Notes from Last Night's Select Board Meeting

Dorothy Heinrichs gave us these. They're unofficial and unapproved. As always, you can comment on the Discussion Board or on the post itself.

The board voted to accept an emergency radio provided at no cost to the Town. It is being provided by the State of NH with funding from the federal government and will be used by Orange's Emergency Management Director, Brent Stevens.

Friday, July 19, has been set as the day for the annual large trash pick up. As before, no hazardous material, paints, chemicals or fluorescent bulbs. A list of locations which will accept these items at no cost will be posted on this site. In addition, rresidents may meet the truck and pay for extra items as follows:

• Tires $15 each
• Items containing Freon: $35 each
• Televisions/computer monitors: $25 each

 If not paid for at the time of collection, the items will be left for the owner to properly dispose.

The board voted to approve training for the overseer of welfare, the health officer, and the town clerk.

The board's secretary, Sandi Pierson, reported that she has completed the review of residents currently receiving veteran's or elderly exemptions. Next up, a review of all current use exemptions.

Finally, all agreed that the Conservation Commission's potluck and talk by Ben Kilham on NH's black bears was a smashing success with more than 60 people in attendance.

Bears Attract a Crowd

Sixty people packed the Orange Town House for a potluck and a talk by noted bear expert Ben Kilhan last night. We learned several things:

1. Bears don't have long-range sounds like other animals. Instead, they communicate with long-range smells and a special organ that detects smells.
2. "If you want a bear on your roof, put a bird feeder up there."
3. Bears have their own sense of justice. Feeding them is like a contract. If you break it, they will punish you or your yard.
4. If a bear mock charges, stand your ground and back off slowly, speaking quietly. Bears are very good at reading your signals.
5. Bears are coming out of their dens now, eating grasses and the buds of trees like beeches. 
6. Bears are highly social animals; even the males form pairs or groups, in part to keep from being chased off by territorial females.

 The event was arranged by the Orange Conservation Commission, chaired by Scott Lurgio. Pictures below. Click for full images.

 

Select Board Minutes from March 14

They're official and approved and you'll find them here.

Don't forget Bear Night with world-renowned expert Ben Killiam, Sunday, April 7, in the Town House. Check the calendar for details.

Two Impressive Young Orangeites

A pair of Orange offspring have been doing great things near and far. 

Check out this story about Matt Jones, who's finishing up his degree at UNH and teaching Chinese in his spare time. He spent part of his junior year in Beijing, living with a Chinese student.

Dorothy Jr. gets the DAISY award from the Chief Nursing Officer at DHMC.And congratulations to DHMC nurse Dorothy Watson Heinrichs ("Dorothy Junior"), who won the DAISY award for extraordinary nursing. Created by the DAISY Foundation (the acronym stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune System), the award is given at 1,400 hospitals throughout the world. Dorothy was honored for her two-day effort to help a patient vote in the Presidential election last November. Dorothy not only talked the doctor into letting the patient out of the hospital an hour before a procedure; she even ensured that the patient got to cut in front of the line (the hospital gown helped). 

Check Out the New Photos

Sandi Pierson just sent this amazing picture of a bear cloud, shot from her cabin. The sky must be reminding us to go to the Bear Night in the Town House on April 7. (See the calendar for details.)

Go to the photo albums if you haven't yet--lots of great pix of Orange scenes and people--and, of course, Cardigan Mountain.