THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 GILFORD, N.H. - FREE Gilford drug and alcohol discussion set for Oct. 8 BY ERIN PLUMMER management, to see [email protected] what we have available Members of the pub- in the town,” Mello-An- lic are encouraged to drews said. come to a community fo- She said this could rum on substance abuse include employers pro- and healthy alternatives viding support for em- scheduled for Oct. 8. ployees to go into rehab The Gilford Drug programs to counseling and Alcohol Taskforce resources and a myriad will hold a discussion of others. COURTESY on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7 The Taskforce will p.m. at the Gilford Pub- formally announce it Wesley Woods cuts the ribbon on new home lic Library. School board is changing its name to On Sept. 2, Wesley Woods residents and guests braved hot and steamy weather to celebrate new incoming residents with member and taskforce Growing Gilford From a ribbon cutting ceremony for one of five new homes currently under construction. As part of the Chamber of Commerce member Rae Mello-An- Good to Great. She said Grill and Greet, guests were first treated to a lunch of hot dogs, chips and desserts followed by the ribbon cutting with drews talked about the calling the organization remarks from Chris Sintros, CEO of Deaconess Abundant Life Communities. In his remarks, Mr. Sintros lauded the spirit coming forum at Mon- the Drug and Alcohol of teamwork involved in this second phase of Wesley Woods development - including the residents, developers, and com- day’s school board meet- Taskforce has a negative munity. The ribbon cutting - for the home located at 102 Wesley Way - was followed by tours of our newest homes in var- ing. Mello-Andrew said connotation. ious stages of construction and an open house at 83 Wesley Way. Pictured above from left to right are New Residents Rosemarie Grant, Moni Montague, Marty Bloom (back row), Claire McCabe, Wesley Woods Sales & Marketing Chris Burke they are hoping to “fill She noted that sub- (backrow), New Resident Eliza Leadbeater, Chamber Board Member, Sue Gaudette from Gunstock Mountain Resort, New the room” with people. stance abuse is an im- Residents Fred and Lorretta Shugrue, Wesley Woods Director, Stace Dicker-Hendricks, Chamber Board Member, Scott “The purpose of this portant facing the area, Kalicki, from Lakes Region Community College and New England Deaconess Association CEO, Chris Sintros. is to look at resource SEE GILFORD PAGE A11 Higher enrollments among Gilford seeing increase in building permits highlights of new school year BY ERIN PLUMMER an uptick in the econo- [email protected] my; people have a little BY ERIN PLUMMER An increase in the bit more confidence [email protected] number of issued per- going out and doing Higher enrollments, mits and continuing some construction.” some new additions, and updates to the Master Ayer said these some possible mainte- Plan are the major new permits have not nance items coming up highlights of planning just been for lakefront are some of the high- and zoning in town. homes; there are other lights of the Gilford Last Wednesday, forms of construction School District’s new John Ayer, the direc- including senior hous- year. tor of planning and ing. Ayer said the val- Superintendent Kent land use, updated the ue of these homes have Hemingway gave a run- board of selectmen on more than doubled down on what is going the highlights from since last year. on in the district, espe- planning and zoning The number of cially with the start of in the town. commercial permits school on Sept. 2. Ayer reported that are around what they For the first time the numbers of res- were the previous since 2001, enrollment idential permits in year. Overall total per- has gone up at Gilford. town have more than mits are up 10 percent, Since 2001 there has been doubled since last which Ayer said is a a steady decline in the year. Ayer said they good sign. school population with have issued 24 per- Another project un- one less student every COURTESY PHOTO mits for single fami- derway by the office The new outdoor classroom is in use at Gilford Elementary School. year. This year the first ly homes, during the of Zoning and Plan- day enrollment was 1,207 school and the middle Sawyer became the prin- GHS now has a new same period last year ning is updating the students, an increase of school have new prin- cipal of GMS, and high Principal Tim Goggin, 11 had been issued. master plan. Ayer said 14 from last year. cipals, all of whom are school assistant princi- who came from the “I view that as a pos- the planning board Hemingway said they familiar to the Gilford pal Anthony Sperazzo Granite Hill School in itive thing,” Ayer said. has been working on expected kindergarten school community. For- took over as the school’s Newport. “I think that suggests SEE PERMITS PAGE A11 numbers to be in the mer GHS principal Peter principal. SEE SCHOOL PAGE A11 mid-‘60’s; instead, 82 students entered kin- dergarten this year. He said the numbers for the ‘Eager Breathers’ enjoy a day on the lake rest of the grades have remained consistent. He BY ERIN PLUMMER Fortin. said there is plenty of [email protected] More than 405 people room at GES to accom- LACONIA - People registered for the cruise, modate the increased living with lung diseases many with varying de- population. had the chance to go out grees of respiratory ill- Hemingway said the on the MS Mount Wash- ness. Fortin said some district is seeing many ington for an afternoon of the passengers have transfer students from of food, dancing, and fun serious COPD and many other communities. during the 20th annual are on oxygen. While in previous years Eager Breathers Cruise. “Some of these people most transfer students Guests from across the don’t get out that much,” came from around the state boarded the Mount Fortin said. “This is a Lakes Region, he said from the Weirs dock for really important day in many new families are the annual cruise spon- their life.” coming to Gilford from sored by Breathe New The cruise is a way to farther away places. Hampshire. The cruise help get them on the wa- The district added an was aimed for people ter and socializing with additional kindergarten with Chronic Obstruc- other people, especially teacher over the sum- tive Pulmonary Disease people who are going mer. (COPD). through the same expe- “It’s a good thing we “Today is about tak- rience. did; that worked out ing people with respi- Passengers prepared quite well,” Hemingway ratory disease out for for the event including ERIN PLUMMER said. a beautiful day,” said Belinda Heck and Judy Fleming, respiratory therapists at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, join This year, the high Breathe NH CEO Dan SEE BREATHERS PAGE A11 patient Peg DiLorenzo. A2 THE GILFORD STEAMER ALMANAC THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 Notes from the Gilford Public Library BY MARK THOMAS Library Correspondent cussion, which revisits felt strongly about, or frosting on the side…. be led by Betty Tidd. Storytime, 11:15 – Book clubs come in timeless and well-loved fascinating details you and yes, this particu- Open Painting at the 11:45 a.m. all shapes and sizes. literature. overlooked may be re- lar cake has actually Library, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Stories, songs, and Some discuss family, Mark: Sounds great, vealed. In the group we graced the plates of the Conversational a craft for ages three to baking, gossip, current but how are the books discuss it all – the good, Library’s discussion French Class, 3:30 – 4:30 five. Please sign up at events, and some even chosen? I know you ex- the bad, the valiant, the group. p.m. the Circulation Desk. discuss books. David clusively use book cov- villainous, and even the Mark: Well I’m sold. Evening Book Dis- Nilson recently wrote ers to choose, but are hard to pronounce. Dis- Is there anything else cussion, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 an article on the Fourth you looking for bright cussing as a group can that you want to men- Evening Storytime, Line Dancing, 9 – & Sycamore blog high- colors, ominous sil- help you to better under- tion. 6:30 – 7 p.m. 10:30 a.m. lighting a new book club houettes, or something stand the book in front Molly: The Classics Sing songs, listen Kick start your day that discusses books, else? of you and see it through Book Group will meet to stories, and learn with Bonnie Deutch, just books. It was called, Molly: Although we another’s eyes. to discuss “The Good nursery rhymes, finger and perfect some “Bookish: A New Kind strive to build a book Mark: I see. Say I Soldier” by F. Scott Fitz- plays, and early literacy smooth moves - begin- of Book Club.” In it he discussion list that is wanted to talk about gerald on Sept. 22 at 6:30 tips with your child. ners and those who have scripted an interview as visually appealing books, but I don’t want p.m., and on Oct. 15, we never line danced before with his wife, the host as possible, we do also to do any school work will discuss “Lila” by Friday, Sept. 18 are encouraged to come of the club, in an infor- have to consider the or even buy the books. Marilynne Robinson. Bilingual Storytime, at 9 a.m., as the skill lev- mative, if snarky and content as well.