Cochecho Arts Festival Begins in July

DOVER—
The 24th season of the Cochecho Arts Festival opens at 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 4th, 2010 at the Rotary Arts Pavilion in Henry Law Park with a celebration of the Fourth of July. This year, the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the Dover Recreation Department to present a full day of family entertainment, including the City’s annual fireworks display. The day will begin with an authentic-costumed historic re-enactment of the Declaration of Independence on the steps of City Hall, followed by a Patriotic-themed Children’s performance by local storyteller, puppeteer and musician Marcus Gale at the Rotary Arts Pavilion beginning at 1 p.m. Following the Children’s Show will be a Gundalow Race on the Cochecho River. Families may purchase small wooden Gundalows and participate in the race, with prizes being awarded to the owners of the winning Gundalows. The proceeds from this event will benefit the Historic Gundalow, which will be on site throughout the day, affording people a chance to step aboard and learn about the role that the Gundalow played in Dover Mills commerce during the 1800’s. As the Gundalow race concludes, there will be a series of musical performances at the Pavilion, featuring Mike Morris at 3 p.m., followed by the Dan Walker Band at 4:15 p.m., and the day’s headline performance by Livingston Taylor beginning at 7 p.m., and concluding with the City fireworks display at 9:15 p.m. Throughout the day, there will also be a variety of additional events, displays, vendors and demonstrations in Henry Law Park, including a kayaking exhibition, a firefighter’s Touch-A-Truck Exhibit, food and refreshments.
The Festival’s Friday Night Concert Series presents local and regional music performed by artists like Livingston Taylor, the Boston Horns and the Jumbo Circus Peanuts.
This year’s Friday Night Concerts will also feature local artisans displaying their work on the Festival grounds. Additionally, opening and closing Friday nights will feature food vendors along Henry Law Avenue.
The Tuesday Children’s Series has grown dramatically in recent years, and these popular family events now average about 500-600 attendees per week. The Rotary Arts Pavilion is located in Henry Law Park, and is footsteps away from the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, the City’s Indoor Swimming Pool, and the playground and grassy riverside expanse of the Park itself. There are also several family-friendly restaurants and retail shops in the immediate vicinity - including the Noggin Factory Toy Store, Smiley’s, La Festa and Harvey’s Bakery – and collectively, all of this makes for an extremely enjoyable and fun-filled day that takes place in a very cozy, yet highly visible area of the downtown. Each week, the Children’s Series features a different performance, including music, dancing, puppeteers, jugglers, magicians, unicyclists and theatrical performances.
The Rotary Arts Pavilion is also home to the popular Shark in the Park Summer lunchtime concert series featuring many of the areas most popular rock bands. The Shark in the Park series is designed to give downtown residents and employees a chance to get outside during the summer months to enjoy the concerts and the beautiful surroundings of the Henry Law Park. The Thursday noon “Shark in the Park” Luncheon Series will begin on July 8th at Henry Law Park with Big John and the Twins.
The Wednesday Market Series is an entirely new Festival component being offered for the first time this year between 3:30 and 6 p.m. every Wednesday from July 7th through Aug. 8th, and is the only segment of the Cochecho Arts Festival that is not held at the Rotary Arts Pavilion in Henry Law Park. The Market Series will consist primarily of “unplugged” acoustic music, and the setting will be the newly relocated Farmer’s Market situated directly in front of the Chamber Visitor Center at 550 Central Avenue.
Visit cochechoartsfestival.org for more information on the season’s schedule with photos of the performers and links to their websites, a history of the Festival, directions to Henry Law Park, news articles, information on how to get involved, and much more.
Festival goers are encouraged to show their support for the Festival by purchasing a Festival button for $10. This commemorative button features a unique Festival logo for 2010 and includes numerous discounts and free benefits from supporting businesses. Additionally this year, button holders will be entered into a drawing for a 2 for 1 chance to win a 37” Samsung HD Television from WOKQ. One TV will be given away at the intermission of the Livingston Taylor show on the 4th of July and the second will be given away at the intermission of the closing night show on Aug. 13th.
Buttons and official Cochecho Arts Festival programs are available the end of June at the Chamber Visitor’s Center and all Festival events. The program also will be available through state and local visitor centers and Dover downtown merchants
Photo caption: Livingston Taylor will perform in Dover on July 4 to kick off the Cocheco Arts Festival. (Courtesy photo)

International Children’s Festival: A Day of Family Fun in Downtown Somersworth

By Candi Enman
Staff Columnist
SOMERSWORTH—
What is the third largest island in Europe? If you were one of the thousands who attended the Somersworth International Children’s Festival on Saturday, June 19th, you likely know the answer.
The festivities of the 30th annual event began with a night before celebration on Friday with food, vendors, live music and fireworks at Somersworth High School. On Saturday downtown Somersworth’s Main Street and Noble Pines Park were filled with food, song, crafts, demonstrations, games and activities for kids and adults alike.
Live music could be found at every corner of the event. Smiling children with painted faces wearing crowns they decorated themselves led their parents and grandparents from the bounce house to the train ride to the games at the exhibitor tables. Then it was a quick stop to cool down at the misting tent, before heading up the hill to Noble Pines where they found the petting zoo and a special entertainment stage where the young, and young at heart, danced and sang along to bubblegum pop tunes.
“This is the fourth year we’ve come and it gets better every year,” said Amanda Myers. “The kids have so much fun.” She and her sister Beth teamed up to bring four children to the Festival. Amanda’s daughter, five-year old Gracie, exclaimed, “The tiger slide was fun,” while her friend, four-year old Sophia said, “I loved petting the animals.” Five-year old Xander was too shy to comment.
At the World Cultures Area children and their parents picked up their official passports and set out to meet representatives from 14 different nations, among them Morocco, Russia, Greece, Dominican Republic and Ecuador.
The goal was to visit each country to have their passport stamped. Once filled with stamps, passports were presented and entered into a drawing for a $100 Toys ‘R Us gift certificate, passes to Water Country and tickets to see the Portland Sea Dogs. And if that wasn’t incentive enough to visit all of the countries, new this year was a trivia contest. Those who answered the 14 questions correctly earned a chance to win a Strafford Farms ice cream certificate.
Before making their way into the World Cultures Area, the Fournier family of Somersworth stopped by the Friends of the Earth, Sea and Space Center’s booth to play the “ducky game” and with assistance from UNH Marine Docents, touch live starfish, urchins and crabs.
Five-year old Astrid Fournier was excited to be at the Festival, “a reward for sleeping in her room last night,” said her mother, Tara. When asked what her favorite part of the day was, Astrid replied, “the puppy balloons and the fish games.”
The Festival was sponsored by the City of Somersworth and Service Credit Union. “This was a fantastic year,” commented Somersworth Festival Association Director, Sue Gregoire. “Friday night’s celebration saw the most people ever. It was the best weather in quite a few weekends and great all the way around.” She added, “We want to thank everyone who came, as well as all of the supporters, volunteers and board members. It was fabulous. We’re ready to go another 30 years.”
(By now you’ve had a chance to Google, or maybe you knew the answer? Ireland is the third largest island in Europe.)
Photo caption: The Fournier Family attended the Festival for the first time this year (Candi Enman photo)

South Berwick’s Strawberry Festival Set for June 26

SOUTH BERWICK—
Always the last Saturday in June, this year the festival will be on 26 June 2010. The South Berwick Strawberry Festival officially kicks off summer for this quaint, southern Maine town of South Berwick. The kids are out of school, camps are open and the weather is getting warm. All over town one can see the bright red, white, and green strawberry flags that not only line the main streets, but can also be seen flying from many houses. The day is filled with food, entertainment, games, and crafts.
For thirty-five consecutive years, hundreds of volunteers from South Berwick have come together for a South Berwick tradition. As always, official Festival activities will take place only on the grounds of Central School, on Main Street, in the center of town. A stop at the Strawberry Festival Information Booth is a must to find out more about the day’s schedule for the entertainers, as well as where all the various activities are located and to purchase strawberry festival memorabilia.
Preparation of the strawberries start on Friday, the morning before the Festival at the Community Center, where over a hundred and fifty volunteers get together for a good old fashioned social to hull, slice, and sugar the berries. Other volunteers slice the biscuits, prepare the whipped cream and move everything under the Strawberry Shortcake tent so all will be ready for the Festival goers when it opens at 9 a.m. Things stay pretty busy for the entire Festival until it calls it quits at 4 p.m.
The Strawberry Festival Committee is pleased to announce that they we are continuing to serve Strawberry Shortcake and Cheesecake on biodegradable bowls, plates and spoons. These items are made out sugar cane called Bagasse tableware. Bagasse is the biomass remaining after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juices. Additionally, we will be recycling all of the hulls from the berries for anyone who would like them for composting. The boxes and the plastic containers for the berries will also be recycled.

Old Fashion Trolleys
Transportation to and from the Festival is FREE via an old fashion trolley ride. Running every 20 minutes, the trolleys will provide free transportation to the Festival from parking locations at Marshwood Great Works School on Rt 236, Community Center on Norton St, Powder House Hill, and Agamenticus Field.

Strawberry Tent and Food
Strawberry shortcakes have always been a favorite of the Festival. They will begin serving at 9 a.m. until we run out. Last year we served up over 250 cases of fresh strawberries, 85 gallons of whipped cream and over 330 dozen biscuits. Strawberry cheesecake has also been added to the menu and complimented with, you guessed it, strawberries. The cost of these items is still only $4.
In addition to shortcakes and cheesecakes there is also a huge Food Court. There will be a pancake breakfast from 6 – 10 a.m. Throughout the day there will be other various food items sold by local non-profit groups. The Fire Dept will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs, fries and cold drinks. The Community Pantry will be serving up frozen lemon aid. Knights of Columbus--fried dough; Masons--chicken BBQ and other assorted non-profit groups serving sandwich wraps, teriyaki, nachos, fruit cups, cotton candy and water.

Road Race
The day’s activities begin at 8 a.m., a 5 mile Road Race and 2.5 mile Fun Walk, sponsored by the South Berwick Recreation Department and local businesses, kick off from Marshwood Middle School on Academy St.

Entertainment
Throughout the day, a variety of entertainers from around the area will be performing on two stages set up around the grounds.
At the Central School Field Stage, Marcus Gale gets things going at 9-10 a.m.; Northern Explosion Cloggers, a great group of cloggers, go on at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. Funky Diva’s of Gospel at 2-4 p.m.
At the Central School Front Court stage, Vic and sticks Recycled Rhythm Band at 9 and 10 a.m., Women of Note, an cappella group at 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Rylie Harrod 1:30 – 2 p.m. and Seacoast Men of Harmony at 2:30 – 4 p.m.
In the Field Area from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., there’s Wildlife Encounters. For the kids there will be a climbing wall, pony rides, a giant tiger slide, dunking booth, exotic animals’ exhibition, pony rides, a bungee jumping setup and much more.

Crafts
Over 100 juried artisans will be on hand to display and sell their hand-made wares, including clothing, pottery, wood products, jewelry, paintings, photographs, candles, jams and dips, furniture, and much, much more. These crafters will be located both at the side of Central School and in the area around the food court.
Remember be kind to your pets and have them stay in the coolness of your home.
You can visit us at our website at www.southberwickstrawberryfestival.com.
Photo caption: Come to South Berwick on June 26 and help celebrate the annual Strawberry Festival. (Courtesy photo)

Frisbie Hospital Recognizes 50 Year Volunteer

ROCHESTER—
Al Felgar, President of Frisbie Memorial Hospital, took the pleasure of recognizing Jane Cooper Fall for her special anniversary celebrating 50 years of volunteer service at Frisbie’s recent Auxilian/Volunteer appreciation event. Jane has served in a variety of capacities over the past several decades, from trustee of the hospital board for 34 years, to president and member of the Auxiliary, to lead coordinator and founder of the Frisbie Annual Lights of Love Program, to hospital historian, to developing the scholarship program, to heading up the holiday decorating team, and to all-around supporter and cheerleader of the hospital! Jane has contributed well over 7,200 service hours, for which the hospital is most grateful.
Jane had this to share, “I’m fortunate to be able to spend all this time doing service for others at the hospital. It has been amazing to see so many changes over the years as our hospital has grown and developed. I remember decorating Christmas trees in the original and only building of the hospital! Every year Frisbie has added on a new building, patient services or a new medical department. I’m proud to be part of such a wonderful community of healthcare providers, staff and volunteers.”
“Jane Cooper Fall,” comments Al Felgar, CEO, “is a formidable pillar of the hospital and we who know her have come to respect and appreciate her immensely.”
Photo caption: From left, volunteer Jane Cooper Fall and CEO Al Felgar. (Courtesy photo)

Eugene Byrne Plays Pivotal Role in Revival of Popular Seacoast Irish Festival

DOVER—
For a relatively small city in a very small state in America, Dover, New Hampshire has played a remarkably large role in the world of Irish music and entertainment.
Home of the late and legendary Tommy Makem and two of his sons, Conor and Shane, local musician and Dublin native Eugene Byrne is also proud to call Dover his home, and recently demonstrated his passion for the community through his recent efforts to revive the Seacoast Irish Festival, which he affectionately dubbed “The Biggest Little Irish Festival in the World.”
On Saturday, June 12th, over 1,000 spectators - including Dover Mayor Scott Myers and New Hampshire Governor John Lynch - ignored the weather forecast the way New Englanders so often do, and made their way to the Rotary Arts Pavilion in downtown Dover to enjoy a misty day of music, dancing, nostalgia and celebration. For their efforts, they were treated to a show that will be remembered for many years to come.
“I’m simultaneously humbled and thrilled to have had this opportunity,” comments Eugene. “I love Dover, I love Irish Music, and I love to entertain, and this was a chance to combine all three. I’m also pleased to have been able to play a part in honoring the music and the lives of some very close friends – brothers, really – who’ve passed on in recent years, so the idea of this year’s Festival being billed as a tribute to Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers made it extra special for me.”
What made the event even more special for Eugene was the presence of some close family members. Eugene’s son, Kevin Byrne, took a turn on stage in the afternoon, and returned with the rest of the day’s musicians for the rousing finale that capped off the evening. To top it off, Eugene led the adoring crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to his mother-in-law, Mary, who turned one hundred on Friday.
“She’s my mother-in-law, but I call her my mother,” remarked Eugene from stage, and it was clear to all in attendance that the bond between this particular “mother” and son is one that means a great deal to both of them.
Eugene’s contributions to this year’s Festival were not limited to performing. He worked closely with the Festival Committee to assemble an all-star lineup of entertainers that included not only Byrne himself, but also his son, Kevin Byrne, The Makem & Spain Brothers, Schooner Fare, The Shaw Brothers, Bradigan, Patsy Whelan, Sunday’s Well, The McTeggarts and a host of other prominent musicians, dancers and other entertainment.
“Tommy Makem has often been called ‘The Godfather of Irish Music,’ and Eugene himself is similarly referred to as its Grandfather,” notes Chamber Executive Director Kirt Schuman. “Given that sort of ‘founding father’ status, it’s truly amazing that Dover has been the home to both of these legendary performers. Eugene’s dedication to the revival of the Festival has been evident from day one of the planning process. We’re very lucky to have someone like Eugene playing such an active role in our community.”
Photo caption: Local Musician Eugene Byrne played an instrumental role in the 2010 revival of the popular Seacoast Irish Festival, which was held on Saturday, June 12th at the Rotary Arts Pavilion in downtown Dover. (Courtesy photo)

Frisbie Hospital Auxiliary Presents Scholarship Winners

ROCHESTER—
Frisbie Memorial Hospital Auxiliary presented their Annual Student Scholarships on May 26th to four deserving area high school seniors who plan to enter the healthcare field. Auxiliary President, Bette Jane Meulenbroek, and Scholarship Chair, Mary Lou Donatello, presented the scholarships to the following recipients: Kayla Wheeler and Jerrica Chambers of Spaulding High School, Liana Tetreau of Prospect Mt. High School, and Devin Rowe of Coe-Brown Academy. Kayla will attend the University of New England and plans to become a nurse. Jerrica will attend the University of New Hampshire and plans to become a physician’s assistant. Liana will attend D’Youville College and plans to become an occupational therapist. Devin will attend Colby Sawyer College and plans to become a nurse.
Each FMH Auxiliary Scholarship is given in the amount of $2,000. For more information on this program, please call the Mary Lou Donatello at (941) 412-4288 or email at mld1@metrocast.net.
Photo caption: Scholarship students with their parents: Front Row Students (left to right) — Kayla Wheeler, Jerrica Chambers, Devon Roe and Liana Tetreau. (Courtesy photo)

30th Annual Somersworth International Children’s Festival

SOMERSWORTH—
Main Street of Somersworth and the Noble Pines Park become an area of entertainment on Saturday, June 19th from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. With three stages on Main Street of continuous acts, you can enjoy kids entertainers to adult entertainment from Blues to Rock and Roll music. Also we will have lots of ethnic entertainers. There will be a large variety of kid’s activities, such as the Expo Tent with free hands-on demonstrations such as making kid’s crowns and learning about exotic animals from the Wildlife Encounters and actually being able to hold a snake. We also have an Early Childhood Play Area where the tiny ones can make bubbles and play in the sand or finger paint. There will also be a variety of all American and ethnic foods. Over 80 crafters will bring their ware for you to buy. Take a trip around the world and visit the World Cultural area, which will feature roughly 18 countries. This area includes groups from Brazil, Poland, China, Rwanda, Indonesia and many other countries with different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. They will demonstrate aspects of their heritage. As children learn about a country, they will have a passport stamped for that country. When they have stamps from all the countries represented, they will be entered into a drawing for many great prizes. In this area many of the countries will offer foods from their native lands. Then take a First Student bus up to the Noble Pines Park. There will be pony rides, a free petting zoo, llamas, food vendors and another stage of entertainment to amuse the children and the young at heart. The festival has a large variety of over 200 vendors, crafts, activities and food for the young and old alike. For more information call the Somersworth Festival Association office at (603) 692-5869.