Bedford’s new town manager, Russ Marcoux, officially took the helm Feb. 5. Police Chief David Bailey had been filing in as acting town manager since November 2006 when Keith Hickey left Bedford to be town manager of Merrimack.

In 2007, Bedford residents saw a town council seat controversy, a new health ordinance, continuing plans for the Bedford Village Common, and as the town continued to change and grow, many residents still made it a priority to give back and help others in need.

In the 15 years Jayne Spaulding has lived in town she has volunteered hundreds of hours to animal rescue, land conservation and public office.

She took on the challenging position of co-chairman of the fundraising committee to buy the Benedictine property from the Benedictine Sisters in May 1999, saving 28 acres for conservation. Spaulding spent seven months helping to raise the $800,000 the town needed to purchase the property.

“This is what really put the Land Trust on the map in Bedford,” she said. “We went from having a small corner to people wanting to donate land to us, up to the (Bedford Village Common) easement and the Van Loan property. We’ve been extremely busy in the last decade which is wonderful.”

Student Cody Delaney of Bedford was awarded the Meritorious Achievement Ribbon from the Navy ROTC at Manchester High School West for his quick action in preventing a tragedy.

On Jan. 11, Delaney helped put out a fire in his neighbor’s truck, which was within feet of several oxygen tanks stored in his garage.

Cody and his father, David, grabbed a fire extinguisher and jumped the fence into their neighbor’s yard and put out the fire.

The following is a recap of events reported in The Bedford Bulletin during 2007:

January
On Jan. 8, Town Council Chairman Bill Van Anglen announced Councilor Andy Egan would resign from his post effective election day 2007 due to personal reasons.

Egan, who was re-elected to the council in 2006, vacated his seat with two years remaining on his term.

“My health has been a preeminent concern in my life for nearly four years now and while my recent knee operation was successful, it has left me extremely tired. That combined with my existing illness has led to this decision,” Egan wrote in a letter to the council. He said serving on the council was rewarding.

“It has been my extreme pleasure to have served with each of you and most importantly to have served the people of Bedford,” Egan told his fellow councilors.

The Educational Farm at Joppa Hill called for the community’s help to vie for a $9,000 grant.

Farm staffers applied for a grant through General Mills’ www.myhometownhelper.com. “My hope is that people will get more into the spirit of hometown pride and it will bring about some more spontaneous giving,” said Judy Kollmorgen, development coordinator.

Longtime employee Nancy Larson, Bedford Planner II, left her position on Dec. 26, 2006, to become Merrimack’s planning and zoning administrator.

“It was a great opportunity that was brought to my attention and I couldn’t pass it up,” said Larson.

In Merrimack, Larson, a Bedford resident, is once again working under former former Bedford Town Manager Keith Hickey.

The School Board approved a design for the Ross A. Lurgio school mascot, which was created by a group of sixth- and seventh-graders and presented to the board on Dec. 11.

The mascot, a blue and gold lion face surrounded by a grand mane, was chosen because the animal shows bravery, wisdom, pride, leadership, loyalty and perseverance, said seventh grader Jaclyn Zajac.

Whether Bedford resident Paul Bordeleau is entertaining residents at Hillsborough County Nursing Home or teaching piano to young and senior citizen students, his love of music shows no age limit.

“Seniors have more time to practice than kids, and they’re just as enthusiastic about it,” said Bordeleau, 82, during a break from a performance at City Hall plaza in Manchester.

Bordeleau speaks from a new-found experience about the abilities of older piano students. He taught his first classes of older adults in 2006 as part of Manchester’s Catholic Medical Center adult development program, Prime Time.

Bordeleau said he ran the Prime Time classes using techniques for teaching adults he first developed in 1960.

The Bedford School Board asked voters to approve a proposed $52.7 million 2007-08 operating budget and to bond start-up costs for the middle school/high school.

The proposed $52.7 million operating budget is an increase of $6.8 million over 2006’s approved budget.

The Planning Board approved final site plans for a fitness center to be built on the northeast corner of the intersection of Route 114 and Donald Street.

As of Dec. 27, the construction of the Wellness and Workout Center has been delayed until spring 2008

February
On Feb. 7, all warrants were approved at the School District deliberative session.

Residents OK’d the bonding of the $2.7 million in start-up costs for high school furniture, first-year equipment, an athletic field grandstand and an initial library collection.

Russ Marcoux officially took over as Bedford’s new town manager on Monday, Feb. 5. He came to Bedford after having served as town administrator in Londonderry.

The seven-member Plungeritas team from Bedford took part in the eighth annual New Hampshire Special Olympics Penguin Plunge on Feb. 4 at Hampton Beach. The team raised about $6,000 for the cause.

On Feb. 1, longtime traffic officer Roland Latulippe hung up his signature orange gloves for retirement.

Latulippe said he wouldn’t have spent his time any differently. “I made a lot of friends and had a lot of fun,” he said, “Everything has been so fantastic, I always did what I wanted to do.”

Neighborhood News Inc. employee Elsie Talanian was inducted into the New England Press Association Hall of Fame for her 40-plus years of dedication to newspapers, at the Feb. 10 NEPA convention banquet.

March
• The federal government and the state Department of Transportation announced it would spend $2.5 million for road improvements to Jenkins and Hardy roads at Route 101, with work expected to begin in 2008.

The total proposed budget is $22,990,271 and went to the Town Budgetary Meeting on Wednesday March 7. At the first public hearing on the proposed 2007 town budget on Jan. 24, town councilors reduced overall spending by $18, 954.

Voters passed a citizen petitioned zoning amendment that would make residents who own property that abuts town wetlands to be exempt from future buffers and wetland regulations.

The town of Bedford approved an increase of $2,700 for an extended bus route from Manchester to Bedford at the March 7 Budgetary Town Meeting

On March 15, 11 Bedford residents began a six-week course at the Bedford Fire Department’s Citizen’s Fire Academy.

One interesting fact they learned – the original fire station, which now houses BCTV Studio, was donated in 1928 and was originally a horse barn.

Voters elected two new councilors, Mike Izbicki and Bob Young, and re-elected incumbent Michael Scanlon to another three-year term.

“I was a little surprised being up against tough competition with experienced Michael Scanlon and Chris Bandazian. They both ran a great race,” Izbicki said.

The Planning Board approved final site plans for a CVS drug store on South River Road, but did not allow developers to build a right-only turn onto the property.

Planning director Karen White thought the right-turn only lane would be a bad idea. “If your heading eastbound on Ridgewood Road, you have a short amount of time to make a turn. If you turn and start accelerating, and there’s somebody in front of you decelerating, that’s a point of conflict,” she said.

Town councilors unanimously approved the appointment of Richard Sawyer as Bedford’s new planning director and zoning administrator. Sawyer replaced longtime Planning Director Karen White, who was set to retire in August.

April
After a 2005 family trip to Hershey Park in Pennsylvania, 10-year old Nicholas Klardie put together a digital story that the Hersey company used as an online advertisement.

On April 16, heavy rains flooded Bedford closing many roads and damaging properties. Fifteen roads total were partially flooded or closed, including Route 101 near the Amherst line and Meadow Road, a dirt road off Wallace Road.

Lifelong Bedford resident Chris Connelly was sworn in as Dunbarton’s new chief of police.

“I’m very fortunate. I couldn’t think of having a better situation,” he said.

At the Wednesday, April 11, town councilors unanimously approved the $240,000 purchase of 77 Gault Road. The move would allow for a future road widening project.

Of the 33 stores and restaurants selling alcohol in Bedford, 11 sold to a minor after checking underage identification.

The Bedford Police Department, in conjunction with the New Hampshire Liquor Commissionm, ran the compliance check April 6.

“Either they are looking at (the ID) and not reading it or reading it wrong,” said Police Chief David Bailey.

In plea agreements, the state amended charges against seven of 11 people who allegedly sold alcohol to minors on April 6.

Six suspects pleaded guilty and one did not contest the charges. They were charged with a violation instead of a Class A misdemeanor, and were fined $360 each.

The sales were part of a April 6 compliance check, run by the Bedford Police Department and the New Hampshire Liquor Commission at 33 Bedford establishments.

On April 27, Bedford resident Eunice Smith turned 100 years old. On Saturday, April 28, she was honored as Queen for a day at her birthday celebration attended by about 100 guests at Briston Manor West in Bedford.

Bedford’s Richard and Marjorie Morenus were among 130 Sierra Club members from Maine and New Hampshire who traveled to Washington, D.C., in March, to help save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska from oil drilling.

“We basically love the environment and we want to leave the world as a great place for our two grandchildren,” said Richard Morenus.

Citing a need to better focus on his career, Bedford Town Council Chairman Bill Van Anglen resigned from the council on May 8.

“As the letter (of resignation) said, I don’t think I can represent the people of Bedford the way they deserve to be represented,” said Van Anglen.

On May 12, the Bedford Land Trust opened a new walking trail on the 68-acre Van Loan Preserve.

“We’re very happy to have been part of Bedford and we’re happy to give something back to it,” said Eugene Van Loan.

On June 4, the Planning Board reviewed the initial site plan for some of the 9.3-acre proposed Beford Village Common. The design features a network of 6-foot-wide gravel paths, a skating pond, trees to be planted along the trails and a onestory skate house.

June
Abutters to the proposed Bedford Village Common voiced concerns over the town park at the June 4 Town Council meeting. Abutter Elaine Tefft, an abutter on the eastern side of the town common property, said she’s worried about the contaminants and whether they’ll resurface from the park’s construction.

“I’d be a fool not to be. And I think a lot of other people aren’t worried and I think they’re being foolish,” she said.

Town Council Chairman Paul Roy brought up concerns over contamination.

“By dredging the skating pond, you could be disturbing some contaminants that are underground today,” he said.

Tefft cited a Groundwater and Environmental Services’ report dated May 24, saying the company released findings for private wells near the Mobil station.

All the wells were “below labratory testing levels,” except resident Ryk Bullock’s well on Meetinghouse Road.

That well was found to have .74 micrograms per liter of MBTE. The report also states the Department of Environmental Services’ limit for a safe amount of MTBE is 13 micrograms per liter.

Bullock said while it’s good to test now, he had warned town officials in the past of possible contaminants.

“I think that some of the previous town councilors and previous town managers were completely inadequate concerning the people’s health here in the town center,” said Bullock.

On June 23, a new town playground was built thanks to more than 60 volunteers who made it all possible.

“Building day could not have been better. It was fabulous,” said Michelle Casale, a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission and chairman of the Playground Committee.

“There were over 70 volunteers and most stayed until 8 p.m. There were people representing all aspects of the community,” she said.

Bedford Scout Duncan Cate traveled to San Francisco, Yosemite National Park and Sierra Nevada mountains as part of the People to People Student Ambassador Program.

The trip lasted from June 30 to July 14. The program was created in 1956 by Dwight Eisenhower, and seeks to raise awareness and create peace through cultural knowledge and understanding.

The Bedford Farmer’s market returned for its sixth season on June 19 at its new location at Benedictine Park.

In June, Paul Bordeleau was chosen to write the Rotary Club’s annual theme song. This year’s song was called “Rotary Shares.”

“We share our skills with might, to throw a little light; from east to west, Rotarians serve the best,” the song says.

Since the resignation of Councilor Bill Anglen in early May, the Town Council could not come to an agreement on who woul fill the vacated seat. According to the Town Charter, the council should have appointed someone at its next scheduled meeting following a vacancy.

After asking interested residents to apply for the open seat, the council received four applicants – Ryk Bullock, Ken Peterson, Alan Seidman and former councilor Dave Danielson. At the June 13 meeting, the council still couldn’t agree, opening up the possibility of a Superior Court judge stepping in and amking the appointment for them.

On June 25, Danielson, withdrew his name because the appointment process was turning into a “circus,” he said.

Resident Roy Stewart asked a Manchester law firm to petition the state Superior Court to fill the vacant town councilor position.

“I feel very strongly that there should be the full seven councilors,” said Stewart.

The council eventually agreed to appoint Bill Jean to the vacated seat. The seat comes up for re-election in March 2008, and whoever took the position agreed to fulfil the remaining term and not run for election at that time.

July
Twenty-four Bedford boys and girls learned firsthand how to care for young cows and horses at The Educational Farm at Joppa Hill summer camp.

During Animal Science/Veterinary Training camp the week of June 25, children aged 6 and 12 learned exciting facts about animals as well as the basics of how to take an animal’s temperature, check its heart rate, feel a pulse and bandage a wound, said Camp Director Ian Murray. Claire Doyle, 10, enjoed her week at camp.

“I got to play with a lot of the animals and I learned things about them that I did not know,” she said.

On June 27, the Town Council granted conditional approval for a conservation easement for the Bedford Village Common. The Bedford Village Common Committee needed the easement to apply for wetlands mitigation.

With the state smoking ban signed into law and taking effect in New Hampshire on Sept. 17, Bedford restaurant owners had different reactions.

Doreen Remillard, manager of Shorty’s Mexican Roadhouse then located on Route 101 in Bedford, described owner Rick Loeffler as being ahead of his time. About four years ago, Loeffller decided to make Shorty’s entirely smoke-free, and though there was a slight drop in business at the bar, the change helped business.

“People would go to the bar to wait for a table, and they’d realize there was no smoking in the bar and would say, ‘Oh, we can eat right here in the bar,” said Remillard.

Bob Hall, a restaurant proprietor, felt differently.

“I don’t like it (the smoking ban). I own a restaurant, the FireHall Pub and Grill in Derry. I think it should be my choice,” he said.

August
At the July 26 Town Council special meeting, Bill Jean was unanimously appointed to replace former councilor Bill Van Anglen. He was sworn in by Town Clerk Wanda Jenkins on Aug. 3, after nearly three months of deliberations. Resident Roy Stewart’s lawsuit against the town to have a judge make the appointment was still pending/ In a memorandum, Stewart asked that the court direct the council to clarify inconsistencies in the Town Charter.

In October, the council voteds to settle the matter and agreed to pay Stewart up to $2,000 for legal fees.

On the morning of Aug. 6, resident Bernard Hendrigan’s mailbox was blown up by an improvised explosive device that police recovered at the scene.

“You may not intend to hurt a person, but you can hurt them through their wallet by damaging their car or property,” said Bedford Detective Matt Fleming. “We’re fortunate no one was killed. The device at 22 Regency had the potential and capability to kill someone.”

After 18 years of serving the town, Bedford Town Planner Karen White retired. She was presented with a recognition plaque and a bouquet of flowers by the Town Council.

“After 18 years, the town is kind of like my baby. I feel like a parent on the first day of school, but I’m confident the new staff is a good fit for Bedford,” she said.

The School Board awarded a $695,000 contract to build three sports fields between McKelvie Intermediate School and the SAU building on Country Road.

The board granted the bid to JGE Enterprises of Bedford, including building a Babe Ruth baseball field, a soccer field and a practice field as well as creating additional parking at the SAU.

Originally the project was to be funded with $500,000 from surplus funds from the 2006-07 operating budget. The additional $195,000 came from the current operating budget.

The town would eventually add another practice field to the project in November.

Town Councilor Michael Izbicki was named to serve as a transportation expert on the state’s Rail Transit Authority. Nancy Larson was appointed by the Town Council as Bedford’s representative on the rail authority.

Rich Beyer, a local sports enthusiast and BCTV personality, died unexpectedly at home Aug. 21. He was 58.

“It’s a tremendous loss,” said BCTV Station Manager Bill Jennings. “He’s the kind of guy that even though his kids are all grown up, he loved sports and would go to the fields and watch the kids play. He really connected the present and the past.”

September
Construction on the $123 million access road to link Manchester Airport to Bedford started in the spring. It is expected to take at least two years.

In Neighborhood News Inc. Right To Know test, Bedford was one of the worst towns when it came to providing public information. The availability of police logs, town salaries and school salaries were not provided when asked for. Bedford officials said tactics used by reporters to obtain public documents, and not ignorance of the Right to Know Law led to their failure in the investigation by Neighborhood News.

Town Manager Russ Marcoux said the way the information was requested was flawed, not the town’s response. “I take exception to (the study) because we are so accommodating,” he said. “We ask questions so we know we get you the right information.”

Two juveniles were arrested for allegedly planting three homemade bombs on driveways on Regency Drive in August. Because suspects are 14 years old, police said they are unable to release any more information on their identities.

On Aug. 6 at about 9 a.m., Police found three improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, after responding to a call of a possible theft at 22 Regency Drive.

The bomb that was potentially the most deadly, nine canisters tied together and filled with gas and powder, was found on a vehicle in the driveway of 22 Regency Drive. Two other bombs were left at neighboring homes.

The Bedford Soccer League signed a purchase agreement with Gulfstream Investments for 12 acres of land abutting the organization’s fields off Back River Road near Camp Allen.

“The plan is to alleviate long-term pressure on town and school fields,” said Jay Joseph, Bedford Soccer’s operations director. “This will give us one big giant green space.”

October
The Bedford Presbyterian Church celebrated its 175th anniversary of the church Sanctuary on Oct. 7.

The town released the final tax rate for 2007 as approved by the state Department of Revenue Administration. The final town portion of the 2007 property tax rate is $3.67 per $1,000 assessed property valuation, an increase of 82 cents over the 2006 tax rate of $2.85. The cost per $100,000 property valuation is $1,899.

Dozens of costumed children turned out for sixth annual “Trick or Treat Day” at the Bedford Farmers’ Market. In addition to vendors, many community organizations took part, offering information on their groups to adults and candy to children.

November
On Oct. 17, Richard and Francis Winneg of Bedford were awarded the 2007 Lifetime of Service Award by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

The couple has lived in Bedford since 1957, and their involvement in the local community includes schools, hospitals, the arts and their religious community. They helped create The Derryfield School in Manchester. “It was wonderful,” said Richard of the award, “I’m so glad what we’ve done has made a difference.”

At its Oct. 22 meeting, the Town Council unanimously approved joining the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Community Energy Challenge” to help reduce energy use in municipal, school and water treatment facilities in Bedford.

As Energy Star partners, Bedford promises to try and reduce energy use in its buildings by 10 percent or more. In Bedford, seven municipal buildings, seven school buildings and 42 gasoline-powered vehicles will be assessed and benchmarks created to keep track of energy use.

After code official Wayne Richardson and health inspector Gary Pariseau brought up concerns over public health, the Town Council, passed a new Bedford town health ordinance.

Effective on Jan. 1, 2008, the ordinance rules that public bathing places and wells will be monitored more closely next year.

Richardson said the state does not have enough personnel to monitor some aspects of public health in New Hampshire and they feel the town should take the matter into its own hands.

“The state has a tendency to be hesitant on current regulations,” he said. “I’m not taking over the state’s job, I’m only looking at things the town in concerned about.”

The purpose of the ordinance is to unify multiple aspects of Health Department functions and to specify the regulations regarding monitoring and regulating wells and public bathing places in Bedford.

“Public health is taking on a more active role in public opinion and I thought this could be building blocks for the future,” said Richardson.

He made clear that the new town health ordinance will not require any new personnel.

“If we rely on the state (to do testing) they will only be involved in problem situations. I think it’s the best thing for the town to do this,” Richardson said.

Nicholas Francoeur, 10, was named a runner-up in the “Step Up to the Plate @ your library Program” essay contest. The contest is run by the American Library Association and the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Nicholas went to the Bedford Library and chose the book “On the Field with Derek Jeter.” “I think Derek Jeter is a great baseball player and a great person off the field, and I thought I could learn a lot from him,” said Nicholas.

The “Bedford 7” movie theater closed its doors at the Bedford Mall after 45 years of popcorn making, soda pouring and happy movie-goers.

For the ninth year in a row, the Bedford Police Department sponsored its Toys for Tots drive during the holiday season.

The Toys for Tots program is run through the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Its mission is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.

Patricia Naimo, Bedford police communications supervisor, heads the fundraiser in Bedford each year and was excited that the department was part of another season of giving.

“It is really great to see individuals, businesses, schools, all come together and donate to a good cause,” she said.

According to Naimo, last year’s fundraiser was one of the most successful for Bedford, collecting more than 700 toys.

“We hope to get as many this year as we can,” she said.

December
Friendship, Inspiration and Recognition are values depicted in the first three letters of the fir tree planted in front of the Bedford Presbyterian Church.

On Dec. 6, the Bedford Women’s Club hosted a holiday tree-lighting ceremony and honored three members of the community who represent those values.

In front of the town Memorial Tree, Maureen McIntyre, president of the Bedford Women’s Club, gave opening remarks and presented the honorees with certificates designed by local artist Hannah Perutz.

“Our need to gather is what brought us here today,” she said, “To remember the important friendships that have enriched our lives, to remember those who have inspired us along the way, and to remember to recognize those among us who contribute to our society above and beyond.”

Friendship – Stephanie Johnson, former Bedford resident who currently lives in California, was honored for fostering friendship because she established the memory tree in Bedford in 1996.

Inspiration – Longtime resident Doris Peck Spurway was honored for inspiring Bedford to keep its history alive. “Doris truly brings the town’s history to life and we are thrilled to have her memory and her storytelling skills,” said McIntyre.

Recognition – Joan Huber, a retired officer of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corp, was recognized as a war veteran who put her life on the line during her service.

After nearly two months of discussions, the 2008 town budget was almost ready to be sent to voters. Budget reviews began Oct. 10, when Town Manager Russ Marcoux presented his recommendations to the Town Council.

The board had been meeting with department heads as well to review their budget requests. To date, the $2.5 million budget includes an estimated tax increase of 3.8 percent, or 14 cents, on the town side. Last year, the tax rate increased 28.1 percent. “You can’t expect residents to do that again,” said Marcoux.

Improving road conditions has long been a hot topic in the budget. Over the past five years, two road bonds totaling $20 million have been in the budget.

The 2008 budget includes a third road bond that will add another $12 million to be spent over the next three years.

“The single largest complaint we get is road issues,” said Marcoux. Public hearings on the 2008 municipal budget take place on Jan. 9 and 23.

The Budgetary Town Meeting is Wednesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. at Bedford High School.

The School District is expecting to have its proposed $55.1 million budget ready for public review by its Jan. 7 meeting. The 2008 budget increase would mean a 2.9 percent increase over the 2007 budget, if approved by voters in March.