Local wood carver brings ‘Bear’ Ridge to life
BRADFORD—A few years ago, Butch Elms and April May Preston-Elms were at the North Haverhill Fair when they came upon a display of hand-carved wooden bears.
Barbara’s Red Stocking celebrates 30 years
FAIRLEE—Barbara’s Red Stocking is celebrating its 30th year of giving Christmas food to families in Fairlee, Orford, West Fairlee, Vershire, and Piermont. Every year since 1994, a crew of volunteers has organized the annual holiday giveaway.
In Times Past, Part II: Women in medicine
In the Nov. 27 edition, I profiled area midwives and nurses dating, working, and living in the area from the 18th century to the 20th century. Midway through the last century, women started to fill the roles of country doctors.
Chinese national sentenced in trafficking case
Wan Yee Ng, a Chinese national who pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to smuggle 29 box turtles in an inflatable kayak across Lake Wallace from Vermont to Canada, was sentenced to time served at the federal courthouse in Burlington on Friday. Chief District Court Judge Christina Reiss handed down the sentence, which included orders of deportation back to Hong Kong.
Rivendell considers delaying school closure
ORFORD—One year after forming a tentative plan to close Samuel Morey Elementary School in the next three years, the school board appears to be slowing down those plans. In a wide-ranging discussion about facilities at the Dec. 3 board meeting, members said they want to “extend the timeline.”
Fairlee housing rehab moves forward
FAIRLEE—The Fairlee Development Review Board unanimously approved proposals for several building projects after a Dec. 11 public hearing with local developer Jonah Richard, doing business as Village Ventures.
Town to ask voters to sell fire truck
WOODSVILLE—The Haverhill Selectboard voted on Monday night to put two articles on the 2025 town meeting warning related to town fire department equipment.
Newbury saffron farm sustains vision of experimentation
NEWBURY—Eager to start a farm and spread their values, a local couple searched long and hard for inspiration. They finally found it by growing the most expensive spice in the world — saffron.
Meeting changes set to go to Rivendell voters
ORFORD—Rivendell voters could take up whether to make changes to the district’s voting procedures.
After a public hearing on Dec. 3, the Rivendell School Board narrowly approved moving proposed amendments to the interstate district’s articles of agreement to voters at the annual district meeting next year.
SAU 23 Board approves budget
NORTH HAVERHILL—The central office will begin employing a social worker in the 2025-2026 school year to be shared among all SAU #23 schools. The new position was included in a budget for the next fiscal year and approved by school board members on the night of Dec. 4 following a public hearing at Haverhill Cooperative Middle School.