News from the Selectboard - Hancock NH
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Volume 6 Published monthly since May 1999 June 2021
News from the Selectboard
Submitted by Kurt Grassett, Chairperson
The Hancock Selectboard meets at 3pm on the first 3 Mondays every month. The 4th Monday was reserved for
a 7pm start time. Beginning in May our 4th Monday meeting will start at 6pm instead of 7pm. We felt this time
change would help our Department heads, while still allowing the public access to evening hours with the
Board.
As I write this it almost 80 degrees and humid. Looks like we went from early spring to early summer, skipping
late spring and, hopefully, a shortened black fly season. Although we have some rain this spring, we have not
had enough to bring us out of near-drought conditions. We are currently in the extended dry period on the NH
Drought Map. Please be aware of your water consumption during this extended dry period, and practice good
water conservation methods.
Norway Pond will be open this summer, we will have staffed lifeguards on duty from 10-5:30 Monday through
Friday. This will begin on July 5th and will run until August 13th. Outside of those hours there will be no life-
guards on duty, please swim with care.
The Summer Recreation Program will be back in full swing this summer. Please register as soon as you can at
https://www.hancocknh.org/recreation-committee/pages/summer-recreation to help them determine the
appropriate staffing needs.
We are still looking for volunteers to help with several committees. The recreation committee needs some
additional help. This committee has several aspects of it, summer recreation, Moose Brook Park, Norway Pond
Beach. You can help with as many, or as few areas as you wish. We can also use some additional support for
our Old Home Day Committee. Please consider giving some time back to our community, many hands make
small work, please consider volunteering, you can contact Jonathan Coyne, townadmin@hancocknh.org, if
you are interested.
The Conval School Board is conducting a survey to help them understand how well they are doing communi-
cating with parents, students, and residents. The survey is located at https://convalsurveys.com/ . Please take a
few minutes to help them understand how you feel. The Town of Hancock sends a check for just over $370,000
to Conval each and every month.
This has the biggest impact on your tax rate, it is imperative their goals and objectives are communicated and
understood by all.
Hancock Happenings
Mission Statement
Hancock Happenings is the monthly newsletter of the Town of Hancock, established in 1999 for the purpose of
publishing news articles by Town Departments and local organizations. The publication is self-supported through
the sale of block and classified ads. Hancock Happenings is not a forum for opinion pieces of any nature, political
advertising and political columns; any such submissions will be edited or rejected.
-2- HANCOCK HAPPENINGS June 2021
Hancock Fire & Rescue
Tom Bates, Chief, Hancock Fire Department
You probably noticed that the Transfer Station was closed We have a couple of new members we need to introduce.
on a Wednesday last May. Hancock Fire & Rescue was Kelley Akerley is our newest member. Kelley is taking
dispatched for a car into the building. We arrived along college courses, however she already comes to us with
with the Police Department and proceeded to handle this emergency education. She took Fire 1 and EMT courses at
emergency situation, This incident required that a patient ConVal. Other interesting things about her are that she
be flown to Dartmouth Medical Center by helicopter. speaks German, loves gardening, and has spent lockdown
During this call we had multiple emergency vehicles enter- with her cat, Agnes.
ing and exiting the scene. For the safety of our responders
Mike Matteson has been around for a little over a year but
and the transfer station workers we had to shut down ac-
is still new to us. Hancock is his first experience with fire-
cess to the dump. Once we had completed our rescue oper-
fighting but he has an interesting background. He used to
ation the area was still closed because of structural damage
work as an ECA/EMT with a volunteer EMS group in Al-
to the building. Now comes my soapbox speech. I heard
vin, Texas for several years. He also worked with canine
that there were quite a few people that were not happy
Search and Rescue for over 12 years studying the Funda-
because they couldn’t get rid of their trash and recyclables.
mentals of Search and Rescue, and The Managing the Lost
Really? There were also some residents who were just “in
Person Incident courses. He has been an Instructor for 26
the way.” I understand everyone wants to see what is going
years in Basic Hunter Education in MA and now in NH,
on. When you see red and blue flashing lights along with
and an Instructor in Map/Compass & Survival for 25 years
big red fire trucks, police vehicles, and ambulances please
with MA Hunter Education. He fired in small-bore and Hi-
give us the space we need to do our job no matter where it
Power Rifle competition for many years, and has a NRA
may be. This is for your safety and ours.
Instructor certification in the areas of Rifle, Pistol, Home
Firearm Safety, Personal Protection in the Home, and as a
Chief Range Safety Officer. He holds an Advanced Ham
When the warmer weather hits, there’s nothing better than
Radio Operator license, operating since 1973, and enjoys
the smell of food on the grill! Grilling should be a safe and
working with electronics, wood, leather, and reloading for
fun experience for everyone. Three out of five households
pistol, rifle and shotgun. Mike likes to cook which is a
own a gas or charcoal grill, which translates to a lot of tasty
good thing because he says “I’m too cheap to eat out very
meals, but it also means there’s an increased risk of home
often”. Mike has two kids. His son teaches philosophy at
fires. So here are a few safety tips. Make sure that your
UNCG, the University in Greensboro, NC, and his daugh-
grill is clean and in good working order. Keep barbecue
ter teaches math at the Junior college, in Alvin, Tx. He
grills far away from anything that can burn --your home,
likes dogs, and lives with his German Shepherd, Schuff.
cars, dry vegetation, etc. NEVER use a grill indoors, in
garages, or in tents. This can pose both a fire hazard and
the risk of carbon monoxide exposure. Stay with the grill Raffle winners for the month:
when lit and keep children and pets well away from the $40.00 – Rick Simpson
area. For charcoal grills, only use starter fluids designed for $20.00 – David Faber
barbecue grills (never use gasoline). For gas grills, always $10.00 – Scott Lester, Char Forsten, Don Lussier
store the gas cylinder outside -away from structures -and
turn off the valves when not in use. Never transport a pro-
pane tank in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. Use
long-handled grilling tools that provide distance from heat
and flames. If you get burned, run cool water over the
burn for 10 to 15 minutes. Safety Tip: Don't use butter or a
salve on burns because these seal in heat and can damage
the tissue further. If you receive a serious burn, with
charred skin, for example, seek medical attention promptly.
Now that you have been warned about the unpleasant
things go grilling and have a good time.
June 2021 HANCOCK HAPPENINGS -3-
Department of Public Works
Tyler Howe, Director
Hancock DPW has been very busy performing spring road maintenance.
Although the weather threw off our schedule we have completed grading of the gravel roads. We have completed
ditching on four roads thus far. Thank you to everyone for your patience while the mobile sweepers completed their
task.
On June 2nd—3rd (Weather Dependent) a contractor will be town to seal various roads, a google group email will be
going out once the final schedule is released. (See below on how to receive google group emails)
DPW also completed spring flushing of the water system. We appreciate your patience through this very important
task.
During the month of June we will begin the Main Street sidewalk project. This project will improve the surface,
drainage and safety. There will be a grey hard pack material installed at grade to improve winter maintenance
operations as well.
There are a lot of new faces in town, we would really appreciate it if you could stress the importance of Google
Group to your neighbors. To join please send an email to hwydept@hancocknh.org requesting membership and you
will be added.
Hancock Water System Users – We need you to help us help you!
Our Town Water systems does not have unlimited supply or capacity. This is especially worrisome in times of
drought and in the summer months. We need everyone who uses town water to help conserve this important resource.
Historically, water usage is 40-50,000 gallons and averages around 70,000 gallons per day in summer.
The Hancock Water System operator reports current water usage of over 100,000 gallons per day. This water usage is
near the maximum yield of the water supply. The more water used the more chlorine and UV bulbs are required for
treatment. Overuse of water for unnecessary reasons overburdens the water treatment budget and wastes a resource
you and your neighbors depend on.
As I do my daily road- check I notice sprinklers running for long periods at homes on town water. On too many
occasions water is running down the street. Our clean, treated town water is literally going down the drain.
If you are on town water you can practice home conservation. Even small changes can save hundreds of gallons of
water a day.
• Limit lawn irrigation and watering
• Use soaker hoses instead of sprinklers in gardens
• Hand water plants
• Don’t leave a sprinkler or faucet running.
• Avoid car and building washing as much as possible.
• Use commercial companies for hot tub and pool filling.
• Practice indoor conservation measures such as
ͦ take short showers and avoid tub baths,
ͦ turn off water when washing dishes and brushing teeth
ͦ only do full loads of laundry.
ͦ repair leaking faucets and running toilets
Let’s all try to assure that the current voluntary water restrictions recommended by the Water Commissioners isn’t a
required restriction this summer.
-4- HANCOCK HAPPENINGS June 2021
Hancock Woman’s Club
The Hancock Woman’s Club is pleased to announce our
Scholarship recipients for 2021. Each year the Club
awards adult women, residents of Hancock, who plan to
either begin or further their education and this year we
were able to help 3 women with furthering their education.
Ashley Falmino is enrolled in a Masters in Edu-
cational Leadership program at Keene State The Cornucopia Project has returned to school gardens
College. She is currently in year one, of a two- in all of ConVal District's elementary schools and one
year program. She has been awarded $1,000 school in the Keene district. Garden Educators are guid-
Named as “Anonymous Donor Scholarship”. ing over three hundred students through seven weeks of
exciting lessons and gardening activities while growing
edible flowers, herbs and vegetables at school.
Schools throughout New Hampshire are eager to share in
Hannah Kokoski is training to become a certi- the Cornucopia Project experience. One hundred and
fied yoga teacher for disabled, handicapped sixty students are signed up for Garden Learning Kits
individuals. She is enrolled in a 200-hour pro- this spring. The kits include lesson plans and materials
gram plus community service with YogaFit. that classroom teachers can use to support their outdoor
She has been awarded $1,000 named as learning and share the joys of growing and eating healthy
“Merrill/Fund Raising Scholarship”. food, even without an existing school garden.
Cornucopia Project's high school student farmers are
currently growing 10,000 seedlings on the 2-acre Educa-
Ryan Montano is seeking her Master’s Degree
tional Farm across from ConVal High School. Their
in Nursing Science with a focus on Clinical
plants will fill the three high tunnels and surrounding
Nurse Leadership. She is in the RN-MASN
fields with nourishing produce destined for the student-
program at Southern New Hampshire Universi-
run CSA shares, local restaurants, and their school cafe-
ty. Her scholarship is named as “Caitlin Mullin
terias. Some of these plants have been pre-sold to the
Scholarship” and is in the amount of $1,000.
community for home gardens and native pollinator habi-
tats. The student farmers are excited to continue to build
We congratulate each of these fine women and wish them
a native pollinator habitat on the farm and throughout the
all the luck in their endeavors. Monadnock region. If you would like to join them, you
may order their native plants and plant them in your
NEW IN TOWN? garden or field at www.CornucopiaProject.org.
If you are a new homeowner in 2021 and have Cornucopia Project is proud to have sponsored Peterbor-
not been contacted by a Hancock Woman’s ough Community Meals To Go, helping restaurants and
Club Welcome Committee member, please residents throughout the pandemic with over 8,000
provide your contact information so we can set meals. The Cornucopia Project Board of Trustees and
up a visit to deliver your Welcome Box. Staff are working hard to offer many valuable opportuni-
Joyce Perry 525-3304 jwkp43@gmail.com ties to the community.
Hancock Historical Society
News & Updates
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our May plant sale! We are so grateful to everyone
who contributed plants, baked goods, and other items, and to everyone who came and shopped.
The plant sale is the Historical Society’s biggest fundraiser of the year and supports all we do. It
is also a lot of fun, so we were delighted to hold it again this year.
We’re planning our summer events now. For the most up-to-date information, please check this page, follow our Face-
book page, or join our email list. To share your email address (which we do not share with anyone else), just send it to
history@hancockhistoricalsociety.org.
June 2021 HANCOCK HAPPENINGS -5-
News from the Hancock Congregational
Church
Alexis Simpson, MDiv
Bridge Pastor
Greetings from the Hancock Congregational Church! We
have missed gathering in the Meetinghouse every Sunday
of the pandemic this year, but vaccinations are opening up
a whole new world. We hope to reopen the doors this
summer. No firm plans are in place, yet, but check next
month’s Happenings for all the details. We are looking
forward to gathering again in person! We might even
have a yard sale this summer.
In the meantime, we are going to meet outside on Sunday,
June 6th at 9:45 a.m. to celebrate the ministry and retire-
ment of Rev. Judy Copeland. Everyone is welcome to
come to the common by the gazebo! Bring your chair or
blanket. Masks and social distancing will be expected
since not everyone has had a chance to get vaccinated,
and many with compromised immune systems are still
vulnerable. We hope to see you there to celebrate this
special occasion in the life of the church and the commu-
nity.
The opportunities to serve the community are still active.
We continue to collect boxes of cereal at the Meeting-
house for End 68 Hours of Hunger welcoming contribu-
tions of 10-13 ounce sized boxes (so they will fit in the
packed bag). Please steer away from kinds that are espe-
cially high in sugar. There is a red cooler near the Meet-
inghouse doors for donations, and it is emptied daily.
Thank you to the many people who drop off donations.
We find new donations in that cooler daily!
The Helping Hands fund is available to any Hancock resi-
dent in need. Send an inquiry, which will be kept confi-
dential, to the church email below, or call Neal Cass,
Church Council Chair, directly.
Hancockcongregationalchurch@gmail.com
Neal Cass 603-303-0040
-6- HANCOCK HAPPENINGS June 2021
Hancock Summer Concerts Schedule for 2021!
I am delighted that we will continue with the traditional Thursday evening concerts in the area of the
Bandstand. Concerts will run from 6:30 to 8 pm. Please come, bring friends and your own chairs/picnic
blanket. Also please follow guidelines for social distancing and mask use for everyone’s safety.
July 8 - The Nite Caps, Classic Country and Western Swing
July 15 - Off the Cuff, Acoustic Blues, Jazz, Folk, Bluegrass
July 22 - Sarah Bauhan and The Elmwood Station Band, Celtic Folk
July 29th - East Street, Cajun to Swing and Everything In Between
Aug 5 - Tattoo, American Roots music
Aug 12 – The Kingsnakes. Cool tunes from the 20s and 30s
Submitted by Kathy Anderson
HANCOCK RECREATION DEPT
We are excited to confirm that the Hancock Household Hazardous Waste Collection Schedule
Recreation Summer Program is on again for this Hancock residents can bring their household hazardous
2021 summer! We anticipate the start date to be
waste free of charge to the Keene Household Hazardous
July 5th and will run through August 6th. This
year we have opened up the camp for ages 4 to Waste Collection Facility located adjacent to the Keene
13. We hope to have some of the staff returning Recycling Center, 55 Old Summit Road, Keene from 8am-
from the 2019 camp year to transition easily into 1pm on the following days in June:
summer fun. There are likely to be some new
Saturday June 5th
faces as well. As always, we plan to spend time
at the pond, in our town library and with some Wednesday June 9th
community members in learning and in play. Saturday June 19th
Our counselors will be creating and planning
new ideas, activities, team building games, and
general summer camp antics.
Currently, applications are available online and
can be completed and emailed to
townadmin@hancocknh.org. If you prefer, you
can print the application and mail the form to the
town office. The address is on the application.
Applications will also be available for Lifeguard
positions. We will take qualified candidates that
are currently certified or that plan to be certified
by the time camp begins. As we receive applica-
tions for campers, we will determine if we will
need additional counselor positions. Stay tuned
for that updated information.
Check us out online - Town of Hancock web site
under the recreation committee. Please direct
any questions you might have to Deb Coyne at
coind5@aol.com or Jen Booth at
booth14@juno.com.
June 2021 HANCOCK HAPPENINGS -7-
Summer Reading for the Grown-Ups: Tails & Tales
Begins June 14th and Ends August 12th
Hancock Town Library Events Grown-ups, join in the summer reading fun this year!
Amy Markus, Hancock Library Director
http://hancocktownlibrarynh.wordpress.com Beginning June 14th, you can be entered in our weekly
Mondays and Wednesdays 2:00 to 6:00pm drawing for fun prizes. Just fill out a form (we will pro-
Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00am to 7:00pm vide) listing a library book you’ve recently read and what
Saturdays 10:00am to 4:00pm you thought of it. We’ll post it on our white board near
the front desk as well as online so that we can all learn
Little Free Library at Norway Pond ~ The Hancock what’s good (or not so good) reading here at the HTL.
Town Library is happy to announce our branch library – Enter once a week if you can! You will also then be
a new, Little Free Library located at Norway Pond just in entered in our grand prize drawing at the end of the
time for beach season! Fully stocked and ready to go. Summer Reading Program. We’ll have displays of books
Feel free to take a book and either return it or add a dif- related to this year’s theme but any library book can be
ferent title at another time. Thanks to an anonymous reviewed. Open to all Hancock Town Library patrons 16
donor for purchasing, building, and installing this for us. and up.
Back Entrance Open Again – The back door to the Saturday June 19th, 10am-4pm (Rain date June 20th)
Daniels Room is once again open so if you prefer parking Bloom with a View ~ Garden Tour & Art Exhibit
in our parking lot and entering the library that way, Enjoy this early summer community event! First, take a
please feel free. leisurely tour of the iconic Mayplace Gardens of Eileen
and Bill Elliott on Depot Road in Hancock. Featured in
Yankee Magazine and many a Garden Conservancy tour,
Thursday June 10th at 7:00pm via Zoom Mayplace Gardens is the work of two self-proclaimed
Aging Gardens, Aging Gardeners with Ann McEntee compulsive plant collectors who have been making gar-
Do you look forward to spring for the beauty that your dens on a wooded hillside clearing for 40 years. Features
gardens produce? Do you love your gardens but not the include mixed borders, an ornamental vegetable garden,
seemingly endless hours of maintenance that they de- and a formal peony and clematis room. After your tour of
mand? Have you ever found yourself resenting your gar- the gardens, swing down to the library where the artwork
dens because their care prevents you from pursuing other of Evelien Bachrach and Kim Cunningham will be exhib-
interests? And finally, have you come to the painful reali- ited. Inspired by their time spent in the Elliott’s gardens
zation that you and your gardens have aged and changed throughout the past year, the artists have paired a selec-
over time? “Aging Gardens, Aging Gardeners” responds tion of their sketches with finished artwork inspired by
to these questions. It is intended to help all of us come to them. It’s an exploration of process, and also a fascinating
terms with our aging, but very much beloved gardens. look at how two artists can interpret the same motifs in
Ann presents strategies for garden more wisely: taking totally different ways. Tickets are $20 (children under 12
care of ourselves as we garden; assessing home land- free; no pets please), and are available at the Hancock
scapes; prioritizing gardening tasks; managing mature Town Library, Hancock Market, and Fiddleheads Café.
plants; and creating smaller, simpler gardens. For years, All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Hancock Town
our gardens have given us great joy. This talk offers us Library.
ways by which we can continue to enjoy these beautiful From the Children’s Room
spaces with much less work. Ann McEntee is a former Karen Dunham, Children’s Librarian
Communications and Theatre professor. She left teaching
to earn a Master of Landscape Architecture from the Uni- Starts Thursday June 10th from 10:30am-11:00am
versity of New Mexico. While living in Santa Fe, she Outdoor Family Storytime
earned her certification as a Master Gardener, and more Join Miss Karen for a fun outdoor socially-distanced
recently, her Advanced Master Gardener certification. storytime every Thursday from 10:30am-11:00am -
Ann currently teaches architectural and landscape history weather permitting. We’ll read some books and sing some
for Keene State College’s CALL program and works part songs on the lawn in the back of the Library. If the weath-
-time as a landscape consultant. The former lead gardener er doesn’t cooperate, we will have storytime in the
at the Cathedral of the Pines, she presents garden talks to Daniel’s Room. Masks are not required outdoors but
area towns and organizations. For the zoom link, please please practice safe social distancing. If held indoors,
email hancocklibrary@comcast.net Put Aging masks are required. Families are encouraged to bring a
Gardens in the subject line. blanket or chair to sit on.
---continued to page 8
-8- HANCOCK HAPPENINGS June 2021
——continued from page 7 Virtual Pet Show and Tell
Want to show off your furry, feathered, or finned friends?
Join our 2021 Summer Reading Program- Tails & Ta-
les! Email hancockkidlib@gmail.com with a photo of your
Summer Reading starts Monday June 14th and ends pets and share a little bit about them.
Thursday August 12th. We will post on Facebook and Instagram.
Sign-up will begin Monday June 7th.
You can sign-up by filling out a short Google form-
available on the Library’s website, Facebook page, and In- Crafternoon
stagram. The form can also be emailed to you-or you can Mondays June 21st, July 5th, July 19th, August 2nd
call, email, or sign-up in person! Once you sign-up, you can
pick up a Summer Reading packet. Packets include a Tails 4-5 pm
& Tales bag, reading log, stickers, bookmark, color your Outdoors-weather permitting
own poster and placemat, BINGO sheet, scavenger hunt,
Summer Reading directions, and event schedule. Every- We will have tables set up in the back of the library. If the
one who signs up gets a Cable Ring with a Brag Tag and 3 weather doesn’t cooperate we will go inside to the Daniels
spacer beads. Keep track of your reading with the Reading Room or, if you prefer, arrange a Take & Make craft kit for
Log included in your packet. For every 5 hours that you you to do at home. Please call-603-525-4411 or email to
spend reading or listening, you earn another Brag Tag and 3 sign-up so I will know how many supplies to have availa-
spacer beads to add to your cable ring. Earn and collect ble.
Brag Tags all summer and display them on your cable ring
-they’re great to hang on your backpack! You will also earn
an Animal Puzzle Eraser and 2 Raffle Tickets-one Weekly Ongoing programs:
and a Grand Prize Raffle ticket. Weekly raffle prizes will We will continue weekly Lego challenges and Science with
change every week. The Grand Prize is a giant stuffed Miss Karen- simple science experiments you can do at
Emperor Penguin and penguin book OR a Samsung home!
Galaxy Tablet.
Earn more cool prizes and raffle tickets by completing a
Scavenger Hunt and BINGO sheet!
Kickoff Event
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center-No Two Tails
Alike-Live Animal Show
Tuesday June 22th at 6:30pm at the Hancock Town
Common
**RAIN DATE: Thursday, June 24th - 6:30 PM**
An animal’s tail can serve as a rudder when swimming,
help with agility during flight, or can even function like an
extra hand. Meet live native wildlife ambassadors as a natu-
ralist from Squam Lakes Natural Science Center tells tales
of the tails of some of New Hampshire’s native wildlife.
To be held outdoors at the Hancock Town Common
Bring a blanket or chair to sit on.
Adopt a Mini Stuffed Animal Reading Pet
Adopt a mini stuffed animal friend (come in the library, call
or email to arrange for pick-up) -- anytime while supplies
last! These animals need a home and someone to read to
them 20 minutes every day!
June 2021 HANCOCK HAPPENINGS -9-
Hancock Elementary School
Amy Janoch, Principal
It has been a wonderful school year at HES. It certainly was not business as usual but we
managed to enjoy ourselves, grow and learn!
We have had a number of adventures outside since January. The snow was perfect for sledding
throughout February. In March, Susie Spikol resumed her Adventure Walks during recess. In
April, educators from Cornucopia started a new garden with the first graders and harvested some asparagus. For Earth
Day, the students cleaned up the gardens and basketball court as well as created a beautiful collage for Children and the
Arts (maybe you saw it in Maggie’s Market window in Peterborough). In addition to getting outside, the children have
been working hard in all subject areas.
Over the course of the school year, the Hancock teachers have continued their work with Universal Design for Learning
(UDL). UDL provides a framework to “improve teaching and learning for all people.” The goal of UDL is to ensure
children grow to be expert learners: purposeful and motivated, resourceful and knowledgeable, and strategic and goal-
oriented. As a group, we have created lesson plans, observed one another teaching (through video), and discussed our
areas of strength and weaknesses as a school. I am so impressed with the staff's effort in keeping UDL alive during a
very stressful school year.
As the school year winds down, we look forward to celebrating together. Mrs. Parker is planning an awesome Field Day
for our Hancock students. Our end of year field trip will be an adventure to Norway Pond. And of course, we will
celebrate our 4th grade students with a Moving Up Celebration! We are thrilled that we will have the event outside so
that our 4th grade parents can join us in person!!
We have missed having families and community members join us for learning this year. We missed the Harvest Feast,
Community Supper, and visits to the library. While we managed with zoom assemblies, teacher-supported all school
days, and Harris Center and Cornucopia outside, let’s keep our fingers crossed that we will open our doors and welcome
volunteers, parents, grandparents, and community for the 2021-2022 school year.
Have a wonderful and relaxing summer.
- 10 - HANCOCK HAPPENINGS June 2021
Support Hancock Happenings advertisers!
They allow you to enjoy this newsletter at no cost to you!June 2021 HANCOCK HAPPENINGS - 11 -
To place an ad, email is the best way
happenings@hancocknh.org or call 603-831-0237- 12 - HANCOCK HAPPENINGS June 2021
Another “Tale from Home”
via Herb Gardner
On Facebook I get friend requests from every Tom, Dick
and Harry…
Derick Yarboi, Bwire Kelly, Darbenson Zephyr, Sochea
Chheng, Rajmohan Raj, Kingloveme YOrmie Jr., Alien-
ated Liam, Orlandoamarocalixto Orlandoosilva, Aileru
Olasukanmi, Ntiyiso Maluleke, Bijan Nandi, Paco
Ngom, Wasagali Moureen, Ardeshir Pourkeramati, and
Onyango Sele.June 2021 HANCOCK HAPPENINGS - 13 -
Virtual Art Exhibits Continue on Library’s Website
Bloom with a View the finished artwork they created, and show how the same
subject is interpreted and presented in a different manner
A garden tour and art exhibit
by each. The Elliots have enjoyed the added excitement of
Art exhibits are back! The Hancock Town Library will artists in their gardens. ‘Their presence and their work
re-open for in-person have helped us see our garden with a new perspective’.
art shows beginning
Tickets are $20 (children
Saturday, June 19th.
under 12 free; no pets please),
The opening show –
and are available at the
‘Bloom with a View’ -
Hancock Town Library, Han-
will be a fundraising
cock Market, and Fiddleheads
event to benefit the
Café. The garden tour is locat-
library, combining a
ed at 191 Depot Road. The art
garden tour at
exhibit will be in the Daniels
Mayplace Gardens with
Room of the Hancock Town
an art exhibit at the
Library, and will be up until
library. By Evelien Bachrach
the Library begins prep for
A year ago, local artists Evelien Bachrach and Kim Cun- their book sale in August.
ningham visited the Mayplace Gardens of Eileen and Bill
By Kim Cunningham
Elliot in Hancock, to do some sketching in a safe, open,
and inspiring environment. The visit grew into a year-long The exhibit can be viewed during regular library hours:
journey of the two of them meeting to deeply explore this Mon. and Wed., 2-6 pm; Tues. and Thur. 10 am-7 pm; and
paradise, and depict their artistic impressions of the ex- Sat. 10 am-4 pm. Call the library (525-4411) before your
quisite flowers, herbs, unique trees and shrubs, and so visit to ensure no special events are scheduled at that time.
much more that the Ellliots have been planting and tending Masks will be required in the Daniels Room.
for 40 years.
The exhibit will pair the sketches of the two artists with- 14 - HANCOCK HAPPENINGS June 2021
News from the Depot
DEPOT CABARETS tion will be greatly appreciated. Please address checks to
WE ARE JAZZED! We’re going to start up the Depot the "Hancock Depot Association" and mail them to P.O.
Cabaret on Saturday, June 5 @ 7:30 (new time!) with an Box 152, Hancock, NH 03449. Once again, to those of you
ALL open mic event. We’ll need to limit the number of who have already contributed, THANK YOU!
people in the building to ~40, so if you’re interested in
ASSOCIATION MEETINGS
attending, please send a note to David Young on Facebook
Interested in joining the Hancock Depot Association? If
or give him a call at 525-3085. Also, we’ll be following
you’d like to help out with planning, events, cleanup days,
best practices regarding safe distancing: i.e., please wear a
etc., feel free to join us! For information about our next
mask when moving about the rooms, but feel free to re-
meeting, give David Young a call at 603-525-3085 or send
move them when sitting at your table.
him a note via Facebook.
RAISE THE ROOF UPDATE!
RENT THE DEPOT!
We are ¾ of the way done and are currently planning the
Have a baby shower, birthday party, or other significant
final phase – date TBD, but it will be over the next several
event coming up? Consider hosting your event at the Han-
weeks. If you’re interesting in helping out, please let us
cock Depot! The venue is available for parties, meetings,
know. In the meantime, we’re continuing to raise funds to
celebrations, concerts, and other special events. To learn
pay for the new roof. So, it’s not too late for you to contrib-
more, call David Young at 525-3085 or Sean Sweeney at
ute to the cause! 100% of your money goes to maintain and
603-381-1351.
support the Depot, and any dollar amount or in-kind dona-June 2021 HANCOCK HAPPENINGS - 15 -
June 3 (Thu) Project Nighthawk Volunteer Training founder of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, as he shares
Nighthawks were once common in cities throughout New the story of the Vermont Wild Bee Survey. Closely mod-
Hampshire, where they nested on gravel roofs and fed on eled after Vermont’s Bumble Bee Atlas and the Vermont
insects attracted to city lights. In recent years, these acro- Butterfly Survey, this project aims to shed light on the pop-
batic birds have disappeared from many New Hampshire ulation status of these essential invertebrates, along with
towns, but they still nest in Keene. Help keep track of this their habitat and conservation needs. Find out what New
charismatic endangered species by monitoring nighthawks Hampshire can learn from Vermont’s efforts. 5:30 to
in downtown Keene this summer! This online training will 6:30pm via Zoom. Register online at harriscenter.org/
provide an introduction to nighthawk identification and events.
ecology, and offer tips for nighthawk watching on your
June 13 (Sun) Pond Exploration at Robin Hood Park
own — including where to scout for them in Keene's twi-
Have you ever wondered what insects, amphibians, and
light skies. 5:30 to 6:30pm via Zoom. Register online at
crustaceans might live in Robin Hood Pond? Join Harris
harriscenter.org/events. Co-sponsored by the Harris Center
Center naturalist Karen Rent for a fun exploration of the
for Conservation Education, NH Audubon, and Keene State
aquatic animals that call this pond home. For families with
College.
children of all ages. 10 to 11am in Keene. Exact location
June 8 (Tue) Living Light: Fireflies, Light Pollution & will be provided upon registration. Please read our COVID
What You Can Do To Help -19 outing guidelines before registering to be sure this is
Why do fireflies flash? Because they want to be seen! But the right event for you. Space is limited, and registration is
their unique biolumi- required at harriscenter.org/events.
nescent signals can
be obscured by street June 17 (Thu) “Ask A Naturalist” Virtual Happy Hour
Join us for a fun, informal, nature-focused happy hour!
lamps, house lights,
and other sources of Come prepared with questions about nearby nature, or just
nighttime light pol- sit back and listen to our team of talented Harris Center
lution — and if naturalists as they share their own observations. If you have
we’re not careful, photos, videos, or audio recordings to share (“what’s this
our lights might ex- thing I found in the woods?”), please submit them in ad-
tinguish theirs forev- vance to Miles Stahmann at stahmann@harriscenter.org.
5:30 to 6:30pm via Zoom. Register online at harris-
Entomologist Avalon C.S. Owens (far left) er. Join entomologist
and her Firefly Crew Avalon C.S. Owens center.org/events.
for an engaging talk July 5 (Mon) Foraged Cocktails
about her doctoral research on this understudied aspect of Join Machina Kitchen and ArtBar mixologist and master
firefly conservation, and to learn some simple solutions bartender Becca Paine for the last evening of this Environ-
that can help fireflies, moths, and other nocturnal animals mental Studies Institute course focused on making wild-
coexist with humans on our increasingly urbanized planet. foraged cocktails. Learn how to identify and sustainably
5:30 to 6:30pm via Zoom. Register online at harris- harvest a local wild edible, and how to turn it into an en-
center.org/events. chanting drink! The $20 fee includes one complimentary
June 10 (Thu) Vermont’s Wild Bee Survey: What New foraged cocktail or mocktail at Machina ArtBar during the
Hampshire Can Learn month of July (while supplies last). 7 to 8pm via Zoom.
Join Kent McFarland, conservation biologist and co- Register online at harriscenter.org/events. For more info,
contact Miles Stahmann at stahmann@harriscenter.org.- 16 - HANCOCK HAPPENINGS June 2021
News from Great Brook School
Kat Foecking, Principal
Happy Spring to all Bobcats!
We are in the home stretch of the school year! Bobcats are back outside, learning, eating and playing. We have had
many opportunities for students to interact with their peers outside with the wonderful weather we have been having.
On May 24th, GBS held a vaccination clinic for students aged 12 and up. The follow up vaccination clinic will be on
June 14th. We are grateful to have been able to provide this for our families who are choosing to get their children vac-
cinated.
The end of the year is usually filled with celebrations and field trips. Unfortunately, field trips are off the table for this
year, however we were able to bring some excellent programming to the students through Nature’s Classroom’s program
NOW (Nature on Wheels). In the past, GBS has spent a day at the Sargent Center with the staff of Nature’s Classroom,
but since this year is so different – they came to us! Each pod spent ½ day outside participating in activities such as dis-
section, wilderness survival skills, the scientific method, and the physics of bouncing.
We will be going forward with a Grade 8 Celebration on June 16th at 6pm. This event will be in person, how-
ever due to physical distancing guidelines, we are limiting the number of guests for each 8th grader. We will
be live-streaming the event for those who would like to watch.
During the month of May students also participated in the NH State Assessment System series. Students in
grades 5 through 8 took summative assessments in Reading, Writing, and Math and those in just 5th and 8th
grade took the required science assessment. Results will be sent home to families by the end of the year.
Our Baseball, Softball, and Track & Field teams also got started this spring. They have been practicing three
times a week and have had a couple of games/meets. Our choir has also started meeting in person again. It has
been great to see the students outside participating in these activities. We are looking forward to the time when
all of our clubs and sports can return!
We are working on our opening plan for next year. As with the plan for the current school year, it will rely
heavily on the guidance of the CDC and the NH Department of Heath and Human Services. The plan will
undergo a series of feedback sessions before it is finalized by the School Board in June.
Please reach out with questions, comments, and concerns: kfoecking@conval.edu or call (603) 588-6630.June 2021 HANCOCK HAPPENINGS - 17 -
Melissa Gallagher, Executive Director
4 Aiken Street, PO Box 637, Antrim 603-588-2620
www.grapevinenh.org
Hi Friends! Other Programs and Services Available at The Grape-
A huge thank you to everyone who donated to our 2021 vine…
Annual Spring (virtual) Walk for Families fundraiser! We • Avenue A Teen & Community Center
couldn’t gather in person in big numbers this year but we
are looking forward to resuming this special event in • Home Visiting and One to One Supports
2022. Next up is our NH Gives event – a 24 hour online
campaign to raise funds for our Avenue A Teen Center. • Information and supported referral for resources to
Please consider donating between June 8th and June 9th – meet basic needs such as housing, home heating and
you can go to NHGives.org and search for the Grapevine food
to find our campaign.
• Community Wood Bank & Community Tool Shed
June Events & Programs • Tax preparation and budget planning with Larry
NH Gives 24 hour Online Campaign: June 8 at 6 p.m. Schwartz of PHC Financial
to June 9 at 6 p.m.: Join our exciting online campaign to • Kinship Navigator Program for grandparents and oth-
support our youth programs at Avenue A Teen + Commu-
er relative caregivers who are parenting grandchil-
nity Center! Visit NHgives.org and find our campaign by
dren, nieces, nephews, and extended family.
searching for The Grapevine.
The Grapevine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit family and community
Summer Resources & Programs resource center located at 4 Aiken Street, behind the Tuttle
Library. For more information call 588-2620. Tax deductible
Summer Adventure Programs for children - We will contributions are gratefully accepted at PO Box 637, Antrim, or
be offering summer programs for children ages 4 ½ to 9 in drop by the center at 4 Aiken Street (behind the library). Don’t
July and August. As of this writing enrollment is nearly forget to visit us at www.grapevinenh.org and follow us on
Facebook:
full, but we have limited space available in our Science
camp. Please contact us to inquire.
Grapevine Community Tool Lending Shed - Come
borrow tools and light equipment throughout the season!
Tool pickup is by appointment. We are also accepting
donations of your gently used items. You can find a list of
inventory and needed items at: grapevinenh.org/
community-tool-lending-shed. For borrowing or donation,
please email: toolshed@grapevinenh.org.
Want to get involved? We are always looking for help!
If you are interested in helping maintain the garden over
the summer, please call the Grapevine. We need help
cleaning up our wood bank area and restacking what’s left
to get ready for next season. We also welcome summer
donations of firewood – preferably split and ready to be
stacked! Please contact us prior to dropping wood dona-
tions.- 18 - HANCOCK HAPPENINGS June 2021
June 2021 HANCOCK HAPPENINGS - 19 -
2021 Old Home Days August 20th, 21st and 22nd
This year’s Theme is
“Honoring Hancock’s Heroes”
Start dreaming up your float for the parade!
With so many heroes among us, the list goes on and on.
This year may be a bit different, but let’s show our support and gratitude.
It will be a great weekend for all ages to enjoy!
Old Home Day Committee consist of:
Mary Brown
Ashley Naglie
Sandra Faber
Monica Laskey
Patrica Payne
Advisors: Ruth Wilder & Leslie Hartwell
Any questions contact me, Mary at 547-7651
Thank you!
P.S. Boys & Girls get your toys out for Sunday’s Antique Car & Tractor showing!!
CALLING ALL ANTIQUE CARS & TRACTORS!!
Boys and Girls get out those toys for
OLD HOME DAYS!
Special showing on Sunday for OHD
Contact Jeff Brown
Kid's Market at Old Home Day!
The Old Home Day committee is very excited to be able to offer Hancock kids an opportunity to sell their wares at this
year's Old Home Day festivities! Start planning whatever it is that you might like to sell, whether it is lemonade, baked
goods, or something you have grown or created in some way! Contact Monica Laskey at 603-831-0092 for details and
to reserve your spot!- 20 - HANCOCK HAPPENINGS June 2021
Report from the Norway Pond Commission
Submitted by Tom Shevenell, Chair
The Norway Pond Commission is hoping for volunteer help on two projects being conducted this summer. The first is
“Bloomwatch” and the second is “Water Level Watch”. All you need is your smart phone and some time on or near the
pond.
Bloomwatch: The following article is by Karen Seaver, Staff Ecologist, Harris Center for Conservation Education
who is leading the Bloomwatch effort. Monitoring for cyanobacteria will be taking place at Norway Pond in Hancock
from June through September 2021, for the 3rd summer in a row. This monitoring effort, established by the Norway Pond
Commission, is a collaboration between the Commission’s Cyanobacteria Monitoring Work Group and staff members at
the Harris Center for Conservation Education, and is supported by local volunteers. Karen has taken the leadership role
in this program. The goals are to gather baseline aquatic data and evidence for cyanobacteria activity and bloom for-
mation, which can then be shared with state and federal agencies involved in further testing and issuing public advisories
and alerts.
Cyanobacteria are native, ubiquitous members of all freshwater lakes and ponds. They can be found throughout the wa-
ter column, with many local genera specializing in benthic (deeper water) habitats, which is rather surprising since these
organisms depend on sunlight for photosynthesis! Most of the time, cyanobacteria exist at low levels and do not spark
our attention. Occasionally, and increasingly, cyanobacteria levels will skyrocket or “bloom”, with large clumps visible
at the surface and/or throughout the water column. These blooms can vary in appearance, from neon green threadlike
tendrils to clouds of gray bubbly blobs.
Cyanobacteria blooms are increasing in frequency due to human impacts and a changing climate. Since they can pose a
risk to human health through the toxins some strains produce, it is important to understand their population levels over
time and note when blooms occur. Interestingly, there is not much we can do to “make blooms go away”. We simply
must wait for the bloom to subside (which sometimes occurs quickly, while other times blooms persist). Having moni-
toring in place helps identify blooms and allowsnotification to the public of potential hazards so thatthey can be avoided.
This summer, sampling will take place at the deep spot buoy on Norway Pond every 2 weeks, from June through Sep-
tember. The monitoring schedule, sampling procedures, and analysis were designed in accordance with EPA recommen-
dations. Whole lake water samples are taken on each sampling event to a depth of 3 meters, to assess the presence of
cyanobacteria using fluorometry to detect their pigments. Cyanobacteria have a characteristic pigment, phycocyanin,
distinguishing them from true algae and aquatic plants. Once per month, vertical plankton net samples are taken to a
depth of 5 meters. This type of sampling is used to identify the dominant cyanobacteria using microscopy. Identification
is challenging even for the experienced, given the incredible diversity of microscopic pond life.
If you think you’re seeing a cyanobacteria bloom, avoid wading or swimming in the affected waterbody and keep pets
out of the water. If you have contacted the bloom, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly. Note your location and take
several pictures of the bloom. You can then send your observations and photos, which can help with identification, to
both federal and state agencies. Bloomwatch is a program run by the EPA available both as a mobile app and as a web-
site (cyanos.org/bloomwatch). NH DES also has a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) hotline at (603) 848-8094 or
HAB@des.nh.gov and values the public’s submission of bloom photos, along with locational information.
If you want to learn more about local cyanobacteria monitoring efforts, please attend an online seminar Karen Seaver is
giving for the Harris Center on Wednesday, July 28th from 5:30 to 6:30pm via Zoom. This event is free and open to all.
Please register by visiting the Harris Center’s website (www.harriscenter.org) and then click on ‘Events’ to find the
registration sign up.
Water Level Watch: If you are walking past the boat launch or at the beach, take a reading of the water level from the
staff gauge and text message the measurement as directed on the sign. The more observations and the more observers,
the better! If you want to learn more, about this project go to www.locss.org. Researchers from the University of North
Carolina have selected Norway Pond to be a field validation site in their research using satellites monitoring impacts of
climate change on water levels in lakes around the world.
Monitoring the level of the pond also helps us in understanding how many times the pond is flushed each year. As the
level goes down water is lost from the pond by evaporation or discharge to Moose Brook. The water remaining can then
become more stagnant over time. When the water level goes up the pond water is refreshed by additions of rainwater,
stream discharges, along with overland and increased groundwater flows. Having this information helps us understand
the changes in water quality.
A little help can go a long way in our understanding of Norway Pond! Enjoy Norway Pond this summer.June 2021 HANCOCK HAPPENINGS - 21 -
Hancock Telecommunications Committee: We’re Back Up and Running
by Mollie Miller, Hancock Telecommunications Committee (chair)
The current challenge to provide universal access to reliable, high-speed internet is often compared to the push in the
early 20th century to bring electricity to rural America. Our need has never been greater: if the last year has made
anything clear it’s that access to broadband, like electricity, is no longer a luxury but a necessity. This is why the
Hancock Telecommunications Committee is back up and running, with great appreciation for all the hard work that’s
been done by previous members (mapping, conducting town wide surveys and more).
How does the lack of universal access to reliable fast, internet affect you?
Your pocketbook: You can’t be hired for remote jobs, work or start a business from home without access to
high-speed internet. Real estate agents report internet access is a requirement of the majority of younger
workers moving to the Monadnock area, which is why your property is worth 3.6% less (according to Ap-
plied Economics) without access to internet speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) or more.
Your health: Our older population will increasingly need access to high-speed internet as larger sections of the
health care industry move online…yet another trend accelerated by the pandemic.
Your education: Most education experts believe that some form of remote learning will continue post pandem-
ic, whether elementary or high school, community college, or adult continuing ed. Hancock’s ability to pro-
vide universal high-speed internet goes hand in hand with our ability to attract younger families with school
age children.
Your leisure: Who doesn’t love Netflix, Zoom and Fortnight? The bandwidth required for streaming and gam-
ing is increasing every year.
Your family: Will family and friends visit less if they don’t have access to the internet speeds they're used to in
order to do their jobs, go to school or be entertained?
The FCC considers any home with less than 25 megabits per second download speed and 3 megabits per second up-
load speed to be “unserved” (download speed controls how fast you can open up a webpage filled with photographs,
for example, and upload speed controls how quickly you can submit homework or a report for work filled with
graphics). My family, along with 27% of Hancock - 242 other households - is most definitely “unserved.” Many
others in town, while they don’t fit the FCC definition of “unserved,” have erratic and woefully inadequate internet
speed.
The FCC’s 25/3 download/upload speed standard is widely considered outdated for today’s internet needs. Accord-
ing to broadbandnow.com “internet speeds in the 100-200 Mbps range are ideal for most households since they can
handle common uses like streaming and video chat for 2-5 users at once.” Home offices and gaming often require
more. You can check your actual internet speed, as opposed to what’s advertised, at www.speedtest.net.
A few weeks ago, my eldest son drove up from Boston early on Mother’s Day to surprise me with an overnight visit.
Imagine my disappointment when he had to leave less than two hours after he arrived because we didn’t have enough
internet for him to finish a project due for work the next day. For all of these reasons and more, the newly revitalized
Telecommunications Committee is determined to bring fast, reliable internet to every home in town. Every home: in
the woods or downtown. And…to do it at ZERO cost to taxpayers. It has been done in neighboring towns and it can
be done in Hancock. More to come on this in future postings.
A new FCC federal program called the Emergency Benefit Broadband Fund is providing funds to subsidize monthly
internet costs ($50/month plus one time $100 towards purchase of computer or pad) to American citizens who qualify.
For information and applications: getemergencybroadband.org or call 833/511-0311- 22 - HANCOCK HAPPENINGS June 2021
June 2021 HANCOCK HAPPENINGS - 23 -
Hancock Hours and Meetings
Please review your listings
and correct as needed by emailing
happenings@hancocknh.org
Tax Collector - Thursday 9:00am to 4:30pm
Town Clerk – Monday 5:00 to 8:00pm
Wednesday 3:00 to 6:00pm
Closed on Federal Holidays
Town Dump and Demolition Hours – Wednesday 3:00 to 7:00pm; Saturday 8:00am to 5:00pm
Selectboard – First three Mondays at 3:00pm; Fourth Monday at 7:00 pm, Barbara E Caverly Meeting Room
Planning Board
On the 1st Wednesday of every month at 7:00pm: may hold working sessions for planning purposes
On the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 7:00pm: meets to process subdivisions, site plans and other applications
which may legally come before the Board. Appointments can be made by calling the Town Office at 525.4441.
Applications must be received prior to the end of the preceding month to be included in the schedule and satisfy
notification requirements. Barbara E Caverly Meeting
Zoning Board –2nd and 4th Wednesdays as needed at 7:00pm, meetings will be noticed; Barbara E Caverly Meeting
Advisory Committee – as noticed, Town Office
Conservation Commission – 2nd Tuesday at 7:00pm, Barbara E Caverly Meeting Room (Currently via Zoom)
Historic District Commission – 4th Tuesday at 7:00pm, Barbara E Caverly Meeting Room
Hancock Library Trustees – 4th Tuesday at 5:00pm in the Daniels Room
Recreation Committee – as noticed
Town Archives Committee – as noticed, Town Office Archives Room
Water Commissioners – 4th Wednesday at 4:30pm, Town Office Main Floor
Trustees of Trust Funds – as needed, Town Office
Cemetery Trustees – 1st Wednesday of the month, 10:00am, Town Office
Common Commission – every other 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00pm, Town Office Main Floor
School Board – 1st & 3rd Tuesday, Board Room
Dump Committee—as needed
Publishing Information
Editor and Publisher: Jaime Donovan
Submit articles to Editor at happenings@hancocknh.org or call 603.831.0237 for information and rates.
Deadline for submissions, advertising and payment for advertising: 5pm on the 22nd of each month. Checks should be
payable to Town of Hancock (memo line “Hancock Happenings”) and mailed to the Town at PO Box 6, Hancock,
Distribution– Rod Perry
Printing by Gem Graphics, Keene, NH
Monthly issues are placed at the Hancock Market, Post Office, Fiddleheads, Library, Dump and distributed to the
students at Hancock Elementary School during the school year. Current and past issues can be found online on the
Town website hancocknh.org and at the Hancock Historical Society
Nameplate by Eleanor Amidon
To place an ad, email is the best way
happenings@hancocknh.org or call 603-831-0237- 24 - HANCOCK HAPPENINGS June 2021
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