The Eye on the Valley is a visual commentary by staff photographer Rachel Sharples that runs each Saturday in The Conway Daily Sun. The subjects, be they scenic landscapes or action shots, bring into focus some aspect of the seasons, events or everyday life in the Mount Washington Valley.
Senior Sam Seavey celebrates with the team after his second goal of the night, giving the Eagles the edge in the third period, in the game between the Kennett High School Eagles and the Western Maine Ice Cats during the 9th Annual Peter Hall Christmas Tournament at the Ham Arena on Dec. 27. The Eagles came out on top in the match to win 5-3. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Fourth through sixth graders of the Ossipee Central School involved in the after-school newspaper program smile with copies of the Conway Daily Sun at the school on Dec. 14. For the second year at the school, students are working together to conduct interviews, carry out research, and print their publication. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Jennifer Herman knocks down a stack of bins while fellow volunteers (from left) Heather Roscoe, Dick Farrell, and Ari Leach look on at a Mt. Washington Valley Adaptive Sports introduction training for sled skating instructors at the Ham Arena on Dec. 10. According to Executive Director Laura Scrimshaw, the organization is working to grow sled skating in the valley, in addition to their skiing and other programs, so that people with disabilities have access to the sport in a way that is flexible to their individual needs. Scrimshaw noted that there will be more training events for volunteers as the organization develops its sled skating program, and anyone who wants to learn more about the program or get involved can email info@mwvas.org or call (603) 374-2688. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
A small crowd gathers to sing traditional holiday tunes at the first-ever tree lighting hosted by the Conway Village Congregational Church on Nov. 26. The event drew around 35 people, who drank hot chocolate together and checked out the Christmas decorations inside after the group finished singing. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Sixth grader Jamison Keaveny hands off food to kindergartener Lukas Belanger in the gym at the annual Conway Elementary School Food March to deliver donations to the Conway Village Congregational Church's food pantry on Nov. 18. The school collected around 600 pounds of nonperishable food for the pantry. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Kennett High held its annual fall sports awards on Tuesday night. This year’s major award winners are (front row, from left): Kaylee McLellan, the Cross-Country Award; Josie MacDonald, the Golden Spoke Award for mountain biking; and Leah Alkalay, the John Marsden Award for field hockey; and Marissa Caputo, the Suzy Engler Soccer Award; (back row from left) Ben Dougherty, the Golf Award; Willem Badger, the Boy’s Soccer Award; Kyle Stearns, the Sam Fuller Award for football; Ben Biche, the Cross-Country Award; Lagan Tatarczuk, the Soaring Eagle Award for volleyball; and Tessa Capozzoli, the Deryl Fleming Award for field hockey. (LLOYD JONES PHOTO)
Tamworth residents Heidi Engman and her granddaughter Evelyn Farnum, 4, smile while scooping seeds at the Tamworth Outing Club's pumpkin carving event on the Tamworth History Center lawn on Oct. 30. People of all ages gathered to carve the 100 pumpkins donated by Di Filippe Farm in Sandwich, Davis Natural Produce in North Conway, Grand View Farm in Conway, and local Karl Behr, and the pumpkins will line Main Street on Halloween night as trick-or-treaters visit the houses and businesses to collect candy. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Volunteers Charlie Macomber of Conway (center) and Rick Faucher of Intervale (right) exam the pieces of the frame at the Tin Mountain Conservation Center’s second Window Dressers community build, creating reusable window inserts to conserve heat and save on energy costs, at the old airport hangar at Settlers Green on Oct. 22. Volunteers began assembling the wooden frames on Saturday and will spend the rest of the build taping and wrapping the inserts through Tuesday. This event, held in coordination with the non-profit Window Dressers, will create 209 pine frame insulation inserts for 22 homeowners, many of which are seniors or low-income, and one church in the Valley, according to Tin Mountain Program Director Nora Dufilho. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Ten-year-old Jackson friends Addy Jaus (left) and Baylee Brennick (right) lift Evelin Callanan while hanging out on the summit at the 25th annual Jen's Friends Climb against Cancer at Cranmore Mountain on Sept. 17. Over 600 climbers participated in the bluebird-day hike, and the event raised over $140,000. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
North Country Mud Croc Dustin Simpson-Bragg clutches a pass to score a touchdown against the New Hampshire Mudcats on the second day of the Mud Bowl tournament at the North Conway Community Center's Hog Coliseum on Sept. 10. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
North Conway Fire 1st Deputy Chief Tim Anderson walks between burnt-up cars at a family barn/garage in Bartlett Village on Route 302 across from the Josiah Bartlett Elementary School on August 3. The building and many of the cars surrounding the building were lost to the fire. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Terry Brennan waves the East Tennessee club flag to the crowd as national clubs present their colors during the opening ceremonies 65th International Wally Byam Airstream Club Rally at the Fryeburg Fairgrounds on July 23. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Emily, 11, of Ossipee scales the rockface at the 4-H summer rock climbing program at Jockey Cap in Fryeburg on July 20. This event was part of a four-week free series hosted by 4-H at climbing sites in New Hampshire and Maine, in which kids learn the basics of rock-climbing, belaying, knots, and climbing techniques. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Finn Williams watches a teammate at bat through the dugout at the Cal Ripken U12 district championship at Whitaker Field in North Conway on June 27. The local MWV All-Stars beat Plymouth 10-1 to win the championship and advance to the state tournament. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Eight-week-old puppies hop up to greet guests at the official ribbon cutting for the new play yard and "Grandma Lucy's Future Angels" building at the Little Angels Service Dogs' Sky Valley Ranch in Bartlett on June 7. About 40 people attended the event. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Drummers flow through the auditorium during the opening "Anthem" number at the Kennett Drumline's "Space Jam" show on April 13. The drumline also had shows on Saturday and Sunday, and one last show will take place on May 21 at 4p.m. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Fryeburg Academy's JoJo Jensen (left) and Kennett senior Jack Martin square up for the boys 4x100 meter relay at the track and field meet hosted by Kennett High School on Tuesday. The other schools that took part in the meet were Berlin, Fryeburg Academy, Kingswood, Saint Thomas, and White Mountain. Fryeburg won the boys events with a score of 144 and Kennett topped the girls events with 165. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Visitors from Scotland, Conn., Paisley, Keegan, and Wallace Trudelle, 6, 8, and 12 respectively, dip their toes in the water at Jackson Falls while their parents Bill and Katie watch on Monday. The Trudelle family is visiting the area for school vacation and likes to have picnics at the falls. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Kevin Hickey carries Connor Maloney, 6, out of the water after his skim at Cranmore Mountain's "Splish Splash" pond skim on Saturday. About 60 skiers and snowboarders participated in the event on Cranmore's closing weekend. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Ellen Farnum (center) joins hands with her fellow Silver Lake Singers and other attendees to close out the event with a song at the Vigil of Peace for Ukraine in North Conway's Schouler Park on Sunday. Many people turned out for the event, organized by Clergy of the Eastern Slope, which included singing, prayers and words of solidarity, and the building of a "peace cairn." (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Rochel Medina of Glastonbury, Conn., speeds toward the finish with her dog team at the "Sled Dog Fun Day" hosted by the Tamworth Outing Club and the North Country Mushers at the Steele Farm fields in Wonalancet on Sunday. Dogs teams had a meet and greet time then ran along the trails for people to watch. (The dogs are Spark and Cherry in the frontand Summit in the back.) (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
The team from the Fryeburg Veterinary Hospital splash each other with the frigid water at the Harvest Hill's annual "Freezing for a Reason" polar plunge at Bridgton's Highland Lake Beach on Saturday. The event had 74 jumpers and raised over $18,000 for the animal shelter. (From left: Natalie Parker, Sarah Elwell, Pete Winchell, and Mary-Jane Elwell.) (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
The Kennett High Bleacher Creatures were out in full force for Tuesday’s home playoff game. They had plenty to cheer about at the Eagles beat Bishop Brady 53-50 in a thriller at the Peter Ames Gymnasium. Here, they fane interest in the introduction of the visiting starting lineup. (LLOYD JONES PHOTO)
Zander, 4, from Conway, zips down the hill at Hog Coliseum on Monday. His mom Marisa, who preferred not to give their last name, brought her kids along with many family friends from their "mom pod" to go sledding together behind the North Conway Community Center. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
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Senior Sam Seavey celebrates with the team after his second goal of the night, giving the Eagles the edge in the third period, in the game between the Kennett High School Eagles and the Western Maine Ice Cats during the 9th Annual Peter Hall Christmas Tournament at the Ham Arena on Dec. 27. The Eagles came out on top in the match to win 5-3. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Fourth through sixth graders of the Ossipee Central School involved in the after-school newspaper program smile with copies of the Conway Daily Sun at the school on Dec. 14. For the second year at the school, students are working together to conduct interviews, carry out research, and print their publication. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Jennifer Herman knocks down a stack of bins while fellow volunteers (from left) Heather Roscoe, Dick Farrell, and Ari Leach look on at a Mt. Washington Valley Adaptive Sports introduction training for sled skating instructors at the Ham Arena on Dec. 10. According to Executive Director Laura Scrimshaw, the organization is working to grow sled skating in the valley, in addition to their skiing and other programs, so that people with disabilities have access to the sport in a way that is flexible to their individual needs. Scrimshaw noted that there will be more training events for volunteers as the organization develops its sled skating program, and anyone who wants to learn more about the program or get involved can email info@mwvas.org or call (603) 374-2688. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Junior Sam Sidoti battles against defenders to take a shot at the Kennett High School girls basketball scrimmage against North Yarmouth Academy on Dec. 2. The Eagles won the game 58-46. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
A small crowd gathers to sing traditional holiday tunes at the first-ever tree lighting hosted by the Conway Village Congregational Church on Nov. 26. The event drew around 35 people, who drank hot chocolate together and checked out the Christmas decorations inside after the group finished singing. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Sixth grader Jamison Keaveny hands off food to kindergartener Lukas Belanger in the gym at the annual Conway Elementary School Food March to deliver donations to the Conway Village Congregational Church's food pantry on Nov. 18. The school collected around 600 pounds of nonperishable food for the pantry. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Kennett High held its annual fall sports awards on Tuesday night. This year’s major award winners are (front row, from left): Kaylee McLellan, the Cross-Country Award; Josie MacDonald, the Golden Spoke Award for mountain biking; and Leah Alkalay, the John Marsden Award for field hockey; and Marissa Caputo, the Suzy Engler Soccer Award; (back row from left) Ben Dougherty, the Golf Award; Willem Badger, the Boy’s Soccer Award; Kyle Stearns, the Sam Fuller Award for football; Ben Biche, the Cross-Country Award; Lagan Tatarczuk, the Soaring Eagle Award for volleyball; and Tessa Capozzoli, the Deryl Fleming Award for field hockey. (LLOYD JONES PHOTO)
Ballot clerk Phil Franklin (right) checks in voters whose last names begin with A-L, which was far and away the longest line at the polls at the Bartlett Town Hall in Intervale on Tuesday. (LLOYD JONES PHOTO)
Tamworth residents Heidi Engman and her granddaughter Evelyn Farnum, 4, smile while scooping seeds at the Tamworth Outing Club's pumpkin carving event on the Tamworth History Center lawn on Oct. 30. People of all ages gathered to carve the 100 pumpkins donated by Di Filippe Farm in Sandwich, Davis Natural Produce in North Conway, Grand View Farm in Conway, and local Karl Behr, and the pumpkins will line Main Street on Halloween night as trick-or-treaters visit the houses and businesses to collect candy. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Volunteers Charlie Macomber of Conway (center) and Rick Faucher of Intervale (right) exam the pieces of the frame at the Tin Mountain Conservation Center’s second Window Dressers community build, creating reusable window inserts to conserve heat and save on energy costs, at the old airport hangar at Settlers Green on Oct. 22. Volunteers began assembling the wooden frames on Saturday and will spend the rest of the build taping and wrapping the inserts through Tuesday. This event, held in coordination with the non-profit Window Dressers, will create 209 pine frame insulation inserts for 22 homeowners, many of which are seniors or low-income, and one church in the Valley, according to Tin Mountain Program Director Nora Dufilho. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Members of the drumline cheer during their halftime performance at the Kennett High School senior night football game against Plymouth on Oct. 14. The Eagles beat the Bobcats 20-7. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Autumn leaves color the landscape by Mount Willard in Crawford Nothc during peak foliage season on Oct. 10. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
"Super" Conway Elementary School Principal Katy Bedley smiles with a bus full of sixth graders before driving them to the Fryeburg Fair for a field trip on Oct. 3. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Rain drops cling to the autumn leaves by the Snowvillage Inn in Jackson Village on the first day of fall on Sept. 22. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Ten-year-old Jackson friends Addy Jaus (left) and Baylee Brennick (right) lift Evelin Callanan while hanging out on the summit at the 25th annual Jen's Friends Climb against Cancer at Cranmore Mountain on Sept. 17. Over 600 climbers participated in the bluebird-day hike, and the event raised over $140,000. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
North Country Mud Croc Dustin Simpson-Bragg clutches a pass to score a touchdown against the New Hampshire Mudcats on the second day of the Mud Bowl tournament at the North Conway Community Center's Hog Coliseum on Sept. 10. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Student athletes yell and cheer to the traffic along White Mountain Highway at the Kennett High School girls soccer car wash fundraiser at Pinkham Real Estate in North Conway Village on Sept. 3. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Clouds roll over Lovewell Pond and the White Mountains, as seen on a discovery flight at the Eastern Slope Aviation Academy's second annual Aviation Day at the Fryeburg airport on Aug. 27. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
David Talbott of New Canaan, Conn., careens around recently-paved Cragway Turn at the 49th Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb on Aug. 20. Talbott, 33, finished fourth overall with a time of 54:37. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
North Conway Fire 1st Deputy Chief Tim Anderson walks between burnt-up cars at a family barn/garage in Bartlett Village on Route 302 across from the Josiah Bartlett Elementary School on August 3. The building and many of the cars surrounding the building were lost to the fire. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Terry Brennan waves the East Tennessee club flag to the crowd as national clubs present their colors during the opening ceremonies 65th International Wally Byam Airstream Club Rally at the Fryeburg Fairgrounds on July 23. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Emily, 11, of Ossipee scales the rockface at the 4-H summer rock climbing program at Jockey Cap in Fryeburg on July 20. This event was part of a four-week free series hosted by 4-H at climbing sites in New Hampshire and Maine, in which kids learn the basics of rock-climbing, belaying, knots, and climbing techniques. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
A young race participant speeds down White Mountain Highway with her scooter at the Tunnels to Towers 5K Run and Walk in North Conway on July 9. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Pat Preece retired Wednesday after 20 years at the helm of the North Conway Fire Department and 35 years with the North Conway Water Precinct. Here, he and his loyal dog head up the North-South Road on June 10. (LLOYD JONES PHOTO)
Finn Williams watches a teammate at bat through the dugout at the Cal Ripken U12 district championship at Whitaker Field in North Conway on June 27. The local MWV All-Stars beat Plymouth 10-1 to win the championship and advance to the state tournament. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Rowan Burke jumps to catch a toss from a teammate at the Conway Pirates youth baseball game against the Freedom Yankees behind John Fuller Elementary School on June 16. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Seniors strike a pose driving up North-South Road at the "Kennett Karavan" senior car parade through North Conway on June 10. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Eight-week-old puppies hop up to greet guests at the official ribbon cutting for the new play yard and "Grandma Lucy's Future Angels" building at the Little Angels Service Dogs' Sky Valley Ranch in Bartlett on June 7. About 40 people attended the event. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Paige Barrett (right) claps for a fellow graduate at the Fryeburg Academy graduation ceremony in the Ada Cram Wadsworth Arena on Saturday. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Senior Izzy Higgins high-fives her teammates at the senior recognition before the Kennett High softball team's game against Sanborn on Friday. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Drummers flow through the auditorium during the opening "Anthem" number at the Kennett Drumline's "Space Jam" show on April 13. The drumline also had shows on Saturday and Sunday, and one last show will take place on May 21 at 4p.m. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Freshly green leaves pepper the trees along a Schouler Park sidewalk in North Conway on Wednesday. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Captain Amy Burton races down the pole vault runway to the cheers of her Kennet High track teammates on Senior Recognition Day. Thirteen Eagles were honored before Tuesday's home track meet. (LLOYD JONES PHOTO)
Fryeburg Academy's JoJo Jensen (left) and Kennett senior Jack Martin square up for the boys 4x100 meter relay at the track and field meet hosted by Kennett High School on Tuesday. The other schools that took part in the meet were Berlin, Fryeburg Academy, Kingswood, Saint Thomas, and White Mountain. Fryeburg won the boys events with a score of 144 and Kennett topped the girls events with 165. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Visitors from Scotland, Conn., Paisley, Keegan, and Wallace Trudelle, 6, 8, and 12 respectively, dip their toes in the water at Jackson Falls while their parents Bill and Katie watch on Monday. The Trudelle family is visiting the area for school vacation and likes to have picnics at the falls. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Ashley Glaze wallops the ball at the softball scrimmage between Fryeburg Academy and Kennett High School at the Fryeburg field on Saturday. Kennett got an early advantage to win on the rainy day 13-2. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Kevin Hickey carries Connor Maloney, 6, out of the water after his skim at Cranmore Mountain's "Splish Splash" pond skim on Saturday. About 60 skiers and snowboarders participated in the event on Cranmore's closing weekend. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Clouds swirl over the Moat Mountains and the Saco River, as seen from the Route 16 overlook in Conway. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Ellen Farnum (center) joins hands with her fellow Silver Lake Singers and other attendees to close out the event with a song at the Vigil of Peace for Ukraine in North Conway's Schouler Park on Sunday. Many people turned out for the event, organized by Clergy of the Eastern Slope, which included singing, prayers and words of solidarity, and the building of a "peace cairn." (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Becca Knight of the Stan & Dan team speeds over the finish line during the Hannes Schneider Meister Cup at Cranmore Mountain on March 5. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Rochel Medina of Glastonbury, Conn., speeds toward the finish with her dog team at the "Sled Dog Fun Day" hosted by the Tamworth Outing Club and the North Country Mushers at the Steele Farm fields in Wonalancet on Sunday. Dogs teams had a meet and greet time then ran along the trails for people to watch. (The dogs are Spark and Cherry in the frontand Summit in the back.) (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
The team from the Fryeburg Veterinary Hospital splash each other with the frigid water at the Harvest Hill's annual "Freezing for a Reason" polar plunge at Bridgton's Highland Lake Beach on Saturday. The event had 74 jumpers and raised over $18,000 for the animal shelter. (From left: Natalie Parker, Sarah Elwell, Pete Winchell, and Mary-Jane Elwell.) (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
The sun shines through the clouds over the fields on Great Hill Road in Tamworth on Saturday. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
The Kennett High Bleacher Creatures were out in full force for Tuesday’s home playoff game. They had plenty to cheer about at the Eagles beat Bishop Brady 53-50 in a thriller at the Peter Ames Gymnasium. Here, they fane interest in the introduction of the visiting starting lineup. (LLOYD JONES PHOTO)
People admire the finished carvings at the Jackson Snow Sculpting Competition at Great Glen Trails on Jan. 31. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Owen Brown trips over his opponent's stick in the chase for the puck at the MWV Youth Hockey team's 10U game against the Keene Cobras on Jan. 22 at the Ham Arena. The Eagles won 3-2. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Fran Roderick plows her driveway on West Side Road in Conway during the heavy snowstorm on Monday. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Cedar waxwings flock to a tree outside of Memorial Hospital in North Conway on Tuesday. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
The sunrise paints the sky over the Farm by the River Bed & Breakfast on West Side Road in North Conway on Jan. 5. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Zander, 4, from Conway, zips down the hill at Hog Coliseum on Monday. His mom Marisa, who preferred not to give their last name, brought her kids along with many family friends from their "mom pod" to go sledding together behind the North Conway Community Center. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
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