Story Time

Ok, so here are my stories for the week. I'll begin posting wedding photos tomorrow, plus some other thoughts. I'm also including a letter that came in from a subject of one of my stories of last month. It was pretty sweet:


To the Editor:
I returned from being out of town for several weeks and found numerous copies of the article that Jim Shilander did on "The Week from Heaven and Hell" in the May 26 issue of the Granite State News.
I wanted to thank you for the time and effort (and newspaper space) you and Jim gave to this article. As you are aware, the book was an important one for me to write and I have received many positive comments about its impact from people in the community.
I would appreciate it if you would let Jim know that I thought his treatment of the difficult subject was excellent and I was very grateful for his sensitivity when conducting the interview.
Thank you both again for your kindness in helping to make the community aware of this book.
Duke Southard
Wolfeboro


Historic home soon to house a B&B (again)
Conlons get set to open Dudley House
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
ALTON — Elise and Tom Conlon of Alton realized early on that their eighteenth century home was what they wanted.
"We owned property in Bennington, Vermont," says Elise Conlon, "but the minute I walked into this house I thought I was home." The Conlon’s operated a bed and breakfast inside the home for much of the last 12 years that they have lived there.
Family considerations, however, have forced the Conlons to not operate as a bed and breakfast the last few years. Now, though, with approval pending on their application to regain their lapsed license, the newly named "Dudley House," will likely be reopening soon.
Elise Conlon says that the new name is a nod to the historical significance of the home, which was built when George Washington was president. She says that a look at the house’s history given to them by the home’s former owners, reveals that the house was built by Daniel Dudley, one of three brothers who fought in the Revolutionary War. When the Dudley brothers returned to the area, Daniel and another brother were given plots of land by their older brother. Daniel Dudley owned, according to Conlon, 1,800 acres along what is now Dudley Rd. Daniel Dudley is buried in a nearby cemetery.
The Conlons take pride in keeping a clean establishment, but also in treating their customers like family. They have had numerous customers come back year after year, including for events such as Bike Week.
The Conlons have also found that such a homey attitude can pay off in other ways. When their daughter and son-in-law arrived in Houston for Super Bowl XXXVIII, they and their group were helped in town by members of the Houston Rotary Club who had stayed with the Conlons. When their son was looking for in internship with a plumbing company, a couple who had stayed several times was able to give him a highly sought after position. "We treat everyone like family," says Elise Conlon, "Part of the reason people go to a Bed and Breakfast is that they are ‘coming home.’"
The Conlons believe that Alton was a perfect place for a bed and breakfast like this the moment they set foot in the door. While their Bennington property was "very nice," says Elise, it lacked the access to the lake provided by the Alton location. "We’ve met such nice people," says Elise, "We’ve never had a problem with anyone. I wouldn’t want to run it in a place where you’d have to lock our doors or give out keys."


Tourism and Gas prices: How connected are they?
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
Lakes Region — Tourism is arguably the lifeblood of the Lakes Region. Summer visitors bring a huge amount of the money that Lakes Region town economies depend on. In fact, many businesses only operate in the summer.
And then there’s the price of gas. With gas prices taking a dramatic hike upwards, and demand increasing with travel and children out of school, and the price of tea in China (so to speak), tourism can take a hike in the other direction.
It would certainly seem that very high gas prices, like this year’s, might have a detrimental effect in this state, particularly in the Lakes Region. Has it?
Margaret Joyce, of the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism, says that there’s a somewhat vicious cycle at work. "Gas prices don’t effect tourism, tourism just drives gas prices higher." So the higher the demand for gasoline is, the higher the prices. Joyce further explains that the increase in prices "is only a minute portion of their (a vacationing family’s) entire budget." She also pointed to the fact that more people are now taking more frequent and shorter vacations, such as three day-weekends, rather than a traditional summer-long or two-week vacations. Joyce also points out that statewide, 80 percent of the tourism comes from Massachusetts, meaning that virtually anywhere in the state is only a one-day drive away or less for its most frequent tourists.
There is some evidence on the ground that this summer might be a little different than previous ones, however. Caleb Gagne, director of rooms at the Wolfeboro Inn in Wolfeboro says, "People are being more careful about how they spend their money." He also remarks that "in some ways we are affected, but the people who come here are going to come here (regardless of gas prices), they just might spend less when they arrive in town."
Joyce also made a similar point, that often if anything gets cut down on in times of high gas prices, it might be special things such as going out for ice-cream.
Sal Nicastro of Sal’s Advanced Auto, in Wolfeboro, said, "my sense is that there aren’t as many travelers this summer," and added that he often has seen license plates from places as far south as the Carolinas, Virginia and New Jersey, in the past, but has not seen as many this year. But there might be another cause for the drop in business for Nicastro, he said.
"Its really hard to tell right now because of the traffic," meaning that the traffic caused by the work along Main and Center Streets may also be at fault for keeping customers away. "We’re nowhere near normal right now," Nicastro says.
While there does seem to be the belief among many that high gas prices are the fault of station owners, several gas stations that we spoke to refuted this. A manager at the Barnstead Country Store, which sells Mobil Gas, says that the prices for the store are set by the company that provides the station with its gasoline. "If gas prices go up, its not necessarily good for business," he said.
Gas station owners often are hurt just as much as consumers if gas prices increase. The profit margins are often lower as prices go higher.
While statewide, gas prices are not affecting tourism greatly, areas of the Lakes Region seem to be getting hit. Linda Matchett, one of the owners of the Tuc’-Me-Inn of Wolfeboro, says that it "definitely has been a softer start of the season for us." But she, like Nicastro, also saw other potential factors for this, "I’m not sure if it’s been the weather or the gas," after looking at her numbers from May."
Whatever it may be, traffic, weather or heat, many businesses in the Lakes Region have been having less than their typical summer fun so far. But it’s only June.


By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
ALTON — The June 21 Alton Planning Board meeting continued a pattern that has been developing: multi-night sessions.
Last month’s meeting featured such a heavy case load and discussion of those cases, that discussion had to be moved over two nights, including the regular third Tuesday meeting and then finishing the following day. The June 21 meeting also featured a heavy caseload, one that was spread over two weeks, with the board meeting again to discuss cases June 28 (look for coverage in the July 7 Baysider).
The June 21 meeting featured discussions on cases including boundary line changes, conceptual review and the creation of a three-lot subdivision. Perhaps the longest discussion of the night related to the applications submitted by David Livingston for his property on Woodlands Road.
At its last meeting, the board did not accept Livingston’s applications because certain of outstanding questions regarding the status of Woodlands Road itself. The town attorney said that the board could indeed review this particular case because the road bisected the lot. The attorney for Livingston said that the land underneath the road was, in fact, owned by Mr. Livingston, and that the town only had an easement on the road.
Other issues related to the property included questions about whether or not the property was complying with state and local wetland rules and whether proper fees had been paid. The board, after having satisfactory answers to these questions (conditions of their approval of the applications), concluded with the application for a two-lot subdivision.
The Board also accepter an application by Dennis and Susan Gray for a three-lot subdivision, and scheduled site walk for the lot, and continued the applications discussion to the July 19 meeting.
The board also voted to continue the discussion of an application for a 19-lot subdivision to be built by Wentworth Cove Realty. Representatives of the company said that the subdivision would involve the extension of Pearson Rd. as well as the creation of the 19 lots. The application was originally accepted in November of 2004 and had been continued since then.
The attorney for the applicants informed the board that some changes had been made since the November site walk – a conflict with an abutter caused the applications to change the location of a road and also lessen wetland impacts. Abutters spoke at the meeting, including James Bureau, who hoped that the board would take a close look at how the existing cul-de-sacs in the area would be effected by the subdivision.
Other approvals included Alton Heights, LLC’s application to change the ownership of the home on the property to condominiums from a single multi-family dwelling.


Selectmen discuss road swap, plan to honor Drew
By Jim Shilander
Staff Writer
BARNSTEAD — Often times the best part about living in a small town is that certain people always are around to help people and take care of the needs of the town. For 25 years in Barnstead, Eleanor Drew has been such a person.
Drew, who will be retiring this week, will be honored at an open house in Town Hall from 2 to 4 p.m. July 1, it was announced at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting. Four of the members of the board who were present at the time offered their own remembrances of Drew and offered their thanks. Jack O’Neil said simply "We can never thank you enough for your services to the town of Barnstead." He also described Drew as "a constant source of inspiration and of help." Frank Sullivan echoed O’Neil’s sentiments by saying that Drew "had been more than a friend," during his time as a selectmen, and that she "exemplifies what a small town is about." Mike Akstin said that Drew was always willing to look out for everyone in Barnstead, pointing out that she would help take care of both the year-round residents and seasonal residents, and saying simply "we’re going to miss you."
The Board then discussed road issues with Mark Morrill of the Department of Transportation. Much of the discussion centered on whether the town and state would be willing to make a trade giving the town the rights to Parade Rd. from Route 28 and around Barnstead Parade to the Suncook River (including the bridge) in exchange for a piece of property owned next to the highway garage. The discussion centered on what rights the town would have to the gravel in the area and what arrangements they might be able to make with the state regarding it.
Another issue discussed involved the Proctor’s corner area – a road that has been used for many years as a right-of-way has been fenced in by the owner of the property. Morrill suggested writing the Bureau of Right-of-Ways for clarification, especially since, as Ed Tasker pointed out at the meeting, the area has been used as a right-of-way since 1934, and used continuously since. Tasker also said that state trucks had used the road in the past as well. O’Neil added that the owner had originally said he was going to try and improve the area, and now had blocked it off.
Morrill was also asked about whether the town could get on a list of towns looking for state help in improving traffic safety at corners. The corners of Peacham Rd. and the intersection of North Barnstead Rd. and Rte. 28 were especially hazardous, according to the board. Gordon Preston described the prospects of making a left turn from North Barnstead Rd. onto Route 28 as "lethal." He also pointed out that the town’s traffic pattern has changed, especially since the building of Prospect Mountain High School. Morrill added that the board should draft a letter to the Lakes Region Planning Commission regarding their concerns as well, given the importance of Barnstead as a kind of gateway to the Lakes Region along Rte. 28.
Jim Locke then appeared before the board to discuss a tax that had been levied to him of approximately $16,000. Locke told the board about some of the hard times faced by he and his family that included a lien by the IRS, which was eventually settled. Now, Locke was hoping to make a settlement with the town on the tax bill, in the hopes that he would put in at least one home on the four lots in the future. Tasker suggested that if he donated the lot closest to the dam to the Conservation Commission, where it might be used for a park or other purpose in lieu of paying the money. That way, Tasker reasoned, he could still build on the three remaining lots. While nothing was decided at the meeting regarding this issue, Locke also mentioned that if he decided to settle with the town, he would be looking to reduce his bill to around $12,000. The board also agreed to freeze the interest on the bill, so it would remain at $15,996.85, until the situation was resolved.
Several other issues were also discussed at the meeting. Tasker pointed out that a budget committee meeting was held last Wednesday without proper posting of the meeting, and without he, the selectmen’s representative to the committee, being informed. He urged that a memo be sent to the committee to remind them that this was an illegal meeting, and that email communications between members where business was discussed would also be an illegal meeting. The board also was informed that Rev. Brian Gower’s Center Barnstead Christian Church had volunteered to do the labor for the installation of the handicap-accessible ramp at the police station, which would save the town approximately $2,500.
Website proposals will be reviewed by Preston and O’Neil, who will be assisted by a member of the CRT. Sullivan, Akstin and Tasker were assigned to work on the water ordinance as well as excavation and burning. Another firm bought out the company that charged the town’s fire extinguishers; Tasker suggested finding out whether or not Barnstead was still considered a costumer.