PINK PLASTIC FLAMINGOS CAN BE SEEN FLOCKING IN SNOWBANKS AND ON LAWNS AROUND THE VALLEY AREA

ORIGINALLY THE IDEA OF DONNA WOODWARD OF FRYEBURG, MAINE – THE PLANTING OF THE SCARF WEARING BIRDS IS A FUN WAY TO RAISE MONEY TO SUPPORT THE VERY SERIOUS MISSION OF JEN’S FRIENDS CANCER FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

RUTHANN FABRIZIO – A BOARD MEMBER WITH THE NON-PROFIT JEN’S FRIENDS – SAYS RIGHT NOW THE FOUNDATION IS SUPPORTING 62 CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, WITH EVERYTHING FROM FOOD, GAS, TO RENT AND CAR PAYMENTS.

SHE SAYS THE FOUNDATION SPENDS ABOUT $15,000 A MONTH.

JEN’S FRIENDS IS TRYING THE FLAMINGO FLOCKING FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN IN BARTLETT, JACKSON, NORTH CONWAY, CONWAY, MADISON AND FRYEBURG.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS – BY PAYING JEN’S FRIENDS A MINIMUM DONATION OF $10, YOU CAN HAVE A FLAMINGO PLACED ON SOMEONE’S LAWN OR BUSINESS. THE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN “FLOCKED” CAN THEN PAY $10 TO HAVE THE FLAMINGO REMOVED AND ANOTHER $10 TO HAVE ONE PLACED ON SOMEONE ELSE’S PROPERTY.

ANOTHER OPTION IS TO PURCHASE INSURANCE FOR $20 THAT WILL KEEP YOUR PROPERTY “FLAMINGO FREE.”

FABRIZIO SAYS IT’S ALL IN THE SPIRIT OF FUN AND NO ONE IS OBLIGATED TO PARTICIPATE.

THE FUNDRAISING DRIVE RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26.

TO PLACE AN ORDER FOR A FLAMINGO, CALL THE JEN’S FRIENDS FLAMINGO LINE AT (603) 374-2434 OR EMAIL flamingos@jensfriends.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORK THAT’S DONE BY THE FOUNDATION, SEE THE WEBSITE AT www.jensfriends.org.

NEW HAMPSHIRE FISH AND GAME CONSERVATION OFFICER SGT. BRIAN ABRAMS SAYS MOST FISHERMEN ARE REALLY GOOD AT PICKING UP AFTER THEMSELVES.

ABRAMS’ DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW HAMPSHIRE’S DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES ARE ASKING ICE FISHERMEN TO BE CAREFUL WITH THEIR GEAR SO THEY DON’T INADVERTENTLY HARM THE LAKES THEY FISH.

AUTHORITIES SAY THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS COMMONLY FOUND IN THE TACKLE BOX THAT CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR WATER QUALITY AND AQUATIC LIFE.

FIRST IS LEAD BASED TACKLE. SMALL LEAD TACKLE SUCH AS SINKERS, SOUNDERS OR JIGS CAN BE LOST DOWN THE FISHING HOLE AND SINK TO THE LAKE BOTTOM. WHEN THE ICE GOES OUT, THESE ITEMS CAN BE FATAL TO LOONS AND OTHER WATERFOWL WHO SWALLOW SMALL PEBBLES FROM THE LAKE BOTTOM.

PLASTIC JIGS AND TUBE BAITS CAN ALSO BE SWALLOWED BY WILDLIFE OR WASH UP ON BEACHES, CAUSING A HAZARD TO PEOPLE AND ANIMALS.

IF SPILLED, OIL BASED PRODUCTS CAN KILL AQUATIC LIFE AND CAUSE HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS.

LIVE BAIT THAT’S LEFT BEHIND COULD CONTAIN NON-NATIVE SPECIES OR EVEN PATHOGENS THAT ARE DANGEROUS TO AQUATIC LIFE.

HUMAN WASTE CONTAINS PATHOGENS AND HARMFUL BACTERIA – AND TRASH THAT’S GENERATED, AS WELL AS ROPE OR WOOD BLOCKS USED TO POSITION BOBHOUSES SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT.

AUTHORITIES SAY LIKE HIKING AND CAMPING, ICE FISHING SHOULD BE A “LEAVE NO TRACE” ACTIVITY.

U.S. SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN (R-NH) WILL NOT VISIT THE MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY AND THE NORTH COUNTRY FRIDAY.

SHAHEEN HAD PLANNED TO VISIT STUDENTS AT KENNETT HIGH SCHOOL IN CONWAY FRIDAY MORNING TO OBSERVE THEIR WORK WITH ROBOTS – AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT HOW IT TRANSLATES TO GOOD PAYING HIGH TECHNOLOGY JOBS.

THE SENATOR HAD ALSO PLANNED TO VISIT BERLIN FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO GET AN UPDATE ON HOW THE HIRING PROCESS IS GOING AT THE NEW FEDERAL PRISON.

SHAHEEN’S SCHEDULE CHANGED LATE THURSDAY WHEN IT WAS DECIDED IN WASHINGTON THE SENATE WOULD BE IN SESSION FRIDAY, OSTENSIBLY TO VOTE ON THE PROPOSED PAYROLL TAX CUT EXTENSION.

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THE ELAINE CONNERS CENTER FOR WILDLIFE IN MADISON WANTED TO DO SOMETHING WORTHWHILE AND BIG FOR ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY.

SO IT’S WORKING ON A PLAN WITH TOWN OFFICIALS IN MADISON TO ADD A ONE STORY CONFERENCE CENTER TO ITS 200-ACRE CAMPUS OFF PINE HILL.

EXEC. DIRECTOR AND LICENSED WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR CATHIE GREGG – WHO HAS RUN THE FACILITY SINCE IT STARTED ON SILVER LAKE IN THE FALL OF 1991 – SAYS THE NEW 28 BY 48 FOOT BUILDING WILL ACCOMMODATE SMALL GROUPS, FACILITATE TRAINING – AND SERVE AS A MEETING PLACE.

GREGG SAYS IT’S ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THE CENTER’S MISSION TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT ITS WORK, BUT UP UNTIL NOW THAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE OFF-SITE. SHE SAYS ADDING A BUILDING WILL PUT A ROOF ON THE CENTER’S EDUCATION OUTREACH.

NAMED IN MEMORY OF THE LATE ELAINE CONNERS – AN ANIMAL ADVOCATE WHO LIVED IN MADISON – THE WILDLIFE CENTER IS A NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES A SAFE HAVEN FOR MORE THAN 600 INJURED AND FRAGILE ANIMALS EACH YEAR, INCLUDING BABY BIRDS, SQUIRRELS, RAPTORS AND ORPHANED FAWNS.

GREGG SAYS THE MADISON ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED THE PLAN FOR THE NEW BUILDING WEDNESDAY NIGHT – AND THE PLAN WILL GO BACK TO THE PLANNING BOARD TO FINISH UP MARCH 7TH.

EXPECTED TO BE BUILT AND FINISHED IN THE FALL OF 2012 – THE NEW BUILDING WILL BE PARTIALLY FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE NEW HAMPSHIRE BASED BUTLER FOUNDATION AND PRIVATE DONORS – BUT GREGG SAYS MORE MONEY IS STILL NEEDED FOR THE PROJECT.

THE HANDICAPPED ACCESSSIBLE BUILDING WILL FEATURE A CONFERENCE ROOM, MEETING ROOM, LIBRARY, OFFICES, FULL BASEMENT AND A RESTROOM. AND IT WILL HAVE SPACE FOR A COUPLE OF FEATHERED AMBASSADORS – TWO HAWKS THAT CAN’T BE RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL THE CENTER AT (603) 367-9453.

THE BROWNFIELD, MAINE FIRE CHIEF SAYS NO ONE WAS HURT WEDNESDAY MORNING AND THERE WAS MINIMAL DAMAGE TO AN OLD FARMHOUSE AFTER A CHIMNEY FIRE.

DICK PERREAULT SAYS HE CALLED FOR FIREFIGHTERS FROM DENMARK, MAINE AND CENTER CONWAY TO ASSIST BUT BY THE TIME HIS FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED AT 809 HAMPSHIRE ROAD THE HOMEOWNERS HAD BEEN DUMPING WATER ON THE FIRE AND IT WAS PUT OUT RELATIVELY QUICKLY, EVEN THOUGH IT HAD GOTTEN INTO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.

THE CHIEF SAYS THE CAUSE WAS PROBABLY A BUILD UP OF CREOSOTE IN THE CHIMNEY.

CENTER CONWAY FIRE CHIEF RAY LEAVITT SAYS HE SENT THREE TRUCKS BUT THE FIRE WAS ESSENTIALLY UNDER CONTROL BY THE TIME HIS FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED AT THE SCENE SHORTLY AFTER 4:30 A.M.

THE CENTER CONWAY CREWS WERE RELEASED FROM THE SCENE ABOUT 45 MINUTES LATER.

THE ORGANIZER OF THIS WEEKEND’S 35TH ANNUAL HOPE ON THE SLOPES RACE TO BEAT CANCER AT CRANMORE MOUNTAIN RESORT IN NORTH CONWAY SAYS THE EVENT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY COMMUNITY EXEC. KATHY METZ SAYS MORE THAN $17,000 WAS RAISED TO FUND CANCER RESEARCH AND PROVIDE PATIENT SERVICES IN THE MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY.

ABOUT 100 VOLUNTEERS ENJOYED SKIING, SNOWBOARDING AND TUBING RACES AT CRANMORE SUNDAY.

THE TOP THREE INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISERS WERE JESSI FRECHETTE OF COLEBROOK, WHO RAISED MORE THAN $1,330 – RICHARD AYERS OF GLEN, WHO RAISED $1,310 – AND 12-YEAR-OLD NEVILLE WHITE OF JACKSON, WHO RAISED $1,120.

THE TOP 3 TEAM FUND RAISERS INCLUDED “WHEN PIGS FLY,” WITH $1,640, “ROUND TABLE FARM” WITH $1,063 AND “TEAM Q,” WITH $715.

METZ SAYS DONATIONS WILL BE USED TO SPEED UP THE SEARCH FOR NEW WEAPONS TO FIGHT CANCER. WITH CANCER SOON BECOMING THE NUMBER ONE KILLER IN AMERICA AS BABY BOOMERS AGE – AND IN ORDER TO EXPAND PATIENT SERVICES AND RESEARCH NEW WAYS OF TREATMENT – METZ SAYS MORE PUBLIC ATTENTION AND MONEY NEEDS TO BE CHANNELED TO THE PROBLEM.

METZ HAS ALREADY STARTED ORGANIZING FOR NEXT YEAR’S EVENT AND VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN AND SERVE ON THE 2013 PLANNING COMMITTEE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EVENTS, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OFFERED IN THE VALLEY, CALL METZ AT (603) 356-3719.

CONWAY POLICE SAY A 35-YEAR-OLD NORTH CONWAY WOMAN IS CHARGED WITH DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED AFTER SHE ALLEGEDLY DROVE INTO A PARKED CAR IN NORTH CONWAY TUESDAY MORNING.

POLICE GOT A CALL AROUND 5 A.M. SAYING SOMEONE HAD HIT A PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF THE EASTERN SLOPE INN ON ROUTE 16.

NORTH CONWAY FIRE AND RESCUE AND NORTH CONWAY AMBULANCE RESPONDED ALONG WITH POLICE AFTER A REPORT AIRBAGS IN A RED 2008 SUBARU HAD DEPLOYED AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE CAR’S ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

LT. CHRIS PERLEY SAYS THE DRIVER OF THE SUBARU – IDENTIFIED AS ANNA ALINA FRANKOWSKA OF WHITE MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY – WAS CHECKED AT THE SCENE AND DID NOT REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION. SHE ALLEGEDLY APPEARED VISIBLY INTOXICATED AND WAS ARRESTED.

HER CAR – AND THE CAR SHE ALLEGEDLY HIT – IDENTIFIED AS A 2011 BLACK 4-DOOR CHEVY IMPALA – WERE BOTH TOWED FROM THE SCENE.

NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE POLICE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE DRIVER WHO DIED SUNDAY MORNING AFTER A COLLISION IN TAMWORTH AS 32-YEAR-OLD JAMES BLUHM OF ASHLAND, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

TROOPER FIRST CLASS BRUCE ELA OF TROOP E IN TAMWORTH SAYS BLUHM HAD BEEN DRIVING A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR WHEN HE CROSSED THE YELLOW CENTERLINE SHORTLY BEFORE 10 A.M. FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON AND COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A 2008 FORD EXPLORER BEING DRIVEN BY46-YEAR-OLD CLINTON WEST OF NORTH BILLERICA, MASS.

IT HAPPENED ON ROUTE 16 NEAR CHOCORUA LAKE. TAMWORTH POLICE AND TAMWORTH FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THE SCENE.

ELA SAYS WEST HAD TWO PASSENGERS AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION – 43-YEAR-OLD PATRICIA RYAN, ALSO OF BILLERICA, AND A 6-YEAR-OLD BOY. ALL THREE WERE TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN NORTH CONWAY WITH WHAT WERE BELIEVED TO BE NON LIFE THREATENING INJURIES.

BLUHM DIED AT THE SCENE.

ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE SEEN THE COLLISION OR HAS INFORMATION ABOUT IT IS ASKED TO CALL STATE POLICE AT (603) 223-8838.

THE CONWAY DAILY SUN SAYS A 41-YEAR-OLD CONWAY MAN WHO WAS FOUND GUILTY ON FOUR CHARGES AGAINST HIM FACES A POTENTIAL PRISON TERM OF 11 AND A HALF YEARS TO 21 YEARS.

THE SUN SAYS A SUPERIOR COURT JURY IN OSSIPEE FOUND WILLIAM RAMSEY GUILTY FRIDAY OF FELONY SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT, KIDNAPPING, RECKLESS CONDUCT AND MISDEMEANOR CRIMINAL THREATENING, WHILE FINDING HIM NOT GUILTY OF ATTEMPTED MURDER.

THE CASE STEMMED FROM AN INCIDENT IN DECEMBER OF 2010 DURING WHICH RAMSEY ALLEGEDLY BEAT HIS DOMESTIC PARTNER AND TRIED TO FORCE A CURLING IRON DOWN HER THROAT.

CARROLL COUNTY ATTORNEY TOM DEWHURST TELLS THE SUN HE’S PLEASED WITH THE VERDICT.

WRITER: MACKENZIE FEB 14 2012 FROM THE CONWAY DAILY SUN, FEB 14 2012