Holiday Events Around the Lake!

Holiday Events Around the Lake!

By Sarah Wright

December is here, and the holiday spirit is in the air! All around the Lakes Region wonderful events are planned to bring family, friends, and the community together to celebrate the season. Whether it’s through music, cheerful lights, or homemade crafts, there are many ways to enjoy this festive time. Here are a few fun events happening all around the lake this month.

There’s nothing like a room full of decorated Christmas trees to bring out the “oohs” and “ahhs.” A tradition in my family is to visit the Wolfeboro Festival of Trees at the Wright Museum on Center Street each year. The charity benefit features two levels of more than 60 trees, decorated by area organizations and businesses. Enjoy local live entertainment as well as free refreshments, while you admire the beautiful and uniquely decorated trees. The festival is scheduled for the weekends of December 7 and 8 and December 14 and 15, with special hours on Wednesday, December 11 from 6 to 8 pm. Otherwise, doors will be open from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, and from noon to 3 pm on Sunday, and tickets may be purchased when you arrive. Visit www.wolfeborofestivaloftrees.com for more information, including the entertainment schedule.

If you enjoy outdoor light displays, there’s nothing like the amazing Gift of Lights event at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. Presented by Eastern Propane, the display features over two million twinkly LED lights. The 2.5-mile drive-through light show also has 520 displays, 80 different scenes, and a s’mores pit on Friday and Saturday nights! The Gift of Lights event runs through January 5, and is open from 4 to 9 pm, Sunday through Thursday, and from 4 pm to 10 pm on Friday and Saturday; the track will be closed on December 2 and 3, and on December 9 and 10. (On Friday and Saturday nights through December 21, kids can visit with Santa in the NHMS Main Office.) For details, visit www.nhms.com and click on “Events.” Don’t miss this spectacular light show! 

 On December 7, beginning at 5 pm, it’s Yuletide in Alton with Light Up the Night! Join the festivities at the town center for all kinds of entertainment, including a kids’ craft at the town hall with Santa, photos with Frosty on Main Street, caroling from the town hall to Ginny Douglas Park, holiday hayrides from Monument Square, an open house at the museum, musical entertainment by Jon Taber, and the Tree Lighting at Ginny Douglas Park. At 7 pm, the Prospect Mountain High School Chamber Singers will present “A Yuletide Celebration” at the Community Church of Alton. Don’t miss all the festive fun.

The Mill Falls Marketplace on Daniel Webster Highway in Meredith celebrates their Holiday Open House on December 8, from noon to 4 pm. Enjoy shopping, horse-drawn wagon rides, refreshments, strolling carolers, and a visit from Santa. You can even enter to win a $500 shopping spree!

Gilford celebrates the season with their annual Gilford Community Band Holiday Concert and Candle Light Stroll on December 14. The band kicks things off at the Gilford High School auditorium at 4 pm, before the Candle Light Stroll takes place from 5 to 7 pm. Over 1,000 candles through the village light the way to the Library Open House, the three Thompson-Ames Historical Buildings, the SAU, The Village Store, and more. Stop by the Village Field for s’mores with Santa, and visit with the Gilford Fire Department as they host a giant bonfire. Carolers add to the atmosphere and will be singing along the way. You can even take a horse-drawn carriage ride from the Rowe House to the library.

For more holiday music, there are further concerts around the lake to get you in the spirit. Enjoy the sounds of the Carter Mountain Brass Band on December 8 at their wonderful Christmas concert at the First United Methodist Church of Gilford on Wesley Way. The concert starts at 3 pm, and there will be a dessert reception afterwards. Music lovers will also be in for a treat at the annual Tuba Christmas Concert in Wolfeboro on Saturday, December 14, from 2 to 3 pm. This very popular and enjoyable event takes place at the All Saint’s Episcopal Church on South Main Street. Then at the Inter-Lakes auditorium on Rt. 25 in Meredith, the Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra will present their magical Holiday Concert of old and new favorites on Saturday, December 14 at 7:30 pm and on Sunday afternoon, December 15 at 3 pm. For ticket information, visit www.lrso.org or call 1-800-838-3006.

Prescott Farm will hold a creative workshop on December 14 from 1 to 3 pm for making Nature-Inspired Holiday Ornaments. What better gift to give than one you can put together with materials found in forests and fields? Kids are welcome at the workshop where everyone can make a variety of cute and decorative ornaments from nature. Prescott Farm is located on White Oaks Road in Laconia. To register for this workshop, call 366-5695.

If you’ve never seen The Nutcracker classical ballet, mark your calendar for December 15 and you’ll be in for a treat! Bring your family and friends to the holiday performance of The Nutcracker at the Kingswood Arts Center from 2 to 4 pm. Watch the magic unfold as Marie helps the Nutcracker soldier defeat the fierce Mouse King. Presented by the Northeastern Ballet Theatre, the state’s premier classical ballet company, this is a show that will delight the whole family. Tickets will be available at the door or in advance at www.northeasternballet.org.  

Canterbury Shaker Village will present Christmas in Canterbury on December 7 and 14. The Shakers loved to celebrate Christmas, and the celebrations continue from 3 to 8 pm. Tour inside the historic Shaker buildings and see an old-time 19th-century magic show, meet Father Christmas, make Christmas-inspired crafts, admire a toy train display, or listen to fiddlers. The Purple Finches Youth Chorus from the Concord Community Music School will delight with a concert on this night. Enjoy hot cider and sing Christmas carols during the lighting of the Village Christmas tree. It’s a fun event for the whole family. For more information, call 783-9511 or visit www.shakers.org. Shaker Village is located on Shaker Road in Canterbury.

 Have a blast this New Year’s Eve and join the First Night celebration in Wolfeboro on December 31. Activities are planned for the whole day with plenty of food and entertainment, including an amazing firework display over the lake. Your admission ticket is a button you wear on your coat. Buttons are available at First Night venues, or you can buy them ahead of time at stores listed on the Wolfeboro First Night Facebook page. Come join in the fun and ring in 2020!

What’s New at The Art Place

What’s New at The Art Place

By Sarah Wright

The Lakes Region is full of beautiful scenery any time of the year. Many visitors and residents bring that natural beauty back to their homes with amazing artwork created by local artists. It’s no surprise the scenic vistas that surround us inspire artists to pick up their paintbrushes and cameras to capture a single, breathtaking moment. The Art Place in downtown Wolfeboro always has lovely artwork on display, and also takes care of custom matting and framing for their many customers. (I had a painting framed by The Art Place a few years ago, and I was delighted to see all of their various framing options.)

Painting by Artist Peter Ferber

The Art Place represents local and New England artists, and you can find a sampling of the artwork currently available, as well as artist biographies on the gallery’s website at www.theartplace.biz. One of their most popular featured artists is the very talented Peter Ferber, who unveiled his latest original paintings in a gallery show over the summer at The Art Place. On September 28, customers were delighted to watch him in action when he gave an art demonstration at the gallery. If you’re not yet familiar with Peter Ferber, his paintings are inspired by the rural New Hampshire landscape that he first experienced as a child spending his summers in Wolfeboro. Simple things like the evening light sparkling across a lake, the purity of a white barn in the snow, and the patina of a weathered boathouse, warm Peter’s heart. His illustrations have appeared in national magazines as well as in books. He’s also exhibited in many shows throughout New England and the Midwest, and had more than 40 reproductions made of his work. It’s no wonder The Art Place has sold countless prints of his pieces!

Another notable artist whose work is currently on display is Christine Knight Coombs. Her award-winning watercolors feature rural scenes of lakes, woods, people, and animals. She has also illustrated children’s books and covers for national sporting magazines and catalogs, such as Down East Books. Christine says, “In my paintings, I wish to document the beauty of the moment. Within that moment is a story. It may be a story that reminds the viewer of a well-known or forgotten feeling, or it may be a story that he or she may wish to escape. For all who experience my paintings, I hope to provide inner nourishment, renewal, and reconnection with the beauty within them and around them.”

There are also beautiful watercolors on display by artist Denise Patchell Olson. She was a popular local artist, known for her paintings of countryside settings with a Martha’s Vineyard look. After she passed away, her daughter found some of her mother’s original artwork in storage, and wanted to share it by featuring the pieces in a show at The Art Place. Much of the inspiration for Denise Patchell Olson’s paintings came from her travels throughout historic New England. They speak to both the reality and fantasy that is the American small town. Her artwork has been exhibited in over 75 shops and galleries across the United States, and purchased by international collectors.

If you enjoy photography, there are some amazing photographs on display by Bob Ness. Capturing the beauty of every season, his colorful photographs will inspire you. Bob Ness traces his interest in photography back to high school, although he didn’t pursue this interest until the end of his college years when he began to capture scenes of the world around him. Wolfeboro and other regional delights serve as both model and muse for his art. Many are drawn to the intricate details of his work, like the shapes and lines in the photos.

If you’re a fan of fall foliage (who isn’t?), you’ll want to see the photos on display by John Geery. His photographs beautifully capture the vibrant colors of the season, while also showing the softness of autumn scenery. I can easily get lost in his photos, and wish I could transport myself to those places. Originally an easterner, John returned to New England in 1984, after nine years of living out west. He was initially concerned that the east wouldn’t be as photographically inspiring as the grandiose west. He soon discovered that while totally different, the great diversity of seasons and intimacy of the eastern landscape quickly won him over.

Other featured artists include Plein Air painter Madelyne Albee; Valerie Schurer Christle, who works with different media; self-proclaimed “outsider” artist Tim Campbell; traditional painter Eric Koeppel; Charlene Lehto, who paints with oil and watercolors; pen and ink artist Gene Matras; watercolorist Helene Pierce; Lauren Sansaricq, a White Mountain School of Art painter; and Corina Willette, who works with mixed media. Visitors to the gallery will also enjoy WaterMark Maps, created by Concord artist, Morgan Walton. She originally started her business with her father when she was a senior in high school, and since then, she has created maps of over 350 locations. Some of them, like her map of Lake Winnipesaukee (which includes all 262 islands), took quite some time to create. The detail that Morgan captures with her watercolors is unmatched.

There are other maps and charts available at The Art Place. A popular seller at the gallery are laser-cut, “reverse relief” wood charts. These framed maps show the depth and height of the landscape through layers of stacked, precisely cut wooden pieces. The maps feature popular local destinations like Lake Winnipesaukee, Boston Harbor, Sebago Lake in Maine, and Cape Cod, among others. Customers also really enjoy the wooden cribbage boards, featuring a carved Lake Winnipesaukee design. 

In the summer season, The Art Walk events are popular and well-attended Wolfeboro events. Hosted by the Governor Wentworth Arts Council (GWAC), the Art Walk is a self-guided tour of galleries and other art locations in Wolfeboro including The Studio Gallery, The Kalled Gallery, The Art Place, Artisans Corner, The Sandy Martin Gallery, Winnipesaukee Chocolates, and The Connelly Gallery as well as Northeastern Ballet Theatre Studio. Although the season has ended, you can still support the arts year-round by visiting any of these featured local businesses.

The Art Place is located at 9 North Main Street and is open year-round. For further information, visit www.theartplace.biz or call 603-569-6159 (toll-free at 866-569-6159).

It’s a Musical Autumn in the Lakes Region!

It’s a Musical Autumn in the Lakes Region!

By Sarah Wright

Autumn is upon us, with all of its beautiful color, crisp air, apples, and pumpkins. This also means the outdoor gazebo concerts we enjoy in the summer have ended for the season. However, there are still many opportunities for musical entertainment, and the Lakes Region has some exciting concerts lined up this fall. Mark your calendars and warm up indoors at one of these amazing performances!

Enjoy live music on an evening cruise aboard the M/S Mount Washington with a delicious dinner buffet! Whether it’s the Swing to the Oldies theme on Friday nights, the Rock ’n Roll Saturday Night cruise, or the special Elvis Tribute on October 4, there’s something for everyone! Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to set sail from Weirs Beach. Dinner cruises run from 6 to 9 pm. To purchase tickets and view the full schedule, visit www.cruisenh.com or call 603-366-5531.

The Wolfeboro Friends of Music welcomes four talented young artists for Heifetz On Tour at Brewster Academy’s Anderson Hall, at 205 South Main Street in Wolfeboro on October 19 at 7:30 pm. This year’s featured musicians will play violin, viola, cello, and piano. Many people love this very popular concert event, returning for its eighth time. If you’re not familiar with the Heifetz Institute, Daniel Heifetz founded the program in 1996. The young musicians are trained through the Institute’s world-renowned summer program on the campus of Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia. The touring program creates real-world performance and outreach opportunities for promising young Heifetz Institute alumni. To find out more about this concert or to order tickets, visit www.wfriendsofmusic.org or call 603-569-2151. Come see why Heifetz On Tour is so popular!

If you’re a fan of the Oldies, don’t miss Not Fade Away: The Ultimate Throwback to Buddy Holly and the Legends of Rock N’ Roll at the Interlakes Theatre on Laker Lane in Meredith, during Columbus Day weekend. Performances are scheduled for Saturday, October 12 at 7:30 pm; Sunday, October 13 at 3 pm and 7 pm; and on Monday, October 14 at 2 pm. Folks of all ages will surely enjoy classic hits from Buddy Holly as well as The Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, The Beatles, and more! For ticket information, visit www.interlakestheatre.com or call 603-707-6035.

The Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 44th season with some great upcoming concerts. The premier, community orchestra based in Meredith, is comprised of amateur musicians and members from over 30 communities in the beautiful Lakes Region. On the schedule this fall, on Saturday, November 2 at 7:30 pm, listen to the beautiful melodies of the orchestra as they present, “Tales of Tchaikovsky” at the Inter-Lakes Community Auditorium on Route 25 in Meredith. Special guest artist, pianist Brigham Parker, the 2019 LRSO Concerto Competition Winner, will join the orchestra. The program will include Piano Concerto No. 1 by Tchaikovsky, featuring Brigham Parker; the Overture to The Barber of Seville by Rossini; and Symphony No. 2, “Little Russian” by Tchaikovsky. If you like what you hear, and are interested in joining the orchestra, contact conductor Ben Greene at bengreene820-at-gmail.com. They’re especially in need of trumpet and trombone players. Purchase tickets for the concert at www.lrso.org or call 800-838-3006.

If you’re a fan of musical theatre, you’ll be delighted to hear that The Village Players of Wolfeboro will present the hilarious musical Once Upon a Mattress this November. This retelling of the classic fairytale of The Princess and the Pea features music by Mary Rodgers and lyrics by Marshall Barer. With a cursed king, a wicked queen, a lovestruck prince, and a princess unlike any other, the humorous antics of these characters will have you laughing out loud. Performances are scheduled for November 1, 2 and 3, and then again on November 8, 9 and 10. The Village Players Theater is located at 51 Glendon Street in Wolfeboro. For ticket information and showtimes, visit www.village-players.com.

Don Felder, formerly of The Eagles, will perform at the Flying Monkey on Sept. 29.

The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Main Street in Plymouth always has a schedule packed with incredible entertainment. This fall will not disappoint! There will be numerous talented artists in the next couple of months, including Don Felder (formerly of The Eagles), The Spirit of Johnny Cash, the Robert Cray Band, J.J. Grey, The California Honeydrops, The Gibson Brothers, and Peter Wolf. For tickets or further schedule information on any of the mentioned events, visit www.flyingmonkeynh.com or call 603-536-2551.

The California Honeydrops bring their musical sound to the Flying Monkey in October.

Another great music venue is the Granite State Music Hall at 546 Main Street in Laconia. Upcoming shows include a very eclectic group of artists like Candlebox, Rodney Atkins, Slaughter, Colt Ford, Trapt, Edwin McCain, Powerman 5000, and Jerrod Niemann. For full schedule information and ticket sales, visit www.granitestatemusichall.com.

Of course, many popular restaurants in the area also feature live music, such as The Broken Spoke Saloon in Laconia (www.brokenspoke.com/laconia) and Giuseppe’s Pizzeria & Ristorante in Meredith (www.giuseppesnh.com). Patrick’s Pub & Eatery at 18 Weirs Road in Gilford offers great local entertainment to listen to while you enjoy some of their delicious menu items. With Open Mic Night on Tuesdays, and live music with Cody James on Wednesdays, your weeknights just got more interesting. The entertainment heats up by Friday night, with a different special musical guest each week. The Saturday Sessions also vary each week, and diners can expect all kinds of music from jazz to blues to rock ’n roll, and of course Irish music! For the latest entertainment schedule, or to view the restaurant’s menu, visit www.patrickspub.com, or call 603-293-0841 with any questions.

As we head into autumn, there is definitely something for every music lover in the Lakes Region, not to mention the musicians that perform at local bars and restaurants. Entertainment doesn’t end with summer…the area has a lot to offer, year-round for music fans of all ages. Check out one of these wonderful performances this fall!

Mini-Golf Is Fun for Everyone!

Mini-Golf Is Fun for Everyone!

By Sarah Wright

I admit that I’m a big fan of mini-golf. That’s not to say I’m particularly good at it, but I have gotten a hole-in-one from time to time. Mini-golf is a great leisure sport, especially on a hot summer day, since you can play without breaking a sweat. I did some quick online research about the sport and found out that the first mini-golf course was built in 1867 at the Ladies’ Putting Club in St. Andrews, Scotland. And I was surprised to learn there is a World Mini-Golf Sport Federation. Yes, some players take their putting very seriously. Whether you are an amateur or a professional, there are some fun courses in the Lakes Region, so let’s tee up! 

A section of the property at Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf.

Funspot in Weirs Beach has a great course with some wonderful New Hampshire landmarks featured in the design. These structures were refurbished from Funspot’s famous outdoor mini-golf course that was open from 1964-2014 before being moved indoors. Some of the re-created historic landmarks include the M/S Mount Washington cruise ship, the Jackson covered bridge, and the Cog Railway. My kids have always liked “Waldo” the Whale. As Funspot is the “Largest Arcade in the World,” there is plenty to do when you’re done golfing. With countless videogames, pinball machines, air hockey, and bowling, you can easily spend most of the day there. My personal favorite is Skee-Ball, and I make sure to play it every time, even though my kids prefer the racing games. On a hot day, or a rainy day, Funspot is the perfect place for fun! Located at 579 Endicott Street North, in the Weirs section of Laconia, Funspot is open every day from 9 am to 11 pm, with a closing time of midnight on Saturdays. For more information, visit www.funspotnh.com or call 603-366-4377. 

Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf is super fun outdoor mini-golf, with three locations in the area. I’ve played with my family at the Weirs Beach location, and the course was beautiful, complete with waterfalls and a cool cave tunnel. My sons loved the pirate décor with cannons, steering wheels, and the skull and crossbones “Jolly Roger” flags. One of my favorite features on the course were the sign markers along the way with true facts about infamous real-life pirates. It was fun to read these aloud to the kids, since they didn’t believe me when I said that pirates were real. If you get a hole-in-one, you’ll receive a small prize. However, if you play poorly, have no fear—they will not make you walk the plank! Pirates Cove Adventure Golf is located on Route 3 in the Weirs Beach section of Laconia, heading toward Meredith. Call 603-366-5058 for details. The Winnisquam location is on Route 3 near I-93, exit 20. They can be reached at 603-528-6434. There is also a location in North Conway on Routes 16/302, otherwise known as the White Mountain Highway. For more information, call 603-356-8807. All three locations are open from mid-May to mid-October. The Pirates Cove Adventure Golf in Weirs Beach and Winnisquam are currently open daily, weather permitting, from 9 am to 10 pm. The North Conway location is open on Sunday to Wednesday, from 10 am to 8 pm; on Thursdays from noon to 8 pm; and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 10 pm. Information about all of the locations can be found online at www.piratescove.net. 

Putter’s Village has been delighting mini-golfers in Wolfeboro for over 30 years. I love this course, set back from the road among the trees where there’s a little shade. Like the Funspot course, this golfing green has beautifully handcrafted structures representing local landmarks. My favorite is the large nesting loon, but you’ll also see Castle in the Clouds, the Old Man of the Mountain, and many more! Putter’s Village is located at 9 Center Street in Wolfeboro, and is currently open Monday through Saturday, from 10 am to 9 pm, and on Sundays from 1 pm to 9 pm, weather permitting. For more information, contact the friendly staff at 603-569-6715 or visit their Facebook page. 

If you like your mini-golf with a side of ice cream, check out the course at the formerly named Jay’s Bayside Ice Cream & Mini-Golf in Alton Bay. Now under management by Chucksters, this is another cool, shady course thanks to the many trees that surround it. Happy putters will love the quaint bridges and water spouts along the center stream. Located at 5 Mount Major Highway, the course is just across from the town docks, so you can even park your boat and stop in to play a round. Current hours are Mondays from noon to 9 pm; Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 10 pm; Saturdays from 10 am to 10 pm; and Sundays from noon to 9 pm. Don’t forget to bring your appetite for ice cream! With around 50 flavors, there is something for everyone. I like some of the fun names for flavors like Bear Claw and Dough Dough Bird. For further information, call 603-875-4263, or visit www.chucksters-altonbay.com. 

One of the mini-golf courses on my list to try this summer is one I’ve driven by on my way through Moultonborough. Paradise Falls Mini-Golf is a beautifully maintained course located at 252 Lee Road. Designed with a tropical feel, you’ll think you’re at an oasis with the pretty fountains and palm trees. I think it’s in a nice location if you’d like to get away from the crowds for a while. Open every day from 10 am to 9 pm, weather permitting, this would also be a great stop for fun if you’re on the long drive around Lake Winnipesaukee. If you have any questions, the friendly staff can be reached at 603-476-5909. 

With wonderfully unique mini-golf courses spread out all around the lake, there’s really no excuse not to try one this summer! Kids will love the fun obstacles, and it’s great practice for aim and focus. Mini-golf is also great for photo ops—perfect for your vacation album. Fore!

The Libby Museum is a Natural History Treat!

The Libby Museum is a Natural History Treat!

By Sarah Wright

If you’ve never visited The Libby Museum of Natural History in Wolfeboro, you’re missing out on a treasure trove of local history. The first time I went there, I was amazed at how many interesting artifacts and animal specimens were packed into a fairly small space. I’ve been back multiple times since, and I notice something new each time.  

Exhibit in the Libby Museum. Courtesy photo

The taxidermy specimens on display are beautiful, and give the viewer a rare, up-close look at some of our local species. Then there are the Native American artifacts, like arrowheads, and even a dug-out canoe. There are plenty of other artifacts from museum founder Dr. Henry Forrest Libby’s life as well, including his dentistry tools and other popular household items from the late 1800s and early 1900s, like combs, hairpins, and pottery. I found the old money to be especially interesting, since we once had different currency for the Confederacy, back before the Civil War. 

From time to time, more artifacts are added to the unique collection, like an old photo album that was found in the attic of Dr. Libby’s former home across the street from the museum. For art lovers, there is a changing art display that currently features nature photographs by Jane Kelley, entitled “Wings & Things: Nature of New Hampshire.” 

My kids have always liked the activity table where they could look at rocks and gems with a magnifying glass, or dig for shells in the sand and match them to the pictures. They also have a scavenger hunt for kids, and if they locate everything on the list, they can earn a small prize. 

In the woods next to the museum, enjoy some real natural history and take a stroll on the Libby Woods Walk. This was the dream of former Executive Director Lauren Hammond, and after cutting some branches and receiving wood chips from the town, it opened a few years ago. It’s a short loop through the woods, and even toddlers can manage it. It’s also an interpretive trail, so everyone can learn about and identify the native plants and trees that Dr. Libby originally planted there years ago. There’s an area of the woods with a ramp that leads to an old barn’s foundation, and the museum sometimes uses the spot for painters or children’s story time. Dr. Libby’s old hunting lodge is also visible from the trail, although the building is now used for apartments. 

The story of Dr. Libby is fascinating. I’m sure many people know that he attended Brewster Academy, but did you know that he married his Latin teacher? To make money, they moved to Boston, where Dr. Libby became a dentist, first learning as an apprentice and then later getting his degree from Harvard. He was also an inventor of sorts, devising a method of filling teeth with gold and then discovering that he could burn gypsum in a kiln to make plaster of Paris (which can still be seen at the museum.) 

Dr. Libby and his wife, Hattie, continued to summer in Wolfeboro, eventually moving his house across the ice to where it stands now, across the street from the museum. At the time, he owned much of the coast line as well as Rattlesnake Island. 

Dr. Libby had always been interested in science and nature. He started making little nature boxes of his collections in order to study them more closely, and then moved on to skeletons and taxidermy. (Most of the animals on display at The Libby Museum are from his original collection.) News of his hobby spread, and soon the townspeople were bringing Dr. Libby new artifacts, animals, plants, or bugs to add to his collection. After a while, he decided he no longer had enough room to house the items, so in 1912, he set about building a public museum to display them. He supposedly used wood from trees on Rattlesnake Island to construct the museum.

The museum was an instant hit as everyone wanted to take a look inside. Dr. Libby’s father liked to sit out front to greet visitors as they filed in. One particular story that I learned from Alana Albee, current Executive Director of the museum, was the sensation caused by the “Wolfeboro Cootie.” During World War I, a woman in Wolfeboro received a letter from her son who was on the battlefield. A little lice-like bug was in the envelope with the letter. The woman brought the bug to Dr. Libby to display at the museum, and it’s still there today! At the time, it served as a connection to the war, no matter how small. People wanted to see it.

Over the years, The Libby Museum has expanded its offerings to include numerous events and programs. Summer day camps for kids are very popular, with the Young Explorers science program for ages 5 to 7, open now for registration. Every Wednesday at 2 pm throughout the summer, all ages can enjoy the free Wildlife Adventures show, where visitors get up close to live animals and learn fascinating facts about them. “Mrs. Libby” might even be there to walk you around the museum and answer questions about the exhibits. 

New this year are Art Classes. Learn from artist Stephanie Blackstock Ayers and choose from Wildlife Sketching on Saturday, July 27 from 10 am to 12:30 pm or Landscape Painting with oil and palette on Saturday, August 10 from 10 am to 2:30 pm. Sign up in advance at www.thelibbymuseum.org or by calling 603-569-1035. 

You can also buy passes at The Libby Museum for the Museum Loop tour. Take an antique boat ride on Lake Winnipesaukee from the Wolfeboro town docks to The Libby, and then hop on Molly the Trolley to visit the NH Boat Museum, the Wright Museum, and the Clark House complex. Call 603-569-4554 for more information. 

The museum’s latest undertaking is a Restoration Project and Expansion. This is very exciting news for a museum that opened over 100 years ago. Architects began planning the project on June 1, and details will be ready by this September. 

The Libby Museum is located at 755 North Main Street, and is currently open from 10 am to 4 pm on Tuesday through Saturday, and from noon to 4 pm on Sundays. From Labor Day to Columbus Day, the museum will limit its hours to Saturday and Sunday only, before closing for the season. 

For more information, call 603-569-1035 or visit www.thelibbymuseum.org. You can also follow The Libby Museum on Facebook. Make a plan to explore this unique local museum today! 

The Meredith Sculpture Walk Brings the Art Outdoors!

The Meredith Sculpture Walk Brings the Art Outdoors!

By Sarah Wright

We’ve already been lucky this spring to have some sunny weekends to get out and explore the Lakes Region. Locals and visitors alike are enjoying the beautiful weather, taking advantage of what looks like the beginnings of a wonderful summer season. 

I decided to take my kids on a day trip to Meredith recently, to appreciate some art outside on the Sculpture Walk. Sponsored by the Greater Meredith Program, this is the start of the 6th annual walk, with the purpose being to develop awareness and enjoyment of public art in Meredith for residents and visitors. The outdoor exhibit is also made possible by committee volunteers, and the generosity of sponsors and land owners. Many people are involved in this innovative project. 

We headed out early on a Sunday morning during Bike Week, ready for crowds. To tempt the kids into the car, I promised them we’d stop at Moulton Farm along the way for warm, delicious donuts from Cider Bellies. (I prefer the ones with the maple drizzle, but for the boys, it’s sugar all the way!) Cider Bellies Doughnuts is located on the farm at 18 Quarry Road in Meredith. The donut stand is open on Friday through Sunday, from 8 am to 2 pm. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. After relaxing a bit and admiring the colorful fields and flowers at the farm, we were on our way again. 

When we arrived at Main Street in Meredith, the place was hopping! It was a lovely morning, so I wasn’t surprised, but even so, I easily found a parking spot. All of the sculptures are centrally located, arranged mostly in a loop, so it’s not difficult to see all of the display sites marked on the map. Maps are available in a few locations along the route, but I printed a map beforehand from the Meredith Sculpture Walk’s Facebook page online. This season, there are 32 sculptures positioned along Main Street, in the Mill Falls Marketplace, and in the lakeside Hesky, Scenic, and Clough Parks. Removing the sculptures from last year and then installing the new pieces is a process that takes time. We did find that a few of the sculptures were missing, but it’s a transitional exhibit. Of course, those pieces might also have been purchased, as that’s an option, too, if there’s a special sculpture that “speaks” to you. 

I thought we should start in Clough Park and work our way back from there through Scenic Park and then over to Hesky Park. I was immediately struck by the variety of sculptures in all different mediums. There were metal sculptures like Black Sailboat, made from copper and steel, and a sculpture of metal geese flying across a sunny sky. One that I liked in particular was called Space Between Leaves, a circle of green metal leaves that framed the view of Meredith Bay in a lovely way. In contrast, there was the smoothness of Geisha, carved from Portuguese pink marble, which almost looked like it was made of polished bone, and the Picasso-esque, Marble Woman. It was a great opportunity to discuss art with my kids, and I described how an artist can look at a block of wood or marble, or a piece of metal, and see something inside of it that they can bring out by using their imagination. We also talked about the time and effort that it took to create each piece. 

As we walked into Hesky Park, we had the added treat of hearing a pair of loons out on the water. It was a rare sight, so close to the town docks! We enjoyed the lighthearted nature of some of the sculptures there, like the large wooden dog with a space the shape of a bone carved out of its “stomach,” and the whimsical Three Graces, made from welded aluminum. 

The Red Alert sculpture.

After crossing Main Street, we walked up Lake Street where we were greeted by a large metal piece called Red Alert, that made me think of a rooster. The kids disagreed! That was a fun part of the walk, too, interpreting each sculpture in our own way. Criss Cross reminded my boys of chopsticks (perhaps they were hungry?), and was on display next to the recently installed bronze “Archie” sculpture on a bench at the Community Park. We took a break with Archie before continuing down the road to the Mill Falls Marketplace, where there was such a variety of pieces! We saw everything from stone pumpkins to a metal guitar, and a flying owl. It really felt like an exciting scavenger hunt. 

The Sculpture Walk is fun for everyone, and a great way to introduce kids to art, while giving them the freedom to run around. It’s also a great way to get some exercise on a nice day. Take your time and bring a picnic lunch to enjoy by the water. Explore on your own at your own pace, or go on a docent-led tour and discover fun and interesting facts about the artists and sculptures. Tours meet in the Oglethorpe Lobby at Mill Falls Marketplace on Wednesdays at 10 am from July 18 to August 22, and at 10 am on Saturdays from July 21 to September 15, or by appointment. 

Call 603-279-9015 for more information or visit www.greatermeredithprogram.com to learn more about the amazingly interesting Meredith Sculpture Walk.

Of course, we couldn’t leave without stopping into the Innisfree Bookshop at Mill Falls, one of our favorite bookstores. We each picked out something for our summer reading. Choose to make a day of it like we did, and enjoy the shops and restaurants at the Mill Falls Marketplace. The Marketplace is open at 10 am every day, closing at 5:30 pm on Sunday through Thursday, and open until 9 pm on Friday and Saturday. It was a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours in Meredith, and I’m already curious to see what next year’s Sculpture Walk will bring! 

Eat Healthy and Fresh at a Farmers Market

Eat Healthy and Fresh at a Farmers Market

By Sarah Wright

Whether you’re entertaining at home, or interested in eating healthier home-cooked meals, a farmers market offers plenty of options. Shopping at a farmers market is a trend that’s here to stay, with new markets popping up every summer. More and more people want to know where their food is coming from. I’ve been going to a local market for the past few years, and the crowds have grown substantially…along with the variety of vendors. Not only can consumers purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables, there’s also goat cheese, eggs, baked goods, honey, farm-raised meats, flowers, and even gluten-free options available at today’s markets.

Wolfeboro Area Farmers Market, Clark Park, Wolfeboro. Courtesy photo

By shopping at a farmers market, you’re getting quality, fresh products for a fraction of the price, supporting local businesses, and socializing within your community. I know that I appreciate being able to meet with local vendors and ask questions about their products. Although there are winter farmers markets, there’s nothing like shopping at an outdoor market on a beautiful summer’s day. Here are some wonderful farmers markets to visit in the Lakes Region.

One of the newest markets in the area is Gilmanton’s Own Market in the Four Corners Brick House at 525 Province Road in Gilmanton. Gilmanton’s Own is a non-profit association aimed to preserve and promote agricultural opportunities in Gilmanton and to provide farmers with a voice and outlet to distribute local products. This will keep farming viable and vibrant in the community. This year, the market opened for the season in April. Many products are available, as well as meat, fresh bread and other baked goods, syrups, honeys, jams, mustards, soda, spices, soaps, and even clothing and other artisanal items. Local produce will be offered as it comes into season. Hours are Thursdays from 1 to 5 pm, Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sundays from noon to 4 pm. For more information, visit www.gilmantonsown.wordpress.com.

Did you know the Laconia Farmers Market has been around for over 40 years? This market provides customers with fresh vegetables, garlic, herbs, fruits, berries, natural meats, delicious farmstead jams and jellies, baked goods, artisan breads, and a selection of unique handmade crafts. There are organic and gluten-free products as well. The market also accepts credit cards and SNAP/EBT cards. The Laconia Farmers Market is located in the City Hall parking lot on Beacon St. and is open on Saturdays from 8:30 am to noon, from June through September. For information and dates the market is open, visit www.laconiafarmersmarket.com.

The Gilford Farmers Market is located at the Benjamin Rowe House at 88 Belknap Mountain Road. At this market, which is hosted by the Thompson-Ames Historical Society, you’ll find fruits and vegetables, flowers and plants, dairy and maple products, baked goods, farm meats, and crafts. There’s also music, face painting, and Rowe House tours with educational exhibits. The Gilford Farmers Market is open from mid-June through September, from 9 am to noon on Saturdays. Visit their Facebook page for the most up-to-date information.

The Wolfeboro Farmers Market at Clark Park on South Main St. will be open on Thursdays in June until October 3, from 12:30 to 4:30 pm. At this market, you’ll find produce, baked goods, cheeses, honey, milk, farm meats, flowers, dog treats, herbs, soap, wool products, vegan ice cream, and seafood, with options for lunch as well. There were over 30 vendors at last summer’s market, so you’re bound to find what you’re looking for. The market also accepts SNAP benefits. Visit www.wolfeboroareafarmersmarket.com.

The Wakefield Marketplace, on the corner of Wakefield Road and Route 16, is open through October 5 on Saturdays, from 9 am to 3 pm. There will be many farmers this year offering fresh produce, flowers, jellies, pickles, farm fresh eggs, dairy products, maple syrup, baked goods, and farm meat. Artisans will be selling hand-painted and sewn items, knitted and crocheted creations, jewelry, wood products, and other unique crafts. For further information, visit www.wakefieldmarketplace.org.

Visit the Farmington Farmers Market on the Congregational Church side lawn at the corner of Central and Main Streets, and you will find seasonal vegetables, plants, homemade goods such as pies, jams, quilts, dog biscuits, hats, and even pot holders. The market is open on Saturdays until October 5, from 8:30 am to 1 pm.

Farmers Market tomatoes

The Tamworth Farmers Market is located in the Unitarian Church parking lot at 30 Tamworth Road (Rt. 113) on Saturdays, from 9 am to 1 pm, through October 26. Fresh fruits and vegetables are available, along with flowers and plants, cheeses, mushrooms, maple syrup, herbs, baked goods, farm meat, hard cider, prepared food, artisan demonstrations, and crafts. Enjoy musical entertainment as you browse vendors. For details, visit www.tamworthfarmersmarket.org.

Check out the Sandwich Farmers Market, open until Columbus Day in October, on Saturdays from 9 to 11:30 am and also on Wednesdays from 4 to 6 pm. Visit the market at the Corner House on Vittum Hill Road in Center Sandwich for locally grown produce, seedlings, meat, eggs, coffee, flowers, breads, soap, handmade crafts, and more.

The Bristol Farmers Market & Craft Fair has been at the Mill Stream Park on Route 3A for four years. Sponsored by the Bristol Lion’s Club, the fair is an opportunity for locals to share their produce and products every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm until October. Vendors’ items include organic fruits and veggies, goat milk products, yogurt, bread, eggs, maple syrup, jams, jellies, pies, fudge, and dessert items. Crafts vary from wooden bowls, baskets, clocks, and kitchen serving items, to canes, cutting boards, jewelry, pottery, birdhouses, photography, hand painted art, wind chimes, pillows, handbags, quilts, and much more.

The New Hampton Farmers Market is located at the Town House off Rt. 104 in New Hampton. The market is open Saturdays, 9 am to noon from June to October. The market features locally grown and freshly picked produce. There will also be for sale locally made crafts and even raw milk. In the past, live music has added to the festive atmosphere at the market; call 968-9530 for updates.

Farmers markets are open rain or shine, and some now accept credit cards and SNAP/EBT cards. To add to the experience, many markets feature musicians. Farmers markets promote local agriculture, while also helping consumers make more educated choices about their food purchases. Whether you’re shopping for everyday meals or hosting guests for a backyard barbeque, purchasing food for a picnic, or just spending time browsing the community market, farmers markets enrich our lives. Experience one this summer! It is advised to call ahead for hours and dates.

Bring on Summer Events for Family Fun!

Bring on Summer Events for Family Fun!

By Sarah Wright

Summer is almost here, and many families are already planning their summer vacations. The Lakes Region is a wonderful place to make memories in the summertime, with swimming and boating on the lake, hiking, mini-golf, go-karts, and many other great activities. In addition to all of that fun, there are some exciting local events planned that the whole family can enjoy together. Here is a list of just some of the spectacular events happening in our area this summer. There really is something for everyone!

Family Day at the Wright Museum in Wolfeboro is scheduled this year for Sunday, July 14 from 11 am to 3 pm. Tour the World War II museum, ride around Wolfeboro in a World War II era vehicle, talk with re-enactors from many of America’s wars, and enjoy live music. Children will also love the face painting, caricatures, balloon artist, magic show, and live animal show. Food will be available to purchase. It’s the museum’s most popular event, so don’t miss it. The museum is located at 77 Center Street. For more information, call 603-569-1212 or visit www.wrightmuseum.org.

Climbing wall at Nickfest.

Photo courtesy Nicholas J. Pernokas Recreation Park (The Nick)

Active families won’t want to miss Nickfest on Saturday, July 13 (rain date: July 14) at Brewster Memorial Field on Main Street in Wolfeboro. From 11 am to 4 pm, families and friends can enjoy a selection of inflatable games including the Boot Camp Challenge, Moebius Combo, Vertical Rush, Jumbo Slide, Mini Ball Bounce, High Striker, and the Castle Bounce House. There are also four-way bungee trampolines, a climbing wall, pony rides, a photo booth, petting zoo, face painting, and live music by the Carolyn Ramsay Band. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Thanks to all the 2019 sponsors, 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly to The Nick to fund the operation and maintenance of the park. Tickets are available at Nickfest or in advance at Black’s Paper Store in downtown Wolfeboro. For further information, call 603-569-1909 or visit www.thenick.org.

Plan to come back to Wolfeboro when The Nick hosts Circus Smirkus, presented by All Saints Episcopal Church, with performances on Sunday, August 11 at 2 pm and 7 pm; and on Monday, August 12 at 1 pm and 6 pm. Don’t miss the amazing acrobatics of these skilled circus performers! The Smirkus midway opens one hour before showtime and features splendid Smirkus novelties and food concessions like popcorn, cotton candy, hot dogs, ice cream, and bottled water, lemonade, and iced tea. Tickets are available online at www.thenick.org, or at Black’s Paper Store in Wolfeboro and the Innisfree Bookstore at the Mill Falls Marketplace in Meredith.

Circus Smurkus will perform at The Nick this summer.

Photo courtesy Nicholas J. Pernokas Recreation Park (The Nick)

On Saturday July 20, The Loon Center in Moultonborough will host its 42nd Annual Loon Festival. This free event starts at 10 am and features crafts, storytelling, face painting, and balloons for the kids, slide presentations by loon biologists for adults, and live music and the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center Discovery Table with animal exhibits for everyone. Try your hand at the Pin the Chick on the Loon game or take a Loon Facts quiz and win three throws at the dunk tank! Food and beverages will be provided. For more than 40 years, the Loon Preservation Committee has worked to preserve the Common Loon and its habitat in New Hampshire through research, education, and management activities. This event will be held rain or shine. The Loon Center is located at 183 Lee’s Mill Road in Moultonborough. For details, call 603-476-5666 or visit www.loon.org.

Children will love the Truck, Tractor, Wagon Day at The New Hampshire Farm Museum on Saturday, August 3, from 10 am to 3 pm. Explore three centuries of travel and farm work, as it was done in the “olden” days. Part of the farm’s collection of tractors and wagons will be available for rides, and kids will be able to sit at the wheel of big trucks as well as fire and police vehicles, construction equipment, classic cars, and vintage military vehicles. It’s the most fun kids can have on a farm! While you’re there, be sure to tour the farm house and visit with the animals at this wonderful New Hampshire gem. The museum is located at 1305 White Mountain Highway in Milton. Visit www.nhfarmmuseum.org for more details, or call 603-652-7840.

Castle in the Clouds is a beautiful place to visit, and the walking trails, water fall, and fish feeding make this a great outing for kids. On Saturday, August 10, from 11 am to 2 pm, the Castle celebrates Family Fun Day. The Lakes Region Conservation Trust has partnered with the Moultonborough Recreation Department to provide a day of lively music, activities and games, and other fun. The whole family can enjoy this free event in the Meadows at Shannon Pond when entering from Ossipee Park Road. The event is also included in the price of admission to the Castle. Purchase food from a local food truck, ice cream and light snacks from Cones in the Clouds, or bring your own picnic lunch. Family Fun Day is held rain or shine. Castle in the Clouds is located at 455 Old Mountain Road in Moultonborough. For more information, call 603-476-5410 or visit www.castleintheclouds.org.

Castle in the Clouds. Courtesy photo

Explore nature at the 17th Annual Woods, Water, & Wildlife Festival at Branch Hill Farm on 307 Applebee Road in Milton Mills. This family-friendly celebration will take place on Saturday, August 10 from 10 am to 3 pm, and features fun and educational outdoor activities. Everyone can enjoy hayrides to the river, wild animals from Squam Lakes Science Center, fishing in the pond, kids’ crafts, a petting zoo, demonstrations of traditional rural skills, a kids’ discovery walk in the woods with obstacle course, a scavenger hunt, a permaculture garden, and more. Food and baked goods will be available for purchase, and this event is held rain or shine. Presented by Moose Mountains Regional Greenways and Branch Hill Farm, the festival is free for kids ages 12 and under.

Do you like county fairs? Kick off fair season in the Lakes Region with the Belknap County 4-H Fair on Saturday, August 10 from 9 am to 7 pm and on Sunday, August 11 from 9 am to 5 pm. Enjoy live music, lots of prize-winning farm animals, and yummy treats. Children under age 10 are free. The fairgrounds are located on Mile Hill Road in Belmont.

Last, but certainly not least, if you’re looking for something to do indoors, treat the family to an entertaining theatrical performance by The Interlakes Children’s Theatre in Meredith. The theatre is planning lots of great shows this summer for young audiences. On July 13 and 14 at 11 am both days, fall in love with Annie; on July 27 and 28, laugh along with Shrek the Musical at 11 am both days; and on August 10 and 11, enjoy a magical performance of The Wizard of Oz at 11 am both days. The theatre performances are at the Inter-Lakes High School auditorium located at 1 Laker Lane in Meredith. Call 603-707-6035 or visit www.interlakeschildrenstheatre.org for more information.

A Little Info. on Mayflowers…and Lilacs!

A Little Info. on Mayflowers…and Lilacs!

By Sarah Wright

Have you heard of the mayflower? Not the ship made famous by Columbus, but the state flower of Massachusetts and the provincial flower of Nova Scotia. In the early 1900s, the Massachusetts State Board of Education let school children decide on the state flower. The students picked the mayflower over the water lily, two to one. The flower can actually be found in every county in Massachusetts. Although less well known today, the mayflower once grew all over wooded areas in New Hampshire and was a favorite of many people.

The mayflower (also known as winter pink, trailing arbutus, or ground laurel) actually refers to a spring-blooming wildflower native to eastern North America and Canada, found in sandy or rocky soil in the shade of pines. What’s in a name? Well, according to plant folklore, the mayflower plant was the first blooming plant the pilgrims saw after their first very difficult winter in this new country. Historians believe that the mayflower is an ancient plant that may even date back to the last glacier period. Now, that’s a hardy plant! 

The mayflower is a trailing plant—a small evergreen creeping shrub—with fuzzy stems and clusters of waxy, pink, or white blooms that have a fragrant, sweet smell which intensifies over time. (The scent has been compared to orange blossoms in Florida.) The flowers peak from March through June. Years ago, people would collect the leaves for wreath-making, and at one time, mayflowers were used to treat kidney stones. Early in the season, the blooms are often hidden from view by the leaves.  

Here’s the tricky part: the flower is unusual in that it grows from a specific type of fungus that nourishes the roots. Ants disperse the seeds, but the plant rarely produces fruit, which means that the plant has become rare in recent years. Thankfully, many states protect the flower with laws prohibiting its removal. If you’re enjoying the outdoors, and find a mayflower growing in the woods of New Hampshire, feel free to take a photograph, but don’t pick it. You might find them growing along trail edges and in forest clearings; it’s a real treat if you find one.

Fortunately for local gardeners, the beautiful perennial wildflower is produced and sold by some garden centers and nurseries as an ornamental. Because it is difficult to transplant, many garden centers will order it only if requested. The mayflower trailing arbutus is a native plant, growing where other plants fail to thrive—under tall trees in the dense woods. The flower needs moist soil and partial to full shade, and likes acidic soil, which is good news for many residents of the Lakes Region. Cold climates as low as USDA zone 3 are actually better for the plant than the warm, humid weather of zones 8 and above. Those living below the Mason Dixon line are out of luck! Gardeners should plant the mayflower so that the top of the root ball is about one inch below the soil surface. Water deeply after planting, and then mulch lightly with organic mulch like pine needles or bark chips for best results.

Emma’s Perennials in Bristol stocks the mayflower. The greenhouse is located at 398 Borough Road and can be reached at 603-744-3805 for business hours. Cackleberries Garden and Gift Shop in Meredith also sells mayflowers and can order more if requested. The shop is located at 419 Daniel Webster Highway. For business hours and further information, call 603-279-8728. 

Check with your local garden center, and you might find it. If you can’t find the flower, many landscapers can recommend something similar. Perhaps Lakes Region residents can help revive this beautiful and traditional flower. 

The New Hampshire flower is a little more obvious, as it grows all over the place. It’s the beautiful and very fragrant purple lilac. (When I moved to the state years ago, I kept thinking, “Wow, so many people have lilacs growing in their yards.” Then I found out that it was the state flower and it all made sense.) I love lilacs, which can come in white, red, blue, pink, mauve, yellow, and of course, various beautiful shades of purple. The history of the lilac goes way back. It’s believed that they were growing in 1750 around Governor Wentworth’s mansion. Settlers most likely brought them over on the journey to this new world. 

The purple lilac became the official state flower in a 1919 legislative session. Many flowers were considered, like the apple blossom, purple aster, water lily, mayflower, and goldenrod. The top three were placed into a hat, and a blindfolded senate clerk drew the name of the purple lilac. The House didn’t like the Senate’s choice and preferred the apple blossom. To resolve the stalemate, a 10-man conference committee took on the task, and with the help of two college professors of botany, they held another vote and the purple lilac won. It was noted that the lilac, “symbolized the hardy character of the men and women of the Granite State.” The next time you see a lilac, think of how close we were to having the apple blossom as the state flower. 

Here are some helpful hints for homeowners considering planting a lilac bush. A new lilac takes about three to four years to establish. Lilacs are hardy from zones 3 to 7, and need a cold dormant period to start flowering. They also need well-drained, acid-to-alkaline soil. For full flowering to occur, a sunny location is a must. The root clump must be watered about one inch a week, and fertilizer or compost should be used in the spring. Most lilacs flower in late May. 

Both the mayflower and the lilac are very fragrant, but very different types of flowers. Celebrate New England history and consider one of these plants for your yard this season. Happy spring planting!

Butterfly on a mayflower.

Celebrate Mother’s Day Around the Lake!

Celebrate Mother’s Day Around the Lake!

By Sarah Wright

Milton Berle once joked, “If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?” Yes, being a mother is certainly a juggling act, but the love, nurturing, and patience of a mother for her child are hard to match. Mother’s Day, on May 12, is a chance for us to show “Mom” our appreciation. Some of us also choose to celebrate other women who have held a similar role in our lives, like grandmothers, stepmothers, and aunts. As we grow older, our relationships with our mothers may ebb and flow, but that special bond always remains.

Castle in the Clouds is a great place to take Mom on Mother’s Day.

Many people show their gratitude for their mothers with flowers, breakfast in bed, or a thoughtful card, but there are lots of other ways to show her you care. This year, as always, the Lakes Region offers a number of memorable ideas for spending the day with Mom. 

Mill Falls Marketplace on Daniel Webster Highway in Meredith starts celebrating mothers on Saturday, May 11 with a “Mom’s the Word” event from noon to 3 pm. Shop the stores, or peruse the wonderful artwork for sale by talented local artisans. (The first 100 mothers to arrive will receive a special, handcrafted gift from Artisans by the Bay.) There will be live music and light refreshments to enjoy as you shop, and you’ll even be able to enter for a chance to win a $100 Marketplace shopping spree! Come back to Mill Falls on May 12, and stay for a lovely Mother’s Day brunch in the elegant Church Landing Ballroom. The Lakehouse Grille will provide a delicious brunch buffet from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm, with dinner specials to follow. All mothers who attend will received a flower while supplies last, in support of the New Beginnings Crisis Center in Laconia. Call 603-279-5221 to make a reservation.

All day on Mother’s Day, moms can tour beautiful Castle in the Clouds in Moultonboro free of charge with their child’s admission (this can be a child of any age). Moms can get free admission at the Front Gate located on Route 171 or at the Gift Shop if you enter via the service entrance, on Ossipee Park Road. Call 603-476-5900 or visit www.castleintheclouds.org.

Tanger Outlets in Tilton is holding a Food Truck Festival on Saturday, May 11 from noon to 5 pm. Find a great gift for Mom while she enjoys delicious food truck menu items like tacos, burgers, barbecue, Cajun cuisine, ice cream, baked treats, and more! There’s even a beer tent courtesy of 405 Pub & Grill. Don’t miss this event that will also have live music and a classic car cruise-in. Visit www.tangeroutlet.com and click on May events for more information. 

The Gilmanton Winery at 528 Meadow Pond Road in Gilmanton offers a beautiful view with their delicious Sunday Brunch, from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. The brunch is served family style, and previous brunches have included fruit; fried dough; French toast and bacon; scrambled eggs, home fries, and sausage gravy over sweet bread. This year’s menu will be posted online soon! Reserve your place today, by calling 603-267-8251. 

Start off a day of shopping in Wolfeboro with brunch at Wolfe’s Tavern at The Wolfeboro Inn on Main Street. Brunch is served from 10 am to 3 pm, and the full buffet will include salads, a carving station with ham and prime rib, haddock, an omelet station, waffles, desserts, and more. For reservations, call 603-569-3016.

Schuster’s Tavern and Steakhouse at the Gunstock Inn on Cherry Valley Road in Gilford is holding the Second Annual Mother’s Day Brunch and Benefit for Belknap House on Sunday May 12 from 10 am until the last seating at 4 pm. Reservations are strongly suggested; call 603-293-2021. The M/S Mount Washington has donated tickets for a cruise for four, G.I. Fitness, Jerico’s Salon, Eden Nails, Hermit Woods Winery, Nu-Do’s Salon, Salon 603, SunDay’s Salon, Johnson’s Seafood and Steak, Fratello’s Restaurant, Weirs Drive In, and D.A.D.S. Painting have donated generous gifts for the silent auction to benefit Belknap House. (The Belknap House is located at 200 Court Street in Laconia and assists local families in need during the cold winter months.) For information on Belknap House, email contact execdir@belknaphouse.org, visit www.belknaphouse.org, or call 603-527-8097.  There is a “wish list” on the website for needed items, such as laundry detergent and baby wipes; please bring items from the Wish List to the Mother’s Day Brunch.

Other restaurants around the lake offering brunch on Mother’s Day include the Homestead Restaurant in Bristol (603-744-2022); the Common Man restaurants (www.thecman.com); Hart’s Turkey Farm in Meredith (603-279-4433); the Hilltop Restaurant at the Steele Hill Resort in Sanbornton (603-524-0500); and the Corner House Inn in Sandwich (603-284-6219). 

Take advantage of the warmer weather and enjoy brunch on the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee, courtesy of the M/S Mount Washington. While taking in the view, choose from three chef’s choice entrees; enjoy eggs and bacon, fruit, Belgian waffles, carved London broil, salads, assorted desserts, and a complimentary mimosa. The boat leaves from Weirs Beach at 10 am and at 2 pm. Call 603-366-5531 to order tickets, or visit www.cruisenh.com. 

Experience an old-fashioned train ride with the Conway Scenic Railway and enjoy brunch and a beautiful view! Spend Mother’s Day journeying on historic rail routes in vintage passenger cars from the 1874 train station in North Conway Village to Bartlett and back again. Departures are at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm for this round trip of just under 2 hours. Complimentary appetizers will be served in First Class, or you can upgrade to a dining car and enjoy a three-course brunch. Call 603-356-5251 or visit www.conwayscenic.com for ticket information. 

Why not treat your mother to a show? The Winnipesaukee Playhouse at 50 Reservoir Road in Meredith is featuring the musical comedy, Company, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. This Tony-winning musical takes place in 1970s Manhattan, where we meet Robert, an unhappy and single 35-year-old. It’s funny and endearing, witty and wise; the genius of Sondheim shines in a score that celebrates friends and the joy of “being alive.” Show times for May 9, 10, and 11 are at 7:30 pm, and on Sunday the 12th at 2 pm. Call 603-279-0333 for ticket information. 

If your mother has a love for history, spend the afternoon together at The Wright Museum on Center Street in Wolfeboro. Travel back in time to WWII through the many exhibits, and experience what life was like in America at that time. The museum is open from noon to 4 pm on Mother’s Day. Moms get in free with another paying adult. For further information, call 603-569-1212.

What mother doesn’t enjoy flowers? Surround yourself with spring at Tarbin Gardens on Salisbury Road in West Franklin. Mothers are admitted free when accompanied by another ticket payer. Take a leisurely walk through the only English landscape-styled garden in New Hampshire. Bring a picnic lunch and relax on the Rose Garden Patio. Maps are provided and all the plants are labeled. According to the blooming schedule, Mother’s Day features flowering trees and shrubs like magnolias, spring bulbs, flowering cherries, and forsythia. The gardens are open from 10 am to 6 pm. Call 603-934-3518 for more information or visit www.tarbingardens.com.

With all these options, it’ll be easy to make the day special for Mom. After all, spending time together is what it’s all about. Happy Mother’s Day! 

Castle in the Clouds is a great place to take Mom on Mother’s Day.

Visit the Blue Heron House and Trail in Effingham

Visit the Blue Heron House and Trail in Effingham

 By Sarah Wright

I love being outside in nature, whether alone or with my kids. Spring is upon us, and that means we’ll be hitting the trails again, trekking out into the woods for a much-needed dose of natural exploration. Many studies have shown that spending time in natural surroundings improves one’s wellbeing. Even Einstein said, “Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better.” You could say that it puts things in perspective. Every year, I look for new areas to explore, and this year, we’ll be checking out the recently opened Blue Heron House at Patricia & Charles H. Watts II Conservation Center in Effingham.

Photo courtesy Green Mountain Conservation Group

The Green Mountain Conservation Group celebrated the grand opening of their new home at the Blue Heron House on Saturday, July 21 of last year. Located directly on the Ossipee River in Effingham, the property of the Blue Heron House at Patricia & Charles H. Watts II Conservation Center includes the Lawrence B. and Jacqueline M. Leavitt Water Resource Center, the Jann Leeming & Arthur Little Community Room, the Stan and Gladys Brown Natural Resource Library, class room, and office space. 

The Blue Heron Nature Trail in the surrounding acres currently consists of an easy, quarter-mile walk around a vernal pool and out toward the Ossipee River. Two AmeriCorps members are currently working with The Green Mountain Conservation Group (GMCG) to help implement new trails and extend the trail system so that it loops through several riparian habitats, including the wetland and river bank, in addition to the vernal pool. Beginning this spring, the GMCG is inviting the public to volunteer and help clean up the trails, if interested. Plans also include implementing a kiosk with an interpretive map, as well as placing signs and markers to indicate points of interest and educate hikers about the natural surroundings. 

Naturally, Blue Herons have been seen flying overhead above the river, but the property is also home to native species such as the blue spotted salamander, various turtles and frogs, bob cats, black bears, and a beaver that’s already building a dam on the river. If you enjoy bird watching, sign up for the Blue Heron Bird Club and help collect data for a Cornell program called Project Cedar Watch. If you have an hour to spare, all you have to do is relax and monitor the site’s bird feeders, keeping track of the birds that you see. (Check the event information at www.gmcg.org or call 603-539-1859.) Or you can spend some time in the cozy nature library, perusing books about the natural Lakes Region surroundings, or educating yourself on topics such as land trusts. There is also a small viewing area for watching the library’s DVDs. 

The Blue Heron House is already hosting educational programs and talks, like a History of Logging presentation this past January. There is also a quarterly newsletter available and plans for summer activities oriented toward families. Upcoming events on the schedule include an Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 20 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Participate in trail clean-up, crafts, recycled t-shirt bag making, chair decorating, and a picnic with hot dogs, veggie dogs, iced tea, and lemonade. This event is free and great for families.

Then on May 4, from 10 am to noon, join Wetland Scientist Rick Van de Poll at a Vernal Pool Ecology Workshop. This short workshop will provide an overview of vernal pool ecology, including landscape position, basin characteristics, typical breeding species, and their importance for local and regional biodiversity. Participant will explore the two-year-old vernal pool on the site for evidence of amphibians, fairy shrimp, and other macro-invertebrates that are typically found in such habitats. Get ready to get your hands wet and explore!

On Tuesday, May 14, from 6 to 7 pm, join Harris Center Hawk Watch Coordinator, Phil Brown, for a presentation about Raptor Migration. This talk will be about hawk watching in the state, raptor identification, and species’ natural histories. Phil will discuss what he has learned from observing the fall migration spectacle at Pack Monadnock Mountain each autumn for the past 14 years, as well as sharing anecdotes from the observatory and handy identification techniques. 

Come explore the Blue Heron House and its trail this spring and marvel at what was under renovation for four years, and accomplished through many volunteer hours. The opening of the property is a landmark achievement for the Green Mountain Conservation Group, and a significant expansion for their water quality program. Located just before the Maine border on the Ossipee River, it is the exit point for all the water flowing out of the Ossipee Watershed, a symbolic and beautiful venue for water education. The GMCG believes in “healthy water, healthy communities” and staff members travel throughout the Ossipee watershed areas, educating the public at libraries, and other community buildings.

The Green Mountain Conservation Group is a community-based, charitable organization dedicated to the protection and conservation of natural resources in the Ossipee Watershed in central Carroll County including the towns of Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Madison, Ossipee, Sandwich, and Tamworth. GMCG also partners with friends across the border in Parsonsfield, and Porter, Maine through the Saco River Corridor Commission. Founded in 1997, GMCG is also a networking and referral resource for area residents concerned about land use issues in their communities. The organization encourages individual and small group activism based on common sense and science-based approaches to resolving problems. 

Support the GMCG and their work, and check out the Blue Heron House and trail, located at 236 Huntress Bridge Road in Effingham. The trail is open from dawn to dusk, and the building is open from 9 am to 4 pm on weekdays (open on weekends during events only). For more information about the group, or to check the event schedule, visit www.gmcg.org or their Facebook page. It is welcome spring by venturing out into nature. The sights, sounds, and smells of spring will nurture your soul! 

Get a Jump on Summer Activities for Kids

Get a Jump on Summer Activities for Kids

By Sarah Wright

Once school lets out for summer, parents scramble to sign their kids up for all sorts of fun activities. There are many options out there for kids of all kinds, such as summer theatre, day camp programs, parks and recreation events, and much more. Often these activities fill up quickly, so it’s good to start thinking about what your kids would like to do now, before summer arrives.

When kids are involved in summer activities, not only does it chase away the boredom blues, but kids can learn important skills like creating or crafting, and teamwork. Often these programs also boost a child’s confidence, helping them make new friends and create great summer memories. Here are just some of the exciting options available in the Lakes Region this year; plan ahead and sign up your kids early for the classes of choice.

If your child enjoys the spotlight, there are some great options for summer theatre workshops. The Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith has a summer program for children ages 5 to 14, beginning in July. Campers will collaborate with a teacher and each other to create their own productions using storytelling and improvisation. They can also take beginner’s workshops in art, dance, and music. Each week features a theme and will end with a stage performance for friends and family. The Winnipesaukee Playhouse is located at 50 Reservoir Road in Meredith. For information about the camp schedule and weekly themes, or tuition cost for the program, visit www.winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org or call 603-279-0333. 

The Kingswood Children’s Summer Theatre in Wolfeboro is entering its 49th season this summer with a production of “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” Kids will meet at the Kingswood Arts Center from 8:30 am to noon on weekday mornings after the local schools close. Performances will be held on the last weekend of July. If your child is unable to commit to the entire month of production and performances, you can sign up for a special one-week enrollment where children can take part in the acting, art, singing, and dancing for the show, and see what it’s like to be part of the ensemble. For detailed information, call 603-630-7952 or visit www.wolfeboro-arts.org for updates.

As always, there are many local nature camps to get your kids outside this summer. At Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center on White Oaks Road in Laconia, campers age 4 to 14 can make awesome outdoor summer memories at the WildQuest Camp. There are different themes each week, from June 24 to August 23, with days filled with activities like animal and plant identification, arts and crafts, Quests, games, hands-on learning, a weekly all-camp project, and much more. Registration has already opened for this very popular day camp. For more information, call 603-366-5695 or visit www.prescottfarm.org.   

At Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness, kids ages 4 to 14 can explore nature and science through its Guided Discoveries day camp. Experienced naturalists and educators lead kids through the week-long outdoor adventures that run from June 24 to August 16. Kids will learn about creatures of the land, water, and air; make ceramic sculptures, learn how wild animals survive; create fantasy homes for fairies and gnomes; participate in some mad science experiments; and much more. To register or find out more about the summer program, call 603-968-7194 ext. 7, or visit www.nhnature.org. 

The Libby Museum of Natural History on North Main Street in Wolfeboro is a lovely little museum, chock full of amazing taxidermy, Native American artifacts, antique money, and old household tools, among many other interesting items in the collection. The museum’s summer program for Young Explorers age 5 to 7 is popular for its creative play, crafts, exploring in the museum, and time on the nature trail, all beside beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee. The program will be offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10 am to noon, from July 9 to August 8. Sign up at www.thelibbymuseum.org. Kids ages 11 to 14 won’t want to miss the museum’s Wilderness Skills Week, offered this year from 10 am to 3 pm, the week of June 24 to the 28. Day campers will learn important skills like fire safety, shelter building, tracking animals, identifying trees, spoon carving, and more! Register at the above link for this fun program, or call 603-569-1035. 

Are you looking for a fun experience for your kids involving boating, lake ecology, crafts, and games? Then you’ll want to sign them up for the Lake Discovery Camp at the New Hampshire Boat Museum, also in Wolfeboro, on Center Street. Session One is for kids in grade kindergarten through second, and it runs from July 22 to 26, and Session Two for grades 3 through 6 is held the week of July 29 to August 2. Both sessions meet from 9 am to noon, and will include crafts, games, science experiments, rides on Molly the Trolley, a tour of the Marine Patrol’s boat, sailing model boats with the Back Bay Skippers, the Watershed Warrior program, and a Lake Winnipesaukee boat tour on The Millie B wooden boat.

The museum also offers a Youth Sailing course for kids ages 9 to 15. Taught by a U.S. Sailing certified instructor, participants will learn the basics of sailing, boat handling, and knots—all on beautiful Lake Wentworth. For boys and girls age 12 and up, the museum provides an amazing opportunity for kids to build their own boat. From July 29 to August 9, kids will work on boat kits from 9 am to 3 pm, and can choose to build a two-person canoe, a one-person kayak, or a Bevin’s skiff. During the class, kids will use the provided tools, and learn boat-building skills from experienced staff and volunteers in a friendly environment. At the end of the 10-day session, there will be a special launch on Lake Wentworth to celebrate the completion of the boats. (Families can also choose to build a boat together from July 6 to the 14.) To register for any of the museum’s above programs, or to find out more, visit www.nhbm.org or call 603-569-4554.

Kids can also learn to sail in Gilford with the Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing Association. With sessions offered for kids of all levels between the ages of 7 to 16, top-notch instructors will teach budding sailors all the important skills they’ll need to gain confidence on the water. There’s even a Racing Club for kids who feel ready for a more independent sailing experience. Further information about the session schedule and registration is at www.lwsa.org, or call 603-589-1177. 

These are just a few of the amazing opportunities around this summer for kids of all

Winter Fun at Tin Mountain in Albany

Winter Fun at Tin Mountain in Albany

By Sarah Wright

Tin Mountain Conservation Center is a beautiful place to spend a day exploring the woods. My family enjoyed a wonderful hike there in the fall, and saw a lot of colorful foliage on display. However, with the temperatures dropping, many people retreat indoors, and miss out on the beauty of nature in the wintertime. 

Winter camp activities

Tin Mountain Conservation Center at The Rockwell Sanctuary, located on 138 acres of rare plant conservation land on Bald Hill Road in Albany, offers some great winter programs as well as a fun, winter camp for kids. The Nature Learning Center serves as a gathering place for the community, with year-round programs that foster natural science education and community awareness. There is also a fully preserved barn on the property, circa 1800, an extensive trail system, a four-acre pond, numerous unique plant species, and a small granite quarry that was active from 1885 to 1890. Mark your calendars now for these upcoming winter activities.

Learn about Winter Bird Ecology on Thursday, December 6 at 7 pm. Brush up on your winter bird identification in this review of local winter bird field marks. You’ll also get some bird feeding tips for the upcoming winter season. The information will be especially useful for this year’s Christmas Bird Count! 

Join the staff of the Conservation Center for the Owl Prowl on Saturday, December 8 at 7 pm. Explore the Rockwell Sanctuary in the dark to see “whooo” is out and about on a mid-winter’s night. The program will begin indoors with a brief presentation on local owls and their adaptations before the group heads out to the trail to listen for owls and other nocturnal animals. Reserve your spot today by calling 603-447-6991. Dress warmly for this nighttime walk.

This year’s Christmas Bird Count will take place on Saturday, December 15, all day. Participate in the 30th annual North Conway Christmas Bird Count by tallying the birds at your feeder. Observers are also needed for traveling routes by foot, cross-country skis, snowshoes, or by car. At 5 pm, meet back at the Nature Learning Center to tally up the counts and share stories from the day! Call 603-447-6991 to participate. 

Explore the Geology of the Presidential Range and learn about its bedrock history and ancient tectonics. On Thursday, January 17 at 7 pm, Dr. Dykstra Eusden, Professor of Geology at Bates College and author of several books on the topic, will show there is a lot to discover about the snow-covered White Mountains. 

On Thursday, January 24 at 7 pm, learn about the Bears of Katmai! Katmai National Park is a spectacular four-million-acre national park and preserve, located on the Alaskan Peninsula in southwest Alaska. Katmai is famous for its geology, salmon, and the world’s largest protected population of brown bears, estimated at around 2,200. David Govatski will discuss his visit to the region and share information about how other adventure seekers can plan a trip to a remote region like Katmai.

Kids enjoying Tin Mountain's winter camp

Kids will have tons of fun at Tin Mountain’s Winter Camps, offered in February during the school district’s winter vacation. The day camp programs are for children in kindergarten through the 6th grade, and the programs provide campers with an opportunity to learn outdoor skills like building snow shelters, identifying wildlife tracks in the snow, looking for winter birds, snowshoeing, and playing games. All camps are conducted on Tin Mountain’s 138-acre Rockwell Sanctuary on Bald Hill Road. Registration forms are available online through www.tinmountain.org, or call 603-447-6991 for more information. Here are the topics for the upcoming Winter Camps:

Kids in grades 1 through 4 can explore Winter Art on Tuesday, February 19 from 9 am to 3 pm. The possibilities for the day include snow sculptures, sketching, and winter watercolors, as some of the ways to enjoy art indoors and out. Dress warmly and bring a lunch. Craft materials, snowshoes, and hot cocoa will be provided. 

Kids in grades 2 through 6 can join the team of CSI: Tin Mountain Winter Edition on Wednesday, February 20 from 9 am to 3 pm. A wildlife “crime scene” has been discovered in the forest! The kids will be the detectives to crack the case, while learning about winter plant and animal adaptations and tracking skills. Dress warmly and bring a lunch. Hot cocoa and snowshoes will be provided. 

Young children in kindergarten through grade 2 can sign up for Wonderful Wildlife on Thursday, February 21 from 9 am to 3 pm. Kids will discover the wildlife of winter as they follow tracks through the snow, observe winter birds, and search for other signs of wildlife written in the winter landscape. It’ll be like a winter treasure hunt. Dress warmly and bring a lunch. The Center will provide snowshoes and hot cocoa. 

Do your kids think they have what it takes for Winter Survival? Older kids in grades 4 through 6 can test their skills on Friday, February 22 from 9 am to 3 pm. Learn the basics of staying warm in the winter and find out how to light a fire, build a snow shelter, or boil water for cooking to survive the winter cold. Dress warmly and bring a lunch. Snowshoes and hot cocoa will be provided. 

Tin Mountain Conservation Center is located at 1245 Bald Hill Road in Albany. To find out more about the organization, including information about its other properties, visit www.tinmountain.org or call 603-447-6991. 

New Hampshire is beautiful year-round. Don’t let another winter pass by while you huddle indoors.  Explore the natural beauty of the wonderful winter landscapes all around us. It’s an experience you won’t forget. 

Alton Bay’s Airport on the Ice

Alton Bay’s Airport on the Ice

By Sarah Wright

Photos Courtesy of Paul Larochelle

When Lake Winnipesaukee freezes over, Alton Bay begins bustling with activity—ice fishing bob houses pop up, snowmobiles turn the lake into a crossing, and pilots can start landing their planes on the ice. It’s a truly unique experience that you won’t find anywhere else in the lower 48 states. That’s right—it’s the only ice runway in the continental U.S. that is registered with the state and has federal FAA approval. 

Alton Bay’s Ice Airport

What pilots started over 30 years ago is currently managed by Paul LaRochelle, a resident of Alton Bay who volunteers his time to maintain the runway. Paul starts checking the ice in January, and when it’s 12 inches thick (usually by the end of the month), he will take his truck onto the lake and plow a runway and parking area for the planes. 

The ice runway is 100 feet wide from the bandstand and about 3,000 feet long, out to Sandy Point. Fifty feet to the right on the east side is the taxiway and parking area. There also is also a special spot for helicopters. (Ice fishermen are notified to keep bob houses 50 to 75 feet away from the runway’s edge.) 

When Paul has plowed all the areas, the Department of Transportation in Concord comes to do an inspection and take photos. Once it is approved, Paul is given official cones and markers along with a windsock flag that shows wind direction to the pilots. 

Then the planes start flying in. Pilots from all over want to experience the novelty of landing on an ice runway, and some have been doing it for years. While most pilots are from Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, and lower New Hampshire, Paul says that the runway is also a popular destination for pilots from as far as Cape Cod, Block Island, New York, New Jersey, and even Maryland. On a fair-weather day, as many as 45 to a hundred planes come in! The runway is best for smaller single-engine planes, like Pipers and Cessna’s, but Paul has seen six-passenger Cirrus and Bonanza planes land. 

Once pilots have arrived, they can explore all that Alton Bay has to offer. Numerous dining options include Amilyne’s Corner Market, which sells coffee and breakfast, Olde Bay Diner, Shibley’s at the Pier (open for lunch and dinner), and J.P. China Restaurant and Lounge, which opens after noon. Pilots often visit the Winnipesaukee Cigar Company or stop at Facet Jewelers for gifts. (Paul’s wife, Donna, owns the jewelry shop and offers certificates to any pilot who lands on the ice runway.) It’s a free souvenir, but many pilots also purchase a B18 baseball cap. In fact, what was once known as a summer seaplane base, the B18 airstrip is now more popular as an ice runway. 

Photo Courtesy of Paul Larochelle

“Years ago, Alton Bay was a seaplane base, but after the docks were built and the town beach came in, a retaining wall was added and seaplanes had nowhere to dock,” says Paul. “I’d like to eventually see docking for planes put back in the bay.” 

The busiest day on the ice runway is during Alton Bay’s February winter carnival, but Paul cautions those newbies who might be thinking about flying in alone. 

“Inexperienced pilots should first approach with someone who’s flown here before. The cross winds are tricky at the southern tip of the lake, and planes have been pushed into snow banks on approach which can damage landing gear. There were two incidents like that last year,” says Paul. “The best way to come in and leave is from south to north, into the wind.” 

Planes at the Alton Bay ice runway

Paul tries to leave a little crust of snow on top of the ice when plowing to make things less slippery, but Mother Nature dictates conditions for the most part. The weather also determines how long the runway can be open. If conditions allow, it can remain open as late as March 15.  Thanks to last year’s “polar vortex” the runway was open for nine whole weeks. Just the year before, it was only open for three. Paul updates an information line every couple of days at (603) 875-3498, but pilots should also check NOTAMs before departing. 

This will be Paul’s seventh year managing the runway, and he’s grateful for the help he gets with plowing from Steve Bell of Precious Gardens, Bob Burton from Bayside Concrete, Brian Mitchell from Amilyne’s Corner Market, and Rick Finethy. Paul and his team are looking forward to this year’s ice runway season.  

Shop Locally at a Winter Farmer’s Market!

Shop Locally at a Winter Farmer’s Market!

By Sarah Wright

Farmer’s markets are everywhere in the summertime, and are full of many beautiful flowers, fresh produce, and interesting local products. In fact, farmer’s markets are so popular, that more and more winter markets are popping up, to satisfy customers’ desires for local items. There’s been a nationwide trend in recent years to support local businesses, and buy products that haven’t traveled halfway across the globe to reach supermarkets. In our area, there are great winter shopping options to tide you over until the summer markets return. 

One of the largest winter farmers markets in the Route 16 territory is the farmer’s market in Tamworth. The mission of the market is to increase the exchange of food and farm products in the region, encourage new farmers and producers and help build community through a seasonal marketplace and a year-round, vibrant food and farm economy. 

In the winter months, the market moves from the Unitarian Church on Tamworth Road to the Tamworth Town House at 27 Cleveland Hill Road. You can shop the market at the Town House every other Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm through March. The remaining dates for this season are February 16, and March 2, 16, and 30. 

Products at the Tamworth winter farmers market include high-quality vegetables, fruits, dairy, maple syrup and honey, meats and poultry, bread and baked goods, yarn, preserves, eggs, mushrooms, natural body care products, and even freshly prepared food to eat on site or take away. Although vendors can vary by the season, there are many regulars in Tamworth. If you haven’t been to a farmers market, and are doubtful about what’s available, you will be surprised! You’ll meet local farmers, bakers, and crafters in person, like Annie Burke, who sells vegetables, herbs, flowers, chai tea and iced tea, and handmade cutting boards. 

Small local companies like Black Snout Dog Biscuits are popular, selling pet biscuits, jerky, and dog toys. The Booty Family Farm provides certified organic vegetables, maple syrup, flint corn, and dried beans. If you like hard cider, you’ll want to check out Dube Robison Cider, LLC. Lily Hill Farm has various items available that can include flowers, herbs, fresh lemonade, berries, preserves, and nature crafts. Mi Vida Gardens sells organic eggs and vegetables. The kombucha trend is big right now, and Mo’Bucha makes a delicious and healthy version of the fermented tea beverage. Check out the cultivated and foraged mushrooms of the New Hampshire Mushroom Company, and learn something new about the beloved fungus. Experience the Old Ways at Mustard Seed Farm, and shop for herbal products, butter, cheese, cookies, eggs, herbs, and flowers, depending on the season. Red Gables Farm is your go-to place for dairy like grass-fed organic milk, yogurt, kefir, and yogurt cheese; they also sell organic vegetables and garlic, maple syrup, and honey. Beef products like jerky, steaks, and burgers are provided by Roberts Farm, which also sells cider, vegetables, fruit, berries, lemonade, maple sugar, and cotton candy. Try a new drink at the Sap House Meadery table, and choose a maple syrup mead or a honey wine. Steele Farm is a lamb and goose vendor, along with wool, yarn, pelts, eggs, and vegetables. Stonehedge Farm also has lamb, wool, and yarn, and other items like jams and jellies, ketchups, vegetables, and honey. Purchase some delicious baked goods from the Sunnyfield Brick Oven Bakery; they make sourdough breads, scones, muffins, granola, pizza, and pie dough. Choose from beef, pork, and chicken from White Gates Farm, who also sells vegetables. Finally, there’s Windover Farm, with vegetables, apples, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, and horseradish available. Even the choosiest customer will find something they like! Also, the Tamworth farmers market accepts SNAP benefits, so that everyone can have access to fresh, local foods. 

The Farm to Table Market on Route 16 in West Ossipee is a retail farmer’s market, open year-round. The market partners with over 20 local farms and producers to bring customers fresh delicious fruits and vegetables, meats, milk and cheeses, and items like coffee, honey, and jams. You’ll find items from places like Mountain Heartbeet Farm in Effingham, Pork Hill Farm in Ossipee, Turkey Street Maple in Tamworth, Valicenti Organico Farm in Hollis, Good Vibes Coffee Roasters in North Conway, and the Sandwich Creamery in Sandwich, among many others! Order lunch or dinner from their list of available soups, salads, cooked entrees, and sides, and support local farms with a tasty meal. Farm to Table is open seven days a week from 11 am to 7 pm. Call 603-539-2266 for further information. 

Just a hop, skip, and a jump from Route 16 is the Wolfeboro winter farmer’s market, held at the First Congregational Church on Main Street on the first and third Saturdays of the month, from 10 am to 2 pm through April 20. You’ll find locally produced meats, vegetables, honey, wool and wool products, candles, body care items, coffee, tea, cheese, eggs, baked goods, herbal products, and maybe even smoked trout.

Summer will be here before we know it, with all its agricultural bounty! But in the meantime, there are some great options for local produce, meats, and other fine products made by New Hampshire farms and businesses. Support these local vendors and check out a winter farmers market. After all, you never know what you might find.

New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions

By Sarah Wright

Happy New Year! 2019 will be the best year yet, right? At least that’s what we all hope for. Many people think of January 1st as the perfect time for a fresh start. After all the indulgences of the holidays, it seems natural to want to turn over a new leaf and cleanse our lives a little. Although people in other parts of the world make resolutions, they’re most popular in the West, with common goals including getting healthier, spending less money, thinking more positively, being more charitable, spending more time with family, quitting a bad habit, learning a new skill, or perhaps even finding a new job. 

Picture courtesy of The Loon Preservation Committee

If you want to make some New Year’s resolutions right here in the Lakes Region, you can start by deciding to get out and enjoy some fresh air and exercise this winter vs. hibernating! The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness offers some great winter programs, such as learning about birds and why and how Science Center staff do bird banding, as well as events where families can walk the Center’s trail in the winter to learn how resident animals live during the winter months. (Call 603-968-7194 for information.)

The Squam Lakes Association has a great winter hike that will get you moving and give you some great views as well. The winter hike takes place on January 9 and will take you up Mt. Livermore and over some great trails. (Call 603-968-7336 for information.)

The entire family can get in on the outdoor fun and learning at Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center in Laconia, with hikes, snowshoe adventures and more. (Call 603-366-5695 for information.)

How did the idea of making resolutions get started? Would you believe it all began about 4,000 years ago? 

Yes, it supposedly started many years ago with the ancient Babylonians. However, their new year began in mid-March, when the crops were planted. During the big, 12-day religious festival they called Akitu, the Babylonians made promises to the gods (specifically Marduk, the patron deity of the city) to pay off their debts and return anything they had borrowed. If the Babylonians kept to their word, the gods would bestow favor on them for the coming year. If not – well, they did not want to find out what would happen! Even the king joined in by reaffirming his right to rule the people as a divine representative in a symbolic ceremony. The high priest would then determine if the king could rule for another year.  

Later, in ancient Rome, emperor Julius Caesar established January 1st as the beginning of the new year, and in 46 B.C. officially moved the New Year’s celebration from March to January. Named for Janus, the two-faced god often depicted over doorways and archways, January was significant for the Romans. The two faces of Janus represented the ability to look back to the previous year, while also looking ahead to the future. The god represented beginnings and endings, the passage of time, and transitions. The Romans offered sacrifices to Janus, and made promises of good behavior in the coming year. It was also common for friends and neighbors to exchange gifts and well wishes with one another. Believe it or not, most Romans chose to work for at least part of New Year’s Day as idleness was seen as a bad omen for the rest of the year. 

Even knights got in on the action! During the Middle Ages, knights would renew their vows to chivalry at the end of each year. This annual contract to uphold the values of knighthood was called the “Peacock Vow,” since knights would make their promise while placing their hand on a live or roasted peacock. (The peacock was a romanticized bird at the time.) Sounds strange, but the idea of a yearly promise is the same!  

Throughout history, most resolution ceremonies were closely tied to religion. For early Christians, the first day of the new year became a traditional time for thinking about one’s past mistakes and resolving to do better in the future. In the 17thand 18th centuries, Puritans in colonial America avoided the indulgences associated with New Year’s celebrations and other holidays. Instead, they urged their children to skip the revelry and spend their time reflecting on the past year and contemplating the year to come. The Puritans also made resolutions that most often included commitments to put their talents to better use, treat their neighbors with charity, and avoid habitual sins.In 1740, the English clergyman John Wesley, co-founder of the Methodist church, created the Covenant Renewal Service, most commonly held on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. The service included scripture readings and hymns, and served as a spiritual alternative to the debaucherous celebrations normally held at the end of the year. Now popular within evangelical Protestant churches, these New Year’s Eve services, sometimes called “watch night services,” are often spent praying and making resolutions for the coming year. Modern, more secular New Year’s resolutions became popular in the 19thcentury. The first recorded use of the phrase, “New Year’s resolution” actually appeared in a Boston newspaper in 1813.

Today, most people make New Year’s resolutions as a promise to themselves, and not to please heavenly beings. So, have you reflected on the past year, and thought of some way to improve your life in 2019? According to recent research, about 45 percent of Americans say that they usually make resolutions at the start of a new year. So, here’s the bad news: Only eight percent are successful at achieving their goals! I guess I can believe that. Years ago, when I belonged to a gym, I used to dread January, when the “resolution” crowds would show up and I’d have to wait for an exercise machine. But lo and behold, by February, things would be back to normal.  It may sound discouraging, but the main reason people break their resolutions is because they set the bar too high. Telling yourself that you’ll run five miles every morning, or pay off credit card debt in just a couple of months is not very realistic. For example, if you want to spend less and save more, maybe start by reducing the number of coffee runs to Dunkin’ Donuts that you make each week. Instead of crash dieting, vow to add more vegetables to your daily intake. Another way to put the odds in your favor is to tell your friends and family about your goals. You’ll feel more accountable that way, while also getting extra support from others. 

So, what’s it going to be this year? I bought a mindfulness journal over a month ago that I hate to admit I haven’t even opened. I think I’ll set some time aside each day to start working on that. It never hurts to reflect. The most important thing to remember is that any way you can improve your life is a good idea. And hey, if January 1stdoesn’t work for you, why not start on the first day of any month? There’s always time for a fresh start. Happy 2019!