Resorts hope skiers flock to New England
FAYSTON, Vt. – Ski resorts are expecting visitors to flock to the mountains of northern New England and upstate New York for rare powder as the snow-shrouded region heads into the mid-winter school break – a prime period for winter tourism.
This winter provided early snow and dumped plenty of it in January and February with temperatures cold enough to keep it on the ground, to the dismay of some weather-weary residents.
But the repeated storms, like the one that pummeled Boston over the weekend, have city-dwelling skiers and snowboarders throughout the Northeast in the frame of mind to head north to the slopes.
Mother Nature’s help means big years for northern New England’s slopes, according to industry groups. Vermont is on track with last year’s 4.5 million skier and rider visits – the 3rd best on record – and could see that number improve. New Hampshire has a shot at a top-10 year. And Maine is on track to exceed last year’s 1.3 million skier visits, though it remains to be seen if it will approach its 2008 record of 1.4 million.
Eric Friedman, Mad River’s marketing director, called the skiing conditions “absolutely world-class.”
People are buying lift tickets in advance in droves and a few are even coming from out West to partake in New England’s snowy winter, Friedman said.
Carjacker thwarted by stick shift
CONCORD, Calif. – Police in Northern California say a man attempting an armed carjacking bailed when he couldn’t drive a stick shift.
Concord police Lt. Tim Runyon told the Contra Costa Times that the owner got into his car early Sunday to find the carjacker in the passenger seat, apparently in the middle of a burglary.
Runyon says the carjacker ordered the victim at gunpoint to drive him to another location, where he forced the owner out of the car.
Runyon says the carjacker tried to drive off, but gave up when he couldn’t operate the manual transmission.
Runyon says officers couldn’t find the carjacker, who had run away.
Police chased truck, dodged thrown fridge
BELLE VERNON, Pa. – A tractor-trailer driver threw items from his cab at police – including socks, shoes and a small refrigerator – as he led them on a 34-mile chase in western Pennsylvania, authorities said Sunday.
Police in Westmoreland County said a man called emergency dispatchers just before 2 a.m. Saturday and said he planned to wreck his truck. State troopers tried to stop the vehicle near Washington Township, but the driver disregarded the emergency lights and sirens, and a pursuit began along Route 70 and later the Pennsylvania Turnpike, police said.
The driver refused orders to leave the cab, police said, so troopers entered and used a stun gun to subdue him. He was taken to a hospital because officers believed he was under the influence of a controlled substance, namely Xanax, and for other injuries, police said.
Associated Press
