Heart Winter Scene

February 2018 Edition

Welcome to the monthly bulletin from the Town of Bow. As part of our commitment to keep citizens informed and involved in the community, we hope you find this information to be useful. View the Town of Bow's Community Calendar. Send us your event information, so we can add it to the calendar. Follow the public meeting schedule. Sign up for text and email notifications through NotifyMe®. Follow Bow Police, Recreation, and Library on social media.

David Stack, Town Manager Photo © Eric Anderson.

Town Manager's Report

Community Building

A page has been set up on the Town website containing information and status reports on the Community Building. Click here to view it now.

Heritage Room
This past weekend, I attended the Grand Opening of the new Baker History Room at the Library. The Heritage Commission has donated a number of hours pulling together a collection of the Town's historic documents and and artifacts. They did a great job! More information on the Heritage Room may be found later in the Bulletin.

Community Calendar
Have an event you would like to add to the Town of Bow Community Calendar? Send us your event information by visiting the Community Calendar Page for details.

Holiday Closings

The Municipal Building and Town Offices will be closed on February 19, 2018 in observance of President's Day.

Baker Free Library

FREE Yoga classes for Bow residents

Due to a collaboration with YogaNH (Concord, NH), the library is pleased to offer FREE 1-hour yoga classes each month to Bow residents and library card holders! These classes are suitable for all levels, and the classes for February will be Saturday February 3rd and Sunday February 4th, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Sign up early because slots are already filling up!! Classes will be held in the Library's Merrimack County Savings Bank Room in the Lower Level. Because these classes are being held outside of library operating hours, participants will need to enter through the Lower Level door near the handicapped parking and ramp. Please register in advance through the MindBody app (search under Yoga for YogaNH) or contact Lori Fisher at 224-7113 or lori@bakerfreelib.org. Thank you to YogaNH for giving back to the Bow community as part of their paid use of our facilities for events and workshops!

Learn to Arm Knit Take 2 – Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at 6:30 PM

Due to our “sell-out” first Learn to Arm Knit class in January, we’re offering it again for those who could not get in! Registration is required by February 3rd due to the supplies needed. Questions? Contact Kate at 224-7113 or kate@bakerfreelib.org to register.

Town Candidate’s Night -Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at 6:00 PM

The 3rd annual Candidate's Night for those running for an elected office in the Town of Bow will be held on Tuesday February 20, 2018 at 6 PM in the Library's Lower Level (the snow date for that event is Tuesday March 6, 2018 at 6 PM in the same location). The filing period for town offices occurs from Wednesday January 24, 2018 through Wednesday January 31, 2018. The Library will be in contact with all registered candidates to obtain information for our Candidate Info Packets, and to confirm participation on Candidate's Night. Questions? Contact Lori at 224-7113 or lori@bakerfreelib.org.

How We Fund Public Services in NH – Wednesday, Febrary 28, 2017 at 6:30 PM

Join us as we host Phil Sletten from the NH Fiscal Policy Institute for a lively discussion about how we fund public services in NH. This presentation has been occurring in libraries all over NH with rave reviews! Free and open to the public, no registration required. Questions? Contact Betsy at 224-7113 or betsy@bakerfreelib.org.

The Library will be CLOSED on Monday, February 19, 2018 in observance of President’s Day.

Community Development Department

The Planning Board has approved a commercial condominium subdivision on Route 3A and a minor site plan modification for Kitteridge Food Equipment business on River Road.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a special exception for a new auto parts business that would be moving into one of the commercial units at 3 Robinson Road.

The Board of Selectmen hold a public hearing on February 13, 2018 on the TIF District proposal prepared by the Community Development Department.

Bow's Community Development Department supports the Planning Board, Business Development Commission, Town Manager, and other boards and commissions in managing growth and development.

Parks & Recreation Department

Spring Recreation Programs Flyer
The flyer will be out late February/early March. Registration for all our programs is first come, first served and many will fill up! Check it out on the Parks & Recreation Page.

Program Highlight – Safe-Sitter®

We are excited to offer our second Safe Sitter® Class. Safe Sitter® is a program for 11-14 year olds where you will learn child care skills and safety skills to help you be safe if you’re home alone or watching younger children. This class will be held Tuesday, March 13^th from 9:00-3:00PM. Class will be held at The Bow Municipal Building, 10 Grandview Rd. The fee is $75.00. Pre-registration with payment and a registration form is required.

Program Highlight – Dog Obedience

Have a new pup or one you would like to get some more training? Join us on Monday evenings for our Dog Obedience Classes. A copy of rabies certificate is required at the first class. Sign up now for the March Session, March 5^th- April 9^th. The class meets from 7:00-8:00PM. The fee is $115.00.

Training and Education News

Parks & Recreation Director Cindy Rose attended The Northern New England Parks and Recreation Conference January 9^th – 11^th.

It’s Skating & Sledding Season!

Skating at The Town Pond and Sledding at the Bandstand are open to the public, weather permitting. Please read and obey all signs. We will post the pond Open/Closed for skating as the weather permits or give us a call at 228-2222 or 223-3920 to check the status.

Don't forget to Check out our Face Book Page ”Bow Parks & Recreation” This page is updated regularly to keep you informed of “Parks & Recreation Happenings” here in Bow.

Police Department

The Move Over Law

When approaching an incident involving a fire, collision, disaster, utility construction or maintenance, or other emergency resulting in partial or complete blockage of a highway, or a location where a police officer has made a traffic stop, every driver other than the driver of an emergency response vehicle, shall:

Maintain a reduced speed.
Obey the directions of any authorized person directing traffic and of all applicable emergency signals and traffic control devices.
Vacate as soon as possible any lane wholly or partially blocked.
Give a wide berth, without endangering oncoming traffic, to public safety personnel, any persons in the roadway, and stationary vehicles displaying blue, red, or amber emergency or warning lights.

Any person violating this section shall be fined $75 plus penalty assessment for a first offense and $250 plus penalty assessment for a subsequent offense in a 12-month period.

Decriminalize cannabis (Marijuana), means what?

Under the new law people caught possessing up to three-quarters of an ounce of marijuana if found guilty, could receive a $100 fine for their first or second offenses - Violation. The punishment rises to a $300 fine for a third offense within a three-year period.

If police find someone possessing small amounts of marijuana a fourth time in that window, they could be charged with a class B misdemeanor. Until now first-time cannabis possession was treated as a criminal misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to one year in jail, and a $2,000 fine if found guilty. Any person under 18 years of age who is violating this law shall be subject to a delinquency petition.

Protect Our Town Campaign

The quarterly meeting of the “Protect Our Town Campaign” is scheduled for Sunday, February 25, 2018 from 2pm-3pm at the Safety Center. We will be discussing Police, Fire & Emergency Management information to keep us safe.

Life Saving Awards

Chief Lougee presenting the Life Saving Ribbon and Certificate to Sergeant Lamy and K-9 Officer Matt Pratte

Sergeant Phil Lamy and K-9 Officer Matt Pratte receive a Life Saving ribbon and certificate from Chief Lougee for the courage and dedication they showed back in April, while tracking through treacherous terrain to find a despondent subject and provide immediate first aid, which saved a life.

Sergeant Phil Lamy and K-9 Officer Matt Pratte

Public Works Department

Highway Division

January's extreme temperature fluctuations and freeze thaw cycles are starting to be noticeable throughout the town. Frost heave action under the pavement has arrived earlier than expected and Frost Heave Signs will most likely be seen sooner than later.

“Go Slow and See Bow”

Parks Division

Maintaining a clean skating pond has been a challenge this season with the temperature changes. Equipment maintenance continues between storms, to be prepared for the Spring Cleanup.

Fleet Division

Between the recent snow storms and maintaining the snow plows, we have been busy revamping the parts room and garage space including some overdue house cleaning.

Buildings Division

The Buildings Division was busy working on heat and pluming issues at many of the Town facilities during the latest “Extreme Cold Snap”

Town of Bow Public Works Department

DPW's New Snow Plow Truck in Action photo by Eric Anderson

News from the Town Clerk

Don't Forget to Register Your Dog!

Dog tags for 2018 are in the Town Clerks office. You can also register by mail or online and we will mail you the tags. We have stopped mailing out postcards to save the Town money. We send email reminders instead every month.

Important Dates to Remember

Town and School Elections will be held on Tuesday March 13^th, 2018 from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM at the Bow Memorial School.

Town Meeting is on Wednesday March 14^th, 2018, 5:30 PM, at the Bow High School.
Filing for Town and School positions start on Wednesday, January 24^th,2018 and ends Friday, February 2nd, 2018

The following Town positions will be on the ballot:

Office (# of positions)
Library Trustee (1)
Budget Committee member (2)
Selectman (2)
Trustee of Trust Funds (1)
Supervisor of the Checklist (2)
Town Clerk/Tax Collector (1)
Town Moderator (1)
Town Treasurer (1)

More information is available at the Town Website under Town Clerks Election page or you can call the Town Clerks office at 223-3980. If you are not a registered voter or need to change party affiliation, you can come in to register at the Town Clerks office up until 10 days before the election which is Friday March 2nd at the Town Clerks office or Saturday March 3rd, 2018 with the Supervisors of the check list at the Town office building.

Bow Heritage Commission

Bow Heritage Commission held a grand opening of the Baker History Room at the Baker Free Library on Saturday, January 27, 2018.

Furniture, pictures, shelving and cabinetry are in place, and donor recognition labels affixed. Come check out our arrow heads, Henry Baker’s 1914 book collection, Revolution and Civil War military documents, the Luther Morgan Rifle, Frank White’s survey maps, Alexander Cemetery Inscriptions, old dog registrations, photos and more.

If you missed the open house, the hours of access will be published on various media sources in February. This is a climate controlled secure room and can only be accessed on scheduled days and by appointment.

We would be glad to talk with anyone who has documents and artifacts they would like to donate or place on loan to the Baker Room and there is still a need for monetary donations to make the room all it could be.

For further information contact Gary Nylen at 603-496-5239 or gary42bow@comcast.net or Faye Johnson 603-228-8149 or fjohnson915@myfairpoint.net

Thank you for your past support and we look forward to visiting with you.

Heritage Commission Room opening day at the Baker Free Library

Heritage Commission Room at the Baker Free Library Photo by Eric Anderson

View past issues of the Bulletin.