FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011
VOL. 20 NO. 126
Kestrel head says firm is interested in Berlin BY BARBARA TETREAULT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
BERLIN — A love of airplanes brought together John Halle of Cate Street Capital and Alan Klapmeier of Kestrel Aircraft Company. Halle, whose company owns the Burgess BioPower biomass plant under construction here, in turn suggested Klapmeier consider co-locating a plant on the former mill site. Klapmeier said he started his new company last year in partnership with Farnborough Aircraft LTD. Based at the former Naval Air Station in Brunswick, Maine, the company announced plans to produce the high performance prototype Kestrel as its first product. Calling it a “reasonably complicated economic proposal,” Klapmeier said it became clear that
doing the entire aircraft at Brunswick was unlikely. He said he began looking for alternate locations to make the composite parts for the plane. In the meantime, a mutual friend had introduced Klapmeier to Halle because the two share a love of airplanes. Halle went to see the Kestrel and the two men talked about the economic development process. Klapmeier said he mentioned to Halle that he was looking to make the composite parts for the Kestrel at a different location. Halle proposed he look at colocating on the Burgess BioPower site in Berlin where the biomass plant could provide lower cost electricity and waste heat. After more conversation and investisee KESTREL page 18
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It was a family affair as close relatives of Rick Eichler shared in his success recently. Eichler was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the NH Police, Fire & EMS Foundation. On hand to share the moment were, from left, back row, Rick, Karen, George “Rick,” and Beth Eichler, and in front, Francis and Victor Lavoie. (COURTESY PHOTO)
Rick Eichler recognized
ATV trail links Gorham for ‘Lifetime Achievement’ to Jericho, Success BY MELISSA GRIMA THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
GORHAM — A newly approved trail is good news for ATV and snowmobile enthusiasts. The Gorham-based Presidential OHRV club has received approval from the state and town to move forward with a trail that will connect Gorham to both the Jericho State Park trail system and the Success trails, said club secretary Michelle Lutz. Additionally, she said, the trail, which will utilize the rail bed of the Presidential Rail Trail, will connect snowmobile corridor 19 to those trail systems. “We’ve been fighting for this trail for quite a while,” Lutz said. The hope is that it will be open for this winter’s upcoming snowmobile season, she explained. According to a press release issued by the The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation’s Bureau of Trails, the construction the new trail for snowmobiles and
ATVs will begin this week in the northeast corner of the Gorham Town Forest. Lutz explained that the Selectmen approved the trail traversing through the forest for about 300-feet, earlier this year. “The project is part of a snowmobile trail improvement as well as an ATV loop opportunity into Gorham. The trail construction is to improve a 900’ section of former skid trail to an improved trail surface for year-round use,” the Bureau of Trails wrote. In order to create that ATV loop, 0.6 miles of the Presidential Rail Trail has been designated for summer ATV use. The ATV portion can be accessed from the Route 2 parking area, east over the high trestle to the rail corridor owned by Brookfield Power. The Bureau said it anticipates construction of the improved trail, and signing upgrades on the recreational rail trail to be completed by early November.
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BERLIN — The city council is holding a public hearing Monday night at 6:30 on a proposed charter amendment that would eliminate the city’s four wards. Council candidates would run at-large for the eight positions. The council is proposing to put the question before the voters at the presi-
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Board of Directors, as Chief Eichler has been a staple in the “North Country” for over 20 years and is selfless in giving back to Gorham, as well as to the North Country in general. The NH Police, Fire & EMS Foundation said they were honored to recognize Chief Eichler who has demonstrated not only by word, but also by his actions, that he is a dedicated professional. Chief Eichler has been instrumental in instructing firefighting classes all over the north from Franconia to Lancaster see LIFETIME page 22
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MANCHESTER — On Thursday, October 13, Gorham’s Fire Chief George “Rick” Eichler, was presented with a 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award by the New Hampshire Police, Fire & EMS Foundation at their Fourth Annual Recognition Dinner held at the Raddison Hotel. Several members of Rick’s family, the Gorham Fire Department, Gorham Emergency Medical Services the Selectmen’s Office, Governor Lynch and Mayor Gatsas attended the celebration. The Chief was elected to receive the Award unanimously by the Foundation
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dential primary election that will take place this coming December or January. If residents approve the charter amendment, the change would not take effect until the fall 2012 state elections. The hearing takes place at the council chambers in city hall.
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