Bedford's 'answer woman'Field space no problem?Queen City man's death in Bedford ruled
accidentStrawberry festival celebrates church's
250th anniversaryCarlyle Place hosts 21 local artists at
fifth annual 'Art Affair'June 26
By MICHAEL BORNSTEIN
Staff Writer
Martha Gaudes has been working for the town of Bedford for 22 years. Some may say she's "Miss Bedford." Others refer to her as "the answer woman."
She is now the executive assistant to the town manager, but she has served in many, many capacities over the years.
Gaudes has lived in Bedford since 1971, after moving from Manchester. She first worked as a secretary in the building department. From there she went to work as a secretary for the board of selectmen.
She also has been secretary for the planning board, zoning board, historic district committee, the conservation commission and the school board. At one point, she worked for all these boards at the same time.
"They all met on different nights. It was not that hard," Gaudes said. "By working in the town all day long, a lot of the same issues saw their way to each board. I knew the concerns and the players, so-to-speak."
And she did not mind all the work, she said.
"It was a challenge, but I did it and it worked," Gaudes said. "I can cope. The busier I am, the better."
Gaudes, who has been writing a weekly column entitled "Bedford Town Hall Happenings" for The Bedford Bulletin for years, is known as "the answer woman" around town. She can tell people almost anything about Bedford since she has worked in the town offices longer than anyone else there.
"You pick up things about the town. It's like an absorption," Gaudes said. "Working with all the ordinances and laws and being at every board meeting, you learn and learn."
Gaudes said she moved to Bedford for its country feel.
"Back then, the town was a lot smaller with more open space and less traffic," Gaudes said. "I sort of miss that atmosphere, but you can't stop the progress."
Most of all, Gaudes enjoys working with people.
"People come in here and tell us we are very helpful and that's great. We are interested and we care," Gaudes said. "We work harder to serve you better."
The worse thing about her job, she said, is having to calm down irate people.
"It's better to try to explain things calmly to them. I don't raise my voice or lose my cool," Gaudes said. "We mostly always find an answer. It may take us a little while to take action, but there is always an answer."
Gaudes said she will probably retire in seven or eight years, but, for now, she will continue to do the job she loves.
"I look forward to coming to work every day and a lot of people can't tell you that," Gaudes said. "Most people only go to work since they need a job, but I really look forward to mine."
By COLIN MANNING
Staff Writer
The Bedford Soccer League told the parks and recreation board at the board's meeting on Tuesday, June 29, that despite rumors, there is not a field shortage crisis in Bedford.
"We have the ability to house 1,900 players and we have 1,650," said Bedford Soccer Board member Jay Joseph.
The parks and recreation board was meeting to discuss a possible change in field scheduling policy. The policy adopted by the board in April was that a league must have 90 percent of its players from Bedford in order to use town fields.
The addition of younger-age classic-level soccer teams, which have, on average, only a few Bedford residents on each team, has caused an uproar with some parents involved in the league. Parents have claimed that since more teams have been added with non-residents on them, the Bedford kids could lose out because of a lack of field space.
"The reason we said 90 percent of the league is because we were well aware that there were teams in Bedford with less than 90 percent," said Scoot Pollock, chairman of the Bedford Parks and Recreation Board.
But Bedford Soccer League representatives said that they can accomodate the new classics teams, as well as all of the existing classics, travel and recreation teams.
According to Joseph, Bedford classics is a premier level of play for players who have the ability and the committment to perform at a higher level. Bedford has had "open" classics teams since 1994.
Some proponents of expanding the classics program have charged that those opposed are really only against the addition of a boys' U-13 team, coached by former New Hampshire College coach Peter Tufts. Tufts coached a team in Manchester with just one Bedford resident on the roster last season and many parents said the team was going to be "pre-selected."
But only six from Tufts' team last season made the team this year after open tryouts. One new Bedford player joined the team this year.
"For parents who thought that the pre-selection was set in stone, it is unfortunate," said Dan Sullivan, whose son played for Tufts last year, and made the squad this year as well.
"There was more than one kid that I know of that could have made that team and (who) should have been allowed to compete and try to make the team."
The parks and recreation board heard arguments for nearly three hours and will make a decision on whether to change the field scheduling policy at the next meeting, set for on Tuesday, Aug. 3 at the Bedford Town Pool.
Keith Simpson, 43, of Cedar St., Manchester, accidentally fell some 40 feet to his death from a railroad trestle in Bedford sometime over the weekend, police said.
At first, authorities weren't sure whether he committed suicide, fell accidentally, or was murdered, and labeled the death suspicious.
Assistant Attorney General Chris Carter, handling the case, said autopsy results revealed Simpson died of blunt impact to the head and trunk. He sustained fractures to his skull and to the bones in his face, neck and back, consistent with injuries received from falling.
Simpson's body was found lying face down on the bank of the Merrimack River off Moore's Crossing Road, south of Interstate 293 and Route 101, after police received a 911 phone call from an unidentified person early Sunday morning, June 27.
The caller had dialed from a pay phone in Manchester about 6:30 a.m.
Carter said Simpson had been dead within a few hours, maximum, of the time the call was made to police.
He had been collecting copper wiring strung from girders across the top of the bridge, which is no longer in use, according to authorities.
He fell and landed on boulders at the edge of the river.
By MICHAEL BORNSTEIN
Staff Writer
The Presbyterian Church in Bedford turns 250 years old on Sunday, Aug.15, and the church has been celebrating its big birthday all year.
A strawberry festival at the church on Saturday, June 26, drew about 200 people.
Ice cream was supplied by Madden's Food and Ice Cream Stand in Merrimack and the strawberries were donated by Durochers Farm in Litchfield.
The cost to get in was $3 a person and many strawberry desserts were sold.
Fran Gray, a volunteer on the 250 Anniversary Committee, said the money will be used to help those in need.
"The committee will decide to put it towards a mission in Bedford or a worldwide mission," Gray said. "We want to use it to service those in need."
The church was founded in 1749, one year before the town of Bedford was founded.
Bedford will celebrate its 250th anniversary in May, 2000. This is the first strawberry festival the church has had. A church fair used to take place every year, but stopped about 10 years ago.
Another volunteer, George Reese, said the festival came at the right time.
"It is strawberry season and what better way to celebrate our anniversary? It took us a few days, but we all went out and picked the strawberries."
Diane Hallenbeck listened to her husband, Kevin, play in the Rotary Club Band while she and their four children enjoyed strawberry treats.
"We loved the ice cream and strawberries. It was a great time," Hallenbeck said. "We ate, listened to music and met some people. We would go to it again."
Her son, Ken, said he wasn't even sick of strawberries by the end of the day.
"There was good music and good food," Ken said. "There
were good strawberries and I liked the shortcake the best."
By MICHAEL BORNSTEIN
Staff Writer
Carlyle Place, an assisted-living facility for seniors, hosted another successful "Art Affair in the Country" on Saturday, June 26.
Linda Obremski, of Bedford, was one of about 21 artists at the show, Carlyle Place's fifth, put on by the Manchester Artists Association. Obremski serves as the association's vice president.
"I want people in Bedford to know that Bedford artists are here for them," Obremski said. "If we don't show our work, no one will know that."
Obremski, who does about eight shows a year and has been painting for 25 years, said she now paints mostly landscapes and has painted some areas of Bedford that no longer exist. She painted a pond on Jenkins Road; it has since been drained and is now devoid of trees.
Obremski has another painting of Pollock Farms, done before it was sold and homes were being built.
Her paintings cost anywhere between $75 and $600.
"If I know the painting is successful and has won things, I will charge more for it," she said. "If it is not too successful, then I will charge less."
Her paintings have won many awards. She was voted "artist of the year" last year by the Manchester Artists Association and her painting "Blue Bayou" was voted best in show.
Another Bedford painter, Bill Earnshaw, has painted for the last 40 years and is president of the association.
"I like the crowd here, the outdoor showing and it's close to home," Earnshaw said. "I am able to sell many things."
Earnshaw, a watercolor artist, enjoys painting old buildings and nature scenes.
"I bought my first paint set at Sears, then took it from there," he said.
Karla Demers, of Londonderry, won $500 and the right to have her painting, "Morning Mist," hang in the new West Wing of Caryle Place. Every year an artist from the show is picked to win the money and have his or her art displayed.
A judge at the show, Jonathan Crary of Jonathan's Jewelers, said Demers' painting really pulls you in.
"It draws you towards it," Crary said. "It looks nice from a distance and, considering where it is going, that played a big part in choosing a winner."
This was Demers' first outdoor art show. She said winning made it special.
"I will put the money right back into my painting. You have heard the term 'starving artist.' Here you go," Demers said, smiling. "I have never seen the inside of the building, but I heard it is a beautiful place and I am excited about seeing my work in there."
The hospitality director of Caryle, Gail Antle, a retired art teacher and a member of the association, said the people who live at Caryle enjoy the art show very much.
"It is a connection to their world," Antle said. "They know it is going on and they are excited about it."
A volunteer at Carlyle Place for two years, Phyllis Hazen, agreed.
"They enjoy seeing things from the outside instead of things always
from the inside of Caryle," Hazen said. "There is an awakening.
It brings back their lives when they were on the outside."