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)