The Valley Voice by Tom Eastman (Tom@conwaydailysun.com) [10/26/2007]

Keeping the faith in Red Sox Nation

Red Sox Nation pundits were calling Wednesday night's 13-1 drubbing of the National League champion Colorado Rockies the second Boston Massacre. All we can say is to repeat, "In Josh Beckett we trust," right? Wednesday night's game 1 against the Rockies was like a continuation of the Cleveland ALCS series. The Sox throttled the Indians by an aggregate score of 30-5 in the final three games. Add Wednesday night's 13 runs against the Rockies, and the Sox had outscored their opponents 43-6 in their past four games heading into Thursday's night's second game, also at friendly Fenway.The series next moves to Colorado for Game 3 Saturday, Oct. 27, at 8 p.m., and Game 4 is set for Colorado Sunday the 28th at 8 p.m., all on Fox. Game 5 if necessary is set for Monday, Oct. 29, in Colorado, and if there is a Game 6, it will be played at Fenway on Wednesday night, Halloween, Oct. 31, and Game 7 if needed will be played in Boston Thursday, Nov. 1.I was at Mass at Our Lady of the Mountains last Sunday morning, Oct. 21, the morning after J.D. Drew hit his grand slam in Game 6 against the Indians to tie the series at three games apiece to set up that night's Game 7 that was won by the Sox to send them off to their second World Series in four years (and their second with Manager Terry Francona at the helm). Father Don at the start of his sermon showed he was a true member of Red Sox Nation, when he announced to the congregation that he had blessed fire engines and police cars, and now Ive got to tell you, last night, prior to the start of Game 6, I blessed the television.As a ripple of applause rolled across the parish, Father Don said, And so, we all know what happened. Kevin Drew hit his grand slam. And then, he came up again and had an RBI single. So, guess we can all thank the Guy Upstairs for his support, with more than a little help from our Father Don!We also have part-time Conway resident Julia Ruth Stevens, the daughter of the Babe, on our side rooting for her Daddy's former team, the BoSox. Julia told fellow Sun scribe Lloyd Jones this week that she thinks the Sox are going to go all the way.Avid Red Sox fans Matt Howard, Ed O'Halloran, Dick Delaney, Dave Watson and Rich Vargas went to Sunday's Game 7 when the Sox wrapped up the ACLS Series. Says Matt, who is always a regular at Fenway Park North (Delaney's Hole-in-the-Wall), It was a great trip down on Sunday. It was well worth getting home at 4 a.m. just to see the Sox finish a great series. I got a ticket late night on Saturday out in right field, but as luck would have it there were empty seats right in front of Dick's, so I moved in the fourth inning. Skip Smith of Coldwell Banker/Wright Realty attended Wednesday night's game at Fenway, accompanied by his wife Diane and their daughter, Spring, who was a photo intern with the Sox in 04.Dick's sister works for Budweiser in Colorado, so the Delaney's have a good in there, should they opt to jump a plane west. Josh Donabedian and Sean Delaney and John Urdi are among the extended members of Red Sox Nation who are expected to be at the games in Colorado, Urdi formerly of Attitash is now a head honcho at Colorado Ski Country, and he was among those who made it to St. Louis when the BoSox won the 04 Series. Josh and Sean are now living in Colorado, too.Also getting in on all the action for Game 7 at Fenway Sunday night was Sox fan Maryanne Dunfey of Intervale, who just happens to date the Red Sox' team doctor, frequent valley visitor Dr. Larry Ronan. Maryann sent a few photos this week from Fenway's Sunday night mayhem, where she got to do the Irish jig out on the field with Red Sox ace closer Jonathan Papelbon.I also got to go to the Red Sox locker room, and it was all very quiet at first, everyone was just speechless. But then they looked at each other, and the place just erupted. I have a champagne-soaked baseball cap to prove it! laughed Maryann this week, who is from Intervale but whose father is part of the Dunfey hotel family. She plans to be on the Red Sox charter plane when it departs for Colorado after Game 2 Thursday at 1 a.m. She also attended the Red Sox rally in Boston Tuesday night.Atlanta Braves minor league pitching ace and ex-Kennett High Eagle Jeff Locke told the Sun's Mr. Jones this week that he may be Jonesing for some World Series tickets. Jeff picks the Sox in 6 or 7. But Fryeburg Academy former athletic director-turned-assistant librarian Todd Shhhhhhh! Gallagher told the Sun this week that he is picking the Rockies in six. But then again, Todd is an avid Yankees fan, and as such, he hates the BoSox. I wouldnt pick the Red Sox even if it was an intra-squad scrimmage! scowled Todd this week prior to Game 1.So, there you have it. From the Guy Upstairs to Julia Ruth Stevens to Jeff Locke, the Sox are everyone's pick. Except for Todd's, that is! TOM ON THE TOWN HOWLIN' GOOD TIMES: In addition to the World Series, this is, of course, the countdown to Halloween. The Red Parka Pub is featuring two bands at its annual bash, which is set for Wednesday, Oct. 31. Slated to perform at the costume bash are Preface and Vacate. Costume judging begins at 9:30 p.m. The parka is offering a $100 cash prize for best costume. Looking ahead, the parka is celebrating its 35th birthday all month long in November with all sorts of specials and discounts and great music. Every Thursday night is music for a cause...The Up Country has a Halloween Costume Bash, also on the 31st, with prizes for costumes...Ebenezer Kezar's is hosting a Ghoulish Bash Saturday, Oct. 27 with dancing and costume prizes...Carroll County Democrats invite you to "The Night of the Living Dems" Halloween Masquerade Party, an evening of ghoulish fund-raising and merriment, on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 6:30 to 11 p.m. at the Salyards Center for the Arts...Also on the 27th, mysterious nighttime adventures are in store at the Tin Mountain Conservation Center nature program "Halloween Hoots."...Oct. 27 will also be the day for the Cranmore Family Fitness Center open house from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The open house will offer complimentary clinics, workshops, consultations, wellness screenings, and much more...And, if that isn't enough for one day, Arts In Motion, a theatrical and educational non-profit organization, will hold a Chinese Auction on Saturday, Oct. 27, at the John Fuller School in North Conway. The doors will open at 4:30 p.m. for item preview and the auction will begin at 6 p.m...Rounding out the already action-packed day on the 27th will be the White Mountain Home Builders and Remodelers' second annual Honey Do Auction on Saturday, Oct. 27, at Flatbreads in North Conway...The Mountain Top Music Center Community Orchestra led by Ellen Schwindt has a performance scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 28, at Salyards in Conway. Mountain Top Music Center's next public concert is set for Friday, Nov. 2, at Tin Mountain's new Nature Learning Center. Brad Terry's trio will be performing a jazz program...The Tack Room may have to change its name to the Packed Room theyve been that busy...WMWV 93.5-FM for the next few Sundays is hosting a special series on Bob Dylan, hosted by Patti Smith. Tune in at 7 p.m...Shawn Colvin's shows Sunday and Monday night at Stone Mountain were fantastically up close and personal...Pondering Judd's CD release party is at Horsefeathers Saturday, Oct. 27...It's one of those Sundays! The Horsefeathers Up Bar is featuring Ontario bluesman Sean Kellerman Sunday, Oct. 28, beginning at 8 p.m...Arts Jubilee's Annual American Airlines tickets auction and vacation getaway special is set to be held at the North Conway Country Club Sunday evening, Oct. 28, beginning at 5 p.m. An RCI vacation and eight pair of American Airlines tickets are among the items that are being auctioned, all for the benefit of Arts Jubilee...Ginny Nossiff Gaudreault and Karen Albert told us when we saw them at the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce 95th annual dinner and meeting at Purity Spring Resort Oct. 23 that the White Mountain Waldorf School's seventh annual Bounty Dinner Auction is set for Flatbreads from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.. Call 447-3168 for further information...Also at the annual chamber meeting (which was a wonderful salute to Valley Treasures brother Steve Eastman, Jac Cuddy, Glenna Mori, Kim Perkins, Cindy Briggs, Ruth Reny, Phil Gravink, Linda Pinkham, Herbert Schneider, Dick Hamilton, Laura Mahoney and the late Stoney Morrell), Conway Village Area Chamber director Heidi Lewis told me that Salyards will host The Art of Climbing Friday, Nov. 8, with proceeds to benefit the Kismet Rock Foundation, the nonprofit local organization founded by climber/pianist Mike Jewell that helps kids learn how to climb. The art show starts at 6 p.m., and a climbing art slide show is set for 7:30 p.m., featuring slides by North Face athlete Mark Synnott of Jackson...Happy belated b-day to Heidi (Oct. 22), and happy happies to Ellen Kimble, Nan Oleson and Dean Knapton (all Nov. 1), and all other Scorpios out there...If you haven't done the Ghoullog just yet, be sure to head to Cranmore this weekend. The Cornfield Maize at Sherman Farm is also a blast for the family, so go there and get lost, so to speak! And, go Red Sox!