The Music Hall Presents 20th Annual Kitchen Tour


PORTSMOUTH—
What could be better than spending a spring day on the Seacoast with friends and family, peeking into extraordinary kitchens and enjoying all that Portsmouth has to offer? The kitchens we all dream of - sleek and contemporary, cozy and traditional, packed with innovation and imagination – will become a reality for one day as The Music Hall presents its popular Annual Kitchen Tour. Now in its 20th year, this benefit for the Hall will feature kitchens and dining spaces in its hometown of historic Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The tour will be held Saturday, May 7, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“This year’s tour, themed City Living, will be filled with creative and well-crafted kitchen designs, extraordinary views and 20th Anniversary surprises!” says Meghan Durkee, Corporate and Special Events Manager at The Music Hall. “It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year. Each year, the tour attracts over 1,200 visitors, who come out to support The Music Hall and to gain inspiration for their own kitchens. Proceeds from the tour are used immediately toward operating costs to support The Music Hall, an American Treasure for the Arts. We owe so much of our success to our incredible hosts, loyal sponsors, over 100 volunteers, our creative and hardworking committee, and our visitors - many of whom have made this a tradition each spring. Of course a warm, sunny spring day also helps!”
“Each year the tour is held in a different location, and we look for different kinds of kitchens and layouts to showcase. Some kitchens have the ‘wow’ factor; others offer clever ideas to use in your own home. It’s a great way for people to have a full, fun day for a low ticket price,” adds Durkee, who serves on the Kitchen Tour committee with Seacoast residents and co-chairs Ann Kendall and Betsy Cole.
Kitchen Tour fan Janet Stevens, who has been on the tour twice, said, “The Kitchen Tour is a grand day - an opportunity to ‘case study’ because you can go into all of these new kitchens and see the different styles. It’s inspiring and uplifting.”
It’s best to buy your tickets early, as there is a discount on all tickets purchased before the day of the Tour. Purchase tickets at The Music Hall Box Office at the Historic Theater at 28 Chestnut Street in Portsmouth or online at www.themusichall.org.
Tour-goers are given an easy-to-follow map, and a guidebook with detailed descriptions of the kitchens as well as information on all of the artisans, designers, and architects responsible for layout and design. The map will also be available on The Music Hall’s website the week before the tour. Maps may be mailed out to you once they become available.
Not only will patrons view and experience beautifully designed Seacoast kitchens, they will find a variety of restaurants featured on the map, all of which are fabulous places to grab a bite to eat for lunch. Get a bite to go and picnic or take a short break from the Tour and sit for a while. 


We highly recommend parking in downtown parking lots and the Hanover Street garage and walking around downtown with friends. With guidebook and map in hand, you’ll venture into these lovely Seacoast homes, and tour-goers can start and finish the tour anywhere they like.
For visitors looking to turn their own dreams into reality, the artisans, designers and architects involved in the kitchens are noted in the tour’s guidebook along with detailed descriptions of the kitchens. Many of the artisans will also be available to speak with during the tour. In addition this year, Dovetailed Kitchens will be giving lectures from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 126 Daniel Street on countertop materials, renovating kitchens and kitchen design.
The 2011 dedicated Kitchen Tour Committee, chaired by Ann Kendall and Betsy Cole, and including Meghan Durkee, Dodi Guyton, Cori McGrath, Kirsten Mahoney, Philip Marcus, Julia Madden, Kathy Megna, Janice Page, Amy Pender and Peter Squires invite you to enjoy this great day out, all in support of The Music Hall.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by phone at (603) 436-2400, online at www.themusichall.org and The Music Hall Box Office at 28 Chestnut Street in Portsmouth.
Photo caption: The Music Hall will present its 20th Annual Kitchen Tour in Portsmouth on May 7. (Photo by Greg West)

St. Thomas Aquinas High School Mathletes Win State Title

DOVER—
A group of dedicated St. Thomas Aquinas High School students recently competed in the 39th annual New Hampshire State Math Meet held at Plymouth State University. Sponsored and coordinated by the New Hampshire Teachers of Mathematics (NHTM), this 4-hour mini-marathon challenged students from 56 high schools throughout the state in a competition for supreme bragging rights to mathematical mastery. The problems were particularly challenging this year, so that advanced analyzing and problem-solving skills were put to the test in order to arrive at the correct answer. The results of the competition were announced this past week and the St. Thomas “Mighty Mighty Math Team” was victorious.
Representing St. Thomas this year were sophomores John Hume (Dover), Hyungee Kim (international student from Korea, hosted by a family in Exeter), Yeeji Kim (international student from Korea, hosted by a family in Dover), Richard Li (international student from China, hosted by a family in Dover) and Ben Mardin (Rye), juniors Joon Choi (international student from Korea, hosted by a family in Berwick, ME), James Klingensmith (Nottingham) and Matt Radford (Brentwood), and senior leaders Nathan Dunn (Berwick, ME) and Surbhi Joshi (Rochester).
Photo caption: Members of the St. Thomas “Mighty, Mighty Math Team.” (Courtesy photo)

Elementary School Students Perform Patriotic Concert

SEABROOK—
The Seabrook Elementary Grade 1 students recently performed their Salute to America Concert, under the direction of SES Music Teacher – Ms. Katrina Mailman. Reviews of the concert report it was outstanding! (Courtesy photo)

‘Toast to the Coast’ Comes to Hampton Beach

HAMPTON/EXETER—
The Hampton Area and Exeter Area Chambers of Commerce invite you to an extraordinary night out, commencing with a sampling of wine, beer, and tantalizing hors d’oeuvres, sweet treats, chocolate, and so much more! Besides the mingling, sampling, and noshing, the evening features an opportunity to find our own “Top Chef” right here on the seacoast. Restaurateurs are invited to compete for the Prestigious Award “Best of the Toast to the Coast.” The 401 Tavern took the award in 2010 with a crowd-pleasing menu consisting of Margarita Oysters and Grilled Asparagus with Tapenade Vinaigrette. Restaurants interested in taking part in the event should contact Gretchen Heilshorn McDonald at 603-772-2411. Mark your calendar! Doors open at 6:30 p.m. on May 12 at the Ashworth by the Sea on Hampton Beach. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door. Order online at www.hamptonchamber.com or call 603-926-8718. This event is generously underwritten by People’s United Bank.

Hampton Historical Society Celebrates Arbor Day Anniversary

HAMPTON—
Arbor Day, which falls this year on Friday, April 29, is a day set aside to increase awareness of the importance of trees. In honor of the 125th Anniversary of Arbor Day in Hampton, the Hampton Historical Society is asking the community to join them in a celebration of trees in their community. With a grant from the Rye Driftwood Garden Club, the museum has purchased two sugar maple trees and an ornamental cherry, which they will be planting on the Museum Green on Arbor Day with the help of local contractor Vic Lessard.
It is a tradition in the town to plant trees on Arbor Day. Hampton first celebrated Arbor Day in 1886. On that day, 125 years ago, numerous maple trees were planted on the grounds of the Academy, as were many pine trees that still stand today along Academy Avenue. In 1938, in honor of the town’s Tercentenary Celebration, about 130 sugar maple trees were planted near the center of town.
The Museum and the Leavitt Barn will be open for the event. Students from the Marston Centre and Sacred Heart Schools will display their tree art on clotheslines around the museum grounds. Guy Giunta from the Governor’s Lilac and Wildflower Commission will be giving away lilac starts, and the Hampton Recycling Committee, the UNH Cooperative Extension Forestry & Wildlife Program and the Hampton Arts Network will participate. Bring a picnic and help celebrate with the trees and the community! The event takes place at the Tuck Museum, 40 Park Avenue in Hampton, on Friday, April 29, from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information contact the Hampton Historical Society at info@hamptonhistoricalsociety.org or (603) 929-0781.
Photo caption: The Tuck Museum is the home of the Hampton Historical Society. On April 29, the Society will celebrate Arbor Day by planting trees on the museum grounds. (Photo by Rich Hureau, courtesy www.hamptonhistoricalsociety.org)

Dover Chamber Sweepstakes Event Celebrates 10th Anniversary

DOVER—
Tickets for the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce’s Tenth Annual “Sweep into Spring” Sweepstakes, underwritten by Federal Savings Bank, are available at the Chamber Visitor Center at 550 Central Avenue or by calling (603) 742-2218.
The event takes place on Friday, April 29, 2011 at the Dover Arena on Portland Avenue in Dover, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. To celebrate the tenth anniversary, this year’s themed is “Ten,” and features themed entertainment, a silent auction, a sampling from over a dozen local restaurants and caterers, as well as a 1 in 250 chance of winning $10,000 in the grand prize drawing, and a 1 in 25 chance of winning at least $200.
Proceeds from the event help fund Chamber programming, which includes joint promotion, community marketing, business education and economic development projects that keep Dover a great place to live, work and visit, and continue to support Dover’s claim to being the “Family Capital of New Hampshire.”
Photo caption: Cartelli’s inviting raw bar display is indicative of the caliber of food selections available at the Dover Chamber’s Annual Sweepstakes event. In addition, several attendees win cash prizes, including the Grand Prize of $10,000. (Courtesy photo)

Strawbery Banke Commemorates Civil War 150th Anniversary

PORTSMOUTH—
Portsmouth men were the first to answer Lincoln’s call for volunteers to fight for the Union cause in the American Civil War. More than 3,000 responded, from a city population of 10,000, affecting life at home as well as on the southern battlefields, where they fought.
Opening for the 2011 season on May 1, Strawbery Banke Museum’s commemoration of New Hampshire in the Civil War leads with the history of Fitz John Porter, the political intrigues that shredded his illustrious career, his court-martial after the Battle of Second Manassas and the struggle for his ultimate exoneration - 125 years ago this August. Born in Portsmouth and a hero of the early battles, commended by President Lincoln, Porter ran afoul of War Department politics. General Pope, on the ascendant gave Porter orders at Second Manassas that were impossible to follow. Porter’s “insubordination” based on better knowledge of the enemy’s position saved his troops from certain disaster. But the Court martial listened to biased observers with bad maps. Even after a military tribunal corrected the account of the incident, it took until 1886 for the pardon that would clear Porter’s name.
The Museum looks at Porter’s record with an exhibit in the Rowland Gallery that invites visitors to make decisions for themselves about the verdict, based on the evidence. The exhibit is based on research in Porter’s letters and the court martial records. Highlights include Gen. Fitz John Porter’s sword (recently discovered and purchased for the Strawbery Banke Museum collection) and his field glasses (on loan from the Manassas National Battlefield Park).
On August 6 - the 125th Anniversary of the pardon of Gen. Fitz John Porter - the City of Portsmouth conducts a wreath-laying ceremony at the Gen. Fitz John Porter statue in Haven Park. Members of the 5th NH 2nd Volunteer Regiment and NH Civil War Roundtable join representatives from Strawbery Banke Museum for the program. On August 20-21, the Museum will host an encampment of 5th NH Regiment 2nd Volunteers, music of the era and a rally with “Governor Goodwin” exhorting the troops to perform their duties in New Hampshire’s name.
Beyond Porter, the museum will be interpreting NH’s home front during the War at the Goodwin Mansion, the home of NH’s 1859-61 Civil War Governor. In collaboration with the Portsmouth Historical Society and Portsmouth Athenaeum, visitors will also be able to participate in a walking tour of Porter’s Boyhood Portsmouth and Civil War Portsmouth.
Associated programs include a fall lecture series featuring prominent historians: Richard Schubart, Phillips Exeter Academy, on Lincoln’s 1860 Visit to New Hampshire; Col. Fred Borch, US Military Academy at West Point on military tribunals; and Dr. Brent Glass, Director of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution in DC.
In addition, Strawbery Banke Museum curator Kimberly Alexander, and Dane Morrison, Salem State University faculty, present a Summer Institute course, “Topics in Local History: New England & The Civil War” at Strawbery Banke Museum, July 11-15, 2011. For information on the course, call 978-542-600 or visit https://www.salemstate.edu/academics/2803.php.
“So far, it appears that Portsmouth is making one of the largest commitments to the Civil War 150th in the state,” said Lawrence Yerdon, President of Strawbery Banke Museum. “We take quite seriously the responsibility of including the role of New Hampshire’s 34,000 - including Gen. Fitz John Porter and our 3,000 other Portsmouth men - in the great national historical discussion taking place over the next five years.”
Strawbery Banke Museum’s commemoration of Portsmouth in the Civil War is made possible by grants from The Roger R. and Theresa A. Thompson Endowment Fund, The Putnam Foundation of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the New Hampshire Humanities Council and individual donors who have helped procure artifacts for the exhibit. The Civil War programming also includes collaborations with Civil War Roundtable of New Hampshire, Portsmouth Historical Society, Dover Historical Society, Massachusetts Historical Society, Manassas National Battlefield Park and Fredericksburg National Battlefield Park (National Park Service), New Hampshire’s Fifth Regiment, Phillips Exeter Academy, Portsmouth Athenaeum and West Point Military Academy Archives.
Photo caption: Gen. Fitz John Porter was one of thousands of men from Portsmouth who joined Lincoln’s call for volunteers in the Civil War, but Porter’s story adds political intrigue to the mix. (Photo courtesy Strawbery Banke Museum)

Green Star Rising at Redhook Brewery

PORTSMOUTH—
It almost sounds too good to be true: a young man returns to his native New England to apply what he’s learned in distant places, leading a major New Hampshire brewery into new territory.
But that’s exactly the story of Ryan Colwell, GM of the Cataqua Pub at the Redhook Brewery at Portsmouth’s Pease International Tradeport complex. Since joining the hallowed brewery company last September, which boasts facilities in three states, he has instituted major sustainability initiatives, including sourcing corn-based compostable cups throughout the restaurant, saving 8,000 watts of electricity by switching to high-efficiency lighting in the pub, reducing the facility’s waste stream through an aggressive recycling program, and contracting with a local biofuels company to recycle the grease from the fryer to be used as heating oil, or fuel for diesel vehicles. The bathrooms will also receive a sustainability makeover with the installation of low-flow toilets and energy-efficient hand dryers.
A Woodstock, Vermont native, Colwell cut his teeth in Hawaii, where he lived and worked on an organic farm, proving to be quick study in growing food. From there, Colwell moved to California where be began to apply his food interest and knowledge to the restaurant business. While there, he co-founded the Santa Cruz Restaurant Association, whose mission included eliminating the local restaurant industry’s use of Styrofoam, while increasing recycling. That association quickly gained positive notoriety, and eventually the town assumed control and extended the effort’s scope to water conservation, energy efficiency, and other facets of sustainability in restaurants. His experiences in Hawaii and California helped pave the way for some of the programs he’s now spearheading at Redhook in Portsmouth.
“When I started at Redhook, and noticed the composting program in place, I realized they were serious about sustainability,” said Colwell. “I knew I had to set the bar even higher.”
Considering that Redhook had already implemented numerous green improvements - such as reusing water, donating spent grains to farms for animal feed, and housing an onsite wastewater treatment facility - it’s not surprising that Colwell has been empowered to lead Redhook’s local sustainability committee, which contributes ideas for all of the company’s breweries to adopt, including its Widmer and Kona brands.
Colwell has leveraged his farm experience by initiating significant improvements to Redhook’s culinary experience. By sourcing more of the pub’s food from local suppliers he has integrated much healthier food into Redhook’s diverse menu.
“We used to get a lot of our food from Sysco, and a lot of that is just processed, bland-tasting, nutrient-free stuff,” explained Colwell. “Now, we get most of our food from Favorite Foods (New Hampshire’s only independently-owned food distributor) and Saunders Produce (a Somersworth, NH-based provider of high quality fruit and produce), and our food not only tastes much better, it’s much healthier. I want our cooks to make meals from scratch, instead of just heating things up.”
While Colwell could have remained out West, he disliked being thousands of miles away from his family. “My grandfather passed away last year, not long after I came back East, and it made me realize that I wanted to be closer to home and closer to my family,” recounted Colwell. “Plus, I’m a New Englander at heart.”
His decision to return to his New England roots has helped revitalize Redhook’s pub, and Colwell isn’t resting on his laurels: he wants to hold farmers markets at the brewery this summer to help promote buying local, and hopes to offer seasonal menus that offer pub customers the freshest, in-season produce and meats available from local suppliers.
Additionally, Redhook is a proud member of the Green Alliance, a union of almost 100 businesses across New Hampshire, Southern Maine and Northern Massachusetts that certifies operational sustainability and community involvement. Green Alliance memberships are also available to the public, and those members receive a 10% discount on food at the Cataqua Pub in addition to substantial discounts at 94 other local green businesses. Colwell says that Redhook’s GA affiliation is a sort of “icing on the cake” to the company’s overall commitment to sustainability.
“We are engaged in sustainability here because not only is it the right thing to do but also because we know that it’s good for business – it helps to set apart our restaurant and brewery in a very positive way, in what is a very crowded industry. All the Green Alliance members are impressed with what we’ve accomplished here, but I tell them we’re just getting started,” cracks Colwell with a smile.
For more information on Redhook go to www.redhook.com. To learn more about the Green Alliance visit www.greenalliance.biz.
This story was submitted by Scott Szycher.
Photo caption: Bartender Nick pours Redhook’s Seacoast-brewed libations. The brewery’s general manager, Ryan Colwell, has been industrious in expanding the company’s sustainable initiatives. (Courtesy photo)

Five-Mile Walk Honors 9/11 Airline Co-Pilot

DOVER—
Close to 200 Portsmouth Christian Academy students, alumni, faculty, friends, and staff gathered April 8 for the 9th Annual McGuinness Walk to honor Thomas McGuinness. McGuinness. McGuinness was a former Navy pilot and the co-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11, the first of the hijacked planes, which flew into the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. McGuinness was the father of PCA graduates Tommy and Jennifer McGuinness.
Each year, at the end of PCA’s Spiritual Emphasis Days, students take to the streets for a five-mile walk in memory of the fallen co-pilot. They obtain sponsors and walk through South Dover to help raise money for a scholarship created in McGuinness’ name. All proceeds from the walk go directly to a tuition assistance fund to benefit a student who demonstrates high personal and moral caliber, is of strong faith, and has a proven desire for high academic standards. To date, the annual walks have raised more than $20,000.
“Over the past few years, we’ve walked in rain, snow, and wind,” recalls Stephen Foley, PCA Upper School Principal. “We’ve walked in Portsmouth and Dover, but it has always been great to walk together as a community in memory of Tom. We walk not to recall his death, but to recall his life.” Each step the students take not only keeps his memory alive, but also gives the young people an opportunity to come together as a community to the benefit of another.
Photo caption: Approximately 200 Portsmouth Christian Academy students, alumni, family, friends, and staff took part in the 9th Annual McGuinness Walk on April 8. This walk commemorates Thomas McGuinness, who was the co-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11, the first of the hijacked planes, which flew into the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. McGuinness was the father of PCA graduates Tommy and Jennifer McGuinness. (Courtesy photo)

Opening Scenes: ‘Arthur’

By Chip Schrader
Movie Reviewer
“Arthur” begins with a close up of a man putting on Batman’s gloves followed by a scanning shot of liquor bottles. The montage continues with scenes of Russell Brand dressing as Batman and an impressive collection of bottled hard liquor. After blowing bubbles, Brand greets “cheers” and downs a strong drink before enter the Batmobile with a man dressed in green bikini briefs posing as Robin. A high-speed chase down New York City ensues, and comes to a hilarious and symbolic end with the Wall Street bull crashed on the hood. Brand answers the officer, “I have remained drunk since our last encounter.”
While these first scenes are well covered in the previews and commercial spots, there is plenty of fun left for the rest of the movie. Russell Brand reprises the role of Arthur with the expected manic and witty persona that makes him the cross-comedic offspring of Robin Williams and Monty Python. He delivers his lines clean as the cut of a scalpel, but brings an emotional depth that was lacking in Dudley Moore’s portrayal.
Brand’s personal struggle with addiction seems to allow him to bring a sense of tragedy to the role, and expands his range as an actor as he can be serious, heartbroken, and hilarious at the turn of a scene. He is well balanced by Helen Mirren’s role of Ms. Hobson, Arthur’s nanny. The man who never grew up is well matched by her wit and her maternal wisdom while his own mother keeps him at arm’s length.
Arthur’s love interest, Naomi, has an interesting story with her dream to write children’s stories and rise above poverty. The character is not far from the original version portrayed by Liza Minnelli, but sadly, she comes off as simple-minded and sappy, rather than as a real person. It makes for a nice contrast to Arthur, whereas his moral match, Susan, is played adequately by Jennifer Garner. Like Naomi, Susan doesn’t seem like a very challenging character, but amusing at the very least.
While the most important elements of the story from the original version are intact, along with one or two vital scenes, the majority of the film takes a different sequence and completely different scenes to update the story. The economic decline, Paris Hilton-like faux pas, and seventies and eighties film references bring a great deal of interest to the new version.
Bottom line: while “Arthur” is neither beautifully shot nor does it have strong supporting characters, Brand and Mirren are dynamite. If anything, “Arthur” is proof that Brand is ready to have top billing, and is capable of carrying a two-hour movie from beginning to end. He keeps the audience laughing and believing every scene. Even with Naomi being an oversweet character, their romance works. The humor is quick, thoughtful, and most importantly, funny. The elements of humanity and human struggle Brand brings to Arthur is sincere, but doesn’t bring the mood of the movie down. This human element was woefully missing from the original. 3.5 out of 5.
Photo caption: (Courtesy movie poster from “Arthur”)

Prescott Park Arts Festival and Seacoast Repertory Theatre Announce Collaboration

‘The Wizard of Oz’ Kicks Off Summer 2011

PORTSMOUTH—
Demonstrating once again that when it comes to the arts in the Seacoast region, the whole can truly be greater than the sum of its parts, Prescott Park Arts Festival (PPAF) and Seacoast Repertory Theatre (the Rep) are proud to announce a new collaborative effort for the upcoming summer season. The organizations will co-produce “The Wizard of Oz” as part of the FairPoint Communications mainstage this summer. This new partnership draws on the combined resources of both organizations to bring the highest quality theatre possible to the PPAF this summer for visitors and locals alike to enjoy.
“It just really started making sense,” said Ben Anderson, executive director of the PPAF. “This type of collaboration is what I like to call a win-win-win. By partnering our efforts, both organizations will benefit and become stronger, but ultimately it is the community that will gain from what will come from this partnership. It’s more than exciting.”
The Rep will support the effort with rehearsal space, costuming, scenery building and other production-critical capabilities.
Beyond artistic vision and production leadership, the Rep’s Artistic Director, Craig Faulkner will co-direct “The Wizard of Oz” with Tony Award winner Jon Kimbell. In addition to being a longtime supporter of the Rep and advocate for the arts in our region, Kimbell served as the Artistic Director of the Theatre by the Sea in Portsmouth and North Shore Music Theater in Beverly, MA.
“I’m proud to be part of the collaboration between PPAF and the Rep; working together to create a terrific production for PPAF is a win for both arts organizations and, more importantly, for Seacoast audiences,” said Jon Kimbell. “Collaboration among arts groups was exactly what Grace Casey and I had in mind when we started the PPAF almost four decades ago.”
“It’s very exciting that the two largest arts organizations in the community have come together,” said Rep Artistic Director Craig Faulkner. “It’s taken a great deal of work and enthusiasm from both organizations to make this happen. We couldn’t be happier about this collaboration.”
The announced partnership actually expands the collaboration between the two organizations. Over the past few years, The Rep performed a series of concerts at PPAF and offered the Rep’s facility to PPAF for their concert series in the event of inclement weather. This relationship growth is a natural outcrop of the two organizations’ shared history and commitment to bringing the arts to the Seacoast.
Considered to be one of the greatest family musicals of all time, “The Wizard of Oz” is based on the Royal Shakespeare Company’s celebration of the 1939 MGM movie that transports Dorothy, Toto and their friends the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow Over the Rainbow to adventures in Munchkin Land, the Haunted Forest, and the Emerald City.
Featuring classic songs such as “Over the Rainbow,” “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead,” and “If I Only Had A Brain,” along with the beloved characters, “The Wizard of Oz” will have the entire family captivated as they travel down the yellow brick road for an unforgettable evening in the Park.
This magical production will run every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from June 24 to August 21.
Photo caption: The annual Prescott Park Arts Festival brings quite a crowd to the area, as seen here at a previous year’s concert. (Photo courtesy www.prescottpark.org)

Explore the Architecture of the Isles of Shoals at Seacoast Science Center

RYE—
From grand resort hotels to fishermen’s cottages, every building on the Isles of Shoals has a story to tell. Portsmouth architect Robert Cook will bring the history of the islands to life at Seacoast Science Center in Rye on Tuesday, April 12, at 7:00 p.m. His presentation, open to the public, marks the 20th anniversary of the Isles of Shoals Historical and Research Association.
“Have you ever wondered why the Oceanic Hotel looks like a series of different buildings arranged in a row?” Cook asks. “Why are some island buildings constructed of wood and others stone? These buildings look different, yet together they so pleasingly suit the island.”
The nine Isles of Shoals straddle the Maine-New Hampshire border six miles off the coast. Their buildings include the oldest house in Maine, the Haley House on Smuttynose Island, as well as grand structures dating from the Shoals’ development as a tourist and retreat destination in the 19th century. Cook will share stories and pictures of the existing buildings, others long gone, and perhaps some yet to be built.
The presentation is part of the regular meeting of the Isles of Shoals Historical and Research Association (ISHRA), whose mission is to expand awareness of the natural and human history of the Isles of Shoals. The talk previews a five-day conference about the resort hotel era on the Seacoast, to be offered by ISHRA on Star Island June 25-29.
Tickets for the April 12 presentation may be purchased at the door. The Seacoast Science Center is located at 570 Ocean Boulevard in Rye. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m., and the ISHRA meeting and special presentation are from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. For more information visit ishra.org or call (603) 431-2616.
Photo caption: The Oceanic Hotel on Star Island in the mid-20th century. (Courtesy of Portsmouth Athenaeum)

Chamber of Commerce Announces 2011 Awards

ROCHESTER—
The Business Leader of the Year award is one of the Chamber’s most prestigious business awards that provides us an opportunity to celebrate excellence in business leadership and community involvement. This award recognizes a Chamber member who has demonstrated leadership in a variety of roles in the business community, provides support for the betterment of the business community and the greater Rochester area. Based on several nominations received, the Chamber is pleased to present the 2011 Business Leader of the Year award to Ronald Poulin, Poulin Auto Country.
The Citizen of the Year award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the community and has made significant contributions to the vibrancy and strength of the Greater Rochester area. The 2011 Citizen of the Year is Kenneth Billings.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an outstanding individual whose spirit, resourcefulness and determination has been a major contribution to the Greater Rochester area and whose lifelong contributions to the community have inspired others to work toward positive change. The 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is Harvey Bernier, Jr.

Green Student Initiative Works to Eliminate UNH Trash

By Molly McCoy
Staff Columnist
DURHAM—
Moving in and out of college: parents and students know this ordeal very well. Lines of people and cars fill the streets outside dormitories and campus apartments in the spring and fall, everyone waiting for the next free elevator or someone to hold the door as they trudge out with boxes and bags of clothing, school supplies, furniture, and who knows what else. Trash and discarded belongings also fill the streets, as those multicolored halogen lamps lose their appeal and extra-long bedding becomes unnecessary. However at the University of New Hampshire, one student group is hoping to lighten the load.
The UNH Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) is the local chapter of a national nonprofit network of student- and youth-run organizations, all of which, according to the SEAC website, work to “uproot environmental injustices through action and education.” The UNH group sponsors a number of grassroots initiatives on campus, organizing sustainability outreach efforts like composting and the University use of recycled paper, along with educational events like guest speakers and movie series. This year, the UNH SEAC has taken on a new campaign called “Trash 2 Treasure.”
“Last year, I was looking at moving into an apartment and I drove around looking for free furniture on the street,” said Alex Freid, a sophomore at UNH and involved member of SEAC. “It was completely overwhelming. The amount of stuff leftover and thrown out was insane. We started having discussions about it.”
The rest of the group’s members, numbering around fifty, agreed with Freid’s concerns and brainstormed what they could do to help, ultimately resulting in the “Trash 2 Treasure” program (T2T). The group is organizing a collection of “stuff” throughout campus during the annual student move-out this spring. Items that can be donated include televisions, DVD players, desks, tables, lamps, microwaves, dorm-size refrigerators, floor rugs, printers, cleaning supplies and clothing, to name a few. In the fall, the group will hold a large, 3-day yard sale during move-in weekend to sell the items back to students at a reasonable price. Any leftover items will then be donated to local charities and thrift shops.
“UNH sees an average of 25 tons of trash a month during the regular school year,” said Freid, “and that number jumps to 105 tons of trash during move-out in May. And that’s just the on-campus stuff, not including all the other student housing.”
According to Freid, the UNH SEAC officially established the T2T program last year, making it the only student-led, student-run initiative of its kind in the country. The group has since organized and applied for seed-money grants, the payoff of which has included a $4,000 grant from the UNH Parents’ Association and other smaller donations.
The hope is that the program will essentially fund itself after this year with the profits from the fall sale, but how much startup cash does the group really need?
“We started with a basic, small scale proposal of the program estimated at about $6,000,” said Freid. “We’ve come much farther from that now. We’ve managed to get donated storage space from apartment owners in Durham and a rec. room in a dorm basement, but we’re still working on getting more space. If we collect as much as we possibly can, we’ll probably need twice as much storage as we’ve secured so far.”
The group is working hard to plan all aspects of the campaign, but they are constantly up against a Catch-22.
“The more storage we have, the more money we need for the trucks, the yard sale tent, and other things. It’s like a ripple effect,” said Freid. “If something expands, we have to spend more money on something else. We’re pretty much going for as much [stuff collected] as we can, which would hopefully turn into revenue for next year. We’ve been playing with these numbers for months and we just won’t know until we do it.”
In an effort to raise additional funds, the UNH SEAC is hosting a Banquet Fundraising Event on Sunday, April 10 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the Granite State Room of the Memorial Union Building at UNH, located at 83 Main Street in Durham. The event includes hors d’oeuvres donated from a number of area restaurants, guest speakers, a 15-minute clip screening of Annie Leonard’s “The Story of Stuff,” and a silent auction of over $5,000 worth of donated goods from local environmentally friendly businesses.
“We don’t expect to make back the whole $5,000, but it’s definitely a start!” said Freid.
There is a suggested donation of $10 per person to attend, but the event is free to anyone who wishes to be a part of the evening’s festivities.
Oh, and all of this organizational time and effort is in addition to schoolwork, right?
“I’m very, very busy,” said Freid, “but I guess it’s just a matter of commitment. We really want to make this happen.”
To learn more about the Trash 2 Treasure campaign and the upcoming Banquet Fundraiser Event, visit www.unh.edu/trash2treasure or find the program on Facebook at www.facebook.com/unhtrash2treasure.
Photo caption: The UNH Student Environmental Action Coalition will host a Gala Fundraiser Event on Sunday, April 10 to benefit their Trash 2 Treasure program. (Courtesy image)

Woodman Institute Museum Opens for 95th Year

DOVER—
On April 1, the Woodman Institute Museum opens for the 95th season in Dover. Recognized as a traditional turn of century natural science, local history and art museum, the Woodman opened to the public in July, 1916 and today is often referred to as a “museum’s museum.” Displaying collections in old fashioned cabinets throughout four historic homes, a new adventure awaits around ever corner as visitors move from room to room.
This season, the museum opens with a special exhibit: “Toymaker - Collector - Naturalist” Henry Clinton Fall (1862-1939).
As a young school boy attending Belknap Grammar School, Henry was a collector and builder of model boats and trains, (influenced by vessels sailing into Dover on the Cochecho and steam trains passing through Dover several times a day), a collector of stamps/postmarks, and had a fascination with butterflies and beetles. He would graduate with the Dover High School class of 1880 and Dartmouth College in 1884 with a Bachelor of Science degree. While teaching at Pomona and Pasadena, California, Henry studied the beetles of Southern California and New Mexico. In 1917, he returned to Tyngsboro, Massachusetts where he continued to collect, curate, and write 133 scientific articles on beetles. At the time of his death in 1939, Henry had collected over 200,000 species of beetles, one of the largest private collections in North America, and been recognized as one of the country’s leading naturalists.
Now on display are some of the original model boats and several steam engine trains that have survived all these years and were recently returned to Dover for young and old to enjoy. The exhibit features an 1876 Belknap Grammar School spelling exam book where Henry misspelled just seven words out of a list of 1,161, an original hand bell and photos of the school located on the corner of Belknap and Silver Streets.
Visitors can also see Henry’s recently restored and framed original DHS 1880 diploma, the original hand school bell, front door key, 1880 graduation program, and photographs of the first high school that was located at the end of First Street and now Chestnut intersection. Graduation exercises were held at Dover’s second city hall building that was located in Central Square at the intersection of Central and Washington Streets. That building was destroyed by fire in 1889. The old high school was torn down when a new high school was built on Locust Street in 1904.
Museum visitors can view photographs, original period business advertising trade cards, invoices and items related to early Dover children’s clothing stores – soda and tonic bottling companies, the Middlebrook Dairy Farm and the B&M railroad – on display in the Woodman House gallery throughout the 2011 season.
Special thanks for making this exhibit possible goes to Lawrence David, Dover High Class of 1971, who contacted members of the Cate and Fall families and was responsible for acquiring most of the models, letters, photographs, and facilitated the restoration of the 1880 diploma. Also Art Evans, entomologist/naturalist, who is connected with the Smithsonian Institute, for the background information on Henry’s professional career. The exhibit underwriter/sponsor is Center for Assessment at One Washington Center in Dover.
The Woodman Institute Museum, located at 182 central Avenue in Dover, is open Wednesday-Sunday 12:30-4:30. Group tours welcome by reservation. Call 742-1038 or visit www.woodmaninstitutemuseum.org for additional information.
Photo caption: This toy B&M engine can be found in the Henry Clinton Fall exhibit at the Woodman Institute Museum. (Courtesy photo)

Volunteers Needed for Earth Day Cleanup at Strawbery Banke

PORTSMOUTH—
Spring is here and Strawbery Banke is inviting the community to come toil in the soil at the Museum in remembrance of Earth Day.
Strawbery Banke Museum’s volunteer garden and grounds clean up day will be held on Saturday, April 16 with a rain date of Sunday, April 17. Join an inspired community and help bring new life to the historic landscapes at Strawbery Banke Museum. New this year: the Piscataqua Garden Club - a member of the Garden Club of America - will be planting an October Glory Maple - Acer rubrum on the grounds of the museum to celebrate Earth Day.
“Tree planting has long been a significant part of the quality of life in the Strawbery Banke neighborhood...from the ancient larch trees by the community gardens, to the circular hemlock grove in the Aldrich Garden, and numerous other spots throughout the museum. Over the past few years, the museum has worked to re-introduce threatened tree species like American Elm and American Chestnut on the property to carry this important historic legacy into the 21st century and beyond,” notes John Forti, Curator of Historic Landscapes at Strawbery Banke Museum. By planting a beautiful native red maple at the museum, the Piscataqua Garden Club will also help insure that future generations will enjoy shade as well as the beautiful fall foliage that this region has long been known for.
Volunteers should arrive at the Tyco Visitors Center at Strawbery Banke Museum for work assignments and refreshments at 8:30 a.m. and are asked to bring along gardening tools and gloves. A potluck lunch will follow at 12:30. Please RSVP by April 13 to Jonathan Brown at volunteers@strawberybanke.org or 1-603-433-1110.
Photo caption: Volunteers help clean up the grounds at Strawbery Banke Museum during a past Earth Day. (Courtesy photo)