E E R F Friday, april 29, 2011
Pats pick a tackle in 1st round
New England uses 17th overall pick on OT Nate Solder of Colorado — Page 12
VOl. 11 NO. 235
laCONia, N.H.
527-9299
FrEE
Belmont Advance bookings have hospitality professionals optimistic Sewer rates Many local establishments report 20% increase in reservations compared to this time last year to increase By rOGer amsden FOR THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
By Gail OBer
THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
BELMONT - Town Administrator Jeanne Beaudin said yesterday the Selectmen will be considering a sewer rate hike and plan to schedule a public hearing sometime in June. Beaudin said if approved by Selectmen the recommended rate hike will be $15 per quarter bringing the annual rate from $144 to $204 per year per residential hookup. “Belmont has one of the lowest sewer rates in the state,” Beaudin told Selectmen a recent meeting. She noted see SEWER page 15
MEREDITH — A strong showing in advance reservations has Lakes Region resorts and attractions optimistic that the summer of 2011 will be the best they’ve seen in years. Reservations at the Inns and Spa at Mill Falls are up nearly 20 percent over last year according to Michelle Brown, marketing director for the four inns on Meredith Bay, which have a combined total of 159 rooms. “We are thrilled that both leisure and business travel reservations are coming in early and at such a high rate, and we are optimistic that it is indicative of a strong summer for tourism in the Lakes Region,” she says. Brown says that corporate meetings and social events at the inns are showing an increase of nearly 25 percent, which points to a rebounding state and regional economy. She’s not the only one enthused about the coming summer season. Michelle DuPont, owner and innkeeper of the Lake Opechee Inn and Spa in Lakeport, says that reservations for the summer season are up significantly over last year
with many weekends in which major events are being held already sold out. “They’re definitely better. We’re really excited about the summer season. More people are booking ahead instead of waiting until the last minute,’’ says DuPont. She said that at the Spa and Conference Center bookings up by 20 percent. It’s the same story at the Naswa Resort on Weirs Boulevard where Jim Lowell, director of operations, says that reservations are up by 20 percent over where they were last year at this time. “We’re doing great. We’re way ahead of last year,’’ says Lowell. He says that high gas prices may actually be helping bring visitors from nearby to the area. “Our main market is the Boston area and southern New Hampshire. People are looking at vacationing closer to home, a tank of gas away, and that accounts for a lot of our early bookings,’’ says Lowell. That sentiment is echoed by Fred Clausen of Proctor’s Lakeside Cottages on Weirs Boulevard, where bookings are already up by 20 percent over last year. “With the price of gas so high, people see RESERVATIONS page 11
Bill Merrill of the Winnipesaukee Flagship Company paints the ceiling of the main deck of the MS Mount Washington. Area resorts and tourist attractions are optimistic about the upcoming summer season. (Roger Amsden photo)
The man for the job: Cunningham to retire from DPW By michael Kitch THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
MOTORCYCLE SEASON IS HERE! New Yamaha and Kawasaki Motorcycles Arriving Daily! BEST NOW! SELECTION - SAVINGS G- FINANCIN -TRADES -
LACONIA 524-0100
Laconia Department of Public Works Sewer Drain Foreman Bob Cunningham works at his computer, where he has stored several thousand photographs he’s taken of the city’s subterranean infrastructure. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Michael Kitch)
Final 3 Days ! Baron’s Billiards Store Closing Sale in Laconia
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Mon-Sat 8:00-5:30 & Sun 9:00-4:00
LACONIA — Recalling standing up to his chest in raw sewage while overseeing the repair of failed sewer main at Busy Corner, Bob Cunningham, the sewer drain foreman at the Department of Public Works (DPW), said “those are the kind of jobs I like. I absolutely love it.” This week Cunningham announced that he will retire at the end of May, ending a career of 28 years with the department. “I love my job. I love working in the sewers,” he said. “I’ll certainly miss it.” You can’t replace a guy like Bob,” said Paul Moynihan, director of public works. “He recognized his calling, took it to heart and never stopped.” Cunningham said that there are 96 miles of sanitary sewer mains, about an equal amount of storm water lines and 18 pump stations in the city. He estimated that he was familiar with 99.9-percent of the subterranean infrastructure as well as all the pump stations. Where drawings of the sewer system are missing, obscure or incomplete, Cunningham, armed with his camera, suppresses his fear of spiders see CUNNINGHAM page 14
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