Attendance Grows at Specialty Food and Artisan Market

DOVER—
There was quite a buzz at the Specialty Food and Artisan Market in Dover on Saturday, March 27th. Not only did the crowds increase at the market, but ten more vendors attended to showcase their wares.
The New England Marketplace sponsored by Crazy Camel Dessert Hummus and Maine Buck Nuts is not your typical market. It is an interactive market. Customers can taste the various food products before they buy. “I saw customers come in and not leave for hours. Some vendors sold out of product! I guess they did not expect that,” states Bonnie McLoud of Crazy Camel Dessert Hummus. “We loved hearing that and it fulfills our purpose of the market, to be a showcase for small businesses that are passionate about what they make and what they do. For some of these businesses, attending the market is their debut of their product; it is the launch of their business”
Besides one of a kind artisan works like handmade jewelry, Windsor chairs, wood turned products, paintings and photography, customers enjoyed pasta from Terra Cotta, blueberry products, cheese, organic foods, dessert hummus, specialty nuts, gourmet chocolates filled with wine, biscotti’s, Greek pastry and cookies, home made jams and pickles, hot sauces and much more. “One of the vendors was so excited because she had just won an award for her handmade chocolate cheesecake creation. She was passing out samples to everyone and was very proud and excited”
The next date for the market is Saturday, April 24th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The market is held on the 1st floor of the Picker Building behind One Washington Center in downtown Dover. Admission is always free and customers can find the market by following the outside stairs parallel to the river lined with balloons next to the old Biddy Mulligan’s (now Fury’s). There is plenty of parking in and around the building and customers need not worry about the reserved parking signs for the businesses as they are not utilized during the weekend and can be used for market goers.
Even though the market is chock full of vendors, there is still more room for businesses interested in participating with a specialty food product or artisan work. “We have about 12 more spaces inside and can even expand after that out into the parking lot right next to the entrance outside,” McLoud says. “We would really love to see more downtown Dover businesses participate.This is a great opportunity to get in front of many customers at once and show them what you are all about. The market has been so popular with customers that we have decided to continue it monthly throughout the year.We will take a break for July and August but all the other months there will be a market.”
McLoud is also taking it a step further to help businesses who participate in the market by creating a website for customers to learn more about the market and get information about the vendors attending. The website is still under construction but will be up later this month.
For small businesses interested in participating, they can contact Bonnie McLoud at 603-502-0434 or by email, bonniemcloud@comcast.net.
Photo caption: The Specialty Food and Artisan Market in Dover meets monthly at the Picker Building. (Courtesy photo)

Ball in the House Concert to Aid Local Organizations

ROLLINSFORD—
Tickets are on sale for a fundraising event featuring Ball in the House, Thursday April 15, 7 p.m. Garrison Arts Center in Rollinsford will be the hosting venue of an intimate fundraising concert to benefit programs for children with a chronic health condition.
Ball in the House is a tour de force of vocal sound that must be heard and seen to be believed. This five-man pop and R & B ‘mouth band’ hails from Boston, where they live and operate out of when not touring on the road. Originally formed as a quartet by founder and current vocal percussionist Jon J., Ball in the House has gone through numerous phases and changes on its way to becoming one of the best-known and most-loved acts in the a cappella community today.
The event will start with opening acts by local musicians Connor Garvey and Pete Miller. Silent auction items have been donated by generous contributors. Proceeds from the event will benefit Zebra Crossings programs as well as Garrison Arts Center. Zebra Crossings, a new nonprofit organization based in Dover, provides year round programs to help children with a chronic health condition gain greater self-confidence, a sense of independence, and the opportunity to realize their full potential. Programs are currently available to youth and teens with diabetes, heart conditions, and moderate to severe asthma. Zebra Crossings aims to expand programming to also include a broader range of health conditions and to offer family and sibling retreats.
Tickets are $16 and can be ordered through www.zebra-crossings.org or call 603-749-0308.

Weekly Sentinel Presents Healthcare Reform Overview

One of the most closely followed and controversial pieces of legislation in four decades, the recently passed Federal healthcare reform legislation potentially affects the lives of all Americans. Much of the debate over the past year has featured political posturing and misinformation about what is actually contained within the legislation. Regardless of what people think, however, it is likely that the legislation will have an effect similar to that of Medicare and Social Security, entitlement programs that many Americans have come to depend on. The Weekly Sentinel has attempted to summarize highlights of the bill and provide more detailed explanations of certain important components of it. Those items can be found in the April 9 edition of the Weekly Sentinel.