Salmon Press helping Make A Wish See page A3 THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2019 COVERING ALTON, BARNSTEAD, & NEW DURHAM - WWW.SALMONPRESS.COM FREE Community effort yields new playground BY CATHY ALLYN their children. partment’s overall bud- Contributing Writer At the Smith ball get, which covers people NEW DURHAM — fields, an A frame swing of all ages. “There is nothing there. set, there for years, was Accruing the money When teams from other removed a while ago due needed takes time, and towns come to play on to safety and insurance safe equipment is expen- our fields, it is embar- concerns. A slide for two sive. Low maintenance rassing that we have to five-year-olds sat for- equipment is even more nothing for them or lornly next to a monkey expensive. It looked as their siblings to do.” bar climbing structure, though children would “I wind up driving and that was it. have to wait several them to Wolfeboro for Someone needed to years to have something that little playground do something, and, for- to play on. there.” tunately for the kids in Then a number of “There’s a spinning town, a group of parents volunteers who serve as thing, like a merry-go- did. coaches got together. round; we call it the For years, the Parks “We wanted some- wheel of death. All the and Recreation depart- thing with little or no bigger kids are trying ment budget included maintenance,” Dana to slide down this little funds for a new play- Berry said, “and we slide and pushing little ground, but everyone wanted to give the kids COURTESY PHOTO A REAL community effort has gone into funding, designing, and installing a playground kids out of the way.” knows how slowly mon- their swings back. We for the Smith ball fields in New Durham. Entire families have volunteered their time (and Parents in New ey can amass. During also needed bigger slides strength) to complete the project for the children’s carefree days of summer. Here, workers Durham have long be- that same time period, for the older kids.” position the new swing set. moaned the lack of a there had been little or decent playground for no increase in the de- SEE PLAYGROUND, PAGE A10 Birch Ridge officially preserved forever 2,000 ACRES OVERLOOKING MERRYMEETING LAKE NOW A COMMUNITY F OREST, COMMUNITY CELEBRATION PLANNED FRO JULY 13 NEW DURHAM — ation land and wildlife enthusiasts who wished east Land Trust of New all - forever. Our sincere Coldrain Pond. The for- There’s a lot to celebrate habitat in New Durham to protect the land from Hampshire (SELT), the thanks to all who sup- est offers 13 miles of trails in the Lakes Region this has slipped through the development. Now, Merrymeeting Lake ported this project and for hikers, cross-country week. For more than a fingers of many neigh- through partnership Association (MMLA), put in the hard work to skiers, hunters and bird- decade, critical recre- bors and local outdoor efforts of the South- and Moose Mountains make it a reality.” ers. And, it offers critical Regional Greenways Laurie Smith, in- habitat for wide-ranging (MMRG), these 2,000 coming president of the species such as moose, acres are conserved Merrymeeting Lake As- bear, deer, and bobcat, Downing’s Landing forever as Birch Ridge sociation added, “The as well as solitude along Community Forest. Merrymeeting Lake As- Coldrain Pond where According to Ron sociation’s mission is in the spring common closing Aug. 5 Gehl, New Durham Con- to protect and preserve loons can be seen feed- servation Commission pristine Merrymeet- ing. Chair, “We’re thrilled ing Lake. This purchase Those who know this FISH AND GAME UPDATING PUBLIC BOAT that efforts begun over is a huge step forward.” land, cherish it. When a decade ago have final- Birch Ridge Commu- the land became avail- ACCESS IN ALTON BAY ly come to fruition for nity Forest rises over able in summer 2018, ALTON — The New temporary coffer dam to com/access. this jewel of a conserva- Merrymeeting Lake the Merrymeeting Lake Hampshire Fish and upgrade the single-lane The New Hampshire tion project. This land with views of Mount Association put down a Game Department ramp to a double-lane Fish and Game Depart- represents the classic Molly and Mount Bet, non-refundable payment purchased Downing’s ramp with a central sea- ment’s Statewide Public natural character of our across the winding to purchase the proper- Landing in November sonal dock. This year’s Boat Access Program town, and the communi- snowmobile corridor 22. ty. They then reached 2012, creating the first closure is expected to is funded through boat ty can now rest assured It filters clean water to public boat access area last through Columbus registration fees, which that it can be enjoyed by Merrymeeting Lake and SEE FOREST, PAGE A12 on Lake Winnipesau- Day, and will curtail all are combined as match kee. To better serve the access to the lake associ- dollars with federal residents and visitors ated with the property. Wildlife and Sport Fish of New Hampshire, the From Aug. 5 through Restoration funds to fa- department will begin a the completion of Phase cilitate boat access op- full refurbishment of the I this fall, there will portunities in the state. facility this summer. To be no opportunity for Fish and Game’s Facili- accomplish this, the fa- shorebank access or ties and Lands Division cility will be closing on launching any type of acquires land for public Monday, Aug. 5. water craft to ensure a water access sites, refur- The project will be safe and effective work bishes existing sites, and completed in two phases site. Please check the builds new public boat and will be finished in project’s status using the access areas. For more 2020. Phase I will use a New Hampshire Fish information on boating and Game Department’s access locations in New Statewide Public Boat Hampshire, visit www. INDEX Access Program’s web fishnh.com/access. t page at www.fishnh. Volume 13 • Number Business .......................A7 Early deadlines Churches ......................A8 Classifieds ..............B6–B9 moving forward Editorial Page ..............A4 John Harrigan ............A13 MEREDITH — Due to printing schedule changes, Letters ..........................A4 the weekly editorial deadline for The Baysider will COURTESY PHOTO Obituaries ....................A8 be changing to 4 p.m. on Mondays starting with the Baysider on the Adriatic Sports ...................B1 - B5 issue of July 11. Please note that all letters to the edi- tor, photos, press releases and obituaries must be in 24 pages in 2 sections Linda and Britney Haney crossed the Adriatic on an 18-day tour of Croatia, Montenegro, our offices by 4 p.m. on Monday for inclusion in that Bosnia and Slovenia. Dubrovnik’s Old Town, The Bay of Kotor, Sarajevo’s war torn city, © week’s paper. 2019, Salmon Press, LLC. Olympic Village and Mostar Bridge, The Dalmatian Coast Line and ending at the Plitvice Call us at (603) 279-4516 Also note, the advertising deadline of 4 p.m. on Lakes, Postojna Caves and Slovenia’s capital city of Ljubljana. “The best” Baysider view came email: [email protected] Monday has not changed. from a cliffside castle overlooking the emerald Lake Bled. www.salmonpress.com A2 THE BAYSIDER, THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2019 Singalong and campfire Friday night in Alton ALTON — Summer the YaYas - cover rock Aug. 10 - Blacklite acoustic guitar sing USATF certified course concert schedule is set band, 60s to now; Band - classic rock - fire- along with John Irish. through Alton will fea- Line dancing lessons for 7-9 p.m. at the Alton July 20 - Shana Stack works to follow at 9 p.m.; Bring a chair and toast ture computerized tim- Line dancing with Bay Bandstand. – country; Aug. 17 - Chris Bonoli s’mores with the cozy ing with bib chip and re- Joan Lightfoot is held at July 3 - The Bel Airs - July 27 – Bittersweet - - soft rock, country and crowd. This program is sults posted online. The the Alton Bay Communi- doo wop vocal quintet; classic rock; classic electric blues; free. Fun for the whole course is scenic, slight ty Center on Thursdays July 6 - The Visitors Aug. 3 - Gerry Gri- Aug. 24 - Saxx Roxx - family. varying, flat/downhill from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Adults - oldies, classic rock, mo and East Bay Jazz classic rock with brass. with one moderate in- of all ages and abilities country rock; - elegant swing, jazz and Alton Old Home Week cline and is paved. Priz- are welcome, register on July 13 - Chippy and blues; Singalong and camp 5K Road Race es, refreshments, water site. fire at Alton Town Beach Co-sponsored by Mer- stops, traffic control and Join friends and com- edith Village Savings raffle for racers are in- Zumba classes Blood drives munity members at the Bank, the race is Aug. 10 cluded. Forms and map Zumba with Sherry Alton Town Beach on at the Alton Bay Band- available at www.alton. Meyer is Mondays and Fridays, July 5, and Aug. stand, 9 a.m. Sign up by nh.gov or register on- Wednesdays at the Alton scheduled in Alton 2, from 8 to 9:30 p.m. for July 15 and receive a long line at www.lightboxreg. Bay Community Center and New Durham a beach campfire and sleeve race shirt. The com/alton5k2019. from 8 to 9 a.m. REGION — The American Red Cross needs blood Potential senate candidate to donors to bring back the missing As, Bs and Os. A few missing letters may not seem like a big deal in a sentence, but for patients who need A, B, O and AB address local Republicans blood types, these missing letters mean life.