Kelly Egan

The fourth annual Winnipesaukee Wakesurf Open was hosted at Melvin Village Marina, on Aug. 1. Organized by Kevin Dubia, the competition was judged by Eric Turchon, Bailey Dunn, and Torin Steggmeyer, and the competition boat was piloted by Collin Frucci. The event had three divisions: the open or pro division, men's amateur division, and women's amateur division. There were four pro competitors, eight women's amateur competitors, and 18 men's amateur entrees. The top three finishers in each divis...

The Winnisquam Watershed Network released two water monitoring buoys onto Lake Winnisquam last week. The project is an effort to collect data about the lake’s water quality and changing current conditions.The WWN team boated out to the two buoy locations last week, permitted by Marine Patrol, and released them with heavy anchors. The first buoy was released on Aug. 5, just north of Three Island. The second buoy was released on Aug. 9, south of Mohawk Island.The buoys are bright yellow, have a li...

For 66 years, the Northeastern District Barbershop Harmony Society has hosted the Barbershop Harmony Jamboree in the Lakes Region, bringing together barbershop singing groups from all over the country. This year’s main concert is at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 15, with several other events being held Friday and Saturday, Aug. 14-15.

While the main event had previously been held in Alton Bay, this is the jamboree’s fifth year in Meredith. The weekend-long festival has been hosted in the Lakes Region for several decades, hosting a capella barbershop groups and choruses from as far as Texas and Maryland.

WEIRS BEACH — The Weirs Boulevard Bridge, carrying Route 3 and Weirs Boulevard, will undergo a full reconstruction after Labor Day weekend.The $1.9 million project will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 8. The bridge, across from the Langley Cove development, will be closed until the last week of November, and the road will be open to local traffic only on both sides.Those looking to drive to 556 Weirs Blvd or south will be able to get through, but anyone looking to reach as far as 569 Weirs Blvd will be...

GILFORD — Marine Patrol's new boating education initiative meets boaters where they are: at boat ramps.

The new On The Ramp education program started at the beginning of July.

On The Ramp sends certified boating instructors to public boat ramps on New Hampshire lakes to educate boaters through hands-on assistance before heading out on the water. Instructors are equipped with buoy stickers, safety handbooks, and other required boating safety equipment available to give to boaters launching from public ramps.

The initiative comes after a recent change to Granite State boating laws regarding safety certificates. The state Legislature amended the law, as of Jan. 1, allowing anyone age 18 and over to take their final boating safety exam online, and anyone age 16-18 is required to take the final exam in-person. The law previously mandated that everyone testing for a boating license was required to take the final exam in-person, with a state-issued instructor, regardless of taking a boating safety course online or in person.

GILFORD — Country Music Hall of Famer Kenny Chesney's forthcoming album, "Silver Sands Marina," is named after the waterfront destination on Lake Winnipesaukee."Silver Sands Marina," Chesney’s 21st album, features an image of the Silver Sands Marina as the album cover, along with the album title, and title track.“I’m thrilled,” said Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH). “Lake Winnipesaukee is such a special place that holds fond memories for Granite Staters and visitors alike, and it’s great to see it in th...

NORTHFIELD — When Paul Blaisdell’s wife, Raven, died in 2018, he honored her and her love of reading by creating a foundation to support the Hall Memorial Library. Today, The Raven Gael Blaisdell Foundation supports several Tilton and Northfield community events, including the Movies in the Park summer series.The foundation helps encourage children to read, and brings the community together by hosting events year-round.“I’m very proud that my wife’s name is on it,” Blaisdell said.Paul and Raven...

LACONIA — The Children’s Literacy Foundation gave out 330 books during an author talk and giveaway event at Pleasant Street School on Monday.Children’s book author Carrie Kruck visited Pleasant Street School Monday morning with CLiF, to read a book to students in grades one through five, and talk to them about how she became an author.Through CLiF, Kruck provided dozens of picture and chapter books for children to choose from to take home for free.“Our goal is to get kids excited about books," K...

GILFORD—Country music star Thomas Rhett performed at BankNH Pavilion Friday night, part of his "The Soundtrack to Life Tour." Rhett performed all of his chart-topping hits, including "Make Me Wanna," "Look What God Gave Her," and "After All the Bars Are Closed." This is Rhett's third time performing at the venue in Gilford, and claimed during the concert Gilford is one of his "favorites parts of the country" to perform in. For Rhett's upcoming performances, visit thomasrhett.com/tour.

GILFORD — Dillon Bentlage grew up summering in Laconia, with his family. Now, he returns to the Lakes Region for a screening of his new feature film."Watching Mr. Pearson" will make its local premiere at Gilford Cinemas 8, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 23. Bentlage spent summers in the Lakes Region since 2009, and feels “truly honored” to be screening his directorial debut in Gilford.The film, starring Hugo Armstrong, follows a retired Hollywood movie star in the last years of his life as he goes...

TUFTONBORO — Melvin Village Marina will host the fourth annual Winnipesaukee Wakesurf Open on Saturday, Aug. 1.The wakesurf open is a competition for all skill levels. There is a professional division, and women's and men's amateur divisions. In the amateur divisions, wakesurfers of all ages compete together.The competition will accept up to 50 entries, with 40 online registrations available and 10 spots left open for those who want to register same-day. Online registrations are accepted until J...

Sweet Readings, a summer reading challenge at Happy Cow Ice Cream Shop, in Laconia, returns for a second year. Those who complete the challenge are awarded a free small ice cream.Calise Houle, owner of Happy Cow, created the challenge, inspired by her own childhood memories of completing businesses' summer reading challenges.“When I was younger, Pizza Hut used to give you a free pizza if you read,” Houle said. “It was a huge thing, and we’re pretty old school here, so we’re just trying to encour...

Local musician Henry LaLiberte hit a milestone last year, playing 300 shows in 2025 alone. Almost all of his gigs were in the Lakes Region.Over the past 10 years, LaLiberte has become one of the area’s staple acoustic musicians, playing consistently at dozens of restaurants, including Patrick’s Pub & Eatery in Gilford, DOX on Winnipesaukee and The Alamo Texas BBQ at Weirs Beach, Giuseppe’s Pizzeria & Ristorante and Towns Docks Restaurant in Meredith, and 405 Pub & Grill in Laconia.“I'm amazed, a...

PLYMOUTH — When Victoria Kelly was younger, she loved doing her own nails, and her mom’s nails, for fun. Now, at 19, she is the owner of a salon and esthetics studio.Kelly opened Nails Via Victoria downtown, on June 4, a few minutes from the Plymouth State University campus.“It's amazing. I don't even know how to put it in words,” Kelly said. “I get to make everything my own. I can make my own schedule. I can paint the walls whatever color I want. It's really exciting.”Kelly, a Winnisquam Region...

MEREDITH—A Lego replica of Meredith Public Library built by teens is now on display. The idea of building a Lego replica, led by librarian MaryBeth King, is to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the library's building. King and the teens built the replica by referring to a photo of the building, using brick Lego pieces they already had, and some they ordered.

“We ordered some Lego castle bricks and just winged it,” King said. “We did it with no directions.”

Any teens who visited the library while the replica was being built were welcome to participate. Teens who worked on the build included Aria Klaft, Izabella Horne, and April Dudley.

“It’s cool that people took time out of their day to come to the library and work on it,” Dudley said.

By the time the structure was complete, King said a total of around 10 teens had worked on it.

“Every day I came back, and I saw little pieces added on,” Horne said. “It was really fun and unique.”

The replica is open on the top, so the inside of the library building can be shown. The group put together details including book shelves with actual book titles, and Lego figures reading inside.

“Everybody who worked on it got their own mini figure,” Klaft said. “It was really fun.”

“I thought the idea of putting mini books on shelves was super cool,” Dudley said. “It looks very realistic, and identical to the library.”

King estimates the replica took a full day to finish, with all the working hours put together. King hopes the replica will be on display for years to come, to show off how the teens worked together to complete the project.

“It took a lot of teamwork. We’re all like a little library family,” King said. “I’m sure if its handled with care, it will last.”

The library is open Tuesday through Saturday, at 91 Main St., for viewing of the replica. For hours, visit meredithlibrary.org. Meredith Public Library is closed Friday and Saturday, July 3-4, to celebrate Independence Day.

LACONIA — The Belknap Mill was vandalized twice last month. In both incidents, staff found at least one window broken in the early morning when coming in for work. Staff discovered the first broken window on June 10. According to police records, the call came in at 9:34 a.m.

“It looked like a big rock was thrown through the window,” said Fallon Reed, development manager for the Belknap Mill Society.

The next day, there were three more smashed windows, which a janitorial staff member found when they came in. Police records show their dispatch received the report at 5:42 a.m. on June 11.

“The first time, we thought could be accidental, but the second time seemed targeted,” Reed said. “We’ve never [suffered] vandalism to this extent, but we’re glad it was just damage, and nothing was stolen.”

Mill staff are currently working with police in an attempt to identify those responsible. The Belknap Mill Society addressed the damage in a statement released June 24.

“Seeing this damage was difficult for our staff, volunteers, members, and everyone who values and supports its mission,” the statement reads. “As many of you know, the Belknap Mill is more than a historic building. It is a treasured landmark, a gathering place, and a living reminder of the history that shaped Laconia and the Lakes Region.”

In the release, the mill shared the launch of the Window Repair Campaign, created to allow community members to contribute to the mill’s financial requirements needed to repair the damage.

“We are asking our members and supporters to help us restore what was lost,” the statement continues. “Your contribution to our Window Repair Campaign will directly support the repair and restoration of the damaged windows and help ensure that the Belknap Mill remains a welcoming and beautiful community resource for generations to come.”

Community members wasted no time donating to the fund.

“In not even 48 hours, we collected $7,200 out of our $7,500 goal,” Reed said.

As of press time, the fundraiser has reached 98% of its goal.

For more details, visit belknapmill.org

LACONIA — The Laconia Middle School’s boys track and field relay team ranked first at the state championship on June 9, at Manchester Memorial High School. The boys team ended the season undefeated.Eighth graders Dante Vlk, Marcello Ruley, Ian Kristoffersen and Luke Dorval-Drown won first place overall in the 4x100 relay, with a time of 48.12 seconds.Vlk and Ruley have been running track for two years, while Kristoffersen and Dorval-Drown have been running for three. The boys began practicing to...

TILTON — The town will now be recognized as a Purple Heart Community. The honor became official on June 18, at the town’s selectboard meeting.Tilton is the 32nd town in New Hampshire to be recognized as a Purple Heart Community, and the third in recent memory in the Lakes Region: Belmont became one in August 2025, and Franklin in May 2024.“Especially this year, because it’s the 250th anniversary of our country, it’s important to recognize the serious accomplishments, and the trials and tribulati...

GILFORD — The Lakes Winnipesaukee Sailing Association is introducing a new series of all-female adult sailing classes this year.The LWSA team is celebrating their 39th anniversary, and the second year for their new director, Theresa Martens. Martens pitched the idea of women's sailing classes at the end of last summer, after speaking with female members of the Winnipesaukee Yacht Club.“At the Thursday night races, ladies didn’t want to get yelled [at] on the water and lose their enthusiasm,” Mar...

GILFORD — Gov. Kelly Ayotte emphasized safety on the water this summer, during an event at Marine Patrol headquarters, along the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, to kick off boating season June 11.The press event was organized by the New Hampshire Marine Trades Association. Speakers reminded boaters of the rules that come with operating a boat on New Hampshire’s lakes, and how to be safe and environmentally responsible when boating this summer. Along with Ayotte, speakers included Director of Stat...

LACONIA — The women's riding club Spice and Ice Sisterhood is attending their third Laconia Motorcycle Week this year.Primarily from Nashua, Spice and Ice Sisterhood empowers dozens of female motorcycle riders across the state to ride together, and all current members of the club are mothers. The founders are Sheri Durgin, Pricilla Iraola, Jen Taylor and Liz Mortimer, with Erin Gaudette as their road captain.Durgin, of Nashua, has been riding since she was a teenager, but stopped when she had a...

New Hampshire native Dave Dodge's newest book is about a historical — and recently, controversial — New England figure.“Hannah: One Woman's Quest for Vengeance and Enlightenment” is an historical fiction novel that tells the story of Hannah Duston, a Puritan woman from Colonial Massachusetts who was captured with her infant child by the Abenaki tribe of Quebec in 1697. Shortly after her capture, members of the Abenaki tribe killed her baby in front of her.While in captivity, Duston and two other...

LACONIA — Student speakers at Laconia High School's 148th graduation ceremony Friday night encouraged their classmates to cherish the memories."When you think back on this speech, don't remember me or what I said, just remember that your time is the only currency you can never get back," valedictorian Ava Noyes said. "Never be so busy planning your life that you forget to live it."Noyes was captain of the women's varsity soccer team, as well as a member of the school's math team, and National Ho...

WEIRS BEACH — When brothers Ethan and Oliver Roy, owners of Water Street Cafe, saw a building was available in the Weirs traffic circle, they met with the landlord to pitch their idea for a new shop.“The building’s always been a convenience store, smoke shop or a gas station, so we said, ‘You know what? Let's do food and delivery,” Ethan said. “‘Let's take everything we know with the food quality from Water Street and transfer it over to this new business.’ We're just really lucky and really exc...