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Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Scenic Views and Wildlife Are Threatened at Southwestern Parks
Senate Blocks Eminent Domain For Northern Pass - Politics News Story - WMUR New Hampshire
Senate Blocks Eminent Domain For Northern Pass - Politics News Story - WMUR New Hampshire
New Protections For Property Owners Added To Bill
CONCORD, N.H. -- The state Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would prevent the controversial Northern Pass power transmission project from taking property by eminent domain.
The near-unanimous measure combines language in the state constitution and existing law to guarantee private property rights against private acquisition.
"While public purposes sometimes require the taking of private property by eminent domain as a last resort, it is completely inappropriate that New Hampshire citizens should live in fear of taking by private projects for private gain," said Sen. Jeanie Forrester, R-District 2.
The Northern Pass project would bring electrical power to New England by cutting a transmission line through New Hampshire. Opponents of the $1 billion project who do not want to sell their land have been concerned the company could ultimately take the property through eminent domain.
"This is our land," said Karen Placey, who owns land in West Stewartstown. "This is something that means something to us, and that's it. We don't want to sell. We don't want it taken, so I feel good about this today."
Read more: Click Here
Read more: Click Here
The Day - Skiing to a Remote Mountain Hut in Sleet, Wind and Snow – What Fun! | News from southeastern Connecticut
Skiing to a Remote Mountain Hut in Sleet, Wind and Snow – What Fun!
By Steve Fagin
Publication: theday.com
Published 01/21/2012 12:00 AM
Updated 01/20/2012 07:53 PM
While hiking at night up the Tuckerman Ravine Trail toward the Hermit Lake Shelters below New Hampshire’s Mount Washington a number of years ago, I puzzled at a canned ham stuck in a snow bank.
A few yards farther up I encountered other food items and assorted gear similarly scattered along the path. I could hear shouting and cursing ahead.
Propelled as much by curiosity as a desire to reach shelter and burrow in my sleeping bag before tackling the summit the next day, I pushed forward and soon solved the mystery.
Half a dozen college-age guys were dragging an enormous toboggan laden with hundreds of pounds of supplies up the steep slope, and little by little they were jettisoning cargo to lighten the load. Among the last provisions they would sacrifice, I suspected, was a case of beer lashed down with rope.
The exhausted crew staggered noisily to the shelter hour later, and one peek through the zippered opening in my bag proved my prediction about the beer had been accurate.
I thought about their Sisyphusian struggle the other day as I slogged the last few yards to Zealand Falls Hut, perched more than half a mile high at the eastern edge of the Pemigewasset Wilderness in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
For three miles I had cross-country skied while towing a plastic sled loaded with about 60 pounds of gear along a relatively flat, unplowed forest road. Then the road ended and a winding, 2.8-mile path to the hut began. Because the narrow trail was deeply rutted and crossed several streams I found it easier to hike, so I took off my skis, strapped them to the sled and plodded rather than schussed while still towing the sled.
This worked relatively efficiently until the last 500 feet, when the trail rose steeply over ice-covered rocks. A light rain that had been falling for the past hour switched to wind-driven sleet, and I didn’t want to undo the waterproof tarp covering my pack and dig around for hiking boots and grippers, so I slipped and slid while dragging the cursed sled. I also may have let loose with a few profanities.
At this point a crew of skiers also heading to the shelter that had started out behind me caught up and I thought to myself, this is a nice way to make an impression. My buddy Phil Plouffe, who had arrived ahead of me, came back to help me pull the sled the last 50 yards, and a few minutes later we all stamped up the steps to the wooden shelter, tired but happy to be out of the wretched elements.
“We made it!” cried Rick Ely of Stonington, a longtime friend who organized the expedition.
In addition to Phil, Rick and me there were four others: Rick’s wife, Laura; and Jeff Parker, Andrew Watson and Chris Smarz, who all work in the bike store Rick and a partner own, Mystic Cycle Centre. The purpose of this outing, as if we needed one, was to celebrate Andrew’s birthday.
Zealand Falls Hut, owned and operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club, is one of several White Mountain shelters open to hikers all year. A few years earlier I had spent a week as a winter caretaker a few miles north at the Gray Knob Shelter owned and operated by the Randolph Mountain Club. Over the years I’ve also bunked at virtually every shelter in the Whites, as well as pitched tents at campsites and hunkered down in just about every lean-to, when my son, Tom and I were tagging all 67 of the 4,000-foot-plus-high mountains in New England.
Zealand is one of the most accessible and one of my favorite winter destinations because the unheated bunkrooms are directly off the main cabin instead of located in separate buildings, making it a relatively easy transition from dinner table to sleeping bag. Also, the outhouse connects to the cabin.
Caretaker Steve Frens lit the wood stove right on schedule at 4 p.m., and soon our quarters were relatively toasty. (for complete story click here)
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Super Bowl Blackout Looms For Some In New England
Contract Dispute Between WHDH, DirecTV Threatens Broadcast
BOSTON -- Some New England television viewers may be unable to watch the New England Patriots play in the Super Bowl, unless a dispute between the owners of WHDH-TV and DirecTV is resolved before Feb. 5.
The battle between Sunbeam Television, which owns WHDH, and the satellite provider centers on so-called retransmission fees, the amount WHDH is paid to allow DirecTV to carry its signal.
Read more: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/money/30291047/detail.html#ixzz1kQmafPJ2
Solar Storm: Strongest Geomagnetic Storm in Six Years to Hit Earth
Solar Storm: Strongest Geomagnetic Storm in Six Years to Hit Earth: (Credit: NASA/Solar Dynamics Observatory/Getty Images) Earth will experience its strongest geomagnetic storm in six years today, but the radiation is expected to cause only minor problems with satellites, the power grid and navigation devices. “Operators are surely seeing a greater number of errors on...
By Alyssa Newcomb
Jan 24, 2012 6:00am
Solar Storm: Strongest Geomagnetic Storm in Six Years to Hit Earth
Earth will experience its strongest geomagnetic storm in six years today, but the radiation is expected to cause only minor problems with satellites, the power grid and navigation devices.
“Operators are surely seeing a greater number of errors on their system that are causing them to work a bit harder, but we’re not expecting satellites to stop,” Douglas Biesecker, a physicist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told ABCNews.com.
The storm is forecasted to be a G-2 or G-3 on NOAA’s ascending five-point scale.
Biesecker said people should not worry about harmful radiation.
“The magnetic field around Earth is protecting us. That’s one of the great things about being on Earth,” he said.
The average person won’t be affected by the radiation unless they’re taking a flight with a polar route.
“Airlines will divert those flights because high frequency communications will be impacted,” he said.
The storm was set off by a chain of events Sunday evening. A moderate solar flare erupted on the sun, which occurs tens of thousands of times every solar cycle, Biesecker said. The solar flare was associated with a coronal mass ejection, which is also a frequent occurrence. However, this particular one was big and sent a cloud of plasma with a magnetic field hurdling toward Earth at 4 million mph.
Snowmobile Trail Conditions January 24, 2012 Update
January 24, 2012 Update
Use extreme caution. Watch for ice and water.
Pittsburg- Trails are 100% open no new snow on a snow covered icy base. Grooming is ongoing, and conditions range from moderate to great. Watch for water bars, and rocks South of town and there could still be some problem areas and some areas are still closed and are posted as such. Please pay attention to all signage! There are still logging operations going on. Perry Stream Rd is closed to snowmobile traffic and stay on the side of Magalloway Rd.; some shared roads and are posted 10 mph. Enforcement is Patrolling, Lakes are still considered to be unsafe! For more details go to www.pittsburgridgerunners.org Colebrook- Extremely icy with standing water and thin to no base in lower elevations. Higher elevations have poor to fair riding. Watch for ice on bridges. Corr 3A closed from Colebrook to West Stewartstown. Gates to town on 18 are open at this time, but could close due to current weather. Please ride with utmost caution. Stratford- 100% open no new snow on a 1-4" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate. Stratford Bog area riding is okay. Potato Hill trail is closed due to logging. Use caution logging at jct of Corr 3 and 7. Watch for water bars. Groveton/Nash Stream- 80% Open no new snow on a 2-6" base. Trails are groomed and riding is marginal to good. 5 South Temporarily Closed. Diamond Pond/Coleman State Park- 100% open no new snow on a 4-6" base. Trails are groomed and conditions are good to great.. Several logging operations going on. Lake ice is marginal. Due to Furnace issues the bath house at Coleman is temporarily closed. Warming hut open Saturday and Sunday. Gas pumps open 24/7. For more details go to www.swiftdiamondriders.com Errol- 100% open no new snow on a 1-3" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate to good. Use Caution. Cambridge- 100% open. no new snow on a 2" base trails are groomed and riding is moderate to good. Milan- 100% open. no new snow on a 2" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate to good. Berlin- 100% open no new snow on a 2-6" base. Some trails are not groomed and riding is moderate to good. For more details, go to www.whitemtridgerunners.com Berlin/Success- 100% open no new snow on a 1-2" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate. Gorham area- 60% open. no new snow on a 0-2" base. Trails are groomed and riding is marginal. Franconia Notch- 100 % open. 0" new snow on a 2-4" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate. Corr 11 North of Notch is not groomed and riding is marginal. Campton/Thornton- 100% open. No new snow 4-5" base. Trails are packed and riding is marginal to moderate. Corr 11 Rail line not groomed use caution. Bear Notch- 100 % open 1-2" new snow on a 4-8" base. Trails are groomed. Riding is good to great. RR tracks are open but not groomed. Watch for mushers and skiers. Conway/ Chatham- 50% open no new snow on a 4-8" base. Trails are not groomed and riding is marginal. Open water bars and icy base. RR Tracks south exposed. Use Caution. Ossipee- 50% open. No new snow on a 1-2" base. Trails are not groomed and riding is marginal. Moultonboro- 50% open. No new snow 1-2"base. Riding is poor. Wakefield- 50% open No new snow on a 1-2" base. Trails are not groomed and riding is poor. Use caution RR Tracks not covered. Pisgah State Park- 100% open 3-4" base. Trails are not groomed and riding is marginal. Watch for wet slushy areas. Pillsbury State Park- 100% open no new snow on a 3-4" base. Trails are not groomed and riding is marginal. Riding is not recommended at this time. Sullivan- 3-4" base. Trails are not groomed and riding is marginal. Expect bare and thin spots. Andover- no new snow on a 3-4" base Trails are not groomed and riding is marginal Rail Lines:
Additional Resources and Information
Please be safe and ride with caution.
Respect our landowners.Watch speeds and stay to the right. |
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Ex-Penn State coach Joe Paterno dead at 85
(CBS/AP)
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Joe Paterno, who racked up more wins than anyone else in major college football but was fired from Penn State amid a child sex abuse scandal has died. He was 85.
His family released a statement Sunday morning to announce his death.
Paterno's son Scott announced Nov. 18 that his father was being treated for lung cancer, which was diagnosed in mid-November during a follow-up visit for a bronchial illness.
The storied career of "JoePa" included 409 wins in 46 seasons and two national championships.
But his reputation for success with honor was shattered when a former assistant was charged with molesting 10 boys during a 15-year span, including some in the Penn State athletic complex.
Critics said Paterno should have done more to stop it. He was fired Nov. 9.
In all, Paterno guided five teams to unbeaten, untied seasons.
The winningest major college football coach of all time, Paterno was diagnosed shortly after Penn State's Board of Trustees ousted him Nov. 9 in the aftermath of the child sex abuse charges against former assistant Jerry Sandusky. Paterno's been getting treatment since, and his health problems were worsened when he broke his pelvis — an injury that first cropped up when he was accidentally hit in preseason practice last year.
"Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications," family spokesman Dan McGinn said in a brief statement Saturday to The Associated Press. "His doctors have now characterized his status as serious.
"His family will have no comment on the situation and asks that their privacy be respected during this difficult time," he said.
Paterno's sons Scott and Jay both took to Twitter Saturday night to refute reports that their father had died.
Wrote Jay Paterno: "I appreciate the support (and) prayers. Joe is continuing to fight."
Meanwhile, about 200 students and townspeople gathered Saturday night in State College at a statue of Paterno.
Some brought candles, while others held up their smart phones to take photos of the scene. The mood was somber, with no chanting or shouting.
Jay Paterno tweeted, "Drove by students at the Joe statue. Just told my Dad about all the love & support—inspiring him."
The statue is just outside a gate at Beaver Stadium.
The 85-year-old Paterno has been in the hospital since Jan. 13 for observation for what his family had called minor complications from his cancer treatments. Not long before that, he conducted his only interview since losing his job, with The Washington Post. Paterno was described as frail then and wearing a wig. The second half of the two-day interview was conducted by his bedside.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
UPDATE: Newt Gingrich has won the South Carolina Republican presidential primary.
BREAKING: Newt Gingrich has won the South Carolina Republican presidential primary.
Updated 7:36 p.m. Eastern Time
Updated 7:36 p.m. Eastern Time
Newt Gingrich has defeated Mitt Romney in the South Carolina Republican primary, CBS News is projecting from analysis based on exit polls and early vote totals. Rick Santorum and Ron Paul are battling for third place.
"Thank you South Carolina!" Gingrich tweeted as CBS News and other news outlets projected his victory.
Gingrich's victory ends Romney's hopes of effectively wrapping up the GOP presidential nomination by the end of the month - and breaths new life into Gingrich's campaign ahead of the Florida primary on January 31. South Carolina has voted for the candidate who went on to with the GOP nomination in every primary since 1980.
Gingrich's win was due in large part to his strong performance in two debates in the state this week. Nearly two in three GOP primary voters said the debates played an important role in their decision, and more than half (53 percent) made up their minds in the last few days, according to exit poll data.
Among these late-deciders, Gingrich was the clear favorite: 45 percent backed him, compared to 24 percent for Romney and 19 percent for Rick Santorum. And among the 64 percent who said the debates were an important factor, 50 percent backed Gingrich, while just 23 percent were backing Romney. FULL STORY
UPDATE: Reports of Joe Paterno's death refuted by family
Penn State student website Onward State has reported that Penn State players were notified of longtime head coach Joe Paterno's passing via email, and CBSSports.com went on this report. Paterno, 85, had been receiving chemotherapy as part of his treatment for lung cancer.
However, Paterno family spokesperson Dan McGinn told a New York Times reporter that the report of Paterno's demise is "absolutely not true," and Jay Paterno tweeted that his father "continues to fight." Onward State has since retracted their report.
Paterno was the head coach of Penn State for 46 seasons before being fired in November as his role in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal came under greater scrutiny. Combined with the time he spent as an assistant, Paterno spent a total of 61 years on the Penn State sidelines. He left behind a legacy that, on the field of play, was unparalleled in Division I football. Paterno holds the all-time Division I record for football coaching wins with a 409-136-3 record, and he won two national championships while going undefeated in five different seasons.
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/24156338/34497800
Sox Trade Scutaro To Rockies - Boston News Story - WCVB Boston
Sox Trade Scutaro To Rockies - Boston News Story - WCVB Boston: DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies have acquired infielder Marco Scutaro from the Boston Red Sox for right-hander Clayton Mortensen. Saturday, January 21, 2012.
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