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Madison Hoping To Offset Mold Repair Costs With Grant

 

MADISON, NH – Madison Elementary School’s Mold problem has racked up quite a bill but they’re seeking a grant to help ease the burden.

According to the Conway Daily Sun the cost of eradicating the severe mold problem at the school cost approximately $1.3 million.

SAU 13 Superintendent Lou Goscinski told the Sun there is some good news when it comes to the cost, saying that the school is set to receive $400,000 through a grant from the state department barring approval by the Governor and executive council. Adding that they plan to apply for other grants as well to help with the costs of repair.

Goscinski also said that the school district is looking at a $1.3 million warrant article for the town to approve, but with the grant they’ll instead seek a $900,000 bond.

The school is currently in the process of repairing areas were damaged due to mold removal.

Luckily there have been no reported incidents of health impacts to students or teachers due to the mold.

In December a sink leak in one of the classroom closest resulted in water damage, which lead to mold in the area.

Goscinski said that as a precaution they had the whole school tested, which lead to the discovery that other locations had sustained water damage leading to more mold. School officials said they isolated and managed the contaminated areas according to the recommendations of Air quality management service Inc. with the assistance of Service Master Cleaners.

Goscinski said the Town Health inspector, Code Enforcement officer, as well as the State Officials were contacted when they discovered the problem.

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Study Says Carroll And Coos Counties Have Lowest Tax Burden In NH

 

CARROLL COUNTY, NH – Carroll County has the second lowest tax burden in New Hampshire according to a new study.

Tax season is in full swing and SmartAsset has released its fourth annual study on the Places with the Lowest Tax Burdens.

SmartAsset calculated the amount of money a specific person would pay in income, sales, property and fuel taxes in each county in the country and ranked the lowest to highest tax burden.

With no income or sales tax in the state the tax burden in the granite state was mostly calculated by combining property and fuel taxes in each county.

Coos County came in first with the lowest tax burden, followed by Carroll County, and then Belknap County

. According to the study Carroll County also has the second lowest property tax burden pay an average of about $2,900 annually, Coos pays around $2,800 annually.

For a look at the full study click here.

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Conway Town Municipal Budget Hearings Wednesday

 

CONWAY, NH – Conway residents will have a chance to have their voices heard about local budgets that they will then be voting on come April. The municipal budget committee will be holding hearings on the proposed budgets for the Center Conway, East Conway, and Red Stone Fire precincts, the Town Municipal Budget, and the proposed school district budget tomorrow in the auditorium at Kennett High School.

First of the series of meeting begins at 6pm, with the other meeting following.

Among the proposals is a warrant article recommended by the Town to move the recreation program to Kennett middle school, an article that had its budget cut in half thanks to a very generous donation of $350,000 by Margaret and Sut Marshall.

Another article up for discussion is a warrant article the town hall to the Bank of New Hampshire building in Conway Village. If approved the lease would run 36 years broken into three, 12 year options where the town could opt out. The proposed rent would equal the bank’s annual property tax bill.

The proposed operating budget for the town is $11,078,998 about $110,000 over last years budget.

The Schools operating budget is about $37 million.

Residents will get another chance to voice their concerns and change warrant articles on March 7th. The Town then votes of the articles on April 10th.

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Alleged Drunk Driver Damages Conway Sidewalk Snowblower

48-year-old Nathaniel Sullivan, of Conway, allegedly crashed his vehicle into the Conway Town sidewalk snowblower ~ Photo from the Conway Daily Sun

 

CONWAY, NH – The Conway Town sidewalk Snowblower was severely damaged in an alleged drunk driving accident last week.

According to an email from Town Manager Tom Holmes on Thursday the town sidewalk plow was involved in an accident that put the machine out of commission for the foreseeable future.

In the Email Holmes said that while the Town searches for repair or replacement options they will be removing snow from the sidewalks with loaders and trucks. Holmes ended the email saying “The patience and understanding of the business community is requested and much appreciated.”

Conway Public Works Director Paul Degliangeli said in a voice Mail that they (the town) are waiting for the parts to fix the machine to arrive and that they cost around $10,000. Degliangeli added that they will be fixing the machine in their own garage.

The Conway Daily Sun reported that 48-year-old Nathaniel Sullivan, of Conway, crashed into the plow near Via Roma at around 1:30am Thursday. Sullivan faces charges alleging he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

Holme’s told the Sun that the snowblower issue would be brought up at today’s selectmen’s meeting.

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Tamworth Man Awarded By EPA

BOSTON – Peter LaBonte of Tamworth, N.H., was honored recently by the US Environmental Protection Agency for his work maintaining the North Conway, NH, Wastewater Treatment Facility.

LaBonte chief operator of the facility, received a “2017 Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of the Year Excellence Award” in recognition of the outstanding job he has done over the years in operating and maintaining the North Conway facility.

The EPA Regional Wastewater Awards Program recognizes personnel in the wastewater field who have provided invaluable public service managing and operating wastewater treatment facilities throughout New England. The NH Department of Environmental Services was instrumental in LaBonte’s nomination.

“The professionals operating wastewater treatment plants play a very important role in keeping our communities and environment healthy by protecting water quality,” said Alexandra Dunn, regional administrator of EPA’s New England Office. “We are proud to acknowledge Mr. LaBonte’s outstanding contributions to help protect public health and water quality for so many years and to give him the credit he deserves.”

The EPA Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Excellence Award was established to recognize and honor the employees of publicly owned wastewater treatment plants for their commitment to improving water quality with outstanding plant operations and maintenance. More often than not, and particularly with the smaller facilities, conscientious operators and staff continue to perform exceptionally with limited resources. EPA’s New England office formally acknowledged LaBonte for his work during the annual New England Water Environment Association Conference last month.

 

 

Story Contributed by David Deegan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Hope On The Slopes Great Success Despite Less Than Great Weather

Top Fundraisers Ken Romano (right) and Richard Ayer (Left) with Kathy Metz of the American Cancer Society.

 
NORTH CONWAY – This weekend’s 41st annual American Cancer Society’s Hope on the Slopes Race to Beat Cancer raised almost $13,000 for cancer research and patient services. Volunteers participated in a fun-filled day on the slopes including skiing and snowboarding races at Cranmore Mountain, North Conway.

“Mount Washington Valley residents, second home owners, and visitors alike really showed their spirit this weekend,” said Kathy Metz, of the American Cancer Society. The top individual fundraisers were Ken Romano of Lynnfield, MA who brought in $2,250.00 and Richard Ayer of Glen, who raised $1,665.00 from friends and family.

Metz said that money raised in the 2018 Hope on the Slopes Race To Beat Cancer will be used to speed up the search for new weapons to fight cancer. “Cancer will soon become the number-one killer in America as baby boomers grow older. In order to expand our patient services in the Mount Washington Valley and research new ways to treat patients, we’ve got to channel more public attention and money into this problem.”

“The funds raised through the Hope on the Slopes Race to Beat Cancer support the American Cancer Society’s mission of saving lives from cancer by helping provide free information and support for people facing the disease today, and fund cancer research that will help protect future generations.” added Metz. “Thanks to the generosity of our volunteers and donors, the money raised by Hope on the Slopes Race to Beat Cancer participants goes directly to the American Cancer Society’s lifesaving programs.”

American Cancer Society’s Hope on the Slopes Race to Beat Cancer was made possible by our sponsors, Cranmore, Storyland, Clean Cut Construction, Amoskeag Beverages, Flatbread Company, Memorial Hospital, First Allied, North Country Dental, Northway Bank, The Mount Washington Radio Group, Bear Notch Ski Touring, FX Lyons, Jackson Community Church, The Shannon Door Pub, Valley Originals and the Wentworth Hotel as well as many local businesses who donated goods and services for the top fundraiser prizes and raffle fundraisers.

Volunteers interested in serving on the 2019 planning committee are now needed. Join other area residents to help organize this fun and meaningful event. For more information please go to www.HOTSNH.org or contact Kathy Metz, of the American Cancer Society at 512-490-8787 or (800) 227-2345 or Kathy.metz@cancer.org.

 

The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of nearly 2 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. For more information go to www.cancer.org.