French president to visit N.H. lake By PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer

French president to visit N.H. lake By PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 16 minutes ago



CONCORD, N.H. - French President Nicolas Sarkozy is coming to New Hampshire on vacation.

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Sarkozy is expected early this month for a visit of up to two weeks in Wolfeboro, a resort community on the state's largest lake, a source told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The source, who confirmed a report in Wednesday's Boston Globe, was not authorized to speak about Sarkozy's private travel.

Sarkozy will join a list of current and past vacationers that includes Drew Barrymore, Taiwan's Madame Chiang Kai-shek and Mitt Romney in Wolfeboro, which calls itself the country's oldest summer resort community. The picturesque town is on Lake Winnipesaukee, about two hours north of Boston.

The source said the trip will be a private visit.

Rumors of a Sarkozy visit have circulated for weeks.

"We're going to have to get our French flags out, I guess," Town Manager David Owen said when asked about them last month.

A spokesman for Gov. John Lynch said officials knew Sarkozy was on his way.

"The governor was aware the president of France is vacationing in New Hampshire," Colin Manning said. "The governor hopes he enjoys his time here. He has offered to assist him in any way he can."

Wolfeboro is familiar with celebrities and international guests. Monaco's Prince Rainier and Princess Grace and author Kurt Vonnegut vacationed here. Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and current presidential hopeful, has an 11-acre estate valued at more than $10 million on the shore of the lake.

Wolfeboro does its best to maintain a quaint image. A trolley named Molly takes visitors from one end of Main Street to the other, and the town has numerous plush summer homes.