Coos Conversations

Berlin wears Prada – almost

Maybe not Prada, but some really chic outfits are now available at Berlin's newest store, Rumorz.

I seldom admit it, but I AM a fashion snob. My mother was editor-in-chief of Harpers Bazaar as was my great aunt. All my female role models growing up were fashion editors. I wasn't allowed out of the house without the fashion police approving what I was wearing. I didn't have to get to high school to become a fashionista. Before I started kindergarten, I had learned how to judge people by what they were wearing. (Yes, there's a little Meryl Streep in every fashion editor)

So as much as I like to think of myself as just a country girl most comfortable in jeans and t-shirt, I truly appreciate great clothes. So I was thrilled to find a whole store of them just down the street from my office. Stacia Roberge, former director of Berlin Main Street, has a wonderful eye for style, and has packed her shop with clothes that are both comfortable and appropriate for business or fun. Even more importantly in these times, she's priced them right. And, she hasn't forgotten that women come in all shapes and sizes, so there's everything from a petite to a 3X and it's all, as my mother would say, nifty.

So go check it out and you'll find the ever charming Ms Roberge behind the counter most days. I also love the plaque she has by the cash register dedicating the store to her dad. He'd be very proud.

Dr. Jay Buckey has a brilliant idea: North Country needs its own university

Dartmouth College professor and former Senate candidate Dr. Jay Buckey is calling for a university for the North Country. He is SO right. I was in Pittsburgh last week -- when I first went there a decade ago it was unbelievably depressing. Gray faces, gray buildings, gray air, no jobs. Today it is a vibrant exciting place, celebrating its artistic heritage with an Andy Warhol Museum, great running paths along the river and a ton of new nightspots and restaurants. What's it got that Berlin doesn't. Universities, not just to attract students and professors, but to spawn startups and industries around the research that happens there.
In fact, when we did our competitive analysis of Coos County last year, the single thing that differentiated Coos County, and Berlin in particular, from other hot rural growth areas like Utah and Wyoming was the lack of a university.  It has shorter commute times, more affordable housing and office space, equal infastructure to its peers, just no university.

Beware spam from Laidlaw Lackeys

Some of my colleagues from Citizens for a New Vision have gotten unsolicited (Spam) emails from Laidlaw supposedly answering questions about the biomass plant. If you get one of these, we would just caution you to take it with a very large bucketful of salt.

"Although the Laidlaw Project currently is in fifth position in the ISO-NE queue, it probably will be the first or second to come on line, behind the Noble project in Lost Nation" 

Of course there's no explanation as to how they are magically going to jump the queue, unless of course they're counting on Charlie Bass to waive his magic wand for them. 

Daily Kos discovers Berlin and maybe we should wish they hadn't

While I'm always happy when Berlin gets some attention, especially from a Blog like Daily Kos. But I could do without their premise: New Motto for New Hampshire: Live Dirty or Die.

Jazz coming to St. Kieran's

St. Kieran Arts Center continues to amaze me with the variety of its offerings. It just annnounced its summer series starting with the Royal River Philharmonic Jazz Band on Thursday, June 12 at 7 PM. The six-member ensemble brings the best of New Orleans Dixieland Jazz to the stage in this upbeat, dazzling and entertaining performance. Tickets are $12 and on sale at the door.

 

Royal River Jazz performs traditional “two-beat” New Orleans Dixieland Music in the style of the great New Orleans Jazz bands which always performed for a wide variety of events ranging from births to funerals and in locations ranging from concert halls and churches to bar rooms and bordellos. The group has been officially organized since 1975 and has perfected a wide repertoire of music comprised of marches, two-steps, blues, swing, ballads, comedy tunes, religious songs and novelty numbers.

 

Based in the Greater Portland Maine area, the Royal River Jazz Band has entertained New England audiences for over 30 years, featuring the important elements of good jazz: improvisation and swing. Its arrangements of the great tunes from the traditional jazz repertoire feature finely-crafted ensemble work with plenty of room for solos and collective improvisation. Its swing is born of six lifetimes devoted to exploring the intricacies of Dixieland Jazz and having fun in the process.

 

Band members include Eric Anderson on tuba, Dave Langezettell on cornet, William Rayne on trombone, Bob Pillsbury on clarinet, Jeff Grosser on banjo, and Olin Sawyer on piano.  All individually popular musicians, most members also play in a variety of other bands, small combo groups, and community and dance bands dedicated to keeping the best of Jazz alive and growing.

 

“We know our community has a heritage of supporting and appreciating great jazz and this concert is definitely for them!” states Arts Center Director, Joan Chamberlain.

                                                                                                                 

Royal River Jazz is made possible through the sponsorship of James and Rita O’Donnell and Morrisette Financial, with support by the NH State Council for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Stanton and Elizabeth Davis Fund, The Falcon Fund and the Jean & William Hallager Fund of the NH Charitable Foundation.

 

Circle your calendars for more programs in the Summer Series: Le Vent du Nord , a popular and in-demand group of superb musicians from Quebec on June 26, Mark Verselli, a critically acclaimed singer impressionist on July 10, The Northward Bound Summer Chamber Music Concert on July 15, and The 60’s Invasion, New England’s premier 60’s band on July 24.

The Big Art Show, a large format exhibit is currently on display until July 25.

                

For more information and a brochure of all events, please contact the Arts Center office at 752-1028, 155 Emery Street or visit: www.stkieranarts.org.