NEWS FROM THE VILLAGE

Travel NOW During Random Acts of Kindness Week!

In a gesture of kindness to recognize Random Acts of Kindness Week, The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls is offering special low rates on selected dates. Random Acts of Kindness Week officially runs February 15 – 21, but this resort is getting a jump on the week by extending its offer for the dates of February 7 – 11. Reserve Travel NOW rates online by entering TNOW in the promotional code box or by calling our reservations line at 800-622-6455.

Eight Kindness Gifts

via http://www.kindacts.net/ideas_resources/RAK_week/RAK_week.shtml

The Gift of Listening…

But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response, just listening.

The Gift of Affection…

Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.

The Gift of Laughter…

Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”

The Gifts of a Written Note…

It can be a simple “Thanks for the help” note or a full sonnet. A brief, hand-written note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

The Gift of a Compliment…

A simple and sincere, “You look great in red,” “You did a super job” or “That was a wonderful meal” can make someone’s day.

The Gift of a Favor…

Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

The Gift of Solitude…

There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.

The Gift of a Cheerful Disposition…

The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone, really it’s not that hard to say, “Hello” or “Thank you.”

- by Isaac Ng, Singapore

Visit our colleague’s web site for more inspiration at www.worldkindness.org.sg.

image credit:  Gibson Claire McGuire Regester at flickr.com

Meredith Hosts First Annual Pond Hockey Classic Tournament

Get ready for another busy weekend in the village—The New England Pond Hockey Classic will be held February 5^th through the 7^th and will bring together 77 teams from across the northeast to compete on seven rinks that are ready on the ice of Meredith Bay.

Pond hockey is a form of ice hockey that is a traditional winter game played by pick-up teams on a natural frozen body of water in northern towns. “It’s going to be a throwback experience, like going back in time to hockey’s roots, to the real basics. People have a lot of good memories of pond hockey and that’s really how the game was born,” said Scott Crowder, tournament director.

The 3-day tournament will accommodate adult teams in five different age divisions.  Games will be played in a four-on-four, no goalie, round-robin format, with small, six-inch high goals. “That discourages slap shots and makes accuracy and passing a big part of the game,” Crowder said.  There will be no referees, but instead a rink monitor who will ensure that the competitive spirit of the players stays in place.

The New England Pond Hockey Classic (NEPHC) has partnered with four non-profits:  The Greater Meredith Program, Restore Hockey, Lakes Region Youth Hockey and the Special Olympics of NH.  All will be present throughout the course of the weekend hoping to raise some money to benefit their missions.  NEPHC will hold a silent auction and raffle in the Chase House Flagship Ballroom on Friday and Saturday from 9:00 – 5:00, with all proceeds going to benefit the non-profit partners.

NEPHC is also planning two socials to take place in the Flagship Ballroom.  On Friday evening, tournament participants and guests can be merry while watching the Hockey East game live on NESN, and at the Saturday night social, winners of the Silent Auction and Raffle will be announced.  Both events will have a cash bar and light fare provided by the Common Man Restaurant.

“We have received a wonderful response from participants, sponsors, and volunteers alike,” says Crowder.  “We currently have over 35 teams on a wait list for the tournament.  We have over 60 volunteers and a number of wonderful sponsors on board to help make this event a great success in its first year.”

Crowder, the founder of Ekal Excursions LLC, which was formed to promote the Lakes Region lifestyle year-round, says, “I couldn’t be happier to call Lake Winnipesaukee and Meredith my home.  Visitors during tournament weekend will truly feel like they have traveled back in time as they pull into the village with its charming character and old New England architecture and see a frozen lake filled with pond hockey rinks.”

Crowder says the New England Pond Hockey Classic is looking to run an event that will grow over the years and ultimately involve multiple locations around the lake for much larger tournaments.  “It’s nice to provide this opportunity for pond hockey players from New England.  We hope the Pond Hockey Classic will become an annual event for the players of this region for years to come.”

Can’t make it to the event? 
Thanks to InterLakes.TV, you can watch the 2010 New England Pond Hockey Classic from the comfort of your own home!  Some videos will be pre-recorded and others will be streamed live from Lake Winnipesaukee.
 Please visit www.interlakes.tv to watch the action!

Pond Hockey Tournament in Maine:

sources:

http://pondhockeyclassic.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pond_hockey

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=NH’s+Pond+Hockey+Classic+will+draw+hundreds+next+month&articleId=c39a1111-b9e8-4d25-a520-40e2103e7529

http://www.vacationlakesregionnh.com/ArticleView/tabid/310/smid/920/ArticleID/649/reftab/311/t/New-England-Pond-Hockey-Classic/Default.aspx

Meredith Inns Host Saturday Wagon Rides and Campfires

For some good old-fashioned fun this winter, catch a ride on a horse-drawn wagon!  The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls are hosting Saturday night wagon rides in Meredith Village, complete with a campfire, to warm up the chilly winter evenings.

On selected Saturdays through February, as well as Valentine’s Day, the horse-drawn wagon circles the village at makes several stops at all four of the Mill Falls Inns between the hours of 5:30 and 8:00pm.  Guests who are staying at the Inns can jump on for a charming ride to and from dinner, or just for fun!  Make one of your stops at Bay Point, where you’ll find a cozy campfire on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee.  Folks from the Inns will be there with marshmallows for toasting, as long as Mother Nature cooperates!

So take someone you love to Meredith this weekend and snuggle up against the cold with the rhythmic sounds of horses’ hooves clapping on the streets, and bask in the special magic of a crackling campfire!

Coming Soon: The 2010 Great Meredith Rotary Fishing Derby!

On the weekend of January 30^th, the frozen surface of Lake Winnipesaukee will be transformed into a bustling metropolis of ice-fishing bob houses and folks gathered to participate in one of the Lakes Regions biggest winter events—The 31^st Great Rotary Fishing Derby!

The two-day Ice Fishing Derby is one of the top fund-raising events in the state, enabling The Meredith Rotary Club to donate more than $1.6 million back into the community for charitable projects, area improvements, and scholarships.  The Rotary Club, in consultation with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, also stocks tagged fish in several New Hampshire Lakes as part of an ongoing fisheries management plan.

The Derby brings visitors to New Hampshire from all over the country.  Fishermen, their families, and friends come to Meredith in hopes of catching the heaviest Rotary-tagged Rainbow Trout and claiming the grand prize.  This year’s First Prize is an 18-foot Pioneer sport fiberglass fishing boat and Tidewater trailer valued at over $25,500.  Second Prize is a Honda ATV and trailer valued at $6,500, and Third Prize is an Old Town sporting kayak with trolling motor package valued at $1,100.

On Friday, January 29^th, The Rotary Club will host a free ice fishing panel discussion from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Meredith Community Center to kickoff the weekend.  According to Rob Wichland, chairman of the 2010 Great Meredith Rotary Fishing Derby, “The panel discussion events we’ve hosted since 2006 were such a great success, we’re doing it again in 2010.”  Don Miller of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, as well as Travis Williams and Adrien Lavoie, licensed New Hampshire fishing guides, will discuss ice fishing tips, techniques, and equipment.  Light refreshments will be served.

Tickets for the Derby are $30 and are available at more than a dozen locations around Lake Winnipesaukee, including A.J.’s Bait and Tackle, the Winnisquam Trading Post, Skelly’s Market, Alton Circle Grocery and at Paugus Bay Sporting Goods.  You can also purchase tickets online (click on “items”), or by calling The Meredith Rotary Club at 603-279-7600.  Online ticket sales prior to January 18^th will be mailed to the address provided.  After that, requested tickets may be picked up at Derby Headquarters at Hesky Park in Meredith.  Headquarters will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday, January 29^th, 2010 and will open again at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 30^th.  If the Derby is postponed, your tickets cannot be refunded, but will be honored when the event is rescheduled.

Postponement is unlikely.  As of January 12^th, virtually all of Lake Winnipesaukee is now frozen.  The current lake temp is 32.9ºF and dropping slowly.  Low temps for this upcoming week are expected to range between five and ten degrees, allowing the ice to thicken up quickly.   Looks like the conditions will be right for a great Derby!

sources:

http://www.weirsonline.com/fishingderby.htm

http://www.meredithrotary.com/2010_Derby_with_cart/Fishing_Derby.html

“Freezin’ for a Reason” in Meredith

Come on out for a good cause tomorrow—the second annual Winnipesaukee Dip to benefit the Special Olympics of New Hampshire (SONH) will be taking place at noon near the Meredith town docks on Sunday, January 10^th.  The Winni Dip is one of the fundraising efforts of the Law Enforcement Torch Run sponsored by the NH Association of Chiefs of Police.  Approximately one hundred dippers representing police, fire, emergency response crews, and other public safety agencies are expected to plunge into the ice-cold waters of Lake Winnipesaukee to benefit the 3,500 participants of SONH.

Participation is open to everyone, and it’s not too late to sign up.  Registration is taking place online at the SONH website, or on the day of the event at the Winnipesaukee Ballroom at Church Landing.  A twenty-five dollar, non-refundable commitment fee is due at registration for each individual and a total of $250 in contributions is the minimum to participate.

The costume theme for this year’s event is “Superheroes.”  Prizes will be awarded for individuals and teams with the best costumes, as well as to individuals and teams who raise the most money for SONH.

Carol Cray, Special Olympics Development Director, said that the Winni Dip Management Team expects the number of participants in 2010 to be double that of 2009.

Participants may also designate 15% of the funds they raise to the not-for-profit organization or government agency of their choice.  Mike Sielicki, Chief of Police in Rindge and Director of the Torch Run said, “This is a great way for all public safety agencies to support the Special Olympics and earn some money for local projects.”

So even if you’re not dipping in the Lake, come down to Meredith tomorrow to cheer on those brave “Superheroes!”

sources:

http://www.nh.com/features/recreation/505084-167/meredith-gets-ready-for-2nd-annual-winni.html

http://www.sonh.org/winnidip/

Mill Falls Resort Hosts New Year’s Silver Celebration

Get ready for a very special New Year’s holiday on the lake—The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls will be turning 25 this coming year, and they are throwing a big party to celebrate!  The resort is hosting a New Year’s Silver Celebration Gala in the Winnipesaukee Ballroom at Church Landing, which promises to be spectacular!

The lucky guests will arrive to a champagne and strawberries reception in the lobby and a chance to mingle amid the sound of live piano music in the Oval Room.  The party continues in the Ballroom, where a beautiful gourmet dinner will be served.  Five plated courses, from Hors D’Oeuvres to decadent dessert, will be prepared by the Lakehouse Grille and accompanied by a champagne toast.  Dancing into the wee hours is expected, with energetic live music performed by Center Stage.

Outside, folks will be able to enjoy the festive holiday lights adorning Meredith while taking a Horse & Buggy ride around the village.  And at 10:30, everyone in town will be watching the breathtaking fireworks display over Meredith Bay!

The Ballroom Gala has already sold out, but you may still be able to find a table at Lakehouse Grille, where one can luxuriate in a fine, candlelight dinner with a view of Lake Winnipesaukee.  The restaurant does not take reservations, but will put your name on the list with call-ahead seating that night, so plan to arrive early and relax with a beverage by the fireplace before dinner.

Congratulations to The Mill Falls Resort, and Happy New Year to all!

Great Last-Minute Deals at This Resort!

It’s not too late to take a little getaway for your holiday break.  The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls are offering some fantastic deals for this week starting tonight!

Do you and the kids need to get out of the house this vacation week?  The “Holiday Break-Away” package is a great bargain for families!  Reserve tonight and tomorrow, December 28^th and 29^th,  and stay Wednesday December 30^th for free!  Even better, the Inn provides complimentary activities and light dinner for the children each night from 5:00 to 8:00pm, allowing time for a massage and romantic dinner for two.

The Inns will be marking their 25^th year in 2010.  In celebration of this milestone, the resort is offering a super deal:  “25 Great Years = $25 Rooms!” Book a room or suite at Mill Falls or Church Landing for Saturday, January 2^nd and stay Sunday, January 3^rd for only $25!  Also, you can book one Cascade Spa service on Sunday, January 3^rd, and receive the second at 25% off.

To take advantage of these special deals, please call reservations at 800-622-6455.  This offer is not available online, and the rooms are filling quickly, so call today!

Spalidays Lake Escape on December 2nd

Cascade Spa presents the 6th annual Spalidays Open House on Wednesday, December 2nd. On this evening we celebrate everything that is Spa . . . chair and hand massages, hair styling, mini makeovers, live music, all this with spirits & hors d’ oeuvres provided by the Lakehouse Grille. On this night only you can purchase Holiday Gift Cards at 20% off!

Grab your girlfriends and Escape to the Lake on this enticing package:

* Accommodations on the night of 12/2 at The Inns
* Spalidays Open House at Church Landing
* 2 for 1 dinner entree coupon to participating restaurant on eve of 12/2
* A discount coupon book to the Mill Falls Marketplace
* $10 off each ticket to the BEYOND BOTOX Luncheon on 12/3
* 15% off Spa Services booked on 12/2 & 12/3

Church Landing: $49.50 Mill Falls: $29.50
(per person based on double occupancy, cannot be combined with any other offer)

Visit Cascade Spa on-line here

10 Thanksgiving Quotes to Celebrate The True Meaning of Thanksgiving

Noel Jameson

November 12, 2007

http://www.famous-quotes-and-quotations.com
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Ready for some Thanksgiving quotes? I don’t mean the “I’m thankful for my Nintendo Wii” or the “I’m thankful for my new car” quotes that we hear all too often lately. I mean some real Thanksgiving quotes that remind us of what we really have to be thankful for. Here are 10 Thanksgiving quotes to celebrate and ponder.

1. “The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.” ~ H.U. Westermayer

2. “Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow.” ~ Edward Sandford Martin

3. “There is one day that is ours. There is one day when all we Americans who are not self-made go back to the old home to eat saleratus biscuits and marvel how much nearer to the porch the old pump looks than it used to. Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American.” ~ O. Henry

4. “You say, ‘If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.’ You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.” ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon

5. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

6. “We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” ~ Harry A. Ironside

7. “It must be an odd feeling to be thankful to nobody in particular. Christians in public institutions often see this odd thing happening on Thanksgiving Day. Everyone in the institution seems to be thankful ‘in general.’ It’s very strange. It’s a little like being married in general.” ~ Cornelius Plantinga, Jr.

8. “It is literally true, as the thankless say, that they have nothing to be thankful for. He who sits by the fire, thankless for the fire, is just as if he had no fire. Nothing is possessed save in appreciation, of which thankfulness is the indispensable ingredient. But a thankful heart hath a continual feast.” ~ W. J. Cameron

9. “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” ~ Cicero

10. “Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men, but be careful that you do not take the day and leave out the gratitude.” ~ E.P. Powell

This Thanksgiving Day, let’s remember what we truly have to be thankful for. Let’s take a good, hard look around us and realize that while we may not have everything we want, what we want is not always what we need. Let these ten Thanksgiving quotes remind you of the true meaning of this great American holiday as you celebrate with friends and family.

Thanksgiving Village Retreat

Share the time-honored traditions of the Thanksgiving season at The Inns. Relax and unwind, watch football, eat until your heart is content and then gear up for the Holiday shopping season at the Mill Falls Marketplace.

Your Village Retreat Includes:
Two nights accommodations, a grand Thanksgiving day buffet from 11:30 am -6:00pm, late afternoon turkey sandwiches in the lobbies of Church Landing and Mill Falls, breakfast each morning, a discount coupon booklet to the Mill Falls Marketplace shops and restaurants and a harvest gift from us!

Rates starting at $189 per couple, per night