Nelson Grapevine March 2011 by Gordon Peery

March 2011

Winter Issue

Volume 28, No.1

R EMEMBER : Nelson School District Meeting Friday, March 4 Nelson Town Meeting Tuesday, March 8

FIFTY YEARS IN MUNSONVILLE by D. Asa Bennett By Margaret Iselin am so happy to have this little window in the Grapevine to send out a green tendril that I hope will grow and spread. The Game of Village, a children's summer camp that was created right here in Nelson in 1971 (and has been played almost continuously since and as far away as Poland), is coming back to our peaceful little town for summer 2011! The last time Village was played in Nelson was approximately two decades ago at the chalet on Lead Mine Road. The sign created by that summer's community “Micronesia” - still hangs on the chalet barn. The location for this summer, fantastically enough, is Village Field Farm (Kip and Sandy Mackenzie's place) in Nelson Village. No less fantastically, at the head of the spear for this summer's experience, is Sasha DuVerlie, the eldest grandchild of the founder of the Game of Village, Cia Iselin. I would like to relate the marvel of this

game to you by paraphrasing from our website, thegameofvillage.com. Village is a slice of the real world in miniature, a frontier set out for a collection of young people to imagine, create, and develop their own miniature community. The “homesteaders” (campers) experiment and discover the way things work in the adult world around them through their play. Each homesteader creates a miniature person called a “peep” out of pipe cleaners, yarn, and fimo clay, giving it their own unique personality. Then they stake out and survey their own mini-acre of land on which to build a miniature home. They find their way to making their fortune, playing their role in the miniature community being created. Adults in the program play the role of C o m m issio n ers o f a figm en tary government. They, too, have peeps and are active in building the institutions that will make the community thrive. The Game is richly tempered by the creative spirit of its players; and outcomes are dictated, as they are in real (continued on page 9)

unsonville had a village store since sometime in the 1800s. For generations it was a place for people to meet and share events and activities in a warm, friendly atmosphere. The post office was another draw for people. Sometimes the current store owners served dual rolls of store clerk and postmaster (or postmistress). And when automobiles began rumbling through town, gas pumps were added to the service at the Granite Lake Store. The Store is probably where we met our first local resident in 1959 when we first moved to town. Joe Dobson, the former renown Red Socks pitcher, owned the store at that time and pumped gasoline into my Chevy my first day in town. The decor in the store featured baseball memorabilia, bats, autographed baseballs and a photograph of Joe “coaching” Marilyn Monroe on her batting swing. Since then there have been, at least, five other couples who operated the store. (continued on page 5)

ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP

MOBILE OUTREACH

he Town would like to remind students about the scholarship fund that has been established by a Nelson member of the Rotary Club of Keene exclusively for residents of Nelson, New Hampshire, who wish to further their education. The criteria are: • You must be a Nelson resident for at least one year. • You must be planning to attend a college, technical school or continuing education class • You must be a resident of Nelson in good standing. • You do have to be a high school graduate; however, consideration will be given to those who may not have graduated. but, are now 'non-traditional' students wanting to improve their lives and opportunities through education.

obile Outreach, a program of So uth w estern C o m m u n ity Services, is offering “outreach sites” throughout Cheshire and Sullivan Counties to inform community members of services that may be available to them. This m ay in clude h o using information, fuel and electrical assistance, WIC, Head Start, and Rental Assistance, to name a few. Information about other resources that are not SCS program will also be available such as Food Stamp information, Healthy Kids Insurance and referrals to other agencies if applicable. Most programs are based on income eligibility which may be determined at the outreach site. If you are interested in seeing if you are qualified for SCS programs or just want more information, please call Becky Holland at (603) 719-4134. Nelson Outreach is held at Nelson Town Offices the 4th Thursday of every month from 1:30-2:30 PM.

An application is available by request by phoning the Rotary Club Secretary, Peter Brnger, at 358-3038, at www.keenerotary.org or by writing to

Mr. Peter Brnger 69B Island Street Keene, NH 03431 Completed applications should be submitted no later than Ju ly 1, 2011 to the Marlboro Street address. If you have any questions, you may call Rotarians Peter Brnger at 358-3038 or Jane Kirk at 847-9647.

NEW WEB BASED CATALOG AT THE LIBRARY http://opac.libraryworld.com/opac /signin?libraryname=SCCDE

NELSON COMMUNITY FORUM FINAL REPORT he Final Report for The Nelson Community Forum, which was held last September 17 and 18, 2010, is ready for you to download at www.movinginstep.org, or at www.townofnelson.com. A hard copy is also available at both the Town Offices and the Library (along with a flash drive from which you can download a copy onto your laptop). Please take a look at it and read about the actual thoughts and ideas that were expressed during the course of the forum. Review the steps that were taken to move the resultant action plans forward and see if you might be able to contribute to one of the committees. Then, send a big round of applause to Candyce Fulford who transferred the many flip charts that were filled up with our words of wisdom into this document. It is an impressive report that demonstrates not only the thoughtfulness and insightfulness that the folks of Nelson have in caring for our town, its future and its people; but that the folks of Nelson are a pretty nifty group of people who came together to work together in a most civil and congenial manner. A lot of very meaningful work was accomplished and will continue to be accomplished as a result of this Forum. Enjoy. It’s a good read!

he above address is the new web based catalog for the Nelson Library. Put this URL into your browser and the Library World sign in page will be on your screen. The library name is “nelson”. At that point you can enter a title or author or subject to call up a title that is owned by the library. For exam ple, if under subject you put chemistry, then four books are on the screen. They are the chemistry books owned by the library. At this point accurate information on availability is not up and running. Currently there are over 6000 titles in this catalog.

T Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others. - Groucho Marx

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NELSON STRINGS By Val Van Meier rins, giggles and excited chatter greeted Sarah Kim, the Nelson Strings teacher on the first day of lessons. Ten eyes looked eagerly at six cases sitting on a table. Minutes later Nelson Elementary School’s first violin students were learning proper standing position, the name and function of parts of the violin, and how to care for and hold their instruments. Five students are learning finger positions, pizzicato (also known as plucking the strings) and their first song. Having a strings program for elementary school children is not too unusual these days, but Nelson’s program has a couple of unique twists. First, with a nod to Nelson’s heritage of traditional music for contra dances, students are learning some of these traditional tunes. They are working with the O’Connor Violin method, an approach to teaching young people that is based on American folk fiddle tunes. This was developed by Mark O’Connor, a child prodigy who had recorded his first album of fiddle music at the age of 10. Forty years later he is known throughout folk, bluegrass, jazz and classical realms for his brilliant playing and compositions that cross all of those genres. Second, how many towns the size of Nelson have a world-class chamber orchestra? Enter Sarah Kim, who has been a violinist with the Apple Hill Chamber players since 2008 and on the summer faculty since 2003. Since moving to town she has enjoyed going to the local dances and had the opportunity to hear different music from what Apple Hill typically performs. She was familiar with the O’Connor method, and in fact, had toured with Mark O’Connor in 2001 as a m e m b e r o f th e o rch estra t h a t accompanied him for a performance of his “American Four Seasons”. The idea of a strings program has been germinating for several months. With financial support from the c o m m u n i t y , s e v e r a l q u a r t e r - s iz e instruments were purchased. Curriculum materials were purchased from a grant by the Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS). This grant made it possible to send Sarah Kim to teacher training, to purchase the Mark O’Connor curriculum, the New England Fiddler’s Repertoire by Randy Miller and Jack Perron, and several

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Sarah Kim helps Fallon Smith with her violin. other contra dance collections. Those of you not involved in the contra world might be interested in learning that Randy Miller and Jack Perron are Monadnock region based and have been involved with contra dance music for generations. Their New England Fiddler’s Repertoire is billed as the essential tune book for the contra dance musician. Through the generosity of our community two instruments were donated

and money was raised to purchase two ¼ size and two ½ size instruments. The students are in grades 1-3 and they will require larger instruments as they grow. We will need to fund-raise to purchase larger sizes over the next few years and will eventually have enough instruments for all ages that wish to learn. As our students grow in their music there are scholarship opportunities from CDSS and the Monadnock Folklore Society*. The Mark O’Connor curriculum exposes students to all styles of music and with Apple Hill just up the way, it will be interesting to see what musical “paths” our students choose. Meanwhile, be listening for Nelson’s young violinists to be included in upcoming school programs, and who knows, eventually some of them may be heard playing for dances in the Town Hall! Nelson residents (or anyone else) who would like to support this program should contact me, Val Van Meier, at 847-3371 or val@applehill.org. Thank you to everyone who supports this endeavor. *The Monadnock Folklore Society is a locally grown non-profit that has an annual scholarship which will be accepting applications as of January 1, 2011. For more information please go to www.monadnockfolk.org

4th Annual Nelson School PTO

AUCTION Sa tu rd a y , Ap ril 2, 2011, 7:00 p .m . N e ls o n T o w n H a ll, N e ls o n C e n te r Bid on items ranging from homemade pies to weekend getaways to priceless Nelson school original artwork, and take pleasure in the company of friends and community members! Items will be posted for preview on http://schoolauction.townofnelson.com and bidding will take place from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. We are seeking auction items and services from the community! To donate, please email pjbirdsmith@gmail.com. For further information, you may contact us at 847-9533 or 847-3408 The PTO supports and supplements many events each year such as the Book Swap and artist in residency programs. The playground has received upgrades, and we have purchased items such as white boards, a TV cart, desks, and more. All proceeds will benefit the Nelson School.

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NELSON COMMUNITY FORUM COMMITTEE REPORTS from Karen Tolman

S 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

ix town-wide action plans were begun as a result of The Nelson Community Forum, held last September 17 and 18, 2010.

Create a Resource Directory A Gathering Place Establishing a Committee for Natural Resources Education Community Activities Regionalization Expanded Use of Public and Private Spaces

A brief report from each committee follows, as well as an invitation to offer your help to any of them: T h e T o w n R e s o u rc e C o m m itte e (aka Create a Resource Directory) The Town Resource Committee met on 10/1/2010, 11/19/2010 and 1/14/2011. Members include Barbara Bennett, David Beffa-Negrini, Sarah Kim, Candyce Fulford, Val van Meier, Anne McCune, Sharon Oliver, Linda Singer and John Zurich. Our goal is to provide a means for all interested Nelson residents to connect with others, share resources and knowledge, support volunteerism, and to have a place where goods and services can be purchased, sold or bartered. Sarah Kim, Greg Rothman and Linda Singer developed a sample survey that was adopted by the group. Several of us took this sample paper survey to the community. Approximately 15 surveys were completed. These sample surveys were reviewed and discussed at our November gathering. By the conclusion of this meeting, there was consensus that the best way to accomplish our goals would be to create an "on line" forum. This forum would allow any interested Nelson Resident to log in, and then post or view a variety of offerings. This site could also function as a place to share information and network with our neighbors. These sites do have mechanisms in place for privacy and liability protections. G RAPEVINE -2

At our January meeting, the group viewed and analyzed the workings of several on line resources including: 1) a Bulletin Board, 2) a sample Google site, and 3) The Front Porch Forum (thus far Vermont based, with plans to extend into NH within a year). Prior to, during, and after this meeting, several committee members signed on to "mock up" versions skillfully created by Candyce to test their relative ease of use, friendliness, potential capacity for growth, and the "mechanics" of how these sites could be used by town members. The committee recognizes that there are some drawbacks to an on-line information-sharing director; however, we feel that this route is ultimately the best way to go. We can access the computer resources at the library, and many on the committee are ready to help any interested residents with this process. We are hoping to work out final details, so we will soon have such a resource available for all to use. The Ga th e rin g P la c e C o m m itte e is in the process of merging with the Space Use Committee, as they are exploring similar interests. T h e N e ls o n T ra il C o m m itte e (aka Establishing a Committee Natural Resources Education)

for

The Nelson Trail Committee has set out to identify and document the hiking trails in Nelson, producing trail guides that will include the historical, and natural resources along our trails. We hope to have our first trail guide out this spring. The trail we are starting with is the Class VI road from Hardy Hill to Silver Lake in Harrisville, with an optional loop back to Nelson. We have a rotating leadership structure. Tom Murray & Linda Cates organized the first hike along the Monadnock S unapee Trail from Harrisville through the microburst zone back to Cabot Road. Rick Church hosted a meeting where Tom Duston of the Chesterfield Conservation Committee spoke to us about their successful 20-year effort to develop the M ARCH 2011

hiking trail system in Chesterfield. Ruth LeMay and Bruce McSheehy organized the hike along the route of our first proposed trail guide. We met with the Nelson Conservation Committee to advise them of our activities and invite their support and participation. Eric Sandberg organized a planning meeting. David Hersey hosted a hike along the possible loop extension to the Silver Lake trail. The Trail Committee has gained two new members since the Nelson Community Forum and we invite other interested residents to join us. You can contact Linda Cates at lindacates@mindspring.com or phone 827-3839. Ac tiv itie s a n d O u tre a c h (aka Community Activities) This group was formed for two purposes. One is to identify current Nelson activities, such as the Monday night Contra Dances, Library Book Group, etc. and to find out what else townspeople would like to do. To that end, we are working on a survey to send out to town residents asking for needs, ideas and volunteers to organize potential new activities. The second purpose is to explore forming a welcoming committee for people who have moved into Nelson. We have met with a few recent newcomers to welcome them, answer questions and find out what they need on moving to Nelson. We would like to be able to send teams of two to visit each newcomer we become aware of (through the Town Clerk, Librarian, etc.) and deliver a p acket o f information. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hoping to provide basic information, perhaps in flyer or brochure form, such as the library schedule, when town offices are open, volunteer opportunities and access to the town website where they could get more in depth information. We would also give them a Nelson telephone directory. We have been meeting once a month at Betsey Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house on Log Cabin Road since the Community (continued on page 6) P AGE 4

drivers would not see his vehicle until they rounded the turn – and that was too late to reduce t h e ir e x c es s iv e speed. The blue light would rotate an d th e tan “cruiser” would spring to life. The offending driver, knowing he was “had” would stop down the road a ways. Ken would pull in behind and slowly exit his Kim & Chris Bennett

MUNSONVILLE (continued from page 1)

Probably during the mid to late ‘70s the then owners, John and C o n n ie V an K irk, installed a snack bar servin g san dw ich es, sodas, ice cream etc. and had a separate room in b a c k w it h p in b a ll machines, all creating an ideal hangout for local teens. Ken and Vera Balch were neighbors and longtime friends. Ken served in the Merchant Marine for many years and as salesman on the road selling paper products afterwards. Ken was an actively involved citizen in Nelson town affairs. He served as selectman for many years and as a fireman for even more. For a time he was an extremely colorful addition to the staff at the local village store. His keen sense of humor and his warm smile, that lit his whole face, was great public relations for the store – and community. Sadly, one cold February night in 1991, the store succumbed to a fire which totally destroyed that operation. Hard work by the fire department saved the connected house. The store was never rebuilt and the post office was replaced by rural delivery. Our local gathering place was lost and with it many relationships that would not continue without it. Ken’s “fame” spread even wider during his tenure as our local police officer. Nelson had no official police department at the time so Ken volunteered his services and (I believe) his expenses. He bought signs and a blue light for his Chevy station wagon and bought a snappy uniform with a cap that he placed squarely on his head and cocked slightly forward. Sometime later, I believe he was accepted into the state police auxiliary. Traffic on the then New Hampshire Route 9 was heavy and it often traveled well over the posted 35 mph limit through little Munsonville. Ken would park his tan wagon, with blue light prominent on top, at the Murdough Hill Road intersection with Route 9, in front of the village store. Southwest bound G RAPEVINE -2

Chris, Kim, & Barbara Bennett v e h i c l e , deliberately place his cap firmly on his head, adjust his sidearm on his hip, s t r id e t o t h e offending vehicle and with his most stern expression stare down into the open window and the face of the culprit preparing his/her hopeless defense. After the Chris, Kim, & Don routine, but detailed and time consuming inspection of the hapless driver’s credentials, Ken would open his lengthy lecture to the driver on the hazards to local pets, pedestrians, other drivers and the driver himself, created by his reckless disregard for the law and rules of the road. Ken seldom issued tickets to these offenders, but he would explain later with his wry smile and devilish twinkle M ARCH 2011

in his eyes, “But I sure made ‘em squirm and cost them some time.” Next time passing through downtown Munsonville they would remember and slow down! Social life in Munsonville was centered largely around the church and the local grade school besides the store. For a number of years, a group mostly from the neighborhood celebrated the coming New Year with a gathering at one of several homes. Activities at these occasions usually included some social consumption of various liquid spirits, lots of good food prepared by the ladies, perhaps a song or two, and lively sharing of stories, some nearly factual, some just for fun. Most memorable of these party activities were the ten and twelve handed cribbage games played around a dining room table. A recording of the conversation and cracks that were exchanged around the table would be a best seller. If you know the game, you will appreciate the limitless possibilities for “pegging” situations in a twelve handed game and the good natured jibes and comments resulting from a missed opportunity or perceived lack of native intelligence. Fifty years is a small piece of the 235 years since Nelson (about 170 years for M u n s o n v ille) w a s incorporated. Buildings change, more homes grow, change and burn; people move in and out, babies are born, traffic increases and so does the population in spite of the inevitable deaths from age, illness and accident. We have only lived in three states – California, Connecticut and New Hampshire and have visited a number of others, but Bennett New Hampshire and its people, even with the “warts” and growing pains, is still our home of choice. And Nelson/downtown Munsonville is classic New Hampshire. Here we stay – even through the long winter, ice storms and all! – we love it. This is the last part of Don Bennett’s reminiscences of his family’s life in Munsonville. You may read the other 4 parts in past issues of the Grapevine starting March 2010. P AGE 5

FORUM COMMITTEE REPORTS (continued from page 4) Forum and have already added three new members. If you are interested in joining our group, please contact Betsey Church at 847-3206 or at betseyrick@gmail.com. T h e Sh a rin g R e s o u rc e s C o m m itte e (aka Regionalization) This committee was formed to address one of the highest-priority action plans coming from the Forum. The co-chairs first met with the Selectboard to discuss working with them to study what possibilities might exist for sharing resources with our neighboring towns in order to provide substantial savings without reducing the quality of town services. Harrisville also held a community forum (20/20 Vision) in the fall and formed a committee to discuss sharing resources among towns. The Harrisville Selectmen invited their neighbors in Nelson, Dublin and Marlborough to meet and discuss possibilities. After several meetings the interest from these communities seems positive. In January, Donald R. Jutton, President of Municipal Resources, Inc., (MRI) (www.municipalresources.com) made a presentation to the combined Selectboards about inter-municipal cooperation and offered the towns a proposal (by town warrant vote) for MRI to conduct an independent study that would identify where and if c o o p e r a t i o n , c o lla b o ra t io n a n d consolidation might enhance efficiency, effectiveness, cost sharing, future cost avoidance, and quality of municipal services. This has been written as a warrant article for Dublin, Harrisville and Nelson (Marlborough has opted out at this time), and an abbreviated copy of their proposal will be available at the Library. The article addresses a means to collect the comprehensive and specific information needed from which our town can move forward with the study of potential resource sharing. The Sc h o o l B o a rd held a half-day community forum on January 29th with the objective of seeking input on how to deal with our declining enrollment. They concluded that their first forum did not last long enough to create the action plans necessary to move forward. G RAPEVINE -2

So they held a second forum to continue the discussion and advance the process of gathering information from which the town can make responsible decisions. This committee is lending its support to the School Board. This support includes an active, open and candid conversation about any and all potential resource sharing. For more information about the Sharing Resources Committee contact Karen Tolman at tolmanpond@pobox.com or 827-3226 or Russ Thomas at russindawoods@gmail.com or at 847-9715. T h e Sp a c e Us e C o m m itte e (aka Expanded Uses of Public and Private Spaces) The Space Use Committee is in the process of creating a spreadsheet that will have information on the available spaces in town that can be used for a variety of events. We have gathered information on Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, the Chapel by the Lake, the Nelson Church, the Nelson School, the Town Hall, the Old Library, the Olivia Rodham Memorial Library, and the Town Hall. Members of the committee have met with the selectmen to see about using the Safety Building for meetings or other events. As a result of that conversation, the committee drafted a Warrant Article for Town Meeting, which will put forward a proposal for policies for use of town owned p ro p ertie s in cludin g th e Sa fety Building, the ball field and the town common. It is a petitioned article and will be on the Town Warrant at Town Meeting in March. Townspeople can look forward to the committee putting the information that they have gathered so far on the Town of Nelson Website and the M o v i n g i n S t e p w e b s it e f o r townspeople's use when they are looking for places for their special events or meetings. Kathy Schillemat is the contact person for more information. 847-9785 or kschillem at@ yahoo.com . M ore com m ittee m em b ers are alw ays welcome. We meet at the library. Next meeting to be announced.

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YOUR HELP NEEDED

nlike public radio and television fund-raisers, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a toll-free number for you to call or a nifty premium to offer, nor do we have corporate sponsorship; but we do need your financial support. The Gra p e v in e -2 is supported solely by donations from you, our readers. Our only costs are paper, printing, labels, and postage. If you enjoy receiving the Grapevine, please use the enclosed envelope to send a contribution to:

Gra p e v in e -2 830 Nelson Road Nelson, NH 03457 Thank you in advance for your generosity.

My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to 99 cents a can. That's almost $7.00 in dog money. - Joe Weinstein P AGE 6

CHURCH NEWS from Hope Lothrop Ne ls o n Co n g re g atio n al Ch u rc h sh Wednesday will be March 9. We will observe the start of Lent by sharing in a joint worship service at the Chesham Church at 7:00 PM. Following worship on March 13, we will hold our Annual Meeting to vote on the budget and elect officers and committees for the year. All are urged to attend this meeting. An important article that will be presented on the agenda will require a 2/3 vote of the membership present. This article is to vote to determine whether we should change Annual Meeting from March to November to better coincide with the calendar year of the budget. On March 12 there will be a Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner from 5:00 -7:00 PM. We will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Come wearing your green and enjoy a great m eal and warm camaraderie. Tickets are on sale now: $8 adults, $6 children. Contact Joy Birdsey-Smith at 847-9533 for more information. Nelson Church and the Moving In Step group have been consulting with H o m e H ealth care H o sp ice an d Community Services to evaluate whether there is a need to establish a Meals-on-Wheels program in town. It has been suggested that it might be more advantageous to make it a multi- town program, possibly including Harrisville, Sullivan and Stoddard. If you are someone, or you know of someone, who could really benefit from this program, p lease sp eak with Rev. D a w n Garrett-Larsen. The Scouts will host their Italian

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Extravaganza at the Nelson Church on April 9. Holy Week will be celebrated with a Palm Sunday Service, April 17; Maundy Thursday seder supper and joint service with members from The Chapel-By-The-Lake and Harrisville/Chesham churches at the Nelson Church. The supper will be at 6:00 PM followed by a Tenebrae service at 7:00 PM. Good Friday will be an observance of prayer and reflection. The church will be open during the day. Sunday morning, April 24 at 6:30 AM, we will hold a Sunrise Service on the church steps followed by a pancake breakfast at 7:00 AM. The family Easter Worship will be held at 9:30 AM. All are welcome.

Ch ap e l-b y -th e -Lake orship services are at 10:00 A M with Bible Study fo llo w in g the W orship service. Knitting Club meets on Saturday from 10:00 AM til Noon. For more information and to confirm meeting dates, call 446-7857 or 847-3231.

LIBRARY NEWS from Kris Finnegan M e te o ro lo g is t H e lp s B re a k N H R e c o rd ecord snowfall isn’t the only milestone passed in New Hampshire this winter. WMUR meteorologist Josh Judge’s book Extre m e N e w En g la n d We a th e r holds the distinction of being the two-millionth record entered into the State Library’s online catalog of items available at New Hampshire libraries. The New Hampshire Union Public Access Catalog (NHU-PAC) lists the holdings of the 375 public, school, academic and special libraries that make up the New Hampshire

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A uto m a ted In fo rm a tio n System . NHU-PAC lists most titles that these libraries have acquired since the mid-1980s. Anyone can go to the State Library’s website to learn which items are available from these libraries. If an item is not available from an individual’s own library, it can be delivered to them through Interlibrary Loan. The Nelson Library catalog can be seen on the computer at http://opac.libraryworld.com/opac/signi n?libraryname=nelson. NHU-PAC information is available at www.nhu-pac.library.state.nh.us/#focus. Extreme New England Weather chronicles the events surrounding the greatest storms to hit the region during the last one hundred years. The stories and hundreds of images cover such historic events as the Hurricane of 1938, the Blizzard of 1978, 1991’s “Perfect Storm,” the Great Ice Storm of 2008 and others. The book in cludes sto ries from meteorologists in all six New England states, including WMUR’s Mike Haddad, WMTW’s Tom Chisholm, WPTZ’s Tom Messner and former Boston meteorologists Dick Albert and Bruce Schwoegler. There is also a previously unreleased interview with the late Don Kent. Details about the book are available at www.extremenewenglandweather.com. “The wide range of books, magazines, compact discs, DVDs and other items available from New Hampshire’s libraries is astounding. There truly is something for everyone,” said Michael York, state librarian. “It is only fitting that a book by a New Hampshire author helps us reach this milestone of two million items.” The New Hampshire State Library promotes excellence in libraries and library services to all New Hampshire residents, by assisting libraries and the people of New Hampshire with rapid access to library and informational resources through the development and coordination of a statewide library/information system; by meeting the informational needs of New Hampshire’s state, county and municipal governments and its libraries; and by serving as a resource for New Hampshire. F o r m o re inform ation , v isit www.nh.gov/nhsl. This article came from the New Hampshire State Library and is reprinted with permission.

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TOWN RENOVATION PROJECT ne of the many responsibilities of our Town Selectmen is to look after the maintenance of town buildings. Last spring, the Selectmen formed a committee of five town residents to research the Library, the Town Hall, and the Town Offices (Old Brick School House), and propose a renovation project for the 2011 Warrant. The Committee members are Jack Bradshaw, Bud French, Tom Buttrick,, and Lisa Sieverts, with Warren Hammack as the Selectman representative. In light of the upcoming Town Meeting and the renovation bond Warrant article, the members of the committee would like to share an overview of their recent work. Having reviewed the state of the buildings, they discovered a number of issues:

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Dry rot in structural timbers under the Town Hall floor. Crawl space under the Town Hall is wet due to high ground water Lack of soundproof places for Selectmen and Town Staff to hold confidential Executive Sessions and citizen meetings Overcrowded Town Offices area does not meet current security requirements Fire exits in Town Offices are not up to current code A second set of stair is required in the Town Offices ADA compliant access required to the second floor of the Town Offices or to use the Library basement community room Buildings are not energy efficient The Town Offices second floor has a beautiful arched ceiling, which should be preserved and insulated Property for buildings needs to be surveyed. True location of the property lines is unknown

Based on these issues, the Committee developed a number of recommendations for the renovation proposal. •

• •

It is estimated that the Town Offices need at least 1000 square feet of additional space in order to conduct its business in a safe and legal way. An elevator is required for access to the second floor of the School House so that it can be used properly. Rotted timbers under the Town Hall

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need to be replaced and its drainage problem resolved. The Library basement and second floor of the Town Offices need to be made usable for Town residents. Any proposed solution has to be energy efficient.

available funds. The yearly bond payment (principal and interest) has a direct effect on taxes for taxpayers In researching the Nelson tax rates, the committee found that in 2010 the rate was $19.11 per $1,000 of property valuation. If the Town approves a $750,000 bond at 4% interest over 20 years, the cost to the town to repay the bond will be approximately $55,000 per year. That would add about $0.45 per $1000 to the tax rate, an increase of 2.4%. As an example, a property valued at $173,300, the yearly tax bill would increase by $90, from $3,300 in 2010, to $3,390 in 2011 (assuming the base tax rate is the same). These numbers are based on recent information from the state, but should not be considered final or official. Taxpayers would pay that additional amount until the bond is paid off. If the Town wishes to do this project, this year is an excellent time because bond prices are still at historic lows. They will most likely increase in coming years. The Selectmen and the Renovation Committee will apply for grants as soon as this project is approved. Potential grants include the state’s LCHIP fund, NH Preservatio n T rust A lliance, and Community Development Block Grants. In addition, Jack Bradshaw has agreed to lead a private fundraising effort to help offset the cost of the project and reduce the size of the required bond. Every dollar that reduces the size of the bond will reduce the amount added to the tax bill.

The end result should be a set of buildings that meet current building codes for fire, safety, and handicapped access. Finally, the Town should preserve the structural integrity of these historic buildings. Regarding an elevator in the Brick School House, where would that be located? Placing it at the back would create two problems. First, the building code would require a wide access hallway through the middle of the downstairs office space. Second, draining the base of the elevator shaft would require constant pumping. Therefore, the elevator would need to be at the front of the Town Offices in the current entryway. This would provide easy access for all who need the elevator and would also help with security issues. The entryway would also be a good location for ADA* compliant bathrooms. Finally, the existing stairs would have to be rebuilt in order to meet current code requirements. Where to find a thousand square feet of office space and put the required second set of stairs? A simple addition would be built at the back of the School House. The Committee considered 500 square feet per floor, but the relatively *ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act, a high price for such small spaces felt hardly Federal law requiring that public buildings worth the investment. However, looking be accessible to people with disabilities. at adding only a first floor addition of 1000 square feet, the Committee found that the cost of adding a second floor would be minimal -there could be an entire second floor for the cost of only three relatively cheap walls, since the foundation and roof are already required for the first floor. The most cost effective solution by far is to do all the work at once. This would be a challenge for the Town. To meet these needs of the town buildings for the foreseeable future, the Building R en o v a tio n C o m m ittee h as proposed a $1 million project. The Selectmen propose to fund the project through a It may drive us nuts sometimes, but snow can be so $750,000 bond and $250,000 of beautiful. M ARCH 2011

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“VILLAGE” RETURNS TO NELSON (continued from page 1)

Homesteaders are helped by the adult counselors. life, by unforeseen circumstances, confrontations with natural laws, fortuitous events, personality differences and unlimited imagination. The board of directors is pleased and feel very fortunate to have found such a perfect home for this year's camp. Anyone who has entered the contest at Nelson Old Home Day involving a suspended ball, two fire hoses, and many wet people, is familiar with a bit of Mackenzie's place and their hospitality. The Game of Village has been invited to use their barns for meetings and work spaces and a bit of their land for the miniature town which will be out of sight. Their back field (a lovingly protected safe haven for its flora and fauna) slopes down northwards, becoming a forest that borders on Wilson Brook. Somewhere in that wild back-country our settlers will choose a likely glade to site their Village. For the most part, activities will be on Village Field Farm property, but Center Pond, a pleasant 7-minute walk away, will be visited regularly for everyone to cool off in the midsummer heat. Maybe there will be miniature boats! One of the big payoffs of playing real life down at toy size is that a variety of free resources becomes available. When the Village scale is 1:24 vast amounts of things that are discarded in our culture are useful for making models. A tiny teepee may come from materials found in the forest, without impacting nature. A cornucopia of choice discards can be imported from the local transfer station for recycling into model buildings and other village infrastructure. Everything G RAPEVINE -2

from bicycles to bed sheets is susceptible to transformation into scale models at no cost or environmental impact and the possibilities for invention/creation are unlimited. At the same time this practice of scale modeling teaches aesthetic skills, handwork skills, and a future-sensitive thrift ethic. When at last the adventure ends, some creations are worth keeping, but Village strives for minimum impact again. The children bring home their cherished creations, but the setting at Village Field Farm will be carefully returned to it's original condition. So from July 5th to August 5th about 20 kids (aged 9-13) and a few adults (kids in training) will meet in Nelson Village to spend 5 weeks creating miniature people, places, and things from their imaginations. Their peeps will interact in town meetings, survey a territory, and scale down their big ideas to a size that is magically safe yet practical to manipulate for young learning hands and minds. Village '11, like those before it, will be a day camp experience with access to water/swimming as well as to the woods, fields and wildlife of our lovely town. In keeping with time honored tradition (since

Possibly Village '11 will be recorded in ways that stand the test of time, like th ancient newspaper from our archives, The National Magnifier. At the end of the camp session Village holds a public event called a mini-fair, at which family and friends are invited to create instant peeps to visit the village. This year it will be held on August 4 th. The mini tourists get a chance to participate in the ways of peeps; and get to witness, experience and celebrate the accomplishments of the summer. Whether the amusements are miniature mechanical thrill rides, carnival shows, peep drama, challenging peep athletic competitions, or sampling miniature culinary delights, all instant peeps are sure to have a refreshing time.

Homesteader’s house with “peep” at the window. For any questions or if you want to enroll a homesteader, please call Sasha DuVerlie at (603) 313-1717

The mini newspaper for the “peep”. 1971), the homesteaders will select a site and a flurry of activity will ensue as the model neighborhood emerges. Characters will develop as events unfold quickly in th is t im e - lim it ed co m m un ity o f youngsters. Just as every Village that went before, Village '11 will create a story – a tell-able tale. There is news everyday as peeps get to know each other and themselves, struggle at their vocations and home-making, and engage in imaginative play. Sometimes these events have been recorded as anecdotes, video news stories, newspaper songs, or radio broadcasts. M ARCH 2011

What is the use of a house if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on? - Henry David Thoreau

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LOCAL S ERVICES & CLASSIFIEDS For Sale C u s to m Wo o d e n Jig s a w P u zzle s From your artwork, photos, prints, etc. Call David Beffa-Negrini at Fool's G old®, 827-9825 o r em ail: info@foolsgoldpuzzles.com Gra n ite La ke M a p le P ro d u c ts - Pure NH Maple syrup by Nick Barrett, 66 Old Towne Road, Nelson, NH, 03457. 603-847-3457. Email: granitelakemapleproducts@ yahoo.com. In d e p e n d e n t C o n s u lt a n t fo r T h e P a m p e re d C h e f© - Save money while preparing easy delicious meals for family & friends. Quality Kitchen Products, Service, and Information; Home and Catalog Shows, Fundraising, Wedding Registry, Own Your Own Business. Call Judi Lang 847-3277 N e ls o n g ro w n y a rn , fle e c e and roving from our flock of Romney sheep. Also available are knitting kits and finished products: scarves, hats, mittens, blankets, etc. Call Susan Weaver 847-9763 H id d e n B irc h F a rm - Chevon (Goat Meat) raised on our farm, choice of cuts; Farm fresh eggs; Livestock Fence installation - 96 Nubanusit Rd - Tiger & Gigi Batchelder 827-2950; www.hiddenbirchfarm.com Personal Services T h e Villa g e Sh a m a n , Contemporary shamanic processes for accelerated healing and growth. Energy medicine of the Incas. Carol Raynsford Healing Arts Practitioner, 847-3443 T a le n te d y o u n g w o m a n will help you with your childcare needs, office needs, clerical needs, housecleaning needs, or other miscellaneous projects. Call Gwyneth Tolman 827-4194 Other C re a tiv e We b Site s for Creative People Center Pond Communications www.centerpond.com H a rris v ille C h i l d re n ' s C e n t e r year-round programs for children 6 weeks to 6 years old. 827-3905.

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Writin g Le s s o n s -Will teach you, child or adult, to write better than you do now. Ph.D. Tufts, taught writing at Tufts and Harvard Extension. Elizabeth Chapman Hewitt. 847-3118 or 401-2666 Fo r R e n t – Granite Lake summer cottage. Call Mable Bergeron, (603) 363-8086. Fo r R e n t – Seasonal Cottage right on Granite Lake Call 603-847-3277 or 304-594-3539 Art Le s s o n s - for children and adults. Watercolor, oil, composition, and drawing. Summer/Fall. Beginner thru advanced instruction. Marylise Reilly Fajal, 847-3382 or 355-7337. N e w En g la n d Artis a n s Stu d io - Visit our online studio where crafts people and artisans throughout New England have the opportunity to present their creations: www.neartisansstudio.com Building, etc. Eth a n T o lm a n - Excavating, bulldozer, truck, loader/tractor work. Field, driveways, building, moving. Years of experience. 827-3414 N e w h o m e s , decks, kitchens, and baths - Remodeling our specialty. Nubanusit Building and Remodeling. Ron Trudelle, 827-3251. Exc a v a tio n - Septic Systems, Driveways, Site work, and Foundations, Trucking, Plowing and Sanding: Phil Hamilton 847-3288 Ad d itio n s , renovations, remodeling, barns, - Steven Reilly. 847-3382 or 3557337. R e s id e n tia l P a in te rs - Interior, exterior. Experienced, reasonable, reliable. Heidi Tompkins and Tal Gregory. 847-0000 G W Fra s e r & So n s , Tractor & Excavator Service. Post holes to complete site work. No job to small. Free estimates. 25 years experience. Greg Fraser - 603-731-0808

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Home Services R u b b is h re m o v a l Granite Lake Services, Ed Schillemat, 847-3290. Ga rd e n in g , cleaning, animal care. Organic vegetables in season and cut flowers - Barbara Fraser, 847-9555. Ga rd e n in g , pretty, manicured lawns, spring and fall clean-up, brush & chainsaw work Owen Iselin- 933-0680. SP C o m m Sta rp o w e r - Home TV and Satellite Systems, High Speed Internet access, 2-w ay R adio , S o un d Rein fo rcem en t, H o m e Theatre w w w .ST A R P O W E R -satellite.tv o r wildjimwilder@aol.com. Music Gu ita r I n s tru c tio n - Beginner through advanced instruction in folk, blues, and jazz styles. Liza Constable, 847-3067. M u s ic f o r w e d d in g s and other occasions - New England country dance music, folk, blues, jazz. Nat Hewitt & Liza Constable, 847-3067. M u n s o n v ille Au d io Location & Studio Recording / Sound Reinforcement. Pro-grade mixing, high resolution digital recording, microphones & signal processing coupled to custom monitor mixes and an extremely powerful yet well mannered FOH sound system. High quality recordings expertly mixed, mastered & made ready for distribution. D em o recordings a specialty. 603 499-2904 Web: www.MunsonvilleAudio.Com EMail: CJLeake@MunsonvilleAudio.Com M u s ic Le s s o n s - Banjo, Bass, Electric Guitar and Acoustic Guitar. Rock and Roll, Bluegrass, Country Western, Folk. All levels. Ages 12 to 112. Teaching music for 20+ years. Jonathan Smith 827-3036 ***Note: Grapevine ads are free to local residents. Please inform us if you need to change or delete an ad. Thanks.

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NEXT ISSUE he next issue of the Grapevine-2 will be published in mid June and is our School Issue. We will be looking for pictures, essays, and other items that have to do with our Nelson students. We always welcome stories, poems, news items, and event listings related to Nelson. You may email submissions (preferred) to elizabeth48@earthlink.net or mail them to Elizabeth Williams, 75 Log Cabin Road, Nelson, NH, 03457. Please have items to Beth by May 15. If you have questions you may call Beth at 847-9064.

A Nelson Directory G RA PEVINE -2 Grapevine-2 is a quarterly newsletter serving the Nelson/Munsonville community and is sponsored by the Nelson Congregational Church. It is made possible mostly by voluntary donations from readers, with some supplementary assistance from the church. Should donations exceed costs, the surplus goes to the church. Contributions of articles, ideas, photos, or art are always welcome. To contact the Grapevine-2, call Elizabeth Williams (Beth) at 847-9064, or email to: elizabeth48@earthlink.net, or snailmail to: Grapevine-2 75 Log Cabin Road Nelson, NH 03457 Grapevine-2 Committee& Friends: Hope Lothrop Kelly French Bert Wingerson Beth Williams Susan Hansel

Even in the middle of winter Val & Tom Buttrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greenhouse supplies them with a beautiful green salad. (Photo by Val)

MONADNOCK FOLKLORE SOCIETY CONTRA DANCES he Monadnock Folklore Society Second Saturday Dances in the Nelson Town Hall will be continuing throughout the winter. The hall opens at 7:30 p.m. with a workshop for newcomers to learn some basic steps or a refresher for folks who might not have danced for a while. The main dance starts at 8:00 p.m. and goes until 11:00 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for senior citizens and students. Questions about the dance? Call Lisa Sieverts at 762-0235.

Upcoming Schedule Date March 12 April 9 May 14 June 16

Caller Steve Zakon Anderson TBD Nils Fredland Jeff Petrovitch

July 9

Lisa Sieverts

Musicians Dead Sea Squirrels Bo Bradham & Gordon Peery Harvey Tolman & Bob McQuillen Brendan Carey Block & Julie Vallimont Carol Compton & Amy Cann

Check out the MFS web site for calendar information for many folk music and dance events in the greater Monadnock Region (not just Nelson activities). The site is regularly updated with new articles, local lore, profiles of musicians, and recordings. http://www.monadnockfolk.org

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Emergency (Mutual Aid) . . . . . . . . . . 911 All fire, illness, and accident calls Selectmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 847-0047 Old Brick Schoolhouse; Tuesday, 9 a.m. - 12 noon Wednesday, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Wednesday, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Meeting Thursday, 9 a.m. - 12 noon Mike Blaudshun (chair), Margaret Schillemat, Warren Hammack Town Clerk/Tax Collector . . . . 847-9043 Old Brick Schoolhouse, Tuesday, 9 a.m.-12 noon, Wednesday, 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. - 12 noon Teri Upton (Notary Public) Town Administrative Asst. . . . . 847-0047 Joan Bosely Planning Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . 847-9082 Old Brick Schoolhouse 2 nd Thursday, 7 p.m. Kathy Schillemat, Chair Zoning Board-Adjustment . . . . 847-3403 Old Brick Schoolhouse 1 st Tuesday, 7 p.m. Dona Girvan, Chair Highway Department . . . . . . . . 847-9705 Mike Tarr, at Town Barn Fire Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 847-9045 Rick Lothrop Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352-1291 Richard Pratt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chief Building Sexton . . . . . . . . . . . . . 933-0680 Owen Iselin State Representatives, District 24: Daniel A. Eaton Tara A. Sad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lucy Weber State Senator, District 7 & 8: Harold Janeway . . . . . . . . . . . Bob Odell Supervisors of the Checklist . . . 847-3206 Betsey Church, Chair, Susan Peery, Carol Newcombe Olivia Rodham Memorial Library . . . . . . . . . . 847-3214 Kris Finnegan, Librarian HOURS Monday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Tues, Wed, Thurs 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Nelson School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 847-3408 School Board - 3 rd Thursday, 4 p.m. at Nelson School Conservation Commission . . . . 847-9995 Bud French, Chair Youth Groups: Cub Scouts Boy Scouts, Rich Crowe 4-H

The Grapevine-2 was printed by our friends at Keene State College in Keene, NH P AGE 11

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Nelson, NH 03457 Permit No. 101

830 Nelson Road Nelson, NH 03457

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SERVICES & CLASSIFIEDS CONTINUED M u s ic Le s s o n s - Allison Aldrich & Hunt Smith. Voice, Fiddle, Guitar, Ukulele, 5 String Banjo, Mandolin, Recorder, Beginning Piano, Accordion, Concertina, Flute A relaxed, friendly atmosphere where you can learn to sing or play the instrument you have always wanted to master. Call: 603-209-3304 Email: huntandallison@gmail.com www.huntandallison.net Nelson, NH Fa rm fre s h e g g s - for sale. $3 a dozen. Never more than two days old. Dan & Margaret Schillemat 603-847-0002. B a b y s ittin g - Responsible teen looking to help out Nelson parents with babysitting services. Contact Paige Brnger at 847-3403. R e c y c lin g - I can take #1 & #2 plastic (no tops), glass, tin, aluminum; all commingled. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put recyclables in the trash. Let me take them away. Trevor King 313-6446

Eskimos living in Nelson? You might like to visit the wonderful igloo on the Common built by Al Stoops, with help from friends Kirk Dale, Susan Goding and others.