Choose Your Future, A Series to Save Newfound Lake
Part 2: Local Control — A New England Tradition
by Boyd Smith, Newfound Lake Region Association Executive Director
“Local control” — a rallying cry for New England communities when facing outside pressure to change, whether a new real estate development or public school curriculum. Nourished by a long tradition of independence from remote state and federal government, local control means choosing our own destiny. With intimate, small-town relationships and shared governance through citizen leaders and town meetings, local control is the most effective way to shape Newfound’s future.
This second article in the Choose Your Future series is about using local control to ensure a verdant, vibrant and sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come. As with any form of democracy, local control is only successful if enough people take part in civil conversations and community leadership. Many local leaders serve on various town boards, but they need to hear from their fellow residents, landowners and business people to have a clear idea of community wishes, needs, and priorities.
How You Can Exercise Local Control
Protect your Property from Stormwater
The NLRA’s Newfound Youth Conservation Corps (NYCC) program is an easy way to exercise local control on your own property and protect Newfound. The NYCC provides free expertise and labor to landowners wishing to reduce erosion and stormwater runoff from their properties. Using native plants and simple steps, you can protect your property from storms while preserving your clean water. Resources are limited, so call 603-744-8689 with any questions or learn more and register online for a NYCC visit.
Take Part in Town Planning
During June and July 2017, the NLRA Citizen Planner program will meet with Planning Boards and interested citizens to introduce innovative and effective ways to protect clean water and views, two of the most highly regarded resources in the watershed. Using state-of-the-art conservation analysis and mapping, and feedback from our 2016 Planning Board meetings, we will provide tools that can be adopted in the 2018 Town meeting cycle. Join us when we meet with your local Planning Board to share your ideas and concerns. Click here to see meeting schedules or follow us on Facebook.
In a time when every last piece of the Newfound watershed means more each day, rejoice in the power that we have to choose the future through local control — a New England tradition!
The NLRA was founded in 1971 to protect and preserve the Newfound Lake watershed. Learn more on our website, our Facebook page, or contact us at info@NewfoundLake.org or 603-744-8689.