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www.newhampshirelakesandmountains.com SERVING THE NORTH COUNTRY SINCE 1889 [email protected] 123RD YEAR, 43RD ISSUE LITTLETON, N.H., WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012 75¢ (USPS 315-760) Crime novelist Archer Mayor visits VBS By DARIN WIPPERMAN [email protected] LITTLETON — Archer Mayor, author of the popu- lar Joe Gunther series of crime novels, spoke for 45 minutes at the Village Book Store on Saturday afternoon. The Vermont-based writer, who works as a death inves- tigator, has published a novel nearly every year since 1988. Mayor’s fictional charac- Crime novelist Archer Mayor visits ter Gunther works for the VBS Brattleboro, Vt. police department. The series has Booksellers Association been translated into four Award for best fiction. other languages. Writing to Mayor usually PHOTO BY MICKEY DE RHAM Mayor is known for the occurs in short intervals. He The view from Streeter Pond Rd., Sugar Hill, beautiful color still showing, late oranges and yellows. depth of research he puts said time riding in cars or into a book. This, along with spare moments in police sta- his professional experience, tions has been used to work has taught him much about on his current novel. both sides of the law. With a Mayor said he likes to Budget Committee hopes for smile, Mayor told the VBS avoid too much description crowd, “I’ve always thought in his novels. He believes in my heart of hearts I could readers like to create their positive and productive cycle be a good crook.” own vision based on the Before turning to fiction, author’s general framing of Mayor worked in historical characters and events. “All By DARIN WIPPERMAN committee that preliminary works in an advisory capaci- The committee discussed research. “There was an ele- writers should remember [email protected] information from the town ty to the select board and whether the town’s rate of ment of liberation in the fic- their readers first,” Mayor LITTLETON — Seven of should be available next school board. Diane spending was sustainable. tion,” he said. When dealing said. If he reads a book that the nine members of the week. Kelley said that get- Cummings noted that the Members have mentioned with historical subjects, is overly descriptive, Mayor budget committee attended ting those numbers early school board no longer this concern at public meet- Mayor said, “Rumor has it, concludes that the author a planning session on should provide “some sense selects budget committee ings before. One reason for you have to write the truth.” lacks faith in his own audi- Thursday afternoon. There of where we are before we members. This is now exclu- the concern about sustain- Nonetheless, Mayor said ence. was an optimistic tone, get started.” sively the role of the select- ability is the difficulty in his training in history has When asked about his based on recent meetings The town and the budget men. estimating the final costs set proven valuable after the own reading preference, with town and school offi- committee have suggested The school board, in union negotiations. turn to fiction. Those Mayor said he avoids other cials. that early meetings and ini- Cummings noted, is com- Kelley noted in July that the research skills have aided his crime and mystery writers. In July Board of tial data can help make the fortable with this arrange- town has three major negoti- Gunther series, Mayor Having spent so much time Selectmen Chairman budget process flow more ment. Although the school ations going on this year. noted, “but I can superim- in the field working or writ- Marghie Seymour men- smoothly in later weeks. board is distinct from the Even with the unknowns, pose my own thought.” ing, Mayor said he needs a tioned her hopes for a more Although there may be town, the budget committee committee members said This method seems to break from the area. productive and less antago- bumps in the road, Kelley serves both boards. they wish to facilitate effi- work just fine for Mayor. He The same is true for popu- nistic process this year. reported, “We at least have Tighe has previously ciency in town and school has made the New York lar television crime dramas. Steve Kelley, chairman of everybody buying into the served on both the budget departments. They also Times bestseller list. He was “To me, every cop show is a the Budget Committee, sug- process.” committee and the school hope to recommend how also the first writer of crime comedy,” Mayor said. gested that all parties seem Art Tighe, recently board. Cummings also has departments can achieve literature to win the New In addition to work in interested in a smooth budg- appointed to the committee, school board service in the their goals. Linking spend- England Independent MAYOR, PAGE A16 et process. He informed the noted that the committee past. BUDGET, PAGE A16 Community House on Seven to Save list By DARIN WIPPERMAN the Community House was [email protected] a great addition to this LITTLETON — The year’s Seven to Save list. Community House was “This nomination was a selected as a key state strong one,” Stier said. “The preservation priority last house is very important to week. The New Hampshire the community.” Dozens of Preservation Alliance put groups use the house and the iconic town structure on annex for regular meetings. its Seven to Save list. Stier said that Seven to Placement on the list Save hopes to attract atten- highlights the ongoing tion to the Community maintenance needs of build- House. “We want to send a ings and other historic loca- clear message,” she said. tions in the state. The annu- “This building is much al focus on seven structures deserving of new invest- began in 2006. ment.” Maggie Stier of the Roxanne Bowker, presi- Preservation Alliance said dent of the Community House board, said that his- torical preservation efforts often focus on properties no longer in use. The Community House is differ- ent. “Ours is a viable, work- ing property still,” Bowker said. The effort to preserve the site, Bowker continued, “is for the whole town and surrounding area.” COURTESY PHOTO The board is interested in The Littleton Community House has served the town for more than 90 years. With maintenance obligations ongoing, the civic fixture on Main Street making sure the house can was added to the Seven to Save list last week. The NH Preservation Alliance has created the annual list since 2006 to demonstrate the need to save SAVE, PAGE A16 historic structures. This picture shows both the house and the annex. Littleton, N.H., 38 pages INSIDE 33 Main Street LOCAL INSIDE SPORTS . B1 COURT . .A6 EDITORIAL . .A4 Cabin fire in Poe made FROM THE FRONT . .A12 CARTOON . .A4 Lisbon A2 REAL ESTATE . .B7 SPOTLIGHTS . .C1 appearance in LETTERS . .A5 OBITUARIES . .A14 Bethlehem A7 POLICE . .A6 CLASSIFIEDS . .B7 CALENDAR . .C6 A2 THE LITTLETON COURIER, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012 Local News Littleton’s portion of county tax tops $1 million Lincoln continues to have highest county obligation By DARIN WIPPERMAN a portion for state education ally fell by more than four ization process. [email protected] funding. percent, while Haverhill saw Each town’s total county NORTH COUNTRY — In ranking the county’s an increase of more than 18 obligation, along with the Towns throughout the municipalities, Lincoln and percent. Littleton’s increase change from last year’s region will see a notable Littleton are third and fifth, of over eight percent trans- amount, is listed below. increase in the portion of respectively, in the amount lates into a total increase of Lincoln, $1,271,608, property taxes due to the owed the county. Lincoln $76,043 for 2012. +9.15 percent county. In an October letter owes more than $1.2 million. The equalized value of Littleton, $1,005,024, Littleton broke the $1 mil- taxable property in a town +8.19 percent from the Department of DARIN WIPPERMAN/LITTLETON COURIER Revenue, the county com- lion county obligation barri- forms the basis of each Haverhill, $562,390, Lisbon firemen douse the damaged cabin after the fire was contained missioners were informed of er this year. The town must town’s county obligation. +18.14 percent on Monday afternoon. The cabin is located across a brook from Route the rate due from each town. pay $1,005,024 to the county According to state rules, Franconia, $458,614, 117. The small bridge over the brook required crews to haul hoses Across all of Grafton by mid-December. Haverhill equalized value is the esti- +7.94 percent and equipment from trucks parked on the highway. County, the total increase in was the only other town in mated true and market Woodstock, $412,096, +10.66 the county portion of the our region that owes a total value, rather than assessed percent property tax is $1,424,988. county tax of more than value. Bethlehem, $379,570, This is a jump of more than $500,000. Barbara Robinson, -4.23 percent Rustic Log seven percent over last year. Grafton County’s towns Director of the Municipal Monroe, $296,816, Although under budget, the have a total county tax com- Services Division of the +0.57 percent new county correctional mitment of $20,834,031 for Department of Revenue, Sugar Hill, $241,358, facility is seen as a primary 2012. A town’s portion of said use of equalized value +0.26 percent Cabins loses driver of the increase. that amount is based on the helps create a level playing Bath, $196,716, The county tax is a rela- equalized value of taxable field among towns.