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.
Santa Claus reads "Twas the Night Before Christmas" in North Conway's Schouler Park last Friday afternoon, where he was greeted by about 140 people. The presentation was a collaboration of the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Conway Parks and Recreation Department and was capped by a treelighting ceremony. (PAULA JONES PHOTO)
Morgan Johnson of the third through sixth grade group jumps over a hay bale during the Madison Recreation Tough Turkey Race at Burke Field on Nov. 10. Participating kids took turns completing the course of haybales, pumpkins and other fun obstacles, and two kids won a frozen turkey. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Pine Tree Elementary School students watch as their recently made pipe-cleaner skiers and snowboarders race down a slope in the North Conway Country Club as part of the "In Memory of Martha" re-enactment and learning projects in North Conway on Nov. 7. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Victoria Laracy strikes a pose as hikers walk up the final stretch of trail at the Jen's Friends Cancer Foundation's 26th Annual Climb Against Cancer at Cranmore Mountain on Sept. 16. The day's events raised over $150,000 for the nonprofit organization. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
North Country Mud Croc Ryan Martin cheers on teammate Bayden Roy after Roy scored a touchdown during the game between the North Country Mud Crocs and the Muddas Football Club, which the Crocs won 12-0, at Mud Bowl in the North Conway Community Center's Hog Coliseum on Sept. 8. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Students (with Adalee Lopes and Drayce Bradbury on the right) bury sixth grade teacher Rebecca Fecteau in the sandbox at the Conway Elementary School's "Day of Play" on the second day of school on Sept. 1. The day's activities included a school-wide kickoff assembly, various team-building exercises, and other fun opportunities to play outside. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Chair of the Conway Selectmen Mary Carey Seavey (left) volleys with local pickleball organizer Karen Cadegan (center) and Selectman John Colbath (and another organizer Diane Ryan not pictured) for the first official pickleball game after the official ribbon cutting for the newly refurbished tennis and pickleball courts at Davis Park in Conway on Aug. 29. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Floutist Kim Burns plays along as guest conductor Phil Ouellette, the director of the North Conway Community Center, leads the Mount Washington Valley Community Band through march tune "Semper Fidelis" at the band's last summer concert of their 50th anniversary season at the North Conway Community Center gazebo on Aug. 23. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Race participants help fold the large flag that hang on the canopy at the annual Stephen Siller Tunnels to Towers 5K Run & Walk in North Conway Village on July 8. The event, held in partnership with Tri Tek Events, honors those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, and supports the first responders and military members of today through the nationwide Tunnels to Towers Foundation. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Retiring grade 4/5 teacher Patty Gagnon, who has worked for John Fuller for 23 years, waves from a convertible during the traditional bus sendoff on the last day of school at the John H. Fuller Elementary School in North Conway on June 20. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
First grader Brooklynn builds her bird feeder with supplies donated by Home Depot at the Molly Ockett School's Alternative Learning Day, an annual tradition returned after a pandemic pause, in Fryeburg on June 2. The kindergarten through fourth grade students met with 28 different presenters from the surrounding community talking about their jobs as first responders, chefs, ornithologists, and more. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Children and their family members walk around the maypole to some fiddle music as part of the Cook Memorial Library's weekly storytime at Remick Park on Cleveland Hill Road in Tamworth Village on May 9. Over 20 kids participated in twirling the colorful ribbons around the maypole, a tradition the library often hosts annually as a beginning of the warmer spring weather. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Senior tri-captain Bridger Viger puts down the perfect sacrifice bunt to advance Kennett High teammates to second and third to spark a six-run fifth inning against rival Berlin in the home-opener on Wednesday. The Eagles won the game 10-4. (LLOYD JONES PHOTO)
Hattie Tulip, 6, of North Conway slides with her bag of Easter eggs at the North Conway Community Center's Easter Egg Hunt on the lawn and playground by the center on April 8. Dozens of families turned out to participate in the egg hunt and get photos with the Easter Bunny. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Skiers and snowboarders ride up the Summit Triple Lift on its last day of operation at Attitash Mountain on April 2. The Summit Triple has been running at Attitash since the 1986/87 winter season and will be replaced with an upgraded lift called the Mountaineer. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
The Eagles fans erupt into celebration after the game-winning foul shot by senior Kaylee McLellan at the Division II State Championship girls basketball game between Kennett High School and Bow at the University of New Hampshire on March 12. Kennett won the game 38-37, with two foul shots from Kaylee McLellan with no time left on the clock giving the Eagles the edge to victory. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Dr. Therese Davison directs the concert band during one of their two pieces at the first ever Kennett High School Young People's Concert in the school's Loynd Auditorium. Over 300 students from the three local elementary schools attended to hear the concert band, jazz band, and drumline perform and learn a bit about music, which Davison said she modeled after Leonard Berstein's Young People's Concerts with the New York Philharmonic in the 1950s and 1960s. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Bridget Duval of Lynn, Mass., and her pair of dogs speed along a trail at the second annual Sled Dog Fun Day, held by the Tamworth Outing Club, at the Steele Farm fields on Feb. 6. The event included a 14 mile race with larger dog teams from the North Country Mushers as well as all-day mushing and skiing with dogs, many from the New England Sled Dog Club. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Sophomore Patrick Laughland scores the Eagles' first point of the night at the Kennett Hockey Fights Cancer game, which raised money for Kennett sophomore Evan Cicero and Jen's Friends Cancer Foundation, on Jan. 28 at the Ham Arena in Conway. The Eagles won the match against Lebanon 4-1. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Dozens of skiers take off from the start line at the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation's annual Freeman Frost White Mountain Classic on Jan. 21. The race drew over 140 participants from around the Northeast ranging in age from 11 to 88 to complete the about 17 kilometer course, with options for racers to do one, two, or three laps. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Stephen Kesheb of Lancaster, NH, smooths his dog statue's head at the 28th Annual Ice Carving Competition at the Wentworth Inn in Jackson on Jan. 9. Seven carvers (and some helpers) from around New England worked on their creations for three hours on the front veranda of the inn. First place went to Dennis Hickey of Manchester and his "Minions" carving; second place to David Soha of Manchester and his train carving; third place to Shawn Grenier of Norwich, Vt., and his swordfish; and the people's choice award went to Soha. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
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A couple walks through the dense fog in North Conway Village's Schouler Park on Dec. 26. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Hannah Flader leaps through the air with a baby doll during "Little Drummer Boy" at the dress rehearsal for the Kennett dance and choir's "A Christmas to Remember" holiday show in the Loynd Auditorium on Dec. 7. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Snowy trees lean over a Marshall Conservation Area trail on West Side Road in Conway on Dec. 4. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Santa Claus reads "Twas the Night Before Christmas" in North Conway's Schouler Park last Friday afternoon, where he was greeted by about 140 people. The presentation was a collaboration of the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Conway Parks and Recreation Department and was capped by a treelighting ceremony. (PAULA JONES PHOTO)
Morgan Johnson of the third through sixth grade group jumps over a hay bale during the Madison Recreation Tough Turkey Race at Burke Field on Nov. 10. Participating kids took turns completing the course of haybales, pumpkins and other fun obstacles, and two kids won a frozen turkey. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Pine Tree Elementary School students watch as their recently made pipe-cleaner skiers and snowboarders race down a slope in the North Conway Country Club as part of the "In Memory of Martha" re-enactment and learning projects in North Conway on Nov. 7. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Costumed students strike poses during the annual John H. Fuller Elementary School's Halloween Parade, where students and staff show off their duds around North Conway Village, on Oct. 31. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
The trees lining the shore are reflected in the partially drained Conway Lake waters, seen at the Conway Lake Boat Launch on Oct. 24. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
The colorful fall leaves are reflected in an offshoot of Pequawket Pond in Conway, seen here near Tasker Hill Road on Oct. 16. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Quinn St. Peter, 5, of Manchester leads her dad Joe and aunt Katie Kotsiroplos through the Sherman Farm Corn Maize in East Conway on Oct. 8. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Orange and yellow foliage pops on the leaves at the base of Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, seen here on Oct. 3. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Members of the Kennett High football team wave from their float during the A. Crosby Kennett School 100th Anniversary Celebration parade through Conway Village on Sept. 22. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Victoria Laracy strikes a pose as hikers walk up the final stretch of trail at the Jen's Friends Cancer Foundation's 26th Annual Climb Against Cancer at Cranmore Mountain on Sept. 16. The day's events raised over $150,000 for the nonprofit organization. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
North Country Mud Croc Ryan Martin cheers on teammate Bayden Roy after Roy scored a touchdown during the game between the North Country Mud Crocs and the Muddas Football Club, which the Crocs won 12-0, at Mud Bowl in the North Conway Community Center's Hog Coliseum on Sept. 8. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Students (with Adalee Lopes and Drayce Bradbury on the right) bury sixth grade teacher Rebecca Fecteau in the sandbox at the Conway Elementary School's "Day of Play" on the second day of school on Sept. 1. The day's activities included a school-wide kickoff assembly, various team-building exercises, and other fun opportunities to play outside. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Chair of the Conway Selectmen Mary Carey Seavey (left) volleys with local pickleball organizer Karen Cadegan (center) and Selectman John Colbath (and another organizer Diane Ryan not pictured) for the first official pickleball game after the official ribbon cutting for the newly refurbished tennis and pickleball courts at Davis Park in Conway on Aug. 29. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Floutist Kim Burns plays along as guest conductor Phil Ouellette, the director of the North Conway Community Center, leads the Mount Washington Valley Community Band through march tune "Semper Fidelis" at the band's last summer concert of their 50th anniversary season at the North Conway Community Center gazebo on Aug. 23. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Lead singer Bob Halligan, Jr., exclaims during Ceili Rain's performance at Arts Jubilee at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway on Aug. 10. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Kids cheer as they knock a fire prop down with a hose during the first-ever "children's muster" hosted by the Madison Fire Department during the Madison Old Home Week festivities at Burke Field on August 5. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Mount Webster looms over the bridge at Willey Pond in Crawford Notch on August 1. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Members of the Kennett High School field hockey team dry off a car at their fundraiser at the Valley Springs Car Wash in Conway on July 22. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Water floods around a camper, truck and house on Pequawket Drive in the Cranmore Shores neighborhood in Conway on July 16, seen here in the late afternoon after a morning of heavy rain. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Race participants help fold the large flag that hang on the canopy at the annual Stephen Siller Tunnels to Towers 5K Run & Walk in North Conway Village on July 8. The event, held in partnership with Tri Tek Events, honors those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, and supports the first responders and military members of today through the nationwide Tunnels to Towers Foundation. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Lettie Weeder, 2, of Jackson (held by dad Noah) covers her ears as the fire trucks honk at the annual Hellen Hayes Memorial 4th of July Parade in Bartlett Village on Tuesday. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
The Wildcat River rages down Jackson Falls after several days of rain on June 26. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Retiring grade 4/5 teacher Patty Gagnon, who has worked for John Fuller for 23 years, waves from a convertible during the traditional bus sendoff on the last day of school at the John H. Fuller Elementary School in North Conway on June 20. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Tessa Capozzoli walks through the crowd during the processional at the Kennett High School graduation in Millen Stadium on June 10. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
First grader Brooklynn builds her bird feeder with supplies donated by Home Depot at the Molly Ockett School's Alternative Learning Day, an annual tradition returned after a pandemic pause, in Fryeburg on June 2. The kindergarten through fourth grade students met with 28 different presenters from the surrounding community talking about their jobs as first responders, chefs, ornithologists, and more. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Abbey Ontengco looks to the crowd during the recessional at the Fryeburg Academy graduation ceremony on the school's front lawn on May 27. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Senior Ben Biche runs under an arch of teammates during the Kennett High School track and field team's senior recognition at one of their final practices of the season on May 23. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Sophomore Matthew Charrette dives for the ball at the Kennett High School baseball game against John Stark on May 12. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Children and their family members walk around the maypole to some fiddle music as part of the Cook Memorial Library's weekly storytime at Remick Park on Cleveland Hill Road in Tamworth Village on May 9. Over 20 kids participated in twirling the colorful ribbons around the maypole, a tradition the library often hosts annually as a beginning of the warmer spring weather. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Floodwaters rise over the fields along to the southern end of West Side Road, which closed shortly after this photo was taken, on May 1. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Raindrops collect on daffodils along Seavey Street in North Conway on April 24. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Senior tri-captain Bridger Viger puts down the perfect sacrifice bunt to advance Kennett High teammates to second and third to spark a six-run fifth inning against rival Berlin in the home-opener on Wednesday. The Eagles won the game 10-4. (LLOYD JONES PHOTO)
Hattie Tulip, 6, of North Conway slides with her bag of Easter eggs at the North Conway Community Center's Easter Egg Hunt on the lawn and playground by the center on April 8. Dozens of families turned out to participate in the egg hunt and get photos with the Easter Bunny. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Skiers and snowboarders ride up the Summit Triple Lift on its last day of operation at Attitash Mountain on April 2. The Summit Triple has been running at Attitash since the 1986/87 winter season and will be replaced with an upgraded lift called the Mountaineer. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
A skier splashes across the pool at the King Pine Ski Area Pond Skim during the final weekend of lift service on March 26. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Birgit Claus Henn, of co-ed Team Swatties, runs down a trail in the Great Glen Trails course at the 2023 Tuckerman's Inferno Pentathlon on March 18. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
The Eagles fans erupt into celebration after the game-winning foul shot by senior Kaylee McLellan at the Division II State Championship girls basketball game between Kennett High School and Bow at the University of New Hampshire on March 12. Kennett won the game 38-37, with two foul shots from Kaylee McLellan with no time left on the clock giving the Eagles the edge to victory. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Senior Catherine Chick takes a shot at the NHIAA girls basketball quarterfinals at Kennett High School on March 5. The Eagles won against Hollis-Brookline 59-43 to advance in the playoffs. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Bob Ortiz of Stonington, Conn., skis along a trail at Bear Notch Ski Touring in Bartlett during the snowstorm on Feb. 28. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Dr. Therese Davison directs the concert band during one of their two pieces at the first ever Kennett High School Young People's Concert in the school's Loynd Auditorium. Over 300 students from the three local elementary schools attended to hear the concert band, jazz band, and drumline perform and learn a bit about music, which Davison said she modeled after Leonard Berstein's Young People's Concerts with the New York Philharmonic in the 1950s and 1960s. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Spectators gather at the end of the course before the start of the giant slalom race during the girls high school alpine skiing state championship at Cranmore Mountain on Feb. 14. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Bridget Duval of Lynn, Mass., and her pair of dogs speed along a trail at the second annual Sled Dog Fun Day, held by the Tamworth Outing Club, at the Steele Farm fields on Feb. 6. The event included a 14 mile race with larger dog teams from the North Country Mushers as well as all-day mushing and skiing with dogs, many from the New England Sled Dog Club. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Sophomore Patrick Laughland scores the Eagles' first point of the night at the Kennett Hockey Fights Cancer game, which raised money for Kennett sophomore Evan Cicero and Jen's Friends Cancer Foundation, on Jan. 28 at the Ham Arena in Conway. The Eagles won the match against Lebanon 4-1. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Dozens of skiers take off from the start line at the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation's annual Freeman Frost White Mountain Classic on Jan. 21. The race drew over 140 participants from around the Northeast ranging in age from 11 to 88 to complete the about 17 kilometer course, with options for racers to do one, two, or three laps. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Orange and pink hues paint the sky over a farm on West Side Road in Conway on Jan. 15. during sunset. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Stephen Kesheb of Lancaster, NH, smooths his dog statue's head at the 28th Annual Ice Carving Competition at the Wentworth Inn in Jackson on Jan. 9. Seven carvers (and some helpers) from around New England worked on their creations for three hours on the front veranda of the inn. First place went to Dennis Hickey of Manchester and his "Minions" carving; second place to David Soha of Manchester and his train carving; third place to Shawn Grenier of Norwich, Vt., and his swordfish; and the people's choice award went to Soha. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
The fireworks finale showers over the ski lift and large crowd during the fireworks display at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway on New Year's Eve. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
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