■Boscawen Public Library staff wants patrons to know that they have missed seeing you. The library is open by appointment for browsing, checkouts, and computer and copier time. Occupancy is limited and masks are required at all times. The library continues to offer contractless reserve and pickup service. Your items can be reserved at boscawenpubliclibrary.org. If you are unsure what you want to read or view, the librarians can be contacted at 753-8576 or boscawenpl@gmail.com on Monday through Thursdays from 12-4 p.m.
■All are welcome to attend services at the Boscawen Congregational Church on Sundays. There are in-person services every Sunday at 10 a.m. Those services are also live streamed on Facebook. Masks and social distancing is required at the service until further notice. Confidential prayer requests may be sent to jesuslovesboscawen@email.com. The church’s main email is boscawencongregational@gmail.com.
■The select board will hold a public listening session regarding the Town Hall at the board’s regularly scheduled meetings on Thursday and May 6. The meeting code is available at townofboscawen.org if you wish to attend.
■It is time to start raking! The Boscawen Public Works Department annual leaf pickup begins on April 26. Only leaves will be picked up and they must be left out by the road for easy access.
MARY ALLARD
753-8576
boscawenpl@gmail.com
■Attention Canterbury Elementary School families! The CES Parent Teacher Organization has a meeting on Monday at 5 p.m. Please join to hear the latest updates from the principal and to vote in new officers. If you’ve got kids starting at CES in the fall, the PTO is a great way to connect with fellow parents and staff. The PTO supports the school by raising money for educational supplies, field trips and special events. The organization meets for an hour once a month (currently via Zoom). The PTO would love to have you join the next meeting. If you have questions about joining PTO, contact Danielle Krautmann at dlkrautmann@gmail.com.
■Elkins Public Library has welcomed Rick Crockford as a new trustee. Ray Craigie became the new chair of the board and Flo Woods, the vice-chair. Last month the library bid a very appreciative good-bye to Claudia Leidinger who served as the trustee chair since 1999, as a board member previous to that, and as the director of the library, culminating in an exemplary 40 years of service to the library and town. Under her guidance, sensible budgets were developed, issues were handled with sensitivity and professionalism, and Canterbury received a new library building. Our gratitude to you, Claudia, for all you have done for us and our community.
■RSA 675:7 “Notice Requirements for Public Hearings” was amended to allow notice of public hearings for land use hearings to: “(b) In lieu of publication in a paper of general circulation pursuant to subparagraph (a), notice may be posted on the municipality’s internet website, if such exists. If notice is posted on the municipality’s website in lieu of publication in a paper of general circulation, the notice shall: (1) Appear prominently on the website’s home page, or a link directly to the notice shall appear prominently on the home page; (2) Be posted at the time stated in subparagraph (a) and shall remain on the website until the conclusion of the hearing; and (3) Be posted in 2 other public places.”
■In an effort to reduce expenses, the town will be posting notices of public hearings for the planning board, zoning board and historic district commission on the town website, and at the Town Office, library and Canterbury Country Store.
■The zoning board of adjustment is looking to add an alternate member to its board. Submit a letter of interest to zoningboard@canterbury-nh.org.
■The Town of Canterbury Highway Department is seeking a team player to fill a full-time public works position. A CDL-B driver’s license is required. Road construction, maintenance and snow plowing experience is required. Welding and mechanical ability is desired. Some heavy labor is involved. Please send a resume and NHMV driver record to: Canterbury Highway Department PO Box 500, Canterbury, NH 03224, by May 15.
Rachel Baker
bakercompany4@gmail.com
■The Salisbury annual town meeting to vote on warrant articles and the town budget will be May 1 at 1 p.m. This meeting will be held at the Salisbury Safety Building. Stay tuned to postings at the post office, Academy Hall and the town website. One of the things discussed will be the trash compactor warrant article. Residents will vote on purchasing a trash compactor for the transfer station. The select board and the budget committee both recommend this project. For more information about the town meeting, visit https://www.salisburynh.org/community/news/2021town-salisburyannual-town-meeting.
■The Friends of Forgotten Children food pantry located at 224 Bog Road in Concord serves 23 towns in Merrimack County and Salisbury is one of them. They are open on Thursdays from 9-11:15 a.m. and 12-7 p.m. A household can come once a month for food. During COVID-19, the pantry is not verifying income eligibility. First time clients should bring proof of residency for each member of the household. Clients do not come into the building. Call 753-4801 upon arrival and someone will take your information and bring your food outside. There is also a clothing pantry.
■The planning board will meet on Monday at 7 p.m. at Academy Hall. Masks are required for all indoor meetings. Zoom link is available at salisburynh.org.
■The Old Home Day Committee is looking for members and volunteers to make this year’s Old Home Day happen. The Old Home Day Committee is meeting on Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. at Academy Hall. Masks are required. All are welcome. Check salisburynh.org for more information and the Zoom link.
■The board of selectmen will meet on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Academy Hall. A Zoom option is also available for those who wish to join virtually. Find the link at salisburynh.org.
■The trustees of the trust funds will meet at Academy Hall on April 27 at 6:30 p.m.
■The Conservation Committee will meet on April 28 at 7 p.m. at Academy Hall. Visit salisburynh.org for more information.
■A friendly reminder from the town clerk for everyone in town who owns a dog: The town clerk has completed entering all dog licenses into the new software for town clerk records and is now entering all unlicensed dogs into the system. Given all the chaos in 2020, many people forgot to license their dogs, so there will not be late fees or fines for 2020. However, you need to license your dogs before the April 30 deadline. Once the town clerk enters all unregistered dogs in the system, notices will be sent to all residents who do not register their dogs by that date. The Sheriff’s Department will start visiting people’s houses to collect fees for unregistered dogs in June. The law that requires dogs be licensed can be found at http://gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/xlv/466/466-mrg.htm. Questions can be directed to Town Clerk Jim Zink-Mailloux at tclerksalisbury@gmail.com or 648-6322. Fees for dog registration are as follows. Spayed/Neutered dogs are $6.50 each. Dogs that are not spayed or neutered are $9 each. Any resident over 65 only pays $2 for their first license and full price for any additional dogs. The town clerk will not respond to any messages sent through Facebook.
■May vehicle renewal registration information has been mailed to those who need to renew. Please follow the directions in the letter enclosed and the town clerk will mail your new stickers and registration to you. This only covers vehicles previously registered in Salisbury, not new vehicles or vehicles of new residents. Online vehicle registration for renewals and dog licensing is now live. See the town’s website under the department of the town clerk for that information. If you cannot access these services online contact the town clerk’s office by phone (648-6322), fax (648-6658) or email (tclerksalisbury@gmail.com) for questions about vehicle registration renewals or dog licenses. For new vehicles, marriage licenses and vital records, please email the town clerk and request an appointment.
JENNIFER HOYT
648-2260
jimjen505@tds.net
■Canoe and kayak racing will return to Webster’s Blackwater River this weekend under the leadership of former Webster resident Sonny Hunt. The first races occurred nearly 40 years ago and have been popular since then. The racing competition is part of the New England Division Slalom Series and participants come from the New England states and New York. The race course has many ‘gates’ participants must traverse – some backwards. The race course goes from the bridge over the Blackwater River on Route 127 (just below the Blackwater Dam) and continues to William Pearson Memorial Park (behind the school). The race course gates will be set up on Friday, practice beings Saturday and racing begins April 25 at 9:30 a.m. There will be an awards ceremony at 2 p.m. This is a great, free event and there are plenty of vantage points where great pictures can be taken. For more details or to sign up, call Sonny Hunt at 753-9576.
■Drug Take Back Day will be at the Public Safety Building on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please bring your unused prescriptions and drop them off. Liquids and sharps cannot be accepted.
■Woof, woof, arf, woof, woof, howl, woof. If you don’t speak dog, this is a reminder that dogs need to be registered with the town clerk by April 30. Be sure to bring a current rabies certificate. Failure to register your dog will result in a visit from the police and a fine – $25 civil forfeiture and other fees.
■Polish your hiking boots, fill your thermos and break out the band aids – the Webster Congregational Church is going to have another “Walk with God” on May 23 at 11 a.m. after worship at the church. The route will be a three-church loop with approximately 7 miles between each church. If you don’t feel up to walking 21 miles, you can join the walkers for one leg or a portion of one. As an added incentive, the walkers will stop for ice cream at Richardson’s Farm on Water Street in Boscawen, which is about the midpoint of the walk. Anyone who would like to pledge may do so by mail to First Congregational Church of Webster, 1013 Long St., Webster, NH 03303, through PayPal, the church Facebook page (First Congregational Church of Webster, NHUCC) or with any walker. Jeanne Chwasciak will also accept pledges through the Jean Stitching Barn on Facebook.
■Ticks are out and about, so please take precautions when you are outside.
Nancy Picthall-French
webstertowncrier@gmail.com