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.
Axis Dance Center dancers Nora Williams (left) and Cecilia Maiorano smile on their hike to the summit during the 29th annual Jen's Friends Cancer Foundation Climb against Cancer at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway on Sept. 19. See more photos from the event in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Aidan McLaughlin of the North Conway Hogs runs up the field during the Mud Bowl football tournament at the North Conway Community Center's Hog Coliseum on Sept. 12. See more photos on the Sun's website at tinyurl.com/cswrvt4v. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Light-adorned boats and paddleboards glide through the water, led by parade leader Pen Hallowell rowing and his mother Benedicte waving an American flag, during the Chocorua Lake Conservancy's annual Parade of Lights on Chocorua Lake on Sept. 6. Around 35 canoes, kayaks, rowboats and paddleboards traveled in loops around the lake for the event, which is a Labor Day weekend tradition dating back to the 1960s when Sam'l and Sylvia Bowditch Newson and friends started the parade with inspiration from elements of Japanese festival celebrations. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Kennett's Tabby Johnson runs toward the finish line, securing second place with a time of 13:14, during the annual "Kennett Challenge" cross-country race behind Kennett Middle School on Aug. 26. The two-mile race features runners from Kennett High School, Fryeburg Academy and the White Mountain Milers. See more photos in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Spectators watch as Anthony Ruddy of Glen speeds up the course at Cragway Turn during the Mount Washington Auto Road’s "Paul Giblin Memorial Climb to the Clouds” hillclimb race on Aug. 9. See more photos from the race in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Renegade Hot Tub Club goalie Shannon McKenney (left) denies Todd Smolinsky of the Chinook Blues (right) a goal during the semi-annual "Just Here for the Beer" hockey jamboree at Bridgton Academy's Chalmers Ice Arena on July 18. Six recreational teams of local men and women played games throughout the day, with three games for each team, for a fun day of hockey and to raise $3,292 for the for the local American Legion in Harrison, Maine, through raffles and donations. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
A 2015 Visit From Lindsey Conway Daily Sun Publisher Mark Guerringue (left) shares a laugh with the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who took part in an editorial board at the Sun on Oct. 14, 2015, during his shortlived presidential campaign. Graham, who died last Saturday night, went on to visit the Gibson Center for Senior Services during his visit to North Conway. (JAMIE GEMMITI PHOTO)
The crowd wave their phone flashlights to one of the slower songs of the 39th Army Band's "Live Fire Rock Band" performance during the Fourth of July festivities in North Conway's Schouler Park on Saturday. See more Fourth of July photos from around the MWV in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Friend of The Barnstormers Theatre Melissa Bornman, performing as Bubbles McGee, releases a stream of bubbles near the theatre's tent at the annual White Mountains Pride Festival in North Conway Village on June 27. The event included musical performances, photo ops and giveaways, over 40 vendors and more. See more photos from the festival in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Sophomore Oliver Dean (center) and senior Noah Day hug as the Raiders celebrate their win at the Class B Baseball State Championship between Fryeburg Academy and Cony High School at Saint Joseph's College in Standish, Maine, on June 20. The Raiders beat the Rams 4-3. See more photos from the game in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Conway School Board member Melanie Lebel had the honor of presenting her son, Owen, with his diploma at the Kennett High graduation ceremony in Gary Millen Stadium last Saturday (June 13). Bartlett School Board member Heather Forbes also was able to present her son, Sebastian Huot, with his diploma. (LISA EASTWOOD PHOTO)
Pine Tree Primary School second grader Scylys Moody waves from the window of a Fryeburg police cruiser at the Center Conway school on June 4. As part of a career explorations project, Moody sent a letter to local police to ask questions about the job, so he and his cousins were given the opportunity to ride to school with Fryeburg Police Chief Aaron Mick, followed by Conway Police Chief Chris Mattei in another vehicle. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Senior Marlie Liebenow (right) hugs good friend from the Best Buddies club Camryn Jillette during the senior recognition ceremony before the Kennett High School softball game against Berlin on May 31. The Mountaineers topped the Eagles 10-6. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Conway Police K9 Summit latches onto Officer James Zimmer, with with Officer Morganne Sterl holding Summit's leash, during a brief demonstration to a group of students at the end of Kennett Middle School's career day on May 15. Each of the 26 community presenters, which included non-profits, first responders like Conway Fire and Conway police and local businesses including the Conway Daily Sun, spoke to six groups of students from 8-10:30 a.m. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Children and their caregivers walk around the maypole to fiddle music from Tamworth resident Siena Kaplan-Thompson as part of the Cook Memorial Library's weekly storytime at Remick Park on Cleveland Hill Road in Tamworth Village on May 5. 115 people 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)
Mollie Plante, 2, of Conway sits on the wheel of a loader during the Conway Public Library's annual touch-a-truck event on April 21. Families took photos with four large vehicles from the town and the Conway Fire Department spread around the library parking lot. See more touch-a-truck pictures in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
From left: Maria and Stephen Crockett of Effingham and Kate Hartnett of Lancaster react to the cold water at the eighth Green Mountain Conservation Group Annual Polar Plunge for Healthy Water at the Effingham facility on April 4. Sixteen participants took the dip in the Ossipee River, raising around $11,000 for the GMCG's watershed protection programs. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Protesters gather all around the Four Corners intersection during the "No Kings" protest in Conway Village on March 28. Around 1,000 people attended the rally, part of a series of demonstrations held nationwide. See more photos from the event in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Conway PD's Kobi Lees hits the goal post by Team Fire's goalie Noah Nason, just missing the goal, during the second annual Battle of the Badges hockey game between the Conway Police Department and the Conway Area First Responders at the Ham Arena in Conway on March 21. The game raised $8,002 for the Child Advocacy Center of Carroll County, and the cops won 7-2. See more Battle of the Badges photos in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Conway Intermediate fifth graders Ryker MacMillan (left) and Bristol Shaw (right) read with Pine Tree kindergartner Valerik White during the first of three "buddy reading" days at Conway Intermediate School part of "Read Across America Month" on March 6. According to Pine Tree Librarian Brooke Bartlett, two more buddy reads will take place on the 13th and 27th with different grade levels, among other special reading events. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Relay skier Everett Castle of the Northwest Vermont ski club makes his way toward the covered bridge during the annual Bill Koch League Festival at Jackson XC on Feb. 28. The two-day festival drew around 700 youth skiers to participate in skiing, racing and other related activities. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Whatleigh Torsey of Plymouth and her sled dog team take off from the start line during the Tamworth Outing Club and North Country Mushers' "Sled Dog Fun Days" racing and exhibition at the Chinook Trail Farm fields in Wonalancet on Feb. 21. At the two-day event, 11 race teams from New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont completed the 14.4-mile race course, which started and ended in the field where spectators gathered and the outing club sold warm refreshments. See more photos from the race in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Sophomore Liam Kennett (left) battles for the puck at the Kennett Hockey Fights Cancer game at the Ham Arena in Conway on Feb. 14. The Eagles won 7-1 and raised over $30,000 for the Camden Bailey Cancer Foundation. See more photos from the game and the Skate with the Eagles in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Members of the Kennett High School girls alpine ski team embrace their coaches after the awards ceremony for the NHIAA Division II girls alpine state meet at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway on Feb. 10. See more photos from the boys and girls state meets in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com/photos4sale. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Brad Conant of West Haven, Conn., prepares to add the head to his carving of a musician dancing on stage during the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce's Annual Invitational Snow Sculpting Competition at Great Glen Trails on Jan. 31. See more photos from the competition in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Junior Rohn Moser flies down teh 20-meter jump during the lone home Kennett High School ski jump meet at the Chip Henry Ski Jump along the Kancamagus Highway on Jan. 23. See more photos from the meet in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Tamworth resident Andy Davis (right) reads a poem written by Renee Good, who was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minnesota, during the "Ice Out for Good" candlelight vigil in the Conway Public Library park on Jan. 11. Around 120 people attended. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
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Senior Shannon Fay hugs coach Eileen Livingston during the senior recognition ceremony in the Kennett Middle School cafeteria before awards for the Kennett High School cross country invitational on Sept. 26. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Axis Dance Center dancers Nora Williams (left) and Cecilia Maiorano smile on their hike to the summit during the 29th annual Jen's Friends Cancer Foundation Climb against Cancer at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway on Sept. 19. See more photos from the event in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Aidan McLaughlin of the North Conway Hogs runs up the field during the Mud Bowl football tournament at the North Conway Community Center's Hog Coliseum on Sept. 12. See more photos on the Sun's website at tinyurl.com/cswrvt4v. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Light-adorned boats and paddleboards glide through the water, led by parade leader Pen Hallowell rowing and his mother Benedicte waving an American flag, during the Chocorua Lake Conservancy's annual Parade of Lights on Chocorua Lake on Sept. 6. Around 35 canoes, kayaks, rowboats and paddleboards traveled in loops around the lake for the event, which is a Labor Day weekend tradition dating back to the 1960s when Sam'l and Sylvia Bowditch Newson and friends started the parade with inspiration from elements of Japanese festival celebrations. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Kennett's Tabby Johnson runs toward the finish line, securing second place with a time of 13:14, during the annual "Kennett Challenge" cross-country race behind Kennett Middle School on Aug. 26. The two-mile race features runners from Kennett High School, Fryeburg Academy and the White Mountain Milers. See more photos in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Early morning light glows on Cathedral Ledge, reflected in Echo Lake in North Conway on Aug. 21. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Kyle Johnston, 47, of Middletown, R.I., speeds to the finish line during the 53rd annual Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb on Aug. 15. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Spectators watch as Anthony Ruddy of Glen speeds up the course at Cragway Turn during the Mount Washington Auto Road’s "Paul Giblin Memorial Climb to the Clouds” hillclimb race on Aug. 9. See more photos from the race in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Sailboats float on Crystal Lake in Eaton, seen from the town beach, on July 28. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Renegade Hot Tub Club goalie Shannon McKenney (left) denies Todd Smolinsky of the Chinook Blues (right) a goal during the semi-annual "Just Here for the Beer" hockey jamboree at Bridgton Academy's Chalmers Ice Arena on July 18. Six recreational teams of local men and women played games throughout the day, with three games for each team, for a fun day of hockey and to raise $3,292 for the for the local American Legion in Harrison, Maine, through raffles and donations. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Visitors check out Sabbaday Falls, off the Kancamagus Highway, on July 15. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
A 2015 Visit From Lindsey Conway Daily Sun Publisher Mark Guerringue (left) shares a laugh with the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who took part in an editorial board at the Sun on Oct. 14, 2015, during his shortlived presidential campaign. Graham, who died last Saturday night, went on to visit the Gibson Center for Senior Services during his visit to North Conway. (JAMIE GEMMITI PHOTO)
The crowd wave their phone flashlights to one of the slower songs of the 39th Army Band's "Live Fire Rock Band" performance during the Fourth of July festivities in North Conway's Schouler Park on Saturday. See more Fourth of July photos from around the MWV in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Friend of The Barnstormers Theatre Melissa Bornman, performing as Bubbles McGee, releases a stream of bubbles near the theatre's tent at the annual White Mountains Pride Festival in North Conway Village on June 27. The event included musical performances, photo ops and giveaways, over 40 vendors and more. See more photos from the festival in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Sophomore Oliver Dean (center) and senior Noah Day hug as the Raiders celebrate their win at the Class B Baseball State Championship between Fryeburg Academy and Cony High School at Saint Joseph's College in Standish, Maine, on June 20. The Raiders beat the Rams 4-3. See more photos from the game in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Conway School Board member Melanie Lebel had the honor of presenting her son, Owen, with his diploma at the Kennett High graduation ceremony in Gary Millen Stadium last Saturday (June 13). Bartlett School Board member Heather Forbes also was able to present her son, Sebastian Huot, with his diploma. (LISA EASTWOOD PHOTO)
Pine Tree Primary School second grader Scylys Moody waves from the window of a Fryeburg police cruiser at the Center Conway school on June 4. As part of a career explorations project, Moody sent a letter to local police to ask questions about the job, so he and his cousins were given the opportunity to ride to school with Fryeburg Police Chief Aaron Mick, followed by Conway Police Chief Chris Mattei in another vehicle. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Senior Marlie Liebenow (right) hugs good friend from the Best Buddies club Camryn Jillette during the senior recognition ceremony before the Kennett High School softball game against Berlin on May 31. The Mountaineers topped the Eagles 10-6. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Gavin Helvie (center) and his fellow graduates walk through the crowd during the processional at the Fryeburg Academy graduation ceremony on May 23. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Conway Police K9 Summit latches onto Officer James Zimmer, with with Officer Morganne Sterl holding Summit's leash, during a brief demonstration to a group of students at the end of Kennett Middle School's career day on May 15. Each of the 26 community presenters, which included non-profits, first responders like Conway Fire and Conway police and local businesses including the Conway Daily Sun, spoke to six groups of students from 8-10:30 a.m. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Gia Osborne and Sebastian Huot walk up the steps at the Fairbank Lodge during the grand entrance at the Kennett High School prom at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway on May 9. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Children and their caregivers walk around the maypole to fiddle music from Tamworth resident Siena Kaplan-Thompson as part of the Cook Memorial Library's weekly storytime at Remick Park on Cleveland Hill Road in Tamworth Village on May 5. 115 people 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)
Fryeburg Academy senior Joseph DellaValla competes in the long jump at the track and field meet hosted by Kennett High School in Conway on April 21. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Mollie Plante, 2, of Conway sits on the wheel of a loader during the Conway Public Library's annual touch-a-truck event on April 21. Families took photos with four large vehicles from the town and the Conway Fire Department spread around the library parking lot. See more touch-a-truck pictures in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Gus Shuster of Cambridge, Mass., skis down Sherburne Trail in colorful garb on Mount Washington on April 11. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
From left: Maria and Stephen Crockett of Effingham and Kate Hartnett of Lancaster react to the cold water at the eighth Green Mountain Conservation Group Annual Polar Plunge for Healthy Water at the Effingham facility on April 4. Sixteen participants took the dip in the Ossipee River, raising around $11,000 for the GMCG's watershed protection programs. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Protesters gather all around the Four Corners intersection during the "No Kings" protest in Conway Village on March 28. Around 1,000 people attended the rally, part of a series of demonstrations held nationwide. See more photos from the event in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Conway PD's Kobi Lees hits the goal post by Team Fire's goalie Noah Nason, just missing the goal, during the second annual Battle of the Badges hockey game between the Conway Police Department and the Conway Area First Responders at the Ham Arena in Conway on March 21. The game raised $8,002 for the Child Advocacy Center of Carroll County, and the cops won 7-2. See more Battle of the Badges photos in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Stewart Hall of the Army Mountain Warfare School team skis down the race course in the morning run during the 29th annual Hannes Schneider Meister Cup at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway on March 14. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Conway Intermediate fifth graders Ryker MacMillan (left) and Bristol Shaw (right) read with Pine Tree kindergartner Valerik White during the first of three "buddy reading" days at Conway Intermediate School part of "Read Across America Month" on March 6. According to Pine Tree Librarian Brooke Bartlett, two more buddy reads will take place on the 13th and 27th with different grade levels, among other special reading events. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Relay skier Everett Castle of the Northwest Vermont ski club makes his way toward the covered bridge during the annual Bill Koch League Festival at Jackson XC on Feb. 28. The two-day festival drew around 700 youth skiers to participate in skiing, racing and other related activities. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Whatleigh Torsey of Plymouth and her sled dog team take off from the start line during the Tamworth Outing Club and North Country Mushers' "Sled Dog Fun Days" racing and exhibition at the Chinook Trail Farm fields in Wonalancet on Feb. 21. At the two-day event, 11 race teams from New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont completed the 14.4-mile race course, which started and ended in the field where spectators gathered and the outing club sold warm refreshments. See more photos from the race in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Sophomore Liam Kennett (left) battles for the puck at the Kennett Hockey Fights Cancer game at the Ham Arena in Conway on Feb. 14. The Eagles won 7-1 and raised over $30,000 for the Camden Bailey Cancer Foundation. See more photos from the game and the Skate with the Eagles in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Members of the Kennett High School girls alpine ski team embrace their coaches after the awards ceremony for the NHIAA Division II girls alpine state meet at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway on Feb. 10. See more photos from the boys and girls state meets in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com/photos4sale. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Brad Conant of West Haven, Conn., prepares to add the head to his carving of a musician dancing on stage during the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce's Annual Invitational Snow Sculpting Competition at Great Glen Trails on Jan. 31. See more photos from the competition in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Junior Rohn Moser flies down teh 20-meter jump during the lone home Kennett High School ski jump meet at the Chip Henry Ski Jump along the Kancamagus Highway on Jan. 23. See more photos from the meet in a gallery at conwaydailysun.com. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Snow from a dayslong snowstorm a day prior blankets Mount Chocorua and Chocorua Lake on Jan. 18, seen around sunset from Route 16 just south of The Grove lake access area. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Tamworth resident Andy Davis (right) reads a poem written by Renee Good, who was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minnesota, during the "Ice Out for Good" candlelight vigil in the Conway Public Library park on Jan. 11. Around 120 people attended. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Visitors sled on the lighted slopes at Cranmore Mountain's new "Arctic Lights Night Tubing" before their New Year's Eve fireworks display in North Conway on Wednesday. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
Ice coats the needles of a tree along West Side Road in North Conway on Dec. 29. (RACHEL SHARPLES PHOTO)
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Rachel Sharples
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