U.S. News Ranks Wentworth-Douglass Hospital as One of the Best Regional Hospitals in Area

DOVER—
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has been ranked #16 in the category of Nephrology in the Boston Metro Area for in U.S. News Media & World Report’s 2011-12 Best Hospital rankings. The latest rankings showcase 720 hospitals out of about 5,000 hospitals nationwide. Each is ranked among the country’s top hospitals in at least one medical specialty and/or ranked among the best hospitals in its metro area.
According to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital President & CEO Gregory Walker, this is the second consecutive period Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has been ranked as a Best Regional Hospital in the Boston Metro Area.
“This ranking recognizes the contributions of all our caregivers who provide high quality care everyday for patients in our community,” Walker said. “We are honored to be listed among the other distinguished healthcare institutions in the Boston area.”
Covering 94 metro areas in the U.S., the regional hospital rankings complement the national rankings by including hospitals with solid performance nearly at the level of nationally ranked institutions. Hard numbers stand behind the rankings — death rates, patient safety, advanced technology, patient care resources and high patient satisfaction scores compared to state and national scores.
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital was recognized as Best Regional Hospital in the category of Ear, Nose and Throat in the U.S. News Media & World Report 2010-11 listing.
Photo caption: Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover was recently recognized in U.S. News Media & World Reports in the category of Nephrology. (Courtesy photo)

Hot Reading for Hot Weather

By Chip Schrader

Book Reviewer
The summertime brings to mind many traditions: vacations, baseball, cookouts, and beach days. More often than not, a good book is typically paired with a beach outing, and a handful of titles tend to be the “it” books for each summer. This summer is no different. Bestseller lists, personal recommendations and book clubs are the best indicators for the browser to find out what’s hot, and this year we have a few newer titles, and a few that have been around.
“Room” by Emily Donoghue, acclaimed author of “Slammerkin,” is the newest of these books. The life of the main character, Jack, is entirely lived in one room with his mother, who struggles to provide a normal life for him. They are held captive in this place by a man named “Old Nick.” On the author’s webpage, there is a video trailer of the book, a full description and a bevy of accolades from Donoghue’s contemporaries on how well she narrates from a five-year-old boy’s perspective. Currently, this is possibly the most popular book this summer. Little Brown, 336 pages (2010).
Earlier in the year, Abraham Verghese’s “Cutting for Stone” began catching fire. This is the story of twin boys born in Ethiopia, and then separated shortly after birth. The novel takes on an epic theme of humanity and the birth of modern medicine as it spans generations and continents to tie together how one person’s actions can be a consequence to someone a world away. This novel is also critically acclaimed and enjoying high summer sales. Vintage, 667 pages (2010).
Since last year, Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help” has dominated the bestseller list and continues to be a popular read for this summer. Set in the antebellum south, this story follows the help, or the housekeepers who are employed by wealthy southern families. Jackson Mississippi was a hotbed for the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, and readers will be surprised by the racial climate in that era. The book has been made into a film, and is enjoying a resurgence in sales and reading groups in anticipation of its August release. Berkely Trade, 544 pages (2010).
The 1996 novel, “The Game of Thrones” by George R. R. Martin, is the subject of barroom chatter and fodder amongst fantasy aficionados as its adaptation by HBO has just finished its first season. Set in medieval world, a king is slain, and the drama of two families unfolds. One family, the Lannisters, was thwarted from the throne by the recently deceased king, and the Starks are headed by a man assigned to be the new kings personal hand. This is the first of four volumes, and a giant book. Bantam Books, 720 pages (1996).
Among other hot titles for this summer is the trilogy by Steig Larsen with “The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo” as the first in the series. Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” also begins a trilogy, and a non-fiction epic about the horrors of World War II “Unbroken” by Lauren Hillenbrand. All titles are widely available at local and online bookstores, and libraries in various formats.
Photo caption: “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett is one of many books that people are continuing to bring to the beach this summer, largely due to its upcoming film release. (Courtesy book cover image)

Hampton Falls Hosts Farmer’s Market

HAMPTON FALLS—
The Hampton Falls Farmer’s Market was conceived of and founded by Sue Veilleux. Sue raises Nubian goats at her Jesta Farm in Hampton Falls. She has been selling her goats’ milk soap, milk and eggs at various local farmer’s markets for many years. Her dream was to create a market on the Hampton Falls common to serve as a meeting place for town and area residents and provide an opportunity for smaller and unique producers to sell their wares.
To that end, she founded the Hampton Falls Farmer’s Market Association and the group has been sponsoring markets on the common on Monday afternoons between 2:00 and 6:00 p.m. Besides Sue’s Jesta Farm, the market offers vegetables and fruit from Applecrest in Hampton Falls and Long Hill Orchard in W. Newbury, MA, items from Buzz Bomb World spices and gluten free bakery in Hampton, and maple ice cream and candy from Sugarmomma’s in Northwood. They also offer honey wines from the Moonlight Meadery in Salem and cut flowers from Indian Hill Farm in South Hampton. Other vendors offer products ranging from herbal teas and syrups to Belgian waffles.
The vendor list is constantly growing and the market welcomes applications from area producers, especially in the category of organic produce. For more information, contact hamptonfallsfarmersmarket@comcast.net.

St. Thomas Aquinas High Receives Unexpected $250,000 Gift

DOVER—
For several years, St. Thomas Aquinas High School’s largest benefactor lived next door at St. Ann’s Home…only the school never knew it. Last October, 99-year-old Alicia Sullivan passed away after an extended illness. A resident of Somersworth and later of Dover, and a daily communicant at St. Mary’s Parish, Ms. Sullivan was the last surviving member of a family that included two other unmarried sisters, Ruth and Melanie Sullivan.
Together, the sisters invested their financial resources wisely, and when the time came to consider who would benefit from their foresight, their thoughts turned to education. The oldest of the three, Ruth, was a woman who had earned a college degree at a time when such an occurrence was extremely rare. Combined with their devout Catholic faith and deep understanding of the needs of Dover residents, the sisters designated St. Mary Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas High School as the beneficiaries of their largesse.
On Tuesday, July 12, 2011, Sullivan family attorney Anthony McManus, and longtime family friend Paul Boucher presented a check to St. Thomas in the amount of $250,000 – by far the largest single donation ever bestowed on STA. According to Mr. Boucher, the sisters were a remarkable trio whom he and his late wife had come to know when the oldest Sullivan sister was stricken with ovarian cancer. Alicia, he said, “had a sharp wit and a ready quip” and along with her sister Melanie, had been a supervisor with the telephone company with a reputation for toughness.
It is clear, however, that the sisters had a soft side as well. Their legacy to St. Thomas Aquinas designates that the bequest be invested, and the income used to provide scholarships for needy students from Dover or Somersworth who attend STA. For Principal Kevin Collins, this legacy helps fulfill one of his chief goals: making a St. Thomas Aquinas education accessible for as many deserving students as possible.
“This gift couldn’t have come at a better time,” said Principal Collins. “The opportunity to experience an STA education should not be a faraway dream, but a reality.”
St. Thomas Aquinas has long been committed to this goal, and is particularly focused on maintaining affordability in the current economic downturn. A little-known fact about STA is its financial aid program, which provides nearly a half-million dollars annually in grants and scholarships. In fact, nearly 1 in 5 students at the school receive some level of aid.
“Many of our top students could not have attended St. Thomas without help,” Collins noted.
“However, perhaps even more important than the benefit they receive from us is the way in which these students – like all our students – enrich our lives.”
The Sullivan legacy check was accepted on behalf of the school community by Dominique MacDonald, Vice-Chairperson of the St. Thomas Aquinas School Board – and someone who understands the impact of this gift more than most. She and her husband Tim are both members of the STA class of 1982, her children are recent grads, and she was recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award.
“The sisters have given us a tremendous gift,” she remarked upon accepting the gift. “In this economy, I’ve seen how an STA education has become more difficult to attain. This will help so many families.”
The gift of the Sullivan sisters – Ruth, Alicia and Melanie – will help secure the future of STA students for years to come. There is a play by Anton Chekov which includes this line: “…our sufferings will pass into joy for those who will live after us, happiness and peace will be established upon earth, and they will remember kindly and bless those who have lived before.”
The name of the play? “The Three Sisters.”
Photo caption: From left to right: Sullivan family attorney Anthony McManus, family friend Paul Boucher, STA Dean of Students Gordon Quimby, Vice-Chairperson of the STA School Board Dominique MacDonald, Dean of Studies Ron Holtz and Principal Kevin Collins. (Courtesy photo)

Opening Scenes: The Final ‘Harry Potter’

By Chip Schrader
Movie Reviewer
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” begins with Voldemort casting a bolt of lightning into the night sky. The scene cuts to the ghostly black dementors hovering above Hogwarts, the once magical wonderland that has now become a brooding and ominous castle that resembles a giant lair in classic Gothic literature where evil lurks. Severus Snape, the new headmaster, looks down upon his school, the children march like stormtroopers inside. Harry is hiding out with his friends in a small hut; he gazes into a broken mirror that reflects his own face, and that of the deceased former headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.
All bets are off in this final installment of the Harry Potter legend. All of the roles are carried out by the same actors as the previous films, and they continue to embody their character with precision. The most notable newcomer is Albus Dumbledore’s brother, Aberforth, played by Ciaran Hinds. While he plays a smaller role in this film, he is masterfully placed to fill in a few gaps of Dumbledore’s past, but the role is too brief to get a feel for the character.
The film, as a whole, takes broad sweeps of the original book, as to be expected. But, the film is best judged upon its own merit since cinema is at a great handicap compared to literature. In comparison to Part 1, Part 2, if possible, is even darker and takes place underground, and in narrow passages, while its predecessor was greatly shot in the vast countryside. The claustrophobia the director provides in the cinematography builds tension for the viewers as Harry must invade Bellatrix Lestranges’ vault at Gringot’s bank.
Dragons, giants, and assorted ghouls inhabit the land in this film, and boost its grandiosity without providing the cheesy CGI side effects that plague a Michael Bay film, i.e. “Transformers.”
Harry’s return to Hogwarts is marked with a chilling message from Voldemort. The old magic of Hogwarts, greatly missing from the previous installment, swarms in a mass of darkness and mayhem, and the expansive campus becomes the site for an epic battle between good and evil.
The shortcomings include the fact that Harry never seems in too much danger of Voldemort catching him. It just plays out as a scavenger hunt for Harry, Hermione and Ron, while the deatheaters wait idly by. The visions Harry gets of Voldemort provide glimpses of evil, but no real suspense. The necessity of Harry to face Voldemort, and the circumstance under which he must meet him do provide some white knuckle viewing three-quarters through the movie.
The bottom line: this movie is darker, creepier, and more intriguing than any of the previous films. It is even more entertaining than the first part. The cinematography is gorgeous, and uses shadows and perpetual darkness to not only convey a sense of foreboding, but makes it a beautiful movie to look at. If the movie could stand to be an hour longer, the loss of many characters shouldn’t have been glazed over, and the battle deserved greater detail as does the character development. Combined with the previous release, the character development and action will appear more balanced. Collectively, both parts are a nearly flawless grand slam. 4.5 out of 5.
Photo caption: (Courtesy movie poster of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2”)

Thursday Night Special at Warner House

PORTSMOUTH—
The Warner House will offer special tours of the c.1716 mansion throughout the 2011 open season. Sandra Rux, Museum and Collections Manager at the Portsmouth Historical Society, will lead a tour focuses on the museum’s many unique textiles. Light refreshments will be served after the tour. Admission is $5 for Warner House members and $10 for non-members. Registration is encouraged and can be done by calling 603-436-5909 or emailing info@warnerhouse.org. The Warner House is located at 105 Daniel Street in downtown Portsmouth.
The Warner House was occupied continuously by the Warner family until becoming a historic house museum in 1930. Family members have stayed involved with their ancestral home and collection pieces are often returned back to the museum to be placed where they were once used. The Warner House textile collection includes crewel work, magnificent reproduction nineteenth century bed-hangings and many family costumes. Visitors to the house during this tour will be shown pieces not normally on display.
The Warner House is the earliest extant brick urban mansion in New England, It was built in 1716-1718 for Captain Archibald Macpheadris and his bride-to-be Sarah Wentworth, daughter of New Hampshire’s Lieutenant Governor, John Wentworth. The long history of the house is told in rooms furnished with many of the original family pieces, documented by estate inventories and early photographs. Each room represents different owners, culminating in the recently restored parlor of Evelyn Sherburne (d. 1929), one of the last residents. The museum is open for tours from noon to 4 p.m. every day but Tuesday. Contact the Warner House at 436-5909 or visit www.warnerhouse.org.
Photo caption: Warner House in Portsmouth will offer special tours throughout the season, providing a behind-the-scenes look at areas of the museum not typically on display. (Courtesy photo)

‘Good Morning, Strawbery Banke’ Wins New England Museum Association Book Award

PORTSMOUTH—
Strawbery Banke Museum has won first place in the 2011 New England Museum Association Publication Award Competition for “Good Morning, Strawbery Banke.” The 40-page, full-color book aimed at readers aged 4-8 was written and illustrated by Wickie Rowland. The book won its category of volumes priced at $10 or less. NEMA received 206 entries from 64 organizations competing in 16 categories for the 2011 awards.
Dan Yeager, President of NEMA said, “Your publication design puts you in very good company at the top ranks of our region’s institutions. The judges were extremely impressed with the high quality of all of the entries and expressed pride to come from a region that produces such high caliber work.” The award-winning publications will be exhibited at the NEMA Annual Conference in Hartford, CT in November. This is the second time a Strawbery Banke Museum book has won NEMA honors. In 2008, J. Dennis Robinson’s history, “Strawbery Banke: A Seaport Museum 400 Years in the Making” also won.
The book has won an enthusiastic audience for the story and its real-life hero, J. D., the black cat who roams the 10-acre living history museum in downtown Portsmouth. On each page, J.D. walks through different perspectives and ways of life, from historic to modern at Strawbery Banke. Watercolor pen drawings depict J.D.’s tour through time. One reviewer of the book commented, “Wickie Rowland is an exquisite illustrator and the text is easy enough reading for younger history buffs to grasp, yet interesting enough for all ages to get involved in. This book should be required reading in grade school history classes, as it gives a wonderful, tangible experience of life in early New England.”
“I am particularly pleased that Strawbery Banke Museum has earned a New England Museum Association Award for a book aimed primarily at children, as we constantly work at bringing the story of life in Portsmouth we tell here approachable for all,” said Museum President Lawrence J. Yerdon. “J.D. the cat is an ideal ambassador and we very much appreciate Wickie Rowland’s success in giving him such a delightful letter of introduction on our behalf.”
Published in 2010 by Publishing Works in Exeter, NH with funding from Piscataqua Savings Bank and designed by Anna Pearlman, “Good Morning, Strawbery Banke” is available in the Museum Store and from booksellers. Publisher Jeremy Townsend congratulated Strawbery Banke and author Rowland on the award, saying, “It is a pleasure to be the publisher of such a wonderful, wonderful book. Everyone who sees it is charmed and apparently the New England Museum Association judges were no exception. Congratulations to Strawbery Banke Museum and Wickie Rowland!”
Established in 1959, Strawbery Banke Museum (www.strawberybanke.org) is a 10-acre living history campus that presents nearly 400 years of New Hampshire history through the stories, artifacts and buildings of Portsmouth families. With a backdrop of 16 historic buildings and gardens, role-players, working craftspeople and interpreters reflect the evolution of Portsmouth from the early Colonial period of maritime trade through its 1950s neighborhood of Puddle Dock.
Photo caption: (Courtesy book cover image of “Good Morning, Strawbery Banke”)

Greenland Celebrates 21st Annual Summer Fun and Jason’s Run

GREENLAND—
On Saturday, July 16, the town center of Greenland will come alive with a full day of activities for all ages and interests. The town’s traditional Summer Fun celebration features food, music, games, crafts and more, topped off by the 21st Annual Jason Hussey 5K Road Race.
Since 1976, Greenland has held a summer celebration on the third Saturday of July with festivities centered around the town green. Community groups and non-profit agencies participate by offering activities, information, and fundraising for their causes. No commercial vendors are allowed to sell their products at this event.
Summer Fun activities begin at 8 a.m. with a Community Pancake Breakfast at the Greenland Parish House, with proceeds benefiting Community Congregational Church. Also beginning early are town-wide yard sales. Maps of all the yard sale locations will be available at the Greenland bandstand and all the yard sale sites.
Michael Sullivan’s Tales Told Tall Chess Club is always a big hit with a Chess Tournament and Renaissance Man Challenge starting at 10:00 a.m. in the Parish House. This is a three-round U.S. Chess Federation-Rated Chess Tournament. A Renaissance Man trophy will be awarded to the player with the highest combined finish in the tournament and the 5K road race.
Next door to the Parish House, the Weeks Public Library will hold a book sale and offer craft activities for children.
Live music is scheduled at the Greenland Bandstand all afternoon. This year’s entertainment line-up includes Gary and the Serfs, Jimi G and the Re-Sceptors, Five Pitches, and Crab Shack.
Other special events throughout the day include Zumba, Mad Science, a puppet show, Hillbilly Golf, crafts, face painting, laser tag, frozen tee shirt contest, carnival games, games by Sportsmouth Tennis, and activities by the Seacoast YMCA.
There will be hamburgers and hot dogs for sale at noon time. From 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., there will be a BBQ hosted by the parents of students at Greenland Central School. Proceeds from the BBQ help fund the students’ trip to Environmental School in the fall.
The big event of the day is the annual Jason Hussey 5K road race at 6:00 p.m. Registration for the race is open from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. There is a kids’ fun run at 5:00 p.m., followed by Luther’s Walk at 5:30 p.m. Announcement of race awards and raffle prizes will take place following the race at 7:00 p.m. at the bandstand to close out the day.
To see the complete schedule, register for the race, or make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.summerfunandjasonsrun.org or call Marie at 603-431-0056. Summer Fun and Jason’s Run is sponsored by the Town of Greenland Recreation Committee.

7th Annual Seacoast Concert For A Cure Returns to Rye

RYE—

This year’s Seacoast Concert for a Cure, an annual music festival that raises funds for local breast cancer support programs, will feature a unique lineup of local favorites. The event, to be held Thursday, August 4, 2011 at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, NH, will feature Truffle, known for their upbeat and masterfully crafted music, and Bliss, a highly appraised all female blues, folk, country and bluegrass band.
“We’re very excited to once again be hosting the Seacoast Concert For A Cure at Seacoast Science Center,” said concert co-founder Katie Delahaye Paine. “Our mission is to raise funds for organizations that help breast cancer survivors. Since we began this effort in 2005 I am proud to say the we have raised more than $100,000 to support local non-profit organizations who provide much needed support programs to women and men right here in our own seacoast communities. And what better way to do that then to enjoy great music and dance the night away, all while overlooking the sunset on Odiorne Point!”
Past events have provided funding for: mammograms to those who can’t afford them; support weekends for survivors as well as children of those affected by cancer; an online support community where women can share their stories and get support from others going through a similar experience; and Dana Farber’s Survivorship Program – a program that helps more and more people survive cancer every year.
This year the money raised by the event will help the following non-profit organizations:
Betty J. Borry Breast Cancer Retreats: Providing adventure retreat weekends for women living after breast cancer.
BreastCancerStories.org / My Breast Cancer Support: Providing non-medical grants, travel scholarships, home assistance and additional support for local patients and their family members here in the greater seacoast area.
On Belay: Supporting children of those suffering from cancer or other life-threatening diseases. The organization was started by SCFAC founder and New Hampshire Volunteer of the Year, Crescentia Healy True, who sadly lost her battle with breast cancer in 2006.
Once again, Seacoast Science Center will host the event, continuing its Thursday night series for an extra week. There will be a large silent auction and food available for purchase. Attendees are welcome to bring their own picnics as well (alcohol may not be brought into the park – beer and wine will be available for purchase).
Tickets are $12 advance and $15 day of show (children ages 4-12 are $1, paid at gate only) and will be available at each of the Seacoast Science Center’s Music by the Sea Thursday night concerts as well as online at www.seacoastconcertforacure.com.
Sponsors of this year’s event include LWynn Sound, 92.5 The River, Measured Progress, WERZ, Hampshire First Bank and Exeter Health Resources.
Further details about the musicians, the recipient charities and the organizing team are also available on the web site, www.seacoastconcertforacure.com. For information on the Music by the Sea concert series go to www.seacoastsciencecenter.org.
Photo caption: All-female blues, rock, country and bluegrass band, Bliss, will perform along with Truffle at the 7th Annual Seacoast Concert For A Cure. (Courtesy photo)

Frisbie Memorial Hospital Donates $10,000 to Howie’s Field of Dreams

ROCHESTER—
Frisbie Memorial Hospital recently donated $10,000 to Howie’s Field of Dreams/ Rochester Rotary, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to build a handicapped-accessible baseball field for players ages five to 20 living with physical and/or mental challenges. The field will be made of a rubberized surface so that players who fall will not injure themselves, and will be located at Roger Allen Park in Rochester to accommodate a Buddy-Ball division league.
Howie’s Field of Dreams/Rochester Rotary has scheduled a 5K Road Race/Fun Run or Walk on July 23 at 9:00 a.m. to raise money for the field; Frisbie Memorial Hospital is the Race sponsor. The Race starts and finishes at Roger Allen Park (195 Chestnut Hill Road in Rochester) and participants have the option to run/walk one, two or 3.1 miles. The course is USATF certified and is flat and fast. The Race entry fee is $15.00 for adults ($20 for same day) and $7.00 for kids ages 12 years and younger. For more information on Howie’s Field of Dreams and/or to register for the Race, please visit www.howiesfieldofdreams.org.
Howie’s Field of Dreams was the vision of Howard “Howie” Seckendorf who suffered a fatal heart attack in 2009 at the age of 51. In honor and tribute to his memory, the Rochester Rotary and his family members have committed to making his dream a reality.
Photo caption: From left to right: Gerry Gilbert (Rochester Rotary), John Creteau (Past President Roger Allen Baseball), Gerry Bisaillon, Walter Hoerman, MD (Committee Chair), Molly Seckendorf (Howie’s daughter), Kim Seckendorf (Howie’s widow and Rochester Rotary) and Al Felgar, Frisbie Memorial Hospital President/CEO. (Courtesy photo)

Kids Compete in Striped Bass Tournament

NEW CASTLE—
Despite grey skies, heavy rain, heavy seas and chilly temps, there was also a heavy turnout for the fourth annual Wentworth Marina Striped Bass Tournament for Kids.
The popular catch and release fishing tournament for Striped Bass added a Mackerel division in 2009 to increase the opportunity for success for its youngest participants. Both species were presented to the judging station on the docks of Wentworth Marina.
Braving some really challenging conditions, fishing began at sunrise Sunday, June 12, for the 80 plus participants ranging in age from 8-16.
Some anglers left from the Marina on the Tournament’s vessel; the Atlantic Queen and others from their own private boats or chartered captains. Many were forced to return early given the 6-8 foot swells. Others found some respite in the rivers and channels, where a 42” Striper was netted.
A former three-time Tournament winner and now Trinity College swimmer won the new alumni category.
The 4th Annual Wentworth Marina Striped Bass Tournament Winners are listed below.
Mackerel Category,
including weight
Juveniles (8-10 yrs.): First, Quinn Alessi, .77; Second, Reid Alessi, .71; Third, Colby Muise, .55. Schoolies (11-13 yrs.): First, Paul Holloway, .71; Second, Nathan Barone, .38; Third, Malcolm Hughes, .21. Lunkers (14-16 yrs.): First, Dylan Muise, .18. Alumni: First, Ryan McCann, .12.
Striped Bass Category,
including length and girth
Juveniles: First, Elizabeth Holloway, 34, 19; Second, Noah Burnside, 34, 17; Third, Nicholas Nold, 32.5. Schoolies: First, Ben Sandquist, 42; Second, Hans Pohl, 31.5; Third, Niko Alexandropoulos, 31. Lunkers: First, Theo Alexandropoulos, 32; Second, Brody Sandquist, 31.25; Third, Matthew Webber, 31.
Organized and managed by the Little Harbor Charitable Foundation Board, each year the Tournament supports a designated beneficiary organization in service to children and youth on the Seacoast.
This year, Tournament proceeds will build upon the success of a 2010 initiative, to expand development and delivery of enrichment service programs and opportunities for children living at Cross Roads House and the Portsmouth Housing Authority. “Summer Lab” a brand new learning initiative will pair these children with exceptional educators, mentors and consultants at the Dondero School (Portsmouth).
Little Harbor Charitable Foundation is credited with gifting over 60 programs and raising over $1.65 million dollars in support for Seacoast area organizations since 1997.
Lead sponsor Mercedes-Benz is joined once again by a number of returning organizations, including; Holloway Automotive, WMUR-TV 9, Wentworth Marina, Pro-Mariner, Fidelity Charitable Giving, Clear Channel, Bid2Win Software, Inc., Construction Services of NH, Center for Assessment, Actio Corporation, Seacoast Media Group, and many others.
Sponsor funds, 100% of which is annually channeled directly to the designated beneficiary organization have subsequently assisted thousands of children with basic health, welfare, education services and crisis care in addition to stimulating interest in and access to the arts and personal enrichment opportunities.
Please visit www.LHCFonline.com or www.stripertournament.com for additional information and a full list of sponsors.

Four Stellar Acts for Showcase Festival at Prescott Park

PORTSMOUTH—
As part of the Prescott Park Arts Festival’s 37th season, the Showcase Festival will bring Patty Larkin, Jon Nolan, Jason Spooner and Martin England to the FairPoint Communications MainStage on Saturday, July 9. The arts festival looks forward to kicking things off on a high note at the first music festival of the 2011 Summer Season with a fantastic lineup of talented musicians.
Returning to the Prescott Park Arts Festival stage is urban-folk/pop music phenomenon Patty Larkin. The self-described “guitar driven songwriter” has wound her way through soundscapes of evocative vocals, inventive guitar wizardry, and imaginative lyrics to reinterpret traditional folk melodies, rock, pop, and bossa nova.
Also returning to the stage this year is veteran performer Jon Nolan. Nolan’s most recent album, When the Summers Lasted Long, was a self-recorded, debut solo release. Chronicling Nolan’s transition from youth to adulthood, this honest and charming Americana/pop record garnered critical success and solid reviews from No Depression Magazine and the Boston Herald.
Festival-goers will welcome multi-award winning New England-based songwriter Jason Spooner. Spooner’s third album, Sea Monster (2010), has been praised by Sirius/XM as “a very rare and special record that is destined to put Spooner on the musical map” and has been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered. Spooner and his band have toured extensively in the past few years, sharing the stage with artists including Ray LaMontagne, Brandi Carlile, Amos Lee, and more.
Rounding out the Showcase Festival’s lineup is the latest rising star of the Seacoast, Martin England. Winner of the Spotlight Single of the Year award, England’s solo debut, Razed and Reconstructed (2010), marks a new direction for the singer-songwriter. Formerly with Northeast regional band Pondering Judd, England’s imaginative blend of Americana, folk, roots rock, and occasional old school country will engage and capture audience members.
“Showcase Festival this year features a fantastic mix of emerging and well established musical greats, and we couldn’t be happier with the lineup,” says Executive Director Ben Anderson. “Whether you’ve seen Patty, Jon, Jason, and Martin before or not, our first music festival of the year is going to be one everyone will enjoy.”
The Showcase Festival is part of the Prescott Park Arts Festival’s 37th season that also features the musical “The Wizard of Oz,” running every Thursday through Sunday until August 21, 2011. The season also includes the River House Restaurant Concert Series, which will feature music legends such as the Taj Mahal Trio, Arlo Guthrie, Shawn Colvin, and Greg Brown each Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. through August 26.
All events offered at the Prescott Park Arts Festival are presented free of charge with a suggested donation of $5 - $8. For more information on the festival, or to see a full schedule of events, visit www.prescottpark.org or call 603-436-2848.
Photo caption: Patty Larkin is one of four special acts that will perform at Prescott Park Showcase Festival. (Courtesy photo)

It Takes a Community to Build a Gundalow

PORTSMOUTH—
As part of the campaign to raise $1.2m to build a new gundalow and expand Gundalow Company programs and operations, efforts were boosted at the shipyard from the early support of some special people and businesses from the seacoast area. In-kind services and materials have been valued at over $50,000 towards the project. Strawbery Banke has been instrumental in giving the location to build the boat and site support. Collaborative education programs are ongoing with both organizations. 

In the fall of 2010, Appledore Engineering – a division of Tighe & Bond, provided pro-bono civil engineering and site plans for the Puddle Dock construction site, and supported the gundalow staff through the regulatory and permitting process. McLane Law Firm’s team fielded various legal questions, while Gove Construction created a level gravel pad as the base for the shipyard. 

Tony Coviello at Summit Engineering provided structural engineering plans for the shipyard cover from conceptual designs by the Steve Jones Architectural Design Program at Portsmouth High School. The tool shed that is now at the Puddle Dock shipyard was also designed by students, and built by Dexter Roblee’s Building Trades program students. Over 700 hours were donated in labor to design and build the impressive 10’x20’ shed, delivered in early April. Four Seasons Fence donated the labor to surround the shipyard in fencing, and gundalow volunteers crafted the gate. Vince Todd of V. Todd & Co., built the temporary shipyard cover and contributed his time to plan and oversee its construction. The shipyard was completed by early May with the support of Moores Crane Company, Ricci Lumber, Second Nature Landscape Outlet, A.H. Harris & Sons, Inc., Green Velvet Landscape, Independent Boat Haulers, Jackson’s Hardware & Marine, Jeffrey Knapp Construction, Keith Bridge Electrical, Kevin Knapp, North Hampton Grocery, Peter Coren Builder & Cabinetmaker, Rainscape, Rick Stevens Custom Lumber, Rockingham Electric Supply Co. and Tri-State Fire Protection. 

Construction of the new gundalow began in early May under the direction of York, ME Paul Rollins, boatbuilder. Materials, services and supplies were supported by Bartlett’s Farm & Sawmill, Brentwood Machinery & Tools, Dixon Mills, Fastener Warehouse, Lamprey Oil, Rand Lumber, Sanborn Mills Farm, and Urban Tree Service. Early corporate and business donations from Appledore Real Estate, Piscataqua Savings Bank, Infinite Imaging, Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Café, Federal Savings Bank, Granite State Minerals, Property Tax Advisors, Waterfront Engineers, and Jeffrey H. Taylor & Associates covered early costs associated with the start of construction.
About the Gundalow Company: Since 2002, the non-profit Gundalow Company has used the Captain Edward H. Adams – a replica modeled after the last gundalow to carry cargo on the bay – to provide “dockside” programs to more than 100,000 visitors. However, the Adams is too authentic to comply with modern U.S. Coast Guard safety requirements. Recognizing the need to get students of all ages to genuinely connect with their rivers and bay, the Gundalow Company is building a new gundalow that will have the safety features and structural integrity required by the U.S. Coast Guard for passenger-carrying vessels.
For centuries, gundalows connected up-river seacoast communities with Portsmouth, the region’s seaport and primary market town. Harnessing the wind and riding the tide, gundalows moved bricks, hay, firewood, and goods crucial to the economy and everyday life. The Gundalow Company takes its inspiration from the vital role of those historic gundalows, vessels unique to the Piscataqua Maritime Region. This new gundalow’s educational purpose is as important for the future as its predecessors were for the past. For more information, www.gundalow.org, info@gundalow.org or 603-433-9505.
Photo caption: A crane hoists the gundalow shipyard cover wall into place on Puddle Dock at Strawbery Banke, Portsmouth, NH. (Photo by David J. Murray)

Music-by-the-Sea Concerts Begin

RYE—
The Seacoast Science Center’s Music-by-the-Sea outdoor concert series will start the season in the spirit of summer. On July 7, Islandside will take the stage with their authentic Caribbean sound. Kick off your shoes, breathe in the salt air and enjoy the seaside sounds of reggae, soca, and calypso.
Entrain returns for a tenth season on July 14. Entrain never fails to get the crowd on the dance floor with their infectious percussive rhythm. Gnarlemagne will get you on your feet with their funky blues, classic rock dance music on July 21.
One of the most fun-loving, local party bands, Jumbo Circus Peanuts will close the series on July 28. MBS concert-goers cannot seem to get enough of their swinging-pop-jazz, crazy costumes and tossed-into-the-crowd beaded necklaces.
All concerts are held under a festive tent and take place rain or shine. Just bring your beach blankets and chairs; enjoy hot-off-the-grill fare and great beverages from local vendors, grab an ice cream and stroll along the shore at sunset. The Center and Nature Store are open during all concerts.
Concerts begin at 6:00 p.m.; gates open at 5:00 p.m. for dining. Tickets are $8 for adults and $2 for children ages 3-12. You can purchase your tickets in advance at the Center or online at seacoastsciencecenter.org/events. Present your SSC membership card to purchase your ticket at half price. Bring your friends — if they join that night they can enjoy on-the-spot discounted concert tickets! For more information call 603-436-8043.
Sponsors include Access Sports Medicine, Allegra Marketing Print Mail, Clear Channel Radio, Exeter Events & Tents, Flatbread Pizza Company, Liberty Mutual, Liquid Planet Water Park, Northeast Delta Dental, People’s United Bank, Piscataqua Savings Bank, The Portsmouth Herald, Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Public Service of New Hampshire, Salient Surgical Technologies, Smuttynose Brewing Company, Westinghouse Electric Company, and WMUR TV ABC9. All proceeds from the Music-by-the-Sea concert series benefit SSC.
Photo caption: The Music-by-the-Sea concert series at the Seacoast Science Center kicks off on July 7. (Courtesy photo)

Special Events Planned at Children’s Museum of NH

DOVER—
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover is hosting a wide range of special events for families this summer. From a local foods farmer’s market to tender loving care for tattered teddy bears, the museum’s special events are all open to the public and included in the regular price of admission: $8 for adults and children, $7 for seniors age 65+, and free for children under one year old. During the summer, the museum is open to visitors seven days a week.
The Children’s Museum of NH is located in Henry Law Park on the Cochecho River in downtown Dover, making it an ideal day-trip destination. Several free outdoor concerts are held in the park each week, there is a playground and picnic area, and dozens of restaurants and shops are within an easy walk. More information on planning a trip to Dover can be found at www.dovernh.org.
This summer’s special events at the Children’s Museum of NH include:
Four on the Fourth
Monday, July 4, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. - Celebrate the Fourth of July with $4 admission all day long. This half-price admission applies to adults as well as children, and visitors are free to leave for lunch and come back in to play later!
Colossal Construction Day
Monday, July 11, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Can we build it? Yes we can! Join us for a day of design and engineering challenges for all ages. From buildings and bridges to vehicles and your own imaginative creations, the sky is the limit on Colossal Construction Day. Lego your Mind will be providing kids with LEGO building elements, axles, and wheels of all sizes to enable them to free build rolling creations that will be tested down a ramp for speed and distance.
Local Roots Food Fair
Tuesday, July 20, 1-4 p.m. - Discover the joy of eating local at this seasonal food fair, presented in partnership with Hannaford Supermarkets. The museum will welcome a variety of area farmers and local food purveyors for an afternoon of tasty sampling, hands-on activities for kids, and coupons and information for parents.
Bubble Science Day
Tuesday, July 26, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Parents and children can roll up their sleeves for some good, clean fun when the Children’s Museum celebrates Bubble Science Day. The museum’s large classroom will be transformed into a bubble laboratory where families can experiment with bubble shapes, colors and sizes, and build 3-D bubble shapes, walls and windows. In the museum’s Project Area, children can make bubble wands to take home, and parents can pick up hand-outs with more ideas for bubble play to continue the learning at home.
Teddy Bear Clinic & Tea Party
Wednesday, August 10, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. - Children are invited to bring their favorite stuffed friend to the museum’s annual Teddy Bear Clinic from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a Teddy Tea Party from noon to 12:30 pm. This event is designed to not only be fun, but also help children who may be anxious about visiting the doctor. Volunteer health professionals will be on hand to issue each animal an ID bracelet, perform health check-ups, and conduct minor surgery on furry friends in need of repair. At the noontime tea party, guests will enjoy juice, animal crackers and fruit.
Patterns & Puzzles Day
Thursday, August 18, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Patterns are everywhere! Join us as we look at the world in a whole new way as we seek out patterns and get creative with exhibit-related pattern activities and take-home projects throughout the museum. Older children and adults will scratch their heads as they work to solve brainteasers and riddles sure to give your brain a workout!
Build It. Fly It. Day
Tuesday, August 23, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Young imaginations will soar as children create their own flying machines using a variety of everyday materials in this high-flying challenge. Kids will learn about the principles of aerodynamics and flight as they test their creations in the museum’s two-and-a-half-story Build It. Fly It. exhibit. Whose invention will fly, flip or flop? Visitors can also try their hand at constructing some other simple flyers to test and take home.
The museum will also be staying open extended hours on the nights of Cochecho Arts Festival evening performances in Henry Law Park. On Friday nights between July 8 and August 12, the Children’s Museum of NH will remain open to the public until 7 p.m. to welcome families arriving early for the concerts.
More information can be found at www.childrens-museum.org. The Children’s Museum of NH is open all summer Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 12-5 p.m.
Photo caption: Braeden of Kittery experiments with creating multiple linked bubbles. (Courtesy photo)