Local and regional news

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NH DNCR Opens FY2021 ‘Moose Plate’ Cultural Conservation Grant Round

The N.H. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is now accepting letters of intent for projects seeking funding from its Conservation License Plate fiscal year 2021 grant round.

DNCR “Moose Plate” grants support the restoration, preservation and / or conservation of publicly owned items significant to New Hampshire’s cultural heritage.

Three of the DNCR’s divisions – the Division of Historical Resources, the State Council on the Arts and the State Library – support cultural conservation grant programs through Moose Plate funding. Each division’s grant program has specific requirements.

Organizations seeking Moose Plate grant funding are required to submit a letter of intent, providing a brief description of the project and confirming that the resource is publicly owned, by May 7th. Applicants will be notified if their project fits a DNCR division’s program criteria. They may then choose to submit a full application by June 25th.

More information about each division’s specific grant program requirements is available at dncr.nh.gov/moose_plate. Applicants may only apply to one DNCR grant program in a given year.

Each year, the DNCR receives a percentage of funds raised from the sales of Moose Plates. To help preserve the state’s cultural heritage, the department designates a portion of those funds for the conservation of cultural resources in New Hampshire.

Funds received by the DNCR also support its Division of Forests and Lands’ Natural Heritage Bureau and its Division of Parks and Recreation’s Historic Sites Bureau.

In fiscal year 2019, 30 projects received a total of $269,218 in DNCR cultural conservation grant funding.

For more information about the Moose Plate Program, including how to purchase a Moose Plate, visit mooseplate.com.

The N.H. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ five divisions are dedicated to protecting, promoting and managing a wide variety of New Hampshire’s natural, recreational and cultural resources.

Together, these resources help define our state and are major drivers of our economy and high quality of life. For more information, visit dncr.nh.gov.

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How to Watch the KHS Girls Basketball Championship

North Conway, NH – If you were hoping to watch the championship basketball game this Sunday in Bedford between Kennett High School and Bishop Brady girls basketball teams on Valley Vision, you’re going to have to wait to watch for free.

According to Rick West at Valley Vision, NH Intersholastic Athletic Association regulations regarding LIVE broadcasts of any State Championship game, ONLY the National Federation of High Schools Network may broadcast this game LIVE.

Valley Vision WILL be there and covering the game, but ONLY for delayed broadcast beginning Tuesday (03/16) evening at 7pm on Channel 3.  They will also be streaming to the Valley Vision website and to the Valley Vision Facebook page over the course of next week. Again, this is due to NHIAA restrictions for championship games.

If you want to watch the game live, you will need to go to the National Federation website; nfhsnetwork.com sign up and pay a fee of $10.99.

Again, you will need to go to the National Federation of High Schools Network on the web. At the top of the home page you will see a search bar. Type in Kennett High School and you will be directed to the payment area. The game can be viewed on a number of platforms.

Game time is 5PM. The championship match is being played at Bedford because it’s a neutral site.

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3 Car Crash in North Conway Results in Arrest

Photo Courtesy of Conway PD;  Mitchell Harmon, 31, of Conway

 

North Conway, NH – On Friday, February 26, 2021, at 11:38 am officers were dispatched to the area of the Route 16/ Barnes Road intersection for a 3 vehicle crash.  It was reported that two individuals involved in the accident had experienced non-life threatening injuries as a result of the collision.  Witnesses further advised that the vehicle believed to be responsible for the crash, a blue Subaru station wagon, had taken off traveling southbound on Route 16 and was observed pulling into the parking lot on the back side of Polo.  The male operator exited the Subaru and ran off on foot in the direction of Settlers Green. 

Several officers arrived in the area to care for those involved in the accident and to look for the male operator of the Subaru.  Approximately 10 minutes later, the male was located in the parking lot of Barley and Salt.  The male operator was identified to be     

Mitchell Harmon

31 years old

Conway, NH

Mitchell Harmon was taken into custody for Conduct After an Accident with Death or Bodily Injury as defined by NH RSA 264:25 (Felony B).  Mitchell Harmon was also driving with a suspended license and the 2003 Subaru was found to be unregistered and uninspected.  He was charged with Driving After Revocation or Suspension and cited for operating an unregistered and uninspected vehicle. 

Mitchell Harmon has an extensive motor vehicle history.  He was bailed on personal recognizance with a court date to be determined.

Christopher Mattei

Chief of Conway Police

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Single Snowmobile Accident on Ossipee Lake

Freedom – On Saturday, February 27th, at approximately 3:45 pm NH Fish and Game was notified of a single party snowmobile accident on Ossipee Lake in Freedom. On scene Conservation Officers along with the Freedom Fire Department found a single male who had been riding the shore line of Ossipee Lake.  On scene investigation revealed that the snowmobile had apparently struck a large snow covered rock resulting in the snowmobile and operator being ejected approximately 75 feet. The operator identified as Christopher Baddeley, 48 of Windham NH, suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries and was taken by ambulance to Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro. Speed and riding conditions seem to be contributing factors. Riders are reminded to pay extra attention in unfamiliar areas and adjust speed accordingly.

SOURCE: NH Fish and Game Press Release

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Local Girl Scout Troop 10615 to Offer Cookie Booths – February 13th & 20th

Are you ready to enjoy your favorite Girl Scout cookie? Local Girl Scout Troop 10615 is setting up shop – and although this year the booth and process may look a bit different, they will still be selling the same amazing Girl Scout favorites at the same price as years past.

According to Troop 10615’s Girl Scout Ambassador Anya Nicoll, their goal is to sell over 2000 boxes to help fund their work towards their Girl Scout Silver and Gold Awards, which are girl-led projects that benefits our local communities and allows the girls to develop critical leadership skills. “This past year, we had three girls, Molly DellaValla, Autumn Verran, and Tava Nicoll, achieve their Silver Awards and everyone else, myself included, is still working hard on our projects!”

Due to Covid-19, Troop 10615 will be limiting the number of booths that they normally offer. They will be conducting two booths at the North Conway Walmart, Saturday, February 13th and February 20th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you are unable to get to one of these dates, please contact them at 603.493.3325 and they will work to arrange a contactless delivery to your home in the valley.

You can also visit the troop’s digital cookie site and select to have the cookies shipped to your home, the home of a loved one, or to donate a box or two to our local responders- the true heroes of this pandemic!

BUY COOKIES HERE: https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/troop10615-126

Troop 10615 thanks you for your support of the Girl Scouts!

When you buy Girl Scout Cookies you do two things:

  • You help girls gain important life skills. By running her own cookie business and working with others, Girl Scouts learn money management, people skills, goal-setting, decision-making, and business ethics.
  • You help fund local Girl Scout troop activities and leadership programs— educational activities, camp,
    and other field trips that Conway Girl Scouts participate in all year long. Girl Scouts fund important community projects at the local level, too, so when you buy Girl Scout Cookies in your neighborhood, you are keeping your dollars in your community.

    There are eight Girl Scout Cookies offered this year: Vegan Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils, Do-si-Dos, gluten-free Toffee-tastic, s’mores and the new Lemon-up. Can’t eat the cookies? Please consider donating a box to their Gift of Caring Program which will benefit area first responders.

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North Conway Public Library’s Final Chapter Capital Campaign Receives $50,000 Matching Grant

Picture Courtesy of North Conway Public Library: On the new bridge that joins the original building to the new expansion are from left: Dot Seybold, Executive Director, Ham Foundation, Linda Eldridge, Ham Foundation, Andrea Masters, Library Director, and Kathy Bergeron, Library Board.

 

The North Conway Public Library is the recipient of a matching grant from the Kendal C. and Anna Ham Charitable Foundation in the amount of $50,000 to be awarded upon successful completion of funds raised by October 2021.

The library is currently in the end phase of their fundraising campaign, The Final Chapter, with a focus on completing the interior with furnishings, technology, books, shelving, and more.

The addition has nearly doubled the size of the library and it is now a modern state-of-the-art building with new construction that complements the magnificent history of the original structure. It is a true community center and hub for learning, reading, entertainment, history, art, and continuing education for the whole valley.

The North Conway Library has been serving the community since 1887, throughout major wars, economic depressions, and even throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite construction and the lockdown, the library continued to provide materials via curbside service, online via the downloadable books program, and via email within 24 hours. Because of the pandemic, it started several streaming video programs for its patrons: Kanopy, KanopyKids, Acorn, and Qello. The library is free and open to the public and anyone living in the whole Mount Washington Valley is eligible for a free library card. Current library hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm and Friday from noon to 4 pm.

“As the pandemic has shown, libraries serve as beacons in times of crisis, are trusted sources of reliable and accessible information, and provide crucial services such as online access for our residents that need to file for unemployment, apply for jobs, seek routine medical care via tele-medicine, and much more”, said Sharon Wroblewski, Capital Campaign Chair. “We thought our project was the perfect fit for the Ham Foundation’s mission which strives to improve community life in the Mount Washington Valley and to foster the vitality of our community. We are grateful for their support.”

For more information or to make a donation please visit northconwaylibrary.com or mail to PO Box 409, North Conway, NH 03860.

For questions please email andrea@northconwaylibrary.com.

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Stolen Car in North Conway Leads to Car Chase in Gorham

Picture Courtesy of Conway Police: Michael Deveno
Picture Courtesy of Conway Police: Melanie Michael

 

On Monday, February 8, 2020, at approximately 10:33 pm Sergeant Lapoint of the Conway Police Department was dispatched to Walmart for a report of a male who was attempting to steal merchandise from the store.  The male subject was identified to be:

Michael Deveno

52 years old

Franklin, NH

and was taken into custody for Willful Concealment.  Patrolman Sterl arrived on scene and located a female in the parking lot of Walmart who was later identified to be:

Melanie Michael

41 years old

Northfield, NH.

Melanie Michael had arrived at Walmart with Michael Deveno in a 2018 Honda CR-V.  Officers ran the VIN number on the Honda CR-V and found that it had recently been reported as stolen out of Concord, NH.  Both Michael Deveno and Melanie Michael were charged with Felony Receiving Stolen Property as defined by NH RSA 637:7. Michael Deveno was also charged with Felony Willful Concealment as defined by NH RSA 637:3.  This charge was brought as a felony based upon his extensive criminal history which includes several prior convictions for Theft.

Michael Deveno and Melanie Michael were both bailed the following afternoon, Tuesday February 9, 2020, and released on personal recognizance. 

On Wednesday morning, February 10, 2021 at approximately 6:40 am officers were dispatched to the North Conway Irving gas station for a report of a red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck that had been stolen from the parking lot.  The male operator stated that he left the truck running while he went inside the store.  When he returned outside, the truck was gone.  The vehicle was last seen traveling northbound on Route 16 from the Irving parking lot. 

At approximately 7:00 am the red Toyota Tacoma was spotted traveling northbound on Route 16 by Jackson Police Officer Staff Sergeant Nathan Boothby.  Staff Sergeant Boothby pursued the stolen Toyota Tacoma northbound on Route 16 into Gorham, NH.  The vehicle collided with a tree in Gorham, NH where the male operator exited the vehicle and ran into an occupied residence.  Officers pursued him into the residence and took him into custody without further incident.  The male was identified to be the same Michael Deveno who had been arrested in Conway on Monday evening.  Deveno had a female passenger in the truck with him.  She was identified to be Melanie Michael.

Michael Deveno is being charged by the Conway Police Department, Jackson Police Department and Gorham Police Department for a number of charges to include Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Receiving Stolen Property, Reckless Conduct, Disobeying a Police Officer and Criminal Trespass.  Melanie Michael will also be charged by the Conway Police Department for her role in stealing the vehicle from the North Conway Irving.

Both Michael Deveno and Melanie Michael will be held to appear before the court.    

Christopher Mattei

Chief of Conway Police