Harold J. and Julie Perkins of Gilmanton Iron Works, NH and Steven
Judkins of Lynchburg, VA and Kathleen Green of Manchester, NH would
like to announce the engagement of their children Tara Lee Perkins
to Joshua Adam Judkins of Boscawen, NH. An August 11, 2012 wedding
is planned at the home of Harold and Julie Perkins.
Letter To The Editor
Part-Time Selectman?
Dear Fellow Gilmanton Voters:
I hope we choose a candidate for selectman who can be fully involved
in all of the important issues in our town.
My concern is that one candidate, Brett Currier, will have to excuse
himself from discussing and voting on many issues as it relates to
the police and fire departments and code enforcement because of his
direct interest in these areas. Why? His son is a police officer in
town, he and his wife are on call and compensated for that time by
the fire department and he owns a construction business in town.
These relationships will interfere with his role as a selectman.
There is no choice other than to excuse himself from decisions in
these areas. To do otherwise would be a conflict of interest.
I want to see a selectman elected who approaches issues with an open
mind and based on the best interests of the town. Serving as a
selectman is an important job in a small town. Everyone who appears
before the Board including all of our town employees should be
treated with a fair hand.
Perry Onion fits the bill. He understands the great work done by
citizen volunteers in our town. He served for 12 years on the
Historic District Commission and did a fine job. He has lived here
for more than 35 years and appreciates our town.
Mr. Onion has one agenda; to serve. He will be able to participate
fully in the discussion and voting in all matters. I believe he is
motivated by the best interests of the Town and not by
self-interest.
I encourage others to vote for Perry Onion for Gilmanton Selectman
on March 13th.
Thank you.
Bill Donovan
Gilmanton
"Read Across America" With Dr. Seuss At Gilmanton Corner
Library!
"Read Across America" is an annual reading motivation and awareness
program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate
reading on March 2nd, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr.
Seuss.
Motivating children to read is an important factor in student
achievement and creating lifelong readers. Research has shown that
children who are motivated and spend more time reading do better in
school.
Dr. Seuss’s books have been translated into more than 15 languages.
At the time of his death in 1991, Dr. Seuss had written and
illustrated over 44 children’s books. Over 200 million copies have
found their way into homes and hearts around the world.
The Gilmanton Corner Library has over 25 Dr. Seuss books plus three
new DVDs: The Lorax, The Cat in the Hat and Horton Hears a Who!
Please join us in our celebration of Read Across America with Dr.
Seuss and receive Free hats, tattoos, badges and activity
pages.
Now is the time to take the family to a museum using the library’s
Free museum passes. The SEE Science Children’s Museum
(Manchester) pass lets the whole family in including the
grandparents! The Currier Museum Pass (Manchester) admits four
people per day. The New Hampshire Historical Museum pass (Concord)
also admits the whole family and is a beautiful museum to see and
learn about New Hampshire’s history.
Our beautiful 100th anniversary glass ornaments (blue, green, amber)
are on sale at the library for $10.00 and make a wonderful gift any
time of the year.
Please call 267-6200 or stop by the library Mondays and Wednesdays 3
- 5, or Saturdays 10 - 12 for more information.
156 Acres Conserved In Gilmanton
Anne and Andrew Bartlett celebrating their easement
finalization.
Photo by Nanci Mitchell
A couple months ago, Anne and Andrew Bartlett finalized an agreement
that had been in the works for several years. They had decided to
make a selfless decision to add to Gilmanton’s natural appeal by
placing 156 acres of their land (in 2 parcels) into conservation.
The lands will remain undeveloped enhancing scenic enjoyment by the
public and furthering the Town’s goal of maintaining "rural
character". One property has frontage on Griffin Road and Pancake
Hill Road (approx. 116 acres) and the other piece has frontage on
both Lougee Road and Thistle Road (39 acres).
Stonewalls define the borders of both properties and accentuate the
agricultural past of this beautiful community. The properties are
heavily forested and are critical for wildlife habitat. Large
wetlands, especially the large beaver pond on one of the properties,
mature trees, deer yards for winter habitat; large snags and downed
woody debris, all add to their habitat value. The NH Fish and Game
Department’s Wildlife Action Plan, as updated in 2010, has
categorized parts of both properties as "supporting landscapes…that
are important to the highest ranking habitat because of their
interactions with those habitats".
The Griffin Road property also protects the headwaters of both the
Soucook River and Upper Suncook River watersheds. These easements
protect forested land that is currently being used or has been used
in the past, for snowmobiling (a trail is found on one of the
properties) and sugaring, while one of the properties also has a
developed plan for forest management activities.
The easements also enhance and abut 110 contiguous acres of nearby
conservation lands, as well as the Hillard Cemetery. The Gilmanton
Conservation Commission would like to thank the Bartletts for making
this decision to maintain their lands in its natural state forever
and adding to the aesthetic quality of our special town.
President and Mrs. Lincoln Visit the Gilmanton Year-Round
Library
Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln visit the Gilmanton Year-Round Library
on Tuesday evening, March 6th, 6:30 pm. The program, sponsored by
the NH Humanities Council, is free and open to the public.
On Tuesday, March 6th at 6:30 pm, the Gilmanton Year-Round Library
presents Abraham and Mary Lincoln: The Long and the Short of It. The
presentation, the third in a series of "Evenings at the Library," is
a living history by Steve and Sharon Wood of Claremont, New
Hampshire.
Distinctly different paths led Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd to
Springfield, Illinois, where they met, married and began a family.
The years that followed their move to the White House were filled
with personal and national crises. The Lincolns will tell stories of
their early lives and the challenges they faced during this
turbulent time in our country’s history. The living history
presentation will be followed by an out-of-character
question-and-answer session.
The program is free and open to the public, with funding from the
New Hampshire Humanities Council. The Library is located on NH Route
140 opposite the Gilmanton School. For more information contact the
library at 364-2400 or Carolyn Dickey at 267-6098.
Letter
Response to Ms. Regan
Ella Jo, Ella Jo, Ella Jo. Thank you so much for finally finding
your voice! It was so nice to read an article written by one of our
school board members who decided to let our town know what she
believes. You have every right and are encouraged to speak to the
issues before the town because you, too, are a taxpayer.
Yes, you most certainly do have the right, and maybe even the
responsibility as one of our school board members, to tell our town
what you believe is fair for our school. And yes, you definitely
have the right to send a personal letter to the public stating those
beliefs. No one ever wants to take those rights from you or anyone
else.
Here’s the problem, and frankly I don’t know what part of this isn’t
clear. RSA 659:44-A states that, as a school board, you may not
voice a collective opinion "designed to influence the vote or voter
on any question or office" before the town. That is what the school
board did last year and in other years when they sent a letter to
the residents which was signed by the entire school board protesting
SB 2.
In closing, I would like to respond to your question as to why
nobody is running for the upcoming open seat on the school board. I,
for one, do not want to subject myself to any board who sees no
problem in breaking the law. When the school board comes to terms
with the laws that bind them, then maybe more citizens would be
interested in running for your seat on the board next year when your
term is up.
Bernadette Gallant
Gilmanton Iron Works
Letter To The Editor
In reply to Ella Jo Regan’s letter, I would like to say that no
apology is necessary.
Her response did not change my opinion nor did it change the law.
RSA 659:44-a clearly states "no public employee shall electioneer
while in the performance of his or her official duties designed to
influence the vote of a voter on any question or office. Any person
who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor". Also
RSA 273-A:l identifies the School Board as a public employer.
My legal information comes from the Attorney General’s office. That
should be accurate enough.
You, Ella Jo, have the freedom of speech as an individual. As a
School Board however you do not have the freedom to engage in
electioneering.
Douglas Isleib
Gilmanton IW
GCC Food Pantry And Thrift Shop News
We are continuing our Bag Sale but we have lowered the price
to an amazing $5.00 per bag. That’s right, you can fill a brown
paper bag for just $5.00 with anything in the GCC Thrift Shop.
We offer everything from infants to adult, from shoes and boots to
ties and scarves and mittens and hats. From beautiful dresses and
suits to sweaters and flannel shirts. So come on in to the GCC
Thrift Shop’s semi-annual Bag Sale and start filling those
bags for just $5.00. What a deal!
We will also have a fantastic price on winter coats and jackets
since they are too bulky to fit in a paper bag. All adult winter
coats and jackets will be $2.00 and all kids winter coats and
jackets will be $1.00. We still have lots of wonderful winter
clothing and accessories for the entire family so come on in and
check us out during our fabulous semi-annual Bag Sale!
Remember that we always welcome donations. Items can be dropped off
at the GCC Food Pantry and Thrift Shop during our business hours.
Please do not leave donations outside the door or put them in the
big yellow box.
We accept clothing and wearable accessories Only. Food
donations can also be left in one of the collection boxes located at
the Gilmanton School, Iron Works Market, Year Round Library or the
Academy Building.
We have begun collecting food items for the upcoming Easter holiday
food baskets. Some suggested items for donation are: cereal, bottled
juice, breakfast muffin mix, canned sliced pineapple, one pound box
of sugar, pickles and olives, cranberry sauce, stuffing and turkey
gravy.
If you wish to make a monetary donation you can mail it to GCC Food
Pantry and Thrift Shop, PO Box 6, Gilmanton IW, NH 03837. Thank you.
We are located on Route 140 in Gilmanton Iron Works, across from the
Iron Works Market. We are open on Monday 9am – 1pm, Wednesday 3pm –
7pm, and Saturday 10am – 2pm. Parking is located in the Gilmanton
Community Church parking lot just west of the shop.
Letter To The Editor
Vote Yes SB 2 Gilmanton
Say Yes to SB 2. Gilmanton voters, it is time for a change.
It is critical you vote on Tuesday, March 13th. If you are unable to
attend please get an absentee ballot from our Town Clerk’s Office.
Again, SB 2 is the official Ballot Referenda Form of Government.
Ballot is more Democratic. Ballot allows more time to
consider/research issues. Minority of voters cannot control Ballot
Referendum. You can vote in private.
Yes, you still attend a Deliberative Session (similar to our Public
Hearing). Yes, the Ballot would be available prior to voting for
your view. Yes, more people will vote than at town meeting. Yes,
those unable to sit long periods of time at town meeting get their
voting privileges back. Yes, SB 2 will allow the people to
have a voice where there was none before. Yes, the vote is more
representative of the wishes of the voters. Yes, I believe voters
will be better informed because they have a month between the
deliberative session and the voting session to read and discuss the
issues.
In today’s economy and lifestyle, many voters can get to the polling
places on Election Day; those same voters can not get to a
Town Meeting.
Thank you for your consideration.
Judith Price
Gilmanton IW
Letter
Seeking appropriate home for sweet young cat with some health
challenges.
My home is being foreclosed, so I cannot keep her! She is a short
haired, grey female. She was found in a dark, dirty basement,
neglected. She was ½ blind from eye infections, yet now improving
with care. Because of this, she will need to be an indoor cat.
At first, she only hid in the corner. Now, she is responding well to
loving attention. She does talk (meow) a bit now, especially at
feeding times! All vet care possible has been done and paid for to
this point. The "right" person(s)/living situation will be given
some cat food, cat litter box and cat litter. Please call Chip at
875-8565.
Mandatory Recycling – Break The Cycle...Recycle
I was asked the other day, " Why should we (Gilmanton) adopt
Mandatory Recycling?"
My answer: If you aren’t swayed by the environmental impact of
recycling then think "Economics: Pay or be Paid". For every ton of
Recyclable Trash, the choice is clear – the town can pay to have it
hauled away as trash or get paid for it as a recyclable.
The current Recycling Program is voluntary and it seems to be
running smoothly. Could it be fine tuned? Sure, but the real problem
with the existing program is that the majority of residents don’t
recycle and the burden to pay for their recyclable trash is growing.
Trash removal is paid for by tax dollars. In order to keep this
portion of our tax bill from growing (and perhaps even see it
shrink) everyone needs to recycle. If everyone would voluntarily
recycle then there would be no need to consider Mandatory Recycling.
Unfortunately, after years of encouragement, education and
invitation to recycle, the majority of the residents have chosen to
"let someone else do it".
It’s time to "Break the Cycle...Recycle."
Barbara E. Swanson
Gilmanton
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