THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 SERVING TILTON, NORTHFIELD, BELMONT & SANBORNTON, N.H. FREE Team Belmont gets ready to take the ‘Plunge’ BY DONNA RHODES seemed to be the natural nations,” said Poslusny. Education, Briggs also [email protected] thing to do now that he, And that is what he is serves as the school’s BELMONT — Fresh- too, is eligible to partici- now helping his friends Unified Sports coach. man Devin Poslusny and pate. and classmates do “It’s been great to a hardy group of his fel- “I’m the one who’s through individual and have his support as our low students at Belmont been there if someone team web sites to raise faculty advisor because High School are reach- with special needs in my funds for the cause. I think having a Unified ing out to the communi- class needed help with “People can go online Sports program here ty to help Team Belmont anything. I mean, why to First Giving and con- this year has helped to have a successful year not? We’re all in this tribute to an individual generate more interest in the High School Pen- together. I felt this was or they can donate to in Special Olympics and guin Plunge at Hampton the least I could do- raise the team, which we’ll the Penguin Plunge,” Beach next month in money for Special Olym- then divide up among said Poslusny. support of Special Olym- pics,” said Poslusny. those who might need While the adult Pen- pics New Hampshire. Last week, Poslusny more donations for the guin Plunge will take “My dad works at began recruiting stu- DONNA RHODES plunge,” he said. place on Sunday, Feb. 1, Prospect Mountain High dents at BHS who were Belmont High School freshman Devin Poslusny is “thumbs Helping organize the the high school students School, and he’s done interested in taking part up” for Special Olympics, and this year, he has formed Team team and supporting will race into the ocean the plunge for four years in a chilly fundraiser Belmont, which looks to raise as much money as possible for them in their endeavor on Saturday, Jan. 31 at the organization through the Seventh Annual High School now. He and I talked that benefits the heart- are teachers from BHS, high noon. Disney is Penguin Plunge on Jan. 31 at Hampton Beach. about it this year and he warming programs of and the entire effort for the theme of this year’s asked if I was going to Special Olympics. plunge sponsors request. “They don’t have to this years team is head- Seventh Annual High join his team, but I told “Running into the That, he said, is where pay it themselves. They ed up by Colton Briggs. School Plunge and the him no way, I’m start- ocean in January isn’t fundraising comes in. just have to look for do- Besides teaching Special SEE PLUNGE, PAGE A8 ing my own team,” said on everyone’s bucket list Poslusny. of things they want to do, Beyond his father’s but I got 10-12 people in- interest in supporting terested right away and Special Olympics New a lot of ‘maybes’,” said Hampshire, Devin him- Poslusny. self has always tried to Many of those “may- reach out to others with bes,” he said, came from disabilities. Forming a students who were afraid team for the High School they couldn’t raise the Penguin Plunge just entry fee of $175 that the Young musicians prepare for Lakes Region Music Festival BY DONNA RHODES The Concert Choir [email protected] will be led this year by TILTON — Music lov- guest conductor Dr. ers are advised to mark Madelyn Gearheart. their calendars for this During seven years she Saturday, Jan. 17, when spent in Italy, Gearheart the Lakes Region Music performed in notable DONNA RHODES Festival, featuring tal- musical venues such as Dressed for the weather ented musicians from 12 the Venice Opera, Te- area high schools, comes atro La Fenice and the Winter’s officially here, and these woolly sheep in Sanbornton are a good reminder to dress properly for the cold days to Winnisquam Region- Verona Opera, while and nights yet to come. al High School for the back in New Hampshire very first time. she founded the New “The festival rotates Hampshire Youth Cho- every year between all rus the New Hampshire Changes in store for Belmont’s Old Home Day the schools that belong. Choral Society among BELMONT — The urday of August. How- the town’s largest com- ford. This is our first time as many other worthy ac- year 2015 will be a year ever, at the request of munity event falling on A large draw for hosts, and it won’t be complishments. of change for Belmont’s the town’s selectmen, the same weekend as the Belmont’s Old Home back here again until Charles Blood of Old Home Day. This the 2015 gathering will Belknap County Fair, as Day each summer is 2027,” said WRMS music Plymouth State Univer- community celebration move to the first Satur- well as the more recent the challenging 10-Mile director Kirk Young. sity and the Manchester has traditionally been day of August. This will conflict with Soulfest Road Race. Jeff Rob- The annual event Choral Society will be held on the second Sat- eliminate the conflict of held at Gunstock in Gil- erts, Race Director, has is designed to give ad- accompany the chorus kicked around the idea vanced young musicians on piano. of growing and expand- the opportunity to play Conducting the Jazz Sanbornton native’s new video helps ing on the success of the with a large group in a Ensemble for the 2014- road race for the last situation that challenges 15 Festival will be David few years. The request their skills and talents. Wilson. Wilson, who viewers stay active through yoga to change the timing of Two months before currently teaches music BY DONNA RHODES tified instructor for five and it’s been a real suc- Old Home Day has given the festival, those cho- at Mascoma Valley Re- [email protected] years. cess,” Lake said. him reason to pursue a sen by their high school gional High School, is a SANBORNTON — She said came up with Many people initial- morning filled with var- band and choral teach- graduate of the Berklee Sanbornton native Jen- the idea for the video ly feel intimidated by ious types of running ers are given music se- College of Music in Bos- nifer Lake has found a when she noticed lower yoga, she has observed, events and to grow the lected by the year’s guest ton and earned his mas- healthy and relaxing attendance in classes but it really is a form of day into its own draw conductors that they ters degree from the way to make a living, when weather, particu- exercise that anyone can of visitors to Belmont. must learn and practice University of Connecti- and she is now sharing larly in the winter, kept participate in once they With the assistance of individually. cut. He taught music on the benefits of her fit- her clientele at home. learn to connect with Gretta Olson-Wilder, “This Saturday morn- Martha’s Vineyard for ness regime with others A video, she realized, their breathing. Special Event Coordina- ing, they’ll all finally 20 years before moving through a convenient would not only provide In a world where life tor, a second 10-mile race come together for five to New Hampshire and home instructional vid- those students with a is moving along at an ev- course was recently cer- or six hours to rehearse, was named a 2005 final- eo, “Active Chair Yoga.” supplemental resource er-increasing pace, yoga tified which will be used then they’ll eat and get ist for New Hampshire “I developed chair for her classes, but could is something she finds for a fun relay race. Sim- ready for their concert Teacher of the Year. Be- yoga at a fitness center reach out to others as to be “stillness in the ilar to the traditional at 4 p.m.,” explained sides teaching, Wilson on the seacoast, where well. face of challenges” that 10-Mile, the new course Young. “It’s a great has also performed with not only did I see the “It took a while, but it people can use to relax will start on Concord day where they make several jazz and rock demand, but I also saw all finally came together, SEE VIDEO, PAGE A8 Street and will incor- new friendships and groups in his own musi- how powerfully it affect- SEE OLD HOME, PAGE A8 establish some strong cal career. ed seniors and those new and lasting bonds with Finally, this year’s to yoga,” said Lake, who INDEX students from other Concert Band Con- now resides in Dover. n schools.” ductor will be Carolyn The daughter of War- Volume 7 • Number 3 Participating in the Whinnem who has been ren and Catherine Lake 18 Pages in 2 Section festival will be 20 vocal- teaching and conducting of Sanbornton, she at- Editorial Page ..................A4 ists and six band mem- music since 1970. Under tended school at Sant bers from WRHS along her guidance and lead- Bani School and had North Country Notebook A4 with more than 200 other ership her high school an early background in students from Laconia, bands and orchestras dance. From there, she Schools ............................A7 Franklin, Inter-Lakes, have won numerous moved on to yoga as a Moultonborough, King- awards and gold medals means of gaining a deep- Culture .............................A5 swood, Newfound, Plym- over the years at com- er, more spiritual con- DONNA RHODES Obituaries ........................A6 outh, Prospect Moun- petitions in Toronto, nection within.