Coos Conversations

Fraser Papers wants to sell Gorham paper mill - Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009

At a hearing scheduled for tomorrow in Ontario, the company will seek court approval to sell its core specialty papers business, "thereby preserving employment for employees" at the mills it plans to sell in Edmundston, New Brunswick and Madawaska, Maine."

via www.unionleader.com

So what happens to their contract with Laidlaw, I wonder if the new owners will honor?

A "Twisted" but typical Irving novel sheds light on Coos County

Ever since I started reading John Irving's latest novel, Last Night in Twisted River  

I've been wondering what impact the the book will have on Coos County where much of the novel takes place. It is a dark and typically Irving  tale that grips the reader from page 1 and never lets go. That the  spirit and nature of the Great North Woods pervades the characters and the plot is no accident, since Irving spent time in the area both as a child and as an author.
When I first heard about the book, I imagined that it might bring the same image lift to Berlin that "On Golden Pond" did to Squam Lake.  Fat chance. This is Irving after all. He doesn't do the North Country any favors, but he does give you a wonderful history of the area and the men and women that made their living off the forests in the 50s.
I wonder who will be the first to do a "Twisted River" tour -- I for one am dying to see "Dead Woman Dam" and "Paris"  -- aka West Dummer and the remnants of the camps.  
As a newcomer from "away,"  I didn't know how clueless I was about the history of the area until I read Twisted River. But Irving has given me a window into an era, a time, a land and a people that are the foundation of  the town in which I now live. It's a must read for anyone who seeks to understand the area.

A "Twisted" but typical Irving novel sheds light on Coos County

Ever since I started reading John Irving's latest novel, Last Night in Twisted River  

I've been wondering what impact the the book will have on Coos County where much of the novel takes place. It is a dark and typically Irving  tale that grips the reader from page 1 and never lets go. That the  spirit and nature of the Great North Woods pervades the characters and the plot is no accident, since Irving spent time in the area both as a child and as an author.
When I first heard about the book, I imagined that it might bring the same image lift to Berlin that "On Golden Pond" did to Squam Lake.  Fat chance. This is Irving after all. He doesn't do the North Country any favors, but he does give you a wonderful history of the area and the men and women that made their living off the forests in the 50s.
I wonder who will be the first to do a "Twisted River" tour -- I for one am dying to see "Dead Woman Dam" and "Paris"  -- aka West Dummer and the remnants of the camps.  
As a newcomer from "away,"  I didn't know how clueless I was about the history of the area until I read Twisted River. But Irving has given me a window into an era, a time, a land and a people that are the foundation of  the town in which I now live. It's a must read for anyone who seeks to understand the area.

No Boo Hooing on Halloween, here's something fun to do that benefits a great cause

Spooktacular Halloween Dinner/Dance Berlin, NH VFW Hall. 
October 31st 5pm to Midnight 

Fun-filled evening to benefit 2 year old Emily Masters.  Emily has hydrocephalus as well as a severe brain abnormality in which more than half of her brain was damaged and never developed. She is now two years old and can't walk, talk, is legally blind and now has to be fed strictly through a tube. She also has a seizure disorder. Emily, despite all of these challenges has one of the most unique little personalities on the planet. She coos and laughs and her little eyes light up and you just know that she’s, above all, a truly beautiful little angel, right here on earth. Every moment with her is not just a blessing, it’s a miracle. Besides the expense of taking her to Boston for appointments, she often requires long stays in Boston that require parking costs, extensive copays as well as transportation/food etc for Mom and Dad. Emily requires therapy four days per week. Emily’s insurance only covers so many therapy visits per year and within just a few months, the therapy is paid out-of-pocket. Emily also needs special equipment that is not covered fully by medical insurance such as a stander, wheelchair and special seats for bathing, sitting and will need a handicap bed. Emily’s home also needs modifications to become handicap accessible as she grows and her parents have more and more trouble carrying her.

 

We are currently in need of give-away items for prizes and to be raffled off, Halloween decorations, take-out packaging, paper goods (napkins, cups, plates, salad bowls, utensils), pasta, salad fixings and garlic bread.  We are also seeking financial contributions, sponsors and are interested in having a radio station attend/advertise the event.

 

Spaghetti Dinner featuring Saladino's Homemade Spaghetti Sauce 5-8pm

$6.95 Adults, $3.95 Children. Take-out will be available. 

 

Halloween Dance with music provided by local legends, Bill and Denise & Friends. 8pm-12am

21+ after 8pm.  Tickets are $10 for the dance only, per person. 

 

Combo ticket, join us for dinner and then dance the night away. $15/pp.

 

Door prizes, Penny Sale/Raffle, 50/50, Bake Sale, Costume Contest and much more! 

 

Call 603-723-1908 or email ebuteau@kdpaine.com for more info!

 

Ccos County captures John Irving's imagination

John Irving's latest novel Last Night in Twisted River is based in Coos County -- maybe this will be the moment when Coos County is discovered -- we only hope its for its natural beauty and indomitable residents, not the craziness Irving implies.

Green jobs coming to Berlin!

Simply Green Biofuels expands to Berlin | SeacoastOnline.com.

Corporate attempts to buy access aren't limited to Washington

Eric Eisele's piece on the funding of our upcoming mayoral race is profoundly disturbing. On one hand, it is nice to know that our little local election is important enough to solicit this kind of response, and as such should be a call to arms to Berlin residents to get out and vote for the kind of future they want our town to have.
On the other hand it is a sign that just because we're hundreds of miles from Washington DC, doesn't mean that corporate influence can't find its way into politics.
The health insurance companies started their war against health care reform with a $5billion war chest, and announced early in the campaign that they would be spending $1 million a day to oppose it much of that funding elections of Senators who have come out against reform efforts .
On a smaller scale, this is exactly what Laidlaw management and investors were trying to do by directing money to the candidate most supportive of their views.
The problem with this systems is that individuals and small businesses who are facing a choice between buying oil or food or medicine, don't have the luxury of such largess for the candidates that represent their points of view. The good news is that on a national scale, a lot of little online donations can add up to a great deal of money, as we saw with last year's election.
The bad news is that, on a local scale, corporate funding can essentially drown out the voice of those individuals and small business.
Which is why everyone should read  Mr Eisele's story and then offer to volunteer their time, effort and energy for the candidate of his/her choice. Let's send the corporate bullies a message that deep pockets and expensive lobbyists have no place in local politics.

Why I live in New England

Spent the weekend enjoying the seasons... or Why I live in New England

Sound familiar?

I was listening to this segment on NHPR this morning about  how Michigan's UP'ers (residents of the Upper Penisula" are hard working, friendly folks that are surviving the economy by toughing it out,
and it occurred to me that they could as easily have been talking about Coos County. The  UP is routinely left off of maps and left out of discussions. It is seen as a separate and radically different part of Michigan, and it occurred to me that the part of New Hampshire that is north of the Notches is just as different from Salem and Portsmouth as Detroit is from the U.P. Maybe we should rebrand ourselves the way UPers did. NoNers doesn't quite have the same ring. Maybe NCers -- (rhymes with Snickers) --  the ad campaign could encourage people to "Get into our ... "  maybe not.. Other ideas anyone?"

Go climb a mountain -- and discover Berlin in the process

Okay, full disclosure -- I'm part of a team effort to promote the natural wonders of Berlin, NH -- but I LOVE the fact that newcomers to the area are discovering all the cool things you can do here -- like this: Berlin NH- a rock climbing destination