Stories, Gear, and Outdoor Culture

“We opened right on the rail trail hoping that there were other people like us who would appreciate a fun place to be with family and friends, enjoy some healthy food, grab a cup of coffee and feel comfortable wearing their biking or cross-country ski gear. We were welcomed immediately. The response was overwhelming.”

A fundraising barbecue is planned later this month to support efforts to turn a former paper mill site in Franklin into an outdoor adventure park.

A fundraising barbecue is planned this month to support efforts to turn a former paper mill site in Franklin into an outdoor adventure park.

Some potential small business owners come to NH SBDC with one business idea and it can be a pretty fuzzy one at that. One of the roles of the NH SBDC business advisor is to help them get clearer on what they want to do, and then guide them toward the resources that will help them do it.

On a hot weekday, Marty Parichand nonchalantly strolled alongside a local carwash. He passed some concrete barriers and a “no camping” sign. As he tromped into an overgrown, litter-covered trailhead, he dove into his vision for a new outdoor adventure park.

Since 2001 paddling has been a part of my life. It has been one of my longest relationships outside of family, and like any relationship has had some high highs and some low lows.

I have come to realize that every paddler paddles for a different reason. 

I participated in an ACA Certification Course on the Winnipesaukee River. The outing clubs of both the University of Vermont and the University of Massachusetts were well represented with solid boaters.

A new downtown business coordinator and a year-old four-way partnership are continuing the push to liven Franklin’s downtown.

Franklin Savings Bank has donated $30,000 to PermaCityLife, an organization working to revitalize Franklin’s downtown.

My passion is paddling. It has been since the first time I rafted as a customer. It then adapted as I progressed. First as an extremely novice kayaker, to a raft guide, then on to a kayaker who is “in between swims.” As a New England paddler, I cherished the early education in rolling I received from then Suncook River Canoe & Kayak, as well as, the Merrimack Valley Paddlers, who continue to support local paddlers.