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| Thinking about moving to Monroe? Here are some things you may want to know. Note: Unless specified differently, all phone numbers quoted here are area code 603. BUILDING PERMITS DINING See the Links page for links to area restaurants, as well as to Restaurant.com, which carries coupons for several local eateries. This is by no means an exhaustive list; it is focused on restaurants that maintain their own websites.
DOG LICENSES Costs $7.50 per year if neutered; $10 if not and are available from the Town Clerk. A current Rabies Certificate is required.
Monroe is served by 2 different electric utilities: the NH Electric Co-Op, and National Grid. Your provider will depend on where you live, and so will your rates!
EMERGENCY (911) ADDRESS ASSIGNMENTS - If you are building a new home, you will need to have a "911" number assigned as your permanent address. Contact the Town Clerk for more information.
- Do the Fast Squad a favor and put up a reflective address marker at the end of your driveway. They need to know where your driveway is, not your house!
ENTERTAINMENT See the Links page for links to movie theaters and area arts groups. Farther afield, Hanover offers a full calendar of arts performances through Dartmouth University's Hopkins Center.
FIRE PERMITS Contact the Fire Warden or Deputy Wardens for fire permits. Generally, permits are issued for certain "class" days - so check with the Fire Department or on this site's home page in spring/summer/fall for the NH Forest Service "Fire Class Rating." You must have a permit to burn outdoors unless the ground is covered with snow. The current Fire Warden is Maynard Farr, 638-2612. Deputies you can call are Russ Brown, 638-2294; Glenn Wagner, 638-3007; or Dick Cinnamond 638-2774.
INTERNET - Much of Monroe has high speed internet available from Time Warner Cable or Fairpoint Communications. Check your proposed address, just to be sure.
- The Town Library now has wireless high speed internet access available, and a public computer (during library hours.)
- Do not plan to rely solely on your own wireless mobile internet access; cell phone reception can be spotty.
MAIL - Post office boxes are available for rent at the Post Office; otherwise, mail will be delivered to your home. Please check with the Post Office about where your mailbox should be placed (if you have built a new home.)
- If you want to cut down on junk mail (who doesn't?), don't forget to register your new address with the Direct Mail Association's free service.
MISCELLANEOUS - Residents receive one plot, or the equivalent of 2 grave sites, in Monroe cemeteries. However, because people are "dying to get in", you have to have lived here for 5 years first. Stay healthy, people!
- There is an outdoor ice skating area in front of the Town Garage (obviously seasonal).
- Sand is available to residents for use on their driveways/walkways only. You may pick it up (or literally, shovel it up) at the Town Garage. Please, salt is not available for individual use.
MOTOR VEHICLES - You must pay tax to both Monroe and the State; information is found under "Taxes" on the Government Tab or call the Town Clerk.
- Vehicles should be registered within 60 days of moving into NH; after that, registrations are renewed in the birth month of the owner.
- Information about NH Licensing is available here.
- Out of state drivers should apply for their NH license within 60 days of moving into the state.
- Personalized plates seem to be a NH passion; in fact, NH ranks second in the country with the highest percentage of personalized plates (14%, if you're counting, compared to Virginia's 16%.) Search your desired plates here to see if they are available.
NEWSPAPERS & NEWSLETTERS The Monroe Church sponsors a bi-monthly newsletter mailed to all households in Monroe. Alternatively, to read the latest issue on-line, go to the Church page for a downloadable version. - The Bridge Weekly is mailed free to all homes in Monroe, typically arriving on Thursdays. A second free paper has made its debut in October (2009), called the Trendy Times. You may see this turning up in your mailbox every other Tuesday. Both aim to serve similar geographic areas so we will see which paper makes it for the long haul.
- The Caledonian Record is a daily (except Sundays), available by subscription (same day US Mail) or at area stores. You can see a handful of headlines on their website but full content is only available with a subscription.
- The Littleton Courier is a weekly, available by subscription (US Mail) or at area stores. You can only read it online with a paid subscription.
- "Out of town" papers such as the Boston Globe, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal are available at certain area stores such as the Littleton Bookstore or the Boxcar and Caboose Bookstore in St. J.
RECREATION Fall soccer and winter basketball are run through the school but also open to home-schooled children. See the school website for more info. Spring baseball is run through the Babe Ruth 3 Rivers League, and funded by the town. Swimming lessons are provided for children ages 3 through 8th grade, normally in early July. Bus transportation is available to St. Johnsbury Academy. Lessons are free but you must sign up. Information is disseminated through the school, town website, and town newsletter. The Comerford Dam is a popular swimming and boating area, with free access to the reservoir, picnic tables/grills, and porta-potties. An outdoor tennis court is available behind the school. The school playground may be used when school is not in session. An outdoor ice skating rink is available in front of the Municipal Garage. And don't forget to hike, fish, bike, run, boat, hunt, etc., etc.!!
RECYCLING A drop-off recycling program is open at the town Municipal Garage. See the Recycling Tab for more info.
ROAD BANS - Each Spring, many town roads are "posted" with weight limits, making it difficult for large construction equipment to move freely. If you are planning to build or renovate, plan accordingly.
SHOPPING Littleton, NH, approximately 20 - 25 minutes drive, has many small shops, a Wal-Mart, and a Shaw's Grocery Store. A food Co-Op has been open since 2009; you do not need to be a member to shop there. Other chains include T.J. Maxx, Game Stop, Tractor Supply, Home Depot, Sears (equipment), Staples, and Lowes. Woodsville, NH, approximately 20 minutes drive, has a Super Wal-Mart, a "Job-Lot", and a small Shaw's. St. Johnsbury, VT, approximately 20 minutes drive, has many small shops and a Price Chopper Grocery Store. A small mall north of town includes a J.C. Penney's. The closest "convenience" stores are Paul's Whistle Stop (also gas) in Mcindoes and the Barnet Store. Liquor is sold only in NH (or VT) state liquor stores. Beer and wine are sold at most grocery, convenience, and Wal-Mart stores.
TAXES Property tax rates are found under the Taxes page. New Hampshire residents pay no income or sales tax; however, services targeted to visitors, such as hotel rooms, entertainment, restaurants, and so forth, do have a tax added. Also see Motor Vehicles; the "car tax" can be significant.
TELEPHONE There is reasonable cell phone reception in the village, but reception is spotty when you move beyond that. Don't count on it . . we have mountains, and they get in the way! The entire state of NH is served by area code 603, so when you are quoted a phone number, the area code is usually truncated. You'll get used to it. Virtually the entire town of Monroe is served by exchange 638, so if you are given a local phone number, it may often be only the last 4 digits. You might never get used to that. Most everyone here has their phone number listed. Makes it easy to find people. Don't go being unfriendly and paying extra for an unlisted number . . . if you register your new phone number on the national "Do Not Call" list, you'll cut right down on those pesky telemarketers and your new friends will still be able to find you.
TELEVISION Time Warner Cable serves most of Monroe and offers television, telephone, and high speed internet access.
TRASH WATER "In Town" residents pay for town water; everyone else has a well. Check with the Town Clerk about your proposed address. For more information about public water systems in New Hampshire, check out the NH DES website, or you may review Monroe's past water samples here. Note that the recommended maximum levels for Nitrites are <1 mg/liter, and Nitrates, <10 mg/liter.
WILDLIFE PROBLEMS Remember, one of the things making you even think about moving to Monroe is that we are in the country. With the country come 'critters.' Most locals take care of the problem on their own. If you prefer not to do things that way, we've had some good experiences with a Wildlife Control Officer by the name of Dennis Mason. You can reach him at 989-9830. He may take a day or two to get back to you. And he'll be humane, unless you don't want him to be!
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