What a wonderful way to begin another year of reading!

Laconia Kiwanis held our first KARES event of the school year at Pleasant Street Elementary School, where Kiwanian Betty Ballantyne received a warm welcome from new Principal Aaron Jones and an enthusiastic group of third graders. KARES, which stands for Kids and Reading Equals Success, is a longtime Laconia Kiwanis literacy program created especially for Laconia’s third-grade students. The children had a busy and fun-filled visit:

• Choosing new books of their very own to take home
• Creating and coloring their own bookmarks
• Enjoying snacks and drinks
• Gathering together for story time
• And, most importantly, sharing the excitement of reading!

There were plenty of smiles as the students looked through their books, settled into comfortable spots with friends, and enjoyed their first KARES experience. A big thank you to Principal Aaron Jones, the teachers and staff at Pleasant Street School for welcoming Laconia Kiwanis. And a very special thank you to these wonderful third graders for making our first KARES visit of the year such a happy one.

We’re grateful to Irwin Ford for bringing our community together through Drive for Your Community! 💙

To everyone who took a test drive, shared the event, or stopped by to cheer us on, thank you. You gave your time to support the children and families served by the Laconia Kiwanis Club.

A special thank-you to Chris Irwin and the Irwin Ford team for making the day possible, and to our fellow Kiwanians and friends of Kiwanis who came out to help. It was wonderful to see so many people show up for our community.

Thank you, Irwin Ford, for being such a generous community partner!

The Laconia Kiwanis Club is proud to welcome Leia Frazier as our newest member.

Photo (left to right): Sherwood Frazier, Sandy Frazier, new Kiwanis member Leia Frazier, Laconia Kiwanis Club President Tara Shore, and Leia’s sponsor, Betty Ballantyne. Photographer: W Stephen Loughlin

A lifelong Laconia resident, Leia has deep roots in the Lakes Region and a genuine passion for serving the community she proudly calls home. She has built a career centered on leadership and service, spending more than a decade as a chocolatier at Kellerhaus before transitioning into banking. Today, she serves as Branch Manager of the Bank of New Hampshire’s Moultonborough office, where she continues to make a positive impact through both her professional leadership and community involvement.

Leia holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management with a concentration in Leadership and brings experience in public relations, event planning, fundraising, and recruitment. Since 2020, she has served on the Celebrate Laconia Board of Directors and has been its Treasurer since 2021. Her commitment to volunteerism began as a teenager when she served as a Page at the Laconia Public Library, and that dedication to giving back has remained a constant throughout her life.

When asked why she chose to join Kiwanis, Leia’s answer reflected exactly what our organization is about: community involvement. She shared that she loves Laconia and enjoys supporting and volunteering in any way she can. Inspired by a family tradition of community service, she is excited to continue making a difference through Kiwanis.

Please join us in congratulating and welcoming Leia to the Laconia Kiwanis family. We look forward to serving alongside her as we continue our mission of improving the lives of children and strengthening our Lakes Region communities. We know her enthusiasm, leadership, and caring spirit will make her a wonderful addition to our club.

Congratulations, Leia! We are honored to have you as part of the Laconia Kiwanis Club and look forward to the many ways you will help us continue changing lives—one child, one family, and one act of service at a time.

Laconia Kiwanis is proud to support the youth of Troop 142!

Recently, the Laconia Kiwanis Club was honored to contribute $500 toward Troop 142’s journey to Philmont Scout Ranch, helping these outstanding Scouts pursue adventure, leadership, and personal growth.

Seeing the smiles, teamwork, and determination in these photos reminds us why investing in young people matters. Experiences like Philmont challenge Scouts to build confidence, develop leadership skills, strengthen friendships, and discover what they are capable of achieving.

We wish each member of Troop 142 continued growth, confidence, resilience, and success as they take on new adventures and opportunities. May the lessons learned on the trail stay with you for a lifetime.

Thank you for allowing Laconia Kiwanis to be a small part of your journey. We can’t wait to see where your path leads next!

Keep exploring, keep learning, and keep reaching for new horizons.

The meeting opened with the invocation led by members of Boy Scout Troop 142, followed by dinner, the Pledge of Allegiance, and club announcements.

Troop 142 presented an engaging update on their preparation for their upcoming high-adventure trip to Philmont Scout Ranch, a premier national Scouting destination located in northern New Mexico. Herchel Chambers shared highlights from the troop’s final months of training, including extensive hiking, leadership development, and outdoor readiness activities.

As part of their presentation, they taught attendees a few practical outdoor skills, including basic first aid techniques, navigation and map-reading, and instruction on tying a bowline knot. Guest Leia Fabian enthusiastically participated in the knot-tying exercise.

The Scouts also celebrated the achievement of two Eagle Scouts and shared details about their fundraising efforts, which helped make the Philmont trip possible. They also earned the “Loon Safe Award” by collecting 4lbs of lead, the highest amount in the state.

The Kiwanis Club contributed a $500 donation to support Troop 142’s Philmont expedition. Members expressed appreciation for the Scouts’ hard work and look forward to a follow-up presentation upon their return.

During club business, members discussed program and event updates, including a change of date and time for the upcoming Bike & Board event, and a reminder regarding the hydration station. Volunteers are still needed for both events. As well, new T-shirts are available!

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 24, coinciding with the Bike & Board event from 5:30–7:30 PM, the same time as the regular meeting. Members who plan to attend and assist are asked to contact Betty.