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Wednesday was snowy (so what else is new?) and the selectmen did not meet.  However, the budget has to be completed and ready for public viewing, so the selectmen will be meeting Friday morning. 

Also meeting prior to the March Town Meeting is the school board.  They will be meeting on Tuesday, February 12^th to review their budget request.  Please join me at that meeting at Town Hall on Tuesday at 5:30 PM.

Tin Mountain Conservation Center is conducting a course on mammal tracking and signs.  Rick Van de Pall will be teaching this course.  He is an Ecosystem Management Consultant in Sandwich.  The course began on Friday and continues today at 9 AM.  Walk through the woods, fields and along the pond at Bald Hill in search of animals, their habitat and behavior.  Call Tin Mountain at 447-6991 for information.

The State Committee on Aging and the Bureau of Health and Human Services is sponsoring a photo contest.  There will be two categories of pictures selected that celebrate the diverse accomplishments and interests of individuals age 60 and older.  Those submitted by people under the age of 18 and those submitted by people 18 and older.  The photograph must be of a resident of New Hampshire and not previously published anywhere.  The deadline for submission is March 21.  For further information call 1-800-735-2964.

Congratulations to Danielle Shannon for finishing second in the Colby-Sawyer Women’s Alpine Ski Racing Team at Loon Mountain in Lincoln.

Condolences to the family of Fred Ranco.  Fred died on January 23^rd in Old Town, Maine.  There will be a service for him at the Catholic Church today.   Fred and his wife, Margaret lived on Passaconaway Road.  Fred was known for his lovely carvings that he sold at the local consignment shops.

Best wishes for a quick recuperation to Gary Heath after a fall at his home.  Gary hurt his back.

Belated birthday wishes to Jim and Tina Drouin’s sons, Cain and Kyle, who celebrated their birthdays recently.  Cain’s birthday was January 18^th and Kyle’s was February 2^nd.

Skiers and snowmobilers must be ecstatic given the amount of that white stuff that keeps dumping on us.  But if you are tired of shoveling, be heartened.  Spring is only a month away.  Have a great week in the meantime.

At the selectmen’s meeting Wednesday the minutes of January 9^th were approved and checks were signed.  A building permit was signed and several items regarding welfare issues were taken care of.  Jo Jo Belleville of the DRA was in to go over a dozen homes she had checked up on after the recent updating of the tax roles.  Later a group headed by Mark Lucy came by to discuss plans for a new road to be built between Ridge View Drive and Airport Drive.  Town elections are coming up so consider putting your name on the ballot.

Please be advised that both offices in Town Hall will be closed on Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Like the town, the library will be closed on Monday.  On Tuesday at 6:30, the first in a monthly series of gardening programs designed to get you through winter and ready for spring commences.  This first program deals with “Herbs: Cultivation and Usage” and is brought to you by Michelle DeLucia of Sunshine Daydream Herbals.  The program is free.

While at the County Commissioner’s meeting earlier in the day, I heard Steve Knox discuss plans for the UNH Cooperative Extension building that is being planned for the County Complex.  Steve certainly has his fingers on the pulse of the county.

Happy birthday greeting to Kathy Vizard and Arthur Leavitt who both celebrated their b-day this month.

Congratulations to Plummer Potter for the award in the Private Small Home category and to William Bell who received honorable mention in the Private Large Home category from the Mount Washington Valley Wintry Trails for their beautifully decorated homes this holiday season.

Attention hunters and fishermen:  Get your 2008 hunting and fishing license starting this month.  They are good for a year and are combined licenses.  For residents the cost is $48.50, a savings of $11 over buying them separately.  A license to hunt turkey that covers both spring and fall is $16 for residents.  A waterfowl stamp is just $5 and is a check off on the multi-form license.

Dr. Keith Buzzell of Waldorf School will be lecturing on education and parenting at the Tin Mountain Center today, January 19.

Mountain Top Music Center is starting a Storytelling and Music Series.  It is for area children five to ten years old and will take place the third Saturday beginning in January and going forward for three more months.  The cost is $3 per person per show with a $12 family maximum per show.  The first program features local storyteller, Dexter Harding, and will be held at MTMC’s new home at 111 Main Street, Conway at 10 AM.

Stan and I were in NY last weekend to visit my ailing brother, Mike and his wife Shirley.  My sister Anne and other brother Ike all had lunch at Mike’s house in Yonkers.  It’s good to see family every so often, but I hope we can do this when everyone is healthy.  We were going to make a long weekend of it, but the news of the storm coming up the east coast drove us home early.  Never got into the city to see that Broadway play.  Maybe next time.

It’s gotten back to the normally cold temperature of winter in New Hampshire after that brief reprieve we had around Election Day.  Keep warm and enjoy yourselves.

At the Selectmen’s Meeting on Wednesday, minutes were approved and checks were signed.  There was one driveway permit that was signed as well.  A discussion was held about the meetings that were attended.  One was with the Conway Fire District Commissioners and another was the North Country Council Legislative Reception.  Both meeting concerned the future of the town and the area.