Merrimack Archives - Granite Grok

SMITH: Who Is Chuck Mower?

January 11, 2026 Julie Smith

I used to like Chuck Mower, and I will start by saying a few nice things about him. I met Chuck in the mid-90s when the Merrimack River Watershed Council had a canoe trip program. Chuck was one of the volunteer trip leaders and a regional historian. I enjoyed many trips in which we would … Read more

OPINION: There is No “Chicken” Problem in Merrimack

December 1, 2025 Jeanne Martin

The Proposed Ordinance is an unnecessary intrusion. Dear Councilors, fellow Merrimack residents, and interested members of the public. Since my last letter, I’ve had more time to reflect on the proposed chicken ordinance. I stand behind every word of my last letter, and I’ve made it public for the sake of discussion. Still, I now … Read more

MacDonald: June 7th, Jeanne Dietsch-Splains The Free State Project

May 27, 2025 Steve MacDonald

The infamous Democrat scold, Jeanne Dietsch, has been struggling to find political relevance for years. Since being booted from her very short stint in the NH State Senate, she has launched project after project, unable to accumulate meaningful traction because – let’s be honest – they are little different from the rest of the Left’s … Read more

Merrimack Town Elections Tomorrow!

April 7, 2025 Press Release

Merrimack Town Election – Tuesday, April 8th! Vote for FISCAL CONSERVATIVES! Don’t let tax hikes pass because conservatives stay home! If you can’t afford another $700+ tax increase, GET OUT & VOTE! Polls Open: 7 AM – 7 PM 🗳 School District Endorsed Candidates:School Board: Barry “BK” Kendall & WRITE-IN: Jennifer McCormackSchool Budget Committee: Barry … Read more

If Merrimack Doesn’t Do Any DEI or CRT Stuff Stop Paying The DEI/CRT Consultant

March 19, 2025 Steve MacDonald

My kids have not been victims of what passes for public education in the town of Merrimack (SAU 26) for a very long time, but now and then, the PTSD shows itself. They thankfully missed the CRT and DEI crap, and most of the gender-bending nonsense, but the climate fearmongering and LGBT mind f**kery were … Read more

Merrimack School DIstrict web site screen grab altered

School Board Chair: Get Rid of Athletics to Keep CRT English Program (Merrimack)

January 16, 2025January 16, 2025 Ann Marie Banfield

Merrimack is using three English Language Arts programs, however, one of them causes emotional harm to children. According to the lawsuit against Wit & Wisdom, parents reported that their children had suffered psychological harm because of the Critical Race Theory focus in Wit&Wisdom. All of this was reported here. Now that parents have begun questioning … Read more

Disastrous Public Schools Merrimack- Part 4 (Math)

January 13, 2025January 13, 2025 Ann Marie Banfield

The Merrimack school district is in the middle of a storm. Parents and residents are demanding better from the people in charge of running their school system. Please read Part 1, Part 2, and Part3. There are simple measures that will help students succeed in school, but much of that is undermined by the curriculum … Read more

Disastrous Public Schools Merrimack- Part 3 (English/Language Arts)

January 13, 2025 Ann Marie Banfield

After describing the numerous problems in the Merrimack schools with their science and SEL programs, now is a good time to look at one of the English Language Arts programs used in the school. Oddly enough, it was mentioned during the budget committee meeting that Merrimack chose three E/LA programs for the students. One of … Read more

classroom empty desks original Image by WOKANDAPIX from Pixabay

Disastrous Public Schools Part 2 (Merrimack – SEL)

January 12, 2025January 12, 2025 Ann Marie Banfield

If you have not read Part 1 of the disaster in the Merrimack schools, you can read that here. You will learn why Merrimack residents are pushing back on the school budget along with the poor quality of academics. It is a good preface for looking at the other problems in the district. Merrimack has … Read more

Disastrous Public Schools Part 1 (Merrimack-Science)

January 16, 2025January 10, 2025 Ann Marie Banfield

Parents showed up to the recent budget meeting in Merrimack to ask the committee to reconsider what the school administrators are proposing. The school budget, and spending, has climbed by an alarming rate over the last few years, $5M per year since 2021. This is in addition to all of the ESSER (federal) funds Merrimack … Read more

Night Cap: Local GOP Makes a Dent with 2024 Town Election

April 10, 2024 Steve MacDonald

My town, Merrimack, holds its SB2 elections later than most. Town election season in New Hampshire begins while the snow still flies and peaks in March, so an early April poll date is late for supper.

New Cross Referenced List and Merrimack Reps.

April 4, 2024 Julie Smith

Think of me as the guy who doesn’t always drink beer, but when he does, he prefers Dos Equis. It’s funny I should think of that because I am presently a paying customer in the new Mexican joint in the Bertucci’s building on Amherst Street, using their Wi-Fi hot spot because my former employer’s product is being a POS.

Mental health anxiety depression Image by Josh Clifford from Pixabay

Merrimack Should Reject School Budgets Until They Can Teach Kids to Read …

March 27, 2024 Steve MacDonald

Usually, when you hire someone to do something, and they don’t or can’t do it, you do not then give them more responsibility or reward them with additional revenue. But let’s say you do, and they fail again and again. At what point do you stop rewarding failure?

Defund the Police (Chief)!

March 25, 2024 Julie Smith

That’s right, I said that. If the Hollis Police Chief doesn’t care to serve and protect Hollis until the moment of his upcoming retirement, I say that his retirement should be defunded. Chief Hoebeke appears(looks and acts) like his Merrimack counterpart, Chief Levesque.

SEL is Draining Tax Dollars from the Merrimack School Budget

March 23, 2024 Ann Marie Banfield

Social and Emotional Learning is the latest fad in public education. SEL is considered Tier 1 in a three-tiered mental health framework for students attending public schools. Money for this initiative came through a federal grant several years ago, but as those funds dried up guess who is left to fund these initiatives? The local taxpayers.

Rumor: Local Police Chief’s Policy Is to Prevent Officers From Enforcing Federal Immigration Laws or Detainer Requests!

March 16, 2024 Julie Smith

SB 563, a ban on sanctuary cities, predictably advanced in a 14-10 roll call last week to Senate Finance, but not without the expected drama in the chamber. You can click here and skip to 4:56:20 for almost a whole hour of debate, but you already know the outcome.

NH Civics is at it Again…Now They Want to Promote Group Therapy for Children in Public Schools

March 14, 2024March 14, 2024 Ann Marie Banfield

With the desperate call to improve Civics Education for students in New Hampshire, you would think one of the most prominent Civics organizations would be at the forefront of making sure our students are literate in this important subject.

Deteriorating … Mental Health, Privacy, and Parental Consent in Public Schools

February 29, 2024 Ann Marie Banfield

As schools begin the shift to providing mental health services, parents need to be aware of some big problems that have been uncovered. Personally identifiable mental health information on students has already been shared, but schools are still failing to acquire informed parental consent for their child’s mental health assessments and services.

Essentials for Liberty

December 28, 2023 Op-Ed

In my 87 years of life, one of the most important lessons I learned early, taught to me by my late brother who wasted the tremendous talent God blessed him with: It’s easy to become happy while you’re drinking, but New Year’s Day you wake up with the same problems and a headache.

Local Democrat Loses His Right to Vote for Election Interference

April 26, 2023 Steve MacDonald

The case of a local Democrat who interfered in a special election back in 2021 has finally concluded. Michael Drouin has pleaded guilty to knowingly blocking campaign communications on the day of that NH House special election in Merrimack.