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Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007

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MERRIMACK, N.H. -- Two town councilors are objecting to a request that signs spelling out rules at a public beach be printed in Spanish.

Parks and Recreation Director Sherry Kalish asked last week for a sign with the rules in Spanish because some beachgoers can't read the existing sign in English.

But Town Councilors Finlay Rothhaus and Michael Malzone say signs should only be in English.

"I know where I live," Malzone said. "I am in the United States of America, and I am not going to spend my tax dollars to put up foreign-language signs."

Malzone said immigrants should learn English and respect the cultural and municipal rules if they want to live and work in the state.

Lt. Michael Dudash said the request originated in the police department. He said Latino visitors complained they couldn't read the rules because they are posted in English.

The rules at the beach at Wasserman Park include no horseplay, no alcohol, no littering and a requirement that children under 12 be supervised.

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Dudash said there have been problems with beachgoers bringing alcohol or being too loud.

"They have claimed they cannot read the signs several times, and the police department has recommended signs in Spanish to combat any defenses," he said.

Town Manager Keith Hickey suggested the town comply with the police request and put up one Spanish-language sign.

But at last week's council meeting, Rothhaus objected.

The park is free with beach access at Naticook Lake and draws as many as 100 people on the weekends. Dudash said many come from nearby cities, including Nashua.

Jessica Chase, the park's waterfront director, said half the visitors can be Spanish speaking.

Steve Rand of Silver Lake State Park in Hollis said that that beach draws as many as 700 people on the weekends, and 50 to 75 percent of those visitors are Spanish speaking. Silver Lake has had signs in English and Spanish since the mid-1990s, he said.

© 2007 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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