Littleton Leadership. Following Pushback, New Town Manager Takes Over. Page 3 - Seven Years of Stories - Townnews
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COMMUNITY VOICES
Seven Years
of Stories
THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021 Page 9
Cyan Magenta Yellow Black
Littleton Leadership. Following Pushback,
New Town Manager Takes Over. Page 3
2 The Record Thursday, April 15, 2021
North Country: Landfill Buffer Bill Passes House, Moves To Senate
Monday. “It took eight different votes to get the bill through … percent, according to the notice) could come from outside New
BY ROBERT BLECHL
There were a lot of Republicans working to get it passed, as well Hampshire in the New England region.
Staff Writer
as Democrats, and we thank the Republicans who helped get it In 2019, Casella entered into an option to purchase land from
passed. I am pleased it will see the light of day again and move Douglas Ingerson Jr., who owns 1,900 acres around the pro-
In a surprise turnaround, the landfill buffer bill that a New
on to the Senate.” posed landfill site.
Hampshire House of Representatives committee in February vot-
Advancing HB 177 in the New Hampshire Senate will be state Landfill impacts to the region’s tourist industry were concerns
ed inexpedient to legislate (ITL) found new life on Friday and
Sen. Erin Hennessey, R-Littleton, a co-sponsor. among a number of lawmakers who spoke in support of HB 177
now moves to the Senate.
“I will be working with my fellow senators on both sides of the on Friday, said Massimilla.
House Bill 177, sponsored by several local lawmakers, seeks
aisle to gather support and address any concerns,” she said. “I will “They said we drive north not to see transmission lines or
to prohibit any new landfill within two miles of the boundary of
also be reaching out to governor’s office, which is an important landfills, but beauty and nature,” she said. “The other piece of it
any state park.
part of this.” is we take other states’ refuse and that can be a problem, espe-
On Feb. 17, the House Environment and Agriculture Commit-
Like many lawmakers and citizen supporters of HB 177, Hen- cially where we know they don’t examine every single truck.”
tee voted 10-9 to against recommending the bill to the full House.
nessey was surprised that the bill made it out of the House on In addition to Egan and Hennessey as co-sponsors, HB 177’s
But during a marathon House session on Friday, HB 177 was
Friday. lead sponsor is state Rep. Edith Tucker, D-Randolph, with other
ultimately revived, though not before skittering a number of times
“I think a lot of the people who voted against the bill saw it as a local co-sponsors including freshman state Rep. Dennis Thomp-
to near death again, at least for the 2021 legislative session.
property rights versus environmental impact issue,” she said. “But son, R-Stewartstown; state Rep. William Hatch, D-Gorham; and
State Rep. Tim Egan, D-Sugar Hill, a bill co-sponsor, called
we have to look at this as everybody’s property rights and and not state Rep. Larry Laflamme, D-Berlin.
the votes that led to its passing like being in a fight and going the
just the environmental impact and not just one landowner’s rights. On Tuesday, Thompson said he supports HB 177 not solely
full 15 rounds.
For all property owners in the surrounding area and lovers of the for the impact it would have for Forest Lake State Park, but for
On Friday, there was an effort to table every bill that was ITL’d.
outdoors, this is a big win.” all state parks.
After slowly beginning to table all of the bills previously ITL’d,
Many area residents have voiced concerns about a proposed “Everbody thinks it’s a local thing and it isn’t,” he said.
state Rep. Renny Cushing, D-Hampton, special-ordered HB 177
180-acre commercial landfill by Casella Waste Systems beside “I’ve got 194 emails about this bill, 189 positive ones and five
to the floor, where the order passed 282-72.
Forest Lake State Park in Dalton, a project they said would negative ones. It was clear to me through the emails that this
A motion to table HB 177 was made, but was defeated 183-174.
have environmental, pollution and public health impacts from is about the parks, Forest Lake and all the rest of them. It isn’t
A vote on a subsequent motion to ITL the bill lost in a 187-171
possible leaks into groundwater and local waterways, odor and just about the landfill.”
vote.
noise, increased heavy truck traffic, and adverse impacts on the If the Casella landfill isn’t approved for the land beside For-
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A vote to add an amendment to HB 177 passed 251-104.
region’s quality of life and Forest Lake State Park as a tourist est Lake State Park, a future landfill could be proposed near
A vote on a further motion to indefinitely postpone the bill was
attraction. another New Hampshire state park, said Thompson.
defeated 201-156.
In a February notice from Casella to abutters, the company Lawmaker supporters who voted in favor of HB 177 include
In the end, HB 177 as amended passed in a 197-159 vote.
estimates that 1,300 tons daily, equating 468,000 tons of waste state Reps. Troy Merner, R-Lancaster, and Matt Simon, R-Lit-
A final House vote on a motion to reconsider the bill was de-
annually, would be buried in Dalton during a period of several tleton.
feated 209-144.
decades, for a total of 14 million tons or more during the life of On Monday, Casella spokesman Joe Fusco was asked if the
Egan called the House vote “a true bipartisan effort.”
the landfill. company was surprised by the House vote, what it believes led
“It was a battle,” state Rep. Linda Massimilla, D-Littleton, said
Up to nearly half of all waste imported to Dalton (up to 49 to the vote in favor of the bill, and how specifically Casella
will be lobbying against HB 177 at the statehouse.
“We continue to believe this is bad legislation, potentially
FURNITURE & FLOORING MATTRESS GALLERY WINDOW FASHIONS unconstitutional, and most certainly unnecessary given New
Hampshire’s current siting criteria,” he said. “We will continue
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to advocate vigorously against this bill for those reasons, and
reasons we’ve stated before, which have not gone away.”
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The state already has a rigorous regulatory system in place
THE MOMS IN to oversee landfill siting and there will be a significant decline
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co.
“Proposed legislation such as this, which seeks to target a
APRIL 16–26, 2021 single business entity and/or industry in a unique location, sets
25
a dangerous precedent for future policymakers in the state,”
he said. “It will effectively stop the development of a landfill
project which is years into the process. This will result in just
one privately-owned commercial landfill in operation in New
ALL FURNITURE & Hampshire, eliminating competition, driving up overall costs
HOME FURNISHINGS and carbon impacts (due to increased transportation distances)
EXCLUDES WINDOW FASHIONS,
FLOORING & MATTRESSES to New Hampshire communities throughout the state.”
Others feel differently, among them Eliot Wessler, president
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FOR QUALIFIED BUYERS “NCABC expected the vote on HB 177 to be close, but we
were never discouraged because we knew that it is a very good
bill,” Wessler said after the vote. “It’s simple; it solves a prob-
We’ll be masked & we ask that you lem that needs a legislative fix, it doesn’t trample on anyone’s
are too. If you need to shop without rights, and it doesn’t cost New Hampshire taxpayers a cent.
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We are truly grateful to the sponsors of the bill and all of our
can assist you!
802 Railroad Street supporters in the House, who fought very hard … And we are
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
(802) 748-8725 grateful to a veritable army of New Hampshire voters who
MONDAY – SATURDAY 9 AM TO 5 PM, SUNDAY 11 AM TO 5 PM MayosFurniture.com wrote letters, made calls, sent texts, and discussed the bill with
House members for hours — they worked so hard to make this
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Thursday, April 15, 2021 The Record 3
New Town Manager Begins Job, Board Appoints New Selectman
and used some words that were misinterpreted and ager. Two expressions of interest came from former
BY ROBERT BLECHL
that he shouldn’t have used and that he is not a racist. On Tuesday afternoon, the petition had 543 area selectmen Bill Latulip and Franco Rossi.
Staff Writer
His arrest for battery and disorderly conduct was residents who signed, not all of them from Littleton. The town did not hear directly from Sweeney or
dismissed by Lake County, Florida prosecutors in Addressing concerns during the March 29 board selectman’s candidate Rudy Gelsi, Gendreau said
LITTLETON — The new town manager made a
November for lack of evidence, and a video of the meeting, Selectmen Roger Emerson said Gleason’s Tuesday.
quiet debut as the opposition that turned out against
incident, cited by Littleton critics of Gleason, shows town manager contract comes with a probationary (In March 2021, Gendreau netted 667 votes to
him at the March 29 selectmen’s meeting did not
Gleason in a heated exchange with the councilwom- period. Sweeney’s 289 votes. Gelsi landed 53 votes. In
materialize for his introduction by selectmen at their
an, but no evidence that he touched her. Selectmen said they checked Gleason’s referenc- March 2018, Gendreau netted 543 votes to Swee-
meeting on Monday, his first day on the job.
He said he regrets that he lost his cool that day es and spoke with his co-workers. ney’s 333 votes. Gelsi landed 148).
During the March 29 meeting, dozens of res-
and called it the worst 15 minutes of his professional New Selectman Out of their choices for the new selectman, Gen-
idents turned out to put the heat on selectmen for
career. During Monday’s meeting, Gendreau and Emer- dreau and Emerson appointed Bratz to fill out the
their hiring of Jim Gleason, formerly the city man-
After Littleton selectmen publicly announced son also appointed a new selectman to serve out the remaining year until the March 2022 town election.
ager of Mascotte, Florida.
their hiring of Gleason, they said he was open and one year remaining in the term of former Selectman They cited Bratz’s experience and they also reap-
Gleason was still in Florida on that day.
upfront about his past and that he was selected out of Chad Stearns, who resigned his seat in March. pointed him as town zoning officer and town health
On Monday, when he was seated beside select-
the total 14 applicants because of his management The board received two written applications, one officer. Bratz, who was unable to attend Monday’s
men, his critics who had previously argued that
experience and positive job interviews, and they from two-term selectmen Milton Bratz, who served meeting, was sworn in as selectman on Tuesday.
incidents in his background make him unfit to be
stand behind their decision to hire him. from 2012 to 2018 and was interim town manag- “We also want to thank Milton Bratz,” said Gen-
Littleton’s next town manager, were largely absent,
A few days after it was confirmed that Gleason er until Monday when Gleason began the job, and dreau. “He was our interim town manager for the
and none showed up to voice their concerns directly
was hired, Sweeney launched an online petition to former longtime planning board member Linda last few weeks and did an absolutely phenomenal
to Gleason.
stop Gleason from being Littleton’s next town man- MacNeil. job.”
“I would like to introduce you to our new town
manager, Jim Gleason,” said Car-
rie Gendreau, chair of the Board
You are safe in our care
of Selectmen. “Jim Gleason has
over 20 years of municipal man-
agement experience. Jim holds a
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master’s of art in public adminis-
tration from Webster University.
This is just one of many things
at Littleton Regional Healthcare.
that he has accomplished over
the last few decades - he has fos-
tered a business environment that Delaying chronic disease maintenance, routine screenings, and vital surgical procedures is not
supported swift economic devel- recommended and may lead to worsening conditions, delayed intervention, or prolonged recovery.
opment, lowered tax rates, and
achieved zero debt within seven
years, and built reserves up to $2.5 We always have measures in place to keep our patients safe, including sterile operating rooms and the
million. We look forward to work-
ing with Jim, and Jim, welcome to use of proper personal protective equipment for all LRH personnel.
Littleton.”
The handful of residents in at-
tendance offered applause.
Leading the charge against his
hiring was Littleton resident Chris
Sweeney, co-owner of the Crumb
Bum Bakery, a Littleton Zoning
Board of Adjustment member,
and a 2018 and 2021 selectman’s
candidate, and Jim Alden, a Fran-
conia resident who owns Chutters
candy store.
Among the things they cit-
ed was a discrimination lawsuit
filed against Gleason by an Afri-
can-American woman and former
Mascotte city employee in 2014,
an arrest in August 2020 after an
altercation with a Mascotte city
councilwoman, and questionable
High staff vaccination rates combined with
social media postings, including
derogatory comments against
Mascotte and the councilwoman.continued use of personal protective equipment
The lawsuit was settled in
2015.
ensures patient safety is our top priority
Gleason told The Caledo-
nian-Record in March that he was
trying to instruct his co-workers
on systemic racism in the country 600 St. Johnsbury Road, Littleton, NH 03561| (603) 444-9000 | www.littletonhealthcare.org
4 The Record Thursday, April 15, 2021
Obituaries
Constance M. “Connie” Connie was a long-time parishioner of St. sons in Whitefield, N.H. Lucille was born in homemaking responsibilities she worked as
Paul’s Episcopal Church in Lancaster. She Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, to Auguste and the bookkeeper for the family’s business, Tu-
Cardinal was a member of the Lancaster Historical Alphonsine (Belleau) Letendre. Lucille was ite Painting. In addition to her husband she
Constance M. “Connie” Cardinal, 96, died Society and Friends of the Library. Many one of seven children. She was predeceased was predeceased by her son Bruce, grand-
Tuesday afternoon, March 30, 2021 at The hours of her life were spent volunteering at by her husband Robert Tuite, to whom she daughters Elaine and Nicole, brothers Allen
Morrison in Whitefield. Weeks Memorial Hospital. She was an avid was married on May 12, 1945 in Sherbrooke. and Paul as well as sisters Jeanette, Gilberte,
Connie was born in Lancaster on April 12, quilter and loved to read. She confessed that They met on a blind date and remained mar- and Gertrude.
1924 the daughter of her only regret in life was that she would not ried for 71 years. Lucille is survived by sons John Tuite
William and Esther get to read “all the books.” They dreamed of (Jane) of Littleton, N.H., Paul Tuite of Lis-
(Merrow) Rines. She Surviving family members include a son moving to the United bon, N.H., Mike Tuite (Kathy) of Califor-
grew up on Catbow William J. Cardinal of Lancaster; a daughter States. They arrived nia; daughters Maureen Magnuson (Bob) of
Farm at Martin Mead- Charlotte Sweeney of Gouldsboro, Maine; in Twin Mountain, Tiverton, R.I., Linda Dallaire (Norman) of
ow Pond and was a and a grandson Benjamin Cardinal. She was N.H. in 1946, two Londonderry, N.H., Karen Jubert (Mike) of
lifetime resident of predeceased by her brother William “Bidge” weeks prior to the Nashua, N.H., brother Jean Denis of Canada,
Lancaster. She grad- Rines. birth of their first 21 grandchildren, several great-grandchil-
uated from Lancaster A memorial service will be held at a later child Maureen. Lu- dren, and nieces and nephews.
Academy in 1941. date. cille was a homemak- A walk through will take place at the
She married the late Donations may be made in her memory er who loved caring Ross Funeral Home, on Saturday, April 10,
John S. Cardinal in Constance Cardinal Lucille Tuite
to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Women or to for her family of sev- 10 to 11 a.m. followed by a Mass of Chris-
1948 and resided at Weeks Memorial Library. en children. She took great pleasure in sew- tian Burial at 11:30 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima
Holton Park (formerly Prospect Park) for 60 Arrangements are under the direction of ing clothes for her children and herself, cook- church with Father Mark Dollard officiating.
years. Bailey Funeral Home, 210 Main St., Lancast- ing for family gatherings, and took particular Burial will follow at the St. Rose Cemetery.
During her years of employment, Connie er. For more information or to send an online joy in crocheting afghans for her daughters Social distancing and masks are required at
worked for Western Union, and as a tele- condolence please go to www.baileyfh.net. and granddaughters. She and Bob enjoyed both facilities. The family wishes to extend
phone operator, then held a position at the making pickles together. Whenever the op- sincere thanks to the staff of Morrisons Nurs-
Lancaster National Bank. She was also a portunity arose to visit with her siblings from ing Home for the loving care extended to Lu-
personal secretary to the late Sinclair Weeks. Lucille L Tuite Canada she had a sparkle in her eye as she cille. To offer your condolences to the family
She retired following her work as Deputy Lucille L Tuite, 98, of Littleton, N.H.,
passed away on April 4, 2021 at the Morri- either traveled to Canada or prepared for please visit www.rossfuneral.com.
Clerk of the Superior Court. their arrival at her home. In addition to her
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6 The Record Thursday, April 15, 2021
News Briefs
Time Is Of Essence In Replacing … If they fail, we’re in deep doo doo,” she said. It consisted of two virtual sessions, a public comment period,
The town’s wastewater treatment plant, at 323 Meadow St., and and a walk-through vote. It required approval of Article 2, which
Wastewater Treatment Pump obtains its operating permits and discharge elimination system per- OK’d temporary optional town meeting procedures allowed by
mits from the state and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. House Bill 1129 during the COVID State of Emergency.
LITTLETON — A failure of one of the two primary pumps at The facility has a design flow for 1.5 million gallons per day and However, Article 2 was voted down 409-264.
the wastewater treatment plant is leaving the town scrambling to discharges treated effluent to the adjacent Ammonoosuc River. As a result, the entire warrant failed and every request, includ-
find a contractor who can complete what will be about a six-month ing the proposed $4.6 million operating budget and over $59,000
emergency replacement job at a cost of up to $800,000. for social service organizations, was rejected. Days later, Select-
“Time is of the essence, ” Carrie Gendreau, chair of the Board
Haverhill: Push For In-Person men voted to adopt the default budget.
of Selectmen, said during the board’s meeting on Monday. “If these Meeting Appears To End Leading up to the virtual town meeting, a group of residents
fail, we’re in trouble.” called on voters to reject Article 2, and demanded that Selectmen
On March 2, the board voted unanimously to authorize an emer- HAVERHILL — No do-over. schedule a traditional in-person town meeting, to allow for floor
gency expenditure of up to $800,000. The Board of Selectmen won’t pursue an in-person, Special debate, discussion, and amendment on multiple controversial
On Monday, April 12, Littleton Department of Public Works di- Town Meeting to reconsider the 2021 warrant. warrant articles.
rector Doug Damko said he is now working to put the project out Following a public push for an in-person meeting, Selectmen They continued that push after Article 2 failed.
to bid through requests for proposal to find the best company and on Monday, April 12, indicated they would continue with the de- ‘EXTREMELY UNLIKELY’
competitive pricing, and the town is seeking emergency authoriza- fault budget, rather than revisit the 33-article warrant that was Mitchell, the Town Council, said on multiple occasions that
tion from the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administra- torpedoed by Town Meeting voters last month. Haverhill was extremely unlikely to meet the legal requirements
tion to expend the money. That decision was supported by Town Counsel Walter Mitchell, to hold a special town meeting.
The town’s sewer fund balance, which has money available for whose legal opinion remained unchanged. He said that Haverhill Graham had submitted a dissenting legal opinion to the Select
capital improvements, currently has a little more than $1 million in would be hard-pressed to obtain Superior Court approval for a Board on March 29, arguing that HB 1129 lacked clarity, and pro-
unreserved funds. Special Town Meeting. vided more flexibility than the town was willing to admit.
At the moment, the plant is functioning well with the one pump. Fred Garofalo, Chairman of the Select Board, indicated the However, Mitchell responded that — despite confusion over
“The other pump is working fine and handling spring runoff,” matter was settled. the wording and structure of House Bill 1129 — the legislation
said Damko. “So leave it as it is, we have a [default] budget approved,” he was clear that rejection of Article 2 equaled a binding town meet-
The situation is tenuous, though, as both pumps are more than 30 said. ing decision.
years old and past their life expectancy. Meanwhile, Mike Graham, a newly elected Select Board mem- To undo that, the town would have to clear a significant hurdle
“We’ve already made the decision to replace both pumps … ber who strongly supported a Special Town Meeting, appeared to They would have to convince the New Hampshire Superior Court
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[and] we’re running on borrowed time while this is still working,” wave the white flag. that voters didn’t have the opportunity to decide on the warrant
said Damko. “We would like to have the opportunity to wait for a “If this is the decision of the board — I guess the decision has articles. However, that opportunity was already granted at this
grant, but we don’t have that luxury.” already been made — then we need to drop the matter and move year’s town meeting — and it was rejected, Mitchell said.
In 2013, the pumps had problems, he told selectmen in March. on,” he said. In a legal opinion, Mitchell wrote, “HB 1129 clearly states if
They are sealed units and cannot be fully inspected and it makes REJECTION OF ‘VIRTUAL’ the optional provisions [Article 2] are not approved by a simple
sense to replace them both as they are not repairable, said Damko. The Board of Selectmen chose to hold a virtual Town Meeting majority, all other warrant articles are disapproved.”
Each pump costs about $290,000. in the interest of public safety during COVID-19. The plan was Following conversations with the head of the state Department
“There’s no way to repair it,” said Gendreau. “It’s all or nothing approved months earlier and re-approved shortly beforehand. of Revenue Administration’s municipal division, and their in-
house attorney, Mitchell said there was no way to make the “log-
ical leap to the conclusion that no town meeting has taken place.”
FURNITURE & FLOORING MATTRESS GALLERY WINDOW FASHIONS Graham maintained that voters rejected Article 2 seeking an
in-person town meeting and that HB 1129 was poorly worded.
April Showers APRIL 16–26, 2021 However, after Monday’s discussion, he wasn’t eager to launch
a potentially costly legal challenge, especially given the long
20
odds.
Mattress Sale! % “I think we would be fighting an uphill battle the entire way,”
he said.
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OFF Garofalo, the chairman, said he shared Graham’s frustrations
with the HB 1129 language.
ON A SPECIAL MATTRESSES “Hopefully next year this won’t happen again, and if it does,
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Thursday, April 15, 2021 The Record 7
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Lancaster, New Hampshire
8 The Record Thursday, April 15, 2021
Hiking Initiative Resumes Supple is an 18-year old freeskier from Brentwood and the
first participant in the NH PANTHER’s Black Excellence Fund
Social Justice Push and Storytelling Project. The Cowsuck Band have worked to
save and preserve indigenous and sacred places.
Summits In Solidarity is back. Donations can be made at gofundme.com/f/summits-in-soli-
Launched last summer, the social justice effort is now ac- darity-2021-fundraiser
cepting registrations for its second installment. The inaugural event raised $8,500 for Outdoor Afro, an or-
Those interested can visit SummitsInSolidarity.org and com- ganization dedicated to connecting black people with nature.
plete a sign-up sheet to choose their hiking destination. MORE THAN WORDS
Hike day is Saturday, June 26. To ensure it was more than “performative activism,” Ryan
Summits In Solidarity was founded to support the BIPOC also required last year’s participants to make commitments to
(black, indigenous, and people of color) outdoors community. self-education, financial support and community actions.
Groups of hikers — BIPOC and white allies — will summit This year, participants are asked to educate themselves on
peaks across New Hampshire and elsewhere in a sign of, well, systemic racism, and white participants are encouraged to com-
solidarity. plete the 28-day “Me and White Supremacy” challenge.
They will carry with them signs that say “Summits and Soli- Being white, Ryan admitted to making mistakes when she
darity” (or other messages in support) and post photos to social launched the initiative.
media. The event aims to bring attention to, and promote ac- During last year’s burgeoning social justice movement, she
ceptance of, non-white outdoorspeople. said, she sometimes learned lessons the hard way. Still, she
Serena Ryan, owner of The Notch Hostel in North Wood- said, she pressed forward.
stock, co-founded Summits In Solidarity following the death of She called the work vital. And, with police officer, Derek
George Floyd. The inaugural event drew over 50 hiking parties. Chauvin on trial for Floyd’s murder, it remains as vital as ever.
This year’s event aims to attract more. In December she wrote, “The past six months have been
“Summits in Solidarity’s first event occurred last June in the a humbling experience for me and my small organization. I
wake of George Floyd’s murder and the ensuing worldwide dove head first into self-education, community engagement,
protests against police brutality and racial injustice. Since then, and partnership work surrounding racial justice issues, includ-
a lot of people with the privilege to leave conversations about ing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the outdoors. The Notch
race have done so. But the conversation has not stopped. It has Hostel and our racial justice initiative, Summits in Solidarity,
expanded. And it’s never too late to rejoin it,” Ryan said. are now part of a new collective of social justice organizations
FINANCIAL SUPPORT in New Hampshire’s North Country, and we are continuing to
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Participants are encouraged to make donations. do work every day to dismantle White supremacy and uplift
This year funds will go towards two recipients: Keegan Sup- BIPOC outdoor enthusiasts in New Hampshire’s White Moun-
ple and the Cowsuck Band of the Pennacook-Abenaki People. tains.”
News Briefs COVID cases over the past week.
As of Monday, Littleton reported a re-
new owner of the Littleton Area Learning
Center, where it plans to expand its White
Continued from Page 6 cord 40 cases, the second-highest active Mountains Community College presence
case total north of Concord (Laconia was in the community.
well, it’s finally arrived here in Haverhill,” first with 47). On March 31, the CCSNH closed on the
said Aldrich. Meanwhile, there were 20 cases in Ber- 4.7-acre property at 646 Union St. that for
The effects have been felt across the lin, 9 in Lyman, 11 in Bethlehem, 9 in Ly- two decades had been jointly owned by
community. man, 6 in Lancaster, 5 in Carroll, and at the Littleton Industrial Development Corp.
Exposures, positive cases, and pre- least one in Bath, Colebrook, Franconia, and Northern Community Investment
cautionary quarantines have temporar- Gorham, Jefferson, Lincoln, Lisbon, Mi- Corp. and leased to the WMCC.
ily closed businesses, Woodsville High lan, Monroe, Northumberland, Piermont, “We officially own the property and
School, and the town offices. Pittsburg, and Whitfield. we’re excited about it,” Chuck Lloyd,
Woodsville High went remote through More concerning than the numbers were WMCC president, said April 12.
April 9 and the Town Manager’s Office the positive test rates. Also excited is Greg Eastman, president
will be closed to the public through Mon- As of Sunday, North Country communi- of the nonprofit LIDC, who said local in-
day, April 19. (Those staff will quarantine ties had the four of the five highest positive dustry and manufacturers and community
and work remotely due to direct, pro- test rates in New Hampshire: 53.8% in Ly- growth stand to benefit greatly.
longed exposure). man, 35.7% in Carroll, 28.8% in Littleton “I think they are the perfect buyer and
No single incident is to blame, Aldrich and 19.5% in Bethlehem. (Durham was a great community partner,” said Eastman.
said. fourth at 27.8%). “They’ve always shown great leadership
She explained that Haverhill is a close- Other significant 7-day positive test and we’ve always had a very positive
knit community, and people in this corner rates were Whitefield (14.3%) and Haver- working relationship with Dr. Lloyd.”
of the Upper Valley routinely cross paths. hill (11.2%). The first order of business will be com-
While there is no data to explain the Statewide there are 3,384 active cases, pleting some minor renovations in the ex-
surge, Aldrich suggested that COVID fa- with 380 new cases announced on Mon- isting 108,900-square-foot learning center
tigue and “vaccine invincibility” were fac- day. Over the past seven days the state building, to include HVAC upgrades and
tors. has averaged 450 cases per day, a 13% in- cosmetic work.
She urged community members to con- crease over the previous seven days. The plan to expand WMCC opera-
tinue with COVID precautions — wearing tions on the property involves a $5 mil-
masks, washing hands, maintaining social lion capital investment for a brand new
distance and avoiding large gatherings — WMCC Buys Littleton 10,000-square-foot free-standing addition.
in order to prevent the virus’s spread. Area Learning Center “We do have a request in to the state of
It’s not just Haverhill. Rising COVID New Hampshire for capital funding to do
numbers are a statewide issue. LITTLETON — The Community Col- construction on that site,” said Lloyd.
www.northcountryhealth.org
Communities across New Hampshire lege System of New Hampshire is the
have experienced a sharp increase in See News Briefs, Page 9
Thursday, April 15, 2021 The Record 9
News Briefs fore putting the first shovel in the ground in the
spring of 2022, followed by an eight-month
ment initiatives, said Lloyd.
The college, too, will be applying for grants
ones planned through the expanded WMCC.
Currently, WMCC partners with a number
Continued from Page 8 construction period, with the building ready for from the Northern Border Regional Commis- of area manufacturers, many in the Littleton
occupancy and coursework in early 2023. sion and U.S. Economic Development Admin- Industrial Park, which was created in large part
If the money is approved in the capital budget The request before the New Hampshire Sen- istration. through the vision of Paul McGoldrick.
by the close of the 2021 legislative session this ate appears to have support, and WMCC will “We are trying to hedge our bets financially,” In 2017, the Littleton Learning Center, which
summer, WMCC would spend the remainder of also see what other one-time federal stimulus said Lloyd. includes space for WMCC courses as well as for
2021 in planning, design, and groundwork be- funds might be out there for workforce develop- In addition, the Berlin-headquartered WMCC the New Hampshire Department of Employment
is working with the North Country Council to Security, was dedicated to McGoldrick.
help identify other funding streams. The new plans for the property carry forward
COMMUNITY VOICES “We appreciate all of the partners who have McGoldrick’s vision, said Eastman.
supported us and the letters of support from area “We thank the trustees of the Community Col-
industry and the economic development sup- lege System of New Hampshire and Chuck for
Seven Years of Stories port,” said Lloyd. “Congressional and state and
local elected officials have been super-support-
investing in the North Country and our future,”
said Eastman. “The fact that they’ve taken this
I’ve been writing this column gram and then check the news and ive and we appreciate that.” step is so important and it’s a huge step forward
for seven years now. Seven years, go back to Instagram while the The new WMCC building in Littleton will in our future growth.”
one article per month - that’s 84 cursor blinks angrily at me from house in-demand trades programs and accom- The purchase price for all of the land and the
articles! I have them collected in a the blank page. And then I usual- modate about 100 more students. existing main building and back building was
scrapbook, and looking through it ly just start typing, and whatever In January, the CCSNH Board of Trustees $700,000.
this morning, and thinking about is on my mind at that time makes voted unanimously to go forward with the plan
seven years worth of writing (and its way out. My husband often and property purchase. Woodsville Precinct
life), has left me thinking about laughs because he’ll ask me what The 10,000-square-foot advanced technol-
how we mark time, and what we I’m writing about, as I’m typing ogy building that will go behind the existing Disciplined For
leave behind, and how it is that away, and I usually answer “oh, building will provide space for WMCC’s diesel Electioneering Violations
seven years have flown by so I’m not sure yet” even though heavy equipment program, welding, industrial
quickly. BY AMY LAWTON I’m actively putting words down mechanics, and some information technology The Woodsville Fire District received a slap
It was my husband’s idea, ini- MCKEEVER on the page. It never makes itself and manufacturing programs. on the wrist last month for committing election-
tially, to collect the articles each really clear until the end. “We’re really trying to bring the trades to Lit- eering violations.
month, and of course (as I usually do for his Sometimes I find myself wondering – tleton,” Lloyd said in January, when the CCSNH Jane Young, New Hampshire Deputy Attor-
ideas) I kind of pooh–poohed it. Now, I’ve does what I write here in this space even made the official announcement. “We have a
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ney General, determined that Woodsville Fire
come to realize (again, as usual) that he was matter? This feels like a smaller version of shovel-ready project to really increase work- District administrator Kevin Shelton committed
right. Just as many people collect photo- the question that we probably all ask our- force training …” two counts of unlawful electioneering when he
graphs, this dusty scrapbook of articles has selves at some point in our lives: does what I For the past several years, area manufactur- sent out a letter in February asking district vot-
become a written record of memories, and I do matter? Do I matter? ers, including many in the Littleton Industrial ers to support Select Board candidate Michael
cherish it. I often think of stories as both mirrors and Park, have been seeking more employees, and Graham and to oppose Article 2 at the annual
I’ve written about all sorts of things over windows – sometimes, we read or listen to the vision is to equip them with in-demand skills
the years, mostly wrapped up in anecdotes them and it is like looking in the mirror; we through local educational programs, such as the See News Briefs, Page 12
from my life, stories about my family. can take comfort in knowing that others are
There’ve been lots of bits about the seasons experiencing something we are. That can
changing, and hiking mountains, and my help us feel less lonely. Sometimes, reading
garden – all things that matter to me. I’ve or listening to a story can be the total op-
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Sandy Hook, again and again, the passing understand different experiences and what it
years soothing some of the sharpness of that must be like to be someone else. Isn’t this
grief but never erasing it. I’ve written fre- how we develop empathy? Maybe my arti-
quently about home, and a lot about stories, cles over the years have been like that for
listening to them and telling them. And real- you, windows or mirrors, depending. Occa-
ly, that’s what I’ve done each month, pretty sionally, I’ll get a note from someone, say-
much: write down a few stories. ing how much they connected with a story
I’m thankful for the personal details that I had told, or something I had said. In that
are recorded in these articles. As I re-read way, they are adding their story, and I’m the
them, I’m reminded of memories I proba- listener this time. I love that.
bly otherwise would have forgotten. When I It’s mattered to me, having this space to
started writing this column, my son was sev- write all these years, because writing is how
en. Now, he’s about to start high school, and I work through things in my head. I guess
my daughter, who was not even in preschool that I hope it has mattered to you, too, some-
then, will be starting sixth grade in the fall. where along the way.
Seven years is a lot of time, and it has flown, How quickly will the next seven years fly
even though some days have seemed to last by? Will I still be writing this column when
forever. my daughter is a senior in high school? Who COMPLETE VISION CARE
By now, you’ve probably heard enough knows. No matter where I am, though, I hope Along with providing custom eyewear and contact
about the antics of my kids, and don’t really to still be both telling stories and listening to lenses we are committed to providing full spectrum
care that I suck at Halloween or am planting the stories around me. Stories connect us to eye care for your vision health. From routine eye
seeds AGAIN. each other, and if I’ve learned anything over examinations to diagnosis and management of
But still, every month I write down a the past seven years, it’s that connection is ocular disease, our professional staff is here to help. 603-259-1400
few more stories. Usually, I sit down at the the most important thing there is.
computer, knowing I have to get this article Amy McKeever is a teacher and librarian
turned in, no idea what to write about. I gen- at Monroe Consolidated School. She lives in 678 Meadow St. Littleton, NH HometownEyecareNH.com
erally stew around and scroll through Insta- Easton with her family.
10 The Record Thursday, April 15, 2021
Littleton Poutinerie Sells Sundaes On Sunday For Mrs. O
Mrs. O said Monday that it was an honor to have the sundae and you’re committed to their health and happiness, you don’t
BY KATHERINE FIEGENBAUM
(called “Ballin’ For Mrs. O”) named after her and that she wants have to be blood-related … it’s contagious. It’s spread to me, I
Staff Writer
to thank the people who made donations and hopes they enjoyed care for Mrs. O now, I work at the poutinerie, it’s spread to Shan-
the ice cream. non and Ryan indirectly … when you do good things, it’s viral.”
The Northeast Kingdom’s Mrs. O is making it through the pan-
Cawley met Mrs. O himself about five years ago when he was Money raised at the poutinerie will be used to benefit Mrs. O
demic with the help of her family and friends … and some ice
working at the Fairbanks Museum, one of her favorite places, however needed, which Durocher says is entirely generous.
cream lovers across the river that she hasn’t even met yet.
as the director of guest services. He went to open the door for “No one budgets to live into their 100s,” she said.
Constance Olszowy, better known as Mrs.
Mrs. O, her daughter-in-law Laurie Olszowy Though Mrs. O and her three caregivers — Olszowy, Durocher,
O, turned 102 this past September, the Cale-
and granddaughter Megan Durocher and told and Cawley — now fully vaccinated, they still remain vigilant
donian previously reported.
them there was a ramp in the back if they pre- about her and their safety.
Tales of the centenarian have been gracing
ferred. “Running a restaurant is just dangerous right now in general …
the ears of Shannon Shepard and Ryan Fish-
Durocher told him no, Mrs. O wanted to we’ve all been terrified,” said Cawley. “I wear two masks and I
er, who run the Vulgar Display of Poutine in
come on up the steps. sanitize anything that anybody touches in the restaurant because I
downtown Littleton, since September of last
Later that year, Cawley started dating Du- want to keep everybody safe … and I also work with a 102-year-
year when Damon Cawley, one of Mrs. O’s
rocher and has become part of their family old person.”
caregivers, joined their team.
and a caregiver for Mrs. O. Mrs. O herself said that everyone has to do their part to stay
So when the poutinerie ended up with
“I’ve personally never met anybody like safe and keep others safe.
some leftover Super Secret Ice Cream (made
Mrs. O before,” said Cawley on Monday. “I feel safe … or safer, that is,” said Mrs. O, who was born during
by Kristina Zontini in Sugar Hill in collabo-
“Not just being 102 years old, but she’s just the Spanish flu pandemic, of her vaccination. “You never know.”
ration with Broken Spoon in Franklin) after a
a unique individual. She’s one of the kindest, Due to many factors falling into place, Mrs. O was able to
pop-up event on April 1 to celebrate the open-
most good, best people I have ever met in my move home to be with family in December, after living in assisted
ing of BABA YAGA, they decided to put it
entire life. She’s just genuinely of another era.” living for some time.
to good use.
Cawley was a huge fan of the poutinerie, “Being with family is the most important thing,” said Mrs. O.
This past Sunday, April 11, the poutinerie
which opened in Island Pond in August 2019 When asked how she’s been able to get through the COVID-19
had a special dessert option: sundaes for
and then made the jump to Littleton in Sep- pandemic, Mrs. O says, “I eat good, I sleep good, I have people
a $6 minimum donation with all proceeds
tember 2020 to try and survive the pandemic. who care about me and take care of me. To keep going every day,
to benefit Mrs. O. The Thai chili ice cream
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They hired him in September. you’ve got to feel something. I feel so many good things.”
was dipped in chocolate, rolled in dark rus- Constance Olszowy, better known
“I love working there and [Shepard and Durocher said that the three are ecstatic that Mrs. O lives
set chips and topped with all the fixin’s: hot as Mrs. O, enjoying some time
Fisher] are two of the greatest people I’ve with them. The centenarian receives everything at home: home
fudge, strawberry compote, whip cream, wal-
outside last week. (Courtesy pho- ever worked for,” Cawley said. “Sundaes on health nursing, meals and snacks, activities, watching her favorite
nuts, a basil sprig and a cherry on top.
Sunday was a total surprise to me; I just came shows, going for drives, baking desserts, and at the center: time
Shepard said Tuesday that despite the lim- to by Megan Durocher).
to work one day and they said they were go- with family.
ited notice, they have raised $75 for Mrs. O
ing to do it and donate the money to Mrs. O. They see how hard I Durocher said that while it has been quite a challenge to care
and her family — and hope to continue the Sunday Sundae to
work seven days a week to both support them and support Mrs. O for a centenarian during the pandemic, the four have become quite
raise more funds to support the centenarian.
and they think she’s such a character.” the team.
“Since we love Damon and Megan and their family so much,
Cawley said that the poutinerie and others, including local phe- “We have always been family, but you develop another level of
we asked ourselves what we could do to help,” said Shepard.
nomenon Crumb Bar, are trying really hard to create community intimacy when you become a caregiver,” she said. “We have made
in Littleton. a good routine with a healthy dose of spontaneity in the day. Her
“Can we make money and establish a business as young people physical health is as important as her emotional well-being too.
who don’t really have a lot of capital? Can we also give back to She deserves the same level of quality of life as anyone else in
the community? We can do both,” said Cawley, who added that any other stage of life.”
supporting the oldest members of the community is really import- Cawley says that Shepard and Fisher have been encouraging
FREE CHILDHOOD SCREENING ant as most of the time they are forgotten.
“Megan is not even blood-related to Mrs. O; she’s her
Mrs. O to get her own Instagram account for some time and this
past week, the wish came true.
The Littleton School District (SAU 84), is excited to announce a FREE step-granddaughter,” said Cawley. “But when you love somebody Durocher started mrs_o_1918 to share photos, stories and quips
childhood screening on Friday, May 21st for children between the from the centenarian.
ages of birth and 5 years of age residing in Littleton, NH.
“Mrs. O is my absolute favorite person,” said Durocher on
This free screening will be held at the Littleton Head Start located in
the Littleton Learning Center at 646 Union St., Littleton, NH.
Eliminates
Eliminates high Monday in an interview conducted between rounds of Yahtzee.
“She astounds me every day and I have learned so much from her
Childhood specialists will be available to screen:
• Speech and Language Skills
heating
heating bills.
bills. over the past 24 years. I wanted to chronicle her quips, her stories,
and her emotions for others to provide a glimpse into the life of
• Motor Skills
• Academic Skills
Up tto
o
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nstant R
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ebate
a centenarian.”
“She has just experienced so very much in her life, and I got her
• Hearing and Vision Screening
The
The Classic EEdge
dge is the per
perfect
fec
e t ccombination
ombination permission to share those stories and experiences with others,”
The Littleton School District hopes that, through this screening, performance
of p erformance and value
value she added. “I thought Instagram would be the perfect platform,
children in need of any type of early childhood educational services because I really love photographing Mrs. O and looking at her old
can be identified and receive the support they need.
• Easy tto
o operate
operate and easy tto
o main
maintain
tain family photos with her, too.”
Appointments will be taken starting Monday, May 3rd through EPA-Certified,
PA-Certified, clean-bur
• EP clean-burning
ning Durocher could not pronounce the last name Olszowy when
Monday, May 17th. You can call Lakeway Elementary School at (603) • Stainless
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“Mrs. O has outlived her family including one of her sons,”
an appointment with the Mildred C. Lakeway Office Staff.
said Durocher. “Mrs. O has been incredibly resilient and has lived
All children and their caregivers will be screened upon entry in APPALACHIAN well. We are really thankful whenever others help us to care for
accordance to all COVID-19 protocols and procedures. All adults
must wear a mask and children are strongly encouraged to wear a SUPPLY her. Nothing means more than supporting her.”
Mrs. O’s Instagram can be found at instagram.com/mrs_o_1918
mask if possible. Thank you for your help and understanding. St. Johnsbury, Vt. • 802-748-4513 Outdoor
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dealer for details. 16-3011 we all need a little bit of something,” said Cawley.Thursday, April 15, 2021 The Record 11
North Country Native Manages Massive Federal Vaccination Effort
ed, occupies three parking lots at the Metro Station, one for staff New Orleans and surrounding areas in 2005, causing widespread
BY ROBERT BLECHL
parking, one for patient parking and one converted to the actual devastation.
Staff Writer
vaccination center. At the time, she worked for a small consulting firm in D.C.
“We chose this site through coordination with Maryland, fo- specializing in old buildings.
April Cummings is leading a life-saving mission.
cusing on under-served areas,” said Cummings. “This area has FEMA, though, needed people on the Gulf Coast who had her
For the last decade and a half, the 1999 graduate of Littleton
a lot of socially vulnerable people, and that was also part of the technical background.
High School has worked for the Federal Emergency Management
decision.” “One of the big contracting firms for the government asked
Agency, and is now director for FEMA’s Region 3 Mitigation
The area includes many non-English speakers, too, who had to our company if anyone was interested in going for 60 days,” said
Division, which covers five mid-Atlantic states and Washington,
be taken into account. Cummings. “I think I just turned 25. I’m like sure, why not. Six-
D.C.
“We’ve been fortunate to have interpreters on-site in multiple teen years later, I’m still working for FEMA. I love it. There are
Until recently, the projects she’s been involved with took
languages as well as a phone option to reach out to other languag- opportunities that I never dreamed of. I’m not even sure I knew
weeks, months, and sometimes years.
es that we don’t have interpreters on site for,” she said. “We are what emergency management was when I was in grad school.”
The coronavirus pandemic, however, changed that.
trying to communicate in every language and make people feel as One of those opportunities would turn out to be helping people
After supporting a state-run vaccination clinic in Maryland and
comfortable as possible. That’s something we are very conscious during a pandemic.
a short-term federal clinic in Dover, Delaware, Cummings is now
of and want to make sure we are doing the right thing for the cit- “I work in the mitigation division, which is a lot of long-term
the site manager of a massive federal clinic in Greenbelt, Mary-
izens of Maryland.” planning and removing people from risk areas,” said Cummings.
land, just outside of Washington, D.C., that opened this week and
In serving the under-served, accessibility is paramount. “If you’re located in a flood plain, it’s removing them or elevating
is capable of vaccinating up to 3,000 people a day, for a projected
“We also wanted to make sure that we had an acceptable lo- a house so they’re safe from events. Those projects take time and
total of more than 100,000 by the time it closes eight weeks from
cation, meaning people didn’t have to drive long distances to get hours and years in some cases. And here, you’re literally seeing
now.
here,” said Cummings. “It’s on the Metro, so people can take pub- people walk in and then walk out with a smile on their face and
The clinic, currently the only federally-run operation in Mary-
lic transportation. Buses come through here as well and then there you’re seeing exactly what you did on the same day you did it.
land, has been applauded by Maryland state and local officials for
is also room for people to park.” It’s great.”
its effort at vaccine equity.
For the first three weeks, Prince George’s County residents will She encouraged people to get vaccinated.
It will serve a vulnerable population in Prince George’s County,
be given their first shot of the Pfizer vaccine followed by three “It’s important and it’s how we move forward,” said Cum-
Maryland, that has historically been under-served.
weeks of the second Pfizer shot, then the last two weeks of admin- mings, who is now fully vaccinated. “We want everybody to have
The county, hit hard by the pandemic, has the lowest immuni-
istering the one-shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine. access and we want to be able to take our masks off eventually.”
zation rate in the state.
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“Everyone who works for FEMA has the regular day job and
“Quite frankly, this is the best mission I’ve been on,” said Cum-
we also have incident management or support, but all of the work
mings. “It’s instant gratification. You’re seeing someone walking
that I’m doing right now with COVID is outside of my normal
into the vaccination center and walking out with the hope of being Your Community Health Partner Since 1975
day job,” said Cummings.
able to see their grandkids or the family that they haven’t seen in
For a month, prior to Greenbelt, she assisted the state-run
a year. It’s an immediate good thing that we’re doing and it’s a
Maryland vaccination clinic, about 45 minutes away.
wonderful mission to be part of.”
FEMA’s Region 3 covers Pennsylvania (where she lives in
The Greenbelt site, called a Type 2 vaccination site that can
Philadelphia), Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, and
vaccinate up to 3,000 people daily (Type 1 sites can vaccinate
6,000 a day), had a soft opening on Tuesday when 1,000 doses
D.C.
“We have several other big operations going on right now and Ǧ Ǩ
were administered in four hours.
On Wednesday, the first big day 2,000 doses were administered
have a Type 1 site that is in Philadelphia and open right now,”
she said. “We are also doing a soft opening for another site in
in eight hours, roughly 250 per hour.
Philadelphia that’s similar in size to this one here in Maryland.
“Everything went smoothly,” she said. “We did a couple of mi-
FEMA will continue to support these federal sites, but we are also
nor tweaks in process flow, but we were really successful and had
providing financial and personnel support to several other smaller
a really low no-show rate. We vaccinated 96.4 percent of the peo-
sites within each of our states. I anticipate we will continue doing
ple that made appointments, which is high relative to the average
no-show rate.”
that for the foreseeable future. But on June 1 hurricane season
starts and we need to start preparing for hurricane season as well.”
ACHS = Integrated Health Care
Running a site that large takes careful coordination.
It was a hurricane that connected Cummings with FEMA.
Cummings is working with people from a number of agen-
She earned a master’s degree in historic preservation and had Primary Care
cies, including the Maryland Emergency Management Agency,
the primary partner; the Maryland Department of Health; 135
recently finished graduate school when Hurricane Katrina hit Behavioral Health
Air Force personnel from the U.S. Department of Defense who
are conducting medical work, including screening patients; the
Dental & Oral Health
U.S. Department of Agriculture; U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Public
Health Service; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; several members
of the Department of Homeland Security serving in a support role; Ǧ
members of the National Civilian Community Corps, one of three
teams from AmeriCorps involved in the effort; and volunteers ACHS accepts most major insurances,
from various agencies within Maryland. Medicare & Medicaid, and
“You work with a whole bunch of people who you haven’t pre- ơ
viously worked with, but we’re all here for the same exact reason
and that’s to get the job done and do it successfully, efficiently,
Ǥ
effectively, and safely, and I think that makes it easy to work with Call our NEW PATIENT Hotline
everyone,” she said. toll-free at 1.866.201.5076.
All scrambled to set up the clinic at the Greenbelt Metro Sta-
tion.
Established
Ammonoosuc
1901
“We literally started building the site on Friday [April 2]and
putting the tents up,” she said. “By Monday afternoon, we were
doing site walk-throughs. It was a very fast logistical turnaround
Community Health Services
to get the site up and running.” Littleton • Franconia • Warren • Whitefield • Woodsville
603.444.2464 • www.ammonoosuc.org
The Greenbelt clinic, a walk-up site for those being vaccinat-You can also read
