Click here to download a registration form: registration-form

To register, click here:  2ndsnox.pdf

 PRESS RELEASE NOVEMBER 30, 2007

North Country fiddler Patrick Ross and Vermont musicians Colin McCaffrey and Haze Smith will perform a variety of toe-tapping traditional tunes Friday, December 14, at 7 p.m. at the Methodist Church, Groveton.  The program, made possible by generous donations from Northway Bank, United Way of Northern New Hampshire and the Northumberland Historical Society, will include Franco-American and Celtic songs, as well as holiday selections.  The event is being sponsored by the Groveton Regional Economic Action Team (GREAT) and is a BENEFIT CONCERT to support the 300-plus workers recently laid off by Wausau Papers. Patrick Ross is a native of Canaan, Vermont and a fifth-generation fiddler.  Since graduating from Lyndon Institute in 2000 he has toured across the United States and traveled in Ireland, Italy, Hungary and Nicaragua.  Becky Newton, a Groveton resident and an avid arts patron says about Patrick, “He is a huge North Country favorite and attendees will not be disappointed.  I’ve been following Patrick’s career since he played fiddle as a young boy at Centennial Park in Lancaster on Earth Day.  You could see the talent then and his resume reflects it!”

Ross started playing “a little Mickey Mouse fiddle” when he was 3, accompanying his father, Arthur Ross, at parties. When he was 8, his father gave Patrick his first fiddle lesson.  “Then it was just like wildfire.  Within a month, I was performing at the American Legion and at Christmas I was doing gigs at the nursing home.”  His father taught him — all by ear — over 100 French Canadian fiddle tunes, reflecting his fiddling heritage that originated in Scotland and included migration to Quebec, New Hampshire and then Vermont.  Though his father died when he was 11, Ross says he’ll always remember both the fiddle tunes and what they mean.

Ross recorded an album entitled “Just Fiddlin’ Around” when he was 12.  Last year he turned 25 while teaching at an orphanage in Central America. Ross spent a year touring with the Celtic band Ceili Rain; as a founding member of Blue Merle he opened for the likes of Willie Nelson, Charlie Daniels, The Counting Crows, John Mayer and Guster. While living in Nashville he recorded with Bela Fleck and was on CMT in 2004 as part of Jessica Andrew’s hit music video “Karma.”  He can also be heard on the most recent SG album, “In the Barn,” which was recorded at Trey Anastasio’s Vermont studio.  (Trey is of Phish Fame.)

“Spending time back in the North Country allows me the space to manage my time according to what matters to me,” Ross says.

Singer, songwriter, and record producer Colin McCaffrey from East Montpelier, Vermont, is a multi-instrumentalist who shines on acoustic Swing, Bluegrass, Country and Folk.

Haze Smith started playing the banjo when he was 5, and continued claw-hammer style playing until his father bought a guitar for the family when Haze was 8. He learned to fingerpick and flatpick the popular folk, blues and bluegrass music of the 50s and 60s, and studied classical guitar in college.  His strong vocals and versatile guitar skills led him into acoustic solo performance and gigs with bluegrass, rock and country bands through the 80s and 90s. Most at home playing bluegrass, Haze has been playing and recording with the band Gopher Broke for the last 8 years

“We’re so pleased to provide an opportunity for people to donate to the workers’ fund – and to have an enjoyable time while doing so!” says Barry Normandeau of GREAT.  “We urge people to come out, hear some Christmas music, Celtic and Franco-American traditional sounds, and some new ‘jammin’ from Patrick from his latest CD.”

The concert is one in a series of partnership programs presented by members of the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire, the North Country network for arts and culture, and supported in part by a grant from the NH State Council on the Arts, with additional funding from Northway Bank, United Way of Northern NH and the Northumberland Historical Society.

No advance tickets are required and ALL DONATIONS will be accepted at the door to benefit the Groveton Wausau Workers Assistance Fund.  If you cannot attend and desire additional information on how to donate to the Worker’s Fund, call Rolanda M. Duchesne, Executive Director, United Way of Northern NH, 961 Main St.,  P.O. Box 614, Berlin, NH 03570, (603)752-3343  Fax 752-6540.  Donations can also be made at any Northway Bank – c/o United Way of Northern NH and the Groveton Wausau Worker’s Fund.

For more information or details about the concert, contact Frumie Selchen at the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire at 323-7302 or via email at info@aannh.org.  You can also check out other North Country cultural events at the “Arts North Calendar” on the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire webpage at www.aannh.org.

All monies collected will be used to pay emergency expenses for former Wausau employees – expenses that are not otherwise covered by charitable programs in the North Country.  Referrals for emergency requests will come through local social service agencies.  In addition to this benefit concerts, efforts are being made for a charity auction in the spring.  Donations of cash, art works, performances, lessons and “once-in-a-lifetime” experiences with national acts will be greatly appreciated.  For more information on the planned charity auction, contact GREAT at PO Box 276, Groveton, NH 03582.  GREAT is a non-profit organization.

Area residents are invited to discuss their concerns and participate in a community dialogue. The Groveton Regional Economic Action Team (GREAT) is hosting a public forum on Nov. 10 at 9:30 a.m. at the Saint Francis Xavier Hall on State Street in Groveton. A facilitator from Mountain Spirit Institute’s Sustainable Communities Program will assist town residents, businesses, economic development and local organizations, town boards, as well as any interested parties in moving positively beyond the crisis of the closure of Wausau Paper.   The primary objective is to allow area residents and those most affected by the closure of the mill to bring their concerns and ideas so that we may reason together on how best to overcome the barriers and challenges facing Groveton and the surrounding communities.   Refreshments will be served.

Registration Form

THE G.R.E.A.T.

Connecticut River Paddle Fest 

From Groveton to Guildhall

JULY 7, 2007

Race will start by Riverside Speedway, Brown Rd, Groveton, NH and finish at the Bridge in Guildhall, VT ( approx 4 miles)

PRIZES AWARDED IN SEVERAL CATEGORIES:

• CANOES
• KAYAKS
• ANY NON-MOTORIZED BOATS

GET CREATIVE AND “ACCESSORIZE” YOUR BOAT

1st Wave of Paddlers 10:00am

Pre-registration available

COST: $10 per boat 

IN THE GUILDHALL COMMON:

• BOAT SHOW
• FLEA MARKET
• BARBECUE
• LOCAL HISTORY DISPLAYS

DRAWING OF THE RAFFLE FOR 2 KAYAKS & PADDLES 

Call 603-636-2800 or 636-9829 for more information.

All registration forms will be mailed to: G.R.E.A.T, PO Box 276, Groveton, NH 03582

Please make checks payable to: G.R.E.A.T (Groveton Regional Economic Action Team).

WINTER CARNIVAL 

Have fun in northern New Hampshire this winter! 

The Groveton Regional Economic Action Team (GREAT) and several partners are sponsoring the 2007 North Country Snofest in Groveton, New Hampshire.  Snofest promises good food and lots of winter fun for people of all ages.  The event will take place on  

Saturday, January 27, 2007 throughout the town of Groveton, culminating in a banquet at the end of the day.  

For more information about the program of events, please click here: Snofest Schedule

Groveton has enjoyed cold weather and new snow recently.  

For directions on how to get to Groveton, please click here: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&formtype=address&popflag=0&latitude=&longitude=&name=&phone=&level=&cat=&address=&city=Groveton&state=NH&zipcode=