www.newhampshirelakesandmountains.com SERVING THE NORTH COUNTRY SINCE 1889 [email protected] 125TH YEAR, 16TH ISSUE LITTLETON, N.H., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014 75¢ (USPS 315-760) Abutters voice opposition to proposed Loon cell tower BY DARIN WIPPERMAN [email protected] LINCOLN— Site plan review for the proposed Loon Mountain cell tow- er has been delayed. The hearing was scheduled for last Wednesday, but the planning board’s lack of a DARIN WIPPERMAN/LITTLETON COURIER quorum changed the scope The Bethlehem Town Hall and other spots along Main Street are glow- of the evening. Instead of ing in blue light each evening this month. Jose and Casey Bonilla, who a formal hearing, Loon orchestrated the event, hope to expand the Light It Up Blue project and Verizon Wireless rep- even farther. resentatives spoke with apprehensive abutters for more than an hour. Good to get the blues The quorum problem was created when four Lights shine in Bethlehem planning board members could not take part in the scheduled hearing. Select- for autism awareness man representative O.J. BY DARIN WIPPERMAN lectively as autism spec- Robinson was out of town. [email protected] trum disorder. Children Both Taylor Beaudin and DARIN WIPPERMAN/LITTLETON COURIER diagnosed with autism Norman Belanger recused Last Wednesday evening, John Weaver, an attorney representing Verizon Wireless, explained the compa- BETHLEHEM— Par- have varying degrees of themselves because of ny’s justification for a new cell tower on Loon Mountain, near the terminus of Governor’s Lane. Several ents Jose and Casey Bo- problems with social in- their employment at Loon. abutters expressed concerns about the project at a public meeting in the Lincoln Town Hall. nilla, who have a son with teraction, communica- John Hettinger sat out the autism, are on a mission. tion, and repetitive be- meeting due to his status should leave the room. tall tower would negative- Lane. At its closest point, Started last year, the cou- haviors. as an abutter. The subsequent discussion ly impact the neighbor- the facility would be 158 ple is expanding their According to pub- After some discussion between Verizon and the hood. feet from parcels owned by effort to illuminate the lished data, autism, during the pubic hearing, abutters was friendly, but The tower and a 1,600 members of the Westwood town’s Main Street with which disproportionate- planning board Chairman property owners voiced square foot fenced in Homeowners Association, blue lights, the color of ly affects boys, occurs in Pat Romprey suggested the strong dissent because of area would stand on Loon autism awareness. one of every 68 children. remaining board members concerns that the 100 foot property near Governor’s CELL, PAGE A13 The complex medical Casey noted that recent conditions called autism, research has found that which affect brain devel- BLUE, PAGE A14 opment, are known col- Fire Academy progress continues BY DARIN WIPPERMAN [email protected] as the project manager for the academy’s construc- BETHLEHEM— Con- tion. Although Anderson struction at the Ray Bur- said “timelines are a mov- ton North Country Fire ing target right now,” the Academy has progressed academy will soon be cut- well. Allan Clark of Sug- ting travel time and sav- ar Hill and Jack Anderson ing North Country towns of Bethlehem, two local money during the sum- chiefs deeply involved in mer. the project, provided an Anderson said the cold update last week. winter hampered prog- The academy offers re- ress somewhat over the gional fire departments last few months. Even a closer place to train with these constraints, during live fire exercises the light is at the end of and classroom work. To the tunnel. Finishing up receive such opportuni- the classroom improve- ties now, all firefighters ments, Anderson noted, in the state are required “is moving forward very to travel to Concord. rapidly.” Built at the former U.S. As Clark added, “We’ve Forest Service station on been waiting for the Trudeau Road, the acade- weather to warm up con- my will be overseen by the sistently” to complete the NH Department of Safety. project. Clark said departments Anderson confirmed DARIN WIPPERMAN/LITTLETON COURIER from Pittsburg to Plym- last Wednesday that pour- Italian Oasis has operated on Main Street for 22 years. The restau- outh will benefit from the ing the concrete floors DARIN WIPPERMAN/LITTLETON COURIER rant and brewery is slated to cease operations at the end of this site. in the burn building has Finishing touches are being placed on the Ray Burton North Country month. Bailiwicks, closed since the interior water damage at Thayers Included in the con- been completed. Another Fire Academy on Trudeau Road in Bethlehem. The facility, which will be operated by the N.H. Department of Safety, will offer regional fire Inn early this year, plans to move across the street to the Oasis space. struction is a four-story necessary step, he said, is departments a local training option. The burn building pictured here burn building and re- installation of cisterns for provides a chance for live fire training at the academy. vamped office and teach- use during live fires. The Italian Oasis to close ing space. The burn exact timing that the cis- takes control of the build- by simply using some pal- building presents the op- terns will be done is not ing, he continued. An- lets and hay. Bailiwicks set to take over spot portunity for indoor fire yet known, he said. derson said the test burn The test burn and BY DARIN WIPPERMAN moving to Parker’s Mar- suppression training. Clark projected that a serves as “a trial run” for the building’s computer [email protected] ketplace in the spot being The classroom upgrade test burn, where “the man- the burn building. monitoring system allow vacated by Italian Oasis. is being funded by the ufacturer will be demon- Intense fires can occur departments to see how LITTLETON— Baili- Wayne and Lisa Morello, state. Volunteer labor strating the building,” in a burn building envi- the burn building works, wicks, closed since the who operated the Oasis has helped keep the cost will occur around April ronment, Clark added. while ensuring trainee Thayers Inn water dam- down, Anderson said. He 30. This event marks Temperatures around OASIS, PAGE A14 age in January, will be is facilitating that process the point where the state 1200 degrees are possible ACADEMY, PAGE A14 Littleton, N.H., 38 pages 33 Main Street INSIDE LOCAL INSIDE LOCAL NEWS ....................... A2 CLASSIFIEDS .................. B5-B11 Change in Hill pleads SPORTS ............................ B1-3 FROM THE FRONT .......... A13-14 EDITORIAL ........................... A4 leadership at SPOTLIGHTS ..........................C1 guilty A6 CARTOON ........................... A4 Garnet Hill B4 REAL ESTATE ........................B5 OBITUARIES .................. A16-17 LETTERS .............................. A4 CALENDAR ...........................C6 A2 THE LITTLETON COURIER, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014 Local News Area Easter and Tobin recognized as Teacher of the Year nominee BY DARIN WIPPERMAN Holy Week services [email protected] St. Rose of Lima, Littleton and Our MONROE— Laura Lady of Snows, Franconia First UMC Easter Service - one ser- Tobin, who has taught Holy Thursday vice at 10:00 AM at Monroe Consolidated Thurs., April 1 7 p.m. St. Rose of Lima School for five years, re- First Congregational Church, ceived state recognition Good Friday April 17-6 p.m. 7:00 pm Tenebrae service last week. A third and Fri., April 18 3 p.m. St. Rose of Lima April 18-7 p.m. Good Friday Ecumenical fourth grade teacher, To- (Stations of the Cross) Service followed by prayer vigil. bin is one of 33 teachers 7 p.m. St. Rose of Lima (Service) April 20 –Easter Sunrise Service at the statewide nominated for Mt. Sacred Heart Convent at the end of 2015 NH Teacher of the Easter Vigil Grove St. at 6 a.m. 10 a.m. Easter Sunday Year. Sat., April 19 7 p.m. St. Rose of Lima Service Perhaps the best en- dorsement a teacher can Easter Sunday Franconia Community Church of receive is from her stu- Sun., April 20 8 a.m. St. Rose of Lima Christ dents. If so, Tobin’s status DARIN WIPPERMAN/LITTLETON COURIER 10:30 a.m. St. Rose of Lima Maundy Thursday, April 17 Seder Sup- on an elite list is not a sur- Laura Tobin, who teaches third and fourth grade at Monroe per March 28 at 6 p.m. prise. After Tobin’s read- Consolidated School, is on the list of nominees for NH 2015 Teacher All Saints Episcopal Church, Little- Good Friday April 18 -11 a.m. to 1 p.m. –– ing time with kids last of the Year. She said the honor reflects on the great team she works ton Sanctuary Open Hours for Good Friday Wednesday afternoon, with at the school. Tenebrae -- Wednesday, April 16 at 7 p.m. Prayer & Reflection students made many pos- The Liberation Feast -- Thursday, April Easter Sunday (April 20) itive comments. Tobin ing a Montessori school. her field.” With excellent 17 at 6 p.m. (includes potluck dinner) Easter Sunday Service 10:30 am is “nice, awesome, fun, Tobin lives in St. leadership qualities, Holz Good Friday Services -- Friday, April 18 Easter Egg Hunt Noon and very creative,” one Johnsbury with her hus- said, Tobin remains “gen- All Saints’ Service, 12 p.m. student said. Tobin also band and son. uinely interested in what Ecumenical Service, First Congregation- Lisbon Bible Church “works with kids to solve everyone else knows” al Church, 7 p.m. Resurrection Sunday – March 31 - problems,” “deepens chil- Personally humble during staff discussion. The Great Easter Vigil --Saturday, April SonRise Service, 7 a.m. dren’s understanding,” about her own recogni- Both Holz and Tobin’s 19 at 8 p.m.