The Lower Gilmanton Community Club will hold a Christmas Celebration at the First Baptist Church on Route 107 on December 6th at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served by the Club. Please come and join friends and members.
 

It’s time for another fair at the First Congregational Church in Pittsfield. On Saturday, December 6th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Dorcas Guild will be sponsoring the Annual Craft Fair which features several different crafters from Pittsfield and surrounding towns. This fair has gained a wonderful reputation over the years for the great variety of unusual items offered by the artisans in the area. If you haven’t attended before, make an effort to attend, you will be glad you did.
 

Christmas Book Sale at Gilmanton Year-Round Library
 

The Gilmanton Year-Round Library invites you to a book sale on Saturday morning, December 13th, 9-12.

The Gilmanton Year Round Library invites you to do some last minute Christmas shopping at a book sale on Saturday, December 13, from 9 until noon. If you haven’t had a chance to see the almost-finished library, this sale is a good opportunity. The library building is a converted 1790’s barn, located directly across from the Gilmanton School on Route 140.

If you still have books to donate, bring them on Saturday, November 6. Books will not be accepted on the date of the sale (December 13).

Gilmanton Community Church

You are warmly invited to join us for our great and much-enjoyed Christmas Tea and Fair on Saturday, December 6 from 12:30 to 3:30 at the Gilmanton Community Church, Iron Works location. In the parlor you will find a crackling fire, a table laden with food and tables set and waiting for you to sit awhile and enjoy the beauty of the season as you feast.

In the undercroft there will be beautifully decorated wreaths for sale, a Christmas Basket waiting for a winner, home-made candy including pecan buttercrunch, a bake table (we’re known for our chefs!), Attic Treasures, Books (some new), handcrafts, jewelry, cheese and more!

Sunday, December 7 we invite you to a great time of singing favorite Christmas music - a family event for all ages! We have some gifted musicians sharing their talents with us as well. This is at 4 p.m. at the Iron Works Church Sanctuary (Route 140). Following the music we move outside and are blessed by our Living Nativity tableau. Next - into the undercroft for refreshments and hot cocoa and Santa!

Sponsored by the I.W. Library and the church - this is a wonderful beginning to a glorious season! Call 364-7891 for more information or visit our website at  www.gilmantoncommunitychurch.org.

Joy and blessings, Rev. Linda Bolton

A Gilmanton Energy Committee Update: The Jordan Institute

Sponsored by the Gilmanton Energy Committee, Gary O’Connell and Kirk Stone from the Jordan Institute gave a joint presentation to the School Board, and the Board of Selectmen on October 27th.

The Jordan Institute is a non-profit organization  that is helping municipalities and schools become more energy efficient. The Jordan Institute conducts energy audits for municipalities and schools, then helps target which buildings really need the most help in terms of energy losses. The main goal of the Jordan Institute is to reduce carbon in the atmosphere and to help slow down climate change. They are doing this by targeting municipalities and schools because buildings are the number one producer of carbon into the atmosphere and the number one consumer of energy in New Hampshire.

The Selectmen decided that it would be a good idea to have all of the municipal buildings evaluated by the Jordan Institute, at no cost. The School Board has also taken the first step with the Jordan Institute to do an initial energy audit for the school at no cost. This is the first step in reducing the town of Gilmanton’s energy loss as well as saving the town money in the future.

Solar Tour:

The Gilmanton Energy Committee was fortunate enough to be able to tour Tim and Linda Freese’s house on October 18th. The Freeses have been living with solar power since 1984. The house is situated facing south and the warmth of just the sun alone was hot enough for shorts and t-shirts. The Freeses do have a back up generator and gas run appliances, but the rest of the house is run off of solar panels.

Living off the grid is not for everyone. One of the first major steps of trying to live off the grid is to curb your energy use. This is harder than people think, that is why it is not for everyone. If you make a conscious effort to reduce your electricity use, it is a start. You have to consider not having a clothes dryer, unplugging all appliances, and really becoming energy savvy.

Hopefully, another solar tour will be planed for the spring that will open to the public, so please watch for an announcement come springtime.

What Can You Do?

One of the biggest issues these days is trying to save money on heating expenses. One of the first steps that is recommended is to start with the insulation of a house to ensure that heat that you are using is not going to waste. Simple ways to improve your house’s heating is to make sure your house is insulated around, doors, windows, basements and attics. Just making these changes can help reduce heat loss considerably.

The energy efficient light bulbs are another way to reduce the cost of your electric bill and help the environment. Some electric companies actually give you instant rebates if you choose to purchase the light bulbs at certain stores.

Another way to reduce your electric bill is to unplug your appliances when you are not using them. The plugged in appliance still draws electrical current to the machine even if it is not on. Think about how many appliances you have plugged in right now. I started to unplug my appliances and saw a $20.00 a month decrease in my electric bill. I know that it doesn’t sound like a lot but it is $20.00 that can go to groceries or fuel. Look around your house just to see where your electricity is being used idly and by making small changes could add up to big savings.

Amy Russell -Gilmanton Energy Committee

Gilmanton School 1st Quarter Honor Roll

2008-2009
Carol Locke, Principal of Gilmanton School congratulates the following students for achieving Honor Roll status for the 1st quarter of the 2008-2009 school year.
 

8th GRADE
High Honors
Kaleigh Marquis
 

Honors
Arianna Beaulieu, Brianna Bowen, Sophie Brunt, David Chong, Kathryn Clark, Gabrielle Clarke, Mackenzie Cleveland, Levi Davies, Rachel Davis, Mitchell Fillion, Nicole Gaudet, Paige Henderson, Jackson Hillsgrove, Hayley Jakubens, Brittany Janos, Siobahn Kirwan, Patricia Maltzie, Adam Snell, David Sykie, Lindsay Waterman, Jeremie Wilson.
 

7th GRADE
High Honors
Randal Coulstring, Catrina Janos, Danielle Janos, Sarah Magee, Anna Malek, Mitchel Segalini.
 

Honors
Michael Barton, Jessica Burbank, Rachel Chase, Michelle Daviault, Morgan Derome, Brad Ferreira, Brid Fillion, Amanda Lavin, Abigail Lines, Will Mahoney, Rani Mulcahy, Lisa Osborne, Bruce Thibeault, Alexis Wheeler, Hannah Wrobel.

Gilmanton School Good Citizens For November 2008

Carol Locke, Principal of the Gilmanton School congratulates the following students for being selected as Good Citizens for November of the 2008-2009 School Year.

Students, Gabriel Fraser and Paige Meserve - Teacher, LaCroix.
Jonathan Buttrick and Nathan Holiday, Akerstrom.
Timothy Gentile and Taylor Hurst, Smith.
Olivia Comeau and Jonah Nimirowski, Cormier.
Abigail Warren, Comeau.
Danny Moore and Ashleigh Sorrell, McLane.
Jade Pickowicz, Lines/Jarvis.
Nathan Hudson, Crane.
Samuel Kordas, Taylor.
Brendan Carkin and Moriah Davies, Hayes.
Jennifer Hancock, Tothill.
Miranda Bushnell, Harbilas.
Audrey Malek, Perrin.
Patrick Snow and Zakaria Morris, Grade 6.
Nick Barton and Alexis Wheeler, Grade 7.
Hannah Chase, Grade 8.
Caleb Price, Timothy Gentile and Jaiden Boston, Kitchen.

Help MVSB Warm Up The Holidays For People In Need

Give Mittens, Gloves, Hats And Scarves To The Bank’s Mitten Tree Program

Join Meredith Village Savings Bank as they continue their annual holiday tradition to keep hands and hearts warm by giving new mittens, gloves, hats and scarves to local people in need.

Now through January 1, MVSB customers and community members can drop off their handmade or purchased mittens and other donated items at their nearest MVSB office. The items will be displayed on a special tree in each lobby before being distributed to members of the community who need them. Numerous individuals and organizations, including the Visiting Nurses Association and local school nurses will help the bank distribute the items early next year.

In addition, MVSB will contribute to the local community group or nonprofit organization named by each person who donates the mittens, gloves, hat or scarf. Last year, the MVSB Mitten Tree Program donated nearly $4,000 to organizations in the Lakes Region.

To participate in the Mitten Tree program, bring your new handmade or store-bought mittens, gloves, hat or scarf to any one of the bank’s 11 offices and let us know which local organization you would like us to donate to.

Meredith Village Savings Bank is an independent mutual savings bank with 11 offices serving individuals, families, businesses, organizations and towns around Lake Winnipesaukee and the Plymouth area. The bank has offices in Meredith, Laconia, Gilford, Alton, Center Harbor, Moultonborough, Ashland, Plymouth, and Wolfeboro. More information about the bank can be found at www.mvsb.com.