On October 1st the Jackson area will be filled with dozens of Pumpkin People (or Animals).  Every year at this time local businesses, inns, restaurants, stores and private homes are adorned with these creative and entertaining displays.  Guests…and Papparazzi….. flock to the village specifically to catch a glimpse of these creations every year.  It’s always amazing to see what people come up with for ideas.  One of my favorites was a display of The Beatles walking down Abbey Road.  So what is The Wentworth doing this year?  I can’t tell you that one, you’ll have to come by and take a look.  Super secret oath has been taken by all employees!  I can tell you that in the past we have done displays such as Star Wars (wicked cool) and a Vampire Bride and Groom.  We can’t forget the one of Fritz and his little buddy Winston playing golf.

The judging will take place the week prior to Columbus Day Weekend.  Winners will be announced in time for all our visiting humans for the Columbus Day Weekend. People’s Choice voting will continue through October 20th.  Maps and ballots can be found at The Wentworth and most participating properties and also at the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce Office.

Come on down to take a look and of course we’d love a vote for People’s Choice!  See you soon.

This is an event that happens every year in Jackson just after Thanksgiving and into the beginning of December.  The only way to reserve Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour tickets for the general public is by staying at a Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce member lodging property….like The Wentworth. 

Riders will check in at Nestlenook Recereation Center where they will be greeted by Carolers and have an opportunity to visit Santa.  Prior to boarding they will receive their special Jingle Bell, their first Chocolate Treasure, hot chocolate and a festive bag to hold any uneated Chocolate Treasures.  Then they will board their Austrian Drawn Sleigh and be whisked away to at least 6 other participating properties…including The Wentworth!  At each property sleighs will be met by the Innkeeper, owner or representative, give an overview of that particular property and they will receive another decadent Chocolate Treasure.  Sleighs run from 11am to 4pm and each ride is approximately one hour long. 

The Wentworth has put together a great package for this special adventure on the folowing dates: November 27th and 28th and December 4th, 5th, 11th, and 18th.  Our Bed and Breakfast rate for 2 adults is $138 which includes your room, a full American breakfast the next morning  and two tickets to the Jingle Bell Tour.  Our dinner package is $208 to include all that was just mentioned in addition to a four course meal for 2 adults.  Amazing rates for a magical event!

For more information please call The Wentworth front desk at 800-637-0013 and ask about availabilty for the Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour.

Good luck Laurie….we’re pulling for you!!

Examples of partnerships he has entered into are Misty Knoll Farm, Hog Haven Farm, The Sandwich Creamery, Vermont Butter & Cheese Co., Wilson Smith Egg Farm, Lucki 7 Ranch, Yankee Farmers Market and “Bill” The Mushroom Man.

Please click here to view a complete listing of our updated dinner menu.

Our dining room is open from 6-9 Sunday through Thursday and 6-10 Friday and Saturday.  For more information or to make a reservation, please call 800-637-0013.

Last weekend we had a beautiful wedding with an even more beautiful bride.  After enjoying a delicious dinner for their rehearsal on Friday night here in the hotel, Valerie and Evan amazed their guests on Saturday with an elegant cocktail reception, exquisite dinner and a fun filled evening of entertainment and dancing in our lobby.  So much fun was had by all.

Our next wedding is scheduled for this weekend.  So many details have gone into this wedding that it is sure to be spectacular!  Jennifer and Chris have customized every aspect of their day from including family photos, to customized menu choices and not to mention great little gift bags for their guests when they check in.

Tis the season for Jackson to be jumping for the next few months!!  It’s a welcomed sight and an exciting time of year.

If your interested in having your wedding reception here at The Wentworth, just give me a call at 800-637-0013 or email me at kathleen@thewentworth.com I’d be happy to forward along our wedding packet and I’m available to meet up as well and present you with a tour of our grounds, hotel and rooms.

I look forward to hearing from you!

This weekend (April 30th and May 1st) we are selling our rooms in the main inn with no minimum night stay requirement.  The Wentworth has standard rooms available for $168 a night which would include your room, a four course dinner that evening for 2 adults and a full American breakfast the next morning for both of you.  We are also offering a Bed & Breakfast rate of $98 for just your room and breakfast for the two of you.

We’d love to upgrade your room to a deluxe for the weekend.  A deluxe room has a king size bed, gas fireplace, oversized whirlpool jacuzzi tub and a Keurig coffee pot.  A deluxe room with dinner and breakfast for two adults this weekend is $258 and for B&B it is $188.  We do have 3 rooms available as of right now  in the Arden Cottage that would be available for 1 night at a rate of $248 for the dinner package.

Give us a call at the front desk at 603-383-9700.  We look forward to seeing you soon.

The Wildquack River Festival is a Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce event that will be taking place on Sunday, May 30th, 2010 right outside The Wentworth Hotel.  There will be plenty to do during the day like crafts for kids, a dunk tank, kids games, not to mention the delicious food tents, silent auctions (with over 30 different gifts to bid on) and also we can’t forget the parade that starts at the Jackson Covered Bridge.  It will be a great day and much fun had by all.

This event will help support the Jackson Fire and Police Departments, the Kennett High School Key Club, the Special Olympics, the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce as well as other non-profit groups.  You can buy tickets by calling the chamber at 383-9356.  Ticket prices are $6 per ticket, $20 for 4 and also an Olympic duck for $20.  There will be over 3108 ducks dumped into the river and if your duck is one of the lucky ones plucked you will be a winner of over 70 prizes and some even include cash….even the last duck to cross the finish line will be a winner.

We’d love to have you stay with us here at The Wentworth over the weekend for a front row seat and your own guaranteed parking space.  We can put a package together for you to enjoy breakfast, dinner and even a round of golf on one of the days.

We hope to see you soon…..

Scholars believe that the pairing of the hare and the egg together in Easter may also have Pagan roots.  During springtime, when days and nights were equal length, the hare was identified with the moon goddess and the egg with the sun god.  Pairing the two together offered a kind of ying yang to spring equinox celebrations.

Easter is a time of springtime festivals.  In Christian countries Easter is celebrated as the religious holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  But the celebrations of Easter have many customs and legends that are pagan in origin and have nothing to do with Christianity.

Did you know that in Greece, children and adults play an egg cracking game called tsougrisma on Easer?  Players attempt to crack their eggs against their friend’s egg; the last person with an un-cracked egg is considered the lucky one.  This is the exact tradition that Irina, the controller here at the hotel, had when she was a child living in Bulgaria.  It sounds like a blast and something I think we might give a try this coming Easter Sunday with my family.  Another interesting fact about Easter is that the Greeks traditionally dye their eggs red, symbolizing the blood and passion of Christ.

As for the colored eggs, www.holidays.net says that eggs have been associated with fertility and springtime festivals and eggs are also features in the ritual of passover.  So, next time you color eggs with family members, go Easter egg hunting with little kids or take them to see the Easter Bunny, remember the story of how the Easter Bunny, and its colorful eggs, came about.

Our favorite guest, Maggie, has created a wonderful short story about the hotel that I just have to share with you.  Everyone here at the hotel just loves it when she comes in for a visit.  She knows all the ins and outs of this hotel and I think secretly some of us are in fear for our jobs when she gets to be working age….including Fritz!

Below is Maggie’s story just as she wrote it, no editing at all done by me:

The Little Girl Who Stayed at the Wentworth Hotel

By, Maggie Murphy

Once there was a little girl named Waggie. Her parents were the best in the world and she had a perfect life!

Not.

Waggie had no parents and a terrible life. She lived on the streets collecting food and money. She had saved up $17. “I am the unluckiest girl ever”. She thought every day. “How can I buy a house with $17?” Waggie happened to live in Jackson, NH which has about 6 hotels and inns all together  but you probably couldn’t even find a decent meal for $17! Waggie walked gloomily along the streets when suddenly she looked up to see she was standing in front of a castle! She glanced over at the sign which read, “The Wentworth Hotel.” Waggie whispered the name to herself. “What a place.” She said aloud. She took out her $17 and looked at it. “Phhht. I could never get in here with this amount of money. I would need a miracle” Waggie kept Walking. “Ahh!” A man yelled as she bumped into him. “Watch it!” He yelled. “You almost crinkled my priceless Oscar de la Renta jacket!” Waggie could tell that the man was very wealthy. “Sheesh.” He grumbled as he walked away. “Kids these days, no manners.” Waggie cringed and walked away. But out of the corner of her eye she noticed something! Something green! She slowly turned her head savoring the moment and crossing her fingers. Something green, and paper! She clenched her teeth together and smiled. Then, kneeled down and picked up a $1000 bill! Waggie sprang up in the air and rushed into the Wentworth Hotel!

The next thing she knew she was laying on a warm bed watching Hannah Montana in her room! Room 207.

“ I would like some chicken fingers and French fries please.” Waggie asked the waitress in the back dining room of the hotel. “Will that be with or without ketchup Madam?” “With please.” Waggie asked. “Thanks, um, Jean!” She said. Then in the door came a couple. They walked over to the table where she was sitting. “Hello,” said the man. “What is your name?” “Um, uh, W-Waggie.” She stammered. “Waggie huh?” He gave a weird look to the woman who just shrugged her shoulders. “Nice.” He said. “And where are your parents?” He asked. “Oh great,” She thought. “I knew someone would ask me this at some point! I guess I should just tell them the truth. “Well, I don’t really have any parents.” She blurted out. “What!” Said the man. So Waggie explained the whole story over a dinner of chicken fingers and French fries. Her childhood, her parents leaving, living on the streets, and finding the money. She ended up finding out that their names were Ellie and Fritz. The owners of the fine hotel. And they loved the idea of her staying there. Waggie ended up learning everyone in the staff’s names. In the kitchen there was, Brian, Leon, Jo Jo, Jean, Mark (The Professor), Chuck, Ike, Tyler, Laurie, Dierdre, Sara, Bill the cop, Rene, Justin and Sheila. In the bar there was Tony the bartender and Judy on the piano. In maintenance there was, Marcel (Donald Duck), Robert, Eli, Dan and Paula. In housekeeping there was, Bobbie, Dotti, Theresa and Nancy. And at the Front Desk there was, Irina, Jill, Danka, Liliia, Kathleen, Pat, Ellie, Annie the dog and her ball. And finally, in the tower of power, Fritz! The one who makes the world go ‘round. (Or at least the hotel.)

Waggie walked up to the bar. “One Shirley Temple please!” She asked Tony. “Can do.” He replied. Waggie walked over to Judy. “Want to sing a song?” She asked. “I would love to!” So they sang songs all night. “ Thank you Judy!’ Waggie said grinning. “Anytime.” Judy said. Then Waggie remembered something. “Dessert!’ She exclaimed and rushed into the kitchen. She ran through the door. “Whoa, slow down!” said Laurie “Yeah, lets put on some walking shoes.” Said Jo Jo. “Oops. Sorry.” Waggie walked over the Brian the chef. “Hey Brian, do you think I could have a little scoop of chocolate ice cream with strawberries please!?” “Well,” sighed Brian ‘you’ll have to ask “the professor” over there.” Brian pointed to a man in glasses carefully dripping chocolate on a pink sherbet of sorts. Waggie walked over and asked “the professor” for a chocolate ice cream with strawberries. The she ran back to take her seat. “yum.” She said as she took her first bite. “Perfect.” And that’s what it was. Her home, her family, her room, her food. Perfect.

The next morning Waggie ate her breakfast and ran up to the front desk. “Liliia, Liliia!” She yelled. “Could you tell Ellie and Fritz that I’m going to ride the new bike they got me with a helmet just around the condos?” “of course.” Said Liliia as nice as always. Waggie hopped on her bike and rode off around the hotel. “Hey Marcel!” She yelled. “Hi Waggie!” He said in his Donald Duck voice. Waggie laughed. When she finished riding she ran up to her room. Bobbie was just walking out of it. “Hey,” She said. “I think I found a little surprise in there for you!” “Really! From who?” Waggie wanted to know. “Well, you have to read the note to find out!” “Thanks Bobbie!” Waggie yelled after her. The she ran in. On her bed was a stuffed bear! Waggie picked up the note and read it aloud. It said, “Dear Waggie, this bear has been sitting in the maid’s room for about 5 months! Now its yours! What will you name it? Love Ellie and Fritz” “Hmm. What will I name it?” Waggie thought. Then she took one look at the baggy ears, droopy whiskers, and hanging tail and said, “Floppy. I’ll call you Floppy! And so it was, Floppy and Waggie lived happily ever after like most people hopefully do. And as Waggie lay on her bed she remembered the life she used to have. Living on $17 and then she thought to herself,

This is the life.

The End

What more can I say???

It is what we all consider one another who work at this beautiful hotel.  Isn’t it true that you spend more time with your co-workers than you do your spouse or children?  When one person hurts here, we all hurt, and we all pull together to create a unified bond and support system.

That is exactly what we did to our favorite Housekeeping Supervisor, Bobbie.  For the past month or so, it was determined that our Bobbie was diagnosed with having breast cancer.  That word has to be the scariest word in our language.  Imagine the devastation that hit her when she found out and her loved ones who had to hear about their mom or wife or sister.  The news shook the hotel hard.  We had to come together and help her through this.  There was no way we were letting her go through it alone.  When she was stressed, we picked up her pieces, when she was tired, we gave her another helper to get throught the day.

Well…….I can not be happier to announce that just yesterday, after a biopsy was done, the doctors are 99% sure that she is in fact CANCER FREE!!!!  The joy that overcame our faces and hearts was so overwhelming.  To see Bobbie smiling again was a sight surely missed.  Of course this doesn’t mean she is out of the woods completely, but the hope that was given to her and her family and her Wentworth extended family is a power gift.

Bobbie, we are bursting at the seam with happiness for you.  On a more selfish note, we get to keep the best housekeeping supervisor ever in addition to seeing her caring, joyous personality throughout the hotel for many years to come!

We love you Bobbie!!!!