Stories

Ok, so here are this week's stories, I'll give everyone an update on things tomorrow:


Fire House meeting gets hot
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
NEW DURHAM — The May 5 meeting of the committee investigating possible options for the New Durham fire station was still engendering heated emotions at the Board of Selectmen workshop six days later on May 11.
Local police responded to the May 5 meeting after an argument ensued between members of the public and town officials. No one was charged.
Interpretations vary as to what exactly happened prior to the meeting between Town Administrator William Herman, Fire Chief John Nicastro, committee member Linscott "Skip" Fadden, and Planning Board alternate George Gale. Each side sees the events unfolding differently, and both sides take issue with the other’s viewpoints. Questions as basic as who was in the library at the time are in question, as are some statements made in the police report, filed by Patrolman Lloyd Gifford. About the only thing agreed upon by all parties is that George Gale began setting up video equipment in the town library, in preparation for the 7 p.m. meeting, approximately 15 minutes beforehand.
Gale says that around that time, Herman arrived and began talking to the chairman of the committee, Gullmar Nelson. He said that Fire Chief John Nicastro then arrived, and begin yelling at Gale for trying to tape the meeting. Gale also said that Nicastro used profanity, in addition to raising his voice, and that there were children in the library at the time. He said that Nicastro was "standing in my face, screaming." Gale stated that Herman also yelled at him (Gale), stating that the town administrator "suddenly had a huge objection (to having the meeting filmed)." "They said they were going to have me arrested for filming the meeting," Gale alleges. He said that what he characterized as "excuses" for not allowing him to film the meeting shifted. Gale said, "At first it was that it (the meeting) could not be filmed, then shifted into ‘you took the camera from Betsy Booth’s office.’" (Booth denies this, saying that the town’s camera is kept in the Land Use office. The Land Use office confirmed that they had given the camera to Gale earlier that day.).
Gale also alleges that perhaps Herman and Nicastro knew ahead of time what they were going to do. "I find it hard to believe that Herman didn’t know ahead of time (that Gale was taking the camera to film the meeting). The whole thing could have been scripted from the start." After Officer Gifford arrived (the police had been called), Gale says that he was asked to go outside to discuss the matter. He also alleges that Herman and Nicastro made false statements to the police regarding Gale taking the camera from Booth’s office, as well as indicating to officer Gifford that Gale did not have permission to film the meeting, which was necessary for it to be broadcast.
Herman’s account differs from Gale’s. Herman said that upon arriving at the meeting, he talked to Nelson, specifically about getting the committee to vote on whether or not they desired to be broadcast. He said that Gale approached him at that point, and that he, Herman, raised the objection to filming the meeting for broadcast, citing an unwritten rule of Wolfeboro Community TV that allows committees to decide whether they desired to be filmed for the purposes of being broadcast on Wolfeboro Community TV. He also said that he did not see any children in the library, and that he did not see Nicastro come in initially (Nicastro also denies yelling and swearing at Gale). The issue, Herman said, besides the issue of the unwritten rule, was that of "town property and its appropriate use." Herman said that "no one has been denied their right to film," saying that Gale would have every right to film with his own camera. "Committees have always had the right to decide to be broadcast over community access." Herman said. The town of New Durham, having contributed funds to Wolfeboro Community TV, is considered the owner of the camera, though the camera does say "Wolfeboro Community TV" on it.
The fireworks of the night did not end with Gale going outside to talk to the police. Fadden arrived, he says, around 7 pm. He saw Gale outside with the officer, and was told by Gale that he was not being allowed to film the meeting. Herman, Fadden says, was at the meeting to review the Right-to-Know laws with the committee (Herman says that this was the case, that he and Selectman Ron Gehl were there to talk about the issue, but that never took place). Fadden then began reading the "Right-to-Know law" to the committee, believing that they were "looking for anything to keep him (Gale) from taping the meeting." Fadden then said that Herman shouted, above the din of voices at the meeting, "you’re wrong" at Fadden, and then Fadden yelled back "No Mr. Herman, you’re wrong." Herman denied yelling at Fadden, though he did agree that they had an exchange. The police report says that the two men had to be separated, and that Fadden was taken outside. Fadden then said that he became upset, because he, a member of the committee was being taken outside, and Herman, who is listed as a resident of Concord on the police report, should have been, given that he is not a town resident. According to Herman, Chief Shawn Bernier, Chairman Nelson and himself told Fadden that if he and Gale got their own camera they could tape the meeting. Gale then drove Fadden home, and they unsuccessfully looked for a camera. In the meantime, the meeting began, and the committee voted to allow meetings to be recorded for broadcast, provided that Kathy Merrill, the town’s land use clerk, or a designee tape the meeting. Fadden then returned to the meeting, where discussion continued on what had taken place. He believes that members of the committee were "misled" by Herman about the Right-to-Know law, and that by denying Gale the ability to film with the town’s camera, they were effectively violating that law. Herman said that no such violation took place, especially since the committee did not deny Gale the right to tape with his own camera.
Fadden, still fuming about what happened, advised the Board of Selectmen last week that he believed that they may need legal counsel to look into the events of May 5. The selectmen agreed to look at the letter, as well as revise the town’s policy on the filming of meetings for broadcast. Meanwhile, Gale has, according to Bernier, decided to file a complaint alleging that he was threatened as well as assaulted at the meeting prior to the arrival of the police department. With the case being reopened, the police department was unable to make further comment about the incident before the arrival of Officer Gifford and Chief Bernier.
(See related story, page 1)


Local family runs Co-op, has their own energy saving plan
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD — Dan Barraford is proud of the co-op he and his wife, Cate, have helped put together since 1999. Operating out of their Barnstead home, and working on both the co-op and their main business, a publishing company, the family has helped to save thousands for families throughout the area during the winter months, and increasingly, summer as well.
By pooling the purchasing power of its 3,800 members, the Barrafords’ Co-op, Our Town Energy Choice, was able to save consumers between 70 and 80 cents for their per-gallon cost on propane last year. Barraford describes the co-op’s first years as a "charity." He says that a hike in oil and propane prices in 1999 inspired him to begin his project.
"We recruited senior citizens in Alton and Barnstead to go in together," he says of his first year setting up the co-op, " and we were able to pool pricing." "pricing for volume"
Barraford says, is cheaper than the alternative, because of the pooled pricing. He also said that at the end of that first year, there were over 500 families involved. Membership fees were instituted the next year.
Barraford says that his co-op, which serves families in Massachusetts and Maine as well as throughout New Hampshire, serves mostly residents and businesses, but has also counted the Alton school district and the Governor Wentworth school district as members in the past. While still primarily focusing on heating costs, the co-op has expanded into areas like phone service and Internet access, as well as providing discounted Canadian pharmaceuticals for seniors in the area.
For many, membership fees are waived in cases of severe hardship. Barbara Itchkawich, of Alton, says that she has been a part of the co-op since the first year and that she is, "very pleased" with her decision.
"It’s helped me out, its helped a lot of people out," she says.
That sentiment is echoed by Kathy Secirano of New Durham, who says that her family has been involved "for a couple of years" and that it has "saved us money."
In the style of "practicing what they preach" the Barrafords have also made another money saving change. They have converted one of their cars to run on vegetable oil. The conversion, which only works on diesel engines, which Barraford says were originally designed to be run on peanut oil, involves a kit which can be purchased online for between $700 and $800. Barraford said that he then paid a mechanic an additional $800 to do the conversion, but says that anyone could do it themselves "if they’re handy." The oil, which Barraford receives free from local restaurants is filtered for impurities and then heated, till it hits the same viscosity as diesel fuel. The car he says, takes some time to warm up in the before it can be started, five minutes in the summer and 10 in the winter, in order to heat the vegetable oil to the proper temperature, but that when the car runs "you can run it for free."
Barraford says he will soon be converting his other car to run the same way. He also says that the car gets the same mileage and power as if it were running on diesel fuel, but emits 60 percent fewer emissions, and that those emissions are biodegradable. When talking about his car, Barraford seems to be perpetually grinning, knowing that he’s no longer paying high gas prices.


Local Academy hosts big tournament this summer.
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
ALTON — Meg Jones has been running the Kwoon Karate Academy of Self Defense in Alton for almost three years. In that time, she’s seen thousands of kicks, punches and chops from everyone from small children to adults at her downtown location. This June, however, the academy will be stepping out a bit.
The academy’s staff, students and families will be playing host to participants in a large multinational tournament, the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame Crown Championship, to be held in Manchester, at the Radisson Hotel, on June 10 and 11. Jones, who was tabbed as the female instructor of the year in 2004 by the Hall of Fame, says that the parents of students will be participating in running the events of the tournament, while many of the academy’s students will be competing in the tournament itself. According to Jones the academy was asked by The Hall of Fame’s founder, Dr. E.A. Moore, to host the tournament last year. "We’ve been working on it ever since," she says.
In addition to the normal events associated with this tournament, which includes a world-class karate tournament featuring 200 to 300 competitors from South Africa, Canada, the British Virgin Islands and across the United States, as well as a ceremony and dinner to induct new members into the Hall of Fame, the Academy will be conducting a charity event as well. Though the nature of that event, according to Jones, it will either be a kick-a-thon or a break-a-thon (where participants would break boards), depending on whether they receive donations from local lumber companies, is still up in the air, the proceeds from that will go to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital for cancer research. Jones also mentioned that several New Hampshire residents would be up for induction into the hall of fame.
Information on the event can be obtained by calling 603-875-1171. Jones says that admission to the tournament is open to the public at a cost of $5 each. There are also seminars being offered by various speakers at the tournament, and the public is also able to purchase tickets to the induction dinner and ceremony.


By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD — With two selectmen away from the meeting – Mike Akstin was on vacation and Jack O’Neil was attending a hearing in Concord – the three remaining selectmen met to primarily discuss the town website, as well as deal with other matters.
The longest portion of the night’s proceedings was a presentation by Scott Sainsbury, of Verity Creative, about his plans for a potential town website. Sainsbury, who is currently working on a website for the Wolfeboro Chamber of Commerce after a great success with his site theboros.com (Tuftonboro, Moultonborough, and Wolfeboro), presented his own experience and the possible options that he could offer the town website if he were chosen to create the site.
The site, as proposed by Sainsbury, would be a sort of "one-stop shop" for resources in Barnstead. He mentioned that local businesses, including realtors, as well as the town government might use the site, which might attract more visitors to the site using search engines. Gordon Preston mentioned that he sees many selling points about Barnstead, saying, "we’re right on the beaten path." "We’re the midpoint between Rochester, Manchester and Concord," he said, advocating that the town’s website be used not just to let people in the town know what was going on with town government, but also serve as a way of attracting businesses to potentially locate themselves in Barnstead as well.
Selectmen Ed Tasker asked Sainsbury, at the end of his presentation, about the potential costs for the town of putting a fairly large site, like Sainsbury was proposing as a possibility, and also how quickly the site could be up and running. Sainsbury replied that the cost would likely be less than what the Wolfeboro Chamber of Commerce paid, as Barnstead’s would likely be a smaller site, and that the hosting fees on the servers he used was "not as expensive as what others would charge." He also said that he could write a proposal for a website and a contract very quickly, and that the town could have a website developing within weeks of hiring him.
Other issues the selectmen touched on included the question of whether the town might be reimbursed for some, if not all, of the cost of using its manpower and equipment to clean up a car accident which happened in the town last week, which was estimated to have cost around $900. The selectmen agreed to ask the municipal organization if they can bill the insurance company for those services.
The selectmen also agreed to ask a town officer to pick up their exhibits from the Superior court offices in Laconia after no one appealed the town’s growth ordinance. They also agreed to ask the police department whether they believed that the town had gotten its money’s worth out of the Juvenile Court Diversion Program, which cost the town $3,500 for the year.
It was found that there was a $25,001 difference between the Selectmen’s budget and the town’s budget as decided at the town meeting, and that that money would now be put into a "selectmen’s miscellaneous fund" for the remainder of the year. The town approved a budget for more than what the Selectmen needed.
The Selectmen asked that those wishing to make announcements for meetings in The Baysider should please first schedule the use of the Town Hall with the Board of Selectmen.


Selectmen discuss Ethics, Recording policies
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
NEW DURHAM — The May 11 workshop meeting of the New Durham Board of Selectmen, held at the New Durham Library, grew more heated as it went along. While the primary focus of the meeting was on putting together a conflict of interest policy and a policy regarding Community TV, other issues sidetracked the meeting as it drew to a close.
After Selectmen Dwight Jones raised the issue of a conflict of interest policy, especially with regard to town officials becoming involved in the formal bidding process, at the last workshop meeting, held April 27, the selectmen investigated several possibilities to strengthen the town’s current policy, which was adopted in 1997. Selectmen Ron Gehl suggested, along with chairman Dean Stimpson, that policies in Antioch and Raymond, which were similar in many ways, were good templates for the board to follow. Jones was intrigued by the long list of definitions both policies had, which would help to clear up any possible misinterpretation of anything in the policy. Gehl and Stimpson also said that they would like to see such a conflict on interest policy separate from a purchasing policy, in order to avoid future confusion. The Selectmen agreed to work on a policy, taking, in Jones’ words, "the best of each one" and then getting together and finalizing a policy that would be best for New Durham’s situation. George Gale, who had brought a copy of the 1996 draft of the current policy, asked the board why it had been, to use Gale’s words "gutted" in the final version. Stimpson replied, looking a bit frustrated with the question, that "that’s a moot point. It’s over and done with" and that the board was looking to improve the current policy, not rehash how that policy came to be.
The group also looked at possibilities for a new, written policy regarding Community TV and video recording of meetings. Both Gehl and Town Administrator William Herman, had put together their own drafts for such a policy, and both were distributed to the Board at the meeting. Gehl’s policy was distributed to members of the community and began with a preamble, the text of the Right to Know law. Each draft made provisions to allow ordinary citizens the right to broadcast any such meetings, and provided guidance for what committees would be broadcast as a requirement and which committees could decide for themselves. Herman used as an example, the Conservation Commission, which chose not to record its meetings for broadcast. Community member Skip Fadden hoped that the selectmen would add language saying that would apply to all public officials in the town, and that any potential conflicts would err on the side of the "right-to-know" law. There was some question about how best to manage tapes at the town office, with Herman suggesting that the Clerk’s office did not want to have to handle sending tapes up to Wolfeboro as well as logging tapes in and out. He added that while some in the town offices "would like to be responsible, as long as someone is responsible," referring to the fact that volunteers are now mostly responsible for getting tapes to the Community TV station.
George Gale also suggested that some provision be made, giving only the Board authority to decide to destroy tapes, saying that in the past he had been told that tapes had been destroyed at Town Hall. Herman denied this saying that it was "news to us," that tapes had been destroyed, and saying that Gale had never logged a complaint stating as such.
There was also some question about how community groups might use town equipment, and what the ownership of that recording was. Community member Cathy Orlowicz said that she was confused by the placement of that section in Gehl’s draft and suggested moving it to another spot.
The meeting turned very heated at the end of the discussion of recordings, as some community members were upset by what they perceived as heavy-handed tactics by some in the town administration at the May 5 meeting of the Fire Station committee (see related story, page xxx). Stimpson seemed frustrated by this saying that it was a "rehash of something that happened, an unfortunate thing that happened." Fadden p-resented the board with a letter asking them to consider investigating the incident. The board will meet again May 18, after the next Baysider goes to press, but that meeting will be covered in our May 26 issue.


A special place in Barnstead is a Yankee best
BY Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD — When Harold and Cynthia Huckaby arrived in New Hampshire in 1974, and purchased their eighteenth-century home, they wanted, according to Harold Huckaby "a place to raise our children."
In the years following though, their home became much more than that. The restaurant that the Huckabys opened in 1976 in their home, The Crystal Quail, has become renowned throughout the area, and was just recently a recipient of an "Editor’s Choice endorsement" from Yankee magazine, as a place that no traveler to New England should miss.
The Huckabys grow much of their own vegetables, along with spices and their own herbs, in their organic garden behind their home. The dining room seats only about 12-14 people, but the restaurant has received almost universally positive reviews and counts many fans, including longtime Washington Post columnist David Broder and Evelyn Lincoln, the former personal secretary for John F. Kennedy.
Still, the business of running the restaurant is still largely the same for the Huckabys as it was 29 years ago, when they opened. Harold Huckaby says that he begins work on a day’s menu "whenever I get up. There’s a lot of hours that go into preparation. Sometimes there will be days worth of preparation." Huckaby says the traditionally busiest season for the restaurant is in the summer and into the early fall, but that they do operate all year, from Wednesdays through Sundays.
While Huckaby is not quick to label the restaurant’s food as fitting into any particular style he says that he and his wife "draw on everything we’re exposed to. We’ll use that, try that (techniques and styles) on anything we have on hand."
Much of the food is also organic, "as much as possibly can be," says Huckaby, "but sometimes it cant’ be. But for the most part it is, especially when it comes through the garden."
The Huckabys do their own composting, and much of their lettuce and other greens come from the garden, as do their cabbages and other root vegetables. Huckaby describes his wife’s style of planting as her own. "She allows things to grow where they want to. It’s a very Japanese style. If things reseed themselves, she’ll let them stay." Some vegetables, he says, like lettuce, will come up two or three times in a season, which helps keep salads and vegetables du jour fresh.
The meats that the Huckabys carry, such as game bird or wild boar, might be considered exotic, but Huckaby disagrees, saying that "it isn’t exotic for ‘exotics sake.’" He says that he tries to combine different flavors and that those tastes often determine how he has to prepare the food. He describes it all as "a very creative process."
The land that the restaurant now stands on was once a main road through the area. Several times, the Huckabys have found ox bows and sled runners, from when the home’s owners serviced oxen teams.
Harold Huckaby says that the Crystal Quail has been good to him and his family. "We’ve made our way, and the lifestyle has kept me in good health." With continued recognition and acclaim, the restaurant would seem to be a likely constant fixture of the area for years to come.


Award given at Board of Selectmen meeting
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
ALTON — Local victim’s rights advocate and artist Florence Holway was presented with an award from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center at the May 16 meeting of the Board of Selectmen. Lynda Ruell, a victim’s advocate working in the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office, presented Holway with the award, calling her a "survivor and a voice" and being instrumental in toughening New Hampshire’s rape laws and raising awareness of sexual violence in the state, and eventually around the nation, following an HBO documentary made about her which aired in January. The center awarded Holway, one of only three people in the nation to receive the award this year, for her "effectiveness" in promoting awareness. Holway was presented with a framed award certificate, and thanked the many friends and family who attended for coming to see her receive the award.
After a short break the board returned to discuss other matters. The board granted two easements on barns that were being preserved, awarding the full 75 percent to each owner. The board also voted in favor of establishing small fees for certain electronics in the town’s electronic recycling program. Televisions and computer monitors of less than 19 inches would be charged $5; above 19 inches would be charged $10. All other electronic items would be free to recycle. Selectmen Peter Shibley noted that the town was trying to recoup some of the money that it costs to haul away those large items.
The selectmen went on to approve the town’s hazard mitigation plan, as well.
Selectmen Alan Sherwood wanted to remind citizens that the Household Hazardous waste collection say is Saturday, and that directions could be found on the town website. He also noted that the Planning Board, because of the volume of cases in front of it, would be spreading their May 17 meeting over two nights, with the meeting continuing into May 18 (look for coverage in next week’s Baysider).
Town Administrator Russell Bailey noted that the rescue vehicle the town had approved two years ago would be arriving soon, and that the old rescue vehicle would be donated to the Red Cross upon the arrival of the new vehicle.
The board, convening as the Board of Health granted waivers for septic tanks and leech banks at three locations, one on Woodlands Rd. and the other two on Varney Rd.
The main order of business, and the most controversial of the night, proved to be the denial of a permit sought by the Barbershoppers to sell alcohol on town property. The Barbershoppers were hoping to have a beer tent at their upcoming event in Alton Bay. While Peter Shibley noted that the group had never had any problems before relating to alcohol, a majority of the board was very hesitant to "set a precedent" with regards to serving beer on town property or near Alton Bay. Cris Blackstone noted that she had received several phone calls from citizens saying that "they weren’t interested in beer sales on town property." After it became clear that the beer tent would be denied, Shibley noted sarcastically that the Barbershopper’s might consider relocating to Madison, N.H., where, he said, the town passed an ordinance allowing people to drink on the streets. The permit was denied by a 3-2 vote.
Other issues included concerns about the town’s policies regarding animal control and smoking in public places, in particular the ballpark. A public hearing on those issues will likely be scheduled soon, so the selectmen could receive citizens’ thoughts on the matter. The selectmen also agreed to put out a mailing reminding townspeople to be compliant with the town’s E911 ordinance, which requires signals for emergency vehicles to spot a home at night. Bailey said that he did not want the fire department to "waste time trying to find houses." The motion passed 4-1, with Shibley dissenting. The selectmen also authorized the use of $3,100 in funds earmarked to renovate the B & M caboose for the B & M Railroad Park, as well as authorized tearing down an equipment shed in the area which is considered unsafe.