|
|
News and Information for the Town of Bow
-
BY MATT SCHOOLEY
Jim Pelton has seen firsthand
the effect that drugs can have on
a family, and he wants to be sure
that others don’t experience the
same.
Pelton, who had a family
member deal with substance
abuse for four years, started A
Drug Free Kid, a group that provides
drug-testing kits to parents.
The Bow resident has donated
kits to the Bow Police Department,
and parents can obtain the
kits for free, no questions asked.
“Parents need to smarten up.
There are too many parents who
are saying ‘Not my child.’ By taking
charge, parents could be saving
their child’s life,” Pelton said.
Bow Police Lt. Dave Girard
agrees with Pelton when it comes
to parents’ roles in preventing
substance abuse.
“I think parents are the first
line of defense in any sort of
problem. They’re the most effective
and have the most influence.
The more they’re involved,
the less likely it is that we get
involved,” Girard said. “We’ll use
every tool and resource available
to us to combat substance
abuse.”
Pelton said high school students
aren’t the only age group
that parents need to look out for
when it comes to drugs.
“If they start talking to their
kids once they enter middle
school and have these drug kits,
they are able to work together,
and kids know they have an
agreement with their parents,”
he said.
In addition to Bow, Pelton
has also donated drug kits to five
other towns, and has sold them
to parents across the country.
A Drug Free Kid has also
been a way for parents around
the country to have someone to
talk to.
“We get phone calls and deal
with parents all over the place.
We’ve gotten a lot of positive
feedback and just being able to
talk,” he said. “All we want to
do is make a difference somewhere
along the line and make
an impact with the kids.”
Over recent months, Pelton
said he e-mailed every school
administrator in the state of
New Hampshire to see if they
had interest in making the kits
available. He said he heard back
from a very small number of
schools.
“There’s a sign on our school
property that say it’s a drug-free
zone, but drugs are as much
of a part of their education as
reading, writing and arithmetic,”
said Pelton. “No one is going to
do anything about it unless parents
do. No one is going to save
their kids but them.”
Pelton said high school students
aren’t the only ones being
pressured with drugs.
He recommends parents
begin talking with their kids
when they enter middle school.
“They may never use it (the
drug kit), but the kids know it’s
there,” said Pelton. “That way,
kids have another reason to say
no to peer pressure.”
|
-
BY MATT SCHOOLEY
A petition by a group of Bow
residents to move to the official
ballot law, often called SB2, on
the ballot for Election Day was
submitted too late, leaving the
issue on hold for another year.
The group submitted the
petition April 4, believing it was
in on time to make it onto the
ballot. However, since it missed
the notice deadline to be posted
for the School District Meeting,
it was rejected by the School
Board.
Looking for a second opinion,
the group took the matter
to Merrimack County Superior
Court, which supported the
School Board’s decision.
“We researched the state
laws and the state laws are not
very specific, at best they’re very
vague,” said Rick Hiland, one
of the organizers of the petition
that, if approved, would change
Bow’s voting process to official
ballot law, where voting on all
articles takes place on election
day, not at Town Meeting. “The
judge said we had a good reason
to be there, because it’s not clear.
But he was not in the position to
legislate.”
School Board Chairman
Pansy Bloomfield said the Superior
Court decision was the correct
one.
“The petition was not in time,”
she said. “The judge stressed that
it wasn’t just the issue of the timing,
but that it couldn’t be posted
to warn voters of the issue.”
Hiland, who was one of 37
signatures on the petition, said
he supports SB2 because it is in
the best financial interest of the
town.
“We’ve always felt our school
district financially has been out
of control,” he said. “We figured
that more people able to vote on
the budget each year would be
better to the community.”
Hiland said he already has
100 signatures on his petition for
next year’s ballot, and also said it
will be filed by the correct date
next time.
Bloomfield said she does not
believe the support for SB2 is
any higher than previous years.
She said it has been on the ballot
and failed several other years.
“I don’t know that support
is growing. Every few years
there is a group that becomes
more vocal about it,” said Bloomfield.
“When times are tough, it
resurges. It’s something people
are interested in when they are
feeling the pressure of taxes
going up.”
In addition, Bloomfield said
the School Board also considered
placing the issue on the ballot,
“as a move of goodwill.”
Although the Superior Court
and School Board rulings did not
go the way Hiland had hoped,
he still believes he and other SB2
supporters were successful.
“If the economy keeps tumbling
and the School Board
keeps doing what they’re doing,
it’ll make for an easy decision,
in my opinion,” said Hiland. “I
think we sent a message to the
School Board, and I think that’s
the idea.”
|
-
BY MATT SCHOOLEY
Votes were spread
out evenly in the contested races
during Bow’s Election Day on
the school and town sides, with
incumbents winning in nearly
every category.
Incumbent Selectman Harry
Judd won a tight race over opponent
Robert Louf by a 732-679
vote, earning him another term
on the board.
“I am gratified by the vote
of the town, and I think it is a
recognition that the Board of
Selectmen is doing a good job,”
said Judd. “This was not a referendum
on me, but on the board
as a whole and
the direction
we’re taking.”
Judd said the
town needs to
focus on developing the industrial
zone in the Route 3A area
in the upcoming years.
“We need to put together a
solid plan for water and sewer.
If we don’t build it, they won’t
come,” said Judd.
The School Board race was
also a tight one, as incumbents
Anne Baier and Deb McCann
retained their seats, earning 658
and 649 votes, respectively.
Van Mosher came close to
earning a spot on the board, but
fell 37 votes short with 612.
“I am sure that Mr. Mosher
was pleasantly surprised with
the amount of votes he got.
He has his supporters,” said
McCann. “We (School Board
members) know we have to
keep a tight line on the budget.
There’s still work to be done.
This is a great community and
we’ll pull together.”
Though Mosher lost his bid
for a seat on the School Board,
he earned six write-in votes for
the school clerk position – a seat
for which no candidates filed.
Baier was happy with her reelection,
although surprised by
the ballot totals.
“I guess I am surprised it was
as close as it was,” she said. “We
had a goal-setting session two
weeks ago and at the top of the
results was communication, and
this result tells me that the communication
needs to be there.”
The continuity of retaining
all five board members is important,
Baier said.
“I think that being on the
board is excellent experience.
People who haven’t been on
the board and haven’t attended
meetings don’t have any idea
of how much is involved,” said
Baier. “It’s not a simple situation.
It’s a complex process.”
Incumbents Peter Cheney,
608 votes, and George Lagos, 587
votes, were re-elected to their
seats on the Budget Committee,
with Brad Hutton finishing in
third place with 540 votes.
“It isn’t an easy process,” said
Lagos. “You have to balance the
services required and manage
the increase and tax increase,
which is seemingly more and
more difficult.”
Cheney said the committee
has a harder time during trying
economic times.
“It is quite difficult. The selectmen
and town manager have
learned from last year’s experience
that they need to tighten
things up a little bit,” said Cheney.
“I think they got the message
after last year’s Town Meeting.”
The only incumbent who
was not re-elected was Thomas
Ives, who was defeated 605-530
by Lisa Richards in the race for a
five-year term as library trustee.
“I bring to the position a new
perspective. I am really in shock
that I won. I am really looking
forward to getting to meet the
new library director,” said Richards.
“It’ll be really exciting to
have a new person and to work
with him or her to expand the
services in town.”
The final contested race
went to incumbent Henry Uchida,
who defeated John Caron
580-496 in the vote for trustee of
trust funds.
In the uncontested races,
Jim Hatem was re-elected
school moderator, Sara Swenson
was voted supervisor of the
checklist for six years, Deborah
Demoulpied was voted supervisor
of the checklist for four
years, and John King was elected
library trustee for a four-year
term.
No candidates ran for school
treasurer, but Mark Lavalle got
the nod, as he received nine
write-in votes.
Town Clerk Jill Hadaway
said she will check with the
Secretary of State on whether a
write-in nomination requires 10
or more votes to place a person
in office.
Of Bow’s 5,851 registered
voters, 1,439 voted on Election
Day, a 24.5 percent turnout.
|
-
BY MATT SCHOOLEY
Keeping in line with housing
values, certain exemption allowances
will be decided at Town
Meeting.
At the Wednesday, May 14,
meeting, voters will decide articles
24, 25 and 26 that seeks
to modify property tax exemptions
for the elderly, disabled
and legally blind.
“If the value of the house
goes up and you’re only exempted
for less, then your tax bill
jumps up,” said Town Manager
Jim Pitts. “We’re talking about
elderly with no assets and low
income, and it’s a significant
hit. What we do is amend the
exemptions upwards by the percentage
the average home value
increased.”
Pitts said the average home
value increased by 30 percent,
which is the percentage used to
determine the exemptions.
If the articles are passed, a
resident between the ages of 65
and 74 would have an exemption
of $117,000; between 75
and 79, the amount is $143,000
and a person 80 years or older,
$169,000, if they fall within certain
financial requirements.
A disabled resident who is
eligible under Title II or Title
XVI of the federal Social Security
Act who makes no more
than $38,500 would receive an
exemption of $143,000 as long
as their assets do not exceed
$200,000, if Article 25 passes.
If Article 26 passes, a legally
blind resident will receive a
property exemption of $75,000.
Article 13 asks residents to
approve $45,000 for a cycled
property valuation update, and
Pitts said the town will now be
changing the way it performs
its revaluation. Currently, Bow
had been revaluing its property
every five years, but the new
system will revalue 25 percent
of the property every year and
then estimate all of the town’s
properties, according to Pitts.
“If they go up, they’ll go up to
a lesser extent every five years.
People have suffered through
large spikes because the values
went up so fast. This will be
more gradual,” said Pitts.
The process of making the
switch took about two years,
and though Pitts said the change
will benefit residents during difficult
economic time, it was not
changed for that reason.
“It’s not due to what’s going
on in the economy now because
we started working on this before
things went south,” said Pitts.
“It has the effect of recognizing
changes in the economy much
more rapidly, but it’s not a reaction
to what’s going on now. However,
with what’s going on now,
people will certainly benefit.”
|
-
BY MATT SCHOOLEY
At Bow’s Town Meeting last
year, residents voted to cut the
operating budget significantly.
This year, town officials will ask
voters to increase the 2008-09
budget about $602,000 over last
year.
This year, both the Budget
Committee and Board of Selectmen
agreed on the proposed operating
budget of about $8.3 million,
compared to last year’s budget
of $7.7 million when Selectman
Tom Keane’s floor amendment
was approved 114-89.
Town Manager Jim Pitts said
he knows there could be more
motions to cut the budget this
year at the Wednesday, May 14,
Town Meeting, beginning at 7
p.m., at Bow High School.
“I don’t doubt there will be
some motions from the floor,
and that’s the taxpayers’ right
to do that,” said Pitts. “I hope
they’re prepared to identify
what service they are proposing
we could do without.”
After last year’s cuts, town
officials were forced to cut services
such as non-emergency
paving and street lights, something
Pitts said was hard to do.
“It was very difficult for the
selectmen to arrive at the decision
of what to cut. We were cutting
services that had been routinely
part of our town budget,”
he said. “Generally speaking, the
budget going to Town Meeting
is extremely realistic. While the
operating budget is up from last
year, it in essence is restoring
that cut from last year.”
Budget Committee members
estimate an increase in the total
town portion of the tax rate to
be 83 cents per $1,000 assessed
property value over last year, if
all warrant articles pass.
An 83 cent increase in the
rax rate would result in a bill of
$250 more than last year for the
owner of a $300,000 home.
Originally, selectmen and
the Budget Committee had budgets
differing by $15,000, but
the Budget Committee voted
to restore that amount to the
library’s section of the budget,
leaving the two proposals equal.
“We were concerned that if
we don’t continue to contribute
to the book collection, there
would be a negative impact,”
said Budget Committee Chairman
Dan De Vasto. “We want to
make sure that we have enough
to provide the level of service
that the people in town have
grown accustomed to.”
Pitts said town officials were
cognizant of the difficult economic
times while constructing
the proposed budget.
“I can understand the pain
of voting to increase your tax,
particularly when the economy’s
in the shape it is. Almost 5
percent of the increase is caused
by external costs that we can’t
control,” he said. “They’re dealing
with the increase of diesel
and gasoline, and so are we. If
you hold us to the same number
of dollars as last year, you’re
actually imposing a cut because
we can do less and pay less than
the year before.”
|
-
BY MATT SCHOOLEY
A Bow High School student
was arrested on multiple felony
drug charges after police found
marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms
and drug paraphernalia
in his vehicle.
Colby Hall, 18, was arrested
Friday, April 11, after school
resource officer Sgt. Margaret
Lougee learned Hall may have
drugs in his possession and alerted the school’s principal. The
pair searched Hall’s car, which
was parked on school grounds.
Hall was charged with possession
of marijuana with intent
to distribute, possession of psilocybin
mushrooms with intent
to distribute, both felonies, and
unlawful possession of alcohol.
Bow Police Lt. Dave Girard
said the arrest was unlike others
involving teenagers and drugs.
“Obviously, this is different
than just some kid carrying a
small bag of weed,” said Girard.
“When you throw in a scale and
the sandwich baggies, it’s alarming
for us and something we’re
not going to take lightly.”
Girard said he does not
believe the arrest indicates there
is a larger drug problem at the
school.
“I think Bow High School is
not any better or worse than any
high school. Hopefully, this will
send a message that this activity
won’t be tolerated,” he said.
The arrest came in the school
parking lot between 7:30 and
8:30 a.m., and Girard described
it as “low key.”
Making arrests related to the
psilocybin mushrooms in Bow is
a rarity, said Girard.
“That is the first time we’ve
seen them here in months,” he
said. “We haven’t seen any at
the high school and, in regular
patrol activities, nothing comes
to mind in more than a year.”
According to Girard, the
arrest was also different than the
usual activities at the school.
“The school resource officer
did a great job of turning this
up,” said Girard. “She’s made
arrests (at the school) before, but
not of this quantity. This arrest
is certainly different from her
previous arrests over there.”
|
-
BY MATT SCHOOLEY
Bow Police Chief Jeff Jaran
is leaving his position after four
years in town, accepting a position
in Provincetown, Mass.
“There are a number of personal
reasons that play a part
in it, but ultimately it was a job
on Cape Cod
that I really
didn’t think I
had a shot at,”
said Jaran. “I
was pleasantly
surprised.
I have accepted
it, and it’s
not without
sorrow that I’m leaving an agency
that I poured my heart and
soul into.”
Jaran said he and his family
often traveled to Cape Cod while
he was growing up, and he looks
forward to returning.
“I grew up in Massachusetts
and vacationed all up and down
the Cape,” he said. “There are
only 15 chiefs on the Cape, so
they don’t become available very
often. At this stage in my life,
I didn’t think I could turn it
down.”
Town Manager Jim Pitts said
he expects the process of finding
a new chief to take one to two
months, and there is a possibility
Lt. Dave Girard could be named
interim chief while the search is
conducted.
In the absence of a chief,
Girard is automatically named
officer in charge.
As second-in-command,
Girard also assisted in oversaw
the Police Department while
Jaran attended the FBI Academy
in Quantico, Va., from October
to December 2007. At that time,
Jaran was in constant contact
with Girard, said Pitts.
“Jaran continued to be of
service to the town as chief of
the Bow Police Department and
stayed in constant touch with
Girard by phone and e-mail,”
said Pitts.
Jaran was paid a salary and
benefits while attending the
academy, Pitts said, and as part
of the agreement with the town,
Jaran had to serve an additional
24 months as chief of Bow.
In leaving Bow just five
months after graduating the
academy, Jaran will repay a prorated
portion of his time in Virginia,
Pitts said.
The town incurred a cost
of $3,691 to send Jaran to the
academy, including travel, lodging,
uniforms and fees, Pitt said.
Prorating that amount by five
months, Jaran will repay the
town $2,922.
“He has agreed to pay that
in cash on his last day of service
here,” said Pitts, adding
that when Jaran first came to
Bow, he accepted a lower salary
in exchange for possibly being
accepted into the FBI academy.
Pitts said he is sorry to see
Jaran leave Bow.
“I was quite disappointed, of
course, because he’s been an
excellent chief and brought the
department a long way, and was
looking forward to more of the
same,” said Pitts. “At the same
time, he was offered a financial
package that would be hard for
anybody to refuse.”
Pitts said he will put an
advertisement for the position
out next week. Jaran’s position
paid $73,100, according to the
town’s pay scale.
Jaran will be paid an annual
salary of $100,000 in Provincetown.
The biggest challenges
he will face in his new role
is dealing with a large tourist
population, the diverse culture
and a drug problem in the town,
he said.
Jaran told his co-workers of
his decision at a departmentwide
meeting so they would
hear the news from him first.
“For me, it’s always been all
about relationships. I have many
friends not only in the Police
Department, but in the community.
I’m leaving behind a topnotch
group,” Jaran said. “I can
say in good conscience I am leaving
it a lot better off than when I
arrived. That’s from personnel
to upgrading the facility, equipment
and technology.”
Pitts said one of Jaran’s biggest
achievements during his
four years in Bow was forming
a working relationship between
the emergency services in town.
“What I’ll miss most is that
he was a team player and he
established a great relationship
between the police and fire
departments down to the lowest
level. That goes back to his
leadership,” said Pitts. “There’s
a teamwork between the two
departments that is, unfortunately,
rare. We don’t have any animosity
and I credit both chiefs.”
While looking for Jaran’s
replacement, Pitts said he will
form a board to interview the
potential candidates, who he
hopes will meet his specific criteria.
“We need a spirit of team
play. Someone who recognizes
it’s not the only department in
town and, above all, a leader
who can motivate the people in
the department and influence
them to work to their maximum
performance level,” said Pitts.
|
-
BY RYAN O’CONNOR
She’s huffing and puffing,
struggling with
each stride, each gasp
for air. As she nears the end of
her 5-K run, though, she spots
a familiar face standing at the
finish line. She smiles.
And with a burst of energy,
Marissa Lucas, a senior on the
Bow High School cross country
team, completes the race,
then collapses to the ground.
Her brother, Dylan, hands her
an inhaler.
Marissa developed sports-induced
asthma her junior
year and didn’t finish any of
her high school cross country
races, though she continued
to compete.
This year, as a senior, she
returned to the team with a
renewed determination.
“I think she finally had
to decide she was going to
continue enjoying it for the
team aspect she loves and try
to relax and understand she
might not win the race, but
can still run well and finish
without pushing it so hard,”
said former cross country
coach Dyrace Maxfield. “It
says a lot about her character,
and her as a person, that she
would continue to want to be
a part of the team. She’s such
a good leader. It’s never been
just about her. She wants to
help everyone else and still be
part of the team’s successes,
and she has a lot of fun doing
that.”
Maxfield, who coached
Marissa Lucas in cross country
for three years, and outdoor
track and field when she was
a freshman and sophomore, is
currently in his second season
as Dylan’s coach.
He said the two have similar
traits.
“They’re both definitely
very willing to put team ahead
of themselves,” he said. “With
Dylan, anytime we need him
in a relay or somewhere where
we have a hole, he’s always
willing to sacrifice a different
event, no questions asked.”
Dylan, who competed in
karate and gymnastics prior
to high school, said he thrives
on challenges.
“I think, in track and field,
what he loves is he can do and
try so many different things,”
said Maxfield. “It’s not about
just running for him. He can
change up his events each
week. In five different meets
so far, I don’t think he’s done
the same four events yet.”
Indeed, whether it’s the
pole vault, javelin, hurdles
or any one of several other
events, Dylan is constantly
challenging himself, and that,
said his coach, makes the
sophomore’s athletic growth
fun to watch.
In addition to their accomplishments
in cross country
and track and field, Marissa
and Dylan captained the 2007-
08 state championship finalist
Nordic ski team at Bow High
School. The Falcons earned
a berth at the Eastern High
School Championship – the
first such team accomplishment
in school history.
Dylan, who led the boys at
the state championships with
fourth- and fifth-place finishes
in the classic and freestyle
events as the program’s first
sophomore captain, became the
first Bow High Nordic skier to
medal at the Meet of Champions,
finishing sixth in freestyle.
Marissa was the team’s second-
fastest freestyle skier, finishing
seventh overall.
“They are both talented
athletes, but they bring so
much more to the team than
that,” said Nordic coach Chris
Naimie. “They are leaders of
the team in all aspects, and
they apply their unique abilities
... demonstrating work ethic,
enthusiasm and team spirit
that set the standard for their
teammates ... to make our team
much better than it would be in
their absence.”
Marissa, said Naimie, is the
only girl from her high school
class to participate in Nordic
skiing all four high school years
and has shown tremendous
growth in ability and self-confidence.
“She advocates for her teammates
and is always ready to
devote herself completely to her
goals,” said Naimie. “Marissa’s
greatest strength as a skier is the
efficiency with which she travels
down the trail, always making
the most of every stride.”
Such efficiency is necessary,
said Marissa. The cold
weather increases the strain on
her lungs.
Even as a freshmen, said
Naimie, Dylan led the Nordic
team to its first state title and
represented New Hampshire at
the J2 Championships.
“His greatest strength as
a skier is his powerful stride,”
said the coach. “As he elevates
his technique over the next
two years, I anticipate he will
distinguish himself as one of
the top skiers in the state and
as a candidate for skiing at the
intercollegiate level.”
Both athletes have received
Falcon Awards for athletic excellence
and leadership, Marissa
for Nordic skiing and Dylan
for cross county.
After playing lacrosse for
the state champions last season,
Marissa embraced a new
endeavor this spring as the
scarecrow in “The Wizard of
Oz,” which she performed May
1 to 3 at Bow High School.
What she is most excited
about, however, is introducing
her brother as an inductee into
the National Honor Society.
Next year, she plans to attend
and offer support at all of
her brother’s races, just as he’s
done for her.
“When Dylan runs, he does
this thing where he smiles. I
don’t know how to explain it,
but he’s always happy,” said
Marissa. “He’s such a fun kid
to watch run.”
|
-
BY JERRY LIPTAK
Physically, the visitors
were every bit the equal of
their hosts. But Salem’s boys
lacrosse team, which trekked
nearly 80 miles round trip for
an interdivisional contest on
Saturday, April 26, proved it
has a long way to go to match
Bow’s proven mental makeup.
The Falcons, last year’s Division-
II runner-up and fresh
off a 7-6 double-overtime defeat
of D-II champ St. Thomas
Aquinas a day earlier, played
steady, heady lax in an 8-1 victory
over the Division-I Blue
Devils.
“Some of the kids were saying,
‘They’re D-II, so no problem.’
Well, they’re also the
state runner-up, and they’re
always strong,” said Salem
head coach Chris Kelleher.
“Skill-wise and athletically, I
don’t think they’re that different
than us. Mentally, though,
there’s a big gap there.”
True, Bow controlled play
by every physical, statistical
measure – shots on goal, saves
by David Bucchino in the first
half and Nick Calkins in the
second, and, of course, assists
and goals scored – but that
doesn’t completely explain
Bow’s dominance.
“We talk about mental
toughness, about things we
can control,” said Bow’s cocoach,
Steve Gaudreau. “The
kids have consistently done a
good job in how they react to
situations.”
Against Salem, Bow forced
the visitors to do most of the
reacting. Only a nifty catch-and-
shoot goal late in the
fourth quarter prevented Bow
from securing the shutout.
Meanwhile, the offense
produced three goals in the
first quarter and three more in
the second, and Bow rotated
in a number of players who
helped the Falcons pull away.
“Someone like (sophomore
midfielder) Chris Roberts
had an opportunity, and he’s
worked his way up,” said head
coach Chris Gaudreau. “We’ve
got a lot of kids that are fundamentally
sound. That’s a credit
to the youth program in town.”
Game notes
Sean Dippold, Stephen Lagos
and Alex Grip tallied in the
first quarter, then Alex Davies
and Steven Gallerani gave Bow
a 5-0 edge. Dippold capped the
first-half barrage. Gallerani
netted both of the Falcons’ second-
half scores, one each in the
third and fourth quarters.
Speedy Greg Bueddeman
contributed two assists, and
Dippold also had multiple helpers.
Roberts assisted on Gallerani’s
second score.
|
-
BY MATT SCHOOLEY
Lions, tigers, bears
and witches flying
by on bicycles.
The Bow High School
auditorium will have it
all, as students will perform
“The Wizard of Oz”
for three nights beginning
Thursday, May 1, at 7:30
p.m.
In addition to the acting
and musical numbers in
the play, this year’s performance
will have something
not seen at the school in
the past, as cables and harnesses will be used to lift actors
off the stage.
“I found out (flying) would
be possible, and I announced
it at practice and the kids were
screaming and running around
so excited,” said Julie Westcott,
the play’s director. “When it all
came together, they were so
psyched, and it helped bring the
show to a different level.”
Westcott has had the script
since September, and the group
of students has been working on
the final product since January.
The director said even students
who aren’t veterans to the
stage have made the play flow
smoothly.
“I am lucky to work with
some really gifted kids. They
rise to the occasion, even if they
don’t have a lot of experience,”
said Westcott. “They’re musically
gifted, so they can parlay that
into a great show.”
Those involved in the play
came together to create bright
and vibrant scenery and a
mobile tornado that moves fluidly
across the stage, making the
audience feel at home from Kansas
all the way down the Yellow
Brick Road to the Emerald City.
One of the props used in
the play was extremely lifelike,
as Toto is being played by a
live dog. And, Bow police Sgt.
Margaret Lougee, the school’s
resource officer, will be seen,
sort of, as her legs will be the
Wicked Witch of the East under
the house.
Westcott said although she
has directed many plays, she
never gets sick of opening night
in front of a packed auditorium.
“It’s such a cool feeling. It’s
the 29th show I’ve directed, but
it never get old to me to see how
the kids feel to see their hard
work,” she said.
The play will be performed
at Bow High School, Thursday,
May 1, to Saturday, May 3, at
7:30 p.m.
|
-
BY MATT SCHOOLEY
A Bow man was killed at his
vacation home in Maine while
cutting down a tree that rotted
over the winter.
Timothy Dugal, 51, died
on the scene at his Northport,
Maine, home despite attempts
by his wife to revive him.
“He was cutting a tree with
his son and part of the top of
the tree had storm damage to it,”
said Maine state trooper Shawn
Porter, who was on scene after
the accident. “During some
course in the cutting, the tree
had a large amount of pressure
to it and when he cut it, the tree
kicked back and hit him in the
head.”
State police were on scene
within 20 minutes of the accident,
and local fire and rescue
units were dispatched to the
scene as well. Dugal’s wife, Deborah,
was inside when she heard
her 17-year-old son yell for help.
“His wife and other daughter
were there and heard the son
scream. They went out and the
wife performed CPR until rescue
arrived,” said Porter, who
also said no drugs or alcohol
were involved. “It was a tragic
accident.”
Dugal was born in Dover
and was president and owner
of New Hampshire Mailing Services
in Concord.
Dugal was able to share his
passion for athletics while serving
as a member of the University
of New Hampshire Athletic
Council, and while taking in golf
and Boston Red Sox games with
his son.
Garin Veris, co-director of
athletic fundraising at UNH,
said he met Dugal at several of
the school’s athletic fundraisers.
“I know from his past of
being a great supporter in our
belief of scholarship and fundraising,
that he believed in giving
student athletes the opportunity
to continue their education and
succeed,” said Veris. “He’s been
part of UNH athletics for a long
time.”
Upon meeting Dugal, Veris
said the descriptions he had
heard were true.
“I know before I had first
met him, I had heard a lot about
him. I heard how nice he was
and what a great supporter he
was, and when I met him it was
true to form,” said Veris. “It was
a tragedy to hear about his accident,
and he will be missed.”
|
-
BY MATT SCHOOLEY
Bow voters will have a chance
to extend the town’s growth
management ordinance and
limit the number
of elderly housing
built in one
year.
In addition to
voting for town
and school candidates on Election
Day, May 13, Bow residents
will be asked to vote on seven
zoning amendments.
All seven amendments are
under Warrant Article 2, beginning
the Amendment A, which
asks voters to re-enact the town
of Bow Growth Management
Ordinance, which has been
extended each year since it was
put into place in 1997.
In addition to extending
the ordinance for another year,
Amendment A asks the town
to eliminate the exemption for
housing for the elderly.
Previously, when elderly living
developers such as White
Rock Senior Living Community
came to town, there was no
limit on the number of units
that could be built. Now, if the
amendment is passes, these
developers will be limited to 20
multi-family units or five single-family
units per year.
In its first year in Bow, White
Rock developers built 73 units,
and in another year built an
additionional 36 units.
“The Planning Board concluded
that having built 300
units in about five years, we
no longer needed to encourage
that,” said Bill Klubben, director
of community development.
“We no longer need this bonus
to encourage elderly housing.
With the number we had built, it
should support the community’s
need for the time being.”
Klubben said the growth
management ordinance has
been key to the town each year
it has been extended.
“The GMO has had the effect
of flattening out the residential
growth rate in town. Years before
we had it, we were subject to
significant swings. With that in
place, we avoid the big peaks,”
Klubben said. “It makes it a little
more manageable. Growth has
a lot of financial impact on the
town. If it flattens the growth
rate, we can financially plan for
the financial burden that growth
entails.”
Amendment B would add
a section to zoning rules that
would prevent companies for
submitting applications to the
Planning Board that are trademarked.
Klubben said because
of the application process, it
is necessary to photocopy the
materials along with way.
If Amendment C is passed,
applicants for certificates of
occupancy will have to provide
an affidavit of compliance with
conditions of approval, and must
provide a financial guarantee to
the Planning Board.
Both amendments D and
E deal with state regulations.
Amendment D asks voters to
update the flood plan to comply
with federal and state regulations.
Amendment E asks residents
to approve the provisions
of the New Hampshire Building
Code.
The final amendment on
the May 13 ballot asks voters to
adopt a policy to limit the number
of signs that can be put on
a property to one per lot, except
business directory signs in areas
near Route 3A.
Election Day is Tuesday, May
13, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the
Bow Community Building.
|
-
BY MATT SCHOOLEY
Bow Chief of Police Jeff Jaran
is one of four final candidates for
the open chief position in Provincetown,
Mass.
Jaran has a lengthy career in
law enforcement and has been
Bow’s chief of police for the past
four years. He was also a chief
in Sandwich prior to taking his
post in Bow.
On Tuesday, April 24, Jaran
interviewed in front of the Provincetown
Board of Selectmen
after previously interviewing
with Provincetown Town Manager
Sharon Lynn.
Bow Town Manager Jim Pitts
said although the town would
miss Jaran should he accept the
job if it is offered to him, he also
knows the Police Department
would be able to find a capable
replacement.
“I am aware that he applied
for (the position) and that he is
a finalist,” said Pitts. “If he were
to leave, he’s been an outstanding
chief, and I have no doubt
he would be able to be replaced
by an outstanding chief. I am
not concerned the department
would deteriorate.”
Provincetown Assistant
Town Manager David Gardner
said Jaran deserved the spot he
earned in the list of four final
candidates.
“The reason why he made
the top four, based on what I
understand, is that he was well-qualified,
well-spoken and had
a background that was a match
for what we’re looking for,” said
Gardner. “Based on his interview,
he was thought to be a
good fit, not only from a qualification
standpoint but personality
as well.”
Jaran’s position in the Police
Department is listed on the town
pay scale at $73,100, according
to Pitts.
Gardner said it is possible the
Provincetown Town Manager
will make her recommendation
to the Board of Selectmen at the
next scheduled meeting, which
is Monday, May 12.
Jaran said he did not feel
comfortable commenting on the
matter just yet.
|
-
BY RYAN O’CONNOR
For the Bow baseball
team, one day was enough.
That’s the amount of outdoor
practice time the Falcons
had prior to taking the field
against John Stark in a delayed
season opener on Saturday,
April 19.
In fact, when the Falcons
first heard “play ball,” they were
missing five players to vacation,
and the game had been moved
to Weare because Bow’s field
was not yet playable.
Still, the locals showed few
ill effects in dispatching the
Generals, 5-0.
“It’s been nice to get outside
and play some ball in the
sunshine,” said manager Ben
Forbes. “We were kind of rusty,
and it showed a little bit, especially
defensively since we had
a lot of guys playing out of position,
but overall I’m really
pleased with the effort.”
Two of Bow’s four captains,
Andrew Knight and Jimmy
Richards, combined to shut out
John Stark.
Knight struck out eight in
earning the win, and Richards
added three more punch outs
while grabbing the save.
Richards collected two RBI
and a run scored.
Luke Enderwick knocked in
two runs as well, and Ian Hanson
notched the fifth RBI.
Connor Audycki and captain
Joe Pelton each contributed
two runs.
Danny Achorn, Bow’s fourth
captain, missed the contest.
Now that the games are finally
underway, Forbes said a
combination of 12 returning
players and several talented
youngsters has the Falcons positioned
for a deep run this season.
“Right now, I just really want
them to play to their potential,
and I think, with the number of
kids we have that are coming
back … (we can) finish high in
the standings, get a home game
in the tournament and then play
four (postseason contests),” said
Forbes “If everything comes together,
we can definitely play
for a title.”
|
-
BY MATT SCHOOLEY
After hearing from library
trustees at a recent public hearing
about the operating budget,
Bow Budget Committee members
decided to return $15,000
to the budget for the Baker Free
Library.
By a 4-3 vote after the public
hearing, Budget Committee members
brought the recommended
budget to the same number as
the selectmen’s recommendation
– about $8.3 million. If passed,
the operating budget will have
an estimated tax rate increase
of 66 cents per $1,000 assessed
property valuation, or about $198
over last year for the owner of a
home assessed at $300,000.
If all warrant articles pass,
Budget Committee members
estimate an additional increase
of 17 cents per $1,000 assessed
property valuation. Both the budget
and warrants would bring
the total town portion of the tax
rate to about 83 cents per $1,000
assessed property value over last
year – a spike of $250 for the
owner of a $300,000 home.
Originally, the Budget Committee
wanted to remove $10,000
for the book collection and $5,000
for the salary of the new library
director to replace Linda Kling,
who retired in March.
During the public hearing,
library trustees came to the
defense of the library, and Budget
Committee members reconsidered
their recommendation
and agreed with the sentiment.
“We were concerned that if
we don’t continue to contribute
to the book collection, there
would be a negative impact,”
said Budget Committee Chairman
Dan De Vasto. “We want to
make sure that we have enough
to provide the level of service
that the people in town have
grown accustomed to.”
Last year, the operating budget
was cut during Town Meeting,
and many departments in
town suffered. The library was
one of them, as they elected not
to use money for the book collection
during the year.
“We made cuts to the books.
You can do that for a year, but
your collection will suffer and
you’ll end up with big holes in
the collection if you continually
cut from your book funding,”
said Library Trustee Susan
Hatem. “There’s always a juggling
process, and you just try
to save money where ever you
can, and at the same time meet
the demands that the public has
been asking for.”
July will mark the two-year
anniversary of Baker Free
Library extending its hours to six
days per week and, Hatem said,
having the $15,000 in the budget
is crucial, especially during a difficult
economic time.
“What we tried to get across,
and the Budget Committee
seemed to agree, is that the
library is the jewel of the community,”
said Hatem. “Everyone
from young children to senior
citizens can use it. In times when
the economy is bad, the library
becomes even more important.
People use the library for job
searching, and just to get out and
clear their head and think.”
Residents will vote on the
budget and warrant articles at
Town Meeting, Wednesday, May
14, at 7 p.m. in the Bow High
School auditorium.
|
|
|
|