About its work during community event

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

GPD talks about its work during community

event

GILFORD, N.H.

BY ERIN PLUMMER

mnews@salmonpress.news

Members of the community had the opportunity to learn more about the Gilford Police Department during the Gilford Police Department Appreciation, Awareness, and Participation Night.

On Thursday night, personnel with the Gilford Police Department talked about the work they do in front of live and virtual audiences. The presentation was also recorded by DP Productions and can be found on their website at

The event was put together by resident Tony Limanni, who also orchestrated an effort to distribute "Thank a Gilford Police Officer" lawn signs.

Limanni said he has extensive experience with police officers. His nephew is a state trooper on the Seacoast. He also helped design a testing system for police from around the state.

Additionally, he remembered being in a car accident on Route 11A, and how the Gilford Police helped him. There was also a time when he was driving home with his family from a church trip to Vermont and got caught in a heavy snowstorm on I-89. A state trooper ended up blocking his vehicle from a hazardous situation.

Limanni said he wanted this to educate people on what the police really do and not get caught up in the vitriol being targeted at officers now.

Limanni paid tribute to Larry Litchfield, the owner of Sawyer's Dairy Bar who donated $200 toward materials for the signs and contributed to the appreciation event. Litchfield passed away earlier this year.

"He really wanted to be here," Limanni said. "He wanted to be a part of this and he contributed wonderfully to the program for tonight and for the signs and I'm just sorry he couldn't be here. He helped make this possible and I really appreciate his enthusiasm."

Police Chief Anthony Bean Burpee and Deputy Chief Kris Kelley talked about the department's mission statement and the facts behind their work.

Bean Burpee said the actual work of police officers is different from what people might see in movies or on TV. He said incidents that might be seen in some parts of the country don't tend to happen in New Hampshire.

SEE GPD PAGE A10

Courtesy

Lions holding the bag

The second Plastics Collection Drive held jointly by the Laconia-Gilford Lions Club and the Green Sanctuary Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Laconia on was a considerable success. Thirty-six bags totaling 360 pounds of plastic bags and wrap were collected. We want to thank everyone who donated and participated. Further events are being planned. Pictured from left: Bill Chandler, Carol Dow, Mike Soza, Lori Chandler, Inez Andrews and Don House.

Engineer to take closer look

at Tannery Hill bridge

BY ERIN PLUMMER

mnews@salmonpress.news

An engineer will soon examine the Tannery Hill bridge and determine the best options for repairs after a section of the abutment washed out.

The selectmen unanimously approved con-

tracting with an engineering firm to examine the Tannery Hill Bridge and determine the best options to fix it.

Public Works Director Meghan Theriault reported during the Sept. 8 meeting that part of one side of the abutment

washed out and exposed some of the metal fines inside. The bridge was closed off and the next goal was to use utilize the services of an engineer to determine the next steps.

During Wednesday's meeting, Theriault told

the selectmen out of the four engineers they contacted, two submitted quotes for services. She recommended the town contract with Stantec Consulting Services for $40,670, assuming the

SEE BRIDGE PAGE A10

Town working on tax rate preparation

BY ERIN PLUMMER

mnews@salmonpress.news

The Finance Department is in the process of submitting paperwork to set the town's 2021 tax rate among other regular tasks.

Finance Director Holly Burbank gave the selectmen an update on her department during Wednesday's meeting.

The first property tax warrant went out this spring. The second sew-

er warrant went out as of that day and bills will probably be out by the end of October. Billing has also gone out for the Gunstock Acres Village Water District.

"Assessing is super busy right now as they wrap up their cyclical revaluation they've had," Burbank said.

She said Marsha McGinley and Rebecca Wright from the Assessor's office told her they have had double the

building permits to enter into the system.

"Home sales kind of just skyrocketed," Burbank said. "They're working on getting those entered to prepare for MS-1 and setting of the tax rate."

Right now, one major project is getting the MS-1 form into the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) to begin the process of setting the tax rate. Burbank said all of the

town's paperwork has bene submitted and they're looking toward getting the MS-1 ready.

She said the office has also been working with Gunstock Acres to make sure their paperwork is getting done on time.

"They've been doing a great job answering questions DRA has for them," Burbank said. "(We've) been following that closely so that

SEE TAX RATE PAGE A10

Volleyball Golden Eagles end Homecoming in style

Defending champions knock off Milford

Joshua Spaulding

Kate Sullivan pushes the ball over the net in Homecoming action against Milford Saturday.

Riley McDonough picked up 35 assists in Saturday's game against Milford.

BY JOSHUA SPAULDING

SPORTS EDITOR

GILFORD -- After handily winning the first set against Milford during Saturday's Homecoming matchup, the Gilford volleyball team dropped the second set to the Spartans, tying things up.

However, the defending champions didn't let the visitors hang around much longer, giving the amped up crowd something to cheer about as they won the next two sets to claim the 3-1 win, capping off the Homecoming athletic events in style.

"The atmosphere is great, to have the support from the community is really great," said Gilford coach Amy Tripp. "It's fun to see people out and doing what we do.

"And the girls had a blast," she added. "In the end, you want to have fun playing the sport you love."

After Gilford won 25-15 in the first set, Milford came to take an early lead in the second set, going up 7-3 before Gilford rallied back and took the 8-7 lead. The teams went back and forth from there, tying at

SEE TVOLLEYBALL PAGE A10

A2 THE GILFORD STEAMER

Almanac

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Notes from the Gilford Public Library

Classes & Special Events

Sept. 30 ? Oct. 7

Thursday, Sept. 30 Geri Fit, 9-10 a.m. Babies and Co. Storytime, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Living Well in the Community: Managing your Medications, 3-4:30 p.m. Gilford Public Li-

brary welcomes the Granite VNA for their three-week series: Living Well in the Community. This week, our Aging Well segment is Managing Your Medications - discover effective strategies to manage your medications, how to store them properly and how to properly dispose of them. This pro-

Gilford Public Library

Top Ten Requests

1. Gilford Public Library Top Ten requests 2. 3. "The Jailhouse Lawyer" by James Patterson 4. "The Madness of Crowds" by Louise Penny 5. "The Noise" by James Patterson 6. "The Burning" by Jonathan Kellerman 7. "A Slow Fire Burning" by Paula Hawkins 8. "Foul Play" by Stuart Woods 9. "The Last Thing He Told Me" by Laura Dave 10. "Forgotten in Death" by J.D. Robb 11. "The Four Winds" by Kristin Hannah 12. "Peril" by Bob Woodward

gram will be presented by Ann Marie Bisson, RPh.

French, 4-5 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 1 Senior Sculpt, 9 a.m. Bridge, 10:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. Preschool Storytime, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Hand & Foot, 12:30 p.m. Knit Wits, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Advanced Conversational German, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Line Dancing, 4-5 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 4 Geri Fit, 9-10 a.m. Tai Chi, 10-11 a.m. Mahjong, 12:30-3 p.m. Hear-Me-Read, 3:304:30 p.m. Want to practice reading out loud? Come read to us and earn a prize!

Tuesday, Oct. 5 Senior Sculpt, 9-10 a.m.

Bridge, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Storytime with Miss Maria, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Storytime fun with books, songs, and movement with Miss Maria.

Line Dancing, 4-5 p.m. Mystery Book Group, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Join us for this month's mystery book group! Betty Tidd will lead the discussion of "The Long Goodbye" by Raymond Chandler, a quintessential urban private eye mystery. Copies of the book will be available at the circulation desk.

Wednesday, Oct. 6 Check out an Expert, 10 a.m.-noon Paint Group, 1-3 p.m. Music Group/ Sing-ALong, 2-3 p.m. Sing, sing a song, sing out loud, sing out strong! Do you sing in the shower? Maybe hum a tune while working around

your house? Sing along with the radio? Then we want you - to join Jane Ellis, here at the library for a weekly group sing a long. Have some fun while belting through some of your old favorites, and learn some new ones.

After School Teen Club: Cornhole, 2:30-4 p.m.

Science @ the Library, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 7 Geri Fit, 9-10 a.m. Babies & Co. Storytime, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Homeschool Game Club, noon-2 p.m. Volunteer Luncheon, 12:30 p.m. Living Well Series: Fall Prevention, 3-4:30 p.m. In the final week of our Living Well in the Community Series, our

Aging Well segment covers Fall Prevention. Falls can lead to injuries that can decrease your quality of life and your ability to remain in your home. Explore common factors that can lead to falls and simple steps you can take to minimize the risk

French, 4-5 p.m. Parking Lot Puzzlers: Trivia Night, 5:30-7 p.m. Author Dan Koeppel Book Reading: Every Minute is a Day, 6 p.m. Come listen to author Dan Koeppel read and discuss his new book, Every Minute is a Day: an urgent, on-the-scene account of chaos and compassion on the front lines of ground zero for COVID-19, from a senior doctor at New York City's busiest emergency room

Gilford bass fishing team

competes in qualifying tournament

BY JOSHUA SPAULDING

Sports Editor

CENTER HARBOR -- Bass fishing teams from around the state descended on Lake Winnipesaukee on Thursday, Sept. 23, for the annual state tournament qualifying round, which saw a total of more than 25 teams take to the waters to try and qualify for the state championship tournament.

In the end, a pair of local teams were able to land in the top 11, which allows them to move on to the championship round.

Each school was allowed to keep eight fish for weighing and 10 of the top 11 teams carried eight fish to the weigh station, with only Fall Mountain coming in with seven. The placement of each team was

based solely on the

weight of their fish.

The Prospect Moun-

tain Timber Wolves,

who won the first

NHIAA bass fishing

tournament, finished in

seventh place with a to-

tal of 16.38 pounds and a

large fish of 2.97 pounds.

The

Kingswood

Knights finished with a

weight of 15.46 pounds,

which put them in ninth

place overall. Their larg-

est fish was 2.32 pounds.

The Moultonborough

Panthers finished in

16th place overall with

five fish for a total of

7.03 pounds and a large

fish of 1.44 pounds and

Gilford finished in 22nd

place overall with three

fish for a total of 4.3

pounds and a large fish

of 1.92 pounds.

Sunapee came home

as the winning team with

a total of 22.15 pounds

and also had the largest fish of the day at 3.78 pounds. Keene, Mascoma, Monadnock, Souhegan, Bishop Guertin, Kearsarge, Fall Mountain and Hillsboro-Deering will be joining the Timber Wolves and Knights in the state tournament.

The state tournament will take place this weekend, Saturday, Oct. 2, at Lake Wentworth in Wolfeboro. Teams will take off from the Mast Landing both launch on Crescent Lake and weigh-in will take place on the Wentworth State Park Beach on Route 109.

Sports Editor Joshua Spaulding can be reached at 279-4516, ext. 155 or josh@salmonpress.news.

Courtesy

The Gilford team of Jacob Sanders, Derek Kelly, Ethan Rodrigue, Blake Zarta and coach Rainville pose for a picture after last week's qualifying tournament.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Local News

A3 THE GILFORD STEAMER

Gilford Community Church completes clean air

project, continues with clean energy project

Gilford Community Church (GCC) recently installed UV light filters across its entire campus, including Gilford Youth Center, to complete a clean air project.

"The project reduces the spread of air borne diseases, while also making our church a state of the art interior space for gatherings," said GCC member Warren Hutchins.

The project builds off a major renovation that took place at GCC ten years ago in which new HVAC equipment and electrical services were installed.

"It was during this time when we built the Gilford Youth Center," said Hutchins, who noted the clean air project reflects GCC's broader commit-

ment to the community.

"We have a responsibility to create a safe and clean environment for anyone who comes through our doors," he added.

In addition to the installation of UV light filters, GCC has embarked on a clean energy project, which has entered Phase 2.

"We are installing solar panels to further reduce our carbon footprint," explained Pastor Michael Graham, who credited Peter Stewart of Stewart Associates Architects as instrumental in the ongoing project.

"His expertise and familiarity with our campus -he drew up the plans for our remodeled church -really helped move this

project along," he added.

Completed in April 2020, Phase 1 consisted in the replacement of all current lighting fixtures with LED lighting fixtures as well as more efficient lighting control systems on the church campus.

"Eversource also helped us conduct an electricity usage audit," said Hutchins. "Eversource also provided financial support towards both the cost and the installation of the LED's, which laid the groundwork for the solar panel installations, a project that should be complete by the end of September."

Funding for both projects has been made possible through grant funding, individual donations and financed loans.

"It has taken the proverbial village to deliver these projects, so this is a community-wide effort that will pay dividends for decades to come," added Graham.

"I believe both projects make a meaningful difference in our community and the world."

Located in Gilford, NH, Gilford Community Church (GCC) is an in-

clusive, open community that accepts believers and doubters, seekers and skeptics, young and old. To learn more about GCC, or support its clean air project, visit .

First United Methodist Church to host take-out Harvest Supper

Courtesy

Jeff Keyser and Dick Walden prepare beans to be buried and cooked underground for 24 hours

Gandini, Stow lead Gilford at Manchester

The First United Methodist Church of Gilford will have their annual Harvest Supper this year on Oct. 16. It will be take out only. We are pleased to announce that the popular bean-

hole beans will be back! Pick up will be 5 to 6 p.m., and cost will be $14 per dinner. The meal will consist of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, bean-hole beans, roll, and home-made apple pie. We plan to serve 150-160 dinners, so get your reservation in early.

The meal will be provided in a safe, driveup manner. Come to the church at 18 Wesley Way (Off Route 11-A, near the 3/11 bypass), Gilford. You will be directed to drive into a lane in the front parking lot where they will be met by our `ticket' sellers to pay and receive a card stating the number of dinners you have purchased and this number will be placed

on the dashboard. You will then drive around to the back of the church where runners will note the number on your dashboard and place the correct number of dinners in the trunk, in the back seat or hand them in the window. Each complete dinner will be in a separate plastic bag.

Reservations can made by calling

Joyce in the church office at 524-3289. She is available in the mornings from 8:30 a.m. ? Noon. If you call at another time, please leave your name, the number of dinners you want, and a phone number. If there are more than 150 reservations, callers will be put on a list and called the 16th if a dinner becomes available.

Invitational

BY JOSHUA SPAULDING

Sports Editor

MANCHESTER -- The Gilford cross country

team took part in the huge Manchester Invitational

on Saturday at Derryfield Park.

In the small school varsity race, Patrick Gandini

came home first overall with a time of 16:16. Mitchell Townsend was 44th overall in a time of

18:37 and Alden Townsend finished in 19:30 for 75th

place overall.

Dane Dehart was the fourth scorer with a time of 22:24 for 165th place and Dylan Wright rounded out the scoring with a time of 24:55 for 185th place.

Joseph Schelb finished in 190th place with a time

of 28:44.

In the JV B race, Brode Testa finished in 28:49 and

Benjamin Smith finished in 29:11. Catherine Stow led the Gilford girls with a 13th

place finish overall in a time of 20:42.

Georgia Ekhardt finished in 83rd place overall in a time of 23:49 and Vanessa Genakos was 113th overall with a time of 25:24.

Kaitlyn O'Brien finished in 28:18 for 155th place and Madeline Bur-

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lock rounded out the scoring with a time of 28:35 for 159th place.

Gilford is slated to run at Belmont on Friday, Oct. 1, and at Thetford,

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A4 THE GILFORD STEAMER

Opinion

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Take a break

from bad news

Oftentimes, ideas for Editorials arise when something close to us personally surfaces that hits home, or when we hear a significant amount of chatter about a specific topic. This week, the chatter has been about national news overload.

We love the news -- after all, it's what we do. Sharing information with our readers on the local level is both an honor and a necessity.

This week, however, we have heard many people say they just can't listen to the national news anymore. They feel bombarded by a relentless parade of doom and gloom, from the continuing (and to us, frankly confounding) debates over mask mandates in schools to the minute-by-minute coverage of the tragic Gabby Petito case, oftentimes leaving them feeling depressed and overwhelmed. News junkies watch the news every morning and night, check their Twitter feeds, listen to talk radio on their commutes and are constantly in the know. It's important and responsible to be aware of what's happening around you, however finding a balance is key, even for those of us in the businesses.

It seems as though the national news cycle has been nothing but chaos. Bad news seems to ping our phones almost on the minute. This can be exhausting.

As a way to catch your breath, pick one day of the week as a `no news' day, sort of like a news siesta. Get outside, un plug, read a book, listen to some vinyl or watch Cobra Kai (we do recommend for a splash of nostalgia). Attempt to shut off the little magic box we all stare at way too much on the daily. Could landlines actually still serve a purpose?

If you feel like you can't make a difference, realize that you can. Do something every day to make the world a better place, even if that means your own little world. Such actions can often result in the domino effect.

Take some time to count the blessings in your life. Positivity still surrounds us in bulk if you look for it. Family, friends, dogs, crisp fall leaves, apple crisp, bacon, a friendly wave from a neighbor, morning coffee, a cold drink, a beautiful hike or walk, a good novel and a nice music blasting session are just a few things we can lean on to always lift us back up.

Take some time to count the blessings in your life. Positivity still surrounds us in bulk if you look for it. Family, friends, dogs, crisp fall leaves, apple crisp, bacon, a friendly wave from a neighbor, morning coffee, a cold drink, a beautiful hike or walk, a good novel and a nice music blasting session are just a few things we can lean on to always lift us back up.

FROM OUR READERS

l

Community support appreciated

To the Editor:

I want to publicly thank Craig and Maggie Roeder and the Winnipesaukee Bay Gulls staff for once again supporting our community. Every Wednesday at 6 p.m., and continuing through Oct. 27, they have been donating fresh bagels for the Community Challenge Tagg Team to sell at Patrick's Pub in Gilford. For only $3, weekly shufflers have enjoyed a bag of three yummy bagels, with 100 percent donated to the GLR Children's Auction.

And it can never be said enough... Allan and Jennifer Beetle, the owners, managers and rock star team at Patrick's continue to open their business and hearts to our community. The generosity and kindness of the Patrick's "family" cannot be overstated!

Judi Taggart Tagg Team Captain

Gilford

Thank you for supporting St. Vincent de Paul

Children's Foundation

To the Editor: On behalf of the St. Vincent de Paul Children's Foundation, I would like to thank everyone -- local businesses, organizations, and individuals -- who donated to this year's 31st Project Pencil Program. Your donations helped make this year's program a great success! This year, we provided over 500 children in the Lakes Region with backpacks and back to school supplies. The support and generosity we received from businesses and individual donors was amazing. A special "Thank you" goes out to Bert and Mary. These two wonderful volunteers have delivered backpacks and supplies for a number of years. This program wouldn't have happened without them. By combining our talents and working together during this pandemic, we can truly make a difference in the lives of the children in our community. Sincerely,

Sue Page St. Vincent de Paul Children's Foundation

Laconia

Sunday on the pond

A couple ducks take a few dips in Gunstock's pond on a warm Sunday afternoon.

Photo by Erin Plummer

North Country Notebook

Using dogs to hunt bears: Who defines "fair chase?"

By John Harrigan Columnist

ing, trying to catch my scent, and me breathing hard, because I was running, not jogging, so I stood with arms around my chest, trying to contain my breathing and prolong the moment, a moment that probably went all of five seconds but seemed like one of those slow-motion clips, forever.

There's a certain place on the road up the hill where the wild creatures like to cross. It's a place where a bear came tumbling down on an otherwise humdrum day.

On a commute that is like "Lion Country Safari" to begin with, I'm extra watchful on a short stretch of road that goes by a field and through spruce and fir, and then is broken up by a big glacial esker, with a springfed pond to boot.

Over the years, I've seen everything here--bears, a bobcat, moose, too many deer to remember, partridges (grouse) too. And red tail hawks crossing at Warp Factor Five as they zoon through the woods, hunting at speeds beyond belief.

The tumbling bear is fixed in my mind because it was a special bear, as was the bear I saw feeding on the first green grass of spring in a field behind Kathy and Curtis Keazer's house on Route 145 one spring.

Then there was the bear I encountered in the middle of Titus Hill Road during a seven-mile run on a rainy, windless day. Now, that was one for the books---a bear that was running up through the hardwoods off Titus Hill Road and hove up over the embankment just as I came along, knocking off 8.5-minute miles and zoned out, thinking.

And there we were, the bear immediately standing up and sway-

+++++

The bear that I saw sitting down just over a kept-up fence along Rabbit Path Road in Landaff was a standout for me, because you don't often see a bear sitting down. It was one of those corner of the eye things, and I was well beyond the bear when I slowed down, and then backed up to be sure what I'd seen.

It was a big boar of a bear, its coat rippling in black waves, as it sat there scooping up dirt with a front paw, at least what looked like dirt.

"Don't shut the engine off," Rudy always advised as part of his basic driver's education, and so I never touched the switch, the sound remained part of the background noise the bear had already dismissed as a threat, and so it sat there so bear-like and focused on the business at hand, which was getting food. It was such big business, so bear-like for a bear.

But it begged the question, which was whether the ants were worth it---the energy expended versus the energy derived. Was a paw-full of dirt and ants worth the brain-cells and muscle-power to get it?

Sort of like the energy spent climbing onto a dumpster and tearing the lid apart, versus the small amount of food within. It's a tradeoff a bear no doubt struggles to make, like the time and energy spent break-

Courtesy

Sam Geesaman, the night bellman at the Omni Mount Washington Resort, went out onto the porch to get a sunrise photo in June of 2019 and encountered this bear already looking at it. (Courtesy Omni Mount Washington)

ing into a camp versus the possible food inside.

So there is how we wind up treating our top predator, willingly or not, in keeping with the mantra of a fed bear being a dead bear, no matter the circumstances, and so it most often goes. Pathetic, but true.

+++++

The other day I had a chance to visit with an old friend who knows way more about bears than I ever will, a guy who's cheerfully spent a lifetime at it, while my experience has largely been with bears hellbent on quitting the scene.

Bears are very much in the news just now, with controversies rising anew in towns like Sandwich about using hounds to chase and tree bears, and what constitutes "fair chase," and one of the hearts of the issue, landowners' rights.

Sandwich is simply where two fundamental freedoms---no, three, maybe four or five--have come together to force the issue.

I asked my old friend about hounding, and landowner rights, and

what is fair chase, especially from a bear's perspective. What's it like for the bear, the anxiety and terror of it, the dogs and humans ever closer, the commotion and the fear?

Well, he said, to a bear it might be all in a day's work, the main object at hand being the constant search for food anywhere the bear can find it, whether apples or standing corn or garbage on your Uncle Fudd's deck.

"A bear is worrying and weighing odds all the time," he said, whether it's free-running dogs, or crossing roads, or encountering hikers or hunters deep in the woods. And as ever-more people acquire their little pieces of God's Country and build their dream houses, humans steadily encroach on bear habitat---another source of conflict and fear.

He knows his bears, and I couldn't fault his thinking.

(Please

address

mail, including phone

numbers for questions,

to campguyhooligan@

or 386 South

Hill Rd., Colebrook, NH

03576.)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Local News

A5 THE GILFORD STEAMER

Opechee Garden Club presents an "Introduction to Indoor Succulents"

Opechee Garden Club is pleased to announce that Sue Macduff, of Spider Web Gardens, will present "An Introduction to Indoor Succulents" at the Opechee Garden Club on Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. The presentation will take place at the Gilford Community Church, Potter Hill Road, Gilford. The public is invited to attend.

Sue Macduff is a New Hampshire native residing in Alton for the last 31 years. She grew

up "chucking rocks and pulling weeds" and, that not withstanding. has loved plants and gardening her entire life.

She was a Master Gardener for eight years, but is mostly self taught, being a voracious reader and intensely curious about plants and nature from a young age. She was also influenced by the generations of gardeners before her.

She says she will "garden until they plant me... in my garden plot."

Sue's presentation will provide the knowledge required to select the right succulent for your home, or business, and how to maintain its health. Topics will include container selection, proper light, soil, sunlight, temperature and humidity.

If you are interested in joining the Opechee Garden Club, please send an email to: Opecheegardebclub2012@

Selectmen approve bandstand

repairs, generator upgrades

BY ERIN PLUMMER mnews@salmonpress.news

The Village Field Bandstand will receive some crucial repairs and the town hall generator will receive some upgrades, while repairs on the dugouts will be decided at a future selectmen's meeting.

Two out of three members of the board of selectmen discussed needed repairs to some town facilities during Wednesday's meeting.

Town Administrator Scott Dunn said the selectmen received a memo from Parks and

Recreation Director Herb Greene about some significant maintenance issues at the bandstand. He wrote that the structure has a failing roof and leaking has resulted in rotten ceiling boards and floorboards that need to be replaced as well.

Dunn said the Recreation Commission has already discussed replacing the bandstand's deck with composite decking to reduce further costs.

The town received a price of $20,046.56 from Chiasson's Carpentry of

Help Children's

Auction `Fill the Box'

Two collection days: Oct. 8 & 9 at MVSB in Gilford

LACONIA -- The Greater Lakes Region Children's Auction needs your help to collect items early for this year's Auction ? the 40th anniversary of raising money to help local children in need! We're working hard to collect new, unused items now. We have partnered with MI-BOX Moving and Mobile Storage and Meredith Village Savings Bank to hold two upcoming collection days at MVSB in Gilford and all the MVSB branches: Friday, Oct. 8, 11 a.m. ? 3 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 9, 9 a.m. ? 1 p.m. Dropping new, unused and unwrapped items for the Children's Auction is easy! Just drive up to MVSB in Gilford or any MVSB from now through October 8, fill out a simple form, leave your item with the volunteers or MVSB employee, and you're done! Need ideas on what to donate? These items bring the best bids:

Gift cards

Electronics

Tools

Toys

Sporting goods

Household items

Many thanks to MI-BOX Moving and Mo-

bile Storage and Meredith Village Savings Bank

for making these special collection days possi-

ble. Questions? Visit or call

(603) 527-0999. Mark your calendar for the 2021 Chil-

dren's Auction: Dec. 7-10!

About the Greater Lakes Re-

gion

Children's

Auction

The Greater Lakes Region Children's Auction

is a charitable event

held every December

in central New Hamp-

shire. Countless volun-

teers and donors have

turned the Auction and

its many fundraising

events, including the It's

For the Kids Community

Challenge, into a major

annual campaign. In the

40 years that the commu-

nity has come together

for the Auction, an im-

pressive $7 million has

been awarded to local

nonprofit organizations,

all through volunteer

efforts, community do-

nations and corporate

sponsorship. The Great-

er Lakes Region Chari-

table Fund for Children

is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

organization that helps

community organiza-

tions in the Central

New Hampshire region.

For more information

about the Auction, the

nonprofits it supports

and how you can help,

visit ChildrensAuction.

com.

Belmont to do the work. The selectmen unan-

imously approved a motion to waive the town's purchasing policy requiring bids from multiple contactors. They also unanimously approved awarding the contract to Chiasson's Carpentry with funds coming from the recreation Facility Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund, which had a balance of $48,554.

The board also voted on upgrades to the town hall's generator that will power all of the building's offices. Right now, the generator will only power a few offices in the event of a power outage. Dunn said the town received proposals to upgrade the generator and recommended accepting a bid from Hutchins Electric of Gilford for $29,932.32 to come from the Buildings and Grounds Contracted Services fund.

Dunn said it's likely the generator project will cost less.

"This is a worst-case scenario and chances are the budget will come in several thousand less," he said.

The selectmen did decide to table discussion on repairing the dugout roof at Village Field until the next meeting.

Selectman Kevin Hayes said the topic has come up over the past few years that the dugouts need reroofing. Hayes said the town did have a quote from Drew's Affordable Steel Roofing, which had been the lowest bid and asked for a motion. Selectmen Chan Eddy said he would rather vote on this at the next meeting when Selectman Gus Benavides was back and the full board was present. The matter was tabled for the next meeting.

Jack Schumacher of Laconia enrolls at St. Lawrence University

CANTON, N.Y. -- St. Lawrence University welcomed Jack E. Schumacher of Laconia as a member of the Class of 2025. Schumacher attended New Hampton School.

St. Lawrence University enrolled more than 640 new students this fall, including 625 members of the Class of 2025 and 17 transfer students.

Members of the Class of 2025 hail from 438 high schools worldwide. Firstyear students come to the North Country from 29 states, Washington, D.C., and 33 countries, while transfer students represent 21 colleges, 12 states, Washington D.C., and Jamaica. Similar to recent incoming classes, international students represent 10 percent of the class and self-identified students of color represent 13 percent of first-year students. Nearly 17 percent of the class are considered first-generation students-students whose parents did not complete a four-year college or university degree, and 15 percent have an immediate family member or relative who attends or attended St. Lawrence.

At St. Lawrence, each first-year student participates in the University's nationally-recognized First-Year Program (FYP), one of the oldest living-learning programs in the country. The FYP helps students make successful transitions from high school to college. Students live together as a cohort and are taught by faculty

teams, developing the writing, speaking and research skills needed to be successful in college and beyond. Students continue to hone these skills in a spring FirstYear Seminar.

Fall semester classes began on Wednesday, Aug. 25.

About St. Lawrence University

Founded in 1856, St. Lawrence University is a private, independent liberal arts institution of about 2,500 students located in Canton, New York. The educational opportunities at St. Law-

rence inspire students and prepare them to be critical and creative thinkers, to find a compass for their lives and careers, and to pursue knowledge and understanding for the benefit of themselves, humanity and the planet. Through its focus on active engagement with ideas in and beyond the classroom, a St. Lawrence education leads students to make connections that transform lives and communities, from the local to the global. Visit stlawu.edu.

NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING TOWN OF BARNSTEAD

The Board of Selectmen will hold two (2) public hearings on Tuesday, October 12th, 2021 in the Town Hall @ 5:15 p.m.

The first public hearing is to accept and expend Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in the amount of $248,323.84 from the State under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 pursuant to RSA 31:95-b.

The second public hearing is regarding a Fire Alarm Ordinance for the purpose of establishing certain guidelines and fees to govern the installation, registration and use of residential and commercial alarm systems.

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