Week in Review -- May 11-17, 2013
Saturday, May 11
• It's Mother's Day weekend — a time when we all think of our moms, and all they did and do for us. And their great cooking. "Who had the most influence on me, in cooking?" says certified executive chef Gary Sheldon. "My mom. I can't ever remember seeing her without an apron on and cooking."
• Pittsburgh Pirates' pitcher Jeff Locke, of Conway, took a bite out of the Big Apple on Thursday night when he tossed six innings of three-hit baseball while allowing one run to the New York Mets at Citi Field.
Tuesday, May 14
• The police department is just one Fryeburg institution facing an uncertain future this spring. The fate of the Fryeburg Water District is unclear as well. Water district voters will be asked to weigh in on whether or not to dissolve the district when they go to the polls June 11.
• An Ossipee couple faces multiple drug charges after being arrested on Friday. A third person, who is wanted on drug charges, is still on the lam after being spotted at a property on Chickville Road where the couple was living.
• May and June are the months when moose-vehicle collisions are most frequent, and Maine wildlife and transportation officials are urging motorist to be especially cautious.
Wednesday, May 15
• Local gun shop owners say they are having more difficulty than ever keeping a healthy stock of ammunition on hand, but one gun shop owner is confident the shortage will end this summer and another says the market is starting to "thaw."
• Officials at North Conway Community Center are still weighing options in the wake of last month's vote to restrict building heights on the west side of Route 16. The two newest members of the Conway School Board, meanwhile, are hoping to revisit the idea of relocating the project next to school property near Whitaker Woods.
• As Fryeburg Water District voters prepare to decide whether to make the district inactive, another Maine town may provide a road map for how such a task can be accomplished. The water district in the town of Anson, Maine, is in the process of decommissioning after almost 100 years in operation.
• No one was injured in a fire that damaged the basement of a home on Ice House Road in Fryeburg on Monday morning. The fire chief says an overloaded circuit was to blame for the fire.
Thursday, May 16
• A bill to expand gambling in New Hampshire faces long odds after a House committee votes not to recommend the bill to the full House. Two local legislators who are on the committee — Karen Umberger and Tom Buco — take opposing positions, with Umberger against the bill and Buco in favor.
• The Saco River Recreation Council says it is pleased with the law enforcement coverage the town police department has provided for the river. Voters on June 11 will decide whether to disband the police department and contract with the Oxford County Sheriff's Office.
• The 29th Crank the Kanc bicycle race will take place Saturday. The course starts just west of the Saco Ranger Station on the Kancamagus Highway, and climbs 2,300 vertical feet in 21 miles.
• Jeff Locke pitches six solid innings and his Pittsburgh Pirates go on to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in extra innings.
Friday, May 17
• Two men have been charged in connection with 14 burglaries that allegedly took place earlier this year in Madison, Albany and Tamworth.
• A federal judge has postponed the second trial of a former Bartlett selectman accused of possession of child pornography.
• As voters prepare to weigh in on the possible deactivation of the Fryeburg Water District, the trustee who voiced his impassioned opposition to the move is preparing to fight the battle in new ways. Scot Montgomery is not running for reelection to the board of trustees, saying, "I feel I can contribute more not being on the board."
• A reporter for the Carroll County Independent and a Brookfield manwho films commission meetings have filed a right-to-know suit against the chairman of the
Carroll County commissioners.
• Hearings will be held later this month on Blue Loon's plans to expand its transit services.
• It's Mother's Day weekend — a time when we all think of our moms, and all they did and do for us. And their great cooking. "Who had the most influence on me, in cooking?" says certified executive chef Gary Sheldon. "My mom. I can't ever remember seeing her without an apron on and cooking."
• Pittsburgh Pirates' pitcher Jeff Locke, of Conway, took a bite out of the Big Apple on Thursday night when he tossed six innings of three-hit baseball while allowing one run to the New York Mets at Citi Field.
Tuesday, May 14
• The police department is just one Fryeburg institution facing an uncertain future this spring. The fate of the Fryeburg Water District is unclear as well. Water district voters will be asked to weigh in on whether or not to dissolve the district when they go to the polls June 11.
• An Ossipee couple faces multiple drug charges after being arrested on Friday. A third person, who is wanted on drug charges, is still on the lam after being spotted at a property on Chickville Road where the couple was living.
• May and June are the months when moose-vehicle collisions are most frequent, and Maine wildlife and transportation officials are urging motorist to be especially cautious.
Wednesday, May 15
• Local gun shop owners say they are having more difficulty than ever keeping a healthy stock of ammunition on hand, but one gun shop owner is confident the shortage will end this summer and another says the market is starting to "thaw."
• Officials at North Conway Community Center are still weighing options in the wake of last month's vote to restrict building heights on the west side of Route 16. The two newest members of the Conway School Board, meanwhile, are hoping to revisit the idea of relocating the project next to school property near Whitaker Woods.
• As Fryeburg Water District voters prepare to decide whether to make the district inactive, another Maine town may provide a road map for how such a task can be accomplished. The water district in the town of Anson, Maine, is in the process of decommissioning after almost 100 years in operation.
• No one was injured in a fire that damaged the basement of a home on Ice House Road in Fryeburg on Monday morning. The fire chief says an overloaded circuit was to blame for the fire.
Thursday, May 16
• A bill to expand gambling in New Hampshire faces long odds after a House committee votes not to recommend the bill to the full House. Two local legislators who are on the committee — Karen Umberger and Tom Buco — take opposing positions, with Umberger against the bill and Buco in favor.
• The Saco River Recreation Council says it is pleased with the law enforcement coverage the town police department has provided for the river. Voters on June 11 will decide whether to disband the police department and contract with the Oxford County Sheriff's Office.
• The 29th Crank the Kanc bicycle race will take place Saturday. The course starts just west of the Saco Ranger Station on the Kancamagus Highway, and climbs 2,300 vertical feet in 21 miles.
• Jeff Locke pitches six solid innings and his Pittsburgh Pirates go on to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in extra innings.
Friday, May 17
• Two men have been charged in connection with 14 burglaries that allegedly took place earlier this year in Madison, Albany and Tamworth.
• A federal judge has postponed the second trial of a former Bartlett selectman accused of possession of child pornography.
• As voters prepare to weigh in on the possible deactivation of the Fryeburg Water District, the trustee who voiced his impassioned opposition to the move is preparing to fight the battle in new ways. Scot Montgomery is not running for reelection to the board of trustees, saying, "I feel I can contribute more not being on the board."
• A reporter for the Carroll County Independent and a Brookfield manwho films commission meetings have filed a right-to-know suit against the chairman of the
Carroll County commissioners.
• Hearings will be held later this month on Blue Loon's plans to expand its transit services.
Last Updated on Thursday, 16 May 2013 22:58
Hits: 7
Week in Review -- May 4-10, 2013
Saturday, May 2
• Ten years after it fell from its perch high in Franconia Notch, the iconic Old Man of the Mountains "is still a part of our social fabric," says Brian Fowler, a retired engineering geologist.
• Pitcher Jeff Locke, of Conway, looks to extend his 13-inning scoreless streak Saturday when the Pittsburgh Pirates take on the Washington Nationals.
Tuesday, May 7
• Lawmakers are once again considering a bill that legalizes gambling in New Hampshire, but before SB 152 can become law it needs to survive the House, where gambling legislation traditionally goes to die. Local reps are split on the issue.
• The vast majority of residents who spoke at a hearing last week support keeping the town's police department rather than contracting with the county sheriff's office.
• A Maine woman is carried out of the woods by rescuers after injuring her ankle. Once arriving in the parking lot, she declines further medical assistance and drives herself from the scene.
Wednesday, May 8
• Crow Dickinson, the "dean" of local politics, is staying involved after losing his Conway selectman's eat to Carl Thibodeau last month. The former state rep continues to host his show, "Around the State House," on Valley Vision Channel 3, and he says he would be interested in serving on the budget committee if there is a vacancy.
• Fryeburg Academy got a D and three other MSAD 72 schools got Cs on the State of Maine Report Card, a new grading system for schools in the state. But the grading system itself is getting low marks from local administrators. "No single letter or number could ever hope to capture everything about a school that is worth knowing," says MSAD 72 superintendent Gary MacDonald. "It is a snapshot of the results of one standardized test, rather than a complete look at all the aspects of a child's life in a school."
• A housing charrette planned for June 3-6 is designed to demonstrate how zoning can be used to promote affordability, home sales, and, ultimately, a more prosperous economy.
Thursday, May 9
• News of a multi-million-dollar budget shortfall at Maine Health's flagship hospital has captured the attention of officials at Memorial Hospital, but it hasn't derailed plans to make Memorial a MaineHealth member hospital. Maine Medical Center in Portland suffered more than $13 million in operating losses in the first six months of the most recent fiscal year. MaineHealth is the parent company of Maine Medical Center, and the Memorial Hospital board has approved an agreement to make Memorial a MaineHealth subsidiary. "We still feel MaineHealth is a strong partner," says Memorial Hospital CEO Scott McKinnon.
• The state of New Hampshire will not be offering the GED exam after Dec. 31. The GED will be replaced with another standardized test known as HiSET (HIgh School Equivalency Test).
• The field of candidates for SAU 9 assistant superintendent has been trimmed from 15 to seven. The current assistant superintendent, Bob Gadomski, is leaving in June to accept a superintendent's post in another district.
Friday, May 10
• Conway Planning Board approval of a new grocery store stands after a Carroll County Superior Court judge denies a petition by Hannaford to reverse the board's decision. The new grocery store, which would be located behind T.J. Maxx, is rumored to be a Market Basket.
• Josiah Bartlett School principal Joe Voci gets a raise, a contract extension and a round of applause from the school board. Voci's contract was extended through the 2016 school year.
• Local law enforcement officers are taking part in the Special Olympics torch run today, carrying the Olympic flame from Jackson to Conway.
• Peter Ostroski, 24, of Intervale, will head to Europe next week to compete in two World Cup mountain bike races. Ostroski was ranked 104th in the world in Men's Elite Cross Country mountain bike racing at the end of last season.
• Ten years after it fell from its perch high in Franconia Notch, the iconic Old Man of the Mountains "is still a part of our social fabric," says Brian Fowler, a retired engineering geologist.
• Pitcher Jeff Locke, of Conway, looks to extend his 13-inning scoreless streak Saturday when the Pittsburgh Pirates take on the Washington Nationals.
Tuesday, May 7
• Lawmakers are once again considering a bill that legalizes gambling in New Hampshire, but before SB 152 can become law it needs to survive the House, where gambling legislation traditionally goes to die. Local reps are split on the issue.
• The vast majority of residents who spoke at a hearing last week support keeping the town's police department rather than contracting with the county sheriff's office.
• A Maine woman is carried out of the woods by rescuers after injuring her ankle. Once arriving in the parking lot, she declines further medical assistance and drives herself from the scene.
Wednesday, May 8
• Crow Dickinson, the "dean" of local politics, is staying involved after losing his Conway selectman's eat to Carl Thibodeau last month. The former state rep continues to host his show, "Around the State House," on Valley Vision Channel 3, and he says he would be interested in serving on the budget committee if there is a vacancy.
• Fryeburg Academy got a D and three other MSAD 72 schools got Cs on the State of Maine Report Card, a new grading system for schools in the state. But the grading system itself is getting low marks from local administrators. "No single letter or number could ever hope to capture everything about a school that is worth knowing," says MSAD 72 superintendent Gary MacDonald. "It is a snapshot of the results of one standardized test, rather than a complete look at all the aspects of a child's life in a school."
• A housing charrette planned for June 3-6 is designed to demonstrate how zoning can be used to promote affordability, home sales, and, ultimately, a more prosperous economy.
Thursday, May 9
• News of a multi-million-dollar budget shortfall at Maine Health's flagship hospital has captured the attention of officials at Memorial Hospital, but it hasn't derailed plans to make Memorial a MaineHealth member hospital. Maine Medical Center in Portland suffered more than $13 million in operating losses in the first six months of the most recent fiscal year. MaineHealth is the parent company of Maine Medical Center, and the Memorial Hospital board has approved an agreement to make Memorial a MaineHealth subsidiary. "We still feel MaineHealth is a strong partner," says Memorial Hospital CEO Scott McKinnon.
• The state of New Hampshire will not be offering the GED exam after Dec. 31. The GED will be replaced with another standardized test known as HiSET (HIgh School Equivalency Test).
• The field of candidates for SAU 9 assistant superintendent has been trimmed from 15 to seven. The current assistant superintendent, Bob Gadomski, is leaving in June to accept a superintendent's post in another district.
Friday, May 10
• Conway Planning Board approval of a new grocery store stands after a Carroll County Superior Court judge denies a petition by Hannaford to reverse the board's decision. The new grocery store, which would be located behind T.J. Maxx, is rumored to be a Market Basket.
• Josiah Bartlett School principal Joe Voci gets a raise, a contract extension and a round of applause from the school board. Voci's contract was extended through the 2016 school year.
• Local law enforcement officers are taking part in the Special Olympics torch run today, carrying the Olympic flame from Jackson to Conway.
• Peter Ostroski, 24, of Intervale, will head to Europe next week to compete in two World Cup mountain bike races. Ostroski was ranked 104th in the world in Men's Elite Cross Country mountain bike racing at the end of last season.
Last Updated on Friday, 10 May 2013 00:29
Hits: 14
Week in Review -- April 27-May 3, 2013
Saturday, April 27
• Local filmmaker and cinematographer Jim Surette recently joined a team of Greenpeace activists skiing from the 89th parallel to the North Pole as part of an effort to get the region declared a global sanctuary.
• More than 200 people are expected a Boston Marathon Memorial Run-Walk today in Madison. Donations will go to help victims of the April 15 bombings.
• Pitcher Jeff Locke and the Pittsburgh Pirates hope to stay hot in St. Louis this weekend. Locke, of Conway, is coming off his best Major League outing, and the Pirates have won 12 out of their last 16 games.
Tuesday, April 30
• More than 300 runners and walkers of all ages turn out at Purity Spring Resort in Madison Saturday in support of the April 15 Boston Marathon bombings. More than $6,000 was raised for One Boston Fund.
• A public hearing Thursday on a proposal to abolish the Fryeburg Police Department will be limited to two hours, selectmen have decided.
• Eight people signed up to join the Carroll County Medical Reserve Corps at a recruitment drive at Memorial Hospital. The corps is made up of volunteers who are pre-credentialed and pre-trained to respond to disasters, assist with vaccination clinics and assist with drug- and alcohol-prevention efforts.
• "It seems like the bears are out," says Conway police chief Ed Wagner. Several bear-related incidents have been showing up in the recent police logs.
Wednesday, May 1
• The town of Brownfield has applied to the state of Maine for federal money to add another section to the Mountain Division multi-use recreational trail. Two sections of the rail trail totaling 3.8 miles were constructed in Fryeburg over the past two summers. Brownfield is now looking for $1.2 million to add another 3.5 miles.
• Blue Loon is pulling out of Freedom and Bartlett because those towns did not contribute funds for the bus service.
• The latest chapter in the cleanup of Transvale Acres arrived last week in the form of a court order. A circuit court judge is directing a property owner to either remove the building on the property or bring it into compliance with town regulations.
• The former deputy fire chief in Madison believes a dispute over the purchase of a used fire truck led to his ouster.
• Three groups -- Mount Washington Valley Housing Coalition, Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce and Mount Washington Valley Economic Council — are teaming up to help improve the region's economy and possibly even save money for local municipal governments.
• A public hearing to discuss a proposed admissions policy for the county nursing home will be held May 7.
Thursday, May 2
• Fifteen people have applied to become the next assistant superintendent for SAU 9. A screening committee will review and rank the candidates and decide which ones to bring in for interviews.
• Mark Hounsell and John Skelton have been picked to represent the school board on the search committee for a new assistant superintendent.
• Gov. Maggie Hassan will be the guest speaker at the May 30 graduation ceremony for Kennett High's Eagle Academy.
• Janine McLauchlan is reelected chair of the Conway School Board.
• Mark Hounsell is elected chair of the Conway Public Library trustees.
• Incumbent Fryeburg selectman Richard Eastman faces a challenge from Cliff Hall in the June 11 election.
• Saco River Medical Group opened a new clinic in Glen Wednesday, expanding its primary-care services to the northern end of the Mount Washington Valley.
• "The Kindness Guy," Michael Chase, will give a talk at Kennett High on May 17.
Friday, May 3
• The fire danger in New Hampshire is "very high," says Conway town fire warden Pat Preece, and no permits are being issued for outside burning.
• Kennett High School is ranked 10th out of 88 high schools in New Hampshire, according to a U.S. News & World Report story this week.
• One week after organizers got a lukewarm reception from Conway selectmen, plans for a farmers' market in North Conway Village are moving forward. "This is happening," says Kirsten Hjelmstad, the market's volunteer coordinator. "Opening day is June 23."
• Brenda and Richard Leavitt, of Fryeburg, are teaming up with New England Patriots' lineman Vince Wilfork to raise awareness about diabetes. The Vince Wilfork Foundation for Diabetes was founded in honor of Vince's father, who passed away 11 years ago from diabetes-related complications. The Miranda Leavitt Diabetes Fund honors Miranda Maria Leavitt, who passed away at the age of 22 from diabetes complications.
• Members of the Kennett High Class of 2013 will be attending some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country, including Stanford, Brown, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Williams.
• Newly-elected Mark Hounsell urges the Conway School Board to form a long-range planning committee.
• Joe Mosca is reelected chairman of the Conway Budget Committee.
• Local filmmaker and cinematographer Jim Surette recently joined a team of Greenpeace activists skiing from the 89th parallel to the North Pole as part of an effort to get the region declared a global sanctuary.
• More than 200 people are expected a Boston Marathon Memorial Run-Walk today in Madison. Donations will go to help victims of the April 15 bombings.
• Pitcher Jeff Locke and the Pittsburgh Pirates hope to stay hot in St. Louis this weekend. Locke, of Conway, is coming off his best Major League outing, and the Pirates have won 12 out of their last 16 games.
Tuesday, April 30
• More than 300 runners and walkers of all ages turn out at Purity Spring Resort in Madison Saturday in support of the April 15 Boston Marathon bombings. More than $6,000 was raised for One Boston Fund.
• A public hearing Thursday on a proposal to abolish the Fryeburg Police Department will be limited to two hours, selectmen have decided.
• Eight people signed up to join the Carroll County Medical Reserve Corps at a recruitment drive at Memorial Hospital. The corps is made up of volunteers who are pre-credentialed and pre-trained to respond to disasters, assist with vaccination clinics and assist with drug- and alcohol-prevention efforts.
• "It seems like the bears are out," says Conway police chief Ed Wagner. Several bear-related incidents have been showing up in the recent police logs.
Wednesday, May 1
• The town of Brownfield has applied to the state of Maine for federal money to add another section to the Mountain Division multi-use recreational trail. Two sections of the rail trail totaling 3.8 miles were constructed in Fryeburg over the past two summers. Brownfield is now looking for $1.2 million to add another 3.5 miles.
• Blue Loon is pulling out of Freedom and Bartlett because those towns did not contribute funds for the bus service.
• The latest chapter in the cleanup of Transvale Acres arrived last week in the form of a court order. A circuit court judge is directing a property owner to either remove the building on the property or bring it into compliance with town regulations.
• The former deputy fire chief in Madison believes a dispute over the purchase of a used fire truck led to his ouster.
• Three groups -- Mount Washington Valley Housing Coalition, Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce and Mount Washington Valley Economic Council — are teaming up to help improve the region's economy and possibly even save money for local municipal governments.
• A public hearing to discuss a proposed admissions policy for the county nursing home will be held May 7.
Thursday, May 2
• Fifteen people have applied to become the next assistant superintendent for SAU 9. A screening committee will review and rank the candidates and decide which ones to bring in for interviews.
• Mark Hounsell and John Skelton have been picked to represent the school board on the search committee for a new assistant superintendent.
• Gov. Maggie Hassan will be the guest speaker at the May 30 graduation ceremony for Kennett High's Eagle Academy.
• Janine McLauchlan is reelected chair of the Conway School Board.
• Mark Hounsell is elected chair of the Conway Public Library trustees.
• Incumbent Fryeburg selectman Richard Eastman faces a challenge from Cliff Hall in the June 11 election.
• Saco River Medical Group opened a new clinic in Glen Wednesday, expanding its primary-care services to the northern end of the Mount Washington Valley.
• "The Kindness Guy," Michael Chase, will give a talk at Kennett High on May 17.
Friday, May 3
• The fire danger in New Hampshire is "very high," says Conway town fire warden Pat Preece, and no permits are being issued for outside burning.
• Kennett High School is ranked 10th out of 88 high schools in New Hampshire, according to a U.S. News & World Report story this week.
• One week after organizers got a lukewarm reception from Conway selectmen, plans for a farmers' market in North Conway Village are moving forward. "This is happening," says Kirsten Hjelmstad, the market's volunteer coordinator. "Opening day is June 23."
• Brenda and Richard Leavitt, of Fryeburg, are teaming up with New England Patriots' lineman Vince Wilfork to raise awareness about diabetes. The Vince Wilfork Foundation for Diabetes was founded in honor of Vince's father, who passed away 11 years ago from diabetes-related complications. The Miranda Leavitt Diabetes Fund honors Miranda Maria Leavitt, who passed away at the age of 22 from diabetes complications.
• Members of the Kennett High Class of 2013 will be attending some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country, including Stanford, Brown, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Williams.
• Newly-elected Mark Hounsell urges the Conway School Board to form a long-range planning committee.
• Joe Mosca is reelected chairman of the Conway Budget Committee.
Last Updated on Thursday, 02 May 2013 22:43
Hits: 23
Week in Review -- April 20-26, 2013
Saturday, April 20
• Whether as a skier or snowboarder or just as a spectator, tackling Tuckerman Ravine on Mount Washington is the ultimate challenge for spring-skiing lovers in New England. Capturing the excitement, allure, danger and thrills and spills of the famed bowl is Alain Comeau, of Brownfield, in his soon-to-be-released DVD, "Facing the Headwall: Experience a Day in Tuckerman Ravine."
• Local driver DJ Shaw revs up for the Pro All Stars Series North season opener at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Tuesday, April 23
• A comparison released by the town manager suggests that it would cost less to contract with the county sheriff's office for law enforcement in Fryeburg than to keep the town police department.
• Linda Fox Phillips says she will not seek the chairmanship when Conway Public Library trustees meet on Thursday for the first time since the elections.
• Residents along a portion of East Branch Road in Jackson are sending out an SOS — Save Our Salamanders. The residents have put up a sign next to the road, urging motorists to slow down because the area has become a popular crossing spot for the spotted amphibian, especially this time of year.
• A Tamworth crime victim is disappointed with the sentence imposed on the man who pleaded guilty to receiving the victim's stolen guitars.
Wednesday, April 24
• A fire burns 51 acres in a field on East Conway Road. The fire was accidental and was caused by people who were target shooting and using tracer rounds. "It set the grass on fire because it was so dry," says East Conway fire chief Richard Marr.
• House Republican Leader Gene Chandler, of Bartlett, is denouncing comments made by Rep. Stella Tremblay, of Auburn, suggesting that the Boston Marathon bombings were masterminded by the U.S. government. Chandler called the comments "offensive, egregious and irrational" and "unbecoming of any public office holder or citizen of our great nation."
• Tri-County Community Action Program's financial reports and books were in such disarray that auditors had to adjust and correct entries representing more than a quarter of the agency's annual budget to produce an accurate fiscal 2012 audit. In his latest status report to the Coos County Probate Division, special trustee Todd Fahey said an infusion of about $1.5 million is needed to permanently stabilize the organization.
Thursday, April 25
• The president of Animetrics, a local high-tech facial recognition software company based in Conway, was recently interviewed by Fox News about its possible role in helping law-enforcement agencies in the days following the Boston Marathon bombings of April 15.
• Pittsburgh Pirates' pitcher Jeff Locke, of Conway, turns in what his manager calls his "best big league performance" yet, throwing six shutout innings in a 2-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
• A North Conway woman who was let go from a job at the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services last year is accusing her former employer of wrongful termination and discrimination. Kate Frederick says the agency refused to make reasonable accommodations for her to breast feed her child at work, forcing her to take an extended maternity leave.
• Vicki Harlow is named chairman of the Bartlett School Board for the 17th time.
Friday, April 26
• An effort by local farmers and volunteers to launch a Sunday farmers' market at the Whitaker homesite runs into stiff resistance from Conway selectmen, prompting the idea of partnering with the town. Organizers still plan to hold the event for 15 weeks during the summer, but at the North Conway Community Center.
• Sharpen your pencils. That's the early message budget committee members are sending to town and school officials in anticipation of the next budget season.
• Acting on a resolution passed by voters earlier this month, Conway selectmen vote 4-1 to send a letter to state and local legislators, urging a constitutional amendment limiting the rights of the U.S. Constitution to "natural persons," not corporations.
• Nominate by Gov. Maggie Hassan and unanimously confirmed by the executive council, Mark Hounsell is the newest member of the State Public Employee Labor Relations Board.
• Genn Anzaldi is reelected chair of the Jackson School Board.
• Whether as a skier or snowboarder or just as a spectator, tackling Tuckerman Ravine on Mount Washington is the ultimate challenge for spring-skiing lovers in New England. Capturing the excitement, allure, danger and thrills and spills of the famed bowl is Alain Comeau, of Brownfield, in his soon-to-be-released DVD, "Facing the Headwall: Experience a Day in Tuckerman Ravine."
• Local driver DJ Shaw revs up for the Pro All Stars Series North season opener at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Tuesday, April 23
• A comparison released by the town manager suggests that it would cost less to contract with the county sheriff's office for law enforcement in Fryeburg than to keep the town police department.
• Linda Fox Phillips says she will not seek the chairmanship when Conway Public Library trustees meet on Thursday for the first time since the elections.
• Residents along a portion of East Branch Road in Jackson are sending out an SOS — Save Our Salamanders. The residents have put up a sign next to the road, urging motorists to slow down because the area has become a popular crossing spot for the spotted amphibian, especially this time of year.
• A Tamworth crime victim is disappointed with the sentence imposed on the man who pleaded guilty to receiving the victim's stolen guitars.
Wednesday, April 24
• A fire burns 51 acres in a field on East Conway Road. The fire was accidental and was caused by people who were target shooting and using tracer rounds. "It set the grass on fire because it was so dry," says East Conway fire chief Richard Marr.
• House Republican Leader Gene Chandler, of Bartlett, is denouncing comments made by Rep. Stella Tremblay, of Auburn, suggesting that the Boston Marathon bombings were masterminded by the U.S. government. Chandler called the comments "offensive, egregious and irrational" and "unbecoming of any public office holder or citizen of our great nation."
• Tri-County Community Action Program's financial reports and books were in such disarray that auditors had to adjust and correct entries representing more than a quarter of the agency's annual budget to produce an accurate fiscal 2012 audit. In his latest status report to the Coos County Probate Division, special trustee Todd Fahey said an infusion of about $1.5 million is needed to permanently stabilize the organization.
Thursday, April 25
• The president of Animetrics, a local high-tech facial recognition software company based in Conway, was recently interviewed by Fox News about its possible role in helping law-enforcement agencies in the days following the Boston Marathon bombings of April 15.
• Pittsburgh Pirates' pitcher Jeff Locke, of Conway, turns in what his manager calls his "best big league performance" yet, throwing six shutout innings in a 2-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
• A North Conway woman who was let go from a job at the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services last year is accusing her former employer of wrongful termination and discrimination. Kate Frederick says the agency refused to make reasonable accommodations for her to breast feed her child at work, forcing her to take an extended maternity leave.
• Vicki Harlow is named chairman of the Bartlett School Board for the 17th time.
Friday, April 26
• An effort by local farmers and volunteers to launch a Sunday farmers' market at the Whitaker homesite runs into stiff resistance from Conway selectmen, prompting the idea of partnering with the town. Organizers still plan to hold the event for 15 weeks during the summer, but at the North Conway Community Center.
• Sharpen your pencils. That's the early message budget committee members are sending to town and school officials in anticipation of the next budget season.
• Acting on a resolution passed by voters earlier this month, Conway selectmen vote 4-1 to send a letter to state and local legislators, urging a constitutional amendment limiting the rights of the U.S. Constitution to "natural persons," not corporations.
• Nominate by Gov. Maggie Hassan and unanimously confirmed by the executive council, Mark Hounsell is the newest member of the State Public Employee Labor Relations Board.
• Genn Anzaldi is reelected chair of the Jackson School Board.
Last Updated on Friday, 26 April 2013 00:13
Hits: 36
Week in Review -- April 13-19, 2013
Saturday, April 13
• The bears are back. Spring brings the black bears out of hibernation, and they're on the prowl for food.
• It's been a difficult week for the family of U.S. Olympic and World Cup skiing great Bode Miller. The day after Cannon Mountain hosted Bode Miller's annual BodeFest fund-raiser for his Turtle Ridge Foundation, news spread that his younger brother had been found dead in California after suffering a seizure.
• Redstone's Jeff Locke, starting pitcher for the PIttsburgh Pirates, is scheduled to take the mound against the Cincinnati Reds tonight.
Tuesday, April 16
• Local runners participating in the Boston Marathon are safe after two bombs explode near the finish line, killing at least two people and injuring more than 100. Marc Ohlson, running in his first Boston Marathon, finished the race about 20 minutes before the bombs went off.
• A petition to abolish the Fryeburg Police Department and contract with Oxford County Sheriff's Department has citizens stirred up on both sides of the issue. A public hearing is scheduled for May 2.
• The crowd is smaller and the critics are fewer at a second hearing on Memorial Hospital's plan to join the MaineHealth system, but some say there are still unanswered questions.
• A recount in a school board race and a budget committee race will take place on Thursday at town hall.
• Jeff Locke gets his first win of the second, and the second of his Major League career, as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Cincinnati Reds 3-1.
Wednesday, April 17
• Had George Karaffa not stopped for a quick bathroom break while running the Boston Marathon Monday, he's pretty sure he would have been in the vicinity of the finish line when two bombs exploded.
• A friend of a local woman was one of three people killed in the bomb blasts in Boston.
• Three child victims in the Justin Roy and Heather Downs child abuse and endangerment cases are recovering from their physical and mental scars.
• Mount Washington Auto Road will host an Alternative Energy Weekend in September.
Thursday, April 18
• "We thought we were going to die," says Abby Ross, 12, recalling the horror of Monday afternoon's bomb explosions near the finish line at the Boston Marathon. Abby, her sister Molly, 10, and their father, Kennett High history teacher Mark Ross, were at the Boston Marathon cheering on their mom, Shauna Ross, who had completed the 26.2-mile run before the explosions occurred.
• Officials say there are no heightened alerts locally following the bomb blasts in Boston, but emergency agencies need always need to be prepared.
• The day before the Boston Marathon explosions, local teachers too part in another marathon in Gilford to remember the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, Conn.
Friday, April 19
• Conway selectmen vote to urge state officials not to relocate the local Department of Health and Human Services offices from Conway to Ossipee. "I think (the office) should stay right where it is," selectman MIchael DiGregorio.
• Invasive plants and insects pose a threat to Maine's environment, Saco River Recreational Council members tell Fryeburg selectmen.
• The votes stand. Joe Lentini held his seat on the Conway School Board and Dick Pollock on the budget committee after a recount Thursday morning at town hall.
• County commissioners confirm that the county's human resources director has resigned, and a state representative is fuming over the job posting for the now-vacant position.
• Authorities are searching for a North Conway woman in connection with a burglary that took place in York, Maine.
• The bears are back. Spring brings the black bears out of hibernation, and they're on the prowl for food.
• It's been a difficult week for the family of U.S. Olympic and World Cup skiing great Bode Miller. The day after Cannon Mountain hosted Bode Miller's annual BodeFest fund-raiser for his Turtle Ridge Foundation, news spread that his younger brother had been found dead in California after suffering a seizure.
• Redstone's Jeff Locke, starting pitcher for the PIttsburgh Pirates, is scheduled to take the mound against the Cincinnati Reds tonight.
Tuesday, April 16
• Local runners participating in the Boston Marathon are safe after two bombs explode near the finish line, killing at least two people and injuring more than 100. Marc Ohlson, running in his first Boston Marathon, finished the race about 20 minutes before the bombs went off.
• A petition to abolish the Fryeburg Police Department and contract with Oxford County Sheriff's Department has citizens stirred up on both sides of the issue. A public hearing is scheduled for May 2.
• The crowd is smaller and the critics are fewer at a second hearing on Memorial Hospital's plan to join the MaineHealth system, but some say there are still unanswered questions.
• A recount in a school board race and a budget committee race will take place on Thursday at town hall.
• Jeff Locke gets his first win of the second, and the second of his Major League career, as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Cincinnati Reds 3-1.
Wednesday, April 17
• Had George Karaffa not stopped for a quick bathroom break while running the Boston Marathon Monday, he's pretty sure he would have been in the vicinity of the finish line when two bombs exploded.
• A friend of a local woman was one of three people killed in the bomb blasts in Boston.
• Three child victims in the Justin Roy and Heather Downs child abuse and endangerment cases are recovering from their physical and mental scars.
• Mount Washington Auto Road will host an Alternative Energy Weekend in September.
Thursday, April 18
• "We thought we were going to die," says Abby Ross, 12, recalling the horror of Monday afternoon's bomb explosions near the finish line at the Boston Marathon. Abby, her sister Molly, 10, and their father, Kennett High history teacher Mark Ross, were at the Boston Marathon cheering on their mom, Shauna Ross, who had completed the 26.2-mile run before the explosions occurred.
• Officials say there are no heightened alerts locally following the bomb blasts in Boston, but emergency agencies need always need to be prepared.
• The day before the Boston Marathon explosions, local teachers too part in another marathon in Gilford to remember the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, Conn.
Friday, April 19
• Conway selectmen vote to urge state officials not to relocate the local Department of Health and Human Services offices from Conway to Ossipee. "I think (the office) should stay right where it is," selectman MIchael DiGregorio.
• Invasive plants and insects pose a threat to Maine's environment, Saco River Recreational Council members tell Fryeburg selectmen.
• The votes stand. Joe Lentini held his seat on the Conway School Board and Dick Pollock on the budget committee after a recount Thursday morning at town hall.
• County commissioners confirm that the county's human resources director has resigned, and a state representative is fuming over the job posting for the now-vacant position.
• Authorities are searching for a North Conway woman in connection with a burglary that took place in York, Maine.
Last Updated on Friday, 19 April 2013 01:37
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