THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020 GILFORD, N.H. Gilford schools move forward with reopening plan BY ERIN PLUMMER [email protected] The Gilford School Board approved a plan for re- opening schools this fall and now the district is pre- paring for what the school year will look like. On Aug. 4, the school board approved a plan pre- sented by Superintendent Kirk Beitler on reopening schools including giving parents virtual and in-per- son learning options and a number of safety proto- cols to protect against the spread of COVID-19. Beitler said the board overall approved the plan overall, but did change the plan regarding when stu- dents would all be in the schools. The plan proposed that different grades come to school on a staggered schedule between Sept. 8-11 with the plan of having all students in the buildings by Oct. 5. The school board, however, agreed to change that and have stu- dents in the schools by Sept. 14. The board approved the plan at the end of a four- and-a-half-hour meeting. Beitler said there were a lot of questions about what they would do to keep kids safe and maintain safety. He said it seemed like a lot of people seemed anxious to get the students back in the schools. More details would be discussed at the next meet- ing about athlete safety, performing arts, and more finer details about the reopening plan. Parents have been asked what learning model they prefer for their children and will have the op- portunity to make that decision into the first trimes- FILE PHOTO ter of school. Gilford schools are getting ready to welcome students back in the buildings this fall while also offering virtual options. SEE SCHOOLS PAGE 7 Man dies in accident The return of sports… at town docks and sports coverage BY ERIN PLUMMER Murphy, Jr., 77-year- ficulty staying on the BY JOSHUA SPAULDING certainly be impacted by that inhabit the schools [email protected] old and Ronald C. Bick- surface of the water and Sports Editor the Covid-19 pandemic, we cover, which range One person died and ford, both of Laconia, went beneath the sur- REGION — At this there will probably be from Prospect Mountain another was seriously were boarding their face multiple times. A point, high school sports some differences in the High School in Alton in injured after going over- boat at the town dock number of Good Samari- are scheduled to return coverage the papers pro- the south to Groveton board from their boat at on Wednesday, Aug. 12. tans on the docks rushed next month, and if all vide compared to what High School in the north. the Gilford town docks. Bickford lost his balance to their aid, grabbing goes as planned, cover- readers might be used to. We are going to do our According to a state- and landed in the water, their arms and holding age of high school sports Salmon Press is ask- best to cover as much as ment from New Hamp- and Murphy jumped in them until rescue crews in your local Salmon ing for the help of the we possibly can, but as shire Marine Patrol, after him. According to arrived. Press newspaper will local community in pro- the fall sports season 66-year-old James P. witnesses both had dif- SEE ACCIDENT PAGE 7 also be returning. viding the coverage of gets underway, there is But just as sports will the teams and athletes SEE SPORTS PAGE 7 Pub Mania teams pivot Bike Week starts this for the kids weekend, with many changes COURTESY 2019 Top Pub Mania Team Captains (front left to right) Lisa Cornish (The Downtown Gym); Kathy and Will Swart (Laconia Harley Davidson), Susan Cummins, Mitch Hammel, Greg and Deb Peverly (Verani Realty). REGION — Referred Dollar contest. event gives us some real to as the backbone of “Last year’s team set momentum.” the Pub Mania event, the bar very high,” said The Pub Mania teams the 31 teams and 75 team Dodds, Marketing Man- participating in the 2020 captains had begun to ager at LHD, “but we’re It’s for the Kids Commu- wonder if or how the 24- fortunate to have the nity Challenge include: hour barstool challenge backing of owners Steve Amoskeag Beverag- would happen in the face and Anne Deli, who are es: John Valliere & Tim of the Covid-19 pandem- very supportive of the Quinn ic. Children’s Auction. Bar Hum Bugs: Steph- FILE PHOTO “I think we all were We’re excited about this anie Caldon Bike Week begins this weekend, though many events like the POW/MIA Freedom Ride are off wondering if we’d be new version.” Barstool Bankers: for 2020. able to pull it off this Holly Ruggeiri has Becky Reposa, Stacy year,” said Greg Peverly, been a Pub Mania Team Trites, Jami Bourdeau & BY ERIN PLUMMER warnings about precau- Charlie St. Claire, the co-Team Captain of Ve- Captain for Ladies of the Kristi Maciejewski [email protected] tions against COVID-19, city agreed to let Bike rani Realty and winner Lake for the last 5 years, Birdies for a Cause: REGION — Bikes will a number of canceled Week go on as scheduled of the 2019 Outstanding and now is taking on the Allison Mitzel & Rachael be roaring through the events, and restrictions in August. This agree- Participation Award. role of Co-Chair for the Rollins Lakes Region starting on vendors and live mu- ment came with caveats. “So when we were called new Challenge event. Blue Angels: Faith this weekend for the 97th sic. According to the draft about this new event, I “We know it will be Francis annual Laconia Bike This year’s Bike minutes of the July 13 think we were anticipat- extremely difficult to BNH We Got This Week, which will look a Week was postponed Laconia City Council ing some kind of change. top last year’s overall Warriors: Cindy Audia lot different this year be- from June due to the meeting, the city agreed Our colleagues here at fundraising total” said & Jim Glover cause of the pandemic. pandemic and resched- to not issue any vendors’ Verani understand this Ruggieri, “so our goal Body Covers: Sarah Laconia Motorcy- uled for August. After permits along Lakeside is not about the event, this year is to double the Gray cle Week 2020 will offi- much discussion and Avenue. Councilor Tony it’s about the kids.” number of teams and be BPS: Keith McBey & cially start this Satur- review including in- Felch did advocate for Meghan Dodds is the positioned for growth in Randy Remick day, Aug. 22, and run put from residents and nonprofit organizations new team captain for La- 2021 and beyond. Hav- Café Déjà Vu: Brenda through next Sunday, business owners as well to be able to have vendor conia Harley Davidson, ing the Pub Mania teams Aug. 30. This year the as talks with Laconia SEE MANIA PAGE 7 SEE BIKE WEEK PAGE 7 winner of last year’s Top step up for this new rally comes with ample Motorcycle Week chair A2 THE GILFORD STEAMER ALMANAC THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020 Notes from the Gilford Public Library BY MARK THOMAS ers can do the same. “There’s got to be a bet- p.m. program, with a maxi- Geri-Fit exercises and Library Correspondent Publishers are incentiv- ter way.” There is. Ask Knit Wits, 1-2 mum of nine people in are seeking a more chal- ized to associate similar a librarian/friend/Go- p.m. the room for the event. lenging workout. Please Judge a book by its books, so noticing cover odreads reviewer for a Sign Please register for the bring your own two or cover. I didn’t forget the trends is a first clue as recommendation to get up and mask required. program by calling or three pound dumbbell, “don’t” in that sentence, to what kind of reader a head start on the book Maximum of 10 people. stopping by the library, a stretch band, and wa- I deliberately omitted might enjoy a particu- finding process. Ed Webster: Everest or join us by signing up ter to drink during the it! Judge a book by its lar book. The next clue However, when you the Hard Way, 6-7 p.m. for the Zoom meeting. workout. cover because that’s to consider is the inside are staring into the ka- In 1988, Ameri- what the cover is for. cover flap. It’s still an leidoscope of the new can mountaineer Ed Friday, Aug. 21 Wednesday, Aug. 26 As you stand in front advertisement, and an releases without a hint, Webster envisioned, Bridge, 10:30- Check out an Expert, of the new book section incomplete picture, but it’s your first recourse. achieved, and survived 11:30 a.m. 10 a.m.-noon with hundreds of books together we’re getting So next time you find the impossible. With If you love Bridge and Geri Fit, 10-11 a.m. dancing before you like an impression of what yourself assuming you’ll three partners, he as- just can’t get enough, Mental Wellness in a butterfly lepidop- the publisher wants us love a book because of cended a new, never-be- join our bi-weekly group. Wednesday with Dr. terarium, what else can to think about the book. the silly big font on the fore-attempted route up Maximum of 10 People. Raymond Suarez, 10:30- you do but let your eyes The third clue that we cover, remember that Mt.