Laker stern 6 25 18l by The Laker

Stern Section

June 25, 2018

June 25 • Vol 35 • No 12

Page S1

Melvin Village Marina, Yesterday and Today From Old White House With Attached Barn to New Ventures By Rosalie Triolo Photos courtesy of Kevin Dubia Beginnings: Bob Moulton Sr. and his wife, Priscilla, in 1955 purchased the old white house with attached barn next to the Willing Workers Hall on Rt. 109 in Melvin Village. Bob drove a school bus and operated a laundromat located in the building behind the Willing Workers Hall. At that time, a man named Mr. Brigden, needing a place for the summer to park his car and launch his boat, and a place in winter to store his boat, made a deal with Bob Moulton. In the 1960s a channel was dredged into Melvin Bay and the first half of the docks were built. Selling Mercury outboard motors and renting dock spaces, Moulton started the beginnings of a boat business. In 1971, Bob Moulton sold the business to Ivan and Coleen Phelps, who moved the service department from the barn to the former laundromat. With room for one 17-foot boat, Ivan restored old wooden boats, and in 1976 expanded the number of docks. Thinking of making a change and wanting to go into his own business,

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Tom Young, an engineer with Electric Boat Co. in Groton, Connecticut and his wife, Mary, on a warm weekend in midMarch of 1981, visited Lake Winnipesaukee. An unusually warm winter and early “Ice Out,” meant that boats were tied to docks, and the sun was shining. Tom thought to himself, “This isn’t so

bad. Boats are already in the water.” And so, on June 15, 1981 Tom and Mary Young and their family moved from Rhode Island to the old white house with attached barn and became the owners of Melvin Village Marina. At the time, there were two employees: Jerry Heald, service manager and me-

chanic who taught Tom the service and maintenance end of the business, and Dorothy Christenson, office manager, who showed Tom how to run an office. Dorothy said, “He was a fast learner.” • Melvin Village Continued on page S3

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June 25, 2018

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• Melvin Village Continued from page S1 The following year in mid-March when Tom was looking forward to putting boats in the water, the ice was still thick on the lake and that year “Ice Out” was in late April. Tom calls it his “lucky break” when a representative from the Four Winns boat line recommended Melvin Village Marina to Bill Winn Sr. as a Four Winns dealership on Lake Winnipesaukee. In 1975, Bill Winn, Sr., and his three sons, Bill, Jr, Charlie and John, acquired the SAF-T-MATE Boat Co., relocating it from Indiana to Cadillac, Michigan, known as Four Winns. A tragic fire occurred in ’78, leaving the factory a rubble of smoking ruins. Molds, parts, and all records were destroyed. Nothing was left, except the tooling plant, which was located elsewhere. Optimistic, Bill Winn Sr. went to the City of Cadillac for help. Four Winns had to borrow back boats, already delivered to dealers, to tool new molds. With support from family, friends and the City of Cadillac, Michigan, the Winn family was able to resume manufacturing a few short months after the fire. In general, the ’80s were profitable and successful for the Winn family. The number of employees grew from 100 to over 1,000 in the span of a decade. In the fall of 1982 Melvin Village Marina became a Four Winns dealer. The boat line grew and so did the Marina. Four Winns boats, primarily powered by Volvo Penta stern-drive engines, offer a variety of popular models (runabouts, bow riders and cruisers), and are all well-built, attractively designed and reasonably priced. Throughout the years Four Winns has had several owners, most recently, Beneteau, a family owned French company. Reflecting on the past, Tom remarked,

“Luck with Four Winns and the success of the marina led to other good opportunities when we became a dealer for Lund, Harris and Robalo.” Lund, an aluminum fishing boat, manufactured in New York Mills, Minnesota was first built in 1948 by G. Howard Lund. Using the industry’s most durable Aluminum 5052H 34, craftsmanship with an extreme attention to detail, superior design, clever engineering and creating a first-rate fishing boat are attributed to Lund’s success. Owned by

the Brunswick Corporation, Lund boats come packaged with Mercury engines or if preferred, a Honda engine. In the 1940’s, two brothers - Ernie and Pete Harris - were looking to expand business. They were inspired by the early pontoon boats built on 55-gallon barrels and drop tanks from airplanes.

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• Melvin Village Continued on page S4

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• Melvin Village Continued from page S3 Marine Products purchased Robalo. Tom considers himself “lucky.” He said, “Of his five children, the last born, Matthew, showed enough interest to take over the business. While in high school, Matt spent summers working as a dock-hand at the marina. Summer vacations from college found Matt in the service department learning the mechanical end and in the office learning the sales end of the business. After graduation from Elmira College, Matt came on board full-time, dividing his time between the service department, the office and sales.” Due to the Recession of 2007, boat sales declined. Both Tom and Matt, with employee input, looked into the possibilities of a Rental Boat Program starting with three boats. Ten years later, the number of rental boats grew to 22 in service. New boats, primarily Four Winns and Harris, are rented for two summers and then sold. Boats are clean and safe and adequately powered for either cruising or water sports. By using Melvin Village’s online rental program (melvinvillagemarina.com) customers are able to choose, check availability and reserve a boat. Next Generation: By 2008, in semi-retirement, Tom began stepping away as full-time owner/operator of the marina, handing over more of the day-

Year 1985 1990 1995 1995 1998 2000 2001 2001 2011

to-day operation to his son, Matt. Before fully retiring, Tom and Matt purchased the house and land across Route 109 from the old white house and barn. On April 4, 2008 the new building completed, employees moved office equipment and boats from one side of the street to the other. The new showroom on the main floor holds, depending upon size, eight to 10 boats, and additional space on the lower level holds 10 to 15 boats. By 2014, Matt became full-time owner/operator of the marina, taking full responsibility and moving ahead with bold new ideas and changes. With expansion in mind and business opportunities presenting themselves, Matt purchased property on Route 16 in Ossipee, catering to the Route 16 corridor traffic. Melvin Village Marina, Ossipee provides sales and service to lakes in that area. Erin Donnelly worked summers through high school and college as a dock hand. After college graduation, Erin became a full-time employee in sales at Melvin Village Marina. Erin is manager of Melvin Village Marina, Ossipee. Two years ago, the first storage building was added to hold pontoon boats. A service shop, added the winter of 2017, is in use. Starting as a marine technician at the Melvin Village Facility, Justin Glidden is service manager of the Ossipee facility with assistant technician, Michael Stacey.

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New Beginnings: The old white house with attached barn had been standing empty for years. Three years ago, Rich and Janya Gladu, owners and operators of Canvas Plus, decided it was time for them to find a new path. That path led them to Melvin Village Marina (MVM) and the beginning of Melvin Village Marina Canvas Company. Located in the old white house with attached barn, Janya Gladu, an expert in fixing, designing and stitching boat canvas and upholstery, uses her talents in running MVM Canvas Shop. Janya and her assistant, Terry Moody, are busy year round and have turned the old white house into a large operation of humming machinery, cutting tables, rolled up paper patterns, materials, and canvases waiting to be sewn. The attached barn is used to hold boats waiting to be fitted with new or restitched canvases. After a good deal of thought and hours of discussion, an agreement was reached between Matt Young and former owners, Bob and Melanie Schofield, of Ambrose Cove Marina, located on Route 109 in Moultonborough. In late fall 0f 2017, Matthew and Virginia Young became the new owners. Ambrose Cove Marina will continue to offer boat storage, dock slips, marine gas, as well as valet service. Bob Bowie, valet manager, originally worked at Melvin Village Marina as a technician. He will provide a limited service of dewinterizing in spring/summer and winterizing in fall/winter. Boats needing more extensive work will be diagnosed and serviced at Melvin Village Marina.

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Dedicated Employees: Through the years, Melvin Village Marina has increased in size and in the number of employees from two to in excess of 25 during the summer season. Its prosperity and success has been, and still is, due to loyal and dedicated employees: an efficient office staff including Office Manager, Barb Dubia; Office Assistant, Alisha Biehl; and Dock Hand Supervisor, Adie Purvis. A dynamic trio of sales associates includes Kevin Dubia and Matt Galvin (Melvin Village); Erin Donnelly (Melvin Village Ossipee); and a Service Department providing a level of service unmatched in the marine industry by qualified, highly-trained marine technicians Mike Austin, Neil Bayard, Dana Carpenter, and Keith Newbegin. Mat Chamberlain handles inventory, Shane Frost reconditions boats, supervised by Service Manager, Rob Heald, (with 30 plus years of service). Kurt Lehner assists the Service Manager, and is the “go-to” person when a customer and/ or another employee has a question. Paul Stacey supervises maintenance of buildings and property, assisted by part-timers Chuck Glidden and Brian (Manny) Dubia. MVM is the only service department in the country to win the Four Winns CSI Award twice, and the only Four Winns service department in New England to win the award. Melvin Village Marina is an authorized service and warranty dealer for Honda, Mercury and Yamaha, a full line dealer for Honda engines and packaged dealer for Mercury and Yamaha engines. All starting in an old white house with attached barn.

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Buoy Up! New Boat Museum is becoming a reality At the New Hampshire Boat Museum’s Opening Reception, the Board of Trustees and Executive Director, Martha Cummings, announced they have raised almost half of the $5.5 million dollars needed to build a new museum. “We are getting very close to meeting our goal and we are 100% confident that we will be breaking ground soon! It is a very exciting time to be part of this museum,” said Joe DeChiaro, Chairman of the Board. The NH Boat Museum, located at 399 Center Street in Wolfeboro, has been quietly raising money for the past two years. Leaders from all over New Hampshire’s Lakes Region have provided guidance and significant financial support. Campaign Chair, Kristin Isley, said, “While the New Hampshire Boat Museum’s founding was based on the preservation, restoration and love of

vintage wood boats, the reality is we have become much, much more. Our Leadership Donors understand what the Museum offers today and have invested in our potential for tomorrow. The New Hampshire Boat Museum offers more than 30 programs, events and activities for all ages. We do most of this during a 10-week summer period. Imagine what

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we could do with 52 weeks…” A list of current programs includes Youth Sailing, Adult Learn To Sail, IceOut, Adult Boat Building, Brewster Academy Boat Building, Youth Boat Building, Boathouse Tour, Vintage Boat & Car Auction, Alton Bay Boat Show, Community Sailing, Sailboat Racing, Volunteer Picnic, Lake History Preservation, Rare Boat Preservation, Fourth of July Parade, Millie B, Lecture Series, Model Boat Building, Family Fun Center, Boat Restoration, Vintage Race Boat Regatta, Lake Discovery Camp, Sailboat Sharing, Model Yachting, Opening Reception, Lake Wentworth Sailing Regatta, Family Boat Building, Festival of Trees, and Maritime Museum. Ninety percent of what is done at the New Hampshire Boat Museum focuses on education. One hundred percent of what is done is about our lakes. Interest in the Boat Museum is high and there are over 200 volunteers that make it all

happen. Commented Executive Director Martha Cummings, “Please grow with us! Gifts of all sizes are welcomed on an outright basis, as are three to five year pledges. If you would like to talk with one of our committee members to understand more fully what our future looks like, please call the museum office at 603-569-4554. We have complete campaign brochures available, as well as a Power Point presentation to help explain the goals and methods. We are mostly a volunteer organization and do not practice high-pressure fundraising tactics; the choice is yours as to what level you would consider donating. There are still naming opportunities at the new site for certain giving levels, so you might consider memorializing or honoring someone, a family, business or a foundation. Ground breaking for the new museum is expected to start in early spring of 2019.

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What the Loons Want You to Know… By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper “Loons are the soul of the lake. They fill it up with song,” says Harry Vogel. As executive director of the Loon Preservation Society, with headquarters in Moultonborough, Vogel knows a lot about loons. If anyone can speak for these wonderful creatures, it is Vogel. Through many years of research, he has come to know New Hampshire’s common loon quite well and he says if we listen and learn, there is a lot the loons can teach us. If the loons that nest on New Hampshire’s lakes can tell us one thing, it would be that they need our help. Says Vogel, “Loons are a threatened species in New Hampshire. Because of the diminishing loon population, the Loon Preservation Society has spent 40-plus years studying and helping loons on our lakes. The main threat to the loon population is the use of lead fishing tackle.” Vogel explains that when loons ingest a tiny lead sinker used by fishermen, they suffer an awful death…and it isn’t a quick one. Often, it takes around two weeks for a loon to die from lead poisoning, and in the process, they suffer symptoms ranging from disorientation to eventual paralysis, among others. (According to www.loon.org, 49% of the New Hampshire adult loon mortalities the Loon Preservation Committee collected from between 1989 to 2011 resulted from ingested lead fishing tackle.) The good news is there is now much greater awareness of the damage lead can do to loons, and it is no longer legal to fish with this type of sinker. The new non-toxic sinkers are safer for loons. Although loons are beloved for their haunting calls that echo over our lakes and ponds on still summer evenings, they are elusive creatures with little known about how and where they live. The Loon Preservation Committee aims to change that, and offers a lot of information on the state’s common loon. “In 1975, people were noticing fewer common loons on the water,” explains Vogel. “Rawson Wood, a Lakes Region resident, was the first to sound the alarm. He suspected, correctly, that human activity on the lakes was causing the loon population decline.” The Loon Committee’s goal is to reverse that decline. (LPC) began as a self-funded and directed project of the NH Audubon Society. LPC spent its first years headquartered in the Humiston Building in Meredith; the current center in Moultonborough was built in 1993. The Moultonborough location (on

Loon with chicks on the lake. Photo by John Rockwood.

Lee’s Mills Road) allows room for a well-stocked gift shop, offices for staff and a large room for displays and lectures. The property also offers a network of walking trails that bring visitors close to the water’s edge and into wooded areas. Vogel, who is a biologist, has learned a great deal about loons and it is eager to share what he knows. “Most loons in New England are year-round residents,” he says. This dispels the assumption that they fly to warmer areas such as Florida when cold weather hits New Hampshire. “They relocate to the seacoast, because when the lakes freeze loons just cannot survive in those conditions. The open water of the seacoast area is suitable to their needs. There are five species of loons in the world, and New Hampshire’s loons are called common loons. Essentially, loons are Arctic birds, related to the penguin,” Vogel says. We tend to think loons can walk as can other birds, but if you visit the LPC headquarters and watch a video on loons, you will see they have very little ability to walk on dry land. They move well in the water and they fly, but their legs are so far back on their bodies and the majority of their weight is in front of their legs. This makes their legs nearly useless for walking and they sort of push themselves over dry land with some propulsion and help from their legs. Raising loon chicks is a full-time job for loons; they are a two-parent, twoloon chick unit, with the nest sitting very near the water’s edge. The life of loons in our area, as they protect their nest, goes something like this: June is a

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month that sees the mom and dad loons on the nest a lot and can be a miserable month heavy with black flies (according to Vogel, to make things even more challenging, the loons battle a black fly species that attacks only loons). The sun and heat can be an issue, because the common loon sports black plumage, which soaks up the heat (not much different than humans avoiding black clothing in the heat of summer). “They are made for colder climates,” explains Vogel, “and it can be hot as they sit on the nest in June.” Around the 4th of July weekend, loon chicks hatch, but the timing is not good given that this is a busy holiday weekend with lots of boaters enjoying the lakes. This can scare the loons on the nest, but if boaters keep their distance all will be well. If humans get too close or wander by mistake into the loon’s

nesting space, the loons may flee, abandoning the nest. The rest of the summer months are also busy for the loon parents. They must remain vigilant to protect the chicks from turtles, raccoons and other wildlife that can attack the chicks. No one really knows the average life span of a loon, but Vogel says a good guess is around 20 to 30 years. The LPC has been banding birds for about that length of time and the oldest loon they know of is 30 years of age. Loons are also travelers, and willing to go far from the nest to fish for food. They can claim an entire lake, but fellow loons claim certain territories as their own and will fight invading loons for space. “Right now, the LPC is in the middle of a massive research project on loons,” Vogel says. “It will teach us a lot about climate change, and how to help the loons in the future.” The loons also want to tell boaters to give them some space. If you are boating and see a nest, stay away. The best way to see a loon/nest up close, according to Vogel, is with binoculars or a camera’s telephoto lens. The dilemma is that we have a desire to watch the loons up close so we can see what they are doing, but they will stop doing those things if we get too close. “It is unfortunate, but one out of two loon nests fail each year, despite our best efforts.” Vogel shakes his head as he relays this fact, and it is regrettable that this is a reality for an average loon in New Hampshire. There are about 30 pairs of loons on Lake Winnipesaukee and 15 pairs on Squam Lake. Lake Umbagog has 20

•Loons Continued on page S8

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pairs. Some loons nest in ponds, but they need a lot of space to settle and nest and also to hunt for food. It is not only boating and an increasing human population that have contributed to the loon’s decline. “We are dealing with things now that were not imagined when the LPC started in 1975,” Vogel goes on to say. Some of those things are lead poisoning, mercury and other contaminants, as well as climate change. If we see water levels rise due to climate change in the coming years, it will have an affect. “We have a species - the loon - that nests at the water’s edge. If the levels of water rise, it will impact the nests.” Increased heat from climate change could damage nests as well. To deal with the heat from the sun, this summer the LPC will be putting shade materials over nests to help keep the loons and their eggs at a moderate temperature. Further, New Hampshire is receptive to doing what is necessary to increase the loon population; the state is the first to restrict certain types of lead tackle. The methods by which the LPC helps loons encompasses various topics. Monitoring means counting loons and it is among the most comprehensive way to learn about the loon population and productivity around the world. If the monitoring process discovers issues, the LPC does further research to come up with ways to help loons cope, thus increasing their chance of survival. Management aids in the loon population, such as creating raft nest sites with shades. This increases the chance that the loon chicks will hatch successfully and thrive. The LPC also helps loons by addressing the changing water levels. They are working with dam owners to maintain stable water levels during the weeks that loons are nesting. Eight out of 10 loons in the state have benefitted from these combined efforts. Education aims to teach people about loons and their needs. “We want to encourage a culture of respect for loons,”

adds Vogel. As well as keeping well away from loon nests, boaters and others can also help loons by ditching old lead tackle. Clean out your fishing tackle box and replace any lead tackle with new, nontoxic/wildlife safe tackle. “The loon population is only half way to getting back to what it once was in New Hampshire,” says Vogel. He stresses that the loon population’s decline was beginning before lead tackle was an issue. In the distant past, indiscriminate shooting of loons also contributed to the population decline. But Vogel and others see hope for the loons. “Yes, I absolutely see hope that the population of loons will increase. The LPC is up to the challenge. Loons are the poster children for wildlife and for many things. They are beloved by most people for a number of reasons. “If we can save the loons, we can save other species. That will help other wildlife and will even help NH’s tourism.” The plight of the common loon was brought into greater awareness with the 1980s super hit movie “On Golden Pond” starring Henry and Jane Fonda and Katharine Hepburn. The movie was filmed in the Lakes Region and while not the stars of the movie, loons were a symbol of peace and renewal in the story. The haunting call of the loon echoing over the still night, or Hepburn’s excitement when spotting the elusive loon or hearing its call deeply affected the movie-going public and brought the bird worldwide awareness. “When we hear the loon call, it is an indicator of environmental health, and a sense that all is okay in the world. Humans have an almost spiritual bond with loons, and the birds represent the mysterious and the majestic in life,” concludes Vogel. (The Loon Preservation Committee is located on Lee’s Mills Road in Moultonborough; follow signs to the center. Admission is free; call 603-476-5666 or visit www.loon.org for hours of operation. The Marcus Wildlife Sanctuary walking trails are open seven days a week, year round, dawn to dusk.)

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Loons on Nests Throughout NH The Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) recorded its first pairs of nesting loons this year on May 17. Since then more than 80 loon pairs have begun to incubate eggs, with more expected in the next week. The peak time for loons to start nesting is usually in early June, followed by a four-week incubation period, which means many loon chicks hatch just in time for the July 4th holiday. Loon pairs on nests or adults with chicks are vulnerable to disturbance as human activities on the lakes increase so the Loon Preservation Committee in Moultonborough asks boaters to follow these simple precautions to help ensure a good year for loons in New Hampshire: • Stay back at least 150 feet from a nesting loon, or more if the loon shows any signs of distress such as craning its neck low over a nest. Loons may even appear to be injured or dead while in this head-down position, but it is a stress response to the close approach of people. • If boaters inadvertently cause a loon to flush from the nest, leave the area immediately to let the loon return to incubate its eggs. Time off the nest leaves the eggs vulnerable to cooling, overheating, or predation. In 2017, Loon Preservation Committee biologists recorded 202 pairs of nesting loons in New Hampshire, a decrease of six pairs from the previous year. This decrease was likely due in part to the large amount of rainfall re-

As of mid-June, more than 80 loon nests have been initiated in New Hampshire. (Photo courtesy of Brian Reilly) ceived in the spring of 2017 which left many traditional nesting sites underwater at the beginning of the breeding season. Forty-four of those pairs nested on rafts—artificial islands that LPC floats to help loons cope with water level fluctuations or being displaced from natural sites by shoreline development or recreational activity on the lakes. Of the 202 nesting pairs, 88 pairs (44%) were protected by signs and rope lines, and half of the loon chicks hatched around the state came from a raft or from nest sites protected by a sign &/or rope line. Even with this level of management, LPC biologists recorded 107 failed nests in 2017. Last year was among the top five worst years for nesting success in LPC’s long history of monitoring loons in New Hampshire. Human disturbance, black flies, flooded nests, and intruding loons are

all factors that contributed to the low productivity. Anyone wanting to observe a loon on a nest can do so at the Loon Preservation Committee’s LIVE loon cam at www.loon.org. The loon cam pair started nesting on May 25 and the expected hatch date was between June 20 to 22. Highlights from the webcam can be viewed on the Loon Preservation

Committee’s YouTube channel as well (https://www.youtube.com/user/LoonCenter). Loons are a threatened species in New Hampshire and are protected by state and federal laws from hunting or harassment. If you see a sick or injured loon, please call the Loon Preservation Committee (603-476-5666) or if you observe harassment of loons, please contact the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (603-271-3361) or Marine Patrol (603-293-2037) for assistance. The Loon Preservation Committee monitors loons throughout the state as part of its mission to restore and maintain a healthy population of loons in New Hampshire; to monitor the health and productivity of loon populations as sentinels of environmental quality; and to promote a greater understanding of loons and the natural world. To learn more about loons in New Hampshire, please visit the Loon Preservation Committee on the web at www.loon.org or call the Loon Preservation Committee at (603) 476-LOON (5666).

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June 25, 2018

Photography Exhibit at The North East Motor Sports Libby Museum Museum gets a makeover In June and July, Connecticut, Amy an exhibit featuring was inspired by her the work of local parents who were both photographer Amy talented artists and Piper is on view at photographers. She The Libby Museum, remembers her mom located in the Lakes developing her own Region portion of the pictures in “the family NH Heritage Museum bathroom turned dark Trail in Wolfeboro. In room” where one had her photographs, the to knock on the door textures and landscapes before entering. are stunning, and many Now open Tuesdays images are for sale. through Saturdays Amy’s passion for from 10 am to 4 pm photography runs the and Sundays from noon gamut from nature and to 4 pm, The Libby Lakes Region resident Amy landscape to texture, Museum offers free Piper is currently showing her abstract, and detail. admission for children photography in an exhibit at Her mother used to tell and veterans and adult the Libby Museum. her she saw the world admission is just $5. through “rose colored There are few places glasses” but Amy prefers to think, with more beautiful than The Libby and few her eye for detail, she sees the potential photographers more gifted than Piper. beauty in everything and tries to bring The Libby is one of 17 museums beauty to life through her camera lens on the NH Heritage Museum Trail, for others to enjoy and appreciate. with stops in Canterbury, Concord, Amy is the owner and creative Dover, Exeter, Laconia, Manchester, designer of Signature Events, a local Moultonborough, Plymouth, Tamworth wedding and event planning company and Wolfeboro. To learn more about now celebrating its 19th year. Locally, The Trail and its member museums, she belongs to the Lakes Region visit www.nhmuseumtrail.org. Photography Club where she has been To learn more about The Libby, a member for several years. or Amy Piper’s photography, visit She was given her first camera www.thelibbymuseum.org or www. when she turned 16. Growing up in amypiperphotography.com.

After a profoundly successful first year, the North East Motor Sports Museum on Route 106 in Loudon has undergone a make-over. To ensure that 2018’s guests see a lot that wasn’t at the museum last year, new vintage cars have been added to the floor. Included in the new exhibits is the car driven to last year’s ARCA Championship by Maine’s Austin Theriault. It’s the same car in which he began his chase for the championship, driving to win at Daytona. The dirt cut-down driven by the late Joey O’Brien joins a wonderful flathead-powered Model-A body car that raced in Vermont. An “Altered” drag race car that was driven by Charlie Greer sat in a barn for 44 years and is on display exactly as it came out of that barn. See the super-modified that won four championships and the near sixfoot tall trophies the car and its driver (Russ Wood) won. An Offy midget-car engine has been added to the engine corral. The car with which Jerry Driscoll set Mt. Washington Hillclimb records is on the floor. The motorcycle display has grown with the addition of an exhibit featuring the ROKON motorcycles that were manufactured in Keene, New Hampshire. The company survived just eight years beginning in 1970 but during that time, riders on ROKON bikes amassed a phenomenal record of off-road com-

petition awards and championships. Most of the photos that were on the walls last year have been replaced by new photos of old-time New England racing. Dozens of new books are on the library’s shelves and more photo albums have been added. Ten large new display boards have been brought to the floor. They picture early New England drag racing, road racing and oval track racing. Several drivers with New England roots who have gone on to race in the big time are featured as well. Several new events are planned for 2018. The first takes place on June 30, slot car drag racing. Next, on July 14 beginning at 10:30 am, the Dion vs the Dragons rivalry will be featured. A lively discussion, moderated by famed radio announcer Dave Moody, will highlight the days and nights when racing late model cars in New England was all about the Dion family vs. the Dragon family. On September 29, three of New England’s top drag racing personalities will be honored at the second annual “Legends Day” event. The museum is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. and is located at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, 922 Rt. 106 in Loudon, New Hampshire.

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“Any Lake Anywhere” By Rosalie Triolo Photos courtesy Rowland’s Studio When you are on any lake in a boat, or hiking a mountain, a good map is important. Maps have saved lives, but they look pretty great when framed and matted and hung on the wall of a living room, an office or even in a summer camp or cabin. Scott Walton, owner of Rowland’s Studio, located on North Main Street in downtown Concord, knows all about maps. Scott and his daughter, Morgan Walton, have become map experts and created an unusual business in the process. In the second-floor gallery in the shop, framed hand-painted maps of lakes, ponds and islands decorate the walls. These are not just maps or charts, but works of art. Scott’s parents have owned Rowland’s Studio since 1988, and three years ago Scott had an idea, making a map, “a decent map” with the true shape of Lake Winnipesaukee. Boating on the “Big Lake” all his life using lake charts, Scott found these charts didn’t provide a True North reading or a true detailed shape of the lake. He began drawing the exact dimensions of the lake, acquiring the information using aerial and GPS coordinates, which took two years to perfect. His custom maps are drawn to proportion and scale, no matter how large or small and aligned to True North. Scott explains, “Our custom hand-painted, framed maps are displayed in homes or lake houses as decorative pieces.” Along with making great wall art, lake charts are extremely helpful in finding the ins and outs of channels, where hazardous rocks lie just out of sight beneath the water. You would not want to be without a lake chart to determine the direction of the safest route while negotiating black and red markers, pinpointing the numbered and lighted buoys and displaying the names of towns and bays on the lake.

One day two years ago, Morgan Walton, a senior in high school at the time, had an idea for her Senior Project – Starting a Company. Not just any company, but one in conjunction with her father’s that would enhance his business. A very bright and determined young woman, Morgan developed the idea, and wrote a business plan. She also identified her market, determined the costs, established a budget, registered the name and designed a unique logo for her business cards – WM (WaterMark) with a mirrored MW (Morgan Walton). She submitted the paperwork and thus, “WATERMARK MAPS” was born. One might wonder how a father/ daughter working relationship, with the young daughter stepping into an already-established art store would work. Morgan comments, “We work well together. We have the same views on designs, and on the accuracy of our designs and framing. My father draws the outlines and the graphics, and I do the handwork, hand painting.” Scott holds a sample of paper used for both custom hand-painted maps and prints. It is Aquarelle 100% Rag (made

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from 100 percent cotton rag) with an uneven texture giving prints a watercolor look and feel. Aquarelle paper holds the color of hand-painted work, as well as prints, giving them depth. For years, it has been thought and believed that there are 350 islands on Lake Winnipesaukee. Determined to find all 350 islands, Scott and Morgan spent many hours, days and months on Lake Winnipesaukee searching, cataloging and mapping. The accurate and final total is, eighty-eight less than what was believed, for a true total of 262 islands. Lake Winnipesaukee is not the only lake Scott and Morgan have designed with accurate and detailed drawings. They have mapped each and every lake and pond in the state of New Hampshire. Scott and Morgan have custom hand-painted a map of Boston Harbor for a couple who was engaged there. The same couple married in the Virgin Islands, and commissioned Scott and Morgan to hand-paint and frame a map as a remembrance. Custom hand-painted maps of such places as Cape Cod, Lake Champlain and Nantucket decorate the homes of

customers. And the father/daughter duo manage to do it all, such as a special request for Morgan to hand-paint a custom map of Martha’s Vineyard in a light shade of rose, embossed above the wording on a wedding invitation. Some months later, Morgan hand-painted a framed custom map for the couple, also in light rose, of the Vineyard, pinpointing, with a heart, the exact location of the ceremony. Whether it be a wedding in Cancun or vacations in Jamaica, Aruba or Ecuador, memories made are preserved in these works of art. As a team, Scott and Morgan have custom drawn and hand-painted maps of Lake Washington in Seattle, Lake George in New York, Lake Sebago in Maine and every lake and pond in New Hampshire, along with the islands on Lake Winnipesaukee. How long does it take to complete a custom hand-painted map or print? Surprisingly, it takes about only one week to draw and hand-paint a custom detailed map and about two days to develop a print. Frames are either customers’ choice or left to the experts. There are several places around the lake where you can find Morgan’s custom hand-painted original maps or prints: The Art Place located at 9 North Main St. in Wolfeboro; Home Comfort Furniture and Accessories, 38 Plymouth St., Center Harbor is where you can find framed prints. Need a gift for someone, or just a remembrance of your vacation in the Lakes Region? Great North Trading Co. in Mills Falls Marketplace, Meredith has smaller gift-size prints. Watermark Marine Construction, located at 1218 Union Avenue in Laconia has a custom display of Morgan’s works. On the back of Morgan’s business card, the motto says it all: “Any Lake Anywhere.”

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June 25, 2018

A Gentle Kayak Adventure…and a bit of East Alton History Story & Photos by Mark Foynes Special places are often tucked away sometimes way out in the pucker brush, and sometimes just a little off the beaten path. Gilman Pond in East Alton is a 48-acre pond that hosts an abundance of history and wildlife; it also offers unparalleled views of some of the surrounding hillsides. Just off Route 28, it’s about halfway between the Alton Circle and Wolfeboro, just a short drive off the beaten path. There’s a public access point and trailhead on Gilman Corner Road, which is a side street along the rollercoaster road section of the highway in the general area of St. Katharine Drexel’s Catholic Church. I know this section of Route 28 road quite well. Occasionally, if time permits, I’ll take a detour along one of the byways that run either perpendicular or parallel to the main route. There’s Old Wolfeboro Road, Drew Hill, Quarry Road and others. (Having lived on backroads my entire life, I take it slow out of courtesy to the folks who live offthe-beaten-path, any wayward pets, and traversing wildlife). That said, I’d never been to Gilman Pond- fittingly located near Gilman Corner - until pretty recently. Local Eagle Scout Troy Meyer did considerable work at the trailhead of a path that runs through 700 acres of town-owned land abutting the pond. Some time back, I’d been invited to a modest ceremony to celebrate the completion of this capstone project. The event was attended by family, friends, and members of the

Just down the road from Gilman Pond is the historic circa 1820 First Free Will Church in East Alton. The site is also a “tiny library,” where impromptu patrons can take a book to read and pay things forward by leaving a book for the next patron.

Alton Conservation Commission. Apparently, the Scout did good. Folks who know the site commented that the dozen or so cars in the lot wouldn’t have previously fit. Prior to Meyer’s work the area had become a bit disused and overgrown. For a beginning kayaker, Gilman Pond is a nice location. The launch site for canoes or kayaks is just a short jaunt from the rehabilitated parking area. In just a few steps, you walk past a small granite marker bearing the name of John Lawrence, who was instrumental in preserving the site. Thence you can proceed to a level waterfront area adjacent to a stone bench, which overlooks the pond and Cate Hill, off in the distance. This is where I put in my modest Perception brand kayak and set out for a leisurely paddle on a pleasant day in June. Gilman Pond is a very shallow waterbody. N.H. Fish & Game map notes that its greatest depth is 17 feet, and that it has an average depth of seven feet. Over the course of my hour-long mini-excursion, there was seldom a time when I couldn’t see the bottom of the pond. But a lack of depth is not an indicator of a lack of biodiversity. The dominant flowering plant species in the pond is the Yellow Pond-lily (Nuphar lutea). This aquatic perennial grows to be two to four feet in height, so when you see a prevalence of this saffron-blooming vegetation, you know you’re in pretty shallow waters. The lily roots from its

• Kayak Continued on page S13

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• Kayak Continued from page S12 spongy rhizome thrives in muddy pond bottoms. As a perennial, each spring, they shoot up heart-shaped leaves and separate long stout stems that bloom above the water’s surface. The plants’ leaves are akin to nature’s aircraft carriers. As I guided my kayak along the shoreline, a veritable squadron of winged insects took off and landed on the plant floating foliage. Dragonflies and damselflies, in a rainbow of colors, approached, and buzzed around as I lazily meandered about. This large number of insects also supports an abundant fish population. As I floated forward, on the waterscape before me, I saw the pond’s surface break from below as fish lunged upwards toward their quarry from the depths. Sometimes a dozen at a time emerged at once, or at least within a couple seconds of each other. The predominant fish species in Gilman’s are what you might expect to find in a small, isolated pond: bottom-feeding hornpout, pike, pickerel, and shallow-water sunfish, which some refer to as crappies. One local I talked to said he’d caught bass there when he was a boy. Across the pond I noticed a weathered, handmade birdhouse. It looked photogenic, so I snapped a picture of it. I didn’t know that within an hour I’d meet the man who built and installed it on a barkless white pine snag a quarter century ago. The site is replete with natural beauty. It is also rich in history. For those familiar with the stretch of Rt. 28 (off from which Gilman Corner Rd. is located), they also likely know that the Wolfeboro Highway intersects with a back road called Quarry Road. If you start at Rte. 28, Quarry Road will

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take you to within a few hundred yards of the Gilman Pond trailhead and canoe launch. Many years ago, stonecutters lofted out tons of igneous rock from a ledge overlooking the western edge of the shore. A walk along the newly-restored trail reveals jags of granite cut at right angles, the tell-tale signs of the workings of hands of men, and not millennia of rain, wind, snow, and ice. Not too far from my launch site, I saw a pile of granite. I thought of hands set to work perhaps two centuries ago. I got curious and called a friend of mine, who’s an Alton town historian. He had a few details that were instructive, but concluded, “If you’re in East Alton, you need to talk with Mark Northridge. He knows more about that area than anyone.” Mr. Northridge lives in the secluded village of East Alton at Gilman Corner. Organized around the old meeting house, which was established by the Free Will Baptists, it’s the original town center. There are buildings there that were erected long before Alton Village and the Bay. Gilman Corner was settled back before Alton was its own town, when it was a district of its present-day neighbor, then known as New Durham Gore. Northridge was very hospitable and genuinely enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge of the area. He is a key holder of the East Alton Free Will Baptist Church. When he offered to sit with me for a spell in the ca. 1820 Greek Revival building, I eagerly accepted his offer. (I’d long been curious about the structure, so this was a special, unanticipated treat). Northridge invited me to take a seat. I sat in the last pew - he, one row ahead of me. He noted that the building dated to a time shortly after the Free Will Baptists had congregated - although for

the first several meetings, they met at various folks’ private homes. “This was a thriving village at one time,” Northridge said. He said that, in addition to the houses that are still standing, there are between 60 to 70 cellar holes in the area. Indeed, some of those old homes must have been erected atop foundations of locally-quarried granite. Northridge said that when the area was under cultivation, there were places where Winnipesaukee was in view. “They’d haul quarried granite from there right down to Robert’s Cove where it could be shipped out.” There are rumors that Boston contractors were among the quarry’s customers. Local lore suggests that some of the city’s best-known public buildings include Alton granite.

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“That’s what I’ve heard, but I’ve not seen conclusive evidence,” Northridge said. During our brief chat, I noted that the old meetinghouse sat upon a granite foundation and wondered out loud if it may rest upon locally-quarried stone. “It is very likely, but we can’t say definitively,” he added. As for the village of East Alton itself, I praised the little community’s beauty, noting that it is one of the region’s best kept secrets. “We kind of like to keep it that way,” he joked as he welcomed me into the community’s architectural gem with the kind aplomb of a cultural ambassador. In coming weeks, I hope to follow up in greater detail about some more of the historical specifics of this village.

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Enjoy the Sunset from Our Deck Tonight! Open daily from 11am to 9pm • 569-8668

OverlOOking the wOlfebOrO tOwn dOcks 27 S. Main Street • 569-8668 Find us on Facebook at Jo Greens Garden Cafe.

BEST VALUE IN THE LAKES & CAPITOL REGIONS OF NH! Family Owned

the “Jewel of Lake Winnipesaukee ” TM

ALL DAY!

Learn About Our Colonial History See Views of Lake Winnipesaukee, Beautiful Waterfront Homes, Attractions, Museums and Shops

Queen Pillowtops Starting at $399

Adults $8 Child (4-12) $4 Under 4 FREE!

Leaves On the Hour From Town Docks On the Half-Hour From Railroad Station 10-4 Seven Days Wolfeboro Trolley Company

Wolfeboro, NH • 603-569-1080 www.wolfeborotrolley.com

Narrated Trolley Tours • Private Charters

Vintage Boat Rides

Serta IComfort Hybrid Models Are Now In. Come Experience The Luxury Sleep Difference

At Shibles Family Mattresses, our family has been selling a great selection of beds to fit any budget for many years.

The store where service makes the difference

ON L AKE WINNIPESAUKEE

An Exciting Ride • Natural Beauty • Lake House History Contact the NH Boat Museum for more information

603. 569. 4554 • www.nhbm.org

254 Suncook Valley Rd. 126 DW Highway • Rt. 3 Chichester, NH Belmont, NH 603-435-9345 603-524-8821

Our family looks forward to serving your family in a fast, affordable and friendly manner you won’t find in mattress box store.

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It’s the Law! Getting out on the lake is any water lover’s dream. Before you make boating plans, be sure you are prepared, no matter what size or type of boat you want to drive. The following information from NH’s Boater Safety Education will give you necessary information: Who Needs the Card? Persons at least 16 years old who operate a motorboat over 25 hp or a ski craft in New Hampshire must have a boating education certificate. Exemptions New Hampshire accepts the following certificates or licenses in lieu of the New Hampshire Safe Boater Education Certificate.

• A boating certificate issued by another state agency and NASBLA approved. • A boating certificate issued by the U.S. Power Squadron. • A boating certificate issued by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. • An unexpired commercial boating license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard. • An unexpired commercial boating license issued by the state of New Hampshire. Age Restrictions You must be at least 15 years old to take the online Boat New Hampshire Course and the In-Person Exam for the safe boater education certificate,

but the certificate will not be issued until the age of 16. Reciprocity All states, territories, and provinces will recognize boating education cards that meet NASBLA requirements and Canadian Pleasure Craft Operator Cards that meet Transport Canada’s requirements. (This is known as “reciprocity.”) Enforcement New Hampshire law enforcement officers patrol the waterways to make your boating experience safe and pleasant. Cooperate with them by following the laws and guidelines. Carry the Card Vessel operators who are required

to have a Boater Education Card must carry the card on board the vessel and have it available for inspection by an enforcement officer. Penalty Not carrying your Boater Education Card when one is required can result in a fine. (For details about the boater education law, who is exempt from the education requirement, which courses are approved, the In-Person Exam, and the application for the New Hampshire Safe Boater Education Certificate, visit http://www. nh.gov/safety/divisions/nhsp/fob/ marine-patrol/index.html.)

Enjoy the Lakes Region by Boat!

Boat Rentals

SALES – SERVICE – STORAGE Starcraft Pontoon Fishing – Runabouts Volvo – Mercruiser *Evinrude Platinum Service & Repower Center*

BOAT RENTALS

Largest & Newest Fleet On The Lake! Brand New 2018 Models Pontoons – Ski Boats *NH Temporary Boating License Agent*

603-366-4811 • WWW.THURSTONSMARINA.COM

2-, 4-, & 8-hour Rentals Special Weekly Rates

We Rent:

Slips, Boats, Canoes Kayaks and Paddle Boards

603-968-9001

www.holdernessharbor.com 879 US Route 3, Holderness, NH

20-21’ BOWRIDERS 21’ DECK BOATS 23’ PONTOON BOATS 603-366-4311 or 1-800-366-8119 1258 Union Avenue, Laconia Reservations Encouraged www.anchormarine.net

LAKE SIDE BOAT RENTALS

LOCATED AT BAY SIDE INN

Downtown Meredith • Off Route 3

• BOAT RENTALS • Half-Day, Daily, Multi-Day or Weekly

Stingray Bowriders Hurricane Deckboats Godfrey Pontoons

603-279-7921 www.meredithmarina.com

Sales • Service • Ships Store • Valet

• 21’DECK BOATS • 24’ PONTOON BOATS • DAILY AND WEEKLY RENTALS AVAILABLE • SEADOO RENTALS BY THE HOUR

Celebrating 46 Years Family Owned & Operated Located by the Long Island Bridge

Boat Rentals 18’ – 21’ Bowriders 19’ – 26’ Pontoon Boats Kayaks, Canoes, & SUP Rentals 15 Long Island Rd. • Moultonboro, NH 603-253-7315 • www.trexlers.com

Rentals

Kayaks • Canoes • Fishing Boats Sportboats • Pontoon Boats Sailboats w/Outboard Motors

71 Varney Point Road Gilford, NH • 603-293-8000 www.faysboatyard.com rentals@faysboatyard.com

Fun For the entire Family! route 11-D • alton Bay 875-5005 • www.bayside-inn.com

www.lakesideboatrentals.com

No License Required!

Cobalt BOAT RENTALS 19’, 21’ & 27’ Bowriders 20’ & 22’ Pontoons 25’ Tri-Toons 463 Governor Wentworth Highway Melvin Village, NH 03850

603-544-3583

www.melvinvillagemarina.com

Bowriders! (license required)

RENTALS! - 20’ Sweetwater Pontoon Boat w/ 25hp. Half Day or Full Day Winni Pier Weirs Beach 603.527.8002

June 25, 2018

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NOW

WOLFEBORO

MEREDITH

The beginning of a new & exciting chapter in the history of Goodhue & Hawkins & Shep Brownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boat Basin! To fulfill the vision for the future of both marinas, over the next few years both companies will be transitioning to a unified name of Goodhue Boat Company.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! % 5 E V SA

Coupon Code:

LAKER5

Book your rental ONLINE between July 1 - July 18th, 2018 www.shepbrowns.com www.goodhueandhawkins.com

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