Coos Conversations

Another fun day at the Heritage Park

Berlin, NH – Don’t miss the Northern Forest Heritage Park’s River Day Boat Float on Saturday, June 18^th! Canoes, kayaks, motorboats, rafts and anything else that floats are all welcome! Ferg Lea from the Androscoggin Watershed Council challenged, “Let’s see how many boats we can get out to enjoy and celebrate our mighty Androscoggin!  Last year, the people down river in Bethel managed to get about 22 paddle craft on the river, so it would be great to beat that as we celebrate the river.”  Phoebe Backler of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail added, “And why not decorate your boat with the “Luck of the Draw” theme for the River Day festival?”  

Registration costs $10 per boat, includes one free t-shirt and will take place at 8:30AM at the Nansen Wayside Park north of Berlin on Rte. 16.  Participants can also register online at www.androscogginwatershed.org and clicking on events.  Motor boats will depart at 10:00 AM and paddle boats will follow at 10:30AM. Shuttle services will be available to allow paddlers to park their vehicles at the Heritage Park before the Boat Float begins.  A limited number of canoes and kayaks will be available at no cost this year, but please bring your own if you have a boat.

Boaters will finish at the Northern Forest Heritage Park. Dick Huot, Director of NFHP, reminds everyone that the Park will be humming with River Day/Wingzilla activities that include seminars, workshops, aquatic displays and a selection of films from Northern Forest Canoe Trail's film festival.  Shortly after the Boat Float arrives, Berlin’s Mayor Paul Grenier will proclaim that the third Saturday of June will celebrate the river and its fascinating history.  There will also be plenty of delicious food thanks to WINGZILLA, a BBQ Chicken Wing Cook Off competition.  And you can even try your hand in the “Luck of the Draw” Horse Shoe Tournament..  The family friendly Block Party continues into the evening with entertainment by Plan B!

Challenge your friends, relatives and co-workers to decorate their boat or other floatable device– see who has the most interesting.  Is your Camp Owner’s Association active? What pond or lake will have the best representation; Lake Umbagog, Success, Nay, Cedar, Millsfield, Akers Ponds? Who will have bragging rights for best float?  Or for human powered craft, challenge them to a friendly race to the finish.  Or see what wild and crazy idea you can come up with for something else that floats. 

And for paddlers out there, don’t miss the Paddlefest on the Connecticut River on July 25^th (visit www.greatnh.org for more info). A free raffle for a paddle jacket donated by L.L. Cote will be drawn for those who participate in both paddling events!  But don’t forget, in the River Day Boat Float, motorized craft are also welcome and encouraged to join us.  A raffle for a half day Whitewater Trip donated by North Woods Rafting and a Pontoon Boat Tour by Northern Forest Heritage Park will be drawn from all participants in the Boat Float.  Organizers also noted that there is always bragging rights for the best decoration or the winner of a race against relatives or friends.  Ferg Lea added, “And if more than 22 show up, there’s also bragging rights to most boats on the Upper Androscoggin for any organized, well semi-organized event.”

Registration for the Boat Float will be at the Nansen Wayside Park north of Berlin on Rte. 16. For information on the schedule for the day, visit www.northernforestheritage.org or call NFHP at 603-752-7202.  Paddlers can visit NFCT's Calendar of Events at www.northernforestcanoetrail.org for other great summer activities from New York to Maine!  Check out www.androscogginwatershed.org for information on Androscoggin River Source to the Sea Trek. 

 

END

 

FYI

Schedule for River Day Fun Float

Registration: 8:30 at Nansen Wayside Park (North Woods Rafting will oversee registration)

 

Shuttle Services back to Heritage Park: 8:30-11 (Parking for boat trailers will be at the R&D Building)

Boat Decoration theme: Luck of the Draw

Start time:

10AM- Motor Boats

10:30 AM – Paddle Boats

 

Race Fee: $10 per boat (includes 1 t-shirt and registration), extra t-shirts are $5 each ($7 at NFHP)

 

Take Out: Northern Forest Heritage Park (in time for Proclamation at 12:00)

Prizes:

• Raffle for entrants for ½ Day Whitewater Rafting trip at North Woods Rafting and Northern Forest Heritage Park Pontoon Boat Tour.
• Raffle of names of those who participate in both River Day and Paddlefest events (LL Cote will donate a paddle jacket. Value $90)

 

Brian Bresnahan will have a table at River Day to promote G.R.E.A.T.’s  PaddleFest (to be held on 6/25)

 

 

Berlin celebrates its cultural heritage with food from 7 nations

Northern Forest Heritage Park proudly presents the 4th Annual Cultural/Heritage Festival on Saturday June 4.  The Cultural/Heritage Festival is the Park’s first major event of the year.  This first event for 2011 promises to open the season with a bang!  There will be something for everyone.  Entertainers this year include Patrick Ross, Tim Dion and Native American instrumentals by John Loper.

There will be many unique vendors and artisans at this year’s Cultural/Heritage Festival!  Beginning with the Berlin & Coos Historical Society featuring historic displays and continuing with Wood Creations’ Custom Furniture, Useborn Books for children, Handmade Dolls from the Doll Dreamer, Goats Milk Soap, Lotion, & hand embroidered quilts from the Devil’s Slide Farm, Scentsy Candles, Jeff Foltz author of Birkebeiner; A story of Motherhood and War -Norway 1203, Hand Knit sweaters from the Krankee Yankee, Hand Crafted items from Auto North Relay for Life, Maine Nordmenn “Sons of Norway” presents Rosemaling, Viking Wood Carvings and fresh baked Krumbkaka, Beyond the Notches, “Stories of Place in New Hampshire’s North Country” presented by the Monadnock Institute of Nature, Face Painting by Creative Imaginings, Wabanaki Bead Work by Rhonda Besaw, Specialty Knives Handmade Jewelry and License Plates by Rick Gamache, Hand Spun Wool from Wandering Woollies with mittens, hats, elves & scarves knitted from their own Hand Spun Wool and Sandra Hofstead displaying Russian Iconography and Ukrainian Pysanky!

New for 2011!  NFHP is proud to introduce two very handsome Belgian Draft horses named Ben & Bill!  Ben & Bill will pull a Western Covered Wagon and provide rides for all to enjoy, all day long!  NFHP River Boats will be leaving on the hour beginning at 11:00 AM at the customary reduced rate during NFHP events, children 12 and under ride free accompanied by a paying adult. 

The food at the Cultural/Heritage Festival is simply unbelievable!  This is something you have to experience at NFHP because it is believed that such a menu cannot be found anywhere else!  It all starts with NFHP’s World Famous Bean-Hole-Beans!  If you like beans you’re gonna love NFHP’s Bean-Hole-Beans!  These beans must be tasted to know just how good they are! The menu also includes: Norwegian Meat Cakes, Cherokee Brunswick Stew, Russian Cabbage Rolls, Italian Lasagna, Canadian Meat Pies, Canadian Ragou, German Bratwurst, Irish Venison Meatballs, Italian Wedding Soup, French Pea Soup, Norwegian Beet Salad and Canadian Cretons. The above will be served with Italian Bread, German Dark Rye Bread and Corn Bread. The desserts are absolutely delicious and include Norwegian Rice Pudding, Canadian Home Made donuts; Native American Shawnee Cake, and French Canadian Pets de Soeur!  Additionally the menu includes Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, French fries, Fried Dough and Ice Cream!  Where else can you find all this at one location?  The Cultural/Heritage Festival is Simply Amazing and must be experienced!!

Tri-County Community Action Program, Inc. proudly supports Northern Forest Heritage Park.  Larry Kelly, Executive Director of TCCAP would like to remind everyone that NFHP is a community park.  The Park is a replica of a late 1800 - early 1900 Logging Camp where men lived and worked for months at a time without going home.  It is a place that preserves and celebrates the history of the various cultures that settled this area.  The Park provides an atmosphere where busy families, neighbors and long lost friends can renew old acquaintances, relax, and catch up on old times.  It is a place where young and old can gather and feel a sense of home, a sense of belonging. 

Everyone is encouraged to shop the tables of 16 distinctive local artisans, sample excellent cuisine and be entertained by outstanding musicians!  Everyone is invited to this special day of celebration and admission is free! Northern Forest Heritage Park is located across the street from the Brown Company House at 942 Main Street in Berlin, NH. For more information please call 752-7202 or visit the Park’s website at www.northernforestheritage.org

Revival!

 

 

Are you ready to Rock and Roll and Celebrate the Sale of the Cascade Mill?  

Come out to enjoy the Mill City Revival Band: songs & music of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s

St. Kieran Arts Center this  Friday, May 20 at 7 pm. 

Tickets $12. 752-1028 www.stkieranarts.org

Sponsored by Cooper, Cargill, Chant & Public Service of NH

PRESS RELEASE:

MILL CITY REVIVAL BAND Friday, May 20 at 7 pm.

 

Berlin-Are you ready to Rock and Roll? Come out to enjoy the Mill City Revival Band performing songs and music of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s at St. Kieran Community Center for the Arts on Friday, May 20 at 7 pm.  Tickets are $12 adults, $6 for students and are available at the door.

 

The Mill City Revival Band began performing songs from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s because they felt that there was a void in bands who were keeping the music of those decades alive—and they still all enjoy getting together and sharing the music with others. They always select a wide range of songs and styles that showcase the multi-talents of the band members, especially songs that feature the Horn Section.  The band’s home base is Lowell Massachusetts, which has long been known as the “Mill City”. 

 

Carl Antifonario, a professional woodwind specialist who has toured with the United States Air Force Southern Command Band, formed the Mill City Revival Band four years ago with a great nucleus of experienced musicians and then added some great young horn players from the Berkley College School of Music. Utilizing horns as well as great vocals make this band stand out from the many oldies bands throughout New England. Combined with great showmanship and their fun way of interacting with audiences young and old, Mill City Revival Band brings a party atmosphere to the house, wherever they go.

 

The band boasts some of the best musicians and entertainers from the New England area including lead singer, Michael Anthony has been fronting bands for 20 years and has toured the New England area with his Neil Diamond Tribute Show.

 

Henry Ricard, Drummer and Singer, is a show by himself, who when performing, will sing lead, stand up and play drums all at the same time. Lead Guitar & Singer, Jimmy Merrick,  better known as Mr. Rock and Roll has been playing the entire East Coast (Including Nashville) as well as Montreal, Canada singing lead and fronting Rock and Roll shows with his dancing guitar since 1968. Dick Lavallee, Keyboard and Backup Vocal, has been touring the New England area for 35 years as a multi-talented keyboard player as well as song stylist. Paul Orendorf,  Bass and Alternate Drums, is an accomplished drummer and electric bass player, who has been playing with more contemporary style bands and has transitioned to Mill City with ease. Also, performing is Kyle Lambert on Trumpet and Fleugal Horn and Singer-Dancer-Trombonist, Molly Rose.

 

“When we booked Mill City Revival last fall, we hoped that the Gorham Mill would be fully operational by this time, but we are very glad to know that things are in place for a successful sale and hope it will happen soon.  In the meantime, let s get together and celebrate the good old days-- “One Mill City to Another”, states Joan Chamberlain, Executive Director

 

What we've been saying all along. Is this plant good for anyone but PSNH & Laidlaw shareholders?

PPA adjustments might make Berlin, N.H., project impracticalBiomass Power and Thermal - May 11, 2011

via www.newbiomassnh.org

A vote hundreds of miles away has direct impact on Berlin

Great piece on just how disfunctional the current residents of Capital Hill really are: http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/opinioneditorials/916896-263/an-empty-prison-good-work-d.c..html

Wingzilla Returns

via www.facebook.com

Northern Forest Heritage Park located at 942 Main Street in Berlin NH wants you to mark your calendars for June 18, 2011 for the 4th Annual WINGZILLA Chicken Wing BBQ Cook-Off! It’s a Block Party! It’s a blast! Last year’s WINGZILLA was a resounding success! Over 1,000 people attended and the community was buzzing with talk of the great time had by everyone! Based on this success, we are expanding the event to be better than ever!

This is an excellent opportunity to take part in a fun filled event, while fund raising for your organization. For-profits and non-profits are welcome! You keep all of the proceeds from the sale of your BBQ Chicken Wings to spectators who come to the park for this cook-off competition. This event is modeled after the food cook-off competitions seen on TV!

This year’s event takes place on Saturday June 18, 2011. In addition to the proceeds you earn from the sale of your wings there are cash prizes! 1st place -$200.00; 2nd place - $125.00; 3rd place - $75.00. Competitors may enter more than one recipe. There is a $50.00 registration fee for each recipe. Judging will take place at approximately 4:30 PM. You must supply your own grill. Mark Belanger has taken 1st place three years in a row. He is challenging anyone to try to beat his prized wings!

Rudy’s Market, 81 Wight Street in Berlin is providing chicken wings at WINGZILLA prices if ordered before June 8th. Call Rudy’s at 603-752-2333 for more information.

The WINGZILLA Chicken Wing BBQ Cook-Off also includes the WINGZILLA Horseshoe Tournament. This is a “Blind Draw” 2-person team tournament with cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams. All are encouraged and welcome to sign up! Competition is serious but friendly and a great time is had by everyone! Registration fee is $10.00 per person to participate in the WINGZILLA Horseshoe Tournament.

Spectator admission is FREE until 5:00 PM! The Block Party continues with music provided by a local band. The very popular and favorite band of many, “Plan B” will play from 5:30 to 10:00 PM. For a complete list of contest rules please call 752-7202 for more information! Or visit our website at www.northernforestheritage.org

WINGZILLA Committee
Northern Forest Heritage Park

PUC says Laidlaw Deal Not in the Public Interest

The Public Utilities Commission says a proposed 20-year deal between Public Service of New Hampshire and the Laidlaw Berlin BioPower plant is not in the public interest. That jeopardizes the project but the commission is giving the companies a chance to salvage things. NHPR’s Chris Jensen reports.

via www.nhpr.org

Great local perspectives on Northern Pass

Editor's note: Reporter Paula Tracy traveled to Coos County to tour the proposed route of the Northern Pass hydropower high-transmission line.

via www.unionleader.com

Paula Tracy has done a great job looking into why, despite the economy, most of the North Country opposes the Northern Pass Project

Lets start this up again!

2 racers, 4 days, 100 tough miles1926 race from Portland to Berlin, N.H., made history By T.D. Thornton Globe Correspondent / February 3, 2011 E-mail this article To:Invalid E-mail addressAdd a personal message:(80 character limit)Your E-mail:Invalid E-mail address Sending your articleYour article has been sent.E-mail|Print|Reprints|Comments (0) Text size – +

via www.boston.com

Great story about a "Great Race" to Berlin, NH a century ago organized by the Nansen Ski Club. I say we do it again!

The real reason unemployment is so high

I made a comment on NHPR's exchange a few weeks ago about what I felt the real root cause of our high unemployment rates in the  North Country.  I said:

"The reality is that there are jobs out there, but small companies are the only ones creating them. Big companies are too slow and cumbersome and take way too long to hire. Small businesses feel the impact of a new client immediately and immediately fill the job. The bigger issue is the massive misalignment between the skills today’s employers need and the skills of the unemployed. I was at an event last night and there were six job openings that people were trying to recruit for and having little success. The problem is that you can’t find the skills sets we need from within the NH labor pool. "

I speak from experience. Here at KDPaine & Partners we've been looking to hire at least two new people per quarter. Yes, the jobs are entry level, but that's because not many people do what we do, so in order to be good at it, we need to give the person 3-6 months of training. On the other hand, we typically promote from within, and all but two of our managers have started out as readers. We pay for  80% of their health insurance premium for full time employees. It's not union wages, but nor is it minimum wage. The problem is, we can't find anyone to hire.

We've been running an ad on the NH Department of Employment Job page for a while and we have gotten exactly 3 applicants, none of whom have anywhere close to the skills we need. We just reposted the job with a slight different job description that is more inline with our current needs. It reads:

The Media Analyst position is the entry level position at KDPaine & Partners a US based market research firm which pioneered public relations measurement and is a leader in tracking and measuring social media marketing programs. The Media Analyst is responsible for monitoring and coding electronic media including newspapers, magazines, television, radio, web sites, discussion groups, YouTube videos, Facebook threads, blogs, Twitter and all other forms of social media for a particular client and reports to the team lead. KDPaine & Partners has clients in Government, Defense, Consumer, Technology and non-profit segments. Our media monitoring tool provides a working environment for an analyst to accurately characterize a company’s communications presence in the marketplace. A successful employee will develop a strong understanding of client needs and communication strategy in a particular market and proactively support development of KDPaine & Partners web based analysis by fast accurate interpretation of content from all forms of media. KDPaine & Partners holds a leadership position based on our pioneering work in Social Media measurement and needs employees to help us become the dominant player as the market grows.

Must have solid knowledge of computer and internet search basics (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Google) knowledge or experience working with web based applications or communications tools is a plus.  Desire and abilities to develop expertise in new areas is critical.

 Sadly, those aren't the skills you learn when you are operating a mill. The good news is, now that the former Gorham mill workers will be Trade Act Certified, they'll be eligible for training funds. But that doesn't  help me much. I need workers today.

So when we're looking around for who to blame for high unemployment, we might start by  looking at NH"s legislature which has for years starved our public education system and underfunded higher education and training programs. Maybe if they hadn't left us 49th in state support of education, our workers might have the skills to get the jobs that are begging to be filled.