Santa comes early to the Conserve the Balsams Landscape Campaign

Many New Hampshire residents deferred their Christmas shopping today to make a gift to Conserve the Balsams Landscape. We had a steady stream of visitors hand delivering checks in addition to those gifts made by phone, over the web and through the mail. This busiest day yet for the campaign was sparked by the news reports that Northern Pass is objecting to this conservation project. Donors expressed their disappointment, anger and disgust that Northern Pass would interfere with the conservation of this cherished landscape. We are working day and night to deliver to the people of New Hampshire one of the finest holiday gifts we can imagine: 5,800 acres of the North Country landscape for all to enjoy in perpetuity.

Northern Pass Aims to Block Balsams Land Conservation

As Annmarie Timmins reports here in the Concord Monitor, Northern Pass is so unhappy about the Tillotson Corporation's decision to pursue a conservation outcome for the lands surrounding the Balsams that they had their attorneys complain to the NH Charitable Trusts Division. Their complaint? That Tillotson should have taken their offer instead, and was somehow obligated to do so.
We believe that the Attorney General’s office will agree with the Tillotson Corp that the transaction outlined in our Purchase and Sale agreement with them is in the best interests of the North Country. The attempt by Northern Pass to interfere with a transaction between two private parties is a clear indication of their desperation. It’s the moral equivalent of using eminent domain to force a private landowner to sell to them.
"We understand that corporations like Northern Pass are focused on the bottom line," said Jane Difley, president/forester of the Forest Society. "However, like many of our fellow landowners and our conservation partners, we also understand that money isn’t the only thing that matters in New Hampshire. Our forests, our land, scenic views and iconic places matter deeply to us. And they can’t always be bought."

$100,000 Milestone Reached Toward Save the Balsams Landcape Goal!

Donations are flowing in and the momentum is building leading us across the six-figure threshold today in our efforts to save the Balsams landscape. One hundred is the theme for today...we received our 100th contribution bringing us over $100,000. Thank you to everyone who helped us reach this milestone!