Chris Jensen

Working largely on what amounts to the honor system state officials say they have decided state air pollution standards were not violated in a fire last January when two buildings at the Balsams resort were burned down as part of a renovation.

In 2003 state and federal officials, a private land owner and conservation groups created a conservation easement to protect about 146,000 acres in northern Coos County from development.

It is called the Connecticut Lakes Headwaters and some opponents of Northern Pass fear the utility hopes to cross it to send hydro-electric power south from its partner – Hydro-Quebec.

But getting permission to do that would be a complicated procedure with so many hurdles it would be the longest of long shots, according to those familiar with such easements.

Compiled and written by Tova Cohen

The newsletter typically announces events in the next week. The calendar shows you events in the coming months.

ARTIST TALK OR STAND-UP ROUTINE - YOU DECIDE, BETHLEHEM

Thursday May 16 5-7 PM The Gallery at WREN, 2013 Main Street, Bethlehem. Larry Golden and Jason Tors will discuss their painting techniques and the ideas behind the artwork in PULP, which is on display at the gallery until June 4th.

MOVIE AT THE COLONIAL: RENOIR, BETHLEHEM

Compiled and written by Tova Cohen

For more than a year landowners and a conservation group have been trying to keep Northern Pass from finding a route through Northern Coos County.

But there’s one possibility that would give Northern Pass a big step forward: Crossing a huge conservation tract controlled by the state.

Such an effort could easily make the project even more controversial.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen reports.

Compiled and written by Tova Cohen of Franconia.

The newsletter typically announces events in the next week. The calendar shows you events in the coming months.

CEREMONY TO MARK TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF COLLAPSE OF THE OLD MAN

Friday May 3 11:30 AM Old Man Memorial on Profile Lake in Franconia Notch. Presented by the Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund. The free festivities will be held in rain or snow.

LITTLETON NATIVE TIMOTHY WOODWARD BOOK SIGNING, LITTLETON

During a quarterly conference call Thursday officials at Northeast Utilities, the parent company of the Northern Pass project, said while they have a new route they still aren’t ready to say where it goes. 

And that the soonest the project could now get underway is 2017.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen listened in and has this report:

One reason the starting date of Northern Pass has slipped from 2015 to 2017 is opposition to the project.

Northeast Utilities, the parent company of the Northern Pass project, did not announce a new route during a conference call with analysts Thursday morning. 

NHPR’s Chris Jensen listened in and has this report.

Late last year Northern Pass officials said they finally had a new route through the North Country.

But they said they weren’t ready to disclose it.

Then, at the end of March officials basically said the same thing.

Last month Northern Pass opponents complained that U.S. Department of Energy contractors working on the Northern Pass project were trespassing on their land to carry out environmental studies.

That prompted Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte to ask DOE about it.

Now DOE has responded but things are still unclear.

Compiled and written by Tova Cohen

The newsletter typically announces events in the next week. The calendar shows you events in the coming months.

SCREEN-FREE WEEK EVENTS FOR KIDS, LITTLETON

April 22-27. Friends of the Littleton Public Library present events for kids during screen-free week. See the full schedule here.

The scared woman sitting at “Response to Sexual and Domestic Violence,” a women’s shelter in Coos County, hasn’t heard Gov. Hassan talk about the need for more troopers in the North Country.

Compiled and written by Tova Cohen of Franconia.

The newsletter typically announces events in the next week. The calendar shows you events in the coming months.

ONLINE LITTLETON ROTARY AUCTION RAISES FUNDS TO HELP NORTH COUNTRY STUDENTS

The Department of Energy has chosen Southeastern Archaeological Research Inc. to review the impact of the Northern Pass hydro-electric project on the state’s historical sites, a DOE official says.

The firm has 70 full-time employees “who represent the complete range of disciplines necessary to conduct cultural resource projects,” according to the company’s website.

On a spring day Nigel Manley, the manager of The Rocks Estate in Bethlehem, stands on a little knoll and admires the view.

“The Presidential Range. Today snow-covered and absolutely beautiful,” he says.

But this scene could become a new front in the battle opponents of Northern Pass are waging.