THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019 FREE IN PRINT, FREE ON-LINE • WWW.NEWFOUNDLANDING.COM COMPLIMENTARY Join us in celebrating Bristol’s big year BY BRENDAN BERUBE Staff The year 2019 is al- ready shaping up to be one to remember in Bris- tol, and much more lies in store over the next 11 months as the town gears up to celebrate the 200th anniversary of its incor- poration on June 24, 1819. Established in 1770 by a group of intrepid set- tlers led by Colonel Peter Sleeper and Benjamin Emmons, the communi- ty know today as Bristol was formed from parts of Bridgewater and what was then known as New Chester (now Hill). The town derives its name from the extensive de- COURTESY PHOTO A glimpse back in time — the front page of the June 4, 1891 edition. posits its founders dis- covered of fine sand or birthed a proud manu- beauty of its shoreline on Reconstruction period clay — known as “Bristol facturing heritage which Newfound Lake, which that followed the Civ- COURTESY PHOTO sand” — similar to those R.W. Musgrove, founder of the Bristol Weekly Enterprise. saw the town become a has drawn visitors from il War, and celebrated local hub for the produc- far and wide for the better chemist Luther Atwood. found in Bristol, England tion of products such as part of two centuries. Luther C. Ladd, whom and used to make fine chi- paper, leather, woolens, Nathaniel S. Berry, historians believe was Voters increase budget na and pottery. Here, the flannel, bedsteads, and the 28th governor of the the first Union soldier sand was used to create piano stools. state of New Hampshire, to fall in battle during at Newfound a superior quality brick Today, the town’s econ- hailed from Bristol, as did the Civil War, was born marketed during the 19th omy is driven by its great- Benjamin Flanders, who and raised in Bristol, century as Bristol brick. est natural asset — the was appointed Governor and writer John Cheever Deliberative Session It was these bricks that unparalleled scenic of Louisiana during the SEE ANNIVERSARY, PAGE A11 BY THOMAS P. CALDWELL auditorium, they gave a Contributing Writer clear indication that they BRISTOL — Voters support school spending, at the Feb. 2 deliberative even if it means increas- session increased the ing taxation beyond the Better late than never bottom-line budget that amount allowed under will appear on the ballot the district’s 2 percent tax Lost letter reaches its destination decades after it was mailed for the Newfound Area cap. School District, hoping to By the end of the meet- BY DONNA RHODES restore funding for such ing, the final figure for [email protected] things as the late bus the operating budget was ALEXANDRIA – serving athletes and stu- $23,424,980, representing Bob and Edna Piehler dents in the after-school $58,488 more than the of Alexandria had the program, which admin- Newfound Area School surprise of their lives istrators had removed District Budget Commit- when Johanne Law- in order to have enough tee had recommended rence of the Bristol money under the tax cap spending. If voters reject Post Office dropped to take on the repaving that article at the polls off their mail two of the access road to the on March 12, the default weeks ago with an en- high school. budget that would take velope that took near- Prior to the amend- effect is even higher, at ly seven decades to be ments increasing spend- $23,562,107 — a figure that delivered. ing levels, voters over- exceeds the tax cap. “I handed it to them whelmingly rejected an The mood of the meet- and apologized for the amendment that would ing was established early condition and lateness have reduced the pro- when Bristol resident of delivery,” Lawrence posed budget by $1.2 mil- Don Milbrand introduced said with a smile. lion — a figure based on a successful amendment Piehler said the DONNA RHODES the amount of money to increase the amount letter was addressed Bob Piehler of Alexandria displays a letter that was mailed nearly seven decades ago from New remaining this year after that can be placed in the to the mother of his York City and delivered to his home two weeks ago. accounting for planned expendable trust fund for recently deceased expenditures such as building maintenance friend, and as execu- from New York City Post Office did some postal employee who teachers’ salaries. Last from the $200,000 pro- tor of the estate, all of to a Bristol resi- research on the Inter- saw the letter come year’s unassigned fund posed to $350,000. The their mail was being dent (whose name net and tracked down in, addressed to a res- balance at the end of the money would come out forwarded for he and he wished to exclude where to deliver it. It ident of RFD 1 in Bris- fiscal year was nearly $1.5 of any money remaining his wife to handle. from the story). A was amazing,” he said. tol. The envelope had million, and the district at year’s end and would “It was mailed worker at the Bristol Dawn Lever is the SEE LETTER, PAGE A11 on average has had more SEE DELIBERATIVE, PAGE A12 than $750,000 at year’s end. With the deliberative Danbury students continue tradition of Brown Prize Speaking contest session attracting enough voters to fill more than BY DONNA RHODES DONNA RHODES three-quarters of the [email protected] (Left) Winners of this seats in the high school DANBURY – On Jan. year’s Bertha Brown Prize Speaking Evening at Danbury 31, students at Danbury Elementary School were (left Elementary School INDEX to right, seated) Shaylynn continued a more than Fadden (first grade), Madison n 50-year-old tradition in Volume 6 • Number 6 Adams (third grade) and their school by taking Sophia Currin (second grade). Opinion .................. A4-A5 part in the Bertha Brown Standing are Hayden Offen Prize Speaking Evening (left, fourth grade) and Trey Towns ..........................A5 that each year challenges Kierstead (right, fifth grade). Churches ......................A6 their memorization and Arts & Ent. ...................A7 recitation skills. weeks of practice, on Principal Alison Monday, Jan. 28, the Pre- Health ..........................A9 Roberts said that begin- liminary Round took Business .....................A10 ning in December every place during the school student in grades one day when the students Sports ............B1-B3 & B8 through five was asked were asked to recite their Classifieds ...............B4-B7 to choose a poem they selections before their 20 pages in 2 sections would like to memorize teachers. A rubric was ©2019, Salmon Press, LLC. and later present to their used to score the boys Call us at (603) 279-4516 fellow students and fami- and girls on their perfor- email: [email protected] ly members. mance and the top four www.salmonpress.com After more than four SEE SPEAKING, PAGE A11 Local A2 NEWFOUND LANDING, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019 n Community forum encourages Bristol residents to get involved BY DONNA RHODES nity from folks who are lect Board. He began by “Why serve? This Rob Glassett of the plained their role and [email protected] already involved. saying it was a three-year is my 15th year, and I Budget Committee said said the most important BRISTOL – Residents Following introduc- elected position that not wouldn’t do it if I didn’t that committee is down- task they face each year of Bristol were invited tions from Library Di- only includes by-monthly enjoy it,” said Alpers. sizing from 13 to seven is to come up with a bud- to the Minot-Sleeper Li- rector Brittany Overton, meetings on the first and He listed the satisfac- members who will be get that will adequate- brary last week for a spe- Selectman Rick Alpers third Thursday of each tion of public service and elected for alternating ly fund the library and cial forum to learn more led off the evening by ex- month but may also re- doing what one feels is 1-2-3 year terms that will maintain their offerings about how people can plaining what is involved quire some emergency right as some of the ben- cycle through so all won’t to the entire Newfound take part in the commu- in being on the town’s Se- meetings and workshops. efits of the position. be up for re-election at the Community. same time. When asked “The library is a gath- why he served, Glassett ering place for the com- Newfound Regional High School honor roll said it was not only to be munity and a place of a part of the communi- life-long learning,” she BRISTOL — New- Huckins, Mackenzie ert, Nathaniel Hatch, Conor Van Lingen, Cao- ty but to make sure his said. “The Library Trust- found Regional High Jenkins, Lindsey Lacas- Evan Labonte, Kaileigh ilainn Voelbel voice is heard. ees are a great group of School has released its ses, Elsa McConologue, LeBlanc, Emily Lower, Grade 10 “The biggest accom- people!” honor roll for the second Kaylin Parker, Emma Caleb Moores, Jamie High Honors: Tiffa- plishment? When we Other committees rep- term of the 2018-2019 Sawyer, Bodhi Smith, Norton, Nathan Paige, ny Doan, Gretchen Mc- come up with a product resented that night were school year. Brin Watson, Cassan- Tristin Porter, Made- Gowan, Adele Meyer, and I’ve felt we’ve done the Cemetery Trustees Grade 9 dra-Marie Zick line Sargent, Abbey Madison Perry, Simon due diligence,” he said. where Richard Laflamme High Honors: Hayse Honors: Alexia Bas- Springer, Hannah To- Shedd Lucille Keegan of the explained the historic Broome, Dylan Collins, sett, Abigail Bauer, Mar- bine, Ashley Tomaso, SEE HONOR ROLL, PAGE A11 Library Trustees ex- SEE FORUM, PAGE A11 Connor Downes, Ryder garet Bauer, Margaret Downes, Logan Glid- Bednaz, Paige Blad, Ri- den, Luke Gordon, Julia ley Boynton, Noah Eck- Applications open for NHEC Foundation scholarships PLYMOUTH — Ap- the time of applying and munity menu at www.