BRADFORD—A mysterious void lies beneath. For nearly a decade, the so-called “vault” under a Main Street sidewalk has vexed town officials. The vast empty cavern is a remnant, some believe, from a fire more than 50 years ago that reshaped one end of the downtown. There is little wistful nostalgia, however, for this pest from […]
ORFORD—A proposed 2021 Orford municipal budget is roughly level-funded with last year’s, according to an overview provided by selectmen at a public hearing last week. Selectboard chair John Adams said the plan for 2021 is approximately $7,000 less than the 2020 budget, despite increases in employee health insurance, wages, and other costs. “We figured out […]
WELLS RIVER—“This year has been like no other for the chamber,” Cohase Chamber of Commerce Board President Andrew Barter said at this year’s annual meeting held on Jan 19. The organization pivoted in response to the pandemic from its regular lineup of activities and tackled projects that strengthened its foundation. Although it produced at least […]
“The postal service is for a variety of good reasons made a public function; but that it results in more economical or efficient management, there is not only no evidence to show but all evidence available contradicts.”—Windham County Reformer, Dec. 27, 1901. The first part of this postal history analysis was published in December and […]
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article refers to statements using explicit language. Readers should be aware that the explicit language is quoted in full in a paragraph on page 8. HAVERHILL—A furor erupted on social media last week after Haverhill Town Manager Brigitte Codling was caught on video using profanity to describe some of the town’s residents. […]
BRADFORD—In the fourth round of voting, the Oxbow Unified Union School District finally has a budget approved for the fiscal year that began over six months ago. In balloting that was completed on Jan. 13, 552 residents in Bradford and Newbury voted to approve the $16,780,183 budget. There were 351 votes against the budget. There […]
WOODSVILLE—School board members were told last week that they may need to raise an additional $1.6 million in revenue even though they have a mostly level-funded budget proposal for 2022. Meeting on Jan. 11, board members reviewed a budget proposal that was $85,000 over the current year’s of $14,568,446. In spite of a nearly level-funded […]
ORFORD—A proposed Rivendell budget would move all of the district’s 6th graders to Rivendell Academy and restore afterschool and summer school programs, but reduce the number of staff in the district by nearly four full-time positions. A public hearing on the draft budget is scheduled for Jan. 19, after this edition’s press deadline. The board […]
MOUNTAIN LAKES—A North Haverhill couple and their three children are homeless after fire ripped through their split-level home at 111 Hilltop View Drive in the Mountain Lakes district on Saturday. Officials said Anne Foldeak, Robbie Schmead, and three children ages 8 to 15, were not home when the fire was reported at 11 a.m., prompting […]
FAIRLEE—A raise in pay for town employees in Fairlee was the major topic of discussion during a budget hearing on Jan. 11. Fairlee Selectboard member Cathy McGrath told the two dozen or so people who had checked into the Zoom meeting that the board had decided not to bestow cost-of-living raises in 2021. Most of […]