What are/aren't we short of in the Lakes Region area? [Archive]

AC2717

11-16-2007, 02:05 PM

I'd like to see a chain boat supply store like West Marine, or Boaters World. Those places are far from perfect but it might keep the marina store prices a little more reasonable and they might actually stock stuff. Right now all we have are the marinas and Parafunalia. I love Parafunalia but they don't have everything.

I am extremly surprised especially because of the area ,that there is not one here already. Maybe since Hannaford's is moving across the street, one of them will move into the old Hannaford's. This would be great! ABove all this is what I would want in the area.

I have never been to parafunalia. I will have to check it out.

wifi

11-16-2007, 02:10 PM

Moultonboro/Center Harbor/Meredith needs a old fashioned bakery shop (that is open during the day, and has products to sell all day).

There used to be one about 15 years back on Rt25 in the Pine Hill Plaza area, did a land office business, especially in the summer and every weekend. Went OOB due to personal problems, not lack of customers.

My mouth is starting to water just thinking about it ...

Peter

11-16-2007, 02:22 PM

We need a movie theater and bowling alley back in Wolfeboro again!

Paugus Bay Resident

11-16-2007, 02:25 PM

Definitely a book store. Closest one is Borders in Concord.

Irish mist

11-16-2007, 02:28 PM

There needs to be some serious soul-searching in this area about growth.......in some areas it's starting to look like I'm in southern NH. Nothing against southern NH, I just don't want to see central NH look like southern NH.
________
W125 REKORDWAGEN (http://www.mercedes-wiki.com/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W125_Rekordwagen)

wifi

11-16-2007, 02:36 PM

There needs to be some serious soul-searching in this area about growth.......in some areas it's starting to look like I'm in southern NH. Nothing against southern NH, I just don't want to see central NH look like southern NH.

I can't agree more with you IM. Stop the endless subdivisions... wait, this thread will start looking like the outdoor wood furnace one if I continue. :laugh:

My bakery suggestion needs to take the place of something we don't need.

Zee

11-16-2007, 02:57 PM

I agree, we don't "need" anymore commercial growth. I live in Tuftonboro, the least commercial town on the lake and I hope it stays that way. Six miles down the road is Wolfeboro with its great full service adequate-sized IGA, plenty of good restaurants, shops, bookstore, meat markets, and all the commercial and financial services you'd want. The one thing I have noticed is the multitude of insurance agencies. I think I have counted seven in a one mile radius. Please spare us the big box stores, supermarkets, fast food and multiplexes. A small theater would be good especially if it would also be used as a stage venue, not just a movie theater. I am sure some of you remember when movie theaters were not just movie theaters.

I do occasionally have to go to Wal-Mart or Home Depot. BUT, I'd rather go to them then have them move closer to me. :rolleye1:

phoenix

11-16-2007, 03:58 PM

market basket

Sunset Bob

11-16-2007, 04:01 PM

Definitely a book store. Closest one is Borders in Concord.
What about Innisfree bookshop in Meredith? I haven't been there recently but they are in Mill Falls Marketplace.

TomC

11-16-2007, 04:23 PM

What about Innisfree bookshop in Meredith? I haven't been there recently but they are in Mill Falls Marketplace.

Bayswater Book Co. Not a Borders by any stretch, but eclectic and a unique store that adds interest/charm to the area.

Paugus Bay Resident

11-16-2007, 04:23 PM

What about Innisfree bookshop in Meredith?Kind of a small selection, especially on the periodical side. Not complaining though. Between Amazon and trips to Concord, its not too bad.

ghfromaltonbay

11-16-2007, 04:23 PM

Although it's great having the new Hannafords, we certainly didn't need a 3rd bank in town. The downtown also seems to have a lot of florists/gift shops for such a small town. What's really needed is a better laundromat. The present one is not very well maintained and the parking situation is a definite safety hazard. Too bad they didn't put a new laundromat with safer parking next to the Hannafords instead of another bank. With the price of gas and groceries going up, who has money to put in the bank anyway.:emb:

jrc

11-16-2007, 04:31 PM

Definitely a book store. Closest one is Borders in Concord.

Maybe kill two birds with one stone, a book store with a coffee shop inside.

IM, Wifi, modern new amenities don't have to synonymous with growth. Hanaford didn't bring people to the area, Hanaford came because the people were here. Let's not mix up cause and effect.

GTO

11-16-2007, 04:39 PM

LIforrelaxin

11-16-2007, 05:31 PM

I see a lot of worry here about the area growing.... well I hate to say it but it is going to happen no matter what. As more and more people put up year around homes and spend more and more time in the lakes regions the growth is going to happen. There isn't much that can be done about it.

Now as for what we need.... A movie theatre on the northern side of the lake would be nice.... some nice pubs in the Centre Harbor, Moultonborough area would be a welcome addition too. Way to many places like Canoe, Lago, etc around.... other then that there is no need for a West Marine, order it online and have it shipped....and as for Home Depot and Lowes they are close enough for me right where they are at. But I know in reality sooner or later someone is going to put a big shoping plaza in one of the towns on the northern side of the lake....

secondcurve

11-16-2007, 05:42 PM

But I know in reality sooner or later someone is going to put a big shoping plaza in one of the towns on the northern side of the lake....[/QUOTE]

I think there is one going in on RTE 16 in Ossipee, so once that happens, the Northern side of the Lake will be taken care of. At least I hope they won't get any closer!

Paugus Bay Resident

11-16-2007, 06:01 PM

I think a lot of the perspective on "growth" depends on whether you're a year-round resident or seasonal one. There are a lot of conveniences I could live without if I were only here on weekends and vacations. Different groups have different needs, but I wholeheartedly agree that their needs to be a balance.

nj2nh

11-16-2007, 06:48 PM

There IS a book store with a coffee shop in Wolfeboro. It used to be across from Black's, but it moved to a larger location near that rubber stamp store/gift shop - into the space where the big candy store used to be.

nj2nh

Paugus Bay Resident

11-16-2007, 06:56 PM

Sure, its where Lee's Candies used to be. I miss that place.

rrr

11-16-2007, 06:59 PM

How about a farm stand on the southern side?

SteveA

11-16-2007, 07:42 PM

Definitely a book store. Closest one is Borders in Concord.

PBR and JRC are right on the money... a Borders/Barnes and Noble type place. Innisfree is more of a "Card Shop' than a book store. Very limited selection. Nice place, but not a real book store with a large selection.

LIforrelaxin

11-16-2007, 08:19 PM

I think there is one going in on RTE 16 in Ossipee, so once that happens, the Northern side of the Lake will be taken care of. At least I hope they won't get any closer!

Ossipee... yep I agree that would be close enough.... can get there easily... but yet far enough away to be out of mind....

fatlazyless

11-16-2007, 08:23 PM

The return of the Lakes Region Summer Theatre would be nice. After a run of something like 60 years their last show was in September 2006. For 2007, the show was out of business due to something like the high cost of insurance, or something, at its' Interlakes High School auditorium home.

Gone with barely a whimper, and all but forgotten.....say goodbye to that 60 year tradition, the Lakes Region Summer Theatre, a victim to the pricey insurance premium.:confused:

Mr. V

11-16-2007, 09:41 PM

Speaking strictly as the occasional tourist / visitor, Laconia needs:

Starbucks. Tilton is too far.

A real Army - Navy store. I miss the old one.

Cheap, decent quality Asian food: teriyaki / bento / yakisoba in an informal setting, with take out.

Irish mist

11-16-2007, 09:46 PM

ApS

11-17-2007, 03:42 AM

You're right: The Market will determine what's here and what's gone away.
IMHO, "less is more" in the Lakes Region, anyway.

That said, I'd like to see a boat anchored in Wolfeboro Bay with the name "Starbucks" on its transom.

Drive-through fashion, it would sell boutique coffees and Shane's (of Maine) ice cream by the pint. :liplick: Transactions would be conducted by means of a basket passed by boathook.

wifi

11-17-2007, 04:24 AM

secondcurve

11-17-2007, 08:25 AM

I think that Tuftonboro and Wolfeboro have done the best job of controlling growth of the towns around the lake. Alton Bay, the traffic circle aside, comes in third. The area doesn't feel all that different to me than it did in the 70s when I was a kid.

LIforrelaxin

11-17-2007, 09:23 AM

We know there is going to be growth at the lake Llforrelaxin.......but we don't have to sit back and let it run wild, that's why we have zoning laws. And it's past time they were put into better use to keep the area as rural as possible IMO.

The issue here is understood by all.... However an important lesson to be learned is this. As the cost of living around the lake continues to rise do to housing cost etc.... It will become increasingly harder on the locals to live in these areas with out good well paying jobs the only way to bring those good paying jobs is to allow growth. Remember it is the locals that afford us the ability to enjoy ourselves, as they staff and provide business to the area durring the off seasons. Am I advocating a Lowes at every corner no.... But should we expect to see a couple of more reasonable sized shopping plazas yes, it would also be nice to see some industrial development. Nothing like an IBM mind you but a couple of nice 100-300 employee manufacturing facilities would be a good idea....

I have lived in areas where they have tried to control growth. And you know what, it is the local people and business that ultimately pay the price when growth doesn't happen. What the lakes region needs to decided is how it wants the growth to happen. So that there is a job market strong enough to support the local population, which ultimately provides the work force for the tourism business. It is easy enough to accomplish these things while preserving the nice waterfront towns we have become use too, but people also can't fight it. Face it people the world is changing as people now work at home, commute longer and longer distances, the coveted once rural areas are going to develop....

WINDinmySOCKIES

11-17-2007, 09:37 AM

we need more trees:D

fatlazyless

11-17-2007, 11:19 AM

Maybe the small state prison on all that large sweeping hillside of empty land overlooking Paugus Bay could be turned into a much larger prison. It could house overflow prisoners from other states, or somewhere.

How about a country club style, luxury prison for the high rollers who can afford to do it and would appreciate that water view of Paugus. It's got to be a better business working with rich prisoners who have the bucks.

Up north in Berlin, construction on a new federal prison will soon be started and it will be a neighbor to the large State of NH prison recently built, way up there.

Mostly no town wants a prison but prisons employ lots of locals and once you build a prison, it's here to stay!

idigtractors

11-17-2007, 11:51 AM

we need more trees:D
What for, someone will just cut them down.

KonaChick

11-17-2007, 01:17 PM

Contractors, electricians, plumbers, people in the industry basically who do not double or triple the usual cost of estimates the second they drive up to your lake house. :(

idigtractors

11-17-2007, 02:07 PM

Contractors, electricians, plumbers, people in the industry basically who do not double or triple the usual cost of estimates the second they drive up to your lake house. :(

I personally have found that not to be true. I have found them to be cheaper (same or better quality) and/or the same price as in other states.:)

Irish mist

11-17-2007, 03:19 PM

My contention is that we need to control growth. And we can do it. We are not subject to "forces" that are beyond our control. Zoning laws are poweful tools that communties have to shape the environment the way the majority of the residents in a community want it to be shaped.

I'm going to use the state of Vermont as an example: I'm not a big fan of the leftist politics of Vermont, but the state of New Hampshire could learn a few lessons from the Green Mountain state concerning how to control "sprawl" & not lose its rural nature. In 20 years if you drive through Vermont I would venture to say that the state will look pretty much the sames as it does today......central NH on the other hand many very well look like "anyplace" USA if we do't get development under control.

As for jobs & development, you can bring some of it up here, but you don't need to change the nature of the whole region to do it. Make business & industry conform to what we want.
________
Chrysler slant-6 engine history (http://www.dodge-wiki.com/wiki/Chrysler_Slant-6_engine)

jrc

11-17-2007, 05:02 PM

The big problem with zoning laws is that controlling growth and controlling sprawl conflict with each other.

Lets say you have a 1000 acees in town, and you use zoning to set a minimum lot size of 2 acres. You meet you goal of limiting growth to 500 houses, but you force those 500 houses to spread to every corner of the acerage, that's sprawl, no area is left undeveloped. It you could allot some area to much denser housing and leave a bunch of the are totally untouched you could accomodate 500 houses without destroying the open land we love. Plus the 500 families in those houses would be closer and more of a community rather than 500 families that never meet their neighbors.

Irish mist

11-17-2007, 05:15 PM

I have no problem with "cluster development"jrc. It has its place. My concern is that people stop feeling like they can't do anything about the future space we, and our chidren are going to dwell in. The people in Vermont put their collective feet down over 30 years ago and said enough ! Enough sprawl, enough billboards, enough with the endless strip malls. They decided that they did not want to live in an "endless NJ cityscape", or have a southern NH crop up around them.

And so.....they stopped it. That's why Vermont & NH look less and less alike as the years go by.
________
Ducati mach 3 (http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Ducati_Mach_3)

jrc

11-17-2007, 05:38 PM

Given that we in NH still have a constitution that recognizes the right to private property what other tools beyond zoning do we have to shape how our communities grow?

Short of goverment control of population, you can't stop growth. As long as we have growth in this country, people will move to the nicest parts.

I don't think we should make NH a crappy place to live so people will move elsewhere.

Joanna16

11-17-2007, 05:43 PM

The reason I love the lake is because of it as it is. "Don't go changing to try and please me." :)

But seriously - I went to Meredith to buy the new Harry Potter book this summer the day it came out - even got it at 20% off cover price. I bake the best blueberry muffins right in my own kitchen. Brew great coffee there too. I can rent any DVD from Netflicks and have it delivered.

The reason I come here is to just relax and enjoy lake life as is. What I could use less of . . . people. Stop telling everyone how great it is here - they keep showing up! :laugh:

secondcurve

11-17-2007, 06:04 PM

The issue here is understood by all.... However an important lesson to be learned is this. As the cost of living around the lake continues to rise do to housing cost etc.... It will become increasingly harder on the locals to live in these areas with out good well paying jobs the only way to bring those good paying jobs is to allow growth. Remember it is the locals that afford us the ability to enjoy ourselves, as they staff and provide business to the area durring the off seasons. Am I advocating a Lowes at every corner no.... But should we expect to see a couple of more reasonable sized shopping plazas yes, it would also be nice to see some industrial development. Nothing like an IBM mind you but a couple of nice 100-300 employee manufacturing facilities would be a good idea....

I have lived in areas where they have tried to control growth. And you know what, it is the local people and business that ultimately pay the price when growth doesn't happen. What the lakes region needs to decided is how it wants the growth to happen. So that there is a job market strong enough to support the local population, which ultimately provides the work force for the tourism business. It is easy enough to accomplish these things while preserving the nice waterfront towns we have become use too, but people also can't fight it. Face it people the world is changing as people now work at home, commute longer and longer distances, the coveted once rural areas are going to develop....

Don't forget that what the Lakes Region has going for it is tourism. If you pollute the area with endless sprawl it becomes less desirable as a tourist destination.

Irish mist

11-17-2007, 06:05 PM

jrc.....zoning is enough, if used properly. I gave you the state of Vermont as an example. I suspect Vermont still has a constitution too. As for the population explosion.....if the goverment ended immigration, legal & illegal, that would go a long way in controling growth, but that's a political decision.

As for this statement by you: "I don't think we should make NH a crappy place to live so people will move elsewhere" Um, what are you getting at ? If we keep the rural nature of NH as it is now.....that's going to be a bad thing ? I'm not following you here ?

ACutAbove

11-17-2007, 07:19 PM

Contractors, electricians, plumbers, people in the industry basically who do not double or triple the usual cost of estimates the second they drive up to your lake house. :(

I do not believe that to be true, being a contractor myself. No matter where the house is located I know I treat everyone the same. I cannot speak for other contractors but if that is the way they operate hopefully people will realize it and not use that person or companys services. It sounds like you may have had a bad experience with a contractor,but please do not lump us all together.

As far as things we do or dont need here.
We need a better way to move traffic thru the rte 3 & 25 intersection in Meredith.

I dont want to go into what isnt needed here as the list would be to long...LOL

Lakegeezer

11-17-2007, 07:22 PM

Something like a Staples or OfficeMax (or non-franchise equivalent) between Meredith and Moultonboro would be nice. The lakes region is becoming more than a tourist spot. As the year round home-office population rises, business services are needed, and its getting expensive to drive from Moultonboro to Gilford for stuff.

KonaChick

11-17-2007, 08:44 PM

I do not believe that to be true, being a contractor myself. No matter where the house is located I know I treat everyone the same. I cannot speak for other contractors but if that is the way they operate hopefully people will realize it and not use that person or companys services. It sounds like you may have had a bad experience with a contractor,but please do not lump us all together.

As far as things we do or dont need here.
We need a better way to move traffic thru the rte 3 & 25 intersection in Meredith.

I dont want to go into what isnt needed here as the list would be to long...LOL

I'm not lumping you all together, just answering the forum question with my opinion. We've had extensive work done to our permanent residence and therefore have a good idea what is a reasonable price for services rendered. More often than not the quote we get for a service up at our lake home is typically much higher than what we've paid for the exact same service at our other home (which is smaller and less grandiose btw). These incidents aren't isolated to just us...it's a conversation that we've had with neighbors up at the lake and they've experienced the same thing. On the other hand it's nice to hear that not ALL people employed in the housing repair/service business are like that!! :)

Argie's Wife

11-17-2007, 10:42 PM

LIforrelaxin

11-17-2007, 11:00 PM

I'm not lumping you all together, just answering the forum question with my opinion. We've had extensive work done to our permanent residence and therefore have a good idea what is a reasonable price for services rendered. More often than not the quote we get for a service up at our lake home is typically much higher than what we've paid for the exact same service at our other home (which is smaller and less grandiose btw). These incidents aren't isolated to just us...it's a conversation that we've had with neighbors up at the lake and they've experienced the same thing. On the other hand it's nice to hear that not ALL people employed in the housing repair/service business are like that!! :)

I think what you maybe seeing is has less to do with a contractor showing up at a lake front retreat, and more to do with the scale and types of jobs you maybe trying to have done.

When we bought our camp and reworked it we where lucky enough to have the knowledge and skill to do most work ourselves... so we did. However one project we decided to look into contracting out was to update and move our electrical service panel. We had 3 contractor quote us prices and all where extremely high. The last contractor was a very matter of fact guy who told us, "we have more work up here then we can shake a stick at" and "there are many easier jobs then crawling under your camp to move all the wiring and routing it to the new pannel"..... moral of the story all three contractor where willing to do the work, but where going to make sure the where compansated for taking on a pain in the rear job, when they could be working in an easy to work on new construction project. So we of course dropped the contractors, found out what we had to do and did everything ourselves.....we just had to survive with out electricity a little longer then expected.....

In short Contractors in an area where there is a lot of construction going on don't like to get tied up with small or unusual projects that are going to be more aggrivation to them then anything...

Now this doesn't apply to all contractors..... but it is what I have noticed with electricians personally, and wouldn't be surprised to see the same attitude from plumbers, and construction contractors as well....

wifi

11-18-2007, 04:57 AM

.... So we of course dropped the contractors, found out what we had to do and did everything ourselves.....we just had to survive with out electricity a little longer then expected.....
....

Really? I thought the Co-op 'required' a licensed electrician to install a new main panel and meter box and be present when the Co-op hooks it up to the pole? Maybe I can actually afford safe wiring in the house after all :)

SteveA

11-18-2007, 06:55 AM

We have too many...
-pizza places
-banks
-hair salons
-insurance companies
-used car dealerships
-garden centers

We don't have enough...
-walk-in health clinics ("doc in a box")
-adult day care facilities
-children/youth centers
-movie theaters
-bowling alleys/pool hall
-farmers markets & natural food stores
-museums (that are actually opened and maintained!)

Fresh Fish Market.. Laconia area, the best around is at Marketbasket WAY out in Tilton :rolleye1:

Check out this Google search for "Fresh Fish"

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Fresh+Fish+Laconia+NH&btnG=Google+Search

TomC

11-18-2007, 07:03 AM

Really? I thought the Co-op 'required' a licensed electrician to install a new main panel and meter box and be present when the Co-op hooks it up to the pole? Maybe I can actually afford safe wiring in the house after all :)

A sticker from the code enforcement office with a signature from the town electrical inspector must be affixed to the meter box for the electric company to connect a system to the grid.

you could do the work yourself, but it will need to be inspected and signed off.

jrc

11-18-2007, 10:43 AM

IM we're going off topic, so I'll be brief. You can follow up in a PM if you like. The lakes region is a beautiful place, people want to move here. It's hard to have zoning or other central planning laws that are strict enough to force an outcome without violating our rights as property owners.

Fishy Cover

11-18-2007, 12:35 PM

The nearest dermatoligist is in Concord.

mcdude

11-18-2007, 12:39 PM

How about a farm stand on the southern side?
rrr: What about the (seasonal) farm stand between McDonalds and Hannaford's at the Alton traffic circle?...and you can't beat Beans and Green's in Gilford.
http://www.beansandgreensfarm.com/pics/With_fl/Html/images/pic1.jpg

LIforrelaxin

11-18-2007, 01:15 PM

Really? I thought the Co-op 'required' a licensed electrician to install a new main panel and meter box and be present when the Co-op hooks it up to the pole? Maybe I can actually afford safe wiring in the house after all :)

Wifi,

Tom C has it correct at least back when we did the work. All the Coop required was that it was inspected and signed off on. So we scheduled the inspector and Electric Coop to come out at the same time, The Inspector signed off on it and the Electric Company hooked us up. The only reason we where with out power for a day or too, was because we had to move all the wiring. The panel has to be installed and all wiring complete.

Now if you try and do this kind of work yourself, make sure you meet or exceed code. The inspector was very hard on us, because in his estimation, it was a job that only a professional should handle. However after realizing that in most cases we exceeded code requirements, and making a couple of quick last minute changes that he felt where neccesary he signed away.
As for code requirements just talk with the town electrical inspector, he helped us out before hand as well, letting us know what the code requirements where.....

Irish mist

11-18-2007, 02:47 PM

Island Life

11-18-2007, 03:43 PM

I'd like to see a boat anchored in Wolfeboro Bay with the name "Starbucks" on its transom.

Drive-through fashion, it would sell boutique coffees and Shane's (of Maine) ice cream by the pint. :liplick: Transactions would be conducted by means of a basket passed by boathook.

Anchored???? I'd like to see it delivering that boutique coffee and ice cream right to my dock. :D :D :D

20mile

11-18-2007, 06:22 PM

Really? I thought the Co-op 'required' a licensed electrician to install a new main panel and meter box and be present when the Co-op hooks it up to the pole? Maybe I can actually afford safe wiring in the house after all :)

I live in Tuftonboro and two years ago I installed a 200 amp service in my house. The coop came by and gave me a work book on how to install the from the weather head to the meter socket then to the distribution panel. They told me what types of meter sockets their meters would fit into. The code officer came by an put a sticker on the box and then the coop clamped on the conductors from the street.

Everyone was very helpful. I think I saved $2,500 by doing the work myself.

fatlazyless

11-18-2007, 07:21 PM

:) The Lowe's Home Improvement in Gilford, which opened in February, is a welcome addition. It has a large selection of plumbing, electrical, lawn irrigation, masonry block, paint, concrete, lumber, power & hand tools, ceramic tile, lumber, plywood, roofing, how-to-do books, large kitchen appliance, bathroom & kitchen fixtures, storage, cleaning, yardwork, lumber and most importantly....FREE COFFEE!

Plus, they occaisionally have mark downs to dirt cheap prices on slow moving items like alkyd paint and certain ceramic tiles and stuff that just isn't selling too good. Mark it down to 90% off and move it out, they say Everything is indoors, in a heated and well-lit store. Plus, if I neglected to mention, it has free coffee in those crummy white plastic-foam cups!

...if they would just upgrade those crummy foam cups to some good quality, real paper cups, and then some Green Mountain Coffee like,,,,big business move....cannot underestimate the biz boost of quality free coffee...

...now, can I get my Lowe's baseball cap that comes w/ a pencil and a pencil holder?

Skip

11-18-2007, 07:30 PM

...now can I get my Lowe's baseball cap that comes w/ a pencil and a pencil holder?...

You sure can, all you have to do is sign up for a Lowe's commercial account. I went to the Lowe's grand opening in Rochester earlier this week and when I signed up for a commercial account I got the hat (with TWO pencils) and a bag full of extra goodies along with a handful of discount soupons. And what did they have in the first aisle near the concrete blocks? Why a whole table full of snacks and donuts and ALL the free coffee I could drink!

FLL, you would have been proud of me as I assaulted that table!!! ;)

idigtractors

11-18-2007, 08:04 PM

:)
...if they would just upgrade those crummy foam cups to some good quality, real paper cups, and then some Green Mountain Coffee like,,,,big business move....cannot underestimate the biz boost of quality free coffee...
...now, can I get my Lowe's baseball cap that comes w/ a pencil and a pencil holder?

Now for two (2) questions. Do they serve decaf and how often do they wash the coffee pots? :)

hockeypuck

11-18-2007, 08:10 PM

If you go to this website's home page and click on "Lake Links" and then "Builders and Home Improvements", I would venture to guess that the owners and employees of the enterprises listed do not share your same enthusiasm with Lowes. In every town or city where the large chains have come in, small local competing businesses have suffered. Enjoy the coffee and donuts and save some money, but don't complain when local businesses go under and there are empty stores in town that don't pay taxes. I for one support the local owner that provides more personal service, lives in the community and pays taxes to my town. Call me stupid if you wish, but I just bought a new snowblower from my local, in town, lawnmower shop and paid $50 more than the same one at Home Depot. The same local owner who supports our town's youth programs, pays our taxes, and employees our locals both full and part time. He fully assembled the machine, provided instructions, helped load it into the truck, and said any problems just give HIM a call. To the fine people on this forum,be careful what you wish for, you may get your wish.

phoenix

11-18-2007, 09:55 PM

agree with fatlazyless i do miss the Lakes Region theatre . But i did notice that during the last couple of years there were many empty seats on most weekday nights vs. a few years back when the place was filled so i suspect attendance was part of the problem

mets3007

11-18-2007, 10:51 PM

Don't forget there is Moulton's Longridge farm on rt 3 going towards Meredith, but Hannaford has the best selection of fruit in the Laconia area. There are plenty of restaurants in the area so we do not need more of them, arcades check, they have alot of things that are needed, but they dont have a first med kinda doctor place where you can walk in without waiting 6 hours at the ER.

fatlazyless

11-18-2007, 11:31 PM

hey Hockeypuck- I heard that Home Depot will soon be building a new store just yards from the Gilford Lowes, on what used to be an Irwin Marine boat storage lot. Lowes and Home Depot, side by side in Gilford, just inches from the Laconia town line.

Yeah, that's all true about 'buy local-it stays local' and smaller owner op store vs big box stores. It seems like most of the Lowe's customers are do-it-yourselfers, as opposed to contractors. So, maybe contractos are sticking with the Boulia Gourrels, Gilford Home Center, Ashland Lumbers w/ their better stock of lumber, and do-it-yourselfers go to Lowes' for some other reason. Lowe's don't really have all that much lumber..........I don't know?

Plus, Lowe's just got final approval to build on the big Tenney Mt Hgwy cornfield in Plymouth.

dpg

11-19-2007, 06:41 AM

A fun place to drink and meet young people (well, O.K. girls;) Well I'm older now but the old Depot in Meredith still brings smiles to my face. I swear everytime I drive by there I get a flashback.:eek:

AltonGuy

11-19-2007, 10:52 AM

dpg

11-19-2007, 11:26 AM

If a pet store makes it a Petco or Petsmart would soon follow.:(

The Big Kahuna

11-19-2007, 11:49 AM

The Weirs needs a overhall. Get rid of all those old houses and put up some new hotels and buildings. Up-date the board walk with shops and nice places to eat.

jellybean

11-19-2007, 05:08 PM

A friend and I were thinking of business opportunities around the Alton area. Although the area could perhaps do with a few new "small town" businesses one in particular we came up with was a Pet Store? Figured there were only a few in the surrounding area so it may generate interest? Perhaps you folks could lend some input?

This has been a really interesting thread. My votes for Alton are:
A DRY CLEANER! (with same-day service, preferably)
A really good lunch/dinner/deli place which serves fresh food and sandwiches and not fried food, salads which contain real lettuce/veggies, and also has a coffeeshop/bakery component.
Yes, a little movie theater would be nice
Yes, a farm stand would also be nice. The little one by McD's is pretty good, but a lot of that isn't local produce and I'm not sure any is organic.
A veterinarian who works with both large and small animals (oh wait ... too specific?)

I'm honestly not sure if a pet store would make it - our family has a lot of pets, and we get the food/supplies we need at Aubuchon, Hannaford, and/or Clark's Grain. There is a new pet store down Rte 28 in Chichester, as well. There are a couple of great dog groomers around town, and there isn't much extra that we buy for our pets other than the basics.

Argie's Wife

11-20-2007, 08:02 AM

Yes.....the only dermatoligist in the lakes region retired this summer. You need to go to Concord or Plymouth. You woud think the Lakes Region hospital would be moving heaven & earth to have at least one dermatoligist on staff ? It's a very dangerous situation.

The list of medical specialists we're lacking up here is staggering. There's also very few pediatricians, gerentologists (sp), and only two neo-natal ICU's in the whole state, I believe.

Attracting new physicians to the area is difficult. This is considered a rural area. There are few physicians to share caseloads and many practices are struggling to meet the needs of the patients in the area. Also, the demographics for the patient base here is unusual because of the summer months when the population almost doubles for many towns. (Ever try to get care in the ER during Motorcycle Week?) Thus, my suggestion for more walk-in clinics.

========

Pet Shops...
As someone who used to be a vet tech assistant and who's parents worked in animal control, I'm not crazy about pet stores for many reasons. Although I'm sure your intentions are good intentions, there are some pet store owners who have no conscious about their trade but are only in it for the money.

I'd never buy a puppy from a pet store - or any other animal, really. Pet stores have a reputation for buying from puppy mills, keeping those mill-breeders in business. Anyone who's done their homework on getting a puppy won't go to a pet shop - they'll go to a reputable breeder.

Additionally, There's some excellent pet stores already, like Laconia Pet Center, who is already well established. I get my pets' foods at BJ's Wholesale Club and I buy their medicines online, usually. I'm sure there's other who do the same - my wallet tells me where to go, to be honest. I support local businesses when I can but sometimes local is way over priced.

However, I do think we've lost the dog groomer we had here in town or perhaps they moved (??). Personally, I'd love to see a good doggy-daycare and kennel come into the area, with grooming. That would be awesome!

Just my $0.02

mcdude

11-20-2007, 08:45 AM

The Weirs needs a overhall. Get rid of all those old houses and put up some new hotels and buildings.

You're kidding me with this, right?
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15038/medium/201WEIRSlakesideave.jpg
These historically significant buildings were the headquarters for the various NH regiments that fought in the Civil War. They should be preserved and updated (modern fire alarm/sprinkler systems) before we lose them in some massive fire. (See more photos of these regimental buildings HERE (http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1748) ) I do agree that some nicer shops/restaurants would be welcome.

WeirsBeachBoater

11-20-2007, 09:18 AM

The Weirs is dying..... The city of Laconia, is the killer! Another victim of growth. Keep letting the condos go up. Has anyone really looked at the Weirs area and thought of where the tourists can stay affordably? Compared to even 10 yrs ago? All the motels went condo, now they are decimating the old tent and trailer park. The tourists are stopping for a few minutes at the Weirs on there way up north. The part of NH that still understands tourism.

dpg

11-20-2007, 11:45 AM

gtxrider

11-20-2007, 12:49 PM

what we need is faster boats, younger women, more whiskey!:rolleye2: (slight change of words from a Tom T. Hall song.

Really what is need is slow down the development. I understand the people how live around the lake need stores and services but do we need to cut trees down to build huge homes? How many of those BIG houses have people living in them year round? Cut down trees rain water rushes down the hills carrying mud and what ever else in on the ground right in the lake.

WeirsBeachBoater

11-20-2007, 01:03 PM

How bout a good Auto detail shop like around Laconia? Is there many around?[/QUOTE]

There was quite a few, and there are still many. But few good ones. I used to own and run one in Massachusetts. The only issue I found here in the lakes region is that every shop is cutting each others throat, working for no money. It wasn't worth getting into it. There are two I suggest in the area, One is behind Fitzgerald Motorsports on Union Ave. The other is at the Amalfi Building behind LR Volkswagen in Gilford. They seem to be the most professional. I don't want some young punk with a buffer on my vehicles.

Weirs guy

11-20-2007, 01:05 PM

The Weirs is dying..... The city of Laconia, is the killer!

Amen.

I think we need more growth in both the manufacturing and technical job areas. Unfortunately that $11/hour gig at Lowes doesn't pay well enough.

winniplayhouse

11-21-2007, 08:42 AM

The only problem with a theatre is you'd always be praying for rain if you owned it. Who's gonna go away for a week in July and go to the theatre on a hot sunny day? Not too likely.:rolleye1:

We actually find that while rain does affect attendence at children's shows during the day (when we used to run them) rain, or lackthereof, really has no affect on attendence of evening performances. Mostly, people want to see a play or they don't and book well enough in advance that they come rain or shine!!

jkjoshuatree

11-21-2007, 09:53 AM

My wife and I have talked about opening a yoga studio in the somewhere around the lake but haven't done any real research on it yet.

Do you think it would work? And more importantly, would it work year-round?

We're very active people and have noticed the extreme lack of a good gym in the area. We've been to the one in Laconia (forget the name) and it's okay as far as a gym is concerned, but it doesn't offer the range of classes (yoga, pilates, spin) that we're used to. They also don't allow anyone under the age of 16 and both of our daughters (12 and 14) love going to the gym with us.

Even when we stay at Church Landing (when there's too many of us for all of us to stay at our place on Bear Island) their gym is almost a joke.

So what do the people of the Forum think?

I'm surprised that there are 2 health food stores in Meredith and that they both stay open. But if they do a decent business, then maybe a yoga/pilates studio would work.

Let me know what you think.

Jk

callmeD

11-23-2007, 09:03 AM

JK -

I would love to see you open a yoga studio!

I am a massage therapist and will be starting a second practice in Alton soon (my primary location is MA, but I have a home on the lake, also), renting space from a local business. Working in Alton will be slow to start, but I am hopeful that my practice will build and I can spend more time in NH.

My ideal scenerio would be to find space in an alternative healing center offering services such as yoga, acupuncture, nutrition, pilates, etc.

This area is so conducive to healing with the beautiful scenery - an ideal location IMO!

mets3007

11-23-2007, 11:11 AM

The prices are high at the Weirs but, we will still go no matter what. The boardwalk is old though and can use a modification to make it look newer like a paint job and maybe just modernize the boat area which looks like it was not updated in 15 yrs.

The Big Kahuna

11-23-2007, 01:53 PM

You're kidding me with this, right?I am not kidding at all. The Weirs Blvd is a dump, those old buildings are an eye sore, historical or not. We need some modern hotels like Merredith, with shops and restaurants. That would vitalize and spruce up the area, maybe some of the trailer homes on the hill could be towed away and replaced with nicer homes.

Kidding, not at all, modernize and vitalize!

The Big Kahuna

11-23-2007, 02:35 PM

Well put :)

Get ready, a company I work with was just asked to quote on a 400 unit condo development. He would only say it was right on the water between Atlon and Gilford.

idigtractors

11-23-2007, 04:49 PM

Make everything (fun things to do and small Mom & Pop type of shops) like in the late 50's early 60's when there were a ton of things for both adults and kids to do that was simple and not all high tech and artificial exercise. Everyone (adults & kids) are spoiled and need entertaining all the time now instead of finding simple and entertaining things to do on their own. It is getting to be that everything has to be planned for all.

ACutAbove

11-23-2007, 05:13 PM

THere is a Yoga place in meredith. It is in the bike shop near the new traffic circle. Check it out and see if they are doing okay and make a decision from there. I have not been in there so other than seeing the sign out front I know nothing about it.

My wife and I have talked about opening a yoga studio in the somewhere around the lake but haven't done any real research on it yet.

Do you think it would work? And more importantly, would it work year-round?

We're very active people and have noticed the extreme lack of a good gym in the area. We've been to the one in Laconia (forget the name) and it's okay as far as a gym is concerned, but it doesn't offer the range of classes (yoga, pilates, spin) that we're used to. They also don't allow anyone under the age of 16 and both of our daughters (12 and 14) love going to the gym with us.

Even when we stay at Church Landing (when there's too many of us for all of us to stay at our place on Bear Island) their gym is almost a joke.

So what do the people of the Forum think?

I'm surprised that there are 2 health food stores in Meredith and that they both stay open. But if they do a decent business, then maybe a yoga/pilates studio would work.

Let me know what you think.

Jk

fatlazyless

11-23-2007, 07:49 PM

Pasha Blundo's Moultonboro yoga studio and exercise gym, www.hollandhillstudio.com in a totally renovated large old barn on Holland St or Rt 109, just up the hill from Rt 25. ....may the force be with you!

Looking at the website, methinks she is doing a yoga pose while situated on top of East Rattlesnake Mountain w/ Squam Lake in the background.....or is that Red Hill with Winnipesaukee in the background?

LIforrelaxin

11-23-2007, 11:18 PM

I am not kidding at all. The Weirs Blvd is a dump, those old buildings are an eye sore, historical or not. We need some modern hotels like Merredith, with shops and restaurants. That would vitalize and spruce up the area, maybe some of the trailer homes on the hill could be towed away and replaced with nicer homes.

Kidding, not at all, modernize and vitalize!

Modernize and vitalize is a great idea.... But!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Although some face lifting and repairs are in order, what make the Wiers the Wiers is the board walk, the pier, and the old buildings. If all the character that is there is modernized out it would be a sad day.

Don't make the Wiers another Meredith just because it is not your cup of tea.

fatlazyless

11-24-2007, 08:17 AM

Based on the thinking that it's their land and they can do as they please, about ten years ago, the Laconia Planning Board gave the green light to a new owner tearing down one of those older hillside homes, leveling the half-acre lot with the street, and building a parking lot. This procedure was then copycated by a neighbor who is a couple lots away.

This is a very unusual thing for a town planning board to approve in my opinion, but approve it they, the Laconia Planning Board, did.

That street, is it Weirs Blvd, that fronts the boardwalk and the Weirs Bay must be considered a mixed commercial-residential area.

A photo here would sure help but picture it, a 1/2 acre parking lot cut into the hill, sandwiched in between two 1/2 acre residences. During Motorcycle Week it is home to a number of venders, and other times used for Mount Washington and Weirs parking.

Did you know that the large lot that is home of the Weirs Smokehouse used to have a landmark Howard Johnson's Restaurant on the same spot.

The economics of Motorcycle Week have caused it to remain a large empty lot for about 30+ years now, since the HoJo's burnt down.

So, Motorcycle Week is a big economic
force that shapes the Weirs all year round.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
As an aside, the Motorcycle Week Association is now being sued for the death of two woman pedestrians who were hit by a drunk biker (also killing a passenger on his bike), while walking just next to the white line wih their backs to traffic at night along Rt 3 by FunSpot in 2004, in Belknap County Superior Court, Judge Larry Smukler presiding.
The suit started out to include the City of Laconia as well but the Judge agreed to exclude the city from any responsibility for some legal reason. Route 3 is a state road. Big article in yesterday's LaDaSun.

In the article, it says that Judge Smukler has agreed to letting the suit continue and thinks that the Motorcycle Week Association may have some responsibilty for the deaths. It talks a lot about driving and drinking and Bike Week and Laconia.

A big question in the lawsuit is: Who owns Bike Week? Is it the City of Laconia or the Motorcycle Week Association?

The Big Kahuna

11-24-2007, 01:55 PM

Don't make the Wiers another Meredith just because it is not your cup of tea.I would love for Weirs to be like Meredith, why do you have a problem with Meredith. I think Meredith looks great, 100 times better than the Weirs. If the Wiers were updated, I bet all that motorcycle nonsense would go some where else, and we wouldn't have to deal with it. You could do so much with the Wiers, it is a shame the way it is today.

LIforrelaxin

11-24-2007, 11:29 PM

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
As an aside, the Motorcycle Week Association is now being sued for the death of two woman pedestrians who were hit by a drunk biker (also killing a passenger on his bike), while walking just next to the white line wih their backs to traffic at night along Rt 3 by FunSpot in 2004, in Belknap County Superior Court, Judge Larry Smukler presiding.
The suit started out to include the City of Laconia as well but the Judge agreed to exclude the city from any responsibility for some legal reason. Route 3 is a state road. Big article in yesterday's LaDaSun.

In the article, it says that Judge Smukler has agreed to letting the suit continue and thinks that the Motorcycle Week Association may have some responsibilty for the deaths. It talks a lot about driving and drinking and Bike Week and Laconia.

A big question in the lawsuit is: Who owns Bike Week? Is it the City of Laconia or the Motorcycle Week Association?

OK wait a minute, hold the horses.... and many other sayings that could come out here. Does anyone have more information on this. This at first glance looks like something that shouldn't be in the courts. It unfortunate that some people are dead. However why would the City of Laconia or the MWA have any fault in the matter......

Mickomally

11-25-2007, 01:00 AM

I am not kidding at all. The Weirs Blvd is a dump, those old buildings are an eye sore, historical or not. We need some modern hotels like Merredith, with shops and restaurants. That would vitalize and spruce up the area, maybe some of the trailer homes on the hill could be towed away and replaced with nicer homes.

Kidding, not at all, modernize and vitalize!
Man you know how to say it sometimes.... We should think of a way to get rid of the homes many of these people have lived in for years and put in nicer ones. After all they are low income and cannot afford nicer homes...what a blight on the area. They don't have nice homes, lets get rid of them.
While we're at it lets alter everything which isn't our personal preference, screw everyone else and their rights and sensitivities.

Mickomally

11-25-2007, 01:05 AM

I would love for Weirs to be like Meredith, why do you have a problem with Meredith. I think Meredith looks great, 100 times better than the Weirs. If the Wiers were updated, I bet all that motorcycle nonsense would go some where else, and we wouldn't have to deal with it. You could do so much with the Wiers, it is a shame the way it is today.
I love Meredith, I live in Meredith but I can see why some may want the Weirs to be left alone. Homogenizing the lakes region may be appealing to some, yet others like the unique character the Weirs has. If you prefer Meredith, go to Meredith, if you like the kitchiness of the Weirs you have that option.
Its sorta like comparing "Canoe" and "Tamarack"...Canoe may have higher quality food, but its nice to be able to choose the Tamarack if I like.

Old Hubbard Rd

11-25-2007, 10:52 AM

I think the Weirs is nessesary for this area. It's nice for the kids & adults to have that option. I think one of the only things the Weirs needs to add to it's current setting is a rebuilding of the Old Gorgeous Hotel that use to be there. It could be built basically where it use to be right behind the arcades in the hillside where the yellow motel units are. The Weirs would then be complete!! That's just my opinion. Please don't jump all over me. It's just my thought!!

trfour

11-25-2007, 12:08 PM

Sal

11-25-2007, 02:21 PM

wifi

11-26-2007, 03:38 AM

Remember Andersen's Bakery, in Center Harbor? (where the canoe/kayak place is, now) The best jelly donuts I ever had !

I do! Andersen also simultaneously had a place in Meredith. This other bakery was up the road in Pine Hill and opened after Andersen closed. I'm not slighting Love Bites, they are yummy.

Why am I thinking food at Thanksgiving time? :laugh:

Weirs guy

11-26-2007, 12:33 PM

people knowing where there aT. iT'S NOT Weirs BLVD, the Boardwalk is located on Lakeside Avenue!

A gold star to trfour. Weirs Blvd follows Paugus Bay from Gilford to the Weirs (Rt. 3). Lakeside Ave starts at the Weirs sign and follows the boardwalk to the wooden bridge behind the general store, where it becomes Scenic Dr. For the record most of those old "dumps" along Lakeside were painted over the summer in some very nice Victorian colors that are most likely in keeping with how they were originally painted.

fatlazyless, I think the one house that became a parking lot was torn down after fire gutted it and it was decided not to rebuild. Right now one of the neighboring houses is using it as parking.

LIforrelaxin, fll is exactly right and as stupid as it sounds some liberal judge has decided that the MWA is responsible for some drunks actions on a road that the MWA has no control over (state and city handle traffic plans, not the MWA). Sounds like someones looking for re-election? There was an article in the Citizen about it a month or so ago.

fatlazyless

11-26-2007, 05:42 PM

Another lengthy article in today's LaDaSun about the 2004 motorcycle accident reporting on trial testimoney from last Friday. The driver is doing time in prison for negligent homicide. The two women pedestrians were not killed as I said, but were injured and received compensation from the mc driver's insurance co. The mc passenger was killed, as mentioned.

The article reads that the attorney for the two injured women is trying to convince the jury that the Motorcycle Association has some responcibilty for what happens at Bike Week.

Attorney: Does the Motorcycle Assoc own Bike Week?

MC Assoc: No, it is a collection of about 100 different events which are individually owned and collectively make Bike Week what it is.

(paraphrasing from memory here)

It reads like the Motorcycle Association and bike week itself is on trial in Justice Larry Smukler's Belknap County Superior Court.

The trial continues into this week.

.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Wouldn't it be nice if the Laconia Daily Sun could upgrade its' website and make it more accessible and add a search engine for old articles. They do some good reporting on local town government meetings and items that otherwise never get reported.

The Big Kahuna

11-26-2007, 05:57 PM

[QUOTE= After all they are low income and cannot afford nicer homes...what a blight on the area.

Given what they could get for them if they sold out, they would not be poor any more, and like a lot of vacation places that change and modernize it creates jobs and opportunity for everyone.

LIforrelaxin

11-28-2007, 01:05 AM

LIforrelaxin, fll is exactly right and as stupid as it sounds some liberal judge has decided that the MWA is responsible for some drunks actions on a road that the MWA has no control over (state and city handle traffic plans, not the MWA). Sounds like someones looking for re-election? There was an article in the Citizen about it a month or so ago.

Didn't mean to indicate any wrong doing on FLL's part I knew he was qouting what he read. My reaction is on simply of concern that this is nothing more then another law suit looking for Money.... I feel bad that someone died.... but all these law suits need to end.... A sign of too many lawyers in the world,.....

Mr. V

11-28-2007, 10:01 AM

I wonder what legal theory the plaintiff's attorney is using to advance his claim?

This seems like a fairly "cutting edge" type of case.

Any tort lawyers out there familiar with this case want to chime in?

mets3007

11-28-2007, 10:37 AM

No one died in the lawsuit there was an article today on the Citizen Website ( 11/28) that has both victims taking the stand. I feel that there is no way the Laconia Motorcycle Association can control how much someone drinks since they do not control the sale of alcohol which is run by the liquor commission. Both people were injured but not dead.

Weirs guy

11-28-2007, 12:51 PM

...I feel bad that someone died.... but all these law suits need to end.... A sign of too many lawyers in the world,.....

You remember the old joke "what do you call half the lawyers in the world at the bottom of the ocean?"

Now that you mention it though, I know one thing we have too many of in the lakes region!

gtxrider

11-28-2007, 01:17 PM

Please don't throw them in the LAKE!

Answer: A good start

Skip

11-28-2007, 05:24 PM

Ther jury deliberated for just two hours this afternoon before handing down a unanimous not guilty finding against the City of Laconia & Bike Week Festival organizers.

Short story can be read HERE (http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071128/GJNEWS02/711280140/-1/CITIZEN) at the on-line edition of the Citizen.

Resident 2B

11-28-2007, 05:30 PM

This was a complete waste of the court's time and the tax payer's assets! There have to be more important things to bring before the court. This was a run for money that made no sense.

The jury did a great job.

I am shocked the judge allowed this to continue. He ruled against at least two summary judgements.

Happy Holidays!

R2B

Skip

11-28-2007, 05:38 PM

...I am shocked the judge allowed this to continue. He ruled against at least two summary judgements...R2B

No shock to me....remember, the Judge is a lawyer too! :rolleye2:

Merry Christmas!

WeirsBeachBoater

11-28-2007, 06:12 PM

That Judge is unbelievable. I am surprised no one has tried to have him unseated. Absolutely the worst one in Belknap!

Resident 2B

11-28-2007, 11:29 PM

Skip,

You are right! I overlooked this detail.

R2B

fatlazyless

11-29-2007, 09:03 AM

:cool: Here's some different paragraphs which I cherry-picked from yesterday's Laconia Daily Sun page one article written by Michael Kitch.

"LACONIA - The suit brought against the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association by two women, who are seeking damages for injuries when they were struck by a drunken biker during the 2004 rally, took an unforeseen twist in Belknap County Superior Court yesterday. In response to a motion to dismiss the claims, Justice Larry Smukler indicated that he disagreed with the theory underpinning the association's defense and was likely to instruct the jury accordingly."

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

"Derek Lick, representing the association , built his defense on a theory of so-called "joint enterprise" that in keeping wih a decision of the New Hampshire Supreme Court, holds that in order to impute liability from one of the partners to the other there must be not only a joint interest in the objects or purposes of the enterprise, but also an equal right to direct and govern the movements and conduct of each with respect thereto." In questioning witnesses throughout the trial Lick sought to demonstrate that while the association promotes the rally it possesses no control over the measures taken by the city to provide for public safety. Likewise, he argued that the association has no authority to regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol, which is the exclusive preserve of the New Hamshire State Liquor Commission."
...........................................

"Smukler, however, said that he disagreed with both notions of "joint enterprise". Instead, he suggested that it was sufficient only that each party to a joint enterprise have the right to control or manage the venture - not to direct one another - in order to impute liability from one partner to the other. Under this interpretation, the question of liability would hinge not on whether the association directed the decisions of the city but instead on whether it controlled aspects of the rally."

.................................................

"As for the association, (former police chief) Oetinger declared that it had no control whatsoever over law enforcement during the rally. "If they have suggestions, it's something I would listen to, but ultimately it was my responsibility."
.................................................
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Here's something to think about. US military court marshal trials have a jury of all officers, while US civilian trials have a jury of peers. If, the Belknap County jury were all 12 attorneys, how would they decide?

For me , it would be an education to see all the legal bills incurred by the two individual plaintiffs and by the Motorcycle Association. Sometimes, paying for the lawyers can be a bigger punishment than winning or losing a case. How's it go.....well the association won the battle but lost the war....defense attorneys usualy do not extend too much credit for their services....believe it's called staying 'close to the cuff.'.

Resident 2B

11-29-2007, 06:56 PM

fatlazyless................

... If, the Belknap County jury were all 12 attorneys, how would they decide?........

What a scary thought!

A jury of twelve attorneys would never make a decision! :D

Seven of the best on the US Supreme Court hardly ever completely agree.

R2B

murph

11-29-2007, 10:10 PM

would like to see the Common Man group add a sports pub to the Meredith area. Watching the games on the small TVs is in need of a upgrade

MaryS

11-30-2007, 10:42 PM

Folks, what about a pharmacy???? From the east side of Moultonboro, its a ride to Meredith or Ossipee.....for your medicine.....Surprised there hasn't been a CVS or Walgreens in the area yet.....

Argie's Wife

12-01-2007, 12:08 AM

Good point!

Guess we were putting our other priorities first - like more pubs, bowling alleys and the like... :D

ghfromaltonbay

12-01-2007, 03:23 PM

LIforrelaxin

12-01-2007, 11:32 PM

Folks, what about a pharmacy???? From the east side of Moultonboro, its a ride to Meredith or Ossipee.....for your medicine.....Surprised there hasn't been a CVS or Walgreens in the area yet.....

Hummm good point.... Personally I am so rarely sick at the lake I never think about this.... but this is an issue for year around residents and those that spend more of the summer at the lake then I....... But you know.... It never crossed my mind...........

Argie's Wife

12-02-2007, 09:09 AM

Look how long it took to get a pharmacy in Alton/Alton Bay. 3 banks, 3 hardware stores, numerous beauty parlors, 3 florists and yet there was so much opposition to a pharmacy. :confused: Now if we could only get a decent laundromat with safe parking.

Agreed! I've always said that if someone took the McGrath's store area, made it into an on-site, 1-hr dry cleaners/laundry mat, and added a one or two bay automatic car wash, AND added a small gym - they'd have a small gold mine! Think about it: you throw in a load of laundry, get your work-out in and your car squeaky clean while you wait! :D

KPW

12-02-2007, 07:00 PM

There are no gas stations between Skelly's and Wolfeboro

secondcurve

12-02-2007, 07:08 PM

That is a good observation. Can we please keep it that way? The Tuftonboro General Store used to have pumps, but they gave them up sometime ago.

ApS

12-03-2007, 03:26 AM

There are no gas stations between Skelly's and Wolfeboro
And before Skelley, somebody operated a "Trading Post" there—painted a redwood color—that did zero (0) business. What a difference the gas pumps made!

Alton Bay

12-03-2007, 07:11 PM

I agree that Alton could use a drycleaner.

How about a nice pub with a nautical/historical theme?? Like a Wolfe's Tavern.... It's pretty quiet for those of us "year rounders" come winter.

Argie's Wife

12-03-2007, 07:14 PM

I agree about the pub too - maybe we can add that along side the carwash/drycleaners/gym idea I've got and call it "Suds and Studs" :D

Weirs guy

12-05-2007, 12:54 PM

How about a nice pub with a nautical/historical theme?? Like a Wolfe's Tavern.... It's pretty quiet for those of us "year rounders" come winter.

I'll tell you, thank god for the Gringo at the Weirs. Beats driving back from some bar in Laconia or Meredith.

mcdude

12-05-2007, 05:59 PM

I agree about the pub too :D

I thought this was the happenin' place in town as far as "pubs" go...?
http://jpchinarestaurant.com/image/17759639_scaled_247x161.jpgfrom the website
To accompany your dinner, our .... restaurant also features a wide selection of domestic and imported beer and wine and a full bar stocked with your favorite liquors. Whether you choose a refreshing ale, a mixed drink, or a delicate, fruity wine to complement the flavors of your dish, we have something in our bar for you.
Also dance music , karaoke every Friday and Saturday!

Alton Bay ..a nice pub with a nautical/historical theme??
...sounds like my kind of place....in fact, it sounds like my camp! :cheers:
McD

Skipper

12-07-2007, 08:06 AM

In my opinion we could use some places where we can practice and learn more about being a better Skipper.

:)

This could be an inside or outside facility.

GWC...

12-07-2007, 02:23 PM

In my opinion we could use some places where we can practice and learn more about being a better Skipper.

:)

This could be an inside or outside facility.
Already have this at the Lake (http://www.jpboating.com/)

http://www.jpboating.com/images/Web%20Photos/JPlesson.jpg

http://www.jpboating.com/images/Web%20Photos/boat%20training.jpg

Alton Bay

12-07-2007, 06:08 PM

Hey, McDude!
Where is the pub in the photo? Am I missing out on a local Altonhangout with some ambiance??

Weekend Pundit

12-07-2007, 06:21 PM

How about a farm stand on the southern side?

There are two that I know of on the south side of the lake: Moulton's Farm Stand on Rte 3 in Meredith (not to be confused with the actual farm on Rte 25) and Beans & Greens on Rte 11B in Gilford.

I know Beans and Greens is very popular. My teenage son works there during summer so we usually know what will be picked on what days and when certain vegetables will be available. They usually have a good selection. They also have an on-site bakery.

Weekend Pundit

12-07-2007, 06:42 PM

That said, I'd like to see a boat anchored in Wolfeboro Bay with the name "Starbucks" on its transom.

Drive-through fashion, it would sell boutique coffees and Shane's (of Maine) ice cream by the pint. :liplick: Transactions would be conducted by means of a basket passed by boathook.

So, when do you plan to open your "Starbucks Afloat"? I'll be one of the first ones in queue!

upthesaukee

12-07-2007, 10:47 PM

Hey, McDude!
Where is the pub in the photo? Am I missing out on a local Altonhangout with some ambiance??
Sure looks like the inside of the bar area of JP China, in Alton. Note: they are non smoking now, in case you didn't know it.

Mee-n-Mac

12-07-2007, 11:41 PM

Sure looks like the inside of the bar area of JP China, in Alton.

Yup, been there ... drank there.

It's kinda interesting as to who will "win" the pub war in Alton. I like the informal atmosphere of the Diner but JP has Karaoke. (I really dislike karaoke) JP has killer MaiTai's though. I declare both winners and will drink my best to see both stay open.

(My liver be still)

mcdude

12-08-2007, 08:08 AM

Am I missing out on a local Alton hangout with some ambiance??

Alton Bay....not too sure about the "ambiance" part!!!:D

Alton Bay

12-08-2007, 08:11 AM

Have to admit JP has always turned me off cuz of the smoking. Maybe I need to try it out. What night is karoake?
Is JP for sale?

Ropetow

12-08-2007, 10:17 AM

Is there still smoking in JP? If so, how did they avoid the new NH law? JP is listed for sale....$3 million. That's a lotta draft beers and chicken fingers!

mcdude

12-08-2007, 06:29 PM

....if you want a smoke my guess is that you just step outside onto the deck with "waterviews"...(water views????)....
...and until recently, apparently, you only had to go over to BayHill Rd. to pick up some pot or some magic mushrooms (http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071206/GJNEWS02/712060094/-1/CITNEWS0301)! (which has nothing to do with this thread at all)

Alton NH - MLS No. 2673055
Offered At: $2,990,000
Former Alton Bay Inn, currently an active resturant, lounge, and rental units. In total there are 5 rental apartments, 3 motel units in main building and 6 motel units in seperate building. Water views, large parking lot and many updates. Many opportunities!!!!

ApS

12-09-2007, 04:41 AM

"...Is there still smoking in JP? If so, how did they avoid the new NH law...?"
They applied for the new "Smoking Permit" from the state—$400.

(Just kidding) ;)

Skipper

12-09-2007, 07:11 AM

Already have this at the Lake (http://www.jpboating.com/)

Thank you GWC but Capt JP does not offer the kind of skipper training or social activity I am looking for. I'm talking about summer and winter and inside or outside. I'm looking for instruction, socialization and locations for Skippers. Click on the link in my signature line for a better idea.

Check out this site showing some Extreme Skippers (http://extremeskipping.com)

Or this Training for Skippers (http://www.netfit.co.uk/hrl6.htm).

Or these kinds of hints and advice for Skippers advice, tips and hints for Skippers (http://www.healthandgoodness.com/exercise/skipping.htm)

riverat

12-09-2007, 11:01 AM

That's too funny, speaking of magic mushrooms, I think thou has overindulged.

Weirs guy

12-10-2007, 12:14 PM

So, when do you plan to open your "Starbucks Afloat"? I'll be one of the first ones in queue!

I'll be 2nd, right after Weirs Gal makes me buy a boat! The Mount Washington ticket office at the Weirs sells Starbucks coffee, but just the basic black with sugar and cream, no tripple sow cow half latte black sheep tripple zingger in a foam glass cup!

Island Life

12-11-2007, 11:12 AM

I've offered my kids $5 for the first one who finds me a Starbucks when we're on shore doing errands (but not the one in Tilton, that one's too far and way too crowded). They've tried to argue for the "we proudly brew Starbucks coffee" places like the Weirs ticket office but that doesn't cut it. I'm sure asking for a Peet's is completely out of the question.

Argie's Wife

12-11-2007, 04:12 PM

brk-lnt

12-11-2007, 04:30 PM

jrc

12-11-2007, 04:45 PM

Starbucks was a novelty, almost a necessity, when Dunkin Donuts was good but bland and everyone else was dishwater. Now it's just seems overpriced.

As soon as McDonalds starts selling the fancy coffee drinks, lattes and cappachinos, the end is near.

Rose

12-11-2007, 07:51 PM

As soon as McDonalds starts selling the fancy coffee drinks, lattes and cappachinos, the end is near.

I think you might be right. According to Consumer Reports, Mickey Dee's coffee was the winner over Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and Burger King. Maybe they'll do the same if they get into the premium coffee drinks.

I'm a tea drinker myself...much easier on my stomach. The Starbucks brew at work was DEADLY.

http://www.foodfacts.info/blog/2007/02/mcdonalds-coffee-ranks-high.html

fatlazyless

12-12-2007, 07:44 AM

:coolsm: Coffee at McDonald's is free before 7am when a breakfast is purchased. After that, if you look like you are at least 55, the price is 70 cents as opposed to 1.50, "and don't forget my senior citizen discount, blondie.". It used to be 50 cents but they raised their discounted price. It is gooood coffee, way better than Dunkin and I nevah stepped inside a Starbucks .....and a good business plan as easily seen on the MCD 'turn-around' stock chart

The Meredith McDonalds is simply the BEST Mickey D's on the planet!

After 10:30am you can get what I think is a very healthy meal for just $3.24. Choice of a double-cheeseburger or McChicken sandwich, strawberry yogurt parfait w/ granola chips, and small side salad w/ choice four different dressings & croutons/bacon bits, and a freebie cup of ice water straight out of huge & picturesque Lake Waukewan that has been accurately floridated & chlorinated & inspected by the Meredith town waterworks. Plus, you can feel good because you just contributed 24 cents (8%) to the state of New Hampshire which 'sure as heck' needs the money for their roads, schools, and nursing homes.

Mr. V

12-12-2007, 10:07 AM

Starbucks has been a fixture here out on the Left Coast for some time now.

In addition to providing a product which people want, it also provides a place to meet, congregate, use your laptop (hot spot): all in all, that ephemeral sense of "community" which is increasingly absent in modern America.

Coffee shops are places to meet and greet.

Island Life

12-12-2007, 12:35 PM

~slightly off topic~
Island Life - I'm not a Starbucks gal (no offense - if you like 'em, I'll gladly buy you a cup when we're out shopping... too bitter for me) but I love, love, love Cafe Kelim in Portsmouth. It's a Turkish-owned place - very ethnic vibe to the place. But the coffee will rock your world, bay-bee! :D It's right next to Celebrity Sandwich.

AW, I'm up for the road trip to Portsmouth, when are we going??? Cafe Kelim sounds perfect and I'd spend waaaayyyy too much time there if we had one around the lake.

I suggested Starbucks because it's the most common higher-end chain that might possibly find it's way into the Region. The quality of the lattes and other specialy drinks depends not only on the beans, but also on the skills of the person making the drink, so good training is important. Peets would be better but I don't see them doing well up there. The coffe is a very strong - some might think bitter - for many people. Sorry folks but Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds and :eek: Burger King don't compare. Ideally, I'd like an independent coffee shop that sold great coffee, played good music and was an interesting and comfortable place to hang out for 45 minutes with a friend or alone, reading the paper.

Weirs guy

12-12-2007, 01:06 PM

Island Life may be onto something, we need more of the coffee huts like they have out Seattle way (we don't need one every 10 feet like them though) where you can get a fresh brewed cup of whatever you want made by someone who likes to make good coffee. Should be a reasonably inexpensive start up for someone with the guts to do so.

Not me of course.

brk-lnt

12-12-2007, 03:09 PM

Sorry folks but Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds and :eek: Burger King don't compare.

I'm with you on that! I never understand the lineup of cars outside any DD in the AM. People waiting in line to get a lousy cup of coffee served in a Styrofoam cup.

There is a place by my "weekday" house, that is local, independent, and has a coffee roaster right in the lobby. The brew is always fresh and tasty, plus they make good espresso drinks as well. AND a large there is 4 shots of espresso by default. As much as I like Starbucks, it seems kind of lame to have to order Grande's and Ventis with 1 or 2 extra shots because the default is too weak.

Argie's Wife

12-12-2007, 03:35 PM

Call me "Old Fashioned" but... other than "hot coffee" and "regular"... I don't get the lingo of the Starbucks cult. Double? Grande? Latte? It's Greek - no, make that French - to me. It's too much work - what if I mispronounce something? What if I'm asked a question I don't understand? What if there's ten people behind me and my order is a pain-in-the-arse type order that's a ton of trouble for the person behind the counter?

OH, WHERE'S THE HUMANITY IN IT ALL?!

I want hot water that's passed over excellent coffee beans. In a cup. Hot. With cream and sugar.

Simpleton, I am. :D

ApS

12-12-2007, 05:13 PM

So, when do you plan to open your "Starbucks Afloat"? I'll be one of the first ones in queue!
...And likely the last in queue for a Wolfeboro Town dock slip! :laugh:

No, not me: the idea is hanging out there for anybody. :)

"...After 10:30am you can get what I think is a very healthy meal for just $3.24. Choice of a double-cheeseburger or McChicken sandwich, strawberry yogurt parfait w/ granola chips, and small side salad w/ choice four different dressings & croutons/bacon bits, and a freebie cup of ice water..."
I'll have to give McDee's coffee a try. BK went with some other coffee that isn't half as good as their former excellent coffee. A manager told me proudly that the new coffee was "frozen". :confused:

That luncheon does sound healthy; however, I'll be waiting for a review by jeffk first. I've got three new McMansions next door and need to watch my pennies—after property taxes. :rolleye1:

At this moment, the discussion in the new weather forum is titled "Something's Brewing". The power of suggestion? :look:

Alton Bay

12-13-2007, 09:02 AM

As a non coffee drinking resident of Alton, I'd love to hear more thoughts on what services people look for in the area. There are folks out there looking for ways to make a living and perhaps we can come up here with some ideas that might be good realistic business oppotunities.

ghfromaltonbay

12-13-2007, 01:49 PM

I'd like to reiterate, we need a decent laundromat. The one in town has hazardous parking, too many machines out of order, and most times filthy conditions. Now that only 1 person is running it, it can only get worse.

I don't know if this is a possibility, but now that Julie's is closing in Wolfeboro, there are no places in the area to buy boutique style clothing. Julie's filled a definite niche. When I was last in there at least 4 or 5 customers were lamenting that once the store closed there would be no place like it near the lake.

kunamola

12-14-2007, 11:50 PM

I would like to say that there are too many Dunkin' Donuts in NH. Why does a town like Wolfeboro need one? I would rather see a small shop like "Pops" come back and sell homemade donuts, not ones made from a mix.

Wolfeboro has lost many of the places that made it a fun place to shop, little boutiques, clothing stores and interesting gift and craft shops that change their merchandise more often than every decade and sell something other than tourist sweatshirts.

How about a lobster pound back in Wolfeboro? And, I think everyone misses the Hatch Theater. Even the little mom and pop antique stores are going out of business on the north side of the lake.

I miss the little bowling alley in Melvin Village and the General Store. Who needs another antique car place? A gas and service station would be nice between Wolfeboro and Moultonboro. Melvin Village needs an ice cream joint too. Actually, it needs almost anything except an antique car place. Of course the store I miss the very most of all is the Hansel and Gretel Shop.

Argie's Wife

12-17-2007, 03:52 PM

Alton Bay -

Non-coffee (decaf!) ideas -

Daycare! Good grief - I can't tell you what we've been through trying to find a good, affordable daycare. Especially in the summer!

Pet sitting services - ditto.

Thrift or re-sale stores - there's one in town but is open a couple of days a week. I'd love a good second hand store or consignment store.

One hour dry cleaners.

Ditto on the comments about the laundry mat.

Now, I don't know how it would float in this town but I've always wanted to open up a Children's Museum in this town. I'd love to get some grant money, find an old building that could be renovated (perhaps the Alton Town Hall - someday!) and make something for kids of all ages that focuses on learning and encourages social interaction.

There's a great museum in Portsmouth - I'd use that for my model - but there's a very nice little museum in Concord now. I've spoken with the owner of the one in Concord and she's told me that many people have asked them to branch into the Lakes Region. The museum in Concord is more for toddlers/pre-schoolers but the one in Portsmouth is for babies to pre-teens, I'd say.

I have a dream... don't know if it will ever be a reality, but that's what I'd love to do!

ghfromaltonbay

12-18-2007, 12:38 PM

I haven't been inside since I don't have any children, but there is one in Meredith in a former elementary school. It's located between Main St. and Rte. 3 -- take a left off Rte. 3 just before the firehouse and make a left at the stop sign. This museum was formerly located at Senter's Market in Center Harbor where the knit shop presently sits. Don't know how much traffic they get since they're located off the beaten path. I don't know how much traffic Alton would have for another one. I would think Wolfeboro would have more possibilities for something like that.

Argie's Wife

12-18-2007, 01:39 PM

AltonGuy

12-18-2007, 05:29 PM

Thanks everyone for your replies! This has been a good read and has lasted some time.

I will get started on my "Mom and Pop" owned strip mall in Alton ASAP. Thus far this includes a Coffee Shop, Dry Cleaner, Pet Sitting business and Movie Theater. I'll also leave some vacant space available for those future endeavors (Children's Museums, etc.) To fund this effort I will be placing an honesty contribution jar outside of Curry Realtors. I am sure Steve Gray won't mind! ;)

BTW: I was kidding about the contribution jar!! :emb:

Mashugana

01-04-2008, 02:21 AM

Thanks everyone for your replies! This has been a good read and has lasted some time.
I will get started on my "Mom and Pop" owned strip mall in Alton ASAP.

How many acres of trees will be sacrificed for your strip mall?

There must be others out there that have ideas and thoughts to add to this topic. Now the holidays are done I can work on my list. I know what I think we have to much of but what could we use more of. Everything I come up with is too seasonal. For instance rickshaws around a town would be great but not in winter.

Mark

01-04-2008, 08:09 AM

Not enough = We don't have enough lobbyists.
Too many = rules, regulations and laws, and speed limits.

Too many laws because we don't have enough lobbyists.

Ropetow

01-04-2008, 09:56 AM

rickshaws around a town would be great but not in winter.

So just convert the rickshaws to horse-powered sleighs.... :rolleye2:

nj2nh

01-04-2008, 04:57 PM

What Alton needs . . .

. . . someone to rebuild the Oak Birch Inn and make it a good, old fashioned bed and breakfast with a really good coffee shop. Every time I drive by the old steps to the Inn, I sigh. I miss the old place even more than the pavilion.

. . . someone to rebuild McGrath's Gift Shop. I miss those little cedar boxes that I used to put all my treasures in.

Seriously, though, Alton could use a drug store. When my son needed asthma medication last summer, I had to schlep into Wolfeboro and wait and wait and wait.

Alton had a coffee bar a couple of summers ago in that little tiny building next to the Olde Bay Diner. It was yummy stuff, but only lasted that one year.

The best thing about each town not having everything is that is does encourage you to travel about and visit other places. When you do that, you inevitably find some place new to explore or shop. Not a bad way to go, really.

What the Weirs doesn't need . . .

. . . to change one tiny bit. It is virtually the only part of the lake left that is mostly unchanged. If you want Meredith, well, go to Meredith.

I am attaching a page from my scrapbook that I put together just a couple of weeks ago with pictures from the Weirs. Why would you want to tear this all down and build another Meredith???????

nj2nh

pmj

01-26-2008, 08:42 PM

Seriously, though, Alton could use a drug store. When my son needed asthma medication last summer, I had to schlep into Wolfeboro and wait and wait and wait.

Alton has a full service pharmacy in Hannaford.

One thing Alton does not need, IMHO, is a motorsport racing park.
Does anyone know what the zoning board meeting results were regarding the proposed motorsport park on Rt 28 S?

Mee-n-Mac

01-26-2008, 08:52 PM

One thing Alton does not need, IMHO, is a motorsport racing park. Does anyone know what the zoning board meeting results were regarding the proposed motorsport park on Rt 28 S?

Serious ? I hadn't heard of that. With Louden not that far away, I'd guess it'll never happen. How about a short track for shifter karts ? :devil:

pmj

01-26-2008, 09:14 PM

Yeah, unfortunately this was proposed for the Coffin Brook gravel pit site. The zoning board held its second meeting regarding this the other night. Petitions had been signed by local residents in abutting neighborhoods who are against it.
Lets hope you are right and it doesn't go through. Not only would this be a noise pollution issue, sanitation issue:eek:, parking issue, I'm sure I could go on and on.
:(

I agree that a pet sitting service is needed in Alton!

WeirsBeachBoater

01-26-2008, 09:44 PM

I am sure you would much rather all the kids stay home, play nintendo, get bored dabble with drugs, Right? Seriously, If everyone keeps up with the NIMBY mentality, and keeps fighting to stop motocross tracks, or snowmobile parks and trails, where do you propose kids with an interest in these sports go???

Don't get me started on this one.

pmj

01-27-2008, 07:05 AM

WBB,
Trust me,if you knew me you would know that I am the first person who would want kids to be out in the great outdoors and not inside playing nintendo, computers games or chat,etc.

I am not a fan of having a track like this in my backyard...would you honestly want one in your back yard?

In all due respect,I do not put this in the same catagory as snowmobile trails. The noise factors are quite different, with the noise from a motorcross racetrack being a constant. Noise from snowmobile trails is quite transient.

Coolbreeze

01-27-2008, 08:24 AM

I'd like so see less of a few things, I think the major brand chain store franchises are drowning out the charming family businesss the area was known for.

fatlazyless

01-27-2008, 08:43 AM

I'd like so see less of a few things, I think the major brand chain store franchises are drowning out the charming family businesss the area was known for.

Without a doubt, that's true. The busiest New Hampshire store that's north of Concord has got to be the Plymouth Super Wal-Mart. It's always open and almost always busy. People drive from all over to shop there.

In Meredith, it's all chains: McDonald's, Aubuchon, Shaw's Jackson Star, Cumberland Farm, Rite Aid, and a Hannaford's now on the way.

Where's the best little independant hardware store around for inventory and price? Amsoil synthetic oils-paint-glass & screen repairs & a million different items is in the exact central geographical spot of the entire state, and that's Ashland, NH, and at hardworking prices.....at the ....ASH HARDWARE in Ashland NH, one mile up the hill from Rt 93-exit 24, and don't be going over the 30mph Ashland speed limit or it will cost you 88 bucks!

upthesaukee

01-27-2008, 11:27 AM

I'd like so see less of a few things, I think the major brand chain store franchises are drowning out the charming family businesss the area was known for.

My wife and sister in law opened a yarn shop in Wolfeboro 3 1/2 years ago. It became necessary to close it down this past year in November. The yarn and products they featured were higher end. After having paid the rent out of our pocket for several months, it was time to close.

Once they announced the closing, and started selling everything off, people (locals) would come in and say "we hate to see you go, you are so convenient), but when they looked them up on their customer base, they had never bought a thing! Many businesses in this area either have to close in the winter or hope that the locals will support them during the slow months of winter.

I believe that in the past year in Wolfeboro alone, there are 10 business that have closed their doors.

the quaint little shops are slowly going away, not just because of the big box stores or chains, but because of a lack of support from the locals. The locals will drive 15 or 20 miles each way to go to a chain store rather than support the local economy. JMHO:rolleye2:

jogator1

01-27-2008, 01:03 PM

I agree with upthesaukee. There are a lot of locals complaining about big business and chain stores taking over but they are the ones supporting them financially. A lot of the above posts discuss previous businesses that have closed and how the area needs them but there is a reason they went out of business. It's because the local area could not support them. There's a reason why the boutique store closed and there's a reason why there aren't more movie theatres. It's a very difficult region to sustain a business year round and it's much easier for large chains to draw customers from a greater geographical area.

tis

01-27-2008, 04:54 PM

upthesaukee, I am very sorry to hear that. Your sister in law is a friend of mine. It is too bad that the mentality is that things are cheaper at the big box stores when in reality, if you compare apples for apples, the boxes are not usually cheaper.

phoenix

01-27-2008, 07:15 PM

when you factor in gas at $3-4 per gallon maybe people will stay closer to home

Grady223

01-28-2008, 12:56 PM

The same thing the rest of the state needs, good pizza.

ghfromaltonbay

01-28-2008, 01:26 PM

The same thing the rest of the state needs, good pizza.

Grady,

Try the pizza at Waldo Peppers. Since Waldo is from Joisey (NJ - which Exit?) his pizza is the real thing.

Now that you know where to get good pizza, can you tell me where to get a decent bagel and bread with real crust? Being from the NY metro area, we're spoiled as far as good bagels, crusty bread and great German wursts and cold cuts.

Grady223

01-29-2008, 03:36 PM

Yo Clifton,

Thanks for the tip on the pizza, I will try it out. If a guy from Clifton likes it, it must be good.

A guy from Hackensack I knew owned a bagel shop in Center Harbor (BayGuls) and I understand the bagels were good. I can't vouch because I haven't been there. He passed away a year ago but the place was still there this past summer.

Garfield

ghfromaltonbay

01-29-2008, 04:28 PM

Yo Clifton,

Thanks for the tip on the pizza, I will try it out. If a guy from Clifton likes it, it must be good.

Actually, I'm a gal from Clifton, but in any case, the pizza is the thinner crispy crust type with lots of air bubbles in the crust. Just the way I like it.

I'll have to try out the bagels in CH, I know just where they are located. Hackensack is 4 miles from where I live. gtxrider just bought some great ones this past weekend from Fair Lawn, NJ which has a large Jewish population and has a lot of good delicatessens and bagel shops. These bagels were almost as big as the spare tire that came with my Malibu. Just as a point of reference, their "mini-bagels" are the size of the Lenders bagels you can buy in the freezer section at the supermarket.

fatlazyless

01-29-2008, 09:14 PM

Looks like the Home Depot has changed their mind about putting a store right next to the Gilford Lowe's due to not enuf business. And the proposed Cumberland Farms gas station near Nadia's Trattoria at the old PSNH building was sold to Irwin Ford-Toyota. Cumby sold it to Irwin for 1,050,000.

Having a Lowes move into the neighborhood has got to be like the worst nightmare for local independant hardware stores. Just a short drive up the road to Lowes, parking, free coffee/hot chocolate, atm, rest rooms, lumber and a big box full of stuff...and even yellow tagged bargain close-outs...a lot of the Lowe's employees are women. Even this time of year there's always maybe 30 cars in the lot. Gilford has it assessed for like 12 million dollars, too. So close to Laconia, but so far away, believe it almost sits on the border. Laconia would be moving their border to include the Lowe's if Laconia could get away with it.

I've read that big-box, home improvement stores in places like Brazil, Mexico, Germany & France grow a following of therapeutic massage businesses close by the store. A place where weary tradespeople can go to get their overworked bodies realigned. And, if the Gilford Lowe's could get that going at their reasonable Lowe's prices, that would be my big hope for improving home improvement here in the Lakes Region. Maybe, just across the border in economically depressed Laconia?

Grady223

01-30-2008, 11:16 AM

Sorry, Gal from Clifton

Know Fairlawn well, lived 8 years in Glen Rock. My history has been: Garfield, Teaneck, Wayne, Riverdale, Sparta, Glen Rock and now Bucks County PA - summers on the Lake.

Seems that bagels in the NYC area are getting bigger and bigger. Still, if you get traditional Brooklyn bagels they are small, compact and crispy.

I, too, will try BayGuls and we can compare notes this summer.

Grady223

ghfromaltonbay

01-30-2008, 12:37 PM

Sorry, Gal from Clifton

Know Fairlawn well, lived 8 years in Glen Rock. My history has been: Garfield, Teaneck, Wayne, Riverdale, Sparta, Glen Rock and now Bucks County PA - summers on the Lake.

That's ok, a lot of people are thrown off by just the initials gh. GTXrider (my brother) and I have a similar history: I'm Clifton, Ridgefield, Rochelle Park and back to Clifton. My Dad was born in Garfield - Sampson St. GTX is: Clifton, Ridgefield, Union, Piscataway. Hopefully one day we will both add Alton Bay or some place close as the next stop.

It's definitely worth the 5-6 hour drive to Winni, you can't compare any of the lakes in NJ or PA with it.

CanisLupusArctos

01-31-2008, 12:28 PM

The lakes region towns could use more community. More of that humble small-town feel that caused so many of us to fall in love with the area in the first place. The essentials are getting increasingly spread out, requiring long drives in different directions.

20 years ago, Center Harbor had a pharmacy (now a law firm)... next to Robbin's General Store (also part of the Canoe & Kayak place) which was next to Andersen's Bakery (also part of the Canoe and Kayak place.) The Wine store used to be a sports shop.

It was possible to park once (boat or car) and walk around to all the places you needed. It even had boat gas pumps. People would come by boat and by car to the same point, and walk around to buy groceries, fresh bread and donuts, a prescription refill, fishing tackle, a couple of outdoor floodlights... and you were likely to bump into people you knew... or get to know people after meeting them a few times. It was centralized community.

I miss that.

nj2nh

01-31-2008, 05:24 PM

nightrider

01-31-2008, 07:44 PM

How many acres of trees will be sacrificed for your strip mall?

There must be others out there that have ideas and thoughts to add to this topic. Now the holidays are done I can work on my list. I know what I think we have to much of but what could we use more of. Everything I come up with is too seasonal. For instance rickshaws around a town would be great but not in winter.

How about a strip club?

ghfromaltonbay

02-01-2008, 09:08 AM

I think Alton Bay is hanging on to its community feel by its fingernails. Once the roller skating rink closed and McGrath's (not the supermarkey) disappeared and Busy Corner stopped being, well, Busy Corner, things began to disappear. Now the Blue Jay Mini-Golf is for sale. Once that goes, there won't be anything left in Alton Bay.
nj2nh

From the Baysider article that McDude posted yesterday, it looks like the Blue Jay will remain as a mini-golf course. The new owner also has the mini-golf in Chichester (near the Weathervane) and that looks really nice. The upgrades he mentioned in the article should see an improvement. If he also adds a pizza shop in the vacant store that will also make that corner a little busier again. The previous owners weren't going to make any improvements, they were looking to retire as their family had left the nest, and weren't going to put any $ into the place.

I'm with you though, nj2nh, the place isn't the same without the old McGraths and Busy Corner. I still remember going by boat to do laundry for my mother at the little laundromat behind Busy Corner (I wasn't old enough to drive a car). A load of wash was 25 cents back then. At that time the post office was also in that building where the "gift shop" is located in Amilynne's.

fatlazyless

02-01-2008, 09:31 AM

ghfromaltonbay

02-01-2008, 11:50 AM

A post office can relocate to almost anywhere in a town and attract local postal patrons. Let me just guess, not being all that familiar with Alton Bay. The post office's moving out of the general store started the economic slide of the Alton Bay business neighborhood at the point area?

Did any businesses follow, or spring up at the po's new Alton location?

Not in this case. The PO only moved across the street into the building owned by the Blue Jay. I think the fire in McGrath's was the beginning of the end for the Alton Bay "business district". McGrath's was a combination grocery, 5&10 and clothing store. Once it burned down and the new smaller store opened on that site (it was more like a mini-mart on the lower level and clothing boutique upstairs) the traffic declined. That smaller store is now Gillan Marine. McGrath's reopened as a small supermarket down in Alton and remained there until last year when it became the new 5&10. With Hannafords now at the circle in Alton and most other businesses on Alton's Main St., I don't see Alton Bay's busy corner making a comeback. This may not be a bad thing--that corner is a dangerous spot for pedestrians with Route 11 making the bend there. Unfortunately, not too many drivers observe the 15 mph limit heading around that turn.

Weirs guy

02-01-2008, 12:41 PM

How about a strip club?

Seconded and moved for a vote.

The small town shops are tough, and I think of the new owners of the Weir General store when I think of this. They tried their darnedest to stay open year round, but with a new cumbies up the hill and very few of us at the bottom there just isn't the traffic they need. I even found myself driving up the hill because I needed something the General Store didn't have by cumbies did. Its tough, but at the end of the day my wallet dictates my shopping preferences more then my heart.

eyenotall777

02-01-2008, 01:27 PM

When you are leaving the bay and start to drive 11E all the businesses/houses for sale? And then you approach the Alton Traffic Circle (which is my mind does not need any fixin', drivers just need to pay attention to the yield signs) head 28N everything is for sale on both sides!!! I understand people wanting to cash in, but would most definately HATE to see the recreational area ruined and hope the Town is very careful on what they approve and let in w/o ruining the character. I would rather drive the 20 min. to Concord/Rochester or Gilford to a Home Improvement store and rather eat @ an independent restaurant than a chain. They are just not needed everywhere. Did w/o them 20yrs. ago everywhere, we can still do it. If people want all that stuff, then choose to live in the city or more populated areas, but then again, I guess there is "built it and they will come"?

ghfromaltonbay

02-01-2008, 01:38 PM

When you are leaving the bay and start to drive 11E all the businesses/houses for sale? I would rather drive the 20 min. to Concord/Rochester or Gilford to a Home Improvement store and rather eat @ an independent restaurant than a chain. They are just not needed everywhere. Did w/o them 20yrs. ago everywhere, we can still do it. If people want all that stuff, then choose to live in the city or more populated areas, but then again, I guess there is "built it and they will come"?

I've been coming to Alton Bay since 1959 and it would be a shame to see the area built up more than it is. I never thought I'd see the day that Alton would get a traffic light, but that too has happened. Even having a Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds seems like an encroachment. I prefer to get my "fast food" or coffee at one of the local businesses. I come to Alton from NJ for the summer to get away from all that. I've noticed that a lot of stores/houses are also for sale in Wolfeboro. Black's was sold, the Straw Cellar has been for sale for a while, and my favorite shop Julie's was in the process of closing down last fall. I don't know if the owners are aging out and just want to retire like the Blue Jay owners or if they can't find good help and the costs to run these businesses doesn't make it worth it anymore.

fatlazyless

02-01-2008, 01:49 PM

Yeah, a strip club would be a good fit for the Weirs....it's pretty deserted from Sept to May....lots of parking....and if I lost my license for dwi....I could still get there by kayak. NH is not too big on strip joints. There are none in the Lakes Region. What Belknap County needs is a good truck stop with a restaurant and strip club....maybe over by the closed-up water park which is for sale up on White Oaks Rd.

Or better yet, how about in exchange for no speed limits whatsoever, designate The Weirs as a strip club zone....yeah...what a great idea....someone...Call The Governor....even the Mount could have a Wednesday nite adults only night or something.

Hell's bells, even I'd get on-board for that! :banana::cheers::banana::cheers::banana:

Cristen

02-01-2008, 06:09 PM

I would love to see a Starbucks in Meredith. :liplick:

MRJS

02-19-2008, 12:18 AM

Since the Weirs is the focal point of Lake Winnipesaukee I think that improvements there gain the biggest bang for the buck.

The area around the drive-in theatre always looks like a dusty, beat-up flea market. It needs to be finished off with a bit of class. A fence with white rails and solid granite posts would look good.

It would be nice to have sidewalks with granite curbs to safely separate the walkers from the cars and bikers all the way to the Tamarack.

The Victorian village should be torn down and replaced with stores and shops that are consistent with a boardwalk. Those houses only cater to a couple dozen people at any one time. The real estate could be used to cater to everybody. It doesn't have to be Meredith-quality, just more boardwalk-quality.

The road leaving the Weirs and heading towards the Tamarack could use a repaving. At least thank all the visitors who are leaving with a smooth, scenic ride.

A lot of times, we don't need anything new, we just need to make what we have look good.

GWC...

02-19-2008, 12:31 AM

riverat

02-19-2008, 07:53 AM

Saw a small group of people looking over the Blue Jay site with great interest yesterday :eek2:

SteveA

02-19-2008, 06:33 PM

Why not bulldoze Arlington National Cemetery, at the same time? Surely the land could be a financial bonanza...

Since this is President's Day, why not bulldoze the Lincoln and Washington Memorials, too?

Perhaps a little time studying the history of those Victorian houses will give cause for reconsideration...

The Weirs is a special place.. the less it changes the better.. fix up, clean up, I'm ok with..:)

Check this out..

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4035&highlight=Story+house

The more of the Weirs we save .. the better.. Change isn't always good.. and the "old" isn't always bad. :)

All IMHO

Lakegeezer

02-19-2008, 07:04 PM

The lakes region is short on good paying jobs. What will the region look like in 2010 and 2020? Today, tourism is the primary business. With the baby boomer going into semi-retirement and work-from-home gaining acceptance, the population is changing. A new economy of support services might flourish. Will it?

ghfromaltonbay

02-20-2008, 01:15 PM

Saw a small group of people looking over the Blue Jay site with great interest yesterday :eek2:

While driving west thru Alton on Monday afternoon, we passed the former owners of the Blue Jay heading east on Rt. 11 after 1 pm. They were probably headed home to Mass., and I would assume they had been in town to either clean stuff out of the building or were there to meet with the new owners or realty folks. I'll have to drop them a note and find out what's up. If we had known they'd be in town they could have joined our annual Sandy Point reunion lunch at Johnson's and celebrated the sale of the Blue Jay.