The Valley Voice by Tom Eastman [10/17/2008]

Peak leaf-peeking season colors our world ...

WE KNOW WE SAY this every year, but you really have to admit that this year's foliage brilliance far surpasses any we've had in recent memory, doesn't it? The yellows and oranges have been particularly bright, and the steady influx of motorcoach visitors has been quite a show this autumn so far, bringing us some much needed green, as in moolah!Speaking of the peak peeking season, Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce publicist Marti Mayne this week reported that an informal survey of chamber members showed that while September was slower than last year, the Valleys foliage proved a strong draw for visitors. Most business owners reported that October sales have been strong, with increases in international and Canadian visitors contributing to expanded revenues. Weather and lower gas prices were cited as keys to drawing visitors as well. Those responding to the survey were unanimous in expressing their concern for upcoming months, however. Lowering gas prices are expected to help spur travel, but most respondents said that until the economy stabilizes, a sense of nervousness pervades business planning for the upcoming months. Hmmmmm ... as Bob Dylan wrote, you don't have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows, do you? CHUCK'S CHOICE CUTS: Chuck Henderson reported his best tent sale ever at Chuck Roast Equipment, and was happy with the closing sale results even though it meant the end of the civic-minded Chuck's local outdoor clothing and pack career. His career dates back three decades to when he started making belts and gaiters when he was a student at Kennett High and the University of New Hampshire. Many customers stopped by to share their stories with Chuck, and to show examples of their vintage, lifetime-guaranteed Chuck Roast pile jackets and more.As we reported late this summer, Chuck was forced out by cheaper foreign competition and American trade policy.We're sorry to see the shop close Chuck and a BIG thank you for all you have done in terms of giving back to community events and causes here in the valley during your business career. We look forward to seeing where your green-leaning passions lead you next.LOTS OF OOMPAH AT OKTOBERFEST: Frank Guerriero, marketing director at Attitash, reports that this year's Oktoberfest Oct. 11 and 12 was even better than last year's, and we're not just talking about the keg tosses and more.Roy The Skiing DJ Prescott of WMWV 93.5-FM and Thomas Prindle of Wildcat Mountain tell us that there was a great gathering at Wildcat last Saturday, Oct. 11, for the screening of the ski film, Head to the Hills. I saw many of my skiing friends who I never get to see the rest of the year. They were all there, so it was a fun night, said Roy on his Morning Show on WMWV this week.PUMPKIN PEOPLE: We checked out the Pumpkin Peoplein Jackson last weekend, and if you haven't toured the sites yet, be sure to head up there soon! The winners as reported by Jackson town columnist Cathi Belcher are: overall business First Place and Most Difficult, the Carter Notch Inn for their interpretation of the TV show Greys Anatomy (renamed Pumpkin Anatomy). Funniest is the Shannon Door Pub for Mulligans Wake; Cutest display goes to the Inn at Ellis River; Overall Residence First-Place Winner goes to the Crowther Family; Funniest Residence is Joyce Allen; Most Difficult and Creative Residence is awarded to the ever-creative and lovely DD Warren; Cutest Residence display goes to Janet Green and First-Place Student goes to the Jackson Grammar School. The Judges' Top 15 Must See (in no particular order) are ... Moondance Massage, Black Bear Realty, Glen Oaks Inn, Scarecrow Pub, Wildcat Inn & Tavern, Wentworth an Elegant Country Inn, As You Like It Bakery & Deli, Pear Mountain Caf, Top Notch, Snowflake Inn, Red Fox Bar & Grille, Wooden Soldier, White Mountain Artisans Gallery, Thompson House Eatery and Ravenwood Curio Shoppe. You can pick up a map to the locations of the displays at the Jackson Chamber office (383-9356). You will have until Oct. 21 to cast your vote for Peoples Choice Award, which will be announced on Oct. 31 at Jacksons Sweet Street Celebration.Our favorite by far is the Abbey Road Fab Four in front of the Inn at Jackson, which won the Most Creative. When checking it out on Saturday, we wre pleased when a 5-year-old boy came running up to the display and yelled to his trailing behind father, Hey look, Dad! It's the Beatles! Nice to see the young folk knowing their rock and roll history! To quote Sir Paul McCartney, Let It Be! Let It Be!We also loved the Red Sox pumpkinhead baseball players on one side of Route 16, who are being watched by Yankees pumpkinheads on the other side of the road. The Yankees pumpkinheads are sitting in lawn chairs, wearing their New York baseball caps and shorts while sipping on cocktails, as their off-season started well ahead of the BoSox!Of course, the Sox have been less than stellar in their ALCS series against the Tampa Bay Rays this week, so who are we to rub it into Yankees fans?Seems like the Sox have been playing more like Humpty Dumpty than the defending champions!GETTING WICKED SCARED (and entertained): In other fall happenings, be sure to visit the Ghoullog at Cranmore Mountain Resort if you want to scare yourself silly, Dates are Oct. 17 and 18, Oct. 24 and 25 and Oct. 30 through Nov. 1, with a locals night Oct. 30. Also ongoing is the Corn Maize weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct. 26 at Sherman Farms in East Conway.Also not to be missed is the Nashville in the Mountains fund-raiser for Ossipee tornado victims, set to be held at the Brass Heart Inn in Chocorua Friday evening, Oct. 17. The show will feature Wildcat Tavern Tuesday Night Hoot Night host Jon Sarty and the White Mountain Boys and Nashville's Bulls Gap duo. Tickets are $30 per person call Randy and Cheryl Hayford at Double-H-Farm Productions at 539-5547 or go to www.double-h-farmproductions.com for more information.The Yankee Smokehouse will sell food beginning at 5:30 p.m. (not included in ticket price) and the show starts at 7 p.m.MAKING STRIDES: Have you signed up for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in North Conway Sunday, Oct. 19? Hundreds of Mount Washington Valley residents will join together at the American Cancer Societys Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk to fight breast cancer and provide hope to all people facing the disease. The North Conway walk will once again take place at the Staples parking lot/Settlers Green. Last year, 450 North Conway Making Strides participants raised $63,000 and the goal this year is $75,000. or more information on how to become involved with Making Strides call Kathy Metz at 356-3719 or e-mail Kathy.metz@cancer.org.Jen's Friends will be hosting a pancake breakfast fund-raiser Sunday, Oct. 19, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Masonic Lodge on Main Street in North Conway, above North Conway Cinema and next to the Village Cigar Emporium. There will also be a raffle; winners do not have to be present. TOM ON THE TOWN: North Conway librarian Andrea Masters says that nearly 120 cyclists participated in last Saturday's Bike for Books, up from over 90 a year ago. It was a great autumn day for a ride at that...Don't miss the open house at the all-newly-renovated-to-look-old Kennett Middle School Saturday, Oct. 18...The Red Parka Pub (383-4344) is hosting a benefit for local radio station WJSk Sunday, Oct. 26, featuring the The Jazz Meisters. And, speaking of jazz, the Wildcat Tavern has the Swingmeisters Sunday, Oct. 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. Call 383-4245 for further information.Kudos to longtime community citizen Bill Jones, who was honored as the Conway Village Area Chamber's Businessperson of the Year at Salyards Center for the Arts Oct. 16...Word has it that former Snowvillage Inn executive chef Matthew Mitchell is now working in Florida for the winter...Yours truly had fun appearing with the Jackson Ski Touring's Thom Perkins on Mark Hounsell and Crow Dickinson's Well, There You Have It show on Valley Vision Ch. 3 this week. We both played guitar, and Thom spoke about the JSTF"s newly homologated, F.I.S.-sanctioned stadium XC course. The show airs Thursdays at 7 p.m., and is repeated Fridays and Saturdays at 9 a.m. Conway Daily Sun columnist Albert Cheyenne Hill was also a guest...Cindy Russell reports that Art and Music enthusiasts enjoyed a combined presentation called "The Sights and Sounds of the Arts" on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Salyards Center for the Arts in Conway. Following the opening day of the Mount Washington Valley Arts Association's Fall Art Show and Sale, an evening concert was presented by the Lakes Region Woodwind Quintet. We checked it out Monday with artists Peg Scully and Robert Gordon, and although art sales were slow, due to the economy, the art was priceless!...We'd like to salute local journalist Paul Stuart, who is leaving the valley Oct. 24 to be near his family in North Carolina. A party for Paul will be held at the Village Cigar Emporium Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 3 to 6 p.m. An excellent journalist with whom I worked with in my days at The Ear, Paul always has been a smokin' hot reporter and editor especially when he was covering VP GOP nominee Sarah Palin when she was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. The Kearsarge Inn's Irish, ever-spirited and lovely Bridey O'Neil invites all his friends to come to the party to give him the boot out of town!...GET MOTIVATED: Motivational speaker, former Army Ranger, and Nashville music sensation Keni Thomas will be delivering a presentation to the Mount Washington Valley community on Oct. 22 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Kennett High School Auditorium, free-of-charge to the public. Thomas is a nationally acclaimed public speaker who provokes and inspires audiences with the story of his personal involvement in the Mogadishu, Somalia conflict, which was later portrayed in both the movie and book Blackhawk Down. His presentation to the local community is being made possible by the efforts of the White Mountain Board of Realtors and local businesses like Cormack Construction Management.FOLLOWING THE TRAFFIC: In other news of the season, Bob Corbett of the always excellent Courtyard Cafe was motivated enough to brave the traffic and head to the Sandwich Fair Sunday, when the skies were glorious and so was the foliage for the Grand Parade. It was a quitnessential New England day, said Bob when we saw him delivering Courtyard meals this week.How do you get to the Sandwich Fayuh, you ask? Same as the Fryeburg Fair as I once heard storekeeper Cheryl Solari tell a visitor seeking directions to the Fryeburg Fair during a busy fall day, Just follow the traffic, maybe. Ayuh.