THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011
VOL. 20 NO. 81
BERLIN, N.H.
FREE
752-5858
Planning board approves site plan for thrift store BY BARBARA TETREAULT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
BERLIN -- The planning board Tuesday night gave site plan approval to a proposal for a thrift store on Pleasant Street. Barbara and Tom Sweeney of Greenfield have purchased the property at 273 Pleasant Street and plan to open a thrift store on the first floor of the building. The store will sell household appliances, clothes, furniture, lamps, and other household items. In documents submitted to the board, Sweeney said merchandise will be acquired from throughout New England through yard sales, auctions, classified ads, estate auctions, and other thrift stores. The proposal came before the planning board at its July meeting and questions arose about on-site parking and snow removal. The plan was tabled to allow for a survey plan to be presented to the board. City Planner Pamela Laflamme said the survey had been submitted. The Sweeneys also reported they had decided
there would be no on-site parking for the public. Instead, the store will utilize onstreet parking for customers. The pair said snow will be stored in the rear of the property. Laflamme said abutters Norm Thibodeau and André Belanger had contacted the city and indicated they had no problems with the Sweeneys’ plans. The board approved the Sweeney’s site plan. The Northern Forest Heritage Park received the planning board’s approval to increase its signage under the city’s landmark signage clause. The park sought to add two more signs which would exceed the square footage allowed in a business general zone. Representing the park, Dick Huot said it is becoming an event destination with over 80 events staged there annually. He said the park is planning to upgrade its boom pier sign which has faded over the years. Laflamme noted the planning board used the landmark clause several years ago when Androscoggin Valley Hospital see PLANNING page 8
Workers on the renovation of Randolph Hill Road are continually running into gigantic boulders that have to be removed before the planned drainage system can be laid. By the lot they are using to store vehicles and supplies, they have constructed this stone snowman, equipped with a smiley face despite the heat, the dust, and the constant traffic that stalls their work. (GAIL SCOTT PHOTO)
Rep. Hatch heads to D.C. BY MELISSA GRIMA THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
GORHAM — On August 19, local representative William Hatch (D-Gorham) will have ear of the Obama administration, and he plans to use that opportunity to stress the importance of rural community action programs. Hatch was invited to the White House for talks with the various members of the administrative staff that
day, and he said he believes he is one of about a dozen New Hampshire community leaders who have received invites for that occasion. Hatch said that the invitation is so these delegates can comment on what’s happening in the community, what the people need, what’s working and what isn’t. He had no problem coming up with his talking points, however, pointing to see HATCH page 14
Get ready for some hand-clapping, foot-stopping fun when St. Kieran Arts Center continues its 2011 August Celtic Mondays Series with the world-renowned Quebeqois Band “De Temps Antan” this Monday, August 8 at 7 p.m. Using fiddle, accordion, harmonica, guitar, bouzouki and a number of other instruments, these three dynamic musicians blend boundless energy with the unmistakable joie de vivre found only in traditional Quebeqois music. Tickets are $15 ($13 for Arts Center members)and will be available at the door. 752-1028 www.stkieranarts.org
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