Volume 119 No. 39 © WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013 50 cents PHOTO BY JODY HOULE The Gorham Middle High School held its 2013 homecoming on Thursday for a good crowd. Mary’s Pizza voted 3 amendments to be best pizza in N.H. proposed to fix flawed By Jody Houle Contributing writer utility tax law BERLIN – After a customer By Edith Tucker BioPower wood-burning renew- crat of Dalton, plans to be prime notified Jim and Maggie Ferrante [email protected] able electricity-generating sponsor of two amendments to that their business, Mary’s Pizza, plant in the City of Berlin do not existing legislation, Sansoucy was being voted in WMUR’s LANCASTER — Utility ex- end up with taxpayers getting explained. viewer choice for best pizza in pert George “Skip” Sansoucy far higher tax bills because of The first would keep Berlin’s New Hampshire, they assumed a met Friday in a work session changes in how the Department beleaguered taxpayers from be- city with a bigger population with members of the county of Revenue Administration ing saddled with what Sansoucy would hold the winner. To their delegation to bat around some (DRA) values these facilities. believes could total millions of surprise, they were voted num- concepts and preliminary lan- Rep. Robert Theberge, a De- dollars over 22 years because of ber one. guage to fix a lawed utility tax mocrat of Berlin, plans to be the how the DRA believes it must “We are very appreciative, law. prime sponsor of an amend- value renewable energy facili- honored, and humbled,” said Mr. They wished to ensure that ment to existing legislation that ties, even though they have Ferrante. already signed Payments in would hold taxpayers harmless PILT agreements in place. “We have a lot of loyal cus- Lieu of Taxes (PILT) agreements in the Unincorporated Places The second amendment that tomers, and most are third and for renewable energy projects (UPs) of Millsfield and Dixville Woodburn is carefully consider- fourth generation,” said Mrs. in Millsfield and Dixville cover- as well as in all UPs in Coös, ing sponsoring would ensure Ferrante. ing the Granite Reliable Power Grafton and Carroll Counties. On Friday the results were wind farm and the Burgess Sen. Jeff Woodburn, a Demo- see TAX LAW, page A9 shown on WMUR’s website. Al- so, Mountain Fire Pizza placed fourth ranking two places in Word on the Street: Gorham in the top five. The Italian style pizza has a AAJim and Maggie Ferrante, owners of Mary’s Pizza, are very honored unique taste due to its special in- “Was this summer’s Farmers’ Market to have their business chosen as home to New Hampshire’s best pizza gredients. Nothing is bought for WMUR’s viewer choice. frozen or prepared. The dough is a success for you? Will you be back?” made from scratch, there is a (Mary) introduced pizza to the cause there were hardly any jobs particular type of cheese used, North Country,” said Mrs. Fer- available. They moved to Cas- and the sauce is original. The rante. cade Flats, the Italian section of recipe used today is the same as In 1947, Mary Ferrante and the area at the time, shortly after it was 66 years ago when Mary her husband Camillo moved to World War II and began their Ital- Ferrante started selling her pizza Berlin and envisioned their ian style business out of their out of her home. dream of introducing pizza to the “We were told that she Berlin/Gorham area, and be- see PIZZA, page A9 N.H. Off-Highway Vehicle Ass’n restructured to speak as one voice PHOTOS BY EDITH TUCKER Lauren Letourneau Stephen Oliver Liz Kelley By Edith Tucker speak with a one voice. ciation (NHOHVA) at Cannon By Edith Tucker [email protected] Representatives of most of Mountain headquarters, mod- [email protected] the state’s OHRV clubs met on erated by Tom Levesque of Der- FRANCONIA NOTCH — Wednesday evening for the an- ry, president of the Merrimack BERLIN — The final outdoor OHRV enthusiasts from all over nual meeting of the New Hamp- Valley Trail Riders. Farmers’ Market on Pleasant the state will now be able to shire Off-Highway Vehicle Asso- The NHOHVA website de- Street was held on Thursday, scribes the Association, estab- starting at 3 p.m. — a bright, lished in July 2001 as “a warm sunny afternoon and statewide system which ad- evening. Although the summer dresses the issues and opportu- people who vacation in the nities facing people concerned vicinity have mostly returned with creating a positive future to their winter haunts, plenty of for trail motorcycles, ATV and Androscoggin Valley residents off-highway vehicle recreation,” were on hand, along with including UTVs. healthy appetites and cash. The formal meeting’s agenda This week, I concentrated was topped by the Association on talking with the vendors. considering whether it could Liz Kelley of Grand View best re-invigorate itself by wel- Farm in Conway said that she Capt. Tucker Jordan coming the 15 ATV clubs in Coös would miss her northern cus- She touted Round Table County that make up the North tomers are likely to be on hand. tomers. Fortunately, she ex- Farm as a three-generation en- Country OHRV Coalition. The Capt. Tucker Jordan of the plained, her family maintains a terprise, where her young Coalition drew statewide atten- Maine Lobster Boys of Cape farm stand that is open daily on daughter lends a hand whenev- tion when Gov. Maggie Hassan Elizabeth, Me. was a the Farm- Tasker Hill Road, off Route 153. er possible. was on hand to celebrate the ers’ Market for the first time, And she said they have several The farm will be open, sell- Grand Opening of “Ride the restauranteurs who order their ing baked goods and vegeta- see WORD, page A9 Wilds: 1,000 miles of intercon- produce, since the locavore bles, through Columbus Day, nected trails,” on June 15 at movement has taken hold in Oct. 14, or whenever the Coleman State Park. the Mt. Washington Valley. chrysanthemums are all sold. CALENDAR . .A7 Both state Trails Bureau “We’ll be back next year,” Kelley Stephen Oliver of Bridgton, CLASSIFIED . .B6-B7 Chief Chris Gamache and Capt. pledged. Me., who is a member of WREN, EDITORIAL . .A4 John Wimsatt of Fish & Game, Lauren Letourneau of sells clothing and designs that who oversees OHRV Enforce- HAPPENINGS . .A7 Round Table Farm and Green- sport a jaunty updated Peace ment and Education, empha- OBITUARIES & SERVICES . .A6 house on East Milan River Road symbol, including hooded sized that there were a number SPORTS . .B1-B4 in Milan said the she is on hand sweatshirts in various colors of thorny legislative issues that every week with baked goods, and tie-dyes. Oliver explained SAU 20 Superintendent Paul Bousquet traveled to Concord on would come up in the 2014 ses- vegetables, and plants for sale. that he is not in Berlin every Tuesday, Sept. 17, to represent Gorham High School, one of the sion, many already being ham- “We did very well this year,” Le- week even though it is a “de- state’e seven high schools recognized by state Commissioner of mered out in study committees, tourneau said. “We’re very hap- cent market,” but because the Education Dr. Virginia Barry for having zero dropouts in two in which it would be very im- py that the Farmers’ Market is consecutive years. Pittsburg High School was the other North bulk of his sales are made at see HIGHWAY, page A9 such a success, and that we craft fairs where new cus- Country school also honored for this achievement. have a definite niche at it.” A2 THE BERLIN REPORTER SEPTEMBER 25, 2013 ••• Trails Bureau to acquire 96.64 acres in Jericho Mt. State Park By Edith Tucker state Bureau of Trails to pur- Park. the Bureau of Trails. ”This proj- and others. by allowing for consistent land [email protected] chase 96.64 acres from The Soci- “The property has been a de- ect is a cooperative venture be- This latest transaction is part management activities across ety for the Protection of NH For- sired acquisition by the Depart- tween DRED, the White Moun- of the Bartlett Mountain Land the landscape, Forest Supervi- BERLIN — One of the final est (SPNHF) for up to $48,300, ment of Resources and Econom- tain National Forest (WMNF) and Exchange in which nearly 100 sor Tom Wagner pointed out. steps in a “win-win” land ex- with all the monies to come from ic Development (DRED) since SPNHF and has been worked on acres on the northern slope of Adding acreage on Bartlett change was taken last week. Snowmobile and OHRV Funds, 2006 and is also a parcel the U.S. for the past four years.” Black Crescent Mountain in Mountain will protect high-ele- A “yes” vote at the Sept. 18 to allow the acquisition of one of Forest Service would like to see SPNHF will formally take title Berlin was exchanged for 76.5 vation, largely undisturbed meeting of Governor and Coun- the last land-locked in-holdings in DRED ownership,” according to the property from the WMNF aces, known as the Cassidy wildlife habitat plus uncommon cil in Windham authorized the within Jericho Mountain State to the explanation provided by in an exchange of lands, and the Tract, on the northern slope of rocky ridge habitat; provide ad- nonprofit conservation organi- Bartlett Mountain in Bartlett ditional protection to the East zation will then sell the parcel to that borders WMNF and Forest Branch of the Saco River water- DRED in Jan.