[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 21 (Thursday, February 4, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S669]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEWPORT WINTER CARNIVAL

 Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, the 100th anniversary Newport 
Winter Carnival opens this week to great expectations. Citizens in 
Newport, NH, are pretty confident that theirs is the oldest continuous 
winter carnival in the Nation, and they are certain it is the very 
best.
  Newport is a town of classic New England charm, nestled in the scenic 
hills of western New Hampshire. Much has changed in Newport since the 
town held its first winter carnival. A century ago, the swift currents 
of the Sugar River turned water wheels that powered the town's 
prosperous textile mills. During long winters, townspeople enjoyed 
skiing, skating, snowshoeing, and other activities that were at the 
heart of the first Newport Winter Carnival.
  Today those mills are no longer in operation, but their handsome 
brick buildings have been repurposed as offices, shops, restaurants, 
and apartments. Like many other former mill towns in rural New 
Hampshire, Newport has weathered economic challenges in recent decades. 
During many visits over the years, I have admired the town's resilience 
and indomitable spirit, which have earned it the nickname ``the 
Sunshine Town.''
  Despite a century of dramatic changes and challenges, the Newport 
Winter Carnival has been a proud constant. People from neighboring 
communities come to Newport in midwinter to enjoy the warmth and 
friendliness of their neighbors and to have lots of old-fashioned fun.
  This year's carnival will begin with a reenactment. In 1917, a 
Dartmouth student from Newport skied the 29 miles from Hanover to his 
hometown to enjoy the Winter Carnival. His feat will be reenacted on 
Friday by his grandson and five others, who will light the ceremonial 
torch on Newport Common to start the festival. Festivities this year 
include the traditional Carnival Queen contest, a parade and talent 
pageant, broom hockey games, skijoring, and an arm wrestling 
competition with ``armed and ready'' Cathy Merrill, a Newport resident 
who recently won gold medals at the U.S. Arm Wrestling Nationals. The 
carnival will close on Sunday evening, February 14, with a fireworks 
display.
  I salute the Newport carnival committee and the scores of additional 
volunteers who put in countless hours to make the carnival a success. 
For them, this is truly a labor of love. I also salute the townspeople 
and families of Newport, who warmly welcome visitors not only for the 
carnival, but year-round, and always make us proud to be Granite 
Staters.
  Congratulations to the entire Newport community, and I wish everyone 
yet another successful Newport Winter Carnival.

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