GROTON—After Groton voters spurned (132-106) the general fund budget at town meeting on March 1, selectboard members have revised the budget, decreasing it by $22,275.
A special revote will be by Australian ballot on May 25 in the Community Building from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. An informational meeting will be held in the same building on May 23 at 6 p.m.

FAIRLEE—The dusty parking lot next to a one-story building beneath the Palisades has been empty for a month.
But, hopefully, not for too much longer. As the overcast days of April finally parted, Mother’s Day opened up a glimmer of hope for the Fairlee Diner.
Janice Neil of West Topsham posted that it was “a great one” for her on Facebook with a picture of herself standing beneath the Fairlee Diner sign holding her own handwritten message that reads “Coming in June!!” with “Jan’s” replacing “the Gilman’s” in the picture.

Five decades ago, the new interstate highway arrived, opening in Fairlee in 1971, then Bradford in 1972, and eventually Newbury in 1974. The highway’s impact has been economically and socially profound.
In many ways, the history of towns along I-91’s route can be divided into two eras: before and after its arrival.
This is not the first time roadways in the area had significant impact. This column reviews the history of local roads from colonial settlement to the 20th century.

ORFORD–Orford Selectboard members want to reduce the stress on a red-listed bridge that is scheduled to be replaced next year.
Board members voted on April 27 to implement emergency safety measures on the Archertown Road bridge over Jacobs Brook near the village in response to a worsening crack in one of the walls.
The measures include putting up stop signs near the bridge to slow travel speeds and reduce vibration on the bridge. Town officials will narrow travel lanes with concrete jersey barriers and impose a weight limit of 3 tons.

NORTH HAVERHILL—A state prosecutor told a Grafton County judge last week that he expects to seek a Grand Jury indictment against Lance Goodrich, 36, of Lyme in June.
Lance Goodrich has been accused of killing his 25-year-old cousin, Brooke Goodrich, who was found dead at her Route 10 home in Orford on Nov. 20, 2021. He allegedly shot her in the head. He was arrested later that day in Newport, New Hampshire.