Waiting on the Thaw: The Joe’s Pond Ice Out Contest - Year 38

By Joshua Smith

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The contest clock stands ready on shore at Joe’s Pond, linked by a line stretching out onto the ice—when the cinder block drops, the clock stops, recording the official Ice Out time. (Courtesy Photo)

West Danville VT - Well into another long, cold Vermont winter, the question starts making the rounds again at kitchen tables, in store aisles, and over morning coffee: when is the ice going out on Joe’s Pond? If you’ve ever spent a March day watching snow fall sideways and then caught a sudden warm breeze that smells like spring, you know exactly why the Joe’s Pond Ice Out Contest exists. It’s part tradition, part cabin-fever cure, and part community fundraiser—and it’s been keeping people guessing for decades.

This season marks the 38th year of the contest, and the rules are still wonderfully simple: tickets are $1 apiece, and you pick the date and time you think the ice will officially “go out.” Right now, the pond is still very much in winter mode—there are multiple shanties out there, snow is still in the forecast, and the ice pack remains thick. The latest report puts Joe’s Pond at 27 inches of mostly white ice, not the hard, clear kind. The local “ice thinkers” say that could be good news for the spring-watchers: white ice often melts faster than clear ice when the sun and warmer days finally get serious.

In recent years, Joe’s Pond has made us wait. The past three years, the official ice-out has landed in mid-April, which feels both predictable and also completely subject to Mother Nature’s mood swings. One cold snap or one week of steady rain can change everything. That’s why people keep playing. There’s no perfect formula—just a mix of hunches, memories, weather-watching, and a little hopeful guessing.

The contest itself started as friendly wagering in the 1980s. Jules Chatot, a regular winter visitor to his camp, noticed how often the topic came up when folks stopped for coffee or supplies in West Danville. Someone would always ask, “When do you think the ice is going out?” Pretty soon, people were tossing in a dollar, and Jules was recording guesses in a notebook. By 1987, the idea had grown enough that it was turned into an official contest, complete with an “official” way to record the moment ice-out happens.

The method is as low-tech and beloved as it gets: a clock sits on a deck, tethered to a cinder block wired to a pallet set out on the ice. When the ice finally lets go and the block drops, the connection breaks, and the clock stops—capturing the official ice-out time. Over the years the system has been improved, the record-keeping went from notebook to database, and now there are well over 12,000 entries each year, including players from across the country and beyond.

Half the proceeds (after expenses) go to the winner(s), and the other half supports the Joe’s Pond Association, helping fund water quality programs and community efforts. Last year’s winner, John Vincent of Wadsworth, Ohio, took home $7,790—proof that you don’t need to live nearby to get lucky.

If you want in on the guessing, tickets are sold at multiple local locations—including Hastings Store in West Danville, where spring predictions and friendly debate are practically part of the checkout line. Or, if you’re playing from farther away (or just want the easy option), you can buy tickets online at joespondvermont.com

A volunteer hauls the Ice Out contest gear across the frozen surface of Joe’s Pond, setting the season’s simple system in motion: a tethered pallet and marker that will drop when the ice finally lets go. (Courtesy Photo)

Coveted Listen Center Knick Knack Award given to Mt. Prospect students

By Bernie Marvin

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The Knick Knack Award

Pike, NH – For Mt. Prospect Academy students who have been traveling to Lebanon, NH to perform several important volunteer work assignments at the Listen Center, an award presentation ceremony was held in their honor during the final week of February, 2026.
It was a special ceremony at the school campus, where the students were recognized for their excellent work. Presenting the awards were Academic Career Coach Guy Mitchell assisted by The Listen Center’s Marcy Innes, a Retail Volunteer Coordinator.

The students each received a Certificate of Appreciation and a chance to view the impressive gold-colored Knick Knack Award. This special statue was awarded to Life Coach Mitchell “and the students of Mount Prospect Academy for their dedicated service to our Lebanon store. With much gratitude from the entire LISTEN staff,” according to the inscription on the trophy.
Students who were honored included Grant A., Brian L., Logan P., Shane C., Kyle C., Grant A. and Lucian EG. Also participating in the awards ceremony was Kelley MacLean, a Student Transitions Specialist from New Hampshire Vocational Rehabilitation.

Life Coach Mitchell told The Bridge Weekly that Ms. Innes wanted to recognize the students for volunteering weekly at the Listen Store in Lebanon.
He said the students have several responsibilities while they are at the store, including work outside with employees while donations are being accepted. Once a cart is full, they transport the cart with all the items, that include either hard goods or soft goods(clothes).

The students also transported racks of inventory from the pricing department to the sales floor and put items on the display shelves for resale on the sales floor. They also hung clothing on the racks for sales, based on the clothing gender and size.

Some of the students have also sorted donated music Compact Discs and videos to be sold on the sales floor and some of the same students are helping with Meals on Wheels at Horse Meadow Senior Center in North Haverhill.

Every Wednesday a Mt. Prospect Academy a faculty member transported at least two students to pick up meals and deliver them along one of the routes. During all this activity at the school, Life Coach Mitchell noted that it was also Spirit Week and the students and faculty were showing off team sports all day at the school.

Ms. Marcy Innes told The Bridge Weekly “that every week, Academic Career Life Coach Guy Mitchell brings students from Mount Prospect Academy to our large thrift store and donation center in Lebanon to help with a variety of tasks.”

She said the boys help move filled donation carts from outdoors into the donation center to be sorted. “This is a tremendous help to us as we have a very busy, fast-moving donation stream that requires many hands and strong back,” she said.

She noted that the boys also put hardgoods (puzzles, lamps, dishes, etc.) away on the sales floor, as well as help put clothing out on the racks and keep the store organized. She added that “We love having the Mount Prospect Academy students at the store and always look forward to seeing them.”

2026 Clunker Sled Classic

By Joshua Smith

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Ready for the green flag is the 120 champ kids heat race at Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford last Saturday February 21, 2026. (Courtesy Photo)

Bradford VT - With an extra seven inches of snow falling the night before, winter showed up right on cue for this year’s Clunker Sled Classic at Bear Ridge Speedway on February 21—and it made for just about perfect track conditions.

By the time the gates opened at 7:00 a.m., folks were already rolling in with coffee in hand, bundled up, and ready to make a morning of it. Families got a front-row seat to one of those true North Country events where the laughs come easy, the stories get better every time they’re told, and the excitement builds with every sled that fired up in the pits.

A big tip of the cap goes to the organizers from the Connecticut Valley Snowmobile Club, who kept the day running smooth. Dan Ingerson led the charge, and the volunteer effort behind the scenes was a big part of why everything worked so well. Thanks to Butch and April May for the use of Bear Ridge Speedway, Woodsville Bobcat for the skidsteer (run by Derek Graham), Jason Fornwell for two loaders with pushers to open parking areas, and Ryan for bringing over a PistenBully 100 to get the track in shape. Credit also goes to Paul, Jackson, and Alex for snow blowing, shoveling, and setting up safety fence, and to Todd Dunham for keeping the road plowed so everyone could get in and out without trouble.

When the 10:30 a.m. green flag dropped, Bear Ridge turned into a snow-dusted playground of roaring engines and hometown cheering. It wasn’t just racing—it was community, plain and simple, and a family-friendly winter day that reminded everyone why events like this matter around here.

Ready for the 200 Stock Class at the 2026 Clunker Classic at Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford are :(L - R) Emery, Owen Patenaude, and William Morse.
(Courtesy Photo)

Steve Batchelder and Tonya Palmer of Batchelder Carpentry are shown enjoying the races from the sponsor’s booth at Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford. on Saturday February 21, 2026 (Courtesy Photo)

Piermont's Old Times Remembered by Senior Residents and Friends

By Bernie Marvin

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Seated in the Piermont Old Church Building recently were these folks, and others, who told of their early days in Piermont, attending school, church and raising a little Cain here and there. The program was sponsored by the Piermont Historical Society and they promised another one will be held in the future. Seen left to right are Tim Cole, Suzanne Woodard, Diane Winot, Julie Lamarre, Polly Marvin, Mary Musty, Jim Putnam and Terry Robie. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin

Piermont, NH – Town Moderator Joyce Tompkins sat in the front row at the Old Church Building on Sunday afternoon, February 15, 2026, intently listening as a group of senior residents and friends of the town recalled some of their earlier days in this small former dairy farming town.
They spoke of the times when much attention was devoted to Piermont's local church, village school, and the old dances, town plays, and delightful suppers in a failing old Town Hall that was sold off long ago and is now a classic private residence and business in the center of town.

The historic tales poured forth, some being sprung from memories of the days when the local farmers held cattle drives through the middle of town and headed east to summer grazing grounds out towards Indian Pond Road.
Speakers at this event, organized by the Piermont Historical Society, included Tim Cole, Suzanne Woodard, Diane Winot, Julie Lamarre, Polly Marvin, Mary Musty, Jim Putnam, Terry Robie, Asa Metcalf, and Will Priestly.

All the stories were about old Piermont, including some folks now long gone who had contributed to the town's unique, close feeling of friendship, assistance, and awesome meals. Back then, just about every home had a barn and a shed and a connector building that housed a family dairy and meat-raising effort, a barn full of winter hay and warm, comfortable homes with jelly closets brimming with sweet preserves, jams, and tender pickles that many folks in Piermont still put up each year when growing season rolls around.

In the days of World War 1 and 2 and before, when it was too far to go to Woodsville to shop, the stories told of a robust center of commerce in Piermont that included Gould's Store, the Post Office, the Robins Inn, and Mr. Mellin's delightful candy that included candy canes and lollipops he made in his kitchen on Church Street.
Speakers remembered when Bill Deal's Mother, Eleanor, ran the town library, which was located across Route 10 in the Old Church Building, from the present location. They fondly remembered Reverend Robert Robb and his wife, Barbara, and their sadness when the Robbs moved away.

There were always horses up and down Church Street, all cared for and ridden by Joan Osgood and her students during her 4-H horse camps held in the summer. Julie Lamarre remembered cooking for the Village School kids upstairs in the fire station, then lugging all that food down the stairs, out of the building, and across Route 10 to the school. The school kitchen was out of commission during the major school renovations. The stories continued for more than an hour.

At the conclusion, Town Moderator Tompkins, who is also the Piermont Historical Society Secretary and Program Moderator, said that it "was a lovely event" and that we all have missed the people we have lost over the years, and there was agreement that another event will be scheduled in the future to share more stories.
Piermont Historical Society member Fred Shipman said he was thrilled with the response he had to the program. He said everyone enjoyed the two full hours of stories and memories.

Life Transition Services: A story of growth and commitment to clients, employees, and community!

By Bernie Marvin

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LTS staff include, left to right Jennifer Dougan (Team Coordinator), Kelsie Morrison (Office Manager), Katelynn Pike (Finance Manager), Denise Ferrari-Diresta (Nurse Trainer), Dan Cheverie (Team Coordinator), Syvanna Roderick-Kilduff (Housing Coordinator), David Fullerton (Residential Manager), Morgan Maerder (Employment Specialist), Jeff Maerder (Executive Director/Founder) and Shelly Binford (Program Director). The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin.

Woodsville, NH - North Haverhill resident Jeffrey Maerder, Founder and Director of Life Transition Services (LTS), recently purchased the former USDA Field Office building on Swiftwater Road in Woodsville. He is now operating from this centrally located and versatile site.
LTS, in its 20th year, is a provider of specialized support for students and adults with intellectual and mental health challenges. "Whether individuals need residential support in one of our staffed residences or family care in a community home setting, LTS provides individualized services that improve our clients' quality of life and independence," Maerder said during a recent interview with The Bridge Weekly.

The company was founded in 2006, and since then, Maerder and his employees have been working with many different types of clients, providing a wide range of services. LTS is an agency that works with high-risk individuals to assist them with their everyday living needs. Maerder says one important mission they have is to build meaningful connections for people in the community.
He notes that "Every life has meaning and a contribution to make, that a life without purpose is bankrupt of meaning." He said he truly believes that the purpose of life is a purposeful life, and that one of the main goals of his company is to find worthwhile employment for his clients because " LTS believes that employment connects you to your community, and your contribution provides you dignity and respect, a place in this world.

LTS is a successful enterprise that has outgrown locations and moved several times over the years but with this move to Swiftwater Road they are confident they have found a home that will provide for their needs for the next generation.
The Owner and Founder is well-spoken, especially when articulating his company's goals. During our interviews, he spoke at length about the history and mission of LTS and his understanding that a life without purpose conflicts with nature and human design. Each of us has a desire to know that our life counts, has connection to others, a place to belong and is making a contribution to the community. Employment is a gateway to finding our place.

In 2006, Life Transition Services began working with young adults in high school, helping them discover their interests, providing opportunities for successful experiences, and giving them a basis for a new identity, one that is productive and connected to their community. Two years later, in 2008, LTS began working with adults throughout New Hampshire.
He said the seeds of the mission for LTS came to him while he was in Alaska waiting for the fish to run, and he could get work on a boat or at an onshore wild salmon cannery. "I realized that there is something far worse than being penniless and that is being bankrupt of purpose. Living a life of purpose that focuses on employment while taking responsibility is central to Life Transition Services as a result."

LTS has grown steadily since they set up their first office in 2006. However, the core mission of LTS remains from those Alaska fishing days, and that, for its clients, living a life of purpose that focuses on employment and responsibility-taking remains central to LTS.
LTS has had several offices over the years from a one-bedroom apartment in North Haverhill to a rental on Bridge Street in Woodsville and most recently at The Old Pine Mill in North Haverhill. LTS moved into The Old Pine Mill at the end of 2008, a custom-designed (by Alan Leete) "office" space. In 2010, Heidi Lyman put the Old Pine Mill up for sale; Maerder Property Management, LLC formed and purchased the property, which housed LTS for the next 15 years.

Towards the end of 2025, the old USDA building, which was currently owned and occupied by Northern Human Services, had interest in downsizing and selling the building on Swiftwater Road. Northern Human Services (Mark Vincent) reached out and contacted LTS about purchasing the building on Swiftwater Road in Woodsville. By December 1, 2025, Maerder closed on this building and began extensive renovations by local contractors.

LTS moved into 250 Swiftwater Road on January 12! The new building has a dedicated resource space called the "Lodge" for students and adults to work on independent living and employment skills. In addition to all this, the building has 26 climate-controlled storage units that Maerder Property Management, hopes to open for public rental at 250 Swiftwater Road in Woodsville in late spring. Also, he noted that the old office space at 60 Pine Mill is currently being renovated into two new two-bedroom apartments.

Program Director Shelly Binford told The Bridge Weekly that LTS supports each individual in all areas of life to help them be a part of their community.
Whether LTS was initiating medical support, such as finding a primary care physician or dentist, developing social and recreational connections, employment development, independent living, including budgeting and shopping, or residential support, are all part of what LTS does towards helping everyone achieve a life of their choosing.

LTS provides these supports to adults throughout New Hampshire as well as working with area schools, supporting those students both in school and in the community.
Having worked with schools throughout the Upper Valley from Windsor and Rivendell to BMU and Caledonian, LTS is currently working with Woodsville, Oxbow, and Lisbon High Schools. Binford said that 95 percent of the students graduate with a job of their own.
During the interview David Fullerton, Residential Manager, said that, "We guide each of our individuals to their highest levels of independence, never doing for them what they are capable of doing themselves and teaching them what they might not currently know. LTS has had clients who have moved on to become nurses, get married, and have families, and who are no longer receiving services.

Binford noted that each client at LTS is brought through an employment development curriculum. The employment curriculum includes the client taking an opinion test to determine an interest profile. "Based on each individual s interest profile, we coordinate job tours with local employers in their identified field of interest.
Finance Manager, Katelynn Pike noted that LTS employs Life Coaches and Home Providers, stating that both are the backbone of the company. Without their tireless efforts and support, positive changes in the client s lives would not be possible! The Life Coach provides guidance and meaning to the client s workweek while the Home Provider opens their home and creates the bedrock that we all need for a good life - a good home!

Maerder said The goal of LTS is for everyone to live a Good Life, one that is empowered, responsible, connected and productive."
In addition to the 40 Life Coaches and 18 Home Providers, the office personnel at this new location include Founder and Director Jeff Maerder; Program Director Shelly Binford; Finance Manager Katelyn Pike; Office Manager Kelsie Morrison; Residential Manager David Fullerton; Nurse Trainer Denise Ferrari-DiResta; Housing Coordinator Syvanna Roderick-Kilduff; Team Coordinator Dan Cheverie; Team Coordinator Jennifer Dougan; Employment Specialist Morgan Maerder, and Head of Security Raven.
The website is ltsnh.org.

LTS staff members standing is Katelynn Pike (Finance Manager) with Kelsie Morrison) Office Manager) seated. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin.

Busy at work at LTS on Swiftwater Road in Woodsville, NH are left to right, Syvanna Roderick-Kilduff (Housing Coordinator, Jennifer Dougan (Team Coordinator), Shelly Binford (Team Coordinator) and Dan Cheverie (Case Manager). The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin

Addition to Newbury Tucker Mountain Town Forest Being Considered

By Tom Kidder

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The Bailey Property Map plus the Tucker Mountain Trust Fund (Courtesy Image)

Newbury - The town of Newbury is considering an offer of 127 acres of forested land as an addition to the Tucker Mountain Town Forest. The land is north of the Tucker Mountain summit and follows the same high ridgeline.
Last March, town forest neighbor Bob Bailey notified the management committee that he was planning to sell the land and wanted to first offer it to Newbury as an extension of the town forest. He offered the land at a $30,000 discount as a contribution to what he sees as a thriving town forest project. Mr. Bailey is a direct descendent of General Jacob Bayley and has a strong attachment to Newbury.

Aside from the original purchase of the original 635 acres for $25,000, all funds for the development of trails, parking lots, kiosks, benches have come from grants and donations from individuals and businesses. Tom Kidder, chair of the management committee, said, “We knew right away that we were not about to ask the taxpayers to pay for this new parcel, but we felt that since the property was offered to the town, it should be up to the town to decide if they want to accept it, and we explored other ways to fund it.”
What seemed impossible suddenly became possible with a call to the Vermont Land Trust, the original partners in helping the town acquire the forest. VLT approached the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board who said that since the property bordered the town forest and because the seller had offered a discount, then the town could very likely qualify for help with the purchase, covering 66% of the cost and contributions to an appraisal, closing costs, and a maintenance fund.

By happenstance, just prior to Mr. Bailey’s offer two brothers managing their parents’ estate had informed the committee that they wanted to donate $50,000 toward a land purchase to honor of their parents. With the asking price (after the 30K reduction) of $235,000, taking away the 66% grant and the donation of $50,000, the Friends of Tucker Mountain, the town forest’s fundraising organization, is left with $29,000 to raise. Friends believes that is quite doable.
The property would be purchased by Friends of Tucker Mountain and given to the Town of Newbury.

If the land becomes part of the Town Forest, Newbury will forgo municipal taxes which were $994 in 2025. To counter this, the Newbury Selectboard will again be asking the town if they are willing to sell what is known as the Ski Tow Property in West Newbury. Money from the sale of this 24-acre parcel would go to the town treasury and, having transferred to private ownership, the Ski Tow property would be added to the tax rolls.
The Ski Tow Property was purchased using Federal Funds tied to a recreational easement and cannot be sold unless that easement is passed on to another piece of recreational land. The new parcel on Tucker Mountain would qualify as recreational.

The vote for the town to accept the property as a gift is not a commitment to purchase the land. Should the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board grant fall though, the Friends of Tucker Mountain purchase would likely not take place unless other outside funding sources stepped in.
There are two articles on the warning: one is whether the town will accept the property as a gift, the other is whether the town will be allowed to sell the Ski Tow Property.
Lying north of the current summit and bordered on two sides by the town forest, Mr. Bailey’s land fits into the town forest map like a keystone. On the boundary is the State’s Woodchuck Mountain property that’s being sold to the Upper Valley Land Trust for preservation.

The wildlife corridor that passes through the town forest and enters the Woodchuck property would be enhanced with the preservation of the new parcel. This corridor extends to Groton State Forest to the northwest, the Fairlee Town Forest to the south, and into the White Mountain National Forest to the east. The land’s remote, wilderness characteristics make it key wildlife habitat

The forest has a diversity of tree age with a mix of hardwood and softwood that hasn’t been logged in over 35 years. There is at least one majestic stand of legacy oak trees that look to be over a century old. Much of it was cleared for agriculture some 200 years ago and stone walls that outlined fields remain throughout the woods. Along the height of land, directly north of Tucker Mountain, cleared meadows spread out over the ridge.

The new property would be added to the town forest conservation easement held by Vermont Land Trust.
This and other articles will be part of the discussion at an informational meeting prior to the Town Meeting. The public is encouraged to attend.

Legacy maple and old stone wall on the Bailey property (Courtesy Photo)

Cohase Chamber hosts busy night of events; board names Moore and Robie Farm as best of the year

By Bernie Marvin

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A full Alumni Hall in Haverhill Corner greeted the superb dinner and program of events last week for the Cohase Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner and Annual Meeting. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin

Haverhill, NH – A near-capacity crowd came to Alumni Hall last week to celebrate two well-known names in the community, Bradford’s Gary Moore as Citizen of the Year and Piermont’s Robie Farm as Business of the Year.
It all happened under the chandeliered ceiling of Haverhill Corner’s historic Alumni Hall, once an early New Hampshire courthouse and school gymnasium. As in the past, a special meal was served and it was another splendid night of honoring local people, in a room full of friends, business leaders and community officials.
Gary Moore is well known throughout the area and was honored by the chamber for his many contributions to the community, to the field of emergency management and hazardous materials, also to police and fire services, locally and at the state level.

While receiving the tributes, he said “I have received many awards and honors over the years, but none have meant as much to me as this one. This is where I was born and raised and where Linda and I chose to live, moving back in 1973. Being named Citizen of the Year by those from this special region of the Twin States just makes it very special.”
In his comments, Moore mentioned a personal note, one of many he received upon the honors being made public, from Peggy Hewes and Larry Scott saying they were sending congratulations not only to Gary for his being named Citizen of the Year, but to his wife, Linda, “because you are so clearly and inspirationally a team.”
Moore agreed, saying “Nothing I have accomplished could have been possible without the support of my wife of 55 years.”

Moore’s involvement with the community includes a long list of positions held over the years as an educator, state official, member of the military intelligence in Vietnam, and everything from the Chief of the Bradford Fire Department to the Commissioner of the State of Vermont Fish and Game Department.
His background and professional development documents, including professional employment and appointments, more than 75 individual listings were made including his hobbies which are hunting, fishing, hiking, sailing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, canoeing, photography and reading.
The interesting evening included a media panel of local news hounds who were included in a roundtable discussion on the value of having local media in the community who are aware of the territory and publishing stories, photographs and advertisements that mean a lot to local readers.

Those personalities included Darren Sherburne, who represented his mother, Michelle Sherburne, owner of the Journal Opinion. Also, Gary Scruton, owner of The Trendy Time newspaper and this writer, Senior Writer/Photographer for The Bridge Weekly.
Moderating the panel was Joshua Smith, owner of WYKR Radio in Wells River and also owner of The Bridge Weekly newspaper, now based in Wells River.
Publisher-Owner Smith sought to show the direct connection between a strong local media such as there is in this area, strong local businesses and a strong community/nonprofit organization (especially in the digital world where social media can be noisy and polarizing.)

Plaques were presented to Citizen of the Year Gary Moore and to Mark Robie, of the Robie Farm, voted Business of the Year.
Robie Farm is a popular family farm business located in nearby Piermont. As mentioned on their internet web home page “At the Robie Farm, we’re dedicated to producing the highest quality milk, cheese, eggs, beef, pork, and chicken.”
“We work with nature – not against it – carefully considering every environmental impact along the way. The result is food raised with a clear conscience and the exceptional flavor our customers know and love.”
Since 1870, the Robie Farm has taken pride in producing high-quality, nutritious and flavorful meats that reflect our dedication and sustainability, animal welfare, and honest farming. Located along the Connecticut River and Piermont, New Hampshire, our 150-acre family farm has been continuously operated for over seven generations – each committed to maintaining healthy, productive livestock and responsible stewardship of the land.”

According to information available, farm owner Lee Robie and his sons decided to transition from selling milk to a large cooperative to offering bottled raw milk, selling directly to customers at their on-farm store on Route and in Piermont. This change opened the door to new diversifications. Using that raw milk they developed their own Farmstead cheese line and expanded offerings to include a wide variety of meats including beef, pork, poultry and more.
Today, there is a full line of those products and more at their farm store and in their online shop. Accepting a handsome plaque from Chamber officer Joe Mitchell was Mark Robie, one of the sons involved with the success of Robie Farm’s endeavors.

Long time Chamber of Commerce member and officer for many years since the chamber was created 25 years ago, Marvin Harrison was busy during the chamber event coordinating various activities. His popular “Marvin’s Trivia Program” has always been a big hit during previous chamber dinners.

At the conclusion of the ceremonies, Harrison told The Bridge Weekly that “It felt really nice to be able to celebrate two great families in the Moores and the Robies who are such wonderful examples of what community is all about. And the 'local media' panel added further credibility to the importance and effectiveness of the sense of community here in the Cohase region.”

Three newspaper radio writers and advertising personnel presented a program during the Chamber’s Annual Meeting. Seen left to right are Trendy Times Editor and creator Gary Scruton, real estate advertising and sales personality Darren Sherburne, representing the Journal Opinion and Publisher/Owner of the Bridge Weekly and WYKR Radio Joshua Smith, who moderated the program. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin

Cohase Chamber of Commerce official Joe Mitchell, at right, presented a Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award to the Robie Farm, represented by Mark Robie of Piermont. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin

Cohase Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award was bestowed on Bradford resident Gary Moore, at left by Bradford historian Larry Coffin. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin

Riding Strong: How Local Snowmobile Clubs Keep Outdoor Recreation Alive in Our Region

By Joshua Smith

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Locals enjoying the Groton forest trails maintained by the Buckaroos of 302 (photo by Jared Mclure)

In the heart of winter, while much of the region settles in under heavy coats and warm fires, a dedicated network of volunteers and outdoor enthusiasts revs up to keep the spirit of outdoor adventure alive. Across the Vermont and New Hampshire borderlands, snowmobile clubs like the Buckaroos of 302 and the Connecticut Valley Snowmobile Club are working tirelessly to maintain trail systems, adapt to weather conditions, and bring communities together through winter recreation.

These clubs, powered almost entirely by volunteers, represent the best of our region’s outdoor tradition — combining land stewardship, collaboration, and a deep love of snowmobiling.

Buckaroos of 302: Trails in Top Condition
In Groton, Vermont, the Buckaroos of 302 have hit peak season stride. According to Trail Master Gary Lamberton, trail conditions are better than ever.

“All our surrounding clubs are now open up,” said Lamberton in a recent interview. “Bailey Hazen Club, Twinfield, The Tops, Ridge Runners, Snow Bees — they’re all open. You can now ride to all destinations right from Groton, Vermont.”

Using a color-coded trail map system, the Buckaroos identify trail status with green (open), yellow (caution), and red (closed). Right now, nearly the entire map is green.

“Everything that’s green is a 10,” Lamberton said proudly. “Jesse Lambert from Lambert Farm's Grooming has put over 1,000 miles on the groomer this season, making sure trails are perfect.”

This level of grooming requires both dedication and endurance. Volunteers spend countless hours navigating snowy forests in heavy equipment to keep trails smooth and safe for riders. “It’s a labor of love,” Lamberton said. “We do it for the riders and for the region.”

Adapting on the Fly
Snowmobiling depends not only on weather but also on landowner cooperation. When a section of corridor 232 between Peacham Pond and Cabot was temporarily closed due to a landownership transition, the Buckaroos didn’t waste time.

“I worked closely with Ross Page of the Bailey Hazen Club,” said Lamberton. “We rerouted the trail through old logging roads and fields. We just cut it out and signed it yesterday.”

These quick pivots are only possible thanks to strong partnerships among clubs and a mutual respect between snowmobilers and landowners. It’s a testament to the cooperative spirit that keeps the VAST (Vermont Association of Snow Travelers) system running smoothly across the state.

Upcoming Event: A Buckaroo Tradition
The Buckaroos are also gearing up for their 47th Annual Dick Page Ride-In, a long-standing community tradition scheduled for Saturday, February 14, starting at 11:00 a.m. at the Groton Highway Garage, near Upper Valley Grill.

“It’s my kind of date,” joked Lamberton, referring to the Valentine’s Day timing. The Groton Fire Department will be serving chicken, and riders from across the region are expected to attend. It’s a time for camaraderie, great food, and celebrating a deep love of the sport.

Connecticut Valley Snowmobile Club: Making the Most of Every Inch
Just across the border in Haverhill, New Hampshire, the Connecticut Valley Snowmobile Club (CVSC) is also working hard — despite challenging snowfall this season.

“We’ve got 65 miles of trails,” said Vice President Dan Ingerson, who helps oversee operations stretching from Bath to Glencliff and over toward Landaff. “It’s been thin in places, but we’re hoping the next storm delivers.”

CVSC trails remain open, though grooming has been paused due to a lack of snow depth. “We need eight inches to start grooming again,” Ingerson explained. “That’s also the state minimum for funding eligibility.”

Despite equipment challenges — including a groomer that recently broke down — spirits remain high. “We got it out of the woods,” Ingerson said, laughing. “Still waiting on parts, though.”

Events that Bring Riders Together
CVSC is also looking forward to two signature winter events.

First up is their Annual Poker Run and Radar Run, taking place Sunday, February 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event offers a special New Hampshire permit allowing non-residents and unregistered machines to join the loop trail and radar run — a fun way to experience the club’s territory and test your sled’s speed.

The following weekend, on February 21, the club hosts the beloved Clunker Sled Classic, a celebration of vintage and quirky snow machines. “Gates open at 7:00 a.m., green flag drops at 10:30,” Ingerson said. The event includes nine different classes, from juniors to women’s races and the ever-popular “Double Clunker” challenge.

A Region Rooted in Outdoor Tradition
Both of these clubs demonstrate what makes our region so unique: a deep-rooted passion for the outdoors, a commitment to preserving trail systems for future generations, and the kind of volunteer spirit that brings communities together.

Snowmobiling, for many, is more than recreation — it’s a lifestyle, a family tradition, and a powerful connection to the land. Without the dedication of volunteers like Gary Lamberton and Dan Ingerson, or the hard work of groomers like Jesse Lambert, this vital piece of our winter culture would be at risk.

Get Involved
If you're a snowmobiler, landowner, or simply someone who loves winter and wants to support local outdoor initiatives, consider joining a club, volunteering, or donating. Trail maintenance is expensive and labor-intensive, and every bit of support helps.

You can learn more about these clubs or become a member through their websites:

Buckaroos of 302: buckaroosof302.com

Connecticut Valley Snowmobile Club: ctvalleysnowmobileclub.com

Or follow them on Facebook for trail conditions and event updates.

As winter continues, these local snowmobile clubs will be out there — in the cold, in the woods, and on the trails — ensuring that snowmobiling in our region remains as strong and thrilling as ever.

On the New Hampshire side, the groomer worked the trails on January 7th (photo courtesy of the Connecticut Valley Snowmobile Club)

Safety is important, but does not distract from the beautiful trails in the evening in Groton State Forest (photo by Jared Mclure)

Day or night, the groomers are out maintaining the trails in Vermont and New Hampshire. (Courtesy Photo)

ROBERT LAWRENCE SALON AND SPA: WOODSVILLE’S ONE-STOP SHOP FOR SELF-CARE AND WELLNESS IN THE NEW YEAR

By Trish Griswold

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Robert Lawrence Salon and Spa is Woodsville’s hub for self-care and well-being. They offer a vast array of beauty products and therapeutic services including hair, nail, and skin care. Bridgid Risteen, Hillary Deschamps, and Cassandra Lemieux (pictured L-R) are three of the salon’s five licensed cosmetologists. TBWS/Trish Griswold

WOODSVILLE, NH - Each new year presents an opportunity to reflect on the past and set meaningful intentions for the future. While many New Year’s resolutions are centered around eating better and exercising more, the licensed professionals at Robert Lawrence Salon and Spa in Woodsville understand that living a happy, healthy lifestyle also includes self-care and personal wellness.


According to Bridgid Risteen, owner of Robert Lawrence Salon and Spa, in 2016, when Everything But The Cook merged with The Party Store: An Affair To Remember, commercial space in Suite 2 at 91 Central Street became available. Her parents, Kevin and Liz Shelton, owners of the building, began the process of looking for new renters. Bridgid and her friend/personal stylist Cassandra Lemieux were interested in relocating closer to home. One conversation led to another, and a new business venture named in honor of Bridgid’s grandfathers, Robert Shelton and Lawrence Gilbert, opened in November of that same year.


Since then, the salon has grown to include five more practitioners: Kristy Odiorne, Carmen Graham, Carrie Vogt, Hillary Deschamps, and Mallari Young. They each have their own specialty areas and are self-employed, giving them the autonomy to make their own schedules; however, they share one common thread: a love for what they do. Their passion is unmatched, and their kindness and compassion are unwavering as they take great pride in being an integral part of each client’s journey toward improved self-care and overall well-being.


“Being a massage therapist, I feel strong empathy and intuition. It's about trust, being present, and creating connections with my clients,” licensed massage therapist Kristy Odiorne explains. “It reminds me daily of the power of human touch. Helping others feel better, both physically and mentally, is not just my job; it's a purpose that I am very blessed to share.”


For nearly a decade, Robert Lawrence Salon and Spa has been offering clients a vast array of options, adding new, innovative products and services along the way. They currently offer facials, waxing, ear piercing, spray tanning, manicures, pedicures, reiki, massage, lash lifts and tints, dermaplaning, red light therapy, and hair care for the entire family. Product lines include Loma, Paul Mitchell, Moroccan Oil, Matrix, Color Wow, Olaplex, Bain De Terre, Goldie Locks, Redken Brews, It’s a 10, Kenra, Wet Brush, AGlow, Keyano, Dermalogica, and Image Skincare.


However, the personal connections they have with their clients are what make Robert Lawrence Salon and Spa second to none. “This year marks 23 years of doing what I love, helping people, and making them feel heard and safe. My job is so much more than just body work or skincare,” Kristy emphasizes. “It's listening [to my clients] and explaining things in a way they understand. We talk through injuries and body mechanics, and I try to give them the tools to help facilitate movement and manage pain or stress…or maybe it's helping them learn to allow themselves to relax and leave all their worries and stress at the door.”


“When someone is having a crappy day and they sit down to either get their hair done or have a mani-pedi and then leave feeling so much better, it’s like a therapy session,” Cassandra adds. “Sometimes that’s what you need for your mental health.”


This premiere level of care and compassion reverberates throughout the salon, the community, and beyond as the professionals at Robert Lawrence Salon and Spa are actively involved in supporting local school groups, fundraising events, community organizations, and more. They network with Riverbend Career and Technical Center’s cosmetology program in Bradford, VT, offering a high-quality, hands-on apprenticeship experience to promising young cosmetologists.


Most recently, they assisted Brynn Bogie, an eighth grader at Blue Mountain Union School in Wells River, VT, with her science fair project focusing on “Which lasts longer - professional grade hair dye or box dye?” Bridgid donated hairpieces, professional-grade hair dye, foils, applicator brushes, and other supplies. She also spent time with Brynn at the salon, helping her learn the steps to conduct her experiment. “I couldn’t have completed my project without her,” Brynn explains, grateful for the resources and the opportunity afforded to her.


When asked to reflect on the success of her business, Bridgid says, “I like that we can be a resource and a hub for anyone. I love that it’s not the same every day. It’s always something different. Everyone’s personality is different. Everyone's hair is different. Everyone’s needs are different, and we’re always there for them, through the good times and the bad times.”


Author’s Note: Robert Lawrence Salon and Spa is open six days a week with walk-ins and same-day appointments available Tuesday through Friday. Hillary and Mallari are accepting new haircare clients, and Kristy is accepting new skincare clients. For more information about products and services, “like” them on Facebook, reach out via Facebook Messenger, or call the salon at (603) 747-3500. Online booking options are available for some stylists.

Kristy Odiorne specializes in massage therapy (Swedish, deep tissue, warm stone, reflexology, and cupping), facials, extractions, dermaplaning, dermabrasion, high frequency, skin care, spray tanning, red light treatments, lash lift and tint, brow tinting, and waxing. She is seen giving a facial massage to Laurie Dirienzo of Woodsville. TBWS/Trish Griswold

Sara Lang (seated) is a long-time client of Robert Lawrence Salon and Spa owner Bridgid Risteen. “It is a great example of a community business,” Sara says. “The reach of Bridgid’s salon isn’t just within the walls of this salon; it’s outreach and supporting community events. It in itself is a community. When you come here, you see people that you know, and there’s something here for everyone.”

Cosmetologist Cassandra Lemieux is the salon’s mani-pedi specialist. She offers shellac gel polish, gel overlay on natural nails, regular polish, and nail art in an assortment of colors, patterns, and styles.

South Newbury native Molly Gray is going for the Vermont Lt. Governor job, again

By Bernie Marvin

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Coming together for a family group at the former Space on Main in Bradford are Vermont Lieutenant Governor candidate Molly Gray and her brothers and father. (Mom, Kim was absent that day.) Seen left to right are Charlie, Molly, Bob (Dad), and Peter Gray. The Bridge Weekly file photo/Bernie Marvin.

South Newbury, VT – Molly Gray, a well-known former South Newbury schoolgirl athlete and vegetable farmer, has announced her intentions to run again for her old job as Lieutenant Governor of Vermont.
Gray, daughter of Bob and Kim Gray of the 4 Corners Farm fame, announced her bid for the position at a reception held in Burlington on Monday, January 5, 2026. A Burlington lawyer, she formerly served as Green Mountain's Lieutenant Governor from 2020 to 2022, then ran an unsuccessful campaign for a Congressional seat as a US Representative, losing the primary election to victor and eventual office-holder Becca Balint in 2022.
At her recent announcement, Gray said she will be fiercely supporting the Vermont legislature in their focus on what matters most, building more housing, lowering costs, strengthening public schools, all while addressing rising costs and making sure every Vermonter can access a good job with al livable wage that will allow them to stay in the state, she told the crowd on hand to herald her announcement.

She also told the gathering that she plans to push back on President Donald Trump's immigration program. Gray has plenty of experience in state government. Before her Lieutenant Governor stint, she held the office of Assistant Attorney General in the Vermont Criminal Division from 2018 to 2021.
According to her background information and comments from friends and the campaign's literature, Molly Gray is a Democrat and is married to airline pilot Mike Palm. The couple has a son, Jack Francis Palm, who was born in July 2023.

Molly Gray and her South Newbury brothers, Charlie and Peter and parents, Bob and Kim, are no strangers to folks living in the circulation range of The Bridge Weekly. At any reasonable hour of a bright early spring, summer or fall day, a stop by the 4 Corners Farm just off route 5 in South Newbury, you could see the farm hands in action and members of the Gray family as they go about their daily chores as they plant, grow, harvest and market their quality fruits and vegetables, tend to their small herd of Jersey milk cows, Scottish highland beef cows and their 50 acres of beautiful farmland.

Molly Gray's first time around the political election circuit in 2020 worked well for her and during an early campaign appearance in Bradford (during her campaign for her first Lieutenant Governor election) she cast aside the intense cold temperatures of that February morning, and trudged Main Street, first for coffee at the former Bradford Perfect Buzz restaurant, then to amble down Main street a few doors to the Space on Main building, then owned by Monique Priestley, a Molly supporter.
There, a house full of support, local friends, school chums, and other supporters were all there to say hello to Molly and wish her well in the future.

On the home front for the later election, folks were also happy with Molly's results, which saw her capture most towns in Vermont, especially in small and rural areas of the state.
Bradford supporter Monique Priestley, founder and then-owner of the Space on Main, where the "Molly Gray for Lieutenant Governor" campaign all started, said that "I could not be happier about Molly's win! Molly's team has run an intelligent, classy, and respectable campaign, and I am so proud of them. I cannot wait for the future in which I step onto the balcony of the Senate and get to see Molly in action. As a young woman, I find Molly inspirational. It is a powerful moment for Vermont."

Since the election that put Molly Gray into the Vermont Lieutenant Governor's seat, Monique Priestley has been elected to the Vermont House of Representatives and is now seeking a Senate seat made available upon the resignation of former Vermont State Senator Larry Hart.

Two friends came together during candidate Molly Gray's first campaign opening at The former Space on Main in Bradford in 2020, when she was seeking the Lieutenant Governor's position that she won. The Bridge Weekly file photo/Bernie Marvin.

Late Mountain Lakes tax filings held up rate setting to the DRA

By Bernie Marvin

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Haverhill, NH – A delay in completing the Mountain Lakes financial reports for the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) has been holding up the filing so that the Haverhill tax rate can be set and residents can pay real estate taxes.
This beginning of the year news has begun been featured on the local Haverhill social media page resulting in a few critical comments from the public and an inquiry from a Haverhill Advisory Budget Committee (ABC) member has prompted comments from Chairman Richard Guy who told The Bridge Weekly that the ABC has a budget total of $35,000 for Tax Anticipation Notes, a fund that is available in anticipation of tax revenues that will be coming into the town treasury to pay town bills.
ABC Chair Guy said last week that $35,000 was considered reasonable at the beginning of December 2025. He noted that with the date now being the middle of January, there had been no hint about when Mountain Lakes would complete their annual submittals to the DRA."
He said that "borrowing this magnitude of money is an unreasonable burden to the whole of us taxpayers." He also noted to The Bridge Weekly that his ABC did make a formal recommendation that each part of the town that reports to the DRA be brought together early each year to identify any potential delays going forward."

Mountain Lakes Commissioner Bob Long told The Bridge Weekly on Sunday, January 4, 2026, and he indicated that he "was working on this with our auditor and was hoping to have this completed a couple of weeks ago. As of now, I hope to have it completed over the next couple of days."
On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, Mr. Guy explained to The Bridge Weekly that the lateness of the filing interferes with the town's ability to obtain the funds it needs to borrow as it waits for revenues to come in.
He said that many people in Haverhill had already filed their tax payments in anticipation of the bill being late, so they paid without waiting. "That has helped quite a bit, he said.”
He said that the ABC formal recommendation is that all town sub-entities and the Town itself come together by August 15 annually to identify and resolve any issues that might interfere with tax billings. The DRA should have it all in their system in October. Bills should be sent out by the town in November and paid for the first part of December.
He said once all the figures come together, the DRA can set a tax rate in very short time, and he notes that it will not take the town long to get the tax bills out to residents. He said as it looks now to him, the tax monies flowing into the town will probably end up as much as three months late, with payments being two months late.
A notice in the Haverhill NH Discussions Forum! Facebook entry last week identified as being from the Haverhill Administration:
It notes that “Tax Bill Delays Explained: The Town of Haverhill has been receiving a lot of calls regarding when Tax Bills will be going out. The reason bills have not gone out yet is that we are waiting for Mountain Lakes District (MLD) to complete all required filings. The Selectboard has no options at this time to move forward with setting the tax rate to issue 2025 Tax Bills without the MLD filings. We hope MLD will complete their forms this week. Please be patient with our Tax Collector, as the Town has no control over this delay. The Town will notify residents as soon as the rate has been set.
For questions regarding the process at the Mountain Lakes District, they can be reached at 603-787-6180."

In an interview just prior to last Friday, January 9, 2026, with Haverhill Select Board member Ron Hurlburt, he said the select board was tired of seeing town employees and Tax Collector Melinda Boutin taking the heat from the public over something that is not their fault.
He said the late tax numbers and the long overdue subsequent filing (whenever it is made) are solely the fault of the Mountain Lakes commissioners who are holding back the process by not having their numbers ready for the DRA.
He said, “the select board’s hands are tied until Mountain Lakes comes up with the needed figures,” during the interview late last week. He said he has no idea what the problem with the late figures is and he has not been told but hopes he finds out so it will never happen again.
He said the past year and one-half, possibly longer, there have been problems with the town clerk’s office being open in a timely manner. In an effort to reduce that workload, especially in the motor vehicle registration business of the town, the select board is moving toward appointing a municipal agent/deputy town clerk position.
Select board member Hurlburt said the job description was discussed again by the board at their most recent meeting on Monday night, January 12, 2026.
The published job description is as follows:
The Haverhill Selectboard is pleased to announce they have authorized the Town Administrator to research the creation of a new part-time position as a Municipal Agent. The role is intended to increase Department of Motor Vehicle registrations to 5 days a week and include evening hours. The Selectboard recognizes the challenges many of us are facing with registrations and renewals and is working to increase the consistency of services to residents. The position will be under the direction of the Selectboard and will be using funds previously intended for a Deputy Town Clerk, now directed toward this position for better oversight and transparency.
The Selectboard has been working for the past two years to support the Town Clerk with their needs and to increase hours and services for residents. The Selectboard has no authority over the Town Clerk's Office or the services they provide. For this reason, the Selectboard feels strongly to better provide these services; it should be done under their supervision. The Selectboard will continue to support the Town Clerk while providing similar services.
We're all looking forward to the increased hours and opportunities, stay tuned!

Cohase Chamber 2025 Citizen & Business of the Year Awards

By Joe Mitchell

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The 2025 Cohase Chamber Business of the Year . The Robie Farm of Piermont, NH farmstead is shown during their 150th Anniversary Celebration held on September 11, 2021. The Bridge Weekly File Photo

New Hampshire & Vermont - As 2025 was winding down the Board of Directors of the Cohase Chamber of Commerce was gearing up. It is at this time of year that members of the public are encouraged to submit nominations for Citizen of the Year or Business of the Year. The final decisions were made at a recent meeting of the Board.

It is true that sometime the Citizen of the Year award seems more like a Lifetime Achievement Award, and that is certainly true this year. Gary Moore of Bradford has spent most of his lifetime giving to many while ad leading others. In Bradford, he is possibly best known for his endless hours of volunteering as a member of the Bradford Fire Department, the Public Safety Commission and the Board of Civil Authority. He has also been the leader of the Bradford Emergency Management team for decades. More broadly Gary has written a weekly column entitled Moore Outdoors, providing important information to those who enjoy outdoor activities. On the Vermont level Gary was the Commissioner of the Fish and Game Commission, and Chair of the Vermont Water Resources Board. He also travels throughout the nation providing hazmat preparation training. With all these items on his resume, Gary Moore makes an excellent Citizen of the Year award winner for 2025.

The 2025 Business of the Year award also has some “long term” connotations to it. The Robie Farm in Piermont is now boasting of its seventh generation of family farming on ground located between Route 10 and the Connecticut River at the southern end of Piermont. Through those generations much has been learned and passed down to the next generation which in turn also learns new ways to provide for the family as well as the community. From their famous cheese to Robie Farm beef, poultry and pork, not to mention the sincere home town feeling, the Robie Farm has earned its way into the history and the culture of the Cohase Region. They represent what is a well-earned reputation of doing things right.

Both of these awards will be handed out at the annual Cohase Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and dinner on Tuesday, January 20 at Alumni Hall in Haverhill Corner. Tickets are available at www.Cohase.org for $35 each. A cash bar will be available as well. Reservations and prepayment are most greatly appreciated.

The evening’s program will also include the awarding of prizes to the winners of the Holiday Decorating Contest. Plus there will be a panel discussion regarding the local media consisting of members from our local media outlets.

The Board of Directors invites all members of the public to make plans to attend the annual meeting and to celebrate Gary Moore and the Robie family, as well as all the others who contribute to making the Cohase region a great place to live, work and play.

Gary W. Moore of Bradford, VT is the 2025 Cohase Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. (Courtesy Photo)

Delivering Holiday Cheer By The Truckload

By Trish Griswold

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Members of the Woodsville High School Class of 2026 helped unload, set up, and tag trees on opening weekend of tree season. Pictured (L-R) are: Makayla Walker, Katie Houston, Ryan Walker, Gabe Roy, Michel Plachetzki, Morgan Crocker, Jillian Roy, Cowan Kimball, and Dylan Marshall.

NORTH HAVERHILL - For the Lackie family of North Haverhill, NH, delivering goodwill and holiday cheer is a tradition that spans many generations. “It's just what we do,” remarks David “Peanut” Lackie, a retired truck driver who has been transporting Christmas trees to the area for decades.


According to Peanut, he took over the family business in 1989 when his father, Leslie Lackie, passed away. For many years, Leslie transported cargo, including Christmas trees from as far away as Canada and as close by as northern New Hampshire. “Mountain Star Tree Farm in Swiftwater (formerly known as the Olsen Tree Farm) - that’s where Dad got started,” Peanut recalls. “He hauled trees for 15 years before I took over. Actually, he went to Wisconsin and got the first tree baler that was in this area.”


In the early 1990s, Peanut’s brother, Norman “Smiley” Lackie, started a small tree stand at the Lackie homestead on the corner of Dartmouth College Highway and Route 116. Peanut’s daughters, Amy (Lackie) Crocker and Jennifer (Lackie) Barkley, kept the tree stand going from 1994 to 1996 before passing it along to the Woodsville High School (WHS) ensemble band as a fundraiser for their trip to Annapolis, MD, to participate in a regional competition. Over the years, many other school groups and local non-profit organizations have been recipients of the fundraiser, including the WHS Class of 2000, the North Haverhill Fire Department, the Haverhill Area Youth DC Trip, the WHS Class of 2023, and the WHS Class of 2026. All of the aforementioned school-related groups, Peanut says, have included a member of the Lackie family.


“We’ve never made a dime on the trees. I buy them, bring them down, and sell them to whatever group at the same price I bought them for. We sell the trees at cost and never charge a penny to truck them.”


The Lackies also donate trucking and provide trees at cost for holiday decorating efforts in North Haverhill and Woodsville, NH, and in Wells River, VT, spreading holiday cheer on both sides of the Connecticut River. “We’ve always donated our time and trucking, and we’re happy to do it,” comments Peanut’s wife, Leslie (Pierson) Lackie, who has supported her husband in continuing both the family business and the tree stand.


The most recent recipient of the tree stand fundraiser is the WHS Class of 2026. “There are really no words that can express how appreciative our class is for the Lackies/Crockers. For the past three years, our success has been rooted from their efforts, and we couldn’t be more grateful for them,” remarks Class President Makayla Walker. “They’ve given us the Christmas tree and craft fair fundraisers that have played a significant role in making prom and our class trip possible, but it has also given us the opportunity to give back to those who have given so much to us.”


“Apart from the financial opportunities,” Makayla continues, “their generosity has brought our class together; freshman year, when we didn’t have these fundraisers, fundraising participation was absent. Now, I’d say close to 75% or more are participating. It’s obvious how committed they are to our class, and we are forever indebted to the Lackies for guiding us, supporting us, and ultimately handing us success; it’s going to be difficult figuring out how to pay them back.”


Managing the Christmas tree stand, which was relocated in 2023 to the parking area at Augie’s Rest Stop is more labor intensive than one might think. “It’s a lot of work,” says Amy, who, together with her husband, Todd Crocker, took over Peanut’s trucking company in June of 2022 and has continued the Lackie family’s time-honored traditions. “You have to set up the racks, hang the lights, bring the trees into town, unload them, set them up on the racks, cut the strings, and price them.”


Equally time-consuming is maintaining the trees after every snowstorm. “You have to shake them off every time it snows. Some years when it was down to Mother’s, we had some serious snow,” Peanut recalls. “In fact, one year we got rain, and the trees froze so we had to take some up to the fire station, thaw them out, and bring them back down. It can be a challenge.”


Except on the weekends, the tree stand is set up to use the honor system, which “works for the most part,” Amy says. “Most people are honest, and it all evens out. Some people put extra in, and some don’t. People’s generosity covers what doesn’t get paid for.”


In fact, some members of the community donate faithfully every year, including Harley Vance of Groton, VT, who purchases two trees, one for himself and one for his mother, Betty Oakes, also of Groton. “We like to support local youth organizations. Plus, they have a wide selection, the trees are well-trimmed, and the prices are more than reasonable.”


When asked about the future of the tree stand, Leslie explains that, in June, their granddaughter, Morgan, a member of the WHS Class of 2026 and this year’s recipient of the tree stand fundraiser, will graduate from high school. The Lackie family will need to decide which school group or community organization will inherit the tree stand project next. “We’d like it to continue to go towards fundraising, a scholarship, or benefit the community in some way. That is what it’s all about. The kids and the community.”

Christmas trees nestled in whiskey barrels outside Robert Lawrence Salon & Spa in Woodsville provide a festive glow during the holiday season. The Lackie Family provides more than 100 trees at cost to businesses in Woodsville and North Haverhill, NH, and Wells River, VT.

The Lackie Family tree stand located at Augie’s Rest Stop just south of Hatchland Dairy in North Haverhill provides a wide selection of balsam fir at an affordable price.

The Lackies have been delivering Christmas trees to the North Haverhill area for decades. They donate the trucking fees and provide the trees at cost to a local school group or organization for fundraising purposes. Pictured (L-R) are David “Peanut” Lackie, Leslie Lackie, Amy Crocker, and Todd Crocker.

After 31 years, Barbara's Red Stocking still helping others at Christmas time

By Bernie Marvin

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Packing cans, boxes, and fresh foods for distribution through the 32-year-old program Barbara's Red Stocking at the Fairlee Town Hall recently are, left to right, Bette Nunez, Ann Hoag, Paul Dalton, Georgette Wolf-Ludwig, Judy Franklin, and Sue Taylor. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin

Fairlee, VT – On a cold winter’s afternoon earlier this month, a group of volunteers gathered at the Fairlee Town Hall to begin their annual tasks of filling bags and cartons with food items that were, by this time, to have been distributed out to families in five different area towns that include Fairlee, Orford, West Fairlee, Vershire, and Piermont.
For the gathering of food items so that other residents in the selected towns will be feted with wholesome foods distributed by a wide variety of caring people, the Barbara's Red Stocking group has been using the handsome refurbished assembly room at the Fairlee Town Hall whenever their turn comes up to gather individual items for the food packages.
The assembly room is well-lit and occupies the entire top deck of the stately Town Hall, which was refurbished and renovated beginning in 2010. The structure that adorns Fairlee's Route 5 Main Street was built in 1913 after the original opera house burned. This building is where the business of the handsome Town of Fairlee is conducted and has been updated and honored by being placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Here, Barbara's Red Stocking team came together and jumped right into assembling the many parts that make this Christmas holiday food program so important to the communities on Santa's list to receive these generous food contributions.
A person who has been with the program since its second year is Town Clerk Georgette Wolf-Ludwig, who told The Bridge Weekly during the recent busy assembly session that volunteers last year delivered food items to 56 households, serving 101 adults and 72 children.

Those home visits totaled 10 in Orford, 10 in Piermont, 23 combined in West Fairlee and Vershire, and 15 in Fairlee. According to the folks I spoke with while they were assembling the food packages, the baskets included a ham or turkey, canned and dry foods, vegetables, fresh fruits, bread, butter, cheese, and cereals.
Also distributed were baskets with fruit, a ham, and other items to be delivered to 22 seniors in the communities who need "a little extra Christmas Cheer." The annual letter of donation appeal tells the 500 recipients that the group's generosity allows the program to also contribute to Senior Center Meals on Wheels programs, food shelves, and the Fairlee Thanksgiving Dinner Meals on Wheels program.

Red Stocking Committee members this year include Judy Franklin, Susan Taylor, Noel Walker, Georgette Wolf-Ludwig, Mary Davenport, Teri Hook, Tim Danen, Georgette Underhill, Delsie Hoyt, Tad Nunez, and Laura Taylor.
The program had a smooth opening in 1994, when, in the beginning, four churches came together and, at the behest of the late Barbara Mack, a local newswriter and community organizer, who managed the program, asked four area churches about coming together and making holiday food available to their communities' elderly and those in need.
An original member of the group who has helped with the program since its beginning was Paul Dalton, who retired from the activity last year. This year, he stopped by for a visit and said he missed the activity greatly, but he wanted to swing in and say hello to the gang, who were all hard at work filling orders distributed last weekend.
He said he helped set it up with the Mack family in Orford and was surprised at how quickly it took off and became a community deal that should be done every year to help folks out who need a little boost here and there.

Those churches in the group that have made Barbara’s Red Stocking possible include the Congregational Church in Orford, Our Lady Queen of Peace, the Fairlee Community Church, and Saint Martin's Episcopal Church.
Readers wanting to make a donation to this group may send it to: Barbara’s Red Stocking, Susan Taylor, 118 Indian Pond Road, Orford, NH 03777

A busy hub of Christmas box and basket activity recently at the Fairlee Town Hall shows members of Barbara's Red Stocking assembling food packages that were distributed last weekend to residents in Fairlee, Piermont, West Fairlee and Vershire. Seen left to right are Tad Nunez, Teri Hook, Noel Walker, Judy Franklin, Bette Nunez, Sue Taylor, Laura Taylor, Deb O’Brien, Mary Davenport, and Georgette Wolf-Ludwig. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin

The Cohase Chamber looks at the importance of housing and economic development.

By Bernie Marvin

In conversation during the Cohase Chamber of Commerce Economic Summit are, River Bend Technical Center Director Brian Emerson (left) and Two Rivers Ottauquechee Planning Council Executive Director Peter Gregory. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin

Bradford, VT – Once again, as has happened for many years in the past, the River Bend Career and Technical Center was filled with ideas, programs, municipal government leaders, and enthusiasm, as nearly three dozen business leaders, education officials, and government representatives came together for another Annual Cohase Region Economic Summit.
With the Cohase Chamber of Commerce established for its original four towns 25 years ago and then expanding to six cities, the Chamber serves those six towns through an expanding network of ideas and business promotions.

Those boundaries now include, within the Chamber's areas of influence, the Vermont towns of Newbury, Bradford, and Fairlee, and New Hampshire, with Haverhill, Piermont, and Orford.
The event that got underway Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM included a welcome and intro of those present, and a full dinner prepared by Chef Heidenreich and his Riverbend culinary arts program.

Then a report session from town representatives was held, plus a short presentation on the technical center by Director Brian Emerson, introduction of the need for a Community Development Concept by Vermont State Representative Monique Priestley, with Michelle Sponheimer and the development team, with a complete discussion of the needs for an Upper Valley Regional Community Development Corporation, and concluding with an ending wrap-up.
Peter Gregory, Executive Director of the Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission, summed up his comments on the evening's discussion by offering that "I think it was beneficial for the attendees to learn about other ways to enhance capacity to address housing and economic development issues," he provided The Bridge Weekly at the conclusion of the program.
He said, "I was pleased to see that regional organizations like Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation and Grafton Regional Development Corporation will offer guidance on how to complement, rather than duplicate efforts in the area. Two Rivers Ottauquechee Rivers Commission will also participate in discussions and offer assistance to support the needs of its communities," he said.

Haverhill Select Board member Ron Hurlburt attended the session with fellow Select Board member Joe Longacre, as they both did last year. They participated in the evening's discussions and the question-and-answer portion of the three-hour program.
Hurlburt told The Bridge Weekly at the conclusion of the program that it appeared Haverhill was very well received that evening, and there was much interest in them taking part and attending the program.
He said, “Along with the need for multiple unit housing, I like the idea of also partnering with developers to rehab and establish units in existing abandoned buildings.
The idea of a Regional Community Development Corporation seems reasonable and very beneficial. It would just have to be tuned to work for everyone and give people interest."

He added that the main obstacle he saw in Haverhill is all the "NIMBY's" (Not In My Back Yard) being afraid of large amounts of housing coming in. “That is where single large homes could first work. It is difficult to cut out good farmland and convert it to housing. The fellow, Noah Richard, mentioned he gets people from the community to invest in the project. They have guaranteed equity in the property and therefore would have much involvement and interest in the project as it moves along. There might be an avenue under tax takings that would allow developers to then acquire properties for redevelopment.”

Selectman Hurlburt said that everyone at the dinner seemed to be in agreement that there is indeed a housing crisis and something needs to change. “There were a wide range of people attending, being entrepreneurs, builders, selectmen, Chamber Commerce, news/media, finance, conservation to name a few. With that many types of knowledge and occupation, I'd like to think something could move forward.”

He said that “With my table much discussion was made on the new surge of vocational training verses college. People spending the money and time to get a degree are not coming out of college with the pay scale of someone successful in the trades, along with carrying a great deal of debt.”

“Much emphasis is also put on ‘workforce housing’ which is not low income but rather housing trying to meet median income earners to be able to stay in their local town and purchase a home. One builder noted that although he does this for a business, he does not want to just absorb profit off someone's back but also provide affordable type housing for local people.”

One of the major discussions at the meeting was on the subject of “Why the Upper Valley Region Needs a Regional Community Development Corporation.” As pointed out in a White Paper presentation on the subject, the area faces challenges common to many small, rural towns.

Rising housing costs, aging infrastructure, limited economic diversification, and it constrained municipal capacity made large scale community investment quite difficult. These challenges are compounded by small tax basis, limited staff resources and regional housing pressures that can price out residents wanting to come and live and/or work in the community.
A regional community development Corporation (CDC) can fill this gap. By combining local governments with professional management, AC/DC provides continuity, technical expertise, and the ability to coordinate initiatives across multiple sectors and municipal boundaries.
It can help communities throughout the upper Valley plan and implement projects that advance local goals while leveraging federal, state, and by state funding.

It is expected that this discussion of CDC will be ongoing and accompanied by other important topics such as how to better meet childcare needs in the community, a look at zoning and changes that could be made, and looking at a long list of bylaws and ordinances that all of our local communities must now work with.

Gathering for the annual Cohase Chamber of Commerce Economic Summit at the River Bend Career and Technical Center recently were, (L-R) Select Board members Ron Hurlburt and Joe Longacre with Chamber Board Member Gary Scruton. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin

Seen left to right as they talk about a long list of topics presented during the recent Cohase Chamber of Commerce Economic Summit are, Michelle Spohneimer (left) of Vermont ADAADPA and Vermont State Representative Monique Priestley. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin

Speaking and listening during the recent Cohase Chamber of Commerce Economic Summit in Bradford were, left to right, Joshua Smith, Owner/Publisher of The Bridge Weekly and Yankee Kingdom Radio, including WYKR Radio, Bradford Select Board Chair Meroa Benjamin, and Haverhill Select Board Member Ron Hurlburt. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin.

The new Haverhill Town Administrator began duty on December 1

By Bernie Marvin

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Haverhill, NH – After more than a year's search, the Haverhill Select Board has hired a Peacham, Vermont municipal administrator, Tom Galinat, to fill the job of Haverhill Town Administrator. The job had been filled by the Haverhill Select Board Chair, Rod O'Shana, on an interim basis.

The new Haverhill Town Administrator gained municipal government experience while serving the towns of Peacham and Johnson, Vermont. For those jobs, he was hired in September 2023 as the new Town Administrator for Johnson, Vermont. Before that, he had served as the Peacham Town Clerk and Assistant Town Clerk, all according to press reports from the Vermont News Citizen. Before that, he worked at Habitat for Humanity in southern New York.

The September 8, 2025, select board minutes indicate that select board member Ron Hurlburt reported there were four finalists for the position of Haverhill Town Administrator. Full background checks have been completed on each individual within the indicated minutes, with board interviews scheduled for early October 2025.

At the November 3, 2025, select board meeting, Galinat was introduced as the new Haverhill Town Administrator. Minutes of that meeting indicated he introduced himself and "described his background and expressed his excitement about filling the position." He will be paid an annual salary of $115,000 according to information provided by the Town of Haverhill.
The long, bumpy road to this latest appointment has been a rough one. The position of Haverhill Town Manager had been in place in Haverhill since being approved by annual town meeting voters in 1994, and was first filled by Glenn English, who traveled here from New Jersey to accept the position and then fill it for the next 25 years.

Upon his retirement, the town hired Jo Lacaillade, who served until she retired, and then hired Brigitte Codling from Cabot, Vermont, in 2019. She led an active town management program, expanding town government ranks and working closely with many town departments that would allow it.

This went on until she had a falling-out with some government-active residents who took their gripes to the annual 2024 March town meeting, persuading the town to vote down the town manager form of government by a 361 to 323 vote and replace it with the town administrator form of government.

Essentially this critical town meeting vote, which changed the profile of the job challenges from the town manager, to an administrative role that put the town jobs back under the control of the elected select board.


With that done, all the board needed was a viable candidate to fill the new town administrator position. The board looked no further than the corner office and, in short order, hired Codling, the former town manager, as the new town administrator in April 2024. The position ended for Ms. Codling two months later, when she handed in her resignation on June 14, 2024.
Besides O'Shana, the select board includes Joe Longacre, Theresa Paige, Ron Hurlburt, and Vickie Wyman.

Groton and the Great Depression

By Deborah Jurist

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GROTON - While doing research on the Page Chain Company, I found myself intrigued by what life was like in Groton during the Great Depression.
Sewell Page, owner of the Page Chain Company, died suddenly in 1934, leaving his wife Alice with 2 teenaged boys and one 3 year old girl named Marge. The boys, Russell and Ronald, decided to drop out of school and get jobs in order to provide for their Mother and little sister, thus preventing them from having to become dependents of the town. They were successful, Russell joined the Army Air Force at 16, and Ronald, just 14, began a long career as a successful farmer. His farm has become the central part of Newbury’s Four Corners Farm.
Source: Cindy Orr, Ryegate Postmistress and Sewell Page’s granddaughter

I asked myself the question, what did it mean for Alice Page and her baby to become dependents of the town?

Reading Groton town reports for the years 1931, through 1934, a picture began to form of what life during the Great Depression might have looked like.

We had an “Overseer of the Poor” who was elected at Town Meeting. Listed in the Reports, were the costs of services and goods provided to people who needed them. In other words, Groton citizens raised funds through the collection of taxes to provide for the poor, both those who lived in Groton, and for those who were listed as “Tramps”, transients who arrived by train. .

Many people boarded with families or individuals. People who took others into their homes were paid for this service by the taxpayers. Those who needed help were often in need for multiple years. There were sometimes children with no parents needing care, as well as the elderly, oftentimes people died during the time they were being cared for.

Groton paid for hundreds of gallons of milk from Blanchards, JK Whites, and EC Frost. Dozens of cords of wood came from individuals. Taxpayers paid for medical care, trips to the Cottage and Brightlook Hospitals, tobacco, telephone calls, clothes, a stove, moving expenses, legal advice, shoes, grave digging, manure, dental care, and glasses. The Overseer of the Poor was paid for a trip to St. Johnsbury to pick up government issued pork
One family appears over and over again. There seemed to be no father, and at first the mother received financial help for caring for her family. Then the Overseer of the Poor was paid for taking one child to New York, then for taking one to the Barre Sanatorium and eventually for taking the rest of the children “away”..

Tramps were “cared for” by individuals and the taxpayers footed the bill, oftentimes in groups. Once there was a charge for 50, once for 27. It looks like the cost for taking care of one tramp was $.75. The service provided was not defined.

In 1995 a 7th grade student, named Emily Dyer, wrote a paper called “Memories of the Depression”. She interviewed several people who had lived in Groton during the 1930s. Among those people were Norma Hosmer, 89 years old, Evelyn Frost Ricker, 75 years old, Margaret Blanchard Miller, Peggy Smith and Raymond Page, who had been an Overseer of the Poor.

Norma remembered eating lots of parsnips and potatoes, but her Mom also made sour cream cookies and cake with apple frosting. Evelyn Frost’s mother made grape sherbet. Margaret Miller’s Mom made donuts, pies and cakes once a week. Raymond Page, who raised 4 children during the Depression remembered hasty pudding, johnny cake, and milk toast. He mentioned that some people the town had supported, paid the funds back, and some of the transients worked on the roads for $.30 an hour.
In 1932 there were roughly 145 entries for payment to individuals, mostly local men, for work done on the roads.
In 1933 the Civil Works Administration, what we usually refer to as the Civilian Conservation Corps, brought 43 men to Groton who worked on the Westville School, the Hatch Brook Rd. and what they referred to as Ricker Rd.

Mrs. Blanche Miller, recalled the work of Harold Miller, who came from NY to work with the CCC Boys..
In Groton he became a stone mason and helped build fireplaces at Stillwater Campground, and the stone tower and steps to Owl’s Head, dragging the stones up the path by hand. Harold Miller and Margaret Blanchard married in 1935, they were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary the year Emily Dyer wrote her essay.

Local people were skeptical about how the CCC boys would fare in rural Groton. It turned out they did great. Alice Lord Goodine recalled that her husband Henry, the barber, would go to the CCC Camp once a week to give the boys haircuts and the young men often came into Groton, and spent money after they were paid.

In conclusion, there was a clear commitment to taking care of “our own” as well as those who came to town because they were homeless. Groton, being a farming town, probably fared better than many urban areas during the depression because food production was common.

As we face the new needs of our neighbors and those who land here without means, we have an opportunity to carry on the tradition set by Groton during the last century.

Care for the poor expenses. The cost of maintenance of local roads is listed for reference.

The American Revolution series by Ken Burns featured British Loyalist Col. John Peters of Bradford

By Bernie Marvin

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Colonel John Peters of the Queens Loyal Rangers was featured on the new Ken Burns series on the American Revolution. It was premiered last week with six, two-hour shows on Public Broadcasting System for New Hampshire and Vermont. Courtesy photo.

Bradford - The newest Ken Burns documentary is a six-part, 12-hour series on the American Revolutionary War. This television documentary was released to the public just last week and featured in the third section a Mooretown (now Bradford, Vermont) military man, British Colonel John Peters, and his family.
Colonel Peters hailed from Connecticut and settled in Piermont for several years, then moved across the Connecticut River to the town of Mooretown (later to become Bradford), Vermont. The town was established in May 1770 in New York before it became the State of Vermont. The town was known as Waitstown and Waits River Town before adopting its original name, Mooretown. That’s when Colonel Peters lived there. The name originated with Sir Henry Moore, the Royal Governor of New York.
According to Wikipedia, after the American Revolution, residents of Mooretown stated they no longer wanted the name to remind them of a royal governor, so they petitioned the Vermont legislature to rename the town Bradford in 1788.

The television story revealed that Peters, born in 1770 in Connecticut, was a Yale graduate and first settled in Piermont, then later moved to Mooretown on the banks of the Connecticut River, where he owned a considerable amount of land, a large home, several saw mills and grist mills, and a large farm.
He actually lived in New York at that time (it was not yet apportioned to Vermont) and was appointed Justice of the Peace, Colonel of the local militia, Judge of Probate, County Registrar, Clerk of Court, and Judge of the Court.

Because Colonel Peters was required to travel to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1774, from time to time, he would be mobbed by the “Liberty Boys” because of his continuing and intense loyalty to the crown prior to the Revolutionary War beginning on April 19, 1775. This, according to Richard M. Ketchum's book “Saratoga, Turning Point of America’s Revolutionary War.”

Colonel Peters knew after these experiences that the American countryside would not be satisfied with anything short of total independence from England. On his way back from Philadelphia to Mooretown, another gang threatened to kill him as “an enemy.”
Peters back in his hometown was hated and abused by his neighbors and even his own father turned against him. Peters got a mission to go to Canada with American militia members, where he acted as a double agent, spying on both sides.

Peters was branded as an outlaw; his wife and eight children had been turned out of their home and sent off in a sleigh with only one bed to Ticonderoga, 140 miles through the woods, the snow, and bad roads. The group arrived “more dead than alive.”
The family group was then sent on their way to Canada; they became lost, were discovered by a passing British ship, and were transported to St. John’s, Canada. By that time, Colonel Peters was reunited with his family and taken to Montréal. He was ready to seek revenge, and that month, he began to recruit men for a regiment approved by British General John Burgoyne, who named his unit the Queen's Loyal Rangers.

Later in the war, Colonel Peters returned to Vermont, this time to join the fight with his Queen’s Loyal Rangers at the Battle of Bennington, where the British were soundly defeated. He left the Revolution and returned to England with his family.

Community Rallies To Revitalize The Groton Rail Trail

By Trish Griswold

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Members of the Buckaroos of 302 Snowmobile Club repaired the Stephen Hatch Memorial Bridge, providing safe, dependable snowmobile access to the Cross Vermont Trail.

GROTON - Neighbors helping neighbors has been a long-standing tradition in the small, rural community of Groton, VT, and newly-elected Selectman Mike Nahmias, who moved to the area in 2017 and has served as Planning Board Chair for several years, has had the privilege of experiencing first-hand the power of many hands making light work for the Town.

“Groton has got a lot of heart,” remarks Nahmias, who estimates that, over the last 50+ years, 250 of the town’s 950 citizens have been directly involved in helping Groton’s Gateway Project, a grass roots economic growth initiative, come to fruition. The intent of the Gateway Project was to upgrade Groton’s portion of the Cross Vermont Trail (CVT), a four-season, multi-use trail network that spans the State of Vermont, east to west from the Connecticut River at the Vermont/New Hampshire border in Wells River to the shores of Lake Champlain in Burlington. The CVT follows the railbed in Groton for 10 miles, the longest segment of the CVT in any town.

“Groton is located at the highest elevation on the trail, the summit, and we are a destination for trail users as we have campgrounds, lakes, ponds, hiking trails, and the forest,” explains Nahmias. “I see us as one of the anchor communities along the trail. Having the new surface in both the town and the forest, we really have the best segment at this time along the trail.”

The Gateway Project has been a collaborative effort, states Nahmias, who has spearheaded much of the Project in recent years and shares a common vision for the future of Groton with Gary Lamberton from the Buckaroos of 302 Snowmobile Club, Groton Recreation Commission’s Mike Gaiss, and Greg Western, Executive Director of the Cross Vermont Trail Association (CVTA). “This project was the genesis of several like-minded, hardworking Groton residents who were in the right place at the right time.”

Nahmias also credits previous Groton Selectboards, Planning Commissions, and other Town Officers for “their forethought in acquiring the railbed from the State of Vermont when it was offered to the Town in the 1980s, for putting an ordinance in place to preserve the railbed as a recreational property with limited access for vehicles, and for drafting a Town Plan with goals and strategies that laid the groundwork for the Town to continue to maintain and improve the trail and embrace its presence as an economic driver for town businesses.”

Funding for the Gateway Project was made possible through a $225,000 grant from the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC), a state-run program managed by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD). One of VOREC’s primary goals is to “strengthen connections between Vermont’s outdoor recreation resources and the benefits that come from participation in outdoor recreation.”

According to Nahmias, the Gateway Project is multi-faceted with many different segments. One portion of the project was to regrade sections of the existing railbed, install and replace eight culverts along the railbed, and install two barrier gates. A landslide in 2023 and a major flood in 2024 caused delays to this portion of the project, but townsfolk and volunteers have persevered despite these challenges.

Another key component of the Gateway Project was to build a 60’ by 100’ all-season parking area near the Village Center (at the old stump dump) and a trailhead with 10 parking spaces, making the CVT fully accessible to snowmobilers, bikers, snowshoers, cross country skiers, horseback riders, walkers, runners, dog sledders, etc. Crucial to the project was acquisition of the lower Groton hydroelectric power station property, a 3-acre parcel of land formerly owned by Green Mountain Power, and the development of a master plan for the proposed 12-acre Groton Gateway Park, which includes the former stump dump and gravel pit as well as retention of its current emergency management use.

Signage and wayfinding for the project were completed in collaboration with the CVTA. This included the design and installation of 50 directional signs on the railbed trail, 6 wayfinding signs, one sign on the road, 2 kiosks, 12 winter trail maps, and a digital map of the railbed trail for the Town’s website. Separate from the grant, Nahmais says, the Buckaroos of 302, whom he refers to as “the unsung heroes of the project,” also repaired the Stephen Hatch Memorial Bridge. These repairs have improved trail accessibility for snowmobilers in the winter months and helped get bikers off Route 302 and onto the trail, increasing safety for everyone.

According to CVTA Board Chair Mike Thomas, the hope is that the newly revitalized rail trail will provide an inviting, safe recreational opportunity for everyone to enjoy the benefits of nature and an active lifestyle. “The Park will be a draw for people to the area, and locals can take advantage of it too with access to the Village of Groton. It ties the community together.”

Former Selectboard Member Deb Jurist is one of many Groton residents who have utilized the CVT for years. “I have been riding my bike on the railroad bed since 1984 when I bought the Stoneshed in Ryegate and built my business, Mountain Meadows Pottery. I have seen a lot of changes over the years for sure. But it still holds true that there is always something to discover on the railroad bed. It might be a green heron, the sound of croakers in the spring, or sumac with leaves in green, yellow and red. The railroad bed never disappoints.”

The revitalized trail, Jurists says, makes for a smoother ride. She recently shared that, decades ago, she and her then 3-year-old daughter nicknamed one of the biggest puddles on the old trail “Sinker.” Thankfully, “Sinker” and the other puddles are gone. “[The railroad bed] is vastly easier to ride on now that it has been upgraded, which makes it much more accessible to me at 75 years old.”

Many local businesses, Vermont-based companies, and community volunteers, including: Berry’s Forest Products, Blue Mountain Excavation, Oliver Landworks, Rise and Run Timber Frames, Robco, SE Group and the Buckaroos of 302, have been instrumental in bringing the Gateway Project to life. “Over 1000 volunteer hours were put into this project,” Nahmias says, “and we couldn’t have done this work without them.”

More information about the CVT, including up-to-date trail maps, are available online at https://crossvermont.org/. Additional information is available on the Groton, VT, website at https://grotonvt.com/.

Repairs to the Stephen Hatch Memorial Bridge have increased safety for nature goers by getting bicycle traffic off the roadway and onto the Cross Vermont Trail.

The “before” picture on the left shows the surface of Groton’s rail trail (between the Village and Pine Mountain) prior to recent changes. The “after” picture on the right shows the revitalized trail roughly one mile east, closer to Pine Mountain.

The newly designed Buckaroos of 302 Snowmobile Club trail map showcases snowmobile trails in Groton as well as other noteworthy landmarks and reference points.

Alumni Hall Antique Show For Benefit Of Wentworth-Brown House

By Bernie Marvin

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Retired Reverend Canon David Carlson, at right center, shows friends an interesting item he found while browsing the recent Antiques Show at Alumni Hall in Haverhill Corner. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin.

Haverhill Corner, NH The second Annual Antique Show held at the Alumni Hall in Haverhill Corner came together as a benefit for the nearby Wentworth-Brown House restoration project.
The 15 dealers from New Hampshire and Vermont, who gathered inside the spacious hall located on Court Street, brought a wide variety of antiques and collectibles, including baskets, books, ceramics, coins, crystal, glass, metal, and tinware, signs, small furniture, vintage linens, and considerably more.
The show, which was open to the public from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, was well attended. There were many new faces and dealers involved, as the event had a large crowd last year, according to Court Street Board Vice President Jeff Mazullo. He said that he had to turn away some vendors due to a lack of floor space to accommodate all who wanted to be part of the Court Street Arts show.

He said events such as the antiques show are helping Court Street Arts "get back into the swing of things," after the Covid time and the board is planning some exciting programs for the future. He said the "great cooperation" shown by other organizations in Haverhill Corner, such as the Haverhill Library Association, the Historical Society, and the participation in the Haverhill History Day, was superb.

For the Antiques Show event, tables and display areas were set up throughout Alumni Hall's floor space, and business was brisk because of the variety of small items that were brought in and displayed for sale. Proceeds from the sale of foods and refreshments, plus vendor display fees, were all given over to the benefit of the nearby Wentworth-Brown House, which is a mammoth Court Street Arts historic renovation project located on the south lawn of the Haverhill Common.

Court Street Arts Board President Pat Buchanan told The Bridge Weekly that the progress on the renovations at Wentworth-Brown included the installation of heat and water, and they hope to begin using the building for other programs soon.

She said the painters are ready to do their work on various rooms, proceeding one step at a time, while, Buchanan said, they decide how each area will be utilized for public programming. She said arrangements are being worked on with a well-known local musical group to feature them at the Wentworth-Brown House, which will be something different for the type of programs to be held at the Wentworth-Brown House.

She said that music practice rooms may be set up, as a generous donor has provided full-size electric keyboards. Buchanan said they are also exploring ways to utilize the beautiful grounds surrounding the Wentworth-Brown House. She said the board has received many wonderful ideas on ways to feature the facility,) including using the yard for concerts.
She said that now that the grant monies available for projects like what they are doing with the Wentworth-Brown House have pretty much dried up, they are looking forward to the annual appeal as an important fund-raising program.

Frank Stiegler, at left, speaks with antique dealers who were displaying at the recent Antiques Show at Alumni Hall in Haverhill Corner. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin.

Court Street Arts President Pat Buchanan at right and Vice President Jeff Mazullo discuss the recent Antiques Show held at Alumni Hall in Haverhill Corner. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin

Antiques-laden tables and booths were popular gathering places during the recent Antiques Show at Alumni Hall. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin.