THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014 GILFORD, N.H. - FREE Different stories, players coming together in “Almost, Maine” BY ERIN PLUMMER All the scenes take place The top productions from scenes. [email protected] during one Friday evening the regional festivals will “Above all the scenes Nine different stories in a small town in northern go onto the State Theater are great, they have a great from one evening in Maine Maine during the Northern Festival at Gilford High message, most of them have will be brought to life Lights. School. these great happy endings,” during the coming Gilford In addition to making its Director Matt Demko Demko said. High School production of debut on the Gilford stage said the play is the top Demko said the play’s “Almost, Maine.” in March, scenes from the non-musical production format has many advantag- Rehearsals have begun play will also be present- out on by high schools es for the company. on John Cariani’s popular ed at the annual Regional across the country. “Nobody is overtaxed; play, where 19 students Drama Festival held by Demko said play is truly everyone’s just in one will showcase their talents the New Hampshire Ed- an ensemble cast, utilizing scene,” Demko said. “It’s in nine different scenes. ucational Theater Guild. 19 actors in their different just a nice show where it gives some opportunity for some new people to be in the show without being in Voters to decide on steep slope nine or 10 scenes.” The structure of the play also allows for students to regulations, zoning changes rehearse their respective BY ERIN PLUMMER and 25 percent for new lots necessary to allow reason- scenes two days a week, al- [email protected] in the residential zone will able use of the property, lowing for significant atten- Voters will decide on require planning board ap- which is generally allowed tion to each part in a more amendments to the zoning proval. No slopes over 25 on other properties in the spread out manner. This ERIN PLUMMER ordinance addressing steep percent shall be excavated neighborhood; the slope could also be an advantage Emily Hanf and Sean Desautelle play out a trying moment between their characters during rehearsals for the coming Gilford High School slopes, zoning changes, and or filled to create buildable does not exceed 25 percent; in the event of snow days. If production of “Almost, Maine.” a number of other issues area. best management practices school is canceled because this March. Creating more than for water quality protec- of weather, there will be parts in their respective classes. Seven proposed zoning 15,000 square feet of build- tion, sediment and erosion less lost time and less need acts. Senior Sarah Cook is amendments will go before able area may be allowed control, and rate of storm for scrambling to make up This spring’s production working on the play as as- voters during voting on through conditional use water runoff are met, and that time. will see around eight new sistant director. Cook said March 11. permit if all conditional the additional area will not Demko said each of the players, including fresh- a number of Gilford theater Amendment 1 would use criteria are met as well SEE ZONING PAGE A10 students have significant men and people in other SEE MAINE PAGE A10 put in place requirements as a number of other re- for wetland buffers. Under quirements. Requirements the proposed amendment include that the additional Salmon Press Sports Editor heading to Sochi wetlands over one acre area is necessary to allow BY ART MCGRATH years covering sports in shall be protected by a 25- reasonable use of the prop- [email protected] New Hampshire. food wide wetland buffer erty, which is generally al- LITTLETON — During Frank Chilinski, the from the outer boundaries lowed on other properties the upcoming Winter Olym- President and Publisher of the wetlands. No type of in the neighborhood; the pics, Salmon Press readers of Salmon Press, was en- building, structure, park- slope does not exceed 25 will be seeing stories in the thusiastic the moment he ing space, driveway, ex- percent; best management paper from a local journal- heard Josh wanted to go, cavation, or filling will be practices for water quality ist who will be traveling to and offered to pay a dollar permitted in this buffer; the protection, sediment and Sochi, Russia on Feb. 6 to for each dollar Spaulding only buildings allowed in erosion control, and rate of the cover the Games—Josh raised to get to Russia. the buffer are those placed storm water runoff are met; Spaulding. “Once he told me about on the surface with no ex- and the additional area will Spaulding, of Stark and it, I knew the company cavation. The only permit- not create unsafe condi- Ossipee — who is the sports wanted to help in whatever ted excavation will be to tions or be detrimental to editor for The Meredith way we could,” Chilinski create and maintain buffer the neighborhood. News, Gilford Steamer, said. “We’re a small, pri- materials such as plants, Slope requirements are Winnisquam Echo, Plym- vately owned company, COURTESY shrubs, flowers, gardens, also addressed in Amend- outh Record Enterprise, Josh Spaulding at Fenway Park. not a huge corporation, and other types of plant life ment 3, which creates Granite State News, Bay- so I knew we were limited in the ordinance. steep slope requirements sider, and Carroll County trip possible. to see the support I’ve re- in what we could do. The No fertilizers containing on existing lots. Under the Independent — said he has “This is not a one person ceived.” matching idea seemed to phosphorous or any haz- proposed amendment, land been astounded by the mor- show,” Spaulding said on Spaulding said it was make sense for us, and for ardous materials and waste with a slope of less than 15 al and financial support he a recent visit to Littleton. gratifying to see how much Josh.” will be permitted in the percent may be filled and/ has received from the com- “This is not about me, and people appreciated the The journey from cov- wetland buffer. or excavated without plan- munity that is making his it has been very humbling work he has done over the ering local sports to travel- Any building and exca- ning board approval as ing to Russia to cover the vation would only be per- long as any adverse effects Olympics began on a whim. mitted in the buffer under are mitigated. In August 2012 Spaulding a conditional use permit. Land with slopes be- New program underway received a general email In addition to meeting the tween 15 and 25 percent sent out to sports reporters usual criteria of a condi- may be excavated and/or about a deadline for apply- tional use permit, such a filled as long as the filling to support local veterans ing for credentials to cover permit would only be is- and excavation is less than the Olympics. sued if the proposed work 15,000 square feet. Over GILFORD — A group of classmate Army Major group seminars and team “I figured why not, and did not adversely affect the 15,000 square feet may be local military veterans and General Gregg Martin and building. sent it in,” Spaulding said. functions of the wetland allowed under a condition- supporters has begun the chose the group’s working “Our goal is to use the He noted that preference or that measures had been al use permit if a plan is initial steps towards creat- title of the Patriot Resilient natural beauty of the Lakes was given in the applica- taken to mitigate impacts. provided. This plan must ing a support initiative for Leader Institute (PRLI). Region with all its ameni- tion materials for reporters Article 2 would enact re- show the proposed areas wounded warriors and in- Webber heads up the ties and recreational activ- from large news organiza- quirements based on steep being worked on and show jured first responders. group locally. Its mission ities to bolster the spirits tions, especially television slopes. how silt, runoff, and ero- Army retiree and Iraqi is to provide wounded war- and help these dedicated news and large daily pa- Under the amendment sion will be mitigated. Any Freedom veteran Kurt riors and injured first re- individuals as they recover pers. Weekly papers were every buildable lot must area disturbed by the proj- Webber of Gilford was in- sponders the opportunity their physical, mental and down at the bottom of the have 15,000 square feel of ect must be secured to pre- spired to action after con- to come to the Lakes Region emotional well-being,” said list but that did not prevent contiguous buildable area vent erosion, siltation, or versations with Gilford for a brief respite of recre- Webber. him from applying, he said. (a change from the current flooding. The methods for resident and West Point ation, personal counseling, Joining Webber in this A few months later, he one acre). The minimum lot securing the area will con- initiative are Army Viet- got a call from someone size in the Historic District form to state law as well as nam Veterans Frank Til- who was vetting applicants. will be two acres, striking the Department of Environ- ton of Laconia and John He explained to the caller out the requirement that it mental Services’ related O’Brien and Dennis Cor- that there would likely be be buildable. best management practices rigan of Gilford, Air Force a number of athletes with Under the current ordi- handbook.