I have in front of me my crystal ball, I can see the future, a bit hazy and there are some tall smoke stacks, but wait.. the air is clearing, the smokestacks are gone, there’s a symposia going on where the mill used to be hosting the best and the brightest marketing minds in the country. They’re all up here because NHCTC is THE place to come and learn about the latest and greatest technology and practices for new media and marketing. There’s a big concert tonight, Nancy Griffith is singing my favorite song to a sold out crowd at the Heritage Park..
I love this town… of hidden charms
Where no one means… you any harm..
I love this town… on the beaten track
Where nothing slips… between the cracks
Everyone’s friendly to your face
And everybody knows their place
As long as you respect their space
You won’t have to worryThe town hall clock is calling out
It’s rush hour on the roundabout
Now I know without a doubt
It’s the place for me…
has anyone ever heard of a group called Informed Citizens for a Better North Country? we have used hundreds of our own dollars to try and get in the way of the federal prison. we have found out it is very scary dealing with the feds. we had a person in new york state who's chosen profession is stopping federal prisons from being built advising us pro bono for quite sometime. she even came over with her husband to my farm for a bean hole chile to meet the group. we then spent a chunk of change paying a law outfit in mass. that specializes in environmental cases. we could not come up with the $20,000.00 we needed to get him set up here. (they move right into a store front and go to town.have been quite successful in the past.) he advised us for much less money in phone conferences. many of them. i wish you had been at the last public meeting about the prison in berlin. only aver and the Citizens group and a few towns people were there. frankly, we were amazing but the feds are scary and dangerous. gino infracelli(sp?) from the DES was quite upset with the whole outcome that night and stated his last conversation with judd gregg was not a happy one. even the state archaeologist, dick boisvert, who i know very well and who has dug on my property many times is terrified of them all. he is kissing butt saying the finds on site A-1 were not significant. it is enough to get a person physically sick trying to cope with these issues. but, with all of this, we could not get the coverage in the media because tetreult is a totally one sided reporter. she has no business in journalism at all because her allegiances are more important than the facts.
however, we put ads in the sun about our meetings asking people to come. we marched in Lancaster and Gorham's 4th of july parades handing out information and cards you simply sign and send into the federal bureau of prisons. we held meetings that were publicized. nobody came. this group is still working at exposing the lies that the FBOP and the city of berlin are covering up. it is not an easy task.
i am sorry for anyone that has their home taken away. i do not believe it should EVER happen for ANY reason and i mean that whole heartedly. an airport, a prison etc. etc. etc. are not going to save to the north country. and my career background tells me that no one can be "trained" to leave the stresses of working in a prison atmosphere, or any other type of high stress job such as that, at work. i know this from my own experience. you think you can, but you really can't.
KD paine came up with an idea that is working. maybe she should be heading a committee to develop jobs in the north country? so who wants to show up at berlins next council meeting?
Posted by: Pat Bacon | June 27, 2007 at 08:57 AM
Pat..... I have had to give up my home to eminent domain, right before I moved here. Did I receive fair market value? Why yes I did, but I fought for it. This may make you mad, but sometimes the lesser of two evils wins. 6 homes for the good of the county and thousands of people or 6 homes? The prison is coming. It is a done deal, yes it really stinks for some but 150 or so people couldn't stop it, just like the few of us on here can't stop the biomass if we don't want it. Rocky is right, all of us won't get off our collective rear ends to fight it, so why complain. It's like people who don't vote that complain about the president. If you don't get out there, you don't have a say. So in essence, it truly is whining on this board and I am guilty like everyone else.
Posted by: Jana | June 26, 2007 at 10:16 PM
Sorry Alberto, first it's not done, second if it should be done it's because we haven't confronted City Hall and made them accountable. We all have our personal reasons for not making a big %#@%&#@ public deal about City Halls lack of responsibility, but the bottom line is collectively we lack guts to confront them!
Posted by: Rocky | June 26, 2007 at 09:41 PM
LaidLaw owns your downtown. The chance for Berlin to reinvent itself is over! The stacks are officially never coming down (just like I said) and they never were. We received a Tillotson grant for visioning on that site and never considered anything else and rolled the grant into the general fund. Instead of decreasing our industrial image/footprint, downtown, that acreage devoted to industry will be increasing and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Done, done, done and I too am done.
The folks running this city keep giving themselves raises and thumbs up, taxs on single family homes a two to three times what they were two years ago and we still can't fix our streets or even afford Kindergarten. Che Pecato.
Posted by: Alberto Teatro | June 26, 2007 at 02:30 PM
I believe that I said at one point that we we were fiddling while Rome was burning. Check out the post at http//www.2much2do4now.typepad.com and see what happened during the concert.
Posted by: Rocky | June 26, 2007 at 12:30 PM
I see I got a couple rises on the e-mail maybe I stirred some people up and that was my intent. I would like to tell rocky that I work in gorham as berlin has nothing to offer. I am also on the milan fire department and north country emergency response team( hazmat for short)what does he do besides write letters? I also work parttime with my son laying hardwood floors. so I am not sitting around feeling sorry for myself as there isnt time.
well, the city of berlin wants a federal prison. why don’t they put in at the old mill site? maybe its too close to city hall or the businesses on main street. I wonder what they would do if it was put in their back yard!! its going to lower the assesment on my house. WHO is going to make up the difference with the other 40+home owners?? not the good old boys as it doesn't concern them.who is going to give the town of milan the loss in revenue?? not the city of berlin. the east milan road is in such great shape who is going to repair the hottop? the city can't repair what they have nowand they're losing tax money every time a building burns and isnt rebuilt.theres more but I think you can get the drift. bob
Posted by: Bob Balser | June 26, 2007 at 09:16 AM
Ms. Jana, did you know they are thinking of extending the airport? 6 families homes will be taken by immenent domain if this happens. do you agree with that? would you agree to give up your home to have the airport expanded? do you think for a moment they will get fair market value? be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.
Posted by: Pat Bacon | June 26, 2007 at 08:39 AM
Maybe all these past entries do sound like whining to some. Behind MY whining is a fear that certain changes will occur up here,in what i consider to be the most beautiful place i have ever been, that will change Coos forever for the worse. I was moved from New Jersey to Connecticut by my mother when i was a teenager. The town, Wallinford, that we moved to was a sleepy little place with nothing but apple orchards and dairy farms and lots of open space. You couldn't even get gas after 5p on a Sunday. as a teenager coming from New Jersey i was horrified. 22 years later i was even more horrified by the rampant development,big box stores that overtook the main drag through town ans the TRAFFIC! You can't drive 5 minutes anywhere without hitting a stop light. It is so hot-there isn't a cool, shady lane to be found anymore and it is NEVER dark from all the street lights and light in the parking lots of the stores that never go off. And it is a lonely place. People don't know their neighbors or much try to.
I know people need jobs up here. I drive 5 hours one way to my job twice a month so i can afford to live here. And i know young peole here need things to do and a future. However,i fear the desperate attempts to do ANYTHING to try and get even a handful of jobs will result in changes that we will all regret and can't be undone. What i am talking about has happened in many places. Example, look at Cape Cod.
It is just my humble opinion and i don't know how this could be arranged but we, as a county, need to come together and make well thought out decisions on how to develop the job market and keep the rural nature and neighborly atmosphere we all love here. if communities work together and consideration is given to neighbor towns when projects are planned there will not be all this anger, frustration, disappointment and fear. I love my life in the North Country and don't want to see it change. It really doesn't have to if time is taken and every project offer that comes along isn't grabbed at without thought just because it will provide SOME jobs. I know this will probably bring some sarcastic remarks, certainly from Rocky (whoever he is) but I believe if all the planning was stopped and all the economic development groups went home and called it a day this area would survive and evolve and things would continue in an up and down cycle and Coos county would not just dry up and blow away.
Posted by: Pat Bacon | June 26, 2007 at 08:35 AM
How did the conversation go from what it was to airports, crap in Milan and the prison? Fantabulous. It is no secret that while some people think the prison is great, others don't. Same with the airport, the biomass and perhaps the crap in Milan......though I doubt the latter. I for one love that we have an airport here. I think it should be extended to allow bigger planes in so that we can draw more tourists to the area. Also a rental car facility that also rents snowmachines and atvs. One stop shopping is what it is all about people. Just like the new Walmart. No need to go anywhere else.......just like a superwalmart......we have it all. Stop bickering people......you sound like a bunch of whining kids waiting their turns to see Santa Claus.
Posted by: Jana | June 26, 2007 at 06:51 AM
Alberto I'm not sure that you can afford me or wish to meet me. You see I was driving through Milan and......%#@%*! just kiddin! Let's talk.
Posted by: Rocky | June 25, 2007 at 03:53 PM
I sound bitter and its not even winter. I have a substancial budget I spend on, non profits, lobbyists and advertising and I would like to meet this Rocky.
Posted by: Alberto Teatro | June 25, 2007 at 03:03 PM
Yeah Kurt, welcome, put your feet up, take a deep breath and let some of that anger slowly fade from your life, you'll live longer. Kurt you make some excellent points, you just have to look at the Laidlaw Energy deal and the mayor's reaction....it makes me blow a fuse too. Iberto,poo is poo is poo and we eliminate poo for a good reason and it's not so that we can play/drive in it. Now that we've eliminated much of the "..." from our conversation, let's see if we can spend our energy doing something more constructive. All of the things that has made us all angry at one time or other need to be put away, not forgotten, but put away. As long as I'm upset with washing my car, Kurt with the prison, Bob with the airport etc etc, we're fiddling while Rome is burning! As long as we remain focused on the past we can't deal with the present, never mind the future. There's only 24 hrs/day and so much time we can spend dealing with stuff, so what's the point of rehashing old issues that we can't change? Let's vent, roll-up our sleeves and move on to "things" we can impact. For example, what can we do to force a public discussion of the Laidlaw Energy project? Would a sign petition to mayor and coucil demanding a public hearing be heard? Would forming a group of concerned citizens attract enough people to make an impression on North American Dismantling and City Hall? Would asking every person joining the group to donate $10 for advertizing etc weed out those who "just talk"? C'mon people, we need a strategy and a path forward so that we don't add another issue to our list of bitches that we can't leave behind.
Posted by: Rocky | June 25, 2007 at 02:15 PM
It is a good thing that one city employee came to this site, it is a shame she came here to police the site more than contribute to the site. Read her comments, they are not! "you know what I as an individual, employed by you, trained in land planning, feel is best for the mill site". What is her vision for the region, the mill site, our forest resources or anything. What is our city managers vision for the mill site? He is paid by us, to steer our ship, but will he share what our next port of call will be. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to write down your feeling and intentions for everyone to see and critisize (part of the process). Work in the public arena, not behind those thick bullet proof walls and doors, where you are safe (and out of reachand touch). This city under Dandersons cowardly rule, works on his agenda, in Secret and we the public are allowed to comment and be ridiculed when the deals are done. Laidlaw did not see the pulp mill on ebay, they were hunted down and braught here, this was not imposed on us by Laidlaw it was braught to us by McDanderson. They lobbyied for this. I challenge one elected local person to state their vision for the Mill site or for our regional forest resources or for our region. How can we in good conscience vote for, or employ individuals, without knowing where they stand on the most important issues facing this community.
Yes I have been ridiculed laughed at etc at public meetings and I will from now on, simply post my feelings and be done and I appreciate others who have the courage to come here and do the same. Even on-line, Big Brother and Big Sister are watching you and will probably hunt you down and insult and intimidate you and forget to say how they feel about the overwhelming issues facing the community. I have also met a lot of professionals in person and on-line, Berlin is lucky to have the human resources it does, but Berlin has to recruit better leadership or it will miss out on a once and a lifetime opportunity to change who she is.
Real leadership works open, honest and publicly with their constituents. Bob claims the ATV park was all his idea and he did it all by himself and in the process disrespects everyone else that contributed, lobbyied, went to public meetings in Concord etc. His most important contribution was to get out of the way of it happening, he ran on a platform of "no new public lands" and then wants us to believe he thaught of an ATV park, all by himself.... A real leader leads, tasks, delegates and acknowledges that the masses make things happen and thanks them. The idea came from the public, but the concept was developed in secracy! The public meetings came after the lands for the park were chosen! Mayor Bob, Senator/Realtor Gallus (Dillons Realtor), and Dillon (landowner/seller)chose which lands would be appropriate for the state to aquire and which lands around the park would be best for Gallus to resell, the planning board and public were kept out. A leader leads and does not try and do it all by themselves for themselves. (Actually Bob was elected because no one else ran for that office, lucky Bob unlucky Berlin), maybe we can change that this time around.
Alberto.
Posted by: Alberto Teatro | June 25, 2007 at 02:09 PM
Rocky you are one of the best contributors to this site, but I have to tell you, I like that smell of cow poo. That is the regions last dairy farmer, soon he will be gone and I am going to miss that Milan experiance. And Kurt, be nice or you might not get invited to Mayor Bob and Pats next indigent bashing party. Seriously, welcome Kurt, I have a feeling you have a lot to offer. Alberto.
Posted by: Alberto Teatro | June 25, 2007 at 01:13 PM
My, my, Mr. Rocky, Don’t we feel superior to farmers. I respect a hard working farmer much more than someone that can’t slow down for a little poop. Mr. Balser has every right to feel the way he does. Berlin leaders don’t give a damn about Milan or anyone else in Coos County. City officials have catered to, and conspired with greedy businessmen… they have ignored peer reviewed studies, opting to promote an AVER sponsored “study” touting the wonderful benefits of hosting a federal prison. The problem is that the conclusions that the AVER sponsored “study” present, cannot be substantiated. Also, AVH’s problems have nothing to do with whether or not the area gets another prison. Live here long enough, and you’ll find out for yourself.
As to economic benefits of creating those "jobs, jobs, jobs," with public money, there is none. Every penny that will pay for those jobs, will be added to the federal dept! So, Mr. Rocky, that makes Berlin a “Sucker Town”, sucking on all taxpayers forever. Please tell me why the taxpayers throughtout the entire country should hand Berlin a federal welfare check?
Posted by: Kurt Masters | June 25, 2007 at 12:20 PM
My, my Mr. Balser, we are feeling sorry for ourselves aren't we. I'm not sure how Berlin tricked Milan with the airport, that was before my time and I can understand how the folks on the loop aren't crazy about the prison in their back yard, but to lump 60 years of history into a theory of Berlin being a bad neighbor? Pray tell Mr. Balser, where do you work? Where does 90% of the Milan people earn a living to pay for their taxes etc to the town? I'm not crazy about the prison either, but I'm sure it will help us keep the hospital open along with a few other places of business that probably would have to closed their doors as our population shrank. Come to think of it, there's some things about Milan I don't like either. One day I drove up your Main Street and some farmer had left a whole trail of cow manure all over the road. It splashed under my car which required washing the whole car down and my car stunk for a week....oh those good old boys farmers in Milan.........
Posted by: Rocky | June 25, 2007 at 09:18 AM
The good old boys from Berlin got their way again. First the city council tricks Milan into an airport= no taxes, all the noise from jets etc. NOW they want a federal prison in my neighborhood. The prison doesn't help me but it helps the busness men who are going to benefit from sales to workers. They shut down 1 end of Success Loop so now if there is an emergency on the lower end and trees are across the road( which happens quite often) police, fire and ambulances can't respond. BUT that dosen't bother the good old boys as its not in their backyards. Its Berlin as usual. Yea for me and the heck with everyone else.
itch8@msn.com
Posted by: Bob Balser | June 25, 2007 at 07:26 AM
You are so right Rocky. I really like the comparison that you used saying that we are like a growing family. We are all in here for the common good and that is more specifically, what is good for Coos County and the towns/city that resides in it. Thanks for your wisdom and insights.
Posted by: Min | June 22, 2007 at 10:54 AM
Ms Laflamme, I'll tell you what I told R Brown, please keep participating in these conversations. Yes we'll have spats, but we're still family and as with our biological families we forgive and move on. Ms Laflamme you have your own reasons for using your name and position on this blog, I bet others have their own reasons for not doing so. I believe that it's the wisdom of what is being said that's important not who said it and what title they may have. When I hear a beautiful piece of music on the radio I don't usually know who the composer was nor do I care, I just appreciate it. Maybe we can all do better at appreciating each others wisdom/perspective, we're growing and it can be painful.
Posted by: Rocky | June 22, 2007 at 10:05 AM
Pam is right as far as the COMMENTS on the voting poll are concerned. If you just vote, you don't enter an email address for that, thus no one can see who you are, making the polls confidential. As far as the rest goes, Jana is right. I run this blog and I don't even know who people are unless they put their full names or tell me that it was them. The exception is when someone emails me personally to have a blog placed on the front page.
Moving forward, I don't think anybody should abandon the conversations going on here; on the contrary, I would encourage the dialogue to continue. Perhaps not all concerning Berlin, because this IS a blog for ALL of Coos County. We need to work together to bring change to our communities and we can't do that if everyone ducks and hides. If we don't want to participate in the town/city councils or boards - then let's form our own citizens group with a primary goal to make Coos County better.
Posted by: Min | June 22, 2007 at 08:44 AM
The invite by Ms. LaFlamme was nicely extended to the community of Berlin to attend the Council meetings. I do thank her for that. I also thank her for being the only Council member willing to dialogue with the people using this blog. There are a few problems with attending the council meetings however. I am a resident of Milan and own a farm in Jefferson. I could "sit in" at a meeting but will have no opportunity to speak on any issue that is on the table. I did speak to Mr. Danderson a couple of years ago at the Lancaster Fair. He was sharing a table with Mr. Gallus. I asked him to keep the Federal Prison well within the Berlin City boundaries. I asked nicely but had to wipe the spit from my face when he was done screaming at me. I was called selfish and he postured across the table at me in an aggressive manner. Needless to say I have never approached him again. I also would not consider attending an AVER meeting as I really don't understand this self-appointed group of men who are making decisions about the future of the North Country. Last Year there was a meeting of the Informed Citizens for a Better North Country and some AVER members and Mr. Gaston from the FBOP. Mr. Wagner was polite and did seem to at least listen. Mr. McQueen was rude and sneering through the entire meeting. And, I am sorry to say, that Ms. LaFlamme ,who was there taking notes, rolled her eyes when some people spoke against the prison more times than I would care to say. No one on the Berlin City Council or AVER seems to care a hoot about what the people of Berlin or the North Country at large have to say about anything so it is a bit discouraging when thinking of attending these meetings. Mr A.W. Walters has exposed more of the decisions that are making people angry and certainly aren't making them feel free to go to a Council meeting and express their thoughts and opinions. At least on the blog no one is subject to the rath of Danderson or looks of disgust and impatience.Besides, Gregg , Gallus and Bass (how did he get back in the picture?) are behind alot of what is going on and they certainly aren't listening to what people have to say. I am so tired of the blahblahblah responses that 39 cents is wasted on when you call or write to these guys. Right now, our only voice is our vote and we all need to excercise this on voting day.
Posted by: Pat Bacon | June 22, 2007 at 07:40 AM
I want to apologize - my points were never to ridicule anyone - they were always meant to draw people out. It seems that is okay for people to know who I am and make A LOT of assumptions about me, but apparently I am not allowed to know who anyone else is or ask them to volunteer or be part of the conversation outside of this website.
I really did not know that City Council at one time used microphones - this is apparently is way before my time with the City. If that happened, that is really an unfortunate story, but it obviously happened long ago.
To Robert Brown, again my point about the cowardice was about people not posting their names, not anything to do with anyone's personalities - I won't pretend that I know you or anyone else on this site to make character judgments - it would be great if others could do the same.
When you vote on this site and leave a comment on your vote, it leaves your email address even if you post only your name - no fancy software knowledge on my part, just something I found without even looking.
I am person who lives in Coos County, I work for the City of Berlin, I live in Gorham, my parents live in Milan. I have children and feelings as do all of you who post I am sure. This is more about getting people who care about their community to get out there and participate. Don't let bad past experiences stop you, don't let me stop you. As posting on these sites can lead to much misinterpretation, I will read but no longer post. Sorry for any misunderstanding.
Sincerely, Pam Laflamme
plaflamme@verizon.net
www.berlinnh.gov
Posted by: Pamela Laflamme | June 21, 2007 at 11:14 PM
R. Brown,I am going to assume that you are a Mr, only because of your war history. Mr. Brown, you have as much right on here as anybody else does. You are courageous and strong and not a coward at all. I understand where the "master of the blog" is coming from and I also want change to happen in this city, but it is hard when you are personally attacked. Her comment basically calling me a liar had my hair on end for quite a few hours. I do know, only because I have an EXTENSIVE background in computer science, that the people in city hall cannot find out your IP address. I tried just for the fun of it and in the better part of an hour, it was no use. I think it is sick that she personally attacked you in an email and if I were you, I would ask to have it published in a letter to the editor (although this could be libel or slander? not a lawyer so I don't know for sure) to let everyone know computer or not just what exactly she is like. In the meantime, I am going to go and comment on a new post. Please don't leave.........we all need you and your thoughts.
Posted by: Jana | June 21, 2007 at 07:31 PM
R. Brown, you should not leave this blog because you have something to say and we need to hear it. What you just disclosed about the City Planner is very important information for all of us to know. Your last post demontrates courage not your cowardice and I thank you. Your contributions prove your worth to this blog. There's no question in my mind that Mayor and Council as well as many senior staff see themselves as the ultimate authority and give token attention to what boards have to say. There's also collusion where people are joined at the hip and where accountibility is sacrificed. These are realities that impact all of us and when we experience its ugliness we need to expose it to the light of day/get it out of the closet. Thank you R Brown for caring.
Posted by: Rocky | June 21, 2007 at 03:54 PM
My last post and another story. Feeling underutilized, left out, insulted, unimportant I left the planning board and zoning board. Great people on those boards, heavily underutilized. I will give you an example; with the exception of the subdivision request the State, Mayor or council has still not met with the planning board to ask for suggestions for Jericho lake park. Maybe the Mayor, Council and State thought it unnecessary and that those people had nothing to offer etc or maybe there was too much money involved, regardless even a token meeting would have been acceptable but it never happened. But anyway when this site was created I thought there was a place where I could contribute, in a smaller way, but still contribute to the discussion. Tired of personal attacks for voicing my opinion I made some annonymous comments, I am Allen Walters (long story), I am Robert Brown. Within a half hour I received a threatening, insulting personal email from the city planner, calling me a coward!!! I am a veteran of three conflicts, 11 years, my side was crushed and I gave up a healthy life for my country. The comments I made, I felt were a neccessary part of the discussion and are still posted. Please read them and see if they warranted a personal attack, iethier way this is my last post. And how did Pam find out who I was? She is tracking, through a third party, users IPOs. Nice. Viva libre o morto.
Posted by: R. Brown | June 21, 2007 at 09:54 AM