Volume 119 No. 37 © WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 50 cents Historic steel bridge relocated from Stark to Berlin’s Dead River BY EDITH TUCKER plained. “Once the unit tion. Then some wooden [email protected] was adjusted, you could blocks were put on top, BERLIN — The White keep the nozzle moving and when the bridge Mountain Ridge Run- at a slow but steady pace, was lowered there was ners (WMRR) Snow- peeling off a three-inch a clearance of about 30 mobile Club spent four wide swath of paint and inches, allowing the days this spring restor- rust. sand-blasting to proceed ing the historic Paris “Every couple of and to be finished up at Road truss bridge. The hours, the clear plastic noon on the third day of steel bridge was used for window in front of the work. many years in Stark, and sand-blast hood would After lunch that day, Harley Mason bought it get too dull to see out of club treasurer George was replaced. The Snow- so the old window would Falardeau arrived with mobile Club bought it be taken out and a new a brand-new airless from him in 2013 for use one slid in,” he contin- paint sprayer, capable of as a replacement for the ued. spraying a gallon of paint no-longer useable bridge Heat built up in both in only minutes. located behind the Notre the Tyvek suit and hood, “He said my idea that Dame Arena. and the plastic hood we could hand-paint the “Of course, no one fogged up. bridge would take two or in the Club had ever re- “The only solution three days,” Gomes re- stored a bridge before, PHOTO BY EDITH TUCKER was to roll up part of the called. “Once this was set On Aug. 30, White Mountain Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club assistant trailmaster-project so we were not entirely hood, letting in some up and running, it took manager Larry Gomes, a Stark campowner, showed off the Club’s latest project — the resto- sure how to go about it,” flying debris,” Gomes just over four hours per ration and installation of Stark’s old steel Paris Road Bridge so that it now spans the Dead River explained assistant trail- behind the Notre Dame Arena in Berlin. Decking will soon be installed and more fill recalled. “By the end of coat to paint the entire master Larry Gomes, a added to ramp up onto the bridge. the day, we both felt as bridge. Not only was the Stark camp owner. “Af- though we’d taken a bath gun fast, but it also put ter asking for advice brand-new heavy-duty Tyvek work suit, a sand- Stark where the bridge in sand.” on a coat of paint that from many people, we compressor and provid- blast hood and a respira- was stored. Gomes picked Dalton Binette joined was thicker than a hand- decided that we needed ed us with the company’s tor,” Gomes said. up the needed equipment the sand-blasting effort, brushed coat.” heavy-duty sand-blast- in-house sand-blasting Trailmaster Bryan from Pro-Quip and met that took two-and-a-half- Both a primer and ing equipment. We called equipment — a point- MacDonald bought a up with WMRR club days to finish. Binette a finish coat of hunter Brian Ruel, president of and-shoot Texas Blast- pallet load of 60-pound president Bob Rodrigue and Gomes rigged up green Rust-O-Leum paint the Presidential Range er.” Patriot Blast media at a and they set up the sand chains, and Mason, his were applied. Riders Snowmobile Club Ruel also gave excel- discount from Sanel, his blasting equipment. son, and another helper The Club’s next work- who also works for Pro- lent advice on what pro- employer. “It took a few adjust- used a large front-end day was one of the most Quip Equipment Rentals tective gear and blasting MacDonald and Matt ments, but by 10 a.m., loader and a skid steer to challenging that anyone and Sales in Gorham, media to use. Godbout hauled various the blasting was well lift the bridge and move see BRIDGE, page A9 and he set us up with a “We purchased a materials to a sand pit in underway,” Gomes ex- cement blocks into posi- Gov. Hassan to sign three bills 90-mile Poker Run to benefit Friday at Ravine House Pool BY EDITH TUCKER Moose River, is locat- [email protected] ed on the south side Rodger Family Fund set for Sept. 27 RANDOLPH — of Durand Road, a Gov. Maggie Hassan, half-mile west of Town BY EDITH TUCKER challenges associated Fire Department and his open to all roadworthy a Democrat of Exeter, Hall. [email protected] with securing medical acquaintances in other vehicles and not just mo- will stop at the small A chain-link gate DALTON — Towns- treatment for cancer, in- fire departments,” she torcycles — will run on timber-frame pavilion will also be open on people, the Dalton Fire cluding travel. explained. “The fire- paved roads from 10 a.m. in the town-owned the north side of Route Department plus seven Background informa- fighter community has to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Durand Lake-Ravine 2, a quarter-mile west area fire departments, tion on this family’s need been most gracious in Sept. 27, rain or shine. House Pool recreation of Appalachia, a trail- and other well-wish- is available on Facebook volunteering their help. Sign-in will be at the area at 3:30 p.m. on Fri- head parking lot on the ers have organized a at the RodgerFamily- “Our hope is to raise Dalton Fire Station on day, Sept. 12. All are highway’s south side. leisurely 90-mile-long Fund, organizer Pam money for this fami- Route 135. welcome. This entrance pro- Poker Run on Saturday, Kathan of Dalton noted ly as well as to raise The route includes Hassan plans to cer- vides a handicapped Sept. 27, to raise money in an e-mail exchange. awareness of the symp- one Vermont town emonially sign three access with parking. to benefit the Rodger Kathan is Heather Rod- toms of colorectal can- — Lunenburg — plus bills: HB 1224 (pipeline Hassan has tried to Family Fund, designed ger’s mother. cer and the availability six more Coös County operation safety), SB come to Coös at least to help Heather and “Area fire depart- of screening, even for towns: Groveton, Stark, 325 (calls for oil spill once a month. She was Adam Rodger and their ments are involved be- those outside the ‘risk Gorham, Jefferson, and preparedness and re- here on Friday, Aug. young family face the cause of Adam being zone,’” Kathan said. see RODGER, page A9 sponse), and SB 392 29, when she criss- unexpected costs and on the volunteer Dalton The Poker Run — (establishes a commis- crossed the county, sion on rural affairs). snipping an OHRV- District 1 Sen. Jeff ATV trail link in Big Moose Bach Fest VI Woodburn of Dalton, Stratford, speaking at the prime sponsor of the state’s third larg- continues its tradition of excellence both Senate bills, is ex- est land conservation BY EDITH TUCKER around New England pected to be on hand. project at Lake Umba- [email protected] and the nation to Berlin, The Ravine House gog State Park in Cam- ANDROSCOGGIN Gorham, and Randolph Pool, a small impound- bridge, and shaking VALLEY — The sixth over the Labor Day ment for swimming hands at the Lancaster annual Big Moose weekend, Aug. 29-31. behind a dam on the Fair. Bach Fest drew artists The festival opened on and performers from Friday with a reception at Randolph Town Hall, followed by a lecture on PHOTO BY EDITH TUCKER "Bach and Berlin” by Bach’s “Coffee’ Cantata was performed on Saturday afternoon, Bach scholar Quentin Aug. 30, at St. Kieran Cultural Arts Center in Berlin with three Faulkner. soloists — Lucy Tamez Creech, soprano; David Grogan, basso, The Big Moose Bach and Nicholas Garza, tenor – and seven musicians, who were all thrilled with the audience’s enthusiastic response when they Fest remains unique took their bows. in presenting concerts played entirely on pe- Center in Berlin with visiting from Germany, riod instruments and the comic operetta, Larry Blaine of Plym- open to the public free "Coffee," sung by Dallas see MOOSE, page A9 of charge. Musicians soprano Lucy Tamez from Texas, Connecti- Creech, baritone, David cut, Vermont, Maine Grogan, and tenor Nich- CALENDAR ........................A7 and Massachusetts, as olas Garza. The stage set CLASSIFIED....................B5-B7 well as from across the included an over-sized EDITORIAL .........................A4 Granite State, joined Dresden-style coffee HAPPENINGS ..................... A7 PHOTO BY EDITH TUCKER with local musicians in cup, created and paint- OB ITUARIES & SERVIS CE ...A6 performing the music ed by Tim Sappington of Hassan at the wheel SPORTS ..........................B1-B3 of Bach on instruments Randolph. Creech also Gov. Maggie Hassan, right, enthusiastically drove an ATV up to the Bear Bait lookout on an and using singing styles sang Bach’s well-known North Country ATV club trail on Thursday, Aug. 28, after celebrating the completion of the Lancaster-to-Pittsburg interconnected “Ride the Wilds” leg with three passengers: North of Bach's own era. Wedding Cantata. In- Country OHRV Coalition president Harry Brown of Stewartstown, left, front seat; and “Berlin The musical focus strumentalists included Daily Sun” managing editor Barbara Tetreault, left, back seat, of Berlin and state Sen. Jeff this year began on Sat- violinist Ellen Lovelace Woodburn of Dalton.