Northern Forest News Digest

New Hampshire
By: Staff
After a four-year effort, Albany has acquired 310 acres for a town forest.

The $800,000 cost came from a variety of sources, including $149,000 that Albany voters approved in 2010.
The Conway Daily Sun article link

Maine
By: Holly Ramer, The Associated Press
A mild winter across the Northeast is injecting extra uncertainty into maple syrup season, but many producers say they’ll just go with the flow, whenever it starts.

Temperatures have been up and snowfall totals have been down throughout the region this winter, raising some concern for the maple syrup crop. But syrup producers say the weather during the six-week season when sap flows matters more than the weather leading up to it.
Bangor Daily News article link

New Hampshrie
By: Jennifer Levitz
For a while, it looked like northern New Hampshire's papermaking heritage was gone for good.

When the region's last mill closed in 2010, 197 workers were out of good-paying jobs, and the pain of lost paychecks rippled through this tiny mountain town of 2,848. Many feared the digital age had finally felled the local tradition of producing paper for printing and writing.
Wall Street Journal article link

New York
By: Thomas Dimopoulos
Warmer than normal winter temperatures coupled with below-average snowfall has some maple sugar producers placing trust in a higher power.
Cheryl Kenyon, co-owner of Adirondack Gold Maple Farm in Thurman, said she hopes the "weird winter" yields the good tapping weather of warm days and cold nights.
Post Star article link

New York
By: Enterprise Staff
The One Square Mile of Hope Committee recently received notification from Guinness World Records that on Jan. 31, their claim for the "World's Largest Floating Raft" of canoes, kayaks and guideboats was approved.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise article link 

New York
By: NCPR Staff
We continue our series, the Adirondack Attic, with Andy Flynn. You may know Andy from his series of Adirondack Attic books on local history. He uses the objects people make, use and leave behind to tell stories about the life and times of the region.

NCPR is collaborating with Andy and his sources at the Adirondack Museum and other historical associations and museums in the region to bring these stories to air. Today, we'll get the history and the back-story of Saranac Lake's Winter Carnival, and its famous Ice Palace.
NCPR article link

New York
By: Jessica Collier
Northern Challenge Ice Fishing Derby organizers were thrilled with the weather Saturday for the annual event that turns Lake Simond into an ice fishing village for the day.

"You couldn't ask for any better weather," said derby Chairman Dave McMahon. "Ice conditions are perfect."
Adirondack Daily Enterprise article link

New York
By: Staff
Providing a steady flow of locally grown food is challenging for an institution such as Paul Smith's College when winter hits.

Now, though, a Chenango County-based food distributor is helping to serve up local food at Paul Smith's no matter the season.
Press Republican article link

New York
By: Martha Foley
More than 100 demonstrators representing 50 environmental groups were in Albany yesterday, hoping to protect the state's Environmental Protection Fund. The EPF is traditionally a target in state budget negotiations.
NCPR article link

Maine
By: Matt Kanner
It was 20 degrees below zero when farmer Jim Gerritsen got up on the early morning of Feb. 13. Gerritson operates Wood Prairie Farm in rural Bridgewater, Maine, near the Canadian border in Aroostook County, the most sparsely populated county east of the Mississippi River. With more land than Connecticut and Rhode Island combined, it’s home to only about 71,000 people.
The Wire article link

Maine
By: Nick McCrea
Wood pellet heating is catching on at a slower rate than its leaders would like to see, but with some support from the federal government it could “go viral,” according to the owner of a local pellet producer.

Representatives of Maine’s pellet industry, including three owners of wood pellet companies and Dutch Dresser, president of the Maine Pellet Fuels Association, met with Dallas Tonsager, undersecretary for U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, on Thursday morning at Corinth Wood Pellets. They asked for the USDA’s support in boosting the alternative heating method.
Bangor Daily News article link

Vermont
By: Staff
The developer of a proposed wood energy plant in Fair Haven has received the air pollution control permit it needs from the state of Vermont.
The plant proposed by Beaver Wood Energy would produce 29.5 megawatts of electricity from biomass. It would also manufacture wood pellets for heating fuel.
VPR article link

New Hampshrie
By: Barbara Tetreault
he warmer than average winter has allowed work on the Burgess BioPower biomass plant to advance ahead of schedule. Cate Street Capital Vice President Richard Cyr said the mild weather has allowed more on-site activity than originally anticipated.

Local reporters were given a tour of the 75-megawatt biomass project last Thursday by Burgess BioPower site manager Carl Belanger. 
Berlin Daily Sun article link

New York
By: Staff writer
A federal study shows New York needs $29.7 billion in upgrades to long-overlooked water and sewer systems.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday the study shows how important it is to continue funding levels for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program, which makes federal funding available to states to finance municipal water and sewer projects.
Post Star article link

Maine
By: Bill Trotter
If a transportation bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives is approved as written, it could mean the end of a federal program that has brought $5 million to rural Maine over the past two decades.

In Maine, there are 14 scenic byways, each of which is managed by a committee of residents and stakeholders who aim to attract tourists by improving and promoting the scenic roads. Since 1993, the byways have received more than $5.7 million in National Scenic Byway funds from the Federal Highway Administration.
Bangor Daily News article link

Vermont
By: The Associated Press
Vermont is getting $21.6 million in federal emergency funds to help rebuild communities destroyed by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene.

The funding from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Friday will be used to rebuild homes and businesses flooded in the Aug. 28 storm.
Burlington Free Press article link

New York
By: Chris Knight
Nurses at Adirondack Medical Center are now using barcode scanning technology to administer medications to their patients.

Over the last few months, Adirondack Health has implemented a Bedside Medication Verification system at the Saranac Lake hospital. It's designed to prevent giving patients wrong or incorrect doses of medication. The system went live in all inpatient areas of the hospital in September.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise article link

Vermont
By: Burlington Free Press Staff
Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin and Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, now affiliated as Fletcher Allen Partners, are jointly using a roving telemedicine unit to improve patient care without the need for transporting the patient to Burlington.
Burlington Free Press article link

Maine
By: Morning Sentinel Staff
Rebecca Ryder, president and chief executive officer of Franklin Community Health Network and Gilly Hitchcock, vice chairman of the network's board, will be featured panelists at the New England Healthcare Assembly's annual trustee conference.
Morning Sentinel article link

New Hampshire
By: Chris Jensen
A new federal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide about $500,000 for North Country schools.

It is the largest grant of its kind in more than a decade and educators hope it will greatly expand the horizons of students and teachers.
NHPR article link

Maine
By: The Associated Press
Maine Labor Commissioner Robert Winglass will present certificates to the first class of graduates from a new work force training program this week.
The Portland Press Herald article link

Vermont
By: Free Press Staff
Vermont has the potential to become a national leader in integrating renewable energy sources onto the power grid, officials said Monday morning in announcing a new research center and partnership at University of Vermont.

UVM is to become home to the Center for Energy Transformation and Innovation, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., told the Burlington Free Press editorial board. He was joined by officials from Sandia National Laboratories, an arm of the U.S. Department of Energy based in New Mexico.
Burlington Free Press article link

Maine
By: Abigail Curtis
It seemed as if decades of simmering frustrations over Maine’s private property rights and environmental regulations came to a boil Tuesday afternoon during a public hearing on a controversial takings bill at the State House.

Lawmakers on the Judiciary Committee heard hours of passionate testimony both in favor of and against LD 1810, a bill that would allow landowners recourse when their property value has been harmed by environmental or other regulations.
Bangor Daily News article link

Maine
By: Jay Field
The struggle over the future of some of Maine's most pristine lands continued inside a hearing room in Augusta today. A bill incorporating changes proposed by a special commission would limit the power of the Land Use Regulation Commission and give land owners and counties more say over planning and zoning in the state's Unorganized Territory. Supporters told memebrs of the Legislature's Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee that the measure restores balance to a decision-making process too heavily weighted in favor of conservation. But environmental groups say the proposed changes will roll back 40 years of protections and destroy the character of Maine's North Woods.
MPBN article link

New Hampshire
By: Chris Jensen
Town meetings begin next month.

One issue some towns are looking at is a radical new tactic ultimately designed to challenge the legal power of corporations.

Opponents of the Northern Pass hydroelectric project are at the forefront of the move.
NHPR article link

Vermont
USDA Applications Due: January 20, 2012
Program Priorities: Nearly all business sectors can be assisted with the program. However, USDA-RD is placing specific emphasis on the following business sectors in 2012. Only initial application projects meeting one or more of these criteria can be considered for additional State Director points in this year’s program.
1. Projects that will develop, expand or enhance the viability of agricultural or forestry related value-added businesses.
2. Projects that impact locally produced / locally manufactured food networks and/or distribution systems.
3. Projects that assist in the development or expansion of cooperatively owned businesses (including healthcare).
4. Projects that support manufacturing.
5. Projects that integrate technology – i.e. web sales, web design, business IT assessment/planning

Technical assistance (i.e. feasibility studies, marketing plans) and equipment purchases (grantee must retain ownership) are encouraged (i.e. shared biz incubator equipment). Projects involving construction or revolving loan funds are discouraged.
Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program Link

Northern Forest Region
USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station
Pre-proposals due: January 6, 2012
Research Areas / Themes: The 2012 Northeastern State Research Cooperative (NSRC) program will support four broad areas of research that are relevant to the Northern Forest region. Theme One focuses on integration of social, economic, and ecological issues. Theme Two focuses on sustaining ecosystem health. Theme Three focuses on forest productivity and products. Theme Four focuses on biodiversity and protected area management.

Northeastern States Research Cooperative website

NSRC RFP (PDF)
 

Vermont, New Hampshire
Applications encouraged
Deadline: January 20, 2012
Community Facilities serves non-profits and public bodies.  Low interest loans may be used to renovate, repair, purchase or construct buildings which house community services. Money can also be used to purchase or repair equipment for the facilities. 

Detailed program information

New York
By: Brian Mann
...One bright spot this winter has been the VIC at Paul Smiths. The facility was threatened with closure in 2010 when the Adirondack Park Agency decided that it was too expensive to operate.

But Paul Smiths College and a group of local residents have worked to keep the VIC open. Brian Mann checked out the trails last week and has our story.
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NCPR article link

New York
By: Chris Knight
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's nomination of Sherman Craig to a seat on the state Adirondack Park Agency Board of Commissioners was approved by the state Senate Environmental Conservation Committee on Tuesday.

The nomination of the Wanakena furniture maker and former Rochester-area school teacher and administrator still needs to be approved by the Senate Finance Committee and the full Senate.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise article link

New Hampshire
By: Barbara Tetreault
Berlin City Planner Pamela Laflamme has been named one of the state’s most influential people by Business NH Magazine.
For its January 2012 edition, the magazine surveyed leaders around the state to create an ‘Influencer Index’ of 65 people, families, and organizations that it said “make it happen” in New Hampshire.

The magazine said Laflamme may not be a household name throughout the state “but when it comes to getting things done in the North Country, she is among the people other leaders call”.
The Berlin Daily Sun article link

Northern Forest Region
July 29-31, 2012
The Pellet Fuels Insistute's annual conference will take place from July 29-31, 2012 at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mahsantucket, CT.  PFI has issued a call for speakers.  Registration will begin in the Spring of 2012.
PFI Conference link

Northern Forest Region
The Next Generation Wood Stove Design Challenge is now underway! The Challenge seeks to promote next generation stove designs, build a community of innovators and showcase stove innovation to the public.

The Challenge is sponsored by the Alliance for Green Heat and Popular Mechanics Magazine. A growing list of institutions are supporters of the Challenge, including the EPA and the Biomass Thermal Energy Council. All the details of the Challenge are below, and applications are due in December 2012. The Challenge is sponsored by the Alliance for Green Heat and Popular Mechanics Magazine. A growing list of institutions are Challenge partners, including the EPA, the Biomass Thermal Energy Council. All the details of the Challenge are below, and applications are due in December 2012.
Alliance for Green Heat article link

New York
By: Editorial Staff
The Adirondack Museum third 2012 Cabin Fever Sunday series, "Nature: From Howling Wilderness to Vacation Destination" will be held on Sunday, February 12, 2012. The event will be offered free of charge.
Adirondack Almanac article link