Community Comes Together To Keep Dover Swimming Pools Open

By Candi Enman
Staff Columnist
DOVER—
When the Dover City Council, in its efforts to finalize the 2011 city budget, began talks this past spring about the possibility of having to close the city’s swimming pools due to a $400,000 shortfall, it didn’t rest well with local swimmers. The news resulted in a community led movement to keep the city’s two pools - the Jenny Thompson Outdoor Pool on Route 4 and the Indoor Pool at Henry Law Park – open this year and for years to come.
Dover pools are open all year long, seven days a week. “Pool users comprise a broad group, some who come to do laps, for hydrotherapy or for swimming lessons, swim teams and master swimmers; as well as kids who come for summer camps and school field trips,” said Gary Bannon, Dover’s Recreation Director.
The Jenny Thompson Outdoor Pool is the only 50-meter competition pool in the region. Stressing the importance of keeping the pools open, Bannon added, “The pools are a regional draw. They bring people into Dover who also use local services, retailers and restaurants.”
Bannon went on to say, “The city has $4.7 million in assets in these aquatic facilities. To close them would be a loss.”
Dover resident, Terrianne Chambers, swims at the Indoor Pool four days a week. “I began swimming after recovering from an illness,” said Chambers. “Physical health brings a healthy mental state. For me, swimming is as important as breathing, walking and eating.” With her restored health Chambers is currently training for an upcoming triathlon, an endurance competition that involves swimming, cycling and running.
Seacoast Swimming Association is the largest customer of the Dover pools. The association rents aquatic hours at both pools, which serve as the host facilities for the nationally registered swim team. As many as 120 seacoast area swimmers, aged 5 to 26, depend on the Dover pools to practice, train and compete.
The threat of closing the pools became an opportunity. SSA President, Tim Paiva, said “We needed to mobilize to ensure that the pools will still be available for us and open to the public as well.” A meeting of the SSA parents group was held to discuss viable solutions, and Dawn Haines, mother of a 14-year old swimmer, stepped up to lead the effort.
Haines set out to get community support and brought together a cross-section of all stakeholders and pool users. The group, calling themselves Save Our Swimming, got right to work to develop a comprehensive business plan to present to City Council.
Save our Swimming was determined to look at everything reasonably possible to help the city find ways to reduce operating expenses and increase revenues. Discussions also focused on awareness events, fundraisers and grants. One supporter, Peter Markos, donated an initial $5,000 to establish an endowment fund.
On Wednesday, May 26th hundreds of swimmers and pool supporters marched from the Jenny Thompson Pool to City Council chambers to attend the public hearing on the issue. Olympic medalist Jenny Thompson herself, namesake of the outdoor pool, came back to Dover to participate in the march.
City Council members liked what they saw and heard. Community members, city staff and the council saw a partnership opportunity to keep the pools open for the long term. The council voted on June 2nd to save the pools for the next 12 months, with help from Save our Swimming.
At its recent June 23rd meeting, the council adopted a resolution to form an official Pool Advisory Committee that would oversee donated funds and pool policies, and make recommendations to the city. The committee, consisting of seven regular and two alternates, will meet regularly and report to City Council. A member of the council will serve as a liaison to the group.
“We thought we needed to fight city hall,” commented Haines. “We realized they didn’t want to close the pools and that we needed to help them. The real work begins now,” Haines added.
Remarking on the work of Save our Swimming, Ward 6 City Councilor, Gina Cruikshank, said, “when I learned the details and how they were approaching possible solutions, it convinced me that they could help close the budget gap.” Cruikshank continued, “Theirs is a commitment you don’t often see, and that’s the difference between a city and a community.”
Access to the city’s pools is not limited to Dover residents. Community members from throughout the region are welcome and encouraged to take advantage of the recreational resources available to them. To attract more swimmers, fee structures and rental rates have been lowered to make access affordable to more users.
Seacoast swimmers who want to learn more or get involved with Save our Swimming to keep the pools open for future generations may contact Dawn Haines by email at dawn.haines@unh.edu.
For more information about the Dover pools including hours, rates, lessons and schedules, visit www.dover.nh.gov/rechome.htm or call (603) 516-6441.
Photo caption: Swimmers dive in at the Jenny Thompson Pool in Dover. (Courtesy photo)

Helping to Keep Old Ironsides Shipshape

By Larry Favinger
Staff Columnist
SOUTH BERWICK—
For two-and-a-half years a South Berwick man fought the commuter traffic to and from Charlestown, Mass, five days a week to work on a piece of United States history.
Sunday (July 4), Barry Person and a host of others will sail out of Boston Harbor as part of the USS Constitution, the Navy’s oldest commissioned warship.
“It was a bit of a challenge but really exciting,” Person said in a telephone interview from his South Berwick farm.
Person’s work was part of a three-year project to refurbish the renowned Old Ironsides, a project that should come to a close in November. The work was done partly to ready the ship for the centennial celebration of the War of 1812. It was during that conflict that the Constitution earned her nickname.
The Constitution gained fame in August of 1812, when under the command of Connecticut native Isaac Hull she met and defeated the HMS Guerrier. English shots bounced off the Constitution’s thick oak sides, thus gaining her name while she was destroying the enemy ship.
Hull went on to a distinguished Naval career including becoming the commander of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 1813 and building Quarters A at the yard, a building which still stands and is the oldest structure at the yard.
Each year the Constitution goes on a turnaround cruise from her berth in Charlestown which allows her to remain a commissioned Navy vessel and allows each side of her to face outward during the year.
“I never did any service,” Person said of not being involved with the military, “but it felt like that is what I was doing” while working on the ship.
Person was part of the Naval Historical Center, Detachment Boston, Department of Defense, which was charged with the refurbishing.
Person said it was a “temporary, fulltime position” which meant when “the time frame ended you left.”
Upon his arrival with the first group of additional carpenters hired he said he did “odds and ends” as they awaited the arrival of the necessary materials.
One of the first things Person did was replace the two “cat heads on the ship.”
The cathead is a large beam located on either bow of the ship, angled outward. It is used to support the ship’s anchor when raising or lowering it, keeping it away from the sides of the wooden vessel.
Person said large equipment was needed to put these in place as they weighed in at about 2,300 pounds each.
It was a common practice to carve the projecting end of the beam to resemble the face of a cat.
Once that was accomplished he helped the entire crew replace the spar deck of the ship, the first level when visitors come on board the ship.
After that, he said, “they moved me around to different places” including a project to foremast in the front of the ship.
He has done historic restoration of old houses and barns and learned of the project while doing a barn repair for the late Joseph Frost of Eliot. He applied and was among the initial group of carpenters hired. More was added later in the project, he said.
While not working on historic ships Person said he “loves to farm” and “loves raising pigs. I’ve been doing that since I was a kid.”
He combines his love of farming and historic restoration doing work with the New Hampshire Farm Museum in Milton repairing buildings to their original configurations.
Originally from the Midwest, Person came to New England in the summer of 1987 and has remained ever since.
He is married to Julie Person, a guidance councilor at the Rollinsford Elementary School, and the couple has two children, Madison, 8 and Baylor, 10.
Person said the time spent on the job “took a toll on everybody” in his family. The drive took between 50 minutes and an hour each day. He was up and out early every day performing farm chores before leaving for work. He was there between 5:45 and 6 each morning, returning home in late afternoon.
In addition to his farming Person also does wood carvings, especially large herons. His work is available in galleries including the N.W. Barrett Gallery on Market Street in Portsmouth.
Photo caption: A South Berwick resident has spent the past two-and-a-half years helping to restore the USS Constitution. (en.wikipedia.org photo)

Dover 4th of July Celebration

DOVER—
Enjoy 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 at 11 a.m., 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, including a kayaking exhibition, a firefighter’s Touch-A-Truck Exhibit, food and refreshments.

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)