BNI Granite Referrals meets Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at 1024
Suncook Valley Highway, Unit C-1 at the office of “ Prospect Mountain
Security”, Epsom, NH. Info: 391-1498.
Gilmanton Fire Department
On Thursday, February 25, 2010, at approximately 7:53 PM, the Gilmanton
Fire Department started a response to storm related incidents; this storm
was very challenging and stressed the resources of the community for a short
time frame.
At 12:28 AM, the department was dispatched to a residence at 6 Grape
Avenue for a tree through the house. Upon arrival at the scene companies
found that a large tree had gone through the roof and into two rooms of the
house. The department removed the tree and secured the residence allowing
the occupants to shelter in place.
At approximately 1:00 AM due to the increased call volume a request was
toned for all staff to report to both stations and a town-wide command post
was established at the designated town Emergency Operations Center.
At 1:59 AM, the department received a request for task force mutual aid
response to Hampton to assist with a large structure fire, Engine 3 with a
crew of four was dispatched to this incident.
Working with the town highway and police departments, the local
emergency operation plan was implemented and companies began sweeping the
community for hazards. Utilizing manpower from the fire department and heavy
equipment from the highway department, by approximately 8:00 AM the highway
department and fire department crews were able to re-open all but three
secondary roads in the community allowing for both emergency and normal use.
The total number of requests for assistance that were handled by the
departments totaled near 50. All requests were handled promptly and
remaining residents were allowed to shelter in place.
A total of twenty-one fire department members worked for 224 man hours to
ensure the community was restored to as near pre-storm condition as
expeditiously as possible.
A partial breakdown of activity includes; one
tree into a house, 20 tree and wires burning, seven trees across the road,
five fire alarm activations, three medical emergencies, three flooded
basements, four flooded roads, one transformer fire, one furnace problem,
one mutual aid request.
Letter to The Editor
Gilmanton Year Round Library
The Gilmanton Year-Round library provides a wonderful community resource
and an opportunity for all Gilmanton residents, from small children through
teens, and older folks of all ages. This is the only community gathering
place where Gilmanton residents of all ages can come together – just about
any day of the week - to enjoy the tremendous resources the library has to
offer and the camaraderie of good friends and neighbors. It is a safe place
for our teens to gather, use the high speed computers or do their homework.
I have lived in Gilmanton for 21 years, and for 20 of those years, my
family belonged to the Laconia Public Library. As a non-resident, I
willingly paid $35 a year to belong to an out-of-town library that supplied
my family with an endless supply of books, movies and more – a savings of
hundreds of dollars a year (compared with renting or buying these items). I
am now a member of the Gilmanton Year Round Library, and would willingly pay
an additional few cents per thousand on my taxes to have the privilege (and
convenience) of free borrowing rights from the library, recognizing that
this actually saves me money in the long run. Plus I get the added bonus of
a welcoming community gathering place. The Year-Round Library is a great
resource for the people of Gilmanton.
Sincerely,
Amanda Stone
Gilmanton
Letter
Dear Gilmanton Voters:
A favorite memory from my childhood is going
to the library with my mom to take out books each week! New parts of the
world were unveiled in some, history unfolded in others, and great stories
could while away hours on a gray Saturday.
Little could I imagine that such a source of education would ever be the
focus of the vitriolic controversy I witnessed last year at Town Meeting and
now again in Letters To The Editor regarding the Gilmanton Year Round
Library. Have none of the naysayers ever started out with one plan for
something in life and later had to adjust it???
It is truly amazing that volunteers have produced this beautiful library
and community center, both by raising money and also putting in many hours
of direct labor. They worked to fulfill a vision of this gift for our town
as sincerely as others volunteer building ball fields for our youth, working
at the fire departments, clearing snowmobile trails, etc. It appalls me to
hear their motives maligned.
Those who suggest we use libraries in another town neglect the fact that
gas to travel, plus the cost of an out-of-town library card may well add up
to a good portion of what any family would bear of the minor tax raise
proposed.
On March 13th, let’s put old resentments aside, regain civility, and
consider the current reality. Why can we not just approach this proposal
with a “cost vs. benefit” analysis? Is what is being offered to our town
worth the cost for next year? We have a marvelous asset being offered- for
the benefit of the young families of our town, those who need a gathering
and meeting place, and all those who cannot afford to buy books or internet
access, I sincerely hope so.
Anne Onion
Gilmanton, NH
The Value Of A Full Service Library
Submitted By Carolyn
Baldwin
The Gilmanton Year-Round Library is asking for support at Town Meeting
on March 13. The request is for $41,300. Over half of the Town’s property
owners would pay less than $19 on their tax bill according to president Stan
Bean. That amounts to nine cents per thousand of assessment or about four
tenths of one percent (.4%) of the total tax rate at $20.98 per thousand.
After several months experience of a full service library, the value of
the services has been reviewed. For a few dollars on its tax bill a
household will have access to the Library’s collection, including 8000
books, some 150 movies on DVD and subscriptions to periodicals and local
newspapers. Librarian Gary Mason describes the additional value of the State
Interlibrary Loan System. That system, free to public libraries that meet
State standards, makes available at no cost thousands of books and hundreds
of periodicals. A revolving loan arrangement with area libraries, called
Scrooge and Marley, widens the availability of movies on DVD. Six
computers provide free access to the Internet.
Every citizen of Gilmanton will have access to all of this for the cost
of one or two paperback books, or a couple of movie tickets. $19 will not
buy a subscription to any magazine or newspaper, or even a month’s access to
the internet on cable.
The Library is a cultural resource that enriches the entire community.
It is impossible to put a price on other services: Story hours (7-8 each
month) for children; meeting spaces for organizations and interest groups;
space for activities like “reading buddies”, where older students mentor
young readers. This kind of activity enhances the activities available to
students at the Gilmanton School. Programs of general interest, exhibits by
local artists, and interest groups ranging from crafts exchanges to
scrabble, draw visitors and patrons into the library.
Letter
To Gilmanton Voters:
On March 13, 2010 at Town Meeting we will vote
on Article #15- to raise and appropriate $ 40,000 to
repair and erect the cupola at the Academy.
The Academy has been the centerpiece of our town since 1794. Originally the
Academy was an educational center. Later, it housed town offices and meeting
halls, serving as our community center. Despite two fires and multiple
challenges, Gilmanton found the resources to maintain this historic
building.
Last year after years of concern that structural repairs were necessary,
the cupola was deemed unsafe and was removed. After a year of storage, it is
time to appropriate funds to repair and restore one of our most treasured
municipal buildings. In an ideal world, the Town might have been able to
fully appreciate the need for repair and would have set aside funds such
that it would be unnecessary to come before the voters for approval.
The Selectman have recommended $40,000, the Budget committee $30,000,
hopeful that the Town might be awarded a $10,000 grant to help offset the
costs of repair. The HDC would prefer voters approve the Selectman’s
recommendation. The passage of this article will show strong Town support,
which is crucial for grant consideration. Last year our grant was rejected,
because the Town was unable to approve the appropriations. Any funds
received from the grant would be applied to reduce the actual cost of the
restoration of the cupola. We will not be able to submit a grant if the
article does not pass.
We recognize the important role our municipal buildings play in defining
the culture of our community. We admire their beauty and historical
significance. We are their custodians and have a duty to future residents to
maintain them. We know these are difficult times, but hope the voters will
value their significance and want to keep them in good repair.
Please join our forefathers in making this expenditure a priority and
vote in favor of the Selectman’s recommendation to appropriate $40,000.
Gilmanton Historic District Commission
Letter
To the Gilmanton Voters,
A while back I saw a poster titled ‘Building
a Community’. Sandwiched between ‘Coach a youth sports team’ and ‘Organize a
town-wide penny sale’, was ‘Start a book club at the library.’ I thought
about how essential libraries are to community.
My husband and I moved to Gilmanton loving its quaintness and outdoors-y
character. Even though we felt a strong sense of community, we were
surprised by the lack of public meeting space. Since the library opened, I
have been thrilled to meet so many fellow residents with similar interests.
And as someone with children in my future, I can’t imagine living in a town
without a library or community center- We have a treasure in that the GYRL
is both!
Everyone knows the economy is in a difficult place right now, but I
would argue that this is the time when we need libraries the most. Open
access to books, internet, media, and children’s programs is so important
when personal access may be lost. As a town, we should consider it a
blessing that we didn’t have to fund the enormous cost of building, and we
should now take advantage of this chance to make it our own: A community
resource that isn’t funded by the community…doesn’t really belong to the
community anymore.
If you haven’t been to the library, please visit! I think you will be
charmed by the building’s welcoming feel, I think you will note its room to
grow, I think you will be delighted by the number of people- young and old-
finding a comfortable place to enjoy each other’s company, and I know you
will be sure to vote ‘yes’ with me at town meeting on March 13th to keep the
Gilmanton Year-Round Library open.
Sincerely,
Kelly Bridges
