2025: The year in photos

The Laconia Daily Sun’s reporters spent 2025 visually documenting the most important stories of the year, stories that tell us something about the people, places and events that make the Lakes Region such a special place. 

January

The year kicked off with a flurry of winter sports. This reporter captured a photo published Jan. 7, of more than 200 spectators gathered at Merrill Fay Arena in Laconia to pay homage to the late teenager Giuseppe Bonanno, in the first memorial game bearing his namesake. Bonanno, 18, died in a motorcycle accident in Belmont on July 12, 2024.

In the first memorial game, the Kearsarge-Plymouth Cats beat the Laconia-Winnisquam-Inter-Lakes Lakers 4-3. Thereafter, friends and family of Bonanno created the Giuseppe M Bonanno Foundation to support Granite State youth interested in pursuing a career in wildlife law enforcement, Bonanno’s personal aspiration. 

Later in the winter, the New England Pond Hockey Classic returned to Meredith Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee after a four-year stretch on nearby Lake Waukewan. The event drew thousands, as did the annual Ice Fishing Derby, also headquartered on Meredith Bay. In Laconia, the city hosted the Sled Dog Championship in February.

February

Another photo taken by this reporter depicts Dr. Daniel Kallmerten in his new office in Belmont, for a story printed Feb. 28. He was one of several doctors abruptly let go from Concord Hospital-Laconia in October 2024, leaving some 6,000 patients without their primary care physicians. 

Drs. Guvinder Bali and Valentin Milchev were later hired to work at Speare Memorial Hospital in Plymouth, and Kallmerten, a longtime doctor in the area, set up his own private practice after a brief period contemplating retirement. 

Over the course of the year, hospital-based registered nurses at Concord Hospital-Laconia and Concord Hospital-Concord engaged in talks regarding the organization of a union, and those in Laconia successfully won their union bid in September.

March

A topic covered throughout the year, the former Laconia State School property, located along Parade Road, is expected to be purchased by Pillsbury Realty Development and turned into a large neighborhood in Laconia.

The reporter wrote about city leaders toying with the idea of creating a fourth Tax Increment Financing District — three already exist in downtown, Lakeport and at the Weirs — on the city’s north end, which could potentially capture revenues associated with the development at the State School property, in a story on March 8.

The State School development proposal, tentatively named Laconia Village, could bring more than 2,000 units of housing to the city, along with civic and municipal buildings, commercial enterprises and a grocery store.

It represents just one major item in a long list of development projects in Laconia. In December, City Manager Kirk Beattie said Public Works Director Wes Anderson would be transitioning to the newly-created project manager role in the city’s planning department, and, at the end of 2024, former reporter Adam Drapcho introduced the city’s first Economic and Housing Director Joia Hughes.

April

The Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance and associated volunteers conducted the first water quality monitoring effort immediately after ice-out in a decade, documented in reporting and photography by the reporter printed April 23.

Dave Emerson of Emerson Aviation declared ice-out on April 16, and, in late April, eight teams comprising staff and volunteers with LWA, marine recreation companies and state scientists ventured onto Lake Winnipesaukee aboard pontoon boats to collect samples for water quality monitoring and testing.

The teams worked together to gather samples for testing of numerous variables across 12 deepwater sites around the Big Lake.

May

Photographs published on May 20 documented the rehabilitation of a 150-year-old burial plot located near industrial land in Laconia and associated with the former county farm.

Primrose Cemetery was brought to the attention of County Facilities Director Jon Bossey, who worked with employees and volunteers through October to install fencing and a historical plaque, along with completing the rehabilitation of many gravestones there, some of which are marked only by number. 

The project reached substantial completion in October, though more headstone work remains to be done.

June

Former photographer Daniel Sarch captured the graduation of more than 100 students at Laconia High School, published on June 10.

Just days earlier, this reporter documented a graduation ceremony honoring students at the J. Olivia Huot Career and Technical Center, held at the Colonial Theatre in downtown Laconia. During the celebration, 137 students walked across the stage, and heard from instructors and leaders in the community who reflected on their success and that of the technical school, which draws students from all over the Lakes Region.

Workforce development and graduates were a match that month — in short order, a member of the LHS graduating class was hired on by the city’s public works department.

July

Photographs taken by the reporter and published on July 1 documented the burial of Pfc. George A. Curley Jr., whose remains were repatriated to Laconia from Korea after decades in the lurch.  

Hundreds of Laconians lined Union Avenue, and the fire department hoisted a massive American flag above Busy Corner near St. Andre Bessette Parish. Curley, 18 at the time of his death and a native son of the city, was buried with full military honors, bringing to a close seven decades of efforts to identify him.

Curley enlisted in the New Hampshire National Guard in June 1948, and was later assigned to the U.S. Army Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. At 18, he was captured and interned as a prisoner of war at Camp 5 near Pyoktong, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, on Nov. 30, 1950.

August 

The Laconia Daily Sun published a photograph on Aug. 29, captured by reporter Bob Martin, of a lake level measurement in the Weirs Channel.

Despite precipitation falling for 14 weeks straight before June, rainfall was scarce through the remainder of the summer, and the Granite State suffered a severe drought, contributing to low water levels on Lake Winnipesaukee and waterbodies across New Hampshire. 

On Winnipesaukee, the water level was more than half a foot lower than is typical at the height of summer boating season, causing problems for locals and visitors alike. State leaders urged boaters to take caution before venturing out in the water. The drought lasted through much of the remainder of the year, culminating in a burn ban issued at the end of October by Gov. Kelly Ayotte.

September 

In photographs published on Sept. 6, the reporter documented the swearing-in of Mayor Charlie St. Clair, who succeeded former Mayor Andrew Hosmer.

Hosmer resigned his position at a city council meeting on Aug. 25, having previously shared his intention to take the city manager job in Lebanon, in Grafton County, where he works today. 

During his tenure, Hosmer spearheaded numerous efforts related to housing and development, with a particular emphasis on the development of affordable housing in the city. A mayor’s special committee investigated proposals for housing on a city-owned parcel on Old North Main Street, which spurred rigorous debate among constituents.

St. Clair, owner of the Laconia Antique Center downtown, presided over the council for the final time in December. His building was also the subject of would-be development — a proposed purchase of 601 Main St. by the city and two would-be restaurateurs fizzled in July.

October 

The city hosted the Laconia Pumpkin Festival for the first time, a massive success by any measure. The event, previously organized primarily by the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, drew thousands to downtown Laconia. 

Photographs captured by the reporter and published Oct. 28, documented the festivities, which stretched an entire day and into the night, and featured activities and attractions for all ages. Looking ahead to 2026, city leaders have pondered making Pumpkinfest a two-day affair.

November 

Laconia voters elected state Rep. Mike Bordes (R-Laconia) as their next mayor. Bordes won in a tight race over longtime city councilor and former police chief Bruce Cheney, ushering in a new era to Laconia City Hall and documented extensively in photographs and coverage by the reporter on Nov. 6.

Most councilors were reelected, though Jon Hildreth won Ward 1, replacing Cheney, and Mike Conant won in Ward 6, replacing Councilor Tony Felch.

The electorate also gave city leadership the go-ahead to create so-called social districts, areas in the city where public drinking is tolerated. City councilors have yet to define the specifics of any social districts, though that could occur early in 2026. The City of Concord also approved their creation on the municipal ballot there.

December 

The Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction honored its late founder, Warren Bailey, who died in August, and — with the help of a massive Pub Mania push — raised a record $883,023 to support nonprofit and charitable organizations in New Hampshire. 

The event was photographed by the reporter and reporter Bob Martin extensively, including the dedication of the broadcast studio in Bailey's memory, printed Dec. 10.