NEWS FROM THE VILLAGE

3rd Annual Pond Hockey Classic Coming to Meredith, with a Twist!

NEPHC 2011

The event of the season has quickly earned a reputation for providing players and fans alike with a traditional, nostalgic, and truly competitive pond hockey experience. The first two years saw quaint Meredith Village on Lake Winnipesaukee bustling with activity as hockey lovers from all over New England and beyond converged on this normally quiet winter wonderland. This year will be bigger and better than ever—even though the event will be held on a different lake—and will be the focus of attention from a national organization documenting the environmentally sustainable practices of the sport.

The New England Pond Hockey Classic will still take place in Meredith, NH February 3^rd – 5^th, 2012, but while the games were scheduled to take place on Lake Winnipesaukee again this year, the warm winter has prevented Meredith Bay from freezing to a safe enough level to accommodate the expected crowds. The organizers have now officially decided to move the event to nearby Lake Waukewan, just a quarter-mile away on the other side of Meredith.

“We’ve had our crews over at Lake Waukewan clearing rinks the last couple of days,” says Scott Crowder, Founder of the Pond Hockey Classic. “It’s warm, so the snow is turning into slush and it’s a lot heavier for us to move.”

The only major difference the location will make is in parking. “It’s a much smaller lake and there isn’t very good access to it, so we actually have to transport all of our participants and spectators in to the event,” says Scott. “They’re going to have to park in auxiliary parking lots and we’re going to transport them over with shuttles.” In addition, Lake Wakewan is the town’s water supply, and there are a few rules and regulations that come into effect. Many of the amenities that were available on the ice last year will be on land in Tournament Village, across the street from the water’s edge. Otherwise, the tournament will take place as planned with many fun events throughout the weekend.

One of those events is a fundraiser on Friday night at Church Landing for Restore Hockey, a non-profit organization that takes used hockey equipment and refurbishes it for kids to reuse. As Scott says, “All this stuff that would normally end up in a landfill is ending up on the ice.” The work Restore Hockey does is vital to children whose families can’t afford new hockey equipment every year. The fundraiser will feature the world release of a National Geographic documentary that has been in process over the past year. When it’s finished, this film will highlight the green measures now being employed by the NHL and its players. The crew will be on hand for the weekend to take footage of the tournament as well, rounding out the scope of NHL Green and its participation with Restore Hockey. As a special guest, the Stanley Cup will make an appearance at the fundraiser!

Also new this year at the NEPHC is a Thursday night player check-in and Labatt Welcome Party at Lago, and a skills competition sponsored by NH-based Bauer Hockey, one of the biggest hockey retailers in the world. Earthtec will once again provide the apparel for the event. This eco-friendly company is based in Portsmouth, NH and manufactures clothing and accessories from recycled bottles, organic cotton, and natural wool.

Although the tournament is full with over 180 teams and about 1200 players this year, there is still room for spectators to enjoy the event—and it’s free! For more information and details on parking, please visit the Pond Hockey Classic website here. Hope to see you in Meredith!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Photo courtesy of New England Pond Hockey Classic

A New Adventure Awaits at Gunstock Mountain this Winter

The Recoil Zip Span at Gunstock

Looking for something different and exciting to add to your winter activity list? No need to look any farther than the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. While the area has long been home to great skiing, ice-skating, and wilderness exploration, it now boasts something quite unique—the longest zip line tour in the continental United States—an amazing way to enjoy the outdoors year-round!

This past November, Gunstock Mountain Resort unveiled its new ZipTour Canopy Tour, adding to its expansive attractions, including the Aerial Treetop Adventure course that opened last spring. The ZipTour covers a 1.6-mile span descending the full vertical of the NH ski area, offering a different way to fly down the mountain, above the trails overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee. There are 5 segments of lines, two of which are for training and practicing before the big adventure down the slope!

The ZipTour starts at Gunstock’s scenic summit with a short but exciting zip to the second segment, The Recoil Zip. At 3,981 feet, this is the longest and fastest segment, passing over Recoil and Gunsmoke ski trails to Pistol Peak. The final descent of 3,809 feet runs from Pistol Peak, over Blundersmoke Park, the base area, and the snowmaking pond, to the final stop at the Aerial Treetop Course.

On the ZipTour, adventurers ride up to 155 feet off the ground and can approach speeds of 60 miles per hour—or take it slow, as speed can be controlled by the individual trolley brake and accelerate systems. You can even stop to take in the view!

Check out this video of the ZipTour:

The whole zip experience takes about 2.5 hours and costs $65. “It is a destination all to itself or a great way to vary up the day’s events,” says Bill Quigley, Director of Marketing and Sales at Gunstock. During the winter, the resort is offering zip tours every hour from 9am – 2pm on weekends and holidays. For details and reservations, visit the Gunstock website or call 603-737-4388.

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Photo and video courtesy of Gunstock Mountain Resort

Inns’ Pet-Friendly Program Continues to Benefit Animals in NH and Beyond

Simon

Not only does this lakeside NH resort provide pet-friendly rooms and services for travelers with animal companions, but through its special Pet-Friendly Program, the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls also helps many animals in need by raising crucial funds for the New Hampshire Humane Society.

Pet-Friendly accommodations at Church Landing and the Inn at Mill Falls are available for an additional $25 fee per pet, which covers additional cleaning costs and amenities such as pet beds, blankets, food dishes, and treats.  The Inns then set aside $10 of this fee for the NHHS in Laconia, NH. Since the program’s inception in 2008, The Inns have donated over $10,500 to NHHS. This money has been put to good use, with several creative community projects that benefit animals and people throughout the region. “The donation of this money is so very much appreciated by the New Hampshire Humane Society and we are so grateful to Rusty McLear, the HHH group, and Mill Falls . . . “ says Mary Di Maria, Executive Director of NHHS, as she recently outlined some of the ways this great organization is putting those donations into service: Read the rest of this entry »

Outdoor Winter Activities at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center

Bringing the family to the Lakes Region for a weekend getaway or planning your winter school vacation? In addition to the ice skating, skiing, and sledding that’s abundant in New Hampshire, there are some great outdoor activities at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center that are sure to keep inquisitive kids engaged while they get some fresh air and sunshine this winter!

This Saturday, January 7^th, come to Holderness for the Bird Banding Open House from 9am – 12pm. For the past 30 years, the scientists at the Center have captured and banded birds at the Squam Lakes feeding station on the first weekend after the New Year. Visitors are welcome to drop in anytime during the morning and learn about the common birds that are winter visitors, why they are banded, and what insight is gained from tracking these wild creatures.

For those who wonder what happens to the other animals at the Science Center in the wintertime, there are several guided tours scheduled throughout the season. Every Saturday and Sunday from January 14^th through March 4^th, join others for a Wild Winter Walk from 10am – 12pm, when a staff naturalist will guide visitors on the Gephart Exhibit Trail and discuss the many ways native animals are well adapted for winter life in New Hampshire. Bring your snowshoes or borrow some at the center, and be ready to see some beautiful wild animals in their winter coats! Read the rest of this entry »

Family Celebrates 25 Years of Reunions at The Inns

The Hinchey/Smith/Burbine family, 2011

On the second weekend of every December, this lakeside village becomes home to an extended family that has been gathering in Meredith for nearly 30 years and began staying at The Inn at Mill Falls the very first year the doors opened. Since then, the extended Hinchey/Smith/Burbine family has continued to meet at the Inns for their annual Christmas get-together, marking 25 years this December. They say they wouldn’t think of doing it any other way.

When Laura Hinchey moved to Meredith from Rhode Island in the early 1980s, she became the catalyst for the family’s regular treks to the New Hampshire Lakes Region.  In the beginning, the group was small enough to stay at Laura’s home, but every year, the party got “bigger and bigger and bigger,” so when the first Mill Falls Inn opened in 1985, they booked some rooms there.

Most of the sisters, cousins, uncles, grandparents, nieces, and grandchildren travel from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Laura’s home state of Rhode Island, and the group now varies in size from about 45 to about 55 family members each year. Of course, some years there are new babies, and sometimes others can’t make it. “My grandmother came for years and years,” says Laura. “We lost her two years ago at the age of 102, but she did make it for her 100^th birthday. We have quite an age spread as well.  This year, the youngest one here was my great niece, her name is Sophie, and she’s just 2 months, and the oldest was my mother, who celebrated her 75^th birthday that weekend.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Mill Falls gets INN the Spirit of Giving

For the past eight years, the staff at this Lakes Region resort has been bringing smiles to elders in the community by fulfilling their Christmas wishes as surprise gifts, warming the hearts of everyone around them.

In December of 2004, The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls and the Meredith Station started a wonderful tradition of bringing gifts to the residents of the Belknap County Nursing Home in Laconia, NH.  Pat Wade, Manager of the Meredith Station, visits the nursing home every year and selects several ornaments from their Christmas tree. Each ornament details a resident’s holiday wishes, which might include favorite sweets, a new cardigan sweater, or fun jewelry.  “We have a lot of ladies who like to doll up,” says Ann Kyle, Activities Director for the home.

Out of the 94 current residents and their ornaments this year, The Inns chose 41 for their gift giving.  Ann explained that Sacred Heart and Saint Joseph’s Church also help with the gifts.  “We have very generous people in the community who are wonderful to our residents,” she says. Read the rest of this entry »

NH Tourism Expected to be Lively This Winter

The New England Pond Hockey Classic will return to Meredith February 3rd

State tourism officials announced this week that winter travel in New Hampshire is expected to show increased amounts of visitors and spending, providing a positive outlook for the 2011 – 2012 season.  This is good news, especially considering that the tourism industry across the Northeast took a big hit at the end of summer when Hurricane Irene passed through.

According to a report prepared for the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development (DTTD) by the Institute for New Hampshire Studies (INHS), an estimated 6.6 million people are predicted to visit during this year’s winter season, up by three percent from last year.  Spending by tourists and business travelers is expected to increase as well, with the projection being seven percent above last winter, possibly reaching about $850 million.  Studies show that December, January, and February see approximately 18 percent of all traveler visits and 20 percent of total traveler spending annually.

The big draw in the wintertime is New Hampshire’s abundance of wilderness and skiing, as well as tax-free shopping.  “Outdoor recreation, including skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling, and shopping are the most popular reasons for visiting New Hampshire during the winter,” said Lori Harnois, Director for DTTD.  “While here, visitors can check out zip-lines, mountain coasters, dog-sledding, and other winter fun.” Read the rest of this entry »

Meredith Eateries Unveil New Winter Menus

Dinner at Lakehouse Grille

The official beginning of winter is just around the corner, and colder temperatures outside bring longings for warmth and comfort inside.  Thoughts turn to cozy fireplaces, hot cocoa, and rich, satisfying meals.  In this quaint NH village, the partner restaurants of the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls and have created new winter menus to reflect the changing seasons and offer guests some imaginative new and traditional dishes that bring warmth, comfort, and contentment inside and out.

“We always roll out two new fresh menus a year, one based on the winter season and one based on the summer season,” says Sean Brown, General Manager for Camp, Lago, and Lakehouse Grille from the Common Man Family of Restaurants.  “We never change the whole menu but we certainly change a decent portion of it.  With the wintertime menus, we’re definitely focusing on heartier dishes, dishes with a little bit more of a wintertime theme.” Read the rest of this entry »

Second Annual Meredith Village Art Walk to Benefit Food Pantry

As the days grow ever shorter and the cold nights come early over New England, we draw our attention indoors to pursue creative endeavors or gather with friends and family to honor warmth, light, and love with good food and cheer.  However, many families are struggling this holiday season, and need help with food for their loved ones.  In Meredith, some creative folks have combined forces to lend a hand to those in need, all while celebrating the season with beautiful art, music and of course, delicious food!

Next Thursday evening, December 8^th, six galleries in Meredith will participate in the second annual Meredith Village Art Walk, themed “Food for the Soul,” to benefit the Meredith Emergency Food Pantry.  From 4:30 – 7:00 that evening, visitors can stroll through candlelit storefronts in quaint Meredith Village and view beautiful local and international works of art while chatting with local artists.  At the lakes gallery at chi-lin, Gallery 51, The Fine Carpet and Asian Antique Gallery, The Hodecker-George Gallery, VynnArt (Art Supply Store), and Oglethorpe Fine Arts & Crafts, guests will enjoy music, refreshments, and unique discounts, as well as a special raffle that will provide donations for the Food Pantry. Read the rest of this entry »

Altrusa Club of Meredith Celebrates 16th Annual Festival of Trees!

In celebration of the holiday season, the Altrusa Club of Meredith will be hosting their 16^th Annual Lakes Region Festival of Trees this weekend.  This spectacular festival will be held at the Waukewan Golf Club in Center Harbor, NH, and will highlight beautifully decorated Christmas trees, fine products made by local artisans especially for The Noel Shoppe, traditional cookies and cider, and a special children’s event, all while benefitting local charities and community projects!

The Festival kicks off on Thursday evening, December 1^st, with the Silent Auction and Gala from 5:30 – 8:00pm.  The night will be filled with music, hors d’oeuvres, delicious desserts, and a cash wine and beer bar.  Lakes Region favorite Pat Kelly will take on the role of Master of Ceremonies for the auction, where guests can bid on the many wonderful items donated by area businesses.  One of the auction items is the Common Man Christmas Tree, which is decorated with “C-Man” gift cards worth $250!  Also on hand will be Karel Hayes, a local author and illustrator who will be signing her books at The Noel Shoppe.  The silent auction and gala sold out last year, so the night is expected to be a terrific success! As of today, there are approximately 25 tickets left for last-minute guests.  Tickets are $15.00 in advance and $20.00 at the door, and may be purchased at the Greater Meredith Chamber of Commerce, Cackleberries Garden and Gift Shop on Rte. 3 in Meredith, and Fashion Forward on Rte. 25 in Moultonborough. Read the rest of this entry »