The Alton Board of Selectmen on Nov. 25 signaled support for a student-led request asking the board to endorse a House bill to designate Lake Winnipesaukee as New Hampshire’s official state lake.

Town administrator (speaker 3) told the board an email had arrived from a fourth grader at Northampton Elementary School who submitted language for a House bill to proclaim Lake Winnipesaukee the state lake and asked the selectmen to sponsor or endorse the request. According to the town administrator, "they're trying to get support for the house bill, and they're asking ... for your consideration to sponsor the bill as presented." Board members responded positively, with the chair saying, "I think you have our support for that." The chair and other selectmen described the request as "really cool," noting it came from a child.

The board indicated consensus to move in that direction; no formal roll-call vote or ordinance was taken at the Nov. 25 meeting. The request and the text of the student's proposed bill will be forwarded by the town administration as the child seeks broader legislative support.