Picture Courtesy of North Conway Public Library: On the new bridge that joins the original building to the new expansion are from left: Dot Seybold, Executive Director, Ham Foundation, Linda Eldridge, Ham Foundation, Andrea Masters, Library Director, and Kathy Bergeron, Library Board.

 

The North Conway Public Library is the recipient of a matching grant from the Kendal C. and Anna Ham Charitable Foundation in the amount of $50,000 to be awarded upon successful completion of funds raised by October 2021.

The library is currently in the end phase of their fundraising campaign, The Final Chapter, with a focus on completing the interior with furnishings, technology, books, shelving, and more.

The addition has nearly doubled the size of the library and it is now a modern state-of-the-art building with new construction that complements the magnificent history of the original structure. It is a true community center and hub for learning, reading, entertainment, history, art, and continuing education for the whole valley.

The North Conway Library has been serving the community since 1887, throughout major wars, economic depressions, and even throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite construction and the lockdown, the library continued to provide materials via curbside service, online via the downloadable books program, and via email within 24 hours. Because of the pandemic, it started several streaming video programs for its patrons: Kanopy, KanopyKids, Acorn, and Qello. The library is free and open to the public and anyone living in the whole Mount Washington Valley is eligible for a free library card. Current library hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm and Friday from noon to 4 pm.

“As the pandemic has shown, libraries serve as beacons in times of crisis, are trusted sources of reliable and accessible information, and provide crucial services such as online access for our residents that need to file for unemployment, apply for jobs, seek routine medical care via tele-medicine, and much more”, said Sharon Wroblewski, Capital Campaign Chair. “We thought our project was the perfect fit for the Ham Foundation’s mission which strives to improve community life in the Mount Washington Valley and to foster the vitality of our community. We are grateful for their support.”

For more information or to make a donation please visit northconwaylibrary.com or mail to PO Box 409, North Conway, NH 03860.

For questions please email [email protected].

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Picture Courtesy of Conway Police: Michael Deveno

Picture Courtesy of Conway Police: Melanie Michael

 

On Monday, February 8, 2020, at approximately 10:33 pm Sergeant Lapoint of the Conway Police Department was dispatched to Walmart for a report of a male who was attempting to steal merchandise from the store.  The male subject was identified to be:

Michael Deveno

52 years old

Franklin, NH

and was taken into custody for Willful Concealment.  Patrolman Sterl arrived on scene and located a female in the parking lot of Walmart who was later identified to be:

Melanie Michael

41 years old

Northfield, NH.

Melanie Michael had arrived at Walmart with Michael Deveno in a 2018 Honda CR-V.  Officers ran the VIN number on the Honda CR-V and found that it had recently been reported as stolen out of Concord, NH.  Both Michael Deveno and Melanie Michael were charged with Felony Receiving Stolen Property as defined by NH RSA 637:7. Michael Deveno was also charged with Felony Willful Concealment as defined by NH RSA 637:3.  This charge was brought as a felony based upon his extensive criminal history which includes several prior convictions for Theft.

Michael Deveno and Melanie Michael were both bailed the following afternoon, Tuesday February 9, 2020, and released on personal recognizance.

On Wednesday morning, February 10, 2021 at approximately 6:40 am officers were dispatched to the North Conway Irving gas station for a report of a red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck that had been stolen from the parking lot.  The male operator stated that he left the truck running while he went inside the store.  When he returned outside, the truck was gone.  The vehicle was last seen traveling northbound on Route 16 from the Irving parking lot.

At approximately 7:00 am the red Toyota Tacoma was spotted traveling northbound on Route 16 by Jackson Police Officer Staff Sergeant Nathan Boothby.  Staff Sergeant Boothby pursued the stolen Toyota Tacoma northbound on Route 16 into Gorham, NH.  The vehicle collided with a tree in Gorham, NH where the male operator exited the vehicle and ran into an occupied residence.  Officers pursued him into the residence and took him into custody without further incident.  The male was identified to be the same Michael Deveno who had been arrested in Conway on Monday evening.  Deveno had a female passenger in the truck with him.  She was identified to be Melanie Michael.

Michael Deveno is being charged by the Conway Police Department, Jackson Police Department and Gorham Police Department for a number of charges to include Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Receiving Stolen Property, Reckless Conduct, Disobeying a Police Officer and Criminal Trespass.  Melanie Michael will also be charged by the Conway Police Department for her role in stealing the vehicle from the North Conway Irving.

Both Michael Deveno and Melanie Michael will be held to appear before the court.

Christopher Mattei

Chief of Conway Police

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Picture Courtesy of NH Fish & Game

 

Bretton Woods – At approximately 3:00 PM on Tuesday, February 9^th, 2021, a male operator was injured when the rental snowmobile he had been operating veered off the trail and collided with a tree.  The operator was participating in a guided snowmobile tour on Corridor 11 (Base Station Road) in the town of Bretton Woods when the incident occurred.  The operator of the snowmobile was identified as Jonathan L. Shaver, age 21, of Manhattan, Illinois.

Emergency personnel were notified of the collision by a 911 call from another member of the guided snowmobile tour.  EMS personnel from Twin Mountain Fire and Rescue, a police officer from the Carroll Police Department and a Conservation Officer from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department all responded. Ultimately, the operator was transported by ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital in Littleton for further evaluation and treatment.

During the investigation it was determined that the operator had traveled approximately 1 mile since starting the guided snowmobile tour at 2:30 PM and had never operated a snowmobile prior to the incident.  The operator was wearing a helmet and inexperience is considered the primary contributing factor in the collision.  Alcohol or drugs were not a factor in the collision.

Picture Courtesy of NH Fish & Game

 

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