Baker Free Library

Strategic Plan Update

With the completion of the Lower Level Renovation earlier this year, it is time to look at future planning for other library services and resources. The Library Trustees, staff, and director have been working on a new strategic plan for the library, covering 2018 through 2022. We will be visiting with various organizations during the month of October to solicit feedback about our plan strategies, a new library mission statement, and a new library tagline. If we haven't contacted your group and you'd like to participate, please contact Lori Fisher at 224-7113 or lori@bakerfreelib.org. The final strategic plan is scheduled to be reviewed and adopted by the Library Trustees on December 13, 2017.

Friends Booksale Collection Box

Thanks to Emma Haddock and her Silver Girl Scout project, the Friends now have a movable book donation collection box located on the library's portico!  We will have the Friends book sale donation box available outside until the end of October, and will put it back out once the winter weather ends around March/April 2018. This donation box is a test - the library CANNOT take on any more recycling of damaged books that cannot be resold by the Friends. Please follow the guidelines in place for booksale donations found on the Friends page of the library web site. Once the new Friends donation box is taken down for the winter, donors will need to make their book donations on the last Saturday of each month, between 10 am and 4 pm. If you have DVDs, CD audio books, or a large amount of children's materials, please call the library at 224-7113 to arrange for an appointment to have us go through your items, since we may be able to use them in the library's collections.

Library Class/Event Highlights

Ask a Muslim Anything with Robert Azzi: Thursday 10/5 at 6:30 pm.  
Join Robert Azzi for his very popular discussion about anything related to Islam and the Muslim faith. Doors open at 6 pm for seating in our Merrimack County Savings Bank Meeting Room.

Movie of the Month
The Big Sick: Monday 10/9, 6:30 pm

This acclaimed comedy is based on the real-life relationship and culture clash between comedian Kumail Nanjiani and his future wife, Emily Gordon. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail has to force himself to face her feisty parents, temper his family's expectations, and follow his heart. Movie will be shown in our Lower Level. Free and open to the public. No registration is required. Popcorn will be provided.

Lighten Up
Develop Your Stress Resilience: Tuesday 10/24, 6 pm 

To live joyfully, we must choose to live lightly and not let life's challenges weigh us down with stress. But how do we do this? Join Betsy Black, life coach and trainer, to learn how to readily apply simple techniques (empirically shown to be effective) in a fun, hands-on and engaging session. Laughter is guaranteed.

Community Development Department

Master Plan

The Planning Board held its first public hearing to review the draft of the Town’s new Master Plan.  Several edits were suggested and the hearing was continued until October 5th to go over the revisions.  The Master Plan will serve as a guide to shape the character, growth, and development of our community.  View the draft Master Plan online or at the Community Development office.

Proposing Changes to Zoning Ordinance

At its October 5, 2017 work session, the Planning Board invites input and discussion regarding proposed amendments to the Town of Bow Zoning Ordinance. The general public is also welcome to attend and to submit proposals. Recommended amendments can be in the form of a marked up ordinance, a general description of the change, or a more formal draft. The Board is open to changes of substance as well as housekeeping amendments. More info.

Business Development

At its September meeting, the Business Development Commission welcomed Michael Bergeron from the newly named New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs as a guest speaker.  The informative discussion concluded with an offer from Mr. Bergeron to assist the Town with a high priority project of extending water lines to Bow Junction.

Parks & Recreation Department

Annual Bow Community Halloween Party

The party will be held on Friday, October 27th from 4:30-7:00 PM at Bow High School for residents of Bow.  Bow Town Departments and Organizations, along with School Groups will help to transform Bow High School into an evening of Halloween fun!  Wear your costume, bring a treat bag and join us!

November/December Recreation Flyer

The flyer is out and full of programs and special events for late October – December. Registration for programs will be held in early October.  Registration for all our programs is first come/first served and many will fill up!  Check it out on our website.

Program Highlight – Gym Time

Calling all 3-4 year olds!  Come and have some fun in the gym!  Each week, we will introduce fun group games and basic sporting activities that will keep the children moving and having fun with their friends.  Registration is going on now for our Oct. 19th – Nov. 30th session (Thursdays, 12:30-1:00).  Classes fill quickly; so don’t delay. How to Register

Program Highlight – Tip-Tap-Toe

We are excited to be adding two new children’s dance classes on Saturday mornings.  Children ages 3-5 can participate in Ballet & Tap class from 9:00-9:45 and Children in Grades K-3 will have Jazz from 10:00-10:45. The dates for both classes are Nov. 4, 18, Dec. 2, 9 & 16.  We will continue with new sessions throughout the winter/spring and our recital in May.  Registration for these classes will open in early October. How to Register

Program Highlight – Boot Camp in Bow

Thank you to Cristine Cook for teaching the most amazing Boot Camp Classes for the past five years here at Bow Recreation.  Cristine will no longer be teaching here and we wish her much success in her new endeavors!  Buffy Buffinga will be joining us as our new Boot Camp Instructor.  Buffy brings an extensive fitness background and the highest recommendations from Cristine.  As we say goodbye to Cristine, we welcome Buffy on board.  We will be opening registration for the November/December Boot Camp with Buffy in early October. How to Register

Police Department

Concord Regional Crimeline

A team of four officers, Sgt Phil Lamy, MPO Tyler Coady, MPO Matt Pratte and Officer Phil Goodacre, participated in the Annual Crimeline Golf Tournament on September 14th, which raises money  for the Concord Regional Crimeline, a non-profit organization organized under the laws of the State of New Hampshire.  The purpose of this organization is to promote community education and awareness of criminal activities in order to deter and prevent their occurrence.  Crimeline funds rewards for anonymous information that leads to arrest(s) or indictment for crimes that have been committed.  Currently The Concord Regional Crimeline is serving the following NH communities: Allenstown, Barnstead, Boscawen, Bow, Canterbury, Chichester, Concord, Deering, Dunbarton, Epsom, Franklin, Henniker, Hillsboro, Hopkinton, Loudon, Northfield, Pembroke, Pittsfield, Salisbury, Webster and the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Department.   Call (603) 226-3100 or visit www.concordregionalcrimeline.com for tip information. 

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

Members of the Police Department and Town Employee’s (Bow Heel Walkers) will be participating in a community event: Walk A Mile in Her Shoes 2017 on Wednesday, October 4 to benefit the Merrimack County Task Force Against Domestic Violence.  There’s an old saying: "You can't really understand another person's experience until you've walked a mile in their shoes."  "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®” asks men to literally walk one mile in women's high-heeled shoes.  You don’t have to wear high-heels, but it's part of the fun, and it gets the community to talk about something that's really difficult to talk about: domestic & sexual violence. W.A.M. 2017 is not just for men and boys. Everyone is invited and welcome to raise awareness about these critical issues.   FACT: An estimated 33.4% of women, and 24% of men in New Hampshire have experienced a physical assault by an intimate partner.  Come see your employee’s – Male and Female support this great cause.  Visit http://www.firstgiving.com/team/358031 and select BOW HEEL WALKERS to donate!

Beards for Bucks

For the entire month of October, officers will join the movement sweeping across New Hampshire law enforcement!  We will participate in Beards for Bucks - an exciting fundraiser where male officers grow facial hair for the month of October to support their local Child Advocacy Center.  Female Officers will paint their nails and grow them out.  This year marks the 2nd Year Bow has participated and the Third Annual Beards for Bucks campaign and it keeps growing…This year we will support the Merrimack County CAC with much needed security & safety improvements.   Check out the Bow Police Facebook page or visit http://www.cac-nh.org/beards-for-bucks/ for how you can donate to this cause.  

Public Works Department

Foote Road Paving Project

The Department just finished the Foote Road Paving Project.  After Pike Industries finished the actual asphalt work, the crew shouldered the road and loamed and rocked the ditches.

Safety Center Work

The Department was busy with miscellaneous projects at the Safety Center, including hanging signs, bolting down benches in the men’s room and juvenile detention area, and the installation of a weather station for Emergency Management.  

Fleet Maintenance

We continue to perform State Inspections for all Town vehicles that are due in September, and we have begun winter maintenance on Town vehicles.

Trash and Recycling Toters
Numerous trash toters have been replaced. The Department repairs the salvageable toters that have been turned in, cleans them and distributes them back out to residents. Also, new blue recycling toters have been purchased and are available for newly constructed homes.

Town Clerk / Tax Collector's Office

No Motor Vehicle Transactions October 6-10!

NO Motor Vehicle Transactions:
Friday, October 6, 2017
Monday, October 9, 2017
Tuesday, October 10, 2017

The NH Department of Motor Vehicle will implement a new driver licensing system in October.  Implementation of the new system will require the closure of all DMV offices on Monday, October 9, 2017 and Tuesday, October 10, 2017.  During the transition TOWN/CITY MUNICIPAL CLERKS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROCESS STATE PORTION MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS FROM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017 THROUGH TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017.  Customers are encouraged to plan accordingly regarding registrations.  In the days following implementation of the new system, customers may experience longer than usual wait times and are asked to plan their visit accordingly. For further information please visit the State of NH Department of Motor Vehicle website.

Town Personnel News 

Lori Fisher Named Library Director of the Year

Bob Pike and Janette Shuman (Community Development) attended a workshop in Henniker to learn about potential changes to the State Energy Code.

View past issues of the Bulletin.

© Town of Bow, 2017