Local and regional news

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Bernerhof Inn and American Legion Post 46 are Offering FREE Thanksgiving Meals to Those in Need

GLEN, NH —  Nick Panno, owner and innkeeper of The Bernerhof Inn, announced the inn is once again offering a free Thanksgiving meal to go to anyone in need who seeks a hot turkey day feast. The meals will be offered for curbside pick up from 12pm – 2:30pm on Thurs., Nov. 26, 2020.

Nick bought the Inn in 2019 and brought the tradition to the Bernerhof starting last Thanksgiving when they fed over 100 people – from veterans to seniors to families. Panno stated, “Whether an individual is alone, homeless, visiting a loved one at the hospital or nursing home … no matter what the reason, everyone is welcome to pick up a hot meal.”

Thanksgiving dinner including roast turkey and all the fixings will be served. No reservations or advance orders are necessary.  Due to COVID-19, this year’s free Thanksgiving meal is being offered to go, not at the Inn as was done in 2019.

For more information, contact Nick Panno at 603-383-4200.  The Inn is located on Route 302 in Glen, NH.

 

CONWAY — As in years past, American Legion Post 46 in Conway Village has been busy this week, creating free turkey Thanksgiving dinners. The difference is that due to pandemic guidelines, there will not be a sit-down dinner at the post come Thursday — only delivered meals and curbside pickups, said Post 46 Sons of the American Legion Commander Rick Breton.

The meals — consisting of roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potato, butternut squash, glazed carrots, gravy, a roll and slice of pie — will be available at no charge on Nov. 26 from noon-4 p.m. for curbside pickup and takeout, at Post 46, Breton said — as long as supplies last.

“We’ll have the dinners ready until we run out of food,” said Breton on Tuesday as his team of Legion volunteers worked to prep the meals.
Post 46 is located at 47 Tasker Hill Road. People can order a turkey dinner by calling Post 46 at (603) 447-3927. For more information, follow American Legion Post 46 on Facebook.

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White Mountain National Forest Service Now Offers Option to Purchase Christmas Tree Permit On-line

Campton, NH (Nov. 16, 2020) – White Mountain National Forest officials are welcoming the public to select and cut a Christmas tree on the White Mountain National Forest with the purchase of a $5.00 permit. For the first time, permits will now be available for purchase either on-line (an additional $2.50 service fee applies) or in-person at a WMNF office. In support of the Every Kid Outdoors Initiative, this year the Forest Service will provide all fourth and fifth grade students with a free Christmas tree voucher by registering here: https://everykidoutdoors.gov. Fourth and fifth graders who register must present a printed voucher to redeem an Every Kid Outdoors Pass and a Christmas tree permit.

  • Permits can be purchased either online or in-person at a WMNF office
  • Permits can be purchased in-person at our three district offices: Saco Ranger District in Conway is open daily for permit sales, 9 AM to 4 PM.  Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, please contact the Pemigewasset or Androscoggin offices prior to your visit to schedule an appointment.
  • Only 1 permit issued per household per year. Trees are for personal use only, not for resale.  Each family may cut one tree per permit per year. 
  • Use only hand tools to cut Christmas trees.  Chainsaws are not permitted.
  • Make sure you are on National Forest land.  Respect the rights of landowners when crossing private property.
  • Do not cut trees within 100 feet of: campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads or developed recreation areas, experimental forests, designated wilderness areas, water bodies, active timber sales.
  • Do not cut trees within 100 feet of paved roads and 50 feet from dirt roads.
  • When you purchase the permit ask if there are any known “off limit” areas.
  • Do not cut trees larger than 6 inches in diameter at chest height. Pack down limb piles low enough so they are within 2 feet of the ground.
  • Cut your tree so remaining stumps will be less than 10″ in height.

Be prepared for winter — dress appropriately in warm clothing and make your day a safe one!

White Mountain National Forest Offices

Pemigewasset Ranger District — 71 White Mountain Drive – Campton, NH– 603-536-6100

Saco Ranger District — 33 Kancamagus Highway — Conway, NH — 603-447-5448

Androscoggin Ranger District — 300 Glen Rd. — Gorham, NH — 603-466-2713

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North Conway Named #1 Ski Town in North America by USA TODAY’s 10BEST

North Conway, NH – North Conway has once again been named the #1 ski town in North America by USA TODAY’s 10Best.com.  Competing against such well known ski towns as Aspen, Breckenridge and Jackson Hole, North Conway took top honors in the number one spot among those who voted in the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards Travel Contest which took place over the past month. In addition, Jackson XC was included in the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for the Best XC Ski Resort, coming in fifth out of the top ten XC ski centers in North America.

The number one ski town designation for North Conway has a legacy.  Since 2016, North Conway has been nominated for the esteemed title of Best Ski Town by 10Best. For a number of  years, they held the #1 spot until 2018 when they were named #2.  This served to motivate the chamber to get out the vote, and with help from skiers and riders throughout the USA, North Conway regained it’s title as the #1 ski town this year. 

“To be named the number one ski town in all of North America is a huge honor and feather in our cap, especially when we see the company we’re in among ski towns across North America” commented Janice Crawford, Executive Director of the Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce. “Between the 13 ski resorts and XC Centers we offer, along with on-mountain recreation for non-skiers, snowmobiling, dog sledding, sleigh rides, ice skating, and all the backcountry recreation of the White Mountains, we believe we have earned the designation of not only best ski town but best winter town too. And with Jackson XC on the 10Best XC Ski Resort list, Mt Washington Valley is certainly the premier winter destination this year” added Crawford. “We simply ask skiers who come to visit our destination to wear masks and respect the new safety measures put in place at ski resorts and other businesses throughout town,” finished Crawford.

According to 10Best editors, “Someday, we’ll all be ready to pack our suitcases again and head out on our next adventures. In the meantime, we’ll keep supporting the places that inspire us. What makes a great ski town? Some would say it’s convenient access to the slopes, for others, maybe it’s the variety of restaurants, bars, shops and accommodations. Yet others might gravitate toward a small town vibe or historic atmosphere.” The editors followed up this observation with a message to us in North Conway. “Since this nomination was carefully made by an expert panel, and the public voted for this honor, you have earned some serious bragging rights!”

The top ten winners in the USA TODAY/10Best Reader’s Choice Awards for Best Ski Town are as follows:

  1. North Conway, NH
  2. Rossland, BC, Canada
  3. Bethel, Maine
  4. Stowe, Vermont
  5. Banff, Alberta, Canada
  6. Aspen, CO
  7. Breckenridge, CO
  8. Alta, UT
  9. Jackson Hole, WY
  10. Nelson, BC, Canada

10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased, and experiential travel content of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world. The core of the site’s uniqueness is its team of local travel experts: a well-traveled and well-educated group who are not only experts in their fields – and their cities – but discriminating in their tastes. These local experts live in the city they write about so the content is constantly updated. 10Best.com averages 5 million visitors per month. It was acquired by USA TODAY in January of 2013.

North Conway sits in the center of Mt Washington Valley, NH surrounded by the 770,000 acre White Mountain National Forest.  Beyond skiing and winter outdoor recreation, North Conway and the surrounding Mt Washington Valley offer 150 different lodging options, more than 200 tax-free outlets, shops, boutiques and stores, plus more than 75 restaurants for all tastes and budgets.  There’s something for every winter traveler – both on the mountains and off.  Travelers are asked to wear masks, observe social distancing and follow the guidelines of the businesses they visit this winter.

For more information, go to www.MtWashingtonValley.org for complete trip resources and planning tools.  To learn more about visiting New Hampshire, go to www.VisitNH.gov.

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Governor Chris Sununu Issues Statewide Mask Mandate for New Hampshire

Concord, NH — With rising cases, substantial statewide community transmission, and an increase in hospitalizations, today Governor Chris Sununu signed an Emergency Order instituting a statewide mask mandate in New Hampshire, as cases rose to 529 — the state’s highest total to date. The mask mandate takes effect at 12:01 AM on Friday, November 20, 2020, and will remain in effect through January 15, 2021. 
 
“With rising cases,  substantial statewide community transmission, and an increase in hospitalizations – the data supports enacting a statewide mask mandate,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “Instituting this commonsense mask mandate today will allow us to keep our economy open and help ensure our health care system has the capacity and workforce it needs in the coming weeks. By wearing a mask, Granite Staters can keep our friends, family, neighbors, and critical workforce members and those they care for safe – without shutting down the economy.”

Beginning on November 20, 2020, all persons over the age of 5 within the State of New Hampshire shall wear mask or cloth face coverings over their noses and mouths any time they are in public spaces, indoors or outdoors, where they are unable to or do not consistently maintain a physical distance of at least six feet from persons outside their own households.

For purposes of this Order, the term “public spaces” includes any part of private or public property that is generally open or accessible to members of the general public.  Public spaces include, but are not limited to, lobbies, waiting areas, outside plazas or patios, restaurants, retail businesses, streets, sidewalks, parks, beaches, elevators, restrooms, stairways, parking garages, etc.

Note: A copy of the Executive Order can be found here. 

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Confirmed Case of COVID-19 at Kennett Middle School

Families were sent a letter this morning from SAU9 Superintendent of Schools, Kevin Richard confirming a positive case of COVID-19 at Kennett Middle School.

To read the full letter and have access to resource links click here.

 

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Drug Related Arrest in North Conway

On Wednesday, November 18, 2020, at approximately 2:30pm an off duty Conway Police Department Officer observed Christopher Burnell, 37 years old, Chatham, NH in the drive-thru at a local restaurant in North Conway.  Christopher Burnell was known to have an open felony arrest warrant in the State of New Hampshire for Felon in Possession of a Dangerous Weapon as defined by NH RSA 159:3. After leaving the drive-thru, Christopher Burnell was observed entering a local hotel.  Conway Police Department officers responded to the hotel and located Christopher Burnell in a first floor room which had been rented by a female friend.  When officers approached the door of the room, Christopher Burnell retreated to the bathroom inside the room, locked the door and refused to come out for the officers after being repeatedly informed that there was an open warrant for his arrest.  The room was secured by several Conway Police Department officers.  After approximately 25 minutes of communication through the bathroom door, Christopher Burnell opened the door and officers were able to take him into custody without further incident.  Christopher Burnell was transported to Memorial Hospital by North Conway Ambulance for evaluation as it appeared that he was under the influence of drugs.  A search warrant was executed on the room where Christopher Burnell was located.  Approximately 115 grams of what is believed to be heroin/fentanyl and a large amount of drug paraphernalia was seized from the room.

Christopher Burnell was released from the hospital later that evening and transported to the Carroll County House of Corrections on the open warrant for his arrest.  The Conway Police Department will be adding the additional charges of Possession of Controlled/Narcotic Drugs with the intent to Distribute as defined by NH RSA 318-B:2, Falsifying Physical Evidence as defined by NH RSA 641:6 and Resisting Arrest or Detention as defined by NH RSA 642:2.

Christopher Burnell has a lengthy criminal history to include several arrests for possession of controlled drugs.

Christopher Burnell is scheduled to appear before the Ossipee Superior Court on Thursday afternoon for a bail hearing.

Christopher Mattei

Chief of Police

Christopher Burnell, 37, of Chatham, NH (Picture Courtesy of Conway Police Department)

 

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Over $23,000 Raised for Vaughan Community Services and Surrounding MWV Food Pantries!

The 19th Annual Mount Washington Radio/Vaughan Community Services “Food” Drive was a HUGE SUCCESS!

The Mount Washington Radio/Vaughan Community Services Annual Food Drive showcased what living in the Mount Washington Valley is all about – community, goodwill, and service. 

Once again it was held at the First Church of Christ in North Conway, for a one-day, 12-hour event that helped collect donations for area food pantries benefiting those in need during the holiday season, as well as throughout the year. Many different pantries in the Greater Mount Washington Valley will see these donations from the drive helping those less fortunate in their communities.

Due to COVID-19, we could not accept any food or turkey donations, but that did not stop this community from coming together and donating CASH and CHECK Donations.Our grand total at the end of our day yesterday was $23,255.00.

Vaughan is currently working with all the Local Food Pantries to be able to get their food through donation and being able to buy food from the New Hampshire Food Bank.

The money can go up to two or three times further for them when they buy food from the Food Bank and it will keep our communities SAFE.

Magic 104 broadcasted LIVE the entire day with a ton of help from our sponsors!

Special Thanks to ALL of our sponsors this year – who answered the call of those in this community that are in need.

Make sure you visit and shop with them this Holiday Season! 

Leavitt’s Country Bakery
Chalmers Insurance Group
Northeast Credit Union
Premier Home Store
BoltDepot.com
Diane Reo – State Farm
Ski and Snowboard Liquidation Center
FIRE by Wicked Fresh
Cooper Cargill Chant
North Country Dental/Skin
Johnson’s Autocare
Infinger Insurance

Happy Holidays!