THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 FREE IN PRINT, FREE ON-LINE • WWW.NEWFOUNDLANDING.COM COMPLIMENTARY Public hearing set on Town Hall project BY THOMAS P. CALDWELL hearing. A work session the existing municipal a new town hall on prop- sion. police station,” Solomon Contributing Writer on Sept. 29 will focus on building to serve only erty next door which the “We want to create a said, explaining that the BRISTOL — Samyn- putting cost figures with the Bristol Police De- town had purchased for new center with an invit- driveway would go be- D’Elia Architects of Ash- the conceptual floor partment and building possible future expan- ing front entrance to the SEE TOWN HALL, PAGE A14 land, hired last May to plans, in preparation for create preliminary plans the hearing. for a solution to the space Duncan, who had of- needs of the Bristol Mu- fered the amendment at nicipal Building, will the 2016 Town Meeting offer some drawings for that set the process in public review at the Old motion, and served on Town Hall on Wednes- the space needs commit- day, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m. tee when it came up with Architect Cris Solo- the recommendation mon joined space needs for two buildings, said committee member Su- the committee reviewed san Duncan in giving the options again with the Bristol Board of Se- Samyn-D’Elia to see if lectmen an advance look they could meet all the at the drawings on Sept. needs with renovations 21, noting that the de- to the existing building. sign work is still in prog- Solomon said they are ress and the plans could still recommending two change before the public buildings, converting Newfound parents COURTESY — CHRIS DYER renew push for Rainbow over Newfound Chris Dyer of Bristol spotted a full rainbow over Newfound Lake last week, and captured this beautiful scene with his camera. girls’ soccer BY THOMAS P. CALDWELL athletes with the oppor- Contributing Writer tunity to participate,” he NMMS staff kick off new school BRISTOL — A group said. of parents is pressing the Athletic Director Pe- Newfound Area School ter Cofran said he posted Board to support a high signup sheets but got no year with cookout & open house school-level girls’ soc- signatures for girls’ soc- cer team, something the cer. When he heard that BY DONNA RHODES board has gone on record some girls playing other [email protected] as supporting in the past. sports were reluctant to BRISTOL — To help The problem, said Chair put their names on the kick off the 2017-18 school Jeff Levesque at the list for fear of offending year, parents and fami- board’s Sept. 25 meeting, their current coach- lies of students at New- is that not enough girls es, and saw a post on found Memorial Middle signed up to support the Facebook asking about School were invited to a program. signing up privately, he free Cookout and Open Ken Braley of Alexan- offered to let them meet House last Thursday dria maintains that there with him to let him know evening. Newfound Area are 90 female athletes that of their interest, and still School District Superin- are not playing any sport, he received no response. tendent Stacy Buckley, and that eight girls are “Today, I had one girl Principal Jay Lewis, As- coming up from eighth sign up, but I’ve had peo- sistant Principal Trish grade, where there is a ple sign up for three years Lewis and the NMMS girls’ team. He said the and they never showed staff were on hand to not high school needs to pro- up at practice,” he said. only meet the parents vide a better way for girls Cofran also said he but serve them their din- to sign up and suggested would have concerns ner, too. sending an email to ev- about young athletes go- “Last year, we decid- DONNA RHODES During an open house at Newfound Memorial Middle School last Thursday evening, eryone, asking that, if a ing up against players ed to include parents Superintendent Stacy Buckley was pleased to show parents the new look the school received program came in, would with more experience for a cookout and open over the summer with fresh paint and some new furniture for the library and cafeteria. they be willing to join the and who were phys- house, and it’s become team. ically stronger. That a great opportunity for es, moms and dads then eye-opening experience, White walls, green Newfound does allow prompted protests from them to see what’s going moved inside to see what made possible through lockers and green trim girls to play on the boys’ parents who said forc- on in our school,” Jay a day in their child’s life some fresh paint, new also brought the school team, but Braley said it’s ing girls to play on the Lewis said. looked like. library shelving and fur- colors and pride to the not a true coed team with boys’ team also had them After enjoying freshly What they found as niture, along with new forefront. only three girls partici- playing against greater grilled burgers and lots they walked through vending machines and “This building had pating. Girls who have SEE GIRLS’ SOCCER, PAGE A12 of delicious side dish- the doors was also an tables in the cafeteria. about five color schemes built “a family” in middle going on, and just looked school prefer to stay to- so old. Over the summer, gether, rather than play we pulled out old car- on the boys’ team, he GOT LUNCH! Newfound meets with success in first year peting, painted the hall- said, so they are left out. ways and lockers and “The kids want to BY DONNA RHODES made it look like a new play. The job of athletics [email protected] school,” said Buckley. is providing all student BRISTOL — In its “Next year, we’ll work inaugural year, GOT on replacing the old win- LUNCH! Newfound dows and paint the class- INDEX met with great success, rooms.” n thanks to generous Bathrooms received Volume 4 • Number 40 donations and “some not only a physical but a Opinion ........................A4 amazing volunteers,” psychological makeover Obituaries ....................A6 reported Susan Colby of as well and now play an Bristol Area Communi- important role in stu- Towns ..........................A7 ty Services. dent pride and self-es- Churches .....A7, A10, A13 GOT LUNCH! be- teem. With some adult Business .......................A9 gan in Laconia several supervision each facility Arts & Ent. ........ A10, A11 years ago when mem- was designed and paint- bers of that community ed with colors that are Health ........................A11 stepped up to help pro- more suited to the life- Sports ............B1-B3 & B6 vide healthy lunches style of today’s young COURTESY Classifieds ...............B4-B5 for low income families teens. In addition to the over the summer weeks In its inaugural year, GOT LUNCH! Newfound met with great success, thanks to generous dona- new decor, last year’s 20 pages in 2 sections tions and “some amazing volunteers,” reported Susan Colby of Bristol Area Community Services. ©2017, Salmon Press, LLC. when school lunches for eighth grade students Call us at (603) 279-4516 children were not avail- idea and enthusiasm for This summer, with nia’s GOT LUNCH! Pro- were also able to leave email: [email protected] able. Since then, the the program has spread. the guidance of Laco- SEE GOT LUNCH!, PAGE A12 behind some words of www.salmonpress.com SEE NMMS, PAGE A14 Local A2 NEWFOUND LANDING, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 n PSU's Merrill Place promises to be a new community resource BY DONNA RHODES contribute to regional [email protected] tourism and economic PLYMOUTH — Plym- development.” outh State University While the President Donald Birx 95,000-square-foot hall and members of the en- is intended for student tire Plymouth commu- housing throughout the nity were excited to offi- school year, it was also cially cut the ribbon on designed to meet other the new Merrill Place needs. Rooms in Merrill last Friday afternoon. Place are configured to The new residence hall serve as “hotel” rooms will serve not only the for visitors outside the student population of academic year. PSU, but outside groups The first floor confer- who can now utilize the ence area has not only facility for any number its own commercial of events and activities. kitchen facilities but is Merrill Place is locat- equipped to serve 276 ed at the crest of Merrill people with tables and Street in Plymouth, and chairs. There is room is a seven-story struc- for 591 people seated in ture that can house 292 chairs only and has a students for the aca- maximum off 827 peo- demic year, while serv- ple standing, making it ing as “the centerpiece quite accommodating of PSU’s expanding role for large groups looking DONNA RHODES as a regional venue for to hold dinners, confer- The architects who designed the new Merrill Place Residential Hall and Conference Center were joined by Plymouth State conferences, exhibi- University President Donald Birx for a photo during a ribbon cutting ceremony last Friday afternoon. ences and other events. tions and other events,” The concept for Mer- university representa- the White Mountains of rill Place began in 2014, tives said. New Hampshire. before Birx joined the The residential facil- “Merrill Place allows university, and had ities offer students not us to offer on-campus great support from the only spacious rooms housing to nearly 300 university’s trustees, but laundry and oth- students, bringing us he said.