1Stone Bridge Post • June 12, 2020www.StoneBridgePostNH.rocks

The Henniker Town Meeting on Sat-urday succeeded in passing a bare bones budget, limited to several basic warrant ar-ticles, and has been continued to Wednes-day, July 15th at 6 p.m.

“We haven’t talked yet about how we’ll do it, but we won’t try to use the same

technology,” Town Moderator Cordell Johnston said earlier this week of com-plications that severely disrupted the pro-ceedings. “I am guessing by that time the

[Governor’s] prohibition on gatherings of ten or more will be lifted. I don’t know whether it will be lifted entirely to 50 or something like that. So we may be meet-ing in the gym -- I’m not sure.”

Several Henniker residents who at-

tended Saturday’s Town Meeting in the Henniker Community School building had a negative view on how the it went. The attempt to satisfy Governor Sununu’s

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 28 • June 12, 2020 • Promoting Integrity in the Valley

“For what it’s worth, the Henniker Town Meeti ng was the worst mass confusion I have ever seen.” — Robert Garrison

FREE

The Town of Bradford was served papers this week from former Fire Chief Gary Dion, alleging that he was unjustly fi red and demanding payment for the six months he fi lled the post.

On Tuesday the Town Clerk and Board of Se-lectmen Chair Jason Allen were served the paper-work, fi led with the Mer-rimack County Superior

Court. Labor Attorney Jake Krupski of Concord prepared the suit for Dion.

Last year at the town meeting, citizens voted overwhelmingly to support an article that changed the way the fi re department was selected and served. In the past, the town’s chief, a volunteer, was elected by the fi refi ghters. Since the chief had announced he planned to retire, he sug-gested to selectmen that the job needed to be a paid

position, although still part-time. Voters supported the warrant article, although it was amended from say-ing the Board would select the fi re chief to read that the Board would select the chief “in consultation with the Fire Department Mem-bership.”

Following town meet-ing, Municipal Resources, Inc. (MRI) a headhunt-ing company, was hired and began the search for a

Never paid, former Bradford Fire Chief sues

By lUCy PiVonKaStone Bridge Post

See BRADFORD, Page 5

Henniker Town Meeting bungled?By MiChael Pon

Stone Bridge Post

See TOWN MEETING, Page 5

All seems peaceful at one of the entrances to Henniker’s Town Meeting on Saturday, as Moderator Cordell Johnston assists an attendee before confusion and frustration beleaguer the taxpayer crowd inside. (Joe Devine photo)

2 June 12, 2020 • Stone Bridge Post www.StoneBridgePostNH.rocks

Stone Bridge Post is a weekly newspaper published every Friday.

Stone Bridge Post readership consists of the Rt. 202/9 corridor with heavy circulation in Antrim, Bennington, Bradford,

Contoocook/Hopkinton, Deering, Henniker, Hillsborough, Newbury, Washington, Windsor and Weare.

STONE BRIDGE STAFFPublisher/Editor:

MICHAEL PON

Contributing Director: DWIGHT GOULD

Graphic Designer:PJ FISCHER

Sales Reps:ALLY CHASE

THORA SAILEVICZ

Circulation:KEN MATTHEWS

Correspondents:LUCY PIVONKAJOHN SEGEDY

MARJORIE CILLEY JILL PERTLERJIM BAILEY

We welcome letters, features, guest columns and photos of local interest from our readers.

Correspondence may be sent to:Stone Bridge Post, Inc.

PO Box 225, Hillsborough, NH 03244Phone: 603-854-0174 Email: stonebridgepost@gmail.com

Website: StoneBridgePostNH.RocksFacebook: Stone Bridge Post NH

AD DEADLINE: Wednesdays by 4 pmThe circulati on of the Stone Bridge Post newspaper around the region is 4,400 EACH

week. The newspaper also has numerous hits each week on our website, www.Stone-BridgePostNH.rocks, and our Facebook page. One recent story about friends who skied together each month, one way or another, for ten years, received well over 5,000 hits on our Facebook page.

We, the owners and publishers, Michael Pon and Dwight Gould Sr., stand behind these numbers. We believe our competi tors should state their print circulati on as well.

Antrim’s Great Brook School principal Jim Elder has now retired after a 30-year career in edu-cation with nearly half of that in the ConVal School District. Past and present students, parents, sta�, and townspeople turned out last week for a special parade to say thank you, goodbye, and good luck. (Courtesy photos)

AES principal retires

3Stone Bridge Post • June 12, 2020www.StoneBridgePostNH.rocks

The Deering Com-munity Church (DCC) in partnership with the United Church of Christ (UCC) in NH recently sent one of their largest assemblages of donations to there sister church (UCCZ) in Rimbi, Zim-babwe. Every few years,

the DCC and other UCC churches (United Church of Christ in NH), send del-egates to Zimbabwe, and they send their delegates to New Hampshire to vis-it, support one another, and share experiences.

The NH UCC church-es have been sending con-tainers filled with goods for years this being the 15th time. Donations in-

Deering Community Church sends donations to Zimbabwe

In a weekend-long three part process, Emerald Lake Village District (ELVD) voters approved a pair of bonds and the operating budget among 13 warrant ar-ticles. The three Commissioners (Brett Taber, Sara Auger and Mark Martin) who had all been appointed, were all elected to staggered terms along with Clerk Rich-ard Rose and Treasurer Shawna Kilcoyne during the first part of the process – drive-up voting on Saturday morning.

Part two was an online meeting held Saturday afternoon with Articles Three and Four, the two bonds, drawing the most discussion. Approximately 35 peo-ple attended the virtual gathering. Ar-ticle Three authorizes bonding $220,000 towards the $357,000 price-tag for re-pairing/replacing the Red Fox Crossing Bridge. The balance of $137,000 is to come from the ELVD Bridges and Roads Capital Reserve Fund. While there was some questioning of the project and the cost, the discussion reflected the necessi-ty of the project for access to the district. A minor change in the wording to clarify the intent of the article was made.

Article Four authorizing the bond-ing of $275,000 towards the estimated $350,000 cost of researching and obtain-ing a new water source and doing water system upgrades drew over an hour of discussion. Again the balance of $75,000 is to come from the ELVD Water Capi-tal Reserve Fund. Concerns were raised about long term solutions to the District’s water woes including the need to upgrade the aging piping, the possibility of some-

day connecting to either the Hillsborough or Henniker water systems at a likely multi-million dollar cost and frustration with the existing ban on outside water use.

The remaining articles garnered less controversy including a $188,234 budget that was up only .07% and the Water De-partment operating budget of $366,861 to be paid for with income (water bills) as opposed to taxes and an increase of stipends for the Commissioners and trea-surer.

Part three of the meeting then took place on Sunday afternoon by ballot vote with 57 residents again doing the drive-up voting process. All eleven articles (#3- #13) passed. The two bond issues (#3 & 4) achieved the 2/3 super majorities need-ed although number four came just three votes shy of being defeated.

Emerald Lakers give go-ahead to bridge and water projects

By John Segedy Stone Bridge Post

ELVD Clerk Richard Rose accepts a drive-up ballot.

cluded 30 boxes of cloth-ing, shoes, theological books, medical and school supplies a laptop and bi-cycles. The bicycles were refurbished and boxed by Liberty Cycle in Deering. The church’s partnership with Rimbi goes back at least fifteen years accord-ing to church member Bry-an Terry who worked on the project.

While further donation collections will take place

in the future, in the mean-time Ms. Terry suggested that anyone that is interest-ed in helping could write letters to Rimbi residents. She noted that communi-cation with their partner church is a very important

component of the outreach. Letters can be dropped off at the Deering Community Church and more infor-mation can be obtained at deeringchurch@mcttele-com.com or 464-5346.

By John Segedy Stone Bridge Post

The happy crew of Church members load the container at the Spaulding High parking lot. (Courtesy Photos)

Loading a hospital bed into the shipping container.

4 June 12, 2020 • Stone Bridge Post www.StoneBridgePostNH.rocks

swerving,” another neigh-bor says, because the truck was avoiding a rab-bit in the road. She spear-headed the campaign at the beginning of the month to catch the rabbits and re-home them, and although she and some friends caught nearly 50, she is frustrated that there are still so many of them and no one is doing any-thing about.

“Some needed rehabil-itation,” she said, because males will viciously fi ght with others over the females, and some of the females were pregnant, although they’d suffered from malnutrition so some of the young were stillborn, miscarried, or just too weak to survive. And at this point she’s run out of friends willing to adopt them.

“All of us talked yesterday and we are all worn down, we are sad,” she said. “We are disappointed that the police won’t help. We are sick to our stomachs thinking about the poor animals that are still there. We all wonder if they are still alive. We’re all losing sleep over this and

the police department seems to just want to look the other way.”

“As far as I know they got all the rabbits,” Lieutenant Brian Lord of the Antrim Police, who has been in charge of the round-up, said last week, even though he has been told they are still being seen as well as caught. “If there are more then we’ll look into it,” Lord said, and asked anyone who has seen them to call him. That number is 603-588-4103.

Lord says he has been working with the SPCA and has contacted Fish and Game.

Materials Delivered FREE

Escaped rabbits from a home on West Street in Antrim have been causing prob-lems for neighbors for months now, and there seems to be no end in sight. Antrim residents fi rst noticed the rabbits running rampant last fall; no one is quite clear when they escaped captivity, but they began to reproduce heartily as rabbits will, and a neighbor who stepped in at the beginning of the month to trap some said there are “literally hundreds” still out there.

Although the homeowner, Donald Ev-ans, reported to police on June 1 that “all 47 rabbits have been captured,” more have been caught in live-animal traps near the home they escaped from since then. When this reporter went to talk to a neighbor last week, one of the enormous animals was under a lawn chair right at the person’s doorstep and another had been caught in a trap just a few feet away earlier that day. Clearly the problem has not been taken care of.

Rachel Keyser, owner of the rabbits, said that one of her rabbits escaped and

mated with a rabbit that had escaped from someone else’s hutch. She also insisted that every rabbit had been captured.

When told that her neighbor said all the rabbits have been caught, an abutter said “I kinda doubt that,” as she sees them in her yard every day and is still catching them. At one point, she says, “They were all over the place, all over the yard, I could count 15 to 20 at once – just the ones I could see!”

She’s also noticed a lot more fox in the area – and a lot less food in her garden. “Maybe,” she says kindly, “they didn’t re-alize this was going to happen.” She adds that Keyser and Evans have been coopera-tive, but it’s not enough.

A female rabbit can begin mating at 5 months, and produce 12 or more young at a time. They give birth after about a month, and can become pregnant again almost im-mediately.

The rabbits have been seen as far as Buttercup Lane and are munching on plantings, causing near-accidents as they hop across roads, and drawing in predators because they are so plentiful and easy to catch.

“I almost had a truck hit me from

Rabbitocalypse causing problems in Antrim

Grace Rowehl, of Antrim has made more than 400 fabric face masks and donated them to anyone who needs them. If you are lucky and they’re not gone, you can � nd adult and child sizes pinned to her porch at 44 West Street in and Antrim. There’s a jar for donations which will be given to the Antrim Food Bank, but it’s more important to her just to keep people safe.  If you have any 100% cotton fabric you can donate, she’d love to have it so she can continue to churn out masks until we no longer need them. (Courtesy photo)

Hundreds of face masks madeCongratulations to the Class of 2020!

You’ve worked hard and we are proud of you.YOU will be the change we need.

from Gary Sparks and Rep. Marjorie Porter

By lUCy PiVonKaStone Bridge Post

5Stone Bridge Post • June 12, 2020www.StoneBridgePostNH.rocks

WHERE TO PICK UP

A COPY OFStone Bridge Post(New condensed paper route during the crisis)

With so many establishments shuttered in our region, we have

had to rearrange the sites at which we leave our paper.

ANTRIMAntrim Marketplace

Edmunds Ace Hardware

BRADFORDBar Harbor Bank ATM

Post Offi ce

CONTOOCOOKColonial Village Market

HENNIKER All in One Market Citizens Bank ATM

Edmunds Ace Hardware Harvester Market

Henniker Farm & Country Store Henniker Pharmacy

Rush Square

HILLSBOROUGHAgway

Bar Harbor Bank ATMCumberland Farms

Dunkin DonutsHillsboro Diner

Hillsborough LaundromatJD Foods

Maple LeafPost Offi ce

Shaw’sSubway

Williams General Store

NEWBURY Bar Harbor Bank ATM

WARNERMarket Basket

new fi re chief. Selectmen and fi refi ghters reviewed resumes forwarded to the town from MRI. Dion, a current member of the department was among those, as was a cousin of the MRI representative working with the town.

After the interviews concluded then-chief Mark Goldberg told the inter-view board that the fi re-fi ghters had voted unan-imously for Dion as the new chief. The Board said they would not accept that decision, and shortly after had the town administrator send an email to the fi re department announcing

they were cancelling the job search process. Each party blamed the other for not cooperating.

In September the fi re-fi ghters elected Dion as the chief; state law says there must be leadership in place. In March, exactly one year after town meet-ing had changed the way fi re chiefs are selected, two police cars came to Dion’s house to give him a letter from the town letting him know he was no longer the chief. He was then escort-ed to the station to pick up his personal things.

Dion asserts in the law-suit that his fi ring was not

legal because the only way the law allows for him to be let go would be for “mal-feasance,” or wrongful conduct, or by being vot-ed out by the “legislative body,” which is the towns-people, not the Board.

He’s also demanding that the town fi nally pay him for his months of ser-vice, doubled, which is what the law calls for. That ends up being more than $20,000. Dion was handed a contract from the town in December, but his attorney advised him not to sign it until he’d met with the Board and made changes. They met in January, but nothing came of it. Chair-man Jason Allen says Dion

refused to sign the contract so the town is under no ob-ligation to pay him.

Recently the town contracted with MRI and again posted the job of part-time fi re chief. The same MRI representative is overseeing the process, even though his connection with one of the former ap-plicants has been brought into question. Dion said he plans to apply again.

“The Town has no com-ment on the lawsuit at this time,” Town Administrator Karen Hambleton says.

Selectman Chair Allen did not respond to requests for comment.

Bradford, continued from page 1

COVID 19 crisis limitations – by using technology to connect a num-ber of classrooms with less than ten attendees in each to the library in which the selectmen were located – failed. Johnston empathized with their concerns.

“I knew there would be chal-lenges, but I wasn’t expecting any-thing like this,” said Johnston, who worked on the alternative format with town administrator Joe Devine.

After several attempts at cor-recting the problems with the live-streaming technology that many complained didn’t allow them to hear what was going on, the entire meeting was moved to the gymnasi-um. That was after the selectmen re-verted to using the school building’s PA system, rather than the streaming technology, to ensure the townspeo-ple could hear what was being said.

“When it became clear the orig-inal plan wasn’t working, we tried using the intercom system, which as far as we know did enable everyone to hear,” Johnston explained. “But that is only a one-way communica-tion system. So if anybody wanted to speak they had to come to the main control room to use the main inter-com system, so that was awkward. We fi nally just moved everyone into the gym and used a microphone.”

While all were gathered in the gym, one resident, Cynthia Smith,

was so furious at the way the meet-ing was being conducted, she made a motion to close the meeting and begin from scratch on a different date.

“I recommended that we close the meeting, and that we have an-other Town Meeting and start from ground zero because I could not hear what was going on, and the people I was with could not hear,” said Smith.

Smith’s motion was not approved by the voters.

“For what it’s worth, the Hen-niker Town Meeting was the worst mass confusion I have ever seen. In no way did it come near being a real New Hampshire Town Meeting,” Robert Garrison wrote in a scath-ing letter to the editor published in this same Stone Bridge Post issue on page 9. “This whole mess was not only a complete failure of any sort of reasonable voting, it ignored our Governor’s rules of having less than 10 people in a room. I am not a law-yer, but I do not think the proceed-ings at the Henniker Town Meeting were legal in any form.”

Garrison noted that the attend-ees were guided to the gymnasium “where all of about 100 people were put in a row of bleachers with no ef-fort of providing any spacing.”

But Johnston recalled it some-what differently.

“Almost everyone was wearing

a mask,” said Johnston. “There was plenty of room so people could so-cial distance, and for the most part they did. There were some sitting to-gether, but I think they were couples or people living together.”

But one resident who did not wish to be named, said about her classroom experience that once she was in the room three people took off their masks. And Smith made a similar comment.

“I was shocked to pass several rooms with people talking with their masks off, in rooms where people were supposed to be wearing masks. There was only one room for un-masked people,” said Smith.

The results of the meeting thus far have not been published on the Town Website because, according to town administrator Joe Devine, the meeting is still ongoing, to meet and continue again in July.

So far, the Town, Library, Waste-water and Water operating budgets were all approved by the voters. The Water Bond, which is to replace the water line passing under the By-pass, which also creates an alterna-tive water line if another main line fails, was also approved with a 70 – 10 vote. And the two ambulance reserve accounts, warrant articles 14 and 15, also were approved.

The rest of the full warrant, which can be found on the Town Website, will be addressed at the July continuation of Town Meeting.

Town Meeting, continued from page 1

6 June 12, 2020 • Stone Bridge Post www.StoneBridgePostNH.rocks

AntrimThe Summer Reading Program kicks off on June 15 so register now at 588-6786.

Kids should read 20 picture books or 10 chapter books, young adults should read five young adult books, and adults can join in by reading five adult books. Reading logs are available and prizes and raffles are up for grabs.

The Library invites you to document your experience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone who wishes to participate is welcome to submit a story, from routine to horrific, for possible inclusion in “Memoirs of a Rural Librarian during a Pandemic.” Go to https://tinyurl.com/ANTEXPERIENCE to leave your story.

A new grief share support group has begun meeting every Sunday at 6 pm at The Cross Church at 223 Clinton Road. Free.

Avenue A Teen Center is asking parents to take a quick online Summer Survey to see what upcoming programs you’d like to see at https://forms.gle/5EDoMhYm8Yq5YzCT9

After consulting with Town Offices and Antrim Home & Harvest Chair, it has been decided to cancel the 2020 Antrim Home and Harvest due to the unknown risks to pub-lic safety due to the Covid19 Virus and deadlines that have past that would ensure the event could occur this year.

The Grapevine has a face mask kiosk at the center providing free masks to anyone who needs one. Thanks to the Monadnock Community Mask Makers group for provid-ing these.

The Grapevine’s Summer Backyard Adventures program has been cancelled due to the virus, but it is hope that some summer outings can be offered. The popular Just Create Art Camp has also been cancelled, but there is a “Home Edition” in the works. Stay tuned on Facebook for the details.

BenningtonModified curbside pickup has begun at the Library and is available Monday, Tues-

day, Thursday and Friday. Call 588-6585 or email dodgelibrary1@comcast.net for in-formation.

The town has issued a reminder that the Transfer Station is for current residents only, and they ask that only regular household trash be brought in – if you are cleaning out and bringing other refuse they will be charging disposal fees.

The Library’s 2020 Summer Reading Program, entitled Imagine Your Story, runs from June 28 through July 31. Registration is ongoing and all age groups are encouraged to participate. Call 588-6585,or email the library to register.

Whittemore Lake is open to residents although lifeguards and attendants will not be on duty. The town is asking visitors to be a bit more self sufficient with filling in the holes the kiddos may dig and double check that all trash is properly disposed of. Please maintain social distancing.

BradfordSelectmen are sad to announce that all June 27 Independence Day Celebrations have

been cancelled due to the health crisis. The July 4th road race has also been cancelled.Worship live online each Sunday at 10 am. Go to Facebook for the live feed from

the Bradford Community Church: https://www.facebook.com/BradfordCommunity-Church.NH

ContoocookThe Farmer’s Market takes place on Saturday from 9 am-noon behind the depot.

Please wear a mask, use the hand sanitizer provided, don’t touch anything (vendors will fill orders) and maintain 6-foot distancing.

ConValConval School District Kindergarten Registration for the 2020-21 school year opens

in June for any student who turns 5 on or before September 30. Appointments are re-quired and will be available June 17,18, 23 and 24 from noon to 4 pm each day. Call 924-7503 extension 2032 to set up your visit.

HancockDanielle O’Hanlon, a local mixed-media artist, currently has some of her work on

display at the Fiddleheads Cafe.Henniker

The New England College Library is welcoming everyone to help preserve history by contributing to the Community Pandemic Diary. Visit https://tinyurl.com/NECDI-ARY to get started.

Town offices have re-opened for scheduled appointments only. The public will be al-lowed into the building for these appointments following the enhanced safety protocols. The Board of Selectmen will also begin meeting in person again during July.

The Farmer’s Market has opened for the season at the usual location on the Commu-nity Center lawn, and will be open every Thursday from 4-7 pm throughout the season.

The Annual Henniker Lions Club 5k honoring Sgt Russell Durgin looks a little dif-ferent this year. Due to the COVID-19 virus this year will be a virtual race from June 7th to July 7th. You, your friends, and family can choose your own 5k walk, jog, run and then report your results online. Register at https://tinyurl.com/DURGINRUN

HillsboroughFarmsteads of New England farmstand is now open for business. Located at 213

Center Road, it’s open from 10 am to dusk every day. The Farmer’s Market is happening every Saturday and Sunday from 9 am-1 pm at

Mickle’s Pickle Farm at 279 Henniker Street. If you are interested in being a vendor call 391-4855 or email rjmickle87@gmail.com.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays GHSS Chair Yoga classes take place at St. Mary’s Church. You must wear a mask. Call Janet Gilman at 478-3544 to sign-up

Residents of Hillsboro, Deering, Washington, and Windsor School District are being asked to fill out a two-minute survey which will help inform the safe reopening of SAU # 34 Schools in the fall. www.hdsd.org/communitysurvey

Choose Hillsborough is sponsoring a Best Junior Baker contest for kids between 11 and 17 years. Submit a video and picture of the final product by June 18 at 7 pm. Videos will go on the Facebook page and be voted on by the community from June 20-27. go to https://www.facebook.com/choosehillsborough/ for details.

HopkintonThe Library’s Book Discussion Group for June will meet virtually via Zoom on June

24 to discuss the book A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline. If you’d like to participate email Karen at kdixon@hopkintontownlibrary.org

The Library has planned a (Virtual) Summer of Fun with lots of reading, home challenges like scavenger hunts, online projects and workshops, take and make crafts and so much more. To register visit the Library’s website or email lmaynard@hopkin-tontownibrary.org.

KearsargeThe Kearsarge Food Hub, Colby Sawyer College, Spring Ledge Farm and New

London Hospital have joined forces to provide a “Garden In A Tray” for Kearsarge area families and medical workers. Included are 42 edible vegetables, herbs and flowers ready for planting. Call 526-5083 or Email: wellness.connection@newlondonhospital.org.

NewburyThe Recreation Department is holding a children’s Bear Hunt with 5 purple, 5 red, 5

blue bears, 5 orange, plus 5 others. Start at the trail beginning and go to the pond. Lo-cate all bears but do not move them and grab a checklist and mark down where you find them. Once you and your child are done, snap a picture and tag the Newbury Recreation Department.

See HAPPENINGS, Page 7

7Stone Bridge Post • June 12, 2020www.StoneBridgePostNH.rocks

ObituariesBruce E. Eldridge

Bruce E. Eldridge, of Henniker, passed away at home on June 7, 2020 with family by his side. He was 74 years old.

Bruce was born in Wolfeboro, NH on March 21, 1946 to Harry P. Eldridge, Jr. and Cristabel (Stacey) Eldridge.

Bruce retired from Kings-bury Machine Tool Corpo-ration. He had a great love of sports, baseball, softball, coaching Little League, ref-ereeing football and umpir-ing for several years. He also enjoyed watching his grand-daughter and grandsons play sports.

Bruce is survived by his partner Diane Carpenter of Henniker, NH; his daughters Lisa Eldridge and her wife Heidi LaPlante of West Swanzey, NH; Robin Eldridge and her partner Brad Waters of Swanzey, NH; his broth-ers Gregory Eldridge, and his wife Judith, of Wolfeboro, NH; Harry P. Eldridge III and his wife, Lori, of Pembroke, NH; Douglas Eldridge and his wife, Mary, of Tamworth, NH; Darrin Eldridge of Indian Harbour Beach, FL; and Christopher Beaudet of Manchester, NH; his sisters Re-becca (Eldridge) Helme of Contoocook, NH; Wynetta (Eldridge) John and her husband, Stephen, of Brattleboro, VT; and Christine (Eldridge) Stevens and her husband, John, of Center Conway, NH; Bruce also leaves 1 grand-daughter Danielle Sheldon and two great grandsons Ry-der and Julian Hinz.

Bruce was predeceased by his parents, Harry P. El-dridge Jr. and Christobel Eldridge.

A graveside service for the family will be held at the Ossipee Valley Cemetary on Friday, June 12, 2020 at p.m.

The Holt-Woodbury Funeral Home & Cremation Ser-vice Henniker, NH is assisting the family.

For more log on to www.holtwoodburyfh.com

Arianna remembered

Warner selectmen are considering culvert replacements.

There is a fund available called Aquatic Resource Mitigation Fund (ARM) used to upgrade fish crossings using culvert pipes for municipalities. This would involve three different groups: the River Advisory Commit-tee as well as the Fish and Game and Conservation Commission.

Allen indicated replacement cul-verts are needed, including one on East Joppa Road and another on Red Chimney Road over Ballard Brook. The sum of $300,000 plus is reported-ly available in the local region, and the State gave $2.8 million as a cost figure for the three culverts. This is includ-ed in their I-89 project. The Warner Highway Department would complete the project and this would be consid-ered as a match in-kind.

Allen pointed out it could cost $300,000 per each crossing if the town did this work on its own, how-ever difficult to tell without the specs. Allen’s thought is to use the ARM fund to cover the cost of one culvert. All three Selectmen agreed to go on record showing agreement to support the grant application with ARM with

a letter included with the application.Regarding the sidewalk design

process on Main Street in Warner, the crosswalk in front of the bank is proposed to be eliminated along with two parking places near the town Hall, according to Public Works Director Tim Allen who has been in touch with New Hampshire Department of Transportation. Allen has been given permission to proceed and sign any documents for the changes in cross-walks the State has provided.

Town Administrator Diane Ric-ciardelli had a list of questions she forwarded to the Pillsbury Free Li-brary Trustee Terry Hathaway. As another area to conserve spending at this time one of the questions was since there was one less part time em-ployee working would the additional $3,300 that was provided by the town for an additional pay day in 2020 be returned? Hathaway responded that since donation money is down consid-erably they would really like to make that decision later in December. An-other aspect of the finances is the book sale, whether it can be held or not. But the final thought was there is a good chance the $3,300 would be returned to the town.

Administrator Ricciardelli re-sponded via a note regarding a com-

plaint about a travel trailer being stored on private property on Water-loo Street. This was checked out by Public Works Director Tim Allen who found it not to be in violation of a Zoning Ordinance for a trailer sitting on private property. Allen indicated when he visited; the owners were very gracious who also addressed a drive-way change request immediately.

The Warner Town Clerk Michele Courser reported that the town reve-nue is down by just over $40,000 at this time compared to what it should be.

Prior to signing the two annually due licenses for Junk Yards, the Se-lectmen anticipated doing a Site Walk for one on Couchtown Rd and one on Chemical Lane.

The schedule for the proposed abatements to Warner Power, LLC Map 32, Lot 1 and agreed upon by the parent company, Rand Power in Mich-igan is: for $25,137.74 the first tax bill in 2020, $24,460.53 the second 2020 Tax bill and $24,501.34 the first Tax bill in 2021. The big question is since the Warner Power, LLC’s first tax bill for 2020 is $23,422.80 how will the difference of $1,714.94 be paid? The final decision was made and it will be paid by check to the company with a legal document.

Warner eyes funding for culvet replacementsBy MarJorie Cilley

Stone Bridge Post

Last weekend the family of Ar-ianna Theberge, the young woman who was tragically killed in a traffic accident in Hillsborough on Valen-tines Day February, 2019, celebrated her life by planting her favorite tree, a weeping cherry, in the Life Forest in Hillsborough during a ceremony on Saturday. Left-right: Ari’s brother Riley Leonard, her mother Stacy Ad-ams, and brother Airic Adams .

Life Forest is a protected plot of land on Beard Brook Road with more than 60 acres of walking and hiking trails. It offers different sized plots where cremains, both those of people and their pets, can be laid to rest under a sapling, making it an environmental-ly friendly alternative to a traditional burial. (Lucy Pivonka photo)

WarnerThe farmer’s market is open every Saturday from 9

am-1 pm at the Town Hall. Exact change is appreciated. In addition, the Public Market has fresh local produce that can be ordered online, by phone, or at the door.

The Library has started curbside pickup by appoint-ment. Items can be reserved by phone 456-2289 or by placing holds in the online catalog at Warner.lib.nh.us.

Library preschool storytimes are being held via Zoom every Thursday at 10:30 AM. Contact Sue at 456-2289 for the link.

WashingtonThe farmer’s market has opened for the season and

will be held every Saturday from 10 am-1 pm on the town common – with social distancing.

Happenings, continued from page 6

8 June 12, 2020 • Stone Bridge Post www.StoneBridgePostNH.rocks

Not withstanding the canceled Spring Sports season due to the Covid-19 pandem-ic, the Hopkinton Athletic Department and Community has recognized its student ath-letes in an online format on the district’s web site.

Katie Meserve and Colby Quiet were chosen as Hopkinton’s Athletes of the Year. Upholding tradition, last year’s awardees Paul Molnar and Amelia Thomas announced the awards online. Among her accomplish-ments Katie is Hopkinton’s number 2 all-time Field Hockey - Field Goal leader, the 3rd all-time Rebound Leader (Basketball) and a member of the 2019 Softball Champi-onship team. Colby Quiet is the Redhawks all time Offensive leader and the 2019 La-crosse Offensive Player of the Year.

Earning Scholar Athlete of the Year

awards were Emma Rothe and Shepyrd Murdough, while Evan Jacobson receives the Class Spirit Award. The 2020 Ingersol “Ingy” Arnold Award was awarded to Park-er Potter, the “Stat-Man,” who has become an integral part of the Hawk’s athletic pro-grams.

Recognized as Four Year Athletes were: Colby Quiet, Lacrosse; Benny Madden, Lacrosse; Nick Higginbotham, Lacrosse; Elizabeth Berliner, Lacrosse; Sofia Locke, Lacrosse; Ellie Owen, Lacrosse; Megan Blanchette, Softball; Katie Meserve, Soft-ball; Mike Baer, Baseball; Sam Crawford, Baseball; Colby Marshall, Baseball; Sam Rawson, Baseball;Sophie Potter, Track and Field; Emma Rothe, Track and Field ; Lily Sabol, Track and Field; Sydney Stockwell, Track and Field.

Hawks athletes shown the Town’s love

Nine High Meadow Road, five High Point Road and one Cloudland Lane res-idents of Newbury signed an e-mail letter to the Board of Selectmen regarding view seekers on the roads they reside on. The residents request the Selectmen be aware of and assist in the safety concerns with the increased traffic that is speeding, and people partying, including alcohol use, substance abuse, who also leave their litter of beer cans and drug paraphernalia.

It does not stop there as there is also vandalism on vacant lots so property own-ers have had to close off their property entrances with chains; large rocks etc. to prevent access. Even so, they have been moved illegally and the partiers have left evidence of camp fire sites.

The Selectmen were requested to take care of this problem as soon as possible as this is a matter of public safety.

Several public comments suggest-ed the Police Department be given more tools that enable them to enforce keeping the area safer, such as “No Parking” signs on one side of the roads. Police Chief Brad Wheeler spoke up and reiterated they pa-trol in those areas but to please keep call-ing in if something is going on. He also ad-vised if we cannot get there, he will call for assistance. At this time Wheeler and Road Agent Prussman are working on signs for one side of the roads, which would allow emergency vehicles to get through.

At a recent Newbury Selectmen’s meeting the Bond for the new Fire Station was discussed and the true copy of the Resolutions were read. This Bond with its maturity schedule is $3,750,000 and was unanimously accepted and adopted by the Board with Selectman Chair Ed Thorson to sign it. This Bond is being used for design as well as construction including equipment for a new Fire Station building for the financing.

So far the trees are cleared from the new Fire Department space, surveys have been done by the engineers and many test pits and borings are done. Will’s Garage saw demolition and the little red shed has been removed. No more onsite work will be going on until sometime in July. All the trades will commence work as soon as all the documents for the construction are in and bids have gone out.

Highway Department Chair Cal Pruss-man has looked at Southgate as requested by the Selectmen to follow up on a com-plaint about a sink hole. Prussman report-ed there is no problem with the culverts but debris such as rocks and stumps have been buried there and have decayed and settled over a fairly large area, causing it to settle down leaving a sunken area. It is a concern for the Association as it is not in the town’s right of way per Prussman. However, when the Highway Crew was doing some ditching they did fill it in and re-seeded it to help the residents.

The Board officially canceled their Old Home Day Celebration after many long discussions. As far as the summer con-certs go, which is scheduled to run from July 2 to August 13th will be looked into with the different bands for their in-put

Save the date of August 8, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon when the Newbury Highway Garage at 50 South Road will be open for accepting your Hazardous Waste Material. It is a rather tricky location, so watch for signs from Route 103 to Village Road to South Road. At this time precau-tions are in order and signs will be posted as a reminder. Basically you should put your Hazardous Waste Materials in the trunk of your car or back of your truck and not try to hand it out your vehicle window and do not bring any containers you want returned to you. Also wear your mask when your vehicle window is down and stay in your vehicle.

Partiers leave litter, Newbury residents complainBy MarJorie Cilley

Stone Bridge Post

Katie Meserve was chosen Hawks Female Athlete of the Year.

Colby Quiet Hopkinton’s Male Athlete of the Year.

9Stone Bridge Post • June 12, 2020www.StoneBridgePostNH.rocks

Dear Editor,You don’t really appreciate the hard-working town em-

ployees until you need them. Over the years my family has rarely needed emergency services, but this last year has been different. I want to thank the Hillsborough Police Depart-ment for their help when my wife got broadsided turning in Shaw’s. Also, they did an awesome job when someone was stealing off my property. They are out at all hours keeping us safe even when I forgot to turn on my headlights. (darn those auto on daylight running lights) I have also heard great things they have done protecting and serving us. You can complain about the cost but I have found the chief does not waste money and is careful in hiring people.

Our Fire Department is there 24/7 and again is very careful with our tax money. I have learned to trust all our department heads to carefully look at what is needed to pro-tect us It is a shock to fall asleep in church and wake up in the town ambulance. I don’t remember much about that day. I understand I died again on the way to Concord and several times overnight at the hospital. Without them I would not be here. They need our trust and support.

All our town departments have good people working hard to keep this town running great. I thank all these peo-ple.

David Fullerton, Hillsborough******************************************Dear Editor,While the Library has been closed to the public we have

been able to work on our “honey do list.” I would like to thank the following for all of their help with these projects: Keith Wing for helping his wife, Laura, with two weekly video storytimes (if you missed them they are on our Face-book page until the end of the month!) and for sanding and repainting our book drop; Tom McClure for lending us his scaffolding for the ceiling restoration project- with the sav-ings in rental fees we were able to have more of the ceiling cleaned and repaired; Peter Dunbar for refinishing our cir-culation desk; Matt Gallo for helping to install our new bike rack; Tom Kamberis for helping to create gardening videos for our Facebook page; and all the staff at the Library for working so hard during the Covid-19 shutdown. I am very lucky to work with such a great group of people who go above and beyond everyday and we are all very lucky to have such generous people who will volunteer and donate to their community.

Samantha Gallo, DirectorFuller Public Library****************************************** Dear Editor;I want to write this letter to be put into a local newspaper

because I have a deep fear that what is happening in this country is going to disappear from our media and subse-quently our consciousnesses. That cannot happen.

There are millions of African Americans who can ex-press their experience as a black citizen and there are a mil-lion people who are better educated on political theory, but I write with urgency to the people of central New Hampshire.

There can be a reality without cops. People may dismiss this idea because it seems too un-

comfortable, too hard to imagine when it seems such an es-sential part of order. The truth is that police in the US were created to control the slave population in the south when revolt seemed imminent, and this point arrives at the heart of the issue which is that policing is inextricably tied with inequality.

Ruling parties are always in the minority and so are greatly outnumbered by the people who have to create the ruled party. The powerful few understand that they are out-numbered so they make it their mission to never have the ruled party realize their situation and thus become liberated. The ruling party establishes another safeguard against sei-zure of power and that is a force designed to protect them against the people they rule.

This was the police force in the South. The slaveown-ers realized the enslaved would run or revolt and, to protect their property, they created police. After the Civil War, po-lice evolved to control the newly freed black population who worked in the agricultural caste system and to enforce Jim Crow laws. Now, police still maintain the inequality of black Americans.

Many people believe that the ultimate solution is police reform. I would ask these people why? Why would a system which inherently creates a power dynamic which is sure to corrupt not do that (it is not a “few bad apples” it is a system which will always create “bad apples”)? Why would we slowly, possibly, create a police force where less black peo-ple are intimidated, assaulted, and arrested?

For hundreds of years black people have been kept down by means of the police, countless people have been abused and murdered. Why then when they say “I want it gone” would we say that it’s a little hasty and we should work on reform? At some point, when a system has never worked and it is so full of systematic flaws, we must say it needs to go.

The solution will seem like a utopia, a world without police? The truth is that it is closer than it seems. I encour-age all of you to do research on what a world without police looks like. It is undoubtedly a long process though and we must all truly want that utopia first. Every moment seems to be proclaimed a “moment,” but I really do believe that there could come real, meaningful change out of these protests. Do what you can, donate, talk, sign, go to protests, and al-ways remember the dead.

Grace Caplan, Henniker******************************************Dear Editor;For what it is worth, the Henniker Town Meeting was

the worst mass confusion I have ever seen. In no way did it come near being a real NH Town Meeting.

When I arrived, I was told that I had to go to a door at the back of the building to go in. My last name starts with a G. Inside the door was a table with 2 piles of envelopes, one with masks and one without masks. I took an envelope and inside was a voting card, 4 cards for secret ballot voting and a copy of what was to be voted on. It seemed odd to me that

nobody was there to check you off the registered voter list. Anybody could walk in and get an envelope.

The voting card had a room number that said which class room I was supposed to go to. To the uninitiated, the Henniker School is a maze. There seems to be no plan as to where rooms are and there are three floors of rooms. There are no maps. I finally found some stairs and after a search I found my assigned room. After a while, the room had 5 voters and an assistant moderator. There was a big screen display on the wall and the assistant moderator was reading the instructions on how the equipment worked.

Finally the meeting started. To start we had a blurry view on the screen and no sound. Finally, someone came and was able to get the screen working and left, but the sound was so quiet that you had to be directly under the speaker to hear anything. As things progressed, I wanted to comment on an article but there was no connection. Again, someone was called in to fix the thing but he had no luck. We were told to go to a different room on a different floor. Here we could see the display and hear what was going on. I tried to make a change to the article but they couldn’t hear me. Finally I was told to go the library and speak directly to the moderator.

Where is the library? I finally found someone who led me down to the library.

I was allowed to speak into a telephone with my comments but only for 90 seconds. That was it. My time was used up. I gave up and headed back to my new room and again needed a guide. The people in the room were using one of the secret ballot cards to vote and I marked one too. The assistant mod-erator was to put the voting cards in a special envelope but we didn’t have one. Finally she just put the cards in one of the envelopes we got when we entered but voting was over and the YES votes had won. Our envelop was still waiting to be picked up.

We were moved to a third room where hopefully we could put in our 10-cents worth but by then it seems that the entire miracle virus protection voting scam had failed. We were told that something like the WIFI was overloaded and we had to turn off all computers and telephones. Nothing seemed to work so the moderator sent all of us to the gym-nasium.

After a search and a ride in a tiny elevator with 4 other people (NO separation for us) we got to the proper floor and a guide lead us to the gymnasium where all of about 100 people were put in a row of bleachers with no effort of pro-viding any spacing.

The moderator and selectmen forced their way through 4 or 5 articles to claim all YES votes winning. At no time was there any counting of ballots. Many people had left before being sent to the GYM. The moderator then said we would get to vote on the rest of the stuff on some Wednesday eve-ning in early July.

This whole mess was not only a complete failure of any sort of reasonable voting, it totally ignored our Governor’s rules of having less than 10 people in a room. I am not a lawyer, but I do not think the proceedings at the Henniker Town Meeting were legal in any form.

Sincerely, Robert Garrison, Henniker

Letters to Editor

10 June 12, 2020 • Stone Bridge Post www.StoneBridgePostNH.rocks

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11Stone Bridge Post • June 12, 2020www.StoneBridgePostNH.rocks

School Administrative Unit #34Soaring to Excellence

www.hdsd.org/communitysurvey

School + COVID-19=?We need your help as we plan for the safe reopening of SAU #34 schools in the fall, by offering your thoughts in our brief (5-minute) survey.

Scan this code with your mobile phone (using any QR code scan application) to access the survey on the go.

Residents ofHILLSBORO, DEERING, WASHINGTON, & WINDSOR

TOWN Of XXXXXXXXX

Household Hazardous Waste Collection

For Washington and Stoddard residents onlySaturday, August 8, 2020: 9 to 11 AM

Washington Recycling Center• Stay in your vehicle

• Wear mask when near people if your window is down

• Put waste in trunk or truck bed for removal• No returned containers such as fuel can

• Be smart, be safeVisit http://hhw.uvlsrpc.org for more info on all

collections; call 603-448-1680 before 3 pm

HillsborO-Deering scHool DistrictREQUEST FOR PROPOSALHillsboro-Deering School District

School PsychologistIndependent Contractor2020-2021 School Year

The Hillsboro-Deering School District is accept-ing proposals for the 2020-2021 school year for an independent contract for School Psycholo-gist services to students, grades 9-12, for ap-proximately 20 hours per week. Bid winner must maintain a valid professional license and insur-ance policy. Bids are due by June 22, 2020. Bids can be mailed to Patricia Parenteau, SAU # 34, PO Box 2190, Hillsboro, NH 03244 or emailed to cfogarty@hdsd.org

Equal Opportunity Employer/Equal Educational Opportunities

Washington school DistrictREQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Washington Elementary SchoolSpeech and Language Pathologist

Independent Contractor2020-2021 School Year

The Washington School District is accepting proposals for the 2020-2021 school year for an independent contract for Speech and Language Pathology services to students, pre-kindergar-ten-grade 5, for approximately 8 hours per week. Bid winner must maintain a valid professional license and insurance policy. Bids are due by June 22, 2020. Bids can be mailed to Patricia Parenteau, SAU #34, PO Box 2190, Hillsboro, NH 03244 or emailed to cfogarty@hdsd.org.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Equal Educational Opportunities

Washington school DistrictREQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Washington Elementary SchoolOccupational TherapistIndependent Contractor2020-2021 School Year

The Washington School District is accepting proposals for the 2020-2021 school year for an independent contract for Occupational Therapy services to students, pre-kindergarten-grade 5, for approximately 3 hours per week. Bid win-ner must maintain a valid professional license and insurance policy. Bids are due by June 22, 2020. Bids can be mailed to Patricia Parenteau, SAU #34, PO Box 2190, Hillsboro, NH 03244 or emailed to cfogarty@hdsd.org.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Equal Educational Opportunities

Bradford’s Chief of Police since February of 2004, James S. Valiquet, along with 4 others have put their ap-plications in for the position of Merrimack County Sher-iff. The open application period is from June 3 to June 12, 2020, then all the names will be printed on the ballot for the General Election in November.

Whoever is voted in will offi cially take offi ce in Janu-ary 2021. Valiquet has lived in Newbury, NH for 28 years. He graduated from Exeter Area High School in 1971 and continued his education in the US Air Force, graduated from NH Police Academy, graduated from NH Juvenile Offi cer Institute and also graduated from the 200th ses-sion of the New England Enforcement Management.

Valiquet was Chief of Police in Newbury from 1992 to 2005, Detective in Exeter New Hampshire from June

1984 to January 1992, Juvenile Offi cer as well as Patrol Offi cer in Exeter for 4 years.

For further information regarding Police Chief Vali-quet’s background and accomplishments, as well as fur-ther goals, there are fact sheets available.

Since the resignation of Sheriff Hilliard, Robert Krieg-er was appointed at the end of April and will serve in that capacity until January 2021, when the November election votes in a permanent Sheriff.

Elizabeth Nolan Esq. representing property owners David and Julie Carignan met with the Bradford Zoning Board of Adjustment along with Builder Dan Higginson for a Variance. The property owners are interested in tear-ing down the existing structure at 244 Breezy Hill Road to replace it with a structure containing 2 bedrooms close to where the original structure is located. The request-ed Variance is due to the topography and needs to be in-creased from 35 feet to 40 feet. Nolan also interjected that

the new dwelling, which also includes a garage, would be closer to the road than the present ordinance permits but no closer than surrounding properties, so is also seeking a Variance. Some abutters attended this meeting and ex-pressed their approval of this variance request.

Upon unanimously agreeing the Zoning Board of Ad-justment members approved the Variance Application and informed the property owners a Notice of Decision would be forwarded to them...

Bradford is having a new Farmers Market beginning Saturday June 13, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. located at 5 Acres on 2600 State Route 103. For information to set up or any questions call 603-938-2497. If you are interested in setting up, you would need to bring your own table and tent and call for directions. Stop by to check out all the local goodies and meet your friends in a great outdoor setting on the lawn just to the left on 5 Acres driveway.

Bradford Police Chief vies for sheriff positionBy MarJorie Cilley

Stone Bridge Post

STONE BRIDGE POSThardcopy weekly

circulation is 4,400. We publish what we circulate each week, so our advertisers

know what they are getting. And we can show receipts,

if you like.

Why doesn’t our competition state their circulation numbers?

12 June 12, 2020 • Stone Bridge Post www.StoneBridgePostNH.rocks