To the editor:
There is a contest going on "Bark for Your Park" sponsored by Pet Safe. The contest is for a dog park in Berlin. The award is as much as $100,00 towards construction of one. This dog park would be fenced area where dogs could run free and play with other dogs.
In order to win the contest supporters need to vote at PetSafe.net. or on facebook.com/PetSafeBrand, you can vote twice daily. If you do not have a computer you can visit your local library. The Berlin Public Library is open Mon. - Tues., Thurs. and Friday 10-6 and Wednesday's 12-7. The Gorham Public Library is open Mon. - Fri. 10-6 and Sat., 10 to noon. The contest will run till the end of month. Vote today and vote often!
Mitchelle (Shea) Ball
Berlin

To the editor:
I want to thank everyone involved with the BAREI (Berlin Area Renewable Initiative) Energy Fair that took place this past weekend. It was a great success with well over 100 people stopping by, many of whom attended the various seminars offered on forms of alternative, renewable energy and sustainable living.
Special thanks go out to Berlin IGA Foodliner for generously providing the lunch, Roland Goulette for providing the drinks, to The White Mountains Community College for hosting the fair and to Dunkin Donuts for providing donuts and coffee for the vendors and volunteers in the morning. Adding greatly to the day were vendors who with  displays and presentations, were on hand to discuss in detail the energy methods each represented. I thank Maine Energy Systems (Skip Bennett – wood pellet boilers), Cimbria Badenhausen for several interesting talks and her display about composting with worms, Capital Well (Jonathan Swain, Dan and Steve Voisine - GeoThermal), Harmony Energy Works (George Horrocks – Photovoltaic, Grants & Rebates), TCCAP Weatherization (Peter Bilodeau – energy conservation), Romik (Roland Berthiaume – Spray Foam and home performance with energy star), Tarm (Scott Nichols – cord wood and pellet boilers), Russ Lanoie, Northern Forest Center (Maura Adams), Kedel Boilers (Pat Coon – wood pellet boilers), Giroux Builders (Dan Giroux – Spray Foam), Laura Jameson and  Gary Coulombe - beekeeping, and Building Alternatives (Bob Tortorice – building energy efficient homes).
Other contributors were: White Mountain Lumber and Caron Building Center (donating door prizes), and (thanks to Cimbria Badenhausen) advertising donated by Berlin Better Buildings. Thanks to the Mt Madison Inn and Suites for allowing us to put up a banner, to WPKQ for North Country notebook announcements, to TCCAP and the Northern Forest Heritage Park for coolers and ice. Thanks also to the families who opened up their homes making it possible for people to view operating alternative energy systems: Brad and Sue Wyman, Keith Lynch, Leon and Janet Michaud, Jayco and Sophie Laughton, Mike Godbout, Mark and Sue Tremblay, and Ray Danforth.nd
A big thank you to all the BAREI members who helped out (Lisa Morse, Roland Goulette, Peter Higbee, Matt and Christina Schomburg, Norm Charest, Chip Labrecque, Mark Danoski). The event would not have been possible without their efforts! If I have missed anyone please accept my apology and my thanks. 
Last, but not least, a thank you to all those who attended the BAREI (Berlin Area Renewable Energy Initiative) Energy Fair, we hope you found it interesting and informative and that many of you will contact us to become involved with BAREI or to arrange your own energy raiser (having a Solar Hot Water system installed).  BAREI is a non-profit organization under the auspices of TCCAP where members seek to promote all forms of renewable energy and who specialize in the installation of solar hot water systems. They provide the labor and expertise free! Again thank you all!
Ed Solar
CoChair BAREI

To the editor:
You may have recently noticed multiple businesses displaying boxes filled with puzzle piece pins in order to spread autism awareness throughout our community. These magnificent hand-crafted pins were created by the Hillside Elementary After School Program for you and your family to keep, and wear with pride. Attached to each pin is a helpful fact pertaining to autism.
Throughout the school year, our program has conducted numerous activities for students to become familiar and comfortable with this increasingly prevalent disorder, as well as understand the importance of awareness. Currently in the United States, autism spectrum disorders affect one in every 88 births. Comparing this with the prevalence of juvenile diabetes (1 in 500) and muscular dystrophy (1 in 20,000) can attest to how common autism truly is. Even scarier is learning that just four short years ago, one in every 110 American children were affected by autism spectrum disorders. The rate is still swiftly climbing.
That being said, we'd love to extend a gracious thank you to the wonderful establishments that aided in our community service: Mr. Pizza, Sears, Big Apple, Irving (Berlin, upper), IGA, and Rudy's Market. Your warm spirits have been much appreciated!
Sincerely, Jessica Figueroa
Hillside Elementary After School Program

To the editor:
Berlin Youth Hockey would like to thank everyone who supported their spring raffle. Here is a list of the winners: $25 winners are, Tom Benefont, Marc Lysitt, Danielle Roy, Chris Holt, Rachele Ouellet, Zuri Chambers, Tim Donovan, Joel Howry, Steve Derosier, Paul Laflamme, Joey Riendeau, Gloria Slawitsky, Steve Gauthier, Scott Knapp, Stacey Falardeau, Tricia Walsh, Melissa Frenette, Ron Mulare, Daphne Roy, Ben Poulin and Jeremy Eafrati; $50 winners are Laurie Bryant, Tricia Walsh, Wendy Reardon, Paulette Frechette, $1000 winner Kim Bartoli.
Berlin Youth Hockey Committee