E E R F TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
TUESDAY
City won’t pick up & dispose of Christmas trees this season
Exeter Hospital worker gets 39 years
Gypsy cardiac technologist infected dozens of patients with hepatitis C — P. 2
VOL. 14 NO. 127
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Santa says turn the lights on
LACONIA — Putting an end to a longstanding municipal service, the Department of Public Works announced Monday that it will no longer collect Christmas trees at the curbside during the weeks immediately after the holidays. The decision represents an effort by the DPW to make more efficient use of its personnel and equipment. However, the department will continue to dispose of trees taken to one of see TREES page 10
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Santa Claus, visiting from the North Pole, leads a countdown to the lighting of Laconia’s official Christmas tree during the festivities at Veterans Square following the passing of the annual Holiday Parade up Main Street and through downtown on Saturday. Mrs. Claus joined Santa in his sleigh and royal couple was accompanied by a dozen or more elves, including one (standing at far right) who looked remarkably like Councilor Armand Bolduc. Ed Darling, sporting a beard Santa would be proud to call his own, served as the master of ceremonies. (Karen Bobotas/for The Laconia Daily Sun)
Judge rejects plea bargain involving heroin sale in Belmont LACONIA — A Belknap County Superior Court judge rejected a Brooklyn, N.Y woman’s attempt to plead guilty to one count of possession of heroin yesterday, telling her he found the negotiated plea that allowed for seven months of her 12 month sentence be suspended was inadequate. Judge James O’Neill told Heather Cleveland, 27, that he would accept a 12 month sentence if all of it was served. He also said see HEROIN page 10
Veteran Christmas Village trio wondering who will volunteer to take their place BY MICHAEL KITCH THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
LACONIA — “There’s somebody out there who wants to do it,” said Ernie Bolduc, who with his brother Armand and their friend Bob Hamel have been the mainstays of Christmas Village since the annual festival began 38 years ago. “But, finding them, I just don’t know.” Ernie is 80, Armand is 74 and Hamel, the baby of the bunch is 62. “We’re not getting any younger,” Armand said. In 1975, Dick Tappley, director of Parks and Recreation, inspired by the example
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set by his father in Bristol, overcame resistance from the City Council to inaugurate the Christmas Village. Ernie said that the village started small, but grew quickly to fill the Community Center. Black plastic covered the walls while snowflakes, strung from strands of fishing line, fell from the girders, offering the illusion of a snowy, moonlit Christmas Eve. The village began as five eightfoot by eight-foot buildings, including a castle, barn, toy shop, post office and train deport. Local merchants, along with the Police and Fire Departments, operated see VILLAGE page 9
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