Current items of interest for Sandwich residents and visitors.

A list of business and organizations' responses to the current situation can be found on the page called Sandwich Responds. Events in the near future can be found on This Week.

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44th Annual Sandwich Christmas in the Village
Julie Deak writes: We are excited to announce that 44th Annual Sandwich Christmas in the Village will be held the first weekend in December. It will be smaller, and different this year, but we think we have found a way to continue the tradition, while keeping our customers and participants as safe as possible. There will be no large sales venues or events.  Instead there will be self-organized smaller groups or individual physical sale locations with required masks and social distancing for those showing and attending.

And NEW this year - "virtual" participants on the NEW Christmas in the Village website, with coordinated information on the Christmas in the Village Facebook page and updates on the Sandwich Board and Tamworth Exchange. To see the beginning of our new website, with lots more information to be posted as it comes in, see http://sandwichchristmasinthevillage.com/ If you have additional information about other events that we can include on our website or for press releases, please send them to Diane Johnson sandwichnews@hotmail.com

If you are interested in participating, you'll find all the information you need  in the Application Form, attached in 2 formats: PDF and Microsoft Word.  Applications should be submitted as soon as possible. For help or questions about your application and website listing, feel free to call Julie at 603-707-0140 or email juliedeak.nh@gmail.com

Winter is Coming! Photo by Janina Lamb

Thanksgiving Baskets
The Outreach Team of the Community Church of Sandwich will be collecting nonperishable items for Thanksgiving Baskets this year. Please bring your items and leave them downstairs in the Methodist Meetinghouse.  Items that would go with a traditional Thanksgiving meal would be appreciated. Monetary donations also accepted for purchasing food. St. Andrews will be providing six turkeys.

If you would like to make a monetary donation, please write "Thanksgiving Baskets" in the memo line of your check and mail it to Community Church of Sandwich, PO Box 267, Center Sandwich, NH 03227. Let's make a neighbor's Thanksgiving extra special!

Rural Cemetery Clean-up
Jenny Vierus writes: The trustees of the Rural Cemetery of Center Sandwich (behind the Baptist Church) will be cleaning up the cemetery in preparation for closing the cemetery for the winter. The veteran’s flags will be removed (to be replaced in the spring). All artificial flowers and any items that could freeze and break apart over the winter such as containers or items that hold water/moisture should be removed. Please pick up any of these items before December 1 if you want to keep theIf you have any questions or concerns, please email Ruralcemcsnh@gmail.com (Note – usually the cemetery closing date is November 15.)

Boat Registrations – Renewal Notices
Many of you may have received renewal boat notices directly from the State of New Hampshire if you had a boat registered during 2020.  The Town Clerk is an authorized Boat Agent in accordance with rules of the Department of Safety and can process these renewals at Town Hall after January 1, 2021.

Be advised that when you complete your boat registration in Sandwich, the town fees collected STAY IN SANDWICH.  When you mail the renewal forms directly to the State of New Hampshire the state keeps the town portion of your registration, and it is not credited to the Town.

Please note you are NOT required to be a resident of Sandwich to register your boat at the Town Clerk’s office. In accordance with RSA 270-E:5, II (c) an additional $5 will be collected for each registration processed as an authorized agent. Regards, Alison Gage, Town Clerk/Tax Collector Town of Sandwich 603-284-7113

Water Sample Results from the Public Spring
Hi All, The latest bacteria test from Elliott Spring showed less than allowable amount of bacteria.  This means the water tested safe for consumption. This water will be tested periodically throughout the year to monitor bacteria presence. We are very pleased with the results from this test, and if you see Skip Hoag, Jon Peaslee, or Ty Bryant, please thank them for their work on this project. We appreciate the patience and support of the community during this project. The analysis on 11/11 showed the water was safe for consumption; however, it is possible that bacteria contamination occurs again.  We hope folks should collect and consume the water at their own risk.  We will update the board each time we take a sample. 

And a thank you to all of our community for your patience and interest in this project.  We are hopeful that our efforts will control the bacteria and keep the water clean for years to come.  However, bacteria infiltration is possible and our monitoring can only go so far, so please use this Spring with the understanding that bacteria presence is possible at all times. Thanks, Ole Anderson, Sandwich Parks and Recreation

Fire Permits
Jim Mykland, Sandwich Forest Fire Warden writes: The State has lifted its burning ban as of  last week. Fire Permits are again available on-line for Catagory 3 fires (Brush piles). Please use caution and common sense. Remember,  just because you can burn doesn't mean you should burn. Unless you have a brush pile emergency (i.e. the brush pile is actively threatening you and your family) please think about waiting until snow flies.

Because of the current shut downs and to keep our few front line firefighters and Town Staff as safe as possible, please get your permits on-line. Go to nhdflweb.sovsportsnet.net or just Google "nh fire permits" and go to the page for the on-line permit. Read all the information and fill out the form. No matter where you get your mail delivered, please fill in Sandwich when it asks for the town or city and 03227 for the zipcode. I think this will keep the processors happier. The on-line permit will cost you $3.00. Please do not go the the Town Hall or Ben Adriance's house, or stop by the fire station.

If for whatever reason you feel unable to get a permit on line call Sandwich Forest Fire Warden Jim Mykland at 603-284-6450 or 603-387-7104 or call the Fire Station at 603-284-6264 to see if someone is there. Leave a message with a call back number and I or Chief Call will write out a permit and leave it to be signed in the small white letterbox on the Moultonborough side of the Central Fire Station by the side door. Please read it and sign it and take the WHITE copy and leave the yellow copy in the box. This might take a day or two so plan ahead. If you want a permit, don't wait until the last minute.

All the usual rules apply: nothing bigger than 5 inches, no painted or treated wood, nothing but wood, no building materials, etc., only burn between 5pm and 9am. For seasonal camp fires or cooking fires call me at the above numbers.

Woodshare Help Needed
Mark Longley writes: You may have noticed that we have been slowly moving the mountain of firewood into long stacks at the Sandwich Woodshare depot.  But our progress has been too slow and we could use some help.  Kindly consider volunteering for a two-hour stacking session at a time/place of your choosing. Please contact me via email or phone to set up a mutually convenient schedule. Thank you. Mark Longley, Woodshare Coordinator marklongley@sbcglobal.net (603) 284-6294 home (603) 707-2046 cell

Master Plan Energy Writing Committee
The Master Plan Energy Chapter Writing Committee, a subcommittee of the Planning Board, will meet every Tuesday and Thursday starting September 7th, at 9am via zoom to work on the Energy Chapter of the Sandwich Master Plan.  Please email khthorndike@gmail.com if you wish to attend.

Sandwich Sidehillers Winter Trails Club
Anyone interested in winter sports (snowmobiling, XC skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding) is invited to get involved in maintaining our winter trails in Sandwich. The Sandwich Sidehillers Winter Trails Club would like to hear from you.
Please call 284-7208 or email Ross Currier at sidehillers@gmail.com

Knit, Pray, Crochet
Pastor Deb has felt led to offer a Prayer Shawl Ministry at the Community Church of Sandwich. The group will meet once a month, the fourth Thursday at 1 pm in the Fellowship Hall of the Baptist Meeting House. The day and time and place can be flexible once we get a small group established. Everyone is welcome. Safe social distancing and masks are the norm these days.

This ministry is based upon prayer…praying for a person while knitting or crocheting. Sometimes we know who we are making the prayer shawl or prayer blanket for and so prayers are specific for that person; however, many times shawls and blankets are created without knowing who they will go to and so we pray for God’s blessing, peace and healing for the person who will be receiving this shawl or blanket.

Since Pastor Deb is just starting the group, there is not yet a supply of blankets and shawls made; however, the church would be happy to take names and prayer concerns for people and get a blanket or shawl to them as soon as possible. Shawls and blankets will be blessed in worship and then distributed. They can also be mailed after the blessing.

There are several ways you can participate in this ministry: Join us in knitting or crocheting. Purchase yarn for the ministry, or donate money for yarn. Provide Pastor Deb (603-284-6151,  570-269-2000) with names of people to lift up in prayer and be recipients of a shawl
or blanket. Please note: Prayer requests can be kept confidential and not lifted up by name or identifying circumstance. Please pray for this ministry.

Sandwich Historical Society Membership Renewals:
In an effort to be efficient and save costs, renewal notices will come by email.  We will continue to  mail renewal notices to those who have not shared their email address.  If you know your membership expiration date, please feel free to mail your renewal requests or use Paypal on our website to renew.  Thank you!  We are grateful for your continued support! Best, SHS Staff

Quarantine Stories
The Sandwich Historical Society would like your quarantine stories, pictures, or short videos. What have you been doing while at home?  How has your life changed?  THE SHS would like to record this for future generations. Please send any contributions to suehamgreene@gmail.com. Thank you for contributing!

Forbes Housing Project
Construction work on the erection of the Forbes House, opposite the Sandwich Grange Hall, has begun.  The Quimby Trustees request that the public not interrupt the construction crew during normal working hours. In the event that someone needs to contact a member of the Bean construction crew, we request you do so after working hours. For curiosity seekers, a sign has been posted on site explaining the project and the future of the building.
Thank you, Quimby Trustees, Peter Pohl, Kirke Read, Geoff Burrows.

Forbes Housing Project under construction, photo by Jude Davis

The Forbes House is coming right along! Photo by Janina Lamb

Sandwich Transfer and Recycling Center
Effective immediately glass is once again able to be recycled at the transfer station. Waste Management who has the contract for single stream recycling and trash management has made this change. Glass now goes into the single stream recycling dumpster.

Transfer Station operating hours are Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday 8-4 and Sunday 12-4.  Masks/cloth face coverings are required. In an effort to keep social distance and minimize time at the Transfer Station, only one car at a time came move up to the dumpster and then unload quickly and proceed promptly. Household Trash and Recyclables will be accepted. The Swap Shop is closed. Residents are encouraged to visit on Wednesday or Friday to reduce traffic on the weekend. 

The Sandwich Transfer Station is only accepting a limited amount of homeowner construction debris. Please talk to the attendant for more information., the Road Agent did confirm with North Country Recycling in Tamworth that they will take it.  They have scales and will charge $115. per ton. Their hours:  Monday - Friday, 8:00 am. to 4:00 pm and Saturday, 8:00 am. - 1:00 pm

The Transfer Station has experienced an increase in contaminated recycling over the past few weeks that have prevented our contracted recycling partner from accepting our recyclables. In addition, the previously acceptable level of contamination has been reduced and we are now in need of 100% compliance. Please remember to rinse your recyclables to ensure they are processed!

A clothing & shoe recycling container is located in the same location as the Planet Aid box (Planet Aid has since gone out of business).  If you have any questions, please ask one of the Attendants!

Letter From Camp Hale
Dear Sandwich friends and neighbors, firstly, I hope you and your families are healthy and happy during this unprecedented summer.  We miss you.
 
As you know, our goal this summer was to welcome you into the transformed Camp Hale that we all worked so hard to create for our campers and their families!  Unfortunately, we were struck by the impacts of the COVID-19 virus and had to close our Boston site in mid-march and cancel Camp Hale for the 2020 summer season in May. This has been an incredibly painful and difficult decision, and one that we hoped we would never have to make. Although we cannot serve our children on Squam this summer, I am excited to say that we are working even harder to partner with their families to offset the traumatic effects of this pandemic.
 
During the shutdown, we were able to identify that several of our families who live below the poverty line were most affected by unemployment and food insecurity. At that point, we knew we had to re-imagine our services to help them during this time of need. We pivoted our programs to connect remotely with families, launch a mini-grant program to help cover essential expenses, and create a food delivery program to distribute healthy groceries. Please check out www.uses.org for more about our neighbor2neighbor COVID-19 response!
 
If you would like to support the children and families most impacted by this crisis, please email me (jcox@uses.org) to find out ways to learn more.  Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to you joining us in keeping families safe and supported through this crisis. CAMP HALE! WHOO YAH!
Peace and Love,
Jerrell Cox Vice President of Development and External Relations
United South End Settlements Uniting Community to Strengthen Families

BeBop Lab Studies Ticks
Susan Wiley writes: A non-profit group was recently formed to gather data and study ticks.  The only organization in NH that tracks ticks and tick-borne diseases is BeBop labs.  They are now seeking the help of citizen scientists.  Dr. Kaitlyn Morse has researched ticks for years. Morse states that with the changing climate it is now a necessity to continually track our risk of tick-borne diseases especially in the northern and underserved state of New Hampshire. Maps and data are available on the website. There is a whole lot to learn and lots of opportunity to assist with this project.  Check it out - https://www.bebop-labs.com/ 

Photo by J. Shute

Face Masks
From Dan Peaslee: Elaine and I have set up a little assembly line and we’re producing face masks. We have provided close to one hundred masks to organizations and healthcare groups. We now are offering to individuals and families. We are donating when it is needed and if someone wants to pay we are asking $10.00. We can be reached at the email above or elaine@rnpeasleeandsons.com, dan@rnpeasleeandsons.com

Sandwich Climate Crisis Coalition
The Sandwich Climate Crisis Coalition (SCCC) are an ad-hoc group of more than 60 concerned citizens and part of a growing movement of towns in New Hampshire who are responding to the Climate Crisis with a commitment to promote energy and environmental conservation and use of alternative renewable resources. More than 67 New Hampshire towns have either passed or are working on climate warrant articles.

The key message: The more research we do, the more evident it becomes that our goal of 100% reliance on renewable sources of electricity by 2030 and for all other energy needs, including heating and transportation, by 2050 in the town of Sandwich will be very doable.

We welcome all concerned and interested Sandwich residents and other towns to join our Coalition with Communication, Education, Legislative, Conservation, and Solar committees to choose from. Please email marklongley@sbcglobal.net if you would like to receive SCCC emails and/or join our membership. Visit our website: just google Sandwich Climate.org.

After-hours DROP BOX for the Town Clerk/Tax Collector
There is a new after-hours DROP BOX located at the back entrance to Town Hall.  If leaving a payment, kindly include the bottom portion of your tax bill and a self-addressed stamped envelope if you would like a receipt mailed to you. You can also visit our website:  www.sandwichnh.org.   Scroll down to Tax Payment Kiosk to view/print your receipt. The Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s Office will maintain regular business hours on Tuesday and Thursday, processing all transactions (Motor Vehicle Renewals, Vital Records, etc. in addition to Tax payments).

Sandwich Fund for Children and Youth
Sandwich Residents - 'Tis the time of year to get your application for programs for the school year (Sept.-June).  Business is done via PO Box 95 03227.  The Fund provides subsidy for Sandwich children, youth, and young adults under the age of 26 to participate in approved programs, providing enrichment, recreation, camp programs, education, driver ed and licensed child care programs.  Applications are accepted throughout the year.  There are two  funding cycles (school year and summer).  Applicants may apply twice a year for an award up to $500 per child.  SFCY does not pay back bills.  Applications are available at Sandwich Town Hall, Sandwich Recreation Program, Sandwich Central School, Inter-lakes Junior and Senior High Schools, and  licensed child care providers. This fund is supported by the Alfred Quimby Fund in partnership with the Trustees of Trust Funds for the Town of Sandwich. Susan Wiley

Broadband Advisory Committee
Julie Dolan writes: Our Broadband Committee found from our Listening Sessions that Sandwich has so many citizens who want the peaceful beauty of our Town, but also have to work, much of which is now by Internet.  There are publishers, researchers, health care providers, business owners and leaders, editors, journalists and employees who work for companies that use telecommuting.... very few of them have Internet service up to the challenge of allowing transfer of large amounts of data or video conferencing. Our own Fire and Police departments and Town offices continually have more work that needs to be done electronically, and have been hindered by slow Internet.  They, at least, have access to higher speeds since they are physically closer to the phone company central office on Squam Lake Rd.

We are working hard to research the issue, explore our options and learn about potential Broadband providers.  We are also actively involved with the Carroll County Broadband initiative, which includes all Towns in our county.  From our research, we have learned that this a huge problem for all of rural America, and funding is starting to flow to connect these areas.  Our committee meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 6 - 8 PM at Town Hall, if anyone would like to attend.  There is also a Committee page on the Town website that has information and minutes from our meetings.  We have an email address:  Sandwich.Broadband@gmail.com if you would like to send us an email. You can also snail mail our committee at the Town address, which is PO Box 194, C. Sandwich, NH, 03227, or call Town Hall at 284-7701 and ask for a committee member to call you back.

We will be posting a more comprehensive summary of the Listening Sessions on the BAC page on the Town of Sandwich website (www.sandwichnh.org).  We would like to encourage anyone interested to visit that page to read that summary, as well as our “Backgrounder” which gives in depth information about Internet / broadband issues.