Week of Feb. 7-13, 2009

Saturday, February 7 Eaton Village Preservation Society wants the town to purchase a small piece of property across from Eaton Village Store for a lakeside picnic area and a new septic system for the store. Attitash Adaptive Ski Program instructor Erik Corbett, 29, places fifth in the MonoskierCross event at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo. Applications are now available for the lottery draw for 2009 moose-hunting permits. Fires scorched the insides of two Conway homes last week, including the fifth blaze of the winter to be blamed on a poorly installed woodstove.Monday, February 9 Several citizens spoke out against a proposed $800,000 bond for a new town garage at two separate public hearings last week, while town officials refuted what they believed were misconceptions about the project. Kennett High senior Casper Van Coesant is accepted to the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security. The Kennett High dance team came home as the Northeast Regional Hip Hop Dance Champions over the weekend after many months of long practices during the week and weekends. Tuesday, February 10 Hard times are being felt top to bottom, a financial expert says, leaving area residents of all financial means spending less. In a letter to Gov. John Lynch, dated Feb. 2, Conway selectmen write that they will take legal action if the state of New Hampshire tries to shift any of its costs for "new, expanded or modified programs" to counties or towns, thus putting a heavier financial burden on taxpayers. Leanne Smith, who had been enjoying a sensational winter on the U.S. Ski Team, saw her season come to an abrupt end two weeks ago when she suffered a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in her knee near the finish line of a downhill in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Three Conway Elementary School students think the town of Conway needs a skateboard park. The students, all sixth graders in Kim Matheson's class, sent letters last week to Conway selectmen and town manager Earl Sires, asking the town to consider creating a skateboard park.Wednesday, February 11 The budget committee wants the school board to study whether K-8 education could be delivered in a more cost-effective manner while also improving the quality of education. That was one of three recommendations the budget committee came up with for the school board on Saturday. Eleven people have applied to become the next principal of Kennett High School. The principal selection committee will roll up its sleeves Wednesday and begin narrowing the field by reviewing candidate resumes. The planning board has scheduled three public hearings for Thursday to address three petitioned zoning amendments to be acted on by voters at deliberative town meeting and April town meeting.Thursday, February 12 The deadline for the negotiating teams of the Conway School Board and two school unions has come and gone and no agreements were reached in time to be included on the annual school meeting warrant. Carroll County Child Advocacy Center makes a plea for county funding to help young sex-abuse victims. Jail Director Dennis Robinson is set to retire in December, and it's uncertain whether second-in-command Capt. Jason Johnson will step into the top spot.Friday, February 13 The teachers' union is filing an unfair labor practice suit against the Conway School Board after the two sides were able to reach an agreement on a new contract. A proposed cut to the Teen Center budget was the hot topic at a budget committee public hearing Wednesday and drew both opposition and support. Only a handful of citizens turned out to the Conway Municipal Budget Committee's public hearing on the proposed 2009-10 school budget, and those who did expressed concern about a possible shortfall in state revenue for the district. Much of a nearly 10 percent budget hike requested by the prosecutors office is fueled by its top lawyer's transition to full-time.