North Conway, NH – Kennett High School and Middles school went into a lockdown Wednesday after someone activated the alarm. According to Conway Police the high school lockdown alarm was activated at 10:20 A.M. triggering a school wide lockdown.

The School Resource Officer, was on scene at the school and reported that the cause of the alarm was unknown. Within minutes, eight Conway Police Officers along with officers from the Carroll County Sherriff’s Department and NH State Police arrived on scene.

Officers conducted an initial search of the school but no immediate threats were identified.  At that time, a cursory search of each and every room of the school was completed by search teams. 

All staff and students were systematically removed from their classrooms and offices.

The search of the entire building took officers approximately 2 hours.

As the Lockdown at the High school was being lifted a lockdown alarm at Kennett Middle School was reported. Officers responded and determined it was an accidental activation.

While this was taking place SAU 9 schools were to shelter in place as a precaution. A shelter in place is a lower-level response to a specific threat and involves the school making sure people aren’t coming in or out until the situation is over.

After the two lockdowns had been lifted Police issued a press release saying that the point of origin of the alarm activation at the high school was identified and they are working to identify the person responsible for activating it. Authorities said that if the person responsible had no legitimate reason for initiating activation, criminal charges may be brought.

Later in the day SAU 9 Superintendent Kevin Richard issued a statement saying the alarm at the high school was triggered when a person moved his or her phone and the alarm button was inadvertently hit.  

The alarm at the middle school was triggered when someone dropped something on a console and the button was hit.

Richard said the incidents were totally unrelated.

Conway Police Lt. Christopher Mattei said “The Conway Police Department would like to thank the SAU 9 staff and students at both schools for their patience and cooperation.  We would also like to thank both the Conway and North Conway Fire Departments, the Carroll County Sherriff’s Department and NH State Police for their prompt assistance.”            

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The original drawing of the Conway Public Library by building architect Thomas Silloway is on of the three pieces of art works set to be conserved using the grant money. ~ Photo courtesy of Conway Public Library.

 
Conway, NH – November 29, 2018 – The Conway Public Library is pleased to announce it has received a $4,000 grant from the Robert and Dorothy Goldberg Foundation to perform conservation treatment on three items in the Library’s art collection. The project was jump started through the generous support of the Friends of the Conway Public Library, whose backing covered the expenses associated with producing conservation treatment reports for the Library art collection. These treatment reports were essential to the success of the grant proposal.  

The three works of art to be conserved are “Making Soap” by Benjamin T. Newman, an untitled work by the artist Anne Goldthwaite, and the original drawing from which the Conway Public Library was built.

Making Soap (pictured above) by Fryeburg Academy art teacher Benjamin T. Newman is a community treasure of the Mount Washington Valley. Donated to the library in the year of its opening, 1901, this fascinating and unusual painting has been a part of the library patron experience since the very beginning. The painting was originally created for the 1893 World Columbian Exhibition as a part of the Maine exhibit. At 48×68 inches the painting is quite imposing but suffers from significant surface grime.

The untitled work by the noted late 19th and early 20th century artist Anne Goldthwaite (pictured above) was discovered last winter in the attic of the Conway Public Library. It is with a certain amount of embarrassment that the Library admits that an important work of art languished in its attic for 40 or so years. As Goldthwaite was born in Alabama and lived much of her life in New York City, the Library was uncertain of the provenance. After some research it was determined that the item was donated to the Library by Keith and Nella Henney, the founders of the Henney History Room at CPL. The Nella Henney journal, now in book form under the title “Summers on Foss,” confirms the Henney’s knew Anne Goldthwaite so there is no other explanation as to how the painting made it to CPL.

Goldthwaite was a prodigious artist and her works are in numerous museums across the Nation including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian, and the Cleveland Museum of Art to name just a few. Conservator Cobbs key recommendation is for the painting to be “dry cleaned” and placed in an archival quality frame for display.

The original drawing of the Conway Public Library building by architect Thomas Silloway is another community treasure.  The Library and the library building are beloved and no other image documents the library in such detail from its early days as does this drawing. Conservator Cobbs key recommendation is to remove the acidic board from the drawing and deacidify.

Once the items have been conserved the library plans to have the Goldthwaite and Silloway items placed in new archival quality frames as described in the estimate from Vintage Frames in North Conway. The Library’s conservator has advised that “Making Soap” does not need a new frame. Once the objects have been conserved and reframed the Library plans to put these works of art on display.

Library Director David Smolen said, “We thank the Goldberg Foundation and the Friends of the Conway Public Library for their generous support of this project. We look forward to showing off the items once they have been conserved.”

Founded in 1900, the mission of the Conway Public Library is to create an environment that promotes and facilitates lifelong learning and community engagement. To meet that end the library collects and provides access to materials, in print and digital form, that meet the intellectual and cultural needs of the community. In addition to this, the library serves as a meeting place for programs where ideas are exchanged and relationships are built. 

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Representatives from ski areas, breweries, Ski NH, and the NH DTTD came out to celebrate the start of the ski season at the Ski 603 Winter Kickoff Saturday December first. ~ Photo courtesy of Ski NH

Manchester, NH – Ski New Hampshire kicked off the riding season with a giant Apre Ski style kick off event. At the event held at the McIntyre Ski Area New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development revealed projections for winter visitation and visitor spending, as well as its winter marketing campaign. Speakers highlighted the New Hampshire ski industry while discussing tourism’s critical role in the New Hampshire economy.

Ski NH said that the aim of the event was to provide a festive and relaxed atmosphere where ski areas could mix and mingle with guests to share information about 2018/19 ski area capital improvements, events, and products. Ski areas shared booths with New Hampshire breweries, distilleries, and wineries.

Representatives from Mount Washington Valley breweries, distilleries, and Ski areas hosted booths to give out samples and show off what they have planned for this season.

Multiple ski areas from the Mount Washington Valley in attendance including Black Mountain Ski Area, Cannon Mountain, Cranmore Mountain Resort, Great Glen Trails XC,  Jackson Ski Touring Center XC, and King Pine Ski Area.

Participating NH Beverage Companies included the Valley’s own Hobbs Brewery,Moat Mountain Brewery, Tamworth Distillery, Tuckermans Brewery, in addition to many other NH breweries, meaderies, and distilleries.

During the speaking part of the night, Taylor Caswell, the commissioner of the state Department of Business and Economic Affairs, announced the winter tourism forecast that more than 2.5 million overnight travelers are expected to spend $1.1 billion in the 2018-19 season.

Vicki Cimino, Director of the New Hampshire Department of Travel and Tourism, unveiled the 18/19 winter creative strategy for the Granite State. Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig—who learned to ski at McIntyre Ski Area—welcomed the crowd of more than 200 to what she hoped would become an annual event.

Jessyca Keeler, Executive Director of Ski New Hampshire, reported that the snowstorms of March left skiers and riders with a great finish to the 17/18 season, so people were excited about the 18/19 season starting. The constant snow storms this month and cold weather have elevated the excitement levels and those ski areas that were open for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend anecdotally reported that they saw great business levels. This most recent storm dropped over 15” at some ski areas.

With the early season natural snowfall throughout November and forecasts looking favorable for snowmaking in the coming weeks, the ski season in New Hampshire is off to a great start. Most alpine resorts are already open, as are several cross-country ski areas, and the remaining alpine areas are slated to open over the next few weeks.

Ski New Hampshire is the statewide association representing 32 alpine and cross-country resorts in New Hampshire. For more information on conditions and upcoming events at Ski New Hampshire’s 32 alpine and cross-country ski area members, visit SkiNH.com.

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