Barnstead Parks and Recreation presents its third annual Trunk or Treat event on Saturday, October 25, 2014 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm in the parking lot at Barnstead Elementary School.  This is a free event for all little ones and school aged children through grade four.  Parking begins at 3:30 pm.  Starting at 4:00 pm, kids can enjoy games and activities in the safety zone while vehicles are parking and setting up.  “Trunk” or treating will follow the costume contest and games and activities hour, at approximately 5:00 pm.  Parks and Rec will gladly accept donations of candy from the community.  Finally, we are in need of volunteers to assist with parking and concessions.  Please contact us on Facebook or at [email protected] to volunteer, arrange for donations or with any questions.  Happy Halloween!

The Barnstead Historical Society will be meeting at the Barnstead Town Hall on October 23, 2014 at 6 pm for a pot luck supper followed by a meeting at 7 pm. There will be election of officers at this time. Please come and join us to keep the history in Barnstead alive, all are welcome.

Early Head Start is accepting applications for children under the age of 3 and for prenatal women who would like to participate in the program.  Fun  activities, information, support, and learning experiences are provided through  home visiting and playgroups. It is free for income eligible families. For  further information and to jump start your child’s learning, please call 435-6611.

It’s Fair Time!

Be sure to put the Pumpkin ‘n’ Pine Fair at the top of your “to do” list on Saturday, November 1 between 9 AM and 2 PM.  Set your GPS for the Congregational Church of North Barnstead at 504 North Barnstead Road in Center Barnstead.  Drop by our Schoolhouse Café for a snack or lunch when you take a break from your shopping spree.

There will be a smorgasbord of irresistible gifts to choose from: locally crafted articles; homemade goodies from the Bakery; handcrafted items from Ghana; unique collectibles; jewelry; crafts; seasonal decorations; and more.

The main feature is the Silent Auction with an array of unusual holiday gift ideas including an evening’s entertainment by Barnstead’s own Chris Bonoli, a $500 scholarship to the Empire School of Beauty for a new student, a circa 1820 handhewn church pew, and a catered dinner for eight chosen from chef Tom Normandin’s scrumptious-sounding menu.  High bidders will be announced promptly at 2 PM.

Don’t forget to buy a few raffle tickets for the handmade queen-sized sampler quilt (the winner will be drawn on December 14 in time for Christmas) and enter your name for the door prize to be announced at the end of the day.  You will truly find something for everyone at this year’s Pumpkin ‘n’ Pine Fair.

Oscar Foss Memorial Library News

Children’s Candy Corn Jar

Any child between the ages of 3-18years of age who visits the library from now through October 31st can put in a ‘guesstimate’ on the number of candy corns in our jar at the circulation desk. The individual who comes closest to the actual number inside will win a special prize along with the jar full of yummy candy! So come on in and give it your best guess and while you’re here you can check out some Halloween books and what’s new too.

Children’s Programs

Just a reminder that our Toddler Time & Story Hour programs are following a 6 week session schedule this year. Our schedule is posted on our website (oscarfoss.org) or you can pick up a copy at the library. At this time we are on our 2 week break but Toddler Time will begin again on 10/28 at 10:30am & Story Hour will begin again on 10/29 at 10am. On Wed. 10/29 we will be having our annual “Halloween Party & Parade” at the Library during Story Hour. All children are welcome to attend in their costumes to listen to stories and ‘Trick-or-Treat’ in the library. Parents are asked to bring candy for the trick-or-treating and/or a snack for the party if possible. 

Please call the library (269-3900) or visit our website (oscarfoss.org) for more information about these or any of our other programs or events. There is always something happening at the Oscar Foss Memorial Library! Library Hours are: Monday; 2pm-8pm, Tuesday & Wednesday; 10am-5pm, Thursday; 5pm-8pm, Friday; 2pm-5pm, Saturday; 9am-Noon.   

Barnstead Parks And Recreation Basketball

On October 16, 2014, Barnstead Parks & Recreation will begin accepting registrations for the 2014-2015 basketball program for children in Kindergarten through grade 6. 

You may register online at our website, barnsteadrec.org/basketball, or by printing out a registration and waiver forms and delivering the signed originals along with payment to the white BPR lock box located just outside the entrance to Town Hall.

If registering on line, please deliver payment and the signed waiver to the lockbox.  Please be sure that payments are securely attached to registration forms, and that the player’s name(s) are written on the check’s memo line.

Registrations are no longer accepted inside by Town Hall staff. Fees are $35.00 per player, with a cap of $70.00 per family. 

In order to form teams, order uniforms and meet league requirements, all players must be registered no later than November 14.  Payment and completed registration forms and signed waivers must all be received prior to November 14 in order to be considered registered.  Applications received after that date will be waitlisted and subject to a $10.00 late fee if placement on a team is possible. 

Refunds will be issued to players who make the BES school teams, provided notice is given promptly to BPR (please visit our website to submit a refund request form).  We are also seeking volunteers to serve as coaches and assistant coaches for all levels. 

Please contact [email protected] if you are interesting in coaching.  To thank our volunteers, coaches’ children play for free.  As always, thank you for your support of our Parks and Rec programs and volunteers.  We look forward to a great season.

OHRV Safety Course/Ham & Bean Dinner

The Suncook Valley Sno-Riders will be conducting a snowmobile safety class on Saturday, November 15, 2014 from 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Barnstead Parade Fire Station, 305 Parade Road, Barnstead, NH. You must be 12 years old (or older) by the end of the riding season to enroll. Parents are encouraged to attend the class, but not mandatory. The day of the class, parents must come inside to sign their child up at 7:30 a.m. before class begins at 8:00 a.m. Lunch will be provided. To enroll, call Joe Hough at 269-2270. Please don’t delay as space is limited.

In the evening of the 15th, the club will be hosting a Ham and Bean Supper that will also be at the Barnstead Parade Fire Station. Please check our website at www.suncookvalleysnoriders.com or watch for more information to follow.

Letter To The Editor

Ask yourself these questions.

Are you better off financially than you were six years ago? 

Are you happier with your health plan than you were six years ago? 

Do you feel safer than you did six years ago? 

If, like me, the answer to all of these questions is no - then vote Republica on November 4th.

Janet Allen

Ctr. Barnstead

Letter To The Editor

Comtois has represented the community

To the editor;

After reading the letters of the past few weeks it seems there is a bit of misinformation being printed about Rep. Guy Comtois record.  As a Constitutionalist I am always amused by those who proclaim to love the constitution, yet want bigger and bigger government.  I agree with Ms. Allison who quotes “all politics is local.”  More legislation, more regulation, more control to Concord and Washington, enough I say, let’s keep local control and Representative Comtois agrees. 

I am tired of the distortion and the negative attack ads in today’s political environment.  Representative Comtois has voted for a number of things that other writers have spun into negatively. Comtois voted for local control of kindergarten.  We discussed for many years kindergarten, at our local school district meeting, and implemented it at our own choosing in the early 90’s, without Concord telling us what was right and what was wrong.  Comtois has voted for State budgets that have local control of Medicaid budgets, without Washington telling us how much we had to spend.  Comtois voted for an individual’s right to select whether or not they wanted to do business with a particular lender, without Concord telling us, as individuals, that our options are limited.  The list goes on and on of what Comtois has voted for, yet the big government folks spin it as obstructionist.

I have had many conversations with Representative Comtois and his priority is supporting families through self-governance and local control.  He understands that decisions and choices can be much better evaluated and made by the individual, family, and local community.  Sending your personal liberties and money to Concord will not fix anything.  Please join me on November 4th  by voting to keep our voices heard locally on what is best for Barnstead, and vote for Guy Comtois.

Will Bartels

Center Barnstead

Letter To The Editor

There has been a lot of negative press lately about my husband, Guy Comtois.  If I didn’t know him, listening to the partisan rhetoric might be a problem.  But you see, I have known my husband for over 25 years, and he is a man of principle.  He isn’t going to tell you what you want to hear, he is going to tell the facts.

I have asked him about some of his votes, because of headlines, and he tells me that one little sound bite does not tell the whole story.  On the surface the legislation may often sound good, however hours and hours of testimony and debate have gone into these bills, and it is all in the details. At times he has voted for legislation, only later to vote against it because the original intent had been changed. 

That being said, what the sound bites and editorials don’t tell you, is the countless hours he spends with his constituents.  Some call, stop by the farm, and some mail.   He has stepped up to the plate on several occasions to help those who had nowhere else to turn.  You see, being a representative is much more than a voting record, it is being there for you, our neighbor, to answer a question, or getting help when needed.  I hope you will consider voting for my husband Representative Guy Comtois on November 4th, the one with the purple signs.

Thank you for your time,