■Tomorrow there is a Free Child Find Clinic for Merrimack Valley School District that includes Boscawen residents, will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Penacook Elementary School. Children through the age of five will be screened for possible educational disabilities. Any parent may contact the Special Education Department at (603) 753-4891 between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to schedule an appointment.
■Local author, Grace Metalious’s novel, “Peyton Place” that resulted in controversy about a small New Hampshire town is the topic at the Book Discussion Group’s meeting on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Additional copies are available at the library if you are unable to join the discussion.
■Town planning is a priority at the start of a new year, there is a town meeting on March 8. The Planning Board has proposed several new amendments to the Boscawen Zoning Ordinance as well as updating pages and articles. Copies of the proposals are available on the town website, townofboscawen.org in the Planning and Community Development section. Hard copies can be obtained by emailing keasler@townofboscawen.org.
■Boscawen needs candidates for open town offices including Cemetery Trustee, Library Trustee, Moderator, Selectperson, Supervisor of the Checklist, Treasurer, and Trustee of the Trust Funds. Filing begins Jan. 19 at 8:30 a.m. and ends on Jan. 28 at 5:30 p.m.
■A Public Hearing on the Proposed 2022 Budget will be held on Jan. 22 after 6 p.m. at the Boscawen Elementary School gymnasium. Masks will be required. The public has the option to listen to the meeting via Go-To-Meeting that can be joined from your computer, tablet or smartphone at global.gotomeeting.com/join/952092133.
MARY ALLARD
753-8576
boscawenpl@gmail.com
■Effective Jan. 1 the office hours of the Town Clerk-Tax Collector will be increased to: Mondays and Wednesdays (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Tuesdays and Thursdays (noon to 7 p.m.).
■Second-half property tax bills were sent out Nov. 19 and were due Dec. 21. Please note that all tax billing information, including copies of the tax bill and a history of payments made, is always available online at NHTaxKiosk.com, and also linked through the Town’s website canterbury-nh.org, where the “Pay Property Taxes” button is.
■The Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s office now accepts credit cards (in addition to cash or check) for payment of transactions at the office. Please be aware that, similarly to the online card payment option, there is a 2.79% service fee added to the total in addition to amount due.
■Elkins Public Library Evening Book Group meets on Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. We’ll be reading “The Guest List” by Lucy Foley. Copies are available at the library and can be downloaded on Hoopla and NH Downloadable Books. This is a slow-burn psychological thriller set on a remote island off the coast of Ireland.
■Keep Calm & Craft On Club! Jan. 19 at 10:30 a.m. with presenter Emily Preston leading the group in creating colorful geometric decorative balls, using origami Snapology, which requires the folding of strips of paper to produce amazing origami pieces. Unit Origami can be done by nearly anyone! Sign up now for in-person or virtual participation. Please note that this group is starting earlier than usual because this craft will take an hour and a half to complete. Materials will be available the day of the program or you could pick them up starting Monday if you want to participate at home.
■Pins and Needles is our new handiwork club. Bring your knitting, crochet, embroidery, felting or other fiber craft along and join Cheryl by the fireplace at 2 p.m. every Wednesday. All levels welcome.
■The Canterbury Community and Business Directory has been published by the Canterbury Historical Society for 2021 to 2022 and is available at the Library and country store. The directory, published as a public service, provides information about town organizations and departments, local businesses and answers to commonly asked questions.
Rachel Baker
bakercompany4@gmail.com
■The Budget committee meets at 7 p.m. on January 10 at Academy Hall. The public is always welcome. Look on salsiburynh.org for zoom instructions if you cannot attend in person.
■Long time resident Bev Sawyer turned 85 January 9, we would love to wish her a Very Happy Birthday!
■There is a School Board Meeting on January 10 at 7:15 p.m. at Merrimack Valley High School; please refer to their webpage for zoom instructions, agendas, updates and directions. Webpage is : mvsdpride.org
■The Old Home Day Committee meets at Academy Hall on Tuesday January 11 at 7 pm. . The public is encouraged to come to discuss this year’s plans for the August 12, 13 & 14 festivities. On salsiburynh.org for zoom instructions if you cannot attend in person.
■There will be a Collaborative meeting between the Salisbury Selectboard and the MVSD school Board on January 13 at 7:30 p.m. At the SAU 46 office but look on the mvsdpride.org webpage for updates.
■Supervisors of the Checklist will hold session for correction of checklist, on January 18, 2022 from 7:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at Academy Hall. Change in party registrations may be accepted. RSA 669:5
■The Board of Selectmen will meet on Wednesday January 19 at 7 p.m. at Academy Hall. All are welcome to attend. Please see the town’s webpage for the alternative zoom link if you cannot make it in person.
■The Library Trustees will hold a Policy meeting at the Library on January 18 at 6:30 p.m. In which the public is welcome to attend. If you would like to attend via Zoom please contact the Library and request the zoom option 24 hours in advance.
■The Salisbury Free Library trustees seek a friendly, outgoing individual for the position of Library Director. The Director is responsible for all facets of library operation and developing and managing a small staff for a welcoming town of approximately 1400, located 20 minutes northwest of Concord. The Director reports to and works closely with a supportive and enthusiastic Trustee board, which meets monthly. Education/Experience: At least 3 years professional experience in a public library required, with supervisory experience preferred Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s preferred. MLS students are highly encouraged to apply. Needs to have familiarity with tech support, collection development, and Microsoft Windows Responsibilities include: Physical operation of the library during open hours Handle new patron registration, offer reader’s advisory, answer reference questions town report and compile annual statistical report for state library Attend monthly trustees meeting with prepared report Set up and maintain technology Select and order all library materials Perform routine weeding of library materials Supervise and train library staff and volunteers Work with Trustees to maintain library policies Publicity and outreach Hours and Salary: The Salisbury Free Library is open 22 hours per week: Monday 10-3, Tuesdays 1-7, Thursdays 1-7 and Saturdays 10-3. The Director works on average 20 hours a week. Salary commensurate with experience. Holidays are paid. Position is open until filled. Please provide cover letter and résumé tTo salisburyfreelibrarytrustees@gmail.com.
■The Concord Crime line is looking for volunteers. The Crime line’s purpose is to promote community education and awareness of criminal activities to deter and prevent their occurrence. Crime line funds rewards for anonymous information that leads to arrest(s) or indictment for crimes that have been committed. The Town of Salisbury has been a strong participant in the Crime line in the past. Right now, there are no community representatives from Salisbury on the Board. Currently the Crime line Board has 11 members (of a possible 57) representing our 19 Cities and Towns. Each community may have up to 3 representatives on the Board. This is a great opportunity to engage members of our community in a positive civic effort to support law enforcement not only in Salisbury, but in the area as a whole. Applications are available at www.concordregionalcrimeline,com under the link titled: Crime Line Individual Membership Application. If you have questions please call Concord Regional crime line at 603-496-9339 ask for Chair, Robert Berry
■The Friends of Forgotten Children, 224 Bog Rd, Concord, NH food pantry has opened the building to its clients. The pantry is open on Thursdays, from 9 am to 11am (last client to check in is at 11), closed for lunch 11:30 to 12 noon. Reopen for clients 12 noon to 7 pm. First time clients should bring proof of residency for each member of the household. (This can be your lease, a utility bill, food stamp or other agency approvals, doctor bills.) We also have a clothing pantry Questions please contact Jane Belanger Finance Clerk Friends of Forgotten Children 603-753-4801
■ The Town Clerk is now open to the public for indoor in-person Service. Masks are recommended for all those not fully vaccinated. Please continue to observe social distancing and wait until you are either called or the person in front of you leaves the office. Please be sure to bring your driver’s license as the clerk is required to see it for all motor vehicle transactions , Vehicle and Dog Renewals may still be completed online .Vehicle Renewal Registration information was mailed to those who need to renew in January, 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. Also the 2022 Dog Tags are in so please feel free to license your pooch a few months early. It is $6.50 for spayed/ neutered pooch, $9 for intact pooches. Seniors those 65 years plus get one discounted pooch for $2.
■In Library news, the Library is now open to the public. Please see their website for updated information. We are asking that everyone please wear a mask inside the library – including those vaccinated, but not including children under 5 or those with medical conditions with which wearing a mask is not recommended. Please keep your visits short – there is a time limit of 1 hour per visit. If you do not have a mask with you, we can provide one. Hand sanitizer is available on the table near the door and at the circulation desk. Please do not visit if you are sick. If you have a cough, cold, sore throat, muscle aches, or fever, please do not enter the building. Open hours are as follows: Mon 10-3, Tues. 1-7, Thurs. 1-7, and Sat. 10-3. (Although pickup and delivery may not be available during story time or trustee meetings due to staffing.) Give the Library a call or email, they are happy to work with you to pick out your items and have contactless pickup. If transportation is an issue, they offer delivery. Story time has been put on hold until spring 2022, please stay tuned to the library’s webpage for updates. The Library’s website at salisburyfreelibrary.wordpress.com will be up to date with latest news and details on their pickup and online services. Also check them out on Face book will have regular updates, links to virtual programming and events, curetted eBook and audio book collections Digital resources you may download Libby app to get audio books and eBooks from NH Downloadable Books Consortium, or Hoopla for digital eBooks, audio books, movies, music, and TV. All you need to get started is a library card, and if you don’t have one already, we can get you set up via phone or email. Yes, even though the library building is closed, they still provide printing, scanning and faxing services. Please give the Library a call or email first to arrange. Ancestry and Heritage Quest are available for genealogical research. Ancestry can be accessed after logging into their online card catalog and using the link on the left of the page. For Heritage Quest, please contact the library for login information.
JENNIFER HOYT
648-2260
jimjen505@tds.net
■The Webster Select Board will be holding a friendly competition for the upcoming 2021 Town Report cover. Those interested should submit a picture/drawing that depicts something in Webster. The deadline for entry is Jan. 31. Those interested should submit their entries to Townadmin@webster-nh.gov.
■The next Book Group at the library will be reading “The Overstory.” The Pulitzer-prize winning novel by Richard Powers, begins with short stories introducing nine separate characters whose lives will eventually intersect, continues with a discussion of trees, and ultimately brings them all together. It is a story about environmentalism, and the importance of trees, and the damage we have caused to our world. Based on the reviews, some of us will struggle to finish the book, while others will find ourselves transformed by our reading and will want to re-read the book. Which will you be? Pick up a copy of the book at the library, and then join us for our online discussion on Jan. 27 at 7:15 p.m. The Zoom link will be posted on the library’s Facebook page and on our webpage a few days before our meeting.
■COVID vaccinations will be available at the Webster Elementary School on Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Nancy Picthall-French
webstertowncrier@gmail.com