Coos Conversations

Best thing to move into Coos yet!

WREN is Moving into Coos County
and that is great news for entrepreneurship in the county. If you haven't attended a WREN workshop, it is well worth it.

Efforts Grow to Diversify Coos Economy - Business - redOrbit

Interesting story on all the most recent efforts to Diversify Coos Economy -

Fun on the water Groveton Style

Who says things aren't GREAT in Groveton?

You obviously haven't heard about the 2^nd annual PaddleFest

GROVETON — It's getting close to that time again. Paddlers should dust off their canoes and kayaks and start warming up for the GREAT PaddleFest on the Connecticut River on June 28.
This year, organizers have worked hard to improve the event that drew 57 boats into friendly competition in its inaugural run. After last year's modest distance produced lightning times, the racecourse has been stretched and will now span nearly 12 miles of the Connecticut River from the Janice Peaslee Bridge spanning the Stratford-Maidstone Vt. border south to the village of Guildhall, Vt. just across the riverbank from Northumberland Village.
Word has gotten out about last year's success and vendors and musicians are already lining up to join the post-race festival that is likely to draw visitors and paddlers alike as the event shares a weekend with the Old Time Fiddler's Contest at the nearby Lancaster Fairgrounds. Space on the Guildhall Common is still available for business displays, vendors and entertainers who wish to take part in the day. Anyone interested can call (603) 837-8834 or email greatpaddlefest@verizon.net.
In addition to racers, PaddleFest also encourages those who would prefer to take a leisurely float down the river. Prizes will be given for decorated boats and this year's theme is "Pioneers." Non-motorized watercraft of all kinds are welcome and racers will be split into classes depending on the type of boat. There will be a category for long kayaks (over 10-feet), short kayaks, canoe with one paddler, canoe with two paddlers and rowboats.
Registration is $10 per person with a maximum of $20 per boat if received by June 14. Those who pre-register will also receive a free PaddleFest t-shirt. After June 14 registration is $12 per person with a maximum of $24 per boat and t-shirts may be available but are not guaranteed. Registration forms can be picked up at Emerson Outdoor Outfitters in Groveton, Perras Ace Hardware in Northumberland, or the Coös County Democrat in Lancaster or request one via email from greatpaddlefest@verizon.net.

Bass says that Laidlaw is our only hope

On the Exchange this morning, Laidlaw lacky Charlie Bass said that Laidlaw is the best that Berlin can hope for. Tells you what he thinks of the North Country, doesn't it? He also said that Laidlaw connecting to the grid "will not be a problem."  Wonder what drugs he's on?

NHPR on the future of Coos County

I'm listening to NHPR's the Exchange talk about the North Country and it occurs to me that there is a perception gap between north and south that makes Tuckerman's look like a crack in the sidewalk. If Coos County spent on promotion half of what Charlie Bass gets to promote Laidlaw, we'd create a whole lot more than 40 jobs.

Watch for this to appear word for word in the Daily Sun

This is yet another "shareholder update" from Laidlaw trying to reassure investors that nothing is wrong. Needless to say, it doesn't mention the fact that the new city council is against the project, and it totally dismisses the challenge of getting onto the transmission system. Lets see whether the local paper includes those troubling facts.

Flowers are back and so am I

After a week without a laptop, I'm catching up on my blogging. My apologies first to Allen Waters who definitely gets his 10 points for correctly identifying the photo of the Dead River. And Sarah, I'll also admit that I am a total novice when it comes to mountains and that it is very likely that those are some other president than Washington. I've spent 55 years being an ocean girl, never really carrying much for lakes and mountains. Then I discovered Coos County and have been smitten ever since. Anyone want to rent a nice house on the NH Seacoast?
Seriously, there is nothing more beautiful than to watch spring come in the mountains... the snow on the highest peaks, the power of the runoff on the Androscoggin, the daffodils and forsythia popping out everywhere, the streams that appear for just a few weeks. I see similar signs of renewal and rebirth around the city of Berlin. Houses repainted, stores changing hands and getting a face lift, more young families out walking and running on a Saturday morning.
Another sign of progress was the the final recommendations and recommendations being accepted by the Coos County Economic Action Plan Steering Committee on Monday. This far reaching project will ultimately shape the future of the county, and its great to see it moving forward. (In the interest of transparency, I served on the Creative and Knowledge Economy TRC)
So welcome Spring  in Berlin.