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Another Successful Fun Run At Story Land In The Books

Photo Courtesy of Believe In Books Literacy Foundation
 

On Labor Day morning, 398 kids from all over New England came to Story Land to run for a great cause. Believe in Books Literacy Foundation partnered with Memorial Hospital and Story Land to create this event 5 years ago and this year’s Fun Run ended up being the biggest to date. Over 50 volunteers signed up to help with registration as well as guiding young runners through the course.

After registration, the runners got to see some of their favorite characters such as Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, & Tigger at registration. Mother Goose, Tinker Bell, Peter Pan, Cinderella, Little Bo Beep, & Scarecrow from Story Land all made appearances as the races were about to start and were there at the finish line cheering on the kids.

Races started off right at 9 am with the 9-12 year olds running 1K through Story Land followed by the Tot Trot for children 4 and under. The 5 and 6 year olds followed by the 7 and 8 year olds each ran a different ½K through the amusement park.

At the finish line, the Story Land Characters with a few of the medical staff from Memorial Hospital handed out medals to each participant. Each participant also received a free pass into Story Land for that day.

Erin Sweeny From Believe in Books said “We are so grateful with how successful this event turned out to be and look forward to our next fundraiser, The 100 Acre Challenge: a 5k Obstacle Adventure on Saturday, September 23rd, 2017.”

This fundraiser is one of many that the Believe In Books Literacy Foundation has created to help support its literacy initiatives.  The Believe In Books Literacy Foundation is a Charitable 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit guided by the needs and involvement of the communities of which it serves, with a mission to advance healthy development of young minds through literacy programs that encourage early reading, imagination, and physical activity. Visit believeinbooks.org for more information about our fundraisers and literacy programs.

 

Contributed by:

Erin Sweeney
Marketing & Media
Believe in Books Literacy Foundation
P.O. Box 1800
Intervale, NH 03845
PH: (603) 356-9980
FAX: (603) 356-9688
believeinbooks.org
 
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Man Injured In UTV Accident

Berlin, NH – A man was injured in a UTV crash in Berlin on Labor Day. Fish and Game Officials report that 55-year-old Scott Riendeau of Gorham crashed the vehicle about .2 miles east of Little People Pond on the Bobo Crow Trail. He was immediately assisted by other members of his riding party, who administered first aid and called 911.

Personnel from the Berlin Fire Department, Berlin EMS, Berlin Police Department and New Hampshire Fish and Game responded to the scene upon receiving word of the incident.

Reindeau was then transported to Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

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24-Year-Old Dies At Livermore Falls

Livermore Falls ~ Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

Campton, NH – A young man died while at a popular swimming area yesterday(Monday). New Hampshire Fish and Game Officials said that at 4pm 24-year-old Saige Bradbury, from Bellingham, Massachusetts jumped off a large cliff at Livermore Falls on the Pemigewassett River in Campton but did not resurface.

A couple of good Samaritans attempted to locate Bradbury immediately after, but were unsuccessful. Bradbury’s body was found 2 hours later in the area where he entered the water and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities said the water was calm with a slight current where the victim was found. Officials believe Bradbury may have slipped off the top and struck some rocks before entering the water, but the incident remains under investigation. An autopsy is scheduled for later today.

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White Mountain National Forest Oversight has Changing of the Guard

LINCOLN – After proudly showing off the place to his bosses, including Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and new U.S. Forest Service Chief Tony Tooke, Tom Wagner retired on Sept. 1 after 15 years as supervisor of the White Mountain National Forest.

Located mostly in New Hampshire but also stretching into Maine, the WMNF, said Tooke, “has a great reputation in the country.”

Tooke was supposed to be sworn in Friday by Perdue during a ceremony at the Pemigewasset Overlook in Lincoln, off the Kancamagus Highway, but high winds forced the event to be moved farther east on the Kanc to the Russell Colbath House.

At the historic site, Perdue welcomed Tooke, who succeeds Tom Tidwell of Boise, Idaho, who, like Wagner, is stepping down after a more than 40-year career with the Forest Service.

A native of Alabama, Tooke has worked for the Forest Service since age 18.

Most recently Tooke was associate deputy chief for the National Forest System with oversight of lands and realty; minerals and geology; ecosystem management coordination; wilderness and wild and scenic rivers; the National Partnership Office; and business administration and support services.

He is well-traveled, having been deputy forest supervisor for the National Forests in Florida as well as a district ranger at the Talladega National Forest in Alabama, the Oconee National Forest in Georgia and the DeSoto National Forest in Mississippi.

Until last Friday, Tooke had never been to the WMNF but said he immediately liked what he saw here.

While he did not have specific goals for the WMNF, which has a management plan, Tooke said his term as Forest Service head would be marked by greater responsiveness to national forest neighbor communities, adding that Town Hall-style meetings have proven to work well in other venues where he has served.

Tooke acknowledged that national forests face a number of challenges, invasive insects and fires among them; 2017 is “another tough year” in terms of forest fires, he said, and those fires, mostly out west, are putting a dent in the Forest Service’s overall budget.

In his new position, Tooke said he’d work to expand the relationships among the Forest Service, partners and volunteers.

Wagner closed the swearing-in ceremony by thanking the many partners and “the employees of the White Mountain National Forest” for making his tenure there is a success.

Story Courtesy of John Kozial, newhampshire.com

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Anniversary of the First Motorized Ascent of Mt. Washington


Pinkham Notch, NH — August 31st marks an important anniversary for the Mt. Washington Auto Road, commemorating a landmark event that put emphasis on the word “Auto” in the road’s current-day moniker.

Completed in 1861, the historic road to the summit of Mt. Washington was originally referred to as the Mt. Washington Carriage Road. Motorized vehicles were still several decades away from invention, and hearty travellers braved the elements and rough conditions in horse-drawn wagons for the four hour trip to the summit. On August 31, 1899 history was made with the first motorized ascent of Mt. Washington.


Freelan O. Stanley, of Stanley Steamer fame, climbed the road as a publicity stunt for the Locomobile Company, which had recently bought the manufacturing rights to his new invention. Freelan and his wife, Flora drove their Locomobile from Newton, Massachusetts to the summit of Mt. Washington—a trip which took five days to get to the base of the mountain, and then two hours and 10 minutes to drive to the summit. It was a testament to the capabilities of this new mode of transportation, and a glimpse into the future of motorized vehicles.


Mrs. Stanley wrote of the event, stating, “We went on and up, up, still up, the continuous climbing being varied only by a steepness so excessive that as we looked ahead to it, we felt a sickening anxiety lest each brilliant dash should be our last . . . Our engine, panting and quivering, never failed us, but pushed us bravely over seemingly impassable heights.”


There were more steam-powered ascents during the next three years, and then in 1902, the first two gasoline-powered cars reached the summit. Automobile manufacturers quickly looked upon the road as the ultimate proving ground for their new “horseless carriages” and in 1904 the inaugural Climb to the Clouds race was held. This historic hillclimb included drivers such as Francis E. Stanley, Freelan’s twin, in his 6-horsepower Steamer, Harry Harkness in his 40-horsepower Mercedes, and other entries from burgeoning companies such as Pierce, Oldsmobile, Rambler and Daimler. None were able to match the speed of the Mercedes, with Harkness posting a winning time of 24 minutes, 37 and ⅗ seconds.
Fast-forward to July 9, 2017 where a new Climb to the Clouds record was set by Subaru driver Travis Pastrana—a blistering time of just 5 minutes, 44.72 seconds.


While technology has changed greatly since the 1800s, the excitement and allure of ascending the Northeast’s highest peak has not. Today, a journey on the Mt. Washington Auto Road is still as breathtaking as it always has been.




Written by:

Crispin Battles, Marketing Director
Mt. Washington Auto Road
Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center
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Man Arrested For Allegedly Punching Truck Window During Road Rage Incident

34-year-old Reid Patten was arrested for criminal mischief ~ Photo Courtesy of Wolfeboro Police



Wolfeboro, NH – A Wolfeboro man was arrested after punching out a window during a road rage incident. Wolfeboro police reported that at 8:05 pm they received a call about an altercation where 34-year-old Reid Patten allegedly punched and broke the window of a man’s Toyota Tacoma at Citizen’s Bank. The suspect then left the scene.

While Officers were talking with the victim and a witness the suspect returned. He allegedly admitted to police that he had smashed the window. Authorities said that Patten stated he wanted to own up to what he did, apologized and stated a gun was pointed at him by the operator of the truck.

Police asked the victim if he had in fact pointed the gun at the suspect. The victim said that he had pulled his gun out but it remained in its holster and was never pointed at Patten according to Police.

Patten was placed under arrest for criminal mischief and reckless operation.  He was released and given a court date of October 4th.