Local Four Legged Friends Benefit from The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls Pet Policy

NH Humane Society receives donation from pet friendly guestroom fees
Meredith, NH:  It has been one year since The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls went pet friendly and opened up four of their guestrooms to cater to the ever growing population of travelers who prefer to bring their pets on vacation rather than leave them behind. The Inns charge $25 per pet, per night to cover a portion of the additional cleaning costs and amenities that are provided, such as pet beds, blankets, food dishes and treats for each pet. More importantly than recouping some of the costs the Inns wanted to give back some of the proceeds to the animal loving community of which they have always been passionate supporters of, the NH Humane Society. Ten dollars of each fee is set aside as a donation to NHHS. To date the Inns have generated $2,330 in monies that go directly to the shelter to aid in their ongoing efforts.

Amy Porter-Coffaro, Marketing and Web Specialist for NHHS stated, “The animals at the New Hampshire Humane Society extend a heartfelt “Thank you” to the staff and administration from The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls for their generous donation, which stems from their newly offered “Pet Friendly Rooms”. This is an exciting addition to your already attractive facility.  It is comforting to know that Fido and FeFe can now travel in comfort with their beloved owners and not be left behind. Congratulations!”

Guests and pets alike are well cared for at Mill Falls. The Cascade Spa at Church Landing recently teamed up with DeAnne M. Racz a certified Small Animal & Equine Massage Practitioner to provide canine and feline massage services.  Martha Zyla, Cascade Spa Director noted “We are thrilled to add DeAnne’s talents and services to our menu. It’s a pleasure to treat the pets of our guests”.

The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls are located in the historic village of Meredith, New Hampshire on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee.  The four charming inns, comprised of the Inn at Mill Falls, Bay Point, the Chase House and Church Landing at Mill Falls, offer 156 guest rooms, 18 function rooms, seven restaurants, 15 shops and galleries, the world-class Cascade Spa, boat docks, 3,000 feet of public walkway along the water front and other unique amenities.  For more information, call (603) 279-7006 or visit www.millfalls.com.

Ekal Excursions Offers Water sports and sunset cruises at Church Landing

Ekal is a new service being offered in the Meredith area for the first time in the 2009 boating season.  Scott Crowder of Bear Island, Meredith NH, is the founder and owner of the company.  Scott has over 15 years of boating experience on Lake Winnipesaukee and is a licensed commercial captain.  When asked where the name comes from, he informed me that Ekal is Lake spelled backwards.  “I was looking for something different to name my business,” says Scott.

Whether you’re looking for a tour of the lake or an action-packed day of water sports, including tubing, water skiing or wake boarding, Ekal will do it all.  Scott operates a world class performance ski boat, Tige RZ4, that is capable of seating 17 people, although Scott prefers to take groups no larger than 8 to 10 people at a time.

No matter what the activity is or how many people will be going along, the cost starts at $150.00 per hour and trips can be anywhere from one hour to several depending on your interests. The hourly cost goes down as the number of hours go up.  Often you can schedule your trip on the same day, but Scott recommends making your reservations in advance to ensure availability.  You can learn more about Ekal at their website: www.ekalexcursions.com or by calling 603-493-8517.
Take advantage of “Water Sports Wednesday” and get all that Ekal has to offer for a 15% discount, or take advantage of Scott’s unique Sunset and Fireworks Tours held whenever Weirs has a fireworks show.
“Ekal is passionate about one thing and one thing only – the Lake.  The individuals who live a lifestyle around lakes know what we’re talking about. Countless hours spent out on the water, livin’ and laughin’ with friends and family until the sun sets and the campfire is lit. We live a lifestyle that many only dream of and we understand this – which makes us appreciate it even more.  Join us and Live Our Lifestyle!”

Captain your own boat or jet ski

If you’re staying with us at one of our four inns or planning a visit to the Meredith area, nothing could do more to enhance your experience than getting out on Lake Winnipesaukee.  And an excellent way to do that is by renting a power boat or jet ski that will allow you to explore the hundreds of miles of shoreline and the many towns around our beautiful lake.  Located just a stone’s throw from Church Landing is Meredith Marina, a full service Marina offering boat and jet ski rentals for as low as $200.00 (half day rental).

About Meredith Marina

Located in Meredith, New Hampshire on Lake Winnipesaukee, we are a full service marina dedicated to your boating pleasure. Whether you’re looking for new boat, a used boat or a rental boat; a trailer, an anchor, or a fish finder; or simply a boat registration, we’ve got what it takes to put you on the water.

Our Service Department is staffed with experienced, Mercury, Mercruiser, and Volvo Penta certified technicians ready to tackle all your maintenance issues. From a simple boat wash and wax, to professional fiberglass repair or major engine work, we can get the job done quickly and at the best prices on the lake.

With boat slips scarce and at a premium on the lake, our valet service offers boaters a cost effective alternative to boating and storage. Simply call us an hour before you want to be on the water, and your boat will be waiting for you, fueled and ready to go. We also have a pump-out facility and a gas dock for visiting boaters.

We’re open 8:00am to 5:00pm 7 days a week during the summer.

Contact Information

www.meredithmarina.com

2 Bayshore Dr
Meredith, NH 03253
Phone: 603.279.7921
Fax: 603.279.5918

Rubber duckies take a wild ride into the bay

by Sarah Schmid, Meredith News

July 08, 2009
MEREDITH — Nearly 4,000 rubber duckies tumbled down the Mill Falls waterfall and into Meredith Bay at the 18th annual Meredith Lions Club Rubber Ducrubber duckies take a ridekie Race, racing with an extra boost from the accumulate rainfall.

Every year, the running of the rubber duckies draws crowds to watch the little yellow birds tumble down the waterfall and into Meredith Bay – some for the spectacle, and others in the hope that their duck would be the one to enter the bay first. That honor – and a $1,000 grand prize – went to Adrienne Stevens of North Sandwich, with Rubber Duckie #2026.

What most of the crowd doesn’t see, however, is the work that goes into getting the ducks from the top of the falls into the bay. The annual July 4 rubber duck migration is a little more complex than simply dumping the ducks at the top, and hoping they all make their way to the bottom.

Weeks prior to the event, members of the Meredith Lions Club readied for the race by encouraging visitors and residents to adopt a rubber duckie. Proceeds from the adoption of the 3,983 rubber duckies will benefit 15 local organizations – the first $1,000, according to Lions Secretary Marie Valliere, always goes to David’s House in Lancaster. Other organizations, including the Meredith Senior Center and New Hampshire Sight and Hearing Foundation, will also benefit from the race donations.

On the morning of July 4, the Lions Club set up a tent in Hesky Park to hand out last-minute adoptions and to sell rubber duckie paraphernalia – race-themed T-shirts, rubber duckies, quacker noisemakers, and the popular duck “paddlers” – paper cutouts of ducks stapled to a paint stirrer, on which spectators could write the number of their adopted duck.

“People will be cheering them on with their paddlers on paint stirrers,” said Valliere. “We got them in a donation from Aubuchon. When it’s hot, you can use them as a fan.”

Four-year-old Mary Riley, a duck adopter, waved her paddler proudly.

“Look at mine, mine says ‘Go Ducky!’” Riley said, pointing to her paddler. Her two brothers also waved paddlers for their adopted ducks.

Young volunteer John Folsom dutifully donned a duck costume, walking around Hesky Park and waving at cars on Route 3, trying to pique people’s interest. Young Lion volunteers traded shifts in the costume all day long.

Across the highway, work of a different sort was going on. Lions Club members and volunteers were busy lining the bottom of the falls and the channel to the bay with wire netting, designed by Lion Sal Branante. This would keep rubber duckies on the right path, and prevent them from being pushed away from the main flow of water. Once the ducks were down the falls, the wire would guide them, pushed by the current, under bridges and under Route 3, and into Meredith Bay.

In Meredith Bay, they would pass under the footbridge, loaded with spectators, and into the newly-designed baffle, where Valliere and Mary Yaeger would be waiting for them. With a newly-redesigned baffle, Valliere said that the new design would help them cope with the strong current pushing the ducks into the bay.

“We have a good baffle now,” said Valliere. “Last year was fast, and this year will be fast. We watched the duck races in Keene, and got the idea from them, to redo the baffle to make it easier on us when the race is fast.”

The baffle ended in a bundle of Funoodles, allowing Valliere to see exactly which duck was first into the bay. Cash prizes were awarded for the adopters of the first five rubber ducks, and prizes were available for the next 22.

Up at the top of the falls, however, preparations were still going on to ready the ducks for their journey. Just below the Waukewan Dam, where the water surfaces before heading under the Inn at Mill Falls and down the waterfall, volunteers worked to lower in chicken-wire frames by rope and position them – not an easy task with the volume of water generated by the recent rains. These frames would prevent the ducks from getting caught in a corner and not going down the falls.

“The water is going real fast because of the rain,” said Lion Joseph LaFrance. “In two minutes or less, they’ll be down and in the bay. We do this every year – it’s our biggest fundraiser.”

Lion Joseph LaFrance and his daughter, Kara, helped Kim Kortz lower chicken-wire frames above the spillway, preventing the ducks from moving forward. Once complete, plastic bins full of rubber duckies were emptied into the “holding tank,” pressed against the wire barrier.

Once the go-ahead had been given at 4 p.m. sharp, Bramante and Joseph and Kara LaFrance lifted the gates, letting thousands of rubber duckies splash down the falls in an explosion of yellow. Watching spectators cheered the beginning of the short migration down the falls and into Meredith Bay.

Two minutes later, the ducks were in the waiting hands of Valliere and Yaeger, who scooped up the winners and gave them to the judges. The remaining rubber duckies were netted and hauled into two waiting canoes, to be floated back to land, dried, and prepared for 2010.

The crowd surrounded the Lions tent, waiting to hear the winners. The situation was made a bit more urgent by a threatening thunderstorm, which chased away much of the crowd and soaked those who remained.

Cash prizes for the first five winners were donated by area businesses. Celeste Lovett of Moultonboro won fifth place for $100, and Jack Powers of Meredith won fourth place for $200. “Trustey,” of Wenham, Mass., won $350 in third place. Second place went to Megan Wayland of Reading, Mass.