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fatlazyless · 12-23-2007, 10:14 PM

Dug Friday's newspaper out of the kitchen trash...very interesting news item....would like to see it get built....community sailing opens the lake to local kids & adults who don't have a Winnipesaukee boat opportunity.

www.lwsa.org

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Winni sailing sees new facility at Ellacoya

By Michael Kitch
The Laconia Daily Sun

GILFORD-The Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing Association, Inc which has taught sailing to youngsters and sponsored sailing races for 20 years, is planning to build a new facility at Ellacoya State Park and expand its offerings to include adult sailing lessons and an adaptive program, which will introduce sailing to those with physical and mental disabilities.

Tom Mullen, who chairs the association's Sailing Center Development Committee, said yesterday that discussions were underway with the Division of Parks and Recreation of the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED) about siting a faciliy at the westernmost edge of the park where the beach meets Scenic Drive. He stressed that negotiations with state officials were still in the early stages, but that the site is being surveyed and the facility designed "with DRED's blessing."

The project, Mullen explained, would include construction of a breakwater, dug-in boat basin, docking facilities, launching ramp and a small building that would double as a classroom in the summer and storehouse in the winter. Mullen said that the association hopes to sail from its new home port in the summer of 2009.

Mullen estimated the cost of the project at $1-million, half of which will be defrayed by in-kind contributions of services and materials from members while the balance will be raised friom corporate sponsors, individuals donors and local communities. He noted that because the association is a charity, all contributions are tax deductible.

"We're going to tap the communities around the lake on the shoulder." Mullen said, adding that each of the eight municipalities bordering the lake would be asked to contribute $10,000 toward the project. The association intends to place warrant articles on the ballots for town meetings in March.

This week Mullen pitched the Gilford Board of Selectmen. "I'm frankly asking for your support," he told the board. Chairman Alice
Boucher expressed concern that "everyone of us is involved in one way or another with the Winnipesaukee Yacht Club and we may have a conflict of interest."

Mullen replied that the association's relationship with the yacht club was "informal, with no ties that bind. I don't think it's remotely a conflict," he said. He said that he would prefer for the board to present a warrant article, but "if you tell us this is a terrible idea, we will submit a petition."

Town Administrator Evans Juris advised the selectmen that the association should present a petitioned warrant article, but reminded them they were bound to offer their recommendation.

Connie Grant applauded the project, but said she could not recommend contributing taxpayers' dollars to it, especially after "cutting a number of other worthy causes to keep the budget to bare bones."

The board, which earlier in the same meeting agreed to defer its recommendations on warrant articles until it meets in January, advised Mullen that the deadline for the petitioned warrant articles falls on January 8.

Founded in 1988, the association has operated from Fay's Boatyard in Smith Cove and the Winnipesaukee Yacht Club at Saunders Bay during June, July and August. 'We've relied on the good graces of Merrill Fay and the yacht club," Mullen said, "but our programs have outgrown their facilities. We're teaching 200 kids to sail each summer and turning away 200 more. With the new center we can enroll 300 students a year."

Mullen said that the adaptive program will be the first of its kind n New Hampshire. The association plans to begin with a pair of 16-foot sailboats equipped with computer assisted controls, which Mullen said enable individuals with the most severe disabilities to enjoy sailing. "The blind, paraplegics even quadriplegics can sail these boats," he said." Sailing offers them a freedom they don't have off the water."

The center will be named in honor of David Adams of Alton, a graduate and instructor of the associations Youth Sailing Academy who raced competitively at the University of New Hampshire and claimed several Junior National and Junior Olympic titles before he lost a valiant struggle with cancer more than a year ago.

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The Laconia Daily Sun
Friday Dec 21, 2007

by Michael Kitch

12-23-2007, 10:14 PM	#3
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,527 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 296 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	Dug Friday's newspaper out of the kitchen trash...very interesting news item....would like to see it get built....community sailing opens the lake to local kids & adults who don't have a Winnipesaukee boat opportunity. www.lwsa.org ................................. Winni sailing sees new facility at Ellacoya By Michael Kitch The Laconia Daily Sun GILFORD-The Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing Association, Inc which has taught sailing to youngsters and sponsored sailing races for 20 years, is planning to build a new facility at Ellacoya State Park and expand its offerings to include adult sailing lessons and an adaptive program, which will introduce sailing to those with physical and mental disabilities. Tom Mullen, who chairs the association's Sailing Center Development Committee, said yesterday that discussions were underway with the Division of Parks and Recreation of the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED) about siting a faciliy at the westernmost edge of the park where the beach meets Scenic Drive. He stressed that negotiations with state officials were still in the early stages, but that the site is being surveyed and the facility designed "with DRED's blessing." The project, Mullen explained, would include construction of a breakwater, dug-in boat basin, docking facilities, launching ramp and a small building that would double as a classroom in the summer and storehouse in the winter. Mullen said that the association hopes to sail from its new home port in the summer of 2009. Mullen estimated the cost of the project at $1-million, half of which will be defrayed by in-kind contributions of services and materials from members while the balance will be raised friom corporate sponsors, individuals donors and local communities. He noted that because the association is a charity, all contributions are tax deductible. "We're going to tap the communities around the lake on the shoulder." Mullen said, adding that each of the eight municipalities bordering the lake would be asked to contribute $10,000 toward the project. The association intends to place warrant articles on the ballots for town meetings in March. This week Mullen pitched the Gilford Board of Selectmen. "I'm frankly asking for your support," he told the board. Chairman Alice Boucher expressed concern that "everyone of us is involved in one way or another with the Winnipesaukee Yacht Club and we may have a conflict of interest." Mullen replied that the association's relationship with the yacht club was "informal, with no ties that bind. I don't think it's remotely a conflict," he said. He said that he would prefer for the board to present a warrant article, but "if you tell us this is a terrible idea, we will submit a petition." Town Administrator Evans Juris advised the selectmen that the association should present a petitioned warrant article, but reminded them they were bound to offer their recommendation. Connie Grant applauded the project, but said she could not recommend contributing taxpayers' dollars to it, especially after "cutting a number of other worthy causes to keep the budget to bare bones." The board, which earlier in the same meeting agreed to defer its recommendations on warrant articles until it meets in January, advised Mullen that the deadline for the petitioned warrant articles falls on January 8. Founded in 1988, the association has operated from Fay's Boatyard in Smith Cove and the Winnipesaukee Yacht Club at Saunders Bay during June, July and August. 'We've relied on the good graces of Merrill Fay and the yacht club," Mullen said, "but our programs have outgrown their facilities. We're teaching 200 kids to sail each summer and turning away 200 more. With the new center we can enroll 300 students a year." Mullen said that the adaptive program will be the first of its kind n New Hampshire. The association plans to begin with a pair of 16-foot sailboats equipped with computer assisted controls, which Mullen said enable individuals with the most severe disabilities to enjoy sailing. "The blind, paraplegics even quadriplegics can sail these boats," he said." Sailing offers them a freedom they don't have off the water." The center will be named in honor of David Adams of Alton, a graduate and instructor of the associations Youth Sailing Academy who raced competitively at the University of New Hampshire and claimed several Junior National and Junior Olympic titles before he lost a valiant struggle with cancer more than a year ago. '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' The Laconia Daily Sun Friday Dec 21, 2007 by Michael Kitch __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake! Last edited by fatlazyless; 12-23-2007 at 11:45 PM.