recent Rotary West speakers have leaned toward the Democratic ticket, with former Sen. Debora Pignatelli, who is challenging for the District 5 Executive Council seat, and congressional hopeful Paul Hodes.

Hearing only from Democrats wasn’t the group’s choice, Daniels said. Other candidates and Republican incumbents didn’t ask to be on the fall program, he said.Rich Killion, the campaign manager for Haytayan, said a program with only one candidate appears to be unfair to Rotary members, since they won’t get a balanced perspective.

“To me, it’s everyone or no one,” Killion said.

The campaign was offered a Nov. 2 speaking engagement, Killion said. The day happens to be Election Day, so the Haytayan aide declined the offer.

Party rallies

Democrats and Republicans held competing rallies last week to unite the party faithful as the election draws near.

A large group of Republicans gathered at City Hall on Thursday evening to encourage each other.

Executive Councilor David Wheeler of Milford told his fellow Republicans, candidates and supporters alike, to stress the party’s message of low taxes and limited government and not be distracted by Democratic smokescreens.

Other speakers included Haytayan, Nashua City Republican Committee chairwoman Sandra Ziehm, outgoing Sen. Jane O’Hearn of Nashua, Nashua Mayor Bernie Streeter and Griffin Dalianis, who read a letter from Gov. Craig Benson.

Down the street at the Democratic headquarters, state and local firefighters endorsed the efforts of the local Democratic committee, handing over a financial contribution.

Attending the event was Dave Lang, president of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire; Bill McQuillen, secretary-treasurer of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire; and Tim Soucy, president of the Nashua Fire Fighters Association.

Lang said firefighters recognize the work being done by Democratic officeholders.

“We know they will fight hard for the values shared by the firefighters and working families,” he said in a written statement.

Walking through history

Alan Manoian is making another appearance, telling the stories of the city’s streets.

The walkabout focuses on Nashua’s downtown historic neighborhoods, along with the millyard, the so-called Tree Streets and the Number Streets. Highlights to the tour include a discussion about the historic churches that dot the neighborhoods, the “French Village” and the former home of Jack Kerouac’s mother.

Besides uncovering the history of the city, the purpose of the tour with the city’s former assistant economic development director is to promote the Community Development Division’s Livable Walkable Community program in the neighborhood.

The event is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday. The tour will begin at the Head Start building at the Bronstein Apartments complex on Central Street.

Parking is available at 33 Pine St. and 19 Chestnut St.

In the pink

A health fair will land in the City Hall auditorium Wednesday as part of the Mayor’s Campaign Against Breast Cancer.

Starting at 10 a.m., the third-floor room will be turned over to exhibitors ranging from city hospitals and health food stores to drug companies and massage and reiki specialists. Complimentary makeovers will be available. The event will end at 2 p.m.

This month is the 20th observance of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Scheduled speakers are Carolyn Choate, program manager for TV-13 Nashua, a one-year breast cancer survivor, and Krys Hobson, wife of Nashua Pride manager Butch Hobson, along with Streeter and his wife, Jan.

The goal is to encourage women of color and women older than 70 to get mammograms to help prevent and detect breast cancer.

Today kicks off a week of awareness to combat the disease. Supporters of the cause will lace up their sneakers for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Greeley Park, with registration starting at 9 a.m.

Friday is designated as “Wear Pink Day” to bring awareness to the importance of mammograms and early detection of breast cancer.

A scenic circle

Let flowers bloom in the roundabout on South Main Street.

Rivier College President William Farrell gave some $9,400 to the city to pay for 3,000 bulbs, trees, loam and landscaping supplies to spruce up the roundabout, which sits right outside the college’s campus. Streeter said the city has received compliments on the look of the intersection at Main and South Main streets, and he called it a great contribution from the college.

Treasured honor

City Treasurer/Tax Collector David Fredette has received the applause of his peers. The New Hampshire Association of Counties named Fredette its County Treasurer of the Year.