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Fast-casual Burrito Brand, Chipotle, is Opening a Restaurant in North Conway

North Conway, NH – Chipotle Mexican Grill is opening a 2,548 square foot restaurant in North Conway, featuring a mobile order pickup drive-thru, 45 seat dining room and outdoor patio dining area. The restaurant is part of a 5’875 square foot commercial site being developed by OVP Management, Inc. on Route 16 in North Conway.

Chipotle is an international fast-casual restaurant chain serving responsibly sourced, classically-cooked Mexican fare including burritos, bowls, tacos and salads. Founded in 1993 by Steve Ells in Denver, Colorado, the company is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. The original technique and service style were borrowed from taquerias in San Francisco, which served Mission-style burritos. Chipotle was an early adopter to the open kitchen, and one of the first fresh, fast food chains that grew substantially in the mid-2000s. Chipotle has more than 2,000 locations worldwide including Canada, United Kingdom, France and Germany.

The company’s latest innovation is the mobile order pickup drive-thru, branded as Chipotlanes, which were introduced in 2018 and are now being included in more than 60% of all new Chipotle restaurants, including the North Conway restaurant. Chipotlanes have an entire team and kitchen devoted to digital orders in addition to the walk-in dining area.

The building located at 1549 White Mountain Highway has been designed by Cambridge, Massachusetts-based architecture firm Prellwitz Chilinski Associates, Inc. Site work is under way by local contractors including Gordon T. Burke & Sons, Rotten Rock Concrete, and CBI Construction. Chipotle is scheduled to open Summer 2021. Up to 3,500 square feet of prime leasing space remains available. To learn more, contact Rob Barsamian at 617-965-9700, ext. 13.

 

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Rescuers Assist Hikers from Black Angel Trail After Beacon Activation

Bean’s Purchase – A group of hikers activated their emergency beacon while also calling 911 after a member of their party started exhibiting signs of possible cold weather symptoms.  The group had just started to descend the Black Angel Trail from the Carter Dome Trail and were approximately 5 miles in from Route 16 when the call for help went out.

The group of five were on the second day of a planned three day hike starting from Bog Brook in Jackson Saturday morning.  The group hiked Bog Brook Trail, Rainbow Trail to the Carter Dome Trail.  They had just started down Black Angel Trail when they made the call.  In addition to the one hiker’s unspecified condition, a drop in temperature combined with the wet clothing and steep terrain precipitated the call for help.

NH Fish & Game Conservation Officers and volunteers from Androscoggin Valley Search & Rescue responded to the call.

The group of hikers identified as Vaiva Snapkauskaite, 23, of Lake Forest, Ca, Abigail Taussig, 23, of Cambridge, MA, Alexander Quinn, 24, of Cambridge, MA, Katherine Steinberg, 24, of Boston, MA, and Amanda Farnsworth, 23, of North Kingston, RI attempted to stay warm in their wet sleeping bags, but the exposure at the high elevation, just made them colder.  There was not enough cell phone coverage to hold a call, but a Fish and Game Conservation Officer was able establish contact via text.

After being told that it would be several hours before rescuers would be able to reach them, the hikers heeded the advice given to them and began to move and were able to make it back up to the ridge onto the Carter Dome Trail.  From there they made it to Zeta Path where they were met by the first of several rescuers.

Rescuers provided the group with hot drinks and warm clothes and guided them down to the 19 Mile Brook Trail and eventually out to Route 16 in Green’s Grant.  The hikers and rescue crew made it out shortly after 11:00 p.m.  The hikers suffered no adverse medical effects from the cold and after proper hydration and continuing movement, were able to make it down with little assistance.

In the span of a couple days, the weather in the higher terrain has changed from summer to winter conditions.  There is now several inches to several feet of snow in the higher elevations.  Hikers who plan to continue hiking are reminded to plan for winter conditions by having the proper equipment and training to be able to safely complete their hike and need to pay attention to the weather and summit conditions and alter plans if conditions are not ideal.

Outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to purchase a Hike Safe card at wildnh.com/safe.  The card helps support Fish and Game search and rescue activities.

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Route 16 In Ossipee To Close This Weekend

OSSIPEE – The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) is reminding motorists that the demolition and slide-in replacement of the Bearcamp River Bridge in Ossipee will begin on Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 6 pm.  This project will require the closure of NH Route 16 at the Bearcamp River for three days.

NH Route 16 will be closed to all traffic at the Bearcamp River area between Newman Drew Road and Nichols Road. This closure is necessary for the demolition of the existing bridge, the slide in of the new bridge, and all additional work required to re-open the bridge and roadway. The scheduled target time for bridge and roadway to re-open is Tuesday, October 20th at 6:00 am.  A webcam will live stream project progress of the work during the three days and nights of construction.

To accommodate this project, there will be a detour in place for motorists traveling to and from destinations outside of this closure. Motorists are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and to use the roads detailed here: https://www.nh.gov/dot/projects/ossipee14749/documents/14749_pip_07192016_detour.pdf.  NH Route 16 will be open to all local businesses and residents and for motorists traveling to destinations in the immediate area of the road closure.

This work is part of a project that consists of the replacement of three bridges (Lovell River, Bearcamp River, and Bearcamp Relief), and 3.5 miles of roadway reconstruction on NH Route 16.

Reed and Reed General Contractors of Woolwich, Maine is the contractor for the $16.9 million project.

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Housing Sought for College Students Hoping to Work In and Around Mt. Washington Valley

North Conway, NH – The Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce (MWVCC) has been contacted by college students from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst who are interested in working this winter in the White Mountains.  They are attending classes remotely and are hoping to find jobs in and around Mt. Washington Valley to augment their income while studying.  The chamber is seeking anyone interested in offering a room or accommodations in their home for these students ideally through December 30, 2020 or beyond. Ideally, the students would have access to private or shared baths and shared kitchens too.  Funds are available through MWVCC to offer Covid-19 testing for all students to insure they are safe to travel, work and live in the Valley.

“We are hoping to find people living in the Valley who will open their homes to students, much like they might for a foreign exchange student,” said Janice Crawford, Executive Director of the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce. “This is such a win: win for the Valley.  Businesses throughout the Valley are desperately seeking workers and these students come to the Valley ready and motivated to work!” she added.

The Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce is working in collaboration with the six chambers and associations in the White Mountains to help identify, recruit and pair workers with available job openings through a new Workforce Recruitment and Housing Development program, funded by the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR) and a special program called the Chamber of Commerce Partnership Assistance Fund. Through this program, new workforce sources and housing for them are being identified, like this – using students to help fill tourism related positions during the busy winter season.  Both Janice Crawford and Kathleen Flammia of the Jackson Chamber, are spearheading this program.

Anyone interested in offering a place in their home for students to live throughout the winter or have additional questions about the workforce program are encouraged to contact Janice Crawford via email at Janice@MtWashingtonValley.org.

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Mount Washington Radio Wins BIG at the 2020 Granite Mikes

Picture courtesy of Mt. Washington Radio Group: At the 2019 Granite Mikes; (From Left to Right) Gino Devaney, Christian Mower, and Tony Zore

 

Just this morning the New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters had their annual Granite Mikes presentation. Due to COVID-19 the ceremony was broadcast virtually via ZOOM. Every year the radio and television broadcasters from all over New Hampshire get together to discuss the industry and recognize those who have done outstanding work in their field.

2020 proved to be a challenging year for all but despite that, Mount Washington Radio was still nominated for numerous awards and once again earned a few.

First, our Afternoon Community Connections Show; Drive Time: A Valley Update on COVID 19 featuring Memorial Hospital won a Merit Award for “NH’s Best Local Special Program/Event”.

Next, our sister station Magic 104 was awarded “NH’s Best Use of Digital Media” for their collaboration with Sea Dog Brewery and the Conway Area Humane Society; Sea Dog to the Rescue.

And last but certainly not least, Magic 104’s Gino and The Magic Morning Show was awarded “NH’s Best Morning Show“. This is Gino’s second time winning this award, the first time was back in 2017.

“The Best Morning Show category is not an easy award to win once, let alone twice, and we could not be more proud of Gino and his show,” says Mount Washington Radio Owner and General Manager Greg Frizzell, “We see all the hard work that goes into creating the morning show each day and we are so happy that it was once again recognized on a state level.”

Click the link to read the Official Press Release; NHAB – 2020 – Granite Mic Awards Press Release and to view the “Virtual Award Ceremony” click below!

Skip to 13:35 for the Best Morning Show Award, 16:35 for the Best Use of Digital Media Award, and 17:55 for the Merit Award for Local Special Program/Event.

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M&D Playhouse Announces Cancellation of Season

M&D Playhouse at the Eastern Slope Inn Playhouse has announced the suspension of the remainder of the 2020 season. Citing current news predicting further COVID surges and a re-evaluation of the spread through ventilation systems and potentially more dangerous transmission the organization’s board of directors has made the tough decision to cease operations until spring 2021.

A year that began as a celebration of the 20th Anniversary of M&D Playhouse became a year of challenge for this company as well as all businesses in the community. After a tremendously successful presentation of THE ODD COUPLE, programming was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic just weeks before the opening of the Theatre Arts Studio production of MATILDA the Musical. In addition, the theatre lost the ability to present the much-anticipated summer season which included CLUE Onstage, CABARET and a return of the singing competition VOICE OF THE VALLEY.

M&D ventured to bring a series of plays in September/October abiding by CDC guidelines and all precautions to keep actors, staff, volunteers and patrons safe, but attendance was minimal and they had to take a hard look at the future of the company.

“We are so disappointed to come to this conclusion”, said Deborah Jasien, Executive Director. “Our organization maintained the highest level of security protocols during this time and while we feel confident in the safety of our theatre space we have come to the undeniable reality that our audiences are not ready to come back to the playhouse.

With 37 NH Theatre Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award for founding director Ken Martin, and the NETC Award for Excellence in the American Theatre, M&D has proven that quality live theatre has a place in this vibrant community.

“While we wait to see what the long-lasting effects Covid-19 will have on entertainment venues, we are hopeful we can get back to producing live theatre to the community in 2021 and will be announcing our new season by the end of the year,” said Artistic Director Mark Sickler. “In the meantime, we are now exploring potential virtual alternatives, including a one man presentation of A Christmas Carol”.

”Our community has been very generous through these challenging times and we are grateful. We hope for continued support as it will be instrumental in launching our 2021 season,” said Jasien.

M&D Playhouse, an IRS 501(c)3 non-profit organization, became the theatre in residence at the historic Eastern Slope Inn Playhouse in 2019, after 10 years at Willow Commons. For more information or to make a donation, please visit MDPlayhouse.com.